Category: LGBTQ Book Reviews

A MelanieM Review: Winter Wonderland (Minnesota Christmas #3) by Heidi Cullinan

Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

Finding Mr. Right can be a snow lot of fun.

Winter Wonderland coverPaul Jansen was the only one of his friends who wanted a relationship. Naturally, he’s the last single man standing. No gay man within a fifty-mile radius wants more than casual sex.
No one, that is, except too-young, too-twinky Kyle Parks, who sends him suggestive texts and leaves X-rated snow sculptures on his front porch.

Kyle is tired of being the town’s resident Peter Pan. He’s twenty-five, not ten, and despite his effeminate appearance, he’s nothing but the boss in bed. He’s loved Paul since forever, and this Christmas, since they’re both working on the Winter Wonderland festival, he might finally get his chance for a holiday romance.

But Paul comes with baggage. His ultra-conservative family wants him paired up with a woman, not a man with Logan’s rainbow connection. When their anti-LGBT crusade spills beyond managing Paul’s love life and threatens the holiday festival, Kyle and Paul must fight for everyone’s happily ever after, including their own.

I have always found the writings of Heidi Cullinan to be something special but in her Minnesota Christmas series with its generous helping of warmhearted bears, human bears that is, and their unique, loving counterparts, she has conjured up stories  not only distinctive but that contain  sparks I like to think of as narrative magic.  In Winter Wonderland, that mojo is working overtime with characters like Paul and Kyle.  What charms this story has in store for the reader!  And snow sculptures shaped like penises too.  Let’s get to the particulars.

Paul is one of those characters  Cullinan  does so well.  Paul is a man whose mean-hearted, conservative family’s constant belittling and derision has lead Paul to a poor self image and inability to imagine a happy future for himself.  But little of that is shown to others in their small town.  Only to Paul’s small circle of friends (see the other stories) is his unhappy family dynamics known as well as his  penchant for Hallmark movies, especially Hallmark’s Christmas movies.  The author brings in such well known movies like Hallmark’s  “The Christmas Card” and uses them to make a point about Paul, the damage done to him by his family, and makes it and the other Christmas movies provide a way to heal Paul’s pain.  Its a beautiful touch, one among many, and it feels believably so as a panacea that others have found.

I love the character of Kyle as well.  He too contains so many truths of his own.  Kyle is the town “man child”, the one people remember so well as a charming adolescent that they can’t see the man he’s become.  Kyle is tired of fighting his past image because he never seems to overcome it.  Especially with the one person he’s  been crushing on for most of his life.  Paul.   Kyle wants to capture Paul’s attention and desperate times calls for desperate measures.  Or in this case, anatomically correct snow sculptures.  I have a vivid imagination and Heidi Cullinan’s descriptions cracked me up.  Even if you don’t, you won’t need them, because her words and the pictures they paint will be more than enough to leave you with the giggles. But Kyle is not all fun and snow.  He has his own depth of character and responsibilities, one of which is his sister.

One of the things I love best about the Minnesota Christmas series is that the town of Logan is populated by characters who are so real, so darn human.  Some have reading disabilities, others face other physical challenges,  some have their own hot, unexpected sexual kinks, and some with family issues so profoundly wounding that it almost costs them a future. Nothing is really “normal”.  Perfection has no role here.  But authentic happiness? Small town joys, long term loves  and relationships? Yes, they most certainly do.  With Logan you get the best as well as the worst of small town mentality, Cullinan is blunt about that.  I liked that as well.

We’ve had 3 stories so far.  The 3 bears of Logan and each has found their own Mr. Right for Christmas.  Paul was the baby bear.  Will there be more Christmas stories for us coming out of Minnesota?  I can only hope so.  What I’ve read so far has had that winter white glitter sparkle that speaks of joy, and hope, and love.  And Christmas is coming.  What a wonderful present it would be to have Minnesota  Christmas story number four!

I highly recommend  Heidi Cullinan and her Minnesota Christmas series, including this very special story, Winter Wonderland.   Pick this and all of them up as a early holiday present for yourself.

Cover art by Angela Waters.  I love this cover.  I think the artist has the men and the landscape exactly right.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
original titleWinter Wonderland
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.heidicullinan.com/WinterWonderland
Series: Minnesota Christmas

Let It Snow (Minnesota Christmas, #1)
Sleigh Ride (Minnesota Christmas, #2)
Winter Wonderland (Minnesota Christmas, #3)

 

A Jeri Review: The World As He Sees It (Perspectives #2) by A.M. Arthur

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Love knows no limits…but fear could keep them from seeing it.

The World As He Sees It CoverGabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications.

Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.

Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders.

A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them.

Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…

I have been waiting, not so patiently, for this book. We met Tristan in the previous book,The Truth as He Knows It (Perspectives #1) , as he was the main character’s best friend. We also meet Gabe at the end of that book, setting the scene for this book. That being said, this book absolutely can be read as a stand alone.

Tristan and his best friend Noel were gay bashed several years ago. While Noel was left with extensive scarring on his chest, Tristan was left with severe short term memory problems. He remembers everything from before the “accident”, but can only retain about 30 minutes of time after the accident. He lives in a care facility, disowned by his parents, logging everything in his notebook and on post it notes to remember everything. From who his friends are to what time to eat his meals.

Gabe is a part time waiter, part time porn star trying to take care of his alcoholic mother. He turned to porn not only for the money, but for uncomplicated, safe, no strings attached sex. But he can’t stop thinking about the guy who came into his fathers’ bar and freaked out because he lost his notebook and couldn’t remember where he was or why he was there.

A chance meeting at the same bar- and a mutual friend- brings Gabe and Tristan together again.

One of the things I really love about AM Arthur’s books is that they all take place in the same fictional area of Pennsylvania. So while different stories may not cross over, places and people do.

I really liked how these characters became friends first. Through many emails- so Tristan can read them over again- they really get to know each other. And while both have some seriously obvious issues in life, they both go into the relationship wide open. There’s no “breaking down walls” or anything like that. They are both so open to the intimacy and love that it just feels so much more real, more romantic.

If you read this book (please do!), go back and read her other books.  They really are a treat.

The cover art by Lyn Taylor really conveys not only how each of the main characters look (save for the beard that Gabe doesn’t have but the model does), you can really see Tristan’s pain and Gabe’s shyness.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon (not yet available) | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: October 20th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
original title The World As He Sees It
ISBN13 9781619230132
edition language English
series Perspectives :
The Truth as He Knows It (Perspectives #1)
The World As He Sees It (Perspectives #2)

Love To Binge Read? Check Out 5 in 1 from Aria Grace, Best Gay Romance Collection (excerpt and giveaway)

Two men about to kiss

Best Gay Romance Collection
Five books from Aria Grace
Release Date: September 12, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Surrendered Press
Cover Artist: Kris Kendall

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Buy the book:  Amazon | iTunes | Nook

Blurb

This collection of best-selling m/m romance novels is discount priced for a limited time.

If you love sweet and sexy stories about young men in love, whether they are discovering their true sexuality in college or actively seeking out the loves of their lives, these books will make you laugh, cry and tingle in all the right places.

Not for the weak of heart, the moments of love are intense but no extreme violence, non-con or BDSM.

Included in this collection are:

‘When It’s Right’, ‘Winter Chill’, ‘Escaping in Oz’ (newly released), ‘His Undoing’ and ‘More Than Friends’ with a bonus book of ‘Drunk in Love’.

Pages or Words: 135,000 words
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, New Adult, M/M Romance

Excerpt

The warm air on my face invited me closer. I wanted to share his warmth. Isn’t that how it all started? Wanting him to chase away the winter chill. Begging him to. I looked up and immediately felt his mouth on mine. Soft but eager. He pulled back just long enough to yank his shirt over his head and then he was back on me. His hands on my chest while mine tore at the belt that was keeping his body away from me.

A moist sheen covered my overheated skin. I don’t know how much of it was due to the steam and how much was the result of my own desire for Daniel, but I didn’t care. My hands trembled as I tugged his zipper down. I splayed my palm against his hard abs and slowly followed his happy trail to my happy place. Knowing that I was more than just a girl replacement was liberating. He wants to be with me. And god knows I want to be with him. A guy. Two guys. It was surreal.

Digging my fingers through the coarse curls beneath the fabric, I pushed down even further. The outside of my hand grazed the evidence of his arousal. It was different for him too. His mouth locked onto mine, I couldn’t stand the wait. With a sudden urgency, I yanked down the last fabric on his body and pulled him into the shower.

The water was already starting to cool but it was still warm enough to feel good. The heat that we were generating was enough to keep us comfortable for a while. Daniel’s arms unfurled from around my back and I could feel him reaching behind me.

When I felt his soapy hands dig into the taut muscles of my back, I couldn’t stifle the moan. Letting my forehead fall to his shoulder, I relaxed against his body while he lathered up my back and shoulders. When his hands slid over the curves of my ass, I put my hands on his hips, ready to push back if things went too far. I wanted him but I wasn’t ready for him. Not yet.

“It’s okay, just relax,” he whispered into my neck while gently kneading the tight muscles that he’d never touched before. His large hands squeezed each cheek, letting his fingertips tease the opening without actually touching it. His mouth was on my shoulder, sucking on my sensitive skin. Grinding into his hips, my body begged to be closer. Both of our equally impressive dicks smashed between our bodies. I reached a hand between us to bring our rods together. I rubbed up and down his for a moment, reveling in how it felt against me. Knowing that I could do whatever I wanted with it. The question was what would I do now that I could? I wasn’t sure of the answer.

“God, that feels good.”

About The Author

Meet Aria Grace:
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Aria enjoys the year round sunshine and laid back environment of the west coast. She lives with her husband and two children on a quiet hill that gives her lots of time to read and write. Once she ventured into the exciting world of gay romance, she never looked back. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to drop her a note or visit her at http://www.ariagracebooks.com.
Where to find Aria Grace:

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FollowAriaGrace
Amazon Author Page
Twitter: @ariagracebooks
Pinterest

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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Amazon Gift card and paperback of any Aria Grace book in print.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.   Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review : Running With Scissors by L.A. Witt

Rating: 4 stars out of 5    ★★★★

RunningWithScissors_600x900When Jude Colburn receives a call from his former band’s manager, asking him to come back to the band, this time as their bassist, he doesn’t hesitate to agree. He’d left the band, Running With Scissors, after a breakup with his lover and longtime friend, Connor, a year and a half-ago. He was their drummer, but Jude is one of those gifted musicians who can play anything, so he’s okay with switching.

But, as he finds out when he gets there, most of the band members are not okay with him coming back. The turmoil they’d lived with as Jude and Connor fought was unnerving, but the fact that he’d walked out on them just as they were going to sign a recording contract, makes him #1 on their shitlist. Since his actions nearly broke them up, he’s persona non grata for quite a while when he gets back. One of the only people who is open and friendly with him is AJ, the man who replaced him as the band’s drummer. It doesn’t help that AJ is sweet, quiet, friendly and hot. Jude knows he can’t screw around with any bandmates ever again. After all, the reason he was invited back is due to the fact that Wyatt, another band member and friend, also stormed out after he and Connor broke up. Two disastrous flings with band members is two too many, and no one will tolerate another.

All is well during rehearsals, but when the band takes the stage for a live show, Jude is blown away by AJ’s outstanding performance. He’s not only dynamite on the drums, he’s become a completely different, absolutely hot and sexy wild man, and Jude virtually melts when, after the show, he stumbles upon AJ, and AJ, still hot and high on adrenaline from the show, grabs him and tongue-fucks him as if his life depended on it. Needless to say, Jude is hooked after that, and though they manage to refrain from acting on their attraction, they are attracted and are also fast becoming friends.

So what happens when one irresistible force meets another once the tour is over, and they are living at home while working on the album? And then what happens when their bandmates and manager find out? Heartache, angst, and an unexpected catalyst to start the process of healing unresolved issues.

This is more than just the usual rock band story. It’s really an introspective look at how one man makes the journey from selfish, immature bad boy to loving, supportive partner and friend. And it both explores and resolves underlying issues and problems which can escalate when a group of people who know each other so well for so many years suddenly find themselves faced with coworkers and friends who have grown up when they weren’t looking.

I really enjoyed this story for all the reasons stated above. It was deliciously hot and it was angsty, but I enjoyed Jude’s journey as he finally changed the way he reacted to emotional issues and became a mature man worthy of lasting love and friendship. I highly recommend this one to lovers of contemporary romance, musicians, hot tattooed men, and to those who want to explore more than just the surface of the romance when two men fall in love.

Cover art by L.C. Chase depicts the faces and upper torsos of two handsome young men, a blond in profile and a brunette, with upper arms covered in tattoos, facing forward. Below the title banner is a concert crowd scene. The cover a beautiful depiction of two rock star MCs.

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing | All Romance (ARe) |  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 313 pages
Published August 31st 2015 by Riptide Publishing (first published August 29th 2015)
ISBN13 9781626493315
edition language English

In Our Supernatural Spotlight: Werewolves of Brooklyn by Brad Vance (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

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Werewolves of Brooklyn by Brad Vance
Release Date: August 5, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Brad Vance
Cover Artist: Brad Vance

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Buy the book:  Amazon

VitoBanner

My Author Interview with Brad Vance

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Brad Vance, author of “Werewolves of Brooklyn.” Hi Brad, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

• Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than any others? Love? Action? Romance? Tragedy?

I’d say the hardest are the “feelings” scenes – not the romantic feelings but the painful elements of a character’s backstory that have made him who he is now. Delving into my own memories, remembering my own feelings of loss, humiliation, heartache, anger, really take it out of me. But without them, the characters don’t have depth, so it’s gotta get done. There’s a flashback scene with Albeus, the Werewolf King, in this latest book, where he has a vision of his role in the Civil War that just wrecked me. I was out of commission for a week after that. Right now I’m working on a science fiction novel as “Adam Vance,” and that’s a nice break – no emotional stuff!

• What do you think makes a good story?

It’s got to have all these ingredients: a pace that keeps you involved, a set of fascinating characters, a new world or a new take on a familiar one, believable dialog, and most importantly, believable actions – that is, if you’re writing about a federal agent, don’t just “make some stuff up” about how that agent would operate, or be punished for breaking rules, but research it, make it real. “Homeland” is silly in season 3 because the CIA knows Carrie is bipolar, nearly off her rocker sometimes, and yet, there she is again, entrusted with top secret info and in on the big decisions. You can only suspend disbelief so much!

• Do you hear from readers much? What do they say?

I do. I’m on Facebook all the time, and #TeamVance is always letting me know how much they love the books. I get a lot of positive feedback, and a lot of love when I get low and depressed because a title isn’t doing as well as I’d hoped.

• How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

A lot! I’ve got 34 active titles on Amazon right now. “Apollo’s Curse” is my favorite, it’s a novel about a romance writer who gets “cursed” with the ability to write one bestseller after another…but only for a year. After that, he’ll never write again, not even a grocery list. So he has to find out how to break the curse. It’s the best novel I’ve ever written, and maybe the best I ever will.

• What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to travel. I’m a total culture vulture – museums, plays, etc. I’m on hold travel-wise until next summer, since I’m saving for a big European trip. I’ve been to England and France, but this time I’m headed for Berlin. I had so much fun researching the city for my Kyle’s New Stepbrother stories that I just had to go myself – couldn’t let those boys have all the fun!

RC

Blurb

Darien Mackey wasn’t looking for an adventure. For ten years, he’d been happy living in Brooklyn, working as a butcher in the same job, living in the same apartment, dating some “nothing-special” guys. Until one night his buddy Jacob talked him into taking ayahuasca, the soul-changing drug. And Darien had a vision…of a wolf, its all-too-human eyes on him, its paws on his chest, its enquiring mind in his own…

Darien Mackey is changing. He’s more confident, more assertive, hungrier, hornier. And his world is changing around him – his job, his home, his beloved Mechanic’s Library all falling victim to the predations of unscrupulous developers, bent on demolishing the old Brooklyn he loves and replacing it with a forest of condos. But he’s no longer a passive observer of his own life, and as this thing, this power, grows inside of him, he resolves to fight back, to preserve the way of life he loves.

And he’s not alone in the fight. The Lipsius Preservation Society of Brooklyn stands ready to assist in the battle, even though it seems like a bit of a joke to Darien, with its King and its Duke, Marquess, Earl and Viscount.

But there’s nothing funny about his growing attraction to Albeus Finley, King of this mysterious Court. And when slumlords and condo-mongers start to die mysterious, violent deaths at the hands of savage animals, Darien begins to realize that something is afoot in Brooklyn – something supernatural.

And it’s afoot in him, too…

Pages or Words: 54,000 words
Categories: Historical, M/M Romance, Paranormal

Young male fashion model posing outdoors against rustic background

Excerpt

The wolf’s eyes were lava-yellow with hate. His growl and his snarl were meant to terrify Darien, to freeze him in his tracks, prepare him for his death.

Then something rose up in Darien, rage, frustration, primal energy. And his own lips curled, his own growl met the enemy’s.

The Duke retreated a pace, taken aback. Darien felt sharp pains in his palms and looked down. Where he’d had fingernails, he had claws, long and sharp, and the fists he was making were digging them into his flesh.

He smiled, exhilarated, wild. He lunged and snapped at his enemy, knowing that his canines had become…literally that, elongated spikes ready to tear out a neck.

Darien’s ears were ringing, something surging in him beyond mortal feeling – like testosterone but stronger, more powerful, the smell of victory, immortality.

“The King is mine,” Darien declared. “And I am his.”

He knew he’d taken a step from which there was no turning back. He was the King’s man, the King’s consort. He would open to Albeus and take him, and be taken by him, and he would be alone no more.

He was one of the pack.

And it curdled the blood of men for miles around when he raised his face to the full moon, and howled.

Young male fashion model posing outdoors against rustic background

About The Author

Brad Vance writes gay romance, erotica and paranormal stories and novels, including the breakout hits “A Little Too Broken” and “Given the Circumstances.” Keep up with Brad at BradVanceErotica.wordpress.com, email him at BradVanceErotica@gmail.com, and friend him on Facebook at facebook.com/brad.vance.10.

Where to find the author:

http://bradvanceerotica.wordpress.com
http://facebook.com/brad.vance.10
bradvanceerotica@gmail.com
BradVanceErotica on Google+
@BradVanceAuthor on Twitter
https://www.pinterest.com/bradvanceerotic/

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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: One of three e-book copies of ‘Werewolves of Brooklyn’ by Brad Vance.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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Tour Dates & Stops:
24-Aug Jessie G. Books
25-Aug Foxylutely Book Reviews
26-Aug MM Good Book Reviews
27-Aug Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance
27-Aug Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews
28-Aug Velvet Panic
31-Aug Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
1-Sep Happily Ever Chapter, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
2-Sep Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads
3-Sep The Jena Wade, Hearts on Fire

4-Sep Molly Lolly

7-Sep Love Bytes

8-Sep Prism Book Alliance

9-Sep Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

10-Sep Wake Up Your Wild Side

11-Sep Nic Starr, Carly’s Book Reviews, Up All Night, Read All Day, My Fiction Nook

14-Sep Kimi-Chan

15-Sep Iyana Jenna

16-Sep Inked Rainbow Reads

17-Sep The Novel Approach

18-Sep BFD Book Blog

19-Sep Rainbow Gold Reviews

 

A MelanieM Review: Buttermilk Ranch (The Hard Riders #1) by Patricia Logan

Rating:   2.5 stars  out of 5

Buttermilk RanchWendell Blackowl has spent all his life in the working cow horse show ring where toiling with sweaty cowboys all day is the fodder for wet dreams. Though privately he’s come to terms with his sexuality, publicly Dell’s had to build a façade. When his beloved horse Buttermilk dies, Dell finds himself at loose ends so he decides to pick himself up by his boot straps and do what he’s always wanted to do… open an environmentally friendly organic vegetarian café.

