SORCERER’S LOVER II by Shawn Lane

Sequel to Sorcerer’s Lover
Publisher: Amber Quill Allure
Date published: October 18th, 2009
ASIN: B0032CX4HO
ISBN: 978-1-60272-537-9
Historical/Fantasy/Gay (M/M)/Magic/Series
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


For the Sorcerer Warin, the few months he had with his royal captive, illegitimate prince Benedict, was pure heaven. He never anticipated falling in love with Benedict or the fact that the royal family would keep them apart…forever if the royal family had anything to say about it. Warin is now on the run, trying to keep ahead of the royal guards after him and Benedict is trying to escape the confines of the castle along with his well meaning family to get back to Warin. When a chance for freedom lands in their lap, can Warin and Benedict leave for their new life or fight for Benedict’s brother, the new king Henry?

SORCERER’S LOVER II starts out a few months after the lover’s ill fated escape and Benedict is now under protective custody in accordance to his brother’s wish. Secret meetings are all that keep Warin and Benedict sane even as they try to figure out a way to escape together. I love Shawn Lane’s books and even though this is a shorter novella, the chemistry we felt in the first book, SORCERER'S LOVER, is evident especially as we go along for the ride as Warin tries to free Benedict. The writing is tight, the characters are well written and the action is fast paced. The sex scenes sizzle as you feel the tenderness and love between Warin and Benedict. I loved how both main characters tried to figure out how to have their own happily ever after. Benedict wasn’t waiting around to be rescued; he was actively taking part in planning an escape.

We met Warin, the sorcerer, in SORCERER'S LOVER . He is charming, a bit more worldly and more experienced in love. He loves Benedict and is determined to help him escape, even if that means he will forever be on the run, looking over his shoulder for the authorities. I love the connection between Warin and Benedict. You could tell they both cared about the other and the sexual tension between the two could be cut with a knife at times; it was that smoldering hot. We got to meet Benedict’s legitimate brothers and I loved the family dynamics between the three brothers. Each was a tad different from the other and you could tell there were undercurrents at times between them. The secondary characters moved the story along nicely as well.

SORCERER’S LOVER II is a well written tale of love, passion and the desire for a life together regardless of what others may think. Ms. Lane is a talented author who delivers well written stories that will steal your heart. With each story I pick up from this author, I am pulled further and further into her web, eagerly awaiting the next book. I do recommend reading the first book, SORCERER'S LOVER, in order to understand some events mentioned in this story. I look forward to whatever else this author conjures up in the future.

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

SORCERER’S LOVER by Shawn Lane

Publisher: Amber Quill Allure
Date Published: December 31st, 2008
ISBN 978-1-60272-365-8
ASIN: B001QBPM2S
Fantasy, Historical, Light BDSM M/M Novella
E-Book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Sorcerer Warin is in a pickle. His sister has been kidnapped and he has to pay a ransom to get her back. He decides to kidnap the King’s son, Benedict to raise the ransom money. Benedict finds he is naked and trussed up in a strange castle with the most sensual man he has ever met. What follows is the best few days in Benedict’s life but when the ransom comes, Warin has to let Benedict go…or does he?

This is a short, hot story that will leave you eager for some afternoon lovin’ of your own. Shawn Lane delves into a world where Kings abound, ransom and kidnappings are the norm for the rich folk and loving a man is wrong. I don’t want to get into the story in too much detail as it is a short sixty-six page story. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

This author is one of my favorites to read, especially for the short, hot naughty stories that leave you panting for more. SORCERER’S LOVER is a quick, hot read that will take the chill off an early spring evening. The writing is tight, the characters multi-dimensional and the storyline keeps a brisk pace that has the reader eager to see what happens next. The sex scenes are at times tender yet also very erotic.

Meet Sorcerer Warin. He is in a jam as someone has kidnapped his sister and now he needs to raise a ransom fast. He tried other methods to raise the money but alas, it didn’t pan out. Now resorting to kidnapping, Warin finds himself drawn to Benedict, his captive. A chance meeting a year before has left Warin wanting Benedict with a fevered passion. These two characters are fun, naughty and definitely had me intrigued from the beginning. Both characters were interesting and the author kept the suspense up as the sparks flew between them. The sex between them is hot enough to melt icicles and had me squirming in my seat as I fanned my face. There were a few secondary characters that felt like they were just scene fillers which were a disappointment. They sounded intriguing and I would have loved to know more about their back-story as well. What I really wished was that the author had made this into a little bit longer story. I would have loved to know more about Warin’s sister and her kidnapping that seemed to go off in the wayside once Warin got Benedict in his arms. That was really the only point in the story I found fault with.

SORCERER’S LOVER is a fast, decadent treat that will heat your afternoon up nicely. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Warin and Benedict in the sequel. Shawn Lane is a talented author who knows how to hook a reader and leave them breathless. If you are looking for a short, hot story to enjoy then grab SORCERER’S LOVER and settle in for a fun filled afternoon.

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

PIECES by Shawn Lane

Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Published in 2010
ISBN 978-1-60272-721-2
Contemporary M/M
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! Patrick Donovan has spent the last three years trying to deal with the aftermath of his lover’s suicide. Guilt-stricken, he has spent every anniversary of his lover’s death at the local bar with his friend, Josh Stevens and his lover, Andrew’s, cousin. Josh is deeply troubled by Patrick’s visits on this day each year. Knowing Patrick needs to move on in his life, Josh encourages him to find peace and love again. Josh is not looking for a long-term relationship so when Patrick takes his advice and starts dating other people, Josh finds he doesn’t like it. Can these two find a way to admit their feelings for one another and have a happily ever after or will Josh walk away from Patrick forever?

PIECES by Shawn Lane is a book about forgiveness, second chances and love all rolled up with a bow. This is an author who delves into a tough situation and delivers a story that is so emotional and compelling, you find yourself rooting for these two people to be together, even after the heartache they both experienced. Tight writing, compelling characters and a storyline that tugs on the heart, make this one very enjoyable story to read one snowy afternoon. I love this author’s writing and found PIECES to be one of her best work to date. The story flows smoothly & the sex scenes are tastefully written and have an underlying vulnerability that had me sighing in delight.

Meet Josh Stevens and Patrick Donovan. Two people who have had to deal with the heartache of a beloved cousin and lover commit suicide three years before. Josh is afraid of commitment and when he finds his jealousy rear its head after Patrick starts dating again, he finds his feelings for Patrick have changed and grown. Patrick feels closer to Andrew when at Josh’s bar but also feels a ton of guilt as well. Patrick has always loved Josh yet when Josh made it clear he wasn’t looking for forever, Patrick felt crushed and turned to Andrew, Josh’s cousin, for love. Patrick and Josh are two people who find they need one another, yet are afraid of rejection, commitment and love. Both characters are multi-faceted and connect to the reader on every level. I really was rooting for these two to get together and explore having a relationship with one another. The secondary characters were enjoyable and I could see being friends with them all.

PIECES is a wonderful, emotional story that takes the reader on a journey of another chance at love. Can these two make it work this time? That is the question that is finally answered in PIECES as one man picks up the pieces of his life to find a love worth fighting for. If you haven’t picked up one of Shawn Lane’s books, then I highly recommend you grab it if you like reading emotional MM stories that leave you breathless at the end. I am really looking forward to the next book by this talented author.

This is an objective reviw and not an endorsement of the book.

TWICE IN A LIFETIME by Shawn Lane

A Sutter Bay Story
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Date published: September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60272-743-4
M/M Contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! Five years before, Jude thought he had everything he ever wanted-a nice life with a wonderful man to love until it all crashed down around him. Leaving San Francisco for Sutter Bay, Jude has tried to rebuild his life with a new career-owning & running a flower shop-and trying to live each day without Martin. Jude doesn’t believe love comes twice around and when the new vet in town sets his sights on Jude, Jude is about to find out that love indeed can be twice as nice the second time around. He just has to believe in love again with Rex and in himself. Can Jude find the strength to let go of a past in order to have a future?

I have just two things to say about this book: heartbreakingly wonderful. Author Shawn Lane completely captivates the reader with a tender, emotional story in TWICE IN A LIFETIME. You have a man who witnessed his lover die and then denied the chance to say goodbye, a struggle to deal with the pain and guilt and the desire for happiness even as he was afraid to reach out and grab it. I don’t know about you but Shawn Lane delivers a heart meltingly tender story that, yes, it had hot manlove scenes, but it was also about two people who had to deal with something very painful in order to have a future together. The writing was tight, the characters very well written and the love scenes were tender but sensual and hot. The simmering sexual tension that sizzles between Jude and Rex was pure combustion and even I was on the edge of my seat, waiting with bated breath to see if they would finally get together.

TWICE IN A LIFETIME is a story not just about two men finding love but also about dealing with one’s past and letting go of it in order to have a future. Jude is a man full of doubts and hurts. Rex is patient, tender and knows he has to go slow with Jude or he will run away from Rex. Both guys are men after my own heart. I cried with Jude when he relived Martin’s death, I cheered when they finally admitted they loved one another and held my breath as Jude dealt with issues that had me welling up with tears. This is an author who really goes to the heart of her characters and delivers complex, emotional stories that steal a reader’s heart. I loved TWICE IN A LIFETIME and hope to revisit Sutter’s Bay in the future. If you haven’t read any of this author’s work before, I highly recommend it. A talented writer, Shawn Lane will enthrall you with her books and deliver hours of reading entertainment.

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

CAR WASH by Shawn Lane

Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC
Publishing date: June 09
ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-529-4
Genre: Gay, Contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Miss April


CLICK TO PURCHASE! Shawn Lane is always a delight to read, no matter what the book is. In CAR WASH you have Kevin, a young man down on his luck. He manages to get a job at a car wash. With friends he doesn’t want to tell how bad things really are and a creepy boss who watches him all the time, Kevin is at his wits end. That’s when an old flame comes back into his life. Michael Bennett was his biggest crush as a teenager. Michael was also Kevin’s biggest rejection.

Michael is a man who seems to have it all. The fancy car, the nice house, and the wonderful family. But there is something that has been missing and he knows what it was when he takes his car to be washed. Kevin Flaherty, the boy he once refused, has grown into a beautiful man. He pursues Kevin with single minded intent. Making Kevin feel like he is less a partner and more of a possession with his actions. Things come to a head when Michael buys the carwash.

There is a subtlety with this story. This, in no way detracts from the story. There aren’t major conflicts. There are no stalkers or evil ex-boyfriends to deal with. There were no accidents or major deaths in the family. This story deals with two men trying to learn about each other. Men who knew who they used to be but now need to learn who they have become. It was refreshing to read about men who had ordinary problems. I also liked that no one person was the bad guy in this book. Both men had growing to do and compromises to make. It was wonderful to see them make those compromises and both of them working on their problems to find a solution. This book was different than I expected but in a good way. I very much enjoyed reading CAR WASH and look forward to more by Shawn Lane. I give this book a rating of 4.

TRUST by Shawn Lane

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Date published: April 2009
ISBN: 9781419921797
Novella, Contemporary, Gay
E-book
Reviewed by Miss April




CLICK TO PURCHASE! Fans of Shawn Lane will not be disappointed by this latest offering. Trust is an endearing story of love lost, love regained with a bit of suspense thrown in for those of us who love mysteries.
Justin is a bright young man in love with a handsome quarterback boyfriend. Until one day he finds Brad with his pants down for someone else. Heartbroken, he won’t even speak to Brad after that.
13 years later, Brad is a paramedic with the fire department. Responding to a call, he is shocked to realize the passenger is his lost love, Justin. The man that he had made a terrible mistake with and had never gotten a chance to explain. Brad wants to explain now but will Justin listen?
Justin wakes in the hospital to the sight of Brad. Surprisingly, instead of being angry with him, Justin finds himself glad to see him. He’s in trouble. Someone is sending him hateful emails and the accident was no accident. Seeing Brad again, Justin realizes that he never got over him.
Together will they be able to discover who wants to hurt Justin? Will they be able to form a new relationship? Or will circumstances and their own shortcomings ruin everything?
This was a delightful book with everything I enjoy in it. The problems that these two men encountered in their relationship were realistic. The mystery was just enough to keep things interesting. Watching the two men try and find their way back to one another was engaging. I found myself really rooting for them. For anyone who likes their M/M romance with a bit of suspense, this is the great book. And if you are new to the delights of Shawn Lane, Trust is a perfect way to be introduced to the wonderful writer.