Month: October 2011

Chasing the Dream – Dreamspinner Anthology

Title: Anthology – Chasing the Dream

Author: Sue Brown, G.A. Hauser, Sammy Jo Hunt, Patricia Logan and Lisa Worrall

Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal, M/M, M/M/M, BDSM.

Length: Five Novella’s (338pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (17th September 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit/Scorching

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ (overall)

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Chasing the dream…something every one of us aspires to. But every dream is different for each individual. Some crave love, fame, or immortality. And for still others, they desire power and riches, and all that comes with it.

In this anthology, share in the vivid imaginations of five bestselling authors who are masters of the genre, each writing steamy, hot passionate stories of men loving men, men sharing their bodies, who hope to attain their own secret desires.

Come along for the sensual journey that awaits you, and get lost in this collection of must-have gay erotica. Let these stories steal you away to another world where hot men share their deepest hopes and fantasies with you, while they’re Chasing the Dream.

* * * * *

Racing raindrops by Sue Brown (56pgs) Hearts: ♥♥♥♥3 ½

Caught by an unexpected rain shower, Tony DiMarco seeks shelter in a bar. The last thing Tony expects is to be propositioned by the hot bartender and his equally hot cousin. Mac and Chase make it clear it’s his decision, but Tony is torn between his desires and his responsibilities. On a sudden whim he decides to let the raindrops sheeting down the window make the decision. If they go right he’ll say yes to a night of sex that might blow his world apart, if the rain goes left he’ll leave and never look back.

Review: Tony hides his sexuality because he knows what would happen if his father or his employer found out.  He meets Mac and Chase and they have him tempted to look for something more.

This is a cute read which is extremely hot, we see Tony battling with indecision as he tries to decide if he should take the two hunky men up on their offer.   and we see Chase and Mac want more than just one night with Tony. Not quite a HEA but a beginning …maybe?

*****

Nasty Boys by G.A. Hauser (78pgs) Hearts: ♥♥♥2 ½

Fire-fighter by day, sex god by night, ‘Clyde’ chased his dream in Hollywood to be the top gay male porn star in West Hollywood. What Clyde didn’t expect was a little help from a pretty-boy superstar. ‘Blaze’ lights this fireman’s world on fire!

Review: Clyde wants to fulfill his dreams of being a sex god porn star and ‘Blaze’ wants a night out with the hunky Clyde.

Clyde is not quite as tough and macho as he appears wanting a gentler lover and something more than a quick hook up; we feel his longing for more.   ‘Blaze’ also wants something different and he seems to find it in Clyde. The story cuts off a bit abruptly and is a novella for the Action series so I don’t know if we will see more of Clyde. This is good for a quick scorching sex fix.

*****

The Soul Awakening by SammyJo Hunt (68pgs) Hearts: ♥♥♥♥♥5

While on promotional tour across Europe, Michael Nolan’s rental car encounters engine trouble and leaves him stranded in the dead of night. The offer of help from a tall dark stranger sets him upon a life-altering course of events. It could lead to love…but more likely, his own private hell.

Review: Michael gets lost on a dark country road when his car breaks down.   There he meets Zandor who comes to his rescue and turns his life upside down.

Zandor wants nothing more than for someone to love him and to share his lonely existence.   He finds that in Michael.   Michael wants Zandor but is too scared to give up his life and everything he knows.  Brilliant writing with a twist on vampires and the emotions from the characters are wonderful… a definite must read.

*****

Chasing Deuce by Patricia Logan (63pgs) Hearts: ♥♥♥♥♥5

Has Colt’s fantasy of bringing Slade into the bedroom with Deuce driven Deuce away for good or can Colt lure the handsome cowboy home to be loved by two instead of one? Slade has been in lust for Colt for years. Will he get the opportunity to taste the man he’s always wanted and the added bonus of his cowboy lover?

Review: Colt loves Deuce but he wants a bit of spice with Slade.  Deuce loves and adores Colt but feels betrayed that Colt needs someone other than him.   Slade has wanted Colt for many years and he’s now in his grasp.

Deuce’s feelings are fully understandable and you can sympathize with him when he leaves but he loves Colt too much and they try to work it out. The sex is outstanding and the storyline will bring out conflicting feelings in you… a definite must read now.

*****

Dreaming of You by Lisa Worrall (61pgs) Hearts: ♥♥♥♥♥5

Noah Kinkade is an up and coming designer, one of the best newcomers in the field. When he is hired to restore the old Seevers mansion to its former glory, he thinks all his dreams have come true. He doesn’t know how right he is.

Review: Noah is working all the hours that God sends on a mansion and it’s affecting his life.   Sebastian is waiting for his lost love Thomas and Noah is the spitting image of him.

This is a brilliant little novella, the storyline is fantastic and the characters are great. The sex is scorching hot and they all find love. The story also flicks to 1861 and it really adds to the book, this is great for those who love the paranormal.

 

Saving Connor by Scarlet Hyacinth

Title: Saving Connor

Series: Tides of Love 01

Author: Scarlet Hyacinth

Genre: Erotic Alternative Fantasy, Ménage Romance, M/M/M/M/M/M, Elves, Werewolves, Shape-shifters

Length: Novel (212pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing (26th September 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Thrust by chance in the waterworld of Uli, Connor finds himself falling for five gorgeous men. Rallion, Wren, Tallean, Chek and Rodrik are as different as night and day, and yet they all arouse deep feelings inside him, feelings he does not know how to deal with.

