relly's reviews
2327 reviews

Thank you "The Elf on the Shelf"

4 stars

I like Sam and Rufus when they are together, but apart they both struggle. Sam is rude and I actually feel sorry for the guys he picks up because they don't deserve the way he treats them. Rufus is the only partner he is nice too. 

Rufus didn't fare well on his own but was good that he called in help when he needed it.
In this one we find out more about Rufus's past as a killer is focusing again on prostitutes from the Ramble bringing up memories of Rufus's mother and her murder. 

We also find out a snippet from Sam's past but when Rufus tried to get him to open up and tell him what happened, Sam shot it down and clammed up. 

The murder mystery part was well done and kept me entertained throughout 

Looking forward to reading the next one

4 Stars

Audio Review

These books are fabulous on audio - the narrator brings the humor to life and it makes for an entertaining listen.

I love Gus and how much of an open book he is. He doesn't try and hide he just is no apologies.
Tate is also a great character who is very comfortable in who he is and is happy to stop and reevaluate his wants and needs without a big freak out. 

I liked how the time was spent showing how the guys became friends, as at the start their individual needs didn't really match and one person was going to have to change for it to work. This was done well and made seamless and believable.

Thanks Mindless Elf Indulgence
 
4 Stars

I enjoyed this collaboration between these two authors. I feel like they are a good mesh. 

Both Rufus and Sam are flawed and both deal with their issues indifferent ways. 

Sam comes across as quite abrasive at the start and once he opens up to Rufus and shares his reasoning he becomes a totally different person, one who is doing everything he can to be what Rufus needs. He has no idea how to be in a relationship or what it entails but he is thinking it out and trying to be what is needed. Sometimes he stresses himself out trying to work out what it is he is meant to be doing but Rufus comes to and lets him know he doesn't need it.

Rufus seems a little bit more open than Sam with his happyish personality, but he is also the one hiding the most important parts, and the one that is more stringent in opening himself up to Sam. I enjoyed their back and forth as they started a quasi relationship and slowly started to trust each other. 

The storyline was an interesting one as they both deal with their individual loss, and while I picked who did it and who was involved, I have no idea about the reasons why. I liked that Sam was at least honest about his friend and understood how it came about. The ending killed me but stayed with the character of Rufus for me, I fully expected him to do something like that. I just didn't expect Sam to do what he did, although looking back on it, they aren't compatible when it comes to where they each live. Sam isn't really capable of living within the city so I will be interested to see where it goes in the next book.

 Thanks “The Elf on the Shelf” 

4.25 Stars 

This is my favourite so far. 

I enjoyed the mystery and how Calvin and Sebastian’s relationship has progressed. 

It’s refreshing to read a book with all the characters behaving in a mature fashion. Calvin and Sebastian both accepting each others quirks and ex’s with out the usual non communication, acting out etc. 

I also liked Sebastian and Neil’s move into a good friendship. There isn’t any run around trying to get him back rubbish, just a move into friendship with Neil being respectful of Calvin’s limits. 

I enjoyed how the mystery progressed throughout the book. At the start Calvin was ok honey have fun, it’s an old murder cant do anything about it, to ok now you’re being targeted back off. 

Sebastian did have a couple of moments of being TSTL. Seriously if the guy who sent you the kinescope finally rings you after your shop has been broken into and shot up, why would you go there without telling anyone or I don’t know, your cop boyfriend your whereabouts. At that time it was time to tell Calvin and let him deal with it. 

 3.75 Stars
 
 Audio Review
 
 I find these books better on audio as the humour really comes through with the narration
 I liked Fulton and his quirky ways. He has his hangups which make sense to me and Bishop gives him the time to be ready to talk about them without pushing 
 
 Bishop was also a great character. He wasn’t ashamed of his past which was refreshing, it was a career and it got him to where he needed to be. I also liked that he stayed with the first vet clinic until they made it so he had to change. He didn’t change just because he had met Fulton. 

3.5 Stars

Audio Review

I enjoyed this one more on audio than I actually did reading it as the humor came through with the narration

I really liked Haze and his total inability to settle on anything job wise. I can relate to not knowing what you would like to do. Noah was great and very understanding. He didn't try and push him along he was just supportive of whatever Haze wanted to do.  

While I understand that Haze's mother's death put a sad note to his birthday, I don't actually understand why the family never celebrated his birthday especially when he was young. They made it into what it was which was sad for Haze as he never a day to celebrate him.

3.5 stars

Thank you The Elf on the Shelf”

A short erotic novel about the count who owes so much and has no concern for anyone else, who is brought down a number of pegs by debtors jail where he is used for the pleasure of any who purchase him and the employees of the jail. 

I’m not sure why he needed to be the valet of the marquis, especially at the start where they were equals but that is the way it worked out and he seems happy with his lot 

3.25 stars

Thank you "The Elf on the shelf"

I enjoyed this one, just not as much as the first book.
I loved Lee and felt his pain when he was thinking that Odilia and Everard didn't want him, you could see they were devastated and very uncomfortable around him but I didn't buy their excuse for why they dumped him. After being abandoned by everyone in his life he deserved better.
I did like how they all interacted once they had worked things 0ut, and how they looked after Lee.
I also liked how the chase was concluded, and everyone was dealt with.

 

3.75 Stars 

I forgot how much I enjoy this author’s work. 

In this one we see Davrin calling a challenge to the other noble who had killed his friend. 

I liked Davrin, he tried to do the right thing and avenge his friend, but no one would stand as his champion until Cimar returns from his trip 

I liked Cimar and his relationship with his squire Leo. Also liked that his shifted form was a well kept secret, even from Davrin. 

I liked the way the relationship was worked out and the tournament style challenges kept the story moving. Not as good as say the “Tournament of Losers” but the same style 

Looking forward to Leo’s book next 

 

4.5 stars 

Audio review 

This one is the most emotion punching one of the whole series for me. What Decoy went through and his internal strength that he showed throughout it was hard to read but even harder listening to. It broke my heart multiple times. 

Folk calm as he was fabulous fit for Decoy as he slowly peeled away the pain and showed Seth just how lovable he actually was. They made a beautiful couple and I loved watching them make their family together. 

I also enjoyed the friendship and comradery that sprung up between Folk and Alexei. 

Decoy’s ex Lauren makes my blood boil. Women like her who use their children to hurt their ex’s deserve a special place in hell. They cry abuse and yet make it so much harder for women and men who actually go through it. She got what she deserved and I loved Orla showing that she was not some token biker chick and not to mess with one of the club. Kudo's to Seth and his inherent goodness for never speaking bad or even thinking bad about her, regardless of what she did to him, he is the best role model for his daughter.