Heidi Cullinan

Apparently I'm a total sap, and I'm not going to apologize for loving the sentimental romance that this was. It must be the college setting and the setup of the shy virgin who just can't help but fall in love with the notorious player, slowly winning over his heart. Though this is a classic NA trope we've all read many times before, Cullinan executes this quite brilliantly.

So yes, this was a perfect blend of everything I like in a romance. You've got well balanced push pull, crazy jealousy, gut twisting insecurity, torturous want, and miserable doubt - capped off with a slow burn UST and seriously hot, sexual exploration. Uh huh.

Kelly - shy, a bit awkward, and who sees and hopes for the best in life and love. He doesn't want to compromise on what he wants from a relationship and stays firm in his idealistic beliefs.

Walter - a cynic who takes naive Kelly under his wing in navigating the ins and outs of college. Deep down, he too just wants to be loved, though he's never going to admit that to anyone, let alone himself.

As their friendship grows, these boys want each other so bad, and for different reasons, hesitate and resist the longing for something they feel they can't have. But once Kelly and Walter step over that proverbial line in the sand… mmmmm.

This gets the rare 5 stars from me because though Kelly and Walter have internal and external debates about the pros and cons of their relationship, there was no excessive, unnecessary melodrama, nor any cringe worthy, over the top miscommunication. They may have their doubts about themselves, but not any for each other. This was simply a sweet and very sexy look at first times, first relationships, and first love. If only real life emulated this for everyone.


Meags, thanks for keeping me company!!… (more)

For someone who mainly is into contemporary romance these days, this really was a nostalgic trip back to my reading past who ate up anything paranormal, supernatural, or fantastical. Richly detailed with an interesting historical backdrop, I truly enjoyed many things about this book.

I don't proclaim to be an expert in steampunk but the characteristics are fascinating. It doesn't hurt that both Cornelius and Johann were very likable. Cornelius is a genius tinker and he's just tapping into his talent. He abhors the war his father oversees for France, and he can't resist the pitiful call for help as he rescues an almost dead enemy soldier. Johann has been through hell and back in his short life, and though he can't quite grasp the surrealness of his new body, he knows for sure that he only wants to be with his savior, despite never knowing he had an interest in men before.

That set up right there should have clinched the deal. These two embark on a sweet, hot, and tender journey, where they should naturally hate each other because of birth and circumstance but instead, actually bond over an unexplainable connection...

Unfortunately there's a wrench. Now for many this would be no complaint, and it's my own fault for not fully reading the tags. I've come to learn that Cullinan is of two mindsets when it comes to love and smex and this one is just not for me. Fans of Special Delivery will no doubt enjoy the menage, exhibitionism, dp and mild humiliation, but I prefer my two MC's to be monogamous even though no romantic feelings are felt for the 3rd party. Which begs the question, why have such an extraneous and unnecessary scene IMO? For me it lessened everything and felt wholly out of place. So my staid self balked, and my liking for this decreased. Regardless, this still had great storytelling and the lovey, dovey parts present, I enjoyed immensely. So if you're a fan of Cullinan's in every which way, shape, and form, then this is a no brainer.… (more)

Possible Triggers: Autism/Depression/Disabilities
If you are looking for the usual type of M/M romance, then this one may disappoint you. However, if you are willing to take a remarkably tender, sweet story that shows how love can and sometimes does, come into everyone's life, not just those that are viewed as “normal”, then this story is going to affect you deeply. The author displayed such a sophisticated portrayal of one of the characters, Emmet....when she has him say "when you meet one autistic child, you have really only met... just one". There is no "one size fits all"...each one is different, each one coping in their own way, and presenting with their own quirks and gifts. This story is about how Emmet, a high functioning autistic college student, pursues and meets his neighbor. It's a overwhelmingly beautiful story of love and the fight for independence. Emmett has so many strategies he has developed and learned to use over the years, everything from different shirts to show his different moods, to a foam hammer that allows him to safely vent his anger. His parents are wonderful, well educated, understanding and loving. Jeremy is not so lucky, and your heart will break for him. He is almost crippled under the weight of all his anxieties, and fears, as well as his clinical depression. Jeremey’s parents are unbelievably brutal. They constantly harp at him to just "buck up and be normal”. That is the crux of what author Heidi Cullinan writes about in this story. Not only does she portray the pain and the horrible sense of unworthiness these two young men carry with them each and every day of their lives, but she also speaks about the fact that for them there simply is not and never will be a “normal”. She continually comes back to the idea that each one of us is already normal in our own way...despite that we are all different. We each have our individual strengths and weaknesses, our own emotional and intellectual struggles... “normal” looks different on each and every person. The story does not try to tell the world that “special needs” people are "just like you and me", instead she celebrates their individuality by giving us a window to look into their lives. We see Jeremey’s crippling anxieties; we feel Emmet’s frustration over not being able to express himself when he needs to the most. We feel the fears of these two young men who want and need each other...who are discovering what romance and love is with another person for the first time. This novel is stunning in its realism. We fall in love with Jeremy and Emmett because of how they fight each day to hold onto themselves, find their place in a world that doesn’t necessarily value those who are different and don’t fit into the norm. [Carry the Ocean[ is a story that reminds us that each and every one of us deserves to love and be loved.… (more)

This little series follows three gay men in small town Minnesota, Marcus, Arthur and Paul, three "bears" and best friends, as they find their mates. In the first book, Let It Snow, Marcus and Frankie fall in love. The second book, Sleigh Ride we see Arthur and Frankie get their happy ever after, and now in this one we finally get to see Paul, the neediest of the entire group, find his love....but of course we first have to have a little angst and drama. Paul is from a conservative family in Minnesota. Poor guy…. He’s a big bear, and he’s a big mess of anxiety, lack of confidence. He has friends, he’s dated, but he can’t ever seem to connect with the right one. He’s lonely and so tied up in his own head that he can’t see what is right in front of him...namely Kyle Park, resident "twink". Kyle has had a crush on Paul for years...ever since he was a teenager. It doesn't help that he still looks like one even if he is now 25 and works at the local care center. He has an awesome family, which he lives with and a twin sister who has Downs Syndrome. He finally decides he’s waited long enough and he’s going to "get him a man". He starts by trying to connect on Grindr...no luck there, so next he tries his specialty... snow sculptures. He leaves a lovely one on Paul’s front porch. Paul is NOT impressed, and neither is the rest of the town. I won't say what the sculpture was of...just use your imagination. The town's busybody...every town has one...decides to "help" him out and comes up with a plan. To find out what the plan was and how it worked or didn't work, you'll have to read the story...it's a sweet one. The writing was perfect. The plot, the characters, the connection, was all good. If you don't mind same sex romances and are looking for a sweet holiday story, this one could be a good choice. Actually, all three of the stories in this series are great, and so worth the reading time.… (more)