D.W. Marchwell - Comfort

4½ stars - D.W. Marchwell excels with his novels, but he also does an amazing job with his short stories. In just a few pages he introduces us to, then gets us involved with, his characters. And he always leaves us utterly delighted. And while I would love to have more story to read, I can never figure out just how Mr. Marchwell could do it. The story may be short but it is complete as is.

Comfort is a tender, loving and, yes I'll say it, sweet story about Chris and Davis. These two young men didn't know each other for very long, but their connection was very potent. I loved the brief shared moments in their lives and the emotions came spilling across the pages [uh, virtual pages:] in an eminently satisfying manner.

Once again, D.W. Marchwell illustrates beautifully just why I not only buy his books as they're released, but also read them right away. And with my extremely large TBR that's saying something!

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Book info:
D.W. Marchwell; Comfort; Dreamspinner Press; May 2010

Summary:
Chris Egeto fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War with only fifty dollars in his pocket and a desire to stay alive and whole; he left everything he knows and loves behind. But when he is injured just after making it across the border, Chris doesn't have a choice: he will have to trust the stranger who offers him help, a decision tha will change both their lives forever.

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Warrior's Cross by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux

I've had Warrior's Cross in my TBR since August of 2009, when it was released. It took me all this time before I read it and, of course, I'm now kicking myself.
MAN, this is one enthralling, fascinating and amazing book.

I really enjoy stories of intrigue and suspense; throw in a romance that's hot enough to cause 3rd degree burns but is also touching and, yes, I'll say it, even tender and, for me, you've got a book that I will go back to again and again. 
I was basically hooked when I read the description, but I in no way envisioned the power and the immensity of the story.  I'm still feeling the effects of a book that not only wins over the reader's heart, but the mind as well. 

Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux are an astounding writing team and frankly, I feel  as though they write with one mind; it's that incredibly of a piece.

Would I love to see more of Cameron and Julian? In a heartbeat!

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Warrior's Cross by
Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Suspense, Erotic Romance, GLBT (m/m)

Page count: 303

Buy link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1468

Description:
Cameron Jacobs is an open book. He considers himself a common waiter with normal friends, boring hobbies, harmless dogs, and nothing even resembling a secret... except a crush on a tall, dark, devastatingly handsome man who dines alone at his restaurant on Tuesday nights. All it takes is one passionate night with Julian Cross to turn Cameron’s world on its head.

Julian's love and devotion are all Cameron could have hoped for and more. But when his ordinary life meets and clashes with Julian's extraordinary lifestyle, Cameron discovers that trust and fear can go hand in hand, and love is just a step away from danger.

The Santa Mug by Patric Michael

I have been reading and reviewing, just not here so much. What with all the wonderful Christmas stories and other to-review books, I've sadly let my little niche on the 'web languish.
Then I had a great idea! Well, actually another reviewer from Dark Diva Reviews showed me the way: literally. Helps when I visit other peoples' blogs y'know?

Dark Diva Autumn has, on her blog, posted some of her reviews for the Dark Divas. And the lightbulb flashed!
Without further ado The Santa Mug by Patric Michael (reviewed on Dark Diva Reviews here.)
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The Santa Mug by Patric Michael

The Santa Mug by Patric Michael
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Christmas


Link here

Summary: When Marlon died on Christmas Eve, Darren withdrew from the holidays, and life in general, until Max, the man who introduced him to Marlon, invites Darren to his parents' house for Thanksgiving. Darren agrees and is immediately overwhelmed by Max's large, boisterous family. He tries to retreat behind familiar barriers, but Max has other ideas for the reclusive young man. It's not until Max delivers Marlon's last Christmas gift, four years late, that Darren truly understands that love is the greatest gift of all.

Kathy’s Review: Patric Michael’s stories invariably leave me sniffing and hoping that the tears falling aren’t too obvious. And then they always, always leave me smiling, joyous and light-hearted. The Santa Mug, Patric’s entry in Dreamspinner Press’s Mistletoe Madness holiday series is very much a case in point.

It doesn’t matter how often I read Mr. Michael’s The Santa Mug, the reactions never differ. Each and every time I feel at first heartsick for Darren who’s closed himself off, trying to escape his pain. I can feel the sense of loss and of being lost that he experiences; the emptiness and the feelings of guilt that we nearly always feel upon the death of a loved one. Losing Marlon on Christmas Eve has made the holiday a travesty for Darren. At the same time, the loss of Darren’s spirit has hurt, very deeply, his friends and especially Max. Max whose dedication to his friends, both Marlon and Darren, and his whole-hearted love for Darren slowly begins to break down the walls that pain has built... and drat, here come the tears again!

Patric Michael is a magician when it comes to words and he is able to depict stark, yet overwhelming emotion, with clean and descriptive prose. His each and every word is imbued with feeling and richness and there is never any excess verbiage. With every word, he is able to build a world where love is magic and magic is all around. And, with wisdom, he imparts the truth that anything worth getting is worth whatever time, heart and effort necessary.

If you’ve never read anything by this wonderful author, now is the time to delve into a world of love, emotion and romance. Patric Michael’s The Santa Mug is a fabulous story with which to start.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas and a Recommended Read by Kathy!

For more Dark Diva Reviews, click here

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!

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.

Timeless by Patric Michael

Wow... this story has it all, and then some!  Patric Michael is a new-to-me author whose books have just jumped onto my favourite and auto-buy list.  His character delineations are superb, his conversation and descriptions witty, concise and very effective at carrying the story through to its conclusion.  I was entranced and very entertained; I was also very caught up in Nate's story and his connection with Andy over the years.  A good, good read with the requisite and very satisfying romance.  What a treat!

Book Info
Patric Michael; Timeless; Dreamspinner Press; June 2009

Description

Out since he was a freshman in high school, Nate meets Andy, who is gorgeous, and unfortunately, straight. They're best friends through thick and thin until a practical joke leads Nate to a surprise revelation:
If I had known just how thoroughly it would turn my world upside down, I would never have kissed Andy in that damned banquet room. I would have kissed him a hell of a lot sooner.