The Cool Part of His Pillow by Rodney Ross

Title: The Cool Part of His Pillow
Author: Rodney Ross
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 340
Characters: Barry and Andy
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary
Kisses: 5++




Blurb:

The mid-forties are that time in a gay man’s life when his major paradigm shifts from sexy to sensible. But when Barry Grooms’ partner of twenty years is killed on Barry’s forty-fifth birthday, his world doesn’t so much evolve as it does explode.
After navigating through the surreal conveyor belt of friends and family, he can’t eat another casserole or swallow much more advice, and so, still numb, he escapes to Key West, then New York. He embraces a new mantra: Why the hell not? He becomes so spontaneous he’s ready to combust. First, he gets a thankless new job working for a crazy lady in a poncho, and then has too many drinks with a narcissistic Broadway actor. Next, it’s a nude exercise class that redefines flop sweat, and from there he’s on to a relationship with a man twenty years his junior, so youthfully oblivious he thinks Karen Carpenter is a lesbian woodworker.
Yet no matter how great the retreat from the man he used to be, life’s gravity spins Barry back to the town where he grew up for one more ironic twist that teaches him how to say good-bye with grace.

Review:

How does someone carry on with life when the person who has been by your side for twenty three years is suddenly taken away? The Cool Part of His Pillow is a book that spans a year in Barry’s life following the death of Andy, his partner. Barry tries to resume his life after Andy’s very public death, but finds that everyday things are filled with reminders of his past life with Andy. From picking up his laundry to going to the grocer answering questions about Andy makes life unbearable. Barry decides, after a brief trip to Key West, that he needs a fresh start somewhere without daily reminders of Andy, and New York City fits the bill.

After settling his finances Barry packs up his belongings and makes the move to New York. Starting a new job as the manager of Theatrilicious, a down and out Broadway theatre memorabilia store, Barry slowly integrates himself back in to society and the online dating scene. We get to meet great characters like Olaf the performance artist to even more strange ones like the furry Hugo. A chance meeting at a Nudercise class brings Jarod, and some romance back in to his life.
A family crisis brings Barry back home and he realizes that while New York is a change of scenery it is not exactly everything he needs. Closure comes in strange ways to some people and can open your eyes to new things as well.

Rodney Ross, you had me at “Here’s an idea. Why don’t you change? And how’s that courtship working out for Eddie’s father?”. This book is so well written and contains so much witty banter inside and out of Barry’s head. I cried and laughed so hard at times, that tears ran down my face. I only wish we had the story before the story. I would love to read about how Andy and Barry got together in the first place as this was glossed over in just a few sentences. While this is not the typical MM book I would read, sex is not front and center, I am so thankful for being given the opportunity to find a new author to enjoy.

Reviewed By: Vonda
BUY LINK

Ghost on a Wing by Nicole Dennis

Title: Ghost on a Wing
Author: Nicole Dennis
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Pages: 139
Characters: Anderson St. John, Morgan Brookes
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4.5



Blurb:

Finding the nerve to meet his crush is difficult for high school senior Anderson St John. Often, he stands in front of Morgan Brookes’ store windows during his training runs. Intrigued by the teenager peering inside, Morgan wants to know more, and invites him inside, just to talk. This leads to dating and a decision to attend the Halloween dance at Anderson’s school. Morgan uses his considerable talents to create authentic costumes for them both… but the night of the dance, a long-dead World War II ace pilot makes his presence known.

Review:

Anderson has a lot of his plate. At eighteen he’s a high school senior who often gets tormented by his classmates. Even though school isn’t his favorite place to be, Anderson is determined to keep a high point grade average and to make something of himself. At home, he has a loving mother who is slightly scatterbrained about everything except for her art, so Anderson has taken on the responsibility to keeping them fed and other household chores.

Anderson has had a crush on store owner, Morgan Brookes for months. Every morning, Anderson and his dog jog by Morgan’s store in hopes that he’ll see his sexy crush. One morning, Morgan spots him peeking in the window and introduces himself to Anderson and to the young man’s shock, asks him out. Morgan is a few years older than Anderson, but they quickly form a quick friendship and heavy attraction between them. Despite their attraction they continue to slowly build their relationship until both are comfortable being with one another. But will outside forces keep the young couple apart?

I loved this book! I loved the descriptive writing style Ms. Dennis has and I really enjoyed watching these two characters meet and fall in love. I do want to point out that Anderson is eighteen and in high school, but he is very mature and settled for his age. Also, Morgan is only twenty-four, so even though they are on different places in their lives, they still fit really well together. The age difference did not bother me in the least since Anderson is of age to make his own decisions and in no way did I ever believe that Morgan was taking advantage of him. Their relationship builds slowly in this book and it’s so well paced that it in the end, they were an easy couple to root for and hope they have a happy ending together.

There is also an interesting paranormal twist to the story that kept me glued to the storyline. I don’t want to spoil it, but I will say I thought it enhanced the story quite nicely and I enjoyed it a lot. Between the well-written and likeable characters and Ms. Dennis’ ability to sweep this reader into her story, I quickly read through this book and wished for more. Thankfully, this is the first book in a series, and I know I can’t wait to read more about these amazing characters and their journey to be together. Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi

BUY LINK

Something New and Improved

If you’ve been wondering about where your favorite reviews are or who is next…I have the solution for you.

We already have a search field in place on the right side of the page, so you can enter an author name or the title of a book and you should see your selections in the main window.

Here’s the new: I recently added a new page titled: Scheduled Reviews and Events. (Look up ^ see the different tabs?) On that page I’m listing each review/interview due up that week. It’s not to say we may not have last minute changes because anything is possible in this world, but for the most part, it’ll have what you’re looking for.

Are you an author and wondering where your review is? A publisher wondering if we are reviewing your titles? Or a reader looking for your favorite author.

Here’s the page: Scheduled Reviews and Events

If you’d like to see something new, have comments? If you’d like to become a reviewer, please contact us.

top2bottomreviews@gmail.com

Thank you.

Top2Bottom

Mesmerized by David-Mathew Barnes

Title: Mesmerized
Author: David-Matthew Barnes
Publisher: Bella Distribution
Pages: 264
Characters: Serena, Brodie, Lance
POV: First Person
Sub-Genre: Gay-themed YA
Kisses: 5





Blurb:

While being punished for writing a controversial article in her high school paper, Serena Albright is befriended by the enigmatic loner Brodie Wiles. Serena witnesses the first time that Brodie meets Lance Royal, who is secretly rehearsing to compete in The Showdown, the biggest dance contest of the year. Immediately, Serena is drawn into their world, inspired by the love she recognizes between them.

Through her close friendship with Brodie and Lance, Serena finds comfort for the grief and guilt she feels over the brutal death of her older brother, the victim of a hate crime. Frustrated that her deep-in-denial parents spend endless hours in front of the television and refuse to acknowledge the death of their son, Serena accepts the challenge to have a face-to-face meeting with the boy who killed her brother.

Review:

Mesmerized is the story of Serena Albright, a high school senior from Sacramento who has ambitions of becoming a journalist. It is 1986 and Serena works as an editor for her school newspaper. The previous year, Serena’s family suffered the devastating loss of her older brother, Christopher, who was the victim of a horrendous hate crime. Christopher was gay, and Serena wrote an editorial piece for her school newspaper in her brother’s memory. The article was shocking to the school, and Serena was reprimanded by her principal who assigned her detention painting parking blocks in the school parking lot.

While she is fulfilling her assigned punishment, Serena is joined by another student that she doesn’t know very well. His name is Brodie, and it becomes obvious to Serena that he is gay. Their friendship immediately blossoms and Serena soon discovers that Brodie has a passion for dancing. As luck would have it, they soon encounter Lance when they venture into an abandoned warehouse. Lance is a local college student who is also a dancer. Serena is awestruck and heartened when she observes a romance blossoming before her eyes–her two new friends are falling in love with each other.

Several other key characters are introduced within the story. Serena’s grief-stricken parents, her best friend Maggie, and her arch nemesis Pamela are all very colorful, deeply portrayed characters who bring the story to life. Eventually a romance blossoms for Serena herself when she encounters her dashing coworker Wesley after she begins a new job as a hotel maid.

It is no surprise that this author is an accomplished playwright because in many ways the story had the feel of a screenplay. There were a lot of quick-witted one-liners are some subtle, sarcastic humor that made it an entertaining and at times lighthearted read. But what was particularly gripping about the story was the depth of the emotion that the author conveyed. The manner in which the grief issue was portrayed was incredibly intense.

There were also some interesting plot twists and a few surprises which made the story unpredictable enough to set it apart from other YA gay-themed stories. One thing specifically that I liked was that the story was told in the first person narrative of Serena. The theme centered more upon her coming to terms with having a gay sibling and coping with his death than it did with gay characters falling in love.

I felt the writing was strong, the characterization was deep, and the plot was believable yet unpredictable. This is definitely one of the better-written YA novels I’ve read, and I would be quick to recommend it to YA fans.

Reviewed By: Jeff

BUY LINK

Dreamspinner Press New Releases

Dreamspinner Press New Releases

Stamp of Fate by Nessa L. Warin

A dead body is never a welcome sight, but it’s especially troublesome when Tadd Leventis and Declan Anagnos return home to find one in their foyer. Most people know the dead woman as a curator at the local museum, but Tadd and Declan recognize her as someone from their distant past—Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare. To Tadd and Declan, it’s more than a murder. It’s a threat to the mortal lives they’ve worked so hard to build—and a wakeup call that their immortal lives are in danger too.

At Zeus’s request, they once again don the mantles of Ares and Hermes, but when they start investigating their fellow Olympians, Tadd and Declan discover things are far more complicated than they seem. As the body count rises, tracking the killer becomes more dangerous, and the investigation starts to strain their relationship. Can they patch things up in time to catch the killer, or will the killer catch them first?

Length: Novel
Genre: Other Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense

Buy as eBook
Buy as Paperback

Join Nessa Warin at the Dreamspinner Press blog as she hosts a release party for her novel.

The British Devil by Greg Hogben

British national Greg Stephens knew there would be challenges in his new relationship with handsome American Navy officer Danny Taylor: long distance; Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; the Defense of Marriage Act; US immigration….

But he didn’t anticipate his greatest obstacle: Danny’s born-again Christian mother, Vivien. A secretary in a small-town Southern Baptist church in Texas, she bristles at Greg’s secular beliefs. Through passive-aggressive manipulation, subtle deceit, or outright battle, Vivien resolves to banish Greg and return Danny to the fold, come hell or high water. Greg’s hold on Danny’s heart is pitted against Vivien’s crusade for Danny’s soul.

All the while, Greg devotes himself to keeping Danny happy while negotiating the cultural differences of his life in America. Danny’s new career as a lawyer takes them from his native Texas to New York. But with Vivien testing Greg’s stiff upper lip at every turn, something has to give.

The British Devil is a semiautobiographical novel exploring culture, religion, and love in a bi-national relationship.

Length:Novel
Genre: Contemporary

Buy as eBook
Buy as Paperback

Duanta Beads by Jackson Cordd

Thousands of years after a cataclysmic explosion forever changes the atmosphere of the Earth, shelter dweller Evan journeys to the world’s surface in search of a way to help his people survive. What he finds is Rourke, a descendent of the humans who stayed above. They’re different: Evan and the other shelter dwellers are hairless, while Rourke and the other “Commons” have evolved fur to protect them from a harsher sun. As Evan searches for answers, the two men feel a growing attraction for one another, but Evan has been raised to think of Commons as subhuman. Can they look past appearances to explore their passion?

Length: Novella
Genre: Science Fiction

Buy as eBook

Textbook Seduction by Elizabella Gold

Aidan Brown has nurtured a crush on Simon Lake, his nineteenth-century English literature professor, since the first day of class. Now the semester and Aidan’s time in college are drawing to a close.

With that deadline looming and nothing to lose, Aidan pulls out all the stops to convince Simon to give him a chance. But Simon is too principled—and too much of a workaholic—to give in and date a student, even if he is only a handful of years older. The gift of a rare textbook finally wins Aidan a date, and he’s determined not to mess up his shot. Unfortunately, nobody mentioned that to Aidan’s ex-boyfriend, who puts a crimp in Aidan’s plans. Can Aidan convince Simon that he only has eyes for his professor?

Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary

Buy as eBook

Conner’s Courage by SJD Peterson

Sequel to Ty’s Obsession — Whispering Pines Ranch: Book Four

John Price and Conner Burnett have been part of the Whispering Pines Ranch for the past thirty-seven years. A loving couple who have overcome every obstacle thrown at them, John and Conner are a testament to the strength of true love. But now John is in the hospital with a diagnosis of cancer, fighting for his very life.

As his lover struggles, Conner looks back on when they first met. The early seventies wasn’t an easy time to be a gay man, especially in a small country town. Considering John’s pride, Conner’s need to be himself, shame, bitterness, and two stubborn natures, their love story almost wasn’t written. But they beat the odds, and Conner will be damned if he’ll let anyone take John from him now. He had the courage to stand up for what he wanted in 1974. If need be, he’ll go toe to toe with God himself to keep the man he fought so hard to love.

Length: Novel
Genre: Western
Series: Whispering Pines Ranch by SJD Peterson

Buy as eBook
Buy as Paperback

Murder on a Queen by John Simpson & Robert Cummings

Sequel to The Rent Boy Murders — Murder Most Gay: Book Four

It’s trouble in paradise for homicide detectives Pat St. James and Hank Capstone. After four years as Pat’s partner, Hank wants to move on from Homicide. Sensing the friendship might be about to implode, Pat’s and Hank’s husbands book the four of them a vacation on the gay-friendly cruise liner Queen Mary II.

But what’s supposed to be a relaxing holiday soon turns deadly. The wife of a wealthy hotel magnate has enlisted her lawyer’s help in relieving her husband of the hotel chain and the money that comes along with it—and all of them are on board. When Pat and Hank stumble into the midst of the domestic dispute and the ship runs afoul of a handful of hired mercenaries, the detectives will have their hands full trying to save the Queen, their husbands, and their partnership.
Length: Novel
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Series: Murder Most Gay Series by John Simpson and Robert Cummings

Buy as eBook
Buy as Paperback

Cooper’s Hawk by Victor J. Banis

Title: Cooper’s Hawk
Author: Victor J. Banis
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 24
Characters: Mike Patterson, Adam Cooper
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 5




Blurb:

If love is truly eternal, what lasts beyond the grave — and what form might it take?

Mike Patterson loses his life-long partner, Adam Cooper—and soon thereafter, a hawk appears and seems to hang around with him. Is the hawk a message from Adam, from beyond the grave — or might it be Adam himself, come back to offer solace. A bittersweet tale that will resonate with all who love deeply, a story of the sharpness of grief, the pain of loss — and, ultimately, a story of never ending love.

Review:

When Mike Patterson’s life partner, Adam Cooper dies he knows a huge part of himself has died with him. After many happy years together, Mike has to face the thought of living life alone, and he’s not sure how he’s going to be able to do that. Even though their children try to coax Mike into keeping strong and working through his grief, Mike continues to have difficulty going through the motions of life…until he spots a hawk that seems to be very interested in him. In his heart, Mike knows that Adam’s spirit is in this hawk and he once again has the hope that love is never ending and that one day they will be together again.

That’s as much as I’m going to describe this story. To say that Cooper’s Hawk is an emotionally gripping read is an understatement. Mr. Banis easily takes us on the difficult journey that his hero, Mike, is going through. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t feel emotionally invested in this story, and I couldn’t help but stay on the edge of my seat wondering how it was going to end. I will say that the book left me with a smile on my face, and the story stayed in my mind long after I finished reading it. It’s truly a beautiful tale of true love, and the hope we all have to be reunited with our loved ones when this life is over. I loved it and highly recommend it.

Reviewed By: Gabbi

Loving Samuel by Martin Delacroix

Title: Loving Samuel
Author: Martin Delacroix
Publisher: Noble Romance
Pages: 62
Characters: Nick, Samuel
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

Nick’s parents are lower-class. Domestic violence has plagued his Florida childhood. A closeted gay man, he vows he’ll avoid personal commitments as an adult. Nick tells himself, Who needs love? It’s all bullshit, anyway. But on a Costa Rican surfing trip, Nick meets Samuel, a beautiful California surfer who makes Nick’s heart race. Nick’s willing to reconsider his vow, but the two men are so different. And Samuel has psychological problems. Does love between Nick and Samuel stand a chance?

Review:

This is the first book I’ve read by Martin Delacroix and it won’t be my last! I loved his ability to really get into the heart and soul of his characters and I was immediately swept up into the intense and interesting storyline.

Nick is looking for a good time. He’s not interested in having a relationship. He would rather keep his hook-ups short and impersonal. As he’s enjoying his vacation in Costa Rica, he meets a very sweet and sexy surfer named Samuel. There is also something very mysterious about Samuel that intrigues Nick, and he finds himself wanting to spend as much time as he can with Samuel. As the two men continue to get to know each other, it becomes obvious that there is more to Samuel than meets the eye, and Nick begins to suspect that Samuel suffers from mental problems. Even though this bothers Nick, he becomes determined to be the light in Samuel’s life and to hopefully help bring him out of the dark thoughts that often plague his mind. Will they be able to work through the demons in Samuel’s mind and build a life together or will Nick’s fear of commitment keep them both from possibly obtaining the greatest love that either man have ever known?

I loved this book. It’s told through Nick’s eyes, but I thought the writer did an excellent job at still describing what he thought was going on in Samuel’s mind. I really liked Nick. I liked his determination to work through Samuel’s mental issues and still build a happy life together. Samuel too, was a great character. In the past, his mental problems have often gotten in the way of his life and building a successful relationship with someone. Both men had to work through their fears to make their relationship work, and I thought Mr. Delacroix did an excellent job of portraying that.

Another reason why I loved this book was: Samuel’s mental problems were not swept under the rug. As a reader, I appreciated the personal growth both of these characters go through as the novel progressed. At times, I wanted to weep for Samuel’s anxieties and depression, but in the end, I applauded his determination to get better and to have Nick in his life.

Loving Samuel is a well-written, fast paced book that I read in one setting. I quickly found myself becoming involved with these two amazing heroes and I loved the positive way it ended. My only gripe is: I wish the book had been longer because I loved the characters and the story so much. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by Mr. Delacroix in the future and highly recommend this novel for those who love complicated, uniquely written heroes who fight for true love.

Reviewed By: Gabbi

BUY LINK

Top 2 Bottom has a new reviewer!!

Please help us welcome DH Starr!!

I take it very seriously when I review books.

I don’t like labels, but they seem to be how most people open bios. So, I’m an author, a reviewer, an educator, a devoted son, brother, and uncle, and an optimist. I write m/m erotic fiction and GLBTQ young adult. Like everyone else, I have my hang-ups and figure out a million excuses to avoid the gym, healthy food, or any of those other things that are good for me but no fun. But underneath everything, I’m filled with the belief that life is good. I lost my mom when I was 30. I was fired from my first principal job because I didn’t get along with the Superintendent. I’ve loved and lost. But I believe everything that’s happened has shaped who I am, and I’ve become a stronger and better person for each experience. My mom lives on through my memories of her and through my niece and nephew. My loss of one job brought me back to NYC, my true home, and the school system I love so much. Each relationship I’ve had has helped me to better define who and what I want and need. The world of romance is a perfect vehicle to celebrate the triumph of the spirit over the many, many hurdles life throws our way. So when you read my reviews, know that I’m looking beyond the story itself (although I’ll share that too) and trying to convey the overall message the book portrays. As I read, I often contact the authors, asking questions and letting them know my experience while reading their books, and I try to incorporate their thoughts when appropriate to do so.

Please feel free to let me know if my reviews fall short of your expectations or if there is more you want to know. I love discussing books and welcome conversations with readers.

