In Deep Water by Kaje Waters

Title:  Into Deep Waters

Series:  Love Is Always Write

Author:  Kaje Harper

Genre:   Historical

Length:  Novel

Publisher:  Goodreads M/M Group Free Read

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts                                                                          

Blurb:  Two young sailors – one a working-class artist from California, the other an upper-middle-class pharmacists from the East Coast – meet onboard the Japan-bound U.S.S. Gageway in April 1942.

This was dumb. It was stupid to get involved with someone, to care about anyone in this soul-numbing war. That was like opening yourself up to be flayed. And yet how could you help it? They were all closer than brothers, these men he fought beside.  And that one man, well, there was nothing brotherly going on there.

*~*~*~*

“…Given the choice, don’t you think they would have rather had this, what we have in this room, than died without it?”

Product Link:  Free download available in multiple formats.  http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/880151-kaje-harper-into-deep-waters

Reviewer:   Cat

Review:  Oh WOW Oh WOW. Into Deep waters is such a well-written heart-wrenching and breath-taking story. It is absolutely beautiful. The characters are so well done that I felt like both of them. I could feel their lust, their love, their fear, not only of the war, but of being found out and the consequences that held at the time. The story covered a very long time span (sixty years), but  not once did it get slow or  dull. I laughed ,I cried, I sighed, I cheered, and I worried ( I won’t tell  you why I worried, since I don’t even like saying if a book has a HFN or HEA) .

Now, for just a bit about the story. It starts out in World War II after Pearl Harbor. It is about a sailor Danny meeting a new sailor, pharmacy assistant Jacob. Jacob actually trips staring at Danny thus getting the affectionate nickname Trip from him. They fall (hehehe… literally couldn’t resist the pun) in love or at least lust at first sight. Jacob is two years younger than Danny. They met secretly and have sex (well fondling and kissing), until they get a leave and actually get to be alone and have sex. The war gets as heated as the lovemaking and their ship is destroyed .( I have no nails and bleeding fingers from the chewing of hoping they find  each other and at least they are safe.  So do they find each other? Do they get discovered? Just how long does their love last? I’m not telling you will have to read the book yourself. I will say this much after reading the prompt I just knew I had the end figured out had me an entire box of tissue waiting, I was wrong….

Who do I recommend this book to? Everyone!! If you like a good sweet Romance (yes, I am a hopeless romantic) with really hot mansex. This is for you. If you’ve never read M/M romance start here.  If you have ever dreamed of the perfect love and forever love… This is f or you. And it’s free so what are you waiting for… Hurry go get it…Be prepared to swoon…Kaje you have a new fan!

 

 

Rainbows All Around Us by Nathan J. Morissey

Title: Rainbows All around Us

Author: Nathan J. Morissey

Genre: Contemporary, Reflection, Bittersweet

Length: Novella (66pgs)

Publisher: Self-Published (1st March 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Deeply closeted and lonely, Justin spirals into a depression when he has no one to turn to. When compassionate and sexy Lucas enters the picture, he changes Justin into a confident and happy young gay man. But tragedy strikes when Lucas gets involved in the gay rights movement and attracts homophobic bigots. Can Justin protect his true love? Or will they be torn apart forever?

Set amid the gay marriage movement, Rainbows All Around Us is a story about the difficulties of being both gay and masculine in the modern world, the importance of being yourself, and most importantly, the power of love to change your world.

Purchase Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137949

Review: Justin struggles with his sexuality until he meets Lucas. But, even then he still has his fears, but with Lucas’s love he will find his way.

This is an extremely touching story from a young man’s POV, as he handles the revelations of his sexuality, his first relationship and the ups and downs that they face as they progress down the path of being a couple. Justin has accepted that he is gay to the extent that as long as it is just him that knows then he can accept it.  He also struggles with his religion and its views on homosexuality. When he meets Lucas, he fears the reaction of those around him and he begins to feel isolated and depressed. Lucas is like a shining light who shows him a way through the darkness.

This story is from Justin’s POV, so we have a lot of his thoughts and internal dialogue.  And, I will be honest; some of it threw me because of the way he sounded.  He sounded a lot older than he was. The same with Lucas, they are both around the ages of 18-20, but they sound more 40-45, they don’t sound like young men. The way that the story is written is very good.  We capture the young Justin as he falls head over heels for Lucas, Lucas and his frustration with his work and Justin’s final acceptance of being gay.

The ending is bittersweet and you may shed a few tears. Justin’s and Lucas’s relationship has some stormy moments as Lucas’s passion and Justin’s apathy clashes, some romantic moments and sweet loving. So, I will recommend this to those who want a coming of age, finding acceptance within one’s self, facing loss, facing bigotry and finding strength, while accepting your love will last forever story.

 

Chulito by Charles Rice-González

Title:  Chulito

Series:  N/A

Author:  Charles Rice Gonzalez

Genre:   YA Urban Romance, Coming of Age

Length:  Novel

Publisher:  Magnus Books (December 13, 2011)

Heat Level:  Low

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb:   Set against a vibrant South Bronx neighborhood and the queer youth culture of Manhattan’s piers, Chulito is a coming-of-age, coming out love story of a sexy, tough, hip hop-loving, young Latino man and the colorful characters that populate his block. Chulito, which means “cutie,” is one of the boys, and everyone in his neighborhood has seen him grow up–the owner of the local bodega, the Lees from the Chinese restaurant, his buddies from the corner, and all of his neighbors and friends, including Carlos, who was Chulito’s best friend until they hit puberty and people started calling Carlos a pato…a faggot.
Chulito rejects Carlos, buries his feelings for him, and becomes best friends with Kamikaze, a local drug dealer. When Carlos comes home from his first year away from college and they share a secret kiss, Chulito’s worlds collide as his ideas of being a young man, being macho, and being in love are challenged. Vivid, sexy, funny, heartbreaking, and fearless, this knock out novel is destined to become a gay classic.

Product Link:  Chulito: A Novel *Note:  There was no buy link on publisher’s website for this title.*

Reviewer:   Portia

Review:  In a lot of ways, Chulito is like a lot of urban 15 year olds.   He shares an apartment with his single mother, he sells drugs and he’s a high school dropout.  But, Chulito has a secret…he’s gay.

Oshun be praised!!! I loved this book!!!  Okay, had to get that out of my system.  Now, let me tell you about my Reviewers’ Find of the Week.  According to his website, Charles Rice-González has a bunch of fancy degrees and is a very busy guy.  He is the director of BAAD, The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance and is a community activist. I am just thankful that he didn’t let real life get in the way of his writing Chulito.  This is the most authentic YA novel, of its genre, I’ve ever had the privilege to read in a long time.

Chulito is a young man and as such, very much a victim of the pact mentality.  He’s lived in the same building forever, had the same friends and is comfortable in his little world.  But, when he sees his openly gay friend kiss another guy, something inside him clicks.  It takes him a minute to realize the feeling gnawing at his gut is jealousy.  And even after he comes to acknowledge his attraction, he is too immature to break free from the pack.

This is an amazing coming of age story.  Chulito is forced to examine what it means to be a man.  His environment is steeped in Latino machismo.  His picture of manhood has been shaped by his neighborhood.  A working poor ghetto filled with drug lords and gangs. I spent much of this book praying he didn’t get killed before he figured it out.  The language is raw and some readers might be offended by the liberal use of urban vernacular and racial epitaphs.  I could do an educational rant on the intracultural use of the word “nigga”, but I won’t.  Just know that the N-word can be used as a term of endearment.

Throughout the book, Chulito wears many masks.  Each is real at the moment.  One minute he’s 100% gangsta, getting his hustle on, the next he’s a slobbering love-sick fool, wanting only to be with Carlos.  Luckily,  Rice-González has crafted an amazing support team for him in the persons of Kamikaze, Julio and Brick.  Through them, Chulito learns that no one is all good or all bad.  And regardless of what path you choose, a real man will forge his own way and take responsibility for his choices.

The story is set in the Bronx and  Rice-González did an excellent job bringing that world to life.  It’s easy to imagine the author as a young man in this vibrant world; not just some generic Latin world, but Newyorican New York, a unique blend of Black speech, Latin passion and New York rawness.  Chulito made me homesick for the energy of the city.  I saw the young men that I grew up with and loved as a teenager.

I have no doubt that Chulito will appeal to a wide range of readers.  His message of self-acceptance will resonate with adults who have crossed over to a world outside the pack and young people still finding their way.

I wouldn’t be much of a reviewer if I gave away the ending, but know that I cried.  Cried for the thug who loved another dude, for the young man who dared to dream and for the community that loved them both.

Chulito is beautifully written, wonderfully crafted; an exquisite addition to LGBT YA fiction.  If this book doesn’t receive any awards, it won’t be because I didn’t nominate it.  I am the newest Charles Rice-González fan.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to track him down and do an interview with him, at some point.  In any event, I hope he finds the time to craft another wonderful story in Chulito’s world.  Highly recommend.

The Zero Knot by K. Z. Snow

Title: The Zero Knot

Author: K. Z. Snow

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (October 14, 2011)

Genre: M/M Contemporary

ISBN: 978-1613722046

Format: eBook

Length: 498 KB (Novel)

Heat Rating: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Reviewer: Artemis

From the Publisher:   Eighteen-year-old Jess Bonner is casting off pretense—and, with it, some friends from his past who aren’t particularly trustworthy. In just a few months he’ll be starting college, and it’s time for him to admit the truth: he’s gay, not bi, and only one of his old friends holds any kind of real interest for him. When Dylan Finch, aka Mig, follows his lead and puts some distance between himself and the old crowd, he and Jess give in to a mutual attraction that’s been building for years.

But navigating a fledgling relationship isn’t easy for beginners, and forces they can’t seem to control keep tripping them up: sexual appetite, personal insecurities, fear of discovery, and more. They need clarity. They need courage. Just as they’re on the verge of finding both, a vindictive act of jealousy sends one of them to jail. All their hard-won victories are in danger of falling to dust. And the only way to save what they have is to recognize it for what it is… and fight for its integrity.

About the Author (from the Publisher)   If there’s one thing K. Z. Snow loves more than indulging her wayward imagination, it’s the natural world and, especially, animals. She’s been a companion to most domesticated creatures and a good number of the feral ones commonly known as men. After too many turbulent years, her life in the upper Midwest is finally boring as hell—an achievement as well as a blessing.

She’s overeducated, underskilled, and has written a lot of stuff. Her only awards are two medals she received, obviously out of sympathy, for playing the bassoon and making it sound like a malfunctioning chainsaw.

Visit K.Z.’s blog at http://kzsnow.blogspot.com or her web site at http://www.kzsnow.com/ or e-mail her at kzsnowflake@gmail.com.

Product link:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2565

My Review:   This book is the perfect blend of drama and self discovery and it snagged my attention right from the beginning. Jesse and his small group of friends have been playing at being bisexual for a while now…the whole purpose of their ‘club’ The Zero Knot revolves around their sexual choices. At 18 and newly out of high school, however, Jesse is ready to admit he is gay, not bi. He is also ready to start making hard choices when it comes to who he really wants to call ‘friend’. Jesse has always viewed Dylan Finch (Mig) as one of his best friends and he is ready to admit to himself that he cares about him quite deeply. Turns out, Dylan has been hiding the very same secret!

As with any teenage romance (gay or straight!) there is quite a bit of angst to deal with. Jesse and Dylan don’t know the first thing about being in a relationship. I found it touching to see them struggle through learning how to express their emotions without feeling stupid and ‘girly’. And, of course, along with this relationship comes jealousy…between themselves and from outside influences. Bran (one of their club members) does everything in his power to keep the two of them apart, preferring that he, himself, remain the center of attention. And he takes his mission to the extreme.

The author does a great job at writing this book to the YA market…the language, situations, and even the sexual explorations are appropriate for characters that are 18 and not 38. Any teenager coming of age and struggling with being gay would benefit from reading this book.

I loved the secondary characters, as well. Jesse’s father and brother are truly unique and really add a nice touch of humor and realism to the scenes. In the end, Jesse and Dylan realize that the chance of their relationship lasting forever is slim (they are only 18 after all) but are willing to put all their effort into making it the best relationship they can.

Overall, a wonderful book with touching characters, a nice plot, and just the right amount of drama!

 

Maybe with a Chance of Certainty by John Goode

Title: Maybe with a Chance of Certainty

Series: Tales of Foster High 01

Author: John Goode

Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Coming Out

Length: Novella (98pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (19th October 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Kyle has worked hard at being the invisible student, toiling through high school in the middle of Nowhere, Texas. Brad is the baseball star at Foster High. Both boys are damaged in ways that the rest of the world can’t see. When they bond over a night of history tutoring, Kyle thinks that maybe his life has taken a turn for the not-so-lonely.

He finds out quickly that the promise of fairy-tale love is a lie when you’re gay and falling for one of the most popular boys in school, and if being different is a sin in high school, then being gay is the biggest sin of all. Now Kyle and Brad need to come to an understanding amidst the scrutiny of their peers or their fledgling relationship will crash and burn before it ever gets off the ground.

Purchase Link:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2575

2nd Edition

1st Edition published as a short story under the same title by Dreamspinner Press.

Review: Kyle has made himself as invisible as he can at school.  he does everything he can not to draw attention to himself, until the fateful day Brad steps into his path. Brad needs help with his history midterm and he’s been told that Kyle can help him. by the end of the tutoring Brad wants something more.

This is an incredibly in-depth touching coming of age, coming out story. The story is from Kyle’s POV and there is an incredible amount of description and emotion from this seventeen year old boy, that you actually get a fantastic in-sight into what it must be like for an intelligent, socially awkward, lonely, physically abused boy who has an alcoholic for a mother and who is gay. In less than a week Kyle’s world changes as he gets to know Brad and they share a secret and an understanding of how that secret affects them inside. The hopes and dreams that seem to be shattered one by one as his faith in Brad is tested and Brad keeps failing.

This story is well written and I loved Kyle because he doesn’t try to be something he’s not.  Yes, he hides behind his cloak of anonymity, he doesn’t talk to people, he doesn’t look at them, he ignores them and he drifts through school like that every day, but he doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not.  Whilst Brad lives up to being the golden boy and it causes conflict between the two… Go Kyle!!!

I will recommend this to everyone as it is a great coming of age story with conflict that reminds you of your school days and your own struggles, and because sometimes the little guy wins.