Blurb:Ā Noah Hitchens loves the New York City life he worked hard to build. But when his father dies and leaves him a bankrupt bookstore in their sleepy Georgia hometown, Noah knows he has to save it. Unfortunately, he doesnāt know anything about business. He finds unlikely help in Henry, the man who owned Stardust Books before his 1966 murder, and Kyle St. James, a shy but kind-hearted out-of-towner with a past almost as mysterious as Henry’s.
Kyle came to Aster, Georgia, looking for redemption. On the run and out of hope, heās just trying to get on with his life. Then he meets Noah, a ghost, and a big sloppy lab named Jake who redefine his idea of living. But his past is closing in, and when it finds him, they could lose everything.
Review: Noah’s world collapses when he gets a call about his father’ death. Grief stricken he goes back home and tries to settle his father’s affairs. He finds out his dad was in debt and now he finds himself trying to come up with the money to pay off the debts.
He meets shy, sweet Kyle. But Kyle has been brought up in seclusion and taught that being gay is a sin. As the two slowly get to know one another they seem to bring out the best in each other despite their differences. I liked this story. it had several different aspects that appealed to me.
A past bully in Noah’s life tries to make trouble for him now, Kyle’s past comes back to haunt him and there’s a ghost in the book store. I loved the way the story unfolded as the scenes played out. They were entertaining to say the least.
Blurb:Ā Little Boy Lost is the story of Brian McAllister, the boy next door. Little Boy Lost is also the story of Jamie Mayfield, a golden-haired fallen angel. Through an epic life journey that spans years, Brian and Jamie will discover just how deep their emotional bond runs, and at what cost.
Review: In Enlightened. Jamie and Brian live in a small town where certain things are not tolerated. Being two gay young men and in a relationship is hard enough. Add to that they have to keep their relationship a secret or face being bullied is even worse. I felt so bad for these two young men. I wanted to take them away from that bigoted town so they could be themselves without fear.
In Abandoned with Jamie gone to California with his parents Brian is faced with the hateful and evil Mosley. The girl Jamie dated in the first book has a brother that is a bully and makes it his life’s mission to rain hell down on Brian. I was horrified at the lengths high school kids went to intentionally hurt someone in the name of religion. It disgusted me that someone like that calls themselves a christian.
In Vanished Brian is searching for Jamie. He heads to San Diego and makes some new friends, Mike and Emillio. I loved all these guys interactions and the help they give Brian. But more happens that I was not expecting. A twist that threw me for a curve.
In Discovered Brian finds Jamie strung out on drugs and being forced into porn and prostituted out. I found this highly disturbing. Where were his parents during all this since they took him there to begin with. I felt so bad for Jamie yet at the same time I did not understand why he did not leave.
In Escaped we have Jamie struggling to leave his current life behind to be with Brian. He has a long struggle a head of him but with Brian’s help I know he can do it. Very emotionally draining book.
In Sacrificed Brian and Jamie’s journey finally comes to an end with them together after many mistakes along the way.
I liked the series but felt at times it was drawn out. I felt uncomfortable about what happened with Jamie and his pimp/boyfriend before he got back together with Brian.
Blurb: Sometimes it takes everything just to surviveā¦.
In Aaron, two years after a traumatizing occurrence, Aaron is still desperately trying to pull his life back together, and when he meets Spencer at a college class, his sanity threatens to spin out of control. In Ben, Benjamin Martin finds temporary forgetfulness in his BDSM sessions, but when he turns to his best friend Jude for help, they will both have to find peace in each other and in submission.
In Spencer, Aaron and Spencer are still struggling to build a normal relationship, and when Aaron must testify against his attackers, can Spencer be what Aaron needs during this crisis? In Anthony, Aaronās younger brother Anthony is tired of being invisible and heads to Detroit, where he encounters Brendan. Thrown together by fate and betrayal, they will have to find comfort in each other. And in Sophie, Spencerās beloved Nell has died and left him custody of her three-year-old daughter Sophie; when Nellās ex comes to claim Sophie, Aaron will have to decide if he can stand beside Spencer in his biggest fight yet.
Review: The first book in this bundle is about Aaron and his life after a brutal attack that leaves him scarred, emotionally damaged and forever changed. He suffers from PTSD, has OCD tendencies and is deathly afraid of human contact of any kind. I totally understood after reading what he went through. My heart broke for the young man forever changed by one brutal thoughtless attack that leaves one dead and one broken. Until he meets Spencer and starts coming out of his shell with his help. In Ben, Benjamin is Juliette’s brother, Juliette was murdered in the first story Aaron when her and Aaron were attacked. Ben is struggling against the guilt he feels over her death. Driven to want pain to make himself pay for the guilt he feels over her death. Jude, his roommate, loves him and eventually shows him how to love. In Anthony we see Aaron’s little brother spiralling out of control as anger and frustration sets in. He runs away thinking no one will care. His mother should have shown some attention instead of leaving him alone focusing on Aaron. I seriously did not like that. I was glad when he found Patrick and Brendan when he left as his situation could have gone so wrong if not for them. Brendan was just as broken as him. They both helped the other heal. In Sophie, Aaron has a choice to make. Fight to keep Sophie or turn away. I loved that he overcame his fears and fought at Spencer’s side for this adorable child.
I loved the whole series but I will warn you there are mentions of rape, murder, torture to an extent. So not the hearts and flowers romance one might expect.
It’s a collection of learning to cope and survive and come out on top different but eventually better than you were at one time.
Hi guys, we have Wilde City Press’Ā Butt Riders on the Range visiting us today with one of its authors T.C. Blue, T.C. has a fantastic guest post and she lets us have a peek at an excerpt of her storyĀ And the Horse He Rode In On, there’s also a brilliant giveaway where you could win one of the previous Butt-thologies! So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~Ā
Butt Riders on the Range
by
AllyĀ Blue, Eden Winters, Jevocas Green, J.P. Barnaby, Kage Alan, Kiernan Kelly, Shea Connor, T.C. Blue
Do you imagine blazing gun battles, bandits, and saloons with watered-down drinks when you think of cowboys and the West? We donāt. Our minds go right to horse shifters, bull shifters, were-leopards, urban wannabes, an interrupted journey along Route 66, a man of mystery named Dr. Feel-Good, and high noon at the edge of the galaxy! The fourth timeās the charm as the Butt-Thology authors saddle up, ride their men hard, and put āem away wet.
Butt Riders on the Rangeā¦the bulls arenāt the only ones being grabbed by the horns!
Hiya guys, today we have Kiernan Kelly stopping by to show off her story in the Wilde City Press anthologyĀ Butt Babe’s in Boyland. So enjoy the post and check out Lisa’s review <3 ~Pixie~
The holidays are a time for visiting with family and friends, and sharing tales of peace, childlike innocence, and good will towards all mankind. These are not those stories. Instead, sit back and allow yourself to be regaled with the colorful adventures of toy-themed parties with a twist, the future of Elf Enforcement, misfit sex toys at the North Pole, the mysterious Workshop 69, special delivery packages, and a serious case of potentially mistaken identity. This year, the Butt-thology authors cordially invite you to join them in creating a new tradition.
This holiday season, itās not just turkeys getting stuffed!
Title: Vinny, Porn Star Series: Working Boys, #3 Author: J.P. Barnaby Genre: Erotica/ BDSM Length: Novella (56 pages) Publisher: Wild City Press (August 27th 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ā„ā„ā„ā„ā„ 5 hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Vinny is just your typical all-around average guy, well, except for the leather and the floggers, oh and maybe that little room at the back of his house where he likes to take a guy and strap his ass before he before he nails him. Well, maybe Vinny isnāt so average. At least, thatās what Angel thinks. You see, Angel got himself into a bit of trouble by scheduling a fetish shoot with The Sounding Board when heās never even been tied up.
Who better to show him the ropes than professional fetish model, Vinny DāForino? The answer will bring him to his knees.
Review: Vinny DāForino is a porn star with a few kinks. His particular twist is BDSM. He craves the control and submissive nature of another man, who being a Dom, awards him. And he doesnāt kiss, ever. His reputation precedes him in the business, perhaps because he doesnāt take from the unwilling and there are limits to his domination. When his friend and producer calls in a favour, Vinny is hesitant at first, but finally agrees to mentor a fresh new face to the business that may have gotten in over his head.
Angel has been fantasizing to the video version of Vinny for years. He signs up for a BDSM shoot through a rival company, not fully understanding what heās getting himself into. Thankfully, Vinny takes on the challenge to show him the ropes, pun intended! The absolute submissive nature of Angel throws Vinny for a loop, but he refuses to budge on a previous promise to himself not to take on another Sub, not to open up or care. When Angel goes through with the shoot anyways and is worse for the wear afterwards, all bets are off.
What I enjoyed about this story to spite the more hardcore aspect of the BDSM genre was the insight into the mind of the Dom, which is solely based on how Barnaby wrote him. I liked how even though Angel didnāt know exactly what he was getting into with the shoot, Vinny explained every little detail of what they were doing when they were together. The only time there was any type of pain involved wasnāt even described, it was just spoken of toward the end.
I canāt wait to see where Barnaby takes these two characters with future installments. They are very yin/yang in their personalities. And Angel may be a natural submissive, but he definitely has a mind of his own, so it was a lot of fun watching the personality clashes and how each man reacted to the other in those situations. I cringed occasionally when Vinny really got into his role as a Dom, but the sex was fucking outstanding, and Angel seemed to love every second of it!
Of course, BDSM fans will love this one, but I think those who sit on the fence will enjoy this title as well. Like I said, itās not hardcore or crossing over into abuse or pain, but the dominate and submissive roles are clearly lined out and delved into… in an oddly sexy way.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Sounds exciting right? Your favorite gay artists from the screen, canvas, and page all together in one convention. We even have guys whose bodies are works of art in themselves. Our events include art shows, book signings, nude modeling classes, demonstrations and panels galore. Anything you want to know in the realm of gay sexuality, you can find it here.
As amazing as our events are, however, they donāt compare to the juicy behind-the-scenes stories, the naughty liasons that happen on the other side of closed doors. This year, weāre fortunate to have a few authors open the curtains and give us a glimpse of HomoErotiCon under the covers:
Series: (Prev. Forbidden Room/A House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan)
Author: J.P. Barnaby
Genre: BDSM
Length: Novel (357 Pages)
Publisher: Wilde City Press (January 14th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ā„ā„ā„ā„4Hearts
Blurb: Jayden Carter knew the path he wanted his life to take. He wanted to get his Masterās Degree in History and teach. But when he answered an ad for a roommate and met mysterious doctor, Ethan Bryant, heās brought into a world he never knew existed and his path changes.
It changes again for Jayden and he leaves Ethan with their friend, Lexi, in tow. Ethan loses himself in a haze of self-destruction and pain. With the help of a childhood friend, Gabriel, Ethan battles the demons of his childhood and finds a way to survive. Gabriel and Jayden wage an epic war for Ethan, but in the end, they may all end up losing.
Adapted from The Forbidden Room and A House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan
The first part of the story, grabs my curious mind right away, especially the first lines: The Ad: ā26 year old SWM seeking disciplined roommate so split 5 BR house. Utilities included, Male pref. Call for appt.ā
The word ādisciplinedā in that ad giving a perfect foreshadowing of what was to come. I felt like Jayden walked right into that scenario, his subconscious must have known, and the saying if somethingās too good to be true clearly applied. Only in this case, for the most part, what Jayden steps into turns out to be ultimately good. The submission/bondage is a razor edge between desired and feared, though safe words area always in play, the play was at times seemingly heartless, and cold, then powerful and intimate. The way the scenes were written put me in the moment. I felt both a pain in the pit of my stomach, and the desire for Jayden to do whatever was needed to make Ethan happy. Throughout the story Ethan introduces Jayden to his world of dominance and submission, trains him, introduces him to other masters/Mistresses, and even another sub to interact with.
As the relationships develop between Master, submissive and now Lexi, Ethanās other sub that he trains Jayden to interact with, the hazy line between sexual identity, sex, and submission gets even more blurred. Jayden questions himself, his sexuality, his attraction to both Ethan and Lexi. He questions whether his play with Ethan makes him gay, or just makes him a submissive, and if it matters what gender he submits to.
Many methods of āplayā are introduced in this story. Pain, edging, sexual submission, humiliation, bondage, itās a very educational plot for those beginning in this genre of reading. I myself enjoy BDSM plots and found it very fascinating.
Now on to the second part of the story, this one being based on House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan. All through part one I am both frustrated, confused and ultimately in pain for Ethan. I want to know what really makes him tick, I want him to have Jayden, and I want him to have everything. Part two helps explain many things. Both my using Ethanās POV and by letting us read journal excerpts he kept.
Things get very complicated because both Lexi and Jayden are playing new roles, training the new generation of subs the only way they know how, they way they were trained by Ethan, only to quickly learn one method does not fit all scenarios. That what Ethan did and developed for Lexi and Jayden was special and would not necessarily work for other relationships. Through this part of the story we get a look at a very jealous Ethan and a very jealous Jayden, all the while I want to knock their heads together and tell them to see whatās right in front of them! But there is one big block to their ultimate acceptance, and happiness, problem is its ultimate pain, loss, and sadness that brings it. God, the pain J.P puts all the characters though is enough to make me want therapy, not to mention explaining all the āmonstersā these people carry with them. Iām talking pain of loss, pain of abuse, pain of neglect, not pain in the playroom.
Over all this is a great collection. I still feel maybe the two need to be read and digested separately. So give yourself sometime between the two parts. There is a lot to absorb here, so much is deeply moving, heavy, very emotional, and by the very end, cathartic. For those who enjoy the BDSM genre, I highly recommend this read.
Title: Andy, Go-Go Boy Series: Working Boys, #2 Author: JP Barnaby Genre: Gay Erotica Length: Short (44 pages) Publisher: Wilde City Press (March 26th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ā„ā„ā„ā„ā„ 5 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Andy Finnegan is a six-foot three brown-haired, blue-eyed, Mack f*cking truck. A former marine who spends his nights dancing for your entertainment, he has a dark side hiding beneath the beautiful veneer.
Sweet little Stefan is awestruck by the big, gorgeous dancer with the rock hard abs and the lonely eyes. Determined to see what lurks behind the perfect surface, he gets a little more than he bargained for. Purchase Link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-erotica/andy-go-go-boy-working-boys-book-2/#.U0SooGco85 Review: Short, Sexy and Steamy… my three favorite colors!
Andy is a former marine turned male stripper who has set his sights on the gay porn industry. The only thing he has to show for his time in the military are memories, some good and some not so good, and a severe anger management issue. On the night a hot-shot from one of the biggest gay porn studios comes to see Andy dance, he loses his temper, job and dreams all in one fail swoop. But the lithe, sexy little half Italian he wakes up to the next morning just might make it all okay.
Stefan has been coming to the club to watch Andy dance for weeks now, but Andy hasnāt really noticed him until tonight. They dance, they kiss and they share an insane attraction. Is Stefan the guy to make Andy forget about everything that is wrong in his life and focus on something good for a change?
I loved this little novella. I felt very connected with Andy, what he lost in the military and how he feels worthless in his life now. There wasnāt a lot of story for Stefan, other than him seemingly having this instantaneous connection with Andy, enough to make Andy question where he wants his life to go going forward. Just the right mix of an intriguing storyline and some steamy guy on guy action to make this a fun, fast read!
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews ** http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Hey look what I have for you today guys! Yep we have J.P. Barnaby and her heartbreaking incredible story Spencer. J.P.Ā has also let us have a peek into Henry’s life (you will so have to read this series now just to find out who Henry is *snigger*) and has a fabulous $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway, I have also thrown in Thommie’s review, and let me tell you that Thommie was emotionally wrung out when she finished reading both Aaron & Spencer (yes these books must be read in order), so enjoy our post today and good luck! *muah* ~Pixie~
A Survivor Story: Spencer
Itās been nearly five years since Aaron woke up in the hospital so broken, he couldnāt stand the sight of his own face. The flashbacks no longer dominate his life, but heās still unable to find intimacy with his lover, Spencer Thomas. With time, patience, and the support of his family, his therapist, and his loving partner, Aaron has figured out how to live again. The problem is, Spencer hasnāt. His life has been on hold as he waits for the day he and Aaron can have a normal relationship. Hoping to move things forward for them both, he takes a job as a programmer in downtown Chicago, leaving Aaron alone.
Reeling in the wake of Spencerās absence, Aaron receives another shock when his attackers are caught.
Now, he must testify and verbalize his worst nightmare. Publicly reliving his trauma without Spencer at his side destroys his precarious control. But he finds someone who can understand and empathize in Jordan, who watched his brother cut down in a school shooting. With Spencer gone and the DA knocking at his door, Aaron seeks solace in Jordan, and Spencer will have to risk everything to hold on to Aaronās love.
āStephanie,ā Miranda Thomas offered with one hand on her round belly. The baby kicked her hand and she smiled. She felt the rumble of a chuckle in her husband Henryās chest as she rested against him on their plush couch. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on top of hers.
āChloe,ā he countered and nuzzled her hair out of the way to place a kiss on her neck. God, she loved him. Even Nell liked him and her sister didnāt like anyone. That could have something to do with Henryās new thriving counseling practice, but she didnāt think so. Nell never had a thing for money. She, like Miranda, judged people based on who they were, not what they had.
Henry Thomas was a good man, a good husband, and soon, heād be a good father.
āI donāt hate that one,ā she admitted. āLetās write that one down.ā
āDid you ask the tech when I got dressed?ā She laughed. āOr is that a guess? I thought we didnāt want to know.ā Miranda twisted a little to capture her husbandās lips in a slow kiss.
āI didnāt ask. I just know.ā
āOkay, so what boys names do you like?ā
āAnything but Henry Junior. I only escaped being a junior by the grace of God and a different middle name. Letās allow him to be his own man.ā
āIām good with that. How about Bernard?ā She kept her face solemn as he leaned around to peer at her. The horror in his expression brought a giggle to her lips.
āSeriously?ā
āNo, you said anything but Henry. I just wanted to test that theory.ā
He wrapped his arms a little tighter and kissed her cheek with a grin.
āOkay, if he comes out really hairy with a casket around his neck, weāll totally go with Bernard.ā Henry brushed a wayward piece of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She sighed, her heart bursting with love for her husband and unborn child. She had everything she wanted right there on their little couch.
āHow about Spencer?ā
āEh, Iām not loving that. What about Brandon?ā
āThatās pretty common lately. I think Steve and Donna just named their son Brandon.ā
āAlbert?ā
āSeriously?ā
āYeah, okay, maybe not.ā Henry laughed and kissed her behind the ear.
āDo I have to go to work tonight? I want to just sit here on the couch with you.ā
āI told you to quit when you got pregnant, honey.ā Henryās voice grew serious. āYou donāt have to work at all. Iāll provide for you and the baby.ā
āI know. I worked so hard for my degree, though. It seems like a waste when thereās such a shortage of nurses. I didnāt know Iād feel like this.ā Miranda rubbed her ever-expanding belly with their joined hands. āMaybe I wonāt go back after the baby is born.ā
āGod, I would love that.ā
āI know you would. And now, I just have one more week, Henry. I couldnāt leave with Sharon on vacation. Just one more week, and Iāll be your little wifie, barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.ā
Henry sat up and turned Miranda gently in his arms.
āYou know thatās not how I feel, right? I just want you to be safe and happy.ā
āSweetheart, I was teasing. You may have a few interesting personality traits, but being a Neanderthal has never been one of them.ā
She giggled as he tickled her until she threatened to pee on his new couch like a puppy.
āOh!ā
āNo, no puppies. At least not until the baby is a little older.ā
He grinned at her pout but caught her bottom lip between his as he kissed her.
āOkay, go get ready for work before I call them and tell them youāre never coming back. God, youāre really thinking about staying home with our kids?ā
āYeah, I am.ā
āI love you, both of you,ā he said, resting his hand on hers over their new son or daughter. āI love you so much.ā
āI love you too.ā
āAnd I promise, weāll get a puppy when things calm after the baby. We have time.ā
āA whole lifetime,ā she promised back.
Award winning romance novelist, J. P. Barnaby has penned over a dozen books including the Working Boys series, the Little Boy Lost series, In the Absence of Monsters, and Aaron. As a bisexual woman, J.P. is a proud member of the GLBT community both online and in her small town on the outskirts of Chicago. A member of Mensa, she is described as brilliant but troubled, sweet but introverted, and talented but deviant. She spends her days writing software and her nights writing erotica, which is, of course, far more interesting. The spare time that she carves out between her career and her novels is spent reading about the concept of love, which, like some of her characters, she has never quite figured out for herself.
Blurb:Ā Itās been nearly five years since Aaron woke up in the hospital so broken, he couldnāt stand the sight of his own face. The flashbacks no longer dominate his life, but heās still unable to find intimacy with his lover, Spencer Thomas. With time, patience, and the support of his family, his therapist, and his loving partner, Aaron has figured out how to live again. The problem is, Spencer hasnāt. His life has been on hold as he waits for the day he and Aaron can have a normal relationship. Hoping to move things forward for them both, he takes a job as a programmer in downtown Chicago, leaving Aaron alone.
Reeling in the wake of Spencerās absence, Aaron receives another shock when his attackers are caught.
Now, he must testify and verbalize his worst nightmare. Publicly reliving his trauma without Spencer at his side destroys his precarious control. But he finds someone who can understand and empathize in Jordan, who watched his brother cut down in a school shooting. With Spencer gone and the DA knocking at his door, Aaron seeks solace in Jordan, and Spencer will have to risk everything to hold on to Aaronās love.
Review:Ā The sequel toĀ AaronāsĀ story comes withĀ SpencerĀ and it continues with a heart breaking story three years after Aaron and Spencer became an official couple.Ā While the first book introduced us to the characters and their circumstances, the second picks up and takes us through the difficult journey both Spencer and Aaron have to take in order to continue to live their lives, not merely as shells bound to their suffering, but as people in control of their lives and demons past, present , and future. Not an easy task, but the author delivers a hell of a story, one that will shatter your illusions, break your heart and reform it as the story evolves.
I canāt say how much I liked this book even as it hurt reading it every step of the way. These characters are magnificent and Iām not referring only to our protagonists, but the entire cast. Each and every one of them is a character with a life-like and realistic portrayal rarely witnessed in books these days. They have a personality that sucks you right in in the story, gripping you and keeping you bound till it ends with no means to escape.
If you thought that Aaron would magically overcome his fears and live a wonderful life from that moment on with Spencer, well you were dead wrong. Life is not that easy and this story manages to capture the very essence of what struggling through nightmares is really about. In addition the tiredness that comes through struggling each and every day overcomes our protagonists, new characters are introduced who become causes for turbulence and jealousy, old characters get older and their new problems add onto the already existing pile, and all this is cause for a hell of an emotional punch throughout the story.
The maturity that comes with time is also amazing to witness. There were times that I came to hate Spencer and even get impatient with Aaron, but no matter what, the way that the story was told made it nearly impossible to judge any one character and point fingers. You just couldnāt figure out how you or anyone in a similar situation would react and thus the story reached the goal of making you think and re-evaluate your beliefs and ideals.
As for the erotic part that was quite lacking in the prequel, I loved how the author approached and finally made it all happen. Honestly I didnāt think she could thus I was really surprised with the end of this fabulous book. The satisfaction I got from this entire read is beyond words and I really donāt know if I want another sequel with these boys, because I feel as if this story is now finally told with the best closure ever.
All in all, this was yet another brilliant title delivered by J.P. Barnaby. Strongly recommended for an intense, emotional ride with a heavy dose of a realistically painted love story.
Blurb: Itās been nearly five years since Aaron woke up in the hospital so broken, he couldnāt stand the sight of his own face. The flashbacks no longer dominate his life, but heās still unable to find intimacy with his lover, Spencer Thomas. With time, patience, and the support of his family, his therapist, and his loving partner, Aaron has figured out how to live again. The problem is, Spencer hasnāt. His life has been on hold as he waits for the day he and Aaron can have a normal relationship. Hoping to move things forward for them both, he takes a job as a programmer in downtown Chicago, leaving Aaron alone.
Reeling in the wake of Spencerās absence, Aaron receives another shock when his attackers are caught.
Now, he must testify and verbalize his worst nightmare. Publicly reliving his trauma without Spencer at his side destroys his precarious control. But he finds someone who can understand and empathize in Jordan, who watched his brother cut down in a school shooting. With Spencer gone and the DA knocking at his door, Aaron seeks solace in Jordan, and Spencer will have to risk everything to hold on to Aaronās love.
Review: the sequel to Aaronās story comes with Spencer, it continues with a heart-breaking story three years after Aaron, and Spencer became an official couple. While the first book introduced us to the characters and their circumstances, the second picks up and takes us through the difficult journey both Spencer and Aaron have to take in order to continue to live their lives, not merely as shells bound to their suffering, but as people in control of their lives and demons past, present , and future. Not an easy task, but the author delivers a hell of a story, one that will shatter your illusions, break your heart and reform it as the story evolves.
I canāt say how much I liked this book even as it hurt reading it every step of the way. These characters are magnificent and Iām not referring only to our protagonists, but the entire cast. Each and every one of them is a character with a life-like and realistic portrayal rarely witnessed in books these days. They have a personality that sucks you right in the story, gripping you and keeping you bound until it ends with no means to escape.
If you thought that Aaron would magically overcome his fears and live a wonderful life from that moment on with Spencer, well you were dead wrong. Life is not that easy and this story manages to capture the very essence of what struggling through nightmares is really about. In addition the tiredness that comes through struggling each and every day overcomes our protagonists, new characters are introduced who become causes for turbulence and jealousy, old characters get older and their new problems add onto the already existing pile, and all this is cause for a hell of an emotional punch throughout the story.
The maturity that comes with time is also amazing to witness. There were times that I came to hate Spencer and even get impatient with Aaron, but no matter what, the way that the story was told made it nearly impossible to judge any one character and point fingers. You just couldnāt figure out how you or anyone in a similar situation would react and thus the story reached the goal of making you think and re-evaluate your beliefs and ideals.
As for the erotic part that was quite lacking in the prequel, I loved how the author approached and finally made it all happen. Honestly I didnāt think she could thus I was really surprised with the end of this fabulous book. The satisfaction I got from this entire read is beyond words and I really donāt know if I want another sequel with these boys, because I feel as if this story is now finally told with the best closure ever.
Overall, this was yet another brilliant title delivered by J.P. Barnaby. Strongly recommended for an intense, emotional ride with a heavy dose of a realistically painted love story.
Blurb: Got two hundred and fifty dollars for an hour of fun? Then say hello to Charlie, a hot little rentboy working his way through an engineering degree on his back. Heās got shaggy blond hair thatās great to hang on to while you fuck him from behind, and sweet innocent blue eyes that look very enticing when he gazes up at you with your cock in his mouth. That is, until heās hired by innocent rich boy John Middleton, head of Middleton Communication. John is so far in the closet he could find Narnia. But when John and Charlie get together for an explosive weekend of sex, everything goes to hell.
Review: So, how about a story that contains steamy hot scenes, a pretty-woman-like romance, and a story that surprises you with its twists and turns? Sounds good? Yeah, thought so.
So basic stuff: this is a rentboy story ā just in case you missed that from the title ā and a few things are given, highly erotic characters and sexual scenes. I loved all of it from the introduction as the story begins and continues with Charlieās voice, the tone, and personality that leaks through it, the dirty/slutty talking/thinking to the actual scenes that had me hot and bothered in no time.
These kind of characters are highly appealing anyway (to me at least), but Charlie, oh my dear, dear Charlie. Heās a whole different level of appeal. Heās not so much cocky as heās self-assured and content in his ways. He loves sex; he knows it and shows it without a segment of self-consciousness, he has a sense of humor underlying everything he does or says, and heās as much sensitive as he is erotic. Put him together with John and they make an explosive pair, for John is quite the character himself. As a matter of fact, John surprised the heck out of me as the story went on; he had too many secrets in that closet of his.
And that brings me back to the romance plot of this book. It resembles in many ways āPretty Womanā because the characters, while not meaning to, fell inā¦ not love exactly, but in a situation where the possibility of more was glaringly there. The rentboy let his guard down, the client overlooked many things, and the one way path that was crystal clear in the beginning of the story suddenly split in half leaving the choice of what is to come to the characters and their willpower. By the end, the story was a ādare you to go that way?ā kind.
Now, some parts of this story had me questioning a bit too much. Why did John chose to do what he did when he could achieve the same result with simply coming clean..?
Why chance ridicule when he could go the simple forward way and make the decisions he eventually made with a head held high and without the drama..?
Was it something, I missed or was this plot not thoroughly considered?
The questions were somewhat quite heavy on my mind by the end of the read that they managed to effect my total abandon and enjoyment of this book. However, in its entirety I cannot help but admit that this was a very satisfying read and I had a hot time reading it. If rentboys are your thing, this book is strongly recommended.
Blurb: From her perch on a shelf above my bed, the doll accuses me with lifeless eyes of failing Juliette in the most heinous way imaginable, forcing me to crave the bite of his whip and the steel in his voice to drown out the ache in my chest.
For his entire life, Benjamin Martinās parents drilled into his head that he must watch out for his little sister, but one horrific night, he failed. Now, the bite of a whip, cuffs digging into his wrists, his arms and legs stretched beyond endurance, these things give him what he needs to forget his sisterās violent death, at least for a while.
When Benās latest Dom casts him aside like a broken toy, he manipulates his best friend, Jude Archer, into picking up the pieces. Jude has been in love with Ben for years, but his fantasies about his friend never included whipping him. He doesn’t understand why Ben needs BDSM and he worries about Benās addiction. Most of all, he fears losing his humanity because heās already lost himself in Ben. When heās forced to trade the marks upon his soul for the pain that ravages Ben, Jude learns the real definition of submission.
Review: So, Iām opening the pages of this book and start reading. I know it is BDSM themed and I expect it. The blurb indicates as much, as it also indicated that we would deal with characters that are ābroken,ā hence the Survivor Stories. But when I say I was surprised from this read not only is that a freaking huge understatement, but it doesnāt come nearly enough of what I felt while reading this book. Iām going to give it a shot though to pass my thoughts as eloquently as possible.
Iāll start with the kink factor here. Iāve read BDSM-y books, many of them. They are after all among my favorite genre. However, it is so rare to read a book that involves kink and that will utterly captivate you like this one did. You donāt need to have the same kinks these characters had in order to feel the sensuality, the intensity, the hotness of the scenes described here deeply in your core. You donāt even have to understand, or be in these characters shoes to feel their emotions slap in your face and enter your head and heart and soul. Even if youāre actually unnerved or repulsed by certain scenes, I truly believe that the way this book is written is totally approachable and appealing. For me it was pure magic reading this, it was as if I was suddenly taken from this realm and dropped right in the middle of Inferno, or the guysā room. How deliciously perverted I felt. Every single molecule of my dark side woke up and took notice. The impact was so strong, I literally had to take the day off today and clear my head. I think I managed some.
But this is not a fun read. This is not the easily read book you read for escapism purpose only. As a matter of fact, this is quite thought-provoking as the characters both of them had some serious issues. Jude, Benās roommate and best friend and aspiring lover, has pretty much an obsession with Ben. That was the only way I saw it. Heās already deeply in love with him and has been for the better part of the three years they know each other and live together. Itās so painful reading about a character who constantly beats himself up, pinning after a guy who seems to have no interest in him, that at some point I seriously thought I was going to dislike Jude,. Perhaps I even did for a little while.
As for Ben, oh my God, what a character. Have ever met a person so heavily ridden by guilt they canāt see straight? It is so impossible, so frustrating dealing with such people, so when I saw that this was one of the strongest characteristic of Ben I had half a mind to abandon the book altogether (thankfully I didnāt, Iād be seriously regretting it). I came to a point where I felt so bad for Benās sake I couldnāt stand it. He feels guilty for his sisterās rape and death to the point of having PTSD symptoms. He feels guilty for leaving home after that, because he couldnāt bear looking at the shrine his parents put and the constant reminder. He feels guilty for not telling Jude about what bothers him. He feels guilty for being freaking born. No, itās not extravagant at all. Itās what his parents done to him over the years. No, they are not monsters intentionally, but one particular scene with Ben and his father literally made think they were the very definition of cruelty, and you know whatās worse than cruelty? Cruelty from loveā¦ It was Hell. And yeah of course, I loved it. It felt so real it was as if I was living it myself.
Now, I went off a bit there. So imagine these two characters together. Ben is in this incredible place where he NEEDS to be hurt in order to forget about his heartache for a while. He found this in a D/s relationship. His Dom providing him with all the hurt he can take, and boy did he take a lot. But, itās not only mental; he also gets off on it. Heās what we call a pain-slut. Start spanking, paddling, flogging and/or whipping him and heās yours. Jude on the other hand screams VANILLA. As in kink=freak vanilla. As in spanking your lover equals abuse even when said partners erection goes above normal charters when heās spanked and said partner is practically begging you to do that to him. So imagine, this book spends the better half of it with Jude pinning ridiculously for Ben, and most of the other half with him wanting to do anything not to lose Ben, even if the things Ben wants to be done to him are making Jude cringe and loath himself. It was ANGST reading this pairāsā¦ oh dear. They arenāt even together for most part of the book, so I donāt know if relationship is the proper word here. The odd thing is that whenever they get intimate and emotional with each other, it rocks. It rocks so much you forget to breathe. Such a weird pair, so erotic and sensual, and so awkward too. I was not sure I was going to like them, but by the end of the story, I adored them. They were simply fabulous.
As for the plot in its entirety, I think it was simply brilliant. I had this weird reaction when at the beginning Ben and Kage (his Dom) went to Inferno, I relaxed (God knows why) and for a moment there I thought how nice a feeling to read about Ben know. I thought Ben was on his path to healing for some stupid reason. I just believed in Ben and Kage so much I was still trying to see how Jude would fit in there. So when the plot took this massive turn (thatās when the weird reaction came) I felt so cold, I think I was frozen in the same paragraph over and over for a good five minutes. And down the road things changed againā¦ and then just as Iād be comfortable with a setting they would change again. But not in ludicrous way, that was its brilliance, the plot doesnāt keep you reeling, it simply has you on your toes, it demands your attention without making you lose focus or concentration with unworthy details or incredible events.
So before I end this I have one more thing to add. Dear Author, I did not appreciate the attempt you made there at the end to try to make us feel sorry for Kage. I certainly did not fall in that trap. Iām perfectly happy despising him and basking with the revenge.
So these were my thoughts. I could not have written more about this book without actually giving away spoilers. As it is, I sincerely hope I gave an idea of what to expect, and how marvelous a read this really is. I do believe this is a must read even if youāre not attracted to the genre. As for you kinksters out there, enjoy! J
Blurb: I canāt describe what itās like to want to scream every minute of every day.
Two years after a terrifying night of pain destroyed his normal teenage existence, Aaron Downing still clings to the hope that one day he will be a fully functional human being. But his life remains a constant string of nightmares, flashbacks, and fear. When, in his very first semester of college, heās assigned Spencer Thomas as a partner for his programming project, Aaron decides that maybe ānormalā is overrated. If he could just learn to control his fear, that could be enough for him to find his footing again.
With his parentsā talk of institutionalizing himāof sacrificing him for the sake of his brothersā stabilityāAaron becomes desperate to find a way to cope with his psychological damage or even fake normalcy. Can his new shrink control his own demons long enough to treat Aaron, or will he only deepen the damage?
Desperate to understand his attraction for Spencer, Aaron holds on to his sanity with both hands as it threatens to spin out of control.
Review:Ā By taking on the Aaron challenge you will most definitely come across beautiful writing, a well thought through story, plenty of angst and characters that will pull at your heart.
Aaron had been assaulted, violated and almost killed when he was sixteen. His best friend died and he bears the scars to forever remember the event. Since then, Aaron the world had known for sixteen years had disappeared, and the new, damaged person was born in his stead. The new Aaron barely functions and each day for him is a challenge. He doesnāt see any hope for the future, after all, itās been two years and nothing has changed, he still dreams about things he would sooner forget and he still flinches each time someone offers touch in comfort.
Spencer has been deaf his whole life and while heās happy with who he is, itās the rest of the world that he has a problem with. Others canāt seem to see past his lack of hearing and whatās left for Spencer is a rather lonely existence.
When the two are paired up in a programming project in college things change and their lives take directions neither of the two had expected.
Just the blurb for this story draws you in all but screaming āread meā. Two characters with a difficult life who find each other and make their own happy future. What more can you ask for? I enjoyed the story as well as the way the author presented the characters. I did think they needed a bit more developing and I as a reader should have been pulled more into it. The subject matter is really heavy and it is something to keep in mind before reading, but precisely because of it, I expected more. The story seemed unfinished in some aspects and certain situations played out differently than I expected them to. But my biggest frowning moments happened with personality flips that occurred both with Spencer as well as Aaronās mother. I canāt say they have grown since the beginning of the story, they just changed, maybe for worse or for the better, but either way I didnāt quite appreciate the change.
Believe it or not, this was my first J.P. Barnaby book and I certainly havenāt made the wrong choice for my first try. I didnāt think the book was too emotional, certainly not something that made me cry and with that in mind I do recommend it. Even to those who are afraid to tackle a difficult subject ā you will love the characters even if you have to squint at the rough bits.
Blurb:Ā Ā Reunited with his father but missing the one man he loves more than any other, Jamie Mayfield attempts to put his life back together amid rehab, seizures, and the gutting loneliness of Brianās rejection. As he tries to cope, Jamie finds that relying on his friends isnāt nearly as difficult as heād imagined, and soon he can once again stand on his own two feet.
While recovering from his addiction, Jamie starts a new phase of his life at college, working to become the man Brian needs him to be. Only one question remains: Can Jamie earn Brianās forgiveness and win back his trust, or will their love be sacrificed at the altar of Jamieās demons?
Brian and Jamieās epic journey comes to a close in this thrilling conclusion to the Little Boy Lost series.
Review:Ā Fantastic, fabulous and thrilling! Sacrificed (Little Boy Lost #6) was such an amazing ending to a very popular and heartbreaking series. If you have not read books one to five, you just have to read them since I canāt give you a detailed summary on all the pain and suffering that the two main characters endured. All you need to know for now is that the story chronicles the life of Jamie Mayfield and Brian McAllister from a small town in Alabama. Their love story blossoms from a beautiful friendship to star cross lovers status.
Sacrificed (Little Boy Lost #6) is told through Jamieās point of view as he struggles with his seizures, rehabilitation, school and being far away from the love of his life, Brian. He goes through a lot in this novel and itās really heartbreaking to see him sad and desperate to be the perfect son for his Dad and an exceptional lover for Brian. We barely get to see much of Brian in Sacrificed. All we get to see are his actions, but that is worth more than a thousand words. Yes, there were several times where I wanted to kill them for the way they behaved towards each other. But, I perfectly understood why they acted the way they did. I absolutely loved the ending. We got into Brianās head for a few minutes and felt his emotions as he wed the love of his life, Jamie. It was short, sweet and straight to the point.
Overall, the Little Boy Lost Series was heartbreaking, loving, thrilling, exciting, and heart stopping. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you will love this series as much as I did. I highly recommend these books to anyone who wants to experience the most dramatic rollercoaster ride of their life.
Blurb:Ā Kyle Lang just got out of a marriage that lasted too goddamned long. He knew when he married her that he shouldnāt have. For the last few years, heās been haunted by daydreams of the perfect feel of another manās skin. The problem is, the bar scene isnāt working so well for him. When Kyle picks up Jesse, an eighteen-year-old illegal who turns tricks for cash, he finally finds something to scratch that desperate itch. For Jesse, who is only gay-for-pay to support his sister, it’s the first time heās ever been aroused by another man’s touch. The consequences will change his whole world.
A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
Review:Ā This one certainly lives up to the name Bittersweet Dreams. It started really well with Kyle being slightly nervous about exploring sex with a male and Jesse (who isnāt gay) was only turning tricks so he and his sister could survive in America.
The sex between the two is scorching, Jesse enjoys it for the first time and Kyle seems to love it too.
My only problem was the ending as I really donāt think that I was supposed to burst out laughing at how ridiculous it was, because in my country it would be Kyle who would be in more trouble than Jesse.
And honestly the blurb for Bittersweet Dreams is incorrect if this story is anything to go by as there is no love, just pure sex.
So I would recommend this if all you wanted is a quick sex fix and didnāt mind too much about how it ends.
Title: A Pocketful of Stardust
