Beach Lovers…
Month: February 2012
Blacker than Black by Rhi Etzweiler
Title: Blacker than Black
Author: Rhi Etzweiler
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Vampire (non-traditional)
Length: Novel (327pgs)
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (23rd January 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Apparently, my twin and I are two of York’s most notorious criminals. We’ve been Nightwalkers in the blue-light district since the vamps took over the world. Don’t know how many years it’s been. Long enough that a stream of fellow ’walkers have come and gone. Most don’t last long selling their chi. End up face-down in the gutter, or worse.
For us, one night and one sale change everything.
Monsieur Garthelle is the first john to hunt me down. He calls me a chi thief in one breath and offers absolution—servitude—in the next. Maybe I’m a sucker, but I like living and breathing. Strange that such a powerful vamp would show leniency to a mere human. And something’s not right with the chi I took from him. It won’t go away.
Neither will he, and he’s forcing us to spy on his peers. Then a vamp turns up dead, and we go from playing eyes and ears to investigating a murder. This isn’t what I signed up for. All I ever wanted was to sell a little chi, maybe steal some in return. I should’ve kept my damn hands to myself.
This is my story. Look through my eyes.
Purchase Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/blacker-black
Review: Black and his twin Jhez are Nightwalkers. Selling their chi to survive in a world where vampires (lyche) rule; humans are nothing and they have no rights. But Black has been caught stealing chi he now has a choice… do what Garthelle wants or die, well really not much of a choice is it.
A well written novel that takes vampires into an interesting and unique new direction. Black and his sister Jhez have been on the streets since they were about twelve years old. the old world is gone and the new world is ruled by Lyche’s (humans call them vampires). Black and Jhez survive by selling their chi to the lyche’s and stealing a little bit of chi off the lyche’s, but Black has been caught out by Monsieur of York (Garthelle the main Lyche of the area). He now has a choice, do as Garthelle wants or else. But, Black realizes that this time something went wrong, he can’t dispel the chi he took and he now has a connection to Garthelle.
Okay , I am not going to say any more than that because you really need to read the book yourself as there is so much more going on that it would take me ages to write about it. Black and his sister have secrets that nobody can know about; Garthelle has secrets that he won’t let get out. There are quite a few things going on that keep you reading but they all come back to the same thing… Black and Jhez.
Black and Garthelle have a complex bond and neither of them knows how it happened, as the book progresses we see the deepening of the bond and the effects it has on both of them. The progression of their relationship is moderate and it is far from easy. The story-line is strong and the plot very good, the characters are well-developed and I really liked the twists as the story progressed. I must admit that there is a lot of information to take in and I got completely lost on the lyche circles and how they worked.
The mystery surrounding Black’s background intrigues me and I hope there will be a sequel to clear it up. The interaction between Black and Garthelle is very good and the sex is scorching hot, but mistrust comes between them and it takes a lot to straighten it out.
This book I will recommend to those who love complex and dark stories, mystery, intrigue, twists, complex relationships, really hot sex and something a little different about your vampires.
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
Mechanical Magic By Lorraine Ulrich
Title: Mechanical Magic
Author: Lorraine Ulrich
Genre: Steampunk
Length: Novella (130pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (8th February 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: When Aster Genisov, a creator of mechanical novelties, is asked to help a wounded elf, his special talents and painful past could be the key to the elf’s survival.
Y’rean was born to touch the sky, but when his wings are destroyed by a cruel master, not even the life he begins to build with Aster can assuage his despair. Aster has the means to help him—it’s written in his gypsy blood—but is love enough for Aster to face his past and embrace his talent for mechanical magic?
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2759
Review: Aster owns a shop that sells his creations of mechanical novelties, one night he is asked to help save the life of an elf. Y’rean is an elf whose wings have been savagely removed, he becomes close to the man who saved him but falls into deep depression when he realises that he will never fly again.
This story has some fantastic world building that lets you picture in your mind Laitha (the city), you get drawn into the world and the lives of the characters. The descriptions of the mechanical novelties are breath-taking and the background of the MC’s and their histories are wonderfully written. Aster and Y’rean build a relationship over a period of a few weeks and their coming together is wrote with a gentle hand.
Aster has a secret that he can’t let be known or he will lose his livelihood and Y’rean has a fear that his old master will find out he is still alive. I really liked how the story was written and both Aster and Y’rean were interesting characters and I liked the development of their relationship. Y’rean’s depression is well described and Aster’s reaction was brilliant. The lovemaking is tastefully done and although there is only one full-on sex scene it is still plenty enough to rev your engines.
The only down side that I found was the unsatisfactory confrontation with Y’rean’s former master, I found it to be short and slightly unrealistic… after all Aster is only an inventor and shop owner whereas Y’rean’s former master is a noble an Earl. I just felt like it was an after-thought and a rushed one at that.
So I will recommend this one to those who love steampunk, elves, gypsies, magic, some really erotic sex and a happy ever after.
Cinder by Marie Sexton
Title: Cinder
Author: Marie Sexton
Genre: Fantasy, Magic
Length: Novella (133pgs)
Publisher: Silver Publishing (4th February 2012)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: A CinderFella Story
It’s all fun and games until somebody loses a shoe…
Eldon Cinder would give anything to see Prince Xavier one last time, but only women are invited to the royal ball. When the local witch offers to make Eldon female for just one night, he agrees.
One spell. One night. One dance.
What could possibly go wrong?
Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/cinder-ebook-p-705
Review: Ooooohhhhhh this is ssssssoooooo sweet and it is a fantastic twist to Cinderfella. Eldon Cinder is treated like a slave by his aunt and 2 cousins, when he meets Prince Xavier in the woods they strike up a friendship and become good friends.
This was really well written and I loved the twist of the cousin being mistaken for the missing girl, ooohhh aaahhh, you know this would make a great Pantomime. This is sweet, cute and marshmallow-y (don’t think that’s a real word), Eldon has always left a treat for the witch in the woods so for one night she gives him the chance to see Xavier one last time, what follows is a comedy of errors that leads us to a wonderful ending where the Prince marries the girl/man of his dreams.
Both characters are really good and although the romance is slow, the friendship is the main selling point for me, they got to know each other and respect each other as people instead of Prince and Servant and there was a foundation for their relationship to build upon. The cousins were really hateable (nicely done), the aunt forgettable and Milton the dog was the star of the show.
This one I recommend to those who love fairy-tales, fantasy, cousins getting what they deserve, sneaky Princes and a happy ever after.
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander
Title: Shattered Glass
Author: Dani Alexander
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery
Length: Super Novel (473pgs)
Publisher: Dani Alexander (Self Published) (31st January 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: A male prostitute, a mangy cat, a murder and an obsession that threatens his career, his impending marriage and his life. Nothing is going as planned for Austin Glass.
Austin Glass seems to have it all, A loving fiancée, a future with the FBI and a healthy sized trust fund. At least on the surface. He also has a grin and a wisecrack for every situation. But the smile he presents to the world hides a painful past he’s buried too deeply to remember, and his quips mask bitterness and insecurity. Austin has himself and most of the whole world fooled—until he meets a redhead in a pair of bunny slippers.
As events unfold in the biggest case of his life, Austin’s carefully planned future unravels, and he finds himself pushed into making quick, life-changing decisions. But can he trust himself or anything he feels, when each event seems to be just a series of volatile reactions?
Purchase Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shatteredglass-677420-152.html
Review: This was a surprise find for me as I find it difficult to find self-published authors unless they send a book to Portia or they are a well-known author, now this one I found on All Romance Ebooks for just $2.99… a bargain plain and simple (actually it’s daylight robbery… the author could have charged a lot more and I would have paid it).
Austin is a weird one plain and simple, he’s quirky, snarky, gets up people’s noses, cruel, superficial, spoiled, and really fucked up emotionally (authors words) and… if you talked to him in the street there’s a chance that you’d back away slowly while calling for the guys in the white coats. I LOVED HIM. Peter is a guy trying to keep his family safe any way he can and he will do anything to keep them safe, Peter is in the authors words obsessive, snarky, bossy, controlling, sleeps with men for money, uses sex to deflect conversations, and manipulative, God I love these characters.
This book has it all and it is brilliantly written, now maybe it’s the authors own choice but after reading this book I can’t understand why a publisher hasn’t snatched her up and got her tied to a steel lined contract for her next 500 books (she has 2 more planned). The characters in this book are brilliant and not just the MCs, they all have their own personalities which gives the book a more realistic feel, the story-line is great and although in some places a bit wacky you could just imagine it all really happening (well I could).
This book is full of craziness, there are great one liners, Austin’s mind keeps going off on a tangent (Bunny Slippers), Austin’s life heading off the rails (Bunny Slippers), Peter doesn’t really trust Austin or anyone, character interaction is fantastic, there is a suicide history in Austin’s past, rape is mentioned (but no on page description), murder, an Albanian mother pops in, a Russian mafia connection comes back to haunt, bipolar disorder, and a mangy cat named Begone (that could be a demon in disguise or a gargoyle).
