5 Star Ratings

Audio Book Review: Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane

Reviewed by Morgan 

28155477Title: Christmas Kitsch
Author: Amy Lane
Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Heroes: Rusty Baker/Oliver Campbell
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 6 Hours, 17 Minutes
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: December 9, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Sometimes the best thing you can get for Christmas is knowing what you really want.

Rusty Baker is a blond, rich, entitled football player in a high school full of them—just the type of oblivious jock all the bullied kids hate. And he might have stayed that way, except he develops a friendship with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. Rusty thinks the friendship is just pity—Oliver is very bright, and Rusty is very not—but then Oliver kisses him goodbye when Rusty leaves for college, and Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.

But even Rusty’s newfound awareness can’t help him survive a semester at Berkeley. He returns home for Thanksgiving break clinging to the one thing he knows to be true: Oliver Campbell is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. Oliver may not have much money, but he’s got something Rusty has never known: true family. With their help and Oliver’s love, Rusty comes to realize that he may have failed college, but he’ll pass real life with flying rainbow colors.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Reviewed by Susan65 

51kiH4wotnL__AA300_Title: Dark Lover
Author: J.R. Ward
Narrator: Jim Frangione
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #1
Hero/Heroine: Wrath/Beth
Genre: MF Paranormal
Length: 13 Hours, 35 Minutes
Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC
Release Date: January 13, 2009
Available at: Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, M/F, Published Before 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Careened by Bey Deckard

Reviewed by JustJen

28274586Title: Careened
Author: Bey Deckard
Series: Baal’s Heart #3.5
Heroes: Tom/Jon/Baltsaros
Genre: MMM Fantasy
Length: 42 Pages
Publisher: Bey Deckard
Release Date: December 22, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  A Baal’s Heart short, following the events in Fated: Blood and Redemption.

Plagued by terrible dreams, Jon begins to distance himself from Baltsaros and Tom. Perhaps a little holiday cheer is just the thing to help the three of them find common ground again.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Soul Struck by Jacob Z. Flores

Reviewed by Morgan 

27842554Title: Soul Struck
Author: Jacob Z. Flores
Series: The Warlock Brothers of Havenridge #3
Heroes: MM Paranormal
Genre: Pierce Blackmoor/Kale Aquilo
Length: 224 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 14, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Like the electricity he commands, Pierce Blackmoor streaks through life on raw power and pure sexual energy. His conquests on the battlefield and in the bedroom form his foundation, but that bedrock crumbles when his younger brothers’ abilities surpass his own. Pierce finds himself at an all-time low, and clawing his way back to the top becomes his only concern.

Pierce’s plan to reassert his dominance, however, takes a backseat when he wounds Kale Aquilo, an emissary of the Beast King, lord of all shifters.

Kale’s beguiling nature shoots like a lightning bolt straight to Pierce’s soul, and when the soft-spoken Kale relays that a virus is killing his people, Pierce abandons his quest for power to do something he has never done before—protect someone other than himself.

As Kale, Pierce, and his brothers struggle to find the root of the magical virus spreading plague across Aeaea, the shifter island, they face a gauntlet of old and new foes. Soul struck, Pierce and Kale must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy gathering in the shadows.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux

Reviewed by Susan65 

27067492Title: Stars & Stripes
Author: Abigail Roux
Narrator: J.F. Harding
Series: Cut & Run #6
Heroes: Ty/Zane
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 10 Hours, 19 Minutes
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: December 15, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they’re living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they’re both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

When an emergency call from home upsets the balance of their carefully arranged world, Ty and Zane must juggle family drama with a perplexing crime to save a helpless victim before time runs out.

From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears—and their families—to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2015, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: The Half of Us by Cardeno C.

Reviewed by

28116284Title: The Half of Us
Author: Cardeno C.
Narrator: Ezekiel Robinson
Series: Family #4
Heroes: Jason Garcia/Abe Green
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 6 hours, 29 minutes
Publisher: The Romance Authors
Release Date: December 4, 2015
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Short-tempered, arrogant heart surgeon Jason Garcia grew up wanting a close-knit family, but believes he ruined those dreams when he broke up his marriage. The benefit of divorce is having as much random sex as he wants, and it’s a benefit Jason is exploiting when he meets a sweet, shy man at a bar and convinces him to go home for a no-strings-attached night of fun.

Eight years living in Las Vegas hasn’t dimmed Abe Green’s optimism, earnestness, or desire to find the one. When a sexy man with lonely eyes propositions him, Abe decides to give himself a birthday present—one night of spontaneous fun with no thoughts of the future. But one night turns into two and then three, and Abe realizes his heart is involved.

For the first time, Abe feels safe enough with someone he respects and adores to let go of his inhibitions in the bedroom. If Jason can get past his own inhibitions and open his heart and his life to Abe, he might finally find the family he craves.

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Review: I previously reviewed this book here.

We met Abe as one of Spencer’s students in Strong Enough. He’s all grown up now and teaching. One night (his birthday) he allows Jason to pick him up in a bar. (Something he never does!) What was supposed to be one night ends up being another, then another then another until the next thing you know they’re practically living together.

Jason doesn’t do relationships. He’s divorced. A cardiovascular surgeon. Very self-involved and kind of a jerk. When he sees the beautiful Abe in a bar, he has to have him. But one night isn’t enough. And though he usually doesn’t do “seconds,” much less “boyfriends,” something about Abe calls to him and he can’t stay away.

**

This is my second favorite book in this series. I loved Abe so much. He handles Jason so well and yet stands up for himself too.

They have incredible sexy times, but also very sweet and tender feels, too.

I loved Jason’s ex-wife. I was so glad not to see the typical evil ex. She was his friend and helped him to grow. The kids are real, too. Not perfect, but not horrible trolls either.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series. It’s wonderful!

Review – Audio:  Ezekiel Robinson is a new narrator to me. He has a good sense of timing, I really enjoyed his interpretation of Abe – just the right amount of “young and funny”. I didn’t love his Jason as much, but it was still very good, and it was nice to have all the voices differentiated – including the women, with which he did a nice job. The sound quality was good and I enjoyed this audiobook very much. It was a great way to experience this book.

Overall Impression:  It was amazing

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

Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Encore by Shira Anthony

Reviewed by: Morgan

EncoreAUDTitle: Encore
Author: Shira Anthony
Narrator: Andrew McFerrin
Series: Blue Notes #5
Heroes: Roger Nelson/John Fuchs
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 8 Hours, 57 Minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: November 9, 2015
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Cool kid violinist Roger Nelson doesn’t give a damn about anything. Wannabe conductor John Fuchs is awkward, effeminate, and just figuring out he’s gay. Despite their differences, they become friends—then lovers—and after college, they try to make it work. But it’s the 1970s, and Roger can’t bring himself to admit he’s gay. Worse, after his brother is killed in Vietnam, Roger tries to live up to his memory and be the perfect son. Then after suffering one tragedy too many, he makes the biggest mistake of his life: Roger pushes John away.

Through the years, they dance around the truth and in and out of each other’s lives, never quite able to let go. Twenty years later, Roger still carries the pain of losing his dream of a brilliant career with him, while John is a superstar conductor with a wild reputation. John’s off-stage antics get him plenty of attention, good and bad, though deep down, he wants only Roger. Finally determined to hold on to what really matters, Roger asks John for another chance, and when John panics and runs, Roger has to convince him to listen to his heart.

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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Quillon’s Covert by Joseph Lance Tonlet and Louis Stevens

Reviewed by JustJen

27400631Title: Quillon’s Covert
Authors: Joseph Lance Tonlet and Louis Stevens
Heroes: Martin/Marty
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 186 Pages
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 18, 2015
Available at: PayHip, All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Martin is a guy’s guy, one who enjoys the simple things in life: baseball games with his son, family days, barbecues, and date nights with his lovely wife.

Once a year for two weeks, Martin takes his son, Marty, to Quillon’s Covert, a rustic family cabin secluded in the beautiful California mountains. Since before those long days of learning to play ball, Marty has loved his dad, but as Marty matures, Martin starts to see something else settle in his son’s uncertain gaze. What’s there lingers a little more than it should, and it seems far more appraising than it once was.

As Marty shows every sign of taking the lead, Martin is faced with the tough choices most parents never see: lose his son by being a father, or try to balance what’s best for their relationship by being something… more.

But with another trip to Quillon’s Covert on the horizon, has the point of no return already begun?
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Audio Review: Pickup Men by L.C. Chase

Reviewed by Morgan

27847177Title: Pickup Men
Author: L.C. Chase
Narrator:  Dorian Bane
Series: Pickup Men #1
Heroes: Marty Fairgrave/Tripp Colby
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 4 hours, 54 minutes
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: November 16, 2015
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: It takes a pissed-off Brahma bull named Shockwave to show rodeo pickup man Marty Fairgrave the cold hard truth about champion bull rider Tripp Colby: Tripp will never leave the safety of his closet or acknowledge Marty in public. Sometimes loving someone just isn’t enough, and after a year of hiding what they are, Marty finally sees the light—and it’s no longer shining on Tripp.

Tripp Colby would do anything for Marty. Well . . . almost. He’s never loved anyone before, and isn’t quite sure how to handle it now. But he knows Marty is his everything, and in order to win him back, Tripp will have to overcome his darkest fears and step into the light.

But no matter Tripp’s intentions, the cost might be too high and the effort too late for these two cowboys to ride off into the sunset.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dual Book Review: A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood

Reviewed by Ami and Morgan 

27804345Title: A Forced Silence
Author: Cate Ashwood
Heroes: Adam Carson/Sam McKenna
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 200 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 11, 2015
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications.

The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school. The attraction is instant, but Adam isn’t gay and Sam has no interest in pursuing him. Still, the leftover animosity from their teenage years isn’t enough to extinguish the lust growing between them. After both are called to the scene of a horrific murder, Adam admits he’s not as straight as he led Sam to believe and they seek comfort and distraction in each other’s arms. One night becomes many as the murder investigation intensifies, but when Adam is faced with losing Sam, he is forced to make a choice: to break his silence, or to give up everything for the job he loves.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment