Caitlin RicciRezensionen

Gifts from the Tree by Kay Berrisford - 2 stars
Christmas in Hawaii by Valynda King - 2,5 stars
Christmas Tree Magic by Amber Kell - 2,5 stars
Mistletoe and YouTube by Francis Gideon - 1,5 stars
Josh's Christmas Angel by A.T. Weaver - 1 star
Deefur and the Great Mistletoe Incident by RJ Scott - 2,5 stars
A Jaguar for Christmas by Caitlin Ricci - 2 stars
Christmas Reunion by AJ Henderson - 2,5 stars
Spiced Apple and Cinnamon by Meredith Russell - 2 stars
Ivy Park by Tom Alexander - 2,5 stars
Our Best Christmas by Gary Hendrickson - 2 stars
Two for Hooking by Christopher John - 2 stars
Once you go Black Friday by John Wiley - DNF
The Christmas Mansion by Hollis Shiloh - 2 stars
Love Delayed by Abigail Winters - 2,5 stars
Christmas Lightning by Diane Adams - 3 stars
Joyeux Noel by Aisling Mancy - 1,5 stars
Christmas Angel by Allan Jay - 1 star
Waiting for Snow by JC Wallace - 2 stars
Paid with a Full Moon by SA Garcia - 2 stars
Christmas Promise by Nicole Dennis - 2 stars

She hit the nail on the head about what it's like to be ace with this short.


I do think $2.99 is a bit much for a 49 page short though.

2.75 stars

You know what's wrong with Seth & Co. in this story? They have no life. There's no sense of any of the characters having either interior dialogues or the ability to move outside of the frame of the story. And when they are on the page, they're so stilted in their movements, conversations, and interactions it's hard to believe in them being anything but marionettes, dull and barely functional.

To make matters worse, there's no real character growth for any of the characters. All end right where they begin, or, what growth there is, is so stunted as to be negligible.

Seth, the ostensible MC of the story, is homoromantic asexual with a thing for kissing, cuddling, and for obsessing over his lack of romantic life. That's it. Other than his working at the animal rescue with his boss, Marius, attending therapy (for what is never really made clear), going to ace group therapy nights (which did not seem to help either), and doing homework, Seth quite literally has no life. There's nothing in his makeup to which a reader can connect or sympathize.

And there's no buildup in the relationship between Seth and Jeremy. It's all about the physical interaction between the men, just kissing (Seth not being interested in sex) and cuddling mainly, but where's the relationship? If there's one thing aces really want, it's the mental stimulation and close personal interaction with their partner(s) which actually includes, but isn't limited to, conversations, as well as the physical stuff. Though Jeremy really made an effort to accommodate Seth's needs, coming to a compromise they both could live with, that's the extent of the discussion in this story. None of it was romantic either.

And Jeremy's coming out scene in the bar was very cringe worthy

I would also suggest reading the first book first to find out about Jack and Marius, since the author did a poor job of introducing either of those characters.

Recommended reading:
[b:Ace of Hearts|25567509|Ace of Hearts|Feral Sephrian|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432086672s/25567509.jpg|45366532] by Feral Sephrian which handles similar themes to this book better
Also:
[b:Fireland: Jimmy Loves Rob|23431897|Fireland Jimmy Loves Rob|Sam Burke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1420846406s/23431897.jpg|42992086] by Sam Burke

Thierry Leroux has been admitted to the Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy and his dreams are all about to come true. But the academy is expensive, and as a Sythe orphan, it's unlikely he will be able to come up with the tuition. His brother, Corbin, works as an escort and gives Thierry the suggestion of auctioning off his virginity to pay for his schooling. It's not something Thierry is very interested in at first, but as deadlines draw near, he gives Corbin the go ahead to set it up. Corbin's boss, Monroe, is more than willing to help arrange the transaction, and they are both pleased when they get a bidder who will more than cover what Thierry needs. The buyer, known only as "Dragonfly" and insistent on wearing a mask when they meet, goes out of his way to make Thierry's first time special, and Thierry is agreeable when the "Dragonfly" asks for them to meet again. After a few such meetings, Thierry realizes he might be developing feelings for his would-be suitor, though he has no idea who is hiding behind the mask. Will finding out ruin the magic and destroy everything?

This was my first Caitlin Ricci title, but I was not disappointed. The character of Thierry is so well-written. Seeing him go from where he is at the beginning of the book, to making his decision, to following through with it, and to living with everything that happens after is an interesting journey. There's subtlety to it, but the dynamic is clear. I certainly look forward to picking up more from this author.

Corbin Leroux is an Aspasian, a high-priced companion on the planet Wish. He's good at what he does, and that brings him some of the best clients. They treat Corbin well, and he returns in kind. Which is why Corbin never expects one of them to hire someone to kill him. Emmanuel Leoniste has no problem killing those he thinks deserve it. And whores like Corbin fall in that group. Corbin offers to hire Emmanuel to protect him, hoping he can use money to entice him. Emmanuel agrees, though he makes it clear he doesn't approve of Corbin's work. As Emmanuel gets to know him, he sees that maybe "whores" like Corbin aren't all like he thinks. He's soon forced to face his own ideas about intimacy...and about Corbin too.

I rather liked To The Highest Bidder, the first book in this series. While Corbin is in the first book, it's more about his younger brother. We get bits of Corbin's motivations in the first book. But I felt there was more to him when I read it. The chance to come back to Wish and learn more about Corbin was a welcome one.

Corbin doesn't expect a relationship any time soon. And the idea wouldn't even occur to Emmanuel. Two reluctant men make for quite the slow burn. But the story has no problem staying engaging. And I am again impressed with Caitlin Ricci's development of this world and characters. I am not sure if there's another character to focus on, but I wouldn't mind more stories set in this world at all.

Really cute story. I loved Tate's relationship with his niece and his desire to do anything for her. This was short and sweet, and I liked the base of the relationship that was being developed between Tate and Brandon.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a m/m sci-fi story between a human and an alien, although it wasn't clear from the blurb that Daevor and Vhrain would be aliens.

In short, the way I can sum up "A Matter of Choice" is... a lot of missed opportunities. To me, the blurb suggested that there would be some kind of polyamorous arrangement between the three protagonists, but in reality, Vhrain has to exit the relationship before anything can happen between Leon and Daevor.

There is also mention of his old pirate crew coming to rescue Leon, and I was excited to see a crew of misfits with all their banter. Instead, I found the relationship lacking. The crew clearly cares enough about Leon to search for him (for months?) and rescue him, but he doesn't seem to have any friends - it's a faceless mob of people he barely knows and has no real connection to.

Daevor's name is also misspelled multiple times, sometimes even when the POV changes at the beginning of the chapter, which... I know editing is a lot of work, but that's pretty noticeable and this is not a very long story? So that was a little weird.

I still give this story three stars because I enjoyed learning about Daevor's species (although we don't even learn their name, but I suppose that is less important than the culture), but ultimately this was a pretty neutral read for me.

Melody has moved with her teenage daughter Kristen from Seattle to Colorado, to begin her new life living fully as a woman, in a place where no one knows the man she used to be. Kristen has been a trouper through the whole awful divorce and her parent's transition from Melvin to Melody, and Melody has enrolled her horse crazy daughter in a horse riding class as a thank you.

That's how Melody meets Derrick Masters, Kristen's riding instructor, and the first interesting guy she's meet since her transition. Melody hasn't dated since she was a teenager--a teenage boy, at that--and along with all the awkwardness of getting back into the dating game after divorce, Melody has another, scary set of issues to tackle.

This is a short story, and a sweet romance. Melody, Derrick, and even teenage Kristen are all likable characters. If some things seem to happen (and to have happened, in the backstory) a bit more easily than seems altogether realistic well, this isn't a gritty, realistic story. It's a fun, feel-good story

A light, enjoyable read, recommended on that basis.

As the title of this story says, some things are worth the wait. In this specific case the meaning is also literal, since Tate has been waiting in line for hours to get a book signed for his niece's birthday - when suddenly a very nice man offers his help. Tate can sure use the support: it's raining and cold, and he didn't come prepared for bad weather.

The stranger introduces himself as Brandon and turns out to be really nice, helpful, and he has an in with the author that helps Tate get the book signed and maintain his reputation as the best uncle ever. But this is only the beginning of their sweet Christmastime romance and I enjoyed reading about their budding relationship.

If you like strangers striking an immediate chord with each other, and if you're looking for a sweet, angst-free read, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

This sequel of ‘To the Highest Bidder’ is set eight years after Thierry and Monroe get together, and I loved the fact that I got to find out more about Thierry’s somewhat elusive older brother. The story of Corbin, a high-priced companion, and Emmanuel, a hired killer sent to assassinate Corbin, could have gone many different ways. The fact that the author decided to have them fall in love makes this a romance, among other things, and I have to say, it is one of the strangest, most complicated, and therefore most fascinating ones I have ever read about.

Corbin and Emmanuel are very different men, and not just because they are members of separate alien species. The way they think and what they want from life – or believe they want – is so utterly different that the physical variations pale in comparison. Both of them struggle to understand even the basics about each other, yet they are clearly fascinated with who and what the other man is, so they persevere in their quest of figuring out what to do about their attraction. With each of them having a moral code that causes issues for the other, that is not an easy feat. But the final solution they come up with is all the better for all their struggles, and even though I was ready to smack them so they’d be less stubborn, I have to admit that, in the end, their lack of flexibility (up to a point) actually helped them figure out the best possible deal.

Corbin is an aspasian, and he is proud of the fact that he can help people and make them happy. Every time Emmanuel calls him a whore it hurts Corbin deeply. He loves his job and while he wants someone to love as well, he can’t see himself giving up being who he is – and that includes having sex with some of his clients. But as he gets to know Emmanuel better, and as they go through a few crises together, Corbin begins to change. He no longer craves intimacy other than what he shares with Emmanuel, but he still can’t see himself doing anything other than being a companion.

Emmanuel is a bounty hunter who kills for money. He may tell himself that his targets deserve to die, but it is still a brutal job. It is part of why Emmanuel is emotionally closed off to the point that he doesn’t even know how to open up to Corbin. Not that he wants to – he hates the fact that Corbin “cheats” on him with other men. I didn’t think he’d ever get over that part of Corbin’s job, and it was very clear that any compromise, any change Emmanuel would make to his life, would have to be met by Corbin agreeing to a change it might be impossible for him to make.

If you like stories about aliens who are more stubborn than seems possible, if you want to find out more about two men who have moral codes that seem unalterable yet they are so attracted to each other that they have to find a way to live together, and if you’re looking for a read that is suspenseful, full of conflict between the main characters, and very hot, then you will probably like this novel. It’s a great sequel to the first book in the series, and another interesting look at the planet Wish and those who live there.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

‘To the Highest Bidder’ is a fascinating story set in the year 2231, and I liked it for many reasons. On the surface, it seems to be a simple case of a man deciding to sell his virginity to raise enough money to pay for his education and training as a pilot. It’s not the first time this has happened in history, and apparently, it is still happening in this version of the future. Digging a little deeper, the novel is also about appearances, deception, and how the main character/narrator, Thierry, deals with an unexpected twist around the identity of his benefactor. What made the story even better for me was the setting in outer space, the fact that both main characters are aliens and some excellent character growth. But I think, above all, I liked the sweet love story that only gradually unfolds as the story develops. All in all, this is a multi-layered novel with more than one surprise.

Thierry is driven by his ambition to become a pilot, and he even manages to pass the test for entry into the academy. But as a relatively poor Sythe orphan, he has little chance of finding the money – until his brother, Corbin, who works as a high-class companion, finds a solution. Thierry has difficulty dealing with the idea of becoming intimate with a total stranger, but ambition wins out, and he goes ahead. The man who hands in the winning bid in the auction is surprisingly gentle – but he also guards his identity by wearing a mask and not speaking at all.

Over the next few months Thierry and the mystery man stay in touch, get to know each other, and Thierry begins to fall for the man he calls ”Dragonfly”. Thierry believes he has fallen in love, but when he finds out who “Dragonfly” really is, he is shocked, disgusted, and wants to run. What follows is the intense and suspenseful process of Thierry dealing with his expectations, ambition, and dawning realization of what is really important in life and to him personally.