This book is for those of us who love a bit of crazy fun madness every now and again, there’s obsession, and there is danger, violence, dirty cops, secrets from years long past, personal discoveries, hot sex, deceptive people and a promise of Cai’s story (Not So Innocent) I highly recommend this one. Now I know we will not hear from the author (here’s why http://slashfiction.org/an-open-letter-to-reviewers-and-readers/ ) so I will just say here that I look forward to your next book and I hope it’s released soon ;-).
Battling Glass by D. J. Manly
Title: Battling Glass
Author: D.J. Manly
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Super Novel (577pgs)
Publisher: Amber Quill (Amber Allure) (29th January 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Emilien has hidden himself away for endless years. Half-human and half-vampire, he has continually struggled with his own nature. His only contact is with a vampire named Carmen, who makes one critical error and brings the full force of vampire wrath down on Carmen, exposing Emilien and forcing him out of hiding.
Saddled with a young mortal woman he can’t bring himself to kill, he flees with her to her brother’s house. Carl represents everything that Emilien yearns for, to live life like a normal mortal. As a result, he stays longer than he intends, until the reality of what he is comes crashing down around him.
Emilien has been in love before—during the French Revolution, with a stable boy named Francois—but his vampire father shattered their love when he turned Francois into a vampire. It’s not the only thing his father, Alexander, has destroyed. Unable to accept Emilien’s humanity, Alexander has sought only to kill him, and even in the twenty-first century, his desire to vanquish his only son is as strong as ever. Emilien quickly realizes he can never have a future with Carl, or even come to terms with the love he still bears for Francois, until he and Alexander settle matters once and for all.
Now, the past comes hurtling into the present when vampires take sides and the real battle between father and son commences…
Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/BattlingGlass.html
Review: Emilien is half vampire – half human, he has struggled with his nature and tried to deny his vampire side for hundreds of years but now his father is set on destroying him and he has to face his vampire side and begin to embrace what makes him the man he is.
This is a well written story that delves into the dark side of vampires and their humanity or lack of it. Emilien might be half vampire but it is a part of himself that he hates, he is drawn to humans as a way to cling onto his humanity. In Carl he finds what he yearns for but there is still apart of him that yearns for Francois. This story has a few twists and a lot of backstabbing; it is primal in some of its descriptions and the view of vampires that we receive.
There were a lot of things that I liked about this book and some things that I hated, I liked that the vampires were quite brutal in their treatment of their food i.e. they drained them dry and felt no remorse, I thought that all the descriptions were fantastically vivid especially the vampire soldiers and that the story-line was brilliant, what I didn’t like was that Emilien cheated with Francois when Carl needed him the most and that he had plans to cheat on Carl again in the future. (Being half vamp doesn’t fly with me that is like saying because someone is bi they get to have one of each sex.)
There is quite a bit of violence, sex, plotting, twists and some angst as well, the story-line and plot on the whole was brilliant and the background and world building was incredible done. There is a lot to enjoy in this story but I must admit that I found it hard to see what everyone else in the story saw in Emilien, everyone wanted to get in bed with him or wanted him for themselves and I really just couldn’t see it.
So this story is for those who love Dark fantasy, brutal vampires, hot sex, violence, graphic nastiness (soldier vamps *barf*) and a happy for now (they do only have about seventy years) ending.
The Rapier Brothers by Megan Derr
Title: The Rapier Brothers
Author: Megan Derr
Genre: Fantasy/Historical/Regency type
Length: 3 Short Stories (74pgs)
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (20th April 2010)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Tales of brothers, swords, and the men they most desire…
Main Gauche—Though he was born to nobility, the loss of first his father, and then his mother, has left Dagger a peasant. His stepfather is cruel and greedy, and refuses to claim Dagger as his own. Instead of living the life for which he was meant, Dagger spends his days as the apprentice to a blacksmith. He spends his days sharpening the swords of others, rather than practicing with his own. He pines for the life he does not have–and for the handsome lord who frequents the smithy.
Then the King calls for a tournament to show off his son, the Crown Prince. The chance to be a duelist again, to see the lord he so admires but can never have, is more than Dagger can resist…
1000 Victories—Epee loathes the noble life; his heartless father, his overbearing brother, the hypocrites he must call peers. He wants the simpler, ordinary life of a peasant. It is a life he is slowly working toward, and soon to hold in his grasp, no matter the consequences.
All that holds him back is Lord Sharp, the man he has long loved but never been able to win. But, he is very close to winning his thousandth victory over Lord Sharp in the dueling ring. With that 1000th victory, Epee hopes to win at last the man he loves more than even freedom…
The Perfect Son—Sabre has always lived according to the wishes and desires of his father, to the exclusion of everyone and everything else. His father’s eldest son, he strives to be what his father wants. He is affluent, educated, a talented duelist, respected, and feared. He is everything he is supposed to be.
