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Posts Tagged ‘Torquere Press’

Yours by Kim Alan

Posted in Authors: A-C, B, BDSM, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on May 23, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

BelladonnaTitle: Yours
Author: Kim Alan
Length: 7,300 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary BDSM
Rating: B

Blurb:
Kyle is a lost boy. “Freed” for his own good, he’s doing his best to follow through on promises made. But he’s struggling, there’s no doubt about it. That is, until he suddenly finds himself in a place he least expected.

Beau is an independent man, answering to no one but himself. If he’s lonely, it’s a small price to pay. That is, until a beautiful, lost young man stumbles into his bar on Valentine’s Day. He can’t turn him away. The boy needs him. Or is it the other way around?

Review:
This story seems longer than its short length thanks mainly to a situation steeped in emotion and a clever twist which I saw coming but was still enjoyable when it came. Kyle arrives in a leather bar late at night after being dumped 10 miles from his house by an irate, now ex, boyfriend. He’s nervous but has no phone or wallet so he asks to use the phone. The barman is very attractive and Kyle can’t keep his eyes off the gruff man. The attraction is mutual and although the kid isn’t his type at all, Beau the barman, can’t help but offer assistance.

The first part of this story grabs you and the emotional intensity carried me through to the end of the story. It’s difficult to write much without giving away the twist in the story but I was caught up in Kyle’s uncertainty at entering the bar and embarrassment at the situation he found himself in.

Beau is suffering from a broken heart after he split from his last lover. He’s unwillingly attracted to Kyle and I loved the little details in the writing which ramped up the lust and sexual tension he feels for Kyle. He listens in, almost reluctantly to Kyle’s story of how he arrived in the bar and is drawn to Kyle’s story.

There’s a BDSM element to the story. Kyle is submissive and has been in a BDSM relationship in the past. The sex scene between them is very tame for BDSM but contained a tenderness that I found very appealing. The ending brought a smile to my face.

Overall, if you’re looking for something very short but packed with emotion, then this would be a good story to pick up.

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Love Over Gold by Glyn Soitiño

Posted in Authors: S-U, B, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on May 15, 2013 | 2 Comments »

loveovergold185Title: Love Over Gold
Author: Glyn Soitiño
Length: 14,100 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: B

Blurb:
Chris and Paul are about to register their Civil Partnership, the closest thing you can have to a same-sex marriage in England. The registrar has been booked, the reception is all laid on, and the invitations are ready to go out. Now, only two weeks away from the ceremony, all that remains is for them to break the news to Chris’ parents. But that shouldn’t be too much of a problem — everybody loves a wedding, right?

Right — unless the father of one of the bridegrooms cannot accept the fact that his son is marrying another man. Chris, an only child, is heir to both the family name and fortune. Clinging to the misguided conviction that Chris’ homosexuality is merely a transient phase, Roger resolves to do whatever is necessary to secure his family’s future. But stubbornness runs in the family — like father, like son — and when things come to a head, well, who knows what might happen?

Review:
Paul and Chris are in love and ready to tie the knot by registering their Civil Partnership. Both are excited about the event, but want to keep things low key. Paul has never met Chris’ parents, mainly because Chris knows his father won’t approve as he’s still clinging onto the hopes that Chris is going through a phase and will soon snap put of it, settle down and marry and nice girl. Chris is also worried about a jinx, where whenever he introduces his parents to a boyfriend, they break up almost immediately afterwards but Paul assures him that love will win out, no matter what happens.

This was a rather lovely story about two men in love. The beginning firmly establishes the relationship and one of the best parts of this story was seeing how well the gel as a couple and how they talk through any problems. The pair have only been together a few months but there’s a sense of rightness between them that made it seem believable that they should take the big step of a civil partnership so soon.

The story is about families, Chris’ in particular and although we find out some detail about Paul – his job for example – the focus is mainly on Chris and his parents. Chris’ father is boorish and rather unpleasant, used to getting his way and so utterly frustrated that Chris is gay. This was offset by Chris’ Mum whose lively personality helped save the book from too much nastiness. The twist in the story was one I saw coming but I liked the way Paul dealt with it.

Despite the theme of parental expectation and disappointment, this was actually quite a light read, mainly because of the deft touch with the narrative and Chris’ Mum. Things begin to escalate, and at one point stretched incredulity a little for me, but that soon passed. I also liked the way that the author played a little with convention – the angry dash out in the rain, the crashed car – but turned it on its head so that things were not as they may seem.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story. A British setting is always a plus for me and I liked the characters. If you’re looking for something light and sparkly with a happy ending that will leave you smiling, then I’d recommend this one.

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Before I Wake by Eli Easton

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

blueTitle: Before I Wake
Author: Eli Easton
Length: 8,000 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: B

Blurb:
Nurse’s aide Jonesy is drawn to Michael, the comatose victim of a hate crime whose homophobic parents have rejected him. Jonesey sits with Michael, reads to him, and encourages Michael to wake up. Jonesy may not be the smartest guy in the world, but he knows Michael needs him. And if he also thinks Michael is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, well, Jonesy knows better than to hope for things that can never happen. Michael is lost in a dungeon, a dark and terrifying place. His only comfort is the sound of a man’s voice. Can Michael come back? Does he want to? Maybe Jonesy can convince him that some things are worth living for.

Review:
When the victim of a hate crime is brought into the hospital unit where Jonesy works, he feels immediately drawn to the young man. After seeing that Michael is alone with no-one to care for him, Jonesy decides to do all he can to talk to Michael and spend time with him outside work hours, hoping that this will help Michael to emerge from his coma.

This story is part of the fairy tale line of stories at Torquere and is loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty story. It was a very sweet tale with a likable narrator in Jonesy, who’s one of those big men who frighten people with his size but is really a nice and sweet, if a bit dim, guy who wouldn’t harm a fly. We learn lots about Jonesy through his narrative especially his past living with his aunt and his protective feelings for Michael. Jonesy’s loneliness comes through strongly and makes it all the more believable that he should latch onto Michael, and that he should come to care for him a great deal through the limited interaction that they share.

Another aspect of the story is showing us some of the difficulties faced by those with no support or adequate healthcare provision. As a Brit, used the the National Health Service, it’s baffling to me to see people given inadequate levels of care because they are currently unable to pay for it, and I thought the author had done a good job of showing Michael’s predicament without being too heavy handed about it. Jonesy really does become a modern-day knight in shining armour for Michael and I liked seeing how resourceful Jonesy becomes when faced with Michael’s need.

If I have any niggles about the story it’s that I felt slightly uncomfortable about the sex scene. The scene is written in a way which shows consent between both characters but Michael is still technically asleep/in a coma at the time. The sex wasn’t a necessary scene and could have easily been cut and I wondered whether it had been included because of publisher demands for this series of stories, rather than to forward the plot or characters.

The story ends on a hopeful note. Not really a HFN, but not a sad ending either and part of me really wanted to read on, to find out whether Jonesy’s hopes and dreams would be fulfilled. Maybe the author will write another story with these characters, I hope so.

Overall though this was a sweet story which was so lovely it made my heart ache a little. I really liked Jonesy and was quickly drawn into his narrative. I would recommend this story to those of you looking for a different type of romance but one which will touch your heart.

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Blue Hair and 7 PAs by Kallysten

Posted in Authors: J-L, B, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on May 10, 2013 | 2 Comments »

blueTitle: Blue Hair and the 7 PAs
Author: Kallysten
Length: 8,000 words (28 pdf pages)
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B

Blurb:

When Vinnie came to LA, he was following his dream of becoming a movie star. After a few months, however, he finds himself in the employ of one — as personal assistant to James Spencer. The job is an odd one, a mix of nanny, minder, and best friend. The oddest part yet might hide behind the closed door James forbade Vinnie to open at the very moment he handed him the key.

As James’ and Vinnie’s friendship grows, so does Vinnie’s curiosity, and right when everything finally starts coming together he succumbs, opening the door at the risk of losing it all.

Review:

I’m glad the author explained on the GR page which fairy tale this is from because I had no clue. That’s not a bad thing, but Blue Beard’s 7 Wives is not a story with which I am familiar. In this case, Blue Beard is famous actor James, who has died his hair turquoise for a film and Vinnie is his potential 7th “bride”, although in this case, his Personal Assistant (PA).

Vinnie is a wannabe actor who’s not having much luck and agrees to take on the job as PA to celebrity hottie James, although when James explains that part of Vinnie’s job is that of nanny, making sure James gets out of bed and to appointments when he’s in a funk/depression and making sure the man takes his meds, Vinnie is unsure he’s up for it, but the money is great and guy seems decent. There is one rule, Vinnie is not allowed to go into one particular bedroom.

However, the job is harder than Vinnie imagines, being yelled at when James is down, or having to treat him like a recalcitrant toddler isn’t all fun and games, but when things are good they are good. He makes it longer than any PA and feels he’s truly a friend to James, which seems like what he needs. Then he breaks the rule and enters the room, finding it to be a long closed up bedroom. Despite receiving a kiss, which leads him to believe there might be more, he has to tell James the truth, even if it means losing his job.

There is a sense of James being a bit lost. He’s quite aware of his fame and what that means to his life. When Vinnie asks what his job exactly is, James’ response of,

“It’s a nanny job,” he couldn’t help but blurt out. “You don’t need a PA, you need a nanny to keep you in line.”

James’ smile thinned down to almost nothing. “No,” he said quietly. “I need a best friend. Someone who’s not afraid to kick my ass just because I’ve got shelves full of awards or because my name’s on their paycheck.”

rather says it all.

I really enjoyed the story. It’s I suppose what you would call a gentle romance. No more than a kiss is shared on-page, but I liked how Vinnie because James’ anchor without it falling into the total care-taker role. Sometimes Vinnie was that, but mostly he was a friend, James knew that. There was no magical healing love though. James had issues and always would, but Vinnie was a stabilizing force.

I also liked Vinnie. He’s realistic, he still has dreams of being an actor, but he’s got a touch of a sense of humour which kept the story from being too maudlin. His explanation of how he found out about the job I found amusing:

It was one of his exes who told him about the job.

“Why don’t you apply yourself?” Vinnie had asked, wary despite his immediate interest. That particular fling had not ended entirely well, although they’d started being civil again toward each other when they crossed paths in audition rooms.

“I’ve got a big break coming. No time for games like that. So I thought of you. After all, you’ve got plenty of time.”

Civility, of course, was relative. Unless it counted as being civil that Vinnie didn’t knee the bastard in the balls. Again.

So I quite enjoyed this story, despite knowing nothing of the fairy tale on which it was based. :-) I found it poignant, but hopeful and sweet that the two men were friends. There was also none of the angst of James’ sexuality and what it would mean to his career, it was very much focused on the relationship between the two men. I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of it and being shown the battles with James, more than just told about them, but despite that, I found it an enjoyable read and enjoyed the authors voice and will look out for more of her work.

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The Favor, a Hammer Club Story by Sean Michael

Posted in Authors: M-O, C, Contemporary, Romance, tagged , on May 3, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Tales of Leather CoverTitle: The Favor, a Hammer Club Story
Author: Sean Michael
Length: 6,700 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Grade: C

Blurb:
Erik wants to know what his subs feel, so he’s planning on losing his virginity. To that end, he enlists the help of his best friend and mentor, Lion. Things get intense when Lion insists the only man he trusts for the job is himself. How will this affect their friendship?

Review:
I was in the mood for a Sean Michael story. I’ve dipped in and out of stories from the Hammer series and the blurb caught my eye so I gave it a go.

Erik and Lion have been friends for years. Lion mentored Erik when he first became a Dom and now Erik turns to Lion for help. He wants to bottom for someone to try it out and asks Lion if he knows anyone who would do that for him. Lion tells Erik he will do it.

This is only a very short story but I was surprised by how little of it involved the sex scene. I was expecting the usual wall to wall sex-fest that often happens with a SM book but instead the majority of the story is in the lead up as the two guys get together to watch a game, laugh and joke and just hang out being buddies. It was a good way to show the depth of friendship between them and I enjoyed this part, as well as the undercurrent of slightly awkward sexual tension, especially from Erik as he thinks about why he was spending time with Lion.

The sex scene itself was also done well, tipping the line from friendship into something a big deeper and romantic and I may have given this a higher grade than I did were it not for the sudden ending. The story just stops with nothing really resolved between them and we never know whether the men will continue to be just friends or whether they will act upon the strange tenderness which formed during the sex scene. It left me feeling rather disgruntled.

So whilst this story had a good start and I liked both characters, the ending was a disappointment. If you are a compulsive reader of the Hammer series then you may still want to give this one a go, although there is no BDSM elements to the story other than a passing reference to some ‘scenes’ taking place as the men talk in the club.

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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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Crowns and Criminals by Kayla Bain-Vrba

Posted in Authors: V-Z, C, Fantasy, Romance, tagged , on April 25, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

wereTitle: Crowns and Criminals
Author: Kayla Bain-Vrba
Length: 8,000 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m fantasy romance
Grade: C

Blurb:
When Noble, a common thief, rescues a cursed prince to clear his own name, the last thing on his mind is falling in love. True love, however, is at the top of Prince Danson’s to-do list; hence why he had himself cursed and locked away in a tower in the first place. The trying journey home brings them closer together, but are the secrets from their past powerful enough to rip them apart forever?

Review:
I usually like fairy tale type stories and this one had a lot going for it with Noble as the thief and underdog rescuing the vain handsome prince, trapped in a tower of his own making. The story began well with the amusing twist at the start being that Danson placed himself in the tower for foolish romantic notions. This played well with the convention of being rescued from some horrid evil as seen in tales such as Sleeping Beauty and I enjoyed the initial encounter between a somewhat petulant Danson who is robbed of his prince charming by the sensible and practical approach from Noble. I also liked the way that Danson gradually began to see the value in Noble and how that developed into respect and admiration.

My main criticism of the story is that it was too busy for the word length. The reader gets a lot of information thrown at them about Danson and Noble, plus we have a token bad guy and yet there’s not enough space to explore any of the more interesting aspects of the story, such as Noble’s past. Instead information is told to us and we pass on to the next thing. In some ways this fit the theme of a fairy story but as a romance reader it was a little frustrating.  The scene leading to the forced separation was a little overdone and Danson’s actions during that time were baffling, given what we find out about him earlier in the story.

Having said that, this wasn’t a bad story. The dynamic between the couple is done well and the action scenes were tense. If you like fairy stories then you may enjoy this one which had a light and breezy tone, even if the characterisation was a little thin.

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Masks Off Too: Scented by Sam Schooler

Posted in Authors: S-U, C, Paranormal, Romance, tagged , on April 23, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

masksofftoo-scented185Title: Masks Off Too: Scented
Author: Sam Schooler
Length: 5,300 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m paranormal romance
Grade: C

Blurb:
Ben Halloway: human, detective, so done with this serial killer vampire shit. Felix Whit: vampire, criminal psychologist, way too attractive. Ben’s life is just fantastic.

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

Review:
This short paranormal romance which mixes vampires and a masked ball began well with a tightly written dramatic scene. Ben is a police officer who is investigating a series of brutal murders. He’s checking out a clue when he’s viciously attacked at the start of the story. Ben is bleeding out and in danger of dying but is rescued by a former lover and vampire, Felix. The opening is visceral and tense as we are plunged straight into the drama. This scene grabbed my attention straight away and I read on quickly, wanting to find out more about Ben and Felix.

It was unfortunate then that after that point my interest in the story began to wane. Ben and Felix are paired up in the murder investigation and there’s a decent sexual tension between them. There’s a scene where Felix ‘marks’ Ben as his own as a way to protect him which could have been sensual but I was just a bit confused as to what was happening. The story was too short to cover such a complex thing as a murder investigation, so the end seemed a little too sudden and convenient. I finished the story thinking ‘oh, was that it?’ and rather disappointed that the promising opening didn’t follow through.

So, overall this had a great opening but tailed off at the end. This may not be the best story I’ve ever read, but that opening showed an author with a lot of promise and I will certainly read more of her stories in future.

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Blood Bonds by Kayla Bain-Vrba

Posted in Authors: A-C, C, Futuristic, Horror, Romance, tagged , on April 22, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

choclTitle: Blood Bonds
Author: Kayla Bain-Vrba
Length: 8,200 words (33 pdf pages)
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m futuristic horror
Rating: C

Blurb:

Two years after a virus began turning the population into zombies, the survivors are hearing rumors of a safe city — Sean Doberman and his newly reunited lover, Aaron Cambelle, among them. However, their years apart have changed them. Is the bond between them strong enough to overcome any obstacle — including blood?

Review:

This was an interesting concept that I felt kind of got muddled at the end and a bit lost. As the blurb notes, after a virus starts destroying civilization, people are wandering trying to find a mythical city of safety. Sean is a loner surviving by killing zombies when he’s assisted in a group attack by another man. He’s stunned and thrilled to find it is his lover whom he was sure died sometime in the last two years like most people. However Aaron has formed a small band of others like him and they are moving northward and Sean joins them. The others are a bit sceptical at first and Sean tries to figure out who Aaron is now.

It seems they were “normal” college kids preparing to marry when the virus hit. But now Aaron appears to be a player and a con-man, willing to do anything to anyone to gain an advantage. Sean isn’t sure he likes this new version of Aaron and it doesn’t help that Aaron’s comrades keep feeding him information which makes him doubt their reunion.

I liked the set-up of the new civilization (or sorts). The reunion between the two men was smoking hot and I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go when Sean was starting to get to know Aaron again. There was a lot of tension between what he remembered and who the man was now. But it seems as the story drew to a close, there was a bit of a rush and I felt it was muddled as to why some things happened.

I also wasn’t sure if this was set in a futuristic earth as we know it, or something a bit alternate universe. The two men had been about to marry, but then they make a blood bond under a full moon which is stronger than even a marriage. I don’t know very many people who would even think of such a thing today, and this all happened only two years after the virus hit, so I was just a bit confused as to where that came from.

Still, if you like zombie stories, it’s an interesting take on the theme and as I said, the sex between the two men was pretty steamy. I just think it either needed a little more time to flesh out, as it’s left kind of hanging as to what happens next.

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Super Juicy by Julia Talbot & BA Tortuga

Posted in Authors: S-U, C, Erotica, Paranormal, Romance, tagged , , on April 19, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

masksofftoo-superjuicy185Title: Super Juicy
Author: Julia Talbot & BA Tortuga
Length: 7,800 words
Publisher: Torquere
Genre: m/m Paranormal Erotica/Romance
Rating: C

Blurb: It’s Halloween and vampire Stryker is on the prowl for a good, fun meal when he meets Buck, a waiter with a t-shirt that reads “Super Juicy”. Stry can’t wait to find out if there’s truth in advertising, but will the vibrant stud turn out to be too much for Stry to handle?

Review: I generally know what I’m getting into when I read a story by one or both of these authors and this fell in line with that. It’s heavy on sex with a paranormal twist and a happy, wrapped up ending.

Stryker is a vampire and he’s on the hunt in Vegas. It’s Halloween and he’s looking for a trick and a treat (har har) among the sexy boys out partying. When he stops at a burger joint and bar for a drink, he finds the yummiest man he’s ever seen waiting tables. And across the back of his shirt is written, “Super Juicy”. Of course, Stry wants to find out just how juicy that man is and finds it easy to charm him as he sits in the man’s section. After convincing “Juicy” (named Buck) to come out with him after his shift ends, the pair sizzle up the dance floor at a club on the strip until their unbearable chemistry is too much to show in public. But Stry isn’t the one in for a surprise when they get home and he goes to drink Buck’s blood.

I specifically listed this as Erotica/Romance, because in my opinion, a tacked on romantic ending doesn’t really make the rest of the story a romance. This is mostly erotica (and there’s nothing wrong with that). The bulk of the story takes place as the two meet and later go back to Stry’s hotel room. It’s definitely sexy. I figured that the story would be sex heavy and I was right, but I also feared that the sex would be ho-hum and the typical scene without much to interest me. I was a bit surprised to find that though the plot didn’t stray too far from the usual scenarios I did really feel the connection between the two, which made the sex enjoyable to read.

So, while this story wasn’t spectacular, it was still a pretty good read. And if you’re in the mood for some paranormal lovin’, then by all means, go ahead and read this story.

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