A MelanieM Review: Snowman by Isabelle Rowan

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

We all find ways to run away. Some do it in seclusion, others in the arms of lovers.

Since the death of his long-time partner, Caleb Maguire lives a quiet life in Australia’s Victorian high country with only his dog and horses for company. Each day is the same. There are no surprises—good or bad—until a major snowstorm hits his mountain and Caleb is called out to rescue a stranded tourist. The late night snow brings with it a lost soul who forces Caleb to reassess his solitary life.

Paul Turner is a barista in the trendy Melbourne suburb of Carlton. He lives life totally in the moment, but a life of no commitments is about to change for this city boy. Three days is all it takes for Paul to fall hard for Caleb, and Paul returns to the city with a promise he’ll be back after turning his life around… but only when all the roads are clear.

I fell in love with the writing of Isabelle Rowan when I read her story, A Note in the Margin. Rowan’s characters leapt off the page and into my heart so believable and real I found them and their lives to be. When I saw Snowman on the Dreamspinner website, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to acquaintance myself once more with this remarkable author. But there was also a bit of trepidation as well. Since that first book I had read tons more stories, with a variety of approaches to the M/M fiction genre. How would I feel about Isabelle Rowan’s writing now?

It was wonderful and I found myself falling in love all over again at her ability to bring Australia’s harshest landscape, in all it terrifying glory, and the men who love it deeply vividly to life. It takes a special person to be able to connect with that environment, who loves both the stark beauty enough to accept its devastating changes that can destroy everything around you, whether its avalanches or wildfires and drought. If these people, these men in this case, have their own scars and pain they carry, then it makes their attachment to this land all the more understandable and believable.

Caleb Maguire is just such a man. The loss of his long term partner has thrown him into a crevasse of grief he’s not even trying to crawl out of. Instead, Caleb has withdrawn emotionally and physically into their cabin high in the mountains, their animals and working dog Molly. He has so isolated himself that his only contact is when he heads into town for supplies and Sarah, the sister of his dead lover. But that all changes one snowstorm, when he gets a call from the local policeman. A man is lost up on the mountain and the blizzard is making it impossible for them to get to him. The temperature is falling rapidly and the “fool” needs to be rescued immediately or they fear he will die of hypothermia. Caleb is the only one close enough to reach him and with the resources to do so. The march to find the lost man and his vehicle is almost impossible in the whiteout conditions, and Rowan makes us take every hard won, treacherous step of the way with Caleb and Molly. The rescue itself is frightening as frostbite is numbing the man’s hands and the cold making him sleepy. It’s scary, the work to free the man from his car frantic as the snow piles higher around them. And its this scene, this rescue that pulls us into these mens lives and makes us care what happens to them. Both men, and Molly could have been lost here. But courage, and determination pulls them through, staggering home through the snowdrifts.

The man Caleb rescues? Party boy Paul Turner. Not immediately likable but somehow Rowan puts a spark in his “shallow” personality, one that makes you want his actions to change. Which he does ever so slowly. In fact both men change at an almost glacial rate, a pace I thought was not only realistic but necessary because of the character traits and types of change that needs to happen for this to become a love story to believe in. I fell in love with Paul, it took time but I did, just as deeply as I fell in love with Caleb. It takes time to make you think they belong together but when you “buy” into their relationship you will do so with your whole heart.

And that brings us to an element that will either make you crazy or leave you deeply in love with this story and its characters. It’s the pace, the flow at which things occur. This is a long story but it is divided into four chapters, each with the title of a season of the year. We start appropriately enough at Winter. It’s actually winter in the country but there’s also a winter of the soul in each of the men. One has given up, letting his heart become cold, freezing others out. The other? Has let life reduce him to a shallow party existence, devoid of richness of growth and life. Then we follow the story, these men and their attempts at a relationship through Spring, Fall and it ends with Autumn. We live through the changes in the landscape, and the myriad of changes that Paul and Caleb (and the others around them) must go through as well. Those transformations happen at the pace and whims of nature. It can be like watching the water drip from a melting icicle. In the mornings, its slow, the drop falling at long intervals. In the afternoons, with the sun shining with the promise of the approaching Spring and the icicles melt with a rhythm of a stream. Snowman‘s narrative follows such a pattern, it ripples and eddies, pools and then picks up the pace once again, following the path that nature sets out. I loved that about this story and pulled its slow permutations and evolutions of character around me like a soft throw, enjoying every minute I spent inside this story.

But if you like action, a sort of “wham bam thank you sir” sort of action, this will make you crazy. If you want Caleb and Paul to change and change now, well, that doesn’t happen here. Life altering changes take time, so does grieving over a major loss, one that you refuse to accept. Isabelle Rowan understands that and if and when changes happen to Paul and Caleb, its because they did in a logical and meaningful way.

If I had a quibble it was the insertion of drama with Stewart aka “Stewie”, Paul’s best friend. I’m not sure why this element was included unless it was setting up a sequel with Stewart at its heart. I would love that actually, but the drama that centered around Stewart took me away from the developing relationship with Caleb and Paul, already one that moves at a snail’s pace. It really didn’t need one more impediment. However, I did like Stewart and would love to see what happens with him down the line, with a reappearance by Caleb and Paul of course.

I love Isabelle Rowan and Snowman exemplifies just why I adore her writing and characters so. Snowman feels real, its characters flawed and throughly human and their journey towards each other and a relationship strewn with the pebbles and boulders life puts in their path. It’s the men, the people around them and the land they live on that comes together in one seamless portrait of life well lived and rich in love in all its aspects. I highly recommend this story and this author. Pick up Snowman and start your own journey with both today.

Cover art by Garrett Leigh. Lovely cover, works perfectly for the story and draws you in.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 276 pages
Published May 4th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN139781634760287
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Finding Freddie Venus (Have Body, Will Guard #7) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5

Aidan and Liam’s new client is former gay porn star Freddie Venus, who survived an epic slide and now lives a solitary life in a restored farmhouse outside Nice. He hires bodyguards when he begins to believe he is being stalked.

Newt Camilleri is a sad, overweight fifty-year-old who writes gay unicorn porn but has no romantic life. He has fled his dead-end job and old life to start again on the Riviera. When he spots Freddie, his porn idol, in a grocery store, he kicks off the plot that will bring them together.

But Freddie’s past is about to come back to haunt him. Will Aidan and Liam be able to save Freddie, and help him and Newt start a new story together?

Finding Freddie Venus is the first book that I have read in Neil S. Plakcy’s long running Have Body, Will Guard series so I am coming into an already established relationship between bodyguards Adam and Liam. But as a newcomer to these characters, I don’t think that particularly hurts the story as Plakcy does a wonderful job in providing enough of their back history to support the relationship dynamics we see happening here, a couple at a crossroads at their partnership and wondering where to go next.

I was curious to see if I could repeat the success I’ve had with the same approach with Plakcy’s amazing Mahu series. With the Mahu series, I actually started at the end and have been working my way back towards the beginning and enjoying every bit of the journey. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can say that here but its definitely not due to the characters involved but the format of the story and the weird inclusion of a porn story within a story that jolts the reader out of the narrative. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Liam McCullough and Aidan Greene both work for Agence de Securite in France. They are partners romantically as well as partners as bodyguards for the Agency. It has worked well for them but Liam is growing tired, feeling his age with all the wear and tear the profession has left on his body and spirit. Aidan wants them to settle down and buy a home in France, giving them a permanence they have lacked up until now. And neither is exactly talking about the issues bothering them, preferring to ignore them and concentrate on their latest case…which manages to highlight all the insecurities and issues they are trying so hard not to address. The cause is their client, former porn star Freddie Venus. Turns out Aidan is a fan of porn and Freddie, Liam is neither. Throw in the fact that their sex life has been mostly absent recently and the stage is set for a few emotional explosions when they and their small dog move into Freddie’s house, all the better to guard him.

Freddie Venus is an interesting character, complicated and haunted by his past but still very much involved with porn because he can make a living working in editing porn scenes. But the cost to Freddie of his past in porn? A total lack of interest in sex and a lifestyle of hiding in the french countryside. Two things happen to bring an end to Freddy’s seclusion and promote a need for bodyguards. One…he receives a written threat. Two…he has a physical encounter with a fan/stalker that permanently changes Freddie’s outlook on sex and life.

And that brings us to the best/worst element of this story…Newt Camilleri. Newt is such an unusual character. He’s grossly overweight and an ex pat who has come to France to make his living writing M/M Romance. He’s already known for his series which involves a gay unicorn bent on vengeance against those that brutalize the LGBTQ community. Yes, he writes gay unicorn porn. Here is the description of Newt’s character and story from the book:

His most popular character was a half man, half unicorn named Fledglis. Like a centaur, he had a man’s head, arms, and torso over a horse’s body, with a spiral horn sticking out of his forehead. He was pure white except for dark hooves and a mane with all the colors of the rainbow in it.

His mission was to skewer every antigay government official—literally. When he found a homophobic mayor, sheriff, governor, or legislator, he’d use his front hooves to knock the man down. He’d strip the man naked, then pinion him to a floor or wall, his legs open and his ass exposed. Then Fledglis would turn his horn into a giant penis and fuck the man into oblivion. By the time the jerk awoke from his sex-induced stupor, his attitude would have taken a 180-degree turn.

How I wish Plakcy’s had left Newt’s writing to this description. Its pretty hilarious…in concept. Well, maybe not. Rape is never the laughfest no matter the cause. Anyway, this character and his stories are the driving force in Newt’s life and have inspired him to come to France. But now he’s gotten writer’s block and is running out of money. If he is to stay in France, Newt needs some inspiration and fast. But where to find it? You see, Newt’s physical attributes (such as they are) are vividly, almost anatomically correctly described down to the smallest roll of fat and size of his man boobs. Nothing is left to our imagination, thinning hair, lumbering walk, gasping for breathe,…yep…Newt’s one pathetic sack of flesh. The author makes Newt so outwardly repulsive that its hard to connect with him at first. But the inner Newt is different, so vulnerable, so needy that eventually a connection between him and the reader forms to bring us over to Newt’s side of things.

So far, so good. The story is moving concisely along, pulling the readers into the plot…until wham! Plakcy throws us into one of Newt’s stories involving Fledglis, the unicorn avenger. It’s not one or two lines of plot…nope its paragraphs of, in my opinion, god awful porn. And while my mind is shuddering over the antics of Fledglis, I’ve disconnected from the other characters and storylines at hand. Why remove the reader’s interest in the suspenseful nature of Freddie’s predicament and spend it all on some pornographic unicorn and his problems? I think it was to put us into Newt’s mindset but surely there was another way…like first person internal dialog? Time and again just when things are getting interesting, here comes clopping/flying horny Fledglis to get in our way.

I did like where the author took this story. I thought the various couples interesting in their differences and the events fascinating in the background layers and subject matter, even the mystery was suspenseful, if only a bit predictable. But that darn unicorn keep spoiling the flow and finally brought the rating down as well.

See, I think Mahu and Kimo have totally spoiled me. There the narratives are concise, the dialog is amazing, and the location is made believable and authentic by an in-depth knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history that makes that series one of my all time favorite contemporary series and characters. Because this series was written by Neil Plakcy, I will probably go looking into the first story to see how it all started. Hopefully, I won’t find any horny unicorns there.

Finding Freddie Venus by Neil S. Plakcy was ultimately a hot mess of a book, albeit a fascinating one. This author never fails to surprise me, and he certainly did that here. Would I recommend it? Yep, I would. It’s just too weird not to. But be warned, its different. And if you love that in a story and romance, pick it up and start reading it today.

Cover art by Ginny Glass. The cover works, especially the wing tats on the back of Freddie Venue. Great job.

Sales Links: MLR Books All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published March 31st 2015 by Loose Id
ISBN139781623008567
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.mahubooks.com/romance.htm
seriesHave Body, Will Guard #7

Books in the Have Body, Will Guard Series:

Three Wrong Turns in the Desert (Have Body, Will Guard, #1)
Dancing With The Tide (Have Body, Will Guard, #2)
Teach Me Tonight (Have Body, Will Guard #3)
Olives for the Stranger (Have Body, Will Guard #4)
Under the Waterfall (Have Body, Will Guard, #5)
The Noblest Vengeance (Have Body, Will Guard #6)
Finding Freddie Venus (Have Body, Will Guard #7)

A MelanieM Review: Baby’s On Fire by A. F. Henley

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

In 1974 Gerry Faun gets the break of his life—an opportunity to meet gorgeous, openly bisexual, glam-rock idol Mark Devon. Mark’s world is new, exciting, and Gerry finally gets to explore the side of his sexuality that he’s kept hidden. But the press is everywhere, and when Gerry’s father gets wind of what’s going on behind his back, Gerry ends up on the street. Mark offers to let Gerry come along with the tour and Gerry jumps at the chance. The tour is a never-ending party—and the start of what seems to be a perfect relationship for him and Mark. Until Mark’s manager decides Gerry isn’t worth the trouble he’s stirring up.

In 1994 Gerry is finally coming out of some tough times—he has a job that pays the bills, a car that hasn’t quite broken down, and a small rental in Jersey City. After a decade of barely getting by, if life was as good as it was going to get, Gerry figures he’ll manage just fine. It would be easier if he wasn’t still haunted by the man the media won’t let him forget, the man who stole his heart and then broke it… the man that’s shown up pleading for a second chance

In Baby’s On Fire by A. F. Henley, the author charts the rocky, troubled path to love for a rock ‘n roll singer and the young man who fell in love with him. It’s a journey that swings back and forth between eras, the swinging drug-filled raucous years that were the 70’s and then forward to the 90’s, the present time frame for Gerry and Mark.

I have always admired Henley’s ability to capture the mood and character of each era she has chosen to write about, even if sometimes it is embodied only by a car (“Roadtrip“). In Baby’s On Fire, Henley tackles the 70’s, an era of contradictions and overindulgence. It was the end of the innocence and hope of the 60’s while still continued that decade’s trajectory of drug use and music that pushed known boundaries. There was soft rock, Hard Rock, Glam Rock which was also called Glitter Rock, personified by glam rocker Gary Glitter who sang Rock and Roll on his album “Glitter“, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust (how I still love him) and so many others. It was the time of Studio 54 and the out of control New York club life that so many stars and singers got caught up in. Excess thy name is the 70’s! And its all here inside the page of this often heartbreaking story.

Appropriately enough, the story begins in October 1994 and we’re dumped into the present reality of Gerry Faun. He’s middle aged, and life hasn’t exactly been very kind to him. In fact, its been a very real struggle to make ends meet. He’s alone but finally has a job that will pay his bills and that he is good at. But all it takes is a song on the radio to turn back time….for Gerry and the reader.

Ever had a crush on a singer when you were a preteen or teenager? Remember those times of utter devotion and yes, a little obsession? Even if you don’t, all you have to do is look at (insert name of any boy band or Justin Bieber) and fans to get an idea. Its along those lines that this story takes hold, when Gerry Faun is taking his sister and friends to a concert by Maxx Starlight and his band. It’s June 1974, and everyone is giddy over the fact that they will be seeing Maxx in person and listening to him sing. Especially young Gerry who’s trying to be the cool older brother while being even more ridiculously excited than his younger sis. Gerry is aware that he is gay but keeping it a secret, a smart move when his conservative father is already calling the rock ‘n roll star slurs (“f…..t”) as the small group walks out the door into a night that will permanently change them all.

In a scene charged with energy and a drug/alcohol induced wildness, Gerry ends up backstage and meets his idol, Maxx Starlight aka Mark Devon and the dance between them begins as the narrative starts to switch back and forth between the turbulent excesses and confusion that is the life Mark and Gerry live in the 70’s to the discontent and emptiness of Gerry’s life in the 90’s. I thought Henley’s authentic, “spot on” descriptions of a popular rocker’s lifestyle works at every level. It’s too bright, too over the top, too much of everything from sex ‘n drugs “living on the edge” as well as the mindless adoration of hundreds of thousands of fans. And we get to see and feel its impact on the jaded Mark/Maxx and the innocent Gerry, whose Bambi like nature gives him the nickname “The Faun”.

A dramatic scene from Gerry’s youth brings on a change in decade and we move forward to the man he’s become…unhappy, alone and forever caught in the past, no matter how much he denies it. He’s stored his youth and his ability to love in with all his keepsakes in a box in the back of his closet, likewise his memories and emotions have been shunted to the back of his mind, not to be taken out and examined too carefully. What happens to break up this stalemate is the arrival of Mark, back after over 20 years absence with the intent of getting back together with Gerry.

The return of Mark brings the 90’s section of the story and Gerry to life. The 90’s narrative has been one of a certain grayness and enervation. With the return of Mark, it’s the anger, pain, and emotion that comes roaring back to life in Gerry that starts to be a match for all the action, decadence, overindulgence, and high emotion of the 70’s scenes and events. That anger, pain, and rage propels Gerry into action making the connection between the readers and the storyline snap firmly in place for the duration of the story.

I thought Henley’s characterizations worked extremely well, no matter what time frame they happened to be in at the moment. Young Gerry aka the Faun’s very youth and actions ooze innocence and new passion, and its that unformed outlook on life that get’s schooled in the most raw, blinding manner possible by the man he loves. Mark aka Maxx’s character works well as the over indulged rockstar losing himself to the persona he and the manager have created. The 70’s characterization of Mark works so believably because we see so much of him and his actions through the relationship dynamics with Gerry and the “support/hangers on” that surround them.

Unfortunately, when Mark disappears from Gerry’s story, his lack of presence for most of the 90’s section reduces our knowledge of the older Mark to the detriment of the novel. We are “told” what happened to him, and that manner of narrative distances the reader from Mark as well as reduces our connection to him and his reunion with Gerry. To make the love between Mark and Gerry sing with all the vibrancy and passion of their youth, the readers needs more of the grownup Mark and his journey towards adulthood and responsibility for himself and his actions. We get that with Gerry and for balance and to make this story feel whole, we needed it for Mark as well. Telling is never any substitute for “doing” or action and that is demonstrated in Baby’s On Fire.

That issue aside, I thought Baby’s On Fire by A.F. Henley a wonderful story and one I recommend. The emotional journey to love and a HEA for Gerry and Mark brought back to life an era I lived through, sent me running back to pull up Youtube vids of Ziggy Stardust, glitter, and a sexy rock god in all his glory as well as all the fallout and maturation needed to make it through to the 90’s for so many.

Love a rock’n’roll love story? Need a little more glitter and glam in your life to go along with the romance? Pick up Baby’s On Fire by AF Henley and make this lovely indulgence your own.

Cover art by Raphael works but yes, I wanted a little more glitter. Go here for images of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust.

Sales Links: Less Than Three Press All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: May 6th 2015 by Less Than Three Press
original titleBaby’s on Fire
ISBN139781620045398
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Truth & Tenderness (Faith, Love, & Devotion #6) by Tere Michaels

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Newly promoted police captain Evan Cerelli takes command of his own precinct as Matt Haight’s security business begins to expand at a rapid rate. Both of their careers require more and more of their time—away from home and each other. When his most famous clients, Daisy and Bennett Ames, suffer a traumatic breakup, Matt is drawn into a dangerous and dramatic situation. With attentions diverted, Evan and Matt’s tight-knit home life begins to unravel.

As Griffin Drake’s movie nears final edit, his thoughts turn toward building a home with his new fiancé, Jim Shea—and maybe even starting a family. Before he can think of a new family, Jim is caught up in his past. The possibility of putting Tripp Ingersoll in jail once and for all beckons, and Jim wants the closure that has long eluded him. As a new lead spurs him on, Jim begins to lose sight of the future by chasing an old ghost.

Both couples struggle to remember that “happily ever after” requires hard work, trust, and tender, open hearts.

Truth and Tenderness by Tere Michaels brings the terrific Faith, Love & Devotion series to a heartwarming and totally satisfying close. After discovering the amazing characters Michaels introduced in Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #1), I soon became “obsessed” with these complicated men and their often tortuous path to love and HEA. What a tough path its been for all involved, and that includes the reader. It’s been a A Ticket Ride all the way to the end and I loved every word of it.

First there was New York City Vice Detective Evan Cerelli, a widower with a passel of kids. He’s the character I most often wanted to slap upside the head….over and over again. Evan has been one continual PITA in this series but I grew to love him mostly because Matt did. And his kids did…as well as his sister. Evan has lots of redeeming features that kept the readers involved in him, no matter that we often felt like giving him a boot to the rear. He quaffled, and quibbled and ran from a character we loved immediately. That was former Homicide Detective Matt Haight, a veritable Rubik’s Cube of emotions and doubt. Both men had shied away from the fact that they were attracted to men and to each other. Between Evan’s massive load of guilt over his treatment of the dead wife he loved (although not in the way she wanted), his kids and his wife’s parents, Evan’s journey to another relationship, let alone one with a man, was strewn with emotional land mines. Ones he stepped on time and again. Matt too came with enough baggage dragging behind him to outfit a trip to deepest Africa. He had problems with trying to solve his issues with alcohol, he got fired from the police department, a job he was made to do and loved. Plus he was a total womanizer in order to hide what he felt towards men. And it took books for these men to come together with any sort of equanimity or solidity. There was doubt and fights even through this last story. Man, love is hard for these two. But also, in Tere Michaels hands, rewarding, believable, and fierce. Through every hard won battle and advancements made, it seemed as though this pair then took as many steps backward. And the reader was dragged back and forth along with emotional journey, becoming even more committed to their happiness along the way.

And not only did these men need to find out how to make their relationship work with their strong personalities, they had Evan’s kids to contend with and fold into their relationship as well. That would be the twins, Danny and Elizabeth as well as the older girls, Katie and Miranda. How I loved that Katie! In fact, these kids acted and sounded…well, like kids..ones still trying to recover from the loss of their mother. Again this was handled so authentically by the author that you wept and laughed and loved all the interaction among this family as it enlarged to include Matt. Some kids loved Matt, others not so much seeing him as a replacement for their beloved mother. Sound familiar? Yep, it does. And because it does, the stories worked even better due to the recognizable rivalry and reality they reflected back at us.

But the couple that really, completely stole my heart? That would be Detective James “Jim” Shea, a Seattle cop, and Hollywood screenwriter Griffin Drake who met over a horrific homicide case, an investigation that runs the length of the series and is resolved finally here. Love & Loyalty (Faith, Love, & Devotion #2) was the book I went back to multiple times because this pairing was so hot, so gripping that I couldn’t get enough of them. They were an odd pair, on the surface, but underneath, Michaels showed us two men who fit together so well, that imagining them ever parting was heartbreaking. Jim Shea has so many layers to him, one of which was a somewhat cold exterior he shed only with a few close friends. Watching Griffin climb inside that barrier was such a joy of this story. Equally so was watching the impact Jim made on Griffin’s life.

Tere Michaels created something remarkable with this series. She brought these men, their lives, and struggle to make a difference and find love real and memorable. I was so invested in these stories I often lost track of the fact that they were characters on a page (or screen). I got angry over their actions (see Evan), I got frustrated when their relationship got stymied by their jobs (see all of them) and by their doubts and inability to communicate that caused them to stumble and fall repeatedly. But then I was also there to cheer when they got it together enough to pick themselves back up and try to make it all work one more time. How this series and the author put me and these marvelous characters through the wringer more times than I can count. I love/hated every minute of their relationship waltzes. How sorry I am that its finally over.

In Truth and Tenderness, all the pairings are looking fairly stable (at least for this group) when Jim decides he just can’t let go of the case that brought them all together. There is Daisy and Bennett, Shane and Helena, Miranda and boyfriend Kent, Evan and Matt, Jim and Griffin. While that may sound like a crowd, it’s not. It’s all one giant extended family. But the explosions are about to start, and they happen everywhere, small and humongous just as Evan is getting his captaincy. It’s the evil that is Tripp Ingersoil, the killer who got away with the murder of Carmen a teenage hooker, that is occupying Jim’s thoughts and time when they should be turned towards his new life with Griffin. This is the case that brought them together when Griffin made a screenplay out of the story. It also made Jim a close friend/surrogate son of Ed Kelly, Carmen’s dad, another reason he can’t let go of this case. Well, that and the killer walked.

If someone asked me to point out one reason why this series resonated with me so, I’m not sure I could do it. Yes, the dialog is snappy, believable and relevant in every aspect, from the “police speak” to the manner in which you talk intimately to someone you love. Their words and conversations come at you with all the force of the grittiness that life and living entails. It’s not always pretty, flowers and hearts. Sometimes its ugly, and painful and raw. It’s stubbornness and silence, slamming doors and phone calls not returned. Michaels gets that too about love and life and lays it all out here before us. It’s not just that the characterizations are multidimensional and real, its that these men and the people that support them breathe, emote, and scream with an energy and vividness that captures you in every scene and situation. Jim, Griffin, Evan, Matt and the rest work because we believe in them as well as their dynamics.

Same goes for the various plot threads and overall theme. Michaels carries them all logically and authentically to the satisfying climax, including several white knuckle action scenes and situations. Really, you know, we wouldn’t have been happy with less. These are police officers, detectives and killers so whatever happens need to reflect those professions, actions and accountability. And it does. Thank you, Tere Michaels, for that procedural attentiveness to detail as well.

Did I hate to see this end? You betcha. But was I happy with how it ended? Almost. Of course, it’s Evan and Matt who leave with that little bit of snarkiness you have come to expect from them. I left them all 99.9 percent happy and that works for me. It will for you too. But if you are new to these men and their Rube Goldberg path to love and HEA, please run dont’ walk back to the first story and see how it (and they) all begin. I have listed the stories below, use it as a list to check them all off. And let me know which story was your favorite as you now know mine.

I highly recommend Truth & Tenderness and the entire Faith, Love, & Devotion series by Tere Michaels. This book and this series will be on my Best of 2015 list. Read them and find out why they should be on yours.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson. I don’t think I would be happy with any cover here because of all the elements I would want to see. I thought it was ok but wanted so much more. Probably not fair to the artist.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: May 1st 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632167118
edition languageEnglish
seriesFaith, Love, & Devotion #6
charactersMatt Haight, Evan Cerelli, Jim Shea, Griffin Drake

Faith, Love & Devotion Series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, relationships and plot threads:

Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #1)
Love & Loyalty (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #2)
Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #3)
Cherish (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #4)
Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #4 & #5)
Truth & Tenderness (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #6)

A MelanieM Review: Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love, & Devotion #4&5) by Tere Michaels

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Faith, Love, & Devotion: Books Four & Book Five

Cherished

After several years of happy coupledom, Matt and Evan can relax in the knowledge that their little family has survived the worst of it. The two older girls are away at college, the twins have yet to fully hit teen angst, Matt is doing well with his part time security consulting, and Evan is about to be promoted to captain—it seems like things are calm and bright.

Until they aren’t.

As the holidays approach, Evan and Matt get a shock no parent is ever prepared for: feisty Miranda, Evan’s eldest, has a new boyfriend, Kent, and they are talking marriage after just three months together. In fact, Miranda wants to bring him to Thanksgiving dinner—along with his parents, Blake and Cornelia.

Blessed

Lives are in transition as everyone gathers at the stunning Hamptons beach home of Daisy and Bennett to celebrate the christening of their new baby. Griffin and Jim—secretly growing tired of their rootless lifestyle—are in a rocky spot in their relationship. And as the godfather, Griffin finds himself yearning for something he’s sure Jim won’t be interested in.

Fatherhood.

Matt and Evan are looking to reconnect during the long weekend, as their respective careers pull them in separate directions. With less time spent together, Evan grows concerned about what will happen when the last two kids leave the nest.

1st Edition of Cherish published as an eBook by Loose Id LLC, November 2012.

This is the fourth and fifth book combined in the Faith, Love & Devotion series by Tere Michaels and it is a series close to my heart. We first met Matt and Evan in the first book Faith & Fidelity, at the angst ridden beginnings of their relationship. Then Evan was mourning the loss of his beloved wife and first and only person he has ever slept with. In addition to his grief, he was trying to do his job as a police officer and fill in the void for his four kids left behind when his wife died. Evan is full of pain, grief and overburdened by stress and doubts about his ability to be a good father and step up to the plate. Matt is a complete mess when the reader and Evan first encounter him. Forced to resign from the police force he loves over behavior issues, he has become a bitter, disillusioned drunk, getting by as a security cop and on anonymous sex with women. But a conversation in a bar and the exchange of personal confidences leads to an unlikely friendship that eventually turns into a shattering love affair that forces each man to rethink his sexuality and their acceptance of the fact that they love each other. It is a tough road for Evan and Matt, especially Evan, who has the reactions of his children, former inlaws and police force to think about.

One of the things I cherish about this series is that Tere Michaels lets us in on the emotional fallout and oscillating feelings, including bouts of denial, that come with identity earthquakes. By that I mean the paradigm shifts that occur within a person when the most basic self knowledge is proven wrong. And being gay or bisexual is a major shift for them both. The author lets their relationship play out, not over one book but four stories, including this one. The Evan/Matt relationship here is the strongest it has ever been (and that’s saying something) but even here it has its shaky moments, most of which come from the stress brought on by Miranda. Let me tell you, there are many times that I am as frustrated with Miranda as everyone else in her family. I don’t like her behavior, I can’t think of too many people who would. But it is realistic? Yes, I think so. And while we all would wish that Evan get a grip when dealing with her, those of us who have been in his shoes will also understand his reluctance. But does that sound like I think of them as characters? No it does not. And that’s the beauty of these stories and these amazing characters, they might make you gnash your teeth and pull some hair, but they are never anything less than believable.

Michaels also takes into account how much alike fathers and their daughters can be as Evan and Miranda’s behavior is often a reflection of each other. Matt too has aged and grown into his role as caregiver/second father to at least 3 of the kids, and his growth is as realistic and wry as can be. Tere Michaels has a wonderful grip on relationship dynamics, not only between romantic partners but familial relationships too. Siblings squabbles, family arguments, and the small joys of an established bond are all found here in this latest addition to the series.

Cherish takes place over Thanksgiving and includes the family of Miranda’s boyfriend, which adds that unknown element so often present at Thanksgiving when multiple family groups, including strangers, are brought together and forced to engage each other on the most intimate of American celebrations, the Thanksgiving dinner. Expectations are perhaps unreasonably high for what we think this holiday with its traditions of being grateful and giving thanks will bring. And that stress alone has blown up more turkeys than any fryer on the market. I will tell you that all ends well, at least temporarily for this wonderful family I have become so fond of.

Then comes Blessed and the tribe, at least part of it, is gathering together again…this time for Shane and Helena’s wedding. It’s stressful, funny, and wry look at relationships formed when older. But Shane and Helena’s marriage is making the others ask Matt and Evan when they will get married and once again the ground under them starts to shake. I loved this section because I adore the secondary characters Michaels created as a support system for the main couples.

Missing from the wedding? Jim and Griffin who are on their way to Albany where Griffin’s dad has had a heart attack. Griffin is a mess, Jim is being his rock and uncertainty is in the air. and then later at the Drake household where Griffin’s father has had a heartattack. And instead of the word blessed, I often thought of substituting the word blessed as in “There isn’t a blessed thing you can do about it!” Add a damnit or two as well. Because things are still shaky here underneath a calm exterior for a number of our favorite couples. Once again, Michaels has chosen to be into the raw and gritty of the relationship dynamics instead of the “hearts and flowers”. The author grounds us into the sometimes painful reality of the uncertainty, statsis and silence of non communication that can descend on the most loving of couples. And it plays out here for Matt and Evan, Jim and Griffin, and Daisy and Bennett. One happy moment in one of the couple’s relationship leaves an elephant of a subject matter in another pairing, a big relationship topic that the men are afraid to bring up. Why? Because doing so will take some deep introspection into their past lives and present emotional status. That’s always a scary prospect no matter how wealthy or experienced you may be and it sets the stage beautifully for the next book to come up.

Blessed is more a series of relationship vinaigrettes than a complete story. It skips from one situation and time line to the next. From the birth of Daisy and Bennett’s baby to their house in the Hamptons, with each scene portraying a moment or two in each couple’s growth in their relationship. I loved each segment, as it provides needed momentum and respite from the uncertainty and doubt that comes with most of the other stories. However, its Tere Michaels at the pen and however happy the couples appear, the cracks and fissures are starting to appear that will cause the foundations to shake for all of them in Truth and Tenderness, the 6th and final story in the series.

Truthfully, I can’t get enough of all of the couples and their combined stories. Sometimes their actions anger or frustrate, or give cause for hope and joy, or something realistically in between. Love and relationships take work. That’s a truth that should be painted at every wedding chapel or city hall. Fairy tales last but a moment and then real life sets in. That’s what Tere Michaels excels at giving us….couples we love living their lives realistically and authentically as possible. Yes, there are crimes committed, ones that get you locked up and others against the heart. Michaels charts them all and lays them out in this amazing series of novels.

I highly recommend them all and find myself eagerly awaiting the final installment. I’ll meet you there.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson. I find all these covers a little bland and nondescript. Nothing to separate this story from anyone else’s. Too bad.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 200 pages
Published February 13th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN139781634761994
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
seriesFaith, Love, & Devotion #4&5

Here are the books in the series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the history and couples involved:

Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #1)
Love & Loyalty (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #2)
Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #3)
Cherish (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #4)
Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love, & Devotion #4 & 5)
Truth & Tenderness (Faith, Love, & Devotion #6) series finale

A MelanieM Review: The Line by Angel Martinez

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5:

Rafael Schiller, vampire and sexual god without peer, believes himself the top of the food chain, until a bizarre creature feeding in an alley scares the deathless hell out of him.

