Author Week

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Poacher’s Fall

Reviewed by Heather C

1Title:  Poacher’s Fall
Author: J.L. Merrow
Series: Midwinter Manor #1
Heroes: Danny Costessey/Philip Luccombe
Genre: MM Historical Romance
Length: 65 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 30, 2013
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: One snowy night just before Christmas, 1922, poacher Danny Costessey rounds off a night trapping rabbits by climbing a tree to fetch some mistletoe for his mother—only to fall and break his leg. Taken to the manor house to recover from his injuries, Danny meets the reclusive owner, Philip Luccombe. Village gossip has it Luccombe went mad during the war, but Danny soon realizes he’s simply still mourning his late lover. As friendship grows between them, Danny starts to fall for handsome, shy Philip.

Danny’s lively nature, roguish good looks, and ready laughter enchant Philip, and he finds himself being drawn out of his shell whether he will it or not. But when Danny tries to move beyond friendship, Philip panics—and his rejection threatens not only their happiness, but Danny’s health.

This is a revised and expanded version of the story previously published under the title of Pleasures with Rough Strife. Everyone who has purchased a stand-alone copy of Pleasures with Rough Strife from the Dreamspinner website (ie not as part of the Mistletoe Madness set) will be able to download Poacher’s Fall free!

Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Fall Hard

Guest Reviewed by Trish

11Title: Fall Hard
Author: J.L. Merrow
Heroes: Paul/Viggo
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 237 Pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Available at:  Samhain Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Some memories are better off lost in the mist…

Eight months ago, British academic Paul Ansell lost his lover—and all the memories of their time together—in an accident at Iceland’s Gullfoss Falls. Returning to the misty island country to resume his study of the bloodthirsty Viking Egil Skallagrimsson is tough as he struggles to pull his life back together.

First, there’s his colleague, Mags, who treats him like glass, and summer student Alex, who peppers him with discomforting questions. Then there’s Icelandic jet-boat driver Viggo, a tattooed, modern-day Viking who won’t say much about how they know each other. Leaving Paul to wonder if their volcanic attraction is fuelled by a desire to make a fresh start, or desperation to forget the past.

As more fragments of his lost memories fall into place, Paul is unsure if he can trust himself, much less anyone around him. And he begins to suspect his accident was nothing of the kind.

Warning: Contains a modern-day Viking whose boat has V8 engines for oars, and a harsh land of hot springs and hotter passions that won’t forgive any false steps.
Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Permanently Legless

Reviewed by Nikyta

1Title: Permanently Legless
Author: J.L. Merrow
Heroes: Chris/Josh
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 25 Pages
Publisher: Amber Allure
Release Date: January 22, 2012
Available at: Amber Allure, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The Taliban may have taken both of Chris’s legs, but he came back from Afghanistan with his sense of humour and his lust for life firmly intact. The one thing that can shake his confidence, however, is meeting Josh, the one-night stand from before his tour of duty he hasn’t been able to forget.

It turns out Josh hasn’t forgotten Chris, either. But with Chris such a changed man, can they still have a future?
Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2012 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Caught!

Guest Reviewed by Gyn

11Title: Caught!
Author: J.L. Merrow
Series: Shamwell Tales #1
Heroes: Robert/Sean
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 276 Pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Available at:  Samhain Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  You can run from the past…but the past runs faster.

Behind Robert’s cheerfully eccentric exterior lies a young heart battered and bruised by his past. He’s taken a job teaching in a village primary school to make a fresh start, and love isn’t part of his plans. But he’s knocked for six—literally—by a chance encounter with the uncle of two of his pupils.

Sean works in pest control, rides a motorbike, and lives on a council estate. On the face of it, he shouldn’t have anything in common with Robert’s bow-tie, classic-car style and posh family background. Yet Robert is helpless to resist Sean’s roguish grin, and a rocky, excruciatingly embarrassing start doesn’t keep the sparks between them from flaring.

Despite Robert’s increasingly ludicrous attempts to keep his past where it belongs, his past hasn’t read the memo. And soon his secrets could be the very things that drive Sean away for good…

Warning: Contains the alarming misadventures of a pest control technician, a stepsister with a truly unfortunate name, and a young man who may have more bow ties than sense.
Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Author Week & Giveaway Winners!

Woohoo! It’s that time of the month again!

What’s that?? Time to announce our next Author Week victim guest, of course!

Who is it, you’re asking? We’ll give you a little hint… this author has written just about every genre… still have no clue?

Oh, fine, we’ll tell you!

September’s Author Week is focused on….. JL Merrow!

Yay! We’re super excited to have her on the blog and reviewing some of her books. We’ve even got the guest reviewers participating in this Author Week!

Stick around because we’ll be reviewing old and new books from JL… plus, she’s got a little surprise for y’all coming in a bit!

blogger_bee_trans

Now, with that out of the way, it’s time to pick more giveaway winners!

3

So, the three winners of the paperback copies of Boystown 6: From the Ashes by Marshall Thornton are… Continue reading

Categories: Author Week, Giveaways | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Light the Fire

Reviewed by JustJen

3Title: Light the Fire
Author: J.L. Merrow
Heroes: Kurt/Matt
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 22 Pages
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: January 28, 2013
Available at: JMS Books, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Learning to live—and love—again

Two years after the death of his lover at the hands of bigots, Kurt’s still not looking for another relationship, even though the big old house he bought with Raoul seems cold and empty these days. But there’s a perky kid at his gym who just won’t take no for an answer.

Matt can tell there’s more to Kurt than just a great set of pecs. He’s drawn to the big guy’s caring, protective attitude as much as to his muscles. But when push comes to shove, can Matt show Kurt he’s not just a big mouth in a small package?

This story first appeared in the Someplace in this World anthology, now out of print.
Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Muscling Through

Guest Reviewed by Morgan

1Title: Muscling Through
Author: J.L. Merrow
Heroes: Larry Morton and Al Fletcher
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 87 Pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Available at: Samhain Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The bigger they come, the harder they fall… in love.

Cambridge art professor Larry Morton takes one, alcohol-glazed look at the huge, tattooed man looming in a dark alley, and assumes he’s done for. Moments later he finds himself disarmed—literally and figuratively. And, the next morning, he can’t rest until he offers an apology to the man who turned out to be more gentle than giant.

Larry’s intrigued to find there’s more to Al Fletcher than meets the eye; he possesses a natural artistic talent that shines through untutored technique. Unfortunately, no one else seems to see the sensitive soul beneath Al’s imposing, scarred, undeniably sexy exterior. Least of all Larry’s class-conscious family, who would like nothing better than to split up this mismatched pair.

Is it physical? Oh, yes, it’s deliciously physical, and so much more—which makes Larry’s next task so daunting. Not just convincing his colleagues, friends and family that their relationship is more than skin deep. It’s convincing Al.

Contains comic misunderstandings, misuse of art materials, and unexpected poignancy.
Continue reading

Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SJD Peterson Week Review: Conner’s Courage

Reviewed by Susan65

Conner's Courage (Whispering Pines Ranch, #4)Title: Conner’s Courage
Author: SJD Peterson
Series: Whispering Pines Ranch #4
Heroes: John Price/Conner Burnett
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 198 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: August 3, 2012
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: John Price and Conner Burnett have been part of the Whispering Pines Ranch for the past thirty-seven years. A loving couple who have overcome every obstacle thrown at them, John and Conner are a testament to the strength of true love. But now John is in the hospital with a diagnosis of cancer, fighting for his very life.

As his lover struggles, Conner looks back on when they first met. The early seventies wasn’t an easy time to be a gay man, especially in a small country town. Considering John’s pride, Conner’s need to be himself, shame, bitterness, and two stubborn natures, their love story almost wasn’t written. But they beat the odds, and Conner will be damned if he’ll let anyone take John from him now. He had the courage to stand up for what he wanted in 1974. If need be, he’ll go toe to toe with God himself to keep the man he fought so hard to love.

Authors Note:
Please note that I am a firm believer in safe sex practices. However, this novel was set in 1974 with no AIDS in sight, and most venereal diseases treated with a simple shot, it was “The golden age of Gay sexuality.”
Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2012, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SJD Peterson Week Review: Plan B

Reviewed by Heather C

iTitle:  Plan B
Author: SJD Peterson
Heroes: Danny Marhsal/Lance Lenard
Genre: MM Contemporary Romance
Length: 182 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 6, 2013
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Danny Marshal has always lived his life out loud, but his androgynous appearance is only a small part of who he is. One night at a frat party, Danny meets Lance Lenard, football jock and apparent straight guy. Lance is shocked when he’s immediately attracted to Danny’s feminine side. Danny is happy to be the subject of Lance’s first man-on-man experiment—until Lance begins to struggle with the fact that despite his appearance, Danny is indeed a man.

Lance’s whole life has been focused on his goal of playing in the NFL, and he knows those dreams will be smashed if anyone finds out about his little secret. Although Lance has come to hunger for Danny’s touch, he’s not willing to give Danny what he’s grown to crave: a boyfriend who’s proud to love him for every flamboyant and snarky cell in his body.

Life sends Danny and Lance in different directions, each of them focused on his respective Plan A. But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SJD Peterson Week Review: Beyond Duty

Reviewed by Nikyta

iTitle: Beyond Duty
Author: SJD Peterson
Heroes: Gunny/Mac
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 212 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: August 12, 2013
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell didn’t come soon enough for Gunther “Gunny” Duchene and Macalister “Mac” Jones, career US Marines who met at boot camp in the 1990s. They’ve been somewhere between best friends and lovers in peacetime and wartime both, but as the clock ticks toward Mac’s and Gunny’s retirements, the guys have much more to worry about than coming out.

Whether their relationship will survive outside of the closet they’ve had to shove it into for over two decades is a big question mark. After all, Gunny questions why a hot military man like Mac–who could get any guy he wanted, including a younger, sexier one–would want him. But as Gunny and Mac navigate emotional waters as choppy as any they saw on duty, they just might learn Semper Fi applies to more than their careers.

This edition is the expanded novel of the short story Beyond Duty which has been included in this novel. However it has been edited and changed to 3rd person POV.
Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments