ARC Review : Yanni's Story (Spencer Cohen #4) by N.R. Walker

Title : Yanni's Story 

Series : Spencer Cohen Book 4

Author : N.R. Walker

Genre : Gay Contemporary Romance, MM Romance

Published : August 29th, 2017

My Rating : 4 of 5 Stars

When Yanni Tomaras is kicked out of his family home, his parents’ final words are religious insults and an order to never return. Homeless and desperate, he’s lured in by Lance—charming on the outside, an evil predator underneath—who abuses Yanni until he finds the courage to leave.

Yanni should feel free. But by the time Spencer Cohen finds him, he’s resigned to being handed back to Lance and once again being caged by fear.

Starting school and a part-time job, Yanni begins to reclaim his life. But a love for silent films leads him to Peter Hannikov, a man with a kind heart but who’s twice his age. An unlikely friendship between them blooms into so much more. Neither man knows what he wants, at first. Finding out exactly what he needs is Yanni’s story.

“I’d spent years as a bird, caged with my wings clipped, tormented and beaten.

I thought I’d escaped when I’d left my abuser, but in hindsight, I could see that I was still caged, this time by fear and self-doubt.

Spencer and Andrew, and Andrew’s parents, opened the door to the cage that confined me.

But it was Peter who taught me how to fly.”

He was a pillar of warmth and strength and everything my soul craved. He was safety and comfort, a constant light in my dark.

I wanted him. I wanted to be his boy. For him to protect me always, keep me safe. Like a good daddy should.

***

I must admit that I have hard time putting the words to my review because I cannot find the right words to describe what I felt during & after I finished the book. 

What I know for sure that I have constant glistened eyes full with tears almost the entire reading and non-stop heart wrenching feels that squeezed my heart for what happened to Yanni.

The story come in VERY slow pace and with over 6000 Loc shown on my Kindle? I must admit that it a bit 'intimidate' me at first.

But later I found out that the slow pace and the amounts of the pages are worth ALL the time.

Yanni's story had gained my curiosity since Spencer helped him from his abusive ex in the previous book. Since then I keep wondering, what had happened to this young guy and I want to know more about him. So when the author announced that Yanni will have his own story it's like a dream come true!

Yanni is a young man who struggling with post traumatic syndrome after being saved by Spencer from his abusive ex.

To gained back what had been taken from him, Yanni must fight a lot of demons and traumatic moment before he can stand in his own feet.

On his journey to the healing process, Yanni meet a lot fabulous and kind hearted people that loved him unconditionally like Andrew's parents. Mr & Mrs. Landon had put Yanni's under their wings since the first time Spencer brought him to their house. Treated him like their long lost son, give him full support and love.

His meeting with Peter Hannikov who twice his age had change his life.

Yanni craving someone that could make him feel secure and safe. Peter come to Yanni's life and embraced him with love and caring. 

I like Peter. A LOT!

The way he treat Yanni through all the trauma and panic attacks really touched my heart. His patience and constant understanding was amazing. 

Seeing how these two person with the age gap slowly growing the feeling from 'non-dates' to daddy/son relationship was really something. How they both fill the missing pieces for each other had warmed my heart. They absolutely perfectly made for each other.

I'm so glad that the author keep the slow pace and stick to 'non-dates' thing almost into half of the story and didn't jump into any sexual thing until the 'right' time. Because if it happen sooner I'll probably DNF-ing the book immediately. Because we all KNOW that the healing process from post-traumatic-sexual-abused victim will NOT happen in a short time. There's process and a lot of struggling moment to pushed down all the triggers that caused the trauma. And I think the author write all the process in realistic & good way.

Maybe for some reader all the sessions with the psychiatrist will feels way too long and a bit boring. But that not what I felt during the reading. Because I know that all the sessions with Patrice was actually the main key to understand what Yanni's been through, and 'help' us to 'understand' more about his struggles to gained back what had taken from his life & survive. And the sessions with Patrice hold the huge part in the process along with what Peter and The Landon's did to Yanni.

I'm a bit surprise when I found that Yanni's Story not only about May/December troupe but also Daddy/son. I found it a bit 'interesting' and also 'intriguing'.

I have read books with daddy kink before and most of all are erotica. So, it bit 'shocking' when I found that the author write about it. I'm a bit worried at first, but after I read it, relief washed over me because the author write all that happen between Peter and Yanni - daddy/son 'relationship' in 'elegant' way. And I love it.

Yanni's Story is a heart wrenching but also heart warming story about a young man who struggling to gained back what had been taken from his life and his journey to find his true love. 

RECOMMENDED!

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance.

She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since… 

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Review : The Soldati Prince (Soldati Hearts #1) by Charlie Cochet

Title : The Soldati Prince
Series : Soldati Hearts #1
Author : Charlie Cochet
Genre : Paranormal Gay Romance, Fantasy, Shifter
Length : Novella, 97 pages
Published : November 23, 2016
My Rating : 3.5 of 5 Stars

One moment Riley Murrough is living a normal life working in a coffee shop, and the next he’s running for his life from demons, learns he bears the mark of a shape-shifter king from a magical realm, and—worst of all—he’s destined to become the mated prince to the arrogant tiger shifter he would rather strangle.

Khalon, the shifter king, is equally distraught at the idea of being bound to a human prince, and along with his Soldati warriors, he sets out to return Riley to his own world where he belongs. On their journey they might discover why the priestess brought them together—if they can escape the demons and make it to her alive.

First Edition published as The Soldati Prince in Charmed & Dangerous by JCP Books LLC, 2015. 

Riley Murrough never thought that his simply ordinary boring life as a worker at a coffee shop will change in just one night!

One time he'd spent his night 'taking care' of the left over cake at the cafe and the next thing he found out that his life is in danger because suddenly there a lot of demons chasing him and want his life!

And as if that's not enough, then out of nowhere there's this huge tiger came to save his life and change into human form before his eyes then claimed him as his mate and forced him to go with them to his 'world'!

Khalon, a Tiger shifter King from Soldati Realm which duty to protect humans from demons attacks had been  waiting for his mate for centuries. What Khalon never expected is, that he will get Riley as his mate. Khalon always expect that his mate will be another strong warrior that will stood by his side and fight hand in hand with him defending human world from the demons. But instead what he got is this fragile human with filthy mouth that turned his life upside down!

He believe that the priestess has made a mistake by marking a human as his mate.

How could the priestess mock him so? No Soldati king had ever mated with a human.

Khalon then planned to ask the priestess to remove his mark from Riley and send him back to where he belong after erasing all his memories and then waiting for his new mate Prince to come.

But when their soul start to bond, will Khalon keep denying the feel that start growing deeper than he thought?

Is the priestess really made a mistake?

✳✳✳

After three books that totally ended so meh for me and weeks of bad mood, finally I found a book that could boosted up my mood and turned out successfully pleased me....

Well, actually I didn't plan to read this book at the first place. But then I stumbled to another book, The Foxling Soldati also from this author and the blurb intrigued me. Then I found out that the book actually part of a series and it couldn't read without reading the first one. So I decided to read The Soldati Prince with not much expectations.

I didn't expect I'll enjoying the story this much. I can't stop grinning & smiling right from the very beginning with all that happened between Riley and Khalon. 

I fall for this Riley guy right after that first scenes when he had to choose between that lemon cake and the donut!!!

And love him even more when this 'fragile human' made the Great Soldati King life upside down!! Lol.

This book totally entertaining! I never thought that shifter story can be this cute and adorable, and I can't wait to meet Rayner and his foxling servant, Toka!!

Review : The Wild by K. Webster

Title : The Wild

Author : K. Webster

Genre : M/f romance, Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Taboo (incest)

Publication Date : August 7, 2017

My Ratings : 3 of 5 Stars 

I brought them to the wilderness because we couldn’t cope with our reality.

The plan was to make a new life that didn’t include heartache.

No people. No technology. No interference.
Just us.
A chance to piece together what was broken.

But the wilderness is untamed and harsh.
Brutal and unforgiving.
It doesn’t give a damn about your feelings.

Tragedy lives there too.
No escaping the truths that won’t let you go.

All you can do is survive where love, no matter how beastly, is the only thing you can truly count on.

Confusing. Wrong. Twisted. Beautiful. Sick.

Love is wild.
And we’re going to set it free.

Warning:

The Wild is an extremely taboo story. Most will find that the themes in this book will make you incredibly uncomfortable. This book is only for the brave, the open-minded, and the ones who crave love in even the most dismal of situations. Extreme sexual themes and violence in certain scenes, which could trigger emotional distress, are found in this story. If you are sensitive to heavy taboo themes, then this story is not for you. 

First of all, I must confess that I'm not an avid MF reader, but since this book gained huge attention and got banned by Amazon for it's full of controversy and surrounded by the drama caused by people who feels offended by the the taboo & incest issue, i must admit that it successfully drawn my curiosity and decided to dare myself by reading it.

I don't know who K. Webster is and never knew any of her books and have no intention to read any of her book, until this.

So, if 'the curiosity will kill the cat', I'll take that risk and dare myself by trying this book and faced ALL the consequences on my own risk!

Aside from some scenes that feel un-logic and a bit 'not make sense' for me, I felt kinda disappointed because with all those drama and banning things, the story was not as hardcore and dark as what people said. On the contrary, I found that the story was just so-so for me. I didn't say that it was that bad, but I can't say if it's that good either. I gave 3 stars to this book simply because I found that even there are some part that didn't sit well with my logic, I must admit that I DO enjoying the story quite well. I have no problems with the incest things because I have read books that darker than this one with slavery issue mix with incest and way way more brutal than this, so for me...what happen in this book is nothing to me. But I do aware that not everyone okay with this issue and feel offended by what happen between Pip and her Dad. But even if you disagree and feel offended by what the author put in their story, insulting the author and questioning her morality and even worse by spoiling the whole book contents was so RUDE!

Especially when you're also an author and speak ill about another author, questioning others morality while you write cheating things and 'glorified' it as if it doesn't matter really make me sick. And this, made me questioning back 'that person' morality as well. 

I also surprise myself by reading this book faster than what I usually do, mostly because I want this to end SOON so I (FINALLY) can write my review!

So, my final thoughts?

For those who has kinky-taboo-kink and have no issue with incest things, I think this book will suit your taste very well.

AND for those who not comfortable with all taboo things, better stay away from this book, because The Wild definitely NOT for you!

As for the taboo thing that happen between Pip (Devon) and her father, Reed. I can fully 'understand' the whole 'situation' and why they both grow such that feeling. And I cannot 'blame' them for what they feels. If you read until the last page, you'll know why I'm saying this. But again, it's up to you for liking it or not as long as you keep your attitude at appropriate level. 

But I think, the whole 'banning the book' things is totally ridiculous. It's a fiction ffs! So if you don't like the topic, then don't read it. That's simple!

The next things is...even I know the author had put a WARNING on the blurb, BUT unfortunately she's not warned about the incest things in advance was also wrong. And THAT what makes a lot of reader felt like being fooled. Next time, give the reader a proper warning so that can lessen the 'drama'.

Last, but not least, just keep in your mind that 'not ALL what you think is what was actually happen'. Mark my words!

Happy Reading!!! 

Review : Regret (Under My Skin #1) by Christina Lee

Title : Regret (Under My Skin #1)
Author : Christina Lee
Part of series : Under My Skin
Genre : Gay Romance, MM Romance
Published : June 25, 2017
My Rating : 4 of 5 Stars

When Brian “Brin” Schubert’s condo floods, he takes his co-worker up on the offer to stay on his crappy futon for a while. The last thing he expects is for his friend’s roommate to be the one guy he despises the most. The same guy who stomped on his heart senior year of high school. And by the looks of the girl on his arm, the same man who’s still deep inside the closet. 

Nicholas Dell never predicted that eleven years later, one of his greatest regrets would show up on his doorstep down on his luck. Nick has made some terrible mistakes—story of his life—and he’s been paying for them ever since. And if the guilt and shame aren’t enough, his first crush had to turn into one of the sexiest men he’s ever laid eyes on. 

Nick and Brin have weeks to steer clear of each other. Weeks to avoid strangling each other. But when stubbornness leads to skyrocketing sexual tension, hate-sex doesn’t seem like such an awful way to work through their frustration. Except hate is a powerful emotion, especially when it’s turned inward. And in Nick’s case he’s been drowning in a sea of self-loathing for so long, he can’t see his way out. 

As Brin reconnects with Nick, his perception of what really happened in their past begins to change. He’s finally ready to forgive him and take a second chance on the one guy who stirs him like no other. But Nick’s demons are complicated, heart-wrenching…demanding. So devastating, he might never allow himself true happiness—even with the one man who’s always owned his heart.

“Because you’re my second-biggest regret, I wish I could go back, have a second chance to do things differently, but life doesn’t work that way.”

***

If there's any biggest regret in Nick's life that would be Zoey...and Brian...

Carrying a burden from the past had put Nick's into never ending guilt. Nights with nightmares and panic attacks caused by the memories from the past had been haunted him for years.

I was like a ghost in a world of humans, constantly trying to stay in the moment.

There's a time, when he finally found the ray of sunshine that lights his darkness life...but at the end, that guilty feelings always drawn him back to the feels that he didn't deserve to be happy and loved for what happened in his past...

Brin was his second biggest regret in his life...

And he owed him an unsaid apologize...

Fate then made them meet again in strange way...

Both Nick and Brin struggling to keep the distance between them, but they cannot control what they feels for each other inside. The hate-love that growing between the two totally unbearable to denied and trying to put no feeling in this situation was an impossible things to do.

Burn by passion and the love that still linger in their heart after all these years, will these two surrender to the fate?

I like this story to the level 'so much'. The love and hate that grew between Nick and Brin is something that cannot be missed. I hate some part that happened in this book, but at another part, my heart broke for these two...

There's nothing that will burden you than a regret, and the author portrayed the feels perfectly.

RECOMMENDED!

Review : AXIOS ~ A Spartan Tale by Jaclyn Osborn

Title : Axios ~ A Spartan Tale 

Author : Jaclyn Osborn 

Release date: July 20, 2017

Genre : M/M Historical Romance

My Rating : 5++ Stars

I am Axios of Sparta, and I was born to kill. At age seven, I left home to train with other boys where we were taught obedience, solidarity, military strategy, and how to withstand pain. My harsh upbringing stripped me of my weaknesses and forced me to become strong. Ruthless.

But, I craved something greater—a life I could never have.

Against all odds, and the toughest training a warrior could endure, I found an unexpected love in the arms of a fellow Spartan. He was the very air I breathed and the water that sustained me. Fighting side by side with him, we were invincible. Where he went, I followed.

However, there was no place for love in Sparta. Feelings were for the weak. The only life for a Spartan was one of battle and brutality with no guarantee of tomorrow. In times of war, all men were put to the test, but the greatest challenge for us was not one of swords and spears, but of the heart.

*M/M Historical Romance set in Ancient Sparta*

He was the very air I breathed and the water that sustained me. The anchor that kept me from drifting out to sea. My safe haven from the storm. 

My warrior. My lover. My heart.

*** 

Dear Author,

Thank you for bringing Axios and Eryx story to us (readers). 

Following Axios and Eryx journey is like entering the past time that full of fantasy that we never know. Through your fascinating writing, you had made us entering the world that only exist in your fantasy and turned it into a reality. It's so hard for me not to see all that happened in the story as just a fantasy. Because everything that happens in the book look very 'convincing' and real, as if that you just ripped their story right from the 'book' and showing us that they DO exist as part of history and wish to be known...

Did you know how many times I paused the reading just because I feel the urge to googled anything historical that mentioned in this book? And wondering on 'how long you took the research' and amazed on how accurate the scenes you picturing there?

Almost the whole reading!!!

And THAT makes Axios become the longest book to finish this year!

The book cover took my breath away right from the very first time I saw it! I'm SOLD instantly!

It stunningly beautiful in very masculine way. And that worth 5++ stars from this coverslut eyes. 

Thank you for all the love we (especially ME!!!) feel right from the very start that grew slowly between Axios and Eryx. Thank you for let us be right there with Axios and Eryx in their whole happiest time and the worst.

Thank you for EVERY tears that rolling on our cheeks and those Kleenex that cannot hold our breakdown and leave us in speechless...

Thank you for let us taste this beautiful-heartbreaking story. Thank you for let us feel your love to Axios and Eryx, because now...we can also LOVE them as much as you do....

Eryx with his keen mind and protectiveness, and his storytelling things. And Axios with his kind and tender heart had touched my heart so deep. These guys will be forever staying in my heart...

All the stars above to Axios and Eryx love story and wish I could see Axios story made into a movie someday!!

Maybe you're new author to me, and Axios was the first book of yours that I read...but I can assure you that it wouldn't be the last book of yours that I read. Because from now on, your books will be on my top TBR list!

And like what Axios always did each time Eryx has new story to tell, I'll turn into little Icarus and enthusiastically come to you, and waiting for you to say what Eryx always said....

“Do you wish to hear a story?” 

And I would gladly say, “Yes!”

Sincerely,

Your new stalker.