Book Blast & Giveaway: Finding Their Way by Tory Temple & Chris Owen

Guess who's back in town?

Yep! Get your apples ready. If they need to be pounded, ground, juiced or... really, anything that involves pummeling Jake and Tor are on the case and, apparently, they've brought reinforcements.

It should be a fruitful harvest... 

Book title: Finding Their Way

Authors: Chris Owens and Tory Temple

Blurb:

When Jake Taggart fell from the roof of his barn, Tor had only one thought -- to reach out to Chance Shanahan and Tucker McBride for support. In this follow-up to Never Too Early: The Beginning, the first book in the Cowboy/Firefighter series, the two couples are reunited in their mutual concern for Jake. But how far will that concern go?

A strong friendship begins to explore the boundaries of something else; something all four men never looked for or expected. Emotions and attraction are difficult to deny, try as they might, but giving in has the potential to destroy everything both couples have worked so hard for. How will they handle something that none of them set out to find?

Pages or Words: 54,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Menage/Poly, Cowboy, Romance

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: BSClay

Goodreads Link 

Excerpt:

Jake reached out and touched the back of Chance's hand. "Thank you for coming all this way to be with me. Thank you for coming to sit next to me, and for helping Tor. Thank you for everything you and Tucker have done around here, but mostly thank you for being someone I can count on." Jake nodded firmly and looked up into Chance's face, studying his eyes. "Thanks for caring so much."

Chance's gaze was steady and direct. "I didn't mean to," he said quietly. "I thought you were a good guy, that's all. I thought you were nice and funny and smart and easy to talk to. I didn't mean for there to be more than that."

Jake nodded. "I know. We all know. But there is, and I'm okay with that. Thankful for it, really. And so is Tor. And Tucker sent me upstairs to talk to you, and said not to let you overthink it." He smiled, trying not to shake with nerves. "So sit down here next to me and stop thinking." 

Sales Links: Torquere Books

About the authors:

Chris Owen: I live and write in eastern Canada.  I went to a bunch of schools, learned a lot of things, and now make stuff up because not to do so is unthinkable. I'm fond of fountain pens, Levenger's Circa system, and Steampunk fashions. Lately I've been watching a lot of Discovery channel. I've seen every episode of CSI Las Vegas and New York, but I'm not terribly keen on CSI Miami. It might be due to weather envy. I have a crush on the whole cast of Criminal Minds, and fondness for wool. The two are not related. Hoarders keeps me honest. I'm inspired by the day to day minutia of life, and find beauty in the way words go together. I like texture and richness of experience. I'm not shy. I'm happy, I'm learning, I'm living.

Tory Temple: Tory lives and works in southern California, where she spends a lot of time around firemen. She visits the beach frequently and wears flip flops even in the winter. Tory likes television, salted pistachios in the shell, and chenille socks. She dislikes cauliflower, not being able to find the right shoes in the morning, and not having enough free time. She shares her space with numerous pets, including but not limited to cats, dogs, and tortoises.

Where to find the authors:

Websites:

www.chrisowen.net 

www.torytemple.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Owen/362850963876393

https://www.facebook.com/torytemple

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/chris_owen

https://twitter.com/ToryTemple 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Dates & Stops: April 9, 2015

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Group Review: Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

Normal is just a setting on the dryer. 
High school graduate Jeremey Samson is looking forward to burying his head under the covers and sleeping until it’s time to leave for college. Then a tornado named Emmet Washington enters his life. The double major in math and computer science is handsome, forward, wicked smart, interested in dating Jeremey—and he’s autistic.

But Jeremey doesn’t judge him for that. He’s too busy judging himself, as are his parents, who don’t believe in things like clinical depression. When his untreated illness reaches a critical breaking point, Emmet is the white knight who rescues him and brings him along as a roommate to The Roosevelt, a quirky new assisted living facility nearby.

As Jeremey finds his feet at The Roosevelt, Emmet slowly begins to believe he can be loved for the man he is behind the autism. But before he can trust enough to fall head over heels, he must trust his own conviction that friendship is a healing force, and love can overcome any obstacle.

Warning: Contains characters obsessed with trains and counting, positive representations of autism and mental illness, a very dark moment, and Elwood Blues. 

When the request to review Carry the Ocean came into the clubhouse several of us were interested - but also a little scared. The two MC's are far from the a-typical romantic leads and, as they were dealing with autism and depression, there was every chance this novel was going to be an emotionally hard read. So we did what unicorns do best and decided to share this journey - this wonderful, amazing journey. Here is what Sunny and I (Lorix) thought.

Sunny

This story hit me hard, but in a good way. Emmet and Jeremey, and all their thoughts and emotions, felt so real. I want everyone to know these characters; ones I wish existed in real life because they are that wonderful.

Emmet's voice was so clear, his personality came across immediately and I knew him and loved him.

It’s like Elwood Blues says: everybody needs somebody to love. I’m an everybody. I get a somebody.

I shouldn’t have worried so much about it. Frankly, I’m awesome, and anybody who doesn’t agree should get out of my way. 

I loved his parents, too...

My mom says disorder makes it sound as if there’s something wrong with me, and there isn’t. I’m wired differently, but she says so is everyone if you come right down to it. 

She’s a mom with lots of superpowers, but she says they’re powered by hugs. 

...and the winks and ice cream from his dad :)

When he saw Jeremey, and wanted to meet him, wanted to be his boyfriend, his plans to make it happen were awesome.

The night before I practiced all my facial recognition charts and went through my flash cards of appropriate getting-to-know-a-boyfriend conversation. 

My heart melted.

So we meet Jeremy, with his depression and anxiety, and I just wanted to hug him. And take out his mother >:[
Well versed in 'modifications', Emmet was pragmatic about Jeremy's situation and was able to suggest strategies to help him deal with problem areas. His easy acceptance of Jeremey's diagnosis was so sweet, and his perspective of what it meant was spot on.

“Depression likes to eat happy things, sometimes.”

Watching the two of them get to know each other, learn from each other...it was so honest, no games. I loved that. For someone who supposedly had problems interacting with others, I found Emmet's way of communicating, especially with his hand signs and t-shirts, to be refreshingly direct. 

When they moved into the Roosevelt, their relationship moved up another level, with sex added to the mix. 

I have a thing about my nipples being played with, and Emmet knows all about it.

*grins*
There was a slight hint of D/s that played out naturally and made me grin even more.

When serious conflict occurred, my chest hurt and it was hard to breath, but they way it played out was wonderful...again, honest and real.

Jeremy's baby steps to managing his depression and anxiety also felt realistic. No magic cures, just a lot of work, but also hope. The support from his friends was heartwarming, and when he figured some stuff out...it was awesome :)

For a story with sad topics, this wasn't a depressing read. Emmet and Jeremey were so good for each other, and their love was beautiful to see. 

All the stars for this one *hugs e-reader*

Lorix

I'm not sure I know where to start with my review of this book. Partly I want to just shout THIS BOOK IS AMAZING, EVERYONE READ IT NOW, and partly I want to break it down, to get inside it and work out why this went straight on my favourites shelf.

First of all, let's address the genius that is Heidi Cullinan. I've read and enjoyed - really enjoyed - several of her books, but this has topped the list as my favourite. What Heidi shows time and again is meticulous research into her characters. This doesn't mean she dumps a whole load of information in each book about them but it absolutely shows in every line, every action, every character thought she writes. This book was no exception.

Books/films with an autistic MC have been done before, but what Heidi manages to do is make Emmet a character who happens to have autism rather than him be an autistic character. It's a fine line, a subtle difference, but it makes the story one I couldn't put down. All good authors make their characters come alive. They give them traits and tics and personality and this is what helps move a story along - action and reaction, just as we're all different, so should characters in books be. 

Emmet's life is affected by his autism in that he makes decisions and judgements based on the way his brain is wired. His personality is created by this. This doesn't mean he is not a normal person (as he says, normal is a setting on a dryer) he is perfectly normal. His normal is just different - as is mine, as is yours. We are all individual. We are all different. I love how Heidi shows Emmet working at the things he finds harder - recognition of other's emotions for example. We all have things that come easily and things that don't - me, I have to work harder at maths.  Emmet may have needed a little help to function independently but that doesn't mean he is unable to do so. 

It is fair to say, that even with his difficulty in emotional recognition, he is the one who was able to help Jeremey the most. Jeremey, who is severely clinically depressed, has his own trouble functioning in society. I have to say I understood Jeremey so well. Depression is so often badly portrayed and, though it affects everyone differently, this portrayal felt real to me. It was real to me. As a sometime sufferer I understand so well that feeling of worrying about making the wrong decision, of just wanting to get in bed and hide under the covers, of the tiredness and how difficult conversation is with people, even those you know really well. Jeremey needs support from his family and he isn't getting it. The more they insist he acts a certain way the deeper he is falling into the blackness. Yet Emmet breaks it down in a simplistic way and 'gets' Jeremey, when others really don't.

