3.5 Star Ratings

Book Review: Violated by Jamie Fessenden

Reviewed by JustJen

25890516Title: Violated
Author: Jamie Fessenden
Heroes: Derek Sawyer/Russ Thomas
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 273 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: August 7, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Derek Sawyer thinks he has it all—a high-salaried position, a boyfriend, a dog, even a new cabin on the lake—until a business trip with his manager and best friend, Victor, shatters his world.

One night of drunken horsing around in their hotel room leads to the most intensely personal violation Derek has ever endured. As if the humiliation of working under his attacker every day isn’t enough, Victor reports Derek for sexual harassment. Now he’s without a job, without a boyfriend, and the mortgage on the cabin is due.

Officer Russ Thomas has worked with rape victims before, and it doesn’t take him long to sort out the truth in Derek’s tale. With his support, Derek finally reports the crime, months after it happened. But restraining orders and lawyers further Victor’s anger toward him, and even though a relationship develops between Derek and the policeman, Russ can’t be there to protect him all the time.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: The Cage by Catt Ford

Reviewed by JustJen

25836410Title: The Cage
Author: Catt Ford
Heroes: Lazar/Ben
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 220 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: July 31, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Welcome to The Cage, where you can share the ups and downs of a group of friends as they enjoy a rollicking adventure of sex and love in “the life.”

Being a Dom has always come naturally to Lazar Thornton, owner and operator of The Cage, a thriving adult toy store and meeting place for Lazar’s closest friends, Bran, Max, Otto, and the always flamboyant and fierce Miss Dré. But even the best of friends have different tastes in scenes—and in life.

Good-humored and laid back, but much in demand as both teacher and Dom, Lazar has always run from love. Until Ben Owen, relative newbie to the BDSM world, arrives wide-eyed and eager to learn, and Lazar wants to teach this sub everything he knows. But despite the openness needed for a Dom/sub relationship to thrive, neither discusses emotions. Feeling the sting of unrequited love, Ben isn’t as sure of his place in Lazar’s life as he wants to be. Lazar will need to read his sub’s heart as well as his mind if he truly wants to keep Ben in his life.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: By Way of Vegan Donuts by Kay Walker

Guest Reviewed by Ami

1Title: By Way of Vegan Donuts
Author: Kay Walker
Heroes: Simon/Benji
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 48 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: July 22, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  In a tourist town in the Canadian Rockies, Simon is spending the summer working at his sister-in-law’s bookstore. Shy around new people, Simon prefers to keep his nose in a book. When Benji, a local who works at a café down the street, hears Simon is vegan, he figures the best way to welcome him is bake him a vegan donut.

Upon their first meeting, there’s an undeniable burst of chemistry. Simon is drawn to Benji’s outgoing personality and wants to get to know him better. All Simon has to do is figure out a way to get over his nervousness and ask the casually flirty Benji on a date.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Flight From Death by Yasmine Galenorn

Guest Reviewed by Ami

1Title: Flight From Death
Author: Yasmine Galenorn
Series: Fly by Night #1
Heroine/Hero: Shimmer/Alex
Genre: MF Urban Fantasy
Length: 336 Pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  I’m Shimmer, a blue dragon shifter. Thanks to a mistake, I was exiled from the Dragon Reaches and sentenced to work for Alex Radcliffe, a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency. Now, not only do I have to adapt to Earthside culture, but every time I turn around, somebody’s trying to kill us. And worse, Alex is as gorgeous as he is exasperating. But you know what they say: All’s fair in love and bounty hunting…

When an old friend of Alex contacts him about a haunting at the High Tide Bed & Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington, we think we’re on a simple ghost hunt. But our investigation quickly transforms into a deadly fight as we uncover an eighty-year-old murder, a cursed house, and a dark force trapping the spirits within. To stop impending disaster we must break the curse and lay the angry spirits to rest.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, M/F, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Strange Bedfellows by Cardeno C.

Reviewed by Nikyta

25734007Title: Strange Bedfellows
Author: Cardeno C.
Heroes: Ford & Trevor
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 57,995 words
Publisher: The Romance Authors
Release Date: June 26, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Can the billionaire son of a Democratic president build a family with the congressman son of a Republican senator? Forget politics, love makes strange bedfellows.

As the sole offspring of the Democratic United States president and his political operative wife, Trevor Moga was raised in an environment driven by the election cycle. During childhood, he fantasized about living in a made-for-television family, and as an adult, he rejected all things politics and built a highly successful career as far from his parents as possible.

Newly elected congressman Ford Hollingsworth is Republican royalty. The grandson of a revered governor and son of a respected senator, he was bred to value faith, family, and the goal of seeing a Hollingsworth in the White House.

When Trevor and Ford meet, sparks fly and a strong friendship is formed. But can the billionaire son of a Democratic president build a family with the congressman son of a Republican senator? Forget politics, love makes strange bedfellows.

**WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS – PROCEED WITH CAUTION**
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Book Review: A Life Without by Katya Harris

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: A Life Without
Author: Katya Harris
Series: 2015 Daily Dose – Never Too Late
Heroes: Todd/Malik
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 47 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 1, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  After decades of wondering and worrying over his submissive tendencies, fortysomething Todd decides to explore his fantasies. His first step is to join a BDSM club, and it’s there that he meets Malik, a young and beautiful Dominant who is very interested in introducing Todd to this world. In fact, Malik is interested in everything about Todd, which is startling to the older man given the differences in their ages. Malik helps Todd explore his submissiveness, but after an unpleasant meeting with Todd’s ex-boyfriend, he also encourages him to confront his demons so he will no longer live his life in shame
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Hidden Wolf by Sue Brown

Reviewed by Susan65

1Title: The Hidden Wolf
Author: Sue Brown
Series: Sapphire Ranch Wolves #2
Heroes: Milo Clarke/Eli Watkins
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 137 Pages
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Release Date: May 22, 2015
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Sheriff Milo Clarke has met his mate, Eli Watkins, and now they’re conducting a long distance relationship while Eli runs the Cavalry, the security firm protecting Joe and Cal at the Sapphire Ranch from the hunters.

The long distance loving is hard on all three of them, Eli, Clarke and Clarke’s wolf, who is becoming more restless as Clarke refuses to shift. When Clarke going to give into the other side of him and how will Clarke and Eli resolve the distance between their lives?
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2015, Susan65's Reviews | 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

Book Review: The Courage to Heal by Hunter Frost

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: The Courage to Heal
Author: Hunter Frost
Heroes: Wade Carter/Jesse Okenah
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 57 Pages
Publisher: JMS Books, LLC
Release Date: May 17, 2015
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Former U.S. Army Sergeant Wade Carter returned from Afghanistan a broken man. Permanently injured and weighed down with PTSD, his scars run deeper than flesh and bone. When his regular physical therapist is taken ill, the sexy replacement doctor has Wade wishing he’d touch much more of his body than his busted leg.

Dr. Jesse Okenah isn’t a beginner when it comes to working with veterans, but his new patient stirs up feelings that go beyond professional. It’s Wade’s wounded soul, more than his mangled leg, that needs TLC in order for him to live a healthy, fulfilling life again. Jesse just needs to figure out how to deliver that care to the stubborn vet without crossing a line — and losing his heart.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Early Review: Sultry Sunset by Mary Calmes

Reviewed by Nikyta

25366786Title: Sultry Sunset
Author: Mary Calmes
Series: Mangrove Stories #3
Heroes: Hutch & Mike
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 78 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: May 15, 2015
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Hutch Crowley is well-liked in the small resort town of Mangrove—he’s got friends in his new neighbors, he’s the owner of the town grocery, and he’s building a community center—but he’s still unlucky at love. Every man he’s attracted to is either taken or simply not interested, including his best friend, Mike Rojas.

When Mike came to Mangrove two years ago, Hutch gave him a job and a place to stay in his guesthouse, where Mike has remained ever since. Despite the rumors circulating about them, Hutch knows Mike is straight and looking for the right woman. But his friends disagree, and after some hints to the contrary, even Hutch finally has to admit that maybe the rest of the town sees something he’s been missing. If Hutch wants to spend each sultry sunset with the man of his dreams, it might be time to figure out what’s going on with his best friend’s heart.

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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment