Hi guys! We have Dianne Hartsock stopping by today with her re-release Callum’s Fate, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Cat’s review, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Callum’s Fate
by
Dianne Hartsock
In 1780, Scotland, following a harsh year of drought, Callum Mackenzie is forced from his father’s farm in the hopes of finding work. But as fate would have it, Callum is lured onto the moors by the will-o-the-wisp. Lost in the dark, he falls into enchantment, encountering faeries and nymphs, until he stumbles into the arms of a licentious Barrow-Wight who lays claim to his soul.
Hearing his silent pleas, Donal sends Liam the gruagach (faery) to rescue Callum and bring him to his farm, a place of refuge from the Fae. Callum is happy working on Donal’s farm, slowly falling in love with the beautiful, silver-haired gruagach.
Yet there’s something wrong in the nearby forest… Despite Donal’s warnings, Callum is lured into the forest and becomes tangled in its magic, easy prey for the Barrow-Wight. Will Liam be able to strike a deal with the Barrow-Wight to save Callum’s life, or has Callum found his last resting place instead?
Genre: Cowboys and Western, Erotic Romance, Historical, Vampires
Length: Novella (87 pages)
Publisher: Pride Publishing (August 2, 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: After a century apart, Mack and Jason rediscover their love and lust, but will trying to fit into a modern world keep them together or tear them apart?
When vampire lovers Mack and Jason are reunited after decades apart, they think of nothing but each other’s company. But over time, Mack’s old-world views conflict with Jason’s liberated life, and it throws them into a spiral of confused despair. When Mack seeks solace in the arms of another and Jason’s ex-lover Greg is murdered, their relationship breaks down and Mack flees.
While in solitude, Mack is handed the surprise opportunity to rekindle a relationship with his returned, now-vampire father, Allen. They return to Sydney to introduce him to Jason, but Jason has already sought revenge on Mack’s lover and committed an atrocity of his own. Fractured so soon after their reunion, the three of them travel back to where it all began, in the country town of Wattlebrook.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of violence and death.
Publisher’s Note: This book is a stand alone title but is best read as a sequal to Blood of the Land.
Review: I was glad that things left unanswered in the first book were resolved in this one. I liked the details regarding the history as it fascinated me. As per the first book this one was bloody but I figured that after reading book one.
Though I understood immortal vampires living hundreds of years and getting bored I did not understand why Mack and Jason intentionally hurt one another at times. It seemed as though they did not want to be together one moment then the next things were fine. Maybe they should talk more instead of arguing.
Title: Dangerous Spirits Series: Spirits, #2 Author: Jordan L. Hawk Genre: Paranormal/ Historical Romance (Victorian) Length: 193 pages Publisher: Jordan L. Hawk (September 15, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Blurb: After the events of Reyhome Castle, Henry Strauss expected the Psychical Society to embrace his application of science to the study of hauntings. Instead, the society humiliates and blacklists him. His confidence shaken, he can’t bring himself to admit the truth to his lover, the handsome medium Vincent Night.
Vincent’s new life in Baltimore with Henry is disrupted when a friend from the past asks for help with a haunting. In the remote town of Devil’s Walk, old ties and new lies threaten to tear the lovers apart, if a fiery spirit bent on vengeance doesn’t put an end to them first.
This a great book full of suspicion, mistrust, lies and ghostly spirits. I loved the first book and this one was excellent as well. Henry and Vincent are together but not without issues. Lizzie is there as well when an old friend asks them to look into some strange events at Devils walk.
This book has a spooky, creepy feel to it but I felt it fit the story perfectly. The mystery was well written as events unfolded and the mystery deepened. The overall feel had me on the edge of my seat awaiting the outcome.
A book that has a lot going on it but blended so well at the same time. I truly enjoyed and loved this book. I am looking forward to what else the author has in store with this series.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Blood of the Land Series: prequel to Blood of the City Author: Adrik Kemp Genre: Historical/ Vampires Length: Novella (87 pages) Publisher: Pride Publishing (February 2nd, 2016) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ Hearts Blurb: When an ancient Italian vampire travels to the pioneering Australian outback, what he finds there triggers a decades-long love triangle from which there is no escape.
Mack, a young Australian cattle farmer, makes his living on his father’s cattle station. The work is hard and the days are long but he is content with the life he has been born into. Unfortunately for his family, he is awakened to forbidden desires of the flesh by intriguing visitors from far-off Italy.
When these visitors reveal themselves as lustful creatures of the night, Mack bites off more than he can chew and finds himself in a predicament he is ill-equipped to handle. Lost and seemingly alone, he spirals into a deadly path toward a decades-long love triangle between himself, the monster who made him and the love of his undead life.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of violence and death.
Review: The book starts off great as we see Zoran leave his lover Bela for an adventure. Bela moves on and tries to take over Mack’s property. But after this is where I found myself wondering what was happening at times.
The writing was good but some scenes seemed too rushed while others seemed to linger. I never did quite figure out the love triangle in the story. It was just a little messy and confusing.
All in all it was an o.k. with adventure, love, gore, fighting and action.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Soldiers of the Sun Series: Soldiers of the Sun, #3 Author: Jana Denardo Genre: Mystery/Suspense/M/M/M or More/Angels and Demons/ Historical/ Paranormal Length: Novel (310 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 21, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts Blurb: Caleb Davies and Agni Pradesh are worried about their teammate and lover, Temple Chevalier. Not only has he lost his long-time partner, Fu Li, but he nearly died fighting a demon himself. Also, Temple isn’t sure he’s ready for a new teammate after Li. Caleb and Agni are even more concerned that their three-way relationship with Temple exists less because he loves them and more because he’s hiding from the pain of Li’s loss.
1932 shapes up to be a terrible year for the Soldiers as they welcome the New Year fighting demons and then end up investigating a case that pairs them up with the Knights Templar. This would normally be a good thing, but it forces Temple to face his painful past. Worse yet, the case leads right to Astaroth, a Prince of Hell, who might prove to be an unbeatable foe.
Review: This book three in the Soldiers of the Sun series. Temple is introduced to his new partner Jo, who is the boss’ niece. Temple, Agni and Caleb continue their ménage a trois while Temple is still dealing with his grief about Li. I felt really bad that Temple seemed to be in a deep depression and did not want to talk about what he was going through. Though I understood his reasons for wanting sex with Caleb and Agni as a way to cope with the pain he should have discussed things with them as well.
I did not know how quite to take Jo’s character through the book. She was smart and determined, but I felt she was a little too much at times. The team seemed to do well with the first outing they had together. I could not stand the group that summoned a demon for their own gains. It seemed selfish not to mention what they had to do to appease the demon was appalling.
Although this was a well written book it seemed to fall a little short for me as the other two books were much shorter. Then all of a sudden, a much longer book. Some scenes were drawn out too much, while others that needed more details were too short. I was disappointed in yet again with not knowing exactly what happened to Li except that it was a mission gone badly.
There were a few twists and turns that at times had me holding my breath. I wish the battle scenes were longer than they were. But overall it was a good story that leads the reader into a world where everything is not as it seems and it’s up to Temple, Caleb, Agni and Jo to figure out what exactly is going on.
In between battling demons, they have to work with the knights Templar and on top of dealing with his grief it seemed to pile even more stress upon Temple as he is forced to deal with events from his past that he’d rather leave in the past.
Good read. * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Snowbound, 2nd edition Series: Soldiers of the Sun, #2 Author: Jana Denardo Genre: M/M/M or More/Angels and Demons/ Historical/ Paranormal Length: Short (47 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 14, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts Blurb: The 1930s have more to worry about than the Depression. Demons walk the earth, leaving the human race relying on those who can see the demons to fight them.
As the Soldiers of the Sun make their way back to their base in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Caleb, Temple, and Agni find themselves snowbound in Mount Washington. With nothing to do but wait for a break in the weather or the next demon attack, whichever comes first, the three partners have the luxury of time to explore their mutual attraction and affection. Before they get far in that exploration, they end up in another fight for their lives—a fight Temple might lose.
First Edition published in Necking by Dreamspinner Press, 2010.
Review: This is book two in the Soldiers of the Sun series. I was confused after reading the first half, as it suddenly seemed like the story was starting yet again but at a later date. The beginning mentions Li not with the team anymore due to death but never said how he died or when. I was disappointed in this as it left me wondering all throughout what exactly happened.
Most of the first half is about Caleb, Agni and Temple growing closer and having sex with each other and two small demon scenes in the mix. The second half introduces Temple’s new partner Jo, a female and the boss niece. This is a confusing book as it seems almost like two different stories going on.
It needs some work before it’s published so the reader is not as confused as to what’s going on as well as details added to Li’s death instead of just saying he died and nothing else. I was disappointed in this book as the beginning was really good then all of a sudden you see a bio about the author then the beginning of another story so I was unsure as to which one was the actual story for this book.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Temptation of the Incubus, 2nd edition Series: N/A Author: S.A. Garcia Genre: Contemporary/ Humorous/ Historical/ Paranormal Length: Novel (179 pages) Publisher: MLR Press (May 15, 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts Blurb: Hybrid incubus Amando is a true man-eater, until he meets the humble electrician Mads Massimo, a human who bites back.
Hybrid incubus Amando is a true man-eater. Consuming life force to exist makes committing to long-term romance a difficult task. The ancient Amando fears he’s destined to be lonely, until he meets the humble electrician Mads Massimo, a human who bites back.
Amando knows he should flee from this consuming human, but something in Mads’s soul binds them. Imagine an ancient demon falling in love with a human! Even as Mads drains Amando’s life force, he cannot deny his love for Mads. Drained and in pain, Amando debates over confessing his real identity.
When a certain scheming entity interferes with their relationship, Amando wonders if their love is a match made in Heaven or Hell?
Review: Hmm, I have to say when I first started reading this book I honestly thought the beginning was the author words and not the story so it took me by surprise to realize I was reading the actual story. Armando seemed abrasive and rude to the point of being insulting at times yet tender at others while at the same time coming off as conceited and self-absorbed.
Although I love sarcastic characters this did not strike me as sarcastic at all. I was very glad that Mads seemed to give back the abrasive behavior to Armando rather than not say anything. However if it had been me I would have walked away and never looked back.
I hate to say it but I did not enjoy this book as much as I normally would a paranormal book which shocked me. That was due to the very beginning and Armando’s dialogue. I had to force myself to read the entire book and was gritting my teeth wanting to slap Armando at times.
I’m sorry but I did not like this book, but will give it a 3 for effort. * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: In the Dark Series: Children of Night, # 1 Author: P.G. Forte Genre: Paranormal & Alternate Worlds / Holiday / Vampires / Suspense Elements Length: Novel (225 pages) Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (December 8th, 2009) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts Blurb: When you live forever, you’re bound to make a few mistakes.
1969 San Francisco. World-weary Conrad Quintano should have known better than to fall in love with a human—much less Suzanne Fischer, the barely legal, adventure-seeking hippie beauty known as Desert Rose. And the very last thing he should have agreed to do was to raise her babies and protect them with his life. But even twelve-hundred-year-old master vampires can find it hard to reject a deathbed request—especially when issues of love, guilt and blood are involved.
Present day. Raised in virtual isolation, twins Marc and Julie Fischer have always known they are vampires. But they never knew their parentage—or their unique status in the vampire world—until their “uncle” Damian comes to fetch them home. The family reunion, however, isn’t what they expect. They’re thrust into a world for which they’re totally unprepared. And the father they expected to see, Conrad, is missing.
How to find him…and whom to trust? Solving the mystery of betrayal and vampire family values will prove the Beatles had it right. All you need is love…and an occasional side of blood.
Product Warnings: While reading this book you may experience any of the following, an increased desire to wear flowers in your hair, dress in tie-dye or nap during the day. Other symptoms may include an intolerance to sunlight, an aversion to garlic-flavored tofu and a pronounced urge to bake…or get baked.
Review: Conrad, a powerful vampire, goes missing and the mystery begins to deepen the further you read. I loved the fact that Damian, Conrad’s love interest, came to his aid even though Conrad had sent him away years before. It showed how much they still cared for one another even centuries later. Loved Damien’s upbeat character.
Suspenseful at times and mysterious this story draws the reader in the ever growing mysteries to find out the end result. The twins Marc and Julie are born vampires and not made vampires, which in this story was not normal. Julie seemed more reserved than her twin Marc who was inquisitive. Their mother was a human woman named Desert Rose who Conrad fell in love with and had children. But she passes away after their birth.
One of things I really liked in this book was that there was no judgment on who you were within this story. So many stories have discrimination and judgment in them regarding who a person is with that it was refreshing not to see it in this story. The atmosphere is dark and mysterious throughout.
Very interesting story with a lot of flashbacks that give insight to the mystery woman even though I thought there were a too many. This story has so many twists and turns that it was hard to keep them straight at times.
It was an intriguing read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Wrecked Series: N/A Author: Deanna Wadsworth Genre: Historical/Paranormal Length: Novel (282 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (15 May 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts Blurb: Off the Key West coast, Rief Lawson works as a wrecker, salvaging ships and their cargo. Exiled to the outskirts of society because of his mysterious gift of sight, Rief’s only respite from his loneliness is painting an unknown blond man. When a merchant ship wrecks during a violent storm, Rief rescues a drowning victim and comes face-to-face with his destiny.
It is the man from his art!
Heir to an English barony, Mathew Weston entered the merchant trade with his greedy father and soon-to-be father-in-law. Dominated by his father and smothered by the people around him—including his sweet but tiresome fiancée—Mathew is terrified to follow his true desires. Marriage and obedience seem safer than a life of secrecy and possible prison.
After the daring rescue, a fire ignites between the two men. Powerless to resist his desire, Mathew learns what it means to be a man in Rief’s arms. With this newfound confidence, Mathew teaches Rief through gentle touch that he deserves the affection he’s long been denied. Yet their affair is doomed from the start.
Two desperate men, wrecked in heart and mind, must find a way to salvage the chance at love fate has given them.
Review: I love a Regency Era romance. I don’t normally comment on book covers, but just look at this one: doesn’t it scream regency romance? Or damsel in distress? Or, more specifically, it reminds me of the beginning sequence to the TV show Blackadder the Third, which I happen to love. It also appears a bit corny but you know what they say, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. So finished with that and onto the actual story.
Our first introduction to a character is to Matthew, her to his father’s barony and hiss wedding to Maggie Kirkwood has long since been arranged by the families. Not at all uncommon scenario in regency romances, really. However, we also meet him on the verge of death, on a ship heading to Key West.
Then there is Reif. (I keep thinking Leif). He is a pirate type of character, though not really a pirate, well maybe a bit, he does salvage ship wrecks around Key West, after all. He seems to put on a bit of a front that makes him seem like a happy-go-lucky sort of bloke, except he isn’t. He has “the sight”, which to me seems like it would be a pain in the butt, and for Reif it makes him a type of tortured soul. At first his abilities don’t seem important, but hang in there, things get real interesting.
Both Matthew and Reif are wonderful characters. But I have to admit that I had a particular soft spot for Reif. However, being a gay regency romance means that we get to explore the forbidden element of “sodomy” and how it is possible for two men even attempt to make a life together. This is where Reif’s brother, Cole, makes his impact and in the end I absolutely loved his character.
The sexual tension between Matthew and Reif is thick. The sex is hot and explosive, too. This book certainly ticks all the boxes in my mind.
Although this is a novel, it is also a rather relaxing read as well and easy to get through. The plot is both fun and satisfying to the end. At the start I had been quickly engrossed and the pages just flew by. Anyone with a penchant for action filled historical romances will be in no way disappointed to read this.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: I Lift My Eyes to the Hills Series: N/A Author: Connor Wright Genre: Historical/Paranormal Length: Novel (176 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 3rd, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts Blurb: Justinian Clark, a new-minted journeyman scribe, has a lot of faith: faith in God goes without saying, faith in the orderly workings of the universe, faith in the administrative minutiae that ticks along in the background of his life. That minutiae has brought him to Saint Gabriel and All Angels Cathedral, where he is assigned to assist Brother Ezekiel Frost.
Ezekiel Frost, a ten-year veteran of The Eternal Brotherhood of the Guardians of the Church of Greater Anglia, is quite comfortable with his routine: helping the people of St. Gabriel’s parish, annoying the archdeacon, and not getting too used to his assistants. While he doubts that having a complete novice assigned to him will change this pattern in any way, he resolves to make the best of it.
Between exorcisms, murders, the attention of something, and an overly observant child, Justinian and Ezekiel have no time to settle into a comfortable routine. Nothing is as certain as they once believed, and they can only hope their faith will see them through.
A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.
Review: This is the type of book where the more I think of it, the more I enjoyed it. It’s certainly one of those books that has made me think more deeply, hence why I’ve decided that I really enjoyed this one more than I had originally decided (I’ve pushed the heart rating from 3.5 hears to 4.5 hearts and now I’m happy about that).
For this book, we get two warnings on historical inaccuracies: once in the blurb and once in a forward written by Connor Wright. So now, we can’t complain and nitpick that “that’s not how gay people were treated” and “that’s not what the Church would do”. The forward also adds in other literary liberties that were taken. After all that, I was more than happy to overlook the inaccuracies that would normally irritate me. This is a book that has been thoroughly researched and perhaps some evidence of this is that at the end, we have some translations and the biblical references used in the book.
Ezekiel may be a brother of the Anglican Church, but he is also a realist, a rather gritty character and generally just the cool type. He’s been in the job for a while so a lot of things are routine to him so teasing people is his fun, as well as the odd lover. Justinian on the other hand, is a scribe within the church. He is perhaps naive, maybe due to his age, 19, but I wouldn’t think so, but he also has a true sense of compassion despite what he sees while he travels with Ezekiel.
Both Ezekiel and Justinian show that throughout this book their faith is an asset. The relationship and budding romance between Ezekiel and Justinian is subtle, allowing the demon and exorcism story line to develop. The idea of these men investigating strange happenings and exorcising demons is fun. There were a few smaller exorcisms as well as that involved in the overarching plot of the book.
Finally, I also enjoyed the enlightened view that society and the Anglican Church had in this book, that being one of the major liberties taken. There certainly weren’t any shady “lavender houses” to be seen, there was a sense of freedom that relied on discretion. It’s basically the ideal perception based on what society actually did. Women were also viewed well in this book too, which is good to see a historical fiction without soldiers and whatnot trying to rape every woman they wanted.
However, to finish, I have to say I both like and was amused by the euphemism used for homosexuality “I sleep on the other side of the bed”.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: The Wolf and His Moon Prince Series: Yamato, #1 Author: Angelique Voisen Genre: Erotic Gay Romance, Historical, Paranormal, Vampires, Werewolves Length: Novella (75 Pages) ISBN: 978-1-63258-201-0 Publisher: BookStrand Publishing (August 21st, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: A werewolf and a hard soldier, Rin is the right man for the right job. Tasked with bringing back the fabled Moon Princess for the crown prince of Yamato, Rin is delighted when the princess turns out to be a prince. Rin is used to training potential royal playthings for his master, but Midori baffles him. Both Rin’s human half and wolf half badly want Midori and it’s a supreme test of his will to surpass his desire for the prince’s future plaything.
Crass and forceful, Midori is initially skeptical of Rin, but he can’t deny his scorching attraction to the steely-eyed soldier. When he starts falling for his captor, Midori realizes it’s not a royal prince he wants, but his stubborn wolf. But will Rin be able to set aside his duty in order to fight for what’s rightfully his?
Review: This is book one in this series and you should start by reading it first. It usually gives a person an idea on what their lives are like and why they do the things they do. At first, I was not too sure that I would like this story, but once I got a little more into it, I was fascinated. It was missing something I can’t think about to make it absolutely perfect. However, it was a really great story and I am glad to have had a chance to read it.
Rin is a soldier and friends with the crown prince of Yamato. When his best friend asks him to go retrieve a princess for his harem Rin of course accepts. However, he was quite surprised that the princess was in fact a prince. A very sexy man that he wanted himself. He was to train him how to behave for his prince, but he went a little farther than that. He fell in love with Midori.
Midori had not wanted to leave his home knowing that by the time he would be allowed to go home his father would pass on. However he found himself drawn to the sexy soldier and wanted only him. He pleaded to Rin to keep him, but he knew it was up to Rin to stand up to his prince. He just prayed his man would do the right thing.
It was missing that special piece that would make this an absolute favorite story. However, I was quite pleased with it.
I would recommend reading this story especially if you love paranormals, a little bit historical, sexy men, gorgeous werewolves, feisty mates, excitement, adventure and a bit of suspense.
Title: Caged: Love and Treachery on the High Seas Series: Baal’s Heart Book #1 Author: Bey Deckard Genre: Gay Erotic/BDSM/Coming Out/Thriller/Suspense/Historical Length: Novel (373 Pages) ISBN: B00IDSQ5IM Publisher: Bey Deckard (February 11th, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Sheltered and lonely, Jon’s life changes drastically when a strange ship sails into the harbour of his small port town one day. Trapped between the possessive pirate captain and his murderous first mate, he must learn to adapt or he will lose himself completely. An epic tale of love and jealousy, treachery and revelation, this first installment of the Baal’s Heart trilogy brings you into the lives of three men so bound together by jealousy and lies that they must sail to the very ends of the earth to find forgiveness.
Deckard’s first novel is a masterful portrayal of sorrow, hope, and passion, with a narrative that twists the reader through a world set in the Golden Age of Piracy. A thrilling look into the darker side of human nature, Caged effortlessly melds serious historical fantasy with five star erotica
Review: CAGED by Bey Deckard will leave you breathless and wondering what just happened. The first word that came to me when I finished this was simply WOW! I have no reservations in stating that this was one of the best books I have read this year. Being a reviewer, and overall lover of reading, I have read many this year already. Many that I have had a strong connection too. Caged is in a category of its own.
Bey Deckard is a new author, not only to me, but this is his first published novel. What a gift and talent this author possesses to write a novel of this calibre. The research he must have taken speaks highly of his devotion in capturing this story to the fullest. The details and descriptions in his novel are mind-boggling. The language transcribed is perfect for this setting and is staggering how quickly you will succumb to understand its meaning. A few authors come to mind when I think about being placed in the setting that I am reading. Bey has taken that to a new level.
Not only are you in the story witnessing the events, you are no longer present in your real life world. When you read CAGED for yourself be sure to have the time to give it the attention and dedication it demands from you. You will be doing a disservice to yourself if you don’t.
