Tag: Francis Gideon

Different Names for the Same Thing by Francis Gideon

Francis Gideon - Different Names for the Same Things CoverTitle: Different Names for the Same Thing

Author: Francis Gideon

Genre: Contemporary, Transgender

Length: Short (54 pages)

Publisher: Nine Star Press (31 Oct 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Blurb: The last time Joël Paquet was in New York City, he nearly died. Too distracted by his problems, he didn’t look when he crossed the street and was nearly made into a pancake by a transport truck in the downtown core. The only saving grace of this trip, other than the cute person working as a living statue who saved him and then took him out for coffee, was the fact that his near-death experience finally gave him the courage to come out as trans.

Five years later, Joël Paquet is one of the most in-demand horror writers in North America. Going to New York City from his current Montreal home for the Black Markets Horror Con should be exciting, but when he gets an email that uses his birth name, he nearly cancels the trip altogether. The only thing that keeps Joël going is the thought of that living statue who saved his life once before.

ISBN: 978-1-911153-93-1

Product Link: https://ninestarpress.com/product/different-names-for-the-same-thing/

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is short and sweet story about a trans writer who despairs when he receives emails using his birth name, rather than his chosen name, Joel. I know, that is horribly explained. The explanation does not actually describe the gravity that this has on Joel, being called his birth name makes him feel vulnerable in a way that seems terrifying.

Joel goes to a convention in New York despite his reservations after receiving emails addressed to Violet. This is his second trip to New York and the first one ended in a near death experience. After his panels have finished he meets the person who had saved him on his last trip who has changed just as much as he has –like him his savior had known what they were on the inside and that most definitely was not a female.

I just feel like I keep screwing up this explanation in an effort to keep this short. This is a well written short which touches wonderfully on the feelings that Joel goes through. This is all about identity but it is also much more. Ultimately, I see this as two people who are coming to terms with how they feel inside before they can come to terms with what they feel for each other. I find it absolutely intriguing that both MCs are trans, this is definitely a first for me, though in the end trans or cis doesn’t matter for my actual love of the characters themselves.

In the end, I suppose that Different Names for the Same Thing is truly more than accurate.

Hopeless Romantic by Francis Gideon Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!

Francis Gideon - Hopeless Romantic Header Banner

Hi peeps! We have Francis Gideon stopping by today with their new transgender romance Hopeless Romantic, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Francis Gideon - Hopeless Romantic Cover

Hopeless Romantic

by

Francis Gideon

Nick Fraser is a true romantic. He wants the guy instead of the girl, but other than that, he wants everything his favorite rom-coms depict: the courtship, the passionate first kiss, the fairy-tale wedding. But after breaking up with the love of his life, Nick wonders if anything fairy-tale will ever happen for him.

Then he meets Katie, who’s just like a rom-com heroine. She’s sharp, funny, sweet, and as into music and punk culture as Nick is. What’s more, he’s incredibly attracted to her—even though she’s a woman. Nick has never considered that he might be bisexual, but his feelings for Katie are definitely real.

When Katie reveals that she’s transgender, Nick starts to see how much he doesn’t understand about the world, queer identity, and himself. He is hopelessly in love with Katie, but this isn’t a fairy tale, and Nick’s friends and family may not accept his new relationship. If he wants it all, he has to have the courage to make his fantasy a reality.

Continue reading “Hopeless Romantic by Francis Gideon Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!” →

How to Make a Carrot Cake by Francis Gideon

71Oaoiud-AL._SL1425_Title: How To Make A Carrot Cake

Series:  N/A

Author: Francis Gideon

Genre: Contemporary/Drama

Length: Novel (195 Pages)

Publisher: MLR Press (August 28th, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts

Blurb: When Nate Reid meets the vegan Billy Lawson, he is forced to spend a lot more time in the kitchen before he can truly understand that Billy is more than just what he keeps on his plate.

Nate Reid never considered veganism until he meets Billy Lawson, a skinny, quiet kid who works at the local grocery store. With Billy’s help, Nate slowly learns what he can and cannot make during the beginning months of their relationship until a family secret from Billy’s past threatens their bond.

Will their conflicting desires in the kitchen make an exciting partnership or will Billy’s refusal continue to isolate him? Nate searches through cookbooks, his best friend Marlee’s advice, and his favorite novels from his college years in order to find answers for both of their futures.

ISBN # MLR-1-02014-0288

Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=FGHTMACC

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: When I read other reviews, I came to the conclusion that this is a very misunderstood story. How To Make A Carrot Cake really isn’t about vegan lifestyles, it’s about love, powerful love, sacrifice, painful loss and soul shattering life experiences.

One truly must experience what Billy is going through to understand his reactions, his behaviors, and how painful it is to let someone else in. I can’t give the big secret away or it ruins the book, but when you are going through what Billy is, your whole life revolves around it, your life is not your own, you live, eat, sleep and wake according to the other person.

I still to this day do not wear a watch because I had to set my life patterns, and that of the other person, to the face of that watch.

I have lived what Billy did and can feel each event, I understand the effort it takes to let another person in, and wanting to compartmentalize them so you can feel a bit of respite, and then get back to reality. I was so proud of Nate for taking the path he did with Billy, he is a huge hero. You can see this type of decision making in Nate’s character is his true nature, just to observe how he takes care of Marlee, you can see that.

Yes, Nate and Billy cook together, and Billy teaches Nate about vegan cooking. The real issue is not about vegan-ism, but about why people make the life choices they do. What triggers such a big life change and who are they really doing it for, themselves or someone else?

The intimate scenes are good, the ones toward the end are very powerful, but that is not really the meat and potatoes of this book. My only criticism is about the style in which this is written, the he did this, and he did that kind of description gets a bit documentary. I like more showing less telling in writing.

Other than that, How To Make A Carrot Cake is a beautiful, powerful story about the human condition, love, understanding, and sacrifice.

Bad Secret Santa by Francis Gideon

91gKqjFreoL._SL1500_Title:Bad Secret Santa

Author:  Francis Gideon

Genre: Contemporary, Holiday

Length: Short (5K)

Publisher:JMS Books (Published December 1st, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer:  Cat

Blurb:  Greg does not want to go to another Christmas party. His job as the social media guy at a publishing house means he’s been hearing about Christmas since the summer and he’s lost all interest. But when Ray, his best friend from college, entices him into one last party before holiday break, Greg finds himself saying yes — and is strapped with finding a last-minute gift for a woman he hardly knows in a Secret Santa exchange.

Inside the crowded mall, Greg meets a sexy guy in tight pants. Later that evening, Greg is visiting Ray and his girlfriend when the same hot guy from the mall arrives. His name is Jason, he’s friends with Ray’s girlfriend, and he’s Greg’s Secret Santa. Unfortunately, he is rather bad at his task, since the gift he wants to give Greg is just as much for himself, as well.

Purchase Link: http://www.jms-books.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=1004&zenid=njm3kd1v0q9hhc7920k1v7d8a3

Review: Greg works in social media and is tired of Christmas but has to go to one last party with his best friend and his best friend’s girlfriend. Buying a secret Santa gift for a woman is bad enough but one you never met is even harder.  While shopping Greg sees a man who catches his interest and the fact the man is buying lube and condoms really makes his mind wander. The man gets away while Greg is checking out before he could talk to him, but Greg gets a really good surprise when the mysterious man shows up at the party and claims to be his secret Santa.

This is a short but very sexy story.  One that is sure to heat you up on a cold, lonely night. There isn’t a lot of plot, but there is an abundance of hot sex. Occasionally we need a good, sexy story that is all hot and steamy. This story is very steamy. I loved the bathroom sex. You have to read this to see what I mean.

If you like, a naughty Secret Santa, last minute shopping, and some really hot man-sex this one is definitely for you.