4 Star Ratings

Early Review: Sharp Love by Ava March

Reviewed by Heather C

1Title:  Sharp Love
Author: Ava March
Series: Gambling on Love #2
Heroes: Jack Morgan/William Drake
Genre: MM Historical
Length: 77,000 words
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: June 9, 2014
Available at: Carina Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: London, 1822

William Drake has lived among thieves, bastards and beggars all his life, doing what’s necessary to survive. As a young orphan, that included looking after his best friend, Jack Morgan. But as they grew older, Jack took the honest path, leaving Will behind to fend for himself the only ways he knows how.

When an unsavory errand for his employer brings Jack back to London’s underbelly, he needs Will’s help. It’s there, among the alleys they ran through as children, that the love he’s always felt for Will returns. As their nights together grow hotter, Will discovers something new about his old friend—Jack’s need to serve extends into the bedchamber.

Will has never fully abandoned his dream of escaping London with Jack. But what could the Duke’s driver want with a dishonest cheat like him, beyond a bit of rough sex? It takes the gamble of Will’s life to find out if he can win Jack’s heart…

Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: D/s theme and elements, and male/male sexual practices.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: Hidden Identity by Adam Carpenter

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Hidden Identity
Author: Adam Carpenter
Series: The Jimmy McSwain Files
Heroes:  Jimmy McSwain
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 206 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: May 20, 2014
Available at:  MLR Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  When Jimmy McSwain is hired to find missing heir Harris Rothschild, he finds that identities can be altered and lives can be changed–or taken with the simple pull of the trigger.

Jimmy McSwain is a New York City private detective, operating out of Hell’s Kitchen, the rough and tumble neighborhood he grew up in. At age fourteen, he watched as his NYPD father was gunned down. Now, at age twenty-eight, gay, Jimmy has never given up pursuit of whoever killed him. But a PI must make a living, and so he’s taken on the case of missing heir Harris Rothschild, whose overbearing father doesn’t approve of his “alternate” lifestyle.Tracking down Harris is easier than expected, but the carnage that follows isn’t. With a shocking murder on his hands, and a threat coming from some unforeseen person, Jimmy’s caseload is suddenly full, and very dangerous.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Hearsay by Taylor V. Donovan

Reviewed by Susan65

1Title: Hearsay
Author: Taylor V. Donovan
Series: Bylaws #1
Heroes: Derrick/Roman
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 299 Pages
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: May 28, 2014
Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Senior associate attorney Derrick Swain wants it all: a loving husband, a fulfilling career, and a couple of kids. After years of hard work he’s on the fast track to a promotion. He’s also met the man of his dreams. A week of daily lunch meetings in Central Park provides the perfect setting to get to know him better, and Derrick thinks it won’t be long before they take the next step and go on a date. But instead of asking him out, the object of his affection stops showing up without explanation, leaving him to wonder what went wrong.

As part owner of one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City, Roman Bradford knows that professional success isn’t the be all end all. Although he’s been lucky in life, true love has eluded him for the most part. One too many failed relationships have caused him to be leery of trying again, until he meets a man that can only be described as temptation personified. A few conversations is all it takes for Roman to start believing things will be different this time around. It doesn’t matter that they are boss and employee, or that he’s feeling too much, too fast. Not when he can see the same emotions in Derrick’s eyes. Then life turns on a dime, and Roman has no option but to let his chance at happiness go.

A battle of wills ensues when a life-altering case brings them together a year later. Roman wants to do the right thing by not letting anything happen between them, and Derrick is determined to prove they’re meant to be together. Evidence will be presented and final arguments will be made. Will they be able to come to an agreement, or will they opt to have their potential relationship dismissed?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Guarded Desires by Morticia Knight

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Guarded Desires
Author: Morticia Knight
Series: Uniform Encounters #4
Heroes: Stephen Morris/Joseph Pirelli
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 206 Pages
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Release Date: February 7, 2014
Available at: Totally Bound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: A sexy young National Guardsman, a snarky bear of a DEA Agent and a vicious Mexican drug cartel. Someone’s going to be sorry.

Special Agent Stephen Morris thought his home life had settled into a pleasantly dull routine. Hanging out in his yard and barbequing is a typical weekend for the brawny mid-thirties man—and his partner Rigo from the DEA office is usually there with his family to keep him company. Being assigned to a main border crossing in Nogales, Arizona, keeps him busy enough at work, so he doesn’t have time to worry about love. However, that doesn’t mean he’s not lonely.

Twenty-two year old PFC Guardsman, Joseph Pirelli, is on an active-duty-for-training mission to help support border patrol and the DEA. The Vasquez drug cartel has become even more vicious than ever—going so far as to target civilians on both sides of the border. Joseph and Stephen are thrown together in a direct conflict with the cartel and a part of Joseph’s dark past is revealed.

Joseph is incredibly attracted to Stephen, even though he doesn’t typically go for older men. He longs to find love, but is still recuperating from an abusive past. The idea of becoming close to a man who could physically harm him brings up fears that may ruin his chances at any kind of relationship with the big teddy bear agent.

Sometimes love shows up when you aren’t looking for it and gives you a chance you shouldn’t ignore. Both men will have the opportunity to wonder what it would be like to lose the other and to decide what they’re willing to risk to be together.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: More Than Life by Garrett Leigh

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: More Than Life
Author: Garrett Leigh
Heroes: Mikail/Isa
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 75 Pages
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Release Date: June 1, 2014
Available at:  eXtasy Books
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  A love forged in war, and saved by the shadows of death.

Set in the Kosovan war, Mikail fights in the depleted underground resistance, smuggling intelligence and precious cargo out of war torn Pristina. Isa, an enigmatic CIA operative becomes an unlikely ally, and when a secret mission brings them together, heat, passion and a love they’ve never known consumes them. They forge a deep bond, but the war around them continues to rage, and as Serbian forces close in on Pristina, Isa makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his young lover.

Four years later, Mik lives in the shadow of the Albanian mountains, trying to rebuild his life with what remains of his family. His grief for Isa weighs heavily on his young shoulders and their time together feels like nothing more than a stolen dream.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Branded by Bru Baker

Reviewed by Nikyta

Branded by Bru Baker eBookTitle: Branded
Author: Bru Baker
Series: 2014 Daily Dose – Mended
Heroes: Coren & Bran
Genre: M/M Historical
Length: 36 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 1, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon & All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When a would-be assassin sneaks into the citadel disguised as a servant, the king requires that all servants who work in the castle be branded with the royal crest for easy identification. Prince Coren is powerless to fight the edict, but he refuses to allow his personal advisor and secret lover Brannir to suffer alone. Coren shows his devotion by wielding the brand to mark Brannir himself, even though he fears it will change their relationship. He’s prepared for resentment, hurt, and anger–every outcome but the one he receives: unconditional love.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Changing Tides by Simone Anderson

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Changing Tides
Author: Simone Anderson
Series: New Reality #14
Heroes: Brett DeMarco/Orion Hellman
Genre: MM, Sci-Fi
Length: 168 pages
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Available at: Resplendence Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Brett DeMarco is a First Lieutenant in Aelland’s Security Forces and hopes to become the head of intelligence someday. After the death of his fiancé, Brett threw himself into his work, dodging his father’s attempts to get him to marry the right woman, never doubting the career path he’d chosen.

Orion Hellman is the base commander’s personal assistant, has never spoken a word to anyone, and follows orders exactly, helping to ensure the base runs smoothly by any means the general deems necessary. Classified as a manual laborer with marriage out of the question, Orion has no intention of getting involved with anyone.

A chance meeting ignites Brett’s long dead desire, changes everything he knew and gives Orion everything he never thought he wanted.

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

Book Review: Blessed With a Curse by N.J. Nielsen

Reviewed by Susan65

1Title: Blessed With a Curse
Author: N.J. Nielsen
Series: The Experimentals #1
Heroes: Storm Gennaro/Heath Madden
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 132 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: January 16, 2014
Available at: MLR Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: What doesn’t kill me – had better start running…Storm Gennaro

When the past calls Storm Gennaro for assistance, he willingly comes to help the man who walked away from him. Thirty years is a long time to be parted from the one person meant to stand at your side forever.

Heath Madden is sick, and his family calls Storm to help save him. All the hurt and betrayal suffered at the man’s hands resurfaces, but not everything is as it seems.

The past has come back to wreak havoc on their lives, and as they dig deeper, they realize they aren’t the only ones whose lives are being played with.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Swords, Sorcery, and Sundry by Mina MacLeod

Reviewed by Nikyta

Swords, Sorcery, and Sundry [Ebook & Print]Title: Swords, Sorcery, and Sundry
Author: Mina MacLeod
Series: Edges & Embers #1
Heroes/Heroine: Sylvain, Niklas & Ashe (No, this is NOT a menage)
Genre: M/M Fantasy
Length: 90,000 words
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Release Date: May 21, 2014
Available at: Less Than Three Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: A wizard, a soldier, and an assassin walk into a bar…

Wizard Sylvain just wants to sit down and have a drink, after days of walking when a shortage of funds forced him to sell his horse. Soldier Ashe would like to enjoy her evening, and not have it ruined by trouble. Assassin Niklas wishes they had both minded their own business and not made his bad night worse.

The bar they accidentally burn down is only the beginning, and they quickly learn that if they are to survive their penchant for trouble, teamwork will get them farther than standing alone. Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: All of Me by Cardeno C.

Reviewed by Nikyta

All of Me by Cardeno C. eBookTitle: All of Me
Author: Cardeno C.
Series: 2014 Daily Dose – Mended
Heroes: Abel Nasa & Zakai “Kai” Berura
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 84 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 1, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Bonded by their parents before they were conceived, Abel Nasa and Zakai “Kai” Berura adored each other since they were children. As teens, the two future Alphas took the next step in their bonding process and vowed to remain true to one another until Kai came of age. But when tragedy struck, Abel felt betrayed and ran from Kai instead of completing the mating bond.

Years pass with no contact between the two, but Abel never stops yearning for the man who was supposed to lead by his side. When Kai returns, broken and on death’s door, Abel must look past what he saw and trust his heart so they can fulfill their destiny and merge their packs. Continue reading

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