Blurb: Six years ago, Quinn Kelly barely escaped the brutal murder of his parents. Now the lone wolf is searching for a place to belong. Well aware of his proclivity for men, his nomadic life hasn’t allowed him to find anyone to call his own—until now.
Wolf-shifter and future alpha of his own pack, Killian Masters wants nothing more than his father’s approval. After meeting Quinn, he’s more determined than ever to make his father see who he is and how deeply he loves.
Captivated by their growing passion, the young lovers have a rude awakening when the vengeful alpha who murdered Quinn’s parents finds him, and vows to destroy anyone who gets in his way.
Some say the battle between good and evil is determined by which power is fed the most, but in nature, no power compares to that of an alpha’s claim.
Review: This is book two of this series and should be read in order. I have always loved the paranormal world especially when it gives you two very hot and sexy men. Shape shifting wolves are one of my favorite things to read about. Tyler has a gift to tell a story, bringing you wonderful characters, great worlds to lose yourself into, and a hot story line. Quinn barely escaped with his life when his parents were brutally killed six years ago. He is basically a lone wolf, and if you understand wolves, you know that they cannot live without a pack. He is not loved by many because of his sexual preference. He loves men not women and there are many out there who want it stopped.
When he meets Killian, who is a wolf shifter and soon to be alpha who turns his world upside down. He is hot and very tempting. Killian has always wanted his father’s approval and when he meets Quinn, he is more than determined to show his father who he is and how deeply he can love. How deep he is falling for Quinn. But there are dangers still out there, and they are gunning for Quinn. The alpha who had murdered Quinn’s parents was intent on making sure Quinn dies also.
Killian knows that he will do everything in his power to keep his mate safe, even if it means his life. He is however planning on having a long life with Quinn. The sex and sexual heat from these two will set the forest on fire. There is so much passion between them that you can feel the heat from them.
I liked the first story to this series, but this book is even better. There is so much description of each character, their worlds, the way they are together it just makes the story even more believable when an author does this. It makes it easy to get caught into a story when there is more to read about. This story caught my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves shapeshifters, wolves, two hot and sexy men, lots of danger and excitement, and some very hot sex.
Blurb: An upsetting Valentine’s Day encounter triggers memories from Dyer’s past, but leads to a deepening of his acquaintance with Myles.
On Valentine’s Day, Dyer’s usual morning routine of buying coffee at the shop near his job is disrupted when he realizes the child in line in front of him has been kidnapped by her father. Dyer calls the police and with the help of the barista, Myles, manages to keep the man and child in the shop until help arrives. Valentine’s Day has always been Dyer’s least favorite day and the day’s events don’t help. But an afternoon with Myles might make things better.
Review: I loved this story. It is sweet and charming with a bit of intrigue in the beginning.
Dyer finds himself in his favourite coffee shop as usual on Valentine’s Day. He hates all the fru-fru and especially pink. He is smacked with a balloon as he enters the shop that will dredge up painful memories and his actions could save someone from the past he had and perhaps bring forth a brighter future.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you knew you should say or do something but didn’t? Or saw something going on and you felt you should intervene but was afraid to? Dyer finds himself in that situation. Though he has been on the other end where no one had intervened. He finds the courage to actually do something to try to help a little girl he is sure has something going on wrong. Dyer is a very good character. He is very concerned and takes action person. I loved it. I also loved Myles and the fact he wasn’t exactly Dyers type but they both took the step to be friends.
I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a sweet story with a little action and no sex. I’d love to see a book evolve of Myles and Dyer.
Title: Lover at Last
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (604 pages)
Publisher: Penguin Group USA (March 26th 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Lover-At-Last-Dagger-Brotherhood-ebook/dp/B008BM4LZY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395708552&sr=1-1&keywords=lover+at+last
Review: Qhuinn has proven himself as a fierce warrior and secured himself a place within the Brotherhood. He grew up with John, who he later became personal guard for, and Blay. His own family condemned him because of his mismatched eyes, which were looked on as something of a curse. He has always taken solace with Blay’s loving family. After he transitioned he became something of a playboy, but his heart has always belonged to Blay.
Blaylock’s closest friends and allies within the Brotherhood are Qhuinn and John. Although Qhuinn was the first to transition, Blay has proven himself as an effective soldier in the war against the Lesser as well. In Lover Mine, Blay had his first relationship with another man, Saxton who is also Qhuinn’s cousin. Feelings ran deep there, but everyone knows that Blay has always been in love with Qhuinn.
There was a lot going on in this book, as with every book in the series. We not only have the long-awaited love story of Qhuinn and Blay unfolding, but there are several other stories woven into the mix. It is at its core though the story of two boys that fell in love before they ever transitioned. And how to spite everything they’ve been through together and separately, they found their way back to each other. Qhuinn has been portrayed as a playboy, but his true vulnerability shows here. It would seem he hides behind his sexuality so he doesn’t have to face the internal doubt and self-loathing he feels stemming from his parents ostracising him. He doesn’t think he deserves to be loved by Blay.
Blay is the most caring and compassionate of all the Brotherhood, in my opinion. He has spent so many years loving Qhuinn and being rejected, that he has resigned himself to try to be happy with Saxton, allowing Qhuinn to be with Layla and have the family he’s always wanted. Once these two finally get past all the miscommunication and pain of rejection they find a passionate, intense and fulfilling love with one another that they never would have expected.
I could have done without all the angst. These are supposed to be grown ass vampire warriors, what is with all the miscommunication, hurt feelings and angst?! Overall, though, I was SO excited to finally see these two come together, that I was able to give slight allowance to Ward for all the angst. Qhuinn and Blay have a strong foundation that was built on friendship and shared moments of trust and life lessons. There love is passionate, intense, erotic, sensual and sexy as hell! And that ceremony at the end was just the icing on the cake of a long, hard road well-earned for these two!
This is a must read series for paranormal, vampires, action and suspense fans. Be warned though, the couples range in all sexual orientation, not just M/M.
Title: Killing Time
Series: N/A
Author: Jane Davitt & Alexa Snow
Genre: Fantasy/ Paranormal
Length: Novel (371 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62300-693-8
Publisher: Loose ID (February 25th, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate to Hot
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Max and Kaelan, best friends and business partners for five years, are powerful casters with a tendency to get themselves into and out of all kinds of trouble. Pretty much the only thing they’ve been able to avoid is getting romantically involved – until now. Their sexual attraction hits them like a runaway fireball and they can’t keep their hands off each other.
While their sexual attraction burns out of control, they’ve attracted the attention of a dark caster named Jannes who’s planning a spell so potent that it could end the world. To keep them off-balance, he’s targeting Max and Kaelan through those they love, and there’s no one they love more than each other.
With friends, family to protect, and their only allies a group of casters who find it easier to fight than cooperate, the odds are stacked against them. So can Max and Kaelan keep it together and stop Jannes before he ends the world, or is the best they can do just killing time?
Review: Kaelan had been just buying a drink when he felt a power fairly strong, so strong that he had to find out what was going on. He was a caster, could sum up portals, do spells for good, and stop those who are evil. So when he opened up a portal and found a man and woman casting evil spells, he was surprise to find someone who was blocking himself from being found out. An investigator who was also trying to do the same thing Kaelan was doing. Max was a wealthy man who wanted to figure Kaelan out.
They had agreed to never make their relationship to sexual, but there was so much fire and passion in them. The only major problem was that someone was using that feeling against them. James was planning a spell so potent that it could end the world. So to keep Kaelen and Max off-balance he uses a spell to keep them off-balance. A spell to target the people they love, well it turns out that the ones they love the most are each other. Surprise for them all the way around.
They could not figure out how they knew what each other liked when they had not had sex before, or had they and just couldn’t remember. With friends, family to protect, and their only allies a group of casters who find it easier to fight than cooperate, the odds are stacked against them. So can Max and Kaelan keep it together and stop James before he ends the world, or is the best they can do just killing time?
I love the way they are around each other. One of their major rules is that if they were bringing sexual partners home, that it was done in the bedroom no other place in the house. Of course, Kaelan broke that one once, and what Max did to him was funny as hell. I loved the cold drink against the bare skin. The sex in this story is majorly hot, sensuous and a bit kinky. You can tell from the first chapter in the book that these two want each other bad, so I loved the fact that they did hook up in the story.
They are very strong casters with lots of powers. This story caught my attention from the very beginning and kept it all the way to the end. It is told with just a hint of humor to it that I loved it even more, then the serious tone that it uses. If you love a good mystery, even though it isn’t really a mystery story then you will get a kick out of this story. It brings a fantasy to a whole new level. I have read many stories about witches and warlocks but this one shows the powers that are used for stopping evil casters from hurting others.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves sexy men fighting their attraction, loyalty between friends, powers that are used to fight the evils of the world, hot sex, and quirky attitudes. I would be reading it again, it is perfect book to read when it is cold outside, and you want to lose yourself in a good story.
Title: Night
Series: The Spellbound Series, #1
Author: Erik Clarke
Genre: Paranormal/ Erotic Romance
Length: Novel (229 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-7818-4965-1
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing (January 31st, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Given the powers of an Incubus, could you resist the urge to take the one man you’ve always secretly wanted?
Sex makes the world go round, right?
Or so it seems to Cole Turner, a Seer who can See everyone’s future except his own, when a gift from his Dreamwalking best friend Luke turns his world upside down. Overnight, Cole gains all the allure of an Incubus, drawing suitors to him like moths to a flame. But after a few days of revelling in the fun, reality takes a turn—the mysterious drug he took, known only as “Night,” had to come from someone, and that someone is pissed, on a homicidal scale. Each sexual encounter makes Cole’s attraction grow stronger, making it ever more difficult to just walk outside. And Luke, the Seer’s go-to in times of need, now wants him like everyone else, a point made even worse by the secret desires Cole has for the friend he had always assumed was straight.
Swamped in sex, powerless to See if the future holds any hope for salvation, and at constant risk of losing both his best friend and his life, Cole is about to find out if he’s strong enough to beat the Night racing through his system—and if his relationship with Luke is strong enough to survive it as well.
This is book one in the Spellbound series, see the full series listing here
Purchase Link: https://www.totallybound.com/night
Review: This is the first book in this series. It does contain sex with multiple parties so if you are one that can’t handle it you shouldn’t read this story. Luke gives Cole what is called Night. A drug to help him be better at seeing what is going to happen. What he had not expected was that Night is actually Incubus cum concentrated. Talk about a raging turn on. Everywhere he goes men and women are throwing themselves at him. Too bad the one man he really wants is not only his best friend but also straight as an arrow.
That was what he thought at least. It turns out that he had kissed Luke before he had taken the drug. And Luke let him, seemed to actually like it. This story is actually funny to say the least. You see a man going out just walking down the street and all of a sudden, men and women are touching, licking, and kissing at him. Doesn’t matter if they are straight or not, he had the essence of an incubus. An incubus that is pissed off to say the least. Now all he has to do is figure out what he is going to do with all those throwing themselves at him, a best friend who wants him all of a sudden, and an incubus wanting revenge.
This story brings out all sorts of questions and not very many answers. However, I truly loved it. It made me laugh through the whole story. It caught my attention from the start and did keep it all the way to the end. I loved how the characters mix with each other and to say the sex is not only hot but also full of passion that would set the sheets on fire. I loved the way Cole wants Nick but assumes that Nick is completely straight. It’s the saying “It’s what you get for thinking” that gets me the whole time reading this. All he wanted was to see better, he could see everyone around him, but when it comes to his own life he cannot see any of it. So how did he end up wanted by everyone?
I would recommend this story to anyone who loves multiple partners, crazy men and women, hot sex, major lust for a best friend, the paranormal worlds, and an angry incubus who is out to get the one who sucked his essence out and gave it away. I told you it was funny.
Title: Cody’s Dragon
Series: A Dragon’s Treasure, #1
Author: K. M. Mahoney
Genre: Paranormal/ Fantasy/ Fairytales
Length: Novel (207 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-7818-4739-8
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing (January 31st, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: How far is Cody willing to go to keep his dragon?
Kirit is lonely and he’s sick of coming home from the king’s assignments to a cold, empty cave. After searching for years for a mate, Kirit decides it’s time to try a new approach. Against the advice of all his friends, he heads for the human side of the world. There he finds Cody, and the man is everything he could ever want. It takes a little bit of persuasion, but he manages to talk Cody into coming back with him to Faerie.
Within a week of arriving, Cody is beginning to rethink his impulsive decision. He’s trekked across more terrain than he would care to remember, been summoned to meet a king, and flown on a dragon—not an experience he’s willing to repeat anytime soon. Kirit’s growly possessiveness is starting to wear on his nerves, and the unexpected hostility he encounters at the palace is almost enough to make him give up.
But Cody is stubborn. He may not be willing to admit it out loud, but Kirit has got under his skin. He may even, shockingly enough, love the big guy.
Now Cody has to decide what he’s willing to do to keep the man of his dreams.
This is book one in the A Dragon’s Treasure series, see the full series listing here
Review: This is the first book in this series and I can tell from the first paragraph that it was going to be an amazing read and I was right. It gave me a world full of fantasies that were just perfect. I love the paranormal worlds a lot more than just a normal romance story because it seems that so much more thought went goes into it. This is about amazing dragon shifters and a fae court. There is a mixture of different types of paranormals in this book. I love that even though Cody was a rent boy, he still seems to have not lost that zeal of life. He is just trying to pay the rent and bills so he sells his body to do it. However, he had decided for a break, seems that even he was getting tired of the same old same old. Hiding behind a dumpster in the alley, taking a break from the problems around him Cody was found by Kirit. A very sexy man with an attitude and a quirky way of talking.
Kirit was tired of living in a world without a mate, so he decides to go to earth and search for his one and only. Although dragons can have many choices, they get a sense from one by their scent, however due to a fight Kirit had lost that part of him, so he has to wait for a pull of some sort. He had at first decided to use a witch to help him find his mate, but surprise he finds it while out walking from a club. He felt the pull to take this man. He is of an old world standing so when Cody talks most of the time he has no idea what he is saying.
Once Cody accepts, he whisks him back through the portal to his world. Only to find himself and his mate stuck at the palace, because the king wanted to meet Cody. They get stuck there when a council was going to come there to court. Shemas wanted Kirit’s help with them. What they had not expected was it was all a test to see if Cody could handle it. With Cody’s quirky attitude, he was well-loved by many, even fighting his own battles when needed. The only problem was a dragon wants to always be the hero so he had to fix that part of it.
This story is funny and I pretty much laughed through the whole book. Every time someone said something it would be answered with, I don’t understand that. It was a recurring joke for all of them. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. It is a quirky little story and I was amazed to find out that I read it in one setting. I would recommend this story to anyone who loved the paranormal worlds, dragons, sexy men, and hot sex. Bring on book two because I can’t wait to read it.
Blurb: When architect Gregory Hampton’s son, Davey, starts having trouble in Little League, Greg takes him to an eye doctor. The diagnosis hits them hard. Davey’s sight is degenerating rapidly, and eventually he’ll go blind.
Tom Spangler is used to getting what he wants. When Greg captures his attention, he asks Greg for a date. They have a good time until Greg gets a call from the friends watching his son, telling him Davey has fallen. Greg and Tom return to find the worst has happened—Davey can no longer see.
With so much going on in his life, Greg doubts he’ll see Tom again. But Tom has researched beep baseball, where balls and bases make sounds to enable the visually impaired to participate in Little League. Tom spearheads an effort to form a team so Davey can continue to play the game he loves. But when Greg’s ex-wife shows up with her doctor boyfriend, offering a possible cure through a radical procedure, Greg must decide how far he’ll go to give Davey a chance at getting his sight back.
Review: Gregory Hampton is a devoted single father putting everything he has into raising his son who he has sole custody of. Davey is an accomplished little league player, he loves baseball, but he hasn’t been playing his best lately. The uncle of one of Davey’s teammates suggests bringing Davey to the eye doctor to check his sight. What he learns when he does is that his son, so vibrant and full of life at ten years old, has a degenerative eye disease. He’s going blind.
At a cookout with his friends, one of whom is blind, Greg opens up about his concerns and takes comfort in his friends understanding and suggestions. He also catches the eye of Tom Spangler. Wasting no time, Tom makes sure Greg is gay from the start, and sets his sights on getting the gorgeous single dad to go out with him. Tom is wealthy and used to getting what he wants, but what he truly wants is someone who can see past his money, and love him as a person. Has he found that person with Greg?
Greg is hesitant to open up to Tom as well, he too has some issues with trusting that someone could get past his baggage and just love him and his son. It’s a lot to ask of a guy, to take on a single father with a blind child. But Tom does just that. He learns as much as he can about Davey’s blindness, even researching beep baseball. It’s a bumpy start, but soon Tom and Greg are dating and getting to know each other, and Davey certainly approves. Then Joyce, Davey’s physically and emotionally absent mother, shows up with her “doctor” boyfriend in tow and stirs up a hornet’s nest.
It’s one thing to be born blind and never know color, sight or scenery. Little Davey has experienced all of this, and lost it, so he is angry and confused. Grey didn’t a phenomenal job of showing the full range of emotions that a ten year old boy would display in this situation. This was a new side of Grey I saw in this story as well. Instead of going for the passionate love story between the two male leads, he went for the building of the relationship between Greg, Tom AND Davey. After all, they are meant to become a family.
Another exceptional story in the Senses series by Andrew Grey. What makes this series in particular so good is the way Grey builds the story around the person with the disability and shows that they are still a person with a depth of feeling that is even stronger because of what they have lost. Each character grows stronger with love and friendship, which is a constant circle within these stories.
The story in this book could be read by itself, but to fully appreciate the various characters and their background stories, I suggest you read them in order. And I definitely recommend this book, this series, this author across the board.
Link to Tams review of Love Comes Silently, book 1 in the Senses series: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/496566401?book_show_action=false
** I received a copy of this book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Blurb: In 2134, the United States of America no longer exists as a world superpower. Americans struggle to keep from being completely conquered by their numerous and determined enemies. Scientists have begun to genetically engineer soldiers to fight the war in place of true humans. These men are stronger, faster, and more impervious to injuries. These soldiers are created in labs, and then once they’re birthed, they’re shipped to the compounds of the American Freedom Front where they’re trained exclusively to fight.
Baxter and Addison are two such soldiers. They’re from different compounds, but serve in the same unit. Baxter isn’t the most intelligent of the soldiers, and he knows it. His job is to kill the bad guys, and do nothing else. Addison, however, although he understands his place in the world, also yearns for more. He doesn’t want to be just a killer, but to have some other kind of life, and he’s discovered he wants that life to be with Baxter.
During the height of battle, when their unit decides to stop fighting and makes a desperate run for the border toward freedom into Mexico, Baxter and Addison quickly find they have only the certainty of their love to get them through the dangers they are about to face.(
Review: Hearts on the Line is a very different story for me. It is Sci-fi- futuristic and has action and adventure. It’s not that I don’t like sci/fi. It’s just not something I read a lot of. I read the blurb on this it and it sounded like something I would like. I loved it.
This story is set in the future and has a sort of post-apocalyptic feel. (Sorry folks, no Zombies). It is about a group of genetically engineered soldiers. These are men that are human, living breathing men, who have been developed in a lab to have superior strength, fighting skills, eat less, be stronger etc. The perfect soldier. There are two groups one with a bit more intelligence to be officers then there are the grunts developed for front line fighting, basically cannon fodder. Though it’s pushed aside, these men do have feelings and suffer pain. This part of the story really tugged on my heartstrings.
Baxter and Addison are the main characters. They are bio genetically created. Addison is the leader of his group of eight men. Baxter is his second in command. Baxter was injured the previous year and Addison had worried he would be put down, but Addison pulled a few strings to keep Baxter in his unit and by his side. Baxter meant more to Addison than just a good soldier. Baxter is Addison best friend and he couldn’t imagine life without Baxter. Baxter feels the same for Addison, except he doesn’t feel worthy of Addison since he is an officer and meant to move up and go places, Baxter cant. Can you see the romance already and the action?
Baxter and Addison’s group was moved into the front lines for a mission, both men can since some problems, not only is it dangerous enemy territory but now the Trues (full humans fear of being taken over by the GE( genetically engineered) so they have no problems pushing them into danger to try to get rid of them. (Cruel and heartless isn’t it?)
I think you see the basic story, it’s a group of GEs sent on a dangerous mission, they have a secret plan to try to find a better life and there is romance blooming between Baxter and Addison. There is also another sweet twist in the last section of this story that I found so sweet. Yes I am such a romantic and this one sent my romance meter pinging!
The world building isn’t bad. My only issue was that there is many codes used like GE (genetic engineered), AFF, etc. They are explained, but I kept forgetting what it meant, but it wasn’t a big deal. There wasn’t a lot of big unusual, hard to pronounce names, which I found great. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves in this genre so this was very easy to read.
The romance was beautiful, there wasn’t a lot of sex, but what there was is very well done, mostly off the page and I found it loving and sensual, very befitting for these two men. Addison and Baxter are on my favourite couples list for this year.
If you like futuristic worlds, A little science fiction, bio-engineered beings, soldiers, friends to lovers, sweet romance and sensual man-love, camaraderie, some twists and turns this is for you!
Blurb: The most important things in Simon Murray’s life are football, friends, and film—in that order. His friends despair of him ever meeting someone, but despite his loneliness, Simon is cautious about looking for more. Then his best friends drag him to a party, where he barges into a football conversation and ends up defending the honour of star forward Declan Tyler—unaware that the athlete is present. In that first awkward meeting, neither man has any idea they will change each other’s lives forever.
Like his entire family, Simon revels in living in Melbourne, the home of Australian Rules football and Mecca for serious fans. There, players are treated like gods—until they do something to fall out of public favour. This year, the public is taking Declan to task for suffering injuries outside his control, so Simon’s support is a bright spot.
But as Simon and Declan fumble toward a relationship, keeping Declan’s homosexuality a secret from well-meaning friends and an increasingly suspicious media becomes difficult. Nothing can stay hidden forever. Soon Declan will have to choose between the career he loves and the man he wants, and Simon has never been known to make things easy—for himself or for others.
First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press (March 2009)
Review: Simon and Roger have been best friends since they were twelve years old. A shared love of football has kept them thicker than thieves ever since, even though they pull for opposing teams. Simon came out to Roger when they were teenagers and he has lived an open life with his friends, family and co-workers since then. It’s never been exactly easy, but it’s who he is and how he feels he has to live his life, regardless. So when he secretly begins dating the hottest footballer on the planet, his best friend is less than thrilled.
From the first time, Declan saw Simon at a house party and Simon was defending his current stretch of bad luck on the field, Declan was smitten. He stole a kiss under the stars and the cover of trees that very night. But the thought of coming out makes Declan sick, he doesn’t know how the media, his adoring fans or his teammates would take to a gay footballer in their midst. But as time grows, Simon grows on him as well, and when a glory hound reporter gets his hands on photos of Simon and Declan kissing, all bets are off! Will Declan take the deal his team owner offers him? To brush it off and say Simon made a pass at him that he rebuffed. Or will he put his career he has worked his life for on the line to come out and be true not only to himself, but to the man he loves as well?
There were a lot of ups and down in this book, and the majority of the time, it seemed down. I did love the differing personalities of the two ML, and the way the secondary characters complemented them within the story. The story flowed well and to spite an overall slowness to the book as a whole, the pace remained steady. I might have skipped ahead a few times if it had been narrated by anyone other than Paul Morey. I would have liked a little more intimacy between Simon and Declan when they had sex, which aspect was always mostly glossed over. And the ending was anticlimactic for me.
All that being said, there was an opposites attract and have a way of bending each other aspect that I liked to the story. It started off well, but lost me somewhere toward the end. I think that someone who really likes football would enjoy this story more than I did. But hey, I got to listen to Paul Morey for fifteen hours! His narration added something to the experience for me that the story itself was lacking in the end.
** I received a copy of this audio book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Blurb: From the farms of Tennessee, Beau Watkins had it all in high school; the cute girl, the popular, jock lifestyle, a loving family. As a rising freshman at an out-of-state college, he’s determined to find out who he really is behind the fake it ’til you make it attitude. He joins Rainbow Connection, the gay student alliance, hoping to find himself. Instead, he finds Vin Reyes. Raised by his grandparents and the heir to a prosperous company, Vin has been out of the closet since he figured out what that meant. He has it all: fashionable clothing, fancy cars, huge houses, and a real party lifestyle, even a bodyguard. Most of all, he has a secret.
Uncomfortable with Vin’s generosity, Beau fights his growing attraction for the president of Rainbow Connection, chasing instead a series of shallow affairs. Vin’s never been denied anything that he wants, though, and now he wants Beau. But it’s not until an old rival puts Beau in the hospital that Vin realizes that Beau means more to him than a simple love affair. Can the two of them bridge the gap between their worlds and roll with the all the punches life will throw at them?
Review: Isn’t this cover great? I really enjoyed this story. It had been highly recommended to me by a friend so of course I jumped right in. The story is about a young man Beau, from rural Tennessee going off to college and coming out. He joins a group called Rainbow connection, meets Vin the president, and makes plenty of friends in the group. The group is fabulous collection of colourful fun characters, both female and male. I loved Shan. I really liked the fun names in this story if you want to see Beaus full name and Vin’s, grab the book. Vin’s is so much fun.
Ok, now for the story. I loved it. There is lots of action and emotion. I will say I felt it was a bit jumpy and at times I got a bit lost but it was simple to find and I as I got into the story and used to the style it didn’t bother me so much. I can’t wait to see what’s next… it did end with a happy for now but the tease that something is on the horizon.
If you like college men, rich, sexy, generous men, lesbians(no girly bits involved just fun friends) friends to lovers, first crushes, coming out, and a bit of mystery this is for you!
Blurb: “If you dig up the past, be prepared to get dirty. “
“ The Plumber’s Mate, Book 2″
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing since plumber Tom Paretski and P.I. Phil Morrison became connected at the heart, if not always at Tom’s dodgy hip. Neither of their families has been shy about voicing their disapproval, which hasn’t helped Tom’s uneasy relationship with his prickly older sister, Cherry.
But when Cherry is poisoned at her own engagement party, the horror of her near death has Tom’s head spinning with possible culprits. Is it her fiancé Gregory, a cathedral canon with an unfortunate manner and an alarming taste for taxidermy? Someone from her old writers’ circle, which she left after a row? Or could the attack be connected to her work as a barrister?
Phil is just as desperate to solve the case before someone ends up dead-and he fears it could be Tom. At least one of their suspects has a dark secret to hide, which makes Tom’s sixth sense for finding things like a target painted on his back…
Warning: Contains a strong, silent, macho PI; a cheeky, chirpy, cat-owning plumber; and a gag gift from beyond the grave that’ll put the cat firmly among the pigeons.
Review: A quirky book full of good dry British humor, cheekiness, sarcasm and a plumber with paranormal abilities. Specifically he finds things, hidden things, and while this helps him find leaks fast, it can also get him into trouble fast, as we learned in book one. Book two leaves us off watching the relationship grow between Tom and Phil. Are they meant to be a lasting thing? Is it too soon to swap keys or talk about forever plans? Tom is left to ponder this question as he helps his big sis prepare to take vows of her own, to a very odd and somewhat creepy clergyman. The plot thickens as his sister first gets in touch with Tom to discuss the passing of their dear old Auntie Lol, and the odd request she had given him to go to her old home and find his hidden bequest.
Of course, we know Tom by now, and even though he’s the one for a knack of finding things, trouble seems to want to find him, and his big sis. During an engagement party Cherry is poisoned, trouble is was it intended for him, or her? The odd animal stuffing fiancé, Greg also seems suspicious, even more when he hires Phil to do some work for him, and keep it secret from Cherry.
As if death, murder, and creepy soon to be brother-in-laws weren’t enough excitement, a wayward book club introduces Tom to long-lost family…though I can’t give more away than that!
Will Cherry, Phil, and Tom escape some madman’s murder attempts? Will Tom and Phil get closer, or drift apart? And what the heck does Cherry see in big, tall, and creepy Gregory? So many questions to answer and a long, winding, crazy path of a story to get you there! Merrow’s sense of humor kept me reading, and fingering the murderer was tough, both good qualities in any murder mystery if you ask me! I recommend you grab this series, and read in order, as we see many characters from the past come into the future.
Hey look what I have for you today guys! Yep we have J.P. Barnaby and her heartbreaking incredible story Spencer. J.P.has also let us have a peek into Henry’s life (you will so have to read this series now just to find out who Henry is *snigger*) and has a fabulous $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway, I have also thrown in Thommie’s review, and let me tell you that Thommie was emotionally wrung out when she finished reading both Aaron & Spencer (yes these books must be read in order), so enjoy our post today and good luck! *muah* ~Pixie~
A Survivor Story: Spencer
It’s been nearly five years since Aaron woke up in the hospital so broken, he couldn’t stand the sight of his own face. The flashbacks no longer dominate his life, but he’s still unable to find intimacy with his lover, Spencer Thomas. With time, patience, and the support of his family, his therapist, and his loving partner, Aaron has figured out how to live again. The problem is, Spencer hasn’t. His life has been on hold as he waits for the day he and Aaron can have a normal relationship. Hoping to move things forward for them both, he takes a job as a programmer in downtown Chicago, leaving Aaron alone.
Reeling in the wake of Spencer’s absence, Aaron receives another shock when his attackers are caught.
Now, he must testify and verbalize his worst nightmare. Publicly reliving his trauma without Spencer at his side destroys his precarious control. But he finds someone who can understand and empathize in Jordan, who watched his brother cut down in a school shooting. With Spencer gone and the DA knocking at his door, Aaron seeks solace in Jordan, and Spencer will have to risk everything to hold on to Aaron’s love.
“Stephanie,” Miranda Thomas offered with one hand on her round belly. The baby kicked her hand and she smiled. She felt the rumble of a chuckle in her husband Henry’s chest as she rested against him on their plush couch. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on top of hers.
“Chloe,” he countered and nuzzled her hair out of the way to place a kiss on her neck. God, she loved him. Even Nell liked him and her sister didn’t like anyone. That could have something to do with Henry’s new thriving counseling practice, but she didn’t think so. Nell never had a thing for money. She, like Miranda, judged people based on who they were, not what they had.
Henry Thomas was a good man, a good husband, and soon, he’d be a good father.
“I don’t hate that one,” she admitted. “Let’s write that one down.”
“Did you ask the tech when I got dressed?” She laughed. “Or is that a guess? I thought we didn’t want to know.” Miranda twisted a little to capture her husband’s lips in a slow kiss.
“I didn’t ask. I just know.”
“Okay, so what boys names do you like?”
“Anything but Henry Junior. I only escaped being a junior by the grace of God and a different middle name. Let’s allow him to be his own man.”
“I’m good with that. How about Bernard?” She kept her face solemn as he leaned around to peer at her. The horror in his expression brought a giggle to her lips.
“Seriously?”
“No, you said anything but Henry. I just wanted to test that theory.”
He wrapped his arms a little tighter and kissed her cheek with a grin.
“Okay, if he comes out really hairy with a casket around his neck, we’ll totally go with Bernard.” Henry brushed a wayward piece of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She sighed, her heart bursting with love for her husband and unborn child. She had everything she wanted right there on their little couch.
“How about Spencer?”
“Eh, I’m not loving that. What about Brandon?”
“That’s pretty common lately. I think Steve and Donna just named their son Brandon.”
“Albert?”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, okay, maybe not.” Henry laughed and kissed her behind the ear.
“Do I have to go to work tonight? I want to just sit here on the couch with you.”
“I told you to quit when you got pregnant, honey.” Henry’s voice grew serious. “You don’t have to work at all. I’ll provide for you and the baby.”
“I know. I worked so hard for my degree, though. It seems like a waste when there’s such a shortage of nurses. I didn’t know I’d feel like this.” Miranda rubbed her ever-expanding belly with their joined hands. “Maybe I won’t go back after the baby is born.”
“God, I would love that.”
“I know you would. And now, I just have one more week, Henry. I couldn’t leave with Sharon on vacation. Just one more week, and I’ll be your little wifie, barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.”
Henry sat up and turned Miranda gently in his arms.
“You know that’s not how I feel, right? I just want you to be safe and happy.”
“Sweetheart, I was teasing. You may have a few interesting personality traits, but being a Neanderthal has never been one of them.”
She giggled as he tickled her until she threatened to pee on his new couch like a puppy.
“Oh!”
“No, no puppies. At least not until the baby is a little older.”
He grinned at her pout but caught her bottom lip between his as he kissed her.
“Okay, go get ready for work before I call them and tell them you’re never coming back. God, you’re really thinking about staying home with our kids?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“I love you, both of you,” he said, resting his hand on hers over their new son or daughter. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“And I promise, we’ll get a puppy when things calm after the baby. We have time.”
“A whole lifetime,” she promised back.
Award winning romance novelist, J. P. Barnaby has penned over a dozen books including the Working Boys series, the Little Boy Lost series, In the Absence of Monsters, and Aaron. As a bisexual woman, J.P. is a proud member of the GLBT community both online and in her small town on the outskirts of Chicago. A member of Mensa, she is described as brilliant but troubled, sweet but introverted, and talented but deviant. She spends her days writing software and her nights writing erotica, which is, of course, far more interesting. The spare time that she carves out between her career and her novels is spent reading about the concept of love, which, like some of her characters, she has never quite figured out for herself.
Blurb: It’s been nearly five years since Aaron woke up in the hospital so broken, he couldn’t stand the sight of his own face. The flashbacks no longer dominate his life, but he’s still unable to find intimacy with his lover, Spencer Thomas. With time, patience, and the support of his family, his therapist, and his loving partner, Aaron has figured out how to live again. The problem is, Spencer hasn’t. His life has been on hold as he waits for the day he and Aaron can have a normal relationship. Hoping to move things forward for them both, he takes a job as a programmer in downtown Chicago, leaving Aaron alone.
Reeling in the wake of Spencer’s absence, Aaron receives another shock when his attackers are caught.
Now, he must testify and verbalize his worst nightmare. Publicly reliving his trauma without Spencer at his side destroys his precarious control. But he finds someone who can understand and empathize in Jordan, who watched his brother cut down in a school shooting. With Spencer gone and the DA knocking at his door, Aaron seeks solace in Jordan, and Spencer will have to risk everything to hold on to Aaron’s love.
Review: The sequel to Aaron’s story comes with Spencer and it continues with a heart breaking story three years after Aaron and Spencer became an official couple. While the first book introduced us to the characters and their circumstances, the second picks up and takes us through the difficult journey both Spencer and Aaron have to take in order to continue to live their lives, not merely as shells bound to their suffering, but as people in control of their lives and demons past, present , and future. Not an easy task, but the author delivers a hell of a story, one that will shatter your illusions, break your heart and reform it as the story evolves.
I can’t say how much I liked this book even as it hurt reading it every step of the way. These characters are magnificent and I’m not referring only to our protagonists, but the entire cast. Each and every one of them is a character with a life-like and realistic portrayal rarely witnessed in books these days. They have a personality that sucks you right in in the story, gripping you and keeping you bound till it ends with no means to escape.
If you thought that Aaron would magically overcome his fears and live a wonderful life from that moment on with Spencer, well you were dead wrong. Life is not that easy and this story manages to capture the very essence of what struggling through nightmares is really about. In addition the tiredness that comes through struggling each and every day overcomes our protagonists, new characters are introduced who become causes for turbulence and jealousy, old characters get older and their new problems add onto the already existing pile, and all this is cause for a hell of an emotional punch throughout the story.
The maturity that comes with time is also amazing to witness. There were times that I came to hate Spencer and even get impatient with Aaron, but no matter what, the way that the story was told made it nearly impossible to judge any one character and point fingers. You just couldn’t figure out how you or anyone in a similar situation would react and thus the story reached the goal of making you think and re-evaluate your beliefs and ideals.
As for the erotic part that was quite lacking in the prequel, I loved how the author approached and finally made it all happen. Honestly I didn’t think she could thus I was really surprised with the end of this fabulous book. The satisfaction I got from this entire read is beyond words and I really don’t know if I want another sequel with these boys, because I feel as if this story is now finally told with the best closure ever.
All in all, this was yet another brilliant title delivered by J.P. Barnaby. Strongly recommended for an intense, emotional ride with a heavy dose of a realistically painted love story.
Title: Killian’s Claim
