4 Star Ratings

Book Review: Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain

Reviewed by Nikyta

IlyaandtheWolfLGTitle: Ilya and the Wolf
Author: Rory Ni Coileain
Series: Celebrate! – 2014 Advent Calendar
Heroes: Ilya & Volyk
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 25 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Ilya, the youngest son of a Moscow oligarch, is so deep in the closet he’d find Narnia if that weren’t a decadent Western story. On Christmas Eve, his brothers lure him into the forest, intending to murder him and erase the shame he inflicts on their family by existing. However, the attempt is interrupted by Volyk, a wolf who carries the blood of the ancient oboroten’ —shapeshifters. Ilya never imagined a Christmas gift like the handsome wolf, but accepting what Volyk offers will have consequences that change both of their lives forever.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calendar package “Celebrate!”.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ariel Tachna Week Review: Home for Chirappu

Reviewed by Nikyta

HomeforChirappuLGTitle: Home for Chirappu
Author: Ariel Tachna
Series: Celebrate! – 2014 Advent Calendar
Heroes: Nik & Trent
Genre: M/M Contemporary/Holiday
Length: 53 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Available at:  Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Nikhilesh (Nik) Sharma hasn’t been home to Alappuzha, India, since he came out to his family ten years ago. Now that his relationship with them is less strained, he’s bringing his boyfriend Trent along to celebrate the winter holidays. As excited as he is to see everyone again, he worries the foreign culture, religious differences, and disapproval might shock Trent. At the same time, Trent worries Nik’s big, close-knit family won’t accept an American—much less a man—as Nik’s partner and that his presence will impede the otherwise happy reunion. Whether the trip leads to misunderstandings that will drive them apart or to a new understanding that will draw them closer than ever, it’s sure to be an experience they’ll never forget.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Summer Symphony by Brandon Shire

Reviewed by Susan65

1Title: Summer Symphony
Author: Brandon Shire
Heroes: Martin Zoric/Ren Wakahisa
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 164 Pages
Publisher: TPG Books
Release Date: October 1, 2014
Available at: TPG Books, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Martin Zoric had vivid dreams of fatherhood, of a small hand pressed to his, of pink dresses and girlish laughter. Then his wife had a stillbirth and his world fell apart.

He listened to the unwanted apologies, stood by his wife as was expected of him, and kept his façade strong and firm for the entire world to see.

But does he have the strength to let go and really grieve?

When Ren Wakahisa landed in Croatia he was hoping to escape the cultural pressures put on him to conform. His family wanted him to forsake love for duty. They viewed his happiness as secondary to familial prosperity.

Does he have the courage to be who he wants to be? Or, will he yield to their wishes?

Summer Symphony is the story of how two men find their answers and what they learn about strength, and grace, and the endurance of love
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Late Bloomer by Bru Baker

Reviewed by Nikyta

LateBloomerLG

Title: Late Bloomer
Author: Bru Baker
Heroes: David & Erik
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 64 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 10, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, & All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: If not for his family and his Christmas tree farm, David Rochester would be a recluse. And Erik Shriver wouldn’t know a quiet moment if it smacked him in the face. But now David’s farm has brought them together. When Erik’s flurry of bad jokes and frenetic energy sets David off kilter, his family notices and begins conspiring. They push David and a very willing Erik together again and again until David stops denying his attraction. But an almost-hermit and a soon-to-be-former club boy each bring baggage into a relationship. They’ll have to take things slowly to find the middle ground between David’s taciturn silence and Eric’s boundless chatter.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Last Guy Breathing by Skylar Cates

Reviewed by JustJen

2Title: The Last Guy Breathing
Author: Skylar Cates
Series: The Guy #3
Heroes: Henry/Locke
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 154 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 8, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Henry Clueley doesn’t want to be in Glamour, not after moving far away to overcome a difficult, if privileged, childhood. He’s no longer that pudgy kid desperate to escape his hometown, but it still holds painful memories. When his recently widowed mother needs him, however, “dependable Henry” does the right thing—even if it means leaving the IRS to take a boring corporate position. Things don’t stay boring for long. Soon Henry helps the local sheriff’s department unravel a crime. Posing as half of a fake couple seems like a fun idea… until Henry learns he already knows the deputy playing his other half.

Deputy Locke may be new to the Glamour Sheriff’s Department, but he’s fought his way up in the world and is determined to make a good impression. He keeps his private life quiet, even from his beloved younger brother. Locke knows better than most the need to protect what’s his.

Henry resents the arrogant, gorgeous cop, and Locke thinks Henry is sheltered and spoiled. Their secret and steamy encounter only adds to the animosity. As they join forces, Henry thinks a relationship with Locke would be catastrophic, but the white-hot passion between them makes it hard to resist.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Holiday Hoax by Skylar M. Cates

Reviewed by Nikyta

1Title: The Holiday Hoax
Author: Skylar M. Cates
Heroes: Evan Goodman/JD Laurens
Genre: M/M Contemporary/Holiday
Length: 83 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 12, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press and Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: I’m Evan Goodman, budding actor, future star, college freshman. Oh, and let’s not forget—recently dumped. If only my family wasn’t expecting to meet my new boyfriend over the holiday break. Enter JD Laurens—a sweet and quiet science major who mostly keeps to himself. When he gathers the courage to come out, poor JD gets abandoned by his only family right in front of me, and now he has nowhere to go for Christmas. But I have a proposition for him: pretend to be my boyfriend for the holidays so I can take him home. It’s a win-win. What could go wrong?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Where the Lovelight Gleams by Keira Andrews

Reviewed by Heather C

18798714Title: Where the Lovelight Gleams
Author: Keira Andrews
Heroes: Ryan Drake/Cary Holloway
Genre: MM Contemporary Romance
Length: 74 pages
Publisher: Loose Id
Release Date: December 3rd, 2013
Available at: Loose Id, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: This Christmas, actor Ryan Drake is pining. He may get to kiss gorgeous Cary Holloway on the set of their hit TV show, Space Academy, but he knows it’ll never happen in real life. Charming Cary–the son of Hollywood royalty–is straight, as evidenced by his starlet girlfriend. But Christmas is a time for unexpected gifts, and Cary accepts Ryan’s invitation to leave the palm trees behind and spend the holiday with his family at their cabin in the Great White North.

Amid the snow and mistletoe, Ryan struggles to keep his longing under wraps. Little does he know, Cary wrestles with his own unspoken desires, and his very identity. Surrounded by family and holiday joy, their warm friendship deepens. Will these two co-stars have the courage to brave Hollywood pressures and take their romance offscreen–or will it be only in their dreams?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Inseparable by Chris Scully

Reviewed by Morgan

1Title: Inseparable
Author: Chris Scully
Narrator: Jeff Gelder
Series: Inseparable #1
Heroes: Joe Massone/Adam
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: Book – 68 Pages / Audio – 1 Hour, 54 Minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: Book – December 1, 2012 / Audio – November 5, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: After a car accident, Adam wakes up in a hospital room with no memory and a man named Joe, who acts like his boyfriend. So when Joe says Adam is straight – and Joe’s not – and they’re just best friends and roommates, Adam is more than a little confused. But as Adam starts to fill in the gaps, the one thing that becomes apparent is that Joe is the missing piece that can’t be replaced.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Audio Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: The Christmas Throwaway by R.J. Scott

Guest Reviewed by Morgan

1Title: The Christmas Throwaway
Author: R.J. Scott
Narrator: Sean Crisden
Heroes: Zachary Weston and Ben Hamilton
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: Book – 73 Pages / Audio – 3 Hours, 2 Minutes
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Release Date: Book – November 24, 2012 / Audio – October 17, 2014
Available at: Love Lane Books, Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Christmas is a time for giving – what do you do when no one gives a damn?

For Zachary Weston Christmas means sleeping on a churchyard bench in the freezing snow with nothing better in his future. Thrown out of his home for being gay, he is left without money or, it seems, anywhere to go.

Until a stranger shows him that some people do give a lot more than a damn.

Ben Hamilton is a rookie cop in his small home town. He finds a young throwaway, fresh from the city, sleeping on a bench in the churchyard on a snowy Christmas Eve. Can he be the one to give Zachary his own Christmas miracle?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Audio Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker

Reviewed by Nikyta

MagicofWeihnachten[The}LG

Title: The Magic of Weihnachten
Author: Bru Baker
Series: Celebrate! – 2014 Advent Calendar
Heroes: Walsh & Dierck
Genre: M/M Contemporary/Holiday
Length: 51 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon and All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: American Walsh Brandt is happy when a promotion lands him his dream job and a quiet new life in Germany. Until December rolls around, when he realizes it’s almost impossible to hide from the holiday season in Germany.

Dierck Reiniger is fascinated by Walsh’s hatred of Christmas and makes it his personal mission to help Walsh enjoy Weihnachten and the German traditions he grew up with. Walsh has a great time getting to know Dierck—but he still isn’t sold on Christmas, despite Dierck’s efforts. Dierck’s on the rebound, and he’s determined to develop their physical relationship slowly, much to Walsh’s frustration. It isn’t until they’re alone in a secluded cabin—hiding from the traditional trappings—that Walsh finally recognizes what the magic of the season can bring when spent with someone special.

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