The New Year is a time for new beginnings, and for Daniel and James, it might be the time to give love another chance.
When Daniel Berrisford reluctantly agrees to accompany his best friend Kate to the New Year’s Eve celebrations in London, he doesn’t expect to enjoy himself. Daniel is pleasantly surprised to see his first boyfriend, James Allison, among the merrymakers. The pair haven’t seen each other for four years, but as they talk and midnight approaches, it becomes clear the spark between them is still there. The New Year is a time for new beginnings, and for Daniel and James, it might be the time to give love another chance.
Review
This is pretty much as the blurb suggests. Two old boyfriends reconnecting and deciding the spark is still there. The writing is nice and the sentimentality is sweet. Overall, it’s a “nice” story about finding old love anew.
To celebrate his 45th birthday, Dr. Harvey Grace agrees to go on a blind date at a popular gay sports bar, The Other Team. His date turns out to be the bar’s owner–gorgeous 32-year-old Jay Lincoln. Their attraction is immediate and hot as wildfire. Harvey begins to believe that Jay might well be “the one,” but is the younger man serious about finding Mr. Right … or is he looking for Mr. Right Now?
Review
This is book one in the Cock & Tails series.
Harvey is a 45 year old doctor who is tired of the single life. He cautiously agrees to a date via an online ad and ends up meeting Jay, the owner of the bar “The other team”. They are immediately attracted to each other and begin their date with high hopes.
When Mark, Harvey’s ex, interrupts, spilling all kinds of ugly sauce around, Jay and Harvey are forced to open up and they find that their attraction is more than skin deep.
Because these are short stories, we move quickly to the super hot smexy scenes, and then we are left with a very HFN that will later bleed into part 2.
In part 2, Jay’s ex and Mark both try to come between the two new lovers.
One because of a twelve-step program, and one for pure jealousy.
Luckily, Jay and Harvey are old enough to take the time to talk things out and we get a further HFN that makes us think they just might make it after all.
(And of course some more super hot smexy scenes.)
**
This was a great book of a slightly older guy meeting the man of his dreams online. The chemistry is off the charts and the HFN – which leads to the sequel- is very satisfying.
Audiobook:
Wonderful, super, fantastic, fun! I really enjoyed the sensual quality Thomas Hoffman gave this book and enjoyed his voice selections for the MCs and secondary characters.
I would definitely look for this narrator in the future and really enjoyed this audiobook!
The sexy chipmunk shifter isn’t afraid of the dentist; he’s in love with him.
Phillip has the best job working at the Paranormal Dentistry for the Fanged and Friendly. As a chipmunk shifter, Phillip has seen handsome men walk through the door but none so gorgeous as his boss and wolf shifter, Dr. Gunner Samuels. When he finds himself being manipulated by his best friend to ask the big bad wolf over for dinner, Phillip realizes his biggest dilemma, he’s never cooked a day in his life, let alone meat. Can Phillip pull off a fabulous dinner for two? And has Gunner had his eye on the sexy shifter all this time?
Review
This is the first in the Paranormal Dentistry series and it lays out the shifter world as designed by Jackie Nacht. Most of it is as you’d expect, but – there’s no specific “mate” call, shifters find love across species, they don’t magically heal with each shift so they are succebptible to human problems – like cavities.
Phillip is a medical assistant for Dr. Gunner Samuels. Both men are immediately attracted to one another, but Phillip is leery of hitting on his boss and Gunner doesn’t want to scare off his shy new assistant.
Eventually the matchmaking efforts of the hygienist Beauregard pay off and they finally agree to date and that leads to … well, mating.
This is a very sweet and funny story with some pretty hot smexy times and a delightful start to a great series.
Dreamspinner presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5846 Blurb
It’ll take a miracle to set things right between Seth and Sandy. Good thing ’tis the season.
Seth Anderson thought he was a finalist in the Hot Jack cologne modeling contest for King’s Department Store, but Sandy King, upon reviewing Seth’s photo and resume, just wanted to jump him like a horny kangaroo. Seth quickly learns there is pain behind Sandy’s bravado and a sweet, lonely man behind the act. A holiday romance blossoms like the flowers on an Australian Christmas Bell. When Seth, used to a family dynamic without boundaries, oversteps by outing Sandy to his estranged grandmother, however, everything changes. Sandy is furious. He breaks things off with Seth and threatens to return to the US. As Christmas approaches, any chance at happily ever after seems as likely as a snowstorm in Sydney. It would take a miracle from above to set things right. Good thing ‘tis the season.
Review
This is a unique and fun Aussie holiday story. It’s pretty funny if a little strange. There were times I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but I wasn’t sure if it was the dialect or the story. There was some some insta-love and costumes and a weird contest but it all ends on a happy note!
It wasn’t one of the better romances but it was interesting.
Inside and outside the rodeo arena, Jeff Stratton and Clay Harris are rivals with tempers worse than the bulls they ride. So Clay is shocked when Jeff taps that wild energy and kisses him, sparking an undeniable urge for more of each others’ bodies. But when they discover they might want more than casual sex between competitions, Clay’s greatest fear is recognized: He is scared of being identified as gay. He’ll have to cowboy up if he hopes to hang on to Jeff on the circuit of love.
Review
This is a double GFY! Jeff and Clay have had some “experience” with other guys (circle jerks count, right?) but are basically two straight bull-riders who are neck in neck competing on the rodeo circuit. They aren’t even friends, maybe frenemies if anything, when one day Jeff gets overwhelmed by … something… and kisses Clay! Instead of getting punched in the mouth like you’d expect from a straight guy, Clay welcomes the change in their relationship and pushes for more.
The next morning Clay has some serious recriminations and bolts. Jeff, understandably, is both hurt and relieved, because he doesn’t exactly understand these feelings and doesn’t want any sort of “reputation” as a gay cowboy to tarnish his chances for rodeo success.
The bulk of the story is Clay and Jeff dancing around their feelings and experimenting with the physical side of their relationship. They get some great advice from the only “out” gay cowboys on the circuit but it isn’t enough to keep the boys from fretting (and frotting ;).
When push comes to shove they decide that their relationship is worth working on and we are left with a pretty satisfying HFN.
**
I was really loving this story – planning on at least a 4 heart review- up until the end. I didn’t like the vague way the boys left it and I was disappointed that they didn’t get a chance to really “go all the way” in terms of completing their commitment to one another.
I enjoy Paul Morey as a narrator and he did a good job with the country twang in this story. But, there were a few voices that were just “odd” and didn’t really seem to fit, so I don’t consider this his best work.
Overall, both the story and the narration are a 3.5 of 5 hearts.
If you need the “L” word, or penetrative sex you’ll be disappointed, but if you like cowboys who have no gay experience experimenting with both their bodies and their hearts – I think you’ll really like this story.
Blurb
An infection leaves Braylon unable to make his annual trip to Toronto, but a stranger’s gift might be the miracle he needs.
After a one night whirlwind romance, Braylon returns to Toronto on the first of December every year in the hopes of seeing the man of his dreams again. Instead Braylon meets a strange man who tells him Christmas is a magical time, and one never knows what unexpected gifts he’ll receive. Braylon takes a chance and makes a Christmas wish, but instead of getting what he wants, he contracts an infection, leaving him dependent on dialysis and unable to make the journey the following year. But the stranger just might be right; an unexpected gift may be the miracle Braylon needs most of all.
Review
This was a delightful story about tenacity, hope, love and karma. Two boys meet and then years later an absolutely unbelievable connection is formed between the two that leads them to a very happy future – together, forever.
Though short (as all these Advent Calendar stories are) it was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat for a moment! I really got involved in this – more than some of the other Advent stories – and thought it was a great short story. It was complete and full and though I would have loved more – I didn’t go away feeling short-changed. SJD Peterson is an excellent writer and this was an excellent story.
I highly recommend this and give it 5 of 5 hearts
I’m Evan Goodman, budding actor, future star, college freshman. Oh, and let’s not forget—recently dumped. If only my family wasn’t expecting to meet my new boyfriend over the holiday break. Enter JD Laurens—a sweet and quiet science major who mostly keeps to himself. When he gathers the courage to come out, poor JD gets abandoned by his only family right in front of me, and now he has nowhere to go for Christmas. But I have a proposition for him: pretend to be my boyfriend for the holidays so I can take him home. It’s a win-win. What could go wrong?
Review
Evan is “dating” this self-centered, cheating, popular guy from his major who drops him right before Christmas. He goes to the Donut Shop to fuel up for his trip home for the holidays and sees JD “out” himself to his very mean, hateful brother, who tells JD never to come home – ever. (And it turns out JD’s brother is his ONLY family- big jerk!)
Evan hatches a plan to save both JD and himself from a horrible holiday. JD can play Evan’s boyfriend, Tyler, (who the family was expecting to meet) and JD can have a place to go over Christmas.
Needless to say – the tricking doesn’t fool anyone, and mom is suspicious of Tyler/JD. But – as you can imagine – JD is a far better boyfriend to Evan than Tyler ever was and what started as a hoax ends up as a HEA.
**
Your heart will bleed for JD and the way he just shines in the face of Evan’s family is so touching. Neither Evan nor JD have much “experience” so the smexy times are pretty tame, but very sweet. This reads almost like a young adult title, but that doesn’t stop it from being a really sweet and fun book full of goofy holiday games and sappy moments.
I really enjoyed this and didn’t miss the smexy times.
The campaign to save California’s children was only the beginning. Now King Arthur and his Round Table of teenaged knights set their sights on fixing something even bigger – the entire country. How? By targeting America’s most sacred document – The Constitution.
Native American teens Kai and Dakota, despite harboring secrets of their own, join the team, and swear undying loyalty to Lance. They carry the hope of their people that the crusade will better the lives of Indian children, who are the most neglected by government. This new campaign will take the young people to The White House, the halls of Congress, and beyond in their quest to change the prevailing opinion that children are property, rather than human beings in their own right.
But an unseen nemesis stalks Lance and Arthur, and ratchets up the attacks on New Camelot, promising to kill them and destroy all that the king has put in place. Lance, Ricky, Kai, and Dakota become the enemy’s favorite targets, and barely escape with their lives on more than one occasion. Who is this mysterious stalker, and what is the motive for these attacks? Lance has no idea, especially since he’s never intentionally hurt anyone.
“You were right, little boy, death is coming for you, but slowly, and only after it takes out the people you love.” That chilling promise haunts Lance, but also strengthens his determination to protect the people he loves at all costs. Or die trying.
The Knight Cycle continues…
Kimi’s thoughts:
This is one of those series that you see kicking about and then one day, decide, “I keep seeing this about, winning awards and what not, but it doesn’t seem to be that huge. I’m gonna check it out and see what the deal is.” So you pick it up, and read the first volume. It makes you stop and think. It challenges you, and you see something that you never maybe really saw before. You rad the next one, right away, never mind the book’s length.
You think, Holy cow, I’m not sure about some of their ideas, but man, this is one compelling read. Then you come to understand that you were not supposed to necessarily side the way you assumed. Also, that the issues being dealt with are a lot more complex than you had possibly wanted to know. But what has been seen cannot be unseen, so now, moving pell mell onto volume three, you have to face it head on.
You find you object to issues you had thought you stood firmly on the other side for, perhaps. You find that if you stood against what they fought, your ideals do not match up with what actually needs doing. You see the youth you dismiss as thuggish as who he is, inside. It’s disquietening. It also makes you feel great joy as you see the power of hope and personal effort.
Then you come to this volume. The Constitution? Really? But while this is fantasy, it again makes you give pause. The rights of children, these are things we’ve al fought for, in one way or another The right for children to go to school. the right for them not to slave away in factories and sweat shops. Basic human rights. And all through this, there is an exciting action adventure with modern Knights of the Roundtable, male and female alike, righting wrongs, helping the needy, and fighting back against those who wish to do evil.
It’s a great read, and I’m going to say this once, if you have kids, 11 or older, buy them these books. Gay, straight, bi, white, black, Latino, male, female, young old…they are ALL in this book and they are ALL heroes. It’s a nice self affirming read for youth, and the subplot with young Lance coming to accept his orientation is beautiful.
In Budapest, Brian might find himself in the arms of Krampusz, who punishes bad boys.
Freshly out of college, shy and introverted Brian Preston travels from LA to Budapest to teach English, ready to embrace life and spread his wings. It’s early December, and the air is heavy with the scent of roasting chestnuts. Getting involved with his new roommate, native Hungarian Zoli Park, promises to be the adventure Brian always wanted. But all is not as it seems, and Brian might find himself in the arms of Krampusz, demonic companion to St. Nick, who punishes bad boys.
Review
This holiday story shows us a bit of Hungarian tradition and we meet two “new adults” ready to tackle the world. Brian and his Hungarian/American roommate, Zoli flirt a bit and when it looks like they might just be ready to take things to the next level, Zoli remembers something from the past that might keep them apart.
I enjoyed learning about another holiday custom and really enjoyed Lou Harper’s character building but I was a bit confused by the direction the story went at the end.
Blurb
With some help from friends, Eric and Rhys might finally move beyond watching each other through their windows.
Ever since he moved to London, shy editor Eric has been watching his neighbor, Crooked Smile, jog every morning. Aspiring restaranteur Rhys eats breakfast by the window so he can see his neighbor, Bed Head, help the old woman downstairs clean off her car. When Eric’s roommate unexpectedly returns home for the holidays, she realizes their idiocy and, with the help of Rhys’s business partner, Andreas, tries to help both men see there might be more in their futures than they’re seeing through their windows.
Review
Eric has been spying on his super cute neighbor, but afraid to talk to him because he thinks he’s in a relationship. Instead, he stares at him blankly every time they come across one another and feels lonely.
At Christmas, they are forced together with the help of their friends and they realize they both had been crushing on the other all along.
Very sweet, light holiday story. My only wish is that we’d gotten to see them together – if only for a little bit.
Blurb
Blurb
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