Except happy.
Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=200
Review: Megan Derr has again shown us what a wonderful touch she has with gentle romance. In this trinity of stories which starts with Main Gauche (which has a Cinderfella feel to it) we are treated to some wonderful feel good stories where anything is possible.
In the Main Gauche Dagger lives with his step-father and two step brothers, everything was taken away from him when his mother died and she trusted her husband to take care of Dagger, which never happened instead he is working at a Blacksmiths dreaming about one of the customers and of being a gentleman again. Katan is the Crown Prince and he is intrigued by the mysterious Main Gauche, he wishes to get to know the man after the competition but he disappears.
A wonderful feel good story, which is a wonderful rendition of Cinderella with a very heavy male view.
In 1000 Victories we have Epee who has had a crush on Sharp for many years, he set out to prove himself to Sharp but now a figure from the past has emerged to thwart him again. Sharp used to like Epee but an allegation ruined that friendship and now a day hardly passes without them dueling. When the past comes to light Sharp realizes what has always been in front of him.
An incredible story that shows the lengths that some men will go to, to capture the men they love.
In The Perfect Son we have Sabre who has thrown his life away trying to please his father but when his father forgets his birthday it is the catalyst that sets Sabre in motion to take his own life back. Lash meets Sabre at an Inn and sets about to seduce the man, they have a couple of perfect days before Lash disappears and Sabre returns to what was his life.
A great story that shows that love can be anywhere and can hit you unexpectedly.
These three stories are a treat to read as we get the stories of all three brothers from their own points of view, each finding love in his own way and overcoming the iron hand of their father and step-father to become the men they want to be. This one I will recommend to those who like regency-feel stories, happy endings and the more romantic side of love.
Burn by T. J. Klune
Title: Burn
Series: Elementally Evolved 01
Author: T.J. Klune
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction
Length: Super Novel (370pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (6th February 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 – 4 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Set in a world that closely resembles our own, Burn is a story of redemption and betrayal, of family and sacrifice, which leads to the greatest question of all: how far would you go to save the ones you love?
Fifteen years ago, Felix Paracel killed his mother with fire that shot from his hands. Since then, he has hidden from forces bent on exploiting him and his fire and wind Elemental abilities. But Felix’s world is about to change, because he is Findo Unum—the Split One—and his coming has been foretold for generations.
Though Felix’s arrival brings great joy to the Elemental world, it also heralds a coming darkness. No one knows this better than Seven.—Seven, the mysterious man who rescued Felix from that horrible fire years ago and then disappeared; Seven, who has returned to claim what’s rightfully his: Felix’s heart. But even as Felix begins to trust Seven and his feelings about his place in the world, the darkness reveals itself, bringing consequences no one could have predicted.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2762&osCsid=sf6govcgngh1maoj2nqs1t5se2
Review: Felix/Addy is an Elemental and not just any Elemental, but a duel Elemental. The only one in the world… he has been kept hidden… he knows nothing of his fate… and he is in grave danger.
When I finished this book I was in two minds, did I like it or not? And I still can’t tell you because even though the story-line and plot was mind-blowing, the detail incredible, the supporting characters great, the fight scenes epic and the sex hot, I wanted to smash the two main characters heads in, stomp on their faces, drop buildings on them and set them on fire.
When the story starts we get a clip of Felix when he is nine, as the story progresses, we learn more of his life which is interesting and I had high hopes for his character. Well, I did until he met Seven again and he turned into a pussy. Seven is an overbearing oaf who believes that his word is law and the way that he keeps things from Felix ‘for his own good’ got right up my nose. These two characters were great when they were apart, but together, because of their connection they changed into vomit-inducing wimps.
I know a lot of people will be going “but they were great.” Well, I challenge you by saying really!! Every time Felix grew a backbone and was going to challenge his father/the council/Seven for answers he’d back down in seconds usually because of something that Seven said or did. Seven would usually cave in to what Felix wanted unless his safety was in question. Now the other characters in this book were brilliant and I loved Tick and Tock they were just… special.
This story is not some romantic light and fluffy read, it’s dark and gritty and there is no happy ever after or happy for now ending, what you have is two men’s hearts breaking as they separate because they have no choice. There is no real romance in this book just an expectation that they will be together and the bonding forcing it. Seven sleeps with a woman for a number of years even though he knows that Felix is male. it would have been more realistic if Seven had slept with a man but hay-ho.
This story is actually really well written and although for me the two main characters fell flat this is still a very enjoyable read. I will give a warning though, if you think that you are going to read this book in a few hours then you are sadly mistaken. anyone who reads this in less than 12 hours is skipping and not taking the story in at all and the story-line deserves better than that.
Now this book has to be recommended on the story-line alone because the romance between Felix and Seven doesn’t feel genuine or real. So, I recommend this for the violence, fights, explosions, the secrets, the great story-line, the supporting characters and the promise of more to come.
P.S. And just a quick question for the author, if the Scared King got to ‘you know who’ wouldn’t the Scared King have also got to ‘you know who’ as well because they were always together?
Friends and Lovers…
Stolen Sinspiration. 😉
The Audience: Who Are You Writing For? by Lee Brazil
The Audience: Who Are You Writing For?
When I first started writing, I was writing for myself. I wrote stories the way I wanted them to be. Some of them had happy endings, some did not. Some people in them were unappealing, others were charming.
Then I started writing for publication. That changes things. Do you still need to tell your story, your way? Yes, absolutely. However…before you start writing, you need to think about who you’re writing for.
I told this very same thing to hundreds of beginning writers in my composition classes. The way you write your story/essay depends on who you’re addressing. If you’re writing a paper on uniforms in public schools, and that paper is geared toward your friends, you’d take a different approach than you would if the paper were going to the school board or even the principal. You might talk to your friends in casual, chatty language, using slang and short hand that they wil
l understand. Addressing the school board, you want to present logical clear arguments in scholarly language.
So, decide who you’re writing for. Look at your story idea. I had an idea for a paranormal story about two men in a relationship. This story could go several ways depending on the audience I choose. It could be a paranormal (fantasy) with romantic elements. It could be a romance with paranormal elements.
In order to make the best choice, you have to look at the conventions of the genre. If you choose paranormal with romantic elements, then your story will need to focus primarily on the fantasy elements. The romance aspect will be a secondary story line. This type of story will get crossover readership between people who like both genres. Likewise, if you choose to write a romance with paranormal elements, then the focus is on the romance, the paranormal bits are window dressing. The focus changes as the type of story changes.
The audience for each type of story is different as well. Whether you please or displease your readers depends on your understanding of your audience. Readers of paranormal fiction have certain expectations. Readers of romances have certain expectations.
You can’t market your story as a romance with romance readers as your audience and then not deliver some form of Happily Ever After.
You can’t market your paranormal story to paranormal readers without any paranormal occurrences—for example a shape-shifter story in which no one shifts.
You can’t sit back and say that the genre isn’t realistic and you’re going to change it. Realistic fiction is not romantic fiction. It hasn’t been, ever. It is by definition remote from everyday experience. Byron’s hero, Don Juan, was not realistic. Cyrano, Romeo, Marc Antony? If you want to write reality, you’re writing literary fiction, and that’s a different market.
If you want to write romance, then you have to understand who you’re writing for. You’re writing for readers who expect you to be wearing your rose colored glasses. You are supposed to understand that Happily Ever After and building a relationship that is not based solely on sex and happenstance are important. Choosing how to get from hi to HEA is the author’s story.
If y
ou can’t believe in HEA, even for other people, then you should probably take that into consideration. You might be an a
stounding writer of romantic paranormals and a so-so writer or paranormal romance. Don’t force the genre to meet your demands, choose the right genre, the right audience to start with.
I write romance, for romance readers. Who do you write for?
By the way- I have a new book out…I rather like it. It’s funny, and the heroes are cute and flawed…if you can live with selfish and manipulative (Hey, they deserve each other!) check it out…
My imperfect heroes, Val and Adrian,
are delighted to make your acquaintance.
The Librarian
Valentine Michaels has just taken a vow of celibacy. Adrian Grey intends to take full advantage of that vow to re-create his relationship with Val.
Val is at a crossroads in his life. A college dropout, he’s gone as far as he can in his career as a cosmetologist, owning his own style salon. He no longer finds satisfaction in it, though he’s put years into proving to his bigoted parents that a college degree and the veneer of straightness aren’t the only roads to success. They’d turned their backs on him, and he proved he didn’t need them to make it.
His love life is no better than his working life. His relationships always start with a bang and fizzle into boredom, or worse, anger.
Adrian has his own agenda for helping Val: he’s been in love with Val since they were freshmen. The intervening years of listening to Val’s gossip about his lovers and relationships have taught Adrian just what it was he did wrong all those years ago, and he thinks this time around he now knows exactly how to get—and keep—his man.
Buy Links:
The Librarian
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thelibrarian-668522-144.html
http://www.amazon.com/The-Librarian-ebook/dp/B006UMM4C4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325951766&sr=8-1
http://www.bookstrand.com/the-librarian-mm
http://www.breathlesspress.com/librarian
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/the-librarian-by-lee-brazil/
The Librarian by Lee Brazil
Title: The Librarian
Author: Lee Brazil
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella
Publisher: Breathless Press (January 6, 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb: Valentine Michaels has just taken a vow of celibacy. Adrian Grey intends to take full advantage of that vow to re-create his relationship with Val.
