"Welcome," said the spider to the fly...

Here you will find reviews for books and audiobooks, along with some of my observations and my love of pretty things. This world of mine can occasionally be NSFW. If you are under 18, please return when you are of legal age. #LGBT Positive #Gay Romance

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"Have you ever considered that your life has worked out exactly the way it was supposed to? Have you ever considered the three of us were your 'big break'? That maybe being a friend is your role of a lifetime?"

Funny and heartwarming, That’s What Friends Are For is about the friendships we build into families, relationships old and new that can still surprise us, the agony of loss, the trials of aging (especially as gay men), and learning that while life throws endless curveballs, you can always deal with them as long as your friends are there.

"Life is pretty damn simple when you get down to it. We need friends who not only love and accept us, but love and accept us just as we are. We need friends who allow us to shine brightly in the world so our light can be seen. When it does, we can be our true selves."

Four talented voice artists lend their distinct voices to the audiobook: Joel Leslie (Teddy), Daniel Henning (Barry), George Newbern (Ron), and Art Brown (Sid). Each brings their character vividly to life. However, the choice to have all four narrators voice multiple characters sometimes made it difficult to track who was speaking. I loved Joel as Teddy, Daniel as Barry, George as Ron, and Art as Sid, and don’t think they could have been cast any better, but just wish the production had allowed them to stick to a single character to shine even more.

Regardless, I laughed, cried, and gasped… and was so happy that in the end, all the characters get a rare and fully satisfying happy ending.

"Life is not a sitcom, but it's pretty damn close ... three acts and a finale: you better learn to laugh at yourself early in life, you better learn to forgive yourself mid-life, and you better have friends late in life, or you will not survive, and I want you to survive. We need you to make this dramedy we call life to be a spectacular one."

Harlequin Audio | 10 hours, 34 minutes | Fiction | LGBTQIAP+

Advanced Review Audio copy of That's What Friends Are For provided by Harlequin Audio via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

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We Burned So Bright, narrated by Kirt Graves, is a must-listen for Graves and TJ Klune fans. This short story follows elderly husbands Don and Rodney on one final journey at the end of the world, desperate to keep a promise with very little time left.

Graves, who also narrated Wolfsong, the Green Creek series, and Murmuration, brings his distinctive vocal talents to both Rodney and Don. He uses distinct character voices for each, but what really stands out is how his narration evolves. As the story intensifies and the characters face increasingly dramatic situations, so does the urgency in his performance. The listener is pulled into the gravity of everything happening—much like Rodney and Don themselves, sometimes against their will.

Having already read the book, I can confirm that Graves's narration elevates an already emotional story. The heartbreak feels even more visceral when you can hear it in their voices. If you loved Klune's other works and appreciate a narrator who can match their emotional weight, this one's for you.

"We all float through space on a rock hurtling toward forever, so many of us forget that it's other people who make life worth living."

Advanced Audio Galley copy of We Burned So Bright narrated by Kirt Graves provided by Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: We Burned So Bright

"We Burned So Bright" by T.J. Klune is a journey, both figuratively and literally, that husbands Don and Rodney undertake at the end of the world, in their seventies and not as spry as they once were, desperate to keep a promise they made, with very little time left to do it.

"...You and me? We weren’t destined to be. We’re here because we worked for it. We worked hard. We survived some of the worst things people can live through. It’s not fate. It was you and me who did it. No one and nothing else.”

It’s a beautiful, short story, filled with big and scary moments, alongside quieter ones. Don and Rodney just want more time, and that’s impossible. Like most of T.J. Klune’s books, it’s got a couple of good gut punches in there, and I’m not ashamed to say I cried. Yep—TJ got me again.

"If it was luck that brought us together, then I think we’re the luckiest people in the world.”

I’d recommend We Burned So Bright especially for fans of T.J. Klune’s other titles like John & Jackie, Olive Juice, Murmuration, and Into This River I Drown.

“I loved being here!”

Pub Date Apr 28 2026 LGBTQIAP+ | Sci Fi & Fantasy

Advanced Review Galley copy of We Burned So Bright provided by Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

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One of the favorite edits I've seen. 😭🤗🫂🥰

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Audio Review: The Seven Rings (Lost Bride Manor #3) by Nora Roberts

Narrated by Brittany Pressley Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins

⭐ Narration: 4.5/5 ⭐ Story: 3/5 ⭐ Series Overall: 4/5

A solid conclusion to the Lost Bride Manor trilogy. I liked that this series breaks from Roberts’ usual formula—rather than three couples in three books, the focus stays on Sonya, with Trey, Cleo, and Owen playing big roles in unraveling the curse and freeing the lost brides. It gave the story more unity across the trilogy.

The haunted-manor setting delivers the creepy, suspenseful atmosphere I wanted, and there are plenty of tense, ghostly moments. The ending is satisfying, though a bit rushed. I’d have preferred less time spent on cooking details and more on the final showdown. Hester Dobbs’ fate was both fitting and gruesome.

The real highlight is Brittany Pressley’s narration. Her pacing, character voices, and inflection are excellent, and she makes the story a pleasure to listen to.

Definitely read this series in order—each book picks up exactly where the last leaves off, and you’ll be lost if you skip ahead.

Literature & Fiction | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Romance

Advanced Review Copy Audio of The Seven Rings (The Lost Bride Trilogy #3) provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

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Time to Shine by Rachel Reid

Loved it and I'll definitely get the audio when it comes out. Holy moly, how much I love these two characters!! Casey is total sunshine and Landon is such a good guy who's way too hard on himself. I loved getting to see Landon learn to accept how much Casey loves him and that he deserves to be loved sigh it was just wonderful. I love Rachel Reid's writing, her pacing, character development….it all hits right. I really enjoyed the slow burn here and loved that Casey and Landon become really good friends before they start hooking up, and how almost everything plays out. There's less hockey play time than other stories from Reid's Game Changers universe but that just serves to allow 'Time to Shine' to be more hurt-comfort and relationship centered. Recommended!

LGBTQIAP+ | Romance | Sports

Advanced Review Galley copy of Time to Shine provided by Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

BWT's review of Time to Shine

5/5: Loved it and I'll definitely get the audio when it comes out. Holy moly, how much I love these two characters!! Casey is total sunshine

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Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain 🎃👻🧡 https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYUGAYLIbG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Vote them all out! https://www.instagram.com/p/CfNdwiKNvs3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=