And another week went by… My mini-break is turning out to be not so mini at all. In fact, I’m still enjoying the A-Z Reading Challenge and now that I’m not spending as much time online as I used to do, oddly enough my social calendar seems to become a bit overwhelming. Or maybe it’s not so odd…
Somehow invitations for fun dates with friends keep coming in and they’re making my calendar for the month of May look like one big busy feast of colors (since I’m using different pencils for all the dates). It must be the wonderful, sunny and warm weather that we’re having here for weeks now. It makes people want to plan parties, barbeques and other get-togethers. And also, all the national holidays during this time of year are a great cause for fun things, there are plenty of musical and cultural festivals you can go to.
Yesterday for example, we had a national holiday here in the Netherlands what’ll probably translate as ‘Liberation Day’ or something like that (we celebrate the end of WWII because by then, in 1945, most part of our country was liberated by the Canadians and Americans). And we went with a couple of friends to one of the many rock and pop festivals that are organized in the larger cities each year on May 5th.
Between the beautiful weather, all the holiday events and the upcoming deadlines at work, I’m afraid there probably won’t be much time for my online activities left. So don’t start to worry if you don’t see me around much, I’ll be back *wink*. Every now and then…
My reading groove is still not what it used to be, but the A to Z Challenge is at least helping me with picking my next book. I moved on to the B last week, no C books in sight yet, but here are a few reviewettes (not as short as Chris's ones but alas) of the A titles I’ve read:
This is a hilarious and endearing story which shows realistically and makes very palpable how terrifying it is/can be to come out of the closet. Jason is the first person narrator of Anything For You and he is uniquely funny but extremely in the closet. Finding true love makes brave so that Jason can continue being hot and sweet together with his super hero gay rights activist Chad. Highly recommended! 4.75 stars
Book three in the Kindred Spirits series. Cute story about a younger cook winning the heart of an older lawyer who recently lost his lover. Although this books has its own main characters the setting is the same as in the previous books in this series: an inn where ghosts feel happy to show themselves. This time the ghost was the deceased lover of the lawyer Alex, which felt a bit farfetched: I didn’t get why he would ‘show up’ now, one year after he died, and at this place far from home. I did like the bedroom scenes between Alex and Logan but cared less for their insta-love. 3.5 stars
Zach and Angelo's relationship starts out as an endearing friendship, which finally turns into a sweet and hot love story that comes to full bloom in the second half of the book. Their engaging and well-written story is about giving each other space, being able to be yourself, finding your own strength in the other's strength, the balance between give and take, having patience to let trust build and stimulating each other to live your life to its fullest potential. Zach and Angelo complete each other in the most beautiful way and I just loved their emotional interaction and physical chemistry. 4.5 stars
This final installment in this series is an explosive finale of Nicky and Brandon’s ongoing relationship which has been a rollercoaster of emotions from the start. Very raw and deeply felt feelings are threatening to destroy them when this moving couple has to deal with the mother of all nightmares. This was one of the most emotional books I’ve read within this genre so far. And yet, despite everything that’s going on in their lives, the author managed to throw in a couple of sexy scenes which involved some wicked rope work again. And these scenes even supported the plot and weren’t just inserted for hotness sake. I’m kinda sad that this was the last of the Nicky and Brandon books (and free stories) I had on my shelves. It’s hard to say goodbye to this unbelievably hot couple. *sob*. The entire series (Cheating Chance and Inland Empire are the previous books) has been an enthralling reading experience. Highly recommended: 5 stars
Happy Gay Friday everyone!
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I read the second two books and agree. Both great reads. Haven't tackled the first two yet.
ReplyDeleteHope you get a break soon, but enjoying nice weather is not a bad thing. Have a great weekend.
Hi, Janna! I've only read All Or Nothing. That's how slow a reader I am!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your great weather and social calendar!
I hope it comes back to ya, just let it be :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I don't know - you're darn close on the reviewettes! It's kinda freeing just writing a few sentences, isn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteI've read all of them and agree on the last three. I didn't enjoy the Ethan Day book as much as you did, mostly because, to me, his first-person POV books are all starting to sound like they're about the same character.
Have a wonderful weekend!
@Tam: Yep, the letter A turned out to be a good one for me. :) Have a great weekend too, Tam!
ReplyDelete@Val: LOL, but you've read many other books that I haven't read yet, Val. So I'm a slow reader too then. :)
@Blodeuedd: Thank you, sweets! :D
@Chris: Grin, it's an art to use such few words! And yes, it's kinda freeing. I could write them right after finishing the book, which was nice. :D
I can see how the first person POV's in Ethan Day's books can become alike. I haven't read them all so it was/is not (yet) a problem for me. It's their wit that keeps returning, isn't it?
Have a great weekend too, Chris! :D
I really enjoyed Anything for You and All or Nothing. Very entertaining stories. The other two are on my TBR already.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gay Friday and have a fab weekend!
I'm late again, but I hope you had a very Happy Gay Friday!
ReplyDeleteLooks like A is a good letter of the alphabet. :) I haven't read any of them yet, but I've been meaning to read a book by Marie Sexton. I've heard great things about her books.
Can I just say that I LOVE Gay Fridays? Totally make my day when your post pops up in my inbox (and how funny does that sound?)
ReplyDeleteA belated Happy Liberation Day! I love your reviewette and you so nailed A to Z (wasn't it amazing?) and All or Nothing. *sob sob* I miss Nicky and Brandon and...those rope scenes - I can't look at rope the same way (makes for weird trips to home depot stores *grin*) Have you read Hard Fall (also by James Buchanan)?
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with Mama Kitty - I love Gay Fridays! And that is one lovely cookie (I almost wrote kitty - methinks I need another cookie :)
@Lily: I hope you'll enjoy the other two books too, when you get to them, Lily! :)
ReplyDelete@Ava: A was a very good letter indeed. :) Marie Sexton is an author worth trying for sure. A to Z is the second book in this series though, the first book is Promises so you best start with that one then. I think you'll like her books.
@Mama Kitty: Thank you so much hon! You're making MY day letting me know this! :D
@orannia: Thanks, sweets! I loved A to Z and All or Nothing so much.
Lol, the trips to home depot stores are making me giggle like a school girl now too. I haven't read Hard Fall yet, but it's on my ereader and I can't wait to read it. :)
I so look forward to hearing what you think of Hard Fall. It's...good IMHO :)
ReplyDelete@orannia: You'll probably read about it when I get to the letter H in my A to Z Challenge. ;)
ReplyDeleteYAH!
ReplyDelete