Rafael Schiller’s had a long road and he’s forgotten the meaning of several human words along the way. Commitment? Relationship? Love, for all the gods’ sakes? What does a vampire need those for? He’s completely content treating his long string of one-off lovers as midnight snacks. He makes it good for them and has no reason for guilt or grief. Some nights still induce an odd, hollow ache, but he can just drown it in the next conquest. Master of his universe, he lives without a care…until he encounters a bizarre creature feeding in an alley.

It’s caught his scent, and now that it’s hunting him, Rafael remembers a word from his childhood. Krsnik—the hunters, the monsters who feed on the blood of vampires. He could run, but he’d be running forever, and that would sure as hell take the fun out of life. Time to figure out what the creature really is, what can defeat it, and why he feels so drawn to it.

The Line by Angel Martinez is another terrific story from this “auto read” fantasy author. The Line takes the typical vampire character, normally an apex predator when they aren’t sparkling, and gives him an adversary, the Krsnik, worthy of such formidable being. Furthermore, Martinez doesn’t just give us a remarkably scary hunter in the Krsnik, no, she gives us the haunting backstory as to how this creature came into being. By giving us those extra layers, Martinez’ The Line and her characters steps outside the ordinary “supernatural” narrative into something quite wonderful and unexpected.

Talk about a duo meant for each other in every way but romantic. At least at first. Rafael, is a vampire whose years of existence has taught him that killing his “food’ is unnecessary. Instead he leaves his “young men” sexually sated and happy when he is done and on his way out the door. It’s a lonely existence but Rafael has made his peace with it. Then a new predator appears in his town and Rafael decides to track it down and dispatch it. Only this predator feeds on vampires and is more powerful and just as cunning as Rafael. Now the hunter is the hunted, Rafael’s position at the top of the food chain is gone and his continued existence in doubt. It’s a lovely turn of events and the author wrings every bit of angst, suspense and shock out of this element.

Lan the Krsnik is remarkable as the predator of predators. He’s a truly fearsome creature. But he is also as layered a being as Raphael. I won’t spoil the surprises that come with his character but they brought to mind a quote I recently read that said when creating villains/dark characters, a good way to make them real is to give them vulnerabilities, a way for the reader to also understand and sympathize with them*. Angel Martinez has certainly done that here with Lan. Together Lan and Rafael become this dance of hunter and hunted that I never wanted to end. I loved every bit of it, including those instances where humor surfaces to ease the tension…for just a moment before it all gets deadly again.

I rarely find that I am happy with the length of any Angel Martinez tale because she provides such interesting back histories and world building to her stories that she often poses as many questions in her narrative as she supplies answers. At the end of each story I am always left wanting to know more….about everything. And yes, that happens here as well. Forty five pages? I could use two hundred and still be curious about small bits of history and back story that she teased us with throughout the tale. The only jarring element was the inclusion of the Johnny Cash song, The Line. I know it was included because this story was initially published as part of Totally Bound’s 50’s Mixed Tape Anthology but it could have been easily eliminated here, at least to my way of thinking.

Do you love tales of the supernatural? Are vampires in lust and love your thing as they are mine? Or you are just a fan of Angel Martinez as I am…in all case, pick up The Line by Angel Martinez. It’s a vampire tale you won’t want to miss and one I highly recommend.

*Can’t remember who made this remark at the moment. I will give them credit when my memory starts working again.

Cover Art by Pamela Sinclair. I have to say I am tired of seeing that one model everywhere. You know, the blond one. He’s an elf usually, or an angel. No matter, what he’s emphatically noticed for is being overused. Sigh. Surely, there is another stock model who could be substituted in his place?

Sales Links: Totally Bound Books All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 45 pages
Published December 20th 2013 by Totally Bound
previously published as part of the 50’s Mixed Tape Anthology
ISBN 1781849145 (ISBN13: 9781781849149)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttps://www.totallybound.com

A MelanieM Review: Dead Blind: Jack of Spades #2 (PF 2015: Altered States) by Lee Brazil

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

In the two months since Dr. Sabine Brusilov and his ghostly lover Bart discovered the curious brass circlet while investigating a haunting in an apartment building, Sabine focused on recovering from his accident. Now, his health restored, his mind returns to the mystery of the circlet. Even a commission to appear on a television show can’t distract him from its allure.

After nearly two centuries of resistance, it takes an exorcism for Bart to come to terms with being a ghost…and learning that everything in the other realm isn’t quite the way he had figured. As he grows more comfortable in the spirit plane, his abilities on the earthly plane evolve. Even though he feels the circlet’s evil, he can’t help but connect his growing strength with it.

Life and death are two sides of the same coin, but the circlet blurs lines for both man and ghost.

In Dead Blind (Jack of Spades #2), Lee Brazil takes his plot and gives it a dark, maze-like quality that adds another level of trepidation and suspense to a tale already overflowing with it. For me, this story is where I start to connect with Sabine whose personality and cavalier treatment of Bart sort of pushed me away in the first installment.

With an evil circlet in his possession, Sabine’s control over his emotions, thoughts and actions become compromised. And it’s his struggle to remain himself that really draws the reader onto his side and let’s us empathize with this complicated man. Bart too is growing in substance…literally. While the reasons he is becoming stronger are still somewhat nebulous, the fact that Bart abilities have grown now allow him to have avenues for his thoughts and emotions not possible before. He can travel and move things, for good or bad. But it’s his growing concern for Sabine that pulls us into their relationship and gives us a better feel for their couple dynamics which is undergoing drastic changes even as they are.

But back to that evil circlet. Lee Brazil does a fabulous job of bringing that object’s menace to life on the page. Through the vivid imagery of Brazil’s descriptions, t he circlet emanates such malevolence, that the dreams and actions it’s pulling out of Sabine will bring chills as you read. Yes, this story is getting marvelously darker, more convoluted and scary. And I couldn’t be happier.

If you love your romance stories with a touch of horror, if you listen for those things that go bump in the night, than this installment has just the right amount of shivers to make you downright gleeful. But be warned, none of these are stand alone stories. They must be read in the order they were written and often contain cliffhangers just as serialized stories should.

But don’t take my word for it. Pick them all up and get started today. Each is a truly delicious morsel of romance and fear, addicting and downright delectable. Happy Reading.

Cover art by Laura Harner. I like the overall design but am still missing a supernatural element. It just seems too light and fluffy for the content.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 54 pages
Published April 14th 2015 by Lime Time Press
ASINB00W5HNFYE
edition languageEnglish\

About Pulp Friction 2015
Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.
Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.
Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:

Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil

A MelanieM Review: Chance at Trust (Chance at Life Trilogy, #1) by Havan Fellows

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5:

The strength to walk away from an abusive long-term relationship proves Em is a survivor. But surviving isn’t necessarily living, and Em has created a life on a plateau of his own making, not even entertaining the idea of a new boyfriend. When he shows interest in a very sexy barista, his best friend sees a chance to open Em’s eyes to the possibilities in life.

Penn couldn’t help his double and triple take when the sexy man walked into his mother’s coffee shop. Priding himself on always remaining calm and collected in all situations, Penn is surprised by the strength of his attraction for this stranger. When the stranger’s loud-mouthed friend proposes a way for Penn to see Em again, he takes it.

While Em comes with baggage—his eyes tell a story of pain and distrust—Penn isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, especially when his heart is so quickly getting tied up in the equation, and he’s prepared to break through Em’s walls and give him a chance to trust.

Chance at Trust, the first story in a trilogy by Havan Fellows, starts with an introduction to Embry, Em, a character whose background of abuse and present state of emotions becomes the pivotal point on how readers will react to this story. Em has left, with the help of his closest friend Joss, a deeply abusive relationship. The abuse was not physical but inflicted verbally with deep, vicious impact continually throughout that relationship. It was controlling, belittling, and it tore away Em’s feelings of self worth and confidence over a long period of time. Unable to leave on his own power, it took his best friend pulling him from the apartment before he could get out. Not a good sign by any means but definitely a realistic element.

When you start with a shattered man and introduce a relationship, that is often a problematic feature and I will admit, it was with me too. I constantly wanted to see Em back with a worthwhile therapist working out his issues and trauma rather than seeing him stepping into a new relationship with all his wounds still open. That said, Penn is such a lovely character, one defined by his gentle awareness and positive attitude that I pushed my concerns towards the back of my mind when reading the story…most of the time.

Joss, Em’s best friend, is that force of nature, whose dynamic personality pushes until the desired results are achieved. I liked Joss as a character, goodness knows I have met people just like him in my life but combined with a friend still in recovery over a man who abused him, I did wonder at a friend who sort of acted to control events in Em’s life, albeit for totally different reasons. This didn’t spoil the story for me but stuck, poking at me, in the back of my mind as I read along. Would it bother you in the same way? Not sure.

Penn, a barista, treats the idea of a relationship with Em with all the serious consideration it deserves. He (and the author) recognize that Em is in recovery and that it will take time and a gentle approach to get him to trust again. I loved that aspect of this story. Penn is a layered character whose personality will pull you into the story if Em’s wounded nature pushes you away. And together they represent the possibility of a wonderful future if they can maneuver through all the obstacles, emotional and otherwise, in their path. I loved that tone of the story too.

Chance at Trust has no resolution, which as it should be since its the first in the trilogy. Much of the story and growth for the characters is still to come. Perhaps that’s why I wish the author had waited a little longer for the sexual aspect of this story to heat up. It just seemed a little fast to me given Em’s past and mental state. And Penn’s recognition of the same.

It was these quibbles that brought the rating below 4 stars and the remaining stories when read as a whole could bring it up again. Either way I can’t wait to see what is in store for Penn and Em (and Joss). I will be waiting for the rest of the Trilogy to arrive.

Are wounded characters a pull for you? Especially those with a chance for happiness and love before them? Pick up Chance at Trust now or wait until the trilogy is finished, and see if romance and love gives Em another chance at happiness.

Cover art by Laura Harner. Not a favorite Harner cover. I felt it could have been a little more dynamic, less elements to crowd the cover design.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 60 pages
Published April 6th 2015 by Appleton Publishing Avenue
ASINB00VS2ZD0G
edition language English

A MelanieM Review: Diamonds & Dust: Ace of Diamonds One by Laura Harner

(PF 2015: Altered States Book 4)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

After the traumatic events that left Jamal ‘Jet’ Gorman’s the de facto Alpha of his pack, the time has come for Jet to take up the responsibilities and problems of a job he never wanted or thought would be his. There are rumblings of others who would fight him to the death for the position, and others maneuvering behind the scenes to make sure that Jet’s time as Alpha is a short one. Jet isn’t certain that’s not a fitting way to exit this world…even if it puts the werewolves he’s sworn to protect in the hands of a ruthless killer. A trip to the bayou with the ancient and enigmatic new vampire in town changes everything—in ways Jet would never have predicted. Now his new mission is safeguarding his late partner’s secret.

Nicolino Sanzio da Urbino—Nico to his friends, if he had any—has been undead for centuries, and given the betrayals in his own past, it shouldn’t surprise him the depths some will go to in order to seize a power to which they have no claim. After leaving his position with the Vampire Council behind, Nico’s new job with the Odd Squad provides more flexibility and challenges. It also comes with a lot more latitude when meting out justice, so when he discovers a plot to rid the local pack of their second Alpha in as many months, Nico decides it’s time to go hunting. That is until he meets Jet and everything gets…personal.

With hearts as hard as diamonds, neither man is seeking the odd connection that seems to flow between them—but the winds of change blowing through the Crescent City seem to have everyone on edge—and not all challenges are as simple as they seem. With more and more monsters coming out of the closet, only time will tell if these two survive long enough to play the hand they’ve been dealt—before they become dust in the wind.

I know, I know, I say this with each story, but Diamonds & Dust by Laura Harner may be my favorite. At least until the 2nd books in the next round pop up. I love Jet and the events that have already occurred at the beginning of this story shocked me! No way did I see that coming. And it left me a little heartbroken over Jet’s loss.

Then I met Nico. Heartbreak gone.

In fact I couldn’t even remember that much about Russ (Russ, right?) because Nico’s first, second, and third impressions are strong, charismatic, and absolutely addicting. He is everything that Jet (and the reader) needs. And the same holds true for Nico. Jet is that one being he has been waiting for. They are each other’s yin to the yang, the magnets that cling instead of repel. Their push me/pull you meeting and beginnings of a relationship hooked me in throughly. And when that is framed by a storyline full of vicious assaults, deep plotting by everyone around, evil doers on the loose, and tons of hot sex, well, you have the setup for a memorable and yes, haunting series.

Harner’s writing style is concise, her prose tight and expressive, and the storyline is propelled along at break neck speed. You will want to slow it down to savor certain lines or situations but the cast and plot won’t let you tarry. It hurls you along until you reach the….argh….cliffhanger. Yes, yet another ending that leaves you hanging. But that’s what serialized stories do best. Leave you hanging and wanting more.

This Pulp Friction series, PF 2015 Altered States, is “guaraunteeeed” (try saying it in the late Justin Wilson’s voice) to make you a little crazy. No one is safe, lots of people are going to die (and just maybe come back), with plots that are as hard to tie down as a will o the wisp! And I love every word and exclamation point of it. These stories are as addicting and satisfying as a New Orleans beignet!

But don’t take my word for it. This is the end of the first round of stories. Get in on the beginning. It really doesn’t matter which series you start with. Diamonds & Dust: Ace of Diamonds One by Laura Harner is a terrific place to start. Or go back even further to the Altered States series written by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb, that sets out the universe for the characters and events that happen here. Do that for a wildly scary and fantastic ride into the supernatural and beyond. One of my highly recommended reads!

Cover art by Laura Harner. Loving this group of covers, including this one.

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

Book Details:

ebook
Published April 1st 2015 by Smashwords Edition (first published March 31st 2015)
ISBN13 9781941841082

About Pulp Friction 2015
Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Round Two:

Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil

A MelanieM Review: Theory Unproven by Lillian Francis

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Working with elephants in their natural habitat has always been Eric Phillips dream. Getting what he’s always desired introduces him to Tyaan Bouwer, the bush pilot that flies in his supplies, and Eric discovers the allure of South Africa goes beyond the wildlife and the scenery.

But in an area where bushveld prejudices and hatred bleed across the borders, realising their love will be a hard fought battle. Keeping hold of it might just kill them.

* * * * *

An unexpected job offer finds zoologist Eric Phillips transported from the elephant house at a zoo just outside London to the wildlife reserves in the South African bushveld. Being able to work with his own herd of elephants, and analysing their behaviour, more than makes up for the remote nature of the research station. The one bright spot on the horizon, quite literally if the sun hits it at the right angle, is the silver freight plane that brings his supplies and half an hour in the company of Tyaan, the gorgeous but taciturn pilot.

With wide open spaces and clear skies, Tyaan Bouwer is never be happier than when he’s flying over the bushveld, the landscape beneath him a changing vista of colour and texture. It’s that view and the freedom to be able to climb in his plane and fly that’s kept him in the small town where he was born and raised. South Africa might be a rainbow nation but in the northern regions where neighbouring countries are far from liberal minded, prejudices and hatred bleed across the borders. Tyaan’s not in the closet, not really. Get him to the city and with his strong, silent routine he can pull a guy without even trying. He’s fine with that as long as they don’t press him into trying to see them again. It’s not like he wants a relationship. And just maybe when he gets home he’s hovering in the doorway of that closet, but he’s never met anyone worth taking the risk for.

The day he’s sent to Limpopo to collect Eric that all changes. He tries to bury the feelings of want that Eric conjures in him, but he can’t resist the bonds of friendship that forms between them.

As a zoologist Eric likes to think that he’s adept at anticipating how a creature will react in any given situation, and they don’t come any more beautiful and skittish than Tyaan. Despite Tyaan’s jittery behaviour Eric has a theory they could be good together but when things go catastrophically wrong it appears their relationship will remain a theory unproven.

Theory Unproven by Lillian Francis was a book I enjoyed on multiple levels. It was the first novel I had read by this author and now I have a author with a new library to explore. Love when that happens. Secondly, as a park naturalist, this book with its location set in a elephant research sanctuary in Africa really resonated with me. With a zoologist, Eric Phillips, as one half of the main couple, I loved the realistic way his life and work with the elephants was portrayed. Dirty, all consuming, and soul satisfying…the readers understands through the many passages what it must be like to have that deep connection with another species. Whether Eric is combing through scat (that’s poop) or setting a series of problems for the elephants to work through, it all comes across beautifully and authentically. It also serves to make the reserve, and the elephants come alive, so much so that they become necessary to the main characters and the plot, and not just act as props for the storyline. And the elephants! They rank high among my favorite characters here. I have to admit this element of the story is the most successful for me.

For such a vast landscape in setting and plot, there is really only a small cast of characters involved here. Outside of Eric and Tyaan, we have a flying doctor, Jessie, Benedict Brooke’s (assistant to Mr. Cowdry, Mr. Cowdry CEO of The Foundation), all of which feel fleshed out and believable. Jessie is a cornerstone here. A strong woman, she is never the less the “beard” for Tyaan in town where his “gayness” is not only frowned on but poses a direct threat.Benedict and Mr. Cowdry’s personalities are developed through a series of telephone/Skype conversations that does a great job of making these men and their dysfunctional relationship intriguing and real. All good characters, all people the reader will want to spend time with.

What is problematic here? The native peoples themselves. Only marginally represented first by Akibo, a manager and Eric’s first contact at The Foundation, then by the cook/housekeeper Sethunya (a veritable wisp of a character) and the worker Masumba, you never really get a feel for the people, their tribes or their background. Their appearances are brief, and lacking in context. Their characters are pencil sketches at best, and,especially in Masumba’s case, that lack of background and solidity hurts both the story and resolution at the end.

Tyaan is a character that will draw conflicted feelings among the readers. I thought his was a character grounded in the reality of the changing times in South Africa where you can be legally out yet being gay can also get you hung or worse in neighboring countries and in the conservative bush lands where the local mentality is as rigid and inflexible as the past societies has made it. Fear and past history has made him limit his relationships to one night stands in the anonymous city landscape and it has kept him in the closet at home where he works and lives. Got it, you understand him even if you don’t like his actions, it makes him human.

But its that “realness” that will make Eric’s naivete less believable. Surely, Eric will have done more than a cursory research job when looking at the area and his outwardly gay status. Assuming he would have no problems being an “out gay” white man in the wilds of a reserve on a nation that just accepted being homosexual as legal, would be like thinking you could act in a small rural, conservative town in (fill in the blank area) like you would in New York City. Uh, no. And while I have known quite a few “been in the woods too long” researchers, few of them would display that set of blinders that looms so large on Eric.

But most of those thoughts came after I had finished the story and had time to think about it. While I was reading it, I was hooked on the elephants, Eric and Tyaan’s attraction for each other and strained journey towards a relationship. This is a long book yet most of the time I spent reading it flew by. And I could easily book a flight back to this universe. I would love to know more about Mr. Cowdry and Benedict’s convoluted relationship and surely there are more bumps on the relationship road for Tyaan and Eric. A return trip would be more than welcome.

I vacillated on the rating here. I wanted to go higher for the location, setting, elephants and research. And lower for the context and native characters. So I settled for a 4 star rating which I’m not entirely happy with…because this story is so lush, so vibrant in feeling and scope that I am still so very much in love with Theory Unproven weeks later.

I recommend this story for all who love romance, foreign lands and a landscape of adventure where the search for love can be rough, affectionate, and hard won. Pick it up today and decide for yourself.

Cover art by Meredith Russell. I feel the same way about the cover that I do about the story. Love/dislike the cover. The models work/don’t work for the characters within. See? Just not sure. Love the background though.

Sales Links: Love Lane Books uk All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 327 pages
Published February 20th 2015 by Love Lane Books

Limited (first published January 30th 2015)

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