831bookworm's reviews
211 reviews

Bully Brojob: Straight to Gay M/M First Time by Jade Ironwood

fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Sweet story but I would have liked it to be longer. These “one scene” like novellas of hers are quite a treat. I hope she writes something full length soon :) 

Bully Thanksgiving: Straight to Gay M/M First Time by Jade Ironwood

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

A sweet quick read of Adam and Jesse. Jessie always thought that Adam hated him. Seems that Adam just had a crush on that he was unable to verbalize until Adam was gifted a new car by his best friend‘s parents basically his.

I would have liked to see more of the other side, Adam. This author seems to only do the one POV in her short stories. Everything happens to Jesse and it would be nice to see the side that instigates. Nice steam and some light dirty talk. 

I have noticed that she doesn’t include lube during the sex scenes. Maybe there is a mention but it doesn’t play as big a role in the scene as the actual slow entry and adjustment period does.  

Bully Christmas by Jade Ironwood

relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Excellent little MM romance read. Brandon had a bully from HS, Cyrus, who he ends up having to do some community service with. Cyrus propositions, Brandon and Brandon follows his body’s suggestion.

There is little plot since it’s so short but the steam is nice and there are some quick details and back story to build credibility for the characters. It’s all single POV and I think this would be a fun regular read if they added Cyrus side of things. And if they answered whether the officer was all a part of it… 

Choke Up by Rebecca Rathe

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Ellis has loved Gabe, his twin brothers best friend, since he was 10. Ellis a blind high school party night experience, could it have been Gabe? They all go to college and despite needing somebody on the college campus app, he is still thinking of Gabe. After ups out that it is Gabe. They then start to figure out if this is something real or just some forbidden fun.

Their dialogue and emotional exploration is good, there is some gay awakening and gay claiming your own pride and the worry of coming out to friends and family. I was more in love with Gabe than Ellis, but Ellis had strength in his desire for Gabe and tenacity. 

The Heart of Midnight by Kady Ash

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A love story of a Scar who gets too interested in his neighbor Avery but doesnt make a move, instead he becomes Muerte and serial kills woman who match her description. Oh and climb into her bedroom at night to rape her, but hint, she likes it. She also likes Scar, her neighbor. Finally she figures out her nighttime visitor is Scar and visa versa and the cat is out of the bag. He spills the beans and she accepts it all and just wants more of him. They escape the cops together and run off to an island in the Maldives.

Not exactly my taste but prose was good. Since it was so short most of the layering of character was given to Scar and less on Avery. I would have liked to see more of her rationale except that they're kink mates. Nice spice but a little on the extreme side for me. 

Myth Adventures by Robert Lynn Asprin

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a childhood read, I can't remember a lot of the specifics (20+ years since I read it) but I remember the characters from seeing their faces on the cover like they're old friends and I remember the feeling I had when I was reading this book. I was in their world, completely, and I loved it. 

Rhodes by Octavia Jensen

funny informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A short sweet quick read. I love how Octavia Jensen is dependably able to write some good steamy scenes with green flag sweetheart heroes, which Rhodes definitely is. And her women are usually strong independent women, which Mila definitely is. Her light tone and comedic timing has me constantly bursting out in laughter over something a character said or thought. She even pokes a small jab at one of her previous books and makes puns! (Love an author with a sense of humor)

These two initially meet via Remi + Jagger but they instantly connect and it explodes into a burst of -- back alley quickie sex. :( Roscoe got the sex he wanted and Mila thinks that's all its going to be, but my my, how wrong they both are. 

