Series Review: The Sin Bin
by Dahlia Donovan
by Dahlia Donovan
Title: The Wanderer
Blurb:
When life kicks a wanderer in the bollocks, all he can do is fight for his life.
Bad boy BC Brooks screwed up his lifelong dream of being captain of the English national rugby team. Lost and confused, he hides from his failures until an unexpected inheritance forces him to make a change.
Graham Hodson lives for travel, adventure, and one-night stands. Wanderlust rules his life. He never expects a brief encounter with a stranger to haunt his dreams and follow him across the world.
One diagnosis shakes both men to their core.
One journey through the depths of recovery brings two perpetual bachelors into the unknown territory of love.
The Wanderer is book one in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
"The Wanderer hits some hard truths of how cruel life can really be, but on the flip side of that, it shows that love is such a beautiful and patient thing that seriously will come out of nowhere, knock you flat on your arse and make you a better person than you ever thought you could be." —Lil Maso for PNR Book Lover Reviews
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4.25 stars
This book packed a lot more emotion and was so different from how I expected it to be after reading the first little bit of this book. Most of the story, the dialogue is funny banter between the two MCs, but there are times when there is so much emotion in that dialogue that it surprised me. I loved it, loved just feeling and connecting to the book when I did not think I would.
I will admit that it took be a bit to really understand and just get these characters. I felt like I was missing something from BC and Graham, some of their backstory or something. After starting it, I felt like I should have read the previous book that gave us a bit of a background, mostly because this one starts off at a wedding of people it seemed like I should know about.
Even though it took me a bit longer to connect to the two MCs, I definitely enjoyed this book. Even with all of the ribbing between BC and Graham, they were both so sweet towards each other in an unconventional way. After everything that happened with Graham, BC was incredibly sweet towards him. Their chemistry was perfect and made me fall in love with them as a couple. This story for sure made my heart melt a little bit!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement***
Title: The Caretaker
Who cares for the caretaker when his burden grows too heavy to bear?
Freddie Whittle devotes his life to his cancer patients, cheese, and his overprotective fathers. His big move to Cardiff is tainted by bigot neighbors and a dismal social life. He wants something more but doesn't know what until he runs headlong into a Scottish-Maori mountain of a man.
Taine Afoa retires from international rugby feeling restless. He left his career behind and relocates for a change of pace. The last thing he expects is to become infatuated with someone who seems far too young and innocent for him. No matter how hard he tries, it's impossible to get Freddie out of his mind.
Can Freddie handle the intensity of Taine's naughty sexual desires?
And when the strong alpha male tangles with the playful nurse, will this May-December romance end before it even begins?
The Caretaker is book two in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
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4 stars
I just loved Freddie! It was great meeting him in book one and even though we do not see him a ton in that book, it still made me excited when I saw book 2 was about him getting his HEA. He is the perfect MC. He is endearing and sweet, positive and funny but is not afraid to give a little sass. I also liked Taine and I really wanted them to be together.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Taine and Freddie. This author writes banter really well and they had that funny banter that kept things entertaining. The sex was also super hot and the perfect amount for the story. I loved getting a couple of scenes with all of the other rugby guys and I am eager to read more from them and this series.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement***
Title: The Botanist
Aled Demers prefers plants over people. He survives an attack in Anguilla alive but emotionally and physically scarred. Back home in Cardiff, he struggles with PTSD and his unraveling life.
Wyatt "Earp" Hardy lives for his SEAL brothers. Retiring from military service brings new challenges for him to face. The last thing he expects is for his next mission to involve falling for the much younger botanist.
If the botanist has the strength to heal, can Wyatt find the courage to love?
The short story The Botanist is book three in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
"With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this was one helluva story that packs a mighty punch for being short. And that, right there, is the only problem I have with it! I NEEDED MORE!!!! I seriously wasn't ready for this book to be over. I loved every single word." ~Merissa, The Romance Reviews
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4.5 Stars
For such a short story, this packed a lot of emotion for me, and I LOVED it! I did not feel like things were rushed at all or that any details were lacking. While the story was emotional with what happened to Aled and the aftermath of it, it was also incredibly sweet with how Wyatt treated Aled and worked to help him. Based off the ending of this book, it seems like this was the perfect bridge to connect the rugby players and the SEALs and I am ready for that combination!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement***
Title: The Royal Marine
Blurb:
Who keeps the Royal Marine's heart safe when he's running headlong into danger?
Akash Robinson fuses his Indian and British heritage into his baked creations. His life is all things sugar and spice, especially when a blind date leads him to the older military man of his dreams. Family, friends, and an unwanted admirer all threaten both his sanity and his budding romance.
Hamish Ross carries the names of his lost soldiers on his back. He takes his work seriously with no time for love. All it takes is one impulsive kiss to lead him into uncharted romantic waters.
When a sarcastic baker mixes with a stoic alpha marine, who will come out on top when the flour settles?
The Royal Marine is book four in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
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4 Stars
I enjoyed reading Akash and Hamish's love story. This author does a great job of really separating the books in terms of content and storyline, but also showing us all of the characters we meet in the previous books and keeping them connected in that way. This was another greatly paced book where I felt everything was authentic and true to the characters.
Akash and Hamish were both really easy to like characters. I liked getting to know them and the people around them as well. This book definitely had some emotion in it but it was also sweet and easy to read and connect with these characters.
I know I probably sound mad but I am excited about Scottie's book! This author somehow makes me love all of the side characters just as much as the main characters. He was in this story enough, even if he was being a jerk, that I just want to know more about him and get his POV!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement***
Title: The Unexpected Santa
Blurb:
When a rugby bad boy butts heads with a retired Marine, which alpha male becomes top dog?
Scottie Monk came out of the womb angry at the world. He's selfish and bitter. "Bah humbug!" rolls off his tongue far easier than "Happy Christmas."
Gray Baird has dedicated his life to public service as a Marine Corps officer and later as a police chief. The decorated hero finds it impossible to ignore autistic twins in desperate need of holiday spirit. He'll be the grumpiest Santa in the world if it puts a smile their faces. And he'll drag a reluctant Scottie along for the ride.
This December, Gray and Scottie collide while unexpectedly playing Santa.
The short story The Unexpected Santa is book five in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
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4.5 stars
I want to add a note that I just love Alex and Alice. The twins are amazing side characters. It was super sweet to see Gray create a nice Christmas for them. For characters who do not make a big physical impact in the book in terms of them being pretty quiet and shy, they were great additions to this story that left an emotional impact!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement***
Title: The Lion Tamer
One dominant Marine.
One troubled rugby player.
The Sin Bin will never be the same.
Gray Baird’s to-do list for the year includes starting a restaurant, claiming his submissive, and keeping his nosy friends out of his business. He has his work seriously cut out for him.
Scottie Monk prides himself on bullying his way through problems—and sometimes even people. His life is spiralling out of his control, but he refuses to break. The last thing he expects is to find peace in the confines of submission.
One man will try to tame a lion.
One man will try to heal.
And both men will have to join forces to deal with a toxic family and invasive paparazzi.
The Lion Tamer is book six in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
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I am so glad that the author gave us a hint of these guys in the previous novella. There is so much more to Scottie and Gray than shows on the surface. The sex scenes in this book were HOT. I read the first one while on lunch at work and whew! I also really enjoyed the D/s aspect of their relationship.
Scottie's struggles with drinking were really hard to read just because of the emotion we see from him. Before that, the only emotion we really see from him is anger, but we get to see this vulnerable and softer side and I appreciated that. I felt more connected to him. I also liked how much Gray supported him and encouraged his sobriety. Just seeing the character development of Scottie after he meets Gray is great.
Just like all of the other books, I love all of the side characters in this story. The way Gray acted as surrogate father to the twins, Alice and Alex had my heart melting. I truly want to read a story that centers around them. They were just SO SWEET! Overall, seeing how all of the side characters supported Scottie was really sweet. It was great meeting Silus and I would love to read his and Zeb's story! The author did a great job of showing Scottie's growth throughout the story but still letting his sort of jerky personality shine, but all in the best possible way! I am excited and sad to only have one book left in this series!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement***
Author Bio
Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.
Author Links
I like the royal marine
ReplyDeleteI would hafta say that going by the "blurbs" for each book...The Botanist jumps right out at me. I mean how can ya miss with a character named/called Wyatt "Earp" Hardy! LOL! Just luv that. In all honesty all the books sound Fantastic and I cannot believe I don't already have them in/on my mega-TBR pile/list!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance at a great prize! and for the fun of the blog post and the contest sign up...
Fan hugs,
thejo
johannasnodgrass(at)yahoo(dot)com
The Unexpected Santa. I'm a sucker for a good Christmas story!
ReplyDeleteThey all like a fun read. Thank you for the post and giveaway chance!
ReplyDeleteThe Caretaker
ReplyDelete