Tag: Kimberly Gardner

Almost Heaven by Kimberly Gardner

51WN3ji9ZtLTitle: Almost Heaven
Series: Exception to the Rule #1
Author: Kimberly Gardner
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (90 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id (September 28th, 2010)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: When Chris meets Kevin at his brother’s school, he instantly gets hot for teacher. He can only hope that the sexy guy is gay. Later, when Kevin shows up at the gym where Chris works, Chris is sure he’s got him hooked. A shared kiss is absolutely electric but then Kevin turns tail and runs. What the hell? Maybe he’s in the closet.

Yes, in fact, Kevin is in the closet, Deep in the closet. He has to be. He’s going to be a priest. While he’s very attracted to Chris, he simply can’t pursue it. Giving in to that attraction would ruin his life. Still, he can’t deny what he feels so instead he vows to stay away from Chris.

But steering clear is not so easy when what you’ve found is Almost Heaven.

ISBN: 978-1-60737-873-0

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/almost-heaven.html

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is the first book in the Exception to the Rule series. However, it is a stand-alone. In fact, I read and review book 3 of the series before going back to read the previous volumes. It certainly added a bit more insight when I think back on book 3, but the information was in no means vital.

This is the shortest book of the series, but it is still a fantastic read. For anyone who has a fetish for priests, this is the book for you (or rather brother/deacon – whatever the terminology, it’s been 10 years since high school religious education class). It puts an interesting twist on the common ploy of one experienced partner and one, well, virgin. It’s also a twist on the “deep in the closet” type story.

I absolutely love the two main characters, Chris and Kevin. Chris is a manly man, for lack of a better description. He has a red mustang, very nice indeed! But he is also the protective older brother, although it isn’t said in the book he seems to have helped his mother raise his younger brother as there is no father in the picture (explanation never given as to why). Chris meets Kevin when he goes to pick up his brother from school. Kevin is a teacher there, he just also happens to be training to be a priest.

Kevin may not be experienced or streetwise but he is far from naive. The poor guy is conflicted and has to put his priorities in order so that he can at least find contentment in his life. I like the spark between them, Kevin is all cuteness and sweetness, while Chris is a manly man.

However, I now come to the problem of actually knowing what’s going to happen because of book 3. This story ends rather abruptly and while we know what resolution Kevin comes to, we don’t actually know exactly what he is going to do. But that’s minor details and for anyone worried about this, take it from me, don’t get too concerned because we will get glimpses further down that track that tie together the tiny threads left behind in here!

I also find myself fond of the minor characters, including a memorable scene with a sister of Kevin’s, as well as Chris’s younger brother Mark and the boy’s mother, Carolyn. Mark sticks out in my mind because he was a prominent minor character in book 3 and the next book (also my next review), is his story. Kevin’s uncle is also a charming character.

I loved the simplicity of the storyline. It was easy to follow and we got straight to the point with no unnecessary drama, which is what makes it totally my kind of book. I may have said this before with Kimberly Gardner’s series, Playing for Keeps, but I find her writing style easy to read and enjoyable, which is probably helped by an editor, but you are sure to know what I mean.

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

His Fair Lady by Kimberly Gardner

91VEMxmCM1L._SL1500_Title: His Fair Lady
Series: Exception to the Rule, #2
Author: Kimberly Gardner
Genre: New Adult/Transgender
Length: Novel (200 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id (April 1, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts
Blurb: Mark Talleo is something of a dog with the ladies. Any girl, anytime, anywhere is his motto until he meets Josie Frazier. The long lean redhead not only shares his love of musical theatre, but her smoky sexy voice and infectious laugh drive Mark wild and haunt his every step. Equally fascinating is his sense that she has a secret, one he is determined to uncover on his way to becoming her leading man.

Josie does have a secret, one she guards with her whole self. Although she has always known she was female, her name used to be Joey and she’s still biologically male. As much as she yearns for love and acceptance, her fear of rejection is just as strong.

Mark’s need to know the truth is matched only by Josie’s need to hide it. But when malicious gossip reveals her deepest secret, the price of honesty may turn out to be too high to pay. But if each can accept that the woman he wants is the woman she is then at last he may find His Fair Lady.

ISBN: 978-1-62300-707-2

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/his-fair-lady.html

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I’ve read a few books, which feature a transgender main character, but this is the second of such books that has really got to me with actual emotion. I really sympathised with both main characters. Although, I have to admit that personally in my mind, this particular in terms of transgender relationships is only second to Carol Lynne’s Hawk’s Landing, part of the Cattle Valley series. But that is totally off the point.

