Review of Long Hard Ride (Prentiss #2) by Talia Carmichael

Rating: 4.5 stars

Paxton Lawson and his sons relocated to Prentiss, Texas following the death of his husband to enter into a horse breeding partnership with the Ralston brothers. Gibson had been a friend of Paxton’s sons in college and a new start in a new place seemed like a way to ease the grief Paxton has been trying to live with. Paxton still missed his husband and the grief he feels has put his life outside the business on hold. The one person he has come to count on in his new town is lawyer Windsor Broadhurst. Windsor is a lawyer to most of the ranchers in the area and a close friend to Gibson and his sons so it only seemed natural to Paxton that Windsor would be there when Paxton needed him, brought him books that they read together and discussed, turning into one of his closest friends within the year. But when Windsor admits to Paxton what the entire community already knew, that Winston had been courting Paxton, he was shocked. All this time, he had been oblivious to Windsor’s true intentions but now that Paxton was finally aware, he looked at the handsome lawyer in an entirely different manner.

Windsor Broadhurst has been biding his time, getting to know Paxton as a friend first before letting the man know how attracted he was to him. During the year’s time, Paxton had turned not only into a wonderful friend but Win quickly realized that his initial attraction was deepening into love. Finally, Windsor admits that he has been courting Paxton all along Paxton seems receptive to dating again. But Win wants more from Paxton, he wants his love as well. Paxton must decide if he is ready to move on and accept the love offered or remain in mourning. It looks to be a long, hard, ride to a future that both men want and that one is afraid to reach for.

Long Hard Ride is the second in the Prentiss series from Talia Carmichael and I just loved it. It is relatively short at 87 pages but the author packs a lot of characterization and emotion into this story given the length. Right off the bat I was hooked by the older characters. Paxton especially captured my heart. He is trying to deal with the loss of his husband after a long term illness and not doing a very good job of it. He and Adam had adopted and raised three boys who have now grown into men. But those men still love and depend on their father and are dealing with the death of their “Dad” as well. So it is highly realistic that Paxton has buried himself in the new horse breeding venture along with his sons and relocated to another part of the country, away from places that hold nothing but memories of Adam and their life together. Paxton is someone who grabs not only our sympathy but our understanding at his inability to help himself move forward. It also feels right that when Paxton decides that he will date Win but only allow himself to give “just this much and no more”. Paxton also feels guilty about betraying the love he had with Adam, a very genuine reaction to feeling alive and attracted to someone else for the first time since a partner’s death.

Equally great at capturing our attention and interest are the characters of Windsor “Win” Broadhurst, Gibson, Blayne, Morgan, HC and all the rest of the populace of Prentiss, Texas. Some of the people are coupled already, which happened back in Ralston’s Way (Prentiss #1). But Carmichael is laying the ground for future stories with the characters she introduces here and I for one can’t wait to see how their courtships play out. Paxton and Win courtship starts out so easily, too easily in fact, that I thought the realistic touches she had brought to the story were going to be lost. Luckily that didn’t happen as Paxton must decide to really open himself back up to another person, and the author lets us feel how hard it is for Paxton to let go.

The sex scenes between the men did “creak” a little, but I found that to be actually endearing as Paxton had let his sexual side die with his partner. And Win with his long hair plaited into a braid that fell to his butt? Well, let just say I love a man with long hair and Win hit my buttons. Loved him. This is the perfect sequel to Ralston’s Way which I just finished too. I can’t wait to see where Talia Carmichael takes this series next. Cowboys and men with long hair *waves fan*. Please don’t keep me waiting too long.

Books in the Prentiss series:

Ralston’s Way (Prentiss #1) read my review here

Long Hard Ride

Review of Ralston’s Way by Talia Carmichael

Rating: 4 stars

Morgan Ralston and his brother Gibson have always run their family ranch the Ralston way meaning Morgan’s way. Then Gibson decides to go into the horse breeding business and with the new business comes new partners and new ways. The expanding business calls for an upgrade in their computer systems at the ranch and Blayne Dalton computer guru has been called in by his old friend Gibson to overhaul their computer needs. But Gibson has more surprises for his brother. In addition to the cute computer nerd, Blayne, Gibson has brought in Blayne’s brother as a chef, his other brother as a horse trainer and their father as a partner. Soon the Ralston ranch is flush with new ideas, new people in the Dalton family. And Morgan can’t help but notice that very cute and very gay computer guy who always seems to be where Morgan needs to be.

Now Morgan has always run things his way but with his brother determined to change things and Blayne’s attention not only to detail but to Morgan too, what is a cowboy to do?

Ralston’s Way is the first in the Prentiss’ series from Talia Carmichael about two interlocking ranching families and their friends. I am always a sucker for gay cowboys and this pulled me in from the start. Morgan and Gibson are running the family ranch by themselves having lost their parents. When Gibson starts a horse breeding venture, he pulls in his friends from the university, a trio of brothers and their father, as partners. Talia Carmichael seems to be building a series with families dealing with loss in one way or another. Morgan and Gibson Ralston have lost their parents, Paxton Lawson, father to Blayne and his brothers, has lost his husband to cancer and brought his family to Texas to try and recover. And more peripheral characters that have larger roles in subsequent books all have holes in their lives from losing someone important to them. I really like the community she is building here.

Talia Carmichael does a splendid job with her characterizations and plot lines. Her characters are people easy to care for and take interest in. And while the courtship between Morgan and Blayne is brief, it is also intense. I really enjoyed watching this couple get together and can’t wait to see what the author has in store for each of the brothers as well as Paxton Lawson, a wonderful person deeply wounded in his grief. Despite its short length, this is a wonderful story full of characters I loved spending time with.

My only quibble here is the short length of the story. It is only 80 pages and its volume needs to be increased to really give the story and its characters their due. My issue with the length of this story is one I reiterate over and over with regard to Total E Bound Press’s authors whether it is Lavinia Lewis, Bailey Bradford or Carol Lynne so perhaps this length is a required number of words from the publisher. At any rate, the shortened story does their authors a disservice in my mind, as stories of excellent promise come out as stunted instead of flowing naturally to the length needed to do the book justice. Just my opinion. If someone can tell my why so many 80 page books, I would be grateful if no less frustrated.

But this looks to be a promising series. I started with the second book and immediately went back to the beginning to get to know them all right where it all starts. You will want to start your journey here too.

Books in the series are:

Ralston’s Way (Prentiss#1)

Long Hard Ride (Prentiss#2)

Art work by Posh Gosh. Love the cover, the only thing that strikes me as odd is the way the black band with the Prentiss name on it cuts across the torso of the cowboy, making his belly seem (dare I say it?) pregnant. An odd mis step from a wonderful cover artist.

Review: One True Thing by Piper Vaughn and MJ O’Shea

Rating: 4 stars

Dusty Davis has moved to California with his best friends Ru and Erik and their daughter Alice. West Hollywood so far is everything Dusty hoped it would be. He can walk down the street and not draw stares for his clothes or nail polish and their new house is adorable, a great change in every way from Delaware. There is only one thing missing…..a boyfriend. When he watches Ru and Erik cuddle and interact, it only highlights how lonely he really is. But a trip on the sidewalk has Dusty falling into the arms of a gorgeous man, who picks him up, smiles and disappears into the crowd. So Dusty starts to look for him everywhere and when he finds him, Dusty is confused because the man, Archer Kyriakides doesn’t remember him. But that doesn’t stop Dusty from going out with him. But its not the same as Dusty hoped as the man is cold, and completely shallow. Then Dusty meets Asher Kyriakides who is Archer’s twin brother and the mystery is solved. It is Asher who picked Dusty up off the side walk and Asher who has occupied Dusty’s thoughts and dreams since the incident. After Dusty realizes his mistake, he and Asher start to date and it is everything he had hoped for in the beginning. Except that Archer seems intent on causing problems for the new couple every way he can.

Asher Kyriakides has not been able to get the adorable blonde man out of his mind since they meet on the sidewalk. Then he walks into the apartment he shares with his twin brother Archer and is devastated to find Archer kissing that same cute blonde. Crushed, Asher finds his life stagnating on every level. He is a photographer who is filming porn actors because he needs the money instead of working as a fashion photographer. His brother is running up their bills, partying all night, and in general making Asher’s life miserable when he tries to make his brother act responsibly. It only starts to look up when he starts to date Dusty and even make plans for their future. But Archer means trouble and tries to tear the two men apart. When Archer goes too far, Asher must finally decide between his future with Dusty or his obligation to his brother.

We first met Dustin Davis in One Small Thing which gave us the story of Ru and Erik’s relationship. Dusty had a large role to play in that story and he captured our hearts with his endearing personality and vulnerability. I thought even then that he deserved his own story and was thrilled to see a sequel that followed our small family out to West Hollywood for a new start for all of them. The authors certainly picked the right place to plop down our wonderful quartet of characters and it was easy to envision Dusty flip flopping his way down the Boulevard on his way to a meeting with Asher and a future. Vaughn and O’Shea have given us a character to cherish in Dusty so it is important that his soul mate measure up to the reader’s idea of the right person for him. And the person they chose has readers including myself blowing hot and cold, mostly because of his brother. The authors present us with a problematic package when they created Asher and Archer, the twin Kyriakides brothers who represent a sort of black and white or yin and yang of siblings.

Asher, the good twin, seems to be a lovely match for Dusty. Except that when it comes to his evil twin, Archer, he has all the resolve of a wet noodle. He lets his brother ride roughshod over him time after time, trampling his feelings and even his relationship with Dusty into the ground with no recompense at all from Archer. In fact, no matter how awful Archer behaves, Asher lets him get away with it to the reader’s utter astonishment. I can understand a twin brother’s bond being responsible for absorbing some of the impact of Archer’s actions but there is no answering bond from Archer, it is completely one sided. So on one front, Asher loves Dusty and they appear perfect for each other, than the other passive doormat side of Asher comes out and threatens everything they have built up to date. I won’t go into details here but trust me when I say both Archer’s actions and Asher’s response are so unbelievable that it almost derailed the entire story for me. The only thing that pulled the plot back onto the tracks was Dusty’s reaction and the manner in which he forced Asher to handle the situation. Yes, Dusty is the saving grace, not only in this incidence, but for the entire book.

Archer remained pretty much a one dimensional evil villain of the piece. I kept waiting for some explanation for his hatred of his brother, some bit of back story that would explain his illicit drug use, casual sex, and complete disregard for his brother’s feelings but it never came. In fact, Archer was the major disruption for this story. Had he been removed, the one element of Asher’s character that was not only unbelievable but distasteful as well would have been removed too.

Dusty remains one of my favorite characters. He is irrepressibly positive in his outlook, his buoyant good nature, his huge heart and personality make me smile just thinking about him. The authors have painted such a vivid portrait of Dusty that he leaps laughing and giggling right off the page and into our hearts. Dusty is so gentle and kind (and talented) that you not only want him to be your hairstylist but your friend as well. Dusty is both the heart of this story and it’s saving grace. It doesn’t matter whether he is feeding Alice or having a heart to heart with Michelle, who Dusty is and what he stands for is never in doubt. Give us more Dusty and I am a happy camper. He is a perfect creation and the real reason to buy this book.

Without Archer’s involvement, this is a 4.5 to 5 point story. Take him away, and it has every thing to recommend it. It has not only Dusty, but Ru and Erik and Alice too. It finds Dusty happy in his new job, making new friends (love Michelle), and finally having someone to love and who loves him back for the marvelous person he is. Another new character deserving of our attention and affection is troubled porn actor Josh. I could have used more of him, and so much less of Archer. I liked the ending, although for some reason it seemed for of a HFN than HEA. And again, that speaks more to the characterization deficits of Asher and not Dusty. Because while Dusty is still moving forward with new friendships, new apartment, an ever expanding future, Asher’s career remains that of a porn photographer, which would be fine if he enjoyed and liked it, but it’s not. It’s one he is ashamed of and remains in. When he goes forward, it seems that its because Dusty has pulled him there, not a formula for a healthy relationship. So perhaps Asher too needs some time to grow into the man Dusty deserves. I would love to see a third book in this series, one that reunites Dusty, Asher, Ru, Erik, Alice, Josh and Lane in the not too near future with a real HEA for them all. And please if we must see or hear of Archer again, let it be at his graveside. A perfect solution if ever there was one.

Cover: OK, how adorable is this cover. The model, Austin Anomic (aka Austin Mitchell) is the one who visually inspired the character of Dusty. Read Piper Vaughn’s blog on Austin and his picture with the cover of this book. Austin and the cover of One True Thing are both adorably perfect.

Books in the order they were written and should be read:

One Small Thing – read my review here.

One True Thing

Review of How To Raise An Honest Rabbit (Knitting #3) by Amy Lane

Rating: 5 stars

When ex con Jeremy Stillson ends up begging for money on a street corner in Boulder, Colorado, he has no idea that his life is about to change when he spies the looming figure of Rance Crawford heading towards him from the nearby yarn shop. Instead of money, Rance offers him a job that comes with a small room to call his own in the alpaca barn and fiber mill that Rance owns. Here is the chance Jeremy has wanted, a way to be honest and to go straight, leaving the illegal lifestyle behind that he learned from his conman of a father, a father who died when a con went bad.

But living a honest life doesn’t necessarily mean Jeremy’s past is gone with the old lifestyle. Rance turns Jeremy’s training over to a young gorgeous man named Aiden, a master at colors and yarn dyes even as a teenager. Aiden is everything Jeremy has always wanted to be and Jeremy idolizes the teenager from the first moment they meet. Year after year, Jeremy slowly adjusts. He learns to love his new life, he learns how to knit and gains a family with the people he works with at the alpaca ranch. And most importantly he falls in love with Aiden as Aiden ages and matures into a wonderful young man.

Jeremy’s feelings of insecurity and low self esteem have never gone away and when Aiden starts to return his affection, Jeremy is petrified. Jeremy’s first instincts are to run, rabbit away but Aiden has Jeremy figured out. When Aiden first met Jeremy, one of the things he taught him was how to hold a angora rabbit, to make it feel secure so it can be petted and brushed. So when Jeremy shows signs of rabbiting away, Aiden knows exactly what he has to do to keep the one man he has wanted from running away and make him trust in Aiden.

What a wonderful story. I will be the first to admit that Amy Lane is a “go to” author for me. An Amy Lane book to me means an outpouring of human emotions from characters so real I expect to meet them on the streets. An Amy Lane story means that the situations and events her characters find themselves entangled in comes across so authentic, so genuine that not only my empathy but my heart is engaged from the very beginning. If they weep, then I find myself sobbing along as well. And when they find joy, then my heart feels replete with happiness.

How To Raise An Honest Rabbit (Knitting #3) brings back the characters we learned to love in The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters (Knitting, # 1) . Present and accounted for are Rance Crawford, owner of the alpaca farm and yarn mill, Ben McCutcheon (Rance’s lover and neighbor), Aiden fabric designer extraordinaire and Ariadne shop manager and spinner, and of course, Jeremy. The first story in the Knitting series gave us Rance and Ben’s courtship from their POV, with the other characters circling around like satellites, albeit family member satellites. And as much as we learned to love Ariadne and Rory her husband, it was Jeremy and Aiden we kept returning to and we wanted to know their stories too. And thankfully, Amy Lane gives us that and more in How To Raise An Honest Rabbit.

It was hysterical to see Rance and Ben’s meeting and courtship from the other side, so to speak as Rance’s meeting with Jeremy predates Ben moving in next door. But the heart of this story is Jeremy, his pain born out of his past and his slow emergence into the man he wanted to be but never thought possible. Jeremy’s history is heartbreaking in that Amy Lane way, which means the angst of his past is brought vividly home to the reader but in small subtle ways that build over the length of the story into a horrific portrait of a young boy lost to society at the earliest of ages. We learn in tiny increments about the jars of peanut butter Jeremy has stashed so he always has something to eat, and the true reason he talks so much yet values silence and the awful fact that Jeremy doesn’t even know his real name. The story is told from Jeremy’s POV which is so important as we hear his thoughts about his life, his panic attacks, his growing affection for Aiden and everyone else around him.

And as we learn about Jeremy, we are also creating a strong picture of Aiden as well. From Aiden’s interaction with Rance (overheard conversations) and his talks with Jeremy, we watch a young fiber genius mature into a man who realizes that patience and perhaps ear plugs are the way to capture the skittish man he has fallen in love with. It was Aiden’s careful, loving interactions with Jeremy that made me fall in love with Aiden completely. And with Ariadne as well. Really, there is just an endless stream of gems that I could be quoting from the story but that would take away some of the magic to be found from discovering them on your own as I did.

And finally as a knitter myself, I loved every aspect of knitting that appears here, from the carding machine’s noise to the method Ariadne used to teach Jeremy to knit (and his own rhyme he made up). There are the dye vats, color cards, and descriptions of how the same colored strands can be spun in different manner, ending up as completely different yarns. And I don’t think you have to be a knitter to find all this information fascinating, it just is. But did I love the patterns for the fingerless mittens at the end? Why yes I did and will try my hand at making a set this winter.

There is another Knitting series book on the horizon, Knitter in his Natural Habitat (Knitting #4), Johnny and Stanley’s story. I can’t wait. In the meantime, I will just shuffle off and reload Winter Courtship Rituals back onto my Kindle and start from the beginning once more as I wait.

Here is the order the books were written and should be read:

The Winter Courtship of Fur Bearing Critters (Knitting #1)

Super Sock Man (Knitting #2)

How To Raise An Honest Rabbit (Knitting #3)

Knitter in his Natural Habitat (Knitting #4) coming in November 2012

Covers by Catt Ford. Are these not the most adorable covers ever? I heart them all.

Hurricane Sandy Relief Organizations, Donations, Plus the Week Ahead in Reviews!

Brrrrrr, it’s gotten cold here in Maryland. While most of Maryland got very lucky with respect to Hurricane Sandy, she brought the artic air from Canada down with her swirling air masses so we have 3 ft of snow in Western Maryland and our ski resorts are very happy indeed to get a jump on the season. Our fall ended with the roar of winds and rain as the remaining autumn color fell with the torrential rains. We might actually have a real winter once more. And looking at all the fallen leaves and branches, I am reminded that people not that far away desperately need our help.

My thoughts and hopes go out to all those in need in New York and New Jersey. The devastation is unbelievable and Hurricane Sandy’s impact on human lives continues to widen along with the death tole. There are several reputable organizations that are accepting donations to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort. The Red Cross is one of them. The American Humane Society is another. I have a list below that will link you directly to the organizations accepting donations.

One close to my heart is the Ali Forney Center for housing homeless GLBTQ youth in NYC. It was badly damaged. Here is the link. Every dollar counts. If you can spare $1 or $5, everything is needed, everything helps. However you can help, even if it is just re-tweeting the call for donations, all assistance is appreciated and direly needed.

Red Cross

Ali Forney Center Housing for Homeless for GLBTW Youth

ASPCA

Humane Society of the United States

So, turning away from the subject above, here are the books I am reviewing for the upcoming week. Don’t be surprised if I throw in some extras. Without further ado:

Monday 11/5/2012: How To Raise An Honest Rabbit by Amy Lane

Tuesday 11/6/2012: One True Thing by Piper Vaughn and MJ O’Shea

Wed. 11/7/2012: But For You by Mary Calmes

Thursday 11/8/2012: Ralston’s Way by Talia Carmichael

Friday 11/9/2012: Long Hard Ride by Talia Carmichael

Sat. 11/10/2012: Back To Hell by Amber Kell, Whispered Secrets and Hidden Eyes by Amylea Lyn

Review of Taming The Lion Tamer by Caitlin Ricci

Rating: 4 stars

When Quinn Fitzgerald and his rescued Asiatic lion, Aseem, show up for their job posing for an animation studio’s artists, all he wants is a chance to promote the mission of his big cat sanctuary and earn some needed funds for his cause. The last thing Quinn expects is to find romance in the form of animator Charlie Deagman. But the quiet artist captures his attention and on impulse Quinn invites Charlie up to the sanctuary for the weekend.

Charlie Deagman can’t believe the gorgeous zoologist is asking him to come visit for the weekend. During the entire session, Charlie could barely keep his eyes off of the man and his lion. Charlie loved watching the affection that was obvious between man and cat, and the gentle way Quinn had about him, a far cry from Charlie’s ex. And when the weekend came around, Charlie found himself on the road to Wyoming, and just perhaps on the path to love as well.

Caitlin Ricci’s Taming The Lion Tamer is just an adorable story, fun, light and very sexy. Ricci gives us two lovely, decent men in search of love, a meet cute situation and lovely big cats to boot. Both the characters of Quinn Fitzgerald and Charlie Deagman are so likable in their own way that our affections for them are engaged immediately. Quinn Fitzgerald found his love for big cats on a mission to Kenya and has worked to rescue them in the US ever since. The isolation of his sanctuary has made him a single guy for far too long and we get that totally. Charlie Deagman is shy, kind, and family oriented as he lives with his sister and her kids. His ex who runs the animation studio is a jerk and not deserving of Charlie. So both men are available when they meet at the studio. Caitlin Ricci lets us watch as Quinn and Charlie fall into lust with each other during the weekend that also sees them acknowledging that they like each other as well. Thank goodness there is no real “instant love” but two men who click with each other. At the end, there is the possibility of love, an acknowledgement that each missed the other when the weekend was over and hope for a future together.

I also like the fact that Ricci seems to have done her homework as to what the big cats are fed, and the treats that are given as part of the new approach to animals kept in captivity. All in all, a good job with the Sanctuary descriptions involved, including the long hours required and the devotion needed to the animals rescued. Definitely not a job for those not totally committed. Just lovely.

This is such a fun, romantic and yes, sexy little story and I would love to see more of Quinn, Charlie and Aseem the Asiatic lion. On the cover of this book is says it is part of The Men In Uniform series but quite frankly that is a stretch (and the other books in the series aren’t mentioned) unless you consider khaki shorts and shirt a uniform. So my only real quibbles here are with the title and the cover. It looks like there is a man in a circus outfit on the cover and the title alludes to a Lion Tamer which is the exact opposite of Quinn Fitzgerald who would be appalled by that association, given that he rescues big cats, not “tames” them. Nor would you consider kind, gentle Charlie to fit that description either. *shakes head* But the story is just lovely, the men charming, and the ending just the right amount of HEA. More please, Caitlin Ricci!

Cover: Reese Dante. Too dark to see the details. My other quibbles with the cover are mentioned above.

Review of A Mutual Understanding by Caro Soles

Rating: 3.25 stars

It is 1984. Wayne Robinson, hair dresser and sometime artist, surprisingly has always been an out gay man, even flamboyantly so given the small college town he lives in. He is surrounded by the people he has known all his life and his family lives nearby. After dumping his ex for sleeping around, he sees Professor Adrian Taylor and immediately falls into instant lust and then love. Wayne starts pursuing the man until he “catches” him. But Wayne feels insecure and undereducated in Dr. Taylor’s presence. And the man gives Wayne mixed signals whenever they are together, so much so that Wayne is confused as to what Adrian really wants from him.

Dr. Adrian Tayl0r is in the closet as a professor at the local college and the courtship of the gorgeous young hairdresser has turned his tightly controlled, neat lifestyle upside down. When Adrian buys an huge old Victorian house in town to fix up, live in and rent out rooms,he invites young campy Wayne to move in with him. But neither man is good with communicating with each other, and misunderstandings quickly arise over what each man expects from the other when living under the same roof. Then a close friend of Wayne’s falls ill with AIDS and fear rocks the town. Can both men come to a mutual understanding before they lose their chance at a relationship?

A Mutual Understanding had the potential to become a wonderful, realistic look at a small town’s reaction to gays and the AIDS epidemic in the 80’s, but that promise was never fulfilled as the story lingered over a miscast romance between main characters who never captured my attention or affection. I did love Wayne Robinson, the campy and out young hairdresser with the big heart. The descriptions of Wayne taking his mother on her visit’s to her friends on Sunday were perfect. I could see the whole thing unfold before me as though I was in the room with “Auntie Marge”, her mother Flo and the old dog outside on the porch. I only wish the affection, care, and authenticity the author took in creating these scenes carried throughout the book. You understood these people immediately as small town USA is populated with them. In fact the book is full of easily recognizable small town characters, from the owner of the hair parlor where Wayne works to the people at the diner. So it feels right when the town “seemingly” accepts Wayne’s homosexuality as he is one of theirs until another gay man in town comes down with AIDS and the acceptance is seen for the fragile thing it really is as fear and ignorance takes over. But again given the time period, the actions of the townspeople are in keeping with the time period and the AIDS timeline.

Outside of the “romance”, Wayne acts in an appropriately realistic manner. He comforts his friend who has AIDS, he rescues those in need, he supports his itinerant younger brother until he realizes the extent his brother has taken advantage of him. I love the portrait the author paints of Wayne’s family and their interaction with their son as well as his friends, again another terrific element here.

So what is the problem with this book? That would be the character of Dr. Adrian Taylor and the romance between the two main characters. There is nothing remotely attractive about this man so his appeal to Wayne is never understood, especially in light of his treatment of Wayne throughout the novel. Yes, Dr. Taylor is in the closet so Wayne’s appearance at his office time after time poses a threat to his closeted life. I do get that. But this is a rigid, closed off man who thinks very highly of himself. The author has him saying to Wayne “Oh, I see you have been reading again” repeatedly after Wayne has used a more erudite word or phrase. Are we supposed to find this constant disparagement adorable? Why are we supposed to like this pompous, priggish man and think him a welcome companion to a very endearing young man? I just could never see it nor could I understand the author’s fondness for this character. It never made any sense, and therefore I never bought into their love story. When you can’t sell the love affair in a romance book, you know the author is in trouble.

Another thing that didn’t make sense was having a man in his early forties acting as though he was much older, antiquated mannerisms to go with the antiques he collected. Even in the 80’s, being in your forties was not considered old. Acting in a frigid manner in your forties yes, acting as though you were frozen in the 1800’s? No. Dr. Adrian Taylor is perhaps the only character who came across as flattened cardboard cutout and that ruined any potential for the romance aspect of this book.

This is the first book I have read by Caro Soles and I try never to judge an author based solely on one novel. So I look forward to reading more of this author to see if the potential I see here is reflected elsewhere in her stories. Again, had the character of Dr. Taylor been removed and the story concentrated on Wayne and his friend with AIDS I think this review would have been totally different. But I would give A Mutual Understanding a pass when you are choosing your next book to read.

Cover: Deana Jamroz is the cover artist. Dr. Adrian Taylor does not fit the man in the background who seems too young for his description.

Review of Tigerland (Tigers and Devils #2) by Sean Kennedy

Rating: 4.75 stars

Declan Tyler and Simon Murray hope that the drama of the past couple of years is finally behind them, leaving them to enjoy their lives finally settled and happy. When Declan Tyler retired from the AFL, it was terribly hard on him but he returned to the sport as a commentator and seems happy. Simon has moved on from his job coordinating the movie festival and now works as a producer for the Queer Sports cable show. Then Greg Heyward, Declan’s closeted ex decides to retire and come out of the closet. In the past Greg has brought Declan and Simon nothing but pain and problems and this is no different. Greg is determined to stay in the spotlight one way or the other and dragging Declan back into the drama with him is one way to accomplish his goals.

But Declan wants to rise above Greg’s tactics, even when Greg starts spreading lies to the press about his relationship with Declan and the reasons they split up, hurting Simon in the process. Simon wants Declan to stand up to Greg, not only for himself but for their relationship. Unfortunately the silent treatment that Declan is using only goads Greg on to greater lies and more public exposure for the couple. And that starts to upset their relationship, leading to arguments and misunderstandings that horrify their friends and families. Will the adversity they face strengthen their relationship, deepening their commitment to each other or will the stress and strain force them apart as it did in the past.

Tigerland is the long awaited sequel to Tigers and Devils, published in 2009, and it lives up to all my expectations. I loved the original novel Tigers and Devils which introduced us to Declan Tyler, renown footballer and Simon Murray, who works at the Melbourne film festival. From the moment they meet at Fran and Roger’s party (Simon’s friends), the two men clash, miscommunicate, come together, part and reunite while conducting a romance that melts your heart. Declan and Simon were two lively wonderful characters that grabbed onto the reader and never let go, even after over 300 pages. So having a chance to catch up with them again made my heart beat a little faster, even with the idea of more Australian Rules football, which as an American I never quite grasped. Team loyalty to the extreme, check. Understood that completely while letting some of the totally Australian bits fly over my head. The other elements of the story that were grounded in Melbourne were delightful and made me want to fly down under immediately.

Now we pick up their story a year or so later, and the same qualities that made me love Tigers and Devils are front and center once more. Sean Kennedy’s characters still leap off the pages, full of life and dealing with all the problems that comes with commitment to another person, and close proximity to family and friends. All the people we grew to love from Roger and Fran (Simon’s friends) and Abe and Lisa (Declan’s friends), and all the family either could want are back again. After everything that occurred in the first novel, Simon and Declan have settled into living with each other and their relationship has grown much stronger. Both men have changed professions and while Declan is no longer on the playing field, he is still very much a part of the game as a well known commentator, a fact that helps provoke Greg’s schemes to remain in the spotlight by pulling Declan into a media blitz with him. Greg Heyward is a character we are also familiar with from the pain he caused Declan in the first story and his appearance here threatens all the hard won stability of Simon and Declan’s current status.

From event to event, Sean Kennedy clearly understands couple dynamics and let us see the stress and strain that Declan is putting on Simon with his refusal to publicly repudiate Greg’s claims about Simon and their relationship while still playing football. There is never any doubt that these two men love each other and that their established partnership is one of respect, passion and a love that has grown deeper over the years. But even the strongest bonds can be tested and we watch as Simon and Declan deal realistically with the onslaught of public attention and lives returned to intense media scrutiny. Kennedy gets is all so right that Tigerland has superseded Tigers and Devils in my affections, something I never would have predicted happening.

Simon remains one of my all time favorite contemporary characters. I love his intelligence, his sense of humor and his unwavering loyalty both to his man and his football team. Simon is such a multidimensional persona that he had to have a partner of equal strength to be his match and Declan is certainly that for him. When Declan makes the decision not to “sink to Greg’s level of behavior”, he makes it without consulting Simon, and the aftermath of that poor decision reverberates throughout the story to the point that the reader becomes very frustrated that Declan is not listening to Simon when he tells Declan that he tactic is not working for him. But never fear, Declan more than redeems his actions in the end and in a manner totally in keeping with his personality and his respect for his partner. I just loved this.

There is, however, one part of Australian culture I was not familiar with and quite frankly shocked by. According to Sean Kennedy, when a couple gets married, it is law that the following words, well Sean Kennedy put it the best:

“But then the celebrant said those words which are like a knife in the heart to any queer person attending a marriage ceremony: Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. To the exclusion of all others.”

I can’t imagine that a ceremony binding two people together is used officially to remind the GLBTQ community that they are not equal and their bonds will never have the status of those automatically given to a heterosexual couple. I guess in a time when even the terms man and wife are no longer commonly used, and more countries are legalizing gay marriage, I am surprised that Australia would continue to institutionalize inequality in such a hurtful manner. I was and still am shocked by this knowledge as I thought Australia more progressive than that. I can only hope that as Maryland prepares to vote in the upcoming election that all the polls are correct and Maryland will become the next state to legalize Marriage Equality. Next Maryland, then the USA, and perhaps more will follow the countries that came before. Kudos for them, prayers for us, and hope for all others that exclusion will be a thing of the past.

At any rate, if you loved Tigers and Devils, pick this one up immediately. If you are unfamiliar with the series, start from the beginning with the first book and then go on to this one. I am not sure if there will be another. If not I am more than content with this latest visit to a couple I have never forgotten.

Cover: Catt Ford did the wonderful cover art for Tigerland. I loved it.

Review: Risking It All (Truth or Dare #5) by Lee Brazil

Rating: 4 stars

Sebastian “Bastian” Grey has been asking his lover Rick Claremont for more, more time spent together, more commitment, heck, he would even settle for Rick letting him into Rick’s house but Rick has always pushed him away. But now Rick is adopting a small kitten. Can making one type of commitment mean that Rick is ready to make another? Bastian can only hope that this might mean a new step forward in the relationship with a man he has wanted since Bastian was 16.

Rick Claremont came from an abusive childhood so trust has never come easy. Rescued by Bastian’s older sister, he has watched Bastian grow up into a gorgeous man but one who takes risks all the time, in work and pleasure. It doesn’t matter whether Bastian is running into burning buildings or jumping off sky jumps at mountain resorts, his life is always at jeopardy and Rick is hesitant to give his heart to someone who might not be around to make a relationship work. Then a decision to get a kitten leads to thoughts of taking down some of the barriers that have kept the men from a deeper commitment. Can Rick trust Bastian to stay safe and help him feel safe too?

This is the fifth book in the Truth or Dare series by Lee Brazil and the only one I have read to date. The series seems to revolve around the Blake brothers and the people they fall in love with the exception of this one. Risking It All is the story of Sebastian Grey, Dr. Arden Grey’s brother, and Rick Claremont, a young boy she rescued from an abusive life. Without having the foundation of the other books I was still able to enjoy Bastian and Rick’s story and get an understanding of each man’s history. This is especially true for Rick Claremont whose past is horrific from every angle. Father left, alcoholic mother died leaving him in the care of an abusive stepfather who was a monster. I felt Rick had depth to his character and liked how Brazil created a character who is dealing effectively with his past abuse. Too often we are given stories populated by characters broken by their past, it was a nice change to be given someone who has surmounted his past and we get a glimpse into how he has achieved this remarkable goal. I found Rick believable, likable, and totally someone I become fond of immediately.

Bastian Grey was a little more problematic as his story is most likely told with his sister’s, Dr. Arden Grey, in Giving Up (Truth or Dare #4). I would not necessarily have known he was a firefighter but I liked his “voice” and found his frustration with the status of his relationship with Rick so realistic I could almost hear his teeth grind. You could see how his impulsive nature could give Rick second thoughts when it came to trusting himself into Bastian’s care but his inherent “goodness” is also on display as well. I would have liked to see more of Bastian’s story included here for those of us unfamiliar with the series.

There is an element of mystery when Rick’s stepfather is murdered and Rick finds himself among the suspects, however temporarily. The end of the book becomes overcrowded with characters I didn’t know or care about (perhaps from previous books) and I felt their addition obscured the relationship building between Rick and Bastian. This is a novella in length but the characters and storyline almost cry out for a full length novel. The characters are wonderfully human displaying the full spectrum of behavior, from impulsiveness of Bastian to the wary attitude of Rick. I would have loved much more of them and it gives me the impetus to look into how the series all started.

Cover: Victoria Miller gives us a beautifully dark cover in keeping with the dark elements of the story. I loved the use of green in the fonts which really made the title and the author’s name stand out.

Truth or Dare Series, in the order they were written:

Keeping House, #1 – Mischa Blake and Donovan Holloway, m/m

Telling the Truth, #2 – Terry Blake and Twins Dex and Trick, m/m/m

Giving Up, #3 – Branden Blake and Dr. Arden Grey m/f

Taking the Dare, #4 – Dan Blake and Morgan Hawk,m/m

Risking it All, #5 – Bastian Grey and Rick Claremont m/m

Review of Theory of Attraction by Cleon Lee

Rating: 4.25 stars

Ethan Roberts is waiting in the outside office for his interview for TA when he spots Aaron Marcus, Sociology PhD candidate sitting nearby, obviously there for the same reason. On first look, Aaron’s quiet, reserved behavior makes Ethan give him no more than a casual glance. But as his waiting time extends, Ethan’s attention is drawn back to Aaron and he starts noticing things that he had missed the first time around. In fact after he makes introductions, Ethan starts to think that perhaps the answer to the endless parade of bed partners might just be a monogamous relationship with the adorable Aaron. Now only if he can get Aaron to take his courtship seriously.

Aaron is shy and nerdy, hiding behind his glasses. His prickly, insecure nature comes from past hurts and humiliations so the last person he would trust to have his best interests at heart would be the resident gay Don Juan himself, Ethan Roberts. He doesn’t understand why Ethan keeps giving him things, from a gorgeous and outrageously expensive bouquet of flowers to a box of chocolates the lactose intolerant Aaron can’t eat. But the more Ethan pursues him, the closer the two men become. Little by little, Ethan helps Aaron understand that he is reliable enough for Aaron to lean on and Aaron gets Ethan to believe that a real grown up relationship is the key to happiness.

The Theory of Attraction is the first story I have read by Cleon Lee and I loved it. I found the characters endearing and complex enough to keep my interest. I thought also that the way Lee allowed their relationship to build in small realistic steps instead of huge leaps of “instant love” emotionally rewarding and satisfying. I admit that nerd love is always a big hit for me and Aaron definitely fits in that category. But Aaron is far more complicated than the typical stereotype. I love that he mentors troubled gay youths in a realistic manner, and that past hurts have caused him to be very wary of future relationships. Cleon Lee makes it easy to understand that Aaron’s cold demeanor is really just a preemptive strike aimed at shielding himself from more pain and disillusionment. Ethan is also more than his “golden boy” exterior. Good looks equaled frequent casual sexual partners for Ethan. And the author has Ethan deciding that his lifestyle had gotten stale and unrewarding prior to meeting Aaron and that was a nice change to the stories that have people changing for someone else. Again a nicely authentic touch and a terrific job in crafting main characters you will trust with your affections.

The author delivers a delightful romance between two endearing characters in Theory of Attraction and in the end isn’t that what makes us smile? I loved reading this. A sweet, endearing love story that went down as easily as Hot Toddy on a cold autumn day. Don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

Cover: This is another Reese Dante cover that is just perfection. It fits the characters and the setting.

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