Hi guys, we have Amy Lane stopping by with her new release in the Bluewater Bay series Selfie, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so enjoy the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Selfie
(Bluewater Bay 13)
by
Amy Lane
One year ago, actor Connor Montgomery lost the love of his life to a drunk driver. But what’s worse for Connor is what he still has: a lifetime of secrets born of hiding his relationship from the glare of Hollywood. Unable to let go of the world he and Vinnie shared, Connor films a drunken YouTube confession on the anniversary of Vinnie’s death.
Thankfully, the video was silent—a familiar state for Connor—so his secret is still safe. He needs a fresh start, and a new role on the hit TV show Wolf’s Landing might be just that.
The move to Bluewater Bay may also mean a second chance in the form of his studio-assigned assistant. Noah Dakers sees through Connor’s facades more quickly than Connor could imagine. Noah’s quiet strength and sarcastic companionship offers Connor a chance at love that Hollywood’s closet has never allowed. But to accept it, Connor must let Vinnie go and learn to live again.
Title: Christmas Kitsch Series: N/A Author: Amy Lane Narrator: Nick J. Russo Genre: Contemporary/Holiday Length: 6 hours and 17 minutes Publisher: Riptide Publishing (December 8, 2015) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Sometimes the best thing you can get for Christmas is knowing what you really want.
Rusty Baker is a blond, rich, entitled football player in a high school full of them – just the type of oblivious jock all the bullied kids hate. And he might have stayed that way except he develops a friendship with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. Rusty thinks the friendship is just pity – Oliver is very bright, and Rusty is very not – but then Oliver kisses him good-bye when Rusty leaves for college, and Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.
But even Rusty’s newfound awareness can’t help him survive a semester at Berkeley. He returns home for Thanksgiving break clinging to the one thing he knows to be true: Oliver Campbell is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. Oliver may not have much money, but he’s got something Rusty has never known: true family.
With their help and Oliver’s love, Rusty comes to realize that he may have failed college, but he’ll pass real life with flying rainbow colors.
Product Link: http://amzn.to/1SoWsVd
Reviewer: Lisa
Review: I had not had the chance to read this story so when I was given the audible I wasn’t sure what to expect from it. I have never really been into teenagers finding love so it was a bit different to me. However I realized that Christmas Kitsch is probably one of my favorite love stories from this side. I also never realized how much I want to just knock some sense into Rusty’s parents.
Nick brought these boys and their families alive for me and I was fascinated by it. He gave them each a distinctive tone that you can tell who each character is and I loved it. It made me want to listen to it more than just once and that was a big hit for me. It was told with a flair that had me wanting more. He made Rusty’s voice perfect. You can feel everything Rusty is feeling while telling his story.
Rusty is a sweet kid who wasn’t like many other rich kids you come across. He might be spoiled in some ways but it didn’t change him into one of those types. He definitely has a lot of heart but he doesn’t really come off as brainless as he thinks. He might just be a bit slow picking up some things. When Oliver starts school he takes him under his wing and helps him. As Oliver is helping him with his school work.
When he realizes that there is more than just friendship he is about shocked. Here he was sleeping with girls and he is attracted to Oliver. One kiss right before Thanksgivings gets him kicked out of his home. Oliver’s family takes him in and shows him how a family should be.
Oliver is a cute little Hispanic boy who is very out and proud. He shows up at school and takes one look at Rusty. These two hit it off, even when the homophobic asshats around them are well asses. These two start a friendship that is strong and turns into something more. Rusty’s only support from his family is his little sister, whereas Oliver’s family is very warm and friendly. I love how you can see the difference and wish that it was more out in the world. Nick definitely did a number with this story. He made me fall in love even more.
I think my favorite moment for this story was their first kiss. So sweet and tender, Rusty is confused but turned on. He doesn’t react like one would think from a guy who didn’t know he liked other guys. He is definitely Oliver’s. The second would be how Oliver and his father were going to come down and kidnap Rusty when Rusty wasn’t doing well at school. It showed me another side to a parent who stands by their family.
I want Oliver’s’ family that is for sure. The story was perfectly pitched although I wish it was told a bit faster for me. I want to get to the sexy parts, so that was just me. It had the right amount of feelings in it that made it more entertaining. The story itself was perfect and there was so much detail that it had me feeling like I was right there with them. Although I did look a bit strange with my pissed off look about Rusty’s parents.
This was the perfect Christmas story and I look forward to not only reading more by this author but listening to her stories.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was a hit with me.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Lollipop Series: Candy Man, #3 Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (250 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 25 2016) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Ezra Kellerman flew across country to see if he had another chance with the man he let slip through his fingers. He didn’t. Rico has moved on, but he doesn’t’t just leave his ex high and dry. Instead, Rico entrusts his family and friends with Ezra’s care. Ezra, confused, hurt, and lost, clings to Rico’s cousin and his boyfriend as the lifelines they are—but their friend Miguel is another story.
Miguel Rodriguez had great plans and ambition—but a hearty dose of real life crushed those flat. When Miguel finds himself partially in charge of the befuddled, dreamy, healing Ezra, he’s pretty resentful at first. But Ezra’s placid nature and sincere wonder at the simple life Miguel has taken for granted begin to soften Miguel’s hardened shell. Miguel starts to notice that Ezra isn’t just amazingly sweet—he’s achingly beautiful as well.
Suddenly Miguel is fending off every single man on the planet to give Ezra room to get over Rico—while fighting a burning suspicion that the best thing to help Ezra get over his broken heart is Miguel.
Review: This is one of Amy Lane’s most misleading series ever. Because with all the sweetness that lollipops, and candy and chocolate bring, you’d never expect for that subtle angst to take residence inside your heart and rip it to pieces a little at the time. I should know better by now.
Yet once again, I was surprised to realize Amy is a very sneaky writer, whose version of fluff and sweetness has a definite bite to it. But, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. And this time around I’ve learned a very important lesson… I am definitely going to be prepared for the next book in this series. Because now I KNOW that no matter what Amy Lane writes, I’m definitely going to feel the bite.
This book picks up exactly where Bitter Taffy left off. Ezra came from New York to try to win Rico back, only Rico is taken and happy with the love of his life, Derek. So Ezra finds himself dumped on Adam’s front lawn, at the mercy of strangers like Adam, and Finn, and Miguel.
Ezra is 28 years old and only now starting to discover who he is, after years of living under his homophobic and controlling father’s thumb. After literally tearing his life apart with his bare hands, Ezra escapes to Sacramento with the hope of getting Rico back. Only to end up with a solid group of friends who care about his wellbeing, a purring, loving cat who soothes his dreams, and an amazing boyfriend who would do anything to make Ezra smile.
Miguel has been crushing on Adam for a long time, and even though he knows there’s never been any hope of a romantic relationship with Adam, he can’t seem to make this stupid crush go away. Growing up in a loving Mexican family, Miguel is one of the six siblings. And since he’s not the oldest, nor the youngest, and he mostly feels invisible and unimportant. He doesn’t like to draw attention to himself and he’s definitely used to fading in the background.
When Ezra first becomes his responsibility, Miguel isn’t very thrilled, and he doesn’t really want to like Ezra much either. But the two men find comfort in each other in different ways. Ezra finds a shelter and a piece of heaven in angel-faced Miguel. A person who befriends him and doesn’t judge him. Who takes time to get to know the real Ezra. Miguel basks in the attention he receives from Ezra. He feels important to him, and he feels like he’s SEEN of the first time ever. Because Ezra remembers his name.
Miguel and Ezra become very close friends and enjoy being around each other. Ezra makes Miguel realize he’s important and belongs. While Miguel helps Ezra learns to trust and believe in the unconditional help and love offered by his new friends in Sacramento. Miguel helps Ezra find his real home.
Who knew that laid-back Miguel could become a jealous, intense lover? It came as a total (beautiful) surprise, because it seems like nothing drove Miguel crazier than all the men hitting on the innocent, clueless Ezra. If I knew that a burnt waffle was all that was going to take for Miguel to snap, I would’ve burnt the damn thing myself! It takes a while for the sex to happen. But I sure didn’t mind, because the slow burn was delicious.
But once Miguel snaps and finally takes Ezra to bed, there are fireworks, and passion, and sweetness and intensity! Ay papi, I get it, I totally do… Ezra is yours and only yours! Message received!
This book is about more than romance. It’s about friendship and love and home. It’s about letting go of the ugly and embracing the beautiful. And accepting that the beautiful doesn’t always come with riches and is not always glamorous. Between this book and Candy Man, I can’t pick a favorite, because they’re both incredible. And holy shit, we get another book, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Only no matter how much I try, I can’t figure out who the other MC is going to be… on the bright side, we’ll see a lot more of Adam and Finn.
This book was beautiful!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Cory fled the foothills to deal with the pain of losing Adrian, and Green watched her go. Separately, they could easily grieve themselves to death, but when an old enemy of Green’s brings them back together, they can no longer hide from their grief—or their love for each other.
But Cory’s grieving has cut her off from the emotional stability that’s the source of her power, and Green’s worry for her has left them both weak. Cory’s strength comes from love, and she finds that when she’s in the presence of Adrian’s best friend, Bracken, she feels stronger still.
But defeating their enemy is by no means a sure thing. As the attacks against Cory and her lovers keep coming, it becomes clear that their love might not be enough if they can’t heal each other—and themselves—from the wounds that almost killed them all.
Review: At first release (2005), Amy Lane’s “Little Goddess” series was clearly a precursor to her future work. Showcasing her creativity and writing skills, it introduced the author and her characters as forces to be reckoned with. Now, in a second edition, “Little Goddess” is back. Better than ever. If you haven’t read it, stop now and pick up “Vulnerable”. You’ll need it before reading “Wounded”, and really, it’s a damn good book.
Picking up where Vulnerable leaves off, Cory and Green are grief-stricken and attempting to heal, though not finding solace in one another as lovers should. True to Amy Lane’s style, forces beyond their control will soon change that. The lovers and those around them who are also in pain must come together to control their destiny.
Secondary characters are brought to the forefront. There are new names, faces, and relationships; no character is unimportant in this series. Ms. Lane continues to build Green and Cory’s world(s), with more layers of love, romance, family, loyalty and yes, treachery and betrayal. Age old opposing forces of good vs. evil, love vs. hate arise as Cory, Green, their friends, family and enemies struggle to persevere. We learn more about their magic, their preternatural selves and their importance to one another.
Lane immerses us in rich character history; in this first volume of “Wounded” Green’s past is further revealed. Faces from said past have returned – both to help and to cause harm. The bond between Green, Cory and their loved ones, how they handle this as a united front, as a family, through the danger is the crux of this amazing story.
As with any Amy Lane book, there is love and romance, but here it is taken to another level. The intimate moments are not just love and sex, but are filled with magic, beauty, romance, sadness and angst. There are happy and tender moments as well, and sometimes it is a combustible whirlwind of it all. There are times when love literally saves the day.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Ms. Lane is the master of her craft. Her skill with the written word is one of the best I’ve encountered. It draws me in every time, bringing me back for each new release, and at times for a reread of one of my many favorites.
Being reintroduced to these characters, I remembered why I fell so hard. For all their power there is such vulnerability; they are easy to love. I’m so invested in them and their world. I urge you to venture into the world of “Little Goddess”, the world Amy built. Let a little fantasy into your reality – not only will you not regret it, you’ll come back for more.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Amy Lane stopping by now with her newest release The Deep of the Sound, we have a brief guest post from Amy and she brings along a great excerpt, we have a brilliant giveaway and we have Aerin’s review, so enjoy the post and leave a comment (with email address) to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
The Deep of the Sound
(Bluewater Bay 08)
by
Amy Lane
Cal McCorkle has lived in Bluewater Bay his whole life. He works two jobs to support a brother with a laundry list of psychiatric diagnoses and a great-uncle with Alzheimer’s, and his personal life amounts to impersonal hookups with his boss. He’s got no time, no ambition, and no hope. All he has is family, and they’re killing him one responsibility at a time.
Avery Kennedy left Los Angeles, his family, and his sleazy boyfriend to attend a Wolf’s Landing convention, and he has no plans to return. But when he finds himself broke and car-less in Bluewater Bay, he’s worried he’ll have to slink home with his tail between his legs. Then Cal McCorkle rides to his rescue, and his urge to run away dies a quick death.
Avery may seem helpless at first, but he can charm Cal’s fractious brother, so Cal can pretty much forgive him anything. Even being adorkable. And giving him hope. But Cal can only promise Avery “until we can’t”—and the cost of changing that to “until forever” might be too high, however much they both want it.
Blurb: When Teyth was but a child, a cruel prince took over his village, building a great granite tower to rule over the folk. Greedy and capricious, the man will be the bane of Teyth’s existence as an adult, but as a boy, Teyth is too busy escaping his stepfather to worry about his ruler.
Sold into apprenticeship to the local blacksmith, Teyth finds that what was meant as a punishment is actually his salvation. Cairsten, the smith, and Diarmuid, his adopted son, are kind, and the smithy is the prosperous heart of a thriving village. As Teyth grows in the craft of metalwork, he also grows in love for Diarmuid, the gentle, clever young man who introduces him to smithing.
Their prince wants Diarmuid too. As the tyrant inflicts loss upon loss on Teyth and Diarmuid, Teyth’s passion for his craft twists into obsession. By the time Teyth resurfaces from his quest to create immortality, he’s nearly lost the love that makes being human worth the pain. Teyth was born to sculpt his emotion into metal, and Diarmuid was born to lead. Together, can they keep their village safe and sustain the love that will make them immortal?
Review: So… Amy Lane decided to write her version of a fairy tale. Of course, this couldn’t just be *ANY* old fairy tale. It has to be not just of romance but of a darkness with angst and pain… with a brightness all its own, spun and woven with the most elaborate web of words as only she can do. It is those very words that paint the picture, which give the detail, from the landscape to each character to the minutiae of their very attire – words that enable you to visualize all that occurs.
As with any fairy tale, where there is good, there must be evil, and it does triumph at times. There is an evil stepfather, an evil prince. There is love lost, love found in many different ways. There are times when the ugliness of violence pervades all that is good. Somehow, though, the good does shine through. Love and romance shine through. The balance of such things is what makes this author the success she is, what makes this book the literary work of art it is.
I have always referred to Amy Lane as a master wordsmith. I’ve yet to read another whose very words paint such visions of color and light, of despair and darkness. Those words of beauty are a treasure I appreciate each and every time I am blessed enough to read them. Having read almost all of her books, I can honestly say “Immortal” is the most beautiful, the most haunting. Written in older English style, the tale of Teyth and Diarmuid captivated me from the very beginning.
Teyth, whose name literally means ‘silence’, is an artist of the soul, besieged by the need to create, a need which supersedes anything and everything including love of self and love of mate. Diarmuid, his mate, loves Teyth beyond reason, which is as one would like to think love should be. Though he is caused undue pain by him, he loves Teyth, not in spite of this but because of it, as it makes the man whom he loves. Through these two we learn of love real and true, and that beauty and ugliness are sometimes not so far apart. Their pain and suffering are epically proportionate to their love and devotion.
Tormented by strife both internal and external, by love and loss, by violence and evil, does their love stand the test of time? Teyth with his silence, his need to feed his artistic soul, Diarmuid with his desire to lead them to peace and happiness, away from all that threatens them… their love for each other throughout all of this… can they find what they long for?
I say ‘fairy tale’ but this is by no means a typical HEA. Rather, in a fantastic and magical series of events we are gifted with a truly appropriate and beautiful ending to this epic tale. In their very own way, Teyth and Diarmuid did become “Immortal” – both in Amy’s story and in my heart.
Leave it to Amy Lane to write a fairy tale that kicks my ass. Leave it to me to ask, no, BEG her to do it again. The tears, the wonder – the words. Teyth and Diarmuid stole my heart and broke me. I finished with wet eyes, a sort of mended heart, and much like Teyth, with no words.
Now that I seem to have found them again, I can’t possibly recommend this book or this author enough. Thank you Amy, for the gift of your words, for the gift of “Immortal”.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Black John Series: Johnnies, #4 Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary Narrator: Gomez Pugh Length: 10 hours and 41 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (03-20-2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts (only because I can’t give it 10!) Blurb: John Carey is just out of rehab and dying inside when he gets word that Tory, the guy who loved him and broke him, has removed himself from the world in the most bitter way possible—and left John to clean up his mess.
Forced back to his hometown in Florida, John’s craving a hit with every memory when he meets Tory’s neighbor. Spacey and judgmental, Galen Henderson has been rotting in his crappy apartment since a motorcycle accident robbed him of his mobility, his looks, and his boyfriend all in one mistake. Galen’s been hiding at the bottom of an oxy bottle, but when John shows up, he feels obligated to help wade through the wreckage of Tory’s life.
The last thing John needs is another relationship with an addict, and the last thing Galen wants is a conscience. Both of them are shocked when they find that their battered souls can learn from and heal one another. It doesn’t hurt that they’re both getting a crash course on how growing up and getting past your worst mistakes sure beats the alternative—and that true love is something to fight to keep if your lover is fighting to love you back.
Review: John Carey came dangerously close to losing both his best friend and his business, snorting it up his nose. Instead, Dex stood by his side, only took a small percentage of Johnnies and shipped John off to rehab. Just when John thinks he has a handle on his addiction, he learns that the man who tore him apart, broke him down and made him the unfeeling bastard he is today is dead. And just like when he was alive, Tory has dropped his baggage at John’s feet.
Galen Henderson was a successful lawyer who had a home, a partner and a job he loved. One mistake left him unemployed, single and forever scarred. His lover of over four years came to visit him in the hospital after the wreck just long enough to tell him he had moved him out of their home and into a shitty apartment, oh, and dumped him before Galen could even get his feet under him again.
Misery loves company so of course Galen became friends with his new neighbor Tory, who was even more messed up than Galen was. When Tory’s old boyfriend John shows up after Tory’s death, Galen is determined to hate the big time porn star that dropped Tory on his ass to go off and make a name for himself. Galen wasn’t prepared for the truth, and he definitely wasn’t prepared to fall in love with John.
The two bond over their addictions, the pain of losing Tory and a mutual attraction that leaves them both sweaty and breathless. And while you would think an addict that is fresh out of recovery would fall right into one of Galen’s pill bottles, John will surprise you. He readily admits the nagging pull he feels to that bottle, that little voice inside his head that is screaming for a fix.
But he doesn’t succumb to it, for reasons beyond John’s comprehension at the start, he feels this need to try to help Galen. As well, Galen is drawn to John’s pain and inserts himself into the red heads life, helping him clean up the mess Tory has left of it.
They try very hard not to love each other, and oddly it is the shared grief over Tory, the disgusting and painful time they spend cleaning out Tory’s apartment, watching the goodbye video he left for John, that sends them over the edge. And once they admit their feelings the hard part begins.
It’s hard to put into words how much I loved this story. It is a cesspool of dark, dank, emotional turmoil that only Amy Lane could write and make you fall in love with these characters that are so broken by their own hand, even root for them to just shut up and love each other.
While the previous books in this series have always had the secondary character of the porn world, the life the guys lead on and off camera, this story replaced that aspect with the seedy world of addiction. And let me assure you that Lane hit that nail on the head. There is a part in the story when Galen winds up in the hospital and he is being treated poorly simply because of his addiction.
This really hit home for me, my sister is a recovering addict who was recently is a bad car wreck and received piss poor care in the ER simply because she was honest with the staff and told them she was recovering. That one five-minute rant from John when he went off on that nurse gave this story an edge of reality that made my skin crawl. Perfection Amy, just perfection!
Now when I first queued up this audio on my I-pod, I was disappointed that Sean Crisden wasn’t continuing his role as narrator, he has been replaced by Gomez Pugh. I didn’t want to like him. Over three books I’d gotten used to Crisden’s tones and inflections for these characters. Well, Pugh quickly wormed his way in there and took control of the story with his cocky, self-assured but slightly broken tones for John. Or his completely country bumpkin portrayal of Galen that had me laughing out loud.
John and Galen are probably the most volatile lovers in the series to date and Pugh truly conveyed those emotions, right down to every little moan, groan and scream. There is a scene where John is making a video for Galen while he is in rehab… God almighty Dayum, that was hot! The perfect merging of Lane’s writing and Pugh’s vocal chops really brought this story to life for me.
I could write a book on how much I loved this book. Well written and narrated, in-depth, dark, emotional, passionate, sometimes quirky and funny. Just go buy a copy so I can stop rambling, kay.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Lights, Camera, Cupid! and it’s incredible authors stopping by today on the Valentine blog tour. There’s a fabulous Valentine’s giveaway and my review of Lights, Camera, Cupid! for you to check out but no excerpt this time (I couldn’t find one to nick *pout*) but trust me these are great stories 😉 anyway check out the post and leave a comment to enter this great giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Lights, Camera, Cupid!
(A Bluewater Bay Valentine’s Day Anthology)
by
L.A. Witt, Z.A. Maxfield, Anne Tenino, S.E. Jakes, Amy Lane
Cupid is visiting Bluewater Bay, and he’s leaving chaos in his wake.
Nothing’s been the same in this sleepy little logging town since Hollywood came to shoot the hit TV show Wolf’s Landing—especially Valentine’s Day.
In L.A. Witt’s Just Another Day, beloved actors Levi Pritchard and Carter Samuels have an announcement for their fans, while in Z.A. Maxfield’s I’ll Be There, actor Spencer Kepler and his boyfriend Nash Holly brave a blizzard and a fan convention to spend their first February the 14th together.
Of course, it’s not just TV stars celebrating the day. In Anne Tenino’s Helping Hand, an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage. In S.E. Jakes’s No Easy Way, a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. And in Amy Lane’s Nascha, a Bluewater Bay elder recalls how his own unconventional family used to celebrate the holiday.
Real life may be nothing like TV, but when Cupid comes to town, there’s plenty of romance and drama to go around.
Title: Black John Series: Johnnies, #4 Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (280 Pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 26th 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts Reviewer: Aerin Blurb: John Carey is just out of rehab and dying inside when he gets word that Tory, the guy who loved him and broke him, has removed himself from the world in the most bitter way possible—and left John to clean up his mess.
Forced back to his hometown in Florida, John’s craving a hit with every memory when he meets Tory’s neighbor. Spacey and judgmental, Galen Henderson has been rotting in his crappy apartment since a motorcycle accident robbed him of his mobility, his looks, and his boyfriend all in one mistake. Galen’s been hiding at the bottom of an oxy bottle, but when John shows up, he feels obligated to help wade through the wreckage of Tory’s life.
The last thing John needs is another relationship with an addict, and the last thing Galen wants is a conscience. Both of them are shocked when they find that their battered souls can learn from and heal one another. It doesn’t hurt that they’re both getting a crash course on how growing up and getting past your worst mistakes sure beats the alternative—and that true love is something to fight to keep if your lover is fighting to love you back.
Review: Every time I start a new Amy Lane book, I prepare myself to have my heart ripped out, because nobody writes angst like Amy does. I swear I can still FEEL her books a year later. Black John is book 4 in the Johnnies series, and while all the books are wonderful and you shouldn’t miss out on them, this could definitely be read as a standalone. I am happy to say this wasn’t quite as dark as the previous books.
I mean there was definitely plenty of angst, but I’m proud to say I only managed to shed tears ONCE *go me!!!*
This is the story of John, the founder of Johnnies, a friend and a wonderful employer, until he became a coke addict. John has been struggling for a long time and things finally come crashing down. But before he can put himself back together and be the friend and the boss he needs to be, he has to survive rehab and overcome and make peace with his ex-boyfriend/best friend’s (Tory) death.
There was plenty of heartbreak in the relationship between John and Tory, and I got to understand where John’s self-deprecation and low self-esteem is coming from. His relationship with Tory was all kinds of dysfunctional and I definitely didn’t have any pity or sympathy for Tory. What I loved the most about John’s journey, both present and past, is that we find out exactly why John got into the business of filming porn and how Johnnies (and all the previous companies) were created.
For Tory, it was the desperate search for “love” and adoration he could get from multiple sex partners and from the public who would eventually watch his videos. John on the other hand, wanted to show the world how beautiful and fun sex could be, and how lovely it is to see two human beings being intimate while making each other feel good. Tory and John couldn’t have been more different, and I hated that John felt guilty for Tory’s constant fuck-ups, but in the end, he got to meet Galen, and I can say it was all worth it.
Galen was a hot mess; he’s an addict, hooked up on Ox and other prescription painkillers. I’m used to Amy’s characters being damaged, but I thought Galen was the worst of all. When John and Galen got together, I felt like I was witnessing one of those instant friendships, where the people felt like they knew each other forever, even though they were practically strangers.
So what’s wrong with that you say? I honestly thought they were going to be crap in bed, because at first I couldn’t feel any chemistry or sexual attraction between them. But the first time they had sex it was so damn hot, it blew my mind. The chemistry happened so fast, it gave me whiplash.
One moment I was thinking well this romance thing is gonna suck and the next second I’m literally gulping and panting because…DAMN!!! I promise to never ever ever doubt you again Amy Lane! And I liked that Galen was possessive of John because it was about time someone gave that much crap about him, but most of all I loved Galen’s honesty…
“I don’t think anyone in your life has ever loved you the way I do, John Carey, and I am very possessive. Tory may not have cared if you were with other people. Whoever else you’ve had in your bed may not have been particularly… personal. But I will be jealous, possessive, and every inch the bitchy, clingy boyfriend, until you pry me from your side with a crowbar and throw me to the crows. Are we understood?”
I really liked that Galen and John had completely different backgrounds. Galen had been an only child and he was showered with adoration from both his parents. He was especially close to his mother but both his mother and his father were accepting of his sexuality and loved him unconditionally.
John grew up with an abusive, bigoted father who loved to knock him around and bully those weaker than him. His mother was more interested in climbing the social lather than being a good parent to John. There were only two people whom John loved: Tory and his nana; unfortunately, only one of them loved him back.
I loved the memory of nana, what a wonderful old lady! She was so real, full of life, and unapologetic for living her life the way she wanted to. I think she was the only reason John turned out to be such a good person.
“God, John missed his nana. Corrupt and genteel, brisk and kind, that woman called a fool a fool and her family a blight on the pimple on humanity’s ass.”
This story was much easier to read, and it was nowhere near as gutting as Chase in Shadow. It still had its sad moments, it still made me cry (JUST ONCE), but there was a healthy dose of sarcasm and some humor so artfully placed, I found myself laughing while feeling my heart start to break. “Are you hiding a geek from me?” John asked. “Yes. He’s in my penis; would you like to speak with him?” And John’s email to Scott the psycho was hysterical:
Dear psychopath, I’ll publish my drug addiction in the goddamned Sacramento Bee, but you will never again have access to my money, my employees, or my company. We are filing a restraining order, and feel free to suck the come out of your own ass before you contact us again. Sincerely, your former employer and former junkie, John Carey
And as much as I started the book with the idea that John is an ass and sure that I was going to absolutely hate Galen, wouldn’t you know I ended up loving them both. They are both very complex and there is so much growth we witness in both of them. They better themselves as individuals in order to feel like they deserve each other and all that hard work doesn’t happen overnight.
I enjoyed seeing most of the Johnnies’ cast; at least the guys we all got to know and love. I love their relationships, their friendships, and the family they all built together. I like how supportive they are and how they have each other’s backs. And somehow, as much as I love them all, Dex is still my favorite. I simply adore him even more than before, if such a thing is possible.
Great writing, amazing characters, priceless life lessons, and well let’s not forget the hot sex because that’s important as well; this book is a great little package. Everyone that loves the MM genre should read it.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Turkey in the Snow Series: 2012 Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar: Evergreen Author: Amy Lane Narrator: Gomez Pugh Genre: Contemporary Length: 2 hours and 32 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (9-15-14) Heat Level: Mild Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Blurb: Since Hank Calder’s four-year-old niece, Josie, came to live with him, his life has been plenty dramatic, thank you, and the last thing he needs is a swishy, flaming twinkie to complicate things. But when Justin, the daycare worker at his gym, offers to do something incredibly nice for Hank—and for Josie—Hank is forced to reconsider.
Justin may be flamboyant in his speech and gestures, but his heart and kindness are as rock steady and dependable as anyone, even Hank, could ask for.
Can Hank trust in his dramatic “turkey in the snow” to offer his heart the joy he and Josie have never known?
Review: Hank Calder is going through the motions, trying to raise his young niece after his sister left several months ago to “go to the store” and left him holding the bag. The strain of it all gets to him sometimes, and he uses his workouts at the gym as an escape. While Hank works off his issues, little Josie spends her time in the daycare center with Justin, a flaming twink that Hank went to high school with and never much cared for.
When Justin goes out of his way to help Hank and Josie both of them warm to him quickly, much to Hanks surprise. He didn’t think he could ever do a relationship with anyone again after his last disastrous one, nor did he ever imagine he would be attracted to someone as flamboyant as Justin. You know what they say though, Opposites often attract.
Amy Lane is the queen of angst and I loved how she managed to keep true to her roots and still deliver a well-rounded story in so few pages. The story flowed steady and I found myself at the end and ready to rewind and listen again. My only complaint would be the way Pugh read the character Justin. I realize he is written as a flamboyant, flaming twink, but still, it was a little overboard in my opinion. But overall the narration was good and Pugh did a fantastic job of making sure you knew when there was a change in character.
The perfect little story for Lane’s hard core fans, or if you are just looking for a Holiday themed story where the guys have to work a little bit for that happy ever after.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Amy Lane stopping by with her newest release The Bells of Times Square. We have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and two reviews for you to check out, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Bells of Times Square
by
Amy Lane
Every New Year’s Eve since 1946, Nate Meyer has ventured alone to Times Square to listen for the ghostly church bells he and his long-lost wartime lover vowed to hear together. This year, however, his grandson Blaine is pushing Nate through the Manhattan streets, revealing his secrets to his silent, stroke-stricken grandfather.
When Blaine introduces his boyfriend to his beloved grandfather, he has no idea that Nate holds a similar secret. As they endure the chilly death of the old year, Nate is drawn back in memory to a much earlier time . . . and to Walter.
Long before, in a peace carefully crafted in the heart of wartime tumult, Nate and Walter forged a loving home in the midst of violence and chaos. But nothing in war is permanent, and now all Nate has is memories of a man his family never knew existed. And a hope that he’ll finally hear the church bells that will unite everybody—including the lovers who hid the best and most sacred parts of their hearts.
Title: Chase in Shadow Series: Johnnies, #1 Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary Romance (trigger warning. Abuse, neglect and attempted suicide) Narrator: Sean Crisden Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press at Audible (04-01-14) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Chase Summers: Golden boy. Beautiful girlfriend, good friends, and a promising future.
Nobody knows the real Chase.
Chase Summers has a razor blade to his wrist and the smell of his lover’s goodbye clinging to his skin. He has a door in his heart so frightening he’d rather die than open it, and the lies he’s used to block it shut are thinning with every forbidden touch. Chase has spent his entire life unraveling, and his decision to set his sexuality free in secret has only torn his mind apart faster.
Chase has one chance for true love and salvation. He may have met Tommy Halloran in the world of gay-for-pay—where the number of lovers doesn’t matter as long as the come-shot’s good—but if he wants the healing that Tommy’s love has to offer, he’ll need the courage to leave the shadows for the sunlight. That may be too much to ask from a man who’s spent his entire life hiding his true self. Chase knows all too well that the only things thriving in a heart’s darkness are the bitter personal demons that love to watch us bleed.
Review: At first glance, one would think Chase Summers life is perfect. He has a devoted fiancé, a home, friends and good paying job. Dig down deep though and you’ll find the stuff of nightmares. Chase buries his sexuality behind a blood red door that binds his soul. His father is a homophobe of the highest order, and his mother killed herself when he was just a boy, only adding to the emotional scars that make up Chase’s tattered soul. The little piece of heaven in Chase’s otherwise psychotic existence is his job for a ‘gay for pay’ site, Johnnies.
Tommy Halloran has his own personal demons to deal with. He’s bulimic, brought on by a need to look as fit and trim as possible in front of the cameras. His Johnnies persona, Tango, is a sexy little minx with his dark hair and piercing eyes and absolutely zero inhibitions where sex is concerned. Tommy and the other guys at Johnnies quickly befriend Chase, but somewhere along the way, the relationship between Tommy and Chase becomes something more.
After Tommy’s mom dies and Chase is a shoulder to cry on, the two begin a passionate affair. Yes, Chase is still closeted and lying to his fiancé, but he doesn’t lie to Tommy about the important things, or so he thinks. Keeping his sexuality and his past bottled up behind that red door that is starting to buckle under the pressure, turn out to be more than anyone could bear. When the bough breaks, and Chase takes a razor to his wrist, he finally opens up about his sexuality. Turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
First, I’m going to tell you this was one of the best books I’ve ever listened to. Then I have to warn you that if you have triggers… severe depression, attempted suicide, abuse, neglect… be warned all of these situations are depicted in this story. While this was a very heavy story to listen to it was told in such a way that I was engaged and intrigued throughout. I found myself silently weeping at one point, when Chase finally opens up about the red door and his mom, it was devastating. But the way he gets through everything, surrounded by nothing but love and support, because Tommy and the rest of his friends NEVER leave his side, was beautiful.
Either Amy Lane works with people with depression and anxiety, has a family member or close friend that suffers or she does some of the best research in the business. I know someone whose situation is quite similar to Chase’s and the way Lane describe things were so eerily true, it was almost haunting.
Now the narration, wow! It’s no secret Sean Crisden is one of my favourite narrators, his voice is mesmerizing. The way he can change his tone with just the barest of pitch or breathe adds so much more to the story. And then when you couple his expertise with a fantastically written story, it’s a masterpiece. Throughout the story, Chase has this inner monologue going, the demon that is his depression speaks and Crisden had a specific voice, monotone almost, that he used for these parts in the story. It allowed me as a listener to feel the gravity of Chase’s situation. He’s all sunshine and smiles on the outside, but inside he’s being torn apart, and all the while, this demon of depression is so matter of fact about everything, it really shows the truth of what goes on inside the minds of people who suffer this debilitating disease.
This story is dark, dramatic and emotionally draining. But there is such a beauty to the bond between Chase and Tommy and the way they literally drag each other out of hell, that I can’t not recommend it.
Title: Candy Man Series: N/A Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary/ Holiday Length: Novella (136 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 3rd, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Reviewer: Aerin Blurb: Adam Macias has been thrown a few curve balls in his life, but losing his VA grant because his car broke down and he missed a class was the one that struck him out. One relative away from homelessness, he’s taking the bus to Sacramento, where his cousin has offered a housesitting job and a new start. He has one goal, and that’s to get his life back on track. Friends, pets, lovers? Need not apply.
Finn Stewart takes one look at Adam as he’s applying to Candy Heaven and decides he’s much too fascinating to leave alone. Finn is bright and shiny—and has never been hurt. Adam is wary of his attention from the very beginning—Finn is dangerous to every sort of peace Adam is forging, and Adam may just be too damaged to let him in at all.
But Finn is tenacious, and Adam’s new boss, Darrin, doesn’t take bullshit for an answer. Adam is going to have to ask himself, which is harder—letting Finn in or living without him? With the holidays approaching, it seems like an easy question, but Adam knows from experience that life is seldom simple, and the world seldom cooperates with hope, faith, or the plans of cats and men.
Review: I remember reading one of Amy Lane’s blogs earlier this year, where she was talking about her husband’s marathon and stopping by a candy shop afterwards. “But he was still game to stop at a candy store on the way back, so we could buy the kids green salt water taffy and pretty canvas bags for St. Patrick’s Day. Darrin was the AWESOME proprietor of Candy Haven.“
When I read the author note on Candy Man I squealed and bounced around in excitement. It’s just so amazing when an author’s personal experience and the real life people they meet are the inspiration for a book. And this book was nothing short of amazing. It wasn’t as dark and angsty as most of the previous books, but I made sure to keep the tissues close by, just in case. And I only needed to use them twice. But I became an expert in reading with tears in my eyes while smiling like a lunatic, because this is what this book did to me.
Adam is a 27-year-old man who served in the army for 8 years. Life hasn’t been very kind to him, all the people he considered close disappointed him one way or another, all with the exception of his cousin Rico (we don’t meet Rico in this book but he is an amazing secondary character that we get a glimpse of through the text messages he exchanges with Adam). Adam has a lot of bad luck lately that causes him to lose his VA grant along with his job. He feels unworthy and unlovable. He’s hit rock bottom and now the only way to go is up, right?
Let me introduce you to Finn, an amazing and complex character who’s bubbly, exciting, and full of life. Finn becomes fascinated by Adam and he does everything he can to get the man all to himself. Finn is persistent and doesn’t take no for an answer; he’s determined to show Adam that real family and friends stick together, and he does just that.
Most of the plot revolves around Candy Heaven, a small candy shop owned by Darrin. Darrin is funny and I loved how supportive he was. He can see certain things in the future by reading the pixie stick (you know the powder that’s inside) which I got a real laugh out of. The secondary characters were unique and each of them was quirky in his/her own way. They’re meddling and protective and I loved the constant banter. Finn’s family also played a big role in Adam and Finn’s relationship; they were amazing. And Finn’s coming out story was as hilarious as it was unique.
And as amazing as this book was so far, Amy made it exceptional and humorous by including the homicidal cat and the balls sniffing dog. I laughed so much at those two. They managed to make the whole story brighter. “And Clopper lay on his back in the corner, drunk off of more turkey and stuffing than any dog should eat ever. Every ten minutes he’d pass a giant gas bubble that would send him barking around the room, angry at the big farting monster who had dared impose on his dreams.”
This book was amazing and if you haven’t read it yet, go do it RIGHT NOW. Recommended to all Amy Lane fans and to everyone else who loves a book full of happiness and joy and hope, seasoned with a little bit of angst.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Ethan in Gold Series: Johnnies, #3 Author: Amy Lane Narrator: Sean Crisden Genre: Contemporary Romance Length: 10 hours and 46 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (04-25-14) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Evan Costa learned from a very early age that there was no such thing as unconditional love and that it was better to settle for what you could get instead of expecting the world to give you what you need. As Ethan, porn model for Johnnies, he gets exactly what he wants—comradeship and physical contact on trade—and he is perfectly satisfied with that. He’s sure of it.
Jonah Stevens has spent most of his adult life helping to care for his sister and trying to keep his beleaguered family from fraying at the edges. He’s had very little time to work on his confidence or his body for that matter. When Jonah meets Ethan, he doesn’t see the hurt child or the shamelessly slutty porn star. He sees a funny, sexy, confident man who—against the odds—seems to like Jonah in spite of his very ordinary, but difficult, life.
Sensing a kindred spirit and a common interest, Ethan thinks a platonic friendship with Jonah won’t violate his fair trade rules of sex and touch, but Jonah has different ideas. Ethan’s pretty sure his choice of jobs has stripped away all hope of a real relationship, but Jonah wants the whole package—the sexy man, the vulnerable boy, the charming companion who works so hard to make other people happy.
Jonah wants to prove that underneath the damage Ethan has lived with all his life, he’s still gold with promise and the ability to love.
Review: Evan Costa was a happy little boy with a loving mother, devoted father and way too many cranky sisters. Until a teacher violated his innocence and pushed his mother over the edge. Afraid to touch her own son or let anyone else, Evan became withdrawn and isolated.
As he grew and matured, he sought solace in his therapy sessions, a love of Manga and a group of equally nerdy teenagers at school. Life continues to deal heavy blows to Evan as he navigates his way through bullying, being a gay teenager, a friends attempted suicide and a very unique need that was spawned by his Mother’s lack of empathy.
Johnnies becomes the family that Evan longs for and he transforms himself into Ethan, the big, burly porn star that longs to be touched, and shines like gold when he is. His co-workers become his family and they share a kinship and a camaraderie that he has ached for since he was five years old. But a real life relationship with a real life boy is out of the question as far as Ethan is concerned. He feels he is too damaged and broken to bring anything good to anyone’s life long-term.
Jonah Stevens works a job he can’t see going anywhere and lives a life less ordinary in order to be there for his ailing sister. He meets Ethan at the pet store where he works and is enamored with the big guy’s confidence and swagger. Jonah is a very non-confrontational, laid-back guy, but he finds himself taking chances and taking charge in an effort to turn his friendship with Ethan into something more.
Ethan has dug in his heels, convinced that his past and his internal demons would be too much to ask Jonah to accept, so he continues to push Jonah away. Perseverance is not a trait Jonah thought he had but he quickly learns the only way he is going to win Ethan’s heart is persistence and tenacity.
Ethan may have been with dozens of guys during his tour with Johnnies, but when it comes right down to the mechanics of a relationship, he is just as inexperienced as Jonah is, and they will have to learn how to be a couple and be in love together. The obstacles they have to overcome are many.
Ethan is severely scared mentally from the incident when he was a child and the reaction of his family, mostly his mother, in the aftermath. He doesn’t think he deserves to be loved. And while Jonah knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Evan is what he wants, he will have to come to terms with the life Evan leads and learn how he fits into it.
I swear to Jesus, Amy Lane is going to be the death of me! That woman takes my heart, rips it out, stomps up and down on it, and then hands it back to me all bloody and bruised. This was an intense, emotional story and Lane really made me feel Evan’s pain in the words she used to describe it. It is such an insane journey following his thoughts, seeing how he coped with the madness that is his life on a daily basis.
It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for Jonah either, though he never doubted his parent’s love for him even with the stress of a terminally ill sibling, he had to deal with his own issues of self-worth and loathing. They have to learn how to balance the confusion with confidence and take the good with the bad and find a way to keep moving forward in order to make a life together.
Sean Crisden has narrated all the books in this series thus far, and I hope he continues to lead that charge. His voice has become another one of the brother’s in this motley crew of a family that is Johnnies! It’s all about the tone change, nuances, and subtle inflections he uses from one character to another that gives Lane’s words a voice and makes these characters a reality inside my mind.
This book left me wrung out and exhausted, but it was so worth it in the end. Dramatic, slightly dark, definitely sexy, and just so well written. A must read for fans of Amy Lanes work, as well as those that like gritty romances with an edge.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
After three years of waiting for “rabbit” Jeremy to commit to a life in Granby—and a life together—Aiden Rhodes was appalled when Jeremy sustained a nearly fatal beating to keep a friend out of harm’s way. How could Aiden’s bunny put himself in danger like that?
Aiden needs to get over himself, because Jeremy has a long road to recovery, and he’s going to need Aiden’s promise of love every step of the way. Jeremy has new scars on his face and body to deal with, and his heart can’t afford any more wounds.
When their friend’s baby needs some special care, the two men find common ground to firm up their shaky union. With Aiden’s support and his boss’s inspiration, Jeremy comes up with a plan to make sure Ariadne’s little blackbird comes into this world with everything she needs. While Jeremy grows into his new role as protector, Aiden needs to ease back on his protectiveness over his once-timid lover. Aiden may be a wolf in student’s clothing and Jeremy may be a rabbit of a man, but that doesn’t mean they can’t walk the wilds of Granby together.
Review: A bit less angst, more warm and fuzzy cheering for Jeremy to finally discover his worth. The theme song that runs through this tale of heartache, healing, and happiness is, you guessed it, Blackbird. And I couldn’t stop humming it for the rest of the two days I took to read this beauty.
It had been a while since reading the last Granby novel and this felt like coming home to old friends. The warmth and strength of community in our Granby guys, and gals, surrounds both Ariadne and Jeremy as they face the hurdles of healing both physically and emotionally. As Ariadne faces delivering a baby through a high-risk pregnancy and knowing she’ll be faced with birth defects, Jeremy is by her side, healing from his attack. Turns out, they heal each other. Jeremy convincing Ariadne that no matter what, her baby will be beautiful and loved eventually turns into a much larger gesture, one that holds a mirror to show him his own worth.
Aiden has to swallow the pain of seeing his lover sacrifice himself in the previous attack, and he needs to work on convincing Jeremy of his value to everyone most especially Aiden. The scars on his face don’t hide the beauty that affects Aiden’s heart, and so the theme plays on.
Through a huge community project to raise money for Ariadne’s baby, Jeremy sees himself through others eyes, and realizes that not only has he found home in Aiden’s heart, but in Granby, and maybe it’s time to do something about that safe under the bed.
Ben, Craw, Stanley, Gio- Johnny, Rory, Ariadne, Aiden and his family, the whole knitting community and even Rich, get together to make great things happen. A warm and fuzzy, feel good story that makes me want to live in Granby too! A nice welcome back to some of my favorite guys. Take these broken wings and learn to fly….
Title: Beneath the Stain – Part Six Series: Beneath the Stain serial Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary Romance Length: Novella (75 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (October 3rd 2014) Heat Level: Mild Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: For as long as Trav Ford has known the Sanders boys, one name has haunted the entire band. Their first lead guitarist and Mackey’s first lover has left a stamp on the kids he’s known as a family, and now Grant has one last chance to hurt the people Trav cares for most.
Except Grant isn’t the monster Trav made him out to be, and coming home is harder on the band, and Trav, than he ever could have anticipated. When Trav is confronted with the reality of what Mackey and his brothers left behind, and with what they’re about to lose, he has to seriously reconsider if he’s strong enough to deal with everything that Mackey and Outbreak Monkey have come to represent. Fortunately for Trav, Mackey’s learned a lot in the past year, and one of his best lessons is how to hold on to the people he loves.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5313 Review:*Note. This review is of part 6 of the serial*
Trav and Mackey have been through a lot together whether it is on the business end, as a couple or as individuals. You would think by now Trav would have learned that they deal with issues best as a couple, but following Mackey and the band back to Tyson opens some doors that were probably best left shut. For starters, Grant is not the demon that Trav has convinced himself the man had to be. He deserted Mackey and the band, he lives his life in the closet, and worst, he hurt Mackey to a point that the scar will never heal. But seeing Grant at his most vulnerable state, so open, honest, and frail, shows Trav that he is just a man like the rest of them.
Then when the band holds a concert at the place where they launched their careers, the end result is a disaster, showing Trav exactly how hateful and ignorant the people who Mackey and his brothers grew up with are. In a moment of weakness brought on by confusion and utter exhaustion, Trav escapes and leaves Mackey alone with his family. It could have sent Mackey into a tailspin, but thank Christ, Mackey realizes how important his family, sobriety and Trav are to him. So he goes after the man he loves, determined to bring him back, kicking and screaming if he has to.
This wasn’t my favorite installment in this serial. It just didn’t have the same feel to me that the other parts have as I’ve taken this journey with Mackey, Trav and the band. But, that could be the purpose, Lane’s mind set for where she is going to take us in part 7. That being said, this is still a very well written and thought out story, and I’m so invested in these characters that I’m sitting here, waiting, with bated breath for the next installment!
If you like dark and dangerous stories that grab you, twist you up and make you crave more than this is a must read. Be sure to start with part 1, as each story is a continuation of the last. Only two more parts to go, I can’t wait to see where this ends. Will Trav and Mackey find a way to deal with the demons of the past, and build a future together? We shall see. * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Beneath the Stain: Part 5 Series: Beneath the Stain serial package Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary Length: Serial (95 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 26th 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Mackey is great at taking a leap of faith into a crowd –but taking one into a relationship and a future is a totally different animal. When he and Trav decide to take a risk that Mackey’s healing can hold up to them together, they know it’s going to be a long, difficult road. Mackey proves he can handle the stress of performing on his own, but when it comes to the demons that broke him in the first place, that’s a whole other song.
The first time Mackey tries to go home, it sends him into a palm-sweating, stomach heaving anxiety attack, and Trav has to concede that Mackey is still on loan from the things that almost wrecked him when he was still a kid. When news arrives that affects the entire band, Mackey can either go home and face his demons, or let them haunt him forever.
Review: *Note. This review is of part 5 of the serial*
In the last installment of this series, Trav and Mackey finally established themselves as a couple, loud and in living color. Mackey has a long road ahead of him before he or anyone else can declare his road to recovery a success though. He is emotionally shattered and a recovering addict and as much as he would like to think that Trav’s love is enough to get him through anything, he is at least realistic. As unintentional as it is, his reality sometimes hurts the man he loves.
Trav knows that Mackey is far from whole, but there is something about the battered and broken young man who is so beautiful to him, that he can’t help but love him. When Trav has to leave Mackey to go overseas for a few days to check on the upcoming tour, he worries how his lover will cope without him there to hold him together. As hard as it is to hear, Mackey is honest with him when he feels the urge to use, and strong enough for now to resist it.
Mackey is determined to be strong and stay clean. For himself, his band, his family and most importantly for Trav. While Mackey still struggles with his addiction and the pull to use, he manages to stay clean, for now. Some harsh news from home threatens his newfound sobriety, and just might push Mackey over the edge.
Each installment of this serial only ups the ante. The writing is intense, emotional and captivating, pulling me further in with every dark twist of Mackey’s story. My fear now is that his relationship with Trav has become so intense that it could implode around them, and take out everyone they love in the after math. Then on the other hand, I don’t see how either of them couldn’t be right for each other, because I don’t think they could be right for anyone else. Mackey doesn’t do anything half way, and loving Trav is no exception. There love is equal parts frantic, insane and endearing.
I’m seriously sitting here biting my nails right now in anticipation of part 6. I have a few days to brace myself because I have a feeling the shit is about to hit the fan, but I’m holding out the hope that Mackey and Trav make it through this field of land minds together.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Beneath the Stain – Part 4 Author: Amy Lane Genre: Contemporary/ Erotic Romance Length: Serial (85 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 19th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Mackey’s fragile recovery from his bout with self-destruction is complicated even further by his feelings for Trav—and Trav’s feelings back. Trav is older, and he should know better, but now that Mackey is drug-free and conquering his demons, all he can see is the stunning, brilliant man who existed under the stain of pain and excess.
Trav and Mackey struggle to find a balance between Mackey’s recovery and their growing attraction. Trav decides to make a rare leap of faith—but can Mackey find enough faith in himself to make it through life in the spotlight and a visit to the past that almost destroyed him?
Review: I believe this installment in this serial is what one would call, the calm before the storm.
Mackey has made it out of rehab and is finally back home with his family, and Trav. Though Trav is wary of entering into a relationship with the younger and volatile musician, the attraction they have to each other will not be denied. Trav concedes that he will try to be more than friends and manager for Mackey, but they are going to take it slow. Trav courts Mackey and shows him that there is more to life than sex, drugs and rock & roll. There is love, tenderness, passion and control.
Sad news from home almost sends Mackey into a tailspin, but Trav is there by his side, steadfast and strong, helping Mackey come to terms with it in his own way. But there is something inside of Mackey that is slightly broken, a piece of his soul that can only be tamed with touch of another man. He can see the truth in what Trav is saying that they need to date and be boyfriends for a while before they throw sex into the mix, especially with Mackey still being raw from rehab.
But there is a thirst deep down inside Mackey that can only be quenched with Trav taking every part of him and making him his, completely.
Compared to the other parts of this saga to date, this was a very timid installment. It was nice for a change though, to see Mackey being loved and cherished by Trav. The inner workings of their relationship are quite different and I always wonder how it will play out on paper. Trav is obviously Mackey’s strength, and it was a joy to see him lose that control he keeps such a tight hold on for a change. I fear though, that there are going to be surmountable roadblocks ahead for these two, which is just how Lane rolls.
I’m also loving the ‘bonus scenes’ that come with each part of the serial. With each one we get a deeper look into the mindset of certain secondary characters, this time around it was from Blake’s POV. Oh boy, now that could be a juicy storyline indeed! Can’t say more, you’ll have to grab a copy and read for yourself. I have to say that I love this hard-core story, and I look forward to the next part each week. If you haven’t read any yet, definitely get caught up, but start with part 1.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Mackey Sanders doesn’t do anything easy, rehab is no exception. Never one to follow orders for the sake of being orderly, Mackey needs a reason, something real, to make him agree to Trav’s terms of getting clean. Trav knows he can’t be Mackey’s only reason to rehabilitate, but before he can convince Mackey of that, he needs to get to the heart of what’s been eating Mackey alive from the moment the band left Tyson.
Can Mackey’s family, can Mackey’s band, survive the fallout of the Mackey telling the truth? More importantly, can Mackey?
Review: At a promotional event for the band, Mackey is violated by a supposed fan that spiked his beer. Thankfully, Trav and Jefferson get to him first and are able to conceal what happened, for now. But Mackey’s already fragile body reacts violently to the drugs slipped to him and he winds up in the hospital for several days. Trav never leaves his side, and in the end, convinces Mackey to give rehab another try.
It’s a special kind of hell for the guy who has been living a life of secrets and lies for over six years. Mackey truly wants to kick his addiction, but he wants to do it without rehab. He doesn’t want to have to face just how fucked up he is, and that is what the good doctor wants him to do. Talk about his feelings, about the things he wants to keep hidden, about being gay and addicted and about Grant.
Trav is in a sort of purgatory as well, slowly falling in love with the troubled young man who is just barely no longer a kid, one miserable day at a time. Mackey has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in people with his bleach streaked hair, haunted eyes and need to be accepted. The two have settled into an unspoken relationship of sorts, with Trav being the only person Mackey will confide in, the only person he really feels safe with. When Trav hurts himself and has his own stint at the ER, Mackey is right by his side, finally opening up to him about Grant. But if Mackey is going to beat his disease of addiction, he is going to have to deal with the demons of his past once and for all, and that includes telling his family.
While this installment starts out in a dark place, from there the content takes on a different feel. While Mackey is in rehab, trying to hide from himself, he and Trav open up to each other via text messages. By the end neither of them has out right admitted how they feel, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious they are falling in love. Trav tries so hard not to feel anything above friendship for Mackey, but that is a lost cause, you can almost see his heart being led on a string that Mackey holds fast to. And Trav becomes a lifeline for Mackey while he’s in rehab. Young Mackey has spent the last year drowning the voice in his head that tells him right from wrong, and he’d just as soon rather die than hash out the tangled up mess inside him.
With each installment of this serial, the story delves deeper into the soul of Mackey and his demons. As dark as the content is, I’m thoroughly enthralled in this story. I find myself anticipating the next installment, anxious to see where it takes Mackey and his band of misfits and his hopefully, fingers crossed, soon to be lover Trav. But I know, I know Amy Lane and I know she’s going to bring Grant back into the forefront sooner or later. Probably right about the time Mackey and Trav get comfortable with each other Grant will have some earth shattering epiphany about his sexuality. Me, I’m rooting for Mackey and Trav!
Grab your copies of this story and sit back and wait for each week’s next part, much like your favorite TV shows. It is a graphic, violent, and dark depiction of the price of fame, the ghost of addiction and how it affects not just the addict, but also the people that surround them. And I’m loving every minute of it!
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (5th September 2014)
Heat: Moderate
Heart: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Trav Ford doesn’t like strings and he doesn’t like messes. Coming off of a messy breakup, Trav is grimly determined to keep his life absolutely pristine. When Trav is asked to take over the management of Outbreak Monkey, his first order of business is to clean up their act- and that includes shipping the youngest, most troubled member off to detox and rehab before Mackey Sander’s life choices kill him.
But Mackey didn’t become an addict overnight, and it’s going to take more than one trip to rehab to fix him up. When an act of violence destroys Mackey’s struggling equilibrium, Trav is going to find that messy isn’t so hard to escape – not when it’s wrapping its mess around Trav’s heart.
Review: In the first instalment of this serial, Mackey and his band had hit it big and were on their way to LA. Unfortunately the cost of his success was their guitarist and Mackey’s long time lover, Grant, who chose to stay behind. Mackey only made it so far with the flashbacks of fame before Grant stepped in and helped him. Now he has to fend for himself in the big, bad, ugly town that chews up and spits out rock stars for breakfast. Mackey isn’t fairing so well.
Trav Ford is an ex MP and current hard ass in the entertainment industry. His boss describes his attitude best when he tells Trav, “I think the reason you became an MP is to give people a valid reason to hate you immediately.” Fresh out of a breakup, Trav throws himself into his new job as the new manager for Mackey’s band. Learning that young Mackey is gay isn’t nearly as shocking as Mackey’s current appearance and state of mind. A diet of booze, pills and coke (and I don’t mean the cola!) have left Mackey’s already thin frame looking fragile and sickly. The only thing keeping him sane right now is the stack of journals full of his songs that balance precariously next to his unkempt, stained sheets.
Trav takes charge, ships Mackey off to rehab and lays down the ground rules. When Trav first meet Mackey and the band he was indignant with how they lived. But Mackey has a way of getting under your skin, and soon enough all Trav wants is to see him get better. And Mackey seems to understand the need to stay clean, but trouble is just around the corner, trouble Mackey may not bounce back from this time around.
This series is going to be the death of me! Lane’s Stain is very raw and intense, showing the darker side of one young man’s journey to fame. I went from wanting to ring Mackey’s neck, turn him over my knee and spank the shit out of him (and not in a good way!) to screaming NO at my kindle with that ending. It’s quite hard to wait a week in between each part of this serial. And that ending! I’m pretty sure what is coming next, but Lane is a master story teller, so she could very well take a complete one eighty from what I’m envisioning is about to happen.
I almost want to tell you to wait until you can read this one in its entirety, but that is over a month away. Better to get your weekly dose of insanity with Mackey and the band than wait it out. Either way, I’m hooked, I’ll be sitting here with bated breath until next week when I get to see what happens in part three!
Title: Christmas Kitsch
Title: Lollipop
Title: Wounded (Vol. 1), 2nd edition
Title: Immortal
Title: Black John
Title: Black John
