Wednesday Reading Meme
Mar. 9th, 2022 12:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowynightCurrently I am on a reading binge on m/m romance because I just want to read something with a definite happy ending, unlike real life. I prefer when there is an action/mystery/etc subplot alongside the romance, and I found that I really like age gap romance and big guys who like to bottom or submit.
Recently Finished:
Layla Reyne: I think she has a thing for writing age difference romance and big guys who like to bottom, which I approve. 😉 I like how much action there is in her series too.
Agents Irish and Whiskey series: I likes it best because it's very tropey in the great way: age difference, pining, friends with benefit when one actually wanting more and jealousy when knowing you have no right. The writer clearly loves Die Hard. There is an explosive secret reveal in book 2, but they survive it.
Trouble Brewing Series: Spin-off with FBI kidnapping rescue expert Cam and assistant US attorney Nic, both have skeletons in their family closet. It's good, but it doesn't hit my id so well.
Fog City series: I find the setup of the main couple in the first trilogy series a bit unrealistic (One is the head of assassins who wants his family organization to only kill bad guys), but I really love the standalone Silent Knight, because it has stoic pining from afar for years, self sacrifice and friends to lovers
Mary Calmes
Marshall series by Mary Calmes: Ian is green baret WHO kicks before asking. Miro is the calmer one who balances Ian as his partner and friend. He also pines for Ian for a long time. It's an emotional ride when they navigate the new dimension of their lives and relationship after getting together in first book. Good character development and a balance of work and romance. Note that the work gets heavy with child abuse, sex trafficking and kidnapping. There is also a serial killer who always manage to escape the prison and is obsessed with Miro. (He kidnaps and tortures him to steal his rib). Kind of a homage to Hannibal.
Torus Intercession Series by Mary Calmes: This is about a group who plays fixer, bodyguard and advocate to their clients. I don't look for the first book because one half of the couple is about to marry. In a Fix is about Croy who doesn't want personal connection and FBI agent Dallas who can't sleep because of his job. Fix It Up is about Lorcyn who grudgingly plays the life coach of former rock star Nick. I think the romance is a bit quick in In a Fix, but both are decent.
Seven of Spades series by Cordelia Kingsbridge: A bounty hunter with a recovering gambling problem and a cop with anger issue due to past assault trauma fall in love in pursuit of a serial kilker. The relapse of gambling problem plotline in book 3 and 4 is painful, but they both work really hard on their issues. The mystery plot is interesting and the real identify of the serial killer is a surprise to me.
Sunshine and Shadows by K. C. wells. Jamie and Stephen are childhood friends who meet again when Stephen moves back. Jamie has a traffic accident so he needs to use wheelchair, but he is still the optimistic and independent guy Stephen remembers, but Stephen is wary about romance because his previous boyfriends are all abusers. I think Jamie's disability is handled well, and it's a fluffy read.
Kill the Messenger by Maz Maddox is about two supernatural cops hunting down a vampire with an incubus yoga instructor and a killer for hire. It's a prequel to a series, and I think it showcases an interesting glimpse of the supernatural world. The friend to lover trope always works for me, and the killer for hire/fish trainer is fun without overshadowing the main couple.
Lethal by Reese Knightley: Jason Bourne if Bourne has an ex-boyfriend who is pursuing him. The break up make up romance is all right, but the villain is a bit obvious.
The Sword-Witch's Heart by Tavia Lark. It's set in a fantasy world with demons and gods. Levi is an uptight sword witch rejected by his ruthless family and his god who he betrays them for. To find his worth, he joins the demon banishing quest of his infuriating acquaintance, Evain, but falls in love gradually. But during the quest they both find each other beyond an annoying first impression and fall in love. Only problem: Evain isn't a human.
Read it if you like: Opposite attracts, identity porn, hurt/comfort, huddling for warmth, finding an anchor and rebuilding life and a character who always carries lube.
Thick as Thieves by Lucy Lennox: Julian has pined for his best friend Parker since young, but Parker is going to marry their friend Erin. Except that she runs away and leaves him at the altar, so Julian invites Parker to a vacation to recover. Then Parker has an epiphany.
Read it if you like: smarmy friend into lovers (they always sleep on the same bed, no personal space, etc when they are Just Friends tm), clueless/pining.
The Real Baxter by Lane Haynes. Seb is a bigshot Hollywood producer who has a problem. Gary, his best friend, ex, and the man who helps raise his two sons is getting married. Trent is a waiter and struggling actor. When they first met on the set, Trent wants an in but Seb sees through him. Seb is a charming silver fox and Trent is fun and likable. Their relationship slowly grows but have ups and downs before the HEA.
Read it if you like: silver fox, gradually developing relationship, angst and humour, age difference, people from different worlds trying to make it work
Dirty Work (Dirty Deeds #1) by T.A. Moore: it is great if you like bad guys who care about each other, an interesting mystery and compelling charcters. Look forward to more of them.
Lost and Bound by Eliot Grayson: Bonding for a chance to escape from hell, unreliable narrator, a convincing redemption arc,character rebuilding a place in his world, and stoic pining. What's not to love?
I wrote about Dirty Work and Lost and Bound more in last post
DNF
Psycop series by Jordan Castillo Price: Vic is a cop who can. see ghosts. Jacob is a cop who is into him from the beginning with not much build up. In the second book, Vic goes to healer because his ability goes rampant, and the healer doesn't believe him and calls him a fake. What kind of supposed healers dismiss their patients' concern and issues? From spoilers the healer will appear in other books, so I have to quit.
Recently Finished:
Layla Reyne: I think she has a thing for writing age difference romance and big guys who like to bottom, which I approve. 😉 I like how much action there is in her series too.
Agents Irish and Whiskey series: I likes it best because it's very tropey in the great way: age difference, pining, friends with benefit when one actually wanting more and jealousy when knowing you have no right. The writer clearly loves Die Hard. There is an explosive secret reveal in book 2, but they survive it.
Trouble Brewing Series: Spin-off with FBI kidnapping rescue expert Cam and assistant US attorney Nic, both have skeletons in their family closet. It's good, but it doesn't hit my id so well.
Fog City series: I find the setup of the main couple in the first trilogy series a bit unrealistic (One is the head of assassins who wants his family organization to only kill bad guys), but I really love the standalone Silent Knight, because it has stoic pining from afar for years, self sacrifice and friends to lovers
Mary Calmes
Marshall series by Mary Calmes: Ian is green baret WHO kicks before asking. Miro is the calmer one who balances Ian as his partner and friend. He also pines for Ian for a long time. It's an emotional ride when they navigate the new dimension of their lives and relationship after getting together in first book. Good character development and a balance of work and romance. Note that the work gets heavy with child abuse, sex trafficking and kidnapping. There is also a serial killer who always manage to escape the prison and is obsessed with Miro. (He kidnaps and tortures him to steal his rib). Kind of a homage to Hannibal.
Torus Intercession Series by Mary Calmes: This is about a group who plays fixer, bodyguard and advocate to their clients. I don't look for the first book because one half of the couple is about to marry. In a Fix is about Croy who doesn't want personal connection and FBI agent Dallas who can't sleep because of his job. Fix It Up is about Lorcyn who grudgingly plays the life coach of former rock star Nick. I think the romance is a bit quick in In a Fix, but both are decent.
Seven of Spades series by Cordelia Kingsbridge: A bounty hunter with a recovering gambling problem and a cop with anger issue due to past assault trauma fall in love in pursuit of a serial kilker. The relapse of gambling problem plotline in book 3 and 4 is painful, but they both work really hard on their issues. The mystery plot is interesting and the real identify of the serial killer is a surprise to me.
Sunshine and Shadows by K. C. wells. Jamie and Stephen are childhood friends who meet again when Stephen moves back. Jamie has a traffic accident so he needs to use wheelchair, but he is still the optimistic and independent guy Stephen remembers, but Stephen is wary about romance because his previous boyfriends are all abusers. I think Jamie's disability is handled well, and it's a fluffy read.
Kill the Messenger by Maz Maddox is about two supernatural cops hunting down a vampire with an incubus yoga instructor and a killer for hire. It's a prequel to a series, and I think it showcases an interesting glimpse of the supernatural world. The friend to lover trope always works for me, and the killer for hire/fish trainer is fun without overshadowing the main couple.
Lethal by Reese Knightley: Jason Bourne if Bourne has an ex-boyfriend who is pursuing him. The break up make up romance is all right, but the villain is a bit obvious.
The Sword-Witch's Heart by Tavia Lark. It's set in a fantasy world with demons and gods. Levi is an uptight sword witch rejected by his ruthless family and his god who he betrays them for. To find his worth, he joins the demon banishing quest of his infuriating acquaintance, Evain, but falls in love gradually. But during the quest they both find each other beyond an annoying first impression and fall in love. Only problem: Evain isn't a human.
Read it if you like: Opposite attracts, identity porn, hurt/comfort, huddling for warmth, finding an anchor and rebuilding life and a character who always carries lube.
Thick as Thieves by Lucy Lennox: Julian has pined for his best friend Parker since young, but Parker is going to marry their friend Erin. Except that she runs away and leaves him at the altar, so Julian invites Parker to a vacation to recover. Then Parker has an epiphany.
Read it if you like: smarmy friend into lovers (they always sleep on the same bed, no personal space, etc when they are Just Friends tm), clueless/pining.
The Real Baxter by Lane Haynes. Seb is a bigshot Hollywood producer who has a problem. Gary, his best friend, ex, and the man who helps raise his two sons is getting married. Trent is a waiter and struggling actor. When they first met on the set, Trent wants an in but Seb sees through him. Seb is a charming silver fox and Trent is fun and likable. Their relationship slowly grows but have ups and downs before the HEA.
Read it if you like: silver fox, gradually developing relationship, angst and humour, age difference, people from different worlds trying to make it work
Dirty Work (Dirty Deeds #1) by T.A. Moore: it is great if you like bad guys who care about each other, an interesting mystery and compelling charcters. Look forward to more of them.
Lost and Bound by Eliot Grayson: Bonding for a chance to escape from hell, unreliable narrator, a convincing redemption arc,character rebuilding a place in his world, and stoic pining. What's not to love?
I wrote about Dirty Work and Lost and Bound more in last post
DNF
Psycop series by Jordan Castillo Price: Vic is a cop who can. see ghosts. Jacob is a cop who is into him from the beginning with not much build up. In the second book, Vic goes to healer because his ability goes rampant, and the healer doesn't believe him and calls him a fake. What kind of supposed healers dismiss their patients' concern and issues? From spoilers the healer will appear in other books, so I have to quit.
