Book Review

Book Review: Spell Bound by Jacob Z. Flores

Reviewed by Nikyta

SpellBoundTitle: Spell Bound
Author: Jacob Z. Flores
Series: The Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge #1
Heroes: Mason & Drake
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 216 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: May 27, 2015
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Mason Blackmoor just can’t compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game.

When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake’s confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson—like turn him into a roach. And if he’s lucky, maybe this time Mason won’t be the one turned into an insect.

Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual, and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason’s suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder.

If only Mason didn’t find himself inexplicably spell bound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.

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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Altered 2 by Annabelle Jacobs

Reviewed by Nikyta

25469030-1Title: The Altered 2
Author: Annabelle Jacobs
Series: Lycanaeris #2
Heroes: Ash & Sam
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 37k words
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: May 28, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: A remote farmhouse in Cornwall seems the perfect place for Ash to settle into his recently altered status. Starting a new life there with Sam—the shifter he can’t stay away from—should be easy this far from London where they faced so much danger. So why does adjusting seem impossible?

Sam has issues of his own. He has to get used to his human form again after living the last eight years as a wolf. It’s hard when human worries weigh so heavily on his shoulders. Life is much more straightforward from a wolf’s perspective, until Ash needs his human support.

Ash’s problem is simple: he’s fearful of shifting fully. How can he believe he won’t hurt Sam when his genes were altered to create a killer? Despite repeated reassurance, his anger and resentment increase. Only one thing is certain: if Ash can’t learn to trust himself soon, he’s in danger of proving himself right.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Scientific Method by Kris Ripper

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: The Scientific Method
Author: Kris Ripper
Series: The Scientific Method #1
Heroes: Hugh/Will
Genre: MM Contemporary/BDSM
Length: 198 Pages
Publisher: Kris Ripper
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Will Derrie has a problem. He’s twenty-one years old and there’s something terribly wrong with him.

He doesn’t like sex.

He wants to like sex, but even when he’s totally into his girlfriends, he still has to run a movie in his head to get through having sex with them. And the movie? So not okay. (His imaginary mistress spanking his ass really doesn’t go well with his real-life girlfriend whispering sweet nothings in his ear.)

When his twin brother Adam accidentally stumbles upon his search history, Ads decides that Will needs an intervention. With a dominatrix. Oh, and also, the dominatrix’s mysterious (and way less scary) friend Hugh.

Is it friends-with-benefits? A romance? A bromance, but with floggers? Will doesn’t know. But whatever it is? Fucking hot
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Closing the Loop
Author: Jane Davitt
Heroes: Lee/Cole
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 150 Pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  A week on a tropical gay cruise is just what Lee needs after a bad breakup and a Canadian winter. It’s a shame his ex is on board, but Lee is sharing a cabin with Cole, a hot lawyer who—as luck would have it—is actually from Lee’s city. So when Cole unexpectedly awakens Lee’s kinky side, Lee begins to dream that they can actually take their shipboard romance home with them.

But Cole is keeping secrets involving a troubled young man on board the ship. And Lee, after his recent brush with betrayal, finds it difficult to trust Cole when he says Justin isn’t a rival.

Then he learns the truth and is also drawn into the tragic story. His dream vacation is in danger of turning dark, but he’s determined to navigate Cole and himself to a safe harbor before their blisteringly hot romance is lost at sea.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Suit Yourself by Susan Mac Nicol

Reviewed by Susan65

1Title: Suit Yourself
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Series: Men of London #3
Heroes: Oliver Brown/Leslie Scott
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length:
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Release Date: May 21, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Scarred both physically and emotionally after a motorcycle accident, twenty-five year old ex fashion model and porn star Oliver Brown is about to be stripped bare by flamboyant twink Leslie Scott—and they’ll rebuild love from the bottom up.

BARING THE BEAST
Twenty-five year old Oliver Brown is addicted. Two years ago, he was at the height of his career as “Nikki Star,” fashion model, porn actor, partier without peer. Then came the accident. Hiding his scars, both emotional and physical, he’s gone into hiding. But fine clothing is some solace. A new suit by Debussy? Better even than a ride on his motorcycle Hulk or all the things he used to give and take on camera.

Enter Leslie Scott, the flamboyant, dark-haired, heel-and-tiny-short-wearing twink sent to deliver Oliver’s newest fix. A firecracker, Leslie is dapper, generous, in touch with his feminine side but all man, and as gorgeous as any garment ever made. He makes Oliver dream of ending his reclusion, of recapturing a future forever denied him. But for that to happen, Leslie would have to strip him to the bone. Only then will they rebuild life from the bottom up.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2015, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Book Review: Evac by Michael Murphy

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Evac
Author: Michael Murphy
Heroes: Benji/Nick
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 200 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: May 27, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  While on a mission in northern Afghanistan, Benji’s helicopter is shot down. Benji went in with a band of brothers but comes out with a stack of body bags, including one for his partner, Blade.

After recovering physically in Germany, Benji is sent home to San Diego. He’s been a soldier so long he doesn’t know how to live as a civilian. The loss of his brothers and his partner weighs heavily on him. Benji’s body might be healed, but he is still a very broken man. Unable to find work, Benji turns to drinking, bar fights, risky sex with anonymous men, and striking out at everything. As he spirals out of control, he even tries volunteering in a BDSM club as a sub for demonstrations and private scenes.

Despair drives Benji to action, and he meets Nick, a young man in desperate need of hope. With his options and his money running out, the only question is if Benji will find his way in time.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Murphy by Bey Deckard

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Murphy
Author: Bey Deckard
Series: F.I.S.T.S. #2
Heroes: Murphy/Sarge
Genre: MM Sci-Fi
Length:  42 Pages
Publisher: Bey Deckard
Release Date:  June 10, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Sometimes when it seems like it’s too late, the right person comes along and opens your eyes…

Murphy is the continuing story of a D/s relationship between two Space Marines who found each other in the midst of hopelessness and misfortune.

Sarge and his newly minted squad travel across the galaxy on a top-secret mission that could help win the war. However, something about the mission stinks to Murphy, and it’s not just the planet they’ve landed on.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Early Review: Suddenly One Summer by Julie James

Guest Reviewed by Ami

1Title: Suddenly One Summer
Author: Julie James
Heroine/Hero: Victoria Slade/Ford Dixon
Genre: MF Contemporary Romance
Length: 304 Pages
Publisher: Berkley/Jove
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Divorce lawyer Victoria Slade has seen enough unhappy endings to swear off marriage forever. That doesn’t mean she’s opposed to casual dating—just not with her cocky new neighbor, who is as gorgeous and tempting as he is off-limits. But once she agrees to take on his sister’s case, she’s as determined to win as ever—even if that means teaming up with Ford…

Investigative journalist Ford Dixon is bent on finding the man who got his sister pregnant and left her high and dry. He’s willing to partner with Victoria, despite the fact that the beautiful brunette gets under his skin like no other woman. He might not be looking to settle down, but there’s no denying the scorching attraction between them. Still, the more time he spends with Victoria, the more he realizes that the one woman as skeptical about love as he is might be the only woman he could really fall for…
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, M/F, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Into the Light by Carter Quinn

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Into the Light
Author: Carter Quinn
Series: Avery #2
Heroes: Avery/Noah
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 166 Pages
Publisher: Carter Quinn Bookz
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Avery spent years in the blackness, fighting memories of abuse and feelings of self-loathing. His only sanctuary used to be his brother Sam, but after two years of intensive therapy and a long-term relationship with Noah, his world is a much brighter place.

Things have changed in the year and a half since Avery and Noah confessed their love for each other. Noah’s mother and brother have moved East. Sam and Kira are married. And Avery and Noah are moving in together at long last. Family dynamics strain in uncomfortable new ways, especially when Avery’s past reappears.

What will this mean for Avery’s recovery? Will he surrender to the Blackness or is he strong enough to continue his journey Into the Light?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Art Criticism by Celeste Spettro

Reviewed by Nikyta

artcriticism500Title: Art Criticism
Author: Celeste Spettro
Heroes: James & Turkish
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 61k words
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Release Date: May 7, 2014
Available at: Less Than Three Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: James has no idea what he’s going to do with his art history degree, but for the moment he’s managing as a lowly gallery assistant… until he has to deal with an aggravating photographer. Turkish is a lot like his photographs: vapid, popular, and over the top—the perfect target for James’ snarky criticism, but somehow James is unable to reject the man as easily he rejects his art.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment