A Sammy Review: Rival Within by S.J.D. Peterson

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

“Sometimes it’s those unexpected storms that pop up out of nowhere that leave you the most satisfied after they pass.” Ben looked up at Tom with hooded lids. “Wouldn’t you agree, Officer?”

Tom pulled Ben’s keys from his pocket and handed them to Ben. “And sometimes they leave the most destruction,” Tom said coldly and opened the door.

Thomas Webber takes his vows in life seriously. He’s a proud officer of the law, a loving father, and he provides for his wife. He also vowed a long time ago to resist a temptation that resides deep within himself. That all changes one night when he comes across William Benjamin Parker, a stranded traveler with a hard edge and an irresistible edge.

When a storm hits the small town, the two are left stranded beneath the police station. It’s too much for Tom to resist, and finally he breaks down and gives into the desires he’s been hiding for so long.

But it’s the 1950s, and being gay only gets you ostracized or worse. And Tom’s got a family and a life to live.

Can these two weather the storm, both within each other and out in the world?

He wasn’t afraid of the new storm rolling in. The one that had blown through in the form of William Parker had already caused Tom’s complete destruction.

I was so excited for this. A new S.J.D. Peterson and a story line that sounded oh so promising. I literally couldn’t wait to read it… so I didn’t.

And I’m very sad to say that it was a big let down for me on many fronts. The first chapter was your usual character building one, in which we get to know Tom and the pressures he faces as a father, husband, and officer who has a secret. After that, the book went right into the storm and I found it to be completely unrealistic and all too sudden for me. It really felt off. For example, Ben strips down in the cell and is wearing just a towel when the storm hits. Uh… what? And then a bottle of oil magically appears when it is needed, and again, I was left to ask “what?”

Another issue I had is that the title is Rival Within – which implies that someone’s greatest rival is their inner demons, in this case, that would be Tom’s inner demons. This held up for a few chapters, and then suddenly, Tom was at peace with himself following an impromptu blow job (a hot one, but still). He’d spent his entire life building this hatred up, and for it to crumble so easily felt like it wasn’t doing the story justice. It was just too easy. With the ending, I was also a bit angered at how easily <spoiler>.

Finally, this is meant to be a historical novel. It’s set in Tennessee in 1952. I love historicals. They have a way of transporting you to a different time and place when done right. In this case, it could’ve been any year, even present, in any small town across the United States. I sensed when the author was trying to pull in bits of history, but it didn’t really work. The small town thing still exists, and this didn’t transport me anywhere beyond middle-of-nowhere United States. At one point, a character even puts a camera in his pocket. Granted, I’m not an expert of the 1950s, but I have a hard time imaging a camera that fits in ones pocket.

This book tries to tackle a lot of pretty deep topics. For one, it has an obvious theme of adultery, which you can tell just from the blurb. But it also has a really heavy amount of religion to it, which I expected, but if you’re someone who is uncomfortable with organized religions in your story, this really won’t be for you. It also has a bit of post WWII issues for a returning soldier, and then out of nowhere comes pedophilia – see spoiler for more on this. A character (not main) is caught with an underage boy. In order to blackmail him, they have another underage boy perform a sexual act with him and take pictures. It’s not really in detail, but if you’re triggered by even the idea, I wanted to let you know it exists. There is also some of what I would consider heavy alcohol use, bordering on abuse. It’s not framed that way in the story, and it could very well be the time frame, but it did stick out to me.

So that’s all of my bones to pick with the story, but it did have positives. I enjoyed Marna and how she was depicted. I expected one thing and got a complete other, and I was happy with that. I also think it had a lot of potential in general with the plot, it just didn’t come through. As a whole, it was flat.

I will not give up on S.J.D Peterson, though. One of my favorites are by Peterson, this just wasn’t one of them.

The cover art by Anna Sikorska is pretty nice. I think Anna really hit the right note with the grunge aspect, and I appreciate the use of font. It’s simple but the blurring works for the story. The problem is that there’s a heavy area around the left eye that stands out, and not in the best of ways. Furthermore, I thought this was meant to be Ben, but Ben is known to have a scar across his face – something notably missing from the cover.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon buy it here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: December 29th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632164254
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Stand By You (Belonging #3) by A.M. Arthur

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Romy Myers is still deep in recovery three months after friends rescued him from the apartment of his abusive boyfriend. Unable to hold down most jobs, his friends offered him not only a place to stay with them at their apartment, but a job bussing tables at their new coffee shop, Half Dozen. Romy has almost completely shutdown, quiet and shaky from the PTSD and trauma he suffered at Carlos’ hands. The old Romy, flirty, funny, and adorable, was buried deep inside. After all being that person had almost gotten Romy killed. Now alone and quiet is the key for Romy these days. But watching his friends, Donner and Ezra so deeply in love sometimes makes Romy remember when he wanted that too. Until it all went so wrong.

Brendan Walker has made watching over the wounded Romy sort of his job since he was the one to carry the bleeding man out of that apartment of horrors. Ex football player turned building maintenance worker, Brendan stays close, using funny texts and messages to stay close, developing a friendship that helps Romy stay grounded enough to get through social situations. But Brendan finds Romy occupying his thoughts 24 hours a day. And feelings start developing towards Romy that no straight man ought to have.

Now Brendan finds himself questioning his sexuality. If he is gay, is that something his large family will accept? And Romy finds Brendan protectiveness makes him feel safe, perhaps safe enough to think about love once more. Can these men put uncertainty and their pasts behind them to make a future together?

Stand By You is the third book in the Belonging series about a close group of friendsby A.M. Arthur. It is also the only book I have read so far in the series. Normally I find that an impediment to understanding the characters and events that have already taken place, but in Stand By You, I missed the horrific events that precipitated Romy’s rescue from Carlos as they had already taken place. Stand By You picks up with a physically recovered Romy still dealing with the emotional aftermath of his captivity and brutal treatment at his boyfriend’s hands. Romy is such a clearly defined and believable character.It is easy to find yourself emphasizing with his problems and nightmares. Watching his character learn to trust again was deeply moving and a wonderful part of this story.

Also touching was the figure of Brendan Walker. A “bruiser” of a man in appearance, Brendan’s real self is that of a considerate, protective, thoughtful person who loves his family so much he is willing to let his assumptions about their reactions rule his life. Here Brendan’s biggest fear is being anything other than straight. His attractions to men don’t start with Romy, so this isn’t a “gay for you” story but one about acceptance and exploring your sexuality. Brendan’s journey, while not as wounded a one, is as deeply affecting as Romy’s, especially since they are so intertwined.

There are so many issues that A. M. Arthur addresses in Stand By You, from the impact coming out has on a person and their family, to the recovery from a trauma both emotional and physical, and people dealing with all facets of their personality, good and bad. No matter the subject matter and the manner in which Arthur uses it in her story, this author handles it with sensitivity and care. It makes for lovely reading and layered characters that makes an impression upon the readers from start to finish.

As with Foundation of Trust, Stand By You will drive me back to the other stories in this series. To meet Donner and Ezra and all the rest and read their stories as well. As I said, you could read this as a stand alone as I did. It works well as such. Or go to the beginning (assuming you haven’t already done so) and start from there. I will be playing catch up! Either way, consider Stand By You by A.M. Arthur a highly recommended read at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

Cover artist not listed. But that is a good cover for this story.

Sales Links: Carina Press All Romance eBooks amazon Stand By You

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: October 20th 2014 by Carina Press
ASINB00LSDQNJK

Books in the Belonging Series in the order they were written:

No Such Thing (Belonging #1)
Maybe This Time (Belonging #2)
Stand By You (Belonging #3)

Review: I Survived Seattle (Coming About #1) by J.K. Hogan

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Only his best friend’s wedding would make Justice Crawford leave the security of his home to fly across the country to Seattle to assume the best man duties that he has been given. A strange place, a schedule of events full of new people? Just the beginning of a worst case scenario for Justice. Because Justice is not only a deeply closeted gay Southern man but his social anxiety disorder and OCD make any new or strange situation problematic at best, a nightmare at its worst. And this is definitely the worst that could happen. That sometime during the festivities, Justice will be outed to the only friend he has ever known.

Sailor and charter boat captain Nic Valentine is returning home to Seattle from his father’s funeral when an attractive man literally falls into his lap when their plane hits some unexpected turbulence. Eyes meet, attraction forms, a phone number is exchanged and then….nothing. Cute guy disappears once Nic leaves the airplane in Seattle. Nic is certain he will never see that man again but Fate and a wedding brings them together once more.

Justice has let his disorders and closeted status isolate him from society and a chance at love. Nic’s past includes a closeted boyfriend that hurt him deeply and now he isn’t sure he wants to take another chance with a man who hides who he really is. But sometimes love finds a way to bring the most unlikely of people together for their HEA. Will Nic and Justice find the courage to take a chance on each other?

J.K. Hogan’s romantic tale, I Survived Seattle (Coming Ab0ut #1) has two opposite personality characters that meet cute on a plane. A spate of turbulence, ok, a ton of turbulence throws Justice Crawford into the lap of one Nic Valentine during the flight. A few words, a couple of flirtatious glances are exchanged and hopes are raised for a lite romcom.

But initial impressions are often deceiving. One man is on the way to his best friend’s wedding, the other returning from his father’s funeral. One has serious mental health issues and the other is grieving over his father’s loss. Not exactly comedic fare and I am not sure the introduction works to frame out the depth of the problems and the complexities in store for both men once they land in Seattle. But once that plane lands….this story really takes off. Don’t you love it when that happens?

Justice Crawford is a man sinking under the weight of his problems. When he was younger, the decision to come out to his parents, cost him home and family. Only the support of a grandfather in a retirement home, enabled Justice to attend college and complete his degree. The trauma of that situation forced Justice back into the closet and no one, not even Rory his best friend and only family, knew he was gay. In addition to being closeted, Justice suffers from a social anxiety disorder and OCD. Medication has helped but fear and his anxiety have kept Justice in a cage or closet of his own making along with his decision to hide his homosexuality. Hogan makes this character delightfully easy to empathize with,even with his closeted status. He is socially inept and closed off, and still we like him. We see where his past and his anxiety have contributed to the fears he is letting dictate his life and we are able to understand him.

Nic Valentine is the much more genial and open of the two personalities. He lives aboard his charter boat, accepts who he is and longs for a partner to complete his life. Nic’s past includes a closeted boyfriend so we can understand Nic’s frustration with and uncertainty about pursuing a relationship with Justice. Both men come complete with a pair of best friend/girl friends who support them and help their relationship along. I liked them as well as I did the main characters. Rory, the best friend, is a little more elusive a character. It was hard to get a feel for him and that was important given the fact that Justice’s fear over losing him is central to his rationale for staying in the closet. More of Rory or more of Rory and Justice’s past history would have solidified this element of the story. And I am not certain how I feel about a certain character who seemed more of a plot device to boost Justice out of the closet than a real human being. Maybe he will grow on me if he returns in the sequel.

J.K. Hogan may reside in North Carolina but she has life on the water and Seattle down pat. I loved the descriptions of Nic’s boat and the harbor in Seattle. His carefully organized space and quarters sound realistic and attractive. Did I want to be there on his boat? Why yes I did. I could feel the peacefulness and quiet that Justice felt when he stood on deck because Hogan’s descriptions were able to transport me there to stand next to him.

Another element of this story I appreciate was the degree of authenticity in regard to Justice’s anxiety disorder and OCD. There is no magic wand to make it all better. Instead thee is an adjustment of medication, and long term visits with a therapist to help Justice lead a more normal life. We get a better understanding of what can trigger anxiety attacks and exactly how that can incapacitate a person. Like I stated, not exactly comedic fare. But it works when developing a character that comes across as real instead of a stereotype. And Justice feels as real as they come.

I Survived Seattle is the debut novel for J.K. Hogan and I found it to be a sweet, rewarding and totally endearing first jump for this author into the m/m romance genre. From the title I anticipate this is but the first in a series. Perhaps the next in line just might be the recently married but unhappy Rory? I can’t wait to find out. But while we are waiting, grab up I Survived Seattle. You are going to love Justice and Nic and their journey to their own HEA!

Cover art by Wilde City Press. The cover has a number of nice elements but I am not sure they work together to form a cohesive whole. It’s a little murky but the font is nice as is the Seattle backdrop and inclusion of a boat.

Book Details:

ebook, 161 pages
Published March 19th 2014 by Wilde City Press
ISBN139781925031911
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-romance/i-survived-seattle/#.UzjYAfldWNE
seriesComing About #1

Buy Links: Wilde City Press Amazon ARe

Review: It’s Only Make Believe by Havan Fellows

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Dyer Cambell learned early that escaping into make believe was the only path to survival for him. Life with an abusive father taught him to hide his true nature behind a facade, the pretense of being something he wasn’t kept him alive if not always able to duck a fist or boot. And once stuck in that behavior Dyer never came out of it so the profession of actor was the perfect one for a man who never stopped acting.

Dyer tries out for the role of a lifetime becoming one of two actors in the running. But when the producers of the new gay dramedy decide to cast only gay actors in the lead roles, Dyer sets out to make sure they see him as a gay man even though he is straight or is he?

Dyer’s best friend brother is the solution to all his problems. Derrick Verns is gay and has know Dyer for most of his life. Surely Derrick won’t mind playing along with Dyer’s scheme by pretending to be his boyfriend? Derrick reluctantly agrees but with one provision, one that will have a profound impact on both their lives. Is Dyer up to the challenge of letting Derrick see the man behind the mask?

Havan Fellows’ short story packs an emotional punch in only 34 pages. Dyer’s abusive upbringing has taught him to escape deep into himself while leaving only a mask to face his father and real life. Fellows’ narrative slowly introduces Dyer’s painful childhood, bringing the abuse into stark relief as it recounts the broken bones, bruised body and face that came with life with a violent drunk as a father. It’s a sharp contrast to the glib, scattered young man that the rest of the world sees, with the exception of his best friend Harry. Harry is the only one who knows the extent of the abuse Dyer took at home. His casual acceptance of Dyer’s crazy schemes is telling for only a friend who can see past the mask would put up with the front Dyer presents to the world. Havan Fellows descriptions and dialog presents the reader with not only a young man hiding from himself but a portrait of a long term friendship. It becomes easily not only to identity with Dyer but to understand how Harry has been his only support….at least up until now.

Enter Derrick Verns, gay older brother of Harry and struggling artist. Derrick is a startling change from Dyer and Harry. He is bold, openly gay, and sure of himself. The contrast between Dyer and Derrick is both needed and well defined. Dyer who has hidden so long he is no longer sure of who he really is inside versus Derrick, the self assured, self confident gay man. And once Dyer is presented with someone who is everything he wanted to be, it is no wonder he starts to crumble. A terrific choice by the author in choosing how to define the main characters of her story.

I loved this story. Havan Fellows introduces us to this damaged young man and then proceeds to show us not only why we should care for him but how he became the man he is. It’s troubling and painful, especially when you take into account how many young gay youth have trod the same path as Dyer. The need to hide their true sexuality, even from themselves, in order to survive a childhood of hate, abuse and bullying. How can we not love him?

Derrick too comes into his own as a multidimensional character. He is older, artistic and self assured. And he is also compassionate. So we get it that while he is affronted by Dyer’s offer he also sees something in the man before him that makes him want to help Dyer too, just not in the same capacity as Dyer plans. The author’s plot is a dramedy itself, veering from a slight comedic scene to one of gravity , then moving on to one of compassion and total sexiness.

I only wish that the story had lingered a bit longer at the end so we could see a little more of what the future holds for this pair. But it’s still such an amazing story piled into 34 pages that I heartedly recommend you pick it up immediately and start reading.

Cover Art by Pamela Sinclair. The cover is delicious and I love the subtle inclusion of the film reels down at the bottom of the graphic. Great job.

Book Details:

Reader Advisory: This story has been previously released as part of the 50s Mixed Tape anthology by Totally Bound Publishing.

ebook, 34 pages

Published December 13th 2013 by Havan Fellows

ISBN 1781848971 (ISBN13: 9781781848975)

edition language English

urlhttps://www.totallybound.com/its-only-make-believe

Review: How I Met Your Father by L.B. Gregg

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Former boy band member Justin Hayes is in a plane on his way to San Juan, the wedding destination of his good friend and former band member Chuck. Justin would rather be home in Chicago, preparing for a wintery Christmas than on this plane, as he has never liked flying. But Justin is the best man and the one most likely to make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch. Then the plane hits turbulence, Justin panics and only his gorgeous stranger in the seat next to him keeps him steady enough to survive the wild ride before landing safely at the San Juan airport. Then Justin notices just exactly how hot the man is leading to wild sex in the airport bathroom.

Jack Bassinger is not a happy man. His only daughter has just informed him that she is marrying a man he has never met and its a destination wedding on the island of San Juan on short notice. Along with his son, Jack is traveling when all he really wants is to stay at home for the holidays. When the plane hits major turbulence, Jack notices that his adorable seat mate is starting to hyperventilate and acts as subtly as possible to give him comfort until the ride evens out. But a little comfort turns into a white hot anonymous sexual encounter in the airport bathroom and suddenly the trip starts to look that much better.

Neither man expected to see each other again. Both men were wrong, oh so wrong. They meet again at the groom’s bachelor party and the wedding starts to go off course from there. Is a real relationship possible when it starts out lost in confusion, best intentions and hopeless attraction? Justin and Jack certainly hope so.

I love LB Gregg. Her Albright and Romano books are among my most favorite light-hearted romance stories. So I was delighted to see that she was releasing a new story, How I Met Your Father, just in time for the holidays. How I Met Your Father has everything I have come to expect from this author. It’s heartwarming, has great characters and more than its share of laughter filled moments that will leave a reader smiling.

Two dissimilar men meet in an adorably unexpected way with complications for both that neither see coming. There is a marked difference in ages but Gregg shows us that both men are on equal standing in outlook and maturity, something that cannot be said for either Jack’s daughter or Justin’s bandmates. As with any classical comedy setup, there is the surprise drama and a reveal scene as funny as you would hope it to be. I often found myself smiling away and wishing I was lurking about on the outskirts of the wedding party just to watch the proceedings and the drama unfold. LB Gregg has added the extra component of Justin’s closeted status and the impetus needed to make that final step out into the open.

If I have any quibbles about this story, it would be that the sense of light hearted fun also lacks a certain depth that I also associate with her writing, for with every laugh there is normally a moment of sadness or loss. This story certainly has that possibility within it as the aspect of Jack’s daughter and Chuck’s almost unconscionable behavior towards Jack is never clearly or as satisfactorily resolved as one would hope. Another scene or two where that all plays out plus one with Jack’s son would have made it all the more realistic and satisfying.

But those quibbles aside, I loved this story. I loved Jack and Justin especially. They are wonderful main characters, layered, emotionally real and their romance hit all my buttons. I absolutely recommend this story to all lovers of light comedic romance and holiday love affairs that turn into happily ever afters. How I Met Your Father is a lovely, happy romp, perfect for the Holidays and beyond.

Cover Art by L.C. Chase, http://lcchase.com/design.htm. A fun cover but somewhat generic in design. It could be for any book located on a beach.

Special Author Note:

20% of all proceeds from this title are donated to the Ali Forney Center in New York, whose mission “is to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) youth from the harm of homelessness, and to support them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood.” To learn more about this charity or to donate directly, please visit http://www.aliforneycenter.org

Book Details:

98 pages
Published November 18th 2013 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN139781626490840
edition language English
Buy Link url http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/how-i-met-your-father

Guest Post: Shira Anthony, Mega Contest Time and the Release of Encore!

“Moving on from Music” by Shira Anthony

Thanks, Melanie, for hosting the Encore release day party on your blog! It’s such a pleasure to be here today. I’d crank up the music, but I’m not sure if we should play Tchaikovsky or The Who. Roger and John might be just as conflicted. They love just about any kind of music.

Those of you who have read any of the Blue Notes Series books probably know that the books are loosely based on people and events from my own life as a professional musician. I’m a former violinist and professional opera singer who gave up my music career about 15 years ago. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I don’t regret the decision. But having no regrets doesn’t mean “no pain.”

Ask yourself how many people you know who have studied music at the college level or beyond. I bet you can name a few (you may even be one!). How many professional musicians do you know? I know a lot of former professional musicians. There’s a reason for that: it’s an incredibly demanding career that requires total focus, pays poorly (unless you’re a superstar), and often means a nomadic lifestyle (not great for long-term relationships and family). There are many more former musicians than there are professionals. But how do you give up something you love nearly as much as you love the people in your life? The grief is very much like the grief you’d feel over the loss of a loved one.

I know. I’ve been there.

Two of the Blue Notes Series characters are former musicians: Jason Greene from Blue Notes, and Roger Nelson from Encore. Each deals with his grief over the loss of his music differently. For Jason, the perfectionist whose fear of performing became overwhelming, he finds a way to make peace with himself and accept his imperfections. Roger, however, is a different story. Roger loses the physical ability to play the violin. His musical voice aches to be heard, but his body (his hand) can’t translate the music of his heart into sound. It’s the most devastating loss of his life, and one he struggles to come to terms with over many years.

I don’t think it’s a surprise that it took five Blue Notes books for me to finally write my own loss into a Blue Notes character (Roger’s character). A musical soul needs to express itself, but it’s difficult to move forward when you aren’t sure how to do it or where to go. Roger tries to forget about his music and deny his grief. It’s only when he realizes there are other forms of self-expression that he can move on with his life and truly love. I’ve found a new outlet for my own self-expression in my writing and learned how to incorporate my love of music into my books. Even better, readers can still “hear” that musical voice in my books. So I guess in some sense, I haven’t really given up performing, have I?

Encore’s release will be followed on Christmas Day by the release of a Blue Notes holiday novella, Symphony in Blue. Symphony will be my 10th Dreamspinner Press release, so I’m celebrating the release of both of these books with a blog tour contest ending on New Year’s Eve at midnight! Grand prize is a Kindle loaded with many of my Dreamspinner Press titles. You can get more entries by commenting on blog tour posts, tweeting, and buying the books. Here’s the link to the giveaway:

Contest Details for Blue Notes Series Holiday 2013 Giveaway:

Begins on release day for “Encore,” November 11, 2013
Ends on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2013, at midnight
Drawings are open to both U.S. readers and international readers, but physical prizes (Kindle, necklace, book, and t-shirt) are for U.S. readers only. I will award a virtual set of the first 4 Blue Notes Series books to one winner from outside the U.S.

Prizes (U.S. Only):

Grand Prize: A Kindle loaded with the first 4 Blue Notes Series books and some of my other back titles
1st Place: A sterling silver music themed necklace
2nd Place: Winner’s choice of one of my back titles in paperback (i.e., not including the 2 new releases)
3rd Place: Blue Notes t-shirt, cover of the winner’s choice

Blog Stops Currently Scheduled :
November 11th (release day – Encore): Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words (Melanie Marshall)
November 12th: Live Your Life, Buy the Book
November 14th: Michael Rupured’s Blog

Review: Home Team by Jameson Dash

Review: 4 stars out of 5

Aaron Buckley has made hockey his primary focus for most of his life from the moment he first hit the ice to his fifteen years in the NHL. Hockey was Aaron’s everything. He gave up family, friends, a social life and most importantly, he gave up the only man he has ever loved…Zach. Aaron knew that he wanted to play pro hockey and had to stay in the closet if he wanted to make it in the NHL. Zach wouldn’t be his secret and walked away from Aaron rather than hide who he was.

Now one of the league’s older players Aaron knows he’s at the end of his career. A huge screwup costs Aaron his spot on his team in LA. They send him down to the minors in Manchester, NH, back to where he started all those years ago. Home in Manchester, now on a team full of young rookies hoping to make it big, Aaron has time to think and reconnect with his past. His sister makes her home and business there as does the man he left behind.

When Zach, now a sports reporter, shows up to cover his first game home, it is clear that Aaron and Zach can have a second chance at love. But once again, Aaron must choose between hockey and love. What will his answer be this second time around?

Home Team is a book that will grow on you. The more you think about the characters, especially Aaron Buckley, the more they will grow on you. I started out thinking that Aaron was pretty stunted emotionally. It is his voice driving the narrative of this story. But the author’s subtle maneuvering of Aaron’s character and viewpoint will have the reader changing their mind as the story continues.

Aaron is at the end of a long career in the NHL, he is steadily losing ground to the younger players and it’s a year since he scored a goal. His is a voice weary, testy, and resigned. I really commend Jameson Dash for making Aaron such an irascible, somewhat unlikeable personality at the beginning of the story. At times Aaron’s voice seems flat, removed, and irritable. Then Aaron makes his costly error in judgement and his voice flattens out even further until it almost flatlines like his career.

Once Dash brings Rosie, Aaron’s sister and Zach into the story and Aaron’s life, things start to change in Aaron’s outlook although the movement of emotions in Aaron is almost glacial. I was puzzled over my inability to connect to this character because I love hockey players. But quite frankly, Aaron’s comes across as a jerk for the first part of this story, especially his attitude towards the “mistake” that cost him his spot in the major league. But the more I thought about it, the better Jameson Dash’s characterization got. This was a man who has shut down emotionally. Aaron is beyond tired, and stressed to his limits. He has lost his spot on his team, he lost his only friend who remains with that team, he lost his home and most likely his career. And probably, most importantly of all, he is in denial, Aaron doesn’t want to recognize that his career is over and that because of his own choices, he has left himself with nothing waiting for him.

The author’s characterization of Aaron is so good, so human that it took me a while to realize what he was trying to accomplish with keying us so intimately into the thoughts of a man like Aaron because it seems so counterproductive to our connecting with him. But again, only at the beginning. Then little by little as reality of his situation creeps into Aaron’s mindset, that along with the arrival of Rosie and Zach, propels Aaron and the reader out of his “funk” and into the warmth of possibilities and a redemptive love.

This is a spare form of narrative that works perfectly for the character and his story. Its as free of embellishment as Aaron himself. And the more I thought about this character and his growth throughout Home Team, the more Aaron and his story grew on me. I have not read other stories by Jameson Dash, this was the first. But if this story is a good indication of this author’s style and talent, then I can’t wait to see what they write next. Consider this book and author highly recommended.

Here is an excerpt as Aaron lands back home in Manchester, NH:

He finds his hat and sunglasses in his backpack, but there isn’t much of a crowd in the airport. Nobody is looking for him. Wives greet their husbands in rumpled suits, a group of teenage boys tangle in a massive hug, and Aaron spots what looks like a college basketball team, home after a disappointing tournament. Aaron wants to give the girls a high five and tell them to keep being awesome. But he’s not feeling very awesome himself. Instead, he keeps his head down out of habit and heads for the baggage carousel.

It’s different traveling alone than with the team. He’s still wearing a shirt and tie; the jacket was folded and shoved into his backpack before the flight took off from LA. He’s representing his team, even if his team doesn’t want him.

But he has to pick up his own equipment. Once Aaron gets the mammoth hockey bag and his suitcase onto a cart, stick bag balanced on top and his own backpack over both shoulders, he looks around for a chauffeur holding up his name. There’s no one waiting for him. There’s no one looking for him.

Cover art by LC Chase is just ok. It doesn’t pertain to this story, it could be any story about a hockey player. It’s just too generic.

Book Details:

ebook, 82 pages

Published September 25th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1627981594 (ISBN13: 9781627981590)

edition language English

url http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Review: Isle of Wishes (Isle of Wight #2) by Sue Brown

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

After the tumultuous events of the past months, life for Sam Owens and Liam Marshall is finally on track. They are getting married and Liam’s visa issues have finally been resolved. So Sam sends Liam back to his home in Michigan to pack up his belongings for the final move to England and married happiness with Sam. Everything is fine until Liam stops returning Sam’s phone calls. Sam trusts Liam and their love so Sam knows that something has gone terribly wrong.

Sam intends to go to the States to look for Liam but knows he will need help and support. So he turns to his brother, British Metropolitan police officer Paul Owens, to accompany him to Michigan. If anyone can find Liam and get them both safely back to the Isle of Wight for their wedding its Paul Owens. Upon landing, they soon discover the trail leads to a small town in Wisconsin, outside of Milwaukee where LIam’s rental car has been found.

Once in Milwaukee, openly gay Detective Paul Owens starts investigating Liam’s disappearance and runs smack into the closeted but gorgeous Wisconsin Detective Olaf Skandik. Olaf returned home after he left the service and joined the police force. But the small town attitudes and close-knit community now feel restrictive, and Olaf is afraid that coming out will leave him both without a job and family. But as Paul and Olaf start investigating Liam’s disappearance together, mutual attraction flares into something much more, shocking them both. What happens when a casual attraction turns into love for men separated by an ocean of responsibilities?

Isle of Wishes is the second story in the Isle of Wight series and it deepens my love for these men and their families that started in The Isle of…Where?. In that book, we first meet Sam Owens and Liam Marshall when Liam arrives on the Isle of Wight to scatter the ashes of his best friend, Alex. Sam and Liam meet and fall in love, passionately and forever within weeks of Liam’s arrival and Sue Brown absolutely makes the reader believe in this love affair and Sam and Liam’s need for each other. The author also surrounded this pair with a collection of characters, mostly Sam’s family, including one of his brother’s, a police officer named Paul.

Brown gave this motley, large family such depth and dimension to their characters that I fell in love with them as much as I did with Sam and Liam. At the end of that story, we left Sam and Liam happy but starting the process of getting a residency visa for Liam and dealing with other issues. Brown had convinced us that they were on the road to happiness but still had a journey in front of them. So naturally I wanted the next chapter in their lives immediately. Sigh.

Instant gratification are two words not in Sue Brown’s vocabulary, at least not in this series. Her readers had to wait over a year to see what happened next to Sam and Liam and the Isle of Wishes gives us a startling answer. Liam disappears to the consternation and heartbreak of Sam and fans of this series. I love that element of Sue Brown’s stories where items that appear to be safe and straightforward are actually deceptively complicated, whether it is relationships, sexuality, or even a trip home to finish packing and move. Nothing works out as planned because life doesn’t function that way and Sue Brown’s stories are most definitely grounded in reality.

That’s why I can accept a casual attraction turning into something deeper, not yet love but greater than just a flirtation and hookup. It’s also the reason why the cause behind Liam’s disappearance is so plausible as well. I often find myself nodding in agreement with something I am reading in her stories because its recognizably familiar and human. This also applies to her characters, whose problems and outlooks reflect our own.

Olaf is that man who finds himself torn between family and job he loves and his sexuality. Olaf has hidden his sexuality for years and now it has become deeply ingrained to hide his attraction to men. Given small town attitudes, especially in his town’s law enforcement, Olaf is well aware of what coming out would cost him, his job and his family. Until Olaf meets the outwardly gay Paul, he has never questioned his decision to remain firmly in the closet. Then Paul and Sam arrive looking for Liam and Olaf’s life is turned upside down.

Brown makes Olaf’s decisions understandable even as the heat between the men flares white hot. It’s painful, its frustrating and it feels so real to watch Olaf and Paul work through what they mean to each other even as they follow the leads in Liam’s disappearance. Paul is a great character too. Paul is home is in his sexuality. He is great at his job, loves his family and is astonished at his feelings towards Olaf. We get it that both men have a hard time believing that their feelings for each other are real given the time frame and situation they are operating in. Sam is there too for every agonizing minute that Liam is gone. Trust me when I say your heart will be sore but not broken by the end of this story.

And that is primarily why I have not given Isle of Wishes 5 stars. There are many loose ends left fluttering about at the end of this story, intentionally so. We do get part of a happy ending and a something more but the author is laying her groundwork for the next installment. And while I respect that, I do wish it had been pulled together a tiny bit more instead of a surfeit of questions and possibilities.

Still this is a deeply wonderful story. The writing is crisp and the plot complicated enough to let the romance shine through without obscuring all the other great elements here. And of course, there are those marvelous characters that we have come to love and who form the basis and structure for this series. I don’t think I can place one above the other, they are all so intertwined that separating them out actually would lessen the impact of the story. The Owens family, those by blood and those they adopt are a force to be reckoned with and I love them all equally.

So, what is in the future for this series? Well, per Sue Brown, book 3, Isle of Walls, will be out in May next year. It directly follows on from Isle of Wishes, and although it’s based on Nibs and Wig, it will tell more of Paul and Olaf’s story. Then she has a new series planned with Olaf and Paul, which will start next year. So many stories to look forward to. I know I will spend some of the time rereading the first two books while waiting for next spring and the arrival of Isle of Walls.

If you are new to this series, go back to the first story, Isle of….Where?(Isle of Wight #1). It’s necessary in order to fully understand all the people and relationships to follow. For no matter where this series goes, the heart of it remains on the Isle of Wight and the incredibly addicting Owens family. Consider this book and this series highly recommended.

Books in the series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters and events that occur:

The Isle of… Where? (Isle of Wight #1)
Isle of Wishes (Isle of Wight #2)

Book Details:

ebook, 242 pages

Published August 19th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1627980776 (ISBN13: 9781627980777)

edition language English

url http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4106

series Isle of Wight

Review: Sweet Young Thang (Theta Alpha Gamma #3) by Anne Tenino

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Collin Montes was instrumental in getting his fraternity, Theta Alpha Gamma, to change their bylaws and accept gay and bisexual college men into TAG. Several of the brothers were already out about their sexuality, most notably Brad, so this just instilled in their bylaws the acceptance acknowledged in their close knit fraternity. But there is even another reason this change means so much to Collin and that is the fact that Collin is also gay. Collin has kept that fact hidden from most of his fraternity and his family. And that includes his Uncle Monty who raised him after his father died when Collin was 5. Uncle Monty is also the president of the TAG Alumni Association and an influential and powerful man in his own right. Uncle Monty is also a homophobe. The TAG Alumni Association contributes a heavy sum to the running of TAG and neither Uncle Monty or the rest of the board are happy with the inclusion of Gays and Bisexuals in the fraternity.

When first a water heater is rigged to launch through the ceiling, setting off a fire at the TAG house which injures one of the brothers, and then a bomb is found, Collin is sure that these are repercussions due to the changes in bylaws at TAG. One of the paramedics/firemen to arrive at the house the day of the fire is college and TAG Alumn Eric “Dix” Dixon. Eric sees Collin helping out his injured frat brother and the attraction between the men is instantaneous.

Older by ten years and with touches of grey in his hair, Eric is openly gay at work. Eric has always dreamed of someone to make a home and family with but that person hasn’t appeared until now. Collin, with his sexy eyes and gorgeous body, just may be the one Eric has been waiting for. But there are many obstacles between their happiness and future together, from Collin’s closeted status and homophobic uncle to the person responsible for the arson and bombing of the TAG House. As Eric and Collin fall in love, the threat to Collin and the fraternity grows greater. Can Eric protect the man he has come to love or will homophobic hatred ruin their chance for a future together?

This is the third book in the Theta Alpha Gamma series by Anne Tenino and I loved it. It has all the distinctive features of the others in the series. It’s funny, it has terrific characters, and of course, it’s over the top sexy! But this story has something more. It has a mystery as well. Who is behind the arson and bombs at the fraternity? A mystery is a terrific new aspect to this already wonderful series. But let’s take a closer look at this series most common features.

Each book has focused on a member of the Theta Alpha Gamma or TAG fraternity at Calapooya University in Oregon. First it was Brad, then Paul, and now it’s Collin’s turn. Each young man is not only a member of TAG but gay as well, although each has arrived at that self knowledge in differing ways. The wonderful thing about this series is that the characters and couple you have fallen in love with in the previous books are back, included in this story. That holds especially true for Brad and Sebastian from Frat B0y and Toppy (Theta Alpha Gamma #1). They are still working on their relationship and Collin plays an important part in helping them work through a few issues of their own. But the story here belongs to Collin and Eric, as well as the rest of the fraternity brothers.

This is the first time we have really seen the men of TAG interact with each other on a deeper scale. Tenino brings us into the frat house dynamics and the close knit brotherhood of the Theta Alpha Gamma fraternity. Once more we get to watch Tank, Ricky, Toby, Kyle, Jules and the rest support each other, no matter the problem. I have to admit the frat house scenes that involved all the frat brothers had me giggling uncontrollably. Whether they were being roused to action by the threat to their kegerator or watching Project Runway, these are the scenes that really brought their fraternity to goofy life. It’s hysterically funny and yet heartwarming at the same time. Is it a realistic depiction of life at a fraternity? Don’t know and quite frankly don’t care. In Tenino’s more than capable hands, these quirky, crazy group of guys are alive and kicking and making us laugh over and over again. I just loved them.

Collin and Eric are so interesting in their own right. Collin’s father died when he was young and although his mother is alive, his Uncle had a large part in raising him. Collin is an intelligent young man who knows he is gay but fears losing the love of his Uncle by telling him who Collin really is. Uncle Monty is homophobic and controlling, and that has defined Collin’s upbringing until now. It is a joy watching Collin change as the events unfold and his relationship with Eric grows more substantial. Eric is also an interesting character with a sexy, hidden side to him. Trust me when I say that a photography session is one of the sexy highlights of this story. I enjoyed their relationship and the journey towards love for them both. I liked that Anne Tenino took into consideration their age difference when writing the relationship. Neither man is at quite the same stage as the other which is an honest aspect to this story. I appreciated it much more than if we had gotten a case of “instant love”.

I did have a few quibbles with the story. The person behind the attacks on the frat house is easily spotted although the motive remains hidden until the end. I really didn’t have a problem with that aspect of the mystery because it plays out so nicely in the story. There is an event at the end I wasn’t expecting and that was a nice touch too. I did wish that Collin’s relationship with his Uncle had a better resolution (and his Uncle’s Alumni Association’s aspect too). Both his Uncle and the Alumi Association had figured greatly in the story, and that was not really dealt with at the end.

A new young gay character was introduced here. Tank’s younger brother has transfered into the college and been accepted into TAG. I see his story coming next. I can’t wait. I love these guys and their crazy mixed up fraternity. They have heart to go along with their beer parties. They are funny, engaging, and I always enjoy my time with them. I highly recommend this book and this series. Grab them all up, starting with the first one if you are new to the series and this marvelous band of brothers.

Here are the books in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters and their relationships:

Frat Boy and Toppy (Theta Alpha Gamma, #1)

Love, Hypothetically (Theta Alpha Gamma, #2)

Sweet Young Thang (Theta Alpha Gamma, #3)

Book Details:

ebook

Published July 22nd 2013 by Riptide Publishing

ISBN139781626490321

edition languageEnglish

seriesTheta Alpha Gamma #3

Review: Flawless (Irresistible Attraction #4) by Cat Grant

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Steve Campbell’s life has just hit a few speed bumps now that he has gotten a little older. His best friend and coworker has found true love, and now has little time to spend with Steve. They are also arguing about a new client and the direction a job should take. On top of that, Steve is frustrated by comparing his life to that of Connor’s new status as a happy man in love. Steve had long repressed his feelings for Connor, preferring to stay safely in the “straight” category until it was too late and Connor had met someone else. Steve realizes that his life is stuck on hold but is unsure how to move on, romantically and sexually.

Then Steve’s Ferrari refuses to start up in the parking lot outside his gym, and Gil Alvarez comes to his rescue. Gil Alvarez has not had an easy life. He has struggling through childhood and rejected by his family for a body that didn’t match who he was inside. A skilled driver and mechanicm Gil Alvarez now owns his own body shop but is struggling to make it a success. With all the complications he is currently dealing with, a white, rich, clueless guy is not what he needs in his life.

But one date and steamy night later and both Gil and Steve realize their lives have changed forever. Steve wants a committed long term relationship and thinks Gil is the one man for him, if he could just stop putting his foot in his mouth whenever the other man is near. For Gil, the obstacles are much greater. Gil’s ex has reentered Gil’s life, and not in a good way. Plus Gil harbors a secret that he fears will turn Steve away once it is revealed. Can Gil and Steve pull down the barriers between them and have the life and relationship both men crave or will they let love slip away?

Flawless is the fourth book in the Irresistible Attraction series but the first one I have read. Based on the high quality of the story I just read, I know I will be running back to grab up the rest of the books in the series. At 91 pages, it might seem a quick read but don’t let that short length fool you into thinking that it will be short on characterization and plot depth. Quite the contrary. From a slightly fluffy “boy meets boy” romcom meet cute start, the story then veers into a more complicated, and realistic tale of self-actualization as well as finding the courage to stand up for who you are as well as who you love. I have to admit I thought Steve Campbell pretty funny from a number of angles as well as being a realistic representation of a man who has been more caught up in his career than his personal life. Steve is someone not at ease in a casual conversation, particularly when he is talking to someone he is attracted to. Being brilliant in a lab does not translate necessarily to one’s personal life. Steve is awkward and just finding out who he is late in life, a wonderful characterization.

Gil, on the other hand, is someone Cat Grant has imbued with a number of personality traits more in line with someone who has had to pull himself up from a poor start to achieve his goals, yet Gil has more a feeling for community and history than Steve does. And there are further, more fundamental issues here that are only hinted at in the book blurb from Riptide Publishing. I really don’t want to get into that here, mostly because how it is brought to Steve’s and therefore the reader’s attention is so beautifully done that I would hate to spoil it for you all.

At the core of this love story is the fundamental idea of self, of one’s true nature. For Steve, it is something he has only recently acknowledged after having repressed feelings towards men all his life. It has cost him Connor and now he wants to come out but doesn’t know how. Gil is Steve’s opposite. Gil has always known he is a man but the consequences of that knowledge is something he is still having to deal with. Cat Grant does a wonderful job with this aspect of the story, treating it realistically and with great sensitivity. Gil Alvarez is a terrific character, one who captured my sympathies and compassion immediately, if nothing else but for the manner in which Gil was reaching for his goals, no matter the obstacles in his path.

I will admit that the length of the book does come into play. At 91 pages, Steve and Gil get a HFN rather than a HEA, there just is not enough time for them to achieve a deeper relationship. And that is precisely what this story needs in my opinion, a little longer peak into their relationship down the line to see how they adjusted to commitment and each other’s life. But as it is, I highly recommend Flawless, it is a great read and one that shouldn’t be missed.

Here are the other books in the Irresistible Attraction series. They can be read as stand alone stories.

Priceless (Irresistible Attraction #1)

Doubtless( Irresistible Attraction #2)

Fearless (Irresistible Attraction #3)

Flawless (Irresistible Attraction #4)

Book Details:

ebook, 91 pages
Published April 22nd 2013 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN 1626490120 (ISBN13: 9781626490123)
urlhttp://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/flawless
seriesIrresistitableAttraction

Cover Art by LC Chase who did a great job with the models and of course that cherry red Ferrari.

Share this:

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Sales Links: Carina Press All Romance eBooks amazon Stand By You

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: