Tag: Mathilde Watson

Cabin for Two: An Anthology

s949781146977809269_p10_i1_w640Title: Cabin for Two: An Anthology

Series: Mischief Corner Anthologies, #1
Author(s): Toni Griffin, Freddy MacKay, Mathilde Watson, Silvia Violet, and Angel Martinez
Genre: Various
Length: 201 pages
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books, LLC; 3rd edition (April 1, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Snow, storm, transportation woes, gravity well mishaps – the list of disasters that might strand someone in the wilderness is endless. But what happens when two men are marooned together? Close quarters and intimate situations strike sparks, whether the men are strangers or lovers on the emotional rocks.

A Bear in the Woods: Smokey Mountain Bears 1 by Toni Griffin ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
A bear shifter tries to convince his mate that he’s not crazy while fighting threats against his own life.

I was looking forward to this. I really enjoy Tony Griffin’s other series The Holland Brothers and Atherton Pack. If anything, this book was just too short and that was because I missed the details that I crave and normally get from her writing. But in saying that I’m really behind since I’ve only just got to this one. This anthology originally published a couple of years ago and it is the first book in a series. The second book was released a few months ago for Christmas (Wreath of Fire in the Chestnuts Roasting Anthology, Dec 2014) – another book that I need to get to.

Regardless, this is an enjoyable story. An unsuspecting human and a hot bear shifter, what more could you want? Vincent, the human of the piece, has been forced to take a holiday by his best friend. And for some odd reason she has booked him a cabin in the woods. Christian, our bear, has a lot of background drama going on to do with his pack/sleuth of bears. He’s next in line for alpha and a couple of pack members take an exception to this. When Vincent arrives at the cabin, his first glimpse of Christian is in his bear form and we pick up on a quick adventure from there.

As I said, not really detail heavy although it has a good and simple plot. There seems like there is more to this story and since it’s only book 1, I’m going to put my faith in Toni Griffin for the rest.

Dirty Little Secret by Freddy MacKay ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
A geocaching trip goes horribly wrong, but the hiker’s rescuer is the one person who may be able to save him in more ways than he can imagine.

I think this is the first time I’ve read something by Freddy MacKay and I have to say it is pretty enjoyable.

Three Little Words by Mathilde Watson ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Lifelong friends have returned from the Korean conflict and now need to fight their way through the feelings they’ve harbored for each other for so long.

This is the first time I’ve read anything written by Mathilde Watson. I have to say there are two things that drew me into this instantly 1) I love Korea as a county and the mere mention of it makes me want to go back, and, 2) I’m a tragic for watching re-runs of MASH and it seems I’ve been watching reruns my whole life.

All that aside, this is a sweet story. It’s about two best friends that are confused about their sexuality trying to get their lives back on track after being irrevocably altered from their time in the army. One thing that isn’t actually mentioned specifically but I would say has impact on the story is how homosexuality was viewed historically. This is more fun and exploration than the serious side of sexuality.

Their Natural Habitat: The Forestry Series, Book 2 by Silvia Violet ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
A forest ranger and his lover just want a nice weekend away. The bear baiters have other ideas.

I have to admit, I didn’t quite enjoy this story as much as the preceding stories in the Cabin for Two anthology. But I think I figured it out: this is a standalone sequel to book 1 in the Forestry Series but to enjoy it properly I probably need to read book 1.

As I said, this is a sequel, so we follow on with characters that readers would have met if they didn’t do my trick and go straight to this anthology without realising. Dan and Parker are together but one is a city boy and the other is a country boy – who also works as a park ranger. These guys are still trying to iron out the dynamics and logistics of their relationship and even on its own is an enjoyable read.

A Matter of Faces (An ESTO Universe Story) by Angel Martinez ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
A data privateer crash lands on a barely habitable moon where he’s found by a research scientist who refuses to show his face.

By far this was the most enjoyable book for me from the Cabin for Two anthology. It’s not so much sweet, but it is fun. It’s a bit like Cold War Spy crossed with Arctic scientist in my mind.

The MCs are Rhodi (Rhodolite) and Gel (Magellan): Gel is a scientist tucked away on an isolated planet studying/observing weather systems. Rhodi is the data privateer mention in the blurb, he crash lands and crawls into the wrong plant, so when Gel finds him, Gel becomes his nurse and medical doctor briefly. It’s not really an adventure, they are stuck within an observation cabin throughout, but it’s a pretty cool way for a scientists and what is essentially a spy come together.

Just on a random side note, it pissed me off how Gel reacted at the end but I’m glad he saw sense. It’s just in Rhodi’s shoes. I would have been a little less willing to accept an apology. On the names, I can’t keep this to myself: Rhodolite is a type of rock/crystal, but since I don’t know rocks that well (had to look it up), I keep thinking of Rhodophytes (red algae, more my area). As for Magellan (as well as being aptly named), if you remember the kids’ 90s cartoon The Animaniacs, I keep on thinking a song they sing about the explorer Magellan.

Product Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/Cabin-Two-Anthology-Mischief-Anthologies-ebook/dp/B00EUSSY60

http://mischiefcornerbooks.weebly.com/store/p10/Cabin_for_Two%3A_An_Anthology.html

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

You Don't Have To Ask by Mathilde Watson

Title: You Don’t Have To Ask

Series: Men in Uniform

Author: Mathilde Watson

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (79pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (23rd June 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Adam never asked if Seth loved him and he sure as hell never told the man how he felt. The military’s policy of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ kept their times together brief and sporadic, making love an irrelevant consideration–until now.

With the threat of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ hanging over their heads, hooking up for a few hot but hurried encounters was all Adam Young and Captain Seth Williams had over the past ten years. Adam could never resist the opportunity to spend even a few hours in Seth’s arms. Seth’s heart was torn between the two loves of his life; the sea and his life of adventure versus Adam who could give him the love he needs to live on.

Now, six months after the repeal of the hateful law Adam is faced with a terrifying question. The chemistry between them is explosive and undeniable but is it only lust or could it possibly be love?

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1092/

Review: Adam is madly in love with his Navy guy. He has been for many years, but now with DADT repelled he fears that all he was to Seth was a booty call. Seth has made plans which he hopes Adam will agree to, but first he has to spend some quality time with the beautiful man.

Wow. Well, what can I say about this one; except that I was torn for the first half of the book and I wanted Adam to dump Seth’s ass. For the last ten years Adam has been in a ‘relationship’ with Seth, but it has never been clearly defined between them.   Hell, for all Adam knows, Seth could have a guy in every port for a booty call. He wants more now that DADT is, but how does he broach it with a man who he is usually naked and in bed with? Seth isn’t as uncaring as we first think and he has made plans. Plans that do include Adam, but he wants it all to be a big surprise. So what if he has to leave Adam naked in a motel room for hours; he just knows that Adam will love the surprise.

Okay. So by the time I had been in Seth’s head for a few minutes, I had revised my opinion of Seth and had decided that he just needed a slap across the back of the head. So he would open his stupid mouth and just tell Adam how he feels. Adam on the other hand just needed to man up. But, his trepidation was understandable as he didn’t want to lose what little contact that he had with Seth. So, I won’t go into much detail, but this really is a lovely novella and my only complaint would have been the ending. I so wanted it to end at the change of command ceremony, but other than that it was great.

Oh.  And there is plenty of hot scorching sex, touching love-making and a solid relationship in the making. So, I am going to recommend this to those who love military coming out stories, two lovers finally being open with each other and a really happy ending.