m/m fiction

Annmarie McKenna’s Starting Over

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Starting Over by Annmarie McKenna
Length: Novella / 24,000 / $4.99 

Blurb:
Two years ago, Aaron lost his partner in a drowning accident. He’s trying to move on, but letting go of the past, of the life they were building, is hard. One thing he knows he’s not ready for is a new relationship, but Garrett and Dane are determined to change that.

Lifepartners Garrett and Dane, a cop and an ER doc, bring Aaron home after an accident. They’re happy in their light Dom/sub relationship, fulfilled and in love, but they’ve been keeping their eyes open for a third. It doesn’t take long for them to decide that wounded, pretty Aaron is exactly who they’ve been looking for.

The three get along great, but Garrett and Dane have their work cut out for them in convincing Aaron there’s a time for starting over.

 

 

[More naked chests. I mean the cover is fine – Loose Id has good covers. It’s just boring for me.]

Review:

This is a sweet story about moving on after the death of a partner. The sex is hot and the connection between the established couple is strong and evident while the grieving partner is sympathetic. Mostly well written with a few holes in the story and emotional connection, nonetheless this is an easy, enjoyable story that will appeal to fans. Although this wasn’t entirely successful, it does open my eyes to a new author I’d buy again.

The book opens with Aaron being involved in a dramatic and painful motorcycle accident. Nearby cop Garrett happened to see the accident and was the first on the scene. Garrett instinctively feels something for the injured Aaron, a feeling that is later reiterated by Garrett’s partner, Dane. Although the two have a full and very satisfying relationship, teasing into light D/s, they have been talking about adding a third and Aaron seems to be that person. Unfortunately Aaron’s not so sure he can love again.

The story is a shorter novella (~85 pgs) and doesn’t do justice to the full concept in my opinion. The established relationship of Garrett and Dane along with their light D/s is well crafted and shows the strong love between the two. However, the reason for wanting a third in their relationship is never explained. Whether it’s due to their opposing schedules, wanting more variety in the bedroom, or another reason – this is a muddled part of the narrative. They are very receptive and instantly want Aaron into their relationship while knowing almost nothing about the man. This is a weakness in the story since within a month all three are deeply in love and that emotional connection is definitely missing. The declarations of love between Aaron and Garrett and Dane seem false and too soon.

Part of this is due to the fact that the narrative skips over the recovery time in a few hops. This is to fast forward from the time that Aaron is unable to have sex to when he can fool around again but even this was too soon for his injuries. At the same time, supposedly the three men develop a deeper emotional connection but that is surprisingly never told or shown. Instead the evident lust dominates the story, which isn’t bad since the author can write smoking hot sex scenes and the touch of D/s is light and wonderful. The enjoyment of reading these scenes and the relationship between Garrett and Dane do help keep the story entertaining and somewhat makeup for the lack of a deeper emotional connection with Aaron.

For his part Aaron is a sympathetic character struggling to get his life back together two years after the death of his partner. Aaron is trying to move on, which is admirable and sets him up to be open to the relationship between Garrett and Dane. However, Aaron’s only concern is whether he’s ready to be in another relationship and doesn’t seem to question where he’d fit in with the two men, or if jealousy is an issue or where he would be with the light D/s dynamic going on. The only real concern Aaron had was his perpetual horny nature coupled with an inability to properly masturbate. This definitely contributed to his emotional distance with the other two men but the witty dialogue kept this a quick, fun read even despite these problems.

Overall I’d easily suggest this as a decent read with some fun, hot sex between gorgeous men. Although clearly Aaron would be too hurt to actually have sex so soon and the threesome wasn’t entirely established, that isn’t likely to turn too many readers away. You’ll still enjoy the narrative regardless. 

Get it HERE!

 

Lessons in Discovery by Charlie Cochrane

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Lessons in Discovery by Charlie Cochrane

Blurb:
Orlando’s broken memory may break his lover’s heart.

Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 3

Cambridge, 1906.

On the very day Jonty Stewart proposes that he and Orlando Coppersmith move in together, Fate trips them up. Rather, it trips Orlando, sending him down a flight of stairs and leaving him with an injury that erases his memory. Instead of taking the next step in their relationship, they’re back to square one. It’s bad enough that Orlando doesn’t remember being intimate with Jonty—he doesn’t remember Jonty at all.

Back inside the introverted, sexually innocent shell he inhabited before he met Jonty, Orlando is faced with two puzzles. Not only does he need to recover the lost pieces of his past, he’s also been tasked by the Master to solve a four-hundred-year-old murder before the end of term. The college’s reputation is riding on it.

Crushed that his lover doesn’t remember him, Jonty puts aside his grief to help decode old documents for clues to the murder. But a greater mystery remains—one involving the human heart.

To solve it, Orlando must hear the truth about himself—even if it means he may not fall in love with Jonty the second time around…

This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.

 

Review:

 

Continuing my reviews of this series, we’re now into book three. The series has definitely settled into a pattern with good characters that develop slowly in the context of each book while having a parallel light mystery occurring at the same time. The mystery is afforded as much page time as the actual relationship of Orlando and Jonty, yet the focus is firmly on the characters themselves. The solid writing is more engaging in this offering and the humor and light hearted wit bring more entertainment within the wonderfully historical setting. Although this book is a bit of a throwback to the original, this is the most enjoyable of the series so far and has got me hooked for future offerings. This is a reprint so those who have already read this series probably don’t need to re-buy but those new to the author/series definitely should.

 

In this installment Jonty and Orlando are celebrating their one year anniversary in decadent style. It’s been one wonderful year since Jonty attempted to abscond with Orlando’s chair in the Senior Common Room and Jonty proposes the two move into a house together away from St. Bride’s. Reluctant to change, the always cautious Orlando doesn’t immediately agree but has other thoughts on his mind at present. When those distracting thoughts lead to an injury, the entire last year is lost from Orlando’s memory. As part of his recovery, Orlando attempts to solve an old mystery at the college while reconnecting with his best friend and forgotten lover, Jonty.

 

The story is quick and entertaining as the relationship of Orlando and Jonty takes a step back when the shy and gentle Orlando forgets he ever had a friend, let alone a male lover. At the same time, there is the mystery of a missing heir that has become lore within the college. The two storylines share equal page time yet the focus is on the relationship first and foremost. The relationship between Orlando and Jonty harkens back to the first book when Jonty slowly seduces the other man, yet thankfully the development Orlando has had over the course of two books and one year has not disappeared. The changes evident in the man are still there and he reacts rather well to the new information, so much so that the actual injury is almost unimportant. Almost but not quite as it does lend itself well to the story and plays into the relationship in a fun and entertaining way.

 

The mystery is rather light and solved by the characters without much intuition from the reader. The additional information needed is within the set of letters, something the reader can’t deduce, and thus this has a disconnected quality to the story. I was always reminded I’m reading a story rather than experiencing it since all the details are available to the characters but not to the reader. However, the light mystery is engaging and enjoyable to read as it doesn’t overpower the book but introduces the lovely character of Miss Peters. Far from being the token females, her character and that of Mrs. Stewart are delightful and almost steal the scenes.  This combined with the charm of watching Orlando fall in love with Jonty all over again, but thankfully quicker this time, made for a surprisingly quick, thoroughly enjoyable tale.

 

The writing is very affected with the style of speech and even phrasing always being very true and authentic to the historical time period. When reading this story there is no doubt of the time period and the frequent reminders are wonderful, adding to the experience of reading a story fully engaged in that setting. The thorough research is evident and very few – if any – concessions are made for the time in an attempt to accept the relationship. The threat of exposure is always present and the men behave in a suitable manner, yet the humor and love between the two is constant and obvious. An example of what I mean is below:

 

Jonty had readily agreed—if he was to be forbidden some of the usual festive amusements, then a little cerebral exercise would be most welcome. As much as he looked forward to being home again, and for all that he said regarding his mama, he’d missed her enormously while he had been ill. He kept muttering that it didn’t seem like it would be a real Christmas without a proper Hogmanay ball and, although his mother had promised that the event would take place, it was to be a modified version with the minimum of dancing and frolicking. When Jonty had said he was determined to put some sort of spanner in those works, Orlando dreaded to think what the little toad had in mind.

 

This is another well written offering in the series and with several more to come, the possibilities are intriguing. The character of Orlando has developed and changed the most so the next book promises to delve more deeply into Jonty’s personality. Given the wealth of opportunity with their respective pasts, I’m very curious where the author will go next. The romance is not explicit and often uses analogies for any sexual act, giving a very sweet, light feeling to those scenes. So those looking for scorching hot explicit sex are going to be disappointed. However those who enjoy an accurate historical setting with well developed characters and a wonderful romance without needing to ignore the consequences and actions of the time period will be very pleased with this series. Start at the beginning and you’ll likely be hooked as well. One of my few qualms about this piece is that there are numerous editing errors and considering this is a re-released, I’m surprised there are that many. 

Get it HERE!

Book 1 Lessons in Love Review

Book 2 Lessons in Desire Review

Screen Shots: Slinky by Willa Okati

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Screen Shots 3: Slinky by Willa Okati 

Blurb:
Ross, the All-American "boy next door," is a long-established star of twentysomethingtwinks.com. He’s settled into his comfort zone. Maybe too much so. He needs shaking up and waking up.

Maddox thinks he’s the perfect man for the job. Unfortunately for him, Ross doesn’t. Ross can’t see anything happening between himself and a crazy punk, but he’s wrong. Ross and Maddox have the kind of on-screen and off-screen chemistry no one can deny. It doesn’t hurt that Maddox is amazingly flexible and can do things in bed that’d blow a monk’s mind.

When vanilla meets Rocky Road, it’s a taste sensation and exactly what Ross discovers he’s been craving. But can he find it in himself to take what he and Maddox have to the next level?

 

[I hate these covers because it looks like a pixelated avatar from the SIMS. Someone also pointed out that using "Directed by" actually violates conditions of the Directors Guild of America. Oops. Nice catch Changeling.]

 

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

 

Nowhere Diner: Finding Love by TA Chase

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Nowhere Diner: Finding Love by TA Chase

Blurb:
Leaving Minnesota, Timothy Gapin doesn’t have any plans except getting as far away from all the memories as he can before his money runs out. His secret lover has married, breaking his heart and making him chose a life in the open rather than a relationship built on lies.

Little does Tim know that four days later he would grab dinner at a diner and find a place to stop. Somehow this diner in the middle of nowhere becomes his home and the people who work there his family. In addition to the workers at the diner, Tim meets Bernie Capley, a long-haul trucker who isn’t all he seems to be.

Falling in love with Bernie is easy for Tim, but the past has a way of barging into the present, forcing decisions that affect their future…

 

gay paradise where the lube runs free…

The Master Series: Book 1 – Devil’s Spawn by Sarah Masters

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The Master Series: Book 1 – Devil’s Spawn by Sarah Masters

Blurb:
Vincent’s life is turned upside down with the return of Julian. Will Vincent find out why Julian is really called The Master?

After an altercation with Vincent, Julian leaves the ton as captain of Le Frai de Démon, trading his wares in foreign parts. Two years pass, two years of Vincent abstaining from sex and mourning the loss of his love.

Week nights, gay men gather in Devil’s Spawn, Julian’s club, and though Vincent doesn’t partake in sexual contact, he visits the club as a way to bring Julian closer despite his absence.

One night, Vincent’s life is turned upside down with the return of Julian. Though his heart tells him to open up and allow Julian in, his pride rears its stubborn head. Will Julian be able to break down the barriers? And will Vincent find out why Julian is really called The Master?


[I actually really like this cover.]

Review:

I’m trying out the loveyoudivine publisher and I have to say, I have a few problems with it. Perhaps that’s for another post though and this one is a review for the book Devil’s Spawn. This is a good book with some very light BDSM elements and mostly focuses on the turmutous relationship between the two main characters. There is very little setting and world building, even though this is a historical, yet the strong chemistry and characters easily carried this enjoyable story. I’m very interested to see where this leads and hope to pick up the next in the series, although this plays into the problem I have with one story broken up over several different books and rather expensive per story when they should be combined. Here each short story (~30 pages) is $2.40 and there will be several that put together equal one full story. So know that going in, you’re paying MORE for the full story than you would if you bought a full sized novel. Trust me, I’m annoyed by this too.

But moving on to the story itself, Vincent is upset that Julian left him two years ago without a word. Since then Vincent has craved Julian’s dominant personality and their explosive chemistry, making Vincent rather grumpy and ill tempered. Upon hearing that Julian is back at port, Vincent returns to Julian’s club in hopes of seeing the man who captured then broke his heart. When their chemistry picks up where it left off, Vincent must decide if he’s going to take a chance on Julian a second time or hide his heart.

Given that this is a romance, it’s not a stretch to know what Vincent chooses but the short journey between the two men is very hot and dynamic. Vincent may crave Julian’s domination but it’s not classic BDSM and more so, Vincent loves Julian’s take charge attitude more than he loves being tied and whipped. The BDSM elements are very light and not overwhelming so readers shouldn’t be turned off by the inclusion but be warned this is not the main aspect of their relationship. Perhaps in future books it’ll become more defined, but for this introduction the focus is on the characters, sex, and their acceptance of each other despite past hurt.

Told from third person from Vincent’s perspective, the character of Julian is less defined for the reader but still very dynamic. While Vincent has been pining away for Julian, Julian on the other hand has been enjoying the delights of many young bodies. His explanation is practical and understandable, even if his lack of fidelity may displease romantics. There are a few details brought up but not fully resolved or integrated into the story, such as the altercation at the start, but this is very much a beginning to the men and their relationship so I assume further stories will delve more deeply into these aspects and perhaps resolve the lingering details – of which there were many.  

The writing was decent, but tried too hard in a few areas. The beginning especially is filled with alliteration and detracts from the story as it attempts to be more literary than necessary.

Vincent‟s carriage drew up outside Devil‟s Spawn, dark shadows swallowing it with a fog-filled, frost-bitten maw. He puffed out an impatient breath, and his cloudy exhalation amalgamated with the mist.
 
 

There are several points in the story where such examples litter the writing instead of enhancing it, but overall it does settle somewhat to a more enjoyable narrative. Hopefully future stories won’t be filled with such overblown writing and instead concentrate on the strengths of the story, which are the characters. The sex scenes are smoking hot and enjoyable so fans will be certain to enjoy this story. As an introduction, it’s decent to good with enough interest for me to carry on, even knowing it’s a sneaky way to get more money out of readers. 

Get it HERE!

Ghost Star Night by Nicole Kimberling

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Ghost Star Night by Nicole Kimberling

Blurb:
Desire. Destruction. Destiny.

Thomas Myrdin knows that intrigue is part of life at court, but that doesn’t make his king’s betrayal any easier to take. Yet heartbreak troubles him less than the apocalyptic visions that haunt him. Fiery premonitions that show the world burning in ruins—and the cause, the king’s daughter. Visions and vengeance awaken a strange new power within him, but not even he is sure if he is the kingdom’s savior, the king’s pawn.

Lord Adam Wexley harbors a secret longing for the elegant Thomas, but his duty is to protect the newborn princess. When a sudden threat arises, Adam seeks to procure services of Grand Magician Zachary Drake. Even if it means sacrificing his own soul—and his body.

Drake has seen the worst of kings and courtiers. Now he protects himself with powerful sorcery and the adamant refusal to affiliate with any of the Four Courts. But the grand magician isn’t without weaknesses and Adam may be the one enticement that could draw him to ruin.

In a rising storm of magic with the power to strip away men’s souls, the thread of desire connecting three men could be the kingdom’s last lifeline…

 

 

Review:

Without a doubt this is a stunning piece of fantasy fiction. The fabulous and intricate world building explodes and overwhelms the story as the creativity and imagination of the author expand to offer a new unique, absorbing world. The story itself is just as complex with twists, turns, assassinations, betrayals, possessions, murders, and a thin romance. The short length of the story – a mere 116 pages – doesn’t do the entire plot justice as the romance is definitely the weakest aspect. However, fantasy lovers will clamor for this world and forgive the almost non-existent romance element in favor of the intricate world building.   

The plot is complicated with a large cast of characters and the intricacies of the world often come into play. This is a world with all the seedy court politics where magic, favors, and souls are the currency over money. The city is ruled by four courts of power and the jockeying for power, souls, and position happens almost constantly. The large cast involves kings, heirs, courtiers, magicians, and a bevy of inhabited creatures. Inhabited creatures are animals, insects, and objects inhabited by a human soul that has been stolen, bought, transferred, or bartered. The most precious commodity is a soul and that is also the most often used in negotiations. These apes, spiders, rings, lions, birds, and so on perform a variety of jobs from nanny to driver to family pet. These souls are also the source of power for all magic.

The plot is dense with details and world building. While this fantasy creation is truly wonderful, engaging and fascinating, it is also riddled with information and detail so it’s thick to read. There is a large cast that is all important, many more characters than just the blurb suggests, but they are easy to follow once the basics of the world are established. The theme and central plot at its core is timeless with greed, avarice, and selfish choices of revenge and regret. Although the story changes point of view several times to follow various characters and their thought process, the main character could arguably be Grand Magician Zachary Drake. His point of view offers the most information with regards to the plot while Lord Adam Wexley’s point of view enhances the complexities of the courts and their politics.

For all the wealth of information and characters offered, this is a completely engaging and entertaining read. The ending is slightly complicated, yet beautifully drawn with evocative imagery and a solid resolution. While the plot does have extraneous information, the details add such flavor and color – it’s easy to see where the author got carried away and a pleasurable trip for readers to do so as well. If there is anything lacking, the romance element and characters lack some depth. The intricacy of the plot and world building overwhelms the story, so much so that the characters themselves are often very superficial. Their motivations are explained, but often just stated without the complexity of their personalities. This plays into problems with the shorter length for such a packed story. Along those lines the romance between two of the characters is very superficial and poorly developed. There is almost no chemistry and interest between the two men as politics, intrigue, and soul catching dominate their interactions.

The modern aspects such as cars, cell phones, elevators, clubs, and shops mixed with court politics make for a somewhat jarring reading experience at first until the pacing and flow get their stride. The absentee romance may frustrate some but the brilliant fantasy world should engage readers even over objections. The tight writing and descriptive prose create a story within the story, and a must read for fantasy lovers. Such a complex and creative world demands a sequel (or maybe that’s just me) but hopefully there will be more of this wonderful new fantasy in the future.

 Get it HERE!