Designs of Desire
Desires Entwined Book 1
by Tempeste O'Riley
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Artist James Bryant has forearm crutches in every color from rainbow for fun to sleek black for business. He even has a pair with more paint splatters than metal. After his family’s rejection and abuse from a man he thought loved him, James only just gets through the day by painting. He lives in constant fear that he’s not worthy of anything, let alone love.
As CEO of his company, Carrington Enterprises, Seth Burns is a take-charge kind of guy, and he is instantly smitten by the artist helping with his newest project. When he witnesses James suffer a panic attack, a protective instinct he never knew he had kicks in. He truly believes nothing is unobtainable—including James—if he’s willing to put in the time and effort.
James is shy and confused by Seth’s interest in him as a person. With Seth’s support, can he work through his fears to finally find the true love he deserves, or will someone finally land the crushing blow he won’t survive?
4 Stars
This was such a touching story and exactly what I needed when I picked it up. I’ve been a bit of a slump over the last few days but when I read the blurb for Designs of Desire I knew it was going to be so good that I would want to devour the whole series!
I love that even with James having to use the hand crutches, he doesn’t let that keep him from doing what he loves, his art. James is a strong character who I really enjoyed getting to know through his journey to the love he deserves and the life he wants to lead.
Seth was such a great character, strong when needed but not afraid (mostly) to let James see him vulnerable and not pretend to be a macho ass who can’t be hurt. He helps heal James of his horrible past but when things go south, it is James that shows how much he loves and cares for Seth.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Bound by Desire
Desires Entwined Book 1.75
A Spin-off of Designs of Desire
Desires Entwined: Book 1.75
Seth treats James with all the trust and love his sub desires. There is only one thing left to do to make it all complete: Seth needs to put a collar on James.
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4 Stars
This book was so sweet and caring. I love these two men so much they make me warm and fuzzy inside. The trust and love these two show is awe-inspiring to me. The way it helped wrap up book one and all was just what I needed it to be.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Desire's Guardian
Desires Entwined Book 2
Most people see Chase Manning as the party-boy twink he seems on the surface. Only James, Chase's BFF, knows the depth of his loyalty and the extent of the wounds Chase carries inside. When Chase meets Rhys Sayer, things don’t go well, but he can’t shake his attraction to the huge, sexy man.
Rhys is a man of contradictions and fear—a strange combination for a PI and bodyguard. He's in a bad place emotionally when he sets eyes on Chase for the first time. When Chase puts the moves on him, Rhys insults him, thwarting any possibility of a relationship. Rhys doesn’t see himself as a complicated man, but he dreads the very kind of connection he desires.
Just as they’re trying to overcome their uncertainties, Chase is put in harm’s way. Luckily Rhys and their friends have all the right talents to help Rhys save the man of his dreams.
5 Stars
This series gets better with each page I turn. Before Designs of Desire I had not come across Tempeste O’Riley, so I am so happy to have this chance of loving her writing and adoring her characters.
Chase is almost as sweet as James and I love his snark and his vulnerability. I wasn’t sure of him in book one but I came to love him as much as the others.
Rhys is awesome! He had some meh stuff going on at the beginning but I loved him.
The mystery aspect was so good and I never saw who did it coming so I was so surprised!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4 Stars!
What I Loved: Rhys is amazing. He's the tough Alpha type Bodyguard character yet he's also sweet and caring and funny. He's not afraid to give up control when needed to Chase. He's a loyal friend and has a good relationship with his family. Especially his brother Dal.
What I Liked: I really liked the whole role reversal when it came to the dynamic in the bedroom. Typically the more Alpha of the two takes the lead, or is more dominant. In this story however, Chase takes the dominant role in the bedroom and Rhys is perfectly happy with it.
I liked that Chase didn't fit into the stereotype. He may look like he was a twink but he wasn't. He was smart and well known in his field and not the party boy at all. He fit well with Rhys, when he finally got his head on straight.
The mystery was done well and although is a teensy bit predictable, it was still enjoyable.
What I didn't like: The ending (Chase finally comes face to face with the killer) was a bit rushed and abrupt. It was really just a quick scene without a lot of action on page. It was a bit of a letdown.
All in all, I enjoyed Desire's Guardian. I loved Rhys and really liked him and Chase as a couple. I would definitely recommend this book.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Desire's Pride
Desires Entwined Book 2.5
A Companion to Desires' Guardian
When Chase Manning wakes up on the first morning of PrideFest, the last thing he expects to find is his lover and life partner, Rhys Sayer, on bended knee. But the news that marriage has been legalized in the state is a game changer for both of them.
After a mad dash to the courts, all they want is to find their friends at PrideFest to celebrate. However, what happens when they arrive will bond them together forever—if their friends don’t have a collective meltdown about their sudden disappearance first.
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4 Stars
These novellas are EVERYTHING! The bad thing about novellas is it’s hard to describe my feels without spoiling things for those who haven’t read the others. But I will say that having another book with Chase and Rhys was just awesome. These two make me giddy and have me longing for more!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Temptations of Desire
Desires Entwined Book 3
Alexander James Noble is a gender fluid gay man who gave up on finding Mister Right a long time ago. He’s not asking for much, though. He just wants a guy who loves all of him and appreciates his feminine form too.
At the local LGBTQ center where Alex regularly volunteers, he meets Dal Sayer, an officer of the Milwaukee PD. Because he’s been rejected one too many times, Alex doesn’t trust the huge cop and the interest he shows in him, but once Dal sets his mind on something, he goes all out. Pushing aside his preconceived notions, Alex opens up just a little and soon caves.
From their first date—while dealing with his father’s failing health and his parents’ demands for him to settle down and have children—Dal never takes his eyes off his goal of making Alex his. But proving to Alex he isn’t like all the men who couldn’t see him for who he truly was and only wanted to hide him away is harder than he thought.
5 Stars
OK, so I thought book two was my favorite and while I still love Chase and Rhys, I adore Alex and Dal! I found the audiobook for this on Audible and the experience was so much better than if I read it myself. Jeff Gilder did such a good job bringing these two men to life and I am so glad I was able to go down this route.
Dal was different than what we saw from Rhys’s POV and I’m glad he got a book and that I could see the love grow between him and Alex!
I loved Alex, his sweetness and the bit of sass he showed once he grew comfortable was a beautiful thing. All sides of Alex are just as beautiful as the next and I love that he is OK with the way he dresses and even when scared he is strong.
Each book in this series gets better and better and I cannot wait to see what the next holds.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
3.5 Stars!
What I Loved: While generally, I am a fan of angst in this story I loved that it was pretty minimal and didn't revolve around sexuality or the fact that Alex was gender-fluid. It made their relationship more stable and secure from the very beginning.
I also loved the fact that there wasn't a crazy violent villain that the MCs were having to contend with. While I'm a fan of the previous book, it was nice that this particular story was more about everyday problems and challenges this couple had to face. Not to mention a lot of this book was happening simultaneously with the previous book.
What I Liked: I liked Dal, he was very similar in demeanor to Rhys. Strong, determined, loyal, funny and caring. He knew what he wanted and didn't waiver to make his parents happy even when he felt pressured.
I liked that Alex seemed pretty well adjusted for what he'd gone through previously in relationships and with his family. He had some insecure moments but he was able to get past them pretty easily.
What I Didn't Like: I am not a fan of giving a feminized voice to a male character just because he is smaller, less macho or in this case gender-fluid. Every time I heard the narrator's "Alex" voice I wanted to roll my eyes. It just didn't work for me personally.
Honestly, there were very few scenes in which Alex was not all man, wore women's clothing or took on a female persona. I almost felt like that wasn't really part of the story at all. I'm actually a little disappointed by the lack of focus on this particular part of the plot. I feel like it might've been a missed opportunity.
I also found myself confused quite often at the end of chapters because they ended so abruptly. It was as if I was missing things and it was consistently a problem through the entire audiobook. The same could be said for when the POV's changed from one character to the next. I had to figure out whose eyes we were seeing the story through, more often than I liked.
Would I recommend this story? Yes, if you're reading the series I definitely think you should read this book. I personally would go for the e-book as opposed to the audiobook in this case.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Truth in Lace
Desires Entwined Book 3.5
A spin-off of Temptations of Desire
Desires Entwined: Book 3.5
When Alexander James Noble looks in the mirror, he sees a freak looking back at him. Despite his high grades and plans for culinary arts school after graduation, his parents would hate him if they really knew him.
Forced on a shopping trip with his twin sister, Lyric, and her friends, Alex eyes the girls jealously, longing to be able to dress like them—to be them. The constant struggle of being “gender fluid,” wrestling with an identity that seems to change daily, begins to wear on Alex. But all those questions and fears seem more manageable when his sister gives him his first skirt and lace panties
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Signs of Desire
Desires Entwined Book 4
Simon Tyler knows his job as a gay romance author makes his lack of faith in love more than a little ironic, but he’s tired of being used for his wallet. When a night out turns into a matchmaking scheme orchestrated by his best friends, Simon’s not thrilled, but since he’s not the target and he’s sworn off happily-ever-after anyway, he goes along with it… until he meets Adrian, the object of their efforts, and finds perhaps he hasn’t given up on love after all.
Professor Adrian Keys has tried to date Hearing men before, but being Deaf himself, he’s never had any success at making a connection. After his friends con him into going out and Adrian realizes it’s all an elaborate plan to set him up, he braces for yet another failure, only to discover there is a spark—except it’s not with the man his friends had in mind, but with Simon Tyler instead.
Not all their friends have found a way past their romantic failures, but Simon and Adrian might be on the path to happily-ever-after.
4 Stars!
What I Loved: Both MCs in this story are easy to love and they’re both so sweet. Adrian doesn’t let his deafness get in the way of what he wants. Simon might be sweet, shy and rich but he is also determined not to be misled by men anymore who are only after his money. He doesn’t trust people very easily (with good reason). Luckily things are different when the two men meet though.
What I Liked: I liked how Simon doesn’t look at Adrian’s disability as if it’s an albatross or that it makes him somehow undeserving of a relationship. Instead, he takes measures to communicate better with him and get to know him.
What I Didn’t Like: I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing necessarily for most readers, it’s just that personally I’m getting a little annoyed with the repetitiveness of past relationships turning MC’s distrustful of any new prospective romances. I understand this is something that happens all the time it’s just I’ve been seeing it too much in my reading.
Overall, this was an enjoyable romance and I would recommend it to those in the mood for sweet.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud pansexual genderfluid whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what they couldn’t—defy the hate and come out. He has been their hero ever since.
Tempe is a hopeless romantic who loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, they has done many things in their life, yet writing has always drawn them back—no matter what else life has thrown their way. They counts her friends, family, and Muse as their greatest blessings in life. They live in Wisconsin with their children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.
Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, WisRWA, and Rainbow Romance Writers. Tempe’s preferred pronouns are they/them/their/theirs/themselves. To learn more about Tempeste and their writing, visit http://tempesteoriley.com.
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Love the covers. Love this series.
ReplyDeleteThe covers are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love this series and have always thought the covers were great
ReplyDelete