Title: Good Question Series: Q&A, #1 Author: Dawn Kimberly Johnson Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (109 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (April 3rd, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Blurb: Ever since Jamison Coburn lost his father, he’s been locked up tight, not just because of the heartache but also because if he wants to be like the man he so admired, embracing his attraction to other men is impossible.
Lonnie Bellerose is simply minding his own business when he pulls up at his twin sister’s house, intent on painting a mural in her new nursery. He doesn’t expect to meet anyone like the tall, dark, handsome, and silent handyman. Their first kiss is as spontaneous as their attraction, but Jamison quickly pushes Lonnie away. No biggy. Lonnie knows all about rejection. He’s used to it, has come to expect it.
Perhaps an unexpected weekend together housesitting might set them free of their pasts to become the men they can be together—that is, if Jamison can get past his denial and Lonnie can learn to trust that he’s worth loving after all.
Review:Good Question by Dawn Kimberley Johnson is book 1 of the Q&A series. This series needs to be read in sequential order. Over all, Good Question was a really pleasing and enjoyable read.
The story follows Jamison and Lonnie. Jamison has had to work hard since the death of his father when he was ten years old. He hasn’t told anyone he’s gay. He prefers to simply keep his head down, working for a home renovation company and on the side being a carpenter for the fun of it.
Lonnie is completely different. He is out and proud, and while he certainly does work hard, he is working towards obtaining his master’s in fine arts. Their worlds collide when Lonnie and Jamison meet at Lonnie’s twin sister’s home, which is being renovated for the upcoming birth of Lonnie’s nephew/niece.
It’s a pretty sweet and simple plot. Not only is this book a sort of coming out of the closet type of caper, it is also a wrong side vs. right side of the tracks type of thing. The basis of all the major and minor character are pretty strong, too, with some likable and, of course, some less so.
However, I have to say the one thing that did let things down for me is that the characters didn’t seem to move along enough at time. But that is a minor flaw since this is such an easy read and I was finished in no time. The sweetness between Lonnie and Jamison also more than makes up for any flaws. These guys are great together and have wonderful chemistry.
Recommended to just about anyone and I can’t wait to read the sequel!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: The Answer Is Series: Q&A, #2 Author: Dawn Kimberly Johnson Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (216 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 15th, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts Blurb: Two men from different worlds must realize they deserve to be loved and what they have together is real and worth fighting for.
Though Jamison Coburn and Lonnie Bellerose have been a couple for a month, each worries he’s not good enough for the other. Lonnie has always doubted his worth and right to be loved, despite a superb education and international upbringing. Jamison, an undereducated laborer, grew up in a loving family who never knew he was gay.
As Jamison struggles to find his way as an out gay man, he fears the occasional stumble will send Lonnie packing. Lonnie doesn’t trust that anyone would choose him and worries that Jamison will see better options.
When Lonnie’s abusive ex returns, he’s determined to reclaim Lonnie. He works to exacerbate the new couple’s differences and doubts in the hopes of splitting them up, which is proving too easy.
For their love to last, Lonnie and Jamison will have to be brutally honest, not only with themselves, but with each other.
Review:Answer Is by Dawn Kimberley Johnson is book 2 of the Q&A series. This series needs to be read in sequential order as both follow the same set of main characters. I’ve read that it can be read as a standalone but I personally do not particularly agree. Answer Is was a nice addition to the series, although sometimes I felt as though the story dragged on a little or some of the circumstances seemed a bit too contrived.
We return once more to Lonnie and Jamison, who we met when they got together in Good Question (Q&A 1). They’ve been together for some weeks now and things are about to get rocky when they begin to navigate further into their relationship. The main issues they face here is Jamison’s coming out (or staying closeted), Lonnie’s abusive (and possibly evil) ex and the roadblocks that are thrown their way from both situations.
As I said in the beginning, I found parts of this too contrived, and quite frankly for me that comes with some of the storyline involving Lonnie’s ex. I feel that there was too much going on (particularly with Lonnie’s share of the plot lines), that not enough justice was put into this subplot. However, Lonnie and Jamison are sweet when they are together. Jamison needs support from Lonnie as he battles within himself about coming out and it is there, even if it proves something to cause contention between the new couple. But the author has continued with the great chemistry between these two guys. They are utterly adorable.
I’m not sure if there is going to be a third book in this series (I did try to find out), but if there is I am certainly interested. I didn’t quite enjoy this one as much as the first novella, but I think anyone who has read book 1 will be more than happy with what we get. I really, really, do want to hear from these guys again!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Plummet Author: Dawn Kimberley Johnson Genre: Contemporary Length: Short (27 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (July 28th, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts Blurb: Dealing, or rather not dealing, with a recent breakup, Ari Melrose, CPA nearly takes his car over a cliff. Instead, he is rescued by Brandt Steuben, a big, burly ex-firefighter who pulls him to safety and into his arms. Near-death experiences can make normally careful, rational people grab life by the horns, or men by the biceps, and hop on for a wild ride, so Ari figures what better way to get over his problems than to work them out with his super-hot saviour?
But a fateful afternoon soon leads to more than physical passion, and Ari finds he might not want to let go of Brandt.
Review: We hit the ground running with the action and the tension in this brilliant short story. At thirty-five, Ari Melrose has been dumped by his boyfriend for a younger man and Ari is having problems coming to terms with the breakup and what feelings he had once held for his ex. Brandt Steuben comes to save the day when Ari is more than a little foolish and clearly not concentrating on the road.
The tension of the potentially deadly situation Ari found himself in quickly becomes a very hot and heavy encounter with his rescuer. Brandt is a calm, sensitivity and passion rolled together, and Ari is just adorable (and intelligent). An encounter with Ari’s ex made me cheer for some happiness in Ari’s life, more specifically, happiness in the form of Brandt.
Short, sweet, to the point and a couple with great chemistry – what else could you want, other than a longer story featuring Ari and Brandt?
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hey guys, a bunch of us bloggers have got together to show our support for T.J. Klune and Eric Arvin by joining up for the Grand Adventures blog tour. This blog tour is to bring to attention the wonderful authors who donated a story and Dreamspinners Press who are donating 100% of the income from the sale to Eric & T.J. and there’s even a great giveaway for you to enjoy! I know the people in this genre are just incredible! So check out what the authors have to say, visit Dreamspinners Press and have a look at the great Grand Adventures goodies and click our Rafflecopter link to win some of those great goodies 🙂 ~Pixie~ p.s. I’d like to give a shout out to Brandilyn from Prism Book Alliance for pulling us bloggers together and organizing our roles in this tour 😉
Description:
On September 1, 2011, TJ Klune wrote, “…it’s not about the ending, it’s about the journey…” in a review of Eric Arvin’s Woke Up in a Strange Place. With those words, two men began a journey of love and invited us to ride along. TJ and Eric have shared so much with us: their wonderful books, their smiles, their humor, their lives, and their inspiring devotion to each other. In December of 2013, their journey took a detour when Eric was taken to the emergency room. He survived the surgery to remove a cavernous hemangioma from his brain stem, but the challenges TJ and Eric face are far from over.
The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eric’s continued recovery, to help bring strength to TJ, and to show both of them just how much love surrounds them. Grand Adventures is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love. We’re going on some grand adventures for a great cause. Thank you for joining us.
One hundred percent of the income from this volume goes directly to TJ and Eric.
Foreword by S.A. McAuley
An Unexpected Thing by John Amory (Sequel to Protection)
The Twinkie Ignition by J.E. Birk
When Friendship Becomes More by Sophie Bonaste
Isle of Waiting by Sue Brown (A Missing Moment from Isle of Waves)
The Jogger by KC Burn
Holding Court by Cardeno C.
For Dear Life by Mary Calmes
Under the Full Moon by Ellis Carrington
Stripped by Shae Connor (2nd Edition)
That Place Across the Hall by C.C. Dado
Mistaken MD by Phoenix Emrys
Cops and Comix by Rhys Ford
Last First Kiss by LE Franks
Tomorrow by John Goode
From Fantasy to Friends by CR Guiliano (A Companion to For You)
Hello everyone! My name is John Amory, and my contribution to the Grand Adventures anthology is titled “An Unexpected Thing.” This short is actually a sequel to a story that Dreamspinner published last June in its Daily Dose compilation called “Protection.” The new story picks up about two years after Jamie and Ben met; both are back from London and traveling the West Coast. Jamie is en route to a shooting competition with Ben in tow, but when their plane is diverted, they are forced to find their own way through the Cascades to Seattle. They, of course, find something else along the way.
I have never met TJ or Eric, but I was struck by their struggle like everyone else. We are all a family of authors and readers in this genre, and it felt like someone in our family had suddenly fallen ill. I wanted to help, especially since TJ’s book Into This River I Drown had such an effect on me. When “Protection” was accepted for publication last year, it was the first book I chose from Dreamspinner’s catalog to read, so that I could get a feel for their audience, their authors, the style of stories they publish, etc. I was blown away by River, which is, in so many ways, a really atypical (but still brilliant) M/M romance. There was so much else going on: grief, redemption, faith, closure, all of these things played into the book’s themes, and they’re all things I think TJ handled beautifully. So I began “An Unexpected Thing” as a sequel to “Protection” that contained a guest appearance by two of TJ’s characters from Roseland, which seemed only appropriate given its ties to River. I eventually re-edited the story to not include TJ’s characters (since, if all the authors did that, it would be taxing on TJ to edit and approve each story), but the essence that those characters brought to the story is still there, as well as some other Easter eggs for fans of TJ’s book. “An Unexpected Thing” is about finding love in places you never thought you would, with people you never thought you would. That’s something I got from Into This River I Drown and from TJ and Eric’s personal story, and I think it’s something universal: keep your eyes and heart open, because The One might be someone you’d never notice otherwise.
Thanks for reading and for supporting Grand Adventures! You can find me on Twitter (@JohnAmory) or on GoodReads. Feel free to drop a line! Happy reading!
About John Amory:
John Amory is and always will be a hopeless romantic, which he blames on watching too many episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 growing up. He began writing stories and poems as a child, continuing through high school. He put writing on the backburner for a number of years, during which time he finished both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English, and is thrilled to be creating again now that he knows what “free time” means.
In another life, John is a newly minted college professor, as well as an actor/director/choreographer/playwright whose work has been performed in New York City and elsewhere. He is also obsessed with television and keeps two blogs on the subject: one for general reviews and comments (faketvcritic.blogspot.com), and one devoted solely to So You Think You Can Dance (cuttingsytycd.blogspot.com).
Feel free to drop a message here or on Twitter to say hi!
1. Tell us about your contribution to the anthology.
My short story is called When Friendship Becomes More.
Here’s the official blurb, because it explains the story better than I could:
Despite their differences, Jamie and Roy are not only college roommates, but best friends. What Jamie doesn’t know is that Roy has had a crush on him for years. When Jamie realizes Roy’s feelings during a camping trip with friends, the attraction will either prove mutual, or it will tear their friendship apart.
I’m really proud of this short story. It has moments that will make you laugh and cry. I hope everyone out there loves it as much as I do.
2. What is your favorite TJ and Eric memory?
Well, I haven’t been lucky enough to meet TJ or Eric in person. But I remember reading the news of TJ’s proposal in October of last year. I was instantly touched by the obvious love between the two men. It may not have been a showy proposal like that Home Depot one that went viral a few months ago, but it was one of the most love-filled proposals I’ve ever seen. And isn’t that what’s really important?
3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?
When I heard about the anthology it was a no-brainer. I knew I had to help TJ and Eric in any way I could. And since writing is one of my favorite things to do anyway, it was a win-win.
4. Do you have anything to say to TJ and Eric?
I just wanted to say that you two are both some of the strongest people I’ve ever known. I wish you only the best as you go forward. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!!!!!
About Sophie Bonaste:
Sophie Bonaste is a novelist who never set out to be a novelist. As a child, she wanted to be a Broadway actress and spent her childhood in numerous productions. But when adulthood set in and reality took over, Sophie chose to up the theater for a steady paycheck and instead turned to writing as a creative outlet. She stumbled into the M/M genre through fanfiction and never looked back. Sophie is quite happy with her change in artistic expression and doesn’t plan to stop writing for a long time.
A self-proclaimed nerd, Sophie is an avid fan of all things Star Wars and Harry Potter. (Sophie is a member of the Slytherin house, for those who were wondering.) Sophie also spends many hours watching and re-watching nerdy television shows. When she is not obsessing over the latest and greatest in nerdy entertainment, Sophie can be found screaming at her television during American football games. (Go Pack Go!) Sophie currently lives in Pennsylvania, about twenty minutes from her childhood town of The Middle of Nowhere.
If you don’t want to talk, but you want to read more about my works, please use these links.
Harmony Ink – Sophie Bonaste
Dreamspinner Press – Sophie Bonaste
GIVEAWAY!
20″ x 26″ (image size: 16″ x 24″) signed & matted print of the Grand Adventures cover Grand Adventures Paperback $30 Dreamspinner Press Giftcard
Starts: 12:01 AM EDT on 29 Mar 2014 End: 11:59pm EDT on 8 April 2014
Blurb: Peru Cabral, the youngest of five brothers, has just come out to his family. Lawson Todd has returned to his small hometown in disgrace after losing his corporate advertising job. When Peru and Lawson spot each other at the family Laundromat where Lawson works, the attraction between them is undeniable. But the fears, insecurities, and false fronts both men are hiding behind might doom the relationship before it begins—unless the brothers Cabral step in.
A part of the “A Valentine Rainbow” set of 14 holiday stories. Get all 14 stories on Feb. 1 when you purchase the set.
Review: This is a really cute story and I absolutely loved it. It had just the right amount of humor to it.
Lawson takes one look at Peru and he knew he wanted this beautiful young man. He realized that he was at least seven years older than Peru and had many family members who loved him, as did he. Each was hiding something from each other, but with the help of Peru’s family, everything would work out just fine. I laughed throughout the story and got a bit misty eyed also. I can see myself reading this every Valentine’s Day.
Blurb: When he finds himself captivated by a movie-star handsome stranger he meets in a bar, lawyer Ford Reilly watches a simple one-night stand develop into a taste of what living honestly might bring him.
Out and proud Gus Hansen has built a small architectural firm from nothing, but could lose it all as he tries to break a contract he signed before knowing about the project’s antigay ties.
After Ford discovers he spent a passionate night with the man on the other side of the dispute he’s handling, he finds himself in more than one quandary. He can either maintain the status quo, enforcing the contract to the letter, or he can defy his overbearing father and break free of the closeted life he’s built for himself in order to be with Gus.
Gus has his own choices to make. He knows the sting of loving a man who hides himself, but the longer he lingers in Ford’s presence, the more difficult it becomes to deny their attraction.
Review: Being a black man means living in a prejudiced sub culture. This is Ford’s reality. His antithesis is Gus Hansen, a man who has just emerged from heartbreak. Button Down is the story of how a closeted black gay man and an out and proud white man can come together. Often a story tells a tale from one either the point of the protagonist or the antagonist. This story is told from both sides. When the reader experiences the story from Ford’s perspective, they see Gus as the man who will allow Ford to come into his own and become comfortable as a gay man. When the story is told from Gus’ perspective, the reader sees a man who is comfortable in his skin, but who needs the additional love and loyalty of the family, which Ford can provide for him.
The men find their HEA in a spectacular manner and Ford is able to come out and be true to himself and his family. In doing so, Gus will gain more family, a home and a man to call his own. The secondary characters in this book are as critical to the HEA of Ford and Gus as a duck is to water. This story could not have been told without Gus’ best friend or Ford’s family. They provide the backdrop and provide color and depth for the story. The underlying political commentary in the story is also timely and well placed. Homophobia is rampant in the African-American community and this story takes the prejudice head on and cuts a wide swath by discussing not only homophobia, but also the other white elephant with the interracial pairing of both Gus and Ford.
The story is well written, well paced with multi-faceted characters who we can identify with and whom we learn to love. We root for Gus and Ford to be happy. Well worth the read.
Blurb: Three years ago, cameraman Powell Perdue and quarterback Talbot Wojewódka called it quits, citing irreconcilable differences. Powell wanted to live honestly, while Talbot felt he couldn’t and still succeed in professional football. One knee surgery and a trade later, Talbot finds himself back in town and quarterbacking for the Raptors, a struggling expansion team. Powell’s also back, working as a cameraman for KJOC-TV, following two years in Amsterdam and a second failed relationship.
When an interview meant as a publicity play throws them into each other’s path, they’re forced to face a love that never quite died and wounds that never fully healed. For any hope at a win, they’ll have to change up the game. Talbot must brave walking through his closet door and into Powell’s arms, and Powell must risk his heart one more time by standing his ground and giving Talbot a second chance.
Review: Cute little story about finding your first love, then losing that love because you weren’t comfortable in your own skin, being given a second chance at love and being who you are.
Dawn Kimberly Johnson… I need MORE! I loved this storyline. Talbot Wojewodka, or Bot, is a quarterback in a sport that is not gay friendly. Therefore he not only hides who he is, but the man he loves for fear of the backlash of coming out. Powell Purdue, or Po, can only hide for so long. When push comes to shove, Bot’s feet stay firmly planted in his closet.
When Bot takes a spot on a team in another state, Po does him one better and leaves the country. Several years later, life and circumstance bring these two back together and fate gives them a second chance. Can Bot be honest about who he is and who he chooses to love, regardless of the outcome? Or will Po have his heart broken by the quarterback, again?
Heat level is promising; there are no naughty bits in this book. Heart rate is a 3; again there are no naughty bits. I would love to see this storyline and these characters with some sexiness thrown in the mix. Well written and emotional, I just wish it was longer, and steamier!
Title: Good Question![AnswerIs[The]LG](https://mmgoodbookreviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/answeristhelg.jpg?w=300)
Title: The Answer Is
