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LGBT Romance

Review of Fire Island Ice Queen by B.J. Irons

November 4, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Fire Island Ice Queen cover imageBlurb

College law student, Connor, is a bit pretentious, high-strung and what some might describe as being cold as ice. After catching his boyfriend cheating on him and then being dumped, Connor decides to take his best friend Byron up on his offer for a summer gaycation experience to Fire Island.

While at Fire Island, Connor reevaluates his identity and goes through a deep soul searching experience to truly understand himself. While on vacation, he befriends a stranger named Lawrence, who encourages Connor to open up more and become lively. Lawrence proposes that Connor completes a series of wild, fun tasks, which he dubs as the Fire Island Ice Queen Challenge to get Connor to come out of his shell more. Will this frivolous and boisterous vacation at Fire Island be enough to melt the heart of this Ice Queen?

Review

What a delightful story of self-discovery! The story follows Connor who is a tad stuck up and a bit of a prude, who catches his boyfriend Derrick cheating on him. Connor is then subsequently dumped by the cheating jerk. When Connor’s friends offer to take him to Fire Island to help him forget his woes and speed up the healing process, he agrees. There, he examines his identity and decides he’s not completely happy with how other people see him. So he embarks on a quest to open up more and enjoy life — and to prove to himself that he isn’t the person that others see him as.

I loved how Connor’s character grew throughout the story as he began to discover who he was — and what better place to do it than Fire island? In fact, I thought the book also really captured the magic of Fire Island, which I appreciated. There were plenty of zany antics and witty banter in the story which were a lot of fun, and I caught myself smiling and chuckling on more than one occasion.

I loved the idea of Connor finding himself with the help of someone who sees through Connor’s “icy” facade, and I enjoyed traveling with Connor as he began to open up and blossom.

All in all, this ended up being a sweet and sexy heart-tugger of a love story that I really enjoyed. The fast-paced plot makes for an engaging read, and from the very first chapter, I was fully immersed in the narrative. If you like witty banter and wild, rollicking shenanigans, this is the book for you.

A huge thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy of this book.

Purchase Fire Island Ice Queen from Amazon

Filed Under: LGBT Romance

Review of Epically Earnest by Molly Horan

June 8, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Epically Earnest book coverBlurb:

In this delightfully romantic LGBTQ+ comedy-of-errors inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a high school senior works up the courage to ask her long-time crush to prom all while deciding if she should look for her bio family.

Jane Grady’s claim to fame is that she was one first viral internet sensations, dubbed #bagbaby—discovered as a one-year-old in an oversized Gucci bag by her adopted father in a Poughkeepsie train station. Now in her senior year of high school, Jane is questioning whether she wants to look for her bio family due to a loving, but deeply misguided push from her best friend Algie, while also navigating an all-consuming crush on his cousin, the beautiful, way-out-of-her-league Gwen Fairfax.

And while Janey’s never thought of herself as the earnest type, she needs to be honest with her parents, Algie, Gwen, but mostly herself if she wants to make her life truly epic. With a wink toward Oscar Wilde’s beloved play, Epically Earnest explores the complexity of identity, the many forms family can take, and the importance of being . . . yourself.

Review

This endearing queer slice-of-life romcom was so much fun! I love this loose retelling of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and the Oscar Wilde quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a delightful, extra touch. I especially enjoyed the overarching theme of family in the story – family found and family born into. But the sweet blossoming romances between Janey and Gwen, and Cecil and Algie (short for Algernon, a character from The Importance of Being Earnest) were at the heart of this novel. In addition, I loved the tender portrayal of the uncertainty of young love in the story — and first love for some of the main characters. So in this way, the idea of relationships played a huge role in the story — relationships between friends, between lovers, and between family, all of which really resonated with me.

Being adopted myself, I could relate very well to Janey’s inner turmoil about meeting her birth family and how to tell her adoptive parents that she was considering a meetup with her blood relatives. I liked the way the author handled the adoption issue and felt it was well done and respectful.

There was also plenty of humor — fun, witty banter that caused me to chuckle out loud on more than one occasion. Overall, the story was light and enjoyable — with no significant angst or heaviness. That being said, I found the conflict in the story minimal, with no real obstacles to the characters finding their HEA. So for those who like their stories a little more on the angsty side, you won’t find that here.

All in all, I loved this little story about a teen girl trying to find the inner bravery to ask her crush to the prom, while also discovering her biological family. We end up seeing quite a bit of character development from both Janey and her friend Algie (who was, in the past, kind of a ‘playboy.’). A quick and easy read with nice LGBTQIA+ and adoption representation and plenty of humor that put a smile on my face.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Clarion Books for providing a review copy of this book.

Purchase Epically Earnest on Amazon

Filed Under: LGBT Romance, YA LGBT

Review of Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper

April 19, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

57724259Blurb

A secret crush leads to not-so-secret romance in this delightful romantic comedy from Kris Ripper

There are three things you need to know about Preston “PK” Kingsley:

1) He’s a writer, toiling in obscurity as an editorial assistant at a New York City publishing house.

2) He is not a cliché. No, really.

3) He’s been secretly in love with his best friend, Art, since they once drunkenly kissed in college.

When Art moves in with PK following a bad breakup, PK hopes this will be the moment when Art finally sees him as more than a friend. But Art seems to laugh off the very idea of them in a relationship, so PK returns to his writing roots—in fiction, he can say all the things he can’t say out loud.

In his book, PK can be the perfect boyfriend.

Before long, it seems like the whole world has a crush on the fictionalized version of him, including Art, who has no idea that the hot new book everyone’s talking about is PK’s story. But when his brilliant plan to win Art over backfires, PK might lose not just his fantasy book boyfriend, but his best friend.

Review

This is my first Kris Ripper novel, and now I’m a new fan!

Book Boyfriend follows PK, who has been in love with Art, his best friend, for five years but has never told him about his feelings. So when Art moves in with PK following a nasty breakup, PK hopes that this might be the first step in them getting together. But PK can find the words to let Art know how he feels, so he writes a thinly veiled romance novel about his love for Art in what PK feels is a “Grand Gesture.” Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned, and his gesture has the opposite effect — leaving PK has to scramble and pick up the pieces. Apparently, those super grand romantic gestures you see in rom-coms rarely work that well in real life.

This was such a fun novel! And by fun, I mean laugh-out-loud funny in places. Book Boyfriend had amazing banter and incredible chemistry between the two main characters. The story is told entirely through PK’s POV, and it was fun following his often convoluted and chaotic inner monologue. His humorous inner monologue had me chuckling on more than a few occasions. That being said, I loved the writing style, and it worked perfectly for me.

What I also loved about the story was the peek into the world of writing and publishing. In fact, the entire novel is about books and is heaven for the book-lover: Art works in an indie bookstore, PK works for a publishing house, and then PK writes a romance novel. I also enjoyed PK’s insecurities about writing — his fear of both failure and success, feelings that many writers will relate to.

The romance is an extremely slow burn with a lot of pining going on. It ended up being so sweet, heartwarming, and oozing with romance. I really cared about PK and Art making it to a happy ending and felt that the journey that takes them there is utterly satisfying. Though the plot was a tad quirky and over-the-top at times, the realism of their romance and the well-written narrative held it steady.

Both characters are engaging and likable, rendering the story all that much more enjoyable. Oh, and just to let you know, there is no sex in this story, so if you’re looking for steam and spice, you won’t find it here. But what you will find is a charming and compelling romance that I loved from beginning to end. Recommended!

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.

Filed Under: LGBT Romance

Review of Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky

December 29, 2021 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Never Been Kissed CoverBlurb:

Dear (never-been-quite-over-you) Crush,

It’s been a few years since we were together, but I can’t stop thinking about the time we almost…

Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. Why stress about it? None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right?

Enter Derick Haverford, Wren’s #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater’s new social media intern. Everyone claims he’s coasting on cinematic good looks and his father’s connections, but Wren has always known there’s much more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn’t feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren’s world.

Whatever. Wren’s no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer…and maybe, finally, Wren’s dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach.

Review

I absolutely fell in love with this new adult queer summer romance. This rom-com was so much fun and had me laughing out loud many times! I especially appreciated the fact that the story revolves around a Drive-In (remember those?) where I used to spend a lot of time as a teenager. I also appreciated the demisexual representation in the story, something we don’t often see in romance novels. I loved watching Wren explore his sexuality and figure himself out, all the while waiting for that elusive first kiss.

This book totally entranced me, and I loved the story the author tells here. I always like the trope of the “childhood crush reentering the picture,” and it was exceptionally well done in this story. It warmed my heart to see how patient, compassionate and supportive Derick was toward Wren and thought the chemistry between them was perfect.

All in all, I loved this wonderful, heart-tugger of a love story. Half love story and half identity quest, Timothy Janovsky’s “Never Been Kissed” is 100 percent beautiful. It’s a big, beautiful novel with depth and a huge heart, and the story swept me up from the first page to the last. Derick and Wren are the couple everyone will fall in love with: funny, flawed, endearing, determined, a little bit angsty, and totally real. A sweet, comforting read with just the right amount of angst, and I give this one all the stars.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book. Expected publication is May 3, 2022.

Purchase Never Been Kissed from Amazon

Filed Under: LGBT Romance

Review of A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy

December 14, 2021 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

A Little Bit Country coverBlurb:

Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar – a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.

Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.

Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet – and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.

Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?

Review:

Luke and Emmett couldn’t be more different. Emmett’s dream is to be the most popular gay country singer in the world, so he’s excited when he lands a gig at Wanda World for the summer as a member of their Jamboree stage. He hopes this may be a chance to get noticed by a record label. Luke, on the other hand, hates country music. Because of something that happened between his family and Wanda Jean many years ago (owner of Wanda World), Luke and his family want nothing to do with Wanda World or country music. However, Luke dreams of becoming a chef one day, so when he is offered a job at Wanda World, he reluctantly accepts though he keeps it a secret from his family. Luke is also gay but is deep in the closet, still trying to figure everything out. When the two teens meet, sparks fly between them, and both must make some heart-wrenching decisions.

Taking place during one summer, A Little Bit Country is a delightful coming-of-age story with two likable and relatable characters. Both boys were adorable, and their romance was super sweet, though they had several difficult hurdles to overcome. Luke and Emmett were each determined to live their dream, and I loved their innocence and enthusiasm.

The author seems to really understand the teenage soul—the rollercoaster of emotions, the longing, the self-awareness, the challenges, the occasional goofiness, and the confusion. Kennedy nails the teen boy voice perfectly in this story. Luke and Emmet are charming and flawed, but their strengths balance each other out, and we end up with a story about young men who, though at first glance appear quite different from the other, truly complement each other. The author also captures beautifully how simultaneously tender and daunting it can be to fall in love for the first time. It is at once an aching yet beautiful love story and a powerful exploration of self-awareness and self-discovery. I enjoyed witnessing the characters’ inner growth and insight, a difficult but lovely process.

This book also explores the aching loneliness of growing up and not finding your place, of feeling as if you’re a universe away from your friends and family, spinning aimlessly and waiting for life to begin. In this way, this book is about feeling — feeling love, feeling friendship, feeling like you finally belong, and in the process, learning to become brave enough to let others in.

All in all, I found A Little Bit Country to be a warm and embracing story of first love, family secrets, and following your dreams that I adored.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing a review copy of this book. Expected publication date is May 31, 2022.

Pre-order A Little Bit Country on Amazon

Filed Under: LGBT Romance, YA LGBT

Review of Genie in a Vodka Bottle by Rob Rosen

September 19, 2021 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Genie in a Bottle Book CoverBlurb

Mysterious forces are at play when Paul’s vacation to Spain unexpectedly detours to Gibraltar and then Morocco, to a vodka bottle in a hole in the wall bar, to a handsome genie with a slew of secrets, plus almost limitless powers, virtually no memory, and a keen desire to be freed from his curse. Along the way, Paul is reunited with his ex-lover and the genie’s previous master as fate draws them ever deeper into a murky, dangerous past.

On our heroes travel, from the frigid north of Russia to a magic carpet ride across China, ultimately finding themselves in the deserts of ancient Jordan. Here, they encounter another of the genie’s previous masters and a power far greater than they could’ve ever imagined, all within a massive temple carved into a mountainside. Can our intrepid foursome uncover the truth before the curse takes them all and possibly the entire world down? Will love win out in the end? Or is the genie forever doomed to a life foretold in fairy tales?

In this funny, frisky, and frequently heart-pounding adventure, only one thing is for certain: magic can happen even without three wishes.

Review

I’ve read Rob Rosen books previously and have always enjoyed them. This one was no exception.

Genie in a Vodka Bottle is a short book (139 pages) that not only gives us an adrenaline-fueled campy adventure with plenty of camp, drama, sexcapades, and snark, the story also provides us an emotional tale with charming and mysterious characters. I loved Rosen’s clever take on Genie/Djinn mythology, as his Genie comes with a gay twist, plenty of metaphorical baggage, and a compelling mystery to solve.

It’s a paranormal comedy with a tinge of romance that continuously brought a smile to my face as I was reading. I loved the romance between Paul and the Genie – it was sweet, hot, and evolved perfectly as the novel progressed, though it was a tad on the messy side, as a romance between an ageless Genie and a human would no doubt be. Their relationship is frenetic, complicated, and chock full of “maybes” and “what ifs,” which adds an intriguing element to the story.

All in all, this was a fun, naughty, and quirky book by an incredibly talented author that I really ended up enjoying. If you enjoy paranormal stories with adventure, laughter, mystery, love, and excellent banter/dialog, then you may wish to check out Genie in a Vodka Bottle.

This book will be published on November 5, 2021 but is available now for preorder from online retailers.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.

Filed Under: LGBT Romance, Paranormal

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