Review: Rocky Start

Rocky Start by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Avery and Malik both work for A-List Security.  Both are vets.  Malik is settled, knows who he is, and is open to exploring new things, foods, people, his sexuality.  Avery is less sure of himself and has a complicated relationship with his family who have beliefs about masculinity.  Avery has always been the smaller one in his family.  (His dad is a retired football star).  

I thought both took their time and complimented each other well.  This has one of my favorite tropes (forced proximity) which really helped further their relationship.  

For Smart Bitches Summer Bingo:  either the tattoo square or latest in series (I will decide later).  

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Review: Husband Material

Husband Material by Alexis Hall
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What a disappointment.  Having enjoyed the first book, I wanted to read this one.  Luc was annoying in book 1, but had good character growth and he grew on me.  I always liked Oliver.  

It's not the ending that bothered me, it's what came before.  The character growth I mentioned Luc had in book 1?  Not here.  What the fuck happened?  Luc was selfish and judgemental.  I can not begin to say how MUCH I DISLIKED him.  He continued to run from having a conversation.  A conversation that would have prevented the very ending of this book.  So rediculous.  

I do appreciate this brings up the complicated feeling gay people can have about marriage.  Both why it would appeal to some, and why others would not be interested at all.  One thing that has always made me scratch my head is the feeling that marriage "changes everything."  (That theme was not only in this one, but other romances too).  Really (IMO) the oly thing that "changes" is you are legal in the eyes of the government (assuming one lives where marriage is legal) and it's harder to walk away/break-up.  

And Luc's thing with there being a "right" way to be gay and a "wrong" way was so stupid.  Fuck off Luc. Oliver deserved better.

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo:  Set in place you'd like to vacation.

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Review: Napkins and Other Distractions

Napkins and Other Distractions by M.A. Wardell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kent is a divorced, elementary school principle who has decided to explore his bisexuality.  He meet Vincent through a dating app.  Vincent has gone on a lot of first dates.  Never second dates.  Their first meeting is a bit of a disaster.  Good thing they will never meet again!

Haha, just kidding!  Vincent is one of the technical specialists of the company Kent's school district has hired to overall a data entry system to track the school's academic progress.  There is an attraction there, so 2nd date it is.

I liked how accepting Kent was of people in general, relationships with his ex, daughter, grand daughter.  I thought Kent's clumsiness was dialed up to a 10 and didn't need to be (it got to be an eye roll level after awhile, like really?  How is he still alive?).  It was a bit much.  Vincent has learned to deal with his OCD and I like how he realized he was worthy of having love him just as he was.  I did think the ending was a bit abrupt, even with the epilogue.  

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Review: Rebel Hard

Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nayna has agreed to let her parents chose a spouse for her.  She feels like she has to as the "good" daughter.  Her older sister eloped with a man her parents didn't choose and got divorced (the horror!). As a result her parents cut her sister out of their lives for a few years.  Nayna feels like she has to be perfect and as a result is feeling trapped.

Raj is in charge of his family's construction company.  He was abandoned by his birth parents and adopted into the Sen family.  He is his parents son in everything that matters.  As a result of his background, he craves a traditional wife.  

While at a party with her best friend, Isa, Nayna meets Raj.  After a misunderstanding, they meet again as a result of their parents agreement.  

I liked how they got to know each other.  Raj adjusts his expectations of what he really wants. Nayna is able to gain some freedom, and realizes Raj is the one she wants.  Enjoyable.  Takes place during the same time as Isa and Sailor's story.

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Review: Firefly Lane

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5*

This book packed a punch.  It's a story of childhood best friends who grow up and remain best friends.  It's a story of their friendship, fights, jealousy, envy, you name it, it's probably in the story.  Regardless, they find themselves back with each other.  Both characters have their moments of kindness and selfishness.  I thought Kate was too much of a people pleaser.  Tully was a bit too selfish.  The love triangle with Johnny was not needed IMO.  There was enough going on without that.  

This hits the highs and the lowest lows.  

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Review: Mixed Signals

Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is Layla's story (the 3rd of the friendship trio with Stella and Beckett).  She is the baker.  It's been hinted strongly in previous books that Caleb has a HUGE crush on Layla.  Layla has never noticed him.  Until now.  They start out dating as a training session (she tells him what he is doing "wrong" and vice versa).  As things go, they fall for each other.  Well, Layla.  Caleb was already in.  Layla was just too "I don't deserve this" and later "I don't want to get hurt."  That got so old so fast.  The first couple of dates were funny (in that things went wrong).  

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Review: Rituals

Rituals by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Final book (except for some novellas) in the Olivia, Gabriel, and Ricky saga.  Things have come full circle and Liv knows who she is and what she wants.  She and one of the above men, finally admit their feelings and start a romantic relationship.  

We learn more about the deal with the fae her parents made to heal her spina bifida.  And it turns out, it may have been someone/something else.  That something else wants what is theirs.  A satisfying conclusion (there are a few minor character deaths).  I thought the dryads Helia and Alexios were so fun.  And I liked that they found a place to stay when things were done at the end.     

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