Month: November 2013

Love and Salvage: Loving Emmett by Mathew Ortiz

814C91lWtOL._SL1500_Title: Love and Salvage: Loving Emmett

Series:   N/A

Author: Mathew Ortiz

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (154 pages)

Publisher: Mathew Ortiz (October 17th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Reviewer:   Eli/Mandingo

Blurb: Tatesville was a quiet little town just east of Atlanta, home to the Gaither clan. Emmett Gaither loved his family and his life. It was perfect. Being the only gay son had its challenges but his family stood by him and loved him all the same. He never dreamed that his world would be turned upside side by the new banker in town. The sexy blonde man made Emmett’s blood boil. But he wouldn’t be interested in a redneck man like Emmett? Would he? 

Alex King had lived a gypsy life. Leaving the northwest, he thought he wanted to live in the bustling city of Atlanta. Still he wasn’t happy, so he jumped on the change to move to a quieter life in Tatesville. He was sure he’d never meet a good guy in the little southern town. Imagine his surprise when one of his customers wanted to fix him up with her SON! Had he move to the Twilight Zone? If so, he was happy to live there when the customer’s tall, dark and handsome walked into his bank…now what? 

Purchase Link:   http://www.amazon.com/Love-Salvage-Loving-Mathew-Ortiz-ebook/dp/B00G07B4GQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1384564947&sr=1-1&keywords=love+and+salvage

Review: I started reading and felt like I’d stepped into the written version of a reality show. Mr. Ortiz has a very vivid way of writing which makes the reader feel that they are sitting in the room and watching the interaction that is happening on the page. While the setting may be a small town – the real setting is The Gaither family – everything in this story is spawned from the members or interaction of the family. The Gaither clan is a fascinating one – they would make a great addition to TLC or another such network, right beside the Duck Dynasty family.  As a result of his writing style, the characters are sharply drawn and thus three-dimensional in nature. So thumbs up on the writing style.

Unlike many m/m main characters, Emmett and Alex are not broken men; lonely and with their insecurities, but certainly not broken –that was a welcome change. They are well-adjusted men who meet and grow to like and then love each other. They must, however, deal with the outside world which presents itself in the way of jobs, friends, and of course the prejudices that come with them.  The men demonstrate beautifully what it means to resolve to make a relationship work and what has to happen for that to occur. The men are vastly different, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a good fit. Check! On character and plot development.

The supporting cast of the story are also very entertaining, a trait Mr. Ortiz excels at as seen with other series books he’s written.  In this story, he clearly outlines the other stories that may be spawned from this tale, by weaving several interlocking tales. This is an exceptional plot tool not just for spawning stories and characters, but ensuring that the reader gets a 360 degree view of the characters by seeing their full lives and how they interact with the world they live in.  I look forward to reading more from this author, especially more about the Gaither clan who are loud, colourful and the perfect setting for any story. It’s nice to know that we’ll see Emmett and Alex again. Round of applause on use of secondary characters to advance the plot line!

And to conclude – There is of course a major conflict in the story. It happens close to the end and helps to propel the readers and the main characters towards the HEA, because love must always conquer all. Kudos to following the time-honoured tradition of how to ensure that the reader is hooked and notions of the romantic standard are followed.

When all is said and done, Emmett and Alex are great characters, we enjoy their love story and their journey, we root for them and when the story is done, we are happy and satisfied.

My Immortal by Storm Savage

4190MYIMMORTAL510-430x645Title: My Immortal

Series: Perfect Strangers, Book 3

Author: Storm Savage

Length: Novella (88 Pages)

Publisher: Extasy Books (November 1st, 2013)

Heat Level: Very Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: A gorgeous man—a cursed hybrid—heaven sent and hell bound. Only one choice can save them.

Talon is possibly the only hybrid of his kind—half vampire, half eagle shifter. Bitten and killed by a vampire when he was a shifter, Talon has been in holding for a long time, condemned by both realms. When he meets the man who dropped the veil between worlds, Talon struggles to do the right thing. He must resist his thirst for blood long enough to redeem his shifter form.

When Kohl unearths a rare artifact on an excavation, he is consumed by nightmares that lead him to dangerous places. Drawn by a mystical force, he cannot stop himself from wanting the gorgeous man in his dreams. Talon’s allure is both thrilling and terrifying.

Can Talon win Kohl’s love before blood-lust seals his fate?

Product Link:  http://www.extasybooks.com/my-immortal/

Review: This story is good. A little bit difficult to follow, but is still good. Kohl is a sweet and gentle man, who unearths a rare artifact that leads him to Talon. Talon is a strong and loyal eagle shifter who was attacked by a vampire, now a half vampire half shifter. Bound to a realm, until set free by true love.

This story has a great story line with love and the desire for freedom. The plot is good, but leaves me wondering a lot of about many things. It gives you the how part of Talon’s life, but leaves you guessing about Kohl’s life. It was just too fast, the love Kohl felt. It was not as believable as I would have liked. The spark between them was hot, as was the sex; however it just left me wondering. I did like Kohl and Talon though. They both come off sweet, tender and who could not fall in love with both of them.

I liked the story, but wished it had a little more to it.

Take What You Want by Ann Lister

91g3RUOMxOL._SL1500_Title:Take What You Want

Series: The Rock Gods, Book 2

Author:  Ann Lister                                            

Genre:   MMF Ménage

Length:  Novel (456 pages)

Publisher:  SleighFarm Publishing Group (November 2nd, 2013)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer:  Cat

Blurb: Mega rock star, Alex “Zander” Metcalf is burned out after nearly two years touring with his band, as well as emotionally drained after his sexual preferences were exposed by the media. He is ready for a long sabbatical – alone, and retreats to the east coast island of Martha’s Vineyard; leasing an Oceanside estate. Alex seeks the quiet lifestyle of a recluse to write new material for his band, only to meet the handsome estate manager, Chase, and his gorgeous fiancée, Danni, living in the guesthouse on his property. Alex’s hope of solitude is soon forgotten when he discovers Chase has a repressed bi-sexual side that is aching to surface and Alex is more than happy to help him explore it. What neither Alex nor Chase expects is the emotional power of their chemistry expanding to involve the three of them when Danni becomes entangled in their passion. Alex believes he has finally found his perfect ménage relationship with Chase and Danni. Sometimes two isn’t enough and it takes three to complete the union of a fulfilled love. But, will their new relationship be strong enough to survive when real life wants to punish them for their unconventional love? And, can they be confident in the strength of their love to take the ‘happily ever after’ they can only give each other?

