Gifted by Sean Michael

March 24, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Gifted by Sean Michael
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Brett Travers is one of the weekend bartenders at the Hammer Club. It’s one of two jobs that he works as he puts himself through College. On a whim, he enters the auction at the Hammer’s annual charity Christmas auction. After all, he’s interested in the lifestyle, even if he has absolutely no experience in it yet.

Tucker Sanders is one of the Hammer Club’s chefs. Working mostly evenings and weekends, he loves feeding people, in fact caring for others is one of the reasons why he’s a Top. He’s never found his very own boy, but the tall, willowy Brett has definitely caught his eye.

When Tucker ducks out of the kitchen on Christmas Auction night and discovers that Brett is the next lot, he can’t help but start the bidding. There’s no way he can compete with most of the club’s members, though, and is soon outbid. Will the magic of Christmas bring these two men together despite that?

Brett is interested in the BDSM lifestyle but hasn’t had any experience with it as yet. He’s been working on the weekends as a bartender at the Hammer club for a while now and – keen to dip a toe into experiencing the lifestyle – he enters himself into the annual Christmas auction to test the waters and see if it’s really for him. Tucker is one of the chef’s at the Hammer club and he’s been interested in Brett, and seeing the willowy young man on the stage he makes a few bids, even knowing his budget won’t stretch as far as most of the other bidders. Can the two men find some Christmas joy together this season?

I found this to be a fun and sensual quick short story. While the setting is definitely Christmas time I was pleased that the story isn’t overwhelmed by this timing, the focus remains solidly on Brett and Tucker and the two men exploring their attraction and beginning a strong foundation for their relationship. I also really enjoyed that while there are quite strong elements of BDSM and the lifestyle in this story again it was very well balanced with the two men also getting to know each other outside the bedroom and showing us other facets of themselves. It helped me as a reader not only connect and become invested in them both, but also showed me how well suited and realistic their relationship as a while was – not just their compatibility in the bedroom.

I feel it’s important to note that Brett is quite new to the lifestyle, so readers wanting some very deep or envelope-pushing BDSM story on the cutting edge might not find this quick read really suits what they’re after. Personally, I enjoyed the slightly lighter hand the author gave here, as well as the happy Christmas feel to the story as a whole. While I enjoyed harder edged BDSM stories it’s so lovely to also balance that with seeing two men dip their toe in and start a new relationship together, exploring their boundaries and learning about each other. In no way did this detract from the BDSM elements and I found this refreshing and really enjoyable to read. I also feel this is a good, quick read that would be suitable to recommend to readers interested in trying something a little more intense in their reading material but not wanting to drop into the deep end with something overwhelming or too far over the edge.

A fun, happy and really enjoyable sizzling read, this was a great short story.

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Alpha And Bear by Julia Talbot

March 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Alpha And Bear by Julia Talbot
Publisher: Turtlehat Creatives
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Wolf shifter PI Mick Hartness is sick to death of being on the bad side of a criminal who wants him and his while team dead. Now, with the help of the cops and the feds, Apex Investigations Inc. is closer than ever to reeling the guy in and getting back to living life without hiding. But that means Mick needs all of his mixed pack on deck and ready to fight, including their youngest member, bear shifter Kit, who Mick has the softest spot for.

Kit is sure his skills can help not only catch their nemesis, but help take some of the stress of running the agency off Mick. Too bad Mick will never see him as anything as a kid who needs to be protected. Which is why Kit decides to strike out on his own and get a job that allows him to do more than take pictures of cheating husbands and keep the motor pool running.

The thought of losing Kit finally makes Mick ready to show Kit how he really feels; that kit his mate. Can he keep Kit with him and also catch a killer who’s becoming more and more dangerous everyday? Or will Mick lose everything he holds dear?

Mick is tired of his family and team being hunted by their nemesis. They’ve had a few close calls in recent months and Mick is determined to remove this threat so their family can finally relax and enjoy life again. Kit is certain his Bear skills can help capture the lunatic determined to destroy them, but his efforts keep being frustrated by their team – Mick in particular – still thinking of him as the slightly lost and very young man he was many years ago when Kit joined in with them. Kit is determined, and so he strikes out on his own, certain he can bring this mess to and end and have Mick finally see him for the strong, capable and fully grown man that he is.

I’ve really enjoyed the three previous stories in this series and while I believe this might be the last one it wraps everything up so beautifully I’d be happy to leave the Apex group here if needed. Equally, I’d be more than happy to read further adventures should they happen to come down the line. I really enjoyed how this book and series was equal parts fun and just a little silly, I found this to be is a great paranormal romance with a cast of vibrant and interesting characters, a good and solid plot and just a dash of fun and silliness. It’s a great, happy read and one I know I’ll enjoy again.

