Happy Ending is set in the same East Coast small town, Smithfield, like Gobsmacked, and has some traits in common with it, but it’s an independent story.The feeling of a “familiar” story, the little town where everyone knows everyone else, the gay characters that yes, maybe have some trouble, but more or less are living like ordinary people among the small community, those are the traits in common. Other than that, David and Seth are two completely different characters from Tony and Mark.
Seth is a 36 years old business man, and truth be told, neither so nice. His sister Nikki died leaving him the sole relative of a six years old baby girl, Molly, and Seth is not sure what to do with her. Seth is used to deal with construction workers and budgets and due lines, not with barbies and little pony, all in shades of pink and purple. The new turn in his life also cost him his in live partner, Quinn, who packed and moved in Florida; I have the feeling that Seth misses more Quinn’s cooking abilities than the partner though.
From what I gathered, Seth is a creature of habit who doesn’t like change; for this simple reason it's never passed on his mind to cheat on Quinn, not since he loved the man, but since he was not interested in looking around. When Quinn is out of the picture Seth, after a short period of mourning, starts to notice again the dating world around him, and his eyes focus on David. Not that it’s so difficult, in a small town like Smithfield David works three jobs, and all of them are somewhat involved with Seth: he is a masseur in the spa where Seth goes once a week; he is a waiter in the pub Seth frequents more than once a week; and finally he is a young adult writer and Seth has a six years old girl who reads his books.
But David is not Seth’s type, or so he thinks. First he is way to younger, 10 years; second, he is not on the same level of Seth, he has no steady job, he is the picture on unsteadiness; third, with his long black hair, piercings and tattoo, he is not the man Seth would picture on his side, even less now that he is the parent of a child. But one thing is thinking it and another thing is to convince his body that he doesn’t like David. David on the other hand, after the initial usual misunderstanding, seems more than willing to deepen their acquaintance, and the sex is great, easy and without second thought regrets.
As before, the story is good, the drama and angst is there, but like the small town in which the story is set, also the drama is small, not so overtly imposing to overcome the romance. All in all, everything is near, even the solution and the answers to all the questions. Happy Ending, like Gobsmacked, is a little and nice story, with an homey flavour.
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Amazon Kindle: Happy Ending (Men of Smithfield)
Series: Men of Smithfield
1) Gobsmacked: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/65759
2) Happy Ending
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Cooking with Ergot by Luisa Prieto Dominic is a good witch; most of his enchantments are spent to create beautiful haunted gingerbread house he presents during a cooking show in a private television channel. His life is good and happy, he has a soul familiar in the form of a stuffed tiger he animated when he was eight years old. Everything is perfect if not that there is a cooking books author who is murmured to be a witch hunter, and he will be his next guest in his show.
Instead of waiting for Carter to come to search for him, Dominic decides to do the first move and goes in search of Carter. And what he finds is Carter threatened by his cousin Simon, the real witch hunter. And he finds also out that probably Carter is his chosen, his soul mate.
Writing a book like this one it could be really difficult since it would be easier to push on the "funny" elements, and get on the right side of the most romantic reader, or push on the creepiness, and make an enemy of that same reader. This book instead balances very well both elements and even when it's obvious that we are reading the funny side, we are always aware that there is a danger outside, but the danger remains always on the edge and for me it's better, since I'm that reader, or spectator of an horror movie, that hides behind her hands when there are the most bloody scenes...
So talk about the funny things: what about a stuffy tiger as a soul familiar? and a stuffy tiger that when is speaking as an old fashioned English accent and behaves like a real high level butler? Or what about the fact that all the magical stuff turns around kitchen and cooking factors? The witch is a pastry chef and the witch hunter is a cooking book author; and after sex the first thing that comes in mind is to cook!
Speaking of the characters, both Dominic or Carter arrive to me as "little brothers" type of man; they are not domineering, they are not alpha males, they are more the supporting character type more than the full hero one. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they are not interesting, but only that they need their cozy habit, made of comfort and warm, to shine; they would be lost in a big bad adventure, they need the coziness of a little book with stuffy tigers and gingerbread house.
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Bittersweet by Maura Anderson Actually there is nothing of "bitter" in Maura Anderson's story: it's really a classical and good romance, and the setting in the middle of a wedding makes it even more sweet.
Brandon is a bad boy type if you only look him, but he is instead a very sweet man; the owner of a chocolatier shop, he spends his days and nights creating sweet treats for his customers and he is specialized in "sexy" chocolate, a thing that goes well with weddings and similar events. But even if Brandon has a lot of love around, he is alone, still mourning the betrayal of a past lover.
David is an happy-to-go guy, good job and good friends, he has not trouble in life. When he meets Brandon doing a favor to his soon-to-be bride best friend (David is the "man of honor"), he falls immediately in love. Like a teenager with his first crush he can't spend a minute without thinking or talking of Brandon, and then finally, finds the courage to come back to the shop... only to be brush off by a skittish Brandon, who can't believe that a successful business man like David is interested in him.
A kiss and a wedding will help the two men to be together, and if not for an hot encounter during the rehersal of the wedding, there would haven't been neither a sex scene in this very romantic story... the sex scene was nice, don't worry, but this story was more romantic than sexy after all.
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The Shape of a Heart by Kimberly Gardner Kimberly Gardner is another of those author who likes to play with stories more centered around the characters than the plot.
In The Shape of a Heart the focus shifts from Zach to Keith letting them have their emotional development. Zach is the mourning owner of a coffee-bookstore (and this gave me a pang in my heart, people who knows me since a bit know why...). Mourning since two years before he lost his lover Jay, and he is still grieving from the loss. Like often in these cases, Zach is basking in his pain and has no intention to let the memories go; who suffered a lost like him, recognizes all the signs, like when you are always expecting for your lover to enter the room, and when you think something, your first reaction is to tell it to him, only for suddenly realizing that he is not there, and to be stabbed again by the pain of the loss. But that pain is almost welcomed, since it's the only sign that you are still alive, that you are not dead like the man you still love.
And since you cling to these feelings like your safe anchor, Zach doesn't welcome well Keith in his life. Keith apparently is younger (apparently since he is really 29 years old to the 38 years old of Zach) and pain-free. He is always smiling, gentle and caring, and for Zach every smile is a stab more. Zach doesn't want to care for Keith, since it would mean to betray his lost lover Jay.
Keith is the new bartender of the coffee-shop. Zach was the librarian and Jay the coffee maker, and so, when Jay passed away, the coffee shop languished away. Now Rhonna, Zach's partner, hires Keith and Zach has no really reason to go against this decision if not that looking at the man is too painful.
As I said, at first the focus is Zach, he seems the only to have a past, and a painful one, but little by little we realize that Keith is not a simple character as he appears. At first it doesn't ring wrong that he is hired to be a bartender, since the reader thinks him to be young, and maybe he is still a student and this is a job to makes the ends meet. But then we realize that he is not so young, and that he is obviously too skilled for the work, and so who is he really?
The story is nice, but as always when the story is nice but not so long, I have a regret: the second part, soon after we are starting to realize that Keith is more complex than expected, it seems a bit rushed. All right, usually I'm not very fond of the fully drama stories, but I really believe that this one would be gain the up-level from nice to very good, with only some pages more. And maybe Keith's character suffers a bit from the lack of those pages more.
But nevertheless, it's for sure above the average of most of the story around, the sex is very good, just that bit of naughty that makes it arousing but not embarrassing, and the characters are also good.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Giving Thanks by Maura Anderson Troy and Derek are lovers since two years and they also share an home full of joy and comfort. They would be the perfect happy couple if not for the fact that Derek is not out with his family and this means that, at every family reunion, Troy has to play the role of the "roommate" with Derek's family. But Troy loves Derek and he would do everything for him, and so he is approaching once again the Thanksgiving festivity with the same good disposition as before.
But this year something changes: it's Derek that can't bear no more to listen to his father complains on his private life and how he undervalued Troy's role in Derek's life; so he snapped the day before Thanksgiving, and since he also works in the family's restaurant, he finds himself at the same time without family and work. But Derek wants to give the best Thanksgiving to Troy, and so we read of all the preparations to have a huge Turkey and everything else around only for two.
I like the story: it's nice and tender. Troy and Derek, despite Derek's reluctance to come out, are a very communicating and supporting couple; Troy never once makes Derek feel wrong for not presenting him as lover to his family, and never once let Derek without his support, even when Derek is stubbornly invading the kitchen with an huge amount of food they can't possibly eat in two. On the other hand Derek is very comprehensive of Troy's work, and how it's very tiring for his lover, and so he tenderly takes care of him in the best way possible: even when he is suffering for his father's reject, he still finds time to take care of his lover and to be always open and "straight" to their relationship. Derek doesn't hide to suffer alone, he shares his pain with a gentle smile on his face.
The story is not very long, 51 pages, but it's a very nice fast reading in the warm atmosphere of the holiday season.
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Amazon Kindle: Giving Thanks
Devon Cream by Jet Mykles I will not make this a rule, but usually Jet Mykles' characters are always paired with a very self-conscious man and another one that is cute, funny, maybe straight, or at least he believes so (Heaven, Faith...). In Devon Cream I found again that pair, but with some interesting differences.
Steven should be the self-conscious gay man, the one who has everything clear in his life. But Steven is also the mother-hen of the story, the man who can't help himself to help everyone around him, from feeding neighbors to collecting stray cats. Steven is a really nice man, and even if he is alone since eight months, he is not the type of man who I see alone for a long time. He is so nice and generous, that sooner or later someone will snatch him away. So Steven is not the male version of a spinster, he is not in desperate need of love, his love towards Devon is not as it was his last chance to happiness, and for this reason I read it as more sincere.
Devon is the young boy who moved upstair Steven's apartment. Devon is handsome, physically he is also more imposing than Steven, tall and muscular, but he has those puppy eyes that practically melt Steven's resistance. Devon is not used to live alone, he was kicked out from his parents house since he failed college, and now he has to take care of himself, a task that at first he is obviously not ready for. And so Steven starts to take care of him, and yes, maybe he exaggerates in doing so since he is infatuated of Devon. But the things are clear between them till the first day (thanks to his noisy other neighbor Patty): Steven is gay and instead Devon is straight, so no way that Steven could have his way with Devon.
Said that, I don't believe that this story could be classified as a 100% "gay for you" one; there is not tortured decision in Devon, not an almost painful realization... Devon is only really young, and he hasn't had any chance to "experiment", so he is really a "virgin" to love in absolute, both male than female (even if he is not "really" a virgin, mind you). Jet Mykles is really good in planning Devon's slow but sure path towards his adult life, and along the path we see Devon's changes: they are both physical (he blushes less, and he acquires a "feral" look, from puppy to wolf) than behavioral (he starts to do things before people tell him to do so).
Steven didn't set up a plan to seduce Devon, I really think his truly idea was to help a boy in need, but it's like putting a match near the straw, at the first spark the fire is uncontrollable. What I like of Steven is that he didn't hide his feelings, or at least he didn't do that to whom has eyes to see (since maybe, as I said, Devon is too young to read the signs); Steven likes Devon, and he almost accepts his caretaker task as a torment of Tantalus, having near something you can't reach. On the other side, there is no malice in Devon, he didn't parade himself around Steven to tease him, even if he parades and a lot!
This story is a funny sexy romp, the sex is good and just the right dose, Devon has the right dose of cuteness without being a female in a male body and Steven is a believable gay man without being flamboyant. Nice contrast in Devon being the pretty thing of the couple without having the physique du role, he is the taller and stronger in the couple. http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/more-h
Amazon Kindle: Devon Cream
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Amazon: Hot Comfort by Maura Anderson, Kimberly Gardner, Jet Mykles & Luisa Prieto
(print anthology)
Cover Art by Amanda Kelsey
The Art of Dying by Josh Lanyon & Jordan Castillo Price Release Date: August 7, 2009
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 978-1-60168-232-1
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
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Amazon: The Art of Dying: Partners in Crime #4
Blurb: Lovers and Other Strangers by Josh Lanyon
Recovering from a near fatal accident, artist Finn Barret returns to Seal Island in Maine to rest and recuperate. But Seal Island is haunted with memories, some sweet, some sad; three years ago Finn found his lover in the arms of Fitch, Finn's twin brother. Since that day, Finn has seen neither Conlan nor Fitch. In fact, no one has seen Fitch. What happened to him? Did Fitch run away, as everyone believes? Or did he meet a more sinister fate? To put the past to rest - and see if there's any chance of a future with Con - Finn must discover the truth. But the deeper he digs, the more reason he has to fear Con is the only one who knows what truly happened to Fitch.
Body Art by Jordan Castillo Price
His lover has betrayed and swindled Ray Carlucci out of everything he valued, including a tattoo business. Hounded by creditors, weary of heart, he accepts the job of chauffeur and body man for the dying owner of a remote estate. The island, minus its wealthy summer colony, is colorless in winter and Ray thinks he understands why staff on the estate periodically desert. But, he's baffled by, then drawn to, Anton, the eccentric artist who haunts the forest, bringing strange life to bizarre and disquieting sculptures amidst the ice and trees. When the body of a man who once held Ray's job rises from the frosty earth, Ray wonders what part Anton's wildness has in the escalating violence.
( Excerpt )
Due to the title I was expecting for the two stories in this anthology to be linked by the art world setting, but it was interesting to read how many other points of connection there were, two of them quite obvious: both mysteries are set in a small community, an island, the type of gated community where the rich and famous go to live during summer or to retire. And both of mysteries turn around a murder without a body, the died man is disappeared, but no one knows how. Lovers and Other Strangers by Josh Lanyon
Finn is an artist; he is born in a family of artists and everyone expect from him to be the good twin, since his brother Fitch is the bad boy. While Finn has a strong bond with Seal Island, the place were he was raised, and he wouldn't want anything else if not living there and paint, Fitch has the wandering feet, always in search of something or someone new. And then a summer, Finn fell in love with Con, a neighbor he has known for all his life, but that summer was different. The relationship started as a summer fling, but for Finn was something more. And so when he discovered Con in an passionate embrace with Fitch, Finn had not the force to face it and ran away from them and the island. Now three years later, convalescent from a very bad car accident, Finn comes back home to find the peace that Seal Island always gave him. It doesn't matter if he has to face Fitch and Con, if they are living together, they have already stolen him his happiness, they can't steal him also his home. But when he arrives to Seal Island, he finds out that Fitch is disappeared three years before, the same day Finn left the island... No one knew what happened to him and the last person that probably saw him alive was Con, the same Con that now is telling Finn that he misses him and that also for Con was love, and not only a summer fling.
The plot turns mainly around the two twins, Finn and Fitch, and their story. There is a romance, but it's only a subplot, and it remains always in second line. Con is a nice man, but I have the feeling that he is more a dream, an unattainable man for Finn, and that if he suddenly becomes true, Finn maybe would be not more so interest in him. I have the feeling that Finn is more in love of the idea to be in love than of the man. On the other hand the mystery is really good, and since the community is so small, everyone has a reason to want Fitch dead, and everyone could be the guilty man. No one has a real alibi for that day and so it's nearly impossible to find out the culprit before the end of the story. The strange thing is that the only one who seems to mourn the loss of Fitch is his twin Finn, the one who probably has more reason than one to hate him. But as it is said in the book, and how you can understand from what I said, Finn is a good and nice guy, with not real bad feeling in him. And so, since Fitch wasn't loved so much, the reader is not in an hurry to find out who killed him.
Body Art by Jordan Castillo Price
The second story is maybe a little more strange, but basically with the same turning point. Ray arrives in a gated community on an island, Red Wing Island. He will be the new driver for a old and wealthy couple, the Whites. It's not clear how it happened, I summarized that his former lover probably has some responsibility, but Ray lost his business, a tattoo parlor, and now he is full of debt. A live in work is exactly what he needs, even if the arrangement is not exactly top of the notch. The house where he goes to live is isolated, Ray has no his own car, and in the house there are an old man with Alzheimer and three women... and being Ray gay, well, it means that he will be pretty lonely. Then in the wood near the house he meets Anton, the crazy artist who lives in a nearby cottage. And when I say crazy, I don't mean that he does strange sculpture, I mean that he is really crazy. Anton is a bipolar case, he tried to kill himself in the past, and he has moody up and down. But he is also really beautiful, and gay, and maybe since he is lonely, or maybe since, in the crazy situation he is in, Anton doesn't seem so crazy after all, Ray falls soon and hard for him. In two day they are lovers, and in one day more, a dead man is found in the wood: he is Stanley, the former driver, and apparently Anton's previous friend. Again everyone in the small community have reason to hate Stanley, and everyone could be the guilty.
This time the romance is a little more center stage, on the contrary of the previous story, the murder is not so important, maybe since the murdered is not someone so much involved with the hero. Ray has no real reason to find out who killed Stanley, he is more interested in find out that it wasn't Anton who did it. The nice thing is that, in a way or the other, Anton is really a unsteady man, someone that probably will be never able to live alone on his own. If Ray decides to bring on their relationship, he will be always the rock, with time he will become the caretaker... but he sees Anton with a lover eyes, and he is willing to do so.
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Cover Art by Anne Cain
As the cover suggests (and btw, a beautiful cover by P.L. Nunn) there is a bit of yaoi in this romance, above all in the character of Jason, the blushing virgin. I'm not disappointed by it, since I bought the book expecting it, this is one of the time where the cover tells and enriches the story in the right way.When I say that there is a yaoi influence it's not only in the blushing of Jason, but also in the way he is forced by Enitan, the Storykeeper, to admit his desires. Deep inside himself, Jason knows what he wants, but he has not yet act according to his desires. Jason is even too pretty, pale translucent skin, blue baby eyes, blond curly hair; all his life he was avoided by girls since he was too cute, maybe even more than them, and by boys since he wasn't male enough. In this situation, Jason has not really had the chance to decide what he really likes, he simply avoided every temptation. He devoted himself to his study, becoming the classical library mouse.
Then his sister came to live with him and brought a very special novelty in his life: her collection of romance books. Among those books, Jason found something unexpected, man on man love stories (cameo role for the Tin Star and J.L. Langley who is the first author our Jason tried). From that moment on, a more than 20 years old Jason is awakened to his own desires, homosexual desires. But he still doesn't act on them, he limited himself to read and dream. Then one day he finds a very special book, a book that writes itself while Jason is living the story, and that brings Enitan in Jason's life. Enitan is an immortal being, and he has no actual corporeal form, he assumes the body that Jason likes, tall, dark straight long hair, chocolate skin... it's not difficult to notice that he is at the opposite of Jason, both in body than behavior. Where Jason has problem to express his feelings, Enitan is more than ready to voice them and to act according to them. He teaches to Jason all he has to know about sex and love, but the book will be ended soon.
The plot of your dream man who comes out from the book is not new, I remember a novella by Sherrilyn Kenyon, who then developed her famous Dark Hunter series from another similar story, Fantasy Lover. Here the interest lies in the character of Jason and probably in his repressed feelings, Enitan not only represents who Jason wants as companion, he is also who Jason would like to be, and for this reason he is dark where Jason is light, and he is bold where Jason is shy. More than dreaming to be Enitan's lover, Jason would like to be Enitan himself.
The book is basically a sexy romp played in the little bedroom of a shy book mouse... probably the story half and more the romance reader are dreaming.
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Cover Art by P.L. Nunn
Julian's Second Chance by Claire Thompson Release Date: July 24, 2009
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 978-1-60168-090-7
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
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Blurb: When Alex and Julian meet on a trip to Sri Lanka, neither expect deep feelings to develop between them. Julian, however, fears the reprecussions of a homosexual relationship will have within his family and spuns Alex toward the end of their trip. A chance meeting brings the two men together six years later, older and wiser but has too much time passed to reignite the passion they once had, especially when Alex is involved in a relationship already? This story is a re-release of Masks of Emotion which received excellent reviews. 5 Stars,from Blondie at Rainbow Reviews and a grade of A at Simply Romance Reviews.
( Excerpt )
Finding the Words is a nice book since I found that the characters are real thanks to their many faults. Ryan is a speech therapist in an University Medical Center. He is recovering from a broken heart: his younger lover (Ryan is 35 years old, Jeff is 25) for the umpteenth time cheated on him, and even if Ryan still loves him, this time he isn't willing to forgive. The strange thing is that the author manages to not give nor to Ryan or to Jeff the fault of the breakup. On his way, Jeff loves Ryan, only that he is really convinced that monogamy is not for men; even if from my point of view he is on the wrong side, it's clear that the author didn't want to make him a negative character, and after all, from what we are able to see of Jeff, he is really a nice guy. Maybe this is the reason why Ryan is not able to forget and forgive, he is really in love with Jeff and for him love means exclusivity. Again, it's strange, I'm all for Ryan's point of view, but the way he shut down Jeff in a way made me more sympathetic for Jeff than for Ryan. And then, even if with a broken heart, Ryan is more than willing to fall in love again so soon, Jeff's side of the bed is still warm! Well, lucky him that he finds so soon a good man.
Andre is a patient of the hospital; a divorced men with two grown son, at 46 years old he is just getting used to live alone again. And then the health issue that leave him with a body and speech handicap. Apparently Andre is a very nice character, he is almost cute when trying to speak again, and even if he is older than Ryan, he has to lean on the man for almost everything, and this makes him even more cute. But there is something more behind Andre, I'm not totally sure that he is a really strong man, even when he was in full body capacity. Andre was married, but he had doubt on his sexuality; maybe he was not exactly in the closet, he has never had homosexual experience, but he was curious. He even planned to met with a man when he was still married... all right, Andre's wife is not exactly the epitome of nice woman, but still, I don't know if I like so much a man that was willing to cheat on his wife. In a way, Andre is not so different from Jeff, and Ryan decided to leave Jeff.
But maybe between Ryan and Jeff there were also other problems and the cheating was only the more evident. I have the feeling that Ryan always doubted on the possibility to have a future with Jeff, deep inside him he knew that Jeff was not the one. And instead I didn't feel the same when Ryan is with Andre. True, Andre maybe is not perfect, but so is Ryan; as I said the story is interesting just for this reason.
Another strange thing is the apparently lack of sex even if the story is pretty erotic. Ryan is a very "physical" man, he has naughty thing, and he has no problem to take care of himself when he is in need. So we have a lot of solo sex scene, but in the end not even one with Ryan. Ryan's relationship with Andre is very intimate and tender, but not sexy; erotic maybe, but not naughty. All in all the story is not too dramatic, but neither light: being Andre inexperienced with men, it would have been easy for the author to put one or two sex scene with a naughty core, and instead he decided to leave the mood of the story to a more chaste level, almost familiar. In a way Ryan and Andre's love is mature and comfortable, like it's probably right for their age (more Andre than Ryan).
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Cover Art by Amanda Kelsey
Berdache by Lena Austin Release Date: July 3, 2009
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN 978-1-60168-223-9
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Blurb: The shaman "Lizard" is one of the two-souled-ones, a Berdache. Lizard must convince his proud and stubborn childhood friend, Red Wolf, one of the finest warriors of his village, that he too is a Berdache and must take the shaman training, before he loses his mind. A call for aid comes, so the Berdache, his friend Red Wolf, and the beautiful Chickasaw slave, Born In Moonlight, take the journey to hopefully avoid a war. Will these three give in to the closeness they feel or will they be forever separated by the dangers they face from both the Spirit World, and the world that surrounds them.
( Excerpt )
Setting in a suburban England town, The Nest is an unexpected story. First of all, the blurb is not quite right, hinting to some big bad trouble, really American style, where the big good cop plays the knight in shining armor's role. Instead the style of the story, and the troubles in it, are dry and all too much ordinary, not at all stage effective. The Nest is a story in an undertone, and the two main characters are more ordinary men than heroes. And surprisingly enough, it's almost a sweet romance, with few if nothing sex.Brendan Cuddy is the new police constable assigned to a poor council estate called the Nest. As the new man, Brendan is seen by all the people who live, and hide, in the Nest, like an intruder, someone you have to not trust, above all by Jay. Jay is a 19 years old guy who is trying to support his younger siblings, two of them under 10 years old, after their mother disappeared 2 years before. Jason didn't say to Social Services that his mother left, since the obviously conclusion would have been for the family to be split up. Instead Jay dropped out of school and now works two job to make the ends meet. He is doing a better job than his mother with his siblings, but it's not the dreamlike family of some romance stories. Jay is not some fabulous older brother that all at once became a perfect parent, he is still mostly a teenager who had to grow faster and sooner. And it's not even the classical teenager who gets himself in some big trouble and needs a good man to help him. As I said, the turning point of the story is not sensational and even the decision one will be quiet and simple, as all the book itself.
So here we have Jay, 19 years old and almost no experience with men, since he has really no time to date or think to something else other than take care of his family, and Brendan, the good constable, who wants only to help. Brendan is not a hero, he probably takes a little more interest in this case since he has a sweet eye for Jay; and really, he doesn't do anything special, if not closing an eye here and there (like with Jay's mother disappearance), and holds out an helping hand when necessary. In the meantime, we have also a proof that Brendan is not exactly a tough and pure perfect hero, since he brings on a fated relationship with Rowan, when he well knows that he is not in love with the man, and worst, he thinks to Jay even when he is with Rowan. But Brendan is not someone who sees things in black and white, and maybe he is also too gentle and caring to clearly say to a man who claims to be in love with him, that him instead doesn't feel nothing... better to let the river flows, than trying to stop it.
Even if it was not what I was expecting, I like the feeling of the book, it was almost like one of those English movies, a la Stephen Frears, about the working class. You usually get to see a movie, or read a book, to see something different from your real life, and so, it's difficult that you willingly decide to see one of those movies, but maybe, one afternoon you are at home doing nothing, and that movie is on the screen, and you stop what you are doing and find yourself glue to the television... You are seeing your life, but, well, it's a good story, and you like it. There are not sensational scenes, there are not big emotional breakdowns, not even the sex, but still, there is something of undefined that draw you to the story... this book is something like that, I can't really find a specific point that made me like the book, it's a continuum thing, a continuum that is not even broke at the end: they are not the characters that lead the story, it's the story that incorporates the characters and makes them move along its placid flow.
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Cover Art by Amanda Kelsey
The Nest by G.S. Wiley Release Date: June 5, 2009
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 978-1-60168-220-8
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
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Blurb: Jay McIntyre's main goal in life is to keep his younger siblings together and away from Social Services, who he's certain will separate them if they know his mother left two years ago. Juggling two jobs and the responsibility of caring for three children, the nineteen year old's problems are compounded when Jess, his younger sister, begins to rebel and when an old enemy is released from prison and returns to his housing estate. Overwhelmed and at the end of his rope, Jay is finally forced to seek for help from a surprising source: Police Constable Brendan Cuddy.
( Excerpt )
Turner and Turner: One Good Turn by Amber GreenThis is the second book I read by Amber Green and for the second time I have the feeling that I'm plunged in the middle of the story, with all a past behind me that I have to rebuild collecting clue here and there and a bigger future ahead of me that I'm reaching at a fast pace and I haven't the brakes.
Kendall Turner (KT) is the spoiled son of a very wealthy family; I haven't really understood if his family his old wealth or mafia style, in a way or the other, KT is the black sheep, the gay boy who tried to loose himself in alcohol and the only thing he gained was a bad experience in jail, an experience that his rich father didn't save him from since he had to learn his lesson. After that big demonstration of fatherly love, KT decided that he would be better alone and took his separate way. He is now a quite complicated young college professor, with a strange circle of friends, not exactly a perfect life, but at least it's his own life. Only that someone decides to blackmailing his family using a video in which KT plays the unaware role of porn star, and the family decide to let the matter in the hand of Turner Kendall (Turn) Scott (yes same name, reverse order), the poor cousin who entered the family when KT was still a child and became not only his father's favorite, but also the protagonist in all KT's teen wet dreams. Turn disappeared for a long period when KT was still a teenager, but now it's again inside the family, and once again the perfect son for his father, something nor KT or his brother Dean manage to be.
I believe that the instability that permeates the book is a mirror of the instability that is KT's life. KT seems unable to stay put, he is always in an hurry, probably he is running away both from his family than from himself. Neither Turn, who is maybe the only constant in KT's life, is able to stop him, and KT has the uncanny ability to always end in some trouble or dangerous situation. KT is not exactly a weak man, he is quite clever and able to collect all the clues he needs, but his inner unsteadiness causes him to put himself and the people around him in danger. Turn seems to be a nice character, but actually I have the feeling that he is not fully developed, we learn something of important about him practically at the end, and we have not enough space to fully understand it and its implication: is Turn gay? is he in love with KT?
This is only a first part of a series and due to the open ending, I believe that also the second book will focus on KT and Turn, and so probably we will have time to better understand Turn.
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The Men of Smithfield: Gobsmacked by L.B. GreggMark and Jamie are in-live lover in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Problem is that no one had the courage to tell Mark that perfect boyfriend Jamie was cheating around and Mark finds out in the worst way, unexpected coming back home and finding Jamie screwing someone on their bed. At first Mark doesn't react but then, as in a perfect play setting in a small town, he attacks Jamie during mass in the main church ot the town... telling about washing your dirty laundry in public...
But the cheating is not the only thing that Jamie was doing to Mark, he finds out that his bank accounts are cleaned out and that they didn't pay the last months rent, and this means that Mark is also without an home thanks to dear Jamie. Among all this disaster the only rock for Mark is old friend Tony, the local cop and his first crush. Actually this is a point I didn't understand so well: apparently Mark had a crush on Tony when he was 14 years old and Tony 17. Tony obviously didn't act upon that crush since they were too young, but then, when they were both adults, and Tony was available, Mark wasn't. Worst, when Tony was in need of a friend due to some family issue, Mark instead started a relationship with cheating Jamie, a man that no one in their circle of friends seem to like. I can only think that Mark is a bit selfish, not too much mind you, but he is the type that first of all think on himself and what he wants and likes, and then, if what he wants and likes is in common with his possible partner, only then he is willing and ready for a relationship. Mark is the classical man who needs a caretaker, he is not at all the strong side of a relationship, he is not able to take reasoned decision, he tends to have emotional reactions. Tony is perfect for him, since he was young, he always takes his decision considering all the consequences, and he always puts Mark's interests in front of his own. Maybe I would like for him to be a bit more selfish (on the contrary of Mark ;-) ), and for example, interferes when Mark started a relationship with a man that was obviously wrong for him.
Anyway, as first attempt from a new author, the book is nice and easy to read. Maybe Tony should have more space to develop, but you have to consider that the book is only 140 pages long.
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Men of Smithfield: Happy Ending by L.B. Gregg Release Date: April 24, 2009
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 978-1-60168-203-1
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Happy Ending (Men of Smithfield)
Blurb: He was everything I never, ever wanted. And I wanted him badly. All Seth really wanted was a simple massage-was that too much to ask? When his usual therapist is replaced by a sexy young masseur, Seth finds himself obsessed with the unpredictable - and wholly inappropriate - David Cooke. Pushed to the breaking point by forces both mysterious and not so mysterious, Seth must lose his rigid control to find the happy ending both he and David deserve.
( Excerpt )
The Shape of a Heart by Kimberly Gardner Release Date: Mar 22, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1-60168-193-5
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Blurb: Still grieving his partner's death after two years, Zach Jensen takes solace in his work and his memories. But when his sexy new employee offers more than just help with the inventory, Zach is forced to face the fact that the past is cold comfort. Keith Hart is used to life on the run, treating each new place as no more than a temporary stop. Until he meets the man with the hole in his heart. Against his judgment, Keith reaches out to Zach while a dark menace from the past reaches out for Keith. Will the threat prove to great? Or can they come together and win their future in the shape of a heart?
( Excerpt )
Kimberly Gardner is giving away an ebook in .pdf format from her backlist, winner’s choice, to the first person to email her at kstarrett5 (at) comcast (dot) net
Finding the Words by Terry O'Reilly Release Date: Mar 14, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60168-192-8
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Publisher Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
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Amazon Kindle: Finding the Words
Blurb: Ryan Phillips, a speech and language pathologist in the physical rehabilitation unit of a major university hospital, has recently ended a relationship due to his partner's infidelity. He is called in to treat a patient who is suffering from a traumatic brain injury. In the course of his treatments he begins to have feelings for the man. But is he ready to be healed, and will the patient heal enough to be able to return the love that appears to be growing between them?
( Excerpt )
In Awakening, the previous book in this historical series, Terry O'Reilly fooled me. He wrote a book with a not happily ever after true to history ending, and, as afterword, he wrote also a little quarrel scene, between him and his husband, in which he supported the rightness of his decision and instead Drew, his husband, warned him that the fans would be not happy. And I was not happy, but I understood his reason, I only wished that in the sequel, Nathaniel wouldn't find another man to replace Jonathan in his heart.And for a moment, I almost feared that it was exactly what it was happening. Nathaniel went toward North, in the wild territory of Ohio, with Robert, his cooper's apprentice. Robert is a young man that is obviously in love with Nathaniel, but the older man is still in love with Jonathan, even if he knows that there is no future for them. But still in his heart he hopes in the impossible. Then comes a letter from Jonathan, a letter in which Jonathan asks to his lover to go on with his life, to forget him. And Nathaniel tries, he forces himself to accept Robert's love, even if not fully. He shares his life, home and bed with Robert, but he never arrives to share the same intimacy he had with Jonathan. And Robert, who in his young naivety, has eyes only for the man, accepts this second-hand love and thinks he can be happy with that. But years later another letter arrives, a letter in which Jonathan announces that his wife is passed away. He is not saying that he wants Nathaniel back, but still, probably in Nathaniel's heart that little hope in the impossible comes again alive and he slowly withdraws inside himself and far from Robert's comforting love.. At the same time Robert, being half Native American, is recruited against his will as interpreter for the English Army and forced to leave Nathaniel for months. He has the chance to meet another man, a full blood Native American, and also to see how his life could be in an Shawnee village, where he hasn't to hide his love for another man: in the north settlement where he lives with Nathaniel, their love was accepted like a unavoidable evil, with no woman around, what they could do? but with Red Horse he finally experiment a full life, not only since he is accepted by all the people around, but also since he is the first man in the warrior's heart. But Robert's heart is divided, like it was Nathaniel's one: can he fully love Red Horse, when he doesn't know what his life with Nathaniel could be if the man finally forget his long lost previous lover?
I like the story since it's a complicated but well mixed three way plot: Robert and Nathaniel, their life in the north settlement, a love that maybe is not passion, but that could be a long and loving relationship; Robert and Red Horse, a new love, not only since it's the first time Robert feels real passion, but also since they live free from the society boundaries: and finally, but not less important, Drew and Terry: more than in the previous book, Terry O'Reilly makes the fictional characters of him and his husband, real main characters of the story; not only Drew influences Terry's decision on the plot, we can also see how Terry's past experience are reflected in the story. And again, the sub-story of Terry and Drew is so interesting that it almost steals the scene to the main one.
As you can imagine, thanks to the setting far from the "civil" society and the boundaries of living in it, this time there is an happily ever after ending (even if I will not say between whom). It's not a forced ending, since probably, in that time, it was the decision of a lot of men who couldn't live in any other place if not in the wilderness, where probably no one would judge them for searching "male" companionship.
I was uncertain on this book, I liked the previous one and I was fearing to be disappointed by a sequel: there were little chance for the author to write something I could like. Well, he managed to, and I strongly recommend to read both books, above all if you are a romantic at heart like me.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Divided Hearts ~ A Sequel to Awakening
Series:
1) Awakening: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/45616
2) Divided Hearts
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When you are writing a gay historical romance, you can face the matter in two ways: as a romantic, and build an happily ever after for your heroes, and as a prosaic, and be true to the history that not let your heroes to be together.If you don't like to have major spoiler in the story, stop here and don't read on, since I really thought on what to write on this story, but if I don't say some salient point, you will end not liking the story, and instead I think that this book is worth your time.
In the previous book I read by this author, Mr O'Reilly (I didn't know he was a male, not that matter, but maybe this could explain this last book) was a romantic: his nineteen century white man manages to be happy ever after with his Native American lover. True they are both wandering men without a family or a society to call their own, and so maybe they have less binding with the world.
In this book instead Jonathan is a school teacher and Nathaniel a master cooper, and they both live in the puritan society of Newburyport; how can these two men be together? As the same author said in the afterword "Homosexuals back in the Puritan era couldn’t live like we can now", and with "we" he means himself and his husband Drew. Drew is the romantic in the couple and he is not happy of Terry's decision to be "honest and true-to-life", he thinks that "the gay men and straight women who buy your books will like you ending it like that"... I'm called in? yes I think so. Yes, you are right Drew, I didn't like the end, but I see also Terry's point... how could he write something different? true, he could be romantic also this time, Jonathan could leave all he knew, his family, his work, and live as beau savage in the wilderness... how many men probably did the same? But how many instead give up to what society asked them? Probably more.
Jonathan and Nathaniel are in love, but they are not long time lover; the book starts with Nathaniel that is deflowering Jonathan... and the "ing" verbal form is actually right, since we are plunged in the middle of the action, when there is no return way... Nathaniel and Jonathan meet a day, like a lightning in a clear day they find themself soulmates and the same night Nathaniel (who is a bit more experience than Jonathan, but not so much) shows to Jonathan what he is searching all his life, but his puritan upbringing didn't allow him to find. And the day after Jonathan's father announces to his son that he is betrothed and soon-to-be married to the daughter of a business partner. I was just dreading a seventeenth century menages, when the author decided to be "honest and true-to-life", and truth be told, better not having my happily ever after than having a half-way convenient ending.
And now remember what I said at the beginning, the book is worth your time, Jonathan and Nathaniel's love story is sweet and tender, Nathaniel is really a gentle character, so open and sincere. Jonathan maybe is only naivee, young and with a lot of road under his shoes still to take; yes, I believe that he is in love with Nathaniel, but maybe not so much and deeply as Nathaniel himself.
In the end two pleas to the author: even if I heart for Nathaniel, don't write a sequel only to please "the gay men and straight women who buy your books" :-) and instead, consider to write your own story, Terry and Drew's love story; if it's a real story, it's really good, and instead if it's fiction, it's really good as well!
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This is the second book I read by Z.A. Maxfield and this is the second time that she takes me up at night till the few hours; this time I was not able to finish the book in one session, since it's really long, almost 290 pages all filled up of words. And truth be told, the book deserves more attention and less sleep deprivation, since it's a mix of romance and mystery.Kevin is a former cop, now suspense romance writer. He lives almost like an hermit in Wyoming, in an auto inflected isolation; six years before he was in a car accident, the reason why he is now a retired cop, but with a blind eye and a limp in a leg, he went out from the accident with also another "gift": he has now some psychic powers that he isn't able to manage. Probably the fact that he isolated himself in a ranch and avoids human contact is part of the reason of his inability to deal with people. Actually he is not really all alone: he has a dog and a friends with benefits relationship with his dog's vet, so all in all he is pretty set. Kevin is openly gay, he came out at 15 years old and as stubborn as a teen can be, he believes that his family never accepted him; and since Kevin is now older, but still stubborn, he still believes to not having a loving family.
The only link with his family is his brother in law Carl, a LAPD detective who sometime asks him help. Last time ended pretty badly and Kevin is not willing to risk again, but when is old dog passed away and Carl asks help and it's Christmas season... well Kevin can't refuse. When he arrives at Los Angeles, he is paired with one of Carl's colleagues and friends, Connor. At first Connor doesn't believe in Kevin's psychic skill, but he is tired to seeing missing boys every month or so without having any clue. In Connor's personal story, there is an event that makes him way too involved in this case.
They are a strange pair Connor and Kevin; there is no real dominant character between them. Connor is younger and has some issues with his past, so this put him in a bottom role; but he is also well connect with his own family and also with Kevin's family, and so he has the output strenght from a steady environment. Kevin on the other hand his older (five years more or less) and experienced, both in life and sex; he should be the top, but he is all in all a typical bottom: he likes to be wooed, he relates to his partner in more things other than sex; and then he needs the family steadiness that Connor has.
The setting is very nice: a mix of suspense thriller and Cinderfella story; all Kevin's family and Connor are involved in the police department, with the typical middle class upbringing that derives from it, but Connor is from a wealthy Irish family, and this means big mansion in the hills and private boat on a country club, but also big and obtrusive family environment. Again, like for the two main characters, also the setting is a strange mix that is successfully mixed together.
Last the suspense element... usually I'm not a mystery lover, but I'm quite good to find the villain in the story; but in this case, till almost the end, my guess still was uncertain on two possible endings. Well, I was good enough to have at least one of the guess right!
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
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This anthology follows the previous shifter anthology with the same title, and two of the stories in it are real sequel. The new one instead is a nice add, since as the other two, is quite a "shift" (pun intended) on the "classical" shapeshifter romance, where wolves, felines and similar rule. Instead the shifters in this three short stories are a fish, a pigeon and a bunch of rats, animals usually so small and not scaring, that are not the primary choice for a romance. But never underestimate the little ones, remember Napoleon...The One That Got Away by Sharon Maria Bidwell: Billy is a wandering writer; his wandering lust has taken him far from home for a long time. He justifies himself with the reason that, being gay, living in a small town was impossible, but now that his father, his only relatives, is dead, and Billy had not the chance to say goodbye one last time, that reason seems very weak. Still mourning his loss, Billy takes his father boat and directs in the middle of the lake near his father cabin... and almost drowns. In the middle of the lake, one big fish shifts in a very handsome and naked man; a man who claims to be a friend of his father, more he pretends to be in love with Billy and that he was waiting for the boy to come back home since a long time. And now Gill, the fish, is tired to wait and "wants" Billy, here and there.
The story is quite interesting but maybe a little too short: most of the 30 pages are spent with Billy mourning his father's death, trying to convince himself that he is not crazy since he saw a fish-man and having a wild night of sex with said fish-man. But what will be of these two? Gill will choose to live on the dry land, or Billy will move on the cabin to be near to the lake and Gill? Gill is in love with Billy, he said so, but Billy? Is it only loneliness that draws him to Gill, or is it love also on his side? There are also some typos errors (a New England that two page after becomes New Hampshire, and three paragraph repeated identical at short distance) that makes me think that the story was closed a bit too soon, and it's a shame, since it's very nice.
Steal the Sky by Fiona Glass: Avery, the shapeshifter pigeon, and Charlie, his owner and now lover, are living together in an almost blissful situation. Avery has everything he wants, a roof on his head when it's raining, food to fill his belly when he is hungry and a lover to satisfy his desires when he is willing. Have you had the impression that Avery is a bit spoiled? Noooo, what did you think?! Avery is not spoiled, Avery is a pigeon, for him is quite natural to be feed without having to hunt his food, or to find a ready nest when he wants to sleep. And for the sex, well, it's an enjoyable benefit to being a shapeshifter. Charlie could believe to be the owner, and Avery is willing to let him believe so.
I really like this short story, probably the most funny and charming of the anthology. Charlie, poor him, is only a supporting character, Avery is the real protagonist. I don't know if Avery results so funny from being a pigeon or being English: there is always this edge in a story written by an English author, almost an aurea of superiority, almost as they know something (the author and his character) that you reader don't know... but maybe it's a pigeon thing instead.
The Swan Prince by Emily Veinglory: and here is the sequel of a story that, when I first read it, let me very intrigued, but perplexed: how can you find sexy a bunch of rats that shift in a man? And that sometime looses a rat and so an important body piece? (no, not THAT piece, usually it's an hand, but still, it's important!). And maybe this is the same though of Sandy, the half-Japanese half-American guy who finds himself with a rat-demon partner even if he is not so fond of the idea. But the rats, we know, are very good to infest the house they choose, and Rudy, the demon-rat, has chosen Sandy as his lover, or rather, has recognized Sandy as his Swan Prince, the Japanese mythological man said to have the power to convey and control the demon-rat.
Emily Veinglory's story competes with Fiona Glass's for the prize of the most funny; again I have that feeling, that superiority aurea... In this case, it's very tender to see how Rudy struggles to please Sandy, that always seems a bit aloof (very Japanese in this). Sandy is not a bad guy, only that he is not used to express his feelings or to voice his emotion. But if Rudy wants to do also his part of the work, Sandy will not refuse to be cherished and pampered... even if Rudy is not very good in pampering, on the contrary he is rather incompetent.
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Steven awakes to a nightmare: he is alone, under the rain, amid of nothing. He is injured, scared and without a clear memory of who he is or why he is there. He knows his name, he has some flashback of his life, but still he seems to have like a cloud in his mind. He walks in the night to find a shelter, and he stumbles across an old house, apparently abandoned. But when he knocks at the door, it opens to enter him to a young handsome guy, Eliot.Eliot is beautiful, but even more strange than his home. He never speaks clearly and he has the power to bind Steven to him: he says that he asks for Steven to come, and that Steven is his gift. Steven realizes that he is living in a parallel reality, but he seems unable to resist to Eliot sexual power; Eliot brings so much pleasure to Steven, a pleasure he never felt before.
But even if the sex is unbelievable, and the days are spent only making love, Steven can't leave his life behind. He needs to know who is Eliot, and why he is there.
The story is short, less than 50 pages, but really "haunting". Actually it's quite in theme for an Halloween's Eve. It's centered on Steven, of Eliot we know very little, a piece of memory here and there. Even if short, the plot is quite good, with a really well developed turn of the events just at the end.
I can't say much on the story, since I would risk to give up it, but let me say that I didn't expect that end, and that I was leading to believe something total different; I started to realize the things at the same time as Steven did, and so I was surprise like him in finding the true.
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Amazon Kindle: His Gift
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Jack is a shapeshifter Unicorn and Scott is a virgin and we all know what happens when a Unicorn meets a Virgin... well, actually I didn't know that all the sex was involved and now images of fairy virgin princess riding white unicorn stallion are playing in my mind...Jack is a quite young shapeshifter Unicorn; in all his existence he has met only three pure souls (virgin in mind and body) able to caught him, and two of them were women during his student phase. The only real relationship he had was with a man, lasted five years. The trick to get free of the bond with the virgin is if the virgin loses its purity; but sex with Jack is not the way to lose purity, since all the virgin and the Unicorn makes together doesn't break the bond.
Since the last relationship broke pretty bad, now Jack is used to frequent Del Fantasma, a bar where is quite impossible to find a pure soul... that is till Scott enters the bar. Scott is a shy geek boy; 21 years old and virgin, he is unaware of all the paranormal life around. He is there to help his brother and as fast as he can leave is better. But when Jack senses Scott, the bond is tight and Jack is due to obey Scott in every thing.
Scott is too young and naivee to profit of Jack's power, and all he can thing to use is Jack's skill in bed: for how much innocent Scott is, he is very interested in experiment all the sexual freedom he can find with Jack.
The story is not very long, a little more than 100 pages, and it is light and enjoyable. Jack's character, the Unicorn, is more developed than Scott; of Jack we know about his past life and his reason to be as he is; Scott instead is a bit of an enigma, for example we don't know why he is virgin: it's a choice? or a lack of opportunity?
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Del Fantasma: Unicorn
Series: Del Fantasma (m/m)
1) A Slow Fuzzy Screw by Sharon Maria Bidwell: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/16123
2) Black Wolf by Jade Buchanan: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/21930
3) Undertow by J.M. Snyder
4) Virgin Special by Sharon Maria Bidwell: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/39761
5) Unicorn by Jet Mykles
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Dangerous Ground by Josh LanyonThe book begins abruptly: Will and Taylor are hiking and arguing. They are FBI special agents and Taylor is recovering from a shooting and they have taken a vacation. Taylor resents Will for something, we at first don't understand and Will wants both to take care of Taylor but also hit him to instill some common sense in him.
Little by little we understand that other than partners they are also friends and maybe something more: both Will than Taylor are gay, but between them there wasn't nothing more than teasing and glaring until the last fatal night, the night before Taylor's accident. And then there wasn't a right moment to face the argument, until now: in the open space of mountains all seem to be free from restrain, words and thoughts. And Will and Taylor seem to not be able to do other than yell to each other and offend each other.
When they only want to understand how they can go on or move on on their relationship, real world interposes between them, in the guise of a cold case: a robbery to a casino, ended with the lost of the spoil. And now the thieves want it back.
The book is not very long, little more than 100 pages, but I think it's more sexy than previous Josh Lanyon's books. There is actually only one real sex scene, and it's hot, but since as I said the book is not very long, and the building tension that promises the real scene and the simmering ashes that follow are both long and detailed, the scene is the apex of the book. And it's also very good, very... erotic.
Taylor and Will are both strong characters. I think this is the real problem: they fear to give a chance to their relationship since both fear to lose independency and the alpha male role in the match. But they are not equal in their dominance: Taylor is an hot head, a man of action and someone who is pretty driven by instinct; instead Will is more caring and a thinker, he likes to analyze everything before taking a decision. So maybe, if they manage to balance their powers, they can find a common path.
Dangerous Ground is not a mystery, is more an action romance. And the romance is a big ingredient of this book. But even if they talk about feelings and love, not Will or Taylor lose their masculinity.
http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=6
Burn Card by Laura BaumbachCody is a CSI officer for the Las Vegas PD. What he lacks in body, being small and lithe, he makes up in cleverness. Cody is a very prim and proper East Coast guy, but inside he is a romantic guy, who likes to cuddle the teddy bear his lover Gil gave him as birthday present. Gil is a big and strong badass, former football player, former wrestler and now owner of a very exclusive security firm. His primary business is to provide skilled bodyguard to celebrity. Gil is also a high tech lover, and likes to surround him and his lover with all the latest tech gadget.
Cody and Gil are at the opposite in body, Cody small and pretty, Gil big and rough, and at the opposite in behavior, Cody always perfect and impeccable, Gil a bit of a slob and impulsive, but they are equal in feelings, they are deeply in love and love overcomes all their differences.
When Cody is kidnapped, Gil has only 12 hours to find his lover. And some of that tech gadgets he likes to give him could be of help.
The story is very short, less than 70 pages, and it felt almost like one of that "what happens after" type of story. It almost like if Laura Baumbach just wrote the main story, when Cody and Gil met, and where she gave us all the details about them and their story, and this one is only a welcome back story... a bit strange.
Anyway as usual in a Laura Baumbach's book, there is the strong contraposition between the two main characters, even if in this case is more physical than anything else: Cody could be little in body, but he is not at all a dependent character; he has a strong and independent personality, and it's a good match for Gil. Actually this time, it's the apparently submissive character, Cody, who has the main role in the story, and we know very little about Gil.
I'd be glad to read a little more on these two, above all the beginning of their love story.
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Cover Artist by April Martinez
Another of my error due to the fact that I click the buy button too fast! This one is part of Del Fantasma series, short story setting around the Del Fantasma night club, managed by Cody, a vampire matchmaker, a series I like very much. And it's written by Sharon Maria Bidwell, an M/M author not such prolific, but among my favorite. And so when I saw the book, and the genre M/M on the Aspen Mountain Press website, I click on the buy button without even read the blurb... and it is a menage! (sob)... I don't like menage.But well I had the book and I know that Sharon Maria Bidwell is good, so I thought "why not? give it a try". I'm quite happy of my decision, but I have to say that in this M/M/F menage, for a time, the stronger pair is the M/F one.
James is a suicidal man; he lost his beloved girlfriend even before they had a chance to savor life. Both from very conservative upbringing, they decide to wait for sex after marriage and they never reached the time. So James now is alone and virgin and without a reason to live.
Seth and Hannah are centuries years old vampire. Seth loved Hannah and Hannah loved Seth but also Seth's best friend, Edward. And so Hannah convinced Seth and Edward to share her and after sometime, she convinced them to start also a M/M relationship. Both men loved Hannah and so they agreed, but probably the real love of their life is what they felt for Hannah. Then Edward was killed and Seth and Hannah lost their balance.
Cody thinks that Edward is the answer to their need: a man without attachments, someone who can be forged to become the perfect balance for Seth and Hannah. But it's Hannah who seduced James, it's Hannah who convinced the man, it's her who introduces him to sex. Seth is almost a detached spectator, waiting for his woman to obtain what she wants. Seth and James' relationship exists only in relation to Hannah, much like it was with Edward.
So if you decide to try this one, as I did and I'm not regretting it, be aware: it's not a classical M/M romance (how strange to use the "classical" word for a M/M romance), it's more an heterosexual romance with a twist.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Del Fantasma: Virgin Special
Series: Del Fantasma (m/m)
1) A Slow Fuzzy Screw by Sharon Maria Bidwell: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/16123
2) Black Wolf by Jade Buchanan: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/21930
3) Undertow by J.M. Snyder
4) Virgin Special by Sharon Maria Bidwell
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
First of all let me say that I like this book, is not what I was expecting but I like it.It's an historical and this was not so clear reading the blurb. It's setting more or less at the end of the nineteen century, when Native Americans where pushed in reserves to let space to the settlers. Lee is a cowboy without a place: he likes men and he made the huge mistake to be discovered with another man; he lost his work and he was lucky to not lose his life. He wanders till he finds a nice place to set for the summer, a mountain plain near a lake. The very first day he also meets Tatanka, a Dakota who left his tribe for the same reason: Tatanka is a two spirits, he likes men. For the custom of his tribe he has two choice: being a warrior and marry a woman, or choosing to be a two spirits, and maybe being the second or third wife of a warrior; but if he chooses this second option, he will have to behave like a woman, dress as a woman and do the things of women. Tatanka is not a woman, he wants to be a man with a man, and so he chose to be alone, until he meets Lee.
They are happy during their summer, but with winter they need to make a choice. They first try to live with Tatanka's tribe, then in an English settlement: everytime they are men walking in two worlds, they never find the right place to live, where they can really stay together and love each other.
I like this book since probably for the first time I read both point of view of the two cultures. Usually the white man who was rejected from the civilized world, is embraced by the Native Americans who welcome him as a Two Spirits, a good sign for the village. But we never know how his life could be in that village. The theory of Walking in Two Worlds is more or less than in every world there is the right and the wrong, in every world Lee and Tatanka could live more or less without problem, but in neither world thay could be really what they are. In a world with structure and custom, they need to follow the rules settled before them, they need to respect others belief. If they are not ready to do so, they need to build their own world.
I like Tatanka, even if he is probably like the good savage our culture would like to find: a man with a strong culture, but with an open mind ready to listen to and accept other cultures; he is clever, but he is not a man of much word. He is more ready than Lee to follow his nature and his feelings, but he is also very cautious, and maybe a bit too bound to traditions. Lee maybe is more careless, but he is capable of great love; he is generous and friendly, maybe even a bit too much... he loves Tatanka, but he is not blind and he "sees" the other men.
All in all I believe that this is a very good western historical romance, don't know if it's historically accurate, but in the romance side it don't lack anything.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Walking in Two Worlds
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Cover Art by Amanda Kelsey
Will is an Afro American cop just out of a month of leave of absence: his last case ended pretty bad, with his informer (and lover) dead. A drugs addicted with some friend in the wrong circle, Teabag was a guy in search of trouble, but it was Will who asked him to pass over information on his friends, and so Will blames himself for his death.But Will seems to not be able to learn from his mistakes, and the first day he is again on duty, he drags the street to hook up with an hustler, Corey. Corey is a 23 years old college student who dumped university for an easier profession, and he is quite happy with his new work. He also looks upon six other guys, he is not a pimp, but he makes sure that all of them pays for rent and bills, and some of them are even still at university. But when a man begins to prey on "his" boys, beating them pretty bad, he asks Will for help. And Will has to be sure to not doing the wrong thing a second time.
Mmm, first of all, let me say that I like the book, but I'm beginning to wonder if what I always believe is true. Means that I always believe that whoring (or hustling) should not be a "nice" thing, that who does it, always has to be a "tortured" soul, someone in need of help. And instead this is not the first book where I read of hustlers who are quite happy of their life and that are planning to do that for a bit, till they obviously will find a nice man to set up. In this book this situation is driven to the extreme point: not only Corey is happy with his life, he is also quite a "normal" guy in his everyday life, a nice home, a bunch of friends... he also says that since he likes sex, he doesn't see any wrong reason in gaining some money doing it.
Yes in the end the story is a bit of Pretty Woman turning Pretty Man; we all know that in the end Will will do the "right" thing and will make Corey an "honest" man; actually, Corey has a more ordinary life than Will, and probably it will be Corey that will take a bit of normality in Will's life. The suspence subplot is easy and not too complex to unveil, but actually it's not the important thing of the story. And also it's strange but, the story ends very quickly, and yes, it's not very long, 80 pages, but I read it really in a blur... for me this is a good thing, since it means that I like it and I want to know what happens next as soon as possible, but, well, I'd like to have a bit more to read.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Tricked Out
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Nick works in a grocery to save money for his tuition. He is a simple guy with dreams of his own and when he sees Kevin one day at lunch break, he thinks that one of his dreams comes true: Kevin is a ten years older African-American man, who practices with a lawyer. He is refined and classy, and beautiful. Nick can't believe when Kevin asks him out. But obviously he has no intention to refuse this great opportunity.
The Working Man series by J.M. Snyder are short but very interesting stories. Short but complete, you have in less than 25 pages an entire story that let you fill what it's not said with your imagination.
In this case Nick is so sweet and Kevin so selfconscious and tender, that I'd like very much to read a whole story with these two characters.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Waiting Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Another short story in the Working Man series. Terrence is a more than forty years old Afro American business man that one day heard a strange sound in his new mercedes. Since his baby feels not well he immediately take her to a garage. Here he finds Jimmy, blond young guy with a penchant for older man... Obviously the baby is forgotten for a little bit while the daddy plays with the hot mechanic.
Really there is nothing more other than Terrence is a pretty interesting man, very vain and selfconscious that maybe is lucky to find a man like Jimmy who likes to be direct. And I have also my glimpse to a possible happily ever after, so I'm satisfy.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-re
Amazon Kindle: Working Man: Car Trouble
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Another short story in the Working Man series by J.M. Snyder.Charles is a service tech for a cable company who accept to go on a call for a new install since the customer is particularly trouble. But when he arrives to the designed site he discovers that Billy, the customer, is a very handsome young man, and also a flirty twinkie. Charles seems not able to take off Billy's hands from him, and he quite manages to do the work before Billy jumps to his bones.
As all the Working Man series, also this one is a very little one, less than 25 pages, but as always is well plotted and the characters are deepens and originals. It's very funny to see Billy's open seduction and he is a mix of boldness and naiveete. Charles has no game till the beginning in trying to deny him something.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/more-h
Amazon Kindle: Working Man: On the Job
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Night Moves is a vampire anthology. The common path is the journey of a young man to his new vampire life, but all the stories have their uniquiness and originality.Theron's Boys by Kiernan Kelly: Christian is a very modern and very new vampire. When he was turned he was 27 years old and now, 3 years later, he is deeply regretting his choice. His sire is a club's owner who turns young men to use them as toy boys in his club. He turns only young beautiful males and then makes them live in shared apartments, with only few hours to sleep and feed. Three years of this life and Christian is ready to rise against his sire, even more when he realizes to be in love with David, his roommate. As always, Kiernan Kelly's story has a funny style, like the stirring up reason for Christian's revolt, his unability to buy a Playstation3. It's light and fast, very enjoyable.
Inferno by Matt Brooks: this is really only a scene, and I'm a little disappointed of it, cause I'm always happy to have the chance to read a new author, and I didn't know Matt Brooks before. Blaise is an half turned vampire who roams the clubs by night in searching of something even him doesn't know. Then he meets Robert, a very sexy and full vampire, who is glady and ready to take him to the end of his path.
Chiaroscuro by Erastes: Michel is a poor painter who is hired by a very rich woman to paint his young "nephew", Yuri. Michel is like a property in the hands of a vicious patron, a greedy and without nobility man, who treats him like a pet. But when Michel sees Yuri, he suddenly falls in love and all forbidden desires are awaken in him. The story is setting in late nineteen century in Florence and if not for some hints during the tale and the ending, it could be only an historical tale rather than a paranormal one. But this is not a flaw. Pity it's only a short story, even if at the end the author let intend that maybe there will be a sequel.
Immortal Steps by Kira Stone: Kyle is an ancient vampire who is ready to reunite with his soul mate, Tain. In a previous life, Kyle was Tain's mentor but he left when the man was only a teen to let Tain grew and become a man. But now Tain is riped to be pick. Cause vampireness is not something you receive from another, like a virus, but it is a genetic changing you have inside and that another vampire can take out. And Kyle has every intention to be Tain's sire. Also in this case, I think the story would be worthy of something more, I feel like the short lenght doesn't allow to the story its fully development.
All in all, Night Moves is a good vampire anthology, with a right dose of paranormal and erotic elements. Another good addition to the M/M anthologies by Aspen Mountain Press.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/anthol
Amazon Kindle: Night Moves 1
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Andy is a young college student who has the nut idea to join two friends on a "normal" cruise during winter break. And cause it's a normal cruise, most of the people on the ship are couple and the others are not interested in three young guy, one of them gay.So when Andy spots the cute Hispanic bartender, Carlos, he thinks to have found a way to spend two weeks on the ship. But Carlos is not very fond of Andy's friends and the first night they meet it doesn't end in a good way for Andy. But there is always breakfast time (in bed...).
Another short story, less than 25 pages, this one is "pure" pleasure. Andy and Carlos are two young men who want to have funny without commitment and broken heart, and what better place than a cruise ship to do that? in a confined space is very simple to find a way to meet.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/romanc
Amazon Kindle: Working Man: Pleasure Cruise
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
A drunk joke during Friday Night Christmas Party could cost to Johnson his work: he has photocopied his butt (and all the other jewels around) with the office printer and has left the proves to find to Mr. Sanford, the boss.But lucky for Johnson, Mr. Sanford has admired the "proves" and now he wants a first hand experience and not only a photocopied one.
What will Johnson do? Even if Mr. Sanford his an handsome men, he is also twice his age....
A very short, less than 15 pages, but very nice office affair which leaves you with a stupid smile face and a thought: but why when you find a nut thing during Christmas Party, it doesn't become a new begin like this one?
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/romanc
Waiting Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
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