Tag: Amber Quill Press

It's Complicated by Christiane France

ItsComplicatedTitle: It’s Complicated

Series: Peninsula Heights Series

Author: Christiane France

Genre: Contemporary,

Length: Novella (68 Pages)

ISBN: 978-1-61124-556-1

Publisher: Amber Allure, Amber Quill Press (February 16th, 2014)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: This is part of the Tasty Treats AmberPax Collection. However, it can be read alone. Pete Letouche and Mitch Ravello lusted over one another in high school. Then on prom night, a couple of drinks gave them the courage to put their thoughts into action and share their first sexual experience. With Pete’s father chief of police and Mitch’s reputed to be the local crime boss, however Pete knew there could never be anything more between them than that one night. Shortly thereafter, Pete left town to train as a master chef, which led to him working at different hotels across the country. But during that time, he never forgot Mitch, and he also never lost sight of his childhood dream to own a gourmet food shop like his grandmother’s family once owned.

Now, ten years later, Pete has returned to town, and his shop is both a reality and a success. He’s on top of the world, until Mitch walks into the shop and announces he’s taken over the note Pete signed for the down payment on the building.

Pete knows Mitch’s father suffered a heart attack and is in a coma, but did Mitch take over the family business of loan sharking and shaking down local business owners? Mitch says not, but Pete has no way of knowing if Mitch is telling the truth. And to make matters worse, the lustful feelings they once shared seem alive and well. Pete can’t help but wonder whether his feelings for Mitch are real or just warmed-over old memories.

When Mitch invites him to dinner at his place, Pete decides to go. A private, face-to-face meeting could be the perfect opportunity to sort out the present and put the past to rest.

This title is part of the Tasty Treats AmberPax™ Collection. To purchase this title individually, use the shopping cart below. To purchase this title as part of the entire AmberPax™ and receive a 25% discount off our normal price, use the shopping cart on this page.

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/ItsComplicated.html

Review: It’s Complicated is a very cute little story. You get caught with the first paragraph and you can’t stop reading it to the end. However, it ended to short and now I want more of it. I was surprised by it, because at first with the way they acted I wasn’t too sure, how it would turn out. Pete has always like Mitch when they were in school, and then on prom night they spent the night together. Knowing the fact that his father was chief of police and Mitch’s was supposed to have been a crime boss, he didn’t think they should make anything of it. So Pete left town, went to college, and became a chef for many hotels throughout the country. However, he never forgot Mitch.

Finally owning his own place he thought he had it all, till Mitch walks in and tells him he now owns the note to the store. Pete said some hateful things thinking maybe Mitch had taken over the family business. Pete comes off as a jaded man and really doesn’t want to take any chances. Then Mitch invites him to dinner and he accepts.

These are two characters that you would fall in love with or want to smack them upside the head. They are both stubborn males who feel more about each other than they are saying, or at least Pete isn’t saying. Mitch is trying to show him how he feels, and soon Pete caves. The sex is amazing and hot, kind of like setting the sheets on fire. I wished that there had been more. It was to short of a story for my loving it.

I would recommend this story to those who love short stories with a little bit of anger, frustration, two sexy men, the hint of danger or illegal activities, and a very hot sex scene. It was told with such the perfect tone that you can’t help but get caught up into. Christiane has a gift for storytelling and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

Threshold by Vivien Dean

71TfuQC4atL._SL1500_Title: Threshold

Author: Vivien Dean

Genre: Paranormal /Vampires

ISBN: 978-1-61124-519-6

Length: Extended Novella (115 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (November 17th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Sutter is a vampire on the run. After barely escaping the hunter his sire sent after him, he makes it all the way to the middle of nowhere, Oregon, before the approaching sunrise forces him to stop. He intends only to rest, and then hit the road again as soon as night falls, but that plan falls apart when the motel’s maintenance man discovers him passed out on the bathroom floor.

Ex-Marine Max Rowell hasn’t had a purpose in life ever since coming home from the Gulf. Though he works at his father’s motel, drifting through days that bleed endlessly into each other, it takes discovering an unconscious guy who looks like an angel but has clearly been through hell to give him new purpose.

Max isn’t letting Sutter go anywhere until he’s healed, but Sutter needs more than a warm bedside manner to get stronger. Though they strike a deal, the clock keeps ticking, and sooner or later Sutter will need to run again, or risk putting Max’s life on the line when Sutter’s past catches up to him… 

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

Review: So this story started very interesting giving me a speedy little heartbeat with its intensity and anticipation. A vampire on the threshold of death gets saved by a living breathing man. Sutter has never been valued before, never once anyone cast his eyes twice on him. Even his sire didn’t really care much, beside the fact that Sutter’s actions deflected on him. Most importantly though, no one, no one ever has done something nice for Sutter just because… So, when Max comes along and saves his life because it wouldn’t be right not to, Sutter suffers a cultural shock shall we say it? A shock definitely it is because no human has ever seen Sutter and wanted to give him blood, on the contrary screams were usually the norm.

So this right here is where I start having my issues with the read. No matter how much of a good-doer Max is, his behavior when he learns that Sutter is a vampire is completely reckless at least and makes no sense. He understands that Sutter is a vampire, but he doesn’t want Sutter to kill people when hunting… He understands Sutter can’t ever have a “normal” job, but he doesn’t want him illegal either… Max as a character is a huge pile of controversies and the biggest one of them was the I want you to screw my brains out but not until you’re healed (Sutter has this huge hole in his body) but wait, once Sutter is healed oops, something happens and Max doesn’t want to have sex anymore…

Really, I understand he was supposed to be this good guy falling in love with the vamp and changing the vamp’s twenty undead years and making him “good” again… but for it didn’t work. It has been said and done before and this work simply didn’t distinguish itself for the rest of the rack.

The intimate scenes and romance were a bit weird. See the entire read was one big anticipation, for Sutter to heal and have he and Max finally got down to fireworks because yeah, the chemistry was exquisite between them two, only to have waited for nothing in the end. I really felt cheated there, I would so much rather not have that threesome that was not threesome and that was a bit of a pain to read, than not have the final sex scene between Max and Sutter. That was so the wrong call the way I see it. A huge disappointment if there ever was any.

As for the badies and the end itself… yep, the WTF ever did cross my mind once or twice. I don’t want to spoil it for those who are going to read it, but let’s just say the end brought up more questions and no closure so…

Overall, though I must admit that for half a read or more, I had a nice time reading this book and a silly grin on my face, and while it could be much, much better, it definitely wasn’t bad and fans of the genre might want to give it a go.

The Little Crow by Caitlin Ricci

71gczTWX1VL._SL1500_Title: The Little Crow, 2nd edition

Series: N/A

Author: Caitlin Ricci

Length: Novel (334 Pages)

Genre:  Paranormal

Publisher: Amber Allure (December 1st, 2013)

Heat Level: Very Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: Detective Jamison Landry knew his job was never going to be easy. He’s dealt with the worst criminals imaginable and believes in his work and the community he serves. But he’s never met someone quite like Mal before.

The mysterious man, rescued from a basement in which he was chained by cultists, keeps Jamison guessing, both confuses and excites him, and Jamison isn’t sure how he feels about that. Plus, things turn from unusual to downright strange when people start insisting Mal isn’t quite human. And Jamison’s creepy dreams of crows and graveyards don’t make things any better for him.

Will Mal stay around long enough for Jamison to figure out his secrets, even learn his full name, or will this stranger leave him aching for more?

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

Review: Usually I can find the words for anything there is that needs to be said, but this book just takes that away from me. Sort of that is. This story is about one sexy demon named Mal and a human named Jamison. It is told with such humor that most of the time I was laughing and the rest of the time, I was bewildered. It has the perfect amount of danger, excitement, adventure, and humor that it was absolutely perfect.

Jamison is a human with a good soul. He however feels like he is losing his mind. He saves Mal from a group of the craziest cult members he has ever seen, saying that Mal is a demon and should be held prisoner. The only glitch is the fact that they were right. Mal is a powerful demon from hell, who decides the punishment for those who have committed the worst sins. He decides who goes to hell and who goes to heaven. He is quite old, however when he is around Jamison he acts like a child. He confuses the hell out of Jamison, to the point that Jamison can’t decide whether to let him stay or leave. Mal protects Jamison with every bit of power in him, to the point hell no longer wants him. Jamison is a loving, caring, loyal police officer set to protect those who needed protection. Mal on the other hand is kind of crazy, bloodthirsty. However, he is falling in love with a human. There is a lot of talk about sex, with just a bit of passion and fire added in.

This story was a surprise to say the least. I wasn’t sure at first whether it would make it in my list of best stories ever, but it actually ranked up there in the top ten. You have two very sexy men wanting each other to the point of losing their minds, excitement going on all around you, words of passion and anger in this story. Jamison has the ability to overcome the fear of the unknown and see something good in a demon. Caitlin has such a gift in the way she tells a story, the worlds she creates, and such wonderful characters that she has made my top ten favorite authors. I absolutely loved this story and really can’t wait to read more of Caitlin’s books. If you love sexy men, great plots, story line, and action you really need to check this book out. It is hot.

A Night on the Town by Parker Linn

19558759Title: A Night on the Town

Series: The Escort, #4

Author: Parker Linn

Genre: Contemporary / Rent-Boys

Length: Novelette (10K)

ISBN: 9781611245271

Publisher: Amber Allure (December 8th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥2Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb:The sequel to Amber Allure’s best-selling The Escort: On the Menu…

As a professional escort, Ryan James’ job is to service his clients, be it simply to accompany them somewhere socially or to provide more intimate services.

Ryan is accustomed to having control of every situation. Smart, sexy, and intuitive, he gives his clients what they want before they know they want it. When he meets Trevor Hilquist, however, Ryan is thrown off-stride. Trevor’s a puzzle, the complete opposite of what Ryan expected. The man likely spelled his name T-R-O-U-B-L-E, and Ryan doesn’t know exactly where to start.

Trevor’s smitten. Not only has his uncle arranged for an evening’s entertainment, but also his escort is just too scrumptious for words. He sizes up Ryan as a man who likes to lead, then formulates a plan. And before the night is over, he’ll have Ryan giving him exactly what he wants—hard, fast, and repeatedly. 

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Escort4_NightOnTown.html

Review: What did just happen? I started reading, I kept reading, I even finished reading, yet that question still remains along with her close friend “I don’t get it”.

Picking up another instalment of this series I seriously hoped that Ryan’s adventures would be getting better, because let’s just face it; I’m a sucker for rent-boys. Everything starts nicely, our high-class escort gets a job turning a favour for one of his friends and agreeing to escort a rich young man for the weekend. So enter Trevor. This kid is a surprise, a nine-inch one, and he’s a bit energetic, full of life, and fun. So, he’s getting an escort and can’t wait to get his hands on him…

And here lies the crux of the matter. Ryan, for some reason I still can’t get, went from paid whore to hard-to-get damsel and if he could have worn, a chastity belt I’m pretty sure he would’ve. And I don’t get it! Why on earth did he protest so much? What did Trevor do exactly that wasn’t proper…? How did Trevor get to be trouble…? He was being paid nicely for showing Trevor a nice time. What the heck did he have in mind for crying out loud?

I just didn’t get the plot, at all. I sat there, I read it, I even re-read it to be sure, and I still don’t get it. I’d like to say that the carnal part was so mind-blowing that I forgot all about the plot and lost myself in the smut, but I can’t do that either. A public interaction on a dark park might have triggered the pervert in me, but it was all so hollow that it failed terribly to evoke any reaction.

Overall, I was hoping for more, for at least the plot – if there must be one – to make sense. Because damn, I liked Trevor, I didn’t get why Ryan would turn his nose the other way at him. I’m still wondering…

 

Love Me Tonight by Adriana Dane

18867956Title: Love Me Tonight

Author: Adriana Dane

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (56 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-61124-517-2

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (November 17th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Eli

Blurb: At Hotel Draysden, management fraternizing with staff is a no-no. Casper Rosabella knows the rules, but he also believes that sometimes rules were meant to be broken. Sometimes it was worth taking a risk, especially when the man Casper craves is as hot as Lando Madrid.

Eye contact leads to a need to experience more, and through phone calls and texting, the men start to learn about each other. But then the lines blur when Casper and Lando make arrangements to meet for one night of unfettered sex in a seedy motel room, when taboo passions will culminate between two men who work at the same place, but certainly shouldn’t play together.

With secrets shared and desires revealed, the men are drawn deeper into a burning need to know more about each other. But considering their situation, could the relationship become something other than just a one-night stand?

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/LoveMeTonight.html

Review: Take a mild-mannered man who realizes that having someone control your life when you don’t want it is not the same as surrendering control and add a spicy Latino to the mix and it will prove to be an intoxicating cocktail. Casper takes a chance on flirting with Lando and starting an illicit and potentially risky affair. Both men are searching for something and unbeknownst to them they will find what they need in each other.

All they need is a month of illicit courtship followed by a night of erotic passion – what will result is two men who finally have what they need and a love that can blossom into something more.  Lando will be the masterful Dom and Casper his willing sub.  They are both well matched and suited. Lando needs a man who will see beyond his lowly position in the company and appreciate all that he is and desires to be. Casper needs someone to show him that while he is buttoned up all day, he can let go and allow someone else to be in control of his passion.

The story is hot and sexy and drips with passion. This is a story that will have you looking around your workplace to see if there are any sexy vibes you may be missing.

Wedded Bliss by A.J. Llewellyn

81EXhh5HVbL._SL1500_Title: Wedded Bliss

Series:   N/A

Author:A. J. Llewellyn

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novella (84 pages)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (December 10th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Jack Callahan is in a financial bind, so when Australian novelist Bruce Logan offers him a small fortune to marry him so Bruce can get his green card, Jack agrees. The two men know enough about each other to pull off the immigration interview at Homeland Security, and they can happily share an apartment in Los Angeles until Bruce establishes legal residency.

The problem, though, begins when Jack develops feelings for Bruce and becomes torn when his new husband starts dating another man. Not only that, but Bruce’s expected book royalties fall way short of expectations. Now, not only can Bruce not pay Jack the promised “marital fee,” but also it seems that he’s in love with his new man. And with Jack’s lengthy solitude broken, his feelings for Bruce only deepen.

Can the two married men actually find wedded bliss with each other?

Purchase Link:   http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/WeddedBliss.html

Review: Okay, let’s just start with the fact that I loved how real this book was – Real from the point that marrying someone for a green card is illegal and will create HUGE legal issues for both parties.  However, this occurs all the time in this country. The notion of this now occurring with two men is an interesting twist and can be sure to become a very regular occurrence when marriage equality is achieved across the nation. So the author takes this premise and then layers it with some Hollywood drama complete with two slightly insecure men, and then two females who’ll help to save them from themselves. 

Jack Callahan is a perfectly nice man and when the reader first meets Bruce, he seems nice enough.  However, mid-way through the book, his charm tarnishes and it doesn’t really return until close to the end of the book.  Jack is a very likable character, Bruce less so; BUT he does redeem himself in the end and one can only relate this to the flaws that anybody would have. Real life enters when finances are not as they seem, libidos get in the way, exes make themselves apparent and feelings get hurt.  The book does a good job of encapsulating a lot of activity taking place in short time frame, and the romance between the men feels very real and true to life rather than seeming like the usual formulaic love story that is usually seen. The story is well paced, well-written with well-developed characters; and, the plot is believable.  Additionally, despite Bruce’s slightly douchy moments, you do want to see him and Jack end up together.  A good read.

Isherwood by Missy Welsh

18746558Title: Isherwood

Series:   N/A

Author: Missy Welsh

Genre: Paranormal

Length:  Novel (212 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (November 3rd, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Two years ago, the small Southern Ohio town of Isherwood seemed to change overnight. Businesses were abandoned or sold and townsfolk just up and moved away. Now, those who were left behind are trying to keep their lives afloat on the hope that things will improve someday.

Finn Webb is one of those people. His construction and remodeling company he runs with his sister is one of the largest employers left in town. He’s felt his world teetering on the edge of failure for so long, that saving an injured dog is a bright spark of life he’s happy to hold onto.

Cas Maine has come to Isherwood because that’s where the road led. He’s tired, hungry, and desperate for the acceptance and safety he once had in his birth pack. But crossing into town sees him shifting into his wolf form and unable to shift back. Then he’s hit by a car only to be rescued by his one true mate.

What follows is a series of events where a job outside of town lets Cas and Finn grow closer while also leading to the uncovering of numerous secrets held by several inhabitants of Isherwood. Everyone has a stake in this. And the stakes are high…

Purchase Link:   http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Isherwood.html

Review: Many m/m paranormal stories focus so heavily on the “mate/insta-love/attraction” that they often forget the meat of a good story to go along with the heat.  This story effectively blends several themes including a good love story with heat, while also employing good storytelling.  The author does a superb job of weaving the various mysteries together while not forgoing the heat of a paranormal romance. There are several plotlines interwoven that the reader can suss out, involving the politics of weres and some non-traditional were elements are added that make the story stand out among the multitude of paranormal romances out there.  The suspense element of the mystery in the book is paced steadily throughout the story allowing the reader to go on the ride to see if what they ‘think’ will happen is actually what happens.  The reader will not be surprised or shocked by the turn of events, since the author gives enough hints and cues along the way.  But the reader does enjoy the ride that the author takes them on until the inevitable unfolding story’s climax.

The characters of Cas and Finn are three-dimensional and clearly defined. The addition of seeing Cas as a fully developed character in both forms (human and were) was a nice addition to the story.  Additionally, the secondary characters create an ensemble cast who do the work of moving the story forward thus keeping the reader engaged as all the various stories begin to intertwine and then eventually unravel until the reader is satisfied with the outcome as the Cas and Finn’s find their HEA.

For anyone who enjoys a good paranormal romance, this will definitely be a good addition to the reading roster.

 

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Nobody's Home by Dev Bentham

8197EPm1-sL._SL1500_Title: Nobody’s Home

Series:   N/A

Author: Dev Bentham

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novel (160 pages)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (December 10th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 (Tender, Loving, Wonderful) Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  You can’t go home again—that was Nick’s motto for the past twenty years. He was a teenager when he and his mom left his mentally ill and abusive father back in Lacland, a small town in the north woods of Wisconsin. Since those horrible days, Nick’s made a life for himself as an artist in New York, and has a new show scheduled in nine months. He should be in a painting frenzy, but so far, he’s hanging empty canvas. Then comes the call—his estranged father has killed himself. Nick flies to Lacland, to a house crumbling from years of neglect and one very fat bulldog.

Jonas doesn’t love his job as a research lab veterinarian, although he enjoys volunteering on his boyfriend’s canine behavioral studies. But when he discovers his so-called life partner is messing around, Jonas leaps at a job offer in a small town miles away.

Despite the grief swirling around Nick and Jonas, their first meeting is electric. But Nick’s in town for only a short time, while Jonas is still stinging from the recent betrayal. The men try to keep their distance, but that’s easier said than done, especially in a small town where misery and hope share the same address…

Purchase Link:   http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/NobodysHome.html

Review: The m/m genre is littered with many books about hot men and fluff, and I love those as much as anyone else does.  BUT, every now and again, there is a book that simply stands out from the rest. Nobody’s Home is one of those books.  It’s not just a story, it’s a novel.  Everything that is right about a story is achieved in this book.  The author spends the first quarter of the book simply exploring the lives and characters of Nick and Jonas.  We get to know these men before they ever meet. By the time they meet, the reader is now thoroughly invested in these two men finding each other, because we know, like and understand these men.

The relationship between the two men is so much more than simply hot sex, which let’s be honest, they do have.  For Nick who’s lost his father and is feeling professionally adrift, the friendship he develops with Jonas provides him with an anchor and the realization that his life is rife with possibilities, if he’s willing to be open to them.  There is a subtle strength to Nick that is not first apparent because he’s struggling with his grief and personal angst.  For Jonas who’s questioning his worth as a man and a life partner, Nick provides him with much-needed honesty, validation of his worth and proof that he is a valuable person who is worthy of both love and friendship.

The story is beautifully written and elegantly told. What starts out as a character sketch of two imperfect men then becomes a dance of friendship and then the slow trek towards love. There is a slow build, which is sexy and seductive in its own way. The reader is moved seamlessly along the journey and because they are so intimately knowledgeable about these men, the reader shares in their joy, sadness, disappointment and even their fear. The reader has a bird’s eye view of the very real struggle both men must go through with their own personal demons if they are to create a life together. 

Readers will fall in love with Nick.  Like a good artist, he is willing to lay his feelings bare and it is this vulnerability that will win him the love of Jonas, a man who fears any further pain and rejection in his life.

The end of the book is sublime and I’m sure many readers may find themselves wiping away a tear. It was sweet and very tender.  Every page of this story is a revelation and it’s one of those stories that the reader will revisit time and time again.

EXCELLENT READ.

Indefinite Stay by Heidi Champa

71B3M3MgD6L._SL1500_Title: Indefinite Stay

Series:   N/A

Author: Heidi Champa

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novella (123 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (December 10th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Rory Driskell had never seen the inside of a prison until his boyfriend Joel started serving a seven-year sentence for dealing drugs. Now, Rory spends his weekends visiting Joel at the state prison nearly four hours away from home. To make matters worse, Rory and Joel can’t even touch during their visits for fear of what might happen if the other inmates learn Joel is gay. While Joel maintains his innocence, that doesn’t stop Rory from preparing himself for the worst and for a long stretch of time alone.

During the weekends, Rory resides at the Broken Feather Motel, the only cheap place within thirty miles of the prison, wondering how he got into this mess. Then one weekend, the motel owner’s son, Stuart, is behind the counter when Rory checks in. Stuart, with his gorgeous smile and piercing blue eyes, offers Rory something he hasn’t had in a long time: a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold. But Stuart is in town only for a short time and isn’t looking for a real relationship.

Will Rory stick with the life he’s chosen, no matter how troubled, or will his feelings for Stuart push him to take a chance and finally unlock his heart?

Purchase Link:   http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/IndefiniteStay.html

Review: The premise of this story is very intriguing.  It’s not one I’ve seen explored before and that made it all the more interesting to read. The whole idea of being on the “DL” or having to remain closeted is always a compelling theme in a novel, but when coupled with the idea of prison (already an environment rife with homosexual activity), it makes for a very worthwhile read. The story did not disappoint as it explored the relationship between the closeted, since he’s in prison, Joel and his long-suffering boyfriend, Rory.

Rory is a man torn between duty and his true feelings.  He’s a man willing to forgo his own happiness for what he feels to be the bigger picture and the principled action to take, even if it means he will be the financial and emotional loser in the end.  Enter Stuart – Rory’s solution to his current not going anywhere, emotionally exhausting and financially draining relationship. His relationship with Stuart allows him to experience a small measure of happiness, yet for some reason he doesn’t think that he’s worthy of the happiness that Stuart could offer him. So Rory does what all long-suffering people do, he walks away until life tells him unequivocally that there are other options he can take.

This is the story of Rory’s journey to the realization that sometimes it’s important to take a chance and to put yourself first because when you do, you might just win in the long and short run.  Nice characters, interesting plot – all in all a very good read.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Making It Count by Kim Dare

18780421Title: Making It Count

Series: Kinky Quickies #3

Author: Kim Dare

Genre: BDSM (Kinks & Fetishes)

ISBN: 9781611245134

Length: Novella (54 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (November 10th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5~4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Duncan’s wanted to do a scene with Toby ever since he met him in their first study group of the year, but when Toby failed to flirt back, or pick up on a single kinky hint, Duncan knew he had no choice but to back off. He always thought that Toby would be interesting if he ever came out of the kinky closet—but it never even occurred to Duncan that he’d suddenly find the boy standing on the doorstep of the club he runs.

Toby’s been fascinated and intimidated by Duncan in equal measure for months. When his flat-mate bails out on a kinky play-date with Duncan at the last moment, Toby’s need overtakes his nervousness. Before he has time to think twice, he’s there, offering himself up as a replacement sub for the night.

This might be the only chance Toby has to fulfill all his fantasies surrounding Duncan—and he’s determined to make it count.

NOTE: This book is part of the Kinky Quickies series. 

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

Review: For some reason this little novella made it at my most favorite Kim Dare reads. I’m going to try and pinpoint why exactly, though I might even fail.

So let’s see; there’s a kinky scene play coming out of thin air. Surprise is an element I adore in any story, but when it throws a Dom off of his balance, well let’s just say the story has my attention 100%. The sub in this occasion (and yes it’s a bit of a pattern for the series) is inexperienced and secretly pinning for this particular Dom, who by the way plays with his flat-mate. And that is the reason Toby is standing in front of Duncan’s door in the first place. His flat-mate can’t make their play-date and Toby offers himself. And therein you have reason #2 that had my attention. Toby has no freaking idea what on earth he’s getting himself into.

Now normally I don’t like this type of subs, but there is something about this character that simply draws me to him. He’s so freaking alluring I couldn’t resist him as a reader. The way the author molded him, his reaction, his questions, and his naiveté. Somehow all those little things make Toby so very sexy, and Duncan, hmmm I kind of liked his amusement to all Toby did, I like the fact that he was pinning for Toby too in secret. It was such a nice game played by circumstances and fate perhaps.

Once the scene started, I think I was lost to it. Hell I was lost to it the moment Duncan closed the door to Toby after a specific order. While nothing over the top – after all it’s just a spanking scene – this entire read was very intense and (God I hate repeating this word) sexy. There was some sort of sensuality slowly taking over every single word I read, and in the end, I felt as if I’d been enchanted with a spell.

The difference of this read from the rest of Kim Dare’s work I’ve read was that this one was done. There was nothing more and nothing less needed. That was it! Somehow it surprised me, I’m used to reads that leave questions or have a sequel following.

So did I like it? Oh yeah! I most definitely enjoyed this book and most of all this was not only erotic, but also so very fun. Strongly recommended for fans of the genre.

