Blurb: Although Rowan Stormbringer was raised Wiccan, he’s never felt a connection to magic. That changes on the eve of Yule, when he encounters a magical creature, a phoenix, which needs his help getting to Stonehenge before the sun sets that day. Hiding a magical creature in the mortal world is tricky at best, but partnering with a good-looking, snarky taxi driver may be just the ticket Rowan needs. As they explore their instant attraction to each other, Rowan and Martin must learn to trust one another if they hope to deliver the phoenix home in time.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calendar package “Celebrate
Review: Rowan was raised as a Wiccan but he doesn’t have a connection to the magic until the eve of Yule when he finds a fallen Phoenix. He hires a taxi to help get the bird to Stonehenge and meets Martin.
This is a very good urban fantasy story. I will say though it felt like a chapter in a story and not a complete story. I would have liked to seen more developing romance between Rowan and Martin.
Having said that I did love the dialogue the bits of his family being Wiccan (I would have liked a bit more of this as well) and the Phoenix. I also liked that this was a story of magic and not a phoenix shifter story.
If you like urban fantasy, phoenix, magic and little to no sex, this story is for you!
Author(s): edited by Elizabeth L. Brooks with stories by M. Durango, Lynn Townsend, Genna Donaghy, Lazuli Jones, Racheline Maltese, Erin McRae, Sean Michael, and Berengaria Brown
Genre: Anthology
Length: 129 pages
ISBN: 1610407687
Publisher: Torquere Press (June 18th 2014)
Heat Level: Low to Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: There’s nothing like a wedding to make things interesting, for the grooms, the wedding party, the family, the friends, and even the caterer!
Sean Michael’s Hammer Club favorites Billy and Montana are back in “Put a Ring On It”, a tale that begins with the celebration of their best friends’ first anniversary. In “Building Us,” by Lynn Townsend, Eric and Temple discover that, for want of a nail, a ring is lost. In “Hold Your Peace” by Lazuli Jones, Terrence’s best friend (and best man) Michael makes a confession hours before Terrence’s wedding. In “Tony’s Tiara” by Berengaria Brown, Tony’s sister’s wedding is a never-ending saga of disasters, but Josh is there to support Tony through them all.
In “Having His Cake” by Genna Donaghy, Matty Strauss is about to cater the biggest wedding in his career, but the last thing he expects is for the groom to be his former one nightstand. In “Always a Groomsman” by M. Durango, best men Doug and Garth have to keep a wedding-day disaster at bay. In “Lake Effect” by Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese, Kyle and Daniel return to their hometown to get married only to find themselves facing an obstacle course of family drama and small-town misadventure in their quest to make it down the aisle.
Review: Overall—This was a very enjoyable story. There were many that I absolutely loved. All of them were worth the read. The stories range from hot, steamy to mild, and sweet. There is something for everyone.
Put a Ring on It by Sean Michaels ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts Billy is hoping that his boy Montana wants to step up and get married like his friends have. He brings it up at the anniversary party but Montana doesn’t seem as interested as Billy had hoped.
This was a hot and sexy romp with a bit of D’s relationship and some worry between two men that have been together for a long time. I liked the fact that it showed both the emotional angst of taking the next step. My only problem with the story was that to me the dialogue seemed to be a bit juvenile at times, but having said that it was a hot and sexy story and I loved the end! A very creative and unique engagement ring.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4211
Building Us by Lynn Townsend ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Eric has a surprise for his lover Temple. He has finished building the dream home for Temple that both are supposed to be moving into together starting a new life for themselves. He is having Temple go on the top of the roof to drive the last nail in as a symbol of their new life together and has a surprise for him while there.
This was such a lovely story. I loved the surprise and then them losing something on top of the roof. I also liked having such a complete conclusion. The only thing is at first it seemed as if this may be part of a series and I wanted to read their story of how they met, but then again it went on and went several years in the future with the conclusion so I am not sure if it was part of a series. Whether it is or not this is a very good story. It is easy to follow and left me smiling and content.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4205
Hold Your Peace by Lazuli Jones ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Michael is Terrence’s best man at his wedding that is to take place in a few hours. He has been in love with Terrence since high school and has decided to take one last chance to win Terrence away from Brandon. Will Terrence join Michael in his car and drive away or will he go through with the wedding?
This was awesome! I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for Terrence’s decision! I loved the characters and the tension inn this story I will definitely be looking for more from Lazuli Jones!
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4207
Tony’s Tiara by Berengaria Brown ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Tony is helping his sister with her wedding and it’s a living nightmare. She makes Bridezillas look tame. His lover Josh is helping him handle the stress the best he can. He also would like to marry Tony but isn’t sure if Tony will want to after this wild event.
I really liked this story. I loved Tony and Josh and how they handled the nightmare of Tony’s sister’s wedding. There was a bit of twist, but it all worked out in the end. I would love to see more of Tony and Josh, though I will say I am not sure I saw the significance of the Tiara, to me that sort of went over my head, unless we knew more about Tony.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4212
Having His Cake by Genna Donaghy ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Matty is happy to have landed the contract for a very upscale and public wedding. Though with the Grooms father being a senator against gay rights other gays have been turning them down. Matty is taking a chance with his peers but wants to better his business and the bride is very sweet and pleasant to work with. Things really seem to be looking up when at the club he has a hook-up with a sexy man that is until he meets the groom.
I loved this story. It was sweet and charming with a bit of a twist. It’s hot and sexy too. A great story and I loved Matty!
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4212
Always a Groomsman by M. Durango ♥♥♥3 Hearts Doug and Garth are groomsmen at their best friend’s weddings. It seems as if they have been doing this for a while and they have forged a very good friendship. Everything is going good then the flowers don’t show up throwing one of the grooms into a panic Garth tries to console his friend while Doug finds out the problem.
This story was short and sweet. I will have to say I kept expecting more. The main focus was on the wedding and I felt the thing with Doug and Garth was thrown in as an afterthought. I would have loved to seen more with them.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4204
Lake Effect by Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese ♥♥♥3 Hearts Daniel and Kyle have returned home to get married. Kyle’s parents aren’t happy at all about this. Not only because Kyle is gay but that Daniel is 9 years older.
This story was about the conflict between Kyle and his family and a little about Daniel and his. To me it seemed like it was a part of a series so I had a hard time relating to any of the characters. I will say I would really like to see Daniel and Kyle’s story and how they got here. I love older men/younger men relationships.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=4208
Title: Last of Summer