Tag: Jenna Jones

The Auld Lang Syne of Banaby Sloan by Jenna Jones

20494984Title: The Auld Lang Syne of Barnaby Sloan

Author: Jenna Jones

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Holiday

Length: Short Story / Novelette (45 pages)

ISBN: 9781610406321

Publisher: Torquere Press (January 8th 2014)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Barnaby Sloan and his boyfriend, Liam, are trying to be more open and communicative, and tell each other everything. With New Year’s Eve approaching, Liam invites Barnaby to join him at the museum’s New Year’s Eve party. At first, Barnaby is hesitant because he knows his ex-boyfriend, Xander, will probably be there, but his desire to please Liam overrules his worry about the temptation Xander may present.

At the party, all seems to be going well until Barnaby meets Jared, Liam’s cute, new secretary, and Jared’s date: Xander. Xander makes no secret that he still wants Barnaby. Shaken by the encounter with Xander, Barnaby lashes out at Liam and seeks comfort elsewhere in the museum. New Year’s Eve is a time for new beginnings. Can Barnaby resist the temptation to return to old habits?

Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_85&products_id=4104

Review: Barnaby Sloan comes back with a much better story this time, one I have to admit I actually liked better.

Last time we checked Barnaby overcame his knee-jerk reaction at committing a bit more to his boyfriend and their relationship, turning a really bad situation into a near-miracle, with his Christmas change of heart. Now it’s New Year and the days in between have been quite intimate for Bay and Liam, so much so that Bay is actually taking a 180-degree turn in behavior with every line. However there are still bumps down the road, the biggest being his on again off again relationship with his ex, Xander.

The author finally enlightens us and answers the big question “why does Bay behave this way” when she reveals Bay’s past and the effect Xander has upon him. While 80% of the read is sweet and tender, soothing us in a lovemaking trance, it picks up in intensity during the end of the story and it captivates with the growing anticipation.

Liam becomes a stronger character, layers of him are revealed, and he moves from a flat, docile personality to a charming possessive and demanding (in the good sense) lover, not giving an inch of his expectations, forcing Bay to stand up and make one hell of a big decision, a decision that with perhaps mark his future. Bay is no longer the “floating with the wind” character that at times even repulsed me, he rather becomes quite respectable, admirable even in the way he faces his past.

To sum it up, this short story is lovely, sweet and passionate, everything a New Year’s Eve themed story should be. Recommended!

 

The Haunted Halloween of Barnaby Sloan by Jenna Jones

18715137Title: The Haunted Halloween of Barnaby Sloan

Author: Jenna Jones

Genre: Halloween

Length: Short (28 pages)

Publisher: Torquere Press (October 23rd, 2013)

Heat: Moderate

Heart: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: It’s Halloween, and Barnaby and his friends plan to do their usual Halloween ghost walk at a local park that is rumored to be haunted. Barnaby worries his new boyfriend Liam will find their plans ridiculous, and he doesn’t even believe in ghosts, but he invites Liam to join them on the ghost walk anyway.

While their friends scare each other at the park, Barnaby confides in Liam about why he doesn’t believe in an afterlife. Then Barnaby hears a familiar voice whispering his name — and of course, he must investigate…

Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_107&products_id=4043

Review: I found this piece to be quite enjoyable. It was fun, fast paced, and rather addicting. When the ending came around, I wanted to know more about the characters. The plot was solid. The characters were three-dimensional.

The Christmas Miracles of Barnaby Sloan by Jenna Jones

alliwant185Title: The Christmas Miracles of Barnaby Sloan

Author: Jenna Jones

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Holiday

Length: Short Story (29 pages)

Publisher: Torquere Press (December 11th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5~3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Barnaby Sloan usually spends the holidays with his aunt Violet, but changes in her life and his roommate’s cause Barnaby to reconsider his plans. His boyfriend Liam invites Barnaby to join him at his family’s home, but Barnaby is too uncertain about his future with Liam to accept. He decides to spend the holidays alone instead, working on his dissertation and volunteering at his favorite museum.

Then a snowstorm hits, knocking out the power throughout the city. Between the snow, the solitude, and nothing going according to plan, Barnaby realizes all he wants for Christmas is Liam — but it would take a miracle for him to get that wish.

Product Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_108&products_id=4092

Review: This is a quick and nice Christmas story about Bay’s Christmas miracle. Bay is a student who normally spends his Christmas with his aunt Vi, but this year his aunt has been invited to spend her holiday with her boyfriend and Bay is looking at alternatives. He could spend it with Liam, his boyfriend, but somehow he doesn’t feel okay with intruding into his family. After all, they have only been dating for three months. His friend Merrill isn’t available either, as he’s spending it at his girlfriend’s house, and Bay finds himself with no alternatives. To make matters worse he forgets that he has made plans with Liam to exchange gift the last night Liam’s going to be in town, standing him up and causing a minor fight, resulting into a very lonely holiday and a lonely heart.

Honestly, for such a short story I found half of it not interesting at all. It might have had something to do with the fact that I didn’t like Bay very much. In my eyes he was a jerk half of the read and his behavior toward Liam was unacceptable. He really made it almost impossible for me to like him. But the story changes and by the time you reach the end of this little quickie you get to understand Bay and enjoy his miracle.

Recommended!