Category: 5 star Rating

An Alisa Review Close to Home (Finding Home #3) by Carly Marie

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

Jasper Scott is a single workaholic. He split with his girlfriend two years ago and hasn’t felt drawn to anyone else since… except the sexy Navy SEAL he met at his brother’s house two years ago. But that man lives halfway across the country and after so long, Jasper’s convinced his mind has embellished Greg’s sexy gray eyes, rippling muscles, and gorgeous salt and pepper hair.

After his husband died, Greg Joseph devoted his life to raising their two kids and his work as a Navy SEAL. Now, his kids are grown and in college, he’s retired, and he’s facing a house that’s too big and too empty for one person. After dropping his son off at college, Greg accepts an invitation for drinks with a friend and runs into the man he hasn’t been able to get out of his head—Jasper Scott.

Harrison West’s life is falling apart at the seams. After walking in on his partner of ten years in bed with another man, he flees Tennessee and heads home to Oklahoma to figure out what to do next. When he’s dragged out of his house for a night at a bar, the last thing he expects to find is his long-time crush, Jasper Scott, kissing another man. He’s also not prepared for how being around Jasper again awakens feelings Harrison thought he had put behind him a decade ago.

For Jasper, deciding to take a chance on a relationship with Greg was confusing enough, but what happens when Jasper and Greg both realize they have feelings for Harrison? Is Jasper ready to accept both men into his life and his bed? Are Jasper and Greg the two men who could mend Harrison’s broken heart?

I love this series so much!  Jasper is so adorable and I know he was scandalized by his brothers in the last book but I can understand not wanting to know that kind of information too.  I love how he finally gets the guts to explore his attraction to men and love that he gains so much more.  I loved Greg’s patience and acceptance of Jasper and wanting to help him accept himself.  I love the friendship they grew and then how they smoothly brought Harrison into their lives too.  Harrison and Jasper had been friends, though distant ones for years and Harrison had become the one person that Jasper felt he could lean on.  So so good, I can’t get oo much into the story to give it away but it was wonderful.

Now Jasper’s brothers, I loved them in previous books but throughout this one I just felt frustrated with them.  All they wanted to do was shock Jasper or ignore his presence and I couldn’t help but feel how hurt Jasper was and how much Greg and Harrison felt for him.  I can’t wait for Already Home to see the conclusion of their story.

The cover art by Soxational Cover Art is great following the style of the series but just different enough for the story.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 250 pages

Publication: June 27, 2019

Edition Language: English

Series: Finding Home #3

The Closing of Less Than Three Press

Less Than Three Press  Is Closing

 

I am so sad to announce that the wonderful LGBTQIA publishing house Less Than Three Press is closing.  Here is the announcement at their website.

 

 

 

 

Important Announcement From Less Than Three Press

Dear Customers and Supporters of Less Than Three,

It is with a heavy heart we announce the closing of Less Than Three Press. Despite our best efforts, we cannot continue on. We apologize this comes so sudden, but the past month has made it clear that it’s best if we withdraw now, rather than keep hoping and pushing, and end things too late to exit gracefully and with minimal harm.

Thank you for believing in us, and helping us with our dream of seeing more queer representation in the romance genre. The past ten years have been a joy and honor, and we truly regret we won’t have ten more. It’s been a wonderful journey, and we’re grateful to everyone who lent their support and encouragement as we worked to bring more queer representation to the romance world.

If you have purchased a book that has not yet been released, your preorder will be refunded within the next few days. Your library will be available to download through September 30, 2019. If you have any questions, please email service@lessthanthreepress.com. We anticipate a large volume of requests, so please be patient as we work through replies.

Sincerely,

Samantha, Megan, and Sasha

 

 

Less Than Three has always been an incredible press full of wonderful authors and artists, editors and well, just amazing people.  We are poorer without them.  They will be greatly missed.

 

For more of this announcement, see their website.

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Terms of Service (The Heretic Doms Club #2) by Marie Sexton and John Solo (Narrator)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I highly doubt I can do justice to this story in a simple review. In one word: phenomenal. I listened to the audio version narrated by John Solo so much of my praise is due directly and indirectly to his outstanding narration.

On the surface, this is the story of River, an ER physician who’s just lost his husband to a fellow doctor and is struggling to come to terms with his own identity. Among his issues, besides being devastated by his husband’s infidelity, is his failure to be able to have penetrative sex and, in fact, his frequent failure to achieve an erection. Add to that the stresses of taking graveyard shift in the ER, which he’s chosen to do to avoid his ex who has day shift, and he’s just a powder keg waiting to go off. The unlucky victim of his latest blowup is the hospital pharmacist, Phil. But Phil doesn’t just stand still and take verbal abuse. He shows River his own errors, and ultimately not only does River back down, but he later seeks Phil out to apologize, something unheard of among that hospital’s physicians.

What he learns is that Phil is interested in him, but Phil doesn’t do regular relationships. He only does domestic servitude, and he never reacts emotionally—neither to sex nor to situations where others might expect some reciprocation.

