afternoon_sunshowers's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
So cute, light with no real angst, and some fun magic to play with.
Leo and Cole were really cute and well balanced together. Leo accepted the magic side of the world super easily, and the reveal of the curse, but it fit the book. I loved Niamh and the idea of familiars like her isn’t one I see too often.
I also loved how Cole recognized the differences between his and Leo’s bodies but wasn’t remotely phased or insecure about it.
Leo and Cole were really cute and well balanced together. Leo accepted the magic side of the world super easily, and the reveal of the curse, but it fit the book. I loved Niamh and the idea of familiars like her isn’t one I see too often.
I also loved how Cole recognized the differences between his and Leo’s bodies but wasn’t remotely phased or insecure about it.
cleo_reads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 / B- I enjoyed the romance in this mm forced proximity romance but the resolution to the mystery plot annoyed me.
If you can accept the mystery of the hex as just a frame story to get the two MCs together and not worry about pesky things like consistency, it’s a lovely romance.
Cole and Leo meet when Leo comes to Cole to break an enchantment. Cole is mundane and until about three months ago, when he picked up a hot vampire at a bar, he had no idea that there was a distinction between the mundane and the obscure or that magic was real. And then his vampire ex curses him so that he can’t hook up or even flirt or be flirted with.
Cole’s an ER nurse who’s relatively new to town and his main outlet is dancing at the only gay club in town and hooking up with good looking men. Not being able to hook up has destroyed his sex life and social life. Leo can tell immediately that the only way to break the curse is true love’s first kiss but he doesn’t tell Cole that - just that he can’t break it but he might be able to loosen it. They start hanging out (with no flirting) and become friends. When a menacing hex shows up in Leo’s apartment, Cole invites him to stay on his couch. Cue the forced proximity slow burn romance.
As Leo begins to realize that his previous life was a little shallow and that his taste in men was pretty bad, good guy Cole starts to look better and better, even though he’s not Leo’s usual type.
Recommended if you like low conflict romance with some low key UF elements set in a small town.
If you can accept the mystery of the hex as just a frame story to get the two MCs together and not worry about pesky things like consistency, it’s a lovely romance.
Cole and Leo meet when Leo comes to Cole to break an enchantment. Cole is mundane and until about three months ago, when he picked up a hot vampire at a bar, he had no idea that there was a distinction between the mundane and the obscure or that magic was real. And then his vampire ex curses him so that he can’t hook up or even flirt or be flirted with.
Cole’s an ER nurse who’s relatively new to town and his main outlet is dancing at the only gay club in town and hooking up with good looking men. Not being able to hook up has destroyed his sex life and social life. Leo can tell immediately that the only way to break the curse is true love’s first kiss but he doesn’t tell Cole that - just that he can’t break it but he might be able to loosen it. They start hanging out (with no flirting) and become friends. When a menacing hex shows up in Leo’s apartment, Cole invites him to stay on his couch. Cue the forced proximity slow burn romance.
As Leo begins to realize that his previous life was a little shallow and that his taste in men was pretty bad, good guy Cole starts to look better and better, even though he’s not Leo’s usual type.
Recommended if you like low conflict romance with some low key UF elements set in a small town.
aligroen's review against another edition
4.0
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I really enjoyed this story. Cole wants to help Leo but at the same time is sure that he can’t be the one to do it. Leo doesn’t realize how hollow his life and relationships have been until he doesn’t have them anymore.
Cole has given up on finding love and even though he doesn’t want to fight this pull to Leo he is afraid to give in and get hurt. Leo is struggling with his new reality but it is also giving him a chance to reflect on his life and how he may want it to change.
I really liked both of these characters. I could understand how Cole kept the way to break the kiss from Leo but once they gave in and the curse seemed to go away there never really a talk about how that happened. We can see Leo struggle to understand everything about this new paranormal world he is living in but he does pretty well for the most part and really doesn’t want to walk away from it either. I look forward to more stories in this universe and hope it will follow someone we met in this book.
The cover art by Aaron Anderson is great and I love all the visuals that it gives for the story.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I really enjoyed this story. Cole wants to help Leo but at the same time is sure that he can’t be the one to do it. Leo doesn’t realize how hollow his life and relationships have been until he doesn’t have them anymore.
Cole has given up on finding love and even though he doesn’t want to fight this pull to Leo he is afraid to give in and get hurt. Leo is struggling with his new reality but it is also giving him a chance to reflect on his life and how he may want it to change.
I really liked both of these characters. I could understand how Cole kept the way to break the kiss from Leo but once they gave in and the curse seemed to go away there never really a talk about how that happened. We can see Leo struggle to understand everything about this new paranormal world he is living in but he does pretty well for the most part and really doesn’t want to walk away from it either. I look forward to more stories in this universe and hope it will follow someone we met in this book.
The cover art by Aaron Anderson is great and I love all the visuals that it gives for the story.
___tamara___'s review against another edition
3.25
Cute story! The MCs got together to resolve a curse, but just kind of sidled into a relationship and stayed there. The ending was definitely NOT expected, though it did make much more sense than what I thought it would be. Not too much angst or drama, but not too sugary either - perfect for relaxing :)
Ashlyn Kane's books seem to be my vibe lately 😅
Ashlyn Kane's books seem to be my vibe lately 😅
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