The Odd Couple by B.L. Morticia

518D8sB8-gL._SX336_BO1,204,203,200_Title: The Odd Couple

Series: N/A

Author: B.L. Morticia

Genre: Contemporary Interracial Romance

Length: 158 pages

Publisher: Triad Literary (May 6, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Blurb: Opposites really do attract.

Unlike the popular bank, Chase Whittaker has no money. However, living on the northwest side of Chicago in a rundown building with no car, and no savings hasn’t made him totally undesirable. His good looks and charm make up for everything he seems to lack. Still, it’s not enough to stop his landlord from threatening to sell the building where he owns the store his grandfather opened.

Micah Strickland is the child of famous football player Thomas Strickland and a ghostwriter. Though he’s never hurting for money, He can’t seem to find a man who wants the same things he does. Insecurities about being accepted as a gay and black man also prohibit him from being happy. He does everything to prove he fits in and even after all that, Micah hasn’t found anyone who’s interested in a committed relationship.

When Micah visits Chase’s shop, the sparks fly almost immediately. Chase makes Micah feel special and seems to understand Micah’s battle with wanting to be accepted. But the possible relocation of the bookstore is a dark cloud over their budding romance.

As one issue lends itself to another, Micah finds himself battling what he’s feeling for Chase and loyalties to his father.

The question now becomes, will he be able to honor his father without losing the man he’s come to love?

ISBN: TRDLTR0000011

Product Link(s): http://amzn.to/244OTcs

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theoddcouple-2024611-178.html

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: The first thing that caught my eye on this story was cover. Those two guys just smoke it up and damn they are nice to look at. Then there is the title and I have to say that it was right on spot for this cute story. I enjoyed the serious tone that it had but the humor is what had me going. I loved how the guys seemed a bit tongue-tied around each other in the first part. I also loved the fact that Micah’s best friend was pushing him just a tad in the beginning. It cracked me up.

Chase’s grandfather had owned the store that Chase was now running. It isn’t going as good as it should and he is close to losing the business. He is a sexy Adonis, but the man was broke. He had no car and no savings, so he feared he had no options. He wasn’t so sure if he would even have a good chance at Micah, but damn he was positive.

Micah’s father is the famous football player, so he has some big shoes to fill. He isn’t as sure of himself as he appears and is a bit insecure what with being gay and black. Then he walks into the shop with his best friend and finds himself staring at one sexy man. Each man has some issues that need to be dealt with, one being Chase’s shop. They need to show each other which is more important.

This was quite a bit of fun for me and I was glad to have had a chance to read this amazing story. It rocked and I loved how Chase was with the elderly man who lost his music in the fire. He might be messy as hell but his heart is big.

I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

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

I Love It Rough by Michael Mandrake

18166063Title: I Love It Rough

Series: N’awlins Exotica Series, Book 2

Author: Michael Mandrake

Genre: Interracial/Erotica Romance

Length: Novel (156 Pages)

 

ISBN:978-1-3107-5172-1

Publisher: Triad Literary (February 17th,, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

 

Blurb: Livin’ in N’awlins ain’t all that easy…

Kajika Fortier loves his job, the attention he gets from onlookers, and Frankie Choteau. However, his new partner’s jealousy, mood swings, and over protectiveness drives Kajika to the brink but at the same time, excites him to no end.

To complicate things further, a murderer is on the loose looking for blood. All three of the killer’s victims are strippers, which not only makes Frankie nervous about Kajika’s safety but also leaves him questioning his love for being a homicide detective. Coupled with the stresses of cold cases as well as some fellow officers shunning him for coming out, Frankie is having second thoughts about staying in New Orleans. Despite the encouragement from Vance, Kenina, and Orrin as well as new chief Quinn Murray, Frankie is wondering if his life’s passion really is to catch the killers.

Will the new couple survive these new issues that impede their nearly perfect union? Or will the relationship fail, thus leaving Kajika alone and a target for New Orleans latest serial killer? Detective Choteau and Kajika’s commitment to one another is being tested in more ways than one and they only have one another to lean on.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Rough-Nawlins-Exotica-Book-ebook/dp/B00IHY4TX0

Review: This is part of a series and needs to be read in order. I love the characters Kajika and Frankie. They are wonderful and sexy men. However, I was not into this book like I was at first. I have a thing with cheating, and basically, that is what Frankie did. When someone is in your life and you tell them that you love them and only them, you don’t go rub off on another man.

I do love the way the story is told however, it has such a mystical part to it. I also love anything paranormal and this book brought that into play. Vampires are really hot, and when they look identical to Kaj then it gets even better. They have been together for six months, and life was not getting any easier for them. Frankie wants to leave the police force and he wants Kaj to give up dancing. You don’t get everything you want just because you want it.

Kaj was willing to compromise, but getting Frankie to understand why he does it seems to take a toll on him. Telling Frankie why he needs to stay a detective and telling him why he doesn’t want to give up dancing doesn’t go the way he wanted it so he decides to take a little vacation away from the man he loves. Frankie does miss his boyfriend. However the more he looks at one of his coworkers the more, he wants him. One night and he doesn’t regret his choices however is he really willing to lose the one man he loves.

There is a lot of danger in this story, murder, infidelity, sexy men, hot sex, and vampires. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves those little details and a bit more. I couldn’t get into this story like I did the other. I am just not sure what to think about the way these characters act with each other and those around them. It just came off as harsh to me. I am not really sure why this story affects me like this. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to see if it changes. Once you start this series, you can’t stop till the end.

I Like Em' Pretty by Michael Mandrake

9183diPBM7L._SL1500_Title: I Like Em’ Pretty

Series: N’awlins Exotica Series, Book 1

Author: Michael Mandrake

Genre: Gay Interracial Erotica Suspense

Length: Novel (254 Pages)

ISNB: 978-1-3016-6744-4

Publisher: Triad Literary (April 6th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

 

Blurb: New Orleans is supposed to be the big easy. One night changes everything for Frankie Choteau.

New Orleans. A city rich in tradition, diversity, and on the comeback trail from hurricane Katrina. Francois “Frankie” Choteau, a resident of this town, a cop with a hot temper and low tolerance for BS. Kajika Fortier, a transplant from Oklahoma came here looking for a dream and unfortunately, it’s turned into a nightmare. On a hot summer night, they meet and cross paths during a very difficult situation. Despite this, the attraction between them is evident and loneliness for both men is a fate worse than death. They’d both like a chance at happiness but will the circumstances and Frankie’s uneasiness prevent their happy ever after?

Purchase Link:http://www.amazon.com/Like-Pretty-Nawlins-Exotica-Book-ebook/dp/B00C8T4JQM

Review: I have always loved men with accents and you can just imagine the way Frankie and Kajika talk. The little French words that they share sometimes just make it even hotter. Frankie is a detective and heads to a crime scene where he meets Kajika. Kajika’s lover had wanted to kill him and ended up killing himself, but it left Kajika being looked at as a suspect. It doesn’t help Frankie that his pretend girlfriend and coworker is bringing up every little dirty thing Kajika has done. Talk about one cold heart bitch to me though. Frankie is a bit older than Kajika and his major fear is that Kaj will find someone younger than him and leave him alone for the rest of his life.

Kajika knew the moment Frankie showed up at the crime scene that he wanted this man forever. The only problem is that his dead lover was at his feet. He screwed up by flirting with the detective at the scene, but he just couldn’t help it. He had loved Bob, thought of him as his father, brother and lover. Although he had not been attracted to Bob as a lover, he had become it anyway. Now here was his dead lover at his feet, and his future staring at him.

Frankie wanted to take it slow, but Kaj wanted it faster and that seemed to cause a lot of problems between them. Although when they finally have sex, it is amazingly hot and full of passion and fire. The fact that they switch when it comes to sex makes it even hotter. At first I thought Kaj might just be a bottom but it comes out that he definitely can do both.

I loved this story, the way they speak, two sexy men who want each other and the hot sex. I also love the fact that you have danger at all angles and crazy detectives that just can’t seem to be anything but hot. I don’t much care for Kenina. She comes off as a crazy woman, with too much jealousy and anger. I don’t like the way they at first act like they are a couple and can see how one might get the wrong idea, but the fact that he had to tell her more than a handful that he was gay just makes her seem off. I also didn’t much care for Kaj’s attitude in some parts of the story. He came off as a bit mental. I hope that they get better at being a couple but I will have to read the next book to find out for sure.

I would recommend this story to anyone who loves hot men, detectives, danger, mixed signals, and crazy people. Not to mention the hot sex scenes that the characters have. I can’t wait to start book two.

Guardian Angel by Michael Mandrake

18191004Title: Guardian Angel

Series:   N/A

Author: Sharita Lira writing as Michael Mandrake

Genre: Contemporary/YA/Suicide

Length: Short Story (39 pages)

Publisher: Triad Literary (July 12th, 2013)

Heat Level: None

Heart Rating:
♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: Calvin is looking to end it all because he feels his family won’t accept him as a gay man. Unbeknownst to him, someone is watching, looking to pick him up and rescue him from his negative state. Can Calvin get help before it’s too late? This is a story of coming out and accepting who you are. Remember, you are normal and you are not alone.

Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Guardian-Angel-Michael-Mandrake-ebook/dp/B00DWLAFQI

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: Thank goodness for suicide hotlines and sisters…and if one believes in angels…cousins who wish, they could do things differently.

This is a sweet and sad story that contains no sexual content, but a strong message to those who are gay, feeling they cannot be themselves…You are not alone…, and it will get better!

Very after-school special kind of feeling, but important nonetheless.