Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Sex, love, and self-forgiveness

Omega Island: Empty Heat by Wendy Rathbone

Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall

September 22, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

“I really do hate all of this,” I confessed. “That I even have to be here. It’s a great retreat. But I hate the reasons why I’m here. I hate my body. All of it. It’s what I hide behind. It’s not the reality of me. I want to look good to the outside world, like nothing’s wrong. Like I’m worthy.” ― Wendy Rathbone, Omega Island: Empty Heat Callum is an omega who has tried everything: therapy, pills, exercise, meditation, and time. But, when the […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Alexis Hall, alpha male, body image, forgiveness, gay romance, omega, omegaverse, queer romance, sex therapy, Trust, Wendy Rathbone

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:47 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: Alexis Hall, alpha male, body image, forgiveness, gay romance, omega, omegaverse, queer romance, sex therapy, Trust, Wendy Rathbone ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Just so…..boring

Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky

September 16, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

It’s nice to hear him so self-aware. To know that the seismic waves of coming out are still rippling through him too. I thought I was alone in that. Everyone makes it seem like coming out is crossing the finish line and now you just get to parade around while wearing your medal. For me, it feels more like I’m still winded midmarathon. ― Timothy Janovsky, Never Been Kissed Wren Roland wants his first kiss to be special. After a few near-misses, he wonders if […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Americana, found family, gay romance, missed connections, queer romance, small town romance, Timothy Janovsky

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:43 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: Americana, found family, gay romance, missed connections, queer romance, small town romance, Timothy Janovsky ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Predictable, but in the best way

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

September 12, 2023 by carmelpie 1 Comment

“Explain to me again,” said Oliver finally, “why you need a boyfriend?” It was the least I owed him. “Mainly for this big fundraiser we’ve got coming up at the end of April. Our donors all think I’m a bad gay.” He frowned. “What’s a good gay?” “Someone like you.” “I see.” ― Alexis Hall, Boyfriend Material “You” – I gave a thwarted sigh – “are a terrible fake boyfriend.” “I’m building fake anticipation.” “You’d better be fake worth it.” “I am.” ― Alexis Hall, […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: abandonment, Alexis Hall, fake relationship, found family, gay romance, opposites attract, queer romance, Single-parent families

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:42 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: abandonment, Alexis Hall, fake relationship, found family, gay romance, opposites attract, queer romance, Single-parent families ·
Rating:
· 1 Comment

I could not be that scarless, fearless boy again. But, for a little while at least, I had been someone I could almost stand. Pieces of a better self, reflected in someone else’s eyes.

Glitterland by Alexis Hall

September 8, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

The truth was, somewhere down the line, between the hospitalisations and the drugs, I’d somehow lost the cornerstone of humanity: the ability to pretend, to counterfeit the basics of social interaction, to smile when you didn’t feel like smiling, to seem like you cared about other people when you lacked the capacity to care about yourself. So that left me, graceless and wearied, pretending to pretend. ― Alexis Hall, Glitterland It’s difficult, sometimes, for me to understand that I have the power to hurt someone. […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Alexis Hall, Bipolar Disorder, Classism, Depression & Mental Illness, gay romance, queer romance

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:41 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: Alexis Hall, Bipolar Disorder, Classism, Depression & Mental Illness, gay romance, queer romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

The royals have their own sex club for….reasons.

Rogue Royal (Club Royal #1) by Elouise East

August 30, 2023 by carmelpie 5 Comments

Douglas, spare heir to the British crown, is caught with his pants down in an alley. His social media/PR manager, Maverick, is forced to work even more closely with him so as to prevent this from happening again. Along the way, their prejudices fade away, and the line between prince and employee begins to blur as Douglas introduces Maverick to the world of soft BDSM and gentle kink. This book is delightfully ridiculous. For example, the royal family has its own sex club. “The club […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: bdsm romance, Elouise East, English Royalty, gay romance, Heir, Prince, queer romance, Reluctant Royals

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:38 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: bdsm romance, Elouise East, English Royalty, gay romance, Heir, Prince, queer romance, Reluctant Royals ·
Rating:
· 5 Comments

If you insist on me not dying horribly, I suppose I have to indulge you.

The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles

A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles

Flight of Magpies by K.J. Charles

August 22, 2023 by carmelpie 2 Comments

You’re a fool, and I’m another. Between us, we barely make a village idiot. ― K.J. Charles, A Case of Possession I see. Things must be bad if you’re voluntarily telling me the truth. ― K.J. Charles, Flight of Magpies “Are you in this conversation, or just skulking?” “Mostly skulking.” Stephen had a particular knack for making himself unobtrusive. He was mildly impressed that he’d been noticed. “But I have a licence to skulk.” ― K.J. Charles, Flight of Magpies CBR15Bingo: Queer Lives square and […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Romance Tagged With: 19th century england, aristocracy, cbr15bingo, gay romance, historical Victorian mystery, K.J. Charles, magicians, queer romance, sexual repression

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:35 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Romance · Tags: 19th century england, aristocracy, cbr15bingo, gay romance, historical Victorian mystery, K.J. Charles, magicians, queer romance, sexual repression ·
Rating:
· 2 Comments
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