Tag: New Horizons series

Developing the Counselor by Serena Yates

Title: Developing the Counsellor

Series: New Horizons (#7)

Genre: M/M Contemporary

Author: Serena Yates

Publisher: Total-E-Bound (October 17th 2011)

ISBN: 978-0-85715-788-1

Format: ebook short story

Heat Level: Moderate

My Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

From the Publisher:   Emilio Scarpino is a self development counsellor who can’t seem to lose the extra pounds he believes stop him from finding love. He likes eating and hates perfectly fit men like his personal trainer – until he meets ex-Army man Ivan Macer. The man is not only a hunk but very interested in Emilio.

Ivan became a security specialist when he left the Army two years ago and now co-owns a small company with his friend Leo. Part of the reason he left the Army was that he couldn’t be himself – and he still hasn’t come out, but would for the right man.

Can Ivan convince Emilio that he cares more about who he is than what he looks like? Can Emilio believe him and develop a new sense of self?

About the Author (from the Publisher):   I’m a night owl who starts writing when everyone else in my time zone is asleep. I’ve loved reading all my life and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Although I always wanted to be a writer, financial independence came first. Twenty-some years and a successful business career later I took some online writing classes and never looked back.

My Review:   I had a friend when I was younger that constantly battled his weight and as a result, he had some serious misconceptions about himself. In a similar fashion, Emilio firmly believes that no one could possibly be attracted to him because of his excess weight. He suffers from a serious case of low self esteem and also some inward hostilities towards people he believes look ‘perfect’.

Emilio is in serious need of a vacation and is envious of his friend Felix’s blossoming relationship with his new boyfriend. He decides to takes some time off from his counseling job to go visit him. When he shows up at Felix’s office he discovers the absolute physical perfection of Ivan Macer. Exercise buffs, personal trainers, and ex-Army men all get his guard up so he just has no clue how Ivan could possibly be attracted to him!

We were first introduced to Ivan in Ms. Yates previous book ‘Saving the Bodyguard (New Horizons, #5)’ when he suggested that his partner go for anger management training. He feels an instant bond of friendship and camaraderie form as soon as he meets Emilio and is quick to admit that he is physically attracted to him as well.

This is the part that I sort of had a problem with…in the earlier pages, Ivan says multiple times that he cannot admit that he is gay (although there are some allusions to brief M/M encounters?) but he grabs Emilio, pushes him up against a wall and dives into bed with him without one ounce of hesitation. I have to be a bit skeptical of this situation. I would think there would be a bit more resistance to getting physical if he is as ‘not gay’ as he suggests.

The author does a great job with Emilio’s character. We are given quite a wonderful and emotional look into what drives him, his insecurities, and his dreams. Leo’s character didn’t really come together for me. He is sweet and encouraging to Emilio but went from dominant and aggressive to insecure and hesitant depending on the scene.

The interactions between Emilio and Ivan were well written and there was both passion and tenderness in their relationship. I would have liked to see the story keep going a little bit more, I thought maybe it ended a little too abruptly.

Overall, not a bad story. Tender and passionate with a real look at what weight problems can do to a person’s self confidence. I just would have preferred Leo’s character be a bit more defined.

 

Noticing the Finance Manager by Serena Yates

Note:  When Ms. Yates noted that Noticing the Finance Manager was in queue for review, she graciously submitted Saving the Bodyguard for review.  Each can be read as a stand-alone, but she feels that reading them in order will add to the reader’s enjoyment.  Both can be found on the publisher’s web site or wherever quality MM romance titles are sold.

Title: Noticing the Finance Manager

Series:  New Horizons 06

Author: Serena Yates

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (August 15th 2011)

ISBN: 978-0-85715-627-3

Genre: M/M Contemporary

Format/length: eBook (46 pages)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer:  Artemis

From the Publisher:  Felix Oakden loved his work as a finance manager…before a spiteful ex-boyfriend used false accusations to not only get him fired, but also blackball him throughout the health care industry. Forced to work as a waiter to support himself, he met Leo and the two fell in love.

Returning to the real world means making a decision about his future professional life. Felix discovers several alternatives he would have never considered before Leo noticed his talent for financial analysis.

When an old enemy begins to make life difficult for him, can Felix fight back and win – even when the situation seems hopeless?

About the Author:  I’m a night owl who starts writing when everyone else in my time zone is asleep. I’ve loved reading all my life and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Although I always wanted to be a writer, financial independence came first. Twenty-some years and a successful business career later I took some online writing classes and never looked back.

 

Living and working in seven countries has taught me that there’s more than one way to get things done. It has instilled tremendous respect for the many different cultures, beliefs, attitudes and preferences that exist on our planet.

I like exploring those differences in my stories, most of which happen to be romances. My characters have a tendency to want to do their own thing, so I often have to rein them back in. The one thing we all agree on is the desire for a happy ending.

My Review:  This book is the second part of Felix and Leo’s story. In book 5 of the New Horizons Series (Saving the Bodyguard) we learn a lot about Leo and the beginning of their relationship. Noticing the Finance Manager (Book 6 of the New Horizon’s Series) is more about Felix’s development and the deepening of the feelings between these two men.

With the financing of Leo’s security company taken care of, Felix needs to figure out what he is going to do with the rest of his life. While he loves his new partner and their relationship is deeply emotional and fulfilling, he needs to get back to work and start focusing on his career! His ex blackballed him with just about every health care firm in the area so he is floundering without much of a plan.

Getting his career straightened out requires Felix to think outside the box a little bit, settle some issues with an old enemy, and get a little bit more aggressive than he has been in the past (both in the bedroom AND the boardroom!) All this is accomplished with Leo’s support and their increasingly intense feelings for one another really play a major part in the story. Without giving away any spoilers…Felix will end up with both the man of his dreams AND an awesome career by the end of the book!

I found the relationship between Leo and Felix to be both sweet and hot at the same time. They are at times fiercely passionate but there is always an undercurrent of love between them that is very obvious. This is a quick but enjoyable read with great characters and I enjoy Ms. Yates’ writing style. The storyline is simple but believable and I could certainly see another book highlighting these characters.

 

Saving the Bodyguard by Serena Yates

Note:  When Ms. Yates noted that Noticing the Finance Manager was in queue for review, she graciously submitted this title for review.  Each can be read as a stand-alone, but she feels that reading them in order will add to the readers enjoyment.  Both can be found on the publisher’s web site or wherever quality MM romance titles are sold.

Title: Saving the Bodyguard

Series:  New Horizons 05

Author: Serena Yates

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 13, 2011)

ISBN: 978-0-85715-573-3

Format/length: eBook 135 Kb

Genre: Contemporary M/M fiction

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer:  Artemis

From the Publisher:  Leo Taber is an ex-bodyguard who now runs a security company with a good friend. Business does not go as well as expected, and he soon faces anger management issues. He is very skeptical about the ten-day course his friend recommends, but feels he has no choice but to go. Once at the retreat, he meets Felix, who works as a waiter there, and all his issues seem forgotten when the sparks start flying. Giving in to his feelings has never been so easy.

But is this temporary peace going to last – even when the real world starts intruding into their temporary idyll?

About the Author:  I’m a night owl who starts writing when everyone else in my time zone is asleep. I’ve loved reading all my life and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Although I always wanted to be a writer, financial independence came first. Twenty-some years and a successful business career later I took some online writing classes and never looked back.

Living and working in seven countries has taught me that there’s more than one way to get things done. It has instilled tremendous respect for the many different cultures, beliefs, attitudes and preferences that exist on our planet.

I like exploring those differences in my stories, most of which happen to be romances. My characters have a tendency to want to do their own thing, so I often have to rein them back in. The one thing we all agree on is the desire for a happy ending.

My Review:  At the very beginning of this book, Leo is not particularly ‘likeable’ as a character…mainly because he has some serious anger management problems. When he almost takes down a little old lady in a grocery store and nearly beats a vending machine to death, you start to see some serious issues with his temperament! However, his friend and co-worker encourages him to take a little time out to get a handle on things and he ends up at a weeklong retreat for some soul-searching and relaxation. He doesn’t have much hope that it is going to work for him until he meets Felix! I liked Felix’s character right away….even if he does seem a little scattered at first. He is just recently out of relationship with a total jerk who got him kicked out of the accounting field and he is stuck waiting tables until he figures out what to do.

When the two characters first meet they are total opposites but strongly attracted to each other. They spend quite a bit of time getting to know one another in every way humanly possible and Felix is a huge help when it comes to getting Leo to understand what his anger issues do to the people around him. With a crisis happening at work, Leo’s vacation retreat is cut short but Felix has a solution that might just work for everyone!

Ms. Yates does a really great job getting the readers to understand her characters, what motivates them, and their emotions. This is a relatively short and fast paced story so things move along pretty quickly. The one thing I would have slowed down just a little bit is how quickly Leo and Felix got physically involved. I admit I like a little bit more of a buildup between my characters before they start having sex! The scenes are fairly well written, however, and there is a definite emotional connection between the two.  Despite being two very different types of men, they seem to balance one another quite nicely!

Overall, the author created a sweet story with enjoyable characters and some very steamy bedroom scenes. Very nicely done!