Book Review

Book Review: Partners by Lex Valentine & VJ Summers

Reviewed by JustJen

Partners (Shadows & Kink #1)Title: Partners
Author: Lex Valentine/VJ Summers
Series: Shadows & Kink #1
Heroes: Travis/Ian
Genre: M/M Dystopian
Length: 100 Pages
Publisher: Winterheart Books
Release Date: April 18, 2014
Available at: Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: TDA agents Travis Wilder and Ian Hawke are fuck ups. As members of a covert organization that battles terrorism in a world that’s lost its political, economic and social infrastructure, their job is to find and neutralize dangerous terrorists. But, neither Travis nor Ian have been able to complete a mission successfully in recent months. Travis kills his targets while Ian beds his. In an effort to save his two best agents, their handler makes them partners.

Ian, with his upper-crust British accent and flirty behavior is everything that attracts Travis and repels him at the same time. For Ian, the taciturn, domineering former Force Recon officer represents a temptation he knows better than to succumb to. But working and living together builds a unique bond between the two. As sexual tension spirals higher between them, as their secrets and kinks are revealed, their need for each other becomes undeniable. They’re two broken men forced into a partnership neither of them wants…a partnership guaranteed to be their salvation or their destruction.

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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Book Review: Dixon’s Duty by Jenna Byrnes

Reviewed by Susan65

Dixon’s Duty (Kansas City Heat #1)Title: Dixon’s Duty
Author: Jenna Byrnes
Series: Kansas City Heat #1
Heroes: James “Dix” Dixon and Bryan Scott
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 32,278 words
Publisher: Totally Bound
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Available at: Totally Bound
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: This is book one in the Kansas City Heat series, see the full series listing here

A serial rapist and murderer on the loose. Will Kansas City’s finest solve the case before the madman strikes again?

Detective James Dixon is determined to track down the most recent serial killer terrorizing the people of Kansas City. The chase leads him to the Last Chance Bar and Grille, where he meets and immediately falls for the sexy owner, Bryan Scott. But things at the bar aren’t exactly as they seem.

No one there remembers seeing the latest victim the night before she was brutally murdered. So why do the clues keep pointing back to the Last Chance? When the attacks strike close to home, Dix and Bryan must work together to save the next victim and whatever chance they have for happiness. Continue reading

Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Book Review: Dirty Ross by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

Reviewed by Susan65

Dirty Ross (Assassin/Shifter, #22)Title: Dirty Ross
Author: Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Series: Assassin-Shifter #22
Heroes: Ross Collins and Cole Ryker
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 282 pages
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Cole Ryker has been a man on a mission since the second he laid eyes on tall, dark and dirty-talking Ross Collins. That mission? To get the macho Delta Force soldier into his bed and out of his head, putting an end to his obsession. When Ross finally agrees to a date, Cole is overjoyed – and, frankly, rather surprised. Ross is like no man he’s ever met. When one date leads to another and another, the men struggle to sort out their feelings.

Ross Collins is in full command of everything in his life. When Cole Ryker hits on him – and keeps hitting on him – something in Ross is drawn to the confident firefighter and the uncertainty that comes with letting someone else take the lead. Time with Cole is intoxicating, unlike anything Ross could have imagined. He’s falling fast and Cole is right there with him.

But everyone has secrets, don’t they? Ross is hiding the fact that he’s a werewolf, and Cole is terrified his own past relationship will ruin any chance he has of finding happiness with Ross. There’s also the matter of a man from Ross’ past who’s pretty determined to stake his own claim on the soldier.

Truths explode as quickly and terrifying as a five-alarm fire, putting relationships in jeopardy and loved ones in danger. Is there an escape or will their love turn to ashes?

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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

KC Burn Week Review: Pen Name – Doctor Chicken

Reviewed by Heather C

18740213Title: Pen Name – Doctor Chicken
Author: KC Burn
Heroes: Stratford & Vinnie
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 63,463 words
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: November 22, 2013
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Sometimes Stratford Dale feels like Doctor Chicken consumes his life. It’s his pen name for a series of wildly popular children’s books. They were his brainchild; he meant for them to be a way to pay his many bills while he pursued his dream of publishing graphic novels. But the Doctor Chicken contract was a raw deal. Instead, he churns out book after book for a pittance, leaving him broke and no closer to his dreams.

Stratford’s dreams of love have fared no better, but he’s still trying. After yet another disastrous date, he’s intrigued by a man going into a cooking class—so he takes the class too. Vinnie Giani is a successful, self-made man who is charmed by Stratford’s bow ties, sharp humor, and clumsiness—which leads to an opportunity to take Stratford in for stitches. Vinnie is, above all, responsible, having taken on the care of his mother and sisters from a young age. Perhaps it’s natural when he begins to treat Stratford more as a child who needs a parent than as an equal partner. But when Vinnie tries to “fix” Stratford’s career woes—including the Doctor Chicken problem—and ends up making the situation worse, their fledgling relationship may not withstand the the strain created by blame and lies.

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

Challenge Week Review: Life Lessons by Kaje Harper

Reviewed by JustJen

Life Lessons (Life Lessons, #1)Title: Life Lessons
Author: Kaje Harper
Series: Life Lessons #1
Heroes: Anthony “Tony” Hart/Jared “Mac” MacLean
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 276 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Available at: MLR Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooksBarnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Tony Hart’s life has been quiet lately. He has good friends and a rewarding teaching job. Then the murdered body of another teacher falls into the elevator at his feet, and Tony’s life gets a little too exciting.

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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Challenge Book Week, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Challenge Book Review: Texas Pride by Kindle Alexander

Reviewed by Heather C

17660704Title: Texas Pride
Author: Kindle Alexander
Heroes: Kitt Kelly & Austin Grainger
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 113,000 words
Publisher: Kindle Alexander Collection, LLC
Release Date: March 18, 2013
Available at: Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When mega movie star and two time Academy Award winner, Austin Grainger voluntarily gave up his dazzling film career, his adoring fan base thought he’d lost his mind. For Austin, the seclusion of fifteen hundred acres in the middle of Texas sounds like paradise. No more cameras, paparazzi, or overzealous media to hound him every day and night. Little did the sexiest man alive know when one door closes, another usually opens. And Austin’s opened by way of a sexy, hot ranch owner right next door.

Kitt Kelly wasn’t your average rancher. He’s young, well educated and has hidden his sexuality for most of his life. When his long time wet dream materializes as his new neighbor it threatens everything he holds dear. No way the ranching community would ever accept him if he came out. With every part of his life riding on the edge, can Kitt risk it all for a chance at love or will responsibility to his family heritage cost him his one chance at happiness? Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Challenge Book Week, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Challenge Week Review: Downtime by Tamara Allen

Reviewed by Nikyta

DowntimeTitle: Downtime
Author: Tamara Allen
Heroes: Morgan Nash & Ezra Glacenbie
Genre: M/M Historical (Time Travel)
Length: 144,000 words
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: April 1, 2012  (3rd Edition)
Available at: Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: FBI Agent Morgan Nash is on assignment in London when his case goes awry and he finds himself moments away from a bullet through the heart. But fate has other plans: Morgan is knocked out pursuing a suspect… and wakes up in 1888.

While cataloging ancient manuscripts at the British Museum, Ezra Glacenbie accidentally pulls Morgan out of the twenty-first century–an impromptu vacation that may become permanent for Morgan if they can’t locate the spellbook Ezra used. Further hampering Morgan’s quest to get home is the irresistible temptation to investigate history’s most notorious serial killer. But in repressive Victorian London, the unexpected romance blossoming between Morgan and Ezra becomes the most dangerous complication of all. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Challenge Book Week, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2012 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: The Contract by Claire Thompson

Reviewed by JustJen

The ContractTitle: The Contract
Author: Claire Thompson
Heroes: Jace/Quinn
Genre: M/M BDSM
Length: 123 Pages
Publisher: Romance Unbound
Release Date: March 21, 2014
Available at: Romance Unbound, AmazonBarnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Out of a job and betrayed by his lover, Jace Thompson jumps at an opportunity almost too good to be true. On a private island in the Florida Keys, a secret BDSM community exists in resort-style luxury, the wealthy clients served by paid submissives who meet their every erotic desire and sensual whim. As Jace works hard to serve the men of the island with submissive grace, he is challenged at every turn by a manipulative trainer who seems hell bent on his failure, and another who brings out a deeply submissive nature Jace didn’t realize he possessed.

When trainer Quinn is asked to assess Jace for his submissive potential, the connection between them is immediate and intense. He might have to make an exception to his rule to never get involved with the service subs. His jealous ex-lover has other ideas.

Dark intrigue and unrequited desires combine in a tangled web of danger and deception. Against a backdrop of lush tropical beauty and steamy BDSM passion, Jace and Quinn begin a tentative and ultimately powerful exploration of Domination and submission not only of the body, but of the heart and soul. Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey

Guest Review by Ami

16069105Title: Dark Currents
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Series: Agent of Hel #1
Heroine/Heroes: Daisy Johanssen / Cody Fairfax / Stefan Ludovic
Genre: M/F Urban Fantasy
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads 

Blurb: The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly. But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake.

Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon. Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, M/F, Published in 2012 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Early Review: Control by Cardeno C. & Mary Calmes

Reviewed by Nikyta

Control by Cardeno C. & Mary CalmesTitle: Control
Author: Cardeno C. & Mary Calmes
Heroes: Vy & Robert
Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Length: 220 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: April 18, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Vy Aleknos is the leader of a hawk shifter flock. Openly gay since he was a teen, Vy is proud and self-assured on the outside, while secretly worrying he’ll be forced to spend his life alone because two males can’t be mates. When bear shifter Robert Cimino appears in Vy’s small town, Vy realizes his concerns were unfounded — he has a male mate, and a sexy, dominant one to boot. 

Robert is a bear shifter who refuses to shift. Immediately attracted to Vy, he deviates from his normal pattern and seeks more than a one off with the powerful, bristly hawk. But Robert’s affections are rooted in his human form, and when Vy discovers Robert doesn’t recognize him as his mate, he pulls away. If Robert wants to stay with Vy, he must convince a man deeply ruled by his animal instincts to give their relationship as humans a chance. Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment