Blurb: Orphaned in infancy and raised by the great comedy actress Dorothy Jordan, Sim Treagar has lived all his nineteen years among the high drama, greasepaint and shabby theatrical glamour of the Drury Lane Theatre.
When Lieutenant Gervase Levison comes to the theatre to deliver the Royal Duke’s congé to Sim’s adoptive mother, the two men fall immediately into a passionate love affair.
But Gervase’s powerful family oppose their love and seek to use it against the Lieutenant, in a high-stakes game of rumors, scandal and thwarted inheritances. When Gervase is sent to sea, his prospects are safe but Sim’s heart is broken. Can they ever hope to be reunited in a love his handsome sailor’s family can’t countenance?
Review: Child of the Theatre is set in London in the 1800s and the author does a wonderful job of giving us a true feel for the time period. There are descriptions of costumes and architecture that are appropriate to this period of history. Although, I was a bit surprised at how easily the characters accepted their homosexuality…seems like this would be something that was frowned on by Victorian society, especially in the upper class.
I really enjoyed Sim’s character. At times he blushes sweetly or makes a witty joke. He is passionate with Gervase, but also a tad shy. Gervase’s character, on the other hand, is a little bit domineering, but in an authoritative way. Not cruel, just a man who knows what he wants and expects others to do his bidding. The interactions between him and Sim are tender one minute and wild the next. You can really feel that they are drawn to one another very deeply.
As in any good romance, there are challenges that the couple must face…specifically Gervase’s family and their intense dislike of his relationship with Sim. They are torn apart, they both suffer the agony of separation, and then they are reunited, but the challenges aren’t necessarily gone just because they are back together. The ending leaves me to wonder whether the author has a sequel in mind for these characters!
Blurb: When Ade loses his best friend he soon learns that mourning Jack brings not only sorrow but happiness too.
Restaurant chef Ade is a man of his word. When his best friend is killed while serving in Afghanistan, he honours a promise to look after Jack’s lover, Cal.
Ever the white knight, Ade does his best to console Cal in spite of losing his job and nearly losing his life. Ever the fool, Ade falls in love and learns the hard way that loving someone who can’t love him isn’t enough.
With a new job in a new place comes the possibility of a new love, but Eric has baggage of his own. Can Ade and Eric leave their old heartaches behind and find new happiness with each other?
Review: Ade and Jack were as close as brothers. If fact, when Ade’s family didn’t take his coming out well, Jack’s family became his surrogate parents and all but adopted Ade. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to honor his friend. But, falling in love with Jack’s lover wasn’t on his agenda…it just kinda happened.
The title of this book kind of threw me. Maybe, it’s me, but this was so much more than Ade or even Cal mourning Jack. Don’t get me wrong; even though he’s dead before the book even begins, Jack is a primary character in this book. But, for me, this is Ade’s story. Despite his love of cooking, his job has become a chore. He fights his attraction for Cal, because he feels like it’s too soon, if ever they are meant to explore the mutual chemistry between them. He really just wants a normal life, with a normal man who loves him.
I loved the glimpse into English village life that Mourning Jack gives the reader. There is a laid back pace that really worked for me. I can’t tell you more of the plot, because there are a few twist there that were totally unexpected. But, the ending left me with a smile. Ade and Cal mourn Jack in very different ways, but in the end they both found a way to fill the void that his passing left. This is a very well written novel and I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy a gentler pace to their romance and lovers who find love in unexpected place.
And on a side note: If S. A. Meade were a nice person, she would post recipes for all the lovely dishes that Ade creates throughout this book. J
From the Publisher: Rook, Knight and Bishop have been searching for a fourth man to join their threesome for quite a while when Knight meets Jason, the live model in the art class he’s auditing. He thinks that Jason is the perfect man for them and his lovers Rook and Bishop quickly agree. The trick will be convincing Jason…
About the Author: Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the Kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago”.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
My Review: I wasn’t really sure how a book with 4 male characters was going to play out, but I was really impressed with this story. I can see why the author uses the game of chess as a comparison. The strategy and give and take in the relationships is similar to the moves each piece must take in a game of chess.
Bishop, Knight and Rook are looking for someone to join their threesome. They want someone who they can ‘play with’ (as they call it) for a year and Jason is their choice of playmates. Problem is, Jason insists that he is straight and not all that interested in sex. Unfortunately, Jason is also broke, about to be evicted from his apartment and lose his job so he tries to be a little bit more open-minded about the proposition. When Rook offers to introduce him to the pleasures of a M/M relationship, his world is turned quite upside down when he realizes he might not be as straight as he thought!
Each of these characters is completely distinct with their own voice, personality, and character traits. Bishop is, without question, the dominant force in this relationship. He is forceful, but caring and clearly loves both Knight and Rook in very different ways. Knight is a tortured artist, ex drug addict and very intense. He needs Bishop to dominate him and keep him in line and there is some light BDSM in their relationship. Rook is a sweetie and it is hinted at a couple of times in the story that one of the reasons they are looking for a fourth for their group is so that he has someone he can take care of and bond with. Bishop and Knight have a very dark and intense need for one another and while they both love Rook, he needs someone a little gentler and Jason seems to be working out fine!
I love that they author created such unique characters with their own personalities. It really helped, at the beginning, when I was first starting to get to know them all. This book is made up of a whole lot of sex, interspersed with joking and lighthearted bickering and a little bit of angst. If you are looking for lots of plot and mystery…this isn’t the book for you. However, if you are looking for well written characters with good personalities and fun dialogue that have lots of sexy fun, this is a great choice!
If I could have changed anything about this book, I would have added a little bit more back story. I really want to go back to the beginning of this threesome and see how the whole thing got started! With this being the first book in the series, I am looking forward to seeing how Jason’s part in this whole thing works out. He is a sweetheart and seems to be enjoying his introduction into the world of M/M sex.
Blurb:Tim’s attraction to his friend Harry flares up once again when they run into each other at their ten-year reunion, but will it be enough to build the lasting relationship they’ve both longed for?
Tim Jacobi, who owns and runs his parent’s car dealership, is professionally successful but lonely. When his high school reunion brings his best friend Harry back to Riverside after a ten-year separation, he realizes he is still attracted to him. And this time around, he can admit it to himself.
Harry can’t believe the strong feelings his best friend awakens in him. Despite being afraid of rejection, he opens up and tells him the truth about the intervening years-why he is now divorced and has sole custody of his two children.
When Harry’s ex-wife reappears-demanding not only visitation rights, but threatening to sue for custody-Tim find himself facing more obstacles than he’d expected. Will he run for cover or help Harry get the relationship and life he has always wanted?
Reader Advisory: This story is the eighth in this series and the stories, while they can be read on their own, are best read in sequence.
Review: Tim and Harry meet up at a re-union after no contact for ten years. When they sit down to reconnect they make a discovery as to why they lost touch. It’s not long before sparks are flying between them. But, when Harry’s ex-wife turns up, wanting the children and making threats, Tim begins to wonder if it will work out.
