Tag: Love’s Landscapes Stories

Bound by Amelia Bishop

25403437*Title was free on Amazon at time of posting*

Title: Bound
Series: A Love’s Landscapes story
Author: Amelia Bishop
Genre: MM Romance with a sprinkle of BDSM
Length: Novella (80 pages)
Publisher: MM Romance Group (April 20th 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: “Bound” is the story of Adrian, a man who finds himself wheelchair bound, and thinks that his life is over. Until he meets Nate, and learns to love again.

A male/male Romance with explicit sexual scenes and mild BDSM elements, this novella is intended for adult readers.

**This story was written for the Goodreads mm romance group’s 2014 Love’s Landscapes event. It was written in response to a prompt letter (included in the front copy of this book) **

Dear Author,
When I was told I would never walk again and would be stuck in a wheelchair the rest of my life something inside me broke. I put up a cold and tough front to keep everyone at arm’s length; it’s easier that way. No one could ever love a man whose body is covered in scars, whose legs will never work again, who’s lost himself.

Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WH1K9SS

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Imagine waking up one morning loving life. You are a successful accountant; you have wonderful friends and a loving family. It’s an unseasonably warm day for this time of year, so you decide to take your motorcycle out for a spin. The next time you wake up is in a hospital bed surrounded by bright lights, beeping machines, and you can’t feel your legs. That is what happened to Adrian. In the two years since the accident, Adrian has closed himself off from everyone except his family and his physical therapist.

Adrian is in a deep, self-loathing depression. The only time he leaves his home is for his physical therapy. It’s during one of his visits that Adrian is noticed by the new therapist, Nate. Adrian is standoffish, brash and downright rude to the guy. Since the accident left him scarred and crippled, Adrian feels he has nothing to offer and the last thing he wants is anyone’s pity. Nate has to dig deep to find the emotions Adrian buried long ago, he has to work hard to prove to Adrian that all he sees is him. A gorgeous, smart, sexy man who can give Nate the most important thing in the world… Love.

Short, Sexy and Steamy! My three favorite colors!! I blew through this book in about an hour, and immediately went back and read it again. The push and pull between the two men in this story is brutal but honest, and well-balanced. Adrian has convinced himself that he isn’t worth loving, and even if he were, who could love a man without the use of his legs? A man who is both physically and mentally scarred? Nate doesn’t even register any of those things, he only sees Adrian.

Slowly but surely Nate starts to break down the barriers Adrian has hidden himself behind. The two become friends before they are lovers. Nate has to build a solid foundation of friendship and trust before Adrian will even consider letting Nate into his life, much less his bed. I must say, I was surprised at how detailed and ripe with content this story was for so few pages. You definitely get a sense of knowing the characters and understanding exactly why Adrian feels the way he does.

A must read for all my fellow hopeless romantics! There is a sprinkle of BDSM, but it’s more of an afterthought really than anything else. So don’t let those four letters turn you off from this story, it is well worth the read.

And it’s free through the MM Romance Group’s Love Landscapes event. Did I mention it was steamy, and sexy?

Prancer and Gruff by Jade Crystal

Prancer-and-Gruff-Crystal-JutohTitle: Prancer and Gruff
Series: Love’s Landscapes (A Goodreads M/M Romance Groups series)
Author: Jade Crystal
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (65 pages)
Publisher: M/M Romance Group (July 7th 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Dear Author,
Being a cowboy is the only life I’ve ever known and I wouldn’t change that for anything. Running the ranch keeps me too busy to be lonely but at night, when I’m lying in bed waiting for exhaustion to take me, I can admit I wish there was someone there beside me. Then you pranced into my life in response to a housekeeper wanted ad I posted online. You are nothing I expected and everything I need. My opposite in every way, your softness to my strength, your sass to my gruff, and yet we just fit. I’m stubborn and set in my ways, but I know I can be your happy ever after if you give me a chance. How do I convince you to be mine?
84794Photo Description:
A cowboy stands alone in a grassy field, a saddle dangling from his grip by the saddle horn. He stands comfortably, feet apart and shoulders wide. He is looking down, his dark hat obscuring his face and throwing shadows over one shoulder. He is bare-chested, sporting an impressive upper body physique; he is wearing only belted jeans and boots. A river, some brush, and a wooden fence can be seen in the distance.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love’s Landscapes” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Purchase Link: http://www.mmromancegroup.com/prancer-and-gruff-by-jade-crystal/
Reviewer: Leigh
Review: Cliff is the owner of a ranch and recently put an ad out for a housekeeper. One night Troy shows up at his door. As Troy puts it, he is the best kind of housekeeper “sassy and fabulous.” Troy is definitely that. Cliff is gruff and lonely and Troy brings excitement to Cliff in more ways than one. Troy talks a mile a minute and Troy’s inner monologue is absolutely hilarious. I loved him. He is totally quirky and zany.

The two of them together are awesome. Cliff is the serious gruff rancher and Troy is the flaming prancing queen. They are complete opposites but they work for each other. There is no sex in the story, but I didn’t miss it either. The two of them accepted each other as they were and that I loved.

This was well written and very entertaining. Great read.

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

Awakenings by Jayson James

22391678Title: Awakenings
Series: Part of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group ‘Love Landscapes’
Author: Jayson James
Genre: Coming of Age/Gay for You
Length: Novella (45 pages)
Publisher: Goodreads M/M Romance Group (June 2nd, 2014)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Dear Author,

I’d always considered myself sort of asexual up until now. In high school, no one interested me and I was too busy with schoolwork to date anyway. I figured I didn’t have a big sex drive or I just hadn’t met the right girl. However, the more time I spend with my roommate, Ben, the more I’m reconsidering everything.

The more he walks around half-dressed the more I keep noticing him. Even if I am attracted to him, who I’m not sure that I am, I don’t think he would be into me. He seems like the type of guy that girls flock to. He couldn’t be interested in me, could he?

Requests: Clearly, I’m angling for a gay-for-you here, folks! It can be a double or single GFY, lots of sexual tension (please!), slow build romance, lots of heat. I would rather no BDSM but some light stuff wouldn’t bother me.

8758067Photo Description:
The photo is of a muscular guy in his early 20’s with smooth tan skin and dark brown hair that is combed back to spike up. He is standing behind a vacuum cleaner in a pair of blue boxer briefs with a grin on his face in what appears to be a bedroom and the picture seems to be candid.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love’s Landscapes” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo, prompt that spoke to them, and wrote a short story.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

Purchase Link: http://www.mmromancegroup.com/awakenings-by-jayson-james/

Review: Solomon, Solo, has never really identified himself as being gay. He’s never had a boyfriend, or a girlfriend for that matter. He has dated girls, held hands, and even kissed one once. But more so to fit in with what his friends in school were doing. When he gets to college, he and his roommate instantly click and become best friends. Just normal guy stuff at the start. But then Solo finds himself noticing Ben more and more, little things, like the fact that Ben prefers being naked to clothed.

Ben is an exhibitionist of sorts. At least, where his roommate is concerned. I don’t think he intentionally tried to get a rise out of Solo. He’s just not ashamed of his body and enjoys the attention that people pay it. Over time, though something grows inside him. He finds himself attracted to Solo. Where the two have always been very flirtatious by nature, it’s never been a serious attraction or invitation to Solo to pursue. But late night mutual jack off sessions and some pretty sexy dreams are about to change all that.

I’m not entirely convinced that this is a GFY story. I think this is more of a story of two young men that identify as being attracted to each other, and that coupled with the strong bond of friendship, love and trust that they have for each other already just make that next step a no brainer.

Jayson James writing style is not for everyone. It’s very raw, realistic and young at heart. While there were a few things lacking here and there throughout the story, overall I loved the way these characters were portrayed. And for the reviewers complaining about the lack of sex, you do realize that James writes Gay YA, don’t you? Not every book in the genre has to be full of lust and passion. Sometimes young men are just getting their footing and wrapping their brain around their attraction to another guy.

Great job Jayson! Loved the story, loved the cover and I can’t wait to see more from these two young men.