Elley Murray

Great story, mid narrator

Revisado: 07-18-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This book has allll the best tropes - roommates, teammates, friends-to-lovers, fake dating, straight best friend, bi-awakening… *le sigh*

Logan and Dylan show up as side characters in the previous books in the series (and come on Dylan, did you really think you were "not queer"?) and it was OBVIOUS there were some major vibes there, so I was thrilled to get to their story! The chemistry between Dylan and Logan is so great from the very first moment, when they meet and Logan offers to let Dylan stay with him while he looks for a place. A few days turns into a few weeks then months as these two become besties... and then more. I really appreciate the way these guys actually TALK to each other when there are issues (mostly - there is of course the obligatory miscommunication tension you basically have to have in a fake dating romance). Their friendship is amazing and so fun to read, and when it develops into MORE... *heart eyes emoji*

Audiobook specific comments:
I listed to this on audiobook, narrated by Darcy Stark, so this bit of the review is just about the audio version. While I did mostly appreciate Darcy Stark's narration, for some reason he decided to give Dylan's voice this super annoying tone. The first time he narrated some of Dylan's dialogue, I thought "Well that sounds super annoying and super nerdy." And I guess Dylan is kind of nerdy, but geez, did he really need to make him sound as nasally as Kermit the Frog? The entire rest of the audiobook I liked - he does a great job on the actual text (non-dialogue text? - I don't know what to call it) and I appreciate how he makes each character's dialogue/voice distinct and unique - but MAN, I sure wish he'd made a different stylistic choice for his portrayal of Dylan - it really grated on my nerves through the entire book.

This is the second book in the Miami Piranhas series, and can be read as a standalone. That being said, there are spoilers for earlier books in the series, as well as connection to events that happened in another of Beth Bolden's series, The Riptide (I assume, I haven't read that series yet). There's also a fair amount of lead up in this to Miami Piranhas book three, Playing by the Rules.

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Friends to lovers fake dating perfection

Revisado: 11-14-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Guh, so good! I can't rec the audio version of this book enough.

This book is my everything. *sigh* Friends to lovers fake dating bi-awakening is quickly becoming my favorite trope combo - add in Christmas time, there's only one bed, and some hardcore pining and nngh. You get the PERFECTION that is The Christmas Leap.

The chemistry between Will and Michael is so lovely and it made my heart hurt so much. Michael has been in love with his best friend Will basically forever, and in an effort to get over his crush cut Will out of his life completely. Will doesn't know why his best friend has suddenly ghosted him, and it hurts. Cue a series of unfortunate circumstances for poor Michael, and these former besties are thrown together at Christmas in a pressure cooker of tension. THERE IS ONLY ONE BED, PEOPLE. What's not to love?!

I listed to the audiobook narrated by Greg Boudreaux. I read a lot of M/M romance and I definitely have my preferred narrators. This was the first book I've listened to narrated by Greg Boudreaux, by he INSTANTLY went onto my auto buy narrators list! He does such an amazing job at making Will and Michael's voices unique (and I love Will's Scottish accent! ahh!)

This is the second book in the Festive Fakes series, but can be read as a standalone. That being said, I immediately went and bought book one, The Christmas Deal. There are some minor spoilers for book one in this book, but not much more than you'd read on the back cover blurb. There are also some side characters whose books I can't wait for! Liam and Cody's book Flash Rip is already out, and Logan and Seth's son Conner's book will come out for Christmas 2023! (I already can't wait!!)

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Friends to lovers fake dating perfection

Revisado: 11-14-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Guh, so good! I can't rec the audio version of this book enough.

This book is my everything. *sigh* Friends to lovers fake dating bi-awakening is quickly becoming my favorite trope combo - add in Christmas time, there's only one bed, and some hardcore pining and nngh. You get the PERFECTION that is The Christmas Leap.

The chemistry between Will and Michael is so lovely and it made my heart hurt so much. Michael has been in love with his best friend Will basically forever, and in an effort to get over his crush cut Will out of his life completely. Will doesn't know why his best friend has suddenly ghosted him, and it hurts. Cue a series of unfortunate circumstances for poor Michael, and these former besties are thrown together at Christmas in a pressure cooker of tension. THERE IS ONLY ONE BED, PEOPLE. What's not to love?!

