Genre: LGBT - M/M Erotic Paranormal Romance
3 StarsPromising...But Not Without Flaws
Soul Bonds by Lynn Lorenz is the first in a promising series of M/M romance with a tinge of paranormal included. I'm a huge fan of paranormal romances, and I'm a growing fan of M/M romance, so putting these two things together just really works for me. Unfortunately, in Soul Bonds, the story surrounding the two protagonists, Mitchell and Sammi, and the development of their relationship was a bit too rushed, stereotypical, and too focused on sex to read as a balanced paranormal romance. It read more like a moderately well told M/M erotica romance.
That being said, all is not lost. There is potential here. Lorenz has a very nice ability to write characters you care about, and when they're not focused on the sexual aspects of the relationship, the surrounding story of a young kid who's really got the shaft in life (and not in the good way) and is in a dangerous and desperate situation isn't at all bad. It's maybe a little thinner in plot and depth than I would've liked but you do see a young man who struggles with self respect and an inner strength that starts to really flower after he finds his soul bonded love.
I liked Soul Bonds overall, and I really liked - and was most pleasantly surprised by - the very genuine relationship between Mitchell and his friend Brian. It's rare to find a M/M romance novel that introduces ancillary characters who seem genuinely a part of main characters lives and yet don't have sexual history together. I just think too many M/M romance or erotica novelists overlook the fact that gay men can have healthy non-sexual relationships with men. It's called friendship. M/F romance novelists understand that concept. I don't know why so many M/M romance novelists don't. It's wonderful for deepening and strengthening the story surrounding the protagonists.
Oops. Sorry. Stepping down off the soap box now, really.
Overall, a solid 3 Stars for Soul Bonds, and I'm looking forward to trying Lorenz's next in the series, Rush in the Dark.
That being said, all is not lost. There is potential here. Lorenz has a very nice ability to write characters you care about, and when they're not focused on the sexual aspects of the relationship, the surrounding story of a young kid who's really got the shaft in life (and not in the good way) and is in a dangerous and desperate situation isn't at all bad. It's maybe a little thinner in plot and depth than I would've liked but you do see a young man who struggles with self respect and an inner strength that starts to really flower after he finds his soul bonded love.
I liked Soul Bonds overall, and I really liked - and was most pleasantly surprised by - the very genuine relationship between Mitchell and his friend Brian. It's rare to find a M/M romance novel that introduces ancillary characters who seem genuinely a part of main characters lives and yet don't have sexual history together. I just think too many M/M romance or erotica novelists overlook the fact that gay men can have healthy non-sexual relationships with men. It's called friendship. M/F romance novelists understand that concept. I don't know why so many M/M romance novelists don't. It's wonderful for deepening and strengthening the story surrounding the protagonists.
Oops. Sorry. Stepping down off the soap box now, really.
Overall, a solid 3 Stars for Soul Bonds, and I'm looking forward to trying Lorenz's next in the series, Rush in the Dark.
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