Author: Kassa

Games with Me Volume 1 by Tina Anderson and Lynsley Brito

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Games with Me Volume 1 by Tina Anderson and Lynsley Brito

Blurb:
Ex Civil-War surgeon George Callahan is a man haunted by his past. Unwilling to deal with the demons of his childhood he turns to opium, and finds back-alley employment with the heartless brothel keepers of San Francisco’s Chinatown. In Volume 1 of this gorgeously illustrated gay historical drama, Dr. George Callahan searches for a Chinese woman from his past, and soon finds himself unwittingly drawn to dim-witted male prostitute Jun, whose own life is complicated by the unwanted attentions of an aggressive bouncer named Roan Baxter.

Review:

I saw this graphic novel reviewed by Sarah of Rain on the Roof and the two panels depicted caught my eye. I wanted to buy this novel right away but it’s currently only offered through Amazon Kindle. Well since I don’t own a kindle, there is an option to “rent” the book through another website – emanga. I’ve never shopped there before and apparently you buy points to rent a book for 72 hours. For ~$1 per 100 points you can read the graphic novel through adobe flash. If you spend 300 points you can “keep” the book in your emanga library with no time restrictions. I’m not a fan of this as I’d pay more to physically own the book, either in print or electronic form, but this novel is absolutely worth renting. If you have a kindle, buy it today.

The novel is set in San Fransisco’s Chinatown in the 1860’s. George Callahan is a complicated man. He administers abortions to women during the day and drowns his demons in opium at night. He struggles with his past in the Civil War as well as his family’s abusive history. He has an unwilling attraction to a young man at an all male brothel, Jun, which may have much darker implications.

The author admits at the back of the novel that all-male brothels didn’t exist at the time but I don’t consider that a detriment to the story at all. The details added in are incredible from the setting to the dialogue and the side storylines occurring simultaneously. The time period comes alive rather vividly with the great artwork and the corresponding writing. The characters are well crafted, which is always interesting in a novel that relies on nuance and subtly rather than elaborate writing to convey meaning. Here each character has more complexity and depth than shown on the surface.

There is the sweet, and seriously cute Jun with an innocent mind but very pragmatic and sexual body. The balance of Jun’s sweetness and innocence against his cleverness shows a complicated character that goes beyond just the shy, simpering uke. I loved the scene where Jun barters for the toy train. I wanted to cry for Jun but at the same time, his innate cleverness just shines through. Likewise, George struggles with doing the right thing in his mind versus his needs and desires. He has a past filled with images and deeds he’d rather forget, yet mires himself in them each night as he tries to smoke himself to oblivion. Even the bodyguard is given more depth as he struggles with his attraction to Jun, but his inability to know what to say or do thus acting out in frustration.

The artwork is very interesting and portrays the story very well. Although I’m certainly no expert, there doesn’t seem to be a uniformity to the panels, which keeps interest from page to page. There are enough classic yaoi elements that make the artwork familiar but the story has a dark edge that definitely peaks my interest more than classic yaoi.

If you’re a fan of graphic novels or just want something really pretty to look at with a darker theme, definitely check this out. It’s worth the $3 “keeper” fee even if you can’t own it like those lucky kindle folks.

Get it HERE on Kindle or HERE on emanga!

Love, Like Ghosts by Ally Blue

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Love, Like Ghosts by Ally Blue

Blurb:
Truth. Lies. A century-old mystery. What a tangled web…

A Bay City Paranormal Investigations story.

At age eleven, Adrian Broussard accidentally used his mind to open a portal to another dimension. Now, ten years later, he’s successfully harnessed his strong psychokinetic abilities. In the process, he’s learned the lessons which have become the guiding principles of his life. Absolute truth. Absolute control. Always.

Sticking to his personal code of ethics has never been a problem, until two chance meetings—one with a hundred-year-old ghost, one with a handsome, very-much-alive man—turn his orderly existence upside down.

Having grown up in a family of paranormal investigators, Adrian is intrigued by the spirit of Lyndon Groome and determined to solve the mystery of his death. Greg Woodhall, however, affects Adrian in unpredictable ways. Not only does his every touch challenge Adrian’s hard-won control over his abilities, his company quickly becomes a light in Adrian’s lonely life.

As the mystery surrounding Lyndon’s death turns sinister, Adrian’s relationship with Greg deepens into something serious. Something Adrian wants to keep. But intimacy isn’t as easy as honesty, and when the heart’s involved, the line between right and wrong can blur.

can a ghost -really- get it up?

DeVante’s Coven by S.M. Johnson

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DeVante’s Coven by S.M. Johnson

Blurb:
When Roderick abandons new vampire Daniel to the care of his sire, DeVante, Daniel flounders under DeVante’s attitude of benevolent neglect. He establishes an after hours party house, which becomes his primary source for blood, and wonders how much autonomy DeVante will actually allow. Yearning for guidance and supervision, Daniel pursues Reed, a mortal man, and finds himself ensnared in a relationship rich with elements of BDSM.

Meanwhile, Roderick has fled to Las Vegas, where he saves the life of a young man named Tony by changing him to vampire. Only something goes wrong, because when Tony wakes up he doesn’t act like a fledgling vampire should. And when the sun rises and Roderick sleeps his vampire sleep, Tony walks out into the daylight and goes home, where he accidentally changes his roommate Lily to vampire. Roderick wakes to find that he now has two brand new fledglings, neither of whom he can control. He panics and does the only thing can think to do; bring them to DeVante in San Francisco. When they arrive, Roderick is shattered to learn Daniel has a new lover.

Vampires, mortals, and Tony, who’s something else altogether, are all beholden to DeVante for protection, though each has a special talent. DeVante notices this and begins to suspect that an outside force has brought all these children to him for some nefarious purpose. Before he can put the pieces together, the whole group is snatched and held for ransom. The price? Help a vicious vampire from DeVante’s past take over the mortal world. The monster would use their talents against them, but the coven discovers that together they can defeat even the strongest evil.

[Originally reviewed for Rainbow Reviews.]

Review:

DeVante’s Coven is actually a sequel, yet neither the summary nor the book clearly state that. However when reading the book, there are clear gaps in background, information, and characters mentioned that the story expects the reader to already know. Due to these problems, this book shouldn’t be read as a stand alone even though it can be if you can get past the obvious holes. The first book in the series, DeVante’s Coven, deals with how Daniel is turned into a vampire and the relationships between Daniel, Roderick, DeVante, and Emily. DeVante’s Coven starts with Daniel struggling to understand his new vampire life as his creator, Roderick, has run off without him and DeVante doesn’t want to be bothered with Daniel. Each vampire ends up making a bit of a mess but create intricate relationships and bonds that evolve into an interesting new family.

The story is told from alternating third person point of view. There are several different storylines that the book bounces between until finally merging together towards the end for the final climatic scene. The first storyline is the plot involving the new vampire Daniel and his relationship to an emotionally stunted Reed. Daniel pursues Reed single-mindedly while Reed runs hot and cold towards Daniel. Eventually the two settle into a BDSM dynamic that works well for them both but takes some learning and growing. The second storyline involves Roderick who creates a new fledgling vampire in a beautiful left for dead boy named Tony. Unfortunately Tony turns out to be different from any other vampire and causes havoc in Las Vegas. All the while the Master of them all, DeVante, is dealing with his own frustrations over his love for the very human Emily and unwilling attachments to his new vampire children.

The various stories are mostly well executed but jumping between them is somewhat frustrating. Just when the stories are getting good, the point of view jumps to another vampire, leading to a slightly frustrating reading experience. However, each story is rather absorbing and interesting on its own and together produces a page turning, enthralling book about a group of fascinating individuals, which offsets any frustration. The writing is solid with good prose and evocative description. There are a few areas where the scenes could be tighter without jumping around so much and the storyline with Daniel and Reed dominates the book so much that Roderick and Tony’s storyline needs more development and depth. DeVante’s obsession with Emily is very empty as there is no additional context and information offered in this book as to their history, relationship, or bond making this element essential to having read the previous book. Emily herself is never introduced in the book until the very end yet referenced numerous times without giving more information about who she is and how she fits into the story and characters.

