Friday Reads | The Poison Within

April 21, 2017February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

Friday again and I picked up The Poison Within (Inspector Skaer, #1) by Kasia Bacon this week. It showed up everywhere in my feed on Goodreads and it turned out to be free on Amazon (it isn’t anymore, I’m afraid, but you can stand to fork out a little money for a good story).

I haven’t read anything by Ms Bacon before and I don’t normally pick books with elves. Don’t ask me why. I gladly read stories about almost every possible and impossible creature anyone can think up, but I tend to stay away from elves. I should probably add that even though there are elves it’s not heavy on ‘elf-content’ (LOL). There are humans and non-humans, conflicts and prejudice, wrongdoings and revenge. It really has a little of everything, nothing feels hurried or left out yet it’s ‘only’ fifty pages long – just how I want my stories.

This is a lovely tale about bloody coughs and creatures I know nothing about – furias might be a new favourite (are they the goddesses of revenge I think they are??) – and I would love to read the next in the series…when it comes.

Check it out!

books2read.com/ThePoisonWithin *

Black clouds of xenophobia gather over Radvadur, the western province of the Empire. The political climate is strained and fragile. A surge of Nymph refugees has stirred widespread hostility towards non-humans. When the investigation of a gruesome triple murder linked to the refugee camp ensues, it takes Inspector Käyru Skaer and his lover, Count Ellydhar Finn-Jánn, along an unusual path, at the end of which a precious gift awaits.

Käyru and Elly are worlds apart in social standing, but they have found common ground in the bedroom—up against the wall and the stable doors, too. The arrangement between them ought to have been temporary and of no consequence. As their circumstances change, will they find the courage to risk their hearts?

Warning: Contains mentions of off page sexual assault

* 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 | The Raven’s Luck

April 14, 2017February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

Why didn’t I read this little story when it first came? I really enjoyed The Raven’s Luck by Laylah Hunter. I mostly picked it because it was short and because I have a thing for assassins – I mean what sane girl hasn’t? LOL – but once I started reading I lost myself in the story.

Sam and Rio are both assassins, they start out as rivals trying to impress each other with their skills and witty comments, but then comes a job they need to cooperate on. Sparks fly, both actual and metaphorical, and when the story neared the end I wished it had been longer. I would’ve loved to read more about the world Sam and Rio are in and I’m sure there are more politicians who need to die.

A great little read and lucky for us all it was written as part the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Read in the Closet event and is, therefore, free. If you like a little Sci-Fi and a dead guy or two then give it a go.

Download here!

Dear Author,
Gus

I’d like him to be an assassin of some sort. Bonus points if we get to see him get his hands dirty. Extra bonus points for moral ambiguity. I don’t know or care what race (human, elf, fey, etc.) Some sort of storyline outside the romance would be good, and at least some world-building would be nice. I enjoy battles and fighting. There should probably be some sort of fantasy element present, but I leave that completely at your discretion. Setting (historical, fantasy, contemporary) is also up to the author. I just want to see someone tell this guy’s story, whatever it may be

Friday Reads | Last Dance of the Sugar Plum

April 7, 2017February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

Last Dance of the Sugar Plum by Claire Davis and Al Stewart is not your usual M/M read, it’s not your usual spy story either. I started out confused, then got a bit more confused, then I was absolutely certain of one thing – I love Anton. Like really LOVE Anton.

There are two men, 42 and 19, they know they have to do something before they run out of time. They remember stuff. They know HQ is watching them. They know the clock is ticking.

Up for a mind fuck? Check this book out. I’ve read all but one of Davis & Stewart’s books and went in with a certain expectation (Shut Your Face, Anthony Pace! is one of my favourite books) but a few pages in I realised it was time to put those expectations aside. The language is there, the usual poetic voice of Davis and Stewart, the romance is there but not in that straight line M/M way, and there is plenty of humour. I had several good laughs, but this is a gritty read. The characters are exposed and vulnerable in their confusion and urgency. And a certain dancer should be flogged for his actions.

I realise that if you’ve read this far you probably haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about but I’m gonna leave it at that. If I say more about the plot (did I say anything?) I’ll spoiler it. What I can say is that you won’t figure this mystery out until the very end. When I realised what was going on I wanted to hit myself on the head for not getting it sooner – the clues are there! LOL

I’d love to see more sci-fi mystery stories from this duo!

books2read.com/TheLastDanceOfTheSugarPlum

TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK

Jonathan is a spy.

Anton is Jonathan’s ‘keeper’.

Jonathan is a spy with a code implanted deep in his subconscious, so deeply he can’t remember—anything at all.

Anton is an interrogator intent on retrieving the code, whatever the cost.

But sometimes they dream of dark tunnels and locked-up rooms, and then they both scream.

TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK

Along comes Harry, who seems to have all the answers…but who is he, and which side is he on?

TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK

Bang!

For many months, Jonathan and Anton live apart from the world in a hazy, dreamlike state, only interrupted by interrogations and a healthy fear of HQ. One day, they watch a dance performance, and memories begin to unwind… A ticking clock… Betrayal… Missions… Always the scent of oranges. But with clarity, comes a return of powerful emotions…

Last Dance of The Sugar Plum is an exciting spy thriller with as many twists and turns as a maze.

* 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.