Tag: An Alisa Recommended Story

An Alisa Review: Captive Hearts (Deviant Hearts #1) by A E Ryecart

Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

“Too young, too blond, too skinny. Billy Grace was everything my head told me I didn’t want. Too bad my heart had other ideas.”

When Dashiell Slater uses his fists to stop a vicious assault, the last thing he expects is to be offered a job as reward for being a Good Samaritan. Out of work and short of cash, all he has to do is chauffeur Billy around. It’s easy money so saying yes should be a no-brainer. And if the offer’s not quite legal, so what? Dashiell’s smart and savvy, and knows how the world works. But there are strings attached, and Dashiell doesn’t want to get entangled. He’s ready to say no and walk away – until he sees the fear, despair and fathomless sadness in Billy’s jade-green eyes.

“He was everything I wanted, but couldn’t have. What was the use in dreaming when I was already bought and paid for, the property of another man?”

Billy’s life is a daily round of fear and abuse. One wrong word or one wrong look can mean a beating, or worse. Dashiell’s everything Billy’s heart craves – a man who’ll love and protect him, who’ll keep him safe and catch him when he falls. But Billy can’t have what he yearns for, because to give in to his heart means breaking a promise he’s vowed to keep at all costs.

A soul-searing kiss, a whispered promise, and the chance of a future together is there for the taking. But life is never that simple and danger surrounds them at every turn. Imprisoned by devotion, duty and obligation, Billy’s heart is captive, but can falling for Dashiell finally set it free?

It took me a little bit but once this story got going I didn’t want to put it down.  Billy has pretty much been living in hell the last two years.  Dashiell gives him the opportunity to hope for more while Dashiell’s heart breaks every time he has to bring him back home.

I felt for Billy and the predicament he ended up in, wanting to keep the care for his grandma going while he is essentially being beaten and raped for that.  While Billy has become a little jaded he still seemed quite innocent on how the world works.

I loved Dashiell’s determination to get Billy out of the situation he was in and for them to make a life together.  These two had chemistry from the beginning and did pretty well with keeping it toned down but the more time they seemed to spend together the more trouble they had doing that.  I loved to see that they were able to build a life outside of all that happened and continue on, I just wish we would have known if Dashiell were able to keep in touch with his existing friends as at least Andy seemed important to him.  I look forward to reading more in this series.

I like the cover art love the picture of Dashiell.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 210 pages

Published: February 23, 2018 by AE Ryecart

Edition Language: English

Series: Deviant Hearts #1

An Alisa Review: Just Here For The Pain (Underdogs #2) by KA Merikan

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

—. Whips and chains – not optional .—

Sid. Drummer for The Underdogs. Secretly yearning for pain and submission.
Asher. AKA Stan. Stalker. More than meets the eye.

It’s hard to find good hookups while on tour. Sid wants pain, humiliation, and the kind of sex that isn’t easy to get from one-night stands. So for now, he’s given up, settled for an online Dom to get his rocks off, and focused on his band instead. The Underdogs are getting increasingly popular, but there is one fan who has followed Sid since before he even joined the band, and he’s driving Sid mad! Rich, spoiled hipster brat looking for the bad boy experience. If he knew what Sid was really into, he would run for the hills.

Asher is convinced that Sid is The One, his One True Love, his endgame. Years ago, Asher lost his virginity to Sid, and from that moment on, he knew it was meant to be. They had a spark, that honest connection that couldn’t be faked. The members of Sid’s band call him a stalker, but all he wants is to offer Sid his love. When Sid finally chokes out what he wants, Asher is more than ready to unleash it on him.

But the last time Sid was out as gay and submissive, he got badly burnt when his former band kicked him out, and the doors to many opportunities slammed in his face.

Asher wants the whole world to know that he’s dating Sid. Problem is, Sid would much rather keep the relationship as pain-with-benefits.

Sid and Asher have been dancing around each other for years, since their one weekend together.  Sid assumes that Asher could never be what he needs while Asher assumes Sid wants romance, they quickly learn otherwise and find that they may be perfect for each other.

Once Sid slips his needs Asher quickly shows him that it’s right up his alley.  But Asher needs someone to support and love him in return and giving his all without that isn’t helping.

These two characters have been so alone for so long and no one around them even knew it.  I felt Sid’s pain and fear when they needed to rescue his sister and how he must have felt as a teenager on his own.  Asher seems so put together but hasn’t had the love and support of a family since his past away years ago and he has never let Sid see that side of him.  Once again a simple discussion may have helped but then they wouldn’t have had the opportunity for the grand gesture.  I am loving these guys and I can’t wait for Dawn and Mage’s story.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is great.  I love the picture of Asher and Sid.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages

Published: February 4, 2018 by K.A. Merikan

Edition Language: English

Series: The Underdogs #2

An Alisa Review: Ghost Wolf by Hurri Cosmo

Rating:  4.25 stars out of 5

 

Hi, my name is Trevor. I’m a wolf shifter.

 

I say that like I know what I’m talking about. I don’t. I was simply running off a ton of steam one day when I was around eleven and bam! Okay, not quite that easy or fast but it happened when I was young and stupid. I’m also gay. I say that like I know what I’m talking about with that too. I simply don’t.

 

I’m grown up now and living in the big city which has me too busy to much care about either one of those things. I get out and run my wolf when I can, trying like hell to stay out of the local pack’s territories. Belonging to a “family” just sounds like too much work, and honestly I don’t have time for such things. Besides, I was told when I was young the color of my wolf was all wrong. Too silver…or something. Metallic. I kinda thought it looked cool in the full moon. “Pack Alpha would kill ya soon as look at ya.” My grandpa used to say. Course he wasn’t my real grandpa. Just an old man who lived down the street, but he was a shifter too and I thought he knew it all. He probably knew diddly either, but a guy can’t be too careful. And romance? Way off the radar.

 

Only now someone has started killing wolves. Started leaving broken bodies lined up in a nice little row next to the high school in my home town and it’s got me to thinking. If a shifter is killed in his or her wolf state, do they stay that way? Were these dead wolves like me? The hell of it all is this: being a shifter isn’t common knowledge. It bothers me enough that now I want to find out more. See if there’s anything I can do. Kind of like a super hero.

 

Oh yeah. Probably forgot to tell you this too. I can turn invisible.

 

Yep, Ghost Wolf to the rescue.

 

I was so excited to see a new story from Hurri Cosmo and it was as great as I anticipated.  Trevor has been keeping so many secrets since he discovered he was a wolf shifter and his grandpa’s words keep him cautious.  Ryan quickly throws his world into a tailspin but not in a completely bad way.

 

Trevor never actually learned much about being a shifter or a part of shifter society.  He is quickly thrown into the politics of it.  Ryan is devoted to Trevor from the beginning and is willing to wait as long as Trevor needed him to.

 

We saw the story from Trevor’s point of view.  It was easy to see his confusion and fear when he first really met Ryan and how to navigate their relationship.  I loved the mpreg that was thrown into the story and it’s one of my favorite themes.

 

The cover art by E Keith is wonderful and I think it’s perfect for this story.

 

Sales Links: Painted Hearts Publishing | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 390 pages

Publication: January 17, 2018 by Painted Hearts Publishing

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review: Camp Lake Omega by Penelope Peters

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Jim Smith isn’t your average omega.

 

My first alpha died after we’d been bonded for a week – since then, I’ve been living a quiet life sequestered in my parents’ house. Now I’ve got one last summer of freedom working as a camp counselor at Camp Lake Omega before they force me to settle down and find a mate. I’m going to wring every drop of fun from this summer that I can, no matter how bad of an idea he – I mean, it is!

 

Zachary Ito isn’t your average alpha.

 

I watched my father screw up one relationship after another. No way am I going to let myself fall under the influence of omega pheromones like he did. I’ve devoted my life to running Camp Alpha-by-the-Lake, hoping to teach young alphas how to respect and protect omegas instead of seeking to control and overpower them. There’s no room for fun in my life, no matter how intriguing he – I mean, it is!

 

But one chance encounter at the beginning of the summer…

 

…And neither Zachary nor Jim can get the other out of their heads – or out of their beds! When Jim’s biology puts not only himself but another counselor in danger – will Zachary be there to help him to safety?

 

I am a sucker for Alpha/Omega stories of all different genres and I really enjoyed this one.  Jim has pretty much been left in limbo because his first alpha dies and not one really knows what to do with him.  Zachary is determined to not get attached to any omega because he doesn’t want to feel like a slave to his hormones.

 

I love that Zachary becomes attracted to Jim before he realizes he is an omega due to some strange omega scent stuff but that he is still willing to see Jim when he finds out if quite telling as to how he is feeling.  When Jim goes into heat Zachary has to decide what it is he really wants to be happy.  We see both of these characters’ points of view which gives great insights to their thoughts and feelings.  I got frustrated with Zachary when he makes assumptions and hurts Jim and even worse sends him running to hide.  I loved seeing that they were able to build a solid relationship that lasts years later with their adorable family.

 

The cover art by Amourisa Designs gives nice visuals of Jim and Zach.

 

Sales Link: Amazon

 

Book Details:

ebook, 134 pages

Publication: July 18, 2017

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review :Desires of the Deep (College of United Monsters Book 1) by C.B. Archer

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

What happens when you enroll in a monster college and end up stuck in underwater classes? Butt stuff. Butt stuff happens.

The once elitist College of United Monsters (C.U.M.) has recently fallen on hard times. In order to stay afloat it has been forced to allow humans to register. Humans, in a monster school? Ridiculous! Also, monsters are real and that was probably a bigger shock to the world than one school of them allowing humans to enroll.

Cliff Waters is a ridiculous human. Mistakenly assigned to the Underwater Wing of the college, Cliff has more problems than the average student—sudden surges in popularity, sudden urges in the sexy monster student body, and being forced to hold his breath for hours at a time to attend class. Will Cliff be able to survive in the Underwater Wing of the toughest college around where everyone wants to taste a sweet piece of him?

Honestly, it serves him right for having a punny name…and attending monster college.

This was a fun read.  Cliff is literally thrown in the deep end when he tries to get to his first class at C.U.M.  At first he loves the attention but it wears thin fast.

I am one that generally enjoys tentacles in my stories and this one delivered which I wasn’t expecting as the description doesn’t say anything about it but it was a wonderful surprise. I loved Humboldt’s shyness and how he didn’t throw himself at Cliff like many other students did.  It was great to see them find a way to be together despite there any differences including not being able to breathe underwater.

The cover art is wonderful and I loved the depiction of the story.

Sales Links: Deep Desires Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 42 pages

Published: December 26, 2017 by Deep Desires Press

Edition Language: English

Series: College of United Monsters #1

An Alisa Prerelease Review: Forever With You By Londra Laine

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Kelly Brooks Montes is only nineteen years old and just starting college in New York City when tragedy strikes, and he becomes a single dad to his toddler brother. Four years later, Kelly and his baby brother, Jaylen, are doing well, though Kelly leads a double life to make ends meet. He’s a high-level administrative assistant by day and a racy go-go boy by night. Between raising his brother, dancing, and trying not to run afoul of his new boss, Kelly doesn’t have time for a boyfriend. Even if he did want a man in his life, a past trauma makes him question whether he can ever trust a man with his body or his heart. But then Kelly receives an unexpected but steamy birthday kiss from his boss, a man he was sure hated him, and he begins to wish for things he knows he shouldn’t.

Andrew Whitman knew from the moment he held Kelly’s hand that the man was special, and it both annoyed and terrified him. Kelly makes him feel a little out of control and Drew is a highly controlled man. He has to be to keep his sexuality a secret from his father, a conservative politician. And he is OK with that. He has a perfectly good, mutually beneficial, life plan with his best friend, Lex. A long time ago, he’d made his peace with the fact that he’d never find a man worth turning his life upside down for. Then he ends up with his capable and gorgeous assistant under him on top of his desk, and his life plans change. Drew can’t seem to get out of his own way when it comes to the quiet, sexy, and surprising single dad, but he can’t stop himself from falling for Kelly and his sweet baby brother. And just when it seems that Kelly has worked through his past hurts enough to let Drew into his body and his heart, manipulative family and words unspoken threaten to tear them apart. But after getting a taste of a life he never thought he could have, Drew won’t let anything tear his fledgling family apart.

I enjoyed this story.  Andrew is attracted to his assistant immediately and doesn’t react well to it, causing Kelly to think that he is hated by his boss.  Kelly is attracted to his boss but know even if something were to come of it he can’t let anyone get too close and risk damaging his routine.

Once Andrew got his head out of his ass and figured out how to act like a real human being they both seemed to get along great.  We could see Andrew’s frustration with his own actions and how much he wanted to change them but couldn’t seem to until he sees Kelly outside of work.  I could see Kelly’s reluctance to let anyone into his life, not just for his own sake but also his brother’s.  I liked how both characters’ had support from friends but not how the MCs followed through with everything.  Both of them could run hot and cold at times, which is always frustrating but the book didn’t seem nearly as long to me while reading it as the page count indicates; which always tells me it’s a well written story since I don’t read many long books.

The cover art by Resplendent Media is great romance cover of the MCs cuddling.

Buy Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 324 pages

Expected Publishing: January 9, 2018

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review: I Brake for Christmas by Michael P. Thomas

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Unassuming music major Brent Callahan has the crush of a lifetime on frat boy George Cortner. When the opportunity to offer George a ride home for the holidays crops up, Brent has to dig deep for the nerve to seize it. He’d been planning on hanging around campus for Christmas, but George doesn’t need to know that.

They’re on the road before Brent’s even sure he’ll be able to keep his hands to himself with George in such close quarters. Not that George has asked him to …

This was such a cute story; both George and Brent are adorable.  Brent jumps at the chance to spend time alone with George, even if it means driving all day.  They get to know a little about each other as the day goes on but don’t push for anything more.

I loved how they both completely changed their plans just to spend time with each other and not find out until after the fact.  I liked how they were flexible and hope for the chance to get to know each other more during the Christmas break.  Overall I just really enjoyed this story and it’s a typical fell good Christmas story.

The cover art by Written Ink Designs is great and absolutely perfect for this story.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:
ebook, 58 pages
Published: December 2, 2017 by JMS Books
ISBN: 9781634865227
Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review: The Christmas Eve Cragislist Killer: A Holiday to Remember by Jill Wexler

Rating:  4 stars out of 5
The public library’s computer geek, aka Travis, is content skirting the edges of social interaction. He’s fully committed to being a boring, twenty-something IT guy who likes his office more than people, a guy someone like Connor would never fall for. Connor, who works on the library floor as a page, is outgoing, social, and charming and everything else that stands for “fun.”
An interaction between the two at the library on Christmas Eve has Travis accidentally mentioning that he failed to find this year’s hottest toy for his nephew. Immediately, Connor goes on a quick hunt online, and finds one. The only problem is that the Craigslist seller is hours away and Travis is sure spending hours in a car with quirky, handsome Connor can only end badly.
This was cute.  Travis hasn’t had all that much experience with guys and hasn’t had all that much luck, he wants to give his nephew something to help him relate to others his own age as he sees himself in the boy.    This gives Connor the perfect opportunity to get to know the man he has been attracted to.  I enjoyed their playful banter and the friendship they began on their trip.  Both of them are adorable and I’m glad they finally had something that pushed them together.
The cover art by Catherine Dair is great and is perfect for the story.
Sales Link: Amazon
Book Details:
ebook, ~9,000 words
Published: December 18, 2017 by Mischief Corner Books
Edition Language: English