In These Words, #1

In These Words, Volume 1 by GuiltPleasure
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An intense psychological thriller, with a serial killer playing mind games with a psychiatrist. The illustrations are beautiful as the story is dark. These kinds of stories aren't really my thing, but I got caught up in Katsuya's confusion over his reactions to the killer. Is he having nightmares because he's empathizing with the victims? Are they portending future events to come, or are they manifestations of a previous connection with the killer? I hope these answers are revealed soon as the story ends in a major cliffie. Poor Katsuya I wonder what's going to happen. Definitely looking forward to reading the next volume.

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After Ben (Seattle Stories, #1)

After Ben by Con Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love chocolate, always have, and you might wonder what that has to do with this story. Well, for me this story was just as warm and rich as sitting down and savoring that sharp sweetness of chocolate that lingers on my tongue even after it has melted. The characters, every single one, counted and gave a wholesome feeling to and for each other. The strong sense of friendship and support made me feel part of this growing family surrounding Theo and Morgan. I read this novel through the course of a difficult time in my life and it left me with a strong attachment to the whole cast of characters. It pleases me that this is the first in a series; and though I'm looking forward to reading Peter's story, I would love if maybe Marco would get his story as well.

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A Great Miracle Happened There

A Great Miracle Happened There by Kim Fielding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes a story hits you in those painful places, reminding you of hurts that you think-for the most part-you have managed to overcome. Jude's relationship with his family was such for me and like Jude I feel that I've made a sort of peace with the fact that the connection with my family will never be as strong as I want it to be.

The way Jude and Mac met almost made me drop this, but it was a Kim Fielding story and so I had a bit of faith that there was more to come. I was glad I did. Although their 'relationship' starts with a series of bumps (and grinds), it was nice to see these two find their way towards something more meaningful.

A very lovely read; Mac's house-just reading about the artistic liberties they took upon those walls made my eyes hurt, and whatever did happen with that dissertation? ;)







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Turkey in the Snow

Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A really heartwarming story about Hank who is trying to make a home for his niece after his flighty sister takes off leaving the little girl behind. Struggling to cope with work, social workers, and Josie's pain at her mother's sudden absence is difficult, so he releases his stress and raging emotions by working out at a gym where Justin works. Justin who is bright, funny, warm and full of 'exuberance' or what Hank considers a total drama queen.

Drama that Hank can really do without. But Hank starts to change his mind when, after Justin asks to take Josie to see Santa and allow Hank the chance to get Josie's room ready, they start talking. Little by little as they spend more and more time together, Hank discovers that he's very partial to Justin's kind of drama after all.

I loved this story, it's Amy Lane, so yeah definitely a good one. Justin is all kinds of wonderful 'flair', Josie makes me want to give her a big hug, and Hank just makes me want to cuddle up to him-he's a rock. A stable, dependable, and wonderful rock darn it! Then there was Kaden-the 8yr. old Justin spoke about-I just had this huge grin on my face wondering how he and the Kid (BOatK) would fare together. :D



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Why the Star Stands Still (Gives Light, #4)

Why the Star Stands Still by Rose Christo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"It's not blood that makes us who we are," Dad said. "It's family. And it's not blood that makes us family. It's love." [Gives Light, #2]

This final volume is a testament to these words as Sky and Rafael get ready to welcome their adopted child and Sky's father Paul, who after 15 years in prison is finally being released.

Things aren't so simple as Sky comes to realize; Michaela (Mickey) Morales is a child that's suffered physically and emotionally. She hides her pain behind a brave front, something that reminds Sky of his husband Rafael when they first met. Sky and Rafael work together, love together to let Mickey know that she is wanted and that she can finally let go of her fear of being rejected and abandoned.

Sky's situation with Mickey might prove a little easier to handle than the one he faces with his dad. Paul Looks Over is a changed man after his stint in prison, Sky now sees a broken man whose wounds appear to deep to heal. Still suffering and blaming himself for the accidental death of his younger brother, he carries the pain of losing the woman he loved and was unfaithful to him to a serial killer who happened to be his best friend. A best friend he murdered when he enacted Blood Law and was the reason for his imprisonment.

Fearing the worst, Sky fights to make his father understand that nobody gets a perfect life. That there would have been no guarantees that things would have been different or even better if he and his mother had ever met and that the life they built and the family that they have now is worth living for.

This was a lovely conclusion to a wonderful series; you get to see how the younger generation has grown up-some already with children of their own, Sky comes face to face with a person from his past, sadly one of the characters doesn't have his happy ending. But the one thing that made me just beyond happy was Rafael and Sky-their love is still going strong, is never put into question, and their interactions with Mickey were just beautiful.

There's no doubt that we all have books or characters that we love, stories that fill us with wonder. Then there's that 'special' book that just makes you warm, the characters feel close to your heart. It stays with you and is the one that lifts you up, comforts you whenever you read it. This was such a series for me, I know that this will stay on the top of my reread list for a long time.







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St. Clair (Gives Light, #3) GLBT-YA

St. Clair by Rose Christo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With every book that I read in this wonderful series, I feel extraordinarily happy that I took the leap and purchased Gives Light. Like its predecessors this 3rd book is superbly written, so of course I was completely engrossed in the trials that present themselves in Sky and his family's life this time around-I say family because that's how it is in this community, their ties are so strong I can't think of it otherwise.

Sky's summer is not off to a good start. He's dealing with how to take his relationship further with Rafael-a slow process as it exposes an event from his childhood which makes it difficult for Rafael to act on their attraction. It's Rafael who makes Sky realize just how that event affected him. Then the government once again plays havoc with their lives, twisting the law to suit their own ends; they stand to lose their livelihood and their home.

Sky and his friends now have to come up with a solution that will save them from complete eviction. But things get worse when Sky is afflicted with laryngeal cancer and has to undergo surgery to remove his vocals cords and radiation therapy. Yet through all this, the solidarity and optimism of these people is amazing. They never allow the atrocities and injustices to bring their spirits down.

I found myself constantly in awe of Rafael and Sky. The depth of Rafael's devotion to Sky just melts my heart, and Sky's feelings for Rafael are just as strong. There's no doubt that these two are perfect for each other and complement one another really well.

This novel is just as riveting and engaging as the rest, I only wonder if this is really the final book in the series. While it was a nice ending it felt like some things were left unfinished; seriously I would be more than happy to discover there's more to come. I don't want Sky and Rafael to go away yet.

Updated: (from Rose Christo's profile in Smashwords) I just wanted to say that I am very flattered at the attention the Gives Light books are receiving; I was never really sure that anyone would be interested in the stories, let alone hundreds of people. Thank you so much. I always intended to just write three books in that setting and then move on to a different project. But I really came to enjoy writing about those characters; so after my next project, I'm closing off the series with a fourth book. It will take place after a 12-15 year timeskip and I will be uploading it without cost, since it doesn't seem fair to me that anyone should pay for a fourth book in what was always supposed to be a trilogy.



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Looks Over (Gives Light, #2) GLBT-YA

Looks Over by Rose Christo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The series just keeps getting better. This follow up to Gives Light just blew me away; it was both heart warming and truly heart wrenching at times. I was by turns smiling, crying, laughing and plain angry at the injustices done against these people and their children. How the government just carelessly tears these families apart with little regard to their rights and their pain is just beyond whatever words I can think of. It's a learning experience every time a read one of this books, and I find myself just overwhelmed with emotion while reading and experiencing it through Sky's perspective. His relationship with Rafael is maturing and growing into something so beautifully sweet it just fills my heart with happiness. I simply adore Rafael and Sky, but the rest of these characters touch me just as deeply; their failures and triumphs, their pain and happiness, their love and warmth and so I can't wait to read what's in store for all of them.

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