Author: Kassa

What I like – the breakup

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Continuing the theme of focusing on the positive in the m/m genre today’s post about what I like is going to focus on *gasp* the breakup! I know this is slightly controversial because in romance, no one wants a breakup. We want happy endings with imaginary roses falling constantly and this love that will never, ever end and sex that never quits (hopefully graphic with rippled abs).

However when I’m reading a very angsty, very intense romance …I love the breakup. I confess. I love it when the tension is so thick and the couple just can’t go on for whatever reason. We’ll just assume it’s not a stupid reason and it’s actually well done. That moment is one of my absolute favorites in a book. Sometimes I shed a tear.

You see I *know* they’re going to make up. I know without a shadow of a doubt they’ll be ok, make up and live happily ever after with the most intense, passionate love that ever existed (and only exists in fiction). Since I know that and can rely on that, then I can feel free to delve into the fictionalize drama and intensity.

That is one of the main reasons I love romance. I can feel free to invest in the book, the characters, the situation and get upset at the tension. I can get involved with the characters because I know it’ll all be alright at the end. Otherwise I walk away depressed from such an investment and while I read those books often, I like the consistency and yes, predictability, of a happy ending in romance.

While I can’t have a steady diet of these angst ridden, intense romances, there is no question I do love them. The breakup, that tipping point of the tension is a huge reason why.

So what about anyone else? Do you love a breakup in romances or hate them?

Review: Taking you Home

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Taking you HomeTaking you Home by Cooper Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Taking You Home is the sequel to the wonderful Boys of Summer. You can easily read this novel without the first one but you get more context if you read both so it’s recommended but definitely not required. The sequel is written in much the same vein as the original story where the conflict isn’t internal but external. The conflict isn’t within the relationship – nor was it last time – but now that Hunter is over his issues being labeled as gay, the two have to get Max’s family over the issues as well. To that end the story is very, very sweet and very, very romantic. Almost too much so in that the language is over the top. Everything is soul affecting, so wonderful it makes you cry, and there is so much love every moment is magical. That’s not a bad thing and reader reaction is going to vary based on how sweet they want their story. Continue reading →

Friday Follow

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Once again I’m invoking a Friday Follow blog style. Two weeks ago I featured Cup O Porn, which is a fabulous little blog combining gorgeous porn (if a bit slanted by Aden Jaric pictures) and some delicious coffee posts. If you missed it, check out my #ff of that blog here.

This week  I’m going to feature one of my all time favorite fashion and gossip blogs: Tom and Lorenzo.

I found this fabulous little blog way back when it was simply a chatty (and very catty) recap site for Project Runway. Tom and Lorenzo are a married gay couple that have a great sense of fashion and incredible wit. They’re wry, ironic, and completely bitchy without ever being mean. They manage to say exactly what they’re thinking and often in humorous ways but you never walk away thinking they were cruel. This is the kind of entertainment that I think most bloggers wish they could pull off.

The duo have expanded from Project Runway to encompass more fashion and pop culture in general. They recap tons of shows, everything from Glee to RuPaul’s Drag Show and they feature red carpet fashion, magazine editorials, and random pictorials. They update several times a day so really there is quite a bit to page through.

Tom and Lorenzo is easily one of my first go to sites of the day so check ’em out!

Review: A Rose is a Rose

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A Rose is a RoseA Rose is a Rose by Jet Mykles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Rose is a Rose is another gay for you theme with a delicious, fluttery main character from Jet Mykles. The story hits many highlights for fans with the familiar trope, witty and steamy writing, and an adorable narrator. Unfortunately this story isn’t my favorite of Mykles and the romance never quite works for me but the novella is easy, light, and thoroughly entertaining.

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Review: Zombielicious

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ZombieliciousZombielicious by Timothy McGivney
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars
Zombielicious is a horror story about zombies mixed with a lot of sex and several different narrators. I can see some readers appreciating the over the top style and the action film like fights so perhaps this is for the right reader. Unfortunately none of the various characters ever really appealed to me and I didn’t like any of the sex scenes, of which there were a lot. The book reminds me of numerous zombie movies so I can easily see some readers liking that but for me it failed in the writing, the plot, and the fact that the story feels like so many other zombie stories.

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Review: Hot Lava

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Hot LavaHot Lava by Rob Rosen
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Those fans who read the utterly delightful Divas Las Vegas by Rob Rosen know that this author can write some hilarious madcap insanity. If you haven’t read the book, seriously why not and Hot Lava follows in that lauded tradition. While I didn’t laugh out loud as much with Hot Lava, nor did I end the book kissing the ground that I’d read it (like I did with Divas), the humor and clever writing combines with a lightening fast pace to produce a fun, witty, and very entertaining light story to chase away any winter doldrums. Although I don’t think it managed the same highs as Divas, Hot Lava is an easy book to recommend and fans will definitely want to read this.

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