Bauer’s stunning use of language elevates his
work from storytelling to art form, which might explain why I’ve actually read
this twice in the past year.
This novel is more like two stories in one
as we follow dual storylines that are each worthy of a dedicated book. Themes
of service and sacrifice tie these arcs together, and Bauer teaches a master
class on both pacing and effective use of flashbacks.
The connection that develops
between the two heroes of this romantic suspense is less about the physical and
more about emotional and mental intimacy as they cultivate a tentative
friendship into a genuine romance.
I laughed, I swooned, and I cried, but most
importantly, I couldn’t put this book down (and now I want to reread it).
Sometimes, I find the grumpy/sunshine trope to
be contrived, but Crane layers enough other elements into these men’s
personalities that Lake drew me in immediately, and he worked as a delightful
foil to Grady’s sharper edges.
Crane spends as much time developing their
solid friendship as most authors do for the complete romance, and following Grady
as he melted for Lake was compelling. I love stories about someone finding
their person, no matter what form that person takes, and I appreciated the
representations here of both bisexuality and demisexuality.
This book is hot
and emotional in all the right ways without dipping into overwrought territory,
proving that initial low heat can also contribute to a delicious slow burn.
These authors’ shared love of hockey shines
through in this book, which is as much about the romance as it is about the heart
of this game.
The drama, as a combination of personal and interpersonal conflict
for Elias and Nisha, makes a separate external plot superfluous, especially for
professional athletes whose lives are wholly entwined with their day jobs. It’s
easy to forgive when best friends assume they already know what the other
wants, but this book dives head-first into “idiots in love” territory when they
proceed to Not-Talk-About-It, elevating the story even more.
These guys don’t
have issues; they have volumes, and this isn’t a romance arc; it’s a roller
coaster, one I definitely didn’t want to get off.
In most
urban fantasy stories, only the chosen few know that the supernatural exists.
In the world of Steel Victory, humanity has always known that the
supernatural exists, resulting in a setting both familiar and unique in
surprising ways.
One
hundred years ago,
the vampire Victory retired from a centuries-long mercenary career. She settled
in Limani, the independent city-state acting as a neutral zone between the
British and Roman colonies on the New Continent.
Twenty years ago,
Victory adopted a human baby girl, who soon showed signs of magical ability. Today,
Victory is a city councilwoman, balancing the human and supernatural
populations within Limani. Her daughter Toria is a warrior-mage, balancing life
as an apprentice mercenary with college chemistry courses. Tomorrow, the
Roman Empire invades.
