Guardians by A.M. Burns

Title: Guardians
Series: The Woodmen Chronicles, #2
Author: A. M. Burns
Genre: Young Adult/ Paranormal
Length: Novel (180 Pages)
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (October 2014)
Heat Level: None
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Thom Woodman is a Bigfoot, although he prefers to be called an Oh Mah. When it comes time for the Oh Mah biannual gathering, he’s excited to go with Ben Steele, the human he bonded with.
To Thom’s surprise, he is offered a place among the Guardians, the leaders of the Oh Mah. But since he grew up half in the human world, he can’t make a decision before he finds out more about these Guardians.

When an Oh Mah is killed by a human, the growing antihuman sentiment runs rampant through the gathering. Thom’s family swears to help protect Ben, but when some of the Guardians join the anti-human faction, they aren’t sure they can live up to their promise. Even when Ben is kidnapped, Thom doesn’t know what to say when the Guardians demand his answer. Thom feels like he’s not only being forced to choose between the Oh Mah and the human world, but also between a life with or without Ben.

ISBN: 978-1-63216-391-2

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5568

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This is the second book to this series and they need to be read in order.

You will learn more about Oh Mah’s and their lives. It is also when you first meet Ben and Thom. These are two of the best young men I have ever met. They are so protective of each other and so very loving. Thom is the Oh Mah, which is basically big foot and Ben is his bond mate. Ben is human. The main problem I had with it was the fact that they were still children and it was a no sex book. It has a serious tone and very little humor to it. I found myself not as captivated by it as I should have. It is a wonderful book but for me it was missing something for me to truly love it.

Thom and Ben were going with Thom’s family to a gathering. The gathering was for Oh Mah’s to prove their strength, to find mates and a basic party situation. The Oh Mah’s are a very aggressive bunch and they use their strength to get many things. In fact, they have to fight to get the approval of their potential mates and for the bond to start. Now Thom and Ben had not had to do that. Thom had saved Ben’s life and it had started the bond for them. They were the lucky ones it would seem.

The gathering was in Texas this time and there are many surprises that lay in stride for all of them. Including the danger that comes for them. Many Oh Mahs are prejudice against humans and whites, so Thom doesn’t want Ben to leave his sight. He will do everything in his power to keep him safe. The guardians want Ben to join but there a many factors standing in the way and one of the major ones is the fact that there is something dark going on. Fear, anger, betrayal, and fighting are happening around the camp. Now it is up to Thom to not only protect his mate but also find out the truth.

This story was a fascinating one but like I said for me, it was too out there for me to love. I do love Ben and Thom though. There is so much strength in them both, but they still have quite a bit to grow into. Ben is in danger from the bigots and Thom is being asked to join the guardians. Many changes are coming and it doesn’t seem to be for the better. If you love a sci-fi feeling with a bit of darkness then this is for you. It will give you gorgeous mates, strength, and power, pure love, lots of danger and betrayal.

I would recommend reading this story. It did catch my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it all the way to the end.

Unicorns and Rainbow Poop by Sam Kadence

Title: Unicorns and Rainbow Poop
Series: Vocal Growth
Author: Sam Kadence
Genre: Young Adult
Length: Novel (260 pages)
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (November 6th, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Blurb: 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.

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5625

Reviewer: Tina

Review: Disclaimer: I have not yet read book 1 in this series (but I will be going back to read it).

WOW! I have to be honest that I wasn’t sure if I would like this book based on the title…but this is an absolute must read!! When you read the story, the title will make perfect sense and bring a smile to your face.

Let me get the basics out of the way first – the writing in this book is really good. I am a Nazi when it comes to grammatical and spelling errors and I found none in this book. I have never had a personal experience with eating disorders so I cannot speak to any of the technicalities about it. My review is based solely on the entertainment value of the book.

This story touched me on several different levels…as a mom, as a friend of gay couples that has suffered bullying for their sexual orientation and as a human being that believes all people should be treated equally.

Dane suffered at hands of his parents for most of his life, being subjected to physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse. Even though he has lived through all this abuse and had to grow up pretty quickly because of his fame, he has an innocence and childlike essence that just makes you want to hug him. He has no filter and says whatever comes to his mind regardless of the consequences.

Thankfully he has surrounded himself with friends that can support and care for him and who can help him learn how to be comfortable in social situations. I personally love his lack of filter as I lack one myself. Regrettably, those around him are easily hurt and don’t always understand his comments as ignorance instead of malice.

I don’t want to give too much away, but I absolutely love the way Bas, Adam and Ru help him heal from not only his eating disorder, but the effects of 12 years of abuse. These guys are truly great friends to him.

Bas is just as broken as Dane. His only advocate has been his grandmother whom he just lost. His family is absolutely horrible. He has been bullied and abused. He hides behind his snarky comments and flamboyant behavior. Fortunately for him, Dane sees through that protective layer to the man Bas really is and loves him for it. The 2 of them balance each other and make a great pair – even if they were to remain just friends, forever.

I’m hopeful Bas and Dane are able to follow through with the life plans that Bas has as I think that would be an inspiration for all the troubled teens they come in contact with.

Adam and Ru obviously have a history that is told in book 1 but it is not necessary to read that book before reading this book. As I stated, after falling in love with this book I will be going back to book 1 because I do think that information would help understand some of their quirks in this book.

Tommy is one of Ru and Dane’s ex-band members and plays a pretty big role in this book. He is a good friend to all these guys and wants to help all of them. Unfortunately, he is just as lost as Dane and Bas are but his unraveling takes place over the entire story and leaves us not so patiently waiting for book 3 for his story.

Another 2 characters that I’m hoping we’ll see more of are Paige and Marissa. I can’t say too much about either of them without giving too much away but they both play integral parts of the story that I would like to see more of in future books.

This book is very touching and will stay with you for a long time. It is definitely one you must read.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

If You Really Love Me by Gene Gant

Title: If You Really Love Me

Author: Gene Gant

Genre: Contemporary/YA

Length: Novel (172 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-62798-941-1

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (May 1st 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Cat

Blurb: A Harmony Ink Press Young Adult Title

With time ticking until graduation, Ellis Carter doesn’t have a plan for after high school. Since his best friend Cary dropped out, he has no one to talk to. All he knows is he doesn’t want to continue being a burden to his mother. Adding to his daily torture is the school’s new resident bad boy, Saul Brooks. So to say he’s amazed, when the mysterious Saul invites him to the gym for a workout, is an understatement. Soon, they go from workout buddies to boyfriends, and Ellis couldn’t be happier. But happiness is fleeting. His mother begins a new relationship he thinks will lead to pain, and Cary makes a decision that could take him out of Ellis’s life for good. Just when he needs to lean on his boyfriend the most, Ellis discovers Saul has a secret that could break them apart.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4922

Review: Ellis is a loner in his final months of high school and really doesn’t have any plans for his life. He secretly has a crush on the new man, Saul. But, even though he doesn’t hang around with the other kids, he is afraid Saul has heard his secret and wouldn’t be interested and/or probably is straight.

Saul has some secrets of his own. He does notice Ellis and soon he is more than interested in Ellis, he is completely obsessed with him. Carey, Ellis best friend wasn’t able to make it through school and isn’t able to find a job. He isn’t sure what to do with his life and is facing some sad decisions. Ellis mom has some secrets and at time takes her frustrations out on Ellis. There were times I really wanted to smack her.

This is a very sweet, story of three young men and how they are dealing with becoming adults. At times, it is a bit sad. All the sex is off the page and I feel that it’s tastefully done for young adult.

If you like sweet stories of budding romance, coming of age, handling what life throws at you, and a satisfying ending this is definitely for you!

All the Colors of Love by Jessica Freely ~ Audiobook

Title: All the Colors of Love
Author: Jessica Freely
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Length: 8 hours and 23 minutes
Narrator: Paul Morey
Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (1-31-14)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: It sucks being the son of a super villain. At home, Harry spends half of his time getting medical treatments and the other half tied up in his father’s underwater lair. It was different when his mother was alive, but she disappeared when Harry was six. He can’t seem to stay out of trouble at school, and his new roommate, Antonin, thinks he’s a spaz, but somehow Harry has to find a way to stop his father’s evil plans.

Antonin Karganilla wants to become a comic book artist, but other than that, being gay is the most normal thing about him. His uncle is an aquatic plant man, his aunt is a molecular biologist back from the dead, and his mom is an overprotective pain in the butt. Antonin’s in boarding school and it’s starting to look like he and this Harry kid might have a lot in common… and that means a whole new set of problems.

Purchase Link: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/All-the-Colors-of-Love-Audiobook/B00I45X1QI/

Review: The description of this story is a little bit misleading, or I misunderstood. I was expecting a darker type of Sky High (the high school for super hero’s kids Disney movie) with a gay twist. What I got instead was definitely dark in some places, but also an uplifting story about a young man trying to find his way in life, separate from his evil father, equating everything he feels to colors.

Harry’s mom left when he was six years old, supposedly on a trip with his father, but she never returned. His life from that day on was the content of nightmares. He had already been a medical guinea pig of sorts, enduring ‘life saving’ injections and now abuse across the board, physical, mental and verbal, all at the hands of his father. Harry bounces from school to school, as he lashes out at everyone and everything that isn’t his father, wishing that it were, resulting in nothing but trouble. He’s just been dumped off at his latest school with the threat of being locked under the sink for the rest of his natural life if he steps so much as one toe out of line.

Antonin is a model student, graphic artist and openly gay. And now he is Harry’s new roommate. Antonin comes from a loving, overprotective and slightly psychotic family. He’s very talented with his comic book with the writing and the art. He’s also very inquisitive by nature. Harry sees him as nosey and dorkish at the start, but when Antonin steps up to some bully’s in defence of Harry, the two become friends. Antonin accepts Harry as his friend and trusts him to spite his shady past. The two grow closer with each passing day. Harry seriously fights the attraction, but not for the reasons one would think. He see’s being gay as wrong but he is in no way hateful or hurtful to Antonin because of his sexuality. He just doesn’t understand how he himself could be bad at one more thing. His father has his psyche so twisted by this point.

Harry accompanies Antonin home for the Christmas break even knowing that his father agreeing to him going will come at a price, a price Harry isn’t sure he can pay. He tries very hard not to grow attached to Antonin, to develop feelings he knows will be returned. It scares him, to be loved unconditionally. It’s not something he comprehends. As Harry and Antonin navigate their way through family dramas, love, loss, betrayal and more abuse, Harry learns that love is a valid emotion, one that comes in many colors.

This really was an amazing story that defined the grey area between ‘children learn what they live’ and ‘we are our own destiny’. Harry’s father is a cruel bastard who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Antonin’s mother is overprotective and overbearing to a fault, which cause some of the same personality conflicts between them that we see between Harry and his father. The two of them could become very dangerous people given the circumstances of their lives until now. But together, they can become something wonderful, something more.

Narrated by the best, Paul Morey, I don’t think there is anyone better at voicing those subtle nuances and changes in tones when going from one character and/or emotion to another as well as Morey.

There is one scene in the story that skirts the boundaries of YA and NA, it is passionate but appropriate. It’s all about a love and awareness between Harry and Antonin. The simulated rape scene is more graphic in nature to be honest, but nothing ever goes quite over the line of young adult and adult. As I said, there is a darkness to this story, but overall it’s very engrossing with the slightly sci-fi aspect. I’d definitely recommend this audio book. It has a little bit of everything and progresses so smoothly, your day will fly by.

** I received a copy of this audio book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com

Us Three by Mia Kerick

Title: Us Three

Author: Mia Kerick

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult Ménage

Length: Novel (180 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (April 3rd 2014)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: In his junior year at a public high school, sweet, bright Casey Minton’s biggest worry isn’t being gay. Keeping from being too badly bullied by his so-called friends, a group of girls called the Queen Bees, is more pressing. Nate De Marco has no friends, his tough home life having taken its toll on his reputation, but he’s determined to get through high school. Zander Zane’s story is different: he’s popular, a jock. Zander knows he’s gay, but fellow students don’t, and he’d like to keep it that way.

No one expects much when these three are grouped together for a class project, yet in the process, the boys discover each other’s talents and traits, and a new bond forms. But what if Nate, Zander, and Casey fall in love—each with the other and all three together? Not only gay but also a threesome, for them high school becomes infinitely more complicated and maybe even dangerous. To survive and keep their love alive, they must find their individual strengths and courage and stand together, honest and united. If they can do that, they might prevail against the Queen Bees and a student body frightened into silence—and even against their own crippling fears.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4857

Review: Casey Minton is young naive and jaded. An incident in his past brought on by his “best friends” has left him vulnerable and he suffers from frequent panic attacks. His family life is fantastic though. His parents know he is gay even though he isn’t out at school and they are very understanding, he has a great relationship with his little sisters, but his mother is extremely over protective after the incident in the 9th grade.

Nate De Marco is the poster boy for tall, dark, handsome and brooding. A loner at school and at home, having to live with an abusive uncle because his parents aren’t there. He takes the brunt of the abuse to protect his little sister. Again, he knows he’s gay but he hasn’t told anyone, not even his family. He just takes everything one day at a time, going through the motions.

Zander Zane is the popular guy, he’s in thick with the ‘in crowd’ but he’s not cruel or ignorant and passive like the rest of his peers. He’s kind of quiet and laid back, hiding under all that hair, until the day he’s partnered up for a class project with Casey and Nate. And so the story of the three unfolds told from three very unique and differing points of view. Nate tells his part through his personal diary. Zander’s thoughts and emotions show in email communications with his brother. and the reader follows the story in real-time with Casey, as he navigates through high school on the shit list of the Queen B’s and in the arms of the last two people on earth he ever fathomed would be there to comfort him when the bottom falls out.

What starts out as a commitment to work together turns into a genuine friendship as the three learn more about each other every day. Before long shy, longing stares and touches that start out innocent but grow with intensity and heat bring the three together in a dangerous but beautiful threesome. As with everything in their relationship, it’s a gradual growth, and Kerick manages to capture each different young man’s thoughts and feelings throughout.

Casey is just a genuinely good person with a soft heart and a kind soul. This gets him into some serious trouble that not even his guys can save him from. Some people are just evil to the core, their mission in life is to make everyone else miserable, but this particular Queen B has her sights set on Casey. Nate is the quiet giant. He makes it his mission in life to protect what he loves, and that is Casey and Zan. When he can’t protect Casey, it almost tears him apart. And Zan, he is the glue that holds these three together. He has the most laid-back attitude and everyday life of the three. He makes it his mission to raise awareness at school and get everyone under the Queen B’s influence to think for themselves. Individually each of these characters has their own weaknesses but together, as a trifecta, they find a love and a strength they never knew they had.

I just fell in love with this story and with these three guys. It took me a couple of chapters to get with the flow of writing as being told from three distinctly different POV with emails, diaries and in real-time. But once I figured out how the book was going to read, I was completely engrossed in the story. The storyline was engaging and thought-provoking and the three ML were so endearing. While there were a couple rough patches with some deep seeded hate, there was a lot of love in between. This is a must read guys, especially if you’re looking for a story about finding true love in the oddest of places and not only standing up for yourself, but what is right and the people you love.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com

If We Shadow by D.E. Atwood

Title: If We Shadows

Author: DE Atwood

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Length: Novel (240 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-62798-820-

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (March 6^th, 2014)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Kit

Blurb: Born female, all Jordan wants is to slip under the radar and live the last year of high school as a boy. His parents and siblings support him, but he’d rather be recognized for his acting and musical talents than his gender issues.

When Shakespeare’s Puck gives him three magical potions—true sight, true seeming, and true love—Jordan discovers being true to himself isn’t as simple as he thought.

Jordan must navigate the confusion of first love, a controversial role in the fall musical, and his transgender identity, while fairy magic creates a net of complications over everything he does. In order to unweave the spells laid over his friends—his supportive older brother, James, his playwright friend, Pepper, and Maria, another transgender student—Jordan needs to understand exactly how far he’ll go to reach his goals of finding true love, true sight, and true seeming.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4784

Review: Jordan awakes one night to find the mythical Shakespearean character Puck in his bedroom. The imp hands him three vials, explaining they are charms of “True Sight, True Seeming, and True Love” – and thereby hangs a tale. Jordan is a female to male transgender high school senior. Today he is auditioning for the school play, hoping to secure the role of Puck in a new play written by junior Pepper Sullivan. Pepper, who has caught Jordan’s eye, wants him to play the role of Viola, a woman whom Puck changes into a man, and Jordan’s gender identity dysphoria kicks in and sends him into a panic attack. He wants to turn the role down, but his growing attraction to Pepper convinces him to soldier on.

When it turns out the girl who originally wanted to play Viola decides to throw a fit, get her mother involved. Turning the play, with its controversial gender and sexuality themes, into a school board contention. Jordan, his brother James, Pepper and her brother Paul, James’s girlfriend Brittany and other cast members, including a gay couple, plot to oppose and defeat what they interpret as bigotry. In the meantime, Jordan accidentally unleashes the True Love serum first on his brother and Pepper and then on one of the gay boys and a girl, Jordan’s personal life, plans for transition, the play itself and Jordan’s transgender friend Maria are thrown into turmoil.

In many ways, this novel is the standard, and isn’t it amazing that we’ve advanced to a point where there is such a thing, story of a teen who is in transition in terms of his or her gender identity. Jordan, who has known he is a boy all his life and whose dysphoria resulted in a suicide attempt when he was eleven, is approaching eighteen and besides living as a boy fulltime is about to start taking testosterone injections. His parents have accepted his identity but are fiercely protective, fearing the sort of hatred and violence so common for transgender youth. What Jordan has not worked out yet is how to interact romantically with his remaining female biology, and that seriously complicates his desire to date Pepper, who does not know Jordan is not biologically a boy yet. So far, the usual transgender coming of age is typical and compared to other books an admirable dramatization thereof.

Where IF WE SHADOWS diverges from typical into extraordinary is in two respects, the framework of the play and its heritage in Shakespeare’s use of gender ambiguity and in the impact of the magical, the emergence of the trickster being Puck and his potions. The literary tribute to Shakespeare is brilliantly done, using the two comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night seamlessly and insightfully, exploring ideas that are relevant as much to the modern youth as more subtly to the Elizabethan poet and playwright. The book made this reviewer appreciate anew his exposure to Shakespeare’s plays and world so he could truly appreciate Atwood’s skill at bringing these elements together to create something new and remarkable.

The potions are more a convenient plat device and connection with the play and its appeal than actually necessary’ the influence of the potions, whose efficacy is in doubt, individually and plurally. The same effect could arguably have been managed through less fantastic circumstances, but the author is a fantasy writer and the use of fantasy just makes the story richer and better in its influence from the play.

As a transgender person, this reviewer found a great deal of truth not only in the process of transition but also in Jordan’s hopes and fears. It is extremely difficult to both be the gender you know you are but also cope with the “inconvenient” reality of what Jordan calls “the bits”. On top of that other relevant issues brought forward, how one can be true to oneself without lying to others, such as Jordan’s concern that he is forcing Pepper to make out with a biological girl without knowing it, and how other people’s reactions can be so unpredictable from moment to moment. The book does not shy away from the fact that potential violence is part of every transgender person’s life, mentioning the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a memorial for people attacked and murdered or who committed suicide purely because their brains’ and bodies’ don’t match.

This reviewer has been impressed with the quality of YA transgender novels that have come out over the past few years. Atwood’s IF WE SHADOWS stands out for its intelligence and its artistry with the use of Shakespearean and fantasy themes.

The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick

Title: The Red Sheet

Author: Mia Kerick

Genre: Contemporary YA Romance

Length: Novel (190 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (February 21^st, 2014)

Heat Level: Low (Hinted)

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: One October morning, high school junior Bryan Dennison wakes up a different person—helpful, generous, and chivalrous—a person whose new admirable qualities he doesn’t recognize. Stranger still is the urge to tie a red sheet around his neck like a cape.

Bryan soon realizes this compulsion to wear a red cape is accompanied by more unusual behavior. He can’t hold back from retrieving kittens from tall trees, helping little old ladies cross busy streets, and defending innocence anywhere he finds it.

Shockingly, at school, he realizes he used to be a bully. He’s attracted to the former victim of his bullying, Scott Beckett, though he has no memory of Scott from before “the change.” Where he’d been lazy in academics, overly aggressive in sports, and socially insecure, he’s a new person. And although he can recall behaving egotistically, he cannot remember his motivations.

Everyone, from his mother to his teachers to his “superjock” former pals, is shocked by his dramatic transformation. However, Scott Beckett is not impressed by Bryan’s newfound virtue. And convincing Scott he’s genuinely changed and improved, hopefully gaining Scott’s trust and maybe even his love, becomes Bryan’s obsession.

With a foreword by C. Kennedy

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4725

Review: The Red Sheet is a gay YA story that allows the reader a glimpse into the mind of the both the bully and his target. Then you get to watch as the bully becomes the protector and falls in love with said target, but he’s going to have to work for it!

Bryan Dennison’s life is a memory of a dream. He cannot reconcile the person he used to be, and only vaguely remembers, with the person he is now. The most important person to him now is Scott, but Scott is not so easily convinced of Bryan’s motivations. So Bryan sets out to prove to Scott that he has changed, he loves him and he is worthy of Scott’s love in return.

Scott Beckett doesn’t trust Bryan any further than he could throw him! He doesn’t believe Bryan can’t remember. The superjock or superjerk, either fits, that made his life hell, now wants to protect him and be his friend. Whatever. As the story unfolds Bryan learns more about the person he was; mean, cruel and almost vindictive. And slowly but surely how he becomes more than who he was, and earns Scott’s love in return.

Kerick really conveyed a different side of the bullying in high school aspect than I’ve ever read, and she did it well. The reality of this story was shocking and made my skin crawl. This is a reality that young LGBT YA teens have to deal with from their peers on a daily basis, to the point some believe that dying is better than living. It saddens and sickens me. If just one of these teens could see things from the perspective of Bryan and Scott, I think this book should be required reading in school. Can we turn it into an after school special?

Loved it, if my previous statement wasn’t a given, this is a must read! The topic is dark yes, but the execution is wonderful, taking a different road to explore the highly debated issue of bullying.

** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **

http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com

Pukawiss the Outcast by Jay Jordan Hawke

Title: Pukawiss the Outcast

Author: Jay Jordan Hawke

Genre: Contemporary/Young Adult

Length: Novel (204 pages)

ISBN: 9781627986472

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (January 16^th, 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: When family complications take Joshua away from his fundamentalist Christian mother and leave him with his grandfather, he finds himself immersed in a mysterious and magical world. Joshua’s grandfather is a Wisconsin Ojibwe Indian who, along with an array of quirky characters, runs a recreated sixteenth-century village for the tourists who visit the reservation. Joshua’s mother kept him from his Ojibwe heritage, so living on the reservation is liberating for him. The more he learns about Ojibwe traditions, the more he feels at home.

One Ojibwe legend in particular captivates him. Pukawiss was a powerful Manitou known for introducing dance to his people, and his non-traditional lifestyle inspires Joshua to embrace both his burgeoning sexuality and his status as an outcast. Ultimately, Joshua summons the courage necessary to reject his strict upbringing and to accept the mysterious path set before him.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4584

Review: Overall, this book is a fresh take on the world and how someone’s heritage takes part in their life. And as I read it, I wanted to know more. But the book clearly took care of my questions.

I loved this novel from the start to the end. I’m not one for digging into a character’s heritage and learning about that character’s life but this was beautiful. Joshua is one of those characters that stand out in a crowd and for good reasons. He has to face his mother and her strict Christian values and at the same time, he has his grandfather thrusting Ojibwe beliefs on him.

Another thing is how the story flows. The storyline is solid and to the point. It makes for a strong read and then some. The kind of novel that keeps you interested and doesn’t preach at you. I found this novel to keep me interested. I never saw a dry point in my opinion.

When I read, I found myself curious about the Objbwe tribe the novel managed to answer every last one of them. In the end, I was highly satisfied with the novel. Jay clearly knew what he was getting into when he wrote this novel and knew how it was going to end. He had a clear mind on this the whole time.

I would highly recommend this novel. Not just for the characters but also the strong story that makes the reader want to know more.

Beloved Pilgrim by Christopher Hawthorne Moss

Title: Beloved Pilgrim, 2^nd edition

Author: Christopher Hawthorne Moss

Genre: Transgender//European/Historical

Length: Novel (304 pages)

ISBN: 9781627985390

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (January 23^rd, 2014)

Heat Level: moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: At the time of the earliest Crusades, young noblewoman Elisabeth longs to be the person she’s always known is hidden inside. When her twin brother perishes from a fever, Elisabeth takes his identity to live as a man, a knight. As Elias, he travels to the Holy Land, to adventure, passion, death, and a lesson that honor is sometimes found in unexpected places.

Elias must pass among knights and soldiers, survive furious battle, deadly privations, moral uncertainty, and treachery if he’ll have any chance of returning to his newfound love in the magnificent city of Constantinople.

First edition by Nan Hawthorne published by Shieldwall Books, February 2011

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4515

Review: There is so much to say about this novel. It is amazing, sentimental, personal, surprising, and then some. Once the reader starts going for it, they won’t be able to stop reading it. There is too much to like for someone to not like it. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started.

Elizabeth has a lot on her hands. Everything from the longing to be a male, to the fact she is loving family. She wants nothing more than to be like the boys. To fight in a battle that can very well take her life with no issue. When she does something that is less than acceptable, she dives into what her brother with the intentions of showing the honor and courage he did.

The storyline remained a constant surprise, amazement and never a boring moment. The more I read, the more I liked this novel. And I could tell the author put everything he could into writing this book. He had a clear knowledge of what he wanted and went for it. And it shows through the novel.

Altogether, I found this novel to be beautifully written, strongly executed and a perfect novel if there ever is. I would highly recommend this novel to everyone that wants to read a strong novel that shows a sense of care and the courage one needs to keep going when times get bad.

Triane's Son Fighting by Amy Lane, 2nd edition

Title: Triane’s Son Fighting, 2^nd edition

Series: Bitter Moon Saga: Book Three

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Young Adult / Adventure / Fantasy

Length: Extended Novel (350 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-62798-341-9

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press, (January 29^th, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb:Outraged by the destruction of innocent lives and the threat to his family’s safety, Torrant Shadow and Aylan Stealth-Moon ride to Dueance, the capital of Clough, with a desperate plan: Torrant will impersonate Yarri’s dead brother, Ellyot Moon, and infiltrate the Regent’s council to help change to the government’s policy toward the Goddess’s chosen from the inside.

But from the very first night, Torrant and Aylan are pressed into service in the shadows of the ghettoes, fighting for the lives of the brutalized people within. It’s a bitter job, made more so by close scrutiny and mockery from Consort Rath, the ruler whose policies have created the discrimination and cruelty wreaking havoc in their country.

Torrant’s only bright moments come from Aylan, whose love and loyalty never falter, and the hungry, compassionate minds of the younger regents. Believing that all they need is a worthy song to follow, Torrant sets about leading them to accomplish the salvation of their country. But not even Torrant can be everywhere at once. When faced with one disaster too many, he realizes one man alone cannot right the wrongs of an entire government—not even Triane’s Son.

1st Edition published as Bitter Moon II: Triane’s Son Reigning by iUniverse, 2009

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4606

Review: Book three in the Bitter Moon Saga comes to rip our hearts apart with its brilliance and wonderful poetic language. The story is yet again captivating, making you forget reality for a short while and take a journey in this fantastic, albeit dark and painful world.

Time has come for Triane’s Son to fight the evil that has defined his entire life. All he wanted was to handfast his beloved and live a peaceful life, but the poisonous hatred of everything joyful that comes from Clough and the Consort Himself make that dream impossible. Just as he’s always known, it is he and he alone that must go back, where the nightmare first started, and make a change.

But Torrant is not alone in this. His brother of the heart, Aylan, will not let him go and sacrifice himself like a lamb. Faithfully he follows him into the heart of horror and pain to help him save his people. Tearing his soul in many parts, a regent during the day and a vengeful protector during night, Torrant nearly loses his heart, and if it wasn’t for Aylan’s solid love and his new brothers, the regents that follow him with admiration and worship in their eyes, everything might have been lost.

The tale is amazing. The pace has picked up (not that it was ever slow) and the action really started. It’s a battle, its war on all fronts. We get to see the many layers of Torrant and we get to have our heart ripped to pieces as he gives more and more of himself in each and every line. This character has always been incredible, but in this book, he truly shines in a sad kind of way. Not even when he nearly died through Hammer Pass in book one did I feel so torn about Torrant. The emotions that blow him to the four winds are so strong, you can’t simply read this book without feeling them all deep in your bones.

But as much as there is pain and sorrow, there is also the incredibly awesome action that Triane’s Son brings with him. His shape shifting into the snow cat is marvellous and the non-apologetic violence the cat carries with it is plain gorgeous. I would have loved it anyway it came, it’s impossible not to, but Amy Lane balances that violence with emotions and turns it into one incredible work of art. You don’t know if you want to worship this character or cry for him when he can’t. At times, I think a fiction character has been made so real it easily makes you forget that it doesn’t exist.

This book though is not only pain and sorrow and death and destruction. No, it has love as well and it comes in many forms. A specialty I think of this author; when she writes love there are no boundaries in the form that love takes. And it makes your heart soar with beauty, sweetness and joy. In addition, there is underlying humor that just makes my head spin. I love, love, LOVE the creativity when it come to the cussing choice of words. It’s mind-boggling really, how on earth could this author think of such colorful words. It made me laugh when laughing seemed impossible, giving lightness in the midst of a heavy, bloody scene.

So with this book things come together finally and all those flash-forward into the future/present from the prequels start making sense. The story this time is told under the covering of a song sung by Torrant in his old age. The losses of loved ones come slowly in the story and when it ends, it is not pretty as it leaves us with the ominous promise of worse things to come. Frankly, I can’t wait for the final part of the saga. This book left me too raw and the anticipation it generated nearly unbearable, but one thing is for sure; I absolutely loved it and it felt like yet another brick was put into that wall of worship I have for this author. Her brilliant writing always makes my day.

Other Me by Suzanne Van Rooyen

Title: Other Me

Author: Suzanne Van Rooyen

Genre: Young Adult, fantasy

Length: Novel (216 pages)

ISBN: 9781627986434

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (December 19^th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: Fifteen-year-old Treasa Prescott thinks she’s an alien. She doesn’t fit in with the preppy South African private school crowd and feels claustrophobic in her own skin. Treasa is worried she might spend life as a social pariah when she meets Gabriel du Preez. Gabriel plays the piano better than Beethoven, has a black belt in karate, and would look good wearing a garbage bag. Treasa thinks he’s perfect. It might even be love. As long as Gabriel doesn’t find out, she’s a freak.

As Treasa spends time with Gabriel, she realizes she might not love him as much as she wants to be him, and that the reason she feels uncomfortable in her skin might have less to do with extra-terrestrial origins and more to do with being born in the wrong body.

But Gabriel is not the perfect boy Treasa imagines. He harbors dark secrets and self-destructive tendencies. Still, Treasa might be able to accept Gabriel’s baggage if he can accept who she longs to be.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4427

Review: This book was awesome! I loved it so much. Everything from the intuitive characters to the storyline. It was so mesmerizing I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. The characters are so interesting, so intriguing. The storyline is beautifully written and then some. I’ve come to enjoy this novel and it was the first I’ve read from the author.

As far as I am concerned, this author is on my top ten list of authors to watch. I cannot wait to find out what she writes next!

Lessons on Destroying the World by Gene Gant

Title: Lessons on Destroying the World

Author: Gene Gant

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Transgender

Length: Novel (200 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-62798-793-6

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (6^th February 2014) (Dreamspinner)

Heat Level: Nil

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Micah McGhee has struggled all his life against prejudice and abuse. Forced to drop out of school after the death of his mother, Micah works full-time to support himself and his alcoholic father. One night, on his way home from a party, Micah’s hard life ends when he’s beaten to death by a street gang.

Three days later, Micah awakens with godlike abilities granted by the alien device that resurrected him. His work helping the downtrodden and performing miracles soon earns him worldwide attention—including the notice of conservative Reverend Vaughn Titus. Micah’s friends, devout Christians Antonio and Monica, along with Reverend Titus, urge Micah to use the power of the artifact to impose Biblical rule on the world. But Micah is all too familiar with how Christian law treats LGBT people, and he opposes the idea. When Antonio, Monica, and Reverend Titus gain access to the device, Micah must risk everything to stop them from forcing their religion onto everyone on earth.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4684

Review: Micah has had to fight for what he has, dropping out of school and getting a job to survive after his mother died and to keep a roof over his dead-beat fathers head Micah has avoided the pitfalls that others have fallen into. But, one night the actions of another has Micah being brutally beaten and he awakens to a whole new awareness. Resurrected by a mysterious orb, Micah now has Godlike powers and he sets about easing people’s pain, it isn’t long before he falls foul of the Government and the devote worshipers of religion. When the orb falls into the hands of his friends Antonio, Monica, and the fervently devote Reverend Vaughn Titus, Micah tries to convince them of the wrongness of their plans for Christian rule and now Micah must risk everything to stop their religion from being forced on the world.

So first of all I have to hold my hands up and admit I was drawn in by the title and the great blurb and I’d secretly hoped for a couple of tips, but alas unless I find an alien artifact my bid for Universe domination will have to wait. So to the story, this is a brilliant story that is very down to earth and has great characters that are engaging and entertaining. We start out by discovering a lot about Micah, his life, his family and what he hopes for and we quickly take him to heart. As we follow him through the story we are drawn to his level-headedness seeing how he uses his new powers for good and not for selfish gain (well, with a few blimps for revenge), nobody is below his help until his good deeds start to backfire and draws unwanted attention.

Micah is a fantastic character who is superbly written, each character we come across comes to life, but it is Micah who sticks with me. While I remembered this was a transgender story I kept thinking it was going to be a secondary character because Micah was just a boy, a brash cussing boy, but when the big reveal came it really knocked me off my feet because of how well written Micah was. Antonio, Monica, and Titus were great in their roles but annoyed the hell out of me for their belief that if everyone followed the bible then the world would be a better place… I nearly laughed my ass off when it backfired. I also really liked that even though Micah tried his best for others he learned that no matter how much good you do people still wanted more; you heal a few sick and more people demand to be healed, you stop a famine and give them a bountiful land and people will go to war over the spoils.

Starting this story I really didn’t know what to expect but I was extremely pleased with the entire story, it led me on the journey of a young adult who knew what he wanted to do when he was given godlike powers, we follow him through the ups and downs, the repercussions and the pitfalls and the final solution.

I recommend this to those who love young adults finding their paths in life, science fiction that is intriguing, characters that are brilliantly written, and the startling discovery that just three bible verses could wipe out humanity.

Private Display of Affection by Winter Sandberg

Title: Private Display of Affection

Author: Winter Sandberg

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

Length: Novel (210 pages)

ISNB: 9781627985369

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (December 12^th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: Hugo Thorson knows he’s gay, but coming out during high school is not part of his plan. His parents are open-minded, but Hugo doesn’t want to add more stress for anybody, especially his dad, who is fighting terminal cancer.

At a summer job, he meets and befriends Kevin Magnus, and before long, their friendship becomes something more. Kevin knows this will anger his overbearing father, so he decides to protect his secret by dating a girl at school.

Hugo plays along, but it’s still hard to watch the two of them together just to make Kevin’s homophobic father happy. And when Hugo’s father dies, he realizes he can’t go on living the lie. He comes clean to Kevin, who decides Hugo’s true feelings are more important than his father’s expectations.

One fact remains: Kevin and Hugo’s relationship must always be hidden behind friendship, lies, girlfriends, or secret kisses. Will they find a sanctuary big enough to hold their feelings?

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4513

Review: Huge had many troubles in his family when he came out. He knew his parents were accepting but life got a lot tougher when his father started fighting terminal cancer.

All the while, he meets Kevin who faces his own issues with his own issues. The more time they spend together, the more I wanted to know about the characters. And by the end of it, I found the characters to be great.

I found them to be realistic and utterly realistic. The more I read about them, the more I actually wanted to meet them.

The plot was solid and very enjoyable. I found this book to be a delight. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone that would like to read a good solid novel.

Here's To You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst

Title: Here’s To You, Zeb Pike

Author: Johanna Parkhurst

Genre: Young Adult

Length: Novel (174 pages)

ISNB: 9781627985260

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (November 18^th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: Fact: When Zebulon Pike attempted to climb what is now known as Pikes Peak, he got stuck in waist-deep snow and had to turn back.

That’s the last thing Dusty Porter learns in his Colorado history class before appendicitis ruins his life. It isn’t long before social services figures out that Dusty’s parents are more myth than reality, and he and his siblings are shipped off to live in Vermont with an uncle and aunt they’ve never met.

Dusty’s new life is a struggle. His brother and sister don’t seem to need him anymore, and he can’t stand his aunt and uncle. At school, one hockey player develops a personal vendetta against him, while Emmitt, another hockey player, is making it hard for Dusty to keep pretending he’s straight. Problem is, he’s pretty sure Emmitt’s not gay. Then, just when Dusty thinks things can’t get any worse, his mother reappears, looking for a second chance to be a part of his life.

Somehow, Zebulon Pike still got the mountain named after him, so Dusty’s determined to persevere—but at what point in life do you keep climbing, and when do you give up and turn back

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4399

Review: This book is emotional, amazing, and downright lovable. From the beginning, I found Dusty Porter to be a fantastic character. Three dimensions of pure amazing for a character. While it is a good book, it is also rather saddening. The kind of books that makes you wanna keep reading it until the end and when it comes around, you don’t wanna let go of it. Because of how amazing this book is, I would easily put it into my top 100 favorite books.

It’s a book about accepting what’s happening around you and the question of whether or not to let people have a second chance in your life. This book is downright beautiful. Amazingly written, fantastic plot and downright dynamite.

When I finished this book, I was in tears. If I could meet the author, I would wanna hug her and thank her for writing this book. The more I’d read the more I wanted to read. And in the end, I found it to be a literary masterpiece. At least, I believed so.

It is so worth it.

Cold Moon by M.J. O'Shea

Title: Cold Moon

Series: Insolita Luna, #3

Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal

Author: M. J. O’Shea

Length: Novel (178 Pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (January 1^st, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: Charlie Fitzgerald is sick of being the kid nobody takes seriously. His older brother Colin is fighting vampires and other troublemakers in New York City, and Charlie wants in on the action—but no one will listen. Then he overhears the Lycan council is looking for a human emissary to take a message of peace to a werewolf in the forests of Romania, and Charlie decides he’s the man for the job.

Xan is furious: his best friend, Charlie, one of the Fitzgeralds he’s vowed to protect, is walking into danger, and Xan chases him all the way to the freezing Romanian forest to save his stubborn butt. When Charlie is almost killed, Xan realizes he feels much more than friendship for his charge, and emotions that have been bubbling under the surface of his calm façade threaten to boil over and flood them both.

They end up in the middle of a political mess involving Lycans, werewolves, and nosy vampires, and if they make it out alive, the friendship between the headstrong hunter and his bullheaded protector might turn into a love neither can live without.

Product Link:http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4551

Review: This is the 2nd edition. The 1st edition was published by M.J. O’Shea, April 2012.

To get a good idea on who everyone is you need to start with Book one. I got to tell you that this one is my favorite of this series. I am not sure why, but it just seemed more real to me. The story line is fantastic, with the danger and excitement flowing throughout the book. It had more of a serious tone to it, but it did have its humorous side to it. It always amazes me the gift one has to tell a story.

Charlie is a human that comes from a long line of hunters. Usually one thinks that hunters kill every paranormal in sight, but with this story they seem to work together to get rid of those who are evil. He has known all along about his family, even growing up thinking that was what he would do. Although he does find out that is not the case when it comes to him. He is so cute, that you just want to hug him all the time. He has a bit of attitude about certain things, but he can be persuaded to have it changed.

He had grown up with Xan since they were little children. Now he is notices more and more that times are changing between them. He finds out Xan is not what he seems. He is in fact his protector. He is so pissed at him, but he also realizes he is in fact falling for his best friend. Xan has always known certain things, but when it comes out, he fears that he will lose the one person he is falling in love with him. He needs to be near the forest, but he wants to be with Charlie.

Xan is loveable, caring, gentle, and fiercely protective of Charlie. The sex starts out slow and heats up to a nice flame.

I loved this book and I do hope that there will be another book to this series. I lose myself in stories when life gets too much, and this will be one of my top choices to read more than once. It makes a great add to my library.

Hunter's Moon by M.J. O'Shea

Title: Hunter’s Moon, 3^rd edition

Series: Sequel to Blood Moon Inolita Luna: Book Two

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Author: M.J. O’Shea

Length: Novel (249 Pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink Publishing, Dreamspinner Press (December 4^th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: New York City has been calling Miles Hunter for as long as he can remember, but he’s sure the imaginary monsters in his stories are all the adventure he’ll experience—until a mugging and daring rescue leave him wondering what else is out there that he had never believed in before.

PC has spent eighteen years doing the opposite of what everyone expects. He hunts supernatural troublemakers, hangs out with vampires, and refuses to settle down—to the disapproval of his respectable parents and the stuffy Lycan council. Then one confusing night, his instincts turn him to wolf form to save a stranger.

Miles and PC must learn to live together, because even minutes of separation mean extreme pain. Miles falls for the unpredictable PC, the wolf’s strange friends, and their nightly adventures, but his reluctant lover is determined to break their bond. As they are drawn into a mystery involving werewolves, rogue vampires, and a lot of dead humans, finding the truth might mean the hunt of PC’s life—especially if he wants to keep Miles alive.

1st Edition published by Republica Press, August 2010.
2nd Edition published by M.J. O’Shea, April 2012.　

Product Link:http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4423

Review: Many people who know me know that my favorite reads in the world are paranormal romances, especially when it is two very hot and sexy men. What’s more is when those two men don’t just fall in love and in bed right off the bat. I love it when there are twists and turns to their relationships. M.J. never fails to amaze me.

This book is another hit and I absolutely loved it. Mile’s is a true wonder and believes that monsters only exist in him imagination and in his stories. That is until he comes face to face with them in the wonderful city of New York. He is rescued by the rough and tough PC, who is trying everything to break their bond. You would fall in love with Miles if you ever met him, quirky sense of humor and is unique and gentle. His smile would light the way for any sexy man looking at him. PC on the other hand is sexy and hot with a temper to match. However, he would give up his life to keep Miles from dying.

The sex between them both will set the sheets on fire and keep you heated up all night long. This story has a perfect story line, one that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love plots that involve love, hate, danger, and pain. There is a lot of danger in this story one that will show you the twist and turns of their budding romance. Now if PC will let himself fall in love.

I couldn’t put this story down at all, even gave up the idea of eating for a bit. I turned on the radio, got myself a drink and sat down for a day of reading. I can see myself reading this story many times over.

Not Broken, Just Bent by Mia Kerick

Title: Not Broken, Just Bent

Author: Mia Kerick

Genre: Contemporary YA Romance

Length: Novel (180 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (November 14^th 2013)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: Braving the start of high school, longtime childhood friends Benjamin Wells and Timmy Norton quickly realize they are entering a whole new world colored by their family responsibilities. Ben is trying to please his strict father; Timmy is taking care of his younger sisters. While their easy camaraderie is still comfortable, Ben notices Timmy growing distant and evasive, but Ben has his own problems. It’s easier to let concerns about Timmy’s home life slide, especially when Timmy changes directions and starts to get a little too close. Ben doesn’t know how to handle the new feelings Timmy’s desire for love inspires, and his continuing denial wounds Timmy deeply.

But what Timmy perceives as Ben’s greatest betrayal is yet to come, and the fallout threatens to break them apart forever. Over the next four years, the push and pull between them and the outside world twists and tears at Ben and Timmy, and they are haunted by fear and regret. However, sometimes what seems broken is just a little bent, and if they can find forgiveness within themselves, Ben and Timmy may be able to move forward together.

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4386

Reviewer: Tams

Review: The story is told from Ben’s POV as he relives their story, his, and Timmy’s. Ben and Tim, as their friends call them, are pretty much inseparable until normal adolescent problems and hidden feelings start to get in the way. Ben is trying so hard to please his unappeasable father while Tim is dealing with issues of his own. He starts to pull away from Ben, partying and doing drugs. When Tim realizes he has feelings for Ben that go beyond friendship and tries to explore them, Ben shuts him down, not wanting to admit to himself that his feelings for Tim go beyond friendship as well. In an attempt to protect his friend, Ben makes a decision that has severe consequences.

I loved that this story was told from the one characters POV, almost like a journal he’d written about their life together. As you live Ben and Tim’s life through Ben’s eyes, you get to see them grow and change so much. Through the good and the bad, they truly are meant to be together. The title of this book is absolutely perfect; they aren’t broken, just bent. After Ben broke Tim’s trust, they fell apart for a while. Both of them went through a lot of personal growth throughout and came out the other side stronger. Ben’s voice is passionate and smooth, and you can almost feel his pain when he has to let Tim go. Even finding their way back to each other, Tim admitting how hurt he was and yet, how much he still loved Ben.

Let me start by saying Cover Love! That is what drew me to this book initially. Then the blurb sealed the deal. What I got was a really good gay YA story. Kept my attention from start to finish with mild angst and subtle character development. Definitely recommend this one.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com

Triane's Son Learning by Amy Lane

Title: Triane’s Son Learning

Series: Bitter Moon Saga: Book Two (2^nd edition)

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: High Fantasy / Young Adult / M/F-M/M

ISBN: 978-1-62798-338-9

Length: Extended Novel (324 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (November 21^st, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: When Torrant Shadow fled his homeland of Clough, he hoped to leave its threats behind. He spent four years living with the Moons, making sure Yarri had a home; now it’s time for Torrant and his foster brother, Aldam, to leave for the University of Triannon, where Torrant hopes to create a new life enmeshed in healing arts and politics.

Torrant’s new school friends Trieste and Aylan want to teach him about love as he settles in, and at first, Trieste’s tenderness seems to make her the logical choice for an interim lover, while Torrant waits for Yarri to grow up. But Torrant has learned the hard way that nothing is simple when Clough still wields its influence over their lives. More and more, Torrant must call on the cold predator in himself, the part that Aylan most admires. The truth is, Torrant has certain gifts that give him an advantage of self-defense, but using them to protect the ones he cares for may destroy the part of him Trieste and Yarri love best.

As the four schoolmates progress to life beyond education and the evil from Torrant’s homeland becomes too pernicious to be ignored, Torrant must choose his destiny: Will he be a healer or a hero? Only Triane’s Son can be both.

1st Edition published as Bitter Moon I: Triane’s Son Ascending by iUniverse, 2008

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4388

Review: I am utterly in love with this series and it feels like I’m a child reading fairytales again, fairytales that allow my mind to roam free and explore exquisite magical lands and wonderful, lovable heroes.
Unlike my childhood fairytales though, this one is a bit more explicit. Life, love, power, cruelty, and violence have all a place in these books in which each are strong and evoke incredible emotions from the reader.

Triane’s Son Learning picks up exactly where the first book left and we see Torrant trying to bring two more members in his Moon family. Aylan and Trieste are two figures that we expected to be here and have a prominent place in this installment. At the beginning of this story, Trieste is Torrant’s lover and of course, her relationship with Yarri has a rocky start. It was lovely reading this, Yarri is always so very charming with her wildcat character, and she throws you off of your guard with her understanding despite her young years.

At least half this book revolved around the concept of family, the ties binding together more and more with every page, the love, and acceptance, the vast magnitude of a hearts loving capability. The shadows and darkness were always around the corner, the edges of this loving story were always tainted in blood, pain, and misery. Evil’s clutches never remained far, even as our characters grew up and tried to make their sweet dreams of a loving easy life true. But the half part of this book was easy, sweet, and tender, through the new challenges of life.

The character who surprised me for the most part was Aylan. My God, I honestly can’t say I expected the depth of this character, or the growth he’d suffer here. Aylan showed such a charming personality I died a little every time when he and Torrant kept dancing around each other, yet never meeting in the middle. When they finally did get their one and only night together I swear I wept. Throughout the book the tension between them was mesmerizing so when it finally, finally happened, it felt like it was my own long-term longing finally getting fulfilled. It was wonderful, it was brilliant, and it was painful to read. Mostly it was freaking erotic without being erotic, if that even makes sense.

And it applies for all the sexual scenes be them male/male or male/female. There was such a sensual approach in each and every one of them, such descriptions that made them all unique, yet you couldn’t choose which one was better. It’s perhaps the first time I read both gender interactions and I don’t feel as if one of them lacked in the erotic/sensual part. I simply have no words for them beside them being absolutely a joy to read. Perhaps it was Triane’s doing 😉

As for the action plot, well there are so many to say and yet words fail me. The story takes a fascinating turn. Many thing that didn’t quite make sense in book one, are now brought to light. This planet with its three moons is like a sitting volcano, the story itself is trembling with tension and a brewing storm. Throughout the read, you feel it and it affects you deeply. You keep anticipating the dark tendrils of Rath’s rotten heart to come grab you from a blind corner and make the read beat in a fast and eager for blood tempo. There are bloody scenes, of course, there are, and they grip you so hard that you simply can’t fight their power, just as you can’t fight the emotional charge that follows right in their step. Every time vengeance rears its head, guilt and hurt follows like a faithful companion, delving your heart in heavy yet delicious emotions. I can’t say how much I really, really love this story. I can’t say how hard it is right now waiting for the next installment I simply LOVE this story.

So bottom end, maybe I’m biased, but I can’t recommend this book enough. Pick up book one, then this one, and by the time you’re done book three will be out. That only leaves one last installment for you to wait. I’m sure it’s going to be agony. It is for me. Totally recommended!

Blood Moon by M.J. O'Shea

Title: Blood Moon (3^rd edition)

Series: Insolita Luna #1

Author: M.J. O’Shea

Length: Novel (177 Pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (October 31^st, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: There’s something different about Noah….

Zack Parker met his best friend Noah at his lake cabin when they were only five years old. He realized he felt more than friendship for him by the time they were in junior high school. One fateful night when they were eighteen Zack couldn’t take it anymore. Fueled by love and lust and need, he finally kissed Noah like he’d wanted to for years…and Noah kissed him back, returning every drop of Zack’s passion.

The next morning, Noah ended their friendship for what Zack believed was forever.

Now twenty-one, Zack resents being dragged by his guilt-tripping mother every summer back to the lake cabin where every leaf and rock and turn in the road reminds him of Noah and the love he felt for him three long years before. He hates being reminded of what he lost and more than anything, he wants his best friend back.

But this year things are different.

Noah has returned, apologetic and more gorgeous than ever. Amazingly, he seems to want Zack as much as Zack wants him. He’s sweet and attentive, sexy enough to make Zack’s thighs quiver, but there’s something not quite right…

What secret is Noah hiding?

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4289

Review: I found this story to be a wonderful addition to my library. It was told with just the right amount of flare. In a time where the paranormal world was feared by many of the humans, a hunter and a human meet as children. Zack had loved Noah from the moment they realized what love was like and Noah felt the same. Noah separated them because of the danger he represented as hunter, but one year has passed and he couldn’t stop loving Zach. Even with the original secret Noah is holding, Zach still loves him. The new secret, the real reason Noah didn’t search him out was a little bit harder to believe.

At first reading it though, my attention wavered just a bit, but the further I got into the story the better it go. I thought the plot and story line were pretty good, although it could have used a little bit more action and not so much explanation. I am just not sure how exactly to explain it. However, being the first book of a series it was pretty good. To understand how they knew each other and how they felt in the beginning makes for an interesting start.

I liked the characters Zach and Noah. The spark that is between them makes me want to fan myself from their first kiss a year ago; to the passion, they have now. Zach’s pain made me just want to smack Noah, but after Noah explained the reason for leaving I fell a little bit in love with Noah. The sex between them is very steamy but tender. Their love is sweet but a little sappy.

Even the dangers present have a little bit of a twist to it. There is some confusion close to the ending of it about the actual ages of the character and I am feeling that the ending left me hanging. Which actually is very intriguing (not the confusion of ages, but the ending) because now I want to read the next book to see what will happen next.

Triane's Son Rising by Amy Lane

Title: Triane’s Son Rising

Series: Bitter Moon Saga, Book One

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: High Fantasy / Bisexual / Young Adult

Length: Novel (280 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (2nd Edition) Dreamspinner Press (September 27th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Big Glowing Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Torrant Shadow and Yarrow “Yarri” Moon grew up sheltered in Moon Hold, a place where Torrant’s goddess gifts were meant to be celebrated, and love of any form was a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, in Clough, within a stone’s throw of Consort Rath, having beliefs of that sort will get your family killed.

Grief-stricken, Torrant and Yarri are suddenly alone against the elements and a world that would rather see them dead than see them safe. Torrant’s goddess gift, which had previously been used for truth and healing, must be honed for violence and protection if either of them are to survive. When Torrant, Yarri, and their new friend Aldam reach safety, will Torrant be able to put this part of him aside? Or will Triane’s Son grow to fight the forces that forged him?

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4222

Review: Good Goddess of Joy and Merciful Gods!

I’ve read a book that managed to bewitch me and keep me enthralled in its spell from start to finish yet again. Honestly, I’ve been a fan of Amy Lane’s writing from her first book. She never stops surprising me with her writing skills and the numerous genres she covers with her imagination. This time she’s granted us a wonderful epic fantasy.

This is the first book of Bitter Moon Saga and there are three more to follow soon. The main characters around whom this saga orbits are Torrant and Yarri. Torrant is the adoptive son of the Moon Hold and he and his mother have been living there ever since he was a little boy. His relationship with Yarri started when he was eight and helped his mother deliver the little girl. Ever since then Yarri is not only the Moon Hold’s most precious child, she’s also Torrant’s main focus in life. He literally never lets his eyes off of her, playing with her, looking after her, and doing anything in his power to make her smile. Their childhood life in Clough is a dreamy one, filled with love, joy, and laughter. It ends though in bloodshed.

Enter Consort Rath, an unspeakable evil man who has cast war on the deity of the gifted, the wanderers, the outcasts and exiles, the women, the magic-makers, the midwives, Triane’s Son Rising the forbidden lovers, and the sensually free. They are hunted down, ridiculed for their faith, and shamed for who and what they are. They are people who live in fear. One place in this country though has opened the doors of their hold to every chased soul. The Moon Hold.

Concepts and ideas are taken from reality and spun in an almost magical way to fit this fantasy. The politics and beliefs of our society are masterfully included in this tale and the results of them upon the people described in a most explicit way that doesn’t hide its horrific effect. The fear, the hatred, the agony of living you live hidden and half, the need to do something even when you know there’s nothing you can do. The guilt that comes with failing… Every single thing is excruciating and the evil is relentless on its path.

This is how this story begins. This is how Torrant’s and Yarri’s childhood life ends and their innocent days are ripped from them forever. This is how they are forced to abandon the only home they ever knew and start a most dangerous escape, battling the winter’s elements, starvation, and sickness to relative safety. This is how the fiercest gift the Goddess has given him demonstrates itself in the form of a predator that has a single-minded purpose. Protect Yarri at all cost. Even if that means he’ll lose himself into cold heartless vengeance in the process.

Torrant is an amazing character that it’s almost impossible not to adore. He has this deep profound love for Yarri that drives him to do the impossible. He’s violently ripped from his gentlest side and thrown into cold viciousness. He’s gifted with the ability to make the truth come forward; force his will upon others, and an angelic voice. This is his gentle side, his charm, and it’s quite irresistible. He’s also gifted with a predator that lives inside him, a clod hearted creature bound to the wild instincts of nature. Torrant could easily be described as two people, two different characters living in one body.

The pain he suffers from seeing his entire family butchered is so powerful that changes him profoundly. Not to mention that it is heart wrenching for us as readers too. You can only imagine what Amy Lane has done with all that pain. This is an amazing ability this author has, I think it’s her trademark, making you feel every emotion she so chooses so deeply that they leave you weak in their path. I can honestly tell you that I felt something akin to a fist sizing my heart, my stomach churn, and my eyes involuntarily shedding tears I had promised I would not let fall this time. The vastness of emotions involved is enormous. They are so powerful and they hit you with such force you’re left stunned in the aftermath.

As for this world’s she created, that is pure art. The description of this world is awe-inspiring. The magic feels… pulsating, the elements almost alive, like sentient beings, vibrant. It was a wondrous place and I quite loved it.

This novel was quite large and whole, but it’s only the beginning. It leaves you with a hunger and longing. When you reach the end, two things happen simultaneously. One you realize you’ve read an entire 280 pages novel in no time without even understanding it. Two you feel like screaming “nooooooooooo” because it’s ended just when you think that now this story starts. Triane’s Son Rising is the epilogue of an epic journey, one you cannot wait to travel.

For me this book was perfect and I can’t wait for the next one. Recommended? Not only that, I think it’s a must read and ought to be on everyone’s to-read list.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: