BLURB: One canât walk the path of darkness and expect to escape unscathed. At eighteen, Foster Erickson stepped out of the closet into a world of homelessness, prostitution, and drugs. Years later, heâs pulled it together and is ready to rebuild. Determined not to let the demons win, Foster starts university with a plan to keep others from making the same mistakes he did. The last thing he expects is Sylvester Roberts. After years of working with his father, Sylvester decides to step out on his own. University at his age is strange, but for him, failure isnât an option. After flunking a few tests, Sylvesterâs professor assigns him a tutorâFoster Erickson. The moment they meet, Sylvester knows Foster isnât like other guy
As the darkness hovers and Sylvester begins falling, he will have to decide if helping Foster fight his demons will be worth it in the end
REVIEW: Fosterâs character intrigued me from the first page. His past was really heartbreaking but not uncommon, which is even more heartbreaking. Here was a young man who fell into homelessness, sexual assault, drugs and forced into prostitution to survive and to feed his drug habit, which I suspect he fell into as a way to cope with his situation. Reading about his painful past will have your heart in your throat, it was just so sad to read. With the help of a cop who befriended him, Foster was able to escape his circumstances and get himself together. Understandably, there were some residual effects from his past which he is getting help for. Fosterâs life is going well and heâs starting college. This is where he meets Sylvester.
Sylvester is a successful older student who is striking out on his own after years of working for his father. He needed a tutor Foster was recommended to him. Sylvester was intrigued by the beautiful man but he sensed Fosterâs general uneasiness at being touched, of getting close to anyone, both emotionally and physically.
This story flows so well. At first I thought that I wouldâve liked to have had more information on Fosterâs past but now that I think about it, Iâm glad the author chose to place more emphasis on his present and future, the happiness he finds and the relationship (first friendship, then romantic) heâs building with Sylvester. I love how she gave both MCs equal amounts of attention. I also loved how she wrote Sylvesterâs character. This man was beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and passionate, loving, patient, tender and kind yet tough. He understood that he needed to proceed with a great deal of caution and patience in pursuing Foster because of his past. I adored these men individually but together as well.
Fosterâs painful past made me cheer that much harder for him to find peace and happiness with Sylvester. And Fosterâs friend Jason is an absolute sweetheart who was always there to with a shoulder to lean on, cry on and advise to help him along.
I enjoyed everything about this book. The characters, storyline and flow were well executed. I loved that itâs interracial and there were no ridiculous stereotypes in neither them or the storyline. Really, if it wasnât mentioned purely for the characterâs physical appearances you would never have known the race or ethnicity of the characters as the author wrote them all the same. The two MCs were simply two men who meet, fall in love and work through some issues to make their relationship work.
I also loved the cover. It was strikingly beautiful and is what initially draws your attention to the book.
I will definitely recommend this book as well as this author.
BLURB: Men found him attractive, interesting even. He was like a fascinating experiment gone wrong that men liked to investigate. Heâd get a date – or two, if he was lucky – but it wasnât long before Brianâs darkness showed, and the men were running from him.
Brian King was honorably discharged from the United States Navy five years ago. Heâd left with the highest honors a man can receive in his country, but heâd paid the ultimate price to earn them. He was considered one of the best; an Intelligence Officer in a Joint Special Operations Delta team thatâd been a twelve-man wrecking crew. Theyâd thought they were invincible⊠until they werenât. Brian was the only member that survived the ambush. He survived ten months of pain, of torture, only to emerge on the other side a warrior. A POW survivor. Heâd returned home with all his limbs, his right mind, and with his only brother Ford, at his side. But, one thing had been lost, maybe for good⊠his voice.
Now, being a bounty hunter is Brianâs only means to satisfy his need to calculate, track, and capture. His only outlet to the stress caused by his silence. He was good at what he did. But, all work and no play for a forty-four year old man was taking its toll. Brian wasnât a faulty experiment. He missed companionship, he missed communicating. So, when he met Sway Hamilton â in the most unconventional means â heâd been surprised at his special way of understanding Brianâs every look⊠and touch.
Sway grew up in the rough part of ATL, trailing behind his twin brother Stanton and his best friend, Dana. He and his brother had a bond only twins could understand. So when Stantonâs life was taken during their sophomore year in college, Sway didnât think heâd ever recover. He finally finished school, got his masters in nursing, worked hard, and focused on taking care of his mother. However, Sway knew there was more to life than heartache, and caring for others. There had to be. But he didnât know what any of those things were until he met a dark hunter that blew his mind⊠and the intense man had never uttered a single word.
Brian and Sway can feel the powerful connection between them. It was there from the startâbut both of them have battled with loss and anguish for so long, neither understand that love can ease all of it. Do they have the courage to battle through it together? Sway has to learn to trust in love, and Brian has to believe that Sway will always understand him even if he never speaks again.
Sway held him tight around his neck, âI donât need you to talk, Brian. I can hear you just fine,â Sway whispered softly, kissing his throat.
This novel is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers.
Trigger Warning: This story contains acts of bond recovery agent violence. Mention of war zones and descriptions of war prisoners. This story DOES NOT contain overly-described acts of torture.
REVIEW: As usual, this author has truly outdone herself. Just when I think her books couldnât get any more exciting, any more perfect, she surpasses everything and brings another amazing creation. So, this is the fourth book in this wonderful series and gives us Brian and Swayâs story. Brian is a big, sweet, tough teddy bear of a man. A gentle giant to Sway, his friends and family but to everyone else, a tough ex-Navy SEAL and highly skilled bounty hunter who can kick some serious ass. He was captured and tortured by terrorists which rendered Brian unable to speak. Brianâs PTSD is heartbreaking to read and the author was able to capture the daily struggles service-members face when they return home. She did it with respect and sensitivity. She didnât embellish, romanticize or glorify it. Also, I liked how she didnât give super descriptive details of the torture Brian endured while captured.
Sway is a hard working and dedicated nurse practitioner. He works hard to provide a good life for him and his mother. Sway is a good man, he takes care of everyone but himself.
These two men absolutely belong together. The author did an exceptional job of writing their emotional responses to each other. You felt that simmering, intense…thing between them; it leapt out at your from the pages. You not only read them falling for each other, you also feel their emotions; the sadness, the loneliness, the joy, the pain. Every emotion in this book was intense and it was written just so. To write a characterâs emotions to the point where itâs felt by the reader, I feel is not something thatâs easily accomplished yet this author does it all the time, in all of her creations. Thatâs how you know that you have an author who masters their craft. Itâs not an easy feat to accomplish yet she does it with ease. It was absolutely amazing.
I also love how her characters are more mature in age. These are gentlemen of a particular age and as a reader of the same age, I can really dig it. She shows that these men are still strong, sexy, and virile. Theyâre fabulous in their 40s and I am here for all of it!
This book, like all of her work is simply amazing. This author is truly a master of her craft. Her writing style, the way she uses her words is like an elegant work of art. Sheâs an artist who comes up with these beautiful creations which are her books.
BLURB: Tai wishes Master Lucas wasnât such an adamant Top, but heâs also crushing on the sweetly submissive Elliot. Could he have it both ways?
Tai has hit a wall in life. From all outward appearances, heâs the guy who has everythingâlooks, personality and money. But the modeling gigs are drying up and he still hasnât found that special someone to call his own. The part-time work at Kiss of Leather is quickly becoming full-time to prevent the drain on his dream-business savings.
Elliot fell for the stunning Tai from almost the moment he met him. If he wasnât so self-conscious about the weight heâs recently put on, maybe he could work up the nerve to make a move. However, not only is he a virgin whoâs never done a scene before working in a BDSM club, but heâs also sure that Tai has a thing for Master Lucas. Thereâs no way he could ever compete with the handsome silver fox.
When Master Lucas confesses to Tai that he doesnât only see him as a hookup and offers him a contract, there are a ton of considerations. They both realize that serious compromises would have to be made for them to have a relationship. But what if they found a third, a sub who could bottom for Tai and also do TPE with Master Lucas? Once the idea takes hold, Tai knows just the perfect boy for them both. Even better? Heâs right there at Kiss of Leather, and Tai canât wait for Elliot to turn them all into a throuple.
Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of assault, and attempted sexual assault.
Tai is not a total Sub and I see how that wouldâve strained the relationship between him and Lucas who is a total Dom. Lucas was aware of this and I think that was one of the factors of him being agreeable to bringing Elliot into the fold. Elliot is a complete sub and is the perfect man for them. I truly feel that heâs the important link that holds them all together.
These characters, as the case with all of her characters are so well and clearly written; the contrasts between them is always a pleasure to read. I love that she makes the reader see more to Taiâs character than just him being a brainless, rich, pretty boy, part time submissive. Elliot is sweet and shy but he has a strength to him that he doesnât realize he has and Lucas is a Dom but heâs not hard or heartless or perfect. Thatâs also whatâs great about this series: she doesnât make her Doms these hard, heartless men who never makes mistakes. These men are Doms but they are loving and caring and far from perfect. What I also love about this author is that her characters are from all racial, ethnic, orientation, socioeconomic groups. Her books are wonderfully diverse and she writes them all respectfully pretty much dispelling the myth that itâs impossible to write diverse characters without stereotyping them.
Now, as with all of her characters, these men are themselves flawed and you see them deal with issues of physical, mental and sexual abuse. I like how she writes how these men get through those issues with help and with men who help them heal. And what I love about all of her books in general, this series, this books in particular, she doesnât make these men superheroes, meaning, she doesnât have the Doms heal their subs in one book. Itâs an ongoing and long process that she shows spanning several books with the timeline being years.
This book was wonderful and I look forward to reading more.
BLURB: Roman âQuickâ Webb is one badass bounty hunter on the crimeÂfilled streets of Atlanta. Heâs fearless when it comes to carrying out his dangerous job alongside his longtime best friend and business partner, Duke. However, there is one thing that has begun to cause Quick concern and itâs the dreadful thought of living out the rest of his life alone. Seeing his best friend and his son fall in love and sharing the special connection that only true soulmates can, has made him all the more aware of whatâs lacking in his life.
Love.
Dr. Cayson Chauncey has been wildly attracted to the big, tattooed hunter for almost a year, ever since he performed the surgery that saved Quickâs best friendâs life. Cayson mustâve mistaken Quickâs gratitude for something more, because the one time he tried to make his desires known, he was harshly rebuffed and left on the manâs doorstep feeling stupid for hitting on an obviously very straight man.
Cayson never dated a man who was willing to come out of hiding and be with him. Now at almost forty, Cayson is intent on no longer being anyoneâs dirty secret. Having experienced countless disappointments, and having taken a stand not to fall for any more tricks, Cayson is more than a little skeptical when Quick comes around asking for a second chance to prove himself. The gorgeous man had already made it clear he was definitely uninterested in Cayson⊠or so heâd thought.
Dr. Chauncey stirred up Quickâs suppressed, most carnal desires from a place deep down inside of him. Heâd reacted so badly the first time that now his sexy surgeon wanted nothing to do with him. It was going to take a fair amount of patience and a whole lot of wooing involved as Quick sets out to convince Cayson that heâs worth another chance and that he is the brave lover who Cayson has been looking for.
With a scorned ex and a very dangerous job thrown into the mix, Caysonâs happiness and all of Quickâs promises may not be as easy to keep as theyâd hoped.
PARTS ONE AND TWO IN THIS SERIES CAN BOTH BE READ AS STANDALONES. THERE ARE NO CLIFFHANGERS IN EITHER BOOKS. REVIEW: This is the eagerly awaited second book in Bounty Hunters series. This book continues with Vaughnâs father Roman âQuickâ Webb and the doctor that saved Dukeâs life Dr. Cayson Chauncey.
To say that this book is good would be a gross understatement. I didn’t like this book. I LOVED this book and this series. In fact, I simply adore all of her work, her series as well as her standalone works. And to think that this series sprang from another series which was a spin off from one book, much like the branches of a tree. This is the truly the mark of a talented writer. To be able to take an idea and expand on it to the level that she did is nothing short of amazing.
I think of this author as a five star chef. She goes into her kitchen, aka writing cave and come out with these deliciously exciting, steamy and extremely well written books. Well, once again, she âput her foot in the potâ with this creation. This story picks up beautifully where the last book leaves off with Roman already deciding he was going to stop fighting his attraction to the handsome doctor who saved his best friendâs life and pursue him. And this is what I truly loved about this book. The author didn’t shy sway from or erase the fact that Rome was bisexual. It wasn’t something he âdiscoveredâ when meeting the gorgeous doctor and it wasn’t a GFY storyline. It was a mature man who always knew who he was but just never had the opportunity to explore that part of himself. The author put it out there; it was acknowledged and that was refreshing.
There were so many exciting events in this book that will capture and hold your attention. It is two hundred and eighty pages of wonderful dialogue, character development, storyline and plot.
Dr. Chauncey is this brilliant and beautiful physician who like everyone else, wants someone to call his own. You get the sense that he’s not good at making friends due to his many busy years of medical school. Here you have this gorgeous man, brilliant doctor with a great personality who couldn’t find anyone who appreciate what he had to offer. He meets and is immediately attracted to Quick but was rebuffed after an innocent flirtation. Cayson was determined not to make that mistake again and keeps his distance from the sexy bounty hunter.
Roman was immediately attracted to Cayson but he wasn’t prepared for it at the time causing him to reacting badly and to take it out on Cayson. He immediately regretted it afterwards and after talking with and seeking advice from his best friend and son decides it was time to explore that side of himself and pursue the doctor.
I love the wonderful and loving relationship he has with his son. It is one built on both love and respect. Roman is this big, strong and confident man who has flaws but one who willing to set aside his pride to not only seek but follow the advise from his son and best friend. The fact that he was man enough to admit that no, he didn’t know the first thing about pursuing or romancing a man.
The supporting characters are wonderfully written. She brilliantly tells these men’s stories yet still manage to keep focus on the storyâs MCs. The situation with Caysonâs closeted ex was got so out of hand and the series of events he set off was absolutely crazy; it was a right and proper mess. This man caused so much unnecessary drama and mayhem, it was ridiculous and made for a great story.
Characters from other books in the series made s brief appearance: God and that damn crazy Day, Judge from the first book. There were a few lines in the book that had me laughing out loud and this is what I like about her work. She writes these serious books but there is this dash of humor in them that sharpens the delicious delivery of it. Like a pinch of salt into something sweet to enhance the taste.
This author is extremely talented; she is incapable of writing a bad book. What I admire about this author is that she’s constantly striving for perfection with her work. There has been more than one occasion where she has gone back and re-edited, added and republished her previous works. That’s the sign of an author that takes pride in her craft.
The book is a work of art from the cover to beautiful cover and everything in between and one that I highly recommend.
A.E. Via graduated in May of 2008 with a Bachelorâs Degree in Sociology from Virginia Wesleyan College. She’s a new author to the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When sheâs not clicking away at her laptop, A.E. runs a very successful paralegal-for-hire business and in her spare time, she devotes herself to her family, a husband and four children, her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late great gay romance author ELynn Harris. While Blue Moon is her first novel, she has plenty more to come…so sit back and grab a cool drink, because the male on male action is just heating up!
Three years ago, Chase Gallardo ran toward freedom with his fellow survivors after having spent five months in captivity. He hasnât stopped running since. Only now, it’s the memories he’s constantly trying to escape. Haunting echoes of a man who forced Chase to play the part of another, the kidnapper’s younger brother. Chase may have survived, but that doesnât mean he’s really living. Until one day, when his employee tells him there’s a man sitting at the bar, wearing only underwear.
Remy Stahl has given upâalmost. For a year, alcohol, drugs, and faces without names have kept him company. But he has two friends who refuse to give up on him, and they lock him up in his house in an attempt to save him from himself. But never underestimate an addict’s desire to see the bottom of another bottle. Remy escapes, and he doesnât give a rat’s ass that he’s nearly naked.
This is the sequel to Aftermath, where Cam and Austin met, struggled, and fell in love. Outcome takes us back to Bakersfield with Chase and Remy’s story. Fueled by anger, guilt, and shame, they’re not off to an easy start. But it’s only a matter of time before they learn how much they need each other in order to move on.
Review
(From previous site)
If you remember Aftermath â which you MUST read before you read this â youâll recall that Chase was one of the captives held by Remy Stahlâs brother. In fact, Remy was the ânameâ Chase was given and his role to play in the demented farce he was forced to play in the basement. At the end of Aftermath, Chase is contacted by Remy in an attempt for Remy to express his immense regret that Chase suffered at his brotherâs hands.
In this, the sequel, we pick up where Aftermath left off, Chase is a year out of captivity and he is feeling more secure in his life. He has refused Remyâs apologies thus far and doesnât think he will ever be ready to face him.
Remy, on the other hand, is checking out. He is in a drug driven downward spiral that is only halted when his friend pulls him in and puts him in a forced âdetoxâ situation.
Running from this detox, Remy runs into Chase by accident. This spurs Chase into re-evaluating his feelings and the two enter into a somewhat strange, but infinitely mutually helpful relationship with each other.
They have many ghosts to vanquish and we see some very interesting new developments in the kidnapping case which may serve to split them apart.
**
I absolutely loved Aftermath and was so pleased to see the sequel. This is a lot easier to read than Aftermath â mostly because weâve already seen most of the horrors the men had to survive. Instead, this was a delightful, healing sequel that showed us more of Cam and Austin and allowed us to see Chase and Remy come to peace with their pasts (more than just the past that they shared with Remyâs brother.)
Their love story is sweet and sexy and you will want to read this all in one seating, itâs so engaging.
I highly recommend this and give it 5 of 5 hearts.
Sandy Sullivan has gotten so good at covering up his emotions, heâs waiting for someone to hand him an Oscar. On the outside, heâs a cheerful, funny guy, but his good humor is the only thing keeping awful memories from his army tours in Afghanistan at bay. Worse, Sandy is now adrift after breaking up with the only man who ever understood him, but who also wanted to fix him the way Sandyâs been fixing up his new house in Brooklyn.
Everett Blake seems to have everything: good looks, money, and talent to spare. He parlayed a successful career as a violinist into a teaching job at Manhattanâs elite Olcott School and until four months ago, he even had the perfect boyfriend. Now heâs on his own, trying to give his new apartment some personality, even if it is unkempt compared to the perfect home he shared with his ex. When hiring a contractor to renovate his kitchen sends Sandy barreling into his life, Everett is only too happy to accept the chaos⊠until he realizes heâs in over his head.
Review
To start â I did not read The Stars That Tremble, but Iâm told thatâs okay.
Sandy is suffering from PTSD, now working with a buddy as a decorator, mostly outgoing and loving life, but having a hard time dealing with the demons he saw in the war.
Everett is coming off a broken heart, his famous ex has moved on and heâs now focusing on his new career and a new residence.
The two are immediately attracted and begin an affair, but it isnât an easy road.
Sandy doesnât want to deal with the PTSD he denies and doesnât want to burden anyone else with his nightmares, so he avoids sleepovers and commitment.
Everett is still a bit gun-shy, what with being a recent ex of a long relationship and heâs dubious about his own abilities to handle Sandyâs PTSD.
In the end Sandy agrees to get some help and Everett and he get a solid HEA.
**
There were parts of this book that I really liked. I loved the MCs and their POTENTIAL. The PTSD, the socialite and the working class man, the musician and the carpenter⊠all good mixes and rife with potential.
What I didnât like was the lack of emotion. Even the sex seemed kind of mechanical and blah. Though they said words to the effect of âyou are so hotâ âI want you so muchâ I didnât FEEL it.
Kate McMurray has an easy and flowing writing style, lots of attention to detail and well developed characters.
I liked this book and I would read more by this author, but I wasnât wowed by this particular story.
3.5 of 5 hearts
I love the cover!
Audio
I mostly liked the narration by Michael Ferraluolo. He has a very nice voice that is easy to listen to. However, I thought that Everett should have the lighter voice and Sandy the deeper â so that kept throwing me out of the story. But I donât really think that there is a basis for my interpretation other than Sandy was the Army guy⊠stereotypes and all that. It didnât really diminish the overall enjoyment for me â just gave me pause now and then. He differentiated the voices nicely and dealt with the emotion that was in the story well.
Blurb
Embrace the danger.
Sean Rush is an adrenaline junkie. Thatâs why he was in the Army, why he steals and races classic muscle cars . . . and why he canât stay away from bad boy Ryker, a Havoc Motorcycle Club lieutenant. Fortunately, Ryker canât seem to stay away from Seanâheâs spent the last eight months breaking into Seanâs apartment and stealing into his bed, leaving Sean physically satisfied but increasingly restless.
Sean has always avoided relationships. He likes to come and go without being controlled. And Ryker is possibly the most controlling man heâs ever known. Still, he finds that he wants more from Ryker than their silent nighttime encounters.
Then one of Seanâs thefts goes bad, and Rykerâs protective instincts kick into overdrive. He takes Sean to the Havoc compound, determined to keep him safe. But Seanâs past threatens the safety of Havocâand everything Ryker holds dear. Worse, Rykerâs hiding secrets of his own. Soon itâs obvious that the adrenaline rush canât keep them together anymore. But maybe love can.
Review
(from previous site)
SE Jakes has done it AGAIN. This series may even top/tie with the Hell or High Water series for me. Ryker is absolutely on par with Prophet for hot, bad ass, awesomeness⊠but maybe I should compare him to Mal⊠or Cillian⊠he is so bad ass that he always knows what to say and when to say it and what he does is ALMOST always right. Almost. Ryker is a SEX GOD and yet so amazingly sweet that you just want to take him home with you. He. Sends. Flowers. (Insert swoon)
Sean is another great character. He is funny, and caring, and a little crazy and vulnerable, and tough⊠just like a good SE Jakes character should be. He is a great friend, a neurotic lover, an adrenaline junkie and an ex-soldier who suffers from PTSD. He also is Bad. Ass. He has ninja car skills and can steal a car with one hand tied behind his back. His relationship with Ryker is sweet and funny and very, very hot, and sometimes frustrating.
The story is completely amazing. It grabbed me, threw me on the back of the bike and told me to hang on! There was literally never a slow moment or place I felt I wanted (or even could) skim. It was all vital, wonderful and riveting.
The love story is so completely satisfying and ⊠hot. Enough said.
Jakes has added some vaguely paranormal stuff to this story that added a distinct charm and mystique to Havoc and its compound. I hope for future stories from Casey, maybe Sweet, maybe Noah â you never know right?
I totally recommend this book (and all SE Jakes books) and give this book 6 out of 5 hearts â it was that good. Really.
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Blurb