Val is at a crossroads in his life. A college dropout, he’s gone as far as he can in his career as a cosmetologist, owning his own style salon. He no longer finds satisfaction in it, though he’s put years into proving to his bigoted parents that a college degree and the veneer of straightness aren’t the only roads to success. They’d turned their backs on him, and he proved he didn’t need them to make it.
His love life is no better than his working life. His relationships always start with a bang and fizzle into boredom, or worse, anger.
Adrian has his own agenda for helping Val: he’s been in love with Val since they were freshmen. The intervening years of listening to Val’s gossip about his lovers and relationships have taught Adrian just what it was he did wrong all those years ago, and he thinks this time around he now knows exactly how to get—and keep—his man.
Product Link: http://www.breathlesspress.com/librarian
Reviewer: Portia
Review: Ten years ago, Adrian and Val were roommates in college. For one week, they were even a bit more. But, even though their romance didn’t survive, their friendship has endured.
I loved this story!!! I almost didn’t read it. The title kinda threw me. I think of librarians as little old ladies with auditory issues; not a sexy Dominant with a Master’s in Library Science. Not to mention one with a brilliant mind and a killer body.
Truly, this has got to be one of the best seductions ever written. Adrian has waited ten years for the man he loves to get a clue. Since that obviously isn’t happening, Adrian takes matters into his own hands. Poor Val doesn’t know what hit him. I almost wanted to feel sorry for Val, but he has spent so many years looking for love in all the wrong places. A sneak attack was definitely in order. There was a hint of bondage, but honestly, there is way too much love and respect for that to fly.
This story is well written. Adrian might be the title character, but this is really the story of Valentino’s seduction. And the beautiful thing was that most of that seduction was with their clothes on. The lovin’ is hot and I can’t remember the last time I smiled so much, while reading a book.
I only pray that Lee Brazil stays in a nice, sweet relationship. Cuz, if he ever goes prowling…no one would be safe. The man’s mind is deliciously wicked. Highly recommend.
Lust or Love?
Desert World: Rebirth by Lyn Gala
Title: Desert World Rebirth
Series: Desert World 02
Author: Lyn Gala
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: Novel (268pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (30th January 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: New ambassadors Temar Gazer and Shan Polli stopped one disaster on Livre, but the battle isn’t over. Temar is still struggling to work through the abuse he suffered. Livre, too, is stuck: it could ally with the breakaway planets—risking strange and dangerous beliefs—or the older alliance, which offers human rights protections but seeks to control the planet. It’s a delicate balance, but they manage… until crisis takes Shan away from Temar.
It’s up to Temar to get them and their planet through the crisis safely. But just because he and Shan have chosen each other doesn’t mean their love is strong enough to survive when the stirring sands around them change.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2742
Review: Temar and Shan are back and they are working on their relationship slowly. Shan is holding back so Temar doesn’t suffer anymore and Temar because he thinks Shan is losing interest in him. When the unexpected happens after Shan fixes the communications, they are both placed in positions that neither want.
This is an incredible sequel to the brilliant Desert World Allegiances and I have got to say, a huge well done to Lyn Gala, for bringing this incredible world back to us. Shan wants to further his relationship with Temar, but doesn’t want to push Temar after what he went through at the hands of Ben. Temar takes things into his own hands, when he thinks that Shan is pulling away and confronts him. When Shan and Temar make contact, they have to do what is best for their world and make others realize that they won’t lie down without a fight.
Shan and Temar are just as we remember them and haven’t changed a bit. Although, as the book progresses, Temar steps forward and takes on the role of leader when he has to, he also realizes that how he feels is normal and can finally see things from others peoples point of view. Shan discovers just how strong Temar is and what Temar will do for him, and they both discover this while trying to protect their planet from outside forces.
As Shan and Temar progress in their relationship it is a thing of beauty. The love and trust that they have for each other is pure. Their lovemaking is heartfelt and touching and their determination to protect their world is rock solid. The supporting characters are brilliant and I can honestly say that I could find no fault with this book… I loved it. A true science-fiction story which is rock solid and I am looking forward to Desert World Immigrant with great anticipation.
I have to recommend this book to those who love science fiction, a wonderfully written story, beautiful love-making, solid characters and… you know I think everyone should read this as if you don’t then you are missing out on a great story.
