R. G. Alexander (1)Reseñas

As this is a collection of three interconnected short stories, all centered around the Loa Bone Daddy, I'll review each story separately first.

"Release Me"

This is our first taste of Bone Daddy, the Loa (a voodoo spirit) and all the games he so likes to play. For all his sexuality and highly suggestive banter, he isn't such a bad sort. Wanton, mischievous and determined, but that's just the nature of the Loa (or at least this Loa of Sex). This is by far the hottest of the three stories; Bone Daddy is bound and determined to get Allegra naked and wanting, but than so is Rousseau. A lot of this story is based upon the common element of fear--for oneself, for what could happen, for what has happened. I thought Allegra, at least, was completely justify in her actions while Rousseau at times seems to paying lip service to how much he hated the arrangement with Bone Daddy.

"Reclaim Me"

Michelle, Allegra's friend from the first story and Ben, Rousseau's friend, definitely had a lot happening in "Release Me". Because of what happens in the first story I was a little hesitant about Ben in this one, but by the end I was more or less okay with things. Bone Daddy's role in here is less hands on until the end. Since Michelle can see him he hangs around her and this in turn is a good thing since she has a nasty Loa tracking her from her past. I honestly wasn't sure about what her hang up with Ben was. Misunderstanding and miscommunication is what drives a lot of this story and I'm not really a fan of either, especially when one character seems to be stubbornly clinging to the belief that the other is completely in the wrong. I liked the chemistry between Ben and Michelle, and this definitely set up more of Bone Daddy's history/uniqueness that is necessary to understand for story three.

"Redeem Me"

Bone Daddy is the main player of this tale, a tale that has a lot to do with his past and even more with his present. While his exact situation was only hinted at in the other two stories we get the whole low down here and its a bit of a heartbreaker. Despite the fact this is Bone Daddy the heat level is oddly the lowest of the three stories, but I think this is a good thing. I really cared more about the resolution to his situation than if he got his jollies.

Overall this book presented exactly what it promised. Bone Daddy was definitely my favorite character, though his drastic behavioral change from the first story to the third story kind of made me do a double take. He's little more than a sex fiend in "Release Me", by "Redeem Me" he's tamed quite a bit. As this was my first time reading R.G. Alexander I am happy to report I look forward to more of her work in the future!

(originally published at Night Owl Reviews)

Mainly just erotica. I liked Tasha in the first book but I wasn't too keen on the whole second chance sorta romance between her and Stephen. On the other hand I started the third book and felt like I maybe had missed half the story between Ken and Brady so I stopped and decided to give this a shot first. And it was better than I expected but my hopes were pretty low. Most of the drama comes from lack of communication. 2.5 stars.

I think I actually may have liked this better than the first book with Jeremy and Owen. In some ways. Ken and Brady are a lot more straightforward than Jeremy and Owen which is kind of baffling considering Jeremy and Owen have years of friendship behind them. In other ways they're exactly the same - refusing to talk futures or make a stand. But I liked both Ken and Brady and the way their relationship unfolded and the chemistry between them was off the charts. 3 stars.

I probably should've read Little Finn's book but it didn't grab me and I thought I'd just check in on Owen and Jeremy and it would be fine. Except these should really be read in order because I felt like I missed half the plot. On the other hand, it did check in with Owen and Jeremy plus all the other couples and Seamus.

I enjoyed returning to Owen and Jeremy's story. The romance was steamy and the wedding was adorable. The plot was straightforwards and fast paced. My only real complaint is that there's just so many bloody Finn's. It's been a few weeks since I read the other books and I couldn't quite remember who was who, it was annoying. Still, not that big of a deal. And my curiosity is peaked about Seamus - I may even decide to read his story. But I dunno the rest of the series seems to all be triads and that doesn't really interest me but who knows - maybe I'll change my mind.

As for this one, 3 stars.

I enjoyed this. It's not perfect but it does have a bit of a plot, steamy sex scenes and likeable characters. Jeremy and Owen were adorable together and trusted one another with their bodies, if not always with their hearts. I was mostly happy they communicated their desires, I was less pleased they didn't communicate their feelings better. I liked the friendship between Jeremy and Tasha as well. 3 stars.

