Hi guys, we have Gene Gant popping in today with his upcoming release Bender, we have a great guest post and a tantalizing excerpt so enjoy the post! <3 ~Pixie~
Bender
by
Gene Gant
At nineteen, college freshman Mace Danner works as an escort, hiring himself out to customers who want a submissive they can dominate. Having no carnal urges himself, the sexual side of his job leaves him cold, but he sees the pain inflicted on him by his clients as punishment for causing his brother’s death when he was in high school. Pain is not enough, however, to wash away his guilt, and Mace starts binge drinking in an effort to escape his remorse.
The dorm’s resident advisor, Dex Hammel, sees Mace spiraling out of control and strives to help him. Despite the mutual attraction between them, Mace is disturbed that he still feels no sexual desire for anyone. Even with Dex’s support, Mace’s self-destructive behavior escalates, leading to a situation that endangers his life.
Hi guys, we have Robin Lippincott & Julia Watts popping in with their upcoming new adult release Rufus + Syd, they’re letting us have a peek at an excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Rufus + Syd
by
Robin Lippincott & Julia Watts
Vermillion, Georgia, is the small town that time forgot, or at least that’s how it feels to fifteen-year-old Rufus. As if being a scrawny ginger called “Matchstick” isn’t bad enough, Rufus is also gay, an artist, and the son of conservative religious fanatics. He doesn’t have a prayer of fitting in in the Bible Belt—at least not until he meets Syd, a spiky-haired girl in black eyeliner. Sick of being the adult her mother can’t seem to be, Syd hides behind a snarky attitude and takes refuge in classic movies, and eventually, her friendship with Rufus.
As isolated as they feel in Vermillion, Rufus and Syd soon discover they’re not as alone as they thought. Josephine, an aging free spirit who once ran a repertory cinema in Chicago, and Cole, a middle-aged gay man living with a brain injury as a result of a violent homophobic attack in his youth, offer help as the two teens struggle to discover who they are, what they want, and where they might belong. But not everyone in their town is so freethinking or open-minded.
When things become unbearable, where do two outspoken atheists turn? Trusting in each other and standing together is their only chance of making it through the opposition on all sides.
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (7 April 2013)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: There is no Plan B.
After being outed in an especially brutal way and briefly running away from home, Micah Johnson has sworn to get his life back on the straight and narrow. Well, not so much straight, but you know what he means.
Unfortunately the path to redemption is not an easy one. With fights at school and on the football field and an all-round snarky attitude as his number one defense mechanism, will Micah survive the school year and the training camps to achieve his dream of making the national draft and becoming a professional AFL player?
His mentor, Declan Tyler, believes in him, but Micah wishes he had the same confidence in himself. Only time will tell if the ongoing reformation of Micah Johnson will be successful.
Review:The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson is an awesome book. I’m just going to state that fact outright. I will admit that part of the attraction of reading Sean Kennedy is that I love reading Australian authors, yet at the same time I also love his writing style. It is just so easy on the eye and easy on the brain to process.
Not only that, for me this book was refreshing because normally when I read sport/young adult MM novels, it’s sports that are generally not on my radar – i.e. gridiron, rowing and ice hockey, although I love those books too. Here we are in the world of Aussie Rules, AFL, football and I at least am familiar with the rules!
Although to be honest, I don’t like or follow AFL, does that mean my citizenship gets revoked?!
Anyway, before getting to the actual story, I think I will give a few warnings as there are themes here that are definitely not to the liking of everyone. 1) As I said, this one involves sports, 2) it is a young adult story, so no heavy sex, and 3) something which I know is important to a lot of people, this is not really a romance story, although there is the slightest hint of one.
However, none of this mattered to me in what shaped up to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The book is narrated by titular character, Micah Johnson. He’s a young guy – around 17/18 years old – who is basically trying to grow into his own skin. He had a difficult time coming out, as mentioned in the blurb. In his own words he is a reformed arsehole, though let’s face it. He’s still a bit of a sarcastic arse with a twisted sense of humour which I totally love and totally relate to.
Though things are looking up for him, he’s still having some issues at home and at school. But he has great parents and a cheeky younger brother, as well as some friends at school which include a straight guy, a lesbian and the new chick in school who happens to be bisexual. However, with life moving ahead – school finishing up and attending AFL draft camp (it’s here that there is a hint of romance on Micah’s horizon), things are busy and it’s up to Micah to stay reformed.
Readers and lovers of Sean Kennedy’s books Tigers and Devils and Tigerland may be excited to see the appearance of Dec and Simon who had previously battled the fickle world of AFL and being openly gay (seriously, something that the AFL really needs in real life!). Dec especially is there filling the role as mentor to Micah, as he prepares and works towards being drafted for the upcoming AFL season.
There is one bit that will only be funny to Australians and that’s one part where Micah is watching Family Feud on TV and he makes mention of the host’s small stature, something that is pretty common when it comes to Grant Denyer over here. I have been laughing for over an hour over the line:
“…“Excuse you, but I need to know the seven things one hundred Australians think are smaller than Grant Denyer. It’s a tough round.”…”
This is a really fun and uplifting book. Micah meets a number of interesting people along the way as we see him develop into a man through the course of the book. Do I see hints of an upcoming sequel at the end of the book? I sure hope so. I’ll glad go back into Micah’s world and see how things go for him professionally and personally and perhaps even romantically!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (7 April 2013)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: There is no Plan B.
After being outed in an especially brutal way and briefly running away from home, Micah Johnson has sworn to get his life back on the straight and narrow. Well, not so much straight, but you know what he means.
Unfortunately the path to redemption is not an easy one. With fights at school and on the football field and an all-round snarky attitude as his number one defense mechanism, will Micah survive the school year and the training camps to achieve his dream of making the national draft and becoming a professional AFL player?
His mentor, Declan Tyler, believes in him, but Micah wishes he had the same confidence in himself. Only time will tell if the ongoing reformation of Micah Johnson will be successful.
Review:The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson is an awesome book. I’m just going to state that fact outright. I will admit that part of the attraction of reading Sean Kennedy is that I love reading Australian authors, yet at the same time I also love his writing style. It is just so easy on the eye and easy on the brain to process.
Not only that, for me this book was refreshing because normally when I read sport/young adult MM novels, it’s sports that are generally not on my radar – i.e. gridiron, rowing and ice hockey, although I love those books too. Here we are in the world of Aussie Rules, AFL, football and I at least am familiar with the rules!
Although to be honest, I don’t like or follow AFL, does that mean my citizenship gets revoked?!
Anyway, before getting to the actual story, I think I will give a few warnings as there are themes here that are definitely not to the liking of everyone. 1) As I said, this one involves sports, 2) it is a young adult story, so no heavy sex, and 3) something which I know is important to a lot of people, this is not really a romance story, although there is the slightest hint of one.
However, none of this mattered to me in what shaped up to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The book is narrated by titular character, Micah Johnson. He’s a young guy – around 17/18 years old – who is basically trying to grow into his own skin. He had a difficult time coming out, as mentioned in the blurb. In his own words he is a reformed arsehole, though let’s face it. He’s still a bit of a sarcastic arse with a twisted sense of humour which I totally love and totally relate to.
Though things are looking up for him, he’s still having some issues at home and at school. But he has great parents and a cheeky younger brother, as well as some friends at school which include a straight guy, a lesbian and the new chick in school who happens to be bisexual. However, with life moving ahead – school finishing up and attending AFL draft camp (it’s here that there is a hint of romance on Micah’s horizon), things are busy and it’s up to Micah to stay reformed.
Readers and lovers of Sean Kennedy’s books Tigers and Devils and Tigerland may be excited to see the appearance of Dec and Simon who had previously battled the fickle world of AFL and being openly gay (seriously, something that the AFL really needs in real life!). Dec especially is there, filling the role as mentor to Micah as he prepares and works towards being drafted for the upcoming AFL season.
This is a really fun and uplifting book. Micah meets a number of interesting people along the way as we see him develop into a man through the course of the book. Do I see hints of an upcoming sequel at the end of the book? I sure hope so, I’ll glad go back into Micah’s world and see how things go for him professionally and personally and perhaps even romantically!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Max Jackson is your typical teenage boy, concentrating on his classes at school and being accepted into a good university after graduation.
There’s just the small matter of the bomb in his basement, one Max and his fellow members of the “Injustice League” plan to use to level their city’s unethical government. Too bad superhero Crush Goodman puts a stop to their plans. Max understands why Crush would steal the League’s doomsday device, but why is Crush following him around and acting like they’re friends?
When the reprehensible Doctor Decay butts his head into Max’s business, Max has to figure out how to save the city he’s always worked to destroy—with or without Crush’s help.
Review: An interesting story about supervillian dynanmon, Max and superhero, Crush. The thing that intrigued me about the story was just because someone is a supervillian does not mean they are not working towards the greater good.
I loved the fact that these two young men despite fighting worked together to achieve the same goal. Well written with plenty of action and drama that has the reader on the edge of their seat.
Highly recommended.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Kate Sands stopping by to show off her upcoming F/F release As Autumn Leaves, we have a great excerpt so you can check out the book yourself and there’s a fantastic giveaway! So enjoy out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
As Autumn Leaves
by
Kate Sands
Sixteen-year-old Kayla Caruso, once a well-liked cheerleader, knows that something sets her apart from her classmates. Her reluctance to have sex with a boy she was seeing earned her both the title of “Ice Queen” and the disdain of the other students. Bullied and alone, Kayla finds solace in one of her dwindling group of friends. Althea Ritter is a volleyball star and rumoured to be a lesbian. As Kayla’s interest in Althea grows, so does her confusion. Is she attracted to men or women? Both? Neither? Why does sex even have to matter? Kayla explores her muddled feelings, trying to discover where she fits in, and soon realizes her identity might not be as simple as gay or straight.
Hi guys, we have new author Hayden Scott stopping by with her upcoming debut YA story Refraction, I’ve nicked Hayden’s YouTude announcement so you can get to know her and her story a bit 😉 , Hayden writes a guest post for us about her story and we also have a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Refraction
by
Hayden Scott
Max Jackson spends his days worrying about the same things most teenagers do—homework, college admission, and how to detonate the doomsday device his mom built in their basement. As a member of the “Injustice League,” Max has devoted his life to destroying his city’s corrupt power structure. Everything is going according to plan until all-American superhero Crush Goodman steals the device right out from under him. Max’s life gets even more complicated when Crush starts stalking him at school and acting friendlier than he ever should to his archnemesis. Caught between his evolving feelings for Crush and wanting to protect his secret identity, Max has to steal his device back and show Crush the true meaning of supervillainy.
Title: Finding the Sky Series: N/A Author: A.M. Burns Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Length: 180 pages Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (February 11th, 2016) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: For the entire school year, Dillon Smith has resisted the gang trying to coerce him into joining, and he can’t wait to escape them for the summer. Before he manages, he gets mixed up in a convenience store robbery. Due to Dillon’s late father’s involvement with the gang, no one believes Dillon was only in that store as a customer. Even his mother doubts him, so she sends him to his Uncle Bryan’s home in the country.
On the way Dylan and Bryan discover an injured hawk on the road, and they take the bird to a group of wildlife rehabbers in the area. While helping to care for the hawk, Dillon begins to see the world in new and different ways.
He even finds love with the rehabbers’ son, Scott, but the gang doesn’t plan to let Dillon get away from them without a fight.
Review: Being in the wrong place at the wrong time seems to be an unfortunate situation for Dillon Smith. He was excited for the school year to end but when a mishap comes to be at a convenient store, his mother sends him to live with her brother in the countryside.
Out in the country, Dillon meets Scott, a boy who has some things figured out and has the charm to keep Dillon from looking back.
But when an unforeseen circumstance comes to Dillon’s mother, life gets rough and complicated for Dillon.
Scott remains nearby as a comforting shoulder but could there be more? Will something come between Scott and Dillon?
Or bring them closer together? * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Christopher Koehler stopping by today with the tour for his latest release All That’s Solid Melts Into Air, we have an exclusive excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Prime’s review so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
All That’s Solid Melts Into Air
(The Lives of Remy and Michael 02)
by
Christopher Koehler
The Lives of Remy and Michael: Book Two
A CalPac Crew Story
I thought life after high school would be easier. I’d go to California Pacific for a year while I got a handle on my HIV, then after Michael graduated from high school, we’d blast out of here for colleges—and life—on the East Coast. Then I visited Boston and everything changed. I realized I like CalPac. Turns out, Boston didn’t have anything for me beyond one of the biggest regattas in North America.
Life grew more complicated when I got home. I couldn’t find a way to tell Michael that I’d just blown our plan for our lives out of the water. Then my CalPac coaches dropped a bomb on me. Those rowing officials who’d been watching me? They were recruiters for the national team, and my coaches wanted me to try out. They’d even let Lodestone coach me. Now I have to choose, school or crew, CalPac or Michael, and I still haven’t told Michael I can’t transfer. Is there even a place for Michael in my life? Somehow we have to withstand training at the highest levels and having different goals. Will love hold us together… or tear us apart?
Title: Hostage Series: N/A Author: Cheryl Headford Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Length: Novel (340 pages) Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (September 17, 2015) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: When Astrin Raphael finds himself held hostage in an unfamiliar place, he has no option but to try to have faith in someone who seems to despise him. Little does he know his captor is his nemesis, Rowan Gabriel, whose disdain for Astrin all started with a misunderstanding years ago.
The kidnapping of Astrin’s father and Rowan’s uncle leaves the two princes with no choice but to form a precarious alliance. Rowan casts off his hatred and reaches out to Astrin, but Astrin’s doubt and insecurity run too deep to let go of easily. It’s not until Astrin almost loses his life that he’s able to acknowledge what Rowan means to him and admit to the love forming between them.
Their struggle doesn’t end when they return home and their Houses attempt to broker a deal to determine their future together. Each prince might face a choice between keeping his title and finding happiness with the man he loves.
Review: This was an amazing book about two young men having to learn to trust one another despite their emotions for one another in the beginning. I have to say it really disturbed me that Prince Rowan blamed Prince Astrin for his parents’ death. He was too young to have done anything to them so I did not understand or comprehend his resentment for Astrin. I felt it was misplaced.
Prince Astrin I felt sorry for. Being held hostage by someone who despised him was not pleasant in the least. I wanted to hug him and tell him to stay strong everything would be alright. Astrin struck me as a strong young man despite the predicament he found himself in. He seemed resilient and determined at times.
Some of the scenes were sweet between these two once they learned to trust the other. Others had me holding my breath or gasping in astonishment. Wonderfully written, this story holds the reader’s attention to the very end.
I loved the entire story and the balance between good and bad so to speak. Absolutely fantastic story.
Highly recommended.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Mad About the Hatter Series: N/A Author: Dakota Chase Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult Length: Novel (190 pages) Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (20 Aug 2015) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts Blurb: This isn’t his sister’s Wonderland….
Henry never believed his older sister, Alice’s, fantastic tales about the world down the rabbit hole. When he’s whisked away to the bizarre land, his best chance for escape is to ally himself with the person called the Mad Hatter. Hatter—an odd but strangely attractive fellow—just wants to avoid execution. If that means delivering “Boy Alice” to the Queen of Hearts at her Red Castle, Hatter will do what he has to do to stay alive. It doesn’t matter if Henry and Hatter find each other intolerable. They’re stuck with each other.
Along their journey, Henry and Hatter must confront what they’ve always accepted as truth. As dislike grows into tolerance and something like friendship, the young men see the chance for a closer relationship. But Wonderland is a dangerous place, and first they have to get away with their lives.
Review:Mad About the Hatter is just a lot of fun with not a lot of romance, but a lot of friendship and adventure. Add to that this being something of a spinoff of Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (there are elements of both these classics here), much like the book Wicked, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read.
This is a young adult (Henry, the MC is some weeks off of 18) but honestly if you don’t like young adult fiction it’s really easy to switch that part off in your mind if you just want to read a gay romance with some classic characters.
Ok, so it’s clear that I loved this book. The characters are quirky, the plot is fun and somehow in between all that you see a normal sibling relationship (well, for siblings that find it difficult to get along anyway).
The story starts with Henry. He and his sister, Alice, do not have an easy relationship, despite the fact that their only other family is their possibly alcoholic father and mysterious/random Uncle Leonard.
The main problem is that Alice likes to talk about her time in Wonderland which Henry knows that logically could not have happened at all (but she has a husband and kids, go figure, I was siding with Henry there). Then his sister gave him punch and then…
We meet up with the Mad Hatter.
The story is set after the story of Through the Looking Glass. The Red Queen seems to be getting more insane by the day and is having people beheaded left, right and centre. When Hatter is sent after “Boy Alice”, we have the quirky adventure throughout Wonderland not unlike the original. We also meet other familiar characters, aside from the Red Queen, including Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat (I thought of him as Stephen Fry’s voice like in the latest movie) as well as that opium fiend Caterpillar.
As I said there is not a lot of romance, there is very little in the way of sex but there are some rather sweet moments between Hatter and Henry. I particularly liked the end but it left me thinking “but I want more!!!!” I was practically crying because it ended as I was thinking this too.
What more can I say? We meet some quirky familiar faces and sights, as well as some new embellishments by the author. A wonderful and fun read, particularly of any fan of the original story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Wild Summer Series: a novella in the Love Story Universe; a follow-up to This is Not a Love Story Author: Suki Fleet Genre: Young Adult Length: Novella (138 pages) Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (October 23rd 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: This is Crash’s Story.
At fifteen, Christopher falls in love with a boy whose life he saves. But things go wrong and four years later, he wishes he’d acted differently. His conscience begins to haunt him and he knows he must find Summer again.
At seventeen, Summer pushes away the boy who saved him. Four years later, he is stuck in an abusive, damaging relationship. When he sees Christopher again, it’s a sign he can’t go on living like he is, but he can’t begin to see a way out.
For either boy to stand a chance at happiness, they must find each other and obliterate the wrongs of their shared past.
Review:While this book can be read as a standalone, you would have a better understanding of Crash and his circumstance if you read ‘This is Not a Love Story’ first.
Crash is sixteen, deaf and alone in such a great big world. When a blue haired boy steals his bag with everything he owns in it, Crash follows and winds up saving the guys life. Over the next twenty-four hours, they talk and get to know each other, on an intimate level, while trying to get Crash’s stuff back. When they get in over their heads, Crash is scared and confused and does nothing to help Summer, and then he pushes Crash away.
Four years later, fate brings them back into each other’s lives, but Crash is too scared to pursue the guy he’s loved since that fateful day four years ago. With a gentle shove from his foster mom and his friends, Julian and Romeo, he takes a leap of faith and goes to find his Wild Summer.
This was just a fast, not always fun, but definitely passionate read. Christopher, named Crash by Summer when he saved him and they crashed to the ground, goes from a scared and confused teenager to a strong and loving young man in the time he and Summer are apart. While Summer has possibly suffered at the hands of his abusive lover most of that time, he still has this wild spirit to him that Crash fell in love with all those years ago.
The overall flow was steady and engaging as the story went back and forth between past and present from Crash’s POV. I was never confused though, and while there is darkness in this story, the passion and cohesion of the story definitely outshone that darkness.
If you are looking for a short read that will keep you glued to the pages, needing to know where the characters will wind up in the end, and then grab a copy of this amazing story today!
Again, it’s a standalone, but I’m happy I read ‘This is Not a Love Story’ first because that novella introduced Crash and gave you a lot of his back story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Series: No Letting Go Author: Danni Keane Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Length: Novella (159 pages) ISBN: 9781632167255 Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (February 5, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5 Hearts Reviewer: Zane Blurb: Still reeling from his father’s death and stuck in a job he hates, the only moments of happiness in Josh Roberts’ life are those he spends with his boyfriend, Bradley. The boys are inseparable, and when they lose their virginity together, Josh feels closer to Bradley than he ever imagined.
But Josh’s mum, proud of her son and his biggest supporter, expects Josh to go to university after his year off. He doesn’t want to disappoint her by telling her he’s changed his mind, and he struggles to find a solution.
When Bradley moves in with Josh and his mum, Josh truly believes life can be perfect again. But before long, their still-fragile feelings of connection and intimacy are tested when Bradley becomes secretive and distant. Anxious and confused, Josh is desperate to find out why Bradley is rejecting his affections. Bradley finally opens up, but what he reveals will change every aspect of their young love and quite possibly the rest of their lives.
Review: “No Big Deal” is the latest in the series “Not Letting Go”. Though you don’t need to read the first two short stories (Sunshineand Buttercups, Not Letting Go), I’d suggest you do so in order to get a better understanding of Joshua and Bradley, whom I don’t always like, but I absolutely adore.
Author Danni Keane has given a true portrayal of young love, not hesitating to show the flaws of selfishness and self-centeredness, which we know, is so prevalent in those years. The very same characters that come across as cocky and know-it-all still manage to show innocence and vulnerability, often in the same scene.
Though the things these young lovers have to deal with are gravely serious and would be hardships at any age, to say they don’t handle them well would be somewhat of an understatement. While there were quite a few moments that I wanted to wring their necks, I never stopped rooting for them. One of the things that I love and don’t always find in a young adult novella – Joshy and Bradley are painfully and honestly written. Kudos to Ms. Keane for this accomplishment and for having written what is one of the most realistic ‘first time sex’ scenes I have ever read.
Whether it’s the sweet mush of Right Hand Red or the wacky British humor of The Lord of Twink’s Bottom, I absolutely love reading this author. She writes sadness and pain in such a way that it brings tears to your eyes but not horrible angst to your heart. Her refreshing portrayal of young adults hits me in all the ‘feels’ every time.
Danni Keane has become an auto buy for me; I happily recommend this (as well as the other two reads I mentioned) in the hopes that she becomes an auto-buy for you as well.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com **
Hi guys, we have Christopher Koehler stopping by with his lastest release POZ, Christopher talks to us about what inspired POZ and I’ve nicked an excerpt from Dreamspinner Press for you to check out 🙂 , there’s a great giveaway and we have Prime’s review for you to enjoy. So enjoy the post then click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
POZ
(The Lives of Remy and Michael 01)
by
Christopher Koehler
Remy Babcock and Mikey Castelreigh are stalwart members of the Capital City Rowing Club’s junior crew, pulling their hardest to earn scholarships to rowing powerhouses like California Pacific. Just a couple of all-American boys, they face the usual pressures of life in an academic hothouse and playing a varsity sport. Add to that the stifling confines of the closet, and sometimes life isn’t always easy, even in the golden bubble of their accepting community. Because Remy and Mikey have a secret: they’re both gay. While Mikey has never hidden it, Remy is a parka and a pair of mittens away from Narnia.
Mikey has always been open about wanting more than friendship, but Remy is as uncomfortable in his own skin as he is a demon on the water. After their signals cross, and a man mistakes Remy for a college student, Remy takes the plunge and hooks up with him. After a furious Mikey cuts Remy off, Remy falls to the pressure of teenage life, wanting to be more and needing it now. In his innocence and naiveté, Remy makes mistakes that have life-long consequences. When Remy falls in the midst of the most important regatta of his life, he can only hope Mikey will be there to catch him when he needs it most.
Blurb: When Adam’s father catches him in bed with his best friend, he rips Adam away from his comfortable life in the city and sends him to a farm in the country, hoping some hard work will “fix” him. Adam is supposed to work with Ben, a hostile young man who clearly doesn’t want him there, no matter how hard Adam tries to prove himself. When Ben kisses him, Adam is shocked and delighted but terrified his father will once again pull him away from a home he’s grown to like.
As their relationship grows in secret, Ben promises to stay with Adam when school starts to help him get to know the place and the people. However, Amelia, a young woman Ben had dated, latches on to Ben again. Adam is furious at being abandoned to fend for himself on his first day in a new school.
A physical confrontation with Amelia lands Adam in trouble again, and his father’s involvement complicates all their lives. Betrayal and an uncertain future threaten Adam and Ben’s budding summer relationship.
Review: What happens when your dad catches you in the bed making out? And with a guy at that? Adam finds out the hard way. He faces the cold shoulder of his dad and his best friend turning on him at the same time. Can things get worse? Yes, they can. Adams dad shows up and tells him to pack for several weeks they are going somewhere but won’t say where.
Adam fears the worst that it may be military school, or one of those pray the gay out camps but finds himself in the middle of nowhere on a ramshackle farm that no one has lived in for weeks. Maybe one of those camps wouldn’t be so bad… then it gets worse. He finds out his father has promised the neighbor that he will work for them. Free of charge. All summer. But can blessings come in nightmares?
I thought this was a very good book. I loved Adam with his snarky wit and felt sorry for him. I still don’t know about Ben. One of the things I liked about this is that it wasn’t a perfect, love at first sight, knight in shining story. Ben and Adams relationship has lots of up and downs and twists and turns.The only issue I had with the book is at time there were a few repetitive lines, but it didn’t really affect the story for me. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
If you like young adult, coming of age, first loves, family drama, sweet relationships, and a relatively clean but sexy story this is for you.
Hi peeps, we have Jay Jordan Hawke stopping by today with his brand new re-release A Scout is Brave. Jay lets us have a peek at an excerpt and there’s a great giveaway, we also have Cat’s review for you to enjoy. So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
A Scout is Brave
The Two-spirit Chronicles: Book Two (Sequel to Pukawiss The Outcast)
by
Jay Jordan Hawke
In the months following the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, fourteen-year-old Joshua, a half Native American boy, is new to a Boy Scout troop and spending a week camping in northern Wisconsin. The weaker kids in the troop soon realize Joshua is not afraid to stand up to the troop’s ruthless bullies. Joshua’s bravery and kindness is infectious, and the bullied Scouts quickly find their own inner strength.
Joshua, however, is plagued by self-doubt as he realizes he has feelings for Cody, the son of the troop’s harsh and puritanical Scoutmaster. The two discover they have more in common than Scouting as they share their deepest secrets and develop a close friendship. That friendship faces its greatest challenge as the homophobic bullies claim a “faggot” has “infected” their troop. As if struggling to come to terms with his sexuality while dealing with hatred and bigotry isn’t enough, Joshua discovers the camp holds another dark mystery, one that will make him summon all his courage and learn for the first time what it truly means to be brave.
Hi guys, we have Lissa Kasey and Sam Kadence stopping by with three of their books, Hidden Gem, On the Right Track and Unicorns and Rainbow Poop. We have excerpts from each book, a short interview and a fantastic giveaway. There are also reviews from myself and Tina so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Hidden Gem
by
Lissa Kasey
Misaki “Aki” Itou is a psi—a person with mutated DNA granting him psychic abilities. He’s also a contracted companion—a whore. It may not be the perfect profession, but having a roof over his head, food to eat, and not being subjected to torture is a dream come true. He is the top companion at the Hidden Gem, and it makes him enough money to buy the prettiest, most sparkly shoes he can find.
Shane McNaughton is an Irishman who survived the Third World War and works as a cop. Head of Missing Persons, he’s good at finding people, but after the plague of the Third mutated his DNA, he has a hard time letting anyone see the monster inside. He’s been paying for Aki’s services for two years, both the psi and the sexual kind, but he wants more from the companion.
Shane needs Aki’s ability to see into another person’s past to track down a serial killer murdering the children of rich and powerful men, but the more they work together, the clearer it becomes that they are linked through a darker past than either of them realizes.
Ryunoski “Ru” Nakimura knows all about the trappings of fame. Expelled from a boy band for coming out as gay, he still wants to continue his career in music. Too bad his ex finds nothing better to do than exploit their relationship in the press, so Ru leaves California behind to lie low in Minnesota for a while.
Adam Corbin attends a Minnesota high school and wants to coast through as a typical student. He’s friends with an openly gay student, Bas Axelrod, but while Adam plays football, he also stays away from much socializing. Blending in and not outing himself has been easy because he’s never really been seriously interested in any of the guys he’s encountered.
When Adam meets Ru in a library, Adam begins to think he’s found that special young man who might make it worthwhile to just be himself. And for Ru, Adam looks like someone he might trade his fame for, if they could be together. Ru and Adam will both come to realize that courage and love must go hand in hand if they are to have a future.
Ex-boyband member Dane Karlson is struggling to overcome an eating disorder and a body dismorphic disorder. His fall through a glass table puts him in rehab and on the road to recovery. Then a friend dies. When depression causes him to lose ground, he calls for the only person he trusts—former bandmate Tommy. But Tommy doesn’t know how to help. He begs his friend Sebastian “Bas” Axelrod to aid them through the emotional struggle.
Bas, an openly gay high school student who’s recently lost his grandmother, is trying to survive his last few months of school before escaping to Stanford. Having just lost the only person in his family to care for him, he is victim to the cruelty of the others. His younger brother bullies him, and his parents are suing him for his gran’s inheritance. When Tommy calls, Bas can’t help but run to his side.
Together Dane and Bas find a middle ground, supporting each other through the lows, dancing together during the highs. They build friendships and plan for the prom and graduation, thinking positively as long as they are together.
Title: When Ryan Came Back Series: N/A Author: Devon McCormack Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Ghosts/Spirits, Young Adult, Paranormal Length: Novel (228 pages) Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (October 16, 2014) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts Blurb: Steven’s life changes forever the day he discovers his childhood friend and lifelong crush, Ryan Walters, standing in his bedroom. The problem? Ryan Walters committed suicide just days earlier.
Ryan tells Steven that he didn’t kill himself. He believes he was murdered and that his death is linked to an article he was working on for the school paper. Steven sets out to solve the mystery. But as the story unfolds, so does Ryan’s secret life of sex with guys and depression.
Steven realizes suicide is more plausible than Ryan’s conspiracy theory, but he struggles to convince Ryan of the real cause of his death. And despite revelations of his friend’s closeted life, he must face the truth that Ryan doesn’t—and never will—love him.
Review: Ryan should’ve been truthful with Steven from the beginning about everything instead of letting him find out about all those things on his own. Steven should’ve confided in someone about the things that were happening. Steven’s parents shouldn’t have forced him to see a therapist unless he wanted to.
While the story was good, I thought that it was a bit much for a seventeen year old to be going through. Especially trying to figure out Ryan’s death on top of the cover up murder and conspiracy that a few men were involved in.
The teacher having sex with students and recording it disturbed me. I thought it was sad that Ryan and Steven never told each other how they felt when he was alive. It just amazed me how much Steven had to deal with on his own.
All in all, it was a good read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com*
Title: Ragnarök Series: Valhalla #2 Author: Ari Bach Genre: Science fiction/Lesbian/Young Adult Length: Novel (350 pages) Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts Blurb: After a year spent hunting for Mishka and Wulfgar, V team is no closer to finding them. If they’re going to locate their nemeses, they’re going to have to break some rules. As they begin their most dangerous mission yet, the stakes grow higher than they ever imagined as they uncover not only the subjects of their hunt, but the greatest threat the Earth has ever known.
To save the planet, their path will take them across the globe, across the solar system, and deeper into their relationships with each other than they’ve ever dared to look. Sacred bonds will be tested, the closest alliances will fall, and Violet will come face-to-face with a far more daunting and dangerous challenge than saving the planet – her growing love for Vibeke – a lover that could be her salvation, or the cause of her ultimate downfall.
Review: This book is the second in the Valhalla series, which should be read in order as it has an ongoing story line. However, in saying that, I have not read book one and have had no problems with following the story. Ragnarök was an interesting choice for me. I do love sci-fi, but I have not read a lot of lesbian same sex fiction. However, just the name Ragnarök attracted me. It’s all about the Viking connection for me. I love history, particularly Norse mythology. However, as much as this is a good book, for various reasons, I am torn with this one. It is certainly a niche story.
The first book is called Valhalla, which many will recognise this as the Norse Viking belief that warriors who die in battle pass to the afterlife aided by Valkyries to reside in the hall known as Valhalla in Asgard with the god Odin. Ragnarök, this book, is named after a Norse poem, which basically talks about the End of Days. After the death of some key gods and many natural disasters which lead to the flooding of the earth, two humans remain to repopulate (not good for genetic diversity!) and the surviving gods will return to mortal realm (or Earth if you like the Marvel Comics version of the Norse gods).
Onto the actual story itself, it was easy to get into. I think it was the level of detail that drew me in, making it so easy for me to imagine this dystopian world of the future. However, the flip side of this being was that this detail occasionally made this a tad on the tedious side. But I am willing to overlook that.
The world we are presented with is partially recognisable to what we know now, but then again this is a few centuries into the future where Norse mythology has apparently taken root again, at least in order to organise resistance/military units. There have also been some catastrophic disasters that have changed the face of the earth. We dive straight into the action of Violet, the main character, who is undergoing a dangerous jump during a mission and a fight midair involving some pretty nifty, futuristic fighter jets. There is some jumping about, again this got a little tedious on occasion, but at the heart of this story is Violet and the beginning of her romance with Vibeke. Both Violet and Vibeke are very strong characters, though for some reason I don’t know, I found myself liking Vibeke more than Violet.
The action does not let up throughout the story, so it was an exhausting novel to read. If it weren’t so exhausting, I probably would have rated it higher. But the ending, oh wow, it was great and totally not what I expected. Neither did I expect to like an ending like this, which is most of the reason for the decent rating. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but the ending of it was my favourite part purely because of how it played out. Though it does make me wonder if Ari Bach is misleading us just a tad and there is going to be another book.
Some sci-fi you can read and know that anyone will enjoy it, but this is the type of sci-fi where you need to enjoy the genre. There is an abundance of sci-fi terms, some of which found in various other stories, but if you’re not into the genre, it may take more concentration to keep a track of what is going on. There is also biology jargon such (e.g. RNA and DNA), but I’m sure it’s nothing that will put anyone off and nothing beyond other sci-fi books.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: By the Creek Author: Geoff Laughton Narrator: Paul Morey Genre: Contemporary/Young Adult Length: 5 hours and 29 minutes Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (06-18-2014) Heat Level: Mild (age appropriate for teens and young adults) Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Soon-to-be high school junior David Harper hates his family’s move to the country. There’s nothing to do, and he misses his friends in the city. But he doesn’t have a choice. His mother’s job is in Mason County now, so David and his mom are too, and he has to make the best of it.
At first, the only redeeming feature of David’s new home is the swimming hole across the field from his house. Then David meets Benjamin Killinger, and suddenly life stops being so dull.
Benjamin is Amish, and cooling off in the swimming hole is one of the few liberties he and his brothers enjoy. A friendship with an English boy is not—but that doesn’t stop him and David from getting to know each other, as long as it’s on the neutral ground by the creek.
After David risks his life to save Benjamin’s father, the boys’ friendship is tolerated, then accepted. But before long, Benjamin’s feelings for David grow beyond the platonic. Benjamin’s family and the rest of the community will never allow a love like that, and a secret this big can’t stay secret forever…
When I first took this book for review I asked the author to tell me about the story. He said he wanted to write a YA novel with a gay storyline because there really aren’t any available. I have to agree with him, at least not where the entire story is based on the two young men. This isn’t a sexy steamy M/M novel, this is a well written YA novel about young love, that love just happens to be between two young men.
David and Benjamin happen upon each other one afternoon at the swimming hole that lies between their properties. David has recently moved into his ancient country home with his mom, and Benjamin is a member of the Amish family that lives in a homestead across the road from David. The pair move at a steady pace starting with a friendship that is forbidden at first, and then accepted due to David’s actions, moving into something kind of like love. It’s not an instant overnight love, and it’s not a slow burn, it’s pleasantly steady and happens exactly when it’s supposed to.
Benjamin is wildly curious about the outside world and David is more than happy to fill him in. The swimming hole becomes their sanctuary where innocent conversations lead to looks of longing and ultimately, that first kiss. It’s during one of these afternoon frollicks when the boys are locked in a passionate embrace that Ben’s father finds them. David is inconsolable as his mom and two best friends rally at his side. Will Ben come back to him, or will he ultimately choose to stay with his family.
Laughton has a way of conveying emotions from pen to paper that is really unique in books today. I was seriously drawn into David and Benjamin’s reality, I grew with them, I fell in love with them, and I cried with them… it was fabulous!
I was reminded of one of my favorite movies while reading this book, Latter Days. There is a line in By the Creek where Ben questions if the love that he and David share is a sin, David quickly tells him that to be loved and love someone could never be a sin. At the end of Latter Days Jacqueline Bissets character has one of the best lines in any movie ever “So, your church forbids drinking and homosexuality. Well, forgive me for not joining. I can’t imagine Heaven without both of them.” That line is so perfectly, David and Ben!
Highly recommended! Well written. Characters have depth and realism. Overall an emotionally fabulous read!!
Updated audio review…
David is all but forced away from his home, job and friends due to his mom’s relocation for her job. Miserable to say the lease, and slightly bored with isolation, he ventures to the creek that lies between his home and the local property of the local Amish community. It’s here that he meets Benjamin, an Amish teenager that knows nothing other than the life he has been taught to lead. Through his friendship and mutual attraction to David, Ben starts to question the life he is meant to lead. The two teenagers build an unbreakable bound and love that will last a lifetime, by the creek.
The perfect marriage of narration and writing, Morey gives Laughton’s words a voice, he truly brings David and Ben to life. I love when I can listen to a story that I’ve already read, and find something new within the story or the characters that I missed in black and white. While I was so drawn to this story because of the passion and pain that was written into the relationship, hearing David’s pain at possibly loosing Ben at that point in the story just took it to an entirely new place for me.
These two young men were the very definition of endearing, the story just utterly engaging and now with the addition of Paul Morey’s voice to give the words new meaning, one word… Flawless! This is a YA story, but I believe it is written and conveyed in such a way that fans of all ages will fall in love with David and Ben and their journey.
Definitely a must read AND a must listen!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
![OngoingReformationofMicahJohnson[The]LG](https://mmgoodbookreviews.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/ongoingreformationofmicahjohnsonthelg.jpg?w=300)
Title: The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson
Title: The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson
Title: Refraction
Title: Finding the Sky
Title: Hostage
Title: Mad About the Hatter
Title: Wild Summer
Title: No Big Deal
Title: Caught