This was a great story of two friends reuniting after ten years and discovering an attraction that they had never really noticed before. Harry had the great misfortune of being snared into marriage, after many years he is finally free to be himself. Tim has a new opportunity with Harry and he has hopes that things will work out between them, but if it comes down to it he will be satisfied with being just friends.
I really enjoyed this story and even though some will say I am wrong… I really enjoyed Harry putting Lisa in her place and that he stuck to his guns by not backing down and also not giving up Tim. That Tim cared so much for Harry and his children shone through in the sacrifice he was willing to make and that Harry cared for Tim in refusing to let Tim walk away. I really enjoyed the way that Tim and the kids interacted, it was very sweet. I think my only complaint would be that they didn’t sit the kids down and discuss their relationship or of them moving in together. I know that the kids discussed Tim and Harry and how they felt like a family again but it would have been nice just to clarify it.
So, honestly this is a very enjoyable story, with hot sex, a bit of conflict which is well written and has a good solid story-line… I’d highly recommend this to those who love any of the above and a nice family ending.
Blurb:Past and present exist side by side as the ghost of a young poet seeks to protect the family living in the house he haunts.
Robert ‘Robbie’ Clavell, a young Victorian poet, is murdered by a jealous competitor. But, his murderer, not content with ending Robbie’s life, also invokes an ancient curse that forces his spirit to remain earthbound.
When Jamie Barrett, a dancer in London’s West End, receives a phone call from his mother telling him of strange knocking noises and furniture moving about, he travels home to Manchester to investigate and give support to his mother and his twelve year old niece, Laura.
Advised to contact a psychic for help, Jamie meets Kevin Singleton, and despite the seriousness of what they discover, the two men find a mutual attraction. Kevin explains to Jamie and his mother that their recent family tragedies had opened a portal allowing base spirits to enter and feed off of Laura’s youthful and vibrant energy.
Kevin is able to make a psychic connection with Robbie who tells him that George Russell, his murderer, is the one responsible for the upheaval in the Barrett household. But when Robbie tries to help Kevin exorcise Russell’s spirit, Russell summons up an even darker force – one that could not only destroy the house and everyone in it, but ensure Robbie’s spirit will never find his way home.
Review: Jamie gets a phone from his mum and he rushes home to Manchester to get to the bottom of what is scaring his mum. Kevin gets called by Jamie to come and investigate the noises and the two men get close as he investigates.
This is a well written ghost story. Jamie wants to help his mum, but even when he sees it with his own eyes he still finds it hard to believe. So, when the police advise him to contact someone who deals with psychic phenomena, he decides to give it a go, still not really believing. Kevin is interested in the case, but after a while begins to think he has bitten off more than he can chew. But, with the help of Jamie to make him stronger, they just might do it.
There is instant attraction when Kevin and Jamie first meet and their relationship progresses quickly when they go to the pub for a drink and after to Kevin’s flat where the sex is really hot. The story is really good, as we have flashes to Robbie’s time and what happened to him, we also have a flash back to Kevin’s childhood as he explains his background and his connection to ghosts. The characters are really good together and seem to be well suited. I liked how they were with each other and that there was give and take between them.
I will recommend this to those who love ghost stories, hot sex, laying spirits to rest and an interesting love story.
From the Publisher: The Sins of Autumn weaves a general thread of revelation loosely tying these tales together. Wrath, gluttony and pride are explored in these hot m/m tales involving action, burning hot sex and out-of-this-world adventures that will leave you hoping for cooler weather—soon!
About the Authors:
D.J. Manly: I write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t written and told stories. When I’m not writing, I’m dreaming about writing, doing something wild and adventurous, or trying to make the world a better and more open-minded place to live in.
A.J. Llewellyn: A.J. Llewellyn lives in California, but dreams of living in Hawaii. Frequent trips to all the islands, bags of Kona coffee in the fridge and a healthy collection of Hawaiian records keep this writer refueled
Serena Yates: 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: The first book of this anthology really grabbed me right from the start. In Hail Storm by D.J.Manly, Chance and his friends absolutely worship the rock band Hail Storm and form a tribute band in their honor. Chance doesn’t realize that he has a connection to the lead singer until they meet face to face. It turns out that Hail, the lead singer, is actually Chance’s brother and the two quickly form quite a deep bond. A little thing like falling in love with the same guy (Storm, a key member of the band) might just tear them apart.
From the very beginning of this book, I could feel the hormonal angst of a young guy and his passionate obsession with his favorite rock band. There is a lot of hero-worship going on and he cannot believe it when Hail tells him they are really brothers. Chance is torn between the loyalty he feels towards his brother and the deep feelings he develops for Storm. Hail is obsessed with Storm and Chance knows that by falling in love with him, he will bring Hail’s wrath down on both of them.
I loved the way the author portrayed the conflict in this story. Hail gives Chance everything…opening his home to him and helping him achieve his own success, but in return Chance falls in love with the man Hail wanted to claim as his own. There was no malice involved, just circumstance, and as the pages turned and the conflict was resolved I had to smile at how right things ended up in the end.
The second book of this anthology, Full by A.J.Llewellyn didn’t grab me quite like the first one did. Barney Calloway is an extremely overweight voice over actor in Hollywood. He has struggled with his weight his whole life and after a particularly embarrassing party mishap he finds a business card tucked under his windshield wiper saying one word. Full. On the back is a phone number (which he calls) and miraculously the next morning he wakes up at his ideal weight. Family members and old flames react oddly to the new Barney and he isn’t sure that being overweight was really his only problem.
The message that the author portrays here is a powerful one….our happiness cannot be achieved by being physically perfect. Barney is overweight at the beginning, yes, but after the weight comes off, he starts to realize that maybe he had a ‘fuller’ life than he thought he did. While I liked the story, I think the writing was a bit choppy. I would have liked for the pace of the story to slow down a bit, maybe have the author pick a few key characters to focus on, and still keep the same storyline. Great message, though and one Barney finally understood in the end.
In Autumn Quest by Serena Yates there is a parchment thief stealing books and scrolls from the Royal Library and he must be stopped. The Khan decides to put his youngest son, Bayar, in charge of solving the mystery of the thief’s identity. Bayer chooses an assistant…Chinux, a bounty hunter…to help him in this quest.
The contrast between the scholarly Bayer and the rough and tumble bounty hunter is quite evident. Even though Bayer should be in charge (being royalty and all), it is clearly Chinux that is leading this expedition. They are shocked to learn the true identity of the thief, but their combined strengths and talents allow them to overcome evil in the end. There is a nice bit of adventure, intrigue, and passion all wrapped up in this story. These two characters really complement each other well and I was rooting for them to not only find the thief, but maybe find a life together in the end as well.
Overall, the Sins of Autumn Anthology is a nice collection of stories that illustrate the sins of wrath, gluttony, and pride and how passion can play a part in all of them.
Blurb:James Stratton’s moral cost him everything and he never thought he’d recover until one very stubborn, loving man showed James he deserved to be loved.
James Stratton was proof there was such a thing as a lawyer with morals—and he paid a very high price for them. A successful plan to stop a sadistic murderer ended up costing James everything. After being kidnapped and assaulted, he was held in a ‘facility’ where he was kept medicated, ostensibly for his own good. In reality, his parents had had him kidnapped again—for his own safety, they’d claim, once he’d been freed.
Glenn Shearing, former FBI agent and deeply closeted, fell for James before he ever met him. All it’d taken was reading the file on the extraordinary man, and Glenn knew he’d found someone worth stepping out of the closet for. He risked everything to free James, and didn’t consider it much of a loss when he left his job and headed for Texas.
James needs all the help he can get after what he’s been through, and Glenn wants to be there for him. James isn’t ready for any kind of intimacy, not after being hurt physically and emotionally. But will he push Glenn away one time too many? Or will he let Glenn’s love help him heal?
This book is part of a series and must be read in order.
Review: Because of what James started with the Rollins, many people paid the price. James being one of the worst effected and it didn’t end with his rescue, because then his parents got involved. And if not for the dedication of his best friend, Chase, and with a determined FBI agent to lend a hand, then he would still be in hell. Glenn is a FBI agent who worked the Rollins case. He rescued James from his kidnappers and then again from the ‘facility’ James parents had placed him in. Glenn sees something in James that he wants to get to know, so follows him to the town. But, can these two men be together after everything they have seen and been through?
Bailey Bradford has finally given us the story of James, who we have wondered about for many a book. Now it’s his time to shine along with Glenn’s, but they have problems to work through. James has had traumatic experiences and although we don’t get the in’s and out’s we do know that it was horrific for him. It’s left him with panic attacks and a skewered vision of himself and feeling like he is less than a man, especially in the eyes of Glenn, who saw James when he was at his most vulnerable. Glenn doesn’t think that James is weak. He actually believes that James is a strong survivor, but, he knows he has to take his time with James. But, the longer James seems to push him away, the more he starts to lose hope.
I loved this book for its seriousness of James problems. Nothing was swept under the carpet. He didn’t instantly make a startling recovery and it was a long progress that took into consideration everything he had suffered. Although there is an attraction between James and Glenn, their relationship doesn’t get off the ground until nearly halfway through the book and that was due to what James had suffered and also because of Glenn’s doubts that James would want an older man like him. So it’s a rocky start for them both, as fears and doubts get in the way, and they also have the added outside pressure for someone lurking around town and then James parents turning up.
So, in this book we have wounded souls, hopeful suitors, interfering parents, guilt, hope, spying PI’s, hot sex, the beginning of healing and a happy ending, but that isn’t just all it has. there’s understanding and helpful friends, everyone pulling together to protect a man who lost everything and fought with everything he had to do the right thing and a man who risked everything on the off-chance that the man he fell for, would want him back… this is a must read book.
Blurb: In the 1700s, Gatian Almasia was rich and a sought-after member of Parisian society. No one realized he’d lost his reason for living three years earlier. When his sister accuses another nobleman of raping her, Gatian does what any older brother would do. He challenges the man to a duel, and kills him. Later that night, the dead man’s family takes their revenge on Gatian.
Gatian’s death is just the beginning of the journey he must take as Death, the Pale Horseman of Apocalyptic fame. While he doesn’t regret taking the nobleman’s life, the guilt of not being there when his lover died builds a wall around his heart, and until he accepts forgiveness, he must always be Death.
Pierre Fortsecue is a spoiled rich young man whose heart is broken by the man he thinks he loves. Finding himself alone in Paris, Pierre sinks into a haze of heroin. He gets a tainted baggie of the drug, and almost dies from it. Death arrives to take his soul, and something about Pierre touches the Pale Horseman, who steals him away to help heal.
As Pierre heals and Death begins to feel again, they begin to wonder if love really is the only emotion needed to overcome desolation and destruction.
Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series
Review: Death has no remorse for the actions that lead to his death. But, he carries guilt over his lovers’ death. Now, he carries the mantle of Death, the Pale Horseman and his new orders take him to a man who is close to death from drug abuse. Pierre has plunged back into drug abuse after discovering his lovers’ betrayal, on the brink of death. He is visited and given a reprieve. Now, with the help of Death, he starts to pull himself out of the gutter.
*Sigh* Death, oh Death, what guilt you carry on your shoulders. How hard you try not to care and how soft your core really is. Death/Gatian has lived with the guilt of his lovers’ death for many years. But, meeting Pierre leads to some similarities, but also glaring differences. Death begins to hear his lost lovers’ voice, as he helps Pierre get clean. Pierre has sunk low before, but never this low and now, with Death’s help, he starts to see things a bit differently and begins to find his way out of the hole he has landed in.
I have to say that this is my favorite Horseman and not just because we finally got Death’s story. It’s also because of the level of detail that we are treated to; from the streets of Paris in the 1700’s, to Gatian’s country estate. And also the detail of the effects of the drugs and the overdose. We get to see Aldo and Bart briefly for a flying visit and we meet Lam’s lover, Day. God. I so want to read their story.
Death and Pierre’s story is really good. Pierre finally comes to face his own actions and grows up. Even going so far as to… ah nah read the book. Death/Gatian finally begins to process his own guilt over not being there when Oliver died. and Pierre and Death have some really hot sex. I thought that the way the relationship played out was great. And, I especially liked it when Pierre insisted on standing on his own two feet, without using Death as a crutch.
So the end to a well-loved series and I will recommend that everyone who loves paranormal, hot men, great back stories, hope for the future and a happy ever after.
Blurb: Deacon McConnell spends his days as a Cattwood-carver and his nights as head of one of the most secretive government agencies in the United States. When he meets a man troubled by his time spent in the Middle East, Deacon feels drawn to the pain in the handsome man’s eyes. He makes the decision to help Aaron Ellis any way he can.
Dishonorably discharged from the Army, it takes everything Aaron has to get out of bed each morning. He’s become used to faking his way through life, putting on a happy face when the situation calls for it is a lot easier than dealing with his buried memories.
The day Aaron wanders into Deacon’s store for the first time, the last thing he expects is an immediate connection with the shop owner. For the first time since leaving the service, Aaron begins to believe there may be light at the end of the dark tunnel. The nights he spends in Deacon’s arms slowly begin to drive the shadows from his heart.
After years spent serving his country, Deacon yearns for a normal life. The move to Cattle Valley is the first step, opening up to Aaron the second. When duty calls Deacon out-of-town, he begins to wonder how much more he’ll be forced to give up for his country.
Review: Deacon owns a furniture store selling his own creations, but he is also the head of a secretive government agency. Asked by a friend to help Aaron deal with his problems, he decides that he will. But, when he meets the young man he is drawn to him in ways he thought were long dead. Adam was given a general discharge from the army, but the guilt he feels over the deaths of his comrades affects him greatly. When he meets Deacon, he feels safe and attracted to him, so he decides to see if Deacon returns his feelings.
This story is well written. Deacon has secrets that he doesn’t want getting out. Adam doesn’t want anyone to know the real reason that he left the army and Deacon has done an in-depth background check on Adam as a way to know everything, so that he can help him. These two men end up together and help each other in some small way, but Deacon has a confession to make to Adam and Adam finds it hard to accept that a man like Deacon would be interested in him.
Okay, I liked this story as it delves into the territory of survivors’ guilt and we get a good feel for both Aaron and Deacon. But, what we don’t get is a full understanding of what either of them went though. We get given hints, i.e. Deacon’s car was purposely driven off the road injuring him and killing his lover. We get told that it had to do with Deacon’s job, but that’s it… It’s mentioned that Adam has scars on his chest and that he was held at gunpoint for three days, but not much more. Seriously, it’s as though all the really good bits were cut out.
Deacon and Adam’s relationship does move fast, but the burning down of the store forced that and the sex between them is hot. Now, some of you might be put off, but there is a twenty-one year age gap. But, to be honest with you, the only time that I remembered that was when the author brought it up, which was a few times. But, neither character ever really worried about it and there was no angst or arguments about it so to me the age between them was negligible.
So, I will recommend this to those who love damaged heroes, May – December relationships, hot sex, a good story-line and a happy ever after.
Blurb:Mitchell Blake had given up on romance until a sexy biker shows up in his kitchen, claiming he’s an alien warrior sent to protect Mitchell from an assassin.
Mitchell Blake has given up on romance. At least the equations in his scientific experiments add up, unlike his charming, lying jerk of an ex. Nevertheless, he’s saddened when the guy he’s been exchanging glances with over lunch in the university cafe, brooding and darkly gorgeous poet Jaden Ross, is killed in a freak motorcycle crash…until Jaden shows up in Mitchell’s kitchen and tells him a crazy story that he’s been assigned as his unearthly protector.
Jaden is more than human. He’s a warrior from a galaxy far, far away and he’s not, unfortunately, just around to share his out-of-this-world body with Mitchell. Despite Jaden’s fear of appliances – they have moving parts and are very primitive – and his burning curiosity about human mating rituals, he is determined to keep Mitchell safe from the killer stalking him.
Reader Advisory: This series can be read separately as each story is unique.
Review: Mitchell is shocked when his door explodes off its hinges and the man that he has just been told is dead is standing there saying he is there to protect him. ‘Jaden’ or rather the entity that is now Jaden is there to protect Mitchell, so Mitchell can make discoveries that will save ‘Jaden’s’ race. Together they have to fight the one who doesn’t want Mitchell to proceed with his discoveries and the two explore their relationship as well.
This is another tongue in cheek light-hearted read from Jan Irving. Mitchell is a geek, Jaden is a hot biker and they have made eyes at each other across the canteen. But, now EZ, Mitchell’s best friend, says he’s died. But, Jaden then appears in Mitchell’s kitchen, telling him he is there to protect him. Jaden is an entity from another time and place, who has come to protect Mitchell from another entity. But, he also wants to bond/merge with Mitchell, but Mitchell is cautious.
I have to admit that I actually liked this book in a kinda goofy silly way. I liked the three main characters Mitchell, Jaden and EZ. I can’t say any of them were my favorite, because they all had their moments where they shined; Jaden with his being new to a human body and his reactions to arousal, Mitchell with his pure social cluelessness and EZ as the annoying female best friend. There are some parts that I had to read twice as I felt that I missed something, but other than that it was a light-hearted story.
There was a section that I found funny just because of the cluelessness of Mitchell “”Jaden Ross, the gorgeous, tall, dark and dangerous guy with the motorcycle and the tats. He was killed swerving to avoid a litter of kittens on the freeway into campus.” “Oh” I decided it was better not say it seemed like a very worthy way to go. “Are they going to name one of the kittens after him?””
So I have to recommend this to those who want a light-hearted story, hot sex, a bit of danger, not a very strong story but fun and a happy ending.
Blurb:A run through the woods turned anything but typical when Levi found the one thing he never expected to find-his mate.
After a week spent in family reunion hell, Levi Travis is more than ready for a little break. But who knew shifting into a snow leopard and loping around in the woods could turn into such a steamy event?
When Levi encounters a cougar shifter in the woods, the attraction is so hot it threatens to shoot off sparks. Levi has fantasized about having a stronger man than him want him, and he’s sure the cougar is just such a man. Which is why Levi lets himself get caught, and the intensity of their mating is only equaled by Levi’s confusion when the man shifts back into a cougar then turns tail and runs.
Lyndon Hines has been running for months. Hunted, taunted, he didn’t know what else to do-until he met a man who made him realize that some things were worth fighting for. Two shifters, each a different breed, neither knowing much about their heritage, Levi and Lyndon come together and find the strength to take on the mad man who is out to end Lyndon’s life.
Review: Levi is ripped up inside when the shifter he has hot explosive sex with turns tail and runs. But, when he bumps into him in town and starts to get to know him, he begins to understand what is driving Lyndon. Lyndon is running, Lyndon doesn’t know from who or why, but he knows that he has to keep ahead of whoever it is. But, when he meets Levi, he realizes that he doesn’t want to run anymore, but as he doesn’t know anything about shifters or the person who is following him, he thinks it’s less trouble to keep on moving.
This is a well written story that has a more isolated way of life for shifters. With this story we have Levi, who is a Leopard shifter and Lyndon, who is a cougar shifter. neither one has ever heard of shifters of a different species before they ran into each other in some woods. Lyndon doesn’t know how to react, as he has no clue how shifters act as he has only ever met two before and one of them was his father who attacked him. So, when his natural instincts have been spent…he runs. Levi hasn’t met another species before either, but he never expected Lyndon to run off afterwards. When they meet up again he figures out that the man has had a bad experience and sets out to help him out.
I thought this was a great start to a brand new series; it has great characters, fantastic hot sex, a bit of angst, danger and a good twist. I really loved how Bailey Bradford has set out this series, there are no packs or prides or anything like that, and no shifter council or ruling body… in fact it is set out so that shifters don’t even know about any other shifter species. Levi’s family is large so there are quite a few Snow Leopards, but Lyndon is an only child to a human mother and his father disappeared when he got Lyndon’s mother pregnant. He had only met one other cougar who helped him as much as he could, but other than what each of them has learned off their families, they haven’t really got a clue about shifters.
So, an interesting story that will have you wondering who has been following Lyndon and why. And, when you do find out whom and why, you actually want to go hunting for Lyndon’s father and sort him out. Levi’s and Lyndon’s relationship is great and although it is a bit angsty at first they do make a great couple. I also loved Levi’s brother Oscar, he is a real character.
So I recommend this to those who love shifters, angst, danger, hot sex, great characters, a different view of shifters and a happy ending.
Wise-talking college student Bailey Moore saves his romantic side for the historical romances he’s secretly addicted to—until he wakes up crushed under six foot plus of sexy, aroused ancient Viking.
Bailey Moore is a cynical, wise-talking college student who saves his mushy, romantic side for the historical romances he’s addicted to, until he wakes up crushed under six feet three inches of aroused Viking warrior.
At first he takes Freyr Grímsson as a glorious odd ball obsessed with Medieval role playing-down to his rough hewn sword, but Frey insists Bailey is his guide in this new world and when Bailey is attacked by a mysterious creature, he’s convinced that he and Frey have to wage a battle to drive evil forces off campus. But when his Viking conquers him in bed, Bailey is afraid Frey will also lay claim to his secret, vulnerable heart.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of a light D/s nature.
Review: Let me just start by saying how very disappointed I am from this book. Reading the title The Viking in My Bed and the blurb I truly got excited and couldn’t wait till I got it on my hands. But you know what they say: Don’t get your expectations too high…
So let’s see. Bailey is a college student, he studies… God knows, that has to do with graphics? Yes! His professor (she’s also a big bad demon wannabe) gives him some old Celtic graphs to study and while Bailey’s playing with them he creates a summoning portal!!! But he doesn’t know it so the next morning he wakes up with big, horny Viking licking his… arm! Telling him that he want to make him his… woman!!! Bailey, although shocked, takes it in the stride believing it must be a joke from his friends due to his birthday. And while Freyr (the Viking) apparently knows no other way of communication beside roaring and bellowing that Bailey is “the guide” and he is “the guardian” and big bad things are coming after them (no reason on why all that is happening is given btw), BFF Candy shows up to calm things down by… grooming Freyr, conditioning and cropping his hair. So they get convinced that Freyr’s the real thing by his nasty scars. Now, except Freyr, there are other creatures coming after them from the void… The guardian fights and keeps the guide safe. Bailey learns that his professor manipulated him into creating the portal so she could be possessed by the Whisperer and then control his powers. So ultimately what guardian/guide needs to do, is go get the graphic, reopen the portal, send demons/guardian back and all clear. And here is my best part so far. All this happen during one day time. Freyr, of course, makes Bailey his woman and conquers him by… spanking him!! Oh, and Bailey falls for Freyr, cause Freyr made him look him in the eyes while they were lovemaking!!!The D/s scenes that we were being warned about, yeah!! I So after falling in love with Freyr, Bailey has no intention of letting him go. He and his friends make up a plan and armed with Molotov cocktails, they go after the professor… Well, the end, it is after all a love story!!!
All in all, I was expecting an adventure and didn’t get one. I was expecting some hot sexual scenes and didn’t get any. II wish there had been more of a love story, if nothing else. In one word I found the book lacking!
Pixie’s Two Cents: ♥♥♥2.5Hearts This is a humorous take on time-traveling Vikings and the love of good historicals. Bailey discovers that there are things that really just can’t be explained and finding a Viking in his bed is definitely one of them. Having that Viking declare him his guide is another and having evil come after him is the last straw. Frey has been summoned by the guide and it is his job to fight the evil and he decides to make Bailey his ‘woman’ (yeah, I know, but he’s a sexy Viking so I’ll give him some leeway).
I really do believe that this is more tongue in cheek, let’s have a giggle type of story from Frey’s over the top Viking tendencies, to Candy’s (Bailey’s friend) insisting on conditioning Frey’s hair, to the mention of re-enacting scenes in a Johanna Lindsey book. It’s not all smiley fun though, because Bailey has to face up to the fact that he was tricked and betrayed by a long-time family friend who is power mad and he doesn’t get the nice and tidy evil oh no his is the slimy, stinky evil with razor-sharp teeth and claws.
So in all honesty I will recommend this to those who want a light-hearted read that will have you giggling and laughing, with a slight poke at the more serious time-traveling Vikings, with lots of hot sex between a hot Viking and his ‘woman’ (sorry I just love that), some very slight kink and a happy ending for them all.
*This is the first review by our newest member of the review team, Thommie. *
Title: Jazz
Series: Daybreak 2525 02
Author: Jude Mason
Genre: Futuristic/Action-Adventure/MMF and MMM ménage
Length: Novel
Publisher: Total E-Bound (March 12, 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Blurb: A city of death where Jazz must find Doc’s sister, or die trying.
Jazz and Doc are on a rescue mission. This time it’s personal, really personal. Robin, Doc’s sister, was taken to the nearby city and enslaved. Jazz lived in the city for years and although he dreads the return, he can’t refuse to guide Doc in. What they find there is worse than any memory.
City peeps who barely survive and a Warlord gone berserk are just the beginning. Can Jazz find Robin? Will the two men survive themselves? And what of Zoe, the lady love they left behind?
Reader Advisory: This book contains some violence and lots of swearing and sexual assault.
Reader Advisory: This book is number two in a series and should be ideally read second, but may be read as a standalone. Contains scenes of hot m/m, m/m/m and m/m/f intimacy.
Review: In a futuristic world where human kind has suffered a great war that sent humanity in a state of complete wildness, forgetting feelings such as compassion, respect for human life and civility, survival in the city has become the most dangerous situation one can find himself into. Yet there is exactly where Jazz and his lover, Doc must travel and find a way to rescue Doc’s sister, Robin from a frightening warlord that has enslaved her. Through the misery of this unfeeling world they manage to find love in strange triangles. However, confronted with mistrust and deceit, they get entrapped into the very warlords’ kingdom. Yet, against all odds, they manage not only to find Robin, but to drive themselves along with many other slaves into freedom.
I would recommend it if you’re up for a nice story where one would do anything and risk anything for the ones he loved, where love and determination conquers it all, although it lacked suspense and sensuality and certainly dint blow my mind away.
Blurb:One sexy wolf is determined to show a grouchy kitty just how perfect they are for each other.
Oscar Travis has always been different, and not just because he’s a snow leopard shifter. Petite and pretty in a family where even the women are bigger and stronger than he is, Oscar has been protected by them except the times when no one could keep him safe. When he had to take another shifter’s life to protect his own family, Oscar’s world became a scarier place, at least in his head, not that he’s going to let his family know that. He will, however, help his dad Henry hunt down the cougar shifter who is trying to destroy one of Oscar’s own, his brother-in-law, Lyndon.
Which is why Oscar finds himself in San Antonio. Curiosity-always Oscar’s potential downfall-is the reason he’s in one of the city’s biggest gay nightclubs. And it’s his bad luck that he is cornered by four obnoxious shifters who are out to ruin his night. Josiah Baker has other plans for Oscar, plans of mates and forever, but once he makes sure his kitten is safe, he’s ditched like a two dollar whore. Good thing he’s a shifter too, and a determined one who doesn’t shy away from Oscar’s attitude. He sees the hurting man behind the pretty façade, and no one is going to keep him and Oscar from the happy ending they deserve.
Unless the cougar shifter Oscar was hunting has anything to say about it. Then Oscar and Josiah’s ending will be painful and in the immediate future.
Reader Advisory: This book is part of a series and is best read in sequence.
Review: Oscar lands in a bit of trouble when he visits a nightclub and a bouncer who thinks he’s coming to Oscar’s rescue doesn’t help. Josiah finds his mate in the little kitty shifter, but he keeps getting brushed off. Oscar has an attitude about large men who try to take control, but with Josiah he might have met his match.
A well written story that continues with the story-line from Leopard’s Spots 01-Levi. Oscar has forever been protected by his family because he is smaller. He had a hard time at school with bullying and he just feels like he is a misfit and has developed a hard external shell. Josiah might be an Alpha, but even he knows that he doesn’t stand much of a chance against his mate unless he can convince Oscar that he doesn’t see him as a misfit and there is nothing wrong with him.
I really liked this one, because although Oscar felt the mating pull he refused to give into it straight away and he also feels unsure of how Josiah will feel about him killing someone. The dynamics of Oscar’s and Josiah’s relationship was more even balanced with both men treating each other as though they are equals, with Oscar being slightly more Alpha than Josiah. The sex between them is really hot and erotic and again the dynamics are equal between them.
Oscar struggles to face what he did in the first book and he has a hard time believing that he won’t snap and do it again. Believing that he is turning into a monster, we get a good feel for what he is going through and the support that Josiah offers him. They are great characters and fit well together and the supporting characters are good, I really enjoyed the banter that Lyndon’s brothers brought into the book and there are a few surprises from them as well.
So if you love shifters, hot men, hot sex, twists, semi betrayal, dominate men, twisted guilt and a happy ending then I recommend that this book is for you.
Blurb:Michael and Paul fight to survive in a land frozen by endless winter. Will the ice between them thaw once and for all?
Michael Wright has given up thinking he’s anything more than a number-cruncher. When he’s summoned to verify the outcome of renowned meteorologist, Paul Clarkson’s latest research Michael is happy to escape the drudgery of a grey cubicle at the Met Office.
At Station 17 he finds himself working side by side with a brilliant scientist and charismatic man who stirs a lot more than respect. The attraction is mutual but, after a few snatched hours of passion, internal politics and a vengeful adversary tear them apart.
When Michael returns to Station 17 two years later he discovers that the world isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Paul is forbiddingly distant and the fire that once burned between them has turned to ice. The violence of deadly storm reignites their relationship – but will the disastrous aftermath of another destroy their love once and for all?
Review: Michael is asked to verify a meteorologist’s findings and as they work together become close, but work separates them. When they meet again, two years later, Paul is cold and hard towards Michael. But, the thaw sets in and they begin again, then disaster strikes. Can Michael tame the storm that is Paul or is the ice to thick?
This is a really well written futuristic science-fiction story that shows a future that is bleak and cold. The climate is harsh, the rain is acid, and there are no plant life and little animal life. There are Domes for protection and this is the world in the future. Michael is a weather statistician who is called to verify Paul’s work. The results mean a bleaker future, but Michael and Paul come together with a kernel of hope. which is dashed when Michael is called back to Met Office. Two years later Michael is back at Station 17, but Paul is like ice towards him.
This is one of those books that pulls you in two directions; the story-line was brilliant. Earth of the future with harsh weather that just keeps getting worse and little hope for improvement and two men chancing upon love in those harsh conditions. But, Paul is a bit of a prick and a control freak and I really found it hard to believe that Michael just took Paul back so easily the second time especially after the way he treated Michael and the way he abused his work position to punish Michael.
While Paul is a complete prick, in some circumstances, when he is thinking with his head and heart instead of his pride, he is a sweet considerate man and he is a great match for Michael. Michael knows that Paul is the man for him, so he holds on to his hope. The sex is passionate and explosive between them and circumstances keep getting in their way every time they try to be together.
The detail and description are quite exquisite, Michael’s reaction to having fresh vegetables for the first time was fantastic. The image, that we are given about our world, really was bleak; acid rain, snow so thick it covers buildings, just amazing imagery. The only thing that I was left with was a hope for an explanation of how the world had ended up like that… was it just global warming? was it the natural climate?… or was there a man-made disaster that triggered it?
With this one I will recommend it to those who love futuristic Earth plight, hot passionate men, intense sex, conflict, danger and a happy ending.
Blurb:One cop. One killer. Both dreamwalkers. Not every dream should see the light of day…
Three very different people have one thing in common-a dreamscape steeped in horror. Barry has had dreams of violent death all his life, and as a cop, he now works to solve the crimes his dreams tell him about in hopes he can save at least one victim from suffering the fate he faces every time he lays his head on his pillow. His ex-lover, Tag—now his boss—has no idea how to help him cope other than to protect his job…and try to protect their hearts from the dreams that could end up killing them both.
Leyton welcomes the dream state that shows him his next victim. He’s been a killer for as long as he can remember, and the land where he walks in shadow beside the horn-headed man who guides him feels more like home than the waking world. Now, in addition to seeking out those who would kill the innocent and ending their lives in his own special reign of terror, Leyton is promised a bride—someone to love him forever. It seems everything he’s ever dreamed is about to come true.
Jessica just wants to get her life back after her boyfriend is murdered and she is abducted. Twice. Finding herself at Leyton’s mercy is a nightmare she soon finds is only the very beginning. When the horn-headed man visits her, she knows nothing will ever be the same again.
The four of them now have to find a way to navigate the real world while the dream state dictates their very lives and threatens everything they hold dear. If they manage to catch a few killers and save a few innocent lives along the way, that will have to be their compensation for the “gifts” given by The Dreaming.
Reader Advisory: This book contains several graphic and detailed scenes of torture, dismemberment and murder.
Review: Freaking hell! I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. Barry has always had dreams where he is the victim, usually the victim of torture and murder. He tries to use his dreams to solve the crimes, but the dreaming affects his work in other ways. Tag has tried to do what is best for Barry but now he realizes it was a mistake to leave him. He has protected him at work, but now he can see that Barry is falling apart. Leyton welcomes his dreams with open arms, he enjoys going out and dishing out justice to the ones who deserve it and some he has directed Barry towards, to have Barry bring them to a different justice. Jessica gets drawn into the web of dreaming by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but now it won’t let her go and her only hope is falling away.
This is a fantastically written story that will send shivers down your spine and make you want to sleep with one eye open or never sleep again. Barry struggles with normal life as the nightmares consumes him at night. But, it is worse than just bad dreams, he lives what victims are living through as they die. His one safety net is no longer there to hold the dreams at bay and now someone is contacting him and threatening his beloved Tag. Tag sacrificed his relationship to help protect Barry, but now with a case getting out of control and a missing woman, he realizes that he needs Barry as much as Barry needs him. Leyton is as close to insane as you can get, but to him what he is doing is completely right, he draws Jessica into the Dreaming, because he was told wrong information. Now, He has a team together to do His work.
This story is so different from what I expected and it was brilliant. This story draws you in as you read and doesn’t let you go. You never know what will happen next and there are twists that you don’t see coming. Each character has a part to play and none of them have a real choice. They are dragged in by being able to dream true life. Each person is manipulated and threatened into doing His work and you really don’t know whether to cheer Him or hide from Him. Your heart goes out to each character, even when you want to hate one of them. But, their stories are compelling; it isn’t until near the end of the book that the main characters are all together in one room.
The relationship between Barry and Tag is complex and intense and has mistrust ingrained into it. But, both men are willing to try to repair the relationship and take one day at a time. The sex between them is hot and intense, even if you don’t see a lot of it. Some scenes in the book are gruesome and very well described and yes, you just might throw up a little bit in your mouth when you realize about the teeth. This book does not end how you want it to. we might have Barry and Tag in love and sorting their relationship out and we might have Jessica still alive and free from Leyton in a way and we have a deeply disturbed Leyton accepting that he can’t have Jessica as his love… but they are all still in a place of manipulation, intrigue, murder, mystery and threats…. I so can’t wait for the next book!!
So, I have to recommend this book if you want a tense, intense, mystery, suspense, crime, thriller, paranormal, bloody, gruesome, hauntingly creepy, dark story that has hot sex, a good relationship and an ending that makes you want to find who He is.
Blurb:Orlin didn’t know when he put himself up for sale that he would be responsible for changing a kingdom.
Broke and homeless, Orlin puts himself up for sale as a pet. Approached by his new Master, Orlin decides maybe being owned by a gorgeous king wouldn’t be fate worse than death. He doesn’t expect to become the one person who changes the views of an entire kingdom…or to be more than a lover for the man who buys him.
At first sight of the sexy oiled sub, Aester Fall knows he’s not leaving until Orlin belongs to him. He might be hanging on to his kingdom by his fingernails but he knows some things are worth the fight. When he returns home with Orlin, he learns his new pet might not be as pet-like as he first appeared.
Neither man expects to change the fate of a world…much less two of them.
Review: Orlin sells himself at auction as a pet after his parents die and he is left with nothing. Orlin hopes that life, as a pet, won’t be too bad and after his term of service, he will have the money he needs to start a new life. But, he never expected to be sold to his mate. Aester follows the advice of the seer and goes to the auction where Orlin is on the auction block. The first look he gets of Orlin and he knows he is the one, now he just has to keep him safe.
A cute little novella that provides great entertainment. Orlin has had a lot to cope with, his parents died and left behind huge debts, his extended royal family won’t help him out so he does the only thing that he can think of… he becomes a pet, a nice name for a submission love slave. Orlin isn’t really suited to be a pet, because although he is slightly submissive he has his own way of doing things. That and the whole “fifth in line for the throne” thing, that has given him royal training since birth. Aester is new to his throne and set on doing everything the law says, but his pet is disrupting everything by how he acts; insisting on *gasp* walking and translating with cat people. Before long, it brings Orlin to the attention of Aester’s uncle.
This is an enjoyable light read that is well written. I liked the way that Orlin got into trouble without even trying and that it brought to light to Aester the problems in his Kingdom that he never suspected. And also unearths some unsavory people, who would do him harm. I would have liked to know more about Orlin’s powers as they developed, but it was only a novella ;-). Aester is a strong character, but he wanted an equal that he could spoil and while Orlin is a submissive he can hold his own and be a strong support to the right man.
You know, I love this series because we have strong characters that are either dominate or submissive but each will have a strong core and they need a partner who is their equal, but also the perfect match to their own personality. I also like the way Amber Kell has written this in the way that although they are Doms and subs, it isn’t in the way that BDSM is usually portrayed. It is more like, their natural personalities have one partner who is slightly more Dominate than the other.
So, if you enjoy science fiction, hot sex, magic and slight danger, hot men, slight D/s relationships and a happy ever after then I have to recommend this to you.
Blurb: Sometimes the question being asked might not be the one that actually needs to be answered.
When twenty-two year old Tom asks his older, conservative lover Isaac for an afternoon of kinky sex, that experience turns out to include much more than bondage, adult toys and spanking.
Both are surprised to discover Isaac’s need to dominate his lover as much as his lover needs to be dominated by him.
Excerpt From: Facing the Truth
“Isaac…?”
Isaac Newhouse knew that voice like he knew his own thoughts. “Yes, Tom?”
“I was thinking… You’re not going to get angry at me? Or think I’m weird?” The twenty-two-year-old looked genuinely shy, and Isaac wondered if it was about something other than sex. Because after the vibrator, the blindfold and the handcuffs, what could possibly make Tom worried that his lover would frown in disapproval?
“Why don’t you tell me? Probably the worst you’ll hear from me is ‘sorry, this time it’s no’. And you know very well there isn’t much of a chance of that. I admit I lack somewhat in the fantasy and imagination department, but luckily I have you for that.” Isaac smiled reassuringly. “Unless you’re asking me to go to a bar, pick up a stranger and have sex with him while you’re watching us, because that is one of the very few things I’m unable to give to you.”
“What…? You think I’m some kind of pervert?” Tom huffed. “It’s nothing like that at all. I want you to tell me what to do. That’s all. As long as it has something to do with sex, of course, in case you’re thinking about the kitchen floor needing a good scrub.”
Isaac scratched his head. He loved Tom with all his heart, mind and body, but during moments like this he couldn’t help but wonder if they even lived on the same planet. “Tell you what to do? Why? When I’m in the mood, you’re always more than willing to have sex. What more could I possibly ask of you?”
“This was a stupid idea.”
“Not stupid.” Isaac touched his lover’s shoulder. “Please don’t say that. But do I understand correctly? You want me to ask you to perform a number of sexual acts over the day and you promise to do them?”
“Sort of.” Tom shrugged. “It’s the weekend, we have two days to ourselves and I’ve been having fantasies about being dominated by my strong older man.”
“Oh.” Isaac fell quiet.
“Please don’t think what I think you’re thinking. I don’t want you to be a domineering brute who couldn’t care less about me. I love you for being sweet, patient, introverted, old-fashioned you. Knowing you, you’re going to order me to do things I love anyway.” Tom gave Isaac a quick kiss. “Just pretend you’re a bit more dominant than we both know you are, please?”
Isaac kissed him back. “Promise you won’t be disappointed?”
“That would be a first. Perhaps you don’t have a natural talent for kinky stuff, but you’re willing to give almost anything a try because of me. And oh, man, that is really something.” Tom now stood even closer to Isaac.
Very, very close.
“Getting excited about what I might ask of you? Wondering if it’s something we’d usually do anyway? Perhaps I’m going to order you to go to the drawer where you keep all the sex toys and lube. Or perhaps…” Isaac teased his lover.
Tom ghosted his lips against Isaac’s ear. “You think this might be the perfect moment to confess I bought some new stuff online?”
“You did, eh? Then I have to personally inspect the sex toys drawer to see if I actually approve of what you’ve bought. Now, you be a good bloke and make us a cup of tea while I take a look at what you ordered at the web-store for grown-ups.” Isaac patted Tom’s behind and walked straight to their bedroom, knowing when he got back there would be two mugs of hot tea on the table and one extremely eager Tom waiting for him on the couch.
He recognised most of the objects—the half-dozen different brands of lube, the handcuffs and the blindfold, the vibrating, bright red dildo and… Oh…
Tentatively, he took the larger-than-average butt plug in his hand. The solid weight of smooth black silicone was something he both could and couldn’t imagine pushing inside his lover’s arse, keeping him stretched and ready for almost immediate use. Once the plug was fully inserted, the flat round disk would be the only reminder of what was hidden inside. Isaac realized Tom could wear the plug while fully dressed.
He didn’t even look at the other recent purchases. This was more than enough for now. He placed the plug on the bed, together with a full bottle of lube. After getting a towel from the cupboard, he looked one more time in the toy drawer and hesitated at the sight of the leather cock ring, remembering the last time Tom had used it. He tried to ignore the erection pushing against the fabric of his cotton boxer shorts.
Review: Facing the Truth is a very beautifully written story of two men in a long-term committed relationship, taking whatever steps necessary to fulfill the needs of their partner. I am a hopeless romantic at heart. There is nothing I like better than a romance that has two people so madly in love with each other that they would do anything the other needs. (Well perhaps a really good chocolate).
This story is about 39-year-old Isaac Newhouse and his much younger lover, (21 years) Tommy.
They have been together about two years and love each very much. Isaac loves Tommy so much that he is willing to step out of his comfort zone and learn how to be a dominate. This is quite a big step considering he is anything but dominating. But, he knows Tommy has these needs and is willing to explore this new sexual desire to please his lover. Isaac has a few qualms about this. He is also afraid that if he can’t take this step and trust Tommy to not go overboard, and to keep the games safe, he may lose him.
So Does Isaac give Tommy what he needs? Does this change their relationship? Does Isaac find out things about himself and Tommy he would rather not know?
I’m not going to tell ya. You will have to read it for yourself. Why not? It is short and sweet and extremely hot.
Portia’s Two Cents: This was an interesting book. It’s not often you are given an opportunity to peek into the beginning of a D/s relationship. Tom recognizes his own submissive nature and ask Isaac to dominate him. Isaac is floored with just how much he loves having Tom submit to him. This is his story. Between some scorching hot love scenes, these two talk a lot. And somehow, those conversations added to the sensuality of the book. And I have no idea whether the author is male or female, but the dialogue had a masculine authenticity I liked. *mini rant– Regardless of orientation, men tend to view life in terms of tasks/goals. When I am reading and a male character starts rambling off tasks, I hear a feminine voice in my head…very distracting.*
I also liked that Isaac was open with his insecurities. Again, normally, when you meet a Dom, he has already identified his personal kinks and at least begun training to safely dominate his partner. Isaac is on square one and watching him embrace his nature was very enlightening. There is more “plot” in Facing the Truth, then there was in Three, but the raw sensuality is the same. I highly recommend this title for those of you who like a bit of kink with your loving without it being over the top.
James Rodrick deserved a vacation. Running around the galaxy protecting people can be a rough road. His first officer was nicely settled and a cure for a deadly disease had been found. Time for a break. Alphonse Carter was not what the doctor ordered. A con man on the run does not a vacation make.
Alphonse Carter lived life high on the hog pretending to be something he wasn’t. His undercover identity was discovered and now he must flee before he is caught by the wrong side. Hijacking a captain with Alliance ties wasn’t in the cards, but he had to take what he could.
Review: The fourth installment of the Alliance saga opens with James Roderick on vacation. Well, actually, it’s more of a pity party, but let’s not quibble with details. James’ first mate oopsed up and fell in love and ran off to live with his lover. James is happy for them, but he wouldn’t mind finding his own “happy-ever-after”. Alphonse/Ali is up to his eyeballs in an undercover operation gone bad. He’s just trying to get off the planet and keep his ass alive.
If you’ve read my reviews, you are probably aware that I have a serious girl-crush on Jambrea Jo Jones. No one feeds my love of MM sci-fi like she does. Reward has all the action adventure, steamy sex…all through that space ship, and intrigue I’ve come to expect from JJJ. If you haven’t read the other Alliance books, relax…Reward does nicely as a standalone.
The guys of Reward are a bit rougher than some of her other male characters. James is an ex-Alliance pilot, who hates all this Alliance. He’s loyal and smart and a good guy to have around in a fight. Alphonse, on the other hand, fights dirty and is well…Alliance to the born. James and Alphonse’s attraction is immediate and off the charts. Sex is not a problem for these two. Unfortunately, that is the only easy thing in their lives, right now. The road to their HEA is littered with spies, betrayal, and oh yeah…literal bombs.
I loved everything about this book. But, especially, the fact that these two are all man. Alphas males to the core. They work hard, play hard and love hard. They also complement one another and do what it takes to keep the other safe and happy.
I think you should read this book, for no other reason, that to keep Jambrea feeding my addiction. I really need Angel’s story written faster. 😉 Highly recommend.
Blurb:Saving a dying man might be just what Famine, the Black Horseman, needs to feed his starving heart.
Having been sacrificed by his village shaman, Famine knows what it’s like to do anything to survive. He wanders the world, sowing drought and starvation in his wake. Yet he hates being the Black Horseman more than anything in the world, except the man who ended his life all those centuries ago. Famine never stops doing his job, and never allows himself to fall in love.
Ekundayo wants a better life for himself, so he steals a diamond from the mine where he works. Nothing goes well for him after that, and he finds himself dying in the desert on his way to the border. When he’s rescued by Famine, Ekundayo isn’t sure if his luck has changed or not. The longer he stays in Famine’s company, the more Ekundayo discovers he just might be falling in love with Famine.
One bad choice of Ekundayo’s part and a future together seems out of reach. Will Famine let his only possibility of love go or will he defy Death himself to keep Ekundayo?
Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series
Review: Famine spends his days traveling around making sure nothing will grow and drying up any water around. He might not like what he does and he has done it for a long time, but he knows that there is a reason for it even if he doesn’t agree. Ekundayo steals a diamond from the mine he works (slaves) at. As he runs away with plans to sell it, he slips and now he is trapped. When he is rescued, although he feels attracted to his rescuer, he needs to find the diamond and sell it to have a better life.
This is a well written story that shows us more about what it means to be a Horseman. Famine isn’t like the other horsemen, as he hadn’t done anything to deserve becoming a Horseman and he has nothing to feel guilt over. So I was puzzled as to why he was made one but then it was answered near the end. Both Famine and Ekundayo are good characters and they seemed to have a spark, but they didn’t come across as real people… they were flat and they didn’t really feel alive so my attention wandered often.
Ekundayo being a thief isn’t even a blip on my radar as living in conditions that he was I’d have done worse. What did bother me is that while he was recovering with Famine he was obsessed with getting the diamond back. Even while he was falling in love with Famine. Famine is cautious with Ekundayo and he does try to dissuade him a bit. The sex between the two is hot and I did like the way that Famine went to Ekundayo’s rescue with Death’s subtle nudging of course.
Now the only part that really got me and miffed me off a little and that was a mistake by the author (unless there was something missing with an explanation) and that was Famine’s salt, it was clearly stated to Famine by Death that the salt would only work for Famine ‘no one else could do what he did’ but Ekundayo drops one of the grains and it ruined the little Island. Now on the good side Lam has a mystery so is he heavily featured in Death’s story or will there be a story just for him?
So any way with this one I will recommend it to those who love hot sex, desperate men, a man who needs to forgive and a happy ever after.
Portia’s Mini-rant: I was very disappointed with the cover art for this book. There are too many beautiful Black men in the world to have to Photoshop in dreadlocks. My my mind, Death looks more like this. 😉
Title: Child of the Theatre
