Tag: An Alisa Review

An Alisa Review: The Cowboy in Unit E (The Mockingbird Place #2) by Kris Cook

 

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

the-cowboy-in-unit-eThe good news is the most gorgeous cowboy I’ve ever seen is moving in next door to me. The bad news? He’s not alone. Hanging on his arm is a very pregnant woman. Are they a couple? It sure looks like they are. So not only is he not gay, but he also has a girlfriend, or a wife, or whatever. Just my luck.

 

****

 

21-year old Trace Cotton is an artist who never shows his paintings to anyone. When cowboy Luke Wagner moves into Mockingbird Place with a very pregnant Ava, Trace believes he must fight his attraction to Luke since he’s taken.

 

When Ava collapses outside Trace’s apartment, he comes to her rescue. Things aren’t what they seem on the surface, but when Trace finds out the truth will it be too late for a chance at something real with Luke?

 

I enjoyed this story.  Trace has spent years trying to heal from some abuse he suffered as a child, only his paintings have helped his pain.  Luke has put his life on hold and suffered in silence since his brother’s death, once he realizes he can still live his life he may have damaged his bridges too much

 

Both of these characters were wonderful, they are both broken but can see that things will get better.  I could see both of their emotions and how they were able to deal with their pasts and help healing each other.  Their love is strong enough to heal the other and to form a family with the others at Mockingbird Place.  Seeing the unwavering love all the characters have for each other was wonderful.

 

The cover art is nice and follows the pattern for the series.

 

Sales Link: Amazon

 

Book Details:

ebook, 162 pages

Published: November 17, 2015 by Forbidden Passion Press

Edition Language: English

Series: The Mockingbird Place #2

An Alisa Review: A Little Blood (The Blood Bond Trilogy #1) by Aimer Boyz

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

a-little-bloodCan you handle forever?

Eternity comes with a price. Forever is a lonely word and Etienne Vaillancourt needs more than blood.

Andrew Delaney needs to pay down his student loans, maybe save enough money to fix up his relic of a Honda. No rush, Andrew’s got his whole life ahead of him.

But one lifetime isn’t always enough.

A chance meeting in a movie theatre is the start of a future neither man had thought possible. A future together … if they can handle forever.

 

I really enjoyed this book.  The main characters are wonderful with great secondary characters to enhance the story.  The author didn’t try to completely change how many would think of vampires, but also wasn’t too cliché either.

 

Etienne has been alone a long time, it’s better to keep his secret and to not get attached to his food.  However, Andrew completely throws him for a loop when they begin talking at the movie theatre.  They quickly grow to care for each other, but neither really know how they want to navigate their relationship.

 

Etienne and Andrew feel an immediate connection to each other when they meet that only grows with time.  This story was told from both characters’ points of view which gave me the opportunity to see both characters feelings.  Etienne would do anything to protect and be with Andrew, but is afraid of his reaction.  Andrew needs to decide if forever if what he really wants.  I can’t wait to read more stories in this series.

 

Cover art by James at GoOnWrite.com is perfect for this book.

 

Sales Link: Amazon

 

Book Details:

ebook, 235 pages

Published: September 9, 2016

Edition Language: English

Series: The Blood Bond Trilogy #1

An Alisa Review: Night Train To Naples (Night Train #1) by Carolina Valdez

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

night-train-to-naples-mlr-pressThe hot, urgent passion of an immortal for his human lover, the vengeful vampire who wants to kill them, and the world of precious stones.

 

After seven-hundred years, Alexandros Nicolaides has adjusted to life as an immortal. Employed by a New Orleans diamond courier, the gemologist travels to Italy in the hope of gaining a new customer for that business. On the night train from Rome to Naples, he confirms what he’s suspected–someone is following him.

 

Human Dante Rocco has his reasons for tailing the tall blond. Unaware he follows an immortal, he’s in for a bad shock. When Alex rescues him from thugs, a hot, urgent sexual bond flares between these two rivals for the courier account. As they struggle with the reality of their relationship, they discover they’re now the ones being pursued–by an unstable, vengeful vampire.

 

Carolina Valdez did a nice job with this story.  These characters feel an instant connection for each other, but feel they should be holding back because they are so different from each other.  Alex begins to full embrace their relationship while it scares Dante.

 

Dante is shocked when he is thrown into the world of immortals when following a rival diamond courier.  He feels a connection to Alex, but doesn’t know if he can accept his vampire nature fully.  When he is faced with never seeing Alex again he decides to jump.

 

This story is told from both characters’ points of view so we can see each of their internal struggles.  Both of them want each other, but don’t want to think about what will happen after they have to go back to their jobs after Naples.  The story if left with a bit of a cliffhanger to look forward to the next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it.

 

Cover art is very nice and caught my eye.

 

Sales Links: MLR Press | Amazon | ARe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 114 pages

Published: 2nd Edition August 25, 2016 by MLR Press

Edition Language: English

An Ali Audiobook Review: Desert Heat / Native Tongue (Desert Heat #1 – 2) by Lucy Felthouse and Narrator Joel Leslie

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Desert Heat & Native TongueRead the whole story – both books bundled for your reading pleasure, and great value!

Desert Heat:

Their love is forbidden by rules, religion and risk. Yet still they can’t resist.

Captain Hugh Wilkes is on his last tour of duty in Afghanistan. The British Army is withdrawing, and Wilkes expects his posting to be event-free. That is, until he meets his Afghan interpreter, Rustam Balkhi, who awakens desires in Wilkes that he’d almost forgotten about, and that won’t be ignored.

Native Tongue:

They may be back on British soil, but the battle isn’t over.

When Captain Hugh Wilkes fell for his Afghan interpreter, Rustam Balkhi, he always knew things would never be easy. After months of complete secrecy, their return to England should have spelt an end to the sneaking around and the insane risks. But it seems there are many obstacles for them to overcome before they can truly be happy together. Can they get past those obstacles, or is this one battle too many for their fledgling relationship?

I enjoyed both of these stories.  Desert Heat is the first part of this couple’s journey.  As it says in the blurb the two men meet while in Afghanistan. Hugh is a soldier and Rustam works an interpreter. They are attracted to each other but have little time together due to the circumstances of their situation.  Despite the dangerous situation they are in the two men can’t seem to stay away from each other and after months of attraction they end up sharing a night of passion.  They know they can’t continue to be together while they are there, but they also can’t imagine giving up their relationship.  This part of the story was well written and I really enjoyed the chemistry of the two men together.
The second part of the story, Native Tongue, takes place when the men are back England,  Rustam is pursuing his medical studies and Hugh is stationed close by.  After being apart since Afghanistan, the two men feel nervous as they try to have a real relationship.  This part of the story was also well written and was both sweet and steamy.  It was lovely watching these two as they try to deal with being in a place where they can actually date.  They have some things they need to work through and I thought these were realistically presented and worked through.
Overall I really enjoyed both stories.  I liked the characters and the unique plot.  I listened to this on audio and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator.  He did both of the main characters well and I never had a difficult time telling them apart.  I also liked the various side character’s voices.  I had not previously listened to this narrator but I will definitely look for his work in the future.
Cover:  I liked the cover a lot and felt it fit the stories well.
Sales Links
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 154 pages
Published May 14th 2015 (first published January 29th 2015)
ASINB00X2UX08E
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesDesert Heat #1 – 2

An Alisa Review: Put Five Rings on It by David Connor and E.F. Mulder

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

 

Put Five Rings On ItNumbers mean everything to an Olympic marathoner, but for Gordon O’Dooley, his obsession with one number in particular might get a little out of hand.

 

Gordon literally comes running into Marty Walsh’s family diner one day, and their mutual attraction is instant. He comes on too strong, though, and Marty quickly slams on the brakes. When Marty suggests they take things slow, Gordon races off, and any hope of a relationship goes right along with him.

Four years pass, and Marty does his best to move on. But fate brings them back together as Gordon is preparing for another Olympic bid. They agree to start over, slowly this time.

 

As they get to know each other, Marty comes to realize how strong Gordon’s obsession with the number five is. Will Marty be able to handle Gordon’s OCD? And what will Gordon do when he realizes the reason behind Marty’s reluctance at intimacy?

 

This was a nice story.  Gordon and Marty meet when Gordon comes into Marty’s family diner and continues to everyday.  Both are attracted to the other, but are afraid to act on it.  They spend a good chunk of the book dancing around each other or apart.

 

This story is told from Marty’s point of view, so it’s hard to see what makes Gordon afraid to be together until they finally take the time to sit and talk when they see each other 4 years later.  Marty is a sweet man and just wants to be happy with that one person meant for him, he just never thought about how it would happen.  Both of the characters have their own quirks and flaws and once they can see that they don’t matter to the other can they fully grow their relationship.

 

The cover art is nice and catches your eye.

 

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 87 pages

Published: August 6, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634861021

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review:Behind the Uniform Collection by by Toni Griffin, Gregory L. Norris, and Jon Keys

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Behind the UniformUniformed careers are a matter of choice and of sacrifice – military, fire, police, forest service, etc. – and the people who choose these careers are often dedicated to a fault. But sometimes dedication can come with a hefty price. Behind the Uniform illustrates the physical or emotional sacrifice and the hard choices that sometimes come with such all-consuming dedication.

A Wolf in Cop’s Clothing by Toni Griffin
Marcus Holland loves his job as a small town cop and his life with his pack. When his mate, Brian, kissed him goodbye that morning and remarked, “This is Leyburn. What trouble could I possibly find?” Marcus really hoped never to find out. He had no idea how much those words would come back to haunt him as he goes about his duties.

It’s the Hat by Jon Keys
Forest ranger Matt Keller’s frustrations mount as he tries to bust a poaching ring in a Michigan national forest and now he’s discovered that Kyle, the gorgeous waiter he desperately wants to ask out, has an ex-boyfriend hanging around. The ex is bad news, Kyle says it’s complicated, and Matt’s not sure which way to jump. Just as Matt’s puzzling things out with Kyle, his pursuit of the poachers takes a dangerous turn and he could risk losing all the pieces he’s fought so hard to juggle.

The Head Shed by Gregory L. Norris
Milo Hanover is proud to manage a Head Shed. He and the sex workers he supervises are vital to the morale and sanity of troops fighting a ruthless alien invader. When Colonel Dunnegin arrives at the Shed, though, it isn’t for the usual reason. He reveals that humanity needs Milo for the secrets carried in his genetic code rather than his enthusiastic service. In the desperate race to get Milo to the front, he battles his own heart even as he’s thrust into the battleground for humanity’s survival.

 

**Please note: The stories in this anthology will not be released individually.

 

This was a nice collection of stories, each with their own set characters.  Even with a slightly common theme the stories were different and all had very different feels to them.

 

A Wolf in Cop’s Clothing

I have to admit this story is the main reason I wanted to read this anthology.  I have enjoyed the Holland brothers’ form the beginning.  This story focuses on Marcus and Brian, the couple from the first Holland Brothers books.  We were able to see both characters’ points of view and how protective and caring they both are of their children and each other.  It was great to see these characters again and how strong their relationship still is.

 

It’s the Hat

This is a classic story of two people being attracted to each other, but not knowing for sure the other wants them.  We are able to see both characters’ points of view which helps us to get connected to these characters.  In this story Matt has been lusting after Kyle for months, but doesn’t feel worthy to act on his attraction.  Kyle finally has to take the last step for them to see how good they could be together.  I love the glimpse forward at the end.

 

The Head Shed

This story is told from Milo’s point of view and has a dystopian setting.  Milo and John have been hardened by war, but know what life was like before.  Milo gets pulled from his place at the Head Shed because his genetics should be able to help fight against the invaders.  When they are captured he puts himself in harm’s way to save humankind and the man he loves.  This is the only story I had a bit of a hard time with, it kind of just picked up in the middle of this war and even though the author did some background explaining I just didn’t feel connected to these characters or the story.

 

The cover art by Freddy MacKay is nice, but it depicts firemen of which there are none in these stories.

 

Sales Link: Mischief Corner Books | Amazon | ARe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 143 pages
Published: July 20, 2016 by Mischief Corner Books
ISBN: 9781925313925
Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review: Damaged by Noah Willoughby

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

 

DamagedNobody is invincible…

On a seemingly ordinary night, Tom Otso’s life changes forever when he is ambushed, attacked and left for dead. Though he survives the ordeal, Tom finds out at the hospital that the gravity of his injuries has left him permanently disabled.

Eric Kontio is a physical therapist who is assigned to Tom’s case to help rehabilitate and adapt Tom to his new way of living. In helping people for over 20 years, Eric has never met anyone with such an incredible spirit and positive attitude as Tom. Eric becomes infatuated with him and marvels at his incredible progress.

Being together every day, the two men grow closer as friends, but things become complicated by Tom’s jealous and moody boyfriend, Adrian, and Eric’s professionalism being doubted by his superior. When the true feelings of both men come to the surface, so do their painful pasts which could make or break their relationship.

 

This is the first book I have read by Noah and I was pleasantly surprised.  Even though this is a shorter story a lot happens in a short amount of time.  There are a lot of emotions going on throughout this story.

 

Tom is attacked and hospitalized for weeks before he wakes up and has to go through healing and therapy to learn to live on his own again.  Tom did his best to stay positive while in the hospital and therapy without any real support from his boyfriend.  While Eric is willing to support him from the sidelines even if they aren’t in a relationship.

 

I could feel Tom’s upbeat attitude that everything would work out and his embarrassment in how Adrian would treat him and the situation while Eric was hurting inside seeing Tom being treated badly.  They meet back up again and begin to lean on each other however you can see Tom holding himself back because he doesn’t feel he deserves any happiness.  My only real gripe with the story is Tom was in the hospital for 4 weeks after he was attacked and there was a news story put out, but his boyfriend never tried to find him, even if they didn’t have a great relationship you would think that he would at least be wondering what happened.

 

Cover art is nice, but doesn’t really catch my eye at first glance.

 

Sales Link: Amazon

 

Book Details:

ebook, 81 pages

Published: June 27, 2016

Edition Language: English