Some Like It Geek

These books are so hot, I needed more than one cold shower while reading them. Fall quiet and To score or not to score were two of my favorites but I must say the one that steamed up the bathroom mirror was Bath Bomb! Damn that was hot, steamy and damn did I say hot! Ummm some good M/M visuals with muscles and tattoos then add in a female and yikes the temperature of this spikes into the nitro inferno danger zone! Cold shower or maybe a romp in the snow but this story would still melt the polar ice caps! Damn, It was just that good!

I found “Some Like It Geek” because I adore Angela Quarles and am always eager to read her works. The entire reason I read this compilation is because she was in it. Everything else? BONUS! And, SCORE! I found some new authors I’m excited to read!!! I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review – thanks! I loved it!.

Overall, as a collection, it is tied together by geek elements (kink, comics, star wars, comic con, superheroes, and virtual reality). The amount of geek in each story sort of varies, but is there, and links them together. Most of them also feature a navy SEALS, which was kinda odd to me. I don’t think of SEALS as geeks, but there are a few in this series. Like the amount of geek, the amount of romantic intensity varies from story to story. They all have at least one or two bedroom scenes, but the length and intensity varies. Sometimes they dominate the story, other times they really are secondary. Whatever your tastes are, there is probably something here for you. Scenes include bondage, domination, oral, CMNF, voyeurism, two men, and a whole lot more. Take your pick! And, who knows, maybe you’ll find something new to pique your interests! For the sake of each story, though, here are some short individual reviews and reactions:

Fall Quiet by Zoe York – 3 stars
I’m kinda on the fence about this story. For the most part, it read well as erotica, but not as a contemporary romance. Honestly, the bulk of the writing are bedroom scenes with not a lot of character development or dialogue. The fabulous conversations and all the “connections” between Leah and Quinn are skimmed over and alluded to, but are never on the page. We get a lot of hearing about the great conversations they had during the day, but we only get a few meal scenes and a lot of bedroom action. Which, don’t get me wrong, was pretty hawt. But, again, it only worked for me when read as erotica and I’m not entirely sure how solid their relationship is going forward.

To Score or Not to Score by Angela Quarles – 5 stars
This story focuses on Pepper and Luke, high school acquaintances that reconnect as adults 15+ years later. It also heavily features the sport Irish Hurling and, after watching a few youtube videos, I am a huge fan. It is a mash up of field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, rugby and pretty much every other contact sport you can think of. Considering the novella-esque length, I felt that we got a lot of character development for Pepper and Luke. We learned what made them tick, as well as how their mind worked. Lots of introspection and thinking about their feelings for the other person. Plus a few hawt bedroom scenes. That thing in the car? HECK YEAH! Anyway, after the last two scenes, I have no doubt that these two will find their HEA. And, again, I love Angela Quarles writing style and can always trust that she is going to take me, the reader, on a fun adventure.

The Adorkable Girl and the Geek (Gone Geek 5) by Sidney Bristol – 2 stars
Well, as the 2 star rating indicates, this is my least favorite in this series. Maybe it is because I’m not a Star Wars fan, but this one was very “Meh” to me. It is about best friends confronting their feelings for each other, but it is riddled with annoying writing tropes and plot devices that just feel stale and predictable. Examples: withholding information about an ex coming back to bite you on the butt, friends having come to Jesus moments and revealing secrets, making a grand gesture, being afraid of your emotions, and being too afraid of a reaction to put yourself out there. These characters are supposed to be in the 26-30 year old range, yet they have the emotional maturity of 14 year olds and come across as doormats with their families and careers. As for the geeky elements, well, aside from some Star Wars elements, it wasn’t there for me. Cara wasn’t so much adorkable and awkward as high functioning on the Autism spectrum with her inability to pick up on social cues and hold a conversation with more than three word answers for anything. In general, I was not a fan.

The Girl Next Door by C. Jordan – 3 stars
This was a very cute story by an author that was new to me. I liked that Derek and Katie complimented each other’s personalities, weren’t afraid to talk about their feelings (eventually), and try new things togeher. They had a friendly, easy way that was fun to read and I enjoyed watching Derek go through some emotional growth. I liked the geek elements being centered around a Comic Con, but that they were both working the convention, not just attending. This was a very fast and easy read that I read in one sitting. Given the shorter length, I felt we got to know the characters well. There were even have glimpses into the characters in other books in the series that were interesting enough that I’ve added them to my TBR pile. Also, the romance was hawt….rawr. ;)

Bath Bomb by Clara Leigh (Forbidden Bad Boys) – 3 stars
Well, this one was a surprise for me. I’m not really a ménage-a-trois kinda gal, and I think this may honestly be the first one I’ve read, but the set-up and the way it played out was very well done and makes me look forward to more in the future. I’m a little less interested in the man on man action, but for the sake of this story, it was necessary and worked, but didn’t dominate the entire plot. My favorite part of this whole story, though, were the atmospheric elements. The descriptions of the rooms, the furniture, and *ahem* the kitchen sink were so vivid it painted a very clear picture of the setting in my mind. I love the description of the little cottage in the middle of nowhere, the bath house, and the fact that the entire thing is set in the English countryside and the grammar, spelling, and idioms are very British. Overall, I was surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed this story!

In the Spotlight by Ally Decker – 4 stars
This is another very cute, very sweet story by an author that is new to me. As a Broadway geek, I loved reading about the contracts and thinking about the scheduling, rehearsals, and other hoops that famous actors would have to do to be able to tread the boards on Broadway. This story was basically one I would have LOVED to live through in my own life and I adored being able to do it virtually through Sylvia and Greg’s relationship. Even though this story is rather short, I read it in one sitting, I enjoyed getting to know Sylvia and Greg. They were both very likable and relatable and I look forward to reading the rest of the Fixers series – that sounds like it could be pretty exciting!

Play by Olivia Devon – 5 stars
The geek elements are strongest in this story – a big portion of it takes place in Virtual Reality – and I am kinda obsessed with the technology that was described. I’m not a gamer, but if this is the direction that games are going, well then shut up and take my money. As for the story, I liked the relationship build, the way Aaron and Katie met and got to know each other. I liked the secondary characters – Aik in particular. I liked that Aaron and Katie talked about their problems and were totally honest about their feelings and insecurities. And, I liked seeing the villain(s?) get what was deserved. The atmospheric elements in this book were also very strong and were central to the plot since a portion of it was world building. And, that scene in the club? HAWT. Yes, please!!! This is another author that I will be sure to add to my to be read pile and will keep an eye out for in the future!

Loved the stories in this book! Some authors I was familiar with and I found some great new ones! I love all things geek so this was perfect! Couldn't put it down!