M/M Romance

Tripped Out at WORLD’S END–Review and Giveaway

Hi all! Today’s book, WORLD’S END, is contemporary (?) historical (?), uh, look–I KNOW it was a M/M FANTASY (!), but let’s just say the timeline is subject to whimsy. It’s out now, from a new-to-me author M. LeAnne Phoenix. Jump on the Book Blog Bus, with me.

Worlds End_MediumAbout the book:

Kiyoshi awakes from a fever aware of two things. One, he is not in the home he can for some reason only vaguely recall. Two, he has fallen for Shelly, the man who cared for him through his fever. Shelly is as enigmatic as the island he has found himself on.

With few answers about who he is, Shelly’s own identity, how he came to be there with Shelly, and just what this strange place is, Kiyoshi comes to accept just one thing. He and Shelly are meant to be no matter what befalls them. They are tied together by fate, all the way to what just may be the end of their world.

My Review:
Well, me hearties! This be a…

Okay, okay. I can HEAR your eyes rolling. No more Pirate-speak. (Beware of bad puns, however!)

So, this book took me on a ride from the historic netherworld to Sunny California.  Kiyoshi is a slight Japanese man on a deserted island with one other soul–Shelly Gwynne. In World’s End, it’s the 18th century, and Shelly is a reformed pirate who spends his days making swords. He nursed Kiyoshi back to health when he washed ashore suffering amnesia and a fever.

Kiyoshi and Shelly have just come to terms with their isolation (and mutual attraction) when some of Shelly’s pirate comrades show up. Shelly had made a vow to bring back the soul of Capt. Cam Morgan, and he will get no rest until he does so. The thing is, Shelly doesn’t want to leave Kiyoshi behind, but taking Kiyoshi from the island results in tumultuous storms.

The thing is, Kiyoshi’s having strange dreams about an alternate life. A “modern” life he doesn’t understand. And, the unnatural darkness closing in on Shelly and Kiyoshi’s idyllic island is soon tearing these men apart.

It’s an interesting book–lots of twists. I had wished for a little bit more build-up in the romance, because we essentially meet Shelly and Kiyoshi at the point where they have fallen for each other. I do love how passionate they are, and their anxiety surrounding their separation feels real–but I hoped for a bit steamier smexytimes. I struggled a little with tense in the book–because we shifted from past to present in dreamscapes and then reality. I did enjoy the historical scenes, mostly because I’m a sucker for vernacular.

Bonus chapter!

Day Three, The Island:
I don’t know where this place is that I find meself. I’d wager that it’s no hell place, because I fear that a hell place would be hotter and with much less water and vegetation. I’d also wager it ain’t heaven because I figure heaven would be in possession of more souls’n just this one. It cain’t be purgatory because even pirates don’t truly believe in a middle ground when it comes to the afterlife.

I sighed, pausing in my musings as the tide tickled my toes, squinting my eyes at the light from the rising sun. It’d been two days since I coughed all the water out of my lungs and dragged myself onto dry land. I remembered waiting for Hunter on the deck of the Kingston, and I remembered the sharp pain in my side, reaching down a hand to find blood staining my vest. I remembered turning around to see Hunter standing behind me, her face set.

“I’m sorry about this. You must understand that I don’t want this. You can’t come with me now and you cannot tell Cam what I know you long to tell him when we find him.”

“Ye’d rather me die? Hunter… have ye truly turned pirate?”

“I’d rather spare you the pain of living alone than being left again—”

“I’d rather ye didn’t kill me—”

“Too late, Shelly Gwynne.”

She’d pushed me over the railing and I’d fallen into those frigid waters, certain that the blood from my wound would call all manner of hungry animals, but the cold had sent me to sleeping and I only vaguely remembered slipping beneath the waves.

I furrowed my brow as I saw something riding the tide coming to shore. Getting to my feet, I walked towards the shape, finding it to be the first of what would be many supplies. Wrapped in nets I would later use to catch fish, I found a bushel of apples, a case of straw packed green bottles containing rum and wine, and as I dragged them in, the next wave that nearly swept over me sent a heavy wooden chest slamming into the sand, creating a deep furrow next to my feet. Seeing the lock on its front, I frowned.

How in hell am I s’posed to get into that? I reckon it needs a key—

Something cold tumbled over my feet in the froth washing over my feet and I looked down to see a two-pronged iron key lying in the sand by my right foot. Picking it up, I lifted my gaze to the sun and squinted again as I thought, What is this place?

Kneeling before the chest, I inserted the key and gave it a twist. The lock opened and I removed it, lifting the heavy lid to find it full of smithy’s tools. A small smile touched my lips when I lifted one and found the initials S. G. burnt into the handle. I shook my head and took a look around me.

“Well, m’boy… looks like we might be here for a time.”

Interested? You can find WORLD’S END at Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for you chance to win

one of 2 ecopies of WORLD’S END

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

M LeAnne PhoenixAbout the Author:
M. LeAnne Phoenix would tell you that the worst time of her life was the two years that she attempted to take off from writing. If you asked her to explain exactly why she did such a thing, you would most likely get the mad attempt to arch an eyebrow like her dad and then a shake of the head as she told you it was unlucky to speak of such things. Suffice it to say, it will never happen again!

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid-1970’s, Ms. Phoenix was young and wild (and even free!) during the crazy wondrous decade known as the 1980’s and the even crazier but now grungy decade of the 1990’s. Music is second only to the muses that live and breathe to fill her mind with beautiful men, and music always helps them to tell their stories. She is never without her iPod or her computer no matter where she goes, although, she does like to hike and take pictures of the sky and the moon, and even the occasional shot of the sun through the branches of a tree.

An avid cat lover, Ms. Phoenix has been owned by many throughout her life, though her current owner is one Lily-Rose, who really would like for her to step away from the keyboard and pay her some attention! After all, hasn’t she earned it?

M. LeAnne Phoenix can be found on Facebook. As this is her first real foray into the professional world of writing, there will be more social media to come.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!
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THE RED SHEET To The Rescue!–Review and Giveaway

mia Red Sheet award ImageThe Red Sheet by Mia Kerick
About the book:
One October morning, high school junior Bryan Dennison wakes up a different person—helpful, generous, and chivalrous—a person whose new admirable qualities he doesn’t recognize. Stranger still is the urge to tie a red sheet around his neck like a cape.

Bryan soon realizes this compulsion to wear a red cape is accompanied by more unusual behavior. He can’t hold back from retrieving kittens from tall trees, helping little old ladies cross busy streets, and defending innocence anywhere he finds it.

Shockingly, at school, he realizes he used to be a bully. He’s attracted to the former victim of his bullying, Scott Beckett, though he has no memory of Scott from before “the change.” Where he’d been lazy in academics, overly aggressive in sports, and socially insecure, he’s a new person. And although he can recall behaving egotistically, he cannot remember his motivations.

Everyone, from his mother to his teachers to his “superjock” former pals, is shocked by his dramatic transformation. However, Scott Beckett is not impressed by Bryan’s newfound virtue. And convincing Scott he’s genuinely changed and improved, hopefully gaining Scott’s trust and maybe even his love, becomes Bryan’s obsession.

My Review:
This book brings to light so many issues gay teens face, out or not. Bryan is a victim of homophobia, as well as a victimizer. At the beginning he “awakes” with an overpowering urge to be a hero–to save any and all brings who need help.

This new attitude is more than exceptional. His mother is startled as much as Bryan. See, he’d been both a Superjock, and a Superjerk. His story will talk to you. Really. As Bryan endeavors to figure out what provoked his complete mental flip-out, he’s constantly addressing the audience in “Plain Teen Speak” which–my teen son tells me–is ‘foul-mouthed and direct’. So, expect cursing. Also, expect to move past it quickly. Bryan’s an engaging narrator–for all that he doesn’t know WTF is happening in his brain.

And that becomes readily apparent when he encounters Scott at school. Scott is strangely enticing. Is Bryan gay? He doesn’t know–and that’s troubling to him. Especially as pretty girls tend to swoon over him. Why don’t they excite him like Scott does? And why does Scott hate him?

Bryan’s confusion over his sexuality, his attraction to Scott, and their hostile relationship are all well-described. Bryan isn’t only messed up over Scott. He’s seriously torqued-off with his dad, who abandoned him and his mother for a very much younger woman, with whom he has another child. Bryan wants to hate his dad–and he’s been pretty steadfast at it for years–but the new, “kinder gentler” Bryan responds to his mom’s urging to build a relationship, even if it’s not perfect.

Bryan is convinced that the key to his mental issues lay with Scott–and he hounds his schoolmate until he learns bits and pieces of the truth. He and Scott had been dating on the “down low” until Bryan did the unforgivable. He caved to some serious pressure from his Superjock/Jerk pals and humiliated Scott in order to hide his own attraction. And Scott’s not likely to forget it.

There was this part, where Bryan realizes all his teammates already knew about himself and Scott–and wonders what it was he was hiding for…

RS 5 Promoand he recognizes the futility of all his bullying shenanigans. In the end, coming out is just what he has to do, even if Scott will never accept him as a boyfriend. In fact, Bryan’s willing to take any friendship that Scott will offer in order to be close to him.

This causes more issues, and prompts Bryan to move his alliance from the Superjocks to Scott–and build all new friendships in the process. The level of intolerance spans from simple taunting to all-out battery, something the new Bryan won’t tolerate. I was glad to watch Bryan “get it”. I was also glad to see Scott really consider all that Bryan does to prove his loyalty and friendship. It was refreshing that Scott wasn’t a dishrag–he has a spine, complete with heavy armored plating–Bryan really has to work to gain forgiveness for all his wrongs, and he does it all with a sense of style–even joining a flash mob for a teacher to hang with Scott.

By the end I was so rooting for Scott to accept Bryan–the New Bryan–that I was reading as fast as I possibly could to get to the end–and was relieved to find the resolution excellent. 

How about a little taste:
“Hey, you guys!” Marley plunked her ass down on the chair across the table from me. As usual, Kathy followed closely behind and hovered by her shoulder when Marley sat down. “I’ve got big news!”

We all turned to her at once. Josh even put down his walnut-grape-granola-goat-cheese-chicken-salad sandwich on focaccia to give her his full attention. “What’s up?” he asked between enthusiastic chews.

“I just heard some teachers talking in the hall. And they said that Friday is Miss
Libby’s thirtieth birthday.”

Kathy pursed her green lips. “We can’t let it pass without doing something for her. She’s the coolest teacher at Appleton.”

“You know what would be so funny?” It was Josh again. “It would be such a riot if we set up a flash mob for her.”

We all laughed, just imagining it in our heads.

“No, seriously,” Josh said. “We should set up a flash mob for her. Doesn’t she have lunch duty on most Fridays?”

Is this the Josh I know?

But, then, what did I have to lose? “I’m in.” It was the least I could do for Miss Libby, who’d given me a chance to redeem myself with Scotty.

“You’d do that?” Scott appeared absolutely scandalized. “What about those guys?” He again nodded toward the Superjocks. “They’ll never let you live it down.”

“Ask me if I care?”

Scott just sat there, his full spoon frozen just beneath his lips.

When Scott didn’t voice the question, David did. “D-do y-you c-care?”

I looked squarely at David. “Not even slightly. Plus, you should see me dance. It
is something to behold.”

Josh rolled his eyes, because he’d seen it a time or two, but everyone else seated
at the Social Justice League Table nodded and grinned.

“I’ll get together as many kids as I can and I’ll find some music. We can practice at the community center right after school on Thursday. I’ll reserve it.” Marley was always on top of those kinds of things.

That posed a problem for me, though: basketball practice. But I had new priorities. I would work it out. “I’ll be there. How about all of you?”

Everybody nodded again. Scott had turned an enticing shade of pink.

I looked right at him and said, “Then Thursday after school is a date.”

Interested? You can find THE RED SHEET on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Dreamspinner Press.

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win:
one of (2) ecopies of THE RED SHEET
and (2) THE RED SHEET Swag Bag
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five non-pedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Themes Mia always writes about: Sweetness. Unconventional love, tortured/damaged heroes – only love can save them. You can find Mia on her website, Amazon, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Frisky Friday–Who’s Up For Some Puppy Love?

Hi all! I’ve been posting a bunch of YA this week, so today I’m tossing out a bit of spicy bone for you all!  A double dose of Pets. What, pray tell, is a pet?

Well, it could be this:

Or, this:

But, what I’m talking about today are humans who have a sexual kink to emulate pets…The first time I encountered this sexual fetish was in Ann Rice’s Beauty Trilogy where unruly princes and princesses were harnessed to carriages and carts like ponies–tail plugs included. I’ll admit to being slightly scandalized, but the more I read and thought about it, the more fun it sounded. Really.

(Somewhere over Chicago a freak flag is unfurled…)

No, seriously, the Pet fetish is fun because we humans are so tender and loving to our pets. More so, I daresay, than to some humans in our lives. As “owners”/caretakers we understand the responsibility of a pet, and we freely accept their uncompromising love.

Except from cats. There we simply accept their disdain, but it’s equitable.

Anywho…on with the reviews!

(The books reviewed below are not suitable for kids.)

First up is a full-length novel by KD Grace. It is wicked fun.

The Pet Shop (The Pet Shop, #1 - 3)About the book:

In appreciation for a job well done, Stella James’s boss sends her a pet – a human pet. The mischievous Tino comes straight from The Pet Shop complete with a collar, a leash, and an erection. Stella soon discovers the pleasure of keeping Pets, especially this one, is extremely addicting. Obsessed with Tino and with the reclusive philanthropist, Vincent Evanston, who looks like Tino, but couldn’t be more different, Stella is drawn into the secret world of The Pet Shop. As her animal lust awakens, Stella must walk the thin line that separates the business of pleasure from the more dangerous business of the heart or suffer the consequences.

My Review:

FOR THE RECORD, I am generally averse to books that do not practice, or mention, safe sex. This book completely skips the STI banter and lots and lots of unprotected sex happens. I still (guiltily) liked it.

Here’s why:
I have a soft spot for books about odd kink. I kinda think they’re the “redheaded stepchildren” in the erotica family. Lots of books out there cater to D/s fantasy, ménage, and even ménage Dom. But what about the Puppies!

Stella is a diligent worker for a British conglomerate that funds environmental work. Her bosses, Anne and Alan, think she’d do better in a new role–so they devise a few tests to see if she can hack it. Essentially, they give her a Pet, Tino, for the weekend.

Now, Tino isn’t an ordinary pet. He’s a Puppy, a man playing a role as an animal. He’s unable to communicate except by “doggie” gestures. He must be kept au naturale, and fed as dogs are, and he’s a bad, naughty, virile pup. Stella is at first aghast. How could he bosses send her what amounts to a prostitute–albeit a kinky one–for a weekend romp?! She tries to send Tino back, but has no way to do so. Overwhelmed with the situation, and mighty aroused, Stella allows Tino to comfort her on the second day. It isn’t smexytimes, at first, but Tino knows how to turn the heat on. We all remember how that Other Stella got her groove back? Well, same here. Steamy, fo sho!

In fact, Stella enjoys Tino so much she tries to book him for another weekend. This is in line with Alan’s plan, even if it upsets Anne. Anne’s worried that Stella will fall for Tino and not be willing to head up the entire Pet Shop enterprise that she and Alan run. It seems a major part of funding the environmental work they do is raised by hiring out Pets, and training wealthy Pet wannabes. (That’s kink-tastic, IMHO, turning tricks to support nature conservancy efforts…BRILLIANT!). Anne wants to move on to begin the North American Pet Shop branch, and Alan and Anne (and Tino) want Stella to take Anne’s place in London, but all this is going on behind the scenes. Also, Anne has had a blistering crush on Alan for years, and is bursting to let him know–but only if he reciprocates….

Meanwhile, Stella meets Vincent, a reclusive American environmentalist, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Tino and acts nothing like her submissive Pet. How can she resolve her desires for the “two” men?

I’m not giving away any more, but the smexytimes happen early and often. They are unlimited in appearance and scope–especially when Stella agrees to undertake some Pet training of her own. Expect ménage, M/M, group, F/F, etc. In short, expect everything. It’s a very sticky, kinky, sexy book from which two HEA’s emerge in the end.

Interested? You can find THE PET SHOP on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

For Round Two I have a M/M puppy fetish novella: Orion’s New Leash On Life.

Orion's New Leash on LifeAbout the book:

The US Recession of 2007 stole Orion Hathaway’s job, his property value, and his savings. With nothing left, he lost something even more important: his mental health. No longer able to afford the fees to his favorite BDSM club, he becomes a hermit, retreating further into depression and the cocoon of his bed until his friends stage an intervention. They have the perfect solution to get Master O back on his feet. Despite his initial reservations, Orion discovers canine therapy might be just what he needs to become human again.

Roan Matthews is used to flaky Masters weirded out by his pup fetish. Deep down, he desires what all dogs want— a forever home. Unwilling participant Orion Hathaway seems an unlikely candidate at first, but Roan realizes if he can help pull Orion out of his depression, perhaps they can make a new home together

My Review:

This quick read was the perfect cure for a lousy day. I don’t know about you, but my fortunes have faded since the economic meltdown plowed through the US, so I felt an immediate kinship to Orion. He’s struggling to survive his debt, and can’t really get past it. Emotionally, he’s on meds and the days blend in his extended unemployment.

Then, his buddies show up with a surprise:  Roan. Roan is a Puppy. He has a bag full of toys and a dog bed and everything. When in his puppy role Roan is a completely subservient male, eager to please his Master and cuddle, play fetch, and eat from his bowl–or his Master’s hand. On the outside, Roan is a trauma nurse. His life is stressful, and dropping into his puppy persona allows him to be fun, and frisky and completely cared for. Orion realizes this; and he’s not sure he’s up for the challenge.

Caring for a Pet requires a lot of focus and effort–something Orion’s been lacking what with his depression, and all. He tries hard, however, and it’s just the tonic his heart needed. In fact, after the first weekend, Orion misses Roan. They agree to try it on again which prompts Orion to clean up his house, and himself. The pride and purpose he experiences caring for Roan is a balm to Orion. By degrees his mood improves–for the first time in months he looks forward to something:  his next session with Roan.

They even hit a BBQ with buddies from the BDSM scene and Orion encounters another Puppy Master. And the socializing restores him. He even meets a contact for a job.

A lot happens in this novella. I liked the scenes. Lots of genuine affection, puppy-style, which gradually changed into human-human affection. It was a sweet tale with a bright ending.

Interested? You can find Orion’s New Leash on Life on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press and Amazon.

If these books don’t get your weekend started, drop me a line about books that turn YOU on!

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends! 🙂

Mystery and Revelation–TRISTANT AND ELIJAH–A Review

Hi there! Today I want to share a book that I think could make a difference for gay youth. There is no doubt that LGBTQ persons have trouble sharing their “secret”, whether they struggle because they are afraid to lose their family, their friends, or their lives. There are many who believe sexuality is a lifestyle “choice” but I am not among them. I hope that continued gains will be made in both tolerance and legal status for these individuals–and this MY personal preference, mostly because I am a woman who craves equality for ALL, not some.

As a girl, I was empowered by reading Nancy Drew mystery stories because those books showed a girl with brains and mettle. One who did the right thing, even when it meant danger for herself and little-to-no reward, because it was the right thing to do. They provided the positive message I needed to bloom as a bookish young gal with an overdeveloped sense of fairness: That I was OKAY, and to Follow My Own Path–even when those around me thought a girl was meant to be married and pregnant instead of going to college and becoming a professional.

I like “Coming Out” stories for this same reason. They are so fraught with emotional twists. I wish to find those that have some heft to them and provide the same sense of “YOU ARE OKAY” comfort to share with kids that are in need.

TRISTANT AND ELIJAH, by Jennifer Lavoie, provides both a “mystery” and a “coming out” tale, so it thrilled me! It is my fave YA coming out tale of 2014, so far.

Tristant and ElijahAbout the book:
Tristant Whitfield has had a secret crush on straight Elijah Cambridge since the start of high school. He’s okay keeping his distance, but when Elijah starts visiting him at work and bringing his favorite coffee, Tristant begins to wonder if there’s something more there.

Then Elijah uncovers a scandalous old letter from Tristant’s great uncle tucked away in a book, and the two boys begin a journey through journals and letters to discover the real Uncle Glenn and the secrets he hid from his family. And Tristant realizes that Elijah has been hiding something as well.

A secret that just might change everything.

My Review:
Tristant and Elijah are two high school seniors in a small New England town. Tristant is out–has been since junior high, but has never had a boyfriend. He’s a self-described book-nerd with few close friends. Elijah is a good-looking popular boy who Tristant has fantasized about since freshman year when they were partners on a school project. They are acquaintances who strike up a stronger friendship over winter break.

One day while Tristant is working, Elijah pops into the antique shop–seemingly to chat. In fact, that’s all they do. Elijah brings him a coffee; it’s all very exciting to Tristant. This happens again the next day, only the two of them also pore over an old book that had belonged to Tristant’s great-great uncle Glenn. A scandalous letter from a Miss Rebecca falls out of the book–and Tristant is curious about the nature of his ancestor’s relationship with the woman.

Tristant digs deeper into GG-Uncle Glenn’s effects and finds a diary recounting Glenn’s time at college and his friendship, of sorts, with a man named Jesse. Tristant and Elijah read the diary to uncover the mystery of Miss Rebecca and instead learn that Glenn had a whole lot of secrets–secrets that Tristant and Elijah can understand and respect. Especially as Elijah shares the same secret.

I’m not going to say more–it’s easy to see where the book is going at this point–and I truly loved the supportive role that Tristant played for Elijah in his journey. Elijah’s anguish, and Tristant’s empathy and kindness are palpable. These two are really tender boys–and I’m glad that they found each other. The book is almost wholly innocent. There are a few kissing scenes that go no further.

Interested? You can find TRISTANT AND ELIJAH on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

Jennifer LavoieAbout the Author:

Jennifer Lavoie lives in Connecticut in the same city she grew up in. While growing up, she always wanted to be a writer or a teacher and briefly debated a career in marine biology. The only problem with that was she’s deathly afraid of deep water. Starting during a holiday season as temporary help, she worked in a bookstore for six years and made it all the way up to assistant manager before she left to take a job teaching. Jennifer has her bachelor’s degree in secondary English education and found a job in her town teaching middle school students. Along with another teacher and a handful of students, Jennifer started the first Gay-Straight Alliance at the school. She is also active in other student clubs and enjoys pairing students with books that make them love to read.

You can find her on her website, Goodreads, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Four Men. Four Loves. Gold Medals. WATER MUSIC–A Review

Hi all! Today I’d like to share a contemporary M/M romance that is on the darker edge. WATER MUSIC, by Georgette Gouveia, just shook me up. It stirred me. It spilled me into an ice-filled glass and left me punch drunk.

Four points of view. Four young virile men. Four tragic stories of love and loss and abuse and hope.

imageAbout the book:
Rivals, friends, lovers

Daniel and Dylan are the top swimmers in the world; Alex and Alí, the top tennis players. They play for God, country, family, and the need to escape their troubled pasts. In their quest to be the best, they also harbor a secret: Each is in love with his rival.

The four hit it off at the Summer Olympics in New York and reconnect on an island vacation that gives new meaning to doubles, round-robin, and preliminary heats. By then, the shifting professional fortunes of each couple have begun to signal a change in their personal relationships as well, one that will lead to new alliances and betrayal and engulf them in tragedy.

Told from their alternating viewpoints, Water Music is about power, jealousy, dominance, and submission. It’s about how the past informs the present and the future and how the choices made by nations, our families, and ourselves color our lives. Ultimately, it’s the story of how we come to accept those choices and learn to live with loss through love.

My Review:
Dylan and Daniel are Olympic-caliber swimmers. They meet at training camp in their late teens and end up being roommates. Dylan has suffered great losses: his mother suffered early onset dementia, and his father became abusive in his frustration. Dylan took the brunt of the abuse before his mom committed suicide and Dylan and his younger brothers were cared for by their aunt. Dylan’s father is wealthy, but he won’t take any support, and uses his swimming endorsements to supplement his brothers’ care, and eventual college tuition. Daniel’s parents divorced years ago, splitting Daniel from his twin sister who was later killed in a horseback riding accident. Daniel feels like the less worthy child. When he and Dylan connect, they experience the first real affection they’ve had since childhood. Daniel insists to stay closeted, and compels Dylan to, as well. In their relationship, Daniel would be the Top, but he’s physically and emotionally abusive to Dylan–something that starts small and grows, particularly as Dylan become the better swimmer of the two.

Alex and Ali are professional tennis players. Alex is closeted, and Ali has had a horrific life which he keeps closeted. Ali learned tennis in Iraq under the American “occupation” when he is befriended by a soldier. For years he plays there, entertaining the troops, until his pal is killed and Ali is “adopted” by a pedophilic defense contractor. Through this man’s connections, Ali’s family is able to obtain asylum with relatives in France–meanwhile Ali suffers molestation for years in the US. He is despised by his molestor’s family, but can’t escape as he is constantly being promoted in the media as a tennis phenom and he fears loss of his visa. When Ali’s abuser dies suddenly, his widow kicks Ali out with a check of “hush money” and a promise to ruin his reputation if Ali ever tells his story. Ali invests his money in his training so that he can become a top pro.

In reaching his peak Ali encounters Alex, the Number One pro on the tennis tour. Alex is attracted to Ali, and they begin a relationship–in the closet. This benefits them both, but things sour as Ali continues to climb the ranks and soon bests Alex.

Daniel and Dylan meet Alex and Ali in the Olympics. They hit it off and become very friendly. (Expect ménage though it’s subtle) their joined experience marks an end–and a new beginning. Dylan sees that Daniel can’t be the man he needs. Ali and Dylan become closer, and potential exists between them, however both Ali and Dylan receive unwelcome health news that shatters one life and cripples the other.

Just when Daniel realizes that he can’t live without Dylan is exactly when he learns he’ll have to. And Alex, the ironic one, loses the biggest competition of his life–with his own ego.

So many lives intersect in this book. The secondary characters, even the “ghosts” of Dylan’s mother and Daniel’s sister, become necessary. The writing is fluid and beautiful. Each man is so well-characterized I could almost expect to see any of them lifting a gold medal to the sky. The triumphs and travails were so outrageously conceived: who could envision a war waif becoming the top pro in tennis? Who could envision a swimmer who fears the ocean? And yet all of these made perfect sense here. I was simply captivated.

Smexytimes were brief and understated, in keeping with the down-low types of relationships the men preferred. The internalization of abuse, by both Dylan and Ali, was heartbreaking. Too many times I just wanted to hug Dylan. I know I wept for him. For Ali, I was chilled.

Books like this remind me to wonder what happens behind the veil of sports and celebrity. Bravo! I obtained this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Interested? You can find WATER MUSIC on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

imageAbout the author:
Georgette Gouveia was the senior cultural writer with Gannett Inc. and currently is editor of WAG magazine. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where she studied with Grace Paley and earned a bachelor of arts degree and a master of arts in critical writing. She is the author of “The Essential Mary Cassatt”.

“Water Music” is her first published novel.

When she’s not writing and editing, Georgette likes to sing coloratura arias, decorate her home, do yoga and lift weights, indulge her passion for beautiful things, including men, collect Hello Kitty, argue with her uncle about sports and revel in her spinsterhood.

You can find Georgette on her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Three’s Company in THE GLASS KNOT–A Review

Hi there! Today’s book is a steamy ménage romance from Lily Harlem. I reviewed SCORED and HIRED several months ago, and really enjoyed her writing, so I dipped my toe in for a third book, a contemporary (British) ménage, THE GLASS KNOT. FYI Lily provided me this book in exchange for my honest review.

20140703-104220.jpgAbout the book:
What’s a girl to do when the guy she falls for is married to another man?

This is exactly what happened to me. Seeing Josh Kendal stroll out of the Mediterranean Sea wearing tight navy swim trunks and looking like a hot new James Bond was a truly delicious moment. Catching sight of his wedding ring was like a kick in the shin and meeting his gorgeous husband, phew, that was enough to make any girl groan at the cruel joke God was playing on her.

But all was not as it seemed, and when Josh needed a woman to sort out a ‘delicate predicament’ I was the one for the job – heck, what did I have to lose? Certainly not as much as him, literally.

Trouble is, emotions always get tangled, loyalties can’t help but be divided and with a night of memories so hot they’d have the devil sweating, there was only one thing for it—it was time to get honest, fight for what I wanted despite society’s constraints and open my heart to the people it needed most.

My Review:
Nick and Josh are a married couple. Nick had been married to a woman, but recognized his bisexuality when he and Josh meet. Nick’s wife couldn’t understand–she left, and Nick and Josh are happy. Josh, however senses his bisexuality. He’s always wanted one experience with a woman–just to check it out. Nick is supportive, but wary.

Josh meets Laura while he and Nick are on vacation. She’s a freelance photographer, and attracted to Josh. She’s disappointed that he’s married–and even more frustrated to learn that his spouse is an equally beautiful man. Then, she realizes that Josh is attracted to her. And, that Josh has been given a “hall pass” if you will, to be with Laura for one night.

It’s fantastic. Stupendous. Cataclysmic. Tender and loving.

Laura, Nick and Josh return to their respective lives, but Josh reaches out to invite Laura for a visit under the auspices that she shoot some intimate photos of him as a gift for Nick. Laura soon learns that Nick wasn’t okay with Josh’s escapade. She also learns that Josh wants to continue to see her–which is thrilling and terrifying because her attraction hasn’t waned.

There’s a kerfuffle (involving some unauthorized carnal knowledge) and Laura leaves, returning to her dismal London flat. A few weeks later, Nick calls. Josh had been injured and he could use Laura’s help lifting Josh’s spirits. It seems Josh has been guilt-ridden and heartbroken at the same time, for wanting Laura while he also loves Nick.

The simplest solution, Nick surmises, is for Josh to be with both of them–and it brings up the question: can they be a partnership? Well, a few smexytimes later, and the whole lot of them are quite a bit happier–until Josh and Nick try to “take care of” Laura. She values her financial independence, and refuses to be “kept”. Some agitation over this point of contention gets resolved, in the most delicious way.

We get a full resolution and an HEA that satisfies. The book was almost exclusively told from Laura’s POV, which was okay, but I would have loved a bit of Josh and Nick in the body of the story. Josh, no doubt, had the most agonizing viewpoint–sorting his feelings for Laura and Nick, so I really wanted to experience him a whole lot more than just the prologue.

For contemporary ménage, this book comes from a different place–a stable gay relationship that brings in a female….which made for an interesting twist. Often times the males struggle over the M/M aspect, or simply avoid it, whereas it’s fully embraced here with Josh and Nick. I liked. Also, I’m a sucker for Brit-love, because I’m fascinated by the linguistic differences in English dialects; my inner Anglophile purred throughout. A great, steamy read–suitable for mature readers.

Interested? You can find THE GLASS KNOT on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:
Lily Harlem is a multi-published, award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance. She lives in the UK and writes for several publishing houses including Ellora’s Cave, HarperCollins, Xcite and Total-E-Bound. She also features in numerous UK and US anthologies, some of which all proceeds go to charity.

Her books are a mixture of full length novels and short stories, some are one offs, some are sequels or part of a series (all can be enjoyed as stand-alone reads). What they all have in common are colourful characters travelling on everyone’s favourite journey — falling in love. If the story isn’t deliciously romantic and down and dirty sexy, it won’t be written, at least not by this author. So with the bedroom door left well and truly open you are warned to hang on for a steamy, sensual ride – or rides as the case might be!

You can find Lily on her website, Goodreads and Twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Changing THE RIVER LEITH–A Review

Hi there! Today’s book is a contemporary M/M romance from Leta Blake. I just adored TRAINING SEASON and jumped at the chance to read more of her work. THE RIVER LEITH is a mind-bender. Mostly because Leith has retrograde amnesia and can’t remember the past three years of his life….

The River LeithAbout the book:

Memory is everything.

After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain.

For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach’s choices may come back to haunt him.

Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.

My Review:
One month ago Leith was hit by an illegal blow in the ring causing a traumatic brain injury. When he wakes from his coma, memories of the past three years of his life are gone. He thinks he’s still in prison, that his father is still alive, that he’s a straight man. None of these are true. Or, are they?

Leith latches on to his brother, Arthur, adrift in loss. Arthur tries to help, but the advice is to reveal little in terms of the lost years, to wait until Leith recovers the memories–if Leith does. See, they don’t want to upset Leith with too many uncertainties–he’s a bit unmoored emotionally, and strong. When he first saw Arthur and learned all he had lost, Leith struck out and clocked his brother in the jaw. Control of his life, and his temper, is hard for the new Leith.

“Friends” visit the hospital to help his transition, but Leith doesn’t remember any of them–not even Zach. Zach is introduced as his “best friend”, but the reader knows more than Leith. He and Zach had been lovers for a year, and totally committed. Zach’s heartbroken, and trying to maintain a brave face, but his video blogs show the gaping cracks in the facade.

Throughout, Leith agonizes to regain his foothold in his new reality. The only thing he knows for sure is the calmness he feels when Zach visits. He longs for more time with his “best friend” and is confused by the sexual arousal he feels in Zach’s presence. Zach’s nearness yet seeming indifference leads Leith to believe his attraction to Zach was one-sided before the injury, and he’s conflicted about revealing his “new” feelings. Meanwhile Zach is falling apart thinking Leith will never love him again. It sparks a one-night stand that comes back to haunt Zach. Big time.

In some ways, Leith died in the ring. The post-injury Leith is a different man in so many aspects, but it may be that this man is a better man, a more stable partner, than the man Zach first loved.

As time moves on, Leith is better able to control his temper–revealing his feelings for Zach helped immensely–but there are still struggles. Leith wants to box again. It was a major way he coped throughout his life, and the absence of that physicality brings its own strain. And Zach is terrified that one bad hit will kill the man he has had to woo, and come to love, twice over.

While this book centered on amnesia, there are lots of people who endure other neurological injuries and have personality changes. The hardest thing for their loved ones to reconcile is the change–Zach is a good partner, but a confused man in his own right, understandably so. His love has suddenly and without question forgotten him completely. He could walk away, but he doesn’t. His struggle is no less hard than Leith’s–overcoming his own memories to make a totally new life with a Leith is a decision. I was glad he made the right one.

The book is brutal in its emotional landscape. Highs and lows. Confusion and resolution. Anger and peace. And, love. At the center, love shines. Zach’s patient acceptance, bringing all Leith’s fave foods to the hospital. Moving out so Leith can have his own space to reconnect. Coming back after Leith clobbers him in a blind rage. All of these are acts of love. Leith working to regain his memories, his sense of self, so he can recover the good times of his life with Zach is an act of love. Even more so, Leith abandoning this effort and committing to simply making new memories is the biggest show of his love.

At times I just wanted to reach into my iPad and grab these two into a group hug and whisper that it was all going to work out. To that end, I kinda felt the resolution was a teeny bit rushed. That said, I loved the book. The smexytimes were predictably hot and fantastic, so thanks for that. I had to chuckle when Leith’s doctor said it was time to leave the hospital because all the nurses were distracted trying to get a peek of Zach and Leith together….LOL, for real. The book steams, so not safe for the youngin’s.

Interested? You can find THE RIVER LEITH on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I snatched a copy from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

About the author:

While Leta Blake would love to tell you that writing transports her to worlds of magic and wonder and then safely returns her to a home of sparkling cleanliness and carefully folded laundry, the reality is a bit different. For as long as Leta can recall, stories have hijacked her mind, abducting her to other lands, and forcing her to bend to the will of imaginary people. This absence from reality results in piles of laundry and forgotten appointments. In between abductions, Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can catch up with Leta on her website, Goodreads, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends! 🙂

 

Care for a Little PUBLIC DISPLAY OF EVERYTHING?–A Review

Hi there! Today’s book, PUBLIC DISPLAY OF EVERYTHING, is a fun contemporary M/M Romance I picked up as an Amazon Freebie a few weeks back. It follows the courtship of two Americans ex-pats in London.

Public Display of EverythingAbout the Book:

“Is there a voyeur inside you? Or are you the one who would like an audience in the bedroom?”

Cory can’t keep a job. Flynn has a job he can no longer hide behind. A simple proposition in an effort to solve both of their problems leads two young men to confront the heartbreaks of their pasts in order to make a future together.

What starts as an innocent bit of voyeurism turns into a public display of…everything.

You know you like to watch.

My Review:
Cory is a thirty y/o gay American living in London. He has a history degree and no job–he bounces from odd-jobs and housing, barely scraping by. He could return to America, but why? His family isn’t big on his orientation and he’s still sore over the way his uncle, Luke, shunned him when he came out. Luke had been his mentor and closest confidante. To lose that connection shattered Cory.

One night Cory’s chatting with Tammy, his bartender friend at his regular pub, about his prospects for love and a job when he’s approached by a young, beautiful man. Flynn has become a bit of a regular face in the pub–both Cory and Tammy have noticed him for weeks now–but neither can guess his orientation because he never talks to anyone. Still, Flynn has overheard that Cory is out of a job, and well, Flynn has a proposition:

One thousand pounds, if Cory will masturbate in front of a window. For an audience.

Okaaaayy…

Yeah. It seems Flynn runs an online voyeurism group–people subscribe to find places where they can watch sex, or have sex with people watching. The members can make it as open or as discreet as they like. And they REALLY want to see Webmaster Flynn in action. Problem? Flynn is totally, cripplingly, shy. He’s also 22 and a slightly-built man, but wants to project a bigger, more mature, image. Cory, standing over six feet tall and bulky with muscle, is Flynn’s ideal surrogate. Having no better prospects, Cory (reluctantly) agrees. He’s even more reluctant when he checks Flynn’s profile and notices Flynn’s orientation is marked “Hetero”.

Funny thing is, those settings aren’t always real. Flynn sets up the big reveal, keeping Cory’s face in shadow, and Cory does the deed. Surprisingly, Cory digs it. He’d never been big on voyeurism, but he kinda likes the sharing options Flynn’s website promotes. And, naturally, Cory’s masquerade is a huge success.

What Cory didn’t anticipate was Flynn being so cool. He’s got a big flat with an extra room, that he offers to Cory. Living in close quarters it’s not long before Flynn reveals that he’s actually gay. And, totally into Cory.

It’s a nice slow build. And steamy. Oh, and Flynn is into more than just Cory physically. He works hard to get Cory to open up about his family, and even helps repair the rift between Cory and his uncle, Luke. I liked Cory and Flynn a whole lot. They felt so warm and genuine–and their relationship was as tentative as Flynn, at first. Cory continues to make “appearances” in Flynn’s stead, but as his followers want even more, like a ‘partner scene’, Cory makes it happen–with Flynn. Definitely erotic.

The book had a lot of heart and was thoughtfully written, with a good mix of angst and heat. I enjoyed the way both characters pulled the other out of his respective shell. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

Interested? You can find PUBLIC DISPLAY OF EVERYTHING on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the author–in her own words:
I’m in my late twenties, born and raised in Sweden. I started writing on a whim in 2011, and it started pretty tame, but it has definitely changed. Now I have very few limits.

Extensive research, music, general smut, and reading are always sure ways for me to get inspired.

In my spare time, I–oh, that’s right, there’s no such thing as spare time. Never mind 😉

Anyway…if you have any questions and don’t feel like finding me on Facebook or Twitter, you can always contact me on my website.

Thanks for pooping in, and keep reading my friends! 🙂

He Sacrificed for TRAINING SEASON–A Review

How much must an athlete sacrifice for Olympic glory?

Training SeasonLeta Blake‘s TRAINING SEASON is just the thing to get you out of your post-Olympics slump. This contemporary, M/M romance follows the Olympic dreams of figure skater Matty Marcus as he rebuilds his mind, body, and career. Too bad he didn’t workout his heart…

Matty Marcus is a World Champion figure skater recovering from a back in jury and a disappointing showing at the Olympics. He is on the verge of bankruptcy and needs money to begin training for the next Olympics two years away. One of his fans offers him a lot of money to house-sit for her Montana ranch and horses while on a six-month trip to Australia/Asia. Having no better prospects, Matty agrees.

Problem is, Matty’s flamboyantly gay. He, perhaps, never says this explicitly in his interviews, but he wears women’s clothes and shoes and makeup, so…it’s pretty obvious. He can’t really un-gay himself, even if the judges don’t favor it.

Matty’s a bit afraid that he’ll run up against some gay bashing in his new remote locale, but, what he finds is his new neighbor–the man who owns the next ranch over, is himself gay. Rob is much more the burly, athletic, male specimen, but he’s drawn to Matty and they engage in a passionate affair. This passion is tinged with frustration, however, knowing that Matty’s time is fixed. Still, Matty bonds with Rob’s son, Ben–a pre-teen boy interested in figure skating. Matty relates well with Ben, recognizing the boy has size and power that Matty lacks. Masculinity is now being highly regarded in the figure skating world, and though Matty has talent, he can’t change his stature.

Rob gets Matty. He sees how he struggles–to maintain his weight, his focus, with his fear of failure and his self-loathing for previous failures–and through some Dom/sub interactions Matty experiences an emotional purging. They are deeply connected with one another, more so than either had been with another man before.

Still their time comes to an end and Matty asks for a clean break–knowing he will devote himself 24/7 for the next two years to his dream of Olympic gold. Because of this, Matty is, in part, better able to focus on skating as a means to bury his grief over letting Rob go.

Matty trains relentlessly and achieves his Olympic dream…sort of. Even years later, he struggles with the loss of Rob, and contemplates giving up his competitive career. While recuperating from yet another sidelining injury, Matty discovers Ben in training for junior figure skating competitions. Matty connects with Rob again, but Rob is unwilling to pick up Matty’s pieces. Again. Rob can’t bear any more diet management and ten hour training days, seeing the love of his life sacrifice everything for figure skating, when the rewards are so slim.

About 3/4 of the way through this book I just started crying.

See, I’ve been around elite athletes–people training for the Olympics/World Championships. Not figure skaters, but intense, driven individuals who will sacrifice everything to attain their goals of competing/winning at that level. Moving across country to train with an esteemed coach. Families investing their entire financial resources behind the training of a promising athlete. The sacrifices Matty makes seem very much in line with those people. The constant training, the constant diet management, forgoing relationships in order to “stay focused”; this is the hallmark of many an elite athlete. It was so hard to read Matty’s struggle for that reason–because I know this is happening right now with talented athletes who are great, and perhaps–like Matty–amazing, and yet, who will not see the top of the podium, nonetheless.

This book, by the way, is not an indictment of elite sports. It is a realistic portrayal of the sacrifices some athletes will make to achieve. I was satisfied that Matty really learns what is most important in his world; what he is willing to settle for, and that which will bring him the most happiness.

It is a solid contemporary story, a come-back story, a romance with scorching love scenes and some BDSM. Rob and Matty are blistering together, and their short Montana love affair changes each of them in unexpected ways.

Interested? You can find TRAINING SEASON at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I received a free copy of this book with the Don’t Buy My Love program at Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. Reading this story I had the image of Johnny Weir in my head the whole time. So will you…

Thanks for stopping by! And, keep reading my friends!

In Love With ONE MAN GUY–A Review

I was trolling NetGalley this week–looking for the fun, the new, the different–when I came across this Contemporary YA M/M romance from debut novelist Michael Barakiva. It takes teen angst to a whole new, humorous, educational level…

One Man GuyFourteen year old Armenian-American Aleksander is weeks away from the end of his freshman year. For him, summer is all about tennis camp and a family trip to Niagara Falls and hanging with his BFF, Becky, and he can’t wait.

Oh, the cruel whims of parents!

It seems that Alek is doing okay in his classes, but not nearly good enough to remain in the Honors track–unless he retakes English and Algebra in summer school. So, those plans of summer fun and tennis? POOF!

And Alek is downright salty* over it. (*in this context ‘salty’ means rude and angry, or so my teen son tells me…)

But, honor his parents’ wishes he does, because being Armenian means, well, I guess it means doing more. Alex’s parents definitely lay a guilt trip so thick a water buffalo might drown in it. See, Alek’s family is very tight-knit. He wants to assert his independence, but he’s smothered by his folks, unable to even pick out his own clothing. So he doesn’t stand a chance of avoiding summer school if that’s what his parents demand.

While at summer school Alek meets the notorious skater-boy, rabble-rousing, food-fight-starting Ethan Novick, a junior. Ethan is the embodiment of rebellious teen in Alek’s admiring eyes. He’s not sure why Ethan draws his attention, but Alek cannot seem to get him out of his thoughts. Confessing to Becky, Alek learns she harbors a secret crush for Alek creating a bit of discomfort.

On the way to school one morning, Alek and Ethan meet at the NYC-bound train stop, and Ethan drags Alek off to The City for a daylong hooky adventure, the like of which Alek has dreamed of but never had. He and Ethan bond until Ethan uses the F-word: Faggot. Alek isn’t gay, but he’s thoroughly offended and stands up to Ethan over it–at least until Ethan explains why it’s A-Okay for him to use that particular slur–Ethan’s gay.

Alek is stunned, but still friendly. In fact, to make up for his mistake he creates a gift that wins Ethan completely over, and Alek begins to realize why Ethan is such a big focus in his mind…attraction. But, he struggles with this new wrinkle in his identity. Alek’s had a couple girlfriends before, after all. And he never felt attracted to boys–Ethan excepted. When they actually kiss, Alek is blown away by the rightness of his feelings, the overwhelming rush of desire.

This relationship must stay on the down-low, however, because Alek is certain his Orthodox Armenian parents will never accept a gay child. Good thing their vacation is looming. Family friends convince Alek’s parents to leave him unattended while they travel–a point Alek had argued for–and now he has an empty home and a curious boyfriend. They skip school again for another NYC visit and Alek indulges in his freedom, getting a new haircut and updating his wardrobe from the geek-chic clothes his mother buys.

Do I need to tell you that Alek’s parents return home at an inopportune time? Yeah. Drama.

But the end is a super HEA that satisfies. I adored this book for its humor, and its cultural grounding. I really learned a lot about Armenian culture (and food!) and history that, lamented often by the Armenian characters, is largely denied and forgotten except by those within the Armenian community. Observing Alek accept his sexuality was refreshing. His wit and observations had me in stitches, even if I’m one of those Americans! Becky and Ethan are solid supporting characters, and Alek’s over-involved parents are real people, not cardboard caricatures. They really shine in their love and sincerity.

Overall, the book is meant for teen readers and I’d highly recommend it. There are brief encounters between Alek and Ethan that amount to some heavy make-outs, but nothing more. Having no knowledge of Armenian culture and life, I was pleased to recognize some similarities to the Jewish experiences with which I am familiar. I think any reader could relate to Alek’s family and their quirks. Well, unless you are Turkish. There seems to be a decidedly anti-Turk sentiment within the Armenian community represented here–and its historical significance is fully described within the book.

The author, Michael Barakiva, has really injected a lot of history into the novel without making it preachy. In fact, his deft hand actually calls into question the validity of holding onto past prejudice as opposed to pursuing future happiness. As a result, uneasy truces are made that support moving forward with love and acceptance, even when a Turk is involved.

Interested? ONE MAN GUY will be out this May. You can find more info at Goodreads, and pre-order it via Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s a fantastic read! I received an advanced review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Thanks for popping by, and keep reading my friends!