Day: November 10, 2014

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The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane

Riptide Publishing Presents:

http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/bells-of-times-square

Blurb

times

Every New Year’s Eve since 1946, Nate Meyer has ventured alone to Times Square to listen for the ghostly church bells he and his long-lost wartime lover vowed to hear together. This year, however, his grandson Blaine is pushing Nate through the Manhattan streets, revealing his secrets to his silent, stroke-stricken grandfather.

When Blaine introduces his boyfriend to his beloved grandfather, he has no idea that Nate holds a similar secret. As they endure the chilly death of the old year, Nate is drawn back in memory to a much earlier time . . . and to Walter.

Long before, in a peace carefully crafted in the heart of wartime tumult, Nate and Walter forged a loving home in the midst of violence and chaos. But nothing in war is permanent, and now all Nate has is memories of a man his family never knew existed. And a hope that he’ll finally hear the church bells that will unite everybody—including the lovers who hid the best and most sacred parts of their hearts.

My Review
First, we start off the book knowing it’s a tragedy. Nate is in a wheelchair with his gay grandson waiting for the bells to sound on New Year’s Eve. We know Walter is not part of his life and that Nate has been “waiting” to meet up with him every year by listening for the bells – a pre-arranged meeting time for the lovers. Most of the rest of the book is the back-story for this.

Nate joins the war effort as a “spy” photographer. He definitely leans towards liking men versus women, but has in no way acknowledged that fact and in these times and with his faith, Jewish, it isn’t something he really contemplates as something he can act upon.

He’s on a reconnaissance mission over France when his plane crashes. He is rescued by an American Army soldier who has escaped a POW camp and been living “off the grid” in a summer cottage for the past several months. It becomes clear that Nate is infatuated with Walter right off and he suspects Walter is at least acquainted with that “persuasion” and possibly feels similarly for Nate.

But, this is war time. Though the two get to spend an entire month helping Nate to recover from his wounds, the time can’t go on indefinitely. At some point Nate wants to leave the cabin and find his way back to his platoon, if for no other reason than he thinks he might have some valuable intel stored on his film from the failed mission. Walter is not really so keen on the idea of leaving the cabin… ever.

When their little cabin is found and being used by an SS officer and his lover, both Walter and Nate realize the time to leave is upon them. They prepare as best they can to leave, but time is precious and it has run out.
Fortunately, there are allies in the woods who help Walter and Nate escape the cabin and try to help them re-join their commands.

At this point – well – some important stuff happens that I don’t want to spoil – so I won’t go into the details – but you’ll need the Kleenex- buy the Family Size.

Nate is left alone and adrift back in the states and he has to make something of his life despite all that he’s lost. He manages to find joy where he can and, as we knew from the beginning of the story, builds a family and a life for himself.

I won’t tell you about the ending – just know your heart will smile while you cry.

**

Only Amy would think to publish a tragic love story about World War II over the holidays. Sheesh. We are already primed for emotion around the end of the year and that’s when this will be published. So just suck it up, know you’re going to be doing the ugly cry and enjoy the ride.

One thing I have to say is this: Amy made me understand WHY it had to be like this. Walter is a defeatist character. He really and truly cannot see a future in which happiness plays a role. Nate tries desperately to convince him (and himself?) that such a world is possible. He even has examples from his own life of two “bachelors” living together, “such a shame they never married”, so he feels it is a real possibility for him and Walter. But Walter has no such experiences and his life has never been anything but brief diversions from misery.

Of course Amy has had characters like Walter in the past – Sonny from Racing the Sun comes to mind – and he WAS able to be made to believe in a future with happiness, so part of me still wants to rant and rave …But part of me really appreciates the tragedy of the story and the strength of Nate’s love… his internal conversations with Walter over the years, his visits to his grave… his photography. There was such touching devotion that, really, may not have even withstood the test of time, given society during those years. Their love remained pure because it was so short.

Now, saying that, I don’t want her to get any funny ideas that she should become the next Nicholas Sparks and start righting loads of gay romantic tragedy… I like the HEA, thankyouverymuch!

So pull up your big girl panties and prepare for a beautiful emotional ride… you won’t be sorry you bought the ticket.

I give it 5 of 5 hearts – I loved it!

5

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Bones (Gothika #2) by Eli Easton, Jamie Fessenden, Kim Fielding and BJ Thomas

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5628

 

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Vodou. Obeah. Santeria. These religions seem mysterious and dark to the uninitiated, but the truth is often very different. Still, while they hold the potential for great power, they can be dangerous to those who don’t take appropriate precautions. Interfering with the spirits is best left to those who know what they’re doing, for when the proper respect isn’t shown, trouble can follow. In these four novellas, steamy nights of possession and exotic ritual will trigger forbidden passion and love. You cannot hide your desires from the loa, or from the maddening spell of the drums. Four acclaimed m/m authors imagine homoerotic love under the spell of Voodoo.

The Dance by Kim Fielding
After being surrounded by deaths and near-deaths, introverted chemist Bram Tillman wishes he could undo the past year. Then beautiful Daniel Royer shows up with a warning about more danger ahead—and a promise to use vodou to help Bram discover what’s trying to kill him. But while Bram’s attraction to Daniel grows, vodou spirits change Bram in unexpected ways.

 

Review

 

Bram has lost his lover in the last year and with him, much of his joy in life. In addition to that, he’s the victim of a random attack that puts him in the hospital. Next come a series of near death experiences no one can explain… except for Daniel, the brother of the man that put Bram in the hospital.

Daniel’s answer: voodoo. Bram, a man of science is not swayed by this argument but he is entranced by Daniel.

When things continue to get strange he turns to Daniel for help, and together they put an end to the strangeness and find love.

**

This is the best of the bunch. Very sensual, you can almost hear the French, smell the rum, and taste the sweat. It’s a great short story in that it absolutely fulfills it’s obligations of the five elements of a story: great characters, an interesting setting, a fully developed plot with tense conflict and a very satisfying resolution.

5 / 5 hearts

5

 

“The Bird” by Eli Easton
Colin Hastings is sent to Jamaica in 1870 to save his father’s sugar cane plantation. If he succeeds, he can marry his fiancée back in London and take his place in proper English society. But Colin finds more than he bargained for on the island. His curiosity about Obeah, the native folk magic, leads him to agree to a dangerous ritual where he is offered his heart’s most secret desire—one he’s kept deeply buried all his life. What happens when a proper English gentleman has his true sensual nature revealed and freed by the Obeah spirits?

 

Review

Colin doesn’t know it, but he’s in love with his best friend. In 1870, you don’t admit that to just anyone, even yourself. It takes a voodoo ceremony for him to make this realization and then he has to convince his friend to take a risk, if that weren’t enough.

Following a close second as best of the bunch, this was another great short story that fulfilled its obligations in a few pages. Very well crafted. It’s historical and educational without being pedantic. The writing is very dark and evocative and quite unlike the previous books/stories I’ve read by Eli Easton.

She always produces an amazing story and this is no different.

4.5/5 hearts

4.5

 

Uninvited by B.G. Thomas
When a hot tip leads Kansas City reporter Taylor Dunton to a series of grisly murders, his investigation points to Myles Parry and his vodou shop. Myles wants nothing more than to practice his religion in peace, and he hopes Taylor can help him show the community they have nothing to fear. The problem is all the clues point to Myles as the suspect and only Taylor can help him prove his innocence. However, this case has also caught the attention of the vodou spirits of the Lwa… and they’ve taken an interest in Taylor as well.

Review

Taylor wants to move up in the journalism world. He gets a hot tip from a friend on the force that leads him to a voodoo shop for answers. There he meets a practitioner (of voodoo) who teaches him the truth behind the myth and together they solve the mystery and fall in love.

This was an interesting story, not unlike The Dance, filled with information and a unique look at what religion is. Though I didn’t feel the love as much as I did in the first two stories (it was insta love without a lot to back it up) I enjoyed the writing and ending was excellent.

4/5 hearts

4

 

“The Book of St. Cyprian” by Jamie Fessenden
When Alejandro Valera finds a book of black magic in New Orleans, he ships it to his friend Matthew in New Hampshire so he can read it when he gets home. Unfortunately, Matthew’s dog, Spartacus, gets to the package first, and Alejandro returns to find Matthew locked out of his apartment by the suddenly vicious pit bull. The boys call on all the magic they know to free Spartacus from the evil spirit, but they might need to accept that they’re in over their heads.

Review

Alejandro finds an old book on magic and sends it home to his childhood best friend, Matthew, for safekeeping. Something escapes from the book and possesses Matthew’s dog.

Together Alejandro and Matthew must use the magic they learned from Alejandro’s Abuela to rid the dog of the spirit. Oh, and along the way they admit that they have always loved one another in a more-than-friends way.

This was the weakest of the lot. The love story took a decided back seat to the voodoo and felt a little out of place. Perhaps if this had been longer the romance could have been developed and given a proper resolution, but the ending was a big disappointment and left me unsatisfied.

2.5/5 hearts

2.5

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Blue Days by Mary Calmes

Dreamspinner Presents

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5644

Optimized-Blue days

Blurb

Falling for a coworker is rarely a good idea, especially for a man getting a last chance at salvaging his career. But from the moment Dwyer Knolls sees the beautiful but socially awkward Takeo Hiroyuki, he seems destined to make bad decisions.

Takeo’s life is a string of failed attempts to please his traditional Japanese father. Unfortunately, succeeding in business turns out to be just as difficult for Takeo as changing from gay to straight. In fact, the only thing Takeo seems to truly excel at is taking notice of Dwyer Knolls.

When Dwyer and Takeo head to Mangrove, Florida on a real estate buying trip, their tentative friendship combusts and becomes much more. Is their sudden connection real enough to bank their futures on, or should they chalk the whole thing up to the daze inspired by the blue ocean breeze?

My Review

Dwyer is stuck in a job that he may or may not be great at, but that may not be important because he may or may not hate it, anyway. One thing he knows for sure, his new co-worker turned boss makes going to work every day a dream come true.

Takeo is Japanese to the nth degree. He takes everything literally, rarely understands social cues, knows he hates his job, knows he hates his dad, but doesn’t know that the man of his dreams harbors an attraction for him, as well.

Things at the company go steadily down hill, everyone wondering when their axe is going to fall, leaving them without a job. Dwyer is never worried. Why? Well, he just doesn’t worry. Takeo isn’t worried.   Why? Well, his dad owns the company.

However, things are about to get really shaken up when Dwyer and Takeo take a business trip to Florida for damage control on a deal gone sideways. Neither man realizes it, but their lives will change from that moment forward, in ways neither saw coming.

**

Oh Mary. I just love, love, love your books. Takeo is so damn cute! So bumbling and stuffy. The perfect mate for Dwyer, who falls asleep in meetings and makes doodles to pass the time. Of course, everyone loves Dwyer. He can literally do no wrong. And of course, nobody, and I mean nobody, likes Takeo. Except for Dwyer.

The secondary characters are also wonderfully created. From Mak, who secretly wants to run a nightclub. To Gretchen, whose husband proposed to her at a picnic table by the ocean.

Mary never disappoints. The sex is super-hot. The love is a slow burn, but so tender and touching, you just know they’re going to last forever.

And then you get the cross-over! We get to hear about, briefly, Aaron Sutter and Duncan Steil. I won’t spoil the surprise but it’s as lovely as it was expected.

I highly recommend this book (and all of Mary’s books) 5 of 5 hearts.

5

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The Art of Breathing Audiobook by TJ Klune Narrated by Sean Crisden

 

Dreamspinner Presents:

Tyson Thompson graduated high school at sixteen and left the town of Seafare, Oregon, bound for what he assumed would be bigger and better things. He soon found out the real world has teeth, and he returns to the coast with four years of failure, addiction, and a diagnosis of panic disorder trailing behind him. His brother, Bear, and his brother’s husband, Otter, believe coming home is exactly what Tyson needs to find himself again. Surrounded by family in the Green Monstrosity, Tyson attempts to put the pieces of his broken life back together.

But shortly after he arrives home, Tyson comes face to face with inevitability in the form of his childhood friend and first love, Dominic Miller, who he hasn’t seen since the day he left Seafare. As their paths cross, old wounds reopen, new secrets are revealed, and Tyson discovers there is more to his own story than he was told all those years ago.

In a sea of familiar faces, new friends, and the memories of a mother’s devastating choice, Tyson will learn that in order to have any hope for a future, he must fight the ghosts of his past.

My Review

Book

Here’s a brief run-down of the story:

Ty has fallen for Dom, Dom ends up getting married and having a baby. Ty gets freaked the eff out and runs away to school where he gets addicted to anti-anxiety drugs. Ty makes a friend/boyfriend but it’s not “all that”. Ty gets off drugs. Ty goes on a trip to the Southwest. Ty reconnects with Dom. Crazy stuff happens in the last few pages showing us what will likely show up in the next installment.

It took me forever to write this review – so long in fact, the audiobook came out! So…I decided to combine the two, save everyone some time.

I think the main reason it took so long to write this is my ambivalence towards the book.

Things that I loved: It was great seeing everyone again. I love these characters. They make me laugh and cry and howl. They are so very entertaining. I had longed to see Ty and Dom together and was so satisfied when they finally do hook up. TJ is a hysterical writer and I am always entertained by his writing. The forward movement of the story looks fantastic and I can’t wait to see Bear and Otter as parents again! Hopefully we will get to see more of Ty and Dom as an established couple in the next book.

What I didn’t love: So much of the story was NOT about Ty and Dom together. The story felt fractured into these widely divergent pieces. There was the “remember when”, “the reunion”, “the trip to meet Sandy”, “lots of lots of Ty angst” and only a teeny tiny smidge of “Ty and Dom the couple”. I wanted that, the couple part. I yearned for it. And they were almost never together on page.

What I both loved and hated:
Bear’s ramblings: He’s funny and I love where his mind goes, but sometimes he took the light away from Ty and Dom.

Dom: He changed. I really felt like the sweet, never going to leave Ty-guy, did. He left Ty. That was really hard to swallow. And I don’t know that I felt like that change was ever really fully justified. On the other hand, new-Dom was a more complex character and I really appreciated that he actually seems like a grown-up with grown-up concerns and priorities in a land of perpetual “Young Adults” like Bear and Creed.

The Cross Over: I both loved and hated the cross over with “Tell Me It’s Real”. It felt superfluous. Sure, I LOVED that book and thought all the interactions between the characters were funny. But necessary? No. Not really.

Kori/Core: As the best friend cum boyfriend s/he did fulfill an important roll, but again, sometimes I felt like this was more about Ty and Kori than Dom. Kori got more pages (it felt) than Dom.

I think that, at this point, some of the ramblings and meanderings that have become sort of the hallmark to TJ’s writing could really use a more forceful editing. He clearly has talent, creativity and an amazing sense of humor, but I wish that this book could have been more focused and more tightly drawn to show Dom and Ty more and the others, less. (Even though they’re funny, they took away from the story. IMHO)

So, though I hate to do it, I’d give this a 3 of 5 hearts. I liked it (at times I loved it) but when I look back at what I wish the story was and what I got, I’m disappointed. It won’t stop me from being a fan and from devouring the next book, but I am hopeful there will be some positive changes.

3

Audiobook:
I love Sean Crisden. I think he does a terrific job and I really liked his Dom voice. He also did great work with Sandy and though I wouldn’t have thought of Vince as a kind of stoner, it worked. Ty was appropriately whiny and Otter rumbly. I think I enjoyed listening to this more than reading it because Sean gives the characters even more color and charm. Of course it’s hella long, 15 hours, so pace yourself, but it’s worth it! 4.5 of 5 hearts.

4.5

Overall 4 of 5 hearts.

4

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Tequila Mockingbird Audiobook by Rhys Ford Narrated by Tristan James

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5121

 


Blurb

Lieutenant Connor Morgan of SFPD’s SWAT division wasn’t looking for love. Especially not in a man. His life plan didn’t include one Forest Ackerman, a brown-eyed, blond drummer who’s as sexy as he is trouble. His family depends on him to be like his father, a solid pillar of strength who’ll one day lead the Morgan clan.

No, Connor has everything worked out—a career in law enforcement, a nice house, and a family. Instead, he finds a murdered man while on a drug raid and loses his heart comforting the man’s adopted son. It wasn’t like he’d never thought about men — it’s just loving one doesn’t fit into his plans.

Forest Ackerman certainly doesn’t need to be lusting after a straight cop, even if Connor Morgan is everywhere he looks, especially after Frank’s death. He’s just talked himself out of lusting for the brawny cop when his coffee shop becomes a war zone and Connor Morgan steps in to save him.

Whoever killed his father seems intent on Forest joining him in the afterlife. As the killer moves closer to achieving his goal, Forest tangles with Connor Morgan and is left wondering what he’ll lose first—his life or his heart

Moragn’s Review

Connor is the oldest Morgan, he’s a tough cop and he’s straight. Right?

Forest is another tortured artist, a drummer, who ends up falling for this straight cop, despite his best intentions. And people are out to kill him. Don’t forget that part.

Connor has to come to grips with his feelings and goes to his dad – the best dad that was ever invented (IMHO) – and finds out that love is love and he should go out and get his man. And take care of the bad guys – don’t forget that part.

Forest finds out that Connor has feelings for him and not only that, gets him access to the newly forming band made up of super-stars Damien and Miki from Sinner’s Gin. And he has to stay alive – don’t forget that part.

This is a fantastic addition to the Sinner’s Gin series. I love how the new band keeps growing and the Morgans keep getting more deeply involved with each new member introduced. I love how the Morgan patriarchs help to heal these “boys” and give them the family they so richly deserve.

I can’t wait for the audio version of this to come out! Connor’s voice on the previous two audio books was super-sexy and I’m betting an entire book of him will be drool-worthy.

I also just loved the time Forest spent with Damien and Miki. I really feel like the formation of the band is almost more of the story than the individual love stories, it’s so heart wrenching and powerful. It almost steals the show, but not quite. Why? Super-hot sex scenes. Damn. Rhys Ford can sure write sex scenes. I just love the sensuality she infuses into each one. So deliciously hot.

I am excited for the next installment – I just know Quinn is going to be a riot!

I highly recommend this book, the entire series, the audio versions and anything Rhys Ford has written.

Ok – I’m a fan, so shoot me!

6 out of 5 hearts

amazing

Audiobook

Tristan James does the Sinners series and his Irish Cop Voice is to-die-for. Somehow he makes Donal different from Kane different from Connor and let me tell you, Bridg – the mom – is THE BEST! She is absolutely hysterical when she tells Forest she’ll take out his mom with a knife if he wants.

Though you it’s hard to do much better than a Rhys Ford book, listening to the series with Tristan James does just that. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating – I just love his voice and he makes listening to the story even more interesting by infusing emotion, character development and timing.

I highly recommend this book on audio and give it 6 of 5 hearts.

amazing

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Rack & Ruin by Charlie Cochet

Optimized-Rack and Ruin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreamspinner Presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5518

Blurb

New York City’s streets are more dangerous than ever with the leaderless Order of Adrasteia and the Ikelos Coalition, a newly immerged Therian group, at war. Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire and although the THIRDS round up more and more members of the Order in the hopes of keeping the volatile group from reorganizing, the members of the Coalition continue to escape and wreak havoc in the name of vigilante justice.

Worse yet, someone inside the THIRDS has been feeding the Coalition information. It’s up to Destructive Delta to draw out the mole and put an end to the war before anyone else gets hurt. But to get the job done, the team will have to work through the aftereffects of the Therian Youth Center bombing. A skirmish with Coalition members leads Agent Dexter J. Daley to a shocking discovery and suddenly it becomes clear that the random violence isn’t so random. There’s more going on than Dex and Sloane originally believed, and their fiery partnership is put to the test. As the case takes an explosive turn, Dex and Sloane are in danger of losing more than their relationship.

Morgan’s Review
Chaos in THIRDS land.

The Coalition has a mole from inside THIRDS and some Therian is killing humans. And if that isn’t enough, things inside THIRDS are in chaos as well.

Dex and Sloane are navigating their budding relationship. Sloane is trying to get the rest of his team to pull it together and leave personal business at home. Dex is trying to help Cael with his feelings for Ash. Letty and Rosa are … okay, they’re fine. Taylor is sexually harassing EVERYONE. The new guy Levi might be hooking up with Lou, and Dex has to plan for his pre-birthday-party-party. It’s a lot to deal with.

In this installment we get to see a lot of Sloane and Dex and most of it is really, deliciously, ooey and gooey. Sloane even purrs! (Wait til you read that part – so fantastic!) They seem solidly on the forward track until… well… Sloane runs … again. Dex inadvertently moves the relationship forward and Sloane isn’t prepared for it, so Sloane takes off for a bit, but eventually, with the help of Ash (of all Therians) figures out what a good thing he has in Dex.

The sex is super hot and Dex and Sloane as a couple are hilarious. (My favorite is the closet scene: “This isn’t what it looks like. I dropped some change, it rolled under the closet door, and when I went to pick it up, my clothes fell off. True story.”)

Ash has something going on in his life that is making him distance himself from Cael and Cael is heartbroken and making potentially fatal mistakes as a result.

When the dust settles and the bad guy (for the moment) is disposed of, we’re left with a cliff hanger. We’re going to have to wait til next YEAR to see what happens – that Charlie Cochet, she’s naughty!

Now, we can all probably guess the outcome, but in addition to the main worry, we also have to worry about Cael and Ash – will Ash ever figure things out and get it together enough to be with Cael?

And, really, what is going on with Calvin and Hobbs? Inquiring minds want to know.

Overall, this was a wonderful third installment to the THIRDS series and I really enjoyed it. There was lots of Therian shifting which I like, Sloane acting like a happy kitty, which I liked and some tricky spy stuff, which I like.

I highly recommend this book and the series and give it a 5 of 5 hearts.

amazing