Stranger in a Foreign Land by Michael Murphy ~ Audio Review

Michael Murphy - Stranger In A Foreign Land Audio Cover 734uykTitle: Stranger in a Foreign Land

Series: Dreamspun Desire 61

Author: Michael Murphy

Narrator: Colin Darcy

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 23 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (8th November 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Losing his old life and finding a new love.

After an accident stole his memory, the only home American businessman Patrick knows is Bangkok. He recovers under the tender ministrations of Jack, an Australian expat who works nights at a pineapple cannery. Together they search for clues to Patrick’s identity, but without success. Soon that forgotten past seems less and less important as Jack and Patrick – now known as Buddy – build a new life together.

But the past comes crashing in when Patrick’s brother travels to Thailand looking for him…and demands Patrick return to Los Angeles, away from Jack and the only world familiar to him. The attention also causes trouble for Jack, and to make their way back to each other, Patrick will need to find not only himself, but Jack as well, before everything is lost….

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Stranger in a Foreign Land is a standalone novel by Michael Murphy with audio narration for this book performed by Colin Darcy. Michael Murphy is a new author to me and I have to say, even with soap opera type clichés, Stranger in a Foreign is, generally, an enjoyable read. I won’t go too much into the storyline because it will be so very easy to spoil. I think that the only thing that took away from my enjoyment was that there was a lot of stereotypes in this.

The story is about Patrick, who promptly is involved in a car accident shortly after arriving in Bangkok, Thailand. This results Patrick into basically forgetting who he is and the world around him. Enter knight in shining armour, the Aussie bum Jack. Jack is your stereotypical Aussie, who of course has now overstayed his visa. Meanwhile, Patrick’s amnesia is stereotypical in that you will have to suspend your disbelief when he forgets more than just his name and family and life – he doesn’t display any understanding of shopping centers and airplanes. Amnesia doesn’t work like that, so as I said you need to suspend your disbelief.

Jack looks after Patrick and as the weeks roll on they fall in love, all the while knowing that Patrick, now called Buddy, could get his memories back. Their private world is destroyed when Patrick’s brother finds him and convinces him to return to his wealthy family in LA.

Patrick tries to find himself and, in the end, knows that he must make a stand for himself to get his happy ending. All this culminates in a sugary sweet ending. The other thing that has been getting to me the entire audio was that I was think of the song Foreign Land by Australian band Eskimo from the 00s. Don’t judge, it’s in all the title.

The narration by Colin Darcy was, overall, pretty good. I’ve been really annoyed with myself trying to figure out who I have been mixing up with the narrator Seb Yarrick for the past couple weeks, and I now think that it’s Colin Darcy. He has a good knack for voices and giving characters their own distinctive voices, with a little bit of work on accents too. Being Australian I tend to be highly critical of narrators that do Aussie accents, because generally there is one accent that is stereotypical for Australians in any media that’s the Queensland – New South Welshman extremely pronounced and distinct accent. If it’s a truly bad accent, then the character sounds less Aussie and more like a New Zealander or South African. But being that Jack is from Queensland, the accent works perfectly.

Dreamspinner Press Year 9 Greatest Hits

Dreamspinner Press Year Nine Greatest Hits CoverTitle: Dreamspinner Press Year 9 Greatest Hits

Authors: Michael Murphy, Anna Martin, Grace R. Duncan, Kim Fielding and Sean Michael

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Collection (5 full length novels)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (5th May 2017)

Overall Heat Level: Explicit

Overall Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Enjoy a selection of the greatest hits of gay romance published by Dreamspinner Press combined into one exclusive volume: by Anna Martin: Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me, a story of a boy who he wanted to marry his best friend at age six, and the journey that finally gets them there; by Sean Michael: The New Boy, a romance between a shy photographer new to the scene and an experienced model and Dom; by Grace R. Duncan: Beautiful boy, about a Dom with a hurtful past and the sub who shows him love again; by Kim Fielding: Rattlesnake, where a drifter on a quest finds hope and a home; and by Michael Murphy: The President’s Husband, in which the first openly gay president and first husband of the United States must deal with the pressures of their demanding new jobs.

ISBN: 978-1-63533-565-1

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I always like to have a bit of look over of Dreamspinner’s Greatest Hits collection at the end of every year. For the most part, I am always satisfied by the novels featured. I’m going to change up the review format to include an individual heat and heart rating for each of the five books featured. I’m not going to go into too much detail either, just a quick summary on my thoughts of the book and an equally brief summary on the overall plot.

Anna Martin - Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me Cover ssFive Times My Best Friend Kissed Me by Anna Martin
and One Time I Kissed Him First

Rating: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

This is a friends to lovers type of story, between two besties who have been fighting an attraction between each other since they were children. I’m not entirely familiar with Anna Martin’s work, so this was an interesting one for me. This is a charming tale and quite cute. I love how we get to know the characters so deeply before they get their HEA. I understand that this is greatly due to the format of the novel, the five times Scott kissed Evan is presented to us out of chronological order. Despite liking the premise (usually a sucker for these types of novels), I personally didn’t mesh well with the format and thought that it prevented me from relating to the characters, though I’m sure others will enjoy this one.

Sean Michael - The New Boy Cover ssThe New Boy by Sean Michael

Heat Rating: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

The New Boy is the first book in the Iron Eagle Gym series by Sean Michael. I was curious about this book because I love Sean Michael, although for me BDSM books are usually hit and miss for me. I think I enjoy books by authors that understand the lifestyle, rather than others that make the book seem like a flimsy porno. And so, long story short, I did enjoy The New Boy. Lance is a photographer just won a once in a lifetime contract to shoot photos of models in an exclusive BDSM club, the only problem he has is finding models. One model that he does meet is Tide, he is not only a model but he’s also a Dom. I loved the introduction to the host of characters and the careful way in which the relationship between Lance (the sub) and Tide (the Dom) is defined and how it works. They are contrasting characters, Lance is quiet and shy (almost naïve), while Tide is in your face, a little cocky and knows what he wants. In short they are the typical sub/Dom duo. The only issue I found was that there was not a lot of development of either main character.

Grace R. Duncan - Beautiful Boy Cover ssBeautiful Boy by Grace R. Duncan

Heat Rating: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 2.5 Hearts

You know how I was just talking about those hit and miss BDSM novels? Yep, this is one of the misses for me. In part I think it’s because of the couple of Grace R. Duncan books I’ve either heard the audio for or read, I’ve always found myself struggling with connecting to the characters I think it’s now safe to say that I find the author’s style not to my taste.

This is an insta-love BDSM romance, so I know that will turn off a number of people alone. Also, I know people that don’t like orgasm denial in BDSM, yet the BDSM itself is very basic, so there is not really a lot of balance in terms of the sex play. Mal is the Dom and after tragedy struck in an ill fated relationship, he decided to turn his back on the lifestyle. But Kyle, a sub he wins at a charity slave auction, is the young man that brings him back into the lifestyle. There is danger in the form of a serial and a heck of a lot of baggage from both men.

The other thing is, I swear I’ve read a book with a very similar storyline. I’m certain it’s a different book and one that I read sometime in the past couple years – I’ve definitely not read this book before. There are details that I remember from the other book that aren’t in this one. Regardless, I can’t remember what book it was, so maybe I’m wrong.

Kim Fielding - Rattlesnake Cover ssRattlesnake by Kim Fielding

Heat Rating: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

This is a charming book. Although I missed it’s initial release earlier in the year I looked forward to it mostly because I love Kim Fielding’s writing. This story has a lot of heart and a sweet romance between drifter, Jimmy Dorsett and small town, average guy Shane Little. Jimmy’s encounter with a hitchhiker has him heading to Rattlesnake to deliver a letter that has come so many years too late. Shane helps Jimmy when he breaks down and the sparks light immediately between the guys. Jimmy first fights his drifter instincts, but later this turns into fighting to keep them when the prospect of settling down with Shane scares him. These guys are great together, they have a lot of chemistry but the romance is sweet.

Michael Murphy - The President's Husband Cover ssThe President’s Husband by Michael Murphy

Heat Rating: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

By far my favorite book of the collection. This is a novel from the Dreamspun Desires line, which I fell in love with earlier in the year when I heard the audio for the book. My initial thoughts haven’t changed between hearing the audio and reading the novel. Essentially, this is a story of a relationship that becomes strained due to stress. Specifically, it’s the new POTUS and his husband who are struggling between the sudden inauguration from Vice President to POTUS within the space of an hour, and the President’s husband who wants to maintain his life as doctor and med school professor while battling the conservatives that believe that the very male President’s husband cannot be in the spot light.

For more info, please see my audio review: http://mmgoodbookreviews.com/the-presidents-husband-by-michael-murphy-audiobook/.

Stranger in a Foreign Land by Michael Murphy

Title: Stranger in a Foreign Land

Series: Dreamspun Desires 61

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (216 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (3rd July 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Blurb: After an accident stole his memory, the only home American businessman Patrick knows is Bangkok. He recovers under the tender ministrations of Jack, an Australian ex-pat who works nights at a pineapple cannery. Together they search for clues to Patrick’s identity, but without success. Soon that forgotten past seems less and less important as Jack and Patrick—now known as Buddy—build a new life together.

But the past comes crashing in when Patrick’s brother travels to Thailand looking for him… and demands Patrick return to Los Angeles, away from Jack and the only world familiar to him. The attention also causes trouble for Jack, and to make their way back to each other, Patrick will need to find not only himself, but Jack as well, before everything is lost….

ISBN: 978-1-64080-250-6

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Michael Murphy is a new author to me and I have to say, with soap opera type clichés, Stranger in a Foreign is, generally, an enjoyable read. All the relevant information is there in the blurb, so I won’t go too much into the storyline because it will be so very easy to spoil. The only reason I rated it as I have because, despite enjoying the story, it really was a soap opera and full of stereotypes more so than in your typical Dreamspun Desires romance.

The story is about Patrick, who promptly is involved in a car accident shortly after arriving in Bangkok, Thailand. This results Patrick into basically forgetting who he is and the world around him. Enter knight in shining armour, the Aussie bum Jack. Jack is your stereotypical Aussie, who of course has now overstayed his visa. Meanwhile, Patrick’s amnesia is stereotypical in that you will have to suspend your disbelief when he forgets more than just his name and family and life – he doesn’t display any understanding of shopping centers and airplanes. Amnesia doesn’t work like that, so as I said you need to suspend your disbelief.

Jack looks after Patrick and as the weeks roll on they fall in love, all the while knowing that Patrick, now called Buddy, could get his memories back. Their private world is destroyed when Patrick’s brother finds him and convinces him to return to his wealthy family in LA.

Patrick tries to find himself and, in the end, knows that he must make a stand for himself to get his happy ending. All this culminates in a sugary sweet ending.

Michael Murphy’s Greatest Hits Bundle

Title: Michael Murphy’s Greatest Hits

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Anthology/bundle (771 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (9th October 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Overall

Blurb: Don’t miss these Michael Murphy novels about discovering love within differences inside and out.

—Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees: Joseph is Kyle’s polar opposite, well-off where Kyle is poor, and self-assured while Kyle is insecure. He’s also determined to show Kyle what a great guy he is.

—When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti: Phillip and José, newly minted Ivy League roommates, couldn’t be more different. They both need to adapt to their new environment and, in the process, quickly become fond of each other despite their differences.

—It Should Have Been You: Patrick is struggling, homeless and on the streets, until he meets Juan, a street-savvy Latino youth wise beyond his years, and they strike up an instant rapport. It’s not pretty, but they’re making it together, until one night Juan goes off with a stranger to earn a few bucks… and doesn’t come back.

—Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling: Josh is horrified when a senior on campus seduces Aaron. He can’t believe Aaron has always been gay and he missed it—and missed getting to be Aaron’s first. But when Aaron finds out his boyfriend isn’t faithful, things go from tense to worse.

ISBN: 978-1-63476-721-7

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is a fantastic collection of Michael Murphy’s novels. For someone like me who has not read anything by Michael Murphy before, this is the perfect intro for any author. Each story is jam-packed with emotion and is quite simply a roller coaster which cannot be missed. One thing that I loved about all the jobs is not only the wonderful story lines but also the complex characters which are so widely varied from each other. I will briefly go over the 4 novels featured in the bundle:

Little Squirrels can Climb Trees (♥♥♥♥ 4 hearts)

This story is about the budding romance between Kyle and Joseph, told from Joseph’s POV. These guys could not be any different from each other, although this is rather stereotypical in the fact that this is a “wealthy city guy meets poor country guy moved to the big city” story. Kyle is the Little Squirrel in the story because this is very much his story despite the fact that Joseph tells it.

For me the highlights of the story are: this is something of a journey of self discovery for both characters, Joseph learns that there is more to the world and Kyle is on a journey of self discovery after being brought up in a small town by Christian fundamentalists. I also enjoyed the fact that Murphy did not make the Christian aspect of the story into a melodramatic farce, it flowed well and was completely relatable. Another point that I found relatable was the bumpy start that Joseph and Kyle had. Honestly, I was a bit unsure about Joseph at first because he came off as a bit spoiled.

