LOVE AND LOYALTY by Tere Michaels

Part of the Faith, Love & Devotion Series
Publisher: Loose Id Publishing
Date published: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60737-425-1 (E-book)
978-1607376200 (Print)
Contemporary M/M Erotic
E-book/Print
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Detective James “Jim” Shea never let a case get to him until now that is. The emotional toll has Jim in knots and even though the case is over, the aftereffects are not. Vulnerable and a little protective over the victim’s dying father, Jim finds himself trying to keep his emotions in check when he meets Griffin Drake, a Hollywood Screenwriter who thinks this story is what it takes to get him out of the whole “Shoot ‘em up” action flicks he is famous for. Griffin Drake is determined to win over the protective detective to get to the heart of the story but what he doesn’t count on is falling for the handsome and shy man. Can both men find a way to believe in the power of love even as outside forces try to break them apart?

LOVE AND LOYALTY has it all-amazing characters, a fast paced storyline and a romance that fairly singes your fingertips even as you fall in love with Jim and Griffin. What I really enjoyed was that both of the main characters were not movie star handsome but regular guys who had had no luck in the romance department. That made them more believable in my eyes and relatable. Who hasn’t lucked out in romance before? When these two have their first date, sparks flew and dang if it wasn’t hot while reading those scenes. Ms. Michaels does a marvelous job in keeping the simmering sexual tension between Jim and Griffin from over flowing and delivers it in doses that had me squirming in my seat. This was also a story of friendship as well. There was a wonderful cast of secondary characters that made up Griffin and Jim’s close friends and had me smiling from their quips, antics and gave the story a much deeper feeling while reading it.

Meet Detective Jim Shea, a man who isn’t looking for love and just wants to put the events of a tragic, high profiled case to rest in his mind and heart. When he hears a screenwriter from Hollywood wants to meet with the victim’s father, he goes into protective mode. Meeting Griffin Drake changes everything for Jim and as he falls for him; his life turns inside out as events conspire to break them apart. Griffin Drake is determined to get away from all the action blockbusters he has written with something more serious and he finds it in a story that has emotion and heart. Meeting the Detective on the case, Jim Shea, was a bonus. Both main characters were terrific together and I loved how they delivered something to the other person. Griffin was fun, made me smile and had a liveliness that was the perfect balance to the seriousness of Jim’s line of work. Jim was a hard working detective who was trying to get his life back to normal after a case that was hard on him-heart and soul. They worked perfectly together, a friendship that melds into something much more. I loved how the author delivered two people perfect for each other and captured their inner hearts and souls within the pages.

LOVE AND LOYALTY is a perfect blend of friendship and romance. I enjoyed the way this author creates her stories. Tight writing, a fast paced storyline and a romance that will singe your fingertips as you read this latest story in the Faith, Love & Devotion series. If you enjoy an M/M story that will steal your heart and leave you with a smile, then grab LOVE AND LOYALTY. It will surely leave you smiling when the last page is read. I just hope the author comes back to Jim, Griffin and all their friends in the future as I would love to see what they have been up to. Highly enjoyable and one I would read again.

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

DUTY AND DEVOTION by Tere Michaels

Faith, Love, & Devotion Series
Publisher: Loose Id Publishing
Date published: March 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60737-554-8 (E-book)
978-1607377337 (Paperback)
GBLT Contemporary Romance
E-book/Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Lovers Evan and Matt are trying to adjust to life as a couple inside the bedroom and out of it. Evan struggles with his feelings and the fact that he is worried about everyone judging him. Matt has issues of his own, like what does he do now? Both are trying to fit in their world yet it takes one visit from Matt’s one-night stand and friend Jim to blow Evan and Matt’s relationship into the water. Can they survive the jealousy and find a way to work out their problems before it is too late?

DUTY AND DEVOTION picks up right after FAITH & FIDELITY ends and in this sequel we find Evan and Matt trying to adjust to being an openly gay couple. Evan has major issues, ones that he struggles with daily and Matt has issues as well to deal with-Who is he? What does he want/need out of life? These two have a strong relationship but it felt like the author was trying too hard to show the reader how flawed they were. The sex scenes were nicely done and didn’t take away from the story. In fact, it enhanced it, in my opinion. They were tasteful and you could get a sense of how Evan and Matt wanted to go that final step but were afraid to go that far. It made the story more believable in my eyes.

DUTY AND DEVOTION is one of those strong romantic stories that sear your heart. This was no bed of roses for Evan and Matt. They had to work hard to keep the communication open and show the reader the right balance for their relationship to work. I really enjoyed how they worked together be it when kids were in trouble or they had in-law issues to deal with. Both men found they were a team even as they adjusted to the changes in their lives. What I really enjoyed was how their day to day lives were. The author takes us through their days and I found it revealing that Matt, as househusband, was tired of feeling like he was the woman in the house. You got the sense of his unease and confusion in the pages as he deals with that; Evan has to deal with his feelings, emotions and the fact he wants to please everyone even as he tries too hard to be what he thinks he needs to be. The evolution of these two had me in tears at one point and laughing in others. Griffin and Jim were a great lighter moment and had me giggling at some of the banter between them.

DUTY AND DEVOTION is a strong romantic story about two people who are trying to find their way to their own happily ever after. Ms. Michaels delivers a strong story that will keep you glued to the pages and deliver you an afternoon of reading pleasure. I am hoping she delves back into Evan and Matt’s life in the future. I would love to read more about them.

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

FAITH & FIDELITY by Tere Michaels

Prequel in Faith, Love & Devotion Trilogy
Publisher: Loose Id Publishing
Date publisher: September 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59632-772-6 (E-book)
978-1596328365 (Paperback)
LGBT Contemporary
E-book/Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Detective Evan Cerelli lost his beloved wife in a car accident and in the year since then, his life is in turmoil, lost in grief and having no idea how to cope with the suddenness of her death. She was the only woman he had ever known and loved. Matt Haight is a player, sex with no commitments is his style. His life in a rut and no idea what or where he is headed, he finds friendship with Evan, another man just as stuck as Matt. What comes after that is something neither man expects and it will shake them to the core. Can love help them survive the challenges that it throws at them in order to have the life they desire?

FAITH & FIDELITY is a story about two people, both broken in some way and finding a friendship that changes into something much more than they expected. Ms. Michaels is a new to me author and one that delivers a poignant story that will have you laughing, crying and rooting for Evan and Matt to get their happily ever after. This is an emotional story as well. You feel the heartache Evan and his children felt after his beloved wife dies and the fallout from that nearly drives him crazy. This is an author who understands her characters completely and lets them take over the story. The characters are very believable and had me on the edge of my seat eager to see what would happen next for Evan and Matt. I have got to admit this story was much more than a typical M/M story but one that dealt with a deep friendship and the confusion of two men who were straight finding they are attracted to one another. It lent a certain richness that is very rare in romances, be it LGBT or straight.

Meet Detective Evan Cerilli, a man in deep grief and trying to live a life that is only half full. Meeting Matt has him slowly coming out of his fog and beginning to enjoy life again even as his feelings become much more. Matt Haight is a former homicide cop and having a mid-life crisis when he meets Evan who is just as broken as Matt has Matt feeling like he found something he has been missing-friends and family. Friendship turns to love and flips both lives upside down. Can these two find a way to be together even as forces outside their control scheme to break them apart? Evan and Matt are complex characters and both weave their way into your heart. I was drawn to both men as they figure out what they need to do to get their happily ever after. The secondary characters kept the story on an even pace and I highly enjoyed some of the lighter moments that were sprinkled throughout FAITH & FIDELITY.

FAITH & FIDELITY is not just a M/M story but one about two people, who find a love that is rooted in deep friendship. A story that will leave you breathless and eager to see what happens next for Evan and Matt. Ms. Michaels is one author I am looking forward to reading more of in the future. Want a romantic story about friendship and love? Then grab the prequel in the FAITH, LOVE AND DEVOTION series and settle in for an afternoon of reading pleasure.

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