Book Review: Friend Ship by Rebecca James

When Mee Noi agrees to help best friend Sud by appearing with him in his video exam, he would never have thought that they would land roles in a BL series.

Gradually the lines between acting as lovers on-screen and how they feel about each other off-screen begin to blur. Mee Noi and Sud both struggle with these developing feelings and how it might change their friendship if they act upon them.

This book is book 4 in the Boys’ Love series but can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed reading Mee Noi and Sud’s story and recommend you checking it out!

Book Review: Baby Love by Rebecca James

This is Book 3 in the Boys’ Love series, this time featuring Park and Spin who had minor roles in books 1 and 2.

I enjoyed reading how their professional relationship turned to romance. The path was not easy as both had their own personal challenges to face a long the way. The characters were well-developed as were their backstories and family difficulties. This paved the way for a believable relationship to evolve between them.

This is a great addition to the series and I recommend checking it out!

Book Review: Divine Judgment by Mell Eight

When convicted criminal, Ves, is sent to the God of Judgment he expects no positive outcome despite being innocent of the crime he was found guilty of. Yet, Rais offers him another chance as the Head Priest of his temple. Ves accepts this position and with Rais’s help he begins to adapt to life outside of prison.

I really enjoyed this novel. Whilst a little shorter, it has great world building and depth of character as well as a tender and sweet romance, which takes its time to develop into something very meaningful.

Book Review: In Love by Rebecca James

In Love is the continuation and conclusion to Boys’ Love. I enjoyed reading the first novel and was happy that there was a sequel.

In Love follows Rama and Pravat as they try to navigate their new relationship, as well as keep it a secret and separate from their working lives. What I enjoyed most was the dynamic between the two characters and how supportive they are of each other. Both have different challenges to overcome and they do so together, with the help of a varied supporting cast.

I recommend checking this series out if you haven’t already done so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Boys’ Love by Rebecca James

Boys’ Love is the first novel in the Boys’ Love series. It focuses on the professional and personal relationship between new BL actor Rama and his on-screen partner Pravat.

Rama is new to acting and is finding himself under pressure to take an internship at his father’s company. He is standoffish and stoic but immediately has chemistry (both on screen and off) with Pravat.

Pravat faced a lot of backlash for being gay in an industry that prefers their male leads straight, so he finds himself conflicted when he begins developing feelings for Rama.

This is a short, slow-burn novel, which takes its time to get the readers acquainted with both the characters and the BL industry. I really liked the pacing and how you experienced the story from different characters POVs. I am looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.

Book Review: A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

This novel was not what I imagined it would be, but in a good way. The unnamed main character is at a desperate point in her life when a woman appears and tells her that she is destined to become a magical girl. Yet the reality is not like you see in manga or anime. The dangers come from unexpected sources and so do the powers.

I loved how unique the protagonist’s powers turned out to be, and also how she developed as a person because of it. The novel was a more realistic insight into the genre and the ending was, again, nothing like I thought it would be but again in a good way.

Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

This is the first vampire/werewolf romance novel I have read and so I was not sure what to expect. Written from Misery’s (vampire’ POV) her arranged marriage to Alpha Lowe slowly begins to develop into genuine feelings. Nothing about the romance was rushed, which made it much more believable. This way it also added to the mystery element of the story, and enhanced that rather than distract from it.

Both Misery and Lowe had motivations for the marriage and those come together perfectly in combination with the outside forces at work. I found this book very hard to put down and recommend it for existing fans of vampire/werewolf romance as well as those wondering where to start with the genre.

Book Review: The Enemy of Heaven by Reni Stankova

The Enemy of Heaven is the first instalment of The Heaven Trilogy. Angel Raphael and Demon Dante are drawn together by recollections of their first chance meeting and then Raphael’s desire to save Dante’s life. Yet Raphael also seeks an ally in his dangerous political game to upend of the order of things and create a better world for all who live in it.

This is an action-packed political thriller, with an well-developed array of characters – both good and bad. The dynamic between Raphael and Dante is interesting and changes as the story progresses, as Dante becomes more sure of himself and Raphael perhaps less so.

If you want to read a different kind of angels and demons story, I recommend The Enemy of Heaven.

Book Review: Where Demons Reside by Kara Macris

This young adult novel provides a refreshing and unique take on the angels vs demons struggle. When Thomas Walker carries out his first exorcism under duress from his Grandfather, he begins to have doubts about whether he is actually helping the demons. When his Grandfather dies, he and his mother inherit his property and relocate to the very town that Thomas is desperate to get away from. However, when meeting his new neighbours, Thomas realises that there is another path mapped out for him, and one that involves his love interest Elijah too. 

I really enjoyed Where Demons Reside. Not only did the plot continually evolve to keep me guessing, the characters changed and developed so much as the novel progressed. Thomas, in particular, became much more sure of himself as well as ready to open up to other characters and stand up for himself. 

Young adult novel fans and lovers of the paranormal will enjoy reading Where Demons Reside as much as I did! 

Book Review: The Problem with Perfect by Philip William Stover

24.10.11

Chase Myles can throw together a swinging dinner party or redecorate an entire townhouse with jaw-dropping elegance. Followers scroll his Insta and see effortless workouts, exotic travel, and an adoring boyfriend. The world believes Chase is a style icon. The world is mistaken.

Ethan Wells is actually the one who knows what to wear, what to eat and how to do it but he’s happy staying behind the scenes producing their hit LGBTQ show Myles of Style. When Chase walks off set just before the Pride live TV show that will make or break Ethan’s career, Ethan thinks it’s just another tantrum… until Chase’s Instagram shows him partying hard in Abu Dhabi.

Out of options, Ethan drives up to rural New York to convince Chase’s estranged twin, Beau, to pass him off as Chase for a week, but Ethan finds a hairy, rugged mountain man who couldn’t be more different from his social butterfly, influencer brother.

Can Ethan transform Beau into the star of the show and fool his bosses and Chase’s followers? And when Beau turns out to be kind, romantic and everything that Chase is not, does he really want Chase back, anyway?

I really enjoyed the personal journey both main characters went on throughout this novel. Beau reconnected with a world that he had turned his back on and Ethan realises that he has become so caught up in the world of social media that he has lost sight of what is really important.

The romance between the two is unhurried and progresses at a natural pace, as they both navigate their problems supporting and learning more about the other in the process. 

The thing that prevented this being a 5 star review for me was the ending. It was very abrupt and I would have liked to have read a little more about the events after Pride and also Beau reconciling with his brother.