Tag: Contemporary

Buried Treasure By Dc Juris

Title:  Buried Treasure

Author:  Dc Juris

Genre:  Contemporary

Publisher:  Breathless Press

Length:  Novelette

Available Format:  Various digital

Rating:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb:  Haunted by nightmares, Mark learned the hard way to guard his heart. But Gabe may just be the man to bring Mark’s guard down.

After his last long-term relationship ended because of his nightmares, Mark closed his heart to the possibility of

finding love again. He’s certainly never considered Gabe, the orderly who works at Miller’s Retirement Home where his father lives. But there’s more to Gabe than meets the eye, and if Mark is willing to let Gabe in, he might just discover the most important buried treasure of all.
Review: This is one of the sweetest romances I’ve read in a long time.  The lovey dovey starts pretty close to the beginning, but by the time we, as readers, jump in, Mark and Gabe have known each other for almost three years.  So, it’s not technically  “I just met you…now I love you.”  Then they start having weekly coffee dates.  Both wanting more, but leery that their personal secrets will be too much for the other to handle.
I can tell you, as a former nurse, that the author’s descriptions of the retirement home and an Alzheimer’s patient were spot on.  My only complaint is that this book wasn’t longer.

Again by Mary Calmes

Title:  Again

Author:  Mary Calmes

Genre:  Contemporary

Length:  Novella

Publisher:  Dreamspinner

Available Formats: PDF, u, Kindle

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

Reviewer:  Portia

Blurb: Six years ago, Noah Wheeler went to meet his boyfriend, Dante Cerreto, at the airport, and his world ended. Dante was kissing someone else and claimed to be in love. So Noah took his heartbreak—and the sonogram pictures of their surrogate child—and closed the door on the big picture of what he thought his life would be, focusing instead on the piece of the dream he got to keep, being a father.

Now on vacation in Las Vegas, Noah accidentally runs into the Cerreto family, and then the man himself, and learns that not only was he deceived, but Dante was as well. Now Dante wants to make up for lost time, six years’ worth, and to do that he needs Noah, the only man he’s ever loved, and Grace, the daughter he didn’t know he had, to give him a chance at happiness. Dante’s going to have to take a crash course in communication and seduction, though. Noah’s not going to fall in love just to be broken again.
Review:  I choice  this book, because the basic premise intrigued me.  Would a man who’d been gay his whole life suddenly switch team, leave his husband and disappear into the night.  It could happen, but it didn’t seem likely.  Obviously, there was more going on than poor Noah and I knew.    I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out how this wicked man could hurt poor, sweet Noah.  And their little girl is a real scene stealer.
There isn’t a lot of sex in this book, but what’s there is hot and loving.  Intellectually, I know that both Noah and Dante were victims, but my inner bitch really wanted Dante to suffer …a little bit.  I enjoyed this book.

At His Beck and Call

Genre:  Erotic, Contemporary, Interracial

Publisher:  Sitting Bull Publishing

Length:  Novella

Available Formats: Kindle, Epub, PDF, RTF, LRF

Reviewer:  Oshun’s Daughter

Rating:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb:  Mason Stratton was well known in his circles as a risk taker, with his devil may care attitude. Kenneth Moretti just lost his father and his family counted on him to save the family business. But he has to deal with the cavalier Stratton. Stratton has an idea to remove the family burden. It was a simple plan, Kenneth could work it off… in bed.

Review:  This is my 3rd Alex Berry book and my favorite.  Mason thought he held all the cards, but it wasn’t long into the relationship before he realizes that he is straight up A-Dick-ed.  Kenny has it just as bad.  It’s easier for him to think that he is sacrificing himself for his family, than to admit that Mason is the perfect partner for him.  Neither man is willing to admit that their relationship is deeper than just casual smoking’ hot sex.  My Kindle was in danger the entire read.  Every time one of them hid their feelings or assumed the worst about the other, I just wanted to throw it across the room.  I loved this book and highly recommend.

On a side note:  I wish that I knew more about the author, but he/she is a phantom.  The books are available on Amazon and Smashwords and there is a page up on Goodreads.  But, this is the first writer I’ve found with no Twitter, Facebook or MySpace.    If you now Alex please tell to contact us…we would love to interview this elusive scribe.

Hard as Teak by Margie Church

Title:  Hard as Teak

By:  Margie Church

Catagory:  Contemporty romance

Rating:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb

Something is wrong with Kevin Marks.  What else could explain the fact the he needs to fantasies about dream lovers… male lovers, to make love to his girlfriend?  A woman who is everything he ever thought he wanted.  She’s smart, successful and beautiful.  Sex is okay, but where are the fireworks.  And it’s not just his love life that sucks.  Professionally, he’s creative juices have all dried up and his successful art gallery just isn’t  fun anymore.

Before he settles into his “perfect” life,  Kevin decides to take an extended vacation to his northern cabin.  Maybe, a little time away will give him some clarity.

Kevin doesn’t even make it to his cabin before he finds himself attracted, first, to a guy working at the local gas station.  His reaction shocks him, but nothing that sends him into any type of sexual identity crisis.  Not like the intense lust that hits him when he meets Teak Hidalgo.  No.  Teak is definitely a of a different color. A horse Kevin wants to ride like a Kentucky Derby jockey.  Kevin has never been with a man, he’s thought it but who hasn’t?    Suddenly the idea of being intimate with the beautiful man is a very good idea.

Review

This is Ms. Church’s first MM release.  All in all, I think she did a pretty good job. But, that is what I would expect from a writer who claims to write “Romance with SASS; Suspense, Angst, Seductive Sizzle.

From the minute Teak and Kevin  meet there is intense sexual chemistry.  These two get hot and heavy fast.  But, their interaction has a realism that is touching.  Teak really wants to get into Kevin’s pants, but he isn’t sneaky or manipulative.  He’s honest with his intentions and allows Kevin to explore his curiosity without pressure.

Loved watching these guys fall in love.  Kevin confused me a few times.  He wanted to be an alpha dog, then would turn around and act like a little *itch ( can I say bitch on this site…).

My only complaint would be that near the end of the book Teak kinda disappeared.  Not physically, but for a he became more of an accessory than a partner.  But, that’s only in the end.  For most of the book they share a respect that is sweet.  But for a while there, Teak  faded into the background while Kevin got his shit together.  I’m not saying Teak should have gone caveman or anything, but I would have respected him more if he directed traffic, instead of catching a ride on Kevin’s emotional roller coaster.

This story is well written with equal parts sweetness and sensuality.  I hope Ms. Church dips into the MM pond again.