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Vásquez & James #1
Loving Luki Vásquez
Reclusive weaver Sonny Bly James controls every color and shape in his tapestries, but he can’t control the pattern of his life—a random encounter with Luki Vásquez, ex-ATF agent and all-around badass, makes that perfectly clear. The mutual attraction is immediate, but love-shy Sonny has retreated from life, and Luki wears his visible and not-so-visible scars like armor. Neither can bare his soul with ease.
While they run from desire, they can’t hide from the evil that hunts them. After it becomes clear that a violent stalker has targeted Sonny, Luki’s protective instincts won’t let him run far, especially when Sonny’s family is targeted as well. Whether they can forgive or forget, Sonny and Luki will have to call a truce and work together to save Sonny’s nephew and fight an enemy intent on making sure loving Luki Vásquez is the last mistake Sonny will ever make.
While they run from desire, they can’t hide from the evil that hunts them. After it becomes clear that a violent stalker has targeted Sonny, Luki’s protective instincts won’t let him run far, especially when Sonny’s family is targeted as well. Whether they can forgive or forget, Sonny and Luki will have to call a truce and work together to save Sonny’s nephew and fight an enemy intent on making sure loving Luki Vásquez is the last mistake Sonny will ever make.
220 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2011
17 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Lou Sylvre
29 books130 followersLou Sylvre loves stories and likes to conjure them into books. When the stories are about love, the sweethearts on her pages are most often men who end up loving each other and likely saving each other from unspeakable danger. As if you’d want to know more, she’ll happily tell you that she is a proudly bisexual woman—a mother, grandmother, and cat-herder (with a dog). Her love of languages is no doubt a result of her interestingly mixed up heritage. Her over-the-top love of her rainbow-colored demi-tasse set cannot be adequately explained. She also loves music coffee, chocolate, and wild roses. As a writer, she works closely with lead cat assistant Boudreau St. Clair. Lou grew up in the Los Angeles area, where barefoot was always best for a kid. She now lives in the lush, rainy part of the Pacific Northwest, and hearing from a reader unfailingly brightens the dismal weather. Her email is louwrites@rainbowgate.com.
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(and she’s pretty sure she still has a tumblr account…)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
amazon.com/author/lousylvre
http://www.sylvre.rainbow-gate.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLouSyl...
https://www.facebook.com/sylvrebarwel...
https://twitter.com/Sylvre
https://mewe.com/i/lousylvre
https://www.instagram.com/sylvre/
(and she’s pretty sure she still has a tumblr account…)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
April 29, 2013
4.5 Stars for this amazing book which is emotionally charged and full of action, Lou Sylvre has such a way with words, she is truly a gifted author… she had me encapsulated in my own little world, just me and the guys and a few friends on a journey so vivid in my imagination and heart… I was euphoric and a mess! Great start, loved it, Woohoo… now onto the next!!!
Oh what a wonderful tale you weave Lou Sylvre! I was sucked in and captivated from the start… totally enthralled and bewitched by two characters that now have a place in my heart. The writing at times was just outstanding, beautifully poignant with evocative prose that had me in tears… and with the action and anticipation pulling me all the way to the end of the book there were more tears, smiles, anger, frustration and sadness, all of which bought about an ending that has yet to reach a conclusion, and I so need to read Delsyn’s Blues NOW to catch up with my boys, well, men really!!. So right now I am wholeheartedly invested in these two lonely and insular men, lost souls taking tentative steps into a world of emotional turmoil that was unfamiliar and something neither of them knew how to deal with.
Luki and Sonny are total opposites, yet both very complex characters and in this book we glean some insight into what makes Luki tick and although the author hinted at a past full of ghosts for Sonny, this first book in the series seems to have focused on Luki. He has spent the last 28 years arming himself both mentally and physically, putting up barriers and encasing his heart in ice. His life is full of order and he is completely focused on maintaining his cold and stoical intimidating persona… a mask with which to fool the world that on the inside, he is NOT a terrified child still haunted by the incident that left him facially scarred… which was nothing compared to the scars on his psyche that left him pushing away any kind of emotional attachment. But where Luki’s life is full of rain clouds and misery, Sonny’s life is a spectrum of colours… so very bright and beautiful, and with his creative spirit comes deep intuition and understanding… he see’s things which others are oblivious to and he can see right into the soul of the man that was embracing his heart. Sonny trusts Luki and see’s past the smoke and mirrors to the man who craves love but was still that lost boy afraid to let his emotions free. He see’s himself as ugly, yet to Sonny he was the most beautiful man he had ever seen… for the first time in his life there was a spark of emotion a warmth emanating from Sonny his kindness and compassion lifted both Luki's heart and soul and with Sonny's easy manner and sense of humour, throw in a little stubbornness and strength of character and Luki was in danger of losing his stubborn resolve!
“Is that how you see… saw me? You thought I was beautiful?”“Yes” Sonny said, and then sighed. His voice had lost it’s edge, melodious and rich again.“That’s how I see you. I think you’re beautiful. How could that change? I see what’s there. I always see what’s there.”
Luki Vasquez, once an agent for ATF (alcohol, tobacco and firearms) is now in security, the poor man seems to spend most of his time throwing up, smoking ciggies and popping a breath mint, all signs of his insecurities and vulnerability, the face he hides from the world, so a chance encounter with the socially awkward Sonny James, a man who also prefers his own company to that of others, a man who has no defences other than his smart mouth… and yet, there is a mutual attraction that neither of them is prepared for, so when circumstances throw them together and it appears as though there is someone out to get Sonny, Luki pulls all his agents into the action to help find the man responsible and he will not stop till he gets his man which is no easy task when he feels that his emotional attachment to Sonny is clouding his judgment… and losing his edge now could jeopardise the whole investigation.
Sonny and Luki began to grow together. The artist in Sonny saw it as if from a distance, each of them changing orientation the way plants move imperceptibly, but fast, until all the leaves face toward the sun.
The love scenes between the badass man whore Luki and Sonny the very inexperienced sweet boy, varied from an inferno of passion and lust, so fierce it overwhelmed their senses to other times when they were passionate and sensual a connection so deep neither were able to comprehend, for both of them it was not just a physical connection… it was a connection so emotionally intense my heart was pounding and not just because it was hot but because the author conveyed that profound emotion to me as a reader and I was just melted.
Oh my God, tears. they welled up in his eyes and flowed over. His face felt wet and heavy drops ran down his scar like a riverbed, like that was the reason the scar was made, to give the tears a place to run. He wanted to howl, to sob, to bury his face in a pillow and scream, but he didn’t. He sat stock-still, holding back the screams, and it hurt.
When I was reading this book, such was my connection to the characters that
I had a knot in my chest for the most part… but it’s not all completely emotionally overwhelming… there are also laughs, thanks to Sonny’s sense of humour and Luki’s lack of, and when the plot gets going they are both embroiled in the action. As you have probably guessed, I loved this book and I so want to give it five stars, because for the most part it was a five plus star book, but as fluid and sweetly smooth the action was when focused on our two MC’s, when the story diverted back to the plot a few times I had to look back just to clarify my understanding, It is a minor niggle and does not in any way detract from just how BRILLIANT the promise of this series is for me… I am excited!!!
The ending was pretty tense and a heart in your mouth moment which is left open… so the next book best pick up where this one left off, AND I NEED ANSWERS!!
Series reading order
Loving Luki Vasquez (Vasquez & James #1)
Delsyn’s Blues (Vasquez & James #2)
Finding Jackie (Vasquez & James #3) Due for release May 17th
Oh what a wonderful tale you weave Lou Sylvre! I was sucked in and captivated from the start… totally enthralled and bewitched by two characters that now have a place in my heart. The writing at times was just outstanding, beautifully poignant with evocative prose that had me in tears… and with the action and anticipation pulling me all the way to the end of the book there were more tears, smiles, anger, frustration and sadness, all of which bought about an ending that has yet to reach a conclusion, and I so need to read Delsyn’s Blues NOW to catch up with my boys, well, men really!!. So right now I am wholeheartedly invested in these two lonely and insular men, lost souls taking tentative steps into a world of emotional turmoil that was unfamiliar and something neither of them knew how to deal with.
Luki and Sonny are total opposites, yet both very complex characters and in this book we glean some insight into what makes Luki tick and although the author hinted at a past full of ghosts for Sonny, this first book in the series seems to have focused on Luki. He has spent the last 28 years arming himself both mentally and physically, putting up barriers and encasing his heart in ice. His life is full of order and he is completely focused on maintaining his cold and stoical intimidating persona… a mask with which to fool the world that on the inside, he is NOT a terrified child still haunted by the incident that left him facially scarred… which was nothing compared to the scars on his psyche that left him pushing away any kind of emotional attachment. But where Luki’s life is full of rain clouds and misery, Sonny’s life is a spectrum of colours… so very bright and beautiful, and with his creative spirit comes deep intuition and understanding… he see’s things which others are oblivious to and he can see right into the soul of the man that was embracing his heart. Sonny trusts Luki and see’s past the smoke and mirrors to the man who craves love but was still that lost boy afraid to let his emotions free. He see’s himself as ugly, yet to Sonny he was the most beautiful man he had ever seen… for the first time in his life there was a spark of emotion a warmth emanating from Sonny his kindness and compassion lifted both Luki's heart and soul and with Sonny's easy manner and sense of humour, throw in a little stubbornness and strength of character and Luki was in danger of losing his stubborn resolve!
“Is that how you see… saw me? You thought I was beautiful?”“Yes” Sonny said, and then sighed. His voice had lost it’s edge, melodious and rich again.“That’s how I see you. I think you’re beautiful. How could that change? I see what’s there. I always see what’s there.”
Luki Vasquez, once an agent for ATF (alcohol, tobacco and firearms) is now in security, the poor man seems to spend most of his time throwing up, smoking ciggies and popping a breath mint, all signs of his insecurities and vulnerability, the face he hides from the world, so a chance encounter with the socially awkward Sonny James, a man who also prefers his own company to that of others, a man who has no defences other than his smart mouth… and yet, there is a mutual attraction that neither of them is prepared for, so when circumstances throw them together and it appears as though there is someone out to get Sonny, Luki pulls all his agents into the action to help find the man responsible and he will not stop till he gets his man which is no easy task when he feels that his emotional attachment to Sonny is clouding his judgment… and losing his edge now could jeopardise the whole investigation.
Sonny and Luki began to grow together. The artist in Sonny saw it as if from a distance, each of them changing orientation the way plants move imperceptibly, but fast, until all the leaves face toward the sun.
The love scenes between the badass man whore Luki and Sonny the very inexperienced sweet boy, varied from an inferno of passion and lust, so fierce it overwhelmed their senses to other times when they were passionate and sensual a connection so deep neither were able to comprehend, for both of them it was not just a physical connection… it was a connection so emotionally intense my heart was pounding and not just because it was hot but because the author conveyed that profound emotion to me as a reader and I was just melted.
Oh my God, tears. they welled up in his eyes and flowed over. His face felt wet and heavy drops ran down his scar like a riverbed, like that was the reason the scar was made, to give the tears a place to run. He wanted to howl, to sob, to bury his face in a pillow and scream, but he didn’t. He sat stock-still, holding back the screams, and it hurt.
When I was reading this book, such was my connection to the characters that
I had a knot in my chest for the most part… but it’s not all completely emotionally overwhelming… there are also laughs, thanks to Sonny’s sense of humour and Luki’s lack of, and when the plot gets going they are both embroiled in the action. As you have probably guessed, I loved this book and I so want to give it five stars, because for the most part it was a five plus star book, but as fluid and sweetly smooth the action was when focused on our two MC’s, when the story diverted back to the plot a few times I had to look back just to clarify my understanding, It is a minor niggle and does not in any way detract from just how BRILLIANT the promise of this series is for me… I am excited!!!
The ending was pretty tense and a heart in your mouth moment which is left open… so the next book best pick up where this one left off, AND I NEED ANSWERS!!
Series reading order
Loving Luki Vasquez (Vasquez & James #1)
Delsyn’s Blues (Vasquez & James #2)
Finding Jackie (Vasquez & James #3) Due for release May 17th
May 10, 2013
Do you know what I love about this book? The premise, the idea of it: a scarred alpha bad ass ex ATF agent who meets a reclusive weaver. A weaver? I hear you ask? Yeah, a weaver who weaves yarn - making tapestries. So yeah, that was a first and I was intrigued.
Let me start with the thing I liked: This book has some really lovely prose, which is what encouraged me to finish it in the first place. This author certainly has a way with words - but it’s so very clear to me that it takes a hell of a lot more than pretty words to weave a great story, or even a good one.
The writing is totally overshadowed by everything else, and I mean everything!
The plot is clumsy and long-winded with too many threads left hanging only to be picked up way too late in the story, or not at all - confusing and frustrating, yes, but also leaving a big fat hole in the weave.
All too often I had the impression I’d missed something and had to flick back to double check, and I freaking hate that! The whole structure is just a mess.
The shared POV’s and third person narrative is just … I don’t know, er … weird? The originally appealing pretty prose starts to become annoying with too many similes and some odd use of words like this:
“Slowly, then up again, until he came once more to the center of Sonny’s excitement, pleasure, and despair …”
Why despair when describing a dick? I don’t get that, it’s just dumb. If his cock was “weeping” pre-come I might be able to see a poetic reference – but no, and too many displaced words like this really do tend to grate.
The mystery: is the main focus of this story involving homophobic hate crimes targeting Sonny or is it Luki? You decide. I found the whole thing unlikely, the hater’s motivation, the execution and the finale. Too many things didn’t make sense.
The villain has the slimmest of links to the story and comes across as kind of funny, in an oh-my-god-are-you-stroking-your-cat-while-you-text-me kind of way.
Luki Vasquez: My first image of Luki is described as a gorgeous man in a white linen suit with long curly hair, dark skin and an icy gaze. Please forgive me, but all I see is an 80’s Chippendale cover model or a tanned Michael Bolton. It was snigger and snort at first sight. This guy is an ex ATF agent, bad ass alpha male who carries conditioner in his weapons bag – I shit you not!
He is scarred both physically and emotionally and has been for a very long time, he is a character that I should have loved. He is protective and caring, a broken insecure man who is lost and afraid of love – yeah you know the type.
The issues I have with this super cool, super scary bad dude with the icy stare, is that we don’t really get a proper demonstration of his prowess, and when we do – he pukes. No really, he does. He pukes a … lot: if he see’s blood - he pukes, he hears a really sad and disturbing story of abuse – he pukes, he sees the word faggot – he pukes.
Luki –Puki / Puki-Luki <-- that’s what keeps going through my head, cos I’m really mature like that.
He also has this whole fleet of agents at his beck and call. How? Why? Where did he get his money from?
I admit there was no connection or attraction for me with Luki, and when it comes – it’s too late.
At 75% I swallowed a lump in my throat when I learned some of his back story, the author writes that part very well, because it’s simple and it was from the heart, detached from the plot (kind of) and told in the third person, which is this authors strength, it would seem that anything to do with matters of the heart and emotion(aly) this author does very well. I won’t take that away and this is what kept me reading to be honest.
Sonny Bly James: <- Great name! Nice guy. Reclusive and artistic Sonny is a real mystery to me. Who is he? He hints at a difficult past and a life on the streets - so why the sexual innocence at the age of 29? I’m not buying that.
He’s a Dr too – a doctor of what exactly? I did warm to dear Sonny about halfway through, but like Luki, I never established a real connection here – too little too late I’m afraid.
There is no build up to the relationship between these guys. Their dialogue is so embarrassing, I feel like cringing especially at the stupid catch phrase they seem to have adopted: “What are you looking at.”
Overall this book was a chore. It never held my attention and tested my patience. It entertained me with accidental humour and annoyed me, because this had potential. The author has a talent with prose but it was wasted on the messy structure of this story – I mean the premise of this story has so much potential, the writer is talented – it should have worked and worked well. I say sack the editor.
Do I recommend it? No, not particularly – but do go and read the other reviews. There is a lot of passion and love for this story. Perhaps my lack of attention leads me to miss a few vital clues here and thus the point. I’ll use my favourite analogy and call it another marmite book.
Let me start with the thing I liked: This book has some really lovely prose, which is what encouraged me to finish it in the first place. This author certainly has a way with words - but it’s so very clear to me that it takes a hell of a lot more than pretty words to weave a great story, or even a good one.
The writing is totally overshadowed by everything else, and I mean everything!
The plot is clumsy and long-winded with too many threads left hanging only to be picked up way too late in the story, or not at all - confusing and frustrating, yes, but also leaving a big fat hole in the weave.
All too often I had the impression I’d missed something and had to flick back to double check, and I freaking hate that! The whole structure is just a mess.
The shared POV’s and third person narrative is just … I don’t know, er … weird? The originally appealing pretty prose starts to become annoying with too many similes and some odd use of words like this:
“Slowly, then up again, until he came once more to the center of Sonny’s excitement, pleasure, and despair …”
Why despair when describing a dick? I don’t get that, it’s just dumb. If his cock was “weeping” pre-come I might be able to see a poetic reference – but no, and too many displaced words like this really do tend to grate.
The mystery: is the main focus of this story involving homophobic hate crimes targeting Sonny or is it Luki? You decide. I found the whole thing unlikely, the hater’s motivation, the execution and the finale. Too many things didn’t make sense.
The villain has the slimmest of links to the story and comes across as kind of funny, in an oh-my-god-are-you-stroking-your-cat-while-you-text-me kind of way.
Luki Vasquez: My first image of Luki is described as a gorgeous man in a white linen suit with long curly hair, dark skin and an icy gaze. Please forgive me, but all I see is an 80’s Chippendale cover model or a tanned Michael Bolton. It was snigger and snort at first sight. This guy is an ex ATF agent, bad ass alpha male who carries conditioner in his weapons bag – I shit you not!
He is scarred both physically and emotionally and has been for a very long time, he is a character that I should have loved. He is protective and caring, a broken insecure man who is lost and afraid of love – yeah you know the type.
The issues I have with this super cool, super scary bad dude with the icy stare, is that we don’t really get a proper demonstration of his prowess, and when we do – he pukes. No really, he does. He pukes a … lot: if he see’s blood - he pukes, he hears a really sad and disturbing story of abuse – he pukes, he sees the word faggot – he pukes.
Luki –Puki / Puki-Luki <-- that’s what keeps going through my head, cos I’m really mature like that.
He also has this whole fleet of agents at his beck and call. How? Why? Where did he get his money from?
I admit there was no connection or attraction for me with Luki, and when it comes – it’s too late.
At 75% I swallowed a lump in my throat when I learned some of his back story, the author writes that part very well, because it’s simple and it was from the heart, detached from the plot (kind of) and told in the third person, which is this authors strength, it would seem that anything to do with matters of the heart and emotion(aly) this author does very well. I won’t take that away and this is what kept me reading to be honest.
Sonny Bly James: <- Great name! Nice guy. Reclusive and artistic Sonny is a real mystery to me. Who is he? He hints at a difficult past and a life on the streets - so why the sexual innocence at the age of 29? I’m not buying that.
He’s a Dr too – a doctor of what exactly? I did warm to dear Sonny about halfway through, but like Luki, I never established a real connection here – too little too late I’m afraid.
There is no build up to the relationship between these guys. Their dialogue is so embarrassing, I feel like cringing especially at the stupid catch phrase they seem to have adopted: “What are you looking at.”
Overall this book was a chore. It never held my attention and tested my patience. It entertained me with accidental humour and annoyed me, because this had potential. The author has a talent with prose but it was wasted on the messy structure of this story – I mean the premise of this story has so much potential, the writer is talented – it should have worked and worked well. I say sack the editor.
Do I recommend it? No, not particularly – but do go and read the other reviews. There is a lot of passion and love for this story. Perhaps my lack of attention leads me to miss a few vital clues here and thus the point. I’ll use my favourite analogy and call it another marmite book.
October 13, 2013
You are driving in a foreign country and you don’t understand the road signs. It’s foggy out. Annnddd you are driving a stick shift for the very first time.
Unpleasant, frustrating and maddening at times….Yep, that about sums up how this ride was for me.
I was lost. I was confused. The story felt muddled and jerky with random words thrown in here and there. Simply put, it was a challenge to finish.
My other problem….I never connected with either MC, and to be honest, I don’t think I know them very well.
Here’s what I did get….
Luki~
He’s a jackass. Hey, don’t look at me like that, he claims the title himself. A horrific attack during his childhood flipped his world upside down, and he never fully rights himself.
His job….this was a big hiccup for me.
He’s an ex-ATF agent. That’s all I really understood. Does he have his own business? And if so, he’s the boss, but how does he have ATF agents at his beck and call? ‘His people’ jump to assist him on the case he’s investigating, a B&E/vandalism which turns into a kidnapping case. Can someone please explain this to me? I musta missed something? Sadly, this isn’t the first time I felt like this.
He suffers from a weak stomach (mainly harbored anxiety and fear trailing him from his ‘accident’) which causes him to puke, and puke, and then puke some more. Ugh, I struggle when other’s around me puke; apparently fictional vomit bothers me too. He’s heavily dependent on his smokes, and his cig cravings drove me up the wall.
Descriptions were random as well. I know a lot of cops and agents and I can promise you, none of them would refer to their holsters as ‘fastening devices’.
Sonny~
Not quite thirty years old, a virgin (I think?), a weaver and a bit of a hermit. He loves to play with his string and yarn (I’m not making that up!), has a PhD and lives in the boondocks. That’s about all I’ve got. He’s got a doctorate and he is a weaver. *crinkles brow* Okaaay.
He hates technology and keeps to himself. His house is hidden away, an hour’s drive from town. Yet he goes to the coffee shop every morning? Why does he hide in the woods? I have no clue. He sees past the rough and tough façade Luki fronts, and falls in love with the beautiful man inside. He's suppose to be a smart-ass, but again, I didn't see it. And when he falls into a stairwell and injures himself, I was dumfounded to find out the source of the injury. It just didn’t add up.
There were a lot of lists, I mean a lot. I can safely say I counted near a dozen count-down of options. One...two...three....this distracted the hell out of me. The dialogue was funky and frequently I was lost in the third person shifting.
Luki startles himself when he begins to develop feelings for Sonny. He sarcastically compares himself to his grandmother, and then I had to agree with him when he was shouting “Sweet man, you sweet sweet man” during an orgasm.The sex...it was odd. I shuddered when he offered "you can have my ass’" to Sonny. I’m sorry, maybe it’s me, but that’s just not sexy.
At times I caught a beautiful description or a lovely bit of writing, but then it was lost in the fog again. Around 75% I started to feel it considerably more than I had, but do I really want to wait till the book is three quarters over before I grasp any connection? Not really. Am I glad I preservered? I suppose so, but I can tell you this, I won’t be moving on to the rest of the series.
Some people caught on and loved it. Me? I was grasping at loose threads. I'm gonna call it a 'Me not You' and move on.
*2.5 difficult-dragging-draining stars*
Unpleasant, frustrating and maddening at times….Yep, that about sums up how this ride was for me.
I was lost. I was confused. The story felt muddled and jerky with random words thrown in here and there. Simply put, it was a challenge to finish.
My other problem….I never connected with either MC, and to be honest, I don’t think I know them very well.
Here’s what I did get….
Luki~
He’s a jackass. Hey, don’t look at me like that, he claims the title himself. A horrific attack during his childhood flipped his world upside down, and he never fully rights himself.
His job….this was a big hiccup for me.
He’s an ex-ATF agent. That’s all I really understood. Does he have his own business? And if so, he’s the boss, but how does he have ATF agents at his beck and call? ‘His people’ jump to assist him on the case he’s investigating, a B&E/vandalism which turns into a kidnapping case. Can someone please explain this to me? I musta missed something? Sadly, this isn’t the first time I felt like this.
He suffers from a weak stomach (mainly harbored anxiety and fear trailing him from his ‘accident’) which causes him to puke, and puke, and then puke some more. Ugh, I struggle when other’s around me puke; apparently fictional vomit bothers me too. He’s heavily dependent on his smokes, and his cig cravings drove me up the wall.
Descriptions were random as well. I know a lot of cops and agents and I can promise you, none of them would refer to their holsters as ‘fastening devices’.
Sonny~
Not quite thirty years old, a virgin (I think?), a weaver and a bit of a hermit. He loves to play with his string and yarn (I’m not making that up!), has a PhD and lives in the boondocks. That’s about all I’ve got. He’s got a doctorate and he is a weaver. *crinkles brow* Okaaay.
He hates technology and keeps to himself. His house is hidden away, an hour’s drive from town. Yet he goes to the coffee shop every morning? Why does he hide in the woods? I have no clue. He sees past the rough and tough façade Luki fronts, and falls in love with the beautiful man inside. He's suppose to be a smart-ass, but again, I didn't see it. And when he falls into a stairwell and injures himself, I was dumfounded to find out the source of the injury. It just didn’t add up.
There were a lot of lists, I mean a lot. I can safely say I counted near a dozen count-down of options. One...two...three....this distracted the hell out of me. The dialogue was funky and frequently I was lost in the third person shifting.
Luki startles himself when he begins to develop feelings for Sonny. He sarcastically compares himself to his grandmother, and then I had to agree with him when he was shouting “Sweet man, you sweet sweet man” during an orgasm.The sex...it was odd. I shuddered when he offered "you can have my ass’" to Sonny. I’m sorry, maybe it’s me, but that’s just not sexy.
At times I caught a beautiful description or a lovely bit of writing, but then it was lost in the fog again. Around 75% I started to feel it considerably more than I had, but do I really want to wait till the book is three quarters over before I grasp any connection? Not really. Am I glad I preservered? I suppose so, but I can tell you this, I won’t be moving on to the rest of the series.
Some people caught on and loved it. Me? I was grasping at loose threads. I'm gonna call it a 'Me not You' and move on.
*2.5 difficult-dragging-draining stars*
August 13, 2013
I'm trying to figure out how this series went under my radar for so long. Luki is infuriating but god I love him. And Sonny... How appropriate is that name. He's got a bad past hiding in there somewhere but he's all light and "bubbles". Just what that hard ass Luki needs. Lou Sylvre's writing is also phenomenal. What chops. Very eloquent while still maintaining the masculine voices of her characters. Now THAT is talent. I'm smitten. Off the read the next two! Highly recommend!
July 2, 2011
There was something about this book that DID it for me. It could have been the combination of the mostly hardened mercenary and the artistic but a bit prickly weaver or perhaps the lush descriptions of emotions and surroundings. Either way, this book hit all of the sweet spots and then some.
There are some tropes and pacing issues but those are easily brushed aside because the book is extremely well written. If anything, pacing hurried in places I wanted to linger which is more me than the book. Probably other people would have said, what's with the stopping here and I'd be window shopping through the pages.
I'm odd that way.
I loved Sonny's view of the world, especially when seen through his art. I honestly could have seen this book slowed down a bit and split into two because there were a lot of plot elements to be explored but it was very satisfying. Okay, so if there was a chapter or three of Sonny doing dyes while Luki watched and read something, I would have been good. The characters are distinct and well drawn with a bit of spice to give it a nice heat.
But there's action and some smex, both of which are hot and heavy. Wonderfully written at a good clip with a lot of humour and steaminess. Excellent read!
There are some tropes and pacing issues but those are easily brushed aside because the book is extremely well written. If anything, pacing hurried in places I wanted to linger which is more me than the book. Probably other people would have said, what's with the stopping here and I'd be window shopping through the pages.
I'm odd that way.
I loved Sonny's view of the world, especially when seen through his art. I honestly could have seen this book slowed down a bit and split into two because there were a lot of plot elements to be explored but it was very satisfying. Okay, so if there was a chapter or three of Sonny doing dyes while Luki watched and read something, I would have been good. The characters are distinct and well drawn with a bit of spice to give it a nice heat.
But there's action and some smex, both of which are hot and heavy. Wonderfully written at a good clip with a lot of humour and steaminess. Excellent read!
July 22, 2011
I really enjoyed this one. I really liked both Sonny and Luki (love that name!) a lot. Sonny is kind of a recluse and doesn't know how to act around some people so he falls back on a kind of rude attitude when he doesn't know what to do. Luki is a bit messed up emotionally. He got seriously injured and scarred when he was young and ever since then he's made himself into the coldest, badass there is to find. One who never lets anyone close but is silently bleeding on the inside. It takes a special person like Sonny to see Luki is a beautiful person, inside and out, and one Luki can give himself to, scars and all, and still be loved for who he is. He needs someone like Sonny and Sonny needs someone like Luki. They complete each other. It's very sweet and they both have the same sense of humor (even if I didn't get it most of the time ^_^)
I loved the suspense. At first, I got caught up in the story because of the awkward, sexual tension between Sonny and Luki. Neither of them knew how to handle their feelings for each other because they've never let themselves be put in a situation where they could fall in love. As soon as the mystery and suspense started entering the story, though, I was caught up in who'd want to do this? Why would they do it? Why target Luki and Sonny? All those questions every reader no doubt thinks about when the mystery finally starts in the story. I was swept along on their trail, anticipating what was going to happen next and why. I was hanging on the edge of my seat not just with figuring out who was playing with Sonny and Luki but also with Sonny and Luki's relationship itself. I really loved it.
While I did love the story because the characters were great and the mystery was catching, I had some trouble with it. For one, the writing was stilted in some places, almost like the author didn't fully develop the sentence which confused me at times. It's kind of hard to explain because it's not that the sentence was incomplete, just that it would be one or two word sentences with no explanation, or further explanation, to the sentence.
Generally, when a book doesn't delve deep into the characters backgrounds/pasts I can look past it. However, when the story vaguely hints at things about the characters past, it's hard for me to just ignore it when their past isn't fully talked about. That probably sounds confusing but to put it simply, the author has Sonny do and say things that hint of a horrible, or if not horrible at least not pleasant, past. Unfortunately, Sonny's past is never disclosed which leaves me question after question about him. Thankfully, though, most of Luki's past is explained. After all, the story is about him and what did happen when he was little . Still, I felt a little deprived of Sonny's background especially since things in the book lead me to believe his wasn't the most dandy of childhoods.
While the ending wasn't necessarily abrupt, and God knows I really did like it, it left me even more questions aside from Sonny's past.
All in all, though. I really liked this book. It hooked me in from the beginning and I didn't want to stop reading once I started and I hope we get to see more of Luki and Sonny one day because I'd love to know where they go from here. Definitely recommended.
I loved the suspense. At first, I got caught up in the story because of the awkward, sexual tension between Sonny and Luki. Neither of them knew how to handle their feelings for each other because they've never let themselves be put in a situation where they could fall in love. As soon as the mystery and suspense started entering the story, though, I was caught up in who'd want to do this? Why would they do it? Why target Luki and Sonny? All those questions every reader no doubt thinks about when the mystery finally starts in the story. I was swept along on their trail, anticipating what was going to happen next and why. I was hanging on the edge of my seat not just with figuring out who was playing with Sonny and Luki but also with Sonny and Luki's relationship itself. I really loved it.
While I did love the story because the characters were great and the mystery was catching, I had some trouble with it. For one, the writing was stilted in some places, almost like the author didn't fully develop the sentence which confused me at times. It's kind of hard to explain because it's not that the sentence was incomplete, just that it would be one or two word sentences with no explanation, or further explanation, to the sentence.
Generally, when a book doesn't delve deep into the characters backgrounds/pasts I can look past it. However, when the story vaguely hints at things about the characters past, it's hard for me to just ignore it when their past isn't fully talked about. That probably sounds confusing but to put it simply, the author has Sonny do and say things that hint of a horrible, or if not horrible at least not pleasant, past. Unfortunately, Sonny's past is never disclosed which leaves me question after question about him. Thankfully, though, most of Luki's past is explained. After all, the story is about him and what did happen when he was little . Still, I felt a little deprived of Sonny's background especially since things in the book lead me to believe his wasn't the most dandy of childhoods.
While the ending wasn't necessarily abrupt, and God knows I really did like it, it left me even more questions aside from Sonny's past.
All in all, though. I really liked this book. It hooked me in from the beginning and I didn't want to stop reading once I started and I hope we get to see more of Luki and Sonny one day because I'd love to know where they go from here. Definitely recommended.
May 31, 2013
3.75*
This is a bit confusing for me because I was certain that I'd read this when it was very first released but as I got into the story I started to get a weird feeling that I'd only read the sample chapters because I remembered the intro to it but as I read on it got less and less familiar, so it looks like my brain was playing tricks. Time's passed and I've slept since then, so I think it will forever remain a mystery. ;)
Anyway to get to the review! This has the sort of storyline that I really love. Crime, mystery, suspense and of course the sexy love story to bind it together with two very interesting, flawed characters. Luki is actually scarred inside and out! So I was expecting great things and at times I got them but I also had early moments of disconnect. For the first half of the book I found myself having to really concentrate to keep myself in the zone because I was finding it hard to get that connection with Luki and Sonny that usually (for me) happens from the word go. I admit to a little moment of panic where I thought It wasn't going to happen at all.
Lou Sylvre writes beautifully, there's no doubt about that, but it didn't always have that easy flow and I felt the chemistry and sexual tension that I thought should have been jumping off the page when they were together, suffered for it. Although, there are some very nice love scenes that make up for that, so its there but just not consistently.
I liked Luki and Sonny but I wanted to LOVE them and it was frustrating because something was stopping me from doing that. I honestly think that this is one of those books that will either be love at first read or a slow burner for most readers. It was a slow start for yours truly.
But...then came the Hallelujah moment when the two of them hit a very rough patch in their relationship. It was my favourite part of the whole story, when Luki makes a terrible rash decision and then realises he's made a massive mistake with Sonny that he can't get out of and they have a very intense scene together that really touched me and made me realise that at this point they did truly love each other. This was my epiphany and it was like turning on a light... I finally felt the connect........please read rest of review at http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/05/...
This is a bit confusing for me because I was certain that I'd read this when it was very first released but as I got into the story I started to get a weird feeling that I'd only read the sample chapters because I remembered the intro to it but as I read on it got less and less familiar, so it looks like my brain was playing tricks. Time's passed and I've slept since then, so I think it will forever remain a mystery. ;)
Anyway to get to the review! This has the sort of storyline that I really love. Crime, mystery, suspense and of course the sexy love story to bind it together with two very interesting, flawed characters. Luki is actually scarred inside and out! So I was expecting great things and at times I got them but I also had early moments of disconnect. For the first half of the book I found myself having to really concentrate to keep myself in the zone because I was finding it hard to get that connection with Luki and Sonny that usually (for me) happens from the word go. I admit to a little moment of panic where I thought It wasn't going to happen at all.
Lou Sylvre writes beautifully, there's no doubt about that, but it didn't always have that easy flow and I felt the chemistry and sexual tension that I thought should have been jumping off the page when they were together, suffered for it. Although, there are some very nice love scenes that make up for that, so its there but just not consistently.
I liked Luki and Sonny but I wanted to LOVE them and it was frustrating because something was stopping me from doing that. I honestly think that this is one of those books that will either be love at first read or a slow burner for most readers. It was a slow start for yours truly.
But...then came the Hallelujah moment when the two of them hit a very rough patch in their relationship. It was my favourite part of the whole story, when Luki makes a terrible rash decision and then realises he's made a massive mistake with Sonny that he can't get out of and they have a very intense scene together that really touched me and made me realise that at this point they did truly love each other. This was my epiphany and it was like turning on a light... I finally felt the connect........please read rest of review at http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/05/...
May 3, 2013
4.5 stars This book was a little hard to read at times I felt like I was all over, but it was more my emotions than anything. The chemistry between the two main characters, Sonny Bly James & Luki Vasquez, is what drives this mystery/love story. The humor < Sonny is awesome> And Luki just beautiful on so many levels. So glad I was able to jump into book 2 right away.
"Loving Luki Vasquez isn't all that easy."
What these 2 guys seem to go through for the entire book I’m surprised they we’re able to hold it together. I enjoyed how they communicated with each other this book was just solid.
“ What are YOU looking at?”
"Loving Luki Vasquez isn't all that easy."
What these 2 guys seem to go through for the entire book I’m surprised they we’re able to hold it together. I enjoyed how they communicated with each other this book was just solid.
“ What are YOU looking at?”
may-come-back-to-or-not
October 8, 2013Made it to 24% and just can't force myself to pick it back up. At least not right now.
There are plenty of great reviews for this book and the others that follow in the series so check it out for yourself. You can read the prologue plus the first two chapters free in the sample from Amazon.
There are plenty of great reviews for this book and the others that follow in the series so check it out for yourself. You can read the prologue plus the first two chapters free in the sample from Amazon.
July 4, 2011
3.5 stars
There were several things that attracted me to Loving Luki Vasquez. I love discovering new authors, especially within one of my favorite genres. Which brings me to the second reason — I simply cannot pass a detective story/mystery in any shape or form (yes, yes, I said that before!). The fact that one of the protagonists was a weaver — not something you encounter every day in m/m romance — only piqued my curiosity. And, finally, there is that cover. It's one of the best covers I've seen this year. All this said, since I started reviewing for this site, this was probably the hardest rating decision I had to make.
The book is a blend of romance and mystery/suspense and while romance worked very well, the mystery part failed at the end of the book, in spite of the promising setup. I suspect that the readers' enjoyment in the novel will depend on what they value and enjoy more. The protagonists were complex and sympathetic, although many elements of their background stories were left unexplored. The writing was very good, which made my decision on the final rating even more difficult. But, let's start from the beginning.
When Sonny Bly James meets Luki Vasquez, the attraction between them is instantaneous. Of course, things aren't that simple. Sonny is 29-year-old professional weaver, recluse by choice, socially awkward, shy, inexperienced and afraid of getting hurt. Beside his nephew Deslyn, who comes and goes every few weeks, and Margie, local coffee shop owner, there aren't many people he interacts with. He is also a gentle, loving man, who sees the beauty in the world around him and recreates it in his works. He is a keen observer, something that helps him see behind Luki's cold exterior. Luki Vasquez is a different side of the same coin. He is a 41-year-old former ATF agent, now owner of his own, successful security agency. He might not be hiding in the remote house with no cell phone service like Sonny, but he is hiding none the less — behind aloof, cold attitude, expensive suits, immaculate grooming, his guns and knifes. The trauma from his youth left scars both on his face and his soul and intimacy and true affection are something he, at the same time, craves and fears. Considering their personalities, the progress of the relationship was realistic: from initial, almost autistic interactions, the first intimacy prompted by outside forces to misunderstandings, heartaches and acceptance. It is in the realm of romance, emotions and descriptions of Sonny's art that this author's writing shines. The scene when Luki wants to end the relationship and breaks both Sonny's and his own heart in the process was heart-wrenching. The sex scenes between these two men were among the best I've read this year, possibly longer. There were very few of them and the author made sure that each and every one counted. The gentleness and sensuality were simply beautiful. And Sonny and Luki are beautifully flawed characters and you can't help but like them even when you want to hit them.
As I already said, some things from the protagonists' backgrounds were left unexplained and unexplored. Sonny is a Native American (Yakama Nation), but his heritage plays no part whatsoever in the book. In fact, it was just mentioned a few times in passing. Luki's mixed heritage — Hawaiian and Basque — also had no role in the book. Sonny's academic background was just mentioned. More importantly, how and where did Sonny learn to drive muscle cars like Nikki Lauda? While Luki's past was explored in more depth, mainly because it was an important part of the mystery plot, there were still huge chunks of it that were left in the dark (his ATF background, his agency). I suspect that these 'blanks' will play the part in the future sequel(s) of the novel.
The secondary characters can be divided in three groups: the types, the props and the villain. The types, like Margie or teenagers used in the crimes, were painted in broad strokes but with sufficient skill to engage the reader's emotions (I think Josh and Jackie will especially break some hearts). Luki’s employees and former colleagues a.k.a. "the props" were simply the tools used to provide necessary information and help to the protagonists and move the story on. The villain… The villain brings me to he part of the book that didn't work for me — the mystery.
One of the main elements that separate the mystery (in all its incarnations) from any other genre is reader's participation. We don't read mysteries for Sherlock's violin playing, Poirot's dashing mustache or Adrien's bookstore. We read them to follow the detectives around, to learn what they learn and, possibly, solve the case together with them. Even if the reader doesn't want to exercise his or hers little grey cells, there should be that "a-ha, that's what happened" moment of recognition — the payoff for playing along — at the end of the story. That means that the clues necessary for solving the case, no matter how veiled or hidden, should be provided within the plot. In Loving Luki Vasquez the author withheld crucial information from the readers until the last 40 – 50 pages of the novel. Although the villain's name was mentioned once before that point, there were absolutely no clues that could rationally lead to the perpetrator. The man to whom the clues rationally did lead turned out to be the big, fat, red herring.
As a consequence, what, up to that moment, seemed like carefully set up mystery completely fell apart. Frankly, when Luki's reaction to the big reveal was something like "Oh, I sort of knew that" I wanted to explode from frustration. It would be nice if the readers were given some hint about it. Another consequence was the cartoony, over-the-top villain. You know, one of those guys with maniacal laughter and "I'm evil" T-shirt. I'm kidding, but you catch the drift. And, I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
I had a few minor niggles as well, like some decisions Luki — an experienced agent — made, the overuse of word ice (icicle, icy) for describing Luki, etc., but they really weren't that important.
Overall, Loving Luki Vasquez was well-written, emotionally charged love story with sympathetic protagonists that I really liked. The mystery, tightly intertwined with romance, didn't work for me, but I am only one reader. If you are reading for romance alone, you will definitely enjoy this book. Will I read another Lou Sylvre's book, including another Sonny/Luki book? Absolutely. The quality of writing alone guarantees that. This one in its entirety, however, gets 3.5 stars (recommended with some reservations).
(Written for Reviews by Jessewave)
There were several things that attracted me to Loving Luki Vasquez. I love discovering new authors, especially within one of my favorite genres. Which brings me to the second reason — I simply cannot pass a detective story/mystery in any shape or form (yes, yes, I said that before!). The fact that one of the protagonists was a weaver — not something you encounter every day in m/m romance — only piqued my curiosity. And, finally, there is that cover. It's one of the best covers I've seen this year. All this said, since I started reviewing for this site, this was probably the hardest rating decision I had to make.
The book is a blend of romance and mystery/suspense and while romance worked very well, the mystery part failed at the end of the book, in spite of the promising setup. I suspect that the readers' enjoyment in the novel will depend on what they value and enjoy more. The protagonists were complex and sympathetic, although many elements of their background stories were left unexplored. The writing was very good, which made my decision on the final rating even more difficult. But, let's start from the beginning.
When Sonny Bly James meets Luki Vasquez, the attraction between them is instantaneous. Of course, things aren't that simple. Sonny is 29-year-old professional weaver, recluse by choice, socially awkward, shy, inexperienced and afraid of getting hurt. Beside his nephew Deslyn, who comes and goes every few weeks, and Margie, local coffee shop owner, there aren't many people he interacts with. He is also a gentle, loving man, who sees the beauty in the world around him and recreates it in his works. He is a keen observer, something that helps him see behind Luki's cold exterior. Luki Vasquez is a different side of the same coin. He is a 41-year-old former ATF agent, now owner of his own, successful security agency. He might not be hiding in the remote house with no cell phone service like Sonny, but he is hiding none the less — behind aloof, cold attitude, expensive suits, immaculate grooming, his guns and knifes. The trauma from his youth left scars both on his face and his soul and intimacy and true affection are something he, at the same time, craves and fears. Considering their personalities, the progress of the relationship was realistic: from initial, almost autistic interactions, the first intimacy prompted by outside forces to misunderstandings, heartaches and acceptance. It is in the realm of romance, emotions and descriptions of Sonny's art that this author's writing shines. The scene when Luki wants to end the relationship and breaks both Sonny's and his own heart in the process was heart-wrenching. The sex scenes between these two men were among the best I've read this year, possibly longer. There were very few of them and the author made sure that each and every one counted. The gentleness and sensuality were simply beautiful. And Sonny and Luki are beautifully flawed characters and you can't help but like them even when you want to hit them.
As I already said, some things from the protagonists' backgrounds were left unexplained and unexplored. Sonny is a Native American (Yakama Nation), but his heritage plays no part whatsoever in the book. In fact, it was just mentioned a few times in passing. Luki's mixed heritage — Hawaiian and Basque — also had no role in the book. Sonny's academic background was just mentioned. More importantly, how and where did Sonny learn to drive muscle cars like Nikki Lauda? While Luki's past was explored in more depth, mainly because it was an important part of the mystery plot, there were still huge chunks of it that were left in the dark (his ATF background, his agency). I suspect that these 'blanks' will play the part in the future sequel(s) of the novel.
The secondary characters can be divided in three groups: the types, the props and the villain. The types, like Margie or teenagers used in the crimes, were painted in broad strokes but with sufficient skill to engage the reader's emotions (I think Josh and Jackie will especially break some hearts). Luki’s employees and former colleagues a.k.a. "the props" were simply the tools used to provide necessary information and help to the protagonists and move the story on. The villain… The villain brings me to he part of the book that didn't work for me — the mystery.
One of the main elements that separate the mystery (in all its incarnations) from any other genre is reader's participation. We don't read mysteries for Sherlock's violin playing, Poirot's dashing mustache or Adrien's bookstore. We read them to follow the detectives around, to learn what they learn and, possibly, solve the case together with them. Even if the reader doesn't want to exercise his or hers little grey cells, there should be that "a-ha, that's what happened" moment of recognition — the payoff for playing along — at the end of the story. That means that the clues necessary for solving the case, no matter how veiled or hidden, should be provided within the plot. In Loving Luki Vasquez the author withheld crucial information from the readers until the last 40 – 50 pages of the novel. Although the villain's name was mentioned once before that point, there were absolutely no clues that could rationally lead to the perpetrator. The man to whom the clues rationally did lead turned out to be the big, fat, red herring.
As a consequence, what, up to that moment, seemed like carefully set up mystery completely fell apart. Frankly, when Luki's reaction to the big reveal was something like "Oh, I sort of knew that" I wanted to explode from frustration. It would be nice if the readers were given some hint about it. Another consequence was the cartoony, over-the-top villain. You know, one of those guys with maniacal laughter and "I'm evil" T-shirt. I'm kidding, but you catch the drift. And, I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
I had a few minor niggles as well, like some decisions Luki — an experienced agent — made, the overuse of word ice (icicle, icy) for describing Luki, etc., but they really weren't that important.
Overall, Loving Luki Vasquez was well-written, emotionally charged love story with sympathetic protagonists that I really liked. The mystery, tightly intertwined with romance, didn't work for me, but I am only one reader. If you are reading for romance alone, you will definitely enjoy this book. Will I read another Lou Sylvre's book, including another Sonny/Luki book? Absolutely. The quality of writing alone guarantees that. This one in its entirety, however, gets 3.5 stars (recommended with some reservations).
(Written for Reviews by Jessewave)
May 17, 2012
Indecision I have it...
Did I like it?
OH YES I DID!
Luki Mililani Vasquez is a PI. By change he will see himself in a investigation to help an artist, Sonny Bly James, a victim of (possible) hate crime. Sonny art works start to show up destroyed, the word "faggot" is everywhere... and Sonny nephew is missing. How can all be happening at the same time to someone as Sonny? He don't have enemy, he is just an artist trying to have a peaceful live.... the complete opposite of Luki, a fighter, trained to combat and defend himself and who he... love?
Everything in this story is sort of exaggerated. Sonny is in my view more concentrated in discover why someone could hate him, than in find his missing nephew. That bother me... a lot.
The "drama lama" as a little to much in my view.
It's possible to such strong men fall in love? Maybe... but...
The anticlimactic end bother me too
The "drama" drag for too long almost bored me. After 90% of my file I was again VERY enthusiast reading it, and I think (more or less) from 70% to 90% the story just tired me. And again, I think Sonny nephew disappearance was not well explored at all.
Too many secondary characters IMO (the boys, Luki uncle, Luki team, etc) that confused me, and didn't add much to the plot.
What I ADORED in this story?
The main characters are soooo cool! I love Luki. Really love him!
The suspense.
Luki obsession... all the time thinking about smoke was sort of funny :D
So yes, I like this book A LOT but also had some problems, so, indecisive as I'm now, I'm giving 3 stars I have no idea if I want to read the second book of this serie
so yeah... I like this book, but don't know if I like it so much I will read more.3 stars
January 11, 2012
1st read: 6.22.11-6.25.11
Like Sonny's tapestries, this story was exquisitely woven. From the bright warm colors of Sonny's and Luki's meeting and tentative relationship, to the dark somber hues of a growing threat to them and their loved ones.
Luki is an ex-ATF agent who now works in security. It's by chance that he meets Sonny, and begins a brief affair that grows into something deeper-more profound that Luki is prepared to deal with. He is a man bearing painful memories and scars that won't allow him to get close to anyone. I love Luki; he's a physically strong and able man, yet their is an intense vulnerability beneath his armor.
Sonny is a weaver; he's reclusive and spends his time creating his tapestries and dyes, taking walks in the wooded area surrounding his home, tinkering with his cars, or enjoying a swim. Luki comes into his life at a crucial moment-his sick nephew has been out of contact for several weeks-something that has him extremely worried. He's trying to fight the rising dread of his nephew's possible whereabouts and Luki's reluctance in their relationship, when violence hits too close to home. I like Sonny's character, at least from what little was gleaned; basically I felt that he-and some details about his life-was still a mystery 'til the end.
Sonny & Luki have to deal with what they feel for each other as they untangle the mystery of how 2 abused brothers, hateful attacks against a friend and Sonny's homes, the strange disappeance of Delsyn (Sonny's nephew), the sudden return of Luki's childhood nemesis-one that left him both physically and emotionally scarred all tie together...and who is behind it all.
This is a wonderful mystery. The story flows well and the nail biting tension when the action finally unfolds was both excruciating and exciting, truly a story worth rereading again and again.
Like Sonny's tapestries, this story was exquisitely woven. From the bright warm colors of Sonny's and Luki's meeting and tentative relationship, to the dark somber hues of a growing threat to them and their loved ones.
Luki is an ex-ATF agent who now works in security. It's by chance that he meets Sonny, and begins a brief affair that grows into something deeper-more profound that Luki is prepared to deal with. He is a man bearing painful memories and scars that won't allow him to get close to anyone. I love Luki; he's a physically strong and able man, yet their is an intense vulnerability beneath his armor.
Sonny is a weaver; he's reclusive and spends his time creating his tapestries and dyes, taking walks in the wooded area surrounding his home, tinkering with his cars, or enjoying a swim. Luki comes into his life at a crucial moment-his sick nephew has been out of contact for several weeks-something that has him extremely worried. He's trying to fight the rising dread of his nephew's possible whereabouts and Luki's reluctance in their relationship, when violence hits too close to home. I like Sonny's character, at least from what little was gleaned; basically I felt that he-and some details about his life-was still a mystery 'til the end.
Sonny & Luki have to deal with what they feel for each other as they untangle the mystery of how 2 abused brothers, hateful attacks against a friend and Sonny's homes, the strange disappeance of Delsyn (Sonny's nephew), the sudden return of Luki's childhood nemesis-one that left him both physically and emotionally scarred all tie together...and who is behind it all.
This is a wonderful mystery. The story flows well and the nail biting tension when the action finally unfolds was both excruciating and exciting, truly a story worth rereading again and again.
January 10, 2012
4.5 stars.
What is it about a man and a gun that really gets me in a fever? Add a badass scar and we're in business!
Luki Vasquez is an ex-ATF agent that currently owns a business that provides security and surveillance. Shy Sonny James is an artist who weaves tapestries. When they meet on the beach there is an immediate connection even though Luki tends to be completely closed off emotionally and Sonny is basically a hermit. When Sonny is threatened by a malicious stalker, Luki's protective instincts kick in.
This book pretty much had everything that I like in a book or a movie. A hot, sexy, gruff, gun-toting badass that knows martial arts and has a scar that intimidates everyone but his lover... huh, wait a sec....come to think of it, that's pretty much my only criteria. Okay, while that's not entirely true, I DO love me some macho badassery. I'm a total dude when it comes to movie preferences too - if it has weapons, fighting, explosions, intrigue, and sex then I'm going to love it. Plot is preferred but action is critical. If this book were made into a movie, I would want to watch it on the IMAX big screen with a huge tub of popcorn.
On top of having a sexy MC with a seemingly unbreachable emotional wall, I thought that the plot was exciting with a pretty good pace. I enjoyed this book a lot because it was action-packed and fairly mindless good old entertainment.
What is it about a man and a gun that really gets me in a fever? Add a badass scar and we're in business!
Luki Vasquez is an ex-ATF agent that currently owns a business that provides security and surveillance. Shy Sonny James is an artist who weaves tapestries. When they meet on the beach there is an immediate connection even though Luki tends to be completely closed off emotionally and Sonny is basically a hermit. When Sonny is threatened by a malicious stalker, Luki's protective instincts kick in.
This book pretty much had everything that I like in a book or a movie. A hot, sexy, gruff, gun-toting badass that knows martial arts and has a scar that intimidates everyone but his lover... huh, wait a sec....come to think of it, that's pretty much my only criteria. Okay, while that's not entirely true, I DO love me some macho badassery. I'm a total dude when it comes to movie preferences too - if it has weapons, fighting, explosions, intrigue, and sex then I'm going to love it. Plot is preferred but action is critical. If this book were made into a movie, I would want to watch it on the IMAX big screen with a huge tub of popcorn.
On top of having a sexy MC with a seemingly unbreachable emotional wall, I thought that the plot was exciting with a pretty good pace. I enjoyed this book a lot because it was action-packed and fairly mindless good old entertainment.
dnf
March 14, 2014I tried. I made it to 26% and that was all I could take. I really liked the premise of the story, I fell for the prologue but something was just lost. Maybe it was me, maybe it wasn't but I found myself enjoying this book in a way that I shouldn't have and I will leave it at that.
I will more than likely be the odd one out on this, I have seen so many favorable reviews of it but this one just didn't do it for me.
I will more than likely be the odd one out on this, I have seen so many favorable reviews of it but this one just didn't do it for me.
October 3, 2015
Sweet story. Good pacing and excellent suspense. Plot was interesting and characters not quite so cookie cutter. I think the title is a bit odd since it’s more Luki chasing after Sonny and it’s part of a series. That kind of title is more of a one-off sounding thing.
Likes
The best thing about this for me was that it took place in the Pacific Northwest by someone who knows and loves the PNW with all its quirks and its rain.
I liked how Luki couldn’t really smile and only people who knew him could tell.
There are lots of strong women in addition to the strong men, which is very cool.
“Northwest style [blackberry] brambles.” Hell yeah, the things are weeds. They’re everywhere and so hard to get rid of. I just read an article where a company rents out goats to get rid of them because nothing else works.
Luki was a victim and horribly traumatized but became strong, not weak. And I don’t mean just physically. He was very self-assured.
They get bad service at St. Joe’s on Squalicum Parkway. I used to work there. I went into ER three times while I was there and the services was ALWAYs bad. One time they opened up the wrong patient’s record and were recording info until the drug allergies didn’t match up. Another time, I had to have narcotics and they told me I couldn’t have more than one person in with me. I was there with my fiancé and young daughter. This is the only hospital in the area so it was a busy waiting room and not particularly safe. So I could have my fiancé with me who could figure out what the doctor was telling me (I was having a horrific migraine and I couldn’t concentrate for crap) and keep track once the narcotics hit, too, and leave my daughter in the waiting room or I could have her with me, who would make my headache much worse. Or I could have no one and be trying to deal with it myself. I was in enough pain that I was rude and said “So what you’re saying is…” She finally said that both could stay this one time. (The protagonists note that the hospital is good-sized for the size of the town. The reason is that it’s basically the only hospital in area that county. In area, it is not a small county. Seriously, I’m not kidding.)
Dislikes
There were parts that were confusing:
Another confusing thing is about Luki’s vomiting which is never really explained. At one point someone is talking with him about his relationship with Sonny (rather his inability to acknowledge it) and says to him, “When was the last time you vomited?” He doesn’t reply and she says, “I thought so.” He had vomited several times in the story but there was no reference point to know if it were more or less frequent or whether that was good or bad? Was he vomiting less since he was with Sonny, or vomiting more because he wasn’t dealing with it?
Here’s yet another age difference (41 to 29) that serves no purpose whatsoever. Why? I truly believe that M/M romance grossly over represents the segment of the population that has significant age differences. I just don’t see the point in this story so why have it? Most gay couples I know are close in age just like most straight couples I know. Hell, even my circle of friends doesn’t vary more than a decade between the oldest and the youngest. I have one friend outside that set that is ten years younger than I am and our age difference comes up not infrequently in how we look at things and not in a good way.
Luki kept saying that children never saw his scar; they saw him instead. Bullshit. Kids are curious and notice everything. They will comment on things adult would consider rude. They will stare. They will ask about things that are weird. It is adults who either look away or pretend it isn’t there. I’ve found this out time and again.
They have sex when Sonny is on narcotic pain medication and he comes really easily. Have you ever tried to have sex after a large dose of narcotics?
There’s a slur against Seattle cops. One character says sarcastically about some case the SPD worked on: It was “obvious after all that she was a random victim. Didn’t have anything to do with her being a lesbian.” Seattle cops in general have been fine with homosexuality, very support of the gay pride parade for a long time. Where they’ve gotten into a lot of trouble is with racial profiling which is awful but at least comes from statistics rather than personal biases (not that they aren’t probably racist, too). I don’t like it when people are inaccurately accused of something. When falsehoods are spread about a group, people will either dismiss them entirely, or know that it’s false and then not pay attention when they are accused of something for real. I am very upset with the racial profiling and I want the focus to be on that rather than blowing the whole department off as being bigoted.
No sense of style. Acid washed jeans? Muscle t-shirt?
A call comes into a cell phone that says it’s from “yes it’s me,” letters instead of numbers. I don’t think that’s possible the phone would have had to have been hacked but I’m not sure how exactly.
Overall, this was a good book. The Western Washington setting was done really well. I'm very eager to read the next book.
Likes
The best thing about this for me was that it took place in the Pacific Northwest by someone who knows and loves the PNW with all its quirks and its rain.
I liked how Luki couldn’t really smile and only people who knew him could tell.
There are lots of strong women in addition to the strong men, which is very cool.
“Northwest style [blackberry] brambles.” Hell yeah, the things are weeds. They’re everywhere and so hard to get rid of. I just read an article where a company rents out goats to get rid of them because nothing else works.
Luki was a victim and horribly traumatized but became strong, not weak. And I don’t mean just physically. He was very self-assured.
They get bad service at St. Joe’s on Squalicum Parkway. I used to work there. I went into ER three times while I was there and the services was ALWAYs bad. One time they opened up the wrong patient’s record and were recording info until the drug allergies didn’t match up. Another time, I had to have narcotics and they told me I couldn’t have more than one person in with me. I was there with my fiancé and young daughter. This is the only hospital in the area so it was a busy waiting room and not particularly safe. So I could have my fiancé with me who could figure out what the doctor was telling me (I was having a horrific migraine and I couldn’t concentrate for crap) and keep track once the narcotics hit, too, and leave my daughter in the waiting room or I could have her with me, who would make my headache much worse. Or I could have no one and be trying to deal with it myself. I was in enough pain that I was rude and said “So what you’re saying is…” She finally said that both could stay this one time. (The protagonists note that the hospital is good-sized for the size of the town. The reason is that it’s basically the only hospital in area that county. In area, it is not a small county. Seriously, I’m not kidding.)
Dislikes
There were parts that were confusing:
Another confusing thing is about Luki’s vomiting which is never really explained. At one point someone is talking with him about his relationship with Sonny (rather his inability to acknowledge it) and says to him, “When was the last time you vomited?” He doesn’t reply and she says, “I thought so.” He had vomited several times in the story but there was no reference point to know if it were more or less frequent or whether that was good or bad? Was he vomiting less since he was with Sonny, or vomiting more because he wasn’t dealing with it?
Here’s yet another age difference (41 to 29) that serves no purpose whatsoever. Why? I truly believe that M/M romance grossly over represents the segment of the population that has significant age differences. I just don’t see the point in this story so why have it? Most gay couples I know are close in age just like most straight couples I know. Hell, even my circle of friends doesn’t vary more than a decade between the oldest and the youngest. I have one friend outside that set that is ten years younger than I am and our age difference comes up not infrequently in how we look at things and not in a good way.
Luki kept saying that children never saw his scar; they saw him instead. Bullshit. Kids are curious and notice everything. They will comment on things adult would consider rude. They will stare. They will ask about things that are weird. It is adults who either look away or pretend it isn’t there. I’ve found this out time and again.
They have sex when Sonny is on narcotic pain medication and he comes really easily. Have you ever tried to have sex after a large dose of narcotics?
There’s a slur against Seattle cops. One character says sarcastically about some case the SPD worked on: It was “obvious after all that she was a random victim. Didn’t have anything to do with her being a lesbian.” Seattle cops in general have been fine with homosexuality, very support of the gay pride parade for a long time. Where they’ve gotten into a lot of trouble is with racial profiling which is awful but at least comes from statistics rather than personal biases (not that they aren’t probably racist, too). I don’t like it when people are inaccurately accused of something. When falsehoods are spread about a group, people will either dismiss them entirely, or know that it’s false and then not pay attention when they are accused of something for real. I am very upset with the racial profiling and I want the focus to be on that rather than blowing the whole department off as being bigoted.
No sense of style. Acid washed jeans? Muscle t-shirt?
A call comes into a cell phone that says it’s from “yes it’s me,” letters instead of numbers. I don’t think that’s possible the phone would have had to have been hacked but I’m not sure how exactly.
Overall, this was a good book. The Western Washington setting was done really well. I'm very eager to read the next book.
April 25, 2019
Might be more like 2.5 stars
I feel like there was a great foundation here, but some things fell short and didn't connect the way they should. I'm fine reading stories you have to suspend disbelief, and this was definitely like that, kind of OTT, but again, I can overlook some things, but the way this "relationship" developed and stuff, it just didn't feel right. Lots of drama. I did, however, like the guys at heart...so I don't know.
I feel like there was a great foundation here, but some things fell short and didn't connect the way they should. I'm fine reading stories you have to suspend disbelief, and this was definitely like that, kind of OTT, but again, I can overlook some things, but the way this "relationship" developed and stuff, it just didn't feel right. Lots of drama. I did, however, like the guys at heart...so I don't know.
November 2, 2011
I am definitely regretting not reading this book sooner.
This was a great read, with captivating and unique prose and endearing characters. What truly worked for me is the way the author, Lou Sylvre, manages to play with words. Her prose is fascinating and beautiful, but never does it cross into the purple prose category. The sex scenes were erotic - but they were also romantic and sensual and beautiful. The prose, the prose, the prose. It worked for me, and I cannot emphasize that enough. There were some awkward sentences though, with misplaced modifiers and periods where there should be commas. But overall the writing style captivated me and I didn't want to let go.
Luki and Sonny's relationship was fantastic. It was certainly a hit for the romantic within me, but it wasn't too mushy or sappy. These men acted like men, with their frustrating unwillingness to talk and their snappy banter. I loved the dialogue between these two, especially during those drives when they would make fun of the names of places. I loved the development of their attraction and how it was clearly shown.
The characters and their dynamic were certainly fresh, at least for me. Luki was your typical badass top but he didn't fit into any stereotypes; he's shorter than Sonny and, as I've found out from a recent interview with the characters, Sonny is certainly the longer of the two. His personality is complex and his thought processes are definitely interesting. He has his own flaws despite trying to maintain an ice-cold exterior - I've never read about an agent who puked as often as Luki! But it's one of Luki's flaws and vulnerabilities, and it made him much more interesting in my eyes. And Sonny should be in his own category. His attachment to and love for weaving are shown, not told, through his careful consideration and almost-methodical creation of them. In the end, though, he and Delsyn are still quite mysterious, but hopefully the sequel (which is coming out early next year) would develop our understanding of these characters.
What didn't work out for me quite so much was the mystery aspect. At times I became a bit confused because it seemed like the villain was all over the place. A lot of the information regarding the characters' histories with the villain was revealed towards the end even if the name of villain was given a bit before that. It had me stopping and reading a couple of paragraphs for the second time because I had trouble digesting it all at once. The villain did have a pretty valid motive, but the resulting anger and resentment were a bit too much. I thought that it would take more than one person to do the things he did. Some of the actions felt a bit forced to me.
Overall, though, this was a great read. I am still in love with the writing and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
This was a great read, with captivating and unique prose and endearing characters. What truly worked for me is the way the author, Lou Sylvre, manages to play with words. Her prose is fascinating and beautiful, but never does it cross into the purple prose category. The sex scenes were erotic - but they were also romantic and sensual and beautiful. The prose, the prose, the prose. It worked for me, and I cannot emphasize that enough. There were some awkward sentences though, with misplaced modifiers and periods where there should be commas. But overall the writing style captivated me and I didn't want to let go.
Luki and Sonny's relationship was fantastic. It was certainly a hit for the romantic within me, but it wasn't too mushy or sappy. These men acted like men, with their frustrating unwillingness to talk and their snappy banter. I loved the dialogue between these two, especially during those drives when they would make fun of the names of places. I loved the development of their attraction and how it was clearly shown.
The characters and their dynamic were certainly fresh, at least for me. Luki was your typical badass top but he didn't fit into any stereotypes; he's shorter than Sonny and, as I've found out from a recent interview with the characters, Sonny is certainly the longer of the two. His personality is complex and his thought processes are definitely interesting. He has his own flaws despite trying to maintain an ice-cold exterior - I've never read about an agent who puked as often as Luki! But it's one of Luki's flaws and vulnerabilities, and it made him much more interesting in my eyes. And Sonny should be in his own category. His attachment to and love for weaving are shown, not told, through his careful consideration and almost-methodical creation of them. In the end, though, he and Delsyn are still quite mysterious, but hopefully the sequel (which is coming out early next year) would develop our understanding of these characters.
What didn't work out for me quite so much was the mystery aspect. At times I became a bit confused because it seemed like the villain was all over the place. A lot of the information regarding the characters' histories with the villain was revealed towards the end even if the name of villain was given a bit before that. It had me stopping and reading a couple of paragraphs for the second time because I had trouble digesting it all at once. The villain did have a pretty valid motive, but the resulting anger and resentment were a bit too much. I thought that it would take more than one person to do the things he did. Some of the actions felt a bit forced to me.
Overall, though, this was a great read. I am still in love with the writing and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
October 9, 2011
For the GBQ4 challenge -recommended by Nikyta.
The crackling chemistry between the two main characters, Sonny Bly & Luki Vasquez, is what drives this mystery/love story. At the point of their meeting, both men are living lives in retreat and are constantly in defensive mode. Luki, a former ATF agent who runs a kind of security agency, is well armored in more ways than one. He has a stock of weapons constantly at the ready & has one foot out the door at any hint of emotional attachment. He also has the backstory that explains his actions.
On the other hand, Sonny remains a bit of a mystery even up to the end. He's a weaver who wraps himself up in his artistry & lives an isolated life except for his nephew who floats in an out of his life. He also apparently has his doctorate and publishes his work so we know at some point he probably wasn't so much of a recluse. There are hints given about Sonny's background but not enough tangible facts.
I did like Sonny & Luki. The push & pull between them, the sexual tension, the tenderness, the love & their fear of feeling too strongly about someone & becoming vulnerable to that are all done very well. I also was interested in the mystery of who was targeting them.
I did have more problems with the mystery portion than the romance. One issue I had was the way it was set up. It would seem that every action by the perpetrator had to have been planned quite a while in advance. Yet it all hinged on one thing being true I just can't imagine how he would know this would happen and I get irritated when presented with the all knowing super villain.
This story also had one of my pet peeves with mystery stories which is when a crucial bit of information or a suspect is not revealed until near the end of the story. When you're writing a mystery you have to reveal enough to let the reader play along & try to solve it. Dumping new information at the end makes me feel cheated of the experience.
In the end the romance was more satisfying than the mystery but it was still an enjoyable book. I'm guessing that this book will have a sequel to it that will explain some of the hanging threads left dangling at the end and I'll have no hesitation in getting that book or reading others from this author.
The crackling chemistry between the two main characters, Sonny Bly & Luki Vasquez, is what drives this mystery/love story. At the point of their meeting, both men are living lives in retreat and are constantly in defensive mode. Luki, a former ATF agent who runs a kind of security agency, is well armored in more ways than one. He has a stock of weapons constantly at the ready & has one foot out the door at any hint of emotional attachment. He also has the backstory that explains his actions.
On the other hand, Sonny remains a bit of a mystery even up to the end. He's a weaver who wraps himself up in his artistry & lives an isolated life except for his nephew who floats in an out of his life. He also apparently has his doctorate and publishes his work so we know at some point he probably wasn't so much of a recluse. There are hints given about Sonny's background but not enough tangible facts.
I did like Sonny & Luki. The push & pull between them, the sexual tension, the tenderness, the love & their fear of feeling too strongly about someone & becoming vulnerable to that are all done very well. I also was interested in the mystery of who was targeting them.
I did have more problems with the mystery portion than the romance. One issue I had was the way it was set up. It would seem that every action by the perpetrator had to have been planned quite a while in advance. Yet it all hinged on one thing being true I just can't imagine how he would know this would happen and I get irritated when presented with the all knowing super villain.
This story also had one of my pet peeves with mystery stories which is when a crucial bit of information or a suspect is not revealed until near the end of the story. When you're writing a mystery you have to reveal enough to let the reader play along & try to solve it. Dumping new information at the end makes me feel cheated of the experience.
In the end the romance was more satisfying than the mystery but it was still an enjoyable book. I'm guessing that this book will have a sequel to it that will explain some of the hanging threads left dangling at the end and I'll have no hesitation in getting that book or reading others from this author.
September 11, 2012
"Loving Luki Vasquez isn't all that easy."
Wow, what a roller coaster! Luki is a tough guy with many insecurities, quirks and a rough past. While Sonny, sweet on the outside but strong on the inside, likes control and keeps himself away from any form of emotional attachment, except when in regards to his nephew Delsyn.
These two are thrown together in the most unusual way. At first, the story was dragging and I could not connect to any of the characters. But as the story progressed I totally understood where they were coming from and that in a way, they were the perfect match.
"What are you looking at?"
I thoroughly enjoyed the dialog between these two. It was filled with humor, banter and deep emotion. Lou Sylvre managed to give a very deep insight into each character's personalities and struggles. With each detail that was revealed I felt more connected to them and they became more real to me. Their insecurities were very easy to relate to, which in turn, made me more intrigued in their story.
"You're crying most of the time, and everyone knows it but you."
I liked that Sonny could 'see' Luki right away. That he could look beyond his scars and accept him and love him even when he usually kept himself closed off. Luki had this wall of ice so firmly in place that at times I thought it was a hopeless situation for Sonny. There was a point in the book that I just wanted to shake some sense into Luki (really, I wanted to smack some sense into him, but I'm trying to be all proper here!). I did understand his struggles but he broke my heart in that moment. But, I am a sucker for romance and this is fiction, so I forgave him and he made it up to me...err, Sonny along the way. So, all is good.
"You're a jackass, Luki, not a monster."
The writing was very good, although the pacing was a bit slow there in the beginning. However, I think it was more a personal thing than anything. I really just wanted to connect with Luki and Sonny and it took me a while. In the end, I am glad I took my time and waited out my impatience because it was worth it. Looking forward to the next installment. This was a great read!
November 18, 2015
This book was a hot mess. The writing was confusing. I had to go back and re-read passages to make sure I understood what was going on and even then, I didn't. So many things with the plot confused me. With Luki's humble beginnings how did he manage to have so many agents working across the company for him? Usually there isn't that much money in law enforcement. We could have gotten more background on how he became such a success.
Why was Sonny attracted to Luki? How did Margie get to know Luki so well if he was new in town and how'd she know he'd be perfect for Sonny? Don't even get me started with this convoluted mystery plot. And then when the villain is revealed, the reason for all this hatred is weak and pathetic.
I hear book two is better but I don't care enough about these characters to continue the series.
Why was Sonny attracted to Luki? How did Margie get to know Luki so well if he was new in town and how'd she know he'd be perfect for Sonny? Don't even get me started with this convoluted mystery plot. And then when the villain is revealed, the reason for all this hatred is weak and pathetic.
I hear book two is better but I don't care enough about these characters to continue the series.
November 10, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and plan to continue with the series. I absolutely loved Sonny. He’s a gifted weaver and creates unique dyes for his tapestries. He drives like Mario Andretti. He swims nude in the ocean every morning. I want him as my neighbor.
Luki has a scar on his face. I have a thing for scars, but he was a little harder for me to warm up to. He’s bad ass, impeccably dressed and insecure.
I liked the premises of the book and the main characters. The plot was a little frustrating at times although the author really tried to be descriptive. I really couldn’t understand how Luki was able to have so much backup support. Really, who is he that he can pick up a phone and have all these specialized people there immediately? I do recommend this book and will update when I finish the series.
Luki has a scar on his face. I have a thing for scars, but he was a little harder for me to warm up to. He’s bad ass, impeccably dressed and insecure.
I liked the premises of the book and the main characters. The plot was a little frustrating at times although the author really tried to be descriptive. I really couldn’t understand how Luki was able to have so much backup support. Really, who is he that he can pick up a phone and have all these specialized people there immediately? I do recommend this book and will update when I finish the series.
January 24, 2012
This was a really messy story. It was long-winded and as a reader it seemed to me the author may have had no idea what he/she wanted to do with this book. It's a shame because Luki and Sonny are nice characters; but their meeting and the whole mystery was pretty dire. I couldn't believe in their relationship because there was no build-up and we didn't get to see them as characters in their own right either. The mystery was the main focus and that took focus at the get go. Again a shame, because whilst the mystery had some legs it wasn't written well. I could see some flickers of spark here and there - but maybe with a better editor or maybe someone more critical this could have been so much better.
May 7, 2013
First of all, this book should have been five star after all it supposedly ticked all my "Great novel" criteria boxes. And it was good, but not great. I personally found it confusing in places and lost track of what I was reading., everything happens so fast but slowly. Yes, sorry, that doesn't make great sense does it?
Action packed, nice love story, kidnapping, guns, action adventure, but somehow the story didn't pull together and left me with many unanswered question? Why was the evil brother so evil? Why was Sonny a weaver? How come he was so clever with cars, why was the nephew off on the road all the time?
"Loving Luki..." was ok and I liked the experience of reading well thought prose, other than that it didn't keep my attention and I really didn't warm to the characters.
Action packed, nice love story, kidnapping, guns, action adventure, but somehow the story didn't pull together and left me with many unanswered question? Why was the evil brother so evil? Why was Sonny a weaver? How come he was so clever with cars, why was the nephew off on the road all the time?
"Loving Luki..." was ok and I liked the experience of reading well thought prose, other than that it didn't keep my attention and I really didn't warm to the characters.
March 14, 2016
I'm not sure where to begin. Let's see...my apologies to Ms Sylvre for not having read this book sooner, I believe I have done a disservice to her and definitely to me. What an amazingly well done story. Her characters were so real, I feel like I know both Luki and Sonny. The story unfolded with such ease. What awed me the most in this story was the struggle between this to men with each other and themselves to establish a realtionship that in their own way each of them desperately wanted and needed. I look forward to reading the next book in this...oops my bad I am reading the next book in this series and so far it is equally as good as Loving Luki Vasquez proved to be.
March 11, 2014
There is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than finding a new author, to me, and experiencing their style. 'Loving Luki Vasquez' is the first book in Lou Sylvre's 'Vasquez & James' series, and it is also the first book by this author that I have read. What struck me immediately was the fantastic descriptive style with which the author pens. I felt as if I was there, on the beach, at the loom, getting coffee at Margie's—and I was entranced. There were moments when the pacing was slow and then action sequences where it was jumping off the pages. An interesting and complex dichotomy of slow and fast, with the hardened ex-ATF agent and the artistic weaver. Beautiful. Just, beautiful.
Luki is beautiful, dangerous, and determined to never let anything or anyone hurt him or climb into his heart. He has a big, open heart which he hides by shutting his emotions down to ice. Sonny is beautiful, artistic, and so socially awkward that he hides it behind his smart mouth. He's also a recluse, by choice, and Sonny stays away from friendships and definitely away from relationships. Luki is hardened and sour. Sonny is antisocial and acrimonious. Two men with difficult childhoods, leaving one of them, Luki, with an unsightly scar on his face, coming together and discovering what it means to love and be loved.
Someone is stalking Sonny. Whoever it is, they've destroyed some of his work and they keep writing 'FAGGOT' all over the crime scenes. It's up to Luki and Sonny to get to the bottom of this, and find out what's going on. Luki may be an ex-ATF agent, and he may own his own agency, but he isn't a cop and the answers aren't right at hand. Sonny has another problem: his missing nephew, Delsyn, who lives with him. Delsyn is never around a lot, but he usually comes home every week to ten days. But, now, he's been gone for ten weeks and Sonny is very worried. Not to mention that Luki and Sonny are falling in love, slowly. Luki has never stayed the night with anyone before. He's never slept in someone's bed and no one has ever slept in his. Sonny, with his reclusive ways, is inexperienced with love. Falling for Sonny is scaring the hell out of Luki, but he doesn't know how to stop it. Of course, being a man, Luki manages to screw things up, more than once.
I now know my first Lou Sylvre book won't be my last. These were interesting characters and the author has made me want more. Luki was so sad, in many ways, and when he opened up to Sonny about his childhood trauma, it about broke my heart. Sonny is a talented artist but he's closed himself off for so long, and falling in love with Luki was no easy task. The ending of the book was very climactic and exciting. Thank you, Lou, for an engaging story and I look forward to the next book in the series.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Luki is beautiful, dangerous, and determined to never let anything or anyone hurt him or climb into his heart. He has a big, open heart which he hides by shutting his emotions down to ice. Sonny is beautiful, artistic, and so socially awkward that he hides it behind his smart mouth. He's also a recluse, by choice, and Sonny stays away from friendships and definitely away from relationships. Luki is hardened and sour. Sonny is antisocial and acrimonious. Two men with difficult childhoods, leaving one of them, Luki, with an unsightly scar on his face, coming together and discovering what it means to love and be loved.
Someone is stalking Sonny. Whoever it is, they've destroyed some of his work and they keep writing 'FAGGOT' all over the crime scenes. It's up to Luki and Sonny to get to the bottom of this, and find out what's going on. Luki may be an ex-ATF agent, and he may own his own agency, but he isn't a cop and the answers aren't right at hand. Sonny has another problem: his missing nephew, Delsyn, who lives with him. Delsyn is never around a lot, but he usually comes home every week to ten days. But, now, he's been gone for ten weeks and Sonny is very worried. Not to mention that Luki and Sonny are falling in love, slowly. Luki has never stayed the night with anyone before. He's never slept in someone's bed and no one has ever slept in his. Sonny, with his reclusive ways, is inexperienced with love. Falling for Sonny is scaring the hell out of Luki, but he doesn't know how to stop it. Of course, being a man, Luki manages to screw things up, more than once.
I now know my first Lou Sylvre book won't be my last. These were interesting characters and the author has made me want more. Luki was so sad, in many ways, and when he opened up to Sonny about his childhood trauma, it about broke my heart. Sonny is a talented artist but he's closed himself off for so long, and falling in love with Luki was no easy task. The ending of the book was very climactic and exciting. Thank you, Lou, for an engaging story and I look forward to the next book in the series.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 6, 2011
First a warning, there are very mild spoilers in this review, but nothing that spoils the ending.
I'm the world's slowest reader and saying I read this book in a few days may not sound very fast, but for me it is! I loved this book.
The characters were surprising, and had great names, which is something I'm drawn to. First there is Sonny, and outwardly appearing mild, artsy type guy with a love of muscle cars and mad, crazy driving skills--I think that was my favorite.
Then there is Luki, the bad-ass guy with the tough exterior and some mad, crazy skills of his own to go with his guns and knives.
The plot revolves around some mysterious attacks, and who is responsible and why isn't something I expected. I like being surprised as the details are revealed. Most books seem too easy to guess how the plot will go. I couldn't do that with this one.
The bad guy is very bad, and nasty, and just bad!
I think the best part is the relationship that develops between Luki and Sonny. It's not easy, but it's sweet and kind and was a delight to read!
I'm the world's slowest reader and saying I read this book in a few days may not sound very fast, but for me it is! I loved this book.
The characters were surprising, and had great names, which is something I'm drawn to. First there is Sonny, and outwardly appearing mild, artsy type guy with a love of muscle cars and mad, crazy driving skills--I think that was my favorite.
Then there is Luki, the bad-ass guy with the tough exterior and some mad, crazy skills of his own to go with his guns and knives.
The plot revolves around some mysterious attacks, and who is responsible and why isn't something I expected. I like being surprised as the details are revealed. Most books seem too easy to guess how the plot will go. I couldn't do that with this one.
The bad guy is very bad, and nasty, and just bad!
I think the best part is the relationship that develops between Luki and Sonny. It's not easy, but it's sweet and kind and was a delight to read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2012
This is definitely a book that falls into the category of "wish I'd read it sooner". Luki and Sonny are unique and complicated individuals. Just as you think you've got them pinned down - Luki as the badass loner and Sonny as the happy-go-lucky artist - they flip things around on you and start acting the complete opposite to what you expect. I loved it! Watching their relationship develop was a pleasure and I look forward to reading more of their story.
June 28, 2011
3.5-4 stars
I had a few niggles, but overall an enjoyable book.
I had a few niggles, but overall an enjoyable book.
April 21, 2012
Just....
Damn.
Now I have to read the next one, just because of where it ended.
Damn.
Now I have to read the next one, just because of where it ended.
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