For the most part the characterization is decent, although the best developed characters are those newly introduced. DeVante and Roderick suffer from the least amount of characterization and that is likely due to the previous book which I can only assume spends significant time on their personalities. Part of their appeal and interest shines through in this book but there are gaps in the characters and actions that don’t make sense yet the story relies on previous knowledge of the reader to overcome this. The characters of Daniel, Reed, Tony, and Lily all are all well crafted and great introductions. Tony and Lily are not given the space they deserve but no doubt will grow and flourish in future books. Daniel and Reed are a dynamic couple with explosive sexual chemistry, vibrant personalities, and hopefully will also continue to develop. Daniel is slightly less interesting than Reed as his actions tend to be flatter and more predictable whereas Reed’s history and damaged emotional state set up a wealth of opportunity.

This is a pretty balanced story that has many more good aspects than poor, but the final climatic scene is troublesome. The identity of the classic evil-doer is suspect and doesn’t have enough context to explain the motivation and purpose. Furthermore the paranormal and magical actions seem arbitrary. The scene lacks an inherent reality that would tie the magical aspects to the vampires. Why do Lily’s actions have such an effect? Why is DeVante basically powerless during the scene? How is Roderick injured? The supposed reasons of the villain are ridiculous and his coaxing of the Coven even more so. This scene is especially disappointing given the strong story up to that point. However, this climax is easy to ignore and just move on in the book. Thankfully it’s rather short and forgettable.

I really enjoyed reading DeVante’s Coven, even though I hadn’t read the first book. I’m definitely curious enough about the characters to see where they came from and how they came to be and I also am interested in reading the next book to come, showing where they go from here. The story and large cast are engaging and engrossing with a touch of horror and BDSM. The writing keeps the story somewhat light without a hard intensity that would truly make this story shine but I can recommend this offering regardless. I would suggest reading the first book in the series, DeVante’s Children, prior to reading DeVante’s Coven for greater context and understanding.

Get it HERE!

Divas Las Vegas by Rob Rosen

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Divas Las Vegas by Rob Rosen

Blurb:
What happens when you find out that Grandma’s vase mistakenly sold at a yard sale is worth tens of thousands of dollars ~ and somebody else is about to cash in on it on Antiques Roadshow? Of course, you hop on a plane with your best friend and race off to Las Vegas to get Grandma’s vase back! Filled with action and suspense, hunky blackjack dealers, divine drag queens, strange sex, and sex in strange places, plus a Federal agent or two, Divas Las Vegas puts the sin in Sin City. "Divas Las Vegas" is a fun, new take on the murder mystery genre.



 fruits, drinks, sex toys, and a missing granny vase… perfect Vegas holiday..

Author Interviews

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Author Interviews

Ever notice that sometimes author interviews can backfire? One of the most interesting things for me as a reader when confronted with an author interview is the responses offered. The questions are invariably all just deviations of the same thing over and over and thus kudos to authors who continue to give the same interview time and again, but I wonder if authors really stop and think about the answers they’re giving.

I’ve been turned off more than one author by their answers to an interview.

With the plethora of authors and books currently available, it’s remarkably easy to pick and choose who to read and not read. With only so many hours in the day, I can easily shrug off one author or another. You always mean to go back and read such and such author but somehow they slide to the end of the stack and suddenly they’re gone. It’s easy to come up with reasons not to read an author, most based on the interest in the book itself. But this translates to online behavior and so on.

I’m curious specifically about interviews. So far I’ve mentioned the negative aspects of interviews but really has anyone read an interview and decided to buy that author’s book? I certainly have as well so it’s clearly a two way street. Authors can lose or gain readers by interviews. I assume the positive outweighs the negative but I’m (as always) curious about others’ perspectives.

I’ve recently been reading several of the RR interviews and on other sites such as Book Wenches and so on. I was surprised and shocked by some of the answers authors gave. Some alluded to be fanfiction authors that get bad reviews but their critique group likes them. One subtly demeaned women readers. Another mocked the popularity of their own book. This type of behavior turns me off an author. I read answers like any of those above and just think there are any number of other authors to spend my money and time.

What about you? Authors or readers..
Are interviews worthwhile?
Do the answers influence your decisions?
Are you careful about what you say?

Camp Hell by Jordan Castillo Price

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Camp Hell by Jordan Castillo Price

Blurb:
Don’t miss the riveting fifth chapter in the PsyCop saga, Camp Hell.

Victor Bayne honed his dubious psychic skills at one of the first psych training facilities in the country, Heliotrope Station, otherwise known as Camp Hell to the psychics who’ve been guests behind its razorwire fence.

Vic discovered that none of the people he remembers from Camp Hell can be found online, and there’s no mention of Heliotrope Station itself, either. Someone’s gone through a lot of trouble to bury the past. But who?

Review:

This is the fifth and most recent book in the PsyCops series. If you’ve been reading them all along – as you should – you know that the fourth book ended on a huge cliff hanger. Thankfully I had Camp Hell already waiting so I wasn’t too bothered but no doubt if you read at release you’ve been waiting eagerly for this offering. For those new to the series, the books follow first person narrator and cop Vic as he struggles with his talent. He sees ghosts, very vividly and often confusing the living with the dead. He handles his talent by repressing his past and drugging himself until he can barely function; thank god the city of Chicago gives him a gun. He’s mostly got his drug cocktail to the point he knows exactly how much to take but recent medication scares, kidnappings, and all around weirdness have Vic attempting less drug use and the more radical idea of learning to control his talent. But before you think loveable failure Vic is reformed, he’s just as self absorbed and messy as ever.

In this installment Vic is obsessed with finding out what happened to him during his time at Camp Hell. Affectionately called such by the inmates, Vic repressed almost all his memories of that time in order to function without the panic attacks and overwhelming fear associated with those memories. However when Vic discovered in Secrets that he was wiped clean from the internet and kept a secret, he digs deeper to find some of the missing people from his Camp Hell days. First up is his old lover and best friend, Stefan now Steven. While Vic is attempting therapy with Stefan/Steven, he also has to contend with finding some ghosts killing people at a nearby hospital, repairing the damage to his relationship with Jacob, and last but not least a new psychic watch group seems to be all over Vic.

Once again I felt the plot was too disjointed and unfocused. Vic as a first person narrator is absorbing and enthralling with his weakness, flaws, and reluctant hero antics. However his focus shifts from his obsession to his past to his police case to his relationship with Jacob to his drugs and back again in almost neck breaking pace. The various elements are disparate and didn’t combine cohesively enough to create a tight, even story. That is not to say the plot isn’t interesting and absorbing, because it certainly is. Unfortunately it is also messy and spread out without any particular focus, much as the character of Vic often is as well. Vic jumps from scene to scene and element to element in the way his mind often works, obsessing on the most important thing to him at that time and often using or ignoring everything else. This includes his boyfriend Jacob, his partner Zigler, his friends Lisa and Crash, and anything else that doesn’t revolve around his at the moment fixation. Here Vic slowly begins to realize that he is selfish and completely self absorbed, yet caring and loving in his own way. He also begins to realize that he needs more control over his talent and drugs aren’t always the answer.

This installment adds more depth and development to all the characters. From Vic’s slow awareness to Jacob’s new ability, even Zigler’s actions and those of the psychic watch group help create more context than fluff to this story. Unfortunately the hospital story line with the scary ghost is unfortunate since it’s almost forgettable and often Vic is more obsessed with his therapy, his paranoia, his relationship, and his drugs than actually doing his job as a detective. However the added context to Zigler from the last book and continued in this one creates an intriguing outline and I hope that he’ll stick around.

The main focus of the book and the series however is and always will be Vic. The other characters revolve in his orbit to a greater or lesser degree but it’s all about Vic. He is finally learning to accept his talent, instead of medicate, and more so learning what his limits and abilities really are. Before he seems to luck out on finding solutions or with the help of actual trained detectives solve a case. In this offering, Vic takes more control and handles a terrifying ghost with his own power on purpose. Additionally Vic is slowly starting to understand Jacob more and appreciate all the work Jacob does in their relationship. Not that Vic takes him for granted per se, but Vic’s obsessions take precedence over everything, including Jacob. I can’t wait to see how much more Vic can grow in future editions.

Get it HERE!

Manly by Dale Lazarov & Amy Colburn

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Manly by Dale Lazarov & Amy Colburn

Blurb:

MANLY – these are piggy gay comics, although you also get a healthy dose of tender to go along with all the sex. Three stories intertwine, observing men in the best years of their lives doing what the love to do best! Dale Lazarov’s sensual-sexual storyboard combined with Amy Colburn’s brilliantly drawn masculine figures result in a celebration of carnal desires! These stories get by without any use of words, thus furthering the sexual fantasies of the readers.



Review:

MANLY is unique, interesting, and eye catching. Dale Lazarov has combined three different stories with a superb art, culminating in a book that offers raw sex appeal, romance, and whimsy. The three stories are told in large artistic panels without dialogue. There are no words to convey the meaning and plot, yet the actions of the characters offer no confusion or miscommunication. The lack of language barrier creates a wonderful set of stories that can be enjoyed by all fans of graphic male/male erotica.

The stories range from raunchy to romantic and offer stunning artwork and almost exaggerated men. These men are no twinks, but hairy, big muscled men with a certain gleam to their eye. Their actions are sometimes sweet and tender, and sometimes hot and horny. The juxtaposition from story to story keeps the panels fresh and engaging, giving the reader a full experience with these very manly men. The deft hand in conveying an entire story without words allows readers also to use their imagination – will the men end up together, or is this a brief encounter? Surprisingly, I found this to be a great aspect of the book and the visual stimulus was the perfect companion.

The artwork is bright, colorful, and includes a range of subtly. The gorgeous book creates a full experience that never overwhelms but titillates and entices. The three different stories give variety in both the story and artwork while keeping the common theme of very manly men from one story to the next. The stories even include a nod to safe sex with very visible condom use. If I was pressed to choose a favorite, perhaps “Busted” about a bystander who helps a cop bring down a felon only to find the reward is well worth the effort. From cops to boxers to incredibly hot librarians, this silent comic offers everything.

Get it HERE!

The Nest by GS Wiley

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The Nest by GS Wiley

Blurb:

Jay McIntyre’s main goal in life is to keep his younger siblings together and away from Social Services, who he’s certain will separate them if they know his mother left two years ago. Juggling two jobs and the responsibility of caring for three children, the nineteen year old’s problems are compounded when Jess, his younger sister, begins to rebel and when an old enemy is released from prison and returns to his housing estate.

Overwhelmed and at the end of his rope, Jay is finally forced to seek for help from a surprising source: Police Constable Brendan Cuddy.

Review:

I’m a big fan of GS Wiley’s writing and this particular offering is perhaps my favorite of her books. It’s not perfect but the writing is evocative and there is so much potential in this story, I really wish this had turned into a meaty, in depth novel. Instead Wiley keeps the story light and almost too easy in spots, but the texture and character given to the story and writing are engaging and inviting. This more of a literary novella with gay characters than a gay romance and it’s not erotica at all. Wiley doesn’t really write erotica – I remember I actually blushed when she wrote “cock” in one of her books, I so don’t associate that with Wiley – and those that are expecting any sex scenes or a strong romance may be disappointed.

The plot revolves around a nineteen year old who has had to take care of his family for the past few years since his mom abandoned them. Forced to grow up at a young age, Jay works two jobs and struggles to provide for his family – 16 y/o Jess, 9 y/o Zoe, 5 y/o Nico – as he deals with the police and old rivals in a low income housing unit. Jay gets unexpected help from a new to the patrol Police Constable, Brendan.

The story itself is rather light even though it tackles some big issues with great potential. There is the main character of Jay who is struggling with two jobs, three kids, and no time for a life himself. Complicating matters is the oldest girl, Jess, who is rebelling in a heavy goth phase and getting into bad company. Both Jay and Jess get involved in some difficult situations involving drugs and violence. On a positive note, none of these issues are depressing or bring down the light, easy flow and pace to the book. On the negative side is that none of these issues are fully fleshed out. Each is hinted out briefly and eventually pseudo-resolved but none are really given the time, attention, and depth they deserve. Their potential is barely skimmed with the easy handed manner in which they are treated. This story is filled with enough material for a much longer book and it’s disappointing that the choice was made to keep the story light and short.

The characterization is similarly skimmed with much more waiting to be explored. The story is told in third person, alternating from Jay and Brendan’s point of views. Jay is a complicated mess from his determination to do right for his family to his elemental fear of failing, his distrust of the police and his neighborhood. All of this combines to give a complex, intricate character that is shown in his day to day life but skims over the emotional road bumps. Even the scene where Jay is explaining to Brendan why his mother left is oddly detached with an almost clinical information dump. This pivotal scene lacks an emotional connection between the men that shimmers beneath the surface. The chemistry between the two is there, but never given full attention. Part of this is that the book also focuses on Brendan’s failed relationship and finally accepting his attraction to the younger Jay. Since the two have so few scenes together, the connection exists in their minds more so than their action and the story ends as soon as the two show a possible future.

So while there are clearly some issues with the story, what shines so brightly is the tight writing, great setting, and true texture in the story. There are small choices such as prose or dialogue that truly immerse the reader in the setting and the cracked sidewalks, depressing jobs, and threads of hope. The secondary characters from the neighbors to the other constables, even Brendan’s mother are interesting and almost given too much space at the expense of the main characters. The book draws you in with the small details, such as the scene with Jay scared for his life contemplating a knife but knowing what it would mean for his family if he got caught. The word choice gives an authentic feel and tone to the story where unfamiliar words or phrases don’t feel awkward and misplaced as so often happens in books.

Although I think this novella has the potential to become a truly stunning book, the story is still well written with great characters, an authentic setting, and the thread of hope and romance. The focus on the characters and how Brendan and Jay meet could set this duo up for a sequel and if so, I hope the issues and characters are fully explored and developed to their limits. I’d recommend this book to those who are looking for a solid story about gay characters, but don’t expect any sex or a lot of romance. I don’t mind but others may so be sure to read this when you’re in the mood for something easy.

Get it HERE!

New Rainbow Reviews

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New Rainbow Reviews! They range from 2 stars to 3.5 stars this week.

Demon May Care by J.L. Gale

Dressing Up is Half the Fun by Misa Izanaki

Texas Surrender by Claire Thompson

The Dog Next Door by Sean Michael

On another note – LJ seems to hate me. Whenever I try to copy text into the "new post" area, LJ won’t do it! Incredibly frustrating. Yet another reason to hate LJ. May need to leave soon if this doesn’t fix.

MM Meme Thing from Kris via Lily via Val

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MM Meme Thing from Kris via Lily via Val



Note: I’m tagging my fellow reviewers Emily and JenMcJ to spread this meme forth into the world.

Kris’s Rules:
"1. Answer all the questions and give the link to Kris so she can mosey on over and see if you answered correctly and have a sticky beak. [Have a sticky beak? That’s what it says …must be some Australian expression, ha, ha!]
2. You have to tag two other people once you’re done and pester them relentlessly until they do the meme too.
3. Instead of a meme image thing you have to post a cookie, preferably a twofer. It is an m/m meme after all. ;)"

Questions and cookies…