Libra: Outlined in Ink by Vivien Dean

Libra: Outlined In Ink by Vivien Dean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This has to be one of the best m/m books I've read in a long while. I know that's a pretty strong statement, and some people might be skeptical of the truthfulness of it, but it's true.

A lot of things combine to make this story amazing. The characters are well thought out, and brilliantly executed. The two protagonists are compelling, both individually and as a couple, and even the supporting characters are interesting...they have motivations, make mistakes, and are pretty 3D, which is something that I find lacking in most modern fiction.

But where this story really shines is the plot. A good story has great characters AND great plot, and the plot here is exciting and well-paced. I never felt like the story was dragging or rushed; the tense moments were well-balanced with the romance and the mystery involved, moving nearly seamlessly from scene to scene, and from one conflict to the next. The mystery of what is going on and who is behind the attacks...and more importantly, who to trust...made for a suspenseful read, one that kept me guessing until the end, which is rarely the case.

The sex is pretty hot, and in no way overpowers the plot. In fact, for me, it was another factor to balance...just when I felt the mystery getting too intense, or starting to bore me, the romance and sex heated up, and vice versa. I had a really good sense of the history of these two characters, and how the situation they're catapulted into helps to cement a bond that started years before.

That aspect, though, is one of my few niggles about the story. The fact that these two characters were very attracted to each other in the past didn't quite jive with the intervening years. I understand why Jarrett didn't pursue the young Eli...he wasn't quite or barely legal, and their age difference was much more sharply felt at that time. My problem lies with the fact that neither of them kept in touch with the other, either through direct communication or checking up on them through internet searches, etc. If the attraction was really that strong, particularly in Eli's case, it would be a little more believable that he would have at least known what Jarrett did for a living, or that he lived in the same city. This is alleviated somewhat by the fact that Eli is writing his comic starring a Jarrett lookalike...but as Eli says, the character Sovereign is based on his perception of Jarrett idealized, but has his own history and background separate from reality.

Another small niggle was the ending; the turmoil they're embroiled seemed to end a little abruptly, and while it's implied that their involvement in the investigation isn't over, we still don't get much of a resolution to what was going on, and how exactly Eli played into the greater scheme other than his comics and site were involved in criminal activity. I would love to see a follow-up story, even a short, that gives us more of a resolution to the case, as well as a glimpse at how Eli and Jarrett are coming along with a relationship not influenced by the tension and fast pace of being chased and shot at by both criminals and law enforcement.

An excellent story, and one I highly recommend to pretty much anyone.

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Bayou Dreams by Lynn Lorenz

Bayou Dreams by Lynn Lorenz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book, despite a few niggles (discussed below), was probably one of the most realistic gay-for-you stories I've ever read, and also a good example of a werewolf/shapeshifter story.

I know that sounds like a pretty broad statement. No, I haven't read every werewolf story written, not even most of the m/m werewolf stories; I do know that I've run across a lot of stereotypes, a lot of the same story retold with different window dressing. On the surface, you might be able to say that about this story too; man meets werewolf, they find out their mates, have to fight the urge, pack doesn't approve, etc.

The difference here is in the execution. Scott (the werewolf alpha) is truly straight, with no "secret desires" or leanings toward homosexuality. He is baffled by what he sees as an unnaturally strong reaction to this man who shows up in his town one day, and is constantly trying to understand it, fight it, suppress it. I found his struggle to be very realistic, both with what a man with unexpected attraction would experience and the internal struggle with what he thinks he should be and do and what his instincts tell him to do. He seems torn in a million different directions, as wolf, as alpha, as man, as straight, as newly mated, as a son, as a sheriff, as a leader...he has a lot of roles to fill, and must come to some sort of conclusion about himself and his future.

Ted is a little easier to figure out; he's been burned before, falling in love with a straight man, and he avoids any sort of similar entanglement again. His struggle is more with his past, and trying to convince himself that his strong attraction to the shapeshifting sheriff is just physical. I do have a little niggle about his acceptance of Scott as a werewolf; he professes he doesn't believe in supernatural stuff, but he's swayed pretty quickly to Scott's story...though some of that could be the hot man. ;) I did also like the eventual reason behind the wildness affecting the pack; it was reasonable, and believable within the bounds of the werewolf/paranormal world.

Now to the niggles. The last 50 or so pages felt different, almost speeding up in pace enough to be noticeable. They felt slightly less polished, and made me wonder if the author couldn't have expanded the story a little bit, progressing through those last stages a little more slowly. I also felt that the storyline with Ted's case, the woman he's been following/observing, was a little awkward in places. This is most noticeable in his last conversation with her; she appears out of nowhere, and magically has the solution to Ted's current problem. It was a little too deus ex machina for me. I also thought that the shifter aspect was under-utilized at times. Scott only shifts about 3 times in the whole story, and the first time is at least halfway through.

I did, however, like the setup for the next story (if there will be one). It was sort of subtle, but also very believable in the context of the character involved.

Overall, I thought this was well put together, the characters were mostly fun and engaging, and it kept me involved throughout (which is sometimes hard). If there was the ability to give half-stars, I would probably give this 4.5 stars...the niggles I had were just strong enough to not allow a 5 star rating. Highly recommended, particularly for those who enjoy gay-for-you and/or shapeshifter stories.

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Gemini: The Wicked Things by Pepper Espinoza

Gemini: The Wicked Things by Pepper Espinoza
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book hit a lot of my "good" buttons. Paranormal storyline, shapeshifters, complex plot, good characters, even ghosts. It progressed quickly enough that I was never really bored or frustrated with the pace, but slowly enough that I didn't feel it was rushed. The only thing that I was a little unhappy with about pacing was there were a couple of points where time shifts and/or scenes cut that felt a little awkward.

One such case is when Travis and John are making love for the first time, and the chapter ends about 2/3 of the way through...and we just forward to the next morning. It might have been okay, if approached properly, but it felt like someone had chopped off the last few pages of the chapter.

Another awkward moment was the ending. Travis restores John's humanity, and we see him worn out from that event, and then...nothing. I would have been happier with another paragraph hinting at their future together, or maybe a short epilogue scene (which isn't necessary, but seems to be the norm). I also wanted to see Travis' mother one more time, to see if she recovered from the bad fairy's influence, and how she lives now (as human, or fairy).

The flashbacks in John's history were relatively well-done, and it really helped to see John's character from where he started and the darkness of his life, to where he ended up. Travis, though, is a little harder to pin down. He has all of these powers that we only see elements of; we don't see the big fight between him and Maurveen, and there are just some things about him that seem flatter than John, which is odd since the POV in the story is mostly from Travis' perspective.

Despite these and a few other hiccups, I would say this was a rather enjoyable read, though not my favorite in the Boys of the Zodiac series so far (I'm trying to read them relatively in order).

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Family Unit by ZA Maxfield

Family Unit by Z.A. Maxfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story works very well for me, because it hits a lot of my buttons...even some that I didn't know I had. :)

The first button it hits is that of family. This is a story about two men finding love, and one of them has a kid to care for...in this case, his grandson. I love seeing a gay story with a developing family, because it paints a picture that many people in today's society don't see, or care to see...that of gay men as regular people, living regular lives, and building regular families. These characters really love each other, and they build a successful (IMO) family unit, both including and around the kid. Some stories with children seem to slap them in, and they feel very artificial and secondhand. This one isn't built around the kid, per se, but it is a primary focus of the story, and you get a real sense of how the kid would struggle to see his grandfather/primary caregiver in a different light...and how it would affect his life, both in school and with other people.

In a related vein, Richard struggles with the change in his relationship status. I think most of the people in his life, including his neighbors and Nick's worthless mother and other grandparents...but I get the feeling that most of them chose to ignore that fact, and just see him as a single man. When Logan comes onto the scene, though, he forces them to see who Richard really is...and I think Logan challenges their image of a gay man. Richard, for all that he is a good guy, is a little more stereotypical...he's a photographer, thus "arty." Logan, on the other hand, is a retired soldier, a "man's man," strong and very capable of defending himself and his family.

Along those lines, though, I don't like how the dynamic and background of these two characters sometimes forces them into "husband/wife" roles. It doesn't happen often, and the author tries to mitigate it as much as possible by showing Richard as strong in certain situations, and even topping Logan, but it still happens. Richard is more emotional, more motherly, at times, and it sort of bothers me that it comes out that way.

It was also hard for me to see their age in the story. I often forgot that they were over 50 years old...they didn't act that way most of the time, and felt more like 30ish. Some of that you can explain away with the excitement of their new relationship, and their new situations...and I certainly didn't want them depicted as old men, because 50 is certainly not "old and decrepit" or anything...they just didn't feel as old as they were shown. I'm not sure if that is my own perception (or fault, really), or if it really was an aspect of the story, and the author's voice through the characters, but it was something I struggled with on occasion.

The drama throughout the story was rather good, though, and believable. The final section, dealing with Nick's abduction and rescue, was the hardest to swallow, though that didn't mean it was unbelievable...just slightly less believable than the troubles at school, and the tensions with the neighbors. Honestly, I would have liked to see more interaction with the neighbors, watching them come around more toward the 3 characters as a real family, and Logan as part of the community.

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Leo: All That You Are by Jamie Craig

Leo: All That You Are by Jamie Craig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this story out of order in the BOTZ series because it was the continuation of the "All That You Do" story, and I wanted to see where those two characters were going to go.

One problem I have with stories that continue a completed romance (as this story does) is the progression of the plot is usually some stupid fight/breakup that the couple goes through...this book doesn't really go there. The problem is with Gage's family, and dealing with the aftermath of his coming out. Really, "aftermath" is probably mostly a misnomer...only his parents truly know about Gage's homosexuality, and Gage must now reveal it to his many (SIX!) brothers.

I know nothing of Mormon life or culture, but the little I do know seems to fit with what is portrayed...rather rigid, unaccepting of "sinners" or those outside of the box allowed by their religion, and a strong emphasis on service/mission. The story and Gage's supporters may have been a little harsh at times toward Mormons, but that could be my ignorance hoping the reality isn't quite that bad. I was frustrated at his mother's inability to accept, and staunch refusal to even bend in her beliefs, although it was hard to see Gage's father with the same tenacity...maybe because he was in recovery or preparing for surgery the times we do see him. All accounts of his rejection of Gage are secondhand, except for one statement when Gage appears at the hospital, so it's hard for me to see his rigidity on homosexuality.

I really like the image of Gage's family, and how it divided them; he found a lot of support, which surprised him (and me), but also some heartache and harsh words.

My main problem with the book was the scene of infidelity. I always have a problem with infidelity in a couple that is supposedly committed and monogamous, but the act portrayed here was probably one of the easiest to accept/recover from. Part of that is the sex act itself; it involved only a drunk handjob from an old friend, and Gage didn't even reciprocate. Once he realized what had happened, he escaped and told Christopher as soon as they were together again in person. Brownie points for Gage.

Also, how Christopher works through the betrayal, both out loud to Gage and in his thoughts, made me accept how he handled it. It hurt him, but he does bring up the good point that they had never talked about exclusivity (although it may have been implied), and they talked about the incident, why it happened, that it would never happen again, and how to move past it. It gives us an idea how mature Christopher is by example, rather than inferring it from his friends' comments and teasing.

Related to this issue, it felt like the marriage proposal happened too quickly after the infidelity incident and discussion...it made it feel fake or cheaper, since they hadn't taken much time to resolve that issue and put it behind them. Plus, at that point they had only really been dating a little over month...though it doesn't really say how long it is until the wedding (that I recall, anyway).

Really good conclusion to this storyline, despite the niggles. Wouldn't mind a short showing them in wedded bliss...but then, I always like to see happy ever afters shown rather than implied. :D

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Taurus: All That You Do by Jamie Craig

Taurus: All That You Do by Jamie Craig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting story, in that for nearly the entire timeframe of the story the two protagonists are not in a relationship. Christopher picks up Gage the night meet, but backs away from intimacy once he finds out Gage is a virgin, and that his innocence is not an act. After this, Gage enters into a relationship of sorts with a semi-friend of Christopher's. I really like this element because it led to some awkward situations between the two protags, and ramped up the sexual tension between them with the obvious barrier of the pseudo-boyfriend.

The only part about this element that I don't like is when they have sex for the first time...which is when Gage is still technically dating the other guy, and right after assuring his boyfriend that they were exclusive and he had no designs on Christopher. It seemed to jar a little with Gage's character, who doesn't strike me as much of a liar, and I really don't care moments of infidelity (although I'm more okay with it here, because the cheating isn't on Christopher, but it implies it could happen in the future in their relationship).

Watching Gage evolve and grow was very satisfying, and I really liked the interplay between Christopher and Gage; their an interesting couple, and really diverse and into each other.

I wish there had been a little more alluding to the reasons behind Christopher's initial reaction to Gage...it isn't until rather late in the book that it's revealed that Christopher's reaction are due to a previous relationship, not some aversion to virgins. He speaks of a rule against innocents, and first-timers or those just coming out, but earlier we only see his reaction to Gage's virginity, no reasoning or hints that there might be more to it, despite the fact that we're in Christopher's head for much of the book. Even something as simple as "I couldn't have sex with Gage that first night because of his innocence; I couldn't go through that again." would have been enough to give a hint that there WAS another reason for us to find out...it was hard to understand Christopher's reticence before Gage was in a relationship without that bit of knowledge.

Despite that niggle, I really liked the book, and it ended in such a way that I felt really satisfied at the outcome.

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With Caution by JL Langley

With Caution by J.L. Langley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the first things I read by J.L. Langley, and I read it before I realized it was part of a series. Of course, that altered my perception of the story from others, since I wasn't aware of Remi's attitude from Without Reservations, and I didn't understand the relationship established there between Keaton and Chay. Of course, this didn't detract from the story at all.

I really liked Remi, and quickly came to sympathize with his situation. He was forced into a hard place, with an abusive, controlling father and a younger brother that he felt that he needed to protect against all costs. His attraction to Jake comes at a time when things are in the air; he's a newly changed werewolf, and is trying to come to terms with all that entails, as well as his strange feelings for a man, feelings he's suppressed with a strong front of heterosexuality.

I think, for me, the single aspect that endears me to Remi is how interacts with Sterling, and later Gadget's son Eddie. He's nurturing and protective, and while those may seem like feminine roles (add to that his omega status as a wolf), he has a strength of character and presence that mark him as nothing other than male. It's a common fault of m/m books to have characters that feel the the traditional male/female roles of a romance, but Langley does a wonderful job giving us a relationship that, while seme/uke and dom/sub in nature, is still wholly man with man, not man with girly-man.

Jake was interesting to me as well since he didn't fill the role as a stereotypical dominant. Yes, he was dominant and alpha (even getting his own pack in the end), but he doesn't take over control of Remi's life except to protect, as well as in the bedroom. I actually found him rather sweet; you can tell he cares a lot about the people in his group, later pack, and is nearly as fiercely protective of them as he is of Remi.

I would love to see another story with these two characters, maybe after Sterling is of age, he and Rhys are together, and the pack moves to wherever they end up. I loved seeing their relationship progress, and it makes me want to see what the future has in store for them...kids? :D

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Maxxed Out by Treva Harte

Maxxed Out by Treva Harte

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story was a somewhat classic tale of childhood friends/acquaintances who hook up after years apart.

What it did well: The characterization of the two leads was done rather well. They were three-dimensional, and interesting, with believable issues and flaws that made their predicament engaging. The supporting characters were pretty good, although a little two-dimensional. I really liked the brother's girlfriend that Daniel talks to in a bar; she was an interesting character, for all that she was only in one scene.

What wasn't so good: Ms. Harte's style of storytelling was a little...clunky. The internal monologues occurred right in the middle of the dialogue, and it resulted in several paragraphs between lines of speech, which was annoying (but not unreadable). Sometimes it was hard to remember what they had been talking about, because the thoughts had wandered far enough off topic. The parents were predictable and somewhat flat...the scene they appear in they almost disappeared as Daniel and Max talked about stuff, despite the fact Max was coming out to them.

Also, some issues were never really approached that might have made Daniel's resistance more believable...his injury and his dreams/hallucinations from the war are both things that Max should be able to reassure Daniel about...I wish we could have seen a scene following a nightmare.

In essence, this was a decent read that had the potential for more. If you don't mind a slightly unpolished feel to your stories, you might enjoy this one.

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Timing by Mary Calmes

Timing by Mary Calmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I thought this book was a lot of fun to read. The characters were interesting and engaging, the plot moved along quickly enough that it never really felt bogged down in descriptions or drama, and the setting felt real and believable.

I really liked Stefan, the main character. His POV was great, and his comments about people and the situations he found himself were fun and funny. My only negative comment about his character is that he was too...perfect, I guess. He was beautiful, everyone loved him, etc...that bugged me a little, but Ms. Calmes wasn't annoying about it, either. He had flaws, but they tended to be downplayed a little, except in the arguments with Rand (of course).

Rand was harder to get to know, both because he wasn't the POV character and because he seemed inconsistent at times. Some of that is because of Stef's perception (since we see the story through his POV), but some of it comes from what he does. At one point, I thought he was bailing on the relationship with Stef from his own words, although I think that was a deliberate action on the author's part. While I get that it was probably intentional, he still came off as a little "waffly" to me, at least until the ending.

The only thing that felt a little out of place was the intrigue with Stef's work. It works decently within the story, but it doesn't seem to affect the characters much outside of when there is actual danger. When they talk about the wedding, or are involved in it, the danger isn't even discussed for long periods of time. I think that could have been easily remedied, bringing it back into the reader's consciousness as a distant dark cloud, with something like Stef seeing the "worry in Rand's eyes" (or any other character, really), or a few comments here and there.

All in all, though, that was a rather minor problem, and the story was a very enjoyable read. It is high on my list of "good reads", and definitely one I will read again.

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Stirring Up Trouble by ZA Maxfield

Stirring Up Trouble by Z.A. Maxfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was a nice change from what I've been reading. Lately it's been angst, angst, angst, but this was a much lighter storyline. The characters and fun and interesting, and they have some nice chemistry. There is some angst, mostly in the form of the nasty food critic Tad Christopher and his weird fascination with smearing Toby, but it is very well balanced by the relationship and the dynamics of the restaurant.

I'm not a professional chef, so I don't know if the specifics of the story were accurate, but they felt like it. There was a familiarity with cooking terms and cuisine that made it believable when they casually mention a particular creme brulee or a specific entree (made me hungry). I really liked the character of Toby's nephew, Adam, and wanted to see more of him. He wasn't present for most of the middle of the book, and it made me a little sad; despite the dynamic nature of Toby's character, the childish nature and innocence of Adam was refreshing, at least for me.

I would suggest this book to anyone interested in a solid story, and somewhat gradual romance without a lot of dramatic angst, and a satisfying ending.

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Winnter Takes It All by R. Cooper

Winner Takes It All by R. Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was an unexpected pleasure for me. Based in a setting which I'm not usually inclined to read...historical western...it was amazingly well-written.

This is a short story that uses that fact to its full advantage; in fact, the author seems to revel in the short story aspect. We get a glimpse at the relationship between these two characters, a rugged, cowboy lawman and a cultured, drifting gambler. They come from two different worlds, and yet have similarities that seem both shocking and not to the main character, Morgan. He is a man truly at war, both with his own desires and his need for a place in the world, a need to fit it but be happy.

I like how he's conflicted with Dixon...he sees him as both a threat and a promise. He's a threat to the life he's built, the place that he's made into a home and that has allowed him to finally settle down. He also sees the man as a chance to fill another void, one that has always seemed to torment him...his loneliness. He's conscious of the fact that Dixon is a man, but seems to have gotten past that by the time of the story (well, mostly).

I also like that we end before anything truly happens. We don't see the sex, or even what becomes of their relationship. There are a lot of unanswered questions; is this a one-time sexual encounter, or the start of something more long-term and committed (it seems to imply the latter)? Is Dixon going to give up his own wandering ways and settle down with Morgan (a risky prospect)? Is Morgan, rather, going to leave the life he's built and resume wandering with Dixon (maybe more attractive idea)? Or are they going to scratch out something in between, with Dixon still wandering and gambling about, and returning frequently to Morgan's side?

I can see how this last option would not be favorable to Morgan, who imagined in the course of the story, Dixon injured or dead...and it disturbed him greatly. Now that they have consummated their desire, I think he would either try to persuade Dixon to stay with him somehow, or offer to travel with him. He would make a good protector for the gambler, even though he may not need one...he can be the visual distraction of a guard, allowing Dixon to defend himself as the ace-in-the-hole if needed. Staying in town would be harder to manage, as their companionship would be noticed, and talked about, by the residents of the town...even if Dixon chose to retire from gambling.

All in all, I like the possibilities this story presents, and the writing is superb...it gives a real sense of the torture Morgan is going through, and how he feels for Dixon. My only niggle is that we don't get to see or know much of Dixon, except through Morgan's memories. Their interaction is really short...only about a third of the story is actually them talking and teasing, and the rest is setup and Morgan's memories. I would have liked to see more of him, as well as get a better idea for where they may be heading, relationship-wise.

Strongly recommended, even for those who don't care for historicals.

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Of Cocoa and Men by Vic Winter

Of Cocoa and Men by Vic Winter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this story of a bad-boy shapeshifter with a chocolate addiction who finds his mate in a sweet but fiery baker. This is probably one of the best shifter/werewolf stories I've read. The couple is cute, the romance and sexual tension builds throughout the story...and we get a true seduction, not the "Hi, you're hot, let's jump into bed and sort out relationship stuff later" that you usually get with erotic fiction.

Dayton, the werewolf, is a typical alpha male...big, bad, scary. He's a loner, and doesn't want the pack leader alpha position...but he's also got a sweet tooth, and loves chocolate, despite the fact that it's toxic to dogs and werewolves and could kill him if he consumes too much. I love the blend of opposites in his character...he's a bad boy but he loves chocolate, he's alpha and scary but he spends time, money, and effort wooing Connor. It makes him sexy and romantic, but still all male, and I love that.

Connor is also a study in contrasts...he's sweet and caring, a generally gentle baker who is artistic and creative. At the same time, though, he's not a pushover; he'll stand up for himself and for what he believes in, even to scary Dayton when they first meet, as well as his current boss with threats to the fire marshal. I love how he's attracted to Dayton, but that doesn't mean he's going to let him growl and run over his life...he's not a traditional "submissive" partner to an alpha werewolf.

In the end, I think this is an awesome shifter story, with a lot of plot undercurrents that add spice and richness to the story and the characters involved. I also like, as mentioned before, how the romance progresses. It doesn't burn hot right from the start, but a gradually building heat that makes the end that much more satisfying. Highly recommended.

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Never Let Go by ML Rhodes

Never Let Go by M.L. Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! The story starts out with the classic nerd/popular guy hooking up in a night of passion and supposed romance. The heartache that Will feels at his supposed abandonment is rather poignant, and I feel really bad for him.

When Ethan returned, I wasn't sure I was going to forgive him in my head; I'm not usually favorable to characters who cheat, or abandon lovers and try to pick them up again like they have a right. Ethan, though, has a very plausible reason for his absence, and it didn't bother me at all once I realized the true reason for the separation, especially considering what the man went through.

I loved the juxtaposition of their roles after the separation, though; now Will is the buff strong man, both emotionally and physically, whereas Ethan is broken in a lot of ways, and comes to Will seeking something. I was a little squicky about the sex scene that was practically rape, since I'm not really in favor of non-consensual sex, but she made it work, particularly since Ethan was okay with it, even while it happened...he even expected it. I loved the resolution, and while we can see they are now reunited, there is also a glimpse of the fact that they have a lot of work to build a strong, steady relationship.

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Heart & Bones by ML Rhodes

Hearts & Bones by M.L. Rhodes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love M.L. Rhodes's stuff, and so I was rather excited to pick up this story, a continuation with two characters I had come to like a lot. When I started, I totally didn't expect the direction the story eventually went; I thought maybe some relationship issues, an ex trying to get in between them, and then it all ends up okay. And while that was the overall structure of this story, the actual details were...shocking and a little disturbing.

First of all, I want to say that I usually like stories that go a different route than expected. I get tired of the same storylines, the same relationship paths being followed in story after story. Romance has a reputation of being "add two lovers, a bad history, some angst, an ex, stir and enjoy", very formulaic. As such, I really enjoy finding stories that may start with the formula, but push the envelope in subtle or not-so-subtle ways. While I enjoyed that aspect of this book, it went somewhere darker than I cared to experience.

The kidnapping and torture of our main characters was bad enough, but I could have lived with that. What struck me with a sour note was the forced bondage scene with their abductor; it pushed the envelope of twisted, especially when you consider the neuroses that Ethan was dealing with from his earlier captivity and torture. I really felt for the guy, and to have to go through that, even though it was Will and made it okay, made me very uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong; I liked the resolution, and I liked that during the scene Will was able to distract the bad guy enough to slip Ethan the knife...very well-written, that. I just was sickened enough by the situation that there was no way I could enjoy the sex scene going on; if it had been taken out of the captivity situation, I might have actually enjoyed it. I guess the depravity of Jackson is what I had a problem with...which in the end was okay, since he was bad, a bad evil man. :D

Other than that uncomfortable scene, I actually enjoyed this story. I liked seeing the aftermath, how what they went through healed some things from Ethan's past as well as brought them closer together in ways that neither of them expected. I also love that their neighbor, who they thought was a pervy stalker, was actually connected with one of the agencies and in retirement...it made me laugh a little, even though it was kind of a deus ex machina. :D

Overall, not my favorite of Rhodes's works, but it still earns good marks for excellent writing and strong characters.

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Romanus by Mary Calmes

Romanus by Mary Calmes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've read several stories by this author, and each one I finish I find that more and more, she continues to tell stories with the same characters, who have similar quirks and characteristics. Sometimes this is okay; the mix maybe works in a particular situation, although I admit it might be the order in which I read them.

For this story, Romanus, I didn't notice the sameness as much. Some of those elements were there...one of the main characters is really attractive, and seems to get along with everyone where he goes, he doesn't listen half the time to others talking and often has conversations where he continues talking while someone else tries to interrupt. For some reason, these things weren't as irritating in this story...but there were a few things that I didn't enjoy, so I'll start with the bad before the good. :)

The biggest problem with this story I had was that we get a glimpse of a rich world, with an apparent history for the gargoyle shifters and a political struggle going on. The major failing is...after reading this several times, I still don't get it. There seems to be a hierarchy, but it's never clearly stated how the old man fits into the group. I get the sense that he was the leader, and has passed the reins to someone else, presumable Raoul...but there isn't enough evidence to support this. Ciprien comes across as a crazy separatist, but it isn't too clear if he's acting alone, or has an entire army that the group is hiding from.

Also, there's indications several times that Luc is ugly in some fashion; he's honestly surprised by Mace's attention when they meet, and doesn't understand their apparent connection, or why Mace doesn't see him as ugly. I thought at first that maybe he is an ugly gargoyle, but he wasn't in gargoyle form during their first meeting (he's wearing clothes to Mace's eyes). Also, he is attractive to everyone at Mace's apartment...there is either a large oversight here, or a missed opportunity for some storytelling. I would have loved to see more of this world, and the people who make up coven of gargoyles...maybe the author has plans to continue this world, but as a standalone story it seems to fall short.

Now for the good things. The connection between the main characters is very hot, as well as satisfying. I like the fact that Mace is attracted to Luc, even though Luc's clan seems to see him as only a useful tool. I love that Mace, as a Romanus, is highly prized, and yet he seems to have picked the ugly duckling (of sorts). I also really enjoyed Mace's friends and roommates. They're a mixed bag, and a couple of them are complete tools...but it's fun to read about them, and I felt bad for the roommate who got stood up/dumped by his supposed boyfriend. I also really liked the use of gargoyles as a shifter group. It's not one I've seen very often; in fact, I can only recall one other story where I've seen a gargoyle as a main character.

So, in summary, this story was a pretty good attempt, but I felt that there were a lot of missed opportunities for an even stronger story, and I wished the story could have been about twice as long to accommodate those elements. If you like Mary Calmes' work, or enjoy shifters, you might want to give it a shot.

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Our Last Date by Kristen Wyatt

Title:  Our Last Date
Author:  Kristen Wyatt
Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press
Publisher link: Our Last Date
Goodreads link:  Our Last Date
Rating:  4 out of 5

Note:  This title is part of the First Time For Everything Daily Dose collection for 2011

Review:
This story surprised me a little bit...and honestly, it was in a good way.

I was unprepared for the humor that infused the story.  The daughter was cute as hell, and funny enough to hold her own with two humorous dads.  There are some pretty good banter moments, and jokes galore.

But this short is not just fluff; there is some meat to the story.  The premise is a flashback to the first (or "last", which needs to be understood in context of the story, so I'll refrain from explaining and spoiling) date.  The date itself was actually pretty well done, broken up by jumps to the present that broke up the action and lent itself to some funny commentary.  A drunken hookup and date setup for the day after is a funny idea, and leads to some comic moments.  I wish the author would have played a little more with the fact that they didn't know each other, specifically that moment when they first meet again face to face.  Despite that, though, the story is well done.

A couple of niggles...the comedy, while pretty hilarious, is also pretty constant throughout.  All of the characters are funny, almost to the point where I had to reread a couple places because I lost track of who said what...they're "voices" were that similar.  Also, some more serious moments might have made the humor have a little more punch at times.  I also wanted to see more affection between the dads...we see some kisses in the past, and a brief moment of cuddling in the present, but other than that there are only a smattering of some affectionate looks and that's it.

Having said that, I do like the family dynamic here.  Families are always a hit with me, and gay dads with a kid or kids is always interesting.  I would like to know more about them, and see them more...the kid is a riot, and I want to know how she came to exist, and how they're married, and what happened with their careers (they both started out as actors).  Also, the author mentions Nate was leaving for New York (from LA) shortly after the first date, but they never explain what happened.  Did he go?  Did they do a long-distance relationship for a while?  There was mention of two years in there, but it was unclear if they kept in contact or not, or even if Nate was in NYC or LA.

As for recommendations...this is a solid "read it soon", and if you like family dynamics or humor in your m/m fiction..."read it ASAP" :)