Five Star Review by Lara Brukz
29 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Dreamspinner, Lara Brukz Tags: Dreamspinner Press, Lara Brukz
Title: Five Star Review
Author: Lara Brukz
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 105
Characters: Cade Montgomery, Eric Carillo
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Physically Challenged Hero
Kisses: 4.25
Blurb:
Gay romance author Cade Montgomery is so thrilled when his latest book is given an excellent review by Eric Carillo that he sends Eric a personal e-mail thanking him for the rating. Occasional e-mails become frequent, and soon Cade and Eric are talking online almost every day. Their online relationship spans a thousand miles, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. Can their virtual romance survive in the real world? Because both men want to give their own romance a five star review.
Review:
Five Star Review is the first book I’ve read written by Lara Brukz. I’m always excited to read new to me authors and I by the end of the book, I was excited to add Ms. Brukz to the list of authors that I really like to read. Between the fast-paced storyline and the hot chemistry between the two heroes, Five Star Review was a quick and highly enjoyable read for me.
Cade Montgomery balances writing homoerotic romance novels and his full time job. Even though he loves writing romance, Cade has more of a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ personal philosophy. When his newest release gets a very good rating from a well followed review site, Cade decides to write the reviewer, Monk, to thank him for taking the time to read and review his book. When ‘Monk’ responds, his underlying flirtatious banter and wit, intrigues Cade and he finds himself wanting to know more about the mysterious reviewer. To Cade’s surprise, the more he learns about ‘Monk’ the more he looks forward to receiving correspondence from him. Soon, he learns Monk’s real name is Eric, and the men become fast friends. They quickly begin to flirt and send sexy emails to one another and little by little start revealing more of themselves to each other. Soon Cade starts to second guess the casual sex he has with nameless men and begins to have more than a little interest with his sexy online friend.
Eric Carillo loves to read and review books. Ever since he was in terrible car accident years ago, he’s been bound to his wheelchair, but his sheer determination to live a normal as possible, keeps a positive outlook on life. When he and Cade start a flirtatious online friendship, Eric can’t help but fantasize about being with Cade. But when Cade is going to travel to the same city as Eric lives in, he’s both nervous and excited. Will Cade the man be everything Eric hoped he’d be?
I really liked this book. There is a strong connection between Cade and Eric and it’s apparent they really like each other. Both are interesting characters that I liked and enjoyed reading about. As a reader, I appreciated how easily Cade came around to Eric’s disability and saw him for the man he is, not just the chair he sat in. I also liked how independent Eric is and his determination to stay strong and work hard to achieve the things he wants out of life. Both men were well matched together and I loved watching them work toward having a life together. If you are craving a sweet and spicy read with sexy well-written heroes, Five Star Review is definitely the book for you!
Reviewed By: Gabbi
Tumble Turn by Charlie Cochran
29 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Charlie Cochrane, MLR Press Tags: Charlie Cochran, MLR Press
Title: Tumble Turn
Author: Charlie Cochran
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 84
Characters: Ben Edwards, Nick Prior
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Physically Challenged Hero
Kisses: 4.25
Blurb:
Winning isn’t everything…except when everything rides on being first.
Ben Edwards is the rising star of British Paralympic swimming, with a medal at London 2012 firmly in his sights. Love isn’t going to be allowed to get in the way — until he meets Nick, who proves to be a big distraction from training. With his times sliding, and a family illness, to worry him, it looks like Ben’s Olympic dreams are in tatters. Until Nick comes up with the most outrageous incentive for winning.
Review:
Ben has a mild case from cerebral palsy, but has been raised by parents who encourage him to always reach for his dreams. On the day the teenaged Ben and his best friend Matt find out the 2012 Olympics will be held in London, Ben becomes determined to works hard and try out for the British Paralympic swim team so he can hopefully achieve Olympic glory. Once Ben makes this decision, he is encouraged by his parents’ and by his best friend Matt and starts training almost immediately. Soon his dream of achieving his goal of Olympic gold consumes much of his life. As time goes by, Ben sees less and less of Matt and two best friends grow apart and onto their own lives.
As the Olympics approach, Ben has worked hard and has made the Paralympic team. After one of his competitions, he runs into his former best friend and Matt’s future brother in law, Nick. As much as Ben is happy to be reunited with his friend, he’s immediately drawn to the handsome, enthusiastic Nick and the two men start to date. But after a couple of dates, Ben is unable to concentrate because of his new would-be boyfriend and his lap times start to suffer. When Ben’s mother becomes ill, he begins to wonder if he’ll be able to compete at all. But lucky for Ben, he has friends and family who keep pushing him. Nick himself challenges Ben to get back to training and offers a very sexy reward if Ben wins a medal, Ben once again decides to rise up against the odds and do what he can to win Olympic gold and Nick’s heart.
I really enjoyed this story a lot. It’s told in first person through Ben’s eyes and since Ben is a determined, likeable hero, I liked experiencing the story through Ben’s point of view. Even though Ben has cerebral palsy, he doesn’t allow it to bring him down; instead he works hard for all of his achievements and doesn’t allow it to rule his life. I liked Ben’s positive attitude, and I thought he and Nick were really good together. Nick is a sweetheart of a man and as soon as he meets Ben becomes determined to have the athlete in his life. I liked all of the characters in this book and enjoyed the positive message and feeling it gave me as the story progressed. I loved how Ben was determined to reach both his Olympic dreams and his dream to have Nick in his life.
This is the first book I’ve read by Charlie Cochran and it definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed the fast paced storyline and the witty banter between the characters kept my interest throughout the novel. Since Tumble Turn is set in England, it has a very British tone and feel about it, which I thoroughly enjoyed too. To me, England was as just as strong of a character as the two main heroes, and because of the author’s descriptive storytelling ability I was able to transport from the small southern town I live in to the working class way of English life. I’m looking forward to reading more books written by this author and recommend this book for those who love a determined sexy hero and a feel good romance.
Reviewed By: Gabbi
Dreamspinner Press New Releases
28 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: drama, Dreamspinner Press New Releases, entertainment, literature, vacation
Special Announcement from Dreamspinner: Starting June 1st we are starting the Daily Dreams, everyday a story will be delivered to those who purchase the anthology. A very sweet deal if I may say so myself.
They are also having a facebook chat with Ada Maria Soto, author of Eden Springs, this Saturday at 3:30 EST. Some giveaways, contests and other fun stuff are planned to happen.
Animal Instinct by Stephen Osborne
Sequel to Pale as a Ghost — A Duncan Andrews Thriller
Private detective Duncan Andrews has the home-team advantage when it comes to solving paranormal crimes: His best friend, Gina, is a centuries-old witch. His dog is a zombie. And his boyfriend, Robbie, is a ghost. Duncan certainly has his work cut out for him with this case. Someone’s been using the skull of a powerful wizard to control animals, and whoever it is, they’re not out to set up a petting zoo. For Gina, the case hits close to home—she knows just how dangerous it is, since the wizard was her father. Just when he thinks they’re close to breaking the case, tragedy strikes, leaving Gina in a coma. Then, after years as a ghost, Robbie finally decides to move on, leaving Duncan to protect young Ashton Marsh, the victim of several strange animal attacks. Suddenly Duncan is working without his supernatural safety net. Without his friends, can Duncan defeat the power of Eleazar’s skull and keep Ashton alive? Or will the struggle for his life end in broken bodies as well as broken hearts?
Length: Novel
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal: Contemporary Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense
Series: Duncan Andrews Thrillers by Stephen Osborne
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Turning Tricks by Anne Tenino
Task Force Iota, Book Two — Sequel to 18% Gray
James Ayala thought life would be smooth sailing once he escaped from a Red Idaho reeducation camp and returned to Blue Oregon. He was supposed to get answers about the biocybernetic chip that made him empathic, face the man who implanted it, and then ride off into the sunset with his new boyfriend, Matt Tennimore. Life, however, has other plans: the bad guy dies without giving them any answers, they left their horse in Idaho, and Gramma Anais finds a parasite on James’s implant—one that forces James into isolation. Matt just got James back to Oregon where he wanted him, and extraneous brain hardware or not, he has no intention of letting him go. But James hesitates to move in with him. Despite his hurt, Matt has to man up and do his job, leaving James behind, while the rest of the team struggles to find the real mastermind behind the implant and the parasitic “Trick”—before it takes over James’s brain. But will it be too little, too late to save him?
Lenght: Novella
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Task Force Iota by Anne Tenino
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Raise Your Glass by John Goode
Tales of Foster High – Sequel to The End of the Beginning
Kyle Stilleno used to be the invisible student. Brad Graymark used to be the baseball star. Then they fell in love and Brad outed them both with a spectacular public display of affection, and now everything is different.
After spending a few days lying low, Kyle and Brad are going back to school. It’s time to face the music and see how Foster High deals with their growing romance. But the school’s reaction—and the staff’s hostility—are not what they expected. Everyone they know seems to be allied against them. Isn’t there anyone they can count on to defend their happiness?
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Tales of Foster High by John Goode
Buy as eBook
Strike the Bell by J. Tullos Hennig
Escape. That’s what drives Taran to join the Riverdrivers aboard Geillidh: escape from the farming and fishing village of his kin; the lure of adventure and, most of all, the presence of Merimac—Wyr-chieftain of Geillidh and Taran’s first lover. Though he might be Merimac’s cousin and lovemate, Taran gets no preferential treatment. He will have to earn his passage as full crew member the hard way—scrubbing decks and greasing blocks and pulleys—and surviving his first trip through the Strait is a rite of passage that brings its own reward in Merimac’s cabin.
Lenght: Nap-sized Dream
Genre: fantasy/paranormal
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The Darkest Midnight in December by Jana Denardo
The year is 1930, and something is hunting infants and young couples in Economy Village, PA. When a local priest begins to suspect a demon may be the culprit, the sheriff calls in a team of Soldiers from the Sun. Caleb, Agni, Temple, and Li specialize in demon hunting, but they can’t rule out an old religious sect as the true culprit. Prejudice, distraught parents, and angry townspeople don’t make the team’s job any easier. And if something goes wrong, they’re on their own, because by the time their backup arrives, it will be too late.
Lenght: Novella
Genre: Historical – Americas, Fantasy/Paranormal – Angels and Demons
Buy as eBook
Blood in the Sand by Robin Saxon & Alex Kidwell
Sanguis Noctis Book Two, Sequel to Blood Howl
When David, an old contact and sometimes friend, hires Jed Walker to look into a series of seemingly unrelated disappearances in Cairo, Jed jumps at the chance to show his partner, Redford Reed, more of the world he’s been missing. David’s boyfriend, supernatural expert and resident stuffy professor Victor Rathbone, joins them in their journey to Egypt, which holds many more dangers and mysteries than Jed ever expected. Hidden natures resurface, relationships collide, and instincts are stretched to their breaking point. What seems to be a simple case turns out to be anything but. David may have called for help, but he has his own suspicions about who’s behind the kidnappings—suspicions that, along with clashing personalities, make getting to the bottom of the mystery difficult. While Jed and Redford grow more intimate and trusting with each new obstacle in their path, David and Victor struggle not to lose their trust in each other in the face of their differences. As the four close in on the kidnappers, David is forced to face the one thing more dangerous than the mastermind behind the disappearances: himself.
Lenght: Novel
Genre: Supernatural – Werewolves/Shapeshifters
Series: Sanguis Noctis series by Robin Saxon and Alex Kidwell
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Buy as eBook
We Danced by Jeff Erno
For six years, Rex Payton has focused on two things: keeping his late father’s small-town Kentucky bar afloat and raising his nephew, Tyler. After the tragic loss of his parents and sister, Rex has no interest in romance. He’s respected in his community and regarded as one of Carlisle’s most eligible bachelors, but he’s accepted that his life isn’t conducive to a romantic relationship, especially as a closeted gay man. Enter Josh Billings, a veterinary student who’s serving an internship in town. Josh’s deepest passion is helping animals. Romance is the furthest thing from his mind… until the night he meets taciturn, handsome Rex Payton. Chance and an after-hours dance conspire to forge an intimate connection neither man looked for—one neither man can ignore after the dance leads to a kiss. Suddenly romance isn’t so insignificant, but it’s also not without complications. For this relationship to work, Josh has to decide if he can cope with dating a single dad, Rex has to open his heart, and Ty has to learn to share his dad’s affection.
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary
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Daily Dose: Time Is Eternity
“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” -Henry Van Dyke
Millennia, centuries, decades, years, months, days, hours, minutes, seconds… if it’s a love for the ages, then past, present, or future has no meaning. In these stories, time travel–forward or backward, for an instant or for a lifetime–is the way to fulfilling romance. Summer reading fun! A story delivered automatically to your bookshelf each day in June. Over 1,500 pages of fiction selling individually for a total $92.70.
Beginning June 1, stories will be available individually as priced or as a bulk package for $64.99.
Lenght: Anthology, Daily Dose/Time Is Eternity,
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Buy as eBook
All the Things I Didn’t See by Cindy Sutherland
27 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cindy Sutherland, Dreamspinner Tags: Cindy Sutherland, Dreamspinner Press
Title: All the Things I Didn’t See
Author: Cindy Sutherland
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 182
Characters: Josh Kelly, Sam Peterson
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4
Blurb:
Josh Kelly is a straight actor who portrays one half of daytime TV’s most lovable gay couple. Sam Peterson is his genuinely gay other half—on TV anyway. In real life, Josh and Sam are the best of friends, even if they haven’t exactly been forthcoming about how their respective relationships are falling apart.
A delusional fan comes after Sam, putting things into stark perspective for Josh, who starts to realize friendship might not be all he feels for his on-screen partner. But can he find the strength to out himself to Sam when that very friendship is on the line?
Review:
Josh Kelly and Sam Peterson are best friends who play a popular gay couple on a daytime soap opera. Even though Josh is straight and Sam is gay, they have a strong chemistry between them that carries onto the roles they play on television. Both men have been in a long-term relationship they are both unsatisfied in, and often spend time together instead of being with the people they are involved with. One day, Josh and Sam actually have a rare afternoon off together, so they decide to spend it shopping in each other’s company. But just as their enjoyable afternoon together is winding down, they are approached by a crazed fan that does not separate their on camera personalities with who they really are. The angry fan threatens Josh and attempts to shoot him, when Sam steps in and not only saves Josh’s life, but puts his own in jeopardy because he gets critically wounded in the process. As Sam fights to stay alive, Josh is forced to look at his life and his feelings for Sam and must come to terms for the undeniable love and attraction he feels for his best friend. Will Josh be able to make the changes needed to have a romantic relationship with Sam, or will fear keep the relationship a bromance instead of a romance?
I enjoy a good and solidly written friends-to-lovers romance, and All the Things I Didn’t See delivered that in spades. Both Josh and Sam are very likeable, honorable characters that I really enjoyed getting to know. They have a strong friendship and emotional bond between them that was very apparent from the first scene they appeared in together. Even though they are perfectly made for each other, they both are afraid to tell each other that their feelings have evolved into a deep attraction and love for one another. Josh and Sam are almost trapped into loveless, bad relationships they barely tolerate, and when Sam is shot, they must come to terms with the love they have between them.
I loved the camaraderie and friendship between the two main characters and I enjoyed watching them take that life-changing step to be lovers/partners. I thought the storyline itself was fast-paced and the sweet and sexy romance between Josh and Sam was a beautiful thing to read. They are truly two peas in a pod, and it was so easy for me to rally behind their relationship and hope that they would come together for the happy ending they both deserved.
All the Things I Didn’t See has the right amount of angst and sexy romance to keep this reader up most of the night reading the entire story in one sitting. My only (tiny) complaint about the story is that there were some rapid changes in all of the characters’ point of view, which brought me out of the story at times. Otherwise, I loved the book and recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet and sexy romance.
Reviewed By: Gabbi
Torquere Open Call For Submissions
27 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Torquere Press Tags: Submission Calls, Torquere Books
Charity Sip Blitz 2012
It’s that time again, where all of our great authors get together to donate to a charity working within the GLBTQ community! This year, Torquere Press has chosen NOH8 as the donation charity, and authors who contribute agree to
donate 100% of their royalties to NOH8, with Torquere Press matching the donation.
This year’s theme, since this is Torquere Press’ ninth anniversary as well, is “leather.” Nine is the leather anniversary, y’all! How cool is that?
Leather can be reflected in any way in the story. BDSM may immediately spring to mind, but leather can also mean cowboys, fast cars, Italian shoes, jewelry, or any of a million other things. We want stories that show LGBTQ characters in positive situations, and have strong stories with happy endings. (Or at least happy for now.)
Word count is 3000 to 8000 words, and those limits are firm. Please adjust your manuscripts accordingly before submission. Deadline for submissions is July 1, 2012. Please send all submissions to submissions@torquerepress.com with Charity Sip Blitz in the subject line. For formatting questions or other content questions, please refer to our general guidelines, here:
http://torquerepress.com/submissions.html
Leather up and send us your charity sips for NOH8!
Ink
Do you love the idea of a man with tattoos? We do too — all that lovely skin with just the right mark on the shoulder, or over the heart. Maybe your hero is decorated all over, or maybe he’s about to take the plunge for the first time.
Maybe he’s the one who puts ink to skin, or perhaps he loves the man who does.
That’s the concept behind Ink, a new male/male anthology from Torquere Press. We?re looking for sexy, romantic male/male stories about men and ink, whether they have tattoos themselves, or love a man who does.
Stories can be from any sub-genre, but they should be fully realized with strong characters and a happy ever after, or at least happy for now, endings. They should be between 5000 and 12000 words long, and should be submitted in full and include a synopsis and author biography in the cover letter. Please put your name or pseudonym in the manuscript as well as in your submission email.
Send submissions to submissions@torquerepress.com with Ink
in the subject line. Payment is a $50.00 flat fee for first time electronic and print rights for three years, and a print copy of the book. No reprints, please. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2012 for a December 2012 Publication.
Spirit by P.A. Friday
26 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Dreamspinner, P.A. Friday Tags: Dreamspinner Press, P.A. Friday
Title: Spirit
Author: P.A. Friday
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 70
Characters: Grant McDowell, Tristan Wetherby-Hyde
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 2.5
Blurb:
It’s hate at first sight when Grant McDowell meets coworker Tristan Wetherby-Hyde. Working-class Grant fought his way up in the world and into a position at Spirit Advertising, and he can’t help but think that Tristan, son of the agency’s homophobic CEO, had everything handed to him on a silver platter.
But their differences aren’t enough to keep their mutual lust in check, despite Tristan’s fear of exposure and his father’s reaction. Both Grant and Tristan know exactly what they have to lose—what they don’t know is that their hearts are also at stake.
Review:
I think the blurb does an excellent job at describing the book. Grant McDowell is an up and coming advertising agent, whose creative ideas aren’t always appreciated by the CEO of the company. When Grant suggests doing an ad with openly gay characters, the homophobic CEO of the company immediately shoots his ideas down. Even when, Tristan, the CEO’s son tries to tell Grant he thought his idea had merit, Grant immediately feels nothing but hate for Tristan and refuses to see anything positive about him.
It takes quite a while for the two characters to warm up to each other. Grant likes to have sex (sometimes very rough sex) with Tristan, but that’s about all he likes about him. In my opinion, they never really connected on an emotional level very much and when I finished the book, I didn’t have the impression either character really cared for each other at all. There are so much conflict and misunderstandings between the two men that I never believed they really ever got over the past hurts and truly had a chance to find happiness together.
I wish this book had been longer. It definitely has an interesting premise to it, but I thought the storyline was a little rushed causing one of the reasons why I never quite believed the characters really liked each other. They spend so much time having sex and so little time talking and connecting emotionally with one another. I did think both characters were interesting in the own right, and there were times I did find the book enjoyable. This is the first book I’ve read by PA Friday and it certainly won’t be my last. I did like the easy style of writing this author had and I’m definitely interested in trying the author’s books again in the future.
Reviewed By: Gabbi
Scar Tissue by GL Roberts
26 May 2012 1 Comment
in GL Roberts, Seventh Window Tags: GL Roberts, Seventh Window
Title: Scar Tissue
Author: GL Roberts
Publisher: Seventh Window Publications
Pages: 71
POV: 3rd person, Bob
Sub-Genre: Romance
Kisses: 3 1/2
Blurb:
It was 1976, the year of the .38 Special, the .45 Magnum, Cold War threats and Vietnam Vets returning state side looking for jobs. It was also a time when being gay could get you fired from your job, beat up or killed. This was especially true for Bob Elkins, third year DEA officer who finds himself deeply attracted to CIA newcomer Mike Wells. Although Mike returns Bob’s romantic gestures, he goes cold when it comes time to become intimate. Is Mike playing with Bob or is there something more going on? To find out, Bob must put his reputation and job on the line and risk everything.
The year was 1976, a time when being gay meant you must hide in the closet or risk losing everything.
Review:
1976 meant the Vietnam War was over, Jimmy Carter was about to become the next US president, and among the most popular movies of the year was “All The President’s Men,” the academy-award winning political thriller based on Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward’s investigation in to the Watergate break-in. Men wore wide-legged pants and long hair … unless you worked for the government like Bob and Mike in GL Roberts’ SCAR TISSUE.
Roberts does a good job of setting the mood and helping her readers see 1976 through Bob’s eyes. Proudly gay and very secure in his skin, DEA agent Bob is nevertheless forced to remain closeted at work and with most of his acquaintances. When he meets Mike at the firing range he’s instantly taken with the CIA recruit. The attraction seems mutual, but Mike’s mixed signals set the men on a slow course that baffles Bob and tests his patience.
I enjoyed this book, although I have to say I thought it ended too abruptly. I was very nearly to the end and realized with trepidation that Mike still hadn’t come clean about what bothered him. I was glad to find out that Roberts has a second book devoted to Bob and Mike, which I hope will give us the two men on a more equal (physical) footing, something I would have enjoyed reading in this very solid offering.
Reviewed By: Nadja
