Category Archives: GLBT

Review: The Fallen Queen – Entangled Publishing – Jane Kindred

February 6, 2012

Expected Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.janekindred.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, The House of Arkhangel’sk
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Until her cousin slaughtered the supernal family, Anazakia’s father ruled the Heavens, governing noble Host and Fallen peasants alike. Now Anazakia is the last grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel’sk, and all she wants is to stay alive.

Hunted by Seraph assassins, Anazakia flees Heaven with two Fallen thieves—fire demon Vasily and air demon Belphagor, each with their own nefarious agenda—who hide her in the world of Man. The line between vice and virtue soon blurs, and when Belphagor is imprisoned, the unexpected passion of Vasily warms her through the Russian winter.

Heaven seems a distant dream, but when Anazakia learns the truth behind the celestial coup, she will have to return to fight for the throne—even if it means saving the man who murdered everyone she loved. 

This was, hands down, the most exhausting, heartbreaking, amazing book I’ve read in a very, very long time.  My head is spinning as I sit here and try to put into words the way I feel about this book, and I fear that there really isn’t a way to accurately express what an intense journey this book really was.

Normally, my reviews follow the What Worked For Me/What Didn’t Work For Me format, but as I write this review, I find that I’m unable to tease apart the story and neatly box up the pieces into convenient categories.

I suppose I should first say that this book didn’t fall into the traditional path of what I would consider to be “romance”. In fact, I would say that the secondary characters, Belphagor and Vasily, had a much stronger romance than any other characters in the story, even though I’m not certain I can say that theirs is a true Happily Ever After either.

There are so many things that I normally list in my “What Didn’t Work For Me” section that are pet peeves of mine. Things such as forced nudity, infidelity, and love triangles. And yet, though all three of these things occurred in this story, I found that I couldn’t actually list them in that manner. These characters are put through so very much, and the relationships between Vasily, Belphagor, and Anazakia are so intensely complicated that these things didn’t so much bother me as they were merely accepted parts of the story. Sure, the first instance, where Anazakia is forced to strip down in front of others and change clothes quickly put me off a bit, but after that, those sorts of things just… were.

The Fallen Queen grabbed me by the guts and simply wouldn’t let me go.  I actually read this book in one complete sitting, because I couldn’t stand not knowing what was going to happen next.  There was torture, rape, grief, sex, family drama, magic, complicated politics, terrifying confrontations, and even more horrific villains, as well as the sweetness of reunited lovers, the angst of martyrdom, and the joy of success.

I am so incredibly torn on my final rating. On one hand, this was not a romance; there is no happily ever after.  

SPOILER ALERT SelectShow Spoiler
 Added to that is the commonplace occurrence of rape, physical torture, time in captivity, estrangement from other characters, and the sheer and utter hopelessness of the situations these characters find themselves in.

On the other hand, the worldbuilding, the intentional parallels between Ana’s story and that of Anastasia Romanov, the incredible character details, as well as the fast-paced and harrowing plotlines all make me want to recommend this book to any fantasy fan I come across (though I’d probably warn them that there is m/m homosexuality in the book first).

So despite the fact that I was, quite literally, emotionally exhausted when I finished this book, I have to say, it was incredible.  While I know that some readers will be put off by the m/m romance, I do hope that fantasy fans will still give it a chance.

While I cannot say that this was a a 5-star read for me, because of the lack of Happily Ever After and the sheer volume of Very Bad Things that happen to all of the characters, I will say that despite the inclusion of several things that normally would have yanked a star rating down for me, this one is still one of the most amazing books I’ve read in a very, very long time, and I will be reading the sequel when it comes available.

4/5 Stars.

 

Also posted in Fantasy, Not A Traditional Romance – 0 Comments

Review: Chasing Seth – Dreamspinner Press – J.R. Loveless

November 26, 2011

Expected Release Date: September 30, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://jrloveless.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series:  No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Scorching

Official Blurb:
Veterinarian Seth Davies comes to Senaka, Wyoming, looking for peace and anonymity, trying to escape his past. He’s always been a target for trouble and pain, and Seth has had more than his share of both. Kasey Whitedove takes one look at Seth and assumes the worst. No white man could love animals the way the mostly Cheyenne population expects, and Kasey makes Seth’s first days in Senaka more than unpleasant.

Then an accident puts Kasey in the uncomfortable position of eating crow—and helplessly desiring Seth—despite the danger of Kasey’s life as a werewolf and Seth’s stressful secrets. Chasing Seth down and keeping him safe from his past has just become Kasey’s most important job.

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved Seth’s abused past.  Not only was he physically abused, but the entire concept of true mates became warped and horrific in his mind, which added a delicious amount of angst to the relationship between him and Kasey.
  • I also loved that Kasey was quite literally horrified to discover that Seth was his true mate.  The hurt and rejection that Seth felt, despite the fact that the last thing he wanted was someone claiming to be his mate, was absolutely wonderful.
  • Watching Seth have to overcome his horrible past and finally trust in Kasey was beautiful.  I’m a sucker for abused protagonists, and watching them slowly come to trust and love someone who is willing to be patient and tender with them.
  • I also enjoyed the idea that while a bit racist, neither Kasey nor his tribe as a whole were put off by the fact his true mate was a man.  It was a bit of a relief to not have to worry about the angst of coming out of the closet on top of everything else that was going on, and it was also quite nice to have Kasey’s family’s support for the couple.
  • The love scenes were beautifully hot, with plenty of steam and intensity between the two leads.
  • I also enjoyed the twist and the evil stalker, and the climax of the book was quite thrilling.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Too. Much. Talking. Seth and Kasey are forever discussing their feelings, so much so that I literally started to skim dialogue towards the end, because I was so tired of hearing them both wax on about trust issues and whatnot.
  • If Kasey had called Seth “Pup” just one more time, I don’t think I could’ve been held responsible for my actions.  Don’t get me wrong, at first the endearment was both sweet and protective, and I liked hearing Kasey use affectionate terms towards Seth.  But, just like the discussion of personal feelings, it was overdone to the point that it completely lost its emotional impact and instead veered towards immensely irritating.
  • While I liked Nick, the side plot with him and his “true mate” seemed a little gratuitous, and while I really am hoping it’s a setup for a future novel, I wish that Nick hadn’t played quite as large a part as he did.

Sensitive readers should be aware there is off-scene violence against animals in this book.

The book started off wonderfully for me.  Seth, the abused, loner veterinarian with the secret ability to heal animals and the even more secret ability to transform into a werewolf, and Kasey, the racist local sheriff who is both surprised and quite frankly horrified to learn that Seth is his mate.  There’s anger, rejection, mistrust, racism, secrets, danger — just loads of potential there, right?

Well, in some ways, it was fantastic. Seth’s past as well as his first impressions of Kasey make it very hard for him to trust and accept the other man as his destined mate, despite being incredibly physically attracted to him.  Watching Seth slowly come to trust and love Kasey was absolutely wonderful.  Kasey, as well, had to learn to get past preconceived notions, not only in regards to Seth’s racial difference, but also the mere fact that he’s a man.  While attracted to Seth, Kasey never really considered himself to be homosexual, and had never really considered the idea that his true mate would be male.

However, the biggest problem that this book runs into is the inherent need for Kasey and Seth to discuss absolutely everything, at length, over and over and over again.  While dialogue is certainly important to any story, and can help to illustrate the strides the characters are both taking towards accepting their mating bond and learning to truly trust in one another, in this case, there were many times I just wanted them to both shut up and go do something, anything, other than talk.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of action, a solid amount of suspense, and some very delicious man-on-man lovemaking to keep things interesting, but the constant discussion of feelings threw the pacing off to the point that it was hard to recover.

In the end, while it was entertaining, the mass amounts of dialogue were what held me back from a higher rating, though I still recommend this for fans of sexy shifters, being resistant to fated matings, and stalker drama.  3.5/5 Stars.

Also posted in Paranormal Romance – 0 Comments

Review: The Valley of the Shadow of Death – Manifold Press – Julie Bozza

November 1, 2011

Expected Release Date: November 1, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Manifold Press
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://juliebozza.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the Publisher
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm – Steamy

Official Blurb:

Joshua Delaney and Carmine Angelo Trezini, cop and low-level mobster, should have absolutely nothing in common; yet, accidentally brought together, they rapidly became both lovers and allies against important crime figure Matthew Picano. Of course, taking down a man like that was never going to be easy – but Josh has no idea of of the scale of the sacrifice he will eventually be called upon to make.

What Worked For Me:

  • This book quite literally sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go.  While some of the scene transitions were a bit abrupt, and the love scenes were skimmed over and contained a lot of the shame, embarrassment, and confusion that Josh felt about his relationship, I admit it was those first few chapters hooked me in and I couldn’t put it down.
  • This is the first Gay For Him book I’ve read in a long time, and I’d forgotten how enjoyable they could be.  Josh is “as straight as it gets”, and yet he can’t resist being attracted to Carmine — his natural vivacity, his unrepentant affection for Josh, and his wiry body, so unlike the other lovers Josh had had in the past.
  • I also enjoyed the parts of the story that took place in the courtroom as well. I’m a huge fan of shows like Law & Order (and all its spin-offs), so I always enjoy a good courtroom drama.
  • The ending.  You may notice that this one also falls under “What Didn’t Work For Me”.  While my feelings on the ending were not truly positive, I realized after giving myself time to mull over things that this book simply could not have ended any other way.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I was disappointed that Carmine fell in love, or at least declared his feelings, so very quickly after having met Josh.  Love at first sight just isn’t really my thing, so I was taken a bit aback when Carmine was so quick  with his affections.
  • OMFG the ending. I can’t say more without it being a spoiler, but it was certainly not the ending I’d expected or even hoped for.

This one started off so good. I was literally shooing Mr. Romanceaholic away while he was trying to talk to me so that I wouldn’t have to put it down, and then all of a sudden, Carmine was announcing that he was “in love” with Josh. My heart sank. I don’t really mind a “whirlwind romance”, because hey, they happen.  However, “love at first sight” just doesn’t do it for me unless it’s a paranormal romance involving shape shifters and/or fated mates or somesuch.  So when, after having met Josh twice, albeit in stressful situations, Carmine informed his mother that he was falling in love with Josh, despite having never even discussed Josh’s sexual preference or even his relationship statuses, it just didn’t fly for me.    I think it would have been so much more satisfying, and perhaps more importantly, more believable, had he merely been intensely attracted to Josh, and love had come a little later in the novel.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the story ever fully recovered for me because of this.

The angst and tension caused by Carmine’s double crossing his boss/best friend was wonderful, and the courtroom drama a delight.  The romance that was developing between Josh and Carmine was intense and angst-ridden due not only to the stress of the undercover operation, but because Josh had previously considered himself to be heterosexual, and as such was struggling with embarrassment, confusion, shame, anger, lust, guilt, developing emotional feelings and fear for Carmine’s life.

Fans of steamy romance should note that this novel ranks somewhere between my “Warm” and “Steamy” ratings — while lovemaking isn’t completely fade-to-black or behind closed doors, it’s still relatively chaste compared to most non-YA contemporary romances.

This book started off so strongly, with a distinctive author’s voice, interesting characters, and intriguing plot that I never quite got over my disappointment with the speed at which Carmine fell for Josh.   It was almost as though it stumbled but instead of recovering  and making me happy with the progression of both their relationship and the overall story arc, it seemed to continue with a bit of a limp. Add to that the lack of what I would consider to be a HEA, and unfortunately this one just didn’t rock me as I’d anticipated it would from the first few chapters.

3/5 Stars

 

Also posted in Contemporary – 4 Comments

Review: Suite Nineteen – Bold Stroke Books – Mel Bossa

September 19, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date:  September 20, 2011
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: MEL BOSSA’S PAGE @ BOLD STROKES BOOKS
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: NA
Steam Level: Warm

Official Blurb:

Drawn by the promise of change, young medium Ben Lebeau, moves to the big city, into the Shilts Manor–an old textile factory turned trendy loft space. There he meets seductive Lennox Van Kemp and his clan of Métis–guardians of the oldest lie. Ben is pulled into Van Kemp’s emotional circle, finally sating his most secret desires.

Against Ven Kemp’s warnings, Ben befriends his neighbor Ezra Collins–a scarred man who has taken a vow of celibacy. As Ben tries to get closer to Ezra and earn his trust, he also struggles to escape Van Kemp’s psychological grip on him. The harder Ben falls for Ezra, the more he suffers from hallucinations and memory losses. Soon, the Manor’s walls begin to close in on him and Ben must rely on his psychic abilities to survive the assault on his mind.

As Ben and Ezra unravel Van Kemp’s plans, they expose a spiritual conspiracy dating back to Christ–a conspiracy that will shake their very world and restore their Faith in humanity.

What Worked For Me:

  • The psychological warfare of this novel was freakin awesome!  Told in first person POV, when Ben begins to think he’s insane, hell, you the reader begin to start questioning your own sanity.
  • I also liked that Ben was just an average guy. Average height, weight, looks, and personality. He just an average working stiff who happened to have the power to read impressions off of people and objects they’d recently touched, and he tried very hard to avoid using his power because it had caused him nothing but problems in the past.
  • While I admit some of it made me uncomfortable, I have to admit that the take on G-d and spirituality in this book was both interesting and inventive, and quite a refreshing change from the typical theology you find in books with paranormal creatures.
  • Ezra was so bloody sexy, with all his scars and his limp and his combat boots and.. *dreamy sigh*  Yum.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • There was way too much sleeping around in this novel. Everyone slept with everyone else it seemed, and while it seemed like the characters really didn’t care, it was just so not my thing.
  • Even though I personally loved the psychological warfare on Ben, I have to admit that I think a lot of readers will not give this book a chance long enough to really appreciate the entire conspiracy.  The confusion starts off early and doesn’t let up until the final chapters until details of what is actually happening are revealed, and that’s to this book’s detriment I think.
  • I also don’t feel that this book should be classified as a romance.  There is romance in it (though not ending with a traditional HEA), but this is so much more a psychological mystery with a few threads of romance and paranormal undertones.

I am so very torn on my final rating for this novel. On one hand, the first person POV lets the reader into Ben’s mind, and when Ben begins to suspect he’s insane, you feel his confusion and paranoia as your own, which is actually pretty awesome.  On the other hand, events got so confusing at times, that it was only my own sheer stubbornness that made me stick it out until the end.

I was also disappointed that this was not exactly the “romance” I’d thought it would be when I first started reading. Ben’s bisexuality, while not bothering me in and of itself, definitely led to situations that were confusing and awkward for me as a reader, and frankly, there was such a strong concept of open relationships in this novel that I couldn’t really enjoy any romance in it. Casual sex simply isn’t my cup of tea, even in novels, so the romance lover in me was greatly saddened by the lack of monogamy.

In the end, I have to go with what is literally a middle-of-the road rating. While the psychological aspects were quite frankly astounding, there were simply too many factors that didn’t mesh with my preferences, such as the many open sexual relationships, the non-traditional HEA, and the simple fact that it was so utterly confusing that it took sheer willpower to plow through the middle long enough to get to the explanation towards the end.

3/5 Stars

Also posted in Not A Traditional Romance – 1 Comment

Review: Come Unto These Yellow Sands – Samhain – Josh Lanyon

August 8, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page Expected Release Date: June 14, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Samhain
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.joshlanyon.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Sometimes the adventure chooses you.

Lover of fine poetry and lousy choose-your-own-adventure novels, Professor Sebastian Swift was once the bad-boy darling of the literati. The only lines he does these days are Browning, Frost and Cummings. Even his relationship with the hot, handsome Wolfe Neck Police Chief Max Prescott is healthy. When one of his most talented students comes to him bruised and begging for help, Swift hands over the keys to his Orson Island cabin—only to find out that the boy’s father is dead and the police are suspicious. In an instant, the stable life Swift has built for himself hangs on finding the boy and convincing him to give himself up before Max figures out Swift’s involvement in the case.

Max enjoys splitting an infinitive or two with his favorite nutty professor, but he’s not much for sonnets or Shakespeare. He likes being lied to even less. Yet his instincts—and his heart—tell him his lover is being played. Max can forgive lies and deception, but a dangerous enemy may not stop until Swift is heading up his own dead poet’s society.

Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that Josh Lanyon’s smart, sexy, sophisticated stories may prove hazardous to your heart.

Professor Sebastian Swift grew up in the limelight. The only child of two brilliant and highly acclaimed poets, he himself was a rising star in literary circles until his drug addiction made him lose everything, including his own father.  Now six years recovered, he’s eeking out a life as a Professor at a small university, and has established a relationship with local Police Chief Max Prescott. However, despite his growing feelings for Max, their relationship is slowly stagnating, with neither one pushing the other for actual commitment.

When a student in trouble come to Swift for help, Swift immediately gives him the money from his wallet and keys to his small island cabin, because he knows what it’s like to need to get away from everything and yet have no one to count on.  Later that night, however, Swift discovers that the same boy he generously helped that afternoon is the prime suspect in the brutal murder of the boy’s father. Realizing that his lover has already convicted the boy in his mind, Swift risks everything by keeping the information to himself, hoping that he can contact the boy and convince him to turn himself into police.

Things come crashing down for Swift when he discovers that the boy never went to the cabin, and he must come clean to Max about his actions. No matter what Max’s feelings for Swift may be, he cannot stand being lied to, and is understandably furious about Swift’s lie of omission. When it becomes obvious, however, that Swift himself has become a target due to his involvement, Max risks not only his career but also his  heart to protect Swift and bring a killer to justice.

What Worked For Me:

  • I really enjoyed that every chapter started off with a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style opening that led foreshadowed very beautifully what would happen in the chapter.
  • One thing you can always count on from Mr. Lanyon is the amount of depth that even his minor characters have. His main characters, however, really take the cake. Swift felt so incredibly real that my heart broke when he struggled, and I rejoiced when things went his way, and that is truly the mark of an excellent writer.
  • While I thoroughly enjoy the mysteries of Mr. Lanyon’s books, I absolutely adored that Swift really didn’t give a flying fig about the murder mystery — he simply wanted to help locate a boy in trouble and salvage his own precarious relationship with Max.  Fans of his mysteries won’t be left out, however, because there is a mystery that plays a big part, only the main character is merely caught up in it despite his preferences rather than attempting to solve it.
  • The love scenes were wonderful as always, with just enough heat to keep things interesting, while still emphasizing the romance and tenderness between the characters.
  • I really enjoyed that Swift was a recovering drug addict. That’s not something that I get to read about often in romances, because let’s face it — addiction isn’t sexy. Mr. Lanyon handled Swift’s past tastefully and with compassion, while still allowing readers to feel his struggle to avoid a relapse when life got incredibly stressful.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • The only thing I didn’t care for was the climax of the mystery part of the novel. As much as Max had stressed doing things by the book and keeping Swift safe, I found it a little unbelievable he would’ve orchestrated things quite the way he did.

Once again I feel I should start this review with a warning — I love Josh Lanyon. He is, quite literally, one of my favorite authors of all genres, which is definitely saying something, and I’m only slightly joking when I say that I would likely give five stars to his detailing of a character spending 20 chapters over the mystery of how to properly setup his TiVo simply because I know that with his skills, he could make us care for the character and whether or not he was able to DVR his favorite shows.  I have read almost all of Mr. Lanyon’s books, and I have finished each and every one with the feeling that I’ve taken the same incredible journey as his characters have.   There’s just something about his writing style and characterizations that just draw you into the story and won’t let you go even at the final line.  Angsty and romantic, the relationships in his books always feel very realistic, with believable problems and more importantly, very believable happy endings.

This story was no exception. The characters were all incredibly developed, with realistic backstories and personal issues, and the romance itself was achingly beautiful.   The underlying murder mystery helped to add excitement to the story without taking anything away from the romance.

A delightfully solid 5/5 Stars.

Also posted in Contemporary, Romantic Suspense – 0 Comments

Review: Snowball in Hell – Carina Press – Josh Lanyon

April 7, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page
Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.joshlanyon.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

Los Angeles, 1943

Reporter Nathan Doyle had his reasons to want Phil Arlen dead, but when he sees the man’s body pulled from the La Brea tar pit, he knows he’ll be the prime suspect. He also knows that his life won’t stand up to intense police scrutiny, so he sets out to crack the case himself.

Lieutenant Matthew Spain’s official inquiries soon lead him to believe that Nathan knows more than he’s saying. But that’s not the only reason Matt takes notice of the handsome journalist. Matt’s been drawn to men before, but he must hide his true feelings-or risk his entire career.

As Nathan digs deeper, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay one step ahead of Matt Spain-and to deny his intense attraction to him. Nathan’s secrets may not include murder, but has his hunt put him right in the path of the real killer?

Previously published, newly revised by author.

To start off this review, an important point should be made. This is not a traditional romance, in the sense of Happily Ever Afters. It is much more of a mystery novel, with Nathan and Matt’s romance playing a beautiful subtext to the whodunit behind Phil Arlen’s murder.

Josh Lanyon is probably my favorite m/m writer of all time. His mysteries are thoughtful, entertaining, and incredibly well-written, and his ability to write romances that are both realistic and incredibly sweet always have me clamoring to snag his newest releases.  Snowball in Hell was no exception, even though it isn’t your standard “romance novel” fare.

Set during WWII, this is the first m/m romance I’ve read that was set in a time where not only was homosexuality dangerous from the standpoint of having to worry about hate crimes and prejudices, but it was also dangerous in the sense that it was illegal.  If Nathan and Matt’s predilections had been discovered, they would’ve faced jail time, or worse, being committed to an insane asylum for “treatment” which included ice baths and electroshock.  While part of me knew of course that this sort of thing had happened in the past, it’s a new experience entirely to be subjected to these very real fears right along with the heroes of  a story.

What worked for me:

  • The mystery of Phil Arlen’s kidnapping and murder was very intriguing.  Several twists and turns kept me guessing until the end, though I did have a correct theory once or twice even if I wasn’t certain about the culprit’s identity until the Big Reveal.
  • I really liked that Matt had been married previously, and that his marriage was a good one. Too many times in romances, the previous spouse is made into a villain, or at the very least, the relationship is painted as an unhappy one. Matt, however, was very much in love with Rachel, and was devastated by her death.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something missing in the consummation of the two lovers in this story. It could be the fact they both referenced it using the F-Word, rather than “lovemaking”, though I’m still not certain.
  • I didn’t particularly care for the fact that Nathan had sex with other men, especially after he and Matt had shared Christmas together.  I understood how it fit in with his personality and the situation that he found himself in, but even so, I didn’t enjoy reading about it.

While there was no traditional HEA persay (and how could there be, in a time when the two lovers could be incarcerated or tortured for their love?), there was still a feeling of hope for them at the end.  Sure, as a card-carrying member of the HEA Club, I would’ve loved to have seen all of their problems solved and for them to live together and raise a dog or something, yet I was still as satisfied with the ending as I possibly could’ve been for a m/m story set in this time period.

Overall, a very intriguing mystery, with just enough romance and lovemaking to satisfy the romance junkie in me.

4/5 Stars

 

Also posted in Historical, Mystery, Not A Traditional Romance – 0 Comments

Review: Spice ‘n’ Solace – Carina Press – K.C. Burn

March 17, 2011

Click Image to Go to Purchase Page

 

The Galactic Alliance’s most important negotiator, Jathan One-Moon, is responsible for ensuring the yearly negotiations with the Ankylos are successful. If he fails and the Ankylos go to war, the human race will likely be exterminated. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s under pressure to marry and produce an heir. When he mistakes the brothel owner, Kazha Deinos, for his escort prior to the negotiations, the resulting evening makes Jathan realize his life is missing a man who can be a true partner to him.

Kaz never met his most important client, and Jathan’s misconception allows Kaz the freedom to give in to desires he’s never let himself indulge in before. But Kaz has a business to run, one that a rival is trying to steal, which will force him to reveal his true identity to Jay. There’s also the little issue of Jathan’s impending marriage. Kaz is not interested in being a boy on the side of Jay’s marriage, no matter how much he’s come to care for Jathan. Will Jathan and Kaz find a way to be together, or will losing the man Jathan’s grown to love be yet another price he must pay for saving the human race?

Oh my! Is it hot in here to you? No? Whew. I guess it’s just me then after reading this book.. *fans self*

If you’re a fan of M/M erotic romance, especially in a sci-fi/futuristic setting, I think that you are going to love this book.

What worked for me:

  • I loved that the book didn’t start off with the heroes’ first meeting. Rather, there was quite a bit of setup to the story, introducing you not just to Kaz and Jathan, but also to their respective worlds.  It didn’t feel clunky, however, and each character had an interesting enough history and lead-up to their initial meeting that I wasn’t even tempted to skim forward to get to the naughty parts.
  • The situation that led to Jay mistaking Kaz for an escort felt realistic.  The fact that it was a simple misunderstanding that escalated out of control added quite a bit of tension to the story, which I enjoyed.
  • The lovin’. Oh my oh my, the lovin’. *fans self some more*  Jay is very dominant without truly desiring a D/s relationship, and Kaz has always longed for someone to take control. Let’s just say when these two come together, there are definite fireworks.
  • I loved that while this definitely qualified as erotica, it wasn’t a “Plot? What plot?” type of book — both of the main characters were well-developed, and I felt that the tenderness and affection they felt for each other went far beyond the sexual chemistry they certainly felt.

What didn’t work for me:

  • The many references to the unfair treatment and illogical attitudes towards gay men got a wee bit annoying towards the end. Yes, I get that it’s ridiculous for a man to think he can “top” and still be straight so long as he doesn’t “bottom” for anyone. I also understand how ridiculous it is for a man to own a gay brothel and be homophobic. I don’t need to be reminded of it over and over thank you.
  • The name of the brothel, and thus the novel itself, was a bit cheesy to me. To be fair, I have to admit that “spice ‘n’ solace” did indeed sum up the relationship between Jay and Kaz, however.

In short, I loved this story.  It was sweet, sexy, romantic, and intense.  The sci-fi elements were enough to add a bit of side interest, but not enough to distract from Jay and Kaz’s relationship, and the social dynamic certainly kept both characters on their toes. The attraction between them, both sexual and otherwise, felt incredibly real, and their love scenes were enough to scorch your fingers while holding the page.

A very delicious 5/5 Stars

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