Hiding in Plain Sight by Cassandra Carr

20686187Title: Hiding in Plain Sight

Series: Safe Harbour, #2

Author: Cassandra Carr

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel (150 Pages)

Publisher: Loose Id (February 11th 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: Vladimir Gusev exists in a living hell. A year ago in the Olympics, he was forced to use a homophobic slur during a game, and guilt is eating him from the inside out. Not only is Vladimir not a homophobe, but in the aftermath of the Olympics, he was finally able to admit his true nature to himself. Yet he’s been taught homosexuality is a sin, so he tries to push away his feelings, but to no avail.

Joe Bufford is an out gay man and an ex-Delta Force member who was medically discharged after an injury to his hand leaves him no longer able to perform his duties. His job as a mechanic at the airport is hardly a long-term career choice, but Joe has no idea where he can utilize the skills he learned in the Army.

Vladimir and Joe meet, and Joe instantly recognizes Vladimir as a terrified closet case. Before he knows it, Joe is offering to help Vladimir figure out what he is and what he wants. As time goes on, Joe begins to hope more and more that the answers to those questions lie with him.

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/safe-harbor-2-hiding-in-plain-sight.html

Review: Vladimir Gusev is a closeted, gay, Russian hockey player that is forced to present himself as homophobic. But his fellow hockey players always had their doubts about the comment he made, it never quite fit his persona to make that kind of statement and call out another player as a fag. His life has pretty much been a living hell, until he meets Joey.

Joe Bufford is ex military, Delta Force and Iraq war veteran to be exact. No longer living a lie under the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ restrictions of the military, he is openly gay and refuses to hide who is for anyone. Until he meets Vlad. He is immediately drawn to the Russian and can see the man is attracted to him as well. But Vlad is scared of the ramifications of coming out and wants to remain in hiding.

Joe understands Vlad’s inexperience and reluctance at coming out, and agrees to help Vlad gain some experience at being who he is. Their unconventional relationship quickly grows from experimenting to exclusive to love. But it is not without problems. Joe will not hide who he is, but he loves Vlad and wants to support him. Vlad wants to be true to himself and be able to love Joey openly, but worries about the adverse effects it will have on not only his career, but also what will happen to his family back in Russia?

Carr is quickly finding her footing as an accomplished M/M writer. I love how she tackled the issue of all the homophobia and hatred going on in Russia currently and wove it into her story, even if it was more of an underlying issue. She really has grown immensely in just a short while between See the Light, book 1, and this instalment. I loved how she showed the balance between Vlad’s inexperience and insecurity coupled with Joe being comfortable in his own skin and willing to be patient while Vlad figures everything out. It was so worth it in the end. And these two have an innocent sort of sexy passion that conveys well to the reader.

This book could probably be read as a standalone, but having read See the Light first, I’d recommend starting with that one. Then you can more fully understand the issue at the start with Vlad and the homophobic comments he’d made, which were actually made in book 1. If you like sweaty naked men that like to boss each other around in the bedroom, and hockey, you’ll love this series.

** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **

http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com

See the Light by Cassandra Carr

CC_SeeTheLightTitle:  See the Light

Series:  N/A

Author:  Cassandra Carr

Genre:   Contemporary

Length:  Novel (131 pages)

Publisher:  Loose Id (February 26, 2013)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:   Hockey player Jason Monroe lives a double life—star defenseman and soon-to-be Olympian on the ice and closeted gay man outside the rink. A serious relationship is out of the question, and Jason makes do with anonymous sex in barroom bathrooms, not willing to take the chance on coming out as gay in a decidedly macho sport.

Advisor to the US Olympic hockey team Patrick Parker knows a thing or two about being a professional hockey player who’s not out. He’s fifteen years older than Jason, and when he senses the sexy younger man is interested, he knows he shouldn’t give in to the attraction.

The two men can’t keep their hands off each other, though, and with each heated encounter it gets harder to hide their relationship. When their world blows up around them, forcing them into the limelight, though, will their love survive or be put on ice?

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/see-the-light.html

 Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  Oh, God. Damn, this book was good! I LOVE Hockey, and hot men, especially when said hot men are all over each other. This book is all about what happens when you mix all the aforementioned attributes into one story.

Jason Monroe is living his dream as a star player on the US Olympic Hockey team. Patrick Parker is an Advisor to the team and a former professional hockey player. The two fight their mutual attraction initially, but a passionately fierce kiss leaves them aching to explore a relationship that could have disastrous consequences for them both. Not only is Patrick drastically older than Jason, but there is the teacher/student aspect of a forbidden relationship as well. If the coaches and players can get past that, how will they respond to their teammate being gay?

The character development in this book was fantastic. Patrick knows he’s gay and is open and out with his family and close friends. Jason hides his sexuality from everyone including himself to an extent, but Patrick gets under his skin. Patrick knows who he is and what he wants, or who he wants that is, he wants Jason. Both men have to overcome personal and professional obstacles to be together. Stolen moments hidden away in motel rooms are wrapped around not only some extremely passionate sex, but room service and long conversations that ultimately lead to love.

My only complaint is that the story was too short; a few expletives flew from my mouth when my kindle displayed “the end”! I was quite pleased to visit the authors Amazon page and see that she already has a sequel in the works. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of M/M erotic romance stories.