Hound Dog and Bean by B.G. Thomas

HoundDogandBeanLGTitle: Hound Dog and Bean

Series:   N/A

Author: B. G. Thomas

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novel (276 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 20th, 2014)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  There’s been little love in H.D. “Hound Dog” Fisher’s life since the death of his beloved mom when he was a boy. Bounced around the foster care system, he ran away as soon as he could… and took the foster dog with him. As far as he’s concerned, only dogs have no ulterior motive, never hold a grudge, and offer unconditional love. Now he helps run a no-kill shelter and leaves relationships where they belong: in the back room. 

“Bean” Alexander settled in Kansas City to open his coffee shop after years of traveling. He never expected to open his heart too. When a man with a grudge takes a swing at H.D. while in line at Bean’s shop, Bean jumps to intervene. 

So taking a hit for H.D. gets Bean noticed, and H.D. feels obligated to pay a debt. But then the unexpected happens. A series of misadventures causes H.D. to open up—but falling in love makes him turn tail and run. Trust is a tough road to travel. Will good friends, a dog named Sarah Jane, and a bit of folk magic be enough to bring Hound Dog and Bean a happy ending?

Purchase Link:   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4608

Review: This story was a delightful surprise.  I had one expectation which was clearly met which was a contemporary love story between two men who are quite opposite from each other, but who ultimately work as a couple. What the reader also got was some folklore thrown in and a subtle message about how people should think about and treat the animals that inhabit the world with us.  There’s a strong thread about living in harmony with the universe that runs through the thread of the book, but seems to pick up more steam towards the middle and end of the book.  It is what will ultimately bring the two men back together.

Hound Dog and Bean like any good m/m couple must have a dramatic meeting, that is then followed by some hot interaction, some even hotter sex, and then the problems will ensue.  The crisis in this story really belongs to Hound Dog.  Bean is a fairly well-adjusted man.  It is Hound Dog who must overcome his demons if he is to live a happy with Bean.  While the book splits its time between both men, it’s all a foil for the reader to see how all things will affect Hound Dog to make the decisions he does and how it will affect his relationship with Bean.

It’s Hound Dog who creates the rift and issues between the two men and then it is he who must heal that which he broke. The reader will enjoy reading about these two vastly different men who really balance each other really well.  It’s fun to watch them fall in love with each other and then watch as Hound Dog struggles with that emotion until he simply gives in.

The underlying story about the pets and aligning oneself with the universe is also interesting and lends a slight ‘other world’ air to the story that seems to make Hound Dog a more complex yet sympathetic character. There’s also some f/f coupling in there as well which added still another layer to the book and made it seem even more real.

Great read for the characters and all the themes explored.

Christmas Wish by B.G. Thomas

ChristmasWishLGTitle: Christmas Wish

Series:   Pair to Christmas Cole

Author: B.G. Thomas

Genre: Christmas themed Contemporary fantasy

Length:  Novella (78 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 1st, 2010)

Heat Level:  Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Harry is desperately unhappy with his life. He hates his job, his apartment, and most especially, he hates the way he looks. Despite this, once Harry hears that his fantasy man, Javier Torres, is playing Santa at the local gay bar, he can’t wait to get his picture taken sitting on Javier’s lap in hopes of finally catching the sexy man’s attention. But it all goes wrong, and Harry ends up telling a different “Santa” exactly how his life could be made better… but he doesn’t expect his Christmas wish to come true!

Purchase Link:   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2101

Review: So this book begins right after a specific scene in Christmas Cole.  The pairing of the two stories is great and maybe because written in 2010, there is no connection of the linkage between both stories except that they probably appeared together in an anthology.  In this story, Harry learns that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and sometimes what you’ve wanted you’ve always had with you.  Oh Lord, doesn’t that sound almost like a line from The Wizard of Oz. Kind of fitting wouldn’t you say?

Through the power of some Christmas magic, Harry is transformed from an Ugly Ducking into a beautiful swan and then realizes that all people see of him is his gorgeous outside but nobody is interested in getting to know his insides. The thing he craves – human connection – is the one thing he cannot seem to get. So he then goes back to the one person who always loved and accepted him and he realizes that just maybe he can really have it all. The reader will love Cody, Harry’s best friend.  All of us wish we had a friend this nice, considerate and special. Thankfully, for Harry there’s more elfin magic afoot and someone else has also made a Christmas wish, which means Harry, will be able to get his happy ending after all.

This is a wonderful cup of Christmas complete with the knowledge that no matter what you might think of yourself, there’s probably somebody who thinks you are perfect and if you give yourself half a chance, you’ll find out that you are perfect just as you are and better yet, you are perfect for each other.

Snuggle up with the eggnog and get ready to smile.  This is a cute little story to revisit.  Read Christmas Cole first and then Christmas Wish, they’ll both put your in a warm holiday spirit.

Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf by B.G. Thomas

19083948Title: Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf

Series:  N/A

Author:   B. G. Thomas

Genre: Christmas themed Contemporary

Length:  Novella (95 pages)

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press (December 1st, 2013)

Heat Level:  Mild

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb: Kit Jefferies, a part-time department store Christmas elf, is an artist who loves life and his family. Unfortunately, his car dies at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere as he is heading home for Christmas. Enter Nick St. George. 

Nick is a very unhappy man—he’s achieved his professional goals only to find the rest of his life bleak and empty. Deciding there was only one way to make everything right, he is on his way to San Francisco on a dark mission, and even the horrible sleet storm that blocked his path won’t deter him. That’s when he found Kit. 

At first, Nick is pretty sure rescuing Kit was a big mistake. Kit’s personality is just too, well, effervescent. But as the miles go by, Kit begins to bring light to his dark heart. It might even be bright enough to illuminate a Christmas miracle. 

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package “Heartwarming.”

Purchase Link:   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4506

Review: Nick is a douche when you first meet him and most people would have written him off altogether, but for whatever reason he’s kindly towards Kit and so they embark upon an unlikely road trip, which will lead Nick into spending time in Kits’ infectious presence. Kit’s inability to curse or be mean is representative of the true meaning of Christmas and what Kit does for Nick is in every way what we expect to see in a Christmas miracle. Nick is finally able to see that there is more to life than he first thought and that he must have the courage to not only save himself but to reach out and capture happiness when it is facing him.

Kit is able to see the Nick that Nick himself is not able to see. When Kit gives Nick his Christmas gifts, Nick is finally able to see himself in a way he’d never seen himself before and it is that single act of kindness and compassion which will change the trajectory of both their lives.

This is a lovely and heart-warming story about the holidays and the true meaning of Christmas, complete with the Christmas miracle that Kit will give to Nick.

Christmas Cole by B.G. Thomas

13030993Title: Christmas Cole

Series: N/A

Author:   B. G. Thomas

Genre: Christmas themed Contemporary Fantasy

Length:  Novella (98 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 1st, 2011)

Heat Level:  None

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Heart

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Javier Torres was a sweet, plump, and very unpopular child. But over the years, he turned himself into a gorgeous gym god. The problem is he’s also become an egotistical snob. But one day his arrogance pisses off the wrong little old lady, and he wakes up to find that, like the Prince in Beauty and the Beast, he’s been transformed into something from his personal nightmares. Javier has nowhere to go but back home, where to his surprise. He is greeted with open arms, not just by the family he remembers, but also by his new brother-in-law, Cole. Cole suspects there might be a pretty heart to go with the pretty face locked inside that new body, but has Javier learned enough to earn Cole—instead of coal—for Christmas?

A novella from the Dreamspinner Press 2011 Advent Calendar package “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

Purchase Link:   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2601

Review: So what we have here is a slightly altered version of Beauty and the Beast, or better yet, Beauty and the Beast meets A Christmas Carol. And for a community that is youth and beauty obsessed, this is certainly apropos.  This is about what happens when you allow the outside to overshadow the inside.  The moral of the story is that it’s all good and well to try to get the outside to look pretty, but at what cost will you do this?  Are you willing to sell your soul and self-respect?  What does it say when people only like the package, but don’t really know what is really inside the package or even care about the package’s contents.

This is a very short, spicy tale of Christmas so it moves along quickly but without feeling overly rushed. The characters are nicely drawn and you have clear pictures of everyone, even the bit players who are Javier’s family. They add colour and dimension and help to make the story even more believable and relatable. Once Cole enters the picture, Javier will learn that being beautiful on the inside is just if not more important than external beauty.  He will find that the people who love you will always love you and not care about things like looks or money. Most of all he will learn the importance of love and how important it is to love and be loved. What better Christmas message could there be?

So you have a tale of goodwill and rebirth all with a sprinkling of some lovely fairy, or maybe elves’ dust along with a gust of wind from the North Pole. A lovely little Christmas story that helps us remember the important things at this time of the year.  Very charming!

The Boy Who Came In From the Cold by B.G. Thomas

BoyWhoCameInFromTheCold[The]LGTitle: The Boy Who Came In From the Cold

Author: B.G. Thomas

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel Plus (284pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (29th May 2013)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm. 

Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.

To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3822

Review: Todd finds himself out on the streets in the middle of a snowstorm with nowhere to go. It is the rubbish end to a rubbish year, but maybe his luck is about to change because of small kindness from a stranger. Gabe takes pity on the young man trying to find shelter from the snow, letting him into the lobby of his building. Later when the young man finds his way to his door Gabe takes a chance and offers Todd the couch for the night. As they grow close over the following week, they both have to put their pasts in perspective and decide what they want from the future.

Todd is twenty and until he met Gabe he never questioned his sexuality. But, getting to know Gabe and trying to come to terms with his attraction has him rethinking his actions in the past. Gabe accepting Todd into his home has him wondering if he is making a mistake again. The last time he took a young man in, it ended in disaster and Gabe holding his heart close. Todd and Gabe are great characters who both lay their pasts to bare. Who both have wounds that still need healing and who both need friendship and love.

There are some great secondary characters who add something special to this story. We meet Peter, who is an eccentric older gentleman. We meet Tracy, who is a fierce protective lady and we meet Cody, who is a brief but understanding confidant. The story is well written and we get pulled into the lives of Todd and Gabe, as Todd finds his feet and begins to discover his dream. And Gabe finds his confidence in his own judgment again and opens his heart to love. The storyline is good, with Gabe wanting nothing but to pass on what was once offered to him, a helping hand. We have Todd finding what he wants and not what his step-father wanted, and we have them both settling their pasts with Todd’s being a surprising twist. The story flows quite well making it easy to read and follow. There isn’t any real strong emotional pull just the easy acceptance of watching a character come into his own.

This is a brilliant finding yourself/coming out story that has a slight touch of ‘Pretty Woman/CinderFella’ feel to it. It gives us a wonderful insight to a young man discovering his sexuality after he pushed away and ignored his strange urges. it shows us a hint of what he grew up with by the insidious memory voice of his step-father. It brings you the wonderment of discovery as Todd realizes that being gay isn’t nasty or evil and you don’t have to be limp wristed or feminine to be gay. and it gives you the pure joy of discovering love for the first time. With Gabe we see him struggle not to make the same mistake again. Of trusting that his feelings and instinct are right and that he isn’t projecting his wants and needs onto someone else.

I recommend this to those who love great coming out/finding yourself stories, finding love and discovering your dreams and getting your happily ever after.

 

Bianca's Plan by B.G. Thomas

TiBianca's Plan by B.G. Thomas[4]tle: Bianca’s Plan

Author: B.G. Thomas

Genre: Gay MM/ Contemporary /Holiday

Length: Novella (91 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 30 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

 Blurb: Bianca worries that her daddy, Gavin, is lonely and decides he needs a boyfriend for Christmas. So she enlists her father’s best friend, the straight and unattached Curtis. Gavin has a Christmas wish, too, and Curtis setting him up on disastrous dates isn’t part of it! Meanwhile, Curtis finds life becoming complicated as he tries to please Bianca, make Gavin happy, and fend off his own unexpected mixed feelings. Will anyone’s wish come true?

Product link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3414

Reviewer: Heart

Review:  Although I usually appreciate this author’s excellent writing, in this holiday story the characters and their interactions didn’t really hit the spot.

Bianca only wants a boyfriend for her father Gavin for Christmas, and she has the perfect candidate in mind – Curtis, their close friend and neighbor. The only little issue about the wish is that Curtis is straight and despite Gavin’s obvious feelings, it’s not likely his orientation will change.

So while Curtis wants a family, Bianca is not giving up on a boyfriend for her father and enlists Curtis to help her, who ends up witnessing one disaster after another.

It was the denial that killed it for me, because it was rather forced and it made the conversations between the main characters somewhat strained. Usually I love kids in books, but Bianca was a bit strange and never seemed to act the appropriate age. Maybe it was just my impression, but I kept thinking she was a few years older and kept getting surprised each time it turned out she was not. I think I disliked the ending the most. Not the eventual ‘twist’ but rather the fast flip over from straight to enthusiastic accompanied by teeth rotting sweetness that just didn’t work for me.

This is a holiday story by a great author which will probably pass with most readers as cute. It does have its high points and I’m sure it will be a big hit with a lot of people but it just didn’t work out for me.