When Emmet and Jeremey form their friendship, Jeremey's family show a lot of prejudice about Emmet - and that's before the friendship moves further than just friends.  This book shows us the strength in understanding others and not making judgements. It shows us the realism of living 'outside the norm', of dealing with depression and autism and how, if we look beyond the labels, Emmet and Jeremey are just as normal as you and I.

I'm not even sure I've chipped at the surface of why this book is so damn good - but if I don't stop soon this blog post will be rivalling the book in length. I would urge everyone to read this. Read about love and friendship in its most basic form, without the expectations society dictates to many of us. It really is the best tale of love and family and friendship I've read in a long while.

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

To find out more, check out Goodreads.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

Today, author Heidi Cullinan stops by as part of her Carry the Ocean blog tour. Having just read this book, I cannot express how much love I have for it and would highly recommend it. Check out this post for more details and the chance to enter a give-away.

CARRY THE OCEAN

The Roosevelt, Book 1

Normal is just a setting on the dryer.

High school graduate Jeremey Samson is looking forward to burying his head under the covers and sleeping until it’s time to leave for college. Then a tornado named Emmet Washington enters his life. The double major in math and computer science is handsome, forward, wicked smart, interested in dating Jeremey—and he’s autistic.

But Jeremey doesn’t judge him for that. He’s too busy judging himself, as are his parents, who don’t believe in things like clinical depression. When his untreated illness reaches a critical breaking point, Emmet is the white knight who rescues him and brings him along as a roommate to The Roosevelt, a quirky new assisted living facility nearby.

As Jeremey finds his feet at The Roosevelt, Emmet slowly begins to believe he can be loved for the man he is behind the autism. But before he can trust enough to fall head over heels, he must trust his own conviction that friendship is a healing force, and love can overcome any obstacle.

Warning: Contains characters obsessed with trains and counting, positive representations of autism and mental illness, a very dark moment, and Elwood Blues.

TRAIN MAN

Emmet Washington loves trains.

"My family didn’t know I watched Jeremey, because they thought I was waiting for a train. I loved how we had a train track in our backyard, and my favorite way to relax was to count the train cars as they passed. When it rained and a train came, I was pretty much in heaven. I didn’t just count the trains, either. I noted the numbers of the cars and the engines, tried to find patterns in the way they were arranged, checked how many of the cars came through and when, and in which direction. I did watch the trains. But I also watched Jeremey."

The train tracks Emmet loves so much actually exist. They run beside the real-life former Roosevelt school and right through the neighborhood backyards. In the winter, deer follow the tracks because grain cars like to spill corn.

One day a passenger car much like the one Emmet sees in the novel did indeed pass through.

"It was a train, but it was a train different than anything that had ever gone down that track since I’d been watching it. It was a big black steam engine, and when it came close to the track, it pulled its whistle. My skin got goose bumps from the sound. It was so strange and beautiful, and so was the engine. All the cars talk to me, but this one was old and amazing. I wished the train would stop so I could touch it and learn everything about it.
Almost better than the steam engine, though, were the cars behind it. Passenger cars. Old-fashioned passenger cars, with people inside hanging out the windows, waving.
Half the residents from The Roosevelt were at the end of the street, facing the tracks, waving and watching…this was the most wonderful thing I’d ever seen on my train tracks. I couldn’t stop myself from humming and rocking and flapping in happiness as I stared, counting and memorizing the number of windows and wheels and identifying markers on each car. When the train was gone, I’d go look it up online to see what it was and why it was here, but right now it was in front of me, and I was so happy I felt like electricity."

Emmet’s love of trains is no secret, and one of the residents at the Roosevelt, David, gives Emmet the nickname Train Man. Because at first Emmet and David are enemies, it’s meant as a subtle pun on Rainman and a dig at Emmet. But Emmet doesn’t understand those kinds of jokes very well, isn’t allowed to watch that movie, and thinks the name is actually pretty cool.

There’s a lot more to Train Man and to David and Emmet’s rivalry. But you’ll have to read the book to hear the rest of that story.

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Available April 7, 2015
Format: Novel
Genre: Contemporary New Adult
Length: 89,300 words
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, April 14, 2015
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-61922-520-6
Print ISBN: 978-1-61922-711-8
Series: Roosevelt
Characters: Emmet Washington, Jeremey Samson
Short Summary: Jeremey doesn’t judge Emmet for his autism. He’s too busy judging himself, as are his parents, who don’t believe in clinical depression. When his illness reaches a breaking point, Emmet rescues him and brings him to The Roosevelt, a quirky assisted living facility. As Jeremey settles in, Emmet slowly begins to believe he can be loved for the man he is inside. But before he can trust enough to fall head over heels, he must trust his own conviction that friendship is a healing force, and love can overcome any obstacle.

• Retailers: Samhain (ebook & paperback), All Romance Ebooks, Amazon US (ebook, paperback), Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble (Nook & paperback), Google Play, iTunes, Kobo. More print links coming soon.
• Add on Goodreads
• Read Reviews
• Linkable Excerpt
• Carry the Ocean on Heidi's Website
• Carry the Ocean Spotify Playlist
• Join Heidi's Reader Newsletter
• Join Heidi's Blogger Newsletter

Heidi's Bio
Heidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because there just aren't enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her husband and teenaged daughter. Heidi is a vocal advocate for LGBT rights and is proud to be from the first Midwestern state with full marriage equality. Find out more about Heidi, including her social networks, at www.heidicullinan.com.

Review: Uniform Fetish: Manlove Edition by Various Authors

Does the sight of a cop’s badge—or his handcuffs—make your pulse race? Do you drive by your local firehouse just to catch a glimpse of your favorite fireman? Ever peek in the cockpit just to check out the captain?

If you agree the only thing sexier than a man in uniform is a man out of uniform, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve handpicked an assortment of sizzling hot, uniformed heroes to satisfy your uniform fetish.

Rain and Promises by Elizabeth Monvey - 4 Hearts
This was super hot and so very sweet. It's an established couple story done right. The author managed to pack a lot into a short story with lots of subtle showing that I really appreciated.

Fine Dining by Nicola Cameron - 4 Hearts
Classy sexy men are very classy sexy in this one. They were very highbrow which is generally way outside my wheelhouse, but the characters were warm and loving so I fell for them anyway. Maybe not at the dirty cowboy level I normally do, but fell for them all the same I did.

The Layover by Gale Stanley - 1.5 Hearts
Hmmmmm. Well, cheating is my no fly zone <----see see what I did there? And in my mind you don't have to have sex to cheat, so the whole premise of the story wasn't working for me before I even started. It made both MC's unlikable for me and so when they got their happy ending all I could muster up was, "Good for you. I suppose." with a *smh* for good measure. If cheating isn't a hot button for you you'll probably like it, but, if you're like me, you'll have trouble.

Scars by the COX - 5 Hearts
No one writes inner dialog like the COX. I loved Devil and Gabe together. They are each dealing with demons from their time served and as much as Devil wants to hide away Gabe won't let him wither away on the mountain alone. When Devil realizes that he isn't the only one suffering and Gabe needs him, he's able to open up and they both get what they've always dreamed of. I'd read more contemporary by the COX any time.

A Walk on the Wild Side by Pelaam - 2.5 Hearts
It was good, just not real memorable. The mom was a convenient villain. She was a one dimensional caricature and it seemed too easy to blame everything on her. She deserved it, she was a royal bitch, but it was too easy and too extreme so the story lost credibility for me.

Real Life Role Play by Tamsin Baker - 2.5 Hearts
Tayte pissed me off. I felt bad for Lachlan because I really didn't see what he was doing so wrong for Tayte to be so irritable. He kind of came around in the end, but I didn't see enough of the good to reconcile the dickish behavior and internal dialog.

Mile High Rebound by L.D. Blakely - 4 Hearts
This one was completely charming. Being inside Will's head for his Mile High Rebound was pretty fun because his inner dialog cracked me up. "When your day starts out with such a heavy dose of suck, ambiance isn't nearly as important as alcohol content." No truer words were ever writ. Des is adorably slutty and I mean that in the best possible way. It's really just a story about a hot hook up with a smidge of optimism that they may meet/bone again. Good enough for me in a short story.

The British Are Coming by Lilith Duvalier - 3.5 Hearts
I liked this unique take on the uniform theme. Elijah is a historical reenactment volunteer and the annual event is extra significant this year as we gradually find out about his families struggles as the story evolves. His best friend Colin, is a total charmer and at first I thought those two were going to hook up. That would have been too obvious and convenient though and I liked what the author did with Elijah and his love interest Jasper. Jasper turns out to be the perfect guy at the perfect time.

