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The Orc That Got Away
This big orc can’t just bully his way into my heart...
Can he?
Ragnar was my first love -- and I was the secret he couldn’t bear to share. I thought I left my demons in the past. But here I am, face to face with the man who once ruled my world.
Seeing Ragnar again hurts for so many reasons. I spent years putting myself back together after how we ended. But more because...
I never stopped loving him.
Walking the runway is easy compared to the line I now walk between longing and sorrow. Ragnar wants another chance, and his determination is hard to resist.
Should I let him back in -- and risk breaking my own heart all over again?
Author's This is an MM monster romantic comedy with a guaranteed HEA!
Can he?
Ragnar was my first love -- and I was the secret he couldn’t bear to share. I thought I left my demons in the past. But here I am, face to face with the man who once ruled my world.
Seeing Ragnar again hurts for so many reasons. I spent years putting myself back together after how we ended. But more because...
I never stopped loving him.
Walking the runway is easy compared to the line I now walk between longing and sorrow. Ragnar wants another chance, and his determination is hard to resist.
Should I let him back in -- and risk breaking my own heart all over again?
Author's This is an MM monster romantic comedy with a guaranteed HEA!
- GenresGay
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2023
26 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 1, 2023
DNF at 30%, but fast-read until the end, especially focused on the dialogues and checking out the spice.
This story was stiff , that's the only word that comes to mind.
Bradford and Ragnar were high school sweethearts, but Ragnar broke all contact when they finished high school, because he wanted to get out and get laid more, but he also had a different vision for his future and it didn't include a relationship - a relationship that he was keeping a secret anyway.
A decade later Bradford and Ragnar meet again and have a lot of boring, mundane, small-english-town dialogues that are nowhere near as romantic as you'd expect for a second-chance romance.
Was it the British English again?? Damn it.
🟣 Neither MMC was that much interesting.
Ragnar is portrayed as an adult with anger issues and Brad, well;
"I usually think of myself as a pretty simple person. I like my friends, I like getting attention, I like carbohydrates even though I'm not supposed to and to most people, that's pretty much a Bradford story." 🤨
Bradford is a model, you see.
Yes, quite a few stereotypes going on in this book, also about the way gay men talk, which leads me to believe either the author doesn't know that many men in real life or is new to writing MM books.
🌶️ I can say the spice was somewhat good, but not detailed at all and it skipped prepping, condoms, it was short and quick and the only dirty talk they were able to say was "Yes! Oh, yes!" 🙄
Why am I saying this?
Because if you've ever read about Orcs, you know they're horny and hot all the time, so I was expecting a little bit of that Finley Fenn vibe here, but Ragnar was an extremely boring Orc.
🔵 It amazed me aswell how quickly Bradford grabbed the bull by its horns, considering he was extremely hurt when Ragnar dumped him, and there they were, on a first date after 10 years and Bradford says he wants to be in a relationship.
It made no sense. No talking, no dates, Bradford just has a drink and says "Oh yeah, I want to have a relationship with you, duuh", with no obvious previous pining or anything, only them meeting twice in that small town, so even though some things were said about their past, it wasn't enough, in my opinion.
The book didn't hold my interest at all and even though it does provide a very good HEA, the writing doesn't make this story exciting to read, at least for me.
I was really excited about a MM book with an Orc, If you've ever read Finley Fenn, her Orcs are very sex-crazed and horny all the time, sex is the main thing there on that Orc mountain, so I guess whenever I read about Orcs now, I expect that same vibe.
I won't be reading other books from this author, at least for now.
This story was stiff , that's the only word that comes to mind.
Bradford and Ragnar were high school sweethearts, but Ragnar broke all contact when they finished high school, because he wanted to get out and get laid more, but he also had a different vision for his future and it didn't include a relationship - a relationship that he was keeping a secret anyway.
A decade later Bradford and Ragnar meet again and have a lot of boring, mundane, small-english-town dialogues that are nowhere near as romantic as you'd expect for a second-chance romance.
Was it the British English again?? Damn it.
🟣 Neither MMC was that much interesting.
Ragnar is portrayed as an adult with anger issues and Brad, well;
"I usually think of myself as a pretty simple person. I like my friends, I like getting attention, I like carbohydrates even though I'm not supposed to and to most people, that's pretty much a Bradford story." 🤨
Bradford is a model, you see.
Yes, quite a few stereotypes going on in this book, also about the way gay men talk, which leads me to believe either the author doesn't know that many men in real life or is new to writing MM books.
🌶️ I can say the spice was somewhat good, but not detailed at all and it skipped prepping, condoms, it was short and quick and the only dirty talk they were able to say was "Yes! Oh, yes!" 🙄
Why am I saying this?
Because if you've ever read about Orcs, you know they're horny and hot all the time, so I was expecting a little bit of that Finley Fenn vibe here, but Ragnar was an extremely boring Orc.
🔵 It amazed me aswell how quickly Bradford grabbed the bull by its horns, considering he was extremely hurt when Ragnar dumped him, and there they were, on a first date after 10 years and Bradford says he wants to be in a relationship.
It made no sense. No talking, no dates, Bradford just has a drink and says "Oh yeah, I want to have a relationship with you, duuh", with no obvious previous pining or anything, only them meeting twice in that small town, so even though some things were said about their past, it wasn't enough, in my opinion.
The book didn't hold my interest at all and even though it does provide a very good HEA, the writing doesn't make this story exciting to read, at least for me.
I was really excited about a MM book with an Orc, If you've ever read Finley Fenn, her Orcs are very sex-crazed and horny all the time, sex is the main thing there on that Orc mountain, so I guess whenever I read about Orcs now, I expect that same vibe.
I won't be reading other books from this author, at least for now.
July 28, 2023
CEO orcs seem to be the bane of HR departments (and office furniture) everywhere and Ragnar is no exception – his behavior has HR and his board requiring him to take an extended sabbatical. He finds himself staying in quiet Green Haven, with his orc friend Gorlag and his family, and unexpectedly runs into his ex, Bradford, a successful fashion model and photographer. At first the two are hesitant in their relationship with one another, especially since Bradford worries that Ragnar will end up breaking his heart yet again, but as the pair spend time together their connection deepens. But they both have careers that challenge their lives together and they’ll have their work cut out for them trying to find the right balance. Sweet MM orc-human second chance romance with a side of heat, some humorous moments, and lots of feels.
August 5, 2023
It’s now I realize I never stopped being in love with him. My heart is fully open, in spite of everything. Even through all the time and hurt, it’s still always yearned for this amazing, handsome, funny orc.
-Bradford
The Orc That Got Away
An Monster Gay Romantic Comedy
By Zora Black
190 pages
Currently on Kindle Unlimited in the USA.
Publication date July 21, 2023
a.co/d/5aSwnNZ
goodreads.com/author/show/19932021.Zo...
I received a copy of this book from Book Sprout and the Author, and this is my review.
Please, watch out for possible spoilers, including but not limited to, TW/CN/Etc.
Possible TW, Tropes, and Genres
Mature, Explicit, Novel, Romance, Second Chance, LGBTQAI, Orc/Human Pairing, Monster Romance, MM, Gay, Rom Com, HEA, Bareback, Oral, Anal, Anger Issues, High School Sweetheartsish, and possibly more.
This is the first book I have read by Zora Black, and while there were a few times that I got confused by things, overall this was a great second chance love story. It was sweet, it had some humor, Orc/Human pairing, small town where everyone likes everyone, it just had a LOT of good things going for it. And I would suggest giving it a read.
If you enjoy
Orc/Human Pairings
Small Town Romance
Second Chance Romance
LGBTQAI Romance
Then this might just be for you!
4/5 stars
-Destynnee
-Bradford
The Orc That Got Away
An Monster Gay Romantic Comedy
By Zora Black
190 pages
Currently on Kindle Unlimited in the USA.
Publication date July 21, 2023
a.co/d/5aSwnNZ
goodreads.com/author/show/19932021.Zo...
I received a copy of this book from Book Sprout and the Author, and this is my review.
Please, watch out for possible spoilers, including but not limited to, TW/CN/Etc.
Possible TW, Tropes, and Genres
Mature, Explicit, Novel, Romance, Second Chance, LGBTQAI, Orc/Human Pairing, Monster Romance, MM, Gay, Rom Com, HEA, Bareback, Oral, Anal, Anger Issues, High School Sweetheartsish, and possibly more.
This is the first book I have read by Zora Black, and while there were a few times that I got confused by things, overall this was a great second chance love story. It was sweet, it had some humor, Orc/Human pairing, small town where everyone likes everyone, it just had a LOT of good things going for it. And I would suggest giving it a read.
If you enjoy
Orc/Human Pairings
Small Town Romance
Second Chance Romance
LGBTQAI Romance
Then this might just be for you!
4/5 stars
-Destynnee
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2023
need more mm orc romances!!
It's now I realize I never stopped being in love with him. My heart is fully open, in spite of everything. Even through all the time and hurt, it's still always yearned for this amazing, handsome, funny orc.
this is my first mm book i’ve read by Zora Black and it was interesting to read. i loved both Bradford and Ragnar and thought it was so cute that they used to date when they were younger and was able to be with each other again in the end. I usually read Blacks books for comfort but this one made me cryyy it sucked that Ragnar did that to Bradford and i feel like Ragnar should have groveled more to be forgiven. i also really liked the side characters and i feel like i should have read a previous book that maybe missed because they kept having them appear like we should know them but i don’t remember reading their story. was still able to enjoy the story even though i didn’t read about them previously. if you like second chances, mm, model/ceo, and a HEA you should add this to your tbr!!
It's now I realize I never stopped being in love with him. My heart is fully open, in spite of everything. Even through all the time and hurt, it's still always yearned for this amazing, handsome, funny orc.
this is my first mm book i’ve read by Zora Black and it was interesting to read. i loved both Bradford and Ragnar and thought it was so cute that they used to date when they were younger and was able to be with each other again in the end. I usually read Blacks books for comfort but this one made me cryyy it sucked that Ragnar did that to Bradford and i feel like Ragnar should have groveled more to be forgiven. i also really liked the side characters and i feel like i should have read a previous book that maybe missed because they kept having them appear like we should know them but i don’t remember reading their story. was still able to enjoy the story even though i didn’t read about them previously. if you like second chances, mm, model/ceo, and a HEA you should add this to your tbr!!
July 31, 2023
'I remember how it felt to be with Bradford before. How he could both excite and understand me like no one else in my life... And how wonderful it felt to be so known, so seen.'
I really enjoyed this book. I was so excited to get a mm monster romance from this author! It's a second chance romance between orc CEO Ragnar and human model/photographer Bradford. They'd been an a relationship ten years earlier and it hadn't ended well and Bradford was [emotionally] hurt. When they ran into each other and reconnected, that spark was still there. Can a second chance bring them the happiness they could have had with each other? Or will old habits reform and break them apart? 4 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. I was so excited to get a mm monster romance from this author! It's a second chance romance between orc CEO Ragnar and human model/photographer Bradford. They'd been an a relationship ten years earlier and it hadn't ended well and Bradford was [emotionally] hurt. When they ran into each other and reconnected, that spark was still there. Can a second chance bring them the happiness they could have had with each other? Or will old habits reform and break them apart? 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews