Title: Andy, Go-Go Boy Series: Working Boys, #2 Author: JP Barnaby Genre: Gay Erotica Length: Short (44 pages) Publisher: Wilde City Press (March 26th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Andy Finnegan is a six-foot three brown-haired, blue-eyed, Mack f*cking truck. A former marine who spends his nights dancing for your entertainment, he has a dark side hiding beneath the beautiful veneer.
Sweet little Stefan is awestruck by the big, gorgeous dancer with the rock hard abs and the lonely eyes. Determined to see what lurks behind the perfect surface, he gets a little more than he bargained for. Purchase Link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-erotica/andy-go-go-boy-working-boys-book-2/#.U0SooGco85 Review: Short, Sexy and Steamy… my three favorite colors!
Andy is a former marine turned male stripper who has set his sights on the gay porn industry. The only thing he has to show for his time in the military are memories, some good and some not so good, and a severe anger management issue. On the night a hot-shot from one of the biggest gay porn studios comes to see Andy dance, he loses his temper, job and dreams all in one fail swoop. But the lithe, sexy little half Italian he wakes up to the next morning just might make it all okay.
Stefan has been coming to the club to watch Andy dance for weeks now, but Andy hasn’t really noticed him until tonight. They dance, they kiss and they share an insane attraction. Is Stefan the guy to make Andy forget about everything that is wrong in his life and focus on something good for a change?
I loved this little novella. I felt very connected with Andy, what he lost in the military and how he feels worthless in his life now. There wasn’t a lot of story for Stefan, other than him seemingly having this instantaneous connection with Andy, enough to make Andy question where he wants his life to go going forward. Just the right mix of an intriguing storyline and some steamy guy on guy action to make this a fun, fast read!
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews ** http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Blurb: Mark Abramson was a bartender on Castro Street, Haight Street, and South of Market during the worst years of the AIDS crisis, roughly from 1984 to 1996 when new life-saving drugs came on the market. He was also involved in several of the major fundraising events of the times, from gay bars to the waterfront piers of San Francisco and theaters in between.
For My Brothers is filled with true stories of encounters with Connie Francis, Johnnie Ray, and Christine Jorgensen, plus friendships with Al Parker, John Preston, and Sylvester and dozens of lesser known characters who deserve to be remembered.
Review: This book was amazing! I’ve never read a memoir before, but I found this book to be addicting. Getting the insight on an author that had understood and truly got through the tough times was riveting to me. The more I read the more I wanted to know and the book answered all my questions. When I finished it, I felt like I could truly get why the author did what he did. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Getting a taste of history and the reasoning behind it. It was like getting a history lesson but in a fresh fun way. I loved the fact he included the encounters with singers and friendships. I couldn’t get enough of this book. It is so worth it.
Blurb:Things could not be better for star rugby player Conor Murphy. He has a hot boyfriend that worships him and he is back in his rightful place, leader of the Dublin Chiefs Rugby team.
His new boyfriend Oisin has the hottest ass in town and yet things are not right. There is pretense between them. Not on Oisin’s side, no, the man loves him. It’s Conor who is not tackling straight. His mind is filled with thoughts of another. Sean, the love of his life, is single again and Conor can’t help but think what if.
What if he had the courage to end things with Oisin and take a punt with Sean? Self-doubt fills Conor’s mind. Can he really do this to Oisin? Doesn’t he deserve better? Does Sean even feel anything for him?
It’s time to decide what he wants, Oisin or Sean? Will he do the right thing or follow his heart?
Review: It seems as if I’ve been anticipating this installment forever. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I’ve been to read how Conor and Sean end up after their ugly spat in the previous book. And ah, damn it! It was so worth waiting for. As our dear Mr. Darcy would say, “The craic was fierce” *wink*
But this time around, I admit I was really surprised by the turn of things. You see, nearly a year has passed from that time and Conor and Sean are no longer what they used to be, they no longer are the joined at hip best friends you got used to see. A chasm is formed between them (damn that Richie) and Conor is now in a monogamous if you please relationship with Oisin. Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe what I felt. Let’s face it I’m a team Sean fangirl, so when I started reading the thoughts that swarmed my head were something like “Conor has a partner? And it’s not Sean? The Hell? Who is this guy?” Yeah, it is safe to say I was pissed and for nearly 99.9% of the read I was cussing the author with everything that I had.
That stated I loved this story. As I said, it was different. Conor was different. I was used to the fierce Irish man-slut, I adored him, but this new version, the committed guy, the one who went into a game smiling instead of grumbling, the monogamous guy (Can you believe that? Can you?), well this guy was a freaking star. I enjoyed this side of him and his attempt at being strictly Top and a Dom at that.
Yes, this time around, we have a deeper dive into the wild world of kinks & fetishes, with a stronger BDSM take, since Conor and Oisin’s relationship had this big bad label of Dom/sub lifestyle. Conor showed a lovely, playful side, not lacking his special brand of erotic and sexy we were used to, and the games he played, well… Denial games? Edging? Really? Why don’t you glue a sticker for Thommie’s Favorite Brand of Erotica on it while you’re there? Yeah, I loved the damned read. Everything was bait for me, from the plot that had me biting my fingernails (I never once forgot about Sean), the humor that had me literally hurting with laughter, and the sex scenes that as always were fiercely erotic and pant-worthy.
But that humor, to say I pissed my panties laughing would be an understatement. Quotes like this one: “I feel like a dildo—essential, needed, and having a purpose.” were on abundance and I’m just a slave of this brand of humor. I think besides the fact that this series is hot as Hell, what draws in the most is the Irish slang and snarks. It defines the series, makes them unique on my shelf, and puts this author easily on my favorites.
To sum this up I loved this fourth installment and if #3 had an enticing end, making you wish for the next one fast, it had nothing on this. The entire read challenges your patience and the end itself fills you with anticipation and excitement for the next one to come. So if you aren’t acquainted with the series I suggest you pick them up – they are meant to be read in order – and enjoy the Wilde Ride they provide wrapped in layers of unique Irish Romance.
Blurb: Operation Danny…that’s all bartender and recent college graduate, Julian Hallowell has had on his mind the past year. Julian may have no idea what he wants to do with his life, but he definitely knows he‘s in love with the boy next door: The one in next room to be exact, his roommate Danny Wallace.
Danny owns a used text-book store just off campus and while Julian has done his level best to make Danny fall for him, all his hard work appears to have been in vain. Danny doesn’t seem to view Julian as anything other than that…a roommate and friend. So when new guy in town Andy Baker asks him out on a date, Julian can’t seem to think of a good reason to say no.
Julian has already instituted a Reverse Operation Danny plan, which he’s positive, will purge all thoughts of love, and lust for his roomie out of his head. He’s ready to move on and start looking for his next Mr. Right, and Andy just might fit the bill.
Review: Oh wow, I’m surprised that I liked this book so much. I don’t tend to be all over 4+ hearts for a rom-com but wow. See this book if you take the general idea you know nice handsome guy falls for super-hot roommate, the know-all mom, the girlfriend that is always there and if a guy doesn’t like her, it’s the deal breaker. Let’s face it, this story has been told and has gone so freaking old.
But I literally started reading and never stopped till I reached end. I went through the haze of my everyday routine with my kindle on my hand and chuckling, giggling, and outright laughing with this book. What was it that captivated me so much?
I think it was the voice, the narration. I loved Julian! Yes, he was wrapped up in his own ideal world with his ideal romantic ideas and the fact you couldn’t shake him from them did frustrate me, but God I loved him. The underlying humor during the entire book was fantastic, made for such a light, fun feeling that even when shit hit the fan I was still reading with a smile on my lips. And that is the core. Beside the gorgeous men, the romantic plot, the ultra-funny scenes, and the sensual erotic scene between our lovebirds, the main reason I loved this book so much was the writing that was exquisite and never stole a smile from my face.
I could go on one the story, but I will probably kill it if I so much as touch it. What more is there to say? If you love reading a romantic story between a guy set on how the ONE should be and a guy who is afraid of relationships and avoids them like hell, if love good writing and want to read a book that will expand your heart with joyous feelings, if you want to close the book in the end and have the Cheshire grin on your face, satisfied and content, then this is definitely the book for you. I enjoyed it immensely and strongly recommend it.
Blurb: Once they were a couple. Now—they’re far from it.
Just out of prison, Craig heads to Denver. At the same time, Adam, on tour with a Broadway show, arrives there. Also heading to Denver are two men bent on finding Craig for their own nefarious reasons.
When Craig and Adam accidentally meet sparks fly, but not of the good kind. Then Craig finds his mentor murdered and believes he’s the reason why. He calls on Adam, the only man he can trust for help. Can they work together, and possibly re-kindle their love? Or will Adam walk away again?
Review: Craig has just gotten out of prison. At fifty, he would like to start new life but being a thief is all he knows. The life he still dreams about is a past he can never recover. Adam is almost fifty and an Actor. He likes his life on the road and staying busy, this keeps his mind off of the one man he always loved but couldn’t change.
I truly loved the fact that these were older characters and very different men, not your run of the mill characters. The main character, Craig is a criminal. A convicted thief. Yet he is very likeable. The story has a touch of mystery and some romance.
I will say the story moves fast. It is long enough to let you really get into the story and yet short enough you can read this in one sitting. I also love this cover!
If you like unusual characters, older characters, actors, thieves, mystery and a good, clean, M/M romance, this is for you
Title: 6 Days to Valentine Series: N/A Author: LE Franks Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (84 Pages) Publisher: Wilde City Press (January 29th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Blurb: In Nick’s perfect world, Valentine’s Day would be struck from the calendar.
Nick’s dreams of a Happily Ever After were shredded long ago and the last thing he and his customers need is a bunch of happy loving couples rubbing it in their faces.
Bouncer Fat Boy Newman is willing to bet he knows Nick’s heart better than he does. He has just six days to change Nick’s mind about romance and the holiday and the perfect man to do it.
A very sweet story, but with a lot of misunderstandings and drama mixed in. I enjoyed reading how Nick finally figures out what he’s been missing in his life. FatBoy seemed sweet and gentle, while trying to fix Nick up to see him happy, not realizing till the end that it was him that was the one.
These two men are as different as night and day, but they just seemed to work. Nick comes off as a bit of a jerk, in the beginning. But, his biggest flaw was judging a “book by its cover.” Or In this case, his perfect guy, by the size of his muscles.
The story is well written and very complete, for a novella.
I recommend this to readers who like sweet romance, clueless bartenders, and patient bouncers.
Prime’s Review: ♥♥♥2.5 Hearts
I really don’t know what to say about this one. For one, it is a nice, short story to enjoy. However, there is one major flaw, but I’ll get to that in a sec.
6 Days to Valentine by LE Franks is fairly self-explanatory when you read the title and the blurb. It is about Nick Valentine, who is rather jaded, he no longer believes in love/romance and he especially detests Valentine’s Day.
At the bar where he is a bar tender, he has a bet with one of the bouncers, only known as FatBoy Newman (although it is never confirmed I am guessing that his real name is Davis Newman). FatBoy has just 6 days to change Nick’s mind. If I go too much further into the plot I’m going to give away the story.
Okay, so onto what I believe to be the greatest flaw in this story.
Nick may not be the most likeable character, but I think that has a lot to do with plot and character development. I just don’t think that there’s enough of either. Sometimes the explanations just fall short for me.
I mean, I can read between the lines but sometimes I think the author’s vision makes more sense when explicitly stated. Nick showed potential and I really wanted him to live up to that potential. Unfortunately, he didn’t. Even more unfortunately, I just feel that there was very little chemistry between Nick and FatBoy – despite the fact that I wanted there to be more. They seemed to match together but their attraction lacked sparks and fireworks.
Then there is the plot, again more explicit explanations of what is going by the author would have been nice because sometimes I felt like I was missing some vital piece of information. This probably would not have been such an issue if there was more action and far less telling throughout the story.
This was enjoyable enough I’m just not entirely sure if it was a good thing that the story left me wanting more by the end.
Blurb: Valentine’s Day has long been a difficult day for widow and single mom Kate Madsen. But this Valentine’s Day is going to be more than just difficult… it’s going to be downright awkward. For Kate’s only child, seven-year-old Mikey just stunned the small town of Elk’s Ridge by writing a Valentine’s Day card to someone name Bobby Bryson.
While the card sends teachers into a tizzy and turns Mikey’s grandfather into a grumpy old man, Kate discovers over the course of one afternoon that she and her young son are about to begin a journey of questions, confrontations and hopefully one day… happiness.
In the meantime, will Mikey and his Mom make it through this Valentine’s Day? Will the innocent intentions of one young boy change the narrow minds of a stubborn, small town? And just who exactly is the object of Mikey’s affections—Bobby Bryson?
Review: Seven-year-old Mikey Madsen is so excited about Valentine’s Day. Until his teacher, principal and grumpy grandfather see the card he made. In the course of one afternoon, little Mikey and his mom learn a lot about themselves as well as the people that surround them.
The teacher throws a fit and her along with the principal visit Mikey and his mom that afternoon after school. Kate Madsen is a little surprised when she sees her son’s Valentine, but she doesn’t talk down to him like everyone else. She just wants to help her son make a cupcake for his Valentine. Throughout the day visitors come and go. The handy man is out back fixing Mikey’s tree house, the postman has eyes for single mom Kate, and Mikey’s grandfather has to get his two cents in the mix.
Kate has to assure her son she loves him just the way he is, and give that two cents back to her father in law. And at the end of the day, mom and son will both have had a very memorable valentine’s day!
This novella was just adorable. In the end, it was Bobby himself along with Kate’s support of her son’s announcement that completed the story. We are all born who we are, it drives me crazy when I read someone else saying, “You choose to be gay.” When referring to someone who is LGBT. This story is the perfect example of why that statement is entirely inaccurate.
If you want something fast, fun and absolutely adorable this book is absolutely perfect!
Blurb: Alex Maddox may be a genius. Or not. In thirty-four days, he’ll know for sure. The robot he’s been perfecting for the last four years is finally ready. Alex won’t accept anything less than perfection—if he can keep a broken air conditioner, a flaky twin brother, a thirtieth birthday, and falling for the Norse god of advertising from derailing him.
Christian Lawson is an advertising god. A blond hottie with the beautiful brains to match. He’s worked hard to move past the accident that nearly took his legs, but it’s been years since he let any man get close enough to see just how deep his scars really go.
Christian isn’t the advertising executive Alex expected, and Alex isn’t the coolly confident inventor Christian’s had his eye on for years. But what they discover in each other may just be better than what either of them could have hoped for
Review: Two very imperfect men who create a very perfect union. The notion of opposites attract abounds in this story; yet, it didn’t take very long for both men to know that despite their differences, their attraction was more than just physical. Alex is the quintessential science nerd who’s been blessed with more than his fair share of smarts. He has dedicated his life to a task and now he’s realized it. Christian is surprising for the reader because who one would expect him to be is not who he is. And while both men are so different and have not been successful at their relationships, they approach their relationship with a maturity that is refreshing. Arguments are quickly resolved and they lay their feelings on the table so that they can resolve issues and build a lasting relationship.
The themes of family, trust and loyalty are the ties that bind this book together with the secondary stories of the relationship between Alex and his brother and his partner as well as with Christian and his former lover. These sidebars add layers to the story, which allow Alex and Christian to grow as a couple. The author uses the strategy of telling the story from the perspective of both men. He starts first with Alex because their relationship is forged based on a need that Alex has. The second half of the story is told from Christian’s perspective since it is the obstacles in his life that must be resolved if they are to have a lasting relationship.
The characters are warm and quirky yet serious and lovable at the same time. The story is well paced and very believable. The reader will love Alex and Christian as well as the other couple that provides texture in the story. All in all – a good read.
Blurb: Dime novelist Benedict Bright has brought fame to Arizona Marshal Evan Teague but when he ventures west to meet the man he’s written about, he finds he’s done his subject wrong and further, that Teague is determined to set things right. As the marshal introduces the writer to western reality, through law enforcement as well as manly intimacies, Bright gains new resolve in his work while swept up in a passion like no other he’s ever known. But will it last forever… or break his heart?
Review: This is a story set in the 19th century. It’s often interesting to read historical m/m romance because they are usually stories about men who are in the closet. This story, however, while no different, was somewhat intriguing. Why? Because it’s a good, old-fashioned western. Benedict goes out west to get corroborative evidence re the hero in his dime store novels. He’s been getting his information from newspapers, then elaborating, and embellishing those stories. So he meets his hero and finds out that there is much more to the man than he first thought. One big thing being that his hero likes men and that the man who died in the true to life story he wrote was his hero’s lover.
Benedict and Evan spend some time together both in and out of bed and they learn much about each other. But, what’s a western without a bank robbery or a shootout at the OK Corral? Well the story delivers one of these and it becomes a watershed moment for Benedict and Evan. The story ends fairly abruptly with the relationship between the men being unresolved; however, it leaves the door open for a sequel, which would prove to be another interesting read.
Blurb: Board up the windows, push an old dresser against the door and load your shotgun. A zombie apocalypse is about to hit Wilde City, and if you want the best survival tips, six of Wilde City’s boys are here to help. You’ll never want to exercise again as Eric Arvin and TJ Klune turn a gym full of hunks into a smorgasbord of terror in GHOUL’S GYM.
Gather your friends and fight for the man you love, as Ethan Stone and Daniel A Kaine turn Vegas into a zombie nightmare in SURVIVING SIN CITY.
And bring a date to dinner to celebrate Grumpy Grampy’s 90th birthday and introduce your family to your new zombie boyfriend in Geoffrey Knight and Ethan Day’s GUESS WHO’S COMING AT DINNER.
You’ll scream with terror and howl with laughter as Wilde City’s boys bring you our first undead anthology ZOMBIE BOYZ.
Review: So what is the politically correct way to deal with individuals infected with the zombie virus? And what do you say when your boy brings one home for dinner?
Answers to these questions and more are found in this funny and PUNny short story about a zombie apocalypse. This has plenty of slapstick and queer as folk, humor. Plenty of vomiting, blood gore and mad cows, and might I admit, yes, sympathy for brain-eating zombies! There is little to no sexual content, just innuendo, in fact, I think my tween son would laugh at this book. It contains his type of humor.
It’s what I would expect for a book about Zombies from these two!
Blurb: Horacio is a man of science. He has poured himself into forging a career, a life…and just hoping that, somehow, the rest will take care of itself. Loneliness has stalked him for years, and he has never fully mastered the art of connecting with others. Only in his dreams does Horacio know the comfort and closeness of another’s presence, but is the figure that haunts his nights completely benign?
When Horacio is forced to confront his dreams—and the beautiful, terrible creature at their center—the truth might just be more frightening than his reality has ever been.
Review: Horacio is a dreamer. He’s never really connected with any one person in his life, only having a sense of intimacy within his dreams. He doesn’t fully comprehend the gravity of these vivid dreams and even begins medicating in an attempt to stave them off. But the dreams never cease, they are always there, and as the story progress’ they get more detailed and the imaginary soon seems to be bleeding over into his reality.
This novella was written very philosophically. At times, I was completely dumbfounded and confused, but there was something about the dream that kept me reading. I admit I was intrigued by the confusion, which in itself is odd. When you learn the cause and effect of Horacio’s dreams, I think you’ll be surprised. And the dream never seems to come to fruition, which had me feeling Horacio’s frustration.
Thought provoking and requiring concentration. But it is a short read. Overall, it was okay, it did keep my attention, and even though there aren’t any knock your socks off sex, there is definitely heat and passion. If you’re looking for something quick and interesting, you could give this one a go.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for MM Good Book Reviews*
Blurb:Adrian Stockwell and Ezra Cherevin both battle the fallout from their broken families. Yet each one’s strategy is as different as each one’s past. Adrian’s childhood was left void by apathy, Ezra’s upended by violence. The written word soon becomes their therapy, their escape. This shared passion for literature is the vehicle that brings them together.
But their journey is filled with personal and familial potholes.
Can these two young men carve out a life together by learning to navigate a sea of challenges? And can the people in their lives do the same?
Review: So perfectly written, this novel was downright beautiful. I found myself starting it and never wanting it to end. I wanted nothing more than for Adrian and Ezra to be together. And when they did get together, I leapt with joy.
The story of two people, one of which had a violent past and the other with careless people. It’s just downright amazing. Loved the plot. Loved the characters. They were three-dimensional. And you found yourself confused about Ezra at first but a little later, it becomes an understanding of why he is how he is.
Well, we have a treat in store for you today! We have joined up with other bloggers to bring to your attention Wilde City Press’s Ghoul’s Gym by Eric Arvin & T.J. Klune, we are not only helping to advertise this brilliant book but also bringing YOU a giveaway with a chance to win Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane (such a fantastic book) and Amazon gift cards (2 x $25…. what’s that in English money???? *shrugs*).
Why am I doing this? Well, besides Portia begging, oh so prettily for me to quickly read and review the book and dropping the blog tour on my toes. It’s because Eric & T.J. have more important things to worry about and if our little site can take a bit of advertising pressure off them then I say, Hell Yes! So, Have a quick shifty through the post, click on the Rafflecopter link for a chance to win, read my review and then go and buy the book! ~Pixie~
Ghoul’s Gym, in which 5 out of 5 walking dead agree that exercise can be dangerous to your health.
Jake Howell and Uly Hoak have two hard and fast rules in their relationship: never go to bed angry and never, no matter the circumstances, ever part without saying goodbye. Little did either of them know when they said their farewells to each other on one decidedly fateful Saturday morning, it might be the last.
Jake is fighting the Green-Eyed monster, feeling a little less than physically adequate next to his ultra-buff gym bunny, Uly, and it doesn’t help that Uly’s boss at the gym, Stephen Fucking Dorian, can’t resist taking potshots at Jake’s rather unimpressive physique, making Jake feel all the more lacking and all the more jealous of the fact Dorian wants Uly for himself.
Turns out that’s the least of Jake’s problems, however, as strange things are afoot in this once sleepy and pristine little town. Unusual outbreaks of violence quickly reach apocalyptic proportions and pit Jake and Uly in a race against time to find each other before it’s too late.
Could a conspiracy be at the heart of the disaster? If so, the mechanics and manipulators of this plot to rid the world of the compulsively fit had better be prepared. They’re about to get a taste of vengeance.
About Eric Arvin:
Eric Arvin resides in the same sleepy Indiana river town where he grew up. He graduated from Hanover College with a Bachelors in History. He has lived, for brief periods, in Italy and Australia. He has survived brain surgery and his own loud-mouthed personal demons. Eric is the author of Woke Up In A Strange Place, Subsurdity, Simple Men, Galley Proof,and various other sundry and not-so-sundry writings. He intends to live the rest of his days with tongue in cheek and eyes set to roam.
About TJ Klune:
When TJ Klune was eight, he picked up a pen and paper and began to write his first story (which turned out to be his own sweeping epic version of the video game Super Metroid—he didn’t think the game ended very well and wanted to offer his own take on it. He never heard back from the video game company, much to his chagrin). Now, two decades later, the cast of characters in his head have only gotten louder, wondering why he has to go to work as a claims examiner for an insurance company during the day when he could just stay home and write.
He lives with a neurotic cat in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It’s hot there, but he doesn’t mind. He dreams about one day standing at Stonehenge, just so he can say he did
Giveaway: Enter at each stop to win that blog’s free download code by commenting on their post. Winner for this post to be drawn and contacted by Portia *sly grin*. Must be 18 or older to enter. No purchase necessary. To win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards, please enter at: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: Ghoul’s Gym
Author: Eric Arvin & T.J. Klune
Genre: Horror, Erotic, Zombies
Length: Novella (113pgs)
ISNB: 978-1-925031-70-6
Publisher: Wilde City Press (18th December 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: 4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: (Blurb nicked from T.J. Klune’s author page on Facebook 🙂 )
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Who knew being sexy could be so dangerous?
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Some people will do anything to obtain the perfect body. When Uly goes to work at the Art Of Man Fitness center, it’s a day like any other. But then a strange illness transforms some of the patrons into horned-up, flesh hungry monsters, causing a lockdown and mass hysteria. Banding together with a small group of friends, all Uly can do is fight to survive and hope that his boyfriend, Jake, is safe on the outside world.
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What Uly doesn’t know is that Jake has got problems of his own. From a drug dealer with misplaced ideals, to a harem of muscle twinks, Jake is learning just how far he’ll go to become the man he thinks his boyfriend wants. With the line crossed and time running out, Jake must descend into the hell that is the Art Of Man. What he finds there is only the beginning.
Review: Jake and Uly have been together for a year and they have lived together for six months but that doesn’t stop Jake from feeling inadequate. Uly is built, he works in a gym and has the body of a muscled god, while Jake is smaller and can’t get bigger no matter how hard he tries. Jake takes matters into his own hands and things get ugly when he discovers that the man who coverts his lover is connected with the tainted drugs. Uly is in the middle of things when everything falls apart, and if he is to survive he has to make the greatest sacrifice of all.
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Holy hell!!! I loved this gory story with its bittersweet ending and I can only hope that we will be seeing a sequel as Uly takes up the mantle in Jakes name. Jake and Uly are madly in love but that doesn’t stop Jake from feeling jealous and inadequate when Uly’s boss won’t stop sniffing around his lover. Uly doesn’t realise how Jake really feels and heads off to work, not realising that something is happening with some of the population. Jake heads out to find something to help him bulk up and ends up infected, and his only thought is to get to Uly because he will fix everything.
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How do you describe a book that blows away your expectations and makes you crave more but also makes you feel icky and has you cringing as you remember lingering scenes of goriness? I know, it’s hard, but hell it’s a brilliant zombie story that has love and devastation and GORE!!!! Jake is a man who has security issues, he believes Uly deserves a man more like himself and doesn’t get that Uly loves him just as he is. Uly loves Jake and doesn’t realise that Jake doesn’t think he is good enough for Uly, the beginning of the story throws us straight into the issue and it leads through the jealousy and the actions that find Jake in hot water.
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This story was beautifully written, the details of Jake’s experience was fantastic and made you see clearly that it was his love for Uly that helped keep his head clear-ish even when Jake didn’t understand why. Uly’s experience was a lot more brutal and harsh but you ran through the gym with him every step of the way as he dodged zombies, saw the horror and tried to protect friends. You couldn’t help but hope that there would be a miracle, that Uly could save Jake, that Jake’s love for Uly would keep his head clear and keep the urges at bay and that the sacrifice that was to come could be avoided. Although I would love to say we see a happy ending we don’t, it’s bittersweet with a love that would overcome anything if it could and an ending that both shocks and angers but makes you yearn for a sequel just so we can witness the revenge.
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I recommend this to those who love horror, bloody gruesome scenes, hot men fighting for their lives, a love that lasts till the end and a harsh heartfelt ending.
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And for you who still don’t believe that this is a fabulous book, here is a little taste. If you are good, we might post a few more excerpt today, so check back. ~ Portia
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Excerpt One from Ghoul’s Gym:
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Shit.
What the fuck isn’t wrong with me?
I try and school my face. Relax my shoulders. Not seem so combative. It’s not working. I clench my fists. Grit my teeth. My dick is still half hard, like it’s mocking me, still slick with lube and come. Go down, I tell it. Just fucking go down.
“I asked you a question,” Uly says from behind me. He’s trying to use what he calls his redneck polite voice, but we’ve been together a year now. Lived with each other half that time. I know he’s pissed. At me. Not that I blame him. I just fucked him within an inch of his life and couldn’t be bothered to make sure he enjoyed it. Uly doesn’t take shit like that lying down. Well, not figuratively.
“I heard you,” I tell him, keeping my voice low. The bathroom door is only feet away, and I have to resist the urge to go through it and close the door behind me. Lock it all out. Including him. Goddammit.
“Well?” His patience is wearing thin.
“Can we not do this now?” Or ever. That would be awesome too.
“Oh? Then when do you wanna do it? Seems to me the only time we talk now is when you tell me if you want me on my back or on my knees.”
I try not to shrink back at the bitterness in his words. He’s right, of course. How could I have let this get so bad? But then that fucker Stephen pops back into my head, and I see red again. I swear to fucking Christ I could tear him apart with my hands if I ever have to see him again. Twinkie, he calls me. Uly’s little princess. The Prince and the pea.
Yeah, Uly’s a big fucker, muscles piled on top of muscles. Some people might think it’s gross how jacked he is, but not me. There’s something about the way his veins look so pronounced that gets my cock hard. The cut and defined lines of his arms and thighs. The massive chest. Everything about him is big. Every single part of him. Personality, body, mind. Everything.
Except for me.
He says he doesn’t care. He says he doesn’t care that I’m a third his size, that he outweighs me by a good hundred pounds. He says he doesn’t care that I’m not cut, or ripped, or jacked. He says he doesn’t care that next to him, I’m just a shadow. I see you just fine, he told me once. I don’t need you big like me. I just need you to be you.
Blurb: A murdered male stripper. A missing go-go dancer. A city councilman on the hook. Can Atlanta homicide detective Sergeant Kendall Parker solve the heinous crime and remain safely behind the closet door?
When the body of a young man is found in a popular midtown park, police and local media are quick to pin the brutal killing on a homeless gay kid with AIDS. But homicide detective Sgt. Kendall Parker isn’t so convinced, even when the suspect is accused of assaulting another police detective with a deadly weapon.
City leaders want the murder solved yesterday and jump at the chance to pin the crime on the drug-craving teen. It’s an election year, so remaining in office is their top priority, even at the sacrifice of the young man. Sgt. Parker isn’t so persuaded and is determined to prove Hopper’s innocence, despite the protest of his colleagues, and threatening the deep secret Parker has carefully hidden from his comrades for years.
Review: I must admit, I’m a fan of a good hard-boiled mystery. I love suspense, picking up the clues, and guessing whodunit! This book has it all, but it is not a romance. Just thought I’d let you know.
Yes, a majority of the characters are gay. Yes, the MC is a closeted gay detective. Yes, he and the cutthroat crime reporter Calvin Slade seem to have something between them. But, that content is not the main plot. This is that of a murder investigation, involving strippers, prostitutes, politicians, and mafia members. The list of suspects and the links between them keep the reader guessing at who, how and why.
This story is dark, dirty, bloody, and frank on the topic of crime and murder, just to be warned. Other issues of death of a loved one, depression, and alcoholism are also woven into this story. There are lots of layers to Pretty Boy Dead, and a lot of POV’s to keep up with but each layer and personality is dealt with in clear detail and distinction. The action, the anticipation, and the foreshadowing kept me on the edge of my seat, and I could not put the book down.
No warm and fuzzy found here, but if you’re into a good murder/mystery, Jon Michaelsen is your writer! I look forward to the next book in this series.
Publisher: Wilde City Press (September 25th, 2013)
HeatLevel: Moderate
HeartRating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Deacon Miller never had it all—he never really believed he could. Growing up in a broken home with an alcoholic mother and a revolving door of truly pathetic father figures taught him to keep his expectations low. Now at twenty-seven, on the night before Christmas Eve, his life is turned upside down yet again; his boyfriend has dumped him, he just fled the holiday family reunion from hell, and now to top it all off, a blizzard has left him stranded in an airport hotel.
Steve Steele has spent the better part of his forty-four years living a lie, ignoring his attraction to other men in an attempt to fit into the mold of the man he thought he should be, instead of living life as the man he knew himself to be. Recently divorced after coming home from work one day and coming out to his wife, Steve has floundered over the past year, desperately attempting to wade through the guilt and find the courage to start again.
That’s when a chance meeting in a hotel bar brings two lonely men together… and what should’ve been a one night stand turns into something much more than either one ever expected.
Review: After reading this I truly believe Northern Star is a truly memorable book. Not only is it well written and with strong characters, but it also is quite thought-provoking, making you truly think about the way you view your life and that of others, and in the end making you appreciate what you have. Yes, this book had that effect on me. Now, with all the above, one would think this was a heavy read. Though some parts of it were heavy indeed, overall it was a most enjoyable romance, one that dripped real from start to finish.
The protagonist of this story is quite powerful in the way that he deeply affects you and evokes strong feelings from you. Deacon is the child of a monster-mother. His entire life he’s been verbally abused made to think he was worthless and the cause of everything bad and evil in his home. He has no self-esteem, never felt loved, he doesn’t even believe he deserves to be loved and cared for. That in itself is enough to make you feel closer to this character, but add in there the fact that he is so selfless and sweet, thinking of others and caring for other people even when at the same time he thinks nothing of it, and you have a character you instantly love. He breaks your heart with his sadness that always cloaks him, and he makes you wish you had the power to change his past. Yes, the author did quite a good job breathing life to this character and making you forget you’re only reading a fictional story.
So back to the plot, we have Deacon on Christmas Eve in a hotel bar getting drunk out of his mind. His reunion with his mother and sister for the Holidays went to Hell and back forcing him into an early retreat, his flight was canceled and he’s stuck there, but even if he had the flight he has no place to go as his boyfriend dumped him via email… I think it’s safe to say that there couldn’t be getting any worse than that. But as he’s drinking himself to numbness, a stranger enters the bar, all smiles, and charm and before he knows it, they’re hooking up. What should’ve been a random encounter turns to something more and through the darkness the two men connect in a deeper lever that should be normal.
This is the start of Deacon’s and Steve’s love story. Steve, newly out of the closet even as he’s in his forties has his own demons, but he feels positive that he can overcome them as long as he has Deacon in his life, looking at him like he hung the moon. However, Deacon’s demons lurk deeper and have much more power over him, inevitable rearing their head, and making his life miserable just when he thought he found his safe place.
I loved this, I really did. The plot that had no straight way about it, but was a constant fight for love and life. The characters with their depth and emotions that came right through life. The intimacy and private encounters that had you melting with these two awesome men. The bad guys that were simply too real, making you seethe with anger at the fact that though these were fictional characters, there are people like that out there. I loved it all, more so the range of emotions this book woke from me. The writing itself was pretty commendable as well, as it was written in third person past tense and mostly from Deacon’s point of view, but what made a real effect was the tinny flashbacks, like a day or two or even a couple of weeks back, making you feel as if you were indeed inside the character’s head and experiencing the moment when he went through his memories, reviewing the events that had happened to him till that moment, and then you’d get to witness the rest of the events as they took place. A very nice trick that kept you entranced there in the story, losing yourself in the lines.
Summing this up, I had a terrific time reading this book, I enjoyed all of it, the good, the bad, the hilarious, and the sad. It was as if reading about a person’s life without leaving out any of the details, yet lacking the overbearing drama and angst that these characters (the abused) usually come with. It’s sufficient to say that Northern Star made it at the must-read list of mine. Totally worth it!
Blurb: The moment model and part-time actor Benjamin spots the sexually alluring Alan outside his local restaurant, he’s determined to get to know him better. So he takes a chance and pretends to be Timothy, the blind date Alan is waiting for.
When Alan asks him about submission, safe words, and spanking, Benjamin knows the sensible thing to do would be to leave. Funny then how he finds himself eager to know more. Will it be a date to remember and, if Alan discovers his deceit, could he ever be persuaded to take a chance on Benjamin?
Review: A case of mistaken identity turns out to be a good thing in this sexy little short, with just a hint of BDSM.
When Benjamin is approached by a slightly older, graying, and gorgeous stranger, he pretends to be the blind date the guy is waiting for. Within the first five minutes of conversation, Alan is describing in great detail exactly what he wants to do to Benjamin. Taking a chance, Benjamin rides it out to see where the evening takes him. When he figures out that Alan is a Dom, he continues the charade. The two share a very passionate and sensual night, but when Alan learns that Benjamin is not who he pretended to be, will he take a chance on him?
This is the first book I’ve read by Anne Brooke. It will not be the last! The author captured the essence of sensuality in so few pages. The way Alan dominated Benjamin with zero cruelty and played his body in ways Benjamin had never been played, was just oh so sexy. I tore through this book on my lunch break. If you’re looking for something quick and sexy that will leave a huge smile on your face, take a chance on this one! (Pun intended!!)
Blurb: Got two hundred and fifty dollars for an hour of fun? Then say hello to Charlie, a hot little rentboy working his way through an engineering degree on his back. He’s got shaggy blond hair that’s great to hang on to while you fuck him from behind, and sweet innocent blue eyes that look very enticing when he gazes up at you with your cock in his mouth. That is, until he’s hired by innocent rich boy John Middleton, head of Middleton Communication. John is so far in the closet he could find Narnia. But when John and Charlie get together for an explosive weekend of sex, everything goes to hell.
Review: So, how about a story that contains steamy hot scenes, a pretty-woman-like romance, and a story that surprises you with its twists and turns? Sounds good? Yeah, thought so.
So basic stuff: this is a rentboy story – just in case you missed that from the title – and a few things are given, highly erotic characters and sexual scenes. I loved all of it from the introduction as the story begins and continues with Charlie’s voice, the tone, and personality that leaks through it, the dirty/slutty talking/thinking to the actual scenes that had me hot and bothered in no time.
These kind of characters are highly appealing anyway (to me at least), but Charlie, oh my dear, dear Charlie. He’s a whole different level of appeal. He’s not so much cocky as he’s self-assured and content in his ways. He loves sex; he knows it and shows it without a segment of self-consciousness, he has a sense of humor underlying everything he does or says, and he’s as much sensitive as he is erotic. Put him together with John and they make an explosive pair, for John is quite the character himself. As a matter of fact, John surprised the heck out of me as the story went on; he had too many secrets in that closet of his.
And that brings me back to the romance plot of this book. It resembles in many ways “Pretty Woman” because the characters, while not meaning to, fell in… not love exactly, but in a situation where the possibility of more was glaringly there. The rentboy let his guard down, the client overlooked many things, and the one way path that was crystal clear in the beginning of the story suddenly split in half leaving the choice of what is to come to the characters and their willpower. By the end, the story was a “dare you to go that way?” kind.
Now, some parts of this story had me questioning a bit too much. Why did John chose to do what he did when he could achieve the same result with simply coming clean..?
Why chance ridicule when he could go the simple forward way and make the decisions he eventually made with a head held high and without the drama..?
Was it something, I missed or was this plot not thoroughly considered?
The questions were somewhat quite heavy on my mind by the end of the read that they managed to effect my total abandon and enjoyment of this book. However, in its entirety I cannot help but admit that this was a very satisfying read and I had a hot time reading it. If rentboys are your thing, this book is strongly recommended.
Blurb:Award-winning reporter Emmer Richfield is the kind of guy who covers wars, the kind of guy who asks the hard-hitting questions. He is not—and he’s certain about this—the kind of guy who does sappy human-interest stories about homeless people. But, his newest assignment is not just any human-interest story. It’s a mandate from the mayor: convince the people of Dodson that Foxton Industries’ plan to build a mall—and oust the homeless population—is a bad idea by way of a feature on a homeless man named Pudding Jones. But Pudding quickly goes from just another story to a man who changes Emmer’s life. The question is, can Emmer return the favor before it’s too late?
Review: Okay so the blurb doesn’t give away plot lines and I certainly will not as I talk about this story. This is a well-written and heart-felt short story about a man, Emmer, who is irrevocably changed by meeting another man, Pudding Jones. The story is about a sweet and tender relationship and there are many dips and turns that will surprise you as you read. Learning about Pudding is heart-breaking. Watching Emmer evolve is awe-inspiring. Seeing them together is touching. This is also a story that peels back some of the fallacies of our homeless population and makes them real people instead of indispensable ‘things’ whom the larger population chooses to ignore. The story makes you think about who you are as a person and if you are really doing enough and if you are really as good as you think you are. This is a story that will end leaving you thinking about the possibilities of what was and what could have been. While I didn’t expect the ending, it was fitting.
I wanted to give the story a 4 and then realized that I was doing so because of an expectation that I had. That would be totally unfair to the ‘story.’ The story is an extremely good and well written one. So as an honest reviewer, it has to get a 5. Not OMG because I SO loved everything about it, but a 5 because oh so well written and I believe the author meant for us to think and question and well, DC … achieved that in spades. Nicely done!
Blurb: Welcome to the Valley, a liminal landscape that lies somewhere in the fringes of the world; a place with such secret magic that only the very observant can see it. Into this world comes the Lone family. To them, the magic of the Valley is not at first apparent, at least not to all. But the youngest son Lucifer is the most open to the river’s pulse. He converses with the trees and an angel named Azrael, all the while being taught by the midwife Mother True to hone his talents. Meanwhile, Lucifer’s older brother Uriel rejects the valley altogether and, with the help of his lover—a raft boy named Roman—flees the place only to be caught up in the corrupt big city world of a Madame named Ute Dragal.
And so begins a tale of wonder and danger, filled with a cast of characters ranging from the strong to the stoic to the sinister, in a place where a dark power awaits them all. Venture again to the Valley in this prequel to Eric Arvin’s acclaimed epic The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles and Men.
Review: This was a difficult book to read. At first, it was of a child who had such a gift to talk to trees, but then to find out that he had been killed, by a demon sort. Azrael was there to help him cross over, but he refuses. He spends time with Azrael talking about the story his brother told him, the preacher, his mother, and father. Azrael is an angel like no other. If you like, angels then you will definitely like Azrael.
This story is not only about how Azrael and Lucifer decided to stop evil about the lives of so many other characters. So much evil and darkness throughout the book and one special angel and spirit of a young child to fight it. It has a wonderful story line and great characters, but I just couldn’t really get into it.
Blurb: In this second installment in the TRUCKER FUCKER series, emotions and tensions are running high… And what better way to relieve the tension than with a gang bang or two. Multiple guys, multiple positions, multiple orgasms! But what happens when you’re so good at sex you attract the attention of someone powerful and sinister, who always gets what he wants?
Review: This book reads a bit like short porn just without the details. It started out good the story line grabbing my attention right off. Jez is a straight trucker who doesn’t mind getting blow jobs from Atom his very gay apprentice. At times he even wonders about having sex with a man or giving a blow job himself. Nothing ever comes of this. Found that a bit upsetting.
Atom’s sole purpose in the story seems to be sex. He’s there for any guy who wants sex. It wasn’t uncommon to find him with two men at once. Unfortunately the sex scenes were very rushed and lacking detail. I will admit that I was expecting the sex scenes to be more detailed and steamier.
The story slowed down a bit in the middle for me. It started to lose my interest for a little bit, but then Barry did something that grabbed it brought it back in. Just as he got me all excited wondering what he was talking about it ended. I found this frustrating but would probably read the next book to see what happens.
Title: Andy, Go-Go Boy
