BOOKS TO DIE FOR
★★★★★
Title: Chance Assassin: A Story of Love, Luck, and Murder
Author: Nicole Castle
Genre: m/m mystery, thriller & suspense
Print length: 337 pages
Publication date: February 28, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Vincent Sullivan is down on his luck. When a chance encounter generates a job prospect he’s too desperate to decline, Vincent is well on his way to a career in crime. But after the job goes wrong and he’s gravely injured in the process, things couldn’t get much worse. Except that he may have just killed a man.
With the entrance of a mysterious stranger, life is finally starting to look up. Unless his luck is about to run out for good.
Review:
Someone recommended this to me and I can't remember for the life of me who it was. I need to track this person down and kiss them all over.
This is, hands down, one of the most engaging books I've ever read in this genre. Out of the hundreds of novels and short stories I've read over the years, maybe half a dozen could be said to match it in content and composition.
Solid plot line, impeccably created characters, a wonderfully smooth sentence flow, everything was just awesome. The romance between the two main characters is absolutely unique, nothing I've read so far even comes close to it. Despite what some might call a really bizarre chemistry between them, you never doubt for a moment that this is love at the most intense level. I got so attached to their story that I couldn't pick up another book for weeks afterwards.
I don't like putting spoilers in my reviews but I need to say that the blurb really doesn't do this book justice. There's just so much more going on here alongside the romance. There's action and blood and guts and humor and some distinctly crazy supporting characters. I would LOVE to see someone make a movie based on this book; I was already casting actors in my head as I was reading it.
In short, read this. If you've been through hundreds of books in this genre, this will give you hope for the future. At the very least, it will make your week. I can't wait to read it again.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Assassin-Story-Murder-ebook/dp/B00BMYV3HW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371272782&sr=8-1&keywords=chance+assassin
Author: Nicole Castle
Genre: m/m mystery, thriller & suspense
Print length: 337 pages
Publication date: February 28, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Vincent Sullivan is down on his luck. When a chance encounter generates a job prospect he’s too desperate to decline, Vincent is well on his way to a career in crime. But after the job goes wrong and he’s gravely injured in the process, things couldn’t get much worse. Except that he may have just killed a man.
With the entrance of a mysterious stranger, life is finally starting to look up. Unless his luck is about to run out for good.
Review:
Someone recommended this to me and I can't remember for the life of me who it was. I need to track this person down and kiss them all over.
This is, hands down, one of the most engaging books I've ever read in this genre. Out of the hundreds of novels and short stories I've read over the years, maybe half a dozen could be said to match it in content and composition.
Solid plot line, impeccably created characters, a wonderfully smooth sentence flow, everything was just awesome. The romance between the two main characters is absolutely unique, nothing I've read so far even comes close to it. Despite what some might call a really bizarre chemistry between them, you never doubt for a moment that this is love at the most intense level. I got so attached to their story that I couldn't pick up another book for weeks afterwards.
I don't like putting spoilers in my reviews but I need to say that the blurb really doesn't do this book justice. There's just so much more going on here alongside the romance. There's action and blood and guts and humor and some distinctly crazy supporting characters. I would LOVE to see someone make a movie based on this book; I was already casting actors in my head as I was reading it.
In short, read this. If you've been through hundreds of books in this genre, this will give you hope for the future. At the very least, it will make your week. I can't wait to read it again.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Assassin-Story-Murder-ebook/dp/B00BMYV3HW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371272782&sr=8-1&keywords=chance+assassin
★★★★★
Title: Line and Orbit
Author: Sunny Moraine & Lisa Soem
Genre: m/m fantasy & futuristic
Print length: 325 pages
Publication date: February 5, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: What he’s been taught to fear could be his destiny…and his only hope.
Adam Yuga, a rising young star in the imperialist Terran Protectorate, is on the verge of a massive promotion…until a routine physical exam reveals something less than perfection. Genetic flaws are taboo, and Adam soon discovers there’s a thin line between rising star and starving outcast.
Stripped of wealth and position, stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter.
Now the Bideshi, a people long shunned by the Protectorate, are the only ones who will offer him shelter. As Adam learns the truth about the mysterious, nomadic people he was taught to fear, Lochlan offers him not just shelter—but a temptation Adam can only resist for so long.
Struggling to adapt to his new life, Adam discovers his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. Time is growing short, and he must find the strength to close a centuries-old rift, accept a new identity—and hold on to a love that could cost him everything.
Warning: This title contains brief scenes of explicit violence and mild but potentially triggering homophobia.
Review:
Wow. I mean, holy crap.
I held off doing this review 'cause I wasn't sure what to say or how to say it. I'm still not sure so just bear with me.
This has everything! Everything you might want or need from a sci-fi/romance/fantasy. There's action, there's mystery, there's intergalactic warfare, genetic modification, there's humanity and grief and love and just holy crap of everything good.
I don't even know where to start. Bideshi! How to even describe them? At first I though they were the descendants of Romani, but as I kept reading more about their ways and traditions, they struck me more as a mix of gypsies and Israelites with just a touch of Native American. The combination to just blow your freaking mind. Their ship (one of the three we are introduced to) defies any descriptions. Sure, I could give it a try, but it won't be the same. You gotta read the book to get the feeling of it, the connection, the beauty.
I love the plot. Just love it. To the point where I found myself offended when someone mentioned that this book 'tried to take on the issue of genetic modification and failed.' Really? Humanity, man. Humanity is what it's all about. We're not talking about some technical sci-fi genetic handbook here. This reaches for the root (excuse the pun) of what makes us human. The wonderful fragility and imperfection of our place in the world. There's such a wealth of failure and triumph in this, such a ravishing collection of joy and pain and mystery, a joining of everything conceivable to make you just FEEL.
And the romance! I never, ever fall in love so fully with both characters. Usually, one of them will feel incomplete. Adam and Lochlan are so different, so real, both flawed in different ways and equally frustrating. But together, they're bloody magic. You gotta love the detail put into their connection, into the time during which they circle each other. It's so well done, it's like a mating dance set before the beginning of time.
I have no complaints. None. Not even a smidgen. Just being able to say that is so rare for me that I can count the times on the fingers of one hand. I rarely ever recommend a book too, but Line and Orbit, you gotta read this. Your world will be richer for it.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Line-and-Orbit-ebook/dp/B009IV9K76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371272854&sr=8-1&keywords=line+and+orbit
Author: Sunny Moraine & Lisa Soem
Genre: m/m fantasy & futuristic
Print length: 325 pages
Publication date: February 5, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: What he’s been taught to fear could be his destiny…and his only hope.
Adam Yuga, a rising young star in the imperialist Terran Protectorate, is on the verge of a massive promotion…until a routine physical exam reveals something less than perfection. Genetic flaws are taboo, and Adam soon discovers there’s a thin line between rising star and starving outcast.
Stripped of wealth and position, stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter.
Now the Bideshi, a people long shunned by the Protectorate, are the only ones who will offer him shelter. As Adam learns the truth about the mysterious, nomadic people he was taught to fear, Lochlan offers him not just shelter—but a temptation Adam can only resist for so long.
Struggling to adapt to his new life, Adam discovers his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. Time is growing short, and he must find the strength to close a centuries-old rift, accept a new identity—and hold on to a love that could cost him everything.
Warning: This title contains brief scenes of explicit violence and mild but potentially triggering homophobia.
Review:
Wow. I mean, holy crap.
I held off doing this review 'cause I wasn't sure what to say or how to say it. I'm still not sure so just bear with me.
This has everything! Everything you might want or need from a sci-fi/romance/fantasy. There's action, there's mystery, there's intergalactic warfare, genetic modification, there's humanity and grief and love and just holy crap of everything good.
I don't even know where to start. Bideshi! How to even describe them? At first I though they were the descendants of Romani, but as I kept reading more about their ways and traditions, they struck me more as a mix of gypsies and Israelites with just a touch of Native American. The combination to just blow your freaking mind. Their ship (one of the three we are introduced to) defies any descriptions. Sure, I could give it a try, but it won't be the same. You gotta read the book to get the feeling of it, the connection, the beauty.
I love the plot. Just love it. To the point where I found myself offended when someone mentioned that this book 'tried to take on the issue of genetic modification and failed.' Really? Humanity, man. Humanity is what it's all about. We're not talking about some technical sci-fi genetic handbook here. This reaches for the root (excuse the pun) of what makes us human. The wonderful fragility and imperfection of our place in the world. There's such a wealth of failure and triumph in this, such a ravishing collection of joy and pain and mystery, a joining of everything conceivable to make you just FEEL.
And the romance! I never, ever fall in love so fully with both characters. Usually, one of them will feel incomplete. Adam and Lochlan are so different, so real, both flawed in different ways and equally frustrating. But together, they're bloody magic. You gotta love the detail put into their connection, into the time during which they circle each other. It's so well done, it's like a mating dance set before the beginning of time.
I have no complaints. None. Not even a smidgen. Just being able to say that is so rare for me that I can count the times on the fingers of one hand. I rarely ever recommend a book too, but Line and Orbit, you gotta read this. Your world will be richer for it.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Line-and-Orbit-ebook/dp/B009IV9K76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371272854&sr=8-1&keywords=line+and+orbit
★★★★★
Title: Freedom
Author: Jay Kirkpatrick
Genre: m/m futuristic & science fiction
Print length: 223 pages
Publication date: March 10, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: In a future Earth, Patrick Harvey, newly promoted Class One Empath, dreams of the independence his position brings and the apartment he’s saving for. His first solo assignment is treating John Doe 439, a man found outside the city, battered, traumatized, and apparently mute.
Despite a strong taboo against Empaths forging romantic relationships, Patrick realizes he feels a strong attraction to his patient. Soon he learns the man is a high-level Psychic Talent named Jac. Then Jac reveals that there are abusive people hunting him for his gifts, and Patrick’s uncomplicated world explodes.
Jac needs to meet up with his companions and flee the city before anyone else can find him—but it may be too late. Word of Jac’s talents has leaked to Central Government in Chicago. If Jac wants to retain his freedom, he needs to run—now. And if Patrick wants to explore a relationship his society tells him he can’t have, he’ll have to exchange the safe fetters of his job for the uncertainty of liberty.
Review:
Finally! A breath of freaking fresh air in this genre. Just in time too, because I was pretty sure I was going to suffocate soon. I don't even know where to start but I'll try not to gush.
Real characters. Real personalities. Each and every one presented so skillfully that you're likely to forget that you're reading fiction. It's so incredibly easy to relate to Patrick. A nice, normal guy, living in a world where everything makes sense, where everything has a purpose including him. He wants what we all want; a stable job, a comfortable life, and with some hard work, a steady climb up the corporate ladder. Despite the fact that the world he lives in is completely fictional, you find yourself comfortably sinking into Patrick's beliefs, his routines, his life.
When the author presents John Doe 439 for the first time, it's just a small ripple in a pond. A ripple that grows larger and larger, until Patrick's world starts to shimmer and shake, until everything he believes in crumbles to dust.
I won't summarize the book for you. I couldn't give it enough credit if I tried. But I will say that a solid plot like this one is somewhat of a lost art. Many writers attempt it and most of them fail. While the action is solid, the build up is immaculate. This isn't a story written around the romance, this an actual book, written with a purpose, a theme. The romance comes off like an occasional ray of sunshine through the clouds, and when it does, it will sweep you off your feet.
I've read so many bad novels in this genre, I've forgotten what it feels like to not be able to put a book down. To be so completely immersed in a story that you forget to sleep or eat. I'd like to thank the author for reminding me of this.
This is a Brave New World with a chance of a happily ever after. It's rich, lovely, and impeccably created. I adore it and recommend it with all my heart.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Jay-Kirkpatrick/dp/1623802830/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371272923&sr=8-1&keywords=freedom+jay+kirkpatrick
Author: Jay Kirkpatrick
Genre: m/m futuristic & science fiction
Print length: 223 pages
Publication date: March 10, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: In a future Earth, Patrick Harvey, newly promoted Class One Empath, dreams of the independence his position brings and the apartment he’s saving for. His first solo assignment is treating John Doe 439, a man found outside the city, battered, traumatized, and apparently mute.
Despite a strong taboo against Empaths forging romantic relationships, Patrick realizes he feels a strong attraction to his patient. Soon he learns the man is a high-level Psychic Talent named Jac. Then Jac reveals that there are abusive people hunting him for his gifts, and Patrick’s uncomplicated world explodes.
Jac needs to meet up with his companions and flee the city before anyone else can find him—but it may be too late. Word of Jac’s talents has leaked to Central Government in Chicago. If Jac wants to retain his freedom, he needs to run—now. And if Patrick wants to explore a relationship his society tells him he can’t have, he’ll have to exchange the safe fetters of his job for the uncertainty of liberty.
Review:
Finally! A breath of freaking fresh air in this genre. Just in time too, because I was pretty sure I was going to suffocate soon. I don't even know where to start but I'll try not to gush.
Real characters. Real personalities. Each and every one presented so skillfully that you're likely to forget that you're reading fiction. It's so incredibly easy to relate to Patrick. A nice, normal guy, living in a world where everything makes sense, where everything has a purpose including him. He wants what we all want; a stable job, a comfortable life, and with some hard work, a steady climb up the corporate ladder. Despite the fact that the world he lives in is completely fictional, you find yourself comfortably sinking into Patrick's beliefs, his routines, his life.
When the author presents John Doe 439 for the first time, it's just a small ripple in a pond. A ripple that grows larger and larger, until Patrick's world starts to shimmer and shake, until everything he believes in crumbles to dust.
I won't summarize the book for you. I couldn't give it enough credit if I tried. But I will say that a solid plot like this one is somewhat of a lost art. Many writers attempt it and most of them fail. While the action is solid, the build up is immaculate. This isn't a story written around the romance, this an actual book, written with a purpose, a theme. The romance comes off like an occasional ray of sunshine through the clouds, and when it does, it will sweep you off your feet.
I've read so many bad novels in this genre, I've forgotten what it feels like to not be able to put a book down. To be so completely immersed in a story that you forget to sleep or eat. I'd like to thank the author for reminding me of this.
This is a Brave New World with a chance of a happily ever after. It's rich, lovely, and impeccably created. I adore it and recommend it with all my heart.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Jay-Kirkpatrick/dp/1623802830/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371272923&sr=8-1&keywords=freedom+jay+kirkpatrick
★★★★★
Title: Scarred
Author: J M Snyder
Genre: m/m romance/fiction
Print length: 118 pages
Publication date: July 11, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Biker gangs known as regulators rule the streets of a war-torn city with hate and pain -- their cruelty is etched into every inch of Dae's battered body. He has never known anything but hurt from the hands of men ... until he meets Coby.
When the new regulator rides into town and takes an interest in him, Dae is unwilling to believe that anyone who is a regulator can be a gentle, caring lover.
Is Coby strong enough to protect Dae and his sister Delia when there's hell to pay in the form of McBane?
Review:
Before I do anything else, I have to take on a 'con' by another reviewer. It stated that Cody was not very realistic as a leader of a gang of regulators. That his gentleness with Dae is at odds with his persona of a man who is supposed to be ruthless. And I have to disagree with this assertion.
I've had the benefit (although I've rarely called it that) of growing up in an actual war zone. Something eerily close to the post-apocalyptic setting of this novel. After all, there is no civility in any given war zone and the men with the biggest guns always get what they want, no matter what side they're on. I've seen the most gentle men turn ruthless and cruel. Extraordinary circumstances can not only change people but bring forth something in them that no one knew existed. We know nothing of Cody's life before he became a leader of the gang, but I had no issues believing him to be a good man twisted by the times and the circumstances. A man who was strong enough to don an armor and a mask that would enable him to survive and come out on top.
This will for survival is actually something they have very much in common, Cody and Dae. Except that Dae, by some toss of the dice, had ended up a play toy of a truly ruthless man, all because he had to protect his sister by any means necessary. In this, his bravery surpasses Cody's, even as he's slowly sinking into hopelessness as a result of his sacrifice.
This was a short novel but by no means lacking. Starkly simple, it tells the story from Dae's perspective, a story that is both horrifying and full of hope. He relates his past misfortunes in a frighteningly direct tone that varies from numbness to despair. I found the sentence structure intoxicating, leading you from a moment to moment, from past to present and back. The fear is so real you can taste it; Dae's helplessness, his disgust with what he's become, it was all written so skillfully that the details will make your hackles rise. The setting for the story is far from elaborate, which is another testament to the writer's ability. To place such a story and such characters in a small space is quite an accomplishment. Delia is so well drawn that you can see her, gypsy-like, her terror and frustrated fury coloring the pages. She trusts no one, and in this post war world, it's hard to blame her. Even though she pieces Dae back together each time, she can not comprehend the full scope of the damage that is being done to him. Dae's burden is his own to carry, and it is so vast that one kind word, one gentle touch is enough to break him.
This novel is not for everyone. If you're looking for a light and airy read, if you have issues with violence or rape, this is not a novel for you. This is a tense, blunt story, full of suffering and dread. When it didn't have me on the edge of my seat, it made the back of my throat burn.
I rarely ever give five stars in this genre. I find most romance novels, whether they be m/m, m/f, or f/f, to be sloppy. This deserves all of the five stars and more.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Scarred-ebook/dp/B005CBJ3VE/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273045&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=scarred+jm+snyder
Author: J M Snyder
Genre: m/m romance/fiction
Print length: 118 pages
Publication date: July 11, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Biker gangs known as regulators rule the streets of a war-torn city with hate and pain -- their cruelty is etched into every inch of Dae's battered body. He has never known anything but hurt from the hands of men ... until he meets Coby.
When the new regulator rides into town and takes an interest in him, Dae is unwilling to believe that anyone who is a regulator can be a gentle, caring lover.
Is Coby strong enough to protect Dae and his sister Delia when there's hell to pay in the form of McBane?
Review:
Before I do anything else, I have to take on a 'con' by another reviewer. It stated that Cody was not very realistic as a leader of a gang of regulators. That his gentleness with Dae is at odds with his persona of a man who is supposed to be ruthless. And I have to disagree with this assertion.
I've had the benefit (although I've rarely called it that) of growing up in an actual war zone. Something eerily close to the post-apocalyptic setting of this novel. After all, there is no civility in any given war zone and the men with the biggest guns always get what they want, no matter what side they're on. I've seen the most gentle men turn ruthless and cruel. Extraordinary circumstances can not only change people but bring forth something in them that no one knew existed. We know nothing of Cody's life before he became a leader of the gang, but I had no issues believing him to be a good man twisted by the times and the circumstances. A man who was strong enough to don an armor and a mask that would enable him to survive and come out on top.
This will for survival is actually something they have very much in common, Cody and Dae. Except that Dae, by some toss of the dice, had ended up a play toy of a truly ruthless man, all because he had to protect his sister by any means necessary. In this, his bravery surpasses Cody's, even as he's slowly sinking into hopelessness as a result of his sacrifice.
This was a short novel but by no means lacking. Starkly simple, it tells the story from Dae's perspective, a story that is both horrifying and full of hope. He relates his past misfortunes in a frighteningly direct tone that varies from numbness to despair. I found the sentence structure intoxicating, leading you from a moment to moment, from past to present and back. The fear is so real you can taste it; Dae's helplessness, his disgust with what he's become, it was all written so skillfully that the details will make your hackles rise. The setting for the story is far from elaborate, which is another testament to the writer's ability. To place such a story and such characters in a small space is quite an accomplishment. Delia is so well drawn that you can see her, gypsy-like, her terror and frustrated fury coloring the pages. She trusts no one, and in this post war world, it's hard to blame her. Even though she pieces Dae back together each time, she can not comprehend the full scope of the damage that is being done to him. Dae's burden is his own to carry, and it is so vast that one kind word, one gentle touch is enough to break him.
This novel is not for everyone. If you're looking for a light and airy read, if you have issues with violence or rape, this is not a novel for you. This is a tense, blunt story, full of suffering and dread. When it didn't have me on the edge of my seat, it made the back of my throat burn.
I rarely ever give five stars in this genre. I find most romance novels, whether they be m/m, m/f, or f/f, to be sloppy. This deserves all of the five stars and more.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Scarred-ebook/dp/B005CBJ3VE/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273045&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=scarred+jm+snyder
★★★★★
Title: Junction X
Author: Erastes
Genre: m/m fiction
Print length: 200 pages
Publication date: October 25, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Set in the very English suburbia of 1962 where everyone has tidy front gardens and lace curtains, Junction X is the story of Edward Johnson, who ostensibly has the perfect life: A beautiful house, a great job, an attractive wife and two well-mannered children. The trouble is he’s been lying to himself all of his life. And first love, when it does come, hits him and hits him hard. Who is the object of his passion? The teenaged son of the new neighbours.
Edward’s world is about to go to hell.
Review:
This was one of those books that must be given a five star review. Even if by the end of it, you might wish you never picked it up. I bought it with the expectation of being entertained; it was recommended to me along with three other books that were mainly written for entertainment, and had little else of value. Therefore I was completely blindsided by the sheer starkness and reality of this novel, tucked so unceremoniously among those of lesser worth. Saturated with heavy anxiety, this book followed me around for days. I can't say I honestly wish I didn't read it, but I will say that it affected in ways I would have never expected. I will not be re-reading it; it will probably stay with me forever.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Junction-X-ebook/dp/B005ZKJ2IG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273082&sr=1-1&keywords=junction+x
Author: Erastes
Genre: m/m fiction
Print length: 200 pages
Publication date: October 25, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Set in the very English suburbia of 1962 where everyone has tidy front gardens and lace curtains, Junction X is the story of Edward Johnson, who ostensibly has the perfect life: A beautiful house, a great job, an attractive wife and two well-mannered children. The trouble is he’s been lying to himself all of his life. And first love, when it does come, hits him and hits him hard. Who is the object of his passion? The teenaged son of the new neighbours.
Edward’s world is about to go to hell.
Review:
This was one of those books that must be given a five star review. Even if by the end of it, you might wish you never picked it up. I bought it with the expectation of being entertained; it was recommended to me along with three other books that were mainly written for entertainment, and had little else of value. Therefore I was completely blindsided by the sheer starkness and reality of this novel, tucked so unceremoniously among those of lesser worth. Saturated with heavy anxiety, this book followed me around for days. I can't say I honestly wish I didn't read it, but I will say that it affected in ways I would have never expected. I will not be re-reading it; it will probably stay with me forever.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Junction-X-ebook/dp/B005ZKJ2IG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273082&sr=1-1&keywords=junction+x
★★★★★
Title: The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen
Author: Valerie Z. Lewis
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 219 pages
Publication date: April 11, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: A comedy about a bisexual mechanic turned model who aims to get the man of his dreams and save the world as soon as he finishes smoking this joint.
Review:
OMG, I freaking loved this book!
The first time I read it, I was at work. Bad idea. I got to the purple monkey fucker and fell off my goddamned chair laughing. My co worker thought I was having a seizure. This is, hands down, the funniest freaking book I've read in this genre. I have no clue how someone could write a book so completely hilarious and still make the romance so very sweet. I adore it, adore it, adore it. If you haven't read it, you're missing out.
Some highlights:
Doug: "I also decided I want to have a meaningful relationship. But only with one person. And then stay with that person for a long time. Like, uh, monography."
Stephen tapped a few keys in a quick rhythm. "It's a shame your epiphany wasn't accompanied by a thesaurus."
* * *
Stephen: "You decided to switch from being a career heterosexual? Did we have a better health insurance plan?"
* * *
Doug looked at the paper doubtfully. "I'm not gonna have sex with any other guys, Stephen. I'm only gay for you."
"I'm touched," Stephen said. "Get out"
Stephen stood with his arms folded over his chest as Doug readied himself to leave. He put on his jacket, adjusted his orange hat, and retied his shoelaces. Then he stood smiling expectantly at Stephen.
"What part of `get out' was confusing?" Stephen asked.
Doug smiled suggestively. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"A weapon?" Stephen offered.
Doug leaned forward and whispered, "It's our second date. It's okay to kiss me now."
"This is not a date," Stephen told him firmly. "The first event was blackmail, and the current event is stalking."
"What's the next event?"
Enough said, I think :)
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Epic-Love-Story-Stephen-ebook/dp/B004W8DA30/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273130&sr=1-1&keywords=valerie+z+lewis
Author: Valerie Z. Lewis
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 219 pages
Publication date: April 11, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: A comedy about a bisexual mechanic turned model who aims to get the man of his dreams and save the world as soon as he finishes smoking this joint.
Review:
OMG, I freaking loved this book!
The first time I read it, I was at work. Bad idea. I got to the purple monkey fucker and fell off my goddamned chair laughing. My co worker thought I was having a seizure. This is, hands down, the funniest freaking book I've read in this genre. I have no clue how someone could write a book so completely hilarious and still make the romance so very sweet. I adore it, adore it, adore it. If you haven't read it, you're missing out.
Some highlights:
Doug: "I also decided I want to have a meaningful relationship. But only with one person. And then stay with that person for a long time. Like, uh, monography."
Stephen tapped a few keys in a quick rhythm. "It's a shame your epiphany wasn't accompanied by a thesaurus."
* * *
Stephen: "You decided to switch from being a career heterosexual? Did we have a better health insurance plan?"
* * *
Doug looked at the paper doubtfully. "I'm not gonna have sex with any other guys, Stephen. I'm only gay for you."
"I'm touched," Stephen said. "Get out"
Stephen stood with his arms folded over his chest as Doug readied himself to leave. He put on his jacket, adjusted his orange hat, and retied his shoelaces. Then he stood smiling expectantly at Stephen.
"What part of `get out' was confusing?" Stephen asked.
Doug smiled suggestively. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"A weapon?" Stephen offered.
Doug leaned forward and whispered, "It's our second date. It's okay to kiss me now."
"This is not a date," Stephen told him firmly. "The first event was blackmail, and the current event is stalking."
"What's the next event?"
Enough said, I think :)
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Epic-Love-Story-Stephen-ebook/dp/B004W8DA30/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273130&sr=1-1&keywords=valerie+z+lewis
★★★★★
Title: Half Moon Chambers
Author: Harper Fox
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 176 pages
Publication date: November 8, 2012
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: A cop and a recovering addict – no chance for romance there.
Yet Vince, a street-hardened narcotics officer, is having to reassess his life. Six months ago, he hit rock-bottom. A bullet brought him down, and his beloved partner Jack betrayed him. Badly disabled and in constant pain, Vince is flying a desk these days, and it doesn't suit him at all. His world is looking grim when he meets Rowan Clyde, sole surviving witness to a vicious drugs-related killing.
Rowan doesn't want to talk. He's vulnerable, trying to hold his own life together in the wake of a crippling addiction. Vince should have no time for him, and Rowan certainly shouldn't trust a cop with an agenda to get him onto the witness stand at any cost.
Yet despite their differences, there's an instant pull of attraction between these two damaged men. Their new bond is put to the ultimate test on the tough streets of Newcastle during a dark northern winter, as each turns out to hold the keys to the other's survival – and to his destruction.
Review:
It's hard to say what it is about Harper Fox that sets her apart from all the other writers in this genre. Or better said, it's hard to point out only one thing. The characters, the story lines, the places she sets her stage, it's all beautifully written and skillfully arranged. This book, like all the rest she has written, draws you in from the very first page. But the combination of the above stated is a requirement for any good read. What Harper Fox does better than any other writer in this genre, in every book she has published, is something much more. She paints with her words; not only the stage and the characters in the most vivid colors, but the feelings, the scents and the sounds. Her books will leave a sweet taste on your tongue, a tingle under your skin; she lets you feel the rain, the ocean, the cold winter air. It is an experience both beautiful and exotic.
I've read many books in my lifetime, across all genres. Some of the best have stuck with me. Certain sentences, a cleverly turned phrase, those are my weaknesses. I carry them around with me like other women wear diamonds; as an armor or an accessory, whatever the situation calls for.
What Harper Fox has given me to carry are the sounds of a restless surf, the warmth of a gipsy campfire, the dust motes of a kingdom created, and so much more I could not put a price on. Neither accessory nor armor, rather a piece of magic and beauty, a flower that never wilts.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Half-Moon-Chambers-ebook/dp/B00A4AOMT6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273167&sr=1-1&keywords=half+moon+chambers
Author: Harper Fox
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 176 pages
Publication date: November 8, 2012
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: A cop and a recovering addict – no chance for romance there.
Yet Vince, a street-hardened narcotics officer, is having to reassess his life. Six months ago, he hit rock-bottom. A bullet brought him down, and his beloved partner Jack betrayed him. Badly disabled and in constant pain, Vince is flying a desk these days, and it doesn't suit him at all. His world is looking grim when he meets Rowan Clyde, sole surviving witness to a vicious drugs-related killing.
Rowan doesn't want to talk. He's vulnerable, trying to hold his own life together in the wake of a crippling addiction. Vince should have no time for him, and Rowan certainly shouldn't trust a cop with an agenda to get him onto the witness stand at any cost.
Yet despite their differences, there's an instant pull of attraction between these two damaged men. Their new bond is put to the ultimate test on the tough streets of Newcastle during a dark northern winter, as each turns out to hold the keys to the other's survival – and to his destruction.
Review:
It's hard to say what it is about Harper Fox that sets her apart from all the other writers in this genre. Or better said, it's hard to point out only one thing. The characters, the story lines, the places she sets her stage, it's all beautifully written and skillfully arranged. This book, like all the rest she has written, draws you in from the very first page. But the combination of the above stated is a requirement for any good read. What Harper Fox does better than any other writer in this genre, in every book she has published, is something much more. She paints with her words; not only the stage and the characters in the most vivid colors, but the feelings, the scents and the sounds. Her books will leave a sweet taste on your tongue, a tingle under your skin; she lets you feel the rain, the ocean, the cold winter air. It is an experience both beautiful and exotic.
I've read many books in my lifetime, across all genres. Some of the best have stuck with me. Certain sentences, a cleverly turned phrase, those are my weaknesses. I carry them around with me like other women wear diamonds; as an armor or an accessory, whatever the situation calls for.
What Harper Fox has given me to carry are the sounds of a restless surf, the warmth of a gipsy campfire, the dust motes of a kingdom created, and so much more I could not put a price on. Neither accessory nor armor, rather a piece of magic and beauty, a flower that never wilts.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Half-Moon-Chambers-ebook/dp/B00A4AOMT6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273167&sr=1-1&keywords=half+moon+chambers
★★★★✩
Title: Into This River I Drown
Author: T. J. Klune
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Print length: 400 pages
Publication date: March 24, 2013
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Five years ago, Benji Green lost his beloved father, Big Eddie, when his truck crashed into a river. Everyone called it an accident, but Benji knows it was more. Even years later, he’s buried in his grief, throwing himself into managing Big Eddie’s convenience store in the small-town of Roseland, Oregon. Surrounded by his mother and three aunts, he lives day to day, struggling to keep his head above water.
But Roseland is no ordinary place.
With ever more frequent dreams of his father’s death and waking visions of feathers on the river’s surface, Benji finds his definition of reality bending. He thinks himself haunted; by ghosts or memories, he can no longer tell. Not until a man falls from the sky, leaving the burning imprint of wings on the ground, does Benji begin to understand that the world is more mysterious than he ever imagined—and more dangerous. As uncontrollable forces descend on Roseland, they reveal long-hidden truths about friends, family, and the stranger Calliel—a man Benji can no longer live without.
Review:
There's a commercial that used to play on my local radio station where the girl says 'It feels weird but... it feels gooood.' It's the first thing I though of when this book ended.
I know weird is an unreliable word as far as book descriptions go but I can't help that. It is what it is. It's also beautiful. Only some of this book is actually written, the rest of it is painted. And man, the colors will tear your soul to bits. They will just shred you. Not many readers realize how incredibly hard it is to do grief like this. When the writer paints it so intensely, so graphically, it will take its toll. No one can do pain like this and not feel it, not have it follow them around like a dark cloud. So much grief will turn you world black. To write from that place, you gotta have skill and passion and experience. You gotta be willing to drown yourself and trust you'll float back up.
I do have some complaints but they have nothing to do with the plot, the characters or the writing. All of those things are stable. I know that when the readers of this genre read a book, they usually expect sex. And that's fine. Who doesn't like sex? I like sex. Still, I can't help but feel like it wasn't necessary in this book. It struck me as almost sacrilegious and not for the reasons people might think. It just didn't seem to fit; it was like adding a sex scene in the middle of Toni Morrison's work. Sure, the sex scenes probably made it more sellable to a certain group of readers, but you take away the sex, hell, take away the romance, and this book will still stand strong.
There's unmatched luxury in this work and this author has some seriously sharp and deadly tools in his belt. With this sort of opulent prose, he just might cut his way to a bestseller list.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Into-This-River-Drown-ebook/dp/B00C0LL5NI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273203&sr=1-1&keywords=into+this+river+i+drown
Author: T. J. Klune
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Print length: 400 pages
Publication date: March 24, 2013
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Five years ago, Benji Green lost his beloved father, Big Eddie, when his truck crashed into a river. Everyone called it an accident, but Benji knows it was more. Even years later, he’s buried in his grief, throwing himself into managing Big Eddie’s convenience store in the small-town of Roseland, Oregon. Surrounded by his mother and three aunts, he lives day to day, struggling to keep his head above water.
But Roseland is no ordinary place.
With ever more frequent dreams of his father’s death and waking visions of feathers on the river’s surface, Benji finds his definition of reality bending. He thinks himself haunted; by ghosts or memories, he can no longer tell. Not until a man falls from the sky, leaving the burning imprint of wings on the ground, does Benji begin to understand that the world is more mysterious than he ever imagined—and more dangerous. As uncontrollable forces descend on Roseland, they reveal long-hidden truths about friends, family, and the stranger Calliel—a man Benji can no longer live without.
Review:
There's a commercial that used to play on my local radio station where the girl says 'It feels weird but... it feels gooood.' It's the first thing I though of when this book ended.
I know weird is an unreliable word as far as book descriptions go but I can't help that. It is what it is. It's also beautiful. Only some of this book is actually written, the rest of it is painted. And man, the colors will tear your soul to bits. They will just shred you. Not many readers realize how incredibly hard it is to do grief like this. When the writer paints it so intensely, so graphically, it will take its toll. No one can do pain like this and not feel it, not have it follow them around like a dark cloud. So much grief will turn you world black. To write from that place, you gotta have skill and passion and experience. You gotta be willing to drown yourself and trust you'll float back up.
I do have some complaints but they have nothing to do with the plot, the characters or the writing. All of those things are stable. I know that when the readers of this genre read a book, they usually expect sex. And that's fine. Who doesn't like sex? I like sex. Still, I can't help but feel like it wasn't necessary in this book. It struck me as almost sacrilegious and not for the reasons people might think. It just didn't seem to fit; it was like adding a sex scene in the middle of Toni Morrison's work. Sure, the sex scenes probably made it more sellable to a certain group of readers, but you take away the sex, hell, take away the romance, and this book will still stand strong.
There's unmatched luxury in this work and this author has some seriously sharp and deadly tools in his belt. With this sort of opulent prose, he just might cut his way to a bestseller list.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Into-This-River-Drown-ebook/dp/B00C0LL5NI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273203&sr=1-1&keywords=into+this+river+i+drown
★★★★✩
Title: Widdershins
Author: Jordan L. Hawk
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Print length: 228 pages
Publication date: December 2, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Some things should stay buried.
Repressed scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne has two skills: reading dead languages and hiding in his office at the Ladysmith Museum. After the tragic death of the friend he secretly loved, he’s ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man.
So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible. Griffin left the Pinkertons following the death of his partner, hoping to start a new life. But the powerful cult which murdered Glenn has taken root in Widdershins, and only the spells in the book can stop them. Spells the intellectual Whyborne doesn’t believe are real.
As the investigation draws the two men closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. When the cult resurrects an evil sorcerer who commands terrifying monsters, can Whyborne overcome his fear and learn to trust? Will Griffin let go of his past and risk falling in love? Or will Griffin’s secrets cost Whyborne both his heart and his life?
Review:
I throughly enjoyed this.
First of all, let me say that this is not a historical novel and I don't believe it was advertised as such. The world seems to be created to resemble a Massachusetts town around late 1800's. Therefore, any complaints that the novel is 'historically inaccurate' hold no validity. That said, even as a created world, it had a much better set stage than most historical novels in the same genre. The feel of the place and the time was so well done that it will suck you right in.
Whyborne is awesome; brilliant and reclusive, he has quite the wit when the situation calls for it. As a gay man in a time when such things are unacceptable, he has his share of issues which include an estrangement from his family and unwillingness to stand up for himself when he'd been wronged. Yet, he is the true hero of this story; a man who, despite his fears and insecurities, does not hesitate to put his life on the line for those he loves.
Griffin on the other hand is a man who appears to be strong and secure in his place in the world. He's funny, charming, and painted with a skillful brush. If you find yourself falling for him alongside Whyborne, do not be alarmed. It's almost impossible not to fall for Griffin. But Griffin is a man with a past and secrets, the type of man that might break your heart without meaning to.
The romance between the two is achingly beautiful. It develops slowly and skillfully; the build up to that first kiss is something that not many writers could accomplish although many have tried.
That said, although the sex scenes steamed up my Kindle, I can't say that I'm in love with them. They seemed a bit blunt after the obvious care that was taken with the romance. Maybe a touch more finesse?
The plot was great. It was well thought out, well presented, with just the right amount of action and suspense. It blended perfectly with the romance. A lot of novels in this genre have one major plot failing. Either the story is based on sex or it's based on sex. Everything else reads like an afterthought or filler for the sex. This is an actual novel with a wonderful sense of balance throughout.
Supporting characters are excellent. They are real without being overpowering and you will love them as much as you love the main characters.
All in all, this writer could have never been called one of my favorites. But this is excellent, excellent work for this genre and I recommend it wholeheartedly. It was loads of fun and I'm looking forward to rereading it.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Widdershins-Whyborne-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00AHH0YF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273240&sr=1-1&keywords=widdershins
Author: Jordan L. Hawk
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Print length: 228 pages
Publication date: December 2, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Some things should stay buried.
Repressed scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne has two skills: reading dead languages and hiding in his office at the Ladysmith Museum. After the tragic death of the friend he secretly loved, he’s ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man.
So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible. Griffin left the Pinkertons following the death of his partner, hoping to start a new life. But the powerful cult which murdered Glenn has taken root in Widdershins, and only the spells in the book can stop them. Spells the intellectual Whyborne doesn’t believe are real.
As the investigation draws the two men closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. When the cult resurrects an evil sorcerer who commands terrifying monsters, can Whyborne overcome his fear and learn to trust? Will Griffin let go of his past and risk falling in love? Or will Griffin’s secrets cost Whyborne both his heart and his life?
Review:
I throughly enjoyed this.
First of all, let me say that this is not a historical novel and I don't believe it was advertised as such. The world seems to be created to resemble a Massachusetts town around late 1800's. Therefore, any complaints that the novel is 'historically inaccurate' hold no validity. That said, even as a created world, it had a much better set stage than most historical novels in the same genre. The feel of the place and the time was so well done that it will suck you right in.
Whyborne is awesome; brilliant and reclusive, he has quite the wit when the situation calls for it. As a gay man in a time when such things are unacceptable, he has his share of issues which include an estrangement from his family and unwillingness to stand up for himself when he'd been wronged. Yet, he is the true hero of this story; a man who, despite his fears and insecurities, does not hesitate to put his life on the line for those he loves.
Griffin on the other hand is a man who appears to be strong and secure in his place in the world. He's funny, charming, and painted with a skillful brush. If you find yourself falling for him alongside Whyborne, do not be alarmed. It's almost impossible not to fall for Griffin. But Griffin is a man with a past and secrets, the type of man that might break your heart without meaning to.
The romance between the two is achingly beautiful. It develops slowly and skillfully; the build up to that first kiss is something that not many writers could accomplish although many have tried.
That said, although the sex scenes steamed up my Kindle, I can't say that I'm in love with them. They seemed a bit blunt after the obvious care that was taken with the romance. Maybe a touch more finesse?
The plot was great. It was well thought out, well presented, with just the right amount of action and suspense. It blended perfectly with the romance. A lot of novels in this genre have one major plot failing. Either the story is based on sex or it's based on sex. Everything else reads like an afterthought or filler for the sex. This is an actual novel with a wonderful sense of balance throughout.
Supporting characters are excellent. They are real without being overpowering and you will love them as much as you love the main characters.
All in all, this writer could have never been called one of my favorites. But this is excellent, excellent work for this genre and I recommend it wholeheartedly. It was loads of fun and I'm looking forward to rereading it.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Widdershins-Whyborne-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00AHH0YF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273240&sr=1-1&keywords=widdershins
★★★★✩
Title: The Other Guy
Author: Cary Attwell
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 223 pages
Publication date: October 26, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Emory James is, by his own admission, not the type of person the adjective exciting would ever deign to touch with a ten-foot pole. Cautious, reserved and staid, however, all crowd around him like best friends. Still, he gets by -- or at least he gets by up until his fiancée dumps him at the altar. Out of spite, he takes a solo honeymoon to Thailand, where he can pretend to be someone better than himself for a little while. In meeting Nate, a fellow traveler, Emory slowly discovers how to stop pretending.
Review:
I actually laughed out loud quite a few times and I never do that. Out of hundreds of m/m romances I've read over the years, this one gets the second place in humor. Emory can be frustrating, self-deprecating and sometimes downright sad, but at the same time he is that geek in all of us. The guy who tries hard to be a normal, well adjusted person because no one had ever told him that it's irrelevant to being happy. Each time he fails, it becomes harder to try again. By the time he meets Nate, we can almost believe that Emory is ready to throw in the towel and accept what comes his way without any of his preconceived notions of normalcy. But that hardly makes a good novel. Instead, Emory does what any other human in his position is likely to do. He sticks his head in the sand. And if you can picture him like that, you will likely be tempted to give him a swift kick in the behind. Because through this entire story, Nate is THAT guy. You know which guy I'm talking about; the one you never find but keep hoping to. That guy we all know exists somewhere but we're never lucky enough to come across one. Don't get me wrong, he's not a perfect, hollow statue. He's as real as Emory despite the fact that we don't have an access into his head. He's funny, sweet, sexy and possesses infinite patience, which as it turns out, is quite necessary to get through to someone as stubbornly set in his ways as Emory. All in all, I throughly enjoyed this and I recommend it without a hesitation.
Warnings/spoilers
No sex scenes, piss your pants humor (seriously, wear diapers), a main character you just might wanna throttle, a sexy, SEXY photographer, and an ex girlfriend who should be permanently tied to the crazy train that took her out of the town in the first place.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Other-Guy-ebook/dp/B009XWXBK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273625&sr=1-1&keywords=the+other+guy
Author: Cary Attwell
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 223 pages
Publication date: October 26, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Emory James is, by his own admission, not the type of person the adjective exciting would ever deign to touch with a ten-foot pole. Cautious, reserved and staid, however, all crowd around him like best friends. Still, he gets by -- or at least he gets by up until his fiancée dumps him at the altar. Out of spite, he takes a solo honeymoon to Thailand, where he can pretend to be someone better than himself for a little while. In meeting Nate, a fellow traveler, Emory slowly discovers how to stop pretending.
Review:
I actually laughed out loud quite a few times and I never do that. Out of hundreds of m/m romances I've read over the years, this one gets the second place in humor. Emory can be frustrating, self-deprecating and sometimes downright sad, but at the same time he is that geek in all of us. The guy who tries hard to be a normal, well adjusted person because no one had ever told him that it's irrelevant to being happy. Each time he fails, it becomes harder to try again. By the time he meets Nate, we can almost believe that Emory is ready to throw in the towel and accept what comes his way without any of his preconceived notions of normalcy. But that hardly makes a good novel. Instead, Emory does what any other human in his position is likely to do. He sticks his head in the sand. And if you can picture him like that, you will likely be tempted to give him a swift kick in the behind. Because through this entire story, Nate is THAT guy. You know which guy I'm talking about; the one you never find but keep hoping to. That guy we all know exists somewhere but we're never lucky enough to come across one. Don't get me wrong, he's not a perfect, hollow statue. He's as real as Emory despite the fact that we don't have an access into his head. He's funny, sweet, sexy and possesses infinite patience, which as it turns out, is quite necessary to get through to someone as stubbornly set in his ways as Emory. All in all, I throughly enjoyed this and I recommend it without a hesitation.
Warnings/spoilers
No sex scenes, piss your pants humor (seriously, wear diapers), a main character you just might wanna throttle, a sexy, SEXY photographer, and an ex girlfriend who should be permanently tied to the crazy train that took her out of the town in the first place.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Other-Guy-ebook/dp/B009XWXBK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273625&sr=1-1&keywords=the+other+guy
★★★★✩
Title: Bonds of Earth
Author: G. N. Chevalier
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 240 pages
Publication date: January 8, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: In 1918, Michael McCready returned from the war with one goal: to lose himself in the pursuit of pleasure. Once a promising young medical student, Michael buried his dreams alongside the broken bodies of the men he could not save. After fleeing New York to preserve the one relationship he still values, he takes a position as a gardener on a country estate, but he soon discovers that the house hides secrets and sorrows of its own. While Michael nurses the estate’s neglected gardens, his reclusive employer dredges up reminders of the past Michael is desperate to forget.
John Seward’s body was broken by the war, along with his will to recover until a family crisis convinces him to pursue treatment. As John’s health and outlook improve under Michael’s care, animosity yields to understanding. He and John find their battle of wills turning into something stronger, but fear may keep them from finding hope and healing in each other.
Review:
Now here is a book that clearly belongs in the upper crust of this genre. There are a few things more satisfying than a smooth flowing historical novel that has been well researched. These are real, flesh-and-bone characters, immaculately drawn, achingly imperfect. Nothing is out of balance here, nothing is out of place. Despite its puzzle-like neatness some people will complain about, there is no sense of forced currents in the story line. The writer's style can be both blunt and luxurious at once, a wonderful combination when done right. There is no trace of overabundance in drama (which, by the way, tends to be the greatest downfall of novels in this particular genre) but at the same time, it is by no means lacking in emotion. All in all, very well done. I am anxious to find out what other treasures this writer has in store for me.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Bonds-of-Earth-ebook/dp/B006V7NRCO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273588&sr=1-1&keywords=bonds+of+earth
Author: G. N. Chevalier
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 240 pages
Publication date: January 8, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: In 1918, Michael McCready returned from the war with one goal: to lose himself in the pursuit of pleasure. Once a promising young medical student, Michael buried his dreams alongside the broken bodies of the men he could not save. After fleeing New York to preserve the one relationship he still values, he takes a position as a gardener on a country estate, but he soon discovers that the house hides secrets and sorrows of its own. While Michael nurses the estate’s neglected gardens, his reclusive employer dredges up reminders of the past Michael is desperate to forget.
John Seward’s body was broken by the war, along with his will to recover until a family crisis convinces him to pursue treatment. As John’s health and outlook improve under Michael’s care, animosity yields to understanding. He and John find their battle of wills turning into something stronger, but fear may keep them from finding hope and healing in each other.
Review:
Now here is a book that clearly belongs in the upper crust of this genre. There are a few things more satisfying than a smooth flowing historical novel that has been well researched. These are real, flesh-and-bone characters, immaculately drawn, achingly imperfect. Nothing is out of balance here, nothing is out of place. Despite its puzzle-like neatness some people will complain about, there is no sense of forced currents in the story line. The writer's style can be both blunt and luxurious at once, a wonderful combination when done right. There is no trace of overabundance in drama (which, by the way, tends to be the greatest downfall of novels in this particular genre) but at the same time, it is by no means lacking in emotion. All in all, very well done. I am anxious to find out what other treasures this writer has in store for me.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Bonds-of-Earth-ebook/dp/B006V7NRCO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273588&sr=1-1&keywords=bonds+of+earth
★★★★✩
Title: The Painting of Porcupine City: A Novel
Author: Ben Monopoli
Genre: m/m fiction
Print length: 388 pages
Publication date: August 29, 2011
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Brazilian graffiti artist Mateo Amaral is looking for his heaven spot, the one perfect place to paint. His coworker Fletcher Bradford is looking for a heaven spot of his own, and his is even more elusive. Out since age 12, Fletcher's been around more blocks than Mateo has ever painted. He's dated all the jerks, all the creeps, all the losers in between. At 26 he's decided the only way to meet a nice guy is just never to give him a chance to prove otherwise. When he's introduced to Mateo, Fletcher expects to add another notch to his bedpost. But Mateo is different--and from him Fletcher will rediscover a long-lost feeling: surprise. What Fletcher finds in the trunk of Mateo's car will change his life in ways he never imagined--and may help him find what he's always wanted.
From the author of THE CRANBERRY HUSH comes an epic story spanning years and hemispheres and miles of painted walls. At times sexy and sweet, gritty and gut-wrenching, THE PAINTING OF PORCUPINE CITY takes readers along with Mateo and Fletcher on an adventure through the subways of Boston to the towers of São Paulo. Are you in?
Review:
This was well done. Fletcher is the sort of guy we can all picture clearly; his imperfections might make you squirm but they make him very much human, if not always likeable. Mateo is beautiful, frustrating and wrapped in mystery until he is not, when the reality of who he is becomes almost painful. There is a wonderful starkness to certain parts of the novel; the emotion is always balanced, never overwhelming, yet poignant none the less. The ending might not be to everyone's taste. I thought it was exquisite. I would recommend it without hesitation.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Painting-Porcupine-City-ebook/dp/B005K159H8/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273556&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=the+pinting+of+the+porcupine+city
Author: Ben Monopoli
Genre: m/m fiction
Print length: 388 pages
Publication date: August 29, 2011
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Brazilian graffiti artist Mateo Amaral is looking for his heaven spot, the one perfect place to paint. His coworker Fletcher Bradford is looking for a heaven spot of his own, and his is even more elusive. Out since age 12, Fletcher's been around more blocks than Mateo has ever painted. He's dated all the jerks, all the creeps, all the losers in between. At 26 he's decided the only way to meet a nice guy is just never to give him a chance to prove otherwise. When he's introduced to Mateo, Fletcher expects to add another notch to his bedpost. But Mateo is different--and from him Fletcher will rediscover a long-lost feeling: surprise. What Fletcher finds in the trunk of Mateo's car will change his life in ways he never imagined--and may help him find what he's always wanted.
From the author of THE CRANBERRY HUSH comes an epic story spanning years and hemispheres and miles of painted walls. At times sexy and sweet, gritty and gut-wrenching, THE PAINTING OF PORCUPINE CITY takes readers along with Mateo and Fletcher on an adventure through the subways of Boston to the towers of São Paulo. Are you in?
Review:
This was well done. Fletcher is the sort of guy we can all picture clearly; his imperfections might make you squirm but they make him very much human, if not always likeable. Mateo is beautiful, frustrating and wrapped in mystery until he is not, when the reality of who he is becomes almost painful. There is a wonderful starkness to certain parts of the novel; the emotion is always balanced, never overwhelming, yet poignant none the less. The ending might not be to everyone's taste. I thought it was exquisite. I would recommend it without hesitation.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Painting-Porcupine-City-ebook/dp/B005K159H8/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273556&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=the+pinting+of+the+porcupine+city
★★★★✩
Title: Black Hawk Tattoo
Author: Aundrea Singer
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 318 pages
Publication date: January 6, 2013
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Toronto artist Gabriel Navarro splits his time between slinging ink and working on his master’s degree. He’s sure of his beliefs and his artistic integrity and naïve enough to think he’ll never compromise—until Iraq war veteran Jake MacLean shows up in his tattoo parlor.
Overcome with anger and survivor’s guilt, Jake is locked in a struggle to atone for sins he’s sure will never be forgiven. Desperate to get his life back on track and with nowhere else to go, he moves in with his sister in Toronto. He doesn't expect to fall for Gabe.
Though Jake’s refusal to talk about what happened in Iraq frustrates Gabe, accepting Jake’s claims that he's “fine” is easier than dealing with the truth. But pretty soon it’s clear Jake can’t control his panic attacks, and his condition is worsening. If Gabe can’t help him face his demons, Jake is headed for a crash—and there’s every chance he’ll take Gabriel down with him.
Review:
First, let me tell you all the good things about this novel. The plot is solid, tight and well presented. The story flows smoothly, never dragging or rushing. The characters are immaculate. I'm beyond impressed with the writer's ability to describe the symptoms of PTSD. As someone who suffers from this disorder, I'm sickened by the ridiculous and tasteless attempts to portray PTSD as something romantic. This writer does not sugar coat anything; the reality is stark and unpleasant at best. Jake is painfully genuine in all his doubt and fear, straining for normalcy in one moment, then falling apart in the next. Gabriel on the other hand, is very much an ordinary human faced with an extraordinary task. Dealing with a person who has PTSD is a no easy undertaking and Gabriel's struggles are agonizing. It's hard to help someone who won't open up, and Jake is a ticking bomb throughout most of the story. There's a beautiful, heartbreaking connection between these two men. Flawlessly done.
The supporting characters need a mention too. There's nothing worse than a cast of supporting characters that are little better than two-dimensional. You will find no cardboard cut-outs in this novel. The supporting characters are wonderfully human, leaping off the pages.
Now, I have to say that I wasn't crazy about the sex scenes. I though they could have used just a touch more finesse. Also, people blush way too much, to the point where you're counting their blushes (or maybe just I was, 'cause I'm an annoying perfectionist).
4.5 stars without a doubt. If you can stomach it, you're gonna LOVE it.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Hawk-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B00AY2VQKM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273513&sr=1-1&keywords=black+hawk+tattoo
Author: Aundrea Singer
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 318 pages
Publication date: January 6, 2013
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Toronto artist Gabriel Navarro splits his time between slinging ink and working on his master’s degree. He’s sure of his beliefs and his artistic integrity and naïve enough to think he’ll never compromise—until Iraq war veteran Jake MacLean shows up in his tattoo parlor.
Overcome with anger and survivor’s guilt, Jake is locked in a struggle to atone for sins he’s sure will never be forgiven. Desperate to get his life back on track and with nowhere else to go, he moves in with his sister in Toronto. He doesn't expect to fall for Gabe.
Though Jake’s refusal to talk about what happened in Iraq frustrates Gabe, accepting Jake’s claims that he's “fine” is easier than dealing with the truth. But pretty soon it’s clear Jake can’t control his panic attacks, and his condition is worsening. If Gabe can’t help him face his demons, Jake is headed for a crash—and there’s every chance he’ll take Gabriel down with him.
Review:
First, let me tell you all the good things about this novel. The plot is solid, tight and well presented. The story flows smoothly, never dragging or rushing. The characters are immaculate. I'm beyond impressed with the writer's ability to describe the symptoms of PTSD. As someone who suffers from this disorder, I'm sickened by the ridiculous and tasteless attempts to portray PTSD as something romantic. This writer does not sugar coat anything; the reality is stark and unpleasant at best. Jake is painfully genuine in all his doubt and fear, straining for normalcy in one moment, then falling apart in the next. Gabriel on the other hand, is very much an ordinary human faced with an extraordinary task. Dealing with a person who has PTSD is a no easy undertaking and Gabriel's struggles are agonizing. It's hard to help someone who won't open up, and Jake is a ticking bomb throughout most of the story. There's a beautiful, heartbreaking connection between these two men. Flawlessly done.
The supporting characters need a mention too. There's nothing worse than a cast of supporting characters that are little better than two-dimensional. You will find no cardboard cut-outs in this novel. The supporting characters are wonderfully human, leaping off the pages.
Now, I have to say that I wasn't crazy about the sex scenes. I though they could have used just a touch more finesse. Also, people blush way too much, to the point where you're counting their blushes (or maybe just I was, 'cause I'm an annoying perfectionist).
4.5 stars without a doubt. If you can stomach it, you're gonna LOVE it.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Hawk-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B00AY2VQKM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273513&sr=1-1&keywords=black+hawk+tattoo
★★★★✩
Title: Xylophone
Author: K. Z. Snow
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 128 pages
Publication date: December 11, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Daren Boothe's most significant secret centers on an unlikely object: a xylophone. That secret led him to develop his professional alter-ego, a sensual, androgynous dancer. When Dare begins his second (and considerably more wholesome) job playing clarinet in a polka band, he meets a young man who takes his grandmother out dancing. But Dare knows the man has his own secret.
Jonah Day immediately recognizes the clarinetist. Three years earlier they crossed paths in a therapist's office, but they both abandoned that route to mental health. Neither was ready then to open up about the psychological traumas that haunted them.
In an attempt to heal their wounds, Dare and Jonah turn to each other. Understanding and empathy come instantly, accompanied by ambivalence about their growing attraction. But the repercussions of victimization are many. Soon, the very experiences Dare and Jonah share threaten to drive them apart.
Review:
This was short, sweet and well worth the money. I could think of a few small complaints but I won't tell you about them. They don't take away from the story or the writers skill in presenting it to us. In this particular genre, it's a breath of fresh air that leaves you feeling reborn. I throughly, throughly enjoyed it and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Xylophone-ebook/dp/B00AMVNLIU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273478&sr=1-1&keywords=kz+snow
Author: K. Z. Snow
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 128 pages
Publication date: December 11, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Daren Boothe's most significant secret centers on an unlikely object: a xylophone. That secret led him to develop his professional alter-ego, a sensual, androgynous dancer. When Dare begins his second (and considerably more wholesome) job playing clarinet in a polka band, he meets a young man who takes his grandmother out dancing. But Dare knows the man has his own secret.
Jonah Day immediately recognizes the clarinetist. Three years earlier they crossed paths in a therapist's office, but they both abandoned that route to mental health. Neither was ready then to open up about the psychological traumas that haunted them.
