Title: Absinthe
Series: (Not yet)
Author: Julia Talbot & B. A. Tortuga
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Short (38 pages)
Publisher: Torque Press (October 30th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts
Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo
Blurb:Bartholome would give anything to get his young lover Rene to stop running away from him. Years ago, he made a stupid mistake, letting the rest of their wolf pack come between them, but he knows better now. Rene’s not sure he can believe Barthe will ever want him. Can they come back together before they lose their chance forever?
Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_106&products_id=4052
Review: WoW. It’s amazing exactly how much heat can be packed into 38 pages! The story is very short and actually has two plotlines. The first story is about Bartholome and Rene and Rene accepting that he and Bartholome are meant to be together. There are some small insecurities to overcome for said acceptance to occur. Once that acceptance happens, the second story begins which is about Bartholome’s best friend and what (no the what is not in error) appears might be his mate as well. The author is clearly setting the reader up for the next story that will follow this one.
At first, I thought that this as a light BDSM sex romp type of book and then I realized that the author had snuck in a theme of belonging and creating your own family that you are comfortable with. Not only do Bartholome and Rene find each other and begin their HEA, but also his BFF is apparently well on his way to doing the same. The four will create their own pack and begin a new reality. So there’s lots of steam as we have come to expect from a paranormal romance and a solid literary theme thrown in for good measure.