DH Starr
http://www.dhstarr.com
dhstarr@dhstarr.com

We are happy to announce our newest reviewer! Jymbo

I am a proud member of the breed referred to as a True Romantic. It’s easy to make me cry and laugh, just be sure it’s where you want me to cry and laugh otherwise we’ll both be embarrassed. And I’m a gentleman to a fault; just don’t cross me. I was fortunate to have had wonderful teachers all through my schooling; ones who were there because they loved to teach and were dedicated to that task, thus my love for reading.

I’ve always known that I was attracted to other men. I asked my mother at age 9 if it was okay to like other boys and she said “sure, you have a lot of boys as friends.” (Actually, ALL my friends were boys; big red flag there!) I then responded, “I mean like you like daddy.” Stumped! But just for a second when she then said, “absolutely.” It took me awhile after that conversation but subsequently I was privately out at age 10 and publicly out at age 13. Lived my formative years in a very small town in northern New Hampshire, and survived, barely. Hitchhiked across the country at age 27, back in the days of long hair and tight jeans (which got me more than one adventurous ride). Have had only one true love in my life and managed to screw that up royally, but can boast several boyfriends. So I know angst.

Fast forward to 1999 when I landed in Chicago and have been here ever sense. From all of this I have derived a substantial data base of male-on-male experience!! I started reading M/M romance about 2 years ago, when I bought my first Kindle, and haven’t been able to put it aside yet. You see, in my day this was unheard of, illegal even in most states! I also have a passion for the Gay Indie Films genre and have an extensive DVD library in that arena. I’m thankfully retired and enjoying it but when I was offered this unique opportunity to be a reviewer for Top2Bottom Reviews I gracefully acquiesced! Actually I jumped up and down and hooted a few times!

Switch by Clare London

Title: Switch
Author: Clare London
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 34
Characters: Miles Winter, Zeke Roswell
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Series
Kisses: 5




Blurb:

Sequel to “Ambush” and “Payback” Miles Winter and Zeke Roswell have excited and enthralled each other since the day they met. Zeke’s uninhibited lovemaking has allowed Miles to grow in confidence and their relationship to deepen. Back from a business trip, Miles knows he should take care of his backlog of work, but the delight of being reunited with Zeke makes him realize he has other, more important needs-including the one sexual step he hasn’t yet taken. Business can wait in favor of a commitment far more primal and more permanent.

Review:

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Clare London’s ‘True Colors’ series. I love the emotional connection and the sizzling hot chemistry the two heroes, Miles and Zeke, have together. I also enjoy the ongoing banter, and easy and sometimes not-so-easy conversations they have together, and I REALLY love it when each man shows their vulnerable side to just each other….it’s so darn sexy!

In Switch, Miles has just returned just in time from a week long business trip to see Zeke’s art showing. The men are both exhausted, and Miles is convinced he stills need to go to his office and finish the job he’s been working on. As they chat and sit, Miles realizes that Zeke is intensely sketching and he discovers that it’s him that Zeke is drawing. This makes Miles realize how much they both missed each other and how much both of them really need to spend some quality time together. Miles loves Zeke so much, he finds himself wanting to allow Zeke to make love to him, and sets out to convince Zeke that it’s time for them to take a sexual role reversal so Miles can truly show Zeke of his devoted love.

I loved this book! Of course, the sex between Miles and Zeke is incredibly hot and sensual. But, I also love the obvious love that flows between them. You get the impression that these two are not only sharing their bodies with each other, but their heart and soul too. Ms. London definitely knows how to write beautiful and provocative sex scenes that never fails to steam up my ereader while I’m reading it. She also really knows these characters so well, that they live and breathe off of the written page. I hope that she continues to write about Miles and Zeke and I pray that one day she’ll grace all of us with another full-length novel of them.

Although Switch could easily be read as a stand-alone book, I highly recommend that the True Color books be read in series order. This way you can really understand the true and amazing dynamics between the two characters. I love this series and I can’t wait to read more of it. Highly Recommended!

Here are the True Color books in series order:

True Colors
Ambush
Payback
Switch

Reviewed By: Gabbi

BUY LINK