Author: Kassa

Screen Shots: Smolder by Willa Okati

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Screen Shots: Smolder by Willa Okati

Blurb:

Brandon’s trying his best to play it cool. He figures if no one knows he’s a total amateur, he’ll go a lot further in adult entertainment than a nervous newbie. Touchy about being short and pretty, he’s fierce in his independence and determined to become a hot commodity.

He didn’t count on two of twentysomethingtwinks.com’s top studs swooping down and claiming him for their own. Gabriel and Dylan, notorious for their intense sex scenes and a passionate relationship off-screen, decide they want Brandon as their third in a permanent ménage.

Now, all they have to do is convince him. And if a guy’s been working in adult entertainment for any time at all, he knows more than a few mighty pleasant ways to coax a man over to the dark side — and right into the middle. 

Review:

The second installment of the series (the first is Screen Shots: Seduced) focuses on a group of amateur gay porn stars as their relationships develop both on screen and off. This offering delves more deeply into two of the rougher, tougher personalities as they struggle with adding a third to their tight duo. The writing is fun and flirty with a plethora of hot sex and more depth and emotion than the previous book. Although there is still an obvious disconnect between the friends with benefits theory and deeper relationships, this story tries to bridge that gap with greater understanding and emotion. Still a fun and light hearted summer series with many more stories to tell.

Brandon is a newcomer to the amateur gay porn studio and jumps into the deep end with his first movie between the fearsome duo of Gabriel and Dylan. The two are known for their wild and unrelenting sex together, both on camera and off, and decide they want to be the two to break in Brandon to the industry. The first movie goes well but emotions are peaked when the end turns tender. Confused and disorientated, Brandon retreats behind an emotional wall of anger that takes a very determined duo of men to break down and convince Brandon they want him after the camera stops rolling.

This installment has more angst and emotional turmoil than the initial foray but delivers a more in depth story. Brandon struggles with understanding the dynamics between all the different men while fighting his overwhelming feelings for Gabriel and Dylan. Unfortunately there is very little context beyond the present situation and rampant sex to give any of the men much depth other than the obvious emotional drama. Most of the characters are poorly characterized or non-existent in the wake of Brandon’s journey, leaving both Gabriel and Dylan superficial. While their ardor for Brandon is undeniable, their reasons for wanting a third in the relationship are still undefined. There is a reference to Brandon’s love of rough sex but the emotional attachment points at deeper reasons that aren’t offered. Thus the relationship has depth, but the reasons are unclear and the reader is left wanting.

Additionally the concept of the friends with benefit brotherhood of the porn movies is still not entirely satisfying as an explanation. Brandon especially struggles with this concept and never really finds resolution; instead the problem is simply dropped and ignored. This frustration is carried from the previous novel and throughout this story as neither offer a concrete and understandable definition and reasoning for the deeper relationships while having sex on camera. Although the story tries to offer explanations about love versus friends that have sex, these were often muddled and unclear leaving both Brandon and the reader confused as to the real point. This is likely to be an ongoing problem with the series that has to be put aside for the enjoyment of the stories and characters.

Even though the characters are not fully explored and the emphasis of the story is clearly on the hot, rough sex, this is an enjoyable and sexy offering. The dialogue lacked the punch and wit of the first book but alternatively offers a darker, edgier tone that brushes with BDSM. The brief glimpse into each relationship is tantalizing and evocative, even if not wholly satisfying. The lasting nature of the relationships seems to be questionable but the sex is never in doubt. Be sure to pick this up and follow this incredibly delicious group of men. 

Get it HERE!

Wearing Death by Jamie Craig

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Wearing Death by Jamie Craig

Blurb:

When veterinarian Jeremy Reed hears a thump one night on his front step, he expects to find an abandoned animal. What he gets is battered and broken cop Brendan Wheeler. Kidnapped from his apartment five days earlier by an unknown man, Brendan now sports a vivid tattoo across his back depicting a young woman’s death, a woman nobody knows.

Until the next morning when Jeremy discovers her dead body.

Brendan wants to find the killer. Jeremy wants Brendan to survive. And someone wants both of them to pay… 

 

 

 

Review:

This book has one of the more fascinating and instantly riveting ideas that I’ve seen in mysteries lately. Unfortunately, the book goes nowhere with the idea. The story isn’t really a mystery but instead the flirting dance between two men as they act on the chemistry between them. That’s not bad per se, although I struggled to keep my attention and interest in the story, but given the potential in the tattoo idea – I couldn’t help being deeply disappointed that the concept was ignored in favor of bland sex with absolutely no mystery. For a light summer read, fans of the author will want to read this story but don’t be fooled by the blurb; it’s actually a fluff romance.

The story begins with an injured and desperate cop, Brendan Wheeler, arriving bloody on local veterinarian’s doorstop. The chemistry between the men is instantaneous and when Jeremy discovers the dead body of a local woman, the two men are kept on close surveillance as Brendan recovers. The men dance and flirt around each other for a few days before giving into the passion between them.

Although the blurb and beginning of the story hold promise for a mystery, there is actually no real mystery component. The resolution to murder and identity of Brendan’s assailant are wrapped up in four pages out of the 90 page book. The remaining space is devoted to the burgeoning relationship and mundane details of Brendan’s recovery. There is some mention of Brendan trying to get involved in the case but he’s well shut out by his police chief and relegated to combing through his recent cases. However, there is almost no time devoted to this except a passing mention between the men making dinner, having sex, flirting, and the developing emotional connection. While a story about two men connecting and starting a relationship is always a welcome staple of romance, the lack of actual mystery given the elaborate set up and concept is surprising and deeply disappointing. The actual assailant is instantly identified by Brendan when he sees him and there is a very loose rationale for the actions.

The characters are sadly two dimensional without much depth, although the attempt to add more is there. Both men are strong, mentally and physically, with deep integrity and compassion. However, beyond that there is very little to either man as the story follows superficial activity over any deeper subtly. The large graphic tattoo now spanning the entirety of Brendan’s back is almost unimportant beyond the basics of treatment for the wound. Even as it depicts the brutal murder of a young woman, the men almost ignore it except when speaking of how to change the tattoo to something palatable. Even that conversation is brief and off hand between the sex and easy companionship.

The writing is decent but I found it difficult to connect to the story and characters once I realized this was simply a man meets man and has sex story, despite the blurb.  The summary built up my expectations for a fascinating twist on a murder mystery and perhaps a love interest along the way and although rare for me, I couldn’t change that expectation once the book veered off into the romance. The lack of substance to the plot and characters had me struggling to keep my attention on the story. Neither the romance nor mystery injected any tension or drama into the story, although there are a few darker moments. This would have been much better as either a fully devoted mystery with the tattoo component or a simple romance between two men.

If readers are looking for an easy romance with some darker elements in the setting, this might fulfill that niche for summer reading. However, the dark aspects don’t impact the story too much and the mystery is negligible. I think in this case the elaborate set up is a disservice to the story since it’s taken nowhere and unfortunately offers little. 

Get it HERE!

 

New Rainbow Reviews

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Another week, more Rainbow Reviews. Nothing exciting unfortunately but there should be some fun reviews next week (I hope).  I’ve been slow on updating the LJ too with reviews due to being busy with some friends. Didn’t even read all weekend!

Not sure about anyone else but it was 97 degrees here this weekend. Hot enough? I had some out of town guests who wanted to go and do things, boldly stating “I don’t wilt.” HA! Everyone wilts in 97 degrees and I have a sparkly new sunburn to show for it.  Today should be 99. What do you do in weather that hot?
 

Anyway, the reviews!

Awakenings 2: Instinct by Jessica Freely

House on Park by habu

Off the Beaten Path by Katrina Strauss

One for the Road by Lacey Anne Frye

The Phoenix By Ruth Sims

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The Phoenix By Ruth Sims

Blurb:

At fourteen, Kit St. Denys brought down his abusive father with a knife. At twenty-one his theatrical genius brought down the house. At thirty, his past—and his forbidden love—nearly brought down the curtain for good.

A compelling Victorian saga of two men whose love for each other transcends time and distance—and the society that considers it an abomination. Set in the last twenty years of the 19th century, The Phoenix is a multi-layered historical novel that illuminates poverty and child abuse, theatre history in America and England, betrayal, a crisis of conscience, violence and vengeance, and the treatment of insanity at a time when such treatment was in its infant stage. Most of all it is a tale of love on many levels, from carnal to devoted friendship to sacrifice.

 

 

does anyone dislike this book?

Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson

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Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson

Blurb:
How far would you dare to go…to win it all?

Maverick Holms and Duke Warren share almost everything—a college soccer team, an apartment and the same extremely competitive nature. Thanks to that never-back-down spirit, they’re about to share more than they bargained for.

The game is “gay chicken”. The rule: get as close as possible without kissing, and the one that pulls away first is the loser. The problem: neither of them likes to lose. It isn’t long before the game becomes an excuse to touch and kiss in every possible forbidden way. And after they pose for a gay website to earn extra money, things really heat up.

Suddenly Duke is talking lifetime commitment, and Mav is backpedaling as hard as he can, not sure if he’s ready to accept all his best friend is offering him. Or the truth about what he is.

 


Review:

This is a book where the readers have to suspend disbelief in a lot of areas to get sucked into the story. No doubt some will enjoy the theme and two hot, muscular men having sweaty sex but the underlying theme that the gay lifestyle is derogatory still prevails. The premise itself is frankly unbelievable, but getting beyond that and the insulting, stereotypical commentary the story is about a man coming to terms with his sexuality. However, he’s not really gay, he’s simply gay for his best friend. There’s a very thin line and really this no doubt works best as a story read for its erotica than for the content itself. Fans of the author will devour this story and love it intensely. 

The premise is that best friends Mav and Duke are fellow athletes on a star soccer team and have lived together for four years. In that time, they’ve become so comfortable around each other they frequently touch, cuddle, and even sleep in the same bed. No one questions their orientation however since they are both known to have sex with various women so their secret is safe – even from each other. Duke, secretly gay and in love with Mav, invents a game of “gay chicken” where he pushes Mav’s boundaries to get him to admit he wants to have sex with Duke. The game hinges on their competitiveness and comfort with each other while giving a reason to explain and ignore their actions.

These reasons are pretty thin and don’t get much more in depth throughout the story. Instead the two men dare each other to do more and more intimate acts, such as rubbing, blowjobs, kissing, and eventually sex. Since the story is told from Mav’s perspective, he consistently ignores the deeper meanings behind the actions, unwilling to accept or believe he may be gay. He never really accepts that sexual orientation either; instead willing to accept what Duke wants him to in order to keep his best friend and lover close to him. The implication that Mav is not gay nor would ever be comfortable in a traditional gay lifestyle is very clear throughout the book, his love and desire for Duke notwithstanding. Duke’s motivations are kept a mystery and only explained through a third party who admits that Duke “acted straight” for years due to his secret love for Mav.

The story is decent enough and the sex pretty hot but I had a lot of problems with the insulting and derogatory dialogue and characters. The few openly gay characters are all depicted as flamingly gay and several comments I found uncomfortable. Such as the conversation between Mav, Duke, and the openly gay Evan about posing for the Str8te Boys website.

“Str8te Boys? Why the hell would anybody want to see two straight guys, uh, getting it on?” Duke demanded.

 

Ethan shrugged. “For the same reason you breeders like to look at lipstick lesbians having gay sex. I know you wouldn’t want to watch two diesel dykes rug munching each other, would you?”

 

Mav shivered. “Uh, that’d be a no.”

 

“There you go, then,” Ethan said. “You want to see pretty girls getting together instead. The same way some people—and not all of them are gay men, mind you, a lot of them are kinky little straight girls—like to see straight boys together.” He sighed. “And besides, there’s just something so hot about the idea of two pretty straight boys having their first time…touching each other…feeling their way…not really sure what they’re doing but willing to try just about anything…”

 

Perhaps it’s a preference and other readers won’t be bothered by the comments. The story is only 60 pages long and filled with several sex scenes as well as most every other scene revolves around unfulfilled tension and desire. I didn’t hate it but Mav never felt as though he accepted his feelings for Duke and really was confident and comfortable expressing those desires. Instead the resolution felt forced and awkward, especially with the final scene among the team who barely blink at the changed status of their captains. For a fantasy piece, this ranks high if you enjoy the classic “gay for you” trope and the man in question never really comes around to accepting his sexuality. If you’re not bothered by some insulting comments, then pick this up for entertainment.

 Get it HERE!

 

 

ePistols at Dawn by ZA Maxfield

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ePistols at Dawn by ZA Maxfield

Blurb:
Choose your weapons.

Jae-sun Fields is pissed. Someone has taken the seminal coming-out, coming-of-age novel Doorways and satirized it. He’s determined to use his Internet skills and his job as a tabloid reporter to out the author as the fraud and no-talent hack he’s sure she is.

Kelly Kendall likes his anonymity and, except for his houseboy, factotum and all-around slut, Will, he craves solitude. There’s also that crippling case of OCD that makes it virtually impossible for him to leave the house. He’s hidden his authorship of Doorways behind layers of secrets and several years’ worth of lies—until he loses a bet.

Satirizing his own work, as far as he can see, is his own damned prerogative. Except now he has an online stalker, one who always seems several steps ahead of him in their online duel for information.

A chance meeting reveals more than hidden identities—it exposes a mutual magnetic attraction that can’t be denied. And pushes the stakes that much higher, into a zone that could get way too personal..

 

does shoe size *really* translate to other sizes…