Merry Christmas, Utah by Erin O'Quinn

MerryChristmasUtahTitle: Merry Christmas Utah

Series:  N/A

Author: Erin O’Quinn

Genre: Contemporary/Holiday

Length: Short Story  (6K)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (November 24th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5 Hearts

Blurb: Utah is a solitary Native American man who lives on the verge of nowhere, a huddle of tiny trailers in the foothills of Nevada’s highest peak. He is a medicine singer, a Paiute truth-seeker who thinks he’s happy. Mostly. He also knows he’s gay. So true happiness lies just beyond the reach of his Spirit Song.

One day, injured, he is rescued by a stranger who soon begins to teach him the nature of healing and of physical joy. The stranger, who calls himself Kris, is a throwback to the 70s’ hippie culture Utah has only heard about. And he begins to heal Kris in ways the young man has never even dreamed of.

Utah awakens on Christmas Eve to find his mysterious new friend missing. The man has only a thumbnail of a trailer, and no pickup, so his disappearance is alarming. What will happen when Utah sets out to find Kris in the dark, in a snowstorm, while the children of the world wait for Santa?

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

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: An interesting attempt at intertwining Native American spiritual beliefs with Christian Kris Kringle mythology, but doesn’t quite pull it off. I enjoyed the fact that I totally didn’t realize who Kris was at first! I didn’t add up the hippy, lovin’ Blondie with Kris Kringle, the merry Santa that delivers presents.

A promising start, the ending is sudden

Santa-San by A.J. Llewellyn

SantaSanTitle: Santa-San, A Japanese Christmas in Hawaii

Series: N/A

Author: A.J. Llewellyn

Genre: Contemporary/Holiday

Length: Novella (18K)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure (December 15th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Blurb: Koh Timura returns home to Honolulu for the holidays. It’s the first time he’s celebrated Christmas since his mother’s death years earlier. But unemployment and dealing with his stubborn dad and his extremely young stepmother doesn’t make Kohn feel especially merry and bright. His Japanese-born father is a traditionalist who likes to celebrate with the old country ways of doing things—fried chicken on the table and Santa-San bringing gifts to all.

But Koh soon learns that everybody deals with pain and loss in different ways. As he adjusts to being back in the islands, he encounters Adam Takagawa, the guy he loved all through high school. Will their passion flare again? Can some things broken really be fixed? Is sad and lonely Koh due a Christmas miracle after all?

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

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: Yes, you can go home again.

It’s good to know that big things, the important things don’t change when Koh returns to his island home. His favorite restaurant, the beauty of the island, and the beauty of his high school crush. The two reunite and explore forbidden nature preserves and their reignited feelings together. Is there a reason for Koh to stay? Will he be able to mend the wound between him and his father and mother in law? After a tough time of it back in California, will Santa-san reward Koh for his patience and good behavior with a boyfriend for Christmas?

I found this to be a sweet and enjoyable read, with lots of interesting details about Hawaiian and Japanese culture as it pertains to the holidays.

The Wild Hunt by Skylar Jaye

WildHuntTitle: The Wild Hunt

Series: N/A

Author: Skylar Jaye

Length: Novella (47 Pages)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC. (December 15th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: There once was a valley that was home to a powerful wolfshifter pack. Surrounding the valley was a mountain range where fae clans made their home. Most days, the two beings spared each other little thought, but the day before Yule was a special time. On that day, the fae rushed down from their mountains and hunted through the valley. It was a friendly tradition, though designed to remind the wolfshifters what it felt like to be prey.

Eadric, the son of the alpha chief of the Eoforwine pack, had recently turned of-age and so it was to be his first year to run during the Wild Hunt. Eadric was a beta, therefore a dominant wolfshifter, but the ranking had never sat completely at ease with him. He knew he was a leader among his pack, but he also felt the urge to submit to a mate. Those feelings came to a head when the purple-eyed fae, Cadeyrn, hunted him and, liking what he saw, challenged Eadric for the right to court him.

Now, Eadric has to live with the fae clan in a culture so different from his own. He has to decide if leaving his pack, the only home he’s ever known, for the love and dominance that Cadeyrn offers him is worth the risk…

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

Review: I have always loved paranormal love stories and this one is one of them.

It was told in such a way that it was easy to see it happening in front of me. You feel the excitement, the pain, and sorrow of separation from a family, the fear of mating with someone not of your species and the love of two men. Eadric never really understood what kind of wolf he was, told to be a dominate but he was also a submissive. He was kind, gentle, and scared out of his mind for a life that is so much different from the one he had. Cadeyrn knew with one look that he wanted Eadric. He was dominating, but gentle. Alpha, but caring for those who were not. You feel with each word the feelings that each man feels for the other, although you mainly hear it from Eadric’s point of view.

It is told in such a serious manner but you can read just a hint of humor. The sex, once they do have it, is full of passion and fire. This was such a different story that I have ever read, and I must say that Skylar Jaye just might have a hit on her hands. I wish for more on the ending, to see where they go from there, but it was still a wonderful story.

I actually want to read it once more for the jolt that it gave me.

Unbreak My Heart by K-lee Klein

18308403Title: Unbreak My Heart

Author: K-lee Klein

Genre: Contemporary / Comfort-Healing

ISBN: 978-1-61124-477-9

Length: Novel (387 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (August 25th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Brett Taylor has been doing just fine living in his own little world for the past three years, thank you very much. Losing someone special is life changing, and Brett doesn’t understand why everyone and their damn dog thinks they can get all up in his business about him needing to move on. He managed to make the transition from musician to rancher without relying on anyone else’s opinion or help, and he certainly doesn’t need some city kid coming into his life to disrupt his routine—one that involves grief, isolation, and a whole lot of Jack Daniels.

Moving from one meaningless job to the next, JT Campbell is on a quest to escape his old life and figure out who he is and where he belongs. He’s not looking to save anyone, let alone a secretive, hotter-than-hell rancher who wears his heart on his sleeve. JT likes working for Brett, but Brett’s made it perfectly clear that any relationship between them other than a professional one will never see the light of day.

But when JT’s lust turns to love, and he gives in to his desire to find out what makes Brett tick, will his interest push Brett away? Or will he, through his patience and support, be the one who can finally unbreak Brett’s heart? 

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

Review: What a soul-gripping book. How very mesmerizing and alluring, heartbreaking and gut wrenching, and how very sweet – even corny at times – and romantic. Yes, I liked this book a lot. What was there not to? The theme has been told a million times, yet it was still wonderful to read it through this penmanship. The characters have been a cliché for as much as I remember, yet this Southern Cowboy and City Kid are refreshing in ways I didn’t expect. The end is as transparent as a crystal, yet as so comforting and heart mellowing that makes you want to just melt.

I think I was a bit scared of this book as I started reading it. Our protagonist is in deep grief, still mourning for his lost lover and the pain he suffers drips from every line and affects you like poison. Your heart contracts and gets stiff, like someone is crushing it in a fist, and you can’t help but empathize with him, it’s simply unavoidable. I thought I’d be in for a tearful ride that would leave me emotionally drained, and while the first quarter did managed to get me in such a state with Brett not letting go of the past, his guilt, and his zombie-like existence, the plot moved on and I jumped along with it in a wonderful place, in a remote ranch with some witty, charming and oh so lovable men.
You see these men are too freaking deep. They have layers and layers of personality that you slowly get to peel while moving on with the story. The rancher is more than he looks like at the beginning, the wandering hitchhiker is actually a grown up man with a degree in psychology, and the foreman is a man with little words and tons of meaning. You find yourself falling in love with each of them, even the darn Mama Taylor, and you start caring for them, and with care, comes longing for them to stop hurting and start falling in love and heal their broken hearts, because damn, they all have a broken heart no matter if Brett’s a bit more shattered.

Ah, I got worked up again, but that’s all right. This book does that to you, it makes you hurt, it makes you cry, then it lifts you up with hope and mellows you with a sweetness unlike any other, and just when you sigh and think things are going alright, the author exploits human curiosity and stupidity and turns the tables making your heart stutter and hold your breath as things get worse and worse and everything seems to simply blow up in your face…

You know what they say, things get worse before it gets better, and this book proves it to you in a very explicit way.

But fear not; you don’t get to hold your breath on the emotional part of this story exclusively. You get to have your heart palpitations with the erotic side too. Yeah, it is so damn hot I have no words for. I even got lost in one of them scenes, playing it in my head over and over, and it was after a bit of time had passed that I realized I was no longer reading, rather seeing the damn scene in my head and getting all hot and bothered as these characters would have said. I loved the writing here, the distinction between horniness and lust and lovemaking and sweet cuddling, the balance of all these things. You got to feel them, really feel each of these stages these men went through, feel the sensuality, feel the lust and desperate longing for another body, another soul. It was simply a great delivery of sentiments, images, and emotions, and they had this magic effect on you, taking you with them, getting into your head and under your skin. Lovely, lovely writing!

Bottom end this book was simply great. You laugh, you cry, you fall in love, you get desperate and hopeful, you get to the edge and saved last-minute along with Brett and JT, and you spend how-many hours it would take you to read this in a most wonderful way. I totally recommend this book to those who love a great romance with some wonderful Southern men.

A Dangerous Man(3rd edition) by Anne Brooke

18479535Title: A Dangerous Man (3rd edition)

Author: Anne Brooke

Genre: Thriller

Length: Extended Novel (233 Pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (September 15th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Michael Jones, a young gay artist and part-time prostitute, will do anything to stage his first exhibition. When he falls in love with rich financier, Jack Hutchinson, he seems set to achieve his goal. But as Michael becomes caught between the unforgiving territory of smoky-bar Hackney and the green-garden luxury of upper class London, the intense mindscape of a man obsessed with his dreams is revealed as he attempts to free himself from his past.

When a net of antagonistic relationships and inner battles encroaches upon him, the consequences of Michael’s uncompromising pursuit emerge in tragedy, leaving him having to fight for all he holds dear, and in the only way he knows how.

NOTE: This book was previously published under the ISBN: 978-0-98282-674-4. This reissued version of the book has been reedited.

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

Review: As I’ve finished this book, I find myself still crying. It started thirty pages before the end and the emotional state that this book has left me quite painful. I don’t know what to make of this book really. I found it brilliant in a way, powerful as hell too, but above all, I found it saddening and depressive.

The protagonist, Michael, is such a disturbing character. It’s the first thing shown to you by the author, shoved right in your face, and it colors the entire book. His obsession is huge, a swallowing emotion that sweeps out of your feet with every line you read. He has dreams of making it big, and though he lives in the darkest corner of London, where you can easily name it the slum of the city, he never stop pushing, never stops pressing, or giving up. He sells his body whenever he needs money, but the way that doesn’t really touch him yet still leaves marks in his soul is amazing really to read. A character that as much as he gets, it’s never enough. He needs a job; he obsesses about it, pushing through it until he gets it. He wants a man, he obsesses about him verging on disturbing, even though he’s not available, but he wins him over. Yet it’s not enough. He wants an exhibition and literally sells his soul, making himself vulnerable to people who use him, abuse him, and threaten to destroy everything he ever dreamed of and in the end even that doesn’t liberate him.

Another astonishing fact is how brilliantly his self-destructiveness is painted. I cringed most of the read, no scratch that, I kept on cringing more and more and it never seemed to end as the story wove over. There was not a single moment of joy or happiness in this book. Even when Michael was most happy at the beginning of his relationship with Jack, even then everything was layered in gloom and doom. It was inevitable that all that would result in the most tragic way, but so foolishly I never expected the exact way. I never expected this end… Foolishly yes because in hindsight it was more than obvious.

What I loved the most though was the description of the artist and his mentality. Having a couple of experiences myself with artists, the entire description of how Michael felt, acted, draw, or even saw life, felt as if I was taken back in time, to places and people who once were part of my life. In some ways Michael was exactly like my cousin was, lost in his world, and his perception of what was going on around him. When he kept loosing himself in his thoughts of drawing, felt the urge to laugh out loud at the perfection of that describing, at how wonderful the author captured the essence of talent. And the desolate feelings that come with it.

I think though, even as this book is the saddest one I’ve read, even though Michael was brilliantly written, it would have been higher up on my list if the read didn’t lack a certain something. I don’t know, was it the fact that this entire book was seen from Michaels distorted point of view? On the other hand, that unique viewing of this story from Michael’s eyes was what gave this book its originality. But there was a connection lacking. For example, I didn’t get why Jack fell in love with Michael in first place. Through very small glimpses I got the impression Michael must be stunning, but that was it. Why did Jack fell for him so hard, why did he accept all his antics? All I had was Michael’s need, his using Jack and for some reason that went on and on… The fact that I felt disconnected, yet forced to endure all those emotions that swirled with pain, pity, and a pathetic feel for the main character, was only made worse by a drag in the lines. I felt myself pushing through my limits to keep on reading. I had to stop and take breaks for a bit of air, as it seemed to run out of if constantly while reading. It took me forever to finish this book with only the last fifty pages making a difference where the pace quickened and the rush for the bitter end became more palpable. In the end, all I was left with was tears and a feeling of profound heartbreak.

Northern Relations by H. Lewis-Foster

NorthernRelationsTitle: Northern Relations

Author: H. Lewis-Foster

Genre: Historical Romance / Regency

Length: Novelette (15K)

Publisher: Amber Allure (October 6th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Edward, Lord Hadnall, leads a hedonistic life in Regency London, along with his friend and occasional lover, Charlie Brabinger. The only blot on Edward’s carefree horizon is the insistence of his female relations that he settle down and get married. He intends to ignore their pestering for as long as he can, and continue his decadent lifestyle of dances and debauchery. But then Edward meets Charlie’s cousin, Arthur Hathwaite, a kind and honorable country gentleman.

Edward accepts Arthur’s invitation to visit his Yorkshire home and is surprised to find life on the rural estate extremely agreeable. He enjoys Arthur’s company immensely and they become firm friends. But when Edward makes an unexpected discovery, he is left in a moral dilemma. Will Edward follow his usual indulgent urges or do the right thing for once in his life? Or might he be lucky enough to do both? 

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

Review: I certainly enjoy a good regency read, what can I say, the era appeals to me. This one was quite enjoyable on many accounts. It had the erotic sensuality I come to expect from this kind of setting. The language and mannerisms were fitting of the era even explicit sex scenes were described, and that made me one satisfied reader. I loved how the shallow Lord was painted, how his lifestyle was described and how in contrasts his northern noble friend was to his city gent mannerisms. There was a certain care when it came to relying gentlemanlike behaviors and attention/respect for the female family members. The expectations of “society” versus the guilty pleasures, the duty one had to their titles and station in life versus the wants and their personal longing was exquisite. All in all, I loved the writing style of this short story.

Romance-wise I was elated to see how this story developed. The happy end was to be expected, but it came in such a beautiful order. It was filled with the “romance” and the elegance the setting demanded. The growth that occurred for Lord Hadnall was lovely. He matured so wonderfully that I came to adore him in the end. All his playboy behavior shattered in the wake of noble feelings and love were simply delightful. As for Arthur, he somewhat surprised me with his surety and confidence, I expected him to be the seduced not the seducer, but the end result was gorgeous. It displayed his hunger for things he thought he’d never have with a very gentle way. He was a lovely character all over.

All in all, this was a very tasteful and enjoyable read I’d love to recommend for fans of the genre.

 

Saving His Sky Captain by Caitlin Ricci

SavingSkyCaptainTitle: Saving His Sky Captain

Author: Caitlin Ricci

Genre: Steampunk

Length: Short Story (7k words)

Publisher: Amber Allure (October 6th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5~3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Damiano Linderhurst is out to prove his worth as the captain of an airship. The young Academy graduate has family history behind him, and their financial backing as well. Damiano intends to go far in the fleet and knows he’s destined for greatness as soon as he makes a name for himself.

But first, he needs to gain the respect of his crew. Not easy to do when you’re the youngest captain in the fleet and completely untested.

When a stowaway appears on Damiano’s maiden voyage, his perfect dream quickly starts to crumble around him. Damiano knows it’ll take a miracle to right things again, and he might end up falling back to Earth before he ever gets the chance to fly… 

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

Review: So first, I’d like to comment on the cover. Absolutely Stunning! However it gave the impression of a raw, brutal adventure coming alive with the words hidden inside it, and unfortunately that was not the case.

This is precisely why I don’t like to read blurbs and watch covers, they either lead you wrong or rise your expectations way up. In this very short read we got to meet Damiano, who by the way is so full of himself I couldn’t stand it. Damiano comes from a family that breeds sky captains. His brother, his father, his grandfather, and now he himself. He is destined to be great. Of course that is all in his head because the moment a true challenge rears up its head he freezes like a deer in the headlights.

I didn’t like this character. The story was so short that all I got from it was a character that got no chance to prove itself to me, to make me admire him, and like him, and possibly ever love him. Nope, nothing. His first mate did indeed save his captain, but then again we didn’t get to meet him either.

So while all the premises were solid and good for a nice story, there was no story. I needed so much more in there. Truth be told my ire is perhaps caused by the fact that I got so much engrossed with the story I didn’t even realize that it ended. One moment I was reading it and nodding my head because things finally got at that hot point ready to explode, the next I’m reading author’s bio and thinking “what on Earth just happened?”

Yeah so, a good one, but I wish it lasted more…

 

The Awakening by Shane Keleher

18425721Title: The Awakening    

Author: Shane Keleher     

Genre: Dark Paranormal     

Length: Novel (290pgs)    

Publisher: Amber Allure (1st September 2013)    

Heat Level: Moderate     

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts   

Reviewer: Pixie     

Blurb: Jake Meyers is a cop who has had to fight for everything he has gotten in life. He has also had much taken away from him. After losing his partner to cancer, he returns to his hometown, Klappison, to heal. But the demons of his past follow him wherever he goes. He is still haunted by the abusive father who threw him out for being gay many years ago, yet he has dedicated his life to protecting those who can’t protect themselves because he knows what it feels like to be defenseless.

Upon returning to Klappison, Jake meets the handsome police officer, Kris Waye, and its love at first sight for both men. But Kris is deeply in the closet and living a life that could be taken from him if the truth of his orientation ever got out. He wants to build a relationship with Jake, but he doesn’t know if he can handle the price that could be demanded from him.

But before the men can work out their personal situation, things quickly unravel as an unholy evil descends upon their little town. It’s an ages-old vampire looking to tear apart Klappison in its quest, the same as it tore apart many communities since time immemorial. Can Jake and Kris find a way to prevent the bloodthirsty monster from taking away everything they love? Or will they even survive the explosive confrontation?      

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/TheAwakening.html    

Review: Jake is still dealing with the death of his lover and returns to his hometown to escape the memories of his lost love, but returning to his mothers has old memories of an abusive father which Jake finds equally hard to deal with. With warring memories, which Jake needs to let go of, he is pulled into a nightmare when people are being brutally murdered and he meets an attractive cop Kris. Kris is attracted to Jake when he meets the out-of-town cop and they are on the cusp of something special when Jake begins to make wild assertions about the murderer. Kris and Jake must work together to remove the threat from the community, but with Kris’ doubts about the murderers identity will they really be strong enough to combat an evil that is centuries old?

This is a pretty good dark paranormal/horror story that draws us back to the old style evil vampires, with a budding romance thrown in. Jake lost his lover to cancer seven months ago and can’t escape the memories. He takes time off work, as a cop to return to his mom’s to heal. Jake also has to face the memories of his past as his father’s abuse still haunts him, but something more important crops up when he notices odd behavior and he links it to the murders in town. Kris is the low man at the police station, he is gay and has to keep it hidden in a small town, when he meets Jake he is attracted to him, and they hit it off. Kris has to trust Jake when the sheriff calls for his arrest, but he finds it hard to believe that something evil is hunting in his town. 

This story follows Jake as he returns to his hometown, it is mainly from Jake’s perspective but we also see it from others perspectives at pivotal moments, it doesn’t affect the flow of the story and gives us better insight into what is going on. Jake is weighed down by memories but is trying to deal with them all, laying his past to rest in his old childhood home is hard to do though, and he gets caught up in his new friends rather than spend time with his mother. When he and Kris meet the attraction Jake feels overwhelms him a little, but we see a relationship begin to develop that Jake isn’t sure he really wants so soon after the death of his partner. Kris is a really nice character and he seems to suit Jake quite well. 

The horror/dark paranormal side of the story is nicely done, we are treated to a couple of spine tingles as the dark evil plagues the town and no one has a clue what is happening. There was the usual disbelief even when the truth smacked some characters in the faces, and there was a fantastic showdown that had me wondering if one of them wouldn’t make it. The vampire aspect was very old world type, dark and evil, leaving a bloody path behind him, turning those who are useful, and fully enjoying the carnage he leaves behind. Between that and Kris and Jake’s relationship I quite enjoyed this story but felt that it was bogged down by some details (Jake’s non-dealings with memories of his father) that don’t get addressed or dealt with. 

I recommend this to those who love dark fantasy, horror, new beginnings and new relationships, hot sex, bloody deaths, saving a town from dark danger and a sweet and sexy ending.                

 

A Different Drummer by Deirdre O'Dare

17838897Title: A Different Drummer

Series: N/A

Author: Deirdre O’Dare

Genre: Contemporary / The Arts

Length: Novella (61 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure, Amber Quill Press (April 22nd, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5~3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Jest has been on his own since his mid-teens and still blesses the chance that allowed him to realize his dream of playing percussion in a band, one that has become his substitute family. Although he misses the close sharing, he doesn’t expect to find a partner, and certainly not one as clearly out of his element as the man, looking totally lost and friendless, who one night wanders into the club where Jest’s band plays.

Greene has struggled to build himself a life far from the undisciplined communal community in which he grew to his mid-teens. He’s lonely, though, and not sure how to remedy that, so he keeps working as a game programmer in Silicon Valley until he makes a faux pas at a party. Traveling aimlessly, he meets Jest and the other members of Taken By Storm, and is intrigued but terrified of slipping back into a disorderly world like the one of his childhood.

Opposites do attract, but can a rebel percussionist and a totally uptight game programmer find common ground for a partnership? 

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

Review: Now this story is a peculiar one. It might seem like its main character and the focus behind the plot is the drummer as the title suggests, but in my opinion, it was the game programmer.

We have Jest, a special brand of drummer. He’s the hippy look-alike, with rainbow Mohawk, tight skin jeans, and rainbow suspenders. Doesn’t strike like the peculiar kind right? Now put him in a country band that wears western clothes and same kind of crowd. Heh, that’s right. Jest is the kind of guy raised by conservative parent who threw him out of the house once they found out he was gay. He made his way toward a life that he always dreamed of and his band is his family. What he misses is a soul mate.

Greene is an oddity too. He is the exact opposite of Jest. He grew up in a New Age/Hippy community. His parents mostly stoned and his siblings and other children left to fend for themselves. So, he did. He finished high school young, got his scholarships, cut himself from his family, and made it to a big gaming cooperation as a programmer. He has nearly the life he always wanted. What he misses is a soul mate.

After a drunken proposition to one of his co-workers and a public humiliation, Greene takes his car and drives. He reaches Las Vegas and hit the first Bar & Grill he finds to get some food in him and that’s when he sees a sight he simply can’t take his eyes from.

So this is how this story starts with Jest and Greene falling in love with first sight, even if they don’t know it yet. The pair seems interesting enough, easy-going Jest inviting Greene to crash with him for the night and Greene following as if in a dream. It did seem way too easy though, so much, so that I had a voice in my head screaming come on, that just don’t happen all the time. Jest had this intuition thing going and probing Greene all the time for some reaction. When they had their first intercourse together, I just didn’t feel it. It was as if the author simply skipped the scene and just let us know that it was mind-blowing. I felt a bit cheated, you know. I’d have liked reading the mind-blowing part myself.

Furthermore, the dialogues between the two was a bit off-putting. Even in the end, they held a bit of formality that just didn’t fit with the intimacy that they were supposed to share. It somehow made me feel quite detached from the characters and viewing the story dispassionately.

As for Greene’s backstory and how the plot around it evolved, I don’t know what to make out of it. Besides being quite sad, that too was skipped and simply told later on with a clinical narration. We didn’t get to witness it and experience the emotions first hand, resulting to the whole intensity slipping right out and never reaching us. Some lost potential there. I kept expecting some “getting back” to Mickey, but boy was I wrong in that account?

So all in all it was not bad, bad it simply didn’t make me say “yeah, this is a great story,” and it’s a shame because it had some good stuff in there. Plus it kind of lost the whole “The Arts” genre with the focus staying mainly on Greene and his issues. Result? Good story, no more, no less.

 

The Hearts of Yesteryear by Vivien Dean

51tduJ9XjeLTitle: The Hearts of Yesteryear

Author: Vivien Dean

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novella (92 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure, Amber Quill (September 22nd, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Cat

Blurb: Throughout his career, actor John Paravati has stuck with the line he sold to the gossip rags—he’s been in like, been in lust, even been in respect once or twice, but never love. It works for him. After all, the only thing he’s ever cared about is performing, and if he’s stuck now doing commercials for cruise lines to pay his bills, at least it’s better than shilling adult diapers.

But people in Hollywood are pros at pretending, and John is the master of them all. Because once upon a time, in the world of his youth, he loved two things with all his heart—his best friend Frank and the movie palace he used as sanctuary.

More than fifty years ago, John ran away from his hometown, never to look back. Now, someone has decided to restore the theater he left behind, and they want John to be a part of its relaunch. Though the memories still sting, he swallows his pride and agrees to go, even if it means finally dealing with the heartache he’s ignored all this time. At seventy-seven, he’s too old to continue holding onto the hurt. The question is, however, is he too old to start over once it’s gone?

Purchase Link:  http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/HeartsYesteryear.html

Review: John left his hometown in his twenties after his heart was crushed. He became a successful actor and now 50 years later the memories are all brought up in an invitation to go back to the grand opening of the restoration of the theatre there.

This is a very well written sweet story about a man’s past coming back to haunt him. It’s also a starch reminder that so long ago gay lifestyles were less accepted than they are nowadays causing many young men to deny themselves of whom they really are and who they truly loved.

I also really loved that the characters were older men (in their seventies) and well established in their lives. It goes to show that love can be found no matter what the age, that all of us have needs and desires and hurts.  Well done!!

I highly recommend this to anyone that likes older characters, actors, military men and a very sweet love story.