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Posts Tagged ‘Amber Allure’

Witness Protection by Derek Adams

Posted in Authors: A-C, Contemporary, D, Romance, tagged , on May 17, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

WitnessProtectionTitle: Witness Protection
Author: Derek Adams
Length: 15k words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m Contemporary Romance
Rating: D

Blurb: Ex-con Tony Bradshaw drops into a convenience store on his way home after work, looking for a loaf of bread. What he finds instead is trouble. Overnight, he becomes the star witness in the murder trial of a major mob enforcer. Death threats quickly follow, and Tony’s life is completely disrupted.

Tony is hustled off to a secluded cabin in the woods with bodyguard Alec Dubinski, a handsome young detective who at first appears to be a complete homophobe. Relations between them start off poorly and soon hit rock bottom during a drunken stupor. But after Alec apologizes for his unacceptable behavior, the sexual chemistry between the men can no longer be ignored. A night of unbridled passion leads to a declaration of their growing affection for one another.

Their idyll in the woods is brought to a halt, however, when their hideout is brutally attacked by mafia henchmen. What sacrifice is Tony willing to make as he attempts to save the man he has come to love?

Review: It wasn’t until I finished this story that I checked and realized I haven’t actually ever read anything by Derek Adams before. I have plenty of his stories, but I’ve never gotten around to reading one of them. Now, I can’t say that my feelings about this story have any bearing on the quality of writing in those other stories, but I suspect that had I read anything by this author before last week, when I decided to get this from Amber Allure for review, I might have taken a pass. And honestly, I wish I had.

Tony Bradshaw has had a rough life. Problems at home manifested in his juvenile delinquency at an early age. And once he’s in the system, it’s almost impossible for Tony to get out of it. Criminal habits and a harsh reality of his place in society result in a vicious circle, of a world that continually admonishes Tony for his lack of worth while at the same time actively helping him to fail. Bad behavior and stupid choices as a teenager lead to his need to rob, steal and sell his body to survive as an adult. Tony is the first to admit that while he may have had few choices at that time, it doesn’t negate the fact that with the choices he did have he always chose the worst ones. And Tony knows even more how your image can control who you are and the choices you have.

Tony is on a first name basis with many of Seattle’s cops, and the older cops that know him by name and reputation seem to delight in reminding him that while he has his life together now they’re just waiting for him to slip up so they can remind him of who they know him to be. Having such a bad reputation with law enforcement makes it even harder for Tony to bear what is happening to him now. What Tony thought was a small altercation on a dark street corner turns out to be the smoking gun that cops need to bring down one of the key components of an organized crime ring. He’s in real danger and an obvious target before he can testify in the trial. Now that Tony is an honest citizen, he does his duty and tells the cops what he saw. The cops, on the other hand, only grudgingly give him protection. They send him and a cop by the name of Alec to a cabin in the woods until the trial can be brought together. Tony’s reward for his candor is a one way ticket into WITSEC.

What was a somewhat unoriginal plot (which is pretty obvious from the blurb) was made even worse by choppy writing, superficial characters and a plot that never really went anywhere. By that, I mean that several factors came together in an unfortunate way. The writing itself relies heavily on summary instead of in an active scene, and we’re given several info dumps. There are also large gaps in time that end up being gaps in plot because of the lack of transition between parts of the story and in character growth. Most frustrating for me, aside from the lack of growth in the characters, was the stilted dialogue that seemed like something the characters would never say. Also, without showing any of the internal process, one of the characters makes a drastic 180 that really kind of baffled me. Also, I was immediately turned off by the first sex scene which is pretty blatantly dubious consent. Not that I have a problem with dub-con itself, but it does really bother me when the character who has dubious feelings is ultimately like eh, what the hell… it’s no big deal and then the whole issue is ignored. Call a spade a spade and address the issue. And last, I was curious to see how the author would write the end scene. It’s pretty obvious from the blurb what is going to happen. Ultimately, I found the ending completely anticlimactic and the characters actions so apart from their real person that I just really couldn’t understand them at all.

To be quite honest, I probably wouldn’t recommend this story — not even if you’re a fan of Derek Adams. I’m sure some people will like this story, but with so many flaws, I think that’s a small percentage of readers. To me, it felt like PWTVP (Porn With Thinly Veiled Plot).

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The Beat by D.J. Manly

Posted in Authors: M-O, C-, Contemporary, Menage, Romance, tagged , on May 14, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

TheBeatTitle: The Beat
Author: D.J. Manly
Length: 13,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: C-

Blurb:
The beat of love doesn’t always move every drummer in the same way…

The members of Frenzied Water, an up-and-coming rock band, can’t believe their luck when Frank Harold, former drummer for Heirloom, the most famous group on the planet, enters the studio and offers to be their new percussionist. And Johnny, Frenzied Water’s front man, never expects that his feelings for Frank will grow to the point where he needs to know the reason Frank left Heirloom for a less popular group.

One night, after a few drinks with Johnny, Frank finally confesses the reason he left Heirloom—a love affair-gone-wrong with his former vocalist. With the truth out, Johnny believes he has a chance with the sexy drummer if only he can convince Frank to leave the past behind and give their blossoming love a try.

Then a miracle happens, one that Johnny suspects may be more calculated than it appears. His band is invited to be the opening act on Heirloom’s American tour. It’s a dream for a rock group struggling for recognition, but a personal nightmare for Johnny, who wishes Frank as far away from his former lead singer as possible.

But Johnny is not the only one dreading this tour, and when a snowstorm in Denver traps Johnny, Frank, and two members of Heirloom together in a cabin, there will be no escape…

Review:
Johnny’s been in love with the drummer in his band for a long time and tried many times to seduce Frank into his bed. After a night of pot and drink, he finally succeeds only to have Frank claim it was a mistake. Frank had been a member of a famous band, Heirloom, and left after his relationship with the lead singer broke down and so refuses to make the same mistake with Johnny. When Heirloom specifically ask for Johnny’s band to support them on tour, Frank is forced to confront his past and Johnny hopes this will help him put aside his past for good.

There was a lot happening in this story. There’s the relationship between Frank and Johnny, Frank’s past relationship with the lead singer of heirloom, the band stuff involving two bands, a snowstorm, a four way sex scene and another romantic sub-plot. At this word count it was a lot to fit in and I’m afraid it didn’t work too well for me. The story seems to careen from one thing to the next whilst never fully exploring anything and so everything seems superficial and shallow. We never really get to know the characters and as such I didn’t feel too involved in them or their romance. The end is rushed and felt forced so I was left feeling that the story would have benefitted from having more added to it to make a novel, rather than limiting the story to a short.

It wasn’t all bad though. I thought the story had a good grasp of the workings of a band and I liked the way it showed an up and coming band getting a leg up on the fame ladder. The story begins well and I enjoyed seeing Johnny’s desperate attempts to snag Frank for himself and how pleased he is when he manages to get Frank into bed.

If you like stories about rock stars or bands then you may well like this one too. I liked some of it but felt that it could have been better with more detail and greater character development.

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Revving it Up by Sean Michael

Posted in Authors: M-O, Contemporary, Romance, C, tagged , on May 7, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

RevvingItUpTitle: Revving it Up
Author: Sean Michael
Length: 5,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: C

Blurb:
Jon and Bryan have been dating for about six months. While things were hot and heavy in the beginning, they’ve since cooled down to a low simmer. Still, Bryan’s looking forward to seeing Jon again tonight after his shift at the bar. But a game of Truth Or Dare has left him wearing a plug and it’s making him aware of every single step he’s taking.

Will Bryan be able to make it through his date with Jon without going crazy? Or will Jon find out why he’s got that extra wiggle in his walk tonight and do something about it?

Review:
Bryan and Jon have been seeing each other on and off for a few months but things seem to have fizzled out recently. Bryan meets up with Jon at a coffee shop but this time Bryan has been playing truth or dare with his friends and is wearing a plug.

This was a quick and steamy read in Sean Michael’s usual style. I liked the initial premise that these two guys like each other but that Jon feels that the sex between them was a bit too vanilla and as a result they are drifting apart. The arrival of Bryan wearing a plug rekindles Jon’s interest. He’s pleased to find that Bryan is up for a bit of kinkiness and the rest of the story involves a hurried exit from the coffee shop and an extended bout of sex.

Whilst we never find out much about these characters, the interaction between them was fun. The first part is hot and heavy with sexual tension and quickly caught my interest. There’s a lot of laughter and shared enjoyment of the sex, plus an underlying relief that they’ve found something to liven things up. There’s a strong impression that the guys care for each other and I liked how romantic that made the story.

Ultimately though, this is just a quick snack of a story. The characters aren’t that fleshed out and the focus is mainly on the sex, so whilst this was a well written short, there’s nothing much to make it stand out from the crowd. If, like me, you are occasionally in the mood for some of Sean Michael’s erotic romance then I would recommend this story but at $3.00 this is an expensive story for the word count.

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The Tinkered Pinkerton by Helen Louise Caroll

Posted in Authors: A-C, C-, Romance, Steampunk, tagged , on April 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

TinkeredPinkertonTitle: The Tinkered Pinkerton
Author: Helen Louise Caroll
Length: 17k words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m Steampunk Romance
Rating: C-

Blurb: Pinkerton agent Brom Donker’s arm and legs were taken from him during the American Civil War. Now, ten years later, although he’s adjusted to the metal limbs that replaced his real ones, there are times when he still feels like less than a man. Especially when he’s near Simon Wain, his physician/mechanic.

Simon has cared about Brom for years. As his patient. Lately, though, he’s been seeing the handsome agent as more than that. But how can a lowly physician/mechanic fit in with a man from a powerful and influential family?

As Brom deals with missing gun shipments, rogue Sasquatches, and disaffected Southerners, he and Simon confront their feelings about themselves and for each other.

Review: I haven’t read anything by this author in quite a while, probably several years. So most of my experience with her writing is from some of her earlier works, though they’re similar in style and length (if not subject matter) as this steampunk story. Stories like: Moonlight Sonata for Two, Superheroes in the Suburbs and Hungry?. Likewise, it has been quite a while since I’ve read anything steampunk. I can’t say that I’m overly familiar with the sub-genre, but I do enjoy a steampunk story from time to time, and that’s why I chose to review this story when it was released. And, in the main, I enjoyed it.

Brom Donker is from a rather wealthy family of political renown, and in this alternate universe with a steampunk civil war, Brom loses both his legs and his arm to the South when he’s captured and used as a model for their scientists cruel experiments. He’s not a whole man, even though, after his release and into his career as a Pinkerton agent, he’s been outfitted with the best machine limbs that have been invented. Still, his wounds and glaring differences make him an outcast in society.

Brom laments his less than whole nature most when visiting his doctor, Simon Wain. He’s grown quite an attachment to the small, beautiful and brilliant physician and wishes that Simon could see past his mechanical limbs, see him for more than an opportunity to create even better machines fit for human/automaton hybrid use. But he does not know that Simon harbors secret feelings for him as well, which is part of the reason he’s driven to create such advanced limbs — like a cannon and flamethrower arm — to keep Brom safe.

But resistance is growing from the Sasquatches (exactly like you’re picturing) who are gathering allies from the south and showing signs of rather advanced automatons. Brom is going to need Simon to help solve the mystery, even though he hates taking the man into danger.

The real reason that I couldn’t give this story higher than a C is because both parts of the story — the romance and the outside conflict with Brom’s investigation — feel unfinished. It’s difficult to become interested in two characters who we only get very little time to know because of outside conflict that itself isn’t really delved into. Both parts sacrifice the other and in the end I felt like I didn’t get to really know the connection between the characters and also that I didn’t really understand the issue with the Sasquatches. It seemed like it was there only to cause conflict and provide and impetus to bring the characters together, but also tried to make it a part of the story. I would have preferred that the story commit to one way or the other — either concentrate solely on the romance or give us more time and information about the world and the war. In fact, I found it strange that the Sasquatches were even part of the story. They bring to mind a pretty firm preconceived notion of what they are but I never quite understood who they were or what they meant to the story, other than they looked like the Sasquatches that we know of in myth as Bigfoot, etc. and that they have a culture and race of their own and band together in small groups.

