CHARACTER BLEED SERIES (1-3) BY K.L. NOONE : BOOK REVIEW
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An epic motion picture! A gay Napoleonic War love story! Ballrooms and battles at sea! Romantic happy endings on the silver screen! And a film that’ll change everything for its stars ...
Jason Mirelli can’t play adrenaline-fueled action heroes forever. He’s getting older, plus the action star parts have grown a little thinner since he came out as bisexual. This role could finally let him be seen as a serious dramatic actor, and he needs it to go well -- for his career, and because he’s fallen in love with the story and the chance to tell it.
The first problem? He’ll be playing a ship’s captain ... and he hasn’t exactly mentioned his fear of water. The second problem? His co-star: award-winning, overly talkative, annoyingly adorable -- and openly gay – box office idol Colby Kent.
Colby’s always loved the novel this film’s based on, and he leapt at the chance to adapt it, now that he has the money and reputation to make it happen. But scars and secrets from his past make filming a love story difficult ... until Jason takes his hand and wakes up all his buried desires. Jason could be everything Colby’s ever wanted: generous and kind, a fantastic partner on set, not to mention those heroic muscles. But Colby just can’t take that chance ... or can he?
As their characters fall in love and fight a war, Colby and Jason find themselves falling, too ... and facing the return of their own past demons. But together they just might win ... and write their own love story.
REVIEW
This was a sweet hurt/comfort read.
The relationship between Colby and Jason was well developed and their characters were real, relatable and well fleshed out.
The writing style was unique, almost poetic and engaging.
I liked how the author also focused on other aspects of the story such as the process behind film making, which was quite interesting.
Overall a well written book that paves the way for the other two in this series.
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Stalwart (Character Bleed Book 2)
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Cameras, thunderstorms, and love confessions! And a secret or two ...
Jason Mirelli couldn't be happier. Filming's going well, he loves his role, and he and Colby Kent have unexpectedly fallen for each other on screen and off ... and into bed. Everything seems wonderful, but Jason can't help worrying. This is the role that'll save his career, he's sleeping with his co-star, and Colby needs him to take things slow, but Jason's already head over heels in love. It's getting harder and harder to watch Colby pretend to be ill and in pain, even if it's only in character ... and a single on-set accident might make Jason's worst fears come true.
Colby's happier than he's been in a very long time. He's telling a story that he loves, he's playing a character he's always adored, and he wants to share all of himself with Jason, on camera and off. He knows he's falling in love with Jason, but he also knows it's too fast, and he's been hurt before. Besides, he has one final secret he's been afraid to confess. He wants to trust Jason completely, but before he can, an accident on set might threaten every love story they've been creating.
REVIEW
This book picks up right from where book 1 ends. Hence I recommend reading this one after book 1 since it follows the characters and their relationship that has been already established there.
The story focuses on how Jason and Colby’s relationship evolves and the ups and downs they face.
The way the author handles their relationship, has a realistic appeal which I quite enjoyed.
We get to see a bit more relationship development and steamy scenes in this one.
I liked that the level of intamacy has grown between the two inside and outside of the bedroom.
We are yet to find out about the details of Colby and his abusive relationship with his ex, but we get to see how it affects his present relationship with Jason.
The book ends on a HFN, which nicely sets up for more to come in book 3
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Steadfast (Character Bleed #3)
BLURB
A love story for the ages! An intimate confession! An epic quest! And happily ever after on the horizon ...
Jason Mirelli loves Colby Kent. And Colby loves him. They’ve told the world. And Colby’s recovered from injury, so they’re back at work and back on set. Jason just might have everything he’s ever dreamed of, with a serious leading role, an epic love story, and Colby safe and happy in his arms -- but they only have two weeks of filming to go. He’s afraid of the dream falling apart, and he knows Colby has a secret to confess -- one that could transform both the ending of their movie and their future together.
Colby never got around to telling Jason his final secret before his accident on set. Now that he’s recovered, he plans to -- he wants to share his writing and his silent script doctor work with the man he loves. Besides, he’s rewritten this script to give their characters a proper happy ending. But he’s nervous about making changes to a classic novel, and he wants the author’s approval.
Colby’s hoping to seek out the famously reclusive author in question, but first he’ll need to trust Jason with this last piece of himself. If he can, he and Jason might finally find their happily-ever-after both on screen and off -- for their characters and for themselves.
REVIEW
This book follow soon after the event in book 2.
Jason and Colby have settled into a strong loving relationship. They have openly declared their love to the world and are content.
Jason knows that Colby has a secret and his waiting for him to come to him and confide in him.
Can Colby give one last part of himself to the man he has already given his all to?
This book neatly ties up all loose ends from books 1 and 2.
It has an emotional depth that we see slowly developing from the previous books. The author gives us an idea about Colby’s past abuse but doesn't go too much in detail about it.
I like how the author ended this series and found it to be quite enjoyable.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K.L. Noone employs her academic research for writing romance, frequently LGBTQIA, often paranormal, fantasy, or historical. Her full-length romance novels include the Character Bleed trilogy (Seaworthy, Stalwart, Steadfast), Cadence and the Pearl, and A Demon for Midwinter, available from JMS Books, and A Prophecy for Two, available from Inkshares, and she’s also the author of multiple romance short stories with JMS Books, and previously with Less Than Three Press, Circlet Press, and Ellora's Cave. Her non-romance fantasy fiction has appeared in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress and the magazine Aoife's Kiss.
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