Jacqueline RohrbachReseñas

A fun, short Halloween spook story.

I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a unique, queer and trans affirming, fantasy. It is extremely well-written and unique, and the plotline is more unusual and epic than I originally anticipated. At a later date, I will review this book more fully on my blog at www.booksbeyondbinaries.blog

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5 Stars)
Title: Parallel Larry
Author(s): Jacqueline Rohrbach
Character(s):
― Larry Stewart: Brunette
― Greg: Brown Eyed
Setting: N/A
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary, Sci-Fi
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Subtle
Favorite Quote(s):
― "Whatever I want doesn’t include food; it’s you."
Overall Opinion:
After reading "Parallel Larry" blurb, I was immediately drawn in by the second chance romance that feature the main character being sent to an alternate reality, which later mentioned, by his fire hazardous toaster. It was an interesting concept in general yet there were too many factors that made this a disappointing read. it was lacking in any unbelievable form of romance and the characters did not mesh well together, in my opinion. Larry was overall somewhat likable and Greg was just too bland for my taste, making it an unlikely pair. Moreso this book was a bit bizarre and was the complete opposite of what I envisioned this novel will be so it ended up failing to meet any of my expectations.

“The Dragon's Rebel” was enjoyable and I could care less for “Parallel Larry”, so stepping into this read I already knew it could be a hit or miss. Thankfully it was a hit.

“Come On, Get Lucky” is about a werewolf, Grant, who is a hopeless romantic that had his fair of bad luck when it comes to romance and his snarky vampire best friend, Lee, who decides to take him with him to a vampire clan retreat where all supernatural and non-supernatural beings are welcome. It’s essentially a spot where they can hook up with other beings and not have to worry about commitments or drama.

Overall it was a fun, banter-filled read that had aspects of romance, hot chemistry, ex-boyfriends, and a runaway bunny (hence cover).

Me to you: So I’ve finished this book and I’m like, how do I review this? Like, seriously, how?! Help. Me.

Takes deep breath. Okay. I’m calmer now. The first part I’m down with. Cute but unassuming hot gay nerd who doesn’t know he’s a cutie is seeking online guy who might be okay.

Maybe he won’t be one of those dating horror stories. Maybe he’ll kinda resemble his profile, the rarest of the rare. Garvey turns up and he IS as hot as his profile pic~ so ominous. Tovin should have known it was the Twilight Zone as soon as he met Garvey. But they go to bar trivia where Tovin considers it winning when two hot women are there and the local guys with patchy facial hair are checking them out, which means the guys will BS for weeks how they “scored” with the hot women, as if, and forget about Tovin for a change.

Me to Tovin: Hot guy who matches his profile? Hot women who’ll take the heat off you? Gawd, hon. RUN! Too many planets are lining up. Say you’re going to reapply your CoverGirl Lippy and jump out the bathroom window!!

Of course no one listens to me, so Tovin ends up in the woods, and it’s baaaad. He’s set upon by ants and bugs and rocks, horrid things nature throws at you. Here’s one more tip from the LeeBeMe handbook~ don’t go into nature. Nothing good EVER comes from that. Three strikes: Profile pic matching and he’s built, women to take the hick’s minds of you, and a guy who wants to fuck in the woods. If he’s a catch he’ll find a room, maybe a bed. I hate to be picky but comfort and no bugs up your anus counts gazillions. Trust me. It gets worse when Garvey tells Tovin that the dogs howling in the background are really werewolves, that he’s a werewolf, that Tovin’s going to be a bloodslave for a werewolf. Da hell you say?! Online dating can be tricky if you’re unprepared. If he’d listened to me he’d have run, not to be a bitch and all, just sayin’.

Lots of lolz in the beginning but shit gets real after that and this is the part where it gets harder to review. Garvey is doing what he’s doing because he’s seen that his wolves, the lesser kind, are going to be culled by other wolves unless he does something. He doesn’t share this info with everyone, his kidnapping teammates aren’t even in the know. He takes Tovin into the woods to mess him up so that he won’t be wanted to present as a bloodslave to an Alpha guardian wolf named Lavario. Lavario’s part of the Varcolac pack but he isn’t Varcolac. He’s from the Isangelous pack, long story, and the leader of the Varcolac pack hates him. But Eresna, Alpha of the Isangelous pack, has plans of her own that involve Mazgan and Tovin and people I prolly don’t know yet. There are waaay too many sneaky shenanigans for me to cover in my review but trust me when I say it’s tricky and sometimes gruesome and all rather brill.

TWW is some serious paranormal writing about different werewolves living beside each other and humans. They don’t like each other and they see humans as a resource but resources only stretch so far if you set bloodthirsty wolves and vamps on them. IDK how that will all play out but count me in. Garvey jumps around the edges of different packs because he has contempt for pretty much everyone and that suits certain pack members right now. He’s a Moondog which is a werewolf but not high up the order. He’s also Mr. Teflon, nothing sticks to him because he knows how to push just enough to get a rise and then back off so he doesn’t get killed. He’s also got buckets of street smarts and is useful. He’s outrageously lame and funny unless you’re the butt of his jokes, like Tovin is, then it’s kind of unfunny. Poor Tovin just wanted to be spontaneous and interesting because his on and off again bf has pushed him to that I’ll prove him wrong point. He’s got adventure pamphlets like parasailing and spelunking. I went spelunking 4 weeks ago and if you knew me you’d be laughing for days but I did it. I felt great but this whole book is like spelunking on speed for Tovin.

Me to Tovin: You are so much better than your ex because I’d say Marshall or Mitchell, or whatever his douchey name is, would have pissed his pants but you’re faking it till you make it. Tovin IS adorbs, Garvey and I agree about that. I asked last review if I could three way with the mcs, am I too obvious if I ask again? Yes? No? Who cares?

Outside of Pat Robertson’s blog, if he has one, this has to be the worst blog in the whole world to review this book on, kinda apropos, because Jay’s a perv and I’m sweet cheeks and between us it seems out of place, but when I don’t have my head stuck in text books I read lots of non romance para and fantasy~ ooo, the truth is out there. If I tell you it’s good paranormal werewolf reading, will you take my word? It has queer characters, always good for us queerlings, it’s a bit intense with complications that make it interesting and stretch the brain matter. Garvey’s sexy stuff but he’s too busy being a brat to Tovin, also with semi world domination vamp plans, to actually do anything really sexy. Lovario’s got the whole wise shtick going on. The book gets harsh too so be prepped for that, there will be blood and cranium contortion. There’s a ghost in a blue dress and a bunch of crazy weird happenings nearer the end, and be scared of twenty somethings with the Dewey Decimal System. I have a feeling the next book will unlock some powerfully good and bad para juju. I’m hoping maybe Garvey will be a teensy bit busy with his sweet treat too, he’s totally into him. I have this gooey spot for pet names and Garvey calling Tovin Sweet Treat is fab, he’d still be a smartass but the name was so melty on his lips when he said it~ “Sweet treat is adorable. Look at him with his big green eyes and blondish-brown hair. Oats and honey.” And this was a promise, a creepy one but I was clapping like Nicole Kidman at the Oscars~
“We’re going to finish this someday, sweet treat. Unless you die. Try not to die.”

For now, Garvey twirled the glasses frames in one paw and did something he rarely did. He thought about consequences. He didn’t want Tovin to die. He liked this dopey kid. It was an odd, unexpected realization. Clueless as Tovin was, there was something sweet about him that Garvey wanted to keep in the world. It tugged at a part of his heart he didn’t know existed.

Aww, Garvey has a heart, you wouldn’t know it but he does. ^^

After the first book in the Immutable Moon series I’m in! This book’s got laughs, it’s got lots of characters I like, there’s some nasty parts because it’s written how werewolves would behave if they were real, and pack means a group and whenever you have a group you have politicking. I’ll also reread it to find new stuff I missed this time so The Worst Werewolf gets an A for Awesome or 5 stars.