LGBT

Book Review: Awake and Alive by Garrett Leigh

Reviewed by JustJen

Awake and AliveTitle: Awake and Alive
Author: Garrett Leigh
Heroes: Jed Cooper/Max O’Dair
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 34 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: A Missing Moment from Only Love

After a successful surgery relieves Jed of the illness that nearly killed him, he returns home to slowly recover with Max. With time to reconnect, Max shows him a new way to love. Now at a crossroads and facing a new life, Jed must listen to his friends and family to learn how to move forward.

Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Only Love by Garrett Leigh

Reviewed by JustJen

Only LoveTitle: Only Love
Author: Garrett Leigh
Heroes: Jed Cooper/Max O’Dair
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 274 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: The diagnosis of a chronic stomach condition leaves thirty-two-year-old Sergeant Jed Cooper with little choice but to call time on his Army career. Then on the dusty streets of Kirkuk, an ambush gone tragically wrong decimates his team, and he returns to the US with a shattered leg and the memory of his best friend dying in his arms.

Life in his sleepy hometown proves intolerable until he finds solace in a lakeside cabin with vivacious young carpenter, Max O’Dair. In the shadow of the epilepsy that periodically plagues Max, he and Jed form an unspoken bond. After a late night episode, Jed realizes how much Max means to him, and life has taught him not to waste time.

But the lines between contentment and complacency are blurred. Things left hidden resurface to tear through their world, and before they can repair the damage, death comes to call again. Faces, past and present, rally around them to weather the storm, but before long, they are left with only love.

Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gay For You Week Review: Fireproof by Hollis Shiloh

Reviewed by Nikyta

FireproofTitle: Fireproof
Author: Hollis Shiloh
Heroes: Jett & Levi
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 170 pages
Publisher: Spare Words Press
Release Date: March 1, 2014
Available at: Amazon & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Jett used to be a firefighter. He gave it up when he developed the terrifying ability to make fire with his mind. Panicked, he fled—also leaving behind his best friend and secret crush, Levi.

Two years later, they meet again. And somehow, Levi can forgive Jett for leaving and never saying goodbye. But now Levi’s getting married, and that hurts more than Jett thought anything could.

How will Levi take the news of Jett’s weird fire magic—or the news that he’s gay?

Two men navigate the waters of magic, changing relationships, and danger in this contemporary, sweet and slightly angsty paranormal gay firefighter-themed romance.

Continue reading

Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Honorary Blogger Annabelle Jacobs: Torsere + Giveaway

Honorary_Blogger_Post

Torsere

by Annabelle Jacobs

Firstly, I love fantasy. I love dragons and elves and all mythical creatures–basically anything that lets me escape into a different world. I’m so happy to have had the chance to create one of my own.

When I first starting writing this series, way back in February 2013, my original idea was for one book. But as I began to plan it out, and actually start writing, I suddenly found myself with far more story than I could fit into one book.

And so one became three.

Capture introduces the two main characters, Nykin–a dragon rider in the Torserian Army, and Ryneq–the King of Torsere. It details the start of their relationship when they get taken prisoner, and are forced to work together. The interaction between Nykin and his dragon, Fimor, features heavily in this first book, and also throughout the whole series. They are bonded through a telepathic link, and Fimor is very opinionated.

Union, the second book in the series, carries on the story but is based around how the dynamic between the two main characters changes. Nykin has to deal with keeping his position in the king’s army, while also being involved with the king. Their relationship deepens, but with the threats to the kingdom looming on the horizon, they struggle to find time to explore the physical side. But they manage, somehow.

The third and final book, Alliance, has loads of action mixed in with romance. Everything that’s been building in the previous two books comes to a head, and Ryneq has some difficult decisions to make. Nykin doesn’t agree with some of them, and with all that’s happening around them, emotions run high. I’ve literally just finished writing this one.

It’s taken me a little over a year to complete the whole series, and I’m really going to miss writing about these two, and of course Fimor. I think one of my favourite things has been imagining what a snarky, old, interfering dragon might have to say.

blogger_bee_trans

About Union

UnionAfter the defeat of the Lowland Army at Torsere and with King Seran on the run, King Ryneq and his sister, Cerylea, continue their journey to the Elven City of Alel to proceed with the union of the two realms. Fully recovered from his injuries and newly announced as King Ryneq’s Consort, Nykin returns to his duty as a Dragon Rider in the King’s army. He and Ryneq have little opportunity to celebrate their union, but make the most of their time together before leaving for Alel. Since the ambush at Neest River destroyed the main bridge, traveling by ship is the only option. An unusual storm threatens their crossing, making Ryneq wonder if some new magic is rising against them.

As the wedding between Cerylea and the Elven prince Morkryn approaches, the dragons sense a malevolent presence. To protect the young couple’s fragile bond, Nykin and his dragon, Fimor, take to the skies, setting up a patrol along the border of the magical city. But as the evil grows more potent, the enchanted boundary grows weaker. Ryneq and Nykin must combine their strength to protect their people from Seran’s extreme plot for revenge.

Available at: Dreamspinner Press

blogger_bee_trans

About Annabelle Jacobs

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with her husband, three rowdy children, and two cats.

An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

You can find Annabelle on Facebook, Twitter or her Website.

Blogger_Giveaway

In honor of her new release, Annabelle has kindly offered to give away an ebook copy of Capture to one luck winner!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Wednesday, April 16th, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST. After which the lucky winner will be randomly picked.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address and you’re in!

Make sure to follow the blog for the winner’s announcement post or check back next Thursday, April 17th, 2014, to see if you’ve won.

Don’t forget to check out Nikyta’s review of Union to see what she thought of it! You can also pre-order your own copy at Dreamspinner Press!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , | 12 Comments

Early Review: Union by Annabelle Jacobs

Reviewed by Nikyta

UnionTitle: Union
Author: Annabelle Jacobs
Series: Torsere #2
Heroes: Nykin & Ryneq
Genre: M/M High Fantasy
Length: 230 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: After the defeat of the Lowland Army at Torsere and with King Seran on the run, King Ryneq and his sister, Cerylea, continue their journey to the Elven City of Alel to proceed with the union of the two realms. Fully recovered from his injuries and newly announced as King Ryneq’s Consort, Nykin returns to his duty as a Dragon Rider in the King’s army. He and Ryneq have little opportunity to celebrate their union, but make the most of their time together before leaving for Alel. Since the ambush at Neest River destroyed the main bridge, traveling by ship is the only option. An unusual storm threatens their crossing, making Ryneq wonder if some new magic is rising against them.

As the wedding between Cerylea and the Elven prince Morkryn approaches, the dragons sense a malevolent presence. To protect the young couple’s fragile bond, Nykin and his dragon, Fimor, take to the skies, setting up a patrol along the border of the magical city. But as the evil grows more potent, the enchanted boundary grows weaker. Ryneq and Nykin must combine their strength to protect their people from Seran’s extreme plot for revenge.

Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Forester by Blaine D. Arden

Guest Reviewed by Trish

The ForesterTitle: The Forester
Author: Blaine D. Arden
Series: The Forester Trilogy #1
Heroes: Kelnaht/Ianys/Taruif
Genre: M/M/M Fantasy
Length: 56 Pages
Publisher: Storm Moon Press
Release Date: December 22, 2011
Available at: Storm Moon Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Kelnaht, a cloud elf, is a truth seeker caught between love and faith. Worse, a murder committed ten days before Solstice reveals an illicit affair between two tree elves he desires more than he can admit: Kelnaht’s former lover Ianys, who once betrayed him, and the shunned forester named Taruif, who is not allowed to talk to anyone but The Guide, their spiritual pathfinder. When Taruif turns out to be the only witness for the crime, Kelnaht has to keep Ianys from sacrificing himself and losing his daughter, while at the same time realising he’d gladly sacrifice himself to end Taruif’s loneliness.

“Tales of the Forest” books are all set in the same world, but can be read as standalone stories.

Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Book Review: Finding Peace by T.A. Chase

Reviewed by Nikyta

Finding PeaceTitle: Finding Peace
Author: T.A. Chase
Series: Nowhere Diner #2
Heroes: Chad & Zane
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 41,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Available at: Amber Allure, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Chad Mitchell is on a downward spiral and he’s not sure how to stop it. Between the flashbacks of fighting in Afghanistan and the alcohol, he feels like he’s losing his mind. And if he’s not careful, he knows he might lose more than that. Working at Cookie’s Diner is a chance at working through his problems, yet his demons are stronger than he thinks.

Sergeant Zane Smithson comes to the diner in the middle of nowhere to check up on Chad. The men had served together in Afghanistan, and even back then, Zane had been interested in Chad, who had served under him. But when Zane got home, he had his own demons to beat before he could help his troubled comrade. Now, once Zane finds Chad, he sees there is more to the man’s problems than just flashbacks of war.

When a confrontation between them leads Chad to the depths of a bottle, Zane realizes they both need help to find peace in their lives… Continue reading

Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gay For You Week Review: Katastrophic Decisions by R.L. Rushing

Reviewed by Heather C

20633113Title: Katastrophic Decisions
Author: R.L. Rushing
Series: Cursed Existence Collection
Heroine: Katarina “Kata” Redford
Genre: F/F Paranormal Romance
Length: 184 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 17, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Katastrophic Decisions serves as the back story of Katarina Redford, a healer. It takes place before she was ripped from her life and forced into Ledger chaos.

Some people would kill for the chance to be endowed with the ability to heal. However, Kata Redford and her few remaining family members have spent the past several years hiding in the rugged Oregon mountains from religious zealots and other crazies who seek to either punish her for her inherent ability or possess it for themselves. Now, at twenty eight years of age, she’s reached a pivotal moment in her life. Realizing that something she’d wanted so badly was not meant to be, with an open mind and an aching heart, she sets off to find her own path in life.
Unexpectedly, Kata is enraptured by the beautiful Levin Chase, an intriguing drummer for the band, Stage a Revolt. Through their equally undeniable attraction, Kata finally learns what it means to live life to the fullest. Thanks to Levin’s strong determination, they begin to build a rock solid future on the heels of a nearly catastrophic decision. But as usual in her life, just when everything starts looking up, her world falls to pieces.

Continue reading

Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014, Theme Week | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gay For You Week Review: Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton

Reviewed by JustJen

Love the SinnerTitle: Love the Sinner
Author: Avril Ashton
Series: Brooklyn Sinners #1
Heroes: Gabriel Ashby/Angelo Pagan
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 229 Pages
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Available at: Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Detective Gabriel Ashby has never looked twice at another man, yet the criminal across from him, the man he’s interrogating, isn’t like any other. Gabe can’t deal with the sudden, intense need he has for one of NYPD’s Most Wanted. Everyone close to Angelo Pagan ends up dead, with the smug gang leader standing amid the rubble. Gabe would love nothing more than to bust Angelo’s ass and lock him up. So why is he seeing the bastard in his dreams at night?

Angelo Pagan knows attraction to Gabe is suicide. He’s resolute to ignore the chemistry…until a police raid goes wrong. He critically injures Gabe, changing the trajectory of both their lives. Now the two can’t get close enough. They settle into a forbidden affair threatened by lies and betrayal, living on different sides of the law with no way of breaching the gap between them. With the authorities looking to make an example of Angelo, Gabe has to decide if it’s really worth it to hate the sin but love the sinner.

Continue reading

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

Book Review: Guarded by L.A. Witt & Cat Grant

Reviewed by JustJen

GuardedTitle: Guarded
Author: L.A. Witt & Cat Grant
Heroes: Jordan Kane/Jase Hewitt
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 344 Pages
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Release Date: April 7, 2014
Available at: Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: On the surface, rock star Jordan Kane has it all. His band No Rules is burning up the charts and headlining a world tour. His bodyguard doubles as a hot, kinky boyfriend who knows just how to push all his buttons. But behind the scenes, he’s suffocating.

Jase Hewitt never imagined he’d have a shot at bedding the larger than life rock star – never mind dominating him – but now he’s worried he’s in over his head. Jordan’s kinks run deep, dark, and sometimes dangerous, putting Jase’s desires to both pleasure and protect him at odds.

They might have a fighting chance at finding the safe, happy medium between what Jordan needs and what Jase is willing to give, but there’s one problem: Daniel, Jordan’s childhood best friend, the band’s talented guitarist — and a volatile, hard-partying drug addict. Jordan is determined to save Daniel from himself, but Jase has been there, done that, and desperately wants to protect Jordan from the inevitable heartache of watching an addict self-destruct.

When Daniel goes off the rails again, Jordan calls off the tour to get him help. Tension within the band skyrockets and pressure from the record label sends Jordan into a dark spiral. Now his band — and his life — are balanced on a knife’s edge, and Jase is the only one who can pull him back… but only if the echoes of his own tragic past don’t push him over first.

Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment