4.5 Star Ratings

Book Review: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Clean Sweep
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles #1
Heroes/Heroine: Dina, Sean & Arland
Genre: M/F Urban Fantasy
Length: 60,000 words
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: December 2, 2013
Available at: Amazon & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is…different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, “normal” is a bit of a stretch for Dina.

And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night….Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.  Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, M/F, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: From Johann To Tannenbaum by Ashlyn Forge

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: From Johann To Tannenbaum
Author: Ashlyn Forge
Series: Toys and Soldiers #4 (but can be read as a standalone)
Heroes: Johann & Tanner
Genre: M/M Sci-fi/Fantasy
Length: 345 pages
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Available at: Amazon & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Johann Andreas IV is a rich loser who has a raw deal in life. He is handsome, yet with a poor self-image, clever, but still uneducated, and despite being the heir apparent in his grandfather’s will, he’s about to be thrown out with nothing.

In the underground colony of his birth, two things matter the most to its denizens: a name, which will guarantee his wealth and status, and a designated branding tattoo, the only thing allowing Colony-Dwellers to live safely underground. Johann has one year to secure both.

His grandfather’s unexpected passing has propelled Johann to the foreground of his family. He must learn the family business within the year. He’s up to the challenge but one thing stands in his way; his mother has plans of her own…and they don’t include him. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Early Review: Strain by Amelia C. Gormley

Reviewed by Heather C

18460726Title: Strain
Author: Amelia C. Gormley
The Heroes: Rhys Cooper & Darius Murrell
Genre: M/M Romance, Science Fiction, Post-Apocolyptic
Length: 104,300 words
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: February 17, 2014
Available at: Riptide Publishing
Add it to your shelf at: GoodreadsBooklikes

Blurb: In a world with little hope and no rules, the only thing they have to lose is themselves.

Rhys Cooper is a dead man. Cut off from the world since childhood, he’s finally exposed to the lethal virus that wiped out most of the human race. Now his only hope for survival is infection by another strain that might provide immunity. But it’s sexually transmitted, and the degradation he feels at submitting to the entire squad of soldiers that rescued him eclipses any potential for pleasure—except with Darius, the squadron’s respected, capable leader.

Sergeant Darius Murrell has seen too much death and too little humanity. He’s spent a decade putting plague victims out of their misery and escorting survivors to a safe haven he can never enjoy. He’d rather help Rhys live than put him down, so when Rhys can’t reconcile himself to doing what’s necessary to survive, Darius is forced to save Rhys in spite of himself.

But with each passing day, it looks less and less likely that Rhys can be saved. And that means that Darius might soon have to put a bullet in the head of the one person in years who reminds him of what it means to be human. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Early Review: Bonds of Denial by Lynda Aicher

Reviewed by JustJen

Title: Bonds of Denial
Author: Lynda Aicher
Series: Wicked Play #5
Heroes: Rock/Carter
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 281 pages
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: February 3, 2014
Available at: Carina Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: It’s been twenty years since Rockford Fielding’s father punished him for kissing another boy. Now a grown man with a military career behind him, Rock continues to deny his true desires, even while working security at The Den, the most decadent sex club in town. But after a year of watching gorgeous Carter Montgomery come and go on the arms of other men, Rock can no longer resist the cravings he’s denied for so long.

Carter has just four months left on his contract with an escort agency, and he doesn’t know whether to feel relieved or afraid. Being an escort is all he knows. Adding to his confusion is the way his latest client, the sexy but stoic Rock, makes him feel things he hasn’t wanted in years.

One charmingly awkward date turns into two and soon the men are meeting off the clock. But with Rock in the closet and Carter unsure how to pursue a real relationship, how can they build a future both in and out of the bedroom? Continue reading

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

Book Review: Rare by Garrett Leigh

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Rare
Author: Garrett Leigh
Series: Roads #2
Heroes: Ash Fagin and Pete Adams
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 240 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 17, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Paramedic Pete Adams lived through the year from hell watching his lover, Ash, fall apart, and the precarious balance between work and home is becoming more strained. His heart is always home, with Ash, but the dark side to his job is weighing him down.

Tattoo artist Ash Fagin is recovering from a nervous breakdown triggered by revelations about his traumatic childhood. His battle with mental illness is far from over, but with Pete by his side, he’s feeling good again, so good he doesn’t notice something missing until it walks right into his living room.

Ash believes he’s had enough coincidence in his life, but when a voice from the past comes looking for him, it takes the devastating injuries of the one he loves most to convince him to let a ghost become the family he never knew he wanted. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: A Better Man by Jaime Reese

Reviewed by Heather C

ABetterMan-400x600Title: A Better Man
Author: Jaime Reese
Series: The Men of Halfway House #1
The Heroes: Matthew Doner & Julian Capeletti
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 69,034 words
Publisher: Romandeavor, Inc
Release Date: January 16, 2014, 2nd edition
Available at: Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf at: Goodreads

Blurb: Matthew Doner is starting over. After a five-year prison term that alters every aspect of his life, he receives a bequest from his aunt with the stipulation that he use the money to make things right. Breaking free of the long-standing role he’s played and inspired by the few who support him, he decides to create a safe place where people like him can find purpose and start a new life.

Julian Capeletti likes challenges. He is confident, brash, stubborn, and just what Matt needs. Desperate for work after a downturn of luck, he accepts the job to renovate Matt’s crumbling building.

Over the course of a year, romance simmers between them as they restore the house. But there’s a bigger renovation that must take place in their hearts. To become better men, they need to learn to trust each other even with secrets and painful memories they fear may rip them apart. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mary Calmes Week Review: Mine

Reviewed by JustJen

Title: Mine
Author: Mary Calmes
Heroes: Trevan/Landry
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 220 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: March 5, 2012
Available at: Dreamspinner, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: Trevan Bean has a job that’s going from illegal to frightening, a boyfriend who may not be in his right mind, and a guardian angel who might actually be evil incarnate. Add to that the reappearance of his boyfriend’s estranged family, death threats, kidnapping, and the struggle of saving money to realize a dream, and Trevan has a lot on his plate. But Trevan is up to the challenge: he promised Landry a happily ever after, and Landry’s going to have it if it kills him!

It just might.

Landry Carter was a broken doll when they met two years ago but has grown into a partner who can stand at Trevan’s side… most of the time. Now that Trevan’s life just got scary—and Landry just got himself kidnapped—Trevan has to hope Landry’s love stays strong through this newest challenge, because the happily ever after won’t happen if Trevan has to go it alone. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2012 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Book Review: In These Words, Vol 1 by TogaQ & Kichiku Neko

Reviewed by Heather C

13549765Title: In These Words, Volume 1
Author: TogaQ (art) & Kichiku Neko (script) Guilt|Pleasure
Series: In These Words
The Hero: Asano Katsuya
The Villian: Shinohara Keiji
Genre: Manga/Suspense, M/M
Length: 200 pages
Publisher: 801 Media, Inc
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Volume 1 is available in print at: Amazon (maybe?)
Individual chapters are available in print at: Guilt|Pleasure
Individual chapters are available in eBook at: Kobo
Add it to your shelf at: GoodreadsBooklikes

Blurb: Asano Katsuya is a US trained psychiatrist who has been recruited by the Tokyo Police Department to provide a profile through the victims’ data. Based on Asano’s profile and recommendation, an elaborate plan is put into place to lure the serial killer out – a plan that bore successful results! Now, after three years and twelve victims, Shinohara Keiji is finally in police custody. Shinohara has promised a thorough confession, however, on the absolute terms that Asano has to be the one to receive it. Besides the curious request by the killer whom Asano was only familiar with on paper, disturbing nightmares begin to plague him as soon as he’s given the case… Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2012 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan

Reviewed by Susan65

Title:  Special Delivery
Author: Heidi Cullinan
Heroes: Sam Keller and Mitch Tedsoe
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 379 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date:  February 4, 2014
Available at: Samhain Publishing & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Sam Keller knows he’ll never find the excitement he craves in Middleton, Iowa—not while he’s busting his ass in nursing school and paying rent by slaving away in a pharmacy stockroom. Then Sam meets Mitch Tedsoe, an independent, long-haul trucker who makes a delivery to a shop across the alley. Innocent flirting quickly leads to a fling, and when Mitch offers to take him on a road trip west, Sam jumps at the chance for adventure. Mitch is sexy, funny and friendly, but once they embark on their journey, something changes. One minute he’s the star of Sam’s every x-rated fantasy, the next he’s almost too much a perfect gentleman. And when they hit the Las Vegas city limit, Sam has a name to pin on Mitch’s malady: Randy.

For better or for worse, Sam grapples with the meaning of friendship, letting go, growing up—even the meaning of love—because no matter how far he travels, eventually all roads lead home. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: French Quarter Knights by Jacob Campbell

Reviewed by JustJen

Title: French Quarter Knights
Author: Jacob Campbell
Heroes: Thaddeus “Tadpole” Merton
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 201 pages
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: August 4, 2013
Available at: JMS Books, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads & Booklikes

Blurb: After winning millions in a settlement from the church, Thaddeus “Tadpole” Merton has learned to hide things from others — his money, his epilepsy, and his feelings. Now, he searches for love, acceptance, and sexual liberation in 1983 New Orleans.

Leaving behind a reluctant master in Linden and exploring a new lover in Sandy, Tadpole has adventures into a sensual drug-and alcohol-rich world of gay bars, drag clubs, baths, porno theatres, arcades, and hidden sex venues. Yet he also works with a yoga teacher and Zen guide, and questions himself in light of a world beyond the merely physical.

Tadpole seeks friendship and love, a home, and independence. But exploring steamy sensuality seems to counter his romantic need for true love, and he struggles with himself and his desires. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments