Blurb: Xander Karcek has only wanted two things in his life: Christian Edwards and basketball—the man he loves and the game that let him escape a childhood he’d rather forget. His two obsessions have served him well. He and Chris beat the odds and stayed together through high school, college, and right on to the NBA.
But life under fame’s microscope isn’t easy, especially when two men are pretending to be frat-buddies so the world doesn’t know they’re the next best thing to married. Their relationship survives the sacrifices they make and the lies they tell to stay together, but when their secret is exposed, the fallout might destroy them when nothing else could.
Chris and basketball are the two things holding Xander together. Now the world is asking Xander to make a choice. Is there an option that includes a future with the man he loves?
Review: The Locker Room is a very touching story by Amy Lane. This novel stars Xander Karcek and Christian Edwards who meet one day doing the one thing that they loved the most, basketball.
I loved Xander. He probably had one of the roughest childhoods I ever read. His mom was a drug addict and she would constantly let her boyfriends abuse him. After meeting Chris and his family, he falls in love with him and decides to move out from his mom’s house or reach. Xander had it tough, but with Chris and basketball on his side, he knew he would conquer the world.
I really liked this novel. But, it was too long for my taste since it covered over fifteen years of their lives and everything revolved around basketball. Everything. Maybe, that was the thing that turned me off completely. I’m not a sports fan and therefore, I found myself dragging myself to finish the novel.
All in all, this story was well written and thought out. If you are a sports fanatic, this novel maybe the perfect one for you to read.
Blurb: Kyle Stilleno is no longer the invisible boy, and he doesn’t quite know how he feels about it. On one hand, he now has a great boyfriend, Brad Greymark, and a handful of new friends, and even a new job. On the other hand, no one screamed obscenities at him in public when he was invisible.
No one expected him to become a poster boy for gay rights, either—at least not until Kyle stepped out of the closet and into the limelight. But there are only a few months of high school left, and Kyle doubts he can make a difference.
With Christmas break drawing closer, Kyle and Brad are changing their lives to include each other. While the trials are far from over, they have their relationship to lean on. Others are not so lucky. One of their classmates needs their help—but Kyle and Brad’s relationship may be too new to survive the strain.
Review: I loved this novel and the previous ones as well. End of the Innocence is the continuation to Brad and Kyle’s love story at Foster High. Now, if you have not read the previous ones, you have to read them because they are so thrilling and exciting. These kids have been through hell and survived, but all of that was just the beginning.
Now, this novel, however, basically revolves around The Party. Every year, Kelly throws the party of the century and the last one promises to be the best one yet. There are several new characters introduced in this novel. For example, Sammy and Jennifer. They are so freaking awesome and I absolutely loved them! Now, at The Party, Kelly confesses to Kyle that he’s gay and he’s in love with Brad. But, unbeknown to them, someone records their conversation and all hell breaks loose.
This novel is very sad since it deals with cyber bullying. An issue that is affecting our youths these days and sometimes forcing them to choose between life and death. Sadly, many are making the wrong decisions. John Goode did an excellent job portraying this disease with his novel and I simply can’t wait to see what will happen next.
All in all, you have to read this novel. Its twist and turns will leave you wanting more.
Blurb: Lords of Arcadia: Act One Kane Vess may be gay, but he is also extraordinarily ordinary a crushing weight in Athens, Iowa, where a person s worth is measured by his uniqueness. But when he meets the school s newest student, Kane s ordinariness seems to evaporate. He is desperate to get to know the mysterious stranger and that leads him into danger. Hawk is an exile from his homeland, an otherworldly traveler with impossible abilities and a changeling bodyguard. He s generally disappointed in Earth, which seems common except for Kane. But while Hawk and Kane explore their mutual interest, the forces that made Hawk an exile are busy tracking him down. Kane s newfound feelings pull him into Hawk s shadowy fantasy world, where he learns he needs to grow up fast. Kane s life may now be extraordinary, but if he isn’t t careful it could cost him everyone he holds dear including Hawk.
Review: I absolutely loved this novel, but the one thing that turned me off was the damn cliff-hanger at the end. UGH!
After getting that off my chest, I can tell you that this story stars Kane Vess. He lives in Athens, Iowa, where being unique is ten times more important than wearing a damn label on your forehead. I loved Kane so much. He was unique and funny. Hawk, on the other hand, was the bomb. He was so mysterious that he immediately caught Kane’s attention. But as I said before, being unique was ten times more important in Athens. And Hawk was very unique.
Kane slowly begins to see that only he can see the mysterious and handsome boy. After being stabbed by Hawk without receiving any damage, Kane slowly finds himself between two worlds or…nine. For you see, Hawk, is the next king of Arcadia and ruler of all nine worlds. He, along with his Changeling protector, Spike, was sent to Athens to hide from the Dark assassins who want to see him dead so that they can take over his kingdom. Pretty cool, huh?
From the moment he made his appearance, I hated Spike. He betrays Hawk and tries to kill Kane because Hawk fell in love with him. He pissed me off so much! With that off my chest, this novel was awesome! It reminded me so much of I am Number Four and Thor. The way Hawk acted was exactly the way Thor acted in the film. Boastful and proud, but sweet and caring. I honestly want to read more. You have to read this novel. It is new, refreshing, funny and fun.
Blurb: When love allows you to see in your darkest hour.
Drew has had a tough couple of months. Coming out to his parents wasn’t too bad except it hasn’t been brought up since. However, coming out to his friends his freshman year in high school is a whole different story. His friends turn their backs on him and have become leaders in the daily tortures he has since had to endure. When a humiliation page pops up on the internet showing pictures of Drew being bullied, he decides to end it all.
Just before he takes his life, the fourteen-year-old Mason appears telling him that he will be Drew’s husband in the future and spirits are guiding him to help stop Drew from making an irreversible mistake. Mason will be advised to take Drew on a journey to see what his future would be like if he didn’t end his life. When Drew is still unconvinced, Mason will show Drew the impact his life will have on the others around him if he does end it all. Will Mason be able to show him that Drew has a future to live for and give him the guidance to help him get through his darkest hour?
Review: Oh. My. God! I loved this novel. This novel stars Drew, who has had a very hard couple of months. Why? He was brave enough to come out to his family and friends as a gay guy. That bravery was short-lived because his parents are completely ignoring the fact that he’s gay and his schoolmates are not very gay friendly. They bullied him to the point that he decides to end his life. And that’s where the story takes off.
I loved Drew. He was so sweet and loving. He was simply trying to find his way in life and be happy. As he is about to end his life, a mysterious boy appears before him and shows him what his life would be like in the future. Yeah, pretty awesome. I don’t want to give the story away, but what I can tell you is that this novel was very surprising and thrilling. It left me wanting more. I really hope there is a part two because Drew’s life seemed so interesting and fun.
Publisher: eXtasy Books, Inc. (September 15th, 2012)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: When Kale comes to the fork in the road, who will you choose for his happily ever after?
Kale has just a few more weeks of school and can’t wait to graduate and get on with his life. At home, he has amazing supportive parents but at school, he has habitual run-ins with the popular kids, who want to make everyone’s life miserable. After catching the group in the woods doing drugs, Kale has an encounter fighting for his life.
The road to recovery is long and Kale has the help from his rescuers Hunt and Volk. Hunt is the strong; take everyone under his wing kind of guy while Volk is the sweet, caring guy. Kale finds himself falling for both of them. Who would you choose for Kale to have his happily ever after?
Review: I absolutely loved this novel! Kale’s Spirit stars Kale, a high school senior who has been bullied in school for four long years by the popular kids. Their reason? They suspect him to be gay. A very shitty reason if you ask me. One day, Kale runs into the popular kids in the middle of the woods and pretty soon, he finds himself fighting for his life, but two persons save him that day, Hunt and Volk.
I love Kale. He was smart, awkward and sweet. He was a closet gay guy who did not have the courage to tell his family and friends about his sexual orientation. I loved Hunt. He was strong, caring and sexy. I also loved Volk. He was caring, sweet, sensitive and loving. I had a hard time deciding who to pick for Kale, but at the end, everyone wins. Yes. Everyone. What is so great about this novel is that you can pick the ending. You get to choose with who Kale stays with, Hunt or Volk.
To put it briefly, this was a short and amazing little read with a surprising little twist. If you like wolves, mystery and love, this novel maybe the one for you.
Blurb: Fairy Tate. Twinklefingers. Lucy Liu. Will the taunting ever end? Lucas Tate suffers ridicule because of his appearance and sensitive nature. When he’s not teased, he’s ignored, and he doesn’t know which is worse. He feels unloved by everyone, but the one comfort in life is his music. What he wants more than anything is to find a friend.
Much to his dismay, both his mom and a schoolmate are determined to find him a boyfriend, despite the fact Lucas hasn’t come out to them. His mom chooses a football player who redefines the term “heartthrob,” while Trish pushes him toward the only openly gay boy at Providence High. But Lucas is harboring a crush on another boy, one who writes such romantic poetry to his girlfriend that hearing it melts Lucas into a puddle of goo. All three prospects seem so far out of his league. Lucas is sure he doesn’t stand a chance with any of them—until sharing his gift for music brings him the courage to let people into his heart.
Review: What can I tell you about this lovely little piece of literature that has not been said before? Nothing. This book was awesome and I absolutely loved it!
Play Me, I’m Yours is the story of Lucas and Zach as they slowly grow together and become one. Lucas was introvert and unique; therefore, he never quite fitted in at school. Add that to the fact that he’s gay and you got an awesome story with clever little twists. Lucas, overall, was so sweet and innocent. There were several times that I wanted to hug and squeeze him to death. That way I could protect him from anyone who would want to hurt him, but that was impossible. I felt his emotions and the pain he went through every day as an outcast of life. Now, Zach was the opposite of Lucas, yet the same. He was gay, but he had to hide it from everyone because his mom did not approve of his sexual orientation. He and Lucas went perfectly together like a delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The one thing that I love about this story is the fact that the secondary characters were awesome and they did not overshadow the main ones. I absolutely loved Mason, Lucas’ brother. He was so overprotected of Lucas even though he came across as a jackass most of the time. He completely won me over with his attitude. Alex was another surprising character and I completely fell for him. However, I did not like Donovan. There was something about him that I found repulsive and annoying. He still has to prove himself to me, if there ever is a part two.
All in all, I loved the story from beginning to end and I cannot recommend it enough.
Blurb: A few weeks before his 21st birthday, Lance Brody gets his first tattoo. Lance is determined to live ‘the life,’ as he calls it — as the eldest kid of musical legends Dale and Cheryl Brody, he is eager to claim his place in the world of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Pity about his two much younger siblings, Chester and Lucy, though. With their father dead and their mother in rehab, Lance is the designated adult, a role that doesn’t come easily to him.
Fortunately Lance’s best friend and fellow rockstar-child Kevin Day is more responsible. Lance becomes a roadie for Summer Day, Kevin’s rockstar sister, and Kevin helps with Chester and Lucy while juggling his musical composition studies and a collaboration with the handsome, if infuriating, choreographer Aadi Chandar.
Kevin struggles with his temperamental sister for quiet time to work with Aadi as Summer’s chaotic lifestyle, which now includes Lance, threatens to overtake their entire house. Looming signs of a classic rock ‘n’ roll meltdown put Chester and Lucy in serious jeopardy.
As crises looms, they are pushed to redefine their definition of ‘family.’
Review: I have to be honest; I’m not a fan of rock and roll so keep that in mind. This story stars twenty-one year old Kevin Day and twenty year old Lance Brody. Kevin is a sensitive music-composition student unlike his rock and roll parents and older sister, Summer Day. He gets stuck with a class assignment and seeks the help of choreographer Aadi Chandar. That’s when things get interesting.
I liked Kevin Day. He was sweet and intelligent. The one thing that I didn’t like about him was that he was still not sure about his sexual orientation. What twenty-one year old man is not sure about his sexual identity these days? Who? I loved his relationship with Chess and Lucy. Those two are Lance’s younger siblings who Lance has custody of because their mother is in rehab. I disliked Lance so much. He was reckless and did not give a damn about his younger siblings since all he wanted was to be is a rock star, live life and chase after Kevin’s older sister. Summer Day was bitch. She only cared about herself only, screwing others in the process. She and Lance were perfectly made for each other. At the end, they got what they deserved.
All in all, Kevin managed to survive all the drama surrounding his life and got himself a nice boyfriend and a great family. Truthfully, this was a fun read. Beware, if you’re not a fan of rock and roll, you might not like this one, but keep a positive mind and try it. You might end up liking it like me.
Blurb: Tom Grove’s family is rich, his grandparents are famous, and he’s beautiful. He can have anything he wants, but all Tom really wants is to be an ordinary boy. Like his best friend, Marissa, Tom wants to fit in, make friends and date sexy boys. It would also help if he could be free of his father’s weighty expectations, his mother’s insane demands, and his older brother’s snide remarks.
When Tom begins his first year of college, he believes he’s going to come out and start a new life. But Tom’s plan to come out of the closet and meet hot college boys isn’t exactly foolproof. His new roommate is a straight jock, the gay club at school is made up of outcasts, and the lines between going out to dinner and a date are blurry at best.
If that isn’t challenge enough, Tom has to learn how to navigate drunken college parties, the campus social hierarchy, and the attentions of the wrong sort of boys. What begins as a journey to independence turns into a series of mishaps, love, heartache, soul searching, awkward situations and the realization that life is less like an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog and more like the everyday low prices of Wal-Mart.
And to make matters worse, he still has tomake it through freshman year.
Review: This boy is anything but ordinary. Have you ever wonder what would happen if Gossip Girl, Project Runway and Mean Girls would merge into one? Well, here it is. Don’t get me wrong, people. I loved this novel, but I just couldn’t understand or relate to Tom.
Tom comes from a rich family. His grandparents are really famous, his sister is becoming famous, and he’s sexy and hot. What more could he want in life? To be an ordinary boyand live a normal life. That’s okay with me. But you must know that you can’t since your social status will follow you everywhere you go. Just be you and live life. Screw the world! However, I get Tom to an extent. He wants to be normal and escape from his superficial reality. But, I got to be honest; Tom comes out as a little bit shallow throughout the novel. When he sees or meets someone, he judges their clothes, shoes, etc. That’s shallow to me and he wants to be normal? Anyways, there were a few grammatical errors, but nothing out of this world. There wasn’t a happily ever after so I hope there is a sequel in the works.
All in all, I liked this novel. Yes, it had a few flaws, but I still liked it because we get to see a new fresh voice for the LGBTQ community who is not afraid to try new things and lead us into a brand new world.
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (January 27th, 2013)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts
Blurb: Justin and Derrick have a secret that they revealed only to their closest friends. They are gay and are now a couple. The story of Justin and Derrick continues as they learn more about being a gay couple in their senior year of high school and the complications that arise from it. Some friends will have their backs while others simply stand on the sidelines. Other friends will be accepting and others will ridicule them.
Sometimes love is almost not enough to save a relationship and both Derrick and Justin begin to have their doubts as they watch relationships around them rise and fall. Justin and Derrick both want to have new experiences, new choices and make new friends, which leads to them questioning their own relationship. They soon discover that some of the people they consider friends have their own secrets, some darker than others. The couple begins to see how people react towards homosexuality and just how people want to deal with it and them.
Will Justin and Derrick be able to hold onto each other while their lives and secrets spiral around them?
Or will they decide to step back and give up on themselves and each other?
Review: Oh no! Oh yes! I loved this novel. This story is told in three points of view, Hayden’s Derrick’s and Justin’s. To some, that might be a little confusing, but it’s not. When there is a skip of one point of view to the other, the story flows smoothly. It does not go back and retell what you just read. At first, I found it hard to know in whose point of view I was, but when I catch on, I loved the story from beginning to end.
My favorite character was Hayden. I loved the little kid. He was straight and friends with the gay guys in school. His best friend Ryan has a little crush on him. A little? He falls for the guy! Who wouldn’t? He was awesome! At first, Hayden freaks. Name a straight guy that wouldn’t, right? After he calms down, he seeks Ryan and tries to fix their friendship which he does. Those two stay as friend and I liked that.
Derrick and Justin were awesome. I liked their love story, but Hayden stole the show. I hated Kristian. He was mean and unlikeable. I hope he gets what he deserves in book three. The plot was good, but the story was a little too long for me. I liked the fact that I felt like a fly on the wall throughout the novel. I truly felt like if I was eavesdropping on their conversation and a part of the gang by the end of the book.
In a nutshell, the story and characters were great and likeable. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read about a group of friends as they make their way through life.
Series: The Haven Coffee House Boys Series Book Four
Author: Stephani Hecht
Genre: Young Adult
Length: Novella (80 Pages)
Publisher: Extasy Books (January 15th, 2013)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Blurb: Sometimes the ones you love can hurt you the most of all.
Devlin is used to others thinking that he’s a jerk. He likes it that way. It makes it so, nobody ever expects too much of him. Only his close friends really know that soft side of him, and, that he’s never exposed enough so he can get hurt. Then Christian, Devlin’s boyfriend, needs him more than ever. Will Devlin be able to let his guard down enough, or will he risk losing Christian forever?
Review: No Tea No Shade is the fourth book The Haven Coffee House Boys Series by Stephani Hecht. The story revolves around Devlin and Christian and their group of friends. If you have not ready the previous novels, you might feel a little lost in this one.
Christian is suffering from depression and has been hiding it from his boyfriend Devlin. Devlin could be such an asshole sometimes and I don’t see why Christian would even consider him as boyfriend material. But, Christian does bring out the best in Devlin and I like that. One thing I didn’t like was the fact that this novel was too short and consisted of only one plot. Christian’s depression. That’s it. There is nothing more. I would have loved if the plot was extended into something more interesting.
I must admit, Mrs. Stephani Hecht dealt with a very important issue here. Depression is something serious that has been affecting a large percentage of our youths. I think that the message was clear. Get help and let other help you.
When it is all said and done, the novel was okay. If another plot was added to this very serious issue, it would have made the story ten times better and interesting.
Blurb: Bart van Andren, aka Spider, has been running away from life with a lot of chemical help. When he wakes up in a hospital, he discovers he’s picked up a champion. Duane must see something in Bart no one else ever has, because he finds Bart a job at Laughton Farms, where the people show Bart kindness and patience. He might even kick his drug habit with a little help from his new friends Geoff, Eli, and especially Tyrone.
Tyrone Jackson works at the farm despite the disapproval of his traditional black family, who find it suspicious that he works with gay men. Tyrone knows he’s gay, and until now, he’s kept his home and work lives separate.
Though Tyrone resists his feelings for Bart as long as he can—he’s seen enough of the drug culture to last a lifetime—he can’t deny their attraction forever. But before he and Bart reach for more than friendship, Tyrone has to face his family and Bart has to close the door on his past—a past that could put Tyrone, the farm, and everyone he’s come to care for at risk.
Review: Love Means… No Limits is book nine of the Farm Series by Andrew Grey. The story stars Bart van Andren, aka Spider, and Tyrone Jackson who meet at the Laughton Farms. And that’s where the story takes off.
I loved Spider, sorry, Bart. He was a scared little kid that has been running away from reality and his life with the help of several drugs. After passing out in a motel, he wakes up in a hospital and meets Officer Duane. Duane sees a lot of potential in Bart and gets him a job at the Laughton Farms instead of serving jail time. It is there that he meets Tyrone. I loved Tyrone. He was sweet, dedicated and the best brother around. He has been living in the closet all his life because he is afraid to tell his family about his sexual orientation and I don’t blame him. His family is very racist and believes that gays are going to burn in hell. I personally think that Bart and Tyrone are perfect for each other. Tyrone brings out the best in Bart and Bart brings out the courage in Tyrone. And it is that courage that gives him the strength to tell his family that he is gay. There is a huge plot involving Bart’s past, but I won’t say it. You have to read it to find out. That little tragedy helps them to become closer and a happy couple.
In general, this is an amazing little read. You will laugh, cry and feel happy just reading this novel. A recommend it to everyone. Happy reading!
Blurb: Having left New York and their old lives behind them, Mark and Bill are settling into their new home in California, their jobs, and their college courses. At least Mark is, but when Bill’s acting career takes off, Bill leaves college – and Mark – behind to film around the world. Learning to live together was hard – being the boyfriend of a budding superstar is almost inconceivable. Though it’s a struggle to stay relevant to each other when they live in different worlds, Mark is committed to Bill and their relationship.
When Mark gets an unexpected long weekend, he decides to surprise Bill on location in Maui. After all, it’s Mark’s birthday, and he wants to spend it with his boyfriend. But when he gets there it is Mark that is surprised when he finds Bill and his costar in bed together. The combination of fame, fortune and infidelity seems to spell the end for Bill and Mark – until a personal tragedy drags them back to New York, where it all began, and reminds them what really matters.
Review: Okay. I don’t know how to start this review. A Star is Born is book three of the Most Popular Guy in the School Series. I loved book one and two even with their flaws. Many would have given up on the series and moved on to something else, but I kept holding on. The story continues with Mark and Bill. I loved Mark and started to dislike Bill in book two. For some reason, I didn’t believe or trust him. Now, I disliked Mark so much.
I love him as a person, don’t get me wrong, but I just can’t understand him sometimes. In book two, rumors surfaced about Bill cheating on him and Mark went psycho on his ass. Now, in book three, he caught him cheating and he takes it so…easily. He goes and has a blast with his credit card? What? I would have burned Derrick St. James’ house to the ground along with them and threw their remains into a volcano. That’s just me though. I have no idea why Mark stayed with him, but I don’t blame Bill for cheating on him either. What Mark got was coming since book two. He was not giving Bill what he wanted so hefound it elsewhere. That still DOES NOT give him the right to cheat on Mark. He should have kept his dick in his pants. I guess,those two are meant for each other after all.
All in all, this was an awesome read. Yes, I hated the characters, but that just shows that Mr. Robbie Michaels got what he wanted. To have people on both sides, loving and hating the main characters. That to me; makes an awesome read. Another thing that I loved was the fact that I couldn’t find any plot holes. Maybe there were some, but I didn’t found any. That was a huge improvement from the previous novels.
Blurb: “The Most Popular Guy Trilogy: Book Two” A few short months ago, Mark Miller was a shy nerdy kid who kept his head down and stayed off the radar. He had nothing in common with the in-crowd. But then he got snowed in with Bill Cromwell and learned not to judge a book by its cover. One thing led to another, and now Mark has a boyfriend. A “popular” boyfriend. A boyfriend who wants to go to prom with him. But Mark worries that Bill is risking too much-his popularity, his friends.
Then there’s graduation: caps, gowns, and a whole new world awaiting Mark and Bill in faraway California. They rent an apartment, join the workforce, and start college. It’s the beginning of the journey of their lives, and they should be enjoying it-but amid uncertainty, temporary separations, and bad communication, Mark and Bill have to struggle to hold on to the fledgling relationship that grounds them when the outside world seems to move too fast.
Review: The second installment of Robbie Michaels’ the Most Popular Guy in the School Series is better than the first. The story continues where the first book left off. It starts with Bill’s birthday and continues with their journey in California. Just like the first, this one suffered from one or two plot holes that left me wondering. Also, sometimes the scenes and dialogues appeared to be a little too unrealistic. But guess what? It’s fiction! I do however; want to know what the hell happened with Sue and the jocks? Did they end up in jail? Did they get away with it? I read that chapter twice and couldn’t find my answer so I moved. Maybe, I missed it. I still do want to know though.
In California, I liked Mark and Bill together as a couple. They seemed perfect and meant for each other. Mark was awesome and geeky, just like how I like them. I started to dislike Bill after the rumors about his affair with Derrick St. James. I disliked Derrick St. James. I don’t know why, but I knew he was trouble the moment he walked into the picture.
Overall, I loved the story since it was the tale of a couple trying to make it work in life. That seemed very realistic to me. In life, there are so many trials that push couples to the breaking point. Some stay together, some, walk away. I liked that these two stuck together and proved their love to everyone even against me.
Blurb: Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class’s secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing-stock of the school. It’s a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he’d be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he’s going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gunna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that’s the reason he’s putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn’t be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?
Review: Ryan is a closeted gay teen who has been living in the shadows all his life. In high school, he keeps hiding because he fears the retribution of his peers, since being gay is not acceptable by them. He tries to go under the radar and live a normal life, like everyone else. Jamie Peterson is the opposite of Ryan. He is the most flamboyant gay kid in school. His sexual orientation makes him the center of every joke and prank by his classmates. When Mrs. Keats assigns Jamie for Ryan’s secret Santa gift exchange program, their paths intercept and we get to see a new side of these two boys.
I love Ryan. He is a normal gay kid trying to survive an environment where being gay is totally unacceptable and lands you a spot on the hot seat. He has to hide who he is in order not to be the center of brutal jokes. When he has to make three gifts for Jamie for the secret Santa gift exchange program, he begins to let loose and gets to know the flamboyant boy. Jamie was as sweet as sugar. Even though he was the center of attacks by his classmates, he did not let them get to him. The kid fought back. That was something that Ryan could not do. He could not come out as a gay kid and tell the world to screw off. After following Jamie around, he falls in love with him. Yes, he messes up sometimes, but he quickly does something that makes you continue loving him. I loved the ending since Ryan got the courage to tell everyone how much he loves Jamie and what he means sot him.
This is one of the sweetest and shortest stories that I have ever read and I hope that there is a sequel to it because I want to read more about these two characters. Madison Parker is a fresh voice to the writing community and I know that great things will come her way if she continues writing sweet little stories with happy endings. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to treat their eyes with a loving story about love, acceptance and courage for this Christmas season.
Discharged under Don’t Ask Don t Tell, former Marine major Cole Hammond is struggling to find a new identity. But PTSD casts a pall on everything, and his hard-nosed, homophobic father can t even bear to look him in the eye. To top it all off, he’s pretty sure he’s flunking out of law school.
Marc Sullivan is a kind, sensitive romance author-slash-waiter with a thing for men in uniform. Cole’s not wearing his anymore, but there’s no mistaking the warrior Marc meets in the diner one rainy afternoon. Cole’s sexy smile and Carolina drawl prove irresistible, but Marc’s played this game before, and he always loses. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and if there’s one thing Marc knows about such men, it’s that they all leave him in the end. It doesn’t t help that Cole’s practically closeted in public, or that he refuses to seek treatment for his PTSD.
But like any good Marine, Cole’s willing to fight for what matters. And like the characters in Marc’s stories, he’s certain that if they try just hard enough, together they can find their own happily ever after.
Review: Marc Sullivan is a struggling author who waits tables in order to make ends meet after being a college professor. His passion is writing, not teaching little frat boys. Marc also has a weird fetish and that is men in uniform. Cole Hammond is handsome and the drop-dead gorgeous type of guy. He has recently been discharged from the Marines under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell scenario. He returns to college to study law, after spending his entire professional life with the persons who turned their backs on him for being gay. He has a homophobic father, financial problems and is on the verge of failing law school. What do these to need? Each other.
I loved Marc. He was the nerdy type of guy who left everything just to do what he loves, writing gay romance novels. He has had it tough, but he keeps fighting and moving on in life. I absolutely loved Cole! He was that amazing and perfect to me. My heart broke after learning about his troublesome past. At first, he seemed dazed, lost and confused with Marc, since everyone had turned his back on him for being gay. But, he proved himself to be a charmer and a sweetheart. I don’t blame him for running away from the fact that he was gay at first and being jumpy about it. When these two let their guards down and let love fill their hearts, I completely fell in love with this story. They grew in each other arms and became one in the process.
I recommend Once a Marine to anyone who is looking for a historical and classical love story between two very diverse characters. I must warn you; this novel will take you through the biggest emotional ride of your life.
Blurb: What do an advertising executive, an Olympic skater and an 18th century samurai have in common? Each is in love with his best friend and knows he’s found his soul mate. But is Fate destined to give him his heart’s desire? A timeless theme explored in three sizzling M/M stories by two of today’s favorite authors, D.H. Starr and Sedonia Guillone.
It Was Always You (D.H. Starr) A drama club geek and a consummate jock—hardly a formula for friendship. Yet Caleb Richards and Kevin O’Brien have been best friends since high school. Kevin’s free spirited ways brought Caleb out of his shell, and Caleb introduced Kevin to a world outside of sports. When Kevin came out to Caleb as gay, all the things he’d thought were wrong about himself suddenly seemed right…except for his inability to say the four words that could open the door to his ultimate happiness: I love you, Kevin. Years later, when Caleb finally faced his fear and plans to finally tell Kevin, “It was always you,” he’s a bit too late: Kevin tells him he’s found someone. How will a friendship ever become more now?
Blind Love (Sedonia Guillone) After a harrowing seventeen-year separation, Hirata Morimasa leaves his home and secure future to search for his childhood friend, Sho. Blinded by illness when they were children, Sho was sent away, apprenticed to a blind masseur (an anma) to learn his trade, and then disappeared. Desperate to find the other half of his heart and soul, Hirata willingly sacrifices the prestige and security of his father’s dojo to find him. When an anma who looks exactly like Sho crosses his path in front of a gambling parlor one day, the man flatly denies he is Sho. Hirata knows better and is determined to get the truth…and to rekindle what he’d lost with his friend. However, even though Hirata knows in his bones this man is his soul mate, Sho has…changed…in ways Hirata could not have prepared for in his wildest imaginings, changes that could continue to keep them apart…forever.
Skating For Gold (D.H. Starr) Joined by sorrow, Olympic figure skating hopeful Devon Hayes met champion Lance Dawes at a time when both their worlds were falling apart. Devon lost his mother to cancer and Lance’s family rejected him for being gay. When Devon leaves for college, a door seems to close on any hopes for something more than friendship…until Fate provides a second chance. Devon returns home to train with Lance. As the Olympic trials draw closer and their love grows stronger, the tug-of-war between desire and ambition threatens to ruin everything. If they can’t discover what matters most, they might end up with nothing
Caleb Richards and Kevin O’Brien are best friends since high school. Unbeknownst to Kevin, Caleb has always been in love to him, but he had not found the courage to share his feeling with him since Kevin has a reputation of sleeping around with a lot of guys. However, everything changes one day when Kevin wants to introduce to Caleb the guy he calls The One. This is where things get interesting.
I loved Caleb. He was smart, funny and a very nice guy. He has always been in love with Kevin, but has not dared to confess it to him. I absolutely loved Kevin since he was a real bad boy and a player. I was happy and shocked to know that Kevin loved Caleb as well, thus the name of the novel fits perfectly. On the downside, the story felt a little too long, even though it was a short story. It would have been better if the story was cut straight to the point or reduce the pages of internal conflict of the main character.
Blind Love by Sedonia Guillone ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Hirata Morimasa was a Samurai in training and his father owned a dojo. His best friend was Sho, a blind child who was the son of his father’s servants. But everything is not perfect since at just ten years old, Sho has to leave with a Blind Guild. Against Hirata and Sho’s wishes, he leaves and is never seen again. Before he is taken away however, Hirata promises that he will look for him someday. When Hirata is seventeen years old, he leaves his home and finds Sho ten years later. Everything should have been perfect, but it’s not since Sho does not recognize him.
This novel is not my type, but it was a masterpiece. The author clearly shows knowledge about this era and culture beyond my expectations. At first, I was sad by Sho’s rejection to Hirata since the guy had been looking for him for TEN years. For ten solid years, he looked far and wide for his one and true love. Now, that’s true love! After Sho told us his side of the story, I fell for the kid even more. He was a lost little boy who was force to grow up away from his family, friends and love. I knew then why he behaved that way. Everything about this story was perfect and story line was believable. The author did an amazing job with this short little story.
Skating For Gold by D.H. Starr – ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Devon Haynes is an ice skater who has been training with Lance Dawes. They have been in love with each other, but neither of them have had the courage to say it out loud to each other. When the Olympic Trail nears, they become closer and shared their troubling conflicts.
D.H. Starr is an amazing author. There is no doubt about that. His writing style comes alive on every page, but this was my least favorite story. Don’t get me wrong, the characters and story were great and believable. Everything flew well, but I don’t know why this story felt too long like the first one. Maybe, it was the amount of pages given to the troubling thoughts surrounding the characters. This would have been much better if it was cut straight to the point or reduce the number of pages of internal conflict of the main characters.
I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read three amazing little stories about how friends become lovers and one in the same.
Blurb: Rick knows his lover Danny has a secret and has been lying to Rick in order to keep it. He’s pretty sure this secret has something to do with seeing another man once a month for three days at a time.
Determined to show his boyfriend that he can be everything Danny needs, Rick hatches a plan that ends up revealing way more than he could’ve imagined.
(Warning: Contains an altercation between the main characters and a group of anti-gay morons.)
Review: I was very skeptical when I started this story since I’m not a huge fan of werewolves, but I’m so glad that I did. The story begins with Rick, who believes that Danny is hiding something from him, because every month he disappears for three days. So, in order to prove Danny that he’s the man for him, he plans a hot and steamy date. He “kidnaps” Danny and takes him to a lake. While they’re having hot and stick sex, several anti-gay morons attack them mercilessly. Since Danny was bigger and stronger than Rick, he quickly pounds them to the ground, but something is not right or doesn’t make sense. Rick is badly bruised, but Danny is better and stronger than ever. When Rick demands the truth, he finds out that Danny’s deepest secret. Danny is a werewolf.
I loved Danny and Rick since they were perfect for each other. Danny to me was the bomb. He was sexy, hot and just interesting. I didn’t like the sudden ending. This story was just too short for my taste since I wanted to read more about these two very interesting characters. I recommend this to all those who enjoy paranormal romance between two hot and sexy characters and for those who are looking for something new.
Blurb: Dale Thomason isn’t much of a cat person. In fact, he doesn’t particularly care for animals of any kind. Or people either, for that matter. A food critic for the local press, he dines out on the company tab without the hassle of going on a date. His sex life is non-existent, particularly when compared to that of his bisexual BFF, Jill.
When a stray orange tomcat brazenly follows Dale home one night, he calls Jill to come rid his apartment of the feline terror. But he can’t seem to keep the cat out of his home, and the next time it comes inside, Jill isn’t there to rescue him, so he lets it stay.
That night Dale has the sexiest, most vivid dream starring the hot new redhead who just moved into the apartment across from his.
In the morning, the cat has mysteriously vanished and Dale is left reeling from the wet dream. Did he imagine the whole thing? Or does his new neighbor harbor a furry secret?
Review: What a pleasant surprise this little book was. Dale Thomason is a food critic for the local press. Since he’s very hard to please and has a huge ego, getting some has become a huge predicament for him. Everything changes one day after he finds a stray orange tomcat inside his home which he immediately dislikes. Dale is not an animal lover or a people lover as a matter of fact. But something very mysterious surrounds the small orange cat. After a night of drinking, he lets the little cat inside his home to spend the night since he cannot locate his owner. That night, he has very vivid sexual dream with his new neighbor. Soon, he finds that his neighbor (Scott) and the small orange cat are one in the same.
I loved Dale and Scott. Dale is a very interesting character since he is not likeable or friendly. He is the grumpy type of guy that reveals his funny and friendly side only when you become his close friend. Scott was a pleasant surprise since he shape shifts into a cat. Yes, a cat, not a werewolf or a pale vampire. There are several funny, sexy and interesting scenes throughout the novel that makes it a must read. However, I didn’t like the fact that the story was just too short. I wanted to read more about this short, but extremely interesting novel.
I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a fresh new story written by one of the best writers in the industry.
Publisher: Amazon Digital Publishing (August 25, 2012)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Todd Hoffman, age sixteen, doesn’t have an easy life. Not only does he live with his alcoholic mother in a rundown mobile home, but he’s also a bit of a social outcast at school. He doesn’t have the nice clothing, shoes, and car the other students have. He has only one really close friend, Shannon, but even she doesn’t understand him completely. He knows he can never confide in her his deepest secret. He can’t tell anyone, not even his favorite teacher.
But Todd finds a way to express his feelings when he learns about fan fiction. Being a gifted writer, Todd begins to write stories–gay stories–about another boy he’s secretly crushing on. He posts the stories on a fan fiction website.
When the object of Todd’s affection one day notices him and asks him out, Todd feels like he is suddenly living a dream, that his literary fantasy is becoming real. Soon, however, he realizes that reality and fantasy are two different things, and he has to determine if Galen, the high school soccer team captain, is the boy of his dreams or just another dumb jock.
This is book three of the Dumb Jock series, and the story is linked to the previous books by featuring several common characters. Jeff and Brett are present as are Adam and Trevor. Book three is a continuation of the first two installments, but also serves as a standalone read.
Review: I love a good nerd/jock novel. I find them fresh and interesting even though some people claim that they have been retold a hundred times. But have they? If you go looking for them, you could only come across one or two. So, when Jeff Erno came out with the third installment of the Dumb Jock series, I had to read it.
The story starts with Todd Hoffman. He has had a pretty rough life since his mom is an alcoholic and they basically live in a trailer park. He is an outcast of life who finds comfort in writing gay fan fiction. His life completely changes after he wins an essay contest at school and his secret crush, Galen Caulfield, notices him and asks him. Galen is the local high school soccer team captain and heart robe. Sparks fly and soon, they find themselves madly in love with each other. But, things are not perfect since their relationship is forbidden by several factors. You have to read this story to find out what they are.
I loved the fact that several previous characters of the series are featured and are linked perfectly well. The one think that I didn’t like was the ending. It was just too sudden. I was expecting a few more chapters, but that left me wanting to read part two of this tale. Overall, Dumb Jock 3:Appearances Matter was an amazing read. I highly recommend this novel to everyone who has read the previous book in the series and for those who enjoy a good nerd/jock theme novel.
Blurb: Alex thinks he has the perfect relationship with boyfriend Gary. When Dexter moves in next door to Alex, things start to get complicated. Everyone Dexter meets seems to develop feelings for him, and even though the new boy is straight, Alex can’t help but start to fall for him. These concerns he outlines in his brutally honest diary, while also dealing with his psychotic best friend Andie and his parents’ divorce.
Review: Alex thinks that his life is perfect with Gary, even though Gary can be very manipulating. His world is slowly coming down, as their relationship crumbles and he has to deal with his parents divorce. But wait, something is shinning a positive light over him. Could it be the new boy next door? Yes. Dexter is the opposite of Gary. He is funny, understanding and very extrovert. He is the life of the party and the guy you want to have around. The main idea of the story is beautifully told by Maddy Linehan since she is a new fresh voice in the YA world. On the down side, there were a few mistakes, but nothing that would make your eyes bleed. I would recommend this story to anyone who wants to experience High School drama, first true love, more drama and coming to terms with your own sexuality.
Title: The Locker Room 
