Category: Age Group

Posted on

Out in the Deep End by Lane Hayes

GoodReads Presents
http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=277346

out in the deep endBlurb

Dear Author,
My water polo team is the most LGBT friendly team on campus. Literally half the team is queer and it’s ok, you can be jealous. One of the reasons I was hella excited to come here, ha! But I don’t care about the rest of the team right now, because all I can think about is this new freshman with the mad skills. Zev.
He has this gorgeous lob shot and makes our intense practices seem effortless. I swear if I hadn’t just played an entire game, I would have gotten hard at the backhanded skip shot he scored last week. Seriously. It was amazing. And why does Zev have to be just as stunning out of the water? He’s all dark hair and heavy brows and these hazel eyes that make me stutter like a fool.
I don’t know why he’s warmed up to everyone on the team but me. I’m the main driver, and he’s a leftie, so we should clearly work together… I mean, aside from the fact I want into his pants.
Fuck it.
This is California, and it’s college— it’s pretty much the definition of fun. So what happens when we’re assigned roommates for the three-day tournament in Long Beach?

Photo Description:
Two fierce competitors lunge up out of a pool of placid water, only their bare torsos showing. Their athletic bodies are bronzed and toned, and each of them wears a swim cap. They face each other, reaching up with arms extended aggressively. One player holds a ball in his left hand while the other, facing him, moves to block with his right hand. Their actions send sprays of water, foaming about them.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Water polo plyer
Water polo plyer

Review

Out and proud Adam has a small crush on the new guy to the water polo team – Zev. Zev, however, does everything he can to give Adam the brushoff.

Adam and Zev are put together in a hotel room when the team travels for a tournament and it turns out that Zev has some very deep feelings for Adam after all.

**

This is a short, sweet, hopeful OFY story of discovery and possibly a long term connection.

I really wish it had been a longer story with a fully finished happy ending because I was really enjoying Zev and Adam as a developing couple.

This is very fun, hot and sweet for a short story and definitely enjoyable.

4.5 of 5 hearts

4.5

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Against the Grain (THIRDS #5): Charlie Cochet

Dreamspinner Press

BLURB: As the fiercest Defense Agent at the THIRDS, Destructive Delta’s Ash Keeler is foul-mouthed and foul-tempered. But his hard-lined approach always yields results, evident by his recent infiltration of the Coalition. Thanks to Ash’s skills and the help of his team, they finally put an end to the murdering extremist group for good, though not before Ash takes a bullet to save teammate Cael Maddock. As a result, Ash’s secrets start to surface, and he can no longer ignore what’s in his heart.

Cael Maddock is no stranger to heartache. As a Recon Agent for Destructive Delta, he has successfully maneuvered through the urban jungle that is New York City, picking up his own scars along the way. Yet nothing he’s ever faced has been more of a challenge than the heart of Ash Keeler, his supposedly straight teammate. Being in love isn’t the only danger he and Ash face as wounds reopen and new secrets emerge, forcing them to question old loyalties. 

REVIEW: This is book 5 in a series that is off the charts amazing. THIRDS is the FBI of sorts of law enforcement. This elite branch of law enforcement is specifically comprised of Therians and humans that was formed specifically to fight crimes that involve Therians. The first four books we saw the development of Dex and Sloane’s relationship with some really great action and adventures but in this we get to see Ash and Cael’s relationship development. 

Cael is the sweet Recon agent for Destructive Delta. What I really liked about this is that we get to know and understand him a lot more. He’s not as innocent as we originally thought in the first four books. He’s been through a lot and has emotional scars and secrets from his past that he hasn’t fully recovered from. 

Ash is the crap talking, bad tempered, tough, gruff, huge lion Therian of the team. Underneath his gruff and grumpy exterior is a man who like Cael, carries  deep emotional scars from his past. 

What you’re going to get in this book is action, suspense, intrigue, spies, covert operations with a developing romance between two agents. In this book, you see both Ash and Cael face their demons and fight them successfully. 

What I love about this series is that the author is able to strike the perfect balance of action and suspense, mystery, intrigue and humor. These agents aren’t mere colleagues; they’re family whose love and loyalty for each other is conveyed throughout the book. There are very few sex scenes written in but this is quite alright as the plot and storytelling more than makes up for it. This series is definitely worth picking up. In fact, I highly recommend it!

RATING: ???Amazing???

Buy links:

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

ARe

  

https://kimichanexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/image2.jpg
Posted on

Ask, Answer, Look, Kiss by Livia Frost

GoodReads Presents http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=277843

ask lookBlurb

Dear Author,
We’ve been friends forever. Best friends in school. Roommates and best friends in college. Partners and best friends in business. He was the first person I told when I realized I was gay. He just said, “Me, too.” Yet somehow, in all those years, through all the ups and downs, we never even thought of being lovers. We were always best friends.
Then one day, something changed. What happened? How did we end up here?

Photo Description:
Two unclothed men stand side-by-side at the railing to a ship, their backs to us, facing the ocean. The man on the left has his arm around the waist of the other and their heads are tipped together affectionately. Both men are similar looking: wide shoulders, shaved heads, shapely butts, and golden skin. The one major difference is their tattoos. The man on the left has two tribal bands across his right bicep and shoulder. The other man has a swirling tribal design that covers most of his back, with smaller designs on his lower back and upper right thigh.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

ask look listen (1)Review

This is a best friends to lovers story. Travis and Ben have been friends and business partners forever. They are both gay but – due to * reasons * – they’ve never even kissed.

When a wacky friend does a strange “intimate speed dating” event, the two participate and it launches them from friends to lovers.

**

I never quite bought into this story. If you look at the picture – two burly dudes all tatted up – it never really jives with the personal caterers that we have in this story. I also never bought that for 16 years the two never got a smidgen of attraction and then suddenly – POW – instant forever love.

Sure, it’s a short story, but it can be done and in this case it isn’t done very effectively.

I liked the idea and the writing was fine, but I didn’t think the picture matched the story at all and I didn’t buy the intimate speed dating thing at all.

3 of 5 hearts

3

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Never Let Go of Hope by Edward Kendrick

Smashwords presents http://www.amazon.com/Never-Let-Hope-Edward-Kendrick-ebook/dp/B00ZS5298I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437867707&sr=1-1&keywords=never+let+go+of+hope+by+edward+kendrick&pebp=1437867709095&perid=1E9MRE83MKNSJVGHK8HE

never let go hopeBlurb

Well-known artist Ellis Williams is in a slump and feeling all his fifty-three years. He’s lost the joy which used to permeate his painting and despairs of ever regaining it. It doesn’t help when he runs into a young man who comes on to him to win a bet, thus destroying more of Ellis’s confidence.

Then, at a party, Ellis meets Martin Lovell, a man his age whose partner died soon after they adopted their son. Will these two middle-aged men learn they should never let go of hope? Or is it too late for men their age to open themselves to the possibility of love and being loved?

 

Review

Ellis is a misanthropic artist, living on his own outside New Orleans. He’s fairly happy to be reclusive, only occasionally feeling that yearning for human (sexual) contact. Lately, though, his art (his true mistress) has been lacking spark, so he finds himself seeking out human contact for the first time in years.

Martin is a widower, father of a 10 year old, and a basically wonderful, big-hearted guy. He meets Ellis after Ellis has just been “played” by a 20-something at a bar and is feeling particularly despondent.

The two start a VERY slow relationship that only very, very gradually develops into something more.

**

This is a slow burn romance that spends more time with developing Ellis than the relationship. It’s terribly sweet, low steam and very nice, but not something amazing or fantastic.

I enjoyed watching Ellis’ art transform as he felt more and more for Martin and I loved that there was no drama with the child.

It’s a nice, short story of love between guys over 50 and I enjoyed it very much.

4 of 5 hearts

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Trapped by Kenzie Cade

GoodReads Presents http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=277502

trappedBlurb

Dear Author,
“That’s me. The one in the hat. Why did I think this weekend away would be such a good idea? Ten of us, all sleeping in one cabin in the middle of winter, freezing our balls off. I must have been crazy, especially as I had to go and wake up [guy on bed] after he drank enough to sink a battleship last night. He was like a man possessed. And now I can’t stop staring at his mouth. What’s wrong with me? I’m not gay, he’s not gay. It’s fucking ridiculous. What am I gonna do?”

Photo Description:
Two men in a cabin room. One is lying on the bed with the other leaning over him. The man lying on the bed is resting with a smile on his face. The other is looking down with a happy smile, seemingly staring at the first man’s lips.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

trapped real

Review

Though the cover makes it seem like the two MCs are stuck in a cabin together – they really aren’t. Gavin and Drew are real life partners – at work. Their boss sends them to a couples retreat to help them get over their “issues” when one of them almost gets the other killed on the job.

Together they go through the excercises – designed for romantic couples – and nobody believes them when they say they aren’t romantically involved. And then they become romantically involved.

It’s a very sweet, short story about two best friends who become lovers.

4 of 5 hearts

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

By Way of Vegan Donuts by Kay Walker

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6668

ByWayofVeganDonutsBlurb

In a tourist town in the Canadian Rockies, Simon is spending the summer working at his sister-in-law’s bookstore. Shy around new people, Simon prefers to keep his nose in a book. When Benji, a local who works at a café down the street, hears Simon is vegan, he figures the best way to welcome him is bake him a vegan donut.

Upon their first meeting, there’s an undeniable burst of chemistry. Simon is drawn to Benji’s outgoing personality and wants to get to know him better. All Simon has to do is figure out a way to get over his nervousness and ask the casually flirty Benji on a date.

Review

Benji has moved to town to help his sister-in-law deal with her grief at losing his (much older) brother who has died from a heart attack at a young age. He is in college and a bookworm, so he spends a lot of time with a nose in a book. He’s a bit shy and a vegan, but enjoys the outdoors.

Simon is a local, very outgoing, very outdoorsy and very attracted to Benji. At first he makes it pretty clear he’s attracted, but his past makes him pull back.

Benji mistakes the inattention for dis-interest and figures the two will be friends. Luckily one of them manages to ask the other out and the two end up with a nice HFN.

**

I enjoyed the writing and the characters in this story very much. I was frustrated by the fact that just as the couple finally gets together, the story ends, and we don’t get much input as to how things will go in the future.

I wish this had been longer, but it was a very nice short story.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Noah’s Reward (Withowe Forest Pack 4): Violet Joicey Cowen

Siren BookStrand 

Blurb: Lion-shifter Noah Anderson is a broken man when he meets his destined mate, wolf-shifter Astley Donovan. Astley himself is still young, so they have years to get to know each other and for Noah to heal before he will be able to claim his mate. Someone has been watching though, who mistakes Astley for their own mate. When he sees his chance, he kidnaps Astley, leaving a devastated Noah behind.

Astley wakes in a strange place where time moves differently and with no sign of the one who brought him there. He has no idea how he will get back to his family or to the man he is growing to love.

Will the mates ever be reunited? And if they are, what will happen? Because in the time Astley has been gone, everything has changed…

Review: This is book #4 of the Withowe Pack series and finally gives us the story of Noah, a lion shifter and his mate, Astley, a wolf shifter. Noah was introduced in the book one as one of the shifters rescued from a group of individuals who experimented and tortured paranormals. He meets Astley, his mate, at the alpha’s house.

At this time, Astley is a mere boy so of course, Noah waits until Astley’s of age for them to live their lives together as mates. Astley’s taken to another dimension by someone who thinks that Astley should be with him.  In this place, time moves a lot faster and Astley of age to finally be with Noah. 

This story took an unexpected but creative and acceptable turn to move Astley’s age along.   As usual, the author took great care in referencing events from previous books. This enables you to be able to keep up with what’s going on with each character from one book to the next. She also did a wonderful job of maintaining order when writing multiple POVs. You never once lose track of what is going on with either character.  What I also enjoy about this series is that this pack is made up different species and live together, love and respect each other as a family.

If you’re a fan of shifters and vampires with a touch of magic thrown in, this series is for you.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Siren BookStrand

Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

  

https://kimichanexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/image2.jpg
Posted on

Must Love Dogs by K Lynn

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6669

MustLoveDogsBlurb

Since a mugging a year ago, Ben’s lived with blindness. Despite an art career on hold and a deadbeat boyfriend who left him because of his disability, he’s finally getting his life back on track. Ben is gaining a new sense of independence thanks to his guide dog, Colt.

But Ben’s carefully balanced life is thrown into chaos when veterinarian Dr. Jay Connor hits Colt with his car. While Colt is on the mend and recovering nicely, Ben finds that Jay is not only fond of Colt, but also quite interested in Ben.

However, one overheard conversation might put a stop to their romance before it can grow into something more. Maybe Ben’s destined to go it alone in the dark. Or can Jay help him see there’s still a chance for happily ever after?

Review

Ben was attacked and made blind. His boyfriend left him when it was clear the blindness was permanent. Now he is a painter struggling to find a new outlet for his art. His newly acquired guide dog is bumped into (not really hurt) by Jay’s car when Ben is out one night.

Jay is a veterinarian who falls for Ben and his dog nearly upon first meeting them. He tries very hard to break down the walls Ben has built to protect himself from hurt and is almost “in” when a misunderstanding nearly ruins everything.

**

This is a short, relatively angst-free story of two men falling in love while learning to trust one another. It is fairly low steam, but sweet. The author could do a better job of showing over telling and the “misunderstanding” was a little silly, but overall it was enjoyable.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6622

InTheMiddleOfSomewhereBlurb

DANIEL MULLIGAN is tough, snarky, and tattooed, hiding his self-consciousness behind sarcasm. Daniel has never fit in—not at home with his auto mechanic father and brothers, and not at school where his Ivy League classmates look down on him. Now, Daniel’s relieved to have a job at a small college in Northern Michigan, but, a city boy through and through, when Daniel arrives in Holiday, Michigan, it’s clear that this small town is one more place he just won’t fit in.

REX VALE clings to routine to keep loneliness at bay: honing his large, muscular body until it can handle anything, perfecting his recipes, and making custom furniture. Rex has lived in Holiday for years, but his shyness and imposing size have kept him from connecting with people. Though he loves the quiet and solitude of his little cabin in the woods, Rex can’t help but want someone to share it with.

When Daniel arrives in Holiday, they are smitten with each other, but though the sex is intense and explosive, Rex fears that Daniel will be one more in a long line of people to leave him, and Daniel has learned that letting anyone in could be a fatal weakness. Just as they begin to break down the walls that have been keeping them apart, Daniel is called home to Philadelphia where a secret is revealed that changes the way he understands everything.

Can a scrappy professor, an intense carpenter, and a stray dog make a go of it in their cabin in the woods? Sometimes, you have to go to the middle of nowhere to end up exactly where you want to be.

Review

Daniel moves to rural Michigan from Philadelphia for his first job as an English Professor. There he meets Rex, a wood worker, who both inspires his lust and makes him incredibly nervouse.

Daniel has been a scrappy kid for most of his life – his dad and brothers are not supportive of him, his lifestyle, his education, his sexuality, etc, etc. He’s been burned in the past, but has also never really had a serious relationship.

Rex has loved and lost and is very guarded with his heart. Neither man is very good at speaking their feelings and yet they both feel deeply.

Most of the story is the two coming together only to be separated again by a misunderstanding of one or the other.

Eventually we get a solid HFN that looks very promising.

**

This is written in first person present tense and can be difficult for some authors/readers. I think it’s done very well and after a few pages I didn’t think it felt odd at all.

I really loved the characters. Daniel is hysterical and snarky and insecure and sexy and wonderful. Rex is a simple yet deep (still waters and all that) and the perfect foil for the kinetic energy that is Daniel.

I loved how they came together right away and started building from that. What I didn’t like was the continual waffling. A simple, sincere conversation could have easily eliminated half the angst of this long (maybe too long?) book.

I also didn’t love the ending. After all the torment I really wanted them to end up in a more decisive place. Perhaps this is leading to a book two, but if not, I really wanted more for them. It just felt so wishy washy – and we had put up with a lot of torment for us not to get that glorious satisfaction of a solid HEA.

The side story of Colin, Daniel’s closeted brother, didn’t really lend itself to the story and only served to muddy the waters. Perhaps this is another book to follow, but if not – I’m not sure it was necessary here and definitely distracted from the focus of the book.

All in all I mostly really enjoyed the book, wished it was a bit more tightly edited and wished for a slightly more robust ending.

4 of 5 hearts

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Shawn’s Law Audiobook by Renae Kaye Narrated by Casey Hunter

Dreamspinner Presents:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6717
ShawnsLawAUDMEDBlurb

Shawn is a frequent victim of Murphy’s Law. Can he and Harley stumble toward love despite insecurity and epic bad luck? Shawn is single, twenty-nine, the full-time carer of his Alzheimer’sstricken mother, and a frequent victim of Murphy’s Law—although his family calls it Shawn’s Law. Other than caring for mum, his day consists of painting nude men and spying on the guy who walks his dogs along the street every day at four o’clock. When Shawn takes a spectacular fall on his front steps, who is there to witness it other than the man of his dreams? Harley doesn’t believe in Shawn’s Law—but he soon changes his mind. The two men make it through a memorable first date and Shawn’s sexual insecurities to begin a relationship stumbling toward love. But when Shawn’s Law causes Harley to be injured, Shawn is determined to save Harley’s life the only way he knows how—by breaking up with him. Not once, but twice. Throw in a serial killer ex-boyfriend, several deadly Australian animals, two dogs called Bennie, a mother who forgets to wear clothes, an unforgiving Town Council, and a strawberry-flavored condom dolly, and Shawn’s Law is one for the books.

Review

(Posted Previously on this site)

Shawn is a HOT MESS. If you can think of someone who’s a clutz, that’s Shawn times a thousand. He’s so accident prone the ER staff knows him by name. He’s got the auto club on speed dial and the Ambulance driver’s are his friends.

But he’s also super adorable with a giant heart. He loves his mother and cares for her as she suffers the last stages of Alzheimer’s. He helps his sister with her budding family and he thinks nobody could want to (or should want to) be involved with him in a boyfriend-type-way.

Harley, aka “Hippy Hotpants” is Shawn’s new “neighbor”. He’s actually going out of his way when he takes his daily walks to be seen by and to see Shawn working in the garden and when yet another accident throws Shawn literally at Harley’s feet, it’s the start of a wonderful, if rocky, relationship.

Between Shawn’s own insecurities, his numerous accidents, his family and his need to “protect” Harley from Shawn’s law they don’t exactly have smooth sailing … but when they do connect it’s mind blowing.

Finally, after what seems like the true and final last straw, they do manage to come together at last for a very, very HEA – well a well-bandaged HEA.

**

As you know I’m a huge Renae Kaye fan. Her writing keeps improving with each book she puts out. This story is definitely a bit different from her others in that it relies far more heavily on humor than her other books, but is no less full of tenderness and a loving relationship as we have come to expect.

As usual, she also gives us a host of amazing secondary characters, fully developed who are rich additions to the story – Shawn’s mother with the Alzheimer’s, his sister- with no verbal filter, Harely’s dad- a true ex-hippy, and Shawn’s best friend- who talks to Shawn in verbal short hand as though they share a brian. To name a few.

I devoured this in one afternoon, I couldn’t put it down. The humor was contagious and Shawn and Harley just had me wrapped around their proverbial fingers.

If you are looking for a book with almost no angst, but still plenty of substance, this is the book for you. It’ll brighten your day and lighten your heart.

Audio

Casey Hunter is a new narrator for me, he does not have an Australian accent – so that was disappointing… but he was still quite good! He did a really nice job with the emotion, and especially the humor. He didn’t do a lot to change the voices, but it was always clear which character was speaking. I really enjoyed this and it absolutely added to the overall enjoyment of the story.

6 of 5 hearts!

amazing

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n