Safe by C. Kennedy

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Date published: October 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62789-346-4
Genre: Contemporary, M/M
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Author
Reviewed by: Marieke

5 Hearts

 

Caleb Deering and Nico Caro have known each other since they were ten. They fort kissed when they were twelve and have been together ever since. They love each other deeply and unconditionally.

Caleb knows that Nico’s father beats him on a regular basis. He tries to help Nico as much as he can, but he can only do so much.

Nico is small and slender, kind of pretty. His boyfriend Caleb is his opposite and he feels insecure and a bit inferior about himself. Caleb however adores him.

Then one day, someone sees them kissing at school and all hell breaks loose. Caleb and Nico’s dad’s are asked to come to school and after a talk with the principal Nico gets dragged off by his father. Nico ends up in the hospital and Caleb knows he needs to take action, now.

This story is told in flash backs, so you get to read the boy’s entire history together. They are the sweetest and most loving boys ever. Even though they are both insecure at times, Caleb mostly because of his young age.

Nico is another case. His father beats him so often and talks in a way that the boy has no self-esteem anymore. Luckily he has a doting boyfriend who takes care of him as much as possible.

The story about their first meeting, first kiss and first sexual experience is such a romantic one, so innocent and sweet. It makes the awful abuse bearable for the reader.

I personally loved this book. I would read it again and again, so yes definitely a must read. Only thing wrong with it, is that it was way too short. I wanted it to never end.

This is not an endorsement of this book. This is an unbiased, objective review.

Safe by C. Kennedy

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Date published: October 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62789-346-4
Genre: Contemporary, M/M
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Author
Reviewed by: Marieke

Caleb Deering and Nico Caro have known each other since they were ten. They fort kissed when they were twelve and have been together ever since. They love each other deeply and unconditionally.

Caleb knows that Nico’s father beats him on a regular basis. He tries to help Nico as much as he can, but he can only do so much.

Nico is small and slender, kind of pretty. His boyfriend Caleb is his opposite and he feels insecure and a bit inferior about himself. Caleb however adores him.

Then one day, someone sees them kissing at school and all hell breaks loose. Caleb and Nico’s dad’s are asked to come to school and after a talk with the principal Nico gets dragged off by his father. Nico ends up in the hospital and Caleb knows he needs to take action, now.

This story is told in flash backs, so you get to read the boy’s entire history together. They are the sweetest and most loving boys ever. Even though they are both insecure at times, Caleb mostly because of his young age.

Nico is another case. His father beats him so often and talks in a way that the boy has no self-esteem anymore. Luckily he has a doting boyfriend who takes care of him as much as possible.

The story about their first meeting, first kiss and first sexual experience is such a romantic one, so innocent and sweet. It makes the awful abuse bearable for the reader.

I personally loved this book. I would read it again and again, so yes definitely a must read. Only thing wrong with it, is that it was way too short. I wanted it to never end.

This is not an endorsement of this book. This is an unbiased, objective review.

Tags: C. Kennedy, Harmony Ink Press, Young Adult, M/M, Contemporary.

Intervention by Mia Kerick

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Date published: October 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62798-334-1
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, YA
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by: Marieke


5 Hearts

Kai Manter is working at a coffee shop while finishing up high school. When he sees Jamie Arlotta he likes him a lot. Jamie however is not amused by the attention Kai is giving him.

Jamie is bitchy and aloof, except when Kai’s music touches something inside him.

Kai finds out about the abuse Jamie has been suffering through for years by his stepbrother. He starts a musical intervention, trying to let Jamie know he is there for him.

Jamie slowly starts to trust Kai and their relationship starts to bloom. Jamie’s stepbrother doesn’t give up easily, causing trouble for the both of them repeatedly. There is also a stalker that doesn’t want to let go of Kai.

Kai tries to get Jamie to go to therapy but Jamie just wants to forget. Even with all this bad stuff happening, they continue to get closer and closer. Until one day Jamie breaks up with Kai and becomes his bitchy old self again. Kai needs to find out what happened and make it right again.

This book is one of the best I read in a while. The things I described above are just a small part of everything that happens. It’s a heart wrenching story of abuse, fear, friendship and love.

Jamie is a very scared boy, that cares too much about the health of his dad. This is the reason why his stepbrother has so much control over him. After a while the abuse just scrambles your mind and you don’t see any way out anymore. Kai is a wonderful person when is stops being a arrogant snot.

Kai’s brother is the surprise factor in this book for me. It’s a weird but strangely warm person that becomes the rock of both Kai and Jamie.

I can’t even begin to explain all the things that happen and why, you’ll just have to read it. It’s worth the money and all the tissues you’ll need.

This is not an endorsement of this book. this is an unbiased, objective review.

OMORPHI by C. Kennedy

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Date published: September 2013
Genre: M/M, Contemporary, YA
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by: Marieke

Christy has escaped an abusive past and moved to the USA. He is still badly hurt and can’t talk because of the damage to his larynx. He’s very feminine and loves to wear woman’s clothes, especially lingerie.

Michael is a jock and wants a boyfriend, but he isn’t out at school. He likes feminine boys and has a major crush on Christy.

When the two get together it’s instant attraction. But of course they run into all kinds of trouble. From a psycho school mate, to the extra psycho maniac that abused Christy for years. They have to overcome all the dangers but also they fear from Michael’s parents.

Besides all that Christy still has a lot of physical and mental healing to do and they struggle with that too. Thank god they have a good psychiatrist and great friends.

This book was long and very, very full of angst. The characters are very likable and well written. Christy’s problems are a bit overwhelming at times but Michael keeps being there for him.

I have to be honest here and say that even though this was one of the best books I read in a long time, there was a moment that I thought it was all a bit too much. Too much drama and problems and not enough good times. But then again, it did keep me reading until the book was done.

There were a few loose strings at the end of the book that bothered me, but I’ve heard from a reliable source that there will be a sequel.

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

All the Colors of Love by Jessica Freely

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Date published: September 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62798-152-1
Genre: Science-fiction, m/m, YA
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Publisher
reviewed by: Marieke

4 hearts

 

Harry Ygrasil is the son of an ruthless businessman who treats him like dirt. Harry isn’t into school and get kicked out of every singly boarding school his father puts him in.

Antonin Karganilla discovers that he has a new roommate when he comes back to school after the summer. They don’t hit it off immediately but through a common enemy they bond and become vast friends. Then at christmas Antonin invites Harry back to his home and to both their surprises Harry’s father agrees.

Antonin’s family is rather strange and lives in an big greenhouse in Arctic-a. His adopted aunt Cid is an pleasure android. She is an molecular biologist that came bak from the dead by living in this new body. Her girlfriend is Magnolia, who killed Antonin’s dad when he tried to attack him and his mom. His uncle Tumcari is a merman made from a plant.

Harry’s father then blackmails him into stealing a virus. Antonin’s family finds out and tries to stop Harry’s father. It all goes to hell and a rescue mission has to be set up.

In this book a lot happens, too much to even describe properly. There is a lot of science fiction going on with the people in Antonin’s family but also in the way’s of transportation and living. This makes it a very interesting read.

Also there is a lot of head hopping, so you get the perspectives of almost all of the characters. It is done well, so no need to worry.

The perspective of Harry’s father almost makes you sympathize with him, but he then screws over everyone in the world. So in the end you can only hate him.

The love story is sweet and strong but as in all Young Adult, not too hot. The relationship between Antonin and his family is very strong and the author has put that down extremely well. Antonin’s mother is not a really likable person, yet you do understand her. All in all, a great book, where plenty happens. Very sci-fy.

 

This is not an endorsement of this book, this in an objective unbiased review.

 

On The Right Track by Sam Kadence

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press

ISBN: 978-1-62798-069-2
Genre: M/M, YA, Contemporary
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by: Marieke

5 

Ryunoski “Ru” Nakimura is a seventeen year old, ex-boyband singer who has been ‘outed’ by his ex-boyfriend. He has fled to Minnesota to avoid the paparazzi, staying in a apartment of his friend and boyband member Tommy.

When he goes to the campus library of a college nearby he sees a boy studying there. The boy intrigues him and he slips him his phone number.

Adam Corbin is sixteen year old high-school student, who works hard to not be discovered as gay. He plays football, though he hates it, and runs track. He has a friend, Bas, that has been attacked badly for being gay. When he sees Ru in the library he is uncertain if the boy likes him and if so, should he call him.

When they finally start to date, they fall in love very quickly. Adam quits the football team and starts running on his own and later with Ru. When Adam is threatened hurt by a member of the football team, the school takes a stand against bullying.

This book has a wonderful love story as well as a fantastic anti-bullying story. Thera are a lot of side characters that make the love story exciting and not too easy. The situation with Bas takes on a wonderful plot twist.

Parents, teachers, ex-boyfriends and other friends and enemies make this a non-typical story within it’s genre. The fact that the main characters are still very young has a certain charm and the lack of sex in this book didn’t even register to me. The characters are well written, although the few ‘bad guys’ aren’t worked out a lot but that isn’t annoying at all. After reading this book, I hope sincerely that Sam Kadence will write Bas’s story too. This is a definite must read in my opinion.

This is not an endorsement of this book, this is an unbiased objective review.

Nail Polish and Feathers by Jo Ramsey

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press

Date published: August 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62798-088-3

Genre: Young Adult, contemporary, M/M

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher

Reviewed by: Marieke

Evan Granger is sixteen and wants to become a drag queen when he grows up. He wears nail polish and sometimes woman’s clothes. He feels good in his skin and likes himself. Too bad the other kids in school don’t feel the same.

Evan gets bullied a lot by the jocks. He has a very good friend in his cousin Holly and her friends from drama club. 

Then one day when he hides out for one of his bullies Guillermo Garcia, Moe for his friends, finds him and tells him he wants to be friends and maybe more. 

The very next day Evan gets beat-up so bad he ends up in the ER. His mom, Holly and Moe all tell him to tone down his dressing, but he is just too stubborn to change himself.

His dad finds out about him being gay and wearing nail polish. He freaks out and starts threatening to try and get custody. This puts a lot of strain on Evan and his mother’s relationship. The fact that Moe is not ‘out’ and everyone tries to change him wares him down too. The only real outlet is the e-mails he sends to his favorite drag-queen, even if she hasn’t answered them yet.

The story was funny at some points but mostly very sad and frustrating. All the people that claim to love Evan and say they want to protect him, but never really accept him, are maddening. At some points I wanted to slap them and tell them to shut up.

At some points in the story it was so sad I had tears in my eyes and I guess that makes this story strong. It brings out a lot of emotions. 

The cousin is maybe the most accepting of him, even if she uses all the wrong words to express her support. 

The father is a real piece of work, but in the final chapter there is some hope that he will come around. That there is also the thing that annoys me the most about this book. The final chapter feels incomplete. There is no real ending, nothing get resolved. Moe is still nit out and may or may not stay in his life. The bullies are still in school and you don’t get to read about the trial. The only good part is the mail of the drag queen he loves.

Yes I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. It brought out strong emotions, which is good but the ending lacked in the happy ever after feeling. 

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

Tags: Jo Ramsey, Contemporary, M/M, Young Adult, Harmony Ink Press, Mari