Optical Illusion (Paint #1) by Emma Jaye

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Blurb

From #1 Amazon Best Selling Author Emma Jaye,  the heart rending tale of the boy who couldn't sit still.

Smile, wiggle, lie, apologise, and run for the hills.

That's the formula Chris has used all his life, but this time, he has something he’s never had to lose before, a family that cares. The problem is, his new brother’s very edible friend isn’t fooled by his act. If his secrets are revealed, they won’t want him and he has nowhere else to go.

Thanks to a suicide bomber, ex-military police sergeant Jase Rosewood is back in the English countryside. His plans for quiet recuperation are ruined by the effervescent, go-go dancing twink who has everyone wrapped around his little finger. Luckily for the gullible Matt, Jase can smell a liar a mile away, and Chris Bacon, if that’s even his name, stinks to high heaven. Assigned ‘Chris-sitting’ duty while Matt's on honeymoon, Jase has a week to discover what is hidden beneath the bright camouflage. It's a job, just like any other, so why does it feel so different? 
Unfortunately, Jase isn’t the only one drawn to the boy who can’t stay still, but instead of wanting to reveal his true colours; they want to dull them forever.

REVIEW

My Rating - 4 stars!

Optical Illusion, by Emma Jaye, is quite the fun, crazy romance.

Jase returns home after being injured in the army and meets his friend's recently discovered half-brother, Chris. Chris, who is hyperactive, barely sleeps, and needs to constantly move has come to town looking for his father. His half-brother, Matt, doesn't trust him, and appoints Jase to watch over him. This is when the action takes off.

What follows is a crazy kidnapping by human-traffickers, drugs, and so much more, including Jase and Chris starting their relationship. Jase and Chris manage to find each other and seriously manage to change each other's lives for the better.

The writing style is extremely face paced, so much so that I actually had to put it down a couple times and start again when I knew I would have no distractions. This is one story that requires your full attention, or you'll surely miss a lot.

Chris has ADHD, insomnia, and dyslexia. Having a child that also has these issues, I am thrilled with how Emma Jaye handled this character. The writing style completely reflects Chris's hyperactivity, and you can completely feel the way Chris never stops thinking, wiggling and moving.

As we start to learn about Chris's past, you really start to understand Chris, why he runs away from any issues and his complete distrust of anyone. I love the way Jase comes to understand Chris and does his best to help him, as well as protect him from his self-destructive behavior.

To see a glimpse of how precious Jase is, check out what he tells Chris. 

'"I only want you to be the best person you can be.There's more to you than eye candy, and I'd like for you to see that, to see what I see one day."'

And, if you like hot sex scenes, you'll love how Jase becomes "Sarge" while they have sex. It is hot, with Chris loving that "Sarge" takes control. Even better is when "Sarge" takes control out of the bedroom, just knowing that Chris needs to be taken out of his mind.

Please be warned, this story contains a lot of dark issues and dark moments, but is happily infused with some great humor.

Having devoured Optical Illusion, I need to know what happens next! Thus, I am now off to start Black Canvas, book 2 in Paint series, by Emma Jaye. 

No Limits (No Shame Series Book 2) by Nora Phoenix

Amazon


Blurb

Josh is convinced he’ll never find someone who’ll love him the way he is. He’s not exactly a catch with his PTSD and the submissive tendency he recently discovered and is dying to explore. His complicated relationship with Noah and Indy doesn’t make it easy, either. When Connor shows interest in him, he can’t believe the sexy cop would look at him twice, let alone make an effort to get to know him. When he does, Josh discovers they have more in common than he’d ever thought possible.

Connor had survived the ordeal that left his best friend and fellow Marine dead, but that survival came at a price. He’s a robot, going through the motions, but barely alive. Until fate intervenes and he meets Josh. The vulnerable man triggers all kinds of protective and dominant urges in Connor, but what would a cute guy like Josh want with an inexperienced, closed-off, bossy steamroller like him?

When Connor discovers his past endangers Indy, all hope for a future between him and Josh seems lost. After all, there’s no way Josh will ever choose Connor over Indy’s safety and Noah’s lifelong friendship. When a crisis hits, can Connor prove he’s strong enough to deal with everything that’s thrown his way?

No Limits is a steamy gay MM romance with a polyamorous relationship (no cheating) and mild BDSM elements that ends on a cliffhanger. It’s the second book in the No Shame Series and continues the story from the previous book, so it's not a stand alone novel. Please note the trigger warnings in the front of the book.



REVIEW
My Rating - 5 Stars!


I am pleasantly surprised that this book not only continued Indie and Noah's relationship, but also includes the beginning of Connor and Josh's relationship. There are many small stories happening at once and they are all excellently written and developed. 

One of Josh's big hang-ups is that he likes rough sex, as he is greatly ashamed by this. Connor believes he will never find a man because he cock is just too big and intimidating.  They aren't sure if they can work physically, but they are certainly attracted to each other. 

In the end, they will find that they can each help the other. Josh is naturally submissive and Connor knows how to dominate him, which makes for some hot sex scenes. And Josh will help Connor to know what it's like to feel loved.

Indie and Noah each have their own issues going on. Indie is still scared that his ex abuser will find out and hurt these men he has come to love. And Noah is still having a lot of problems with his prostetic leg.

No Limits is a fantastic follow up to Book 1. It is fast paced, is constantly expanding on past issues while moving ahead to new ones, and it will keep you reading until the late hours of the night.