Elven princes Wren and Tallean want to protect Connor, but they do not realize how much the abyss between their social positions affects him. It is up to half-Fae Rallion to soothe Connor. But when an investigation regarding his presence on Uli begins, the situation is complicated by the appearance of Chek and Rodrik.

The two shape-shifters teach Connor and his men more about their souls and bodies than they’d ever known before. But there is a shadow watching from the darkness, hunting Connor. Can the five men save their lover before it is too late? What will these tides of love bring?

Review: Connor goes on assignment to Mexico for his paper and while he’s there he is caught in a storm that will change his life forever.

This is a well written story with good world building and in-depth characters with a really good storyline.   it is also a surprisingly good ménage-plus that really does work without trying too hard and all six men complement each other very well. You are drawn into the story and you really feel for Connor being transported to another dimension and being in a position that he has no way out of and no way of getting home.   It was also brilliant that Wren, Tallean, Rallion, Rodrik and Chek had different personalities and came together for Conner and they were not already established as lovers.

The sex scenes are hot and it was extremely nice that Connor didn’t just jump into bed with any of them and had to work through his issues about how he could feel something for all the men and how his men supported and encouraged him through these doubts.   there are D/s scenes as both Rodrik and Chek are very dominate but they are done well and it was a nice surprise that it wasn’t just Connor who acted as their sub and you can see how much thought went into this story as we see most of the men connect with each other without Connor being around.   As I said before a very well done ménage-plus.

I loved the ending as we are left with the opening for the next book of Connor’s best friend Owen, yeah can’t wait.

So I recommend this to everyone who loves a great storyline, incredible hot sex, even hotter men and the promise of more for the future.

Trailmaster Phelix by Adrianna Dane

Title: Trailmaster Phelix

Series: Tales of the Midnight Pearl Brotherhood 03

Author: Adrianna Dane

Genre: Gay / Erotica / Fantasy / Witchcraft / Magic

Length: Short Story (35pgs)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press, Amber Allure (18th September 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: The ancient myths of the Brotherhood of the Midnight Pearl tell of an island formed from the depths of the ocean, in the midst of a sea of mystical, sapphire beauty. It is an island paradise built on love and devotion to a common belief, a society made up entirely of handsome and desirable men. And Alonzo Smith is on a journey to discover his place among them.

The initiates are set to be tested. After a span of relatively unregulated sexual play on the beach, the real challenges begin. Trailmaster Phelix arrives, along with his apprentice, Abel, to guide these lusty young men with their raging libidos through the dangerous jungles on Mannos. Alonzo, David, Helmer, Krispin, and Parker prepare themselves for new discoveries, yet adventures in the jungle may not be quite what they expect. Master Phelix has his eye on Alonzo, and this new leg of the journey may be even more challenging than Alonzo can imagine as Master Phelix forces more of Alonzo’s dark past into the light. Past blends into present as Alonzo turns himself to serving the demands of Master Phelix.

Review: This book can be read as a standalone but it is a continuation of The Brotherhood of the Midnight Pearl series that really should be read in order.

Alonzo has to face his past and settle with the present and with the help of Trailmaster Phelix we begin to see Alonzo’s acceptance.

This book pulled me in with the first few pages as it described the Island of Mannos.   I didn’t realize that it was a part of a series until the end when it seemed to abruptly cut off. It was very well written and the world building was good, we learn a lot about Alonzo and his past.   We see how he starts to come to terms with his submissive nature.   Because, although he knows he is submissive he has never really faced up to it.

To me this seemed to be a part of a larger book which has been cut into bite-sized pieces.   In fact, I have just read the blurbs to 1 & 2 and for 4 (Expected publication: 23rd October 2011) and it basically is a larger book cut down into installments that leave you unsatisfied.

I would recommend that if you have already got 1 & 2 then you need to get this.   if you haven’t then it might be a good idea to wait until the series has ended then get them all at once and read them together as though it was just one book.

Jay by Xondra Day

Title: Jay

Series: The Men of Buckshot Ranch 01

Author: Xondra Day

Genre: Western, Historical (1886 Montana)

Length: Novella (51pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (12th September 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 3 1/2Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Jay Harnett’s predictable world is knocked upside down when he encounters the new school teacher, Will, in town. As their unlikely friendship blossoms, it turns to lust, love, and a whole lot more, surprising them both.

But when Will’s old flame suddenly leaps into the picture a decision must be made that will change all those involved.

Review: William Jon has fled the city to start a new life after being dumped for a woman.   Jay Harnett is a hand at the Buckshot Ranch and has always kept his sexuality a secret.   Meeting Will causes him to be a bit more daring.

This was a cute read with lots of sex but not much plot.  We get to know a little about each character’s past and what led them to the little town in Montana. We don’t get a real feel for the characters though.   They fall in love much too soon for the storyline and for such a short book there is plenty of sex and a little bit of bed hopping. I can fully understand Jay’s view of denying everything; especially in the year this is set.   And it makes you feel sorry for the two MCs that their entire lives are going to be hiding and whatever snatched moments that they can grab.

I would recommend this to those who like hot cowboys, sexy school teachers, hot sex and a HEA for 1886.