G.A. Hauser's Strangers With Candy

Strangers with Candy by G.A. Hauser
Perfect Strangers Series
Publisher: OmniLit/All Romance Ebooks
Genre: M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 8710 words

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Summary: Some temptations are too delicious to ignore…
IRS employee Gareth Witherspoon spies a man, alone at a nearby table in a coffee shop on Valentine’s Day. Something about the foreigner calls to him and in an uncharacteristic leap of faith he impulsively slips the man a box of candy.
Urie is new to the United States, but he’s no stranger to heartache. Since arriving in Los Angeles he’s been lonely, isolated, and in desperate need of friendship. Gareth’s gesture touches his heart and Urie finds himself throwing caution to the wind.
All bets are off and anything goes when the two men spontaneously become lovers. Could it be Urie has found his soul mate in the City of Angels?


Kalyko’s Review: Oh I loved this story! I think it was just because Urie and Gareth were so much alike under the skin and that, taking the chances they did, they ended up with their hearts’ desire. A sweet and heartwarming tale that is perfect for the buildup to Valentine’s Day!

Being party to Urie’s thoughts and feelings adds a depth to this story that I hadn’t really expected. We’ve all been lonely, but to feel, as he did, that he didn’t belong and that he would never have what his heart yearned for was so poignant. So when Gareth made the first move, the hope that started to build in Urie was incredibly touching. And to discover that Gareth too had little to no hope for a happy-ever-after, just made the development of what happened between them that much more beautiful.

G.A. Hauser has, once again, taken a fairly simple story-line and added so much emotion and personality to it that you can’t help but be taken in. And if she were ever to write more about these two men, I’d be very happy to indulge myself once again. Strangers with Candy is sweet, but not achingly so…just the right touch with which to celebrate love.

Rated 4½ Ravens by Kalyko!

Originally posted on Blackraven's Reviews

Paul's D'Marco by Leiland Dale

So yes, now that I've been royally sidetracked -- see previous post! -- I will now discuss the latest book that I read by Leiland Dale.

 I read, and reviewed his book When the Bluebird Calls for Dark Diva Reviews and I loved it.  But Paul's D'Marco is a different story altogether.  One that I love, if possible, even more than Bluebird.  I think part of the reason that it appeals so much to me is the suspense element.  I love suspense / thrillers and Leiland's imbued Paul's D'Marco with suspense galore... it also doesn't hurt that it's got police in it.

Then there's the romance; whew!  Extremely sexy and H-O-T, I loved the development of the relationship between Matt D'Marco and Paul Whittington.  And the struggle to discover who is killing these boys; horrific yes, but a mesmermising story nonetheless.  In fact, I've already re-read Paul's D'Marco... it's the kind of story that will be a regular re-read.

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Description:  Matt D'Marco has happily settled in his routine for years. Now with a pending divorce, recently promoted Matt's life is about to take an entirely new direction. Matt's first case as detective turns out to be a challenge. Desperation sets in when all leads in the child serial killer case leave the police department empty handed. Paul Whittington, psychic and medium, may be the only solution in finding a break in the case.

Matt and Paul are forced to work together. But when a work relationship turns into something more, it challenges everything Matt's known about himself, his life, and desires. Then, a turn in the case could put everything at risk. In the end, can Paul win over Matt's resistance and claim him as his own?

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by Silver Publishing -- Buy here

The House of Silver Oak by Nix Winter

The House of Silver Oak by Nix Winter --here-- is an amazing story that I was fortunate enough, along with several other members from Ethan Day's Yahoo group, to get a copy of from the author.  I've read a few of Nix's books and really enjoyed them; but this one I absolutely loved!  In Nix's books, that I've read, there's been an underlying sense of mischief that pervades the story, usually associated with one of the characters. In The House of Silver Oak  the mischievous character is Shelly Comstock-Gray.  His interactions with the other main character / hero, Cain Hardrain, really make this story sparkle and add a humour that is wielded with a deft touch.

Then there's the eerie mystery of just what it is to be feared in the cellar... and who was responsible for the deaths of Shelly, his brother and his brother's fiancée?  I was kept on tenterhooks throughout the book and couldn't wait to get to the answers.  But then I was disappointed that I'd come to the end. 
There is a spookiness to the story that is wonderfully balanced by the humour. The cast of characters is bigger than I expected and the intricacies of the various connections is quite stunning. Everything, everything, works so marvellously together and I hope that this book gains a wide audience... it is very deserving of such.

Oh and not only is NIx Winter a fantastic author, but Nix is also a stellar artist.  Nix has done many covers for other ebooks and, if I'm not mistaken, is the creator of the beautiful and haunting cover for The House of Silver Oak.  Multi-talented is the least I can say!

If you enjoy ghost stories, murder mysteries, romances and sexy man-on-man loving, then I strongly urge you to check this book out.  And don't delay!

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Summary:

Cain's problems didn't get smaller in Iraq.


Whiskey doesn't fix anything long enough.


His last chance gets him a job as a caretaker for an old mansion.


It comes with more ghosts than he had before.


Don't go in the cellar.


A hundred years before a triple homicide made the house notorious.


Shelly Comstock-Gray is still the celebrated murder suspect.


Cain can't believe the smiling, cheerful ghost hurt anyone.


Mistakes can be deadly.


Don't go in the cellar.

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Power Play by J.M. Snyder

Power Play is a long, long book ~ my pdf copy is 580 pages ~ and, while it sometimes seemed a little too detailed, it's classic J.M. Snyder in the depth of her characterisations.  Ryan and Dante are very much the core of this book and it's who they are singly and together and who they become that is key.  Both are young men, Ryan being 19 and Dante, 18.  Ryan seems to be quite representative of his age; although his dedication to hockey is stellar.  It's a real test of his character when he loses all by which he has measured himself.  As for Dante, I don't know if it's part of his basic character or what he's grown up with, but he definitely comes across as a much more mature person.  And though it may seem as though this is mainly Dante's story and how he makes a difference in Ryan's life, Ryan had a big impact on Dante as well.  I especially loved their openness with each other ~ this may not be *real*, but for a romance I liked it.

What really amazed me is that the time span of the main story is only little more than a week!  A lot happened to both Ryan and Dante in a seemingly short period; but with the amount of detail given my JM it's really not surprising. 

Even with the length and wealth of detail this was a fairly easy read.  Emotional? Oh heck yes! But ultimately a very satisfying read and by the end of the book I really felt as though I knew both Dante and Ryan; and I like them both very much.

D.W. Marchwell ~ Good to Know

D.W. Marchwell is a new-to-me author; I *found* him through a guest blog on Book Wenches. The post itself was fascinating reading; when he segued into mentioning his book and added how it was connected with his post, I was hooked and went straight away to Dreamspinner Press.  Didn't hurt either that I know the area that he wrote about quite well... beautiful, beautiful country.

So I bought Good to Know and read it within a day or so... with my backlog of TBR books that doesn't happen often, but I was particularly intrigued by the story synopsis and the post that Mr. Marchwell wrote.  I was completely enchanted, both by the characters and their stories that became their story. A heartwarming romance with two men and a boy all looking for somewhere to belong. It's about a search for friendship, family and love and about taking what they have made of their lives and learning to open themselves up and risk hurt.  But anything worthwhile is earned with tears, sweat and labour and in Good to Know, D.W. Marchwell shows himself to be cognizant and familiar with these concepts.

I'm now firmly in the D.W. Marchwell fan club and will be sure to acquire anything this most talented writer comes out with.  Fabulous!

Blue Fire by Z.A. Maxfield

I've had a number of Z.A. Maxfield 's books in my TBR for awhile now, always going to get to them, but there was always another book to read first. But I was told, in no uncertain terms, that I had to read Blue Fire NOW.  So I did and I am so very glad that I listened. 
Blue Fire is far more than a story; it's an experience that will give everyone a slightly different viewpoint not only into the lives of Jared and Adam, but also a small glimpse, perhaps, into themselves.
When an author can draw you into the world that they've created and keep you there even after the story's ended, you know that this is an author to watch. 

The story started off as Jared's house was destroyed by fire; in many ways this was more a prologue than the beginning of the story.  We learn a bit about Jared and a bit about Adam, but neither of them really become people until their story  truly begins after this introduction.

Emotionally this was a sometimes demanding, but always rewarding, journey. My heart went out to Jared Kenny, a man who had lived most of his life at the whim of others; he'd never had the opportunity to know who he was. Learning how to answer this question for himself as an adult was very challenging and, at the beginning, I wondered how, or even if, he would be able to do it. 
This leads us to Adam Collins, a fire fighter whose heart is as big as the outdoors and who is Jared's first step to his new life. Adam is amazing; although he is younger than Jared, he's the wiser of the two. His life has been lived as he's wanted it; he's strong in body, mind and heart and his attraction to Jared is immediate and compelling.
What follows is an amazingly tender, sometimes heart-breaking, but always hope-filled tale that could very well be called a new classic. This is a story where the characters, their growth and changes, drive the plot and it will take you to places you have only dreamed of.  It is also a fascinating look at glass and the beauty inherent in its many faces... frankly I'll never look at a bowl or marble the same way!
So if, like me, you've had this book sitting in your TBR then do as I did, move it immediately to your RRN list and READ RIGHT NOW! You won't regret it.

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BOOK INFO:
Z.A. Maxfield; Blue Fire; Loose Id; July 2009 [94 pgs / 27K]

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Genre: LGBT Erotic Contemporary
Length: Novella

Fire cost Jared Kenny his home and all his memories of the man he’d loved for over half his life. But it also brought him firefighter Adam Collins and the purest blue eyes Jared had ever seen.

Despite the best efforts of his department, Adam had to watch with Jared while Jared’s house burned to the ground. Something about the man touched Adam and made him want to follow up and protect him. Later, when the two of them gave in to their passion, it burnt and bared them both.

So Jared ran…from Adam, from his past, and from everything their future together could hold. He tried to start a new life, taking only his newfound passion for glass and his obsession for a finding a particular shade of blue, the blue of the heart of a flame. It took a near-tragedy to teach him that the blue he sought, he'd had all along…in his firefighter's eyes.

Publisher’s Note: this book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.

Three Wrong Turns in the Desert by Neil Plakcy

Three Wrong Turns in the Desert was an amazing, adventurous and sensual story.  I really hadn't known what to expect; the only other Neil Plakcy story that I had read was in the Best Gay Romance anthology edited by Tom Graham ~ Mi Amor, Mi Corazon, Mi Cielo.
It was a wonderful and yet humourous romance and it really set me up to like anything by Mr. Plakcy.  So when the opportunity arose to read his story Three Wrong Turns in the Desert, I jumped at it.  I was glued to the pages as Aidan and Liam's relationship began, grew and developed. And the exciting elements of intrigue reminded me of Robert Ludlum and the manner in which he mesmerized his readers. Mr. Ludlum is still, in my mind, one of the very best in the genre ~ and here I found the same intensity in a romance... wow!
I absolutely adored Aidan, a man who found himself in circumstances that he could neither have forseen or knew how to deal with, but with Liam by his side, all was possible.
Liam was more of a mystery, but as the story progressed Neil Plakcy slowly peeled back the layers behind which Liam had hidden himself. I loved watching as he and Aidan found something together that neither of them had ever expected to have. Beautiful, heart-pounding, erotic and always a story that will be a joy to return to again and again. 
Here's hoping that there will be more stories featuring Aidan and Liam; I for one will get them as soon as they're out!

And I've already ordered, and received, Mr. Plakcy's Mahu books... really looking forward to sitting down, digging in and letting go.

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BOOK INFO:
Neil Plakcy; Three Wrong Turns in the Desert; Loose Id; September 2009


BOOK DESCRIPTION:


From the moment he sees handsome Liam McCullough showering naked behind a Tunisian bar, ESL teacher Aidan Greene wants to screw the sexy bodyguard. At first, though, a dead courier and beefy hired thugs get in the way. But Liam soon convinces him -- with wiles and smiles and solid logic -- to join him on a race across the desert for a rendezvous with a Tuareg tribe at a remote oasis. Then nothing can stop them from getting naked and getting it on. Together they explore the passion Liam hid from as a closeted Navy SEAL, and the love Aidan's missed after his long-term boyfriend kicked him to the curb.


From the back of a motorcycle to a Turkish bath to a remote dune in the desert, these two Romeos find ways to bring each other to the heights of pleasure. So what if they’re carrying the password to a million-dollar Swiss bank account and being chased by Libyan intelligence agents determined to stop them at all costs? Love and lust fuel their passion and not even three wrong turns in the desert will keep them from surviving this adventure alive -- and together.


Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable. Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.

The Whispered by D.J. Manly

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.

Coin Operated Boy by Bryl R. Tyne

This is the latest of Bryl Tyne’s stories that I’ve bought and read and loved. In the short time since I discovered the stories of this wonderful writer, I’ve acquired them all. Bryl’s story-telling is fresh, vital and engaging and the characters are very real people... even if they’re not human.

Case in point, Chal.
Although, to be fair, even as an android he has far more human characteristics than expected. His creator, Silk Pecatti, was an absolute genius when it came to robotics and in Chal all his talents came together to create an astounding whole. In fact Chal amazed even Silk once he found him again.

Chal... wow! This really is his story. Coin Operated Boy details his journey of discovery from nothingness to finally understanding the reason for his existence and his place in Silk’s life.

I was, by turns, amused, amazed and astounded and completely and totally engaged. Bryl delights in bringing an emotional self-discovery to the characters and we, who follow along, are not only entertained but find for ourselves a nugget of truth in our lives.


Well done Bryl... and keep the stories coming. As long as you write ‘em, I’ll buy ‘em!

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Book Info:
Bryl R. Tyne; Coin Operated Boy; Noble Romance Publishing; October 2009 [

After serving time for violating the Android Fair Usage Act, Rye “Silk” Pecatti is hell bent on locating and reacquainting himself with his super android, Chal. Chal was created to learn and to retain human emotions, but Rye never figured in the “will factor.” With an android that’s learned to bargain his way through life, enterprising takes on a whole new meaning, and Rye discovers that yielding control to his creation may be the only way to truly fulfill both their needs.

Windows in Time by M. Jules Aedin

This book has, to my embarrassment, been sitting in my TBR for a couple, or perhaps even more, months. And now I'm kicking myself because this story is out-and-out fabulous and a book that I would have already re-read.

Windows in Time is a story so rich in detail, characters, scenes... just everything, that you would always discover another nugget of gold, another delicious tidbit of knowledge, something that would make a re-read almost as fresh as the first time. Of course this would probably work better for people who really enjoy re-reading, but even so....

There are just so many parts of the book about which I could rave; I could also go on ad infinitum... but I won't. Instead I'll mention just how fascinating I found the basic premise, the mystery of who, what and where. Windows in Time is an amalgamation of two separate, by 50 years!, but also closely related, stories. How M. Jules Aedin did this in such a seamless and compelling manner leaves me in awe of her talent.

Then there are the subtle connections between the past and the present that really give me a good case of goosebumps... over and over again.

The gradual, or perhaps not-so-gradual, development of the relationships between the men.

Truly spell-binding this is a ghost story, a fantastic mystery and a beautiful romance, or two, all entwined to create a tale that will live on in my mind for a long time to come.


At least until I read it again... or get an opportunity to buy a print version.

Fabulous, truly fabulous...and I hope that there are many more stories from the pen of M. Jules Aedin. I'll be there!
 
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Book info:
M. Jules Aedin; Windows in Time; Dreamspinner Press; August 2009

Book Description:
Fate added injury to insult when Jonah Sellers’s live-in boyfriend left him: while moving out his ex’s belongings, Jonah fell down the stairs and broke his leg. Now his house is a prison, and he's working from home while his sister checks up on him. The only diversion in Jonah’s routine is catching the odd glimpse of a man in the apartment across the way taking off his clothes in front of the window.

But then Jonah is distracted by Liam Brooks, the nurse his sister sends over when she goes on vacation. As they dance around their growing attraction, Jonah and Liam begin to wonder about the man in the window. Why is he always dressed in the same clothes? Why is he there one minute and not the next? How is it that he lives in an old woman's apartment? It's while trying to answer these questions that they stumble across a fifty-year-old missing persons case they can't resist trying to solve.

