Blurb:Is it possible for two Civil War veterans to find their place in the world on the Kansas Prairie?
When the War Between the States ended in 1865, many Americans emerged from the turmoil energized by their possibilities for the future. Frank Greerson and Gregory Young were no different. After battling southern rebels and preserving the Union, the two men set out to battle the Kansas Prairie and build a life together. Frank yearned for his own farm, away from his family—even at the risk of alienating them. Gregory, an only child, returned home to claim his inheritance to help finance their adventure out west.
Between the difficult work of establishing a farm on the unforgiving Kansas prairie, and the additional obstacles provided by the weather, Native Americans and wild animals will their love and loyalty be enough to sustain them through the hardships?
Review: Greg and Frank met in the civil war and fell in love. They decided to take two claims in Kansas to be away from people and live their lives in peace. They had big dreams of their house and farm. Can they truly find a place of their own?
Oh my was this one heck of a beautiful story! I absolutely loved these two guys. Their love was so perfect, even though they had disagreements which are very normal; there was never any doubt of how they felt.
Their respective backstories of their growing up and how they met was woven neatly and smoothly into the present story. I felt as if I was traveling this journey right with them, living in the plains, and a part of their lives. There were some twists, and turns, and hardships and I simply loved the surprising Happy for now ending. I am so hoping this means a sequel is on the way and I hope soon! Please!
I highly recommend this if you like stories of the old west, civil war soldiers, two men in a very committed relationship in a hard time, family, Indians and a beautiful romance this is for you.
Blurb: Danny Bannon and Eddie Roscoe have been fighting in and out of the ring for more than 15 years, held together by mutual attraction and small town ties, yet kept apart by a shared tragedy that continues to haunt them. Their steady on-again off-again is shaken up by the arrival of Tom Delaney, a teenage runaway trying to escape his tense home situation and his punch-happy dad.
In no time, the scrawny, homeless kid has shown himself to be a boxing prodigy, and building him up brings Danny and Eddie closer than they’ve been in ages. It seems that the three of them, plus Eddie’s mother, Gloria, are forming a new family unit, much tighter than anything Tom experienced in his difficult past.
But Tom’s politically influential father isn’t the only person he left behind, and when his mother shows up at Eddie and Gloria’s diner with a shiner and a haunted look in her eyes, Tom is hopeful for her future. But when that hope is snuffed out, Tom is ready to turn his new fighting skills to a deadly purpose: get revenge on his abusive father, or die trying.
It’s up to his surrogate big brothers, Danny and Eddie, to put their differences and their painful history aside to prevent another tragic ending.
Review: What a peculiar book this one was. I think if someone would read my mind about what I like in a contemporary romance this would be the result.
Here we have a book that has not one or two, but three main characters – and no it’s not a threesome. Danny and Eddie are in their thirties. They’ve been friends, they’ve been lovers, and they share a past that haunts them for fifteen years. As much as they love each other – that is a given here, there is no search for love or romance – they cannot reconcile with the pain their relationship has given them in the past. A ghost stands in between them, a memory so strong that every time they get together, their resulting breaks up gets stronger and the aftermath more painful.
Each tries to amend on their own, Danny turning to drinking himself stupid, becoming more and more the person he mostly hates, and Eddie trying to save the world while wallowing in a pit of guilt.
In the picture comes Tom, a homeless kid Eddie finds around his diner and decides to do what he’s known for, help him stand on his feet. Tom is a frightened kid marred by abuse, but his will to prevail is so strong, it’s downright scary. Between Danny and Eddie they manage to create a fighter out of Tom, give him confidence and tools to get on his life without having to look around his shoulders like a scared rabbit every time. Add in the mixture the mother figure of Gloria and the kid gets a bit more than he ever expected, love, and a semblance of a normal family. Until his real mother shows up and everything shatters once again.
I really, really loved this book. It had this incredible balance between love and friendship, pain and hurt. The evil of the story was bad enough to want to make you kill him yourself, yet he still maintain such a wonderful grasp with reality, not being overwhelming and not engaging in incredulous actions. His profiling was simply perfect for me.
The abusive past and the pain that came were also very well-balanced. The author showcased the horrors of everyday living in an abusive family without making it overbearing for the reader. The character’s emotions were enough to grip you without dragging you into darkness.
As for the blend of the romantic plot with the action part, you have a clear view of two stories moving in parallel, or should I say three, as there is the story between Danny and Eddie that origins from back fifteen years, there is the story of all three characters together as they move on, and there is the underlying romance between Eddie and Dannie that gets stronger the more they focus together into helping Tom. It was fantastic, one feeding the other and ending in the inevitable with such smoothness.
I the end I was left with a most enjoyable read that entertained and challenged me at the same time. However this book felt as a standalone and I’m curious what the author will do with the next one? Will this trio continue or is it going to be Dannie and Eddie with a new charge? Will it be two completely different characters in the same setting? Normally I get a pretty clear idea from a series as to what to expect next, but this time I’m wondering, and that’s what makes it even more intriguing.
As for this one, if you like strong characters, men who fight through their ugly and persist when things seem to be hopeless in a very realistic setting, and a romance that comes effortlessly without dragging the main plot under it, then this is definitely a book you will want to read. Strongly recommended!
Blurb: Everyone enjoys peace and tranquility, and Victor Bayne is no exception. He goes to great lengths to maintain a harmonious home with his partner, Jacob. Although the cannery is huge, it’s grown difficult to avoid the elephant in the room…the elephant with the letters FPMP scrawled on its hide.
Once Jacob surrendered his PsyCop badge, he infiltrated the Federal Psychic Monitoring Program. In his typical restrained fashion, he hasn’t been sharing much about what he actually does behind its vigilantly guarded doors. And true to form, Vic hasn’t asked. In fact, he would prefer not to think about the FPMP at all, since he’s owed Director Dreyfuss an exorcism since their private flight to PsyTrain.
While Vic has successfully avoided FPMP entanglement for several months, now his debt has finally come due.
Review:This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Vic is still stinging from Jacob taking a job at FPMP (Federal Psychic Monitoring Program) even if it is to find out just what is going on. Vic still wants nothing to do with Con and his program but he owes the man an exorcism and decides it is time to get it out-of-the-way. But, there are still some questions left unanswered from the Roger Burke fiasco and the puzzle of Dr. Chance’s demise and haunting and then there is the GhosTV, nothing is quite what it seems and Vic begins to .
Ah, Vic and Jacob, two exceptional humans who make it a joy to read the PsyCop series. While I enjoyed this story and had much entertainment while reading it, I couldn’t help feel like it was pretty directionless in its quest to wrap up loose ends. Vic decides it is time to do the exorcism that he owes Con Dreyfuss and then instead of just doing it and walking away from FPMP, he visits and then keeps going back and getting involved in finding out who the repeaters are before he exorcises them. He then gets pulled into Jacob’s case and he discovers he might have just misjudged Con all along, but maybe not misjudged the FPMP.
As I turned each page I was waiting for that spark that made PsyCop special but it just kept missing the mark, the story felt directionless, there wasn’t one thing to grab hold of and say ‘yep this is it’, there were several things that pulled your attention and you were never quite sure which was important and what was filler. Yes, some might say that they are interesting plot threads and are woven together brilliantly but unlike the other stories there doesn’t seem to be a main single thread to attach the others to, unless you count Vic dragging out an exorcism the main thread. Don’t get me wrong, I really did enjoy this story and yes I have had a good whine but I was really expecting more in the way of a gripping storyline like in the rest of PsyCops. Vic and Jacob are still great characters with both of them being relaxed in their relationship, Vic seems much more stable than before although he still has his moments and Vic is disillusioned by the court results of his arrests. Lisa is much more prominent in this story but even with knowing the background, I couldn’t quite understand why Vic and Jacob were so protective of her.
I recommend this if you love ghosts and psychics, wrapping up loose ends, beginning the move in a new direction and a very interesting story.
Blurb: In the late 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, John Radley is an agent working for MI6. He feels no shame in being an “office” agent rather than out in the field, and he knows his work at home is crucial to the safety of his country.
Anthony Holland is quite different. He is the flashy, handsome field spy, the kind of man on which James Bond was based, and he’s all too aware of his appeal. John hates him on sight. It’s a one-sided hatred, though, and Holland soon makes his attraction to John obvious. When Anthony comes to John after a mission gone bad, displaying his true emotions rather than a calculated facade, John’s feelings change.
They begin a covert affair, made all the more difficult by their positions and by the fact Anthony is so rarely in the country. But one day, two years after their first meeting, Anthony leaves for a mission and doesn’t come back. John always knew their relationship would likely end this way, but he never forgets Anthony.
Now, twenty years later, as the Soviet Union crumbles, John finds evidence that indicates Anthony is still alive. Although retired, John puts everything he has into finding the love of his life…for a second time…
Review: In the 1960’s, John is an agent for MI6 during the cold war. He is an office agent, when he meets field agent Tony. The meeting doesn’t go off as well, as John knows to trust no one. and in those days, you had to be careful with sexual identity.
This was a pretty good book of espionage and love. I do not know a lot of the Cold War, so I was a little lost at times and the story does skip back and forth from his past at work, past at home and present. Having said that, the romance alone here was heart-gripping. It is a very beautiful story of love, both of family and of another man.
I recommend this if you like espionage, spies, men that hold tight to family responsibility and a deep love story.
Blurb: Evan Drake needs to be a role model to his younger brother Brandon, and although he’s a star on his high school basketball team, there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s interested in many things, including drama and singing, and when he joins drama club, he meets Noah Sheridan, and he’s pretty interested in him, too. Noah is a super smart, cute but nerdy kid who has written a high school play about two gay students who attended Boyne City High twenty years ago, and who in real life, fell in love with each other. When the drama department elects to use the play for their high school musical, Noah urges Evan to audition for the lead role. Evan ultimately decides he wants to be in the play, but when he shows up to audition, it sends shockwaves throughout the school. His teammates are furious, and so is his best friend Bryan. As Evan and Noah grow closer, Bryan gets more traitorous, and it seems he wants nothing more than to see his former friend broken down.
Review: Evan and Noah know each other from school, but they’ve never been friends per say. That all changes when Evan tries out for the lead in the school play. Noah has done his research and written a play based on the story of two former Boyne City High students and the prejudice they had to endure when they came out as gay. Noah would love for the object of his obsession to play the lead, Evan. But Evan is not so sure he wants to play the role of a gay jock.
The more time Evan spends with Noah he comes to realize he wants to be more than friends. When he’s pushed to the limits by his best friend and fellow teammate, Bryan, Evan comes out. What he hoped would be a positive affirmation is quickly turned into an all out witch-hunt by his supposed teammate. An ultimatum is issued. Evan can be in the school play and have Noah for his boyfriend, but he has to quit the basketball team.
