PUBLISHER: Dark Hollows Press Continue reading “Broken Circle (Sirius Wolves # 2): Victoria Sue”
https://kimichanexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/image2.jpgBroken Circle (Sirius Wolves # 2): Victoria Sue
Truth & Tenderness (Faith, Love & Devotion Book 6) by Tere Michaels
Dreamspinner Presents:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6330
Blurb
Newly promoted police captain Evan Cerelli takes command of his own precinct as Matt Haight’s security business begins to expand at a rapid rate. Both of their careers require more and more of their time—away from home and each other. When his most famous clients, Daisy and Bennett Ames, suffer a traumatic breakup, Matt is drawn into a dangerous and dramatic situation. With attentions diverted, Evan and Matt’s tight-knit home life begins to unravel.
As Griffin Drake’s movie nears final edit, his thoughts turn toward building a home with his new fiancé, Jim Shea—and maybe even starting a family. Before he can think of a new family, Jim is caught up in his past. The possibility of putting Tripp Ingersoll in jail once and for all beckons, and Jim wants the closure that has long eluded him. As a new lead spurs him on, Jim begins to lose sight of the future by chasing an old ghost.
Both couples struggle to remember that “happily ever after” requires hard work, trust, and tender, open hearts.
Review
Wow! Book 6! What a crazy ride it’s been!
Evan and Matt are still together raising the kids. Matt’s gone long hours with his security job on occasion, but Evan takes the cake in the absentee-partner race. His new job as police captain has him gone for 11+ hours a day and it’s starting to take a toll on the relationship. Evan sees that this is a pattern but doesn’t know what to do about it. Matt won’t take it lying down.
Griff and Jim are in a similar bind. Griff’s producing takes him away from Jim for long periods at a time, but his own priorities toward starting a family have him re-organizing things closer to home. Jim, however, is still stuck trying to solve “the one that got away” and it’s beginning to effect his home life and possibly his legal affairs, too.
Meanwhile, something terrible is going on between Daisy and Bennett and that will also have repercussions on the other couples.
In the end Griff and Jim finally do get married and….And of course Matt and Evan are happy again, but planning something secret… And Daisy and Bennett are working on things as well… So a big, fat HFN! A big lead in to the next book I think!
**
I have so, so enjoyed this series. I just love these guys so much. It’s great seeing them and being in their lives again.
This go around was a little too filled with unhappiness for me for me to count it among my favorites of the series. Very little time was spent with the couples happy or even together and there is very little steam in this book. Even the monumental event between Matt and Evan was kind of down-played to a side note.
When I go through a lot of angst with my MCs I like to see a pretty substantial happy time with them, for balance. In this book it feels like my “happy time” must be still coming in the next book in the series, because it really isn’t here – especially for Matt and Evan.
I don’t know what’s in store for them, but I really, really, really wanted Evan to quit his job. Boy it hit some buttons for me! Especially when Casper was being such a douche! So, I hope for everyone’s sake that the issue gets addressed in the next book, more satisfyingly.
But… that being said… it was nice catching up with the boys, and it was great finally closing that case… and the exciting new things in their future will be great to see in the next book.
3.5 of 5 hearts
Into the Wind (Mermen of Ea Book 2) Audiobook by Shira Anthony Narrated by Michael Stellman
Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6710
Blurb
Mermen of Ea: Book Two
Since learning of his merman shifter heritage, Taren has begun building a life with Ian Dunaidh among the mainland Ea. But memories of his past life still haunt him, and as the threat of war with the hostile island merfolk looms ever closer, Taren fears he will lose Ian the same way he lost his beloved centuries before. Together they sail to the Gateway Islands in search of the fabled rune stone—a weapon of great power the Ea believe will protect them—and Odhrán, the pirate rumored to possess it.
After humans attack the Phantom, Taren finds himself washed up on an island, faced with a mysterious boy named Brynn who promises to lead him to Odhrán. But Taren isn’t sure if he can trust Brynn, and Odhrán is rumored to enslave Ea to protect his stronghold. Taren will have to put his life on the line to find his way back to Ian and attempt to recover the stone. Even if he does find it, his troubles are far from over: he and Ian are being stalked by an enemy who wants them dead at all costs.
Review
This is no book for the un-initiated! Though I feel you could read it as a standalone, I think you’d be confused and missing a lot!
Shira Anthony puts SO MUCH detail and description into these stories. Her most powerful weapon is her world-building. It is complete, full and gorgeous.
She is not afraid to give our guys their love story and then yank it from their feet a few times before letting them be happy, either.
From book one we know that Teran and Ian have a history far beyond this life-span. This story explores that history.
There are several new characters, Odhran being one – another pirate captain who shows Teran more about his past.
There is an epic – I mean EPIC – battle, some sadness and then some wonder.
If you are a fan of the series you won’t want to miss this installment and follow our Teran and Ian through their adventures.
Audio
Michael Stellman narrated book one and does another excellent job with book 2. He has such a pleasing voice at a great pace with a knack for emotion. He absolutely adds to the experience.
4.5 of 5 hearts
Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves#1): Victoria Sue
PUBLISHER: Dark Hallows Press
ABOUT: According to legend, when humankind is at its most desperate, the goddess Sirius will send three of the most powerful werewolf shifters ever created to save mankind. However, because they are so powerful, they will need a fourth to complete them, to calm them and help them reach their full potential.
Aden, a young were, has been his pack’s omega ever since, at the age of fifteen, he didn’t shift like everyone else. Caught, reviled, and tortured because of his empathic abilities, he knew on the night he was told to run as sport for the pack hunters that it would end in his death. What he didn’t know, however, was that on the same night he’d also meet the love of his life and a pathway to answers, because Aden is far more than just a pack omega.
What begins as a hunt soon becomes a new adventure as Aden discovers that he has not only one, but three destined mates, and his role as lover is far more than trivial. The fate of all humankind rests upon it.
REVIEW: I like shifter books, they’re among my favorites of the genre and I enjoyed this author’s other books so I decided to give this series a try. The book starts off a bit violent and I don’t care much for that all but in this case, it fits in with the situation; it sets the stage for the remainder of the story.
This also book also feature another couple of my favorite elements in M/M: Mpreg and multiple partners. I’ve only read multiple partner stories where three men were mentioned so I was curious as to how the dynamics of four men would work out.
There’s Aden, an omega wolf who is
The outcast of his pack for being unable to shift. His life was made a living hell by a psychotic alpha and the pack’s Gammas. Chased through the woods, Aden is convinced he’s going to die when he’s rescued by his mates, the powerful alpha Blaze, Connor and Darric. Together they work to heal Aden emotionally and physically while teaching him about the Sirius wolves, his empathic abilities and his part in their lives.
The rest of the story sorts of putter along until Aden is kidnapped again. Then there’s more violence until he’s rescued. There’s a storyline in there regarding wolves joining the military, a corrupt politician and finally the end.
I didn’t like this shifter book as much as I liked her other books, I just couldn’t connect with the characters and the violence, although not overly gratuitous still kind of turned me off. Although this was the case it was still written well.
RATING: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
BUY LINKS:
https://kimichanexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/image2.jpg
The Gift by Andrew Grey
Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6722
![Gift[The]](https://i0.wp.com/kimichanexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/GiftThe.jpg?ssl=1)
Blurb
Sequel to The Price
Las Vegas Escorts: Book Two
Ember is a drop-dead gorgeous Las Vegas escort. He notices Alejandro in some of the classes he teaches at his side business—a yoga studio. Then, color-blind Alejandro further captures Ember’s attention when he’s momentarily blinded by a quick change in light and needs Ember’s help at a club. What Ember doesn’t expect is the way Alejandro touches his heart.
Alejandro never intended to develop feelings for Ember. He’s in Las Vegas for a year to sow some wild oats. But Alejandro quickly sees more in Ember when he sets out to make some of Alejandro’s dreams come true—including a trip to the Grand Canyon and the beaches of LA. Alejandro’s wild oats could turn into something memorable.
Ember knows keeping his escort job from Alejandro isn’t the right thing to do, but he wants to be liked for who he is. Alejandro keeps his own secrets for the same reason. But Alejandro’s family obligations, along with Ember’s profession, could make it impossible for the two of them to stay together—unless they can figure out how to make the most of the gifts they’ve been given.
Review
We met Ember in book one, he’s one of the escorts that Hunter worked with before he retired. Ember likes his escort job, but he also has a Yoga studio he goes to center himself and regain the part of himself he loses with each client encounter.
Alejandro is a real Prince of a small Spanish country in Las Vegas for a year to “be himself” and have fun. He “knows” he can’t be gay – he has to marry and have babies to carry on the lineage – but he wants to have some memories and affairs before he settles down.
Ember and Alejandro meet and each know the other is someone important in their lives. They have a (surprisingly) sedate courtship that eventually leads to some hot sex and later devotion. But….
Both men have their secrets and those have to be dealt with before the two of the them can find their Happily Ever After.
**
This is a nice, solid, predictably happily ending Cinderella-type story. There are some nice secondary characters and a few surprising twists, but the story basically unfolds as you’d expect.
It’s a nice escapist story of love conquering all.
3.75 of 5 hearts
A Counselor of Wolves (Leader Murders Case Two) by Liv Olteano
Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6351
![CounselorAmongWolves[A]](https://i0.wp.com/kimichanexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/CounselorAmongWolvesA.jpg?ssl=1)
Blurb
Sequel to A Tooth for a Fang
Leader Murders: Case Two
Five dead leaders, their bodies arranged in a pentagram. Treason, lies, and backstabbing. A make-believe affair that turns into a real mating.
Timothy Sands is a PBI counselor, half-fey, half-elf, with a secret crush on Herman Weiss, PBI director. As a new chapter is added to the Leader Murders, it is Weiss’s responsibility to investigate what seems an impossible-to-solve case. The other problem? Weiss is suffering from rages, and his only salvation lies in Tim’s emotional-grid-balancing skills. They only have to pretend to be a couple for Tim to use his talents, and he owes Weiss a big favor. Piece of cake, right?
The fey might be involved in the Leader Murders. Someone on the Council might be their ally, and another prominent PBI figure looks more and more suspicious as they investigate. The stakes are upped when Timothy’s father, the Fey King, threatens to leave the Council destitute if they don’t hand Timothy over to him. Weiss’s brilliant solution? Mating Timothy and forcing the Council into protecting him.
There’s only one small hitch in that plan: instead of protecting one, the Council might decide to get rid of two.
Review
Timothy has had a thing for Weiss for a long time. In fact his infatuation with Travis was because of the similarity to Weiss.
Weiss had a male lover once before, but it ended badly. Now he’s stuck in a loveless mating that is about to finally be over, but he has a mess to clean up before he can be happy.
Someone is using magic to make Weiss unstable and it is up to Tim to ground him and keep him alive long enough to solve the mystery and the murders.
In a huge bout of drama our two erstwhile lovers manage to save the day and find love.
**
I really wanted to love this book. I adored book one and was so excited for this to come out.
I never liked Weiss. Sure I understood him better, but he just kept feeling like a big ol’ jerk and he was never very nice to Tim.
Tim who should have been so strong ends up being a door mat and even though he survives all the trials by fire, I never felt like he was appreciated. At all.
The mystery/drama eclipsed the love story for me and took the attention away from what felt like a mediocre love affair at best.
I just never bonded with the couple as a couple and as a result found this book to be lacking.
The writing was fine as was the editing, and if you are looking for drama this is a good book. But if you want a sweet love story I’d keep looking.
2.75 of 5 hearts
Fire and Ice Audiobook (Carlisle Cops book 2) by Andrew Grey Narrated by Randy Fuller
Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6737
Blurb
Carter Schunk is a dedicated police officer with a difficult past and a big heart. When he’s called to a domestic disturbance, he finds a fatally injured woman, and a child, Alex, who is in desperate need of care. Child Services is called, and the last man on earth Carter wants to see walks through the door. Carter had a fling with Donald a year ago and found him as cold as ice since it ended.
Donald (Ice) Ickle has had a hard life he shares with no one, and he’s closed his heart to all. It’s partly to keep himself from getting hurt and partly the way he deals with a job he’s good at, because he does what needs to be done without getting emotionally involved. When he meets Carter again, he maintains his usual distance, but Carter gets under his skin, and against his better judgment, Donald lets Carter guilt him into taking Alex when there isn’t other foster care available. Carter even offers to help care for the boy.
Donald has a past he doesn’t want to discuss with anyone, least of all Carter, who has his own past he’d just as soon keep to himself. But it’s Alex’s secrets that could either pull them together or rip them apart—secrets the boy isn’t able to tell them and yet could be the key to happiness for all of them.
Review
(Book reviewed earlier)
Carter is the police partner of Red who we met in book one, Fire and Water. Donald is a social worker who has hooked up with Carter in the past, but walked away from him before they got started as a couple.
Carter rescues a boy, Alex, from the site of a domestic disturbance only to find out he’s been abused and is now an orphan. Donald is called in to help place him in the system, but both men fall in love with Alex and have a hard time letting him go.
Meanwhile, Carter knows Donald is more than his icy façade and wants to break through to the real man he’s had glimpses of before.
Donald is guarding his heart and his secrets but can’t help but be enthralled by both Alex and Carter.
In the end – when an amazingly convenient solution presents itself – we see the formation of a new family and a very HEA.
**
I thought this was better than the first book (and I liked the first book) and I really liked Carter and Alex and the story they shared. I thought Donald was a little harder to like and found his reluctance to share frustrating.
Overall it was a good book and I recommend it to fans of Andrew Grey and fans of men with kids stories.
4 of 5 hearts
Audiobook
Randy Fuller does a fairly nice job with the narration. He is easy to listen to, and tries to make the characters separate from one another and does a nice job with the child, Alex. He isn’t great at portraying emotions and it doesn’t necessarily add to the overall experience, but neither does it detract.
3 of 5 hearts
Overall 3.5 of 5 hearts
Water and Fire by Rowan McAllister
Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6206
Blurb
Aiden Flanagan has spent his entire life fighting who and what he is. After losing control of the power within him one time too many, Aiden flees to his parents’ vacation home on Nantucket to lock himself away as punishment and to protect the people he cares about. Getting nowhere on his own, Aiden fears he’ll never have enough control to join the world again—and perhaps he doesn’t deserve to—until an act of kindness brings Murphy Mizuuchi into his life.
Though still grieving the loss of his partner, Murphy’s own gifts won’t allow him to ignore the strongest projector he’s ever encountered or deny the beautiful soul behind Aiden’s drama. Drawing on his own recovery, his empathy, and years of practicing meditation, he shows Aiden not only how to find a safe outlet for who he is, but to value his abilities.
But Murphy isn’t the only one drawn to Aiden’s fire. Someone from his past followed Aiden to the island, and it will take both Murphy’s and Aidan’s powers to protect him from a man who won’t stop until he takes all Aiden has.
Review
This book is the second in a series but can absolutely be a stand-alone novel.
If you read book one, you remember that Aiden was the firey ex of Adam’s that caused so much strife between him and Jay. (If you were like me – you didn’t like him much at all! Which is why it took me forever to get around to reading this!)
We find Aiden right after he’s run away from something tragic – something to do with Adam and Jay. He’s in his head a lot and it’s a mess in there. He keeps fighting and fighting the fire that lives within him and he also wants and needs someone to help keep him grounded but he’s determined not to be all clingy like he was with Adam and scare the next potential lover away.
Aiden goes to a party on the beach near his parents house, severely depressed, and meets some guys at a bonfire. A few hours/beers later and there is an older man, clearly distressed out on the beach with them – upset about the fire. Aiden sees some initials carved in old wood and rescues the wood from the fire to bring to the upset man – Murphy – and is initially rebuffed.
Murphy has his own story to tell. He’s a widower – we never did find out how he became one – and is an empath (and something to do with water). He literally feels all of Aiden’s emotions like he’s yelling them and it psychically hurts. Normally Murphy can shield from such a thing, but with Aiden he can’t.
What follows next is the two men learning about one another and helping Aiden with his “gift”. They don’t deny their instant attraction for long and it turns out that Murphy really helps ground Aiden.
Everything looks to be moving in the right direction when suddenly there is a mysterious “bad” guy in town making Murphy jealous and Aiden uncomfortable. Then there’s a storm, a kidnapping, a rescue and some closure.
**
Phew! This book was a roller coaster. Reading Aiden’s thought process is a bit like living in his brain and is energetically exhausting. Poor guy! But that is where Rowan McAllister did such an excellent job, giving us this manic, frightened character and having it bleed out on the pages in such an amazing way.
Murphy is far more solid and serene and that comes through so well. But… he’s got that side of him that feels too much and has to be hidden. Aiden shows him the benefit of letting that side out now and again.
I was captivated by this story and read it quickly but was a bit disappointed by the end. I am hoping it’s a set up for book three because both sets of MCs really, really need to come together like the Fantastic Four and somehow vanquish the evil Richard! I can see the set up so I’m hoping I’m right!
I would also love to see both couples later in their relationship and having mastered their respective skills.
I did however find it super cute that Adam and Jay were blushing while discussing their whereabouts during the latest storm. Tee hee!
All in all it was a wonderful book and I really hope we see the next book soon!
6 of 5 hearts
Ribbons and Frills by Claire Davis and Al Stewart
Beaten Track Publishing
http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/ribbonsandfrills
Blurb
Ribbons and Frills costume sewing factory has always been about creating dreams, but when the owner asks his very upper-class son to take over, sparks fly, and not just from the sewing machines. The last time manager Gary Shaw saw Ashley Turner-Hoff was a year ago, when he left Gary standing on the beach with a broken heart and sand in his underwear.
Ashley Turner-Hoff has a plan to save the factory which involves one famous mannequin and a fashion show in London.
Can Gary forgive Ashley and give him a second chance? Can Ribbons and Frills really compete against top fashion designers, and do Gary’s dreams of being on stage finally come true?
Find out in this summer story of sequins, sand, and surprises!
Part of “Summer Bigger Than Others – A Summer Anthology” from Beaten Track Publishing.
Review
This is a very dark romance between a working-class costume maker and an up and coming designer who’s had a silver spoon between his lips all his life.
In the previous summer the two hooked up and it was a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that kept them apart at summer’s end.
When Ashley, the boss’s son, returns to try to save the sinking ship of a factory where Gary manages a crack team of machinists and designers, Gary can’t let himself get pulled back into the charmer’s arms and get devastated again.
But… Ashley has always wanted Gary and in time he shows him how much.
**
I didn’t care for this story. There was way too much sex and not nearly enough talking between our MCs. I really wanted some heart-to-hearts to clear the air. I dislike plots that hinge on BIG MISUNDERSTANDINGS from the get go, and this one was pretty thin from the outset.
Though I found Gary’s struggle and loss of dreams to be touching – the stolen van, the strange contest and the way Ashley sort of launched himself back into things never felt organic or real to me. It felt very contrived and I wasn’t very invested in the outcome because I was thrown so out of the story by the plot holes.
The writing wasn’t my style either, though it was technically done well.
All in all this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
2.5 of 5 hearts
Don’t Judge by A.E. Via
Publisher: Via Star Wings Publishing
About:Detective Austin Michaels didn’t think life could get any better after he was accepted into the most notorious narcotics task force on the East Coast, headed up by two of the baddest Lieutenants with the Atlanta Police Department – Cashel Godfrey and Leonidis Day.
Michaels knew he would fit right in as the team’s sniper, having received his fair share of commendations for marksmanship. He was just as badass as the rest of the twenty brothers that made up their team. But when Michaels lets their prime suspect get away from a huge bust with over a quarter of a million dollars in drugs, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it right.
Left with no other options, God chooses to bring in outside help, calling on his long-time friend and bounty hunter, Judge Josephson.
Judge was considered one of the best trackers during his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. After retiring, he used those skills to become one of the most sought out fugitive trackers in the country. When Judge gets a call from his old friend needing his help, he quickly tells God, yes.
Still embarrassed, and intent to prove himself, Michaels immediately volunteers to partner up with Judge to get their suspect back quickly and quietly. Neither man wanted or needed a partner. But, after Judge and Michaels get on the road, the hate/lust relationship they quickly develop between them will either make them heroes… Or get them killed.
Review: Well, Mz. Via has done it again with her rough and tumble, tough and tenacious, gorgeous and sexy, crazy detectives. This book features Det. Austin Michaels, badass sniper of God and Day’s task force.
I really love this series. It’s hard to believe that it sprang from one of my favorite books, You Can’t See Me. These characters are robust in the sense that these guys don’t do anything half assed. They are all out, balls to the wall, tough and they take down the bad guys–hard. There are no sweet and smooth, sassy mouthed twinks in her books. No siree. These are grown, hard men. And that’s what I love about her characters. These men are equals in everything.
There are a few things that I picked up while reading Michaels’ character that I thought the author did a great job portraying. Michaels clearly had anger management issues but I couldn’t quite figure out where the anger was coming from. As I continued to read, I thought that his anger management was one of the symptoms of his depression. If you read it carefully, you can pick up that Michaels was battling depression. I also thought that it was great how Via showed exactly how much love and respect these men have for each other. They saw him struggling and stepped in to help when they saw him before he was able to spiral out of control.
I loved Judge. I didn’t dig his character at first. I had to read it a bit more before I warmed up to him but it didn’t take long. I realized that Judge wasn’t an ass at all. His gruff manner and hard shell was his way of not getting attached to anyone. His interaction with his father, his step mom and his dog showed a tender side you wouldn’t expect to come from a big biker looking type, a bad ass bounty hunter.
I noticed that there wasn’t as much macho posturing in this book and hasn’t been as much of it after God and Day’s story was told. Yes, the men were still the hard as nails, kick ass and take names type of men but it seems like they’ve mellowed out a bit and that may have to do with them being in loving relationships.
Another thing I want to mention is that there are not very many sex scenes written in but when there is, it’s totally hot?.
This author strikes the perfect balance in her stories in terms of plot, storyline, action and dialog; you’re not disappointed. The book doesn’t drag or lag anywhere. Two things I didn’t like about the book though: the spitting during sex (that’s a huge turnoff for me) and the one case of police brutality. I hear and see enough of that going on in real life, I really didn’t to read about it in my M/M romance when I’m looking to escape real life for a while. That aside, this is a pretty awesome story, hell, the entire series is faboulous. My favorites in the series so far are You Can’t See Me and Embracing His Syn.
These books are part of a series and can be read as standalone a but I highly recommend that you read the books in order to familiarize yourself with all of the characters.
Buy from Amazon
