Category: Contemporary fiction

An Ali Audiobook Review: A Fortunate Blizzard by L.C. Chase and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
a-fortunate-blizzard-audiobookThere are worse things than being stranded in a blizzard.

Artist Trevor Morrison has always appreciated the little things in life, treating each day as a gift. And with good reason: he’s been on the transplant-recipient list for too long now. When he learns just how numbered his days truly are, he resolves not to take them for granted. But he won’t be unrealistic, either—which means romantic commitments are off the table.

Marcus Roberts seems to have it all. He’s handsome, financially sound, and on the fast track to partnership at a prestigious law firm. In reality, though, his drive for success has meant no time for friends or relationships. Add in the fact that his family discarded him long ago, and he’s facing yet another holiday season alone.

When the biggest snowstorm to hit Colorado in decades leaves Marc and Trevor stranded at the same hotel, a chance encounter and a night of passion leads to more than either of them expected. Finding comfort in each other is a welcome surprise, but time is not on their side. Either they find a way to beat the odds, or they lose each other forever.
I really enjoyed this wonderful holiday tale.  Trevor and Marcus get caught in a blizzard and are both stranded at a hotel.  They are immediately attracted to each other and spend a magical few days getting to know each other.  Marcus wants it to be more but Trevor refuses due to his health problems.  But after going so long without anyone to care about or having someone care about him Marcus isn’t about to accept defeat and since this is a Christmas story, miracles happen.
I thought both MC’s were well done and I really felt for both of them.  I thought Trevor’s concerns were realistically done and my heart went out, not to just him, but to his family and Marcus as well.  You could feel everyone’s grief at the impending loss.  The ending was very touching and I may have gotten tears in my eyes at one point.  I think this is one of the best holiday stories I’ve read over the last few years and I really recommend it.
This was narrated by Nick J. Russo and I thought he did a very good job.  Both of his voices for the two main characters were good and I never had a hard time figuring out who was speaking.  All of the side characters were also well done, including Trevor’s mother.  I find some male narrators do don’t female voices in a way I enjoy but that was not the case here.  I enjoyed this audio alot and would really recommend this medium if you’re planning to read this story.
Cover by L.C. Chase:  I like the cover but I don’t love it.  It doesn’t stand out to me and the models on the front don’t match that well to the descriptions of the MC’s in the book.
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Audiobook Details:
Listening Length: 4 hours and 15 minutes
‘
Audible Audio, 5 pages
Published November 8th 2016 by Riptide Publishing (first published August 2nd 2011)
ASINB01MQDPLN3
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersTrevor Morrison, Marc Roberts settingColorado (United States)Literary AwardsINDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards (2015)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Saving Jason by K.C. Wells

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

saving-jason-by-kc-wellsI have to be very honest here—I most definitely chose to read this book because of the cover. I’m not often motivated by covers; I’m more likely to buy based on an author or blurb. In this case, I got it all: stunning cover; gorgeous silver fox; sweet, smart, sexy younger man; an author I love; and a story that fulfills its promise. Happy holidays to me!

David is a marketing exec at a large law firm. Constantly oversleeping, his favorite stop on the way to work is a coffee shop where he gets incredible bagels and perfect coffee, along with a good look at the shop’s silver-haired, sexy owner. When he is assigned the task of finding a homeless shelter his firm can adopt for promotion, he immediately thinks of his silver fox—the man who he’s seen passing coffee and a bagel to men who are apparently homeless. If his suspicion is correct, this is the man who can help.

Jason is a divorced father of one, and though he’s happy he finally came out to his family, he spends most of his time alone, not having gotten up the nerve to pursue another man. But this David guy is so cute and personable that he’s happy to accept the challenge of helping him and having something, and someone, new in his life.

Even after Jason introduces David to the staff at the shelter where he volunteers his time, the two find reasons to spend time together and quickly develop a friendship. Over the course of the few months between their initial meeting and the holiday season, they find that friendship has developed into a relationship, which from Jason’s perspective, fulfills his dreams of having a man in his life. The fact that it’s a younger man who is smart and sexy and kisses like there’s no tomorrow is a huge bonus.

Over time it’s noticeable to his staff and son and other friends that Jason is no longer the sad and lonely man he once was. And David couldn’t be happier than when he’s in Jason’s arms. Because their attraction developed slowly and didn’t leap into immediate sex, this story turned out to be even more enjoyable to me. Don’t get me wrong: there is sex—really good sex—but not until the latter part of the story. Slow burn romance is so delicious—it’s like letting an M&M melt in your mouth—you get more of the flavor one layer at a time. The fact that this story takes place in the holiday season is a bonus, especially if you read it now, but it is appropriate any time of the year.

My only problem with it is this: throughout the whole story I kept mixing up the characters in my mind. And I mean the whole story! I had to constantly stop and think about which character was doing which action, and it was all because of their names. I felt that Jason was the younger man and David the older one. Why? Because David is an “older” name that’s been around forever, and the name Jason has only been popular since the end of the 20th century and I associate it with younger persons. I admit that this could just be me, but it created a real problem for me so I have to mark this as 4.5 stars. Other than that, it’s a wonderful story of romance.

One last word on the cover by Meredith Russell—it fulfilled its promise, big time. The cover models actually look like the characters and the scene actually takes place. And the look in David’s eyes as he gazes at Jason is just so full of love and adoration it makes my heart tingle. Perfect!

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c60a7-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 117 pages
Published November 30th 2016 by Island Tales Press
ASINB01MYUL6EG
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Hanukkah Gifts by Jacob Cheyenne

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

 

hannukkah-giftsTwenty-five-year-old TV producer Jared Greenfield loves his big city life — job, friends, and shopping — but even with all the fun of big city life, he feels a longing for something, or someone, more. Then, on the very first night of Hanukkah, he spots a handsome, sweaty basketball player at the Jewish Community Center.

Tall, dark, and Orthodox, the young and athletic Shai Goodhart strikes up an easy friendship with Jared, only to discover Jared has very little appreciation for his own Jewish heritage and religion. Determined to enlighten this “Bad Jew,” Shai invites him over for a family Hanukkah celebration.

Then Jared discovers Shai’s deepest secret and the biggest threat to his future. Over the eight days of Hanukkah, deep emotions pull them closer and closer together. Can they ever reach across the divide of their shared culture and fall in love.

Hanukkah Gifts is the first story that I’ve read by  Jacob Cheyenne and it has many wonderful aspects to it.  I love to read stories that vary from the many Christmas tales I usually read at this time of the year and novels or short stories that center around the Jewish holidays standout.  There are many wonderful ones already this year.  With Hanukkah Gifts, Jacob Cheyenne has one that’s a bit of a mixed bag, some good elements, and some ones I wish had been left out.

Jared is young, casual about his religion, not keeping with its tradition but loosely connected within the network of people within the community.  That’s how he happens to notice the hot man playing a game of hookup basketball at the Jewish Community Center.  A conversation and exchange of information later, informs each that Shai is a devout Jew…Orthodox and that clearly Jared isn’t.  Intrigued by each other, Shai offers an invitation to the first night of Hanukkah at his family’s home where he still lives in ordre for Jared to experience an Orthodox ceremony.  Surprising things take off from there.

I really like the plot as well as the characters of Jared and Shai.  I think the author did a wonderful job making both men seem believable (for the most part) and people you might meet coming down the street.  One of the places where he missed the mark is in the “bad Jew” or “good Jew” appellations he inserts here.  I actually get that people talk that way.  But  it perpetuates a certain stereotype and that surprised me.   Also how quickly Shai breaks down within even knowing much about Jared, that seemed unrealistic. You share your most intimate secret to someone you don’t even know much about?  Someone who clearly doesn’t like parts of what the Orthodox Jewish religion stands for?  What a leap of faith to take for a stranger.

Shai’s character needs some more grounding, or more layers.  Some of the decisions he makes here seem to be, I don’t know, just unrealistic or lacking any thought processes.  Astonishing is the word I’m looking for. So is the sort of  insta love that occurs here.

There are so many things I did love.  When Jared and Shai are in New York, they are grounded in culture and the city.  The story is alive, vibrant.  After that, its hard to recapture that same energy no matter the circumstances.

There is much promise here.  I look forward to more from this author.  I hope that next Hanukkah finds another story from this author.  I can’t wait to see what he will come up with.

Cover is charming.

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Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: December 24th 2016 by JMS Books LLC
ISBN139781634862967
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttp://www.jms-books.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29_105&products_id=1962
Other Editions
None found

Release Blitz and Giveaway: Jacob Cheyenne’s Hanukkah Gifts

Hanukkah Gifts – Jacob Cheyenne

Author: Jacob Cheyenne
 
Publisher: JMS Books
 
Length: 28,000 words
 
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | AllRomance | JMS

Blurb

Twenty-five year old TV producer Jared Greenfield loves his New York City life—his trendy neighborhood, high-profile job, and window-shopping for high fashion on Fifth Avenue—along with a whole city of available men. But even with all the fun of big city life, he feels a longing for something—or someone—more. Going through the motions takes him uptown on December night, where, on the first night of Hanukkah, he spots a handsome, sweaty, player on the basketball court of the Jewish Community Center.

Tall, dark, and Orthodox, the young and athletic Shai Goodhart strikes up an easy friendship with Jared, only to discover that Jared has very little appreciation for his own Jewish heritage and religion. Determined to enlighten this “Bad Jew”, Shai invites him over for a family Hanukkah celebration to remember. But Jared’s easy fascination ends when he discovers that Shai has a house full of tangled secrets that threatens their romance before it even begins. Both young men feel they can help one another, but over the eight days of Hanukkah, deeper emotions propel them closer and closer. Can they ever reach across the divide of their shared culture and fall in love?

Author Bio

 

Jacob Cheyenne is an author of M/M Romantic Fiction. His characters and stories are often inspired by real historical events, figures and scenes from classical art, or from old black and white portraits he collects in antique stores. His debut novella “Hanukkah Gifts” focuses on the turmoil between two young Jewish men with very different ideas about how to reconcile their faith and sexuality.

When not writing, the author loves swimming, hearing live music, reading fat books on empty beaches, and drinking anything coconut-flavored. When not traveling, he lives and works in the bustling heart of New York City.

 

 

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