JF Smith

I struggled a lot with this one, mainly because I didn’t want to be the Miss Ego to JF Smith’s Gusteau, but– you know.

I’m a huge plot fan. Huge.

I’m forever in search of a Plot featuring Well-Rounded LGBT Characters, Multidimensional & With A Purpose In Life (all capitalized because this is my quest, my Holy Grail) (spoiler alert: still searching). I also prefer to read adult characters rather than teens or YA, because I love to embark in impossible tasks.

When James from New York came along, I was all yay! An outta the closet MC, adult to boot and carrying a tragic secret all the way to his hometown? Bring it. The prologue promised me so many things. So many. And yet.

[Keep reading @ Bookshelves&Teacups]… (mais)

This is one of those books that just grabs hold of me and won't let go. I resented everything in RL that intruded on my time to read.

I got completely caught up in the story that unfolds before me. The balance between relationship building/issues and the action was fantastic. Neither one overpowered the other. What also can be a tricky issue; a lot of secondary characters, was also handled with a delicate balance. They all had their part to play in the story and they all played it well.

The only little niggle was Matt's tendency to play ostrich in regards to his relationship with Brian. I felt he became a bit of a doormat in this time, and just wanted to start yelling at him to wake up to it all, but in the end it didn't bring the book down in my opinion.

Thank you JF Smith for a fantastic read!… (mais)

Anyone who knows about Charon and the River Styx will go into this story assuming the worst. My first thought was Percy was dead, and the redneck with the hound dog was taking the poor kid into an even worse life than the one he'd escaped.

But the novella really isn't about any of that at all. Instead, it's a amazingly beautiful look at life, happiness, and self-reliance. It's a tale of who we are despite where we are. It's an uplifting story about looking inward for happiness and not outward.

If nothing else, this is a snippet of hope for those who might feel hopeless.… (mais)