WL's Mainstream Gay Book Reviews - 1. HIM Series by Sarina Bowen/Elle Kennedy

I love the idea of the review. I read this book a while back and really enjoyed. I actually paid for it on Kindle which is a big deal because I'm terrified to buy books only to hate them. Which is stupid and I need to get over it. 

I will say that I enjoyed the first book the most. I agree the second book was a little draggy. I'm not a huge fan of series (Except for NR Walkers Red Dirt. I will read that series over and over until I die). I enjoyed the third book because it was an easy and fun read. All the hard stuff had been done already. I love in Oregon where there is no hockey but I LOVE reading about it. Never been to a game in my life.

Can't wait to see what other books you have lined out for review. 

This is a great idea. I often browse through books but am reluctant to take the plunge and buy without some idea of what the quality of the writing will be like. These reviews are very useful.

Not books i would read personally, but that's just my taste. However, i like the idea of the book reviews. Great idea!

18 hours ago, Mrsgnomie said:

I love the idea of the review. I read this book a while back and really enjoyed. I actually paid for it on Kindle which is a big deal because I'm terrified to buy books only to hate them. Which is stupid and I need to get over it. 

I will say that I enjoyed the first book the most. I agree the second book was a little draggy. I'm not a huge fan of series (Except for NR Walkers Red Dirt. I will read that series over and over until I die). I enjoyed the third book because it was an easy and fun read. All the hard stuff had been done already. I love in Oregon where there is no hockey but I LOVE reading about it. Never been to a game in my life.

Can't wait to see what other books you have lined out for review. 

Thanks @Mrsgnomie, my tastes in books are very eclectic, but most are gay romance  

15 hours ago, Mawgrim said:

This is a great idea. I often browse through books but am reluctant to take the plunge and buy without some idea of what the quality of the writing will be like. These reviews are very useful.

Thanks @Mawgrim, one of the things I've learned when reading books is that there's variability especially in certain genres and authors. You can have great gems in one story and then you might fall flat in a sequel. These are just my opinions on the books I've read, a bit more in-depth than Amazon Customer Reviews and a bit less than the "official" blurbs from NY Times, Village voice, or someone, whose job is to be a critic.

11 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

Not books i would read personally, but that's just my taste. However, i like the idea of the book reviews. Great idea!

Thanks @Mikiesboy, I hope you enjoy these reviews.

On 7/6/2021 at 4:47 AM, Mrsgnomie said:

Except for NR Walkers Red Dirt. I will read that series over and over until I die

Your comment led me to check this out on Amazon. I'm on book two already! 

5 minutes ago, Mawgrim said:

Your comment led me to check this out on Amazon. I'm on book two already! 

Yep. You’re welcome! 

@Mawgrimand @Mrsgnomie

I am glad you are both finding more reading materials and exchanging book recommendations. I've read NR Walker as well but I did so with another of her books, Galaxies and Oceans. It resonated pretty well even with Australian themes, plus I loved the sweet idea of a kept boy and a lonely lighthouse keeper bonding.

I might have to write a review on that book, it is a standalone.

39 minutes ago, W_L said:

@Mawgrimand @Mrsgnomie

I am glad you are both finding more reading materials and exchanging book recommendations. I've read NR Walker as well but I did so with another of her books, Galaxies and Oceans. It resonated pretty well even with Australian themes, plus I loved the sweet idea of a kept boy and a lonely lighthouse keeper bonding.

I might have to write a review on that book, it is a standalone.

I love all her bood. The Weight Of It All is also cute. The Drink you Hate. I could go on.

Hey there.

I just stumbled upon this. I’m really glad you started this thread. While there are many books in your reviews that I’ve read, there are many I haven’t, so it’s also great to use something like this as a potential recommendation for someone else to read. I already notice you don’t have The Nothingness of Ben by Brad Boney, the first of his Austin trilogy books. Have you any of his?

And it’s already encouraging to see you’ve started with a favourite book series. I’ve been party to a Facebook page where gay male writers of gay romance were bemoaning the number of straight women living out their fantasies writing gay romances. While I didn’t and don’t want to get into the argument, I have to agree with you that this series by Serina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (my Kindle version has Elle Kennedy credited as co-author whereas your Goodreads link does not. Is there a story there?) is damned good, definitely not a pronoun switch and also well written and researched. On the strength of reading Him and Us, I even bought Good Boy, about Jamie’s sister coming to visit to look after him, expanding the scene that was not really played out in full during Us. Serina Bowen also wrote The Understatement of the Year, part of a more general romance series, a book in the series with a gay romance that I enjoyed immensely.

Good job, W_L. I’ll see what else you’ve got here.

On 7/9/2021 at 4:30 AM, Mrsgnomie said:

I love all her bood. The Weight Of It All is also cute. The Drink you Hate. I could go on.

Totally agree. Loved both of those books as well as the Red Dirt series, and Evolved. Sometimes her stories don’t hit the mark (I didn’t take to Cronin’s Key or Imago) but nobody can dispute her amazing body of work.

3 hours ago, lomax61 said:

Hey there.

I just stumbled upon this. I’m really glad you started this thread. While there are many books in your reviews that I’ve read, there are many I haven’t, so it’s also great to use something like this as a potential recommendation for someone else to read. I already notice you don’t have The Nothingness of Ben by Brad Boney, the first of his Austin trilogy books. Have you any of his?

And it’s already encouraging to see you’ve started with a favourite book series. I’ve been party to a Facebook page where gay male writers of gay romance were bemoaning the number of straight women living out their fantasies writing gay romances. While I didn’t and don’t want to get into the argument, I have to agree with you that this series by Serina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (my Kindle version has Elle Kennedy credited as co-author whereas your Goodreads link does not. Is there a story there?) is damned good, definitely not a pronoun switch and also well written and researched. On the strength of reading Him and Us, I even bought Good Boy, about Jamie’s sister coming to visit to look after him, expanding the scene that was not really played out in full during Us. Serina Bowen also wrote The Understatement of the Year, part of a more general romance series, a book in the series with a gay romance that I enjoyed immensely.

Good job, W_L. I’ll see what else you’ve got here.

 

Thanks for reading my review,

I've got eclectic tastes from award winning classics to trashy gay romances too. Gay fiction isn't a single category or genre of writing, it's just a type of story that incorporates same sex partners, sometimes better and sometimes worse.

If you're favorite genre is Fantasy, I'd highly recommend reading T.J Klune's Tales from Verania Series Starting with The Lightning-Struck Heart, it's dramatic, comedic, and completely gay. He's a very talented gay writer and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

I've got other recommendations if you are interested.

@lomax61Just added Elle Kennedy as Co-Author, odd enough, I don't know why the goodreads series page ignored her.

I read my books by the way via Audible and sometimes through Kindle, if it's unavailable due to vision issues. I've got a collection of hardcover/paperbacks at home gathering dust, sadly. It's a limiting factor to what I have access to and what I don't.

9 hours ago, W_L said:

If you're favorite genre is Fantasy, I'd highly recommend reading T.J Klune's Tales from Verania Series Starting with The Lightning-Struck Heart, it's dramatic, comedic, and completely gay. He's a very talented gay writer and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

I've got other recommendations if you are interested.

Ah, T J Klune. Sorry, I tried, I honestly did. I still have Tell Me It’s Real and The Lightning Struck Heart sitting largely unread on my kindle, purchased based on the number of positive reviews I read on Amazon and Goodreads. I’ve been back a couple of times, but am still struggling to get past the first few pages. We all have books we know we’re supposed to like, but don’t, right? (I even gave James Joyce’s Ulysses a go in my youth!) I love humour in a story, but not when the comedy overshadows or replaces the story. I can see how some readers enjoy the frenetic stream of sassy dialogue from the gay unicorn and other My Little Pony type of characters at the beginning of Lightning Struck Heart, but it does nothing for me. I want to read characters I care about. Sorry, going to have to pass on this one.

But I would be happy to hear any other recommendations from you.

1 hour ago, lomax61 said:

Ah, T J Klune. Sorry, I tried, I honestly did. I still have Tell Me It’s Real and The Lightning Struck Heart sitting largely unread on my kindle, purchased based on the number of positive reviews I read on Amazon and Goodreads. I’ve been back a couple of times, but am still struggling to get past the first few pages. We all have books we know we’re supposed to like, but don’t, right? (I even gave James Joyce’s Ulysses a go in my youth!) I love humour in a story, but not when the comedy overshadows or replaces the story. I can see how some readers enjoy the frenetic stream of sassy dialogue from the gay unicorn and other My Little Pony type of characters at the beginning of Lightning Struck Heart, but it does nothing for me. I want to read characters I care about. Sorry, going to have to pass on this one.

But I would be happy to hear any other recommendations from you.

Try Wolfsong book 1 of Green Creek Series by TJ Klune, it's a werewolf-human romance regarding one werewolf pack. It's not an Omegaverse story, despite how it begins. I personally didn't like Book 1, but I've heard good things about the series so I gave TJ Klune the benefit of the doubt. By book 3, I was hooked and wanting blood.

I also think you should consider Audible versus Kindle, when reading TJ's books. Michael Lesley does a great job in Tales from Verania series starting with Lightning Struck Heart for the delivery of sassy dialogue with unique voices for each character. Kirt Graves does the same in Green Creek series, starting with Wolfsong.

If you like modern fantasy, I'd recommend SJ Hines Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, which is a love romance between a Vampire and Necromancer.

Beyond them, there's Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner and Tamir Triad series, which George R.R Martin, the author of Game of Thrones, praised in the early 2000's, when it was published. It's set in a medieval fantasy world with magic, gods, fair folk (fae are protagonist), and warrior Queens leading a nation.

I have more possibilities, I am fan of gay fantasy as much as I am a fan of gay science fiction, I gather as much of those books as I can read.

In general, I read Sci-Fi and Fantasy as a passion beyond gay fiction too, so fantasy author's like George R.R Martin, Lynn Flewelling, Katherine Kurtz, Cassandra Clare, and others are on my radar. Science Fantasy is also covered under this as I do read stories that flow between both genres, horror fiction like Stephen King being a notable example of Science Fantasy.

If you are willing to venture into the Dork Side   I highly suggest reading Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit, it's really fun Sci-Fi gay fiction published recently. Science fiction is one of my favorite genres.

4 hours ago, W_L said:

Try Wolfsong book 1 of Green Creek Series by TJ Klune, it's a werewolf-human romance regarding one werewolf pack. It's not an Omegaverse story, despite how it begins. I personally didn't like Book 1, but I've heard good things about the series so I gave TJ Klune the benefit of the doubt. By book 3, I was hooked and wanting blood.

I also think you should consider Audible versus Kindle, when reading TJ's books. Michael Lesley does a great job in Tales from Verania series starting with Lightning Struck Heart for the delivery of sassy dialogue with unique voices for each character. Kirt Graves does the same in Green Creek series, starting with Wolfsong.

If you like modern fantasy, I'd recommend SJ Hines Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, which is a love romance between a Vampire and Necromancer.

Beyond them, there's Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner and Tamir Triad series, which George R.R Martin, the author of Game of Thrones, praised in the early 2000's, when it was published. It's set in a medieval fantasy world with magic, gods, fair folk (fae are protagonist), and warrior Queens leading a nation.

I have more possibilities, I am fan of gay fantasy as much as I am a fan of gay science fiction, I gather as much of those books as I can read.

In general, I read Sci-Fi and Fantasy as a passion beyond gay fiction too, so fantasy author's like George R.R Martin, Lynn Flewelling, Katherine Kurtz, Cassandra Clare, and others are on my radar. Science Fantasy is also covered under this as I do read stories that flow between both genres, horror fiction like Stephen King being a notable example of Science Fantasy.

If you are willing to venture into the Dork Side   I highly suggest reading Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit, it's really fun Sci-Fi gay fiction published recently. Science fiction is one of my favorite genres.

Do you like Durian? I think TJ Klune is like Durian, a fruit you either love or hate. I’m afraid I fall into the latter category.

Lynn Flewelling sounds more my kind of thing. I’ll check her out her Nightrunner and Tamir Triad series. I recently tried the acclaimed Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, but have found myself struggling to finish the book. Again, I think it’s the writing. I loved CS Pascat’s Captive Prince trilogy, even though the books garnered a lot of criticism for the depiction of brutality. But what a great ride.

Probably shows my age when I say that my fantasy tastes are more serious mainstream, growing up with the Narnia books, the Hobbit, and then Lord of the Rings, before being hooked on Stephen Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant epics. When my brother introduced me to Terry Pritchett and, by association, Neil Gaiman, I found my-go to books. Good Omens is still one of my favourites. I tried Harry Potter which got better with each book, and Stephanie Meyers Twilight (because I quite enjoyed the film) but hers were just awful.

50 minutes ago, lomax61 said:

Do you like Durian? I think TJ Klune is like Durian, a fruit you either love or hate. I’m afraid I fall into the latter category.

Lynn Flewelling sounds more my kind of thing. I’ll check her out her Nightrunner and Tamir Triad series. I recently tried the acclaimed Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, but have found myself struggling to finish the book. Again, I think it’s the writing. I loved CS Pascat’s Captive Prince trilogy, even though the books garnered a lot of criticism for the depiction of brutality. But what a great ride.

Probably shows my age when I say that my fantasy tastes are more serious mainstream, growing up with the Narnia books, the Hobbit, and then Lord of the Rings, before being hooked on Stephen Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant epics. When my brother introduced me to Terry Pritchett and, by association, Neil Gaiman, I found my-go to books. Good Omens is still one of my favourites. I tried Harry Potter which got better with each book, and Stephanie Meyers Twilight (because I quite enjoyed the film) but hers were just awful.

Yes, I do like Durian and Stinky re-fried Tofu, along with Duck tongue and fried pork intestines. I hate Anchovies on anything, olives, cured fish, and kale belongs in the sea, not my stomach.

I was a Sci-Fi geek before I got into fantasy. I read a lot as a kid as well, when my eyesight was better than it is today. I've mentioned my reading of young adult mystery novels in the 1990's and my love of Applegate's Animorph series, which I still have fond memories over as one of my favorite book series, because it hid nothing about the costs of war and tragic sacrifices that have to be made for the greater good. Science Fiction, not fantasy, was my first genre.

Harry Potter came into play in my early teen years as the movies were starting to be produced, so I read the books.

I think you will enjoy Nightrunner and Tamir Triad series, Nightrunner features two bisexual male spies involved in mysteries and intrigue in the name of the Queen. The first book starts off quite fast and the action never lets up. I'll probably hold off reviewing the 7-book series until Winter, so if you want to wait to start on it until I post reviews, you may have to wait a few months.

The Tamir Triad, which George R.R Martin praised has a complex plot involving a gender fluid main character, a girl who is turned into a boy and lives a life of doubt with a destiny to one day be the greatest Queen of his/her nation's history. On sexuality/romance front, she as a boy falls in love with another boy, too, so you have a bit of gender vs. personal love question on romance. While I did not have interest in trans affairs, it helped me to understand some trans issues better from an unique perspective. Suffice to say, it's a fascinating book series, when it came out almost 20 years ago.

Tell me your preference for type of story, subject, genre, and setting, I'll make suggestions.

On 9/12/2021 at 3:37 AM, lomax61 said:

Totally agree. Loved both of those books as well as the Red Dirt series, and Evolved. Sometimes her stories don’t hit the mark (I didn’t take to Cronin’s Key or Imago) but nobody can dispute her amazing body of work.

Those two aren’t my favorite. I got through the first two of Cronin Keys but never finished the series. Throwing Hearts was left unread at 27%. Did you read Blood & Milk? It took me a hot minute to start it but I really enjoyed it in the end.

the books she does well, she does really well. 

1 hour ago, Mrsgnomie said:

Did you read Blood & Milk? It took me a hot minute to start it but I really enjoyed it in the end.

Ordered and promoted to my ‘to read’ pile.
Thank you.