The Salisbury Key by Harper Fox

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Can true love strike twice?

With Fox's writing one expects lyricism and evocative language that tempts and beguiles the reader deep into the story. Often, there is an element of melancholy, a sense of romanticism as the characters commune with nature. Here, that is all evident, but there is also a long dark of suffering. 

Death and sorting through the chaos of its aftermath. Brutal, stolen, and betrayed, happening when you least it expect it. Daniel is faced with all of that, and he inelegantly stumbles, clutching at life and ghosts, trying to keep going as events unfold around him. 

The depth and intense focus on Daniel's grieving process was extraordinarily consuming, and made this a difficult read. The mystery component of the story was good, strong. It tied in well with the story and made it come full circle. I really liked this, but it was so emotionally draining that I didn't love it. 

Favorite quote:

There was nothing in this pounding hell of release that would let me endure being touched.

After the Horses by Jeffrey Round

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It's always more complicated when friends ask for favors.

Everyone is happy with their hand out, but when one of Toronto's entrepreneurs and larger than life gay personas is murdered, he's suddenly persona non grata. After all, he didn't earn money the pretty way. Dan Sharpe, PI is called in by a business associate to solve the case that has numerous tangles.

There's questionable dealings, hangers-on, and people who just hate Yuri for who he was and what he represented. All of this accounts for a colorful ensemble of characters brought together as Dan hunts down Yuri's killer. And some people are not happy.

We get another chapter in Dan's life as the mystery is being solved. Ups and downs, but he's moving forward. But, there is this weight, metaphorical chains the Dan drags around with him. As if all that he's learned and seen over the years, he carries like a penance: an underlying brooding, an atmosphere of cynicism that crushes down, his own albatross. In many ways it bleeds in from his work: an unrelenting sadness, filled with the lost and struggling looking to survive. Alone even in a crowd.

The actual mystery and misdirection employed is quite good. Entertaining and causing more questions than answers until the end, which is a great big swoop and reveal. So, big thumbs up there. 

Overall, a pensive read with a dose of fatalism. 

Favorite quote:

First impressions were better edited with time.

Acquainted with the Night by Tymber Dalton

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Saved it for so long, building up my expectations that I think the book wasn't as much as I'd hoped.

I was sold on the sci-fi component. Really, just wave intergalactic war and the fate of captives in front of me and I bite. But, the sci-fi elements faded really fast as the captives adjust to life on the Algonquan home world, which is terribly similar to Earth: grass, swimming pools, and even the furniture. The world building was a bit disappointing.

There's a couple distinct aspects to the story, some that I enjoy much more than others. The breeding portion, well that is technically more like incubating than breeding unless you're comparing them to Pokemon where you collect and hatch eggs. And while it was entertaining the first few times, the unrelenting orgasms and constant sexual hunger/humping/fucking got boring. Yep, hook him up to the milker... again.

Then there's the violence and justice Algonquan style. Which I guess is suppose to make you feel better, revenge for Master's incompetence soothes the wronged parties. Then, there's some bizarre rhetoric that gets spewed out a few times against Terrans, the pets' species and how there's no way that being POWs has led to Stockholm Syndrome. I really tried to skip these paragraphs because it fell apart so dramatically, but I understand the underlying message of the validity of 24/7 relationships attempting to be made.

Then there's the ending, which in a lot of ways just drags out the natural course of life. It was heavy-handed emotional manipulation which actually didn't make me cry because it was so clumsy. This theme was handled much more adroitly in Dalton's [book:The Reluctant Dom|8127475].

Overall, meh. Sometime less is better.

Side-eye quote: <b><blockquote>It’s not Stockholm Syndrome because I’m happy here.</blockquote></b>

Desert World Allegiances by Lyn Gala

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3.5 Stars

Temar made the classic mistake a younger sibling can make, to follow.

The council's judgement sets Cyla and Temar in their new lives, ten years of enslavement for destruction of property and squandering a precious resource.

Conspiracy and theft. Enslavement and abuse. 

"If Young was stealing water, and Temar agreed with his sister on that one, then the man deserved slavery, but Cyla’s joy at the thought made him a little uneasy."

A system that has a correctional system of enslavement/indentured servitude, a history of recent abuse within the system, and fails to follow up on those sentenced regularly--that's a problem. 

“I’m bothered by the things I see around us.”
“Oh, wait until you’re my age,” Div promised. “You’ll be absolutely terrified by them. I think God measures our lifespan in how much change we can take before our heads explode.”

Investigation. Subterfuge.

The plot picks up pace as Shan and Temar run from danger and try and track down what is happening. There's evading bad guys and enduring the harsh environment, neither of which is an easy thing. There are parts of the story that remind me of both Dune and McCaffrey's Pern series, but without the fantasy elements.

Ends not in a cliffhanger, but certainly with unresolved issues to be answered in subsequent stories. Shan and Temar's tentative circling is adequately concluded with hopes for much more. I'm certainly interested in reading more of the series. 

Favorite quote: 

“You’re so busy trying not to do something wrong that you didn’t do anything right."

Boot Camp Week by Jack Brighton

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A romp at Boot Camp.

The candidates are going through the selection process for training to be put up for auction. A week of challenges for all as the ranks get whittled down. Rick is an American porn star looking for a fresh start. The Masters are looking for something unscripted. 

Pretty much inside Rick's head as he tries to game the process and keeps falling short. Emotional, but all the porny stuffing fun you'd expect from a Brighton read. Entertaining with a touch of care.

Without a Net by Lyn Gala

C

Not what I was expecting, and more than a little disappointed.

A huge problem with the story is that the circumstances of it being the future or AU is not clearly delineated when you start. All of a sudden, getting quips about Mars' colonies 70% through the story is disconcerting. All the technology is contemporary and there are no obvious identifiers that this is anything but a contemporary novel.

The gender politics speak is way too much, over-the-top and off-putting, an inelegant crash course in gender neutral terms. The beginning with all the cisgender calling out leads one to think that there is a transgender or gender fluid character in full play--nope. So, the rhetoric comes off sounding like an afterschool special.

Then there are continuity issues and startling coincidences. Characters are presented ambiguously so that one is constantly questioning everyone but Ollie, the main character and our pov. Problem: I never connected with Ollie.

The whole BDSM control versus shade clubs, definitely highlighting the divide among practioners and coming down on a side. In my opinion, it comes down trying to be more inclusive if emphasizing personal responsibility, but also implies that shade players have been either "broken" or "rewired" and that is why it works for them. 

Not thrilled with the easy target of corrupt police departments in today's atmosphere--I really don't believe we need fictional shit stirring that pot. There's enough real life problems.

Really not thrilled that a police officer refused to file charges against a person who kidnapped, tortured, and raped them. I don't care if you understand their motivations--it's the FUCKING LAW for a reason. You don't make arrests because you feel like and likewise, you don't not press charges because you understand. Trial decides guilt and an sworn officer should not be making that choice let alone being hired by the FBI. OH HELL NO. THERE'S A PROCESS. Ollie is unwilling to follow due process.This Disney ending is bullshit. 

At some point, I wanted to kill everyone in this book, more than once. And the fact that one character--Milan--was held up as acceptable is NOT ACCEPTABLE. There's morally gray and there's predatory, the line is pretty clear here and author tries to smudge it. So, I have a huge ethical issue with this character being presented as anything but unacceptable in a book that is making hay about ethics.

Frankly, it derided police, then pointed out how one FBI agent was so by the book he was wrong?, and then this not-going-to-happen ending. This plays the suspense card, but the holes, impersonalization, and mixed messages really takes away from the story. I'm torn between one and two stars, and may change my rating later. After my last Gala story which I rated five stars, this was a let down. 

Overall, a muddle of salacious taboo BDSM practices and gender politics.

Axel's Pup by Kim Dare

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A bit long-winded, but how can you loose with a full length Dare novel--you can't.

Interesting social commentary as well as finding your place, finding balance, and finding the truth of you and not what others say of you--family or foe. All the possessive Dom goodness and deserving sub that you could want. Seriously, a few instances of repetition that I suppose meant to highlight how easy miscommunication is which was a bit aggravating, but made the finally epiphanies all the sweeter. 

Overall, a story of trust and care.

Converge by Chris Owen

C

DNF 55% 
Boring.

All the bits that you don't want to read, over and over again. Like riding in an elevator, walking down a sidewalk, driving in and out of garages--all the minutiae of daily life. This is a multiverse story, but all you get is administrivia and daily life. All the fun has been completely sucked out of the scifi. The only exciting part is the voyeur sex one MC has with another character while the second MC watches unbeknownst. 

Plus, looks like it ends in a cliffhanger from other reviews and the giant warning I saw when I skipped pages to see how much longer it was. Not committing more time.

Body Option by Tayla Andor

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Existence in multiple forms.

So, this pegged my desire for action and technology in science fiction, which made me a happy girl. Loved the premise of Argent's being in this one, his choices and his acumen. Loved the subtly woven interracial storyline, frankly, in the future the present boundaries regarding this seem ridiculous, so I enjoyed Grant's persona. A little bit of stereotyping with the blond elfin and the muscled black, but their personalities and interactions were wonderfully equal and the banter humorous. 

I love the exploration of the concept of humanity, form, and the interconnection between Grant and Argent. What takes it from a 5 down to 4? The story had more legs than it ran--too short. The abbreviated reconciliation and reveling in their like forms after the developing story of two inseparable friends and partners left me feeling a bit cheated. After years of being perfect together in others ways, I wanted to see that materialize physically to a greater extent. 

Overall, fast-paced short story that has heart.

Favorite quote:

"I've lived through peripherals since meat and bones failed me at eight. No sense downgrading now."

Daron's Guitar Chronicles: Volume One by Cecilia Tan

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Zeitgeist.

The sense of the eighties is tangible, from the smokey IHOP to the spandex wearing cover bands. The story is first person and is told exclusively from Daron's point of view. He keeps you close with the confidential tone while you travel with him.

This is a journey, and it is evocative and well paced. He doesn't rocket to stardom. This is the long haul of crappy gigs, subbing for band members, and eating when you can. Scrapping together and getting by. 

Argh! The story ends twenty pages before the final count. I thought I had so much story left. Cliffhanger! This is a definite read the series book, not freestanding. But, DAMN! It was really good. I'm totally invested in following Daron on his quest for self-discovery and acceptance. 

Favorite quote:

If charisma was a magic spell, Ziggy was casting it far and wide.