Blurb: American med student Duncan Stirling is traveling around India with his two best friends, who have just married. Their last stop is the magical city of Jaisalmer, a fort in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. He feels like a third wheel on their honeymoon, though the three friends had the trip planned for years, to celebrate finishing medical school and have a last adventure before they start their residencies back in the States.
Akash Nandi is an Indian man from a wealthy and well-known family. At least that’s how he appears. He hides the truth that his family is descended from Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull, and they’ve guarded sacred places for millennia. Being gay and immortal is tough, especially when his family’s expectations make finding the right mate impossible.
As his grandmother, the family matriarch, nears death, a struggle for power puts Akash and his new crush, the charming American Duncan, in harm’s way.
Review: I really never thought about cow shifters or that they would be sacred I suppose. I think in all of my readings I have only came across one other story that had a cow shifter, or bull shifter. They are kind of quirky and definitely this author has made a unique hit with it.
Duncan and his two best friends have decided to travel India. They are going to Jaisalmer, which is a fort in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. It would seem that Duncan has caught the eye of a bull shifter. Akash is a well-known young man who has his eyes on Duncan. However it would seem that someone else has noticed the two together.
This one was pretty good. I liked the unique telling of this story. Although I hate to say that it was not really my kind of story though. I did have fun reading it though, and would recommend it.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Jeremy Linden’s a PhD student researching an HIV vaccine. He’s always short of money, and when biotech startup PharmaTek reduces funding for his fellowship, he’s tempted to take a job at a men’s dining club as a serving boy. The uniforms are skimpy, and he’s expected to remove an item of clothing after each course. He can handle that, but he soon discovers there’s more on the menu here than fine cuisine. How far will he go to pay his tuition, and will money get in the way when he realizes he’s interested in more from one of his gentlemen?
Brice Martin is an attorney for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. When he’s asked to take a client to the infamous Dinner Club, he finds himself unexpectedly turned on by the atmosphere and especially by his server, Remy. He senses there’s more to the sexy young man than meets the eye. The paradox fascinates him, and he can’t get enough of Remy.
Their relationship quickly extends beyond the club and sex. But the trust and affection they’ve worked to achieve may crumble when Jeremy discovers Brice’s VC firm is the one that pulled the plug on PharmaTek – and Jeremy’s research grant.
Review: Jeremy is trying to get his Ph.D. Money is tight, and he isn’t getting near enough tutoring jobs. With funding at his lab getting reduced, Jeremy takes an offer from men’s Dining club to help make ends meet. All he has to do is wear skimpy clothing, take off one piece at each course, as he serves wealthy men. Anything else ‘on the menu or night caps’ is strictly up to him. When he sees his first client, he thinks that a little play may not be too bad.
Brice, ‘Mr. Green’, wasn’t too keen at going to the dining club with his associate the first time until he met his serving bo. He found he could get used to having Remmy wait on him. The next time he has to take a client he chooses a different boy so he doesn’t get hung up on a guy that is working and having sex with men for money. Seeing Remmy with another man, Brice knows he is already in too deep.
I loved this story. It’s charming, sweet and sexy. The characters are well-developed, and the concept of the dirty dining is interesting. I would love to see each serving boy’s story!
I got lost in the narration, and before I knew it, my book had ended. I think I could have listened to another two or three hours!
If you like fast-paced romances, a rags to riches story, hot lawyers, sexy men for pay, gentlemen’s clubs and some very hot man-sex this is for you! * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Blurb: Two weeks in a remote mountain cabin with his hunk of a jock college roommate Monty Jameson has Zack Gregory hot under the collar in all the wrong ways. Truth is, Zack would rather be almost anywhere else, but it’s his only option if he’s to finish a project he needs to graduate from the University of Washington. Even worse, the nearest town is a faux-Bavarian village that looks like someone poured a snowglobe out on the eastern Cascades. Late-night fantasies aside, Zack’s no fan of manslut Monty, preferring his men with virtues that are more than skin-deep.
A few days into their retreat, Monty’s raw sexuality and flirtatiousness has Zack questioning his resolve. The idyllic setting is Zack’s Christmas fantasy come true, and even the splashy village eventually works its charm on him. Then when the cabin’s power goes out and Monty lays himself bare–in every way imaginable and then some–Zack sees a whole new set of possibilities. But will falling for Monty make the best Christmas ever, or is Zack just getting snowed?
Review: This novella was downright addicting. Fantastic and then some. Zack cannot get over the issues he was having. And all because of a paper that he had to do before the end of the semester. One paper that would prevent him from graduating if he didn’t get it done and turned in before a week’s time. He planned to stay at the dorm until Monty offers to let him stay at his family’s cabin.
When they get there, the paper isn’t the only studying Zack does.
I found this book to be downright fantastic. Addictive and then some. Trust me. It is worth the read.
A week before Christmas, Alex Bancroft’s bakery goes up in flames. When he runs back inside after a dog, firefighter Kevin Flint has to rescue Alex—and Quincy—from the smoldering building, endangering them, and inflaming Kevin’s resentment.
Now Alex can’t create the elaborate gingerbread house he donates to a foster-kids charity each year. Fire Station 7 again comes to his rescue, offering their kitchen and their manpower.
Everyone but Kevin Flint, that is. A third-generation firefighter, he’s fearful of stepping too far out of the closet. So when his powerful physical attraction for Alex ends in a sizzling secret encounter in the firehouse, Kevin can’t push Alex far enough away, and Alex returns the cold shoulder.
After a change of heart, Kevin risks his life to prove he’s worthy of Alex’s affection, but without a Christmas miracle, their chances at sweet romance might go up in smoke.
Like all Delectable stories, Gingerbread Palace includes recipes used in the book.
Review: I think the timing I chose to read this story was simply perfect. I picked it up yesterday and finished it by the time I needed to sleep, thus my dreams were delectable. E.M. has a way of making your mouth water with her men just like she does with her cooking images. This time around, she gifts us a Candyman and a Fireman.
Let’s take a sneak peek on the story here. A bakery is on fire and the fire-team arrives to the rescue. The delicious chef gets himself in trouble trying to save the dog he was sitting and the equally – if not more – delicious firefighter saves his life, literally. And sparks cause a whole different brand of fire.
What? You thought the sexy fire didn’t you? Well, that most certainly comes later on, but the first sparks are darker than you might expect. You see Kevin, the firefighter, is deep, deep in the closet besides being a third generation fireman and one that sticks to the rules like he has tons of glue on his a$$. He thinks the sexy baker is a dumbass and actually goes ahead telling him so right after he’s rescued him. Talk about a bad start. To make it worse, they end up having angry sex only for Kevin to treat Alex like trash, triggering the most hurtful memories Alex has.
The characters are fascinating, both of them having multiple layers and hidden things that trigger their behavior. The author did a very nicely balanced job with this novella, as she managed to get lots of dark and cruel events in the middle of the light and vice-versa. This is not your typical happy and cheery read, even if it seems that way in first sight. I liked it so a lot and no, it didn’t feel heavy at all.
What I felt weird about was the abrupt change of heart Kevin suffered. It was a bit fast for me; one moment he’s a complete jerk, the next he’d a damned angel, and it caused me a feeling akin to vertigo. However, it still didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
As for the erotic part of the book, what can I say; it was as expected delicious, sensual, sexy and hot, and not nearly enough. This pair worked out so well, I’d have loved a couple more scenes for them to explore themselves through the different phases of their relationship. In fact, the entire book evoked strong cravings and made you wish for more.
Overall GingerbreadPalace is yet another lovely book in the series that will leave you drooling after having a fantastic time with its men and candies. Strongly recommended for fans of the genre and those of you who wish for a delectable Christmas read.
Eli’s Review: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Alex and Kevin literally strike sparks off each other. Each meeting they have with each other is fraught with tension and angst, largely due to Kevin’s fear of being outed. The story progresses with this tension until Kevin and Alex hook up. But once again, Kevin allows his personal issues to get in the way of a potential relationship with Alex; and, he burns his bridges with the man. In the meantime, he’s beginning to learn more about Alex and he regrets his decision but there is little he can do to fix the situation.
When Alex goes out on a date and Kevin gets hurt on the job, this provides a powerful tool, which can move these men to finding each other. The story moves between Alex and Kevin’s perspectives which is good, but the story would have been more powerful had this been Kevin’s story for the reader to see the arc of his growth which began with his and Alex’ interaction in the hospital, which is where the book ends. Had the story gone on to have Kevin come out and embrace who he was not just to Alex but also to the world, especially his father and co-workers, and then end with he and Alex embarking upon a relationship, this story would have vaulted to perfection. Kevin spent so much time hiding and being a douche, that the simple transition is anti-climatic.
