Hi guys, we have Lane Swift stopping by today with her brand new release The Losing Game, we have a great excerpt and my review so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
The Losing Game
by
Lane Swift
Winchester Crown Court, October 2035: Richard Shaw leaves, a free man.
Grief-stricken and angry, Lucas Green is hell-bent on revenge against Richard Shaw, who killed his sister. Lucas has heard of a man who can help—the handsome and urbane owner of a boutique sex shop, with a head for planning crimes. But Dante Okoro has a past he’s desperate to keep buried. Though Lucas piques his interest in more ways than one, Dante turns him away. Still, he wonders if he made the right decision….
An unexpected death brings Dante and Lucas together once more. This time they can’t ignore the chemistry between them. But courting a lover with lies is a dangerous game. Dante has been spying on Lucas, convinced he has plans to kill Shaw. Lucas has been spying on Shaw, waiting for the right moment to strike. If Dante admits his suspicions to Lucas, he’ll surely lose him. If he doesn’t, Lucas might do something reckless—and end up losing everything.
Blurb:Winchester Crown Court, October 2035: Richard Shaw leaves, a free man.
Grief-stricken and angry, Lucas Green is hell-bent on revenge against Richard Shaw, who killed his sister. Lucas has heard of a man who can help—the handsome and urbane owner of a boutique sex shop with a head for planning crimes. But Dante Okoro has a past he’s desperate to keep buried. Though Lucas piques his interest in more ways than one, Dante turns him away. Still, he wonders if he made the right decision….
An unexpected death brings Dante and Lucas together once more. This time they can’t ignore the chemistry between them. But courting a lover with lies is a dangerous game. Dante has been spying on Lucas, convinced he has plans to kill Shaw. Lucas has been spying on Shaw, waiting for the right moment to strike. If Dante admits his suspicions to Lucas, he’ll surely lose him. If he doesn’t, Lucas might do something reckless—and end up losing everything.
Review: Lucas is seeking revenge after justice failed, the man who caused his sister’s death walked away with a pathetic sentence from the courts and now Lucas wants him dead. When a friend gives Lucas the name of a man who might be able to help him Lucas seeks him out, and Dante turns him away. Dante can’t understand why his old friend Avery sent Lucas to see him; he learns quickly that Avery sent Lucas for another reason, one that Lucas missed.
As Lucas plans his next move, Dante watches over him to make sure he doesn’t do something to ruin his life. The loss of a friend brings the men face to face again and this time they act on their desire for each other, but with Lucas still acting shifty and Dante watching Lucas’ every move will honesty clear a way or will it drive a wedge between the two men?
Okay this story isn’t really quite a mystery or a thriller, it doesn’t really have BDSM except more on a peripheral view and if it wasn’t set in the future I’d have said it was contemporary with a dash of suspense. There’s a lot of pain and grief as Lucas tries to make sense of the death of his sister. We also get some despondency from Dante as he faces his two girls embracing adulthood and wanting to spread their wings.
The relationship between Lucas and Dante was okay but nothing to write home about, other than a brief flash of attraction between Lucas and Dante I couldn’t feel the connection between the two men, it seemed to just pop and fizz occasionally but I think that the other emotions always seemed to drag it down.
The revenge seeking was thought out really well, Lucas’ planning shows how serious he is and Dante’s watchful eye means that we know that whatever happens Lucas has a guardian angel watching out for him. I liked the back story of both men, and how they come together to kind of heal each other. But I was expecting more, from the tone of the story I was expecting for Lucas to come out victorious and being able to visit his sisters grave and telling her justice had been found… what I didn’t expect was for it to be a hollow victory or to fizzle quite like it did.
This story had huge potential, all the elements were there and there are some great characters, but, it just missed its mark for me. I think this is the first book in a series and I must admit that although this story missed its mark for me there was something in the last chapter that has me hoping that there will be another story.
I’d recommend this to those who love a dash of mystery, a touch of suspense, interesting characters, a good storyline and an element of ‘something more to come’.
Title: Torn and Frayed Series: A Gabriel Church Tale, #2 Author: Rodd Clark Genre: Psychological Thriller Length: 264 pages Publisher: Driven Press (9 Jan 2016) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5 Hearts Blurb: “Conscience isn’t something all people are born with . . .”
Gabriel Church is a portrait in contrast. It would be easy to get lost in his pale-blue eyes, ache with the need to feel the strength of his masculine frame. He appears to be nothing but animal and instinct. The only people who know the full depth of that truth are dead, murdered, or two thousand miles away.
Gabe is a serial killer. For the first time in his life, he has more on his mind than his own survival. This time he is running from Seattle to protect the only person he thinks innocent in his laundry list of crime and murder: Christian Maxwell, his biographer and unexpected lover.
Drawn to a place he never thought to return, Gabe finds new and different realities. Realities that insist he let go of his tragic past, those incredible perceptions of God, and his own divinity.
He must open his eyes to what the love of a good man can do to heal a broken soul.
But when the killer is confronted by his own willingness to love and sacrifice, he is forced to ultimately ask the question: Just how far will he go to save a life . . . when all he’s ever done is take them?
Review: Just like the first book in this series, I found this one really hard to review. In fact, I’ve sat on my thoughts for a week trying to figure out what the hell to say. You can read my review of the first book, I really did not like Rubble and Wreckage and a lot of it came down to what I saw as fundamental in the plot.
However, I am a stubborn person, especially when it comes to my books. It’s rare that I dislike a book so much that I refuse to read the next book in the series, in the hopes that it has improved or picked up.
So yes, I gave this one a chance.
Torn and Frayed is a direct sequel from Rubble and Wreckage, so it is vital that you have read the first book. If you feel as I do – let your stubbornness guide you, although I found that because of much of what I saw as flaws in book 1 meant that they were also there in book 2. I called them fundamental flaws earlier, because it is the actual basis of the entire plot that I had trouble suspending my disbelief for.
In this installment, serial killer Gabriel Church isn’t so much on the run, but wandering around until he realizes that mentally he is on the run, but from his feelings. This seemed like it could be good; Gabe is realizing his humanity despite the fact there is something in him that means he cannot be like everyone else. After all, he is a sociopath that rationalizes each murder he’s committed without an ounce of remorse.
Once again, for me, I thought back to the Dexter series (books and TV, yes) and thinking about the “Dark Passenger”. The quote used in the blurb instantly sparked my interest because those two words flashed in my head. Perhaps it is my love for how that particular series was written (though, no, I realize Dexter did not have sex with men) and how it was handled that I cannot find myself really liking this series. I don’t know.
Then there is Christian. I have found him to be a hopelessly sad and naïve character. In fact, by the conclusion of this I wanted Christian not only get some sort of counseling but to find a decent guy who isn’t Gabe Church. His and Gabe’s relationship in this book isn’t so much a relationship as it is a series of hook ups.
By the end of the book there is no real conclusion on, in some ways, on this relationship. I didn’t ever expect a HEA but I just wanted something.
This book also had the addition of Detective Scott Keen – and his wife Carol. For me they were an interesting aspect in the story. Of course, it could be because they were new and exciting. For me that was the best part of the entire story. Yet, ultimately, at the same time, for me, it highlighted how naïve Christian is, when you think about it.
Like Rubble and Wreckage, this is described as an erotic romance. It isn’t. It isn’t really a “gay for you” story either, because Gabe, despite the fact he often meets up with Christian for sex, vehemently denies being gay – or bisexual. In fact, in the story he states that sleeping/trolling with women is easier than with gay men.
I feel like I’m in a minority for not liking this series, but there you go, that’s just my opinion, as much as it is worth. I’m not sure who to recommend it to but one thing is for certain: people looking for a romance probably will not like it. Gabe sleeping with Christian is just an incidental part of the plot, I feel.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Body Art, A Thriller Series: N/A Author: Jordan Castillo Price Narrator: Gomez Pugh Genre: Thriller / Mystery Length: 3 hours and 24 minutes Publisher: JCP Books LLC (May 13th 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Does everyone have a certain “type” they end up with…whether they want to or not?
If Ray Carlucci’s ex is anything to go by, Ray likes his men gorgeous, rebellious, and chock-full of issues. But now that Ray is single again, he has a shot at a fresh start—a very fresh start, since his tattoo shop was gutted by repo men and he can fit all his belongings in the trunk of a taxi.
Ray’s shiny new chauffeur’s license lands him a job as a driver for an elderly couple on Red Wing Island. It’s a cold fall, and since the Michigan island is the summer home to snowbirds who fly south for the winter, it’s practically deserted—save for Ray’s new household and a sculptor named Anton Kopec, who works day and night twisting brambles and twine into the distorted shapes of macabre creatures. Compelling, bizarre, and somewhat disturbing…not just the sculptures, but the artist, too. Ray has a feeling Anton is just his “type.”
Despite their scorching chemistry, when a dead body is unearthed by some workers and a freak ice storm traps them all on the island, Ray can’t say for certain that his new flame isn’t capable of murder.
Review: Ray Carlucci has lost everything, except his will to live, barely. Broke, unemployed and homeless, he takes a job as a driver for a reclusive elderly couple on a lonely, frozen island in Michigan. Things are a little off from the start. Mister White suffers from Alzheimer’s and occasionally, his episodes turn violent. Missus White is entirely to chipper for her circumstances, and the cook is a very odd bird. Speaking of birds, Ray isn’t on the job an entire day before there is a dead bird left on his doorstep.
Then there is the enigmatic beauty Anton Kopec. The man is bi-polar, eccentric and passionate all at the same time. His mood swings almost give Ray whiplash, and his sexual prowess is absolutely amazing. Needless to say, the two become lovers very quickly. But when bodies start piling up and Anton is taken in for questioning, Ray has to ask himself if getting involved with the Artist is a wise decision. His track record for boyfriends is one shot shy of America’s most wanted as it is.
I had never read any of JCP’s work before until I got a request to review the audio for Scary Mary. Let me tell you, I became an instant fan! So when this title showed up in my recommendations I grabbed a copy before I even read the blurb. I am so intrigued by the raw sexuality the characters Price writes wear like a badge of honor. Usually damaged in some way or another, at first glance they are the dregs that no one could possibly want, much less love. But then they turn out to be these completely misunderstood human beings that just want to love, and be loved in return.
Ray lost everything, including the shirt off his back, when his ex snorted all their money up his nose. Slightly psychotic and definitely disturbing Artist, Anton, is secluded on the island by his sister who only wants to cash in on his fame, not actually have to deal with the person that holds all the creativity. The two come together and it’s like a bolt of lightning. It’s frenetic, crazed and passionate, and they don’t seem to be able to love each other any other way.
In just three short hours, Price delivered a shivering murder mystery that was suspenseful and engaging all while weaving this insane love story between two lonely souls. I absolutely loved it! Highly recommend it! If you like the author, you’ll surely enjoy this audio.
But if you are a fan of suspense thrillers, passionate love stories with zero romance, and sexy inked up alpha males, then you can’t pass this one up.
Title: The Shed Series: N/A Author: Dianne Hartsock Genre: Contemporary/ Thriller Length: Novel (260 pages) Publisher: Solstice Publishing (Published June 12th 2014) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts Reviewer: Aerin Blurb: As a Certified Mental Health Therapist, Scott Reid has his share of interesting experiences, though nothing compares with the time he spends with the psychic, Alex Elson. Plagued by terrifying images and dreams, Alex turns to Doctor Reid in the hopes of learning to control his visions.
Instead, Scott is pulled into Alex’s world, where dreams and reality mix and nightmares are real. Two young men, brothers, have been abducted from the lake outside of Oakton without a trace of who took them.
That is, until Alex receives a silver pocket watch in the mail belonging to the elder brother, a taunt from the kidnapper for Alex to come find them. Alex’s visions turn at once into nightmares. Images flash in his mind of an abandoned well and a terrified, lonely boy slowly dying at the bottom. The shed looms close by, holding a horrifying secret, a dark place Alex’s frightened mind refuses to go.
With the help of Scott Reid, Alex endeavors to control his visions and find he brutalized victims before death claims them. But the watch is ticking away and time’s running out
Review: Wow, this book was different from any other MM book I’ve read so far. This is not exactly a romance book, even though love and support from the loved ones are what help the characters thrive. This is mostly about the relationship between a psychic, Alex, who’s known for his visions that have been helpful to police in the past, and his mental therapist, Scott.
This story is told from the POVs of both Alex and Scott, which helps us understand the characters better, it gives us a better understanding of the plot, but it also showcases the amazing secondary characters that all play a very important role in this book. This book is a thriller with a very light romance subplot. The paranormal touch made the whole book very fascinating to me.
Alex is plagued by visions about two boys that have gone missing, Caleb and Christian. One of them is slowly dying, stuck in a well, while the other is somehow connected to the shed that makes an appearance in most of Alex’s visions. Unfortunately, only one of the boys will have a happy(ish) ending. Alex’s wonderful relationship with his wife is one of the main points in this book, and I loved the support and strength Alex got from it.
Scott is trying to help Alex control his visions, but this book isn’t only about Scott’s professional career. The relationship between Scott and Arthur, Scott’s love interest, is pretty much an insta-love, but it didn’t bother me in this book. There is no sex on page, not even a blowjob…*pouts*, but the progress of their love affair is a nice, light touch to a story that’s dark and somewhat creepy.
While I liked this book a lot, I didn’t really love it. The plot itself was intense enough; there were so many flashbacks that both Alex and Scott experience, it seemed a little overdone to me. And most of the characters in this book had fucked-up parents. I understand Scott’s past was the reason he chose to become a mental health therapist, but the other characters that were physically and/or psychologically abused by their parents made this book more dramatic than it already was.
If you like, a fast-paced book with solid, well-written characters, a mystery/crime based plot with a paranormal touch and a romance (both mf and mm) subplot that manage to soften the chaotic and violent actions, than this book is for you.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Martin David, an eager but inexperienced financial analyst, is the newest member of the investment team at Skeiron Capital Partners in London. His boss is an avowed financial genius, but he’s also overbearing and intense. Despite his erratic behavior, Martin can’t help being drawn to him both professionally and personally.
Too bad his boss doesn’t seem to feel the same. In a firm where pedigree and connections mean far more than Martin’s newly-minted business degree, Martin feels desperately inadequate—at least until he meets the enigmatic investment manager Alec Berger, who promises to help Martin establish himself in the financial community. Martin is so charmed by Alec’s sophistication and wit that he gives him data that should have stayed confidential.
Then the financial crisis hits. Banks burn, companies teeter on the brink, and Skeiron’s survival is at stake. Martin is pushed into the middle of the fight for Skeiron—against both the tanking economy and a ruthless enemy who’s stepped out of the shadows to collect the spoils.
Return on Investment is the new gay financial thriller from EPIC Award winner and Lambda Award finalist Aleksandr Voinov.
Review: A book that demands your time and attention. Return On Investment is definitely more corporate thriller than anything else. Voinov seems to grab a hold of the culture of London/Wall Street Market and Investment firms. It’s a dog eat dog worlds, the competition is rough, unforgiving, and the fierce competition is in the blood. And blood is spilled, both figuratively and literally.
The beginning of the book lets the reader know where all this infighting, deceit, and overzealous and risky work ethic are leading. Lies, greed, violence, betrayal all have a part as one might assume in this thriller, what I did not expect is morality. Yes plenty of immorality, anyone who paid attention to the market and banking crisis of the 90’s expects that in this book set in the investment and banking market of the same time period. But what hit me most is how Voinov brought his characters through a crisis of personal morals.
I really started to give up hope on Martin redeeming himself, after some bad decisions both in whom he chose to trust, how he let professional relationships become sexual trysts, and hurt people on the sidelines, like Josh, with little concern. Until it hit him, and that moment of epiphany changes the momentum and pace of the books for me.
Alec, greedy, smarmy, conniving, and beautifully presented, I loved to hate this man. I don’t’ want to give out the surprises surrounding Alec, but he’s one of the most interesting and evil characters in the book. I think that Voinov wrote the best bad character I’ve read in a very long time.
Francis, Martin’s boss, was a puzzling character for me. The shocking beginning of this book undermined for me, all the confidence and strength he seemed to exude throughout the book. Maybe that is a strong point Voinov wants to make here. That you never know what will topple a powerful, intelligent, otherwise confident man of the edge. Everyone has their limits, and sometimes it takes drastic measures to pick a man up once he hits bottom.
I will warn you Voinov drags the reader through a ton of jargon and investment/banker culture, complete with conferences, strategy meetings, portfolio reviews, networking, and corporate takeover. If you really don’t like reading about business, and can’t warp your head around that culture, you may want to look elsewhere. I admit to wanting to speed read or scan over sections of the more corporate related details, but I’m glad I gave this book a closer look.
This is not a romantic book, though personal character, commitment, and loyalty do prove to aid in turning a professional and sexual attraction into a powerful intimate connection.
Watch out Michael Crichton, here comes Aleksandr Voinov. I highly recommend Return On Investment to those who enjoy a good corporate thriller!
Blurb: Michael Jones, a young gay artist and part-time prostitute, will do anything to stage his first exhibition. When he falls in love with rich financier, Jack Hutchinson, he seems set to achieve his goal. But as Michael becomes caught between the unforgiving territory of smoky-bar Hackney and the green-garden luxury of upper class London, the intense mindscape of a man obsessed with his dreams is revealed as he attempts to free himself from his past.
When a net of antagonistic relationships and inner battles encroaches upon him, the consequences of Michael’s uncompromising pursuit emerge in tragedy, leaving him having to fight for all he holds dear, and in the only way he knows how.
NOTE: This book was previously published under the ISBN: 978-0-98282-674-4. This reissued version of the book has been reedited.
Review: As I’ve finished this book, I find myself still crying. It started thirty pages before the end and the emotional state that this book has left me quite painful. I don’t know what to make of this book really. I found it brilliant in a way, powerful as hell too, but above all, I found it saddening and depressive.
The protagonist, Michael, is such a disturbing character. It’s the first thing shown to you by the author, shoved right in your face, and it colors the entire book. His obsession is huge, a swallowing emotion that sweeps out of your feet with every line you read. He has dreams of making it big, and though he lives in the darkest corner of London, where you can easily name it the slum of the city, he never stop pushing, never stops pressing, or giving up. He sells his body whenever he needs money, but the way that doesn’t really touch him yet still leaves marks in his soul is amazing really to read. A character that as much as he gets, it’s never enough. He needs a job; he obsesses about it, pushing through it until he gets it. He wants a man, he obsesses about him verging on disturbing, even though he’s not available, but he wins him over. Yet it’s not enough. He wants an exhibition and literally sells his soul, making himself vulnerable to people who use him, abuse him, and threaten to destroy everything he ever dreamed of and in the end even that doesn’t liberate him.
Another astonishing fact is how brilliantly his self-destructiveness is painted. I cringed most of the read, no scratch that, I kept on cringing more and more and it never seemed to end as the story wove over. There was not a single moment of joy or happiness in this book. Even when Michael was most happy at the beginning of his relationship with Jack, even then everything was layered in gloom and doom. It was inevitable that all that would result in the most tragic way, but so foolishly I never expected the exact way. I never expected this end… Foolishly yes because in hindsight it was more than obvious.
What I loved the most though was the description of the artist and his mentality. Having a couple of experiences myself with artists, the entire description of how Michael felt, acted, draw, or even saw life, felt as if I was taken back in time, to places and people who once were part of my life. In some ways Michael was exactly like my cousin was, lost in his world, and his perception of what was going on around him. When he kept loosing himself in his thoughts of drawing, felt the urge to laugh out loud at the perfection of that describing, at how wonderful the author captured the essence of talent. And the desolate feelings that come with it.
I think though, even as this book is the saddest one I’ve read, even though Michael was brilliantly written, it would have been higher up on my list if the read didn’t lack a certain something. I don’t know, was it the fact that this entire book was seen from Michaels distorted point of view? On the other hand, that unique viewing of this story from Michael’s eyes was what gave this book its originality. But there was a connection lacking. For example, I didn’t get why Jack fell in love with Michael in first place. Through very small glimpses I got the impression Michael must be stunning, but that was it. Why did Jack fell for him so hard, why did he accept all his antics? All I had was Michael’s need, his using Jack and for some reason that went on and on… The fact that I felt disconnected, yet forced to endure all those emotions that swirled with pain, pity, and a pathetic feel for the main character, was only made worse by a drag in the lines. I felt myself pushing through my limits to keep on reading. I had to stop and take breaks for a bit of air, as it seemed to run out of if constantly while reading. It took me forever to finish this book with only the last fifty pages making a difference where the pace quickened and the rush for the bitter end became more palpable. In the end, all I was left with was tears and a feeling of profound heartbreak.
Publisher: White Stiletto Press (March 14th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ – 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Detectives Scott Turner and Will Harrison are sent undercover after an apparent murder/suicide in Laurel Heights, an exclusive gay housing community. Will the two closeted officers be able to hide their attraction while each believing the other is straight? And is there a killer amongst them waiting to claim his next victim?
CONTENT ADVISORY: This title includes scenes of dubious consent.
Authors Blurb: A shot rings out in the dead of night and leaves two residents dead in the exclusive, gay gated housing community of Laurel Heights, an apparent murder/suicide, but not everyone is convinced.
Detectives Scott Turner and Will Harrison are sent undercover to dig beneath the surface and discover answers. There’s only one problem: Scott and Will are not out of the closet at work. Now they are two gay men, pretending to be straight, who must pretend to be gay in order to stop a murderer.
Will the two closeted officers be able to hide their attraction while believing the other is straight? And is the killer living among them waiting to claim his next victim?
Review: Aaaarrrggghhh Noooooooo. Lisa Worrall you have made my author’s to stalk list, I just… I can’t… I want… ggggrrrr.
Will and Scott are two detectives who are both deeply in the closet at work. So far in fact that neither knows the other is gay. When they are put together to work the case of the deaths of two gay men both men begin to panic. Can these two men pull off the act of a lifetime and convince the other residents that they are both gay and in love while they try to hide their real feelings from each other and solve the case??
This is a brilliant story that drags you in and keeps you hanging on as it throws red herrings at you. Will is deeply in the closet after he watched a friend get driven out of training. He now has an imaginary life as a straight man. Scott is in the closet because of his father and his bigoted reactions. he is the player with a long string of imaginary women as notches on his bedpost. Both these men have to try to solve a murder while trying not to reveal how they feel about the other man.
The characters in this book were brilliant. Todd was a fantastic portrayal of the scared man trying to hide the truth from everyone. Will and Scott made a great couple while they were pretending to be a couple and they were even better when they became a true couple. The mystery surrounding the murder/suicide is good and keeps you on tender hooks throughout the book, as you are thrown flashes into the murderers and his victim’s lives. Will is a lot more open to coming out to everyone than Scott is, but they both had very different stories with their parents and that reflects in how they both act and react.
The sex in this is hot between Will and Scott and there are some erotic scenes involving some of the other characters as well. I will give warning, we do see evidence of partner swapping and there are also some scenes of physical abuse. Now we come to the part that means Lisa Worrall owes me a new eReader, the ending is brilliant and frustrating and made me throw my eReader across the room (I miss paperbacks *sigh*). Just when we thought that everything was sewn up in a neat little package Lisa Worrall gives us the epilogue!!
So this book I recommend to those who love thrillers, mystery, hot sex, confused macho men, a brilliant story, a group of friends that seem incredible and an ending that will make you want to hunt down Lisa Worrall and force her to write the next book NOW. (Hmmm She lives in England, I think I need to visit the seaside soon) lol ;-).
Publisher: Amber Quill Press (Amber Allure) (25th March 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Luke Kincaid’s life is exploding all around him. First his lover leaves him to marry a woman, and then childhood nightmares return with a vengeance.
Luke’s friendship with Ben Skinner and relationship with Kyle Morgan helps him heal his broken heart, but the nightmares, which are actually repressed memories, threaten to destroy the peace he has found.
Soon, Luke’s investigation into his past puts his life—and the lives of the people he cares about—in danger. But he refuses to give up, not even when he finds out he is connected to a massive government cover-up…
Review: Luke’s life is forever altered when he tries to convince the man he loves not to marry a woman. Things go from bad to worse when he starts to have nightmares. With the help of his friend Ben, along with his new friend, Kyle, they begin to piece together Luke’s past. But, someone doesn’t want him to remember and the deeper he digs and the more that is revealed, the more danger they are all in.
This is a great suspense, mystery, thriller with a touch of detection work thrown in, that will intrigue and hold you gripped as you delve into a cover-up. Luke is devastated when his lover informs him that he is marrying a woman. He decides that he will convince Shane he is wrong, but he is left heartbroken. When his childhood nightmares plague him again, he discovers that they are real memories and when a visit to a ghost town jogs something loose, he sets out to investigate it.
I really enjoyed this story and thought the plot was really good. The suspense of who is after him, the mystery of who is behind it all and why, and the thrill of someone hunting Luke. It starts out simple enough, childhood nightmares of blue men, but then he starts to remember more, and then Ben takes Luke to a ghost town which reveals more memories, which leads to hunting down more information and survivors of the disaster there. It’s all very well written and woven together, and you end up trying to piece together the pieces yourself and imagining what the disaster really was, and who was really behind it and revising your thoughts when more clues are add… it was great fun.
The romance side was much more complicated, and at times it felt like Ben had two personalities; the completely straight man, who had never had a homosexual thought in his life and then the gay man, who had slept his way through as many men as he could. The conflict within Ben felt realistic at first, because it felt like it may have been a ‘gay for you’ and he was conflicted by it. But, then I found that it disappointed me, when I realized that he’d had a ton of gay sex before but put on a front of being straight, even going so far as to have a girlfriend. Luke is attracted to Ben and he ends up confused as well with Ben’s actions, but Luke also, at first, seeks comfort in the arms of Kyle who he can take control with and call all the shots. Don’t get me wrong the romance is good, just complicated, and the sex is plentiful, hot and varied ;-).
So, I will recommend this to those who love government cover-ups, suspense, mystery, thrillers, hot sex, relationship woes, danger and a happy ending? P.S. the epilogue was great… could it mean a sequel?
Blurb:“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” So says a modern-day Caligula (Neos Helios). An “inverted, perverted” underwater palace, murder by roses–and that’s only the beginning! Soon the sinister overtones of Elagabalus (Sun God) become a terrifying reality.
Murder, mystery and unbridled mayhem, unparalleled since the time of Ancient Rome, return to the 21st Century with the reincarnation of two evil Emperors: the self-proclaimed NEOS HELIOS (The New Sun) and ELAGABALUS (The Sun God).
What is the ruse behind wealthy TIMOTHY TREMBLE’S underwater fantasy and his grim fascination with the dark world of designer, ROBERT BARTON?
CLASH OF THE TITANS pales into insignificance when the two–aided and abetted by their willing cohorts–cross phalluses.
Review: Robert is riding high, his interior design company is in demand and he can have any man he wants. Timothy is a multi-millionaire and what he wants, he gets and he wants Robert to design him an underwater palace and he’s not taking no for an answer.
If you read the blurb, then I hope you understood it better than me, because until I read the book half of it went over my head. This book is the long game of revenge, intricate plotting and planning for years, bloodthirsty vengeance and power plays that draw you in and won’t let you put this book down until the conclusion. The opening of this book was disturbing and set the scene for the dark undertone that ran throughout the book. I really wasn’t sure how to feel about the prologue, but it set the scene for events later in the book.
The characters are a hodgepodge of people and at first you can’t see how some of them are relevant to the story, but you begin to suspect that they might just be important to what is happening. The interaction between the characters is bizarre; as insults and quips are traded and you really do wonder if they truly like or hate each other. As the plot begins to unfold, very slowly, the players begin to show themselves, but that doesn’t mean you have a chance of fitting it all together until the author wants you to know. You might suspect the players and their part but you cannot be sure.
Characters are about to pay for what they have done over the years and revenge is elaborate and expensive, but will the players pay for their revenge. The last time that I read a book this involved in plotting and revenge was Jeffery Archers Not A penny More, Not A Penny Less but this is darker, but no less brilliant. The sexual aspects of this book are… well… kinda gross, let me just say poop fingers and coprophila (scat) and no more. There is no romance so to speak of and there is no happy ever after and do not expect detailed sex scenes you get the beginning or the end but not the middle.
This book is a thriller, murder, mystery and the characters just happen to be gay men, I know I haven’t given any detail about any of the characters but I can’t because if I start with one character then I will go into depth and end up giving the book away. Now the only thing that I was left unsatisfied with was the ending, I would have been happier with a detailed explanation as to what happened and how as I have been racking my brains and can’t work out how it happened without all the players involved.
So with this book I have to recommend it to those who love dark thrillers, murder, mayhem, revenge, intrigue, elaborate plots and powerful players.
Blurb:One cop. One killer. Both dreamwalkers. Not every dream should see the light of day…
Three very different people have one thing in common-a dreamscape steeped in horror. Barry has had dreams of violent death all his life, and as a cop, he now works to solve the crimes his dreams tell him about in hopes he can save at least one victim from suffering the fate he faces every time he lays his head on his pillow. His ex-lover, Tag—now his boss—has no idea how to help him cope other than to protect his job…and try to protect their hearts from the dreams that could end up killing them both.
Leyton welcomes the dream state that shows him his next victim. He’s been a killer for as long as he can remember, and the land where he walks in shadow beside the horn-headed man who guides him feels more like home than the waking world. Now, in addition to seeking out those who would kill the innocent and ending their lives in his own special reign of terror, Leyton is promised a bride—someone to love him forever. It seems everything he’s ever dreamed is about to come true.
Jessica just wants to get her life back after her boyfriend is murdered and she is abducted. Twice. Finding herself at Leyton’s mercy is a nightmare she soon finds is only the very beginning. When the horn-headed man visits her, she knows nothing will ever be the same again.
The four of them now have to find a way to navigate the real world while the dream state dictates their very lives and threatens everything they hold dear. If they manage to catch a few killers and save a few innocent lives along the way, that will have to be their compensation for the “gifts” given by The Dreaming.
Reader Advisory: This book contains several graphic and detailed scenes of torture, dismemberment and murder.
Review: Freaking hell! I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. Barry has always had dreams where he is the victim, usually the victim of torture and murder. He tries to use his dreams to solve the crimes, but the dreaming affects his work in other ways. Tag has tried to do what is best for Barry but now he realizes it was a mistake to leave him. He has protected him at work, but now he can see that Barry is falling apart. Leyton welcomes his dreams with open arms, he enjoys going out and dishing out justice to the ones who deserve it and some he has directed Barry towards, to have Barry bring them to a different justice. Jessica gets drawn into the web of dreaming by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but now it won’t let her go and her only hope is falling away.
This is a fantastically written story that will send shivers down your spine and make you want to sleep with one eye open or never sleep again. Barry struggles with normal life as the nightmares consumes him at night. But, it is worse than just bad dreams, he lives what victims are living through as they die. His one safety net is no longer there to hold the dreams at bay and now someone is contacting him and threatening his beloved Tag. Tag sacrificed his relationship to help protect Barry, but now with a case getting out of control and a missing woman, he realizes that he needs Barry as much as Barry needs him. Leyton is as close to insane as you can get, but to him what he is doing is completely right, he draws Jessica into the Dreaming, because he was told wrong information. Now, He has a team together to do His work.
This story is so different from what I expected and it was brilliant. This story draws you in as you read and doesn’t let you go. You never know what will happen next and there are twists that you don’t see coming. Each character has a part to play and none of them have a real choice. They are dragged in by being able to dream true life. Each person is manipulated and threatened into doing His work and you really don’t know whether to cheer Him or hide from Him. Your heart goes out to each character, even when you want to hate one of them. But, their stories are compelling; it isn’t until near the end of the book that the main characters are all together in one room.
The relationship between Barry and Tag is complex and intense and has mistrust ingrained into it. But, both men are willing to try to repair the relationship and take one day at a time. The sex between them is hot and intense, even if you don’t see a lot of it. Some scenes in the book are gruesome and very well described and yes, you just might throw up a little bit in your mouth when you realize about the teeth. This book does not end how you want it to. we might have Barry and Tag in love and sorting their relationship out and we might have Jessica still alive and free from Leyton in a way and we have a deeply disturbed Leyton accepting that he can’t have Jessica as his love… but they are all still in a place of manipulation, intrigue, murder, mystery and threats…. I so can’t wait for the next book!!
So, I have to recommend this book if you want a tense, intense, mystery, suspense, crime, thriller, paranormal, bloody, gruesome, hauntingly creepy, dark story that has hot sex, a good relationship and an ending that makes you want to find who He is.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (21st November 2011)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Detective Eric Geller just saw his case against crime boss Victor Kroger thrown out of court. Convinced there’s more to the dismissal than contaminated evidence, Eric shifts from investigating Victor to investigating the judge, determined to bring Victor to justice. But when a package of photographs appears on his doorstep, it sets into motion a series of events that begins to threaten his personal life as well as his professional career.
T.J. Briscoe has been married to Eric for seven years, and he knows the stress of the job can lead to jumping at shadows. While initially supportive of Eric’s decision to pursue Victor, T.J. nevertheless grows wary as Eric’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic. He may have married Eric with the intention of forever, but if Eric crosses the line between caution and paranoia, their relationship may be the first casualty.
Review: Well, I have done a search on this author as I was sure that she must have other books published but I wasn’t able to find anything… so could this be her first published work??? If it is then my hat is off to her because it is brilliant.
Eric has just watched the case he worked on for a year get thrown out of court and he’s not taking it well, with his Captain’s approval he starts to investigate the judge who dismissed the case and a series of events start him to suspect everyone around him. T.J. supports Eric and tries to believe in him as his behavior becomes erratic but it becomes harder to believe as time goes on.
This is a well written story that has good characters, a great story-line and plot with plenty of hot sex thrown in. This book is really, really well written because it pulls you in and makes you believe that, yes, Eric is right. There is something behind what he thinks. You can see all the connections that lead him to believe what he does and the doubts that he has. With T.J., you do think that he takes everything too calmly and that he should be a little bit worried about what is going on but his belief in his husband is that strong that he just doesn’t believe that he has anything to worry about.
These two characters are so perfect for each other that it is amazing that they don’t combust when they come together. They are a well-established couple of eight years who still love each other to death and the spark is still there. This story is also very much a psychological thriller as Eric starts to jump at shadows. The way T.J. is written is really good as you begin to believe that he is deliberately trying to make Eric look paranoid. When if he had been wrote differently, then you would have believed that Eric was being paranoid, brilliantly done R.G.
I will have to recommend this to everyone as I really do think that this story is too good to miss.
Title: The Losing Game
Title: Torn and Frayed
Title: Body Art, A Thriller
Title: The Shed
