Extreme Bull Audiobook by Catt Ford Narrated by Paul Morey

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extreme bullBlurb

 

Inside and outside the rodeo arena, Jeff Stratton and Clay Harris are rivals with tempers worse than the bulls they ride. So Clay is shocked when Jeff taps that wild energy and kisses him, sparking an undeniable urge for more of each others’ bodies. But when they discover they might want more than casual sex between competitions, Clay’s greatest fear is recognized: He is scared of being identified as gay. He’ll have to cowboy up if he hopes to hang on to Jeff on the circuit of love.

 

Review

This is a double GFY! Jeff and Clay have had some “experience” with other guys (circle jerks count, right?) but are basically two straight bull-riders who are neck in neck competing on the rodeo circuit. They aren’t even friends, maybe frenemies if anything, when one day Jeff gets overwhelmed by … something… and kisses Clay! Instead of getting punched in the mouth like you’d expect from a straight guy, Clay welcomes the change in their relationship and pushes for more.

The next morning Clay has some serious recriminations and bolts. Jeff, understandably, is both hurt and relieved, because he doesn’t exactly understand these feelings and doesn’t want any sort of “reputation” as a gay cowboy to tarnish his chances for rodeo success.

The bulk of the story is Clay and Jeff dancing around their feelings and experimenting with the physical side of their relationship. They get some great advice from the only “out” gay cowboys on the circuit but it isn’t enough to keep the boys from fretting (and frotting ;).

When push comes to shove they decide that their relationship is worth working on and we are left with a pretty satisfying HFN.

**

I was really loving this story – planning on at least a 4 heart review-  up until the end. I didn’t like the vague way the boys left it and I was disappointed that they didn’t get a chance to really “go all the way” in terms of completing their commitment to one another.

I enjoy Paul Morey as a narrator and he did a good job with the country twang in this story. But, there were a few voices that were just “odd” and didn’t really seem to fit, so I don’t consider this his best work.

Overall, both the story and the narration are a 3.5 of 5 hearts.

If you need the “L” word, or penetrative sex you’ll be disappointed, but if you like cowboys who have no gay experience experimenting with both their bodies and their hearts – I think you’ll really like this story.

3.5

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A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson


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NightNeverForgotten[A] (1)Blurb
An infection leaves Braylon unable to make his annual trip to Toronto, but a stranger’s gift might be the miracle he needs.
After a one night whirlwind romance, Braylon returns to Toronto on the first of December every year in the hopes of seeing the man of his dreams again. Instead Braylon meets a strange man who tells him Christmas is a magical time, and one never knows what unexpected gifts he’ll receive. Braylon takes a chance and makes a Christmas wish, but instead of getting what he wants, he contracts an infection, leaving him dependent on dialysis and unable to make the journey the following year. But the stranger just might be right; an unexpected gift may be the miracle Braylon needs most of all.

Review
This was a delightful story about tenacity, hope, love and karma. Two boys meet and then years later an absolutely unbelievable connection is formed between the two that leads them to a very happy future – together, forever.
Though short (as all these Advent Calendar stories are) it was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat for a moment! I really got involved in this – more than some of the other Advent stories – and thought it was a great short story. It was complete and full and though I would have loved more – I didn’t go away feeling short-changed. SJD Peterson is an excellent writer and this was an excellent story.
I highly recommend this and give it 5 of 5 hearts

5

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The Holiday Hoax by Skylar Cates

Dreamspinner Presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5801
HolidayHoax[The]Blurb

I’m Evan Goodman, budding actor, future star, college freshman. Oh, and let’s not forget—recently dumped. If only my family wasn’t expecting to meet my new boyfriend over the holiday break. Enter JD Laurens—a sweet and quiet science major who mostly keeps to himself. When he gathers the courage to come out, poor JD gets abandoned by his only family right in front of me, and now he has nowhere to go for Christmas. But I have a proposition for him: pretend to be my boyfriend for the holidays so I can take him home. It’s a win-win. What could go wrong?

Review

Evan is “dating” this self-centered, cheating, popular guy from his major who drops him right before Christmas. He goes to the Donut Shop to fuel up for his trip home for the holidays and sees JD “out” himself to his very mean, hateful brother, who tells JD never to come home – ever. (And it turns out JD’s brother is his ONLY family- big jerk!)

Evan hatches a plan to save both JD and himself from a horrible holiday. JD can play Evan’s boyfriend, Tyler, (who the family was expecting to meet) and JD can have a place to go over Christmas.

Needless to say – the tricking doesn’t fool anyone, and mom is suspicious of Tyler/JD. But – as you can imagine – JD is a far better boyfriend to Evan than Tyler ever was and what started as a hoax ends up as a HEA.

**
Your heart will bleed for JD and the way he just shines in the face of Evan’s family is so touching. Neither Evan nor JD have much “experience” so the smexy times are pretty tame, but very sweet. This reads almost like a young adult title, but that doesn’t stop it from being a really sweet and fun book full of goofy holiday games and sappy moments.

I really enjoyed this and didn’t miss the smexy times.

I give it a 4 of 5 hearts

4

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