However, this is not to say it wasn’t a good read, it really was, hence the rating of a 3.5, it was just that it built up to a climax that didn’t quite happen and it left the reader feeling a little let down that there wasn’t just a tad more. This story has enormous potential to be a solid 5 and I hope the writer goes back and does a few minor adds to vault this book into the stratosphere which is where it could really reside. Kevin deserves to have his full growth explored and Alex deserves that man that Kevin will become.
Buy the book, support the author and let her know what you think.
Blurb: When Sancus, the Roman God of Loyalty, finally meets a mortal with whom he desires a real relationship, he can’t pursue Aurelio because he’s under a curse…or is he?
Sancus, Roman God of Loyalty and Honesty, snubs an advance from Venus. Furious, the Goddess of Love convinces Cupid to cast a curse on him, causing Sancus to be attracted to every hot guy he meets. In fact, he can’t say no.
During a week of almost non-stop arousal and sex Sancus meets Aurelio, a mortal that he desperately wants to see again, but until the curse is lifted he fears ruining any chance for a real relationship. The only way to end the curse is for Sancus to untangle
the finely-woven threads and discover it’s actually a love spell…
Reader Advisory: This book was previously released at another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release by Total-E-Bound.
Review: Well, being a Mediterranean girl born and bred I simply love the ancient Gods myths. Of course, I’m more used to their Greek names, but their Roman ones don’t annoy me the least. So it was surprising getting my hands on this beautiful mix of Contemporary and Myth. It was even more surprising reading the setting was in Rome and how the author maintained a somewhat ancient feeling in it even if the time this story happens is twenty-first century.
Sancus is the Roman God of Honesty and Loyalty. And immediately I was hooked from the choice of the author. Out of all Deities to choose Sancus was quite marvelous. Being the Loyal and Honest type Sancus finds himself with a curse when he dares decline an advance from Venus. Yeah, Venus has always been the vengeful type, damn Sancus should have known better, but that’s exactly what makes the “ancient God” character so much more credible. Somehow he was a bit inconsiderate in the way he declined the Goddess and arrogant when he didn’t expect immediate retaliation.
So Venus has Cupid (I know him as Eros) cast a curse and being the dutiful son he is, he did his Mommy’s bidding. But remember the fact that all Gods were tricky back then? Who said Cupid was any different? While he put a spell on Sancus and appeased his Mother for the time being, Cupid’s spell had one goal. Supreme love for it to end.
How very fascinating, the description of the Gods schemes was brilliant. Cruel in their lives they still managed to have purpose. Loved it really.
So this is how the real story begins. Sancus is cursed to have his hots for every hot guy, lose his girlfriend in the process, and be miserable because his entire purpose (Honesty and Loyalty remember?) is being mocked by this. Not to mention the misery of being horny non-stop and being able to deny a hot guy. Until he meets Aurelio.
After a night of beautiful passion and romance Sancus believes he’s cured when the morning after he’s not suffering from the curse while Aurelio cooks him breakfast. Little did he know that that’s the way of the spell. The moment Sancus really wants someone is the moment the spell takes opposite direction making him unable to perform for that special someone.
It was a fun and funny read actually. The old games Gods used to play with mortals are even more enticing here because they are turned upon one of their own. The knowledge behind the story is quite strong and makes for credible characters. I was only slightly frustrated at the beginning because the way Aurelio and Sancus met was kind of hazy. There was no talk except telling their names and during their entire intercourse; there was complete lack of dialogue. Only when it came his time to see things from his PoV did we get into Aurelio’s mind and started knowing “his voice” and it was weird waiting till then to meet the guy. He was mute before that. Other than that, the rest of the read was quite enjoyable and damn if the end was satisfactory. Venus darling, payback is a bitch. 😉
So yeah, if you love your ancient Gods and are into a new perspective and approach of a sexy read involving them this is the book for you. I liked it a lot.
Blurb:Simon Ford’s success is hard-won. He grew up in Napa and resents the rich people who have moved into the valley, changing the culture by opening boutique wineries and pricing the locals out of the market.
Austin Kelvin runs an award-winning winery his father started after making a fortune on Wall Street. He lives the posh lifestyle Simon resents but secretly longs to attain. However, Austin’s world isn’t as luxurious and privileged as it seems: he didn’t inherit his father’s business savvy, and his winery is going under.
When Simon’s boss sends him to covertly scope out Kelvin Cellars for a possible takeover bid, Simon sees it as a step toward attaining his financial dreams. Until he falls hard for Austin. The feeling is mutual, but when Austin learns the real reason for Simon’s initial interest, he suspects Simon’s seduction is merely a means to procure the winery at a bargain price. If there’s any hope of winning Austin’s heart, Simon will have to risk it all to prove Austin is more than just an intoxicating crush.
Like all Delectable novels, this book includes the recipes used in the story.
Review: Wow! If the sex scenes aren’t hot enough for ya, there’s plenty of food porn to go around! I must admit I do enjoy wine, so this story had me captured and enraptured. The author successfully transported me to the Napa Valley wine country, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Lynley obviously did plenty of research, because there were scads of vintner details, and wine industry lingo threaded throughout this romance. The tension and drama seemed in perfect balance, a realistic attraction, and development of Simon and Austin’s relationship. Did I mention the food porn? I found myself salivating over descriptive scenes involving food and wine parings that made me reach for my favorite bottle and sparked sudden need to visit the gourmet section of my favorite grocery store. Especially hot was the tasting room picnic where food and fluids were consumed and the dress code was minimal! I thoroughly enjoyed this hot and sexy, tantalizing story. I highly recommend and can’t wait to start the rest of the series! I will also be testing a few of the recipes included in this book!
Blurb: World-class chef Joshua Golden is homesick for Paris before he even arrives in New York, but he’ll endure it—his parents need him to help run the family restaurant while his mother recovers from surgery. Running a place so far beneath his talents is bad enough, but bad turns to worse when Josh discovers his former best friend and lover, Micah Solomon, is living at his parents’ house with his ten-year-old son, Ethan.
For ten years, Josh has done his best to forget how Micah shattered his heart into tiny pieces. Now Micah’s back, fresh out of prison, and helping out at the restaurant. Micah may not be the kind of sous chef Josh is used to, but he is more helpful and supportive than any of the other employees. But Josh finds it hard to keep his distance when, time after time, Micah proves himself a better man than Josh thought. Reluctantly, Josh realizes there is more to Micah than his lousy life choices… but that doesn’t mean Josh is ready to forgive him.
Review:This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. Josh comes home to New York for the first time in five years. His parents need him to help with their restaurant, while his mother recovers from surgery. Josh gets a shock though, when he discovers his ex-best friend and lover living at his parents’ house along with his ten-year old son, and that the ex-con is working at the restaurant as well. Micah made some bad choices in his life and regrets them. making things up with Josh is not easy to do, but he tries to show the man he has changed. Can Josh ever find it in himself to forgive Micah for the hurt he suffered?
This story is about forgiving the past and starting anew and opening your heart to love. Josh has been a high-flying chef in Paris. Returning home to New York to help with his parents’ restaurant isn’t what he really wants. But, it gives him the chance to see what he has really been missing for the past several years, after running away from the pain of his heart. Micah made many mistakes when he was younger and he has paid the price, but the person who he hurt the most, Josh, has never given him the chance to prove himself, now he has that chance.
I found this story to be interesting with the twisting emotions that Josh goes through and with self-realization as he looks at himself and what he has missed out on. The story is from Josh’s point of view, so we see everything through his eyes. He is quite unforgiving of his ex-best friend and at first I couldn’t understand why he was acting like such brat. But, then you discover they really were lovers for a very short time. It was hard to be too sympathetic with Josh though because he came across as self-serving for most of the book. Micah, on the other hand, isn’t trying to prove anything, other than he is truly a good man who lost his way abit. I really liked his character and was rooting for him to get through to Josh and make Josh listen to him.
The storyline was good and the food descriptions were mouth-watering. I liked how Micah and Josh finally connected, with the entire truth being brought out in the open and that Josh was more forgiving than he seemed. I also liked the fact that Josh took a step back and had a look at his own actions over the years and he accepted his own faults. The two of them coming together was hot and you can easily see how good they are together. The secondary characters are great and add a wonderful family feeling.
I will recommend this to those who love forgiving the past, great characters, great family, rediscovering love and a happy ending.
Portia’s Two Cents: I agree with everything that Pixie said…I just wanted to add that this story brought to life a side of Judaism that I rarely see in fiction. This story could very well have been titled, Mizpah. This family aren’t those Jews that celebrate Passover and Chanukah and that’s it. Their faith is so much a part of their lives. It was really beautiful to see the generations use their faith, in different ways, to get through some very trying times. The theme of mizpah is what guides Micah, it allows Josh to forgive and it allows the Goldens’ to open their home to Micah and Ethan. Absolutely beautiful.
Blurb: When artisan ice cream maker Jay Brown first meets food writer Cameron Clay at a charity tasting event, they get along like strawberries and chocolate sauce. Jay’s unique flavors thrill more than Cameron’s jaded palate, but after a delicious encounter in Jay’s delivery truck, where extra-creamy frozen treats are not the only delights sampled, Cameron loses Jay’s contact info—and any hope of a real date.
Desperate, Cameron convinces his editor to host an artisanal ice cream contest in hopes of drawing out the elusive genius. But more complications threaten to intervene. Will Jay even enter the contest? Or will the chance of a happily ever after melt away?
Review: How can an ice-cream sample test blow your mind? Well, it’s simple. A secret recipe and a gorgeous man feeding that to you can make that happen.
Cameron is a food critic. One of the best out there, but he finds it refreshing that the gorgeous giant ice-cream man doesn’t recognize him. He finds it even more enticing that the ice-cream offered is such a unique thing in a world of repetition and blandness. And when the food sample turns into the most intense intercourse he’s ever experienced, Cameron admits to himself that he’s into something good here.
But, first he has to clear the path. Get his ex-boyfriend, who’s come back of a second chance, out of his life for good and then have a proper date with J and see if there is something deeper than plain lust for them.
This book starts with a *grab a fan and cool yourself down* scene that combines ice cream and sex in the most delicious way ever. Admittedly it’s a very good way to grab your attention and thus it proceeds to do just so. Once there you simply can’t put it down, the very notion feels like a crime.
But, beyond that, this book is a mixture of past bad relationships, ex-boyfriends with alcohol and revenge issues and all set up in a world where competition doesn’t hesitate to become ugly and people easily steal other people’s dream away right out of their hands in a fit of pettiness.
Cameron is a delightful character and although he frustrated the hell out of me with his naiveté, I can’t hold it against him. How could he know, right? But, I admired most that persistence he showed during the whole book, even if it brought him troubles. And J, well Jay is practically a ghost. Made so from past betrayal and his paranoia causes the other half of my frustration. He’s a very sexy character with a certain vulnerability that makes you want to shake him and hug him in the same time.
The blend really worked well. The allure of putting these two characters together and then separating them for the duration of the plot created the appropriate amount of angst and anticipation. The wicked master plan of the bad guy was brilliant. So easily achieved and played upon human emotions that it was totally credible making the read even more enjoyable. And the other elements coming in the way of the two men’s reunion made this entire “chase” painfully good. I wanted to scream and punch something while never even thinking of putting the book down to take a breather.
In the end, with summer so close and the warm days knocking on our door, this book is perfect for opening your appetite and desires. Hot guys, sinful desserts, and an interesting and overwhelming plot are all the ingredients a book needs and Brand New Flavor certainly has them.
Blurb: Years ago, Chase Richards and Mathias Tobler fell in love while training for the US Olympic fencing team. Afterward, they even attended the same business school so they could be together. Then Chase left Mathias alone and heartbroken in Italy. But all of that is ancient history by the time Chase thunders back into Mathias’s safe, settled life with a business deal.
There’s no way Mathias is going to do business with Chase. He spent nine years picking up the pieces and has moved on in life—and love. But Chase won’t give up without a fight: he concocts a scheme to manipulate the market and take over the Tobler family business. If Mathias wants to save it, he’ll have to face off against Chase over crossed sabers.
Review: Chase dumped Mathias nine years before. Mathias has finally moved on. At least, he thinks so. He was going to get married, until Chase comes back into his life and hurts him…yet again. Case, on the other hand, has never gotten over Mathias, never loved anyone else. He now has everything, but Mathias. He sees in the paper that Mathias is marrying a woman. He decides to set things in motion to try to win Mathias back, but things go even more wrong. I’ll let you read the book to see just how messed up this really gets!
I really liked this book, though I did have one major issue. It skipped way too much. One minute, it’s the past, then the future in Mathias view, then the past, then the future in Chases view or the past in Chase’s view. It got a bit confusing. However, it was necessary to read the past and it was very interesting. I loved Chase and Mathias’s history. I just wish it had went more in order like the past then part two the future then we would have had an 5 star here. The story was riveting. Full of love angst and drama. What more could you want? Perhaps a happy ever after or happy for now ending? I won’t even hint. You will have to read the book and see and you won’t be sorry. (I already warned you about the jumping about)
I recommend this book to anyone that loves, friends to lovers, business duels, (did I mention a real duel?) Sword fights, men in expensive suits, hot mansex (with men in and out of expensive suits). There is a woman, but the sex isn’t really mentioned much and it’s no threesome or anything, Bi sexual men, hmm did I leave out anything? How about a hot love story with lots and lots of drama! Oh blindfolds we mustn’t forget those!
When Trent Copeland runs into Reed Acton at a Bangkok airport, he thinks the handsome American is too good to be true. Why would someone like Reed be interested in a quiet, introverted gay-romance writer? After all, even an obvious tourist like Trent can see that there is more to Reed’s constant unexplained appearances in his path than meets the eye.
Reed Acton has one mission and one mission only – he needs to get the map that was accidentally slipped into Trent’s bag and keep the mobsters who want the priceless artifact from taking deadly revenge. Trent Copeland is a delicious and damned near irresistible diversion, but Reed can’t afford distractions right now, especially if he wants to keep Trent safe.
From Bangkok’s seediest back alleys to the sacred north, the two men will fight to stay one step ahead of the bad guys and learn that the only treasure worth finding is… each other.
Review:
I had my eyes set on this book even before I found out that I was to review this. I was born in Southeast Asia (not Thailand, though) and I am always on the lookout for books that are set in the area. Living in the United States now, I find myself missing the unique culture that only countries in Southeast Asia provide.
E.M. Lynley’s Rarer than Rubies made me remember the richness of living in that area of the world. The aspect of setting is arguably the most powerful weapon of this book, and the author definitely used her adventures in Thailand to her advantage. It is obvious that the author did her research and remembered her travels well; the setting is rich and detailed and the little nuances of the Thais are captured in minutia. There is the great heat and humidity present in the tropics and there is the crazy traffic of a wildly unorganized population, but there is also great food as well as wonderfully hospitable locals. The author doesn’t sugarcoat the culture – she provides both bad and good aspects of it, and that’s what I truly like about the setting. E.M. Lynley doesn’t set out to show that Thailand is better than the United States; she shows that it’s merely different, a place where people might want to think of when they seek for something outside the familiar. In a way, the reader is Trent Copeland, someone who put into a completely foreign situation, where the reader doesn’t truly know what to expect.
Speaking of Trent, I would also like to point out that I really liked the characters. Trent was quite clumsy without being completely helpless – as one character says towards the end of the book, Trent is quick to think on his feet. He may not have the best foresight, but he is able to act appropriately in the present. He isn’t a damsel-in-distress given a male body, which seems to be a prevalent case in a few M/M books. And to be honest, Reed fascinated me. Reed is a big mystery that the reader uncovers as he/she goes through the book; although many hints are given when we are in Reed’s POV and even though a lot is said during the big reveal scene, there are a few events that just totally threw me off the wall – just because you are given an explanation doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. It’s safe to say that for Reed.
This book isn’t so much a mystery/suspense book as it is an adventure. We are given quite a few action scenes, but there is an overall feel of adventure to it – to put it simply, it screams Indiana Jones to me rather than James Bond. However, this isn’t really a big disappointment on my part because it was still a fast-paced read. While the action scenes weren’t overly exciting, they weren’t dragging either. My heart still thudded and I still felt nervous for our main characters, and that’s always a plus because you know it’s a good book when you actually care for the well-being of the characters.
I do have a couple of niggles though, but they weren’t big enough that they took away from my enjoyment of the book. First of all, there were a couple of awkward sentences here and there. For example, Trent at one point says, “I am, too, gay!” There’s weird structure to this sentence, and I think there were a couple more that were also a bit stilted and awkward, but there aren’t a lot of it so it isn’t really a prominent mistake. Others might not even notice it; in some ways it’s just me being really particular. There were also a few typos here and there as well as the occasional misplaced comma, but seriously, these things are so minor that they don’t really disrupt the reading experience.
Overall, though, I definitely enjoyed this book. This isn’t just a romantic book – it’s also one that teaches a lot about another culture in a way that doesn’t feel forced. I loved the setting, the characters intrigued me, and there were enough questions left unanswered and these were so tastefully done that the questions actually kept me wanting more instead of frustrating me. Instead of being disappointed by the lack of explanations for a couple of things, I find myself yearning for a sequel. And I do believe there will be more adventures for Reed and Trent! I’ll definitely be watching out for them.
Title: Holy Cow!
Title: Dirty Dining
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