Blurb: After breaking his arm on set, Wolf’s Landing stuntman Ginsberg Sloan finds himself temporarily out of work. Luckily, Bluewater Bay’s worst B&B has cheap long-term rates, and Ginsberg’s not too proud to take advantage of them.
Derrick Richards, a grizzled laid-off logger, inherited the B&B after his parents’ untimely deaths. Making beds and cooking sunny-side-up eggs is hardly Derrick’s idea of a man’s way to make a living, but just as he’s decided to shut the place down, Ginsberg shows up on his doorstep, pitiful and soaking wet, and Derrick can hardly send him packing.
Not outright, at least.
The plan? Carry on the B&B’s tradition of terrible customer service and even worse food until the pampered city boy leaves voluntarily. What Derrick doesn’t count on, though, is that the lousier he gets at hosting, the more he convinces bored busybody Ginsberg to try to get the B&B back on track. And he definitely doesn’t count on the growing attraction between them, or how much more he learns from Ginsberg than how to put out kitchen fires.
Bluewater Bay stories can be read or listened to in any order – jump in wherever you’d like!
Review: There is so much to love about The Burnt Toast B&B.
This is the fifth installment of the Bluewater Bay series, based around the premise that a popular Hollywood TV show (something like Castle crossed with Supernatural) begins to shoot exclusively on location in Bluewater Bay, Washington. With the production brings a whole lot of different personalities in a small town which. The series can be read or heard as standalone or in any order you want – I personally have only heard the audio for this one and have read book 1, Starstruck.
Firstly, I love the fact that there are 2 narrators: Dorian Bane – who I have loved from Stormy Glenn audios, is really good at the big, powerful guys – and Tobias Silversmith – first time I’ve heard her work, but I found it wonderful that a trans-person was selected for the role of Ginsberg. And that leads into the second thing that I love about this story. I have read only a few stories (and heard the audio for none) that feature a transgender MC. And for what it’s worth coming from a cis-female, I really think that the authors achieved a very classy story. I love that fact that the Burn Toast B&B doesn’t make Ginsberg’s gender a massive part of the story. I also love how Derrick doesn’t make a big deal out of Ginsberg being transgender. Instead, this story is primarily about the worst B&B in Bluewater Bay, run by Derrick, and what happens to Derrick when Ginsberg crashes into his life.
Ginsberg and Derrick are well balanced and I love that we are treated to the POV of both guys. It’s so good that we are able to get into the head of the two MCs because they have very contrasting mindsets. While Ginsberg is presently settled in who he is, he is not so settled when it comes to letting someone to love him into his life. Obviously, he’s been burnt bad by gay men who objected to his being trans. On the other hand, Derrick, is busy trying to be the perfect son his dead parents wanted, running their business and being out as gay all at the same time. Yet, he has a number of hang ups that stem from bullying in his past. Both guys have a lot to get over if they are even going to make it.
Hi guys, today we have author Heidi Belleau & cover artist Vivian Ng stopping by to show off the brand new covers for the Rear Entrance Video series. We have a great guest post and a special offer from Riptide Publishing, there’s also links to Thommie’s reviews of the series. So enjoy the post <3 ~Pixie~
Apple Polisher
(Rear Entrance Video 01)
by
Heidi Belleau
This straight-A student has a dirty little secret.
Christian Blake dreams of being a kindergarten teacher, but making the grade means maintaining a squeaky clean image: no drinking, no drugs, no swearing, no sex. And definitely no falling for his new roommate—tattooed bad-boy Max, who may or may not be a drug dealer.
Most of all, it means no working at a porn store. But Christian’s aunt has cancer, and her beloved Rear Entrance Video will go bankrupt if Christian doesn’t take over managerial duties. Soon enough, Christian finds himself juggling sticky twenty-five cent peep show booths, a blackmailing employee, and a demanding professor who likes to make an example of him.
And then there’s Max, who doesn’t know anything about the store, but hates Christian’s preppy sweater vests and the closet Christian forces him into when they’re together. Max just wants Christian to be himself—even though Max is keeping secrets of his own. Christian struggles to find the impossible balance between his real life and the ideal one he thinks a teacher needs to live . . . all while trying to keep his aunt’s dream alive without losing his own.
Art student and MMORPG addict Robert Ng has always been a loner, but he’s recently made it his goal to make more (IRL) friends. Which is how he winds up working nights at Rear Entrance Video, shilling sketchy porn and blowup dolls as a favor to his roommate. The longer he works there, though, the more he realizes he’ll never be truly happy until he becomes the person he is online: his female persona, Bobby.
Bobby is cuter and funnier than Rob is, and a thousand times more popular with boys. Becoming Bobby IRL presents its own set of challenges, though . . . especially when you’re sitting on the fence between two genders, only one of which has caught the attention of your seriously cute customer/classmate.
Dylan Ford is a six-foot Inuit comic book artist who always says what’s on his mind, and screw anyone who doesn’t like it. As rough as he appears, though, Dylan has a soft spot for Rob. But will out-and-proud Dylan still want Rob if he’s not all man?
College hockey player Austin Puett is in trouble. Unless he starts treating his flamboyantly gay roommate with respect, he’ll lose his room and his job at Rear Entrance Video. But Austin’s got a not-so-straight secret of his own: nothing turns him on more than insults implying he’s gay—even though he’s definitely not!—and all his old coping methods have stopped working.
Pure desperation drives him to rent a Mischievous Pictures porn flick about straight men tricked into servicing Puck, a male dominant. Instead of letting off steam, though, it just leaves him craving more, more, more, and suddenly, Austin finds himself at Mischievous Pictures Studios for an audition. After all, you can be Gay For Pay and still be straight . . . right?
But meeting Liam Williams, the real person behind Puck, confuses Austin even more. Liam really seems to like him as a person, and Austin likes him back. And while Gay For Pay’s okay, what does it make Austin if he still wants Liam when the cameras aren’t rolling?
Hi guys, we have Rachel Haimowitz & Heidi Belleau stopping by on their tour for The Burnt Toast B&B, we have a great post by Rachel, we have a great excerpt and Rachel and Heidi has a brilliant contest that will also help a lot of Trans people. So enjoy the post and then leave a comment with a way for Heidi and Rachel to contact you. <3 ~Pixie~
The Burnt Toast B&B
(Bluewater Bay 05)
by
Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz
After breaking his arm on set, Wolf’s Landing stuntman Ginsberg Sloan finds himself temporarily out of work. Luckily, Bluewater Bay’s worst B&B has cheap long-term rates, and Ginsberg’s not too proud to take advantage of them.
Derrick Richards, a grizzled laid-off logger, inherited the B&B after his parents’ untimely deaths. Making beds and cooking sunny-side-up eggs is hardly Derrick’s idea of a man’s way to make a living, but just as he’s decided to shut the place down, Ginsberg shows up on his doorstep, pitiful and soaking wet, and Derrick can hardly send him packing.
Not outright, at least.
The plan? Carry on the B&B’s tradition of terrible customer service and even worse food until the pampered city boy leaves voluntarily. What Derrick doesn’t count on, though, is that the lousier he gets at hosting, the more he convinces bored, busybody Ginsberg to try to get the B&B back on track. And he definitely doesn’t count on the growing attraction between them, or how much more he learns from Ginsberg than how to put out kitchen fires.
Hi peeps, we now have Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau joining us with their brand new release Bliss, now both me and Tams have written reviews for this so you can see the contrast between them and you can gauge how it might fit to your tastes depending on what type of story you like 😉 There is also a brilliant giveaway so make sure to leave your email in the comments box, now I will leave you to enjoy this little nugget, good luck guys <3 ~Pixie~
Bliss
by
Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau
They’re always happy.
Rory James has worked hard all his life to become a citizen of the idyllic city-state of Beulah. Like every other kid born in the neighboring country of Tophet, he’s heard the stories: No crime or pollution. A house and food for everyone. It’s perfect, and Rory is finally getting a piece of it.
So is Tate Patterson. He’s from Tophet, too, but he’s not a legal immigrant; he snuck in as a thief. A city without crime seems like an easy score, until he crashes into Rory during a getaway and is arrested for assaulting a citizen. Instead of jail, Tate is enrolled in Beulah’s Rehabilitation through Restitution program. By living with and serving his victim for seven years, Tate will learn the human face of his crimes.
