Forgotten by Rider Jacobs

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Date published: March 2014

ISBN: 978-1-62798-430-0

Digital ISBN: 978-1-62798-429-0

Genre: M/M contemporary/paranormal

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher

Reviewed by Keldon

RATING: 4

Peter, a writer, and Rhys, a video game designer, buy a huge Victorian house and the accompanying farm in a rural area. Peter is reluctant, but gives in to Rhys. The low price for the property seems too good to be true, and it soon becomes apparent why.

Haunting isn’t a new concept, but this is a different take on an old theme, incorporating more than things that go bump in the night. Jacobs sprinkles the supernatural element in bit by bit, which makes for a nice reading pace. The main characters are well drawn. At times there is a bit of distance between the reader and the protagonists, but overall their relationship comes through. The final crisis resolves into an interesting wrap-up, one that I didn’t expect.

The story begins with a prologue, which didn’t add anything in this reader’s opinion. The characters in that introduction are never seen or heard from again, and the information could have been conveyed by the main characters—as it was anyway as the story progressed. I would rather have started with Peter and Rhys.

Overall an enjoyable read, recommended for paranormal fans.

._,_.___

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

 

Dame of Owls by A.M. Belrose

Publisher: Self-published
Date published: 2013
ISBN: none
ASIN: B00HFMZ6CI
Genre: Fantasy
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Publisher Gift
Reviewed by Keldon__

RATING: four

RAT

Sid is a half-human/half-fairy knight, residing in the fairy realm. She is part of the Winter Court, the House of Owls. Although feathers are involved at times, this is not a shifter story—Sid does not morph into an actual owl. Because of her human side, she is sent on a mission to bring a particular human back to the Winter Queen. Since this is nothing new, Sid assumes the queen has chosen this mortal for his beauty.

Chris is a bookstore worker who doesn’t believe in fairies—until Sid shows up to haul him back to the queen by any means necessary.

Chris gives in early on and doesn’t seem to have any interest in fighting his trip to the Winter Court. He seems taken with Sid and trusts her. Neither Chris nor Sid have any idea of the true reason the queen wants this particular mortal.

Several other fairy realm houses play a part, including a persistent Lilly knight, and other fairy folk enter the picture at intervals.

The story is told from third person point of view, both Sid’s and Chris’s. The fairy realm is well developed and believable. The characters are three dimensional and the plot moves right along. There are several chase sequences and fight scenes. The intimate scenes are more of a catalogue of mechanical action and include little emotion, which was disappointing compared to the vivid description elsewhere.

The action peaks near the end, with a pleasing resolution (no spoilers here).

Overall, I enjoyed the story, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy.

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

 

Summer of Love by Heidi Champa

Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC

Date published: August 19, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-61124-465-6

Genre: M/M contemporary

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher Gift

Reviewed by Keldon__

RATING: four and ½ hearts

 

Summer: it’s a time of weddings and outdoor activities, and getting away from the city for the weekend. Long hot days and cool nights create the perfect carefree atmosphere for a summer fling. It’s a great time for falling in love, and author Heidi Champa is up to the task of providing a great story.

Max knows everything about planning a wedding, as long as it’s someone else’s. His own wedding fell through nine months ago. Since then, Max hasn’t felt like getting back in the game, and has buried himself in work. Unfortunately, watching other people get married is a constant reminder of Max’s biggest failure.

After five years with Max, fiancé Trevor walked away in the middle of wedding planning, saying only he didn’t want to get married.

The Acres is a resort catering to gay men, and summer in the woods has its own brand of magic. When Max goes to The Acres to meet with friends Jeff and Justin to plan their wedding, he runs into Trevor. Again. And again. An unexpected kiss heats things up between Max and Trevor, but can they overcome the issue that tore them apart nine months ago?

Max is endearing—he’s a pro at his job, but stuck in a rut in his private life. If it weren’t for directing weddings, he’d never get out. He’s funny and anxious in turns. Trevor is just the right amount of regret combined with reconciliation—I loved anticipating what might happen next.

As far as secondary characters, Max’s friend and business associate Danielle has a sassy personality and is an excellent foil for Max. Friends Jeff and Justin at The Acres likewise make for good conversation and facilitate the reunion.

The pace is good, the climax believable, and the resolution satisfying. I enjoyed the author’s voice, and would like to read more of this series. Summer reading homerun!

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

Blood in the Past by Jordanna East

Publisher: Blood Read Press

Date published: June 16, 2013

ISBN: ASIN: B00DGCIXRG

Genre: Suspense

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Gift

Reviewed by Keldon__

RATING: four stars

 

*May contain spoilers*

Blood in the Past is essentially a prelude—an introduction to a longer series coming later this year. Three characters’ lives intertwine in a complex dance:

Jillian is a woman scorned, left with the consequences of an ill-advised affair.Lyla is a woman motivated by false pretenses, generating consequences of her own.Jason is a man in flux, planning a future without a complete memory of the past. The lives of these characters touch and diverge, circling around again and again. Ms. East utilizes multiple points of view in the third person to relay the story, and this is probably the best choice for a tale such as this.

Overall, the backdrop was adequate for establishing setting, but not a lot of sensory cues other than sight and touch were offered. For the most part, pacing is acceptable. At times, the timeline jumps backward to reflect what one character did at the same time as another. There were a couple of places where I wanted the story to get moving. I would have liked to have seen the development of the relationship between Jillian and Calvin instead of the “several months later” exposition—participating in Jillian’s thought processes would have been beneficial. As it was, I was left with little sympathy toward the character, despite her troubles. Lyla seems to get more page time than her compatriots. Despite this, I still felt as though I didn’t know her well or understand her motivations at times—just me.

The secondary characters have variable development—some more fully realized than others. The character of CJ is inconsistent, but perhaps will coalesce in future offerings. Mel seems poised to play a big role, but that role never materializes.

The author’s voice comes through in places, but it seems this is a new author still developing a voice.

As far as a series, this is a short offering, more of an introduction to what’s coming later on. The premise is sufficiently interesting to warrant trying the next book in the series. I’m hopeful some of the characterization issues will be resolved in the second book.

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

The United and the Divided: Tooth and Claw, Book 3 by LA Witt

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Date published: October 2013

ISBN: 978-1-61921-808-6

Genre: M/M/M paranormal

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher Gift

Reviewed by Keldon__

 

**May contain spoilers for those who haven’t read the first two books.

This is the long-awaited conclusion to the story of Levi, Darius, and Ian. If, like me, you read the first two, you’ve probably been chomping at the bit for the conclusion. Finally we get our day in the sun…er, make that moonlight. Through a series of events, wolf Levi is now a vampire, vampire Darius is now a wolf, and human-turned-vampire Ian is right in the middle—literally, at times. Darius and Levi have no choice but to feed on wolves; feeding off humans would result in wolf conversions.

Over the course of the first two books, the three have been pursued by Levi’s wolf clan, alternately aided and betrayed by wolves and vampires alike across the United States and Canada. We left them in the care of Levi’s grandmother at the end of Book Two.

This final installment opens with the three men attempting to make a go of it living among wolves in a small colony in Alaska. The usual dissention and betrayal occurs, leading to shootouts, threats of sunlit death sentences, and flight from danger. I’d have enjoyed a variation on this theme, although the action still kept me turning the pages.

In a lot of ménage set-ups, there is a dominant pair with a third taken in. This is a true ménage. All three are on an equal and loving footing. This is no couple with a spare man. The connection and caring among them comes through in spades.

The main characters are front and center, alternating chapters told in first person by each of the boys. This can be a bit challenging, as all three are male, but LA manages it nicely. The plot moves right along, and the ending is satisfactory, leaving the door open a crack in case a fourth book ever becomes a possibility.

LA’s voice is on display, bringing out every nuance of emotion and passion, regardless of the coupling—or tripling—being described. This evocative talent is what brings me back to LA’s books time and again.

I’d strongly recommend this book and the two before it. In my opinion, the series is more enjoyable read in order and starting with the first book. If you haven’t read any of LA’s books, this story will hook you; I’d recommend also checking out her other offerings.

RAT

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

 

Save Your Love by Lex Valentine

Publisher: MLR Press, LLC

Date published: June 2013

ISBN: MLR-1-02013-0090

ASIN: B00DFRTEMU

Genre: M/M contemporary

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher Gift

Reviewed by Keldon

 __

 

As a teenager, Jay Sparks couldn’t care less about romance—with girls or boys. His life was defined by music. On Jay’s eighteenth birthday, Matt Langdon—Jay’s best friend since childhood—gives him an unforgettable present by taking Jay to see the band Great White live. Matt’s real gift is focusing Jay’s attention on his orientation and then the two of them making love for the first time.

Thereafter, Jay goes on to a music career while Matt becomes a fireman. Over the years, neither falls in love with anyone else, and they gravitate toward each other, coming together sporadically as life pulls them in different directions.

The book begins in May 1987 and progresses through decades, chronicling their relationship through May 2013 and essentially carries the theme of one true love overcoming all obstacles.

The characters are well drawn but not deep—at 16,000 words, the story isn’t long enough to allow for a lot of characterization. The pace is relatively fast; I read it in one sitting in a couple of hours. I would have preferred more angst, but that’s just me. More angst near the end would have grabbed my attention more (no spoilers here).

Overall it was an enjoyable short story. I’ve read other stories by this author, and would check out future offerings.

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

 

Out of the Blackness by Carter Quinn

Publisher: Carter Quinn Books

Date published: July 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4675-8142-4

Genre: M/M contemporary

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Self purchase

Reviewed by Keldon__

Avery has issues. A bad family situation followed by a worse one in a group home has left him with scars, nightmares, and a mistrust of nearly everyone on the planet. His safe circle includes fellow employees at a small bookstore…and Sam.

Cop Sam is Avery’s best friend, protector, housemate, and defacto brother—and the only one who knows the source of Avery’s pain. From the time Avery came to live with Sam, Avery has dreaded the day Sam will choose to pursue a life outside of their duo, and Sam seems to be getting serious with his girlfriend.

Furniture mover Noah is intrigued from the moment he lays eyes on the shy young man who works at the bookstore next door. Determined to draw Avery out, Noah sets out to change Avery’s world, one “win” at a time.

So begins a series of events that shake Avery loose from his safe cocoon and expose him to possibilities he’d never considered.

The characters are believable and deep in their quirks and personalities. Avery’s angst leaps off the page, putting the reader in the scene and experiencing the emotion right along with him, tissues were required at times.

The pacing was just right, and the black moment believable. At the end, the resolution left me happy and so proud of Avery. Yes, a fictional character, but I felt I knew him by then. I loved every minute, and stayed up late to finish it.

Carter Quinn is a new-to-me author. This book was recommended by a friend, and is one of the best purchases I’ve made this year. I’m looking forward to future offerings from him.

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

 

Whiskey and Wry by Rhys Ford

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Date published: August 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62798-079-1

Genre: M/M contemporary

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher Gift

Reviewed by Keldon__

 

I love Rhys Ford’s books. For a great read, you can’t beat her unique voice or interesting characters and the situations in which they find themselves. Whiskey and Wry is the second book in the Sinner’s Gin series and is no exception. It’s exceptional.

Damien used to be a musician—until he woke up in a mental hospital. A fire gives him an opportunity to start over. He looks for his best friend and Sinner’s Gin band mate Miki St. John in San Francisco, the last place Damien recalls with any certainty. Damie’s memory is spotty at best, and he’s drawn to a pub where he feels Miki. And what’s a musician of miniscule means to do to support himself? Play guitar, of course.

Sionn runs the Irish pub on the boardwalk left to him by his grandmother. Buskers are forbidden, but there’s something about the guitarist in a cowboy hat who keeps showing up to play, and Sionn can’t bring himself to run the guy off. Instead, Sionn plies the musician with coffee and gets to know him. When Damie remembers he’s gay, Sionn decides to act on the simmering attraction he’s had since the start.

Unfortunately, someone’s put a price on Damie’s head, and avoiding the assassin’s bullet becomes first priority. Sionn and Damie must negotiate the dangerous waters of Damie’s fuzzy past to sort out the underlying plot and find Miki.

Rhys Ford has a knack for creating quirky well-rounded characters. I love the ones peopling this story, especially Damien. The pace is fast, the romance nice and slow, and the mystery plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I stayed up too late several nights reading.

The book dovetails nicely with Sinner’s Gin, the first book in this series, and it was nice to reacquaint myself with those people. I hear there’s a third book in the works, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Rhys cooks up next.

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