Tag: Samhain Publishing

A Free Dreamer Review: Coyote’s Creed (Broken Mirrors #1) by Vaughn R. Demont

Rating: 5 stars out of 5    ★★★★★

Always have an ace up your sleeve.

Broken Mirrors, Book 1

Coyote's CreedIf con games were taught in high school, Spencer Crain would be on the honor roll. As it is, he’ll be riding the edge of failure to graduation next month. Then Spence gets the news that his long-gone father is not only dead, but was a Coyote, one of three clans of tricksters in the City.

With a near-catatonic mother on his hands, Spence couldn’t care less about the Coyotes’ ongoing feud with the Phouka and the Kitsune—until it lands on his doorstep. Suddenly he’s thrown headfirst into a dangerous world he knows next-to-nothing about. His only guide is Rourke, dashing King of the Phouka, plus a growing pack of half-siblings, a god, and Fate herself.

As Spence embarks on a journey to learn the Coyote’s creed, the truth about his heritage, and how to handle his growing attraction to Rourke, he wonders when his life turned from TV sitcom to real-life danger zone. And what price must he pay to survive the next roll of the dice…

Warning: Contains PG-13 rated violence, R-rated language and X-rated hotel scenes. Meta-humor, pop-culture humor, utter disregard for the 4th wall abound.

This is one of those books I picked up a while ago and never got around to read. When I finally did find the time to start it, I’d forgotten what it was about. So I essentially started this without any expectations whatsoever, because I never read a blurb right before starting the book. Now that I’ve read both blurb and book, I can only say: Hell yeah! Coyote’s Creed definitely delivers what the blurb promises.

Spencer’s long-absent father dies and Spencer is apparently the designated Speaker. He couldn’t care less about the death of his father. In fact, he decides to attend the wake just so he can spit on his father’s grave or “accidentally” knock over his ashes. But then he learns that his father was a Coyote, one of three paranormal trickster clans in the City and that his uncle Rourke is a Phouka. He also finds himself very attracted to Rourke (don’t worry, no incest, he’s not his real uncle, Spencer just called Rourke “uncle” when growing up). And that’s only the beginning of what turns into a truly insane adventure, full of secrets and lies and intrigues.

I absolutely loved Spencer. He’s funny, he’s witty and he’s definitely not your typical romance hero. He’s a trickster and a bit of a pick pocket and doesn’t care too much that it’s illegal. His knowledge of TV tropes is truly awe-inspiring and he always knows just what a TV hero would do to avoid getting killed. Naturally, real life isn’t all that simple, but his ideas on the matter are epic. It was easy to fall for his charms and to just get sucked into his world full of crazy.

Spencer is bi and unlike in many other books of the genre, it’s not just an excuse so he can have kids or only mentioned in passing. He flirts openly with men and women and is very obviously attracted to both. There’s some kissing and quite a bit of talk about boobs. Sex only happens between Spencer and Rourke, so no on-screen naked girly bits. 😉 It’s something I liked about this book, though. I always like my MCs to be diverse and Spencer definitely fits the bill.

The author obviously put a lot of thought into this world. There are three different races, each with their own individual traits, there are gods, there’s Fate, and countless “knacks”. Those knacks make for some really interesting characters.

The plot was incredibly fast-paced and you can do nothing but hurtle along at break-neck speed till the very unpredictable ending. I loved it. It was so very addicting.

The sex was plentiful and hot, and yet didn’t take anything away from the plot. But don’t expect a real love story. Spencer and Rourke aren’t really a couple, it’s more of a friends with benefits kind of relationship.

Long story short: I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read part two. This was so much fun.

Cover: The cover by Angela Waters doesn’t really fit the mood of the story. It looks much more serious and almost angsty. Still, Spencer looks good on there and the Ace on his pocket fits.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 273 pages
Published October 11th 2011 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASINB005BSMXDS
Edition Language English
Series Broken Mirrors #1
Characters James Black, Spencer Crain
Literary Awards Rainbow Award for Best Gay Paranormal/Horror (2012)

A Free Dreamer Review: The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The Hot FloorTwo plus one equals scorching hot fun. 

Dumped by his boyfriend and reduced to living in a grotty bedsit, Josh Carpenter has gotten used to expecting the worst. Now he lives only for his job as a glassblower…and occasional glimpses of his sexy downstairs neighbors, Rai Nakamura and Evan Truman.

Every time he overhears the diminutive academic and the hunky plumber having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is overwhelmed with lust…and a longing for a fraction of what they have.

To his amazement, Rai and Evan find his embarrassing tendency to blush utterly charming, and the three men grow closer over the course of the long, hot summer. Despite Rai’s charming flirtation and Evan’s smoldering gaze, Josh is determined never to break his new friends’ loving bonds.

On the night a naked Josh falls—quite literally—into the middle of one of Rai and Evan’s marathon sex sessions, the force of their mutual attraction takes control. But just as Josh dares to hope, he senses a change. Leaving him to wonder if the winds of love are about to blow his way at last…or if history is about to repeat itself.

Warning: Contains one well-endowed stud with a sexy accent, one improbably toppy bottom boy with an unfortunate owl obsession, and one blushing naïf who can’t believe his luck. Also, the occasional indulgence in mathematical spanking and some shameless armpit sex.

The book is all the blurb promises: A little silly, a few stereotypes and first and foremost tons of sex.

The sex was definitely interesting and unusual. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an armpit kink and I really don’t think that’s my kind of kink, but hey, at least the author got creative. Other than that, it really wasn’t all that kinky. There was a bit of spanking and a hint of D/s, but mostly it’s just three guys having fun. So don’t worry if heavy kink isn’t your kind of thing.

Josh got annoying after a while, with his insecurities and his inability to talk about feelings. It felt like the whole plot solely revolved on him not being able to just come out and say how he feels. Instead he sulks and wallows in self-pity.

I loved that the author gave him such an unusual job, but unfortunately there weren’t many scenes with Josh really working. It’s a shame when an author makes the effort to come up with an unusual job and then only mentions it in passing, instead of writing some really interesting job-related scenes.

Rai and Evan didn’t get much of a characterisation. Rai was the nerdy twink and Evan the very well-hung top. The author did include a bit about their history, but it wasn’t enough to make them feel really alive to me, instead of like the stereotypes they represent at first glance.

What I missed the most about this book was the plot. Nothing much actually happened. There’s Josh pining after Rai and Evan, then he falls into their bathroom, they have sex, they have even more sex, Josh wallows in self-pity, they talk, they have sex, they live happily ever after. It got a little boring toward the end, to be honest.

To sum it up, “The Hot Floor” isn’t spectacularly good or spectacularly bad. It’s okay. More plot and characterisation would have really helped me enjoy this book more.

If you’re looking for a quick read with lots of steamy sex, then “The Hot Floor” is a great book. Just don’t expect too much of a real plot.

 The cover by Lou Harper fits the steamy mood of the book perfectly. These guys are absolutely drool-worthy!

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book details:

ebook, 233 pages
Published September 25th 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 1619212986 (ISBN13: 9781619212985)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttp://josephinemyles.com/published-stories/the-hot-floor/

Coffee Sip and Book Break with A.M. Arthur’s ‘The World As He Sees It’ (excerpt and giveaway

WorldAsHeSeesIt-The400

The World As He Sees (Perspectives #2) by A.M. Arthur
Release Date: October 20, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Cover Artist: Lyn Taylor

Sales Links: Samhain Publishing | Amazon | ARe | B & N | Kobo | iTunes

Banner300x250

 

Blurb

Love knows no limits…but fear could keep them from seeing it.

Gabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications.

Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.

Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders.

A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them.

Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…

 

Pages or Words: 283 pages, 83,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt


The late hour didn’t diminish the sweltering August heat, and Tristan worked up a good sweat walking. Shane and Noel both looked crazy sexy in their club clothes, and even sexier walking side by side. He was happy for Noel. Happy his best friend was in love and enjoying himself.

He was also stupidly, insanely jealous.

He stuck close with his stupid, insane jealousy because the streets were teeming with people of all ages, heading into and out of the different restaurants and clubs. They turned down a quieter side street that was more like an alley. Halfway down the block a few guys hung out against a stone wall, most of them smoking cigarettes. An industrial door with no sign or markings was being guarded by a big, burly bear of a man in a black leather vest.

“Hey, Officer Carlson,” the bouncer said. He had a deep voice to match his broad body. “Nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Mr. Henson,” Noel said.

“Bear, son. Everyone calls me Bear.”

“Right. This is my friend Tristan Lavelle.”

“A right pleasure.”

Tristan shook Bear’s hand, surprised by the gentle grip. “Hi.” He glanced at Shane, who didn’t seem at all annoyed at being left out. “Um, that’s Shane. Noel’s boyfriend.”

Bear grinned. “Yeah, I know that one all right.”

“You do?” He reached for a notebook he didn’t have, then looked at Noel for answers.

“Shane dances here once a week,” Noel said. “He got the job through Bear’s son Gabe.”