This story is a standalone story as part of the Exception to the Rule series. However, we do get a quick update of the previous couple featured in book 1, Chris and Kevin. Quite happily, though, not only do we hear about Chris and Kevin’s relationship, we also find out how much they have progressed as a couple. Very satisfying to read.

His Fair Lady starts a few years after Almost Heaven. Chris’s younger brother, Mark, is now in college. He’s also a bit of a ladies’ man. He spies a girl in class and becomes intent on pursuing her. That girl is Josie – was once Joe. She lives full-time as a woman now. She was incredibly lucky to have very supportive parents, who let her be who she is and never held her back. She also has a BFF and guard dog I love, Kyle. (Kyle’s story is in book 3 and I reviewed it before reviewing this title).

One thing in college that brings them together, other than a couple of classes, is the college theatre production, My Fair Lady, hence the title of the book.

Both Mark and Josie have their share of drama but everything is done to the point without, thankfully, the addition of any drama queen hissy fits. Really, don’t like those. The relationship between Mark and Josie reminds me of the awkward start of relationships in teen years. In that way, everyone can relate to that, particularly some awkward make out scenes. However, their relationship also shows the maturity of long-lasting relationships.

I like, in fact I prefer, the fact that Josie’s identity as a female wasn’t handled with all the shock and fanfare I’ve read in other books. Instead, all the emotion was based on Josie struggling to be herself under the fear (though I’m not sure I would call it fear) of being found out and the consequences in terms of Mark and basically everyone at college. That to me also felt realistic.

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

Straight to the Heart by Kimberly Gardner

kg_straight_from_the_heartTitle: Straight to the Heart
Series: Exception to the Rule 3
Author: Kimberly Gardner
Genre: Contemporary/New Adult
Length: Novel (229 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id (November 4th, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts
Blurb: College student Kyle diStefano is having trouble paying his tuition. So when he hears about a job as team mascot with the accompanying full scholarship it seems like the perfect solution. Except he knows nothing about football. But why should that stop him?

Known as the Big Cock on Campus, Dave Masterson never lets his antics with the ladies interfere with his true love, playing NCAA football. But when his coach suggests the team do some off-season conditioning at the ballet barre, most of the guys scoff. Only Dave takes him seriously.

With Dave’s knowledge of football and Kyle’s knowledge of ballet, it seems each has exactly what the other needs, except they play for different teams. Or do they?

Kyle knows one sure path to heartbreak is falling for the straight jock who’s teaching him the rules of the game. Dave falling for another man is going to mean nothing but trouble. But neither man can seem to help himself.

When a public display of affection casts doubt on Dave’s NFL dream, he is forced to make a choice. Stay with the game plan or call an audible straight from the heart.

ISBN: 978-1-62300-567-2

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/exception-to-the-rule-straight-from-the-heart.html

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Straight to the Heart is book 3 in the Exception to the Rule series. This is a standalone story, however, the couple from book 2 (Josie and Mark) feature prominently as the roommates of Kyle and Dave. The couple from book 1 (Chris and Kevin) are also included briefly since Chris is Mark’s older brother. But if you have read the first two books, we get a more pleasing insight into Josie and Mark, as well as a quick peek into Chris and Kevin’s lives.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The best way to summarize it is simply that this is a sweet look at a fledging relationship between two guys in college. Dave Masterson struggles with his sexuality and reconciling it with his hopes of a career in professional football. Kyle, a theatre art major, on the other hand, is a realist but is also out and proud, he knows Dave because of their respective roommates.

He runs into Dave more when he tries to win a scholarship so he can complete his degree by being the athletics scholarship. To be quite honest there were a number of times I just wanted to hug Kyle. I liked the argument between Dave and Kyle at the climax of the story. I found it to appear realistic in the sense that neither of them appeared to be having a hissy fit over nothing.

There is also a whole host of interesting minor characters. There are one or two closeted guys and a number in established relationships, on top of the usual assortment of people. I have to admit that Lacey really came into her own at the end in the end, even if she was only in it few times. She is a memorable minor character. And if you haven’t read books one and two yet, I guarantee you that this will make you want to go back (because that’s exactly what I want to do!).

A recent convert to Kimberly Gardner’s books, I love her writing style. The story is very easy to read and follow. She does sweet and cute perfectly and has a knack for wonderfully adorable characters – even the jocks – although she can also add a bit of drama and darker shades. However, Straight to the Heart is fairly much as the title says, as well as being sweet read and a wonderful story about coming out in college.

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