An Alisa Review: Of Paws and Pet Rocks by J.D. Walker

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

of-paws-and-pet-rocks-by-jd-walker Barry Dunning is a pet stylist and a gentle soul. Animals love him and he adores them. And while he would love to have a dog or cat of his own, the lease on his tiny studio apartment doesn’t allow pets. So, he paints miniature cats and dogs on rocks, instead.

Hurt by an ex-boyfriend, Barry doesn’t date. But his sister Trixie is always pestering him to get back out there, though he doesn’t think anyone would want him or his baggage.

Not so. Sheldon Svenson, the owner of the animal shelter where Barry volunteers on weekends is attracted to Barry and asks him out on a date. Barry — for once taking his sister’s advice — accepts.

Dinner ends in disaster, but Sheldon, undaunted, pursues Barry and asks for another chance. Will Barry decide to risk losing his heart?

This was a wonderful short sweet story. Barry has basically been surviving since his ex left him high and dry three years ago, feeling like he doesn’t deserve a nice guy and that no one should have to deal with his problems. Sheldon has carried a torch for Barry since they first met and since he is now unattached he is willing to take the plunge.

Barry continues to tell himself and others that he is happy with his life, but we can see how much he is hurting from the beginning of the story. His sister and her husband are hilarious and a great source of support for him, no matter how much he tries to deny it. Even though this story is told from Barry’s point of view you can see how much Sheldon really cares for him and is willing to wait until he is ready.

The cover art is wonderful and gave me a great visual for Barry interacting with the animals.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 39 pages

Published: March 30, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634860680

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review: His Scar by Erin E. Keller

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

his-scar A car wreck leaves Ryan with a facial scar he believes people find unsightly. But not Sean, a smiling tattoo artist who doesn’t judge a book by its cover.

Sean manages to find the beauty in everyone, including gruff and defensive Ryan. He refuses to be put off by the hard mask behind which Ryan hides. But convincing Ryan to open his heart is proving to be quite a challenge.

When someone from Ryan’s past offers him what he wants most in the world, Ryan has a decision to make. Which voice will he listen to — his heart or his head?

This was a sweet story and really shows how the power of love can make things not seem as bad. Ryan has judged himself based on his scar due to the reactions he receives from a few people close to him and lets it affect how he lives his life, even his best friend can’t convince him otherwise. Sean is determined from the beginning to get to know Ryan better despite his prickly demeanor.

The blurb makes it sound like Ryan wasn’t so prickly before the accident, but I got the feeling he has always been that way it just significantly worse after the accident. Even though he tried to push people away he was still adorable with how oblivious he was to how others saw him and his emotions. He does a lot of growing up in the short time frame of this story, I loved that he jumps way out of his comfort zone to surprise Sean when he is home in Ireland for the holidays.

The cover art is great and gives a good look at the turmoil Ryan must be going through.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 101 pages

Published: September 24, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634861700

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Review: Amen To Love by Carolina Valdez

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Dr. Bond Bergstrom fights to save the life of a man shot near the lakeside path where he jogs. Later, when the hospital where Bond works as chief of surgery learns the shooter attempted to kill him also, the board insists on assigning security protection to him 24/7 until the killer is caught.

Bond is furious with the decision. Former Navy SEALs, he argues, can protect themselves better than anyone in the world. Not so, counters former Delta Force operative Rory O’Shea. He’s the hot, sexy Irish-American who owns the agency providing the hospital’s routine security.

Bond grudgingly gives in, unaware that O’Shea has an ulterior motive in assigning himself to spend nights with the doctor as his personal bodyguard. Will O’Shea prove he has what it takes to satisfy Bond — both in and out of the bedroom?

This was a wonderful story. Bond tries to save a man shot near his jogging path and ends up putting himself in danger in the process. When Rory is forced upon him for protection it takes a bit of compromising for him to accept it is the best solution overall.

This story is told from both character’s points of view, so we are able to see the struggles they both go through. Bond wants to be a great surgeon and just help people anyway he can. Rory loves his security business, but has been following Bond from the sidelines for years and will not waste this new opportunity to get to know Bond and see if they can build a future. I felt so connected with both of these characters and was rooting for them the whole time.

The cover art is nice and catches your eye.

Sales Links

JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 123 pages

Published: 2nd Edition, September 17, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634862196

Edition Language: English

A Paul Review: To Catch His Mate by JD Walker

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

to-catch-his-mate A young mix cat shifter cub comes to a campsite tired and hungry. Smelling food, he investigates further. There, a man sees the cub collapse before him and gives him something to eat. The cub shifts into a human boy. The man makes like nothing unusual happened. He takes the boy in, names him Felix and raises him as his son.

Felix Cotter grows up and moves to Atlanta. As an insurance investigator, he uses his were senses to help get the truth for his employer. He is assigned a case where safes are being cracked and robbed in almost impossible to get into places. While he investigates, Felix finds the scent of the culprit strangely enticing. When he catches his man, he will be glad the case is over but upset that the man behind this alluring scent will have to go to jail.

Tyler Panterone has recently been laid off. When he went out with a couple of other guys who had also been laid off, he changed into his panther form. The men use this to blackmail Tyler into a string of robberies to steal jewels for their boss. Seeing he has no other choice, he does so. That is until he is caught one night by Felix. He explains to the handsome investigator his tale of woe. While Felix wants to find a way to keep Tyler out of jail, Tyler himself is half resigned that he will be doing time or worse, outed as a shifter. To complicate matters, Ben, the man who raised Felix, is suffering from health problems. Will Felix and Tyler find their happiness amongst their problems?

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The romance aspect came across alright. The shifter part of the book was standard fair. The mystery aspect of the book however fell flat for me. The author leads you right to the suspects at the first opportunity. And I figured out the surprise reveal way too early in the book for my tastes. Granted this is not primarily a mystery novel but I would have liked better development of that part of the story.

The cover design by Written Ink Designs is alright for the book. It has Felix’s white tiger shifted form and a young man in a contemplative pose in the bottom half.

Sales Links

JMS Books LLC

Book Details

EBook, 123 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: March 30, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634860673

An Alisa Review: Smoke and Spots By Deirdre O’Dare

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

smoke-and-spots When firefighter Grady Ashcroft adopts his deceased sister’s son, he knows life will change. He never expected to be a dad, but he’ll give young Jamie his best, even if it means a celibate life in a new home. He does not expect to find the man of his dreams in the Colorado village where he takes a new job, either.

Sullivan Parker wanted to be chief of the Valle Vista fire department when the former chief was forced to leave. Instead, the town council hires a stranger from far away. Despite his resentment, Sully finds himself drawn to the newcomer. He also discovers a need to take Jamie and the spotted pup the former chief left behind under his wing.

Can the brotherhood of battling dangerous blazes morph into stronger feelings for the two men, or will conflict prevail?

This was a nice short story. Grady and Sully meet when Grady relocates with his son to Sully’s town as the new fire chief. Grady spends most of the book adjusting to life in a small town and settling down into a new routine with little wrenches thrown in by Sully.

This story is told from both characters’ points of view which gives you a chance to see both of their personalities better. They both feel drawn to one another, but don’t know how to interpret the feeling. Grady is determined to make life good for his son and has resigned himself to a life as a single father because he assumes since he’s in a small town there won’t be anyone available. This story has a HFN ending that gives you the chance to imagine a future for them.

The cover art is nice and connects to the story.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 46 pages

Published: September 3, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634862103

Edition Language: English

A Caryn Review: Silences of Fallen Stars by Vivian Dean

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

silences-of-the-fallen-stars This novella was set in Nebraska in the late 1960’s. Although elsewhere in the country the Stonewall riots were happening, and hippies were experiencing free love, in the heartland things were much less progressive. It was certainly not a place conducive to romance for gay men.

Jim and Ronnie were friends for most of their lives, and in high school they became lovers, but secretly, and innocently. Jim was lucky enough to be able to afford college, so he went to Omaha after graduation, and Ronnie stayed home. Pride, and shame, led to a falling out, and then Ronnie was sent to Vietnam. The story actually begins when Ronnie comes back home, wounded, and Jim is back at his grandfather’s farm after falling short of everyone’s expectations.

I love a good hurt/comfort storyline, and this book did it very well. In the 5 years they were apart, Ronnie and Jim became men, and left the naïve highschool lovers behind. They were both changed by loss and heartache, and in Ronnie’s case, physical injury and disability. Coming back together was not automatically a given, and Ms. Dean did an excellent job of showing the fragility of their new relationship, and how they eventually found their way back to each other.

The historical details were entered unobtrusively, but clearly enough that the impact of the times and the location on the men’s personalities and actions made perfect sense. I am so thankful that I didn’t see any glaring anachronisms that bother me so much in poorly done historicals! Overall, a sweet read, fairly low angst, with relatable characters and a realistic HFN. Definitely recommended.

Cover art is lovely and eye catching.

Sales Links

JMS Books LLC

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 69 pages

Published September 3rd 2016 by JMS Books LLC (first published April 19th 2015)

ASIN B01KPNUMEU

Edition Language English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dad’s Nerdy New Boyfriend by J.M. Snyder

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

dads-nerdy-new-boyfriend When website designer Rick Pruitt takes his eight-year-old son Micah to see the latest Pokémon movie, he expects to be bored out of his mind. What he doesn’t expect is to fall in love with the guy ahead of them in line.

Self-confessed nerd and Harry Potter look-a-like, Marty Owens runs a comic shop downtown. Marty needs a new website to help grow his business and Rick needs a guy he can eat cozy meals with, snuggle up to, and … But no matter how many of Rick’s boxes Marty checks, there’s still Micah to consider. Fortunately Micah and Marty hit it off, connecting over a love of video games and all things Pokémon.

Rick starts coming by the comic shop after hours to work on Marty’s website. Can they build something long-lasting and meaningful offline, too?

First of all—great title! That attracted my attention to the story more than anything else. And I’m glad it did. This was a delightful story, very much in line with what is stated in the blurb, but even more lighthearted and fun. Both MCs were well-developed and engaging and the good news is: the author struck the right balance in making Micah, the eight-year-old, just annoying enough, but not over-much, so that he added to the reading enjoyment, rather than detract from it as some children in MM stories do.

There was definitely a slow buildup to the romance as the men got to know one another both during the movie “date” with Rick’s child and during the subsequent week of working on Marty’s website. It was natural when they finally fell into bed together and ended with the promise of a possible happy future for the two. I wouldn’t mind seeing them together again in a sequel—one that could explore their attraction further while letting readers follow what their future turns out to be.

For Pokeman lovers, this is the perfect book, delving into discussions that only those fully vested in the app would understand. Don’t get me wrong—I didn’t find that boring at all—in fact, I found it quite interesting and gave me a new appreciation for why the kids in my neighborhood seem to be obsessed with their cell phones, even while riding their bikes. 😀

If you want a light read that leaves you feeling good, check this one out. I found it to be the perfect cure for a rainy day Sunday, and I highly recommend it.

The cover by Written Ink Designs attracted my attention, and though I can’t visualize the men on the cover as the MCs in this story, the spirit of the relationship is there.

Sales Links

JMS Books LLC

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 79 pages
Published August 20th 2016 by JMS Books LLC
ASINB01KRYVMW8
Edition LanguageEnglish

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

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

The cover art is nice and catches your eye.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 87 pages

Published: August 6, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634861021

Edition Language: English

A MelanieM Review: What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

What It Looks Like Eli Bell is the only son of a police chief inspector and a forensic scientist. He’s grown up wonky in a world that only deals with the straight and narrow — and his new boyfriend isn’t helping.

Rob Hawkes is six feet of muscle, tattoos, and arrest warrants. A career criminal and a former guest of Her Majesty’s Prison Service, he’d rather hit Eli’s parents than sit down to dinner with them. One wrong move, and Rob could destroy Eli — and his family — without a second thought.

But this isn’t what it looks like.

Rob’s not in control here — and Eli’s the one to blame.

What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger is one of those books that took a while for me to finish and even longer to write a review for. Why? Because I couldn’t figure out exactly why I couldn’t connect to the book and the characters.

Its well-written and the story certainly emotional and pertinent to the times. So why couldn’t I get involved?

It kept coming back to the characters. I’m just not sure I liked them very much.

The character of Eli Bell, which will hold a few surprises for the reader, has had a childhood that has been emotionally overwhelming at times in a family not always supportive and understanding. He’s realistically drawn as a character but…and here’s my but…I got tired of Eli quickly. He covers the same ground in his arguments, shows little growth as a person for the longest time. Kudos to the writer for making Eli real, but after a while…I wanted to put the book down because scene after scene I knew what was coming.

Rob Hawkes was a little more interesting but again not by much. A bad boy by history and now by his own choices (and need), he comes off as going over the same landscape as Eli does. He looks after his younger brother, comes from a troubled, criminal family known to the police. He’s angry that Eli’s dad hates him. He hates Eli’s dad. You know the drill. Its a pattern. Perhaps that’s the authors intent. Both are stuck in a pattern, even with each other. Unfortunately, so is the reader. At least that’s how I felt.

About 75 to 80 percent through the story, I started to care about them. Everything turned over for me. I liked their relationship. Things that felt needlessly tedious were dropped in favor of change and the story seemed fresh again.

There is considerable amount about Eli and his sexuality. Also Eli and Rob’s relationship includes a huge amount of bdsm content. As this makes up a large part of the story, if this is not your thing, I would take that into consideration when thinking about reading this story. Metzger does fold it realistically into Eli and Rob’s relationship, less so when its occurring at Eli’s house.

As I stated, I really went back and forth with this review in my head. There are some wonderful scenes and elements here, most of which I felt came towards the last part of the story. There the book became more concise, the narrative pared down to what mattered most (at least to me) and I could connect emotionally to the characters and their relationship.

You may feel otherwise.

Its the first book I’ve read by this author and I certainly look forward to reading more. What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger is a well-written book that left me with a conflicted review. Maybe that’s as the author intended. Pick it up and decided for yourself.

Cover art definitely shows a inked bad boy. Nice but standard.

Sales Links

JMS Books

Book Details:

ebook
Published August 20th 2016 by JMS Books LLC
ISBN139781634862288
Edition LanguageEnglish

In the Spotlight: Matthew J. Metzger’s What It Looks Like (giveaway)

Matthew J. Metzger – What It Looks Like

Author: Matthew J Metzger

Release Date: August 20 2016

Buy Links: Amazon US Amazon UK JMS Books

Add to Goodreads here.

Length: 80,615 words

Blurb

Eli Bell is the only son of a police chief inspector and a forensic scientist. He’s grown up wonky in a world that only deals with the straight and narrow — and his new boyfriend isn’t helping.Rob Hawkes is six feet of muscle, tattoos, and arrest warrants. A career criminal and a former guest of Her Majesty’s Prison Service, he’d rather hit Eli’s parents than sit down to dinner with them. One wrong move, and Rob could destroy Eli — and his family — without a second thought.

But this isn’t what it looks like.

Rob’s not in control here — and Eli’s the one to blame.

Author Bio

Matthew J. Metzger is the front for a British-born author dragged up in the south of England as part of a typical nuclear family with three kids, a mortgage, and no dog because a dog would get hair on the carpet. A brief escape to the north to study focused his writing from daydreaming rambles to his first novel, Our Last Summer. It is unquestionably better than the dissertation he produced at the same time for his university degree, but probably not as inventive as the excuses he provided for missing classes so often.

Matthew has since returned to the London area, and therefore lives mostly on the public transport. He suspects that his next few pieces will probably involve homicidal characters on the London Underground.

For more information, please visit matthewjmetzger.wordpress.com.

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Matthew J. Metzger – What It Looks Like

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