The first wrap up of the year and I have no idea what I’ve read LOL. Normally, I make notes so I’ll remember, but I haven’t. I’ve reread books. I’m not sure I’ve read anything new at all. I found a folder with old ebooks on a portable hard drive and I had a couple of ‘oh, I have to read this one’ and a few ‘hmm, I don’t remember that one’ moments.
There is comfort in reading stories you already know – though I never used to think so.
Okay, here we go, I might miss some, but…
Out of the Blackness by Carter Quinn
I feel like I’m already talked out on this one LOL. I wrote about it over at Holly’s site, so I’ll keep it brief. This is way too sweet for me, way too sweet. The people around Avery are annoying and the writing is… But obviously, I love this since this is the third time I read it – guilty pleasure in all its glory LOL
A childhood of abuse has left Avery so physically and emotionally scarred he believes he shouldn’t be alive. His only sanctuary has been his relationship with his older foster brother Sam. Avery finally lets Sam convince him to start therapy to help overcome his crippling anxiety, but even that can’t prepare him for the upheaval caused by meeting Noah Yates.
Noah is everything Avery fears. He’s large and physically powerful—and undeniably capable of destroying Avery’s hard-earned progress. Although Noah seems to have a tender streak when it comes to him, Avery is terrified of being victimized again. But no matter how many times he tries to push him away, Noah never goes far.
Noah wants to save Avery, but can he be the catalyst Avery needs to begin the journey out of the blackness?
https://books2read.com/OutoftheBlackness
Guarded by Kim Fielding
I read this when it came out back in 2014. It’s one of the Don’t Read in the Closet stories that the Goodreads M/M Romance Group used to organise. It was the first year I wrote something.
This is a great story, enemies to lovers, a rude prince who is kidnapped and only his enemy can rescue him. I haven’t read a Kim Fielding story I haven’t liked yet, and you can grab this for free through the M/M Romance Group.
A brutal war left Volos Perun with physical and emotional scars and with a reputation as a hero. Now he’s a soldier stationed at the palace, desiring Prince Berhanu while receiving only loathing in return. But when Berhanu foolishly refuses the king’s request to let Volos accompany him on a peace mission to the neighboring country, Berhanu is kidnapped and brutalized. Now Volos must risk his life as he works to save Berhanu and help his country avoid another devastating war.
Coming Home by M.J. O’Shea
I didn’t remember this one, not when I only saw the title in a folder. There were no bells ringing whatsoever. But I’ve had this… many years ago I read a story about a guy with PTSD. I don’t remember much about it at all, but at times it pops up there in the back of my mind and I try to remember but I never do. It’s about an ex-soldier and I think he lives close to a lake, but that’s about it. Anyway, I thought maybe it was this one.
When I opened it, I remembered. It’s not that PTSD story at all but about a guy who used to be a bully who starts working for the one he was the most brutal towards, only he doesn’t realise that it’s that guy.
I liked it the first time I read it, and I like it this time around too, but damn I wanted to shake Tally at times.
Tallis Carrington ruled Rock Bay with his gang of jocks and an iron fist-until a scandal destroyed his family’s name. Ten years later Tallis is dead broke, newly homeless, and on the walk of shame to end all walks of shame. He needs money and needs it fast, and Rock Bay is the only home he knows. But the people of Rock Bay haven’t forgotten him-or the spoiled brat he used to be. The only person in town willing to overlook his past is Lex, the new coffee shop owner, who offers Tally a job even though he appears to despise Tally based on his reputation alone. When Tally discovers his gorgeous boss is the kid he tortured back in high school, Lex’s hot and cold routine finally makes sense. Now Tally has to pull out all the stops to prove he was never really the jerk he seemed to be. After all, if he can win Lex’s heart, the rest of the town should be a piece of coffee cake.
https://books2read.com/ComingHomeOshea
Persistence of Memory by J.M. Snyder
Ah… I remembered this one well. I read it the first time long before I’d ever spoken to JM, and I still love it. Joah has had his memory wiped to be trained to be a soldier. He only remembers his name, but he knows there is somewhere he needs to be. He escapes and finds his way back to his husband, only he doesn’t remember his husband…
If you’re into dystopian stories, give it a go.
Five years ago, Joah was culled–kidnapped by the government to be trained as a soldier. In the process, they erased his memory, destroying his past, his dreams, everything but his name. Armed with that alone, Joah escapes from the facility in search of someone to help him recall the man he used to be. That person is Tobin, Joah’s husband, who never gave up hope of finding him again. He refuses to believe that the strength of his love alone won’t be enough to bring back Joah’s memories of their shared lives, and he’s determined to bring back the man beneath the soldier, the man he knows has to love him. But an alarm in the chip blocking Joah’s memories was triggered at his escape, and if the chip isn’t removed soon, it will shriek his life away. Removing it won’t bring back his past, and may destroy the present that Tobin has tried so hard to build between them. Can the love they once shared possibly survive? [Genres: Gay / Science Fiction / Futuristic ]
https://books2read.com/persistenceofmemory
The Experiment by Alicia Nordwell
I remembered liking this, and I was in the mood for some sci-fi. I still think the story is good – a different planet, evil medical experients and all of that, but… eh… It all turned to fluff. I can do fluff and rainbows at times, not often, but… I was not in the mood for fluff.
In the distant future, humans wage war against the alien planet Caeorleia, with no tactic off-limits if it will help the humans get their hands on Caeorleia’s resources. Ask Ryker. He thought he volunteered for a simple experiment that would help his government in the war. He didn’t realize sadistic doctors would turn him into the experiment—by injecting him with blood from a captured Caeorleian, Seral Iorflas.
Nor did Ryker realize he’d be sent to sabotage a planet full of the very beings his world is battling, beings who kill humans on sight. But then, thanks to the experiment that irrevocably changed him, he isn’t exactly human any longer—and with each passing day, as his blood bond with Seral strengthens, he’s less and less sure as to whose side he’s on.
https://books2read.com/TheExperimentNordwell
PsyCop Series by Jordan Castillo Price
OMG! I’d forgotten that these are funny. I love Vic, Jacob too, but poor, unassuming Vic LOL. I had the first seven books and I read them in one go and when I finished Spook Squad I felt that I was done, so I guess that’s why I only have read the first seven.
They’re awesome and I wonder, if I skip Skin After Skin and jump to Agent Bayne, would I miss important tidbits about the overall story arc?
Love the ghosts, love Vic and Jacob, a bit annoyed with Lisa and I really really wish Con would stay on.
But really, I love Vic. It’s so refreshing to read a character who is crazy powerful and yet thinks he isn’t worth shit, and I love the bits where we get to see how much Jacob loves him.
I’m not gonna include the blurbs, it would be way too much text, but if you click a cover you’ll get the books2read link to each book.
Ofelia Grand 