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loulou87's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book... even though it had mixed reviews.
For me it was the perfect blend of mystery and romance.
I adored that big strong Mal was the "sub" in this book... and the clueless druid was the one in charge.
in a way it was logical for me... For all the control Mal was supposed to hold, and for all the mistakes that he did ad can never get back, he needed someone to shoulder his guilt and guide him.
in comes Bryce aka The Druid Neighbor who didn't know what he was.
Bryce was an environmentalist who only cared about preserving nature. little did he know that he had a much bigger connection to nature than he could have ever imagines.
Some forced close proximity, Faeri laws and curses and a quest, the men come together and fall for each other.
There is bit of push and pull here... especially with the way their relationship came to be and what fueled it, but I was intrigued and charmed.
The sex scenes were much steamier in this book and I loved them too.
Joel Leslie was narrating and as usual he blew my socks off with his accent work...among his other talents.
Now to wait until book 3 comes in audio!
For me it was the perfect blend of mystery and romance.
I adored that big strong Mal was the "sub" in this book... and the clueless druid was the one in charge.
in a way it was logical for me... For all the control Mal was supposed to hold, and for all the mistakes that he did ad can never get back, he needed someone to shoulder his guilt and guide him.
in comes Bryce aka The Druid Neighbor who didn't know what he was.
Bryce was an environmentalist who only cared about preserving nature. little did he know that he had a much bigger connection to nature than he could have ever imagines.
Some forced close proximity, Faeri laws and curses and a quest, the men come together and fall for each other.
There is bit of push and pull here... especially with the way their relationship came to be and what fueled it, but I was intrigued and charmed.
The sex scenes were much steamier in this book and I loved them too.
Joel Leslie was narrating and as usual he blew my socks off with his accent work...among his other talents.
Now to wait until book 3 comes in audio!
leahkarge's review against another edition
4.0
Much like the first of the series, this book was quite the enjoyable read! Check out the full review on my blog.
cadiva's review against another edition
5.0
Book two was just as much fun as the opener in this brilliant paranormal/urban fantasy series.
I think I might have just liked it a teeny bit more too because I felt so bad for Mal. His one act of selfless sacrifice had led to not only exile but a debilitating disability and I totally got why he was feeling so sorry for himself.
Bryce, on the other hand, was a riot from the off. Loved his tree-hugging environmentalist nature which, obviously, was a clear indication of his actual status as a lost druid!
The sneaky plotting going on in the Faerie World also worked well for the secondary driver to their romance and I liked seeing David and Alun, as well as the brief appearances from mardy Gareth, and seeing how E.J. was interpreting a lot of Irish mythology.
With the stakes even higher, it's on to book three and the no doubt somewhat complicated reunion of True Bard Gareth and his long lost lover.
I think I might have just liked it a teeny bit more too because I felt so bad for Mal. His one act of selfless sacrifice had led to not only exile but a debilitating disability and I totally got why he was feeling so sorry for himself.
Bryce, on the other hand, was a riot from the off. Loved his tree-hugging environmentalist nature which, obviously, was a clear indication of his actual status as a lost druid!
The sneaky plotting going on in the Faerie World also worked well for the secondary driver to their romance and I liked seeing David and Alun, as well as the brief appearances from mardy Gareth, and seeing how E.J. was interpreting a lot of Irish mythology.
With the stakes even higher, it's on to book three and the no doubt somewhat complicated reunion of True Bard Gareth and his long lost lover.
mousegoddess's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Solid read, would not call it a standalone
gale_bruckner's review
4.0
Enemies to Lovers with magic!
Mal and Bryce come together like vinegar and baking soda! I couldn't imagine two people who had a rougher start, and yet, when they start working together their synergy is undeniably perfect. At times the shift in their connection felt a little rushed, however I recognize that may just be because of my Demi perspective. I very much enjoyed seeing David and Cassie again. I love David's complete acceptance that Cassie is a force of nature. Given everything druids can see, I suspect she saw this love match coming long before anyone else!
Mal and Bryce come together like vinegar and baking soda! I couldn't imagine two people who had a rougher start, and yet, when they start working together their synergy is undeniably perfect. At times the shift in their connection felt a little rushed, however I recognize that may just be because of my Demi perspective. I very much enjoyed seeing David and Cassie again. I love David's complete acceptance that Cassie is a force of nature. Given everything druids can see, I suspect she saw this love match coming long before anyone else!
shazov's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad Mal found his match, lol. I had a soft spot for him in the last book already, even though he's a moody bastard, lol. This book seemed a little easier to read as the world building was done in book 1. It was also good to visit with David, Alun and Cassie again, although Cassie really needs to learn to explain things better *grin*
The book wasn't perfect, in fact I had a few WTF moments, although they were explained as the story unfolded. I also felt it all ending a little abruptly, not the relationship between Mal and Bryce, but another story arc. I can only hope that it will all be resolved in book 3!
The book wasn't perfect, in fact I had a few WTF moments, although they were explained as the story unfolded. I also felt it all ending a little abruptly, not the relationship between Mal and Bryce, but another story arc. I can only hope that it will all be resolved in book 3!
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really enjoying the world building that Ms. Russell has put together in this series. The second book follows the first. One of three brothers has been exiled from the world of Faerie, in this case, Mal. Then the brother discovers he's in lust/love with a human. Except he's NOT a human! But even he doesn't know that.
In this case, it's Bryce MacLeod, an ardent environmentalist. He knows that Mal is a super-attractive being but he's more distracted by the fact that the man can't recycle correctly. Bryce wants to save the world and has always been connected to nature but now he's discovered that he's a druid and he's quite literally connected to Mal.
I wish we had seen more of Bryce's training. I was also irked by a trope familiar to romantic readers of "You are my one special person and I know that because everything I ever thought about sex has changed but only because of you!" Not only was this trope introduced, it was thrown at the reader over and over and over again. Am I still excited for the third book in this series? Oh yeah.
In this case, it's Bryce MacLeod, an ardent environmentalist. He knows that Mal is a super-attractive being but he's more distracted by the fact that the man can't recycle correctly. Bryce wants to save the world and has always been connected to nature but now he's discovered that he's a druid and he's quite literally connected to Mal.
I wish we had seen more of Bryce's training. I was also irked by a trope familiar to romantic readers of "You are my one special person and I know that because everything I ever thought about sex has changed but only because of you!" Not only was this trope introduced, it was thrown at the reader over and over and over again. Am I still excited for the third book in this series? Oh yeah.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
In the second novel of E.J. Russell’s Fae Out of Water series, The Druid Next Door, we focus our attention on the bad boy of the three fae brothers, Mal. Now an outcast with a useless sword hand, Mal is indeed adrift and trying desperately to figure out who he really is, if not the Fae Queen’s number one enforcer—a job which his brother Alun took back when he was restored from his curse in the first novel. Now Mal is the cursed one, having attacked the Queen’s consort—an admittedly bad guy, but still not allowed—and Mal cannot be restored until he makes it right. So, without the use of his sword hand, and no longer allowed inside the fae kingdom, Mal has been set up in an eco-friendly house and, surprise-surprise, he hates it.
Those familiar with the first novel, Cutie and the Beast, will be happy to see David, Alun’s husband, featured in this story as well, but it’s really Mal who steals the show, as he should. Not only does he hate being crippled and cursed but also his neighbor is an uptight professor who takes his recycling and carbon footprint very seriously—oh, and he’s a druid as well. Those familiar with these books will already be shaking their heads, for we all know a druid is never to be trusted; it has something to do with the fact that they can push another to do their bidding by simply commanding them.
In a delicious twist that was both unexpected and so wonderfully written, tough guy Mal discovers a whole new side to himself and ends up liking the uptight druid way more than he ever expected. But all is not well in the Fae kingdom, and when a mysterious stranger offers Mal a bargain he cannot say no to, both he and his druid, Bryce, will need all their wits about them to stay alive and fulfill Mal’s hasty promise before all is lost.
I am a real fan of this series. I find the humor spot on, and the brothers just delightfully full of themselves and yet oddly humble when they are taken down a peg or two by the most unlikely of lovers. I loved how Bryce was continually second guessing himself. Much like the character of David in the first novel in this series, Bryce is an unassuming man, one not used to being the focus of a gorgeous bad boy like Mal, and it’s that bit of shyness that make these two work so well. Once again much of the action takes place in the alternate world of the Fae, this time introducing us to the Unseelie court and its seedy underbelly and unusual creatures.
What made this novel work was the growing realization Mal has that he never really meant to be just a tough guy. Running underneath that persona is a real need to throw off all that control and be a more submissive man. The real trick is for Mal to both understand that this has always been a deep-seated need of his, and to accept it as a strength and not a weakness. With anyone less gentle than Bryce, this self-discovery could have been crushing and overwhelming for Mal. As it is, both men must navigate a path neither has ever really been on before while combating the evil threatening to take over the fae world—no small task.
What didn’t work so well was the glut of other world history that happened a few times in this story. Between the unusual language and names and places, the history lesson itself was rather dry and felt forced into the story, which slowed the pacing and had me nearly gnashing my teeth and saying “move on already” under my breath. I understood the need for Bryce to be educated about the world in which he suddenly found himself a key player, but I wish the author had somehow managed to weave it into the story a bit better rather than give us this sudden history dump. Other than that small glitch, I really had no complaints about this story—it’s clever, exciting and sexy and, overall, a worthy addition to the series.
The Druid Next Door was an entertaining sequel and I look forward to the third story in this series.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Those familiar with the first novel, Cutie and the Beast, will be happy to see David, Alun’s husband, featured in this story as well, but it’s really Mal who steals the show, as he should. Not only does he hate being crippled and cursed but also his neighbor is an uptight professor who takes his recycling and carbon footprint very seriously—oh, and he’s a druid as well. Those familiar with these books will already be shaking their heads, for we all know a druid is never to be trusted; it has something to do with the fact that they can push another to do their bidding by simply commanding them.
In a delicious twist that was both unexpected and so wonderfully written, tough guy Mal discovers a whole new side to himself and ends up liking the uptight druid way more than he ever expected. But all is not well in the Fae kingdom, and when a mysterious stranger offers Mal a bargain he cannot say no to, both he and his druid, Bryce, will need all their wits about them to stay alive and fulfill Mal’s hasty promise before all is lost.
I am a real fan of this series. I find the humor spot on, and the brothers just delightfully full of themselves and yet oddly humble when they are taken down a peg or two by the most unlikely of lovers. I loved how Bryce was continually second guessing himself. Much like the character of David in the first novel in this series, Bryce is an unassuming man, one not used to being the focus of a gorgeous bad boy like Mal, and it’s that bit of shyness that make these two work so well. Once again much of the action takes place in the alternate world of the Fae, this time introducing us to the Unseelie court and its seedy underbelly and unusual creatures.
What made this novel work was the growing realization Mal has that he never really meant to be just a tough guy. Running underneath that persona is a real need to throw off all that control and be a more submissive man. The real trick is for Mal to both understand that this has always been a deep-seated need of his, and to accept it as a strength and not a weakness. With anyone less gentle than Bryce, this self-discovery could have been crushing and overwhelming for Mal. As it is, both men must navigate a path neither has ever really been on before while combating the evil threatening to take over the fae world—no small task.
What didn’t work so well was the glut of other world history that happened a few times in this story. Between the unusual language and names and places, the history lesson itself was rather dry and felt forced into the story, which slowed the pacing and had me nearly gnashing my teeth and saying “move on already” under my breath. I understood the need for Bryce to be educated about the world in which he suddenly found himself a key player, but I wish the author had somehow managed to weave it into the story a bit better rather than give us this sudden history dump. Other than that small glitch, I really had no complaints about this story—it’s clever, exciting and sexy and, overall, a worthy addition to the series.
The Druid Next Door was an entertaining sequel and I look forward to the third story in this series.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach