A Cat Named Hercules by K. C. Kendricks

Title: A Cat Named Hercules

Author: K.C. Kendricks

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (119 Pages)

Publisher:  Amber Allure (January 15, 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb: New in town, Shiloh Rudy joins a group of civic-minded volunteers to better acquaint himself with his recently adopted community. It’s a good way to make friends, network, and help make a difference, not to mention perhaps meet someone interesting—in a romantic sort of way. The one thing Shiloh didn’t expect was a love to rival all others to come with four white paws.

Gale Widmyer is on his feet and moving forward after piecing his life back together following a series of wrong choices. The one bright spot in his existence, even in his darkest moments, was the fulfillment of his dream to become a veterinarian. Gale’s making good on a promise to himself when an abandoned kitten leads him to Shiloh Rudy and a chance at the happiness he never hoped to have.

Laying the cornerstone for a developing relationship comes easy for Shiloh and Gale. But the wounds of the past often remain unhealed at their deepest point. A few careless words erect a wall of silence between the two men, one Shiloh has to breach if he hopes to win Gale back. But it will take more than apologies to win Gale’s forgiveness and put old fears to rest. It’ll take a cat named Hercules…

Product Link:  http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CatNamedHercules.html

Reviewer:  Madison

Review: Shiloh is new in town. Despite having a group of good friends to pal around with, he is lonely. He’s ready to settle down and try his hand at a long-term relationship. Especially after meeting Gale, a local veterinarian he meets after finding and adopting a stray kitten.

Gale, who is in his mid-30s, has just recently come out of the closet after a painful divorce. He has never been with a man before, so he is hesitant to accept Shiloh’s advances. Their strong mutual attraction, however, cannot be denied.

These two have amazing chemistry both in and out of the bedroom. They are a perfect match. They adore each other, just as much as they adore the feisty little kitty cat that brought them together. I hesitate to call this story “adorable” (although it is) only because it was also very, very hot. K.C. Kendricks not only lets us peek inside the bedroom, she also lets us peek right under the covers to witness all of Gale’s firsts in what are some very steamy love scenes.

Once I started reading, I could not put this one down! Loved it!

Favorite quote: “If I had only known kittens can climb drapes, perch on top of a traverse rod, and then screech like some femme fatale in a low-budget horror flick to be rescued. That a kitten sounds like a herd of buffalo running on hardwood floors in the middle of the night. If I had only known a kitten’s claws can sink through a sheet into your balls while you’re jerking off. An old adage says, “Live and learn,” and I amassed an encyclopedic amount out cat wisdom in less than twenty-four hours.”

Catching Kit by Kay Berrisford

Title: Catching Kit

Author: Kay Berrisford

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novella (120pgs)

Publisher: Loose Id (24th July 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: He was supposed to trap him, not fall in love.

When government agent and Ethereal Being hunter, Denny, has to imprison an elf in his garage overnight, his life spins out of control. Caught and cuffed on the London Underground, Kit shatters everything Denny’s been taught about elves. How can Kit be a dangerous, mind-reading cipher who preys on human emotions? Kit’s gorgeous and funny, and he’s got a cute arse. He even shares Denny’s quiet kinks for bondage and cross-dressing. Or so Kit claims.

When Kit wiles his way into Denny’s house for a session of mind-blowing sex, the elf seems too good to be true–until reality strikes. Denny’s fucked an elf. A prisoner in his charge. If he doesn’t take Kit to the containment depot he’s in big trouble, and Kit’s about to drop an equally devastating bombshell.  The elf’s been searching a thousand years for a bloke like Denny. He ‘gets’ Denny’s kinks, adores role play and women’s panties, and now he needs Denny’s love to survive.

Is Kit preying on Denny’s emotions, or can Denny trust him? If so, dare Denny break the law and gamble his life to save the Ethereal Being in his bed?

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/catching-kit/

Review: Denny is a hunter, an Ethereal Being (Elves) Hunter. It is his job to round up the EB parasites before they bleed the emotions from humans. But, when he catches one on the London Underground he discovers that the EBs might not be the dangerous beings that he has been led to believe. He falls rapidly for the cute elf Kit. But, what is he supposed to do now? The Being he has fallen for is supposed to be a danger to humans and there is no way the government is going to let them be.

This is a great novella that shows us a different take on Elves, and the view that humans have on them. Denny is just doing his job, but when he comes across Kit the last thing he wants is to do his job. In fact, he has to resist the temptation that the elf poses, but it is a losing battle. Especially, when he discovers that they share a love of women’s underwear and slightly kinky sex. All Kit wants is for someone to love, and not to fade. He thinks he has found that with Denny, but he has to convince the sexy hunter not to take him in.

Kit and Denny come together very quickly and the main story is spanned out over just a couple of days. It is an interesting story-line and could have been fleshed out quite a bit more. I wanted to know more about the elves and how they came to be, it was very vague. The humans way of dealing with them was, well, to be expected really, but again, I would have liked to know more about exactly what they do and why. Denny’s background was interesting and I liked that it seemed to be quite involved with his decisions.

Denny and Kit were hot and sexy together and I must admit I do like a man who wears women’s underwear. The slinkier the better. And, I really liked that Kay Berrisford had a man’s man wearing them, as it hits closer to reality then it always being slinky, feminine men wearing them. The epilogue was interesting and I would love to actually read a story based on it and the struggles they faced in being together and campaigning against the government for EB rights.

So, I will recommend this to those who love the paranormal, elves, secret government agencies, hot sex, a touch of kinky sex, hot men in women’s underwear and a very happy ending.

 

 

Garnets of Destiny by Serena Yates

Title: Garnets of Destiny

Series: Gemstone Chronicles 01

Author: Serena Yates

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Alternative World

Length: Novel Plus (274pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (4th August 2012)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Zachary is homeless after escaping his abusive family. Selling a garnet ring given to him at birth by the mysterious Messenger would be enough to rent an apartment. Zohar, a good-looking jeweler, promises to help–but can Zachary trust him?

“Good stories are as rare as flawless high carat gemstones.” –The Collector

Zachary, abused for years by his adoptive parents, finally runs away. He knows he’s safer on his own than in their so-called care. Homeless and desperate for money so he can put down a deposit for an apartment, he decides to sell the antique garnet ring his parents received from the mysterious Messenger at Zachary’s birth.

Zohar Zyngold is crown prince of Zelaria, a world very similar to Earth in a parallel dimension. On his twenty-fifth birthday, during the traditional ceremony, the antique garnet ring his father passed on to him starts emitting an intense red light. Only finding the bearer of the matching ring that has been located on Earth will allow him to fully control his new paranormal powers. Using some of them to cross into Earth’s dimension, he masquerades as a jeweler, hoping to attract the ring’s owner.

Zachary and Zohar are not only attracted to each other when they first meet, their rings emit a deep red light when they touch. Zachary gets scared and runs, but criminals attack him and Zohar when he tries to help. They flee to Zelaria to discover that their problems have only just begun…

This book is the first in a series called the Gemstone Chronicles, a collection of unique love stories and romances brought to you from the Void Outside Space and Time. These volumes are hand-selected by the Chroniclers, a team of beings working tirelessly to bring you interesting sensory experiences, works of art and music, as well as entertaining stories. With several dimensions and all of time at their disposal to find the most fascinating tales, the range of adventures is as unique as each individual Collector. A special being with extraordinary imagination, he is the focal point and provides new and interesting ideas that are put together in the Hall of Collections for all to admire and enjoy.

Read more about the Gemstone Chronicles and its various worlds in the special brochure coming soon to the Silver Publishing website! The Gemstone Chronicles Companion will showcase the entire collection as it is built story by story, updated each time a new one joins the group. Don’t miss it!

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1195

Review: Well, this is great start to what looks to be a brilliant collection of 12 stories. Zachary is living on the streets, he ran away from his abusive adoptive parents four years before, and now he is desperate. he decides to sell the ring that he got from his natural parents before they died and meets Zohar, who both scares him and makes him feel safe. Zohar travelled to Earth to find the match to his Garnet ring and his bond-mate, when he finally meets Zachary he’s delighted that he is his bond-mate as well as the owner of the matching Garnet ring. when they flee to Zelaria to escape the men after Zachary, they discover much more than they thought possible.

This is a brilliant story that gives a great background to the Collector, his purpose and the men who work with him. Zohar and Zachary are characters in a story written for the Collector, but are they? Or are they real people, in real worlds, living their lives for the benefit of the Collector’s story? I can’t answer that question, but what I can answer is that this is like a story inside a story. We have the story of the Collector and the Chroniclers, and the Chroniclers are the ones who create what the Collector wants. Do they manipulate time, space, people and places to create the stories? Or do they write the story which is then enacted? I really couldn’t tell you, but we get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Zachary and Zohar meet in awkward circumstances with Zachary being forced to sell his Garnet ring. Zohar knows the basics of what to expect when he meets Zachary, but he is still unsure of what will happen. Zachary is very wary of men. His experience has led him to believe that big men like to use their fists. So when he first meets Zohar, he is frightened by the feelings the bigger man invoke. Zohar has a lot to explain to Zachary, but circumstances force his hand and he has to take Zachary to his home world… and that’s the beginning of their adventure.

So, have I confused you all enough now *snicker* good! So this story has left me wanting more (Amethysts of Wisdom hurry up and get published). Because this one had sweet gentle love, a slower courtship, political intrigue, danger, persecution, physic powers, a kidnapping, a great rescue and some hot sweet loving. This story is really well written and has a fantastic plot, (I am intrigued to see what the rest of the series will be). Great characters and a softer romance, with more getting to know each other and less sex.Did I mind the less sex? Well, no. Not really. Because the sex scene that we do get means all the more for their love, because they did wait *sigh* so romantic.

I am going to recommend this to those who want a sweet gentle love story with danger, hot sex, political intrigue, with dimensional travel to alternative worlds, with physic abilities and a happy ending. Honestly this story is enjoyable and unique, I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

Full Disclosure by Tibby Armstrong

Title: Full Disclosure

Series: Hollywood #3

Author: Tibby Armstrong

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel

Publisher: Loose Id (August 14, 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts – OMG!!

Blurb: Weddings are stressful under the best of circumstances, which this certainly isn’t. Following the release of his debut movie, No Apologies, Greg Falkner is working hard to be a better man to fiancé, Aaron Blake, despite his baser instincts. When their alma mater contacts Greg and asks him to serve as their celebrity master of ceremonies, for an upcoming charity event, he grudgingly accepts at Aaron’s urging.

Aaron admires the new man Greg has become, yet craves the old independence of his lover. He’d love to strike a compromise in the relationship and hopes that returning to their beginning will help Greg lay some personal demons to rest.

Neither man anticipates the violence that will befall one of them, potentially changing both lives in unimaginable ways. What emerges from the darkness, through frustrations and determination, is true deep love.

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/full-disclosure.html

Reviewer: Thommie

Review: Oh my, what a book! I knew it; I knew Tibby would deliver yet another fantastic novel, but still, what a book! I don’t know where to begin and where to end. The protagonists, yes, Aaron and Greg. We met them through “No Apologies”, we saw glimpses of them on “Acting Out” and we see them bloom in “Full Disclosure”.

With their wedding approaching Aaron needs to see both himself and Greg letting go of the past and the shadows that still lurk in the corners. Both he and Greg decide to go back to the place where it all started, the place that held their best and worse memories of their life. Aaron, in an attempt to reconcile his relationship with his family and Greg, in a last attempt to let go his fears and darkness for his hatred Lawson. Ten years have passed and although a lot seemed to have changed, the pair soon learned that a lot still remained the same, if not a tad more dangerous. Prejudice once again proved to be their worst enemy, an enemy making a strong attempt to take even Greg’s life.

This book highlights the scars and the trauma that is left from bullying so strongly it makes your heart tighten at the wrongness and the unfairness of it all. The emotions generated are strong and tug at your heart, making you want to swap at the ugliness and wipe it off of the face of the earth. The proverb “Live and let live” was constantly been present on my mind while reading this book. Is it so hard for people to do at least that? Tibby Armstrong makes quite the statement through her story and she doesn’t sugar coat it. No, she rather lets it slip bluntly through her text.

There are also those great moments in this book that makes your heartbeat go faster. Sensual, sexy and playful the sex between Aaron and Greg is almost painfully stimulating. Enwrapped in humor the light dominion/submission games are hard to resist and not dive in the feeling that the author so artfully created. The chemistry of these two characters is amazing, lacking no strength, sensuality or intimacy. It is deep and profound and you can sense it in every word and line. You can clearly see that, through their stupid displays of sacrifice too. Greg, being the self-loathing bastard that he is, with that slight tendency toward self-destruction, nearly blows it all; condemning both him and Aaron to misery. Yes, the display of how love makes us too blind to see the obvious isn’t missing from this story and although at times it seems that this won’t have a happy ending, one must be expected as this certain author has a love for happily ever afters, even through the darkest of the stories, which is the reason why I like her so much.

I do recommend this book to anyone who has even a slight tendency for romance. Even if you haven’t read the previous books you will enjoy it. The flashbacks to the past make it easy for someone who is reading this book as a standalone to understand the pair’s connection, their whole existence. You don’t feel the need to read the previous books in order to understand, rather to feel and live this great romance to its full extent. But, at some point, I recommend you go back and check them out.

So take a nice and long breath and make sure you have hours ahead of you because I can guarantee you will not put this down until it’s over. Enjoy!

 

 

All or Nothing at All by Carolina Valdez

Title: All or Nothing at All

Author: Carolina Valdez

Genre:  Gay / Science Fiction / Futuristic / Action / Adventure / Ménage (M/M/M) / Group Sex / Exhibitionism / Public Places

Length: 156 Pages

Publisher:  Amber Quill Press (November 13, 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb:  Duty robbed them of their last night together. A deadly fireball struck Earth’s New Los Angeles in the late afternoon, and instead of an evening of dinner and passionate sex with his lover, Battalion Chief David Garrison reported for duty and led his elite fire warrior squadron to fight the raging flames engulfing historic L.A. At first light the next morning, duty sends David’s lover, Dillon Rapner, a special agent working undercover, off world to ferret out the source of these incendiary bombs destroying Old Town.

During his search, Dillon is captured and enslaved for several years on another planet. Only thoughts of returning to David, the man he would love forever, keeps Dillon alive and determined to escape.

Never in his wildest imaginings, however, did Dillon expect that when he returned to Earth he’d find another man in David’s bed…

Product Link:  http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/AllOrNothing.html

Reviewer:  Madison

Review: Well, the blurb pretty much gives everything about the plot away except for the resolution, which you can probably guess before even reading the first sentence. At least I did. I would have enjoyed this one more had I not read the blurb beforehand. There simply weren’t any surprises in the story.

Kudos to the author for making me cry, though. My heart went out to poor Dillon. I can overlook a lot of problems if I’m drawn into the story emotionally, and I was. I also enjoyed the world building. Especially the futuristic sex toys.

A good editor would have probably scrapped a few lines here and there. For example, the explanation about why they weren’t using condoms (thanks to modern medicine) was silly, and not something either of the men would have been thinking about in the heat of the moment. There were also at least three places where the wrong name was used (David instead of Dillon, or vice versa). I had been so proud of myself for keeping the two D’s straight, and then the name errors pulled me out of the story. These were minor disturbances, though. Overall, the writing was good and it was a quick, enjoyable read.

Murphy's Law by Penny Brandon

Title: Murphy’s Law

Series: N/A  

Author: Penny Brandon

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel

Publisher: Loose Id (July 31st, 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb:  Fed up of trying to fly under his step family’s radar, David sets off to Australia to get away from their constant harassment. Maybe there he can be himself, be free, be with someone who can help him forget about his problems for a while. Meeting Scott, who not only thinks he’s sexy but shows him how much over and over again, is perfect. And Scott doesn’t care that he’s accident prone. Well, David is everything prone; what can go wrong does. And falling in love with someone he nearly kills is about as wrong as it can get.

Scott likes his sex uncomplicated, preferably with someone just passing through, but his family wants him to settle down with some nice young man. To get away from their meddling he heads to Bondi Beach. That’s where he meets David, a man who just pushes his buttons, and the fact that he’s looking for the same thing Scott is, makes him ideal. However, he falls in love with David–sassy attitude, accidents, and adorable accent included. But how is Scott going to persuade David to stay with him, especially as David’s seriously upset about nearly getting him killed?

This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices.

Product Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/murphy-s-law.html

Reviewer:   Cat

Review:   This story is really cute and funny. Nicely fast paced, one twist after another. The sex is hot and the things that happen are funny and some are suspenseful.

You can’t help but fall in love with David, and also sympathize with him for being so accident prone. I really related, since I seem to have the same fate. Scott is also likeable and so hot. What’s not to like about him? What all can go wrong in an Australian paradise? You wouldn’t believe half of it!! But I am not telling you will have to read this!!

Some of the things are really out there! Also it’s a bit hard to believe that someone just meeting another person falls so in love in such a short time. Seems like a normal person would run the other direction when these things happen. We aren’t talking spilled paint or stubbed toes here. But this is fiction, and it’s fun to escape to these places especially of love at first sight and ever enduring.

I recommend this book to anyone that loves, love at first sight, sweet funny romance, and some pretty hot mansex.

 

 

Dead Things by Meredith Russell

Title: Dead Things

Author: Meredith Russell

Genre: Zombie, Contemporary

Length: Novel (284pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (11th August 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: A deadly virus creates hungry monsters. Devin Reid, a survivor, risks his life scavenging food and supplies. One day, Devin finds someone with the potential to change a dark future into one of hope and second chances, Noah Weber.

A deadly virus rages indiscriminately across the United States and then beyond. The survivors face a new terror–the undead creatures created in the wake of the infection.

Devin Reid is part of a group surviving out of a high-security penitentiary near Kansas City. Resources are limited and it’s down to a handful of people like Devin to meet the demands on food and supplies. The newly-made monsters are hungry, and the survivors risk their lives scavenging the cities and highways.

On one fateful venture, Devin finds something, someone, with the potential to change a dark future, destined for blood and heartbreak, into one of hope and second chances. He finds Noah Weber.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1179

Review: Devin is part of a small group of survivors living in a prison after a deadly virus outbreak. On a scavenging trip, Devin comes across another survivor, Noah, who has managed to survive living out in the open, which the zombie bites doesn’t infect, and who could just be humanities savior. But the journey to survival is harsh, with blood, loss of life and an egomaniac leading the way. Will there be a future for any of them?

This is a very grim and bloody zombie story, which has a glimmer of hope and maybe developing new relationships after you have lost your whole world. Devin nearly lost everything when the virus struck, but with himself and his sister safe in one of the only safe places in the country, he at least has life. But, when he comes across another survivor he is made to face the fact that although he has life…he is not living. Noah lost everything when the virus struck, he has survived by himself since those first bloody days and now he has been dragged to ‘safety’ where they inject him and want his blood. The only one he trusts is Devin, but Devin holds him away at arm’s length. Can Noah crack the shell that Devin has built around him?

I really enjoyed this story as it has a slightly darker outlook on life, after a virus outbreak that turns the population into zombies. Both the characters of Devin and Noah are really well written, with both of them reacting differently to how the disaster has affected them. Devin draws into himself and continues on, because he has people relying on him. While Noah, grips life with both hands and tries to get as much joy as possible or it could just be that he is around humans who aren’t trying to eat him.

This isn’t a huge romantic, sex-filled story, far from it. It is a story of new hope and maybe new beginnings. It is a story of starting to lay old ghosts to rest and of a glimmer of happiness in the future. This story also isn’t for the faint hearted as it has some pretty gruesome scenes with lots of blood, some with characters we are just getting to know and we don’t get a hearts and flowers happy ending. What we get is the beginning of something that could be special, and a new hope for all humanity.

So, I am going to recommend this to those who love grisly zombie stories, finding the beginning of new love amid harrowing times, of an egomaniac who just hasn’t got a clue and of hope for the future.

 

 

 

Cooper's Promise by Timothy Jay Smith

Title:  Cooper’s Promise

Author:  Timothy Jay Smith

Publisher:  iUniverse (January 16th, 2012)

Genre:  Action/Adventure

Length:  Novel (220pages)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Heart

Blurb:  Army sharpshooter and deserter Cooper Chance is trapped. Recruited from Iraq to fight in an African country ravaged by a chronic civil war, Cooper wants nothing more than to go home. Unfortunately, the only thing waiting for him in America is jail, and Cooper is acutely claustrophobic. Whether he likes it or not, he now leads the life of a mercenary, in a gritty world filled with thugs, prostitutes and corrupt cops.

To survive his desperate circumstances, Cooper trades diamonds. One day he wanders into a diamond shop, where he meets Sadiq, a young merchant as lost in the world as he is. As they fall in love, Cooper has no idea Sadiq has ulterior motives. Meanwhile huge oil reserves are discovered nearby, and the CIA offers Cooper a way home without jail time if Cooper agrees to carry out a risky, high-stakes mission.

Cooper will do anything to get home – except sell his soul to the devil. But when a teenage prostitute he has promised to save suddenly disappears, Cooper finally relents. Unfortunately, he has no idea that unexpected consequences wait.

Product Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Coopers-Promise-Timothy-Jay-Smith/dp/1462084087

Reviewer:  Showme

Review:  I should start off by saying this was a more somber read than my normal books of choice. That being said, I was compelled to read it and the sad truths it held. I was wary about starting it, but once I did, Mr. Smith hooked me. Cooper is a soldier trapped in Lalanga.  He’s forced to leave his post because of an affair with his CO, who is in denial of his preference for men.  The situation was life or death for Cooper. Leaving meant he was a deserter. So he’s trying to survive when he happens upon one of Lalanga’s many brothels and meets a girl name Lulay whom he has an instant need to protect. She says she seventeen, but it’s closer to fifteen.  It’s not like there aren’t hundreds like her, but this one girl gives him a purpose beyond surviving the hot hell that is Lalanga.  He’s in no position to save her so he does the best he can. Buys her time, condoms and protects her when he can. To make money he buys stolen blood diamonds from the children who work the mines. It’s dangerous to steal from the Colonel Diamond, but the living conditions are so poor they risk the danger.

Cooper sells the diamonds to diamond business man in town. One day he walks into the shop and sees a beautiful boy named, Sadiq, the owner’s son. Cooper is immediately intrigued by the boy and seeks him out whenever possible. They develop a friendship while Cooper secretly hopes for more. The duties expected of Sadiq as the only son of his family make admitting his preference for men impossible. So they steal away moments of passion where they can.

When Cooper is busted by the local dirty police chief, he’s pushed into a situation needing the help of an annoyingly ever-present CIA agent. The agent requests Cooper’s help with a major task based on his special skills. Cooper refuses until the situation with Lulay is dire. Her owner has plans to sell her to a possibly worse situation. Cooper can’t buy anymore diamonds to sell. When he goes to find her he learns she’s been sold. Frantic with worry he goes to the CIA agent to make a deal for finding Lulay. The tension builds as the books final pages play out.

I, of course, won’t give away the ending, but it’s safe to say this wasn’t an easy read. The conditions these people lived in hurt my heart. This is a tale of girls and boys being sold or tricked into prostitution, ruthless evil men doing as they please and a lovely but tragic possible romance between two men hoping for the chance to love.

 

One Two Three, Shatter by Joey James Hook

Title:  One, Two, Three Shatter

Series:  The Xander Series 

Author: Joey James Hook

Genre: Contemporary M/F and M/M romance

Length: Novel (426 pages)

Publisher: Silver publishing  (August 4th, 2012)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Blurb:

All it takes is one, two, three. This is the story of one man’s battle through abuse, addiction, and heartbreak toward unknown happiness. It’ll take a miracle, and he’s banking on someone to be that for him before he gives up.

Life was harsh and cruel to Kaleb Xander from very early on, and he was never given a moment’s rest to breathe and recover from the misery. Once freed from years in a cage of wrath and perverted lust, he found the real world to be a mere step up from what he was used to. Abuse was simply coming in different guises and through new avenues now.

All it should take is one person to reach out their hand and save this lost soul–but Kaleb is more complicated than that. It’ll take a miracle, and he’s banking on someone to be just that for him before he gives it all up.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This title contains scenes of rape or near rape and severe abuse. This book contains scenes of MF and MM intimacy.

Review:  First of all, I want to say, Wow! What a cover. I keep going back and looking at it over and over. To me the more I read the more I even loved the cover. It was as if I could see into Kaleb.

This book is not for the faint at heart. I will warn you it has some very vivid and harsh scenes. That is one thing I really liked about it, the raw truthfulness. Life isn’t all roses and gushy love-at-first sight and happy-ever-after. The reality is that abuse exists, Physical, sexual and emotional. Sometimes it’s not always from others. Sometimes we abuse ourselves.

In this case, Kaleb Xander was a victim of sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse from the time I he was four and his mother left him. What he went through was unimaginable hell.  This may be a fictional story, but sad to say there are probably more Kalebs out there than we know. This story is how he dealt with the abuse inflicted by both his father and brother. Sadly, he found release in drugs, alcohol and self-mutilation. I warned you. This is not for the faint at heart.

Kaleb goes through a lot physically and emotionally. Does he rise from the drugs and abuse? Does he find true love? Can he ever open up and trust anyone?

This is a very long story. I don’t mind long stories. I actually like them. I found it a bit skippy at times. The first half to two-thirds of the book tended to span a lot of years.  Starting when Kaleb was only four ’til the time he is almost thirty. Some chapters went from a day to a month to two years at a time. Character also appeared and disappeared. There was a lot descriptive detail that could be left out and more of some of the characters added. But all in all this was a very good poignant story. A great change of pace from the run of the mill sugary romance. I suggest you grit your teeth and give it a go.

I recommend this book to anyone that is looking for something different, not sugar-coated lovey-dovey fairytale romance.  Also, anyone that likes gritty down and dirty rugged life.

WARNING! This story does contain violence, rape and abuse. Also drugs and alcohol.

Theory of Attraction by Cleon Lee

Title: Theory of Attraction

Author: Cleon Lee

Genre: M/M Romance

Length: 118 Pages (August 11th, 2012)

Publisher:  Silver Publishing

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Ethan Roberts is a TA and the resident gay Don Juan of St. Phillips University. Getting tired of one-night stands, he decides to pursue a serious relationship. However, the only guy he really wants is Aaron Marcus, a shy and nerdy Sociology TA.

His upbringing and his past relationship have made Aaron Marcus insecure and paranoid. He thinks Ethan is just another guy who wants to make fun of him with his over-the-top courtship. However, his perception of Ethan changes when Ethan takes him home and takes care of him after Aaron gets drunk in a bar.

It is up to Ethan to reassure Aaron that despite Ethan’s inexperience in relationships and Aaron’s neuroses, they can make their relationship work.

Product Link:  http://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1180/

Reviewer:   Madison

Review:  Theory of Attraction is a light romance based on an “opposites attract” storyline. Ethan is used to being able to turn on the charm and win over any guy he sets his sights on. At the moment, that happens to be Aaron. Aaron is a fellow grad student who is also working on a dissertation for his Ph.D., but the two men couldn’t be more different. Ethan is gorgeous, outgoing, and confident. Aaron is nerdy, introverted, and insecure. Despite the fact that Aaron is not his usual type, there’s something about Aaron and his shy, quiet demeanor that Ethan finds endearing.

Ethan’s initial attempts at wooing Aaron are rebuffed. Aaron is simply not interested. He doesn’t see any reason why Ethan would genuinely like him, so he steers clear of him. Eventually Ethan convinces Aaron to give him a chance and the two connect.

I enjoyed Cleon Lee’s writing style. The dialogue flowed nicely and her use of imagery drew me into the various settings:

Morning sun was a bitch. She rose too early and shone too brightly. Aaron’s head hurt and he felt as if something had crawled into his mouth and died there.

“Nggh…”

He heard a chuckle. He opened his eyes and looked in that direction but promptly regretted his action as sunlight stabbed his brain.

I also liked the alternating points of view, although more could have been done with that. I would have liked more character development. Perhaps in a full-length novel we would have gotten that. There are hints of Aaron’s backstory, but I never fully understood why he acted the way he did. We discover that he’s come out of a bad relationship and that he had family issues, but neither of these events were fully explained. Why was Aaron so gun-shy? It was mentioned several times that Aaron felt Ethan was making fun of him, but I never got that sense. How is giving him flowers or chocolates making fun of him? I would have liked more backstory from Ethan as well. What was it about Aaron that attracted him so much that he went for months without sex, just waiting for the chance to go on a date with Aaron? It was a little hard for me to believe. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Aaron. A lot. I just didn’t get why Ethan liked Aaron so much.

In the end, they do finally connect, and they make a sweet couple. The scene where they become intimate was refreshingly different from what I’d expected, though it could have been a little steamier for my taste.

Once I got to the end, I turned the page, expecting another chapter. It ended a bit too abruptly. Overall, I liked the characters and I liked the premise, but I wish there had been more to it. With a bit more depth of character, a bit more angst, a bit more “happy couple” in the end, this would have been a more satisfying read.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, light and fluffy romance, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Stirrings by D. J. Manly

Title: Stirrings

Series: Spectrum Skies 02

Author: D.J. Manly

Genre: BDSM, Crime (police/detectives/PI), Paranormal, Alternate World, Vampires, Werewolves

Length: Novel Plus (254pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (4th August 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Pascal and London are back, investigating a series of murders that look like vampire slayings. But are they? And will London discover something about Pascal’s past that he would have preferred remain hidden?

Pascal and London are in love but has London lost all his preconceived notions about vampires? A string of murders that look like a vampire on a rampage will test London and Pascal’s new relationship to the limit.

When London discovers something about Pascal’s past, will it confirm all his suspicions about the real nature of vampires, or will his love for Pascal help him to get past all that?

Come back to the world of Spectrum, where nothing is sure, and humans and preternaturals live in harmony…or do they?

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1060

Review: This story is part of a series and I recommend that they be read in order. London and Pascal are back and they have a new case to solve. Young men are being drained and left in the middle of roads. It looks like they have a rogue Vampire on the loose, but as they dig deeper they discover a conspiracy. Pascal and London’s relationship hits a rocky patch when Pascal’s past and London’s prejudice clash; can they sort out their differences and solve the murders?

This novel continues on with the lives of London and Pascal, who work at Human/Specs Enforcer Union (police) and the Island of Spectrum. London and Pascal love each other very much, but London is still wary of vampires and it colors his judgment. Pascal has a past that he wants to keep hidden, but when London discovers it, London reacts badly. Both of them have to work through their problems if they are going to get to the bottom of the murder of the young men and to discover exactly who is behind it.

London and Pascal are a great couple who have some fantastically hot sex, but there are underlying problems between them. When they are involved in the investigation Pascal hides things and London is determined that the culprit is a vampire. But, when Pascal starts to get tempted and then dragged into the darker side of his nature, and someone starts to target London, they have to pull together and sort out their differences, as well as accept the others nature.

There are some times in this book when I really wanted to bang Pascal’s and London’s heads together and there is a scene where there is lots of blood and strong temptation for Pascal that edges into unfaithfulness. Both men discover betrayal and hidden agendas from those they thought they could trust, and the book leaves us with a great opening for the next story.

I will recommend this to those who love paranormal, vampires, sexy men solving murders, stopping conspiracy’s, hot sex and an ending that makes you want the next book, as the story-line evolves.

 

Spectrum Skies by D. J. Manly

Title: Spectrum Skies

Series: Spectrum Skies 01

Author: D.J. Manly

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

Length: Novel (318pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (5th November 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: When a new enemy comes out of the dark, the human head of the Human/Specs Enforcer Union is forced to work with his vampire counterpart. Can London put aside his dislike of Pascal St-Maurice to fight a common enemy?

Captain London Weaver hates the dark season, the time when the skies over Spectrum turn dark and stay that way for months. It’s when all the crazies come out, and the humans are at a definite disadvantage.

When a new enemy comes out of the dark, London joins forces with his immortal counterpart, Captain Pascal St-Maurice, a vampire who, as far as London is concerned, is a fancy pants with no respect for anything. In Pascal’s opinion, London is anal, uptight, and prejudiced against his species. When they’re ordered to work together to confront a succubus that doesn’t discriminate among victims, Pascal decides to make the best of it. However, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

Come and visit Spectrum Skies, a place where mortals and immortals have learned to live together in peace…or something like that.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This title contains both MM and MMM scenes.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/spectrum-skies-ebook-p-657

Review: London is the captain of the human side of the Human/Specs Enforcer Union and dislikes most things supernatural, especially the Vampires. But, now as a new threat is uncovered, he has to work closely with one, Pascal. Pascal is the captain of the Specs side of the Human/Specs Enforcer Union and likes most humans, but London gets right up his nose. When he finds out he has to work closely with London, he decides to have some fun.

This is a well written imaginative story with a really good plot and story-line. London has something in his past that has colored his judgment against vampires. When he has to work with Pascal, he tries hard not to soften towards the sexy vampire. Pascal does everything he can to get London to bend and really enjoys winding him up in the process. As the two get closer to cracking the case, the two MCs get closer as well. When Pascal’s life is in danger London does everything he can to save him.

These two MCs strike sparks off each other. The banter between them is brilliant and so are the sex scenes… very hot. I liked how Pascal draws London’s slight submissive side out and how he also submits to London as well. It was a very well done power exchange between them and the emotions that they share are quite erotic and touching. I thought that these two characters were well suited and have a lot of potential as a couple. The M/M/M scene is short and sweet and is all about the sex.

I have got to say that the setting is incredible, a hidden world in the South Pacific Islands where for 3 months of the year it stays mainly dark and the supernatural beings baser instincts come to the fore. Absolutely fantastic, I loved it, what an incredible imagination D.J. Manly has.

So I recommend this to those who love paranormal, fantasy, hot men and hot vamps, even hotter sex, a bit of BDSM, a bit of danger and a really great story-line.