Category: M/M Contemporary Fiction

A Julia Review: Changing Colors (Seasons of Love #4) by Elyse Springer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Tony Quinn has a knack for figuring people out. He likes labels, likes to be able to put everyone and everything in tidy boxes. As a theater director, it allows him to run a production without too much drama. But when he meets Gentry—“call me Gee”—in a bar one night, he discovers that some people aren’t so easily defined.

Gee Parnell is unlike anyone Tony has ever met before. He refuses to conform—to Tony’s expectations, or to society’s gender roles. He’s sexy and flirtatious, unapologetic and unashamed. And Tony isn’t sure he’s okay with that. So he breaks things off and escapes back into his well-ordered life.

But then an attack leaves Gee bloody and bruised, and Tony realizes that he isn’t ready to lose him. Not only is the passion between them off the charts, but Gee shows him a different way of understanding people. However, an exciting new job opportunity means that Tony has to decide between hiding his sexuality and his relationship with Gee, and his newfound appreciation for the color and beauty Gee brings to his life.

Changing Colors is the fourth book in Elyse Springer’s “Seasons of Love”-series, which I have been reading and reviewing quite eagerly. At this point I’m only missing the very first entry, “Whiteout”, but I’ll be sure to rectify that in the near future, since I have become a fan of this series.

While having read the previous books is definitely not necessary to get into the story of this one, it does add additional charm to it since characters and events from the other books will be mentioned or have little cameos here and there. As for me, the protagonists of this volume themselves have already been enough to catch my attention and draw me in.

Let’s start with Tony from whose point of view the story is told! He loves his job at the theatre, identifies as being bisexual and has a knack for getting a read on people. I really admired how he put honest effort into trying to accept and get used to Gee’s lifestyle. In the process of this Tony not only has to learn to accept who the man he loves is but who he himself is as well. On top of that he also has to deal with his father who keeps trying to push his son into joining the family company. I enjoyed how the author showed that even though Tony does his best to ignore his father and do his own thing, he still struggles with the preconceptions, fears and worries instilled into him during his childhood. 

Gee was a really intriguing character right from the start. Though he identifies as a man, he does not conform with society’s gender roles and chooses to wear whatever he pleases including bright pink dresses and eyeliner. I found his take on life very inspirational. Just like Tony I respected him for his determination and courage in the face of all the judgement and even physical violence he has to endure from narrow-minded and downright cruel people. Still, it made it necessary for Gee to build up a lot of personal defences around himself, especially when it came to putting his trust in a romantic partner. It was very touching to see how he carefully opened up to Tony bit by bit.

Tony and Gee have to overcome a lot of hardships and inner demons to give their relationship a fighting chance. The way they interact with one another was really endearing and the author did a great job in portraying how much they mean to each other. And the sex scenes are nothing to scoff at either.

Another wonderful entry for this series that I highly recommend to pretty much anyone interested in romance novels! It features a wide cast of diverse characters who each have to overcome their own personal struggles in as well as outside of their love lives. I’m looking forward to seeing what else this author will come up with.

The cover design by Natasha Snow fits in neatly with the rest of the series but at the same time has some lovely details added to it like the shoes at the bottom. It was also a very nice touch to choose the river setting, a place where Tony likes to go and think.

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 245 pages

Published October 23, 2017

by Riptide Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-62649-517-3

Edition Language: English

A Caryn Review : Alpha Chef (JT’s Bar #2) by Sue Brown

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I was a bit conflicted about whether I should even review this book, since I wasn’t really impressed with the first in the series, and it was kind of a chore to read Alpha Barman.  But, I thought, it really can’t get any worse, and I usually like this author, so I’ll give her a chance to redeem herself.

Well, maybe she did.  A little.

In Alpha Chef, Jake and Mitch are now back together, and running JT’s bar.  And the rest of the team is still hanging out and sleeping on the floor of the bar (?????  I didn’t get that at all.  Didn’t they have anywhere to go?  A hotel?  Back home?  At least an air mattress???)  Which is convenient, because now Mitch’s little brother Greg is in trouble.

Greg has been in the witness protection program for 14 years, after witnessing an execution.  Greg’s testimony put the murderer in prison, but he’s been moving from place to place, new identity to new identity, always looking over his shoulder as the gang keeps finding him.  When his house and the diner where he works are both torched on the same night, he knows he’s been found again.  When he can’t reach his handler in the US Marshal’s office, he heads for JT’s bar and his older brother Cole, AKA Mitch, whom he hasn’t seen since Cole left for the Army.

Colm Riordan is the most recent marshal in charge of Greg.  There has always been attraction there, but neither man acted on it.  But Greg is in more trouble than he ever was before, and the danger just ramps up both men’s desire.

So, I had many issues with this book.  Greg and Riordan get together out of lust, and I could never see that there was more to the relationship.  The whole background story of how Greg got into WITSEC in the first place was a little stretched.  There were a lot of unnecessary (in my mind) sidebars – Wyatt threatening Moose, the parents showing up, etc.  Even the original team being there in the first part of the book was superfluous since they left before any action occurred.  The action scenes weren’t all that exciting.  New men were introduced to the story near the end, and I guess if they are to be part of the next book in the series it makes sense, but otherwise they added nothing to this story.  There were minor inconsistencies that had me scratching my head, as well as just enough grammatical errors that I got pulled out of the story.  And on a petty note, I kind of object to the term chef being applied to a guy who has been a line cook at a few diners.  But I guess Alpha Fry Cook doesn’t have the same ring to it…

Cover art by Garrett Leigh shows a good looking model, with an appropriately disturbed expression, that I feel represents Greg well.  Except for the fact that Greg has long hair.  Or was the model supposed to be Colm?  Oh well, it’s a good looking model either way…

Sales Links:  Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 250 pages
Published September 27th 2017 by One Hat Press
ASINB07617FCSZ
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesJ.T.’s Bar #2 settingWyoming (United States)

Review Tour and Giveaway – Sue Brown’s Alpha Chef (JT’s Bar #2)

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Length: 46,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
 
J.T’s Bar Series
 
Book #1 – Alpha Barman – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

When Greg Mitchelson’s home is torched and his employer killed, Greg fears it’s retribution for his past testimony against a notorious drug gang. Alone, with no money and only the clothes on his back, Greg turns to Colm Riordan, the Deputy US Marshall who’s protected Greg for the last 3 years. But Riordan doesn’t return Greg’s phone calls, and the local Marshal’s office refuses to help him.

In desperation, Greg goes on the run to Wyoming to find his brother, Mitch, whom he hasn’t seen in over a decade. As he reconnects with his brother, Riordan appears, searching for his missing witness. But Greg needs the answers to a lot of questions before he’ll trust Riordan again. Why didn’t he return Greg’s call? Is Riordan there to help Greg – or kill him?

November 6 – Mirrigold: Musings & Mutterings, BooksLaidBareBoys, Making It Happen, MM Good Book Reviews, OMG Reads
November 11 – Bike Book Reviews, OptimuMM
November 13 – Foxylutely, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Xtreme Delusions
November 15 – Valerie Ullmer, Jim’s Reading Room, Diverse Reader, Hearts on Fire Reviews, The Geekery Book Review
November 17 – Sarandipity, Dog-Eared Daydreams, Bayou Book Junkie, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Books Lovers 4Ever, Southern Babes Book Blog, Nerdy Dirty & Flirty


Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn’t following their orders, she can be found plotting at her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot, and has become an expert at ignoring the orders.

Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. She had an Aha moment and put pen to paper that same day. Sue may be late to the party, but she’s made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.



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An Alisa Review: Finding Persimmon by R.W. Clinger

Rating:  2.5 stars out of 5

 

Tea company owner Tate Blackwood isn’t just in search of the perfect persimmon-flavored tea; he’s also looking for a good time. Many one-night stands are his thing. There’s no way he’ll have a boyfriend, or fall in love with another man.

 

Enter Paul Persimmon, the green-eyed owner of a little bookshop in downtown Channing, Pennsylvania. Tate thinks the man is honest, warm-hearted, and uninhibited. When Tate enters the bookshop, his life takes a quick turn. Although Persimmon insists on a date with Tate, Tate thinks another one-night stand will happen.

 

Is Tate too set in his ways to settle down with one man, though? Can he reach for love after finding Persimmon? Or is his relationship more about being best buds with Persimmon? Only time and persimmon tea will provide the answers to his steeping questions.

 

Hmm… I have given myself a few days to think about this story but it still doesn’t make much sense to me.  Tate only wants hook-ups and supposedly completely forgets any of them even exist or anything about them afterwards, except he even thinks about one and knows details about the person.  While Paul says he won’t push and tries to essentially keep his “honor” he does the opposite of what he says.

 

Tate suddenly wants to get to know Paul but continues to push him away.  I had trouble with both of the characters sudden switches in behavior and attitudes towards each other and their relationship, I felt like they were ping ponging all over the place.  This was alright for a quick read but it just did not get put together all that well.

 

The cover art by Written Ink Designs is gives a nice visual of Tate.

 

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 65 pages

Published: September 30, 2017 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634864640

Edition Language: English

BLITZ: A Bolt of Blue (Angels #1) by Nicky Spencer (excerpt and giveaway)

Title:  A Bolt of Blue

Series: Angel’s, Book 1

Author: Nicky Spencer

Publisher:  Self-published

Release Date: November 10

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male Menage

Length: 90,000 words

Genre: Romance

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Synopsis

Ian Golinski has been in love with his best friend since he was fourteen years old. When he finally decides to confess his feelings, he finds that his perpetually single friend isn’t so single anymore. What’s a boy to do when he has to share the love of his life with someone else? Especially someone so damn hot?

Dusty Smith has finally found The One. The only problem is The One clearly has feelings for someone else, even if he doesn’t realize it. Dusty has to convince his lover that they’re meant to be. But how does he do that when the other man turns out to be perfect for them both?

Mitch Becker likes things nice and simple. But as his relationship with his boyfriend heats up, he starts developing feelings for his best friend. Suddenly his life is one big complication. How can he choose between two soul mates?

Find out what happens when three men ask the question: What if we don’t have to choose?

A Bolt of Blue is an m/m/m contemporary romance with a happy ending and no cliff-hanger. It is approximately 90,000 words and is a stand-alone.

Excerpt

I’m not sure I heard him right. Even if I did, I need to make sure I’m really clear on what he’s saying. “What do you mean?” I ask.

Ian sighs into my ear. “I mean, what if it was the three of us? Together?”

“All three of us?” I’m like a parrot.

“Yeah.”

“And how would that work?” I know how it would work sexually. I’ve seen plenty of porn, and there are a lot of really creative possibilities when you get three guys together. Just thinking about it is getting me hard.

But I don’t think that’s what Ian means. At least, that’s not all he means.

“Well, I don’t know exactly. It’s not like I’ve ever done it before. But I think…I mean, you have feelings for me, right?”

He sounds so timid asking, and I wish he was here so I could show him how much he doesn’t need to worry about that.

“You know I do.”

“And I think Mitch does too. I hope he does. And I know how you guys feel about each other. So if we all feel that way, then why can’t we be together? There wouldn’t be anything to be jealous of. We would all be in it together.”

I have to admit, it sounds appealing. Like really, really appealing.

But it won’t work.

“Mitch would never go for it. He’s way too traditional. He wants the white picket fence, the kids, the dog. The whole domestic bliss thing. He wants to get married. You can’t be married to two people.”

“Not legally, no. I know it’s crazy. I’m just thinking out loud, mostly. But I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s the only way we all get what we want. Why can’t we all have what we want?”
“Because that’s not how life works.”

“Well, it should.”

Yeah, it should.

“It would be nice,” I say.

“Can you picture it?” Ian asks. “Will you think about it with me for a minute?”

“Okay.”

“So imagine you and me. It’s a Sunday morning, and we sleep in late and then get up and make breakfast. Are you imagining it?”
I nod, and then remember he can’t see me. “Yeah,” I say.

“Imagine we spend the whole day just hanging out. Like we did that one day, remember? Only we don’t have to keep our distance. We can touch each other. I can brush your arm with my hand when I walk by you in the kitchen. You can kiss me in the bathroom when we’re brushing our teeth.” The picture makes me smile.

“And then imagine that Mitch comes home. He was on a road trip, and he’s tired. And you’ve made dinner for him, and we all eat together. And then we sit on the couch, and I rub Mitch’s feet and you play with his hair. We’re watching some dumb movie on Netflix. Can you see it?”

“Yes, I can see it.” I can, too. And it’s so sweet it makes my chest ache. I can practically smell Mitch’s hair, and hear him purr at Ian’s touch. He loves to have his feet rubbed.
“And then the movie ends, and we all go to bed. Together.”

I smile at that. “Who’s in the middle?” I ask.

“Me,” Ian says without hesitation.

I imagine myself spooned around him, my hands brushing along his stomach while he pushes his ass into my groin. And all the while I’m looking into Mitch’s eyes. He’s on his side facing us, reaching out to touch Ian’s face, but he’s looking at me. He’s so content and happy. He’s in love.

I see him kissing Ian. Softly at first, but then with more intensity. I see my own hand running up and down Mitch’s arm while he presses his body against Ian’s. I hear the soft, wet sounds of their mouths moving together, and I reach out with my own tongue to trace the shell of Ian’s ear.

“Dusty? Can you see it?” Ian asks, breaking into my reverie.

“Yes,” I breathe.

“Is it beautiful?”

“It’s perfect.”

“Tell me again why we can’t have that?” Ian asks.

I think about what Erik said to me the other night, about how I always play it safe. And where has it gotten me? He wasn’t just talking about my career. Maybe it’s time I took a risk for love. Honestly, at this point, I have nothing to lose.

“Maybe we can,” I say.

Purchase at Amazon

Meet the Author

Nicky Spencer is a romance writer of all pairings. Nicky is a firm believer that love conquers all–that’s why her favorite theme is forbidden love. If two (or three!) people shouldn’t be together, Nicky will find a way to get them there. When you love someone, nothing else matters.

Nicky live in Salt Lake City, Utah with no husband, no kids and a part-time dog. She loves to read, write, listen to podcasts, watch baseball and waste time on the internet. She is firmly anti-oxford comma.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail 

 

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A MelanieM Review: Lucky (Twirled World Ink #4) by J.M. Dabney

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

 

Welcome to Twirled World Ink where the crazies run the asylum.

When someone was asked to describe crazy, if they knew Lee “Lucky” Trenton they’d point at him. Accident prone and without a filter of any kind to tell him to shut up before he says something inappropriate he’s no one’s idea of a perfect partner. Growing up with parents who subscribed to a philosophy of Radical Honesty Lucky and his siblings were doomed from the womb. Lucky found a home away from home at Twirled World Ink, but he didn’t just find a place to belong. He’d found Priest.

Matthew “Priest” Beall ran away from his judgmental family the second he’d earned the money. He’d come in search of Gib Phelps a legend in the tattoo industry. If you wanted to learn the craft, then Gib was the man to beg an apprenticeship with, and he’d begged. Priest might have left the violence of his past behind, but when he closed his eyes it came back to torture him. The only place he felt safe was when his best friend Lucky let him sleep in his arms. He wanted more, but he didn’t think he deserved it.

Priest left his family behind without regret only to find a new one with the crew of Twirled World and the super weird Trenton family. Could he grab onto his new life or would the memories of the past ruin the happiness he’d gained?

Among tortured souls, Priest is up there among the top of J.M. Dabney’s abused characters.  A gentle, sweet bear of a man, he’s been one of the walking wounded for three books now and with Lucky’s story we get his.  In every series, every novel, Lucky and Priest almost devolve into one word because to get one is to get the other.  It’s been that way from the moment Priest stepped into Twirled World Ink and felt safety within the friendship and arms of Lucky.

Lucky and his family are so far outside any box of definitions that I can’t begin to imagine how J.M. Dabney cobbled them together.  They blow my mind in a totally great way.  From mother and dad to Lucky’s siblings, dress, house and the Radical Honesty (absolute openness about sex) that the family practices, this is a family that makes an indelible impression.  On the readers and on Priest.

What happened to Priest is not addressed in details outright, thankfully, but it’s impact on him emotionally, mentally, the nightmares, inability to sleep etc., is dealt with in a sensitive and responsible manner.  There is no instant miracle recovery, but therapy and respect for Priest’s boundaries which I thought authentic and made me love this story more.

It had to be included in any move forward in a relationship between Lucky and Priest and it was.

Lucky too has a few obstacles to overcome in his pursuit of Priest, and he needs advice and support from his family, and “crew” of friends all around him who care just as much for Priest.  That’s the thing about these books, it is a tapestry of characters that you’ve come to love.  They come together for each other in everyone’s novels, none of them feeling like a secondary cast member, but full fledged believable person.  Violent yes, a bit on the psychotic side at times, damaged, wonderful men.  And now their kids and partners.

I loved seeing Lucky and Priest get their HEA.  It was a wonderful, heartwarming story.  It ends the first series and with Twitch and Crave dancing around here sort of launches us into the Brawlers series that follows it.    I highly recommend this story, this series, and all the wonderful series that follow it.  Check them all out below.

Cover art by Reese Dante can do no wrong.  That’s Lucky to a T.  Perfect!

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 152 pages
Published February 14th 2017 by Hostile Whispers Press, LLC
ASIN B01N9D55XR
Edition Language English
Series Twirled World Ink #4
Characters Lee “Lucky” Trenton, Matthew “Priest” Beall
setting Powers, Georgia(United States)