Month: February 2012

The Layered Mask by Sue Brown

Title:  Layered Mask

Series:   The Masquerade Trilogy 01

Reviewer’s note:  This trilogy is comprised of three stand alone novella.  I have labeled them in chronological order only for clarity.

Author:  Sue Brown

Genre:   Historical – Regency

Length: Novella

Publisher:  Silver Publishing (February 3, 2012)

Heat Level:  Moderate – Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:  Threatened by his father with disinheritance, Lord Edwin Nash arrives in London for one season to find a wife. While there, Nash discovers he is the lamb, the sacrifice of the society matrons, to be shackled to one of the girls by the end of the season.

During a masquerade ball, Nash hides from the ladies vying for his attention. He is discovered by Lord Thomas Downe, the Duke of Lynwood. Nash is horrified when Thomas calmly tells him that he knows the secret that Nash had hidden for years and that he sees through the mask that Edwin presents to the rest of the world.

What will happen when the time comes for Edwin to return home with a suitable bride?

Product Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/the-layered-mask-ebook-p-730

Reviewer:   Portia

Review:  Lord Downe is not quite a confirmed bachelor.  As heir to one of England’s oldest and richest titles, he knows that some day he will have to find a wife and “do his duty.”  Edwin has never partaken of manlove, but he knows women do nothing to spark his carnal nature.  He also knows that as his father’s only son, he must “do his duty.”

This is definitely historical romance done right.  Sue Brown brings the madness of the ton to life brilliantly, as she has Downe courting Edwin.  And whether he knew it or not…that is exactly what he was doing.  Morning rides, secret conversations, and stolen kisses, all lead up to some hot bedroom action.

Due to their stations in life, neither man is free to follow his heart.  But, neither are they willing to let each other go.  I found it fascinating to learn how a man found ways to be together in a time when loving another man could get you killed.

This story is beautifully crafted.  There were a few tense moments there at the end, where all hope seemed lost.  But, the final solution was brilliant (if not a tad convenient.)  Highly recommend.

What Once Was Lost by Stormy Glenn and Lynn Hagen

Title: What Once Was Lost

Series: Lady Blue Crew 07

Author: Stormy Glenn & Lynn Hagen

Genre: Science Fiction, Shifters

Length: Novella (127pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand (28th January 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Mo doesn’t know what to do with Mykel. He’s new to the future he’s living in and doesn’t understand half of what people tell him, let alone show him. When Mykel insists that they are mates, Mo’s set to run in the other direction.

Mykel knows Mo is his mate the second he lays eyes on the sexy human. He packs up everything he owns and leaves his family to join his mate on board the Lady Blue. Life would be perfect if only his mate would accept him.

Trouble follows the crew of the Lady Blue crew with every turn and Mo and Mykel are no exception. When plans backfire and go wrong, saving each other just might be easier than admitting that they belong together. But the past won’t be forgotten and when Mo goes on a wild mission doomed to failure, Mykel races to his rescue, refusing to give up on the one man that makes him feel whole. Now, it’s just a matter of saving Mo from himself.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/what-once-was-lost

Review: Mo is still getting used to living in the future and he really doesn’t want to be tied down just yet.  He doesn’t understand what is happening with Mykel and nobody is giving him the chance to catch up. Mykel is willing to leave, if that is what Mo wants, but he will miss his mate more than anything.  When Mo explains he wants them to be friend’s first, Mykel jumps at the chance.

I enjoyed this story; especially the part where Mo wants to be friends before jumping into a mating. Mykel has had a strict upbringing where the laws are everything.  He doesn’t quite get that Mo is holding back because of himself and not because of anything that Mykel has done. Mo tries to explain to Mykel that he just needs time, but when Mo makes a grave mistake, he realizes that Mykel means more to him than he thought. A well-written story that was enjoyable and humorous with a little danger thrown in to make it more enjoyable.

I must admit that I enjoy the way that Stormy Glenn and Lynn Hagen have worked together to produce this fun, light-hearted, enjoyable series that has just enough danger and angst thrown in to keep us reading and a story-line that is also intriguing but isn’t too heavy. The mates are fun and quirky and their partners are a little bit stern but easy going (well kinda) they meld well together and make great couples and Mo and Mykel are no different, the sex is hot and sexy and they might have some slight problems (ha ha ha) but they make it through to the end.

So I will recommend this to those who enjoy shifters, science fiction-ish, futuristic, hot sex, a bit of danger, some angst and happy endings.

 

 

 

Aboard the Avenger by Rebecca Leigh

Title: Aboard the Avenger

Author: Rebecca Leigh

Genre: Science Fiction, Pirates

Length: Short (33pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (28th January 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Space pirate Captain Darius Rivers boards the enemy ship Avenger in search of treasure and encounters more than he bargained for. Rather than fight, Captain Hector Ramirez awaits him in silence–ready to bring Darius’s fantasies to life.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/aboard-the-avenger-ebook-p-720

Review: Darius has dreamed for ten years about boarding the Avenger and her captain; now it is within his sight and he is determined to conquer both. Hector knows that the St. Marie and her captain Darius are not far away.  He knows that they will be here at any moment and it is going just as he planned.

This is an extremely erotic short story that will have your pulse racing. Darius is desperate to conquer the Avenger.  For the last ten years all he has heard is how fantastic the treasure will be, now it is within his grasp and so is the captain that he has secretly lusted after. Hector will turn the tables on Darius, as Darius isn’t the only one to hear rumors.  Now, after his patient wait he will get the spoils of his plot.

Well, this is definitely a hot sexy short that doesn’t have much in the way of story-line or plot but has just enough that it leaves you satisfied. The sex is incredibly hot and I liked the way that Hector seemed to bring Darius into his trap.

This is definitely for those who want a quick sex fix with a little bit of intrigue thrown in who love space pirates and a happy for now ending. (Does that mean a sequel Ms Leigh??)

 

 

 

Strip: Tease & Search by Gabrielle Evans

Title: Strip: Tease & Search

Series: Lawful Disorder 02

Author: Gabrielle Evans

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (194pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand (28th January 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: After witnessing a brutal and terrifying murder, Kellen Ross has nowhere to turn. Something doesn’t feel right about the detectives’ lack of interest, but what does he know? Alone and shaken, he has no idea that his life is about to change forever.

Fed up with the senseless violence, Michael Hunter lays down his badge and walks away from it all. When he receives a call for help just hours later, he finds that he can’t deny the enchanting voice. Kellen is all the things he’s ever wanted in a partner—except the fact that he’s a man.

Kellen knows better than to fall for a straight guy. But with someone prowling about the city, determined to silence them both once and for all, he has no choice but to depend on Michael to keep him alive. Now, if he can just convince the man to keep him forever.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/strip-tease-and-search

Review: Kellen is minding his own business when he witnesses a murder and even though he is scared to death he does the right thing and goes to the police; who aren’t really interested. Michael has just been thrown off the murder case, he knows something is wrong in the department and quits, but when he receives a phone call from the witness, he knows that he has to help him.

This is a well written “gay for you” story that continues with the Claw and Dagger story-line from Lipstick and Handguns. Michael has become dispirited with the force and how they are handling a case.  He quits when he realizes that he is being stonewalled by his boss and he’s not the only one to notice. When Kellen needs his help he offers it and now he is struggling with the attraction he feels for the man, especially because he is a man. Kellen is scared, he witnessed a murder but the police don’t seem to be interested, when he turns to Michael for help he has to fight his attraction for the man knowing that he is straight.

I really liked this story as Michael couldn’t understand his attraction to Kellen and tried to fight it but when he gave in to the attraction he went in with his eyes wide open and embraced it fully without there being too much angst. Kellen is wary at first expecting Michael to flip his lid but is happy after Michael declares that Kellen is his to his friends. The story is humorous in places, we have Ryder and Sidney from the first book and we have danger and mystery and some hot sex.

So all in all a great read that I will recommend to those who enjoy danger, mystery, a bit of suspense, hot sex, gay for you and a happy ending.

Packing Heat by Kele Moon

Title:  Packing Heat

Series:  Heat

Author:  Kele Moon

Genre:   Contemporary

Length: Novella

Publisher:  Loose Id (January 31, 2012)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ Hearts

Blurb:  Dark and brooding firefighter Brad Archer has spent months denying his attraction to his roommate, police officer Gavin Connolly. Gavin is just the kind of guy he likes: tall, tough, and buff enough to actually handle Brad’s big size and rough nature.

To hide his real feelings Brad holds the handsome, seemingly straight cop at arms’ length until a shooting at work leaves Gavin a little too vulnerable to ignore. What starts out as a simple attempt to comfort his roommate blows up into something wild, sexual, and wholly unexpected when Gavin wants more from Brad than a strong firefighter’s shoulder to lean on.

The sexual magnetism drawing the two of them together forces secrets to be revealed, and though the sex is mind-blowing it may not be worth weathering the storms their relationship could stir up. In order to protect him, Brad realizes he loves Gavin enough to let him go. The problem is—the stubborn cop may not let him.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: bondage, male/male sexual practices.

Product Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/Packing-Heat.aspx

Reviewer:   Portia

Review:  You might not know it, but Kele Moon is the only writer who ever made bondage sexy, for me.  So you can imagine my surprise that while Packing Heat is uber sexy, not a single whip is in the mix.  There is a great scene with handcuffs, but hey, Gavin is a cop…

This really was a great read.  I loved the fact that both Gavin and Brad are strong, sexy men.  Both have very dangerous jobs and can really be there for each other.  There were quite a few times when I wanted to pop the back of Brad’s head.  His thinking was a bit warped, at times.  It was okay for him to be openly gay, at the fire station, but somehow, Gavin shouldn’t have to deal with homophobic jerks on his job.  Huh?

I must admit, Gavin is my favorite.  He doesn’t really understand why Brad does it for him, but he is more than willing to explore the sexual possibilities.  And when he realizes what Brad has been trying to ignore, that they are perfect for each other, he has no problem welding those handcuffs.

Kele Moon does an amazing job of getting into her character’s head.  While it irritated the hell out of me that Brad was willing to throw his relationship away, because we spend so much time in his head, I understood where he was coming from.  Same with Gavin.  He may start out looking like your typical bi-curious guy, but he is hiding a few secrets that blow that theory out of the water.  By the end, it was hard to tell who was the seduced and who was the seducer.

This story is very well-written and has a nice pace.  The sex is steamy, rough at times, but always loving.  Not quite “gay for you”, but close.  I really enjoy Kele Moon’s BDSM Eden series, but Packing Heat is a series I will have on automatic pre-order.  I really hope she’s somewhere creating another hot couple of men looking for love in all the wrong places.  Highly recommend.