Book Review: Six Degrees of Separation by Taylor V. Donovan

Reviewed by Susan

TITLE: Six Degrees of Separation
AUTHOR: Taylor V. Donovan
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 397 pages

BLURB: In the sequel to Six Degrees of Lust, F.B.I. team leader Samuel Shaughnessy and bar manager Machlan O’Bannon are exploring a new phase in their non-relationship. The intention is to take it slowly but power plays are still their favorite activity, and it isn’t long before lines begin blurring. After ending their friends with benefits agreement no rules are left in place to guide them, and soon enough the only thing that’s clear is that neither man is fighting hard enough to reestablish the boundaries.

Their particular situations haven’t improved in the three months since their first encounter. Sam is still focused on his immediate family issues, and everything indicates Mac will have to go to war with his own family before he can reclaim his freedom. The last thing they need is additional complications.

But when the opening of a night club brings Mac to New York City and a break in the Leviticus investigation leads Sam to Houston, they discover how closely their worlds have been connected from the very beginning. Hiding from the life-altering collision is not an option. Will they take the easier road and go their separate ways, or will they come to terms with their past and take a chance on each other?

REVIEW:

I love this series.

It’s just SO GOOD at entertaining!

After book 1, I was hooked on all the characters, and I gotta say, book 2 did not disappoint when it came to giving all the cast a little love.

Mac and Sam – awwwww…it’s so good to see their relationship evolve. I admit that some of Sam’s antics and uncertainties got OLD and I wanted to knock some sense into him. But, when that man gives in…he totally gives in…and it’s beautiful and sweet.

But this book also had the treat of all our favorites…our hottie NY FBI team and our hottie Houston restaurant/club owners all finding a little lovin’. AND FINALLY figuring out how everyone is interconnected…that felt like a *sigh*-inducing moment.  1 ¾ books of skirting around the concept of six degrees of separation was getting frustrating.  But when the ‘aha’ moments started happening, I felt satisfied.

Taylor V. Donovan continues on with the Leviticus murder mystery plot and it gets GOOD! As a lot of the pieces starting falling into place, I found myself screaming “Oh sh*t” on numerous occasions!  There is some crazy stuff going on here!  I’m dying to find out what happens next!

And there’s the one thing I’m grouchy about:  the story clearly isn’t over and knowing I’m done w/ a newly-released book 2  (meaning book 3 is gonna take awhile)…well…URGH!  I want…I NEED more!

Susan’s Rating:

BUY LINK: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks 

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

=====================================================

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Pre-Release Review: Strong Enough by Cardeno C

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: Strong Enough
AUTHOR: Cardeno C
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner
BLURB:
When twenty-two-year-old Emilio Sanchez sees handsome Spencer Derdinger walking by his construction site, Emilio makes it his goal to seduce the shy professor. Getting Spencer into bed isn’t difficult, but Emilio soon learns that earning the trust of a man deeply hurt will take time and patience. With a prize like brilliant, sweet Spencer on the line, Emilio decides he is strong enough to face the challenge.

Spencer is surprised when he’s approached by the gorgeous construction worker he’s admired from the safety of his office window. Acting spontaneously for the first time in his thirty-eight years, Spencer takes Emilio home. When the casual hookup turns into the potential for love, Spencer realizes that if he wants to build a life with Emilio, he’ll need to be strong enough to slay his personal demons and learn to trust again.

REVIEW:
This book was sappy, sticky, cheesy, almost-too-perfect…and I ADORED IT.

As a single person “of a certain age” (ha!), this book is the fairy tale.  Feeling “ordinary” – but suddenly pursued by a HOT model-looking man, who not only is beautiful, but gentle, supportive, totally into you, AND the “settling down” kind.  Duh…sign me up! And maybe it’s this personal connection to the story that had me smiling ear-to-ear as I read each page, but, in the end, my heart felt full.

I love that Cardeno C writes characters who’ve lived life…who are older, successful, yet still lost when it comes to love. I relate to these characters.  Spencer Derdinger is a 38 year-old math professor, successful professionally, but unlucky in love, suffering from erectile dysfunction, insecure, lonely, and just going through the motions of life. Yes, he’s slightly pathetic.  But, I found him lovely and sympathetic…and adorable.

Emilio, a 22 year-old construction worker is a larger-than-life character.  He is perfect in every way and though this would typically make my eyes roll, I think he needed to be THIS amazing to build up someone like Spencer.  Emilio is the prince, the dream man, and this WORKED for me.

I loved them together. SWEET, KIND, TENDER, BEAUTIFUL, HOT…I loved their conversations, their interactions, and their sexual connections.

All the side stories: ridiculous ex-boyfriend, caricature family members and best friends, etc. did, actually, annoy me a bit.  And truthfully, the main story line itself was truly too much. But, as I mentioned…it so matched/suited the fairy tale in my head of that perfect romance, it worked for me.  Make Spencer & Emilio break out into song and this could easily be a Disney movie.

Cardeno C is a self-professed romantic so you know what you’re going to get when you read these books…ROMANCE…in the sappiest way possible.  But, you know, for me, I need this every now and again.  And I’ve never once, even in the books I didn’t like as much, walked away feeling down after reading a Cardeno C book!  “Strong Enough” made me feel like I was on a fluffy cloud…and I’m still smiling…

Susan’s Rating:

 

BUY LINK: DREAMSPINNER PRESS

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Book Review: Stripped Bare by Susan MacNicol

Reviewed by Susan

TITLE: Stripped Bare
AUTHOR: Susan MacNicol
PUBLISHER: Buroughs Publishing Group
LENGTH: 290 pages

BLURB: After two years, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.

REVIEW:

Stripped Bare is another one of those stories (I feel like 1 in 5 of every M/M book out there is this story) about a man (Matthew) who lost his partner and struggles to give himself to new love.  He meets the gorgeous escort/computer hacker Shane via some odd circumstances with a mutual friend and it’s instant attraction.  Matt has a hard time letting go of the past but can’t help his growing affections towards Shane.  There is flirtation, a physical relationship, and then an emotional commitment…all peppered in with other random story bits.

Stripped Bare, if it were indeed stripped bare would actually be an interesting book.  The whole computer hacker angle had potential.  There were a couple great “villians”, some zany sidekicks, a friends-to-lovers storyline, and 2 hot MC’s.  The problem with the book, however, was that none of this actually comes together.  It’s a bunch of parts that from far away might seem like a whole, but up close, you can see all the spaces between them.  And though I kept trying to stay engaged in the story in hopes that something great would come out of this potential, I more-often-than-not felt annoyed and irritated.

My greatest frustrations really came with the dialogue between the 2 MC’s.  What I think was supposed to be banter and flirtation, actually read as cheesy, overly done, clichés. The 2 men fought like emotional old women, constantly judging each other and nagging each other and lecturing each other.  I felt like the author wanted there to be some angst and tension, but other than the fact that the 2 of them had sex ALL THE TIME, when they weren’t pawing each other (and I’m curious how many times the term “cock twitch” was used in this book…it felt like every page), they were arguing with each other. I had to ask myself, “Do these 2 even LIKE each other?”  What’s to make me buy into their relationship?

The entire middle of the book was slow and nothing actually happens.  The story turned to focus on the relationship, which I would normally love. But, because I didn’t even like the MC’s and didn’t feel their chemistry, it felt as though I would never get to the end.  Thankfully, it picks up and some curveballs are thrown into the loop. But I think I was already too far “over it” to be that interested.  Everything ties up in a pretty bow in the end.

One additional minor annoyance: the chapter titles.  Really? It’s like broadcasting exactly what’s going to happen in that chapter. Borderline spoiler’ish.  I really didn’t get those.

I do think that there is an audience out there for this book. I actually would have thought I was a part of that audience…it’s right up my alley as the type of story I typically enjoy.  But, maybe I’m too jaded to take to the cheesiness.  Who knows?  If you like the stories where they have pet names and call each other “oh lover” all the time (in normal conversation), this one could work for you.

I think it was fine. I liked it ok. I did skim maybe 1/3 of it. But, there’s potential there.

Susan’s Rating:  

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

To read all her reviews, click the link: Susan’s Reviews
=====================================================

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Pre-Release Review: From the Ashes by Daisy Harris

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: From the Ashes
AUTHOR: Daisy Harris
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing
BLURB:
He wanted a boyfriend. What he got was a hero.

When an accident burns down Jesse’s apartment, he’s left broke and homeless, with a giant dog and a college schedule he can’t afford to maintain. And no family who’s willing to take him in.

Lucky for him, a sexy fireman offers him a place to stay. The drawback? The fireman’s big Latino family lives next door, and they don’t know their son is gay.

Tomas’s parents made their way in America with hard work and by accepting help when it was offered, so he won’t let Jesse drop out of school just so he can afford a place to live. Besides, Jesse’s the perfect roommate—funny, sweet and breathtakingly cute. He climbs into Tomas’s bed and tugs at his heart. Until Jesse starts pushing for more.

Their passion enflames their bodies but threatens to crush Tomas’s family. Tomas is willing to fight for Jesse, but after losing everything, Jesse isn’t sure he can bear to risk his one remaining possession—his heart.

REVIEW:

New-to-me author Daisy Harris just picked up another fan!  I really, really enjoyed this book.  It’s surprisingly sweet, very low on the angst-o-meter, and the 2 MC’s were just so likable it was hard not to get sucked in!

The blurb is spot on for what you’ll finedin this story.  Jesse is new to Seattle after having been kicked out of his family home for being gay. He doesn’t have a lot of close friends or connections…and this becomes painfully evident when he comes home from grocery shopping to find his studio apartment on fire.  In shock, he’s not quite sure what he’s going to do.

Tomas, one of the fireman on the scene, is immediately drawn to Jesse and provides him with support during the crisis and offers to let Jesse (and a newly adopted dog!) stay with him. Tomas is the hero in pretty much every way…taking care of Jesse, driving him all over town for school and work, and being the rock that Jesse needs.

Though the attraction is immediate, due to Jesse’s issues…and the fact that Tomas is in the closet…the relationship takes a little bit to build.

The story is not new and there are some actions/situations/behaviors that are a bit unrealistic.  But the author manages to write a truly sexy hero in Tomas. It’s impossible to not like him and want him…and want him to end up happy.  In Jesse, the author presents a sympathetic, but not pathetic, character who you cheer for to stand on his own but also want to embrace and take of.  I loved the chemistry between these two and when they finally realize that they’re in love…well, it was just such an “awwww” moment.

Like I mentioned, the story has little to no angst and isn’t necessarily crafted in the most original way.  Still, Jesse and Tomas are a great couple and…if for no other reason…you MUST read this for the HOT HOT HOT cover!

Susan’s Rating:

 

 

BUY LINK: SAMHAIN PUBLISHING

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Book Review: Cowboy Waltz by Cameron Dane

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: Cowboy Waltz
AUTHOR: Cameron Dane
PUBLISHER: Loose ID
BLURB: A horse stock manager on the rodeo tour, gruff cowboy Jed Hastings is in a bind. He needs a new assistant yesterday. Enter green-as-hell Booker West.  Booker spent his childhood dreaming about being a part of the rodeo. He doesn’t have any experience working with horses, but Jed doesn’t have options, and gives the newbie a chance.

Innocent about the world and secretly gay, Booker works like the devil to hide his attraction to Jed.   He doesn’t just want to be a wannabe-cowboy with a crush; he wants to learn from Jed. Booker craves Jed’s respect, friendship, and trust. For Jed, he knows an eager young colt like Booker should work his last nerve, yet he finds he has endless patience with the guy. He’s possessive about Booker too. And while bunking together does create intimacy, that doesn’t explain away straight  Jed’s explicit sexual fantasies and growing desire for another man. When a life altering event sends Jed and Booker reeling, a night of raw passion between the men finally explodes. But in the light of day, can Booker help Jed accept their love? Or will this unearthed attraction send Jed to a dark place from which he can’t recover?

REVIEW:

Urgh.  This book was just TOO MUCH.  Too much sexual tension, too much sexual confusion/gay-for-you, too much back-and-forth-will-they-won’t-they, too much indecision…and THEN…too much sex (gah!), and too much repetition, and then too much sex!

Jed is a horse manager who works the rodeo circuit.  Booker is a green rookie dying to get his feet wet. Jed gives him a chance and hires him and not only are they coworkers, but they’re roommates…in a trailer.  Booker is gay and a virgin and only 18 when they first meet.  Jed is 26, straight, and a bit of womanizer, with a broken family past.  Scene set…

I like that Cameron Dane does this as a slow build, friends-to-something-more story.  It was unexpected.  But the first 50% of the book spans 4 years of Booker pining for Jed, Jed having confusing feelings for Booker, and not much else.  That’s a lot of book to ask the reader to hold on.

The 2^nd half of the book?  Well, it can be described like this: sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex.  Classic Dane.  The sex is rough and rugged…and there are some beautiful and sweet words shared among the two, but I do NOT exaggerate when I say…well…you know…it had a LOT of sex!  I actually don’t remember much else!

I am a sucker for cowboys so I do love Jed & Booker. And yes, the sex, at times, was hot.  But the book became repetitive, the dialogue CHEEEEEEEESY (over-the-top drizzled cheese!), and I lost patience by the end.

This is a Cameron Dane book…so I know what I’m getting into when reading it. But, all in all…it was just TOO MUCH.

Susan’s Rating: 

BUY LINK: Loose Id Store  ::  Book Store

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Pre-Release Review: Disasterology 101 by Taylor V. Donovan

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: Disasterology 101
AUTHOR: Taylor V. Donovan
PUBLISHER: MLR Press
BLURB: Kevin Morrison had it all. A house he worked hard for, a loving wife, and three beautiful children. But it wasn’t until his marriage ended that he realized what the void he’d felt almost all his life meant. Coming out as a gay man at thirty-six is not an easy feat, but he is determined to be true to his heart. Meeting a man who shares his values, and is good with his children would be a bonus, but when the guy arrives in a uniquely wrapped package, and has very specific handling instructions, Kevin needs to decide if he’s up for that kind of love.

Obsessed with order and symmetry, and a paralyzing fear of germs, Cedric Haughton-Disley has lived with isolation and loneliness as long as he can remember. Desperate to be normal, he makes some much-needed changes in his life. If he can commit to his treatment, he might very well be able to procure some quality of life… even if that’s all he can get, as finding love and having a relationship are only possible in Cedric’s wildest dreams. But when a chance encounter leaves Cedric wishing for more, he decides to take a leap of faith, and pursue the guy he wants.

Together the two men make an unlikely match. Cedric needs organization, and Kevin represents chaos. In order to stay together they both need to compromise, but will they be able to deal with Cedric’s issues and the potential disaster, or let it break them apart?

REVIEW:

This book is my first by author Taylor V. Donovan and I’m hooked.

It is odd, and quirky, and uncomfortable, and random, and sad, and hilarious, and sweet, and crude, and seriously enjoyable.

Kevin is a recently divorced dad of 3 who comes out as gay and finds himself a 36-yr-old “virgin” of sorts. Desperate to have his first gay sexual experience, he heads into a sex shop for a “peep show”. To his surprise he encounters Cedric and immediately is drawn to him.

Cedric…well, Cedric has issues. He suffers from severe OCD and is a serious germaphobe. He has resigned to living a life with his conditions and tries to basically scare people away with his multiple piercings, his gansta dress-code, and his cornrows. He wears leather fingerless gloves to avoid direct contact. He is…erm…hard to get to know, hard to get to like, hard to get to love.

The book starts a bit slow…the author taking her time to introduce us to each character and the struggles they face separately all the while wondering about the other. When the couple finally does reconnect, I quite enjoyed the challenges they faced as they developed their relationship. Cedric is complicated and I found myself wanting to get to know him more and more. He is not entire likeable but ultimately, so loveable. Kevin is patient and kind and supportive and rock solid.

I struggled a bit when the book turned from 2 people, each with issues to overcome, to Cedric having the issues and Kevin being the “haven”. The balance of power, so to speak , shifted from equally challenged, to one being the “problem” and one being the “fixer”.

The strength of the book, however, lies in the characters themselves. The layers that needed to be peeled away to get to the core were so worth it and I just loved getting the chance to be in each of their heads and their hearts. Cedric’s OCD was especially fascinating and I felt so sad for the challenges he faced because of it, but so proud for the triumphs along the way to deal with it.

Warning: there are kid parts to this book (I know that’s a deal-breaker for a few of you), but they’re handled well and not annoying. 🙂

Totally recommended reading.

Susan’s Rating:

BUY LINKS TO COME SOON!

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Pre-release Review: Parting Shot by Mary Calmes

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: Parting Shot (Book #7)
SERIES: A Matter of Time
AUTHOR: Mary Calmes
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 264 pages
BLURB: Life has never been easy for Duncan Stiel. His childhood was the stuff of nightmares, and his day job as an undercover police officer forces him to hide his true self and occasionally lands him in the hospital. So when he finally meets the perfect man, it comes as no surprise that everything falls apart around him. What Duncan doesn’t expect is that the hardest hurdle to get over before he can make a life with Aaron Sutter is the one inside himself.

Everyone thinks Aaron has it all—looks, money, fame, and success beyond measure. Everyone, that is, except Aaron. At the end of the day, the cameras stop flashing, friends go back to their own lives, company business is handled, and Aaron is always alone. The moment he meets Duncan Stiel, Aaron knows he’ll do anything to hold onto the larger-than-life detective. But when he realizes money won’t buy him the ultimate happiness, Aaron needs to find the strength to give Duncan something much more important—his heart.

REVIEW:

I don’t know that anyone would describe Mary Calmes books as plot-driven. I mean, in all honesty, you read MC for the formula. And when the formula is there, her fans enjoy her book. And when she strays, well, the results can be disastrous.

Parting Shot is book 7 of the Matter of Time series…the formula-maker series…the original Jory & Sam. But, this story is actually a spin-off and the couple consists of Aaron Sutter, Jory’s former billionaire suiter, and Duncan Stiles, who, quite frankly, I don’t really remember from previous books…but, another closeted cop. I, in all honesty, did NOT like Aaron in the past. I thought he was a jerk and basically wanted him to get out of the way of our power couple. So, I was hesitant to read this.

And though being part of the MoT series, this book does NOT stick to the exact formula. *gasp*! This can NOT possibly go well.

…but…

I LOVED IT!

Ok, ok…I didn’t love the PLOT…it was ALL over the place and the story was a stretch, even by MC standards. What I DID love was this COUPLE! And brace yourselves: this is NOT Jory&Sam v2.0. Aaron and Duncan are 2 alphas (well, kinda…in their own ways), 2 tops (usually…first time for everything…switch!), 2 strong-willed, stubborn men (both closeted at the beginning of their relationship as well)…who turn to putty and mush in the other’s company. It’s kind of the SWEETEST thing ever!!!!

They are needy and insecure and co-dependent and whiney with each other…and I ate that sh*t up! It’s insta-obsession/love, it’s totally over-the-top, and it’s HOT and ADORBS and I want more of them!!!!!

There is a Sam Kage sighting early on in the book (happpppyyyy!) and many references to Jory throughout (duh…Jory is the topic of everyone’s conversations and the center of everyone’s universes, donthaknow!) And it was just good to get some more of our power couple. (There is also a heart-settling scene for me where Sam explains his past “relationship” with Doctor Kevin Dwyer to Duncan. I needed this.)

There are “mine”-declarations and eyebrow waggles (though I don’t recall a peacoat ) so you KNOW it’s MC. And there is definitely bend-you-in-half sex throughout…good stuff.

This book could possibly work as a stand-alone…but quite frankly, it will be the fans of MC and more specifically, the fans of the MoT series that will enjoy this the most. I don’t know I can recommend it to anyone because I’m not sure why I liked it so much myself! I just know…well, I did. And I’m always happy to get a little Calmes’ fix every now and again…Queen-o-Fluff very rarely lets me down.

Susan’s Rating:

PRE-ORDER LINK: Dreamspinner Store

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Book Review: King Perry by Edmund Manning

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: King Perry
AUTHOR: Edmund Manning
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 343 pages
BLURB: In a trendy San Francisco art gallery, out-of-towner Vin Vanbly witnesses an act of compassion that compels him to make investment banker Perry Mangin a mysterious offer: in exchange for a weekend of complete submission, Vin will restore Perry’s “kingship” and transform him into the man he was always meant to be.Despite intense reservations, Perry agrees, setting in motion a chain of events that will test the limits of his body, seduce his senses, and fray his every nerve, (perhaps occasionally breaking the law) while Vin guides him toward his destiny as “the one true king.”

Even as Perry rediscovers old grief and new joys within himself, Vin and his shadowy motivations remain enigmas: who is this offbeat stranger guiding them from danger to hilarity to danger? To emerge triumphant, Perry must overcome the greatest challenge alone: embracing his devastating past. But can he succeed by Sunday’s sunrise deadline? How can he possibly evolve from an ordinary man into King Perry?

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

REVIEW:

I’m not quite sure what to say about this book. Truly…I’m rendered speechless. It’s like looking at a Salvador Dali painting and thinking:“This is BEAUTIFUL. But…what the heck is it?”

“King Perry” is beautiful…but what the heck is it?

The best way that I can describe this book is a fairy tale, set in the 1990’s about a magician/genie/wish-granter…whatever you want to call him…named Vin Vanbly (not his real name, but we’re never exposed to that). He comes to meet and be drawn to an investment banker named Perry at an art show. What happens next, all the way till the end of the book, requires a complete suspension of reality and a healthy dose of drugs or alcohol! 🙂

They embark on a carefully crafted and calculated adventure that Vin takes Perry through as a way for him to find his inner King. There are twists and turns and surprises all along the way and eventually, there are proclamations of love and healing…and story-telling…grand story-telling.

King Perry is simply one of the most romantic books I’ve ever read. Yet, in its essence, it is not a romance book. It’s more a self-help manual.

The relationship between Vin and Perry is beautiful…but it’s never meant to last…not in a traditional sense. And though Vin truly does everything out of love for Perry, I did find myself uncomfortable at times with the power play and the intense emotional manipulation that was going on. Thankfully, it seems, Vin toed the line but never crossed it.

I don’t know what to think about this book. Am I happy to have read it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Maybe. Did I find it satisfying? Not so much.

I found it odd, emotional, beautiful, uncomfortable, quirky, lovely…and…hmmm…just off a bit for me. But, I get the sense this book will continue to share secrets with me in the days and weeks to come. The kind of book that plants a seed and eventually something grows. We shall see…

Susan’s Rating:

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Store  ::  Book Store

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Book Review: Chase the Storm by V. M. Waitt

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: Chase the Storm
AUTHOR: V. M. Waitt
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
BLURB: Up until he buys an old truck, Elijah Morgan lives life according to his family’s plan, never feeling like he belongs. Desperate to find his own path, he heads out on the open road, only to end up stranded in Nebraska. Not wanting to ask for his parents’ help, he takes a job with tough, independent farmer Chase McKenzie.

Despite their age gap, the attraction between Chase and Elijah soon becomes undeniable. They give in to their desire, but that night changes everything and threatens the secret Chase guards so carefully.

As the summer heats up, so does their relationship. When autumn arrives, Elijah is due back at college, and he’ll have to choose whether to continue his education and follow in his family’s footsteps… or to stay in Nebraska with the man he loves.

REVIEW:

Wow. This book, by the end, really just stole my heart. The pace, which I thought was painfully slow in the beginning, turned out to be exactly what made this story as beautiful as it was.

Elijah, our 19 year old narrator, grew up in a privileged home with parents who have never really understood him. Against his wishes, but to please his family, he heads to Harvard to study business. Desperately unhappy, lost, and defeated after his first year, he spontaneously buys a beat up truck and heads wherever the road leads him.

The road leads him to Nebraska…and onto Chase McKenzie’s farm.

Chase is such a heartbreaking character. Having experienced loss over and over again, he’s basically shut himself down and resigned himself to living his quiet life on his horse & wheat farm. Needing an extra pair of hands to help out, he takes Elijah in and not only teaches him how to be a farmer, but eventually, also, how to be a man.

Elijah, though naïve, innocent, and inexperienced actually had such a burning strength inside of him. I loved how huge his heart was for Chase. His heart loved big enough to forgive Chase’s own internal struggles manifested in mistreatment, at times, of Elijah. And his commitment to seeing Chase to a place of healing was lovely.

Chase…*sigh*…I’ve never wanted to just hug and console a man as much as I did Chase. Broken, hardened, and painfully sad, the moment he begins allowing Elijah in, and even all the struggles to reconcile their relationship in his life following, all I wanted was to see him happy.

This book’s pace is slow and repetitive. But I realized about ¼ of the way in that this must be intentional. The life lived on this farm is slow and repetitive. And when something was introduced out of the norm, I felt as affected by those experiences as I believe Elijah was as well. The bond between these 2 characters was a slow growth and the end result is truly one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve read in a long time.

Emotional…I cried…a lot.

Sexy…damn are the two of them sexy together.

Sweet.

Heartaching.

Powerful.

Lovely.

Susan’s Rating:

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press  ||  Book Store

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Pre-release Review & GIVEAWAY: Dead Man and the Restless Spirits by Lou Harper

Reviewed by Susan Lee

TITLE: Dead Man and the Restless Spirits (Book #1)
SERIES: Dead Man series
AUTHOR: Lou Harper
BLURB: Dying sucks hairy monkey balls, even when you’re not the stiff.

Denton Mills has a secret: he can see dead people. Or rather, how they died. It’s quite a drag in a city like Chicago, teeming with the echoes of the no-longer living. Rather than whine about it, Denton has learned to live with his troublesome talent. His adaptability comes in handy when he meets his enigmatic new neighbor.

Bran Maurell catches Denton’s eye right away, but unfortunately Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious is as standoffish as he is alluring. However, after an unexpected introduction from Bran’s cat brings the two men together, Denton discovers they have a mutual interest in the spirit world. Herbalist by day, Bran moonlights as a witch, performing house cleansings for a fee.

From Bran, Denton learns that his knack for interacting with the dead qualifies him as a necromancer. It makes good business sense for them to team up and rid Chicago of its pesky spirits one grateful client at a time. Amongst ghostly adventures the attraction between the men is impossible to ignore. They seem like perfect partners—unless Bran’s not-so-little secret comes between them.

Warning: men loving men, ghosts with attitudes, and a portly feline with hidden talents.

Note: Denton also plays a small but important role in Spirit Sanguine.

REVIEW:

Lou Harper is a new-to-me author and I really really enjoy her style.  Her writing is funny and quirky and sarcastic and those all appeal to me.

The story is about Denton, who as a necromancer, is able to see dead people as well as feel & summon spirits. He doesn’t know much about his gifts or how he can utilize them until he meets his new neighbor, Bran. Bran is mysterious and a man of few words and Denton is drawn to him immediately…despite it being obvious, the guy has secrets.

Denton in his pierced, care-free, take-no-sh*t way is charming and funny. Bran in his brooding, stoic, powerful way is sexy and enigmatic. When Denton is finally able to break down the walls with Bran (and get to his secrets!), the pairing is likable and the partnership between them is sweet. Bran teaches Denton how to utilize his gifts and Denton teaches Bran how to lighten up!  Being a sucker for a strong man reduced to a sap by love, I really enjoyed this coupling.

The story as a whole is interesting. It reads more like an episodic serial than a novel and that actually felt like I was getting to know these MC’s over a span of time and shared experiences. That also, however, made the story feel choppy and I found myself putting my kindle down often and not being compelled to power through in one sitting. And though the story, I could tell, wanted to break through and be fresh and original, it harkened me back to a similar feel & plot in Jordan Castillo Price’s “PsyCop” series…which had the benefit of being my “first” and thus, of course, I compare all others to it. Dead Man & the Restless Spirits, in my mind, places a distant second.

Though I really do like Denton and Bran, I didn’t really get to know them well enough to LOVE them.  I think I just need more.  It’s a solid book 1.  I am looking forward to the series continuing and I do recommend this to anyone who enjoys this paranormal-in-a-contemporary-setting genre.

Susan’s Rating:

BUY LINK: Book Store

==================================
Susan Lee is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

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

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

================================================================================

TO WIN A FREE COPY OF DEAD MAN AND THE RESTLESS SPIRITS, LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS POST:

1) Follow the given format to enter yourself into the contest:

Name*:
Email ID*:
The format in which you’d prefer to read the book, in case you win*:
Message to the author:

2) Don’t forget to “FOLLOW THIS BLOG”. The widget is on the top of this page where you can either subscribe to this blog via email or if you are a wordpress user, you can “Follow” it through your READER!

Why do you need to follow? – To get instant updates on the winner announcement, or other giveaway events that are planned to be hosted on this blog or simply for the reviews and author interviews that are posted here.

3) If you are on Facebook, join our official Group: The Blog of Sid Love

===================================

CONTEST WILL END ON 27th June, 2013 @ 11:59 PM Central Time!!

So, hurry!!.

ALSO, PARTICIPATE IN:
DAKOTA CHASE’S GIVEAWAY
DC  JURIS’ GIVEAWAY
RHYS FORD’S GIVEAWAY