Month: May 2015

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Dallas in Wonderland by Evan Gilbert

Dreamspinner Presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6390

DallasinWonderlandBlurb

Dallas Fox owns porn movie studio Wonderland and for him, sex is all about business. He hasn’t felt passion in a long time, so he is surprised when he develops an attraction for Johnny Roman, a college student who has recently become a porn actor for the studio, and Miguel Duarte, an office assistant. Dallas is even more surprised when he realizes they are as interested in him as they are in each other. Those attractions violate Dallas’s number one rule: no mixing business and pleasure.

Dallas slowly lets his guard down, and eventually winds up in bed with both Johnny and Miguel. Their painful backgrounds are similar, and they begin forging bonds that could grow into something much deeper. Miguel, however, faces a threat that could endanger them all and destroy any chance of finding the romance they want and need.

Review

Dallas is the consummate “bottom”, and has played that role for years, turning it from a role in porn to owning his own successful studio. His life is good, but he’s lonely – he just doesn’t realize it yet.
Johnny is living life well. He’s in school, has a bright future, making money doing something he loves – playing the hard-assed “top” for Dallas’ studio. But – he’s had a crush on Dallas for years and though Dallas plays a bottom in every role he’s ever done – he’s really a top outside the studio. Johnny – who’s never bottomed isn’t sure he’s ready for that. Not to mention, Dallas has a strict “no fraternization with employees” rule.

Miguel stumbles into studio life when his roommate runs off mysteriously with the rent, leaving him high and dry and desperate. Luckily Dallas’ business partner finds Miguel before he ends up renting out his ass and gives him an assistant job at the studio. There Miguel sees Johnny and Dallas and their chemistry and wishes he could be part of it. But no one like them could ever see someone like him and think he’d make a great partner – could they?

In a very brief period of time – all three men face some tough decisions/situations and end up thrown together. They find strength and love with one another in addition to some sizzling hot chemistry.

This is a short book, and so we end with essentially a solid HFN but it feels good and definitely on the path to longevity.

My only complaint is that the novella is full of “telling” and not nearly enough “showing”. There is a lot of information “dumped” on us as each character gives us their physical descriptions and back-stories. I would have appreciated taking the time to either develop these more organically or finding a way to give the information in a less clichéd way. (IE Dallas looks in the mirror and tells us what he sees as a way to let us know how he looks physically.)

This is a new author to me and I will definitely look for more in the future.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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Falling (Fall or Break book 1) by Barbara Elsborg

Samhain Publishing Presents https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5374/falling

fallingBlurb

He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop.
Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming.
Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear.
Product Warnings
Contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.

Review

Harper and Malachi. Whew. What a hard, hard story they share. Harper is fresh from prison where he was wrongfully accused of raping students. Malachi is coming off an intense relationship with a controlling boyfriend. Both are wary but so very needy.

There is about a 10 year age difference but Malachi is definitely mature for his age, he’s lived a hard life.

Their relationship is full of hurdles, Elsborg gives us lots of angst and difficulties to struggle against. My heart hurt throughout most of this book – there is a lot of injustice and I was aching for someone to set things right.

The sexual tension and its relief are done really well and the smexy times are very hot between these two.

This is a longish book and for some, there might just be a tad too many of these angsty hurdles to wade through, but the end is pretty satisfying and our heroes certainly earned their HEA.

I think the writing was excellent, the romance fairly wonderful, the chemistry sizzling and overall I really enjoyed this book. Personally I started to lose some steam around the countless road-blocks and crises, but I’m impatient for my happy endings, no matter how long the book!

4.5 of 5 stars – practically perfect!

4.5

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One Small Thing Audiobook by MJ O’Shea and Piper Vaughn Narrated by Finn Sterling

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6361

OneSmallThingAUDMedBlurb

“Daddy” is not a title Rue Murray wanted, but he never thought he’d have sex with a woman either. Now he’s the unwitting father of a newborn named Alice. Between bartending and cosmetology school, Rue doesn’t have time for babies, but he can’t give her up. What Rue needs is a babysitter, and he’s running out of options. He’s on the verge of quitting school to watch Alice himself when he remembers his reclusive new neighbor, Erik.

Erik Van Nuys is a sci-fi novelist with anxiety issues to spare. He doesn’t like people in general, and he likes babies even less. Still, with his royalties dwindling, he could use the extra cash. Reluctantly, he takes on the role of manny—and even more reluctantly, he finds himself falling for Alice and her flamboyant father.

Rue and Erik are as different as two people can be, and Alice is the unlikeliest of babies, but Rue has never been happier than when Alice and Erik are by his side. At least, not until he receives an offer that puts all his dreams within reach and he’s forced to choose: the future he’s always wanted, or the family he thought he never did.

Review

Rue ends up becoming a daddy when his experiment with heterosexual sex ends up with a broken condom! He elects to keep the baby himself even though he’s really not equipped to handle a newborn. Lucky for him his neighbor – a mostly hermitted writer- needs the extra cash being a babysitter can provide.

Erik is the quintessential nerd and has very few social skills as compared to Rue’s very extroverted personality. Together they find that one nerd plus one flirt can equal one very solid and fulfilling relationship.

**

I LOVED this book! Erik is such a great character – broody, grumpy, awkward. His exploration into gay sex by converting his poorly selling sci-fi into gay-sci-fi is hysterical and hot!

The writing is smooth and flows easily. There is some angst when Rue and Erik need to decide how “real” their relationship is and the baby is there just enough to provide the glue for their new family.

I thought the narrator did a great job with Erik’s stuttering and didn’t make Rue over the top. It was very easy to listen to and added to the overall enjoyment of the book.

5 of 5 hearts

5

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Moment of Clarity (Moments in time book 3) by Karen Stivali

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6283
MomentofClarityBlurb

Spending the summer together on Fire Island brought Collin and Tanner closer than ever, but back in their conservative college town, challenges confront them at every turn.

As they search for their new normal in their old environment, Collin’s brother Sean surprises them with help when they need it most. But when word about their relationship gets out, trouble erupts with friends and family. When Collin’s relationship with Tanner becomes an issue in his brother’s custody battle and Tanner struggles with his feelings for a heartbroken Wendy, Collin wonders if everyone he cares about would be better off without him in the picture.

In order to save them both, Tanner must make it clear to Collin that their love for each other is all that matters

Review
(Spoilers- be forewarned.)

 

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Oh! The Drama! For such a short book, this is chock full of angst and drama.

So we left our boys in the gym, temporarily homeless after a flood put their dorm room off limits for repairs. This made them sad and horny.
They get together with Sean, and as he leaves the house to them for a bit of alone time, the estranged wife surprises them and shouts horrible things at them. This leaves them sad and horny.

But – that’s not enough, she uses this information – Sean’s association with a gay brother to try to keep Sean from his kids. This makes the boys sad and horny.

Though they manage to get some time together it’s never enough until finally they area able to move back into their own room. Finally they relieve some of their tension, but they have an audience, their “friend” Tim, who figures out there were no women in the room when he heard the sex sounds. He shouts ugly things and outs them on campus, making both guys, but especially Tanner scared, nervous and angry at the reception they get. This makes them sad and horny.

Luckily there’s Wendy, Tanner’s friend and ex-lover who was sad and horny so she and Tanner almost hook up. This shakes Collin, along with the thing with Sean and Tim, so much that he decides to LEAVE Tanner. You guessed it. Sad. Horny.

But where does he go? Tanner’s mom? Strange choice? Maybe. But she’s always supported him and he doesn’t have anywhere to turn. She houses him, but of course rats him out to Tanner who in turn comes for him and tells him he’s an idiot. And they make up. Not sad. Still horny.

We end on a fairly HEA note… the future only defined a few months later, but the boys seem to be making their way in the world, together.

**

Though this may seem like I didn’t like the story, it’s not true. I mostly did. I love the chemistry between the boys and really like them as a couple. I did get tired of the drama and it seemed like there could have been more organic and emotionally satisfying hurdles for our boys to handle. (IE just being an actual couple, coming out bravely, dealing with the family itself without the extreme courtroom drama.) I was especially confused as to why Collin would think leaving made any sense and why Tanner’s mom was a good choice of refuge. Unless he wanted to be caught and was just show-boating… but that didn’t feel like the Collin we knew…

Anyhow, if you’ve read the first two you will want to read this last installment for closure if nothing else.

Karen is still an excellent writer and her smexy times are top-notch!

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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Conflict in Blood (Partnership in Blood Volume 3) by Ariel Tachna

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5557

ConflictinBloodBlurb

Sequel to Covenant in Blood
Partnership in Blood Volume Three

As the Alliance wizard-vampire partnerships grow stronger, the dark wizards feel the effects and become increasingly desperate to find enough information to counter them, unaware of the growing strain of the blood-magic bonds on the wizards and vampires alike.

The conflict is spreading. The strife of uncomfortable relationships, both personal and professional, is threatening to tear up the Alliance from the inside, despite the efforts of Alain Magnier and Orlando St. Clair, Thierry Dumont and Sebastien Noyer, and even Raymond Payet and Jean Bellaiche, leader of the Paris vampires, who is fighting to establish a stable covenant with his own partner so he might lead by example.

As the war rages on and heartbreaking casualties mount on both sides, the dark wizards keep searching for clues to understand and counter the strength of the Alliance, while the blood-bound Alliance partners hunt through ancient prejudices and forgotten lore to find an edge that can turn the tide of the war once and for all.

Review

In this, the third installment of the Partnership series, there is more conflict between the dark wizards and the wizard/vampire alliance.

As in book two the various couples have their own emotional hurdles to overcome and their relationships change and develop.

They develop a new way to counter the magic imbalance – through sex – of course!

**

This book still has the problem of balancing all the various couples (including m/f!) and the war. There is slightly more relationship building in this book (yay!) and each couple seems to be moving forward nicely, though there isn’t much dramatic change in the way of the war, yet.

Overall a nice, if perhaps overly long, addition to the Partnership series.

If you’ve been caught up in books one and two you will undoubtedly want to keep going…

4 of 5 hearts

4

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Night School Vampire by AJ Llewellyn and DJ Manly

Amberquill Presents
http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/1952-Night-School-Vampire.aspx

night school vampireBlurb

It’s tough being a vampire. For one thing, there’s so much time on your hands. And for another, being undead for centuries means that you meet way too many stupid people…

Socrates Delis, since he has to be awake at night, wonders why he shouldn’t make better use of his time. So to ease his loneliness and hopefully meet a more educated group of people, he enrolls in night school at UCLA’s extension courses and quickly finds that poetry isn’t the only thing on the agenda. Somebody is killing off young gay men around town, and students are nervous. And by the way, didn’t Socrates swear off love? So why’s he finding himself attracted to his hot, human teacher?

Devin Gold loves his work. The great poets are his favorites to share with his English lit students, and while teaching, his life often seems just about perfect. But holy heck, his crazy Uncle Vince just blew into town and has even invaded Devin’s night classes, disrupting his life. Uncle Vince and Devin’s mom think they’re vampire hunters. Devin knows there’s no such thing, and has lived with the shame of their insanity all his life. Now his uncle swears that LA, even night school, is swarming with fangers.

How can Devin keep his sudden attraction to his handsome new student, Socrates, a secret? He’s not sure, but he has to try, especially since his obsessive uncle will undoubtedly insist that Socrates is a vampire. It’s tough being a sane human in La La Land…

Review

Socrates is an old vampire living in LA. He wants to be as “mortal” as possible and has always enjoyed writing, so he decides to spend some of his time at night school learning how to be a better writer.

There he meets the delicious teacher, Devin, but also runs into the crazy Ivan – a vampire hunter out for his and his friend’s heads.

Turns out there is more to Devin than just a dreamy teacher, he has connections with Ivan and Devin that could make a lot of trouble for Socrates. But that doesn’t stop the pair from connecting…

**

This really wasn’t my cup of tea. I thought I’d like it at first – Socrates is a great character – funny, clueless, sincere, sexy… but Devin is too wishy-washy and I really felt uncomfortable with the sort of love triangle that gets formed between Devin, Socrates and the mutal “ex” Lucky.

I enjoyed the dark humor but found the romance lacking and the ending… not really a HEA, maybe a HFN…

Anyhow, I give it 2.5 of 5 hearts for the character building.

2.5

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Healing Hunter’s Heart (A Little Bite of Love Book 2) by Charlie Cochet

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6246

HealingHuntersHeartBlurb

Months after being forced to leave his lover and mate Ari Jannsen behind, Hunter Devin settles into his role as Enforcer for the newly formed Deagan Clan under the rule of his new Alpha and best friend Tristan “Trip” Hagan. Along with Hunter’s brother Boone, their nephews, sister, and mother, Hunter finally has the family he’s always wanted, but without his little rebel Ari, his heart is incomplete.

The Hagan Clan is unable to accept the Deagan Clan’s betrayal for walking away and taking the clan’s pups with them. War looms. As both clans plan their attack, a greater enemy plots against them. But Hunter is determined to get his Ari back. Bonds are put to the test and unexpected alliances are made as Hunter and his clan set out to protect their own and end the spreading heartache.

Review

First – you MUST have read book one for this book to mean much to you.

We met Hunter and Ari in An Intrepid Trip To Love, the mates who couldn’t mate because of politics and were then separated by an evil mother and a clan war.

This book is about their back-story and their coming together.

**

Charlie Cochet has to be one of my favorite authors! She is so witty, so giddy and yet careful with her dialog. I adore her characters and find her creativity astonishing.

I was so glad to see that she didn’t keep Ari and Hunter apart for long in this book and was grateful for the back-story – it was sexy and hilarious at the same time.

The evil in this book is REALLY evil and I am looking forward to seeing more about this clan war and possibly another match with our wolf leader in the future.

PS I loved the Epilogue- Yay Trip and Boone!

5 of 5 hearts

5

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Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane

Riptide Publishing Presents http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/christmas-kitsch

ChristmasKitsch_500x750Blurb

Sometimes the best thing you can get for Christmas is knowing what you really want.
Rusty Baker is a blond, rich, entitled football player in a high school full of them—just the type of oblivious jock all the bullied kids hate. And he might have stayed that way, except he develops a friendship with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. Rusty thinks the friendship is just pity—Oliver is very bright, and Rusty is very not—but then Oliver kisses him goodbye when Rusty leaves for college, and Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.
But even Rusty’s newfound awareness can’t help him survive a semester at Berkeley. He returns home for Thanksgiving break clinging to the one thing he knows to be true: Oliver Campbell is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. Oliver may not have much money, but he’s got something Rusty has never known: true family. With their help and Oliver’s love, Rusty comes to realize that he may have failed college, but he’ll pass real life with flying rainbow colors.

Review

Rusty is a good kid. He’s popular. Plays sports. Has girlfriends. Does what his parents tell him to. He’s not the “quickest” but he’s not stupid either.
Oliver is the “new brown kid”. He’s small. Snarky. Gay. And in need of a friend. Despite Rusty’s peer group’s objections, Rusty befriends Oliver and Oliver helps Rusty through his last year of high school.
When it comes time for Rusty to go to Berkley, where he just knows he’s going to fail, Oliver does all he can to assure him that he’ll be there for him and that he knows Rusty won’t get lost in the shuffle. And… he kisses Rusty.
Rusty is left at school, lost, scared, trapped with a crazy but warm-hearted-hyper-sexual-roommate, and the memory of Oliver’s kiss to make him question everything he is or wants to be.
When it becomes apparent that Rusty is in fact NOT ready for Berkley – though he tries damn hard – he is ready for Oliver and KNOWS that Oliver is more than just his best friend. When Rusty gets home for Thanksgiving Oliver is there to greet him and the two kiss again. This time they get caught by Rusty’s homophobic family who immediately throw Rusty out of the house.
Luckily Oliver’s dad is amazing and he helps Rusty to get his bearings again.
What follows is Rusty’s jump into the deep end of adulthood and his navigation of his first real relationship that also happens to be his first gay relationship. Oliver’s impatience and love both help and hinder him in this process, but the underlying support he and his dad offer Rusty give him the strength to grow into the man he needs to become.
**

This is another of my all-time favorite Amy Lane books. Another one I’m hoping will soon become an Audiobook. (Hint, hint!)
Rusty is so very lost but he’s also so sweet and lovable you want to reach through the pages and wrap him in blankets and kiss his cheeks.
Oliver is just smart and snarky enough to ease the saccharine sweetness of Rusty’s goodness and make them a real, fun, and sexy couple.
I loved the interactions with the secondary characters. The role model of Oliver’s dad. The hilarity of the cousins. The hero-worship of Rusty’s sister. And the eventual grace of Rusty’s parents.
I read this book when I need a warm hug on a rainy afternoon and it always makes me feel better.

I can’t recommend it enough.

6 of 5 hearts

amazing

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The Rebuilding Year by Kaje Harper

Samhain Publishing Presents https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/4117/the-rebuilding-year

the-rebuilding-yearBlurb

Losing nearly everything leaves room for the one thing they can’t live without.

A few excruciating minutes pinned in a burning building cost Ryan Ward his job as a firefighter, the easy camaraderie of his coworkers, his girlfriend, and damn near cost him his left leg. Giving up, though, isn’t an option. Compared to the alternative, choosing a new profession, going back to school, and renting a room from the college groundskeeper are simple.

Until he realizes he’s falling in love with his housemate, and things take a turn for the complicated.

John Barrett knows about loss. After moving twice to stay in touch with his kids, he could only watch as his ex-wife whisked them away to California. Offering Ryan a room seems better than rattling around the empty house, but as casual friendship moves to something more, and a firestorm of emotions ignites, the big old house feels like tight quarters.

It’s nothing they can’t learn to navigate, though. But when dead bodies start turning up on campus—and one of the guys is a suspect—their first taste of real love could go up in smoke.

Product Warnings
Contains two hot men wrestling with a shift in their sexuality, as well as a few positions probably listed in the Gay Kama Sutra. But it’s not all about the hot and sweaty—especially when your previously straight life knocks on the door and comes back to visit.

Review

Ryan is a med student, former fireman who was injured in the line of duty, looking for a cheap place to stay while studying. He meets John on campus where John does the maintenance for the university. John is recently divorced father of two who is looking for a friend and someone to share expenses.

John and Ryan quickly become great friends and find themselves inexplicably attracted to one another as more than friends. Neither has identified as gay before but are suddenly seeing the other as very attractive.

There are a lot of hurdles. Neither is willing to jump into this without being sure of their feelings. Ryan has scars on his body that makes him leery of opening himself up to anyone. John’s wife and family aren’t going to see this as something to embrace. And – there’s a dead body found on campus and John is a suspect!

With a lot of careful movements forward and some deep discussion the couple explore their new feelings and in the end find a deep and abiding love.

**

This was one of the first mm books I ever read and I have re-read it dozens of times! I absolutely loved it. It’s a double GFY, both male “virgins” and they are so very sweet with each other! Kaje Harper is an amazing writer, she carefully crafts their relationship so that it is believable and romantic and yet full of realistic challenges and day to day hurdles.

I can’t recommend this book enough and I am ever so excited to read the sequel (finally!)!

6 of 5 hearts

amazing

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Forever for Now-Scotty Cade

Dreamspinner Press

Blurb: 

Leeland Jeffers is a contented single man with a thriving career in Atlanta. He’s had a few unsuccessful relationships over the years, but no one has even come close to his first love, Harrison Rhinehart. They met in college when a mutual friend, Suzie Garrison, introduced Harry into their close-knit group. When the supposedly “straight” Harry made a move on Lee, the two men entered into a tumultuous secret love affair. In their senior year, the relationship finally ended when Harry informed Lee he was marrying Suzie.


Since graduation, the college friends have drifted apart. However, an unexpected invitation to a destination wedding seems set to reunite them all. Lee’s speculation on whether Harry and Suzie will make an appearance threatens to derail his attendance. But Lee decides the hell with it and makes plans to go, Harry Rhinehart or no Harry Rhinehart.

  

Kiwi’s Review:

There are several things you can always count on when you’re reading anything written by Scotty Cade. You’re going to get the beautiful covers, you’re going to get a book that is well written, well researched; the smooth flowing storyline, interesting characters, well written dialog, and editing that is on point.  And again, you’re going to read books featuring mature men and not ‘twinks’. What you get is a nice, contemporary read that is geared toward readers like me who are of a particular age who appreciate reading about two mature men in love and experiencing the ups and downs of a relationship. 

This one tells us about two men who like most of us, made mistakes when they were  in college. Here, you have Harry, a young man who wasn’t ready to own up to his sexuality, has a secret relationship with Lee but because he wasn’t ready to be himself ends up marrying a woman. Lee never really gets over in and I think that it affected his decisions as far as the type of relationships he wants and has. I feel that Lee put up this facade of being this slightly campy, funny, sassy type of man who enters into no strings sexual relationships with men from time to time. I think he does this because he really doesn’t want to invest his time and feelings into a relationship that he feels may not work and he wasn’t over Harry. Lee was Hurt and angry so he wasn’t going to admit his feelings for Harry. 

Meanwhile, Harry’s made a complete mess of his life. Harry’s bad decisions have led to him hurting first Lee, then his wife, and ultimately himself. Now that’s not to say that it was all Harry’s fault. Susie, Harry’s wife, has to take some responsibility for the mess of their marriage. I don’t understand how women marry a man who they know may be conflicted about their sexuality or gay but marry them or enter into relationships with them anyway thinking he will change, that they will  be the ones to change them or the man will change for them. I don’t know if it’s ego, desperation or a combination of the two that makes some women do that. Whatever the reason is they must bear some responsibility when the marriage going awry. Cade approached this issue with in a mature manner.  When Susie made the decision about her and Harry’s marriage she did so in a calmly when he could’ve written it in a way that made her look vindictive and petty. I really appreciate  how he refrained from doing that. He never demean or vilify the female characters in his books and I find that refreshing.

This story was a little shorter than I’m used to from this author but it worked well. The pace was fast but smooth. If you’re looking for a book or an author that specializes in writing books featuring grown and sexy man then you should definitely get this author a try. This novella is definitely worth picking up. 


❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️