Below the surface story lies the true depth found in this book (pun intended). It depicts an emotional, often painful journey to discovery for both River and Phil. This journey encompasses River’s acceptance of Phil’s domination, Phil’s own struggles with deeply buried emotions, the turmoil and upheaval of having River’s estranged husband hound him constantly to sign the divorce papers, and River’s deep-seated issues surrounding his twin’s death and his subsequent emotional separation from his family. Over and above all that, Phil’s grandfather, Pops, is in an extended care facility on the other side of the Denver metro area and suffers from dementia. Phil visits him weekly and loves him a great deal though he finds it difficult to express how deeply he cares for the man. Pops inadvertently plays a role in helping River discover some of the joy he felt in his childhood, when camping and fishing with his family, and that joy splashes over into a ripple effect that encompasses Phil.

There are appearances by Warren and Taylor, from Trailer Trash, and other members of the Heretic Dom’s Club, primarily Gray and Charlie. Each of these men is developing as a strong, supportive character in these stories, and I hope each gets his own love someday. For River and Phil, the struggle is long and real and fraught with undermining from coworkers, a theft from the hospital pharmacy, and an ultimatum by River’s ex who throws a major monkey wrench into River’s new developing relationship. The audio is over fourteen wonderful hours of pure entertainment. Compelling, riveting, dramatic, completely engrossing, I was literally unable to stop listening except for time out to recharge my cordless headphones and to sleep (but only one night because this book deserved my devotion for two solid days.)

I highly recommend this to anyone remotely interested in D/s relationships, with a focus on domestic servitude, and those who enjoy a long, slow journey to a highly rewarding destination. And most definitely, get the audio. It’s pure listening pleasure.

Cover art is dramatic and pulls your eye towards the book. Works.

Sales Links:  Amazon | Audible

Audio Details:

14 hrs 20 mins

Audible Audio, 15 pages
Published August 13th 2018 by Marie Sexton (first published June 25th 2018)
Original TitleTerms of Service
ASINB07G9LRXMX
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Heretic Doms Club #2
settingColorado (United States)

A MelanieM Review:The Monuments Men Murders (The Art of Murder #4) by Josh Lanyon

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Someone is watching. Someone is waiting.

Despite having attracted the attention of a dangerous stalker, Special Agent Jason West is doing his best to keep his mind on his job and off his own troubles.

But his latest case implicates one of the original Monuments Men in the theft and perhaps destruction of part of the world’s cultural heritage–a lost painting by Vermeer. Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander Emerson Harley wasn’t just a World War 2 hero, he was the grandfather Jason grew up idolizing. In fact, Grandpa Harley was a large part of what inspired Jason to join the FBI’s Art Crime Team.

Learning that his legendary grandfather might have turned a blind eye to American GIs “liberating” priceless art treasures at the end of the war is more than disturbing. It’s devastating.

Jason is determined to clear his grandfather’s name, even if that means breaking a few rules and regulations himself–putting him on a collision course with romantic partner BAU Chief Sam Kennedy.

Meanwhile, someone in the shadows is biding his time…

When it comes to men and their romances, Josh Lanyon has managed to write some incredibly complex and psychologically convoluted relationships.   Whether it’s the brilliance of The Adrien English Mysteries and the long twisted road that Adrian English and Jake Riordan took to happiness or perhaps her Holmes & Moriarity  series with its deep levels of mixed ties professional  of authorship and personal relationships intertwined to confuse and befuddle its two main protagonists, you can count on a story that is both haunting and gripping to the end.

So it continues to be with The Art of Murder series and the tortured relationship between Special Agent Jason West and BAU Chief Sam Kennedy.  Always strained by their own past histories and by the long distance between their offices, the latest attack by Jason’s stalker has put additional pressures on Jason’s mentally and emotionally.  He’s missing his partner’s support although he won’t admit it.  The constant threat to his safety is imperiling his health, he’s not sleeping.  And Lanyon makes us feel every second, every minute of West’s anxiety and fear.

For me this series runs neck and neck with Adrian English with its couple and labyrinthine path to any sort of happiness.  And we are only at book four.  Lanyon just demonstrates a consistent excellence in character development, depth of storyline, and overall arc that showcases her prowess as an author.  These are not easy men but hard, articulate, intelligent men in demanding jobs that take them around the country or all over the world in some cases.  It puts them in danger, and has cost them highly in emotional terms. Especially one.    They have hugely different (and by now well known to the readers) back histories that contribute sometimes to their difficulties in their relationship.  Everything they argue about, try to work through is grounded in something authentic and real. So we as readers bleed emotionally with them when they hurt in these times.  And they are many considering who they are and what they are going through.

Which is a series theme with a truly evil stalker for West.  This is one thread that is chilling in more ways than one.  As it’s been playing out, its psychologically physically, and emotionally scary.  After that is a mystery/murder per novel that is enthralling.  Often involving artwork which brings in Jason, then a murder which will involve Sam.  Somewhere all will overlap in a mentally challenging narrative that will have you glued to the page until it’s all done.

Like it did here.  Where it looked to tear my heart out right up to the last sentence.

Where it teetered on the brink of despair and barely brought it back again.  Just barely.  Oh these men.

Stories and series like this are one of the reasons I read   They aren’t easy but they keep you thinking, your mind and heart are always alert for what’s coming next.  And you never see it when it hits you.

So amazing.  Lanyon can’t write them fast enough for me.  I need the next one now.

If you aren’t familiar with this series.  I have listed them all for you below.  Read them in the order they were written.  Then this amazing novel next.  I highly recommend them all for those looking for contemporary romances with adult long paths to happiness and mysteries too.  Trust me, just brilliant.

Cover art works for the storyline and to draw your eye to the book. Great job.

Sales Links:  Amazon | GooglePlay | Kobo

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 199 pages
Published June 30th 2019 by JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
ASINB07R818GZ9
Edition Language English
Series The Art of Murder #4

The Art of Murder Series

The Mermaid Murders

The Monet Murders

The Magician Murders

The Monuments Men Murders

The Movie-Town Murders winter 2020 smh!

A Melanie M Review :Made In Lisbon (Made In #5) by Ana Newfolk

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Can you get more than one true love in a lifetime?

Three years after his husband’s death, Vitor is still grieving. Too young to be alone and too old to start again, he feels stuck. Accepting a new job in Lisbon is just what he needs, but it also means going back to the city that sealed his fate nearly thirty years ago.

Between looking for his missing brother and running an LGBTQ Youth Center, Tiago doesn’t have time for dating or commitment. When his best friend asks him to find a family member that ran away years ago, Tiago welcomes the distraction.

A past full of secrets.

An anonymous kiss that turns their world upside down.

When past and present clash, will the two men put everything aside and give themselves a chance at happiness? Or are the things keeping them apart stronger than the feelings keeping them together?

I have been a huge fan of Ana Newfolk’s Made In stories from the first novel in the series.  That  would be Made In New York which launched the series and introduced us to this amazing cast of characters that exist in Lisbon and NYC, intimately connected by families and two LGBTQIA youth centers.  While each story has at its center one couple, other of the characters appear, adding their support and pieces of their history to this rich tapestry of this series universe.  One that only grows more culturally vivid and heartwarming with each new addition and romance.

There have been many unifying storylines running through this series but none that has been no mystifying or has potentially heartbreaking as the mystery of what happened to Uncle Mario’s  younger brother,Vítor who disappeared after a beating and was never seen again.  Vitor had been so young and gay back in Lisbon at a time when it was not readily accepted.  Now  Tiago has been asked to look for him by his family, to see if anyone could find out what happened to him.

Family beatings, especially of gay young men is a recurring element here and it echoes through character after character.  Family issues, acceptance, rejection, a huge emotional bundle that gets examined through character after character realistically and often with great pain.

A mirror action to looking to Vitor is Tiago looking for his younger brother, who is also missing due to parental abuse.  Tiago is loaded down with issues with he meets a man he’s immediately attracted to.  The man is older but gorgeous, kind,  and compelling.  Everything Tiago needs in his life at the moment to help ground him.

While Tiago is dealing with his memories of his brother and the responsibilities to the youth center in Lisbon, this “man” has his own issues as well to work through.

A widower who has been dealt  a shock by a recent revelation about his husband, he is trying to move forward with his life, a wounded and bereaved son who’s redrawn from hin and now a new attraction to a young  man he’s just met.

Between a complicated romance that starts to unfold, we have a wealth of storylines about fathers and sons (good and bad), family dynamics that change over the decades, and just layers of hurt/comfort and forgiveness that not only feels real but will have you in tears.

If anything there is an embarrassment of riches here in what stories the author wants to tell.  Tiango”s brother needs his own story its that compelling and haunting.

There is at the end, a marvelous resolution to make you want to sing.

All of it beautifully located once more in Lisbon and surrounding areas.  As much as I love the NYC books, my heart lies here in Lisboa.  Yours will too.

The Made In stories are beautifully written, full of heart, and great romances.  I recommend them all highly.  But I disagree that they are standalones and feel they should be read in the order they were written to get the full experience and understand all the character relationships and connected histories.

Cover Artist: Rhys Athanasiadis-Lawrence, Ethereal Ealain  Love that cover.  Vitor all over.

 

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 227 pages
Published July 6th 2019
ASIN B07T8PN73B
Edition Language English
Series Made In #5

 

 

 

 

 

Made In Lisbon is May-December MM romance with hurt/comfort themes, lots of steam and a HEA.

Made In Lisbon can be read as a standalone but will be better enjoyed as part of the Made In Series as characters and stories from previous books appear in this story.

Series reading order:

Made In New York – Book 1 (Max and Isaac)
Made In Portugal – Book 2 (Joel and David)
Made In Paris – Book 3 (Dorian and Jean-Paul)
Made In Manhattan – Book 4 (Max and Isaac)
Made In Lisbon – Book 5 (Vítor and Tiago)
Made In Love – Coming Autumn 2019