Two Book Reviews: Broken: Season One by Kol Anderson

Reviewed by Jen B.

(The series is rated 4.5 STARS – Individual ratings of the books can be found below along with the review.)

SERIES: Broken: Season One
AUTHOR: Kol Anderson
BOOKS: 2
PUBLISHER: Self-published

SERIES BLURB: What doesn’t kill you can still leave you broken.

Aaron Taylor is a rent-boy. The Dream everyone wants to come true. Vincent Greene is the client from hell. The man who wants to make sure that dream ends up BROKEN.

Just when Aaron thinks his life is beginning to make sense, his handler sends him to a new client. Vincent Greene looks like he might just be Aaron’s best client yet, but what Aaron doesn’t know, is that under Vincent’s alluring facade, lurks a heart capable of extreme cruelty.

The Prisoner (Book One, Broken: Season One)

REVIEW:                 

It doesn’t take long for this story to get going. Once Aaron meets Vincent, things happen quickly and not for the better, that’s for sure. This was a super quick read for me, and even though I don’t think it needed to be much more drawn out than it was, there were parts I wish weren’t quite so glossed over.

There are a number of things going on here. Sebastian falls for Aaron the rentboy, but doesn’t want to give up his boyfriend, Eric, who is also cheating with rentboys. Aaron doesn’t want to give up his rentboy ways, for a number of reasons, and then goes to meet his next client, Vincent. Vincent abducts Aaron and attempts to break and turn him into a willing slave for a rich client. Poor Aaron endures an endless amount of pain, not to mention forced drug addiction.

Vincent eventually thinks he has some feelings for Aaron, but will it ever be enough to save him? Not sure. Thankfully, Sebastian has not given up on Aaron and is now convinced something happened and is attempting to find him. So, there are a few different scenarios at play here. Unfortunately, we are left hanging, and I really did not want this story to end where it did. I really hope we don’t have to wait too terribly long to find out what happens with everyone.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Amazon

 

Hell and Beyond (Book Two, Broken: Season One)

REVIEW: 

Wow.  I was on the edge of my seat on this segment. Could poor Aaron handle much more? It seems that he can.  I felt like I wanted to be right there holding his hand, encouraging him to hang on the entire time.  He is so screwed, mentally, physically and every other way possible.

Vincent is one effed up character.  He is the captor/director of all things good and evil to Aaron.  Yet, he has screwed up feeling of his own where Aaron are concerned.  Unfortunately, he is sort of stuck in that it’s either him or Aaron, so of course, he chooses Aaron.

And then there is Carl, supposedly worse than Vincent, if that can be believed.  He is the one putting the pressure on Vincent after all.  But then, wait, what? whoa!  What kind of ending is that?  Grrrr.  Must read the next installment asap!

I will be honest, as I always try to be, and say that I could really care less about what Sebastian and Eric were going through or dealing with.  Those who find these kinds of stories engaging and somewhat addicting, should definitely put this on their list.

BUY LINKS: Amazon

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Three Book Reviews: Calling the Shots Series by S. Dora

Reviewed by Jen B.

SERIES: Calling the Shots
AUTHOR: S. Dora
BOOKS: 3
PUBLISHER: Total E-bound

FACING THE TRUTH (Book One, Calling the Shots series)

BLURB: Sometimes the question being asked, might not be the one that actually needs to be answered.

When twenty-two year old Tom asks his older, conservative lover Isaac for an afternoon of kinky sex, that experience turns out to include much more than bondage, adult toys and spanking.

Both are surprised to discover Isaac’s need to dominate his lover as much as his lover needs to be dominated by him.

Reader Advisory: This story contains a loving, committed relationship between two men with a considerable age difference; some gentle BDSM sex.

REVIEW:

This first book of the series we meet Tom and Isaac, who have been together for about two years.  Isaac is much older than Tom, though it doesn’t really ever seem that way except when Isaac is bringing it up.  Tom asks Isaac to dominate him a little bit.  Isaac is reluctant at first but gives in, wanting to do whatever he can to make Tom happy.  This was a bit awkward at first, as Isaac didn’t really seem to have much of a clue, though you could tell he was trying.

Initially, I thought this was a little on the cheesy side.  But, as the story goes on, it grew on me how these guys were just a couple wanting to test the waters of BDSM.  Neither had any prior experience, though they both trusted each other and wanted to be what the other needed.  After playing at it a little bit, they each seemed to be a bit surprised by how much they were actually turned on by the things they did.

This was a really sweet story about a nice couple that doesn’t want to be the typical dom/sub, in as much as they want to explore that on their own terms.  Quite enjoyable and recommended for those somewhat new to BDSM stories.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Total-E-Bound :: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

THE RIGHT DIRECTION (Book Two, Calling the Shots series)

BLURB: New to BDSM, Dominant Isaac learns how to bring his sub Tom to new heights during a weekend of pain and pleasure.

Now he’s admitted to his lover, Tom—and more importantly, to himself— that he’s willing to explore his Dominant side, Isaac prepares for a weekend during which both he and Tom will stay in their roles as Dominant and submissive. Isaac has a great time selecting the flogger, paddle and cane he’s planning to use.

During their special weekend, Isaac and Tom not only have lots of kinky sex, they also explore D/s outside the bedroom. They are not ready, however, to share this part of their relationship with the outside world.

How will Isaac react when an innocent moment of misunderstanding confronts him with everyday reality?

Publisher’s Note: This series is about a committed and loving relationship between two men with a considerable difference in age. It contains elements of consensual BDSM.

REVIEW:

In this segment, Isaac is taking the bull by the horns and is ready to go further in his position as Tom’s Dom.  He plans a weekend of play where they will keep to the lifestyle for the whole weekend, as opposed to just during sex.  They are each becoming more comfortable in their respective roles, though they still have much to learn.

It is quite enjoyable to watch Tom and Isaac’s kinky relationship grow as they learn each other’s needs and wants.  Tom continues to struggle with topping from the bottom and asking questions instead of simply obeying, but it is fun to watch them work things out.  They do a little edge play this time around, which is fun to watch, even if Tom doesn’t seem to have the patience for it.

This was a nice continuation of the story, and I’m looking forward to the next book.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Total-E-Bound :: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: BECOMING SIR (Book Three, Calling the Shots series)

BLURB: Isaac prefers to keep the D/s part of his relationship with Tom strictly private. One day, however, he reads about a non-commercial BDSM club with a playroom for hire…

Committed couple Isaac and Tom have recently discovered they want to explore BDSM, and especially D/s, as part of their committed relationship. There are still doubts and questions, but Isaac knows how to wield his favourite cane for his submissive’s painful pleasure.

S&M is also a very private thing for the otherwise out and open pair.

That is, until Isaac reads an article about a non-commercial BDSM club. He meets one of the volunteers, who shows him the playroom. He’s impressed by what he sees and decides to give his beloved sub a very special treat.

Their experiences with D/s during the months since Tom first said, “I want you to tell me what to do,” have left a deep and positive impression on both men. One day, Isaac takes a decision that he knows will influence the rest of his life with Tom.

Reader Advisory: This series is about a committed and loving relationship between two men with a considerable difference in age. It contains elements of consensual BDSM.

REVIEW:

This story continues with Isaac and Tom becoming more comfortable with their new roles.  Up until this point, they have steadfastly stuck to keeping their BDSM play a private matter.  This begins to slowly change when Isaac starts giving orders while he is still at work.  He then takes initiative to visit a private club after he receives an invitation.  Once his worries are eased by the club manager, his eyes and ideas are opened once she shows him the playroom and all the available options.

I really loved how each story advanced their comfort level with everything while they still maintained their somewhat low key approach to the lifestyle.  They don’t get into anything real heavy, as these guys take baby steps into this world, each always concerned and caring what is best for the other.  Their trip to the club was fantastic, though, unfortunately, the story ends just when things are about to get interesting.

If you have not read many BDSM stories but are even a little bit interested or curious, I’d suggest giving this sweet loving story a try.  Isaac is still always unsure that Tom will want to stay with him since he is so much older and afraid Tom will basically outgrow him, but Tom is always sure to remind him this is not the case and that he only wants to travel this road if Isaac is the one traveling with him.  It is quite an enjoyable ride, and I’m really hoping to see more of this story unfold.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Total-E-Bound

==================================
Jennifer B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: Trusting Thomas by K.C. Wells

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Trusting Thomas
SERIES: Collars and Cuffs #2
AUTHOR: K.C. Wells
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 282 Pages
BLURB: Christmas is a time for goodwill to all, but Collars and Cuffs co-owner Thomas Williams receives an unexpected gift that chills him to the bone. A Dom from another Manchester club asks Thomas for his help rescuing an abused submissive, Peter Nicholson. Thomas takes in the young man as a favor to a friend, offering space and time to heal, but he makes it clear he’s never had a sub and doesn’t want one.

Peter finds Thomas’s home calm and peaceful, but his past has left him unwilling to trust another Dom. When Thomas doesn’t behave as Peter expects, Peter’s nightmares begin to fade, and he decides he’d like to learn more about D/s life. A well-known trainer of submissives, Thomas begins to teach Peter, but as the new submissive opens up to him, Thomas finds he cares more for Peter than he should. Just as he decides it’s time to find a permanent Dom for Peter, they discover Peter’s tormentor is still very much a threat. With their lives in danger, Thomas can’t deny his feelings for Peter any longer. The question now becomes, can Peter make it out of the lions’ den alive, so that Thomas can tell his boy that he loves him?

REVIEW:

This story centers around Peter, a 26 year old who has been in an extremely abusive, slavish at times, BDSM relationship with dom Curtis.  Another dom, Steven, notices and questions Curtis’ treatment of Peter while attending a party and eventually finds a way to remove Peter from the situation.  He turns to his friend Thomas, part owner of Collars & Cuffs, whom we met in book 1.

Thomas is a bit older at 56, but he has a stellar reputation as a trainer of doms and subs and agrees to take on training Peter.  I don’t think Thomas quite realized what he was getting into with Peter or the extent of the damage that was done to him previously.  But he steps up to the plate and finds alternative ways to help Peter work through his issues.  Mostly he provides some structure as Peter gains confidence and becomes more comfortable with BDSM.  Turns out that he had the complete opposite understanding of what it was all about, and Thomas begins his training by showing him how things should be.

Peter is a total sweetheart.  I wanted to peek in his diary myself just to see what he had gone through in one lump, as opposed to the crumbs we are fed.  Curtis was a horrific dom and just not a good person.  Peter slowly gets stronger with the help of Thomas, and it is a joy to watch.

Honestly, I felt like there was actually even less BDSM action in this story than in the first.  I didn’t actually find that a problem though, as it fit perfectly with this story.  Again, this story centers around Peter’s recovery and issues with the actual BDSM taking a back seat.  Thomas must find ways to show Peter the lifestyle that don’t involve pain or humiliation, so he turns to toys and other less-invasive methods, and when some of Peter’s issues prevent him from being comfortable outside of the house, Thomas works around that by not taking him to the Club.

These guys both seemed right for each other.  One of their biggest obstacles after Peter’s issues was the age gap.  Thirty years is a big gap, and the issue comes up more than once.  It never really felt like that much while I was reading, so I never had an issue with it myself.  For now, these guys make a nice couple where they both need each other for different things.  They still have a lot to work through, but they are certainly on the right path.  There is very little sex here, but I didn’t miss it.  I truly just wanted to see Peter get his life back on track and get past his time with Curtis.  Speaking of Curtis, things seemed to wrap up a bit quickly where he was concerned.

It was really nice seeing Leo and Alex again, as happy as they were when we left them in the first book.  We meet a few new characters, and I was left wondering and looking forward to who would be next.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press :: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Pre-release Review: Promise of Forever by May Ridge

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Promise of Forever
SERIES: Proud to be a Vampire
AUTHOR: May Ridge
PUBLISHER: Less Than Three Press
LENGTH: 17,000 words
BLURB: Eduard is living a boring, routine life and sees no way out of it. Everything changes the night he finds Theo, a newly turned vampire who has no clue what being a vampire entails. Eduard takes Theo in and helps track down his missing boyfriend—only to be confronted with a past he would have preferred stay buried.

REVIEW:

This short story is part of the Proud to be a Vampire bundle.  It starts with Eduard finding newly turned Theo, who was abandoned by his Maker and is in need of guidance.  Eduard decides to help Theo, seeing it as an opportunity to bring some spark back into his boring life.  He decides to help Theo find his missing Maker.  They become close during their search, but before they get too involved, they find Neil, who also happens to be Neils, Eduard’s fledgling and previous lover.

Neils thought he found someone to spend forever with but apparently panicked and ran after he turned Theo.  Ironically, he did the same cut and run act on Eduard for being afraid of the very same thing.  Realizing now that forever is what he really wants with Eduard, and that he still loves Theo as well, he and Theo essentially decide to make Eduard their third.

While this is technically a threesome, they don’t actually do anything more than kiss.  I really wish there was more to this story, as it felt as though a lot was left out and I wasn’t ready for things to end when they did.  It moves along and covers ground nicely for a short story, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a more detailed drawn out version of this, or a continuation of how things are working out.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Less Than Three Press

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: My Hero by Max Vos

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: My Hero
AUTHOR: Max Vos
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 189 Pages
BLURB: When he was sixteen years old, Rich Miller saved a young man from drowning at his local pool. Little did he know that years later, as a senior in college and Olympic diving hopeful, Rich would meet up once again with Johnny Milloway, now a big football player – and when Rich says big, he really means ‘bear’. The shy jock remembers his savior, and the two men become friends.

Johnny isn’t put off by the fact that Rich is gay. In fact, the more time he spends with Rich, the more curious he becomes. Johnny wants to know all kinds of things – what it’s like to kiss a guy, for instance. Only it doesn’t stop there…

Rich finds it difficult to believe that this relationship can go anywhere. Johnny is straight, and Rich isn’t prepared to deal with the heartache he knows will come his way in the future. He has enough on his plate as it is – the Worlds are just around the corner, his father would rather watch a football game than spend time watching his son dive…. What he doesn’t count on is Johnny, who can be very determined. And having Johnny in his life proves to be a catalyst for some pretty earth-shattering changes.

REVIEW:

This was a really sweet story. Johnny and Rich become really good friends once they meet again in college. Johnny is this big football guy and just a big softy teddy bear who pays no attention to Rich being gay, but instead focuses on how Rich saved his life years before. He makes it clear from the start to all of his friends that anyone going after Rich will have to go through him.

Rich is a star athlete himself with hopes of making the Olympic diving team. Johnny and Rich team up working out and just generally enjoying their friendship. That is, until one day when Johnny’s curiosity gets the better of him and he asks Rich to show him what it’s like to be with another guy. Afraid to ruin their friendship, Rich hesitates, though not for very long. This story starts out very sweet and innocent, but when they make their sex date, that all changes.

I loved everything Rich did to make Johnny’s first time a wonderful and memorable experience. He was such a sweetheart, and Johnny matched him well in that department. There is a scene with powdered donuts that had me drooling and wishing I had some of my own donuts at home.

Things go fairly well for Johnny and Rich until Johnny starts questioning himself and whether he is actually gay or not. This leads to some almost irreparable bad decisions, and, unfortunately, this is where I felt myself questioning things and finding certain actions hard to believe. But thankfully, that doesn’t last long.

Johnny’s family is fantastic, especially his feisty cousin. In addition to being supportive of both Rich and their son not only being gay, but being together, they are instrumental in bringing Rich and his father back in touch.

Overall, this was just a very enjoyable feel-good story. I absolutely loved watching Johnny learn things about himself and how Rich never pushed him into any of it but just let it happen, guiding him along the way. The writing is smooth, and the story moves along at a nice pace. I’ll definitely be reading more of Max’s stories.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: Fear by Edward Kendrick

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Fear
AUTHOR: Edward Kendrick
PUBLISHER: Silver Publishing
LENGTH: 189 Pages
BLURB: Shawn Mathews is in an abusive relationship, spurning all attempts to help him until his lover almost beats him to death.

Doctor Gene Collins understands what Shawn has gone through, and after the beating he takes him under his wing, trying to help him to regain control of his life and live without fear.

In the process each man learns it is possible to care for someone and that caring can lead to healing, for both of them.

REVIEW:

This was a really sweet story.  Poor Shawn was so disillusioned by Jared and what he believed was a normal loving relationship.  Jared, of course, was an abusive bastard, both physically and mentally, and while quite a lot of abuse takes place, there are not a lot of details given in that respect.  Eventually, Jared goes too far and puts Shawn in the hospital.

Gene Collins, a man with a similar past abusive relationship, sees signs of the same thing happening to Shawn when they meet somewhat by chance.  When Shawn is hospitalized, Gene, who is also a doctor, recognizes their common bond and is determined to be there for him to help him recover and move on.  It takes Shawn a while initially to see his way out of his relationship with Jared.  Lucky for him, he finds friends who care and want to help him take back his life.

Gene doesn’t want to be a rebound lover or for Shawn to become dependent upon him after Jared, so he keeps things on an extremely friends only level.  So, these guys take a long time getting to know each other.  They don’t kiss until later in the story, and there is no sex until the very end.  Unfortunately, I had a difficult time feeling a connection with them.  Gene seemed much older than his age, and while they were sweet together, I never really saw any spark.

There really isn’t a whole lot more to this story other than Shawn healing and becoming stronger mentally and physically.  There are a few setbacks, but he grows stronger with each one.  Hurt/comfort lovers will probably really enjoy this, as well as those who enjoy watching couples take things slow.

Jen rates it – 

BUY LINKS: Silver Publishing :: Amazon

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: The Price by Dominique Frost

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: The Price
AUTHOR: Dominique Frost
PUBLISHER: Loose ID
LENGTH: 74 Pages
BLURB: Cale is a serving-boy at a high-class brothel in the city of Havisham. He isn’t one of the courtesans, largely because he’s too clumsy to manage seducing anyone, but he does his best as a servant, keeping the wine-glasses filled and the guests happy.

Everything changes when the warlord Darren Kaine visits the establishment. Darren is the new ruler of Havisham and is a brusque, commanding man. Fresh from a war that’s lasted over six months, Darren is in no mood for frippery, and chooses Cale to accompany him for the night, rather than any of the courtesans on display.

Indeed, Darren so prefers Cale’s straightforwardness and simplicity that he decides to make Cale his concubine, and to have Cale visit him at the palace, every night. Stunned by this new turn of events, Cale is further confused by his body’s reactions to Darren. Darren is darkly handsome, sexually demanding and absolutely committed to giving his partner pleasure – a fact that has Cale looking forward to his time with Darren, perhaps more than he ought to.

Darren, too, is in danger of forgetting that Cale is just a tool he uses to slake his lust. For a new ruler, every action comes with a price. Will this one be too steep to pay?

REVIEW:

This was a really sweet story.  New ruler of the City, Darren, picks serving boy, Cale, after finding the fancier options just not doing anything for him.  He was looking for something a little more genuine that he didn’t have to worry about courting and being all proper with.  He is a bit rough around the edges, as compared to the other nobles.

Cale is such a sweet thing, somewhat naïve in the ways of sex, having not actually been a courtesan.  He has a quick wit that I found as enjoyable as Darren did.  These two make a great pair and seem perfect for each other.

When Cale thwarts attempts on Darren’s life, things begin to change for them.  Darren begins to see there is much more to Cale than he originally thought.  Unfortunately, he has to struggle with keeping his kingdom happy, and due to a prior betrayal that cost him most of his family and the City, he is afraid to consider any deeper feelings for Cale.  The old saying came to mind “if you love something, set it free.”

I just adored Cale and the way he interacted with Darren.  This short story pulled me in quickly and moved along at a nice pace to the end.  All around, this was just a really enjoyable little fantasy.

Jen rates it –

BUY LINKS: Loose-Id :: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: Roughing It by Holden Wells

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Roughing It
AUTHOR: Holden Wells
PUBLISHER: Hela Press
LENGTH: 134 Pages
BLURB: Scott Thompson, guitarist for multi-platinum-selling metal band Flesh Hook, has always been addicted to the adrenaline rush: drag racing, motocross, big game hunts in the African floodplains. He’s broken bones, nearly died of exposure, and seared half his leg in a wreck. Nearing forty, he’s finding it harder to feed the thrill. Enter The Company, an organization specializing in custom adventure rides—the kind where you sign a waiver absolving them of everything short of death before you get on.

Company redneck Johnny Lee loves his job, and he’s damned good at it. He’s run rides for politicians, celebrities, CEOs and trust-fund kids and never broken character or had a complaint. He expects the Thompson ride to be more of the same—another rock star, this one so full of himself he’s signed up for 48 hours, an unprecedented amount of time on the Deliverance set. Rock stars break easily, though, especially the full-of-themselves kind.

Everyone breaks more easily than they expect.

Even Johnny Lee.

REVIEW:

Scott has a fantasy, and it has to do with a theme involving Deliverance.  He books a three-day session with The Company to fulfill that fantasy, unbeknownst to his manager who usually books everything for him.  So, Scott signs the paperwork basically saying that anything goes short of death.  Sounds pretty crazy, but whatever.

Scott’s fantasy ride begins as three rednecks capture him and take him to a remote house in the woods, true Deliverance style.  There is pain involved, though the majority of it is caused by Scott himself.  There is some rough sex, a few light beatings and some doses of humiliation.  One of his captors and the seeming ring leader, Johnny Lee, appears to have a soft spot for Scott, actually breaking character and not sticking around for the bad stuff the other two dished out.  Johnny is accused by the other two of going soft and being too intimate with their prisoner, and aside from fighting and kissing, they don’t really have that much contact.

This is a bit different from other stories I’ve read in that Scott is actually looking for this treatment.  When offered chances to get away, he won’t take them, yet, every chance he gets, he tries to escape.  I think he was just trying to fulfill his fantasy to the fullest but often felt confused by his actions.

When Scott’s fantasy ride is over, Johnny Lee shows up to take Scott to the airport, going against Company policy by having any contact with a customer.  He liked what he saw in Scott though and was willing to take a chance in order to keep in touch with Scott.

I felt the ending was a bit open-ended, but there is a sequel planned that will continue the story of Scott and Johnny Lee where Scott books the Prison Ride which I look forward to reading.  This story is well written and fairly graphic.  I didn’t feel there was anything overly cringe-worthy here, but then I’m used to reading darker, edgier stories.  If you’re looking to dip your toes into the water of this type of theme, which is a little on the darker side, but not quite looking to go all the way into the deep end of darker stories, give this one a try.

Jen rates it – 

BUY LINKS: Smashwords :: Amazon

==================================
Jennifer B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: F.A.S.T. Balls by Tara Lain

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: F.A.S.T. Balls
SERIES: Balls to the Wall # 5
AUTHOR: Tara Lain
PUBLISHER: Etopia Press
LENGTH: 47,194 words
BLURB: F.A.S.T. — Firefighter Assist and Search Team

Firefighter and surfing champion, Jerry Wallender, looks like a hero to the world, but he can’t see it. He keeps falling for these intellectual guys who end up making him feel dumb and unneeded. On top of that, Mick Cassidy, super-gorgeous firefighter and total homophobe, makes Jerry’s life miserable with his slurs. Then one day Mick’s nice to Jerry and, at the Firefighter’s Ball, Jerry offers a helping hand and ends up with a hand-job. What the hell is going on?

Mick Cassidy is great with fighting fires and solving math problems but rotten with people. Raised by a gay-hating preacher, Mick’s carefully constructed world of gay bashing starts to crumble when he meets Jerry, the nicest, kindest man he’s ever known. Mick’s never wanted a woman and can’t stop thinking about sex with Jerry. In fact, he can’t stop doing it. Does that make him gay? And if he’s gay, what happens to his whole life? A hook-up between sweet Jerry and mean Mick might be total disaster — or the smartest idea Jerry ever had.

REVIEW:

If you’ve read this series, you will recognize all of these guys from previous books.  Sweetheart fireman, Jerry, has dealt with fellow fireman Mick’s hateful slurs and hurtful remarks.  I’ll start by saying the first quarter of this book is a bit difficult to get through.  Jerry has just been dumped by his boyfriend, is constantly putting himself down and repeating over and over how stupid he is.  Then there is Mick, constantly going on with the gay hating comments, fag this, fag that.  Honestly, it gets really old, and I almost stopped reading at this point.

But, I trudged on, and I was glad I did.  We quickly learn the reasons behind Mick’s beliefs and behavior.  Hearing about how he was raised and how he still lives where his family is concerned was almost unbelievable if I didn’t know similar compounds actually existed.  After Mick meets Hunter and then Jerry, he begins to struggle with what he was always taught and what he sees in these men.  Thankfully, he continues to question it, as well as his own feelings towards men in general.

It was really sweet how Jerry introduced Mick to all things sexual.  They were really good together, but this story is mostly about the way Mick sees through everything he was ever taught, everything that has been preached to him, and takes charge of his own life.

It was nice to see the other guys again, and we even meet a few new characters.  While this was a much tougher read overall, it was well written, and if you can stick through the difficult beginning, you’ll really enjoy how this one turns out.

Jen rates it – 

BUY LINKS: Etopia Press :: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

==================================
Jennifer B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

Book Review: Painting Fire on the Air by J. P. Barnaby

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Painting Fire On the Air
SERIES: Survivor Stories
AUTHOR: J.P. Barnaby
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner
LENGTH: 200 Pages
BLURB: A Survivor Story

From her perch on a shelf above my bed, the doll accuses me with lifeless eyes of failing Juliette in the most heinous way imaginable, forcing me to crave the bite of his whip and the steel in his voice to drown out the ache in my chest.

For his entire life, Benjamin Martin’s parents drilled into his head that he must watch out for his little sister, but one horrific night, he failed. Now, the bite of a whip, cuffs digging into his wrists, his arms and legs stretched beyond endurance, these things give him what he needs to forget his sister’s violent death, at least for a while.

When Ben’s latest Dom casts him aside like a broken toy, he manipulates his best friend, Jude Archer, into picking up the pieces. Jude has been in love with Ben for years, but his fantasies about his friend never included whipping him. He doesn’t understand why Ben needs BDSM and he worries about Ben’s addiction. Most of all, he fears losing his humanity because he’s already lost himself in Ben. When he’s forced to trade the marks upon his soul for the pain that ravages Ben, Jude learns the real definition of submission.

REVIEW:

Ben is suffering from heavy guilt and the loss of his younger sister for which he feels responsible.  He has tried different ways to cope with his suffering, but has found the best thing to keep the bad feelings and dreams at bay are somewhat hardcore BDSM session.

Ben lives with his friend, Jude.  Despite one night of crazy sex, the two have remained best friends, neither wanting to give up or lose the friendship by taking things further.  Things have been working fairly well until, due to certain circumstances, Ben’s Dom, Kage, breaks their contract, leaving Ben floundering.

The real struggle here is between Ben and Jude, who decide to take things further but find out that there are other factors involved that could prevent them from making thing work.  Jude has wanted and been in love with Ben for a while, and now he finally has him.  Unfortunately, Ben’s issues are still front and center, with Jude trying hard to understand and contemplate his own capabilities of being able to provide what Ben needs.

First, it was extremely refreshing to see a different aspect to BDSM than I have ever seen before.  The scenes were, by far, my favorite part of this story, and I really wish they were longer or that there were more of them.  They feel so real and paint such a vivid picture that I almost feel as if I’m in the room watching from the sidelines (or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part).

I wasn’t too sure how I felt about Jude trying to be a Dom for Ben’s sake, as he was pretty uncomfortable with the end results the majority of the time, even if he got off on actually doing it.  But, in the end, he finds ways to give Ben what he needs in ways that he is able to cope with himself.  At the same time, I could genuinely feel his confidence growing as time went on.

I initially liked Kage a lot, but that quickly changed with his actions right up to the end.  Giovanni (or Gio), however, the Dom he recommended Jude contact for assistance and guidance, his hot stuff.  I would love to see a story about him and/or Sal, Inferno’s owner.  They both seem to be the real deal.

You can easily tell the research and/or experience has been done when reading Barnaby’s stories, and it’s a joy to feel that way when reading them.  I couldn’t get my greedy hands on this story fast enough, and I’ll feel the same when the next book comes out.

Jen rates it – 

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press

==================================
Jen B. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: JENNIFER B’S REVIEWS
=====================================================