“Oh.” He didn’t bother asking if he’d already been told that. Probably. Every single piece of information that was mildly important to his life had been repeated to him at least, oh, eighteen times. Minimum.

“Enjoy yourselves, boys,” Bear said. “First drinks are on the house.”

“Thank you,” Tristan replied.

Noel pulled the door, and what had been a distant bass became an impressive thumpa-thumpa in Tristan’s chest. The interior of the club was wide and deep, with a high ceiling decorated in strands of red and blue lights. Strobes and other lighting flashed around the dance floor, which seemed to make up most of the floor space. A small U-shaped bar stood to the right. In the rear were what looked like raised platforms. Two hot guys in red short-shorts were gyrating together on one of them.

This is the kind of dancing Shane does? Shit.

He was probably twenty kinds of hot up there.

Someone jostled past them, reminding Tristan to keep moving forward. Noel was hustling them straight for the bar. Tristan couldn’t drink alcohol because of his antidepressants and anxiety medications, and Noel was driving so the only person able to drink much was Shane.

Lucky bastard.

Not that Tristan was going to mourn his dry night. Men. Everywhere around him, a sea of hot men. All kinds of eye candy. Every age, height, weight, shape and body hair amount. He observed and mentally drooled over the flesh on display. The air smelled of liquor and sweat and sex, and good Lord he was starting to get lightheaded from it all.

Noel nudged them closer to the bar. A middle-aged man with gray hair and a pink sequined vest gave them all a big, toothy smile. “Noel and friends,” he said. “Richard Brightman, pleased to officially meet you, Tristan.”

“Hello,” Tristan said. Officially meet you implied they’d interacted before, but the man’s name meant nothing to him.

“I’m Bear’s husband. We own the place.”

“Oh. It’s a great place. I’m pretty sure this is my first time. I like it.”

Noel flinched.

Okay that was wrong. When was I here before?

“So what are we drinking tonight?” Richard asked. “First round on the house. Samuel Adams for you, Shane?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Shane replied.

Richard knows because Shane works here.

“I’ll have a vodka tonic,” Noel said. “Tris?”

“Virgin margarita,” Tristan said. He loved margaritas, and while a virgin wasn’t as good as one with Patrón, he couldn’t mix with his meds.

“Coming up,” Richard said.

The music changed to a faster, sharper beat. Tristan’s hips rolled in tiny motions, instinct bringing out his love of club dancing. Of getting into it with another dude, all writhing bodies and gyrating hips. Arms and legs. Sweat and heavy breathing.

Wonderful arousal stirred in his gut, heating his blood already. He might not be getting laid tonight, but damn it, he was going to have some fun.

“Hey, you guys made it,” said a sexy, sultry voice.

Tristan glanced over his shoulder to see who the voice had spoken to, only to find himself staring into a pair of kind, dark eyes. Kind, dark eyes belonging to a stunningly handsome face. Black hair. Tan skin. Tall and well-built. A walking wet dream who was smiling like they were old friends.

Holy fucking hell, he’s gorgeous.

“Hey, Gabe,” Shane said.

Gabe.

Those kind, dark eyes never broke from his, and Tristan couldn’t look away. Gabe was a stranger, and yet somehow familiar.

His eyes. The eyes I see. We’ve met.

“We’ve met,” Tristan said before he could think twice.

Gabe’s eyebrows twitched. “Yes, we have. Do you remember that?”

“I remember your eyes.”

 

RC

About the Author

A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories.

When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Contact her at am_arthur@yahoo.com with your cooking tips (or book comments).

 

Where to find the author:

 

Giveaway

Final

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Grand Prize Goodie Basket: 1 signed paperback of The Truth As He Knows It, 1 signed paperback of The World As He Sees it, plus a bunch of other goodies (notebooks, cute post-it’s, etc…).  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

 

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A Free Dreamer Review: Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Can art imitate death? Oh no, girlfriend. Don’t even go there…

Hemovore coverTen years ago, the Human Hemovore Virus blazed through the world, and left the few victims who survived unable to eat, allergic to sunlight and craving the taste of blood.

Mark Jensen used to think V-positives were incredibly sexy with their pale, flawless skin and taut, lean bodies. Not anymore. Not since he’s been stuck procuring under-the-counter feline blood for his control-freak boss, Jonathan Varga. Why cat blood? Mark has never dared to ask.

It’s not as if he’s usually at a loss for words. He can dish an insult and follow it with a snap as quick as you can say “Miss Thang”. But one look at Jonathan’s black-as-sin gypsy eyes, and Mark’s objections drain away.

So he endures their strange, endless routine: Jonathan hiding in his studio, painting solid black canvases. Mark hurling insults as he buffs the office to a shine with antiviral wipes and maps out the mysterious “routes” he’s required to drive.

Then a blurb in Art in America unleashes a chain of events neither of them saw coming. As secrets of Jonathan’s past come to light, it becomes clear all his precautions weren’t nearly enough.

I picked up Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price in the hopes of a creepy Halloween read. Sadly, I was very, very disappointed.

The premise sounds intriguing: Vampires aren’t some sort of mythical creatures. Vampirism is an illness that can’t be cured. Either you die or you turn into a vampire. That’s definitely a unique idea I haven’t come across before. But that’s pretty much the only positive thing I have to say about this book.

First of all, I simply hated Mark. He was a whiny snob and was convinced everybody around him was either a homophobe, a vampire hater or both. When he’s forced into hiding, he whines about the cheap clothes he’s forced to wear. No more hand tailored suits for poor, poor Mark. Imagine the horror! It was comments like that that made me instantly dislike him. He was a bit of a homophobe himself. His constant obsession with looking like a “sissy” or a “drama queen” or an “overly dramatic queer” got annoying very fast.

He’s also one hell of a lousy friend. He forgot to give his new number to his best friend. Whoops. Oh well, everything’s right as rain once he calls him for the first time in two years. Yay for friendship! The best friend was annoying too, but he didn’t get much screen time, so it was okay.

At one point, Mark complains that Jonathan didn’t tell him he’s gay and that he doesn’t behave the way a gay man is supposed to. It’s totally unfair of Jonathan to keep Mark guessing about his sexuality. Now, with a comment like that, I’d expected Mark to be out and proud. But apparently he’s not. Eventually we learn he hasn’t even told his family. So what right does he have to complain about Jonathan not being out and proud?

Mark is supposed to be forty. He doesn’t act like it. If we didn’t get the constant reminder that being forty meant getting fat and unfit and wrinkles and generally being ugly, I would’ve said he’s a teenager. Early twenties, at the most.

Then there’s a romance part. I totally get that Mark has a crush on the mysterious, sexy artist guy. Who wouldn’t? But where do Jonathan’s feelings suddenly come from? I’m supposed to believe he’s been secretly in love with Mark all these years? But he’s a poor, tortured artist, so he could never act on those feelings. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget that vampirism is highly contagious. So no sex for those two!

What I really didn’t understand was why Mark worked for Jonathan in the first place. I mean, he’s incredibly paranoid about becoming v-positive himself. I would be, too, considering 85% of the infected die before they turn into vampires. But if it is so incredibly contagious, I have a hard time believing Mark didn’t catch it before now. Hell, I wonder how ANYBODY was still v-negative in this world. We never get an explanation as to how and why Mark started working for Jonathan. It seems like an unusual job for me. Maybe he just needed money to buy made-to-measure suits. Who knows?

There wasn’t much of a plot either. First, we get Mark pining and drooling over Jonathan. Then, stuff happens and they’re constantly running and hiding. We also get some more of Mark pining and drooling and whining. And doing absolutely mundane things like eating pizza (and whining because he’s used to better things) and pitying the people who aren’t filthy rich like him. Those poor people can only afford two small fridges! The horror!

There were a few big “mysteries” that weren’t very mysterious after a couple of pages. Only Jonathan and Mark were too dumb to figure it all out.

The ending was too easy for me. Everything just kind of smoothed out naturally and the two of them get their cheesy HEA. The friend from the beginning of the book is forgotten once more and the famous Aunt Trixie doesn’t get a call that her favourite nephew is doing fine. Mark is too busy being all lovey-dovey with Jonathan, so that’s understandable.

To sum it up, I really, really didn’t like this book. It earned more than a few eye rolls and annoyed sighs. I hated Mark, the plot was boring and the romance didn’t make much sense. The potential of the world made me tack on a second star. To be fair, it might just be me being weird again, since every other reviewer I’ve come across seems to have loved this book. I absolutely can’t relate.

 The cover by Kanaxa is well done and conveys a bit of the mystery that was missing in the book itself.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing |  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 1st Edition, 197 pages
Published July 28th 2009 by Samhain Publishing (first published July 2009)
original title Hemovore
ISBN 1605046345 (ISBN13: 9781605046341)
edition language English

A Jeri Review: Not Safe for Work by L.A. Witt

Rating: 3 stars out of 5  

They’re a match made in the dungeon…until their secret gets out.

Not Safe For Work coverBored senseless in a meeting, architectural modeler Jon McNeill amuses himself with a kinky dating app on his phone. Then the app matches him with another user…who’s six feet away. Suddenly Jon finds himself on the same page as someone way above his pay grade: millionaire property developer Rick Pierce. His firm’s biggest—and hottest—client.

The app isn’t kidding either. They’re a perfect match. Jon’s a Dom, Rick’s a sub, and bondage is their thing. Both guys are well into their forties, know their way around the bedroom, and definitely appreciate a good suit. And the best part? They’re a match outside the bedroom too.

But office relationships aren’t easy to keep a secret. When the truth comes out, Jon is certain he’s about to get fired. Instead, his bosses throw him a curve ball—an ultimatum that puts both his job and his relationship in jeopardy.I love that so many books are bringing modern technology and phone apps into their story lines. This book has a fictional app called “Leathr” which is like Tindr, but for the kinky set. During yet another boring meeting, Jon quickly checks Leathr and finds a match, not in the same zip code, but in the same room. A quick glance around the table and he figures out his match- his firms newest and biggest client.

They meet for a drink to see if they are compatible, there are definite sparks and they begin a relationship that they both think is about the kink only. But it isn’t.

While I really enjoyed the relationship between Rick and Jon, especially the covert nature of keeping it a secret at work, the BDSM part of the book left a bit to be desired, in my opinion. I hate to say it, but I feel like this is another case of jumping on the BDSM bandwagon without knowing enough about it.

If we leave the BDSM in the background (which is a bit difficult since that is what their relationship is built on), it was a really good story. I liked that they were both in their 40’s. That their knees ached and their bodies took a bit more time to recover.

They also really talk to each other. Like, honest conversations about life. I feel that this is lacking in so many books. I liked reading an adult conversation. And while they both had their histories- of course, they are in the 40’s- they both willingly and openly went into a relationship together.

While the cover art is definitely hot, I don’t see either character looking like that. But it would still pull me in enough to at least read the blurb.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing  and other links coming soon.

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 341 pages
Expected publication: December 15th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASINB013HUV8RI
edition language English

A MelanieM Review: Winter Wonderland (Minnesota Christmas #3) by Heidi Cullinan

Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

Finding Mr. Right can be a snow lot of fun.

Winter Wonderland coverPaul Jansen was the only one of his friends who wanted a relationship. Naturally, he’s the last single man standing. No gay man within a fifty-mile radius wants more than casual sex.
No one, that is, except too-young, too-twinky Kyle Parks, who sends him suggestive texts and leaves X-rated snow sculptures on his front porch.

Kyle is tired of being the town’s resident Peter Pan. He’s twenty-five, not ten, and despite his effeminate appearance, he’s nothing but the boss in bed. He’s loved Paul since forever, and this Christmas, since they’re both working on the Winter Wonderland festival, he might finally get his chance for a holiday romance.

But Paul comes with baggage. His ultra-conservative family wants him paired up with a woman, not a man with Logan’s rainbow connection. When their anti-LGBT crusade spills beyond managing Paul’s love life and threatens the holiday festival, Kyle and Paul must fight for everyone’s happily ever after, including their own.

I have always found the writings of Heidi Cullinan to be something special but in her Minnesota Christmas series with its generous helping of warmhearted bears, human bears that is, and their unique, loving counterparts, she has conjured up stories  not only distinctive but that contain  sparks I like to think of as narrative magic.  In Winter Wonderland, that mojo is working overtime with characters like Paul and Kyle.  What charms this story has in store for the reader!  And snow sculptures shaped like penises too.  Let’s get to the particulars.

Paul is one of those characters  Cullinan  does so well.  Paul is a man whose mean-hearted, conservative family’s constant belittling and derision has lead Paul to a poor self image and inability to imagine a happy future for himself.  But little of that is shown to others in their small town.  Only to Paul’s small circle of friends (see the other stories) is his unhappy family dynamics known as well as his  penchant for Hallmark movies, especially Hallmark’s Christmas movies.  The author brings in such well known movies like Hallmark’s  “The Christmas Card” and uses them to make a point about Paul, the damage done to him by his family, and makes it and the other Christmas movies provide a way to heal Paul’s pain.  Its a beautiful touch, one among many, and it feels believably so as a panacea that others have found.

I love the character of Kyle as well.  He too contains so many truths of his own.  Kyle is the town “man child”, the one people remember so well as a charming adolescent that they can’t see the man he’s become.  Kyle is tired of fighting his past image because he never seems to overcome it.  Especially with the one person he’s  been crushing on for most of his life.  Paul.   Kyle wants to capture Paul’s attention and desperate times calls for desperate measures.  Or in this case, anatomically correct snow sculptures.  I have a vivid imagination and Heidi Cullinan’s descriptions cracked me up.  Even if you don’t, you won’t need them, because her words and the pictures they paint will be more than enough to leave you with the giggles. But Kyle is not all fun and snow.  He has his own depth of character and responsibilities, one of which is his sister.

One of the things I love best about the Minnesota Christmas series is that the town of Logan is populated by characters who are so real, so darn human.  Some have reading disabilities, others face other physical challenges,  some have their own hot, unexpected sexual kinks, and some with family issues so profoundly wounding that it almost costs them a future. Nothing is really “normal”.  Perfection has no role here.  But authentic happiness? Small town joys, long term loves  and relationships? Yes, they most certainly do.  With Logan you get the best as well as the worst of small town mentality, Cullinan is blunt about that.  I liked that as well.

We’ve had 3 stories so far.  The 3 bears of Logan and each has found their own Mr. Right for Christmas.  Paul was the baby bear.  Will there be more Christmas stories for us coming out of Minnesota?  I can only hope so.  What I’ve read so far has had that winter white glitter sparkle that speaks of joy, and hope, and love.  And Christmas is coming.  What a wonderful present it would be to have Minnesota  Christmas story number four!

I highly recommend  Heidi Cullinan and her Minnesota Christmas series, including this very special story, Winter Wonderland.   Pick this and all of them up as a early holiday present for yourself.

Cover art by Angela Waters.  I love this cover.  I think the artist has the men and the landscape exactly right.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
original titleWinter Wonderland
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.heidicullinan.com/WinterWonderland
Series: Minnesota Christmas

Let It Snow (Minnesota Christmas, #1)
Sleigh Ride (Minnesota Christmas, #2)
Winter Wonderland (Minnesota Christmas, #3)

 

A Jeri Review: The World As He Sees It (Perspectives #2) by A.M. Arthur

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Love knows no limits…but fear could keep them from seeing it.

The World As He Sees It CoverGabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications.

Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.

Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders.

A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them.

Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…

I have been waiting, not so patiently, for this book. We met Tristan in the previous book,The Truth as He Knows It (Perspectives #1) , as he was the main character’s best friend. We also meet Gabe at the end of that book, setting the scene for this book. That being said, this book absolutely can be read as a stand alone.

Tristan and his best friend Noel were gay bashed several years ago. While Noel was left with extensive scarring on his chest, Tristan was left with severe short term memory problems. He remembers everything from before the “accident”, but can only retain about 30 minutes of time after the accident. He lives in a care facility, disowned by his parents, logging everything in his notebook and on post it notes to remember everything. From who his friends are to what time to eat his meals.

Gabe is a part time waiter, part time porn star trying to take care of his alcoholic mother. He turned to porn not only for the money, but for uncomplicated, safe, no strings attached sex. But he can’t stop thinking about the guy who came into his fathers’ bar and freaked out because he lost his notebook and couldn’t remember where he was or why he was there.

A chance meeting at the same bar- and a mutual friend- brings Gabe and Tristan together again.

One of the things I really love about AM Arthur’s books is that they all take place in the same fictional area of Pennsylvania. So while different stories may not cross over, places and people do.

I really liked how these characters became friends first. Through many emails- so Tristan can read them over again- they really get to know each other. And while both have some seriously obvious issues in life, they both go into the relationship wide open. There’s no “breaking down walls” or anything like that. They are both so open to the intimacy and love that it just feels so much more real, more romantic.

If you read this book (please do!), go back and read her other books.  They really are a treat.

The cover art by Lyn Taylor really conveys not only how each of the main characters look (save for the beard that Gabe doesn’t have but the model does), you can really see Tristan’s pain and Gabe’s shyness.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon (not yet available) | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: October 20th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
original title The World As He Sees It
ISBN13 9781619230132
edition language English
series Perspectives :
The Truth as He Knows It (Perspectives #1)
The World As He Sees It (Perspectives #2)

A Stella Review: To Love a Traitor by J.L. Merrow

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Wounds of the heart take the longest to heal.

To Love A Traitor coverWhen solicitor’s clerk George Johnson moves into a rented London room in the winter of 1920, it’s with a secret goal: to find out if his fellow lodger, Matthew Connaught, is the wartime traitor who cost George’s adored older brother his life.

Yet as he gets to know Matthew—an irrepressibly cheerful ad man whose missing arm hasn’t dimmed his smile—George begins to lose sight of his mission.

As Matthew’s advances become ever harder to resist, George tries to convince himself his brother’s death was just the luck of the draw, and to forget he’s hiding a secret of his own. His true identity—and an act of conscience that shamed his family.

