D.J. Manly has done it again.
Right from the start I was completely drawn into The Whispered; as the story progressed I became more and more connected with the characters, especially Reese and Ethan. This is a ghost story, sometimes eerie, often disturbing, but always enthralling.
Reese is down-to-earth and determined to make a go of Mountain Escape, the place his deceased partner Danny had bought for him. A place where Reese could keep busy doing what he loved and provide a home base for Danny when he wasn't travelling for his job. But Danny's dead and Reese has decided that he still wants Mountain Escape, he wants to turn the dream into reality.
I enjoyed the vividness of the descriptions used by D.J. Manly to bring to life not only the area but of the hotel itself. I loved the humanness of Reese and of the caretaker, Hans who's lived there most of his life. And then the eerie whispers, the strange shadows began and the story reached a new level of fascination.
There were times that I would find myself so caught up in the mystery and the tragedy of the past that I couldn't put the book down. The process of revealing the secrets of Escape Mountain was done almost excruciatingly slowly, but the movement was always forward and always, always to the benefit of the story.
Would I read it again? You bet...anytime. It's an awesome ghost story with events that horrify and others that amuse or tug on the heatstrings, but it is always an unforgettable romance.
If you don't have D.J. Manly's The Whispered, don't wait any longer. You will not be disappointed
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Book Info:
D.J. Manly; The Whispered; eXtasy Books; October 15, 2009 [157 pages]
Book Description:
Before Reese arrived at the closed down resort in Southern Australia that his lover had bought for him before he died; he didn’t pay much attention to the stories about ghosts haunting the place. Stories about sexual orgies, and a hot young rock star, who everyone wanted a piece of, that eventually died there, didn’t really frighten him. He didn’t believe in ghosts.
The Mountain Escape, secluded and scenic, had been the ideal place for celebrities, and the wealthy to hide away. Now Reese wanted to hide away, immerse himself in getting the resort into shape for future guests, and forget his pain. But there were too many secrets surrounding the Escape, secrets that some had wanted buried forever. But then sometimes the dead grow restless, and love is eternal.
This story captured not only my imagination, but also my heart.
Not always an easy story to read, it is still very much a heartfelt and unapologetically erotic one that kept me reading long past my bedtime, yet I count it a very worthwhile exchange.
Emotionally barren, seemingly, Lance has reasons for his lack of belief in 'love' and he is certainly not prepared at all for his reaction to Tobias. Toby, on the other hand, grew up knowing love and acceptance but he's become rather jaded since working for Jackson Scott. Neither man is open to the feelings that the other engenders, but Toby does, overall, have a much easier time coming to terms with what is happening between them.
I cringed, I cried, I mourned, I celebrated and I always, always loved spending time getting to know both Lance and Toby. What a journey and what an author!
Needless to say I have a number of other books by the wonderful D.J. Manly and I know that I will be enjoying them as well.
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Book info:
DJ Manly; Pure Sex; eXtasy Books; October 2009
Book Description:
Lance has never known love, and he scoffs at its existence. The only thing that matters to him is security, and that's why he makes contracts with wealthy men. They keep him in luxury and he fulfils their hearts desire. Lance is presently in need of a new client, and he sets his sights on the billionaire, Jackson Scott. And all goes smoothly until Jackson's personal assistant, the enigmatic Tobias Naso, decides to throw a wrench into the wheel.
Tobias would leave Jackson's employment in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the fact that he is helping his sister to support their grandmother in a very expensive care facility. Jackson is demanding and possessive and Tobias hardly has a life. Lance Cooper is just another thorn in his side, a scheming con man after Jackson's fortune. He makes it plain to Lance from the beginning that he doesn't approve, but when Jackson insists Tobias join them for a little recreational activity in the bedroom, things really start to get complicated.
This was the first A.J. Llewellyn book that I'd ever read; since then I've bought another oh, three or four of his books as well as books that he's written, separately, with D.J. Manly and Stephani Hecht. When I enjoy a story as much as I enjoyed LAID then I'm a sucker for other books by the author. This is why I have such a huge TBR... but I digress.
One thing that I really enjoyed about the story is that it is told from the first POV by the two main characters... what an interesting concept, and it's one that worked, IMO, very well. I do like getting an inside peek at the characters' behaviour, thoughts and the why's of their actions.
I also really like cop stories and this is an excellent one. There's a lot of tension because somewhere in the SRT unit there's a traitor and it looks as though whoever it is is very close to home for Jack Cannon. Add a sexy guy with whom Cannon had a fling-with-possiblilites and a case that is going to take him places he's not been before and you have the basis for LAID. Gotta say that there were so many what-if's and who-is' that I was reeling... but oh did I ever enjoy the ride!
All I'm saying now is that I can hardly wait for the next three books to come out in this four part series, 'cause they're gonna be HOT!
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Book Info:
A.J. Llewellyn; LAID; eXtasy Books; September 2009
Book Description:
Jack Cannon is an elite member of LAPD's new Violent Crimes Unit. He's tough, he's smart...he's also gay. Jack's a guy who deals with pressure and stress by cruising. When he has a fling with a hot guy, one even hotter night in Los Angeles, it's no casual coupling. This guy is great. Jack wouldn’t mind seeing him again except he's discovered he'll be seeing a lot of him. This is the guy he's supposed to tail--Lucio Natale, the most violent mob boss ever to land in the city of angels.
On one of the Yahoo groups to which I belong someone mentioned something about this new book being released by Jambrea Jo Jones called Heart Song. So, being the book fiend that I am I checked out the excerpt and wow! I was hooked and immediately headed off to get my own copy.
Then yesterday while at one of the groups discussion turned to J3's book and I mentioned that I didn't need to enter a contest for the book 'cause I'd already bought it. As I was reading, or rather re-reading Ethan Day's Dreaming of You at the time, and had a number of new books that I wanted to devour.. er read, I said that I'd be reading it soon-ish.
One of the other posters encouraged me to read it NOW and she was so enthusiastic about it I decided that I'd read it as soon as I finished my book.
Am I ever glad that I listened to her! Even as I started reading I was entranced; the power that this story had to get one's attention was surprising. As I contiued I honestly felt as though I'd been whacked upside the head and grabbed by the heart; the emotional impact as I was reading had tears running down my face and I couldn't see to read. In fact even as I write up this review I can feel the emotional tug.
I'm not going to put the excerpt here, just the brief blurb... and let me tell you it's a real tease.
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Rafe lost his love, but did he really have it to begin with? He finds out more than he bargained for after the death of his ex-lover. Will he ever find the love he is looking for?
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So if you're looking for a wonderful short story with a big impact, give Jambrea Jo Jones' Heart Song a try... you won't be sorry! Oh and yeah... the cover's not too bad either. *wink*
