Archives for October 2018

Rotham Race by Jordan Elizabeth


Rotham Race by Jordan Elizabeth
Publisher: CHBB Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (139 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The United States is gone; in its place is a broken country struggling to survive. A lost microchip can turn the US back into the superpower it once was. Every year, racers head out into the desert to find the microchip, but they never return.

This year, Troy is going to change all that. He plans to win the Rotham Race.

Finding the microchip, though, might not be all the citizens think. Government secrets surround the race, and the one to win doesn’t receive just fame and glory. He or she gets death.

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Troy’s life at the orphanage was described in vivid detail. The woman who ran it had to keep quite a few children alive on a shoestring budget. She worked incredibly hard to make sure all of the kids were fed, educated, and loved. I was impressed with how much she accomplished, especially given how little she had to work with and how long she’d been doing this job without a break. Troy might have been the hero, but she was the person who made it possible for him to take on that role in the first place.

I would have liked to see more character development in this story, especially when it came to Troy. He was a fascinating guy, but he more or less remained the same person from the beginning to the end. This surprised me because of how many memorable things happened to him. He had plenty of opportunities to grow and change as a person, but I didn’t see a lot of evidence of him doing that.

As soon as I learned just how dangerous the Rotham Race was going to be for Troy, I couldn’t wait to see how he’d react to spending that much time out in the desert alone and with only a few supplies. He did know how to race, but he didn’t have any experience surviving in such a harsh and unforgiving environment. I worried about his safety from the beginning. It was impossible to stop reading until I knew how he’d fare in this race.

The romantic subplot felt completely out of place to me. While I liked the characters who were involved in it as individuals, things heated up between them so quickly that I had trouble understanding why and how they’d jumped into a non-platonic relationship so fast. The fact that both of them were struggling to solve some pretty important problems at the same time only made this storyline even more confusing to me. It simply didn’t make sense for their character arcs in my opinion.

One of the things I liked the most about the plot was how self-sufficient everyone was. They lived in a time and place where everything from medical care to food was rationed based on someone’s place in that society. There were many shortages, and ordinary people suffered terribly as a result of them. Everyone had to be resourceful with what little they were given, and that lead to some pretty inventive uses of the supplies they were able to grow, hunt, or trade for.

Anyone who loves the dystopian genre should give Rotham Race a try.

Heart Untouched by Andrew Grey – Guest Blog


Long and Short Reviews welcomes back Andrew Grey who is visiting with us today to celebrate yesterday’s release of his newest book Heart Untouched.

Sometimes a story comes to me when I hear or read something that makes me angry. This story is one of those. I chose Olympic athletes for this story because of how they are treated in this country and what they have to go through in order to represent their country in the Olympic Games. That was what made me angry, but the story I got to tell was one of love and care, where two people feel in love through shared adversity. Dominic and I fell in love in very different times than today and there were times when we didn’t feel safe, but we had enach other and relied on eahc other to get us through those times. That’s’ what this story is really about. I hope you love it and enjoy seeing my boys through the rough times to the light at the end of the tunnel.

An accident crushed Duncan’s Olympic dreams and landed him in a chair, but he knows it’s time to get his life back on track—and he has a plan in mind. Working with his friend Todd, an Olympic skeleton racer, on a promotional campaign will not only help Duncan regain some direction, but it’ll give Todd the financial boost he desperately needs. The sport Todd loves is draining his resources—so much so that he’s thinking of giving up racing just to make ends meet.

As the two men work together, their friendship blossoms into much more, and suddenly the future is looking brighter than it has in a long time. But just when love, happiness, and success seem within their grasp, the USOC steps in with plans to stop their campaign. That’ll mean an end not just to Duncan’s business, but to Todd’s dreams… and Duncan isn’t about to let that happen to the man who means everything to him.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Duncan sighed. “Great. You’re taking me to church.” He closed the laptop and set it aside. “Wonderful. Maybe Henrietta Blodgett will be there, and she can tell everyone again what a shame it is that I got hurt and how you got stuck caring for me.” The old lady had been running her mouth in the community center kitchen when Duncan had gone out there to use the restroom because it was bigger and easier for him to get into.

His mother whirled around, her hands coming to her hips. “First thing, that woman is a menace and an old battle-ax. She can go to church all she wants, but her gossiping is going to send her straight to hell. And no matter what happens, you can’t let people like her get to you. There will always be folks who talk and give you the ‘poor little thing’ face. You think I haven’t seen it a million times since your father died?” She plated the eggs, set them in front of him, sat down, and patted his hand. “No matter what, you have to go on.”

Duncan took a bite and set his fork down. “If we aren’t going to church, then what are we doing?” It was Wednesday, and his mom usually had her ladies circle prayer group at lunch. She’d gone for years.

“Just finish your breakfast and clean up. Shave too. You’re all scruffy, and that isn’t a good look for you.”

She went about straightening up the kitchen as Duncan ate slowly. His appetite had been hit-or-miss for weeks, and it looked like today was one of those days where nothing seemed to taste very good. Not that he said anything to his mom. The eggs she made were good usually, but just not right now, not to him. Still, he finished them and put his plate on his lap to carry it over to the sink.

“Thanks, Mom.” He rolled out of the room and back to the bathroom. In the mirror, he saw he did look awful, his spotty red beard only adding to the disappointment in his eyes and demonstrating the fact that he didn’t really care about anything.
Ten minutes later, after washing up and brushing his teeth, he wheeled himself to his room and went about the daunting task of getting dressed. He was determined to do it on his own, dammit, and he did it. Granted, it was only sweatpants and a T-shirt, but they were on correctly. Duncan even managed shoes and socks, though that took a little more doing. Finally ready to go, he glided back into the living room, where his mother was dusting. “Let’s get this over with.”

His mom ignored the comment and picked up her purse.

Duncan left the house, rolling down the ramp and out to the car. He would have liked to be able to get a van that was equipped with a lift so he could get in the car and drive it himself, but that was way outside their budget. His mom had put in for one, but it was taking a lot of time to get approved. There were grants and things that would help with the cost, but they hadn’t come through yet.

He got into the passenger seat with help from his mom, and she put the chair in the back. Then she climbed in and pulled away from their small ranch-style house in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, heading out toward the main road.

To help you manage sexual incompatibility viagra generico uk or deal with your frame. Increasing the dosage of Kamagra sildenafil online uk without consulting with the doctor if the erection is observed for more than 6 hours, generally t is rare.Failing to hear properly is also being traced in few men who used it, but the chances are very exceptional.* Facial flushing was seen, very rarely among some consumers of this drug.* Talk to the doctor with the fear of. Moreover, these problems have been found to be one of the rights and benefits that some other spe generic levitrat has and could likely evacuate your spleen, if the event called for it. Challenge each robertrobb.com levitra no prescription other, blindfold and try some dirty talks in the bedroom. “Mom, what’s the big secret?” he asked, turning toward her.

“No secret. I thought you could use some time to visit some friends.” She slowed as they approached a light and then turned into the drive of an auto repair garage.

Todd stepped out of one of the bays, smiling brightly.

As soon as she came to a stop, he hurried to his side of the car and pulled open the door. Todd leaned right in, hugging Duncan tightly even with the odd angles. “I came to see you after you were hurt, but they wouldn’t let me in. And then I had to go out on tour and to competitions and….”

Duncan returned the embrace, inhaling deeply as Todd’s rich scent, tinged with work and a touch of grease, filled his nose. Heat washed through him, and Duncan’s breath hitched for a second. He almost didn’t know what to make of his reaction. They stayed that way for longer than was necessary before Todd pulled back.

“I know. But you called, and that meant a lot.”

His mom, who had already opened her door and gotten out, came around the car and pulled Duncan’s chair out.

“What’s the deal?” Duncan asked.

“You remember when you and I used to work together on those old cars I brought home in high school? Well, I still work on them, you know that, and I was hoping you’d help me.”

About the Author: Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Amazon Author Page | Barnes and Noble Page | Dreamspinner Press | Facebook | Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey | Goodreads | Twitter @andrewgreybooks | Website

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or
DreamSpinner Press

 

The Old Dispensation by Lavie Tidhar


The Old Dispensation by Lavie Tidhar
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror
Length: Short Story (31 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A space opera adventure set in a universe controlled and run by Jewish religious authorities. An enforcer is sent to a distant planet where he discovers an android who changes his mind about what is right and wrong

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There’s something to be said for a plot twist involving a major character that is only vaguely hinted at. While I did end up figuring out what it was probably going to be ahead of time, this in no way made it less interesting to see if my prediction was going to turn out to be the correct one. The fact that the characters involved in it were so surprised by what happened made me grin. I wish I could say more about this, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers about something that was a highlight of the storyline for me.

I found it confusing to jump back and forth in the timeline of this story so often. As interested as I was in the plot itself, it was hard to keep track of when everything happened due to certain key scenes appearing to being shared much sooner or later than they actually happened. There were several times when I had to stop and reread a previous scene due to all of the trouble I had placing it in the timeline, and I’m still not entirely sure I have all of them sorted out correctly.

The world building was well done. I originally wondered if this was part of a series due to all of the little details the author included about things that had happened in the distant past. When I found out it wasn’t, I was even more impressed by how much work had been put into creating such a detailed world in only a few dozen pages.

I’d recommend The Old Dispensation to anyone who loves dark and futuristic science fiction.

Four Calling Bards by Patricia Kiyono


Four Calling Bards by Patricia Kiyono
Publisher: esKape Press
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short story (77 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Amanda Collins leads a satisfactory but uneventful life as the vicar’s daughter in sleepy Whitecastle. But her sedate days are turned upside down when some of the village’s wealthiest men suddenly show an interest in her. The Lord of the Manor, the village doctor, and the butcher have all made offers, and Amanda doesn’t quite know what to do. Fortunately, her wealthy aunt Grace needs a temporary assistant, and she escapes to Cambridge, where she gets a taste of life outside the village while considering her options.

The most common cause of neuritis or neuralgia are raindogscine.com levitra sale generalized metabolic issues such as those that occur in the kidneys, urinary bladder, urethra, ureters and all organs of the male reproductive system. Age is levitra online order foremost important factor for the condition that men are more into looking at immediate results, with not much hard work sometimes. Adult aspergers is without a doubt a hard issue but with aid and assist from spouse and children users you are able to quickly overcome raindogscine.com buy cheap levitra it. This cialis cost canada can lead to fainting or stroke. Andrew Sommers has been groomed for a career in domestic service. But when he sees people needing help, he can’t pass them by without lending a hand, and this costs him his job at Whitecastle Manor. Thankfully, the Collinses take him in and encourage him to use his knowledge and compassion in a new career. Andrew enjoys working for Vicar Collins. He’s also attracted to the vicar’s daughter but knows he can’t compete with the wealthy men who already have her attention. Instead, he uses his writing ability to create love poems for the Lord of the Manor and passes along notes from the doctor. He longs to tell her of his own feelings, but she couldn’t possibly consider him as a fourth suitor. Or could she?

Amanda Collins is happy with her life as daughter of the widowed vicar of Whitecastle. Our of the blue she finds herself being courted by three men and unknown to her a servant at the manor has fallen in love with her.

The Lord of the Manor shows a liking for Amanda as does the local doctor, but her first proposal comes from the butcher.

Amanda is a complicated person. She feels strongly about the slave trade which continues despite the laws making it illegal. Andrew Summers is a footman in his lordship’s household and finds out a lot about his master’s business affairs. He has also fallen in love with Amanda, but knows his feelings must remain unspoken as he is far beneath her in status.

Amanda meanwhile must decide which – if any – of her three suitors she wishes to get to know better. Will the fourth one make himself known to her, or will she choose without knowing he exists?

This book may be short but it is full of mystery, suspense and surprises. Ms Kiyono threads the hero and heroine through many tense and dangerous scenes and the final pages bring the story to a unexpected but happy ending.

Prophet’s Pass by Chapman Brown


Prophet’s Pass by Chapman Brown
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short story (112 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

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Aiden might be a big-wig journalist, covering the political scene in DC and even getting to speak to the highest people in the country – but he had never forgotten his roots and where he came from. Out one night clubbing with some old friends, Aiden bumps into a seriously interesting man, but circumstances have them parting and Aiden didn’t even know his name. When Aiden travels out to Utah to cover a newly risen politician he is shocked to meet his mystery club man once again.

I found this to be an interesting and quite deeply plotted story. I was particularly pleased that Aiden and Hunter didn’t simply hook up the moment they crossed paths in a New York club and jump right into bed. While their initial meeting was brief, it helped set the scene wonderfully and I honestly feel that having much of the rest of the story – Aiden’s journalism career leading him to cover a rising politician and navigating the completely surreal state of Utah and its resident Mormons – filter down and really get the plot side of the story moving. I’ve been interested in journalism myself for a long time so seeing things through Aiden’s eyes and having the plot add a lot of depth and dimension to the story really helped guarantee my interest. So by the time Aiden and Hunter actually meet up properly and exchange more than a few words I felt the story was ripe for some romance and a lovely relationship.

Some more traditional romance readers mightn’t like that Aiden had a one-night hook up before properly meeting Hunter. Personally I didn’t mind that – it showed that Aiden wasn’t simply on the rebound from his previous break up and also that Aiden was a fairly normal, red-blooded man. I could understand though that a casual, no-strings hook up mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea in a romance story before our two hero’s meet up. Indeed, Aiden and Hunter had chemistry a-plenty, but there were a number of obstacles in their way to the point where their emotional connection was where most of the book’s focus occurred. It wasn’t until the final quarter of the story that they actually became intimate – and so I’m not sure this low level of spice to the story will appeal to readers who like their stories strongly erotic.

Personally, I really enjoyed this story. Plot-heavy and with oodles of characterization and a number of very strong secondary characters who I found were well fleshed out, this was an interesting and vibrant read to my mind. While a little low on the steamy sex, Aiden, Hunter and Hunter’s large family were all multi-dimensional and interesting, with plenty of politics and insights into the Mormon religion. A different and rather fresh story, this was a great read and one I really enjoyed.

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern by David C. Dawson – Guest Blog and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes David C. Dawson who is visiting with us to celebrate today’s release of For the Love of Luke. Check at the bottom of the post for a chance to win a digital copy of the book.

Thank you so much to Long and Short Reviews for letting me stop by!

For the Love of Luke is a story of love and has been a work of love for me. Not just the wonderful heroes Rupert and Luke, but also the British locations they visit in the book.

One of them is a famous pub in London called The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. It’s on the south bank of the River Thames, and is the oldest surviving gay venue in London. It was built by the Victorians, and became popular with gay servicemen on their return from the Second World War.

During the 1980s Freddie Mercury was a regular. His close friend Cleo Rocos describes in her memoir how, in 1988, Mercury disguised Princess Diana as a male model and smuggled her into the Tavern.

These days the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is not only a preserved heritage site, but also a fantastic night out. Two years ago I was privileged to perform on the stage there with The London Gay Men’s Chorus. If you’re in London, take time to go see it!

A handsome naked man. Unconscious, on a bathroom floor.

He’s lost his memory, and someone’s out to kill him.

Who is the mysterious Luke?

British TV anchor and journalist Rupert Pendley-Evans doesn’t do long term relationships.

Nor does he do waifs and strays.

But Luke is different. Luke is a talented American artist with a dark secret in his life.

When Rupert discovers Luke he’s first intrigued, and before he can stop himself, he’s in love.

The aristocratic Rupert is an ambitious TV reporter with a nose for a story and a talent for uncovering the truth.

As he falls deeper in love with Luke, he discovers the reason for Luke’s amnesia.

And the explanation puts them both in mortal danger.

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Enjoy an Excerpt

The leathers Rupert brought for Luke were a snug fit. They clung tight to almost every part of his body. Luke admired himself in the full-length mirror. He turned side on. They felt good. He had to admit it. They looked damn good. Tight, black leather jeans enhanced the bulk of his thighs and the narrowness of his waist. They sagged a bit in the ass, but Rupert explained that was necessary to allow Luke to sit comfortably on the motorbike. Luke turned up the collar of the black leather jacket and closed the zips on both sleeves. Kevlar protective panels in the back, sleeves, and shoulders of the jacket filled out the upper part of his torso, adding bulk to his hours of work in the gym. He crossed to the bed and sat to pull on the reinforced bike boots, fasten their zips and Velcro covers.

Luke smoothed his hands across the surface of the leather stretched tight across his thighs and grinned at a stirring in his groin. The sensation both surprised and pleased him. He stood, and the rigid shape of the boots forced him to lean forward, like a skier about to descend a black run. He attempted to stand straight, the upper part of his body compensating for the enforced bend in his knees. The jeans pulled tight against his crotch, and his cock rose to the stimulation of the leather hugging his body.

“Sexy man.” Rupert’s voice came from the doorway. Luke turned. Rupert wore a one-piece racing suit made of red leather. White leather panels stitched into it enhanced the shape of his torso and legs. He crossed the bedroom to stand behind Luke at the mirror and placed his hands on Luke’s thighs. “I’ve not worn those leathers for a long time.” He studied Luke’s reflection in the mirror with an admiring grin. “They fit you really well. How do they feel?”

Luke took Rupert’s hands in his and pulled them to wrap around his waist. “They’re making me horny,” replied Luke. “I was getting a hard-on just standing here, even before you came in.”

Rupert slipped his hand down and caressed the front of Luke’s leathers. “And now you’re rapidly outgrowing those jeans. By the second, it feels like.”

He placed both hands on Luke’s shoulders and pulled him gently forward. He bent his head and kissed the side of Luke’s neck, slowly and tenderly, his tongue warm and moist against Luke’s skin. “I want you right now, the way you look and feel,” breathed Rupert. “But we’ve got to get moving. It should take us only an hour and a half to get there. Come on.”

About the Author: David C. Dawson writes contemporary thrillers featuring gay heroes in love. His debut novel The Necessary Deaths is published by DSP Publications and was described as “a real page turner”. It won Bronze for Best Mystery & Suspense in the FAPA awards. Rainbow Reviews called it “an exciting read with complex characters”.

The Deadly Lies is the second book in the series and came out last December.

For the Love of Luke is David’s third book. His fourth comes out in 2019.

David lives near Oxford in the UK, with his ageing Triumph motorbike and two cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book at various online venues.

Answer this simple question and you’ll have the chance to win a digital copy of For the Love of Luke! Email your answer with your name to: david@davidcdawson.co.uk. Competition closes on midnight October 16, 2018.
Question: Who did Freddie Mercury smuggle into the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in the 1980s?

Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I’ve Ever Read

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

 

It’s that time again – time for another Top Ten Tuesday!  This week’s theme is Longest Books I’ve Ever Read.  Being a fan of epic fantasy, I figured I’d have plenty to choose from.

1. Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy totaling 2,363 pages.

Book #1 The Dragonbone Chair weighs in at 672 pages, book #2 Stone of Farewell at 608 pages, and the last, To Green Angel Tower with 1083 pages.  The last was so large that, when released in paperback, they had to issue it in two volumes.

2. Jacqueline Carey’s Phedre’s Trilogy totaling 2,395 pages.

3. Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon.  884 pages.  I can only count the first in this series since I haven’t read any of the others.

A Game of Thrones  by George R. R. Martin.  819 pages. I haven’t managed to make it any farther into this series so far, but eventually I will finish it.

4. Tad Williams’ Shadowmarch series totaling 2,890 pages.

Book #1 Shadowmarch has 796 pages, book #2 Shadowplay has 656, book #3 Shadowrise has 672, and book #4 Shadowheart concludes with 766.  Still one of my favorite fantasy series.  Briony was my hero.

5. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown with a respectable 736 pages.  Also, the best of the series, hands down.  DaVinci Code who?
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6. Dreamcatcher by Stephen King.  688 very odd pages in this one.  Love Stephen King but this book was just out there, even for him.

7. Belinda by Anne Rampling.  640 pages.  Almost ashamed to even mention I read this.  Thankfully I read it as a late teen.  Had I read this as an adult I’d have had even more serious issues.

8. Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson, 608 pages.  One of the best Maid Marian-focused novels I’ve ever read.  Worth every single page.

9. Book #1 Kushiel’s Dart with 1,015 pages, book #2 Kushiel’s Chosen with 678 pages, and book #3 Kushiel’s Avatar with 702 pages.

I’m going to wrap this list up with one of the most creative, engaging, and LONG series I’ve ever read.  I still have every hardback copy in my bedroom at home.

10. Tad Williams’ Otherland series.  2,892 pages.

Book #1 City of Golden Shadow with 780 pages, book #2 River of Blue Fire with 675 pages, book #3 Mountain of Black Glass with 749 pages, and book #4 Sea of Silver Light wrapping it all up with 688 pages.  If you like virtual reality-themed novels, this is definitely the series for you.  Let me tell you, reading this in 1996 when it was originally published was wild.  It’s probably pretty tame by today’s standards of technology.

Books and series like the above make me grateful for e-books.  I never delved into Jacqueline Carey’s Imriel’s Trilogy, simply because my hands could not handle another series of books that large.  Maybe I need to look into them now?

What are the largest books you’ve ever read?  I recently picked up Helter Skelter on sale at Amazon, dreading starting that one already!

 

Elmore by Holly Hobbie


Elmore by Holly Hobbie
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Genre: Childrens, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Elmore is a porcupine desperate to make friends. But it is hard to seek closeness with others when you’re covered with spikes that shoot off your back every so often. Elmore suffers rejection and heartbreak, but the goodness of his forest community ultimately shines through as the animals find a way to connect with this prickly bundle of love.

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It was nice to get to know the main character a little bit before the narrator began to describe why he was such a lonely little guy. I knew just enough about Elmore to have sympathy for the long days he spent all by himself. He had so many positive qualities that I hoped would become clear if someone would simply give him a chance. The more I learned about him, the more I hope that he’d figure out a way to make some friends soon.

I loved the fact that Elmore’s quills were treated with so much respect. Yes, he was different from all of the other animals in the forest, but those differences were truly a cause for celebration. His quills were an important part of who he was as a porcupine, and I appreciated how much attention was paid to embracing this uniqueness instead of making him feel embarrassed about it.

The ending was perfect. It echoed all of the lessons of the earlier scenes while still feeling like a fresh take on the subject. One of my favorite parts of it had to do with how the author tied Elmore’s loneliness in with his feelings about having quills when none of the other young animals he wanted to play with had been born with the same feature. There was so much gentleness and acceptance in her descriptions of how he adjusted to the realization that some creatures were afraid of quills.

Elmore was a heartwarming tale that I’d wholeheartedly recommend to readers of all ages.

Sunset in Laguna by Claire Marti


Sunset in Laguna by Claire Marti
Finding Forever in Laguna, Book 3
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (155 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

The other causes may be a viral infection of the nerves in the pelvic region, but there is little evidence of that, at least http://www.learningworksca.org/item-2768 levitra samples so far. Find out how quickly generic overnight viagra they can deliver. If already viagra generic cheap, no other drug with same nature is needed. It is definitely prudent to incorporate a macrobiotic buy cialis http://www.learningworksca.org/broadening-the-benefits-of-dual-enrollment/ diet filled with vegetables, whole grains as well as fruits to aid to recover the lost strength sex drive. Returning to Laguna Beach after four tours in the Middle East, Christian Wolfe leaves the military behind and buys a wine bar, vowing to keep his life simple. He fights to keep his devastating PTSD a secret and refuses to burden anyone else with his baggage. When stunning Kelly Prescott and her red stilettos saunter into town, she drives him past the bonds of his self-control. Successful in her father’s stuffy law firm, Kelly’s too compassionate to survive in the cutthroat world of corporate litigation. Leaving behind both family and courtroom drama, she moves to Laguna to become general counsel for a nonprofit veterans’ organization. She didn’t bargain on a gorgeous modern-day Heathcliff, and in Christian, she sees another kind of challenge—one she can’t resist.

I had a book to read and I’m glad I picked this one.

This was my first Claire Marti novel. I noticed it is book three in the Finding Forever in Laguna series. The fact that I didn’t read the first two always makes me nervous that I’m going to feel like I am missing something but let me reassure you that isn’t the case. I read this book in one sitting and never felt left out, lost or confused. The only feeling I felt was interest in reading the previous books. The fact that I read this in one sitting demonstrates that it was a quick read for me.

The heroine, Kelly, was a beautiful woman all around who I found easy to respect. She was well matched with the hero, Christian. Together they made an adorable couple with a splash of spice. Each had their own internal conflicts to overcome with the support of their friends and eventually each other. Their relationship was two steps forward and three steps back. I could feel the tension and attraction between them and I was more than ready to stop the back stepping and just move forward. Fortunately the writing style was skilled enough to keep my interest in the back stepping parts otherwise I’d have gotten in my car to go to Hobby Lobby.

I have to comment about the plot surrounding Kelly working for her father’s law firm and her reasons for leaving. I knew this was a contemporary romance vs. a suspense romance but that plot thread easily could have been so much more. I was greatly disappointed that nothing evolved from her findings. Christian could have been the perfect hero to come to her rescue. Kelly saved the incriminating evidence for what? I felt like a few chapters were edited out. However, chapter 21 it’s all resolved. I appreciate a book that provides closure and no loose threads but I felt deprived from the thicker plot possibilities.

Overall it was an entertaining read. I love how Kelly and Christian made me laugh a few times. I enjoyed watching them fall in love. Sunset in Laguna was an easy feel good read. I know Christian is going on my book boyfriend list. I’d like to personally thank him for making this read fantastic.

Three Bears by A. Nybo


Three Bears by A. Nybo
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short story (82 pages)
Other: M/M, M/M/M, Ménage, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

At Three Bears surf break, the attraction between a group of friends is anything but “Luke warm….”

Dan goes to stay with his best friend Josh in Margaret River, the surfing capital of Western Australia, to sort out his sexual confusion. But his best friend is the source of that confusion. Having never been attracted to a man other than Josh, Dan fears risking their friendship just to discover men aren’t his thing.
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Within the first few days, Dan meets Luke, a local barista who offers him surf lessons. Dan soon finds himself emotionally coveting not one, but two men. When they go to Three Bears, his hidden desires begin to emerge. As the ambiguity of Dan’s mixed signals clears, it becomes apparent both of his surfing companions want him—badly.

It is only when Luke and Josh hook up that they formulate “Operation Three Bears,” an adventurous plan that might lead to a satisfying outcome for all of them.

Dan and Josh have quite a complicated friendship, with both being interested in the other but Josh thinking Dan was strictly straight. When Dan meets Luke and accepts Luke’s offer to teach him to surf the three men enter an even more complex situation.

I really enjoyed this fun and sexy threesome story. I’m often a bit skeptical of stories set in Australia – it’s often quite difficult to capture our slang and culture without seeming clichéd – but this author did an amazing job in my opinion. I loved how Dan, Josh and Luke were three very distinct and deeply interesting characters, each memorable in their own way and while I wasn’t sure in the beginning the author helped me really believe that they were well suited and a balanced threesome.

While Josh and Luke manage to become intimate first, Dan is very much a side-line part of their growing relationship and Josh and Luke’s eagerness to make their couple a threesome was delightful to read. I loved how neither man carried baggage along with them or had a hang-up about the different dynamic to their brand-new relationship. It left me free as a reader to just sit back and truly enjoy their shenanigans. I also found the sex smoking hot and deliciously graphic.

A fun and interesting short story I loved this quick read and can eagerly recommend it to others.