3.5 Star Ratings

Book Review: Love’s Opening Night by Jeff Adams

Reviewed by Ami

33100525Title: Love’s Opening Night
Author: Jeff Adams
Heroes: Jeremy Steele/Ty Beaumont
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 54 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 28, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Can an onstage love story lead to a real-life romance?

Jeremy Steele is a veteran Broadway performer. For his latest role, he’s dancing alongside a man he’s fantasized about for years, TV star Ty Beaumont. Jeremy knows better than to get involved with a castmate, but when Ty has trouble learning the complicated choreography, Jeremy offers to lend a hand. When a rehearsal kiss turns into something more, Jeremy can’t help but wonder what a celebrity like Ty could ever see in a Broadway chorus boy like him. Will a relationship with his crush make it past previews, or can it become a long-running hit?
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Snowballs and Candy Canes by Charlie Richards

Reviewed by Morgan 

33403780Title: Snowballs and Candy Canes
Author: Charlie Richards
Series: Carry Me #6
Heroes: Coal Roper/Hank Parsons
Genre: MM Holiday
Length: 45 Pages
Publisher: Extasy Books
Release Date: December 24, 2016
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  The holidays can be a special time, filled with unexpected magic.

Coal Roper is a queen and wears it boldly. Unfortunately, openly expressing himself does not come without some dangers. As not only the economics professor, but the drama production manager, he interacts with plenty of people, not all of them friendly. When a group of students begins to harass him, most of the staff turns a blind eye…all except one. Hank Parsons is a huge hulk of a man who teaches health classes, sports medicine, and acts as the wrestling coach. He’s just the kind of man Coal normally stays well clear of. When the man keeps popping up at odd times to help him, Coal isn’t certain what to make of the man…until the incident with the mistletoe. Can a little holiday magic help Coal look past the fears from his upbringing?
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The 12 Days of Hipster by Raine O’Tierney

Reviewed by Nikyta

the-12-days-of-hipsterTitle: The 12 Days of Hipster
Author: Raine O’Tierney
Series: The Avona Tales #2
Heroes: Tyler & David
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 240 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 19, 2016
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Last Christmas, Tyler Lang accidentally accepted David Griffith’s invitation for dinner. Yes, it was an accident. See, hipster (don’t call him that!) Tyler doesn’t date guys, and even if he did, he certainly doesn’t date jocks. A rude and hasty exit right when the date was getting good left things awkward between them.

David Griffith isn’t really a jock. Well, he’s a former athlete who loves sports, but “jock” has a certain connotation that doesn’t quite fit the intelligent, hardworking store owner. A jock wouldn’t have given Tyler Lang the time of day. But even after that little, ahem, stunt with the fire escape, David can’t stop thinking about the hipster a year later. Which would be fine if fate didn’t keep butting her nose into their business, making it impossible for the jock and the hipster to avoid each other this Christmas.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Chasing Seth by J.R. Lovelace

Reviewed by Susan65

20881669Title: Chasing Seth
Author: J.R.Loveless
Narrator: Jeff Gelder
Series: True Mates #1
Heroes: Seth Davies/Kasey Whitedove
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 7 Hours, 10 Minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Veterinarian Seth Davies comes to Senaka, Wyoming, looking for peace and anonymity, trying to escape his past. He’s always been a target for trouble and pain, and Seth has had more than his share of both. Kasey Whitedove takes one look at Seth and assumes the worst. No white man could love animals the way the mostly Cheyenne population expects, and Kasey makes Seth’s first days in Senaka more than unpleasant.

Then an accident puts Kasey in the uncomfortable position of eating crow–and helplessly desiring Seth–despite the danger of Kasey’s life as a werewolf and Seth’s stressful secrets. Chasing Seth down and keeping him safe from his past has just become Kasey’s most important job.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2012, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Snow in Montana by R.J. Scott

Reviewed by Susan65

31112255Title: Snow in Montana
Author: R.J. Scott
Series: Montana #4
Heroes: Jordan Darby/Ryan Carter
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 160 Pages
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Release Date: December 7, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: An actor in the closet, a sheriff in love, and memories that won’t stay hidden.

Jordan Darby is known as the King of Christmas. The star of eight made-for-TV Christmas movies, the leading man who always gets his girl. Filming at Crooked Tree Ranch in Montana, in the ice and snow, Jordan is fighting to make a go of his new company and dealing with fears of exposure over one huge secret. After all, who the hell would buy into him being a romantic straight lead if rumors about him being gay were proven to be true?

Sheriff Ryan Carter is advising on the new movie being made at Crooked Tree. He hoped this would be one day of work and nothing more. Until, that is, he meets the hero. But while Jordan is sexy, he’s also very much stuck in the closet—everything that Ryan doesn’t need in his life. And then lust becomes part of the equation, and Ryan’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil.

Their story unfolds against the chaos that overtakes the ranch, with Adam regaining memories that terrify him and make him look at Justin differently, and Justin leaving the ranch to make things right. Only through trusting in love and friendship can Justin and Adam learn to look to the future instead of letting the past destroy everything. But will they ever see clearly enough to do that?
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Guardian Angels by Geneva Vand

Reviewed by Nikyta

guardian-angelsTitle: Guardian Angels
Author: Geneva Vand
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Jake & Eli
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 36 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: One snowy evening, a car wreck in front of his toy store triggers terrible memories for Jake. Suddenly, he is in the midst of another winter storm—and another accident, one that not everyone walked away from. When he returns to the present, Jake is on the ground, being watched over by a guardian angel in the form of a kind man named Eli. Eli is no stranger to panic attacks and PTSD, and he’s happy to help Jake get home—where the weather forces him to remain for the night. For Jake, it could be the first step toward a life free from fear and loneliness.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dual Book Review: Traditions by Ann Anderson

Reviewed by Ami and Nikyta

traditionsTitle: Traditions
Author: Ann Anderson
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Marcus & James
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 35 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When Marcus and James started dating a few years ago, James invited Marcus home to spend the holidays with his close, Christmas-loving family. Marcus quickly realized once was enough, and since then, he’s stayed behind.

But this year will be different. Though the festivity and chaos make Marcus uncomfortable, he loves James, and he’s decided to put aside his unease so they can spend Christmas together—even if it means losing his hotel room to one of James’s siblings, braving the cold to go caroling, and battling the crowds so the children can visit Santa. It’ll all be worth it if Marcus can take his place in the family’s traditions—and maybe begin a new tradition for the two of them.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Extraction by Lex Valentine

Reviewed by JustJen

33010762Title: Extraction
Author: Lex Valentine
Heroes: Shane Cullen/Elliott Hutchens
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 82 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: November 17, 2016
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Two soldiers, former lovers, each think they are saving the other from a South American drug cartel, all the while rehashing their broken relationship.

Green Beret Shane Cullen has been undercover for the DEA with a South American drug cartel. Eighteen months into his assignment, and unbeknownst to Shane, the cartel’s number two man is captured by the U.S. Marshals and starts to talk. Shane’s mission becomes endangered. His Special Forces commander calls in a favor and pulls in Shane’s former lover and teammate Elliott Hutchens for an extraction.

Elliott hasn’t seen Shane in almost two years, since his lover walked out on him. But Shane’s in trouble and doesn’t know it, so Elliott can’t refuse the mission. Getting himself captured by the cartel in order to force Shane to rescue him is the easy part. The hard part comes when Shane discovers he’s the real extraction, not Elliott. Shane’s bad temper ended their relationship once before. Will it get in the way again or can these two soldiers work through their issues and find their way to a happy ever after?
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Crashing the Party by Ginger Streusel

Reviewed by Ami

33003449Title: Crashing the Party
Author: Ginger Streusel
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Kale Green/Wes Armstrong
Genre: MM Holiday
Length: 24 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Retail workers and evil never get a day off, and traveling printer salesman Kale Green is no exception. He might look like a Jolly Green Giant, but he can be a real Grinch. Working on the holidays can dampen anyone’s spirits, and on top of that, a sleepy Georgia town has it out for Kale and his car. From fender-benders to flat tires, Kale and his trusty company car Bessie suffer through it all.

While everyone else enjoys holiday parties, Kale drives down south to demo printers. Business is good, but on Christmas Eve, the weather turns bad. A few patches of ice put an end to Kale’s Christmas plans—a night alone with his video games. While Kale waits for the police, his only consolation is the company of fellow driver Wes Armstrong. As festive as a Christmas tree and as jolly as Kris Kringle, Wes proves unexpectedly charming. Kale never thought he’d crash right into a crush.

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Review: Okay, first of all KALE Green?!? Seriously, I need to question his parents’ idea of a name *laugh*. Poor Kale. His childhood was probably not fun. Anyway, this was a cute established relationship story – but the structure of it threw me off in the beginning.

See, the story opens with Kale calling his boyfriend’s house, and telling Wes that he will be there soon. But then then the scene changes to the previous year when Kale first met Wes. I was really confused because there wasn’t any ‘sign’ that it would switch into the past. In fact, I had to re-read the story from the beginning to make sure that it wasn’t a glitch somehow.

However, after I was familiarized with the structure, I was able to enjoy it. Kale has the worst luck when it comes to his car whenever he goes to South Georgia. But it also gives him the chance to meet Wes, who co-owns an automotive shop.

I thought they were cute together. Wes has a sunny disposition so it is easy to believe how Kale was charmed by him. Wes also teaches Kale a lot about cars! That part where Kale is so proud of being able to change the tire by himself amused me so much. Now that is a good relationship. *laugh*

In conclusion, I enjoyed this – and since Ginger Streusel is a new-to-me author, I might check out her other (or future) stories.

Overall Impression: I liked it

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*

Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Unlikely Prospect by Lex Chase

Reviewed by Ami

32930713Title: The Unlikely Prospect
Author: Lex Chase
Series: States of Love
Heroes: Harper Cook/Sean Blackburn
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 126 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 7, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  In Prospect Harbor, Maine, lobsterman Harper Cook has always loved the sea. He and his two brothers work the harbor waters, in a fishing village of one thousand where everybody knows everybody else’s business and nobody wants to be different.

When it’s time for the annual Men of Maine pinup calendar, Harper’s brothers eagerly volunteer him. Harper isn’t thrilled to bare it all to raise money for an elementary school playground—until he meets out-and-proud Los Angeles out-a-statah Sean Blackburn: the highly available first-grade teacher with Hollywood heartthrob looks.

Harper has no desire to ever stand out from the crowd, but Sean persists and earns Harper’s friendship. Through Sean, Harper opens up to new possibilities. Things get steamy, but Harper still protects his heart. Though the right pressure in the right place might crack even a loner lobsterman out of his shell.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment