Hi guys, we have Tia Fielding popping in today with her new release Thirteen, we have a great exclusive excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Thirteen
(Love by Numbers 03)
by
Tia Fielding
Deputy Mark Forrest and Nurse Francis Archer can’t deny the chemistry that arises between them. A chance meeting awakens the idea of something greater than either had ever imagined.
Mark craves being able to let go, and Francis loves to take him out of his head. But Mark’s past bears a truckload of personal demons that have kept him in the closet and made him lash out at the LGBTQ community in the town he’s come to regard as home.
Despite finding love and a new purpose in Acker, Francis’s new job might end up being temporary, and he doesn’t want to lose the life he’s settled into. Can the two of them build a future together despite a bitter past, and diverging paths?
Trigger Warning: Abusive, homophobic, and racist language, light D/s, homophobia, vague descriptions of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
This novel is the third book in the Love by Numbers series. While it can be read as a standalone, the author suggests that you start from book #1, Ten, and go from there for the best reading experience.
Hi guys, we have Tia Fielding popping in today with her upcoming release Like Breathing, we have a brilliant guest post where Tia chats about dogs and a great excerpt, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Like Breathing
by
Tia Fielding
A love as easy as breathing.
Life started out rocky for Devin Rice, but it’s turned out pretty well. He has adoptive parents and a brother who love him, and he works as a coder for his dad’s video game company. Romance is scarce, but a chance encounter leads to more than he ever expected.
While dropping off an assignment for his sick brother, Dev meets his mentor. Art history professor Seth Kent is brilliant and gorgeous, just what Dev has been looking for. Except that he’s in a long-term committed relationship.
Seth’s partner, Leaf, is older and sees the world differently due to his unusual upbringing. To him, the clear attraction between Seth and Dev isn’t a problem, it’s an unexpected gift. After all, Leaf is often on the road, going wherever rescue dogs need rehabilitation.
When Leaf meets Dev, all the missing pieces fall into place, and three men from different worlds and at different points in life fill each other’s empty spaces. For them, building a future together is the most natural thing in the world. But their unconventional love causes waves in their careers and family dynamics, and each man has his own doubts and fears to overcome.
Blurb: It all starts at a concert at the Red Rock Amphitheater in 2004. Blake just finished high school, Dusty is a college sophomore, and as soon as they meet, they know—they belong together. With Blake living in Nebraska and Dusty in Colorado, distance does its best to keep them apart.
For two years, it succeeds.
Then Blake flees his bigoted—and even dangerous—hometown.
Two years later, Blake and Dusty are getting their lives off the ground, with Blake trying to grow his computer repair business and Dusty working with kindergarteners. Dusty thinks there’s room in their hearts and their lives for their family to grow… he just has to figure out how to express that to Blake.
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
Review: Where We Belong is a sweet romance between two guys, spanning over 12 years – starting from the moment when the two MCs first meet at an Incubus concert. From memory I’ve enjoyed the sweetness and cuteness of Tia Fielding’s writing, and so I was looking forward to reading this novella. Luckily, I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the straight forward manner in which the story was written. We get the POV of both MCs at key points in their relationship – sharp and to the point, just how I like my stories.
The story is about couple Dusty and Blake. They met at an Incubus concert in Colorado, which they were attending with their respective female BFFs. From this first meeting romance blossoms and we start the journey which spans 12 years starts. These guys are down to earth and totally relatable, which I think is the key to my enjoyment of the story.
As the Incubus song (and the only one I know from the top of my head), Drive says: “So whatever tomorrow brings I’ll be there, with open arms and open eyes.”That seems to describe the story pretty damn well.
Hi guys, we have Tia Fielding popping in today to show off the cover to her upcoming release Where We Belong, we have a short intro from Tia, a great excerpt and a fantastic cover to admire, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Where We Belong
(States of Love 09: Colorado)
by
Tia Fielding
It all starts at a concert at the Red Rock Amphitheater in 2004. Blake just finished high school, Dusty is a college sophomore, and as soon as they meet, they know—they belong together. With Blake living in Nebraska and Dusty in Colorado, distance does its best to keep them apart.
For two years, it succeeds.
Then Blake flees his bigoted—and even dangerous—hometown.
Two years later, Blake and Dusty are getting their lives off the ground, with Blake trying to grow his computer repair business and Dusty working with kindergarteners. Dusty thinks there’s room in their hearts and their lives for their family to grow… he just has to figure out how to express that to Blake.
Blurb: Sam Becker, a horse whisperer, agrees to take one last job before retiring to his Texas ranch. It’s clear as soon as he meets the Taylor family in Kentucky that he’s in for a challenge. What he doesn’t expect is the way his own wounds reopen. He’s never really dealt with the suicide of his mentally ill wife, and he won’t be able to ignore that hurt forever.
Joshua Taylor and his horse, Calla, were a force to be reckoned with on the eventing circuit until an accident ended their careers. Most of the pain is on the inside, however, and Sam knows those injuries are the slowest to mend. Sam’s unique methods help Calla and, surprisingly, Josh, but he’s still lost without riding. Their feelings for each other come hard and fast, and Josh starts his first steps of recovery, but Sam needs to return to Texas eventually. Even if Josh is able to move past the accident, they’ll still have a long and difficult journey to make before they can be together.
Review: When Calla’s owners beg horse whisperer Sam for help their plight touches his heart, because the Taylor’s are hoping that Calla’s recovery will help their son, Joshua, who was injured in the same accident that ended Calla’s eventing career.
Sam loves working with horses; he helps to rehabilitate them from abuse, neglect or injury. When he’s called in to help Calla he knows before his plane has touched down that he’ll be helping Calla’s rider as well, a talented young event rider who has sunk into the pit of depression. His attraction to Joshua is unexpected and Sam isn’t sure if he’s ready to embark on a relationship after the loss of his wife.
Joshua has been ghosting through life for the last year; severely injured in a riding accident he can’t seem to pull himself out of the tar pit of depression. He hasn’t even been able to look at Calla since the accident, he rarely interacts with his family and it’s rare that he eats. But there’s something about the horse whisperer that draws him in and he begins to live again, slowly but surely he emerges from his closed off world.
This is a great story where two men begin to heal each other; Sam helps to heal Joshua’s feelings of helplessness and guilt and Joshua helps to heal the wounds that Sam’s wife’s death left on Sam. Their attraction to each other becomes apparently quickly and it’s a slow start but heats up quickly.
The story is paced quite well although it does seem to drag in some places, maybe just too much wandering around in Sam’s perspective. The story is also from Joshua’s perspective but we seem to stay a lot in Sam’s so although we do get to see things from Joshua’s side of things it does seem to linger on Sam’s side for a fair amount of the story.
The writing is excellent; it gives a superb view point of depression, the lingering clinging depression and the flashes and flare ups of recurring depression. Depression is a really hard subject to write about; it’s different for everyone who suffers from depression, for some it is brief flashes of cloud in a clear blue sky, for others it’s a tar pit that they struggle to pull themselves out of and for others it’s an oil slick where you go forward two paces and slide back three, where you seem to finally be free only to discover a small speck that clings on no matter how hard you try to scrub it, and it’s beautifully written about in this story.
The relationship with Sam and Joshua is a really good one; they both give themselves time to sort themselves out before making a solid commitment although I do think that they could have at least had phone conversations in their time apart rather than no contact at all.
I recommend this to those who love stories about recovering yourself, adore characters who have suffered but come out stronger, who love loving families, and relationships that are worked for.
Hi guys, we have Tia Fielding stopping by with her upcoming release One Step Forward, we have a fantastic guest post and a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
One Step Forward
by
Tia Fielding
Sam Becker, a horse whisperer, agrees to take one last job before retiring to his Texas ranch. It’s clear as soon as he meets the Taylor family in Kentucky that he’s in for a challenge. What he doesn’t expect is the way his own wounds reopen. He’s never really dealt with the suicide of his mentally ill wife, and he won’t be able to ignore that hurt forever.
Joshua Taylor and his horse, Calla, were a force to be reckoned with on the eventing circuit until an accident ended their careers. Most of the pain is on the inside, however, and Sam knows those injuries are the slowest to mend. Sam’s unique methods help Calla and, surprisingly, Josh, but he’s still lost without riding. Their feelings for each other come hard and fast, and Josh starts his first steps of recovery, but Sam needs to return to Texas eventually. Even if Josh is able to move past the accident, they’ll still have a long and difficult journey to make before they can be together.
Title: Up to Boil Series:2015 Daily Dose Delivery Package – Never Too Late Author: Tia Fielding Genre: Contemporary Length: Short (19 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (June 1st 2015) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Blurb: When plumber and builder Jordan Novotny goes to take a look at the home of the town’s openly gay, recently dumped librarian, he doesn’t expect to find anything other than a falling-apart old house and a water heater in need of repair. Instead, he finds an older man in need of some TLC and a new circle of friends after his ex tossed him aside for a newer model.
Stephen might be attracted to Jordan, but he thinks the young man is exactly that—too young. It takes Jordan’s family interfering and a bit of a mishap to make them see that it’s never too late to find a new love, and that age is just a number. All that matters is compatibility and the courage to take a chance.
Review: I simply loved this little short. Totally sweet and cute.
There’s something to be said for maturity and experience, whether it’s a second chance at love, a May/December romance, or finding a soul mate later in life. These stories prove that it’s never too late for new love.
There is no other way to describe it.
Stephen is an older gentleman who has recently been thrown away by his partner for a younger model. His former partner walked out and even took their friends with him. Leaving Stephen with an old house that is slowly falling apart.
In walked Jordan a young man working for his family business. He helps Stephen out and even offers comfort with a simple hug. The best thing of all is that Stephen gets adopted by Jordan’s family.
There is no over the top romance or sex in this tale. Just two men slowly falling in love with each other. They find something in the other both needed and take their time. I love the ending, just perfect.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
TITLE: Mirage AUTHOR: Tia Fielding GENRE: Contemporary LENGTH: Novel (200 Pages) ISBN: 3978-1-62798-664-9 PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press (March 17th, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4Hearts REVIEWER: Cat Blurb: When forty-six-year-old washed-up country musician Jasper “Red” Blue looks at the past, all he sees is a series of failures. His one treasured success is six years battling alcoholism without the help of AA. To secure his children’s future, Jasper desperately wants to produce a new album, but he can’t write alone. And he won’t work with just anyone.
Jasper’s record company manages to secure the writer of one of the biggest country music songs in recent history to help write the album. Cade Wallace is a longhaired former soul surfer, devastatingly handsome, talented, and willing to take a chance on the rugged musician. Jasper, on the other hand, is deep in the closet.
With Jasper’s career hanging in the balance, he can’t promise Cade anything, and Cade eventually heads back to his full-time job as a truck driver, taking Jasper’s hopes of a relationship with him. If Jasper’s dream of a life together is ever to come true, he will have to take some big risks, putting both his career and his children’s security on the line. Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product info.php?products id=4796 Review: Mirage is a story about an older country star that had drinking issues that caused him to wash out. Years later, he is making a comeback. His producer hires a songwriter truck driver to help finish his album.
The story is written in first person, but instead of chapters, we have each man’s view. I really liked this style, since it’s similar to first person, where it’s like the character is the story Instead of the author or storyteller. I feel I get. To know the character better. It’s also a very character driven story, which I love. I liked both Jasper and Cade. Jasper is dealing with being closeted and feeling he can never be himself in the industry he is in and a recovering alcoholic. Cade is out but doesn’t flaunt it and is more comfortable in his skin, yet he has commitment issues. Mia deserves her own story. The dogs are so much fun. Since there were horses, I’d have liked a bit more here.
I have a thing about titles. I like the title to be reflected in the story and was not disappointed. The title shows up about two-thirds in and is carried throughout. I loved that.
I had a small issue with the relationships. At first, it looked like instalove and Jasper and Cade fell into bed the day after they met. But it wasn’t so simple and love wasn’t professed until a ways in. Also Cade’s relationships were strange to me in the fact that he Had sex with Reina, (this was interesting and I’d loved more on Pete, Reina, and Cade they deserved their own story as did Cade and Jet.) It felt as if this was a sequel to Cade to me. But I still followed well. Having said that… I loved that the ex’s were still friends, especially Jasper and his ex-wife. I felt this gave this story a very fresh feel.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves country-western singers, songwriters, truck drivers, horses, dogs, complicated relationships, coming out, hot yet tasteful sex-scenes, and an overall great romance filled with lots of interesting characters.
Blurb: Even after a decade, the life that journalist Brent Walsh and Milwaukee homicide detective Shawn Mackey have made together is far from boring. But when a new case cuts a weekend getaway short, they aren’t quite prepared for how it will impact their personal lives. Suddenly there’s too much to juggle: Shawn will be working the case of the sharpshooter who is trying to infect random people with HIV, Brent needs to cover the story but fears a conflict of interest, one of Shawn’s colleagues is attracted to him, and Brent sincerely needs to mend the painful break with his childhood best friend, Ollie, and heal their broken hearts.
Though the case comes to a close, it’s not the end of their troubles. Shawn and Brent still face a past of old white lies, a present possibility of inviting another man to their bed, and a future with children, not to mention health issues and national fallout from the case. It’s enough to make them want to run away—until they realize they have to face those challenges head-on so they can get on with the life of love they’re hoping for.
Review: Journalist Brent and his husband, homicide detective, Shawn are enjoying a well deserved weekend away when it is cut short by a work call for Shawn, after ten years together it is something that Brent is used to but this case cuts close to home. Shawn has to find a sharpshooter firing tranquilizer darts and Brent is steering clear of the story, Brent also longs to mend the rift with his childhood best friend and a colleague of Shawn’s catches both of their eye. When the case closes Shawn and Brent, still have to face a white lie that shakes up their trust, the possibility of inviting another man to their bed, health issues, and the possibility of children. They have to face the challenges head on together if they want to keep their happy life of love.
This is a great story that mixes a police investigation, journalism and they everyday lives of a loving couple. Shawn and Brent are both great characters, they have been together for ten years but separated for a brief time five years ago, and even with the difficulties that separation has left behind they love each other completely. Investigating a shooting spree brings home to Brent his own situation and they begin to discuss children and their wish to have them. During a brief visit to Shawn’s work Brent meets, a colleague of Shawn’s who sets his mind to erotic thoughts, and a new idea forms.
I thought this story was brilliant, I loved the way it was written and the characters portrayed. Brent’s need to reconnect with his childhood best friend is touching and wonderfully done, the way the investigation is played out was brilliant and very original, keeping you wondering what could happen next. Brent’s and Shawn’s relationship is filled with love, with just a couple of ups and downs and you can see the close family ties they have. This is a really well written story that was well thought out and, to my mind, researched. When everything is tied together and finished, this is about a couple who have been through a lot together, love, and support each other through thick and thin.
Now, although I really enjoyed this story and thought a lot of it was wonderful I must admit to having some major disquiet with the threesome, I mean the idea came from nowhere, to a couple who had never wanted anyone else and suddenly they are contemplating adding a third to their bed for a one-off time…. it would have been different if they had at least thought about it or discussed it in the past but they hadn’t. It just felt wrong for it to be there tainting a wonderful story for the sake of thrills and sex.
I will recommend this to those who love slight thrillers, a genuine loving couple, mending friendships, looking to the future, love and forgiveness and a great visit to England.
At age sixteen, Todd Hoffman is a social outcast. He lives with his mother in a rundown mobile home and doesn’t wear the nice clothes or drive fancy cars like the other students. He has one outlet: he secretly writes fan fiction about a boy falling in love with another boy he’s crushing on, and posts it online.
When Galen Caulfield, Todd’s real life object of affection, notices him and asks him out, Todd feels like he’s living his fantasy. Soon enough he realizes that fantasy and reality are two very different propositions.
Galen is the high school soccer team captain, clearly out of Todd’s league. On top of that, he’s popular, good-looking, and confident, so everyone thinks he’s straight. Now it’s up to Todd to decide whether Galen is the boy of his dreams or just another dumb jock.
1st Edition published by Amazon Digital Services, Aug 24, 2012.
Length: Novel (210p.) | Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age| Release Date: August 12, 2013
Taren Laxley has never known anything but life as a slave. When a lusty pirate kidnaps him and holds him prisoner on his ship, Taren embraces the chance to realize his dream of a seagoing life. Not only does the pirate captain offer him freedom in exchange for three years of labor and sexual servitude, but the pleasures Taren finds when he joins the captain and first mate in bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.
Then, during a storm, Taren dives overboard to save another sailor and is lost at sea. He’s rescued by Ian Dunaidh, the enigmatic and seemingly ageless captain of a rival ship, the Phantom, and Taren feels an overwhelming attraction to Ian that Ian appears to share. Soon Taren learns a secret that will change his life forever: Ian and his people are Ea, shape-shifting merfolk… and Taren is one of them too. Bound to each other by a fierce passion neither can explain or deny, Taren and Ian are soon embroiled in a war and forced to fight for a future—not only for themselves but for all their kind.
Length: Novel (214p.) | Genre: High Fantasy, Paranormal, Shapeshifter, M/M/M or More
What happens after “happily ever after”? No matter how long they’ve been together, the couples in this anthology find that keeping a relationship alive takes work. Whether it’s job conflicts or family issues, the seven-year-itch or just plain stuck-in-a-rut routine, these men face the challenges of keeping the spark alive with humor, creativity, and romance.
At First Sound by G.S. Wiley
Change of Heart by Rhidian Brenig Jones
Cupcakes for Two by K. Lynn
Dream Lover by Nico Jaye
Happy Holidays by Anna Butler
Home on the Range by Anna Martin
How to Date Your Husband by AC Valentine
Like an Old Sweater by Elizabella Gold
Looking Back by Rob Rosen
Quarter Moon Over a Ten Cent Town by Stephen Osborne
Even after a decade, the life that journalist Brent Walsh and Milwaukee homicide detective Shawn Mackey have made together is far from boring. But when a new case cuts a weekend getaway short, they aren’t quite prepared for how it will impact their personal lives. Suddenly there’s too much to juggle: Shawn will be working the case of the sharpshooter who is trying to infect random people with HIV, Brent needs to cover the story but fears a conflict of interest, one of Shawn’s colleagues is attracted to him, and Brent sincerely needs to mend the painful break with his childhood best friend, Ollie, and heal their broken hearts.
Though the case comes to a close, it’s not the end of their troubles. Shawn and Brent still face a past of old white lies, a present possibility of inviting another man to their bed, and a future with children, not to mention health issues and national fallout from the case. It’s enough to make them want to run away—until they realize they have to face those challenges head-on so they can get on with the life of love they’re hoping for.
Length: Novel (204p.) | Genre: Mystery/Suspense, M/M/M or More | Release Date: August 14, 2013
When Madison “Matty” Ward finds himself out of work and without a place to live, his cousin comes through with a job on the Gates cattle ranch. Despite not knowing anything about herding cattle or taking care of horses, Matty does his best to impress the older hunky foreman, Baxter Hollingsworth. Baxter is drawn to the new young hand, but he’s deeply closeted, and after an openly gay veterinarian shows he’s interested in Matty, Baxter’s repressed feelings lead to an explosive encounter. Baxter then withdraws—leaving Matty feeling angry and used—until an accident forces him to confront his fears.
Length: Novella (120p.) | Genre: Western | Release Date: August 14, 2013 | Buy as eBook ($3.99 ISBN: 978-1-62380-066-1)
Dominic Holland leaves behind in London the shattered remains of a dishonest relationship and sets about rediscovering himself across the pond, exploring New York City and two widely different possible futures. Through a series of increasingly public encounters with a mysterious silver-haired man, Dominic gets a tantalizing taste of a new kind of freedom. But it’s fellow journalist Alex Everton who attracts Dominic, making him yearn for a real and honest love. But Alex is working on a story that is linked to his past, leaving Dominic unsure of whether he will be the one to heal his heart.
Length: Novella (208p.) | Genre: Contemporary | Release Date: August 14, 2013 | Buy as eBook ($5.99 ISBN: 978-1-62380-778-8)
Summer School by Tam Ames
Jeremy Decker’s recent split with his long-distance boyfriend has left him lonely with a mountain of debt. His only practical source of extra cash is to teach summer school, even if it means teaching history—not easy for an English teacher. To support him, the school hires Lucas Van Sloan, a much-younger college history student.
Lucas, with his swimmer’s physique and optimism, not to mention his determination to get what he wants, both attracts and annoys Jeremy… and what Lucas wants is Jeremy. The heat flares between them, but when Jeremy’s ex, a high-powered attorney with plenty of experience turning things his way, shows he wants Jeremy too, it threatens to snuff out the flame of passion and new love.
Matt Dixon, a young firefighter, is the golden child of his family, and he never dreamed that coming out would challenge more than the way his church sees him.
For years, Matt has led a double life hoping to avoid ridicule. When a self-righteous pastor’s statements provoke him to defend his recently deceased best friend’s honor and subsequently out himself, he suffers the brutal aftermath of his revelation. Everyone in his life, including his family and his new lover, Darian, must deal with the ramifications as Matt struggles to come to terms with guilt, shame, and his very belief in God.
Darian Weston lost his fiancé when Jamie took his life, and his feelings for Matt added guilt to his burden of grief. Confused and lonely, Darian clings to Matt despite his inner strife. But small-town realities keep intruding, and if Matt and Darian hope to make a life together, they must first take a stand for what they believe in, even if they fear the cost.
When small-time thief Timmy Harwell recklessly “borrows” a Cadillac for a joyride, he doesn’t expect to find a cool $100,000 in the trunk. His elation turns to terror when he realizes the SUV and the dough belong to Miguel Garcia, aka El Poco, a Tijuana drug dealer with a nasty reputation. Timmy sees only one way out: leave the stolen car behind and run as fast as he can.
His getaway is cut short when a storm strands him outside Jasper Stone’s secluded mountain cabin. Jasper finds Timmy in his shed, unconscious and burning up with fever, and takes care of the younger man, nursing him back to health. The two begin to grow close, but Jasper, a writer who seeks only solitude, is everything Timmy isn’t. Straightforward, honest, and kind.
Timmy needs Jasper’s help—and wants his respect—so he hides his dishonest habits. But when El Poco comes after him, Timmy realizes he’s not the only one at risk. His actions have also put Jasper in harm’s way. Honesty now could mean Timmy loses the man he’s come to love, but not being honest could mean far worse.
Harmony Ink Press’ releases for the week of August 12, 2013
On the Right Track by Sam Kadence
Ryunoski “Ru” Nakimura knows all about the trappings of fame. Expelled from a boy band for coming out as gay, he still wants to continue his career in music. Too bad his ex finds nothing better to do than exploit their relationship in the press, so Ru leaves California behind to lie low in Minnesota for a while.
Adam Corbin attends a Minnesota high school and wants to coast through as a typical student. He’s friends with an openly gay student, Bas Axelrod, but while Adam plays football, he also stays away from much socializing. Blending in and not outing himself has been easy because he’s never really been seriously interested in any of the guys he’s encountered.
When Adam meets Ru in a library, Adam begins to think he’s found that special young man who might make it worthwhile to just be himself. And for Ru, Adam looks like someone he might trade his fame for, if they could be together. Ru and Adam will both come to realize that courage and love must go hand in hand if they are to have a future.
Length: Novel (184p.) | Genre: Contemporary, Gay, YA | Release Date: August 15, 2013
Blurb: When Brandon Roland’s parents kicked him out for being gay, he turned to prostitution to get by—something that almost cost him his life when he was attacked by strangers. Bran was saved by a vampire named Heath, and during their year together, Bran’s life was good—but then Heath sent him packing for reasons unknown.
That was twelve years ago, and Bran’s come a long way since then. He has an education, a job as a social worker at a vampire/human youth shelter, friends, and a tattoo he adds to annually to commemorate another year without the love of his life.
The trouble with being a very old vampire is that the older you are, the less you feel. Heath is over nine hundred—he was sure he’d never experience emotion again, but he never counted on Bran. When Heath accidentally stumbles back into Bran’s life, it changes more than either man thought possible—and then history literally catches up with them and turns their lives inside out.
Review: Bran has come a long way since his ex-lover, Heath, kicked him out. He now works as a social worker at a vampire/human youth shelter, but he still harbors bitterness towards Heath. When Heath walks back into his life he has a lot of thinking to do. Can he forgive the vampire that tossed him out on the street? Heath might have made a mistake twelve years ago when he thought that he would never love, but meeting Bran again invokes all those emotions and he wants another chance.
This is quite a good story about humans and vampires that intermingle. Not always brilliantly, but for the most part they get along. Bran has had a lot of ups and downs since he last saw Heath, but he still blames Heath for kicking him out and for no other vampire being willing to bite him. Heath has felt guilt over kicking Bran out, but felt it was for the best. Now, after twelve years he has run into Bran again and he wants another chance. But, Bran has made no bones to his friends over what Heath did to him, and it isn’t an easy reunion.
Bran is an awkward character to really get to know, because yes, he is kind and nice and everyone seems to love him, but he also has no qualms about using his friends for sex and solely blaming Heath for what has happened to him. But, when Heath turns up again, Bran seems to take great pains in making the vampire squirm. Which disgusted me, and it isn’t until Heath nearly dies that Bran pulls his head out of his arse. Am I being harsh about Bran? Maybe. But, from where I was sitting he was using Heath in the first place, living in his house, eating his food, living a life of luxury, not doing anything but taking advantage of Heath and is then all angsty when Heath kicks him out. And Bran makes sure that anyone he became friends with in the future knew how much Heath had betrayed and abandoned him. Seriously grow the hell up.
Heath is a character that I really liked and I thought that he had a lot going for him. But, I cringed when he seemed to become a whipped dog for Bran, Heath never did anything wrong! How is Heath kicking him out much worse than Bran’s parents kicking him out? Bran actually seemed more bothered that he couldn’t get a vampire to bite him! *sigh ~climbing down from soapbox~* Don’t get me wrong Heath and Bran are well suited and Bran is a nice character, but he laid the blame all on Heath and he shouldn’t have.
The storyline for this one is a bit up and down, and I really wasn’t sure where it was going. I mean there was a plot when someone from the past turns up who is vaguely connected to Heath, but the plot fizzles out in unsatisfying fashion and you are left with a puzzled expectation of what is to come. I really like the everyday shelter stuff that we saw with the young vampires and humans, and would have liked a deeper storyline there. I was surprised with the direction that the story turned in, and I enjoyed watching Heath and Bran together towards the end, I also liked the fact that it showed how hard it was for newly turned vampires.
So, I am going to recommend this to those who love vampires, a human who has had a hard life, forgiveness, hot sex and a happy ending.
Blurb: Sloane would’ve given anything to have been born with the right body, but he hadn’t. He’d have given anything to have his family back, but his father insisted that until Sloane was ready to become his heterosexual daughter again, he wanted nothing to do with him. So Sloane dealt with the challenges of living transgendered as best he could. Luckily, his best friend Jace was there with him every step of the way. Jace is the best man Sloane has ever met, but Jace is gay and Sloane still doesn’t have the right parts – until Jace proves that he loves Sloane just the way he is.
Review: This is the first transgendered book I have read and there were some parts of the story I found fascinating and others that I wasn’t thrilled with. Since this is a very short story at only 21 pages it seemed like we didn’t really get to know the main characters very well. Sloan was born female but was never really comfortable in her own skin. She came out to her parents as being transgendered and it was not accepted well. Sloan began living as a male and the one person he could rely on no matter what was his gay best friend Jace. The two of them room together at college and Jace is there for Sloan through all the doctors’ appointments and emotional breakdowns that arise. Sloan does not want to go through the surgery to become anatomically male because of the possible complications. Slowly, Sloan begins to realize that his feelings for Jace are more than that of a friend but doesn’t think that Jace would be interested since he is anatomically female.
Being my first book that deals with the issues of a transgendered character, I admit that I am not sure how things would work between someone who is a gay male (Jace) and someone who is anatomically female (Sloan). I had trouble with that angle but the deep feelings that Jace and Sloan have for one another are very obvious. Jace is the rock that has held Sloan up for years and even though the physical part of the relationships moves rather quickly, I did like that they had a history together. I wish the story was longer so that I could have better understood the issues that each of them had to deal with to get to that point in their relationship. It felt slightly rushed and I was left feeling a bit lost at the end.
Blurb: Dru and Thom have been together for three years, and despite Thom’s occasional bouts of insecurity and Dru’s fear of rejection, their relationship is rock solid. Then Dru’s long-lost friend, Skye, suddenly reappears, shocking them both. Skye suffered years of inconceivable abuse before escaping it, and while he’s back on track, he has nowhere else to go as he begins to rebuild his life.
Dru, Thom, and Skye each want to belong somewhere, to belong with someone – or someones – with no fear of being hurt, set aside, or left behind. It’s a challenge with daunting odds, especially for Skye, who’s never loved before. He’s determined not to come between his two friends who so clearly belong together, and it will be up to Dru and Thom to conquer their fears and convince Skye to stay.
Review: I took interest in this story because it had a recovering character. What is unique about By Any Other Name is the fact that we get to know the character through his final stages of recovery – which is, in this case, Skye’s incorporation and integration into the modern world – which wipes out the prospect of unnecessary drama. Too often I encounter books where so much happens, both internally and externally, that the drama just seems forced. (In fact, there was a discussion about too much angst in a review site a week ago.) Thankfully, Tia Fielding’s first novel is a “quiet” one – no major angst that seems contrived, just a couple of moments where we are reminded of what Skye has been through.
To be honest, the abuse seemed a bit too much at first. When I read all about Skye’s past, the combination of it plus the abuse he underwent seemed a bit too tragic, even for an unlucky person. Yet it wasn’t really highlighted; while it did cast its own shadows in the lives of our three protagonists, it didn’t overtake the story and, like I said before, didn’t cause any melodrama. The conflict here is purely internal, and there’s really no room for poorly characterized villains that are flat and very much reminiscent of mad scientists. I appreciated that. I don’t particularly like antagonists that are just so crazy and unbelievable.
I do have a couple of niggles though, ones that made me falter between three stars and four. First, at times it seemed like the affection was concentrated on Dru. Sure, more often than not he is described as a high maintenance lover, but I think Thom and Skye’s love for him overshadowed the growing affection among the three of them at times. I’ll admit that I was looking forward to Thom and Skye’s interaction with each other more than anything, but to me their feelings for each other fell a bit flat. Of course, that might just be me setting the bar a bit high for them both, but it still disappointed me a bit. Kara was… I don’t know how to describe her. I got the feeling that the author wanted her to be seen as a supportive person, and I did feel that, but some of her actions ticked me off a bit. I didn’t dislike her, but I didn’t feel any warm and fuzzy feelings for her either.
However, setting aside these qualms, I liked this book. Again, it’s a quiet novel with no big and tragic scenes that run rampant in a lot of books. I’ll probably be reading something by Tia Fielding again.
Blurb: After leaving trouble behind, Jackson Way has found a home on the Triple-R, but he hasn’t found that one perfect horse – and men are pretty thin on the ground as well. Jack’s got a once-a-year hookup with a carnival worker, but it’s been quite some time since the carnival’s been by. When the ranch owner’s nephew comes to the Triple-R to work, Jackson has to admit, Blair McRae can tempt a man.
But Jackson’s not the only one with a past to make a man skittish, and Blair’s not willing to risk his bruised heart if Jackson’s not ready to let go of his past. Jackson had to work hard, be patient, and let go of the past to get his one perfect horse – is he willing to go to the same lengths to hold on to that one perfect man?
Review: I liked this. It’s nice to see characters defying stereotypes planted in this genre. Jack wasn’t a total alpha male – in fact he was quite submissive in bed – despite the general stereotype that seems to appoint ranchers (and the older man in the relationship) to be the dominant one. Blair wasn’t a wide-eyed kid despite his considerably young age; he’s not a blushing virgin and he’s seen his fair share of the dark side of the planet.
I also liked how the horses were incorporated into this story. They weren’t just animals that Jack and Blair worked with; they were separate beings with names and I really enjoyed reading all about Sirius’s antics. What a cute colt. He’ll definitely be a handful, but I do know that he’s Jack’s horse.
Through bad introductions and an awkward and fumbling “getting to know you” stage and a (somewhat) expected turn of events, these guys found love. Definitely recommended if you’re in need of a quick and fluffy read. I’m looking forward to reading Tia Fielding’s new novel that was just released yesterday.
Title: One Step Forward
Title: Up to Boil
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