A CORNWALL NOVELLA 2: SIMPLE GIFTS by LB Gregg

Publisher: Musa Publishing
Date published: November 2011
ISBN 978-1-61937-056-2
ASIN B006E519RI
M/M Contemporary Romance
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Obtained via publisher.


Jason Ferris, now bar owner, former abandoned child moved from foster home to foster home, is dragged along to a family Christmas party by a close friend. Only when he arrives does he learn the only man he’s ever loved will be there.

Lt. Robb Sharpe has not received a hero’s welcome home. His father has his own agenda and the family party is painful for Robb. Especially when Jase appears. What happens next is a mixture of comedy, tragedy, drama and hope.

This story has some very common ingredients. The unloved child who overcomes his past. The poor rich boy, now a damaged hero. The managing, manipulative parent. The best friend who pushes the hero into a situation. But having said that, it also has some wonderful unique character distinctives, that lifts the commonality of the basics into the fresh and fun. I certainly couldn’t have predicted a hero with a talent for origami.

The beginning of the story is very evocative; it really draws the reader in, and has excellent use of imagery. The weather is applied to excellent effect, almost becoming an extra character in the story in several places, one of which sets the stage for romance, and the other which provides leavening humor and prevents the story becoming dark. In both cases it moves the plot forward in clever ways.The book was clean and neat with very few errors. The cat was a loose end I’d have liked to see tidied up, even with just a line of text.

This was another story told completely in one hero’s point of view. I truly believe every story is stronger if there is at least one scene from each main character’s POV. The only way the reader can genuinely get into their head and understand them, their innermost feelings and the underlying reasons for their thoughts and actions, is with a scene told by them, and I marked this very good book down from 4.5 to 4 because of this lack.Please note the heat rating. This story is MM but the sex is far more hinted and implied than explicit.

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

DUDLEYTOWN by L. B. Gregg

Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Date published: October 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60168-375-5
ASIN: B004INHGXO
Contemporary M/M
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Author

Alexander Strauss has lusted after his straight roommate, Shannon, for a while now. He has one hard and fast rule-don’t mess around with straight guys. He is determined to spend this weekend home getting drunk and forgetting how much he wants Shannon. Well that was the plan until a car accident causes Alex, Shannon and their friends to hike through the forest in the dark. Terror abounds as Shannon and Alex try to find their friends and get out of the woods before something happens to them.

DUDLEYTOWN is one fun read perfect for Halloween. L. B. Gregg delivers a story that will leave you laughing one moment and on the edge of your seat the next minute. I love this author’s writing style. L. B. Gregg delivers stories that have that hint of comedy, romance and in the case of DUDLEYTOWN, a little bit of horror as well to keep the reader engaged and intrigued till the very last page. This is a short book, about 76 pages, so I don’t want to give away too many details. L. B. Gregg is a talented author who creates intriguing stories, complex characters and enough twists to keep the reader glued to the pages till the very end. The writing was tight; story fast paced and had a cast of characters that kept me enthralled till the very last page was read.

I loved these characters. Alex started out immature and annoying and Shannon was clueless over Alex’s feelings. The best part of DUDLEYTOWN is Alex as the narrator. He can be immature, especially in the beginning but through the course of the story, you get a sense of who he really is behind the façade. Alex is a typical nineteen year old college kid who is not ashamed of his love of porn or the fact he wants to act out a few favorite scenes with his crush, Shannon. The author really gets into the characters and it shows when you read DUDLEYTOWN. The characters are complex and interesting to me. Toss in some humor, horror movie clichés and a few twists you don’t see coming, you got the makings of one heck of a story to enjoy.

L. B. Gregg definitely delivers some spine tingling suspense that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat. If you are looking for a short story to grab you by the throat and not let go until the very end, then grab DUDLEYTOWN. I just recommend you forewarn anyone near you of spontaneous laughing and sighing while you are reading it. I am looking forward to reading more from this clever author in the future.

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

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.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Romano and Albright Book 1 by L. B. Gregg

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publishing date: March 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60504-950-2
Gay-lesbian, Contemporary Romance
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher




CLICK TO PURCHASE! For Art gallery assistant, Caesar Romano, the big art gallery show was his chance to impress a potential new employer. What he gets instead is a mystery of a missing art piece, a former flame showing up driving him bonkers and enough stress to fell a giant. Add in hottie Detective Dan Green making eyes at Caesar, and a blackmail scheme that has more suspects than Caesar can count. Can Caesar solve the mystery while trying to keep sane in the process?

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a wild, fun ride from start to finish. I love this author’s way of writing. It grabs your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last page is read. You have got some wonderful characters that will have you giggling, a mystery to keep you flipping the pages and some sexual tension that will explode when you least expect it. I couldn’t put this book down; it had me giggling one minute and the next squirming in my seat. This is a great storyteller who can hit all of your emotions within the pages of her books.

Meet Caesar Romano, a lowly art gallery assistant who is determined to make this night’s event shine so he can move onto a new job at a higher end gallery. Openly gay, Caesar never expects to meet Detective Dan Green at the gallery even as he tries to advert enough potential problems; he is about to combust from the stress or the attraction Caesar feels toward Dan. Add in a missing sculpture, an ex-boyfriend who won’t go away and a weird blackmail scheme that threatens his boss, Caesar is about to throw everything away and hid in his nana’s closet. I have to admit, Caesar had me laughing from the beginning. He seems like a person you want to have as a friend even as you are trying not to yell at him to stop hyperventilating over things. L. B. Gregg delivers some wonderful multi-dimensional characters that fairly step off the pages and into your heart. With some wonderfully intriguing secondary characters, the story flows smoothly. Caesar and Dan work well together and I loved how the sparks flew each time they met, sometimes not in very ideal places either.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a fun, wild ride from start to finish. With a fast paced storyline, likable characters and writing that will put a spell upon you. L. B. Gregg is a wonderful storyteller who delivers all that and more with her books. I am highly anticipating another adventure for the Romano and Albright series in the future. I just hope it won’t be too long till the author delivers it.



THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW