Pre-release Review: The Scarlet Tide by Stephen Osborne

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: The Scarlet Tide
SERIES: Duncan Andrews Thriller #3
AUTHOR: Stephen Osborne
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 200 pages
BLURB: Duncan Andrews, a private detective who specializes in paranormal cases, is back, along with his usual gang. Robbie Church, his boyfriend, is a ghost. Gina, a centuries old witch, is his best friend. And Daisy, Duncan’s bulldog, just happens to be a zombie. Odd man out seems to be Nick, a history teacher. He’s a normal, living human.

Duncan’s latest case leads him to a rock band in Indianapolis called The Scarlet Tide. It doesn’t take Duncan long to realize all of the band members are vampires. He sets out to destroy them, but runs into trouble with the charismatic leader of the band, Dominic Hunt. Duncan ends up under Hunt’s psychic control, and is forced to examine his relationships with Robbie and Nick, as well as his attraction for Hunt. Can Robbie and Gina help Duncan break Hunt’s psychic grip? Is there any hope the vampire can be destroyed once and for all?

REVIEW:

This is the third book in the Duncan Andrews Thriller series which focuses on Duncan, a private detective that takes on generally unusual paranormal cases.  He’s got a dead boyfriend that hasn’t moved on to the afterlife, a centuries old witch for a best friend, a zombie dog, and his human friend, Nick, along for the ride.

In this installment, Duncan is investing a series of vampire attacks and he believes a local band called The Scarlet Tide comprises of the culprits.  He aims to kill them all, but he starts falling under the spell of lead singer, Dominic Hunt, as well as dealing for his feelings for Nick and his love for his boyfriend Robbie.

It’s going to be difficult explaining my feelings about this book without giving major spoilers, but I will say, the series isn’t really going where I want it to go relationship-wise.  I can absolutely understand both sides, I can see the reasons, but I don’t have to like it.  It broke my heart.  I think when two characters fit so well; I just can’t see them with anyone else.  Nothing is definite with this author and series because every time I think a final decision has been made it twists, so I’m still holding out judgment until at least the next book, but I don’t know if my poor little heart can take it.  There is a lot of love there, and a lot of care and respect given to these characters, so I appreciate that.

That’s not to say that this book is all sorrows, though.  It’s still crackling with Duncan’s quick wit, his ability to be both effective and efficient, yet awkward, and his observations are hysterical, especially when they occur in completely inappropriate times.  An example is when he notices another character’s endowment and how large he is and he notes this in an almost surprised, high-five, yeahh-buddy-oh-wait-let’s-be-serious-detective manner that had me snorting with laughter.

There aren’t any new fancy tricks with the vampire plot, and it felt a bit clichéd to have them as a rock band (I swear I read vampire rockers almost every time I read about vampires), but I still thought all of the characters held their own and brought something fresh.

I liked the parallel plot lines of a young couple and one dies, and the other grieves and feels guilty at the idea of moving on coordinating with Duncan and Andrew’s position as a couple.  It was nice that the reader could see what might have been Duncan’s life had Robbie not stayed around for the last 11 years.

I hope the author switches it up a bit in the following book(s).  The reader still gets a recap of all the characters, and Duncan still keeps stressing and bemoaning his lack of sex and intimate touch with Robbie.  I get that it’s important, but it’s getting a bit stale.  I’d like to think in the next book a final decision is made on their relationship, and I’m praying it goes the way I’m hoping.

Recommend because I still adore Duncan’s personality, the mysteries are fast-paced and interesting, and Robbie will always be on my ‘fictional-husbands’ shelf.

Taylor rates it –

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press

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

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

Two Book Reviews: Duncan Andrews Thriller Series by Stephen Osborne

Reviewed by Taylor

SERIES: Duncan Andrews Thriller
AUTHOR: Stephen Osborne
BOOKS:  3
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

Pale as a Ghost (Book One, Duncan Andrews Thriller)

BLURB: Private detective Duncan Andrews’s best friend Gina is a witch. His dog is a zombie. And his dead boyfriend, Robbie, is a ghost. So it’s hardly any wonder that he uses his connection to the supernatural to help him solve cases. Good thing, too, because Duncan has his hands full. Janice Sanderson, the richest woman in Indianapolis, wants him to find her stripper daughter, Brenda, and another client is having some trouble with a specter haunting her family home. On top of that, Duncan has decided to add dating into the mix, though after Robbie’s death, he’s not sure he’s ready.

When Duncan meets Nick while tracking down a lead on Brenda’s boyfriend, he shelves his doubts and agrees to a date. Robbie doesn’t make it easy on him, showing up to spoil his chances, but that is the least of Duncan’s worries—because one of his clients’ husbands is missing and there’s a serial killer on the loose—one Duncan fears isn’t human.

REVIEW:

Private Detective Duncan Andrews has a complicated life.  He has a ghost for a boyfriend, a witch best friend, a lovable and hungry zombie dog, and he solves unusual crimes on top of that. In this first installment, Duncan has been hired for two separate cases, a blue female ghost haunting a family and finding a missing, rebellious girl.  Along the way, he meets Nick, a man that just may convince Duncan to move on from his dead boyfriend and start dating someone human.

OH…OH…OH…how I heart this special, lovely book.  It caught me by surprise, as I had never even heard of this author before, and didn’t have any expectations.  But it’s everything I could ask for in a story.  It made me LAUGH and laugh and laugh some more until I cried.  It even caused me to laugh unexpectedly, which are always my most attractive and “barkish” laughs.  Morton’s salt and a ghost defending his man.   That’s all I can say.  But it’s more than just incredible wit.  Duncan is smart, patient, devoted, self-deprecating, sarcastic, and relatable.  His boyfriend, Robbie, is someone I just want to hug and protect, and he’s so abashedly adorable that I loved him the way Duncan loved him.  And the moments where they slowed down their banter and really talked and revealed their sadness at their situation broke my heart.  They can’t be intimate because the effort it takes for Robbie to become more human-like weakens him too much.  There are a few times where he musters the strength to hold hands with his love or to kiss him, and I felt so much compassion for them both.

But there is more to this book than even Robbie and Duncan. There is Gina, Duncan’s kickass best friend and witch, who is understanding, funny, and I loved all her powers and observations.  The zombie dog, Daisy, is hysterical as she chases squirrels to eat.  Even the lesser secondary characters held my interest.  From Kevin, the teenager who loved the Jonas Brothers, to Brenda, Derek, Caleb and more.  Both of the cases Duncan worked on were vastly different, but they were quick.  The pace was perfect, and I never felt any of it dragged.  Just the RIGHT mix of action, humor, love, gore, and world-building.

I have only two tiny niggles. Nick, the secondary lust interest, whom I found pretty bland.  I’m glad he came across that way, though, because not once did I feel any heat between him and Duncan, and it’s like observing a couple that has been slogged in mud versus a shiny diamond with the pairing of Robbie and Duncan.  Those two fit and are meant to be together (I hope, I hope…please…please), and Nick was just there. The other thing was the author has a tendency to use the phrase “made a face” too much rather than switch it up, but like I said, tiny niggles.

Highly recommend for a fast-paced, amusing mystery.

Taylor rates it – 

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

Animal Instinct (Book Two, Duncan Andrews Thriller)

BLURB: Sequel to Pale as a Ghost Duncan Andrews Thriller Private detective Duncan Andrews has the home-team advantage when it comes to solving paranormal crimes: His best friend, Gina, is a centuries-old witch. His dog is a zombie. And his boyfriend, Robbie, is a ghost. Duncan certainly has his work cut out for him with this case. Someone’s been using the skull of a powerful wizard to control animals, and whoever it is, they’re not out to set up a petting zoo. For Gina, the case hits close to home-she knows just how dangerous it is, since the wizard was her father. Just when he thinks they’re close to breaking the case, tragedy strikes, leaving Gina in a coma. Then, after years as a ghost, Robbie finally decides to move on, leaving Duncan to protect young Ashton Marsh, the victim of several strange animal attacks. Suddenly Duncan is working without his supernatural safety net. Without his friends, can Duncan defeat the power of Eleazar’s skull and keep Ashton alive? Or will the struggle for his life end in broken bodies as well as broken hearts?

REVIEW:

In the sequel to Pale as a Ghost, we are back with Private Detective Duncan Andrews and his cast of unusual companions, from his zombie dog, his ghost boyfriend, and his witch best friend.  Duncan isn’t just your usual detective, though, because he’s always out solving the random Twilight wannabe vampire running amuck or in this instance, a stolen skull from a powerful wizard being used to harm and even kill others.  This case strikes personal for Duncan and his best friend Gina, as it is her father Eleazar’s stolen skull.

Soon Gina is put into a coma, and he has another case that brings him clues as to who stole the skull.  Weird trick of the skull?  Its power uses animals to harm.

Amidst that you have Duncan and Robbie questioning their reality of a relationship and whether either can make it on their own.  And Nick is still tagging along.

I loved this book just as much as the last one, but it was different in its own way.  The reader still has Duncan’s priceless one-liners, his awkwardness, his love for his boyfriend, and everything else that makes this wonderful man up.  Robbie….SIGH…my fictional hubby, Robbie.  Damn, I love that man.  That dead man still wearing his high school letterman jacket that wants to have sex with his very alive boyfriend.  Trust me it’s not as creepy as it sounds.  And gahhhhh, he is so freakin cute and hilarious.  When Duncan was getting hit on??? Robbie’s reactions were classic.  Even in the dream sequence where he’s wandering around observing and asking questions.  He’s just so caring, sexy, pouty, and wise in his own way.  These two FIT.  I can’t see them apart ever…ever, ever, ever.  Mr. Osborne, do NOT break my heart.  That scene in the car where Duncan and Robbie are discussing whether Robbie should move on to the afterlife?  How awesome and neat (not really).  You knew I wanted to sob like a 5 year old.

Then there is Nick, who I’m coming around to (again not really).  Don’t get me wrong, he’s fine and nice and dependable, but he’s not Robbie.  He is a good friend, though.  And Duncan needs a great friend that has no association with the paranormal world.  Gina, when she was there in this book, is just as lovable as always.  And Daisy, that sweet murderess dog.  Yeah, me likey her.

I thought the case in this book was more interesting than the ones in the last book, and I also thought the instances where the skull worked its magic were creepy.  That makes me happy.  M/m books need more great suspense or mystery novels.  I’ll never look at squirrels the same way.  Or that damn grinning cat.

Oh and Eleazar?? You, my kind floating head sir, are so, so, SO badass for the gift you gave the reader and, most importantly, Duncan at the end.

Highly recommend for fictional hubby love and a good mystery and suspense.

Taylor rates it – 

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

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

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

 

Pre-release Review: Intervention by Mia Kerick

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: Intervention
AUTHOR: Mia Kerick
PUBLISHER: Harmony Ink
LENGTH: 230 pages
BLURB: As a musician at the popular college café Coed Joe’s, high school senior Kai Manter is never lacking for male attention. Out, proud, free-spirited, and sexually aware, Kai sets his sights on his darkly Gothic and undeniably bad-tempered coworker, Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university. Sporting long hair and alluring hippie style, Kai expects his interest will be reciprocated, with satisfying sex as the end goal. That’s what usually happens. But Jamie’s lessons in life have been harsher. Having been sexually abused by his older stepbrother for several years, Jamie has grown an impenetrable outer shell meant to keep the world at a safe distance.

Kai is angry at first when he takes the brunt of Jamie’s bad temper, but after Kai accidentally discovers the abuse Jamie has suffered, he wants to fix things. Kai’s plan is based on what he knows best—music—and he stages a “musical intervention” to let Jamie know he’s not alone and things can get better. When Jamie’s perspective changes and he emerges from his shell, Kai changes, too, gaining a whole new understanding of what sex can be when love is there too.

REVIEW:

Kai Manter is a young, talented musician that’s proudly out, very sexually active, and finds himself uncharacteristically attracted to a shy, aloof waiter at the café where he performs.  That shy waiter, who is prone at times to demonstrate a wicked temper, is Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university.  There are very serious reasons for Jamie’s temperament and it won’t be easy to break down Jamie’s walls and allow Kai in, but with the help of his friends and his own determination, Kai sets out to prove to Jaime that he’s serious about him and their love.

Sigh, so I don’t really know how to review or rate this, partially because I think many people will like this much more than I did, and that I may just be a bit burnt out on YA or too distanced from teenagers these days.  I can’t even honestly say if teenagers actually think, act and speak like this, but it felt not quite there.  And that just might be because it didn’t speak to ME or it actually could be the author’s style.

I will say that the writing style almost had a frenetic pace, that didn’t fit the plot points well in my opinion.  I kept imagining the guy who did the Micro Machine commercials, John Moschitta Jr., speaking to me throughout my reading.  This is a story of serious topics, from incest, abuse, even stalking, and yet the WAY it was all handled left me with a distaste in my mouth.  And I don’t feel like I can articulate why.   Part of me thinks it wasn’t given the soberness these issues deserved and the levity with which it was handled at times upset me.  That’s not to say that the characters didn’t discuss things with their friends, with adults and with each other.  That’s not to say that the characters didn’t reflect on the issues or think these things weren’t as bad as they were, but something in the overall tone felt off.  Just way off.  I wanted it to slow down.  Let the moments breathe, let the reader AND Jaime process.  Too many events, too many detailed days, too much dialogue and I never felt I could appreciate each serious moment on its own.

I liked that Kai tried to relate to Jaime through music, and even more importantly with specific playlists.  I related to that because I enjoy book playlists, or think of songs that trigger memories for me.  Those parts were great, but the rest of this book didn’t work for me.  I couldn’t relate or really even like any of the characters unfortunately.  It was all a bit oddly frivolous and sappy, which is just not me.

BUT, again, this might all just be me.  I do think many of my friends that generally like young adult and super sweet books will like this, but anyone that is even slightly against melodrama, young adult books, or lots of sentences with (other parts of sentence in parentheses); you might want to pass.

Taylor rates it –

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press :: All Romance eBooks

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

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

Pre-release Review: Reprisal by Alessandra Ebulu

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: Reprisal
SERIES: Proud to be a Vampire
AUTHOR: Alessandra Ebulu
PUBLISHER: Less Than Three Press
LENGTH: 22,000 words
BLURB: Aden is trying to solve the mystery of a drug that rots human innards. Alec is struggling to capture the person responsible for a rash of vampire murders. The only way to solve their separate cases is to team up, but with drugs, vampires, and murder involved even that may not be enough.

REVIEW:

So this is a very short story about a witch Aden whose brother was recently murdered, and he’s working as a reporter to solve his brother’s murder, along with other crimes.  He’s paired with a vampire Alec, who has been assigned to solve who has been killing vampires.

I don’t even know where to begin.  This just needed work all-around.

First, why are the two main characters’ names nearly identical?  Same amount of letters, start with ‘A’, and can easily be switched out in a reader’s brain.  Confusing and should have been changed in editing.

Second, why did the characters continuously ask questions in their internal thoughts?  “What kind of vampire is Alec?”  “Who were they dealing with?” “What the hell was the killer searching for?” It was repetitious and lent a juvenile quality to the writing.

Third, that villain and mystery was ludicrous.  Seriously.  Also, all the details were super vague until the reader got a flood of info-dump.  It was always the vampire was guarding “something”, or this must mean “something.”  Or even silly lines like, “Utmost respect for the killer code.”

Fourth, insta-love on steroids.  Was there even a romance? Was there even character or relationship development? They had met and hung out two times on work-related matters with little to no flirting, and certainly no chemistry, when Aden is talking to his friend about Alec, “I don’t think he wants it, and I can’t force him to accept what he doesn’t want.”  Um…what???

So…this needed work for me.  It’s short, though, and I’m sure lots of people will find it easy and fun to read.

Taylor rates it –

BUY LINKS: Less Than Three Press

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

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

Book Review: The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: The Foxhole Court
SERIES: All for the Game, Book 1
AUTHOR: Nora Sakavic
PUBLISHER: Self-published with Smashwords
LENGTH: 140 pages
BLURB: Neil Josten is the newest addition to the Palmetto State University Exy team. He’s short, he’s fast, he’s got a ton of potential—and he’s the runaway son of the murderous crime lord known as The Butcher.

Signing a contract with the PSU Foxes is the last thing a guy like Neil should do. The team is high profile and he doesn’t need sports crews broadcasting pictures of his face around the nation. His lies will hold up only so long under this kind of scrutiny and the truth will get him killed.

But Neil’s not the only one with secrets on the team. One of Neil’s new teammates is a friend from his old life, and Neil can’t walk away from him a second time. Neil has survived the last eight years by running. Maybe he’s finally found someone and something worth fighting for.

REVIEW:

It will be hard to discuss this book without spoilers, and it’s difficult to think of this book as a separate piece on its own.  I have not read the sequel to The Foxhole Court, yet; I get the sense the series is one long overarching story and the first book is the set-up, with hopefully the second book being the development, and the final book will resolve the conflicts.  That’s not to say the author didn’t have large events happen in this book, but it felt incomplete, leaving me confused.

What I liked about this book is the mystery, the characters, and the absolute craziness throughout the book.  You have to throw out any ideas of plausibility with this kind of book and just go with it.   The book has little psychopathic monsters running around with hidden knives, killers operating in the sporting field, a made-up sport, etc.  You also have to go into this without any expectations of a romance in this book, and we most certainly will not have a typical m/m romance in the future for this series.

The Foxhole Court focuses on a fictional sport called Exy, which seems like a mix of lacrosse, hockey, and a few other things.  It’s violent, extremely popular and the driving force for happiness for Neil – our protagonist- and Kevin, the former national star of Exy.  Neil is on the run from his father, an abusive man in the mob, and also from other mob bosses that control numerous aspects in Exy.  They control the teams, the arenas, the media and the workings within the game as much as they can.

So there’s all that, which should have been what I concentrated on, but I’ll admit for much of this book I didn’t know what was going on, what the point was, and where it all was heading.  I’ll also admit it took me a while to warm to Neil, and I think the author could have presented his backstory (and personality) in a quicker manner.  It felt dragged out in parts, and I kept wishing he’d get more interaction with characters, rather than so much introspection.

Even though I’m not big into written sports, I realized that each scene of practice really did show aspects of the characters’ personalities, where the clique lines divided, and hinted at motives characters might have towards playing well or not. I think once they really start playing in the following books, the action will become exciting and definitely tenser.

My favorite aspect of this book hands down, though, is Andrew.  I have SO many questions and ideas about Andrew.  The way his medications worked and his reaction to the medications really didn’t jive with me well, but I think the author is hinting at something deeper not yet revealed.  Why is he so protective of Kevin and not really of his twin?  Is he really a sociopath?  Also, I think it’s interesting how the author described him with Exy.  How he’s talented, but he as this air about him that he doesn’t care, maybe even resents what the sport represents.  But I think most of all when he’s out there, he feels alive in some hidden way.  He knows Kevin needs him to care and play well, he knows Coach has so much ridding on the outcome of these games and the future of the Foxes; he equally knows the team wants to win.  So it’s a game to him inside of the game he’s playing.  It’s about power.  He’s short and looks initially demure, he’s used to only feeling numb or anger, but having control over whether or not he gives a crap about Exy – THAT gives him power over everyone.  So, yeah, Andrew is badass.

Looking forward to the next one and hopefully some answers to all these questions.

Taylor rates it:

BUY LINKS: Smashwords :: Amazon

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

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

Release Day Review: The List by Sandra Bard

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: The List
AUTHOR: Sandra Bard
PUBLISHER: Less Than Three Press
LENGTH: 33,000 words
BLURB: Gavin Summers’ quiet, academic life is shattered when he is attacked by a mugger and rescued by Dillon, a member of the Night Watch. Soon Gavin finds himself embroiled in anti-vampire propaganda, vampire politics, and the dangers of associating with vampires in a city where vampires are being killed daily, forcing him to make a choice: remain neutral or stand with the vampires.

REVIEW:

Gavin is a post-graduate student walking alone one night two blocks from his house when a would-be mugger confronts him.  Dillon, a member of the vampire Night Watch rescues him, and the story unfolds with politics, a war on vampires, and many other dangers.

I was kind of surprised by this book.  The subject matter is pretty dark moving from staking and burning helpful vampires, kidnapping, and a mini-war between some anti-vampire humans and members of the Night Watch.  However, the relationship aspect of the book was very light in tone.  I could almost imagine this as a romantic comedy titled: “I’m Dating a Vampire” or something.  They go to the movies, Dillon walks Gavin home and carries his books, they cook dinner and relax on the couch, and the intimate scenes are sweet.  The difference between the plot and the relationship didn’t really bother me because I prefer one tone over the other, but it became difficult for me to completely submerge myself in the book.  I kept wishing that the author had stuck with one vibe and ran with it, rather than keep giving me whiplash with how I was supposed to feel.

I did think the biting scene was hot, though, and I kept thinking: Ohhhhh, MORE of this!! I wanted this dirty, raw, and violent, but the book never really veered in that direction.

Also, the plot and the components of the plot have something going for it, but the novella didn’t have room to grow, so that all of the different parts could develop.  I loved that there was anti-vampire propaganda, and that there were two different groups supporting or against vampires.  I thought the little facts Gavin discovered about vampires felt familiar enough to seem vampire-ish, but unique enough to make it the author’s own. But it all felt too crammed in, and the suspects and villain were painfully obvious, and the climax felt like a letdown.

Really cute, with a lot of potential, but really needed developing.

Taylor rates it –

BUY LINKS: Less Than Three Press

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

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

Pre-release Review: One Night Ever After Anthology

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: One Night Ever After Anthology
AUTHORS: Tere Michaels, Elle Brownlee & Elizah J. Davis
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 254 pages
BLURB: Just a Drive by Tere Michaels

After weeks of flirting, “One Night” Wyatt Walsh spends a fabulous night with his shy coworker, Benji Trammell. As Wyatt tries to sneak out the next morning, he receives a call from his frantic, very pregnant best friend Raven—she needs him immediately. With no other way to get from New York City to the Pennsylvania town where Raven and her husband live, Wyatt accepts Benji’s offer to drive him there. Wary and unsure of each other, they start the trip at odds, but as time goes on, the barriers that usually keep people at a distance fail. And what started out as “just a drive” becomes a step toward romance.

Just a Stranger by Elle Brownlee

The excitement of meeting a stranger in a club can’t be beat. Loud bass sets the rhythm to Michael Wiercinski’s primal urges as he flirts with Andrew, a cute guy offering the promise of a hot night with no strings, no complications. Still, when their night is done, Michael admits there was something about Andrew that left him wanting more. Months go by with no sign of Andrew until Michael moves back home to help after his father’s heart attack. Once there, Michael is completely amazed to find Andrew Lucas living in his hometown. Despite surprising “complications” in Andrew’s life, Michael vows to take advantage of this second chance to make Andrew more than just a stranger.

Just a Weekend by Elizah J. Davis

James is a homebody in a predictable, if not altogether comfortable, rut. He’d rather stay in with a book than brave the Seattle bar scene. One night, after allowing his friend Kara to coax him out for drinks, he meets Devin—charming, gorgeous, and way out of his league. With a little bit of help from Kara, James leaves with Devin to indulge in a night together, which is as much time as he’s bound to get with a guy as hot as Devin. He doesn’t expect the easy rapport that quickly develops between them, and when the weather conspires to keep them together, James wonders if this could be more than just a weekend fling.

REVIEW:

I often have a really short attention span, so these anthologies work great for me.  Overall, I really enjoyed this one, but the best story was the first one for me, and I started to lose interest the more I read.

Just a Drive by Tere Michaels

Just a Drive is the story of Wyatt and Benji that know each other through work dealings, and Wyatt plans on having a one-night stand with the handsome, younger man.  He receives a call from his best friend the next morning, and Benji offers to drive him out of state, and the relationship progresses from there.

This story made me cry…more than once.  That doesn’t happen.  Benji, sweet, perfect Benji.  That man has made it onto my fictional husbands shelf, and I could roll around in sighs forever for that man.  Patient, genuinely kind, funny, gorgeous, confident, but still has just that hint of insecurity that comes across endearing rather than grating.  And I related to Wyatt in many ways, and watching his walls crumble was beautiful and believable.  The scene at the piano??  Good heavens, pass me that Kleenex box.

Rated: 

Just a Stranger by Elle Brownlee

Just a Stranger is a story about cop Michael and businessman Andrew out at a bar and feeling completely out of sorts. The club life and partying isn’t what either of them is comfortable with and both meet each other in the corner of the bar.  They spend a night together, both wanting more, but Andrew feels his secrets will prevent him from ever dating someone seriously.

I thought this started out really great before the secrets came out, and then once that happened, everything kind of got maudlin and sappy.  Not bad mind you, but it wasn’t what I was expecting and the tension left the story.  I wanted more heat between the two characters, and Andrew and Michael are a bit like sugar all over the place.  It’s still enjoyable, but just go in prepared that the ‘secrets’ aren’t quite as tragic or mysterious as you’d think.  Also a lot of family members and little kids surround the two main characters,  and I would have liked more focus on just Andrew and Michael.

Rated: 

Just a Weekend by Elizah J. Davis

Just a Weekend is again a short that started off GREAT.  I loved both James and Devin and even James’ friend, Kara.  Devin is the younger, pretty boy used to a quick hook-up that isn’t really that picky when it comes to partners for a night.  James is just going through the motions, the dependable guy that doesn’t really think that he deserves or can get better than the occasional night of sex with his sleazy ex.

OK, so I enjoyed the premise, and I even thought the characters had some hot chemistry between the two of them, especially when Devin first went to James’ house and started looking around and climbed on top of him while on the couch.  But then…kids.  I get it; it’s my issue.  Look, I don’t mind kids and I certainly usually can take them in small doses like a short story, but I just love books with lots of unresolved sexual tension that isn’t because of kids running around.  This short was definitely cute and I loved Devin, but it got a little predictable, a little too sweet, and I wanted them to work for it a bit more.

Rated:

I’d still recommend this anthology when you want something nice and easy, and I’d absolutely re-read the first story any time I want a happy pick-me-up!!!

Taylor’s Overall Rating: 

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press

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

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

Pre-release Review: Made of Stars by Kelley York

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: Made of Stars
AUTHOR: Kelley York
PUBLISHER: Entangled Publishing
LENGTH: 320 pages
BLURB:
When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half-sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance’s quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then Chance’s mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent…they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

REVIEW:

I don’t think I can put into proper words my feelings about Kelley York’s writing. Thus far, she’s always written LGBT young adult fiction with broken boys.  But really, that’s putting her prose far too simply.  She always writes with an authentic voice that somehow manages to come across childlike, but adult.  A voice that manages to sound innocent, but jaded.  A story that shows humans can easily be both good and bad.  She writes stories that make me think, make my heart break in tiny pieces, and make me look at things surrounding me in new ways.  She inspires me simply put.

Made of Stars is a complex story of three teenagers on the precipice of discovering who they are, what they want in life, what they are willing to sacrifice and give up, and what they are willing to fight for at all cost.  Hunter Jackson and his half-sister Ashlin meet the boy they will grow to love, as they mature, by the water one summer.  Chance, the boy the author describes perfectly as “strangeness and whimsy in human form.”  I don’t think I can tell other readers how large my love for Chance was throughout this book.  He’s both truth and lies, strength and vulnerability; he’s a boy who loves animals and sad movies, that never stops dreaming because it’s the only thing keeping him going, other than a love deep in his heart for boy he considers his haven.  And for Hunter and Ashlin, Chance was their summer.  He’s adventure, spontaneity, and sunshine.  He’s an escape from their normal lives, and something they look forward to during those cold months away from their summers visiting their dad.

The real start of this novel begins in November.  Ashlin and Hunter have graduated from high school and have decided to take a year off before deciding whether or not to attend college.  Ashlin lives in California normally with her mom, and Hunter lives in Maine with his mom and her boyfriend, Bob, about four hours away from their dad, in Otter’s Rest, Maine.  When Ashlin and Hunter arrive for their first winter, they don’t immediately see Chance, and it’s nerve-wracking because they haven’t been home to see their dad (or Chance) in two years due to an injury their father suffered.  However, as soon as they see Chance everything goes right back as if they were all kids again.  Except things aren’t quite what they seem.  Ashlin still holds out for Chance’s attention, but he only has eyes and room in his heart, in that way, for Hunter.  When Hunter’s girlfriend comes for a visit in Christmas, all of the relationships change.  Things that have been buried come to the surface and teenagers have to face some harsh truths about themselves, the people they love, and what makes up the idea of a family.  Feelings of guilt, shame, envy, awakening, and joy take over their young bodies throughout these months.

This book is slow at times, but it’s an enjoyable pace.  The writing is quite sparse, yet it says so very much.  It’s poetic, but at the same time, I can clearly see a real person speaking these words, having these internal monologues within themselves.  There is that joy of snow, the adventure of an island, tall tales and scary truths, and the sense of family and what you make of it.

Kelley York shines, as always, in her character studies.  Whenever I finish one of her books, I feel as if a part of me was torn away when I put the book down, as if leaving her characters rips them from my life.  I worry about them, I love them, and I just want the best for them.  To me, that’s what books are about and what brings me joy.  What I most appreciate, though, is she will make you work to love each one of them or emote understanding for individuals you’d otherwise never would.

