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Posts Tagged ‘M&V Tailz’

Junkyard: Gay Bordello Stories – “Twins” by Jaye Valentine

Posted in Authors: V-Z, C+, Contemporary, Erotica, Menage, tagged , on March 8, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

junkyardtwinsTitle: Junkyard: Twins (Junkyard: Gay Bordello Stories #2)
Author: Jaye Valentine
Length: 10,681 words
Publisher: M&V Tailz
Genre: m/m/m Contemporary Erotica
Rating: C

Blurb: Sydney and Tyler Holloway lead a privileged life until their wealthy parents die without leaving a will. While the inheritance mess is tied up in court, Sydney and Tyler—identical twins significantly closer than most—decide to make some quick money by working at Mistress Mercedes’ notorious Junkyard, a gay bordello in Nevada.

When the twins meet a sexy, off-duty prostitute named Jaguar on their first night at work, will they be tempted to break the rules and share their wicked secret? Take a trip to the Junkyard and find out!

Review: I was excited when I saw this story come up on the new releases at Smashwords; the prequel to this story, the first Junkyard story, was the first ever story I reviewed here at BER, back in 2011. And after all this time, I wondered if Jaye Valentine would ever write a sequel. In the end, I found this story to be good mainly because of my original excitement in it. I chose to read and review it as erotica and not romance, which I’ll explain in a bit. But still, it felt somewhat disjointed and unfinished.

Most of my excitement about this story was (besides the twincest, which I’m always in favor of) from my expectation to go back into this setting, the Junkyard Bordello that we started to get to know in the first story. Now, I’m not sure if there will be another two years until the next story, if it will come soon, or maybe even not at all, but the problem is that these stories are too short to work as standalone, but this story didn’t feel very connected to the first one either. Whether it was because it wasn’t or just that it’s been so long since I read it and can’t remember it well, I’m not sure. But, this story left me feeling like there wasn’t an overall plot developing or even much about the overall setting, which made me a little sad. And that left only the characters in this story to win me over, and while I might have found them interesting if we had more time, they were just rough outlines as they are now.

I was surprised, actually, that this story doesn’t just cover one scene (the main scene described in the blurb between the twins and Jaguar), but hops along with a few other scenes that don’t really go anywhere to wrap up their story. It made the story feel like there were some pretty big gaps, especially as these happened over months, rather than a short time.

The story is on sale for $1.99, and while that’s great in comparison to some gay erotica stories you’ll find for sale online, I still felt like this was a pretty mediocre one hand read as compared to what I’d hoped for, and I would probably encourage readers to look at the author’s other works rather than this one.

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Every Minute (Max and Skyler 3) by Acer Adamson

Posted in Authors: A-C, B, Contemporary, Romance, Series, tagged , on February 23, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Title: Every Minute (Max and Skyler 3)
Author: Acer Adamson
Length: 7,421 words
Publisher: M&VTailz
Genre: m/m contemporary, cross dressing
Rating: B

Blurb:
Another glimpse into the lives of Detective Max Fielding and his cross-dressing lover, dress designer Skyler Trent, takes us back in time to their first meeting. While acting as best man at a fellow cop’s wedding, Max meets Skyler at the fancy reception. He becomes instantly smitten, only to discover that the lovely Skyler isn’t exactly what “she” appears to be.

Fast-forwarding to their ten-month anniversary, Max gives Skyler a special gift and learns something surprising about his beautiful, self-assured lover in return. Another romantic, warm-hearted story for fans of the Max & Skyler series.

Review:
I was really pleased to see this new offering in the Max and Skyler series and popped off to ARe to buy it as soon as I could. This story fills in some blanks from the previous story – mainly how the guys meet each other – and then gives us a short scene where Max tries to plan something special for Skyler, only for things to go a little awry in the execution.

Like the previous books this short focuses heavily on the couple and their relationship. The first half is rather amusing and even comical and follows Max who’s at the wedding of his best friend. He sees a gorgeous woman and can’t understand why his friend is laughing at him, until it’s revealed that Skyler is a man. It’s funny because we know the outcome, and I thought Max acquitted himself very well once the surprise wears off. I smiled quite a bit as Max describes all the sexy attributes of the ‘woman’ who he is chatting up, and I liked the way we are shown that ‘zing’ of initial attraction.

The second half is more serious and we learn a few things about Skyler which adds to our understanding of him. What I liked about this second half was the way that Max has developed in his feelings towards Skyler. He’s come a long way from the hesitancy we saw in the first book, and it reminded me that, whilst he might be a little overshadowed by Skyler at times, he is still a great character.

As with all the books in this series, I love how the cross dressing theme is handled. In this story we hear Skyler trying to explain himself to Max, but we also see how his past has affected him as a cross dresser. I don’t want to give too much away but I thought the ending where Skyler has to face up to some things about his past was sensitively handled.

Any niggles come from the fact that these stories are just teasers in what I think is a fascinating relationship. They whet the appetite but don’t satisfy!  This one, as usual, left me hungry for more of these characters and their situation. More please, sir :) .

Those readers who have read and enjoyed the first two stories are going to like this one too. It’s worth reading to get the extra information about the characters, but also because they are such an unusual pairing that I can’t help but like these guys.

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Junkyard: Gay Bordello Stories, #1 – “Beads”

Posted in Authors: V-Z, B, Contemporary, tagged , on September 9, 2011 | 8 Comments »

Title:  Junkyard: Gay Bordello Stories, # – Beads
Author: Jaye Valentine
Length: 9,900 words
Publisher: M&V Tailz (Sold at All Romance Ebooks)
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B

Blurb:

As headwaiter in an upscale restaurant in Reno, Nevada, Grant makes a great living, leads a comfortable life, and has a terrific bunch of friends. The only damper on his existence in “The Biggest Little City in the World” is Grant’s continued barricading of himself inside the closet. Only his roommate Kaitlyn is aware that he’s gay, and he takes great pains to keep it that way.

One Friday night, Grant and Kaitlyn host the weekly poker game held at their apartment. Too much liquor and fear of losing an unusual wager cause Grant to do exactly that, and he faces a significant dilemma. How is he supposed to obtain evidence that he has had sex in a legal Nevada brothel when he doesn’t sleep with women, ever? With the term of the bet running out, a chance meeting with a member of a special club might provide the jackpot needed to change Grant’s luck, and perhaps even his life.

Throw down your money, spin the wheel and toss the dice—anything can happen at Mistress Mercedes’ Junkyard!

Review:

Junkyard: Beads, the first installment of Jaye Valentine’s new series about an all-gay Bordello outside of Reno, Nevada, is certainly a wild ride on the fickle winds of fate, a story of luck that brings Grant everything he has always desired and been too afraid to pursue.

The longer Grant stays in the closet, the deeper he seems to become lost in its recesses. He was immediately smitten with Mason upon starting work at a restaurant, but soon learned from his gal-pal and “beard” Kaitlyn that he’s not only straight, but a womanizer. Likewise, the other half of Mason’s security team at the restaurant, Shaun, has always appeared hopelessly straight to Grant. Yet, they all became quick friends and now he doesn’t know how to do anything but remain closeted. Then, at their weekly poker game, a suddenly flirty Shaun (and drunk, as they all are) decides to up the ante. Loser of the hand has 30 days to sleep with a hooker and provide evidence, yet with a twist — the loser must blindly choose a toy, lovingly suggested by the others. Grant is stuck — he cannot bluff and now he has gotten his own slip of paper, where he printed “Anal Beads.”

The month seems to evaporate and Kaitlyn and Grant try to come up with a scheme that will save him from actually having to sleep with a woman and still forging evidence without coming out to their friends. Arranging a plan, Grant finds himself swept up in the “classy” bordellos and meeting an advantageous stranger, a man who is set to provide Grant with a night he will always remember and will hopefully show him what he’s missing, all in the most outrageous setting — Mistress Mercedes’ Junkyard, the first gay bordello and den of fantasies.

This story is classic Jaye Valentine, with a lot of wit and humor, brought together with a little bit of heart in Grant, a man made vulnerable and shy by his seclusion into a life that doesn’t suit him. Faced with a place that is so outrageous in pleasure for its own sake and without apology, he feels safe and a little bit empowered for the first time. I loved the dichotomy between his boyish naivete in the face of such brash hedonism and the inner dialogue he has as he witnesses the “classy” places his adventure takes him, seen with fresh eyes and honest narration:

‘The limousine ride proved interesting. Champagne and caviar flowed freely. Carlton preened obsessively in a hand-held mirror, and Grant’s corporate boss received a noisy blowjob from a hooker who wore nothing but a tattoo above her ass and six-inch come-fuck-me heels. Fortunately, the car arrived at their destination before Grant had to bear witness to Nathan Novak’s “happy ending”.’

Like the setting, this story is a hedonistic pleasure: rife with gratification and sinfully decadent sexiness (Grant’s choice for the evening, a prowling, whip-cord-lean young man by the name of Jaguar, is sex personified). In the interest of disclosure, I’ll let you know that it ends without a real HEA, which is fine for me. Jaye Valentine really excels at these types of stories, snippets of a larger world that seem hold so much more. It may not be a proper romance (without a spotlight on a developing romance), but it takes a story that in most authors hands would easily be PWP and turns it into a delightfully funny and satisfying beginning to something much larger.

I’m excited to keep reading the series. In “Beads” we briefly meet the two characters next to come, the “Twins”. We were given just enough of a peek at what the Junkyard has to offer to open up the possibilities of what may come later, and I can’t wait to see what they are and what characters remain around to pop in again for some good laughs and sinful pleasure!

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D.N.A. Double Helix by Jaye Valentine

Posted in Authors: V-Z, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on February 9, 2011 | 12 Comments »

Title: D.N.A. Double Helix
Author: Jaye Valentine
Length: 4,700 words (13 pdf pages)
Publisher: M&V Tailz
Genre: m/m contemporary twincest
Rating: B-

Blurb:

Identical twins Seth and Colton Wagner—front men of the steampunk-metal band D.N.A.—have led the eclectic group to the top of the popular charts and made a killing on their first world tour as headliners. On the eve of a long-anticipated Christmas break, wild-child Colton pulls an on-stage stunt in front of a packed arena that shocks the crowd, the media, and Seth. Colton’s outrageous behavior sparks a series of events that threaten to reveal the twins’ closely guarded secret . . . .

Seth and Colton’s brotherly love runs deeper than anyone suspects.

Much deeper.

Review:

I’ll be honest, part of the reason I bought this short was because of the commotion surrounding the Amazon removal of this story (and others) from their catalogue because the content is considered unacceptable. However, I also admit I am a fan of twincest so it wasn’t exactly a hardship to take this on.

Seth and Colton may be twins, they both may be rock stars, but they aren’t carbon copies. Seth is the more quiet responsible twin and Colton is the wild child. After Colton’s on-stage antics involving the police, he and Seth make up in the shower. Much to their dismay, their manager is in the room later when Colton unknowingly lets it slip that they have a sexual relationship.

Their manager then has a decision to make, does she reveal their secret, stay with them and keep her mouth shut, tell their parents? My biggest complaint with this story is it’s length. Yes, yes, it’s a short but I really wanted more. You don’t find out much about how the relationship started and although you get glimpses of the fact that they are two very different young men, I just wanted to see more of that come through. I would love to read more about the two, more history and see further interactions between them emphasizing their differences and yet their connection which you see pieces of.

I know that twincest is not everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who enjoy the genre, it’s a nice little taste of two appealing young men and perhaps the author will give us more one day.

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Any Excuse by Acer Adamson

Posted in Authors: A-C, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on February 3, 2011 | 7 Comments »

Title: Any Excuse
Author: Acer Adamson
Length: 6,000 words
Publisher: M&V Tailz
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:
In this follow-up to ‘Only Words,’ author Acer Adamson gives us another glimpse at the complicated lives of Detective Maxwell Fielding and his beautiful cross-dressing lover, Skyler Trent. The police department is honoring Max for performing above and beyond the call of duty, and Max has asked Skyler to accompany him to the awards banquet—a huge step for both of them. Nervous about how the unconventional manner in which Skyler dresses will be received by a hotel ballroom full of cops, the press, and the city’s highest elected officials, Max is in for a bigger surprise than he bargained for, and Skyler doesn’t disappoint.

Review:
In this follow on to Only Words which I reviewed here. I was finally given a little more insight into the beginnings of Max and Skyler – not much insight, but a few more hints as to how these very different men met each other. The story follows Max as he prepares for a big night where he is to get an award for bravery. It’s also a big night because Skyler is coming with him. Max is a little nervous about this, but isn’t prepared to hide Sklyer in his life any more.

Once again the beauty of the story was in the interaction between the two very different heroes. The little mannerisms of Skyler coupled with his slightly prissy attitude perfectly contrasted with Max’s rougher ways and awkwardness in the face of the tenderness which has grown between them. The scene at the end was so delightfully over-dramatic and emotional it would have fit right in with an American soap opera, but also fit well with how the relationship works between the men.

As with the first story, there was so much more in this story just waiting to be told. Max is given an award for bravery and I found myself intrigued and interested in the story behind that. Maybe the author will put me out of my misery and write a longer book detailing not only how the men meet but also the exciting events leading up to Max getting his award.

I’ve really enjoyed the two shorts in this series so far and I hope this isn’t the last I see of them. Those looking for a well written short with good characterisation should pick this and the previous story up and settle in for a good read.

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Only Words by Acer Adamson

Posted in Authors: A-C, B, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on February 2, 2011 | 14 Comments »

Title: Only Words
Author: Acer Adamson
Length: 5,100 words
Publisher: M&V Tailz
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B

Blurb:
Maxwell Fielding is a police detective. Gruff, stubborn, and a little blind to subtlety, Max is the perfect poster boy for stereotypical masculinity. Used to dealing with the dregs of society, he never backs down from a fight, but his attitude is a reckless one.

Max’s lover, Skyler Trent, is a dress designer who happens to be a cross-dresser and the polar opposite of Max. When a rough day on the job sets the stage for disaster, Max’s quick temper and a need to play knight in shining armor makes a bad situation even worse. After a very observant Skyler patches Max up, both are forced to face some less visible wounds that are just as in need of healing. Max needs to find the courage to admit a few things to Skyler-and to himself-or he might lose everything.

Review:
This story begins with closeted cop Max getting into a spot of trouble when he defends (with his fists) the honour of his cross dressing boyfriend, Sklyer. Of course no-one knows that Max is with Sklyer because he’s in the closet. In fact Max himself isn’t quite sure why he’s with Skyler either as he still thinks of himself as straight (sort of). There’s a lot of gentle humour in the story surrounding poor confused Max and his feelings for his lover. This meant that the story wasn’t overly angsty. The best scenes were those between the two heroes as Max fumbles his way through trying to sort out his feelings for Skyler whilst trying to avoid hurting Skyler’s feelings and I felt a measure of sympathy for the poor man.

Sklyer is a great mix of elegant poise and hidden drama queen. I loved the descriptions of Skyler’s appearance given to the reader from the point of view of Max. All Max’s desire and attraction for Skyler is expertly woven into that description, so the reader knows exactly why they are together. It was done very well.

If I have any complaints about this story it’s that there’s a whole novel in it just waiting to come out. We see only a tiny vignette of the men and their feelings all wrapped up in a couple of short scenes, but within those scenes I was teased with wanting to know how they met and began their relationship. I really hope the author intends to write that story one day.

Overall, this short was just a slice of life between two interesting and unusual characters but the writing was good and the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading. I really enjoyed it and plan on reading the second short story in this series so far.

This story hit quite a few of my ‘like’ buttons. It

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