else's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
cleo_reads's review
3.0
Unfortunately I couldn't suspend my disbelief about the set up or the plot enough to enjoy the story.
I'm usually not a fan of bodyguard romances, or really any kind of romance with a professional conflict of interest that could cause a lot of problems, but I am a fan of mf bi romances, so I gave it a try. But yeah, no, it didn’t work for me. I didn’t believe in the characters’ insta-lust enough to go with the whole bodyguard sleeping with their client.
I did think the plot and romance worked better than the first book in the series but not as well as the second.
I'm usually not a fan of bodyguard romances, or really any kind of romance with a professional conflict of interest that could cause a lot of problems, but I am a fan of mf bi romances, so I gave it a try. But yeah, no, it didn’t work for me. I didn’t believe in the characters’ insta-lust enough to go with the whole bodyguard sleeping with their client.
I did think the plot and romance worked better than the first book in the series but not as well as the second.
bookwormidk's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
littlewishling's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this. Mish and David are gorgeously sexy together and Zabo does a fabulous job of writing conflict that's intriguing but also solved in a really satisfying. Just pure magic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking and Child abuse
wumbachumba's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
arm167's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
saschadarlington's review
2.0
2 1/2
This is going to be a DNF for me at 40%.
I love to read rock star novels, throw in some stalking or other drama and I'm hooked. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like a lot of thought had gone into this scenario. The stalker sending some guy to the meet and greet who steals a ring that Mish had put down on the table because her hand ached. How would the stalker even know that that would happen, that his go-between would have that opportunity? Why didn't the question come up of what was the purpose of the go-between with security or the police?
Add in lots of repetition and the lack of any real background for Mish and David (perhaps Mish's had been supplied in the previous books), lots and lots of dialogue that didn't move the story, and I decided not to continue.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is going to be a DNF for me at 40%.
I love to read rock star novels, throw in some stalking or other drama and I'm hooked. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like a lot of thought had gone into this scenario. The stalker sending some guy to the meet and greet who steals a ring that Mish had put down on the table because her hand ached. How would the stalker even know that that would happen, that his go-between would have that opportunity? Why didn't the question come up of what was the purpose of the go-between with security or the police?
Add in lots of repetition and the lack of any real background for Mish and David (perhaps Mish's had been supplied in the previous books), lots and lots of dialogue that didn't move the story, and I decided not to continue.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
eemms's review
4.0
Maybe more of a 3, but I'm rounding up for how queer it is.
Once I got over thinking about this as a romance novel, I enjoyed reading about this queer found family famous rock band. As a romance novel (especially a bodyguard trope!) the pacing is unexpected? bad? The main couple pair up pretty quickly, and there's a big angst thing toward the end, but the actual progression/tension/plot of the novel is all carried along by a completely external issue. It's not what I want from bodyguard tropes (I want SO MUCH PINING because you ~aren't supposed to be together~) but for what it was, it was enjoyable!
I liked that it was sort of aspirationally easy to be queer in this world. The band is visibly super queer and still bonkers famous. The bodyguard MC in this book is a trans man, and while there's some passing mentions that he had some hard times (DADT during his army days, e.g.), it's not dwelt on and this is about the farthest thing from misery porn you can get. None of the conflict in the book comes from being queer; everyone is pretty comfortable with themselves and enjoying each other.
I haven't read books 1 & 2 (yet) but this worked fine as a stand alone (I'm excited to read book 1 though - allosexual aro in a long term monogamous marriage! never thought I'd see that in a romance novel and I need it).
Once I got over thinking about this as a romance novel, I enjoyed reading about this queer found family famous rock band. As a romance novel (especially a bodyguard trope!) the pacing is unexpected? bad? The main couple pair up pretty quickly, and there's a big angst thing toward the end, but the actual progression/tension/plot of the novel is all carried along by a completely external issue. It's not what I want from bodyguard tropes (I want SO MUCH PINING because you ~aren't supposed to be together~) but for what it was, it was enjoyable!
I liked that it was sort of aspirationally easy to be queer in this world. The band is visibly super queer and still bonkers famous. The bodyguard MC in this book is a trans man, and while there's some passing mentions that he had some hard times (DADT during his army days, e.g.), it's not dwelt on and this is about the farthest thing from misery porn you can get. None of the conflict in the book comes from being queer; everyone is pretty comfortable with themselves and enjoying each other.
I haven't read books 1 & 2 (yet) but this worked fine as a stand alone (I'm excited to read book 1 though - allosexual aro in a long term monogamous marriage! never thought I'd see that in a romance novel and I need it).
marasaulite's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chocolatemeerkat's review
4.0
***spoilers ahead
While this one wasnt a total hit out of the park for me I really enjoyed this latest addition to the Twisted Wishes Family. I loved Mish so much and David I liked how they developed and the elements of kink and how the threat of the stalker was handled.
How Mish felt about it and how everyone considered David part of the family. Found family is my catnip so seeing the band and the other couples in this was really a treat. Found family is a really important theme in all three books and to see how all the characters interact and how Ray loves them all and how Zav gets his knowing looks, Dom and Adrian interacting and manager and then them slowly pulling David in is really important. Because David hasn't had that for a very long time and it is incredibly hard for him to accept it. I loved seeing an older trans character in this because we so rarely get to see older trans people and I loved how its handled in this.
My only downside was use of the break up trope. I personally hate this trope and it was used twice in this book in such a manner that when they do both get back together we dont get enough page time to see them fully work things out and show that they can be a semi functional couple. Otherwise I loved Mish and David but wish that the end had worked out differently
While this one wasnt a total hit out of the park for me I really enjoyed this latest addition to the Twisted Wishes Family. I loved Mish so much and David I liked how they developed and the elements of kink and how the threat of the stalker was handled.
How Mish felt about it and how everyone considered David part of the family. Found family is my catnip so seeing the band and the other couples in this was really a treat. Found family is a really important theme in all three books and to see how all the characters interact and how Ray loves them all and how Zav gets his knowing looks, Dom and Adrian interacting and manager and then them slowly pulling David in is really important. Because David hasn't had that for a very long time and it is incredibly hard for him to accept it. I loved seeing an older trans character in this because we so rarely get to see older trans people and I loved how its handled in this.
My only downside was use of the break up trope. I personally hate this trope and it was used twice in this book in such a manner that when they do both get back together we dont get enough page time to see them fully work things out and show that they can be a semi functional couple. Otherwise I loved Mish and David but wish that the end had worked out differently