JustJen’s Reviews

Book Review: The Brick Yard by Carol Lynne

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: The Brick Yard
Author: Carol Lynne
Heroes: Lucky/Dray
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 173 Pages
Publisher: Totally Bound
Release Date: October 3, 2014
Available at: Totally Bound and Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  For Lucky Gunn, the hardest fight of his life happens outside the cage.

On the south side of Chicago sits an old gym called The Brick Yard.

Ten years ago, on a bitterly cold day, Lucky Gunn wandered into The Brick Yard dressed in a threadbare jacket, looking for refuge. He hadn’t expected the owner, Tony Brick, to welcome him with a job and a place to sleep when Lucky’s abusive and drug addict mother made it too dangerous to return home.

Dray was a gay man living in a world of straight fighters. When his secret was exposed to the media, he dropped out giving Lucky a piece of advice, if you want to make it as a MMA fighter, bury the part of yourself that won’t be accepted.

Lucky discovered the cage was the perfect place to keep his demons at bay, but when he learns his trainer and mentor, Brick, is suffering from end-stage cancer, he begins to spiral out of control. After eight years, Dray returns to help Lucky and Brick deal with the devastating news.

With Dray so close, Lucky’s old desires return, and Dray teaches him more than how to fight. Torn between his career and the passion he feels for Dray, Lucky’s past demons resurface in full force, threatening his sanity and his budding relationship with Dray.

Despite leaving the cage years earlier, Dray finds himself in the battle of his life with the only man he’s ever loved. Will he stand and fight or walk away like he did years earlier?

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of terminal illness and child abuse.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Early Review: Sin by Kol Anderson + Giveaway!

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Sin
Author: Kol Anderson
Heroes: Samuel “Sin” Taylor/Isaac
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 85 Pages
Publisher: Kol Anderson
Release Date: October 1, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Samuel “Sin” Taylor doesn’t know the difference between sex and intimacy, but maybe that’s not his fault. He grew up in a world where it was easier to get physical pleasure than to find love. But as a prostitute working the streets, Sin thinks he’s finally found his true calling. After all sex is the one thing he’s good at, right? But when Isaac enters his life through mere coincidence, Sin finds it a relief to be someone other than Sin.

How long can he keep up the charade?
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Giveaways, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Book Review: Blue Moon II: This is Reality by A.E. Via

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Blue Moon II: This is Reality
Author: A.E. Via
Series:  Blue Moon #2
Heroes: Pierce/Hawk, Shot/Fox
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 190 Pages
Publisher: A.E. Via
Release Date: September 26, 2014
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  The Story of: HAWK, PIERCE, SHOT & FOX WITH THE BEASTMASTERS

Pierce aka Strategic Intelligence Specialist, Backhander is back to flush out some of the DEA’s most notorious criminals, and he has one helluva’ team backing him up. The country’s most decorated Navy
Seals…the Beastmasters.

Pierce is more than capable of doing his job, but he has one insanely hot distraction that continuously causes him to second guess his hidden orientation–Dane Aramis, call-sign, Hawk. Hawk can see what most people can’t, and whether his sexy Pierce wants to admit it or not, he can see the brilliant man’s desire runs deep for him. Hawk is not the type of Seal to lose his man. Pierce will be his.

However, when Pierce and the Beastmasters are on their final assignment, the last person they expect to encounter with the opposition is rogue assassin… Omega. The man is unstoppable, and when he comes too close to what Hawk holds dear, the Beastmasters call on the only man that can control the lethal assassin. Omega’s faster more skilled brother, Alpha.

Bringing Alpha – the deadliest man in the world that has no allegiances and no alliances back into society may be disastrous for everyone involved. But, Hawk is willing to take that risk to keep Pierce safe.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Love and Punishment by Susan Mac Nicol

Reviewed by JustJen

3Title: Love and Punishment
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Heroes: Anthony Parglietto/Flynn Parker
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 261 Pages
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing
Release Date: August 29, 2014
Available at: Boroughs Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  FROM DARKNESS AND LIGHT

Someone is leaving a trail of bodies throughout London, and Detective Anthony Parglietto is determined to end the violence. Then he’ll return to the man he loves.

Tough, street-savvy, and used to dealing with lowlifes, Flynn Parker is the last person Anthony thinks he has to protect. Then the Bow-Tie Killer strikes close to home and the world turns upside down. Right is wrong, black is white, and a policeman might become a monster. But in the name of love, justice must be served. In the name of love, pain can be endured. In the name of love, a man can taste the very essence that defines him.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Vinny, Porn Star by J.P. Barnaby

Reviewed by JustJen

11Title: Vinny, Porn Star
Author: J.P. Barnaby
Series: Working Boys #3
Heroes: Vinny/Angel
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 56 Pages
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Release Date: August 27, 2014
Available at: Wilde City Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Vinny is just your typical all-around average guy, well, except for the leather and the floggers, oh and maybe that little room at the back of his house where he likes to take a guy and strap his ass before he nails him. Well, maybe Vinny isn’t so average. At least, that’s what Angel thinks. You see, Angel got himself into a bit of trouble by scheduling a fetish shoot with The Sounding Board when he’s never even been tied up.

Who better to show him the ropes than professional fetish model, Vinny D’Forino? The answer will bring him to his knees.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

J.L. Merrow Week Review: Light the Fire

Reviewed by JustJen

3Title: Light the Fire
Author: J.L. Merrow
Heroes: Kurt/Matt
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 22 Pages
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: January 28, 2013
Available at: JMS Books, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Learning to live—and love—again

Two years after the death of his lover at the hands of bigots, Kurt’s still not looking for another relationship, even though the big old house he bought with Raoul seems cold and empty these days. But there’s a perky kid at his gym who just won’t take no for an answer.

Matt can tell there’s more to Kurt than just a great set of pecs. He’s drawn to the big guy’s caring, protective attitude as much as to his muscles. But when push comes to shove, can Matt show Kurt he’s not just a big mouth in a small package?

This story first appeared in the Someplace in this World anthology, now out of print.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Author Week, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2013 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Paused by Bryan Keating

Reviewed by JustJen

3Title: Paused
Author: Bryan Keating
Heroes: Taylor Quinn/
Genre: MM/FF Contemporary
Length: 320 Pages
Publisher: Bryan Keating
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  After ditching a flight for a new adventure, former, reality television star, Taylor Quinn, is scrambling the colorful streets of Chicago with notorious addictions. Taylor quickly begins dating a privileged drug dealer who unknowingly provides him with the necessities he desires. Just as he starts to better his future, Taylor’s destructive roommate reenters his life and the two struggle to feed their addiction to addictions. Unfortunately, Taylor consistently causes chaos into the lives of his loved ones as he strives for an escape.

In separate but intertwined stories, Taylor’s best friend, Adrienne Ponziano and his favorite frenemy, Lynn Riley, have impulsive adventures of their own. Adrienne, while unhappily engaged, romances numerous men in hopes of gaining the true love she desires. Her actions activate her hidden family history sending her on a chase around Illinois. Closet, lipstick lesbian Lynn turns towards online dating websites to explore her hidden sexuality. Her double life leads her to a mischievous woman connected to everyone she seems to know.
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Categories: 2.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Debut Authors, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Book Review: Loser Takes All by Kora Knight

Reviewed by JustJen

12Title: Loser Takes All
Author: Kora Knight
Series: Up-Ending Tad: A Journey of Erotic Discovery #1
Heroes: Scott/Tad
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 63 Pages
Publisher: Kora Knight
Release Date: September 5, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Tad’s weekend started out like any other; hitting a college frat party with a handful of buddies. But just as the evening hits its peak, things get up-ended fast. Ditched by his drunken, trolling friends, Tad winds up getting hustled by three jocks playing poker. Now he’s forced to pay his dues in the most outlandish of ways; accepting a couple broken bones or spending an hour with his victors’ favorite flogger, Scott. But the guy’s tantalizing torture quickly proves to be the least of Tad’s worries… and the kickoff to a night of raw, shocking lust.

Experience the graphic, minute-by-minute account of that hour spent at the hands of Tad’s insatiable tormentor. Addicting chemistry lights the stage as Scott ignites Tad’s reluctant desires into a frenzy of forbidden need.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Debut Authors, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Let Love Live by Melissa Collins

Reviewed by JustJen

3Title: Let Love Live
Author: Melissa Collins
Series: Love #5
Heroes: Dylan Hopkins/Conner Michelson
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 298 Pages
Publisher: Melissa Collins
Release Date: July 5, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Who would you become if you lost the only person who ever mattered?

For twenty-six year old Dylan Hopkins, the answer is easy. He’s become no one. Memories of the happier times are all he has left as he finds himself meandering numbly through his now dull life. Though he cares about his work and family dearly, he’s yet to let himself find love again. Afraid of letting go of what he once had, Dylan chooses to keep his heart buried, where it belongs, having died a long time ago.

Conner Michelson is about to change everything Dylan knows. He’s every bit the bad boy persona – tatted up, ex-MMA fighter, but after an injury leaves him unable to fight, he has to rethink his goals. Having just opened his own gym, Conner can cross his first major life accomplishment off his very short list. Next up: find a man he can settle down with and build a family. Seems simple enough – a dream most people have, but when he meets Dylan, his carefree, easy-going life is thrown into a tailspin.

Determined to keep Dylan in his life, Conner vows to resurrect Dylan’s long ago buried heart and let love live once more.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: McFarland’s Farm by Cardeno C.

Reviewed by JustJen

3Title: McFarland’s Farm
Author: Cardeno C.
Series: Hope #1
Heroes: Lucas Reika/Jared McFarland
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 56 Pages
Publisher: The Romance Authors
Release Date: September 10, 2014
Available at: Amazon Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Wealthy, attractive Lucas Reika treats life like a party, moving from bar to bar and man to man. Thumbing his nose at his restaurateur father’s demand that he earn his keep, Lucas instead seduces a valued employee in the kitchen of their flagship restaurant, earning himself an ultimatum: lose access to his father’s money or stay in the middle of nowhere with a man he has secretly lusted over from afar.

Quiet, hard-working Jared McFarland loves his farm on the outskirts of Hope, Arizona, but he aches to have someone to come home to at the end of the day. Jared agrees to take in his longtime crush as a favor. But when Lucas invades his heart in addition to his space, Jared has to decide how much of himself he’s willing to risk and figure out if he can offer Lucas enough to keep him after his father’s punishment is over.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment