Quick Reviews

♂♂Taylor Maid by Tara Lain: Release Day Review♂♂

March 1, 2016 by Denise

He’ll marry the maid to get $50 million but a secret could queer the deal.

Taylor Fitzgerald needs a last-minute bride.

On the eve of his twenty-fifth birthday, the billionaire’s son discovers that despite being gay, he must marry a woman before midnight or lose a fifty-million-dollar inheritance. So he hightails it to Las Vegas… where he meets the beautiful maid Ally May.

There’s just one rather significant problem: Ally is actually Alessandro Macias, son of a tough Brazilian hotel magnate. But if Ally keeps pretending to be a girl for a little while longer, is there a chance they might discover this marriage is tailor-made?

Title: Taylor Maid
Author: Tara Lain
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 218

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

This was not my first Tara Lain read. In fact, when I was a mere babe in the m/m reading world, I tore through her Balls to the Walls series without stopping. One of the things I really loved about this author, is she did not write straight men, being gay. Meaning, these were not all big buff guys, with no softer qualities, alpha males, etc. She wrote men with character, some small in stature, some who liked makeup, or feminine clothing, artists, etc. It seemed to be a specialty of hers, at least in my eyes.

Nothing has changed with Taylor Maid. She has written a character that, though tall, was able to pass for a woman, while hiding from his father. This was a Dreamspun Desires take on the “marriage of convenience”, in that Taylor found he needed to marry at the last minute in order to gain his $50 million inheritance.

This book was similar to many of the Harlequin contemporary books that I read as a teen, with of course, the m/m romance twist. I did have a hard time initially with understanding how no one could fathom that this was a man, but with makeup and the correct clothing, it is entirely possible. Ms. Lain was able to explain some of those nuances with information such as scarves for the Adam’s Apple and very thick makeup to cover the beard shadow.

I did feel very sorry for out and proud gay man Taylor who was confused from day one with his reaction to his “wife” Ally. He couldn’t understand how he could be attracted to a woman, when the thought had never even crossed his mind before. I also felt that the wrap-up with the fathers did feel like it was missing a piece.

I did enjoy this book, even with the somewhat overused-although really isn’t that what Harlequin romances were famous for?-plot line of a marriage of convenience. The gay club, with Coco was particularly fun. The relationship between the two characters definitely flowed naturally, not needing a lot of sex to be fulfilling. They grew to know each other, and then were able to find their love.

3.5 pieces of eye candy.

Finding His Home by Thianna Durston: Release Day Review

February 26, 2016 by Denise

A Men of Falcon Pointe Novel

Sebastien Cather moves to Falcon Pointe with a dream to live life his way. Offered a room at 959 Brenton Street, he discovers how liberating it can feel to live among accepting people, especially in a household where they practice loving physical discipline. And he quickly gains a boyfriend in Avery, a fellow student. Unfortunately Avery isn’t his first choice. His roommate David is fascinating and good-looking, and Bastien would do anything to have him—but he doesn’t think the attraction is returned.

Tensions rise as his roommates’ wedding is threatened and his present and past lives clash. Outed by the national media, Bastien knows he will never be able to return home again. Just as he’s sure he can’t handle any more stress, David shows his interest. Bastien slowly makes his way forward, trying to find firm footing in the minefield that is his life. But when his landlord makes an announcement about the future of the house, it may change all of his dreams.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Einstein’s Peep Show by Josephine Myles: Release Day Review

February 23, 2016 by Denise

Nerdy by day, naughty by night!

Nathan Wright has a secret life. During the day he’s a dedicated student, working hard for his maths degree. But times are tough, and in order to make ends meet by night he becomes “Einstein”, wooing punters with his online solo sex show. Still wounded by his last dysfunctional relationship, Nathan’s happy being single. But when his highest tipping client demands it, Einstein has to overcome his social awkwardness to rope in some extra help.

Party boy Rory Jones has never given his geeky neighbour a second glance, but he’s not one to turn down the offer of a free blow job, even when Nathan tells him it’s going online. Once on camera, Rory discovers his exhibitionist streak and the two of them are so hot together, the one-off becomes a regular gig.

But being neighbours with benefits isn’t without its challenges. Nathan’s client keeps wanting more, and he finds himself pushed into a role he’s not prepared for. Meanwhile Rory’s growing affection leaves him worried his ultra-rational lover won’t ever be able to share his emotions. If he and Nathan can’t find something more than great sex in common, they’ll be left with the square root of absolute zero.

Author: Josephine Myles

Release date: 23^rd February 2016

Pre-order Link: myBook.to/PeepShowJoMyles

Word Count: 24,000

Price: $2.99/£2.06

Cover art by Lou Harper

This was a cute quick read. It was entertaining without getting too deep.

Nathan Wright is putting himself thru school by working in an online chat room. When his highest paying client asks for something specific Nathan will have to put aside his introvert ways to ask his party-boy neighbor Rory Jones. As one request leads to more, Rory and Nathan realize that first impressions can be deceiving and they have more in common than they thought. Nathan needs to decide whether he can put aside his fear of emotional attachment see where things lead. Rory is struggling to discover if Nathan only likes him in front of the camera because of the money or if his feelings are genuine.

This story was good. The banter back and forth between Nathan and Rory had me laughing out loud at times. If you’re having a bad day this is a great pick me up.

3 pieces of eye candy

This is Josephine Myles‘ first venture back to writing since the birth of her son a year ago (she discusses this in more detail in the Author’s Notes at the end of the book). She really ventured out and gave it a go. I really love Jo’s work. She has made me laugh and cry so many times before. One of my all time favorite books in this genre is still How to Train Your Dom in Five Easy Steps (which reminds me, I may need a re-read of that now! 🙂 ). So, I was very excited to be asked to review this new book of hers, and she didn’t disappoint.

This was a fun, flirty, sexy novella (about 1200 locations) that had all the elements that I enjoy about Jo’s books. There was banter, sexiness, great sex scenes, connections between the characters, and a real distinction between the MC’s. You could tell which POV the reader was reading, merely based by the thought process. Nathan had such a scientific mathematical mind, he didn’t understand emotion, had never cuddled. Rory was a cuddler, and had no problems with showing the emotions that he felt, although his concern was whether Nathan actually liked him, or just needed the money that “Big Man” provided.

I enjoyed this novella a lot, and am glad to see that with Einstein’s Peep Show, Jo is jumping back on her writing wagon. She is a talented writer, and so glad to see her able to find her muse again.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Amazon

English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

Jo publishes regularly with Samhain, and now has over ten novels and novellas under her belt. Her novel Stuff won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Bisexual Romance, and her novella Merry Gentlemen won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Romantic Comedy. She has also been known to edit anthologies and self-publish on occasion, although she prefers to leave the “boring bits” of the ebook creation process to someone else. She loves to be busy, and is currently having fun trying to work out how she is going to fit in her love of writing, dressmaking and attending cabaret shows in fabulous clothing around the demands of a preteen with special needs and an energetic toddler.

Website and blog: http://josephinemyles.com/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrQ4s

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josephine.myles.author

Twitter: @JosephineMyles

Featherweight Heart by Jillian Snyder : Release Day Review

February 22, 2016 by Denise

Clairvoyant Jake Parker is about to close up for the night when a handsome stranger wanders into his shop, the Witching Well. During his reading, Jake is surprised when a persistent spirit comes through, desperate to communicate. Before Jake can make a real connection between the two, his mysterious customer takes off. The spirit, however, decides to stick around.

Eric Austin is a Boston-area author with a new best seller. But a year ago, he ended his relationship with a closeted man, who died shortly after. Still troubled by unresolved issues, Eric searches for answers. What he finds instead is the Witching Well and Jake—and a little more than he bargained for.

When Jake and Eric meet again by chance, they begin to work together to unravel the mystery of Eric’s ghost, and Jake struggles with his professional duties and his undeniable attraction to Eric.

But even if they can find a way to balance the personal with the professional, a specter from the past just might ruin their chance at a future together.

Title: Featherweight Heart
Author: Jillian Snyder
Release Date: February 22, 2016
Pages: 210
Category: Paranormal, Ghosts/Spirits

This was an intriguing story to read. I think the author did a great job with the plot. I thought Eric and Jake were very well written. I enjoyed the spiritual elements in the book. The author did a good job keeping the story moving and entertaining. I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this story as well. The author did a very good job of dropping little “bombs” on us throughout the story. This is the first I have read by this author but it definately won’t be the last.

4 pieces of eye candy

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Conversation Hearts by Avon Gale : Review

February 9, 2016 by Heather

It’s Valentine’s Day, and grad student—and male escort—Levi Barron expects to spend his evening with a client who’s paying him for his services in bed… not an assassin who needs to borrow the view from his hotel room in the morning.

With nothing to do but endure the company of his unwanted guest, Levi and the assassin, Sinjin, spend some time bonding over HGTV, minibar beverages, Flannery O’Connor short stories, terrible Valentine’s candy, and the necessity of lying about their jobs.

Their evening takes an unexpected turn when they decide to indulge in their mutual attraction, and in the morning Levi doesn’t know if he’s spent the night with a hired killer or a hydraulic engineer with a very specific fantasy. Either way, the two have enough chemistry—in and out of bed—that Levi isn’t sure one night with Sinjin will be enough.

And a message left in candy suggests the feeling is mutual.

Heather's Review

Avon Gale quickly made her way onto my very short insta-buy list. Don’t get me wrong, there are authors I love, but very few can get me to click on their books without knowing anything about the characters.

I’m glad she is on that list, because otherwise I might have skipped this book because I’m not a huge fan of novellas. Most of the time, I’m left feeling unfulfilled. With Conversation Hearts, I was so deeply in love with Sinjin and Levi by the last page that I was legitimately ticked with the author for ending the book the way she did. I just know these guys are going to make it, but I need to see their love develop just to be sure.

The love affair between an assassin and an escort might seem unlikely, but the truth is their occupations make them that much more perfect for one another. The biggest question in my mind right now is which will be harder to overcome? Would it be harder for Levi to live with the knowledge that his lover kills people or for Sinjin to kiss Levi goodbye knowing that he’s going to give his body to someone else?

Without a doubt, this was a 5 star, shout it from the rooftops, read for me. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m off to create my first online petition because we need to show Avon Gale that it’s a moral imperative that she give us more of this couple.

This was my first Valentine’s Day novella. I usually don’t read novellas, but when I have, they have been holiday ones. But when I saw the premise of Conversation Hearts, I wanted to give it a shot. I’m glad I did…and yet, I kind of want to have a stern discussion with Avon Gale about this. Just leaving it open ended like that? Cruel, I have to say.

These two men, came together in the most unusual circumstances, and yet through little conversations, snippets of moments, they found common ground, and were able to make their short time together work. Despite the nerves of an assassin just coming in, Levi finds a connection with Sinjin, and come together.

Avon Gale is a new author to me, although I have heard great things about her Scoring Chances series. I’m thinking I might need to pick those up and have a weekend read-athon with her books.

Now…can I remind the author that we NEED more Levi and Sinjin…please??? 4 pieces of eye candy.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Flying Solo by Susan Mac Nicol : Quick Review

February 3, 2016 by Denise

Flight attendant Maxwell Lewis has spent years cultivating a bon vivant image only to find he finally wants something more—and that something more includes the never-does-repeats game designer Gibson Henry.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Maxwell Lewis is proud of the life he’s made. Having turned tragedy into triumph, he’s now a beloved member of a Target Airlines cabin crew with more than his fair share of attention both in the air and on the ground. But lately he’s wanted something more than the occasional hook-up or sometime sex buddy—particularly after meeting game designer and passenger Gibson Henry.

Talented and driven, Gibson has built a company ready to be the next big thing in gaming. Devoted to his work, he takes onetime pleasures where he finds them and never does repeats…which is what he tells handsome, sexy Maxwell Lewis after a little mile-high flight attendance. But a chance encounter in a London club is about to change things forever. Two men, one who’s flown solo and another who’s only ever played alone, are about to find that at some point all games come to end, it’s time to bare your heart and try for love.

I’ll be the first to say that I love Susan Mac Nicol’s books. She is a smart lady, who dives into her research, and never ceases to torture her guys endlessly, before finally giving them their HEA. This being book 6 in the Men of London series, I had some idea what to expect.

I will say this was not my favorite of the series (not all of them can be, can they?). I think part of that was, I had a hard time connecting with Gibson from the outset. I didn’t feel the need for insta-love, but he was so far on the other end of the spectrum, it was challenging for me to want Maxwell, who had been through so much in his life, to end up with a man who didn’t appreciate the wonderful things about him. I wanted only the best for Maxwell, and my heart was not invested in Gibson being that person.

However, maybe all that says a lot about Sue’s writing. Because after a certain event happened, I saw the more vulnerable side of Gibson, and how Maxwell was able to be there to support Gibson during that challenging time. They moved from F buddies to a more balanced relationship, where both sides were able to contribute equally in the equation.

There was an event late in the book that did make me question my love for Maxwell, and want Gibson to not let it go so easily-but I realized that everyone in life makes mistakes, and sometimes, as humans that love another, we forgive those mistakes, whether or not everyone agrees with it.

All in all, a solid story, that did give me some grief to deal with. 3.75 pieces of eye candy.