Author: Morgan

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Hook, Line & Sinker (Hard Hats #2) Audiobook by Piper Vaughn Narrated by Jack Fleming

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6638
HookLine&SinkerAUDMEDBlurb
When they were teens, Castor McCormick was the bane of Blake Kowalski’s existence. Their mutual animosity led to summers filled with rivalry. Now, nearly two decades later, Cas is moving back into the neighborhood to live in his grandmother’s old house. Blake tells himself he isn’t interested in seeing how snarky little Cas grew up, but when his mother dupes him into visiting his former nemesis, he finds out “pretty” can evolve into “sexy as hell” on the right man.

Cas didn’t think he wanted to see Blake again. No one has ever pushed his buttons like the arrogant boy he remembers from their youth. Turns out, the adult version of Blake still gets him hot under the collar—and everywhere else. With Blake on leave from work to nurse an injured leg and Cas taking time to move and unpack, they form a tentative friendship that turns into a sexual affair neither man can deny. But when Cas’s job sends him out of state to deal with a difficult client, their new relationship will be tested, and if they fail, Blake’s broken leg might not be the only thing to end up scarred.

Review
Blake and Castor were competitors as kids. When Blake gets injured and is forced to move back home to his mother’s house, and Castor moves in to the house across the street, they find that as adults they have more in common than they thought.
They begin a relationship fairly early on, fairly easily. Things are going well, they’re getting pretty hot and heavy in fact, when Castor gets called out of town for business for several months. They try the long distance thing and that seems to be working, until Blake decides to surprise Castor with a visit and ends up suspecting Castor of cheating.
Castor can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust him and they break up.
Fortunately, after some soul searching, they realize the mistake they’ve made and agree to try harder to make things work.
**
This is book two in the series and though I generally LOVE Piper Vaughn’s books, this was a little disappointing. I found things were just a bit too easy. The sexual tension was released early on and things between the two move along fairly easily until the big break up. The resulting make up is really down-played and though I do believe they get their HEA it wasn’t really well-developed by the end of the story.
Her writing, as always, flows smoothly and the character development was excellent. If you are in the mood for a relatively low angst story with lots of hot sex, however, this is definitely the story for you. It is very enjoyable if not amazing.

Audio

The narrator Jack Fleming did a really nice job. I loved the assertive voice he gives Blake. He didn’t do a lot with the voices but they are each distinct and I enjoyed his take of Blake’s mother.
I think the audio adds to the overall entertainment and makes the experience even better.

4.25 of 5 hearts

4.5

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Being True Audiobook by Jacob Flores Narrated by Mark Westfield

Dreampsinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6655

BeingTrueAUDMEDBlurb

Truman L. Cobbler has not had an easy life. It’s bad enough people say he looks like Donkey from Shrek, but he’s also suffered the death of his policeman father and his mother’s remarriage to a professional swindler, who cost them everything. Now dirt poor, they live in the barrio of San Antonio, Texas. When Tru transfers to an inner-city high school halfway through his senior year, he meets Javi Castillo, a popular and hot high school jock. Javi takes an immediate liking to Tru, and the two become friends. The odd pairing, however, rocks the school and sets the cliquish social circles askew. No one knows how to act or what to think when Mr. Popular takes a stand for Mr. Donkey. Will the cliques rise up to maintain status quo and lead Tru and Javi to heartbreak and disaster or will being true to who they are rule the day?

Review

Truman is 17, in his last year of high school, and this is his 6th school in as many years. Due to his small stature he is the object of bullying and his poor single mother can do nothing more than move them to help the situation.

Javi is the star of the baseball team and a genuinely nice, great guy, part of a loving family.

After Tru gets beat up again (on the first day by Javi’s best friend), Javi rescues him and takes him home to his family where he is immediately embraced into the fold.
After that day Javi and Tru become best friends. Javi protects him as well as really enjoys his company, more than the other kids think he should.
When push comes to shove, Javi has to face the fact that he has feelings for Tru (admittedly gay, but not out officially). After facing the truth he has to decide what to do with the information but before he can decide things have heated up at school to the point where it may already be too late.
**
OMG! I loved this story. I’m not a huge YA fan, but I really love Jacob Flores and Mark Westfield so I decided to give this a try. Boy am I glad!
First, since this is their last year in HS most of what the boys are dealing with is adult enough not to feel awkward when it comes to relationship stuff.
Second, Jacob Flores is an excellent writer and he does an excellent job of creating two believable characters in situations that feel authentic. Javi is (perhaps) a bit too good to be true, but every story needs a hero and he is an absolutely wonderful one.
There are plenty of “bad guys” in this story, including most of Javi’s “friends” from the baseball team.
Tru is another wonderful character who just keeps trying and trying. He never gives up and I really liked that he didn’t perseverate on the future or have dire thoughts of suicide. He truly lived in the now and simply focused on doing the best with what he was given in that moment.
Claudia, the BFF, is another fantastic character – serving to give some attitude to the couple who are so sappily sweet.
I also loved that most of the characters in this story were non-caucasian but that race really wasn’t made much of an issue – if any.
It was a super sweet and lovely story and I highly recommend it.

Audio
Mark Westfield (who I really admired in the THIRDS books) disappointed me with this. He does a nice enough job and is easy to listen to, he gives Javi’s folks a bit of an accent, but I think that someone like Gomez Pugh would have rocked this as most of the characters in this were Hispanic and I think more accents would have made this sound more like I had it scripted in my head.
That being said, it was a nice (if not amazing) way to listen to this book and did not detract.

5 of 5 hearts

5

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In Memoriam by Cari Z.

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6620
InMemoriamBlurb
Lee Summers is past expecting to find love. He has a fulfilling career and a few human connections, and he’s determined to be happy with those. When he meets Felix Clymenos during a vacation in Colorado, he doesn’t expect to feel so passionate about him. Felix is intriguing, but when he starts to feature in Lee’s dreams—and his slowly strengthening nightmares—Lee wonders if it wouldn’t be a better idea to walk away. There’s a mystery behind Felix’s affections and somehow Lee feels like he’s known Felix his whole life. Before they can be happy together, Lee has to know why that is… and what that means for their future.

 

Review
This is a short story with a big twist! I can’t tell you too much about the plot or it will give away the secret.
In a nutshell, two men meet one day in a farmer’s market and slowly begin a relationship. For various reasons they click instantly though their lives are really disparate. There are some hurdles keeping them apart and some mysterious dreams to be explained.
I really loved how the author wove ancient mythology into the modern world and gave us a plausible explanation for how it would translate into today’s world.
The writing was smooth and lyrical and I really enjoyed this short story.

4.5 of 5 hearts

4.5

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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!

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Fixing the hole Audiobook by Katherine Halle Narrated by Philip Alces

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6656

FixingTheHoleAUDMEDBlurb

Heavy rains and strong winds slammed an uprooted tree through Steve Crowell’s roof, leaving a gaping hole to match the one in his heart. After his ex left him for a younger man, Steve’s not sure he’s ready to handle another disaster. His best friend highly recommended the contractor, but the man’s already late, and when he shows up with his music thumping, Steve isn’t impressed—until Riley steps out of his pickup truck. Personable, gorgeous Riley talks a mile a minute, which Steve finds both ridiculously endearing and terrifying. Piecing together a heart isn’t as easy as fixing a roof, but Riley might just be the right man for the job.

Review
(Book reviewed on previous site)
This is a short book where the ending is the beginning.

Instead of being a book about a relationship, this is really and truly just about the beginning of a relationship. Steve is older, has a thing for younger guys, got burned by the last younger guy, isn’t getting any younger himself, and still has a thing for younger guys.

Riley is a younger guy with a thing for older guys. He’s super sweet, adorable, chatty – very chatty – and he lives at home and tries to keep his dad healthy.

Steve is into Riley, but is worried about being burned again. Riley is into Steve, but worries that Steve isn’t into him.

Most of the book is them dancing around this issue. Then – bam – they go on a date.

The End.

So… the end is the beginning.

**
Ummmm, well. How do I rate this?

It was…nice. I’m sure it was making a statement. It was very well written and some people will like that it didn’t do anything besides start the relationship.

Not me. I was disappointed.

It felt like the beginning of a story that got cut off just when it was getting good! I wanted to see where it went and what happened and … well, all the good stuff that goes with that.

