Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings

Dare You by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As this is a trilogy, I knew we’d get mini cliffhangers at the end of each book, but even so, this one frustrated me.

Not because it’s a cliffhanger, but because of the type of “dramady” plot trope used to create it.

Begin Whinge 

I hate with the power of a thousand burning suns the whole ‘misunderstanding of a situation’ angle and that it’s used here annoyed me because it was out of character for how both men had been behaving until that point.

That and the fact that character X appeared literally out of nowhere just for said plotline.

End Whinge

Up until that moment, everything about this book was going beautifully for me and I know it’s a personal bugbear not an actual fault 😁

I’ve been dying for Bash’s story for almost two years, I loved the idea of a crossover with Ella’s Chicagoverse, Kieran Bailey especially, and everything was working out in a way which felt honest.

The meet cute was fab, Kieran’s fascination with Bash was totally believable, his growing attraction coming out of spending time together was absolutely understandable.

They just click from the off, they’re comfortable in each other’s company and they’re funny, flirting and exploring the delights of Chicago as Kieran plays tour guide.

The set up for the first spark between them had me cheering and when the UST finally boils over, it’s a visceral connection which scorches the pages.

I know Brooke and Ella will steer the story to a joyous, happy ending in the final book, but sometimes I wish I didn’t have to suffer through the angsting first!

At least they don’t leave us waiting long, book two is out next month and the last part in September 😁

I’m also seriously keen to see what Keiran’s going to do to win Bash back round to believing he wasn’t just “straight guy experimenting” because he’s going to need to be very persuasive.

Our Bash needs someone willing to fight big for him and lay their vulnerability on the cards, so come on Keiran, go fix this!

#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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