Reviews

Review: Learning to Dharn

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Learning to DharnLearning to Dharn by Ann Somerville
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Learning to Dharn is an interesting alternate universe/historical fantasy story that includes the rarely seen hero with a disability. In fact the disability and how it affects both men’s lives is perhaps the best part of the book. The setting is well crafted and the story well written but I never quite warmed up to Kelten and the story relies on a lot of manipulation, which may or may not work well for some readers. It’s definitely a different story and stands out for the unique elements which makes it an easy one to recommend even if it’s not a story I’d personally read again.

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Review: With The Band

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With The BandWith The Band by L.A. Witt
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I’ll admit I’m a sucker for band stories. They may not be everyone’s thing but I do love a good drama among sexy rockers (or wannabe rockers). With the Band plays on that as two members of an up and coming band get together, something that is sure to cause havoc among the tight knit group. The drama is mostly well played with a few very obvious manipulations. The story lost me on the resolution though as honestly it feels weak and too easy. This is a common issue when books build up the tension and conflict to such a fever point, then let it all wrap up in the blink of an eye. 200 pages of tension to be resolved in 5 pages just ends the book on a sour note for me. However, other than that and a few other issues, the story is easy to read and pretty satisfying.

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Review: Perfect Score

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Perfect ScorePerfect Score by Susan Roebuck
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Perfect Score is a difficult book to read and it’s not entirely enjoyable. The story is complex and the characters three dimensional with strengths and weaknesses, all against a backdrop of the 1960s when attitudes were very different about a lot of things. The story takes a real chance in introducing a rather unlikable main character who I never really warmed up to despite his later attempts at change. The other character’s speech defects should endear him to readers but I found myself pitying him more than anything, which creates a second uncomfortable situation while reading when combined with a loathsome other half. In the end the slow pace and questionable characters left me with a bad feeling and sorry I’d read this.

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Review: A Prideful Mate

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A Prideful Mate (Supernatural Mates, #2)A Prideful Mate by Amber Kell
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I usually consider Amber Kell to be popcorn reading. It’s not necessarily well written but the sex scenes are hot and the situations interesting enough for the short story. There are always editing problems but this has gotten better over time. Unfortunately this new shifter series is so rushed there is nothing tangible to the stories. The second book has a couple of sex scenes, a psycho human that hates shifter, a new insta-romance/love, and even pride dynamics thrown in. There is so much that nothing is given any credibility or weight and the entire story is pretty silly.

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Review: A Hundred Little Lies

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A Hundred Little LiesA Hundred Little Lies by Jon Wilson
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

A Hundred Little Lies is an absorbing historical debut. This is an author I’ll keep an eye out for what they do next. The story is an easy day in the life narrative in the first person told by Jack. His bias colors the story and as the plot progresses the reader realizes that Jack may or may not be telling the truth. He’s built his life on lies so it’s difficult to tease out the truth from those lies, even within the context of the story. Thus sometimes the story assumes the reader knows more than they actually do and numerous important details are late in coming or omitted entirely. This is the weakest part of an otherwise engrossing and satisfying story. Continue reading →

Review: Eromenos

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EromenosEromenos by Melanie J. McDonald
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I sat down to read just a few pages of Eromenos by Melanie J. McDonald and I couldn’t put it down. I read the entire novel in one sitting and wanted more. Though there are numerous books about the emperor Hadrian and from his viewpoint, this is the first one I’ve come across that features the dead lover Antinous. Here the young Antinous tells his life and how he became the emperor’s favorite and the events that led to his death. The story is beautifully written with obvious historical research but a fascinatingly complex twist to Antinous’ actions and reasons. This isn’t a romance, though there is love, it’s more a compelling examination of a young man’s life. Continue reading →

Review: A Weapon Of Opportunity

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A Weapon Of OpportunityA Weapon Of Opportunity by Kiernan Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Weapon of Opportunity is a whimsical, entertaining story with good characters and a quick paced mystery. In some ways the story is similar to others – the ghost lover and detective are reminiscent of Drew Zachary’s series and the astral projection is eerily close to a current horror movie Insidious. Despite those reminders this story remains interesting and enjoyable to read from start to finish. I heard somewhere this is the start of a series and if so, then definitely one to watch.

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Review: Best Gay Erotica 2011

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Best Gay Erotica 2011Best Gay Erotica 2011 by Richard Labonté
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I always look forward to reading this yearly collection edited by Richard Labonté. Sometimes the collections are simply amazing while others can be hit or miss. As with any anthology, reader tastes can vary wildly and it’s hard to obtain a perfect combination. Unfortunately the judge for this year’s collection has very different tastes from mine as I didn’t particularly like many of the stories. Several I’d read before and the others have similar themes – it’s easy to see what gets Kevin Killian off – but the writing and themes didn’t work for me personally. Depending on your tastes this collection will either score big or not be for you.

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