If you like stories about aliens with a couple of extra abilities but very human-like emotions, if you want to find out more about two men who are very different in their outlook on life yet uniquely suited to fit as a couple, and if you’re looking for a read that is as sweet and romantic as it is full of mystery and suspenseful, then you will probably like this novel.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

What a great story. Sweet, uplifting, with cute characters and a very cute lion. It begins with the first, somewhat awkward stages of Quinn, who is the "lion tamer" and pretty self-confident, meeting someone new. Charlie is shy, a talented artist, and can’t believe Quinn is interested in him. Not that he'll protest too loudly – just in case Quinn changes his mind. Both men are lonely, for different reasons, but once they meet, their story changes into a wonderful fairy tale. When Charlie has a surprise for Quinn, not to be outdone, Quinn surprises him right back, and that made me smile!

Quinn is a zoologist who runs a big cat sanctuary in Wyoming. He loves the outdoors, adores working with the many different species of cats. And no, not one of them is a house cat. When he brings Aseem, a one-year-old lion who was rescued from cruel people, into an animation studio so the artist can study him, he doesn’t expect to meet anyone special. His key interest is in helping the artists understand Aseem, and to maybe create some interest for the sanctuary. Seeing Charlie, who is too shy to even look at him at first, is unexpected, but Quinn makes his move the second he detects the interest is mutual. The joint rituals they develop are cute, and Quinn is even involving Charlie in taking care of Aseem, the cruelly declawed lion who grows up as the story develops and ends up being truly huge.

Charlie loves drawing, but he hates working for his current employer. The sterile white offices don't really suit him. He lives with his divorced sister and her two daughters, whom he adores, but he doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends. He can’t believe Quinn is interested in him, but doesn’t hesitate to say yes to a weekend visit to the sanctuary when it is offered. The rest, as they say, is history.

If you like love at first sight and whirlwind romances as well as finding out what happens after they meet and get over the first part of their relationship, if you enjoy stories about two men who are just perfect for each other, and if you're looking for a sweet, hot read, you will probably like this novella.

As a collection of stories, I think the 2015 Advent Calendar was one of the best of its kind. I have been following these since 2009, but the number of stories I totally adored has never been this high. And even though I had my ten favorites (see individual titles for my reviews and ratings), I really liked the vast majority of the remainder as well. Each story had something to contribute, and that included (as it does every year) stories of winter traditions other than Christian. I had a ball reading these and already look forward to the 2016 collection.


NOTE: The stories in this collection were provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of reviews on Rainbow Book Reviews.

‘Safe Haven’ is the story of Blake, a lonely, deeply hurt man in his late twenties coming out of his shell after twenty years of secreting himself away from the world. He takes daily doses of a sedative just to keep him vaguely functional, he finds it almost impossible to interact with people other than his uncle, and he has not left his house for all that time. What Blake suffered as a child of seven would drive anyone into seclusion – or being institutionalized if their circumstances were less financially secure than Blake finds himself after his parents’ death.

While the realism of the timeline may be questionable - based on what I know about deep trauma and agoraphobia it can’t be “cured” within mere weeks – this is fiction and I found the basic premise of this novel interesting and convincing. More than that, the writing makes this book a compelling journey and the mix between self-discovery, awakening of previously unknown emotions, and a newly found curiosity about the world had me pulled into Blake’s account of what happens with his three new bodyguards and why he begins to change once they tease him into opening up.

Blake has a list of issues that prevent him from leading a normal life. Thanks to his inheritance and his talent for game development, however, he has managed to set up is life in a way that makes him feel (mostly) safe. Nobody other than his uncle gets to see him. His rooms can be hermetically sealed off from the rest of the house, and the constant presence of a bodyguard ensures nobody can “get at him”. The people he works with, including his therapist, have accepted his “condition” – but all of that changes when Blake’s old bodyguard retires and his uncle hires a team of three to replace him.

Malcolm, CJ, and Rex are more than a professional team - they are a stable, committed triad. Blake has no idea what that means or how to deal with it, and watching them interact via the internal security system only makes him more curious. But what throws him is that all three men are curious about him, push his boundaries, and entice him to want to find out what it’s like to have friends. This curiosity finally brings out Blake’s need for human interaction and physical touch – a very slow process with many, many setbacks. But in the end, Blake falls for each of the men in a different way and it is those newfound emotions that ultimately drive him to makes some changes.

If you like complex characters who go on a journey of self-discovery they never signed up for yet can’t resist, if you think that curiosity and blossoming love are powerful motivators, and if you’re looking for a read full of drama, setbacks, real fear, suspense, and a great message of hope, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I found it to be a compelling read and an intriguing fairy tale-like story about the power of love at the same time.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Christmas miracles usually come without any strings attached, but in “One Wish” I got to see a slightly more “realistic” version of things. I know, I know, there is nothing “realistic” about miracles in the first place, but having a price to pay for a wish to come true and having choices to make does somehow feel more like reality than a “pure” miracle. Giving Callen an option and then asking him to choose his own future means he has something to say over the outcome – something he has missed since the accident that paralyzed him. Regaining control is something he is in urgent need of!

In some ways, this story is like the classic ‘Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens: Callen is a man who hates Christmas, he gets shown his Christmas past that caused all of the issues, he gets a wish that might fix the problem, and he gets to see a second version of his Christmas present with the wish granted. But after that, ‘One Wish’ diverges from the original and takes some very unexpected twists and turns.

I liked what Caitlin Ricci did with the tale. Callen hates his life in a wheelchair and teaching him to accept what has happened and deal with it is a huge task. Harry, the elf sent to help him, is a cute guy and he has some very helpful hints and tips – based on his own experience. But in the end it comes down to what Callen wants and what he is prepared to sacrifice, and I think that is the real strength of the story.

If you like Christmas miracles of a slightly different kind, if you believe that giving up is never an option - no matter how bad things seem to get, and if you’re looking for a read that is sweet, funny, and touching, then you will probably like this short story. I think it’s charming and unexpectedly thought-provoking!


NOTE: This book was provided by NineStar Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

In what looks to be the final volume of the ‘Wild Lands’ series, about forty-five years have passed since Colin Abbey moved into the cabin in the woods to be with his wolfshifter partner, Thoma, and it is now the early twenty-first century. Much has changed for the wolves, and even the withdrawn Pike Peak pack has begun the unavoidable integration of its members into human society. So much so that one of them, Ricky, has moved to Maine to go to school and college – though he did join another pack with his father. Zack has remained on the ranch, but all of his family died over the years and he is incredibly lonely.

Ricky is looking forward to a fun summer break, finally returning to his birth pack in Colorado for the first time in fourteen years. But what he finds shocks him to the core. All the members of the Abbey family, who own the land and the ranch have died – except Zack. The ranch is run down, the well almost dry, and Zack has a boyfriend who is aggressive and abusive. Ricky is determined to do something about the entire mess.

Zack has been incredibly lonely, his self-esteem is almost nonexistent, and he has accepted a man as his boyfriend who has nothing but disdain for him. But because Zack is so desperate for company and isn’t sure that what he feels is valid, he has accepted the idiot into his life. When Ricky returns, Zack is reminded of a happier part of his life, but he knows Ricky will leave again, so what is the point? He still feels he has to sell the ranch and moving in with the boyfriend is his best option.

Ricky sure has his work cut out for him with Zack resisting most of his ideas. But he is tenacious, and bit by bit, he finds out what’s been going on at the ranch. Winning back Zack’s trust is his first goal, then he wants to work on a way to keep Wild Lands intact and available to the wolves as well as Zack, who is the last of the Abbey line. What follows is a great final adventure in this series!

If you want to find out what happens to the Wild Lands Ranch in this century, if an up-to-date wolfshifter and a lonely human sound like an unusual pairing, and if you’re looking for a read that is full of suspense, discoveries, and a beautiful love story, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Extasy Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Christmas gifts come in all shapes and sizes, and the nicest ones, at least if you like surprises, are the unexpected presents. For a lonely vampire, even one who would never admit to such a human emotion, Christmas would normally not be a consideration, never mind any seasonal offerings. But Armand is different, and so is his Christmas.

Vampires and werewolves live in an uneasy truce in this world. Armand has a peace treaty with the local alpha so he can live in relative peace and obtain the blood he needs by hunting local prisoners – with the alpha’s approval. What Armand does not expect is for one of the wolves to turn up injured to the point of needing help – not that the wolf would admit that. And the wolf does not expect the vampire to be nice enough to help. But the holiday spirit works in mysterious ways… even for paranormal beings, it seems.

If you like sweet Christmas stories where old conflicts are buried, if you enjoy enemies suddenly getting along, and if you’re looking for an entertaining, sweet read with very little drama, then you might like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Extasy Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

While this story stands well on its own, it is also a minisequel to ‘The Vampire’s Christmas Surprise’, where Anton, a lonely vampire, and Puck, the local werewolf pack alpha, get together. I read it a little over a week ago and was happy to see more stories set in this world where vampires are usually cold, somewhat bloodthirsty fellows who don’t have human emotions or sensibilities. And werewolves don’t like them at all – almost on principle. ‘Under the Werewolf’s Tree’ tells the story of Gideon, a werewolf who has a deeper mistrust of vampires than most, and Darryl, another unusual vampire who is looking for a place in the pack. Intrigued? So was I!

When Gideon is ordered to show Armand’s friend, a vampire called Darryl, a good time on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, he almost refuses the order. But since his alpha wants him to do it, so that he can see for himself that not all vampires are bad, Gideon bites his tongue and obeys. But vampires killed his parents, so he is pretty sure he will hate Darryl as well.

Darryl likes what he has heard about Puck’ pack, so he comes to check things out. He is not at all like any vampires Gideon knows, and as they fight off a vampire intent on hurting Darryl and begin to deal with Gideon’s fears, the first bits of trust start to develop and Gideon finds himself considering the impossible.

If you like Christmas stories with unexpected developments between arch enemies, if you enjoy watching prejudice be replaced with the beginnings of trust, and if you’re looking for an entertaining sweet read with a touch of heat, then you might like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Extasy Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

About forty years after the end of the previous book in this series, it is now 1969 and a group of wolves is always at the Abbey ranch to help their human allies take care of the cattle. While the wolves have become more curious about human ways and vice versa, they are still very different: wilder, more direct since they can detect any lie, and more intent on staying isolated even in the face of technological advances like cars. Some of the current members of the Abbey family like the wolves right back, or are at the very least curious about them, but Colin is not one of them. More is the pity, since recently arrived Thoma is more than a little obsessed with Colin.

Thoma is new to the ranch, but he does not like it there. He is a wolf through and through and doesn’t want to accept that he has to behave like a human. Thoma hates clothes with a passion, prefers his meat raw and his vegetables nonexistent, and doesn’t understand why humans lie to each other. His only interest is getting closer to Colin, but the cowboy ignores him half the time and rebuffs any advances the other half. Thoma is determined though, and when Colin goes to a rodeo, having forbidden Thoma to come with him, Thoma secretly follows him.

Colin has some interesting issues with the wolves, and once they are revealed, his attitude makes more sense. Still, being away from the ranch and right after Thoma saves him from a beating, Colin decides to open up a little. The fact that he is attracted to Thoma helps, but the cultural divide between them is significant. Colin is devastated when Thoma is told to go to the wolf village upon their return, but there is a solution. One that neither Thoma nor he could have imagined, but one that points the way toward a future that might just see the wolves of Pike Peak and the Abbey family find a new way of cooperating.

If you want to know how the Wild Lands Ranch is doing now that the story settings are coming closer to the present time, if a curious wolfshifter who doesn’t like humans very much and a human who has issues with wolves sound like an interesting pairing, and if you’re looking for a read that is full of cross-cultural prejudice and discoveries and a slowly developing love story that almost goes wrong, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Extasy Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

review to follow

When two men meet and are attracted to each other, but one wants a no-strings-attached affair while the other wishes for commitment but will settle for being friends, trouble is bound to follow. This is what the two men in this novel face. Caleb is a graphic designer who left LA to escape a three-year relationship with his cheating married boss, and he longs for a committed relationship with an honest partner. Trent is a small town cop whose former lover has been in a coma for five years, and he can’t bear to think about a relationship at all, for fear of losing that man, just like he lost Simon. The result is a great story with believable characters, emotional depth, and lots of (sometimes painful) growth for both men. They each have their own set of issues they struggle with, but being together, despite all the ups and downs, turns out to be better than being apart.

Caleb is desperate to get way from his past, so he moves from LA to a small town in Colorado. He has bought a former horse ranch and loves the big house, but has no clue abut living “in the mountains” as his sister calls it. His first encounter hearing noises outside at night, thinking it must be a bear and calling his new cop friend for help, only to find out it was raccoons, made me laugh. But he is determined to make it work. And when I found out more about the lying ex as the story unfolded, I could see why. It’s pretty sad that Caleb only wants “someone not to lie to him” and to make sure that doesn’t happen, he does his best not to have a relationship at all. But Trent is tempting, and Caleb has to fight hard to remind himself to stay away.

Trent is scarred from losing his boyfriend, Simon, of one year in a ski accident – not to death, but to a coma. His family decides to keep Simon on life support – and that is where he still is five years later. While Trent realizes it is over, and moves on physically to one hookup after the other – he has a much more difficult time emotionally. Not that he understands this until he meets Caleb, for whom commitment is as much a “must” as it is a “no go zone” for Trent. How is he supposed to deal with potentially losing another man if he lets himself fall in love?

If you like character-driven stories with lots of psychological issues and personal growth, if you want to know more about two men who figure out that they are better off together than on their own, and if you’re looking for a read that is emotional, fascinating, and ends on a hopeful note, then you will probably like this novel.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

2.5 HEARTS--This was a little different. And my first Caitlin Ricci.




Nohatu is a Native American wild horse shifter. He lives a "half-life" because he shares he body and soul with another, Brother Horse. We meet Brother Horse at a mustang adoption where he catches Justin, a ranch hand's eye. The two make a deeper connection than they planned once the adoption takes place. They travel from the adoption place back to Justin's ranch where he works in Colorado where Justin gets a big surprise.

The story jumps into paranormal fairly quickly since the reader starts in Brother Horse/Nohatu's head. It was an interesting concept. I wonder how he'd got himself caught but for the sake of a story, I rolled with it. Justin being the love interest? Mmm...I'm not too sure about it. I wouldn't say Horsefeathers was romantic. It ends with a HFN feel with a possibility for more.

Do I think the two started sexual contact too quickly? Not really. So do a lot of people nowadays with just an exchange of names and sometimes even barely that. (No judge zone) I think it was necessary as a catalyst for the paranormal aspect which goes into a concern I have about the story.

My bigger gripe is I think this story would work better longer. I don't think it's novel material but a couple more thousand in words to help some with those rough transitions. An example, the characters are in the cab of a truck, in the blink of an eye, one of them is in the bush. Then the other is waking up. It reads a little jarring. So maybe 35-50 pages, tighten up some of the ideas introduced, explore & explain how the difference between certain types of shifters. (You'll have to read to understand what I mean.)

Something about an off hand comment Justin made to Nohatu during an argument rubbed me the wrong way. If he felt that way in the heat of the moment, how will you guys even last? I have a question mark on Justin and Nohatu's 'relationship' but the open ending helps some.

Some.

Overall, I liked the ideas, I have some issues with the execution, one remark (okay two but the one from Justin is the main one) rubbed me wrong but it can be argued it was said in anger.

The story is readable. The folktale feel that Nohatu brought with his past was cool. Wish that was expanded on, or maybe written a little differently. The title and the cover are very fitting. I think they're the best parts.

Who might enjoy this most? Readers who want something quick, paranormal and features a different sort of shifter without much world building.



A copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review. "½

This part of the series opened up some questions, again regarding Hannah. I enjoyed the overall story and their time in Ireland was interesting, however the nature of her gift is brought up once more. This time, between an encounter with a fae, and Hannah's concern from a mysterious boy who may be in trouble. The latter of which was not resolved. The former also brought up a couple of questions about whether everyone's "hunter" concern might be justified. The fae implied that Hannah would be feeling a desire to hunt. Is that really a concern, or was she just trying to scare her? Because I'd hate for there to be another wedge driven between Hannah and the pack.

I liked this book, but I was a little disappointed in Samson (a character who like, or at least want to like) instinctual reaction and fear. I also continue to be concerned for Hannah's gifts and what they might mean for herself (in the long run) and the pack and her family.

Nice little side story featuring Samson. I wasn't sure how this was going to play out ultimately because Samson is the Alpha of a pack. He has responsibilities. How can he then be Christopher's partner in the field full time? It just didn't seem practical. I mean, I guess he has Evangeline and Liam to run things on a day-to-Day basis, but still...

That said, I like Samson, so I enjoyed him finding someone. And I liked the bit in the beginning where Christopher ran into Travis in the pet store.