This is historical novel with pirates on the open sea. In addition, there is a sense of dark erotica always in the background waiting to make its move. I’ve read many posts where people say, “I don’t like historical, nor will I read it, ever.” To me, that is really sad that readers are not willing to open their imagination and give historical a try. How unfortunate they will never know the vast joy you will evoke from such a tale.
Yeah, some things are hard to understand. Some words are hard to translate, therefore, pulling you from the story. But if you give it a chance, I believe, you will soon be reading the words as if it is your own language. If you allow yourself to delve inside the story, the words will give you their meanings. Bey Deckard has created three, very intense, powerful, engaging, extremely sexy, intelligent, (hmm, looks as though I could go on and on) men who need each other more than they ever realize.
Jon, a young man is his early twenties, has spent his life under the dictation of his evil stepfather. After losing his mother, the only person to ever show him love, at the early age of four, Jon was never touched, hugged, nor loved by anyone, again. He has a special gift, probably the only thing that keeps his stepfather from ridding himself of Jon. He has the gift of empathy. He has always been curious to the actions and demeanour of others. He can watch someone, listen to them, mimic their behaviour, and tell if that person is lying or telling the truth. A gift his stepfather uses relentlessly against him by making him interview prisoners.
Jon’s stepfather is a lawman and he uses his power and position against Jon, daily. His whole life is about to change, unbeknownst to Jon, when he is kidnapped by a pirates and cast out into the open seas. Will he sink or swim? One look at the captain and Jon is overcome with feelings he doesn’t understand.
And the first mate, Tom, who has muscles galore and laughs at everything. But, why does he have whip marks covering his entire back? Jon doesn’t understand any of this, but soon he will. Pained by his traitorous thoughts and feelings yet to be explored, Jon will no longer be a boy of doubt but a man of fortitude and wisdom.
Captain Baltsaros and Tom are hard-headed, hard skinned, seasoned pirates who would kill you instantly and never bat an eye. These two have a lot of history together. A history they keep close to the vest and share very little of. Jon finds himself completely and whole-heartedly fascinated by both men.
He wonders what it would be like to participate in some of the late night encounters he hears from across the room. Sometimes he hears noises that sound as though they are in pain. Other times he is sure the sounds he hears are brought about by pleasure. It is very titillating for Jon as he lies quietly in the dark listening. To be a part of something, to be wanted, caressed and cherished are things he knows little about. Soon, very soon, he will know first-hand how it feels to be in the clutches of the Captain.
A position he realizes, very quickly, he wants. Being an empath, he knows he can’t trust either one. That doesn’t deter him when he finds himself under the hands and strokes of the Captain and his first mate. Jon is enthralled by both men, captivated by their strength and honed bodies. How far will he go in order to please the Captain?
Tom was a prisoner and subjected to pain and torment for many years. Rescued by the Captain and now his first mate, Tom still has nightmares and an evil streak that has no conscience. There will be times, as you read, that Tom’s pain is so poignant and gut wrenching that you may stumble through this journey.
He is at his most beautiful when he exposes his inner self to the Captain and his pleasures. You will be a witness to his turmoil, his volatile behaviour, but you quickly find yourself drawn to this man who carries so much pain and he wears the proof on his back. You will be a cheerleader for Tom hoping against hope that he can find his happy ever after. His laugh is contagious and even though is heart is damaged he carries his wants and desires like an open book.
Captain Baltsaros is an evil man to anyone who cares to look. But beyond his tough exterior, is a man who loves passionately. By way of light touches and forceful kisses, he enraptures his captive and forms a bond that scares him to his core. Their journey across the wild and open seas will have you captivated and entrenched in their world so deeply. The ending is upon you before you are ready. There is always an undercurrent that will have your own emotions brought to the forefront of this story.
Never knowing from one minute to the next what is in store for the ship and crew will have you on the edge of your seat. The secrets that have been long hidden will come out and play. As each secret is exposed your own sensibilities will keep throwing you back into confusion realizing things are never as they appear.
Bey Deckard has written a long and eventful novel that will bring you to your knees as you uncover secret after secret. You will feel exposed and vulnerable as you sit back and witness the pain and turmoil these amazing characters incur. The author has used many vivid descriptions that will drawl you in and hold you hostage, as well, as you travel across the sea. You will experience their turmoil as your own feelings ricochet from one character to the next.
This story is alive and the emotions so palpable that you will have just cause to take a break or two as you live through them. The sex between the three men is oftentimes dangerous and rough. The pleasure experienced, however, will leave you with a magnitude of feelings you have to rationalize for yourself. The character growth that the MC’s go through will leave you astonished. The crew members aboard the ship are like a beating heart that keeps it going strong. Being under duress will only strengthen the crew and you will see them at their finest.
I consider Bey Deckard a masterful storyteller who has given us words on a page that will forever be embedded in my heart. Coming soon is the sequel to Caged, titled Sacrificed, which has left me with jitters and nervous energy contemplating its content. This is not JUST a historical, not JUST a story of pirates and a crew. This is a masterpiece brought about by men with so much wisdom and experience and so much passion that the open seas is the only place large enough to let it breathe and unfold.
Regardless, the open sea has nothing on the turbulent feelings you will encounter. Amazing, amazing story that deserves an audience to celebrate, in my opinion, an award-winning debut. Kudos to Bey Deckard and his incredible gift of the written word, and for so graciously sharing it with us.
Blurb: When Robert Caldwell inherits a haunted house, he calls on ghost-hunter Simon Feximal to rid him of the supernatural menace. But the ghost is stronger than either man realizes — strong, angry, and desperate for release. Trapped in a haunted house with a dangerously attractive ghost-hunter and a sexually frustrated spirit, can Robert survive the night intact…and will he want to?
Review: I’ve got to say K.J. Charles is quickly becoming one of my top five favorite authors of the mystery and m/m genre. I can really sink my teeth into her characters, and she illustrates her worlds with words so well that I can feel, smell and nearly tough the settings her stories are part of. And while I’ve read some of her longer novellas, Charles is queen of the short story. The plots feel complete, yet leave me hungry for more, more… more!
I admit I read this series in an odd order, starting with Remnant and then picking up with Caldwell Ghost and then Butterflies. But I decided to read the earlier installments because I was fixated with the character of Simon Feximal. He’s disturbed, obviously haunted by a dark past, inked with powers of sorcery, and his dominant streak….oh hells yeah that’s frickin’ hot!
The interesting twists this ghost haunting takes had been quickly planted and the seeds grew into something wickedly sexy, if not a bit multi-generationally incestual. But hey, kissing cousins and all that.
Robert Caldwell seems to be a perfect foil for Simon Feximal and I can’t wait to read more about this adventurous, mystery solving couple.
Blurb: Vasilios Eleni has learned to make the best of life as a eunuch and valued slave in the household of a wealthy silk merchant. When he begins having dreams of a demon who steals away children and eats them alive, Vasilios’s well-ordered life begins to unravel. General Markos Özdemir has been ordered by the Emperor to investigate the kidnapping and murder of children from the capital, but he’s become frustrated with lack of progress. When he learns of Vasilios’s dreams he begins to suspect they are the key to tracking down the demon.
Vasilios and Markos work together, and soon the attraction between them flares, leading to deeper attachment. Vasilios admits to his feelings for Markos but knows they must first find a way to exorcise the child-eating demon. Their quest takes them into to desert to seek out mystics and a half-man, half-serpent monk, as well as heretics, ex-concubines, and angels. The mission remains unsolved when Vasilios is trapped in the household of a cruel man. Things go from bad to worse for Vasilios, and getting back to freedom and the new love he has with Markos could cost him his life.
A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.
Review: Okay so, I start reading this book and I had to force myself to put it down last night and get some sleep (yeah, I do that) only to pick it up first thing in the morning. That said, when it ended I was left with the incredulous look and a though spinning in my head drilling over and over “was that it?” and turning the next page just in case I missed something. The happily for now ending and the not so satisfactory closure spoiled the entire read for me.
Starting from the beginning though, I was entranced with this book. It had a Greek air on almost everything in the story and naturally, I was drawn to it. The names, the place where it’s set (The Empire), the society that oddly enough resembles so much ancient Greece, everything were intriguing and had a special allure. I did not like the religious stuff at all, but they hardly made it into my consciousness. The demon hunting, the bishops and Church politics, the monasteries and believers, they were all very well woven into the plot and place, and I believe looking at the story now that it’s finished that it would have not been as good without it anyway.
Now the main character of the story is Vasilios Eleni and he is a eunuch. This is the first time I have come across a story about eunuchs and to tell you the truth I was drawn to it in a perverse way, wanting to see where it would end and how, even as the very notion of men being castrated for fun made me cringe almost the entire read. Because yeah, owning a jewel (a eunuch made so before he hit puberty in order to maintain the androgynous features, and solely for sex) was a show of wealth and taste for the rich and powerful in this story. Can you see me cringing? But back to the story, Vasilios starts having some weird, vivid dreams about a demon devouring children right about the time children are going missing from all kinds of families regardless of the social stand. Lucky him. General Markos is in town and having business with Vasilios’ master, thus Vasilios turns to him for help, because these dreams are leaving him in quite a state of horror.
The hunting part of the story is not so much a hunt as it is a go-seek quest with Vasilios and Markos trying to find the people they need to banish the demon when the Bishop fails. Meanwhile Vasilios life changes for the worse when his master dies and he has been passed down to his master’s youngest and cruelest son. There is a show of unnecessary cruelty there and some events I truly didn’t get, because they made no sense, but they did help the story move forward.
Now romance-wise I find myself unable to produce words. The flirting between Markus and Vasilios was non-existed. We knew feelings were there, but there was not much show of anything, thus the pair not making a real connection with me. As for the inevitable intimate scenes, oh my they were more than weird because not only one of the men was missing something vital there, but also they ended up discarding BJs and penetration altogether, making the intimate scenes in the end a bit crippling. I suppose the author might have wanted to put more attention to the touchy-feely part and how love doesn’t need much for it to bloom, but in the end there was no love there either, just the possibility of one in the future, leaving me with the thought: “Was that it?” Oh wait, I already said that, but really, it was a huge WTF moment for me the end of the book.
So overall, I liked it, but it could have been better. It was highly interesting though, and the main point is that I read it so easily, so effortlessly and had a nice time doing so. Recommended for fans of the genre.
Blurb: Benjamin lives a quiet life in a small Pennsylvania town, but he dreams of a larger world beyond the family homestead, of beautiful cities and sophisticated people. He longs to be in the Big Apple among its urbane residents. But the distant cities pictured in magazines seem an impossibility, so he fantasizes about the local legends instead. His favorite story is of The Goat Man and the gift he bestows upon the luckiest of believers.
But The Goat Man is no mere legend. He is very real, a lingering presence ever watchful from the darkness. The time comes when he answers the young man’s prayers and visits Benjamin in the depths of night.
With Benjamin’s magical gift comes dreadful consequences. Sacrifices must be made and unspoken promises kept. Shambling shapes in the shadows beckon Benjamin to a horrific, inescapable fate.
Review: There was actually a good strong storyline to this. The title to me suggested humor but when I was done with it, I found it to be exhilarating. The great ties to the satyr mythology and the ways of the past had me intrigued. The more I read, the more fascinated I became. So interested I wished there was more to it.
This book is pretty good for a novella. I found it well worth the time and would highly recommend it.
Blurb:Can one innocent act change your life forever?
When mild-mannered veterinarian Julian Wingate picks up an unusual bauble for a song in Cairo’s Khan-al-Kalili, he has no idea that the acquisition of this ancient ring will alter the course of his future. Recently widowed from the famous Egyptologist Theo Barojas, Julian finds himself on the point of tossing aside all reminders of the past; eager to start his new life with an old love…. but the curious ring – boxed away for almost a year – beckons …
Once Julian slips the artifact upon his finger, nothing in his well-ordered life will ever be the same.
Julian is given a ring years before his lover’s death. Now an evil woman claiming it was stolen from her will do everything in her power to get it back. The ring is said to give superhuman strength and other abilities to those who wear it.
Very interesting and well-written story. I didn’t like the Directrix, she seemed sneaky, devious, and not caring who she stomped on or hurt to get what she wanted. Julian seemed like a very nice man not willing to intentionally hurt anyone.
Good read.
Lisa’s Review: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
This is a fantastic book. It caught my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. It also left me hanging, now I can’t wait for the next story that I am sure is to come. Zev has a wonderful imagination and gives you characters that are charming, gorgeous and an absolute mess. Julian had loved his boyfriend Theo up to the day that Theo had died. Three days prior to that, an old man stopped Julian and basically threw a ring at him, telling him that it was free, and a gift. A gift all right, that had more bizarre twist to it. It came with powers that bewildered Julian the moment he had put it on.
Now people were coming out of the woodworks looking for it. He wasn’t in this alone though, he had a man who had wanted him, and he knew deep down that he loved him. Dinesh help him find out about the ring and stayed with him. I can’t really gage their feelings that good, but I assume that I will have to wait to the next book to get a little better read on that.
I wish though that this one had been a bit longer, with a little more to it. I want more of Julian and Dinesh, more from them, however it is all about this amazing ring that he had. It is a fantasy though, this ring of Amenhotep. And Amenhotep wants it back. I am not up on my Egyptian lure, but this story will be a big hit when it comes all together.
Blurb: Alec, Earl of Whittlesey, lives a dull and reclusive existence, rarely mingling with society and, to his mother’s regret, refusing to marry. But his mother and society do not know he harbors a secret: a kind of madness that is driving him to deadly despair.
When Alec meets the commoner Morgan Villenie, he finds the man’s cheer and wit hard to resist, despite his own dark moods. Alec warms to Villenie, but Villenie has secrets of his own. If these two men are ever truly to be together, they must trust each other enough to reveal those secrets—even if they both believe the truth could tear them apart.
Review: Well, I got to say that I am not normally one that reads historical books, whether fiction or nonfiction. This story was pretty good, well told, and great story line. I, however, did have a hard time following it, but in the end, I enjoyed the story.
Alec is driving his mother crazy with the not wanting to marry, however it is basically because he is in the closet. He is from a very wealthy and influential family, deciding to no longer mingle with those of his station in life. That is until he meets Morgan, a commoner who has secrets of his own. Morgan is funny and is cheerful even when he is angry and judgmental. They hit it off and try to learn more about each other, even if it could destroy them both. Both hot and sexy characters with different types of personalities, they come together in a time that it is extremely dangerous to be gay.
The sex is a mixture of tenderness and passionate. It took me longer to follow this story, keeping my attention, but once I started to understand the story, it was pretty good.
Blurb: Having lost Rawleigh during the Civil War, Joseph vows never to love again. Then he meets Cal, a homeless veteran of the Iraq War. Antipathy becomes friendship. Now Joseph must decide if he can once again allow himself to love.
During the Civil War Joseph Moncure, shifter and newspaper owner, lost the only man he ever loved and he vowed it wouldn’t happen again.
Cal Gilbert, a homeless veteran of the Iraq War, found a purpose in life when he created Rebuild NOLA, an organization which refurbishes derelict houses for the homeless.
Joseph, tired of purveying the news, decides it’s time to find somewhere else to channel his time and energy. When he learns about Rebuild he joins the organization, despite the instant antipathy between him and Cal.
Antipathy turns to grudging respect then friendship between the two men. Now Joseph must decide if he can once again allow love into his life after swearing ‘Never Again’.
Review: Never Again is what Joseph thinks over and over in his head for over one and a half century when he loses his lover during the Civil War. Never again will he let himself fall for a human, never again will he feel the pain such loss causes. But he doesn’t count on Cal, a man who irritates him and challenges him and eventually crawls under his skin. Before he knows it, Cal is what his heart desires and his life revolves around making him smile. But when life throws you the good stuff it also throws some bad for good measure, and Joe must make up his mind, help his lover and thus revealing the truth about what he is and risk losing him in the process, or let it go and see him hurt along the way?
This book was actually nice and the story appealing in many ways. I liked it that it started as a historical with Joe falling and losing his first and only love. I liked it that the author didn’t simply state that fact but made a quick short story and let us have a look at Joe’s past. And the contemporary follow-up was very nice as well. The core of it was very engaging, the statement loud and clear about how things are in many cities when it comes to homeless people and what’s being done for them. I liked it, takes things into perspective a bit.
As for Joe and Cal, they made two very interesting characters. Joe being a shifter who ages very slowly and has been around for over a hundred and fifty years and Cal a war veteran who came back to pretty much nothing and faced the difficulties he did before deciding to do something about it. As I said very interesting indeed, but that is where it stops for me, because the plot left behind holes. Too many questions came up throughout the read that were left unanswered and that is too off-putting for me.
The fact that Joe is a wolf shifter is enticing, the fact that there’s not much about it makes me shake my head. No family in the grand scene, where did he came from, what happened to the rest, how, why? Why was he alone with only his sister? Why didn’t they live with other shifters in the vicinity? What happened to his sister in the present day? How did she pass away? Do the gene carriers live as long as the pure shifters? These are simple examples of the many questions accumulated and just on top of my head from this book.
Moving on there was the “human’s” reaction to Joe revealing his secret. Both Rawleigh and Cal reacted a bit, hmm how should I put this? As if ok, Joe is a shifter, I love him, let’s move on. No screams, no panting, no great disbelief, no “what the hell ever” exclamations. Ok, I’m being a bit unfair since Cal did make an effort at freaking out, but come on that was way too easy. In addition there wasn’t many attributes given at the human side of the shifter, no superior strength, although it was hinted at time, it was not shown in action really. And right there at the end, when Joe finally shifts and we get to see him in action a) the action was at best lukewarm and b) teleportation? Really? And the author left that fact unexploited? Such a shame.
So what I’m trying to say with so many (perhaps unnecessary) words is that while I loved the romantic parts, both historical and contemporary, I really felt the paranormal one was left unexplored and that took the joy from this read quite a bit for me. That being said, I still would recommend this book as it is quite romantic in so many beautiful ways.
Blurb: Drafted into a secret British unit dedicated to defeating Hitler’s occult forces, American GI’s Sam Rutherford and Charlie Watson have found comfort in each other’s arms. But will their love endure past the end of the war that brought them together? Charlie wants it to, but Sam isn’t so sure. It may not even matter, because Charlie is a marked man. He learned dangerous Nazi secrets on a scouting mission, and now they’re just waiting to get a shot at him.
This story while it enticed me terribly with the psychic characters set in the WWII era also left me unsatisfied with its end.
Honestly I loved it all, Sam and Charlie, the Circle, the idea of blending WWII with paranormal activity. It was all so enticing, had me wrapped in its web instantly. But the fact that it was too short for this sort of plot, the fact that there was a great need for space and more development for the story to have a full impact on you, and the end that was so abrupt that left a hole in my feeling of this book, made me rate it so low.
I would have loved this idea to have been told in a full novel, or at least a novella. As it was it simply left me hollow, an emotion I don’t really appreciate after a read.
Blurb: England, 1804. Herne the Hunter has roamed the forests for hundreds of years and he’s known love with fellow half stag-shifter Tam for the past two centuries. The passion between them sizzles hot as ever, but times are changing. Greenwood magic is fading—threatening both Herne and Tam’s immortality and the bond between them.
After Herne discovers the Greenwood fairies are dying—and dockworkers felling oaks to build warships might be to blame—he wants to fight the modern world with his warrior’s sword. Tam, who embraces all things new, desires a dominant partner, not a brute who wants to drag England back to the Dark Ages. Soon the Wild Hunt—Herne’s ancient army of doom—are back, tempting him to unleash his wrath, and the rhythm of Herne and Tam’s lovemaking seems broken for good. When Tam’s plan to reinstate a spring ritual goes awry, only Herne can save him. Herne must choose between his past and future, and they both must decide what matters most—eternal life or eternal love.
Review:This novella can be read as a sequel to Bound to the Beast, a prequel to Bound for the Forest, or an introduction to the Greenwood series. Herne the Hunter is returning to the Greenwood with his demispirit lover, Tam, after an absence of a hundred years and discovers that the magic of The Greenwood is fading and the oaks are being felled to build warships. Their passionate lovemaking is thrown off rhythm as disquiet threads through both of them. Herne and Tam clash horns as Herne is tempted to call The Wild Hunt and Tam wants to reinstate a spring ritual to save Greenwood and the fairies. When Tam misjudges in his plan, Herne will have to resist the call to hunt and listen to his love to reclaim his demispirit.
Ahhh, Herne and Tam return to us in a fantastic addition to The Greenwood series, Herne that big sexy brute and Tam the sexy lithe temptation crossing horns as they both react to the destruction of the oaks and the fading fairies. Herne doesn’t want to embrace the present or the future like Tam does, he prefers the long distant past. All Herne sees in this time are the land-grabbing people who are destroying the forests and he is finding it hard to resist the pull of the Wild Hunt. Tam embraces each passing age and he welcomes the changes, he can see why the forests are being sacrificed and thinks there might be another reason why the fairy folk are fading. Tam is hurt and shocked that Herne is even thinking about calling the hunt and challenges Herne, Tam might like to be dominated by Herne, but he wants no part of a brute who would call the Wild Hunt.
I really did enjoy this story with the history being woven with myth once again. There is a threat from the French and good oak is required to build the warships. The fairy folk are fading because people no longer believe in the old ways. Herne and Tam return to the devastation of the Greenwood and they both have different ways they want to fix it, Herne wants to go in and wreak havoc on the shipbuilders and Tam wants to remind the villagers of the old celebrations. As they both have different ideas, on a solution they clash, Tam endangers himself, and Herne has to rethink his temptation of the hunt to save Tam.
The conflict between Tam and Herne radiates from the pages, they adore each other, but the state of the Greenwood has them conflicted. These two characters are incredibly passionate and it reflects in how they react to the threat of the Greenwood and the fairies, they are explosive together especially when they play with a ribbon *fans self*.
I have to recommend this if you love slight kink and D/s, myths and legends, sexy brutes, a hot lithe beauty, a gruesome Wild Hunt, fairies, explosive sex and a happy ending.
Title: Blood of the City
Title: Dangerous Spirits
Title: Blood of the Land
Title: Soldiers of the Sun
Title: Snowbound, 2nd edition
Title: Temptation of the Incubus, 2nd edition
Title: In the Dark
Title: Wrecked
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