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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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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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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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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