But as their mutual attraction grows, so does George’s desperation to know the truth about what happened that day in Ypres. If only to prove Matthew innocent—even if it means losing the man he’s come to love.

I don’t know if To Love A Traitor is the first historical story written by JL Merrow, but it was my first by the author. I’m  not a huge fan of historicals but I’m a huge JL’s fan, so I had to read it at all costs. I’m so happy I did cause this book was really good. I love the author’s style, I grew comfortable with it each new book I read and every time it’s a beautiful journey.

Contrary to expectations, one of the things I most enjoyed was just the historical part, it was detailed and really well done, in a couple of things informative to me and never boring. It made the story real and not shallow. With a plot that could be considered almost nothing special, the author was able to give it a meaningful depth, making the perfect choices in setting and development of characters. And the dialogues were so good, engaging and funny! I also liked the characters, almost all of them (not George parents, they disowned his own son cause he  was a conscientious objector), especially Matthew. He was sweet, loveable and so brave.

This was a slow burn story, nothing really happens between MCs until a little before the ending, nonetheless  I could feel the chemistry from the start, even in their friendship. And while I usually love my books to be hot and steamy almost from the start, I didn’t get this need in To Love a Traitor. It was light but at the same time very emotional, easy to read since it was so well written. I particularly enjoyed how the story solved at the end, it left me with a smile on the face. I needed a HEA and she gave it to me.

If you love historicals, especially the ones well researched, interesting and full of feelings, To Love a Traitor will be surely a winner. Highly recommended!

Cover Art by Kanaxa. I like it, of coure it’s beautiful and well done, but I prefer another style for historicals. To me the cover needs to fit the story and the first time I saw this one , I was sure I was going to read a contemporary book. It was misleading to me.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 167 pages
Expected publication: September 15th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B00YX4QGV6
Edition Language English

A MelanieM Review: The Shepherd and the Solicitor by Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

When a storm is brewing, taking shelter could be the most dangerous move of all.

The Shepherd and the Solicitor coverOne careless, public sign of affection cost Daniel Pierce’s lover his life at the hands of a hate-filled mob. Grief-stricken, Daniel retreated from society to a sheep farm in the wilds of the north. Years later, Gregory Tobin erupts into his solitary life.

Sent to confirm the existence—or the death—of the Pierce family’s lost heir, Tobin isn’t sure he’s found the right man. The gruff, shaggy hermit calling himself Jacob Bennet bears little resemblance to photographs of the younger Pierce. Tobin needs more time to study his quarry.

With lambing season in full swing, Daniel grudgingly admits he could use an extra hand. Through a long, exhausting night, they parry back and forth as Tobin probes closer and closer to the truth. And something beyond casual attraction simmers between them.

They come together in a crash of desire, but ultimately Daniel must overcome the terrors of the past to reconcile the man he was with the man he’s becoming—a man capable of loving again.

In The Shepherd and the Solicitor, authors Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee effortlessly bring 1883 Yorkshire to life, allowing  their readers to sink into many levels of society and culture of that age through their novel and characters.  A lover of historic fiction, especially historic romance, that blurb attracted me with its wounded withdrawn main character and the man sent to find him and return him to society.  The authors delivered not only on the promise of their synopsis but gave me a story that let me feel a part of a small community struggling for survival on the edge of a moor. Do I love this story?  Oh, yes I do!

Let’s start with the characterizations first.  Its the death of Daniel Pierce’s lover at a mob that the impetus for his  flight.  Wrong place, wrong time, one tiny gesture that gets noticed by the wrong person and a mob is ignited.  Daniel barely escapes with his life, his lover perishes as a police officer watches.  Emotionally destroyed, Daniel abandons everyone and everything he associates with his lover’s death and disappears.

When the story picks up the Board of Directors of the Pierce family firm is looking for the lost heir,  He must be found so the company’s majority shares Daniel owns can be either sold or handled for control of the firm.  The job is given to a young solicitor Gregory Tobin, a middle man in his firm,  He considers this job tedious but intends to carry it out responsibility and throughly.  And that and a slight clue has lead him to the wilds of Yorkshire, muddy roads and an almost inhabitable inn.

With each character (primary and otherwise), Devon and Dee set up their portraits complete with the correct set of clothing and footwear appropriate to their stations and lifestyles, their speech patterns matches their professions (lost and current), and even the books left scattered around Daniel/Jacob’s cottage is perfect for the times and education of the man in question.  The authors don’t hit us over the head with their research but stash it away in the narrative in bits and pieces so we notice it as we would looking around someone’s room or house.  It feels natural and believable.

A element I delighted in was the flocks of sheep and sheep dogs being raised by Jacob.  The reader along with Gregory get quite the introduction into the rough life of a shepherd in 1883, from the exhaustion, pain, and joys of lambing to the bare minimum existence of Daniel/Jacob’s cottage. Through lively, vivid descriptions Gregory’s initiation into that life becomes ours as well, those passages making us laugh and often sniffle.  When Gregory names a triplet of lambs after three solicitors in his office, his reasons and descriptions will sending you giggling.  And when a ewe rejects her lamb and they desperately search for a solution, its feels raw, real and urgent .

That brings us to the element of romance.  If you like your romance to be quick, hot and heavy, then this is probably not the romance story for you.  Devon and Dee have made Daniel’s pain and trauma over the death of his lover palpable.  That event caused him to totally withdraw from the world as he knew it, becoming someone totally different overtime.  And time is what it takes for Gregory to start to break through those barriers and keep within the social restraints of the 1800’s respectability. Theirs is a slow build towards friendship and a romantic relationship.  Its a tight balancing act, one that Daniel has lost once and is not sure he is brave enough to reach for again.  I was deeply engaged in this romance and loved every slow step they took towards each other.

I even loved the ending, maybe the denouement was stretching it a little but by that time, I didn’t care whether it was as realistic as the rest of the story.  I loved it and I loved the solution that the authors came up with for Daniel and Gregory, that was close to perfection.

I highly recommend this story. Even if you normally don’t read historic romance, you will love this couple and their story of love and devotion.  Its heartwarming and beautifully written.  I may not ever want to have lived in the 1800’s but through the writing of Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee, I  feel as though I have visited there for a while.  And had a wonderful time.

 

Cover artist Lea Kaye Suttle cover is lovely, a little old fashioned.  I do wish there were some sheep on it.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 161 pages
Expected publication: September 29th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B00YX4QH1A
edition language English

 

A Sammy Review: How to Train Your Dom in Five Easy Steps by Josephine Myles

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5
How To Train Your Dom coverEddie Powell is a painslut, quietly looking for more than just hot sex. That hasn’t worked so well with his last Doms – but when he spots Jeff White, a supposedly straight wannabe-Dom, he can’t resist a good challenge.
Jeff is newer to the scene, and between an embarrassing past experience and his lack of personal etiquette when it comes to meeting subs, he’s been struggling to find his way. He’s skeptical when Eddie approaches him and offers to train him, he isn’t gay after all. But he could use the help, and it’s just experimenting, right?
But even the most sound experiments can go awry, and no one factored chemistry or love into this equation.
“And you think you love him.”
 
“I do love him. Even if he doesn’t deserve it.”
 
“Deserving it has nothing to do with it. If you wait around for someone who truly deserves your love, you’ll be waiting forever. We’ve all got our flaws. You can be a good Dom and still have issues.”
Hm… well, my feelings toward this are a bit mixed.
I’ve stated it before, I do not actively seek out heavy BDSM practices in my books. I make an exception for this one based on the wonderful reviews it had gotten and a plot that sounded pretty yummy. And for the most part, I liked it.
I’m still a bit more on the side of vanilla when it comes to CBT (which, you know you’re in a helping profession when you originally think this means Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The meaning in this book is quite different LOL). I could’ve taken it or left it. Plus, I have a hard time getting the image of all the contraptions combined with the rope work and such in my head, which can be a bit frustrating.
Beside that, though, I enjoyed the idea of the story. It’s something I’ve read quite a few times before. Straight boy experiments with gay boy and they fall madly in love. I thought adding the element of BDSM and a D/s relationship to this was quite interesting and gave it a whole other layer.
I also enjoy hearing a bit about the practices in general, as someone who isn’t involved in the scene, I’m always open to hearing about it and how people potentially view their roles. I got some interesting insight in this book, particularly in conversations between Eddie and Maddy. (I was a bit disturbed by the mom being called Mags though, I got them mixed up a bit and was like “wait, what?”)
I was really looking forward to the humiliation aspect of this, too. And the dirty talking. And it fell a bit flat for me in those realms – bummer 😦
Overall it was good, I just wish I had felt more connected to it.
The cover art by Lou Harper is pretty basic and in general just okay. I like the use of the basic font, but his tie looks like it’s floating and from a design standpoint, it seems like there wasn’t much that went into it. At least the guy is nice to look at.

Sales Links:  Samhain Publishing  |  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Links:
G00dreads
Kindle Edition, 295 pages
Published September 23rd 2014 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B00KT23WMW
edition language English