This is a strange story, a mix of paranormal and contemporary, but the paranormal element is dealt in a normal "way" that it seems nothing special.

Christian is a pyromancer, a man who controls the fire, better who is controlled by fire: when his emotions are too high to be suppressed everything around him could burst in flame. The positive side is that he can control the flames, and so it is pretty convenient that he is a firefighter. Plus he is a very wealthy and handsome man, having inherited a lot of money from his dead parents. But he is alone, he doesn't want to risk harming a person he cares for if he is not be able to control his powers.

During a long and lonely night he can't bear no more to stay alone and he resolves himself to call for an escort male. Tanner is the guy who answers his call. He is young and cute. Like all the old classical tale on "call girls", he is doing this work to repay the debt of his dead father and to pay his college tuition. But Christian is eager more for companionship than sex, and the night ends up with him giving Tanner a blowjob and nothing else.

After few days, Christian discovers that Tanner is the son of one of his fellow firefighters, dead on duty. He can't possibily leave the boy continues to sold himself to live but he has to convince Tanner to accept his help and maybe his love.

Like Tanner has the chance to discover, Christian is a very kind and gentle man, but also very insecure: he is too conscious of his powers / problems and he can't see what he can offer to a man. On the other hand he is overprotective and treats Tanner like a child. Tanner is young and stubborn, and maybe he needs a fatherly figure, but Christian is not exactly the steady and strong character up to the role.

The story is interesting, not very original, but "classical" in a way that makes it like a warm blanket in winter; on the other hand the sex scenes are very well written even if not too intrusive, they are right and the right moment.

http://www.loose-id.net/prod-Pyromancer-614.aspx

Amazon: Pyromancer

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Cover Art by April Martinez

Even if he now would never admit it, Tim knows that when he met Con for the first time, he found his true love. Problem is that Tim at that time was 10 years old and Con only 12; they still hadn't reached the phase in which someone wonders about being straight or gay, and they had only an year to be together. They were both in boarding school, but then Tim's parents died in a car accident, and Con's father had financial trouble and he went to live with his grandparents. Still they remained in touch, first with letters and then with emails; Con became Tim's internet friend, someone always present, but far enough for Tim to not feel threatened.

Probably Tim was already a troubled boy, being sent in a boarding school at a so young age didn't allow him to form the first important emotional bond in life, the one with your parents. And the the accident and the various foster homes didn't help either. Tim repressed all the feelings of abandonment and sadness and became a control freak. He has to have control in everything, above all in his own feelings; as I said, Tim just met the only person in the world who can find a breach in the walls he built around him, and that person is far from him, he even controls that weak side of him, knowing in every moment where Con is and what he is doing. Tim starts to date women, since it's expected from society, but he knows that a woman has no chance to pull down his barriers and so he is safe with them. This is not a "gay for you" romance, first of all since Tim, deep down him, knows that he is in love with Con, and second since Tim is a full-figured virgin, in any meanings of the word: he has never allowed anyone near him enough to tolerate a physical touch.

But now Con has invaded his space and started to work on that breach. He is in Tim's apartment, in Tim's life again, and he is too huge: not only in the physical meaning of the word, but also to an emotional level. Tim freaks out, he feels his control slip out for his hands. What I like of Tim is that he seems unable to be nasty with Con; he is sharp and edging, but he always tries to do the right thing with the man. True, when Con has to go away for a period, Tim tries to rebuild his walls, but at the same time he tries also to understand himself better and his feelings for Con; when everyone around him already knows that Tim is gay, Tim has still some hope that this is not true, since if he is gay, he is in love with Con and he is in big big trouble.

The book is not so simple that the "little" realization of being gay allows to our hero to happily walk hand in hand toward the sunset (don't get mislead by the cover...). That is only the first step and maybe the simpler, it's only stating the obvious; if till this point the book was almost funny (with sentence like "after a month he was always sure to be more gay than not"...), now it turns in something more complex and moving. Even if Tim is a doctor, he has still huge mental barriers that don't allow him to admit that he needs the help of a specialist; on the other hand Con, even if a real good man, is a firefighter, not a therapist; but he tries to help the man he loves, he tries to be supporting and sympathetic. I really like as he comes out as character, since the reader can really understand that he is not like that, he is not for real an always careful and cautious man, but he knows that he has to be like that for the good of Tim, the man he loves... and when he momentarily forgot, the real Con comes out, with his requests of a puppy (when they are both men with eclectic working hours) or for Tim's to take cooking classes (when the man has already his days full with his job and other bigger problems).

Both characters are wonderfully rendered, but Tim comes out in full force. I was really taken by this man that apparently is aloof and detached, but instead has so much to give: I was almost regretting that it was not allowed to these two men to live their childish love, to grew together and being always happy since that tender age... but probably they would have been not able to realize the beautiful love story that now they are living. By Degrees is a very good novel, that mix romance, eroticism and a bit of drama, but that has also a funny core that always warms even the more angst scenes.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1864

Amazon: By Degrees

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This book is different from the usual novels I was used to read by this author. First, it's shorter, a novella instead of a long novel; and second it has a bittersweet undertone that runs throughout from beginning to end, something that makes the novella less lighter, not sad, on the contrary there is even sometime when a smile spontaneously blossom on your face, but it's not a full laughter, it's more a warm slight rise up of the corner of the mouth. The main theme of the book is the research of the perfect blue, the same blue you can see in the inside of the flames, something you don't expect to see among all those reds; it's the same perfect blue of a mountain lake, and like the mountain lake, the book transpire peace and comfort, more than thrill and chaos, like the mountain streams that suddenly die in the peaceful water of the lake. The story is like that, a sudden moment of peace among the chaos that is the life of both characters.

Adam is a firefighter and he saves Jared from the fire that destroys his house. He is not able to save also the house, he is impotent since a big fire is roaring around and they are out of water. In a way, the impotence Adam is feeling is not heightened by Jared's reaction to the loss of his house: Jared is like fallen into a trance, in few words he explains to Adam that the house was the last project of his husband, a famous architecture, and losing the house is like losing once again his husband, died few months ago of cancer.

As easily as the water flows, the story moves up of some weeks, and we find Adam visiting Jared in a private clinic; Jared is depressed and he has not found a reason to come out of his trance. Adam understands that Jared needs a shock, and practically forces the man to come with him in Colorado, in the mountain cabin his family own there. The main reason is to show Jared the mountain lake with the perfect blue water the same color apparently Jared is searching. The real reason is that Adam is fallen in love with the man and wants to shake him off from the prison of his memories.

Even if Adam has all the good intentions of this life, unfortunately he is not doing the right thing. Jared fell in love with his very much older husband when he was still a teenager, and from that moment on he lived in the shadow of the bigger than life man beside him. Even if Jared was talented, his light was obscured by his husband's genius and little by little, Jared disappeared. When his husband died, apparently also Jared died. The fire was not a trauma, probably instead was a way to freedom. Inside the fire and in the eyes of the man who saved him, Jared finds something that pushed him a little more out from his self-imposed prison. The journey in Colorado helped some more, but if Jared accepts the love offered by Adam, it would be only like falling in another prison: where his husband was older and genius, Adam is younger and full of life, but both of them are men that can obscure Jared if he first doesn't find his way in the world. To be happy with Adam, Jared has to finish his growing process, the one that was interrupted by his husband when he took Jared with him. Even if Jared is 37 years old, he is still more or less a teenager if compared to Adam.

http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Blue_Fire-980.aspx

Amazon Kindle: Blue Fire

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Cover Art by Anne Cain

One of the complaints I heard most from gay romance authors is that the genre often doesn't respect the reality. In today time it's not so easy to be gay or to come out, and all those romances where people are out and proud, and happy and comfortable, are not realistic. Coming out is still an issue for most gay men, and often to gather the courage to do it takes years and you arrive well over 20 years old without having done so.

In Fire on the Mountain there is a similar situation; Jake is the new arrive on a mountain ranger station and he is paired with Kurt to patrol a small patch of mountain. They have to spend six months in a small cabin, most of the time alone. Jake is gay but he has not yet done coming out. More, he is scared to do that. All his sexual experience amounts to some mutual strokes with one night stands when he was still in the city. Now he has a big crush on his fellow fire ranger Kurt, but he fears to let it knows since if the feeling is not mutual, he has to still spend six months with the man. And so Jake is suffering the pain of hell being unwillingly teased by Kurt and by the forced proximity. But maybe it's not so unwillingly: in Kurt's action I read something that makes me thing that he is teasing Jake for real, and with a clear purpose in mind.

The story is basically simple; what I find most interesting is, like I said, the process of coming out of a twenty something young man, Jake, and all his insecurities. He is not experienced, everything is unknown and scaring. Even the physical aspect of the thing, how to have sex, what he wants or what his partner doesn't want, is something to be worried about; not to give too much details, but for example Jake is worried about his measures (let us say that he is bigger than usual), and he has never had the chance to be encouraged by someone like him.

On this perspective, the story is pretty sweet, Jake is apparently a big and strong man, but inside he is still a novice. He is not able to speak his desires not since he is shamed, but since he exactly doesn't understand them. On the other hand, I didn't rightly framed Kurt: I have the feeling that he is more experienced, and we know that he is not at his first sexual experience with a man, but still, like Jake, more than face the matter full front, he tries to walk around it. If not for a dangerous experience they share, I don't know if these two men would have ever found the courage to come clear to each other. This is exactly what I was saying at first: coming out is not so simple.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2083

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Once Burned by Emery Sanborne

This story really surprised me. From the blurb and also from the title, I was expecting quite an angst story about a "burned" firefighter (bad pun intended) who fights with all his force to not fall in love for the newbie at the station; obviously the fight would be lost since the beginning and if we were lucky there would have been a lot of sex and so on... so more or less a standard story, a right dose of hot romance, but nothing special... and instead it's way more funny than that.

At first Andreas comes out as the good boy of the story, his Uncle Ed, who is also the Chief of the station where he works, asks him to babysit the new man, a "young" boy with the reputation of being an adrenaline junkie. I was just imagining my may / december relationship, with an hot young pretty thing, when Bobby appears on the scene: 16 years as marine and 2 as firefighter, Bobby is at the same level as Andreas, and above all, he is not the trouble seeking they were expecting. Instead, the first time they go out together, it's Andreas who gets involved in a bar fight.

Bobby is plain and direct since the first moment: he likes Andreas, they are both single, why not give a chance to the two of them? No strings attached, no word of forever love, they are two adult men who can be buddy friends with benefits. And it's exactly like that between them, there is an easy behavior, a communion of intent and idea without no one of them speaking the words. It's hot and funny sexy, easy and enjoyable, so easy that Andreas and Bobby slip from buddy friends to lovers to partners wihout even realizing it.

I like the feeling of the story, I like how Andreas and Bobby are both enough adult to realize what they have and don't be scared by that. The squabbles between them are real fun and the story was fun as well to read. Andreas' past burns are so insignificat in comparison to what he found now, that almost slip into oblivion without notice.

A Voice in the Dark by Jamie Craig

When Pepper Espinoza and Vivien Dean write alone, I noticed a trend in their writing, Pepper Espinoza I believe is the light side (even if in The Obsolete Man she proved to be able of a little angst) and Vivien Dean is the dark side, preferring the paranormal side of romance. When they write together they are a mix of both. A Voice in the Dark is not paranormal, it's the classical firefighters story, but it has its right dose of angst, being at the same time light enough to make you smile, see the supporting character of the mother.

In the prologue Anthony and Dan met in the worst possible way, Anthony the victim of a very bad accident and Dan the firefighter on the site. Dan helps Anthony to go through his nightmare being the voice that comforts the scared man. And unfortunately the voices become the most important things for Anthony, since he looses his sight in that accident. The authors decide to not show us all the trial through Anthony for sure was in the year following the accident, probably since this is a novella, and there was not enough space, and probably since they preferred to focus on the romantic relationship.

When Anthony is better, means when he is comfortable with his blindness, he decides to go thanks Dan for being that comforting voice in the dark. Fate wants that both Anthony than Dan are gay and single, and it doesn't take much time to realize that they are good one for the other.

I like that for Dan, Anthony's blindness is not consciously a problem, but that for real he starts the relationship dealing with Anthony in a different way he would do with another man. And I like that Anthony explains the "problem", that he doesn't like to be treated in a different way, without being snarky and without being angry with Dan. Both heroes are so nice that they are almost too good to be true.

Quite obviously Dan and Anthony's sex scenes, especially the first one, are quite heavy in "tactile" details, every movement is described as to provide for the lack of sight of Anthony, and so the reader is on with him for the ride, being overwhelmed, but in a very nice way.

There is not much drama, just the right dose you will expect for a story with a firefighter in it (who has ear to understand, understand...), but overall, this is more a nice romantic story of boy meets boy, boy likes boy and boy lives happily ever after with boy.

Usually I don't like double anthology, I always end liking one story more than the other. Instead in this one, I wouldn't be able to say what story I prefer: they are so different in tone and style, even having similar setting, that are both high in my satisfaction level.

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Hearts+Afire+April&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

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Cover Art by April Martinez

I like both authors in this anthology, so it's not a surprise that I liked the anthology too. It's a good example of hot wo pair two authors to make happy the reader with both of them.

Ignite by Bonnie Dee: Bonnie Dee is one of the few author I read also when she is writing het romance, but, as you can imagine, I prefer her when she writes M/M. Pete Santori is a firefighter and he should hate everything, or everyone causes a fire, but he seems unable to hate Alan. Alan is a firestarter, a man able to ignite fire through his emotions, but he is not able to control them. More he is in distress, more fires he causes. After spending five years in a government facility as a guinea pig, and one years on the street, at 23 years old he is tired and would only put a stop to his life. What he does, instead, is causing another fire and this time Pete is his rescuer. The 30 years old openly gay firefighter is immediately attracted by this young man and he is compelled to help him.

The story is not bad, on the contrary, I really like the idea of a all too normal guy who finds out to have some special powers he doesn't know from what or where. He was a foster child, so he didn't know his real parents. And when finally he finds a man he can be near to... guess what? he is a firefighter! But even if I like the story, I believe it suffered from the lack of space to fully develop: for a story like this one, 80 pages are really to short. Alan has enough space to enthrall the reader, but in the end we haven't answers on his past and on his future. Poor Pete, other than come out like a knight in shining armor, has not way to shine: I only know that he is very good at sex and that he knows that. Now don't get me wrong, this is not a bad story, in 80 pages I read stories that said a lot less than this one, I'm saying that with some pages more, it could be a very good one, instead of a nice one.

Where the Devil Dances by T.A. Chase: and here instead an example of a story of the same lenght, 80 pages, that it's complete and right as it's. With only few words, and with the help of two really cute dogs, I have all the details I need to enjoy both characters. Eric is a rather sophisticated man, an architect who lives in a Victorian house and works on "cultural" project; he has also a trendy dog, a Papillion, a dog cute as his owner... small the dog and small the owner, but both with temperament. Despite his diminutive body, Eric has a strong will, something he needed after escaping a nearly fatal fire, that didn't save his lover: even if, thanks to surgery, Eric has still a beautiful face, he is scarred in the body and cautious to let people see him in the nude.

Maybe since he is a firefighter, David is not so much impressed by Eric's body scars, and he is more interested in him as a possible partner. David is the classical good boy next door, big and strong, but with a tender heart; his good match is his dog, a big greyhound who has no problem to be lead around by the small Papillion... like his owner has no problem to be lead by Eric. David is, like his role as firefighter let imagine, a knight in shining armor and he will have his chance to save the damsel in distress, but all in all, he is not the stronger in the couple. For past experience and for attitude, the upper hand in the relationship, and also the role of caretaker, are more likely to Eric.

In a way both stories are similar, since they respect the hero image of the firefighters, but in the end, both men are more like supporting characters to the real man represented by their lovers; and nothing if not the attitude would lead to this conclusion, since the physique du role for both is right: big and strong the firefighters, lithe and pretty the damsel in distress they rescue.

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Hearts+Afire+January&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

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Cover Art by April Martinez

Aidan and Ethan were high school best friends. Both misfits among the other students, Aidan with a troubled past of juvenile criminality and Ethan always being the odd boy, they found in each other the perfect companion. And if there was more between them, they didn't talk, till the graduation day, when they shared a kiss and promises of a future together. But the morning after Aidan was gone without any explanation, and Ethan had to spend the following 13 years wondering what he had done to push away his best friend and wanna-to-be lover.

Now Aidan is come back in town, and he makes clear that he wants Ethan back, as friend and lover. He is aware that he has some explanation to do, and he is willing to go to Ethan's pace. But even if he has good reasons for what he did, Ethan is still too hurt for Aidan's betrayal, and above all for not knowing nothing about him in 13 years; and then Aidan never asked about him, how he was doing and if he needed a friend, and Ethan did and a lot.

The story is tender and the sex is hot. I really don't understand the big problem of Aidan, the reason why he left; all right, family is important, but we are not talking of a death or live event, and Aidan consciously made Ethan have the worst period of his life without giving him any hope for the future. So, no, I don't like very much Aidan's past actions, but at least he is repentant, he knows that he is on the wrong side and he tries to make amend. On the other hand, I like all of Ethan; he is sincere and a good boy till his core; I like above all that he doesn't let go as soon as Aidan knocks at his door, but he makes the man suffer... 13 years of silence deserves a bit of suffering!

As I said the sex is very hot; only four long sex scenes (plus an assolo...) in 160 pages, but they are all quite intense, above all the second one, where the sex almost edges in pain, when Ethan needs to let go all his pain to a stronger emotion.

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Aidan+And+Ethan&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

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Cover Art by Anne Cain

Vintage (Calendar Boys - July) by Jamie Craig

Alain is a two Michelin star chef in Paris. He spent almost all his life for his restaurant and he is very proud of it, but lately he is lonely. Almost fifty years old and without a man near him, he is tired of all the young twinks he has always sought. When he decides that he is ready for commitment only a man pops in his mind: his long time friend Simon, a retired English business man who lives in the French country two hours from Paris. And here is the problem: Alain is bound to his restaurant, he can't imagine to leave it forever, and Simon is content with his country life and hates the city. He only goes in Paris to visit Alain, and lately always lesser. But for the festivity of the 14th of July, Alain wants to surprise his friend: he will go to the country and he will propose to Simon... but if Simon is an harder conquest than expected?

The story is very interesting: two almost fifty years old friends who finally have the courage to admit that, if for so many years they manage to stay friends, when all the other men in their life disappear, maybe is since they have something more than friendship between them. But two "old" wolves are hard to lose their vices... Even if Simon seems the more steady and quite of the two, he is also a little grumpy, he is content with his quite country life and above all he fears to lose the only real friend he has: love could be a fleeting feeling, instead their friendship is very strong. But Alain has had a lot of time to re-think his life and he is sure that Simon is the right man for him, and his seductive powers are very good.

A very good story which manage to rebuild the right atmosphere of the lazy and wealthy life of a retired English business man in the lustful French countryside; it seems like you can savor the wines and the good foods Alain used to vow Simon, and you can also smell the flavor of their relationship; the setting is idyllic and the two characters really original.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CalendarBoysJuly.html

Scorched (Calendar Boys - August) by Jamie Craig

Aaron is a mid twenty small town boy. He always did the right thing, he went to College but he came back to his hometown to tend his aging mother, he picked up an underpaid job to not have to move to a big city. He spends his free time helping in various association and he is also a volunteering firefighter. Always the right thing other when he fell in love with his brother's best friend, Xander. But Xander left small town for big city 10 years before and Aaron didn't expect to see him again. And now Xander is here, a real firefighter in town for all summer to help taming a big fire. Aaron tries to hide his real feeling for the man, but avoid him is impossible: how can he explain his sudden reticence to be near Xander, when 10 years ago he would pay to be with him?

What Aaron doesn't know is that Xander left town since he was gay, and life in a small town was impossible. He went to New York hoping for the true love, and instead he is still alone. He didn't regret the small town, if not for only one thing: Aaron. Ten years ago Xander didn't consider Aaron in a sexual way, he was only a skinny teen who tagged along, but now he is a very handsome young man, and Xander believes him wasted for the small town.

The story is sexy but at the same time homey. The love between Aaron and Xander is easy, being together is the simple part; but also when they have to decide if their was a simmer fling or true love, there are not so much problem. It's not the relationship between Aaron and Xander which causes trouble. It's more a problem of Aaron to admit what he wants and what he is and to face the small town judgement and his family. For one time Aaron should stop to be the good next door guy and he needs to be a bit selfish and reach out for his piece of heaven.

Nor Aaron or Xander try to bring along a pride battle. Xander chose years ago the anonymity of the big city who allowed him to be "free"; but with it he also found the loneliness. He is still a small town guy and a romantic at the heart; helping Aaron out from the small town is not only an unselfish act, he is, at the same time, filling a void he probably felt when he moved out, leaving behind family and his best friend, Aaron's brother.

The story is not very long, less than 90 pages, but with a right dose of eroticism and romance.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CalendarBoysAugust.html

A Simple Truth (Calendar Boys - September) by Jamie Craig

Divorced gay man in the closet Charlie has always had a soft point for his best friend Bryce. Bryce is younger and handsome, and openly gay. When Charlie's son is old enough to understand, Charlie decides that it's time to coming out of the closet, and to tell Bryce the true. He is not expecting that Bryce is so comprehensive, and even offers to help Charlie to start dating again, this time in the gay scene. Since Charlie fears the loud and crowd gay clubs, they set out for a quite gay friendly bookstore, and Charlies gets lucky at first try. Problem is that Bryce is not so sure to letting go Charlie.

Bryce is a very nice character, a good friend and also unselfish. He always liked Charlie, but giving that the man was married and apparently happy, he contents himself with being a good friend. And when the man reveals the truth, he again puts his friend's desires in front of him. But being unselfish and being stupid are two different things, and Bryce realizes soon that if he allows to a fine man like Charlie to enter the gay scene, he will lose the man forever.

Charlie is a bit less nicer than Bryce. True he was just through a difficult phase of his life, but it was really his own choice to get married when he already knew that he was gay. And when he finally has the courage to coming out, and he is so lucky to have his interest in Bryce reciprocate, he doubts of his feeling and of those of his friend. I believe that Charlie should be more firm and strong in his behavior.

Anyway, the story is nice and good, with little angst and even some funny moment; the love story is simple and homey like a barbecue at home: pretty romantic and without really big obstacles in the path. A good example that sometime, when you are searching true love, is not necessary to go far from around you.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CalendarBoysSeptember.html

Amazon: Calendar Boys, Vol. III (July-September)

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Lucas is a firefighter. He lost his lover and fellow firefighter two years before during duty. Now he is lonely and doesn't see an end to his pain. But one night he meets Evan: Lucas is in a pub trying to forget everything in the drunkness and here arrives Evan, young, solar and friendly. They spend a night of passion, and even if at first Lucas thinks at it ligh a one night stand, the morning after Evan asks him to see each other again. And Lucas decides to try to move on on his sadness and to give a chance to this blossoming love.

But on Monday morning Lucas discovers that the new paramedic working with his team is Evan; Lucas can't accept to start again a relationship with a man who risks his life everyday and he really try to forget Evan. But everything seems to conjure to prevent him and Evan first of all, he doesn't want to accept that they can't have a chance together.

Burnin' for You is not very long, less than 80 pages, but it's very romantic and also pretty erotic. Both Lucas than Evan are nice characters, but I like better Evan, he is so young and full of passion, he still sees the world through pink glasses. All in all the contrasts in the book are not too much harsh, and for this reason it's less angst than expected.

This is a pretty classic romance, and firefighters are always favourite in romance genre. A nice starts from an author I think will give us other interesting stories in the future.

http://www.darkroastpress.com/burninforyou.php

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A J.L. Langley's book is a sure reading. You will find a good story, hot sex, a lot of humor and romance for your heart. Yesterday I bought three books, but when I had to choose from what book start my reading, I had no doubt: J.L. Langely will not deceive me 

With Caution is the third in the With or Without series, even if it is strict connected only with Without Reservation. Remi was turned in werewolf by Jake in the first enstallment in the series, and he has now to learn how to live like a werewolf and in a pack. In the Chay and Keaton's story, Remi had expressed a lot of doubts and a lit of homophobic behaviour, and so when Jake had turned him and discovered that Remi was his mate, he was worried that Remi couldn't accept it. 

But Remi is very attracted from Jake, all in Jake appeals him, scent, body and mind. Even the protective attitude of Jake is something that Remi finds reassuring and for the first time he thinks to be able to share with someone else his problems. Remi is out from an abusive father who now treats Remi's brother, Sterling, who is only 14 years old. 

