Loki's Curse by Cameron Lawton

200x300lokis_curse130401_1010Title: Loki’s Curse

Author: Cameron Lawton

Genre: Paranormal, Historic, Vampire

Length: Short (25pgs)

Publisher: ManLoveRomance Press (29th March 2013)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Set in ninth century Ireland, when Haakon’s son, the finest warrior in the village, dies in his bed and so is excluded from Valhalla, a blood oath is made. Nobody but the village witch, the Gytha, can foresee the catastrophic consequences. Even she is not sure how they will resolve it.

Purchase Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=CLLOKICU

Review: Ivar, the village Chief Haakon’s son, was struck down by sickness. Haakon fears Ivar will never enter Valhalla and swears a blood oath. Gytha, the village witch, knows it will be a terrible curse, but bows to Haakon’s wishes and with the help of Ivar’s childhood friend, Thorkell, sets about bringing Ivar back.

Okkaayy, this is far from a nice sweet read. In fact, it is pretty brutal, bloody and dismal. Although, it has a happy-ish ending it isn’t happily ever after in the romance *snort ‘romance’* stakes. Thorkell desires men. A desire that will get him killed and that desire is pointed at his best friend, Ivar.  So when Ivar dies, Thorkell offers his love and devotion on the chance it will bring him back. But, Ivar is not the same and although Thorkell strikes a deal with Ivar, Ivar is just too wrong to let live.

This is a great little short if you are looking for something that is to the point and brutal and a touch monstrous, with a hint of dread and despair. I really felt like this was more like a horror story with a bit of redemption thrown in at the end. It’s well written and sends a couple of tendrils of dread down your spine as you see what has returned from the dead. Especially when poor Thorkell has sworn to deal with what Ivar has become. If you read this expecting a happy sexual love-fest between Thorkell and Ivar, then you will be surprised when it is brutal and to the point and the happiness comes when they return to just friends.

I will recommend this to those who want true love that’s twisted, a touch of horror, despair, and dread, very rough sex and an ending that is happy for Thorkell in his acceptance.

 

Cancel Christmas by Cameron Lawton

200x300cancel_christmas_final121218_0542Title: Cancel Christmas

Series: Yours to Command 02

Author: Cameron Lawton

Genre: Contemporary, Military Police, Christmas

Length: Novella (125pgs)

Publisher: MLR Press (15th December 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: The Military Police boys are back and this time it’s murder.

A fast-paced murder mystery featuring the two Military Police investigators from “Yours To Command”. Plans for the holidays are scrapped when a body is found on an Army base in Germany. Still firmly in the closet at work, they stay in a hotel and indulge in some midnight room-hopping but will Rory be able to cope with his assistant’s newly discovered dominant streak? Who killed the translator and why in such a grisly way? Is there a connection to a recent suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan? Killing doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas, especially in the British Army.

Purchase Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=CLCANCLX

Review: This book is part of a series and although I recommend reading them in order, this book can be read as a standalone. Jack is frustrated when his leave is cancelled, but is thankful for a few extra days with his lover, Rory. Working together in the British Army, they have to be extra cautious in their relationship, because discovery could ruin them both. Being called to a Germany base to investigate the brutal murder of a Territorial Army translator gives them the chance for some room hopping, but the investigation takes a sinister turn as they dig deeper and they discover a connection to a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

This is a great story based within the British Military and following the Military Police as they investigate a murder. But, we also get to delve into the relationship of Jack and Rory and see how it’s progressing. Jack is looking forward to visiting his parents in Spain for Christmas, while Rory has New Year’s off. But, Jack’s plans are thrown into chaos when his leave is cancelled at the last minute and he and Rory have to go to Germany and get to the bottom of a grisly murder.

We get to see how both Jack and Rory struggle with the strictures placed on them in their relationship by them both being in the Army, especially with Rory being a Captain and Jack a Staff Sergeant. They are cautious, but Rory is extra cautious because of what happened in the past and Jack learns he doesn’t know his lover as much as he thought he did. We also see Rory’s jealousy of Jack’s loving family, but it doesn’t interfere with their relationship. These men are very hot together and make a well suited couple even if they are forced to stay in the closet.

The investigation is really good with some interesting characters. The language is blunt and there is no beating about the bush in this book or political correctness… all the characters are blunt and to the point. I liked the way that even though Jack and Rory’s relationship is very important it faded into the background when it came to the investigation. Because damn, was that part of the story great with both Rory and Jack using any means necessary (well nearly) to get to the truth.

I will recommend this to those who love their men blunt and manly, their sex hot and rough at times, their murders gruesome, their military British, strict and blunt and their men getting a happy for now ending.