Ami’s Reviews

Book Review: Love’s Opening Night by Jeff Adams

Reviewed by Ami

33100525Title: Love’s Opening Night
Author: Jeff Adams
Heroes: Jeremy Steele/Ty Beaumont
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 54 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 28, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Can an onstage love story lead to a real-life romance?

Jeremy Steele is a veteran Broadway performer. For his latest role, he’s dancing alongside a man he’s fantasized about for years, TV star Ty Beaumont. Jeremy knows better than to get involved with a castmate, but when Ty has trouble learning the complicated choreography, Jeremy offers to lend a hand. When a rehearsal kiss turns into something more, Jeremy can’t help but wonder what a celebrity like Ty could ever see in a Broadway chorus boy like him. Will a relationship with his crush make it past previews, or can it become a long-running hit?
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Once Upon a Time in the Weird West Anthology

Reviewed by Ami

32964981Title: Once Upon a Time in the Weird West
Authors: Tricia Kristufek, Astrid Amara, Langley Hyde, Ginn Hale, Nicole Kimberling, C.S. Poe, Lex Chase, Venona Keyes, Tali Spencer, Shira Anthony, Kim Fielding, Jana Denardo, Andrew Q. Gordon, Jamie Fessenden
Genre: MM Miscellaneous
Length: 466 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 16, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  This isn’t the same old Wild West. The usual suspects are all present: cowboys, outlaws, and sheriffs. There’s plenty of dust, tumbleweeds, horses, and cattle on the range, but there are also magical gems, automatons, elementals, airships… even dinosaurs and genetically modified insects. Roaming among the buffalo and coyotes, you’ll encounter skinwalkers, mad engineers, mythical beings cloaked in darkness, and lovers who stay true to their oaths… even beyond the grave. On this frontier are those at the mercy of their own elaborate devices as well as men whose control of time and space provides a present-day vision of the West. There might even be a dragon hidden amongst the ghost towns and wagon trains.

If you like your Westerns with a splash of magic, a touch of steampunk, and plenty of passionate romance between men, these genre-bending tales will exceed expectations.

Hold on to your hats, cowboys and cowgirls. The West is about to get weird, and you’re in for a hell of a ride.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dual Book Review: Traditions by Ann Anderson

Reviewed by Ami and Nikyta

traditionsTitle: Traditions
Author: Ann Anderson
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Marcus & James
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 35 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When Marcus and James started dating a few years ago, James invited Marcus home to spend the holidays with his close, Christmas-loving family. Marcus quickly realized once was enough, and since then, he’s stayed behind.

But this year will be different. Though the festivity and chaos make Marcus uncomfortable, he loves James, and he’s decided to put aside his unease so they can spend Christmas together—even if it means losing his hotel room to one of James’s siblings, braving the cold to go caroling, and battling the crowds so the children can visit Santa. It’ll all be worth it if Marcus can take his place in the family’s traditions—and maybe begin a new tradition for the two of them.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: True & False by Megan Linden

Reviewed by Ami

33129054Title: True & False
Author: Megan Linden
Series: D.C. Files #4
Heroes: Pascal Tirado/Jeremy Callan
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 165 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: November 24, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Senator Pascal Tirado’s last relationship has ended years ago and he blames his busy schedule for the lack of dates ever since. His pull towards Jeremy is unmistakable, though, so when he discovers it’s mutual, Pascal wants to try to make it work. Whatever “it” is.

He thinks he knows what he’s getting himself into, but his patience will be stretched to the limits.

Jeremy Callan is so deep in the closet that even people closest to him have no idea he’s gay. It has suited him all his life…in and out of the Corps…and he’s set in his ways even when he gets a new start in D.C. But then he starts sleeping with Pascal, and things get…complicated.

Openly gay US senator and the guy who has spent all his life in the closet…is the disaster imminent or can they come up on top?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Crashing the Party by Ginger Streusel

Reviewed by Ami

33003449Title: Crashing the Party
Author: Ginger Streusel
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Kale Green/Wes Armstrong
Genre: MM Holiday
Length: 24 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Retail workers and evil never get a day off, and traveling printer salesman Kale Green is no exception. He might look like a Jolly Green Giant, but he can be a real Grinch. Working on the holidays can dampen anyone’s spirits, and on top of that, a sleepy Georgia town has it out for Kale and his car. From fender-benders to flat tires, Kale and his trusty company car Bessie suffer through it all.

While everyone else enjoys holiday parties, Kale drives down south to demo printers. Business is good, but on Christmas Eve, the weather turns bad. A few patches of ice put an end to Kale’s Christmas plans—a night alone with his video games. While Kale waits for the police, his only consolation is the company of fellow driver Wes Armstrong. As festive as a Christmas tree and as jolly as Kris Kringle, Wes proves unexpectedly charming. Kale never thought he’d crash right into a crush.

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Review: Okay, first of all KALE Green?!? Seriously, I need to question his parents’ idea of a name *laugh*. Poor Kale. His childhood was probably not fun. Anyway, this was a cute established relationship story – but the structure of it threw me off in the beginning.

See, the story opens with Kale calling his boyfriend’s house, and telling Wes that he will be there soon. But then then the scene changes to the previous year when Kale first met Wes. I was really confused because there wasn’t any ‘sign’ that it would switch into the past. In fact, I had to re-read the story from the beginning to make sure that it wasn’t a glitch somehow.

However, after I was familiarized with the structure, I was able to enjoy it. Kale has the worst luck when it comes to his car whenever he goes to South Georgia. But it also gives him the chance to meet Wes, who co-owns an automotive shop.

I thought they were cute together. Wes has a sunny disposition so it is easy to believe how Kale was charmed by him. Wes also teaches Kale a lot about cars! That part where Kale is so proud of being able to change the tire by himself amused me so much. Now that is a good relationship. *laugh*

In conclusion, I enjoyed this – and since Ginger Streusel is a new-to-me author, I might check out her other (or future) stories.

Overall Impression: I liked it

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

Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Unlikely Prospect by Lex Chase

Reviewed by Ami

32930713Title: The Unlikely Prospect
Author: Lex Chase
Series: States of Love
Heroes: Harper Cook/Sean Blackburn
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 126 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 7, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  In Prospect Harbor, Maine, lobsterman Harper Cook has always loved the sea. He and his two brothers work the harbor waters, in a fishing village of one thousand where everybody knows everybody else’s business and nobody wants to be different.

When it’s time for the annual Men of Maine pinup calendar, Harper’s brothers eagerly volunteer him. Harper isn’t thrilled to bare it all to raise money for an elementary school playground—until he meets out-and-proud Los Angeles out-a-statah Sean Blackburn: the highly available first-grade teacher with Hollywood heartthrob looks.

Harper has no desire to ever stand out from the crowd, but Sean persists and earns Harper’s friendship. Through Sean, Harper opens up to new possibilities. Things get steamy, but Harper still protects his heart. Though the right pressure in the right place might crack even a loner lobsterman out of his shell.
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Wolf Unleashed by Paige Tyler

Reviewed by Ami

29155101Title: Wolf Unleashed
Author: Paige Tyler
Series: SWAT #5
Heroine/Hero: Lacey Barton/Alex Trevino
Genre: MF Paranormal
Length: 352 Pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Wolf shifter Alex Trevino has fallen hard for veterinarian Lacey Barton. Getting her to agree to a date is a lot of work—and winning her heart proves even harder.

Lacey can’t deny her crazy attraction to Alex, but she has no intention of letting herself fall for him. In her less than stellar experience, men don’t stick around.

When Lacey’s sister is kidnapped, it’s up to Alex to crack the case—and prove to Lacey that he isn’t going anywhere.
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Categories: 2.5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, M/F, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dual Book Review: Krampus Hates Christmas by Andi Van

Reviewed by Ami and Nikyta

krampus-hates-christmasTitle: Krampus Hates Christmas
Author: Andi Van
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Karl & Lewis
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 104 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Karl Kringle hates the modern-day Christmas. He was born to be Krampus, but the Holiday Council refuses to let him help his brother Nick—aka Santa Claus—with the Naughty List until he finds his holiday spirit. To meet that challenge, he’s turned human and dumped in a strange apartment.

Lewis Weatherby loves the holidays and always has. Not only do his parents own a pumpkin patch and tree farm, he’s also inherited a Christmas-themed shop. All he wants from Santa is the man of his dreams, and the Big Guy might’ve just delivered. Lewis’s new neighbor Karl is gorgeous, sweet, and has a fantastic sense of humor—if his jokes about being Krampus are any indication.

Soon getting home is less important to Karl than what will happen when Lewis inevitably realizes the truth behind his jokes. He’s finally starting to understand the real joy of the season—now he just has to figure out how to hold on to it.

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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Anyplace Else by Kim Fielding

Reviewed by Ami

33001951Title: Anyplace Else
Author: Kim Fielding
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Grant Beaudoin/Predimir
Genre: MM Holiday
Length: 33 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Grant Beaudoin should be thrilled to escape Minneapolis at Christmastime and grateful to lounge on a Hawaiian beach. Instead he is mired in self-pity and drowning in too much tequila. His twin is marrying the perfect man, while Grant is stuck in middle management with no love life in sight. A walk into the rain forest leads to a meeting with a doomed man who has a story about a holiday that predates Christmas. Grant comes to realize that difficult endings can lead to new beginnings—and perhaps a brighter future.
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Categories: 2 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Popcorn Garlands by Ariel Tachna

Reviewed by Ami

33003490Title: Popcorn Garlands
Author: Ariel Tachna
Series: 2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
Heroes: Carlos Mendez/Ned Williams
Genre: MM Holiday
Length: 32 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Carlos Mendez spends all year working hard at his Houston-based landscaping business, and he sends every spare penny he earns back to his family in Mexico. By the time the holidays roll around, he doesn’t have much patience for the unadulterated greed and consumerism paraded past him. But a chance meeting with his neighbor, Ned Williams, and Ned’s cancer-stricken daughter, might help to remind him of the real meaning of the season—something beyond the gaudy lights and extravagant displays—something he wants to be a part of.
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment