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Unicorn Favorites: Love's Landscapes Stories : Week Thirteen

The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads hosts a Don't Read in the Closet event each year where they invite members to submit a photo with a story prompt.  Interested authors then volunteer to write the requested stories, which are published for free for everyone to read.  It's a fun/exciting/stressful process, and a great opportunity to read stories from favorite authors.  And chances are, you'll also discover some new authors, who hopefully have a backlist of goodies to check out :)

This year's event was named Love's Landscapes and they started releasing the completed stories on June first. Here at BMBR, we've been following along on comment threads, anticipating the stories from our favorite prompts, and now greedily reading the stories as they become available.

You can read about some of our favorite stories from earlier weeks of the event here.  And some of our favorites from the thirteenth week of the event, August 25-30, are below.

(No stories were posted the twelfth week due to the Anniversary Celebration in the Goodreads group)

Ann: A Heart of Klondike Gold by E. Davies

 Beautifully written tale of two lonely men who meet at the right time and find the treasure they least expected.

The research the author put into the story is obvious and the effort paid off. It read so perfectly for the time period that it kept me right in their moment. The language felt organic for that time with its slight formality and manners (even when insulting someone) making it a pleasure to read every conversation. Every phrase just felt right.

I loved Walt and Edwin together and how they spoke to one another (towards the end) was perfect. It wasn't hearts and flowers, that's not what these guys were about. It was about what they knew, giving the words more value. It was about claiming their treasure and their fortune in each other.

They had "a bond formed of sweat, blood and honesty from start to finish" and it came across very clearly in the story. I'm a total slut junky for a good historical and this one ticked off all my boxes for everything I love about the genre.

Breann:  Of Gods and Monsters: Menoetius by Wulf F Godgluck

Holy alpha male! Sheesh. This dude was full of the crazies.

 Colt is mad at the world and may be one of the grumpiest characters I've come across. Which made him turning into goo at the sight of Beo that much better. I wouldn't say Beo calmed him, though. He just helped Colt focus his crazy somewhere else. Which was on his Babyboy, Beo. Ha! Poor Beo. But he handled Colt perfectly.

 I really wanted to strangle Colt, like, a million and a half times. But his reactions were true to his character, even if they were completely stupid. I liked him and I was rooting for him from the beginning.

 Whew, the language in this book was diiiiiiiirrrty. Damn. There were boy holes and boy pussies everywhere! Very porny. NomNomNom. I liked it, thankyouverymuch.

 I seriously couldn't put it down. It was quite angsty, very sweet and tender at moments and downright filthy most of the time.

 Couldn't. Stop. Reading.

Lori: Overkill by Elizabeth Daniels

I'm not usually a fan of band stories, but I fell in love with these boys. If UST is something you like in a story the this is the one for you. It is so hot at times. SO HOT. It has everything I love in a story, great characters, a good storyline and beautiful writing.

Firstly, I would say that Elizabeth took the prompt and delivered, whilst making the story completely her own. Her characters are wonderful (Chuck, *growls*) and they each shine in their own light.

For the umpteenth time since he met Tate Newman, Declan thought about how screwed he was and how much he was starting not to care.

The two MC's are Declan and Tate, and I can't remember a time when I wanted two people to get together more. From day one the need and want they have for each other is evident. It's just there, bubbling under the surface and boy was this apparent in the writing.

Band stories are so not my thing, I'm not that interested in music and famous/wealthy MC's generally do nothing for me...with this book though I totally made an exception. I initially read this to help a friend with her story - I stayed because I could not walk away from these characters. I think it's because, in this book, passion is evident. The passion of the writer for her characters, the passion of the characters for what they're doing and who they are. The passion of a story that needs to be told.

Declan annoyed me at times - he really did. I mean, talk about bullheaded...yet, I understood him. I could see why he was making the decisions he did. Even when it came to there being a  misunderstanding?miscommunication, a trope I generally DESPISE, I could deal with it. It was there for a reason - the character's reason and not just to get from A-B in the story. ED took another trope I dislike and turned it on it's head.

The UST..yep, I mentioned it before, but I need to mention it again. It was hot. If UST is something you like then you need to read this story...the pay-off is SO worth it.  And guess what, she manages it without on-page sex. You won't be left wanting I promise and this is a skill I admire very, very much!

I don't want to get all spoilery so I'm stopping there...of course I couldn't not mention the beautiful cover, another amazing one from the talented Natasha Snow. The retro record cover vibe is just perfect for this story, and showcases artist and writer working together inordinately well.

Just one last reminder - Chuck is MINE. So hands off!

Chuck swallowed and nodded. “Got it, boss. Only be the bad boy in private.”

*growls* Yes Chuck, that's right!

Sunny: Adam's Flight by Penny Wilder 

Loved it! Ginger dragon shifter...how could I not? :D

Sexy, sweet, and at times, nerve-wracking. Wonderful characters, world building, and plot. The build up was especially well done. I was happy :)

The ending came fast, though, and a felt a little rushed.

Future stories might happen, and if so, I'd love to read them.
 

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