The thing that stood out to me the most were all the [almost directed to the reader] insights on how Mila dealt with Rhodes, aka how to deal with this type of or in general man and/or woman. Some examples are: 

• I’m just pretty sure I only have one more in me before oversensitivity ruins it. too much can be too much
• I can tell by the dopey grin on Jay’s face that he definitely got his, and if I know anything about him at all, I know he didn’t come until she got hers first. My friend group is full of gentlemen, after all. women before men at all times
• “You need more food than this, Mila.” [...] “Yeah, I figured you’d say that. That’s why I have Milo’s on the way for you. It’ll be at Catacomb in—” he checks his Grubhub app— “ten minutes.” The grin on his face tells me he knows exactly how smooth that was. “Eat when you have a minute.” The giant idiot just walks away with a wink, leaving me sitting there with my jaw on the floor and my heart twisted in knots. I don’t know what happened, but the Rhodes I’ve seen today... he’s worth risking a lot for. the feed a man and he'll stay works on women too
• him: “Never be embarrassed, okay? Tell me when I’m fucking up or hurting you in any way. It’s the only way I’ll know and do better. You have a pretty convincing mask.” [...] her: “I’ve always had to have a strong mask. I’ll try to be more honest with you.” communication is key
• “I fucking hate fishnets.” Jordan shudders, rubbing her thighs. “The last time I wore them, I looked like a mermaid when I took them off. It wasn’t sexy.” I don’t know. I don’t think guys really care about that kind of thing, but it matters how we feel about ourselves. girls do wear the clothes for themselves
• I really do enjoy taking my time to get her ready to take me. Especially now that I know she struggles with it. great tip for all the guys that actually have something to worry about
  
  I have found this in her other works as well, but like how the dark romance genre is charged with more red flags than they know what to do with, Octavia Jensen always gives me more than your mom's hallmark romance stories, but with consenting safe-word green flags.
  
  
  
  

Camp Deviant by Kady Ash

dark informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A short quick read for those that want more smut than plot. 

In a nutshell it centers around Ash going to Camp Deviant to play out her sexual fantasy. The two masked men she meets with take charge that weekend and want to keep her for longer. Will she choose to stay their “little bunny” or was it all just a weekend fantasy? 

There were a couple of times when the phrasing pulled me out of the moment a little, but otherwise the pros was good for the story. Since it’s a there was more telling than showing, but really the main focus of this was a very steamy set of scenes With some quick loose plot to tie them all together. 

I did find it interesting that there were several times where the comparison to feminist ideals or feminist goals was brought in. Essentially acquainting that the most feminist thing that the character could do is just follow her sexual heart. I don’t know much about the different types of waves of feminism, but it definitely perked my ears and makes me want to do some research to better understand this true connection or author correlation.

I would say max spice but low plot overall and I’m a bit of a reader for the characters specifically. I enjoyed the read but it intentionally had such little plot it’s hard to rate that on its own. But if you want some nice spice, this will state that hunger. 

God of Fury by Rina Kent

dark emotional funny informative inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read God of Malice first and immediately Nikolai caught my eye, and then I noticed how Bran caught his eye too and had to read their story. This book launches you into Nikolai noticing Bran and then pursuing Bran, first because Kolya demands it and then later because he himself does. Its a great back and forth high tension slow burn read of two men battling their own demons to be there for each other.

Nikolai's personality is so sweet and like a golden retriever mentality with the chaos of a st. bernard with the look of a cane corso. And Brandon is a wonderful foil for him, being a neurotic Type A proper British man who really comes into a more rounded personality once Nikolai opens him up.

Their love story is heartfelt and goes up and down several times. While the coming out of the closet is not the main issue for Brandon's reticence it does represent one of the hurdles he has to overcome to achieve his goal of being happy with the one he loves.

There is not much connectivity to a greater plot outside of focusing on their love story amongst the overarching plot events of the series. There is some mention of outside events, but it doesn't affect the reading to jump right to this book. I am tickled pick at how this was just a deep dive into their relationship and allowed for that focus to develop one of the best couples of the Legacy of Gods series. 

God of Malice by Rina Kent

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This felt like a rip off of Sam Mariano's Untouchable (2018) with small changes but not as strong writing quality or character development [comparably]. I was more interested in the other characters in the book and am reading around in the series to get to the couples I want to read more of.