Month: May 2012

Cat Scratch Fever by Stormy Glenn

Title: Cat Scratch Fever

Series: Tribal Bonds 03

Author: Stormy Glenn

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novella (142pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand (14th April 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Waking up with memories of an erotic night spent in the arms of the sexiest man he has ever met, Azizi Dane is determined to track Manu Ucathya down and find out if there is a chance for more. But getting to Manu may be harder than he thought, especially when Azizi’s father arrives to take him home, by force if necessary.

Manu Ucathya is bound and determined to claim his anamchara once he meets him. He follows the time honored traditions of his tribe and approaches Azizi Dane’s father. When Azizi is brought to him unconscious and handcuffed, Manu is enraged. When Azizi wakes up with no idea why he is there, Manu feels like his heart is breaking.

But keeping Azizi proves harder than Manu thought, especially when a misunderstanding drives Azizi from his side and right into the hands of the hunters. Saving Azizi may be just as hard. Someone close to the Manu holds his anamchara responsible for things that Azizi has no knowledge of but they are determined to make him pay anyway—with his life.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/cat-scratch-fever

Review: Manu decides to go the way of the old traditions and offers a mate price for Azizi, but it doesn’t turn out quite the way he had hoped. Azizi is hoping to find Manu again, but his plans are interrupted when his father turns up.  The next thing Azizi knows he is waking up in a strange room with Manu. Both Manu and Azizi struggle with the changes and Azizi ends up in more danger than any of them thought.

This story is more serious than the previous two books with much more hatred between the species. It also continues with the rogue hunter theme and also betrayal from an ally. Azizi faces a lot in this book, from finding out about the paranormals, finding out the true nature of his father, his father’s betrayal, his friend’s actions and being tortured. How he kept his nice nature I really don’t know. Manu struggles with having a mate that is a human who has no clue whatsoever about how he is supposed to act, but he doesn’t make it any easier when he doesn’t exactly explain anything.

Azizi is a lovely man who ends up being hurt by a friend and betrayed by his father.  Azizi is one of those humans that you would love to know and keep close always just because of his innate goodness and his forgiving nature. Manu seems to be very much the traditionalist, but he does soften up eventually with the understanding of different backgrounds. We also see Seth, Rowan, Luca, Gregory and Daniel in this one.  all are woven well into the story and Seth isn’t very nice in this oneL.

There were a few niggles that bothered me and it was mainly to do with Azizi’s reactions, because at first I thought he knew about vampires because he didn’t turn a blind eye over what Manu was telling him about soul-mates and anamchara etc. But, it was more of a deduction that he came to and he didn’t have a clue as to what it actually meant. Then it was about the shifters, because he had a conversation about Rowan’s old alpha.  But, then later he was really shocked that Rowan and Seth were shifters. It just threw me a bit.

I will recommend this to those who love shifters, vampires, hot sex, soul-mates, danger, betrayal, misunderstandings because of different cultures and a happy ending.

In Deep Water by Kaje Waters

Title:  Into Deep Waters

Series:  Love Is Always Write

Author:  Kaje Harper

Genre:   Historical

Length:  Novel

Publisher:  Goodreads M/M Group Free Read

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts                                                                          

Blurb:  Two young sailors – one a working-class artist from California, the other an upper-middle-class pharmacists from the East Coast – meet onboard the Japan-bound U.S.S. Gageway in April 1942.

This was dumb. It was stupid to get involved with someone, to care about anyone in this soul-numbing war. That was like opening yourself up to be flayed. And yet how could you help it? They were all closer than brothers, these men he fought beside.  And that one man, well, there was nothing brotherly going on there.

*~*~*~*

“…Given the choice, don’t you think they would have rather had this, what we have in this room, than died without it?”

Product Link:  Free download available in multiple formats.  http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/880151-kaje-harper-into-deep-waters

Reviewer:   Cat

Review:  Oh WOW Oh WOW. Into Deep waters is such a well-written heart-wrenching and breath-taking story. It is absolutely beautiful. The characters are so well done that I felt like both of them. I could feel their lust, their love, their fear, not only of the war, but of being found out and the consequences that held at the time. The story covered a very long time span (sixty years), but  not once did it get slow or  dull. I laughed ,I cried, I sighed, I cheered, and I worried ( I won’t tell  you why I worried, since I don’t even like saying if a book has a HFN or HEA) .

Now, for just a bit about the story. It starts out in World War II after Pearl Harbor. It is about a sailor Danny meeting a new sailor, pharmacy assistant Jacob. Jacob actually trips staring at Danny thus getting the affectionate nickname Trip from him. They fall (hehehe… literally couldn’t resist the pun) in love or at least lust at first sight. Jacob is two years younger than Danny. They met secretly and have sex (well fondling and kissing), until they get a leave and actually get to be alone and have sex. The war gets as heated as the lovemaking and their ship is destroyed .( I have no nails and bleeding fingers from the chewing of hoping they find  each other and at least they are safe.  So do they find each other? Do they get discovered? Just how long does their love last? I’m not telling you will have to read the book yourself. I will say this much after reading the prompt I just knew I had the end figured out had me an entire box of tissue waiting, I was wrong….

Who do I recommend this book to? Everyone!! If you like a good sweet Romance (yes, I am a hopeless romantic) with really hot mansex. This is for you. If you’ve never read M/M romance start here.  If you have ever dreamed of the perfect love and forever love… This is f or you. And it’s free so what are you waiting for… Hurry go get it…Be prepared to swoon…Kaje you have a new fan!

 

 

Maithe's Surrender by Leontii Holender

Title: Maithe’s Surrender

Series: Devil Enchained 01

Author: Leontii Holender

Genre: Fantasy, Kink

Length: Novella (129pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing (8th May 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Maithe is a halfling demon whose kind has been forced into servitude by the human race. In his quest for freedom, he finds the human prince Astle Hadean standing in his way. The prince isn’t exactly what he appears to be, and Maithe can’t decide if he should trust the intoxicating devil or run the other way as fast as he possibly can.

Maithe finds it hard to deny the power that the human has over him. He can hardly breathe around the prince, and Astle seems to become more irresistible with every passing moment. Should he stick around to figure out what he is feeling for Astle, or should he bide his time until he can be free of the prince? The choice is taken away from him when Astle’s life comes in jeopardy and Maithe must risk it all to save a member of the very race that binds him in chains.

Warning: Some very rough sex which includes biting and bruising.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/maithes-surrender

Review: Okay, so I have never heard of this author before and I have looked to see if they have published anything else, but I couldn’t find anything… which really surprised me, as the quality of writing was brilliant

Maithe is a Halfling, part demon/part human, he has been trained for years to serve humans, but he has no intention of giving up his freedom… until he meets Astle. Astle has set his sights on having Maithe as his and Maithe doesn’t put up too much of a fight, until someone comes after Astle and then all bets are off.

This is an incredibly detailed, slightly enthralling novella that is rich in world building and is a joy to read. Maithe is malicious, holds humans in contempt and sneers at those who want to become bound to a human, and he has no intention of becoming bound and dreams of freedom. Astle is a prince of Rausol and wants Maithe.  He sets out to master him, but the choice is forced when Astle is attacked and Maithe must come to his rescue, which leads to events that just might break them all.

This book was great, right from the start. We are introduced to the life on Terra in vivid detail as a guard is riding through the streets, she comes upon a beggar telling a story and she stays to listen, and this is where we are told the story of Terra, Gods, humans and demons, and how the Halflings came to be. This story was woven brilliantly; it is full of detail throughout, so you can picture in your mind the actions as the story unfolds. The characters are wonderful and are fleshed out quite well, but Maithe is the main focus as it’s mainly from his POV, I would have liked to have gotten inside Astle’s head as well but I can’t complain.

This book has quite a lot of sensuality to it, even when there is no sex it lingers in the background, teasing our senses, and lulling us into feeling secure about what to expect from the sex and then bam!! We have an explosion of passion that is more like a frenzy, as they both clash together, biting, kissing and sucking and trying to take what they want.

The storyline is great, the action brilliant and yes some danger as well. There is a surprise as well for Maithe that he learns about his lover during an intimate moment. So all in all an enjoyable book that I will recommend to those who love fantasy, hot explosive sex, danger, unexpected surprises and a happy ending.

 

Subject 13 by Ethan Stone

Title: Subject 13

Author: Ethan Stone

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Detective, Thriller

Length: Novel (280pgs)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (Amber Allure) (25th March 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Luke Kincaid’s life is exploding all around him. First his lover leaves him to marry a woman, and then childhood nightmares return with a vengeance.

Luke’s friendship with Ben Skinner and relationship with Kyle Morgan helps him heal his broken heart, but the nightmares, which are actually repressed memories, threaten to destroy the peace he has found.

Soon, Luke’s investigation into his past puts his life—and the lives of the people he cares about—in danger. But he refuses to give up, not even when he finds out he is connected to a massive government cover-up…

Purchase Link: http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Subject13.html

Review: Luke’s life is forever altered when he tries to convince the man he loves not to marry a woman. Things go from bad to worse when he starts to have nightmares. With the help of his friend Ben, along with his new friend, Kyle, they begin to piece together Luke’s past. But, someone doesn’t want him to remember and the deeper he digs and the more that is revealed, the more danger they are all in.

This is a great suspense, mystery, thriller with a touch of detection work thrown in, that will intrigue and hold you gripped as you delve into a cover-up. Luke is devastated when his lover informs him that he is marrying a woman. He decides that he will convince Shane he is wrong, but he is left heartbroken. When his childhood nightmares plague him again, he discovers that they are real memories and when a visit to a ghost town jogs something loose, he sets out to investigate it.

I really enjoyed this story and thought the plot was really good. The suspense of who is after him, the mystery of who is behind it all and why, and the thrill of someone hunting Luke. It starts out simple enough, childhood nightmares of blue men, but then he starts to remember more, and then Ben takes Luke to a ghost town which reveals more memories, which leads to hunting down more information and survivors of the disaster there. It’s all very well written and woven together, and you end up trying to piece together the pieces yourself and imagining what the disaster really was, and who was really behind it and revising your thoughts when more clues are add… it was great fun.

The romance side was much more complicated, and at times it felt like Ben had two personalities; the completely straight man, who had never had a homosexual thought in his life and then the gay man, who had slept his way through as many men as he could. The conflict within Ben felt realistic at first, because it felt like it may have been a ‘gay for you’ and he was conflicted by it.  But, then I found that it disappointed me, when I realized that he’d had a ton of gay sex before but put on a front of being straight, even going so far as to have a girlfriend. Luke is attracted to Ben and he ends up confused as well with Ben’s actions, but Luke also, at first, seeks comfort in the arms of Kyle who he can take control with and call all the shots. Don’t get me wrong the romance is good, just complicated, and the sex is plentiful, hot and varied ;-).

So, I will recommend this to those who love government cover-ups, suspense, mystery, thrillers, hot sex, relationship woes, danger and a happy ending? P.S. the epilogue was great… could it mean a sequel?

 

 

Rock and a Hard Place by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow

Title:  Rock and a Hard Place

Series: N/A

Author: Jane Davitt/Alexa Snow

Genre: LGBT Contemporary (May 8th, 2012)

Length: Novel

Publisher: Loose Id

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Determined to outdo each other, business rivals Sean and Andrew land themselves in hot water when their private feud spills over at a very public charity auction. With neither willing to back down over the dream vacation at stake, they’re told by their boss that they’re both going and that they’re to return as friends.

As fate would have it, their plane crashes and they wash up on a desert island where their feud is as likely to doom them as the lack of food and their inability to start a fire. But there’s enough heat between them to set sparks flying once out and proud Sean discovers that Andrew’s gay, but determined to remain in the closet.

Rescue comes, but brings with it new challenges. They’re whisked back to their old lives with secrets to keep and a shared passion that makes it impossible for them to stay apart for long.

Choices must be made, new paths taken, and two men who have always been good at fighting find themselves, finally, with something worth fighting for: each other.

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Rock-and-a-Hard-Place.aspx

Reviewer: Thommie

Review: This novel follows Sean’s and Andrew’s “war and love”. Yes, of course, those two go together. Sean is a junior partner in Carney Enterprises. He loves his job and is very good at it. He is also a very proud gay man, coming out to his family ever when he was 12.  He’s not letting anyone step on him, due to his sexuality, at any point of his life. His life whirls around his job that is very demanding, leaving him not much time for personal relationships or even rest. While he thinks that everything is ok, at this point of his life, with little to take care of, there is one person that can unnerve him at any given moment and that is Andrew Carney. Yes, as in Carney Enterprises… Andrew is the boss’s son. In his estimation, Andrew was a spoilt brat, a playboy, having people throwing all over him because of his “old rich” blood. Sean thinks that even his job is being done by hardworking employees that would do anything to satisfy him. And being such a proud person, Sean never lets Andrew’s charm reach him; never hiding his despise and loathing either. And mostly, there is not a single encounter that they don’t fight. It is no wonder that in the charity event they both participate they’d end up in a similar situation. They bet against each other, on Sean’s dreamed vacation, until Harris Carney interrupts them. Harris’s notion of a nice working environment does not include having his two best managers at each other’s throat whenever they’re in the same room. So, he orders both of them on a joint vacation to solve things out. Of course, their plane crashes.  Of course, they land in a desert island alone. And of course, they turn all their need to fight into a more personal level. But, when they are rescued and finally back to civilization things get even worse between them. See, Andrew has been in the closet forever and has no intentions on coming out. He actually intents to marry, have kids and continue living a lie. And yes, things get a lot worse before they get better…

A nice book… but, I found it somehow lacking. I had the feeling the entire read was about a big, huge fight. The characters were constantly on war, even when they got personal they were fighting, sort to speak. It got me quite tired, waiting and hoping they would grow up already. Yes it reminded me, somehow, of kindergarten. While I liked Sean’s character (he had his nasty moments), I was so very disappointed from Andrew’s. He gave me the feeling of a hypochondriac, whining all the while when there’s nothing wrong with him. Always taking one step forward and two steps back. I had to wait until the very end of the book to literally see him grow some… uhm ,spine. J So, while Rock and a Hard Place is somehow a light read, it left me with a sigh.

If you love a good fight and have an inclination towards desert island fantasies and a happy ever after story this is the book for you.

Shadow Soldier by Carol Lynne

Title: Shadow Soldier

Series: Cattle Valley 26

Author: Carol Lynne

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (88pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (20th February 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Deacon McConnell spends his days as a Cattwood-carver and his nights as head of one of the most secretive government agencies in the United States. When he meets a man troubled by his time spent in the Middle East, Deacon feels drawn to the pain in the handsome man’s eyes. He makes the decision to help Aaron Ellis any way he can.

Dishonorably discharged from the Army, it takes everything Aaron has to get out of bed each morning. He’s become used to faking his way through life, putting on a happy face when the situation calls for it is a lot easier than dealing with his buried memories.

The day Aaron wanders into Deacon’s store for the first time, the last thing he expects is an immediate connection with the shop owner. For the first time since leaving the service, Aaron begins to believe there may be light at the end of the dark tunnel. The nights he spends in Deacon’s arms slowly begin to drive the shadows from his heart.

After years spent serving his country, Deacon yearns for a normal life. The move to Cattle Valley is the first step, opening up to Aaron the second. When duty calls Deacon out-of-town, he begins to wonder how much more he’ll be forced to give up for his country.

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1555

Review: Deacon owns a furniture store selling his own creations, but he is also the head of a secretive government agency. Asked by a friend to help Aaron deal with his problems, he decides that he will. But, when he meets the young man he is drawn to him in ways he thought were long dead. Adam was given a general discharge from the army, but the guilt he feels over the deaths of his comrades affects him greatly. When he meets Deacon, he feels safe and attracted to him, so he decides to see if Deacon returns his feelings.

This story is well written. Deacon has secrets that he doesn’t want getting out. Adam doesn’t want anyone to know the real reason that he left the army and Deacon has done an in-depth background check on Adam as a way to know everything, so that he can help him. These two men end up together and help each other in some small way, but Deacon has a confession to make to Adam and Adam finds it hard to accept that a man like Deacon would be interested in him.

Okay, I liked this story as it delves into the territory of survivors’ guilt and we get a good feel for both Aaron and Deacon. But, what we don’t get is a full understanding of what either of them went though. We get given hints, i.e. Deacon’s car was purposely driven off the road injuring him and killing his lover. We get told that it had to do with Deacon’s job, but that’s it… It’s mentioned that Adam has scars on his chest and that he was held at gunpoint for three days, but not much more. Seriously, it’s as though all the really good bits were cut out.

Deacon and Adam’s relationship does move fast, but the burning down of the store forced that and the sex between them is hot. Now, some of you might be put off, but there is a twenty-one year age gap. But, to be honest with you, the only time that I remembered that was when the author brought it up, which was a few times. But, neither character ever really worried about it and there was no angst or arguments about it so to me the age between them was negligible.

So, I will recommend this to those who love damaged heroes, May – December relationships, hot sex, a good story-line and a happy ever after.

 

 

 

Sweetly Addictive by Christine Shaw

Title: Sweetly Addictive

Series: Dark Times 04

Author: Christine Shaw

Genre: Paranormal, Shifters

Length: Novella (92pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand (26th April 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: After watching all his friends mate, Jay North is beginning to get depressed. Is it so hard to have a mate of his own? Then one night—well, morning—as he drowns another bottle of Jack Daniel’s, his phone rings, his alpha demanding they meet. Upon arrival he is met with the sweetest scent he has ever come across. Chocolates and oranges—his mate’s scent.

After being thrown from his pack, something tells Danny James to go to Texas. He has no idea why, but when he finds himself at the door of the light pack’s alpha, his entire world gets thrown upside down. His mate not only lives in the light pack but also is their enforcer. Yet Danny can’t find it in himself to be happy. He thinks because of his homosexuality he has given up his right to a destined mate of his own.

Can Danny find it in him to be with his mate?

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/sweetly-addictive

Review: Jay has been a bit jealous of his friends all meeting their mates and longs for his own. When he is called to his Alpha’s house in the middle of the night he smells the most delicious scent he has ever inhaled and discovers his mate seated with his Alpha. Danny was chased from his old pack for being gay and now he has finally found the pack who accepts gays. He also discovers his mate and learns that he has a connection to the Alpha that he never knew about.

This story has an interesting twist that adds greatly to the storyline for this little novella. Danny has run for his life now after days of hiding out and travelling he has come to the door of the Alpha who might accept him into his pack. He discovers his mate, fights his internal demons, finds out a secret, and proves to his mate that he is an equal. Jay discovers his mate within his Alpha’s home and is over-joyed. It isn’t easy sailing as Danny proves to Jay that he can be just as dominate as he is. Jay also has to come up with a plan to keep his mate safe, and to accept he doesn’t have to be top dog all the time.

Danny and Jay’s relationship is really good.  As we see Danny struggle with what he has been taught all his life, he feels cautious towards Jay, until he gets jealous and teaches Jay a lesson he will never forget. Jay is instantly protective of Danny, with good reason, and is really happy when all the connections between the friends are known (all the couples being related in some way). The relationship between Danny and Jay is a relatively smooth one, without too much angst or danger, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few surprises because there are. I loved the way that the sex was dealt with between them because it turned out to be very give and take, with both of them being able to be both Dominate and submissive, so it leads to some very hot sex scenes between them.

With this one I will recommend it to those who love paranormal, hot sex, D/s, slight BDSM, danger, secrets being discovered, great characters and a happy ever after.

 

The Absent-Minded Astrophysicist by TN Tarrant

Title:  The Absent-Minded Astrophysicist

Series:  A Mind Is a Sexy Thing

Author:  TN Tarrant

Genre:   Contemporary

Length:  Novella

Publisher:  Silver Publishing (April 28, 2012)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts                                                                             

Blurb:   Dr. Liam McGregor is a well-respected astrophysicist, astrobiologist and geologist, and he’s only twenty-three. With no family, few friends, and no romantic prospects, he’s gotten used to being alone. Focusing on his various scientific projects and taking care of his decidedly unusual cat help keep the loneliness at bay.

Jareth Manning is starting life over, a new town, new job, after the loss of his husband. The last thing he expected was for the most absentminded, and beautiful, man he’d ever seen to take up residence in his heart. Nor did he expect to find himself a willingly humble slave to Her Imperial Highness, Empress the Cat. But Jareth has learned that love doesn’t come around often, so when it does, hold onto it with both hands.

Jareth is willing to be patient, if Liam is willing to take the risk, after being badly burned before.

They just have to survive Liam’s past returning.

Product Link:  https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/products_id/1049/

Reviewer:   Portia

Review:  Liam has not had a normal childhood.  Recognized as a genius very early, he has always been the odd duck out.  Someday he’ll get around to doing the stuff that other twenty-somethings do, but right now, he has a galaxy to map.

I really enjoyed this book.  Too often geeks are portrayed as just closet freaks. They just need the right person to come along a boom…all of their gawkiness will evaporate during the afterglow.  That only works in fairy tales.  In real life, someone as isolated as Liam is going to have serious issues.  He’s never mingled with his peers, his parents were both MENSA, and he had multiple doctorates before he left his teen.  Poor Jareth, who is still grieving from the senseless death of his husband, is the perfect man to let Liam wrap his head around the logistics of romance.

There were several things that endeared this book to me.  The first was the level of thought and scholarship that went into the medical components.  I love when a book deals with sensitive issues without getting too maudlin.  In this case, Jareth had to deal with months of chronic pain.  Chronic pain is a very real issue and the author presented it brilliantly.  The other thing I liked was the length of time from meeting to mating.  Jareth courted Liam.  There is no other word that adequately describes the walks and the dinners and the cuddling.  Liam was damaged enough to jump into bed with Jareth long before they did.   When they finally get down and dirty, there is no doubt in Liam’s mind that he is cared for.  Their lovin’ is sweet and erotic and well worth the wait. Oh…and I loved the Liam’s “baby” (a real scene stealer that one.)

This was my first TN Tarrant read.  Not sure if she even has a backlist, but know that I’ll be Googling her name to find out.  Highly recommend.

The Alien in My Kitchen by Jan Irving

Title: The Alien in My Kitchen

Series: Lightning Strikes 02

Author: Jan Irving

Genre: Contemporary, Science Fiction

Length: Novella (95pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (30th April 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Mitchell Blake had given up on romance until a sexy biker shows up in his kitchen, claiming he’s an alien warrior sent to protect Mitchell from an assassin.

Mitchell Blake has given up on romance. At least the equations in his scientific experiments add up, unlike his charming, lying jerk of an ex. Nevertheless, he’s saddened when the guy he’s been exchanging glances with over lunch in the university cafe, brooding and darkly gorgeous poet Jaden Ross, is killed in a freak motorcycle crash…until Jaden shows up in Mitchell’s kitchen and tells him a crazy story that he’s been assigned as his unearthly protector.

Jaden is more than human. He’s a warrior from a galaxy far, far away and he’s not, unfortunately, just around to share his out-of-this-world body with Mitchell. Despite Jaden’s fear of appliances – they have moving parts and are very primitive – and his burning curiosity about human mating rituals, he is determined to keep Mitchell safe from the killer stalking him.

Reader Advisory: This series can be read separately as each story is unique.

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1642

Review: Mitchell is shocked when his door explodes off its hinges and the man that he has just been told is dead is standing there saying he is there to protect him. ‘Jaden’ or rather the entity that is now Jaden is there to protect Mitchell, so Mitchell can make discoveries that will save ‘Jaden’s’ race. Together they have to fight the one who doesn’t want Mitchell to proceed with his discoveries and the two explore their relationship as well.

This is another tongue in cheek light-hearted read from Jan Irving. Mitchell is a geek, Jaden is a hot biker and they have made eyes at each other across the canteen. But, now EZ, Mitchell’s best friend, says he’s died.  But, Jaden then appears in Mitchell’s kitchen, telling him he is there to protect him. Jaden is an entity from another time and place, who has come to protect Mitchell from another entity. But, he also wants to bond/merge with Mitchell, but Mitchell is cautious.

I have to admit that I actually liked this book in a kinda goofy silly way. I liked the three main characters Mitchell, Jaden and EZ. I can’t say any of them were my favorite, because they all had their moments where they shined; Jaden with his being new to a human body and his reactions to arousal, Mitchell with his pure social cluelessness and EZ as the annoying female best friend. There are some parts that I had to read twice as I felt that I missed something, but other than that it was a light-hearted story.

There was a section that I found funny just because of the cluelessness of Mitchell “”Jaden Ross, the gorgeous, tall, dark and dangerous guy with the motorcycle and the tats. He was killed swerving to avoid a litter of kittens on the freeway into campus.”     “Oh” I decided it was better not say it seemed like a very worthy way to go. “Are they going to name one of the kittens after him?””

So I have to recommend this to those who want a light-hearted story, hot sex, a bit of danger, not a very strong story but fun and a happy ending.

 

Levi by Bailey Bradford

Title: Levi

Series: Leopard’s Spots 01

Author: Bailey Bradford

Genre: Shifters

Length: Novella (134pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (20th February 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: A run through the woods turned anything but typical when Levi found the one thing he never expected to find-his mate.

After a week spent in family reunion hell, Levi Travis is more than ready for a little break. But who knew shifting into a snow leopard and loping around in the woods could turn into such a steamy event?

When Levi encounters a cougar shifter in the woods, the attraction is so hot it threatens to shoot off sparks. Levi has fantasized about having a stronger man than him want him, and he’s sure the cougar is just such a man. Which is why Levi lets himself get caught, and the intensity of their mating is only equaled by Levi’s confusion when the man shifts back into a cougar then turns tail and runs.

Lyndon Hines has been running for months. Hunted, taunted, he didn’t know what else to do-until he met a man who made him realize that some things were worth fighting for. Two shifters, each a different breed, neither knowing much about their heritage, Levi and Lyndon come together and find the strength to take on the mad man who is out to end Lyndon’s life.

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=1551

Review: Levi is ripped up inside when the shifter he has hot explosive sex with turns tail and runs. But, when he bumps into him in town and starts to get to know him, he begins to understand what is driving Lyndon. Lyndon is running, Lyndon doesn’t know from who or why, but he knows that he has to keep ahead of whoever it is. But, when he meets Levi, he realizes that he doesn’t want to run anymore, but as he doesn’t know anything about shifters or the person who is following him, he thinks it’s less trouble to keep on moving.

This is a well written story that has a more isolated way of life for shifters. With this story we have Levi, who is a Leopard shifter and Lyndon, who is a cougar shifter.  neither one has ever heard of shifters of a different species before they ran into each other in some woods. Lyndon doesn’t know how to react, as he has no clue how shifters act as he has only ever met two before and one of them was his father who attacked him. So, when his natural instincts have been spent…he runs. Levi hasn’t met another species before either, but he never expected Lyndon to run off afterwards. When they meet up again he figures out that the man has had a bad experience and sets out to help him out.

I thought this was a great start to a brand new series; it has great characters, fantastic hot sex, a bit of angst, danger and a good twist. I really loved how Bailey Bradford has set out this series, there are no packs or prides or anything like that, and no shifter council or ruling body… in fact it is set out so that shifters don’t even know about any other shifter species. Levi’s family is large so there are quite a few Snow Leopards, but Lyndon is an only child to a human mother and his father disappeared when he got Lyndon’s mother pregnant. He had only met one other cougar who helped him as much as he could, but other than what each of them has learned off their families, they haven’t really got a clue about shifters.

So, an interesting story that will have you wondering who has been following Lyndon and why.  And, when you do find out whom and why, you actually want to go hunting for Lyndon’s father and sort him out. Levi’s and Lyndon’s relationship is great and although it is a bit angsty at first they do make a great couple. I also loved Levi’s brother Oscar, he is a real character.

So I recommend this to those who love shifters, angst, danger, hot sex, great characters, a different view of shifters and a happy ending.

 

 

 

Nico's Fire by Sui Lynn

Title: Nico’s Fire

Series: Elements of Love 02

Author: Sui Lynn

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Alternative World, Futuristic (2216)

Length: Novel (251pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (12th May 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Jude’s been attacked, what has kept him alive is his strange power to set things on fire. Nicolai sees a gargoyle circling a burning building, goes to investigate to find his mate amidst the rubble. Is this love’s first fire?

Jude Jamison is a Jesuit Inquisitor, part of the pope’s force of special investigators. He suspects his cover has been blown as he’s been under constant attack. Without the gargoyles his friend Evan sent along as his guardians, and a strange ability to start fires, he’d already be dead.

Nicolai sees a gargoyle circling a smoldering building. He investigates the rare creature and is totally unprepared for the discovery of his human mate, lying amid the rubble. After waiting two millennia to find his mate, fate must be laughing. A human will never survive in his world. Yet he’s unable to leave the beautiful man behind.

Together can the two find a way to survive? Is this love’s first fire?

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/851/?zenid=c3142b00277168ac40b6da660cd0e653

Review: Jude is in desperate need of help, as more and more demons are sent after him.  But, there is only so much he can accept, because of the fear of hurting someone by accident. Nico is surprised to learn that his mate is human. What on Earth could fate have been thinking?  But, as he gets to know his mate, he learns that Jude’s life is in grave danger and that there is far more to Jude than he first realised.

This is the second book in the Elements of Love series and must be read in order, as events in Adel’s Purr lead to discoveries in this book. Jude, Jesuit Inquisitor, is running for his life. He suspects a certain faction within the church is responsible, but getting the proof has been difficult. But, that isn’t his only problem, he feels like something is trying to consume him from the inside and it has something to do with his ability to suddenly create fire. Nico is seeking to protect a little gargoyle when he comes across his mate nearly unconscious and severely injured. Now, he has to help his mate delve into the underbelly of the church and help his mate control his fire.

This is a fantastic addition to the Elements of Love series and it continues with Jude’s story. As we saw at the end of the last book, Jude can now manifest fire, but the how and why is discovered in this story. Jude is drawn to his rescuer, but is terrified of hurting him. Nico tries to reassure Jude that he won’t, but he also worries that he will injury Jude. So it is an interesting beginning for our two lovely MCs, as they both come to realize that they are perfect for each other. We find out more about the Elementals and the history behind them, along with a slew of new characters, who add a broader horizon for future books.

So with the relationship between Jude and Nico, they might be a well matched pair, but that doesn’t mean that it is going to be easy for them. Both these characters are great, with Nico trying to show Jude that he will always be there for him, and Jude putting his trust in Nico although he is scared of losing him. With everything going on we mustn’t forget that they have the church to contend with and, gah, they are really nasty.

Well, what can I say? If you love paranormal, danger, rescues, gargoyles, hidden agendas, conspiracy, hot sex (lol), really hot men, and a happy ever after and an open end for the next book, then this is for you.

 

 

 

Heart of Ice by S. A. Welsh

Title: Heart of Ice

Series: Demon Souls 01

Author: S.A. Welsh

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Shifter, Demon, M/M/M

Length: Novel (318pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publisher (12th May 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Frost Dante, fiercest demon warrior in millennia, suffers nightmares and flashbacks of a painful past. Blair and Cian, twin snow leopard shifters who have been kidnapped, now need to stand by their mate to face the evil stalking them.

Frost Dante, the most powerful demon warrior in over a millennia, is a demon with high responsibility. Nightmare memories and flashbacks, annoying younger brothers that come in pairs and a demon council determined to kill him and destroy his family are only the beginning.

Blair and Cian, virgin snow leopard shifters, were kidnapped and held captive by a soul-draining monster. Every day means pain and loneliness until a demon saves them–their mate.

With an evil council hell-bent on killing them only the strongest will come out on top. Is Frost strong enough to protect everyone he loves or will he let the ice take over and freeze the love he feels for Cian and Blair?

There are no hints of twincest in this story.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/products_id/760/?zenid=c3142b00277168ac40b6da660cd0e653

Review: Frost is a strong demon warrior (Guardian). He is more powerful than anyone knows, but it is a power that he has to keep hidden to protect his family. Now, he meets his mates; the ones that he was told he would never have, and a foreseeing that foretold a new future comes to light. Blair and Cian are rescued by a demon and they know that the demon is theirs. Now, in the midst of their mating heat, they have to help Frost become what he needs to be in order to overcome the corrupt council.

Oh, oh, oh great, great, great new fantasy/paranormal series and I want the second book already!! Frost has been through hell to protect his family and he has had to keep things hidden from them to keep them safe. When he discovers his mates he is overwhelmed, as he lost his own twin many years before and had been told that both brothers were needed to bond with their mate. Blair and Cain have mainly been ignored for all of their lives, when they are kidnapped they are rescued by a group of demons and the demon leader is their mate which they are pleased about, but both shifters have their own insecurity so it isn’t plain sailing and with the added pressure of the council, it proves to be an intense time.

What can I really say about this book except BRILLIANT! I thought it was great, there are secrets, mystery, mayhem, deceptions, arguments, laughs and giggles. A really well woven fantasy/paranormal that will interest you right from the start. S.A. Welsh opens the story with Frost and his brothers as they do what brothers do best… annoy the hell out of each other with teasing and arguing. We get a very good feel for Frost from the start, and we get good doses of background throughout the book so we can see the type of characters he is. When we meet Cain and Blair, it is a trying situation, because while these two are cute shifters someone is determined to keep them from Frost.

Okay, so this is the part where I have a little (a very, very small one) whine *sigh*, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book some of it dragged for me because I was really impatient to get to the action (which was incredible). So, while Frost, Cain and Blair bonded and mated and sorted out some insecurities, I was chomping at the bit for the action. The bonding etc. was really good, because we saw a lot of each person’s characteristics and they became closer because of the time spent together and reassuring each other. It showed that not all bondings with twins involved were happy as a lark straight away and it needed a bit of work. so, that was all good and the sex was incredible and plentiful and hot.

We see quite a bit of all the brothers in this story and we actually see the beginning of Storm, Leo’s (Frost’s brothers) and Morgan’s story (which is bound to be great). All the characters are well written and you get a good amount of background on them and there was a fair amount of world building, the action was well cool and I so want Frost’s powers.

With this one I will recommend it to those who love demons, shifters, awkward beginnings, passionate love, hidden secrets, fantasy and a happy ending but with complications.

 

 

Daimon by Pelaam

Title: Daimon

Series: A Demonica Story 02

Author: Pelaam

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novella (75pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (12th May 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Daimon fights to reunite lovers parted by a disapproving father, but finds himself attracted to the man he rescues a beauty from. Daimon will need to keep all his wits about him and not let his nature rule his head.

Daimon, a demon of charismatic sexuality, prefers to focus on his own carnal pleasures rather than concern himself with the wider world and the ever-present battle of light and dark. To that end, he lives in a large house with just a few remote neighboring properties.

However, even he is unable to resist a call for help that reaches deep into his psyche. After rescuing a beautiful prisoner, Daimon becomes involved in reuniting lovers kept apart by a disapproving father.

He finds himself attracted to the man who was keeping the young beauty as a prisoner. Unsure whether this is simply an over-anxious father or something darker, Daimon will need to not let his nature rule his head.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/products_id/767/?zenid=c3142b00277168ac40b6da660cd0e653

Review: Daimon feels the need to go to the rescue when he feels a wave of despair.  What he finds is a young man drugged and locked in a guarded room. When the young man is awake, Daimon gets the full story and decides to help the young man and his mate reunite. But, Daimon tries to deny to himself that the young man’s captor is his own mate.

This is a wonderful novella that will touch your heart with its sweetness, but send your pulse pounding with its erotic-ness. Daimon is a demon of desire, of carnality. But, when he comes across Leland and learns the story of separated lovers, he sets aside his licentious intentions and vows to reunite the lovers. Gene is Leland’s jailor, but his intentions are good. He has been asked by Leland’s father to keep Leland away from Randal (Leland’s mate).  He ends up drugging Leland to stop him from hurting himself, but then Leland disappears. Leland only wants his mate and is devastated at the lengths his father has gone to.

This is actually a story of two sets of lovers Daimon and Gene, and Leland and Randal; two mates meeting and two mates being reunited. Daimon is such a sweetheart in the way he was with Leland and the way he supported Leland in his need for his mate. Even putting aside his mating with Gene until Leland was back in the arms of the man he loves. Leland just wants to be back with his mate and although he is missing his mate, he is still a sweet young man. Gene is a nice guy who is just trying to do the best, but his means of doing it is all wrong.

The sex between these two couples really is hot, but it is also erotic and loving. Daimon and Gene’s coming together is passionate, while Leland and Randal’s is loving and hot. We mainly get to know Daimon and Leland, while Gene we see less of, but he’s important to Daimon, and Randal there are only a couple of scenes with him in them.

So I recommend this for those who love Demons and shifters, a sweet couple reuniting, passionate, hot, erotic sex and love and a happy ending for all.

 

 

Frankie's Vamp by Toni Griffin

Title: Frankie’s Vamp

Series: Hot Encounters 01

Author: Toni Griffin

Genre: Paranormal, Vampire

Length: Novella (131pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (12th May 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Merrick has never had to chase anyone in his life, but then he’s never met his mate before. Frankie has dated some losers and just escaped an abusive ex. Trusting his vamp won’t be easy.

After five centuries, Merrick Winters is bored with life. He’s tired of the same kind of men throwing themselves at him. His coven is secure and his bar is a success. He needs a challenge. When he meets his mate, he’s certain he’s found just the challenge he was looking for.

Frankie Reynolds doesn’t have time for an abusive man and he wishes his ex would get the message. After one night at Hot Encounters, both an ex and a master vampire won’t leave him alone. He doesn’t mind the vampire so much, but this mate business is a little much.

An amazing attraction makes sparks fly, but can Merrick convince Frankie to trust again?

CONTENT ADVISORY: This title contains scenes of near rape.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/859/?zenid=c3142b00277168ac40b6da660cd0e653

Review: Merrick is slightly bored with the same old same old. After all, there is only so much a vamp can do in five hundred years.  But, that all changes when he spots Frankie on the dance floor of his club and he has a feeling that he will be forever kept on his toes. Frankie is just letting loose on the dance floor when he spots the most gorgeous man ever, but after coming out of a relationship where his ex-boyfriend hit him, he is cautious.

Toni Griffin has written a nice easy read that is uncomplicated and low on angst. Merrick is thrilled when he meets his mate and his mate isn’t a walkover. Frankie stands up to him and doesn’t let him get away with anything… now if only he can get him to agree to be his mate. Frankie has had enough of loser boyfriends and isn’t sure if he can trust himself to choose a decent man. So, when the Master vampire declares he’s his mate, he is very wary of jumping in feet first.

Frankie is quite a strong-willed man and knows how to take care of himself; he is determined to take his time getting to know Merrick before committing to a mating that will last for eternity. This I found to be brilliantly done, because although they both felt sparks flying between them, they both still held off until Frankie was really ready. The problem of the ex-boyfriend was handled well, but I would have liked to know more about the rogue vampires. Both characters were well suited and I would have liked to get to know them better; some more background on them, but I liked them all the same. I found this storyline flowed well and the story easy to read and get into.

I will recommend this to those who like strong characters, hot sex, vampires and paranormals, a bit of conflict, instant attraction and a happy ending.

 

 

 

On the Dotted Line by Alexa Snow

Title: On the Dotted Line

Series: None

Author: Alexa Snow

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 161 pages/50,200 words/Novel

Publisher: Torquere Press (March 27, 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: From Torquere Press: When college drop-out Paul LeBlanc first meets pediatrician Dr. Cameron Fraser at the emergency room, he isn’t hoping for anything more than good news about his best friends’ James and Alison’s baby. He’s more involved in baby Gabby’s life than the average guy his age might be, but there’s a good reason for that — she’s his biological daughter, a gift given to his friends when it turned out James wasn’t able to father a child.

Cameron asks Paul to go for drinks, but Paul doesn’t want to hope for more than a few dates and maybe some hot sex. As it turns out, Cameron isn’t into casual sex, but Cameron also knows right away that what he wants with Paul is anything but casual.

Paul’s life is complicated. He has a mountain of debt that no one knows about and just paying the bills is a struggle. He’s sick of rummaging in the couch for change to do a load of laundry and worrying about when his junky car will break down next. Still, he suspects that the added complication of a boyfriend might be worth it if that boyfriend is Cameron

Product Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=3546

Reviewer: Adrienne

Review: On the Dotted Line centers almost entirely on Paul LeBlanc, a young man who has some obvious inferiority complexes, mainly centered on his financial issues which he is determined to hide from his closest friends. Cameron Fraser is a doctor with whom Paul becomes involved, though he maintains a bit of reserve around Cameron. Because of this emotional distance, the reader doesn’t learn much about Cameron, other than he seems like a generally decent, caring person.

On the Dotted Line could have turned into an angst-ridden book about the poor, down-trodden boy who, through no fault of his own, is nearly impoverished but is saved by his very own doctor in a shining stethoscope. Thankfully, the poor-me clichés are kept to a minimum, and when shown are understandable, making both Paul relatable rather than annoying. I will comment that some mentions of James were intriguing, and I worried this would end up a very different kind of review, but that storyline was well-played and resolved potential issues. My only criticism is that I would have liked to know a bit more about Cameron, and maybe see a bit more development in their relationship, which seemed to move rather quickly.

Ms. Snow’s most recent book is neither boring nor overly dramatic, but instead a fairly quick and enjoyable read, and both Paul and Cameron are rather enjoyable characters.

 

Finding Eden by Scarlet Blackwell

Author: Scarlet Blackwell

 Series: Clear Water Creek Chronicles 04

Publisher: Silver Publishing (May 5th, 2012)

Length:103 pages novella

Genre: Contemporary

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Heat Level: Explicit

Reviewer : Cat

Blurb: Eden Gray is traumatized from his rape eighteen years earlier and the part Sean Keller played in it isn’t easy to forget. Eden goes from happy to desperate within minutes, never sure how long a good mood will last. But he knows that he loves Sean with all his heart and wants to lay his ghosts to rest permanently.

Sean feels the same way. He treads on eggshells around Eden, afraid for his mental health and mindful of his suicide attempts. He has a hard time dealing with his guilt, and hates that it overshadows his love for Eden more often than not.

Something needs to happen to let them connect and bond permanently and bring them into the light…

Product Link:  https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/products_id/841/

Review Finding Eden is a very well-written and character driven love story. Such a gripping and heartfelt story of two men with secrets in their past and a love/hate relationship that is to die for.

In Finding Eden, we follow Sean and Eden after Eden’s trial for murdering Paul, Sean’s best friend.  We also find out that it isn’t the happy-ever-after we had thought we got from Into the Light, the first book. Eden still hasn’t adjusted well and after he killed Paul is even more distraught. Sean is handling Eden the best he can with love and attention, but Eden’s mood swings are about more than even Sean can deal with. Sean even sometimes still worries that Den hasn’t forgiven him.

Even after finding out Sean’s involvement in Eden’s rape eighteen years before, I can’t help but just fall for Sean. Eden, even after all he has been through, I’d really like to slap the crap out of him. So, does Eden finally heal? Do Sean and Eden finally make their relationship work? Is Sean’s love for Eden worth giving up his career and home? I am not telling. You will have to read the book. I promise you will want to read the first three, too, so might as well buy them all now.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves a very intense romantic love story. Several twists and turns, really hot sex scenes, a little light BDSM , men in uniform, and very well put together characters.  I just swoon for Sean.

Beyond Complicated by Mercy Celeste

Title:  Beyond Complicated

Series:  N/A

Author:  Mercy Celeste

Genre:   Contemporary (Incestuous elements)

Length:  Novel

Publisher:  Silver Publishing (May 5th, 2012)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥3Hearts                                                                               

Blurb:   For former porn star Liam McGuire, life is pretty tame, except that his twenty-one-year-old son is now dating the love of Liam’s life. At the ripe old age of thirty-eight, Liam’s entire world is collapsing around him, his past catching up with him, his secrets and his lies are coming back to bite him. All because Kel had to go and fall in love with Seth.

Product Link:   https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/products_id/835/?zenid=dbbd6a2ced8a9829319a4b6643be2568

Reviewer:   Showme

Review:  Liam is a thirty-eight year old man barely living. He works, goes home to his crummy apartment, and wakes up to do it all again. One day he gets a phone call from his son, Kel, after seeing something upsetting about Kel’s new man on Kel’s Facebook page. Liam avoids Kel as long as he’ll let him, but eventually they agree to meet for lunch and Liam has to face whatever his son has to tell him that he doesn’t want to hear.  He never expects his son is going to surprise him with the new boyfriend and it sure as hell never crossed his mind that the “new boyfriend” would be the love of his life and ex porn partner, Seth. Seth has no idea Kel’s father is the man he lived and breathed for years ago. The reunion turns into a fight over who did who wrong, but the old fires quickly explode in one of the hottest scenes ever. You can feel the passion, love and anger between Seth and Liam. It steams off the page.  However, the next morning reality sets in that Seth had plans to commit to Kel and they’re back to the freak out stage. Kel is rightfully angry after he finds out about the night his father and boyfriend spent together. He tries to put his feelings aside because he’s finally told of Liam and Seth’s past and can see his father’s still hopelessly in love with Seth.

Liam tries to stay away, but Seth won’t let him. Seth persists and they agree they need to talk, but the irresistible pull these two have, brings them together again. They’re both shocked to hear Liam scream Kel’s name during his climax. Liam tries to deny it, but that night due to alcohol and a secret burning desire, Kel  seduces Liam. Liam and Kel realize they love each other and not in a traditional father and son way. They’ve always been closer to friends. Kel feels his stepfather has taken on the role of his father, and hates him. After their night together they try to fight it but the guys realize what they really want is for the three of them to be together.

Now, I truly enjoyed Seth and Liam’s relationship. I bought and invested in it. Like I said, they smoked up the pages and the back-story was heartbreaking and beautiful. Kel   joining the mix was a little hard for me to swallow. One scene had Liam being mad Kel’s stepfather was worried about his gay father touching him inappropriately, while the next scene had them touching everywhere! I don’t know that I would ever feel comfortable with this particular situation, but there were a few things besides the uncomfortable three-way love fest that didn’t work for me. Just when I thought I had a feel for the guys, they’d go the complete opposite way that I would have expected their characters to go. Kel never really added to beauty that was Liam and Seth IMO. However, they sure enjoyed Kel. I’ve read  some threesome books and some family lovin’ situations in books, but never have I read one quite like this.

 

 

 

A Queer Pattern of Murder by Tom Jemielity

Title: A Queer Pattern of Murder

Author: Tom Jemielity

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Detective

Length: Short (53pgs)

Publisher: JMS Books (15th April 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Good cop, bad cop? No. It’s straight cop, gay cop, as the detective team of Billy Mack and Ethan Gregory seek the vicious killer of a middle-aged gay man.

Beaucaploo, Indiana, is rocked by a vicious killing of a middle-aged gay man. Detectives Billy Mack and Ethan Gregory are assigned to the case. Though Billy is married with children and Ethan is a gay ex-Marine, the two share a solid friendship cemented when Ethan saved Billy’s life during a drug bust.

To find the killer, they must narrow the field of suspects. Is the murderer an obnoxious gay activist? A recent boyfriend of the deceased? Or someone new in town? Their inquiry takes them from the campus of the University of the Mother of Mercy where the victim taught, to a gay dating agency whose services he recently used, and to a local bar he didn’t frequent often.

Can Billy and Ethan catch the killer before he strikes again?

Purchase Link: http://www.jms-books.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=488&zenid=0gelvhsi8a9ahg7skdn8o0hjt2

Review: Billy and Ethan are partners on the job and have just caught a murder which is brutal. As they investigate, they discover the victim was gay and the person who did it was someone who had been close to him at one point. Now, it is up to Ethan and Billy to find the killer before he strikes again.

Okay, everyone this is not a romance; there’s no kissing, no sex scenes and no declarations of undying love for a lover. (Oi. where do you think you’re going? Get back here and read this review) but, what we do have is a great mystery/detective story and one of the detectives just happen to be gay. Ethan is partnered with Billy, when they get a murder case they start to investigate. Ethan discovers that Billy already knows that he is gay and doesn’t have a problem with it. By the end of the case, he is out of the closet at work and fully accepted.

The mystery was really good and I liked the way it progressed and the weaving of the characters and their interaction with each other. I found this story to be quite humorous and thought Billy was a hoot. Ethan is a great guy and the supporting characters were great as well, even the annoying gay activist. You only meet Ethan’s partner in life near the end, so you don’t get much interaction between them, but, what you do see is a solid relationship. This book seemed to be more about the relationships that Ethan has with his friends and how he sees Billy’s family as his own. And Billy and his family accept Ethan and Robbie with open arms, which Ethan never got from his own family.

So, this one I will recommend to those who want a gay character in a story without relationship angst, the everyday life of a gay police detective and his straight partner, watching the bonds of family strengthen between friends and a happy ending where the police catch the bad guy in a good mystery.

The Pirate's Game by Heidi Cullinan

Title:  The Pirate’s Game

Series: The Etsey Series 3

Author: Heidi Cullinan

Genre: LGBT Fantasy

Length: Novel

Publisher: Loose Id (April 24, 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb:  As the love slave of the captain of the pirate ship The Merry Sue, Charles Perry, professional mess and reluctant god, is at last reunited with his lover Timothy — partly, at least. Somehow Timothy has become implanted in Captain James Gibbs’s mind, and for the right sexual favors, the pirate will grant Charles’s lover a few moments at the helm. Three square meals a day, endless pirate fantasies played out in real-time, and more Timothy than he’s seen in months. How can Charles complain?

Of course, trouble always manages to find its way home to Charles. The Pretender is still trying to kill him. His cousin is in a funk and shocks everyone with the reason why. But the most worrisome part is that Charles has realized he’d trade all his god powers and most of the world he made to have Timothy back with him for real — and he’s finally figured out how to do just that.

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/The-Etsey-Series-3-The-Pirates-Game.aspx

Reviewer: Thommie

Review: Hmm, now this one was quite the overwhelming book. I haven’t encountered yet a novel with such a detailed plot, numerous characters all having so much to do and say in the story line.

Somehow confusing the fact that one body is overflown by entities, Charles is at the same time Charles Perry and The White Charles aka The Lord. He is the bringer of Life, the very creator and at the same time the man, with his flaws and weaknesses. Timothy is Timothy Fielding, the concubine, the Lady, the darkness, a ghost… In this book Timothy has lost his mortal body and haunts James Gibbs, the captain of the Merry Sue, a Ring Pirate. After the second novel of The Etsey Series, Temple Boy, Timothy is trying to save Charles from the Pretender, Bassam, an androghenie, bound to kill the Lord, their Father and take over his power. We will see in this novel a lot from Jonathan Perry, Death Unit Officer, House blood survivor and Gateway to souls and Madeline a most powerful witch and House blood survivor as well. In their confusion between being Gods and men and trying to protect themselves from yet another war, the “blood brothers” find themselves involved in games that are being played and foreseen in time before they even dared to imagine. I have to admit that my favorite character was Elleian, the androghenie, somehow I expect to see “tir” in the next book of the series along with the great mistress The Sea.

A very interesting plot, with suspense overflowing every chapter, unexpected twists and a most satisfactory ending. A little bit lacking on sexual scenes and the much need intensity on them never the less a great novel for lovers of Fantasy and those fascinated with the pirates 😉

And although the novel is readable on its own I strongly recommend the previous two novels of The Etsey Series in order to truly appreciate the complexity of the storyline.