MLE's Porn and Ponies

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained therein are my own and influenced by nothing, and no one, but me.

I was so excited when I saw this book on Net Galley. I really enjoyed the first one, and I was excited to read the sequel. I am very happy to report that this book did not disappoint. I love the paranormal touches throughout this story. Nothing too much just enough to add some interest, and a little creepy factor to the story. The swampy setting during and after the storm really played a large part in the story, and I loved the atmosphere it evoked. It almost felt like the swamp was another character in the story in parts, and I enjoyed that. It felt grounded in the location, and it brought the story to life for me.

The character continue to be some of my favorites. I enjoyed seeing them continue to grow, and learn about each other, and themselves. I liked the part sex played in the story. It wasn’t a story about how sex cured their problems, but more how sex can be used to help release tension, and aggression, and boy did they use it effectively. This book especially was scorching hot. I did, however, like that sex didn’t completely overtake the plot. It was smutty, but the smut wasn’t the sole focus of the story either.

The secondary characters were really well done in this story. I really liked Etienne, and the bond he and Tommy shared was nice to see. Tommy’s aunt was another interesting character, and I loved her strength, and spirit. Her friends were a fun couple as well. It’s nice seeing such a strong, committed, older gay couple who are still so clearly in love. The less savory characters were well drawn with a mixed bag of motivations, and personalities. They helped the story from feeling too flat or predictable.

The plot was fast moving, and nicely edge of your seat. More than once I found myself biting my nails wondering what was going to happen next. Once again I loved how it wasn’t the story of how Prophet and Tommy solved all of the problems by themselves. It was nice to see characters from this, and another related series coming back to play a large role in the resolution. Blue is one of my personal favorites. The resolution was well done, and, while I might have shed a tear or two, I appreciate that the author did not pull her punches to craft a sparkly happy ending that wouldn’t have felt honest to the series. No matter how much part of me wanted it to end better, I don’t think it would have worked. I was thrilled to see that Mal and Cillian are going to be getting what might be their own series. I really like Cillian, and found myself intrigued by Mal, and wanting to know more about him.

Overall I really liked this addition to the series, and the universe. It’s nice when a series only continues to get better, and I look forward to seeing where things go from here.

I feel my feed is suffering from a lack of ponies. Can't be porn and ponies without the ponies.

One of the better urban fantasy books I've read in awhile the fact it's m/m is just icing on the cake. I like the world building, and the idea of fairies in this story. It's a slightly different take on things, without being too silly or different for the sake of being different.

The characters are complex, and well developed. I liked seeing how Richard developed, and grew over the course of the story. It's nice to read something where the main character manages to learn, and mature over the course of the story especially when it's almost in spite of themselves. The child character felt like a child, and wasn't too wise beyond her years no matter what her powers were. I enjoyed the variety of secondary characters as well. They were a diverse bunch, and added quite a bit to the story.

The plot is nicely convoluted, and I liked following the twists, and turns it took. It's refreshing reading a story that doesn't go exactly as expected. I'm really looking forward to reading more. I stayed up passed my bedtime to finish this one. It made for a hard morning, but I don’t regret it.

Cute, but totally lacking in any sort of smut. Seriously I would have taken some heavy petting, and a boot scene. I liked it, but the end was a little too much like a sitcom where our hero learned a valuable lesson.

Went shopping with my mother and Grandmother today, and I got to pick out my own Christmas/Birthday present. Downside I actually have to wait until Christmas to get it. This will be one of the few times I have counted down to Christmas in a long time.

Want to touch the shiny.

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

This was a very short pretty silly story of instant lust that quickly becomes instant love. I found Ryan to be insufferably shallow, and being in his head got old fast. I didn’t have a good feeling for the characters so the sex felt flat, and shallow to me. It might have worked as pwp if it was a bit dirtier, but considering the ending the author seemed to be trying for an ending that didn’t fit either one of the characters. I saw no reasoning why Ryan would say that even in the heat of the moment. It just didn’t fit with everything he has said, and done up until that moment. It wasn’t a bad story, just lacking in many ways. If it had just stayed a hook up story I think I would have found it more believable, but the “happy” ending just didn’t work for me.   

Just something for everyone to remember

A nicely developed short story. I liked how much I learned about the characters, and their world without a lot of forced information dumping, or stilted exposition. It felt like it flowed into the story naturally, and made me hungry to know more. I really liked Sam, and understood his moral quandary. I liked how he was introduced to Elia and the world of the bond mates, and I liked how things weren't quite as black and white as Sam expected. The mess of desire, repulsion, fear, and attraction was a heady mix, and I liked how his cousin's cryptic note played into his thoughts. It served not only to keep Sam more opened minded, but kept me more opened minded as well.

I was not a big of fan of Liam. I thought what he did to Sam was a bit hateful especially considering he didn't know Sam at all. Normally I would have some sympathy for him, but when I found out his reasons my sympathy dried up, especially in the face of his attitude, and demands. The fact I didn't like Zachariel either helped since part of me figured that the two of them deserved each other. I was surprised by how much I liked Elia. Earlier I figured I would have liked Liam better, but Elia's surprising independence, and intelligence won my grudging respect. His actions at the end of the story were really heartwarming, and I was glad that he was there when Sam needed a friend. Considering the place Sam was in I was glad that this story was not a romance, and that the events and people seemed to help him grow as a person. It seemed like just the thing he needed to move forward.

I really hope this is only the beginning of something more. I'd love to know more about Sam's history with his former clan, and what happened to him that made him lose his family. I want to know more about his mysterious cousin Adon, and I'd really like to see him live and in person. What I saw of him through the other characters made me really respect him. I'd also like to see more of Elia and Raphael, and the unique bond they share. The bond that Liam and Zachariel is supposed to be stronger, but I liked Raphael's respect for Elia better than the more stern, almost patronizing affection Zachariel has for Liam. I also want to see how Sam and Elia interact, and how that interaction will change both of them. Seriously, I will cry if I don’t ever get to know more. Big sloppy girl tears. Please, please tell me that there will be more.

Please.

Pretty please.

Pretty please with a cherry on top.

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

I have to say that I was a fan of the comic before I picked up this book. There is something about the drawings, and the sense of humor that just really works for me. The author does a really good job capturing the nature, and attitude of cats, and reminds me of the cats that have been part of my family over the years especially the ex-Tom cat, Tommy, that adopted my parents last winter. I love the not too sweet humor that fills this book, and the drawings never fail to make me smile. Perfect reading for me while I have a cold, and it will be on my go to list for the dark days this winter.

The ever perplexed looking Tommy lover of lobster, back scratches, and my dad's lap.