Francis Gideon

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
… (mais)

This is an odd book. Other reviewers have talked about how the author is clearly not trans and some have called the book transphobic. I am not trans and don't feel qualified to speak on that, but I will say that it made me very uncomfortable when the waiter at the restaurant calls them "gentlemen," and Katie brushes it off, saying that she gets called "sir" all the time. This also makes no sense, as it has been established earlier in the book that she doesn't look male. Nick sees her as a woman from the moment he meets her, and he has no reason to do so if she doesn't look female. So, either he is really stupid and/or blind, or everyone else is.

The writing is awkward and weird too. It's very tell-y. During make-out and sex scenes, we are told that Nick and Katie exchange "passionate kisses," but there is little passion or heat in the text. I felt nothing. Then, oops, they're in love. I was left wanting so much more.… (mais)

Set in the Yukon, Canada, this heartwarming novella about finding a home and making a family is part of the ‘World of Love’ series that offers stories of romance that span every corner of the globe. If all of the stories are as warm and heartwarming while conveying a lot of interesting details about the territory or country they are set in as ‘Chase this Light’, this will be an enjoyable series to read. Much like the sister series ‘States of Love’ has been allowing me to tour the US virtually, this series looks as though it will give me an opportunity to visit the world – even if only virtually. I have never been to the Yukon, and I think the lack of sunlight in winter would be hard to take, but the wildlife, nature, and friendly people in this story make it sound like a worthwhile place to visit.

Jason is from Pickering, near Toronto, and he has moved himself and his four-year-old son, Micah, all the way across Canada for a new, better-paid job in corporate finance. Jason is not sure what to expect, but he does know that Micah is going to have a hard time as soon as winter comes because the little boy is afraid of darkness. Among the things they do to get to know their new home is a visit to an interactive show at the local museum, and that opens up a whole new world to both of them – as well as introduces them to Pete, to whom both Jason and Micah feel an immediate connection.

Pete has been working at the museum for a while, and a big part of his job is to impersonate a historical prospector during the weekly lectures. Pete is of First Nations and Inuit descent and feels very connected to nature and his father’s traditional Native art. Pete is immediately interested in getting to know Jason and Micah. But when he finds out that Jason works for a big name oil company that Pete is sure will get into fracking, not that they have admitted it yet, his hackles rise. How is he supposed to get involved with a man who works for the sort of nature-destroying company that Pete is determined to fight?

Jason and Pete are off to a rocky start. At first glance, an oil man and an environmental activist are not a match that would work for five seconds. And even though Jason isn’t an executive and has his own ideas where the company should go, and Pete is willing to come to an understanding, other people have different ideas and when Jason’s company is hacked and all hints point toward Pete’s organization, things come to a head and both men think that’s the end of any kind of potential for a relationship. Luckily the author had different ideas, and I think the way the story develops is rather clever. Not at all what I expected, but that made it even more fun.

If you like stories about interesting parts of the world you might not have visited before, if you think that two men who seem to stand for opposite ends of the moral spectrum deserve a chance at happiness together, and if you’re looking for a read that is informative, suspenseful, and heartwarming, then you will probably like this novella.


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

A world full of supernaturals of every kind imaginable and then some? A cop turned bounty hunter with an agenda and more secrets in his life than he is aware of? A firestarter accused of destruction he never caused and a need for justice he believes he will never receive? Sign me up! ‘Never Lose Your Flames’ is an urban fantasy of the best kind with very imaginative world building, a cast of fascinating characters, and a plot that kept me guessing until it was almost too late. I loved the developing relationship between Nat and Gabe as much as the dark machinations in the background. If you’re looking for an action/adventure with a major mystery at its heart, topped off with a great love story, this is a book you can’t afford to miss.

Gabe is a dragon shifter, and in this version of an alternate Earth he has some incredible powers. Yes, he is strong and fast, but he also has an innate sense of justice and a very dark past. Gabe wants justice to prevail, and for quite a while I wondered how that fits with being a bounty hunter – one who does what his boss tells him to do rather than the type who is more of a free-spirited mercenary who chooses his own assignments. This fundamental conflict is part of what drives him and what he has to solve if he wants to move on from thinking he has to pay a debt so an ideal balance can be kept. Gabe comes closer to the truth as the story develops, and the revelations about him and the man he works for were not at all what I expected.

Nat is a firestarter of considerable ability, and it has made his life a very lonely one. It has also made him a hunted man, and even though he insists he is innocent and has not started all the fires he’s been accused of, the evidence looks pretty convincing. Even his brother is out to capture him, but from the outset it is clear there is far more going on between the two brothers than anyone but Nat knows. Nat hopes that Gabe will help him find justice – but with Gabe so convinced he is a bad guy, Nat has very little hope unless he can make Gabe see the truth. After all, he has already managed to control his ability, he has got to try to make Gabe understand what is all about.

If you like stories with supernatural characters out in the open and dealing with all kinds of problems, if you want to find out more about two men who are meant for each other but have to overcome their natures as well as several external obstacles, and if you’re looking for an action-packed read that is as suspenseful as it is multilayered, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. My breathing is still trying to return to normal.


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