If it seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. Tate is fitted with a behavior-modifying chip that leaves him unable to disobey orders—any orders, no matter how dehumanizing. Worse, the chip prevents him from telling Rory, the one man in all of Beulah who might care about him, the truth: in a country without prisons, Tate is locked inside his own mind.
Hey guys, today we have the exciting end of the serial The Flesh Cartel with the long awaited Promise, now usually we have a review but with this serial I am doing a separate full series review which will be posted very soon (as soon as I can put into words this very disturbing but very good serial) we have Heidi and Rachel popping in to entertain you and a brilliant contest, so guys check it all out and I’ll see you all soon <3 ~Pixie~
Hiya guys, today we are bringing you Heidi Belleau’s Straight Shooter, Heidi & Riptide publishing have stopped for a quick visit so Heidi can tell you a little about Straight Shooter. Heidi is also doing a great Giveaway where ebooks 1 & 2 of Rear Entrance Video series are up for grabs! So visit for a while, check out the book, Thommie’s review and then leave a comment to win those books! <3 ~Pixie~
Hello hello! I’m Heidi Belleau, and welcome to the Riptide Books “Straight Shooter” blog tour! Straight Shooter is the third (and final?) novel in my Rear Entrance Video series, and is the story of roommate Austin, a homophobic hockey player with a kinky secret . . . and the Dominant porn star who helps him get his act together. For the next two weeks, I’ll be hopping blog to blog giving you an inside look at the novel . . . and also giving away a prize! Read on for details! Thanks to MM Good Book Reviews and to all of you for tuning in!
About Straight Shooter
This macho jock has a crooked little secret.
College hockey player Austin Puett is in trouble. Unless he starts treating his flamboyantly gay roommate with respect, he’ll lose his room and his job at Rear Entrance Video. But Austin’s got a not-so-straight secret of his own: nothing turns him on more than insults implying he’s gay—even though he’s definitely not!—and all his old coping methods have stopped working.
Pure desperation drives him to rent a Mischievous Pictures porn flick about straight men tricked into servicing Puck, a male dominant. Instead of letting off steam, though, it just leaves him craving more, more, more, and suddenly, Austin finds himself at Mischievous Pictures Studios for an audition. After all, you can be Gay For Pay and still be straight . . . right?
But meeting Liam Williams, the real person behind Puck, confuses Austin even more. Liam really seems to like him as a person, and Austin likes him back. And while Gay For Pay’s okay, what does it make Austin if he still wants Liam when the cameras aren’t rolling?
About the Author
Heidi Belleau was born and raised in small town New Brunswick, Canada. She now lives in the rugged oil-patch frontier of Northern BC with her husband, an Irish ex-pat whose long work hours in the trades leave her plenty of quiet time to write. She has a degree in history from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in British and Irish studies; much of her work centered on popular culture, oral folklore, and sexuality, but she was known to perplex her professors with papers on the historical roots of modern romance novel tropes. (Ask her about Highlanders!) Her writing reflects everything she loves: diverse casts of characters, a sense of history and place, equal parts witty and filthy dialogue, the occasional mythological twist, and most of all, love—in all its weird and wonderful forms. She also writes queer-flavoured M/F as Heloise Belleau.
Chat with her on twitter using the handle @HeidiBelleau.
Or contact her using good ole-fashioned email: heidi.heloise.belleau @ gmail.com
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Contest
Comment to win! I’m giving away ebooks one and two of the Rear Entrance Video series (that’s “Apple Polisher” and “Wallflower”) to not one, but two lucky commenters on this tour! All you gotta do is leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you (and if your preferred method of contact is email, make sure to put that in the body of the comment, not just in the blog’s form—I can’t see that info! Each comment counts for another entry in the draw, so be sure and follow the entire tour. Entries close at midnight, Eastern Time, on April 21, and winners will be chosen on April 23rd. Contest is valid worldwide.
Review
Title: Straight Shooter
Series: Rear Entrance Video #3
Author: Heidi Belleau
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Kinks & Fetish
Length: Novel (277 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62649-089-5
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (April 7th 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb:This macho jock has a crooked little secret.
College hockey player Austin Puett is in trouble. Unless he starts treating his flamboyantly gay roommate with respect, he’ll lose his room and his job at Rear Entrance Video. But Austin’s got a not-so-straight secret of his own: nothing turns him on more than insults implying he’s gay—even though he’s definitely not!—and all his old coping methods have stopped working.
Pure desperation drives him to rent a Mischievous Pictures porn flick about straight men tricked into servicing Puck, a male dominant. Instead of letting off steam, though, it just leaves him craving more, more, more, and suddenly, Austin finds himself at Mischievous Pictures Studios for an audition. After all, you can be Gay for Pay and still be straight . . . right?
But meeting Liam Williams, the real person behind Puck, confuses Austin even more. Liam really seems to like him as a person, and Austin likes him back. And while Gay for Pay’s okay, what does it make Austin if he still wants Liam when the cameras aren’t rolling? Warnings: This title contains heavy kink & self-harm.
Review: First of all, let me start by saying that this was one hell of a book, exquisitely written, extremely well thought of, with a great development of character and romance right in the middle of one hell of a kink. And to top it all it made me laugh and laugh with an amazing humoristic streak that came from between the lines and colored a read that would otherwise have been a bit heavy and/or uncomfortable.
Right after that I’d like to state that I really, really dislike the whole humiliation kink – yes, this story’s theme is humiliation as a kink – to the point I avoid books with such theme as much as I can. It makes me feel uncomfortable and it’s simply non-appealing to me. And you may well wonder how on Earth I gave this book a 5 Hearts rating since this is the case. Well, there exactly is my point. That despite me harboring a true dislike for this particular kink, the writing of this book was so brilliant that not once, not even one time did I feel the need to skim pages, or feel slightly unnerved by what I was reading. Just brilliant!
Now I’ve been following the Rear Entrance Video books since the first one and I’ve been enchanted by them. One character that had my absolute attention has always been Austin and I’ve been patiently waiting for his story. I’m so freaking glad to admit that Austin surprised and shocked the Hell out of me. I would’ve never thought the author would think of such a story for him and I seriously admire her capability of not only writing it and daring this peculiar kink, but the way it was narrated, the storytelling itself is commendable and worthy of a damn prize.
Normally I would have expected the angst and utter confusion Bobby suffered in Wallflower. Yes, Austin was seriously out of depth in everything he did or thought through 70% of the book, but the fact that this was narrated with a heavy dose of humor balanced the angst and the heaviness that would have drowned the story otherwise, without diminishing the importance of his issues.
What I also went crazy overboard with was the development between Austin and Liam; their dynamic was fascinating. There were times I expected the story to go down one path only for it to make a 180 and totally surprise me with the twists the author brilliant imagination thought off. If anyone had told me that Austin and Liam would have that “break” between them or the way they would manage to overcome issues I was blind to see before they were revealed, I’d have called them crazy. I could not imagine how things would possibly turn for the better once they took the down path. But it happened. The characters were blessed with many layers and their depth went beyond the surface, so beyond what I expected, only to charm the hell out of us with the way they overcame some seriously heavy social obstacles in their path.
So, bottom end this story was the best of them for me because the way I saw it, it was a Hell of a challenge to write it down and make it appealing in the same time. It was fantastic, well written and so much fun. It was also the last one in this “universe” according to the dedication page and I can’t say how sorry I am that Rear Entrance Video is over. This was definitely a very worth reading stand-alone series, one I don’t even hesitate to recommend. The quality of all three books is excellent and Straight Shooter in my opinion is a must read. Enjoy!
Blurb:This macho jock has a crooked little secret.
College hockey player Austin Puett is in trouble. Unless he starts treating his flamboyantly gay roommate with respect, he’ll lose his room and his job at Rear Entrance Video. But Austin’s got a not-so-straight secret of his own: nothing turns him on more than insults implying he’s gay—even though he’s definitely not!—and all his old coping methods have stopped working.
Pure desperation drives him to rent a Mischievous Pictures porn flick about straight men tricked into servicing Puck, a male dominant. Instead of letting off steam, though, it just leaves him craving more, more, more, and suddenly, Austin finds himself at Mischievous Pictures Studios for an audition. After all, you can be Gay for Pay and still be straight . . . right?
But meeting Liam Williams, the real person behind Puck, confuses Austin even more. Liam really seems to like him as a person, and Austin likes him back. And while Gay for Pay’s okay, what does it make Austin if he still wants Liam when the cameras aren’t rolling? Warnings: This title contains heavy kink & self-harm.
Review: First of all, let me start by saying that this was one hell of a book, exquisitely written, extremely well thought of, with a great development of character and romance right in the middle of one hell of a kink. And to top it all it made me laugh and laugh with an amazing humoristic streak that came from between the lines and colored a read that would otherwise have been a bit heavy and/or uncomfortable.
Right after that I’d like to state that I really, really dislike the whole humiliation kink – yes, this story’s theme is humiliation as a kink – to the point I avoid books with such theme as much as I can. It makes me feel uncomfortable and it’s simply non-appealing to me. And you may well wonder how on Earth I gave this book a 5 Hearts rating since this is the case. Well, there exactly is my point. That despite me harboring a true dislike for this particular kink, the writing of this book was so brilliant that not once, not even one time did I feel the need to skim pages, or feel slightly unnerved by what I was reading. Just brilliant!
Now I’ve been following the Rear Entrance Video books since the first one and I’ve been enchanted by them. One character that had my absolute attention has always been Austin and I’ve been patiently waiting for his story. I’m so freaking glad to admit that Austin surprised and shocked the Hell out of me. I would’ve never thought the author would think of such a story for him and I seriously admire her capability of not only writing it and daring this peculiar kink, but the way it was narrated, the storytelling itself is commendable and worthy of a damn prize.
Normally I would have expected the angst and utter confusion Bobby suffered in Wallflower. Yes, Austin was seriously out of depth in everything he did or thought through 70% of the book, but the fact that this was narrated with a heavy dose of humor balanced the angst and the heaviness that would have drowned the story otherwise, without diminishing the importance of his issues.
What I also went crazy overboard with was the development between Austin and Liam; their dynamic was fascinating. There were times I expected the story to go down one path only for it to make a 180 and totally surprise me with the twists the author brilliant imagination thought off. If anyone had told me that Austin and Liam would have that “break” between them or the way they would manage to overcome issues I was blind to see before they were revealed, I’d have called them crazy. I could not imagine how things would possibly turn for the better once they took the down path. But it happened. The characters were blessed with many layers and their depth went beyond the surface, so beyond what I expected, only to charm the hell out of us with the way they overcame some seriously heavy social obstacles in their path.
So, bottom end this story was the best of them for me because the way I saw it, it was a Hell of a challenge to write it down and make it appealing in the same time. It was fantastic, well written and so much fun. It was also the last one in this “universe” according to the dedication page and I can’t say how sorry I am that Rear Entrance Video is over. This was definitely a very worth reading stand-alone series, one I don’t even hesitate to recommend. The quality of all three books is excellent and Straight Shooter in my opinion is a must read. Enjoy!
Blurb:Satish Malhotra is in over his head. What appeared to be the hookup of his dreams turned out to be another man’s kinky sex game, and thus ended his relationship with sweet, submissive James Sheridan before it’d hardly begun.
Or so he thought. Being used in someone else’s domination/submission play should have been a deal breaker, yet James—bruises, boyfriend, and all—is too compelling to let walk away. But James has needs Satish isn’t sure he can fulfill, and it seems his mysterious Professor isn’t willing to share.
Can Satish keep James happy in bed and in life, or will James be forced to choose between his dominant and his burgeoning vanilla romance with Satish?
Review:Just for the record: Thank you dear authors. Now I just want to cry my eyes out.
As erotic romances go, I think I’m repeating myself when I say this series is highly satisfactory. It has a great writing style that easily draws you into the heart of the story, a great expertise when it comes to everything sexual, sensual and erotic that makes you pant in beat with the characters, it has characters with a surprising depth for such a short place for development, and it actually has the most intriguing plot in the line of short erotic romances I’ve read.
Each installment in this series is like a different puzzle piece that needs simply put in order to give you the great meaning of the story. Some installment are confusing making you think, “What the heck just happened” while at the same time you know that you’ll find out on the next round. Others do just that, shed light to the whole confusion, while making you crave for more.
This fourth part picks up the relationship building between Satish and James. Honestly, I didn’t expect Satish to make that big leap; it was a bit of a contrast at his whole behavior, though we did get the curiosity emanating from him in a previous installment. Still, it was a big step for Satish to overcome his jealousy and inadequate feelings, and at the same time see the beauty of what is James, want it as he came without wanting to change the slightest bit in him. The time frame it happened was remarkably short leaving me unconvinced about the solidity of his feelings, yet as I said, the writing was exquisite to the point that I did not care one bit about the sudden change of heart on Satish, all I cared for was the flow of the story and what came next, to the point I devoured this book which felt like it was over before it even started.
Unfortunately, this is the first time a book in the series actually made me want to cry. It ends up in a sad note, a scene that you realize held more than it shows. Some kind of mystery behind Carson’s motives, and the ending itself is quite heart breaking when you find yourself invested in the story as much as I apparently was. This is simply a heads up for the fans of the series, be prepared and if possible have the next installment at the ready to immediately pick up after this, for this title is going to leave you wanting and screaming in frustration.
Deduction: yet another wonderful installment from the creators of the most fascinating erotic romance series on my bookshelf. Strongly recommended!
Blurb:Just days after their scorching reunion, Professor Evander Carson has kicked his one-time pupil James Sheridan to the curb—and tried to sabotage James’s new relationship with Satish Malhotra. Something isn’t right here, but James isn’t sure he should bother trying to figure out what. Carson isn’t good for him and will never change. He needs to accept that and move on.
Satish knows something is up, too, but he thinks the relationship between Carson and James is worth saving. To do the right thing, Satish will have to make James and Carson confront the secrets they’ve hidden for years and help them to overcome the pain and mistrust they’ve caused.
But if Satish succeeds, where will that leave him and his intensifying romance with James? Will the three of them be able to find the right balance, or will James be forced to choose between the pain and submission he craves with Carson, and the sweet, vanilla stability he’s found with Satish?
Review: And the series (sadly) come to an end with this last installment that makes up for so much confusion, frustration and wistfulness the previous four books evoked.
In this final part, the authors engage flashbacks in their storytelling in order to shed light to the various “why’s” that had been born, especially concerning Carson’s motives and feelings and the entire background of this enticing little story. We realize yet again that the whole situation with Carson, James, and Satish is set in the very short time frame of some days, yet I had all but forgotten it with the way we went back and forth in time through each book.
For me this last book was very successful and managed to satisfy all my hopes for these characters. It is weird how invested I became with them, how much I came to like and adore each and every one of them, though I have to admit Carson had my heart from the first book even as he seemed quite the jerk back then. We get to see Carson’s true motives and that is so wonderfully written, humanizing him and making him finally, finally approachable, letting his sweet and caring side truly shine.
This little line here: “How could you assume I meant to demean them, when I offered them my greatest treasure?” is a very good example of the hurt Carson suffers when he realizes just what James thinks of him and how much misunderstanding exist between them. There were points while reading this book that I simply wanted to shake James up, and while I liked Satish on the other books, I came to literally love him here. The intensity that came forth, the tangible tension and the way the managed to reach me as a reader were beyond enjoyable. I came to admire the writers for their mastery.
The only frustrating thing and I know I’ve said this again, is that this story was so short. I’m saddened it’s done and over with, I still crave more and more, though all are said and done and the ending was more than superb for me. The sweet balance between vanilla and kink, the love that already exists and the new one that is brewing and simmering, the dynamics that come forth in the end, they all were to my likening and made for a fantastic read start to finish. Fans of the series don’t need the suggestion, but if you’re stumbling through this review and/or series by accident, if you like intriguing and spicy erotic romances, then I urge you to pick it up. It was one hell of a ride and the most enjoyable short length series I’ve read lately.
Blurb:Twenty years after a deadly pandemic ravaged the world, Darragh Fergus Anluan and the people of his village have carved out a hard but simple life in the Irish countryside. But with winter comes sickness, and Darragh must travel to Dublin in search of medicine. What he finds there is a ruined city ruled by a madman, where scavenging is punishable by death . . . or conscription.
Ciaran Daly came to Ireland with aid and optimism, but instead was enslaved by the so-called King of Dublin. After months of abuse from the king and his men, he has no reason to believe this newcomer will be any different. Except Ciaran finds himself increasingly drawn to Darragh, whose brutish looks mask how sweet and gentle he really is.
The tenderness Darragh feels for the king’s treasured pet is treason, but it’s hardly the only betrayal brewing in this rotten kingdom. Rebellions and rival gangs threaten the king’s power, but not nearly as much as Darragh and Ciaran—whose only hope for freedom is the fall of the king.
* This title contains the following sensitive themes: dubious consent, explicit violence, and non-consent.
Review: In this exquisitely written dystopian story we follow the path different parts of human’s society take when the world ends. In some way this story answers the question “what happens after all hell breaks loose?” and these authors give us their opinion from three different scenes.
One of the protagonists comes from a secluded village in the Irish country. The sickness that has wiped out the world reached Darragh’s village and took all the adults leaving the young children to fetch for themselves. So immediately, we have an innocent soul living in the aftermath of the apocalypse. Darragh is strong and hardened from the country life, but he is a genuinely good guy, a nice and kind soul. He is something of a miracle that pops out of nowhere in this book and literally brightens the story with his inner light.
Quite the opposite of him is Ciaran, the son of a politician raised among the powerful and educated with the expectation to follow on his father’s steps. When chaos erupted Ciaran was dragged to safety up in the North and he has been pampered his entire life. Something he detests with a vengeance. His ideology brings him in the heart of Dublin with aid for the poor and starving people, but what he gets there disillusions him from those noble notions. While the characteristically naïve guy in this story appeared to be Darragh, I think Ciaran was more and suffered it badly. From the prince to be he was stripped of all dignity and humanity, soul-drained and abused to the extreme by the monster of this story.
And that brings me to the King of Dublin, Boru. What a brilliantly written character. A mad man, a complete psycho, an insecure sick and perverse man who rose from the shitpile when chaos erupted, gained power over the unfortunate by sheer violence and suffered the headiness that comes with it. Insanity and constant fear of the shadows, seeing conspiracies everywhere, killing friends and foes in his madness. Add to that a great dose of sadism and you have a true nightmare coming alive. I adored this character for he was written in a golden pen. I really, really dislike books that focus on the “heroes” while their villains are utterly ridiculous. This book made up for so many badly written “bad guys” out there.
This story takes your breath away… literally. I picked it up and I was entranced by its beauty. Yes, of course it was dark and brutal. Yes, it made me cringe and it made me scared shitless at some points, it caused me agony from fear for the characters, it enraged and made me furious and most of the time I wanted to rip Boru’s heart and stomp on it. And good God it made me live this story with an intensity that had me panting and tearing up and taking deep breaths to cool myself. Never once did I feel the need to put it down though. From its first line, there wasn’t even a moment where I felt the storytelling drag. It kept me constantly on my toes, captive of every written word.
The best part of all for me though was the way the authors wrote the love blooming in this freaking desperation and bloodthirsty world. I loved the fact that while the attraction was there instantly, the mistrust and fear did not allow it to bloom naturally but rather in a twisted way, between lies and manipulation where pure feeling are so easy to wither and die before they are even born. This love was so beautiful because it really had to overcome many, many obstacles, not merely a psychopathic tyrant and the constant death threat hanging above the characters’ neck, it had to overcome the very difference in the characters’ personality and bitter new selves. Darragh and Ciaran had to survive this Hell, but they also had to cope and survive what they’d become ever since they stepped foot in Dublin. In the end, though Darragh is the knight in shining armor, each one of them had to save themselves on their own in order to truly get on the other side and start living the future they so often dreamed about.
I could keep writing and talking about this book forever it seems, but I’m simply ending this here. Those of you who follow my reviews know how hard it is for a book to claim my 5 hearts, but this book, this story, the writing and the presentation, everything about King of Dublin earned each and every heart I gave it. It was a brilliant title in the Post-Apocalyptic genre and if this is one of you preferred genres, I strongly recommend this book to you. Not to be missed!
Blurb: Jez is on a mission of mercy: to replace a tragically deceased comic book for his injured best mate, Tel. Venturing into the Hidden Asteroid bookstore in London—the temple of geekdom itself—Jez is bowled over by the guy behind the counter.
Rhys is the poster boy for hot geeks: tall, gorgeous, and totally cool. Jez is desperate to impress him, so he bluffs his way through comic book jargon . . . and then dashes back to the hospital to beg Tel to teach him how to speak Geek.
Tel’s happy to oblige, and Jez is over the moon when Rhys asks him out. He’s even more thrilled when they discover a shared love of rugby, something he won’t have to fake for Rhys. The question is, how long can Jez keep up the deception, and what will happen when Rhys realizes he’s going out with a Fake Geek Guy?
Tam’s Review:Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 2.5Hearts Jez wanders into the local bookstore one afternoon in search of a comic book for his best mate. He’s struck speechless by the guy at the counter. Rhys comes across as the proverbial geek, and Jez enlists the help of his pal so that he too can master the language. Jez doesn’t consider himself to be anything above average and doesn’t think he can be himself and stand a chance with the tall, slender and gorgeous Rhys.
Jez spends the next day getting geeked up with Tel, his best pal, in preparation to go back and make an impression on Rhys. Jez transforms into a fairly convincing Geek and that first date turns into a trip to comic con, which turns into a wild, yet verbally awkward, sexy night. In the end, both Jez and Rhys have a confession to make.
I’m not a huge comic book fan, so a lot of the comic/geek speak was foreign to me. I am, however, a huge Star Trek and Battlestar fan from back in the day. And I know how hard-core fans can be, so I was able to see where the author was going with this story line. It’s not your typical M/M romance, that is for sure. The two ML were obviously comfortable with their sexuality, but the sex was written slightly awkward, so the story didn’t blend well in that aspect.
I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. Just an okay read, but hard-core Geeks, sci-fi and comic book fans are sure to love this little short story.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
Portia’s Two Cents:Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Well, I speak Geek proficiently, and I LOVED this book. It didn’t have the angst that I’ve come to expect from J.L.Merrow, but it showed her playful comedic side and I thought it was brilliant. Rhys is a hottie, who happens to be a nice guy. Jez is a nice guy, who doesn’t realize he’s a hottie. I was rooting for them from speechless moment one. I loved every misunderstanding, every misstep and the awe with which both came into the relationship. It was just two nice guys falling in love and I really enjoyed watching them do it.
My only complaint is that Tel is straight. I’d have saved of my money to read about the guy who could tame that hard-core geek.
Hey guys, here we are back with another great blog tour from Riptide Publishing, this time it’s Inch by Inch written by Heidi Belleau and Amelia C. Gormley. You will have a chance to win some fantastic books so leave comments galore throughout the blog tour 🙂 I’ve also added Thommie’s review so you can see what she thought of the book and it’s good! So here you go and enjoy ~Pixie~v
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (A look forward at the final two installments of The Professor’s Rule)
Hi, and welcome to the Inch by Inch blog tour! Inch by Inch is the third in Riptide’s BDSM erotica series The Professor’s Rule, written by Heidi Belleau and Amelia C. Gormley. Today, MM Good Book Reviews has asked us to share our thoughts on the future of The Professor’s Rule as the series comes to a close. We’ll also be sharing an excerpt from Every Inch of the Way (The Professor’s Rule #4), coming in March 2014. All week we’ll be touring the web giving you a behind-the-scenes look at The Professor’s Rule, including new character profiles and some very steamy excerpts. We’re also giving away not one but TWO ebooks, so stay tuned!
Thanks so much to our host, MM Good Book Reviews and to you readers, of course, for coming along!
For those readers who might be a little distressed at the quasi-cliffhanger on which Inch by Inch ends, fear not! Coming March 3, 2014, all your questions will be answered and the story of James, Carson and Satish will come to a close in the simultaneous release of Every Inch of the Way (The Professor’s Rule #4) and To the Very Last Inch (The Professor’s Rule #5).
So what can you expect?
Carson may have an agenda that James never suspected–but does it involve Satish, or will it require trying to get rid of him? As we get into TPR #4 and #5, we begin to see how some of the most innocuous of events at the beginning of Carson and James’s relationship (as shown in An Inch at a Time), will carry ripple effects that may make or break their chances of a future together.
We also get to see just what Satish is made of. Is he a hapless subject in a game that has nothing to do with him, or is he crucial to healing the wounds James and Carson have inflicted upon one another in the past?
Just what did result in James leaving Carson in the past? In TPR #5 we delve further into their history. We’ve seen the genesis of their relationship revealed in TPR #2, but now we get a look at where it all fell apart, and why. And whether Satish is there to end it for good . . . or to help shape it into something new?
And now, a sneak peek of The Professor’s Rule #4, coming in March 2014 from Riptide Publishing!
“Excuse me?” A cultured voice intruded on Satish’s mental flailings.
He blinked and turned around quickly, the mask of professionalism sliding into place with a little more effort than usual. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. I’m here to collect a tailoring order for . . .”
The man didn’t even need to finish the sentence, didn’t need to say the words “James Sheridan.” Satish knew who he was looking at.
Well, no problem. According to James, this man recognized Satish, but that didn’t mean Satish must in turn recognize him. Satish could feign ignorance, pretend he thought this man was James’s dad or something, hand the clothes over, and it would all be over. No need to face James, which was what he’d been stressing over all morning.
Wait . . . Had James really chickened out on this? Sent his “whatever” instead? What the fuck? After everything, he couldn’t even look Satish in the face to pick up his own damn tailoring?
You can’t have it both ways, man. Either he’s giving you the space you requested and you’re glad not to bump into him, or you want to have it out and you’re pissed he’s not here. Make up your mind.
Satish gave his mental voice of reason a few well-chosen hand gestures.
“Of course, sir.” Satish pasted on a vapid smile. “If you’ll wait, I’ll go grab your son’s tailoring.”
Satish hadn’t meant it as an insult, but when the man’s nostrils flared, it still gave him a bitchy jolt of satisfaction. So, he was touchy about the age difference, huh? All right, Satish could turn this situation to his advantage. Game on.
“I’m Professor Carson,” the man said, his voice artificially calm.
“Oh?” Satish replied, and felt an evil little smile tugging at his lips. “James didn’t tell me his father was a professor.”
Carson sighed like he found the situation tiresome. “Come now, Satish. Are we really going to play this game?”
Well, that took the wind out of his sails. No fun trying to poke Carson if he wasn’t going to play along. Whatever. Satish was getting perilously close to endangering his job for the sake of a few petty jibes now, anyway. But oh, it felt good. He did need this job, however. He sighed. “Right. Excuse me, sir,” he said with an apologetic nod of his head. “Let me get your items.”
Whatever Satish wanted to think of him, the dude had composure in spades. And presence. Maybe it was because of his age, but it was like he filled the entire store when Satish ducked into the back room to fetch the mini-wardrobe James had purchased after blowing him in the dressing room. Satish could still feel Carson out there, waiting with that unflappable expression.
The weight of all the clothing James had bought practically pulled Satish’s arm off as he carried it back to the counter, where Carson was casually checking his phone as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Texting James? Satish had to keep his mouth from twisting bitterly.
“This is everything, sir. All paid for. Just sign the slip here.”
“Of course.” Carson produced a pen out of his inner breast pocket with a strangely graceful gesture and signed the receipt with a negligent flourish. His eyes returned to Satish as he slid the paper back across the counter. “Anything you’d like me to tell James on your behalf when I see him next?”
Satish narrowed his eyes. He dropped his voice to a hiss to prevent his manager from overhearing. “No thanks. Unlike some people, I don’t need to involve third parties in my business.”
Carson didn’t–quite–roll his eyes, but there was something in his expression that conveyed that same sort of disdain. An arrogant brand of Really? “Well, consider it for the best.” He gathered up James’s tailoring, and his tone dripped the same sort of bitchy condescension Satish’s had earlier when he’d goaded Carson about his age. “It’s hardly like things would work out with you and James anyway. He has needs you could never fulfill. Believe me when I say it’s better for you to just step gracefully aside. Good afternoon.”
Carson swept out while Satish was still gaping like a fish, searching for words.
Contest Info:
If you haven’t fallen in lust with the Professor, yet, now’s your chance! We’ve got two ebooks to give away to two lucky commenters: one copy of Giving an Inch, and one of An Inch at a Time. That’s two chances to win! Let us know your thoughts and hopes for the rest of the series! Be sure to include your contact info (email, twitter, or facebook!) on this or any of the other of the posts on this tour for a chance to win. More comments=more entries, so to increase your odds of winning, be sure to follow the entire tour! We’ll pick a winner New Year’s eve, so you can start 2014 right!
Inch by Inch (The Professor’s Rule #3)
After two long, kink-free years apart, James Sheridan has reunited with his Professor: the sexy, dominant Evander Carson. But this time, things will be different. James is older, more sure of himself, and confident that he can draw the line between Carson’s demands and his own principles.
One of those lines is gorgeous menswear salesman Satish Malhotra. After their steamy dressing room encounter, James feels an unexpected connection to Satish, and he wants to explore it further. But Carson’s involvement—in James’s life, and in James and Satish’s budding relationship—complicates things.
Carson’s penchant for using other men in their sex games has always troubled James, and he’s adamant that Satish not be just another notch in their whipping post. But when Satish learns what prompted James to pursue him in the first place, will James’s new ability to draw the line even matter?
About Amelia: Amelia C. Gormley may seem like anyone else. But the truth is she sings in the shower, dances doing laundry, and writes blisteringly hot m/m erotic romance while her son is at school. When she’s not writing in her Pacific Northwest home, Amelia single-handedly juggles her husband, her son, their home, and the obstacles of life by turning into an everyday superhero. And that, she supposes, is just like anyone else
Her self-published novel-in-three-parts, Impulse (Inertia, Book One;Acceleration, Book Two; and Velocity, Book Three) can be found at most major online book retailers, and be sure to check Riptide for her latest releases, including her Highland historical, The Laird’s Forbidden Lover, theThe Professor’s Ruleseries of erotic novelettes (co-written with Heidi Belleau), and her upcoming post-apocalyptic romance, Strain
About Heidi: Heidi Belleau was born and raised in small town New Brunswick, Canada. She now lives in the rugged oil-patch frontier of Northern BC with her husband, an Irish ex-pat whose long work hours in the trades leave her plenty of quiet time to write. She has a degree in history from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in British and Irish studies; much of her work centered on popular culture, oral folklore, and sexuality, but she was known to perplex her professors with papers on the historical roots of modern romance novel tropes. (Ask her about Highlanders!) Her writing reflects everything she loves: diverse casts of characters, a sense of history and place, equal parts witty and filthy dialogue, the occasional mythological twist, and most of all, love—in all its weird and wonderful forms. She also writes queer-flavoured M/F as Heloise Belleau.
Blurb: After two long, kink-free years apart, James Sheridan has reunited with his Professor: the sexy, dominant Evander Carson. But this time, things will be different. James is older, more sure of himself, and confident that he can draw the line between Carson’s demands and his own principles.
One of those lines is gorgeous menswear salesman Satish Malhotra. After their steamy dressing room encounter, James feels an unexpected connection to Satish, and he wants to explore it further. But Carson’s involvement—in James’s life, and in James and Satish’s budding relationship—complicates things.
Carson’s penchant for using other men in their sex games has always troubled James, and he’s adamant that Satish not be just another notch in their whipping post. But when Satish learns what prompted James to pursue him in the first place, will James’s new ability to draw the line even matter?
Review: Book three in a series that is best read in order, Inch by Inch picks up right after James and Satish hook up at the clothes-store. If you’ve read the first part of the series, you already remember that James defied Carson in the little game he planned for James and Satish. Not only he defied him, but turned the encounter from a mere game to be all for himself and Satish, leaving Carson completely out of it. And as you’ve probably already guessed, there is a price to pay for that.
What follows is a beautiful scene between Carson and James. Discipline administering, sensory deprivation, a rough claiming and surprise-surprise James still made it and put some limits in this get together. Two years had left him craving for what Carson offers him, but thing will not be the way they used to, not anymore.
Also James takes a stand and delivers the final blow to Carson by telling him in no uncertain way that he intends to date Satish, and in no way with he be one of their games.
It’s really interesting reading this part of the series, besides it being awfully hot and maddeningly erotic. There are things being stated here that James completely misses the meaning of them when it comes to Carson. I admit I’m biased as Carson is my favorite character, but I don’t think I blind myself into seeing things that aren’t there. To me it is apparent how deeply Carson cares for James, I even think he’s in love with him, and it saddens me that James can’t see it. Yes, Carson is a master into hiding his emotions, but even so, there were times in this story that I so wanted to slap James silly, especially in the way I felt he was taking advantage of Carson.
So here, we have, the first book was the start of something between Satish and James while introducing us to James and Carson’s dynamics, the second book going back in time to show us exactly what Carson and James’ relationship was all about, with the third book going full circle and two different relationships emerging. James and Carson are trying to go back to what they had but with major new differences, and James and Satish trying to make something out of their attraction. The result of all that are some amazingly well written scenes involving kinks and a Dom/sub dynamic that leaves you panting, and the passionate claiming of new lovers that simply have you drooling all over the pages.
The end of this part leaves you with a hopeful feeling for the two new lovers, but it left me with a deep sadness on Carson’s behalf. If I thought I’d know by now what the next installment will bring, I’m roughly disillusioned, as I have no clue, only eagerness and a rising anticipation that has me nearly trembling. I knew of course this series would captivate me, but as it unfolds, it’s becoming brightly clear that that is an understatement. I’m simply in love with The Professor’s Rule and I totally recommend it to fans of Kinks &Fetishes. It’s an absolutely lovely series, so well written that you will have no trouble getting lost in their magic at all.
Blurb: Mat and Douglas’s time as Nikolai’s wards is finally drawing to a close. Though torn apart by Nikolai’s machinations, their fates are still inextricably entwined: they’ve been sold to the same cruel master, and are united in their desire to go home. But “home” means two different things to the brothers: for Mat, their little bungalow in Nevada, and for Douglas, a swift return to Nikolai and Roger, the only people he believes still love him. But first, they must survive their new master. Smythe Hall is a twisted island paradise where Americans affect British accents and slave boys dress up as slave girls, all at the whims of the rich and megalomaniacal Allen Smythe-Kennedy.
Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson can’t let the case of the missing brothers lie. He knows it’s a waste of resources to chase ghosts down a cold trail, but after admiring Mathias “Stonewall” Carmichael ringside and at countless after parties where he was too shy to say hello, he’s determined to solve the mystery and bring Mat and his little brother home.
Review: For me, this was a very disturbing segment of a serial, I have not followed before. Human trafficking is anything but sexy, and when there is this much violence and dubious consent, implied forced rape of one brother by another, and not true D/s relationships but more brainwashing and submission without safewords, it makes it difficult for me to read.
We go back and forth between the investigator’s POV, the brothers’ POV, and the captors’ POV. It’s a gritty, down and dirty crime read. This is not a romance, that I could determine. But I have not read any of the previous installments in this series. It seems there is a connection that FBI agent Nate Johnson develops mentally anyhow with his missing victims, and I can imagine it develops along the way. Too violent for my tastes, but if that kind of crime story is your thing it is well written, full of details, and physiological mind benders.
Blurb: Ronan’s only choice when he suspects his sister has been taken by the fairies is to brave the path between the worlds to bargain for her return. He knows well the old tales and folk magic necessary to open the way, but he is wholly unprepared for what comes after. Because his impetuousness draws the interest of ruthless King Finnbheara, who intends to extract a price for his cooperation that may be too high for Ronan to pay.
(Originally published in the anthology Like It or Not from Storm Moon Press)
Review: Oh My God! What a freaking, creepy, psychedelic read. Loved it!
Yeah, I know there must be something wrong with me, because I simply adore these kinds of books.
Ah, what can I say about this book. Well first of you must really like dub-con stories because Ronan here has gotten himself into some serious trouble. Believing that his sister Rose is forced to serve the fairies and getting up his mind to save her from her fate, he literally barges into the unknown.
Demanding things from Gods never brought anyone results, but going all cocky like around sadistic child-like immortals is bound to get you into more trouble you’ve ever thought possible. After all, why should a God bow to a mere mortal’s demands?
No, this is not a romantic read where some immortal forcibly takes a mortal and yet falls in love with him in the end with them living happily ever after. I’m not so sure there is a happy for now end for this shorty. It definitely is the run-as-fast-as-you-can kind. The character here is tricked to believe the fairies have his sister, then forced to endure for his “sister’s” sake believing he’s trading his self for her, told that his notions are false and that the fairies never had the sister in first place, mistrusting them and thinking they lie until that very sister verifies that story… Horror I tell, this story should be shelved in the horror category. Because when poor Ronan gets his head in order he sees how he’s been played, but beyond that, he is now linked forever with the fairy world. Never again, will he be able to sever ties with the Gods that come to him every single nigh, no matter how far or fast he runs…
Yes, a splendid story indeed, and I gave way not all of it so much so that if you say there are spoilers here that will be the understatement of the century, but it really matters. It doesn’t matter, because no matter how accurately I tell you the entire story, I’ll never be able to produce the feeling you get when reading this story. The anxiety I felt all the time, the nail-biting feelings, the hot, carnal, and deeply dark erotic scenes, the gripping writing that has you tethered and shackled on you chair while you literally inhale the read…
In short if you’re even slightly fond of the genre, grab this short, it’s delicious and so wicked, it will make a fantastic fast read for your evening.
Blurb: This straight-A student has a dirty little secret.
Christian Blake dreams of being a kindergarten teacher, but making the grade means maintaining a squeaky-clean image: no drinking, no drugs, no swearing, and no sex. And definitely no falling for his new roommate—tattooed bad-boy Max, who may or may not be a drug dealer.
Most of all, it means no working at a porn store. But Christian’s aunt has cancer, and her beloved Rear Entrance Video will go bankrupt if Christian doesn’t take over managerial duties. Soon enough, Christian finds himself juggling sticky twenty-five cent peep show booths, a blackmailing employee, and a demanding professor who likes to make an example of him.
And then there’s Max, who doesn’t know anything about the store, but hates Christian’s preppy sweater vests and the closet Christian forces him into when they’re together. Max just wants Christian to be himself—even though Max is keeping secrets of his own. Christian struggles to find the impossible balance between his real life and the ideal one he thinks a teacher needs to live . . . all while trying to keep his aunt’s dream alive without losing his own.
Review: I should have not read this book after Wallflower, but then again I’d have missed one hell of a story. Heads up: start this series from the beginning.
This is a beautiful story that wants its characters to be multi-dimensional and affected by life quite realistically, dealing with it just as we would and making mistakes, suffering from them and eventually grown and learn.
Christian is a gay man, fighting his way through college, trying to reach his dreams and prove his mother wrong. Being a teacher has been all he’s wanted ever since he was a little boy, but that little voice inside his head that is very similar to his mother’s keeps dragging him down under a thick veil of self-doubt. In his continuous fight to make a decent life Christian is dragged back and forth between trying to dispel people’s expectations and judgment, and expecting/judging other in the same harsh way he thinks he’s subjected too.
Enter Max, his new roommate (one out of four) who has a very I-don’t-care-what-you-think view in life. He’s charming and alluring in that bad-boy kind of way, gives vibes of being even a criminal, and lives life the way he wants to without care for other’s opinion.
Max is a very strong character here with a great effect upon Christian. I think – besides the fact that Christian is being a complete jerk for half the read – that he even hates Max. He is unnerved by Max and the attraction between them, yet when every cell in his body tells him to run away from him Christian can’t deny that being in Max’s arms feels just right. When Max tells him head on that his pursuit of his dreams is changing him into a man, he doesn’t want to be and that sacrificing his family for those dreams is the worst thing Christian could do, things turn a bit dark. The turmoil in Christian’s life is made twice worse from his newfound doubts, and choices he eventually can’t avoid.
In the end, this is a story about the struggles of this character (Christian) and how when everything seems to have come at its worse, there is always a bright and shiny side. I loved it; the plot, the characters involved, the turnarounds that were plenty, the surprises these character kept throwing along the way, and lastly the emotional intensity that this text was so wonderfully filled with. The balance between erotic and romance was fantastic. One moment I was reading a text full of passion and downright porn scenes, the next there was love and sweet emotions without it even being said, or when said came so effortlessly and smooth with the context. I just love it when romance is corny-free.
Another thing I want to mention every time, yet forget, about this publishing house’s work is its great quality. Half my enjoyment when I read a book coming from Riptide is from the feeling that I’m reading a real, solid book. I feel that if I go close enough my screen I’m going to even smell the scent of the paper, not to mention that the editing is just perfect and I’m left with only the story and the ride it takes me to deal with.
Overall, I’m highly satisfied by the first book in this series. It was exactly what I expected to be, made me feel so good after reading it, and yet again, I can’t wait for Austin’s story. Strongly recommended!
Art student and MMORPG addict Robert Ng has always been a loner, but he’s recently made it his goal to make more (IRL) friends. Which is how he winds up working nights at Rear Entrance Video, shilling sketchy porn and blowup dolls as a favor to his roommate. The longer he works there, though, the more he realizes he’ll never be truly happy until he becomes the person he is online: his female persona, Bobby.
Bobby is cuter and funnier than Rob is, and a thousand times more popular with boys. Becoming Bobby IRL presents its own set of challenges, though . . . especially when you’re sitting on the fence between two genders, only one of which has caught the attention of your seriously cute customer/classmate.
Dylan Ford is a six-foot Inuit comic book artist who always says what’s on his mind, and screw anyone who doesn’t like it. As rough as he appears, though, Dylan has a soft spot for Rob. But will out-and-proud Dylan still want Rob if he’s not all man?
Review: And this reviewer’s inner geek thrilled with this book.
So yeah, my former addiction with MMORPG’s is not hidden, the fact that I simply love those games and especially the ones that contain elves and orcs in there are my absolute favs. So when I picked up this particular book I was already biased, but add to that the cross-dressing character and a fabulous writing and damn, this was a very, very enjoyable read for me.
So yeah, the book starts a bit slowly and steadily introduces us Rob. At first I disliked that slow pace (I’m much fonder of the fast and furious pace where events hit you full force), but I admit that in order to truly appreciate Rob/Bobby you needed a bit of time and some clarifications.
Rob/Bobby is this very confused young man. An online game addict with a very shy personality Rob is the classic “loser.” He goes completely ignored by everyone (literally) except his sister and his online friends. Yeah, his sister has an obligation toward him right, so she can’t ignore him, but even his “friends” don’t know the real him simply because in-game Rob is Bobby.
Bobby is flirtatious, confident, and social. She is admired and always cool. Bobby is still non-existent up until Rob decides to make her part-real IRL too. And while he passed for female, making his customers at the video club he works finally looking at him/her, acknowledging him and telling him he’s pretty, a strange thing happens. Rob gets some confidence as well (was it Bobby’s influence or his new classmate/customer Dylan’s) and he starts a relationship. Miracle of miracles and his boyfriend Dylan not only looks at him, but also literally starts loving him. However, Dylan has made one thing clear since the beginning, he’s gay, and he likes his men all man…
This was a very well studied plot in my opinion, one that made me want to re-read this book to truly appreciate it. Things that are a bit mysterious at the beginning lead you on the wrong path (or at least they did me) and only near the end the complete clarification comes, after many twists and turns that were steadily building up that tension that the beginning lacked. The entire confusion Rob’s character suffered was practically brilliant and very believable. The essence of the twenty years old who’s not 100% sure of what, why or how was perfectly captured and that whole angst people that age pass through was delivered without the additional burden of unnecessary drama.
The relationship between Dylan and Rob may have made it into myfavorite couples list, they were so well suited. I loved them both together and separately as characters. Dylan was just wow. The fact that he was a punk looking teddy bear was adorable, the in your face, no-censor brain-to-mouth and the flawed external appearance were simply brilliant and invigorating. Rob’s complicated personality along with the lovely presentable Chinese appearance made him a lovable character as well. Yeah there were times where you wanted to spank the hell out of him, but that’s just proof of how alive that character came to be for you while reading, a treat actually and a mark that the author did well with giving him life.
So yeah, I loved the story, the plot, the characters, the sex (yeah definitely that, quite hot). I loved the geeky guy, I loved the cross-dressing guy and I could go on and on, but in the end, what matters is that if you find the above slightly appealing I strongly recommend you give this one a shot. It’s guaranteed to be an enjoyable read.
P.S. I wonder is the next book going to be Austin’s story? Hmm, I really, really hope so.
Blurb: James Sheridan is failing history. Luckily, his professor is a rumored pervert, and James isn’t too proud to pay for a better grade with his body. Professor Carson lives up to his reputation, but he’s not unethical enough to take sexual bribes. What he can offer is some highly unconventional tutoring . . . creative use of a ruler included.
The deal? Studying, followed by a “quiz.” Wrong answer? Spanking. Right answer? Reward. Ace the final, earn some mind-blowing sex. Its harder work than sexual bribery, but it beats the volunteer tutors at the student center.
After a few study sessions, James realizes he wants way more than a grade from Professor Carson, even if he’s not sure what that is. Carson’s a silver fox, all right, but James isn’t “bent” the way Carson is, and for him, the spankings are only supposed to be a means to an end. But the better he gets at history, the more he realizes he likes getting answers wrong just as much as getting them right.
I knew it with absolute certainty when I read Giving an Inch, the first book in the series, that it was the beginning of a great ride. I knew that the second book would be just as good, if not better. But I hadn’t anticipated exactly just how much.
This second book does not follow the first; it rather takes us back at the beginning, at how Carson and James met. So there, I have my wishes to get to know Carson being fulfilled.
The rumors had it that Professor Carson is a deviant who takes advantage of gay college boys, so James who is failing his term thinks it a good idea to hit on his professor in exchange for a grade. He had no idea though how this would go about. Carson is definitely a character that his sole existence is to keep people on their toes, let alone a green guy like James. Carson’s leanings come a bit of a shock to James and while everything in his head tells him to go elsewhere for help, his stubborn personality and love for challenge make an appearance and the result is, well, quite mind-blowing if I may say so.
I absolutely adored this book. I can’t state enough that this was so much more than I expected. I loved the fact that the authors took us back in time and let us see the young James. I loved the fact that James has a background and more depth as a character. It makes it so easy to get attached to him now, something that was lacking in the first book. I could now see that determination his older version had, see where it came from, how it becomes stronger. Literally, this book gave me a huge connection with our MC’s for I’m not forgetting Carson.
If you’ve read the first book, you well know that Carson was just voice through the phone there. Yet he was so strong and made such an impact (to me at least) that getting to know this character now was like a sip of cold water after a very hot day. He is so wonderfully charming I just can’t get enough of him.
And what a great writing did these authors exhibit with this pair’s dynamic and chemistry. How effortlessly did the relationship fly from a game of sorts to something… more (can’t call this a relationship), and how freaking hot everything was. Keeping in mind that there was only one sex scene, I’m afraid the “moderate” level of heat I gave it was not quite so fair, because this book is so full of sexual charge that every single page seemed to be overflowing with heat and sex, even as there was none of it. I quite astounded by that, and can’t quite find the words to describe how intense, beautiful, and hot this read was. You know when authors use that phrase “electric charge.” Well, for me this entire book was just that. Pretty brilliant.
In the end the only thing I can add is that if you like the teacher/student gig and if you’d like to read a book that caters to this part of kink and BDSM, An Inch at a Time is masterfully written to give you a perfect and most enjoyable read. As for me, I can’t wait for the next book in The Professor’s Rule Series.
Blurb: After an inconvenient display of mercy in the arena, the gladiator Anazâr is pulled from the sands and contracted to nobleman Lucius Marianus to train his new stable of female gladiators. His charges are demoralized and untested, and they bear the marks of abuse. Anazâr has a scant two months to prepare them for the arena, and his new master demands perfection.
Anazâr is surprised by how eager he is to achieve it—far more eager than a man motivated only by self-preservation. Perhaps it’s because Marianus is truly remarkable: handsome, dignified, honorable, and seemingly as attracted to Anazâr as Anazâr is to him.
But a rivalry between Marianus and his brother sparks a murder conspiracy, with Anazâr and his gladiatrices caught in the middle. One brother might offer salvation . . . but which? And in a world where life is worth less than the pleasures of the crowd or the whims of a master, can there be any room for love? As a gladiator, Anazâr’s defenses are near impenetrable. But as a man, he learns to his cost that no armor or shield can truly protect his heart.
Review: What a lovely book this one was, so utterly captivating and enthralling in its theme. Gladiators are generally a beloved topic of mine, but this book was not merely a fantasy, it was a full on literary work, with quite some research covering its background and a truly fascinating story.
Anazar, a once upon a time Numidian warrior, now a fierce gladiator finds his life’s thread to be quickly shortening as he no longer finds a reason to live. Yes, of course, in the middle of the battle when his instincts take over, he fights with all he has, but he is quickly running short on that. His owner is deeply dissatisfied and lends him over to a man who has recently come to own his own gladiator team. Female gladiators. He is in need of a trainer and one that will not have a mind to take advantage of the women. Anazar is the perfect man for that on many accounts; he’s seasoned, knows his way around the arena and training of gladiators and he has no interest on women whatsoever. Men on the other hand…
I loved how smoothly Anazar’s profile was written here. I loved how the authors slowly led us into his head and mindset. A fierce man who had resigned on his slavery. A man who has accepted and submitted to his duties. I actually had a hard time making my mind about him and his nature. Was he a submissive, or not? I still can’t make up my mind and that’s a beauty I rarely come across when getting to know characters. Most are so stereotypically described they hold no interest, but Anazar is a character you want to get to know. He has many layers of personality, each one slowly revealing itself throughout the book. He is strong in his beliefs of what his duty is without being blind to his master’s faults. Well… almost. His slave status and conditioning is revealed in the many ways and turns his brain takes. There is that resigned state of mind and sub servitude that comes from having no choices left, without diminishing his passion and fire, without turning him weak. Ah, I loved, loved this character, he is exquisite.
Moving on, Fate has him caring for life once again when he’s forced to make gladiators out of women. Such a cruel notion, one that tugs at Anazar’s heart. But when added to the mix of new turns and twists his Master’s brother, Anazar finds he’s unable to maintain control on the following events. Can a man borne to master men see a slave for a human being? And at that, can a slave see a master of men in the light of love? And can that all happen in the midst of a City where treachery and backstabbing politics were born and thrive?
Quite the interesting plot this one, with the Roman’s characteristically treacherous politics barreling full force and making this book a wondrous emotional ride. Hidden agendas and untrustworthy characters made the effect even brighter. I lost count of the times a new plot was made, I lost count of the many layers of corruption and back-stabbing, and I lost count of the times my heart plummeted to the floor along with Anazar’s, and how my guts turned and complained at the emotional assault. Even the end was an event in its self, every time I thought it was over a new twist would make my breath catch and turn me into a nerve wreck.
Ah dear me, I could go on forever it seems. As it is, I loved the book. I loved the plot, I loved the time period it was settled, I loved the characters, all of them being brilliant, and I loved the intimacy between the lovers and their encounters. I also loved the fact that this book does not shy from the cruelty inflicted at that time, although there is a lack of unbearable gruesome details. They were described rather masterfully in my opinion.
So bottom end, if you love your gladiators, honorable men, and some backstabbing Roman politics this is the book for you. I do believe you’ll be fascinated and captivated same way I did. Totally recommended.
History grad James Sheridan thinks his biggest problem in life is trying to find a suitable outfit for his upcoming Ph.D. candidacy exam. That is, until he accidentally texts a changing-room selfie meant for his fashionable sister to his ex, the domineering Professor Carson.
James and Carson haven’t seen each since James fled their power games two years ago. Back in his undergrad days, Carson was his Professor, and not just in the academic sense: a man of unusual tastes and extreme sexual demands, James had been happy to sate Carson’s savage appetites. Too happy, in fact. He never could trust himself not to let Carson push too far.
Now James is older and wiser, and sharing some seriously flirtatious vibes with a cute menswear rep. When Carson replies to James’s errant text, ready to pick up where they left off, James can’t help being drawn back into Carson’s control. It’s only when Carson suggests involving the salesman that James has to ask himself how far is too far, and whether he’s willing to go there with Carson again.
Review: What an enticing story to start a series. Giving an Inch slowly lures you into its depths and gives you no chance to escape the addiction.
James is a character that I really don’t know what to make of him. He has long broke up with his “Professor,” his pushy, demanding professor Carson, but not because Carson’s demands and want-more, but because James himself couldn’t stop from giving whatever Carson put on the table and then some. Yet an accident put Carson back in his life when he accidentally sends him a picture of his attire and Carson grabs the opportunity to get his lovely sub back.
Still demanding, still ordering him around into things that James feels humiliating, but this time James is different. The game might be Carson’s but James is putting down rules of his own. This time James wants more.
And this character right here is addictive. We get to see a slight side of Carson and I can’t wait to properly meet him in future installments. We get to meet Satish, the salesman that gets involved into Carson’s little game, and I really do hope to see more of him in the future. But the main character that made me want to grab the authors and shake the next story out of them is James. Lovely James; needy James; defiant James. He might have come as weak at some points but oh my, he did grow some spine there and took what he wanted from this wonderful, brilliant play.
Enticing? That is quite an understatement.
A lovely short story, one of those that you don’t want to say much about the plot out of fear of spoiling the fun, Giving an Inch will most certainly win you with a great writing, wonderful protagonist, a promising plot and one very erotic and sexy scene. Strongly recommended.
Blurb: Sean never asked to be an O’Hara, and he didn’t ask to be cursed by one either.
After inheriting a hexed druid stone from his great-grandfather, Sean starts reliving another man’s torture and death…every single night. And only one person can help.
Cormac Kelly runs a paranormal investigation business and doesn’t have time to deal with misinformed tourists like Sean. But Sean has real magic in his pocket, and even though Cormac is a descendant of legendary druids, he soon finds himself out of his depth…and not because Sean’s the first man he’s felt anything for in a long time.
The pair develop an unexpected and intensely sexual bond, but are threatened at every turn when Sean’s case attracts the unwelcome attention of the mad sidhe lords of ancient Ireland. When Sean and Cormac are thrust backward in time to Ireland’s violent history–and their own dark pasts–they must work together to escape the curse and save their fragile relationship.
Review: This book had a little of everything, M/M romance, wicked Fae, alternate worlds, magic and druids, time travel and a history lesson.
Sean O’Hare has horrible nightmares about being tortured. Are the things he’s living through in his dreams something that happened in a past life or has he been cursed? Either way he’s taken all the pills recommended by multiple therapists but nothing is taking away the nightmares. He wakes up injured and feels he may slowly be losing his mind. Desperate and willing to try anything he finds an online advertisement for a Druid in Ireland whom may be able to help. Problem is the Druid doesn’t want to help him. Sean decides to fly to Ireland and plead his case. Cormac Kelly is from generations of druids and takes his duty seriously but has preconceived ideas of Americans with Irish ancestry and why they’d be coming to him for help. He calls them plastic paddies, which is exactly what he thinks Sean from America is when he shows up on his doorstep. Sean tries to explain what’s happening to him and begs for help but Cormac is bitter and sees something from his past in Sean’s possession. Even so his temper gets the better of him and he manages to make Sean mad enough to leave.
Since Cormac was no help Sean goes with his back-up plan and manages to draw the attention of the King of the Fae, who likes to keep lovely or talented humans to use for his pleasure. I can tell you Cormac does save him this time and thus realizes Sean and his situation is real. So the guys start their working relationship to save Sean.
I did enjoy this book. I liked all the pieces but sometimes the romance and adventure didn’t mesh well for me. Sean and Cormac as a couple were sexy and sweet but sadly I didn’t fall in love with them.
The book had multiple endings and could have easily been more than one book. Just when you think it’s over. They go back for more! Kind of made crazy and I’d put the book down to take a break.
Tons of research had to go into this and I felt like I should have done some too. Not a bad thing but be warned. I just accepted I didn’t know who they were referring to and just kept reading. Worked for me J Most of the imagery was beautiful and I love being able to picture what the author is describing.
Cormac’s family was adorable and quirky. I’d love to be invited to a get together. I had a big WTF moment somewhere in the middle. I was so confused I had to reread and phone a friend. Well, ask her on FB, but you get the point. It came out of nowhere for her, too.
The ending was nice, but was drawn out. I guess it worked for me because even though it wasn’t what I wanted, both men had to reconcile their pasts before they could work out a present life together. I’d recommend this book but be patient and know that it’s more adventure than your normal m/m romance.
Title: Burnt Toast B&B
Title: Straight Shooter
