Tali SpencerRecensioni

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.

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.

This was a great story!!! I really loved Sean and his desire to remain true to himself rather than chase money. I loved Joe's commitment to his family, and the siblings/Mama Jo were great additional characters. Loved the depth to the story line, especially for a quickly written, free, short story based on a prompt. Fabulous!

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.

Boy Meets Boy Reviews - Author of the Month

How to describe Tali Spencer's The Prince of Winds"? Hmm...it is a fantasy with a historical feel, a mythological tinged romance, a sensual,well written tale that can easily be visualized and has a fairy tale feel. Basically a book that I definitely enjoyed. You give me those elements and add a enemies-to-lovers AND a virgin theme, I'd hooked. This story hits a lot of topics I like. And if you haven't read a Tali Spencer book (this is my second and won't be my last), expect to take a journey to cool fantasy world. There's even flying carpets. It took everything to not sing "A Whole New World" from Aladdin each time Melkor showed up with his carpets. (Okay I show no restraint with singing Disney tunes, so I sung the song one or two maybe over five times)



In a land far away, there's a trio of brothers that are demigods and they are on the warpath. They are conquering gods, kingdoms and ripping the world a new one. Why? They are avenging their wronged goddess of a mother and also trying to escape the curses thrown upon them. The most important one is that they are cursed to never be loved. Melkor, the more scholarly of his brothers, controls the wind, he is, in fact, known as the Prince of Winds. Melkor wants to find a mate and even though he is cursed, he does not give up hope. He has the list of servants he has bedded to prove it. But while the Ake kingdom falls, most known for eagle warriors (that's right Ake's warriors use giant eagles as weapons) Melkor sees a fallen warrior being tended by his eagle and becomes enchanted with the ginger haired beauty, Rimmon.



Melkor whisks the injured Rimmon knowing his identity as a prince almost immediately but does not share who he is to the young man.Neither does Rimmon. The hidden identity ploy doesn't carry on for too long, so if you don't enjoy the trope, don't worry. Did I mention Rimmon is a virgin and Melkor takes pleasure in training (one word:delicious) Rimmon in the art of sex. The sex scenes and near sex scenes were sensual. The words are descriptive and I could just see the golden skin being licked or see that glass...instrument being inserted in...well you need to read what was put where, don't you? ;P



The niggles because I had a few but just a tiny few. I wish there was a more filler between Rimmon and Melkor on the island. Rimmon is injured and Melkor finds a quick fix to jump to sexy times (I'm not hating because that was some sensual sexy times). I would have loved a little more struggle, it's one of my favorite things to read in romance. Yes, the men spend days apart but the time jump was kind of quick so it has that instalove feel.  And Melkor has many names as does his brothers which is fine. I felt discovering their true names interesting but it felt a little much when there narration refers to one name, the brothers call each other either name and lovers are calling their partners the other name. It wasn't confusing but I just would have expected them to choose a name and stick to it. Like servants and chiefs calling a brother by their demon name but the demigod brothers would call each other by birth names. My issues are tiny, see. It might be a pet peeve of mine.

This story is definitely read worthy. I'm not going to recommend it for everyone. I think the readers who would most appreciate this story are ones who enjoy fantasy with an ancient, mythology feel. I hate comparisons but think a tamer, not dark or gruesome, more romantic Captive Prince with mythology/fairy tale based fantasy mixed in and you don't have to wait for the sex. A quick read that ends satisfyingly HEA.

I want to take a trip to Tali Spencer's world. It seems like a fun place.



"

First thought prior to reading: The MC fucks himself with a unicorn horn? For real?

LOL

I need to read this!



I'm DOWN!!

Did I become unconscious, rename myself Tali Spencer while being unconscious and write a book? Because a main character FUCKING HIMSELF with a UNICORN HORN sounds like the BEST OPENING LINE TO A JOKE or an awesome PWP EVER!

This book had me written all over it! (No, the pic below is not me but I had to represent #unicornrealness)



After Reading: Before you think this book is a one trick pony [insert drum riff]...it's not. This story has substance! This is NOT a Lisa Frank version of gay porn! (Sorry no rainbow jizz to be found here) (Also note the unicorn was not alive while Vorgell fucked his arse)



Apparently I love fantasy because there are no boundaries. You can go crazy with world building; the possibilities are limitless. Tali Spencer created one interesting world with a new spin on witches, wizards, unicorns and spells...oh my!



In the Thick as Thieves" world, witches create magic through life and life sources. The entire witch/wizard culture is a fascinating one in this book. Unicorn horn is like viagra x infinity, which must be taken in small doses but our resident big boy, Vorgell consumes the entire horn.




This story exceeded my expectations, the pacing was fast, the dialogue was great (I do seem to love those prickly, mouthy characters), the adventure was totally interesting and I never could predict what would happen next! And the romance took a close second place to the partnership that was formed between Vorgell (our resident unicorn horn fucker) and Maddog aka Madd (one prickly pear of a witch). It was one of those reads where rampant delcarations of "I love you" was not necessary. You knew they cared for and loved one another in their own way.



Now though the story is fantasy and funny at points, there's also a touch or serious with real issues: dealing with rape (happened off page), sexual issues (why can't a big giant of man get pleasure out of bottoming? what's wrong with a small guy liking to be in control), sexual preference acceptance and dealing with feeling like an outcast.



There's some dark (not too angsty sugar lovers) swirled into the light and fluffy, there's suspense galore, evil gets vanquished and partnership of a lifetime is formed! The unicorn horn plays a major part in the story but it doesn't take precedence to Vorgell and Madd's relationship.

Vorgell, big blonde giant warrior of Scur - an outcast to his people. He's so lovable and perpetually horny with his massive prick due to the horn consumption (in such a fun place). And Madd - former suckboy/streetkid, thief, bastard and abomination to his witchkin people, I get why he's so sensitive and fights against the ghosts of his past and the role society tries to place him in.

This story hits so many pluses from me. And I have got my eye on this author because I enjoyed the way she writes. The story did not take a nosedive into Snoozeville at any point.

I am one happy unicorn. 4.5 STARS



"

Wow! This was a very good story. I hope there will be a book two.

A very easy, light and humorous read. The author kept the humorous tone throughout and didn't try to turn this into something dramatic and serious, and that was just what I was looking for when I decided to read this book.

A very easy, light and humorous read. The author kept the humorous tone throughout and didn't try to turn this into something dramatic and serious, and that was just what I was looking for when I decided to read this book.

A very easy, light and humorous read. The author kept the humorous tone throughout and didn't try to turn this into something dramatic and serious, and that was just what I was looking for when I decided to read this book.

Dangerous Beauty is the second in the A Pride of Uttor series; I haven’t read the first, an het romance involving the sister of Endre, a destitute prince, and Gaspar, the emperor who conquered their kingdom. Endre is now living as a privileged captive, more a guest than a prisoner, but nevertheless his father instilled into him the dislike for everything related to Gaspar; moreover, Endre is fighting an attraction for men, something that in his culture is punished by death and that instead in Uttor is not only accepted, but even legal, so much that man can take male consort. Instead of being a consolation for Endre, that is even a worst damnation, since he is fighting the attraction for Arshad, prince of Tabar, ally to the emperor, and for connection, his own enemy.

The novel is so explicit when concerning the sex, that if not for the uplifting ending, and more or less, the exclusivity of the main characters, this could be easily classified as erotica. Like it is, it’s for sure Erotic Romance, and I say it like a warning, because there is a lot of sex; oddly, it’s very basic, no kinky undertones, even if sometime there is the use of the words Master, submissive, slave… but they are just that, words, and mostly the two men enjoy quite ordinary, if not intensive, sex sessions.

There is also a lot of play around the concept of virgin, and Savage Romance/breeches rippers theme, but again, it’s more a play than the real thing: Arshad thinks about conquering the virgin Endre, to debauch the innocent princeling, but when it comes the time, not only it’s more Endre seducing Arshad, also Arshad will display a side of him that is almost kind, and for sure young. That is what I noticed also in another event, when Arshad needs to take the army against his enemies, realizing he has never really gone into a real fight… it was like a boy who until that moment has only posed as an adult who is suddenly asked to behave like one. After that, I had some difficult to see Arshad like a real domineering lover.

For sure Endre is a submissive, but that doesn’t mean he is not a man; Endre loves to be told to do thing, first by his father and then by Arshad. Once he admits with himself that he likes Arshad, he has no trouble at all considering him the ruler on their relationship, but I see it more like Endre admitting his submissive nature, not like renouncing to his masculinity.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BG00NOQ/?tag=elimyrevandra-20