When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti (♥♥♥♥ 3.5 hearts)

This is about Jose and Phillip who meet each other in college and become a totally sweet couple that you can’t help but to love. This is a very interesting story because like the previous story, these guys are polar opposites. There are a lot of highs and, equally, a lot of lows, experienced here and I think that’s what makes this raw emotionally but fully relatable.

Jose is first born child with eight younger siblings and strict Mexican parents. His family are poor; they are struggling migrant workers that want the best education for their children (something I can relate to). Philip on the other hand is the only son of rich parents, you get the impression he was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth and it is something that becomes evident later on in the book.

I felt that first half of the book, where the guys meet and come together, is much stronger than the second half. However, regardless, I still enjoyed the story as a whole. Although I think Phillip acted totally within the bounds of his character, I found his reactions to the drama surround Jose and Jose’s family very frustrating. And despite the fact that the ending was somewhat satisfying, I found it came a tad too quick.

It Should Have been You (♥♥♥♥♥ 5 hearts)

OMG, this was just wow … It Should Have Been You completely blew me away with how fantastic it was as well as making me cry throughout.

I think what makes it hit home more so is that Michael Murphy based this off of a real story. He briefly explains in his author’s note that this was given a bit of a happy ending. The ending reveals hope for our MCs – hope that there are people to support them and hope that they will have a better life, although not specifically about romance it is an important because it is about survival.

The story is centred on Patrick, who has been kicked out of home and onto the streets and is forced to do things out of character just to survive. Then there are the people around him, specifically there is Juan, who is his romantic interest. However, we also meet Patrick’s father, who really does development along the way, as well as Father Tom. I absolutely adore Father Tom; to me he was like the voice of reason. I found he was also a good balance to Patrick’s mother’s extremist Christian views.

Swan Song for the Ugly Duckling (♥♥♥♥3.5 hearts)

This is another example of Michael Murphy’s use of characters who are polar opposites. Josh is something of the quintessential jock, while Aaron is the son and heir of an Amish preacher who maybe seems to border on crazy, though I am not entirely sure as I don’t know enough about the Amish community. In saying that though, I am totally a sucker for any book that features an Amish character who is at war within himself and finds his HEA with a Prince Charming by the end. I swear, that it not a spoiler, more than anything it brings to mind Andrew Grey’s Farm series. Yet in saying that, Swan Song for the Ugly Duckling is just so completely different.

Here we are in the world of young adults and college life. Aaron is allowed into the outside world because his father believes as a future leader of the congregation that Aaron needs to know what is happening outside of the community. However, the outside world means a world of pain from bullying for Aaron, mix in the fact that he also finds himself attracted to other boys. Then steps in Josh, he relentlessly apologises to Aaron but then becomes something of a saviour to Aaron. Hence the title, Josh helps Aaron shift from Ugly Duckling to Beautiful Swan.

This is essentially a young adult book which just happens to use an Amish main character. The first half of the book is excellent. The only reason why I’ve rated this 3.5 hearts is because I felt that the second half lost some of the spark from the first half and the ending (which was satisfying) seemed rather rushed in the last 3-4 chapters.

Love In The Line of Fire by Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy - Love In The Line of Fire CoverTitle: Love in the Line of Fire

Author:  Michael Murphy 

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 23, 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Agent Jonah Pratt heads the Secret Service team guarding the President’s husband. When a routine day turns into a dangerous assassination attempt, the stranger who dives into the melee and takes down the assassin complicates the situation, sparking Jonah’s anger.

Just back from multiple tours of duty in Iraq, Benji hides the fact that he brought the war home with him and that it continues to haunt him. His actions in stopping the would-be assassin are more instinct than strategy. And his first conversation with a furious Jonah doesn’t end well.

Losing a member of his team turns Jonah’s world upside down. And if Benji seems to know exactly what Jonah is experiencing, it’s because he went through the same thing in combat. Jonah’s work consumes him, leaving little room in his life for anything else, and Benji focuses on his studies, working to keep his nightmares at bay. But when they get together, Jonah and Benji recognize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for love and happiness—one worth fighting for.  

ISBN: 978-1-63533-270-0

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-in-the-line-of-fire-by-michael-murphy-8088-b

Reviewer: Lisa

Review:  I haven’t had the chance to read any books by this author, but I can honestly say that I will be grabbing them all if they are like this one.  Very entertaining, fully rounded story with sexy men.  I also liked the fact that in this book the President is not only male but a gay man with a husband, if that was only true in the real world.  

It was a very action packed story with some suspense to it.  I also liked that it wasn’t your ordinary love story but that the guys had to work at it a bit.  It felt more real like then one would expect and I enjoyed that even more.  Two strong men whose hearts are on their sleeves is a great feel for me.

Jonah was the head secret service for not the president but for his husband.  When there is an attack on them, it was a stranger who managed to save the day.  Boy did that piss him off, but more from the fact that he was still in shock at the loss of his best friend.  

Benji has served multiple terms in Iraq, only to come home with PTSD and flash backs.  It makes him feel week when it happens.  He recognizes when someone is grieving and Jonah needed his help in more ways than one.  Things heat up fast, but when Jonah is shot in the line of duty, it will take everything in his powers to show the man that he is loved.

Had to make the man work for it, that is perfect.  I enjoyed reading this book and can guarantee that it will be read more than once.  I truly loved the guys and the world that this author has created.  It is a world that makes the world we live in better. 

I had a lot of fun with this and can’t wait to see what other stories this author has out.  Way to go Michael Murphy, it was a hit for me.

The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy ~ Audiobook

Michael Murphy - The President's Husband Cover AudioTitle: The President’s Husband

Series:  N/A

Author: Michael Murphy

Narrator: Randy Fuller

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 26 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (24 May 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: When an assassin’s bullet strikes his predecessor, Grayson Alexander becomes the first openly gay president of the United States and his husband, David Hammond, becomes the first openly gay First Husband. With their world turned upside down, David relies on his career as a medical school professor and ER doctor to keep him grounded. But his decision to keep working ruffles feathers from day one.

Gray throws himself into learning everything he needs to know to be president, especially a liberal president surrounded by a conservative cabinet and staff. Even though he puts in outrageous hours working and traveling seven days a week, month after month, he’s happy. But David has trouble coping with Gray’s new job requirements. He can’t help but feel abandoned by his husband of 10 years.

When Gray asks for his help with a public-health crisis, David obliges, but he is furious about what happens once the emergency passes. When they learn that the president’s staff has manipulated them both, they wonder if their relationship can survive the White House.

Product Link: Audible AU | Audible UK | Audible US 

Reviewer: Prime

Review: The President’s Husband is a fun look into what could happen if the US ever had an openly gay president in the present (I hope the world would be more enlightened in the near future, but you know pigs flying and all that). It is also a somewhat emotional look at the price that high stress jobs have on relationships, even a successful and well established long term relationship, which we are introduced to in this book.

The President’s husband is Dr David Hammond. The President, who had been vice president for all of ten minutes before needing to step up to the post of president, is Grayson Alexander. He’s the first openly gay Vice President, and then President in a conservative government. David and Gray have been married for ten years and they are just completely made for each other, that much is clear from the get go.

Being thrown into the deep end means that David and Gray’s relationship is let go in favour of Gray learning the ropes, which means listening other more experienced White House staff. The problem about this, not only is David frowned upon for continuing work, he is also being neglected. When David manages to help in a health crisis which threatens the US, the fall out is horrible and I really wanted to hit Gray over the head (and yes, I did cry).

It will take Gray a lot to heal the rift that he ignored between them and that is what is the guts of the book. Sometimes you need more than love and that is the main theme of the book. Both guys learn a lot and in short I just loved this story.

Coin of the Realm by Michael Murphy Guest Post & Excerpt!

Michael Murphy - Coin of the Realm Banner

Hi guys, we have Michael Murphy popping in today with his upcoming release Coin of the Realm, we have a great guest post and a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

Michael Murphy - Coin of the Realm Cover L

Coin of the Realm

by

Michael Murphy

Timothy Mitchell worked his way from humble beginnings to graduate school in Washington, DC.  The end is in sight — but so are his funds.  Determined not to let his dream slip through his fingers, Timothy goes from part-time jobs, to modeling for art classes, to stripping, and finally to working as an escort to pay his tuition.

The nation’s capital is full of powerful men and secrets, which Timothy learns firsthand when he takes on a client who demands absolute anonymity.  Even though Timothy realizes he’s sleeping with one of the most influential men in the world, he must keep up the façade.  Despite that, their association moves from sex to love.

But power and secrets also mean danger.  When Timothy is violently abducted off the street, all because of what — and who — he knows, his lover must make a decision: risk his power and position or lose the man he loves.

Release date: 15th August 2016

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A More Perfect Union Anthology, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway!!

Anthology - A More Perfect Union Banner L

Hi guys, we have four pf Dreamspinner Press’ authors B.G. Thomas, J. Scott Coatsworth, Jamie Fessenden and Michael Murphy stopping by today to celebrate the release of their marriage equality anthology, we have a short interview with all four authors, great excerpts from each of the stories and MM Good Book Reviews is throwing in a $10 Dreamspinner Press credit giveaway! So check out the post and leave a comment to enter our giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Anthology - A More Perfect Union cover s

A More Perfect Union

(Anthology)
by

B.G. Thomas, J. Scott Coatsworth, Jamie Fessenden, Michael Murphy

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States made a monumental decision, and at long last, marriage equality became the law of the land. That ruling made history, and now gay and lesbian Americans will grow up in a country where they will never be denied the right to marry the person they love.

But what about the gay men who waited and wondered all of their lives if the day would ever come when they could stand beside the person they love and say “I do”?

Here, four accomplished authors—married gay men—offer their take on that question as they explore same-sex relationships, love, and matrimony. Men who thought legal marriage was aright they would never have. Men who, unbelievably, now stand legally joined with the men they love. With this book, they share the magic and excitement of dreams that came true—in tales of fantasy and romance with a dose of their personal experiences in the mix.

To commemorate the anniversary of full marriage equality in the US, this anthology celebrates the idea of marriage itself—and the universal truth of it that applies to us all, gay or straight.

Someday, by B.G. Thomas

Lucas Arrowood is walking to school on his first day of kindergarten when he meets Dalton Churchill—a boy who stops and helps him tie his shoe. He knows from that moment he is going to marry that boy one day.  “Boys can’t marry other boys,” his mother explains, but that doesn’t stop Lucas. He knows what he wants.

He and Dalton become best friends—and then, no matter how much he resists, Dalton falls in love with Lucas. Dalton’s very conservative family can’t accept that their boy loves another boy, but finally Dalton stands up for love and for Lucas. Still, he declares he won’t marry Lucas until it is legal everywhere. He hates the “Commitment Ceremonies” gay men have. They aren’t the real thing. Why bother?

So Lucas waits for his day. The day same-sex marriage finally becomes legal and he can be joined forever with the love of his life.

Flames, by J. Scott Coatsworth

Alex and Gio had a big fight, and Alex ran away. Then a fire at home destroyed the life they had built together, and threatened to take Gio away from him.

Alex had always thought love was enough to keep them together. Why did they need wedding rings or legal certificates? But now, with Gio lost in a coma, his mother has banished Alex from his side.

What if Alex’s voice is the only thing that can bring Gio back from the brink? Their memories are all Gio has left, and the urge to just let go is getting stronger.

Still, nothing can keep Alex from Gio’s side. If it’s against the rules, he’ll break them. In stolen moments alone together, Alex fights to bring him back, one memory at a time.

Destined, by Jamie Fessenden

When Jay and Wallace first meet at an LGBTQ group, they have no idea they’ll be dating six years later. In fact, they quickly forget each other’s names. But although fate continues to throw them together, the timing is never quite right. Finally they’re both single and  realize they want to be together… but now they can’t find each other! With determination and the help of mutual friends, Jay and Wallace can finally pursue the relationship they’ve both wanted for so long.

It’s only the beginning of the battles they’ll face to build a life together.

From disapproving family members all the way to the state legislature, Jay and Wallace’s road to happily ever after is littered with obstacles. But they’ve come too far to give up the fight.

Jeordi and Tom, by Michael Murphy

Living as an open, loving gay couple in the rural South isn’t easy—even today.

When Jeordi and Tom move in together and come out to their families, Jeordi’s family does not take the news especially well. When yelling doesn’t work, they send in one sibling after another to try to separate the couple. When that fails, they call out their pastor to help Jeordi see the error of his ways. But Jeordi’s love for Tom is greater than anything they throw at them.

When an accident sends Jeordi to the hospital, his family goes too far when they try to keep Tom from visiting his partner. Jeordi and Tom are determined to do everything in their power to gain legal protection so this can never happen again. But when a bigoted county clerk refuses to issue them a marriage license, Jeordi decides a big, bold effort is called for, which is precisely what he sets in moVon so no one can ever separate him from Tom again.

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A Night at the Ariston Baths by Michael Murphy Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway!

Michael Murphy - A Night at the Ariston Baths Banner s

Hi guys, we have Michael Murphy stopping by today with his upcoming release A Night at the Ariston Baths, we have a fantastic guest post from Michael, a brilliant excerpt and MM Good Book Reviews is throwing in a $5 Dreamspinner Press credit giveaway. So check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Michael Murphy - A Night at the Ariston Baths Cover L

A Night at the Ariston Baths

by

Michael Murphy

In rural Pennsylvania, Theodore McCall lives on his family’s farm and works as a clerk at the local general store. While his best friend, Martin Fuller, thrives in New York City, Theodore trudges through life. But on New Year’s Eve, 1902, Theodore’s world is turned upside down, and big changes call for bold action.

Theodore, who has never ventured more than eight miles from home, undertakes the daunting journey to New York City to join Martin. But the Martin he finds in New York is a stranger, a different man, doing things Theodore finds shocking. After just two months in the City, Theodore’s world is upended again as he and Martin are swept up in the events at the Ariston Baths.

Haunted by his experiences in New York, Theodore returns home, wondering whether he’ll ever find happiness in life. When he meets Jasper Webb, Theodore must boldly risk everything for the love he so longs for.

Release date: 25th April 2016

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Evac by Michael Murphy

EvacLGTitle: Evac
Series: N/A
Author: Michael Murphy
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (199 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 27th 2015)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: While on a mission in northern Afghanistan, Benji’s helicopter is shot down. Benji went in with a band of brothers but comes out with a stack of body bags, including one for his partner, Blade.

After recovering physically in Germany, Benji is sent home to San Diego. He’s been a soldier so long he doesn’t know how to live as a civilian. The loss of his brothers and his partner weighs heavily on him. Benji’s body might be healed, but he is still a very broken man.

Unable to find work, Benji turns to drinking, bar fights, risky sex with anonymous men, and striking out at everything. As he spirals out of control, he even tries volunteering in a BDSM club as a sub for demonstrations and private scenes.

Despair drives Benji to action, and he meets Nick, a young man in desperate need of hope. With his options and his money running out, the only question is if Benji will find his way in time

ISBN: 978-1-63216-898-6

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6428

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I’m a sucker for war stories, especially romances that involve wounded soldiers (i.e. the ones left behind). This is a very real and very gritty look into what has to be reality for many veterans in this day and age. It is an intense read but if you like this type of book and you endure, it is worth reading every page.

The story follows Benji starting immediately in the horrors that is military action in Afghanistan. He has done tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan and along with his lover, Blade, had been planning for a life after the marines when they finished up together in six months. However, life does not always happen as we plan and this is especially true for Benji.

I will admit it was at times difficult following as Benji battled his inner demons as he tries to find some sense of balance and normalcy in civilian life. He suffers survivor’s guilt and has crippling flashbacks. This is someone who has PTSD but unfortunately he has slipped through the cracks of the system. This makes it more difficult, because his coping mechanisms are self-destructive and as a reader you know he needs help and you want him to seek it.

BDSM is mentioned in the blurb and from that one would assume that it is a major part in the story. However, this is far from the case, the BDSM aspect of Benji’s story last for no more than probably 2 or 3 chapters.

Throughout the story Benji meets a number of men. Until one life altering situation has Benji suddenly on the path to finding balance on his own.

I absolutely loved the seemingly real feeling of this story. It is a hard read at times but I cheered for Benji the whole way. He is the wounded soldier that everyone loves. If you like your heroes flawed and you love your marines, have a go at this book.

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

Mano's Story by Michael Murphy

ManosStoryLGTitle: Mano’s Story
Series: Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees, #2
Author: Michael Murphy
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (199 Pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 23, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate to Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb: Mano and Jake, friends since childhood, are each the brother that the other never had, hermanos. It doesn’t matter that Mano is gay and Jake is straight. They have each other’s backs. When he grows weary of being used as a pawn by his parents as their marriage collapses, Mano moves in with Jake’s family.

Jake and Mano both need a chance to start over, so they move to Hawaii and work for Jake’s uncle, Mano working as a lifeguard. In his free time, Mano explores his sexuality and finds he has no shortage of men in his bed. But after watching his parents’ relationship disintegrate, Mano guards his heart and keeps it strictly sexual.

Determined to become self-sufficient, Mano returns to college while still working full-time. When he meets the man of his dreams, he’s too scared and unsure of himself to pursue him. For years he went out of his way to avoid getting close to a man, so now when he wants to, he doesn’t know how.

With the encouragement of Jake and others, Mano searches for the courage to go after what he’s always really wanted.

ISBN: 978-1-62798-520-8

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5977

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This is book two in this amazing and cute story. Each book in Little Squirrel’s Can Climb Tall Tree’s collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.

I have got to tell you that book one was funny as hell, but this book just had you feeling everything they were feeling. I felt bad for Mano in many ways but was amazed at his best friend also. Mano was gay but his best friend Jake was not. They had each other’s back through it all.

Mano had moved to Hawaii to work and live with Jake. He even did his first gay bar scene. First full on actual sexual desires fulfilled, till the idiot he was with told him to get out before his boyfriend got home. He wanted what his best friends Joseph and Kyle had. A relationship that could stand the times. It wasn’t till some time when he met Jordan and found himself doing things that he had not expected. After

Mano had spent most of his time exploring his sexuality and having sex with different men, he found himself not having sex with Jordan. He was getting to know the man in his life.
Jordan was just as shy as Mano if not more. In fact his own friend had to get them together, otherwise they would have just stood there staring at each other. It is a really hot story that I had a blast reading.

These two make for a hot couple and even Jake found his woman. The story is told mainly in first person and usually that would drive me nuts, not knowing what the other one is thinking but for some reason it actually worked for this story.

The only problem I found is that Mano was actually a virgin and with the way the sex scene, it was like he just jumped into it. Other than that, it was perfect to me. It gave me almost everything I could possibly ask for in a story and I was captivated by it. I loved the humor in this story. it seemed to mix with the seriousness and pain in it. I hated that Mano had gotten his heart hurt from the first man he had sex with and loved that he found his true hearts desires in Jordan.

I would recommend reading this story. It will give you gorgeous men, sexy situations, a gorgeous man in a tiny bathing suit, excitement, true love, sexual heat, happily ever after, a little angst and pain, some very hot sex and a story that comes off so real. It is like you are right there with them. It caught my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it all the way to the end. I had a blast reading this story and look forward to reading more by this amazing author.

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

Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees by Michael Murphy

LittleSquirrelsCanClimbTallTreesLGTitle: Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees
Series: Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees, #1
Author: Michael Murphy
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (200 Pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (July 27, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate to Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Kyle Miller is a rare breed. Though born to conservative parents and raised in small-town Oklahoma, Kyle realized young that he had to escape rural America.

Now he’s living in New York City, working as an ER doctor, and paying off his massive student loans. He’s never been on a plane and never seen a movie, but he is worldly enough to recognize attraction when it smacks him in the forehead.

Not that he knows how he managed to crack heads with Joseph, who’s a good foot shorter than Kyle’s six and a half feet.

Joseph is Kyle’s polar opposite in other ways too, well off where Kyle is poor, and self-assured while Kyle is insecure. He’s also determined to show Kyle what a great guy he is and bring the confidence Kyle shows in the ER out in his everyday life. But Kyle’s hectic work schedule and inexperience with relationships won’t make for an easy romance.

ISBN: 978-1-61372-618-1

Product Link:http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3135

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This is the first book to this collection and I had a blast reading it. Although with that title I was thinking Squirrel shifters or some paranormal. It is told in first person and I usually don’t much care for those but this one was amazing. There was so much humor in it that I spent most of my time laughing my ass off. Talk about an accident waiting to happen with these two men. And that was how they met. They both rose up and hit heads. Things were heating up ever since.

Joseph is very open and has a bit of an attitude. I get a kick out of him. He hits Kyle’s head with his, and then they meet again in the locker room. All naked and hot, Kyle just kept talking to him and Joseph was not exactly paying too much attention to anything the man said. He was also about a foot taller than he was, so he was face to face with the man’s chest. Yummy goodness was all he could think about.

Kyle raised by his parents in Oklahoma, they were both very religious and conservative. So he definitely was not out to him. He ended up going to medical school and working in New York. He wanted what any man wanted, love, and a family. When he started talking to Joseph in the locker room his attention was caught. He even asked him out for coffee. Things really heat up between them both. Although there is a bit of confrontation between them both, things are really looking up for them both.

I was already laughing, and then you introduced Mano and things get even quirkier. You can tell from the way they act and talk that they are deeply in love. I also love the fact that Kyle’s mom ended up being good with it all. It truly was a story that was warm and heart filled.

If you want a story with a happy ending then this is one for you. It gives you humor, lust, a little medical emergency where you can watch Kyle in action, just an itsy bitsy bit of angst and some hot sex. I would definitely recommend reading this story.

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

You Can't Go Home Again by Michael Murphy

22554151Title: You Can’t Go Home Again

Series: N/A

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (July 18th, 2014)

Heat Level: Very Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: In work and in love, life has taught seasoned police officer Jack that closeness only leads to pain. But Jack is wracked with guilt when his rookie partner Kevin is shot during an undercover assignment and dies in his arms. Why didn’t he take the time to get to know the rookie a little?

At the funeral, Jack takes a liking to Kevin’s brother, Devin. But Jack knows making a connection can cause more hurt, and living on opposite coasts is an added obstacle.

With his brother dead, Devin feels a responsibility to Kevin’s pregnant widow, Marie. He packs up and moves east, only to have Marie, outraged that he’s put his life on hold, slam the door in his face. Devin turns to the only other person he knows in town. As much as it goes against his philosophies on life, Jack takes him in without hesitation.

Their tentative exploration into romance is interrupted when Devin is mistaken for his dead brother and taken captive. Just as Jack opens his heart, reality slams into him. But he can’t lose anyone else. More than the need to simply save a captive drives Jack to find Devin and bring him home.

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5230

Reviewer: GiGi

Review: It’s extremely difficult for Jack to come to terms with the shooting death of his new partner on the force when an undercover op goes bad. His guilt over realizing how much he didn’t know about the Kid soars as he meets his dead partner’s wife for the first time and realizes so many new things he should have known about his partner; that his wife is also a cop, and that his Mother’s family is insane.

Jack helps Marie through her grieving, including two funerals, one home with them, and the other back in Alabama where Kevin’s family is from. While there, he gets the shock of his life when his dead partner greets him at the wake. If Jack had only paid attention to his now deceased partner, he’d know about his twin brother….Devin. Then Marie lays another shocker on him shortly after the dust has settled…she’s pregnant, and that ends in another surprise…if you miss the obvious hint with Devin and Kevin.

This is a tragic, surprising, funny, creepy, scary, and often times just ridiculous RomCom. I know, it’s hard to describe something as a romantic comedy when it starts with a tragic death, but that’s the overall feel I get from this book. There are just too many extreme situations, like living with someone with whom you are mutually attracted and not knocking boots much earlier. Maybe my experience is off, but really, a hot sexy man who wants you and you want him, and you manage to keep hands off for nearly nine months? Maybe this is actually a fantasy… but a cute one.

Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling by Michael Murphy

SwanSongForAnUglyDucklingLGTitle: Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: Contemporary/ Coming of Age

Length: Novel (220 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-62798-708-0

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 28th 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Cat

Blurb: Aaron and Josh come from extraordinarily different backgrounds in small town America. Aaron is the only child of a fundamentalist preacher who fears and condemns the ways of the world outside their community. Josh is a jock who can only seem to express the feelings Aaron stirs in him by tormenting Aaron about how he looks and dresses. But one day, Josh’s world is turned upside down by a simple sentence spoken by Aaron, and he decides to get closer to Aaron.

Aaron assumes it is a new form of torture, but Josh persists: first, a ride home, then talking with Aaron while he does his afternoon farm chores. Then Josh persuades Aaron’s father to let him participate in a scholastic event out-of-town one weekend. Josh pays a huge price for Aaron to attend, but that one weekend persuades Aaron to get free of his parents and attend college.

College doesn’t solve all their problems, though. Josh is horrified when a senior on campus seduces Aaron. He can’t believe Aaron has always been gay and he missed it—and missed getting to be Aaron’s first. But when Aaron finds out his boyfriend isn’t faithful, things go from tense to worse.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5006

Review: This is a beautifully written story of two young men from two different cultures. It deals with bullying and abuse.

Aaron pretty much hates his life. He has to dress as his father says, do as he says and eat what he allows. His father is a very strict head of the family and community. He has Aaron’s life planned out. The only reason he allowed Aaron to go to high school is to help in taking over his father’s business (the Farm, the church and leading the community). He has already arranged for him a wife though he isn’t quite 18 yet. Aaron wants the freedom to see what’s in the world, dress as he pleases and fit in better. He sticks out like a sore thumb with old out of date glasses, and the traditional handmade black pants and white long sleeve shirt.

Josh and his group have picked on Aaron since he began school. Aaron is very big enough to hold his own, but his culture doesn’t allow him to fight, ignoring the issue just fuels the fire. Then one day Aaron fires back at Josh when he goes on how funny and weird, he looks. He replies that he knows it and that peaks Josh’s interest. Josh becomes relentless in finding out more about Aaron and they become friends.

This is such a beautiful, touching story though it does start out a bit rough. There will be moments you will cry. I absolutely loved the dynamics in Josh and Aaron. They are both good boys at heart, though Josh started out as a bully. It brings up a very good point though. A lot of bullying is because the other doesn’t understand why someone is different. I liked the slow development with Josh and Aaron’s relationship. I found the sex of the page still sensually hot and adequate.

I had two little issues: I found in a few places it was a slight bit repetitive. Something in one paragraph may be repeated in the next couple. This didn’t happen a lot or enough to be too distracting though. And I found the ending a bit flat. I would have liked a bit more. Perhaps an epilogue letting us know how they do or hint of a new book.

Overall, it’s a beautiful story. If you like Young Adult, coming of age, Amish, bullying, sweet but off the page man-sex, friends to lovers and a good romance this is for you!

* I received a copy of this book free-of-charge from MMgoodbookreviews http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own*

It Should Have Been You by Michael Murphy

ItShouldHaveBeenYouLGTitle:  It Should Have Been You

Author: Michael Murphy 

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Length:  Novel (240 pages)

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press (July 29th 2013)

Heat Level:  Mild

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb:   After a hit-and-run driver kills David McCleary, his mother, Frieda McCleary, tells her younger son, Patrick, “It should have been you.” While the McCleary family limps along for a while, it clearly died with David. In an effort to deal with her son’s death, Frieda joins a fundamentalist church while her family watches her become a stranger. When she discovers Patrick is gay, she is convinced he is the reason David was taken from her. Patrick’s father runs interference, but when he leaves town for work, she throws Patrick out onto the streets.

As a blond-haired, blue-eyed sixteen-year-old kid from the suburbs, Patrick has lived a sheltered life and doesn’t have a clue how to survive on his own. He’s struggling until he meets a local priest running a homeless shelter who introduces Patrick to Juan, a street-savvy Latino youth wise beyond his years, and they strike up an instant rapport.

It’s not pretty, but they’re making it together, until one night, Juan goes off with a stranger to earn a few bucks… and doesn’t come back. Patrick is determined to find him, regardless the danger and cost.

Product Link:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4040

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  Patrick McCleary’s life is turned upside down after his brother is killed by a hit and run driver. His mother, who has always been unkind, becomes downright vindictive and cruel. Telling him, ‘it should have been you’. I cried like a frickin baby, I wanted to climb into my kindle and ring the woman’s neck! Anyway, I digress. In a mind-boggling series of unfortunate events, Patrick ends up homeless and seemingly abandoned by his parents.

He obviously has a guardian angel that leads him to the sanctuary of a local church where he finds shelter at night when needed, and food. He also finds love with another homeless gay teen, Juan. When Juan doesn’t come back to the shelter as planned after a trick, Patrick knows he’s in trouble. He and Father Tom set out to find Juan and hopefully bring him home, or at least the only home they have, safe. But Juan has fallen prey to some rather unsavory men; will Patrick and Tom get to him in time?

Murphy did an excellent job of portraying a young and innocent character with Patrick. His pain and growth throughout the story was evident and conveyed well within the context. At the tender age of 16, he lost everything and ended up homeless. He was one of the lucky ones though, unlike his friend and lover Juan. Murphy gave us a completely innocent character who managed to maintain the majority of his innocence throughout. He took on the dreaded priest issue by giving us someone who truly cared for these young, homeless boys and didn’t take advantage of their circumstance.

There isn’t a lot of smexy romance in this book, although I was extremely pleased that Patrick’s first time was portrayed within a loving relationship with Juan. So, heat wise it’s a mild read, but the story more than makes up for what’s lacking it that area. Overall, this was a dramatic read with strong characters and a solid storyline.

Breaking News by Michael Murphy

BreakingNewsLGTitle: Breaking News

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (178pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (26th December 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Coleman Young sacrificed his personal life to achieve his professional goal: chief White House correspondent for his network. While others his age have spouses, children, and personal lives, Cole has only his faithful dog, Riley, and his lonely closet, so his producer hires a matchmaker to help him find Mr. Right.

Forced to do something radical—leave work at a reasonable hour to prepare for his first date—Cole is shocked to walk into his house and find someone there: Marco, the grad student who walks and feeds Riley. It’s too bad the matchmaker hadn’t set him up with sweet, caring, adorably cute Marco—it would have saved him from a string of disastrous dates. But Cole doesn’t know if Marco is gay, and he’s not sure how to ask.

Then the biggest news story of the political year breaks and Cole gets a unique opportunity to make a stand—one that could break his career and maybe do his asking for him.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3473

Review: Cole is at the top of his game as the chief White House correspondent for his network, but even he admits that maybe he needs more to go home to than his dog Riley, his producer hires a matchmaker to find him Mr. Right but it doesn’t go quite as planned. When Cole gets home early from work to get ready for his first date he finally meets his dog walker of four years Marco, who he finds incredible attractive, but his luck wouldn’t swing to Marco being gay, would it? When the biggest political news story of the year breaks, Cole faces the biggest decision of his career and of his personal life.

This is a story that is very focused on the career and personal life of Cole with his main love interest very much in the background. Cole’s professional life is perfect, he loves his job and is good at it, and unfortunately, the same can’t be said for his personal life, which is barren of any love other than that of a dog for his master. After admitting how bleak his personal life is to Sarah, his producer, she charges in and sets him up with a date through a matchmaker. Meeting Marco on the evening of his first date makes Cole wish Marco was gay, but as the weeks pass by and more dates that are disastrous follow, Cole and Marco become friends.

I really enjoyed this story with its disastrous dates, growing friendship and political slant, the way the story is all about Cole and his career and limited personal life. Although we do see Marco quite a few times throughout the book he is more on the peripheral, they do spend time together but it is more of an easy friendship, and although we are given hints that there may be an attraction between them it isn’t until near the end that it is acknowledged because both characters though the other was straight. The political storyline was really good and you never know what will happen in the future.

The detail that was given for a political correspondent is well drawn out, the descriptions of the dates were great and Edward the waiter was a gem, Sarah was a great supporting character who was battle-axe and sweet grandmother combined and I can’t fault any of the other characters at all. My only regret is that we didn’t get more background details other than the basics for Marco, and that we didn’t get to know him better. What you won’t find in this story is an out of control romance and tons of sex, what you do get is a great story of a man trying to find someone special while juggling his high pressure, high demand job.

I will recommend this to those who love fumbling bumbling dates, political news, growing friendship into more and a very happy ending.

 

When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti by Michael Murphy

WhenDachshundsRuledtheSerengetiLGTitle: When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti

Series: N/A

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: MM / Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 24th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Phillip and José, newly minted Ivy League roommates, couldn’t be more different. Phillip is an only child from a wealthy New York City family. José is the oldest of nine children of Mexican migrant workers. He has only known rural life in the Southern US—though he was born in California, his family moved from state to state, following the crops across the country. 

Phillip comes to school with every electronic gadget known to man. José arrives with the clothes on his back, a paperback he pulled from the trash in a bus station, and a notebook and pencil. They both need to adapt to their new environment and, in the process, quickly become fond of each other despite their differences.

As their fondness grows into love, their world is turned upside down when they are charged with caring for José’s eight younger siblings. To Phillip, sharing José is not easy. To José, caring for his siblings is his most important responsibility, even more so than his education. If his relationship with Phillip is to survive, they have to bridge the gap between two very different worlds.

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3819

Review: Michael Murphy brings us a very interesting and engaging story where we get to meet Jose and Phillip, and witness two young men that, though they are the same age; they couldn’t come from more different worlds.

Jose is the firstborn child out of nine of a Mexican family of migrant workers. That means that they had no home as they crisscrossed the country in a van in search of farms with work for a week or in the very rare occasion two. Also being very poor he has never had possessions so when he gets to college all he carries with him is a backpack. In it is a notebook, a romance novel and a t-shirt he found in a trashcan and the clothes on his back.

Ok, so I’ll be honest here and say I was not only astonished with this character, but I just can’t even begin to imagine that it could be real. I know logically, in my head I comprehend that there are people out there that are indeed that poor. Still the very detailed description of Jose’s life, his so simplistic needs, and his perspective were astonishing.

When other kids were having a hard time adjusting to the small rooms and non-existent space, Jose had more than he had his entire life. When other kids were trying to find a hole to stuff one more gadget or one more piece of cloth, Jose was utterly bare and oh my God the emotions that sized me when the cold hit hard and mercilessly and the poor guy had only a t-shirt. I’m overwhelmed by that aspect of this story.

Now, the exact opposite of Jose, Phillip is not only an only child, but his family is rich. Rich as in condo in Manhattan and a farm with a huge mansion in Vermont. Talk about a clash of worlds. Where Phillip whined about the heat, Jose was feeling right at home. Where Philip couldn’t sleep due to noise, Jose was dead to the world what with being raised in a family with nine kids. And the differences continue in a black & white pattern.

And it is like that, in the form of a smooth storytelling, that this read subtly draws you in it and before long you are so engrossed and so wrapped up in its web that you don’t even understand what happened. It doesn’t look like it when you start reading, you don’t even suspect it at the beginning, but you end up swimming deep in a very emotional read and a very sweet romance.

The intensity builds slowly as we get to see our pair become friends from simple roommates. Our heart gets to expand when Phillip reaches out to Jose and in an almost altruistic way gives him a hand for the very basic of needs a human being has, a pillow and a pair of sheets, a sweater to beat the cold and food, because people must eat don’t they? And then we get to feel all warm and cozy when that friendship changes to more and the two young men become the joy of one another. I get to feel the simplistic happiness of the first kiss and the emotional highs from the first “I love you”.

And just as it happens in real life we get to see things go south and everything turning to little pieces of shattering glass with all that entails. The frustration, the angst and the anger are not lost on us at all. We get to experience those along with our protagonists and if you’re partial to one of them, you might even come to hate the other at times.

Yes, I must say I got really invested in this story. I found it very well written. The know-it-all narrator made a pretty good job giving us the story without the all confusing effects of head-popping. It’s one of the rare occasions that I liked this style of writing and even enjoyed it. Reminded me of old classic books and took me back to my childhood when this was the writing style I encountered most back then. And as I said the story is quite engaging, very romantic and while it made me quite mad with Phillip at some point – I could really beat him if that character was real – that is a fact I appreciate even more. The end itself either was a bit abrupt, or I am a never-satisfying person always wanting more. Either is a possibility, but bottom end I would have loved a peek in the near future. As it is I’m left wondering.

So this is a book for the ever romantic, for those who want to believe that no matter how hard things are and no matter how different two people might be, there is always a possibility of a dream come true as long as you work hard enough for it.

Book Fair by Michael Murphy

BookFairLGTitle: Book Fair

Author: Michael Murphy

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (13th February 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ – 5Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Jacob’s time working a booth for a gay lit publisher at a huge New York City book convention isn’t turning out like he hoped. One of the publisher’s boxes goes missing, and when he finds it, the box is wrapped up in union red tape. Then he gets into a nasty debate with Toni, a hunk Jacob would rather stare at than argue with.

Maybe his first day at the book fair couldn’t get worse, but it certainly gets weirder when, after an hour-long snarling match, Toni offers Jacob a ride to his hotel. Jacob accepts, but his day does not improve—the ride is nothing but awkward silence.

Over the rest of the week, Jacob’s life disintegrates, and Toni’s repeated offers to drive him to his hotel become bright spots. Silence turns to civility turns to friendship, and though Jacob hopes for more, work keeps the two of them from spending much time together. Finally Jacob is free of obligations—but suddenly he can’t find Toni anywhere, and Jacob’s time in New York is coming to a close.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3559

Review: Jacob is working the booth for a gay lit publisher at a book convention. Just when he thinks his day is about to end, a missing box and union rules tie him up in knots, and the person in charge of delivering the stock might be a hunk, but he is also a pain in the butt. Toni has had a bad day, but to make up for the mix-up in delivery he offers Jacob a lift, and the two begin an interesting friendship.

This is one of the easiest, funniest and sweetest stories I have ever read. I didn’t want it to end. Jacob works for a very small publishing firm, so small in fact there are only him and his boss. Working a convention is something he enjoys, but things start to fall apart when he tries to find a missing box, his boss starts to act strange and he has to walk back to his hotel. When he meets Toni it wasn’t the best first impression for either of them, but the offer of a ride begins a friendship that develops into more.  Misunderstandings and wrong impressions nearly pull them apart and it takes an interfering mother to bring the East and West together.

Before I say anything else about this book, I have to rave about Toni’s mother. She is wonderful, brilliant and the sort of mother that you secretly wish was yours, even as you dread what might next come out of her mouth.  A spectacular character who you will adore. Toni and Jacob make a great couple and they play off each other brilliantly, although they do fall in love quickly it feels right. The storyline is great with some angst threaded through the mix and some bravery on Jacob’s part that impresses; it has some doubts for both Toni and Jacob, but it also has unconditional family support. All the characters are well developed and I swear you could imagine yourself in the restaurant as Toni, his mother and Jacob interacted.

This story I recommend to those who want an easy, enjoyable funny book that is threaded through with laughter, love and joy, but want just a touch of angst.