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imtiredofthisgrandpa's reviews
113 reviews
Too Close to Love by M.A. Innes
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Minor: Kidnapping
Corbin by Silvia Violet
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Corbin is the sweetest baby in the entire world, and I love him so much because what do you mean this precious boy only wants his family’s respect? What do you mean he feels like he doesn’t pick things up as quickly, and Beau made him feel better about himself? He’s the absolute cutest, the most precious, the babiest baby to ever grace Silvia Violet’s literary realm. Corbin just wants to be seen by the world. (Beau, of course, has perfect vision.)
It’s an excellent listen!
It’s an excellent listen!
From Ashes by K.M. Neuhold
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.
It’s an extremely interesting choice to have the flashback of MC1’s 16yo brother’s funeral include the knowledge that MC1’s bestie was “dating” him, then not have MC1 either flip his lid because 20yo+16yo≠legal. The author also doesn’t include it in the “caution” section, so that’s a bit wild to me. They also have MC1 stay super accepting of the fact that bestie was still “in love” with his underage brother and even became roomies with him, so yikes, Adam.
We also have underage sex work, as well as sex work for the drug use we were informed of in the warnings, plus a 16yo (past MC2) and “someone more than twice [his] age” getting together through MC2’s sex work.
Maybe I’m being too sensitive about it all, but these are things mentioned at multiple points, up to just before I DNFed. I feel that running mentions of things like that mean a few extra warnings might be warranted.
Anyway, those were the big things that kept making me 😤 every time they were brought up, but I also didn’t enjoy how the writing switched from descriptions and inner thoughts to almost exclusively dialogue once Adam and Nox meet in person. I want to be able to picture a scene with an author’s voice, not just have two characters meet up and have a pages-long conversation before the scene ends and picks up with another day. Even when the Phoenix reveal happened, I didn’t feel any emotion in the moment because it was mainly dialogue that was trying to be sad with no feeling behind it.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.
We also have underage sex work, as well as sex work for the drug use we were informed of in the warnings, plus a 16yo (past MC2) and “someone more than twice [his] age” getting together through MC2’s sex work.
Maybe I’m being too sensitive about it all, but these are things mentioned at multiple points, up to just before I DNFed. I feel that running mentions of things like that mean a few extra warnings might be warranted.
Anyway, those were the big things that kept making me 😤 every time they were brought up, but I also didn’t enjoy how the writing switched from descriptions and inner thoughts to almost exclusively dialogue once Adam and Nox meet in person. I want to be able to picture a scene with an author’s voice, not just have two characters meet up and have a pages-long conversation before the scene ends and picks up with another day. Even when the Phoenix reveal happened, I didn’t feel any emotion in the moment because it was mainly dialogue that was trying to be sad with no feeling behind it.
Moonstruck by Onley James
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book is my most comforting comfort read. I really enjoy the relationship between Jericho and Atticus, with all the little moments that create <i>them.</i> I’m not sure what it is about this couple, but I don’t think I’ll ever read enough of them.
The writing is great, as well as the relationship-building, but the plot definitely got lost partway through because I’ve listened to this at least four times a week for the last three months, and I still can’t quite tell you why some things are said or done. Honestly, that would normally kill me, but moments like the television and spreading out murder weapons within reach so the other wouldn’t have to stretch too far swept that feeling under the rug.
I’ll recommend Moonstruck to everyone and, if I had anyone to gush about MM books to irl, I’d never shut up about it.
The writing is great, as well as the relationship-building, but the plot definitely got lost partway through because I’ve listened to this at least four times a week for the last three months, and I still can’t quite tell you why some things are said or done. Honestly, that would normally kill me, but moments like the television and spreading out murder weapons within reach so the other wouldn’t have to stretch too far swept that feeling under the rug.
I’ll recommend Moonstruck to everyone and, if I had anyone to gush about MM books to irl, I’d never shut up about it.
Taken By My Dad's Bodyguard by Candace Lark
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Someone reviewed this ten months ago with the same character details and “plot” in these 87 PDF pages, so the author has obviously had other versions of this out there—which would be fine, if they had taken even just the single detailed review on Goodreads into account and used the thoughts to better the story.
The other person mentions a murdered boyfriend background that was obviously cut from this version—and for what? Otto had no soul—literally no emotions or true care for Myers or his feelings. Blaming Myers multiple times for someone else’s actions, but writing it so the vulnerable 20yo brushes that insult off and gets irritated at something else? Continuing to “punish” Myers. (Abuse, really, because where was the actual communication between them? Myers decided “I need it” and… that’s it.) He has no loving thoughts about Myers until the literal end.
Another thing that got me? We had the “plot” being about Kevin the entire time—the suspicions, Myers’ knowledge, the betrayal—then he admitted to the thing Otto was suspicious about, and there was no reaction beyond “dang, this other agent is gonna do this by the book”? Otto is inexplicably angrier at the (frankly, ridiculous) threat to Myers. (A ripped chair leg? Why does a man who wanted to be involved with the “mafia” not have a gun hidden somewhere, even in WITSEC?) And how tf did what happened to Hal happen because we have an admission of betrayal, but no explanation.
Finally, I feel angriest about this: Spit is all that’s required! Lube? We don’t know her. A 20yo skipping lube in his inexperience is believable—probably regrettable, but believable. I forget how much older Otto is, but it’s by over a decade, so we have a man in his thirties just out here raw-dogging it in every way, with Myers thinking about how much sex hurts until the pain eventually ebbs.
I won’t be recommending this to anyone.
(I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.)
The other person mentions a murdered boyfriend background that was obviously cut from this version—and for what? Otto had no soul—literally no emotions or true care for Myers or his feelings. Blaming Myers multiple times for someone else’s actions, but writing it so the vulnerable 20yo brushes that insult off and gets irritated at something else? Continuing to “punish” Myers. (Abuse, really, because where was the actual communication between them? Myers decided “I need it” and… that’s it.) He has no loving thoughts about Myers until the literal end.
Another thing that got me? We had the “plot” being about Kevin the entire time—the suspicions, Myers’ knowledge, the betrayal—then he admitted to the thing Otto was suspicious about, and there was no reaction beyond “dang, this other agent is gonna do this by the book”? Otto is inexplicably angrier at the (frankly, ridiculous) threat to Myers. (A ripped chair leg? Why does a man who wanted to be involved with the “mafia” not have a gun hidden somewhere, even in WITSEC?) And how tf did what happened to Hal happen because we have an admission of betrayal, but no explanation.
Finally, I feel angriest about this: Spit is all that’s required! Lube? We don’t know her. A 20yo skipping lube in his inexperience is believable—probably regrettable, but believable. I forget how much older Otto is, but it’s by over a decade, so we have a man in his thirties just out here raw-dogging it in every way, with Myers thinking about how much sex hurts until the pain eventually ebbs.
I won’t be recommending this to anyone.
(I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.)
Mob Boss by Silvia Violet
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0