Tali Spencer

Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/

The Kordeun family was once the royal family of Sebboy but now live in captivity in Uttor. The emperor Gaspar has given them a villa to live in and treats the family well. Lukacz Kordeun rules his family with an iron fist disowning any child who dares to defy him. Lukacz is planning an escape attempt and puts his handsome young son Endre in a tight spot by forcing him to act like a gay man so that he may pass messages between Lukacz and his allies. The problem is that Endre really is attracted to men and when he meets the hot Tabarian Prince Arshad, Endre must decide between family and his own happiness.
Ms Spencer did a wonderful job of world building by setting the story smack dab in an area that could have hosted Ali Baba. Uttor is a country rich in diversity, textures and beliefs from the crazily homophobic Lukacz to the relaxed and accepting Gaspar. The different temples to prophets and the various customs are what really make this book stand out a step above the rest. Endre was the conflicted but dutiful son right up to the end while Lukacz was an idiot who got better than he deserved. I admired Gaspar who tried his best to incorporate his captive royals into Uttor instead of killing them. I enjoyed Endre and Arshad and the love they shared even though their big sex scene was more like reading a manual on man on man sex 101. There was plenty of angst for those readers that love the plucked heart strings and still get their HEA. Yanni was a wonderfully funny character who helped Endre find himself even more than Arshad did. I have read a couple of Ms Spencer's books and this on is by far the best.… (altro)

2.5 stars

I loved the first half - it was sweet, and I loved watching Sean getting a fresh start and getting to know Joe.
The second half though - it got kinda over-the-top. I mean, the reason Joe's mom hated that cannoli rival guy? It sounded like something you only see on TV shows, though the drama that ensued had a lighter feel, for which I'm eternally grateful. Sean fit too perfectly with the rest of Joe's family and I couldn't get a feel for Sean's and Joe's relationship at all.
… (altro)

Wisconsin, I have to admit, is not a state I have ever visited, or know a lot about. Since all books in this series have been great at giving me a “local” flavor of whatever state of the US they are set in, I was looking forward to learning more about “The Badger State”. Of course, also typical for the ‘States of Love’ books, in addition to geographical detail and regional customs, I got to know two men and their struggle to find love as well. And boy do Matt and John know how to make things difficult for themselves.

Matt is not having an easy time at work, ever since John joined his company and keeps harassing him with anti-gay comments and “jokes”. Matt needs a break and is looking forward to his annual two-week vacation that he intends to spend spearing sturgeon from a hole in the ice. Not my idea of fun, but I certainly enjoyed Matt’s adventures and descriptions. There are lots of fishing details but then there are Matt and his friends who are hilarious and very loyal when someone is in trouble.

John showing up at the iced-over Lake Winnebago was a total shock, not just to Matt but to me as well. He’d never hinted at liking ice fishing, has not even remotely got the right equipment, and yet he settles close to Matt and his friends. Hmmm. It did make me wonder, and lo and behold, it doesn’t take long for John to be in trouble, Matt being the only one able to help, and for things to get really awkward for a while.

If you like watching tough, snarky guys who do not get along in the least figure out they actually like each other, if you enjoy reading about sports in and around an icy lake from the comfort of your armchair, and if you’re looking for a read that is entertaining, educational, occasionally funny, takes its time getting to the “romantic bits”, and has some very hot action on a bearskin, then you might like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (altro)