Ben cook is on the hunt for a job to put his English degree and love of writing to good use. Facing multiple rejections, he applies for a job at a restaurant to make money while he’s still writing. However, he not only has a talent for cooking and enjoys it, he develops a crush on Liam, chef at his new job. Now, he starts to question what he wants for his future.

This is a classic story of a young adult finding their way but told with some wacky characters and beautiful, vibrant colors. All the personalities here are so unique without coming off as having one quirk and no substance. This had the right mix of fun and drama but I would have liked some closure concerning Ben’s parents. But Watson is a fun twist here. You’ll see when you read it. 4.9 out of 5.

March 26, 2022May 9, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Change World” Vol. 2, by Yuu Minaduki

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+.

Yosuke and Arimura’s relationship is almost dreamlike until Arimura gets a job offer overseas and his former classmate, Masato, comes in to start trouble.

It may be spoilers to say so but Yosuke and Arimura are clearly an unshakeable couple. They may have some hesitation but there was never a point in this volume where I thought the conflicts presented would pose the slightest threat to their relationship. If you’re looking for a low angst yaoi, this fits the bill perfectly. The main couple are sweet and fun to read and there’s some sexy times that are graphic so be aware of that. 3.5 out of 5.

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March 20, 2022April 28, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Links” by Natsuki Kizu

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is recommended for mature readers.

This is a collection of short stories about four different couples. They all have a connection to one another and it’s very slice of life. I like it, it’s a cute mix of different types of love and personalities. It isn’t very graphic; more like suggestive. So, if you’re looking for a laid-back, low angst, slice-of-life romance that’s relatively clean, this isn’t a bad read. 3 out of 5.

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March 19, 2022April 25, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Black or White” Vol. 3, by Sachimo

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+.

Shin, who is so reserved he is typically typecast as a bad guy, is getting closer with a veteran actor, Tatara, who he has admired for some time. Shige, Shin’s boyfriend, is filled with jealousy at this growing friendship but still has to keep his relationship with Shin a secret.

They synopsis made this volume sound more dramatic than it actually is. There’s a lot of feels and exploring the character’s hang ups and Shige and Shin navigating their relationship around their jobs. This volume wasn’t bad but I expected a huge drama that didn’t happen. It’s pretty chill, actually; so if you’re into heavy angst, this isn’t it. 3 out of 5.

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February 24, 2022March 21, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Scattering His Virgin Bloom” Vol 1, by Aya Sakyo

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+.

In this world, alphas are at the top of society, betas live a comfortable life in the middle, but omegas are viewed as lesser than anyone else. Hana is usually assumed to be an alpha so he keeps his omega status a secret to avoid being forced to mate with anyone. Renjaku is an alpha and a regular customer at the café where Hana works and while Hana has a crush on him; Renjaku is a rude, demanding man who doesn’t believe in fated mates. But when Hana’s first heat comes, his cover is broken and Renjaku begrudgingly offers to help him.

And that help comes in explicit sex. This is an adult comic.

I thought this was going to be a typical alpha/omega story but then we have Hana’s brother drop in and my jaw dropped. I did NOT expect that. I can’t say I like this twist but it does give Renjaku added motivation to help Hanna other than the inevitable coming to terms with the idea of a fated mate. 3.5 out of 5.

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February 6, 2022March 1, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Change World” Vol. 1, by Yuu Minaduki

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+.

In this sequel to Sayonara Game, Ito and Arimura are growing closer but Arimura wants Ito to move in with him.

This was cute but fleeting. I like the contrast between the stoic Ito and outgoing Arimura but having a third character, Hozumi, appear as an antagonist to interfere with them is really cliche. I am aware this is cliche for a reason but this seems particularly generic. It’s obvious the main couple is too devoted to be fooled by this person, if they even bother to deal with him at all. Fun but we’ve seen all this before. 3.7 out of 5.

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January 22, 2022January 26, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Therapy Game Restart” Vol. 1, by Meguru Hinohara

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Shizuma’s job as a veterinarian is keeping him to busy to spend as much time with his boyfriend, Hinato; who has some insecurities about their relationship because Shizuma used to date women.

For clarity, I have not read the original series. So, any backstory beyond this volume is a mystery to me. That being said, this is a cute, smutty story that reads fast and has a nice pair of characters. They contrast well, Shizuma’s nice guy attitude with Hinato’s more standoffish ways but it was a fun read. 3.5 out of 5.

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January 20, 2022January 19, 2022 atthequillsmercy

“Sanctuary” is here!

Happy release day to me! Sanctuary is now available for purchase here on my blog, Smashwords, and other retailers. This was my NaNoWriMo project and even though I didn’t hit 50k words, I think it tells it’s story well with the words it has. I hope you check it out and enjoy it!

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January 16, 2022January 16, 2022 atthequillsmercy

New Release! “Sanctuary”

This is the story I was working on for NaNoWriMo! It will be released on January 20th but if you want a preview, the first chapter (as well as an early cover reveal) is available to my patrons over on Patreon. This story is a clean lesbian romance where the focus is on Makayla and her desire to help younger witches in trouble. I had a lot of fun writing this one and I hope you will have fun reading it!

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January 8, 2022January 11, 2022 atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Birds of Shangri-La” Vol. 2, by Ranmaru Zaria

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Apollo is still trying to resist Phi’s charms to break the rules of his job as a teaser. As the attraction between them boils, demons from Phi’s dark past come stalking him.

It’s interesting that the teasers also function as a type of bodyguard when the ‘birds’ are allowed to leave the brothel. I’m not sure if they’re qualified to deal with whoever is stalking Phi; as it’s clear that stalker is going to do something dangerous that will affect everyone at Shangri-La. I do like how the story treats the chemistry between Phi and Apollo even without the naughty scenes. 3.8 out of 5.

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