In the end, the story was just too superficial for me. I didn’t really get the outside conflict and while I started to like the romance between Brom and Simon, I still didn’t really get to know them well. The only thing that was really interesting to me was to see the steampunk gadgets and things that Simon created. But then, for those who have read more steampunk than I have, it might not be all that exciting.

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Test Drive by L.A. Witt

Posted in Authors: V-Z, C+, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on April 22, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

TestDriveTitle: Test Drive
Author: L.A. Witt
Length: 13,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: C+

Blurb:
Sean Waters is down on his luck thanks to the economy, and winds up working for his domineering father’s car dealership. It’s not the greatest job, but it’s a paycheck. The only problem? He’s got a wicked crush on the general manager, Jackson Shaw.

When Jackson suggests a drive in one of the brand new sports cars, Sean has no idea it’s not the car Jackson really wants to take for a spin.

They both need this job, though, and the boss isn’t keen on employees getting involved with each other. But it’s just a lusty little crush anyway, so they can move on and pretend nothing ever happened.

Can’t they?

Review:
After being made redundant, Sean ends up back at his father’s car dealership, selling cars for a fraction of what he used to earn. Sean has also been attracted to Jackson, the dealership manager for years and is delighted when Jackson makes it known that their attraction is mutual. The only problem is that Sean’s father has a strict ‘no fraternization’ rule amongst the employees.

This is from a series of books on the theme of office romance and on the whole it was a decent read. The story begins with a very fed up Sean who’s slightly bitter about being back where he started as a Saturday job, as well as being dependent on his Father for a wage. It was a nice bit of scene setting, as was the description of Sean’s feelings for Jackson. The pair go for a drive and feelings are confessed. After that things got less interesting, and except for a couple of ‘we shouldn’t but we can’t help ourselves’ sex scenes and a lot of longing feelings and frustration over the situation, there wasn’t actually that much more to the story.

Having said that, the sex was well written and this author always writes stories that flow well, so I wasn’t bored and read quickly to the end. I felt happy for the characters, despite knowing next to nothing about Jackson – and not that much more about Sean. The story ended on a believable HFN and left me with a warm feeling – ideal for a romance. For a story of this length it was a pleasant read and passed the time nicely. However, I can’t see it being a story that will particularly stick in my mind for any length of time so it gets a high up C grade from me.

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Charitable Giving by Heidi Champa

Posted in Authors: A-C, B, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on April 15, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

CharitableGivingTitle: Charitable Giving
Author: Heidi Champa
Length: 17,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: B

Blurb:
In his job as a fundraiser for Diggerson college, Mitch Harmon hears the word “no” a lot. Getting people to part with their hard-earned cash isn’t easy, no matter how good the cause, and the constant rejection is starting to wear on Mitch. The only bright spot of his job is Cal Marlow, a successful software developer and alum of Diggerson College, who has been generous with his donations.

When their relationship goes from strictly business to physical, they agree it should remain no-strings-attached. But, Mitch finds himself falling for Cal, despite his vow to keep things simple. When he finally gets the courage to tell Cal how he feels, Cal has an announcement of his own—he’s met someone, and wants to put an end to their fun and go back to being “professional.”

Has Mitch missed his chance at happiness, or can he find a way to get the love and the life he wants?

Review:
This is part of a set of books at AA, all on the theme of office based romance. In this case it’s between Mitch, who works as an alumni fundraiser, and one of his best donors, Cal. The pair have a no-strings sex agreement every few weeks, but Mitch finds himself falling for Cal. After careful prodding by a friend – who managed not to seem interfering – Mitch resolves to tell Cal how he feels, only to find that Cal has met someone and wants to end their arrangement.

The story is set around a series of missed opportunities. I liked Mitch and understood his fears of showing his feelings to Cal. He’s not great at talking about his feelings or explaining himself so it seemed natural that he would hang back and maybe wait for Cal to make the first move, especially as it was Cal who originally made the move from a business to pleasure. My heart ached for Mitch when he finds out that he’s lost out and the scene at the restaurant almost moved me to tears, showing how invested I felt in the story.

The second part of the story was still good, but I found myself getting rather impatient with Mitch who wavered between contacting Cal again or putting it all behind him and moving on. There was a predictable scene where Mitch goes out to forget Cal and then bumps into him in a club, which is the sort of thing that crops up all the time in m/m romance, but that was balanced out by a couple of perfectly written awkward scenes between the two men, showing their confusion about their feelings.

Overall, I enjoyed this story which managed to successfully pull off a miscommunication story. These can be tricky to do and still keep sympathy with the characters so I applaud the author in this case. I also liked the parts with Mitch and his boss which were rather amusing. If you are looking for a nicely written contemporary with some tense scenes and a decent camaraderie between Mitch and his female office friend then I would recommend this one.

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The Delaneys, My Parents and Me by Anne Brooke

Posted in Authors: A-C, B+, Contemporary, Menage, Romance, tagged , on April 11, 2013 | 3 Comments »

DelaneysParentsMeTitle: The Delaneys, My Parents and Me
Author: Anne Brooke
Length: 14,000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m/m contemporary romance
Grade: B+

Blurb:
When the Delaneys accompany Liam for dinner at his parents’ home, Liam thinks his biggest problem is how to stop them discussing his abandoned art career. It’s not long, however, before he’s caught between his mother’s recent knowledge of his sexual shenanigans, his father’s artistic pride and the constant romantic demands of his beloved twins.

Will his attempts to juggle family and love only add fuel to the flames? And does Liam have any chance of surviving the evening unscathed at all?

Review:
This is the final book in what has been a rollicking good menage romance series. The second to last book ended with Liam and the Delaneys being invited to dinner at the house of Liam’s parents and this dinner forms the backdrop for this story. We also discovered in the last story that Liam was a failed artist, something the Delaneys feel he should have another go at. Liam isn’t convinced he can compare to his brilliant father, but the Delaneys have a way of working on Liam which may just change his mind.

Like all the other stories in this series, this book was full of blow your socks off sexual tension along with the frisson of danger the Delaneys bring. It’s been interesting to see the way that the two brothers have gradually softened in their dealings with Liam, showing that he has slowly managed to become indispensable to the two men. I think my favourite parts are those where Mark just can’t help showing his affections for Liam, even if it may make others feel uncomfortable, and you can tell that Liam revels in this attention.

The scene at dinner was very amusing, especially as Liam’s parents refuse to be intimated by the Delaneys, standing their ground even against Mark. The dynamic between the characters was tense but also enjoyably humourous at times. Liam’s parents had distinct and vivid personalities which the author managed to convey clearly, despite the short word length.

The final scene involves the Delaneys ‘persuading’ Liam that he can paint and left me fanning my face. Again, this was a well written scene and I found myself giggling a little as Liam tried to concentrate on his art. The ending was satisfying, but I was sad to see these characters go. However, all good things must come to an end and this was a good place to end as we wave the three men off to a HEA. This has been a great little series and one which has already made it into my comfort reads list. If you haven’t started the series yet, and you like m/m/m stories then I would recommend that you read this series, as I’m sure you’ll love the Delaneys and Liam as much as I have.

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Who Moved my Hole Punch? by Anne Brooke

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

WhoMovedHolepunchTitle: Who Moved My Hole Punch?
Author: Anne Brooke
Length: 20.000 words
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: B

Blurb:
Darren Fording works as Senior Timetabling Officer for his local college and has happily been arranging the schedules alongside his stalwart team for more than two years. When Max Sheldon arrives to take over as Acting Registrar, Darren finds himself consumed by lust for his new boss and making the kind of decisions he, as a stuck-in-his-ways administrator, has never made before.

At their first official meeting, Darren takes his courage in both hands and initiates a full-on kiss, which Max returns with enthusiasm. The encounter ends there, however, as Max is reluctant to pursue a relationship of any kind with a subordinate. Darren is equally determined not to take “no” for an answer.

When a visit by the educational inspection team goes terribly wrong, Darren must use all his wits to both save the reputation of the college he loves and to prove his worth to the man who’s beginning to mean so much to him.

Review:
This was a lighthearted and slightly zany read set in the world of academic administration. Darren is in charge of timetabling at a College of Higher Education, a job which involves a organised mind and a strong constitution. Darren copes admirably with everything thrown at him as part of his job until the new Acting Registrar arrives and throws Darren off his game. Max is gorgeous and sudden Darren is acting in ways that he never would have before, as he fights his attraction to Max and copes with an impromptu visit from the educational inspectors.

I rather enjoyed this story which had the rather staid character of Darren suddenly finding himself out of his comfort zone. Darren prides himself on running a tight department and his super organised skills manifest themselves as a minor case of needing everything in its place and taking a odd sort of pleasure in filing. He knows he’s not a catch, but can’t help practically throwing himself at Max almost from first meeting him. The pair quickly get involved and I particularly liked the minor use of the play on power dynamics. The romance works well and the sex is hot, but there’s also an obvious attraction and hints that this will be a satisfying relationship for the pair into the future which pleased the romantic in me.

The majority of the story centers around a rather madcap visit by the inspectors and, being a former teacher, I enjoyed some of the humour associated with trying the fool the inspectors whilst Darren shows off the best of his department. There were points which made me laugh out loud and that can only be a good thing in a story.

Overall, this was a very entertaining story with a main character who was charming in his eccentricities. I wish I had known more about Max, but Darren made up for that. I would recommend this one to those readers who are looking for an amusing and enjoyable story.

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Healing by Stevie Woods

Posted in Authors: V-Z, Romance, Science Fiction, tagged , on April 2, 2013 | 1 Comment »

16247221Title: Healing
Author: Stevie Woods
Length: 18,000 words (60 pdf pages)
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: m/m sci-fi
Rating: B

Blurb:

After an injury, Audin desperately needs the help of a healer, and is shocked to discover the one recommended to him is Tener, a man he hasn’t seen since their split following a blazing argument a dozen years earlier. Since those days, both men have experienced much during their years apart, and life has tempered them. Even though Tener is now a healer rather than the doctor he ought to have become, and Audin is an engineer working for an authoritarian government department, they realize they still have much in common. Including a fierce sexual attraction to each other.

Upon learning that Audin’s life is at stake from an implant placed inside him by the government, and with his own career at risk due to Audin’s position, Tener confesses his secret involvement with an underground organization fighting to bring down the corrupt and dangerous regime.

The men quickly comprehend that they must work together, hoping to solve Audin’s problem and, in consequence, that of others infected by the vicious piece of technology. But can Tener remove the evil device from Audin without killing him in the process?

Review:

I’m not sure if this futuristic story is set in a pre-determined universe or not. If so, it’s certainly readable as a stand-alone. Audin is injured on the job and while doctors are only open during the day, a coworker refers him to a healer, someone sort of outside of the mainstream. He is shocked to discover his college roommate is that healer and although they broke off their friendship on bad terms, Audin is eager to make amends. It seems Audin’s father was a high-ranking government official, and Tener (who now goes by the name Renat) was a bit of a rebel, fighting back against the government. They agreed to never discuss politics, but as they graduate, the rule is broken and Audin takes great offence.

However now, 10 or so years later, it seems Tener was right. Audin’s father was forced to resign in disgrace. Tener now works for the resistance and soon recruits Audin to help him when the determine the tracking devices Audin is building supposedly to track soldiers so they can rescue them, is being implanted in resistance members and then exploded, killing them, and even Audin has one in him as the creator.

I enjoyed this world which is quite complex, with corrupt governments pushing the war machine, and mostly oblivious government employees who believe they are doing something for good, which is then taken and twisted to be used against their own people. Audin and Tener never had a relationship, although both were crushing on the other in silence, however since Audin’s life crashed when reality happened, he’s not going to let Tener go again, and they commit to building a relationship.

They do move pretty quickly into confessions of love, although I suppose, they lived together for nearly four years or so in university, so knew one another well, although many years apart would change them you’d think. Despite this, I enjoyed the story, as there aren’t many sci-fi shorts. There is enough world building to give you a sense of life for the two men, but it’s not overwhelming, just enough to set the stage for some intrigue and re-found friendship. If you like sci-fi, I think it’s a worthwhile read and I hope the author considers more stories in this universe.

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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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