Review: 

I wonder if there can be too many books from an author. Since the Screen Shots series started, a new book has been published every month and the quality is definitely starting to slip. Although the series is about a gay porn company and have very thin plots weaving together a lot of sensuality and sex scenes, the characters are getting more wooden and unappealing with each successive offering. The latest book is the worst of the series and can’t be saved even with hot BDSM sex. Additionally there are several writing errors that make me wonder if these books are being pushed out too soon and ultimately to the detriment of the series. As I like the author quite a bit and want to like this series, I’m pretty disappointed and let down.

Thom is one of the behind the scenes wranglers and directors of the twentysomethingtwink.com company. Although he once was in front of the camera, his intensity and sexual kinks scared too many newcomers away and he transitioned to behind the lens. For six long years Thom has abstained from sex, earning his nickname “The Priest” from the porn cast. Now that long hiatus ends when brand new star Skyler pushes his way into Thom’s life. Thom recognizes the need to be dominated in the young man and happily complies.

The story starts out attempting to show Thom’s great control in the face of a pouting, immature Skyler. Skyler flounces around and tries to get Thom’s attention while he stoically and bravely ignores the young man. Often other porn stars would comment on the actions but do so in a mysterious way, leaving the reader confused over the intentions of the conversation. There is a lot of missed information and context as if there is some big secret that the reader isn’t allowed to know. This is frustrating and also unnecessary since the only secret is Thom’s love of domination, which is stated up front. So all the attempts at subterfuge and misdirection add nothing to the story and in fact create an awkward beginning.

When Thom and Skyler finally get together, all the action takes place over the course of one day. Skyler has so much sex that day it verges into impossible and turns a pouty, stubborn Skyler into the a demure, happy submissive with just a few words and a toy or two in merely one day. The lightening quick change focuses almost exclusively on the sex aspects to the exclusion of either man’s personality. There are brief mentions to Thom’s belief in past lives but this is completely dropped once it’s mentioned so why this information is included at all is confusing. Furthermore neither man is developed, both wooden and one dimensional beyond their sexual chemistry.

As with all the books in the series, the focus on accepting sex with the other stars as normal is a key component. Here after a six year no sex rule, Thom is ready to indulge once again with all the current porn stars. This decision doesn’t make sense for either man’s personality, their dynamic or the entire set up of the company and weak rationale for why the casual sex between friends is acceptable. Yet the book ends with Thom and Skyler happily agreeing to have casual sex with the other men now and even a mention of a ten man orgy. From these frustrating aspects to the various other stars that have all blended together and then adding in writing and editing mistakes, I ultimately was incredibly disappointed and ultimately wish I hadn’t read this book.  

I like this series and am a fan of hot BDSM sex yet with the poor execution of the plot with the holes and lack of depth to the characters, this offering felt like it was pushed out before it was ready. This makes me worried for future books in the series or perhaps this one will simply be the worst of the group and they will go back to the fun, flirty, sex filled fluff the series intends. I sadly can’t recommend this title but perhaps others in the series will improve.

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Review:

By this third installment of the Screen Shots series, the pattern has pretty much been established. A newcomer to the twentysomethingtwinks.com group will hook up with an established performer and end up feeling some deeper emotion than just the have sex on camera for cash deal. Sometimes that union is easy and practically seamless and sometimes there is a little drama thrown in. Very likely the series will continue with other various groupings and the only difference are the main couples. While this pattern may become staid and a bit predictable, the fun characters, incredibly hot sex, and witty dialogue make this a highly enjoyable series – even if it lacks much depth and weight. Slinky is no different with some quirky men, page burning sex, and pure unadulterated fun between the pages.

This particular offering focuses on the incredibly flexible newcomer, Maddox, that has entered the group with his eyes on All-American Boy Ross. Maddox is determined to have Ross, both on camera and off, and before Ross really knows what hit him – he’s too wrapped up in the tattooed, crazy hair, utterly insane Maddox to stop.

In this story, Ross and Maddox are the focus to the point that unlike other stories, neither Ross nor Maddox have sex with anyone else within the pages of the book. Other stories in the series are always careful to show that while relationships may happen, the men still engage in casual sex on camera as their jobs. The point is always hammered home that these men are somehow able to separate sex as their job with close friends versus sex at home with someone you love. Here, that is less the focus and the story instead caters to Ross’ initial confusion and wary attraction to the off the wall antics of Maddox. Maddox slowly draws Ross out of his shell and into more adventurous areas but always with the security that Maddox knows what it means to Ross to take those chances and to be with someone outside of a scene.

This does create a relationship between the two, independent of their work. Also the final scene shows the sheer love of men to be voyeurs, well these men anyway. None of them really want to give up their jobs of casual sex – they’re not only good at it but they love what they do. There is no attempt to justify their actions in this story, instead hot sex and a lot of it with some fascinating characters carries the narrative. There are of course scenes with other men from the company that slide in out with quick dialogue and teasing, always reminding the reader of previous matchups and potential ones in the future.

These may be harmless, fluff pieces of fun but they are incredibly entertaining and exactly that – fun. Although the series doesn’t really satisfy my curiosity in establishing how the men differentiate between work and relationships (they’re all friends with benefits), by now I can ignore that qualm and just enjoy the various couplings as they emerge.  Fans of the series definitely won’t be disappointed with a return to the lighter, easier tone of this book and will devour the many erotica scenes included. There are several small editing mistakes, misspellings and etc, but these are minor and shouldn’t impact the enjoyment of the story. I easily recommend the new book in the series. You’ll want to read about the human slinky, especially the soccer scene.

Get it HERE!

Screen Shots 1: Seduced Review
Screen Shots 2: Smolder Review

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!