5 reviews for:

Crimson

Casey Morales

4.0 AVERAGE

velvetwrappedsmut's profile picture

velvetwrappedsmut's review

4.0

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh what a great story! I am definitely keen to see what happens in the next one.

I have read a lot of MM romances, and I really enjoyed watching the story between Will and Thomas play out. My heart always breaks for characters that have to hide their sexuality, and the time period for this one (1941-1943) meant that this was a given. I did love that they were still able to have stolen moments, but it was sad they still had to hide out in the open.

I found the two spicy scenes a little rushed, and wished they were longer. I am also used to reading books with a higher spice level, so was left wishing for more detail to hold me over for the rest of the story.

I also appreciated the research and attention to detail that went into this book. I was fascinated by the footnotes, and was able to learn a thing or two about what went on during WWII.

Although I do enjoy standalone books more, I am hooked to know what happens in the next instalment, and cannot wait to see what they get up to!

deannaleperi's review

4.0

Based on other reviews, I grabbed this historical romance, a genre I don't typically gravitate toward, and I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The writing was truly exceptional; it was clear that a significant amount of research went into crafting the narrative. The author seamlessly wove real-world elements into the story, making it easy to connect with the characters and their experiences.

However, I did have some reservations. Some of the love story unfolded off-page, which left me feeling somewhat disconnected from the emotional journey of the characters. Additionally, the inclusion of mature content required downloading additional chapters, which felt a bit jarring and interrupted the flow of the story.

Despite these drawbacks, I found this to be a solid read overall. The engaging writing and rich historical context made for an enjoyable experience, and I would definitely consider picking up more from this author in the future.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

steve62's review

4.0

This is very much a beginning. It sets the stage for stories to come. While it was suggested that this would be a thrilling ripping spy yarn, it is simply the prelude with a lot of scene setting and introductions. I did enjoy it once I turned my head around to understand what was not going to be in it, but I am looking forward to the action ramping up in the next instalment (hopefully).

dinohakari's review

5.0

OMG this author. This author! I've been in awe of him since he published My Accidental First Date and I was lucky enough to read it (in fact, it was one of my first reviews). He amazed me throughout that kind of autobiography series, with his fresh, simple style and unique humor as he went through his journey of self-discovery, going through sensitive topics and some really difficult moments, sharing details of his life with us as if we were some old, close friends instead of simple readers. And he continued to amaze me with his next series, totally different from the first, where each book is even better than the last, each one focused on a different and sensitive topic, but without ever losing his style, and omg, so well written, with characters with so much depth (Cooper is my favorite, btw. He is one of the best MC I've ever read) that inside my mind the stories developed like watching a movie and not simply reading pages of a book.

And now, he show us again his amazing talent with this new story. And yes, the main axis is the romance between the two MCs, but what makes that romance stand out more, what makes it unique (and yes, I already used that word several times in this review!) and original, is the plot , and is the moment and place where it is set. In a time as difficult as the Second World War, where secrets and lies were daily food. In a world of spies and soldiers, of betrayal and subterfuge, blossomed a romance so special, so pure, that it shone through the darkness and danger that surrounded it. Will and Thomas faced not only having to survive a war that threatened to engulf the world, but also surviving a world that was not yet ready for a love like theirs.

An incredible story of adventure, danger and strong emotions, with two truly special MCs and an incredible support group of friends as sidlined characters. Highly, highly recommended even though we have to wait for the next book to find out how it continues!

I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
shrikebait's profile picture

shrikebait's review

4.0

Cute and promising!

At first glance, I thought this book would get pretty heavy. "Crimson" just sounds so foreboding, doesn't it? While this book does address many of the very serious aspects of WWII, it has plenty of levity to balance it out. I feel that the romance takes center stage over the war in the plot. In other words, Crimson is primarily a cute romance with an interesting historic setting. That being said, the author did their research. I enjoyed reading real radio transcripts and the footnote citations for historic references. The stakes do raise near the end as the war escalates, setting up tension for the next books in the series. I'm definitely invested!

My main annoyance with Crimson is how "spicy" scenes are handled. Two chapters end with a note saying to download the scene from a link if you'd like to read it. Unfortunately, this means I had to download and export two extra files to my e-reader for this book...which just isn't very practical. I would much rather these scenes be included in the main text or, if the author wishes to keep them separated, tucked away in the appendix of the ebook itself. Anyhow, this didn't affect the plot itself, but it did disrupt my experience as a reader.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book for free! I'm leaving this review of my own accord.