Surprise! Surprise! by Star Noble

surprisesurprise185Title: Surprise! Surprise!

Author: Star Noble

Genre: Erotic Romance / Ménage

Length: Novelette (40 pages)

Publisher: Torquere Press (2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5~3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Jason and Anthony are in a rut, and Jason can admit their love life has been less than stellar lately. But Anthony’s birthday is coming up, so Jason plans the perfect party to spice up the night and their relationship — complete with a super hot dancer.

But by the end of the night, Anthony receives more than a few surprises. He and Jason meet Ruben, a sexy sports student, and the three of them instantly hit it off. Will Ruben come between the two lovers, or will he give their relationship the boost it so desperately needs?

Product Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=96&products_id=4035

Review: I normally love ménage, and while this was a fun one to read when it came down to it, it wasn’t as engaging.

We have two characters that are 40 and 35 years old. That alone would have me read it with more enthusiasm, as I do love mature couples; however, they didn’t quite make me feel their age. There were times that I thought that their behavior was mostly that of people on their late twenties. The chemistry between the two was also nonexistent and it failed to make me get into them as much. As the main couple failed that, so did the trio when they met. The whole situation had a feeling as if the entire plot was worked around their threesome rather than the other way around.

So in the end as much as the read was not bad, it was something I went all crazy for or even got enthralled with, but if you like a nice, fast ménage story, then you might want to give it a try.

Beloved Enemy by Star Noble

BelovedEnemyLGTitle:  Beloved Enemy

Series: NA

Author: Star Noble

Genre: M/M Historical

Length: 193 pages

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press/ Timeless Dreams (February 13th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:  At the edge of the Roman Empire, Cheruscans Kjeld and Dafried forged the bonds of childhood friendship, playing and hunting together along the mighty Rhine—until Romans ripped Kjeld away from his idyllic life and best friend to live as a Roman soldier.

That was ten years ago. Kjeld, now a Roman general, returns to his foster parents to prepare for a glorious celebration: a battle in the Coliseum. What he doesn’t know is that Dafried, after being captured during an assault on Roman military post, now trains as a gladiator in preparation for the upcoming competition. When the childhood friends reunite in the sands, it could spell death for one of them.

A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.

Product link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3573

Reviewer: Cat

Review: The story starts out about two boys and their friendship. Kjeld and Dafried’s world seem to revolve around each other and you can feel their closeness and know they have a deep bond.  They are also boys who want to help fight for their families against the Romans.  Then one day the Romans come and take Kjeld away. They say they will not bother the clan if they let them have him; he will be taken to Rome and taken care of. The boys’ worlds are shattered.  Then it moves ten years later and tells of how Kjeld was raised in a wealthy environment. He finally had to put his past behind thinking his family and Dafried had been killed.  One night his servant was administering to him and was especially endearing and he remembered Dafried.  Marcus misinterprets Kjeld’s reaction and kisses him. Kjeld is shocked and doesn’t return his feelings, so he knows he has to let him go. But, now he can’t stop thinking of Dafried. To his surprise he finds Dafried is a gladiator and is in a death match against his step- father’s best gladiator.

I thought this story was beautifully written and I wasn’t able to put it down once I started. I thought the characters well-developed, inspiring and the story fast paced and intriguing.

Recommendation: I recommend this book to anyone that loves a story of friends to lovers, a well- developed historical setting, love lost then found again, Soldiers, Gladiators, and sensual and beautiful lovemaking.