Audiobook Review: The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles

The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies #1) by KJ Charles
Amazon, Audible, Goodreads
Time: 7hrs and 56 Minutes

4.5 Pants Off

Blurb: A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry.

Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.


Warning: Contains hot m/m sex between a deeply inappropriate earl and a very confused magician, dark plots in a magical version of Victorian England, family values (not the good kind), and a lot of swearing.

Review

THE LORD ASSHOLES 

So I’m so glad I decided to listen to this on Audio. The story is already magnificent and the narration made The Magpie Lord all the more magnificent. 

The Story: 5 Pants Off 

I really do love the heck out of this book. I am a fan of things creepy and a story filled with twists and turns and The Magpie Lord had it all. The characters are deeply rich, the storytelling topnotch, and the sexy time is definitely sexy. 

Lucien Vaudry aka Lord Crane on more than one occasion has tried to kill himself while deeply asleep and each time becoming more successful than the last. He knows he needs help and so he calls in local magician that comes highly recommend. Seems the title of Lord is deeply cursed which has Lucien feeling some sort of way because the sins of his father and brother shouldn’t fall on him since he’s been exiled for quite sometime. But in order to stay alive he will the need the help of Stephen Day, the tiny feisty magician who also hates his guts (sins of his father and all). 

What then transpires is next level creepy shit, ghosts of old, and magpies. Crane and Stephen clash in a most delicious type of way and they make the story all the more worthwhile. They got so much chemistry I was in flames. While I would call this a slow burn you won’t mind cus it burns so good and it’s quite delicious enjoying it for a second time. 

Let me also mention it’s freaking hilarious. The greatest balance of creepy with hilariousity.  

The Narration by Cornell Collins: 4 Pants Off 

Yes, yes, and yes. Having read the book previously, listening to it brought a very different level of excitement. The narration was so on point, each character so very well developed in both uniqueness and personality.  

I am all for this and I’m so much looking forward to listening the rest of the series.  

I am both happy in my pants and my ears.

Review: Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews

Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews
Amazon, Goodreads, Audible
Novel: 259pgs

4.5 Pants Off

Blurb: Will a virgin captive surrender to this pirate’s sinful touch?

Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it’s concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he’s sailing to the fledging colony, where he’ll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family’s financial gain. Then pirates strike and he’s kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World.

Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don’t deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel’s father—the very man whose treachery forced him into piracy—and he’s sure Nathaniel is just as contemptible.

Yet as days pass in close quarters, Nathaniel’s feisty spirit and alluring innocence beguile and bewitch. Although Hawk knows he must keep his distance, the desire to teach Nathaniel the pleasure men can share grows uncontrollable. It’s not as though Hawk would ever feel anything for him besides lust…

Nathaniel realizes the fearsome Sea Hawk’s reputation is largely invented, and he sees the lonely man beneath the myth, willingly surrendering to his captor body and soul. As a pirate’s prisoner, he is finally free to be his true self. The crew has been promised the ransom Nathaniel will bring, yet as danger mounts and the time nears to give him up, Hawk’s biggest battle could be with his own heart.

This May-December gay romance from Keira Andrews features classic tropes including: a tough alpha pirate too afraid to love, a plucky virgin captive half his age, enemies to lovers, first-time sexual discovery, and of course a happy ending. 85,000 words.

Review

POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY THE PIRATE (Do you think Chuck Tingle will come sue me?)

This is the pirate book I never knew I need. Kidnapped by the Pirate was everything I wanted in a pirate gay romance, with enough sizzle to singe my arm hairs and leave me with a smile on my face. 

 Nathaniel Bainbridge wants a life where how could live and enjoy the things he’s good at. He’s never been one for the books and no amount of tutors have helped with the fact that he’s unable to read. Yes, he speaks like a gentleman and one would never be able to tell that he isn’t educated or was unable to be educated. Running, climbing, and swimming is where Nathaniel interest lies, along with his interest in men. He dreams of the day he can be mounted, he gets lost in cock fantasies quite a lot. So when his dad demands he marries and moves to the new world, Nat knows he’s very much screwed. He’s not meant to be a husband but he will do what he’s told, and make the journey to a place he will never belong and marry a woman he doesn’t want.  

The journey is tedious on the ship because Nathaniel is a man that needs to move, needs to do and so he’s looking forward to getting his land legs back. His trip gets cut short when his ship is boarded by pirates and Nathaniel is kidnapped for ransom by the legendary Sea Hawk. 

He’s expecting to be cruelly treated on The Damn Manta but his treatment comes as a surprise and also his feelings for the pirate that has kidnapped him. Captain Hawk is the type of man that would give Nathaniel a good seeing to, and his virgin everything is intrigued and both scared by the feelings the pirate invokes. Nathaniel has no disillusions that Hawk can be a cruel man but he’s also seen that he is a good man, and he wants to experience everything with this man before he returns to his father and becomes a proper married gentleman. 

First, I really freaking loved this for the sole fact that Captain Hawk is a real effing pirate. There are no rose coloured glasses when it comes to who he is. He walks the walk, talks the talk, and dresses like every dream I’ve ever had in my teenage years about being captured on the sea by a pirate and ravished. 

Secondly, Nathaniel and Hawk are hellfire hot. They did the things and introduced Nat to the wonderful world of man love and Nathaniel soon starts, to realize that now he’s had cock he can never lift a frock. Hawk cares for him start to transform his feelings and he’s dreaming of a life together but everyday aboard the ship proves that he’ll never be accepted and he’s the ticket to a lot of money. 

“Why did I think better of you because you read to me and were kind about my deficiencies?” Hawk tore his gaze away. “I don’t know, since apparently I must remind you I’m a fucking pirate!” 

Thirdly, the wonderful age gap. Isn’t it just true classic historical romance with the naïve virgin and the worldly older man. It’s trope as old as time but there is just something about it that’s works so well in a historical setting, and man did it deliver here. Captain Hawk is forward and brusque and Nathaniel’s innocence adds fire to an already burning super hot flame.  

Overall, I really enjoyed the shit out of this. Giving me all I need in pirate feels, delivering amazing fucking on a pirate ship, and giving me a beautiful HEA. I love it, I love it, and am so glad I decided to give it a read. Keira Andrews you most definitely have the sauce (no ketchup). If you’re like me and spent many a days reading Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Elizabeth Lowell, Christina Dodd, Kat Martin etc…in your youth (or even now). Then this book will give you such a delight, and is not to be missed. 

SideNote- I need more freaking gay historical romances in my life!! 

Review: Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen

Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen
Amazon, Goodreads
Novel: 200pgs

3 Pants Off

Blurb: A tale of pirates, lost love, and the fight for a happy ending.

After he’s set adrift and left to die by his mutinous crew, the last person Royal Navy officer Daniel Horton expects to come to his rescue is Captain Merric. An infamous pirate, Merric is known as much for stealing his victims’ hearts as their jewels. Daniel’s world is about to be turned upside down when he recognises Captain Merric as none other than Edward Merriston, someone he thought he'd never see again. Edward can’t believe Daniel Horton is aboard his ship. While Edward is willing to do anything he can to get a second chance at their happy ending, Daniel isn’t interested in digging up the past. But Daniel is one priceless treasure Captain Merric isn’t about to let go of without a fight.


Captain Merric first appeared as short story in a pirate-themed anthology. Now completely rewritten and extended he is ready to set sail again.

Review

CAPTAIN NOT A PIRATE

When I saw that this book was a pirate love story, best believe I was on it like white on rice or brown on rice 🤔. Let’s just say I was hella excited and your hope is that when you’re super excited about a book it doesn’t go and let you down. While Captain Merric wasn’t a letdown per se it really wasn’t a hard hit and it crumpled all the amp I was feeling for it. 

Daniel Horton. Captain in the Queens Navy spending most of his life at see battling against the French. His life is being on the open waters and love and family falls behind his duty. When his scheming ass crew commits mutiny and leaves him at sea to die. Daniel surely expects to waste away on the open sea without food and water but fate has other plans. Those plans includes a pirate, his ship, and a long lost love. 

Captain Merric pirate extraordinaire. He enjoys life on the open sea and has more money than he knows what do with. Life on the sea is harsh and Merric longs for a quiet life farming and just living. When they spot a person on the open sea close to death, Merric never expected it to be his long lost love Daniel. As boys they were so in love with each other but circumstances separated them where Merric thought Daniel had forsaken their love, and Daniel thought Merric his real name Edward dead.  

Now Daniel is aboard a pirate ship faced with his love of old and feelings he thought long gone. While Edward is not the man he remembers he is still the man he loved deeply. They are now two men changed by death and the sea, and while Daniel lived a life of celibacy Edward got his dick wet a lot and it had nothing to do with the sea. Edward wants to pick up where they left off but Daniel is afraid he won’t be enough for him since he moved on so quickly without him. Also he has a mutinous crew for him to see hanged. 

This is a story of love lost and gained again. I can’t on good authority call this a pirate tale because I’m still waiting for the pirate stuff. There was a lot of telling and no showing and I didn’t get the pirate feels at all. Edward and Daniel (well mostly Daniel) did a lot of push and pull and angst over unnecessary things. He wanted then he didn’t want, he was upset but then he wasn’t upset, he couldn’t make up his mind on his feelings.  

I think my biggest problem was that it was just too sweet and it lacked excitement. While the writing is pretty good, I always find myself having a hard time connecting to Rebecca Cohen’s writing. It’s like the story is always on the precipice of being great but it never quite crosses the line to greatness. Captain Merric felt safe and I really just wanted more. If Daniel and Edward had no former connection I would have enjoyed it more. 

Overall, it was an alright story. I wanted to like it a lot more cus pirate and that cover but it didn’t quite impress me. I found Daniel whiny and Edward (Captain Merric) so not very pirate like. As I said a lot of telling no showing and so the pirate life on the open see didn’t quite come across. 

Review: Branded by Bru Baker

Reviewed by SinChan
Branded by Bru Baker
Dreamspinner Press
Short Story: 36pgs
2 Pants Off

Blurb:
When a would-be assassin sneaks into the citadel disguised as a servant, the king requires that all servants who work in the castle be branded with the royal crest for easy identification. Prince Coren is powerless to fight the edict, but he refuses to allow his personal advisor and secret lover Brannir to suffer alone. Coren shows his devotion by wielding the brand to mark Brannir himself, even though he fears it will change their relationship. He's prepared for resentment, hurt, and anger--every outcome but the one he receives: unconditional love.



Review

Since an assassin sneaked into the castle by disguising as a servant, all servants must be branded for identification. Bran will be forced to leave the castle if he isn't branded. Coren hates to mark his lover but he also can't disobey his father and out himself to the public, after all, he's the crown prince.
 

This is a very slow paced story without much action. There is too much detail going into the branding process and Coren working up the nerve to do it. Coren must brand Bran to protect him but also unwilling to hurt him. Their relationship have to remain a secret and survive the emotional and physical pain of hurting a lover. Their interaction might have been intense, but it lacks the background and length to explore their love and make this a truly deep and intense deep. 
 

 I keep anticipating the King finding out his son's relationship with his advisor or walking in on them. I want to know more about the popularity of the King with his people since he seems really cruel and paranoid, the setting, and the couple's next steps (they can't hide their relationship forever). The story mainly describes one scene (the branding) and its immediate aftermath. 

 

Overall, this is a very short and monotonous story. Most of the excitement is in the blurb. It has the potential to be an intense read and it's a great start to a good story. Fans of the hurt/comfort trope can give this a try. 

 

2 Pants Off

Review: Kid Gloves by Anna Martin

Reviewed by Fehu
Kid Gloves by Anna Martin
Dreamspinner Press
Short Story: 96pgs
3 Pants Off

Blurb:
Alone in his East London shop, a man known only as Dalton makes living prosthetics: bionic, mechanical limbs, from leather, metal, and magic. It's to this little corner of the capital that Finn Croucher, an elite army marksman, travels after an accident leads to his hand being amputated.

While Dalton fashions Finn’s new hand and teaches him how to use it, he reveals some secrets long hidden, and he and Finn become lovers. But Finn must return to duty, and a string of letters becomes his only connection to the love he left in London.


Short Review
Dalton is quite an interesting character and he has whored himself for his knowledge. He slept with most of the people from whom he learned and now finality is at a stage, where he has perfected a craft and no longer needs to rely on others. Finn come from a Roma family and is an archer in the army, who has lost his hand. He wants a new hand and Dalton was recommended to him, but he finds himself surprised how he finds Dalton attractive.

The romance does progress pretty quick, considering this is a historical story and Finn is a virgin. For my taste they fell into bed a bit too quick, I like a slow burn romance. Here I find it a bit hard to believe, because of the social stigma in a historical setting that such a relation caries. The letters they exchanged were quite sweet and I liked the idea. A lot of their relationship happened in the letters and it's not what we are used in our modern interaction, but it was the thing to do in earlier times, so I loved that the story captured that!

Not a lot happens in that story, no great adventures and not a lot of drama, mostly this is a nice love story, with nice characters. The excitement and tension is something I missed here, but if you want a love story than you will be happy with this one, especially if you wish to take a break from tearjerker stories and melodramas.

3 Pants Off

Review: Encore by Shira Anthony

Reviewed by Fehu
Encore (Blue Notes #5) by Shira Anthony
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 296pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Cool kid violinist Roger Nelson doesn’t give a damn about anything. Wannabe conductor John Fuchs is awkward, effeminate, and just figuring out he’s gay. Despite their differences, they become friends—then lovers—and after college, they try to make it work. But it’s the 1970s, and Roger can’t bring himself to admit he’s gay. Worse, after his brother is killed in Vietnam, Roger tries to live up to his memory and be the perfect son. Then after suffering one tragedy too many, he makes the biggest mistake of his life: Roger pushes John away.

Through the years, they dance around the truth and in and out of each other’s lives, never quite able to let go. Twenty years later, Roger still carries the pain of losing his dream of a brilliant career with him, while John is a superstar conductor with a wild reputation. John’s off-stage antics get him plenty of attention, good and bad, though deep down, he wants only Roger. Finally determined to hold on to what really matters, Roger asks John for another chance, and when John panics and runs, Roger has to convince him to listen to his heart.

Review
A very good book that ties up some loose open ends of the Aria book and tells of some new beginnings. I felt a bit like a goodbye and a new beginning. John is a young man who has to transfer to another school just before the end of his high school career, after his parents’ divorce. There he meets Roger, a fellow music geek who is also part of the orchestra, where John plays. Early on John realises his attraction to Roger, who becomes his best friend and is always supportive of him.

In college they both are together, but Roger's parents don't like John, they encourage Roger to date girls and let John go, which he resists. After an accident Roger cannot longer play the Violin and has to go to a different college and give up on his dream of becoming a musician, while John's career takes off and he goes to New York.

Roger has to learn to deal to weather his parent’s expectations, his own desires and his failed career as a musician, as well as society’s stigmas. He also needs to decide if he can stand to have John in his live, who will always remind him of what he had lost. The story shows John and Roger grow up, find their careers and find a way to each other, which was not straight or easy.

Here we meet John and Roger, who played an important part in the lives of the characters we knew from previous books. Alec is mentioned and Corry and a young David, it's hard not to feel a bit sad to know that it's about an end of an era. John and Roger brought some of the people together and I don't remember reading a lot about them in the following books, with Roger's illness, that made me think that they might no longer be there. On the other hand it's nice to see all the people they influenced, grow and become stronger, fail and rise, find love and make friends for life, just like John and Roger have been. John and Roger's story shows a part of American history, the rise of AIDS, death of lovers and friends, the panic of the infection. It also shows human prejudice, but most of all it shows the strength of true friendship, that weathered decades and a love that grew along.

4.5 Pants Off

Review: The Impetuous Afflictions of Jonathan Wolfe by Charlie Cochet

Reviewed by Whuppsy
The Impetuous Afflictions of Jonathan Wolf (The Auspicious Troubles of Love #2) by Charlie Cochet
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 204pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Sequel to The Auspicious Troubles of Chance The Auspicious Troubles of Love: Book Two

Eight years after leaving the deserts of Africa and the French Foreign Legion behind, Jonathan Wolfe has settled into life at Hawthorne Manor in the English countryside. Johnnie helps his adopted family run the manor and provide a safe, loving home for a new generation of “brats”: boys mistreated and discarded for their homosexuality—something all too familiar to Johnnie.

Although no longer an unruly youngster, Johnnie is as stubborn, foul-mouthed, and troublesome as ever. His recent rash behavior becomes a concern for those closest to him, especially Dr. Henry Young, the only man ever to capture Johnnie's heart. Instead of soothing him, their closeness brings Johnnie’s insecurities from an unsettling past to the surface, and leads to an explosive situation that threatens to tear them apart. Then Henry’s past catches up to them….


Review
This is the story of Jonathan (Johnnie) Wolfe and Dr. Henry Young. These two met some years ago while working in the French Foreign Legion. They now live in the English Countryside with some of their fellow Compatriots with whom they’ve served. Johnnie is by far the most stubborn, cheeky man that I’ve read about in a LONG TIME!!

He’s got this heart of gold for the people that he loves and yet even knowing that he loves them, he just can’t help pushing them away. He knows each and everyone of the people in his life and their stories. He relates to each and everyone of them, yet his past holds him hostage from moving on and realizing that he’s truly loved and cared for.

Henry Young is this handsome, sweet, wonderful man who runs the clinic for the “Family” and also for the area in which they live. He’s adopted this sweet little boy and tries so hard to help everyone that he can. Henry has had heartbreak in the past that led him to joining the French Foreign Legion. That still haunts him to this day. But, regardless of this, he still pushes forth the will to do good whether doing his doctor work or just being the wonderful man that he is.

Now, Johnnie and Henry love each other. A LOT!! Make no mistake about how they feel about each other. The problem is that Johnnie can’t believe that he’s worthy of Henry. That Henry is too for the likes of him. The problem with that is Henry doesn’t agree. He knows Johnnie. He’s made peace with the fact that he loves Johnnie and ALL of his quirks. The one thing that he can’t get past is Johnnie’s belief that he’s not good enough for him. That’s something that Johnnie needs to work through and he can only help as much as he’s allowed.

I will say that the secondary characters were just great. I loved the “Brats”, Chance and Jacky. These guys have made a Family together and they stick together and will fight for each other. I fell for each and everyone of these characters. They each had a little something that just made me want to hug and mother them.

This book was quite good. I really liked the story. Once I realized that this was part of a series, and that these characters had been together for a while, it was easier for me to place everything together. The story flowed rather well. I wasn’t bored while reading this book. I’m not a huge historical fan and I’m sure that Charlie took literary license, but I really fell into the story and nothing else existed.

Trust me when I say that I sat down and started reading and then couldn’t do anything else until I finished and Johnnie and Henry got their HEA. If you love a book with some angst and a couple of conflicts, this book is truly what you’re looking for. The characters pull you in and won’t let you go. You will want to smack Johnnie a couple of times, but when you find out what’s holding him back, you understand just a bit more.

Get this book and fall into a great story and lose yourself in this amazing story.

4 Pants Off

Review: Love's Nest by Leta Blake & Keira Andrews

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Love's Nest (Tempting Tales #3) by Leta Blake and Keira Andrews
Ellora's Cave
Novel: 161pgs
2 Pants Off

Blurb:
There’s no greater mystery in the kingdom than how Prince Mateo’s sisters wear out their shoes each night while locked away in their chambers. Using old magic, Mateo discovers their secret and follows them through a portal to an enchanted world of fairies and lusty delights.

Ópalo has waited years for his male human, and he knows Mateo is his destiny. Mateo soon succumbs to the pleasures of the flesh, but as their worlds collide, Ópalo has to risk everything to win his man forever.

Review
Prince Mateo is the youngest of twelve children (twelve!!!) and the only son of The King. There is a mystery afoot, what oh what can his 11 sisters be doing at night that their slippers are ruined? Mateo’s father has decided to find out and he’s not against using his children as a reward. ALL OF HIS CHILDREN!! Mateo included!! Mateo’s not going to stand for this, as he wants the right to live his own life, not the life that someone else requires of him.

Mateo takes it upon himself to find out what’s going on and with the help of his former maid and a magical cloak, he’s off to see what his sister’s are up too. He follows them through a portal into the land of Fairy. The same land of fairy that they heard about as children, there he sees his sisters fall into the arms of their mates. As he watches he sees another someone there alone, Opalo. Opalo takes Mateo with him across the lake and shows him the life that his sisters are so taken with.

Opalo has been waiting for years for his “bride”. The one for whom he was created to be with. He knows the moment that he sees Mateo that his wishes have come true. That this handsome man is the one!! Opalo helps Mateo to see the wonder of being in Fairy. He also shows Mateo something that Mateo has never had…Passion! Opalo teaches Mateo all about the sensual delights of the flesh. But the one thing that he requires, more than anything is Mateo’s heart, his love.

Yet, there here is the crux of the problem…Mateo refuses to fall in love. He’s seen the devastation that happens when you love and lose the one you love. He’s watched his Father become heartbroken and grief-stricken with the loss of his wife. That is something that Mateo wants to avoid at all costs.

Now this is a sweet, story. No real angst or mystery. This is just a sweet, tender love story. If you have a hankering for a story that will leave you feeling sweetly gooey, this is the story for you.

2 Pants Off