The ghost at my door claims to be my ex-boyfriend, back from the dead. Yeah, right.
Two years ago on October 31st, my world fell apart and I know it’ll never be fixed. No ghost can ease my broken heart and bring my boyfriend back to me. None. Now there’s a ghost at my door claiming to be Tristan. I don’t believe it. Ghosts don’t exist—or do they? Have I mentioned it’s Halloween? I hate Halloween.
Morgan’s Review
This is part of a series (Scare This! #2). The others are by different authors and do not seem connected to one another in a significant way.
This is a very short story about a guy, Paul Michaels, who lost his boyfriend, Tristan, two years ago on Halloween. This year he’s moping, sad, and hating the holiday he and Tristan had always loved and celebrated together.
He thinks someone is playing a horrible joke on him when Tristan’s ghost appears before him claiming to be real.
After some pretty thorough convincing (and ghost sex), Paul finally believes Tristan’s ghost is who he says he is. Which is good, because Tristan made a “deal with the devil”, a demon actually, and he has 24 hours to convince Paul he’s real and that he still loves Halloween and still loves Tristan. If he can do that he has a chance to come back to life.
**
Megan Slayer did a nice job with this little Halloween short story. It’s cute, sexy and fun. The plot is a little weak but the writing is good.
It was too short to really delve too deeply into the characters or their love but I liked what we do know of them and enjoyed them as a couple.
Phoenix Inc, Book 1
When your past closes in, running isn’t always an option
The jobs Marcus Lowry works for at Phoenix, Inc. Investigations are quick and easy, and they don’t give him the nightmares his days as a CIA operative did. That is, until he gets involved in a case that grabs him by the throat and won’t let go.
Cole Jacobs left behind his old life on the streets to make a name for himself rebuilding high-end and vintage cars and bikes. But when a stalker threatens to kill him—and to hurt anyone who stands in his way—his past closes in on him, and he’s not sure where to turn.
The last thing Marcus wants to do is take on a charity case, and to say that he and Cole don’t see eye to eye at first is putting things mildly. But when the first attempt on Cole’s life nearly kills them both, Marcus realizes that Cole is in real danger, and Cole is forced to reveal everything. Almost everything. Because Cole’s deepest secrets could destroy them both.
Morgan’s Review
Cole is in trouble. His past has found him and he doesn’t know who to trust. Luckily, one of his customers from the garage is Sytx (from Bound by Law) now a PI. Styx enlists the help of another PI, Marcus, an ex CIA agent, to help guard and protect Cole from the stalker.
At first Marcus doubts Cole’s story because Marcus has been burned by con-men in the past and Cole has secretive written all over him. These doubts nearly get Cole killed when the stalker plants a bomb and now the stalker is stalking both men. To stay safe, they both must hide while Styx, Law and Paolo try to figure out who the stalker is and how to stop him.
While in hiding, Marcus pushes every button Cole ever had and Cole manages to push quite a few of Marcus’ as well. It doesn’t take much time before their “fighting” turns to … sex.
Marcus and Cole don’t really trust each other, they both have painful pasts that they aren’t willing to share, but their lust is uncontrollable.
Meanwhile, the stalker is getting more inventive and manages to find them – even in Marcus’ best hiding spot. Now the two men are living in the house of the three hot PIs and being surrounded by their obvious love for one another doesn’t make their relationship any easier – or any less hot.
Just when Marcus and Cole think they’ve managed to spill all their secrets, it seems another one pops up, threatening any fragile link they manage to form. Even after the bad guy gets caught, neither man knows where he stands with the other.
It takes a leap of faith and a boatload of honesty, but eventually they do come around to admitting their feelings and committing themselves to one another – forever.
**
This is almost an extension of Jakes’ Men of Honor series in that we get to hang out, quite a bit, with Paolo, Law and Styx. For those of you bothered by ménage, while those boys do mess around a bit, the bulk of this story centers around just Marcus and Cole and they are strictly one-man-guys.
I just love Jakes’ characters. They are always deliciously screwed up, tough, yet vulnerable. She has a flair for putting in just the right amount of danger and tension to make the relationship feel like a life rope.
The sex is off the charts hot and the ending is very, very satisfyingly sweet.
There were times when I had to stop and re-read passages because she shifts POV all over the place, more so than I remember from reading previous works. However, it really didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story.
I loved Cole and Marcus and look forward to a new series featuring broken heroes.
Aside from a sympathetic parole officer, Aiden Finn is alone in the world. He knows this is his last chance—after a lifetime in and out of prison, one more mistake will land him there to stay. Unfortunately, his job as a night custodian at a motel is neither satisfying nor good for building his confidence, and booze and burglary are always just a step behind him.
Enter beautiful, exotic, and secretive Luka Gabor, the motel’s new security guard. He seems to know a great deal about literature, history, and travel but otherwise remains a mystery. Aiden has to admit, the sex has never been better, and he might even be feeling the beginnings of friendship. He dares to hope that this time, he won’t mess things up—if lurking monsters don’t ruin his plans.
My Review
Aiden thinks he’s a “loser”. He’s an ex-con on parole ,working at a nothing job, his last chance before being sent back to prison for life. He’s got a GED but nothing else. No money, no friends, nothing much to do. Until he meets Luka.
Luka is the new security guard at Aiden’s work and every night, during Aiden’s dinner break, Luka gives Aiden a BJ! He never seeks reciprocity and refuses to see Aiden in daylight hours. Sure they enjoy some lovely conversation as well, but most of their “relationship” is confined to these encounters.
At first Aiden goes with the flow, enjoying the benefits of Luka’s peculiar form of contact, but then he begins to get attached, and his feelings get hurt.
To make himself “a better man” (and to distract himself from Luka), Aiden joins a book club, considers going to community college and starts to think about the future. Where does Luka fit in to his new life plan?
Eventually, Luka has to tell his secrets and Aiden has to decide if his monsters can co-exist with Luka’s.
**
This is a short, sweet love story. Both Aiden and Luka are so alone and so … troubled. The secret is pretty easy to figure out, it’s not meant to be a great mystery, but I liked how it gets divulged and this is a unique take on the vampire theme.
I really felt like Luka and Aiden had a chance at making a go of things, and I wished the book had continued on- maybe another chapter or two at least – to give us a picture of the two of them together, as a couple, with no secrets.
This was a great, unique, vampire story and I highly recommend it, giving it a 4.5 of 5 hearts, dropping it down from 5 only because it was too short.
Audio:
Max Lehnen did a good job with this. His accent for Luka was good (I wished it were a little more pronounced) but the “vaguely European” accent he used matched what I imagined Luka having.
The sound quality and editing was good as well.
I give it a 4 of 5 hearts.
Overall I’d give it a 4.25 of 5 hearts (rounded back to 4.5 to keep things easy).
Aaron Weiss knows how to escape. Years ago, he ran from a romantic disappointment and impulsively joined the Army. Now, he’s forced to take a medical discharge and readjusting to life at home proves a challenge.
Jesse Ross knows how to hide. He realizes he’s an oddball, and that he’s an outsider within his own family. He also knows his secret love since childhood, Aaron, only wants his good-looking, favored older brother. Yet Jesse could never completely abandon his intense feelings for Aaron. Over the years, Jesse was a faithful pen pal to him. Still, he’s shocked to his core to find Aaron on his doorstep.
As long-buried secrets and past hurts take center stage, the two are overwhelmingly drawn to each other. But it’s their future that may force them to risk everything.
Morgan’s Review
Aaron fell in love with Jesse’s brother when they were kids. When he didn’t return the sentiment Aaron fled, but has harbored the crush for all these years.
Meanwhile Jesse has had a crush on Aaron ever since he knew what it was to want another person.
While Aaron was in the military he and Jesse formed a strong friendship through the mail but still, Aaron harbors nothing more than a vague feeling of companionship for Jesse and a burning hot adoration for his brother.
One day, after Aaron is sent home from the military for a bad heart, he goes to visit Jesse and is surprised at the man Jesse has become.
Jesse, a loner from the beginning, has only become more of a recluse over time, doesn’t know what to do with his childhood crush. On the one hand he thinks he’s just as gorgeous as ever, but doesn’t know how to like someone who can “like” his huge jerk of a brother.
Finally – FINALLY – Aaron manages to see Jesse for the amazing man he is and to see the other crush he’s harbored all these years was nothing more than a mirage.
It looks like the couple is really going to make it work when Aaron’s medical troubles drive him to the hospital again. Aaron doesn’t want Jesse to be burdened with anyone less than perfect so he pushes Jesse away. Fortunately Jesse fights for Aaron, and after a brief, but tense period apart, Aaron pulls his head out and the two re-unite… forever.
**
In this book, Aaron (Dean’s friend) is nothing like you’d expect an ex-military man to be. In fact, Jesse is the hard-ass of the relationship.
I really enjoyed watching Jesse deal with his social anxiety and the support he got from Aaron. I also really liked that Jesse was NEVER a wimp. He put up a good fight and Aaron really had to work hard to convince him what they have is real.
The secondary characters, ie brother, parents, friends; were all very well thought out and really added to the realistic feel of the story. The sub-plot with Jesse’s family was fascinating. I could really feel his pain at being “the red-headed-step-child” of the family.
I enjoyed this book when I read it and Matt Baca did an excellent job with the audio. He did a nice vaguely Brooklyn accent when needed and it was clear who was speaking.
I give both the book and the audiobook 4.5 hearts, I really enjoyed them!
Anthony Carrino loves his big, gregarious Italian-American family, even if his sisters are interfering, and his dad, the local sheriff, knows everything going on in town. He’s happy as a middle school guidance counselor. Despite helping kids and their parents fix their problems, Anthony can’t manage to get his own love life right. If only everyone would stop calling him the “nice” guy.
Dean Pierce doesn’t do relationships. A tough-minded military man, he is dedicated to his job as a Night Stalker, flying Chinook helicopters and not speaking much to anybody. He certainly doesn’t want to deal with a mess of emotions. But when tragedy strikes, Dean finds his hands full with his troubled niece, her irresistible guidance counselor, and a meddlesome family, which includes a rather large puppy.
My Review
Dean gets called from active duty in Afghanistan to return to Arizona when his sister is killed to take charge of his 13 year-old niece. He’s totally freaked out because he really doesn’t want to A) leave the military B) raise a teenaged girl C) live in Arizona.
Then he meets Anthony, his niece’s guidance counselor and realizes that he is A) in over his head B) very attracted to Anthony.
Dean doesn’t have many social skills, he’s used to the military and hidden, hard, fast screwing as a means to release and he really doesn’t know how to handle things like “lovemaking”, feelings, or parenthood.
Dean was in foster care as a child, so he decides he can’t abandon his niece to the system and decides to leave the military to raise her. He works with Anthony to make this happen.
Anthony, who was used by his last boyfriend and left hung out to dry, is kind of a mess, but he really, really likes Dean and his niece, so he agrees to form a “no strings” relationship with Dean. He schools Dean both on “slow, tender, the-end-isn’t-important-it’s-the-journey” sex and tips to raise a teenager.
In the end, Anthony thinks he must sacrifice his family for Dean’s career. Dean has to confront his feelings and be willing to “come out” to his niece and accept a new life, without the military. We get a terrifically sweet HEA here and a glimpse of the pair in the future in the sequel!
**
Dean is sweet, closed off, hard to reach, but in the end very warm. I loved watching Anthony “train” him in the ways of tender lovemaking. I also enjoyed Anthony’s sisters, they were a hoot!
Anthony was the weakest character, but he did provide an interesting contrast in that he was kind of spineless out in the world, but totally owned things in the bedroom. In the end, he was the perfect foil for Dean.
I had originally rated this as a 3.5 when I first read it, but upon re-reading/listening to this, I upgraded it to a 4.5. I don’t know if it was the sequel, wherein everything is far more stable that convinced me, but I really enjoyed this book more knowing what I know about them in the future.
Audio
Matt Baca (previously from Into this River I Drown) did a great job. He didn’t do too much with the voices, but Dean had a nice rumbly voice and Anthony wasn’t done in any over-the-top gay-boy voice. The sisters had a vaguely Brooklyn type lilt that suited them well. I enjoyed his narration very much. 4.5 of 5 hearts.
When mixology meets biology, it’s pure chemistry!
Alex Michaels values intellect and propriety. To help pay the bills while he finishes his biological research degree, he waits tables at The Other Team. He’s trying to avoid romantic entanglements to focus on his studies, but the new cook, Ricky McNeil, is dangerously attractive. Ricky’s scars and tattoos have Alex both scared and horny. It doesn’t take long for Alex to cave in to their insane attraction. But can two men from two different worlds have more than just a physical connection?
My Review
Very short, very hot, very sweet love story. Supposed bad boy meets nerd. They have hot, hot sex. Find there is way more to each other than they thought. Maybe even love?
I highly recommend this and give it a 5 of 5 hearts.
Bianca worries that her daddy, Gavin, is lonely and decides he needs a boyfriend for Christmas. So she enlists her father’s best friend, the straight and unattached Curtis. Gavin has a Christmas wish, too, and Curtis setting him up on disastrous dates isn’t part of it! Meanwhile, Curtis finds life becoming complicated as he tries to please Bianca, make Gavin happy, and fend off his own unexpected mixed feelings. Will anyone’s wish come true?
My Review
Bianca, Gavin’s 10 year old daughter is trying to get her dad a boyfriend for Christmas. She enlists the help of their mutual, straight neighbor/friend, Curtis to set Gavin up on some blind dates, since Gavin has been alone for the last two years.
Co-incidentally, two years ago is when Curtis moved in, and it’s no secret Gavin is harboring a huge crush on the straight guy. Curtis feels guilty about this crush so he elects to help Bianca, even though each set up leaves him angry and vaguely unsettled.
Finally, Gavin meets someone on his own, and Curtis realizes that he has actually been deluding himself all this time, and he makes his move in a jealous fit.
When the boys tell Bianca that they are finally together, Bianca admits that had been her plan all along!
**
This was a fast story with quick humorous “dates” punctuated by Curtis’s guilty conscience acting as a monologue in the background. Bianca is no ten year old I’ve ever met – but as a catalyst, her interest in seeing Daddy with a boyfriend works. (I don’t know why the author didn’t just make her older, it would have worked just as effectively, without bringing you out of the story, thinking “a ten year old said that?!”)
The last 20% was the couple exploring Curtis’s new forays into gay sex and it was appropriately steamy.
All in all I enjoyed the story and thought it was pretty funny and sweet.
3.5/5 hearts
Audio:
Paul Morey does another nice job. I love the deep bass voice that he gives to Gavin and he did some funny characterizations with some of the bozos Gavin ends up dating. This is another case where listening might be a bit more entertaining than reading, because the voices add some color to what might be a more vanilla story.
Aiden burst out laughing and moved one hand to ruffle Olly’s hair.
“Hey!” Olly exclaimed as he pulled back in order to glare at Aiden, who just smiled bigger and pulled him back into his arms.
“I couldn’t resist,” Aiden said, the laughter evident in his voice.
“Yeah, whatever. Anyway, back to what I was saying, but hopefully without interruptions this time.” Olly looked pointedly at Ryan when he said that. Ryan seemed to be studying him intently, but didn’t utter a word.
Olly looked away and started talking again. “I know where the pack is, or at least, I know where a bunch of canine shifters are being held.”
“How do you know that they’re part of our pack?” Lex asked, sounding like he was trying to restrain his eagerness.
Olly turned to him. “Because I heard a few of the guards talk about how they captured a bunch of them together.”
“And why didn’t you get caught?” Ryan asked, anger in his voice.
“Because,” Olly paused, then sighed. “The house they’re being held in belongs to Walter.”
Aiden gasped and when Olly looked at him, he saw the horror that was on his face.
“How long has Walter had shifters imprisoned on his property?” Aiden asked, outrage in his voice.
“I don’t know for sure, but it would be a number of years.” Olly couldn’t face any of them as he said that.
“Who is this Walter?” Ryan growled.
Olly looked up at him, then looked away as he replied, “My father.”
Beany lives in Western Australia. She first started reading romance novels in 2008, but it wasn’t until January 2010 when her Kindle got delivered that the world of erotic romance opened its doors to her, and she hasn’t looked back.
With suggestions and support from friends, her muse—“affectionately” known as PITA—was finally able to break free, and in January 2014 her first story was written. Since she can’t put PITA back in his box, Beany has decided to give in and team up with him. Together they’ve made plans to write both MF and MM stories.
Author Contact:
She can be reached at [email protected]
Or visit her at http://www.beanysparks.com
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Latrisha Waters
Beany Answers:
Q: When you start a book, do you already have the whole story in your head or is it built progressively?
A: Not at all, I have no idea how the story is going to end up when I start writing it. Sometimes I don’t even know what the conflict is going to be until it happens.
Q: What is the book you would bring with you on a desert island?
A: Can I cheat and say my iPad or Kindle? Then I could have a continuous supply of stories!
Q:When and why did you begin writing?
A: I began in January 2014 and wrote the whole book in a month. I have always been coming up with stories in my mind, mainly after I finish reading a story or blog instalment, then I’d let my mind come up with scenarios about what happened next. Then, with a lot of encouragement, I finally sat down and started writing. Now I couldn’t get PITA back in his cage for anything in the world…not sure if that’s a good thing…
Officer Shawn Everly patrols the Strip and one night, fireman Trent Marshall saves him when danger strikes. But it’s still uncertain whether Trent can save himself from getting his heart broken by Shawn.
The party never ends on the Las Vegas strip but neither does the danger. Officer Everly is new to the beat, having recently relocated to Vegas from Los Angeles. Foot patrol on the Strip is a demanding assignment because he’s up close and personal with the public. But what he’d really like to do is get up close and personal with Station 32’s hunky fireman, Trent Marshall.
Trent has been a fireman for over ten years and is dedicated to his job. He’s built tough and is a no-nonsense man of few words. At a local blood drive, Trent meets the handsome new officer on foot patrol but won’t let himself get too close. He’s lost love before when his policeman lover was killed in the line of fire.
During an emergency, Trent’s over-protective instincts kick in when he believes Shawn is in harm’s way. He ends up embarrassing and angering Shawn in front of their fellow officers, which seems as though it will end any hope of Trent having a chance with the young man he can’t push from his mind. Shawn can’t decide whether he wants to punch or kiss Trent. Kissing wins. Once they spend some time together away from the stresses of their jobs, they find that they’re not just compatible—they’re combustible.
But Trent can’t seem to accept that there are hazards that come with working in law enforcement. Right as they’re discovering how much they mean to one another, the danger escalates on the Strip. The underground vigilante group, The Citizens Against Immorality, have raised the stakes. Will Shawn and Trent be their next targets?
My Review
Trent’s lover of several years died 2 years ago, the victim of a murderer while on duty. He hasn’t felt desire in all this time and when he meets Shawn at a blood-drive, he ignores the policeman, knowing he can’t handle another relationship with a cop.
Shawn has just moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles and he doesn’t have many friends. He sees Trent across a crowded hall and falls immediately in lust with the hunky fireman. But it isn’t until Trent rescues him from a near drowning that he realizes Trent is just as attracted to Shawn as Shawn is to Trent.
When Shawn gets injured chasing down a bad guy, Trent is there to rescue him and set him up in his house to recuperate. By this time Trent is ready to admit that he’s gone for Shawn and can’t fight the attraction any more.
The relationship starts off hot and steamy and only gets more molten from there. But… Trent does several really dumb, cave-man things that humiliates Shawn and forces him to realize that Trent isn’t exactly over his past lover’s death.
Shawn and Trent are also caught up in solving a string of murders/arsons that place Shawn in harms way and forces Trent to make some tough decisions.
Fortunately, Trent asks for and receives some help that allows him to give Shawn the space he needs so that they can have their HEA.
**
This was such a surprise! When I read the blurb and some of the reviews, I was expecting a book full of hot sex and not much else. But, while it is FULL of hot sex, it is also really tender and loving. There’s a little mystery/excitement thrown in and a pretty astute look at grief and grieving.
I found myself very, very pleasantly surprised and definitely recommend this book to lovers of the men in uniform, hot sex, and sweet love stories.
Short-tempered, arrogant heart surgeon Jason Garcia grew up wanting a close-knit family, but believes he ruined those dreams when he broke up his marriage. The benefit of divorce is having as much random sex as he wants, and it’s a benefit Jason is exploiting when he meets a sweet, shy man at a bar and convinces him to go home for a no-strings-attached night of fun.
Eight years living in Las Vegas hasn’t dimmed Abe Green’s optimism, earnestness, or desire to find the one. When a sexy man with lonely eyes propositions him, Abe decides to give himself a birthday present—one night of spontaneous fun with no thoughts of the future. But one night turns into two and then three, and Abe realizes his heart is involved.
For the first time, Abe feels safe enough with someone he respects and adores to let go of his inhibitions in the bedroom. If Jason can get past his own inhibitions and open his heart and his life to Abe, he might finally find the family he craves.
My review
Jason Garcia, cousin to Ash from Something in the Way He Needs, is a surgeon, divorced, father of two. He doesn’t believe men can be in relationships with each other, and doesn’t know why you would even try. He takes his lovers one night only and, so far, hasn’t found the need to change that pattern.
Abe, the student from Strong Enough, is all grown up and teaching math. He’s at a bar with friends one night and runs into Jason – the chemistry is hot and immediate and since it’s his birthday, Abe takes Jason home, knowing it’s a one night thing.
But then Jason runs into him again… and again… and then things are looking less like a hook-up and kinda sorta like a relationship…but Jason still doesn’t exactly believe in those, especially when it seems his kids aren’t doing as great as he thought and might need more of his time.
Abe, on the other hand, is loving where things are going – sure he’s scared it could all crumble, but he never even hoped to have a relationship that satisfied him on so many different levels. So he perseveres and crosses his fingers.
When push comes to shove, Jason is sort of forced to “define the relationship” and of course, we get our HEA… it is a Cardeno book after all!
**
Abe is amazing. He is absolutely the only one who would put up with Jason and fortunately Jason recognizes this. The sex in this book is exceptionally hot – higher on the Richter scale than most – and the emotional interactions are downplayed but still very present and very touching.
I really enjoyed this installment in the family series, I loved seeing Ash again, but I wished we’d seen Emilio and Spence too.
Jason was such a unique character, sort of oblivious yet extremely sharp at the same time. Abe, though always bending, was never a doormat and it just worked out so well for them.
I highly recommend this book, this author and this series and give it a 5 of 5 hearts!