Pace Avila, well known music critic, has been drawn to Austin by the live music scene. When friends invite him to check out a fresh new dinner experience, Pace reluctantly agrees to push the deadline on his national column. He isn’t interested in vegetarian food or a restaurant with the cheesy name of Buttermilk Ranch Café, but the moment Pace lays eyes on the stunning cowboy chef, things begin looking up.

When openly gay Pace walks into his cafe and his life, Dell realizes he’s tired of living a lie and tired of being alone. When Mother Nature throws an unprecedented storm at Austin, the muddy waters threaten to wipe out everything Dell’s worked so hard to build. He soon realizes that with a man like Pace by his side, love really can conquer all.

I love my gay cowboys and a gay cowboy turned chef?  Well, that had all the makings of a book to rope in my heart! See? Got cute, combined cooking and rodeo analogies…oh never mind.  Enough of the diversionary tactics.  From that gorgeous cover which is finely detailed right down to the wooden spoon in the back pocket to the blurb, I was gleefully anticipating a new story to trumpet.  I really need to stop getting ahead of myself.

The author’s narrative starts derailing from the beginning.  Patricia Logan has her characters use what I like to call “countryspeak”, call it an author’s country answer to Spanglish.  Its not really true to any regional location you can pin down, or to specific sayings or colloquialisms, its just that the author throws in a “ya” or “heya” here and there enough for their people to sound like the way the author thinks someone from that  part of the country sounds like.  Compounding the issues is the problem of continuity.  The “ya” is then quickly followed by a “you” or “your” not “ya’ll” or what have you.  Sometimes “countryspeak” rules, other times its completely forgotten, a disruption in character foundation and all around displacement the story’s setting that is echoed in other segments that work against the story as well.

The most basic of these elements is characterization.  Patricia Logan’s Wendell Blackowl has a very detailed background, from his family history, life on his parents ranch to his long time with the rodeo, all closeted and with good reasons set down for that status.  From the prologue on, Logan present’s Dell as a well defined man.  I liked his Buttermilk Ranch/Restaurant, even thought Logan made the argument for Dell’s vegetarianism logical and appealing.  However, none of that lasts very long.  With the entrance of Pace, comes instant love (yet no charisma) and Blackowl’s characterization is forgotten as a new one is created along with the needs of the storyline.  Dell is a virgin.  Dell and Pace and going to go slow.  And no they don’t.  Dell loves and respects his mother.  Then comes out to her at…no, its just too sad.  Would you really take the chance of doing that to your beloved mother just before she gives an important speech at a Pride event?  It makes no sense the way that it was written.  Or given the way the relationship dynamics were laid out in the story.

Yes, there are some nice moments. Also some weird ones with a bdsm club.  Perhaps, there is another series this book is temporarily connecting with, I’m just not sure because its not adequately explained. Maybe they will arrive in later books.  Either way, the country-speak, the characterizations and continuity…all big Cs that went wrong in this story had already brought the rating down past the 3 stars.

For some of you,  the sweet love story that exists, buried underneath the structural defects I see, will be enough for you to enjoy because its a quick story.  For you, have fun reading.  For all the others, there are other cowboys in love for you to discover, whose dialog and colloquialisms will drop you into their romance and location as though you are part of their lives and  scenery.  I wouldn’t settle for less than that.

Cover art by AJ Corza.  This is one of my favorite covers.  With the long hair in a braid that shouts Dell to the chef’s spoon in the back pocket.  Its marvelous right down to the colors.

Sales Links:   Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 189 pages
Published August 29th 2015 by Westburg Publishing
ASINB012J29SQI
edition language English
series The Hard Riders #1

A Mika Review: All Man by Jay Northcote

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   ★★★★

“You’re the sleek little sports car to my Land Rover.”

All Man coverFrom the moment Gareth walks through the door of the salon to fit some new sinks, Jules can’t take his eyes off him. Jules has always been attracted to men who are his polar opposite, so burly Gareth is Jules’s fantasy man.

At the weekend, Jules gets into a tough situation with another bloke in a gay club and Gareth comes to his aid. Gareth rejects Jules’s subsequent advances but leaves him with the hope that his attraction isn’t completely one-sided. Fantasy could become reality.

With Gareth’s work at the salon nearly done, he’ll soon disappear from Jules’s life for good. Time is running out. Jules needs to prove to Gareth that he’s tougher than he looks and that his feelings run deeper than gratitude.

I did not want it to end. Why??? Because it was really good. Jay Northcote knows how to write her guys. I love the contrast between the men that she puts together. I don’t like reading about the same type of men being attractive to each other. I like versatility in my guys. Plus I love a guy wearing make-up and loving themselves while wearing it. I’m so happy that Jules got his story. He was definitely a stand out character from [book:Top Me Maybe?|25548075]. He is this charismatic, flirty, guy who has a crush on the bear-like Gareth. That’s swoon like right there.

Up until this book we’ve only seen confident Jules, s0 just seeing him nervous and vulnerable about Garreth was really sweet. Gareth was a great guy, and I liked how he used his voice to state that anyone can go through something traumatic and look different. I think Jay Northcote did a good job with the assault scenes. She wrote it from a character who if we seen on the street most people wouldn’t think that they would be a victim. I really liked them together. It was some steamy and sweet scenes. I didn’t want it to end. I really like the author’s British writing voice.

Cover Art by Jay Northcote, spot on presentation of Jules. I really like seeing him on the cover with all his beauty.

Sales Links:   Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published August 8th 2015 by Jaybird Press (first published August 6th 2015)
original title All Man

 

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review :Three’s Company by N.R. Walker

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

This is the kind of story where the characters burrow into your heart and stay long after you finish the last page.

Three's Company coverWilson Curtis arrives at the small hotel in Key West to begin his long-awaited two-week vacation for two—but without Mr. Two. His boyfriend Rod has joined with others in his Alabama hometown to ostracize him when it’s learned that he’s gay. Rod is a police officer who saw Wilson covertly for nearly two years but left him without a second thought the minute Wilson was outed while having drinks with Rod and a few other friends one night. And just like that, his life was turned upside down, because not only did he lose Rod, the townsfolk boycotted his restaurant business, and though his friend Callie is keeping it open for now, business is declining as the rumors of his homosexuality spread.

When he arrives at the beachfront hotel, he’s greeted by the handsome, dark-haired, blue-eyed manager, Simon Stanford. Simon excitedly tells his live-in lover—carefree, blond, gorgeous Adam—about the new guy who’s arrived, and together they make plans to seduce him into their bed for a night of ménage fun.

The couple is surprised, however, to discover that one night is just not enough, and they find themselves extending the invitation for the length of his stay. Suddenly, their feelings are involved, and when that happens, more than the positive feelings emerge—there’s a miscommunication, and Simon storms off and won’t speak to the others; outsiders are trying to buy the hotel; and life as they knew it goes rapidly downhill.

This was the best M/M/M romance I’ve read to date. These guys had diverse and interesting personalities as well as careers that jelled, life circumstances that fit together like puzzle pieces, and hot, steamy sex in places and positions that stoked the imagination. And they kissed—in two’s and three’s—sweetly, and oh, so sinfully, not-so-sweetly. I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve read a ménage that I can actually picture working—from the sex to the personalities and vice versa. I very highly recommend this to all M/M romance lovers who want to dip a toe into the pool of ménage, and if you’re already into threesomes, why wait? Pick up your copy right now!

Cover Art by Posh Gosh features a bright and beautiful Florida sky and blue waters. Superimposed on that is a photo of three men sitting on the beach with the center man’s arms around the others. There are also other photos depicting tropical paradise themes. Very nice, attractive, colorful cover!

Sales Links:  Pride Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon (not supported at Amazon)

Book Details:

ebook, 176 pages
Published August 25th 2015 by Pride Publishing (first published 2012)
ISBN139781784307424
edition language English
characters Wilson Curtis, Adam Preston, Simon Stanford