Blood Red Butterfly by Josh Lanyon

Publisher: Just Joshin’

Date published: February 16, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-937909-36-9

Genre: Male/male romance; Yaoi

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Self-purchase

Reviewed by:Keldon

Authentic Lanyon, Yaoi style

When Josh Lanyon decided to tackle the world of manga and Yaoi, he came up with Blood Red Butterfly, a tale unlike anything he'd written to date. In addition to the intrigue and romance I’ve come to expect from a Lanyon offering, the Japanese heritage of the paired protagonists lends an unmistakable Yaoi flavor to the story.

By day, Detective Ryo Miller deals with homicide; at night, he frequents clubs in West Hollywood. For months he’s admired a man who looks like a real-life femme—a man known as the Ice Princess. After three rejections, Ryo moved on to a new club and more amenable prospects. Yaoi artist Kai Tashiro has a complex relationship with everyone around him, from his family to his art to his romantic entanglements, and things are about to get more snarled than ever.

When an elderly woman is brutally murdered, Ryo knows that the killer must be the man she helped put in prison: newly paroled Mickey Torres. Ryo never expected the Ice Princess to walk in and provide Torres’s alibi. Ryo is cynical about Kai’s story—and overwhelmed by attraction. On his part, Kai is suspicious about Ryo’s motives—is the detective interested in him, or in breaking Torres’s alibi?

As Ryo and Kai do an uneasy dance, Ryo makes a serendipitous discovery about the murder, landing Kai square in the crosshairs. The climax (not that one!) had me holding my breath as Ryo and Kai battle the bad guys. The story ends with an unexpected turn.

The cover art is exquisite—a full set of illustrations was the only thing this book lacked.

In the beginning, the layers of Japanese culture and Yaoi romance make this tale a departure from the typical Josh Lanyon, but the crime plot came together in fine Lanyon tradition, with a couple of nice little twists and a satisfying conclusion. Josh has successfully negotiated the journey into the world of boy love. An authentic offering that will please fans of both Lanyon and Yaoi.

HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Josh Lanyon, Z. A. Maxfield, L. B. Gregg and Harper Fox

Publisher: Carina Press
Date published: December 6th, 2010
ASIN: B004CJ814C
Contemporary M/M Holidays Anthology
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained By Publisher via Netgalley


Four stories of families, Christmas antics and the magic of the season as these talented authors transport the reader when reading HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

First up is author L. B. Gregg’s Mistletoe At Midnight, a charming tale of first love revisited, forgiveness and magic all within the confines of a family who enjoy meddling. Can a man find a way to have his first love in his life again this Christmas?

I have to admit, this author’s contribution had me in stitches. I loved the dynamics between Owen and his family, who all seemed to want to meddle in the poor man’s love life. The characters fairly stepped off the page and within a matter of minutes I was drawn into a story that had me flipping the pages with eager abandon, looking to see what would happen next for Owen and Caleb. If you haven’t read any of this author’s books, try the latest novella from LB Gregg and get ready to grin your way to a wonderful Christmas.

Next up was Harper Fox’s Nine Lights Over Edinburgh and one that I found a little too heavy for this anthology. Don’t get me wrong, it was a well written story but it felt out of place with the other books and light-heartedness of the stories in HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. The characters were well written and the story flowed nicely. I haven’t read one of this author’s books before and plan to check out the backlist to see if there are any more to read over the holidays.

Third up is I Heard Him Exclaim by Z. A. Maxfield and found it utterly charming. The story was well told, the characters well written and the romance between Steve and Chandler was sweet and at times very hot. I haven’t read one of this author’s books before but found the novella in this anthology to be a perfect introduction to this author’s writing. I am eager to see what else I can find to enjoy in the backlist of titles by this author.

Finally, author Josh Lanyon delivers Icecapade, a story of a jewel thief turned novelist and his nemesis, FBI detective finding love after a decade of being apart. Just one teeny problem…the detective thinks he is the one who is robbing houses and is determined to put Noel behind bars…for good. Can Noel show Robert that he is a reformed thief?

Josh Lanyon is a master at creating complex characters and making them completely lovable. Noel and Robert is a perfect pair together and though Robert comes after Noel, convinced he is a thief still, Noel finds a way to melt his icy heart. Vulnerable and sexy, the way this author creates his books leaves the reader with magic from beginning to end. I am hoping the author comes back to Noel and Robert again in the future. I would love to read more about them.

HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS is a perfect mix of fun and lightheartedness within the magic of Christmas. Each author delivers a wonderful novella that will keep you highly entertained from beginning to end. If you are looking for a sweet anthology to explore, then grab HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS and settle in for an afternoon of reading fun. I look forward to finding out what these authors have in store for their readers in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

FAIR GAME by Josh Lanyon

Publisher: Carina Press
Date published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4268-9045-1
ASIN: B003U89S66
Mystery/Thriller M/M Romance
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Former FBI agent Elliot Mills has just gotten used to teaching at a local college when he is asked to look into a case of a missing young man for his father’s friends. Now another man is missing and Elliot finds himself drawn in a game of cat & mouse with a serial killer. Working with his ex-lover/friend, Tucker Lance, Elliott is torn in a bunch of directions as he tries to stay one step ahead of the killer, figure out who and what happened to the missing young men and his complicated relationship with Tucker.

FAIR GAME is one enthralling ride from start to finish. This is an author who completely captivates the reader from the first page till the explosive end. With each word, Mr. Lanyon reels in the reader with his complex story, mystery and multi-dimensional characters that brim with life. I am a huge fan of this author’s work and found FAIR GAME to be his best story to date. With his trademark writing style, Josh Lanyon is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the mystery/thriller genre and one you don’t want to miss.

Meet former FBI Agent, Elliot Mills. Forced to leave the FBI due to a debilitating injury on the job, Elliot teaches a local college and finds his life is content if a bit lonely. Drawn away from his former life, he finds himself brought back into the fold when he is asked to look into a disappearance of a family friend’s son. Finding he has to work with his former lover, FBI agent Tucker Lance, has him conflicted and longing for Tucker. The stakes rise higher when he is targeted by the killer as another boy goes missing. Now Elliot has to play a catch and mouse game as he works with Tucker in trying to find and stop the killer before he kills again. I love Elliott and Tucker. They had a history and though they still wanted each other, misunderstandings and hurt feelings are between them. Complex, emotional and intriguing, Mr. Lanyon makes his main characters quite relatable and enjoyable. The secondary relationship between Elliot and his dad was a joy and had me smiling at times. The secondary characters kept the story flowing smoothly.

FAIR GAME is a fast paced story that sucks you in and doesn’t let you go until the very end and even then, you are left wanting more of FBI agent Tucker Lance and Elliot Mills. Mr. Lanyon is a talented storyteller that keeps his readers glued to his books and I am hoping he revisits Tucker and Elliot in the future. If you are looking for a mystery/thriller story that keeps you intrigued even after the last page is turned, then grab FAIR GAME and settle in for hours of reading entertainment.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2010 GOLDEN ROSE WINNERS!!!!!!

Since 2001 the Golden Roses have been one of the most coveted awards. We were among the first, if not the first contest looking for excellence in reading and writing. Over the past few years any number of contests have sprung up and after taking a look at many of the current offerings decided this year we did not want to run yet another popularity contest. While it is gratifying to see authors rally around others from their company, we've seen these contests move from excellence in writing to who can garner the most votes.

We had a panel of five judges reading the submitted books in the four categories. And now, congratulations to our 2010 Golden Roses!!!!!!

The Golden Rose for Paranormal (including sci fi) is SOUL OF A GUARDIAN by Angela Verdenius

The Golden Rose for Historical is WINNER TAKES ALL by Sandra Sookoo

The Golden Rose for Romantic Suspense is MEXICAN HEAT by Laura Baumbach & Josh Lanyon

The Golden Rose for Mystery is FOR THE LOVE OF LIVVY by J.M. Griffin

The Golden Rose for Contemporary Romance was a tie with SHADOW BOXING by Karen Wiesner and BE MY BABY by Meg Benjamin

Please check out our Golden Rose page to learn more about these talented authors.

THE DARKLING THRUSH by Josh Lanyon

Publisher: Loose Id
Date published: April 2010
ASIN: B003QMKSSI
LGBT Fantasy Paranormal Suspense
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by publisher


Book Hunter Colin Bliss is fed up with his desk job at the Imperial Arcane Library and after accepting a commission to find an ancient witch’s grimoire, he finds himself having to travel to the Western Isles to solve an ancient mystery while the most aggravating man alive-Master Sepitmus Marx-is determined to stop him. Why he has no idea but then things start happening that leave Colin questioning not just Sepitmus but also the job itself. Can Colin figure it all out before it’s too late?

THE DARKLING THRUSH is a fun, wild ride from start to finish. It has been awhile since I read one of this author’s wonderful books and this latest one is sure to please any lover of Josh Lanyon’s stories. Tight writing, a fast paced storyline with a dash of simmering sexual tension and mystery all make up this fabulous story that left me wanting more. Mr. Lanyon is a talented author that captivates his readers and leaves them breathless till the very end. If you enjoy a dash of romantic suspense with your fantasy, then THE DARKLING THRUSH is sure to please your senses.

Meet Colin Bliss, a book hunter who has been stuck at his desk far too long at the Imperial Arcane Library. When he gets an unexpected invitation to take a commission from The Sword’s Shadow, an ancient witches grimoire; having to travel to the Western Isles has Colin scrambling to solve an ancient murder while trying to not fall for the aggravating yet sexy Master Septimus Marx. Secrets, mysteries and revelations abound as Colin gets closer to the answers and the grimoire. Can he stay alive long enough to solve the mysteries? I love Colin and Sepitmus. Both are polar opposites of one another. Colin is bookish and a self proclaimed “Book Hunter”. Sepitmus is sexy, dour and very good at his job at the Imperial Arcane Library. The sparks fly soon after these two run into each other and this is an author who really gets to the heart of his characters. Mr. Lanyon shows just who they are-complete with hidden vulnerabilities and fears. I loved the way Colin and Sepitmus meshed well together and with other secondary characters. Well rounded, you get a feeling they could step off the pages and into real life with ease. I enjoyed how Colin was something of a bookworm and “nerd”. It made the dynamics between himself and Sepitmus more enjoyable in my thinking.

THE DARKLING THRUSH is one enjoyable ride from start to finish. I am just hoping this author comes back again the world he’s created within the pages of this story. I have to say there are some things people may find objectionable-mainly M/M scenes and graphic language. Overall, THE DARKLING THRUSH is a story I am eager to read again. If you enjoy a dash of mystery to your M/M Fantasy then grab this latest book by Mr. Lanyon. You won’t be disappointed.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Welcome to Josh Lanyon's guest blog

Welcome Mr. Josh Lanyon to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us.



Did you always want to become a writer?


I did, actually. From the time I was very, very young. I learned to read early, but before I learned to read I would take the books and make up my own stories to them for the benefit of whoever would listen to me. (Yes, I was the kind of child you want to hit with a frying pan.)



What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?


The least interesting thing about writing is that you sit at a computer all day with no one to talk to but the voices in your head. Eight hours of it, minimum. But that’s also the most interesting thing about it because when it’s going well, you slip into a kind of waking dream state. It’s similar to reading only more intense -- and you control it.


How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?


I believe I took my family out to dinner. I believe I got a little misty about it. The release, not the dinner. I think we all do that very first time. Get a little misty, I mean. I don’t really have a ritual to celebrate new releases anymore, but I do celebrate the major releases -- the Adrien books, for example -- with a good dinner and a nice bottle of wine.


How did your family react to fact that you also write M/M romance novels? Have your family read your books?


My SO has no problem with what I write, but he requests that I stringently protect my name and our privacy, and I do. The rest of my family is not comfortable with my writing about sex or sexuality. My father would prefer that I wrote non-fiction, I think.



Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?



I read avidly -- or I did. I have less time for reading these days. Some authors I’ve read most recently -- and enjoyed -- are KA Mitchell, LB Gregg, Sean Kennedy, and Astrid Amara. I can recommend any and all of those.



Your release date is really full, which I love as a fan of your books, do you have a problem with deadlines and have you ever suffered a writers block?


I’ve never had writer’s block, per se. I’ve had burn out, but that’s a whole other thing. I have gotten blocked on certain projects and that usually has to do with outside stress when I need all my creative focus, or the fact that it’s a project that I really don’t want to do but committed to in another life.


Do you prefer stand-alone books or series?


They both have their pleasures and pains. I’ve always loved writing the Adrien English series. They’re difficult, but…I love them. I do really enjoy writing novellas, essentially capturing a few days in the life of a couple of guys. Those are easy and entertaining (for me at least) and I have fun making each one different. But there’s also something satisfying in following a character, watching him change and grow, meet different challenges…


Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?


No, no, and no. I’m an excellent observer and an enthusiastic student of human nature, and that’s why my characters feel real. I ground everything in recognizable reality. But fiction is fiction, so my characters are a wee bit better than real life -- as this is what we require from romantic fiction. Real life, we can get anywhere.



Where do you get the inspirations for your books?


It’s a combination of things. It can be a song or a painting or a news article. It can be a movie or a book. It can be…nothing at all. A phrase just comes into my mind, and a story begins to build. I think I’ve been writing so long that I’m almost a word processor. I literally wake up thinking dialog.



Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?


I find it challenging to keep them fresh and meaningful. I try hard not to repeat myself. I had a line editor the other day who suggested in a scene that I have spunk hit the opposite wall and I just groaned. First of all…he obviously hasn’t read my work because I’ve been there, done that, and you can’t have every love scene the same. Secondly, I try to be a little more subtle than that.


I guess the challenge is in keeping the scenes different enough but still satisfying because you could make them very different, but certain words, phrases, and actions are more popular with readers than others, so…it’s a balance.


What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who is your favorite hero and why?


I think my all time best work is a noirish World War II novella called Snowball in Hell. But my favorite character, hands down and no question, is Adrien English from the Adrien English series. He’s so much a part of me that I can write him without thinking about it.



Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?


The easiest thing I ever wrote was Fatal Shadows. It’s the first Adrien book. I had no idea what I was doing, and that is a great free-er-upper. I wrote it in a month which isn’t bad for a first attempt at a mystery novel. It’s a bit simplistic, but it holds together well enough for what it is. Its real strength is the character of Adrien. It’s his introduction, so you have to have that book.


The hardest thing I ever wrote was Strange Fortune, my first real foray into spec fiction. It’s an action-adventure fantasy novel for Blind Eye Books, and it was agony to write. Partly, because I was very conscious of the fact that everyone in the Blind Eye stable is really top notch and I very much did not want to be the weak link. It was also difficult because I had to battle to let go of my historical fiction hang ups. The idea of magic thrilled me, but it terrified me too. I did not want my magic to be a cheat. To be a convenience. I wanted it to be real and interesting -- but not take over the book.


If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?


Hmmm. Maybe Sean from The Dark Horse. I love both his houses, and he has a fun job, no serious health issues, lots of money, and a partner who pretty much caters to him all the time.


If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?


Well, I’m very much interested in the Victorian painter Atkinson Grimshaw, so I’d like to drop in on his studio and watch him at work. And I’d try and talk him into giving me a painting.


Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?


Often, yes. It’s a real mix of everything from Patty Griffin to Snow Patrol. The Dixie Chicks are playing right now, as a matter of fact.


If you could choose of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you as the cast?


Snowball in Hell. I think that would make a great movie.


Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?

I’m starting work on a novella for a Christmas pairing with K.A. Mitchell. My story is about a shady young book hunter who tries to seduce a handsome English professor into selling a rare copy of a lost Dickens story. It’s called The Dickens with Love.


Big congrats to your latest releases, can you please tell us something about them

Next thing up is a World War I story about flying aces called Out of the Blue from Liquid Silver. It’s not really a mystery although it is kind of a crime story -- although a very romantic one. Everything else, I still …er…have to write!

SOMEBODY KILLED HIS EDITOR by Josh Lanyon

Published by: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Dated Published: June 16, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60504-585-6
E-book
Gay Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Miss April


CLICK TO PURCHASE! Nothing like a murder mystery to make you shiver with delight. In SOMEBODY KILLED HIS EDITOR by Josh Lanyon, there is a lot of shivering, not all of it from the cold. In this story we have two men who appear to be adversaries. Both men are writers and while one is still very successful, the other is on his way down and out from his publisher.

Christopher Holmes is 39 years old and is about to be dumped by his publisher unless he can reinvent himself at a writers conference. He just never expected to run into a body on his way to the lodge where it is held. J.X. Moriarity is an ex-cop turned writer and it’s clear that he suspects Christopher of something, especially after their past history. Now they must try and figure out who is a killer and figure out each other as well.

SOMEBODY KILLED HIS EDITOR is a great murder mystery as well as a lovely romance. The twists and turns of each event will fascinate the reader. The clues are dropped subtly throughout and by the end when you find out who did it, there is a moment of "Aha!" about it. It all comes together. The romance side is no less subtle as you are allowed to peel back layers to expose Christopher and J.X.’s past together. I found it to be particularly nice that the author allows you to find these things out for yourself, no force feeding with this book. There is always an underlying current tension between the two men which only makes the conflict even edgier. I loved this story. It was a delight to read and a marvelous mystery. Most of all it was a wonderful story of a second chance for two men who deserved it.