Ashlin is such a wonderful, selfless, brave young woman.  A caring daughter, a giving sister, a devoted friend.  She, also, recognizes emotions and feelings of other characters in such simple, understanding ways.  I loved when she understood why she wanted Chance, and it correlated so perfectly of what she thought Hunter and Rachel’s relationship held, and even more when she saw the truth between Hunter and Chance.  Hunter is that all-American boy whose story should be so simple, if this was just any fairy-tale story.  And Chance…Chance is best left for the reader to discover on their own, but I heart him so very, very much.

BUY LINKS: Amazon Link :: All Romance eBooks

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

To read all her reviews, click the link: TAYLOR’S REVIEWS
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Book Review: Dominant Predator by S. A. McAuley

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: Dominant Predator
SERIES: The Border Wars #2
AUTHOR: S. A. McAuley
PUBLISHER: Total-E-Bound
LENGTH: 137 pages
BLURB: A relationship is the least of Merq and Armise’s concerns…

With one bullet Merq Grayson set the wealthiest citizens of the world on a collision course with the poorest—with those fighting for their freedom. As the Borders War reignites, the Revolution faces heavy losses. They scramble to maintain their advantage, to strike at the Opposition and crumble their power structure before they are able to rally.

But Merq is in the midst of an internal battle that shakes him to the core. For the first time in his life Merq will have to reconcile the inherent tragedy of war and decide just how much vengeance can be justified by spilt blood. How much can he trust the men and women around him? The President, Neveed, his former soldiers, his parents…and Armise.

Merq and Armise find themselves off grid and on the hunt for Committee members. Merq is just as unsettled with Armise at his side as he was with Armise as an enemy, but they will have to learn how to fight together—or they may just die together.

REVIEW:  

This is the second book in the Borders War series featuring Merq Grayson, a Peacemaker working for the Continental States, and Armise Darcan, a Dark Ops officer supposedly working for The People’s Republic of Singapore.  These men should be enemies, as the two sides are engaged in a war.  However, they have maintained a consistent sexual relationship for over a decade, and the end of the first book, the Revolution began with the shot of the first bullet in over 200 years.

So let me start off this review stating that I much preferred this book to book one.  It’s not that the writing was any better, because I think this author has immense talent in terms of world-building and presenting interesting characters, and plot twists that actually keep me excited as the series progresses.  The reason I preferred this book, however, is because I’m finally catching on and keeping up with the author.  This is one of the series I can tell that I’m going to have to reread all of the books each time a new one comes out.  I believe there will only be three books, so this isn’t a hardship, but in many regards I wish this came out as one large novel.  That being said, the author knows exactly where to end each novella, so that it punches you in the gut with tension.  There are many facets to this story.  Politics, family relationships, lover and ex-lover relationships, co-workers, and feelings of betrayal, disgust, lust, and maybe even love.  The reader needs to keep up with all the terms, the timelines, and the characters.  I wish the series progressed in a linear manner, because I believe it would flow smoother.  It often has flashbacks, which can be confusing at times.

But let’s get to this book in particular.  I LOVE Merq and Armise!!!  I love their entire dynamic and whether the other can fully trust the other.  I want to believe in my gut that both are being honest, if not to others, than at least with each other.  The sex scenes are hot and actually progress their relationship.  THANK YOU, JESUS.  The scenes aren’t filler, and each time one happens, it’s new, sexy, and peels away a layer to their relationship.  I also love that the secondary characters serve a purpose in exposing different aspects about Merq and Armise, while providing new plot threads.  There’s still a lot left unsaid between these two, which is both sad and humorous considering how many years they’ve had this ongoing ‘thing’ between the two of them.  But the author still reveals relationship dynamics slowly and interestingly as the series progresses.  From sleeping habits, to reasons for participating in different areas of the war, to sexual preferences.  I do wish we’d actually get more reveals about them, but I think it makes sense how the author has depicted their relationship to the reader thus far.  For years these two men have, for the most part, only expressed themselves with their bodies, both sexually and with violence.  They’ve never shown affection in traditional ways, nor would either at this point know how to handle that.  They know how to show the other that they lust after the other, they know how to show anger or disappointment, maybe even fear, but all of the rest will come later.  They are in the middle of a Revolution, and trust has come slowly, but both feel that in the midst of lies and war, they have to have at least one person they can believe above all others.

The secondary characters are also really intriguing and I’m dying to know more about Simion (who I have a soft spot for) and Neveed.  Also, 2^nd key?!?!?!?!  The technology is awesome, and I’m excited to learn more about the gen modification.  I hope the author really writes this series for many, many books, because I feel she’s only touched the surface of this world and these characters.

Recommended for those that love sci-fi, enemies to lovers, action, plot twists, and hot smut (ß who doesn’t love that last one!!).

Taylor rates it:

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

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

To read all her reviews, click the link: TAYLOR’S REVIEWS
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Book Review: A Casual Weekend Thing by A. J. Thomas

Reviewed by Taylor

TITLE: A Casual Weekend Thing
AUTHOR: A. J. Thomas
LENGTH: 310 pages
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
BLURB: Doug Heavy Runner left the life of an openly gay Miami police officer and returned to his home on the Salish-Kootenai Indian Reservation when his mother got sick. In the two years since she passed, he’s carved out an empty life as a small-town deputy, relying on out-of-town one-night stands to keep him sane. Then he meets Detective Christopher Hayes, and they share a wild night so incredible Doug breaks his own rule and allows a one-night stand to grow into a weekend of amazing sex.

When Christopher travels from San Diego to Montana to deal with his abusive brother’s suicide, he doesn’t expect to find the man he spent the weekend with to be handling his brother’s case. He certainly doesn’t mind spending more time with Doug—but then an arsonist destroys the house Christopher inherited from his brother, and Christopher and Doug discover they are the primary suspects.

As they investigate, they discover Christopher’s dead brother has set them on the trail of a psychotic pedophile who will stop at nothing to silence his last victim. However, the search for the victim goes horribly wrong, leaving Doug hospitalized and Christopher at the mercy of the killer….

REVIEW:

This was a very enjoyable mystery and romance book from an author I’ve never read before.  There’s a lot going on in the past with both of the main characters, as well as racial tensions in a small town, murder, abuse, a potential love triangle, familial problems, and all the turmoil of emotions that come from these events.

San Diego Detective Christopher Hayes is having a rough time recovering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder after chasing a criminal with the partner he believes he’s been in love with for four years, Detective Ray Delgado.  He receives the news that his brother he hasn’t seen in 12 years has committed suicide in Montana, and on top of that, when he arrives at Ray’s apartment to inform him he’s leaving to attend to matters, he stumbles on his supposedly straight partner with a male one night stand.  Needing the recovery time both from his injury and from the confusion and anger at Ray, he heads to Missoula, Montana thinking he’ll cremate his brother’s remains quickly and go from there.

Stopping along the way in a small town four hours away from Missoula, Christopher meets Doug Heavy Runner, a local law officer in Missoula that discovered Christopher’s dead brother and is in charge of his brother’s case.  The sexual chemistry between these two men is both strong and realistic.  They hook-up repeatedly in Christopher’s hotel room, and later at Doug’s ranch in Missoula.  The author takes time to really build their relationship and growing attraction outside of bedroom activities.  Both men suffer from painful pasts.  Christopher from his own late brother, who was a pedophile, and his foster father that looked after his brother and himself as children.  He has ADD and runs ultra-marathons, as a way to free his headspace, and these aspects show the reader how he’s been on the run ever since he was a child.  He’s fled his family, his abuse, and sought a life that bettered himself and his community.  Doug also had an abusive relationship, except it was with his boyfriend and he frequently has nightmares and panic attacks.  I thought the way the author wrote ADD, the need to flee feelings, the guilt and shame, and the panic attacks were extremely authentic and never felt as if I was reading some case study.

I thought the story really grew during their moments at Doug’s ranch.  They discovered things about their pasts, their interests, family aspects, job prospects, and ideas for the future.  There is a good bit of sex in the story, which makes sense because of the whole idea that neither planned on moving their fling into relationship territory.  They both feel they have too much to overcome from Christopher needing to return to San Diego, from Doug still being in the closet, their pasts, Christopher’s feelings for Ray, and all of the other relationship hurdles.

I really enjoyed the mystery element, too.  The author initially provided numerous suspects or small hints here and there, and I loved the gang tags and other clues.  The interculturality weaved throughout the novel was also very well-written, and I was so happy for both Native American and Hispanic characters.  The topics involved in the crimes were tough, but I still thought it never became overwhelming or dark to overshadow the romance or even the humor.  I did think two-thirds of the way in the mystery lost a bit of steam, as the villain became very obvious, and the tension as to the outcome started to slag.

I’m also just going to say it: Ray was my favorite character.  I felt torn at times because so much of the book I actually wanted Christopher to start a relationship with Ray, even though I totally felt Doug was an amazing man for Christopher.  Ray sleeps around, is cocky and has swagger, and is flat-out hysterical with his interactions with any other character, especially the bickering with Doug.  I didn’t really buy that Christopher could claim to be completely in love with Ray for four years, meet Ray’s doppelganger (Doug), and in two weeks’ time say that he wasn’t in love with Ray, and that he was now completely in love with Doug.  But I desperately need Ray’s story.  I so hope we get a second book with him finding his own love, someone that can go toe-to-toe with him, and to think of all that sexual chemistry makes me happy.

The story ends with a HFN for Doug and Christopher and I was very happy to read that the author didn’t give them an easy fix.  In the end, they knew they’d need to take things slow, figure out living situations, jobs, and much more.  I hope we read more from them, as side characters in (hopefully) Ray’s story!  Overall, an enjoyable mystery with tons of humor, romance, and interesting characters.  Recommend.

Taylor rates it –

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press

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

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