JMS Books
Book Reviews
How to Belong with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am devastated. Not about the characters, main plot, and side stories contained within the pages of How to Belong. I’m absolutely wrecked because Arden St. Ives’ tale is over. How does a reader recover from the conclusion of one of the most phenomenal series ever?
I don’t know that this reader can.
Hall has this magical storytelling way with words. Words that are crafted in such a way that the reader is completely absorbed into his world. And each character, no matter how big or small a part they play in the Arden St. Ives’ universe, is fleshed out so well. Every scene is set up so thoroughly, it’s hard not to imagine the reader would recognize the cemetery, or the dog biscuit factory, or the busy London streets should one find themselves in such location.
I want more, I crave more, of Ellery and Bellerose and George (Oh, George!)…everyone, really. I crave the connections the characters form with each other, the complex personalities of each, and the random silly and delightfully dated pop culture references. (Spice Girls, anyone?)
Ardy’s growth and maturity are well developed in How to Belong, compared to when we first meet him in How to Bang. It’s inevitable that he would grow up; his maturation is natural and fits the Ardy we’ve come to know and love. He’s come leaps and bounds from the carefree, party-going university student and is now more aware, more perceptive. He’s become the person Caspian needs.
Reading the last sentence of the last chapter was difficult in two ways: one, it meant the end of Arden and Caspian; and two, it felt…not quite satisfying in a way. The ending left me wanting… something else. It felt like the end of a day, when you know as you go to bed that you will wake up in the morning to start the next day. But there is no next day, only a blank page.
Despite my feeling of almost confusion…I guess…with the ending, I still give How to Belong five stars. Overall, this book was amazing, and the series is extraordinary. It’s one I will read and listen to (Joel Leslie is GOAT.) over and over, and never get tired of.
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All the Better Part of Me by Molly Ringle Guest Post
I’m honored to welcome to the blog Molly Ringle, author of All the Better Part of Me, which is out today. If you’ve followed my blog or Twitter account, no doubt you’ll have seen me gush about this book. It’s one of my most anticipated releases of the past few years. When the author first tweeted about her bisexual romance with new age influences, I was immediately hooked, and I was not disappointed when I got my grubby little hands on an advanced copy. You can read my review here.
Without further ado, here’s the lovely Molly Ringle:
My catchy new wave pop song for Sinter Blackwell
I started listening to the Cure because of Sinter Blackwell. It was the mid-1990s and he was a character I’d invented, a guy with eyeliner and dyed-black hair and a penchant for theatre. What music did he listen to?, I asked myself in trying to flesh him out better. Well, the Cure, I figured, since at the time they were the only example of a goth band I could think of. I also decided I should probably get to know the Cure’s music better myself if I was going to write such details. So I went to a record store (this was before online music; download speeds were still WAY too slow) and bought Staring at the Sea, the Cure’s only best-of CD available at the time.
After listening to that moody, catchy, beautiful album over and over, and soon going out to buy other albums of theirs and doing the same with those, I fell into a deep fever-pitch fandom love that would last me the next decade, and that still lingers at a gentler level.
It didn’t matter that I learned the Cure may not really count as a goth band. (Lead singer Robert Smith has rejected the label.) Their music was magical to me, encompassing everything I could want: playful but dark, scary but sweet, sometimes devastatingly melancholy and other times effervescently happy. I tracked down bootlegs and unofficial B-side collections, copied onto cassette and mailed to me by fellow fans I found online. I learned how to get online and use chat rooms essentially just for that reason. Twenty-some years later, I still follow several of these awesome people on social media.
My obsession led me to branch out into other bands too—I learned about “real” goth bands and got into their music, along with new indie pop that, to my ear, owed a lot to the Cure’s brokenhearted vocals and bright synth. I also came full circle to my popular music roots: whether or not the Cure is goth, they are usually counted as new wave, and new wave was what I had already loved as a kid growing up in the ‘80s. Adam and the Ants! Blondie! Duran Duran! The Go-Gos! I’d liked all of them since elementary school. Turned out the Cure was their close cousin all along.
So what is it, anyway, about new wave that makes it so appealing to me, and so influential to modern indie rock and pop, not to mention to the world’s fashions? With its vivid cosmetics and crazy hair and androgyny, it embraces theatricality, a sassy challenge to the stuffy faction of society. Yet in its song lyrics and tender vocals and romantic melodies, it’s vulnerable too, overflowing with sincere love, lust, and heartbreak. It’s not all-rebellion-all-the-time like some music. It’s sweeter than that. It’s my tribe, and Sinter’s too.
So when I came back to rewrite Sinter’s story recently, I wrote it in that aesthetic style, complete with a running playlist. And even though the book is set in the modern day, not the ‘80s, and is only tangentially about music (the Cure and other bands are mentioned, but the book is much more about love and theatre and family), I feel the story’s sensibilities are fully new wave throughout. Eyeliner, crazy hair, and emotionally vulnerable moments definitely included.
Blurb:
It’s an inconvenient time for Sinter Blackwell to realize he’s bisexual. He’s a 25-year-old American actor working in London, living far away from his disapproving parents in the Pacific Northwest, and enjoying a flirtation with his director Fiona. But he can’t deny that his favorite parts of each day are the messages from his gay best friend Andy in Seattle—whom Sinter once kissed when they were 15.
Finally he decides to return to America to visit Andy and discover what’s between them, if anything. He isn’t seeking love, and definitely doesn’t want drama. But both love and drama seem determined to find him. Family complications soon force him into the most consequential decisions of his life, threatening all his most important relationships: with Andy, Fiona, his parents, and everyone else who’s counting on him. Choosing the right role to play has never been harder.
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About the Author:
Molly Ringle was one of the quiet, weird kids in school, and is now one of the quiet, weird writers of the world. She likes thinking up innovative romantic obstacles and mixing them with topics like Greek mythology, ghost stories, fairy tales, or regular-world scandalous gossip. With her intense devotion to humor, she was proud to win the grand prize in the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest with one (intentionally) terrible sentence. She’s into mild rainy climates, gardens, ’80s new wave music, chocolate, tea, and perfume (or really anything that smells good). She has lived in the Pacific Northwest most of her life, aside from grad school in California and one work-abroad season in Edinburgh in the 1990s. (She’s also really into the U.K., though has a love/stress relationship with travel.) She currently lives in Seattle with her husband, kids, corgi, guinea pigs, and a lot of moss.
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Smalltown Boy by Amelia C. Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wilson’s debut is nothing short of spectacular. It’s an epic tale of a gay young man who moves to the “big city”, London, and gets a crash course in debauchery. The group of friends he surrounds himself with, with the help of his childhood best friend, introduce him to all the things his mall town existence wouldn’t ever imagine.
Max is flawed, and some of his decisions are more than questionable, but Wilson still manages to make the reader root for him. He’s young and sheltered, and London is the proverbial candy store.
I appreciated the attention to detail paid to the time period in which the story is set. I grew up in the 80s, and the setting felt very authentic and true to the decade. One of the most sensitive topics, the AIDS epidemic, is handled respectfully and honestly. Nothing is sugarcoated. There is suffering and lives lost.
Smalltown Boy is raw, humourous at times, and, ultimately, hopeful. Wilson is one to keep an eye on
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Rom & Yuli by Amara Lynn Excerpt and Giveaway
Happy weekend, guys!
I’ve had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of Amara Lynn’s new release, Rom & Yuli. This is such a unique retelling of Romeo and Juliet, with a non-binary MC and an apocalyptic setting, and I’m thrilled to share an excerpt.
To celebrate Lynn’s release, they’re giving away an electronic copy to one lucky reader. Details on how to enter follow the excerpt below.
Excerpt:
“Hi,” Rom says as he kneels in front of me, gazing down at me with those bright, verdant eyes.
It makes me dizzy to hold his gaze, but I hold fast. His silver hair falls over one eye as he leans closer. I brush it back.
“H-Hi,” I squeak out.
I’ve never felt like this before. Being around Rom makes it hard to breathe, hard to speak. I’ve always been timid and shy. This is different. It’s like all of that is amplified.
Rom smiles. He’s absolutely glowing today. I dare to hope I have something to do with that.
He leans in to kiss me, and it’s like a lightning bolt to my heart. It leaves me breathless and heady.
“I missed you,” Rom murmurs.
I can only nod, a lump in my throat stopping my words. He strokes my cheek and continues to look at me adoringly. Like I’m worth something. Like I’m something beautiful to behold. My heart swells.
“Yuli?”
“Hm?”
“I want to see more of you. Will you take your cloak off?”
My stomach does a flip and self-consciousness wells up all at once in me. My chest begins to ache. “Y-You do?”
“Yeah,” Rom says, then pauses to kiss both my cheeks. “Only if it’s okay with you, though.”
“I-I…it’s just, I…feel awkward. About my body.” I fumble for the words to explain. It’s not that I don’t want to bear myself to Rom. I think I’d like that, especially if he looks at the rest of me with as much adoration as he does now. “I don’t feel like a boy, or a girl. I…I don’t really know how I feel.”
“If it helps, I don’t care what you are. You’re just Yuli to me. I’ll find you attractive no matter what.”
My face goes bright red. He finds me attractive? The thought sets my whole body alight. I’m almost worried I’ve conjured my fire to my hands and have to look down at them to check. They’re trembling.
“O-Okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want you to see me.”
The author has graciously offered up an e-copy of Rom & Yuli to one lucky winner. To enter, comment below. Winner to be chosen at random on August 5th.
Give Up the Ghost by Jenn Burke
\ My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Have you ever loved a book so much that you were certain no other book could come close to giving you that satisfied reader feeling? Well, I thought I felt that way about Not Dead Yet, Book 1 in Burke’s paranormal series, until I read Give Up the Ghost.
There’s lot of excitement and drama and tension to keep the reader on their toes. And the further developing relationship between Wes and Hudson is tender and real.
One of the unique qualities of this series is the creation of well-developed, interesting side characters that don’t overtake the plot or steal the limelight from the MCs. Give Up the Ghost kept me riveted for the almost three hundred pages. It was hard to put my Kindle down until I reached the end.
I think this series is a great introduction for anyone who is on the fence about jumping into paranormal stories.
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All the Better Part of Me by Molly Ringle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Simply amazing.
When I first heard about this story over a year ago, I fell over myself with excitement. I am a huge fan of the 80s, especially the music, and the major draw to All the Better Part of Me for me was the New Wave influences. Each chapter title is a song title from the 80s, and the songs fit perfectly with the narrative.
So I went into reading All the Better Part of Me with extremely high expectations. I wasn’t disappointed in the least.
Have you ever read a book that made you feel giddy, whether it be a particular character, the plot, or the writing? That’s how I felt from the moment I got to know Sinter. Sinter is hands down one of my favorite characters ever, and Ringle’s writing gives him such a great voice. He’s got a huge heart that influences everything he does. He’s endearing, even when he makes mistakes. He’s the kind of person who, if you met in real life, you’d hold on to tight and never let go. Because everyone needs a Sinter in their life.
A decent portion of Sinter’s interactions with other characters is done via text message. These interactions are engaging and perfectly convey the development of his relationships with the other people. Ringle gives life to what can sometimes come across as staid, impersonal communication on page.
Ringle takes stale plot twists and gives them new life. I don’t think this would have worked with any character other than Sinter. He is thrown more than one curve ball over the course of this book, and his actions are genuine and sometimes heartbreaking.
An amazing soundtrack, a captivating MC, and an engrossing plot combine to make this one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
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The Guy Gets Teddy by Chase Connor
T5 of 5 stars
Oh, Teddy. My sweet, sweet Teddy. I want to squish him in a giant hug. And maybe Connor too for writing such a hilarious, poignant story.
But I also want to shake Connor and ask him WHY, FOR THE LOVE OF JEEBUS, DID YOU HAVE TO TEAR ME APART IN THE FIRST CHAPTER????
I digress…
I loved the concept of Camp Diversity and the unique way campers were sorted into cabins (by sexuality) to prevent any shenanigans. This process wasn’t fool-proof as the reader learns.
Teddy’s cabinmates were an absolute pleasure and added just the right balance to Teddy and Travis.
There’s Rufus, the joyful, friendly asexual:
“I mean, sexual fantasies are awesome…but contemplating actually having sex is just not that appealing.”
Chastity, the snarky, cynical (but caring underneath all that superficial barbed wire) bff:
“I’m allergic to happiness, not fun.”
And then there’s Travis, the unexpected (at least to Teddy) love interest.
He was hot. He was gay. He couldn’t see me eating a candy bar.
I was overjoyed when Teddy finally saw his worth and let himself just be with Travis.
He was a hot guy and I was…Teddy.
Oh, but Teddy, that’s what makes you perfect.
Of course, Connor had to tear me apart again with one of the most perfect, tender lines I’ve ever read:
He was beautiful in the ways that mattered.
So are you, Teddy.
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Milo by Lily Morton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
How does Morton continuously create characters and stories that slay me? She has this phenomenal way of telling stories that are enchanting from page one.
I adored Milo from Oz, the previous book in the Finding Home series, and I was ecstatic that Morton granted her readers his story. I was curious about his background and how he came to work and live at Chi an Mor. My heart ached for Milo and what he’d been through, and I cheered as he slowly became more of the Milo Niall remembered from Milo’s youth.
Niall (Gah, I adore that name!) is a gentle giant, even if he doesn’t come off that way from first appearances. He’s kind and patient with Milo; his love for Milo is evident throughout the book. I thought his wild ways would be off-putting, especially concerning Gideon, but this was just Niall. There’s no other way to explain it.
Morton’s side characters are just enough interesting that they aren’t boring and they do not take away from the main characters. They all have a purpose. I adored the scenes with Cora, who was a delight. It was also good to catch up with Oz and Silas. Thomas had me seeing red, and Simeon has me wanting more of his story.
I don’t know how she does it, but I know I will be waiting anxiously for what Morton has in store for the Finding Home series.
Advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
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The Other Book by Roe Horvat
The Other Book by Roe Horvat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Roe Horvat is one of my go-to authors, one that I immediately jump on when there’s a new release.
Based on Horvat’s teasers in his Facebook group, I knew The Other Book was going to be different from his previous books. His last book, Vanilla Clouds, was also a departure from his norm, filled with fluffy goodness. And I loved it. The Other Book is full of sexy times, as promised, and requires a hot shower at various points throughout. Horvat did not disappoint.
“I unlocked the cage, and the beast broke out.”
I love how Tyler broke through Joel’s stoic and hard demeanor. Once they give into their desires, the hott, sexy times flow nonstop. What surprised me most about this story is tender, sweet, and emotional moments between Tyler and Joel. I expected meaningless sex, to be honest, but Horvat perfectly melds the hotness with the sweetness.
As with all this author’s books, Horvat has a unique style that is engaging and The Other Book is no exception.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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