REVIEW: Devilfish by Anna Kensing

Devilfish by Anna Kensing is a paranormal m/m romance for aficionados of tentacle sex and mystery. The book is well written and laced with historical atmosphere of nineteenth century Port Townsend. It is a lovely quick read to immerse yourself in and forget the world for a few hours.

Elliot Bishop is a successful merchant about to get married, until his wife-to-be Celeste disappears under similar circumstances as his mother did when he was a boy. His stepfather, who has been looking for his mother ever since, has disappeared too.
Together with his stepbrother and lover, captain Declan Fitzgerald, Elliot sets out to find his fiancee, and hopefully find out what happened to his mother and stepfather as well. Driven by nightmares and the call of the tides, he finds much more than he bargained for.

Devilfish starts pretty slow but when it takes off it does goes from a sweet romantic drama, to supernatural mystery, straight through to tentacle sex. This book was quite a ride. I loved the romance, the mystery, the atmosphere. The world building was amazing. I love a good historical adventure, and this was just perfect. The other characters were great as well. I loved Declan’s crew of misfits, Elliot’s internal struggles, and Celeste’s interest in natural science. A great read.

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I received this book for free through Voracious Readers Only.

30 november 2019 0

REVIEW: Cold Attraction by Zoe Ashwood

Cold Attraction by Zoe Ashwood is a science fiction romance novel. If you want some lighthearted but hot romance with an intriguing political plot in the background, this might just be the book for you. It’s a very easy read.

Dr. Adriana Ribeiro is an extraterrestrial anthropologist and part of the first group of humans to visit the icy planet Rendu to study the Rendians and their society. The most interesting Rendian being Taron ad Naals, captain of the ship that is taking them to Rendu. She is instantly attracted to him. But he is acting cold, after the one hot encounter they had.

When captain Taron ad Naals gets back to his home planet with a bunch of humans, it is clear the political situation has changed. The king is dead, and the current queen, Taron’s cousin Zeema, is under the control of a power-hungry regent. Tasked with protecting the human delegation and keeping them from finding out what has happened, he is forced to work closely with Adriana.

The aliens are pretty close to human, with only superficial differences, so it didn’t quite have the feel of encountering really alien cultures that I love so much. I would have liked a little more in depth info on the aliens. The romance was fast paced and a bit love at first sight, it is never really clear why they love each other, but it worked.

I liked that the main character was a female scientist, and that other female scientists were represented in the story. The human characters are from different countries, which was nice, but there was not a lot of backstory to them. Even with the main characters I didn’t feel like I got to know them while reading the book, so I didn’t really feel invested.

This is a fun, quick, science fiction romance.

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

23 oktober 2019 0

REVIEW: Clueless Cabot by André D. Michaels

Clueless Cabot by André D. Michaels is an M/M contemporary romance novella. Cabot MacCrae has been in love with his best friend Lloyd for as long as he can remember. But Lloyd is straight, and Lloyd’s family is like a second family to Cabot, so he has never said anything about it. When Lloyd falls out of a window and breaks his wrist and collarbone, Cabot of course offers to take care of him. They are best friends after all.

The title pretty much covers it. Cabot is clueless. Actually, both main characters are very clueless. It takes multiple nosy family members and exceptional circumstances to finally bring them to recognise the truth about their love for each other.

This is a really sweet best friends to lovers story. If you like this trope as much as I do this is a hilarious book to read, full of love and family drama. I loved how pretty much everyone knows they love each other before they figure it out themselves. But there is no denying these characters are perfect for each other.

This is a pretty short novella length story, but it works brilliantly as such. If it had been longer it might have become frustrating to read. Definitely great if you’re in the mood for a fun, short, romantic read with plenty of drama.

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Release date: 16 September 2019

16 september 2019 0

REVIEW: How to Belong with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall

How to Belong with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall is a M/M romance about regular guy Arden St. Ives and his relationship with billionaire Caspian Hart. This is the third (and I think final) book in the Arden St. Ives series, pretty much the gay Fifty Shades of Grey but with much better writing quality. Alexis Hall really did a great job with this series. I love the writing style, the fantastic sense of humour, and the pop-culture references.

Warning: this review may contain SPOILERS for How to Bang a Billionaire and How to Blow It with a Billionaire.

Arden now has his dream job writing for fashionable magazine Milieu, he has friends, a supporting family, and a feral but awesome roommate. But he is heartbroken after the end of his first real relationship, with billionaire Caspian Hart. When his job brings him face to face with Caspian again, he finds out Caspian is engaged to Nathaniel, his ex-boyfriend. The two are not at all right for each other, and Arden is upset to see Caspian dedicated to being unhappy. But what can he do?

Throughout the book you see glimpses of why these two characters are pretty much made for each other. Arden is exploring his kinky side, and enjoying it even though he is missing Caspian terribly. Caspian is punishing himself for events in his past by trying to be the perfect vanilla fiancé to Nathaniel, something he is not made to be. Arden mostly wants Caspian to be happy, and knows he can never be so while he is still denying himself.

I love the secondary characters in this so much. Arden’s best friend (and former roommate) Nik is going through his own difficulties a car accident, but he is as real and kind as ever. Arden’s current roommate (and Caspian’s sister) Ellery is a bit of a mess but at the same time so relatable and I love her friendship with Arden. And then there’s Arden’s casual but kinky relationship with photographer George, which just blew my mind.

This is just a lovely read, with plenty of real drama and striking the perfect balance between that drama and lighthearted fun. As the final book in the series, it was a bit emotional for me to read. It was just perfect.

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars

14 september 2019 0

REVIEW: Astrobiology: The Search for Life Elsewhere in the Universe by Andrew May

Astrobiology: The Search for Life Elsewhere in the Universe by Andrew May* is a popular science book about the fascinating topic of astrobiology. I’m a bit particular about my non-fiction, but I love books about science, space, or history. Astrobiology: The Search for Life Elsewhere in the Universe covers two of those, science and space, so I just had to read it. As a lover of science fiction set in space, I am always happy to learn more about actual science so I can get a grasp of what is possible and what is not.

The books starts off explaining how we might go about discovering life on other planets. There are two possible types of life signs: biosignatures and technosignatures. The first would be a sign of primitive life, the second a sign of advanced intelligence. SETI mostly focuses on trying to detect technosignatures, while ways of detecting biosignatures on exoplanets are being worked on by astronomers, and searching for life on other planets within our solar system is the realm of space agencies like ESA and NASA.

There is some speculation about possible kinds of aliens, some more alien to us than others, and the environments that might be conductive to their survival. The Drake equation, which makes an educated guess of how many alien civilisations might be sending out radio signals, is also covered. It’s stuff like this that I find particularly exciting!

The writing in this book is very comprehensive, despite covering a complicated branch of science it is very easy to understand everything. It is fascinating to read what scientists are working on, and understanding some of the how and why. There is a helpful list of further reading in the back, which is a starting point to discovering more on the subjects covered in the book.

Astrobiology: The Search for Life Elsewhere in the Universe is part of the Hot Science series, which I am a fan of. The other books in this series are equally well written and comprehensible, though of course some of the subjects interest me more than others. And I loved this one so much!

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*I don’t know why the Goodreads page of this book lists its author as Rhodi Evans. The author name on/in my copy is Andrew May and there is no mention of Rhodi Evans.

12 september 2019 0

REVIEW: Midnight Comes by S.J. Blasko

Midnight Comes by S.J. Blasko is a collection of six poems part and of the series Refractions: Fairytales Between the Lines. These poems cover the darker, more human side behind a number of classic fairytales, going into the psychology of the characters and giving new insights into the reality of their lives. Full of wonderful imagery and deep feeling, these poems will speak to anyone.

Thirteen illustrates the significance of the midnight hour in various fairytales. Its symbolical meaning of wiping the slate clean and starting a new day with new possibilities.

Beastly tells the origin story of the Beast, and how his pride was broken. A gloomy, dark tale with a beautiful black-and-white illustration to match.

Rapunzel, with love is written in the form of a letter from Rapunzel to her mother. I think it does a great job of depicting the creeping effects of loneliness.

Mermaid’s Soul tells the story of the Little Mermaid, and the naivety or foolishness of thinking being human would be in improvement over being a mermaid. It just shows the grass is never greener on the other side.

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall gives a voice to the self-proclaimed benevolent queen whose insecurities and jealousies lead her to feel she cannot rule her country properly if there is someone else with more beauty than herself. This poem too is accompanied by wonderful artwork.

Lost and Found is the story of a boy who was lost, cold and without love, and then found again, restored to his former self by his friend. As good a depiction of depression as I ever saw.

These poems are all free verse to an extent, and though the metre still flows pretty well there were a few jarring turns of phrase that did not quite fit. Still, I enjoyed reading these poems very much. The topics were really well thought out and the images the words evoked spoke to me. I can recommend this poetry bundle to anyone who likes fairytales, but with a slightly different spin.

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I received this book for free through Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review.

10 september 2019 0

REVIEW: Lion’s Head Revisited by Jeffrey Round

Lion’s Head Revisited by Jeffrey Round is a mystery, part of the Dan Sharp Mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone without any issues. It’s not dark or noir, but not exactly cosy either. I would call a it a moody book, set partly in the Canadian wilderness and partly in Toronto, with a serious topic and a Private Investigator who has flashbacks of unhappy memories related to the area this investigation is taking place.

PI Dan Sharp is hired by the parents of Jeremy, an autistic boy who has possibly been kidnapped while they were on a camping trip near Lion’s Head, on Bruce Peninsula, Canada.
The boy’s mothers Janice and Ashley and his biological father Eli just want Jeremy back home safe. But there is also an ex who is still in love, a business partner with a grudge, a surrogate mother with a drug problem, two estranged grandmothers, and a nanny who was fired recently. With such a complex family situation, the possible suspects are many.

The police has already investigated and found no real leads, according to Dan’s boyfriend Nick, who is a cop. But then, neither the police nor Dan are given full and honest information by all the suspects. Dan has to trust his skills and instincts, and his knowledge of the Lion’s Head area, where he has vacationed before as a boy. Nick doesn’t like that Dan puts himself at risk, which puts some strain on their relationship.

This was a wild ride, with so many different and possible suspects it was mind-boggling at times. I definitely could not have anticipated the ending. I liked all the characters, they felt very real and well rounded. I especially liked Dan, which was great because a likeable main character makes a book so much more pleasurable to read. And I want to give a special mention to the recluse farmer Horace with his seemingly random bible quotations.

This not a romance book, but it does feature a gay main character in a same-sex relationship and overall has good lgbtq+ representation. The representation of autism was also respectfully done, though I did not really understand what Jeremy’s treatment entailed or why the costs of his treatment were such a big deal, since I do not know much about the Canadian healthcare system and most of this was just glossed over in the book. I thought healthcare in Canada was pretty good, but apparently that’s not the case in the case described in this book. A little more explanation for international readers would have been nice.

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Publication date: 25 February 2020

I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

9 september 2019 0

REVIEW: How to Run with the Wolves by Eli Easton

How to Run with the Wolves by Eli Easton is a great addition to the Howl at the Moon series. This M/M romance series is set in the town of Mad Creek, which houses a large quickened (dog shifter) population. I love this series! The dog shifters are so friendly and loving and the sense of community in these books is great. They really are feel-good reads.

This is book #5 and can be read as a standalone, but since many of the characters from previous books also make appearances I think this series is best enjoyed read in order.

Zeus is a Saint Bernard shifter working on the Search and Rescue team after an earthquake in Anchorage. When they rescue an Inuit man, they are invited to come stay at his village. They learn of the old legend of the Qimmig – huskies that could turn into men. Zeus suspects there is more to the legend, and is proven right when the Qimmig approach him.

Timo is a proud Qimmig, and brother to the alpha Yuki. The Qimmig are desperately looking for additions to their pack, because inbreeding is threatening to be the end of their small population. When Timo first sees Zeus he is intrigued. But while Zeus can’t to stay, he invites Timo to come with him to visit Mad Creek.

Zeus and Timo quickly become friends. They come from such different backgrounds, but they have a lot in common too. And friendly cooperation between Mad Creek and the Qimmig may be just what is needed to help the Qimmig and their heritage and culture survive. Both are likeable characters. Zeus is a gentle giant, peaceful and kind. Timo is mischievous and playful, but with a great sense of responsibility to his people.

A great read, heartwarming and uplifting. I was also quite happy to read that this book will kick off another series all about the Qimmig in Alaska. I don’t think I will ever get enough of Eli Easton’s brilliant dog shifters!

Q’s Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

31 augustus 2019 0

REVIEW: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

This is How You Lose the Time War is a science fiction F/F romance novel. There’s a time war going on between two factions: The Agency and Garden. Red and Blue, respectively, are their top agents, subtly changing the different Strands of the timelines in order to win the war. But when they start secretly writing each other letters, hiding them for each other to find, Red and Blue start getting to know each other. Caught on different sides of the conflict, their evolving friendship is forbidden.

The writing style is absolutely beautiful. The letters Red and Blue exchange are like something straight out of Jane Austen. I loved the evolving relationship between Red and Blue, and their nicknames for each other inspired by the colours red and blue. They are from different backgrounds and upbringings, both in the far future as far as I could tell, and yet they manage to find common ground. This is a lovely romance story, even though it’s restricted to an exchange of letters because if Red and Blue would ever meet for real their superiors might find out.

The world building is great. The time war takes place in different time periods and several (alternative) time lines, adding a lot of background flavour. There’s no real explanation for the how and why of time travel and the time war, but I didn’t really mind that. Even if you’re not interested in the time travel element there is a lot to love.

Q’s Book Reviews rating: 4 out of 5 stars

29 augustus 2019 0

REVIEW: A Matter of Oaths by Helen S. Wright

A Matter of Oaths by Helen S. Wright is a military science fiction novel with a M/M romance in the background. There are two Empires, each ruled by an immortal emperor. The patrol ship Battya is currently assigned to serve the Old Empire. The Three commanding Battya – Commander Rallya, Webmaster Joshim and Captain Vidar – is looking for a new webber to add to their crew. Rafe is a webber looking for a berth on a ship, but he’s also an oath-breaker, and as such not a very popular choice. But there are not a lot of other candidates, so Rallya decides to take a chance on him.

The punishment for being an oath-breaker is a complete memory wipe, so Rafe doesn’t remember his past life or career at all. In performing his duties, he discovers he is much more competent than he knew. And then problems turn up that might have something to do with his past. The stakes are high. Sometimes not knowing your past is a very dangerous thing.

I love the characters in this, they are the heart of the story. They’re all real, with their own flaws and quirks, which makes it easy to relate to them. Commander Rallya, a strong and capable middle aged woman with a bad hip nearing the end of her career, is not the kind of character you often encounter in military science fiction. She is awesome. But what I love most is how the space battles are portrayed. Strategy and tactics play a huge role, and as a result the space battles play out almost like a game of chess.

The writing is incredible. From the very first page, the story runs along at a high pace, throwing the reader in the deep end without anything to hold on to, which I like. It means this book is even better the second time you read it. And the third time.

Q’s Reviews rating: 5 out of 5 stars

28 augustus 2019 0