Evan not only has to deal with the pressure of being a gay high school student, but he has to deal with bigots and a best friend that is now his worst enemy, and will stop at nothing to destroy him. When everything comes to a head, Evan will learn that the love of his family, friendship, and tolerance run deeper than he initially thought. And the bond he’s formed with Noah only strengthens his resolve and their love for another.
I have not read the other books in this series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing something by not having read them. I loved that Evan was an all around great guy from the start, even defending Noah before they became friends because it was right, and Bryan was wrong. Evan came out early on in the book so there was not any of that back and forth angst with that aspect of the story. In fact, there wasn’t much angst in this book at all. It was just a well-written, gay take on high school musical.
And the boys mothers, oh my god, hysterical! Noah has always known he was gay and his parents are very accepting. Evan only recently admitted he was gay not only to himself, but his friends and family. His mother and brother are less worried about his sexuality and more worried about the assholes at school trying to kick him off the basketball team for being true to himself. These were a couple of very passionate women and that passion was evident within the story.
What I loved most about this book was that for every negative, there was a positive. Erno dealt with some dark issues. Homophobia, bullying, and suicide by leveling that playing field with love, support, understanding, and compassion. There weren’t any naughty bits per say, but there was definitely some heavy petting. Evan and Noah were absolutely adorable! If you are a fan of Glee and High School Musical, I think you’ll really enjoy this book.
Blurb: For Trev, falling in love with his alien captor after the lottery sent him halfway across the universe was easy. Navigating his relationship as time wears on proves to be much more difficult. He is bound by his desire for his master, but he doesn’t know if desire is enough. When his lover takes a job back on Earth, Trevor asks for his freedom.
Yanai is used to being desired, but love is another matter entirely. Unused to human customs but very much enamored with his lover, he will do just about anything to prove to Trev that he cares, including taking a job across the universe on Trev’s home planet. If he could only learn how to communicate properly with his human, he knows they will be able to work.
Will the two of them learn to communicate, or will both of them be unable to reconcile their differences?
Review:This book is part of a series and is best read in order. When Trev was handed over to his new master, he was chosen for the lottery. He was worried, but that worry soon turned to love. Now, heading for Earth with Yanai, he wants his feelings returned or he wants his freedom. Yanai is besotted with his human and will do anything for him. But, Trev always seems to reject what is offered and Yanai does the only thing he can think of… he lets Trev go. Can Yanai and Trev overcome their miscommunication of their customs or is it too late for them to share their love with each other?
So in this new addition to the Owned series, Trev has already been with his owner for nearly a year. So the relationship is already well established, but that doesn’t mean that everything is perfect… far from it. Trev wants more than to be a beloved pet to Yanai. So, when Yanai refuses to give Trev his heart, Trev asks to be released when they reach Earth. Yanai is devastated when Trev wants to leave him, but his only other option would be to give Trev his heart… and he can’t live without it.
It soon becomes clear to us that there are huge misunderstandings going on between the two lovers. Even after nearly a year, neither really knows much about the others customs and it takes a while and also some nagging from the gray men for Trev to realize it isn’t all Yanai’s fault either. Now, while they both try to reconcile and express themselves in a way the other fully understands, there is more going on in the background of the story. Yanai wins another human in the lottery, which Trev is unhappy about, but they have much more to be concerned about when the Pressian’s turn up demanding the return of Trev.
I really love this series because with each one we are introduced to more information about the Pressian’s and their subjugation of the Eoeans. And, finally, we are given a hint that maybe the Pressian’s bullying might be coming to an end. Trev and Yanai are wonderful characters, who are incredibly in love with each other. They just didn’t know how to communicate with each other. They are an incredible, hot couple, who burn up the sheets and give us some really hot sex. We see characters from Bound by Deception, and you even warm up to the gray men after a while. because they certainly develop as we see more of them.
I have to recommend this to those who love aliens and humans falling in love, reconciling after misunderstandings, hot sex, passionate love, a desperate escape and a wonderful romantic, hot and sexy ending.
Blurb: When his college biochemistry class turns out to be much more difficult than star quarterback Freddy Samuelson imagined, his lab partner, Kurt Maxwell, agrees to help. They’re very different: a rich kid athlete and a hardworking openly gay scholarship student. But Kurt slips past Freddy’s defenses, and little by little—despite Freddy ignoring his own sexuality in the past—Freddy realizes he wants to get to know Kurt, especially when Kurt helps him through more challenges than their science class. But it isn’t long before rumors begin to fly, and the obstacles Freddy will face may block him from both the future he planned on and the future he didn’t know he wanted.
Review: This is the sequel to Organic Chemistry, this story can stand on its own, but you’ll have a better understanding of Dr. Marcus and Coach Josh if you read Organic prior to this book.
Freddy Samuelson is the star football player and the son of the name that graces ‘Samuelson Hall’ at their college. He’s struggling to complete his chemistry class so he asks his lab partner, Kurt Maxwell, for some help. Soon he’s struggling with what he’s feeling for Kurt as well.
Kurt is an openly gay smart guy that’s at school under the Samuelson scholarship program. When he’s partnered with Freddy, he assumes Freddy expects him to do all the work so he can get an easy A. He’s right, at first. The more time Freddy spends in the library with Kurt, the more he likes what he sees. These two share a definite chemistry but the challenges they face not only in class and at school, but on the home front as well might be too much for the relationship to withstand.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the personal growth I saw in Freddy. He started out as just another dumb jock but continually grew more likeable with each chapter. He was confused by his feelings for Kurt, which caused him to pull away at the start. Even when he did something stupid, I just waited for him to figure out his error and make it right. And Kurt was always there for him. Every time Freddy did something stupid, Kurt would tell himself and his friends he was done. But he saw Freddy for who he really was so he was cautious and stern, sometimes pulling back, but never pulling completely away.
Another fast-paced read with engaging characters, and I loved that the two ML from the first book got to make a guest appearance in this installment. If you like a slightly sexy and sweet romance that still has depth and uncertainty woven into the plot, this would be the perfect book for you!
Blurb: Travis has done everything to keep his daughter safe. He’s fought a long, hard battle in the courts to gain full custody and has finally found some breathing room. But that security comes at a heavy price.
Staying in a motel and living off his quickly dwindling savings is no way to raise a toddler, so when Liam steps into his life and offers him hundreds of dollars just to watch his dogs for a weekend, it almost seems too good to be true.
But when he finds out there is more to Liam than he ever thought, he has a hard decision to make. Can he and his daughter stay and be safe or will he need to leave?
Review: This is a warm and sweetly written story which deals with a parent, Travis, having to swallow some pride when he finally wins custody of his daughter, Hannah. However, it was at the cost of everything else in his life. Down on his luck, he runs into Liam while trying to find work.
Something about the smaller man calls to Liam. It makes him want to offer help without hurting the other man’s pride more than it’s already been. Using the excuse of an out-of-town trip for his boss, who is also his Alpha, he persuades Travis to watch Lucy and Ethel, his mastiff dogs. He figures that’s a start, but how do you tell a human that you’re a shifter?
I love how Hannah knew instinctively that Liam was a shifter, by calling him Puppy every time she saw him. And, I love how Liam became a protective de facto parent around Hannah, even before he and Travis got together. His Alpha is so not happy that Hannah can see the “puppies”; it brings back the stories of hunters who can see the wolf in them. So now, Liam gets to deal with his feeling for Travis, his need to protect Hannah while getting her to stop calling them puppies and to placate his Alpha at the same time.
This was an enjoyable story to read, well written. Travis, Liam and Hannah are well-rounded characters and very likable. I look forward to reading more of this series and more of this author’s work.
Blurb:Jilted at the altar when his best man ran off with his fiancée, Craydon “Cray” Wright trades in his Mexico honeymoon for a vacation in Aruba. When godlike Stone Ferris walks onto the plane, sits next to Cray, and makes his interest known, Cray decides to act on desires he’s felt since high school but ignored.
He agrees to let Stone show him the island, but what starts as fun-filled and casual turns earth shattering for Cray. When his time in Aruba ends, Cray realizes his feelings for Stone have grown beyond fun, but he worries that it might not translate to real life in LA. Can he convince himself and Stone their love can be paradise at home?
Review: Cray is left at the altar, by his fiancé when she eloped with his best man and best friend. Not wanting to deal with the rejection, he cashes in his plane ticket for Mexico and exchanges it for one to Aruba. He meets Stone on the flight, they quickly become friends, and since they are going to the same place, they decide to share a rental car and do a lot of things together.
I thought this was a pretty cute story. I really liked the supportiveness of Cray’s family. I liked the descriptions in Aruba and how detailed the trip was. It was like taking a mini vacation. I also liked both Stone and Cray. I did feel their romance was very sweet, and hot, yet the almost instant love was a bit fast for me. Especially given that Cray was also supposedly straight…until he met Stone. The story does unfold nicely, it’s very romantic, and the sex is sensual. I found it a breath of fresh air and one of those stories that make you feel good.
I recommend this if you like a sweet romance, with hot sex, a good coming out story, and a satisfying ending.
Blurb:Micah’s job as a host is to be whatever his clients want him to be and he loves it — especially because pretending to be someone else is better than remembering what he’s running from.
Mr. Daniel Hart, a client who had been expecting a female host is suddenly thrown into Micah’s world and won’t stop exploring until he knows Micah’s secrets.
Unable to stay away from Daniel, Micah continues to return to high society functions and is therefore reminded of the terrible scar on his chest and the man who gave it to him. Micah wants nothing more than to belong to the artistic Daniel, but being with him could mean having to face his dangerous past.
Review: Micah is a paid escort. He is hired to accompany Mr Hart. The blurb pretty much says all I can without giving spoilers.
I truly hate to say I didn’t care much for this story. The blurb sounded good and I had good expectations at least for a good love story. I was sadly disappointed. I didn’t feel that the story was consistent at all. It starts out with Micah on a paid job and a client wanting to have sex. Micah says he doesn’t do that and doesn’t. The client wants to see him again and Micah says no. The next day he is sent on a date by the agency and the man Mr Hart, sees him and is surprised he expected a girl but doesn’t seem to mind at all, they get in the limo and end up doing blow jobs in the limo,. Ok, so there goes his not putting out for clients and he had said he hasn’t had sex in a long time. Both people are head-over heels. Already and they barely spoke? Even most insta-love there is a bit more to it. Then there is his ominous past. This eluded me to a mystery. All I will say is I was once again let down. There are several more inconsistencies and contradictions galore, but I won’t give away the entire story.
If you like, stories of paid escorts, artists, art shows, hot sex and love at first sight you may like this.
Heat Level: Explicit ~ The Fire Engine Is Burning!!!
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Seeker
Blurb: As wolf shifters, Tristen and Fin’s loyalty knows no bounds. Yet these close shifters lack the ability to speak from the heart. This pervasive silence leaves them without the means to overcome problems plaguing their relationship. Tristen suffers from PTSD and refuses Fin’s suggestions for help. Fin becomes a shifter of fewer and fewer words. As lovers, they meet each other’s beta needs until Fin craves a rougher edge. A kinky edge.
Santo, another ex-soldier and vampire is looking for work, a place to belong after he swears off bloodsucking, given his battlefield experiences. Running security for the head of the local shifter’s council seems perfect. Cue Fin and Tristen to help.
Now, the three come together for a night of kink, learning that sex can be a means to discover deeper desires. Fin and Tristen must decide if they will stay together, or if sex with a seductive vampire is the doorway to the end.
Caution: This tale will tantalize, causing flaming fantasies to the point of searing. Be ready to sweat.
Review: Partners, Tristen and Fin are both veterans, not quite long from the Sandbox. Both have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Both are more than physically attracted to each other. Both are Werewolves.
We are able to follow Tristen and Fin without difficultly, which is perfect because this story is about the two of them. Moreover, the writer poses a great question that some couples face: What happens when your partner wants more than you think you can provide?
Blood Brothers is Book 2 in Susan Arden’s Rocky Mountains Shifters Series. Populating this world are various Weres and Vampires – both born and created; and open-ended hints at Shifters. One does get the feeling that there are definitely missing elements in this part of the story. Such as, Humans are aware of Shifters, but the laws are not on equal. Councils are set up to handle Shifter disputes. The missing elements are not enough to stop you from wanting to pick up the series, however!
Tristen has unresolved issues. High on the list is Fin, who fast is becoming a more demanding submissive every time they touch. Enter Santo, a handsome born Vampire with capped fangs and an empathic erogenous zone.
I look forward to the growing story line between Tristen and Fin. Kudos to Susan Arden on Blood Brothers, with her grasp of psychology, the prospect of watching Tristen and Fin experiment further into the BDSM realm, and the added pleasure of Weres, Vampires, and Shifters. OMI! ~;p
What an excellent way to start in MM Good Book Reviews !! Geek Girl, that am I, with much love of all things fantastical, paranormal, magickal, mystical and mythological. But, much more than that. I am a Domme. Not just any Domme, dear reader, nay. A trainer to boot. Making Blood Brothers by Susan Arden, a wonderfully pleasant surprise read.
Blurb: When Hank’s father catches him in a not-so-innocent childhood embrace with the neighbor Hank’s older brothers refer to as “Ladyboy Lindsey,” he forbids Hank ever to see his best friend again and sends Lindsey home in tears. Later, despite landing on opposite ends of the social and sexual spectrum in high school, neither can forget the boy who gave him his first kiss. While Hank becomes a sports star and bully, Lindsey throws himself into an elaborate sexual game played from afar for Hank’s benefit. When Hank’s football scholarship takes him away to college, their tenuous bond seems severed for good.
After Lindsey finds his calling as drag diva Miss Anne Thrope, embracing both his male identity and the natural androgyny of his intersex body, he’s finally in control of his world…until the night his first love disrupts Miss Anne’s show after a decade of silence. Hank’s dysfunctional behavior, crazy father, and their bittersweet history together threaten to destroy their fragile new romance before it’s truly begun. Should they let go of the past, or is this unique love one worth saving?
Review: Could have been really cool with more expansion.
All the elements and backstory are there to make a terrific novel, unfortunately in places it reads more like a synopsis for a really cool story. I don’t feel absorbed ‘in’ the scenes, because the story rushes along without taking the time to deepen the conflicts, and things are resolved too easily to be satisfying. Hank barely had to apologize and then he and Lindsey were giving their relationship a go. The ‘father’ the villain, is hateful one moment, and then inviting them both to Christmas the next.
Despite the uneven feel of the story, I could sense something really intriguing in here. Hank and Lindsey’s backstory, whoa! If that had really been shown on page as if it were happening in the here and now, that would have been quite powerful.
This is a quick read . . . oh, and quite hot in places. 😉
Genre: Romance in the middle of a zombie apocalypse
Length: Novella (78 pages)
Publisher: Loose ID (October 1st 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Blurb: Mason’s facing more than one apocalypse. The darkest hours are those spent alone when memories surface and the touch of his lost love can make the most erotic of dreams horrifying. He’d rather face danger than recollect how he loved Antonio, and what he was prepared to give up for him. He’s never going to fall in love again…
That vow wavers when he rescues Kyle, although he’s certain luck had more to do with saving Kyle than anything he did. Now Mason fears something more than the walking dead. He’s afraid giving in to lust may lead to love, if the walking dead and homophobic hatred don’t murder them first.
Review: Just because the world is overrun with flesh-eating zombies that can infect you with a bite, doesn’t mean you can’t find love in the middle of all the madness and mayhem!
Mason along with a small group of survivors have found a safe place to call home, protecting themselves from the zombie hordes that have infested the planet and infected the majority of the populace. Mason is a loner, though he’s a key member of the group and definitely pulls his own weight. But the loss of his lover when the attacks first started has left him alone and bitter.
Out on a supply run the group comes across what they at first assume is a zombie locked in a cage. But soon, two words convince them otherwise. “Water… Please.” Zombies don’t talk. They don’t ask for water. They don’t NEED water. They take the young man back to their compound for treatment. Soon enough he and Mason are exchanged heated glances and wanton stares. Mason doesn’t want to want Kyle; want leads to need and need will lead to love. Mason is perfectly happy wallowing in his misery since Antonio’s death. But the deliriously skinny Kyle won’t be ignored.
The story was a little disjointed in a couple of places and overall felt crammed. I think this would have been an eerily beautiful full length novel. That being said, I still enjoyed the concept of what seemed to be the only two gay men left finding each other at the end of the world. Kyle breaking down the walls Mason has surrounded himself with, while Mason is continually trying to convince Kyle that he is still attractive.
If you’re a fan of zombies, dystopian and m/m genres then this book is a safe bet for a fast, fun read! I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.
Blurb:Can a party boy and a responsible businessman really make it work? Bryce is the adorable young thing that Dustin knows he shouldn’t want. He should be looking for a man his own age. Someone with a future. Someone with a real job. But no matter how hard he tries, no matter how much he knows that it just won’t work, he can’t resist those big blue eyes. Dusty is an adult. So unlike any of the party crowd that Bryce hangs around. But after just a brief taste of Dusty’s so-called boring, normal life, Bryce is more surprised than anyone to find out that that’s the life he wants. No wonder they just Can’t Fight This Feeling.
Review: Okay, so to read about the world I inhabit part-time (the world of older straight women who love and write for the m/m genre) gave me a chuckle. I think readers will enjoy that aspect of the story since they are in large part the writers and demographic of this genre.
So with that said. I LOVED this book. Why? It rang true. It felt real like the men would really act this way. In many books, we watch the arc of the protagonist or antagonist and we revel in the massive leaps they take to become better people. In real life, we make small incremental changes to become better versions of ourselves. This book demonstrates that well. It shows Bryce struggling at 22, when he suddenly realizes that there is more to life than he previously knew. Those of us who are older get that, since we’ve all been there. when we suddenly realize that dinner with friends or home with family can actually be more fulfilling that a night of drunken debauchery. Dustin learns that sometimes life offers you a gift in an unexpected package and you need to accept the package and not ask too many questions.
Women fall in love and then revel in sex. Man have sex, which then leads to love. This book clearly demonstrates that. Their sex is epic and will have readers both fanning and writhing in their seats – so hang on for that! But, the men both navigate their feelings, while engaging in torrid sex – very true to how men operate in their physical love lives. Often many m/m romances tend towards having the men behave with feminine tendencies with feelings of angst and things that most men are rarely burdened with. This story however, does none of that which makes it very real and true to how a gay man would act. This is now the fourth book I’ve read by this author and I continue to be pleased with the results.
Dustin and Bryce…adorable. You root for them to be together and understand that what the universe puts together, is meant to be together. Bring on the popcorn and Merlot and let’s get to reading.
* People who have experienced teenage bullying first hand report being triggered by this book. Although The Boxer Rebellion is about teenagers, the subject matter is frankly mature and the language used by the bullies utilizes crude colloquialisms.
Sixteen-year-old Nick is relentlessly pursued and bullied. No one cares until one of his bullies becomes a psychotic killer, sucking everyone around into the nightmare.
The bullies of Tranquility High dominate a school of sheeple where cyber bullying and physical attacks are resulting in one gut wrenching suicide after another. When the violence turns to murder Nick and his only friend, Penny, begin The Boxer Rebellion in a bold attempt to save other young lives, and just maybe their own.
Teenage cruelty puts a lie to Minnesota Nice in this dark coming of age novel set in suburban Minneapolis. Both viciously brutal and poignantly wistful, The Boxer Rebellion is a merciless account of teen suicide and murder, told in multiple points of view by troubling characters who give voice to those affected by the thousands of students bullied to death in America every year.
The Boxer Rebellion evokes the works of Carson McCullers and S.E. Hinton, a thrilling novel of teen bullying that will keep you turning pages long into the night. If you’ve ever been bullied, or stood by helplessly watching it happen, this novel is your next must read. If you were once a bully, or helped someone else to bully, this book offers redemption. If you’ve ever wondered if you could make a difference, The Boxer Rebellion offers inspiration.
Review: I want to start out saying this is some very tough subject matter to write and read. Kudos to the author for having the gumption to tell this story. This subject is like a bad accident. You know what you see is going to be frightening, hard to take and perhaps life changing, but you have to look anyhow. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I literally read last night until the Kindle said battery was too low to charge and saw it was 3:30 am. I was devastated to not be able to finish.
A quick rundown. Nick moves to a new school. He is so happy. He is going to get to start new, no one knowing him here. He has new designer clothes, new gear and the first thing happens he sets off the weapons check with his new boots and a second time with his necklace. He gets over that, then at his locker, he hears the voice of his tormentor from the old school and gets beat up. To make it worse, he fights back and the teacher sees him, not the bully and he gets suspended and labelled troublemaker on the first day. To make matters worse for him, Julian, his tormentor from the old school is living with his cousin, Brent who has his own demons. Brent finds himself looking too hard at boys, not really finding girls attractive and keeps telling himself he isn’t gay. When he sees Julian bullying the new boy, he steps in and eggs it on spreading it all over school and most of the school joins in.
There are lots of characters in this story, though it’s mostly about Nick. Penny, his one true friend, Julian the bully, Brent the in denial gay boy who bully’s to deflect the attention, and Angela the other new girl with a past of her own, that is overweight and trying to start new and gets in with Brent and Julian. All are featured and we get into their minds as well as Nick’s.
In addition, we get into the thoughts of Nick’s parents, a couple of teachers and the principle.
The story is dark and at times sad and tragic. I think we can all relate to each of these characters at one time or the other and the message is clear… we should join in or sit back and do nothing. My heart went out to both Nick and Penny and I’d love to strangle that principle.
I highly recommend this to everyone, both teens and adults. It should be a mandatory read in high school, for both students and teachers. If you like dark tragic stories with great messages this is a must.
