Boy Meets Boy Reviews: 2016-01-03

Fangirl Review: Affiliations, Aliens, and Other Profitable Pursuits (Claimings #3) by Lyn Gala

A desire for status has brought Ondry and Liam to a human world to trade, but dealing with humans has brought up all the old pain in Liam’s heart. Even though Ondry would do anything to protect his beloved palteia, he doesn’t know how to protect Liam from himself. Worse, Ondry isn’t sure how to shield Liam from the shifting politics on the Rownt ship where the Calti Grandmothers are nothing like the ones they left behind on the planet.

With everything in their lives changing, Ondry and Liam have only each other. If Ondry can’t find a way to defend Liam from the ghosts of the past and overcome the impossibly short life span of a human, their small family might be over long before either of them is ready to let go. Ondry has always been a dominant and possessive Rownt, and with Liam in danger, those traits are necessary as he challenges the world to protect his lover.

I feel like LG just performed the ilsil on me. My unicorn bits oozed with delight.

I don't know how she combines making me feel so relaxed and affected simultaneously, but I'll just accept it as the gift it is. You know how you read some series that focus on a couple and as it progresses it gets stale?

Nothing could be further from the truth where Liam and Ondry are concerned. Their story just keeps evolving and drawing me in over and over.

Like jumping head first into a rainbow vortex. Every single time they happen to me all over again.

I spent the entire day with either a smile on my face or fighting off my feels at the simple truths Ondry or the grandmothers uttered. As Liam struggles with his past and second guesses himself I found myself becoming increasingly verklempt over Ondry's desire to fix it because that's what a chilta does for his palteia. As much as Rownt pride themselves on their logic I continue to be filled delighted over Ondry's illogic when it comes to his palteia.

"I will not lose you. The story scrolls say only a palteia can defy the laws of the gods with impunity, for even the gods would hesitate to stand between a palteia and his chosen chilta. They fail to say the same is true of a chilta. I will defy the gods on this matter."

The fact that palteia are cherished by the Rownt and that's on display from even the eldest of the grandmother's only enriched my experience.

I'm hoping Zach's story gets told. *doe eyes*

The world building was just a cherry on top of the best sundae I could ever ask for.

If you've not read this series you're really, truly doing yourself a disservice.

A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: Nuts About You (Nutty Romances, #1) by Kate Lowell

Nathan’s been crushing on one of his regular Bulk Mart customers for a while now. In squirrel form, he sits on Vince’s bird feeders, munching on seeds and enjoying the eye candy. Until the day Vince notices him raiding the feeder…

"So, a shapeshifter, huh?"
Nathan nodded.
"And you're a squirrel?"
Nathan nodded again.
"And you don't feel screwed at all by fate?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, shifters in books and movies are all werewolves and weretigers and stuff like that. It doesn't suck being a weresquirrel?"

Nope, it doesn't suck at all.

Let me tell you, Nathan the weresquirrel is ADORABLE. I am definitely #teamsquirrel #teamNathan after reading Kate Lowell's first story in the Nutty Romances series, "Nuts About You".

Nathan is a sales clerk at the local Bulk Mart. He has a massive crush on one of his customers, Vince. Sweet, chubby Nathan gets flusters when he is around the yummy man so he spies on the object of his eye. It could be considered stalking but who is going to report a squirrel? Nathan watches Vince and munches on nuts and birdseed in Vince's yard until one day fate steps in.

The story is light and funny. The nuts puns weren't stuffed down the throat and it wasn't an excuse to just have oodles of sex. There is a plot underneath the fluffy smiles. There is an erotic moment and we get to learn each man in this short story. I still wanted to know more. I liked the hint of shifter society the author began to introduce.

The story ends with a HFN and kind of earl (81%) but there is an excerpt for the next installment of the series which will continue with the world the author created. Since I know there will be more, I won't harp on wanting more. I hope the questions I have or might have have will be answered with future books.

I liked that Nathan wasn't the run of the mill shifter. And major points for him being "fluffy", we don't normally get chubby shifters. They're usually eight pack abs and chiseled faces with mega long dongs and ten feet tall. It was nice to have normal. Well, for a squirrel shifter who had normal human quirks and insecurities.

Recommended for shifter lovers who want something light and airy with funny (and not overly cheesy)

Oh my Walnuts! Don't forget to check out this book's AMAZING GIVEAWAY today!

For more information on Goodreads or Booklikes!

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Nuts About You (Nutty Romances, #1) by Kate Lowell

Kate Lowell is celebrating the release of her latest short story, 'Nuts About You'. This is book #1 of the Nutty Romances series. The book is being released today and not only is the author sharing an excerpt but she is also hosting a giveaway for an adorable plush toy squirrel, Nutsie! (Details on how to win and Nutsie below).

Book can be read as a standalone

Release Date: January 7, 2016

Nathan’s been crushing on one of his regular Bulk Mart customers for a while now. In his squirrel form, he sits on Vince’s bird feeders, munching on seeds and enjoying the eye candy. Until the day Vince catches him raiding the feeder…

Pages or Words: 11,500 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Paranormal (Shifters: Squirrel), Romance, Urban Fantasy

Excerpt:

The best part was coming next. Nathan took an absentminded bite of the sunflower seed in his paw and hung a little further out from the feeder to get a better view. Because now, the body wash was coming out. Vince’s hand stretched past Nathan’s field of vision, returning with what looked like the Natural Sea Sponge Vince had bought at Bulk Mart a month ago. He flicked open the cap on the almond-scented body wash and spread it on the sponge. Though Nathan couldn’t smell it through the window, he knew that scent. It drove him wild—he stopped to sniff it every time he walked down the aisle, and he even had a bottle on his bedside table. Not to use, just to smell every night as he lay in bed, wishing it was Vince’s hand on him instead of his own.

There it went, the sponge traveling over all the places where Nathan would like to run his tongue. Vince started on his neck, smooth up and down movements covering his skin with a rich lather. The bubbles slid down his body, clinging in a way that made Nathan irrationally jealous of them. The sponge followed the bubbles down, making circles over the sleek chest, then crisscrossing back and forth over the flat stomach and past his bellybutton, with its narrow trail of hair leading down to—OH MY WALNUTS!

Buy the book:

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nutsaboutyou-1955968-145.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019X1MXKQ?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1071207061

Meet the author:

Kate Lowell lives on the east coast of Canada, in an old farm house that has way more personality than it has any right to. During the winter, she spends her time dreading snow, cursing at snow, shoveling snow, and scheming ways to shove it down the kids' necks. During the summer, she prays not to have snow. :)

Kate likes to play in ALL the sandboxes. While her main genres are paranormal and contemporary suspense, she is also interested in science fiction, fantasy and--weirdly--romantic comedy. She's willing to pay large amounts of money to anyone who can come up with plot-bunny repellent, which she will first use on herself, then sell to LA Witt for an exorbitant price to recoup her costs.

You can contact her at katelowellbooks (at) gmail.com . If you think you’d like to try writing gay romance, come visit her critique group (Link can be found at http://katelowell.com). New members are always welcome.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008313548018
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kate_Lowell
Website: http://katelowell.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7132484.Kate_Lowell

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28219642-nuts-about-you
Publisher: Kate Lowell
Cover Artist: Ana J. Phoenix

Tour Dates & Stops:

You could the lucky winner of Nutsie, the Stuffed Red Squirrel by way of the author Kate Lowell! Enter in the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win Nutsie wearing a bandana!!

Rafflecopter Prize: http://www.stuffedsafari.com/Nutsie-the-Stuffed-Red-Squirrel-by-Aurora-p/ar-30531.htm

This dude, wearing a bandana that reads “Oh My Walnuts!”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Give Yourself Away by Barbara Elsborg

One guy intent on caution. One an adrenaline junkie. Love could be one risk too many.

March is determined to lose the numbness that accompanies a history of loss and blame. Desperate to feel something—anything—the adrenaline junkie base jumps off cliffs, soars on hang gliders, and embarks on dangerous sea-borne rescue missions. But any release he feels is fleeting, and when you play Russian roulette with fate, eventually you come crashing down.

No matter how hard Caleb tries to forget his past, a dark shadow is always behind him. When a bizarre turn of events results in him being trapped in a sea cave, Caleb wonders how his mantra—safety at all costs—could have failed him. On the point of drowning, he’s stunned when March surfaces in the cave.

March’s disregard for the rules saves Caleb’s life but gets March into a heap of trouble. Not least of which is the guy shivering in the boat next to him. March tries to ignore Caleb but it’s already too late. Together, they take small, awkward steps toward love. But Caleb’s past is waiting to sink in its claws…and this time, it could drag him to his death.

Warning: This book contains difficult flashbacks of child abduction and sexual violence, but also the incredible perseverance of two men who never give up on love—or each other. Bring your tissues and a heart that believes in the resilience of the human spirit.

HEED THE WARNING!

This book will not be for everyone. Just take a gander at the ratings thus far. To be completely honest, I had my doubts going in, but (a) I really have come to love Elsborg's writing over the last year and (b) the part of perseverance and never giving up on love appealed. I will also say that my job undoubtedly has inured me to childhood sexual abuse, so take this next bit with the proverbial grain of salt-I did not think there were any explicit mentions of the abuse but it is referenced and there is little doubt that it was a heinous and miserable experience. This is the sad reality of the population I work with and the truth is hardly any of them have overcome and/or persevered; they're simply existing. Some better than others. So the prospect of one experiencing abduction, abuse and slavery for an unimaginable period of time and coming out of that to find his destiny and that karma has rewarded him tenfold? I'll take that every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I do lurve me some destiny trope.

It does require a bit of suspension of disbelief and, again, my cup of care is bone dry.

Both these characters are well drawn but I really loved Caleb. I loved that he maintains his zest for life, that he doesn't allow his fears to dictate every aspect of his life, that he still has the ability to trust others. All of it pulled at my heart strings. There's something about resiliency that always draws me in like a moth to a flame and Caleb has it in spades. He's not perfect by any means. He stumbles along the way; he has shitty taste in friends and men until he meets March. Part of me wants to say they are opposites but that's not necessarily so. I think they're more like two halves of a whole. They are stronger together but not codependent. The cherry on top was their relationship development being extra heart warming.

Elsborg gives a decent portrayal of PTSD and a really accurate portrayal of a sociopathic pedophile. Every time I started to think, 'ohhhhh... that's not very accur... Ohhhppp! Will ya look at that. Atta girl!'

The secondary stalker plotline was good but I couldn't reconcile the dismissal of Jaime's initial disclosure with someone who's been subjected to everything Caleb's has. Very incongruous and difficult to swallow.

Pacing was a bit spotty in the last 40ish% and I think that could've been tightened up for continuity's sake.

If you can focus on the perseverance and resiliency over the abduction and abuse portion of the warning you will be rewarded with a richly deserved HEA.

Recommend for hopeful romantics and those who enjoy escapist reads that don't give it up easily.

p.s. Were someone with the initials B.E. to be considering a follow up with Jasim, I would be all over that. Like white on rice. Just thought you should know.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: Twinkle, Twinkle by Josephine Myles

When old schoolmates meet again, sparks fly!

It’s Christmas Eve, and down in Accident and Emergency Dr. Tom Berriman really hasn’t got into the festive spirit. Newly returned to his home town, he’s missing the big city he left behind and can’t get enthusiastic about a holiday he’ll be spending on his own. That is until he catches sight of the attractive electrician fixing the lights—who promptly crashes down out of the ceiling and becomes Tom’s patient. Tom can’t believe his luck…until he realises he knows the man already.

Electrician Vince has changed out of all recognition since they were at school together, where Vince was the butt of all the bullies’ jibes—and worse—while nursing a hopeless crush on Tom.

If the newly-hunky Vince can forgive his former tormentor, and Tom can get over his lingering guilt, maybe their Christmases won’t be quite so lonely after all.

Yep, I'm squeezing in another review of a seasonal story before the 'official' end of Christmas. Even though it was back to work today, I'm reluctant to fully let go of the holidays!

Josephine Myles is an author I know I'm going to enjoy. I have to admit, I love the Britishness of her stories; there is always a sense of home for me when I read them. Twinkle Twinkle is a perfectly enjoyable Christmas story - it's a great one to read when you're on a real Christmas story binge. Short and sweet it has all the elements for a cute seasonal story. You know a bit angsty but a lovely HEA bow tying it all up. First released in 2010, this version has been edited to reflec the Englishness the author originally intended.

There is something about characters getting a second chance. To be able to correct mistakes they made in the past. Especially mistakes made as teenagers or kids - who we are then is not who we are as adults. God imagine that, never learning anything, still having exactly the same opinions as you did one, two, three or more decades ago. That's not to say we all have to be awful teenagers, but it is only natural that our opinions and thoughts have changed since then.

Tom was caught in a situation that he could have reacted differently to, but he was young. He lived and learnt and grew. good for him. I'm glad he re-met Vince and could become the person he was supposed to be. Life has had its ups and downs for Tom, and enjoyment of Christmas is a thing of the past, until he and vince meet again.

An enjoyable Christmas story.

A copy of this book was given on exchange for an honest review.
For more information, see Goodreads.

Review: Finding Aaron (Finding Home #1) by Gigi Kern

At 23, Aaron has aged out of the foster-care system and is now a struggling college student. Between his severe Learning Disabilities, ADHD and past trauma, every day is a struggle.

Three years ago, Aaron's world got a whole lot brighter thanks to his new best friend, Ryan Foster and his family. The Fosters have taken him into the fold. That is, everyone except for Ryan's Uncle TJ.

When Aaron and TJ meet, sparks fly.

TJ, 31, can't stand his nephew's flamboyant, in your face, blue-haired, rainbow loving, best friend. He knows he shouldn't be so judgmental but after spending five years in Iraq and Afghanistan, his patience is buried under a mountain of guilt and loss.

TJ's animosity toward Aaron always stresses Aaron out going home to the Foster's for the holidays but they are the only family he has. He just needs to put up with TJ. He can do that, right?

When something happens that neither one wants to acknowledge, it may just be the catalyst needed for the sparks to explode.

What happens when TJ lets himself see the real Aaron? And, can Aaron let TJ past his defenses, when he's barely holding on.

I have really mixed feelings about Finding Aaron. Everything was a cliche-- from both main characters, to all the drama, and then all topped off with a perfectly perfect family. But, I finished it in one night and found that I couldn't put it down.

Aaron's had it rough. He's been in and out of foster care and suffers from severe learning disabilities and anxiety. Going to college was tough for him, but he ended up meeting Ryan. Things started changing for the better. Ryan took Aaron under his wing when he saw how he was being treated by others. Ryan invited him to his family's home where Aaron was instantly welcomed and loved. He found a family, even if he never really admitted it to himself. During one of those family visits, Aaron met Ryan's uncle, TJ, and was instantly crushing on the guy.

Too bad TJ was a big jerkface the first time he met Aaron. Aaron was flashy and flamboyant and really, just fabulous, but TJ wasn't feeling that look the first time they met. But the more they saw each other, the more he noticed how much he started to like Aaron.

The story was more about Aaron finding a permanent home than his romance with TJ. His anxiety attacks were major and they were frequent. He had Ryan there to help him through them, and then later he had TJ. He was insecure and struggled with accepting that Ryan's family loved him. I loved how they dealt with his reluctance, especially in the end there. Go, Dad! I admit, Aaron liked to throw a good pity party for himself. Granted, he dealt with a lot in his short lifetime, but goodness... it was all a bit dramatic. Still, it was hard not to love the kid.

I didn't quite feel Aaron and TJ's relationship. TJ was super judgmental in the beginning, so it was hard for me to get past that and be okay with them being together. TJ did make up for his initial behavior and treated Aaron like he deserved. The chemistry wasn't quite there, but they were sweet, nonetheless.

Finding Aaron was OTT. Totally. But I did become invested in the characters and look forward to reading the rest of Aaron's story.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads!

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: A Bear Walks Into A Bar by Eden Winters

One of our former AOTM, Eden Winters has stopped by to reveal her new cover for her latest book, A Bear Walks Into A Bar, a sizzling new polyamorous shifter novel. And not only is she revealing the sizzling cover but hosting a giveaway where one lucky winner could possibly win an ebook copy of the book!

Release Date: January 16, 2016

It takes one strong alpha with a tight grip to keep a mountain full of shifters under control. Sawyer Ballantine’s contending with an uppity wolf leader and a herd of shifter elk bound and determined to take over. He might be the lone bear on the mountain, but he’s not going to allow another four shifters to just move in, especially not when they whiff of power. They’ll either be his in all ways, or they’ll be gone.

Dillon, Jerry, Kevin, and Brad have no one but each other since their shifter groups kicked them out. The young bear, wolves, and fox make a merry ménage, pooling their meager shifter skills and serving beer. They’ve stumbled into more than they understand, caught in the dispute between the Urso of Ballantine Mountain and the elk. But winter’s setting in, and they don’t know how to keep Dillon safe for hibernation.

And then a bear walks into their bar.

Pages or Words: 63,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Consensual Non-Monagomy

Excerpt:

“Where exactly are you going? Would you at least tell me that?”

“A town nobody’s heard of about thirty-five miles from home.” If Sawyer needed to hide, he’d find a similar out of the way spot. Too bad this particular spot sat on the border between elk and predator. Just because they lived off vegetation didn’t mean his rivals weren’t a threat—an expert marksman had joined the herd a few years ago. He’d been tough and stringy, but ceased being a problem.

Conversation grew impossible when Sawyer fired up his bike. Mother Moon, but he loved the rumble of the big Harley between his thighs, the wind on his face, tempting his sensitive nose with a million different scents: moss, pines, rabbit, clover, chicken barbequing on a grill at a campsite downhill, all awaiting him once he reached his mountain.

Fluffy clouds overhead cast shadows over the scenery, and the crisp scent of snow drifted over the highest mountaintops. Colorado. No greater place existed on earth.

Occasionally he caught a whiff of human emotions: anger, fear, sorrow, lust. Especially lust.

Damn, he needed to get laid.

Buy the book:

Meet the author:

You will know Eden Winters by her distinctive white plumage and exuberant cry of “Hey, y’all!” in a Southern US drawl so thick it renders even the simplest of words unrecognizable. Watch out, she hugs!

Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.

She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures she has written fourteen m/m romance novels, has won several Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.

When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s a mild-mannered business executive, mother, grandmother, vegetarian, and PFLAG activist.

Her natural habitats are airports, coffee shops, and on the backs of motorcycles.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenWinters
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Eden-Winters-300380906658065/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenWinters1

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3247006.Eden_Winters
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books
Cover Artist: Jacqueline Sweet

Tour Dates & Stops:

Enter in Rafflecopter for an E-copy of ‘A Bear Walks Into A Bar’ by Eden Winters!