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Review: The Lone Rancher Audiobook by Andrew Grey

He'll do anything to save the ranch, including baring it all.

Aubrey Klein is in real trouble—he needs some fast money to save the family ranch. His solution? A weekend job as a stripper at a club in Dallas. For two shows each Saturday, he is the star as The Lone Rancher.

It leads to at least one unexpected revelation: after a show, Garrett Lamston, an old friend from school, approaches the still-masked Aubrey to see about some extra fun… and Aubrey had no idea Garrett was gay. As the two men dodge their mothers’ attempts to set them up with girls, their friendship deepens, and one thing leads to another.

Aubrey know his life stretching between the ranch and the club is a house of cards. He just hopes he can keep it standing long enough to save the ranch and launch the life—and the love—he really hopes he can have.

Narrator: John Solo
Listening Length: 4 hours and 54 minutes



I know what what I want for my next birthday. A cowboy stripper.

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After his parents’ excessive spending and mismanagement almost drove the family ranch into bankruptcy, Aubrey Klein stepped in to try and get things under control. In order to bring in some extra cash, he began dancing as a masked cowboy at a strip club. At one of his shows, Aubrey spots his childhood friend Garrett Larnston. While Garrett didn’t recognize him, things become complicated when Aubrey and Garrett begin a relationship back in their small hometown. Throw in that the two are still in the closet, and Aubrey soon finds it difficult to juggle everything.

This is my first time listening to an audiobook narrated by Jon Solo. I liked his narration. The characters were differentiated, the pacing was good, and I didn’t have to try too hard to follow along with the story.

There’s a lot going on in this book. We’ve got financial trouble, stripping, a tentative relationship, and an oblivious mother who’s set on getting her gay son hitched. It could have been quite angsty, but ‘The Lone Rancher’ was a fairly low-angst and easy read. The majority of the book is smooth-going, and it’s easy to immerse yourself in this story of two friends becoming more.

I’m a fan of small town romances, and I’m a fan of cowboys. So though the romance wasn’t exceptional, I still enjoyed seeing Aubrey and Garrett grow closer, especially their sweet moments alone in the fields. And while this isn’t a particularly steamy book, the few sex scenes are hot. Though I might be biased, because I find anything with a cowboy hot.

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However, one thing I really didn’t enjoy was the constant guilt that Aubrey had over stripping. When it comes down to it, I didn’t think it was such a big issue. Sure, he should have been forthcoming with Garrett, but the circumstances were understandable. I also didn’t like that Garrett felt betrayed by Aubrey’s dancing, but had no problem watching the strip shows before he knew who the masked cowboy was. It’s too close to the pot calling the kettle black for my liking.

So far I’ve avoided the Dreamspun Desires books. Harlequin hasn’t been my thing for years, and most of the blurbs I’d read so far didn’t really catch my attention. ‘The Lone Rancher’ follows the “harlequin theme” in that it’s an easy read in which all problems conveniently solve themselves. It requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, like Aubrey’s parents complete turnaround regarding his sexuality. But it’s a nice enough read, if not special.

Overall, this book was likeable. I’d say it’s closer to two stars, but I’ll round up for the good audiobook narration.

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And our review for the book here!

Review: Crashing Blue by Della Boynton

Francisco Cabot is an undercover narc for the police. Having lived his entire life on the underbelly of society, he's the perfect man to infiltrate hardcore gangs, gather bulletproof evidence against them, and make certain their bosses spend a lifetime behind bars. He hides a dark secret, though, that causes him to harbor a ravening hunger for revenge that not even his long list of successes can quench. But a man can only live with revenge and the refuse of humanity for so long, before not even his fantasies of innocents and his ideals are enough to light the growing darkness in his soul.

The last man Cabot expects to save him from that darkness is Christopher Caldwell, the son of the biggest drug king in the city and the man Cabot has been sent to destroy. Falling in love with the enemy was never the plan, but when Christopher begs Cabot to leave everything behind to be with him, Cabot finds himself longing to do just that. His life of violence, gangs, and slums can’t be left behind so easily, though; they'll be lucky to make it out alive.


Note: Crashing Blue was previously self-published under the title, Snow. It has been substantially revised and reedited for this release.


From the first sentence until the last, I reveled in the bleak beauty of Crashing Blue depicting undercover cop Cabot's world steeped in crime and motivated by revenge. The plot is a roller coaster ride in which nothing is ever quite as it seems. Cabot leads us through a dark and dangerous underbelly of poverty and crime just as everything begins to change for him.

Cabot sets his sights on breaking apart criminal gangs from the inside and ultimately bringing their leaders to justice. He has long since given up on a real life for himself assuming a new role and persona with each assignment.

Cabot idolizes the innocence and beauty of Snow, a young man he met briefly at a party. Snow is the prized possession of a wealthy drug dealer. Concerned for Snow's safety Cabot sees no option but to jeopardise his latest mission. The change in plan brings Cabot to the attention of Christopher, the wealthy and disenfranchised son of the drug dealer Cabot is targeting.

Snow has always been an unattainable ideal, but perhaps what Christopher offers is within Cabot's grasp. The stakes are high and betrayal is imminent as Cabot attempts to work out where his loyalty actually lies.

Cabot's gut instinct for survival and his swagger makes this story truly engaging. Nothing in Crashing Blue is predictable and I found myself invested in the outcome, if skeptical about how it might end. The protagonists are deftly drawn and full of contradictions.

What I liked a little less was some of the unforgiving descriptions that tipped over the line of pejorative with a flurry of judgment that left me reeling. Occasionally jarred momentarily out of the story, I accepted that the descriptions give authenticity to Cabot's rather jaded perspective. The romance is fairly minimal and descriptions of the of sexual encounters between Cabot and Christopher are candid (which I put down to circumstance and Cabot's lack of experience at sustaining a relationship rather than a lack of passion).

I recognise that this may not be a story to everyone's taste since the theme is fairly stark and occasionally brutal, but it is a gripping tale nonetheless.

Cabot's analysis of power play and his personal musings on the blur between love, loyalty and betrayal is intense and often darkly amusing.

Recommended for those who like their fiction on the gritty side.


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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Fool For Love Anthology by Torquere Press


IndiGo Promotions and Torquere Press presents the Fool For Love Anthology Blitz and Giveaway! Stick around and check out the various stories this anthology has to offer and don't forget to enter the giveaway below!

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Title: Fool for Love
Authors:
Jessica Chase
Keelan Ellis
L.J. Hamlin
Asta Idonea
DC Lowry
Lila Mathews
Cassandra McMurphy
Charles Payseur
DM Roberto
Lynn Townsend
Monica Wang
Edited by B. Luckowski
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris
Release Date: April 20, 2016
Heat Level: 5
Pairings: Male/Male, Female/Female
Length: 59,800
Genre/Tags: Contemporary, BDSM, Fantasy, Paranormal, Humor, Lesbian Romance, M/M Romance

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Synopsis

Not every love story starts out pretty, and Fool for Love has plenty of pranks, blunders, and misunderstandings to prove it. Whether it’s two college students assuming the worst or a visit from “The Trickster” himself, this collection of romantic near-misses and second chances shows that a rough beginning might very well lead to the happiest ending of all.

In Can’t Stand the Heat by Keelan Ellis a not-so-friendly prank on a would-be sous chef’s competition goes too far, and backfires in more ways than one. L.J. Hamlin’s Cherry Bomb introduces us to a world-weary Dom and a young fraternity brother who get off on the wrong foot, but learn that trying something new might be exactly what they need. In Coffee and Chaos by Jessica Chase, an ambitious detective believes that his new partner is a joke, but soon realizes that he may not be quite so perfect himself. In Lynn Townsend’s Had Me at Cheese Fries, an orderly and a nurse discover that, if they can survive April Fool’s Day in the emergency room, they can make it through anything, as long as they do it together. In Kangaroos Next 200km by Asta Idonea, a young man learns that taking a drunken dare in the outback might not have been a very wise thing to do, but being rescued by a sexy, older trucker on a tight schedule could be the best thing that’s ever happened to him. A secret admirer teaches a Valentine’s Day-hating baker that romance isn’t dead in Moonlight Masquerade by D.M. Roberto. In DC Lowry’s Rough Love, two college classmates discover that being perfect for one another may not be enough to keep them together unless they learn how to communicate before things fall apart. Fifteen years is a long time to make up for, but in Lila Mathews’ Rough Waters, two former best friends realize that forgiveness is sometimes the only way to a new beginning. In Tomatoes and Mangoes by Monica Wang, two geeky game-night enthusiasts discover that nothing says “I love you” like a never-ending stream of tricks and teases. An unexpected encounter turns a college student’s ideas about his own sexuality inside out in Cassandra McMurphy’s The Date. Nothing would delight Loki more than humiliating the god of thunder himself in Trickster69 by Charles Payseur—too bad his heart won’t get with the program.

Love is love—no matter if it happens by misdeed or mayhem—and these short stories cover it all. From uncertain flirtations to the most determined pursuits, everyone has the potential to be a Fool for Love in the end.

Excerpt

From Monica Wang’s Tomatoes & Mangoes:

Having completed the uneven trade, Kei acquired Becca’s resources and soundly defeated everyone, especially Becca. Even as she was gloating, Kei stayed fixed to her exact place on the couch. She wondered if Becca noticed at all that their legs were still in contact, however minor. Or, on a negative note, what if Becca just didn’t move away because it might have seemed impolite?

“Good game,” Becca beamed at her. She didn’t seem to mind that Kei lied to her about the wheat, though she wasn’t a competitive player to begin with; for most of the games, only Cory and Kei fought to win.

“Thank you,” Kei said. With the distraction of the game gone, she was almost painfully aware of the gentle warmth emanating from Becca and flowing into her. Although the contact point between their thighs was limited, Kei could feel her body reacting in several other places where tension and heat were building into a wonderful sort of discomfort. She hadn’t felt like this since her early teens. She hadn’t felt like this about anyone ever.

When Cory came over and split them up by walking across the couch in heavy, wobbling steps to grab a game guide from the shelf on the other end, Kei could have beaten him with the hardcover tome. Never mind that he was the one who introduced them in the first place and continued to bring them together week after week.

Since Becca rarely sent her messages, Kei tried not to send her too many, either, not wanting to be a bother. One of her favourite text conversation with Becca was from the night there was a low-magnitude earthquake in their city.

Did you feel the earthquake just now?! Scary!

Nope, Kei wrote back. She had been eyeing the coffee table before her, wondering if she should pull out all the clutter under it so she could Duck and Cover in case of an aftershock. Now she cast earthquake safety aside and tapped out on her phone: Are you okay? Feeling like there’s an earthquake is a symptom of the flu that’s been going around.

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Review: Will & Patrick Meet the Family (Wake Up Married #2) by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

Follow Will & Patrick as they cope with the fallout from their Vegas wedding in this second installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most.

Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels.

Episode 2 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.



Will & Patrick Meet the Family picks up right where the first one left off. Will and Patrick are off to meet Will's family.

Will and Patrick continue to keep up the charade of being happily married in order to appease Will's mafia family. The second installment was just as humorous as the first, with the bonus of a little more of an emotional punch.

Things between Will and Patrick are tense. And not only in a good way (although, there is that, too). Both guys are trying to get through this marriage ordeal with their emotions intact. They have an odd relationship. They both are willing to take care of and defend the other, all while being insulting at the same time. It's weirdly endearing. The way their affections are so obvious but they're both so oblivious.

In my review of the first book, I mentioned how much I loved the character and how much depth they both had. That continues here in the second book and I don't know that I could love them more. As I read more about them the more heartbroken and hopeful I felt. Now that I know more about Will and Patrick, I am on pins and needles waiting for them to open up to each other. I just know it's going to be amazing and I'm going to cry my heart out.

Oh, Will. Why does he put up with so much? Especially Ryan. Someone needs to kick his ass for treating Will the way he does. Will is the sweetest and he's hurting and I hurt for him. I'm hoping Patrick helps him see his own worth and how great he is.

I continue to adore Patrick, even when he's being a jerk. He is very protective of Will in his own rude way. It's like all his emotions are right there at the surface ready to burst out. And I can't wait until they do.

I'm moving right along to book 3. These guys are just too good to put down.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: Ghosts (The Power of Zero #2) by Jackie Keswick

Jack Horwood doesn’t do families. Or Christmas. From the time his mother sold him to her pimp to the moment he walked out on the man he loved, Christmas has always been about change and painful choices. This year seems no different. Helping Daniel and Nico recover from their imprisonment and hunting down those responsible puts Jack in a frame of mind he doesn’t want to inflict on anyone. Least of all Gareth and the tentative relationship they’ve started to rebuild.

But Gareth, for whom Christmas is all about new beginnings, won’t let Jack take the easy way out. He makes him face his ghosts instead. Even when said ghosts invade their bedroom.

When Daniel’s parents are found, Jack is determined to settle the matter without involving Daniel at all. But fate decrees otherwise, and it’s Gareth who helps him finally understand that the strongest bonds are those forged together. Once he gets that, Jack can step up and make a decision designed to lay his ghosts to rest—for good.



Let's face it, anything with a Christmas theme and my interest is already perking up, so when I spotted the blurb for Ghosts and it said 'Jack Horwood doesn’t do families. Or Christmas. From the time his mother sold him to her pimp to the moment he walked out on the man he loved, Christmas has always been about change and painful choices'. I was rubbing my hands together with glee, Christmas and some angst all packaged together, what could be better?

Perhaps I should have paid a little more attention to the fact that Ghosts is the sequel to Job Hunt. With the benefit of hindsight, I think it would be a better experience to read them in sequence (since Ghosts has numerous characters some named in full but actually only mentioned in passing which left me scratching my head from time to time about who they might be).

Reading Ghosts as a standalone probably contributed to the longer than usual time it took for me to warm to the main characters Jack and Gareth and it was if I'm perfectly honest a bit of a slow burn for me. Missing some back story and crucial aspects of their personalities it took a wee while to piece the hints together and begin to feel involved. Ghosts has quite a sedate pace exploring how prickly hacker extraordinaire Jack Horwood makes choices about his future.

Circumstances forced Jack to be entirely self-reliant and put defences in place to prevent others getting too close. He has created his own moral compass and created his own rules without fully understanding some of social expectations. The prospect of a relationship with his former Commanding Officer and current boss Gareth, pushes Jack to begin to break down some of his defences and to open up a little more.

By contrast, Gareth Flynn is extroverted with warm and open approach, he finds that he de-stresses by cooking elaborate meals and takes huge satisfaction feeding those he cares for and Jack in particular. Gareth goes all out to make a feast for Christmas and has an informal and open door approach to Festivities which is somewhat daunting for the more introverted Jack.

Putting love into his culinary creations Gareth tries to make dishes that Jack will savour, and the foodie in me was captivated.

Frankly, I was expecting a story with a dash of season's cheer sprinkled with some angst, and instead I got a mellower, slightly introspective read with a beauty all of its own. The crisp writing style worked well to highlight an intensity of emotion with much being left unsaid, and actions speaking louder than words, as Jack and Gareth set in place the foundations for a future together and consider who else is important in their lives. Gareth helps Jack to finally understand that family can be so much more than the one you are born into.

I recommend that you read The Power of Zero series in order, I will most definitely be reading the rest of the series.

Dreamspinner Press

Goodreads


Review: Sleeping ’til Sunrise (Mangrove Stories #5) Audiobook by Mary Calmes

Everyone in Mangrove, Florida, knows Fire Chief Essien Dodd is a saint. He took care of his ex-wife until she died, is raising his teenage daughter alone, and is the kind of man who pulls kittens from trees. All in all, the man’s a catch. But Roark Hammond has sworn off getting involved with a man who’s been hurt before because he can’t guarantee he won’t hurt his prospective love again. If only he could get Essien out of his mind long enough to focus on anyone, or anything, else.

Strong emotions are in play. Essien is lonely but determined to focus on Ivy; Ivy wants her father to have a new life so much that, to his horror, she’s trying to find him a man; and Roark is so scared of the present and past, he won’t allow himself to commit. To have any chance of sleeping ’til sunrise and greeting each new day together, Essien and Roark will have to rethink how they’re living their lives and focus on what’s most important.

Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Listening Length: 2 hours and 12 minutes



I like to claim that I’m immune to the Calmes crack, but I’m really not.

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Fire Chief Essien Dodd is raising his daughter in the small town of Mangrove. He’s generally well-liked around town, but he can’t seem to settle in any long-term relationship. It probably doesn’t help that most of his attention is focused on the town doctor, who tends to avoid Essien. Rourke Hammond focuses on his work, and tries to ignore his attraction to Essien. He would love to give in to Essien, but doesn’t want to burden him with his medical issues.

The narration was excellent. I’ve listened to audiobooks by Greg Tremblay before, so I knew I’d be in for a treat. Each character’s voice was distinct, and I could clearly imagine the small town of Mangrove and the people who live there. Often when I listen to audiobooks I have to concentrate so that I don’t get distracted, but in this case I was fully immersed in the story.

Essien and Rourke’s romance was exactly the kind of quick and sweet fairytale that I expect and enjoy from Mary Calmes. We’ve got the crush, the pining, and then the quick hop from acquaintances to forever-and-ever. Essien needs someone to end his isolation, and Rourke needs to be taken care of. So they’re a perfect match, of course. It’s classic Calmes.

Plus, there are some very steamy scenes, which is never a bad thing.

Considering that in the past couple of years Mary Calmes hasn’t usually hit the mark for me, I was surprised by how much I liked ‘Sleeping ‘til Sunrise’. The book is much more tightly written than most of Mary’s recent releases, without the odd side-stories that so often distract from the main plot. In any case, I was all on board for the fluff and feels.

I did have a few questions left at the end, and wouldn’t have minded an extra chapter or two, or an epilogue. Even so, the HEA is solid.

Overall, I really liked ‘Sleeping ‘til Sunrise’. The audiobook was great, and the story itself has everything this author is popular for: the fluff, the hot sex, and the I-can’t-live-without-you need that the main characters have for each other. It can be read fine as a stand-alone. Recommended!


Dreamspinner Press
Goodreads
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Review: The Biggest Love Anthology by Various Authors (Edited by R. Jackson)

We have all heard the term Rubenesque as a compliment for plus-sized women. The baroque painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens was fond of painting women of the day that were curvaceous and full-figured. The men in his art were not. What is the comparable term for men? Because not every gay man is obsessed with twinks who list the number of visible rib bones on their Grindr profile. Or men who can remember the number of reps at the gym but not their phone number. Some of us appreciate buying in bulk and that includes looking for love. Or just plain sex. Thank goodness for Bear culture which embraces girth. During Bear Week in Provincetown the stores do not even bother to sell clothes smaller than an XL and a man's virility is often like the potency of moonshine: the more Xs on the jug the better, so XXXL is a chub in high demand.

It has taken too long for an erotica anthology to feature such men. As Girth & Mirth founding father Reed Wilgoren stated, “Just as people are coming out every day—men and women realizing their sexuality—new Bears and new Chubbies and new chasers are also evolving in the world. There have to be people waiting to embrace them and show them the way, much as who helped me to become what I am and who I am today.” It is our hope that readers who felt denied of attention and affection will read these stories and realize that love has no weight limit, no threshold, and neither should self-esteem.

21 stories! 
21 different authors! 
All lovingly reviewed by Fantasy Living with an average of 3.092!


This was an epic anthology!

Epic. 

For those of us who love curvy men, this was nirvana. And now you know my secret. I love excess. Tight muscle bound men are hot to look at, and I’ve side-eyed a few of the muscle-heads who work in my building, but I’ve always dated larger men. Always. Since high school. And people question me, but I say fuck off, because yum, and hot, and beautiful, and this anthology is the proof. So let us move along to the stories, and forget that Fantasy Living’s fantasy lives with excess. Actually don’t forget it. I love big men. Period. And I love these authors for writing stories that celebrate BBM.


Firstly - R. Jackson - as the editor of this anthology, exceptional job. Minimal if any errors, and nothing noticeable. All the writers stories were complete, and made sense from start to finish. It was great not having to worry about grammar from one story to the next. They were all seamless. I didn’t roll my eyes, or highlight words that shouldn’t be there. Perfect. Thank you.

Secondly - great selection of short stories. All were smutty and delicious. Squirming doesn’t do my state justice, while reading some of these stories. Definitely Erotic… some romantic, others just smut, but all unique and satisfying. The authors sure do have some great ideas, some sweet, some devious and twisted, and good communication skills in writing.

Now onto the stories…

Fur Ball by Hank Edwards



This was a really sweet romance, facilitated by a cat named Furball.



Bill spends his days at a crappy, underpaying job, and spends his nights smoking weed, and dreaming about stuff. One night, while he is enjoying his smoke, a cat jumps right onto his lap and starts making itself at home.

After a few nights of the cat visiting, the owner, Don, comes looking for Furball, and the attraction between Bill and Don is immediate.

I really enjoyed the easy dialogue and sexual chemistry between these two. There was nothing rushed about the development of character or plot. It worked really well. The story was believable, and the timeline worked really well. I had a big smile on my face for these two fellas, and wish them a long and happy life.

A Man of Substance by Dale Chase



This is a historical short about stage producer, and actor, William Neville, and the new actor he has his eye on. Only, the new arrival, Patrick Witten seems to be sending mixed messages and besides, as a man of excess, he prefers his men slim and lithe. But there is something about Patrick that William is drawn to, and by golly, he is determined to get this man into bed. Afterall, who wouldn’t want William and his substantial body.
”I begin to plot his undoing because he must, absolutely must be undone. He must be stripped naked and fucked to excess; he must be mounted roughly and possibly whipped. I shall stuff my cock into his mouth and make him suck. I shall spurt gobs of spunk over the whole of him. I shall impose my body on his until he is mine.”
I have to say, I loved William. His arrogance/confidence was a beautiful thing. And his dirty talk, wow. Perfect in titillating the mind. There is something so sexy about a man who is comfortable in his skin, and believes he is beauty to behold. Once the sex happens, it is raw and primal, and the snuggling, adorable. Well written, and fleshed out for a short story, I was impressed and eager to read more from this author.

What the Hell? by Ben Bauchlein



Ben is stuck at a conference and is not having his usual good time. He is restless, but he doesn’t know why. He can easily get laid, but the options don’t appeal, until a confrontation with the tech specialist during a technology glitch right before his speech is due, results in something unexpected.

Short, smutty, and to the point, this story was a little bit dirty, and a lot of fun. Not overly memorable, but great reading at the time. As part of this anthology it worked well, and included masturbation and exhibitionism. Yum.

The Last Gift by Jeff Mann



This story was about an older man, and the reality of being single and aging. One last attempt at a fling for a fifty year old gay man, visiting his lesbian friend in England.

Slightly depressing, because I don’t want to think about being old. Also the reflection of Jamie and Laurel during their visit. About what it was like when they were in their dating prime, and the reality of being older and most people choosing youth over maturity.

Thankfully, this had a great ending, and Jamie did get his fling with a younger man afterall. With an open-ending for readers to decide what happens next, it was great to have some older characters to read about.

Bulk City Gym by Jack Fritscher



This short was ridiculous in its hotness. A guy just out of high school and on his way to college confides in his father that he feels small and wants to bulk up in every way. His father tells him about a program he went to, to bulk up his body and his cock. Of course this conversation could happen… in the twilight zone.

We never get the boy’s name, nor his father. It is told in first person POV, and neither are mentioned. No matter, it is still burn the pages hot. From the almost incest to the monster cock blow-job in the toilet of the aforementioned gym. Pure deliciously filthy smut. It may or may not be wank fodder (who am I kidding, it is total wank fodder). The fact that it is short, leans in its favour. I’m not sure how you can make this a longer story without reducing the effectiveness of it. It is totally ridiculous, and unsustainable as anything than what it is, but it was completely dirty in the best way. I’d like to see what other hot morsels Jack Fritscher has up his sleeve.

Temet Nosce by John Genest



This story starts off with Roy on his way across the country to meet up with a man named Ethan, whom he has been talking to online. Ethan is a big man, and Roy is a self-labeled Daddy. The meeting is their first, and even before Roy touches down at the airport I got the feeling he was regretting his decision to do this.

Once he meets Ethan he is immediately bored. He just wants to get to the sex, and be bossy, and bust his nut. This is where we jump into Ethan’s head, and the title of this story starts to make sense. Because Ethan lives by this proverb, and spent a long time getting to the point where he believes in himself and knows what he wants.

This is a story that works to show the readers that even big men can feel comfortable in their own skin, and know their worth, what they want, and that they don’t have to put up with anyone else’s shit. I really enjoyed the delivery, and the jump from points of view. This is not a romance, but it is a nice story to remind us all that we are worth more than someone else’s perception of us.



Rainy Days by Charles Ov Lyons



Mark and his boyfriend Jamie have broken up. Mark is sad and depressed, reminiscing over the last few moments of their relationship.

This story is a bit melancholy. While still erotic, it’s about sex being used as a band-aid to ignore deeper problems.

Some writing style flaws which may be more of a “it’s me not you”, but otherwise written well and capture both character personalities well. Nothing overly memorable, but certainly a nice addition to this collection.

He’s Five On, He’s Beautiful, And He’s Mine by Jay Neal



A sweet story about co-workers of very disparate sizes getting together after a long shift at Walmart.
A soft-spoken giant, Dwight, and a very short man named Armando find that they fit perfectly together.

This was pretty short, and is more first encounter romance than erotic. The scene is pretty short, and not very memorable. I think if this was longer, it could have been turned into something more.
Unfortunately it didn’t really hit the mark for me. But I wouldn’t discount this author. I liked the concept and with a different plot, I think this would have worked better.


Filled by Tom Farley




This was a wild story. Twisted too. There was lots of food... forced feeding, sex while eating…. using food during sex. It was definitely a fetish story. I was unexpectedly turned on by a fair bit of it. I think it was the darker element of the content that did it for me. There really was something twisted about the main character in this story. And it is pretty apparent as the story progresses what that darker element is.

This is not for the squeamish. I would proceed with caution for those who may be offended by this sort of feeding fetish. For those who enjoy twisted shit, this will certainly entertain you.

Burning on the Edge of the World by Matthew Bright


This story is really sweet. Two men reuniting and re-telling stories from high school. A particular memory of Scott, the bigger man, who was dared to swim naked is re-lived by the main character. The main character (whose pov it is but isn’t named) has had fantasies ever since, which changes Scott’s view of himself once they talk about it as adults.

This story is a bit of a tease. There’s some erotic content but it is more about living a fantasy than hard core fucking. The gentleness to it is almost dream like, and the connection between them is there. It’s left open-ended so it’s either the start of something or closure. Well written, and except for the fact that it is written in first-person and we never get the narrator’s name, it was lovely.

Hustler’s Endgame by Landon Dixon



Tim is a hustler, and has his sights set on Brent for his next game. He lures Brent to hotel room where he proceeds to take charge and give Brent a good time.

The story was hot, with some flaming dirty talk, and Daddy-kink. Well written, and tight plot for a short, I had a great time reading this.

I liked Tim’s personality, even though what he was doing wasn’t really nice. But if everyone wins in the end, it’s worth the hustle.




Golden Walrus by Jerry Rabushka



Hector Leeb is single because he will not settle for anyone who does not accept his Judaism. Barkley Roger is heading up in years and hiding himself away from his old playboy ways, behind a long blond ponytail and a thick bushy mustache. They meet in the gym at the local Y and decide to hook up.

This story kind of goes off on a tangent. Which is cool. I suppose the point is acceptance, and I enjoyed Hector’s ranting about how his faith and homosexuality can co-exist. It gets him what he wants; someone who accepts him for him. And in return, Barkley gets to shed some of his past.

Decent writing, in a fun, casual way. A slightly sardonic “older”style between two almost middle-aged men.

Dionysus Tamed by Jay Starre



Zeus is sick of Dionysus’ wily behaviour and is determined to dole out punishment for some crime or another.. seduction I think, oh who am I kidding, I don’t remember because I was only interested in the giant cocks and dripping...everything. This is another fabulous addition to my wank fodder. I didn’t even care about the plot because it was meaningless, and only Zeus pounding Dionysus’ arse truly mattered. Greek Gods have always been a hook for me, and I win. every. time! Thank you Jay Starre…. truly, thank you.

Coming In The Night by Skye Eagleday




Chad finds himself staring at a summoning book that is part of a collection he is curating. He takes it home and decides to try it out. He summons Luka, a shape-shifting Incubus who decides to appear as a heavy and hairy man this time around, because that's what Chad likes.

This was a fun piece of supernatural erotica. The food was almost as erotic as the sex. And it was just pizza. None-the-less, I’d have liked it to be a little longer. The premise was great, and there was a lot to play around with.


Heavy Set by Shane Allison




A guy and his co-worker get together at the end of their shift. Sexy stuff happens.

This is another story where the narration is in first person so the reader doesn’t get the narrator's first name. This seems to be a theme. But I prefer to have a first name, even if it is only mentioned once by the secondary character.

Otherwise, this was hot. A friends-to-lovers story where we are treated to the slow progression of the “straight” secondary character, Kenny, doing not so straight things with the main-character.

Tag Team by Larry Faulkner



I think I have a thing for wrestlers… Especially oily wrestling, naked wrestling, where dicks “accidentally” slip inside holes….

This, unfortunately, isn’t one of those stories, but it is a sweet story between a very insecure amateur wrestling student, and a co-student, who meet at a training camp, both hoping to make it into the big leagues.

There is a very sexy blow-job scene in this story. And the way Shawn worships Hugo, delicious.
I liked the way Shawn boosted Hugo’s confidence, and made him see that being chunky is hot. Well rounded development, and satisfying ending, this story was one of my favourites.

The Nip Man by Daniel M. Jaffe



Ever wonder what it feels like to be obsessed with men’s nipples and live in a small town where you don’t really know anyone?

Nipple-kink isn’t something I’ve ever considered before, but I am really glad I had this experience, in the safety of my own home, instead of at a small-town porn theatre.

If you’re curious about what this is all about, definitely read this story. I have no regrets…



The Story Next Door by Karl Taggart



Perry is a writer, who has lost his lover, Frank, and is quietly celebrating his writers Award on the deck of his home, when he spies his new neighbours having a tryst in their pool.

He decides to write a story about them, while enjoying some voyeurism, until they invite him down to mingle, and meet their friend.

Just hot. Well written, great history, and character balance. I enjoyed Perry’s dialogue to himself/his dead lover, and the exciting things he sees while on his deck.

This was one of my favourite in this anthology. A second chance at love for Perry.

Moby Dick by William Holden



As the story suggests, this is an adaptation of Moby Dick, but instead of an obsession with a real whale, it is a beautifully big man that is the object of Abram’s obsession. Abram spies this busty man skinny dipping in the ocean on his way out of port. He just cannot get the beautiful sight out of his mind and he is determined to catch the elusive man.

After six weeks at sea, completely engrossed in his obsessive thoughts, Abram finally decides enough is enough and leaves his ship to seek out his beautiful prize.

The story started of okay, but wasn’t detailed enough to really impress me. I seriously thought that Abram was going to do something different than he did, based on his psychotic behaviour. The object of his obsession was not a complete character, and even though I got a glimpse of who this man was, it wasn’t enough to convince me of anything. This would have been better if it was a little longer. That aside, the writer was very good, and the idea was fun. I wouldn’t discount this author in future work, based on this glimpse.

Indivisible by Dylan Thomas Good



Prince Al-Damynd is awaiting his father’s death and is being fitted for a new kingly outfit for when the time comes that he ascends. The tailor, an older gentleman arrives, and there is an instant connection.

This was quite naughty. Feeling up a barely-legal prince is naughty. Historical erotica in fine form, the old man and the prince was a pretty sexy concept.

The writing was well done. Lots of showing text. Although for a short story, there was an element of instalove, it still flowed well, and turned this into a thing. A very sexy thing.

A Slice of Pi by Nathan Burgoine



Mathematical genius, Warren, meets lumbersexual Café worker, Bill, while studying for his thesis, and instantly falls in lust.

These two hit it off, and complement each other well. Highly strung Warren needs down to earth Bill to keep him fed, and grounded in the real world, instead of living in his head.

This was really sweet, and a great ending to the anthology. Although it is still a short story, the time span of the story ensured that the characters got to know each other before they got together physically.

I like the writing style and the flow. I enjoyed both characters, and wish them a long and happy life together.





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