ARC REVIEW : True Colors (True Love #2) by Anyta Sunday

 

Oskar used to be Marco’s best friend. His everything. His sunshine yellow.

But that was before. Before Marco stopped being a hot jock. Before he learned to live with scars and pain. And before Oskar tore their friendship apart.

Now the boy next door has returned home, determined to rekindle his friendship with Marco, and Marco’s more afraid than ever. Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of being humiliated.

Afraid of falling in love.

Can Oskar find a way through Marco’s fear, back into his heart?


~~~~***~~~~

"True Colors" is an enemies to lovers, boy next door, first time, slow burn M/M romance with a generous helping of UST. This no-cliffhanger, HEA book can be read as a standalone.

True Colors by Anyta Sunday
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sunglow yellow. The start of our story

"There’s a lot of things I’m not sure about. Things I’m still trying to work through. Will work through.
But the thing I know with absolute certainty?
Oskar and me? Our story didn’t start at hate."

I have no words how to explain how much I adored the this story.
Anyta Sunday did it again, playing with my heart, playing with my head, and how I loved the beautiful poetic prose this story brings.
Fear of his s own scars, of how Oskar will see him, destroyed their happiness to be with his soulmates, Marco let his anger rotten. And the way Marco dealt with his own regrets, made them separate for years. But love...sigh.. true love is strong and they're trying so hard to fight their hate, their own demons to reach their pending happiness again, the way they were back then.

This is a beautiful story, just like the author mentioned before, a healthy portion of angst (not much, really), and lots of happiness.

This is the story of acceptance, forgiveness and finding your true colors...Just like Marco and his colors, their life is full of colors and it started with a sunglow yellow...the color of Marco's hair...

"You were my first color.
My Happy. My everything."

SIGH.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


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SECOND EDITION ARC REVIEW : After the Fire (Through Hell and Back #2) by Felice Stevens

 

A single bullet destroyed the dreams of Dr. Jordan Peterson. With his lover dead, Jordan descends into an endless spiral of self-destruction that nearly costs him his friends, his career and his life. When Jordan finds himself working closely with the aloof Lucas Conover, the investment banker’s mysterious past and unexpected kindness shocks him back into a life and emotions he’d thought lost forever.

The betrayal by the foster brother he’d worshiped, taught Lucas Conover never to trust or believe in anyone. Living a solitary life doesn’t free him of the nightmare of his youth; it reinforces his belief that he would never fall in love. When the death of one of his clients forces him to work closely with Dr. Jordan Peterson, he meets a person whose suffering exceeds his own. Though Jordan rejects his effort to help, something within Luke pushes him discover more about the first man to ever get under his skin.

As Luke lets down his guard and Jordan lets go of his pain, desire takes control. Each man must come to terms with past struggles if they are to create a future together. And learning to trust in themselves and love again after tragedy and a lifetime of pain, may be the only thing that saves them in the end.

This is a re-release of the original version published in 2015

After the Fire by Felice Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It feels like a reunion to me.
Still a new tears (a very similar feeling the first time I read about Jordie). Different but the same pain.
I took this book too personally, because I'd lost the one like Jordie lost Keith.
It was hard to recollection the memories that left behind, but I think, revisiting Jordan and Lucas, and a memory of Keith reminds me again, how now I sometimes forgot 'his face', still remember how he laugh and walk, but his face...it's like saying goodbye for a million times, again and again.
I felt Jordie's pain. But he's not going to ruined his life again, thanks to Luke.
He's like Godsend from heaven for Jordan.
I loved their interaction, and the enemy became a lover in very smooth way.
Revisiting a reunion between ash and Luke was also something precious. The once 'brothers' now have to face their own demon.
With an additional more than 4000 words, this book is worth re-reading for.
and the tears...it's still the same...

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ARC REVIEW : Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey

 

Sequel to Rekindled Flame

Rekindled Flame: Book Two

Life has been grinding Dayne Mills down almost for as long as he can remember. First he lost the love of his life in an accident that also left him with a permanent injury, and then his mother passed away a year later. When his house burns to the ground, it’s the last straw. He can’t take any more, and if it wasn’t for kind and handsome firefighter Lawson Martin offering him a hand up and a place to stay, he doesn’t know what he’d do. Dayne would love for his relationship with Lawson to evolve into something beyond charity, but he knows going after a man so far out of his league will only lead to yet more heartache. It’s best to just keep his mind on his research.

It’s that research that leads Dayne to an old student journal that not only provides clues to the Native American heritage Lawson has been searching for, but chronicles a century-old love story. The tale that unfolds might be just what Dayne and Lawson need to remind them that no matter how dark life becomes, love can find a way to shine through.

Cleansing Flame by Andrew Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This another modern fairy tales. I'm glad I can read this book earlier.
I always have a weakness for a geek story. And Dayne is definitely a geek. And one more plus point is, he met Lawson (his savior) at the library :)
Fair warning : this is an insta love, this is at some point a little out of reality (meeting a stranger and accepted his offer to live with him is a bit creepy, but the reason behind that, make sense).
Okay, I'm a hopeless romantic. I loved this kind of 'relationship', based on 'blind trust' between the two guys.

The attraction started early, as I mentioned earlier, at the library, before Dayne lost everything.
This is sweet and adorable and dreamy, no real angst between the two guys, except how much Dayne trying to tell Lawson that he must leave and Lawson keep telling him 'not to', and Dayne obeyed. Aww...how sweet...
The only twist is when something happened to Lawson, and it ended well, don't worry.
Andrew Grey is sweet like that.
Overall, this entertaining and adorable if you're looking for a light read. I recommend this one.


*ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press for LBB in exchange of a fair and unbiased review.*



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Lelyana's Book Blog: ARC REVIEW : Imago (Imago #1) by N.R. Walker

Lelyana's Book Blog: ARC REVIEW : Imago (Imago #1) by N.R. Walker:   Nerdy, introverted genius lepidopterist, Lawson Gale, is an expert on butterflies. He finds himself in a small town in Tasmania on a ...

ARC REVIEW : The Sparky by Marek Moran

 

Aaron’s been living in what his friend Howie calls a sexual desert. But an oasis appears on the horizon when Paul, a divorced electrician with a five-year-old daughter named Sam, moves in next door. He’s a country boy from northern Australia, and although he’s never been with a guy before, he has an impression that anything goes in the city. They find that the ordinary things in life—books, footie in the park, looking after Sam—lead them into an unlikely relationship.

But as their relationship slowly deepens, with Aaron spending time on Paul’s family’s cattle station, it becomes clear that Paul might have a harder time leaving the country behind. To him, happiness means a conventional life—including a mother for Sam. Being with his old friends convinces him he’s on the wrong path with Aaron, and he starts a relationship with a girl from his hometown. If he cannot find the courage to go after what he truly needs, he and Aaron will become nothing more than awkward neighbours.

The Sparky by Marek Moran
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

*Ranting ahead...*

This is not I expected.
This is the case it's me book,not you.
I didn't like Paul. And Aaron is too doormat for my taste.
And there's cheating (imo,you can have your own opinion after you read this), and with a woman ffs!

It started very well in the beginning, a little bit slow, but i didn't mind. If not because of Paul's daughter, Sam, I'll probably pissed off even more.
I get that Aaron need to moved on real fast after being dumped by his 'not really' a boyfriend.
But Paul never been with a guy before, he's straight and he doubted his 'intention' to Aaron. Okay he mingled well with Aaron's friends and all. But in my opinion, Paul is too shallow.
How could he sleep with Aaron and brought Aaron to his family and then dumped Aaron over a 'woman'???
I was so mad at him, I can't even...!
And Aaron is no better, he sounded really desperate, forloving, whatever.
I would love it, if Aaron dumped Paul and ended with Howie his best friend for so long...
And then after he broke up with that woman, he's just came to Aaron and wanted Aaron back, and Aaron was just OKAY with that?
Pfftt!!!!

I'm disappointed.
*ARC provided by Dreamspinner press for an honest and fair review.*

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ARC REVIEW : Two Cowboys and a Baby (Dreamspun Desires #30) by B.A. Tortuga (

 

A little bundle of joy means big changes.

Hoss McMasters has a working ranch, a bull riding career, a nosy momma, and a best friend he’s been in love with since he can remember. He’s a busy, happy cowboy, living the good life.

Then one morning he discovers a baby on his doorstep.

Well, Hoss does what any reasonable man would do—he calls his momma and his buddy, Sheriff Pooter, and they head to the clinic to see if Doc knows of any suddenly not-so-pregnant girls.

In the meantime, Hoss and his best friend, Bradley, have their hands full trying to care for an infant, run a ranch, and deal with the sudden confession that Bradley doesn’t hate Hoss for coming out to him in high school. In fact, Bradley’s been trying to catch Hoss’s attention for damn near a decade.

Two Cowboys and a Baby by B.A. Tortuga
My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Started well, with baby and the awkwardness of suddenly having a baby sent to him, and all the hectic situation when you have a new born baby on your porch.
While Hoss is an awkward one, Bradley is the stupid one. They're best friend, and I hated that the lacking of 'communication skills' between couples (in general) ruined the relationship.
Can't they just 'TALK' like and adult instead of running away and judging?
That's what's happened, I wanted to slap Bradley for that.
Hoss is also need to repair his communication skill, he can 'explain' it to Bradley, right?
Well, chicks with dicks, too much talked over nothing. I'm not happy.

More thoughts to follow


* ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press for a fair and unbiased review.*

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ARC REVIEW : After the Romance Novel (Before... and After #1) by Susan Laine

 

Romance novels always end with a happy ever after. Right?

Evan and Adam are best friends, but they don’t know everything about each other. For one thing, Adam doesn’t know Evan writes and publishes gay romance novels until he discovers one while snooping on Evan’s laptop.

This revelation changes their relationship in ways neither could’ve imagined. Adam’s reaction to reading Evan’s stories is not what he expected, nor is the new way he’s looking at his lifelong pal. After all, Adam is straight, or so he’s always thought, and that is what Evan believes about Adam as well.

When Evan admits he might be bisexual, Adam suggests he try dating girls to find out for sure, but when Evan follows his advice, Adam is caught off guard by his feelings of jealousy. And when the date proves Evan isn’t bisexual, but gay, Evan’s request that Adam find him a guy might be the last straw.

How can Adam admit he wants that guy to be him? His epiphany will either end their relationship—or change it into something wonderful in their very own friends-to-lovers romance.

After the Romance Novel by Susan Laine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ah, young love...and the joy of finding your true self sometimes need a little nudge :)
Even you stubbornly told your best friend that you are very straight.
Even after reading your best friend's MM romance novel, and doubted that you are really is 'straight'.
This is fun to read. The L word came fast.Maybe because this one is a short read.
I'm glad both 'young' MCs worked it out real fine.
Nice and light and young.
Sometimes we need this.

* ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press for a fair and unbiased review.*

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