NOBLE METALS by L.A. Witt

Publisher:               Riptide Publishing            

Published:               July 14, 2014         

ISBN:                     978 1 62649 143 4

Genre:                   Romance, M/M, Steampunk

Book Format:          E-book

Obtained via:          Publisher

Reviewed by:          Helena Stone, helenastone63@gmail.com

Rating:                  4

When Robert Belton and his brothers reached Seattle it didn’t take them long to lose the money their father had loaned them to stake a claim in the Klondike gold fields. In order to survive, Robert has been working as a prostitute while trying to find a way to make it to Klondike, since going back home is no longer an option. When an attractive customer offers him the opportunity to travel north together, Robert doesn’t think twice.

Dr. John Fauth isn’t looking for gold. He is on his way to the gold fields in the hope of finding the platinum he needs for his revolutionary inventions. This is his last chance. If he doesn’t find the platinum and get his invention to work it will be the end of both his university career and his research.

Getting to Klondike is a dangerous and gruelling journey under the best of circumstances. The invaluable device John carries with him makes the journey even more hazardous. Three men are determined to get their hands on it and will do anything to either Robert or John to achieve their goal. And that’s before other prospectors discover what the device is capable off.

As the relationship between Robert and John slowly develops it becomes clear that they have far more to lose than ‘just’ riches and fame.

This was a fun, exciting and fascinating romance for a host of reasons.

The two main characters in this book were fascinating, both together and separately. Robert Belton finds himself working as a prostitute after he and his brother have lost the money that was supposed to take them to the gold fields. When Robert spends the night with Dr. John Fauth it is the first time he’s experienced anything resembling pleasure with a man and it is a revelation. Still, he will be travelling with the doctor for a while before he dares to believe that the man is more than just another ‘john’ and sees him as anything other than a prostitute.

Dr. John Fauth is a man on a mission. Determined to make it to the gold fields in order to find the precious metal he needs to make his invention work and his dreams come true he doesn’t realise how much danger he’s putting himself and his travel companion in. 

The mixture of constant danger and slowly developing relationship is perfectly balanced and kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could without missing a word. The suspense is constantly lurking in the background and the growing relationship between the two, at first glance incompatible, men takes the edge off while at the same time introducing a whole new level of tension.

Then there is the time and place in which this story is set; the most northern parts of America during the late 19^th century. Hordes are flogging to the Klondike gold fields to strike it rich before the precious metal runs out. But this is not quite the 19^th century as we know it. Thrown into the mix are automatons unlike any ever invented. The steampunk twist gives the story that extra level of originality without taking anything away from the underlying romance.

The story is mainly told from Robert’s point of few, but interspersed are diary entries written by John.  I liked this set up. It made a nice change from the more common switch between narrators while still giving us both perspectives.

As always Mrs. Witt’s story was a delight to read. Her writing is smooth, her dialogue sparkles and her plots are clever and never fail to capture me from the start. Noble Metals was a wonderful read and yet another confirmation (if I needed one) of this author’s talent for telling a captivating story.

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

 

WHERE NERVES END by L.A.Witt

Publisher:               Riptide Publishing                      

Published:               June 25, 2014        

ISBN:                     978 1 62649 167 0

Genre:                   Contemporary Romance, M/M

Book Format:          E-book

Obtained via:          Publisher

Reviewed by:          Helena Stone, helenastone63@gmail.com

Rating:                   4+

         

Note: This is a revised second edition, with minor additions, of the first edition originally published elsewhere.

The first edition of this book – the first title in the Tucker Springs series - has been reviewed by Love Romances and More in the past and a detailed description of the story can be found in that post.

Anybody reading my book posts with any regularity may have noticed that I’ve developed a taste for L.A. Witt and her books. Without fail her stories and characters manage to pull me in, entertain me and leave me happy and fulfilled by the time I reach the end. ‘Where Nerves End’ was no exception to that rule.

From the moment we meet Jason Davis and Michael Whitman it is easy to like the two men with so very much on their individual plates. I had to smile at Jason’s reluctance to see an acupuncturist because he has no faith in all that alternative mumbo jumbo only for the pain in his shoulder to get so excruciating that he feels trying anything has to be better than accepting his suffering as a permanent feature in his life. His doubts about visiting Michael Whitman’s surgery disappear as soon as he sets eyes on the man and his ambivalence about the treatment soon follows.

The relationship between Jason and Michael grows naturally and although it seemed a bit of a stretch that anyone would invite their doctor to move in with them in order to ease the financial burdens both were carrying after only a few visits, it did work for me.

Jason’s conflicting emotions once Michael moves in were fascinating. I enjoyed the way he switched between being delighted to be living with the object of his dreams and feeling deep frustration because the man he was lusting after was not able to return his feelings.

I loved Michael’s relationship with his young son and his need to put the boy first, even if it meant denying himself what he yearned for. And may I just say that young Dylan put a huge smile on my face when he proclaimed that boyfriends are better than girlfriends because ‘girls are gross’.

Overall this was a smooth, fun and easy read with just the right balance between romance and angst to keep my happy. I remain delighted to have discovered L.A. Witt and grateful that there are still so many of her books I haven’t read yet.

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

IT’S COMPLICATED by L.A. Witt

Publisher:               Riptide Publising    

Published:              April 28, 2014

ISBN:                     978 1 62649 135 9

Genre:                   Contemporary Romance, M/M

Book Format:          Paperback

Obtained via:          Publisher

Reviewed by:          Helena Stone, helenastone63@gmail.com

Rating: 4

This is an example of the title fitting the story like a glove. ‘It’s Complicated’ and boy is it ever. Brad and Jeff’s relationship has been going through ups and downs more or less from the start. After their last down they’ve been living apart and recently decided to start again, from scratch.

The morning after an evening out and a very enjoyable night both men are feeling optimistic. The mood changes when Jeff receives a phone call from his ex-wife informing him that an unplanned and once off sexual encounter while he and Brad were split up, has led to a pregnancy.

To say this throws both men into turmoil would be an understatement. Brad has always been slightly insecure about Christine, Jeff’s ex-wife, and the close relationship they still have especially since the two own and run a business together. Brad had a difficult time dealing with Jeff’s long working hours and the limitations it put on their relationship. Adding a baby to the equation as well as Christine’s announcement that she’ll be moving away from Tucker Springs, only helps to convince Brad that he and Jeff are on a slow and painful road to nowhere.

Jeff feels torn in all directions. While he is excited about becoming a father he also knows this is yet another strain on his already troubled relationship with Brad. He’s determined to be a part of his child’s life and to support his ex-wife but desperately wants to work things out with the man he loves too.

The two men are both stressed to the hilt and old and new fears just add fuel to the fire. It seems it may only be a matter of time before their attempt at starting again is going to go up in smoke for good.

There are angst-filled stories and then there are stories that are pure angst. ‘It’s complicated’ fits very nicely in the latter category. Two busy schedules might derail a relationship, as might a close relationship between one of the partners and an ex. So you’d think Brad and Jeff had more than enough to worry about, especially since they are inclined to fight and make up without resolving their issues. Add pending parenthood to the mix and the whole thing is bound to end in tears. And, if I’m honest I have to admit there were moments when I thought enough with the pain, doubt and insecurities already. Surely the lads deserve a few moments of relief from their struggles. But even when they’re relaxing and find some precious and rare time together, their issues surface and spoil the moment.

On the other hand, the roller-coaster ride that took Jeff and Brad from perfect moments together to the deepest despair at the impossibility of the situation they found themselves in had me reading with bated breath. No matter how much I wanted to knock Jeff and Brad’s head together and force them to make a decision one way or the other, I wanted them to work it out and find a way to stay together even more. And like the lads, there were moments I just couldn’t see how that might be possible.

As I’ve come to expect from this author this was a well written book and a very smooth read. I’m not quite sure how to explain it but L.A. Witt’s books almost seem to read themselves. I start reading and lose myself in the story and characters only to discover, sometime later that I’ve read most of the book in one sitting.

I may have said it before but there’s no harm in saying it again. L.A. Witt, on her own and with her co-writers has become one of my go-to authors. I count myself lucky that I still have quite a bit of catching up to do.

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

 

IF IT DRIVES by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt

Publisher:  Riptide Publishing
Published:   March 31^st, 2014
ISBN:  9781626491083 / 9781626491090    
Genre:   Erotic Romance M/M
Book format:  E-Book / Paperback
Obtained via:    Publisher
Reviewed by:  Helena Stone, helenastone63@gmail.com

Rating: 5

 

“Very much a Been There, Done it and Got the Whip Coordination to Prove it kind of vibe.”

Cal has been working as James Harcourt’s private driver for 18 months and in most ways it is a job that suits him perfectly. It pays well, comes with housing and leaves him plenty of time for his writing. The only problem Cal faces is that he’s developed feelings for his employer, feelings he could never admit to or act upon. Instead he has to deal with James’ regular visits to the ‘Market Garden’ where the man picks up rentboys to fulfil whatever his needs may be at home.

When a visit to the ‘Market Garden’ ends with James leaving alone, Cal is surprised. When James subsequently invites him into his house and his bed Cal is delighted and worried in same measure. Spending the night with the man who has the centre of all his fantasies is a dream come true. But the morning after is a nightmare. And although Cal would happily build on his one night with James it isn’t long before the visits to the ‘Market Garden’ resume, leaving Cal hurt and confused.

Convinced that James needs something more than he is able to provide, Cal is determined to find out what that something is and learn whatever it takes in order to provide it.

And while James seems to relish the new and improved Cal, something still isn’t right. James keeps his distance and Cal doesn’t know what else to and has to consider that maybe what James needs is more than Cal could ever be.

To say I enjoyed this book would be a gross understatement. Cal and James captured my attention on the first page and refused to let me go until I had read the subsequent 220 pages. I laughed, smiled, frowned and felt my eyes tear up once or twice and enjoyed every single minute of it.

It was impossible to not fall in love with Cal while reading this book. The lengths he’s prepared to go to in order to find out whether or not he can ever be what James needs are breathtaking. Through it all, no matter how heartbroken he is Cam, can’t stop caring for James, wanting to make sure the man is alright even though he knows he should probably forget about him for his own sanity.

L.A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov make it look deceptively easy. Their words flow smoothly, their characters sparkle, the dialogue sounds just right and story seems to tell itself. This book is such a compulsive read that it is tempting to call it an easy story. It was only after I finished the book and reflected on what I had read that it struck me how talented a writer(s) it would take to create a work this compelling. I dare anyone to start this book and not get so engrossed that it is all but impossible to put it down before you’ve reached the end and have found out exactly what happens.

Since I was late to the party as far as ‘The Market Garden’ series is concerned and have been reading titles as they were released I’m left stuck with a wonderful prospect; I may be up to date as far as new releases are concerned, there still are four titles I haven’t read yet. After reading ‘If it Drives’ and getting a glimpse of Nick, I think I’ll have to go back and read his story next. ‘If it Flies’ and ‘If it Fornicates’ here I come.

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