A Shared Range by Andrew Grey

Title: A Shared Range

Series: Stories from the Range book 1

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: M/M Romance

Length: Novel (208 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 20^th, 2010)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb: After a year in medical school, Dakota Holden returned home to take care of the family business full-time and help his father cope with multiple sclerosis. Devoted to his family, Dakota allows himself just one week of vacation a year, which he spends in some exotic location having all the fun he can stand. On his last vacation, a cruise, Dakota struck up a friendship with Phillip Reardon, and it fills an important role in Dakota’s life. So when Phillip decides to take Dakota up on his invitation to visit the ranch, Dakota is happy to see him and meet his veterinarian friend, Wally Schumacher. Despite Wally’s inclination to help the wolves Dakota’s men shoot to protect the cattle, he and Dakota find they have a lot in common, including a fierce attraction. But they’ll have to decide if the Wyoming range is big enough for Dakota’s cattle, Wally’s wolves, and their love

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1987

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Save a horse, ride a cowboy!! Dakota Holden is a devoted family man and a promising MD. His father’s illness forces him to leave medical school and come home to not only take care of his ailing father, but his family’s beloved ranch as well. He hides his sexuality from everyone close to him, allowing himself an annual vacation to just be himself. It’s during his most recent vaca that he met Phillip. Fast friends and convenient lovers, Phillip decides to take Dakota up on an offer to visit him at the Ranch.

Wally Schumacher is a vibrant, openly gay, spitfire of a man. The recently graduated Vet, and Phillips best friend, decides to join him on his trip to the Ranch. He’s intensely attracted to Dakota pretty much from their first meeting, but Dakota is still hiding his sexuality, and therefore fights his mutual attraction to Wally.

As the story progresses so does the relationship between Dakota and Wally. Dakota’s devotion to his father, friends and the ranch are evident. His internal struggle with his growing feelings for Wally and how his father and friends will perceive him is conveyed so well by Grey, it’s almost heartbreaking. Both men are driven by a need to do the right thing, but what happens when what one considers right, conflicts with the other man’s version? Is the open range enough space for Wally and Dakota to share a life, openly be together and still stay true to their individuality?

Shared Range is a love story at heart with lots of action and content to keep any reader interested. The backdrop of Wyoming is perfectly depicted by Grey, as well as the struggles each character goes through to get where they are by the end. The dangerously descriptive sex scenes were oh so juicey and Grey managed to make it not just about the sex, but about the love Dakota and Wally share as well.

The Red Thread of Forever Love by Nicole Kimberling

Title: The Red Thread of Forever Love

Author: Nicole Kimberling

Genre: Gay MM paranormal

Length: Novella (96 pages)

Publisher: Loose Id (December 28 2012)

Heat level: Explicit

Heart rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: A “Not Quite New Year” Story!

Folklore researcher and PhD candidate Hank Caldwell has a problem. He’s come to Japan to get information for his book on supernatural creatures called yokai. Along the way he discovers that yokai are not only real, but one of them is determined to make Hank his forever lover.

Translator Daisuke Tachibana knows all about the shadowy figure in a business suit who keeps accosting Mr. Caldwell. He knows the creature must be stopped, but how? Their upcoming research trip to a remote, hot springs resort will be exactly the opening the yokai is looking for. Now if only Tachibana could stop thinking about Mr. Caldwell’s naked, freckled body submerged in steaming water long enough to formulate a plan to keep the amorous creature at bay.

Product link: http://www.loose-id.com/The-Red-Thread-of-Forever-Love.aspx

Reviewer: Heart

Review: With this first experience when it comes to Nicole Kimberling, I was faced both with more than I expected as well as less. She spins a very good tale, focuses on the details but skims on certain parts that I would have preferred as the focal point of the story.

Hank is a Canadian writer researching supernatural creatures called yokai for his newest book. He’s traveling through the country with his translator, Daisuke and discovering that the subject of his researched is not only real, but embarrassingly so.

The story is told from both points of view and while Hank is direct and easy-going, Daisuke is the perfect opposite in his reservation. Everything Daisuke desires when it comes to Hank isn’t coming through him directly and if that isn’t completely wrong, the fact that Hank is getting used to it just makes it worse.

This short story is full of facts about Japan. From descriptions to customs and just for that it’s certainly an experience. Personally, I didn’t really connect with the supernatural theme, and while it was rather funny at the beginning, by the end it was just too consuming and other parts of the story suffered for it.

I’m all about romance, something that was at first glance the essence of this story. While it might still be interpreted that way, once you finish the book, the actual ‘real’ romance was in fact completely pushed to the background and eventually quickly concluded. I knew more about Hank than Daisuke, but their eventual relationship lacked the romantic aspect of it as well as moments that would have made it genuine.

The Red Thread of Forever Love is something most people will most certainly like. It has a bit of everything and makes for a good light entertainment.

Under the Australian Sky by A.J. Kelton

Title: Under the Australian Sky

Series: Australia Day 2013 / Love Across Time 01

Author: A.J. Kelton

Genre: Contemporary, Time-Travel, 1860, BDSM, Kink

Length: Novella (129pgs)

Publisher: ManLoveRomance Press (25^th January 2013)

Heat: Explicit

Heart: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: What would you do if you suddenly found yourself transported back in time?

Being a farmer in the 1800’s is hard; being a gay farmer even harder. Ethan has given up on finding his soul mate until a strangely dressed man wanders onto his land spouting nonsense about phones and cars. Jack is King of the one night stands, refusing to give anyone his heart until a chance encounter with Christian, a matchmaker longing to earn his cupid wings, sends Jack back in time. Can Jack give his heart to Ethan or will he become another conquest? Will Christian ever earn his cupid wings? Will they find love under the Australian sky?

Purchase Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=AJKUNDER

Review: Jack is a playboy who has a love ‘em and leave them attitude. When he crosses paths with Christian, he ends up learning a few lessons about love. Christian just wants his cupid wings. When he is given the chance it seems like a simple task, until he learns the truth. All he has to do is unit Jack with his soul-mate, a soul-mate trapped in the past. Ethan lives a hard life on his farm in the Australian Outback in 1860; a time when being gay could get you killed. When he comes across a strange man wandering on his land he takes him in, even though he acts strange, and it isn’t long before Jack works his wiles.

This is a story with a very interesting concept, what is a wannabe cupid to do when his assignment seems impossible… time-travel, of course. I must admit to being surprised by the characters in this book. Ethan is a doll who you take to straight away and you want him to find the love that is so forbidden. Jack is a more complex character, at first you hold him in contempt for the way he treats men, but then he turns into a near perfect sweetheart (he still annoys a bit) when he is with Ethan. Christian was a character that I really liked at first, but towards the end of the book I wanted to take the cupid wings and shove them down his throat, *flutters eyelashes* you will understand.

The storyline is good. Christian wants his cupid wings, but his ex-lover Donovan doesn’t want him to become a cupid, so gives him an impossible task of matching Jack with his true match. Because of a mistake in the past Ethan’s soul is trapped searching for his soul-mate never able to move forward. Jack’s soul moved on and will be unable to connect with Ethan’s. Christian comes up with a way for them to meet. But, Jack’s from the future; will he really be able to give up a life of comfort for a hard life in the 1860s Australian Outback? This is a unique story. I have never come across a time-traveling story for Australia before and I found it really interesting. Especially, having the rich playboy face his behavior towards other people.

The one thing that will get your pulse racing is Jack’s prowess as a lover; he is imaginative, inventive and passionate. There are plenty of opportunities for him to show us as well. Although the romance is between Ethan and Jack, Ethan isn’t the only one that we see Jack having sex with and the sex is playful, kinky with just a touch of BDSM. The historical timing of this story isn’t perfect. I was thrown a bit by the language and terms of endearment they called each other, but Ethan’s reactions to being gay at that time were perfect.

I will recommend this to those who love Australian Outback love, hot kinky sex, finding true love and a happy ending.

Exile by Lola Lebellier

Title: Exile

Author: Lola Lebellier

Genre: High Fantasy, Bittersweet

Length: Novel (198pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (8^th February 2013)

Heat: Low – Moderate

Heart: ♥♥♥♥3½ – 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Once, in the land of Nier, five elemental spirits terrorized the land. To contain them, five humans sacrificed themselves, losing their bodies and minds. It wasn’t until decades later, when a set of restraints was formed, that the vessels could live normal lives and take their rightful places as leaders of their clans.

Now Aless of Serac, Guardian of Water, has returned from exile, a punishment for embarking on a killing frenzy when his restraints broke. He soon discovers all the restraints are breaking, and if he cannot find a solution, chaos will follow. But Aless can’t solve this problem on his own.

Though Corin of Zephyr has large reserves of mana, the trait that signifies proficiency with natural magic, he shows little aptitude for casting spells or using his power. But that doesn’t bother him as much as the threat from the breaking restraints. Together, he and Aless might find a solution—but as the restraints begin to crumble, it becomes clear that their situation is more dangerous than anyone could have foreseen: Aless, Corin, and the other guardians will face abuse, attack, and even death in their quest to save their world.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3558

Review: Aless is the vessel that carries Serac, Guardian of Water. He is returning to the monastery after ten years spent in exile after his restraints broke and Serac went on a murderous rampage. Things have changed and he discovers secrets are being kept from him, but he is easily distracted by Corin. Corin is an apprentice with a huge well of mana, but he isn’t able to access it and struggles with even the most simple of spells. When he discovers the truth about the Guardian’s restraints breaking he offers his help. It’s a race against time as the Guardian’s face going feral. But, Aless and Corin fall in love and Corin discovers the truth behind the restraints.

This is a great story with a very bittersweet ending. Aless still doesn’t know what happened ten years before when his restraints failed and Serac broke loose and took control. Returning to the monastery after his exile, he discovers things have changed and secrets are being kept from him. Corin is as drawn to Aless as Aless is to him, but his Master Selena doesn’t want him having any contact with Aless. Searching for the truth about the restraints and why they are failing, Corin discovers that some of the story is missing, and it will take the entire monastery of Guardians working together to solve the mystery before it is too late.

I loved the world building in this story. The true story of the spirits slowly being fed to us, and only one person being able to save them all. There’s a lot to learn concerning the Guardians and the spirits they house, as well as finding out the truth about the restraints and how they came about. As you progress through the story, you will have light bulb moments where you go ‘ah-ha’ as some detail suddenly smacks you in the face, and what has happened and what is to come, suddenly begins to click together. Although this story scored high in the storyline, it missed (for me) with the relationship between Aless and Corin. Don’t get me wrong there is an attraction between them, but from what I saw in the story there was still a long way to go between them before love came into the equation.

This story has many interesting characters, although some of them we get to know better than others. Each one is well written and you become vested in them discovering a solution. Sometimes you feel that petty feelings cause more problems than was needed, but it adds to the tension in the story. I wish that we could have seen more of the relationship between Aless and Corin and how it was developing between them, but others were interfering, and it made me feel as though they only had a longing to be together, rather than a developing love. There is one scene that may disturb readers and that is an m/f rape scene that we are given no warning about. Although, it fit perfectly in the storyline, it was still disturbing to have had no warning at all, not even on the publishers’ site.

I will recommend this story to those that love hidden stories, magical spirits, some incredible details, a longing for love and a very bittersweet ending.

Prince of Submission by Jana Downs

Title: Prince Of Submission

Series: Fae Scandals 01

Author: Jana Downs

Genre: Paranormal, Light BDSM, Kink

Length: Novella (144pgs)

Publisher: Siren-BookStrand (2^nd February 2013)

Heat: Explicit

Heart: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Corrin DeMarco is a prince of the light court of Fae whose days of freedom are about to end. He only has a week before he must return to his kingdom and start his training to be king. Though it’s forbidden, he engages in an affair, never expecting to meet the man who would become his fantasy.

Adrian Cadence is a prince of the dark court of Fae who was kicked out of the Seelie kingdom for his love of other men. When he runs into Corrin he’s drawn to the Seelie prince who likes to dabble in darkness, and an unexpected proposal leads to a night of passion.

A cross-country pursuit, an unconventional courtship, and an opportunity to find love will make Corrin face his desires. But he will have to decide if love is enough for him to shrug off duty and turn his back on everything he’s been taught in order to become Adrian’s Prince of Submission.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/prince-of-submission

Review: Corrin is a prince of the Seelie Court. He has spent the last five years in the human world and now it is time for him to return home. But, before he settles down into the life planned for him, he has one week to enjoy himself with his two human best friends and what better way to begin than a night in Purgatory, a fetish nightclub forbidden to the Seelie. Adrian is a prince of the UnSeelie Court drawn inexplicably to a sexy man with white-blond hair. Taking the young Seelie on a journey of discovery in the forbidden, he knows he will take any risk to see him again. But, Corrin has a choice, live a miserable life ignoring his needs or embracing the forbidden and facing banishment.

Well, well, well, Jana Downs what a naughty girl you are, you have written a story that has a wonderful blend of want, need, love and kink *bites lip* oh yeah, kink *shudder*. Corrin has had forbidden dreams for years, dreams of submission, dreams of a man. It’s something that he knows he can never have, because if he ever caved into the dark needs he would lose everything. Adrian embraces his sexuality with open arms and embraces the task of initiating Corrin in the ways of man on man sex and submission. But, when Corrin disappears back to the Seelie Court, he looks for any way to get the delicious submissive back.

This is a great story of accepting your wants and needs, finding love in unexpected places and a determined love. I have to admit that the world that Jana Downs has created for her Fae world is startling in its views. The Seelie Court is very strict and everything is proper. Men join with women and their sex is strictly vanilla. If you fail to comply, then you are either beaten and exiled or entered into the ‘sexuality rehabilitation program’ (brainwashed). While the UnSeelie Court embraces those who are seen as perverted by the Seelie and encourages them to be who they want to be.

Adrian and Corrin’s relationship is wonderful and the sexual spark between them is explosive. The sex between them is intense, passionate and erotic with a delightful dash of BDSM and you know that the intensity of their feelings will endure. I really enjoyed this story and have to admit that it did produce conflicting feelings, because although I loved Adrian, Corrin and one or two of the Seelie, the rest of them could get trapped in hell for their attitudes. Corrin pulls at your heart towards the end, his torment makes you want to cry.

I have to recommend this to those who love paranormal, Fae, a judgmental society, angst, kink and light BDSM, hot explosive sex and a love that will endure.

Teaching Dallas by Gem Frost

Title: Teaching Dallas

Series: N/A

Author: Gem Frost

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (18500)

Publisher: Self-published (July 14, 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Adrian Matthews is a newly-minted assistant professor, and he knows it’s wrong to get involved with Dallas Palmer, a student at the university where he teaches. But the happy, exuberant Dallas is like a ray of sunshine in his shadowed life, and somehow he can’t help reaching out for the younger man’s warmth…

Product Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/269044

Reviewer: Cat

Review: Adrian and Dallas have been very close friends for over a year. They both want more, but Dallas is a virgin, Adrian is older and a teacher at the University Dallas attends. Dallas finally gets tired of waiting for Adrian to make a move.

I really liked this story. It was very hot and sexy. I could see how much they were in love with each other, and see Adrian’s reasoning for being so cautious. He has a lot to lose, plus a secret from his past. I only had one issue, and that was how Adrian’s past is mentioned in small bits; it feels repetitive. One reads there is a past that has similarities to what he has with Dallas a few times, but nothing is said until much later. But once it gets to Dallas and Adrian being together, and things begin to change a bit, the story picks back up.

Palehua by A.J. Llewllyn

Title: Palehua

Series: Last Warrior #2

Author: A.J. Llewellyn

Genre: Supernatural Mystery

Length: Novel (155 pages)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (January 26, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Lio Paikai is adjusting to both his new, extremely passionate relationship with his lover, Kord Ashley, and his status as ‘Ailani, the reincarnated, loyal warrior who fought for the last king of the Hawaiian islands Oahu and Maui. Having severed his ties with his mother, Kalani, Lio grows closer to his father and his new family, but Kalani won’t leave them alone.

Violating a restraining order of protection, Kalani is arrested. Hours later, when Lio accompanies his stepmother to a birthing class, a strange woman falls from the sky landing on the hood of his SUV. Old wounds, old curses and the demand for retribution threatens to destroy his entire family. Lio must uncover the identity of the fallen woman and soon learns her heartbreaking connection to his mother and the damage it has caused Kalani her entire life. Lio must right an ancient wrong and appease the old island gods that demand an immediate Palehua: blood sacrifice.

Product Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/palehua-ebook-p-1365.html

Reviewer: Any

Review: A mysterious read with an exotic backdrop.

Not having read the first in the series, it took me a while to connect to Lio and Kord, and to understand exactly what it was Lio could do. As I read on, this became clearer—and more interesting. I really liked the imaginative set up in the Last Warrior world. I was particularly drawn into the “reliving the past” moments that Lio finds himself in, as the mystery of the dead Monday woman is revealed.

The writing is quick-paced, full of banter, and easy to read. That being said, I found there were a few too many harmonious scenes where my concentration waned. This came partly because of the romance. Lio and Kord’s attraction to each other is passionate and sexy, but filled with neither tension nor conflict, and I felt the book would have benefitted to see these two lovers being tested in some way.

Things did become really gripping at the climax of the book where, through Lio, we learn the truth about the terrible murder of the Monday woman. . . .

The Accident by Lee Brazil

Title: The Accident

Series: N/A

Author: Lee Brazil

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella

Publisher: Breathless Press (January 11, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Pulling over to help at the scene of an emergency was the right thing for Dr. Madison Cahil to do.

But if emergency services didn’t arrive quickly, he would miss celebrating his anniversary at a swanky restaurant with his lover, Shane. He’d already disappointed the man he loved; now the whole night would be ruined. Not that Shane would make a scene. He’d smile sweetly and declare that it was fine. Madison hated that word. Fine never meant fine when Shane said it. Fine meant fuck off, asshole.

Product Link:

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=1&products_id=411

Reviewer: Cat

Review: Dr. Madison Cahil is in a rush to get home to his lover for an anniversary celebration. On the way, he comes upon accident. What should be one of the happiest moments of his life could turn into one of the worst.

Lee Brazil always writes such sweet and charming stories. So if you want a very short, quick read, especially to kill time at a Doctor’s Office or any place you have to wait or a trek on the treadmill, give this author a try. You can always count on one of his books to take you away and make you sigh. I do have to say, I found this story a bit predictable, and the editing was a bit slack, but it still was a very good, sweet story, with hot mansex. The cover is awesome!

You also get two more free short stories. All Nighter and Summer Vacation. All three are sweet and charming in the always sigh-worthy Lee Brazil style.

I recommend this story to any one that likes doctors, sweet, loving stories, and hot mansex. And of course, Lee Brazil.

Life After My Unfortunate Demise by Edward Kendrick

Title: Life After My Unfortunate Demise

Series: N/A

Author: Edward Kendrick

Genre: MM / Paranormal

Length: Short Story

Publisher: Silver Publishing (February 16^th, 2013)

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5Hearts

Blurb: Ghost Lesson 101: you can’t move on if there’s unfinished business. So Mark tells newly dead Dixon. They have to find out who murdered them. But apparently there is more to it than that, including their growing feelings for each other.

Product Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/life-after-my-unfortunate-demise-ebook-p-1383.html

Review: Well, damn if this wasn’t a weird shorty and it started so well. what with the witty narration of Mark and his “Unfortunate Demise”.

The story is not complicated. Mark is dead for many years and because he has no idea who killed him he can’t move on. All he does is run the hallways and the offices of the building he was killed at, and although after life is pretty boring for him, it has its perks. He can freely ogle a young lawyer, Dixon, and have fantasies starring them. Until the day Dixon is killed.

It is then that things take a 180 turn and they discover that not only they are both into each other but their deaths are somehow linked. All they have to do now is prove their cases and “move on”. If only that was that easy and if only they had their heart into it.

I don’t know, as I said it started great, I was laughing with this short from first paragraph. Mark is a witty character and had a charming thing about him when this story started. But, then as the plot moved on, I found out that there was not much about it, as a plot that is. Pretty predictable, it had nothing to keep you really interested there, and it got pretty sappy in the end.

As for the characters themselves, though I did like Mark since I saw this “after death” world through his eyes, I had no connection at all with Dixon. Made me wonder in the end, beside him being hot and gorgeous, why they make such a “forever” decision.

Oh well, perhaps it’s just me and my poor ability to appreciate ghost stories, but this one was not a story I will go back to.

Day: February 19, 2013

A Shared Range by Andrew Grey

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The Red Thread of Forever Love by Nicole Kimberling

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Under the Australian Sky by A.J. Kelton

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Exile by Lola Lebellier

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Prince of Submission by Jana Downs

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Teaching Dallas by Gem Frost

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Palehua by A.J. Llewllyn

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The Accident by Lee Brazil

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Life After My Unfortunate Demise by Edward Kendrick

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