I’m over at AudioGals with a review of Fighting the Pull by Kristen Ashley, narrated by Lance Greenfield, Stella Bloom & Joseph Discher. Solid entry into the series but equally, I doubt it’s one I’ll revisit.
Nov
29
2023
Kaetrin’s Musings
Musings on Romance
Articles
May
13
2020
Review at AudioGals
I’m over at AudioGals with a review of American Sweethearts by Adriana Herrera, narrated by Sean Crisden. Second chance romance to tie up the series.
Mar
04
2020
Review at AudioGals
I’m over at AudioGals with a review of Open House by Ruby Lang, narrated by Emily Woo Zeller. Kind-of enemies to lovers but in the best way because nobody is mean.
Jan
01
2020
Review at Dear Author
I’m over at Dear Author with a review of Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn. It took me a little while to get into, but I ended up liking this one a lot.
Dec
19
2019
Review at AudioGals
I’m over at AudioGals with a review of American Love Story by Adriana Herrera, narrated by Sean Crisden. Patrice and Easton finally get their HEA.
Nov
22
2019
American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera, narrated by Sean Crisden
Why I read it: This is one from my TBL.
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Fairy-tale endings don’t just happen; they have to be fought for.
New York City social worker Camilo Santiago Briggs grew up surrounded by survivors who taught him to never rely on anything you didn’t earn yourself. He’s always dreamed of his own happily-ever-after, but he lives in the real world. Men who seem too good to be true usually are. And Milo never ever mixes business with pleasure until the mysterious man he had an unforgettable hookup with turns out to be the wealthy donor behind his agency’s new, next-level funding.
Thomas Hughes built a billion-dollar business from nothing: he knows what he wants and isn’t shy about going after it. When the enthralling stranger who blew his mind at a black-tie gala reappears, Tom’s more than ready to be his Prince Charming. Showering Milo with the very best of everything is how Tom shows his affection.
Trouble is, Milo’s not interested in any of it. The only thing Milo wants is Tom.
Fairy-tale endings take work as well as love. For Milo, that means learning to let someone take care of him, for a change. And for Tom, it’s figuring out that real love is the one thing you can’t buy.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I haven’t yet listened to American Dreamer, the first book in the series (though I have it on my TBL now), however, American Fairytale, the second book in the series, stands alone well. Each book, features one of a group of four close friends, most of whom are gay/queer and living in New York. None are white.
There is a vibrancy to the writing, which illustrates the diversity in New York. There is a marked difference to American Fairytale as compared to the all-white (or almost-all-white) New York-set contemporary romance which is commonly available and it was both authentic and so much more interesting to me. It felt more like the real world and less like a construct and the characters showcased different experiences and points of view than my own white experience. I loved it.
