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Archive for the ‘B-’ Category

Die for You by A. Sangrey Black

Posted in Authors: A-C, B-, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, tagged , on May 20, 2013 | 1 Comment »

die for youTitle: Die for You
Author: Sangrey A. Black
Length: 11,000 words (35 pdf pages)
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: m/m paranormal
Rating: B-

Blurb:

In a dangerous paranormal world, a police detective finds it takes a near un-death experience to express his feelings for his vampire partner.

When you’re a cop in Undertown, where things that go bump in the night live, fight, and devour one another in their constant battle to exist in a human world that reviles them, falling in love should be the last thing on your mind. But for human Detective Gage Roberts, a near death experience and a heroic rescue by his vampire partner Jensen Holm brings repressed feelings exploding to the surface. Will Gage put his macho defenses on the line and take a chance on the love of his immortal hero?

Review:

This short was set in an interesting world, where the paranormal are the everyday and special police forces enforce the law. Gage is one of those cops who has been partnered with a vampire and are now facing a major battle that is pretty much unwinable. Gage is badly injured and nearly dies, but his partner saves him by sucking out the poison and both of them nearly die, or die more. The experience makes Gage determined to tell his partner how he feels about him.

I enjoyed the banter between the two partners, Gage calling him Bunnicula. Jensen is a religious man who hates swearing, and Gage is kind of a manly man who hates talking about feelings. When Jensen takes him back to his house to recover, he tries to put off Gage’s advances, believing it’s due to the blood sharing, however Gage soon puts his mind to ease by revealing he’s been lusting after him since they met.

I wouldn’t have minded a bit more information about how Gage came to work for that particular police force as he mentioned being dumped there. You do get a bit more information about Jensen as Gage explains his background, but despite being Gage’s point of view. There’s also a bit of a revelation that Jensen is submissive when it gets to the sex. The only thing that kind of irked me was Gage’s constant reference to chick flicks and chick lit as something too girly for him, but it wasn’t a major annoyance.

If you’re looking for a vampire story set in a different world, it’s an enjoyable quick read but I think there was a lot more of the world that had potential to be fleshed out.

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Do You See Me Now by Stephani Hecht

Posted in Authors: G-I, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on May 13, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

see meTitle: Do You See Me Now
Author: Stephani Hecht
Length: 15,000 words (56 pdf pages)
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:

Sometimes the best things are right in front of you, just waiting to be seen.

Dax Rogers was a loner in high school, so he kept to himself. Now grown up, Dax has changed a lot. Not only has he made a huge name for himself as a special-effects makeup artist, but he has a whole new look. Then an invitation comes in the mail. It’s the tenth reunion for their graduation and they are having a weekend retreat. When he shows up and sees that Lance, his old high school crush, is there too, Dax is both overjoyed and nervous. Will the men be able to make up for lost time?

Review:

This is a cute little high school geek/jock reunion story with a bit of a twist. Usually the nerd is in IT, this time he’s a special effects make-up artist on a popular zombie TV show. For the last several months he’s been walking past the coffee shop owned by his high school crush, Lance. However Dax has changed. He’s now into Goth, black clothes, spiked black hair and eye-liner. So when he does take the chance and order a coffee, thinking maybe he’s seen interest on Lance’s part, it’s a bit of a bust. Of course Lance has no clue who he is, and Dax isn’t even sure if he read it right.

When the invitation to the high school reunion comes he decides to go and rub their noses in his success. Meanwhile Lance’s sister encourages him to take a break from his business and go and put the past behind him. He came out at prom and the response was not good. They quickly meet up and before long are paired up and facing down the high school bullies of their youth. Only they are finding that not all of them are the same shallow kids and they actually find some people whom they enjoy spending time with, but of course there are still a few jerks in the midst. But both men aren’t sure if this is just a reunion fling, or more.

I liked Dax a great deal. He’s got enough of a snarky attitude to put the bullies in their place. He’s confident now and proud of his accomplishments, but also realizes he doesn’t need to prove anything. Lance is a bit different. He’s been so busy building up his coffee shop business, he hasn’t had much experience with men, and is very shy and unsure, so I enjoyed seeing Dax be the lead in the relationship.

If you like this author’s work, you’ll enjoy this. It ends nicely with a HFN ending and it doesn’t feel cut off or like there needs to be more. The writing is smooth and easy to read and it’s a feel-good story with little angst or conflict. Perfect when that’s what you are in the mood for.

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Masks Off Too: The Other Side of Midnight by G.O. Noce

Posted in Authors: M-O, B-, Paranormal, Romance, tagged , on April 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

masksofftoo-othersideofmidnight185Title: Masks Off Too: The Other Side of Midnight
Author: G.O. Noce
Length: 11,100 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Grade: B-

Blurb:
Ashton Lanley, Viscount Thorncliff, had his entire life planned out: inherit his title, honor an arranged marriage, and produce an heir. Then, a chance encounter with a stranger at a scandalous masquerade introduces him to desires he never knew he harbored. But when he is at his most vulnerable, the mysterious man betrays him, leaving him with nothing but a burning need for revenge.

For two centuries, Gavin Wynters, vampire and thief extraordinaire, has not been able to erase the memory of the man he had once used and discarded. But fate has conspired to place him in Ash’s path again, and this time, he encounters more than the clueless human he left behind.

This story is also available in the Masks Off Too! anthology.

Review:
I’ve read nearly all the stories in this series of shorts which combine vampires and masked balls. Some have worked better than others and my main complaint has been the length of the stories have often prohibited the development of characterisation. This story is the longest of the collection and that has given it an advantage over the other stories. This one takes two distinct time lines: The present day when Ash and Gavin meet up after 200 years; and 200 years in the past when the men first meet each other. Both timelines contain information about the changes that Ash especially undergoes as he is seduced and then abandoned by Gavin, and although the present day section involves some telling, it was interesting to see how Ash is different in the present whilst retaining some of his qualities seen in the sections set in the past. Ash seems to be the most developed out of the pair because Gavin is stuck in a rut. However, I enjoyed the push/pull of them meeting up again and hashing out old hurts before reconciling.

What worked less well was that both men are holding onto hurts that span centuries and that felt a little forced to me. 200 years is a long time to hold a grudge but I ended up going with it because of the constraints of the story. The history between Gavin and another vamp, Victor, was only touched on a little and didn’t really come to any satisfactory conclusion, although given the circumstances I could understand that.

Overall though, this was a decently written story which was strong on the romance and contained a particularly well written seduction scene. I also liked the way that the masked ball fitted with the vampire theme. I enjoyed the story and would recommend it as one of the better stories from this collection.

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Monster Town by Dakota Chase

Posted in Authors: A-C, B-, Paranormal, YA, tagged , on April 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

monsterTitle: Monster Town
Author: Dakota Chase
Length: 18,500 words (67 pdf pages)
Publisher: Prizm Books
Genre: m/m paranormal YA
Rating: B-

Blurb:

James Dire has a problem. He doesn’t breathe fire, suck blood, or sprout fur and a tail during full moons. He doesn’t eat babies, or trample cities, or carry screaming women off to his underwater lair. In short, he’s about as dangerous and exotic as a boxful of sand.
While this may not be an issue elsewhere, it is in Eden, James’ hometown. Here, everyone, from his parents and siblings, to his classmates, to the mayor, are fire-breathing, bloodsucking, fur-sprouting monsters, and James doesn’t fit in anywhere.
James always feels excluded and knows he’s always suspect because of his difference. He’s very shy, has few friends, and his only sense of purpose comes from his job as reporter for the school paper.
When a girl is kidnapped, James’s secret crush, gorgeous werewolf, Theo, pulls him into a hunt for clues to find her before it’s too late. What they discover is a plot that’s much more involved than a simple kidnapping, and may get them both killed.
In Monster Town, there’s nothing more dangerous than being ordinary.
Review:
I enjoyed this story where the author was allowed to let their imagination run wild, but in some ways maybe that was to the detriment of the core story of James and his crush. As noted in the blurb, James is a genetic mutation in his town, in his own family. Everyone is a monster of some type, and not just humanoid monsters but the kind of Saturday morning cartoons and Disney movies. James is rather used to being looked at suspiciously because he is normal, however when a local warlock’s daughter is kidnapped by a “normal”, James is the prime suspect, although he’s quickly able to come up with an alibi and the werewolf sheriff’s son, and James’ secret crush, decided they should try and find the girl since the adults don’t seem to be paying attention.
As I said, there was tons of imagination here, the descriptions of the town and how they keep it secret and the myriad of resident was done in great detail, and while it was fun to read, I rather wanted to get on to the story of the boys and the investigation. The “why” of the kidnapping was less importance than the two boys working together and perhaps some underlying flirtation. You only get James’ POV, but he wonders if there is more possible.
The story is an interesting take on the reversal of being different and thus an outsider, of course in this case the difference is something readers would consider normal. Finding acceptance after being one of the people to rescue the young girl and finding a friend were all nicely done, but I felt were overshadowed by the world building. However the story seems to set itself up for more with the boys decided to start their own investigation business and just the whiff of a budding romance. I did enjoy it and I can see this would be great for young teens who may related to feeling out of place and crushing on someone. It is in the Prizm young adult line, so I think it’s perfectly suited there and will be a good read for those who like over-the-top fun. Those looking for a more mature adult themed book may find it a bit too light. Just depends what you are in the mood for.

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Theron’s Boys by Kiernan Kelly

Posted in Authors: J-L, B-, Menage, Paranormal, Romance, tagged , on April 18, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Therons_BoysTitle: Theron’s Boys
Author: Kiernan Kelly
Length: 14,000 words
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: m/m/m, m/m paranormal romance
Grade: B-

Blurb:
When an irresistable man offers Christian a job that sounds too good to be true, he finds out the proposal comes with sharp teeth and the loss of his immortal soul.

Christian thought he had a handle on life. He wasn’t rich, but he had a decent job bartending at a local gay bar. That is until one night when Theron walked into the bar and turned his world upside down. Theron, a mesmerizing stranger with the ability to turn Christian on with a single look, makes Christian an offer he can’t refuse, but in hindsight, probably should have – a job at Theron’s ultra trendy club. The problem? The position is for life, and in the underworld of vampire sex slaves, that can be a very, very long time, indeed.

Review:
I often like this author’s short stories and this one had an interesting take on life as a vampire. Christian was lured into being a vamp by sexy and domineering vampire Theron. Horny and intrigued, Christian agrees to be turned, but doesn’t realise he’s handing himself over as an eternal go-go dancer and prostitute in Theron’s club. Given barely enough money to live on, and barely enough free time, the other vamps in the club are pissed off but frightened of Theron and his goons, until Theron ups the stakes and Christian knows he has to do something, or die trying.

Like many of this author’s stories this had a lightness of touch to the narrative. I liked Christian, but it’s obvious that he’s rather led my his dick and that landed him into trouble. With hindsight, he’s very aware of what an idiot he’s been and I couldn’t help but warm to him. His slightly sarcastic turn of phrase means that instead of coming across as whining, his reflections on the mess he’s got himself into are wry, another reason to like him.

Christian is the narrator and as a result the other vampires, including the love interest, are barely there. This meant that the romance didn’t work quite so well, especially as the on page sex takes place between Christian and other vampires, not the love interest, and although that menage sex scene was hot, it was a little lacking in emotion other than lust. We don’t get many scenes with the two main characters together so that aspect was a little forced at the end. However, since the main plot is centred around the plan to get away from the clutches of Theron, I didn’t mind that so much.

The sending was rather satisfying and overall I found this to be an enjoyable, quirky story with an amusing narrator. If you like vamp stories then this one may appeal.

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Doctor, Doctor by H.L. Holston

Posted in Authors: G-I, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on April 4, 2013 | 3 Comments »

16247796Title: Doctor, Doctor
Author: H.L. Holston
Length: 38 pdf pages
Publisher: Total-e-Bound
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:

Daniel Stewart, Chief Petty Officer and dedicated Corpsmen, works at the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy where he carries around two big secrets: one, he’s gay; and two, he’s in love with a very sexy Navy doctor, Ryker Kincaid, who he’s been having an affair with for a year. Yes, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell may be gone, but military rules that prevent officers and enlisted from dating are still in place. Ryker and Daniel have to keep their relationship hush-hush or face discharge.

When Ryker elects to leave the Navy after his current tour is up, all of Daniel’s future plans for their careers are blown to bits and causes Daniel to spiral out of control. Will Daniel’s rash decision cost them everything or push their relationship to the next level?

Reader Advisory: This story has been previously released as part of the Emergency Servicing anthology by Total-E-Bound

Review:

This is a re-release of an anthology story, but I’d not read it before. The blurb pretty much sets it up. The two men work at a naval hospital in Naples, Italy, with Ryker being Daniel’s superior. The rules say they should not even be friends, let alone lovers, but they have a pretty decent boss, and the two men are neighbors so no one finds it all that odd that they hang out. Soon both men have to make some career decisions. Stay in the navy or leave. If they stay, a request to which base next. Daniel just assumes that Ryker is a lifer like him, and that they’ll resign up and try to find posting near each other. However he gets a rude awakening when the boss, oblivious to their relationship tells Daniel that Ryker is considering leaving the Navy and he should try to convince him to stay.

Needless to say, Daniel is not happy that Ryker didn’t share this information with him before, and they have to “talk”. Not something either man really enjoys, but when they finally get to it, Ryker tells him he’s tired of living in the closet and in fear for their jobs, he then accuses Daniel of not wanting to come out of the closet, which hits a bit close for comfort. He runs off to his best friend’s place on his motorcycle, only to crash on the way there.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit. I liked that neither man was all that touchy feely. They loved each other but it took a bit of a blow out for either one of them to admit it, and both were pretty good at avoiding the big issues. You only get Daniel’s perspective in this story but his emotions and insecurity came through loud and clear. He knew his parents would not be supportive of him being gay, especially his dad, but he loved Ryker as well. He’s somewhat older than Ryker but Ryker is out with his family making him less afraid to want the openness of a relationship outside of the military.

There is a sweet ending/epilogue which was quite touching and the sex between the two men is sizzling hot, Ryker being the more dominant one it seems in the bedroom. I enjoyed the setting as well and that bit of insularity you have being a foreigner and mostly spending time with your own kind. It’s definitely worth reading.

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But I Look Terrible in Green by Jackie Nacht

Posted in B-, Contemporary, Romance, Series, tagged , on March 19, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

17619893Title: But I Look Terrible in Green (Holiday Jobs that Don’t Suck #6)
Author: Jackie Nacht
Length: 9,452 words (39 pdf pages)
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb: 

Since the beginning of his senior year in college, Jimmy has lived above the very popular Irish Pub O’Dwyer’s. Sure, the music is loud and the co-eds constantly party, but the bonus is seeing graduate student Niall come in and out of work on a daily basis.

Working separate shifts hasn’t given the two much time to get to know one another. So it’s quite a shock when Niall comes pounding on his door on St. Patrick’s Day asking for help working at the pub on the busiest day of the year. Even though Jimmy just finished with his own shift, being next to Niall for the night is too tempting to resist.

Will sparks finally ignite? And will Jimmy find himself having a little luck of the Irish to finally make Niall notice him?

Review:

This is a sweet story set around St. Patrick’s Day. Jimmy has been slightly crushing on Niall, the night bartender at the pub Jimmy works at. But Jimmy works days so besides a very rare greeting, he’s never had the nerve to talk to him. However St. Patrick’s at an Irish pub is insane, and Niall comes upstairs to ask Jimmy if he can help behind the bar. Jimmy is usually a food server, but he’s happy to help out.

Things go well, and when in the heat of the moment, a “kiss me I’m Irish” necklace inspires Niall to kiss him, in front of everyone, Jimmy is really thrown for a spin. I liked that you get a look at both men, who are similar but different. Jimmy is a senior in college and has a very open family that talks about everything. Niall is finishing up grad school, and while he loves his family, the idea of them knowing every detail of his dating life, including his efforts to get to know Jimmy give him the willies.

However, the conflicting shifts, combined with school commitments and Jimmy’s soccer playing mean they barely get to see each other, so Niall is forced to reveal the truth to his uncle so he can get some switched shifts. As I said, this is a sweet light story, there isn’t much angst beyond a bit of uncertainty at the beginning and then getting their schedules more on track. But they are both appealing young men and you hope it works out for them.

Sometimes I’m content to have stories end just when it’s starting, and that’s kind of where this ends, but in this case I wouldn’t have minded a little bit more, to see them getting to know each other a bit more, and trying life as a couple. Still, if you are angsted out, this is a perfect choice for some light entertainment that leaves you with a good feeling at the end.

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The Mayfield Speakeasy by L.A. Witt

Posted in Authors: V-Z, B-, Historical, Romance, tagged , on March 15, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

MayfieldSpeakeasyTitle: The Mayfield Speakeasy
Author: L.A. Witt
Length: 19,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m historical romance
Rating: B-

Blurb:
Walter Mayfield has his hands full. He’s trying to keep the peace between his brothers, but at least the cops don’t bother him much about his illegal speakeasy. After all, the place is frequented by members of two volatile gangs, and as long as Walter can keep them from killing each other, the cops leave him alone.

That is, until Detective Joe Riordan comes through the door. But Joe ain’t interested in what’s being poured. He’s got three dead bodies, and all three of them are connected to one of Walter’s brothers.

Walter keeps the detective away from the speakeasy and cooperates as best he can with the investigation. Trouble is, he’s taken a whole different kind of interest in the detective. An interest that’s very mutual.

But no matter how much Joe and Walter like each other, the investigation threatens to disrupt the fragile peace in the Mayfield Speakeasy as well as tear apart the Mayfield family. And there’s also still a murderer on the loose, and Joe and Walter need to catch him—or her—before another body turns up…

Review:
It’s the 1930′s and Walter owns a Speakeasy with his brothers. He spends his days dealing out illegal alcohol whilst juggling rival gangs on his premises. When a cop comes round, asking questions about his brother’s adultery, Walter promises to help and finds it impossible to resist Joe’s charms.

There were two aspects to this story. Firstly there’s the relationship between Walter and Joe. I really liked this aspect and enjoyed seeing them come together and work through the difficulties in keeping their relationship hidden whilst still finding time to be together. I liked the pragmatism of both characters but Walter especially shines through as the narrator and I wished him well. His joy at finding a kindred spirit in Joe was shown well, as was his weary resignation when he realises just how tough it is to love another man.

The second aspect is the murder mystery plot. Whilst this started strongly, I wasn’t wholly happy with the out of the blue conclusion. It didn’t really make sense or add up after all that had gone before which was a shame when the rest of the story is so well constructed.

The historical setting is very clear and done through characterisation rather than description, especially in the vivid way that the characters speak and act. The secondary plot involving the tense relationship between rival gangs added to the setting and gave an uneasy tone to the parts set in the speakeasy. The setting is integrated throughout the book adding ambience to the story without being intrusive and that worked for me.

Overall, there was much to like about this story. Walter’s character and his relationship with Joe was the main strength and whilst the mystery plot had a slightly disappointing conclusion, I would still recommend this book for lovers of historical novels of this time period.

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First Reflection by Stevie Woods

Posted in Authors: V-Z, B-, Paranormal, Romance, tagged , on March 14, 2013 | 2 Comments »

First_ReflectionTitle: First Reflection
Author: Stevie Woods
Length: 16,000 words
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Rating: B-

Blurb:
Now all Andreas wants is revenge on the vampire who turned him.

Andreas is a wealthy young man, scion of a noble family, but frustrated by his father’s demands for more acceptable behavior. Out with his friends for a night on the town he is shocked when they are attacked by a nightwalker – a vampire. His friends are killed, but he is taken by the vampire to become his new plaything. After being changed and left for dead, Andreas is forced to kill to survive, and all he wants is revenge on the creature who turned him. Meeting up with another vampire, Valente, Andreas finds salvation of a kind, but is still haunted by his desire for revenge.

Review:
This paranormal vampire story is set, I think, in a fantasy setting similar to Russia. Andreas is a spoiled nobleman’s son who loves to spend his evenings on wild living with his friends. They are walking home through a dimly lit pathway when they are attacked and Andreas is carried away by the wicked nightwalker. He wakes up finding that he has been changed and struggles to make his way in his new existence until he meets Valente.

The story begins well with a nice touch of horror during the vampire attack on Andreas and his friends. I liked that enough page space had been given to establishing Andreas’ friendship with them and the antagonistic relationship with his father. This makes the start to the story a little slow, but it’s necessary for the reader to see that close friendship in order to understand his need for revenge later. After the attack, things move at a much swifter pace. Andreas is bewildered and horrified about what he has become and I thought this part was shown well. Andreas’ actions are not nice but we can see how meeting Valente changes Andreas and that his earlier actions were a result of ignorance.

The last part of the book felt a little rushed and I wished that more time had been spent with the main couple and their romance, rather in the plot to discover Andreas’ maker and revenge his friends. The story ends on a HFN for the romance but the rest is left hanging. This didn’t bother me because it left scope for a further story, to maybe see Andreas further on in his life as a vampire. The ending was also more realistic and so I didn’t mind that everything wasn’t tied up in a neat bow.

For those readers who like vampire novels this will be a good one to pick up. The setting may be a bit vague but Andreas is a strongly drawn and interesting character and I would recommend the story.

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ZA: Run & Gun by I.D. Locke

Posted in Authors: J-L, B-, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, tagged , on March 5, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

zarunandgun185Title: ZA: Run and Gun
Author: I.D. Locke
Length: 12,600 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m science fiction horror romance
Rating: B-

Blurb:
The world has gone to hell in a hand basket with the dead shambling in the streets and attacking the living. Konrad and Jase have a Plan for the ZA, because, who doesn’t? Something that was just for fun is frighteningly real now. The married couple is separated by a hundred kilometers of zombie infested roadway. Konrad is at their condo and Jase is at the military base he’s assigned to. Neither one is going to let that stop them from reuniting with each other.

What follows is running and gunning that surpasses anything available in video games.

Review:
It’s the Zombie Apocalypse and Konrad is stuck in his apartment. Fortunately, he and his husband, Jase, have been planning for years for this eventuality and have a watertight plan ready-made for survival. Unfortunately the ZA hit when they were apart. Jase is on the military base 90 minute’s drive away and Konrad has no way of knowing whether he is safe.

This action packed story hit the ground running and didn’t stop the whole time. The first part follows Konrad as he sits in his apartment, looking out at the zombies and picking off those he can get a clear shot at. He’s got a plan and he’s sticking with it. Meanwhile, he’s missing his husband and hoping Jase is OK. It was a nice mix of romance/pathos, tense claustrophic scenes and thrills as we see the difficulties Konrad has in surviving when stepping out of his door would be almost certain death.

There’s an almost cinematic feel to the section from Jase’s point of view. It’s a trifle overblown as we see Jase attempt to get to his helicopter so he can fly back to Konrad. You may even say that it was tongue in cheek. However, it was also tightly written and included some nice detail about the military base and the helicopter so I could forgive the rest.

This wasn’t a perfect story, for example, there was a huge blank on how the ZA started and Konrad been left with permanent damage after suffering a type of stroke which is supposed to only have symptoms for about 24 hours which seemed odd, but it was still very entertaining nonetheless. The romance is a nice touch of sweetness amongst the gore and I liked that both men are loving and committed to each other.

If you like apocalyptic stories and want something fairly lighthearted but in keeping with the horror genre, then this could be the story for you.

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