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June 15th, 2012
 Feet of Clay by Amanda Steiger
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 144 pages
Summary: When Galvin Cloud — a shy young magazine writer — 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… and despite the sensitivity of his prose, Spike has a reputation for being a surly, reclusive misanthrope. Galvin knows he can’t pass up this rare chance.
After a disastrous attempt at an 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 he’s quickly falling in love with.
Doug’s Review:
Feet of Clay by Amanda Steiger follows Galvin and Spike as they meet and fall in love. Both men are damaged in their own ways and, unlike most romance stories, this one does not end up all wrapped up in a little bow with promises of happily ever after. Instead, it leaves us knowing they will give it a go, but wondering what will happen in the end.
 Throughout the book, I kept questioning why the title was Feet of Clay. I took a chance an googled the term and here is what I found. It is from Wikipedia and shed light on the story for me. Here’s the link if you are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feet_of_clay
Feet of Clay is a reference to the interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon by the prophet Daniel which is recounted in the Book of Daniel:
Feet of ClayThou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.(Daniel 2:31-33)
…
And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Daniel 2:41-43)
The analogy is now commonly used to refer to a weakness or character flaw, especially in people of high station.
With this in mind, the story definitely makes sense. Both Galvin and Spike have weaknesses, but they try to work past them in order to find happiness in one another.
There were a few elements to this story which prevented me from truly enjoying the plot development. First, the two fell in love way too quickly. Second, both characters were so angsty, I found myself growing slightly annoyed with them. Finally, the ending left me hanging, unsure whether the two would make it in the end. In addition to this, there were many spots where I was told the character’s emotions rather than shown how they feel through description and actions.
All in all, Feet of Clay fell short of my expectations after my first experience with this author in reading her book Dark Geist which was fantastic.
Rated 2.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 2 1/2 Divas, Amanda Steiger, contemporary, Doug, Erotic, Feet of Clay, GLBT, m/m, torquere | No Comments »
June 11th, 2012
 Diversion by Eden Winters
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Genre: GLBT, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, M/M
Length: 274 pages
Summary:
Drug dealers aren’t always on the streets; sometimes they sit in offices and boardrooms, selling merchandise in official-looking bottles instead of little cellophane bags… When given a choice between eight more years in prison or using his “expertise” to assist the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau’s Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, convicted drug trafficker Richmond “Lucky” Lucklighter takes the sentence with the illusion of freedom. Cynical and unwilling to admit he’s begun to care about his job, he counts the days until his debt is paid. His sole obstacle to getting his life back is the rookie he’s assigned to train before he leaves–a rookie who quotes pharmacy texts, hasn’t paid his dues, and has the obnoxious tendency of seeing the good in everyone, including the target of their investigation.
Former Marine Bo Schollenberger dreamed of becoming a pharmacist, but watched the dream turn into a nightmare of PTSD-fueled prescription drug abuse. Battling his demons daily, he wakes up every morning, wondering, “Will this be the day I give in?” To keep his license, he must now put his skills to use for a diversion control task force, deal with a crude partner with too much attitude and no brain-to-mouth filter, and take down a drug lord who reminds him of his favorite cooking show hostess. The bad guys don’t stand a chance–if Lucky and Bo don’t strangle each other first.
Doug’s Review:
Diversion by one of my favorite authors Eden Winters was perfectly in keeping with the tormented protagonists and the villains who you can’t quite hate completely. Written from Lucky Lucklighter’s point of view, we are carried along a journey of a man who had sworn off connecting with others. Saved by Walter, a man who ran diversion task forces to catch corrupt drug companies, Lucky served out the better part of a 10 year sentence working for the good guys after getting caught working for the bad guys. Not wanting to hold onto his past mistakes for one day longer than necessary, Lucky is counting down the days until his time with Walter is over and he can start his life over with a clean slate. All of that changes when he meets Bo, his new partner on Lucky’s last diversion operation.
From the first moment we meet Bo, we know right away there is something powerfully attractive about him that touches Lucky in a way he’d spent the better part of a decade avoiding. To make matters worse, Lucky is plagued with memories and guilt of his previous lover, Victor, the man who introduced Lucky to the the world of drug heists and white collar criminal behavior.
Throughout Diversion, Ms. Winters weaves together a complex web of experiences and emotions which paint a visceral picture of a man who has reached a cross-roads. Through flashback memories of his life with Victor, internal dialogue which paint the inner struggle beautifully, and an undeniable passion and heat with Bo, Lucky is forced to face everything he’s hidden from.
What I loved about Diversion was how both protagonists were somewhat damaged. Lucky was certainly more damaged and plagued by ghosts from his past, but Bo’s past wasn’t as boy-next-door as Lucky had originally thought. But the antagonists were also somehow relatable and had qualities which made them somewhat likable. The ability to draw characters who clearly fit the roles of good guys and bad guys, but to weave in a very real humanity into each one is a brilliant skill Ms. Eden masterfully weaves into each story.
For me, the sign of a successful story is where the main character or characters transform and that is exactly what happened in this story. Lucky changed from a closed off solitary soul to a man who recognized a need to connect with the man who’d snuck past each of his guards with no effort whatsoever.
The heat level of Diversion was a bit tamer than I would have expected based on the electricity between the two characters. Also the shift from Lucky and Bo annoying one another to needing one another happened a bit quickly, almost like I had to do a double take to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
With that said, I found myself reflecting on the importance of family, or what we call family, and how part of the human condition is to connect with others. The emotions were ones anyone can relate to and transcend sexuality, race, or economic status, ethnicity, or any other categorization you can think of. At the center of Diversion is the message that love and home are found in the people who see you for you, warts and all, and love you because of them.
Rated 4.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 4 1/2 Divas, Amber Quill Press, contemporary, Doug, Eden Winters, Erotic, GLBT, m/m | No Comments »
May 25th, 2012
 Savaro’s Honey Buns by Remmy Duchene
Series: Sons of Eros #1
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 174 pages
Summary:
All his life, people have been leaving Savaro Anatolis: his parents left never to be seen again and lovers only want him for his money. The only people he can count on are his father and brothers. When sexy pro-basketball player Jamal Kendricks walks in to Savaro’s restaurant and demands to try his honey buns, Savaro knows he has to keep this sexy morsel at arm’s length or Jamal will break his heart.
Jamal Kendricks wants out of the spotlight for a while–he wants to go somewhere he can at least pretend to be normal and consider what team to sign with next. But he didn’t prepare for Savaro, his two brothers and fighting demons from Savaro’s past. Is love strong enough to save Savaro, or is their relationship doomed from the start?
Doug’s Review:
Savaro’s Honey Buns by Remmy Duchene was a book I really wanted to like. The idea of two men, both with their own issues, coming together and finding happiness in each other was alluring. The blurb made it feel like there would be high amounts of angst and emotionality. While the book did bring together two men who both had a degree of baggage they brought to the table, this book fell short of what I hoped it would be.
What I enjoyed was the idea of two well-established, independent men coming together. The fact they were independently well off removed any of the underlying thoughts about true motivations as the couple’s relationship developed. The opening chapter where we meet Savaro is wonderfully written and we immediately get a sense of his fierce devotion to family.
With that said, there were a number of elements to this story which distracted me from simply enjoying the story itself. The dialogue and description of emotions and feelings provided too much information to the reader, robbing some of the joy of figuring out for ourselves what was going on behind the character’s behaviors. This tendency to tell, instead of show the reader what was going on, stole from the authenticity of the development of each character and their relationship. The feelings of love seemed to materialize without the emotional build-up to make the reader yearn for them to succeed. Also, the issues which each character calls their own “baggage” didn’t ring true since we never truly experience or learn how the experiences have caused the characters to build walls around their hearts.
All in all, Savaro’s Honey Buns was a tale of overcoming personal issues in order to let someone else in, but delivered in a manner which keeps the reader just a bit too far outside the center of the emotions.
Rated 2.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 2 1/2 Divas, contemporary, Doug, Erotic, GLBT, m/m, Remmy Duchene, Savaro's Honey Buns, Silver Publishing | No Comments »
April 2nd, 2012
 Homecoming by Rick R. Reed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 126 pages
Summary:
After losing his partner Toby, Chase faces a long, painful road back to life and love. At first, he doesn’t see how he can go on, but then Chase and Toby’s old friend Mike cajoles him into returning to Chicago for the annual International Mr. Leather Competition. There Chase revisits a world of hot, casual sex that he had forgotten existed, meets a friend who cares more for him than he ever realized, and discovers the possibility that he might yet find his way home.
Doug’s Review:
Homecoming by Rick R. Reed is a story about Chase, a man who is just beginning middle age and loses his partner, Toby, in an instant due to a drunk driver who didn’t see the man crossing the street. In that instant, Chase’s world crumbles and he isn’t sure whether he can put it back together. To make matters worse, all of this happened on the day Chase had planned a surprise birthday party for Toby. Their close friend from Chicago, Mike, had flown to Chase and Toby’s new home in Seattle for the event, and began checking in on Chase in the following weeks. When the annual International Mister Leather conference came to Chicago, Mike invites Chase to visit and Chase reluctantly agrees. What follows for Chase is a walk down memory lane which is at once painful (filled with memories of the places where he and Toby had lived) and happy (reminding him of the man he’d once been).
In true form, Mr. Reed drew me in from the very first pages, portraying a rich and sympathetic character and opening with a event which is shattering to Chase. There’s no way a reader could do anything else but remain glued to the pages wondering how chase is going to cope with his sudden loss and the prospect of a long life ahead without the person he imagined spending it with.
Chase’s journey begins within minutes of landing in Chicago. Through various hook-ups, interactions, and parties, Chase is reminded of the man he’d been and the life he’d once lived, but is also faced with acknowledging he was no longer that man; nor did he want to be that man. His friend, Mike, had remained single and a self-proclaimed “pig” only heightening Chase’s wonderings about what his life would be like had he not met Toby and what his life would be like moving forward without Toby.
As Chase went through the various experiences as part of his visit to Chicago, each scene in and of itself was wonderfully written, but for me, the flow of the story seemed slightly choppy. It felt like I was reading a series of vignettes revealing nuances of Chase’s character and journey. That being said, the emotions and action of each part of the story was beautifully written, some sad, some piping hot, some touching.
Taking us through the natural emotions one experiences when they lose a loved one, Mr. Reed has created an authentic story, one which tugs at the heart chords, but ultimately delivers a powerful message about what it means to live one’s life.
Rated 4.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 4 1/2 Divas, contemporary, Doug, Dreamspinner Press, Erotic, GLBT, m/m, Rick R. Reed | No Comments »
March 31st, 2012
 Guarding Morgan by R.J. Scott
Series: A Sanctuary Story
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Crime (police/detectives/PI), GLBT, M/M
Length: 193 pages
Summary:
Morgan Drake is the only witness to a murder in an alleyway. Nik Valentinov works for Sanctuary, a foundation offering witness protection to anyone whose safety is compromised. Morgan discovers a bodyguard’s arms can offer more than protection.
Morgan Drake witnesses a murder in an alleyway. He is the only person who can give evidence in prosecuting the cop responsible for the crime. When the FBI safe house where he’s being held is compromised, he follows the instructions of the agent in charge and runs.
Nik Valentinov works for Sanctuary, a foundation that offers witness protection when FBI security is questionable.
When Morgan’s handler sends him to Nik for safety, neither Morgan nor Nik could imagine that two weeks alone in a cabin in the woods would have their hearts racing with something much more than merely trying to keep Morgan alive.
Love.
Doug’s Review:
I picked up Guarding Morgan because the cover was hot! Well, that and I’m a sucker for a love story about a tough man of the law showing a softer side. In all seriousness, R.J. Scott is a brilliant author and I knew that the book would be a good read. I wasn’t disappointed.
Morgan was witness to a murder and was placed in witness protection. His safe house was compromised, most likely by an insider who knew where he was. Not knowing who to trust, Morgan followed the only advice he’d been given…go to a pre-determined location and meet the man who would keep him safe. Enter Nik Valentinov.
What follows is a wonderful tale of growth and change. Morgan is an understated person, not having taken life by the balls; living safely. Nik is a private man keeping silly emotions like love and dependence as far away as possible. But something happens between the two and, as the story progresses, we watch Morgan grow more self-assured and we see cracks appear in Nik’s hard shell. Through subtle actions, small observations each character make of the other, both end up changing and growing by the end of the story.
I am a huge fan of character driven plots, loving the angst and torture characters suffer through to find their ultimate happiness. That’s not to say I don’t love a good action-filled story either. What Ms. Scott has achieved is a wonderful blend of both character development and a storyline centering around action.
I would have enjoyed a bit more sex as the heat between the two seemed tame compared to the roiling heat between them. Also, there were parts of the story which moved a bit slowly, but those were quickly washed away by scenes which flew by.
Overall, Guarding Morgan is a great read and one I would recommend.
Rated 4 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 4 Divas, contemporary, Crime Fiction, Doug, Erotic, GLBT, Guarding Morgan, m/m, RJ Scott | No Comments »
March 24th, 2012
 Bullied by Jeff Erno
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 158 pages
Summary:
Every day, all over the country, teenagers struggle with the realities of bullying. Tormented, ridiculed, and beaten—simply for being who they are—these teens face alienation, humiliation, and even the explicit assertion that they have somehow brought this upon themselves, that they should just blend in. Bullied is a series of short stories exploring the world of these teens from several different viewpoints: the victim, the bully, the gay bystander, the straight friend, the concerned parent.
Closeted Bryan wonders why Christian Michaelson doesn’t just try to blend in if he hates being bullied so much. Star athlete David isn’t a homophobe—after all, he’s not afraid of anything. Jonathan, a Christian fundamentalist, must weigh the Bible against peer pressure and what he knows is right when he discovers his childhood friend is gay. Bully victim Chase Devereaux finds an unexpected ally in a brave fellow student. A single mom struggles to accept the reality that her only son is gay. Two tough gay teens are forced to confront their own inner demons when tragedy befalls a classmate they failed to help. And overweight Kirby finds the strength of character to make a friend, which leads to a lifestyle change and a chance at love. Each character grows as an individual as he or she comes to terms with what it means to be a gay teenager in America.
Doug’s Review:
I have known about Jeff Erno for a long time and even met him at GayRomLit in New Orleans, but have never picked up one of his books. I decided it was time to select one of his works and boy am I glad that I did. When I met Jeff, he was sweet and quiet. When I read the intro to this book, which previewed the series of short stories I was about to experience, I prepared myself for an intense ride. To my pleasured surprise, I found that while the topic was indeed intense, the style was fluid and natural. It was as if Mr. Erno had fully immersed himself into the heads of his characters, their lives and experiences truly coloring the pages and my mind.
Bullied is a collection of short stories about teenagers, bullying, and the struggle to find identity and self-love in a world that can be harsh and cruel. Each story is self-contained and portrays teen bullying from a different perspective. In one story, we follow a gay youth. In another, we are inside the heads of parents who lost a child to suicide. In yet another, we are inside the head of a bully. Taken together, the work paints a very real and poignant picture of what it means to deal with the impact bullying has on everyone.
What I found to be particularly wonderful was how seamlessly Mr. Erno got inside his character’s heads and portrayed them as if he were living through them on the pages. The story had a very young adult feel to it, and indeed, while the topic is heavy and serious, the book could easily be classified as young adult. But it was that tone and feel which made this story come alive. For bullying affects us all, but teenagers are the ones who are faced with the burden of dealing with the heart-wrenching pain while inequipped with years of experience and maturity to guide them through the difficult times.
Overall, the message of Bullied is positive and filled with hope. I encourage lovers of reading to pick this book up as not only a series of well-written stories, but also as a masterfully crafted portrait of an endemic issue in today’s society.
Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 5 Divas, Bullied, contemporary, Doug, Dreamspinner Press, Jeff Erno | No Comments »
November 11th, 2011
 Caregiver by Rick R. Reed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, GLBT, M/M
Length: 210 pages
Summary:
It’s 1991, and Dan Calzolaio has just moved to Florida with his lover, Mark, having fled Chicago and Mark’s addictions to begin a new life on the Gulf Coast. Volunteering for the Tampa AIDS Alliance is just one part of that new beginning, and that’s how Dan meets his new buddy, Adam.
Adam Schmidt is not at all what Dan expected. The guy is an original—witty, wry, and sarcastic with a fondness for a smart black dress, Barbra Streisand, and a good mai tai. Adam doesn’t let his imminent death get him down, even through a downward spiral that sees him thrown in jail.
Each step of Adam’s journey teaches Dan new lessons about strength and resilience, but it’s Adam’s lover, Sullivan, to whom Dan feels an almost irresistible pull. Dan knows the attraction isn’t right, even after he dumps his cheating, drug-abusing boyfriend. But then Adam passes away, and it leaves Sullivan and Dan both alone to see if they can turn their love for Adam into something whole and real for each other.
Doug’s Review:
Caregiver by Rick R. Reed is a heartwarming, thought-provoking story about love in a very specific time in the history of the AIDS epidemic. Set in 1991 when AZT was the only drug available and where infection with the virus was still considered a death sentence, the book is set in a time before protease inhibitors and cocktail drug regiments and before Michael Jordan served as the face that showed even famous straight men could contract the disease.
As such, it is, in some ways, a work of historical fiction in that it captures the emotions, fears, and issues of a particular time in place. But the book is so much more than an examination of a disease and the impact that disease has on the lives of others. To simplify the book into a neat package would be a huge disservice to the story, the characters, the author, and the readers. No, Caregiver most definitely is a story about the nature of love and relationships and in that respect, it is timeless.
While the story is told mostly through the point of view of Dan Calzolaio, the action and emotions are enhanced as Mr. Reed provides peeks into the other characters’ minds as well. Each emotion and event is filled with the inner struggles the characters face and which drive the story forward. Having just moved to Tampa, Florida from Chicago, Illinois, Dan and his lover Mark are making a new start of things. Or rather, Dan is helping Mark to escape the life he had ruined for the two of them in Chicago.
In his move to Florida, Dan decided to participate in an AIDS buddy program and meets Adam, a 26 year old dying man. Adam couldn’t have entered Dan’s life at a more pivotal moment and, as Dan’s life unravels, Adam helps him in unexpected ways. From dealing with his wayward lover to coping with each event that transpires over the course of the story, Adam has a profound impact on how Dan makes his choices and ultimately ends up living his life.
While I say this is a love story, and it is a love story, I need to qualify this by saying it is a tale that demonstrates how one must love oneself before they are able to love someone else. As we watch Dan transform through the pages, his emotional growth, his capacity to understand and forgive himself for his own shortcomings is what ultimately opens his heart to true love and happiness. This is what I loved most about Caregiver
In our lives there are many lessons we learn; things we know because we’ve heard them, lived them, watched them played out in maudlin ways on screen and in books. What Mr. Reed has done in Caregiver is nothing short of artistry. He has shown us basic truths about human nature without preaching or telling. I refer to such lessons as:
people can learn lessons in the most unlikely of places and from the most unlikely of people,
love comes when you least expect it,
you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else,
forgiveness can only come through acceptance,
people come into our lives and events happen for a reason, even if the reason is unclear at first.
These are but a few of the basic truths we have been told and taught which are woven seamlessly into the fabric of Mr. Reed’s story.
This is not a tale of heated sexual conquest and fulfillment, although there are sexual and heated moments. This is not a heart-wrenching tear-jerker even though one of the main themes is AIDS in a time when people with the disease were dying from, rather than living with, the virus. Instead, this story, with all of the heavy elements mentioned above, is an uplifting tale of overcoming adversity, seeing the beauty in life, and celebrating how people remain in our lives even after they have physically left us.
So I leave you with this, fellow readers of romance. This is not a story of sex, but a true romance story. It is real, ugly at points, and in the end, uplifting and filled with all of the hope and happiness we all seek in our lives.
Bravo and congratulations to Mr. Reed on his brilliant accomplishment with this wonderful story.
Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 5 Divas, Caregiver, contemporary, Doug, Dreamspinner Press, GLBT, m/m, Rick R. Reed | 1 Comment »
October 31st, 2011
 Giving Up: Truth or Dare Series, Book 3 by Lee Brazil
Publisher: Breathless Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 76 pages
Summary:
Brandon Blake has a problem. His stressful job as CEO of the family production studio combined with the added stress of his self-imposed role of family caretaker has left him with an ulcer. His brothers are leaving home and making families of their own, andBrandon’s interference has caused some serious rifts. The prescription? Therapy. He needs to learn how to give up the need to control everything. The sessions go well enough, even if Brandon can barely tear his eyes away from the curve of his therapist’s legs.
Dr. Arden Gray knows all about control. She’d survived marriage to a dominant, abusive man, and has spent the last twenty years turning her life around. She’s learned to take charge and has made a career of teaching others to do the same. Giving up that control isn’t her forte, but after a few sessions with Brandon Blake, she sees something intriguing hidden inside him. Something that tells her he just might be the man she’s been looking for. If only she can convince him that giving up control to the right woman will solve all his problems.
Doug’s Review:
Giving Up by Lee Brazil is the third book in her Truth of Dare series . Each book follows the love life on one of the four Blake brothers. In books one and two, we watch Misha find love in Donovan and Terri find love in the brothers Dex and Trick. In this book we follow the all-controlling Brandon, who in previous books has been a bit of a domineering personality.
Throughout the story, written in alternating points of view of the two protagonists, we see each main character struggle with control issues but wanting to figure out how to work past the need for control in order to find love. We also learn a great deal about Brandon’s history and what has lead him to become the man he is; and why it is so difficult for him to become the man he wants to be.
With each book I read, I become more engrossed in the series. In this book, I loved how the author tackled the issue of control-freak while making the controller (actually, both protagonists were control freaks) seem humble, even slightly damaged by their need to govern all aspects of their lives. Usually, an overbearing person is not as likable a character, but in this book, you can’t help but appreciate that the trait comes from horrific experiences and have left real scars. It’s almost as if the need to be in control is a protection mechanism against getting hurt as they have in the past.
What caught me off guard, not in a bad, way, just surprising, is that Giving Up was a m/f erotic romance. I tend to stick to the m/m cause, let’s face it ladies and gents, I make no bones (pardon the pun) for my appreciation of hot man-on-man action. Still, I can appreciate and enjoy any good book so long as the characters are real, well-developed, and the story line compelling. Ms. Brazil managed all of these with her book.
The only thing which held me back from giving the book 5 Delightful Divas was because the issues wrapped up a little too quickly and cleanly for my taste. I like the climax to gear up into a frenzy and then leave me breathless once it occurs. In this case, while I loved the ride, parts of it happened a little too easily for me (mostly towards the end).
With that being said, the overall quality of Giving Up and the writing are excellent. This Truth of Dare series is a must-read. Once you get to know the brothers, you’ll fall in love with them. I can’t wait for the fourth, which I am hoping Ms. Brazil will write, sharing Dan’s story and completing the arc. I’ll be holding my breath until I find out how he gets his happily ever after.
Rated 4.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 4 1/2 Divas, breathless press, contemporary, Doug, Erotic, Giving Up, Lee Brazil | No Comments »
October 31st, 2011
 Undercover Assignment by AKM Miles
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic Romance
Length: 316 pages
Summary:
Gom Marsh liked knowing that the work he did as an undercover cop, enrolling into high schools to assist the staff in cases of extreme bullying, made a difference. It was rewarding, but often heartbreaking, work. When a new man, Casey Tanner, comes into his life, his heart is immediately engaged. Is he about to find the happiness he’s always longed for? He’s excited by the possibilities, but Casey doesn’t like to be touched. That could be a problem. These two young men’s lives become as intricately entwined as the cases that Gom finds himself involved in throughout the story.
Doug’s Review:
Undercover Assignment is the first book I’ve read by AKM Miles and I enjoyed the flow of the story as well as the timeliness and importance of the message. In this story, Gom, an undercover police officer who looks young enough to pass as a high school student, is sent on assignments in high schools where bullying is taking place. Gom himself suffered a great deal in his youth and was taken in by two loving foster parents, a gay couple, who demonstrated that family may not be who you are born to, but who loves you and stands by you no matter what.
Throughout the story, Gom is faced with several challenges, some leading to great highs and others forcing him to deal with issues of great sadness. No matter what the issues are, he is constantly surrounded by the stability of his “family” and unconditional love. As he deals with case after case in three different high schools, Gom is forced to reflect on the issues faced by today’s youth. Whether it’s sexual abuse, tormenting to the point where suicide seems the only option, or death threats, Gom must play a role that places him in the middle of the action, putting himself and those he’s trying to help in harm’s way in his quest to out the bullies and bring justice.
While he’s dealing with those issues of great emotional tension, he is also faced with another obstacle, one he’s never faced before, one which could lead to a greater happiness than he’d ever known…love. He finds it in the most unlikely of places, Casey Tanner, a reserved person who admits to having difficulty with words and expressing feelings. As the story unfolds, Gom and Casey grow closer and closer, redefining and heightening what it means to create one’s own family and to find a place where one belongs in the world.
What I enjoyed about this story was the passion behind the emotions revealed. It was clear that the bullying wasn’t limited to GLBT youth, but Ms. Miles did a terrific job of showing how other groups are targeted as well such as people who are overweight, geeks, or weak.
With that being said, I felt that the story bit off more than it should have to cover such an important topic. Over the course of the book, Gom goes to three different high schools bringing three different bullying issues to closure. Each issue is different and compelling, but as each scenario is drawn out, many of the author’s feelings seemed to be stated rather than shown. Through discussions of guidance counselors, Gom, and other adults working the cases, much of the idealism is stated explicitly through dialogue and felt a bit preachy at times.
I also felt that the love interest of Gom and Casey was a bit too convenient. For a guy who claimed to be closed off and who said he had difficulty expressing himself and communicating feelings, Casey seemed to open up rather quickly. I also would’ve liked to have seen more conflict between the two protagonists to heighten the emotional ride of discovering, developing, and ultimately keeping love. Admittedly, the conflict in the story was about bullying and not about the relationship, but it would have been gratifying to see the relationship overcome a few hurdles which truly threatened the happy ending that is expected with romances.
Overall, I found the story to be worthy of reading. The action and plot line were interesting and, aside from the few moments where it felt like the author was stating her beliefs and the ease of the development of Gom and Casey’s relationship, I found the pages flew by as I read, wanting to see how each school bullying situation would resolve.
Rated 3.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in contemporary, Doug, Erotic, GLBT, m/m, MLR Press, Undercover Assignment | No Comments »
October 3rd, 2011
 Son of Death by Nikki McCoy
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Genre: GLBT, M/M/M, Menage a Trois, Erotic, Fantasy Romance, BDSM
Length: 164 pages
Summary:
Book one in the Keepers of the Gods Series
When Seth, a Keeper of the Gods, finds the two men he is destined to live eternity with, he must defy the very Gods themselves to save his mates and preserve the existence of man and love.
Discovering love with the one person who is fated to compliment everything that you are is blessing enough, but what do you do when another knight in shining armor sweeps you off your feet?
Jamie found a second chance at life when Loland rescued him from the ignorance and abuse of those who should have protected him. For years they struggled together to cope with Jamie’s powers of precognition and his ability to absorb energy from living things.
After centuries of waiting for his other half, Seth finally met Loland, a man that embodied all he’d ever dreamt of in a mate. Meeting Loland’s lover, Jamie, and finding that they are both his mates only made the pot sweeter. But while exploring the love they find as mates and the D/s relationships they crave, all three must challenge the will of the Gods and the twisted plans of Jamie’s mysterious family.
Ultimately, Seth knows there is nothing he wouldn’t do to save the lives and love of his mates.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of hot M/M/M menage man-love, BDSM aspects including mild breath play, explicit sex, graphic language, graphic violence and off-screen rape.
Doug’s Review:
Son of Death is the first book I’ve read by Nicci McCoy. The story centers around three men, Jaime, Loland, and Seth. Jaime is a slightly agoraphobic man, rightfully so based on the violence he has suffered in his past. Loland is the steady human who loves him unconditionally. The two share a love that is deep and true, but neither can give the other exactly what they want as both are subs. When Loland meets Seth, a true Dom, and invited Jaime to become a part of a trio with Seth, the story takes off. Add to the ménage and the BDSM lifestyle a dab of fantasy and Ms. McCoy has woven a complex tale of love, growth, and epic battles.
I’ll admit that this story ended on a far stronger note for me than it began. In the first few chapters there was a lot of information and character building that had to take place. We have to learn to love three separate characters in their own right. We had to acclimate to the BDSM lifestyle as portrayed in this story. Finally, we had to immerse ourselves in the world Ms. McCoy created involved supernatural beings called Keepers and the Gods they serve.
Once the story took hold, I couldn’t put it down. The emotions flowed naturally off the page, the author portraying the intricate balance between pain and pleasure. She added to the mix an element I haven’t seen portrayed quite so clearly before…the release that comes from the BDSM lifestyle. Through Jaime’s POV, we learn a great deal about how relinquishing oneself to the power of another can be highly cleansing, so long as that ‘other’ is trustworthy. And Seth is definitely trustworthy.
Just as we become comfortable with the ménage relationship, a new twist is added which fleshes out the paranormal aspect of the story and the plot line skyrockets. Jaime, the product of a Keeper and a God, is feared for the unique mixture of power he possesses. Many Gods fear halflings and want them killed, but Seth, Loland, and an army of their friends refuse to allow this to happen. This final plot development carries us to the climax of the plot and leads us to the glorious ending where our trio find their happy ending.
What I loved even more was how Ms. McCoy gave us a full story, but also paved the way for a new story to be told…one in which their friend, Jace, still needs to be saved. I’m definitely going to have to seek out her next book, Masters of Wrath to see how this story continues.
Rated 4.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 4 1/2 Divas, BDSM, Doug, Erotic, Fantasy, GLBT, m/m, M/M/M, menage, Nikki McCoy, Son of Death, Total E-Bound | No Comments »
August 21st, 2011
 I Call Death Dad by TA Chase
Publisher: Featherweight Press
Genre: Young Adult
Length: 196 pages
Summary:
When Death’s your dad, you never look at life the same way again.
Okay, figuring out you’re gay is hard enough, right? I mean I’ve barely admitted the truth to myself. Forget about telling anyone else about liking guys. I thought it would be the most difficult thing I had to deal with, until my dad showed up to claim me for the summer.
Did I mention I hadn’t seen him for more than twenty minutes each birthday? Seriously, he couldn’t be bothered to visit me any other time, yet now he expects me to welcome him with open arms.
Well, did I mention he’s Death? And his plans for me will change my life.
Doug’s Review:
I don’t spend enough time reading young adult, a genre I truly love. I Call Death Dad is the first I’ve read in quite some time and a first novel by author T. A. Chase. The story opens with a typical teen. One with a few good friends, but otherwise angsty and morose, with a mother who he considers to be a bit overbearing, and possessing a healthy dose of resentment towards his absentee dad. When his sixteenth birthday arrives, his life changes in ways he never suspected.
Unbeknownst to him, his father is Death and, as a son of such a being, he begins to come into his abilities at sixteen. Wisked away to the headquarters where his father works to protect the world against beings Kyle believed only existed in mythology. Add to the mix that he must spend time with his father who has barely been present throughout his life and the fact he is only just coming to terms with his sexuality and we have all the makings for a great roller-coaster ride of self-discovery and emotional turmoil.
Ms. Chase does not disappoint, keeping us firmly within Kyle’s point of view throughout the story. Written in first person narrative, we experience life as Kyle does, each now experience, reality, and emotion visceral and immediate. Being able to successfully write within first person is a skill which I find to be a challenge, but it seems effortless as the story progresses.
There is also a healthy balance of tension to fill out the story’s many elements. The distance and resentment Kyle feels towards his father, his burgeoning excitement as he meets Erik, his sense of confused identity as he learns new truths about his mother and one of his childhood friends. Kyle handles each of these major obstacles in a believable way which added to my enjoyment of the book.
Where the story fell short for me was how nothing was really resolved by the end of the story. There were so many fantastic story lines going and none of them seemed to come to any final conclusion. We still don’t know how Kyle will relate with his father, whether he and Erik will make things work, or how his role in the mythology-turned-real-life will play out. In fact, it seems as if Ms. Chase has set us up for a perfect lead-in to a second installment in a series.
While I look forward to seeing how Kyle’s story continues, I would have felt a bit more satisfied if this story had focused on one major plot line and followed it through to completion. There is plenty of room to continue exploring Kyle’s relationships with his father, Eric, and his unknown path within the new world we see in this book.
Rated 3.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 3 1/2 divas, Doug, Featherweight Press, I Call Death Dad, ta chase, Young Adult | No Comments »
July 21st, 2011
 The Chauffeur by Serena Yates
Series: Workplace Encounters, Book 2
Publisher: Silver publishing
Genre: CONTEMPORARY Romance, M/M, GLBT
Length: 168 pages
Summary  hysically scarred ex-model Kyle Anderson leads two lives: he is a chauffeur by day, and an exotic dancer by night. His performance attracts the attention of Nick Giddings, a factory worker visiting the club to forget his worries.
Kyle was kicked out by his parents when a car accident on his eighteenth birthday left his face scarred. Now he works for his uncle’s limousine rental company, but the pay is too low for him to become financially independent. So, he dons a mask and works as an exotic dancer most evenings.
Nick has been kicked out of school for a prank he didn’t commit, and rejected by his parents. He is too proud to sell his body, so ends up working for a fast food chain until he can secure a job as a forklift driver. Meeting a gorgeous exotic dancer is just the icing on the cake. But when he is laid off, all his dreams come to an abrupt end…
Doug’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Ms. Serena Yates and I’m so glad that I picked this book up. The Chauffeur is the second in the Workplace Encounters Series and is a heartfelt story that follows the development of love between Kyle Anderson and Nick Giddings. Both men are deliciously human, filled with insecurities, dark pasts, and bright futures. Just the kinds of heroes I love to read about. For isn’t the idea of protagonists overcoming dark pasts with hope for a bright future the ultimate in romance.
Aside from the well-crafted characters, the plot line was also gripping, it’s flow kept at a quick pace, but enough care and detail given so as to prevent any gaps in the story line. Truly, this is a story of the organic development of love between two people; people who have had experiences which make them wonder whether love will ever find them.
What I loved most about this story was how all the pieces so naturally flowed together, interwoven perfectly. As each new turn in the story occurred, new questions arose in my mind and, as if Ms. Yates were in my mind, those questions were answered promptly and believably.
Even the slight twist with one character (not one of the heroes) towards the end didn’t throw me. I was actually thrilled at how this character’s behavior, once revealed, added a whole other dimension to the overall experience.
If I had a complaint, it was that I didn’t want the story to end. I want to know how the future pans out for Kyle and Nick. How does their relationship unfold? Where are they 5 years from now? Well done Ms. Yates. I can’t wait until the next installment in the series.
Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 5 Divas, contemporary, Doug, GLBT, m/m, Serena Yates, Silver Publishing, The Chauffeur, Workplace Encounters Series | No Comments »
July 21st, 2011
 The Angel of Berlin by Red Haircrow
Publisher: Smashwords
Genre: Fantasy, GLBT, M/M, Erotic Romance
Length: 19 pages
Summary:
When Robin, a young university student, saves the life of a beautiful youth, he finds he’s made a devoted friend. But without memory and voice, the newly named Angel is a mystery, occasionally exasperating with his child-like qualities yet with touches of darkness that make Robin wonder what kind of being he’s really taken in.
Doug’s Review:
Angel in Berlin by Red Haircrow was a fascinating short story which captured my interest from the start. From the start, we meet Robin and the mysterious youth who Robin names Angel. Angel is unable to speak and his behavior suggests he might be other-worldly. This mystery is never quite ever solved by the end of the story which, in my opinion, adds to the interest of the book.
What I enjoyed about the story is how Mr. Haircrow created a feeling that bordered on realistic and fantasy. I found myself completely wrapped up in Angel, trying to figure out what was going on with him. Was he from another world and didn’t understand the customs and behaviors of our world? Was he from our world but something happened to him? The answer begins to reveal itself as the story progresses, but is never completely revealed.
As with any short story, there were elements that fell short of my expectations when forming an opinion during and after reading. While I understand that a certain level of authenticity must be overlooked in short stories, I still felt Robin fell to hard too fast for a perfect stranger. I also wish there had been some hot, steamy bedroom action, but that never happened on the pages.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, good for the summer.
Rated 3.5 Delightful Divas by Doug!
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Posted in 3 1/2 divas, Doug, Erotic, Fantasy, GLBT, m/m, Red Haircrow, Smashwords, The Angel of Berlin | No Comments »
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