Review: Under His Stiletto by K.A. Merikan

--- No discipline until you’ve had your greens! ---

Mike doesn’t like overcomplicating things. At thirty two, he’s nowhere near settling down and divides his time between his construction job and the pub. Then his life becomes everything but simple when his coworkers catcall the wrong person, and Mike ends up punished for it. Which doesn’t seem all that bad, since he loves punishment and discipline.

Loves it so much in fact, that he will do anything for more licks from the sexy crossdresser’s belt.

Living in a state of perfect domestic bliss where he does as he’s told, and in turn gets freshly baked cookies and his laundry done, lines blur all too quickly, and it might just be Momma not Mike who is skittish about relationships.

Despite all the hoops he has to jump through, nothing can scare Mike away, because he is a good boy and he will prove it no matter what punishments Momma has him endure!

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: commitment issues, discipline, crossdressing, role-play, dirty talk, punishments, identity, spanking, bullying
Genre: M/M contemporary romance, BDSM
Length: ~22,000 words (standalone story)

WARNING: Adult content that might be considered taboo role-play. Explicit content, strong language, discipline. Reader discretion advised.

Yes! This was utterly depraved and I loved it! Not because of the cross-dressing or the smaller Dom (that was just awesome!) but because of the role-playing….

Mike nuzzled her neck, squeezing her nipple through the fabric. “I get so horny at night, Momma. It’s all I can think about.”

Momma whimpered, briefly closing her eyes before glancing at him again. Her fingers squeezed harder around Mike’s wrist. “It’s been a long time since your daddy left us, Michael. And you can be so sweet. Why do you tempt me so?”

See! sooo kinky!

Despite the 'her’s’ in this scene Momma is in fact a man and describes himself as a full-time transvestite. It was very interesting hearing about his life and how he got to this stage in his life. Momma was a great character!

So why isn't this kinky little nugget a 5 heart read? Because of their weird relationship progression. I completely understood Momma and where he was coming from, but Mike was adamant about no relationship, (even when he stayed for the night… and never went home) until suddenly he wasn't. I just thought that part could have had a little something more.

Definitely give this a go if incest role-play doesn't squeak you out.

Audiobook Review: Commitment Ranch (Leaning N #1) by B.A. Tortuga

A fist fight, a snowstorm, a stolen kiss in the barn... and a second chance at love.

Ford Nixel has two law offices, two fancy condominiums, and all the right connections. In short, he has everything he wants.

The last thing he needs is his Uncle Ty’s stake in the Leaning N, a ranch that’s been in the family for generations. Ford hasn’t even been to the ranch in over a decade, not since he left his boyfriend Stoney behind and headed back to college alone.

Ford arrives at the Leaning N to find Stoney, now a single father, right where he left him. A fist fight, a snowstorm, and a stolen kiss in the barn later—Ford knows none of the heat between them has dissipated.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 20 minutes
Narrator: John Solo

John Solo does one of the sexiest baritone voices I have ever heard, and I loved that he used the huskiness for Stoney. Stoney is the sexy, silent type, wasting no words, and that combo really got me going. His character stole this book for me. I want more from him.


Ford was a nice, angsty character. A lawyer, so he over thinks everything, and a perpetual commitment-phobe, who hates Stoney for leaving him for his cousin and having a baby with her, but also had no intentions of settling down on the Ranch or in the sticks. His caustic attitude towards Stoney is very much intact, so when he is handed his uncle’s 55% stake in Leaning N Ranch, sparks fly once Ford and Stoney have to interact. This is actually a little bit of the ‘big misunderstanding’ that most people hate in gay romance. In this context, I actually didn’t mind it. It was a bit dramatic, but it carried the story.


These two characters are hot together, even while they bicker. And with John Solo making Stoney’s voice ‘fuck me’ hot, I was completely absorbed from beginning to end with every one of their interactions.


The other characters were well developed for this shorter story. I enjoyed that Stoney’s son, played an important part of this story, and Stoney’s lack of regret over his choices for his son is music to my ears.


Jeff’s character was a bit odd. I’m not sure what to make of him. I found the voice used for him a bit irritating, and I couldn’t really work out why his speech was so slow. I’m guessing the Vegan hippy (”Meat is Murder”) would speak like a stoner. His character worked well into the family environment, even if his voice didn’t work for me.


I’ve read a few BA Tortuga stories now, and I find the writing style flows well. The characters have a good depth, and they are reliable and solid. The plot arc was decent, and I enjoyed where the story went. Even the angst wasn’t over the top, and I found myself chuckling at some of it.


I am comfortable in the assertion that BA Tortuga knows how to write sex. I’ve not been disappointed with any of it to date. The emotional aspect of romance is there too, and I enjoyed the way these two characters developed over the story.


Recommended for all M/M Romance readers.


I received a copy from the publisher for an honest opinion

Find more info on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

See our ebook review here!

Review: Always Another Side by Annabelle Jacobs

Starting over at forty is hard work for landscape architect Jack Bowman. His long-term partner hurt him badly. With his self-esteem dented by the break up, trusting a new lover is going to take time.

Tyler Freeman is equally unlucky when it comes to love. Now that he’s over thirty-five, he’s tired of getting played. All he wants is someone special. How hard can it be to meet a man who’s honest, with no hidden surprises?

Being set up on a blind date might be a classic cliché, but it’s a stroke of good luck for Jack and Tyler. They have a lot in common, including previous relationships steeped in deceit, but it’s worth navigating their trust issues if it means laying those ghosts to rest.

Making it work finally seems possible—until an accidental discovery threatens their newfound happiness.

It was so refreshing to read a book about more mature MC’s who are anxious to communicate. Both Jack and Tyler have been hurt terribly by past relationships, so they already have something in common, just in very different ways. Jack was with his partner Simon for many years and the breakup and the wrong that Simon did to him still weighs heavily on him and he’s working himself slowly out of the funk he’s been in for 8 months. Tyler was heartbroken by a man he thought he loved and the way the asshole treated and tricked him shattered his self-confidence and left him gun shy to meet anyone else. Their well-meaning mutual friends set them up on a blind date under the guise of a group outing, less pressure, which they both begrudgingly agree to.

The dinner goes better than they both expected and the attraction is obvious if a little disconcerting to Jack in particular. He’s definitely not in a place to move on just yet and start a new relationship, but he can’t deny that Tyler actually makes him feel something for the first time in a long time. Tyler was the opposite, he dove into his feelings head first, heartache be damned. He’s determined to not be so ‘stupid’ this time around, but it’s hard for him to not be himself when what he wants is sitting across the table from him looking all chiseled and delicious.

The two move forward cautiously and honestly. Sometimes a little too honestly to me for a budding relationship/friendship. I loved that they put all their cards on the table, but for the first half of the book, that’s about all they did. They set realistic expectations with one another, but every get together ended up with apologies back and forth for crossing boundaries or lashing out because of the overwhelming feels. Technically they were each-others rebounds and it felt like it to me. Halfway through and I should have been able to feel more positively towards something for them but I mostly wanted to tell them to bottle up the noise and actually get to know each other beyond how they were defined by their past relationships.

The second half of the book moved forward in the direction I wanted to see. Jake let go of some of his stubborn resolutions and adopted a bit more of Tyler’s attitude without apology. This was the part where I could see a future for them, they weren’t exactly opposites, but they complemented and appreciated the others shortcomings well. Even when it came to the “shit just got real” moment, the changes that happened in the second half made it OK to wait it out while more feelings got processed.

The ending was a little too easy given the build-up. I liked it, preferred it actually after all the drama, it just didn’t balance with the pacing of the first half. I needed to be happy for them though after all they went through, especially Tyler, so I was good with it. I can see where it would be a little out of whack for some. Overall I was so happy to read about some mature characters for a change. There wasn’t angst just for the sake of it. I could believe the misgivings both characters had throughout my only niggle was with the pacing and balance. The characters were very likable and I couldn’t help but root for them through the whole story. I believed their HEA and it was well deserved for these guys.

For more information on Always Another Side, check it out over on Goodreads.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Did you see the giveaway via the author today here?

Review: Between Love and Obsession by Cassidy Ryan

When love crosses the line into darkness…

Ben can’t walk away from Aiden, even though Aiden seems to have no problem walking away from him, time and time again. In spite of his friend’s warnings, Ben refuses to believe that Aiden is just using him, until a devastating secret is revealed. However, Aiden isn’t the only one with something to hide.

Someone else is keeping a secret that threatens not only Ben and Aiden’s relationship, but Ben’s very life. Will they be able to keep Ben alive?

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

This story had a lot going for it. Ben will not walk away from Aiden because he accepts him and his wandering ways, and even though he wants more, he will take what he is given. Until he finds out Aiden’s secret, and then things take a really bizarre turn.

The story starts on a high note…. And by high, I been sexy, and by note, I mean orgasms. The erotica in this story was yummy. Dirty talk is hot. Aiden is good at it. Their relationship seems to have evolved into something sweet and comfortable. The brief backstory is enough to give a realistic impression of the dynamics.

I was invested enough in this couple to want them to be together. The author did a great job of giving me these characters and making me like them.

The writing was good. The plot easy to follow. Until the secret. And then all bets were off. It twisted into something completely different and I felt that the author needed to write more on this for it to truly give the story justice. The plot holes were…. Significant. It really needed the fillers to make it work. The idea is great. I wanted to explore it more. I would encourage Cassidy Ryan to take this snippet and expand it into something longer with more invested in the twisty parts. I can see it turning out really well.

But for this short story, I’d say, it needs work. And by work I mean more story. Take this little piece and write a full length novel.

For those who enjoy short stories under 100 pages, with some sex, and some plot, this is a good one. For those who need more…. I can’t really recommend this because it will leave you feeling bereft.

Even though I’m disappointed in the way this unfolded, I will definitely read this author again, because like I said, the writing is good, and the idea is great. Keep going, and give us the rest of this story. I don’t mind being teased, as long as there is follow through. I hope there is follow through for this one.

Check out on Goodreads!