Mick and Kit have been circling each other throughout the series. I was fairly sure they’d end up together and happily though it was worth every moment waiting and reading through this to see the two men get themselves together and organized. Readers looking for a steamy and sexy story should find this really satisfies that aspect to what they’re looking for. In equal parts though there is a strong mystery and I found the plot interesting and not just half baked.

I thought this was a well rounded book with good pacing, great characters and a strong plot. I enjoyed it immensely and will be sad if this is the end of this series, but the four sharp and quick books will make for great re-reading down the track. Highly recommended – both this and the others in the series – and an excellent author I’ll be sure to check out again.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Feet Of Clay by AJ Graham

March 16, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Feet Of Clay by AJ Graham
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance. LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When Galvin Cloud, a shy young journalist, is unexpectedly offered a chance to interview his favorite author, he ought to be delighted. Instead, he’s terrified. Galvin has always idolized Spike Radcliff, but the idea of actually meeting him face-to-face is overwhelming. Furthermore, despite the sensitivity of his prose, Spike has a reputation for being a surly, reclusive misanthrope. Still, Galvin knows he can’t pass up this rare chance.

After the disastrous interview, Spike surprises Galvin by offering him a job as his assistant. As they spend more time together, Galvin discovers that beneath the harsh exterior is a complex, broken man… one with whom he’s quickly falling in love.

Galvin has been a longtime fan of the author Spike Radcliff, so when Galvin is given the journalistic opportunity to interview Spike he knows he should be thrilled – but he is equal parts terrified. While the interview begins in an even more disastrous way than Galvin could have imagined, he is shocked when Spike offers him a job as Spike’s assistant. Can these two men look below the surface and see what’s truly happening between them?

I really enjoyed this lovely story. While Galvin has some serious problems, he’s still standing strong, still doing the best he can and functioning each and every day – despite what it costs him. I really empathized with this strong but fragile character and almost immediately started to hope his long-held dreams of finding someone who was strong enough to hold and love him, to help him feel wanted and safe, would soon come to pass. I feel Galvin’s character was totally relatable and should appeal to a very wide range of readers and I was hooked on him from almost the first page.

Spike’s character initially comes across as a mish-mash of a few different elements, and so I found it really interesting as we, along with Galvin, sorted through all the various layers to try and understand what was really going on with Spike. Much of the story revolves around these two men learning about each other and through their interactions learning stuff about themselves too. While the attraction between them is present from the start, it’s a very slow simmer as both men have some significant wounds and baggage of their own and I felt this slow, cautious approach to a more intimate relationship really suited the characters, where they were, and it made the whole situation healthier and more realistic to my mind. This is the first book in a series (Bound By Words) and I’d be interested to see if these sorts of themes are carried through into the next books later in the series.

Readers who enjoy the sort of hurt/comfort style of stories should find this really clicks for them and I absolutely loved the emotion and rawness to a number of the scenes. There is quite a bit of chemistry and sizzle between Spike and Galvin, but no physical intimacy until towards the end of the story – so readers looking for something heavily erotic (in a physical and not emotional/chemistry sort of style) might not that this fulfils that expectation. But readers who really enjoy a story of two men coming together and helping to heal and uplift each other while finding a deep, emotional connection and building a strong foundation for a wonderful relationship should absolutely enjoy this story as much as I did.

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A Flame Among the Stars by Thea Landen

March 7, 2022 By Leave a Comment


A Flame Among the Stars by Thea Landen
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: LGBTQ, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

The kingdom of Dardrith is under attack from hordes of juvenile dragons. When the king offers marriage to his daughter as a reward to whoever can discover the source of the dragons and prevent future infestations, Meg’s best friend, Ronan, convinces her to help him win the ultimate prize and save their families from a lifetime of poverty. Despite her initial reluctance, they also enlist the aid of Ronan’s sister, the village blacksmith, and a stranger Meg meets in the local marketplace.

The band of aspiring heroes doesn’t travel far before the identity of the stranger is exposed; she is none other than the king’s daughter herself, Princess Celendra. Aside from being the heir to the throne, Celendra is keeping some other secrets. During a battle with a group of dragons, she reveals she has magical powers, the ability to conjure and manipulate elements such as fire and water. Furthermore, she confesses that, like Meg, she would prefer to pursue romantic relationships with other women, which she hasn’t told her father.

As they journey throughout the land, Meg and Celendra embark on a passionate fling, though Meg tries not to form any deep emotional attachment to the princess due to their respective social classes. Following revelations about the dragon attacks and her family history, Celendra must choose between doing what’s expected of her or taking charge of her own destiny. The future of Dardrith is at stake. Can Meg and Celendra find a way to remain together while protecting the people and home they love?

Princesses that don’t want to be married off, dragons that aren’t what they seem, and a bunch of ‘peasants’ who want a bit of excitement in their lives. That’s how I would describe this book in a nutshell.

It is a fast-paced story that concentrates on the main characters, to the detriment of the side ones. They seem to be brilliant, capable additions, and yet we don’t know much about them, even by the end of the story. To be fair though, there isn’t much backstory to the main characters, but at least you scrape the surface with them.

There are also some steamy F/F scenes that are completely fitting for the book.

Our bunch of misfits go on a quest and find out more about themselves along the way. There were parts that just didn’t seem to mesh with other parts, but on the whole, this was a good piece of fantasy that held my attention. If you are looking for fantasy that doesn’t delve too deeply, or last too long, then this is probably right up your street. Recommended by me.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Finding Him by LM Somerton

March 3, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Finding Him by LM Somerton
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Sometimes, using a safe word gets you exactly what you want.

Canadian Zac Denman is young, rich and submissive. He’s also a kidnap risk who’s grown up in the shadow of bodyguards and security precautions. All he wants is to work out what kind of submissive he is in a safe environment and thanks to his very understanding father, he’s getting the chance to do exactly that. The Retreat in England is safe, discreet and willing to provide a selection of Doms for Zac to play with—a great way of discovering what he is, and isn’t, into.

Dale Gastrell is a friend of The Retreat’s owner, a member of The Underground BDSM club and a soldier turned landscape gardener thanks to an inconvenient bullet. Two weeks providing covert protection to a wealthy client who won’t even know he’s there seems like a perfect break from city life.

But life is never simple, and when Dale and Zac are thrown together, Dale has to fight his attraction. Zac is from a whole different world of wealth and privilege. He’s not for the likes of Dale who has to watch as Doms arrive at The Retreat to give Zac a taste of submission.

Sometimes, all you need is the support of your family. This is what Zac realizes when his father organizes a stay at The Retreat, a super-private BDSM club, so he can figure out just what kind of sub he is. Zac has it luckier than some, in that his father loves him and money is not an issue. However, kidnapping is a constant threat so it’s not all good.

When he arrives at The Retreat, there is instant attraction with Dale, the gardener. He is also extra security but Zac doesn’t know that. Constant sparks fly between the two. Will Zac safeword to be with Dale?

This was a lovely book, that also gave an insight to a couple of other relationships too. Dale and Zac are the main focus though, and I found myself looking forward to the scenes that they were both in. I loved the twist at the end with the number of Doms, but I won’t say anymore.

This is a warm and fuzzy book that gave me a hug as I read it. Although I haven’t read any of the others in this series, it did not impact my enjoyment of this book in any way, apart from making me want to read those too! Highly recommended by me.

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Royal Boy by Hannah Morse

March 2, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Royal Boy by Hannah Morse
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Can an English Nobleman and a Texan find enough in common to build a life together?

Duke George Corbyn commands both wealth and power. An attack before he flies to the states leads him to getting an American bodyguard. George is nonplussed. A babysitter is a no, but a Daddy would be a yes, because what nobody knows is that under his posh exterior, he’s a little longing for a Daddy.

When drill sergeant Aaron Anderson needed a job, he was recruited into CARE, Inc.—a security company that gave him a new start as a bodyguard. Assigned to watch over George, Aaron is not only attracted to the man, but also very aware that Georgie needs a firm hand to guide him. And that hand probably needs to be on the brat’s behind.

When the attacker returns, they learn more is at stake than just their hearts.

You know how sometimes you want to absolutely love a book, but then you don’t, and you have no real reason for it? Yep? Well, that was me and this book. The blurb sounded amazing and I couldn’t wait to start.

It starts off with George having paint thrown at him by an unknown assailant, and then returning home to find out his home has been attacked too. Then, he finds out this may be related to threatening letters he’s received. A trip to America cannot be postponed, so George’s team find a bodyguard to protect him whilst over there. And there we meet Aaron.

The parts I did love in this were the scenes between Aaron and George, especially the beginning of their relationship when Aaron clearly recognizes Georgie isn’t getting what he needs and helps him achieve that. Their relationship quickly builds to one of love and trust, with both of them getting what they need from each other. One thing in particular with Aaron’s relationships with others is that he was always cognizant of how he would feel in their position. I adored that!

The bits that didn’t work as well were the bits involving the assailant. It was pretty clear who was behind it, once we were introduced to that character. Not only that, but it felt like a big build-up to something that was over in seconds. One thing I did love about the finale was George’s strength of character and conviction in Aaron.

So, there we go. A book that I thoroughly enjoyed even though it didn’t tick every box. Even so, I would definitely read more from this author and I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Looking forward to more in the CARE Inc. series.

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Wet Dream by Elizabeth Monvey

February 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Wet Dream by Elizabeth Monvey
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Liam Markwood has issues. When his mother dies, he gets news that he has a younger brother, disrupting his carefully controlled life. His distraction needs an outlet, so he decides to meet the sibling he never knew he had.

His brother’s uncle, however, has caught him completely off guard.

Dirk Wintersmith is a leather wearing, bike riding, tattooed bear of a man. The twinkle in his blue eyes beckons Liam. His innuendos promise nights of sensual delight. But Liam has never thought his own sexuality batted for the other team. That realization spins everything he thought about himself into chaos and he’s not sure if he’s ready to step over the crumbling walls.

Liam had no love for either of his parents, both of whom were incredibly toxic and vindictive. When his mother died though she left Liam one final bombshell, the fact he had an unknown brother in Colorado Liam had never heard of. While it takes Liam a while to process this new information, he nevertheless decides to follow up on this new supposed brother – and what he finds in the tiny Colorado town is a whole lot more than he bargained for.

I really enjoyed this quite different style of biker romance. Not a traditional MC story – there isn’t really a club or group of the bikers – this is very much the “sexy biker meets the uptight business man” style of trope and I found myself really enjoying the pace and writing of the story. Dirk and Liam had some good chemistry and sizzle without being too unrealistic. The plot of Avery – Dirk’s nephew and Liam’s potential half brother – also kept the story moving at a good clip and I felt was an excellent contrast to the bubbling romance between Dirk and Liam.

The balance in this book was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s style and found the meshing of Avery, Dirk and Liam getting to know each other, the conflict and uncertainty of their biological relationship as well as each of their own more emotional baggage was a really solid foundation for the story. There was some great and steamy romantic times between Dirk and Liam though I was thoroughly pleased they didn’t fall into insta-lust nor jump directly into bed, that helped the relationship feel more important and realistic to me. I also enjoyed how each of the three men discovered their own rhythm and grew their connections and relationship.

Overall I found this to be an excellent story with a lot going for it. I really enjoyed it and will happily read more by this author.

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In the Midst of Magic by Christian Cura

February 14, 2022 By Leave a Comment


In the Midst of Magic by Christian Cura
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: LGBTQ, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Meet Kara Hartman, a young painter who is hiding her magic from the world. Traumatized by the loss of her brother, she wants nothing more to do with magic. But just as her art career takes off and she has found new love, it becomes apparent that the universe has other plans for Kara. When she discovers that an old foe has broken out of prison, hellbent on destroying her new life, Kara has no choice but to embrace the only power that can stop her.

In the Midst of Magic is a standalone book (as far as I can tell) although it has plenty of potential for further stories set in this world. I actually checked to see if it was part of a series as I felt like I had dropped halfway into a story at the beginning.

Kara was friends with a woman named Charlotte, who was bad news and killed Kara’s brother. Due to this, Kara locks away her magic, only releasing it when she has to stop the ‘flickers’. Charlotte is captured and locked away but escapes, with revenge on her mind.

The world our main characters inhabit is intricate – both in its belief/magic system and also how they live side-by-side with non-magical people. I would have preferred the story if more information was given about the different gods and what they represent.

The pacing was good and the story kept moving along, but it was like two stories rolled into one. Firstly, you have Kara, Selene, Nora, and Charlotte. And secondly, you have Reagan and Thalia. I have no issue with this, but I would have preferred more back story to all of it. I felt like I was only skimming the surface when I wanted more! I was left with unanswered questions.

On the whole, this was an enjoyable F/F action story that is light on the romance and intense on the action/fighting side.

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Resisting the Dream by Ann Marie James

February 2, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Resisting the Dream by Ann Marie James
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Can two overachievers discover how to make love work?

Nikolai is the fun-loving, flamboyant cousin of Sergei Barinov. He doesn’t know a lot about cars but is happy working as the desk person at Everyone’s Mechanic while he completes his doctorate in finance and accounting. While his parents never accepted who he was, he at least had Cousin Sergei’s family to love and support him. Comfortable in his own skin, he dresses according to his mood, which could be a skirt and makeup or sweatpants. He has crushed on Brandon since he met him but has never been able to be around him without doing something embarrassing. He would love a chance to show Brandon that he’s not just style without substance.

Brandon began interning with Sergei’s company in college and has since worked his way up to be his right-hand man. He is very regimented, likes his routines and needs to stay focused to complete his many duties for Sergei. Brandon is also balancing secretly raising his now-fifteen-year-old brother. He has watched from afar as Nikolai went from being a gangly, awkward teenager to a stunning adult. Brandon might wish he could take the time to get to know Nikolai better, but he doesn’t feel he can add one more thing to his already-full plate.

When Sergei tasks the pair to work together to plan an LGBTQ youth center, sparks fly. Will they decide to take a chance—or will outside forces ruin the possibility before they can even get started?

Can love be planned? Will the timing ever be right? Or should it be a case of Carpe Diem?

In the third book of the Everyone’s Mechanic series, Brandon has his life planned out. He’s got three more years to wait before he can date Nikolai, so until then, he will carry on ignoring him as best he can. Not the best plan, by any stretch of the imagination, and Sergei is quick to point out that someone else may just come along and snatch Nik up. Nikolai is going about his life the best way he knows how, keeping parts of it just to himself. I loved hearing about all the things he did that no one else knew about, not just a frivolous bit of fluff after all.

Things move swiftly for these two, and it is in a perfectly natural way. Nothing about their relationship seems forced in any way. Brandon is quick to reassure Nikolai that he adores his quirks and he isn’t going anywhere – that is until stress gets the better of him and he jumps to the wrong conclusion. I really wanted to slap Brandon upside the head at this point, but then Nik too as he avoided Brandon (something I may or may not be guilty of myself!)

This story was a great addition to the series. I haven’t read book two but will be now as I need to see more of ‘big personality with a heart of gold’ Sergei. This is one of those series where you read the stories and end up with a huge smile on your face and a sugar high from all the sweetness. Definitely recommended by me.

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Trenchcoats, Towers, and Trolls: Cyberpunk Fairy Tales by Edited by Rhonda Parrish

January 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Trenchcoats, Towers, and Trolls: Cyberpunk Fairy Tales by Edited by Rhonda Parrish
Publisher: World Weaver Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What do you get when you take the high tech/low life settings of cyberpunk and sprinkle them with the magic and possibilities of fairy tales? Trolls under teleportation bridges, masquerades held in virtual reality, princely avatars, giants and dwarves alongside hackers and androids. From retellings of traditional tales such as Rumpelstiltskin, in which a young woman is tasked with writing code instead of spinning gold, to original tales like the changeling-inspired story of a formless machine intelligence that hijacks human bodies, these cyberpunk fairy tales form a unique collection that is sure to satisfy connoisseurs of both genres.

Original stories from Thomas Badlan, Suzanne Church, Beth Goder, Sarah Van Goethem, Nicola Kapron, V.F. LeSann, Angus McIntyre, Wendy Nikel, Ana Sun, Michael Teasdale, Alena Van Arendonk and Laura VanArendonk Baugh.

Everyone should have a chance to live happily ever after.

In “***********SK.IN,” a young woman named Sam must write an impossible sequence of code for some old computer chips in order to avoid a jail sentence that will lead the authorities to discover a secret she must keep hidden at any cost. She was such an intelligent and resourceful character. As soon as I met her, I earnestly began hoping she’d find a way to slip out of the clutches of those who wished to harm her. This feeling only intensified as she continued to face more obstacles in her path. I couldn’t stop reading until I’d learned her fate!

Nara discovered a tiny seedling in a neighborhood where no plants had grown in a few generations in “Neon Green in D Minor.” I was mesmerized by the dirty place she’d grown up in and how the seedling had managed to sprout when so little sunlight fell on anyone or anything who lived there. The only thing better than that scene was figuring out which fairy tale this was based on. The author’s outdid themselves with their creativity.

Giants were a slowly dying breed in “Firewalls and Firewort,” but Mave wasn’t about to stop searching for a way to save her people. I admired her courage, especially given the cruelty and bigotry that was so often a part of her interactions with humans. Every story in this book was excellent, but this was the one I’d be most excited to revisit in the form of a sequel if the author ever decides to write one. While I was satisfied with how everything ended up, there were so many portions of giant society that could be explored in greater detail in the future.

This is the final instalment of a series of anthologies. It can be read as a standalone work.

Trenchcoats, Towers, and Trolls: Cyberpunk Fairy Tales was utterly perfect.

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