Tag Team Review: His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1) by Lilah Pace

The first in an enchanting new male/male romantic duology from Lilah Pace, author of Asking for More and Begging for It ....

James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...


Sheziss - 2.5 Hearts

The ending saved the book for me.

Strange thing to say, because it ends in a cliffhanger. But a merciful one, if that sort ever exists.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is the length. The book information says it’s less than 200 pages but it feels like more than 400. And I noticed because the style didn’t exactly drag me in. It was pleasant enough, but it’s a long way from saying it was captivating or that I couldn’t put it down. Because I was distracted too easily.

The strong asset of this book is the blurb, even if it’s a way too familiar story. At least for me. Yes, the journalist falling in love with the Prince and heir of the Crown has already happened in real life. In Spain, that is. Still, it’s something that seriously draws your attention and your curiousity arises in order to see how this is going to go.

However, the world is different. It's like a nowadays story but in a parallel dimension. There is Internet, and smartphones, and forums. They mention the Commonwealth but not the EU, the homosexual marriage doesn't exist yet, and the kings’ and queens’ names don’t coincide. Needless to say, the gay issue is another little detail that gives drama to the story.

The forbidden love story. For so many reasons.

There is an obvious sexual tension and that’s what makes it interesting. There is chemistry between the characters, and the sex pays it off. They can get creative and imaginative in the middle of all the restrictions they find in order to have a normal relationship. They have to “date” each other in secret, and the less people know about it, the better. That doesn’t mean they don’t make up for it with everything in their record. And the author makes you want to glimpse more of them together.

But beyond that, the story is pretty average. It pains me to say so, because I really enjoyed the story, but in fact, it’s quite forgettable after a while. Meh, almost.

Close to the end, I feared there would be a Big Denial of their feelings/relationship and that the characters would turn Too Stupid To Live, but in fact, the author managed a turn of events that surprised me and awoke me from the numbness of the story. Yes, it’s the ending what convinced me the book was a good one.

SheReadsALot - 3.5 Hearts

An alternate universe where the Prince of Wales to the British Throne is secretly gay...

No, we're not talking about Wills, baby.

"Your Royal Highness. Or is it Your Majesty now that you've become Prince Regent?"
"I don't think you've came all this way to discuss royal protocol."
"No."

His Royal Secret is the first half of two part series from author Lilah Pace. His Royal Secret is Pace's first foray into MM. This alternate universe is the same as present day just with an alternate British royal lineage.

HRH James is young, orphaned, high educated and directly in the public eye due to being the future king of Britain. He's been raised in the spotlight and sadly can't be free with his sexuality. With a best friend as his public beard, a younger sister with untreated mental health issues and a sad sexual history, due to isolation and fear, James is firmly inside his closet with all the stressors in his private life. Enter Ben Dahan, hot Israeli openly gay, anti-commitment, international journalist who has a chance meeting with James in Kenya. A game of chess and rainy season turns an opportune moment into a steamy little tryst.

Did it make an impression? Not really. It was a nice little interlude. Cut to months down the road and a move to London on Dahan's part, the men figure they're at perfect points in their life to start a strictly sexual relationship. The sex got better as the story progressed though for the first third it was borderline repetitive with the same stroke-finger-lube-penetrate. Thankfully, it broke out the mold.

The story on a whole has good parts. It was better than good when reflecting on the entire thing. A decent set up, two men who shouldn't be together on paper but somehow are-- due to availability and a sexual chemistry. I don't mind closeted reads, but the anti-commitment MC's are my juice. I love them. Especially reading them turn into a pro-commitment fan. We don't get much reflection on the change from either men, especially from the stubborn one. I think the story could have gone deeper with both men, more so with Ben. I'm hoping it's because this is a duology and the second half is going to be bombastic. Or I'll just come back and rate this lower, once I read the second half.

I don't think this story hit it's full potential. There were awkward breaks, weird transitions into chapters or to different characters. And what I think my biggest gripe is if this story was supposed to be Erotica or Romance? I don't mind the two mixed, or separate. The erotica was spicy vanilla at best with role playing being the hardest kink (lol) James seemed naive for that. Maybe if he didn't have his background, I'd have had an easier time buying it. The guys start off slow, kind of lukewarm/medium heat. Then presto!

We're getting sentences like this:

"Hand jobs are well and good, but this time I'm not leaving without getting fucked."

Or even better:

"I thought you'd get back around now."
"Only just. Is anything wrong?"
 "Yeah. Your mouth's not around my cock."

That's a drawers dropper sentence. Mmmhmm I'm all for it!

Sometimes the erotic actions, words and role play kink, seemed at odds with the characters introduced. Erotically, the story works. Romantically...ehhhh...I guess?

I like Ben.

I like James.

Do I like Ben and James together? It's a hesitant yes. But a yes, nonetheless.

I wasn't invested until 75% into the story. Or really cared about the romance until 97%...

There were bursts of magic within.

"Nobody else ever got to me like this. Nobody ever. And nobody's going to get to me like this again. You got through my defense when on one else could, or can, or will. You're the only one I could ever have loved, the only man on this earth. I can't change it now. It's done. All I know is that if I walk away from you tonight, I'll spend the rest of my life...broken in two. Needing you. So I won't walk away."

I wish we got to know more of the person as the reader was inside their head when they made they decisions, to get a sense of their feelings.

 A plus on this novel's side? It didn't read like stereotypes or thinly veiled MF in a MM coating.


I'm pretty good at sniffing those out. And I'm happy to report that is not the case in His Royal Secret. #yay

Just dudes who placed strict boundaries on being fuck buddies and somehow broke their own rules because feelings became involved. [Just wish there was more attention paid on that detail of feelings, sharing more inside the character's head when it was their turn]

The story ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. But it's a soft cliffhanger, meaning it's a HFN with a promise of a HEA. But the stakes are too high not to read what the outcome is in the second book of this duology.

I'd read from this author again, to see how this all wraps up. I'm curious how it plays out for the royal and his lover.


Find on Goodreads or Booklikes!

Review: Foxes by Suki Fleet

When Dashiel’s body is found dumped on an East London wasteland, his best friend Danny sets out to find the killer. But Danny finds interaction difficult and must keep his world small in order to survive. By day he lives in an abandoned swimming pool and fixes electrical devices to trade for supplies, but by night, alone, he hunts sharks—a reckless search for dangerous men who prey on the vulnerable.

A chance meeting with an American boy selling himself on the streets throws this lonely existence into disarray. Micky is troubled, fragile, and Danny feels a desperate need to protect him—from what, he doesn't know. As Danny discovers more about Micky, he realizes that what Micky needs saving from is the one thing Danny can't help him fight against.

To save Micky, Danny must risk expanding his world and face something that scares him more than any shark ever could: trusting he will be accepted for who he is. If a freezing winter on the streets, a sadistic doctor, and three thousand miles don’t tear them apart first, that is.

My first published Suki Fleet. I've been Fleeted.

I needed time to recover...regroup...gather the thoughts swirling inside because there are plenty. I'll probably gush out my feels because I have been torn asunder, then dragged through glass, left bleeding, cringing with each breath by words. Words that were pieced together by a wordsmith, a craftsman. Knew this from the first chapter, from the first few paragraphs.

This book is art.

You see that rating? Suki Fleet earned every heart. (Even if mine ended up bruised in the long run)

If this review does nothing else, just know:

1. Suki Fleet is super talented. (I mean she caught my eye with a flash fic and left me hooked.) I knew that if I got my hands on a novel, I was going to be proved right. And I was. Run to her books. This is quality. Remember her name.
2. This is one of the best stories of 2016 (Yes, already.) I have a third of this book highlighted.

 
Sometimes you read a book and you know it's good for entertainment purposes, but it's not going to leave an impression.

This book...did.

I'm still thinking about Danny. I know a Danny, actually more than one. Maybe you do too. It was good to see that this author gave a character with a disability the dignity they deserve. The same can be said for Micky. Two damaged souls with baggage some backs can't carry yet they keep going, they continue living. It's a struggle and the reader gets to experience that struggle rather eloquently in Foxes.

I think some readers might not like some of the outcomes. (Yes, there is a HEA) I think Danny might test some of the boundaries for a few readers as a consenting main character while having mental health disorders. (He is well aware at all times)

The angst is thick. I heard the author's writing style about prior to going in, but I didn't know how deep Suki Fleet can cut.

Look at Fleet consume me with her angst for days. And she'll keep going too. *gulps*

If I had to summarize Foxes's plot: think beauty and the beast (sort of) in modern day destitute side of London. Impoverished teens are selling themselves for survive, while a killer is on the loose and a scarred homeless teen with a number of disorders tries to saves lives including the most beautiful American rent boy he has ever clapped his eyes on. All while he battles his inner demons.

Danny would be a psychologist's dream (or nightmare). But he is one of the best frigging characters I've read in a while. Told entirely in his 1st POV, we see the world through his eyes. How people treat him due to his disability, his face. We learn through bits and pieces how Danny came to be. The author gives it out slowly, love that. He's so mysterious, our champion. He keeps his world small and at the moment, it is filled with finding his best friend Dashiel's murderer. He can't keep the words inside, his head gets too full. So he writes them down. People mistake his silence for stupidity but he's so far from it. Danny also knows how to fix things, especially mechanical things. Through this skill, he meets Micky, the skinny cross dressing blonde prostitute American who makes his heart beat really fast.

How am I supposed to relax? It's an impossible situation. If this is falling in love, it's impossibly beautiful, and when that person is so sweet and kind it hurts in the best way, but because you know they can never return those feelings you have to try and hide the intensity of it. And this is intense.

Micky doesn't make fun of Danny like some of the other street kids do. He takes time to learn his quirks and habits. Danny goes hunting for bad guys aka "sharks" at night, trying to protecting a world everyone seemed to turn their back on and ignore. And with his anxieties and hardships, pain and grief...he ignores the love, the hope that springs from his friendship with Micky.

"--having smooth, unscarred skin does not make you beautiful. Shining the brightest light in the dark does, though."

Reading their friendship blossom was beautiful. It was tentative in the beginning because Danny doesn't get a lot of people who seem him for who he is. Who better to understand a damaged man other than a fellow damaged man? Micky's was the Louisville slugger on the angst barrel. The romance when it got full steam was powerful. So much so, I didn't even want to read a kiss between them at first. I thought it would mess up the pureness of it all. Inexperienced versus experienced themes can vary. But Fleet handled it well and did not cheapen the romance in the least. Their love was like...the bathtub.

Given freely, full of good intention and signifying their strong bond. This is definitely new adult, though the main characters were in their late teens. Don't let their age stop you. they have had a rough life and more adult experiences than a lot of people. So the intensity of their bond was 100% believable.

Danny, the fox, his coming of age was slow going. And at times, he reads like a martyr, the scarred hero that seems to have a lot of bad happen & he does a lot of good in return. It's just his character, his nature. He reminded me of the unlikely hero from "Brute" sometimes.

Foxes are so integral to who Danny is. And reading him coming into his own and realizing some things about himself even when it hurt, especially when it hurt...oh how I love him more.

The suspense in Foxes was all about the sharks and shark hunting. There are so many bad people in the world. And the culmination of the suspense arc was a little surprising. But it made me think and actually agree...with the villain. Hm...

There were two parts that felt unfinished to me. It was answered and I know if it were tied up in a pretty bow I'd have probably called it out for being wrapped up too neatly: Milo and Dollman. Being as the story is totally from Danny's point of view, those questions would be unanswered and should be (keeping to character)....but I still wish I knew. Call it reader being greedy. And it wouldn't have hurt to see the interim moments before the last two chapters. But again, it's Danny's story so, it's not necessary but it wouldn't have hurt. Because...greedy.

I don't want to give away this plot, but the story hurts so good. The characterizations are really done well. The angst is super heavy, some parts made me stop so I could get a break but I had to go back in to see how it would play out. I came to care for the characters Micky and Danny and just about all of the secondary characters. Ms. Fleet shines a flashlight on the gritty underbelly of a world a lot of people tend to ignore - teens selling their bodies and souls.

Suki Fleet brought a realistic hope without getting into the Disney lane. I'll end this review with this quote:

Because we're not our pasts--because we're more than that. We have to be. Don't we?

The story isn't perfect, but neither is life. What this story is, is amazing. Can't rate it any less than five.

If you think you can handle the subject matter, please try this book.
Don't be like me, who is just now reading this underrated talent that is Suki Fleet.

For more information on:

Dreamspinner Press
Goodreads 
Booklikes

Giveaway and Review: No Big Deal by Danni Keane

Still reeling from his father’s death and stuck in a job he hates, the only moments of happiness in Josh Roberts's life are those he spends with his boyfriend, Bradley. The boys are inseparable, and when they lose their virginity together, Josh feels closer to Bradley than he ever imagined.

But Josh’s mum, proud of her son and his biggest supporter, expects Josh to go to university after his year off. He doesn’t want to disappoint her by telling her he’s changed his mind, and struggles to find a solution.

When Bradley moves in with Josh and his mum, Josh truly believes life can be perfect again. But before long, their still-fragile feelings of connection and intimacy are tested when Bradley becomes secretive and distant. Anxious and confused, Josh is desperate to find out why Bradley is rejecting his affections. Bradley finally opens up, but what he reveals will change every aspect of their young love and quite possibly the rest of their lives.

Lori's Review:

What can I say - I loved this book. J and I are both Danni Keane fans so decided to buddy review this. I frankly just love this author's style, she writes in a straight forward way, introduces fabulous characters and manages angst without wallowing in it unnecessarily - it all adds to the story.

This story of first, true love, is wonderful. Since his dad died, Bradley has become the centre of Josh's world. In fact they were the centre of each other's worlds, time together is everything. God I can remember that feeling so well. Seventeen years down the line it's different, not less, just different, but I can clearly remember those days when being apart was awful, where every feeling I had was so intense. My world revolved around Big G - right or wrong, it did - and so I can completely understand how Josh and Bradley felt about each other.

The thing Danni Keane manages so well is to write about real life, without it being boring. Well,obviously it's fiction but it's real. I can utterly relate to the characters. Being a Brit too may help, as I recognise the actions and traits and they have a feeling of familiarity about them - the Christmas scene, yes, a million times yes. THAT is Christmas.

She manages to write that fine line between mundane/real without ever tipping into boring. I adored Josh, I loved his slightly selfish edge. Not horribly selfish just eighteen selfish. I'm in love selfish. I lost my dad selfish. In many ways he was all about protecting himself and his emotions. His love for Bradley just gave me goose-pimples, and his worries and fears, I felt them all.

Josh's mum is also one of my favourite characters. She is just...perfect in a completely unperfect normal way. I want to be just like her! She rocked. His sister is also a fab character and I liked the insight into her life and marriage. Don't judge a book and all that.

Bradley. Bradley was just right for Josh. and I can see how he was trying to hide his fears, trying to protect Josh, trying to deny that anything could be wrong. Sometimes you can have all the logic in the world but feelings don't correlate.

This story was just brilliant. The writing style thoroughly appeals to me and I don't think there was one thing about it I didn't like. Highly recommended.

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Justin's Review:

I’ll admit I was pumped to read this book. I’ll also admit to being a Danni Keane fan. My expectations were high but I was optimistic. Pfft, I should have known. Danni nailed this one! I’m talking ‘knocked it out of the park’.

"No Big Deal" is the continuation of Josh and Bradley’s story. It picks up right where "Not Letting Go" left off. If you’re not familiar with the series “Sunshine and Buttercups (Not Letting Go 0.5)” & “Not Letting Go (Not Letting Go #1)” precede this story. The new edition combines both of those stories into one book; “Not Letting Go”. It’s FREE on Smashwords and ARe. Although "No Big Deal" could be read as a standalone I think you’d enjoy it much more if you had the backstory provided in “Not Letting Go”.

Danni Keane can write a kick-ass romance. Her characters immediately work their way into your heart and you are drawn into their lives. You feel their love for each other and you feel their struggles like they are your own. The struggle here are "real" & relatable and are not overly dramatic like some YA/NA books tend to be. There’s a bit of angst but it’s not overkill and it does not drag on and on.

Something else you should know about Danni Keane is that she does not shy away from sex in her stories. Our MCs are 18 in “No Big Deal" so sex is definitely on their minds. It’s not the focus of the story but it does play a role in it. Everything on the page is done tastefully, seems real & age appropriate and makes you squirm just a tad.

The supporting characters in “No Big Deal” are just that, supporting characters. This is especially true of Josh’s mum and sister. They meddle just enough and it’s done with love and concern not to create drama.

Danni lives across the pond and it’s evident in this book. The setting is very British and the writing is too. That’s NOT a bad thing and in fact was part of the charm of this story.

If you haven’t read “Not Letting Go” what are you waiting for, it’s Free! I’m serious, go read it NOW. Then go purchase your copy of "No Big Deal". It’s romance done right!

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Danni is kindly offering up an e-copy of "No Big Deal" to one lucky winner. The drawing will take place on Friday, February 20th. Please comment below & remember to leave a way for us to contact you (e-mail, twitter, facebook etc). Good Luck!

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Find more info on Goodreads

Review: Dissonance (Blue Notes, #6) by Shira Anthony

British noble Cameron Sherrington has hit rock bottom. The love of his life, opera sensation Aiden Lind, is marrying another man, and Cam knows it’s his fault for pushing Aiden away. As if that’s not enough, someone is trying to take away his family business, and the US authorities are pursuing him on charges of money laundering. Fearing for his safety and unable to return to London, Cam runs, but he’s too broke to find a place to stay, and his fugitive’s life doesn’t even remotely resemble a Hollywood thriller.

Desperate and betrayed by the people he thought cared about him, Cam takes refuge in the subway station where Galen Rusk plays his trumpet for tips. Though Cam hears the beauty in Galen’s music, it’s Galen’s firm hand on his shoulder that stops him from throwing everything away. Their unusual relationship takes a turn that surprises them both, and neither man is sure he wants the complication. Galen is fighting the ghosts of his past, and Cam has his own nightmares to face. When Cam’s troubles threaten to tear them apart, Cam figures he had it coming—that it’s all penance due for a life lived without honesty or love. But he never considered the possibility that he might not survive it.

Note: Blue Notes Series novels are standalone stories, and can be read in any order.

Relax. Focus.

A mantra of sorts that was repeated throughout "Dissonance"by the main characters, two damaged souls that didn't know that they needed the other. Trigger warnings: past child sexual abuse and suicide attempts.

I warn because this book does not in any form exploit child abuse but the way the survivor recalls his abuse...it struck a chord with me. I am not a survivor but there are people who are very near and dear to my heart that are. And the way the story is told, it put me back into the first time they'd shared with me.  I think the author was spot on in portraying the conflicting emotions (and there are more than what was in Dissonance). I also applaud the author for not making the abuse survivor a likeable character that would get automatic sympathy points just because.

Just like how some people are nice and other are assholes, so can be abuse survivors.  They are people just like you and I. This author took the harder route to tell her story, and I applaud her.

Cameron is spoiled. He is selfish. He is uncaring and a cheater (he's the villain in a previous book in this series). He's rich, elitist, and uncaring. He's also a minor British noble, never had to work for anything in his life. And is unapologetic about it. He is not even touching my top ten of despicable main characters but he might get an honorable mention...if it weren't for the cracks that showed he was more human than he gave himself credit for.

Galen is this new-age, vegetarian, always has a positive quote, high school music teacher and subway performer. Yes, he plays the trumpet in the subway. He catches, the player's eye but Cam believes the good looking blonde to be beneath him, at first. It wasn't until hitting rock bottom, that Cam finally learned to humble himself.

"The realization took him by surprise. He hated the way everyone looked at Cam. Clever, charming Cam. Poised, confident, carefree Cam. Complete and utter bullshit. and with the realization came clarity of thought: not one of them knew Cam. Really knew him. They didn't know the big heart underneath the cool exterior. they didn't know of the grief and heartache. They didn't know that even now, Cam still hated himself for what he'd done to Aiden. Hated himself for what he was. For what he'd been."

Even when Cam hit rock bottom, he wouldn't open. So impenetrable, so cold...but still waters run deep. Ever wondered what makes a jerk tic? Ever think that maybe something happened to mold them into the person they were?  The author does a pretty good case study of Cam as he is being tried for a white collar crime he didn't commit. He's so spoiled and unused to not getting what he wants, it made him more interesting.

Cam goes from Manhattan high-life to hiding in New Jersey with Galen. The story alternates POV but it is mostly Cam's POV being told. We get visits from past characters from the series (my favorite couple - David and Alex - "Prelude" is still my favorite of this series) and get to learn about the characters.

So full of depth they were...both men were damaged, each facet cracked but put together, they made sense. Galen and Cam together made sense. They helped each other while discovering who is behind the sabotage of Cam's life. Galen was a little slow on revealing his background but it was no surprise they were the perfect compliment to each other.

There were a lot of emotions swirling in the story but I didn't feel influenced to pity Cam. It was kind of refreshing to have an asshole MC learn to drop the boulder on his shoulder and realize his self worth. Don't think that all the issues get solved by the end of the story or by a magic penis. No such thing.

Time, discussion were the keys on mending the men while traveling to NYC, NJ, and London. Adult conversations, adult reactions and a sense of realism with a musical background that Shira Anthony writes so well. She's a quiet creeper with the feelz but she always writes a solid story, well for me anyway.

This story does have a HEA, I wish at points the two men would quit being so stubborn but it was in their nature and it made for a better story in the long run. Justice does prevail but on the mens' terms and oddly enough it fit them.

Would I read more of this series? Definitely. (I love that I don't have to read in order)
Recommended.

Find more info on Goodreads and BookLikes!

Group Review: How to Train Your Dom in 5 Easy Steps by Josephine Myles

Sometimes the little head really does know best.

Jeff White’s needs are simple. All he wants is a submissive to help him explore the dominant side that his ex-girlfriend couldn’t handle. Problem is, inexperience in both dating and domming has resulted in a string of rejections.

What he needs is an experienced sub willing to show him the ins and outs of controlling a scene. Unfortunately, the only one willing to take him on is male, and Jeff is straight. One hundred percent, never-gonna-happen straight.

Easygoing painslut Eddie Powell doesn’t care that Jeff is younger, working class, and shorter. Eddie likes a bit of rough, and Jeff fits the bill perfectly. The trick will be convincing him to follow Eddie’s five-step training programme—which would be easy if Eddie wasn’t starting to have feelings for the rough-around-the-edges landscaper.

Once Jeff lays his hands on Eddie, things definitely get out of hand. But it’ll take more than hot, sweaty, kinky sex to persuade him to come out of the closet—especially to himself.

Warning: Contains a happy sub, a confused Dom, a high ratio of sex to plot, misuse of root ginger, and a suitcase of kink. Written in Jo’s usual exceedingly “English” English.

There are some authors who ask for reviews and we end up with a stand off in the stable, Josephine Myles is one of those authors. Now Unicorns are, on the whole, quite a peace-loving bunch so instead of Uni-Horns at dawn and a UN peace keeping brigade being sent to the stable, we decided a group review was the way to go. And, do you know what? It was soooo much fun buddy-reading this story!

Anywho... here's what the unicorns thought:

Whip Wielding Wench
BREAKING NEWS: JEFF IS A BEAR AND HE'S NOT, I REPEAT, HE IS NOT HOOKING UP WITH A TWINK.

*GASP*

I felt a great disturbance while reading this. Isn't this a sign of the Armageddon?

The first couple of chapters I kept thinking, 'You shouldn't be liking this guy. He's kind of douche-y'. But I did. I always did. Jeff's a working class dude (sorry, bloke) who's blunt, crass, unpolished and exceedingly preoccupied with society's view of him. He's socially awkward and, I admit, I felt sorry for him. Poor thing. Realizing he's attracted to another bloke blows his worldview out of the water. What will the blokes down the pub think? (Look how English I sound!) But Eddie is a force to be reckoned with.

"Was it possible for your dick to be gay, even if the rest of you wasn't?"

Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of topping from the bottom but this is for training purposes, so Eddie gets a bye. Eddie, in contrast to Jeff, is completely comfortable in his skin. He knows who and what he is and isn't ashamed. He slowly shifts Jeff's perceptions sensibly and with humor. Actually, they both made me chuckle frequently.

The kink to relationship ratio was perfect, in my opinion. Woof! I could read about them ALL DAY, BABY! Eddie's masochism and Jeff's sadism are a beautiful (and oftentimes awkwardly humorous) sight to behold. Jeff has sadistic compulsions but lacks confidence and his previous attempts at being "Sir Bastard" have… not gone well. He's gruff, a bit standoffish and doesn't take criticism well which has not endeared him within the local kink community. Still, I was a bit disappointed that his dominant friends didn't volunteer to mentor him. I was also fussy that neither of these two kinksters were into chastity. I think Jeff in particular would like this sort of control.

*inappropriate and enthusiastic eyebrow waggle*

There was a minor continuity error early on and possible spelling errors. Do the Brits spell judgment with two 'E's? Hell, I don't know. It's like their English is a foreign language with their extra 'U's, H-erbs, posh birds and pork scratchings. I like the usage of 'bird', by the way. I should probably be insulted, but it's kinda cute at the same time.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and would rec this to fans of GFY and romantic kink. I'm swimming in the 4-4.5 Hearts range. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Smacktastic-Spankerific Sunny
Jeff was a complete wanker. Rude, arrogant, so concerned about being "manly" that I could barely stand him on page.
But, then...then Jeff started getting feelings.
Sexy feelings. He started thinking about Eddie and the things he'd like to do to Eddie or make Eddie do to him.

:P

Oh, yeah. *nods*

Hot. Hot. Hot. *fans self*

Yes, Jeff took to kinky bed play with Eddie like a duck takes to water and the more into he got, the more I liked him. It was like he found his place and didn't want to leave it. Ever. He gave Eddie exactly what he needed, and loved every minute of it. His awe at having a partner who matched him so well, and who trusted him so much, was sweet. He knew how special that was. He wasn't perfect by any means, and there were a few stumbles on the way, but that made it even better.

That said, humiliation isn't for me, so this was an uncomfortable read at times, but there was no denying how much Eddie got off on it. His reactions definitely got me going.

I heart Eddie.
So much.

Lots of pervy deliciousness in this one. I was happy :)

Anal-Bead Annie
So, Jeff knows what he knows and that’s all that he knows. Poor guy can’t help that the only real exposure into the world of kink that he loves is via the internet. I mean really, what kind of reality is that? I’d love to believe that all the beautiful scenes I see in porn are all real, but when you take off the rainbow glasses it has very little resemblance to reality. 

Jeff’s pride may keep him from admitting he needs guidance out loud, but he knows. He may be uneducated and prideful, but he isn’t stupid. And that’s what I really liked about him. He’s really a pretty simple guy who says what he feels. It may end up awkward and not come out quite right (I could totally see why he had trouble talking to women) but, regardless of his kink, he wouldn’t hurt someone on purpose. You know what I mean. 

It’s a good thing Jeff’s friends know what he needs and they know he needs Eddie. Eddie knows Jeff needs Eddie. He just has to convince Jeff. Eddie is a complete charmer and a total sweetheart so it doesn’t take him long to convince Jeff to literally take a crack at him, which Jeff enjoys very much. His dick especially enjoys it and as their lessons continue, his dick gets more and more enthused and then WHAM -------> feeeeeeeeelings. I really couldn’t blame either of them for speaking up about said feelings sooner, they basically had a pinkie swear agreement about the lessons and who wants to be the guy to broach the subject of busting up a pinkie swear?

So, this book has two unique and likable (in their own evolving way) MC’s. It also has some of the most delicious filth I’ve read. Damn, the lessons are steaming hot and they got hotter as the story progressed. You know why? Feeeeeeeeeeelings. Feelings always make the sex better. Not that I don’t enjoy a good PWP, but when an author can bring the dirty and marry it with a great story and memorable characters, you’ve got yourself an excellent read with LOTS of highlighting.Jeff’s inner musings and bargaining amused me greatly.

“No, touching another man’s arse was definitely gay. No two ways about it. Unless he was just experimenting. Yeah. Experimenting was okay. That didn’t mean anything, did it? Lots of people experimented with stuff. Jeff had once had a guitar lesson, but that didn’t make him a musician, did it?”

Oh Jeff. In this case, yes it does. But, what can I say I’m a sucker for an enlightened everyman and the beautiful man who enlightens him. 

Told with wit and style, this is a highly recommended sweet and dirty read.


Dominatrix Downton 
Where do I start? Well actually I'm going to dive right in and tell you what I loved most about this story and that was Jeff. Jeff our Dom who needs to be trained. I loved him.

This man is a blokey bloke. He's a manual worker who calls a spade a spade (yep, right up my street) and freshly out of a (straight, vanilla) relationship and wanting to explore his dominant side. Unfortunately for Jeff he has a bit to learn in the ways of being a dom - manners and etiquette anyone? - and he's having a hard time finding a sub to practice with. The females he knows, even from the fetish club, just aren't digging him. And that's where Eddie comes in (and I'll talk about him more in a minute), he offers to be Jeff's sub and teach Jeff how to be a dom.

Of course there is a catch, Jeff isn't gay. A mantra he says repeatedly for a good portion of the book - and this is why I loved him so much. No, not because of the claiming not to be gay, but because his actions didn't always follow what he was saying. He fell for Eddie hook, line and sinker (or cane, rope and dildo) and we got to watch him ....ssshhh....fall in love. Be still my beating heart. This man, dominant and gruff was actually as soft as marshmallow on the inside. He cared about Eddie. He listened to what Eddie was telling him - be it him needing a hug, spank, cloth or food. He LISTENED. *Swooning* Even when it went against his ...well, not his instincts, but what he thought he wanted, he still listened.

The bit that really got me about Jeff? When he realised he was miserable without Eddie, he didn't try to second guess, he didn't try and deny, he admitted his feelings and went with it. I absolutely loved this man.

That's not too say that Eddie wasn't an equally wonderful character. He was, he really, really was. Patient, funny, and absolutely adorable. He was also hot and submissive and so damn yum. Eddie was the perfect sub to Jeff's dom. The perfect teacher. The perfect partner.

Josephine Myles is an amazing author. There is nothing stereo-typical about her characters and for that I am supremely grateful. Jeff is a bear of a man, who likes to dominate in his sex life. That didn't mean he was a leather-daddy blah, blah, blah. He was a normal bloke who liked a certain type of spice in the bedroom. The same goes for Eddie. He could easily have been a stereotypical gay twink submissive - yet he was anything but. Cheeky and endearing, he was the kind of chap you'd meet up the pub and want as your mate. I loved all the characters in this book...not a stereotype in sight (thank you muchly Ms Myles).

I'm sure every other review of this book has told you how hot the hotness was. Well guess what - it was HOT! Caning, kilts, humiliation, pin-wheels, ropes, cock-rings and dildos...they're all there. But they're all there with feels and though this book is about a sub and his dom - it is about so much more than a sub and a dom.

My advice to you is to read it. READ IT NOW PEEPS. And guess what - you can, because today is release day!! Whoo hoo!!!

Find out more on Goodreads.

A copy of this arc was given to us in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Dating Game by Jay Northcote

Five sex-free dates—how hard can it be?

When they were at uni, Owen always had a bit of a crush on Nathan. But Nathan was apparently straight, and Owen was too busy with other guys to take his crush seriously.

When Nathan moves back to Bristol after a year away, Owen hears that Nathan has come out of the closet, and he propositions him. Nathan doesn’t want to be just another notch on Owen’s bedpost, though, so he challenges Owen to prove he can be serious: five dates before they have sex.

Owen doesn’t think that sounds too difficult. He’s expecting Nathan to find his charms irresistible anyway. But as they grow closer, Owen begins to care more about proving himself to Nathan than he does about getting him into bed.

Owen has a well earned reputation for being a bed-hopper. Wham, bam, thank you Stan is his style - not dating. When Nathan, the 'straight' guy he fancied at university, moves back to Bristol and Owen hears that he's not so straight these days, he tries it on. Nathan is interested in Owen - just not in becoming another notch on Owen's bedpost. Five dates is the challenge he sets Owen, one a week, before they get down and dirty. Owen accepts, certain Nathan will give in to his charms before five weeks is up.

I liked this book, it made me smile. Although Owen has a reputation as a bed-hopper (and yes, it was earned) he really does like Nathan as more than just a potential shag. Owen was actually very endearing. He joked with Nathan but he didn't push him, he accepted the parameters of the bet, even though he longed for more. Nathan was lovely. Shy, slower at recognising/admitting that his feelings tended more to men than women, he was a really nice bloke. Nice can sometimes be a bit of a death-word when describing a character, yet it wasn't. He wasn't bland or boring, he was sweet and considerate.

The dates were fun. From that slightly awkward first date with all it's questions (am I over/under dressed? Am I boring? Where should we go? Do we kiss? etc. etc.) to the well planned, personalised second, third, fourth & fifth dates. I enjoyed them all.

It's quite a skill describing five dates and not have them become repetitive and boring. I loved the hill walking. That Owen had thought about what Nathan would like and taken him 'home' to Wales. I liked the fact that it was reciprocated with the indoor wall climbing. This wasn't just a quick meal and visit to the pictures, these guys thought about each other when planning these dates. Thoughtful dates were thoughtful and I dug that a lot. I very much like Jay Northcote's descriptions in the climbing date...made me think I might need to take it up as a hobby. (Or some kind of climbing pervert observer, you know to check the ropes were all fitted properly and stuff)...but I digress.

The only thing that kind of irked me was the disagreement the MC's had. Although it was sorted quickly and remained relatively angst free, it was the only part that I got a bit annoyed with. I know some conflict was needed, but miscommunication is a trope I generally find irritating. That said, it didn't bother me enough to stop reading or give it a low rating.

I think, when you pick up a Jay Northcote book you know you are in for a world of sweet fun. A couple of hours of wonderful escapism, with characters that are just lovely. If you're looking a for a simple, fun, and happy read, then this is the one for you.

The dating Game is due to be released on September 22, 2014, and you can pre-order here. 

To find out more, go to Goodreads.

A copy of this book was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Book Reveal & Excerpt: The Dating Game by Jay Northcote

The Dating Game

Genre: contemporary m/m romance
Length: 30,000 words
Release date: Monday 22nd September 2014
Publisher: Jay Northcote

Blurb

Five sex-free dates—how hard can it be?

When they were at uni, Owen always had a bit of a crush on Nathan. But Nathan was apparently straight, and Owen was too busy with other guys to take his crush seriously.

When Nathan moves back to Bristol after a year away, Owen hears that Nathan has come out of the closet, and he propositions him. Nathan doesn’t want to be just another notch on Owen’s bedpost, though, so he challenges Owen to prove he can be serious: five dates before they have sex.

Owen doesn’t think that sounds too difficult. He’s expecting Nathan to find his charms irresistible anyway. But as they grow closer, Owen begins to care more about proving himself to Nathan than he does about getting him into bed.

Excerpt

      “So,” Owen began. “I gather you’re into cock now?”
     Nathan’s eyes widened, and his cheeks flushed pink. “Um…. Yes?”
     “Cool. So, do you wanna get out of here and go someplace to fuck, or suck, or whatever?”
     Nathan raised his eyebrows. “Seriously?”
     “Yeah.” Owen let his gaze slide down over Nathan’s torso to land on his crotch. It looked like Nathan might be getting a little hard. Either that, or he was a shower rather than a grower. “I always thought you were hot. I just never knew you swung my way. So how about it?”
     Nathan cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was definitely getting hard. Owen lifted his eyes expecting to see a smile. But Nathan was frowning and biting his lip.
     “That’s flattering, but I’m not interested.”
     Owen raised an eyebrow and glanced briefly at the bulge in Nathan’s jeans again. “You sure about that?”
     Nathan’s face was even pinker now, but he held Owen’s gaze. “I’m not interested in a hookup. I’ve been there, done that, and decided casual sex isn’t for me. I’m looking for something more serious.”
     Owen blinked. This wasn’t how the conversation was supposed to go. He found himself blurting out his next words without thinking. “What, like a relationship? I could have a relationship. With you, I mean.”
     Nathan chuckled then, a snort of laughter that raised Owen’s hackles, because what the fuck? He’d made a move and was being laughed at. That wasn’t cool.
     “What’s so fucking funny?”
     “Sorry.” Nathan pulled himself together and pasted on a more serious expression. “But Owen. You don’t do relationships. Everyone knows that. I know what you were like at uni, and from what I’ve heard on the grapevine, you haven’t changed much. And that’s fine—each to their own. But I don’t want to be another notch on your bedpost. I’d rather be friends with you than one of your conquests.”
     Owen’s irritation rose, and he resisted the urge to pout childishly, but he wasn’t prepared to back down. Nathan’s words had stung, because yes—Owen would be the first to admit he was a bit of a tart on the surface, but at least he was honest about it. He’d never strung anyone along or made promises he couldn’t keep. And he’d never met anyone who made him want more than a one-night stand or a few casual no-strings repeats.
     But that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of having a relationship, and he found himself wanting to prove to Nathan that he wasn’t as bad as his reputation seemed to imply.
     “Will you go on a date with me instead, then?” he asked.
     “A date?” Nathan narrowed his eyes. “What, so we eat first and then have sex? I’m not sure that would be any better.”
     “We don’t have to have sex!” Owen protested, raising his voice in frustration, then lowering it quickly as he noticed a few people glancing their way. “Jesus. Contrary to popular opinion, that’s not the only thing I’m interested in.”
     “So if we went on a date, you wouldn’t expect me to put out?” Nathan’s lips quirked in amusement. He seemed to be enjoying this conversation a little too much.
     “Not unless you wanted to.”
     “I’d like to get to know you better first. I think we’d need more than one date for that.”
     “Okay, so what’s your magic number? Try me.”
     Nathan’s brow furrowed as he considered the question for a moment.
     “Five,” he finally said. “Five sex-free dates. Then when we’ve had a chance to connect, we can take it from there. Oh… and in case it wasn’t obvious, if this is going to be a relationship, I’d expect you to be exclusive.” Nathan sat back in his seat and folded his arms. “So, what do you say?”
     Owen glared at him. Nathan’s pink lips stretched further as he grinned, and all Owen could think was how he wanted to come all over Nathan’s smug face.
     “I’m in.”
     Nathan’s smile vanished abruptly. “You’re… what, really?”
     “Really.” Owen smirked, finding Nathan’s obvious surprise very satisfying. “Five dates with no sex. So, when are you free this week? I can see you every night apart from Thursday, so if you’re free to meet most nights we can be done with all five dates by next weekend.”
     “Oh no. No way.” Nathan shook his head. “If we’re going to take things slow, the dates need to be spread out. One a week for five weeks.”
     Somehow Owen had thought his loophole was too good to be true.
     “You drive a hard bargain, but okay.” He shrugged, conceding some ground, but not defeated. “Next weekend for our first date then?”
     “Okay.”
     “And while we’re discussing ground rules for this… whatever-the-fuck this is.” Owen waved his hand disparagingly. “What are we counting as sex for the no-sex rule? No fucking obviously, but does that extend to no blowing each other? No handjobs? What about dry humping?”
     “Shh!” Nathan’s face was flaming, and he moved his chair closer, leaning in so he could talk quietly. “Keep it down, for fuck’s sake.”
     To be fair, Owen’s voice had got rather loud, and a group of girls at the next table were looking very interested in their conversation.
     “Well?” Owen asked. “We need to be clear what the boundaries are. Can we even kiss?”
     “Kissing is fine,” Nathan replied promptly, and his gaze dropped to Owen’s mouth. He paused before adding, “No orgasms. That’s the line.”


***

Author Bio

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.
She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

Links

www.jaynorthcote.com

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Jay’s books

Amazon.com

Review: Caught by JL Merrow

You can run from the past…but the past runs faster.

Shamwell Tales, Book 1

Behind Robert’s cheerfully eccentric exterior lies a young heart battered and bruised by his past. He’s taken a job teaching in a village primary school to make a fresh start, and love isn’t part of his plans. But he’s knocked for six—literally—by a chance encounter with the uncle of two of his pupils.

Sean works in pest control, rides a motorbike, and lives on a council estate. On the face of it, he shouldn’t have anything in common with Robert’s bow-tie, classic-car style and posh family background. Yet Robert is helpless to resist Sean’s roguish grin, and a rocky, excruciatingly embarrassing start doesn’t keep the sparks between them from flaring.

Despite Robert’s increasingly ludicrous attempts to keep his past where it belongs, his past hasn’t read the memo. And soon his secrets could be the very things that drive Sean away for good...

Warning: Contains the alarming misadventures of a pest control technician, a stepsister with a truly unfortunate name, and a young man who may have more bow ties than sense.

I'm a big JL Merrow fan, in fact she is - apparently - my most read MM author. As much as I enjoy her short stories though, it is the longer ones I really love. (FYI, The Plumbers Mate series is my favourite!) Caught was no exception to this rule. For me it had all the ingredients for a great little romance novel. Village setting - tick. Lovable characters - tick. Cute romance - tick. Enjoyable read - tick. It really was exactly the kind of book I was needing to read, at the time I read it. Always a bonus.

Robert was such a lovable character, mildly eccentric, unknowingly funny and pretty much all round nice guy. He could have been a dweeb, but he really wasn't. He was the kind of chap I would like as a bestie. I mean, with his bow tie penchant, you'd never have to worry about what to get him for Christmas.

Sean as well was nice, the kind of opposite to Robert's posh - normal, I would call him (without starting the whole what is normal debate), I understood his roots, where he came from. And honestly, what a fab bloke. looking after the twins while his sister is being treated for cancer. Yet he didn't come across as a martyr or holier than thou...he was just lovely.

There was a bit of a mystery about Robert's past, but it wasn't anything too difficult to work out. It just added to the story to the relationship 'bumps' between the two MC's. Quite honestly this book was a comfort read. For wet Saturdays with a cuppa and a biscuit. The Katie Fford of MM stories. Sometimes I want mystery or super-sexy or a million other things...but oft times I just want a comforting, sweet romance and this book delivered that.

My only bugbear - I bet the primary school teachers I work with wish there was as little effort put into the job as Robert appeared to have to put in. But that is my thing - I work in this environment, I see the hours teachers put in. If I was writing a teacher without being in the environment myself, I'd have written it exactly as JL Merrow did! So really a book I'd recommend for a fun read.

Find out more about this book and author on Goodreads.

Review: Concious Decisions of the Heart (More Heat than the Sun #2) by John Wiltshire

Ben Rider and Nikolas Mikkelsen learn that danger comes in all shapes and sizes and often in places you least expect it. Nikolas's dark past calls to him, inexorably dragging him back into its seductive embrace. While he goes on an errand of mercy to Russia, Ben travels to Denmark to learn Nikolas's language. Convinced Russia's vastness will swallow Nikolas, Ben doesn't see the enemy much closer to home. Thinking he has lost Nikolas, Ben then makes a terrible decision that threatens to destroy everything they have together. Focused on this very personal horror, bound by a new level of commitment, they have no idea that a greater threat is coming. And when it arrives, it changes everything---even the definition of commitment. Warning: This story contains the violent death of a minor character and some graphic violence.

"I surrender. I give you permission to continue with your stubborn, unrealistic blind faith in my complete lovability. It's quite astounding to me no one else has ever noticed just how loveable I apparently am."

I noticed! Me! Me, Nik! And thank you for the permission. I will continue to love you.

I could write a review just about how much I love Nik and how that dude makes me swoon.

"[...] You need a heart to want someone, and I gave mine to you, Benjamin. Or did you forget?"

 *swoon*

Ben, Nikolas and Nikolas' lies are back. They're faced with Nik's past, yet again, and Nik is off to Russia, continuing to fight his demons. I actually really liked their time apart (which is not something I would usually say). It was nice to get to know Ben's character without Nik around. He's just... a good guy. Regardless of the things he's done, he really shines in this sequel. Not to mention, I thoroughly enjoy texts and such between characters and theirs were great. It allowed some great dialogue without it being too serious. Plus, we were able to hear from Nik even if he wasn't there. And then on Ben's birthday? Unf. There goes Nik again, making me swoon and he wasn't even there, FFS.

Ugh, but once Nik returned and the shenanigans that followed... broke my heart! But, they seem to thrive from these situations. If not for all the horrible things they've gone through, they definitely wouldn't be in the same place in their relationship that they are now. We truly see the depth of Ben's affection for Nik and what might (but, hopefully, wouldn't really) happen to Ben without him. We're constantly shown Nik's feelings by all his swoony words. 

"I need you, Benjamin. Everything else in this world I've discovered over the last few days is unnecessary to me. I need life, and I need you. Now, we're leaving. Make yourself more useful than you usually do and pack my bag."

He's got some seriously good words. I could quote him all day.

But with Ben you can just feel his complete love for Nik come through in everything he does. Eventually, Nik gets there, too. It takes some danger and one serious disaster, but I think he really (really) knows what he has now and I'm not sure he's willing to ever let it go.

Now, I just need 300 pages of HEA time with lots of lovey dialogue. But, judging by the blurb for book #3, that's not gonna happen. I think I'll be made to suffer a bit longer. For Ben and Nik? Heck, yes.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review,

Find more info on Goodreads and BookLikes!

Review: This is Not a Love Story by Suki Fleet.

"A Harmony Ink Press Young Adult Title "

When fifteen-year-old Romeo's mother leaves one day and doesn't return, he finds himself homeless and trying to survive on the streets. Mute and terrified, his silence makes him vulnerable, and one night he is beaten by a gang of other kids, only to be rescued by a boy who pledges to take care of him.

Julian is barely two years older than Romeo. A runaway from an abusive home, he has had to make some difficult choices and sells himself on the street to survive. Taking care of Romeo changes him, gives him a purpose in life, gives him hope, and he tries to be strong and keep his troubles with drugs behind him. But living as they do is slowly destroying him, and he begins to doubt he can be strong enough.

This is the story of their struggle to find a way off the streets and stay together at all costs. But when events threaten to tear them apart, it is Romeo who must find the strength within himself to help Julian (and not let their love story turn into a Shakespearean tragedy)

Every now and then I read a story that I can't put down and recommend to tons of people and this was definitely one of those books. The strange thing is, it was not an easy, light-hearted book but an angst-filled, herat-breaker - yet I couldn't get enough. Literally, I woke up and started reading it in the middle of the night and read until I got to the end.

Set in England, on the streets of the capital, the realism of life for the homeless hits home hard in this story. Romeo is not only underage and homeless but is mute as well. Just imagine that for a moment - the fact that you can't speak to defend or explain yourself to anyone. You're already living beyond the edge of society, that raggedy, cold boy the commuters and office worker and most of us as we go about our daily lives, don't see. Imagine not being able to make yourself heard either. Yeah, it made me ache in my heart too.

Romeo has one true friend on the streets, Julian. Julian is a couple of years older but looks out for him in this harsh world they inhabit. Julian is the one who puts himself on the line time and again to keep his friend as safe as possible. The thing is, Romeo is in love with Julian and, every time Julian puts himself in danger for his friend, it tears his soul in two.

These two rely very much on each other throughout this story. Despite the title, it is a love story - it is more than a love story. These two need and love each other. Romeo especially - god my heart really ached for him. But I loved him. He had nothing in his life other than Julian, it would have been so easy to give up, to lay down and let the world happen to him - take the drugs, drink the booze, pimp himself out and find a chemically induced oblivion. Stop the pain. But he chose not to. Julian meant too much to him and when the two are separated everything in Romeo's being forces him to search for his friend.

In this story there are good guys and bad guys - I love some of the secondary characters, but this story is ALL about the two MC's. I would recommend this story to everyone. It will take your heart and pulverise it with a sledge hammer - but I promise you'll get it back in the end. It will even more or less be in one piece. Suki Fleet is going straight on my authors to watch list.

READ IT!