not recommended

Incubus by Rick R. Reed

3 Comments

Incubus by Rick R. Reed

Blurb:

What if…a stranger with a knife ripped away the love of your life?

What if…that love came back to you?

What if…that love looked the same, but you knew it couldn’t really be him?

Incubus is the haunting—and haunted—tale of Oliver and Ryan, a young couple who have traveled to Montreal from Chicago to get married. It’s late and they’re on their way home from their honeymoon, and their trip on Chicago’s el trains and subways is fraught with strange characters, one a biker-jacket-clad man who urges them to “Get close to Lucifer!” But the oddest stranger they encounter is a man in a zippered leather mask who waits for them in an underground parking garage with a knife. Only one of the men will emerge from this encounter alive.

Oliver’s depression overwhelms him, having seen his hope for a new life with his new husband squashed in an instant. He feels so alone. Or is he? When Ryan begins to appear to him again in the dark, and to make love to him, Oliver is happy…and in denial. He ignores this new Ryan’s cold touch, his strange eyes, and the odd burns Ryan’s touch leaves on his skin.

Has Oliver’s despair and desire for his lost love opened a door to something dark and terrifying? Is the Ryan who returns to him really the Ryan he loves, or a demonic imposter? And when love is brutally ripped away, will Oliver decide it doesn’t matter?

With Incubus, Rick R. Reed merges his talent for horror with a tragic love story and the result is…chilling… 


 

incu… what? .. so many times no

Maybe by JM Snyder

Leave a comment

Maybe by JM Snyder

Blurb:

Josh and DeMar fell in love while working together on the set of Gimme Moor, a stage production with which they toured for six long months. But something happened between them during the tour, turning their idyllic romance into a strained relationship until Josh could no longer take it and he left.

Weeks after the show has closed, DeMar calls Josh from the airport to pick him up — he’s in town and wants to visit, despite the arguments that tore them apart. He wants a second chance, but Josh isn’t so sure DeMar’s the one to blame for their break-up.

Can they somehow find what it was they had together in the beginning before they lose it all?

 

 

Review:

Although I’m a fan of Snyder’s, not every story works and unfortunately this particular offering fell flat. The short story is told in third person point of view from Josh’s perspective but is written in present tense. This may cause some readers pause, as it’s not always a reader favorite. The writing tense is awkward and lends to a slightly jarring reading experience. Past tense would have read easier but the choice is not a reason to avoid the short. Sadly the characters and story itself fell flat, unable to evoke the emotion and sentiment it was attempting.

Josh and DeMar were a couple for a few months while touring for a Shakespeare musical production. However, the tension between the two increased as the tour went on until Josh walked out, frustrated with the arguments. Now DeMar drops in unannounced to visit Josh and has more than one interesting proposal.

Problems with this short story begin with the characters and carry through to the lack of action presented. DeMar as a character is non-existent. His motivations and thoughts are never explored and Josh is too deeply mired in self-pity to actually consider reasons for DeMar’s actions. Josh left DeMar frustrated with the growing separation and escalating arguments towards the final weeks of their musical tour. Apparently DeMar didn’t attempt to talk to Josh at the time nor ask Josh why he was leaving. Instead the two break up without any further communication. So why DeMar would simply re-appear weeks after the production ended doesn’t make much sense.

Neither does it make sense that Josh would cave and let the man back into his life and bed almost immediately. Josh spends the entire story mired in angst as he whines that he wasn’t strong enough to help DeMar with his stress. Never mind that DeMar pushed him aside with actions, words, and arguments. No, Josh must be to blame – more so than DeMar – for the demise of their relationship and thus Josh must forgive himself for them to get back together. This line of reasoning was baffling and beyond frustrating. The lack of self confidence and ego Josh suffers from to constantly blame himself for DeMar’s actions was annoying as well as the fact that the men never actually discuss the factors that led to their breaking up.

The story lingers on with Josh’s self-recriminations and DeMar’s open seduction without much point. It’s not a stretch to say the two do get back together, once Josh can move beyond his own guilt for walking out. Unfortunately nothing really has been resolved and no doubt the two will again be in the same situation but the sex apparently is rather good so perhaps that will tide them over. This frustrating story annoyed me, although perhaps it won’t annoy others quite the same degree, but the repeated whining that Josh wasn’t strong enough or good enough to help DeMar was aggravating.

This short story reads like one the author had written some time before and not reflective of some better, more recent works. While this particular story didn’t work for me, I’m a fan of the author’s so I expect perhaps another story will. Considering how prolific she is, there are bound to be hits and misses. This one is a solid miss and I’d suggest skipping it to wait for the next offering. 

Get it HERE!

 

Man’s Best Friend by PA Brown

9 Comments

Man’s Best Friend by PA Brown 

Blurb:

New Mexico, the land of enchantment weaves a spell of love around Todd Richards and Dr. Keith Anderson as they struggle to make their love work amid terrible loss, betrayal and rustlers and make their dream of a bed & breakfast in Santa Fe a reality.

 

 

 

Review:

There are so many problems with this book I’m not sure where to begin. Perhaps with the truly hideous cover art that preschoolers put together with picture cut outs. For a press that prides themselves on their quality, I’ve yet to see these dominating displays unfortunately and the cover art is just one area. This book is actually a DNF. I got about halfway and realized this book was not worth my time as it was that bad. Also by that point, I simply couldn’t have cared any less about the characters so I wasn’t going to spend anymore time to finish their ridiculous story. What is most surprising is that this is by an established author – who I liked! What happened to her?

Anyway, the book is about a new to town vet, Kevin that meets with Dobie owner Todd. The two hit it off immediately and engage in rampant, raunchy sex before falling in love. Tragedy strikes Kevin and the two end up moving to New Mexico to start a bed and breakfast inn together. I stopped here so what happens in the last 100 pages at the Inn, I couldn’t say.

The plot is weak and the characterization is non-existent. The story is told from Todd’s point of view but neither man is well developed and the author surprisingly chooses to spend the majority of the first half depicting sex scenes in cringe inducing language. The story has some tense problems and the initial part jumps between present and past tense, some of which is exacerbated by the use of the first person narrator. The biggest problems that detract are the language choices. Many of the descriptions are awkward with unattractive prose and the first person point of view, in this case, is too intimate. Examples of prose that is not attractive or enticing and often forget the condom they have on:

I pulled away as he arched his entire body in release. I watched as his cock spewed out gobs of thick, hot cum. I smeared it all over his washboard stomach and abs. Leaning down I licked a path up to his turgid nipples, while he continued to pump out thick, gluey fluid. Five, six times his cock spasmed and poured juice all over himself and me. I released his softening cock and slid up his body, smearing it even more, coating us both in hot, salty cum. I captured his mouth in a kiss that left us both breathless. I rolled him over and pressed my hard cock against the soft skin of his ass.

[…]

The bed undulated wildly under us, and I clamped my legs around his waist, pumping with my ass as my own pleasure mounted. Then it broke out into a starburst of pleasure, and exquisite pain, as wave after wave of release slammed through me. My cock twitched and jerked as I came, pumping what felt like gallons of cum onto my chest, face, and hair.

[…]

I arched away from him, ripping open the condom pack and unrolling it over my bulging cock. Slathering my fingers with lube, I explored Keith’s damp hole, then lathered my cock with more lube. I eased the cock head in, past the ring of muscle, pausing long enough to let his body adjust to me. Then I sank into him and began to pump.

[…]

He used the copious amounts of precum off my cock to coat his hand, and slid it between my ass cheeks. He shoved two coated fingers up my hole.

I threw back my head and rode his hand, bucking and twisting, as he worked me harder and deeper. He had never been so relentlessly aggressive in his possession of me. When he replaced his hand with the head of his cock, I growled. He shoved it into me.

[…]

His tongue worked into me, digging and probing, sending wave after wave of raw lust singing along my nerve endings.

[…]

Ropey cum shot out of his straining cock all over my stomach and chest, and the sudden tightening of his ass sent me over the edge. I shouted his name and slammed into him, holding his straining legs high over his thrashing head as I poured my liquid seed into his hot, wet hole. We collapsed on the bed, our bodies glued together. I made no move to extricate myself from him.

 

There are also several continuity errors in the book. The time line of days seems fluid and without much structure, causing some confusion and I was left wondering if I’d missed part of the book, until the men meet up at a dog event on a beautiful Sunday. They go immediately to have sex and spend the night together, yet the next morning after about a page of detail about the eggs, bacon, toast, and brimming cups of coffee, there is a comment “Nine,” he said, glancing at the wall clock. It was eight-fifteen on a Friday morning.

So it was Sunday night last night and the next morning it’s Friday morning. All of this occurred within the first thirty pages and the sheer volume of examples that could have been included is staggering. For an author I have previously enjoyed quite a bit, I’m shocked at the lack of solid writing and tight editing. There are obvious errors (such as the continuity problem) that should have been caught on reading let alone the writing and editing process.

Moving on with the story, the two men admit the day after their first night together (mere days from their first meeting), that although neither is experienced, they’re both convinced the connection between them is love. Here, Kevin is a thirty something vet who is a virgin, never giving or receiving in gay sex, which leaves much to be wondered about his previous experiences. He then immediately tells his parents about Todd after they’ve declared their love, which prompts Kevin’s parents to call and grill Todd about his job prospects and ambition. This entire scene is unbelievable, beyond reality and cemented the lack of depth to the men and the story.

The lack of weight to the various details included is shown over and over in the minute and frankly unimportant bits of information that litter the story. Frequently the men are seen eating and there are extended descriptions of the food which just serve to give the story a boring and superficial layer of information. Repeated descriptions of food without action or conversation are superfluous when adding nothing to the story as is the case here.

These are some very brief excerpts from longer examples:

We dug in, and I found I had a developed a hearty appetite, which necessitated a full helping of omelet, tomatoes, and bacon, several butter-slathered pieces of sourdough toast, and two brimming mugs of coffee.

Keith proved to be an excellent cook. He grilled the salmon steaks on my barbecue, tossed the watercress with a light vinaigrette dressing he whipped up in my blender, and boiled the new potatoes. He served them with butter and chives.

Tonight it was stuffed manicotti shells with herbed spinach and cheese filling. I’d made up a fresh pitcher of ice tea—we made it a habit not to drink at every meal. Everything in moderation, you know. Well, except for sex. We hadn’t gotten around to moderating that yet. 

“So, did you have a busy day?” I asked, spooning some extra sauce onto my pasta, along with a generous sprinkling of Parmigiana Reggiano—until Keith, I’d never realized there were top-shelf cheeses right up there with premier wines.

 

At this point, ~page 60, the emotional upheaval of the book is in full swing with the death of Kevin’s parents right before their big visit. However, the parents still had time to rewrite their will and include the barely known boyfriend of their son.  

He cleared his throat. “Er, yes. At any rate, they had me draw up another will. I can go over the details later today in myoffice, but the crux of the document is simple. The entire estate is deeded to you, Keith, as their sole heir, with the exception of this property.” Bartlett’s washed out blue eyes scanned the cozy living room, with its infusion of southwest artifacts and decor. “This, and the ten acres surrounding it, are deeded to Mr. Todd Richards and you, sir. Your parents gave it to both of you equally.”

At this point, Kevin freaks out and kicks Todd out, back to San Francisco. However, not to worry Kevin comes back with a ring and a blowjob and all is wonderful again for the two as they plan to open up a bed and breakfast. This is about halfway through the book and I question do I really care what happens with the bed and breakfast and can I really stand more horrific writing? The answers are no and no.

Ultimately, the plot is utterly ridiculous and the writing is horrible. I have read other books by PA Brown, even a stunning BDSM themed mystery, and yet this book almost points to an entirely new author. I’m shocked this is under the same name as books I really enjoyed. The raunchy and cringe inducing sex descriptions filled the first 50 pages of the book, to the exclusion of any plot development or characterizations. In between the sex, mundane details and inane conversations filled the pages.

I could go on but you get the point. I can’t recommend this book and this is likely to color my opinion of the author (it was that bad). Why did no one catch this? 

 

Wearing Death by Jamie Craig

Leave a comment

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!

 

Addison Albright’s Cultivating Love

5 Comments

Cultivating Love by Addison Albright

Blurb:

A man of few words, Joe is a hard-working farmhand who likes his simple, uncomplicated life. Ed is satisfied with his existence as an auto mechanic, but thrilled when an unexpected development in his life allows him to help Joe realize a dream.

It forces them, however, to reevaluate the casual, undefined nature of their relationship. They’re too macho to speak of love, and neither would ever dream of acknowledging he doesn’t really mind when it’s his turn to bottom. When life throws them a curve ball, and the rules of their game get old, Ed makes an effort to take every aspect of their relationship up a notch. Will Joe be able to adapt to the open sentimentality Ed’s injecting into their relationship, let alone the new spice in their bedroom activities?

 

never blow your nuts in your pants..

The Janitor by Jan Irving

2 Comments

The Janitor by Jan Irving

Blurb:

I’m a naturally optimistic type of person, you know? Yeah, I think good things will happen, only they usually don’t. Take Noel: even though he’s educated and rich and he don’t think he’s even gay, I want to belong to him. I want him to take me completely—Dane Connelly

Dane Connelly is a gay janitor and boxer with a soft heart and a simple outlook–he wants to meet the right man, someone who will look past his macho sport and put him in the place of a submissive. He wants to fall in love and belong to his partner.

On the surface, Noel Atherton, an intellectual, shy, and sexually repressed university graduate student with a crippled leg, could not be the dominant lover that Dane longs for. But after their first meeting, when Dane disables the fire alarm in the library and lights a cigarette, Noel is drawn from his shell. Soon, Noel needs to touch Dane, exploring his sexuality for the first time. And both learn that looks can be deceiving.

However, Noel’s controlling father is appalled by the relationship and quietly arranges to get Dane out of the way and punish him for daring to love a man so far above his station.

 

Reminder to never buy a book for the cover…

Soldier by AKM Miles

3 Comments

 Soldier by AKM Miles

Blurb:

Soldier is a loner, scarred, damaged and aimless when he discovers someone is using the house on the property he has come to town to investigate. Staying to look into the situation adds more to his life than he ever dreamed possible, leaving him championing seven boys whose lives had been as ravaged as his. Suddenly his life has purpose, meaning.

The other unexpected development is Dillon. Resigned to a life spent alone, it’s hard for him to wrap his mind around the fact that Dillon returns his feelings. Every minute spent counseling and protecting the boys makes Soldier’s life richer, but it makes it hard to spend time with Dillon. Can he find a way to take his new life and make it everything he wants it to be?

 

This calls for epic proportions..