Remi is a brave character, but he has not the force to face his father's brutality alone. He is for attitude and nature, a submissive: he needs the help, but over all the added force of his mate, Jake. And Jake is an alpha male, and a dominant character both in life then in sex. So he is the right mate for Remi. 

I have the strong feeling that Remi's character is changed a lot from the previous enstallment. In Without Reservation he is an interesting supporting character, but apart the physical beauty and a cocky attitude, no more else gave you the real impression of him. Instead he is a complex character, with a secret past which is a real twist in the actual story (no want to give off the story, so no hints on it). 

As always the sex is a main aspect of the story and a strong point of force of it. It's masterly written, very arousing but not crude: J.L. Langley has the ability to get you excited (yes for real) without being graphic. Reading her sex scenes you have not the feeling to read an "hot to do" guide, and despite it, you are reading a good and explicit sex scene. 

Like in the other books in the series, the family (in the case of werewolf, the pack) is a main value: old good feelings and the idea that you are stronger if you lean on your pack. And they are also a great source for other stories in the series (I will look forward for Sterling and Rhys's story, and who will be Matt's mate?) 

With Caution is a long book (in the ebook's criteria), more than 200 pages, but sure when you will arrive to the epilogue, you'd like to have more. 

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/with-caution

Amazon: With Caution

Series: With or Without
1) Without Reservation
2) With Love: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/35920.html
3) With Caution

Reading List

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Anne Cain


Cover Art by Anne Cain

We have known Chris in Chance and Tucker's story. He is the young fireman Chance is so jelaous. Now Chris has found his match. Morgan is a 45 years old former fireman, who declares to hate all the fireman, especially the young and reckless one. But Chris, despite the negative attitude, can't prevent himself to be attracted by this man, so handsome and strong.

They starts a relationship from the attraction: sex is wonderful but Morgan doesn't want to call it a "relationship". They don't date, they are makinf sex. But when you feel for the other, and your mind is obsessed, how can you not call it love?

Chris is young and simple. He has no problem in his life, he enjoys sex and is not searching for something stable. Yes, he sometimes envies Tucker and his relationship, but until he meets Morgan, he has no idea how sweet can be to have something to return home. Morgan was scared in the past. He is not so young to allow himself to be scared again. He doesn't want commitment cause he fears to suffer again. But even if you are not searching it, love can grew slowly but strong.

Tinder is a story which flows smoothly. Attraction strucks hard from the first time, but then love cements the bound. When you search for an hot story between firemen, Tory Temple is your man (woman!).

http://www.torquerebooks.com/zencart/

Series:
1) Heat
2) Flashover
3) Tinder

Waiting Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=waiting+reading+list&view=elisa.rolle

After seven years together Charlie dumps Kendal for another man, a gourgeous guy named Aaron.

Kendal is a 35 years old editor, average guy with nice body but not at all a fit body. He loves is quiet life and his without surprise relationship with Charlie. When he finds himself alone, he can't believe Charlie has thrown away everything for a fling. And he goes in seach of Aaron to see by person how he is. And he found a beautiful 29 years old guy, and also a nice and friendly man, and someone who wants commitment by the true love of his life, and he continues to claim that Kendal could be his true love.

I like very much this book, is like an old classic tale, where Cinderella meet Prince Charming, but when she is still wearing the ugly dresses and she is not yet the beautiful princess.

Kendal is earthy and tender, a simple man with simple desire. And Aaron, despite the perfect body and the beautiful face, is simple like him, he wants a relationship like that of his parents, a man to love forever.

D.J. Manly has written a tale of good feelings and great hopes, of the type you read when you are a teens and dream to find soon your true love and meanwhile read a book in the waiting.

http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=2743&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

Amazon Kindle: The Other Man

Robert and Sam are living in a small town in British Columbia. Robert is the Chief Fire, and really he is the only fireman, cause his men are all volunteers. Sam is teaching in the elementary school and he loves his work, and loves more and more Robert. Everything seems perfect, but some nasty people are not so happy that their Chief Fire and one of their teachers are leaving together in an openly gay relationship. And they are not married, they live in "sin".

But now in Canada gay marriage is legal, so maybe one of the problem can be eliminated: but Sam will accept to marry Robert only to makes happy the community? Or maybe Sam will accept to marry Robert cause he obviously loves him?

In this second enstallment the age difference between Sam and Robert is only a minor issue, more relevant is who is who in their relationship, the respective roles. Robert is clearly the dominant character, at least physically: he is huge and muscular, and he is the kind of man "more actions than words". But Sam is pushy and dictatorial he manage to lead Robert where he wants and when he wants. He is not the girl in this relationship, and he is so sure of Robert's love, that he doesn't need a physicals proof to know it.

I love this couple and I love this second enstallment cause, despite all the problems they have to deal, they do it always together and never questioned the mutual love they share. This is a sequel that is faithful to the first book and that adds happy moment to the wonderful story that was On Fire. And last but not least, the sex is, like in the first book, hot, often and funny.

http://www.torquerepress.com/

Amazon Kindle: On Fire 2

Amazon: On Fire II

Series: On Fire
1) On Fire: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/34403.html
2) Still Burning 

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Model Behavior by Cassie Stevens

A very brief but interesting story

Derek is a famous photographer that has accepted a jod he doesn't like cause he will be payed to much to say no. But he will not fall in love with the model. He doesn't do model. Not anymore. An ex wife and an ex lover (male), both model, has taught to him that model are a breed not to trust.

But Brad his not an usual model. He his an all american boys, an almost boy scout, too good to be true, and he has an adoration for Derek. So resist to him will be impossible. The end of their very first day together will find them in bed. An the don't touch rule of Derek forgotten.

Far too short to have a real good impression of the characters, the plot is interesting and I will be glad to read more by Cassie Stevens in the future.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/ModelBehavior.html

Amazon Kindle: Model Behavior

Secret Lovers by Cassie Stevens

Sam and Alex are both gays in the closet and friends. Sam is a Marine, Alex a firefighter. They know each other since three months and till now no one of the two has had the courage to make the fatal question: "Are you gay?". The signs are all there but if they mistake the sign, it could be the end of their relationship, plus a serious threat to their career.

Sam has no intention to leave the Army and he can't be both gay and Marine. Alex knows that if his colleagues would know about him being gay, the easiness they have sharing their time together will end. So they can't speak but they disperately desire to bring their friendship to a more intimate level.

The story is very short, 40 pages, and I'd have liked if the author had also told us of their life after the one day which is the span of this story. Nevertheless it is an enjoyable short story.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/SecretLovers.html

Amazon Kindle: Secret Lovers

Don't Ask, Don't Tell by Cassie Stevens

Neil and Elliott were lovers when they are young and reckless. But Neil is the son of a wealthy man who wants to see his son to the White House and he manages to tear apart the lovers.

Twelve years later, Elliott is a lawyer who works for the Marine Corp and Neil is running for the Congress. But a picture taken twelve years before brings the lovers again together. But there is not angry between them, but only regrets for what it could be and hopes for what he can be.

Both Neil and Elliott are pretty strong characters. They are aware to have made a lot of errors in the past, but they are willing to do the right thing now. The only problem is to understand what the right thing is: thier happiness could be the fall of the people they love most. But live apart could be their definitve end.

The story is pretty short, less than 60 pages, and the matter pretty interesting: I think it would deserve a bit longer novel. It's also pretty erotic, with an heavy hand on the sex scenes, but not in a negative way; the sex scenes are not free, but maybe in a book this short, they are most of the book itself.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DontAskDontTell.html

Amazon: Behind Closed Doors

Sam is a 18 years old student with a passion for uniform... and when he sees Robert, a 6 feet and half fireman, all wet in his uniform, his "wet" dreams come true. But Robert is 32 years old and, even if the first encounter is a steamy sex session, he thinks that a boy so young can't stay long in a relationship. But if they want to take a change, maybe this will be the best love of their life.

Sam, Sammy, is a wonderful character: a wild cat in bed and a tender puppy outside. He absolutely loves sex, more and often. Without problems and strings attached. But Robert is something else. He can't be only a one night stands.

Robert is the type of man I like best: a huge man outside with a sweet inside; he wants commitment, he wants love forever...

On fire is a sexy romance filled with funny moments. There is a lot of sex, but it is a joyouse and simple sex, an old way sex... with all the stuff you can read in this days, get excited with it means that Drew Zachary has a happy pen.

http://www.torquerepress.com/

Amazon: On Fire