Fired Up by Lucy Felthouse - 3.5 Hearts
A sweet story about second chances and not too overly convenient coincidences, but the coincidences did come in handy. I loved the conversation between Lucas and Greg as they got to know one another again. There was shy honestly that was incredibly sweet to read. Then it got damn hot.

**as previously posted on GR**

Review: A Way Home (Gay Amish Romance #3) by Keira Andrews

Will returning to their Amish roots renew their faith in each other?

Isaac and David never thought they'd go back to the Amish world. But when Isaac’s younger brother is stricken with cancer, they don’t hesitate to return. Their relationship is on the rocks after insecurity and fear drove a wedge between them in San Francisco, and David is determined to make things right. Yet if they thought navigating “English” life was confusing, being back in Zebulon is even more complicated.

Their families are desperate to bring them back into the fold, and pressure from the community builds. Isaac and David yearn for a future together, but each day it becomes harder to hide the truth about who they really are. They're caught between two worlds, and if they’re not careful it could tear them further apart.

Can Isaac and David make their way back to each other—and find a place to call home?

After the end of A Clean Break, I couldn't get my hands on A Way Home fast enough.

I knew all would be well. Isaac and David are too good not to be understanding and forgiving. I knew it would all work out... but I still had to find out first hand. Like, right away!

So, it picks up right where A Clean Break left off. After their big fight, Isaac leaves to go back to Zebulon to see his brother who is sick. He leaves without any resolution with David. They're relationship is kind-of up in the air, but it's pushed aside because the health of Isaac's brother is more important.

And that, that right there, is what I love so much about Isaac and David. They're so good. They're selfless, giving, forgiving, loving and full of so much good. It's like they took all the best parts of being Amish and became these amazing young men. Way too young to be so good. But it's not fake or forced, because of their background and their families, it only makes sense that this is who they are. They're not stereotypical perfectly perfect characters. They make mistakes and mess up (book 2, anyone?), but they know how to be gracious and humble. I simply adore them.

They go through quite a bit while back home in Zebulon. Isaac not only has a sick brother, but he's staying with his parents. They, of course, put on the pressure to come back to the church. David feels the same pressure from his family. Ugh, their families. I get sticking to your beliefs, but at the expense of your child? Nope. Can't get behind that. They have a strong faith and I have to admire that much conviction, even if they are contradictions in their beliefs, but rejecting your child is just... too much. Too much to even think about, and it makes me so angry that parents are willing to make their children feel less.

I had so many real, raw emotions while reading A Way Home. These boys have struck a chord with me and I'll be sure to revisit them. I'm not certain if this is the final book. I think it might be? If it is, I would have loved some more couple time. There was so much drama surrounding them, some more HEA bliss would have been welcome. There was a nice epilogue, and I love me an epilogue, but I suppose I'm greedy and selfish and want MORE.

Always more of Isaac and David.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads!

Review: Baked Fresh by Annabeth Albert

From its famous coffee to the mouthwatering fare at its cafés, restaurants, and bakeries, Portland, Oregon, has a lot to whet the appetite, including the hard-working men who serve it all up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…

Vic Degrassi is a baker on the rise, and it’s all thanks to his rare ability to make—and keep—his New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s losing weight, giving up smoking, or graduating from culinary school, Vic goes after what he wants—and gets it. This year? He wants Robin Dawson, the sweet-hearted hottie who volunteers with him at the local homeless shelter. When he learns that Robin is suddenly single after being unceremoniously dumped, Vic is more than happy to offer a shoulder to cry on—or at least a fresh-baked pastry to bite into. But it’s been a long time since Vic’s gone on a date, and he’s nervous about risking his friendship with Robin. So when their flirtation turns into a steamy night together, Vic and Robin have to figure out if they’re friends with benefits or lovers in the making, and if Robin is ready for something more than just a rebound. There’s only one way to find out: turn up the heat… 

Cutesy.

If you're searching for a quick, easy, feel good read that's precisely what you'll find in Baked Fresh. This is book 2 of a series but can be read as a standalone. The cover is what initially drew me in along with the promise of baked goods and manlove and, boy, were those delivered in spades. 

Baked Fresh is told through Vic, an Italian Stallion, pastry chef and former fatty. Vic had lapband, lost about 100 lbs but continues to struggle with his body image, but he's ready to hit the dating scene with his newly svelte and gym ratted self. He's been lusting after Robin for two years when opportunity strikes in the form of a painful breakup and Vic swoops in as the rebound guy hoping for more. 

There is very little angst but also very little depth. It felt very superficial in that Vic only ever talks about how beautiful Robin is, they never have any conversations of substance when both of them have significant amounts of emotional baggage. Overall I found the writing to be simplistic and overly reliant on telling rather than showing usually with some sort of anthropomorphic bent which, frankly, made me hope Vic had his internist on speed dial. His innards might need a tune up what with all the churning, burning, clenching and gurgling. And, finally, the conflict seemed rather melodramatic in addition to lacking detail and depth.

The manlove was pretty hot, though. It even had a bit of kinky fuckery, though the "dominance" did come across a little stilted oftentimes. Still, the face fucking was a win. And the rimming.

If you want a quick little petit four sized treat, you'll likely enjoy Baked Fresh.

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

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: As Spring Rain by Valentina Heart

Gabriel is hell-bent on self-destruction. Every man he chooses is a man who will hurt him, and when he can't find others to do it he turns to hurting himself. Whatever it takes to bury the wrenching, forbidden, but inescapable feelings tearing him apart.

But everyone has a breaking point, and when his twin brother Michael comes to pick up the pieces something will have to give before there aren't any pieces left…

Warning: this story contains incest

Michael and Gabriel live together and have been lusting after each other for years. But neither one does anything about it because of the whole twin thing. Ya know, it can be frowned upon. Not here though!

Gabriel's character is so self-destructive and angsty. Everything becomes an issue, an issue that he can't fix without Michael's help. He's completely co-dependent on his brother. All of this I would be okay with but... Is it because of his parents? Or because of his want for his brother? Or all of his exes? Is he depressed? I'm not sure. It was unclear why he's such a mess. There was a lot of telling about Gabriel's bad choices and determination to hurt himself. All of the background was focused on his road to self-destruction, but I still never got a real grasp on who he is and why he's this way.

Regardless..........

hot twins are HOT.

Their first scene together was intense. It was raw and gritty and sexy. It was dirty and real and messy. It's what I was waiting for. All the build up led to one passionate scene. 

But then, what? Michael is all better? I don't believe it. I think I saw that there's going to be a sequel and, goodness, I hope so. This needs a better conclusion than BOOM! they have sex and everything is grand. Michael has way too much to work through for it to end here. 

Did I like it? Well, I couldn't put it down, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed my experience. There was too much hurt for me to find this enjoyable. I was intrigued and I want to know more, so yeah, I recommend it. Make sure to read the blurb and the triggers first.

 A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads!

Review: Lost Boys Academy 1: Orientation by Aaron Ferrara

College life was supposed to be full of adventure, fun, and new experiences. However, the young men attending the Lost Boys Academy will have to forget everything they know when they are forced to rehabilitate their homosexuality.

Devilishly handsome troublemaker Jake Parker is never one to turn down a bet, but the stakes are high when he is challenged to seduce the one person that can get him kicked out of the academy.

The inseparable Kyle and Alex have been dating since sophomore year, but will their relationship be able to survive throughout the constant temptation of living in a dorm filled with other 'rehabilitating' guys their age?

Mason the wallflower - devout Catholic, never one to stir up the pot. But his religion comes into question numerously as he is surrounded by varying degrees of sin.

James, usually seen as the voice of reason, has a few demons of his own to conquer...

"We're like the fucking boy scouts of America, only gayer."

These young guys were sent to the Lost Boys Academy to learn how to forget their sinful ways. The camp will help them turn themselves around and live life the way it's supposed to be lived. Straight.

This short novella is very aptly titled. Not only for the characters, but for the readers, as well. There's a new student in the academy and Jimmy is going to show him the ropes. That is, as long as Jake doesn't give him *ahem* his own type of orientation.

We're introduced to all the players. We learn a bit about each of the characters, the role they play in the academy, and about how they ended up being there.  They all have their own story to tell and, even with the short amount of pages, I really got a feel for each of the boys.

Each story was different, but they all made me kind of ragey.  Not because of the guys, but because they ended up in this ridiculous academy. Although, I really don't think their teacher had negative intentions, however misguided he may be. I didn't get to read much about his character, but I have a feeling he's going to play a role in future books.

There were some characters that made more of an impression on me than others. I'm most certainly intrigued by Mason. I can't wait to see where his story goes. Every scene with Jake was just fun. He's bound to get himself into some trouble along the road. I just want to know who he's going to bring along with him.

And Jimmy? Oh, yes! No spoilers here but... I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JIMMY! His storyline is the one I'm most excited to read about.

I feel like Orientation got my feet wet. I met the guys and know just enough to get me wanting more. 

This new series and me? I am 100% IN! 

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: Blind Love by Laura Warby

When Owen and Nate are introduced in a bar one night, neither of them have any idea of the impact the other will have on their lives.

Nate, shy, reticent and blind, finds it difficult to trust Owen with his secrets, but after the two become roommates their relationship blossoms into more than either of them could have ever expected.

This book was a sweet little read. I loved the premise behind it, Owen bringing Nate out of his shell, first time love for the shyer man. Two great characters, a great premise and a story that tried to be too much. For such a short story it felt, to me, that there was just too much trying to fit in here.

I was expecting a slow burn romance between the two MC's as they slowly overcame the obstacles in place between them. What I got, felt more like insta-love, zoom through to serious and try and find a cure for Nate's blindness. I kind of felt a little let down. Not because the writing was bad, but because it was good and the story had the potential to be something really great. Maybe it's just a case of expecting something different from what I got, after all the author has the right to tell the story she wants to tell and it's not up to her to deal with my expectations. I so wanted this to be the story of a slow burn love though.

 Nate was blinded on the day his parents threw him out for being gay, trust and acceptance is really lacking in his life. I wanted Owen to slowly gain his trust, for them to become friends and then move from that into something more. It had so much potential, so many hurdles to overcome. I could then see the second part of the story, where Owen is trying to find a cure for Nate's blindness, to be a whole separate book. An established couple dealing with the problems life chucks at them....but, as I said, it's the author's story, not mine.

I enjoyed the setting of this book - I'm always going to have a fondness for books set in the UK being English myself. The opening scene in the pub was brilliant, it simmered with potential. I really liked the characters too. Owen, known as a bit of a player and Nate shy and reticent. They were great. I certainly didn't hate this book. It was a quick read that was sweet, but, like a mum moaning at her children, I just felt it didn't quite live up to it's full potential. That's just my opinion though, yours might be completely different.

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

Review: Homicidal Instinct (Guns 'N' Boys #2) by KA Merikan

All Seth wants is to live free with the man he loves. But escaping death at the hands of the mafia is just the beginning of an uphill struggle. When Domenico wakes up from his impromptu surgery and doesn’t even remember Seth’s name, Seth’s world falls apart. Suddenly it’s him who has to plan an escape from New York City and navigate their way to Mexico. All that without even knowing if the man of his life will ever love him again.

Domenico doesn’t know who to trust and what to believe. The man who introduces himself as his brother seems to hide dark secrets behind a cheerful smile. With the mafia breathing down their necks, there is no time to piece together the puzzle of Domenico’s life, and each time he thinks he’s solved it, a new part appears to be missing. Dom needs to find out who he really is, what he’s capable of... and what is the real story hidden behind Seth’s intense eyes.

Book 2 in KA Merikan's Guns N Boys series was equally as good as parts 1.1 and 1.2. Everything is the same - yet different. Whereas before Domenico has been the driving force of the duo, he now has amnesia and it is Seth's turn to step up to the plate.

It would be easy for a series such as this to become repetitive, but Merikan manage to keep it fresh and exciting. Something as simple as a change in the balance of power makes for an interesting storyline, full of twists and turns and doubts and sighs of relief. Book 1.2 had me not knowing quite how things would play out, and to a certain extent so did this book. With his memory loss Dom has to rely on information from Seth, but Seth isn't quite sure Dom's ready to handle the full truth. This leaves Dom susceptible to the whisperings of others, and what happens when you are unsure if you can trust the one person in the world in whom you have placed all your trust?

Despite his amnesia Dom is still very attracted to Seth, who he knows only as his brother. I love that this is still evident even through the doubts. It is the relationship between Seth and Dom that keeps me so invested in these books. I'm a sucker for true love - and a love that has to fight to be, as theirs has done, leaves me rooting for the MC's so hard. I've cried with these two, I've loved and laughed with them. I want their dreams to come true. I want Seth to open up a bakery or restaurant, I can see him so clearly in a mafia free life, it is after all what he wanted all along. Dom, I have to admit, is harder to place outside the family. It has been his life, it is what he's good at, what he has strove for...yet he's willing to change that for Seth. *I need to bandage my heart right now.*

There were moments in this book that I wasn't sure I could carry on reading. Moments when I hated the family with all my heart. How dare they stand in the way and stop these two? I'm not lying when I say there were parts in this book that were downright awful, I always hate any kind of 'collateral damage' innocent people getting caught up in the fray. It makes me sick. At one point, despite rooting for Dom and Seth, I have to say I found it really hard to forgive their actions. Even Seth with his talks of forgiveness made me squirm (and not in a good way) because, you know, don't do it. Bad decision - you can't want to be clean of this lifestyle just some of the time and then make choices that affect innocent people the rest of the time. No, that's not how it works. Despite this though I still love them and their story - even if I don't always love their choices.

Another fabulous instalment of the Guns 'n' Boys series, one I would recommend to anyone not put off by the warning tags.

Find out more at Goodreads.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Possible spoiler - story warnings.
Themes: mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, amnesia, road trip, chase
Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller
Erotic content: Explicit gay sex
Length: ~88,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.

Review: Fallout by Lisa Henry & M. Caspian

High-school boyfriends Jack Haldane and Bastian Wade thought everything would be perfect once they reunited at college, putting disapproving parents and small-town attitudes firmly in the past. Now Jack’s on track for a PhD scholarship and a career as a researcher, and Bastian . . . well, living inside a broken body and trailing along in Jack’s shadow didn’t feature in his lofty teenage ambitions. A weekend camping trip back home offers a chance for them to reconnect, but an ugly confrontation with the local motorcycle gang is only the start of their problems. When disaster occurs and the world unravels, will Bastian and Jack manage to hold on to each other, or fall further apart as they try to survive? 

"If we want to survive, we adapt."

I have a confession to make. I'm a blurb skimmer. I try to read them. I really do, but under certain conditions I tend to lapse. This was one of those times. My blurb skim for this went a little something like:  "blah, blah, blah, two dudes who've known each other for a long time, yada, yada KRAKENRY!!!!!!!!" during which there was much squealing, squeeing and, if I'm totally honest, an approximation of a jig. 

Do not let this happen to you. 

Fallout is not a romance. It's a fascinating look at human nature and its capacity for both good and evil during a catastrophe with the central characters being an established gay couple who are in a low point in their relationship. They go on a hiking vacation back to their home town in an effort to rekindle their relationship. And all hell breaks loose.

The first chapter hooked me and I initially thought Fallout was going to delve into the difficulties of sustaining a relationship after the honeymoon's over and life has dealt them some hard knocks. Then chapter two happened. If you're familiar with these two authors, it should come as no surprise that they are comfortable and even revel in darkness. If you're squeamish, I wouldn't recommend this. There is on page rape and torture.

Now that I've gotten all the warnings out of the way I'm going to gush. I think the cat's out of the bag regarding my feels on these two authors, but they hit it out of the park here. I do hope they collaborate again because this felt like something special. For as dark as it can be it has pockets of beauty that left me a little verklempt, a feat in and of itself. They manipulated the English language to their will, wielded it with artistry in both the characterizations and the narrative which drew me in like a tractor beam then threw me around like a piñata at a party of seven year olds jacked up on cake and Mt. Dew. 

Fallout kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't mind saying at one point I had serious concerns one of the MCs wasn't going to make it. But the level of research they must've done to build this world is what made this stunning. Jack is working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and they get stuck on vacation during a freak volcanic ash fallout. Bas has a spinal injury that requires frequent monitoring and treatment. They folded in legitimate environmental concerns through the underbelly of this story which appealed to me as an environmentalist and illustrated the challenges of mundane daily activities by someone who has suffered a spinal injury. They gave them both depth by focusing on the details of what makes each of these men tick.

Bas and Jack spend the majority of Fallout apart after being separated shortly after the fallout begins. Their faith in their ability to survive is repeatedly tested and they both find themselves thrust into situations they never could have imagined. They discover truths about themselves, encounter atrocities and meet some extraordinary people. The genius, for me, was the plausibility of the catastrophe and, by extension, human nature under extreme conditions. 

How does one reconcile actions committed under extraordinary circumstances with their self-schema in the aftermath? 

He needed to know that Jack still wanted to touch him. He needed that to be the only thing that had never changed, and would never change.

It's a dark roller coaster of emotions but it's also, paradoxically, beautiful. If the warning tags don't scare you, you will be rewarded by what KRAKENRY have accomplished.

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

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