Taylin Clavelli ( of Don't Try This at Home)

Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing Skin Game (Subtle Deceptions, #3) by Elle Keaton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts. Gabe knows the young woman who turned up on his doorstep was playing a con. The question was, which one, how big and who for? Unfortunately, her untimely death meant that Gabe had more sleuthing to do before the p ...more
Feb 16, 2026 04:22AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Skin Game by Elle Keaton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Skin Game by Elle Keaton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing Seeing Blood (The Augur, #2) by L.M. Somerton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts. The MOB are trying to create a breed of super soldiers from the gifted. However, their experiments are causing more to die than live. Bryn, along with the last person he wants to work with, Giles, are sent in to b ...more
Feb 16, 2026 04:21AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Seeing Blood by L.M. Somerton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Seeing Blood by L.M. Somerton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing Crimson Codex (The Mage and His Brute #3) by Ava Marie Salinger (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes 5 hearts. After being caught between the wheels of justice and politics for the events in Stolen Magic, Evander is asked to form a team and seek out the Crimson Codex. To do so entails travelling Europe with a small, capable te ...more
Feb 16, 2026 04:19AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crimson Codex by Ava Marie Salinger. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crimson Codex by Ava Marie Salinger <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book really liked it Fixer: a Hidden Wolves prequel by Kaje Harper (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 3.75 hearts After a man Dustin admired killed his brother, Shawn, on the orders of their Alpha, Dustin became a lone wolf and disappeared from the pack. Years later, the man Dustin hated found him. Wade, the pack fixer, wante ...more
Nov 27, 2025 10:23PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fixer by Kaje Harper. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fixer by Kaje Harper <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights (The Killigrew Street Case Files #2) by T.J. Rose (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 hearts. What do you get when a gay wolf shifter and a straight telepath go undercover in Scotland? A lot more than heather and thistles. Moonlit Nights and Northern Lights is the second book in The Killigrew Street Case Fil ...more
Nov 27, 2025 10:20PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights by T.J. Rose. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights by T.J. Rose <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book really liked it Incubus Vampire Slayer (Alvin Alonso's Secret Files #2) by Alex Woolfson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.25 hearts With the Avatar in his pocket, Alvin is on a mission with two goals. Firstly, to save the children kidnapped by vampires, and secondly, to free the Avatar, Colin. Thus far, Alvin has embarked on a whirlwind advent ...more
Nov 27, 2025 10:15PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Incubus Vampire Slayer by Alex Woolfson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Incubus Vampire Slayer by Alex Woolfson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book really liked it The Reluctant Incubus (Alvin Alonso's Secret Files #1) by Alex Woolfson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4 hearts. To look at Alvin, one would think he’s nothing special. However, he keeps a monster force at bay by not feeding it. It’s a battle, but he bears it. That is, until he strikes a bargain with an elf, which leads him do ...more
Nov 27, 2025 10:10PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Reluctant Incubus by Alex Woolfson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Reluctant Incubus by Alex Woolfson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book really liked it Catching Hanif's Eye by Patrick Doyle (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts. While in a relationship that basically passes the time, Tom has been told that he’s going blind. But while at the hospital, he befriends another partially sighted man, so all’s not bad. However, strange encounters ...more
Nov 04, 2025 01:18PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Catching Hanif's Eye by Patrick Doyle. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Catching Hanif's Eye by Patrick Doyle <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing Bait and Switch (Subtle Deceptions, #2) by Elle Keaton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 hearts. Gabe continues to be a grifter in hiding. However, the fates are not on his side when his ex turns up dead on a neighboring boat, which raises a slew of questions, and the local sheriff seems determined to pin the m ...more
Oct 23, 2025 03:00AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bait and Switch by Elle Keaton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bait and Switch by Elle Keaton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing The Tex Hex (Bitches With Stitches #3) by Raquel Riley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts. Armando, aka Mandy, was a military demolitions expert before being blown up. Also ex-military, Tex is a recovering addict whose carefree attitude masks vulnerability and a world of hurt. Both believe that the pers ...more
Oct 23, 2025 02:58AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Tex Hex by Raquel Riley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Tex Hex by Raquel Riley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing

Skin Game (Subtle Deceptions, #3)
by Elle Keaton (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
Gabe knows the young woman who turned up on his doorstep was playing a con. The question was, which one, how big and who for? Unfortunately, her untimely death meant that Gabe had more sleuthing to do before the p Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
Gabe knows the young woman who turned up on his doorstep was playing a con. The question was, which one, how big and who for? Unfortunately, her untimely death meant that Gabe had more sleuthing to do before the police decided he was the prime suspect for murder. In the meantime, Casey must come to terms with the new dynamic with his brother.
Skin Game is the third book in the Kearn and Lundin, Subtle Deceptions series. While individual arcs are completed within each book, it is recommended that you read the series as it provides a better understanding of the characters and backgrounds of all involved. This story is a typical Elle Keaton offering. It’s a slow burn, bathed in mystery, suspense, chance (?) encounters, and old-timers doing their thing. However, this tale ramps up the action a bit more, with lives on the line and some new characters added to the mix who may have sought out a quieter life after…well… who knows what? Hopefully, we may find out in the next novel.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Gabe and Casey. Elle Keaton is a seasoned author; therefore, technicalities are spot on. Worldbuilding has developed over the series, and this instalment expands the view even more, with our characters heading further afar to find answers.
I love that Gabe continues to utilize his shady experience, especially his ‘gift of the gab’ but as Gabe’s character develops, his inner soul shows that he is a good man. Gabe’s influence on Casey is removing the stick that was originally firmly in place. This story also develops Gabe and Casey’s connection and reliance.
As for the extended cast, I love them all – including the animals. It is often these characters that add that something special to all Elle’s tales.
Skin Game is a story that started well and grew on me even more as the story progressed. Also, it kept me guessing who was connected to whom, how and where they all fit within the greater scheme of things. Loved the growing suspense as the end approached.
Bravo.
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Seeing Blood (The Augur, #2)
by L.M. Somerton (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
The MOB are trying to create a breed of super soldiers from the gifted. However, their experiments are causing more to die than live. Bryn, along with the last person he wants to work with, Giles, are sent in to b Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
The MOB are trying to create a breed of super soldiers from the gifted. However, their experiments are causing more to die than live. Bryn, along with the last person he wants to work with, Giles, are sent in to bring them to justice. Bryn’s partner, Gunnar, wants Bryn to stay alive. But there’s more than one player, and each one wants something different.
Seeing Blood is the second book in The Augur series, which contains traditional cops versus bad guy elements, and has the twist of DNA-gifted individuals. Some organizations train the gifted to help; others want to exploit them. In this instalment, Bryn must face his past to thwart the users. The result was a story that differed from the first book in that it followed one case through to conclusion instead of many, yet it contained the high-octane elements that I have come to expect from this super author.
The story is told in the third person solely from Bryn’s viewpoint, whose sarcasm I adore and whose conversations spark witty comebacks alongside levity in serious situations. It’s part of Bryn’s soul, used as a form of protection and as a way of delivering a message. The world in which Bryn operates was established in book one. However, characters, dynamics, and relationships evolve and expand. It feels like everyone has a story to tell about how they ended up where they were, including hidden secrets that I hope will become apparent over time. What this does for a story is give it unpredictability, which occasionally left me wondering what could have been possible earlier, and what answers lie in future books. All we currently know for certain is that Gunner would sacrifice his life for Bryn and vice versa. In the greater scheme of things, who knows who is working for good or bad, knowingly or unknowingly?
Seeing Blood contains multiple criminal and personal angles, and targets are aplenty. Various MOB-related factions have more than one target, of which Bryn is often one of them. This makes for an interesting read as different unions have opposing agendas. Let's not forget the overarching story of the psychopathic serial killer targeting Bryn that constantly lingers in the background.
In some respects, Seeing Blood suffers from what I call sequelitus. Some things aren’t a surprise because of what I read in book one, but it doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a well-written book and there is more to come in book three – Seeing Evil, of which one can read an excerpt at the end of Seeing Blood.
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Crimson Codex (The Mage and His Brute #3)
by Ava Marie Salinger (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes 5 hearts.
After being caught between the wheels of justice and politics for the events in Stolen Magic, Evander is asked to form a team and seek out the Crimson Codex. To do so entails travelling Europe with a small, capable te Reviewed for Love Bytes 5 hearts.
After being caught between the wheels of justice and politics for the events in Stolen Magic, Evander is asked to form a team and seek out the Crimson Codex. To do so entails travelling Europe with a small, capable team able to cope with any situation. However, as much as Evander is willing to put his life on the line for the sake of others, some wish him to understand his importance in their lives.
Before I begin the review in earnest, I’m going to give a shout-out to the artwork on the cover of these books. If I were in a bookshop, I’d pick up this book for its cover alone. Beautiful.
Anyhoo, what a welcome return of this awesome series. Crimson Codex is book three in The Mage and His Brute series. The books connect by a related investigation into the overarching arc for an individual bent on domination. Each one gets that bit closer to the big bad, and each adventure puts more on the line for our intrepid heroes. Who knows what can happen around the next corner, and it was an adventure that I eagerly returned to at every chance.
The story is written in the third person from the viewpoints of Viggo and Evander. The setting is Victorian England. While all levels of society are used within the pages, this instalment is high-society strong, detailing some of the bonds between the aristocracy and those less affluent. It also showed that ‘I’s’ activities affect all levels of society.
Established cast members return, but new characters are introduced that could prove useful, and I was absolutely proud to see strong women prove that there is more to them than pretty dresses. I actively fist-pumped the air with the occasional ‘go girl’.
Within the story, there is gripping action, but most of the fascinating parts are in unravelling the clues and following the investigation. Evander is continually reminded that he isn’t on his own – though I suspect it is a work in progress.
Crimson Codex is page-turning stuff, and I soak up every word with enthusiasm, and I can feel them getting closer to whoever ‘I’ is. I love everything about this series, but I am hoping that the mystery is solved in the next book, as I’m not sure whether my heart can take more than that – I need the answers. Once completed, give them another adventure, but please complete this one soon.
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Fixer: a Hidden Wolves prequel
by Kaje Harper (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 3.75 hearts
After a man Dustin admired killed his brother, Shawn, on the orders of their Alpha, Dustin became a lone wolf and disappeared from the pack. Years later, the man Dustin hated found him. Wade, the pack fixer, wante Reviewed for Love Bytes – 3.75 hearts
After a man Dustin admired killed his brother, Shawn, on the orders of their Alpha, Dustin became a lone wolf and disappeared from the pack. Years later, the man Dustin hated found him. Wade, the pack fixer, wanted nothing more than to clarify his actions, but everyone had to believe the worst. The question was – would Wade get the chance to explain that all was not as it seemed?
Fixer is the prequel to the already existing Hidden Wolf series. Therefore, I suspect that anyone who has already read the series will, for loose ends' sake, origins, or love of characters, probably get more from this story than an unsuspecting newcomer. I am a newcomer to this series, but having read novels by Kaje Harper in the past and enjoyed them, I gave it a whirl. I found the tale sweet and enjoyable, but low on heart-rate-altering moments, which is an aspect I relish in my reading. Any scenes that had the potential to be dramatically compelling were diplomatically avoided or easily resolved.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Dustin and Wade. Technical aspects and worldbuilding are of an excellent standard. I had no problems imagining the people and scenery. Also, the spice between Dustin and Wade will leave many needing a cold shower.
Dustin is a good man with a big heart. Although he doesn’t have a wolf pack, he is protective of the people in his building and does his best to keep them safe from harm. This could be a person a few blocks away or scheming profiteers out to line their pockets. The loss of Shawn hit him hard, but as the blurb says, Wade the fixer has the solution to that.
After providing a fix for Shawn, Wade eventually leaves the pack and becomes a PI. He is street-smart and is extremely competent at his job. He is a man fully aware of the good and bad within people and how to exploit it. After finding Dustin, Wade helps him find justice for the repressed while ensuring future happiness. I can imagine all sorts of ways these two would be used in future novels.
As a prequel and introduction to the series, I’d look forward to future instalments, hoping that Wade's skills, lost and found packs, and other adventures, provide the heart-stopping moments I crave. There’s nothing wrong with the story. As already mentioned, it is sweet. I just didn’t get over-excited about it. I may have appreciated this novella more if I’d read the other books first. Then, maybe I’d understand why the prequel was written.
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Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights by T.J. Rose

Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights (The Killigrew Street Case Files #2)
by T.J. Rose (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 hearts.
What do you get when a gay wolf shifter and a straight telepath go undercover in Scotland? A lot more than heather and thistles.
Moonlit Nights and Northern Lights is the second book in The Killigrew Street Case Fil Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 hearts.
What do you get when a gay wolf shifter and a straight telepath go undercover in Scotland? A lot more than heather and thistles.
Moonlit Nights and Northern Lights is the second book in The Killigrew Street Case Files. Individual books have their specific cases to solve involving different couplings from the team, but there is an overarching arc to the series. Anyhoo, onward and upward, as they say. This is one long-assed read, so my first thought was – it’d better be good. Thankfully TJ Rose is an author I trust, so my journey into the case began. The first words on the page were entertaining, and it was a story that just kept giving. The tale is neither rushed nor slow. It allowed the case to unfold, alongside the drama and spice.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Rory and Theo. Worldbuilding begins in the hustle and bustle of London, but soon moves to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, whose scenery is simplistic and breathtakingly beautiful. This allows the focus to remain on the case and the burgeoning relationship between Rory and Theo, without getting sidetracked by overly complicated picture painting. As with many stories, spice is part of the narrative. In this area, TJ Rose writes a damned good sex scene. As the rest is delectable, I’ll have to forgive the three little words ‘come for me’, that I’d happily have struck from any form of writing. A single appearance is too much for me – sorry.
Rory is a wolf shifter whose ADHD and unenlightened parents caused him childhood pain and suffering. Between the need to help and gain approval, self-doubt is a constant companion. As a grown man with severed ties to his parents, Rory’s return to the highlands highlights the archaic dynamics of the pack and how wonderful the acceptance for who you are, and not what a person thinks you should be, can be.
Initially, Theo comes over as a man with very long sticks in various places. However, the more his world is revealed, the sticks are soon replaced by understanding and the heart of a wonderfully accepting, protective man. Theo is a telepath, and as revenge for an earlier incident, Rory causes the man mental mayhem by entertainingly bombarding his thoughts. Nevertheless, Theo is an intelligent man and learns the best way to handle the wayward wolf.
As for the extended cast, it was excellent to see the Killigrew Street guys and gal band together to help and protect each other. Kudos here to Freddy the zombie ferret, whose page time was always memorable.
When I saw the page count of this story, I wondered what could justify such a lengthy tale. The answer was this story. There isn’t anything I’d suggest removing. Nothing went off the rails into the realm of ‘sidetracked’. It was a tale of investigative adventure, acceptance, family in all its forms, life on the line drama, love, big hearts and more. I loved being able to sink into the world created and stay there, knowing there is more to come in future instalments.
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Incubus Vampire Slayer (Alvin Alonso's Secret Files #2)
by Alex Woolfson (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.25 hearts
With the Avatar in his pocket, Alvin is on a mission with two goals. Firstly, to save the children kidnapped by vampires, and secondly, to free the Avatar, Colin. Thus far, Alvin has embarked on a whirlwind advent Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.25 hearts
With the Avatar in his pocket, Alvin is on a mission with two goals. Firstly, to save the children kidnapped by vampires, and secondly, to free the Avatar, Colin. Thus far, Alvin has embarked on a whirlwind adventure where he has been scared, brave, determined and enlightened. Will the finale be his making or end?
Incubus Vampire Slayer is the second book that is released simultaneously with its counterpart, The Reluctant Incubus, which must be read first. There’s a lot to like in this story, but I had a couple of issues which lowered the overall mark.
The story is told in the first person from Alvin’s perspective. Worldbuilding is wonderfully vivid, leaving me with clear images of the characters and their surroundings. However, grammatically, there remains the issue of using far too many brackets, whose overuse could have been either avoided or at least significantly reduced. For the most part, I found the words contained within the brackets distracting, occasionally amusing, but mostly irritating.
Alvin is a conflicted man. He believes himself to be an unwilling monster. He’s a good man with a heart of gold and a willingness to do good that goes beyond the stratosphere. Colin helps him on his journey to heroic enlightenment. However, other than prolonging the release of significantly important information to increase the dramatic effect, I struggled to understand why Colin chose the route of slow-release, providing scant reasoning for withholding details that could have helped Alvin gain more success and fewer failures.
The extended cast was an interesting mix of characters, who I believe could have stories of their own. I especially liked the Elven Prince. He had a deliciously devious side, a way with words, and a little nugget of a good side. I’d gladly read a story with him as the MC, minus the brackets.
Incubus Vampire Slayer was an action-packed, entertaining read. Some parts were sheer brilliance, while other aspects frustrated the demon out of me.
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The Reluctant Incubus (Alvin Alonso's Secret Files #1)
by Alex Woolfson (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4 hearts.
To look at Alvin, one would think he’s nothing special. However, he keeps a monster force at bay by not feeding it. It’s a battle, but he bears it. That is, until he strikes a bargain with an elf, which leads him do Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4 hearts.
To look at Alvin, one would think he’s nothing special. However, he keeps a monster force at bay by not feeding it. It’s a battle, but he bears it. That is, until he strikes a bargain with an elf, which leads him down a path of obligation, discovery, danger and something else.
The Reluctant Incubus is a good story, but my issues lie with its technicalities, which made it, for want of better phrasing, heavy on the eyes. Among other things, the typeface, linespacing, and length of some paragraphs made it challenging to read, requiring frequent breaks. My copy was a pre-publication manuscript; therefore, some of these things may change by the time the final version is published.
The story is told in the first person from Alvin’s perspective. The writing paints vivid pictures with words that leave clear, detailed images. I’ve already mentioned some technical issues, but others include the excessive use of brackets. With a bit of sentence restructuring, these are entirely unnecessary. A side effect of stories told in the first person is that they often contain a lot of internal rambling. Portions of these ramblings are relatable and entertaining. But occasionally, these include extra information that distracts from the scene, reducing its impact. Finding an excellent, ball-breaker of a pre-reader is like gold dust. They might tell authors things they don’t want to hear, but all novels benefit from their sometimes-brutal feedback – and this novel would profit from such a person.
Alvin is a likeable, good, and extremely self-deprecating person, frightened about what he’s capable of. He doesn’t want to hurt people. Even in his unpowered mode, he can sense magic; he also has an active imagination fueled by fact and fiction. For much of his life, he has been in willful denial about many things. His mother, being a powerful piece of work, is largely to blame for his state of mind. During the narrative, Alvin is dragged out of the Egyptian river and into the world of ‘I can do this’ with the preface of ‘I don’t have much of a choice’.
Alvin’s new state of living has him going with gut feelings, then second guessing them. He’s in a world with a steep learning curve and lots of questions that need answering. Trust of himself and those around him is a bumpy road. Yet beneath it all Alvin has a strong will and willingness to do the right thing.
The more I read, the more the tossed salad of events became more organized. However, there is a way to go, so I am looking forward to book two.
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Catching Hanif's Eye
by Patrick Doyle (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
While in a relationship that basically passes the time, Tom has been told that he’s going blind. But while at the hospital, he befriends another partially sighted man, so all’s not bad. However, strange encounters Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
While in a relationship that basically passes the time, Tom has been told that he’s going blind. But while at the hospital, he befriends another partially sighted man, so all’s not bad. However, strange encounters make Tom wonder. Who is a mark, a friend, being used or a willing participant? There’s also the question of why, and does love conquer all?
This story had me in a bit of a quandary. On the one hand, the ‘who dunnit’ side of espionage was sheer brilliance. But I struggled to connect with any of the characters, and I like a connection. Then again, given that undercover activities are afoot, and anyone could be lying, would I make myself open to a connection? Would I have a choice? If in Tom’s position, would I know? Is this a dilemma that plagues the MC, or was he a bit of a dufus to begin with? Tom’s state of mind flip-flops like a fish on dry land, but if I were in his position, would mine? Does that make me have a connection to the characters or not?
The story is told in the third person from the sole viewpoint of Tom. Worldbuilding evolves from everyday life to one of checking the shadows. To this extent, the tale is exceedingly atmospheric. The blurb mentions Tom’s blindness, so I’m not giving anything away here. The opening chapter has me questioning Tom’s character because it includes Tom's potential blindness, and the stress makes him want to have sex with someone who is not his boyfriend. Mmm – I guess stress affects everyone differently, so fair enough, but also WTF. This is where my struggles with Tom began and were never silenced. One way or another, every situation gave Tom a stiffy. However, while there were intimate activities, the majority of them were behind closed doors, and I don’t believe the story suffered for it.
I’m not going to say anything about Hanif, because to do so would give spoilers. Anyhoo, by the end, I had a few unanswered questions, such as how did X get Y, and what about Z, and as this is a standalone book, they’re not likely to be answered.
Soooo, as spy novels go, the intrigue and complexity are some of the best I’ve read, and if you like characters that are off the beaten path, then this is a must for your library. However, if relatable MCs are a must, you could struggle a bit.
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Bait and Switch (Subtle Deceptions, #2)
by Elle Keaton (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 hearts.
Gabe continues to be a grifter in hiding. However, the fates are not on his side when his ex turns up dead on a neighboring boat, which raises a slew of questions, and the local sheriff seems determined to pin the m Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 hearts.
Gabe continues to be a grifter in hiding. However, the fates are not on his side when his ex turns up dead on a neighboring boat, which raises a slew of questions, and the local sheriff seems determined to pin the murder on Gabe. Meanwhile, Casey’s quiet life as a ranger is being seriously disturbed by more than missing people.
Bait and Switch is the second book in the Subtle Deceptions series, and oh my, what a delightful return it is. The plot thickens with murder, corrupt cops, plenty of secrets, and drama that I didn’t see coming. Is it still a slow burn – hell yes – but I was completely absorbed by the characters, setting, and story. Also, the pace and adrenaline increase as we approach the climax. I just had to recall that immortal line from the film George of the Jungle, ‘Don’t worry, folks, he can’t die, he’s the hero.’ Because, let’s face it – they’re in the next book.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Gabe and Casey. I was too immersed in the tale to notice technicalities, but nothing glared out at me. Having said that, there was one instance of my hated line ‘come for me’ – gahhhh. But I’ll forgive that since the rest was so good. Elle has a wonderful affinity for setting a scene and immersing the reader in it. When she describes a place, I can imagine myself there. Also, it’s little things, like telling the dog, ‘You don’t have time for the cat.’ Those are the things that make the difference between good and blooming marvelous. As with many of Elle Keaton’s books, there are a lot of family connections, which can get a bit confusing, but what family isn’t?
While Casey plays a significant role in this tale, Gabe remains at the forefront, with Elton being one of those awesome old-timers whose life experiences could be the subject of a book in their own right (cough, cough, hint, hint – ELLLLEEE). The use of Gabriel’s mother's voice to impart nuggets of wisdom is used to good effect, and I love that Gabe is honest about being a former businessman of the shady kind.
I’ve already mentioned some of the contents that had me avidly turning the page, which just leaves me to raise my pom poms with a sqweeeeee at the crossovers. I might have grinned like a Cheshire cat when certain characters make a brief but memorable appearance, of which you’ll have to check out the Love Bytes tags to get more info.
Yep – loved it – bravo.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
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Taylin Clavelli rated a book it was amazing

The Tex Hex (Bitches With Stitches #3)
by Raquel Riley (Goodreads Author)

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Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
Armando, aka Mandy, was a military demolitions expert before being blown up. Also ex-military, Tex is a recovering addict whose carefree attitude masks vulnerability and a world of hurt. Both believe that the pers Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
Armando, aka Mandy, was a military demolitions expert before being blown up. Also ex-military, Tex is a recovering addict whose carefree attitude masks vulnerability and a world of hurt. Both believe that the person under the mask is unlovable.
The Tex Hex is the third book in the Bitches With Stitches series. It is hard-hitting, graphic, and sometimes repetitive because it is human nature that, when we know something isn't right, we revisit it repeatedly, allowing little revelations to occur until we're ready to act or come to terms with what has happened.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Tex and Mandy. The prologue depicts Mandy being blown up and the accompanying sensations. These were traumatic to read, which immediately pulls the reader into the realm of reality over fantasy. Throughout, dry, sarcastic, and sassy humor is used to great effect, adding an element of levity that helps both the reader and characters navigate the journey. Cookouts and other social occasions are used to help the characters realize that they are not alone.
Compared to many, Tex had a very different experience of the army. His trauma isn’t as visual, yet no less real than Mandy’s or any of the other characters. However, his masks are less easily seen by others, while inside he falls to pieces. Just because people can’t see his damage doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Tex and Mandy love one another, but invisible obstacles block their path. Therapy and a sound support system help show them a way to deal with their individual trauma while finding their way to each other. Still, it is up to them to take the steps.
The Tex Hex is an emotional and raw experience. Tex and Mandy are afraid to love and be loved. The words felt very real to read, and I couldn’t help feeling for these men. The journey helps everyone within the sphere of this story come to terms with the fact that you don’t have to succeed; simply trying can be enough.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
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