Bonus Blog- Book Review of the "For Him" Series by A.M. Johnson

I’ve added a Reviews page to the website because I want to have a separate space to recognize 5-star authors and books I read and review for Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub. You can access that page from the menu bar above on a desktop or the drop-down menu on mobile devices. While I will normally write a review for a single book as I finish it and post it on the Reviews page, I’m finding it difficult to write and post these as truly individual reviews, so you’re getting them as a bonus blog this week. I tore through the "For Him" series by A.M. Johnson in less than seven days, not because I had to, but because I could not stop reading it! I read the first book, Love Always, Wild, on the recommendation of my friend and fellow book addict Julie Collier. I was looking for a new-to-me author attending Indies Invade Philly in November, and A. M. Johnson was Julie’s first suggestion. I cannot thank her enough for pointing me in this direction. She originally encouraged me to read Let There Be Light, but after reading the blurb I decided to hold off on that one and read it with my older daughter once the paperbacks we ordered arrived. So, instead of moving on to another author, and again under Julie’s guidance, I downloaded Love Always, Wild to my Kindle and dove in. It’s been a while since I was emotionally affected by a book like I was by that one. It wasn’t just the subject matter, it was the intensity of the prose itself. I felt deeply connected to these characters and their stories. The author has a true talent for immersing the reader in the elements of her stories. The dialogue is authentic and powerful, the pace of the stories is fluid and swift without being frenetic, and the descriptions are graphic and illustrative without being overwhelming. I know MM (a novel with the main relationship between two male characters) books are not everyone’s cup of tea, but these books are so much more than a stereotype. The character interactions and situations build upon common themes of acceptance, shame, trust, personal discovery, and change to create a story so much deeper than each theme could ever accomplish on its own. And even in the weighty concepts addressed, there is humor and joy and delight. If you are new to MM romance, and are looking for a book or series that can give you some wonderful insights into social constructs, stereotypes, and authentic truths, as well as all the feels of a solid romance novel, this is an excellent series to binge. If you’re not new to the MM romance world, this is a must read series. And most likely a regular re-read series as well.

Love Always, Wild:

I Hugged My Kindle When it was Over

It’s been a while since a book truly touched my heart like this one has. Love Always, Wild is a beautiful emotional journey, not just for Wilder and Jaxon but for the reader as well. AM Johnson’s prose is vivid and intense, with captivating imagery and flow. I truly felt immersed in these characters’ lives. The author doesn’t just tell you a story, she helps you feel it. This was the first book I read by this author, and I had no idea what to expect, but it was recommended by another reader whose opinion I value highly so I didn’t think twice about diving in. I was not ready for this deep of an experience, but I am so glad I had it. I appreciated the second chance romance element of the novel, and the moderate angst that accompanied it. It wasn’t so much about if Jax and Wild would get their HEA, but about what they would go through separately and together to make it happen. The supporting characters in the story were just as wonderfully developed and relevant as the mains, and it really helped bring a fuller appreciation for this story. Plus, it set up the next novel in the series perfectly without giving too much away but leaving you wanting to keep reading. I quite literally hugged my Kindle and cried when I finished reading this book. I didn’t want it to end, but I was so incredibly happy with how it did.

You can purchase a copy of Love Always, Wild or read it on Kindle Unlimited here: https://tinyurl.com/lovealwayswildbook

Not So Sincerely, Yours:

Snark, Sass, and the perfect amount of Steam

This was the perfect follow-up to Love Always, Wild. I was wondering how the author was going to bring Anders and Ethan together considering how Love Always ended. And the way it happens is perfect: it’s not contrived or predictable, but still makes perfect sense. As with Love Always, Wild, Not So Sincerely, Yours is a slow burn, low angst story of discovery and connection. Although it’s book two of a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, it would be much more connected and enjoyable read in order within the series. The author incorporates characters from the first novel in the series, allowing the reader to relive their appreciation and joy in their attitudes and personalities. The conflicts between Anders and Ethan feed into the enemies to lovers trope, but also build the characters’ personalities and give the reader a chance to get to know them each separately before seeing them as a couple. I loved the use of e-mails as a way to move the plot along and provide insights into the character’s thoughts and emotions. Not So Sincerely, Yours is a lighter read than Love Always, Wild, but that does not make it any less intense, emotional, and addictive.

You can purchase a copy of Not So Sincerely, Yours or read it on Kindle Unlimited here: https://tinyurl.com/NotSoSincerelyYoursbook

Dear Mr Brody:

Self discovery never looked so good.

I dove into this book days after its release, and minutes after finishing book two in the For Him series by A. M. Johnson. I am not typically a fan of the teacher/student trope (I think it’s because I’m a teacher), but the way the author approached the subject completely eliminated the usual aversion I have to the subject. And there is so much I love about this book that I am absolutely going to use the word “love” over and over in this review. I love the way the relationship with Parker and Van developed freely, outside of the confines of the school setting, but perfectly addressed the dilemma presented by it. Once again, the author includes characters from the prior books in the series and interweaves them seamlessly and perfectly into the current situation. In addition, I loved the way she introduced new minor characters that had me messaging a friend constantly about my predictions and “holy crap!” moments. I love the developing consciousness Van has about his own sexuality, and the fact that Parker has already been there, done that creates a strong connection between the two. I also love the flipped aspect of which character has the confidence and which is trying to find his way. It’s not the typical scenario in the majority of other similarly themed books I’ve read. Looking back through messages with the friend who recommended this series, the ones from this book are my favorite include: “I don’t think I breathed during their meet-up chapter. This book is going to kill me.”, “Damn this book, now I’m crying” (you’ll understand in chapter 22) . And yes, I stayed up way too late finishing the book because I needed that HEA I fully and firmly believed Parker and Van deserved and earned before I could fall asleep.

You can purchase a copy of Dear Mr. Brody or read it on Kindle Unlimited here:

https://tinyurl.com/DearMrBrodyBook