I listed to the audiobook narrated by Greg Boudreaux. I read a lot of M/M romance and I definitely have my preferred narrators. This was the first book I've listened to narrated by Greg Boudreaux, by he INSTANTLY went onto my auto buy narrators list! He does such an amazing job at making Will and Michael's voices unique (and I love Will's Scottish accent! ahh!)

This is the second book in the Festive Fakes series, but can be read as a standalone. That being said, I immediately went and bought book one, The Christmas Deal. There are some minor spoilers for book one in this book, but not much more than you'd read on the back cover blurb. There are also some side characters whose books I can't wait for! Liam and Cody's book Flash Rip is already out, and Logan and Seth's son Conner's book will come out for Christmas 2023! (I already can't wait!!)

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Audiobook is hands down THE BEST version

Revisado: 10-28-22

The audiobook version of The Martian as narrated by R. C. Bray is hands down the absolute best version of this book. I've also read the paperback version and watched the movie, and there's just something about Bray's delivery that really sells this story.

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As amazing in audiobook as written!

Revisado: 10-28-22

I ALMOST didn't read this because I don't typically care for the first person present tense style of writing. Boy, am I glad my good buddy Ariel pressed me to read this, saying she couldn't put it down. I read this entire book in a span of less than 24 hours, and it would have been less than that except I need to keep my job! Kept me up long past my bedtime.

At one point Josh tells Lucy "You are deeply weird," and the great thing is, they BOTH are! The story is told entirely through Lucy's point of view in the present tense, and she starts by giving us two important facts: Her name is Lucy Hutton, and she hates Josh Templeman. They spend their days sharing an office and playing little games with each other (like The Staring Game and the How You Doing game), trying to win and one-up the other. Their dynamic is just so hilarious, and they are clearly BOTH deeply weird in the same wonderfully quirky way to interact with each other the way they do.

The scene where Lucy has the stomach flu just about ripped my heart out of my chest (and that's all I'll say about it because no spoilers!). Several other scenes after had my eyes welling with tears and clutching at my chest because of the feels. I wanted to both kiss and noogie both Josh and Lucy through most of the second half of the book, and just could not put it down. I'm so glad I pushed past my distaste for the first person present tense thing and stuck with this book, because my life is DEFINITELY better for having gotten to know these two "deeply weird" characters.

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This section of the review is for my second read through. That's right - less than I year after I first read The Hating Game, I was compelled to read it again. I also checked it out from the library the first go 'round, and now I own it in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. (Yes, that is how good this book is.)

I really loved listening to this on audiobook. Katie Schorr does an amazing job with the narration, and is a joy to listen to. There are a few spots where I couldn't really tell if what was being said was being said aloud, or if Lucy was just thinking it in her own head. That's really the only downfall of the audio version.

The second read through may be even more amazing than the first. So many of the things Josh says and does are so revealing of his true feelings, and it's INSANE (and also totally heartbreaking) to read the story already knowing how Josh has felt from Day 1. There were several scenes that had me screaming to my BFF (who made me read this book in the first place) things like "OH MY GOD, ARIEL, WHEN SHE SAYS SHE'S GOING OUT WITH SOMEONE LEAVING THE COMPANY SOON IT'S RIGHT AFTER THEY MADE THEIR BET AND HE THINKS SHE MEANS HIM." I won't mention the other scream-inducing parts because I don't want to spoil anything, but there were at least half a dozen parts of this book where I just DIED for Josh, because there are so many misunderstandings and missed connections that aaaaaaaalmost make it and are just out of sync enough to RUIN LIVES, YOU GUYS. *flail*

If you haven't read this book, read it now. And if you HAVE read it... read it again!

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Amazing story, great narrator

Revisado: 10-28-22

Mary Robinette Kowal is so amazing, I went searching for other books she's narrated as well.

I love the twist on fairy tales, and the world building Seanan McGuire does in this series is SO amazingly great.

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Still can't get enough of this series

Revisado: 10-28-22

FINALLLLLLYYYYYY! I have been waiting for Dex and Tripp's book since they showed up midway through Egotistical Puckboy. Literally, the first thing I thought when they appeared on the page was "please tell me theirs is the next book" (and I am so pumped it is!!)

This is an incredible friends to lovers, my straight best friend, hockey romance. There are tropes upon tropes - some twists on fake relationship, marriage of convenience, forced proximity... *dreamy sigh* So much goodness all packed into one book.

My heart hurt so much for Tripp, who's been in love with his best friend Dex basically forever. Dex isn't always the brightest crayon in the box, but he's so dang HAPPY. He reminds me of a golden retriever - you know, the one who thinks it's still a puppy and doesn't realize it's fully grown and thus WAY too big to sit in your lap anymore, haha! The chemistry and tension between them is *delicious,* even when it seems like they're both in entirely different spaces in their heads. Irresponsible Puckboy is fun and flirty, and had me both laughing out loud and ugly crying.

Tripp and Dex's love for each other is fierce, and there are so many small, simple moments that just take your breath away. Take this excerpt, for example:

“I think … I think we need to start looking at us from the outside. If we’re ever going to make our relationships work, maybe we need to --” He takes a breath. “-- stop being so possessive of each other.”

“I’m not possessive!”

“Who do I belong to?”

“Me, but --”

He grins.

“Shut up.”

*dreamy sigh* That's right, Dex. Tripp belongs to you, and don't you let him forget it.

This is the second book in the Puckboys series, and while it can be read as a standalone the first book, Egotistical Puckboy is FANTASTIC and I highly recommend reading it (and reading it first as the leads of the first book are side characters in this one).

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Can't get enough of this series

Revisado: 10-28-22

YES, this book is EVERYTHING. I already NEED Tripp's book, please!!!!! More!

*cough* Okay, now that I've settled down a bit... I love this amazing enemies to lovers contemporary hockey romance. This book is everything I've come to expect from Eden Finley and Saxon James, and then some.

Enemies to lovers romance full of dirty anger-banging. (Look, to pass the various review content filters I couldn't use the phrase I really wanted to, but you know what it is.) YES. PLEASE. I live and die for the banter and snark between Ezra and Anton. In some ways they're total opposites, but in some ways they're so similar (to the point where multiple people bemoan "oh God, there's two of them"). I am trying to figure out what to even write in this review because it keeps just coming out like "Their rivalry is amazing! Their frenemies with benefits is amazing! The slow development of Actual Feelings is amazing!" Look, this book is just really amazing, okay? Stop reading this review and just go read the book, haha!

This is the first book in the Puckboys series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but prepare to desire the stories for EVERY SIDE CHARACTER. There are also some mentions of other characters in Eden Finley's other series, including Ollie from Deke and Soren from Hat Trick in the Fake Boyfriends series, as well as some spoilers for West's story in Puck Drills & Cheap Thrills in the CU Hockey series.

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One of my faves!

Revisado: 10-28-22

This book! My goodest good buddy Ariel posted about staying up late into the night reading this book, and I made virtual grabby hands at her and she loaned me her copy. I then proceeded to also stay up late into the night reading this fabulous book. I one-more-chaptered myself until I got to about the 70% mark, and then the book and I admitted that I wasn't going to sleep until I'd finished the entire thing. at 1:30 am. Which is a good three and a half hours past my bedtime. It's just that good.

Wed and Jamie met at summer camp when they were tweens, and have been BFFs ever since. That is, until they summer they're 18 and they end summer camp with a little hanky panky. Wes, who has realized he's gay in the intervening years and is majorly crushing in his (straight) BFF, feels like he manipulated Jaime and proceeds to ghost him for the next four years. (Dick move, Wes.) They meet up again at the Final Four college hockey tournament and reconnect.

I love the dynamic between Wes and Jamie. Wes is brash and cocky, which serves him well in his position as forward. He's always up for a dare or a crazy stunt, but deep down he's actually really vulnerable and is dealing with a lot of internalized pain and insecurity. I'm not entirely sure why he goes dark on Jamie during college - seems like it's a mix of guilt for what he sees as tricking Jaime into having sexy times with him without disclosing to his BFF that's he's 1) gay and 2) super crushing on him as well as self-preservation to protect his heart/try to forget his giant crush. He does thinks that are clueless and dumb, and that make me want to throttle him and snuggle him at the same time.

Jamie plays goalie and he's just... *dreamy sigh* He's like the boy next door and I love him. Wes has these big NHL hockey dreams, but Jamie is really in it for love of the game, and he loves coaching kids at the hockey summer camp that he and Wes went to together. Jamie is understandably hurt when his best friend Wes suddenly stops responding in college, but he's willing to forgive and move on. While Wes gives off a sort of bad-boy rebel vibe (with his tattoos and piercings... rawr), Jamie feels a lot more like the wholesome, clean-cut boy next door. He's very willing to follow Wes into all sorts of trouble, though.

I love the way Bowen and Kennedy write the development of the romantic relationship between Wes and Jamie, especially Jamie's journey of self-discovery. I don't want to spoil anything, but Jamie's exploration of his sexuality and sexual preferences was just fantastically written. And aside from Wes' repeat habit of running away from his problems/pain instead of dealing with them, this is a relatively low drama M/M romance that had lots and LOTS of fun sexytimes.

Him is told in the first person present tense, and the POV switches off between Wes and Jamie about every chapter so you get to see inside both of their heads (and hearts). I don't really like the first person present tense, but Bowen and Kennedy pull it off really well here. The writing is in turns heart-wrenching and hilarious, and this book had me both wiping away tears as well as laughing like a crazed hyena. Especially little gems like this one:

Why hasn’t anyone ever told me the prostrate was some kind of magical pleasure zone? Are there unicorns and orgasm fairies dancing around in there?


This is the first in a series, and the second book appears to be a follow-up on more Jamie and Wes antics. I probably will not be reading the second book, because as much as I'd love to read more about Wes and Jamie I'm VERY happy with how Him ended, and don't want to spoil the magic.
Note: I've tried to go back and fix all the places I spelled Jamie's name as "Jaime," but forgiveness please if I missed some. My son's name is Jaime and we spell it the Lannister way, so spelling it "Jamie" (aka wrong!) was hard for me!

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Lovers of fairy tale romance rejoice!

Revisado: 11-23-17

This is a lovely fairy tale fantasy romance and adventure. I appreciate the nods to the original Sleeping Beauty story as well as the Disney version.

I had some confusion while reading this because I just finished An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson (see my review here) featuring a heroine named Isobel, and then Spindle Fire’s main characters are Princess Aurora and her half sister, Isabelle. I’m also reading a Regency romance called The Wicked Heir by Elizabeth Michels where the heroine’s name is (did you guess it?) Isabelle. So many Isabelle/Isobels!!

Spindle Fire is told in the present tense and focuses each chapter on a different character, typically either Aurora or Isabelle but also sometimes also one one of the various fairies that play a role in the overarching plot. It’s interesting because once Aurora and Isabelle go their own ways, each learns elements important to the overall storyline that the reader is able to piece together an understanding of the big picture, but Isabelle and Aurora are often given a puzzle piece that fits into her sister’s picture, rather than her own. It adds a depth of intrigue to the story that’s really interesting.

The rules that govern the behavior and magic of the fairies are great. The tithe paid in exchange for a gift bestowed really fits with the fairy compulsion for a trade or exchange - nothing is given or taken for free, it's always a trade. True, it's not always a good or fair trade, and tricksy fairies will twist things and trick you if given half a chance… But it makes sense that they don't just bestow blessings all willy-nilly like in the Disney movie.

I don’t want to say too much about the actual plot because there are some twists and turns (some that I saw coming, and some I didn’t) and I don’t want to ruin it. Suffice it to say that both women get their romance on in ways that made me giggle with glee. Also, prepare for some second-lead syndrome (Korean Drama fans know what I’m talking about!)

I listened to the audiobook version of Spindle Fire on audible. Fiona Hardingham does a great job narrating a very broad cast of characters. I especially love her interpretation of several of the animal voices - a certain white panther in particular. I also love her accent and wonder if this is her normal accent, and if so where on earth is she from that people sound like the Wildlings from Game of Thrones? I will definitely be pre-ordering the next book from Audible, and have my fingers crossed that Fiona is the narrator for that one as well.

Now my only question is: Is it April 2018 yet? Because I need the next book!! Which is titled Winter Fire, in case you were curious.

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