Publisher: Harrison Thurman Books (24th September 2013)
Heat Level: Nil
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: The Droodists have arrived in Dickens Junction. Local bookstore owner Simon Alastair has his hands full in his role as co-chair for the latest convention honoring Charles Dickens’s uncompleted novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. A movie star, a pesky blogger, dueling scholars, a stage hypnotist, and an old family friend (among others) all have claims on Simon’s time. In addition, some Droodists are clearly more–or less–than they appear, including a mysterious young man with the improbable name of Edwin Drood.
When a priceless ring and a rare Dickensian artifact go missing, Simon and reporter-partner Zach Benjamin learns that someone will do anything–including murder–to obtain an object of desire.
Review:This story is part of a series and is best read in order. Simon is co-chairing the latest convention for Charles Dickens’ uncompleted novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, in Dickens Junction. The Droodists have come out in force, a wide selection of characters who love Charles Dickens work. Simon has his hands full with the activities, but when a theft occurs of a priceless ring, it is only the beginning of a week of murder, mystery, and intrigue.
This is a great mystery story of the old-fashioned sort, Miss Marple, and Poirot spring to mind when reading The Edwin Drood Murders. Taking you to a quaint town where a mystery falls into Simon’s lap. The story starts out with Simon asking his boyfriend, Zach, an all-important question. But, being put off for the time being, until Zach has time to think about it. Then Simon sets off for the convention. We are then treated to an interesting array of characters, as all the players arrive at the hotel and some of them are not quite, what they seem.
The mystery we are led on has us wondering what will happen next. Has us guessing which suspicious character could be the culprit and what others are hiding. We discover horrendous and surprising murders and are left puzzled as to why the thefts occurred. And at the last, we appreciate Simon’s fine mind at putting the puzzle together and explaining the fine details we overlooked. Simon’s relationship with Zach plays out in the background, their loving relationship making itself known without any overt gestures. Simon does have his moments of insecurity, at Zach’s refusal to instantly accept his offer of moving in, but it doesn’t affect his relationship in the least.
This is a wonderfully written story that is an easy story to read and keeps you gripped with its storyline. we connect with the characters as we get to know them and we mourn along with Simon in places. Each character has their own unique personality and while we take some to heart, we keep a suspicious eye on others. But, they all come together to keep your attention on the pages of this book.
I recommend this to those who love Dickens, mysteries, great characters, intriguing discoveries, a sweet relationship and a wonderful ending.
Blurb:Kenneth and Thorn have become Enforcers, those who keep the peace, monitor major societal changes, and if necessary, hunt down criminals. Luckily, their first mission seems easy. They must explore a new alchemy school, meet with the governor of the local village, and determine if the school’s presence has upset the local population of people who cannot use magic at all. As a talentless himself, Thorn especially is concerned. He knows the inequality the talentless face in a world ruled by mages, and he is anxious to see how he will fare as an Enforcer.
When they arrive, the governor is friendly enough. But as Kenneth and Thorn begin to explore the school and surrounding village, they find signs of something far more serious than simple friction between the talentless and the magi. Students at the alchemy school displays feats of magical strength far beyond what Kenneth has seen before, and Thorn finds out that talentless people are disappearing. They set out to figure out what is going on—but run into problems when they meet an old enemy.
Review:This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Kenneth and Thorn are now Enforcers, with Thorn becoming the first Talentless Enforcer. It is now time for their first mission. Check out the new alchemy college, meet the governor, and see how the college’s presence is affecting the local village… easy right? The governor is friendly, the college welcoming, but the village is hostile. Thorn and Kenneth split up to discover what is truly going on and while Kenneth is being seduce by the college, Thorn is being spat upon by his fellow talentless, and as they both draw near to the truth they have to face a deadly enemy again.
First Mission begins about three weeks after The Exam finished. It continues the story of Kenneth and Thorn, a mage and a talentless, who is life mates and set on becoming Enforcers. To uphold the law and in Thorn’s case to bring some equality for the talentless. On their first mission together, Thorn’s fears seem to be realized, when he is spat upon and called a traitor by his own people. But, his determination to help them won’t let it get to him. Kenneth has his own concerns when he realizes that he is being distracted from his job, trying to determined what is happening isn’t easy when he can trust no one but Thorn.
I really do enjoy this series as the storyline develops and we see both Kenneth and Thorn confronting their future together. Their first mission isn’t as easy as they hoped as they come across a cesspit of corruption and dark magic. Their love is still strong and strengthening every day, they face what is thrown at them, the contempt and anger, the wiles and seduction with the knowledge that they can fight against it together. They are a wonderful couple and their passion for each other doesn’t waver… even when temptation is being force upon Kenneth. The storyline is really good, and has excitement and danger, with both men fighting against the evil deeds to save the village but with Thorn finding himself in great danger.
I have to recommend this to those who love magic and Steampunk, stronger bonds being forged, fighting against dark deeds, building a bridge between Enforcers and talentless, with a great ending that leaves the way for more great stories.
Blurb: Following the death of their sub, the former owners of the Guards of Folsom, Robert “Bobby” Alcott and Rig Beckworth, were left to pick up the pieces as best they could. After seven years, these two Doms are ready to move on and find the boy who will complete them. Their painful past comes crashing back when they meet Mason Howard, a submissive who just weeks ago lost his Doms in a car accident.
Reeling from overwhelming grief that’s complicated by a severe social anxiety disorder, Mason can barely leave his home. When Rig and Bobby find him, he’s hit rock bottom, believing life is no longer worth living. Bobby and Rig set out to prove the younger man wrong. Fate has brought the three men together, but they’ll have to face the pain of fear and loss head-on before they can all truly live again.