Just a Vampire by Stormy Glenn
Title: Just a Vampire
Series: Tribal Bonds 01
Author: Stormy Glenn
Genre: Paranormal, Shifter
Length: Novella (158pgs)
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand (4th February 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Electus Luca Ucathya has waited hundreds of years to find his anamchara, his soul mate. Rowan Connelly was not what he expected. For one, the man doesn’t have a submissive bone in his body. Even worse, Rowan is a wolf, one of the most dangerous and hated enemies of a vampire. But giving Rowan up isn’t an option.
Discovering that he is the mate of a vampire isn’t so bad for Rowan, but the things required of him as the mate of the leader of a vampire tribe just might be more than he can handle.
When Rowan is kidnapped, not once, but twice, Luca knows he has to do everything in his power to keep his mate safe, something that would be much easier if Rowan would accept his place as the mate of a vampire and behave. Instead, Rowan is drawing Luca into more trouble with every breath.
And Luca just can’t seem to mind.
Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/just-a-vampire
Review: Luca finally meets his anamchara, Rowan, and he plans on keeping him from the start. When he discovers that Rowan is a wolf he has a few doubts, but Rowan grows on him. Rowan is out clubbing with his brother when he meets Luca. He isn’t sure about Luca at all, especially the way that Luca keeps trying to tell him what to do. Will Rowan bow to Luca’s will? Or will Luca cave to Rowan’s personality?
Oh My God, this was so funny. I haven’t laughed so much at a book in ages. it was brilliant and really brightened up my day. Luca is a vampire to be reckoned with and when he meets his anamchara (his mate), he expects him to behave in a certain way. What he gets in Rowan is so far from what he dreamed about, but he wouldn’t change him for the world. Rowan doesn’t know what to expect from Luca or what is really expected from him, but he will only bend so far. Luca will soon find out that Rowan isn’t going to be a push over.
This is a lovely, charming and funny as hell story. I would love to tell you why but I won’t ruin it for you. Rowan and Luca are brilliant characters who are both well written and their personalities shine through. The relationship between them is a bit rocky at first, but becomes solid quickly. the sex is smoking hot between them. The story is quite good and is quite light-hearted and although there is a bit of danger, there are plenty of funny bits.
This one I will recommend to those who love shifters, vampires, hot sex, a great story, lots of laughs, great characters and a happy ending.
Naked Dragon by G. A. Hauser
Title: Naked Dragon
Author: G.A. Hauser
Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Action, Thriller, Interracial
Length: Novel (209pgs)
Publisher: The GA Hauser Collection LLC (13th August 2010)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: In the worst serial killer crime spree in Seattle’s history since the Green River murderer, the ‘Dragon’ is hunting young Asian men as his victims. FBI Agent Robbie Taylor has been assigned to use his skills as a psychic to help solve the case and find out the identity of the madman. Seattle Police Officer Dave Harris, a rookie black cop meets up with the handsome FBI agent on one of the gruesome crime scenes. The two are immediately sexually attracted to each other and begin a secret affair that keeps them sane in the middle of all the madness. As the corpses keep piling up, their passion and love grow. Will they outwit the Dragon? Or will he get away with murder? The two men hope they survive the battle of wits and come out of the crisis alive.
Purchase Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nakeddragon-448520-145.html
First published September 2007 – Linden Bay Romance
Review: Dave is going about his job when he gets a call to another crime scene; it’s the third murder in three days. As he is getting information, the FBI turn up and he is instantly attracted to one of them. as the case progresses he embarks on his first gay relationship and he is loving it. Robbie is an agent called in on the case of a horrific serial killer, Dave immediately catches his eye and Robbie can only hope that when the case has ended they will still be around.
This is an incredibly brilliant, suspense, mystery and action story. It has been one of my favorites for years and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. Dave has always been in the closet and has never acted on his desires… until he meets Robbie. Robbie is confident, observant and usually right, when he sets his sights on Dave during the investigation, they both end up falling hard.
This book is not for the faint hearted, it’s for those readers who love gritty, slightly dark, gruesome, bloody stories where love blossoms. It’s a brilliantly written book that keeps you gripped as you read, there is no pussy footing around in the opening scenes and it starts as it means to go on. so just be thankful that the opening scene is pretty mild compared to later ones. Both Robbie and Dave’s characters are well portrayed and have great personalities.
The relationship between Dave and Robbie is wonderfully done for the situation. Because of Dave being in the closet there is a lot of sneaking around and trying to hide how they both feel. Although when Robbie’s colleagues find out Robbie puts them in their place with a few well-chosen words. Even though it is interracial other than their descriptions it isn’t focused on. It’s just two men who work together who fall in love. There are several action scenes that are brilliantly written and I really enjoyed that it wasn’t an open and shut case and that they got frustrated with their lack of progress.
This book I will recommend this book to everyone , but especially those who love thrillers, mystery, action, suspense, chases, cat and mouse games, hot sex and (finally) a happy ending. P.S. when I say gruesome I mean GRUESOME.
Behind the Mask by Lisa Worrall
Title: Behind the Mask
Series: The Masquerade Trilogy 03
Reviewer’s Note: This is a stand-alone, that does not necessarily need to be read in order. I labeled them chronologically for clarity.
Author: Lisa Worrall
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella
Publisher: Silver
Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb: The Downe’s Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball has been an annual event for over a hundred years and where, four years ago, Gabe met Mike.
It’s been over six months since Mike’s death and Mike thinks that Gabe is ready to move on. How does Gabe know this? He receives a letter and a ticket to the ball, from Mike. Gabe isn’t sure he’ll ever be ready to move on, but in deference to Mike’s memory, he attends the ball.
What Gabe doesn’t know, is that his best friend, Tom, the one constant in his life since college, has also received a letter from Mike. Will Gabe be able to move forward and remember a long forgotten love, or will his world come crumbling down around his ears, again?
Product Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/behind-the-mask-ebook-p-729
Reviewer: Portia
Review: Six months ago, Gabe lost this lover to cancer. Four years ago, they’d met at the Masquerade Ball. Several weeks before this year’s Ball, a letter arrives for Gabe from his dead lover, Mike, urging him to go to the Ball and hopefully find his new “Prince Charming.” In the letter, Mike assures Gabe that this is not going to be a P. S., I Love You kinda thing, but he neglects to mention that he’s working from the grave to give Gabe his forever love.
I am convinced Lisa Worrall is some kind of literary medium. That is the only explanation for her ability to write well across so many genres. In A Nanny for Nate, she showed her sweet side. In Thirst, she went to dark places. And now with Behind the Mask, she’s made angst sexy.
Gabe goes through many of the stages of grief on this journey. It’s not over the top, but definitely adds an air of realism. And when he finally makes it to acceptance, I loved it. He starts out content to wallow in his grief, but when he‘s ready to accept the love that had always been his, he’s willing to fight for his forever
And, even though, this is technically Gabe’s story, I loved Tom the best. He has been there for Gabe, through thick and thin, but he’s ready to take their relationship to another level. I really felt his pain. He loved Gabe enough to step aside once. I was on pins and needles to see if he would take the high road a second time.
There isn’t a lot of sex in this book, but what’s there is very sensuous and loving. The story unfolds in such a way that you have to turn the page. Very well plotted and paced.
I can honestly say, I’ve never read a Lisa Worrall book that I didn’t love. Highly recommend.
The Slave's Mask by Patricia Logan
Title: The Slave’s Mask
Series: The Masquerade Trilogy 02
Reviewer’s note: This trilogy is comprised of three stand alone novella. I have labeled them in chronological order only for clarity.
Author: Patricia Logan
Genre: Historical – Civil War era, 1863
Length: Novella
Publisher: Silver Publishing (February 3, 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 1/2Hearts
Blurb: Infamous American blackguard and blockade runner, Captain Anthony Charles, has made a fortune in gold, running contraband between England and the Confederate States at the height of the Civil War in 1863. Anthony knows good brandy and fine cigars and his English clients appreciate him for it, but the captain also craves young submissive men. When he wins a young prostitute at an auction, Francois becomes his slave for seven days.
Francois has turned to prostitution to survive, but he is more than a whore. While most men who enjoy his favors treat him cruelly, he is stunned by this temporary owner’s kindness. Being a slave to this blue-eyed Master is no difficult task. Both men find that love may not be as elusive as they thought. Will the separation of oceans and time test their love or bring pain beyond bearing?
Product Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/the-slave-s-mask-ebook-p-731
Reviewer: Portia
Review: Anthony is a blockade runner, in London for only a short time. He has a definite kink. He likes his lovers slender, young and submissive. From the moment they meet, he knows that Francois will be perfect to satisfy his every sexual need. Their first encounter was sexy and set the tone for the rest of the novella. Anthony is the best kind of Dominant; forceful yet thoughtful. Francois is fascinated with the sea-captain who masters his body without making him feel like the whore he is.
This is an excellent read, whether you are into BDSM or not. There are different levels of bondage throughout the book, but it’s more about power and control than pain. The Slave’s Mask is by far the steamiest of the Masquerade Trilogy.
But, it is also a beautiful love story. Anthony does not even realize how lonely he is, until he meets Francois. Francois has accepted his life in the brothel and has long ago given up hope of a better life. What was supposed to be a week of carnal pleasure, morphs into so much more.
There were a few sections that I felt author rushed. I would have liked to see more of the time while the men were apart. But, that aside, I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend.