Tag: Ellora’s Cave Spectrum

The Camera Never Lies by Margie Church

51GfMZyh8NLTitle: The Camera Never Lies (Previously Hard as Teak)

Series: Hard as Teak #1

Author: Margie Church

Genre: Contemporary/Coming Out

Length: Novel (190 Pages)

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (July 25th, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Blurb: Having sex with his girlfriend has begun to feel like a job to nature photographer Kevin Marks. A year of sexual ennui prompts him to head for the solitude of his Minnesota cabin, in search of his lost passion-which he finds in the form of Teak Hidalgo.

Kevin can’t resist the gorgeous Texan. Their fateful meeting takes Kevin’s life in a new direction, professionally and personally. Before long, Teak resuscitates Kevin’s flat-lined libido, becoming the perfect tour guide to a sexual territory Kevin has only fantasized about. Teak provides the safety Kevin needs to finally be who he truly is, and the men embark on a romance better than anything Kevin ever imagined. But their sexy seclusion can’t last forever.

All too soon, reality, obligation, and envy threaten to sever the couple’s fledgling connection.

ISBN # 1419991027

Product Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/the-camera-never-lies.html

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: An interesting proposition, one escapee photographer, seeking answers to life’s unsolved mysteries up north at his cabin refuge. He’s battling a nagging feeling in his gut, that his attraction to men mean more than just the admiration of beauty. He finds not just one but two hot male muses as he puts the lens of his camera back to work photographing not just nature, but these hot men in their natural habitat.

I was a bit confused about the relationship dynamic between Teak and his female friend with benefits, Teak and Drew, and eventually Teak and Kevin. While the sexual heat was scorching at times, and the whole “model for me” scenario was fun, I felt the relationship between Teak and Kevin progressed too fast with too much uncertainty.

The twist with Kevin’s manager Gail, and her machinations to “expose” him, was a bit over the top, and who really cares anyway? Who is actually going to put this in a gossip column? Photographers, unless you’re Ansel Adams or Annie Liebovitz, are not really all that famously recognized anyhow. Maybe that’s why it is hard for me, I come from the art world, and poor photographers are lucky if people put the right name with the right image, let alone actually recognize them personally.

The story was fun, who doesn’t like a bit of sexy-fun-time in the wilderness? Something is lacking, but I did find myself entertained for an evening. I’m sure there will be more to come from this trio of characters in the future.

Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton ~Audiobook

9781419939686Title: Love the Sinner

Series: Brooklyn Sinners, #1

Author: Avril Ashton

Narrator: Renard Pasquale

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Length: 9 hours and 22 minutes

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (2-18-14)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: Detective Gabriel Ashby has never looked twice at another man, yet the criminal across from him, the man he’s interrogating, isn’t like any other. Gabe can’t deal with the sudden, intense need he has for one of NYPD’s Most Wanted. Everyone close to Angelo Pagan ends up dead, with the smug gang leader standing amid the rubble. Gabe would love nothing more than to bust Angelo’s ass and lock him up. So why is he seeing the bastard in his dreams at night?

Angelo Pagan knows attraction to Gabe is suicide. He’s resolute to ignore the chemistry…until a police raid goes wrong. He critically injures Gabe, changing the trajectory of both their lives. Now the two can’t get close enough. They settle into a forbidden affair threatened by lies and betrayal, living on different sides of the law with no way of breaching the gap between them. With the authorities looking to make an example of Angelo, Gabe has to decide if it’s really worth it to hate the sin but love the sinner.

Purchase Link: http://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=Love+the+Sinner
Review: Gabriel Ashby is content with his life, or so he thinks. He has a long time live in girlfriend and he’s a successful detective with the local police force. Now sitting in an interrogation room across from Crime Boss and all around bad guy, Angelo Pagan, he feels something for this man that he’s never felt before. Weeks later and Ashby can’t stop thinking about Angelo Pagan, but he stuffs those feelings down deep, attempting to ignore them. Until he is shot in an ambush, by none other than Angelo Pagan. The bullet is a clean shot with no chance of seriously hurting Gabe, well, other than his pride.

Angelo Pagan has been living life in a fog since his sister was murdered at her birthday dinner. And then he spent a miserable afternoon being questioned by Gabriel Ashby, now he can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous cop with the mesmerizing eyes and curly dark hair. When one of his men stumbles on Gabe at a raid, Pagan steps up and shoots Gabe rather than allowing his man to do it knowing the gunman would surely kill the cop.

While recovering and off duty, Gabe’s girlfriend moves out, something about him being emotionally absent. He too is now living life in a fog, not even realizing that one crime boss is watching his every move. Soon enough Pagan makes his presence and his interest in Gabe known. Gabe tells himself this is a mistake, Pagan is a mobster, and he is a cop, not to mention Pagan is a man. But the attraction will not be denied and the two begin an unconventional affair that seems to be doomed from the start. Making an agreement to keep their affair and their jobs separate, they quickly learn neither one of them will be able to follow through with that. Can Pagan keep his associates from finding out about Gabe? Can Gabe separate the man he is falling in love with, with the mobster crime boss that Pagan is when they aren’t together?

This story is all about the raw sexuality that is shared by two men who are complete polar opposites, but can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, among other things. The writing was gritty, as were some of the characters and the storyline. Pagan truly is a murderous gangster with a heart, his goal is to get out of the business and get as far away from all the darkness as possible. Taking Gabe with him, of course. Gabe has fallen in love with the tall, dark, and brooding Italian with the long curly hair and golden hued eyes that seem to bore through his soul. But he has a hard time with these feelings as they go against everything it is to be a cop. He’s supposed to bring down the bad guy, not fall in love with him.

Narrated by Renard Pasquale and though this is my first audio with him, it won’t be my last. He transitioned flawlessly between the American accent of Gabe and that gangster sheik Italian slang that Angelo threw around. I was completely engrossed in this story between the writing and the narration. Multiple characters were woven into the story and first off, the author gave each one a veritable attitude. And then Pasquale carried that over into the audio book giving these men their own distinct voice.

Angelo and Gabe carry this raw, passionate sexuality as well that could not be denied. I would definitely recommend this audio book, and I cannot possibly imagine reading it on paper would be any less rewarding. My only complaint would be a bit of a weird transition for Gabe from being almost shy and inexperienced and then not ten pages later, he is taking the dirty talk and directing his lover to a whole new level. That was off for me, but overall this was one of the sexiest books I’ve listened to in a while.

Vampire Prince by S.J. Frost

vampireprince_9781419948602_msrTitle: Vampire Prince

Series: N/A

Author: S. J. Frost

Genre: Paranormal/ Vampires

Length: Novel (168 Pages)

ISBN: 978-1-4199-4860-2

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (March 7th, 2014)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

　

Blurb:For three years, Sebastian has lived as a blood slave, giving his blood and body to vampires. He’s a prisoner, owned by the blood house he serves. Sebastian dreams of freedom, of feeling the sun and wind on his face once again.

 

Valentin has earned the title of vampire prince. But status and age haven’t brought him love. When his blood craving grows too demanding to be ignored, he goes to the blood house and finds himself entranced by the spirited Sebastian.

 

Their passion is strong, their connection to each other undeniable. Sebastian wants to be Valentin’s, and Valentin wants to keep Sebastian—forever. The danger of making the blood slave immortal is high and the price might be both their lives.

 

Purchase Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/vampire-prince.html

 

Review: This is a truly beautiful love story of a man whose life was full of pain and heartache finding the one man meant for him. Sebastian would have been hurt if he had not signed a blood contract to a vampire. He had not even been given the chance to even read the contract so he did not know what it meant in total. He had been a blood and sex slave for over three years and he was very close to choosing death as his way out. That is until he met Valentin. Valentin was a prince of the vampires.

 

Valentin really hated going to a blood house however, he really needed blood since moving to Georgia. However as soon as he arrives he sees Sebastian. Choosing him, he talks to him and gives him the choice to choose to be his blood slave for the night. But it turns out that they both wanted more. On a night where the head of the house choose to hand Sebastian over to one cruel vampire, Sebastian calls out for Valentin. Valentin gets there and ends up buying the contract.

Sebastian ends up at Valentin’s home and meets his brother and a demon. With their help, Sebastian was now completely free to choose whether to stay with Valentin or find his way out in the real world. After realizing he really wants, he chooses to stay with the man he wants. The family he now has.

 

This story has lots of danger in it, all coming to kill everyone in Sebastian’s life, but it also show a lot of love coming from them. Brotherly love and the love of mates, although they are not called that in this story you can still tell that it is there. I would definitely be recommending this amazing story to everyone who loves the paranormal worlds, vampires, demons, hot and sexy men, tender sex, and the dangers coming for them. I will definitely be watching this author for more stories just like this one. It is being added to my favorite list.

Beautiful One by Kerry Adrienne

51hz8lFZ9ALTitle: Beautiful One

Series: N/A

Author: Kerry Adrienne

Genre:  Historical Romance (Ancient Greece)

Length: Novella (86 Pages)

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (October 11th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: Kallistos, a shy playwright, has been chosen to compete at the Great Dionysia festival in Athens. His plays are strong, but he faces Sophocles, the man who has won almost every contest. Kallistos, the beautiful one, has eschewed intimacy—yet the dark Alexios pierces his armor with philosophies he’s never considered, and he falls hard.

Alexios, a shepherd, aspires to be an actor in Athens. His trip plunges him into a plot of deceit and lies when Sophocles hires him to sabotage his competition. Sophocles promises money and a part on stage—but challenges Alexios’ beliefs and honor.

Product Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/beautiful-one.html

Review: Well I am not really sure what to say about this story other than it was really funny. Although I suppose it has its serious side. It did capture my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.

Kallistos was a very shy playwright who just wanted his play to win. When he met Alexios he found himself slowly falling in love, the only problem was Alexios’s betrayal. Alexios is a Shepard who just wants to act. By agreeing to deceive he finds himself in a bit of a mix, because Alexios has his belief’s and honor plus he is sexy as hell and falling in love with Kallistos. Kallistos is honorable, innocent in certain things, and very loveable. They have some very hot kisses going between them.

This story has some pretty cool twist and turns. There is a lot of betrayal, excitement but not a lot of danger to this story. It was told in a way that confused but also fascinated me. It was a pretty good book.

The Beautiful One by Kerry Adrienne

51hz8lFZ9ALTitle: The Beautiful One

Series:  N/A

Author: Kerry Adrienne

Genre: Historical/Ancient Greece

Length: Novella (79 pages)

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (October 11th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Kallistos, a shy playwright, has been chosen to compete at the Great Dionysia festival in Athens. His plays are strong, but he faces Sophocles, the man who has won almost every contest. Kallistos, the beautiful one, has eschewed intimacy—yet the dark Alexios pierces his armor with philosophies he’s never considered, and he falls hard. Alexios, a shepherd, aspires to be an actor in Athens. His trip plunges him into a plot of deceit and lies when Sophocles hires him to sabotage his competition. Sophocles promises money and a part on stage—but challenges Alexios’ beliefs and honor.

Product Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/beautiful-one.html

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: An interesting concept to build an m/m romance around, the competing playwrights, and celebrations of the gods of ancient Greece. But, that’s about all I enjoyed from this story. It was a bit slow and kept losing my attention and that is a problem for a novella/short story. I just didn’t feel the heat between the two main characters, it was too forced, and the buildup to the final confrontation was weak.

Like I said, interesting concept, not quite successful on the execution.

Sinner, Savior by Avril Ashton

16120519Title: Sinner, Savior

Series: Brooklyn Sinner, Book #2

Author: Avril Ashton

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Length: Novel (169 pages)

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Heat Level: Explicit

Blurb: Gunrunner Pablo Castillo has cemented his reputation in the gun trade as callous and cold-hearted. Personal feelings no longer matter, not with everyone out to make him a sacrifice on their way to the top. He remains untouchable, until a meeting with a rival gang leader and a new deal brings him face-to-face with temptation. 

Dev is the right hand to a sadistic bastard out for blood and glory. He hides his true feelings of distaste for his boss, not the least of his many secrets. He could’ve sworn those secrets were safe, but after meeting Pablo he’s not so sure. The two men come together in a heated affair neither can deny, battling themselves, each other and a deadly enemy bent on spilling blood. Pablo and Dev will have to stick together or walk away from a love neither man expected to find. The choice should be simple. It never is. 

Reader Advisory: Contains brief scenes of gang-related violence.

Product Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/sinner-savior.html

Reviewer: Cat

Review: Pablo has taken over Los P, a gang in Brooklyn that is mostly gunrunning. He meets with one of his adversary’s that wants to buy guns from only them. During this meeting, he meets York’s new right hand man and can’t get him out of his head. He has to keep his sex-life a secret, because of being a gang-leader and he has been hurt in the past and doesn’t feel his heart is his own to give.

Dev has secrets of his own and knows for many reasons he should not pursue Pablo, but he just can’t help himself. He knows that it’s a relationship doomed to fail and the fact that Pablo pushes him away makes it more appealing.

This is book two in this series. I had read the third first and in my opinion if I had not, this one would have been harder to follow. Syren’s appearance in this one really stemmed from a scene in the third. That if you didn’t know that story I think you might have really been stumped, and you would have no idea about the other man Pablo was pining for. HOWEVER, this is a lovey story on its own. I love how in this one, it isn’t so cut and dry or easy for these two. I love how Pablo pushes away and keeps telling Dev he is just a thing. I liked not liking Pablo so much and having to form a relationship with him myself. But, then again, I am a sucker for the bad-boys. I loved Dev’s determination though I don’t think I’d go through half the hell Pablo put him through and wow was the sex smoking! This is a great series and I cannot wait for the next one!  

Recommendation: I do recommend you read book one and Three first for better understanding and enjoyment on this one. If you love a deep heartfelt love story, especially where one man is in love with someone else, between cops and criminals, gunrunners, gangs, undercover agents, drama, suspense, and very hot mansex, this is necessary.

Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton

13615101Title: Love the Sinner

Series: Brooklyn Sinner, Book #1

Author: Avril Ashton

Genre:  Contemporary

Length: Novel (229 pages)

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (May 9th, 2012)

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Heat Level: Explicit

Blurb: Detective Gabriel Ashby has never looked twice at another man, yet the criminal across from him, the man he’s interrogating, isn’t like any other. Gabe can’t deal with the sudden, intense need he has for one of NYPD’s Most Wanted. Everyone close to Angelo Pagan ends up dead, with the smug gang leader standing amid the rubble. Gabe would love nothing more than to bust Angelo’s ass and lock him up. So why is he seeing the bastard in his dreams at night?

Angelo Pagan knows attraction to Gabe is suicide. He’s resolute to ignore the chemistry…until a police raid goes wrong. He critically injures Gabe, changing the trajectory of both their lives. Now the two can’t get close enough. They settle into a forbidden affair threatened by lies and betrayal, living on different sides of the law with no way of breaching the gap between them. With the authorities looking to make an example of Angelo, Gabe has to decide if it’s really worth it to hate the sin but love the sinner.

Product Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/love-the-sinner.html

Reviewer: Cat

Review: Gabe knows something is different the moment he meets Angelo in the interrogation room. Angelo is a Gunrunner and possibly a killer and Gabe is a cop, and straight. But the moment they touch, his feelings run wild. Angelo is tired of hiding but has no choice a gang-leader of his caliber stands no chance if it’s found out he is gay. But the moment he met Gabe he knew he was the one he has always wanted.

Wow, this is a beautiful story! I love how these two men are so different but know inside how they need the other. I also liked that Gabe wasn’t a hidden gay, that he was truly straight until he met Angelo. To me this made the story even more magical. I liked how the sex was so hot but the way it was mixed in with all the drama and gang related stuff really worked for me. I liked never knowing whether these two would make it. Such a beautiful, bittersweet story. Do they make it? Is it a HEA? I’m not telling you will have to buy this one * while you’re at it better get the next two and have them handy…

Recommendation: If you love a story of two men that shouldn’t be together, Straight man falling for a man, a love that seems impossible, Cops, Gun runners, mobsters, true love, and really sensuous and hot mansex, this one is for you. I am addicted to this series!

A Sinner Born by Avril Ashton

Avril-AshtonTitle: A Sinner Born

Series: Brooklyn Sinners, #3

Author: Avril Ashton

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Length: Novel (277 pages)                                           

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave (June 19th, 2013)

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Heat Level: Explicit

Blurb: Book three in the Brooklyn Sinners series.
Syren Rua is at war. He battles painful childhood demons and his intense need for the first person who makes him feel. As Faro, Syren makes deals with the worst while taking the steps necessary to bring his family’s killer to justice. He isn’t one to indulge in selfish needs, but he’ll make the time in this instance. Syren has been watching Kane Ashby, craving the grieving man for his own. He’s always stayed away from temptation, but that’s about to change.

Kane isn’t over the death of his long-time partner. He’s certainly not ready for a relationship, sexual or otherwise, but Syren isn’t a man who takes no for an answer. The unpredictable Syren offers nothing but secrets and brings with him memories so dark, they could wipe out any chance the two might ever have. Syren brings Kane’s heart back to life. But it is also Syren who could inflict the most damage.

Inside Scoop: One of our heroes has a panty fetish. And it’s hot. This book also contains brief references to rape and child abuse.tumblr_ltzsudlqHi1qfvnh6o1_500

Product Link:http://www.ellorascave.com/a-sinner-born.html

Reviewer: Cat

Review: Syren has lots of secrets and more than one identity. Can he keep track of who he really is and what the real him needs?

Kane is barely living. He can’t let go of his past lover, yet Faro intrigues him, and Vince is finally ready to come out for Kane. What will Kane do? Can he let Bailey’s memory go? Could he and Vince have a future together as more than friends? Who is Faro and why does this man seem so intent on Kane?

OH WOW! This book has so much going on. There is mystery, Intrigue, drama, angst, hot sex. SO many different romances and feelings that tie together and fit like puzzle pieces.  I cried. I swooned. I got mad. Yep this is one heck of a good story.

There are so many good characters and all have so many complicated feelings and roles, it’s hard to not like even the bad guys and at times I wanted to hurt both of the  prominent main characters Kane and Syren.

It is the third book in this series, but I never got lost, so it stands alone well; but I have to say I wanted to read the others, to see who they were about and how they fit into this one. I cannot wait for the next story to see how things move forward and what becomes of Syren and Cane now or who the main characters in the next book will be.

Recommendation: If you like, complicated characters and intriguing plots, drug runners, mobs, cartels, secret agents, police officers, FBI agents, romance with angst, little BDSM (bondage) secrets, super- hot sex, and this one is for you!