Review: This is quite an interesting read from many perspectives. It deals with loss and the effort it takes to move on after it. Bobby and Rig have already deal with the loss of their sub seven years ago and now they find themselves ready to try to have that relationship again. They find they need to have a sub not only for play, but also to love and care for. In their vacation in Florida, they stumble upon Mason. Mason is a very peculiar character as he suffers from social anxiety disorder. His former Doms held him quite secluded and after their death, Mason is slowly sagging deeper into darkness. He reaches the lowest point of his life, believing all would be over soon, not counting on Fate throwing Bobby and Rig on his path.
So right, here you might think it’s a bit of a big enough coincidence that a sub who has lost two Doms finds two new ones. Truth be told, I was wary of this fact, too. But, it worked fine for me the entire read. What made an impression though and made me quite love this book was the way the author dealt with this idea. So, if you expect the “magic” to suddenly make Mason’s entire life change, magically fall in love again and be perfectly happy ever after with his two shinning knights, then I suggest you leave this book well alone. Because, what you’ll find here is a mostly realistic approach in the way people deal with loss and pain and overwhelming emotions.
I loved how this book starts with a serious blow to your emotions the opening scene being a funeral, and after it has made it a point to shred you to pieces it transport you onto South Florida heaven. What a marvelous contrast of setting and emotions this one was. It manages to swipe you off your feet in a matter of minutes and in only a few pages. Afterward it’s a slow build as the two Doms try to help Mason stand on his feet. The journey is a big one, the understanding and silent support the Doms give Mason, taking care of him without any expectations from him comes a great deal into building a confidence inside the sub he had lost. The guilt that came when Mason finally saw that he could go on living without his former Doms, and that he can feel new emotions for new people was absolutely stunning. Everything in this story, the plot, the pace, the approach on human emotions was wonderfully executed. The erotic scenes between the three of them were more than satisfying, the eroticism, and sensuality ricocheting high.
However, I did expect a bit more when it came to the kink part and I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get that. While the “air” might have been D/s and all, I would’ve preferred some deeper scenes that I had been fantasizing Rig would dish out, what with him being all Alpha Dom and all. Furthermore, while the end of this novel lacks nothing, and was quite hand in hand with the entire theme of the book, I suddenly felt empty when it ended, as if waiting for something to happen which didn’t.
All in all, though I liked the book a lot. If romance between three people exists then this book gives you a great deal of it, along with a good journey of fighting ones way to live. Strongly recommended.
Blurb: Frisco James was a hustler. Plain and simple. Although he was a bare knuckle boxing champion in the underground circuit, Frisco was looking for a change. Maverick Brac owed him a debt and Frisco headed to Brac Village to collect.
Recker lost his twin when the group of men he lived with was attacked by the grey wolves. He was angry, bitter, but tried his best to go on. When he loses control and nearly kills a man, Maverick steps in, demanding that either Recker agree to anger management or be deemed unfit to live in society.
Recker and Frisco’s worlds collide. Frisco sees Recker as an opportunity, nothing more. He whisks Recker away from the Den, plunging the man into the gritty world of illegal boxing.
But when Recker nearly kills his first opponent, Frisco James realizes the horrific mistake he has made. Desperate, Frisco does the one thing that he knows will save Recker’s life and humanity…he walks away.
But nothing is ever that simple, especially when Frisco James—a man who has looked out for no one but himself—discovers that his heart is no longer his own.
Review: Recker is a rhino shifter, who after losing his twin kept getting angrier and angrier. When he meets his human mate, Frisco, they are thrust into a world so bleak, that Frisco thought they would never get out. Frisco, thinking he had conned his mate into fighting, realized that when Recker almost killed a man in the fight, that he needed to get his mate out. After Two months of fighting, Frisco realizes that Recker was growing darker and darker. Thinking that the only way to save his mate, a mate he has fallen in love with, was to leave for good. He walks away, leaving Recker in such a dark place, that Recker stayed in his Rhino form all the time. Frisco feels his pain, and comes back. Trying to find out if he can help his mate and help himself at the same time. He though he was looking out for himself, all this time. Only to discover, that his mate owned him heart and soul. This is a very good story.
Blurb: Rio LaBlanc is the kindergarten teacher at Brac Elementary. Sadly, his friends are all under the age of six. He loves his job, but feels there has to be more to life than teaching and letting his black panther run free in the bordering forest. When the new art teacher shows up, Rio feels a pull that sets his blood on fire.
Fire can’t believe Maverick is making him teach art to a bunch of children. Has the alpha lost his mind? What does Fire know about kids? But when he spots the teacher in the classroom next door, Fire thinks that maybe art class has just gotten a whole lot more interesting.
But Fire is a gambling addict. He may have had his wings clipped when the Shadow elves refused to take his bets, but Fire finds a way. Unfortunately, trouble once again is hot on his heels. Can Rio save Fire from his addiction, or will the stakes become too high?
Review: Rio LaBlanc, kindergarten teacher and panther shifter, is a man who doesn’t always know how to have fun. Fire Veneteo is a fey, a gambling addict, and now a kindergarten arts teacher. The only problem is Fire has no clue about art and even less about children. To top it off the first day, while his whole classroom was running around without their heads, his mate walks in. Rio takes one look at Fire and says hell no, but he knew it would, Ohhhh, Yes. With Fire’s gambling problems and a demon stealing bodies, these two were going to drive each other crazy. I loved this story and cannot wait for the next book in this series. There is a barrel of laughs in this book, with characters you will fall in love with.
Title: A Place to Call Their Own
