Category: MLR Press

A VVivacious 2 Review in 1: Dare To (Dare #1) by A.K.M. Miles +Dare’s Christmas Gift (Dare #2) by A.K.M. Miles – Bonus short story

dare-to-dare-1-by-a-k-m-milesDare To by A.K.M. Miles
Rating – 3.5 Stars out of 5
 
Dare works as a youth counsellor, a vocation he is very passionate about. He and Ryan meet at a time of loss for both of them but they are unable to deny their intense chemistry. But just as Dare is finding his footing in his life with Ryan and Ryan’s nephew JC, he ends up as front page news for a heroic act of his which also ends up outing him as gay. What follows is an upheaval in his professional life that tests the bonds between Ryan and Dare.
 
I believe this story would have been so much better if just a few details were tinkered with till they were perfect.
 
It is a slice-of-life fiction, so basically a lot of things happen but the events don’t culminate into a climax, it’s just life as usual. At a few, very few, times I was hesitant at believing that such calamities would befall one person in such a short span of time but I have made peace with that aspect of this story. Overall the plot and the story make for a fairly interesting read.
 
There are a lot of side characters in this one but having read the story in its entirety I don’t feel like I know these characters well enough like Melanie, Jackie, Brandon, Linc and JC. I particularly felt this lack of development for JC’s character because no matter how you slice it he was always going to be a big part of Ryan and Dare’s life together and I would have loved more scenes with the trio of Ryan, Dare and JC. While we are on the topic of side characters, I would like to mention Ben Tyler who had just such an amazing personality.
 
This book is entirely from Dare’s perspective which kind of made the story very one-sided almost everything that happens, happens in Dare’s life it’s about his problems, his troubles and in the bargain we miss out on a lot of backstory on Ryan and his life and his friends.
 
The single most amazing thing about this book that pretty much carried this book for me was Ryan and Dare and their chemistry. It was sizzling hot. It really has me believing that if Ryan and Dare were real people they would be perfect for each other because oh my God! It was actually unbelievable how well these two characters played off of each other.
 
Personally this book is an interesting read with an awesome couple and it holds a lot of potential to be better.
Dare’s Christmas Gift by A.K.M. Miles
Rating – 3.75 to 4 Stars out of 5
 
Dare and Ryan are ready to celebrate their first Christmas together. But things get complicated when both JC and Brandon report spotting the mean guy. Now Christmas feels like a minefield for Dare, Ryan and Jackie to traverse, keeping the boys safety and happiness in mind at all times.
 
First of all I must confess that this story would have read much better if I wasn’t reading it right at the end of “Dare To” and that is reason for my variable rating. I feel like I didn’t enjoy it as much because I had just met these characters and I already knew their story and in some ways this felt like a rehash of “Dare To” but I’m pretty sure I would have liked it much better had there been a gap.
 
Okay so the ‘mean guy’ turns out to be Mitch not Phil and don’t worry this isn’t much of a spoiler because apparently all the characters knew who ‘mean guy’ referred to. I don’t know why I was expecting Phil, maybe because Dare To was very Dare-centric and I kind of thought this story would be too but in hindsight how would the kids know about Phil, that truly doesn’t seem like information to share with kids.
 
Okay yeah so the whole Mitch – thing felt like a rehash, I kept getting the ‘been there, done that’ feeling all throughout that story-line playing out and I was kind of expecting a sweet-Christmas story not a catch-the-bad-guy story. So yeah that was a bit repetitive.
 
But there are a lot of things to like about “Dare’s Christmas Gift” with the first thing being Dare’s Christmas Gift. It was truly inspired and I loved the gift so much and it just proved to me that Dare and Ryan were going to go long-term. I mean seriously I couldn’t wait for Ryan to see it.
 
Also this story has Ryan’s and JC’s perspectives the lack of which I felt very acutely in “Dare To”, so I loved their POVs and I loved that we got to spend time in their heads. Ditto scenes between Ryan, Dare and JC, we got a nice sweet helping of those too.
 
It was a great short story, I loved how we got to meet everyone and I am positive I would have enjoyed this story a lot more had I been reading it after a little break between reading “Dare To” and reading this. So everyone who loved the book be sure to pick up this short because “Dare’s Christmas Gift” is truly inspired, literally.
 
Cover Art by Kris Jacen. I love the cover with its background of blue at the top and the snowflakes at the bottom and how they transform from one into the other. Also I loved Dare’s expression on the cover; it feels very Dare-ish and like something he would actually do.
Sales Links
Book Details:
Kindle Edition
Published December 16th 2016 by MLR Press (first published July 1st 2008)
Original TitleDare To
ASINB01N9IS02Z
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesDare #1
CharactersDare Wilson, Ryan Spencer
Bonus story included 

 

 

A VVivacious Review: Reconnecting Christmas (Seeing Me #3) by Megan Slayer

Rating – 2.5 Stars out of 5
 
reconnecting-christmas-by-megan-slayerOliver and Bert have been in a relationship for the past two years but despite having been together for that long, there relationship is still simmering in uncertainty.
 
This Christmas all Oliver wants is for Bert to come home and Bert does but he ends up bringing a plus one with him. Will this spell the end of Oliver and Bert or will this force these two to examine the cracks in their relationship? Eventually, what will this Christmas bring Oliver & Bert?
 
This story is a nice fun holiday read. I liked the way the story was written, it flows and everything was nicely executed. The story moves at a fast pace which helps because the characters often say something and do something else.
 
This story doesn’t read like an established couple romance Oliver and Bert don’t feel like they have been together for two years and they still have a lot of issues to deal with so when things finally do get sorted out, I got the feeling that they had fallen in love for the first time. The characters aren’t that well developed, while their situation felt genuine, I really couldn’t figure out what made the tick.
 
Things happen very quickly, everything gets solved in a few days. Basically the whole story is like a flash in the pan. Things happen but no matter the magnitude of the upset things settle down quickly and quite uneventfully. Also towards the end I felt like Bert and Oliver were moving a bit too fast especially concerning how nascent their relationship felt, I mean these two were just figuring out how to be partners in their relationship with each other after having been in said relationship for two years.
 
What worked in spades for this story was that Oliver and Bert had great chemistry and great friends, actually friend that being Kenley. His advice was the most spot-on and helped get things on track.
Cover art is typical of the holiday stories.
Sales Links
c60a7-waxcreative-amazon-kindle
Book Details:
ebook
Published December 16th 2016 by MLR Press, LLC
Original TitleReconnecting Christmas
ISBN13e000000005674
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesSeeing Me #3

A Jeri Review: Heart’s Gamble By S.J. Frost

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

hearts-gamble-by-sj-frostAn enemies to lovers sweet romance in horse country. Shawn goes to horse auctions to bid on and win whatever horses he can. He takes them back to his farm to rehabilitate them after they have been neglected. When he digs to find out who originally owned Heart’s Gamble, he discovers that the farm isn’t far from his and he wants words with the owner.

After Grant’s father dies, he inherits the horse farm that Grant left years before. And a mountain of debt. His original plan to sell it and move back to his life in California are thwarted by the arrival of a pissed off horse trainer- Shawn.

Shawn and Grant definitely have some great chemistry on the pages. Grant struggled with real life issues- namely what to do with his father’s farm, and the author showed what Shawn actually does as a horse rehabilitator. The scene when Shawn takes Grant to a horse auction so he can actually see what happens was heart breaking. When a story has real life issues and the characters actually go to work makes it more real for me.

This was low angst and a sweet read. The sex scenes were well done and rather hot I must say! SJ Frost can definitely write a sex scene!

If you are looking for a nice, easy read for the new year, I recommend. Prepare yourself for some cliché material though.

Cover art is lovely, and works perfectly for the story.

Sales Links

MLR Press LLC

65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 97 pages
Published October 21st 2016 by MLR Press
ASINB01M4KF4U4
Edition LanguageEnglish

A VVivacious Review: Under My Bed by T. A. Chase

Rating: 2.5 Stars out of 5
 
under-my-bedTabor Augustus Gilles was planning to spend All Hallows’ Eve all on his own when a knock on his door interrupts his plans. He opens the door to find an incredibly handsome man dripping wet who goes by the name Gautier.
 
Gautier knows Tabor’s secret and he wants to help him but while Tabor seems to just barely tolerate this interruption to his plans, the ghosts that haunt him want Gautier out of Tabor’s life and they are ready to do anything to make that happen.
 
But look likes meeting Gautier has finally given Tabor the courage to fight his ghosts once and for all.
 
The premise of this story is inherently flawed. Tabor has been haunted since he was ten years old yet for the past fifteen years he never tried to get rid of his ghosts and neither did his mother who was haunted by the very same ghosts before him and worst of all his mother didn’t impart any knowledge about these hauntings to Tabor. I mean I really hated the women she didn’t prepare her son for the herculean task that was about to descend on him and neither did she try to get rid of the burden, if not for her sake then for her son’s. Why this point grates on my nerves is because of the fact that getting rid of the ghosts wasn’t all that challenging, physically and mentally exhausting, yes but not difficult or impossible.
 
So because of that, for much of the plot I am left wondering why now? Why is everything becoming unbearable now that Gautier is in the picture? I mean I get that the ghosts were getting more vicious but I found it hard to believe that Tabor accepted the burden without trying everything possible to get rid of it first. I mean the ghosts are confined to a box but he never even really tried to get rid of the box, I mean the least he tried was to leave it at home when he left for college (but his mother sent it back to him, I mean this woman is unbelievable), he never tried to bury it ten feet deep or throw it in the ocean. I mean come on if a box of ghosts was draining your life force wouldn’t you try everything and I mean everything possible to get rid of it first?
 
So that is the end of me railing at the plot. What I liked about this story were its main characters – Tabor and Gautier. I liked Tabor’s self-deprecating wit and even though I didn’t like the way he handled the situation, I can appreciate the strength it took to handle things as he did and still retain his sanity. Gautier was a nice change of pace for Tabor, I liked Gautier, he seemed very kind hearted and helpful and I liked how he tried to help Tabor even at the risk of bodily harm. I also quite liked the fact that he had ulterior motives and wasn’t completely innocent.
 
Tabor and Gautier were scorching hot together. These two were yummy together and they definitely had chemistry going for them. Since this book is spread over only two days, I feel it will be a bit hasty to label them in love but I do agree that given everything they have endured together they are well on that path.
 
This is a nicely written story but you kind of have to suspend your logic if you want to enjoy this properly.
 
Cover Art by Winterheart Design. I confess I am not a fan of covers with just two guys on them especially when they are not even interacting with each other on the cover, too trite for my tastes.
Sales Links
7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindle
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 90 pages
Published October 27th 2016 by MLR Press, LLC (first published July 6th 2011)
ASINB01M3VTJCT
Edition LanguageEnglish

A VVivacious Review The House Guest by Asta Idonea

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
 
the-house-guestWhen Zach shifted into his new apartment he bought an antique cupboard. On closer inspection that cupboard seemed to have a lock on one of its drawers. The lock sets Zach’s imagination loose with all the things that the lock could be hiding but the empty drawer that greets him was not one of his choices. But looks like that drawer was not so empty after all, as Zach’s apartment seems to magically cleaned every night and on top of that Zach’s house seems to be haunted with the sounds of someone laughing and singing at night.
 
This is a short story featuring Zach and a house spirit or domovoi named Bogdan. The premise of this book is good enough to have set the stage for a full length novel but the author manages to hit all the high points even in this much shorter format but I would have loved to know more.
 
What I loved about this book would have to include the fact that Zach’s house was not haunted by a ghost, I love the fact that the author’s imagination could fuel the existence of a domovoi which seems to be quite a helpful spirit and not a ghost at all. Also I loved the concept of the domovoi and especially Bogdan, he seemed to be so happy-go-lucky and the kind of person who takes everything in his stride.
 
This story is extremely enjoyable and I loved the pairing of Zach and Bogdan and how they had set up a rhythm of sorts with regards to each other.
 
Somethings I would have loved to have more information on would be the subject of domovoi especially in regards to their creation. Also I wanted to know if Zach and Bogdan had a future together, because things are kind of up in the air in those regards.
 
Overall this is a very enjoyable read. Asta Idonea is an amazing author and this story is very well written. Also this story is very well rounded off anything that has been raised as an issue in the story is dealt with. Also this short story is bound to leave an impact because the story is just so damn good that I am pretty sure anybody who reads it will be left wondering.
 
Cover Art by Winterheart Design. I loved the cover featuring Zach and the Bogdan.
Sales Links
c60a7-waxcreative-amazon-kindle
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 37 pages
Published October 26th 2016 by MLR Press
ASINB01MCZ5J4D
Edition LanguageEnglish

A VVivacious Review: Connections Matter (Loving the Rainbow #3) by Nicole Dennis

Rating : 3.75 Stars out of 5
 
connections-matterJulian is fed up with his job, especially his supervisor who seems to save up all his nasty especially for Julian. When things get to be too much to bear he quits. But quitting his job opens a whole new can of uncertainty as he finds himself at a loss for future prospects.
 
Meanwhile Julian’s boyfriend Emmett proposes a road trip to meet Riley and Conor, a couple in Virginia who Emmett wants to interview for his online zine. But as it happens meeting Riley and Conor is just the thing to set Emmett and Julian on the right track, and give Julian an idea of what he wants to do with his future.
 
I liked this story. Prior to starting this story I was unaware that this story was a follow up story to the previously published stories “Stranded” and “Whatever It Takes” by the author featuring “Julian & Emmett” and “Riley & Conor” respectively. I haven’t read these stories but I can assure you that that did not lessen my enjoyment of this story. In fact having read this story makes me even more enthusiastic about reading these ‘prequels’ so as to get to spend more time with these characters.
 
My only problem with this story were the awkward phrases and typos that turn up at pivotal points, not that there were many of these but they seemed to appear at engrossing moments in the story and disturbed the flow of the story for me. But thankfully these typos disappeared towards the ending.
 
I loved the characters in this story. Julian is the quiet, introspective guy who carries the weight of the world and finds himself at a loss after having quit his job while Emmett is full of energy, the kind of guy who is super fun to be around and who is always on the go. I loved these two together because they seemed to balance out each other perfectly and also because we got to see them grow as a couple. I loved how both of them were so supportive of the other, especially after Julian quits his job, I loved how Emmett was non-judgemental and completely supportive of Julian despite not having to be in that position often with Julian.
 
If I had to choose I would say this story is essentially Emmett and Julian’s but that in no way diminishes the role that Riley and Conor play in this story. In a way Riley & Conor represented the balance Emmett & Julian hoped to achieve. I loved Riley & Conor, they were an amazing couple.
 
This was a feel good slice of life fiction about a couple trying to navigate their life. I loved the story and I loved the contrasts drawn between the two couples and I loved the love these two amazing couples shared.
 
Cover Art by Scarlet Tie Designs. I didn’t quite like the choice of red on blue but otherwise the cover is okay.
Sales Links
65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 112 pages
Published October 2016 by MLR Press
ASINB01MDNBS1D
Edition LanguageEnglish