Purchase Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Take-What-Want-Rock-Gods-ebook/dp/B00GF4TBR8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384800767&sr=1-1&keywords=take+what+you+want+ann+lister

Review Take What You Want is book two in the Rock God series.  These are stand a-lone books that follow other characters from the previous ones. This one is about Zander, singer and guitarist in the band Ivory Tower. Zander is bi-sexual and got outed in the first book Fall For Me along with Dagger Drummand (Yes, you get a bit more of Daggar and how he’s doing later in this book). After the scandal Zander’s girlfriend Mia breaks it off and he goes to Martha’s Vineyard and rents a secluded house to get away and regroup. Chase is the caretaker that lives in the guesthouse with his fiancé Danni. He and Danni are very open with each other and plan to marry. Danni finds out Chase has a secret fantasy of being with a man though he says he has no plans to act this out. She encourages him to so they can get past it. He meets Zander and sparks fly between the two and Danni encourages Chase to act on his attraction and get over it. Things aren’t as easy as it seems.

I have to say this is a very hot story.  The romance with Danni and Case is hot and perfect, and then toss in a sexy rock star and it’s off the charts smokin’! The story line is interesting with Chase trying to find himself, and Zander trying to recover from his past. I loved the emotional depth of all the characters especially Chase and Zander. I loved the fact that this ménage wasn’t all about the woman but trying to make a relationship for all three as equals. The only thing I have to say that I didn’t like was there was so much sex and the book was so long that by the end I was exhausted. I found my-self skipping through some of the sex scenes about ¾ through. I found the ending very satisfying!

If you like friends to lovers, stories about finding yourself, coming out, rock stars and a good, steamy ménage this is definitely for you!

D-Boy by Edward Kendrick

D-BoyTitle: D Boy

Author:  Edward Kendrick

Genre:  Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Gay, Romance, Thriller

Length:  Novel (303 pages)

Publisher:  Silver Publishing (November 2nd, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer:  Cat

Blurb:  At sixteen, Derek loses his memory–and his family–in an accident. He’s rescued by the reclusive Michael. Then he begins the long journey to discover his past.

In Denver, he finds a job, a place to live, and trouble, when someone attempts to kidnap him. Members of the ‘Company’ help him escape and later recruit him. Ending up in New Orleans, he’s nineteen and working undercover when he’s teamed with Brad, who teaches him the joys of sex. Heartbroken when he thinks Brad has found another man, Derek transfers to Denver.

Derek is twenty-four and still with the ‘Company’, when he remembers more about the accident, leading to shocking revelations about his father. Then Brad is sent to Denver on a job and Derek must decide if he can trust Brad’s love again, while working with him on the assignment.

Purchase Link:  https://spsilverpublishing.com/dboy-ebook-p-60315.html

Review: Derek is in an accident at age 16 and loses his memory and his parents were killed. He is saved by a mysterious man in the woods and nursed to health, then suddenly this man is killed and Derek heads to find a town and see if he can find who he is. He finds himself swept into a mystery involving Michael that leads to him meeting another man who gives him a job.

I really liked this story. There is a lot going on and lots of intrigue. There is a bit of a romance that starts out hot and fast then takes an unexpected turn. I really liked that. I also like that this story was longer. It pulled me in and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. I also liked that Derek didn’t get his memory back all of a sudden that would have been predictable.  I liked that the story wasn’t very predictable, yet still intriguing.

The only thing I didn’t like was that the mystery’s, and there was a few since he worked undercover in a Company, were so easily and quickly solved and once solved they disappeared and didn’t entwine into the story. I also would have liked  to have known a bit more of what this Company he worked for was and how they was able to take in a 16-year-old boy with no identification in and work him. Having said that, this is a fiction story and it didn’t really hurt the story at all. 

I love this author and the way he spins a great romantic mystery/suspense. I appreciate the stories now being longer and more complete. I find the endings always so satisfying.

If you like a story with mystery/ suspense, undercover secret agencies, mobs, hot, sexy romance that isn’t love at first site more friends or partners to lovers with a very satisfying ending this is for you.

Apple Polisher by Heidi Belleau

ApplePolisher_400x600Title: Apple Polisher

Series: Rear Entrance Video, #1

Author: Heidi Belleau

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel (194 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (July 29th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: This straight-A student has a dirty little secret.

Christian Blake dreams of being a kindergarten teacher, but making the grade means maintaining a squeaky-clean image: no drinking, no drugs, no swearing, and no sex. And definitely no falling for his new roommate—tattooed bad-boy Max, who may or may not be a drug dealer.

Most of all, it means no working at a porn store. But Christian’s aunt has cancer, and her beloved Rear Entrance Video will go bankrupt if Christian doesn’t take over managerial duties. Soon enough, Christian finds himself juggling sticky twenty-five cent peep show booths, a blackmailing employee, and a demanding professor who likes to make an example of him.

And then there’s Max, who doesn’t know anything about the store, but hates Christian’s preppy sweater vests and the closet Christian forces him into when they’re together. Max just wants Christian to be himself—even though Max is keeping secrets of his own. Christian struggles to find the impossible balance between his real life and the ideal one he thinks a teacher needs to live . . . all while trying to keep his aunt’s dream alive without losing his own.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/apple-polisher-rear-entrance-video-1

Review: I should have not read this book after Wallflower, but then again I’d have missed one hell of a story. Heads up: start this series from the beginning.

This is a beautiful story that wants its characters to be multi-dimensional and affected by life quite realistically, dealing with it just as we would and making mistakes, suffering from them and eventually grown and learn.

Christian is a gay man, fighting his way through college, trying to reach his dreams and prove his mother wrong. Being a teacher has been all he’s wanted ever since he was a little boy, but that little voice inside his head that is very similar to his mother’s keeps dragging him down under a thick veil of self-doubt. In his continuous fight to make a decent life Christian is dragged back and forth between trying to dispel people’s expectations and judgment, and expecting/judging other in the same harsh way he thinks he’s subjected too.

Enter Max, his new roommate (one out of four) who has a very I-don’t-care-what-you-think view in life. He’s charming and alluring in that bad-boy kind of way, gives vibes of being even a criminal, and lives life the way he wants to without care for other’s opinion.

Max is a very strong character here with a great effect upon Christian. I think – besides the fact that Christian is being a complete jerk for half the read – that he even hates Max. He is unnerved by Max and the attraction between them, yet when every cell in his body tells him to run away from him Christian can’t deny that being in Max’s arms feels just right. When Max tells him head on that his pursuit of his dreams is changing him into a man, he doesn’t want to be and that sacrificing his family for those dreams is the worst thing Christian could do, things turn a bit dark. The turmoil in Christian’s life is made twice worse from his newfound doubts, and choices he eventually can’t avoid.

In the end, this is a story about the struggles of this character (Christian) and how when everything seems to have come at its worse, there is always a bright and shiny side. I loved it; the plot, the characters involved, the turnarounds that were plenty, the surprises these character kept throwing along the way, and lastly the emotional intensity that this text was so wonderfully filled with. The balance between erotic and romance was fantastic. One moment I was reading a text full of passion and downright porn scenes, the next there was love and sweet emotions without it even being said, or when said came so effortlessly and smooth with the context. I just love it when romance is corny-free.

Another thing I want to mention every time, yet forget, about this publishing house’s work is its great quality. Half my enjoyment when I read a book coming from Riptide is from the feeling that I’m reading a real, solid book. I feel that if I go close enough my screen I’m going to even smell the scent of the paper, not to mention that the editing is just perfect and I’m left with only the story and the ride it takes me to deal with.

Overall, I’m highly satisfied by the first book in this series. It was exactly what I expected to be, made me feel so good after reading it, and yet again, I can’t wait for Austin’s story. Strongly recommended!

Good Boy by Anne Tenino

18308701Title: Good Boy

Series: Theta Alpha Gamma, #4

Author: Anne Tenino

Genre: Erotic Romance / D/s

Length: Novella (67 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (October 7th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Brad “Frat Boy” Feller and Sebastian “Toppy” DeWitt have been together for nine months, and their relationship is as hot as ever. The only cloud Brad sees on their horizon is Sebastian’s stress over his thesis. And their uncertain future together after graduation. And how Sebastian sometimes takes Brad for granted. And Sebastian’s unwillingness to introduce Brad to his father.

Other than that, everything’s awesome.

All of Sebastian’s energy is currently devoted to his thesis, and getting into a top-notch PhD program. Fortunately, his boyfriend takes care of all the domestic stuff and Sebastian’s needs. Any minor strain between them will disappear and they’ll return to the status quo after Sebastian graduates. As long as nothing upsets their delicate balance in the meantime.

Then a friend Brad once had a small fling with is forced to take refuge with them, and Frat Boy and Toppy’s delicate balance topples like an elephant on a water ski. Now Sebastian has to face some truths about how he’s been treating Brad, what he wants for their future, and what he has to do to get it.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/good-boy

Review: Remember the fire at the TAG house? Remember how Collin needed a place to stay and Brad offered to house him for the night? Yeah, that’s the point in time of the Theta Alpha Gamma Universe where this story picks up.

Sebastian has been a non-entity lately, obsessed with his thesis he managed to royally screw up things between him and Brad. Neglecting his lover yes, but even worse not even realizing he was doing it, until Collin showed up and his irritation joined by a healthy dose of jealousy caused a scene. Still he didn’t realize he was on the down road, but things started falling back in place, the little puzzle pieces making more sense when Brad went to his depression routine of baking cookies…

Yeah, Brad was in a place where his entire relationship with Sebastian seemed to be going nowhere. He felt not only neglected, but in limbo, not knowing what the future might bring. Thinking hard of what to do and how to phrase it so he’d make himself understood the last thing Brad expected was to be confronted when in this process. But Sebastian’s wary look of uncertainty made him jump to action and lay everything out and bare, risking this limbo state they were in for a chance to make things work… or not.

This novella was pretty fast and it cured me from wondering what the heck happened after Collin left Brad’s place. Honest confession, I really dislike Sebastian, or at least I did for most of the read. I think the feeling that he’s a total jerk still hasn’t left me and the fact that Brad didn’t make him squirm from that unacceptable attitude has me uncomfortable. I just felt pissed beyond my norm with Sebastian’s feeling of entitlement when it came to Brad. Yes, as the story progressed Sebastian had lots of inner talking and enlightenment, understanding where he lacked and even finding the reasons behind his behavior – which I must say made perfect sense – but really, that dinner scene went without revenge damn it. (Rant over.) As for Brad himself as a character, I just love him. It is amazing reading about him outside of his relationship, interacting with his friends, and then seeing him with Sebastian. The change is so dramatic, makes me simply adore this character.

Other than that, the book is fairly erotic. The D/s relationship and how it changed, the solidifying if you will, were nicely described. Tenino’s talent at writing some seriously hot and sensual love scenes is undeniable, I loved every single one of them and the way they affected each previous and following event. It was so easy to get lost in this couple’s passion and lifestyle, nothing felt out-of-place (except at the beginning) and it made for a very, very enjoyable read.

If I have some hang up, they are mostly due to the plot and ending. It was so short for me and I kept expecting the meeting with Daddy to take place. Perhaps that’s something for the future but I felt cheated somehow that that wasn’t totally solved in this book.

Overall, if you’re a fan of this series, I suppose you already have a copy of this book, for me it was a lovely addition. If you haven’t read any of the books though, this is a lovely D/s based story that in my opinion could easily be read as a standalone, and is highly enjoyable. Recommended!

 

No Flag by Liz Borino

18669672Title: No Flag

Series:  N/A

Author: Liz Borino

Genre: Contemporary/Military/D/s and DD

Length: Novel (255 pages)

Publisher: Lazy Day Publishing (October 23rd, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4

Blurb: For Mike and Will, “No Flag” meant, “come home alive,” but will their love survive what happens next?

Captain Mike Kelley does not ignore his intuition, so when sexy bartender Will Hayes captures his heart, Mike embarks on a mission to win him over to a Domestic Discipline relationship. Will accepts with one caveat: Mike must promise not to renew his Army contract. Mike agrees, and they spend a year building a life together, getting married, and starting a business.

Only days before their café’s grand opening, Mike receives news that threatens everything he and Will have built. The Army invokes the Stop Loss military policy to involuntarily extend his commission and send him back overseas. Will, left alone to cope with the café, must rely on the support of old friends who may no longer be trustworthy. Through emails and Skype calls, Mike and Will keep their love and structure alive…until the day a horrific terrorist attack occurs on Mike’s outpost.

Mike awakens in a hospital with a devastating injury and no memory of the attack. As the only survivor, Mike’s memory may be the key to national security. Mike struggles to cope with his injury and Will struggles to support the man who always held him up. Both fear they have lost their previous relationship. Will has Mike back rather than a folded flag, but in the aftermath of war, can they rebuild the life they had before? Especially when those closest to them may not have their best interests at heart?

*Contains BDSM elements in the context of a loving relationship.

Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/No-Flag-Liz-Borino-ebook/dp/B00G3T4E5Y

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: I’m an avid reader of stories and romances with BDSM content. And what I’m usually drawn to in that is the D/s elements. SO, I found this story of bartender meets military officer fascinating. It contains not only a dominating, totally lovingly controlling soldier with OCD, and an otherwise independent spirit waiting to be harnessed by love.

Captain Mike Kelley picks up Will in a bar and later takes him home, but from there the predictable outcome takes a diversion. The friendship lasts months before Mike drops the Domestic Discipline issue on Will. And even after dealing with his no intimacy before relationships and crazy OCD tendencies, Will is intrigued and interested enough to do his homework. What he finds is that he’s drawn to this mutual contract, drawn to having Mike order his life, lovingly and respectfully of course. His only hang-up is his discomfort for the military and Mike’s career risking their relationship, risking Mike’s life. His one and only hang-up is to make sure that at the end of the two months left of Mike’s enlisted period that he’s done, he does not reenlist. Mike agrees and their DD relationship seems to work for both of them. Will is making improvements in his own life, working towards education and career goals with Mike’s direction and discipline and Mike is even loosening up his tight OCD, a tiny bit.

All seems to be going great, they are making commitments, heading into marriage, looking forward to opening a business together and the military drops the bomb. A nuclear bomb for their relationship in the form of Stop Loss.

Can Will handle the devastating distance, the fear his husband won’t come home alive, the lack of the control he so trustingly handed over to Mike? The distance is hard enough, but opening a new business alone, classes, and keeping the discipline Mike has ordered send Will to the breaking point. While glued to the pages I kept cheering them both on, they could do this, hard as it may be, only a year with Skype and text to keep them connected. But when Mike is near fatally injured and loses his arm, I feared the worst looking down that road. I really wondered if Mike could keep such an important part of himself, control, dominant tendencies, care for Will, when he faced such traumatic loss and psychological damage.

But this story surprised me, made me take a closer look at my own marriage, my own close friends and other influencing relationships. I’ll be honest the only time I’ve heard of something like Domestic Discipline is from heterosexual religious extremists using marriage contracts and texts from the Bible to keep man as head of house second only to God. So I was leery, but after Liz spun this tale for me, I saw the attraction among loving and respectful partners. I’m fascinated and warmed by this story. It really is full of hope, encouragement, and respect. Kudos Liz Borino…time for me to look up your backlist!

My Unintended by Faith Ashlin

0c7c0340e9c0956f4da8ccf93cc28210.image.300x450Title: My Unintended

Series:  Love is Love Anthology

Author: Faith Ashlin

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Short Story (48 pages)
Publisher: Silver Publishing (October 5th, 2013)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: Noah and Greg are teachers and have been living together for a while. They’re content in their lives and with each other. Or at least they think so. Then Noah is forced to consider his dreams for the future when his parents change their wills. He’s told the family house will be left to his sister rather than him, as she has children. But does he want a wife and traditional family? Instead of talking to Greg, as he knows he should, he runs back home. His grandmother takes him in hand and tells him a story about her own loves back before she was married.
It makes Noah think about what he really wants.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This title is a re-release title, originally included in the Love is Love Anthology.

Product Link: http://spsilverpublishing.com/blog/2013/09/27/my-unintended-by-faith-ashlin/

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: A mature examination of relationships. We all enjoy the heat of a relationship, those moments where all we care about is the day-to-day passion, our next fun event, our next road trip together…but how many times do we really sit down and examine what we need, what we expect, and what our future is going to look like?

This sweet short story makes Noah stop in his tracks and panic about his future. Flying on the high of his relationship with Greg, new decisions about Noah’s family trust and his inheritance of his grandmother’s house make him question everything. Suddenly faced with the fact that his future with Greg does not add up to the future he envisioned for himself growing up, Noah is scared. Thankfully, his flight from Greg back home to his parents and most importantly to his Grandmother, makes Noah see things clearly, and the choices he needs to make.

Don’t worry readers, we know what the right choice is, and you need to trust Noah to know what it is too! A sweet, sometimes painful short story!

Wendigo by Pelaam

18626169Title: Wendigo

Series:  Romance on the Go

Author: Pelaam

Genre: Dark Erotica

Length: Short Story (32 pages)

Publisher: Evernight (October 2nd, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Seeker

Blurb:When Del reaches his snow-filled vacation paradise, the most he expects is to snowboard and ski. When he meets Neil, the attraction between them is mutual and all consuming. However, the picturesque town façade disguises a long-held and lethal secret. Things are not what they seem.

When Del is told he’s in danger, his immediate reaction is to think of Neil. But Neil is hiding a deadly secret.

Del has to find a way to save them both before he becomes the next victim, and Neil loses his soul to the demands of a ravenous beast.

Purchase Link: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/wendingo-by-pelaam/

Review:  Pelaam (one word Nome de Plume – I’m in!), offers up a story that is just as quick to read as it is dark in Wendigo.  We are drawn into the characters and the story so quickly that I found myself re-reading sections ON PURPOSE just to make sure that I had seen what I thought I saw. Dang tricksy Wendigo? Wendigos?  Wendigi? Wendigorum? Dang tricksy Shifters. LOL.  Well done, Pelaam.  Well done.

Devil at the Crossroads by Cornelia Grey

18247925Title: Devil at the Crossroads

Author: Cornelia Grey

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novella (75 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 23rd, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: The devil covets more than his soul…

Six years ago, Logan Hart sold his soul to the devil to become the greatest bluesman of all time—and now the devil has come to collect.

The irony is that Logan squandered his gift. High on fame, money, and drugs, he ignored his muse and neglected his music. And despite escaping showbiz in a moment of clarity, it’s too late to redeem himself. All that’s left is to try to go out with some dignity. Alas, the prospect of an eternity in Hell isn’t helping much with that goal.

But Farfarello, the devil who bought Logan’s soul, isn’t ready to drag him down to Hell quite yet. He’s just spent six years working his ass off to whip a bluesman into shape, and he refuses to let that—or the opportunity for more sinful pleasures with Logan—go to waste.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/devil-crossroads

Review: The first thoughts ringing in my head right after I finished this book were: Fantastic, brilliant, freakin’ amazing.
This is such a wonderful story, not your typical deal with the devil no, the author takes it a step (or several) further and makes your head spin while constantly keeping you on your toes.

Logan Hart is our character here and God could he be or have a more miserable life? Don’t think so and I got to feel that misery leaking from the words in this text right down on my toes. Poor guy is a musician, a bluesman, but his life wants him to waste away in a coal factory. His life lies in front of his bleak and uninspiring leading to one thing and one thing only. Die from unverified circumstances after withering in this miserable existence, or do something about it.
Farfetched? Yes. And half hoping, half disbelieving the truth of it, Logan sets to find the Devil at the Crossroad. He has a soul that refuses to waste away and burns with the passion for music, and Devils, well they collect souls right? Surely, he can have a good bargain.

This novella is really brilliant. In a very short space, it managed to spin my brain in all directions and make me feel lost along with its character. It takes you from the livid description of a miserable life, to the emptiness and hollow feelings of a rich yet uninspired one, only to end the trip in the agony and expectation of death. When time came for the Devil to collect his soul I simply adored every single line describing Logan’s feeling. His fear, his panic, his whole reasoning, and finally his acceptance, I got to experience all of it along with him, just as I got to be shocked and surprised from the turn of events.
When the Devil came, I simply had to stop a bit and ask myself why? Why did Farfarello do what he did? I mean the explanations he gave were certainly logical, but then again why bother?

Whatever the reasons, what follows is maddening, carnal, unapologetically hot sex, it was part of the contract after all. The mixture of fear and surreal Logan had the residue of panic and the resignation to his fate made the encounter to be even more intense than it already was. Farfarello (I so dislike this name) was beyond hot, beyond sinful, beyond alluring. He really managed to rise as the ultimate ethereal creature into my mind’s eye while reading about him, and damn if I didn’t feel disappointed when the story ended.

Logan’s story is really a wonderful one, one that makes want to look deep down your own soul a bit, set your priorities, makes you think twice before you open your mouth, and ask/demand whatever. The saying “careful what you wish for” comes alive in this book and at times makes you laugh bitterly at how vain we humans really are, how easily we let go our truest dreams in favor for illusions.
This story deserved the whole five hearts from me for a most enjoyable afternoon, and the bit of self-reflection it gave me. However, I wish this were a series with Farfarello as a constant. I cannot bear to part with him, and his mysterious alluring story calls like a siren to me.

Strongly recommended!

 

The Division by C.C. Bridges

17974633Title: The Division

Author: C.C. Bridges

Genre: Fantasy / Super Heroes

Length: Novel (71K)

Publisher: Musa Publishing (May 24th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Opening a portal to love.

Socket and Valor have been best friends—and part time superheroes—for years. When an invasion force threatens the Earth, they form a team of heroes to face the threat.

Closeted media darling Valor has no idea that Socket has been nursing a crush on him since their high school days. When a buffer, grittier version of Socket emerges from one of the alien portals, Valor discovers his own attraction, but his refusal to out himself gets in the way of his and Socket’s budding intimacy.

The alternate Socket has his own agenda, however. One that doesn’t include attachments or a team of do-gooders getting in his way.

Product Link: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=593

Review: This was a very nice story, I admit to being partial to this genre though and super heroes always have a special allure to me. This is the story of Earth and how it came near to being conquered by aliens if now for the existence of men and women with special abilities, powers if you will.

In this version of Earth, accidents happen. That’s how most characters became special, but others simply were born that way, manifesting their changes in adolescence as is common in comic books. Our main characters are Valor and Socket. They’ve been friends for years ever since a teen Valor prevented a teen Socket from taking the wrong path. They became fast friends and their friendship always verged on a bit more. For ten years, they were everything they had; Valor was Socket’s family since he was pretty much alone, and Socket became the only person who knew the real man behind Valor’s mask. No matter how many secrets and experiences they shared together through the years though, they both had one little secret each kept from the other.

Socket, out and proud since a teenager never shared with Valor that he has been deeply in love with his best friend. And Valor, always the golden boy, the public and media’s darling never admitted to Socket he is in fact bisexual. Imagine the guilt of Socket pinning after his straight best friend, and imagine the shame Valor feels for being attracted to men and yet not able to share this thing with the only person that knows everything about him.

It isn’t until Earth is endangered by robots and alien invasion through portals that things become delicate, the lines blur, and their friendship literally gets on the line.
Valor in front of the cameras and Socket behind in the shadows pulling the strings create a team of super heroes called The Division to fight for Earth.

The story is written fairly well. We have Valor who is blessed with enormous strength, near indestructibility, and the ability to fly. Socket who can talk with computers. He is the puppeteer, the guy that stays behind and coordinates everything, the mastermind behind all their technology. Doc Lightning, a doctor in real life and mistress of electric energy, her bolts are scary powerful. Dash with her supper-speed, Mace with his magnetic field mastery, and Tiana, the purple alien of the Ellorian people who’s got stranded on Earth and adopted by Socket. There are other characters who come in and out, but this is the core team, The Division.

Now, if I let the complete nerd take charge I’ll have to say that there ought to be more in this story on all counts. I’d have loved for reasoning, more elaborate that is, for these characters’ powers. I’d have loved for their background and cover stories to have been more solid. I’d have loved for their fights to have been more… logical, and I’d have loved for the villains to have actually had a bit more intellect, because really they sucked, and we all know the best part of a super-hero story are the villains.

As the plot will have it there are portals that open up connecting this Earth with another dimension, a parallel Earth, that has already been taken over by aliens, and their citizens are already slaved to the Overseers. The same people existing in this dimension exist in the other… almost. So our heroes are taken aback when along with the robots Peter charges in from a portal killing them as if it was no big deal.

Now Peter Barnes is the other self of Socket. They look alike if Socket actually had it in him to leave his command base and exercise. Peter is hot, with a killer body, and a fabulous mastery of swords. He ought to be though as he’s survived in his world by being good enough for the arena the Overseers indulge so much to. Peter comes with the story of having escaped his Master and landed on this dimension by chance, and is therefore given refugee by our team.

Did I say this story has some holes in there? Well, there are plenty and again if I really want to be the nerd that can’t let go of little details I’d say the entire villainy plot is wobbly at best. You just can’t have a proper, powerful super-team if you don’t have perfect bad guys, and these bad guys here were far, far from great, let alone perfect.

As for the romance of the story, Peter becomes the reason Valor realizes he’s in love with Socket, and while things seem perfect for a while there, those little secrets they have between them two and the hang-ups and the different mind-set quickly turn things sour. And we all know when a hero is distracted by unrequited love, love gone wrong etc. etc. they can hardly think straight and see what’s in front of their eyes. There is not much challenge left in the end for Peter to accomplish his goal.
As for the pair itself while having some seriously hot scenes, it failed to make me feel that spark, the real chemistry that would make me drown in the words and emerge only to gasp for air. It failed to give me the longing those two should have had.

Overall, as I said at the beginning, I’m partial to this genre. I’m also a bit demanding when it comes to it. This book could have been much, much better. Normally I’d have rated it lower too, but I let myself go and for the most part, I managed to enjoy it. If you indulge in the genre once in a while you’ll find it enjoyable as well and probably love it and want some more. If however you’re one of those nerdy types that eat comic books for breakfast I think you’ll find the above and many more to ruin the experience for you.

