Tag: Dominique Frost

The Price by Dominique Frost

18372700Title:   The Price

Author: Dominique Frost

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Length: Novella (80 pages)

Publisher: Loose Id (September 10th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Mandingo

Blurb: Cale is a serving-boy at a high-class brothel in the city of Havisham. He isn’t one of the courtesans, largely because he’s too clumsy to manage seducing anyone, but he does his best as a servant, keeping the wine-glasses filled and the guests happy.

Everything changes when the warlord Darren Kaine visits the establishment. Darren is the new ruler of Havisham and is a brusque, commanding man. Fresh from a war that’s lasted over six months, Darren is in no mood for frippery, and chooses Cale to accompany him for the night, rather than any of the courtesans on display.

Indeed, Darren so prefers Cale’s straightforwardness and simplicity that he decides to make Cale his concubine and to have Cale visit him at the palace, every night. Stunned by this new turn of events, Cale is further confused by his body’s reactions to Darren. Darren is darkly handsome, sexually demanding and absolutely committed to giving his partner pleasure – a fact that has Cale looking forward to his time with Darren, perhaps more than he ought to.

Darren, too, is in danger of forgetting that Cale is just a tool he uses to slake his lust. For a new ruler, every action comes with a price. Will this one be too steep to pay?

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/the-price.html

Review: This is Cale and Darren’s story. It is told in the third person and so it takes some of the connective intimacy (note not sex) out of the story.  While the author jumped right into the plotline, which is good since this is a short story, use of first person might have allowed for a greater connection to the storyline.  The story moves from both Cale and Darren’s viewpoint – but in the 3rd person and so it’s harder to connect with either character.  Instead, the reader is always on the outside looking in. If that is the writer’s aim, then it was achieved.

It’s a great plotline complete with leader, concubine, and intrigue.  Think coup d’ etat. All formulas for a great and riveting story – and while something so short doesn’t allow for much development,  Ms. Frost does as well as she can in the 80 pages she uses.

It is unclear as to ‘when’ in time the story takes place. Based on the clothing and customs, it appears to be somewhere in the 17th century, since she references the use of ‘flagons.’ And this is where the reader will need to employ suspended disbelief, because while the story is set in what appears to be the 17th century, the language and ‘feel’ of the story is pure 21st century.  However, because this is the ‘fantasy’ genre, I will not hold the story to historical or fantastical accuracy since the author is free to create her own world. If this were the case, then it would help to develop that world more clearly, so that the reader is clear about this – for there is an acceptance of man on man love in this story that doesn’t jive with the historical period. Also, it’s hard for the reader to picture the setting since there’s very little description of the world which Cale and Darren inhabit.

Okay, so now let’s talk about the actual plot line.  Not bad! The relationship between Cale and Darren slowly grew on me until by the end of the book, I was rooting for them. What started out as a concubine and master relationship began to alter and within the short 80 pages, Ms Frost did a good job of allowing the reader to see how a sexual relationship eventually became an emotional one.  There is a HEA, albeit an untraditional one, but the reader is left feeling that the two men are happy with their life.

So even while I had some issues with the book due to lack of setting and tone, I did like the relationship between the men. Moreover, I liked reading how they both evolved.  This could be a great read if you are waiting for a plane in an airport and need a quick pick me up … BUT I would suggest to Ms. Frost that she go back and add some key factors and take the page count up by a few pages to add some elements and then it would be a solid short story.

The Art of Touch by Dominique Frost

17605560Title:  The Art of Touch

Series:  N/A

Author: Dominique Frost 

Genre:   Contemporary

Length:  Novella (79 pages)

Publisher:  Loose ID (March 12th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb:   Jared Hamilton is the director of the famous law firm, Hamilton & Hamilton. He’s a brusque, no-nonsense type that doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Thus, it is no surprise that he finds Kyle Washburn instantly and aggravatingly annoying.

Kyle is Jared’s massage therapist and is cheeky and irreverent. Jared doesn’t like cheekiness or irreverence. Unfortunately, Kyle also turns out to be absolutely brilliant at his job, which means that Jared can’t find an excuse not to return to the massage parlor when Kyle’s massages are clearly having such a beneficial effect. Jared is more relaxed and congenial than ever–well, as congenial as he can be.

It is only when another one of Kyle’s customers implies having had sex with Kyle that Jared realizes that he, too, finds Kyle sexually desirable–and that the thought of anyone else touching Kyle is unbearable. This revelation changes Jared’s perspective and his behavior, and he finds himself more and more attracted to Kyle with each therapy session. But does Kyle want him, in return, or is all that flirtation just part of the art of touch?

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/the-art-of-touch.html

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  Jared Hamilton is irritable, cranky and extremely unlikeable at the start. The domineering attorney has no time for love, a life, or the massage his assistant has booked for him. He’s wound so tight she’s afraid he might snap and run off all their clients. He’s rude and standoffish to the massage therapist, Kyle from the get go.

Young twink, as Jared refers to him in his inner monologue, Kyle is outgoing and friendly. Jared immediately recognizes that he’s gay since he is as well. Jared fights his attraction to Kyle with snide remarks and accusations, which Kyle counters easily with his dry wit and sarcasm. When Kyle’s mom lands in the hospital and Jared insists on driving him to her, Kyle realizes that Jared really does care.

This book was slow to start for me. Disjointed and scrambled throughout, I didn’t really start enjoying it until Jared finally pulled his head out of his ass and showed Kyle that he truly cared for him. There was some good potential for a full-length story, and I could definitely get more involved if that were the case. Perhaps the story would be more cohesive if the author could fully explore the different aspects of the story. If you can get past that, and you are looking for a short read with some really hot M/M action then this is the book for you.

The Bitter Rednesses of Love by Dominique Frost

18085969Title: The Bitter Rednesses of Love

Author: Dominique Frost

Genre: Regency, Steampunk

Length: Novella (84pgs)

Publisher: Loose Id (18th June 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Anthony Clark, degenerate genius and impoverished nobleman, finds himself wedded to the painfully proper young aristocrat, Stephen Ayers. They’ve been pledged since before Stephen’s birth.

Will their marriage prove intolerable to them both, or will they find a happy equilibrium, instead? As Anthony teaches Stephen the pleasures of the body, will Stephen be able to teach Anthony the pleasures of the heart?

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/bitter-rednesses-of-love.html

Review: Anthony loves his life just the way it is; drinking, whoring and his inventions. But, the time has come for him to finally marry his betrothed, a man who is rich, handsome, and a prude. Stephen has known all his life who he is to marry and can only hope that his husband will give up his whoring ways, but knows there is little chance. When Anthony finally realizes just who he truly wants, will he be able to crack the shell his husband has erected around his heart to prevent further hurt?

This is a great little novella of a regency timeline that incorporates just a touch of Steampunk and gay marriage. Anthony is in his thirties and has enjoyed his life of freedom to the fullest. Marriage isn’t something he wants, but his betrothed is of age and the time has come to settle down. Although, he has plans that don’t quite involve giving up all his vices. Stephen is twenty-one and has saved himself for his husband. He is resigned to the fact that he will not be able to change his husband, but after a great start to his marriage, hope begins to grow until it is shattered by one careless act.

I found this story to be quite sweet with the way that Anthony suddenly realizes that his husband has crawled under his skin and wormed his way into his heart. I liked the way that Stephen was willing to give Anthony a chance until he betrayed his trust and I really liked how Stephen doesn’t back down on his stance or just forgive Anthony. Anthony really gets a shock when Stephen turns his back on him and he begins to realize what a mistake he made. He does try his best to prove he has changed, but the damage has already been done. it takes a terrible accident to bring them together again.

The Steampunk aspect is very loose, based on steam engines and developing machinery used in battle, it is an occupation that keeps Anthony busy. Anthony isn’t a very likeable man at first, but he does grow on you and you like Stephen straight away for his sweet innocence.

I recommend this if you like Steampunk tinged regency, an innocent falling in love and being hurt, a rake who falls in love despite his plans and a very happy ending.