Day: July 8, 2015

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The Right Time (Right and Wrong Series) by Lane Hayes

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6462

RightTime[The]Blurb

Workaholic Nate Erickson is a successful real estate developer who thrives on long hours and stress. When a Los Angeles project prompts him to relocate to Santa Monica, he welcomes the change of scenery. Nate has always considered romantic entanglements trouble, but his sexy next-door neighbor isn’t easy to ignore. Which makes no sense, because Nate is straight… or so he’s always thought.

Alex Reyes is a retired professional soccer player turned West Hollywood business owner with an insatiable lust for life. He loves his family, friends, and work. But there’s one life challenge left to accomplish: coming out publicly. Respect for traditional Latino values has kept him in the closet, but Alex begins to think he and his new neighbor might help one another combat their fears. As Alex and Nate forge a strong friendship, they soon realize facing their personal demons will take more courage than either man bargained. The reward is immeasurable… if the timing is right.

Review
Alex is Michael’s friend from book one, another (ex) professional soccer player who has now opened his own gym. He also acts as a landlord and rents Nate a place for 6 months while he works on his most recent real estate deal.

Nate is divorced (from a woman) has an interesting past that leads him to believe he is best alone and straight. He is reluctant to explore his bisexuality due to some bad experiences and it’s up to Alex to convince him to give “his gay side” a chance.

Alex is great at giving advice, but doesn’t follow it for himself. He doesn’t want to come out to his dad for fear of disappointing him.

They sort of, tentatively agree to a “for right now” sexual relationship that morphs into more as time goes on. But when Alex finds out something disturbing from Nate’s past it looks like things are all over.

**

Like the other books in this series, the writing is excellent, the character development is well done, and the sexy times very hot.

I didn’t care for the drama regarding Nate’s college girlfriend. It felt stuck in there at the end to give the couple an obstacle that I don’t think they needed.

I liked that Nate didn’t waffle about exploring his sexuality even though it had been years. But, I never really understood Alex’s issues and I really would have appreciated seeing more of the story from his POV (it’s told from Nate’s).

I liked revisiting the boys from the past books, and I look forward to more in this series.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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Immutable by Becky Black

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6619
ImmutableBlurb
Every night, in the tiny cottage he shares with his dying mother, lonely young shepherd Callum dreams of having a lover by his side. A man to share his bed and his life. One day, as he gathers driftwood on the beach, he finds Breen, a beautiful, naked stranger. Breen makes love to him, leaving Callum certain he’s only a fantasy. But the stunning Breen is there again the next day—fulfilling Callum’s every wish. Then Callum’s hopes are shattered when he learns of Breen’s true nature. Panic and desperation drive Callum to commit a terrible betrayal to try to keep Breen from leaving him.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

Review

SPOILER ALERT
I have to warn you that this review contains a big spoiler – so be warned.

Callum is a shepherd living in a rural town by the sea. He longs for someone to love him, and though it is a sin, he hopes it is a man. He finds a man one day near drowning on the beach and the two make love. Callum thinks he’s dreamt the encounter and is shocked when he returns the next day to find the man there again.
When Callum’s ailing mother passes, Breen, the man from the beach, moves into Callum’s house and they begin to build a life together. Callum constantly worries about where Breen goes when he disappears at night, but Breen always returns. Callum also worries about how he will explain Breen’s presence in his home and tries hard to make Breen integrate into his little village.
One day he discovers that Breen is something other than human and he does something terrible. And the story ends tragically.
I won’t rate this because it’s my own fault for not reading the blurb properly. The writing was nice but I can’t say I liked the story at all. ☹

 

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(Spoiler below)

 

 

 
Breen is a Selkie and Selkie’s need to transform regularly into their seal self by donning a seal skin. Callum hides the skin in effect trapping Breen in human form because he fears Breen will one day leave him for good.
Breen is tortured by this and when Callum eventually gives the skin back he leaves telling him that next time Callum finds love he has to trust his partner and then HE LEAVES never to come back!