Tag: Spare Words Press

Bread and Books by Hollis Shiloh

29984929Title: Bread and Books

Series: Baking Bears, #3

Author: Hollis Shiloh

Genre: Paranormal/Shifters

Length: 133 pages

Publisher: Spare Words Press (April 22, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Blurb: To Matthew, Jake is a mild-mannered mystery. He bought a failing bookstore, but he doesn’t know how to run a bookstore at all. And by the number of books he’s giving away, the man has to be an optimistic idiot. A business can’t survive by giving things away!

Still, neighboring bakery owner (and secret bear shifter) Matthew can’t help being drawn to him and finding excuses to talk to him. The man calls to him in a way no one else does: with his pheromones, his sweet smiles, and his cinnamon-colored eyes. He makes Matthew want things desperately…

The two men grow closer, and friendship turns to something more. They might even have a chance at forever, if they can bear to share their secrets with one another…

ISBN: e000000002489

Product Link(s): http://amzn.to/1XCnDPc

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breadandbooks-2024995-143.html

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: The Baking Bear series can be read as a standalone story. They are about sweet bears who love their desserts and they want a mate just for them. Although I suppose they don’t really call them mates, nor do they bite their loved ones. It is a very different type of paranormal romance to me. They are just full of tender-hearted care and try to help those that need helping.

Out of the whole series this book was probably, most definitely my favorite of them all. There was just so much more to this then the others and I enjoyed the way it just exploded off the pages for me. There was a bit more humor in this one that made it fly for me. The characters were well-rounded and so sweet that I felt like I knew them. I even loved Cody and felt for him when his parents kicked him out when he was gay.

Matthew was a sexy, tender-hearted bear shifter who loved to cook. He had great ideas, and it would seem that bears do love their sweets quite a bit. When he saw that the bookstore had sold once more, he wondered if it would survive. He decided to take the owner some sweets and to make a new friend. Wasn’t he surprised that the sexy bookstore owner was just perfect for him. It seemed Jake wanted to help everyone that needed help. They become friends then friendship turns to love, and these two are perfect together.

I loved the slow burn romance that this story seemed have. It was just perfect with this type of story. It actually had more action than the previous ones even though there wasn’t really any sex in this one though either. I enjoyed reading it and I do hope that there is another book coming. I loved the secondary characters and do hope that there will be a story for October.

I loved it and would recommend it.

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

The Real Finn by Hollis Shiloh

81lN3RbpUFL._SL1500_Title: The Real Finn

Author: Hollis Shiloh

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (118 pages)

ISBN: B00IKZTRWY

Publisher: Spare Words Press (February 21, 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Cat

Blurb: Who is the real Finn?

Shad isn’t happy about working with a partner undercover. He doesn’t do partners, and now he’s stuck with this guy named Finn. But Finn is so many different people. He can become anyone for his work. Which is the real Finn—the frightened pretty boy, the arrogant little bastard, or the friendly, humble guy who laughs at Shad’s jokes?

Shad also doesn’t hook up with anyone. He’s been burned before and now only wants a trustworthy partner in a committed relationship. Unfortunately, he’s falling for Finn….

Then life takes an unexpected turn. Shad ends up in a relationship with Finn that should be all he’s ever wanted. Except for the sex. It takes time for Finn to heal enough to go to bed with him, and even then, it feels wrong somehow, as if he’s not really there. But why?

Danger draws close, and secrets come out—secrets Finn never wanted to share. Is there still a way to make the relationship work? Shad needs to find out just as much as he needs to protect the man he’s come to love. The man who might be in terrible danger….

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Real-Finn-Hollis-Shiloh-ebook/dp/B00IKZTRWY
Review: The Real Finn is a sweet romance with mystery and intrigue. Throughout this story, we follow along as Shad tries to figure out who the real Finn is. He falls in love with the man, his partner undercover, rather quickly, but wonders how much of what he sees is real or an act. Shad tries his best to comfort Finn and is shocked by his request after their first undercover mission together. (I can’t say what it is, since it would be a spoiler.)

Finn is a very complicated character. He is so good at acting and becoming the undercover character even he isn’t sure who the real Finn is. I can’t really say I ever got to the point of liking Finn. I found him a bit wishy-washy and a user. I never really connected with the characters and I felt the story moved a bit fast.

The story was very interesting. I liked the flirting between Finn and Shad. I also liked that there was the undercover story and the other attached mystery, but I felt the undercover mission needed to be fleshed out instead of told to us in little drops over the next few chapters. If the undercover mission had been drawn out, more I think the story would have been much better.

All in all this is a very interesting romance with complicated characters and a sweet romance.

Yours, Johnny by Hollis Shiloh

18336651Title: Yours, Johnny

 

Author: Hollis Shiloh

 

Genre: Contemporary

 

Length: Novella (63 pages)

 

ISBN: B00DV8TZ5O

 

Publisher: Spare Words Press (July 10th, 2013)

 

Heat Level: Low

 

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

 

Reviewer: Cat

 

Blurb:Two young men start writing to one another–one a civilian, the other a soldier struggling with his life in Vietnam.

Pen pals become something more as the boys discover things about themselves and each other through their letters and their lives.

A love story.

 

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Yours-Johnny-Hollis-Shiloh-ebook/dp/B00DV8TZ5O

 

Review: This was a very poignant story. It is mostly written as letters to and from a soldier in Vietnam. The time is the Vietnam War era so homosexuality is still pretty much a secret. The story starts out a young girls is writing a soldier soon her brother takes over for her. He and the Soldier form a friendship and bond.  This story will bring tears to your eyes. I loved when he told the little girl not to open the letters to Dear John.

 

I loved both men. Daniel and John, while very different, they were both struggling with the same secrets and feelings.

 

As short as this story is it has a couple twists and turns that left me surprised and with tears.

If you like short, sad, bittersweet, stories about fining sexuality, coming out, friends to lovers, Vietnam war, 1960-early 70 historical that are sweet yet spicy this is for you.

The One for Me by Hollis Shiloh

81K64tc+WyL._SL1500_Title: The One for Me

Author: Hollis Shiloh

Genre: Contemporary/ Coming of Age Romance

Length: Novella (75 pages)

Publisher: Spare Words Press (July 20th 2013)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 2.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: Two boys bond, sharing geeky things and fast food. And falling in love.

When Luke’s parents take in a foster kid named Randall, Luke is immediately taken with him, although he doesn’t want to admit to himself why. He wasn’t planning to be gay. He wasn’t planning to fall in love with another boy. But then he met Ran….

I remember when I first met Ran. He was absolutely unprepossessing, all skinny white boy wearing his insecurities on his sleeves, which were tattered and faded on a too-big flannel shirt. He wore jeans that didn’t quite fit him, cheap tennis shoes that had once been white, and glasses that made his eyes look too big in his scrawny, pale face.

And he was holding a trash bag and standing in the middle of my bedroom looking miserable…

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-One-Me-Hollis-Shiloh-ebook/dp/B00E2TMORW

Review: Luke and Randall are foster brothers and best friends. The attraction is there from the start for Luke, it takes Ran a little longer to admit it. Ran promises not only himself, but also his foster parents that nothing is going on between them when they learn he’s gay. They’ve always treated him like family, but since learning of his sexuality, they are more rigid than they use to be. But not Luke, he ever present as a friend hoping to become more.

Underneath everything, this was a cute coming of age and finding your true love at a young age story. But sadly, there were many issues I had that made the book less enjoyable for me. Too much going on in so few pages, the author really should have tried to make this a full-length novel. The complete 360 degree turn that Luke’s parents did hit me like whiplash. It did not fit with the story at all. A few grammatical errors sprinkled here and there that stood out more with the other issues.

Luke and Ran were absolutely adorable though, and the slightly elusive sex for them really worked well for this storyline. If you’re looking for something young and cute, you may enjoy this one. 

His Papparazzo by Hollis Shiloh

71iR8hyXcDL._SL1500_Title: His Papparazzo

Series:   N/A

Author: Hollis Shiloh

Genre: Contemporary

Length:   Novel (146 pages)

Publisher:  Spare Words Press; 1st edition (May 10, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3.5 Hearts

Reviewer:   Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Movie star Colin Colton has a contentious relationship with the press–especially that pushy paparazzo, Zach Jarlson.  He certainly doesn’t expect to ever feel sympathy for the little bugger…much less anything more.  But circumstances conspire to change his mind.  They go from enemies to friends and lovers…and then back again, when their world is turned upside down and each thinks the other betrayed him.  Colin tracks Zach down to a private cabin in the middle of a snowy winter’s day and confronts him.  But even once they learn the truth, can a relationship between an actor and a paparazzo survive? 

Purchase Link:   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQOV4IK/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B00CQOV4IK&linkCode=shr&tag=portispass-20

Review: Colin and Zach meet because Zach is a photographer who is constantly taking pictures of Colin.  The friendship between them blossoms into a romance and despite their obvious differences Zach learns to both accept himself and to be more himself with Colin. However, like any good story there must have an issue which creates friction.  This is a story about Hollywood, the paparazzi and betrayal, so the reader can surmise what the issue might be which arises between the men, it’s fairly common in today’s market of consumerism and lack of privacy.

Most people know the paparazzo to be almost blood thirsty in their need to get the picture and thus the paycheck. In this story, however, Zach shows a vulnerability that makes him both likable and sympathetic.  However, even after their initial trial is overcome, Zach must now overcome his own insecurity if he and Colin are to forge a path together. It is Zach who is the stronger character who does what is needed to fight for their relationship. What started out as Zach needing answers or even revenge leads him ultimately back to Colin and the ability for them to both heal.  Once the reader gets to this point, the story then explores what it will take for the lovers to maintain a relationship with each other and that ultimately leads to an ending which is very satisfying for anyone who’s a romantic at heart.