Forget Paris / Oh, Canada by R.G. Alexander - 1.5 stars

Los Angeles by A.E. Wasp - 3 stars

Cincinnati by Aimee Nicole Walker - 2 stars

Oakland by Alexa Land -3 stars

Cape Town by Alison Hendricks - 2.5 stars

Boston by Annabella Michaels - 2 stars

Athens by Charlie Cochet - 2.5 stars

Denver by E. Davies - 3.5 stars stars

Melbourne by Eden Finley - 3 stars

San Francisco by Hailey Turner - 2 stars

Scotland by K.M. Neuhold - 2 stars

Washington by Lucy Lennox - 4 stars

New Orleans by Macy Blake - 2 stars

Toronto by Max Walker - 2 stars

Boston by May Archer - 3.5 stars

Baltimore by Ruthie Luhnow - 1.5 stars

Atlanta by Sloane Kennedy - 3.5 stars

So good. You have to have read the previous books to read this one with any hope of following, but omg it is a FEAST if you have. Lots of hints at future stories, lots of reasons for happy tears, too, so, be warned. :) Have tissues handy. At the point I write this, the next one isn't available even for pre-order yet and yes, I might have whimpered.

Once upon a time, seven books ago, I began reading a series about a huge loving family and all the strange ways love elbows its way into their lives. The first one blew me away. I've been hooked ever since. This author handles complexity marvelously. I'm from a big family AND I'm polyamorous, so as a professional loving crowd person, kudos!

Every time I've started reading a Finn Factor novel, it takes over my brain. I've been waiting for Rory's story because he's an enigma from the first book. I suspected why. And I was right, but the answer's just heartbreaking. Luckily, his salvation's been with him, he just had to let go enough to take it. (That isn't anything you don't know by the time this story starts, don't worry.) What I hadn't appreciated was David. Also, one reveal made me make a louder noise than I'd intended. :)

All to say, #7 is a win, more more more!

I am a Finn Again fan, so all these characters are familiar to me. It was awesome to get to spend more time with Fiona through JD Green, for instance. JD thinks he knows what's what, has a hilarious inner dialogue I adored, and doesn't know nearly as much as he thinks he does. Particularly when the big gorgeous monkey wrench he nicknames Zeus shows up. This is insta-love at its finest, when the understanding's unbalanced and neither party is without baggage. I loved it.

Loved, loved, loved. I've waited for Younger's story for AGES, but it was worth it, trials and tribulations and all. Don't start here. Go start at the beginning, you're welcome.

The hints of more to come didn't hurt, either. :)

Every time I read one of these books, it makes me want to go start reading the series again.

From the last book, I didn't know what to think of William, one among the flurry of imported relatives causing havoc, but as usual the answers are rather harrowing, and terribly sweet. Bronte is one of the coolest heroines I've read, self-assured yet vulnerable to William. (If you've read #8, you know this.)

*happy sigh* - except WHAT IS UP WITH JAMES???

This was cute and sweet and then rushed, but I am looking forward to the next Finn Factor novel!

Ten chapters of goodness, for all levels of RG Alexander fans. If you're new here, oh boy do you have a slew of great books ahead of you. There's a list at the end of this novella. When you catch up, read this again. :)

Uuugh. Abandoning at 64% as the next sex scene revolts me.

She's the hero. He is decidedly NOT a hero. He's gross to her and abuses his powers. I hate this story.

I never mean to read these so quickly, but they make reading anything else almost impossible until I'm at the end, grinning. This one's funny, too, so c'mon!

Tani gets her heart's desires! I'm still not a fan of Emerson's, but Tani is worth more than five stars, and so are the boys. :)

Polyamory In Romance. This is Really Good! How do I know? I am polyam! Have been for decades, same two paramours, same metamours. Plus I've met many ethical non-monogamous people over the years. Alexander has created a great fantasy in this series, built of huge families and different challenges, a higher than average incidence of non-straight males, and adventurous women. Of course some are polyam. I'm only a little sad they're always triads and never Vs like my own romantic life. I get why. IRL the V structure's more common. But Romance loves its triads because threesomes are fun to write. Plus, that third person's where realizations beyond a dyad begin. It's hard to make a choice you don't know you have.

I loved what tripped them up and how they worked their ways around all the roadblocks. None of them is stupid, they all grok how critical communication is but ooh emotions! And interruptions! The moments of heroism are SO GOOD.

(The Kindle version could've used a line edit. That's the only flaw.)

Re-read this, and although what I wrote five years ago isn't wrong, it couldn't tell you what was to come with this series. I didn't know I'd fall in love with these people. I've now forgotten just enough to enjoy revisiting the series as time permits. Hurray!

Original review:

This novel contains more sex than any other single novel I've read, and it does because that is the plot, it is the major contention between these characters. Well, that and communicating. I found it extremely compelling because nothing is simple. Family, found family, kink, secrets, siblings, the whole greater than the sum of its parts...eventually.

Do not read this if you don't want to read sex scenes, because they're critical to how these two evolve.

Huh, guess I didn't review this one the first time I read it.

I was probably stunned.

I don't often enjoy m/f romances because too frequently, one or both characters are either two-dimensional or disagreeable in some critical way. She's unrealistic, he's pushy, she's a pushover, he's broody to the point of needing serious therapy, and so on. The sexist power dynamic lives on in romances when authors don't interrogate their internalized misogyny.

But this one is good. And this time, I have a better appreciation for the power dynamic she teaches him.

Stephan may be emotionally silent, but he is very functional, and maybe too much a gentleman. Natasha is self-aware and uninhibited, a businesswoman and fiercely loyal--particularly to the man she's had a fling with off and on for years. They enter into a plot to catch a crook, who turns the tables and forces them apart, and it's so well done that even though I knew what would happen, I was tense and upset. This is a very good romance with a very good plot and you should give it a try. Come be lured in by the Finns and their people like I have been for years. You won't be sorry.

*flops to the ground*

I FORGOT HOW INTENSE THIS ONE IS! There's a scene I'd entirely blanked out--I probably skimmed it because it's intensely uncomfortable. But Brady needs Ken, and Ken needs Brady every bit as much, and they are unrestrained when together.

I tell newer writers that emotional impact is critical if you want to hold your readers. This whole story is emotional for me.

The new edition includes a short story about Owen finally proposing to Jeremy--considering in Dangerous, Brady's the spur under Owen's butt to commit. It's as quirky as you'd expect.

This was a fun re-read as I'd forgotten a few things in four years. And how dare past me not have reviewed it the first time! Honestly. *I* am polyamorous, you'd think I would have. Anyway, I love that the only girl Finn got to be the weirdest one, yay Jen. Trick is a marvelous character, I've liked him all through the series. Declan is intense--and the reason for it is one of the aha moments. It's a good story within this series, there's just enough reference to past events that you could read it by itself perfectly well.

Part of the fun for me is seeing these people from new points of view. R.G. Alexander is very good at it!

Do NOT start here with this series.

I was not ready for this book the first time I read it five years ago. Not at all. And I know from other reviews that I'm hardly alone. It is well-written, but only three because it's frustrating, details below.

Shameless is about repressed desire, using duty like an armored tank, with pride as the nuts and bolts holding it firm--for decades, which is as annoying as you'd think. It's single point-of-view. I suspect any hint of Bell's side would only have added to reader frustration. The worst part is, it's habitual cowardice Seamus hides. And, counter to the rest of the series, his family lets him get away with it. That feels like a plot failure to me. I know a lot of other family events distract from this idiotic man's issues, but come on, the entire family is nosy and interfering. I mean, that last (not-Seamus) scene proves even mates are in on Finn behaviors--so why did Seamus get away with this for that long?

DNF, again. Got to 16% this time, but I'm done. So far, book 2 is better.

First off, I've had A Tangled Web for quite awhile. I'd forgotten about starting and then stopping with it, but in starting over, oh yeah, I remember. This heroine is annoying to me in that 'he's perfect but I'm not and we're bffs so never ever' way. I hate this trope if it drags on too long--and here we are. I already had book 2, and it starts better...

This one is IMHO much better written than the first in the series. But, I'm stopping at 16% in because it's just not keeping me interested. I think I needed more worldbuilding, which I realize now was part of the problem with book 1, as well. I suspect many readers just like the sex scenes, but it isn't enough for me.

3,9 stars

Very smutty with nice tension and a good cast of characters. Docking points for the main conflict being based on a completely avoidable misunderstanding.