Full Moon Feral by Jackie Nacht

4227fullmoonferal510w-430x645Title: Full Moon Feral

Series: Moon Compound, Book 2

Author: Jackie Nacht

Length: Novel (126 Pages)

Publisher: Extasy Books (October 31st, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: With all great sacrifices for love, there must be consequences.

Brendan has been at Moon Compound and gone through his first shift. He feels like hell when his mate walks into his life in chains. Devastated that his mate is feral, he mourns for the mate he is bound to lose before he ever has him. Desperate not to lose his mate, he does something that will forever change his life. Will Brendan be able to save his feral?

Product Link: http://www.extasybooks.com/full-moon-feral/

Review: The first line of the blurb says it all in one point. With all great sacrifices for love, there must be consequences. The author has once again written a truly gifted story. I loved the story altogether. The plot was intense and exciting. The danger, Brendan puts himself in just to save his mate, kept me on the edge of my seat. Ripley, who didn’t even know what he was forced to learn and accept in such a short time, was terrifying and sad. They fell for each other in such a way that was loving and very wild. The sex between them was explosive. The dangers all around them, what with hellhounds and the feral parts of them, made each one of them even more protective of each other.

This story has a very good plot to the story, what with (and who could live without it) love, danger, excitement and a touch of fear. I was attracted to Brendan, because of his tender heart and desire to help his mate overcome most of the feral parts of himself. With Riley, it is his innocence and yet there is this rough and tough side of him that you see. Their feelings are so strong and yet heart breaking with what they will need to learn to live with. This story will grab you and make you wish you were there to help them and protect them. To be able to feel the love that they have for each other, you know that is what you would want to feel each time you were snuggled up to your lover. I am honored to have this story in my library.

Thommie’s Review: 3½ Hearts

Oh my, the second installment of Moon Compound Series comes back with Brendan and finally that character took a bit of solidity in my mind. I was having a bit of an issue with his “I’m-not-good-enough” attitude in the previous book. As it is, Brendan continues to believe that for most of this book as well but things drastically change when he’s forced with life-long mourning or find a solution to his problem.

What problem is that? At this point I feel I should make it clear that this book is a part of series best read in order. So if you’ve read the first book you already know that it ends with a feral being admitted to Moon Compound and that the moment he lays eyes on Brendan and vice-versa thing get crazy. It is important to stress here that this author has a big talent for making thing intense and relying that tension at the reader as well. We get to see and feel how the feral and Brendan deal with the first time they see each other, how Brendan reacts and the enormity of the situation that has to fated mates finding each other only to face doom shortly. As I mention on the review of the first book, despite the fact that these shifters deal with “fated” mating, it does seem as a lot of work and things don’t get all sugary, easy, and colorful when “magic” happens. On the contrary here we deal with agony, bone deep agony.

A feral has a very short life span, not because they are weak, on the contrary they have exquisite power, but because they don’t care about pain, they have no notion of sanity, and they mostly end up causing extreme damage to themselves to the point of no return in their frenzy.

Imagine finding your mate in such frenzy eyes, on a person ruled by madness and with no cure. Imagine finding your soul-mate only to find out that there is no future for you, not being able to talk to him, not even knowing his name. What would you do?

And here is the point that Brendan’s character and strength come forward. His determination not to lie down and take what fate throws him, but to fight for what could be his. His recklessness is admirable when matched with his cause and the results are stunning. The turn this story took was fantastic, the possibilities it opened for future installments, endless. What take place are a series of events, dipped in blood and passion. Berserk takes a new meaning and I absolutely loved it. The bloody fights that came with the hellhounds (what you thought they were gone?) call to my violent soul and made me love this book all the more.

Even as all hell broke loose with the demons fighting werewolves, Brendan and his mate going berserk and being spectacular, the author makes us gasp with a surprise that is in itself horrifying. I can almost taste and see what is to come and how the hellhounds will feature in the future. We got a glimpse of the lore and how the shifters and demons they’re fighting came to be, what their past is, and that promises for a fantastic series I absolutely cannot wait to inhale.

Now all the above sound nice and good, but there was this little thing that managed to damp my enthusiasm and let me somehow down. For me this book ought not to be a novella, this pair deserved more space, more relationship development and the hasty, rushed way Ripley was introduced left me wanting. This book could easily have been a fiver for me if only the relationship between them two was allowed the time it needed. The confusion, the emotions, and the passion needed time to bloom, and we (the readers) needed to space to take it in and actually feel those emotions as well, because as it is the rolled over me and didn’t manage to make the strong impression they had the possibility to.

Overall though I loved the second book of the series and I’m literally bouncing up and down in anticipation of the third. Strongly recommended!

Warlock Unchained by Stephani Hecht

813zCQkLOIL._SL1425_Title: Warlock Unchained

Series:  Detroit City Warlocks

Author: Stephani Hecht

Genre:  Dark Fantasy

Length: Novella (62 pages)

Publisher: ManLoveRomance Press (October 19th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥ ♥ 3 Hearts

Reviewer:  Seeker

Blurb:  In the future, where being a warlock is unlawful a team of brothers risk all to save one of there own in his quest for freedom.

As a warlock, Delton is marked as an enemy and imprisoned by humans in an internment camp. After spending five grueling years there, he manages to escape. His freedom is short-lived when he finds himself cornered by guards who want to take him back to the camp. Then Delton is rescued by the handsome and mysterious warlock, freedom fighter, Vicen.

As Delton spends more time with Vicen, he finds himself drawn to the other warlock. But, can Delton trust Vicen? Or is he about to have his trust betrayed in the worst way?

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

Review:  In Warlock Unchained – Detroit City Warlocks Stephanie Hecht re-introduces modern-day prison camps for those born with magical talent.  Even with the solid plot line and cohesive story structure, at times the writing is a tad clunky and chewy, especially in the beginning. 

This is a wonderful tale with characters that the writer leaves us wanting to know more about.  The depth of Warlock Unchained could easily transfer into a full-length novel.  And, more importantly, I believe it has the potential to become one of Paranormal’s full-fledged Classic contenders.

Collide by Riley Hart

91lbmDAVm1L._SL1500_Title: Collide

Series:   Blackcreek Series

Author: Riley Hart                     

Genre: Contemporary

Length:   Novel (258 pages)

Publisher: Riley Hart (November 8th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer:   Eli/Mandingo

Blurb: At ten years old, Noah Jameson and Cooper Bradshaw collided mid-air when they dove for the same football. For three years, they were inseparable…until one day when Noah and his parents disappeared in the middle of the night. 

Noah and Cooper never knew what happened to each other. Now, seventeen years later, after finding his boyfriend in bed with another man, Noah returns to Blackcreek looking for a fresh start. And damned if he doesn’t find his old friend grew up to be sexy as sin. Coop can’t believe Noah—the only person he trusted with the guilt over his parents’ death—is back. And gay… Or that Cooper himself suddenly wants another man in his bed for the first time. 

There’s no denying the attraction and emotion between them, but can they overcome the ghosts of their pasts to have a future together? 

Purchase Link:   http://www.amazon.com/Collide-Blackcreek-Riley-Hart-ebook/dp/B00GK9L2XO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1384390577&sr=1-1&keywords=collide+riley+hart

Review: Finally a book with a realistic look and take at what it must take for a man who has never before found himself attracted to a man dealing with the myriad of emotions that comes with redefining yourself when you already thought you were fairly well-defined. The story allows the reader to learn about the characters of Noah and Cooper so that they understand how both men could perhaps move from one reality to another. Both men are scarred by their childhoods and the overwhelming theme of the book is how love, friendship and understanding can help to heal wounds and start new beginnings.

The author makes good use of flashbacks to help the reader understand the nature of Noah and Cooper’s relationship which makes their journey from friendship to lovers easier to understand and highly believable. It’s also realistic in that first comes sex, and then comes emotions. The sex in the book is both erotic and healing; and, while there is a LOT of it, it is not gratuitous, but rather serves to help the men become closer and heal from past hurts. For Cooper, experiencing sex with Noah allows him to realize that he feels more for his friend that the simple love one has for a friend, the sex binds him to the man who will become his partner.

The story follows the men’s friendship, to their sexual encounter, to their break up and then to their eventual understanding that their feelings for each other are not fleeting and that they must work together if their relationship is to succeed. And then when the reader feels that the HEA is now accomplished, a new crisis is thrown into the mix and the two men must now overcome this crisis together in order for them to not just have their HEA, but to build the foundation that will become their lives.

Noah and Cooper are a very believable couple. The movement from their friendship to their relationship builds a climax in the story which pulls the reader in. Both men love each other and the things they do for and with each other clearly demonstrate that. The reader wants them to succeed and even when Cooper struggles, the reader understands why and continues to root for him. Why? Because the reader understands that it is in Cooper admitting his feelings for Noah that he will be able to begin to heal.

The story is very well told and nicely paced and is quite an enjoyable read.

Crooked Tree Ranch by R.J. Scott

18274216Title: Crooked Tree Ranch

Series: Montana 01

Author: R.J. Scott

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys, Family

Length: Novel (185pgs)

Publisher: Totally Bound (13th December 2013) Available for early download from 15th November 2013

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Nate Todd knows things have to change for Crooked Tree to survive. He just doesn’t know how much of an effect Jay Sullivan will have on his life.

On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a marketing expert on a dude ranch in Montana. With his small family, he moves lock, stock, and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life.

Foreman and owner of a third of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running Crooked Tree Ranch. His partners in the business convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the ranch survive. He knows things have to change, but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow, he just isn’t prepared for how much.

Purchase Link: https://www.totallybound.com/crooked-tree-ranch

Review: Nate discovers the ranch he part owns isn’t doing as well as he thought, so on the advice of his partners he agrees to get a marketing expert in to turn the ranch around, but he isn’t prepared for the hot city guy who turns up with his family in tow. Jay snatches the chance of a new beginning for himself and his family when he loses his job and his sister’s violent ex turns up, but he never accounted for his sexy new cowboy boss. Settling his family comes first for Jay but he can’t ignore his longing for Nate, Nate has ideas of his own, but will Jay be willing to stay at Crooked Tree Ranch and will Nate tell Jay how he really feels?

R.J. Scott has done it again. She has produced another series with fabulous characters, incredible settings and with the added bonus of family drama. Both Nate and Jay are introduced in their own settings, Nate on the ranch with the hidden problems coming to light and Jay in the city office as his world crumbles around him. We then see both of them finding solutions to their problems and their first meeting isn’t exactly sunshine and roses. We discover a lot about the characters of both men, in their past and continued actions and they are both men that are honorable and family orientated, but are both tough and determined in their own ways. 

The relationship between Nate and Jay is a slow evolving one but the attraction and sparks between them let you know it will be an incredible one. There’s plenty of background stories playing out involving both Nate’s two brother’s and Jay’s sister and niece, as well as cute little sweet Josh (Jay’s nephew) settling easily into his new life. Along with the normal tension and worries of moving to a new State and the horrible tension of an abuser refusing to let go, it has the hopes and fears of a new relationship and the hotness of sexy men taking a chance on love. There is also a mystery lurking in the background involving the disappearance of two young boys and the ongoing relations between the three partners of the ranch. 

I loved this story, it had just the right amount of everything to keep me turning the pages and having me scouring the internet for hints about future books, it had me secretly grinning that it had sexy cowboys and I’d snatched the book right out from under Cat’s nose *raspberry*. It got my mind flying off wondering what happened to the young teenagers who had disappeared… *R.J. I want to know… NOW*, it had me sighing over family and the changes that security and a fresh start can bring. It’s a very fulfilling story that doesn’t have a miss, it hits the spot from every aspect, and I am really hoping that R.J. coughs up the next in the series pretty quickly. 

I recommend this story if you love cowboys, city guys, sexy men, family drama, a lingering mystery, some hot sex, a great story, brilliant characters, and some brilliant writing. Oh and if you can read! LOL, R.J. I am expecting you to write like the wind and have sore fingers in the near future 🙂

 

The Demon's Blood by R.J. Scott

17999986Title: The Demon’s Blood

Series: Supernatural Bounty Hunters 04

Author: R.J. Scott

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

Length: Novella (130pgs)

Publisher: eXtasy Books (15th October 2013)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 3½ – 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie 

Blurb: When Simeon, a mountain lion shifter meets Asher, a blood demon, there is instant attraction. But, how can they act on the way they feel when there is an entire kingdom at stake.

Asherkan Iblis is a blood demon, a slave to elves and a soldier. He keeps the fact he has royal elvish blood a secret. His half-brother returns to broker peace but reveals he is actually there for much more and Asher faces a decision that could lead to his death.

Simeon Blue, brother of the leader of the Feline Guild, mountain lion shifter, is tasked to accompany Phin on a mission over the Red Mountains and into the Second Kingdom. He has to talk to the Guild but all they want to do is stay in isolation and his mission is fraught with danger.

When Simeon is wounded, Asher hides him and suddenly, next to a king’s death, a cousin’s hate, and Ludvik’s black magic, love falls on the agenda.     

Purchase Link: http://www.extasybooks.com/rj-scott/the-demon-s-blood/ 

Review: This book is part of a series and must be read in order. Simeon is a mountain lion shifter and part of the Underground working to break the choke-hold that the Glitnir councils has on all paranormals, when he meets Asher, the half blood demon, his attraction for the sexy blood demon flairs. Asher is a blood demon and is a slave and a warrior. He keeps his family connections secret. When his half-brother Phin asks for his help, he doesn’t know if he can take the chance, especially when he has an annoying mountain lion shifter with him. Together Simeon and Asher have to convince the mountain lion guild to join them against the elves who are trying to take over the throne, and to give the blood demons their freedom. But will Asher’s and Simeon’s attraction prove to be a distraction from what is important to the Underground and the freedom of the paranormals?

Well, well, well, we go further afield in this addition to the Supernatural Bounty Hunters series by entering the Second Kingdom and discovering just how far the Giltnir council rot has spread. Simeon is a character that has you wondering if he ever cared about anything other than his problems because his complete disregard when he first meets Asher has you wanting to slap him, but he does redeem himself quite nicely. Asher has every right to be aloof, with the fear of what could happen if anyone ever discovered who his father is hovering over his head and the treatment of Blood demons, it is no wonder that he tries to keep Simeon at arm’s length.

We see some changes beginning in this story and the progression of the overall storyline throughout the series is moving forward at a very nice pace, the threads connecting the different species is getting stronger and the Underground movement is gaining force. With this story we have some exciting developments that effect both Simeon and Asher, we see a desperate attempt to stop a usurper from taking over the Elven throne and the Felines are pushed to action, but the best thing in this story has to be their relationship that starts out rocky, but it won’t be denied.  

Both Asher and Simeon are great characters and their relationship moves quickly, it’s also very hot with both characters being passionate. The writing is good and flows pretty smoothly and we see characters from previous books so we can see how they are doing and the strain that their revolution is having on them. I must admit to enjoying this story and the way it is progressing, it is opening up further to include a wider range of species, drawing them together for a better future. 

I recommend this story to those who love the paranormal in all its variety, great characters who make you react, a brilliant storyline that has far to go and a love that stands through danger and change and a great ending. 

 

 

Coming to Terms by A.R. Moler

811c+lDayfL._SL1425_Title: Coming to Terms

Series:   N/A

Author: A. R. Moler

Genre: Contemporary

Length:   Novella (63 pages)

Publisher: MLR Press (November 7th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer:   Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:Sometimes, inevitably, life hits a snag. What if love turns up at the same time? Aidan Sterling’s life has hit one of those moments-the times when things might just change whether he wants it to or not. Outside of the inherent paranoia of his active career in covert ops, he’s recovering from some serious physical and emotional trauma from a mission gone disastrously wrong. His bosses aren’t sure if he’s up to returning to active fieldwork—and neither is he.

And Kris Jameson is the kind of guy who’ll take the time to understand and care about Aiden. He’s a regular guy with a large heart. Kris is a carpenter and a part-time bouncer, easy-going and hardworking. But not all danger can be found overseas, and nice guys aren’t always safe even here at home.

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

Review: I wondered how such a short book could do justice to such a very involved topic.  The issue of PTSD is one which is well documented and has been focused on quite heavily in this genre as many authors tackle DADT and its aftermath for gay men in the military. Aidan is struggling with PTSD but meets and begins a relationship with Kris. Aidan is uncertain what the relationship between them will mean as he’s trying to get his life together in order to return to active duty. He is surprised when Kris is not put off by his PTSD in the form of nightmares and flashbacks.  However, when Kris is attacked, Aidan feels guilty that his condition could have had serious repercussions.

The story focuses on how Aidan must manage his PTSD which is the reality of many service men.  His relationship with Kris, who has experience with PTDS, illustrates that there are always people who will love you and support your despite an issue you may have. The story while short focuses on clear, distinct situations and scenarios that allow the story to move forward without seeming rushed. You empathize with Aidan and you want him and Kris to be able to forge a relationship. The end of the story is a nice solution for everyone and provides the reader with the hope that there can be normalcy after trauma.

The story is short but well written, moderate heat, but realistic and believable.  While PTSD is a heavy topic, the story provides a good look into what they could look like within a relationship but is not so depressing that the story of the men is not explored. A good short read.

A Christmas Memory by Max Vos

18802130Title: A Christmas Memory

Series:   N/A

Author: Max Vos

Genre: Contemporary

Length:   Novella (21k)

Publisher: Max Vos (November 15th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer:   Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:J.J. has always hated the holidays.  Presents, decorations, the traditional family Christmas…It’s all his colleagues in the staffroom can talk about.  J.J. avoids these conversations like the plague.  He’d do anything to keep his co-workers from seeing the real J.J, the gay man who doesn’t want to be noticed.  When he slips up and reveals that he is all alone with no plans for Christmas, the well-meaning ladies of his high school want to take him in for the holidays. 

Oh hell….

Enter Coach Adam Sutton who comes to his rescue—and now J.J. is trapped by this hulk of a man who won’t take no for an answer. And he would have to be someone J.J finds attractive, wouldn’t he? Too bad he’s straight and J.J’s not about to step out of the shadows and make a move on him. He likes his arms where they are, thank you very much. But Adam has a secret, one which is going to turn J.J’s world upside-down. Adam wants to give J.J. a Christmas to remember, but as it turns out, both men’s lives are never going to be the same again…

Purchase Link:   https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-achristmasmemory-1348342-149.html

Review: The reader meet J.J. and Adam in their work environment, where J.J. has transformed himself into the quintessential nerdy history professor. Adam on the other hand is the larger than life, popular coach. On the surface, opposites should not attract, but J.J. is clearly attracted and Adam’s insistence on their interaction gives the reader a clue that Adam may be more than simply a ‘nice guy’ hell bent on rescuing J.J. from an uncomfortable situation.

Adam’s pursuit of J.J. is adorable in its relentlessness, and when J.J. finally succumbs to Adam, the reader is pleased.  The story is more than just a simple Christmas love story. It’s about a man who’s life has not been a happy one, allowing someone to show him how full and meaningful life can be when surrounded by love. The undercurrent of stereotypes and not judging a book by its cover are themes also interwoven into this light-hearted tale.

As we approach the holiday season, this is a great stocking stuffer. It’s a lovely little read filled with love, hope and laughter. J.J. and Adam are sexy and there’s both heart and heat enough to keep the home fires burning.