Retreat to Island County by Derek Adams

Title: Retreat to Island County
Author: Derek Adams
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 53,000 words
Characters: Ben & Rick
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

Is it possible for two men to overcome betrayal and tragedy to find happiness?

One man is betrayed by a faithless lover. Another is devastated when his lover is lost to an act of terrorism. Can they put the past behind them and come together to forge a new bond? Ben and Rick must not only fight the ghosts of their pasts, but also face a real and present danger when a child is kidnapped by his white supremacist father. Will they be able to overcome the sinister forces that threaten to destroy those they love and keep them apart forever?

Review:

Unlike a typical romance, you don’t meet Rick until chapter three. Instead, you are introduced to Ben and how he loses his virginity. Ben is very endearing, a little naïve, and makes mistakes like the rest of us. During the first few chapters, I came to care for Ben and what happened to him, making the discovery of his lover’s faithlessness affect me more.

Ben’s forays into singlehood, hook-ups, and dating were life-like, and the mention of internet dating well done. I had to laugh at that one.

Derek Adams writes with a subtle sense of humour and the clear imagery combined with a personal way of telling the story really drew me into the story and kept me looking forward to the next scene even as I enjoyed the one I read.

This is not a flowery, overly-emotional story but rather a strong, realistic story about a man who eventually comes out of heartbreak to be stronger, happier, and with a community he is happy to call his own. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes contemporary novellas and realistic characters.

Reviewed By: Alison

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Valentine by Jaime Samms

Title: Valentine
Author: Jaime Samms
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 24
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Transgender, Crossdressing
Kisses: 4

Blurb:

A new city, a new job, a new life based on one fundamental truth: Illusion is everything.

For nearly a year, Alabaster Joy has managed to keep her true nature hidden, settling into a new life and job in a brand new city where no one knows her. That doesn’t mean it’s been easy, though. In order to pay her rent, she’s taking a chance and baring a bit of skin to garner attention, and, hopefully, tips. When that gamble leads to the revelation of her secret, she has to find the courage to trust the man who comes to her aid, or once more decide to move on.

Review:

As the blurb states, as the publishers site states, this is a transgender title so you can safely assume that Alabaster Joy is a M to F in this story. Not an easy task to do either, as a writer that is. Basically the writer has to blend the characteristics of a male and female without overdoing it and Jaime did a wonderful job at it.

Though it’s a short story, Jaime sets the stage very nicely without wasting any time. “Valentine” takes place in Canada and as everyone has told me, everyone in Canada plays hockey. This cute short takes place in one night in a bar where there are hockey players in and out, and we meet a group of not so nice ones who are determined to give Ms. Joy nothing but a hard time, and they don’t give up very easily either. Thankfully Ms. Joy has someone on her side, and that same someone is a man who she’s been in love with for a year. Does he love her back?

I’m sure you know. If you have a minute, go get this one and read it. It’s worth it.

Reviewed By: Lyncx

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Jack’s Back by AC Katt

Title: Jack’s Back
Author: AC Katt
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 115
Characters: Reed, Jim, Brian, Bear
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: BDSM
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

Jim Menetti was Reed Davis’s sub until Reed’s old flame Jack came back. Jim picks himself up and makes a life for himself apart from his job at Indiscrete. He even begins to date but then Reed changes his mind.

Jim Menetti had a life at Indiscrete, the Gay BDSM club owned by Bear Drummond and Reed Davis. His life revolves around Reed, his Master, and his position as manager of the Club. On Jim and Reed’s third anniversary, Jack Leary, Reed’s on and off flame comes back and Jim’s relationship with Reed unravels. Jim picks himself up and makes a life for himself apart from his job, he buys a home, makes it a cozy retreat and gets a cat he names Waltzing Matilda. He even has a new love interest, the mysterious Professor Caleb Brickner, an expert in the Spanish Inquisition and medieval torture. Then, Reed changes his mind.

Review:

What a great story! If you’ve read the first one in this series you would have known that Reed and Jim would have their own story and that Reed had an ex named Jack sniffing around very lightly before. In this story it’s all about Reed and Jim and what happens when Reed, who is Bear’s BFF, breaks things off with his sub Jim, so he could re-hook up with his prior on again off again boyfriend, Jack.

Jack is the adventurous world traveler who thrives in his work. He isn’t by any means a submissive, no matter how much Reed may think he loves the other man, what he really does is hide behind truths that are myths.

Due to Reed being a complete jackass, not to be confused with his Jack of course, Jim is set out as if he were yesterday’s newspaper. Never mind that Jim made Reed complete, made Reed feel something other than nothing, Reed puts the other man out.
Thankfully Bear and Brian step in, as Reed helped the two of them in the previous story, and give Jim a place to go until Jim gets over the shock of what Reed did to him. Now Jim isn’t by any meaning of the word dumb. This man is smart, he knows what he wants, yet he’s also very innocent in the ways of the world as well.

In saying that, he meets up with a shyster who causes Jim a few mishaps. Jim does a wonderful job at managing the restaurant at the club, he manages to buy his own small house, even gets a cat, however, nothing can stay rosy for long.

One mishap, too many mean demeaning words by the shyster Professor Caleb Brickner, and good friends make this story a great page turner.

Reviewed By: Lyncx

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Murder Book by Marshall Thornton

Title: Boystown Series, Book 5: Murder Book
Author: Marshall Thornton
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 185
Characters: Nick, Bert, Frank, Christian, The Bughouse Slasher
POV: 1st Person
Sub-Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Kisses: 5+

Blurb:

With the Chicago Police stretched to their limit by the Tylenol murders, private investigator Nick Nowak is spurred to action when the Bughouse Slasher strikes again.

In the fifth book of the award-winning Boystown mystery series, it’s fall 1982 and Chicago is gripped by panic after five people die from poisoned Tylenol capsules. Amid the chaos, the Bughouse Slasher takes his eighth victim, this time striking close to private investigator Nick Nowak. With the Chicago Police Department stretched to its limit, Nick takes matters into his own hands. But what will he do with the Bughouse Slasher once he finds him?

Review:

Marshall Thornton’s 1982 Chicago is not only historically correct but is esthetically accurate as well.

It can’t be easy to write about a time in America’s history that was steeped in prejudice and dominated by fear but Mr. Thornton has pulled it off in the midst of a highly entertaining and engrossing serial killer mystery. His characters are brimming with attitude and insecurity, emotions all too common to that era. The “safe sex” philosophy was in its infancy as witnessed by the author’s use of promiscuity and abundance of anonymous sexual partners.

If you are of a certain age it will be difficult to read this period piece without reliving the emotions dripping from the pages. Those of a younger era, while being treated to a well established murder mystery, will learn how difficult it was to endure a day to day existence in a time when tomorrow was never a guarantee.

Whether young or not so young, this fifth story in the Boystown mystery series will keep you turning the pages to its ultimate conclusion.

Reviewed By: Jymbo

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The Mountain by Ally Blue

Title: The Mountain
Author: Ally Blue
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 138
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary
Kisses: 4

Blurb:

When glass artist Marco Ravel is commissioned to create a piece for a rich recluse, he’s thrilled for the opportunity to stretch his creative muscle. He doesn’t expect to fall for the man hiring him. For Henrik Schweitzer, the relationship blossoming between himself and Marco shakes his world to its foundation. He wants to keep what the two of them have together, but after eight years of near-complete solitude he doesn’t know if he has what it takes to change. Marco and Henrik both know they can have something special, if they can conquer the mountain of fears in their path.

Review:

I’m going to be honest here. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be? I haven’t read an Ally Blue book in oh, almost two years. Not because I don’t like her stories, it’s just because I have so many books to read and due to that I have been missing the stories written by one of the MM writers who brought me over to this side of the Genre. SAD!

The Mountain is not one of angst, as Ally is known for; instead it’s one of love. It’s about how two men met, in a very unusual but very realistic way and fell in love. It’s about how no matter what circumstances can stand in the way of love of two lonely people win out. How to overcome the obstacles and work through them as a team, no matter how badly the individuals within the story think they know everything about themselves. It’s about pushing boundaries regardless of how scary that may be.

Personally I could not imagine never leaving my home for eight years, yet one of the M.C.’s in this story suffers from a condition known as agoraphobia and the only time he truly “leaves” his home, or mansion as it is referred to, is to run within the boundaries of the land he owns. He shares his home with his cousin and she’s a hoot. She is actually the lovely lady who pushes Henrik, the very wealthy businessman that he is, to try to go out, to try to head to the town with her as they live in the mountains far from civilization. No matter how much he loves and respects his cousin-business partner, he can’t do it. He actually has horrible panic attacks.

Then one day his cousin meets Marco, who is a glass blower and she buys a vase from him. One thing leads to another and Marco ends up at the mansion to design a chandelier for Henrik.

I won’t go into much more, as you really should read it. The story is about a real condition that many people suffer from and the fact that Ally took this sickness and created two lovely men to work through it along with other personal life issues, was a job well done.

Reviewed By: Lyncx

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The Vampire’s Partner by Benjamin Cole

Title: The Vampire’s Partner
Author: Benjamin Cole
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 31
Characters: Tom, Jeremy
POV: 1st Person
Sub-Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Vampires
Kisses: 4.0

Blurb:

Suddenly turned into a vampire, Tom struggles to understand the changes to his life and must control his new desire of bloodlust to avoid harming his partner, Jeremy.

Tom and Jeremy are young and in love. Their future is bright. Until Tom is changed into a vampire. Then all he has come to value in life along with his relationship with his partner is thrown into doubt. As he begins to lose the ties to his former human self, he explores new urges, trying to come to terms with life as a vampire. For Jeremy’s sake, Tom struggles to retain his human capacity for love in the face of a desire to hurt the person he loves most.

Review:

Upon finishing this short story my first thought was that I wished it had been longer; then it struck me, Mr. Cole packed a lot into this quick read and there really didn’t need to be any more to it.

Normally I worry about characters and plots being under done in these short reads. But everything necessary to appreciate the story was present and appropriately accounted for.

The Vampire’s Parter is a wonderful opportunity for a reader who needs a vampire quick fix.

Reviewed By: Jymbo

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Vampire Daycare by Sara York

Title: Vampire Daycare
Author: Sara York
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 46
Characters: Jet and Travis
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Erotic Romance, Vampire
Kisses: 4



Blurb:

Vampire Jet is sworn to protect a band of orphans from a blood thirst threat. But the world of the undead is the night. Mortal Travis arrices to guard the day and soon becomes devoted to the ragtag children… and the muscular, riveting vampire. However, being mortal has its drawbacks, such as Travis can be hurt, even killed, and the ever present enemy channels its efforts to strike at the vampire’s one real weakness – love.

Review:

Reading Vampire Daycare was a like taking a breath of fresh air! The author took a story that has been told countless times and put such a spin on it that I felt I was reading it for the first time. Vampire Jet is the things that dreams are made of, strong, passionate and immortal. Then there is Travis the ex-special forces big strong military man has no idea what he is getting himself into.

Protecting the people of their city, it’s what these men live to do. There is nothing more important to Jet, until he finally allows himself feel for Travis, then it all changes. But when the enemy decides to go after Travis will Jet get there in time? Will he be able to save the children?

I loved this story and I truly hope that the author decides to write more about these guys and this lovely little town. It’s a setting that so many stories could be set in and I hope the author revisits these characters in the future.

Reviewed By: Jerry

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Sensei by Karenna Colcroft

Title: Sensei
Author: Karenna Colcroft
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 72
Characters: Isao Nakamura and James
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Vampire/Erotic novel
Kisses: 3.5

Blurb:

Over five hundred years ago, Isao Nakamura became ninja. And vampire. Now teaching martial arts in 2012 Boston, Isao is falling for his adult student James, and it’s clear James returns his interest. Conflict with the city’s vampire clam might leat to James’s death—or worse, his turning—if Isao cannot protect him

Review:

There are a lot of fun twists and turns that keep you wanting more throughout this book. The characters are fun and engaging. Isao having lived so long is just going through the motions, he loves teaching but when he is not doing that there is nothing for him. He goes home to his small unfurnished studio and goes to bed…only to do it again the next day. He is unsure he wants another relationship because the last one did not turn out so well.

Then there is James, who is so enamored with Isao that he is willing to so just about anything to be close to his teacher. He wants more but has no idea what that means with Isao. He takes a chance and finds that he wants more, but can he handle more of Isao?

The romance is hot in Sensei, not overpowering but definitely enough to make the story stronger. I really liked this story and I look forward to more from this author.

Reviewed By: Jerry

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Stirring Up Trouble by ZA Maxfield

Title: Stirring Up Trouble
Author:  ZA Maxfield
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 158
Characters: Toby Andrews, Evan Blankenship
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4

Blurb:

Toby Andrews is cooking up more than a little trouble for Evan Blankenship. Because of pranks, indiscretions, and plain bad timing, his ability to work in New York’s temples of haute cuisine is a thing of the past. When Toby’s sister tells him he should look up an acquaintance whose restaurant — Le Potiron –is failing, he doesn’t have much choice.

Pretty soon he’s in bed, literally, with a cook who hates people, trying to save a restaurant that only the neighborhood mothers seem to love, and on the verge of another –possibly painful — lesson or two about what it means to be successful.

Evan hates everyone but Toby. Toby likes to stir things up. See what’s on the menu at Le Potiron, in Stirring Up Trouble.

Review:

Trouble seems to follow Toby around. Although he’s had jobs as a chef at elite restaurants he always seems to lose his job in one way or the other. On his last job a famous critic told him he needed to find a different profession while another told him he’d make sure he never worked in the restaurant business again. As a last resort his sister sets him up to meet the owner and cook at a little known place called Le Potiron. Knowing he has nowhere else to go, Toby arrives at Le Potiron and immediately causes chaos and gains the attention of Evan Blankenship, the restaurant’s owner. Toby manages to get hired and what follows is a fun, sexy romance with plenty of laugh out loud moments that kept this reader smiling throughout the story.

Toby is a likeable, but somewhat reckless young man. He’s a very talented chef, but through one mishap after another, he’s somehow managed to sabotage his rise in the culinary world. Once he meets Evan and starts working at Evan’s restaurant, Le Potiron, his impulsive nature continues to cause craziness and conflicts in Toby’s life. The one thing I really liked about Toby was his zest for life as well as his determination to make something of himself. His passion is food and he dreams of one day having a restaurant of his own, but once he meets and begins to work for Evan, he realizes that he wants a great love/partnership in his life too. I liked Toby’s take charge attitude, and although it gets him into trouble, (sometimes it’s well deserved) I enjoyed watching him transform Le Potiron into a cash cow. I also really liked his relationship with Evan. Although they have very different personalities, the chemistry they had together steamed up my computer screen.

Evan is a strong, likeable character as well. He’s definitely more surly and doesn’t apologize for his lack of people skills OR the fact that he hates dealing with the public, period. I enjoyed watching him transform from a grouch to well…less of a grouch and thought he and Toby really had a good thing together both personally and professionally. The banter between Evan and Toby kept my attention and I enjoyed watching these two men fall in love.

There were times I wanted to strangle Toby by his apron strings. Toby’s take charge attitude sometimes blinds him when it comes to what other people may want. I didn’t care for Toby taking over Evan’s business without talking to Evan first. This kind of rubbed me wrong in a way, but in the end, I forgave him just as Evan did.  I really enjoyed watching these two men both grow as people. Evan lightens up and Toby matures over the course of the story.

Funny, sexy and downright delightful, Stirring up Trouble is definitely not a book to miss! Ms. Maxfield’s sense of humor really shines in this book as well as her knack of telling a romantic story that I really ended up loving.  Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Frame of Reference by Christopher Stone

Title: Frame of Reference
Author: Christopher Stone
Publisher: MLR Press
Pages: 328
Characters: Grant and Cody
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

His world-view shaped by retro movies and TV series, small-town boy, Grant Jackson, moves to Hollywood, in pursuit of television stardom.

Grant Jackson is a small-town guy, with the world-class, big city dream of becoming a network television star. But how do you make the dream come true when your resources are scant, and your frames of reference are retro motion pictures and the television series?

Determined to find out, Grant moves to Hollywood. But can he remain focused on his big dream, or will Grant be swept away in the anything goes world of gay West Hollywood – including its adult film and male prostitution scenes?

Review:

What a refreshing spin on a love story, Christopher Stone did a wonderful job with telling a wonderfully romantic story. I loved how he used dates and times for chapters it made the storyline have a really nice realistic flow.

Starting with Grant’s childhood, learning how he grew up and what events helped to shape the man he was destined to become made for a very addictive read. Reading about his first love Micheal and how his heart was broken, and then on to moving out of his parents’ house and starting his career was a joy.

Enter Cam, the sweet un-jaded loving man of Grant’s dreams. Cam was everything Grant didn’t know he wanted. I loved reading about how Cam broke down all of Grant’s walls. In truth, I think Cam is the man that many of us dream about. He’s sweet, loving and looking toward the future he’ll have with his lover. These two men were a great couple!

Between the steamy hot sex and the admiration the two men felt for each other really made this story sexy and special. Although Frame of Reference was over 300 pages I found myself disappointed when it ended, I could have easily continued to read about Grant and his escapades for many more hours. Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Jerry

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