But that wasn’t what this was about.

It was man meets boy. Man wants boy. Man finally gets the balls to ask boy out, and he accepts.

So…

I give the author props for doing something different and for setting up an interesting start to a story, but I can’t really recommend it. However, if you are the sort that just loves the “chase” you will be psyched to read this short story.

I give it 2.5 of 5 hearts for being half a story, good, but unfinished.

Audio
Philip Alces isn’t my favorite narrator, but he does a nice job and is easy to listen to. He doesn’t do much with the voices but he does a good with the humor found in this story.

I think that overall the listening improves the entertainment experience.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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Vampire Wishes by Teegan Loy

Amazon Presents http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Wishes-BFP-Secrets-Collection-ebook/dp/B0108J1EWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435977723&sr=8-1&keywords=vampire+teegan&pebp=1435977725004&perid=0ZC36YNV4EZ8QAPM7TXG
vampire wishesBlurb
Griffin McKellan has a secret . . . actually, more than one.

He wants to take a class at the local university, but he’s got more than studying on his mind. Griffin’s enamored with the professor, Jackson Grady. He’s spent months spying on the guy, but now he has to meet him face to face.

And even though Griffin wants nothing more than to teach the professor a thing or two, there’s a huge problem standing in his way.

Vampires don’t usually date their food source.

 

Review
Grif is a youngish vampire, recently allowed to be on his own. He falls in lust/love with Jackson one night while out hunting.
He discovers that Jackson is a professor at the local university and convinces his sire that he can handle being around humans long enough to take his writing class.
Jackson is attracted to Grif, but is hiding something. He pushes Grif away despite their mutual chemistry.
Grif finds out what Jackson is hiding and offers to solve his problems by converting him, now Jackson has to decide what the next step will be.

**
I thought the character development was nice, the basic story line interesting and overall it was an entertaining short story.
There was way too much time spent waffling about between Grif and his friend Kieran and not nearly enough developed between Grif and Jackson.  I didn’t get the sense that they were a good couple as we barely got to know much about Jackson at all.

The overall effect was a fairly shallow, and unsatisfying experience.

2.75 of 5 hearts

3

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Crashing the Net by Samantha Wayland

Loch Awe Press Presents http://www.amazon.com/Crashing-Net-Samantha-Wayland-ebook/dp/B00M197TCA/ref=pd_sim_351_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MCAN7646D12FV8P0A6E

crashing the netBlurb

Mike comes to Moncton wanting nothing more than to play for the Ice Cats and finally live on his own terms. He’s broke, bruised, and covered from head to toe in cheap lube, but he isn’t going to let that stop him. All he needs is a place to live and some time to figure out how to reconcile who he really is with who everyone wants him to be.

Dumping three gallons of lube on the new kid is just another day at the office for Alexei. He knows exactly who he is: a goalie on the ice, a prankster in the locker room, and a man who knows better than to share his private life with anyone. He’s let people in before and it’s taught him that if he can’t have what he really wants, it’s better to be alone.

Despite their apparent differences, an unlikely friendship grows. Neither of them could ever have guessed how much they really have in common.

Review
(Posted on Previous Site)

H.O.T. This book is hawt! Mike is a 22 year old, newly living on his own and playing professional hockey. He meets Alexi after being beat up after a “night on the town” and Alexi becomes his protector and mentor.

Mike has the hots for Alexi but could never imagine that Alexi might also be gay. Well… he is and he’s been jonesing for Mike big time.

When the two finally get together they burn the sheets! Mike is the big V but that doesn’t slow him down. Alexi kind of likes things rough, but so does Mike so there’s no problem there.

There is a minor hiccup when Alexi feels Mike needs to go out and sow his wild oats before settling down and the fact that Mike hasn’t come out to his rigid parents… but those don’t last long.

Overall this was a fast paced read, the first half all about the sexual tension and the second all about exploring the reality.

There was a fair amount of tenderness and sweetness, enough to keep me satisfied, and a very happy ever after.

I highly recommend this book and give it a 4.5 hearts of 5.

4.5

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Feral by Alexa Land

Amazon Digital Services Presents http://www.amazon.com/Feral-Alexa-Land-ebook/dp/B00C0ZVKHK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435723157&sr=1-1&keywords=feral+alexa+land&pebp=1435723158208&perid=19FRPZNM1TD938RJCB69

feralBlurb

He was watching me.

I sensed his presence weeks before I saw him. Day after day, I peered out into the woods beside the lake house, unable to shake the feeling that someone was out there. But I never caught a glimpse of him. Eventually I convinced myself it had to be my imagination, that spending so much time by myself was starting to mess with my mind.

I was so wrong.

So begins Nathaniel Logan’s story. Nate is a twenty two year old college student, reeling after a recent breakup while struggling to find his way in the world. He’s spending the summer at his stepdad’s lake house in Northern California, where he’s supposed to be “finding himself.” But what finds him instead will alter the course of Nate’s life forever.

 

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(Thanks again to Karrie Jax for her lovely art work!)

Review

Nathanial goes to a cabin in Northern California to recover from his most recent heartbreak and to figure out what he wants to do when he “grows up”. While there he drinks a lot, ponders his navel, and finds a portrait of a man from 1927 who captivates him.

He finds himself dreaming of this man and creating an entire dreamworld around him. He also finds himself being “watched” or at least that’s how it feels.

One day, in a drunken rush, he injures himself and realizes that his dream guy, the man in the picture and the feeling of being watched are all the same being – Nikolai.

At first he can’t reconcile all these until Nikolai finally admits to being a vampire – a true monster – something inside him he can’t control and so evil he insists upon being chained up lest he hurt Nathanial unwittingly in times of severe emotion.

Of course, there’s more to the story – but that’s the compelling drama that makes up the bulk of this fascinating book.

**

Quite unlike so many vampire stories, Nikolai doesn’t love being a vampire, he doesn’t want to convert Nathanial to “save him”, he hates who he is when the vampire takes over. He’s centuries old but in some ways quite naïve as well.

Both Nathanial and Nikolai have so much to learn from each other as they learn more about themselves and one another.

The love between them is deep and affirming. The sex is very hot and the quandary they find themselves feels very authentic and is handled as realistically as a fantasy can be.

I loved the ending – but I’ll always wonder just what will happen in the years to come since Vampires never die…

This was quite a difference from the other Alexa Land stories I’ve read, but just as good if not better.

I highly recommend this with 5 of 5 hearts.

5

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Emily’s Magical Bejeweled Codpiece by B. Snow

Dreamspinner Presents  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6568

EmilysMagicalBejeweledCodpieceBlurb

Tom, museum curator and expert in Renaissance jewelry, doesn’t think his boyfriend Peter is “The One.” Peter is perfectly happy with Tom, but Tom is obsessed with the artist Benedetto Emilio Nesci—exciting, passionate, extraordinarily talented… and dead for over 400 years.

Tasked with researching a bejeweled codpiece, Tom abandons his professional ethics—and his sanity—to try on the codpiece and is transported halfway around the world and back in time, right into Florence, Italy and Nesci’s workroom.

After his initial panic subsides, Tom seizes the opportunity to allow Nesci to seduce him, but Tom discovers not everything about the sixteenth century is as romantic as he’d imagined. Getting back to the modern world and Peter becomes Tom’s only wish, but desire and reality are two completely different things, and Tom might not get what he wants this time around.

Review

Tom is given a codpiece from an “old pervert”’s estate. The piece is actually a museum quality artifact with a special “magical” quality. Somewhat like a strange lamp, when rubbed it takes the wearer to the maker back in time, in Italy.

Tom’s experience there shows him just how lucky he is to live where and when he does and most importantly, with whom.

**

What I really appreciated about this short story was the sensory information distilled. Through Tom’s exploration we move from the visual through the tactile to the auditory and finally olfactory. Tom is vaguely put off by his lover’s unwashed hair at the beginning of the story and by the end he realizes that the healthy “musk” of his lover is actually a turn-on when you love the guy.

I thought the story was clever and unique though I never quite got to the point that I liked Tom a lot. He was a dick – his word – throughout most of the story and though it looks like he makes a complete turn around by the end, I never quite got to the point with Peter of forgiveness.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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