Pure Sex by D.J. Manly

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.

Convincing Arthur by Ava March

Oh my heavens! This story had me so emotionally involved that I was in tears throughout most of the last half. Ava March has created a story that I would happily, very happily, read again and again... and again. The manner in which she introduced us to the shared past between Arthur and Leopold was smoothly done and detailed enough but not so much that we would lose focus on the here and now.  The cast of characters was small, but all the more telling for that.

Leopold Thornton is so much more than his reputation and his past would suggest and the reason for both is his unrequited love for Arthur Barrington. My heart broke for the years of Thornton's pain and yet rejoiced that he had another chance at love with the only one he's ever had such feelings for.

And I loved that Thornton continued, over and over, to surprise Arthur; Arthur thought that he knew all about Leopold ~ the gossip and rumours about Thornton were fairly explicit ~ but really, it was a mask, a panacaea.
Arthur, well I liked him too. I felt so much for Thornton, but Arthur had longings and dreams unrealised as well; but the heart of the story was definitely with Thornton... and I loved every second, every choked breath, every tear of it.

And even though the end was not cut-and-dried ~ and that usually leaves me a tad dissatisfied ~ I had not one problem with it. It worked for the story and for the times... but oh would I ever love to see more of Thorn and Arthur... yes, indeedy!

Oh, and the cover? Absolutely GORGEOUS!  and yeah... love it!


BTW, I'm off to buy the rest of Ava's books... wow!

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Ava March; Convincing Arthur; Loose Id; July 2009 [25K]

Book Description:
Mr. Leopold Thornton missed his chance ten years ago. He isn’t about to let this one pass him by.

Given Leopold’s reputation for vice and debauchery, Mr. Arthur Barrington has a fair idea why the sinfully beautiful man invites him to his country estate. A shooting excursion? Unlikely. Especially considering Arthur is the only guest invited to the estate. He shouldn’t consider the invitation, but a few days of mind-blowing sex could be just the thing to help him get over the heartbreaking end of a ten year relationship. Then he can return to London, to his thriving law practice, and quietly search for an amiable man who understands the meaning of the word discreet and who recognizes the value of commitment.

There was a time when Leopold wasn’t such a rakehell. When every night didn’t end with an empty bottle of whisky. When he believed in the rewards of patience. When he didn’t give himself over to just anyone who’d have him. Old habits die hard, especially when tempted by six feet of solid muscle, but Leopold will only have a few days to convince Arthur he can be that man again -- that his love is genuine and he’s worthy of Arthur’s heart.

Love & Loyalty by Tere Michaels

This story did something I thought was impossible... I actually think that it's an even better story than Faith & Fidelity, and that story is still among my top favourites. Just goes to show how wonderful an author is Tere Michaels.
In many ways this story was grittier? It had more of an edge than I remember from F & F, but that in no way detracted from the story; if anything it heightened what was happening between Jim and Griffin.
There were so many instances where I was nearly overcome, okay I actually had to put the book aside 'cause I coulnd't see the pages; so much emotion that scenes and events evoked. All in a marvelous way though. There was an incredible emotional connection with the characters ~ Ed Kelly... I loved that man! And Jim and Griffin ~ wow. Watching them as the freight train of attraction came their way was... stunning. I could feel how at sea they felt, but I could also feel the lightness, the joy that began to seep into their hearts.


The story would not be complete without Jim's friends: Terry and Mimi, oh those two cracked me up ~ especially the text messaging and subsequent phone calls. Love them both!
And when I realized that Jim was actually connected to Matt from Faith & Fidelity I was tickled pink... 'cause I remember him!
Now both these books are on my re-read list and I don't think that I'll be waiting too long to do so.


If you've never read Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels and you pick up Love & Loyalty, good for you. But don't cheat yourself out of an experience that will leave you feeling all wonderful inside. And both books do that fantastically well!

Enjoy!

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Book Info:
Tere Michaels; Love & Loyalty; Loose Id; September 2009

Book Description

Detective James “Jim” Shea is a Seattle homicide detective who has never taken his work home with him – until now. A case has gotten under his skin and though it’s “over," it isn’t for Jim. The emotional toll has left him vulnerable and tied to the victim’s dying father.

Meanwhile, Hollywood comes calling for a hot story, and screenwriter Griffin Drake sees the tragic case as his ticket to more serious fare than his usual action blockbusters. But to get the whole story he needs to win over the stoic and protective Detective Shea.

Neither man has had much luck when it comes to romance or long-term relationships and neither is particularly looking but there's an attraction from their first meeting that can’t be denied. Their impromptu first date seems to have no end in sight – quickly becomes a barreling freight train of romance.

Looming problems outside threaten their relationship – death, secrets and broken trust – and they'll have to learn loyalty to save their newfound love.

Cattle Valley ... an introduction

The reason for this post is that I have, finally, read the rest of Carol Lynne's Cattle Valley stories... at least the ones that have been released so far.  Most of the books have been sitting in my TBR queue; I really wanted to read them altogether, hence the delay.  And oh MY!
 
I knew that I'd like it ~ I read Carol's Campus Cravings last year and have also devoured quite a few of her other stories... and really liked them all ~ but I didn't expect to fall in love with the town!  But I did... and visiting Cattle Valley, Wyoming is like visiting dear friends and feeling at home there.  Of course I have my favourites, but Cattle Valley is far more than the characters, it's all about finding home, a place to belong and to feel safe, be accepted for who you are... and love, it's about finding love.

The Cattle Valley series is all about romance... it's also about men (and women) who, while searching for love, learn more about themselves and are able to come to terms with the scars that they carry ~ some external but most internal. Not easy being part of a society where you can be shunned, disowned, attacked even killed all because of who you love. 


Each story is a wonderful combination of elements unique to the characters. There is no formula ~ patterns, yes, but formula, no. Each story brings to life not only the featured characters, but many other people from around the town. One thing that I had forgotten is that while Carol Lynne writes about the men of Cattle Valley, Jenna Byrnes has written to date, two stories (Truth or Dare and Fool's Gold) about some of the women who have moved here, looking for a haven and a chance to begin a life away from prejudices relating to whom they love.

Over the next few days I will be posting my reviews for the stories of which there are 12 so far. 
The more that I get to know the people, and the town, of Cattle Valley, the more that I wish that there really were places like this... A utopian dream? Sure... but that's what dreams are for. 

Stepping Up to the Plate by J.M. Snyder

This story is often raw, sometimes dreary and even heartbreaking at times; ultimately though it is anything but. There's a lot wrong in Stacy's life ~ worst of all, in his opinion, is his name. He's also white in an area where he's definitely in the minority... and he's gay. All this is at the root of his problems... he's definitely on the outside looking in and those on the inside, they're just happy to make him miserable.
Being 16 is bad enough, but being different is death in high school.
Trying to change this leads Stacy to the discovery that life in the 'real' world isn't much better.

Watching as Stacy deals with, or not, and strives to come to terms with a life that is going nowhere fast is sometimes very difficult, certainly it's heartrending. But there are a couple of people in his life that provide him with a tenuous, but important, support: his mother and his friend, and crush, Ange. There's no magic wand, no sudden breakthrough; but there is a glimmer of hope that grows as the story progresses. Stacy's not the boy next door ~ he's been fighting against others for so long that he no longer knows how to let people in. But finding himself enrolled in a GED course is the beginning. And while we often struggle along with Stacy, being there, watching as things begin to happen... that's the beauty and magic in this story.

If you're looking for a romp, this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy an excellent story that will leave you feeling good at the end, then give this a try. You will definitely find it worth your while!

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J.M. Snyder; Stepping Up to the Plate; Lulu Press; 2006 [110K]


At 16, Stacy Evans dropped out of high school in the hopes of moving on with his life. But four years later, he's stuck in an abusive relationship with Lamar, a "friend with benefits," and works long hours at a dead-end job just to get by.
Then his mother enrolls him in a program to earn his GED. There he meets Darian, a woodshop teacher who is everything Stacy's friends are not -- smart, successful .. and who seems to take a personal interest in helping Stacy turn his life around.
The two develop a rapport that keeps Stacy after school just to spend extra time with him. In intimate moments alone, they grow closer than just student and teacher.
On the right track for once, Stacy has a chance to choose between his troublesome past and a promising future with Darian.  But his jealous friends won't let him go so easily.

Dreaming of You by Ethan Day

This is Ethan Day's second book and the promise shown in his first book ~ Self Preservation ~ is wonderfully kept. There's something about Ethan's characters to which I really respond; they're so very real and likable, even when they're being bitchy.
They've got their flaws, foibles and fantasies but they've got heart, loyalty and a genuineness that makes them people that I'd love to know. The friendship between Aden, Nathan and Finn ~ superb... and hilarious, always a giggle or three. Aden and Logan ~ sizzle & burn! but also romantic... very, very romantic.
I'd love to insinuate myself into Aden's circle of friends 'cause there's something about Aden that gets to me, way down deep. Of course, I felt exactly the same way about Davis in Self Preservation.

To be honest I get the same feeling reading anything by Ethan Day; his sense of humour is a delight and a riot and you never know what he's going to say next! But whatever it is, it's worth reading and always more than just enjoyable.

In September, I believe, Ethan's got another book due: As You Are. I can hardly wait... well I can, but I'm going to be impatient while doing so.

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SYNOPSIS:
Copyright 2009 Ethan Day.
All Rights Reserved.

Restaurateur Aden Ingle has been in love with the perfect man since his fourteenth birthday. Unfortunately, his perfect boyfriend only exists in his dreams. But Aden’s always believed it was his destiny to meet his dream man, and he's perfectly content to wait around for him to walk into his real life.

When he meets Logan Price at a Hotel/Restaurant Trade Show, he finds himself drawn to this man who shakes him out of his dream world. Pretty soon, the flesh and blood reality is becoming more appealing than the fantasy. The only problem is Logan lives half way across the country in California.

Aden's going to have to choose whether to give up everything he’s built for himself professionally and uproot his whole life for Logan, or wait for the man from his dreams to become a reality.

Josh Lanyon's Adrien English Mysteries

I've been finding so many fantastic writers via emails that I get from various ebook publishers; now that could develop into a problem... someday.... maybe....

Or not. LOL

Anyway one of my more recent *finds* is Josh Lanyon. The first story of his that I read was called Dangerous Ground and I was hooked, big time, from the get-go. I love romances; I love gay and mènage romances; straight romances and definitely the erotic romance. I've discovered that, while I'm actually a very white-bread type of person in *real life* I've got another persona in my reading life. Who knew?

Through a number of new-found authors I've discovered that, in the name of romance and true-love, I enjoy stories from just about every genre and sub-genre going... Erotic romance is one of my newest reading genres... actually since I joined the eHarlequin.com community last year!

So, as I was originally saying; Josh Lanyon has become another of my favourite and auto-buy authors. It's not just that he writes gay (or m/m fiction) romances, but that he writes amazing mysteries that get me right from the start.
Now, I'm not a new fan of mysteries: He!! no! I grew up reading Agatha Christie ~ and by now I have nearly every one of her many, many books. I also enjoyed reading Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason stories as well as the odd Ellery Queen.
But I guess my earliest foray into the mystery story would be the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Rick Brant's Science Adventures and the Ken Holt stories: the latter two had been my uncle's books and when I chanced upon them, they became MY books!

So being able to enjoy my beloved mysteries as well as gay erotic romances was a match made in heaven.

I've just read the first two of Mr. Lanyon's Adrien English Mysteries ~ Fatal Shadow and A Dangerous Thing ~ and immediately went back to Loose Id and bought up the next two Adrien English stories as well as two other of JL's books. (Um you may sense that I get a tad acquisitive upon finding a new F&AB [favourite and auto-buy] author... and you'd be RIGHT!)

So, without further ado (or rambling....) here are my reviews for Josh Lanyon's first two Adrien English Mysteries ~ Fatal Shadows and A Dangerous Thing.

Relationships can be murder. Bookseller and mystery author Adrien English is looking for love in all the wrong places -- and, according to hot and handsome LAPD detective Jake Riordan, it's liable to get him killed.

Before reading these first two of Josh Lanyon's Adrien English mysteries I was already a fan of the man's work. The first of his books that I read was Dangerous Ground and it was gripping. The mystery in each of his stories is well crafted and I'm left wondering whodunnit 'til the end... but then even if I weren't I wouldn't be troubled by it as I'm not the type of person that *needs* to solve the mystery before the end ~ I'm just along for the thrill of the ride!
Add to the mystery element is a deep and intriguing character development ~ somewhere among the man-on-man love relationships is often one man who is unsure of his sexual identity ~ especially in relation to the other lead male character.
Suffice it to say that after reading Fatal Shadows and A Dangerous Thing, I made a stop by the online bookstore and came away with four more of Mr. Lanyon's wonderful, and very tempting!, stories. Definitely a new favourite and auto-buy for me.

Excellence: 4.5 stars of 5
Steaminess: Yummy to Heat Wave

1st of the Adrien English Mysteries

FROM the Website:
A serial killer is stalking gay men, and a tawny-eyed LAPD detective wants bookseller Adrien English in handcuffs -- for all the wrong reasons!

MY NOTES:
Let me start by saying that the character of Adrien English was nothing as I had imagined him to be... I'm not sure why, but his name for me, conjured up a rather stuffy British detective who was also gay and a bookseller. Far off the mark? You bet! Did it bother me? Not a whit.
I really enjoyed Adrien's character... he wasn't a detective by any means, but when his best friend was murdered and he was the suspect, the whole business of discovering who the murderer was basically fell into his lap.

RATING:
Excellence: ~ 4.5 stars of 5
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BOOK READ: Josh Lanyon; A Dangerous Thing; Loose Id, LLC; May 2007
2nd in the Adrien English Mysteries

FROM the Website: When his romance goes south, Adrien heads north to the California Motherlode country. Can murder -- and Adrien's favorite LAPD detective -- be far behind?

MY NOTES:
In this story, Adrien's a step removed from the murder that he stumbles upon... but it's on his property and from the very beginning if something can go wrong, it does! The plot was, I found, somewhat more serpentine, but I still found it difficult to book the book down.
The more that I get to know Adrien English, the more I become hooked on his stories... and sometimes I was roundly cursing out Jake... but the path to true love never runs smooth. Another excellent chapter in these fascinating mysteries!

RATING:
Excellence: ~ 4.5 stars of 5

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Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels

I'm not much for writing book reviews. That said, there are times that I read a book that has such an impact on me that I cannot just say one time what it was that got to me so much. But this latest book that I read ~ Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels ~ is so much more than just a story to me. I do tend to get involved in the stories that I read, some much more so than others, but there is the occasional story that takes my heart and my very emotions by storm and I want others to find the treasure as well.
Below is the review that I wrote up on my eHarlequin blog... but I really wanted to get the word about this amazing author out even further, so here it is:

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Tere Michaels ~ Faith and Fidelity ~ Loose Id, LLCSeptember 2008 [88K]

My reaction to the story from the beginning was far more involved than I ever expected, and while often very emotional it was also intensely invigorating.
The basic premise of the story, as I see it: Love ~ true love, romantic love, whatever you want to call it ~ is more than gender. Neither man, Matt nor Evan, had ever experienced attraction to another man. But finding someone that knew just how lonely and hurt the other was, was the basis for a friendship that superceded anything they had ever imagined, and slowly, eventually, they both came to realize that what they felt for each other was far more than mere friendship. And that shocked the heck outta both of them.
The process by which they came to terms with what they felt, both the emotional component and the impact it would have on their lives, reads as an extremely realisitic experience.
There were times that I seemed to experience emotional overload and had to take a short break, but I could never leave them for long. It wasn't only the beauty and strength of Matt and Evan's love that drew me deep into their lives; many of the other characters ~ Helena, Vic, Liz, Miranda, Kathleen & Elizabeth and Danny (Love those two!) ~ added so much life and realism to what I was reading. All I can say is is that I would read this story again... right now. And even for me, that is very, very rare! All I can say is that, for anyone that loves a romance that will leave a lasting impression, you will NOT want to miss Tere Michaels' Faith and Fidelity.