OF MONSTERS AND MEN by Caitlin Ricci

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Date published: May 2015
ISBN: 9781632169334
Paranormal
PDF
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)
Weblink:  https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/of-monsters-and-men-by-caitlin-ricci-1890-b

Obtained via publisher
Rating: 3.5 Hearts

Seth has always felt out of place because of his sexuality. He longs for the right man who will understand that he loves to kiss and cuddle but nothing more. Being asexual is hard for Seth but he still longs for that special someone who will understand. Some men say that they do yet Seth finds that they may say it is all right but it never truly is. That is until Jeremy enters his life but Jeremy has his own problems to deal with. Can the two find common ground or will their differences end up driving them apart?

Seth and Jeremy’s story is a sweet romance. Seth tries to deal with so much on his own not wanting to bring trouble to his friends but help comes in the most surprising man ; Jeremy. He may come off as gruff and mean but Seth soon finds out that Jeremy is a good man. The two figure out a way that allows them to be together but they still have issues to deal with. Feelings begin to deepen but if the two men are not looking for the same things are they just mister right now for each other? I enjoyed seeing the two men work through it all and fight for their happiness. Seth has learned that love is strong and it can either build you up or tear you down. Can he trust Jeremy with his love or will his heart be broken? I enjoyed meeting Jeremy he is so much more than what he shows the world and it was nice to see Seth see his worth. The two make a good couple and it was nice to see the men and their relationship grow. Their story is nicely paced and has you hoping for love.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

MARKED BY GRIEF by Caitlin Ricci

Publisher:               Dreamspinner Press

Published:              April 30, 2104

ISBN:                     978 162798 376 1    

Genre:                   Contemporary Romance, M/M, BDSM

Book Format:          E-book

Obtained via:          Publisher

Reviewed by:          Helena Stone, helenastone63@gmail.com

Rating:                  4-

 

 

It has been six months since Kit’s beloved older brother Bear died in a horrific accident. Six months during which Kit has closed himself off from the world, living in his bedroom and more often than not forgetting to eat.

When Kit hears that the man who killed his brother while drunk driving has committed suicide rather than face his twenty-five year jail sentence he is consumed by anger. Unable to speak to his parents who have turned into strangers, Kit leaves his house for the first time to go and talk to his brother’s best friend Jason. The man Kit has been in love with for years. The man he hasn’t spoken to since Bear’s funeral.

Jason has had feelings for his best friend’s younger brother for a long time. When Bear died he thought it would be better to leave Kit alone and allow him to deal with his grief for a while. When Kit walks into his tattoo shop, Jason knows he’s made a mistake. He should never have stayed away from Kit. And while he may never be able to share his deepest desires with Kit, he is determined to be there for the younger man now.

When Jason discovers Kit wants him as much as he wants Kit, the game changes again. But Jason likes his sex with a good doze of kink, and Kit is inexperienced and insecure. Will one night be enough to show these two men that their needs aren’t as far apart as they think and that the love they feel for each other might be enough to make both of them whole again?

This was a rather sad story. Kit’s pain and anger at his brother’s death and his parents withdrawal from him is so raw it jumps off the page. It is impossible to not have your heart break for him and want to kick his parents for completely ignoring the one child they still have. In fact, Kit captivated me from the moment the story started. His pain, his courage and his resilience took my breath away.

Because most of the book is told from Kit’s point of view I didn’t get as good a picture of Jason and wasn’t quite sure how I felt about him while reading and once the story ended. There were moments I adored him because he seemed to know exactly what Kit needed. And there were other moments when I would have lovingly hit him for not thinking about what he was doing or saying.

The BDSM scene between Jason and Kit isn’t very heavy, but then you wouldn’t expect it to be since it was their first night together and Kit was new to both the idea and the reality of it. Their night together was rather hot though and the balance between dominance and tenderness was beautiful.

This book was well written with captivating dialogue and a wonderful, hope filled ending . It was also an easy read despite the heavy subject and the at times heartbreaking scenes. Marked by Grief is the sort of book you want to read in one sitting and since it’s only just over 100 pages long that is easy to do.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Magically Delicious by Caitlin Ricci

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Date published: 9 March 2013

ISBN: 9781614957782

MM Paranormal

E-book

Reviewed by Helen

Weblink: https://spsilverpublishing.com/blog/2013/03/09/magically-delicious-by-caitlin-ricci/

Obtained via publisher

 

Luke is an American exchange student studying in Ireland. When working in the garden of the house he shares with other students, he finds a piece of leprechaun gold. He’s advised not to touch it but decides to keep it anyway. Which is how he comes to meet the leprechaun, Arn, who comes looking for his missing gold.

Luke’s responses to everything that happens is very much the standard young man’s way of thinking. He does, however, really enjoy the encounter with Arn, even though he’s sure it’s just a dream, despite one of his room mates noticing the bruises on his hips. Again, a typical young man’s attitude.

Arn’s story and family situation is also rather predictable, as is the choice he makes. However there is one nice neat twist in it.

I understand that in this short length there’s not a lot of room for intricate plots and characterization, and there is a descriptive sex scene included, but I still felt the story could have been a little less guessable. The sex scene also needed a bit more included too, as the choreography was not completely clear. Fortunately the author actually said what they did later, clarifying everything.

The editing missed some poor grammar in a few places as well. All in all, this was a fun read, but average, with not enough new and different ideas for it to stand out from the crowd.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.