In an attempt to heal their wounds, Dare and Jonah turn to each other. Understanding and empathy come instantly, accompanied by ambivalence about their growing attraction. But the repercussions of victimization are many. Soon, the very experiences Dare and Jonah share threaten to drive them apart.
Review:
This was short, sweet and well worth the money. I could think of a few small complaints but I won't tell you about them. They don't take away from the story or the writers skill in presenting it to us. In this particular genre, it's a breath of fresh air that leaves you feeling reborn. I throughly, throughly enjoyed it and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Xylophone-ebook/dp/B00AMVNLIU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273478&sr=1-1&keywords=kz+snow
★★★★✩
Title: Shining in the Sun
Author: Alex Beecroft
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 248 pages
Publication date: April 21, 2010
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Damn it, a man shouldn’t always have to be afraid…
Alec Goodchilde has everything a man could want—except the freedom to be himself. Once a year, he motors down to an exclusive yacht club on the Cornish coast and takes the summer off from the trap that is his life.
When his car breaks down, leaving him stranded on the beach, he’s transfixed by the sight of a surfer dancing on the waves. The man is summer made flesh. Freedom wrapped up in one lithe package, dripping wet from the sea.
Once a year, Darren Stokes takes a break from his life of grinding overwork and appalling relatives, financing his holiday by picking up the first rich man to show an interest. This year, though, he’s cautious—last summer’s meal ticket turned out to be more pain than pleasure.
Even though Alec is so deep in the closet he doesn’t even admit he’s gay, Darren finds himself falling hard—until their idyllic night together is shattered by the blinding light of reality…
Review:
The ending is just too neat. Everyone is happy and content; even the villain turns out to be a good guy. Not so keen on that, since things are never so tidy or spotless in real life. There are happy endings and happy endings; this one was sweet enough to make your teeth hurt.
That said, the writer's power of description is quite remarkable, almost intoxicating. The characters are well presented, the dialogue fluid, the plot firm. If you are fond of romance with a fairy tale ending, I would recommend this book without hesitation.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Shining-in-the-Sun-ebook/dp/B003IGDDFM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273435&sr=1-1&keywords=shining+in+the+sun
Author: Alex Beecroft
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 248 pages
Publication date: April 21, 2010
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Damn it, a man shouldn’t always have to be afraid…
Alec Goodchilde has everything a man could want—except the freedom to be himself. Once a year, he motors down to an exclusive yacht club on the Cornish coast and takes the summer off from the trap that is his life.
When his car breaks down, leaving him stranded on the beach, he’s transfixed by the sight of a surfer dancing on the waves. The man is summer made flesh. Freedom wrapped up in one lithe package, dripping wet from the sea.
Once a year, Darren Stokes takes a break from his life of grinding overwork and appalling relatives, financing his holiday by picking up the first rich man to show an interest. This year, though, he’s cautious—last summer’s meal ticket turned out to be more pain than pleasure.
Even though Alec is so deep in the closet he doesn’t even admit he’s gay, Darren finds himself falling hard—until their idyllic night together is shattered by the blinding light of reality…
Review:
The ending is just too neat. Everyone is happy and content; even the villain turns out to be a good guy. Not so keen on that, since things are never so tidy or spotless in real life. There are happy endings and happy endings; this one was sweet enough to make your teeth hurt.
That said, the writer's power of description is quite remarkable, almost intoxicating. The characters are well presented, the dialogue fluid, the plot firm. If you are fond of romance with a fairy tale ending, I would recommend this book without hesitation.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Shining-in-the-Sun-ebook/dp/B003IGDDFM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273435&sr=1-1&keywords=shining+in+the+sun
★★★★★
Title: Cold
Author: Brandon Shire
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 215 pages
Publication date: May 14, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Book 1: Prison is a brutal, heartless, and demeaning environment. No one knows this better than a man sentenced to life in prison for murder. Lem Porter is a high-profile prisoner who had a solid career ahead of him in a field he loved until he killed his brother. He has spent almost eighteen years behind bars and doesn’t have much hope left.
Anderson Passero had it all. He built a career, a name, and a relationship with a man he thought he loved. Only after he very publicly landed in prison did he realize how ignorant he’d been. He has eight months left on his sentence and he is eager to go home and put prison life behind him. He doesn’t know it yet, but he will always carry these eight months with him, and they may just help him to understand what love really means.
Review:
I fell in love with Lem. What can I say.
This entire book was surprisingly sweet. It caught me surprise; you just don't expect something like this from a prison tale. The story is so wonderfully put together, so detailed, from the very beginning you feel like you've just been dropped right in the middle of everything. There are bits and pieces of Anderson's life emerging throughout, enough of them that you have no issues relating to the things he's been through. Even so, I never really warmed up to him. And I don't mind admitting it. For me, my like or dislike for Anderson centers solely on the way he interacts with Lem. Because Lem is, for the lack of a better word, magnificent. A true flesh and blood character. Someone created with a piece of the author's heart and soul. His full story is still unknown. The crumbs that the author doles out don't allow us to make a judgment. Not yet. But by the end, even though you will yearn to know more, you will be ready to forgive Lem anything. Anything at all.
I'll admit that I've been looking forward to reading this. But I never expected to give it more than four stars. Rarely ever do all the pieces of a tale line up perfectly for me. Even when the book is excellent, most authors make the sex scenes cruder than they should be. I never expected such a lush and heartbreaking connection between the characters. So much beauty when they are together for the first time.
*sigh* Now I have to wait even longer for the next installment. But that's ok; now I know it will be more than worth the wait.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-ebook/dp/B00CT9X5WA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273394&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+brandon
Author: Brandon Shire
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 215 pages
Publication date: May 14, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Book 1: Prison is a brutal, heartless, and demeaning environment. No one knows this better than a man sentenced to life in prison for murder. Lem Porter is a high-profile prisoner who had a solid career ahead of him in a field he loved until he killed his brother. He has spent almost eighteen years behind bars and doesn’t have much hope left.
Anderson Passero had it all. He built a career, a name, and a relationship with a man he thought he loved. Only after he very publicly landed in prison did he realize how ignorant he’d been. He has eight months left on his sentence and he is eager to go home and put prison life behind him. He doesn’t know it yet, but he will always carry these eight months with him, and they may just help him to understand what love really means.
Review:
I fell in love with Lem. What can I say.
This entire book was surprisingly sweet. It caught me surprise; you just don't expect something like this from a prison tale. The story is so wonderfully put together, so detailed, from the very beginning you feel like you've just been dropped right in the middle of everything. There are bits and pieces of Anderson's life emerging throughout, enough of them that you have no issues relating to the things he's been through. Even so, I never really warmed up to him. And I don't mind admitting it. For me, my like or dislike for Anderson centers solely on the way he interacts with Lem. Because Lem is, for the lack of a better word, magnificent. A true flesh and blood character. Someone created with a piece of the author's heart and soul. His full story is still unknown. The crumbs that the author doles out don't allow us to make a judgment. Not yet. But by the end, even though you will yearn to know more, you will be ready to forgive Lem anything. Anything at all.
I'll admit that I've been looking forward to reading this. But I never expected to give it more than four stars. Rarely ever do all the pieces of a tale line up perfectly for me. Even when the book is excellent, most authors make the sex scenes cruder than they should be. I never expected such a lush and heartbreaking connection between the characters. So much beauty when they are together for the first time.
*sigh* Now I have to wait even longer for the next installment. But that's ok; now I know it will be more than worth the wait.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-ebook/dp/B00CT9X5WA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273394&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+brandon
★★★★★
Title: If It Ain't Love
Author: Tamara Allen
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 44 pages
Publication date: August 25, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: In the darkest days of the Great Depression, New York Times reporter Whit Stoddard has lost the heart to do his job and lives a lonely hand-to-mouth existence with little hope of recovery, until he meets Peter, a man in even greater need of new hope.
Review:
What a way to start the month!
This must be the fifth Five Star book I've gotten my hands on in the last two weeks! I'm either extremely lucky lately, or I've finally learned how to pick 'em :)
This was such a charming and beautiful read.
We meet Whit first and he's really down on his luck. The times are desperate, his job is in jeopardy, and everywhere he turns, all he sees are people just as desperate as he is. The author paints a truly disheartening picture of the Great Depression without going into too much detail. There is a scene where Whit offers to buy a cup of coffee to a man he sees crying in the soup kitchen line. In this one simple encounter, the full misery and wretchedness of the era comes to light. It sets the tone for the rest of the story.
So we meet Whit and are acquainted with his misfortunes. But not until he meets Peter, is Whit's true character revealed. Only then we can clearly see that Whit is a survivor, a man who takes every little gift with gratitude and appreciation it deserves. While Whit is a man who has nothing, Peter is a man who lost everything. Family, home, everything he cared about, including his good name. His darkness is so much deeper than Whits, it appears bottomless.
The two men find each other almost by chance, and in the worst of times, they find something worth living for. Even thought the word 'love' is never actually spoken, it shines through every page. It truly does conquer all.
This is a short read but the message is timeless. It will stay with me for a long time.
I recommend it with all my heart :)
Download it for FREE here: http://www.amazon.com/If-It-Aint-Love-ebook/dp/B005KV1EHW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273354&sr=1-1&keywords=if+it+aint+love
Author: Tamara Allen
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 44 pages
Publication date: August 25, 2011
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: In the darkest days of the Great Depression, New York Times reporter Whit Stoddard has lost the heart to do his job and lives a lonely hand-to-mouth existence with little hope of recovery, until he meets Peter, a man in even greater need of new hope.
Review:
What a way to start the month!
This must be the fifth Five Star book I've gotten my hands on in the last two weeks! I'm either extremely lucky lately, or I've finally learned how to pick 'em :)
This was such a charming and beautiful read.
We meet Whit first and he's really down on his luck. The times are desperate, his job is in jeopardy, and everywhere he turns, all he sees are people just as desperate as he is. The author paints a truly disheartening picture of the Great Depression without going into too much detail. There is a scene where Whit offers to buy a cup of coffee to a man he sees crying in the soup kitchen line. In this one simple encounter, the full misery and wretchedness of the era comes to light. It sets the tone for the rest of the story.
So we meet Whit and are acquainted with his misfortunes. But not until he meets Peter, is Whit's true character revealed. Only then we can clearly see that Whit is a survivor, a man who takes every little gift with gratitude and appreciation it deserves. While Whit is a man who has nothing, Peter is a man who lost everything. Family, home, everything he cared about, including his good name. His darkness is so much deeper than Whits, it appears bottomless.
The two men find each other almost by chance, and in the worst of times, they find something worth living for. Even thought the word 'love' is never actually spoken, it shines through every page. It truly does conquer all.
This is a short read but the message is timeless. It will stay with me for a long time.
I recommend it with all my heart :)
Download it for FREE here: http://www.amazon.com/If-It-Aint-Love-ebook/dp/B005KV1EHW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273354&sr=1-1&keywords=if+it+aint+love
★★★★★
Title: Threshold
Author: Jordan L. Hawk
Genre: m/m paranormal
Print length: Not specified
Publication date: June 2, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Introverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne wants nothing more than to live quietly with his lover, ex-Pinkerton detective Griffin Flaherty. Unfortunately, Whyborne's railroad tycoon father has other ideas, namely hiring Griffin to investigate mysterious events at a coal mine.
Whyborne, Griffin, and their friend Christine travel to Threshold Mountain, a place of dark legend even before the mine burrowed into its heart. A contingent of Pinkertons--including Griffin's ex-lover Elliot--already guard the mine. But Griffin knows better than anyone just how unprepared the detectives are to face the otherworldly forces threatening them.
Soon, Whyborne and Griffin are on the trail of mysterious disappearances, deadly accidents, and whispered secrets. Is Elliot an ally, or does he only want to rekindle his relationship with Griffin? And if so, how can Whyborne possibly hope to compete with the stunningly handsome Pinkerton--especially when Griffin is hiding secrets about his past?
For in a town where friends become enemies and horror lurks behind a human mask, Whyborne can't afford to trust anything--including his own heart.
Review:
I snatched this one up without reading the free sample first, and I rarely ever do that. However, I did read Widdershins and I liked it enough to give it four stars. I figured I'd be in for another four star book. Man was this a surprise.
For one, Christine really grew on me in this one. I wasn't particularly fond of her in the first book; she struck me as the inevitable female supporting character cliche, although much better fleshed out than many other characters of her kind. In this book, she shines. To the point where you wish you had a Christine of your own. I mean, the lady really kicks ass in every way you can imagine, and she does it with a dry sort of humor that many of us wish we possessed. By the end of the book I was in love with her. I do fall in love relatively often while reading m/m romance but NEVER with a female character.
I was glad to see some faults in Griffin. He was just so freaking perfect in the first book that I spent a lot of time being anxious for Whyborne. The introduction of the ex lover definitely shook things up. I spent a lot of time being anxious for Whyborne in this book too; the man is a trouble magnet! But man, the character development in this story was incredible. You can see Whyborne fully come out of his shell and become a man we all knew he was from the beginning. He's such a sweet and faithful guy; it was so awesome to see him kick some ass while staying true to who he is as a person.
The story line itself was just as imaginative and complex as the first one. A definite page turner. I don't want to give anything away, but if you liked the action in the first book, this one will blow you away. And it flows so smoothly, it's a pleasure to read.
The sex scenes. Holy crap. There was this one, with the storm raging outside; I don't want to ruin it for anyone so I won't say any more than that. But wow. I swear, my Kindle got too hot to touch.
All in all, I really, really enjoyed this. I do hope there will be another Whyborne & Griffin book coming out at some point. I got really attached to these guys. And Christine. Oh please, let's have more of Christine :)
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Threshold-Whyborne-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00D5M4NP8/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Author: Jordan L. Hawk
Genre: m/m paranormal
Print length: Not specified
Publication date: June 2, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Introverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne wants nothing more than to live quietly with his lover, ex-Pinkerton detective Griffin Flaherty. Unfortunately, Whyborne's railroad tycoon father has other ideas, namely hiring Griffin to investigate mysterious events at a coal mine.
Whyborne, Griffin, and their friend Christine travel to Threshold Mountain, a place of dark legend even before the mine burrowed into its heart. A contingent of Pinkertons--including Griffin's ex-lover Elliot--already guard the mine. But Griffin knows better than anyone just how unprepared the detectives are to face the otherworldly forces threatening them.
Soon, Whyborne and Griffin are on the trail of mysterious disappearances, deadly accidents, and whispered secrets. Is Elliot an ally, or does he only want to rekindle his relationship with Griffin? And if so, how can Whyborne possibly hope to compete with the stunningly handsome Pinkerton--especially when Griffin is hiding secrets about his past?
For in a town where friends become enemies and horror lurks behind a human mask, Whyborne can't afford to trust anything--including his own heart.
Review:
I snatched this one up without reading the free sample first, and I rarely ever do that. However, I did read Widdershins and I liked it enough to give it four stars. I figured I'd be in for another four star book. Man was this a surprise.
For one, Christine really grew on me in this one. I wasn't particularly fond of her in the first book; she struck me as the inevitable female supporting character cliche, although much better fleshed out than many other characters of her kind. In this book, she shines. To the point where you wish you had a Christine of your own. I mean, the lady really kicks ass in every way you can imagine, and she does it with a dry sort of humor that many of us wish we possessed. By the end of the book I was in love with her. I do fall in love relatively often while reading m/m romance but NEVER with a female character.
I was glad to see some faults in Griffin. He was just so freaking perfect in the first book that I spent a lot of time being anxious for Whyborne. The introduction of the ex lover definitely shook things up. I spent a lot of time being anxious for Whyborne in this book too; the man is a trouble magnet! But man, the character development in this story was incredible. You can see Whyborne fully come out of his shell and become a man we all knew he was from the beginning. He's such a sweet and faithful guy; it was so awesome to see him kick some ass while staying true to who he is as a person.
The story line itself was just as imaginative and complex as the first one. A definite page turner. I don't want to give anything away, but if you liked the action in the first book, this one will blow you away. And it flows so smoothly, it's a pleasure to read.
The sex scenes. Holy crap. There was this one, with the storm raging outside; I don't want to ruin it for anyone so I won't say any more than that. But wow. I swear, my Kindle got too hot to touch.
All in all, I really, really enjoyed this. I do hope there will be another Whyborne & Griffin book coming out at some point. I got really attached to these guys. And Christine. Oh please, let's have more of Christine :)
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Threshold-Whyborne-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00D5M4NP8/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
★★★★★
Title: Brothers of the Wild North Sea
Author: Harper Fox
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 346 pages
Publication date: June 11, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Caius doesn’t feel like much of a Christian. He loves his life of learning as a monk in the far-flung stronghold of Fara, but the hot warrior blood of his chieftain father flows in his veins. Heat soothed only in the arms of his sweet-natured friend and lover, Leof.
When Leof is killed during a Viking raid, Cai’s grieving heart thirsts for vengeance—and he has his chance with Fenrir, a wounded young Viking warrior left for dead. But instead of reaching for a weapon, Cai finds himself defying his abbot’s orders and using his healing skills to save Fen’s life.
At first, Fen repays Cai’s kindness by attacking every Christian within reach. But as time passes, Cai’s persistent goodness touches his heart. And Cai, who had thought he would never love again, feels the stirring of a profound new attraction.
Yet old loyalties call Fen back to his tribe and a relentless quest to find the ancient secret of Fara—a powerful talisman that could render the Vikings indestructible, and tear the two lovers’ bonds beyond healing.
Review:
From any other author, the religious undertone of the story would have made me wary. The idea of priesthood, of devoting one's life to a single, Christian God is an alien concept to me; one that often makes me feel uneasy. I tend to stay away from novels that delve closely into the subject, whether they be fictional, historical, or any combination of the two. However, no Harper Fox novel I've ever come across could be called lighthearted or frivolous. Over the years, I've learned to put my faith into every sentence she forms and trust that my faith will be rewarded with more beauty than a simple human being can take.
I can't say I know much about the time period. I do remember some of my lessons, mainly Synod of Whitby who in 664 left the Celtic Christian Church for the Roman faith. And of course, there's Saint Cuthbert. Is it too much to hope that I saw some of his fascinating life peeking though in Cai's story? I suppose I'll never know. Records of the Viking raids during that time period are few and far between, but they do exist. The rest of the plot, as far as historical accuracy is concerned, is by no means lacking in events that ring true. The action is stark and full of suspense. You can easily imagine yourself sliding on the treacherous sands, smelling the blood and tasting the copper. I had gotten accustomed to the beauty of the worlds this author creates, yet each time I find something new, something that takes me by surprise. In this book it was the images of the waves breaking against the hull of a ship, the moonlight reflected on the steel, the black of blood marring the surface of the sea. Beauty found in an unexpected place and more precious for this fact alone.
Both Cai and Fen are boys in the beginning; if not in body then very much in mind. Each one seems to approach their role in life with a boy's mindset. The concepts of honor and duty seem prevalent, yet it is clear than neither fully understands the meaning of these words, or what it means to live by them. Together, they shed the unnecessary shackles that bind them. They learn which battles in life are worth fighting and why. They grow in front of your eyes, from page to page, so heartbreaking in their imperfections and failings.
In the end, love is the power that moves and conquers. Not just the love in between Cai and Fen, but the other kind, that so often goes unrecognized. The love which so rarely passes the lips of today's religions, where all men are brothers in the eyes of God, where the faith in human kind dwells alongside of science and the needs of flesh and bone. Where humanity is not something to be shed in favor of rigid faith and control, but embraced fully. So all men can revel in the wonder of their own flaws and know that they are no less loved, by each other or their creator.
During a dark time in man's history, Harper Fox has managed to bring about the light. Don't pass this by; there's so little beauty in the world that none should be disregarded. Especially not this kind, the kind that spans centuries.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Wild-North-Sea-ebook/dp/B00BFQM4VG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273310&sr=1-1&keywords=brothers+of+the+wild+north+sea
Author: Harper Fox
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 346 pages
Publication date: June 11, 2013
Rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Caius doesn’t feel like much of a Christian. He loves his life of learning as a monk in the far-flung stronghold of Fara, but the hot warrior blood of his chieftain father flows in his veins. Heat soothed only in the arms of his sweet-natured friend and lover, Leof.
When Leof is killed during a Viking raid, Cai’s grieving heart thirsts for vengeance—and he has his chance with Fenrir, a wounded young Viking warrior left for dead. But instead of reaching for a weapon, Cai finds himself defying his abbot’s orders and using his healing skills to save Fen’s life.
At first, Fen repays Cai’s kindness by attacking every Christian within reach. But as time passes, Cai’s persistent goodness touches his heart. And Cai, who had thought he would never love again, feels the stirring of a profound new attraction.
Yet old loyalties call Fen back to his tribe and a relentless quest to find the ancient secret of Fara—a powerful talisman that could render the Vikings indestructible, and tear the two lovers’ bonds beyond healing.
Review:
From any other author, the religious undertone of the story would have made me wary. The idea of priesthood, of devoting one's life to a single, Christian God is an alien concept to me; one that often makes me feel uneasy. I tend to stay away from novels that delve closely into the subject, whether they be fictional, historical, or any combination of the two. However, no Harper Fox novel I've ever come across could be called lighthearted or frivolous. Over the years, I've learned to put my faith into every sentence she forms and trust that my faith will be rewarded with more beauty than a simple human being can take.
I can't say I know much about the time period. I do remember some of my lessons, mainly Synod of Whitby who in 664 left the Celtic Christian Church for the Roman faith. And of course, there's Saint Cuthbert. Is it too much to hope that I saw some of his fascinating life peeking though in Cai's story? I suppose I'll never know. Records of the Viking raids during that time period are few and far between, but they do exist. The rest of the plot, as far as historical accuracy is concerned, is by no means lacking in events that ring true. The action is stark and full of suspense. You can easily imagine yourself sliding on the treacherous sands, smelling the blood and tasting the copper. I had gotten accustomed to the beauty of the worlds this author creates, yet each time I find something new, something that takes me by surprise. In this book it was the images of the waves breaking against the hull of a ship, the moonlight reflected on the steel, the black of blood marring the surface of the sea. Beauty found in an unexpected place and more precious for this fact alone.
Both Cai and Fen are boys in the beginning; if not in body then very much in mind. Each one seems to approach their role in life with a boy's mindset. The concepts of honor and duty seem prevalent, yet it is clear than neither fully understands the meaning of these words, or what it means to live by them. Together, they shed the unnecessary shackles that bind them. They learn which battles in life are worth fighting and why. They grow in front of your eyes, from page to page, so heartbreaking in their imperfections and failings.
In the end, love is the power that moves and conquers. Not just the love in between Cai and Fen, but the other kind, that so often goes unrecognized. The love which so rarely passes the lips of today's religions, where all men are brothers in the eyes of God, where the faith in human kind dwells alongside of science and the needs of flesh and bone. Where humanity is not something to be shed in favor of rigid faith and control, but embraced fully. So all men can revel in the wonder of their own flaws and know that they are no less loved, by each other or their creator.
During a dark time in man's history, Harper Fox has managed to bring about the light. Don't pass this by; there's so little beauty in the world that none should be disregarded. Especially not this kind, the kind that spans centuries.
Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Wild-North-Sea-ebook/dp/B00BFQM4VG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371273310&sr=1-1&keywords=brothers+of+the+wild+north+sea
★★★★★
Title: Skybound
Author: Aleksandr Voinov
Genre: m/m historical
Print length: 43 pages
Publication date: August 18, 2012
Rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: Germany, 1945. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.
When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.
But there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger.
Review:
This story is short but powerful. On the losing side of a war, the German forces are fighting their last battles. The main character is a mechanic, working tirelessly to repair fighter planes so the man he worships can fly into the danger and defend Berlin from the invading forces.
Rarely ever does an author in this genre dare to step this far outside the comfort zone. There is very little about the German forces in that time period that will inspire sympathy. Yet, within the first few pages, the stark reality of a war is revealed. It doesn’t matter which side is right or wrong, nor does it matter who wins or loses, because war reduces all men to baser creatures. In the end, when surrounded by death, each man will focus on saving what is most dear to him.
Felix is a simple character prone to unexpected glimmers of insight and depth. The story is narrated from his point of view. He struck me as a young man, although his age is never stated. A man who dreamt of flying as a boy but when the time came, failed the test. Some parts of him are sweet and uncomplicated, almost idealistic.
“I would devote myself like this to another man. Take a bullet meant for him, and die in his arms, knowing I had fulfilled my destiny.”
The man he worships from afar is a fighter pilot, a legend. Vogt is a bit elusive through most of the story, partly because we don’t have access to his point of view. His first interaction with Felix centers around a bullet that Felix had dug out of the pilot seat, and those few sentences they exchange are almost too painful to read.
Their entire relationship is full of melancholy. Not only because the war is at their doorstep, but because they are so different from each other. Everything about Vogt, as seen through Felix’s eyes, is intimidating. The way he carries himself, the things he says so nonchalantly and without the slightest regard of how they may be perceived, even his reading material. Herodotus’s Histories, a far cry from the fanciful and highly imaginative Karl May adventures that Felix is reading. With each page I felt more and more anxious for Felix, more and more certain that the story would end in heartbreak.
“I’m the eagle who died in his egg while my brother grew up strong and proud.”
Still, a connection blooms between the two men. Something beautiful and fragile and short, made all the more powerful by the fact that this is likely to be their only time together. As the end nears, the despair deepens. We all know how WWII ended. The German forces are determined to fight until they are completely obliterated. A mention is made of suicide missions, of fighting to the last man. The story accelerates, and although you might think you know how it will all end, you will be wrong. Trust me.
This brings me to the only reason why this book did not receive five stars. As much as I loved the ending, it struck me as an entirely unrealistic scenario. It also left me with a feeling that this was not the ending the author had originally intended. Regardless, this book was so exquisite that such a small imperfection, in my opinion, can be overlooked.
Aleksandr Voinov has a skill with words that is almost impossible to match. Each sentence in this story has a beauty of its own. I tend to highlight the passages that strike a chord in me when reading a book for the first time. In this book, I gave up after the first dozen pages having highlighted nearly every other section. I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the first Aleksandr Voinov novel I’ve read, but I will be remedying this very soon.
This may be labeled as a m/m romance but it’s so much more; a piece of history brought to life, threaded with unanticipated poetry. I recommend it with all my heart.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ZPFP3O/ref=oh_d__o07_details_o07__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Author: Aleksandr Voinov
Genre: m/m historical
Print length: 43 pages
Publication date: August 18, 2012
Rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: Germany, 1945. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.
When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.
But there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger.
Review:
This story is short but powerful. On the losing side of a war, the German forces are fighting their last battles. The main character is a mechanic, working tirelessly to repair fighter planes so the man he worships can fly into the danger and defend Berlin from the invading forces.
Rarely ever does an author in this genre dare to step this far outside the comfort zone. There is very little about the German forces in that time period that will inspire sympathy. Yet, within the first few pages, the stark reality of a war is revealed. It doesn’t matter which side is right or wrong, nor does it matter who wins or loses, because war reduces all men to baser creatures. In the end, when surrounded by death, each man will focus on saving what is most dear to him.
Felix is a simple character prone to unexpected glimmers of insight and depth. The story is narrated from his point of view. He struck me as a young man, although his age is never stated. A man who dreamt of flying as a boy but when the time came, failed the test. Some parts of him are sweet and uncomplicated, almost idealistic.
“I would devote myself like this to another man. Take a bullet meant for him, and die in his arms, knowing I had fulfilled my destiny.”
The man he worships from afar is a fighter pilot, a legend. Vogt is a bit elusive through most of the story, partly because we don’t have access to his point of view. His first interaction with Felix centers around a bullet that Felix had dug out of the pilot seat, and those few sentences they exchange are almost too painful to read.
Their entire relationship is full of melancholy. Not only because the war is at their doorstep, but because they are so different from each other. Everything about Vogt, as seen through Felix’s eyes, is intimidating. The way he carries himself, the things he says so nonchalantly and without the slightest regard of how they may be perceived, even his reading material. Herodotus’s Histories, a far cry from the fanciful and highly imaginative Karl May adventures that Felix is reading. With each page I felt more and more anxious for Felix, more and more certain that the story would end in heartbreak.
“I’m the eagle who died in his egg while my brother grew up strong and proud.”
Still, a connection blooms between the two men. Something beautiful and fragile and short, made all the more powerful by the fact that this is likely to be their only time together. As the end nears, the despair deepens. We all know how WWII ended. The German forces are determined to fight until they are completely obliterated. A mention is made of suicide missions, of fighting to the last man. The story accelerates, and although you might think you know how it will all end, you will be wrong. Trust me.
This brings me to the only reason why this book did not receive five stars. As much as I loved the ending, it struck me as an entirely unrealistic scenario. It also left me with a feeling that this was not the ending the author had originally intended. Regardless, this book was so exquisite that such a small imperfection, in my opinion, can be overlooked.
Aleksandr Voinov has a skill with words that is almost impossible to match. Each sentence in this story has a beauty of its own. I tend to highlight the passages that strike a chord in me when reading a book for the first time. In this book, I gave up after the first dozen pages having highlighted nearly every other section. I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the first Aleksandr Voinov novel I’ve read, but I will be remedying this very soon.
This may be labeled as a m/m romance but it’s so much more; a piece of history brought to life, threaded with unanticipated poetry. I recommend it with all my heart.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ZPFP3O/ref=oh_d__o07_details_o07__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
★★★★✩
Title: Love, Like Water
Author: Rowan Speedwell
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 261 pages
Publication date: July 9, 2013
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Three years undercover with one of the worst gangs in the country left FBI agent Joshua Chastain shattered. Battling nightmares and addiction, he leaves the concrete jungle for New Mexico horse country, hoping to start over on his uncle’s ranch.
Foreman Eli Kelly spends his life rehabilitating abused animals, and Joshua is just another lost soul. But as Joshua slowly begins to put his life back together, Eli realizes that Joshua is a lot more than his newest project.
Joshua’s plan seems to work—maybe a fresh start was just what he needed. Then, just when he has finally found a sense of peace, crime and hatred nearly destroy all his hard work. forcing him to reevaluate what he wants out his relationship with Eli and his own life.
Review:
Let me first say that I don't like cowboy romance. I've read at least a dozen of similar novels and they were really bad. I mean, really, really bad. I don't know what it is about cowboy romance that makes even decent authors reach for cliches and vulgarity. So I decided, no more cowboys for me. Who has money to waste?
But I like Rowan Speedwell. As an author, she is remarkably dependable. When you get your hands on one of her books, you can be sure that genuine effort has been put into every aspect of it. So when she came out with this book I hesitated for a day or two then threw caution to the wind. I remember thinking, 'It's Rowan Speedwell, it can't be that bad.'
And it wasn't. It was surprisingly good. For this type of romance, incredibly good.
Joshua is not your typical wounded character. He's broken but still complex. I'm glad he wasn't made out to be some sort of a pretty boy from the very beginning. Years of heroin addiction do not leave anyone looking attractive; that's just reality. Watching him slowly get back on his feet through Eli's eyes was so much more powerful than it would have been otherwise. Eli's character must have taken serious skills too. In some ways, he's your typical cowboy, the ranch foreman, quiet and steady. In less capable hands, he would have fallen flat and become just another slow-drawling, horse riding, stetson-wearing guy. But instead, he's wonderfully fleshed out and stays consistently so throughout the book.
The chemistry between them was very sweet. If you've read Rowan Speedwell's work before, then you know that she has the romance down pat every time.
The descriptions of the landscape were lovely without being overpowering. Some authors will spend pages and pages making sure you're familiar with every blade of grass. It's unnecessary and most of the time, boring. True ability lies in drawing a complete picture with just a few well-worded sentences and this is something Rowan Speedwell accomplishes with ease.
The story line was good, but it stuttered in a few places. The incident with Eli in the city seemed just a little too convenient. But the flow was relatively smooth and the happy ending left me with a smile.
All in all, I now finally have a cowboy romance to add to my 'favorites' pile. Don't even bother with the others, they're not worth the time or money.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUQ5ABK/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
Author: Rowan Speedwell
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 261 pages
Publication date: July 9, 2013
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Three years undercover with one of the worst gangs in the country left FBI agent Joshua Chastain shattered. Battling nightmares and addiction, he leaves the concrete jungle for New Mexico horse country, hoping to start over on his uncle’s ranch.
Foreman Eli Kelly spends his life rehabilitating abused animals, and Joshua is just another lost soul. But as Joshua slowly begins to put his life back together, Eli realizes that Joshua is a lot more than his newest project.
Joshua’s plan seems to work—maybe a fresh start was just what he needed. Then, just when he has finally found a sense of peace, crime and hatred nearly destroy all his hard work. forcing him to reevaluate what he wants out his relationship with Eli and his own life.
Review:
Let me first say that I don't like cowboy romance. I've read at least a dozen of similar novels and they were really bad. I mean, really, really bad. I don't know what it is about cowboy romance that makes even decent authors reach for cliches and vulgarity. So I decided, no more cowboys for me. Who has money to waste?
But I like Rowan Speedwell. As an author, she is remarkably dependable. When you get your hands on one of her books, you can be sure that genuine effort has been put into every aspect of it. So when she came out with this book I hesitated for a day or two then threw caution to the wind. I remember thinking, 'It's Rowan Speedwell, it can't be that bad.'
And it wasn't. It was surprisingly good. For this type of romance, incredibly good.
Joshua is not your typical wounded character. He's broken but still complex. I'm glad he wasn't made out to be some sort of a pretty boy from the very beginning. Years of heroin addiction do not leave anyone looking attractive; that's just reality. Watching him slowly get back on his feet through Eli's eyes was so much more powerful than it would have been otherwise. Eli's character must have taken serious skills too. In some ways, he's your typical cowboy, the ranch foreman, quiet and steady. In less capable hands, he would have fallen flat and become just another slow-drawling, horse riding, stetson-wearing guy. But instead, he's wonderfully fleshed out and stays consistently so throughout the book.
The chemistry between them was very sweet. If you've read Rowan Speedwell's work before, then you know that she has the romance down pat every time.
The descriptions of the landscape were lovely without being overpowering. Some authors will spend pages and pages making sure you're familiar with every blade of grass. It's unnecessary and most of the time, boring. True ability lies in drawing a complete picture with just a few well-worded sentences and this is something Rowan Speedwell accomplishes with ease.
The story line was good, but it stuttered in a few places. The incident with Eli in the city seemed just a little too convenient. But the flow was relatively smooth and the happy ending left me with a smile.
All in all, I now finally have a cowboy romance to add to my 'favorites' pile. Don't even bother with the others, they're not worth the time or money.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUQ5ABK/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img