Friday Reads | Thirsting for More

October 7, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

stockings-1816094_640 — CC0 Creative Commons

Autumn is here. In my head, I’m painting pictures of us all snuggled up on the sofa with something hot to drink and a good book to help us escape the whining wind outside. The reality is not getting any sleep because the kids are coughing through the night and being covered in snot because they use me as a living tissue.

In an attempt to place myself in that romantic picture of a book, a steaming cup, and a cosy sofa I went looking for a vampire story. Yes, vamps are very autumny. But, since reality once again made itself known, I realised I’d better pick something short if I’m ever going to finish it. I was browsing Amazon when I spotted Thirsting for More by Claire Cray in the ‘Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought’ section.

I recognised Claire Cray’s name, I’ve read her before, and before I knew what I was doing I pressed the buy button. The book is free so don’t worry, I didn’t impulse buy books for my food money.

Thirsting for More is about Cal, who has been a vampire for seven years, and Ira who has been one since the 1940s. It’s a short, sexy tale about love and misunderstandings. I wouldn’t have minded a little less sex and a little more vampy stuff but hey, still a great little story worth every minute invested in it.

books2read.com/ThirstingForMore *

Cal’s seven years as a vampire haven’t been so bad. After being turned by a horny immortal he never saw again, he got used to things pretty quick. The aphrodisiac venom has been an unexpected perk, keeping him supplied with beautiful boys who double as meals.

There’s just one thorn in his side: for this entire seven years, Cal has suffered a painful unrequited crush on the vampire Ira. Cool, narcissistic, and loudly straight, Ira drifts in and out of his life as he pleases, soaking up Cal’s attention when he’s around and then leaving him alone with his hopeless desires.

After Ira’s latest departure, Cal has decided to get over him for good. But now Ira’s back with a shocking proposition that threatens to change their dynamic forever…

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday Reads | Until We Meet Once More

September 30, 2016June 30, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately so there haven’t been many books read this week. But, it’s Friday and we have to read something, haven’t we? So I did what I often do when I can’t pick a book—I go to Amazon and browse the short fiction lists. Today, I looked at the one-hour-reads, and there I found Until We Meet Once More by Josh Lanyon.

Now I know that the world is filled with raving Lanyon fans. I’m not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I like her books just fine, but I’ve only read a few and I’m not one to stand in line to click the pre-order button. That being said, sometimes it’s nice to get something you know will be good—because Lanyon is good, she’s very skilled. So for the amazing price of 0.00 Swedish crowns (which amazingly enough is the same as 0.00 £, 0.00 €, and 0.00 $) I got a story about an Army Ranger and a Navy SEAL getting a second chance.

Last I checked, it wasn’t free anymore.

books2read.com/UntilWeMeetOnceMore

Nothing cracks Army Ranger “Stone Man” Vic Black’s granite front. A mission to retrieve an injured Navy SEAL from the treacherous mountains of Afghanistan is all in a day’s work — until he learns the missing SEAL is his former lover. This time it’s personal.

Publisher’s Note: This short story was previously published in the “Because of the Brave” anthology.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday Reads | Jonathan Trilogy

September 23, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

These last days I’ve read the Jonathan Trilogy by Hans M. Hirschi. Hans is a fellow Beaten Track author and I was given Jonathan’s Hope, Jonathan’s Promise, and the ARC of Jonathan’s Legacy (will be published on the 29^th) in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve only read a short story by Hans before so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into with the Jonathan books. I figured from the titles they would be about a guy named Jonathan—they are and they aren’t. They are about a whole lot of characters and they weren’t at all what I had expected.

In Jonathan’s Hope Jonathan is only seventeen years old. We get to follow him as he fights for his life before he is rescued by Dan. Sparks fly and life will never again be the same for either of the characters. As the books proceed the main focus isn’t on Jonathan and Dan but on their children and grandchildren as well. I have to admit the beginning of Jonathan’s Promise both surprised and touched me, I hadn’t expected that. Even with the epilogue in Jonathan’s Hope, I hadn’t expected that.

What I liked about the stories was that we’re served a slice of life, we get to follow the characters through ups and down, through sickness and health, and we get to see them age.

What I struggled with was the LOVE. I generally like my books with far more blood and gore and far fewer confessions of undying love. I generally avoid everything close to insta-love, and I prefer the candy floss out of sight. But that’s just me, if you’re a romantic you’ll love this book. I guess I’m too Swedish when it comes to love declarations—I love my husband and if that changes I’ll let him know until then let’s not talk about it, okay? 😀

These books touch on many important issues—homophobia, sexual abuse, overcoming the loss of a partner, being a parent etc. but I would have wanted more depth. I know you can’t dive into these questions too deeply in a book but some (not all, some we really do go into depth on) are brought up, discussed in a few lines, and then quickly hurried past.

Jonathan’s Hope was published in 2013 if my sources are correct whereas Jonathan’s Promise and Jonathan’s Legacy both are published now in 2016. I thought there was a huge difference between the first and two last books when it came to author voice. I truly do believe we develop as writers for as long as we keep at it and where I thought Jonathan’s Hope was a bit confusing at times with mixed POVs and stuff Jonathan’s Promise and Jonathan’s Legacy are skilfully penned.

If you want something more than just a quick fix you should check these books out. You’ll find love and loss and love again, and you’ll get reminded of what’s really important in life.

Jonathan’s Legacy returns to the roots of the Jonathan Trilogy: the love for those weakest amongst us, children, particularly the undesired ones, street kids who find new homes and love, just as Jonathan and Dan once had, in their youth.

We follow the Jackson family, founded by Jonathan and Dan, as they grapple with the loss of their family patriarch. Parker and Cody set out to start a patchwork family of their own, while Marc comes to terms with his loss. And who is Kim Hwan?

This is the third and final book in this accidental trilogy, a book written out of the desperate search for answers, to bring hope where there was only despair, and to find much-needed closure. Anything but a happily ever after is unimaginable.

In this trilogy:
Jonathan’s Hope (Book 1): books2read.com/JonathansHope *
Jonathan’s Promise (Book 2): books2read.com/JonathansPromise *
Jonathan’s Legacy (Book 3): books2read.com/JonathansLegacy *

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.