The Found Jar – Jaycie Morrison

Dec 10, 2020Dec 9, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

This wasn’t what I was expecting when I picked up this book based on the blurb, but I’m glad this book was more than the blurb suggested. It’s a book full of unexpected depth and humanity. I can imagine it will probably divide people but I really enjoyed the approach.

Emily is a horror writer. She’s had a difficult past and uses her writing to maintain some control of her life. She keeps her friends, if you can call them that, at arms length, has no close family and believes she isn’t deserving of more.

Beck had a traumatic brain injury in her youth. She’s never left her hometown, still lives with her mother and takes odd jobs here and there. She longs to buy a boat and follow in the footsteps of her father.

I really appreciated how Morrison manages to illustrate that trauma does different things to different people. Both MCs have experienced trauma and loss that has made them who they are and her characterisations almost depict the two opposites of possible reactions, Emily pushes people away through mean words in an effort not to be hurt, Beck tries to bring people closer to her. Having them fall for each other despite the many things they have to work through makes for a really good read.

I don’t have experience of traumatic brain injuries, but I felt like Morrison explored Beck’s injuries in a way that is both understandable to the reader, but that also expresses Beck as a really great character. Her mother’s worries about her and the way Emily refuses to treat her as anything other than an adult works really well. Morrison also manages to express the additional impact Emily’s harsh words would have on Beck without making the reader feel sorry for her.

I am sure that Emily probably won’t be a popular character, but I can completely understand why she is written the way she is. Her journey is one of my favourite parts of the book, and whilst she falters, making for a hard read at times, it’s a worthwhile narrative to explore.

The pacing of the story works really well – the twists are effective and provide empathy for both characters. I found myself not wanting to put the book down as I needed to know how it would turn out. There are also cats – a definite bonus in my book.

This isn’t the easiest book to read, the trauma both have experienced can be a difficult read and there are flashbacks and nightmares on the page. There are times when discussions are downright mean. There are also incidences of discrimination towards Beck, both for her sexuality and her injury.

This is Morrison’s first foray into contemporary romance, and I hope this continues. I’d definitely recommend giving this book a go as it brings a different approach to romance than I’ve personally encountered before in the wlw arena and for that reason alone it’s worthwhile giving it a try.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Sparks Fly – Annie McDonald

Nov 25, 2020Nov 25, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

3.75 stars. Had I not read others reviews I would not have been expecting this story to be rooted in hockey in the way that it is. No complaints from me though as I love hockey and the setting works really well with these characters.

Luca is an iron sculptor. She used to play hockey until an incident on the ice left her career heading in other directions. She’s had to put a lot of her own dreams aside to support others, but has found a niche for herself coaching and working on her art.

Daniella is returning to her hometown to work as the team doctor for the local hockey team after working as a doctor in Guyana. She’s not well and is keeping everyone at a safe distance until she can resolve her feelings about her time in Guyana.

I love the diversity in the book, I learnt a lot through reading this and it has definitely piqued my interest in certain aspects of Canadian history. I enjoyed how the history was told through the secondary characters.

The relationship between the two leads is complicated. They have a history but it’s not the one you would expect. They’re attracted to each other but have their reasons to stay away. It makes for an interesting slow burn between two passionate characters.

McDonald has a way with words that mean the descriptive passages about skating and sculpture are almost moving to read. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more McDonald in the future.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Too Good to be True – Leigh Hays

Nov 8, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

I’ll be honest, after reading the first book in this series – this wasn’t what I was expecting from the second book – but nonetheless I really enjoyed it.

Jen is a fundraiser for Brown, still married to her ex and sharing both a house and custody of her son. At the wedding of her niece she meets Madison and they take the opportunity to share a night together.

Madison is a social worker, recovering from a bad relationship she returns to Providence and finds herself working at the school Jen is on the board of.

Whilst it’s the second in the series, the characters are tied together by the town they live in, rather than a friendship group. You don’t need to have read the first book – Providence – to read this one. Lindsey is friends with Jen and appears briefly, whilst Rebekiah is only mentioned – so you won’t miss anything in this storyline.

Their friends and families integrate well into the storyline. I found the relationship Jen had with her friends to be effective as part of the narrative in understanding who Jen is and how she fits with Madison. Madison’s family are included just enough for background infill and some familial grilling of Jen.

I loved Madison’s relationship with Carter, Jen’s son. The natural bond they have over geeky things is written really well and it helped to build a picture of any long term future Jen and Madison might have together.

The inevitable angst happens with enough time for things to be resolved with a satisfying end, and I felt the ending was appropriate for the pair. I’m hoping that they’ll be another in the series and we’ll get to see some brief glimpses of them again.

I can’t say this is the worlds most exciting book – but it is a good portrayal of how life looks when it’s complicated and you’re trying to do your best as a couple in building and maintaining a respectful relationship. I was surprised that the sex scenes weren’t steamier after reading Providence – but they do seem fitting for this pairing.

Any wlw age gap romance fans should find something to enjoy in this one, as will most other romance fans.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Treacherous Seas – Radclyffe

Nov 7, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

Having completed the prior seven books of the series last month so I could experience a Radclyffe book at release for the first time, I didn’t have the enjoyment of a return to Provincetown that many had – but it was still great to return to much loved characters nonetheless. I thought Radclyffe had a really good balance between the new couple and Tory and Reese.

I really liked Andy and Laurel. Andy is a younger cop, on summer assignment, waiting for an opportunity to open up with the rest of her family of cops. She obviously has a difficult background and is reticent to allow any vulnerability to show through – so her meeting and growing into her relationship with Laurel is great. I also really liked her conflict about her job performance and her slow understanding of how Reese operates.

Laurel is older and is coming to Provincetown recently trained as a physicians assistant, working in the clinic. She’s not long divorced from a marriage to a man and is throwing herself into her work-life. As someone in one, I’m a big fan of an age-gap romance and I really liked the exploration between Andy and Laurel around their feelings towards each other, and what that might mean for their lives. One thing I’ve always loved about this series is how all of the characters treat the new relationship in the narrative very naturally – and this situation was no different.

Tory and Reese are expecting again, whilst also trying to deal with an outbreak of illness and the arrival of the CDC. I love how Rad has developed the character of Reggie and find all of their scenes with their daughter to be adorable. As always, the love between these two is really heartwarming.

Whilst the storyline that ties the book together mirrors COVID, I felt it was done well in not over sensationalising the possible epidemic in the narrative, whilst providing realistic feelings from the characters involved. The characters of the CDC were introduced in a little more detail than I’d have liked – but mainly only because I’d have preferred the time to spent elsewhere. If this is a setup for a future book though – I’ll be very happy.

You pretty much always know what you’re going to get with a Radclyffe book – but nonetheless I’d highly recommend this one.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two to Tangle – Melissa Brayden

Nov 7, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

Wow.

I could just leave that here with a five star rating and it would adequately explain how I felt when I finished this – but I’ll find some more words to try and do this book justice.

I loved it. I wasn’t sure Brayden could beat Joey and Becca and their story, but when I started to see reviews mentioning that this was even better, I had high hopes and Brayden definitely lived up to them.

Gabriella is the chef at Tangle Valley Vineyard, working away in Jolene her food truck, whilst the new restaurant Joey has planned is being built. She’s getting a reputation for her food throughout the town – and one of the best parts of this book is Brayden’s descriptions of Gabriella’s cooking. She’s happy with her food and her new life in Oregon and isn’t really out there looking for someone – she’s just enjoying life with her friends.

Ryan is the contractor hired by Joey to undertake converting one of the barns to the new restaurant. She has a reputation in the town for no strings attached casual relationships and has no problem finding herself company.

The relationship between the two just grabbed me from the beginning. Their passion for their respective fields plays really nicely when they have to work together. I also really enjoyed their battles on the softball field, but at the same time I also appreciated their softer quieter moments together. They have their bumps where both of their pasts drive wedges between them – but it’s clear they’re meant for each other. The inevitable break up is painful and I was really glad when it was resolved and I felt the HEA was perfect for these two.

As always, the additional characters in Brayden’s books are done really well. It was great to hear more about Joey and Becca and I thought Loretta and Bobby were really sweet. It won’t come as a surprise, but I really enjoyed how Jacks dog was written into the storyline too. Madison plays a little bit more of a part in a different way in this one and I enjoyed the sneak peek as to where her book in the series might be going.

This is going to be really hard to beat with part 3 – but I can’t wait.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.