Review: Diversion by Eden Winters

Drug dealers aren't always on the streets; sometimes they sit in offices and board rooms, selling merchandise in official looking bottles instead of little cellophane bags.

When given a choice between eight more years in prison or using his "expertise" to assist the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau's Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, convicted drug trafficker Richmond "Lucky" Lucklighter takes the sentence with the illusion of freedom. Cynical and unwilling to admit he's begun to care about his job, he counts the days until his debt is paid. His sole obstacle to getting his life back is the rookie he's assigned to train before he leaves; a rookie who quotes pharmacy texts, hasn't paid his dues, and has the obnoxious tendency of seeing the good in everyone – including the target of their investigation.

Former Marine Bo Schollenberger dreamed of becoming a pharmacist and watched the dream turn into a nightmare of PTSD-fueled prescription drug abuse. Battling his demons daily, he wakes up every morning, wondering, "Will this be the day I give in?" To keep his license, he must now put his skills to use for a diversion control task force, deal with a crude partner with too much attitude and no brain-to-mouth filter, and take down a drug lord who reminds him of his favorite cooking show hostess.

The bad guys don't stand a chance -- if Lucky and Bo don't strangle each other first...

I was lost but now I am found! One million stars to you, Eden Winters! But seriously. I’ve been in a bit of a book slump lately and haven’t been able to sit down and read one full book in a while. Well, I’m back to my old self and read this puppy in one day. Fantastic. I’ve had this guy sitting in my library for, like, a year, and just now I decided to give it a shot. Lucky and Bo might be one of my favorite couples of all time, now. They’re getting up there with the likes of Gordon Frost and Adam Blake, or Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity. So the plot was amazing. I’m going to have to badger Eden Winters about how she came up with it because that is some White Collar shit right there. Well, the sluttier, gayer (Matt Bomer not included) version of White Collar.

Anyway, anyway, anyway, I’m getting off topic. The plot was awesome. I had no idea what was going on for the first, like, three chapters and kept saying, “Hehehe, omgomgomgomg, you’re in so much trouuuubbble!” Oh boy and was Lucky ever trouble. He epitomizes trouble. Actually, not that I think about it, why am I sitting here writing this review and not reading Collusion? :\ Okay, the plot was original, fun, action-packed, never boring, I NEVER skimmed through anything (this is a big deal), the sex was sexy, the funny parts had me in stitches, and boy, was the romance refreshing. Quotes. I highlighted a million things, but I’ll put in a few gems.

Was Bo straight? Spaghetti’s straight until things heat up.

Lucky’s inner monologue, especially when he first meets Bo, it kills me. Slays meeeeeeee, it’s so damn funny.

I bet you got an ass like an onion. Make me wanna cry.

The beginning of Chapter 5 consisted of Lucky’s inner professions of love for Bo’s bum and I seriously was almost killed. I almost choked to death on my water and started wheezing like a dying animal.

Walter, fumbling with his vibrating cell phone, missed the exchange. Lucky mouthed, “When and where?” Bo mouthed back, “In your dreams.”

Okokok. So, amazingly awesome and unique plot, some of my favorite characters evvaaarrr. So fun, fresh, different, and can’t wait to read the second one. Actually, I’m off to the races with that right now.

I was considering posting like 25 stars on this (because it was that good), but feared I'd be slaughtered by fellow unicorns.

Guest Review: A Place for Cliff by Talon P.S.

Today we welcome a visitor to the clubhouse. Thank you for the guest review, Optimist King's Wench! ♥

Abandoned by his parents and left to tend to his sick sister since he was nineteen, Cliff has done little more than wander thru his existence. That is until the Patronus Diesel Gentry sends him to meet Pyotr Laszkovi. A man nearly twice his age but his impeccable looks and debonair sexuality has Cliff falling like a love sick puppy for the man. Problem is Cliff is about two threads from coming completely undone as a human being. Despite this, Pyotr sees in him an irresistible young man who satisfies his needs like no other and is willing to be there to catch Cliff when he unravels and stay at his side during the hardest goodbye of all.

"I also tend to have a voraciously demanding sexual appetite once I've chosen to become involved with someone."

Promising start, no?

Cliff is a twinky EMT who's been left as the sole provider/caretaker for his sister, Kimmi, who has leukemia. How he winds up in Pyotr's office is a bit murky on the details, but he gets a referral ostensibly to work on his issues. What issues, you ask? Erm... *shrugs*. Pyotr's a psychologist and a dominant who's 46 to Cliff's 24. Woot! Age difference! It would've been the icing on the cake if he were a bear. He is Serbian so... I just sort of made it happen (in my head). So, Cliff waltzes in believing himself to be a dominant and straight.

Fifth session we get this:

"...you're just like any other doctor, making me wait on you, but don't you dare try to tell I'm too young to want to be in your bed. You keep at me about saying what I want. Well- you're fucking me and that's it!"

Alrighty then. Not that straight, huh?

*suspend reality thrusters engaged*

Boy, those thrusters came in handy! About 5 whole minutes after the virgin ass pounding the instalove hit triggering the throwing out of the condoms followed shortly thereafter by declarations of LUB, a move in because why wouldn't you move you and your ill sister in with a guy you've known for a handful of weeks? A smattering of drama llamaesque antics naturally follow accompanied by a heaping pile of PDA. Y'know. Typical instalove algorithm stuff. Level of Cray Cray-2.

Cliff and Pyotr's stomping ground is called... brace yourselves... Club Pain.*groans* The kink is actually the high point of A Place for Cliff-bondage, suspension, exhibitionism, flogging, zip lines. Truly, queltworthy stuff. The sex is sweaty, filled with dirty talk and an abundance of floppy cocks (a personal fave), so that's a win-WIN-WIN!!! The D/s development didn't go from 0-ARE-YOU-FUCKING-CRAZY???? which was a good counterbalance to the instalove. Ironic that Pyotr, who's mostly into B/D, would fall for a brat, but there's no stopping the instalove train. I was looking forward to some quality punishments which never came to pass. *pouts*

The storyline of A Place for Cliff is unfocused, full of dead end tangents with clunky prose and some downright odd vocabulary choices. There are so many perspective changes I started feeling schizophrenic. Sloppy editing-using 'strait' rather than 'straight' or classifying the penis as a 'gland' rather than it having a 'glans' and improper usage of words; silly mistakes that kept kicking me out of the story. Most resolutions were tied up in nice little boxes with bows. Essentially, it needs to be tightened up and an editor. Desperately.

p.s. Pet peeve:  if you're going to use a foreign language in your writez, it needs to be translated. Period.

2 Stars for good kink and floppy cocks.

♥ Thank you to our wonderful Friend of the Unicorns, Optimist King's Wench, for the guest review! ♥

Unicorn Favorites: Love's Landscapes Stories : Week Two

The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads hosts a Don't Read in the Closet event each year where they invite members to submit a photo with a story prompt.  Interested authors then volunteer to write the requested stories, which are published for free for everyone to read.  It's a fun/exciting/stressful process, and a great opportunity to read stories from favorite authors.  And chances are, you'll also discover some new authors, who hopefully have a backlist of goodies to check out :)

This year's event was named Love's Landscapes and they started releasing the completed stories on June first. Here at BMBR, we've been following along on comment threads, anticipating the stories from our favorite prompts, and now greedily reading the stories as they become available.

We've already shared some of our favorite stories from the first week of the event, and mentioned something about mysterious and magically rare unicorns, about how we can't expect their presence to show up in our reviews because the interwebz couldn't handle it.  That said, this week we LOVED Punch-Drunk Love by Nico Jaye. That is all.

Other than Punch-Drunk Love, here are some of our favorites from the second week of the event, June 8-14:

Ann: Man of the Match by Lane Swift

This one hit all the buttons I love for sporty, friends to lovers and coming of age stories. I love reading how Aaron and Laurie's relationship evolved and the pacing was so well done. It read realistically for their ages which I really appreciated. Their relationship grew with their maturity and grew apart with the natural changes in their lives. I think they had to have the "growing apart" period to make their HEA believable for me. Any earlier declarations would have felt to "YA unrealistic" to me and the distance and time gave their relationship credibility. The ending conversation between Aaron and Laurie absolutely broke my heart in the best possible way.

Also, big credit to the author for the well written rugby details and references. I'm still newish to following the sport but as a novice fan it was easy to follow and I understood what was going on the whole time. I could also follow the importance of Aaron and Laurie's respective positions on the field in comparison to their personalities and their relationship off the field.

Breann: Bound by Amelia Bishop

Why is Bound my favorite of the week? A few reasons...

1. Nate. Nate didn't let Adrian get away with moping and feeling sorry for himself. He pushed Adrian, maybe a little too hard sometimes, but I liked that he wouldn't let Adrian keep wallowing. And he said just the sweetest things. Dude made me swoon.

2. Adrian. He was grumpy and pissy most of the time. But he recognized it and he really tried to change and make things right for Nate because he knew Nate deserved better. I really liked this about him.

3. Frot. Really, really hot frottage.

4. Edging. Lots and lots of edging.

5. Light BDSM play. That's all it was - play. And it was FUN!

6. This quote: "'No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I pushed you so hard. Sorry I moved too fast. And I'm sorry you're not ready for a boyfriend, Adrian, because I'd love to be yours.'"

7. The long time span. Their relationship really felt like a journey, even though Bound was short, I felt like I got to know the characters since we got a lot of mini glimpses into their life as a couple.

Lorix: 500 Kisses to Steal a Heart by Anyta Sunday

Nico Jaye and Anyta Sunday freebies released in the same week. It's kinda like winning the lottery IMO. I am the first to hold my hands up and admit I am a huge Anyta Sunday fangirl. A look at my goodreads page and you will see that I've recently been on a real AS spree - so when I saw her LL story come up I ignored everything that needed doing and sat down to read. I was not at all disappointed.

This book is billed as enemies to lovers, but really it's friends to enemies to lovers. And it is as hot as all hell. In just 68 pages this author made me fall in love with both Chris and Dylan and want them to have an HEA. The UST - as ever with Anyta Sunday - is through the roof. The story-line is cute and not over done. The characters are fun. Even grumpy Chris.

Though this in no way lacks for being a short story, it could equally have been a full length novel, following the two men from school with their friendship and 'break-up' to the events contained here. It certainly doesn't need to do that, I would have liked it, only because I'm a greedy AS fan who cannot read enough of her words! This story is guaranteed to leave you happy and feeling warm and fuzzy inside, though it manages to avoid being sickly sweet. And now I've written this review, I really want to go back to read it again. *Wanders off to locate kindle*

Jenni Lea: 500 Kisses to Steal a Heart by Anyta Sunday

What Lorix said.

SheReadsALot: Cruel to be Kind by Kim Dare

Delicious from the first lick.

Yum.

Then it hooked me with:

“You’re not just playing with fire, Xander. You’re playing with a vampire. And you’re risking far more than a few burns. Whatever you think it will be like to submit to me, you’re wrong.”

*laser focus eyes* Game the hell on.

Human Xander has been aching to submit to his vampire friend and business partner, Malone, for years. In a last attempt to finally get Malone to admit he wants to own Xander in every way possible, Xander offers himself to be a pet to a club of vampires.

Of course, dominant Malone is not going to stand for that shit.

Loved every minute of it.

There's a lot of hot quotes that made me wiggle in pleasure. In fact, if I put all of my quotes...you'd have practically the entire story.

There were faint red marks around his wrists where the cuffs had cut in. He stared at them, wondering if those kinds of marks were going to become a regular feature in his life. He could only pray that they would.

*grunts*

“From this moment on, you can forget whatever you think you know about yourself,” Malone said. “Everything you think you are is irrelevant. You’re mine. For the next twenty-four hours, the only thing that matters is what you can do to please me. You’re not a person. You’re a toy. A snack.”

Quelted! I quelted hard.

Will this story work for everyone? Probably not. If you don't like the D/s aspect of BDSM or BDSM, I wouldn't suggest. It's not heavy in the kink. The toy play is minimal. (cuffs and a paddle put to very good use) But the Total Power Exchange - believable among the two men and just yummilicious to read.

HOT LITTLE NUMBER!

Plus, vampires definitely are in my 'favorites' column. Loved the paranormal twist. I think it added a heightened aspect to the TPE.

“You need to realise that this isn’t what you want, and you need to tell me that, because once I’ve got you, Xan, I won’t be able to let you go.”

The fuck you say?!

Baby's there.

Muscles and tattoos. *drips*
The total domination *drops*

The only thing that made me pout, is one teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy thing which made me take off .05 (that's right, I'm rating this bad boy 4.95 stars) was that this story was not longer.

I could have read this story all day. Malone and Xander definitely pushed all of my fuckhot buttons.

Twice.

This author owned this prompt and showed me who's master.

Sunny: Guarded by Kim Fielding

I don't even know where to start.  Probably with the complex characters and fantastic world building. Everything felt so real.  Consistent characterization, natural sounding dialogue, information being shared organically and not in an info dump...it all contributed to a compelling and intense story.

With themes of honor and loyalty, the author did a great job showing the effects of war and the intrigue surrounding all the politics.  And amidst all the drama, tender emotions caught my heart.  Parts of the story were brutal, though, and I was at turns angry, upset, and confused.  Luckily, the darker parts didn't drag on, and I was delighted by the rest of the story.

*** All stories are available for download at 

http://www.mmromancegroup.com/ ***

Author of the Month Review: Corruption (Diversion #3) by Eden Winters

Sequel to bestselling novels Diversion and Collusion.

Renegade biker. Drug runner. Recovering addict. Wanted by the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. But he isn’t a crook, he’s the law.

SNB Agent Bo Schollenberger’s solved his cases using his brains and not a gun, and with his partner, not alone. Now he’s handed a tough new case involving designer drugs that turn users violent. One false move could end his life as he immerses himself into a motorcycle gang to locate the source. His fate depends on how well he can impersonate someone else. Someone named Cyrus Cooper.

Cyrus is everything Bo Schollenberger isn’t, including the badass enforcer for a smuggling ring. He establishes pecking order with his fists and doesn’t take shit from anybody, not even the undercover agent who comes to help his case.

Simon “Lucky” Harrison’s always been the best, whichever side of the law he was on. Former trafficker turned SNB agent, he damned well ought to be undercover in this motorcycle gang, instead of hanging around the office going crazy with new policies, new people, and “inter-departmental cooperation” that sticks him in a classroom. Yet he’s passed over for the SNB’s biggest case in decades in favor of the rookie who shares his bed. A man Lucky thought he knew.

When survival depends on a web of tangled lies, lines blur, worlds collide, and a high stakes game turns friend to foe. Lucky knows the difference between Bo the agent and Cyrus the outlaw, but does Bo?

***Mild Spoilers!***



Finally! FINALLY! Not the big finally I was hoping for but still...

*happy, dreamy sigh of relief*

...finally.

Alright, Bo and Lucky are back for another fast moving and suspenseful case. Not only are they sexy as hell, (cause, oh, they so are), but I also get really into the suspense part of this series and Corruption had my favorite suspense plot so far.

Let me start with this: Bo is just effing hot. He's undercover and he's here to prove that he's just as badass as the rest of 'em. And it was. Way. Hot.

What happens when Bo goes undercover? That's right, he has to go bye-bye for a while. Lucky isn't too keen on this, and he doesn't like that it bothers him so much. It might mean that he has *gasp* serious feelings for Bo. But, gah, who the hell wouldn't? He's damn sexy and puts up with Lucky and his crap. Lucky had better wake the heck up! (this is where all my 'finallys' are coming in) And he (mostly) does wake up. Finally!

Lucky and Bo make a lot of progress in their relationship, and I for one could not have been happier with where they are now and where they're headed. It took three books, but it feels real and genuine to their characters. They're so great together and Lucky is finally realizing it!

Not only are they great together relationship-wise (getting there at least), but these boys know how to have some serious sex. Here's a taste of how they play... So, the boys are doing some undercover training classes and they're practicing how to pick up a prostitute. Well, Bo and Lucky decide to do some of their own, ahem, practice outside of the class... which may have involved some role playing... *grunts* damn... Bo is just effing hot.

The suspense/case plot was so awesome. Both guys are undercover and both totally kick ass. They played their characters so well. So well that they kind of melded into one with their undercover identity. I think being in this together brought them closer and helped them reach this point in their relationship. It kind of helped them open up more, especially for Lucky. And undercover Bo mixed with real life Bo? Unf. Bo is just effing hot.

Corruption is by far my favorite in the series. It had it all for me... the perfect romance, fantastic plot, witty dialogue and Bo.

And the moral of this review is... Bo is just effing hot.

More! Gimme MORE! *grabby hands*

Review: Beckoning Blood by Daniel de Lorne

A gripping, blood‐drenched saga about twin brothers, the men they love, and the enduring truth that true love never dies — no matter how many times you kill it.

Thierry d’Arjou has but one escape from the daily misery of his work at a medieval abattoir — Etienne de Balthas. But keeping their love a secret triggers a bloody chain of events that condemns Thierry to a monstrous immortality. Thierry quickly learns that to survive his timeless exile, he must hide his sensitive heart from the man who both eases and ensures his loneliness...his twin brother.

Shaped by the fists of a brutal father, Olivier d’Arjou cares for only two things: his own pleasure and his twin. But their sadistic path through centuries is littered with old rivals and new foes, and Olivier must fight for what is rightfully his – Thierry, made immortal just for him.

The d'Arjou twins...vampire twins, gruesome, twisted and quite a tale they weave.

Any True Blood or Vampire Diaries fans out there? I'm a fan of both. And surprise, surprise, I gravitate to the twisted ones. The anti-hero/villains are way better the good guys. There's just something about the depraved ones, the less morals, the better!

Think of having Damon Salvatore times two and one is without a conscience! :D

Warning for the easily squicked: There is rape, brief mention of sexual abuse, incest overtones -no actual incest happens on page and blood play. Oh and the bloody warning in the blurb isn't an exaggeration. This book has tons of blood and gore.

Twins Thierry and Olivier were human identical twins in Carcassonne, France in 1390. Sons of a mean butcher with a secretive little sister, the brothers were used to a harsh and abusive live. But Thierry had a secret lover named Etienne that he hid from his twin...even though the twins have a psychic bond. Thierry hid his lover well...or so he thought. Olivier is changed into a vampire by accident by an obsessed vampire, mistaken for Theirry. But once Olivier learns of his brother's lover and that Olivier is not number one in Thierry's life, let's just say it gets bloody.

The story spans from 1390 France to 1792 Saxony until present day Australia. during this time the twins cause mayhem and havoc. But Thierry was always the softer of the two, looking for a love to claim for his own. He's charged to keep an eye on his brother but not a leash.The trouble they cause. Whew boy! That incest line is never crossed between the brothers so if twincest isn't your thing, have no fear. (I'm still pouting about it)

Thierry is the damaged protagonist who misses his dead love Etienne so much. And he gets to meets his reincarnated love more than once in his very long undead vampire life...but Olivier. Oh Olivier is the debauched vampire hostess with the most-est.

Dayum...depraved, vile, revolting, murderer, wicked...delicious.

Olivier is a sociopath with a sick obsession for his twin. He lets nothing come in the way of having his brother in his life. And we're talking some sick shit, to be honest. Two thumbs for Olivier. I'm sure Thierry will garner sympathy but Olivier is alright with me. Finally, vampires that enjoy being a vampire. No whiny 'I want to be a human' or 'I'm drinking animal's blood to prove I'm tame and lame'.

There are issues such as the parts where it didn't fully drag but had a lull of sorts. It was not a lot of times but I felt some filler could have been dropped. Another issue is not enough description into what happened with the brothers when their relationship strained during the years. There was a period briefly mentioned where they were separated. Why? What happened? Olivier is the sick, obsessive type to not be separated from his brother without good reason for so long. also for all the centuries between them and the annoyance Thierry felt for his brother...why was he so unmotivated to pull away? He might have been the timid brother, the lover, the dreamer and romantic but he came off so resigned. And then Olivier lacks morals and is psychotic...why didn't he take what he really wanted from Thierry? And what is the purpose of the magic and the twin bond?

You see the plot lines are laced into the appropriate holes (it's why it's getting 4 Hearts from me) but it's not fully tightened. This author has room to grow. This book I enjoyed with the love of a good story. I'll ignore technical things if the story is good.

And it's good.

If the author plans to continue with more from this world, a little more description into a vampire's full extent of powers, a little more development of the important bonds between characters and (me being greedy) maybe a a little bro-on-bro action? Yes? No? It's alright. Get back to me. ;P

The story ends with a HEA but there are unresolved questions - Aurelia? Oberon? The Duke? This magic cycle?

Recommended for vampire lovers. Not the fans of the glitter-in-the-sun-woe-is-me vampires, I talking about the ones the enjoy a vampire that revels in being a bloodsucker.

I'm a proud fangbanger and I definitely will be reading more from this author.

A copy provided for an honest review. 

Author Interview and Giveaway: Eden Winters.

Our author of the month for June is Eden Winters and we were very pleased to invite her into the clubhouse to answer some questions. Over some Pimms - well what else do you have in this hot summer weather ?- I asked her about her books and her writing.

BMBR: Our book of the month this month was Naked Tails, which was a hugely fun read, and that leads to our first question: Why possums? Of all the creatures out there what drew you to choose possums as the heroes of your story?

EW: At the time that I wrote the story I lived in a very remote home surrounded by woods. Skunks, possums, deer, squirrels, and foxes were all my neighbors. The fall that year was particularly cold, and a four-footed local decided to winter at my place.

The first night I awoke to scratching in the walls I was terrified, thinking whatever it was could get in. I slept with the lights on a few nights, with a weapon always handy. I asked the landlord to come by and together we reached the conclusion that the critter was a possum that liked to get into the walls, crawl into the water heater compartment, and snooze in warmth.

I eyed the panel over the water heater. What if I opened the panel and the possum jumped out and bit me? And what if it was really the weak link in the chain of the local possum shifters? And what if the vet in town was really their leader? Yeah, an author’s mind works like that.

While kicking around these ideas, I attended a conference hosted by Dreamspinner Press, and shared a limo ride with Carole Cummings, P.D. Singer, Andrew Grey, and few others. I tossed out the idea and they had a great time giving me suggestions for my possum shifters: “Oh, and when they get scared, they fall over!”

Ironically, the place where my possum adventure occurred is called “Possum Kingdom” which I used for the name of the town (I just moved it to a different state.)

BMBR: What is your favourite genre to write?

EW: I write strictly m/m at the moment, and thrive on action adventure, like in my Diversion series, but I also enjoy contemporary, paranormal, and sci-fi. Oh, I have tried my hand at comedy too.

BMBR: Any future projects we should look out for?

EW: I’m re-releasing the first book in the Diversion series, to be followed by book four, Manipulation, which should be ready this fall. In September, Dreamspinner will release my rocker/opera star novel, A Matter of When.

BMBR: Any plans for future shifter books? Because the unicorn shifter market is sorely lacking. *hint hint*

EW: Unicorns! Hmm… I’ll have to consider that. I do have notes and hope to soon work on a young adult trilogy featuring a bird shifter.

BMBR: What are your favourites - meerkats or prairie dogs?

EW: Both!

BMBR: What is the best thing about being an author? And the worst?

EW: The best? All the great people I meet. The worst? Having to go to the EDJ when I want to stay home and write!

BMBR: If you could go back and give you 16 year old self some advice, what would it be?

EW: You are all you need, and yours is the only behavior you’re responsible for. Don’t let people change you—be your own work in progress.

BMBR: What is your guilty pleasure?

EW: If you saw how many pairs of shoes I own, you might plan an intervention. So I have to say: acquiring footwear.

Thank you so much for visiting Eden, it has been a real pleasure.

Eden has kindly offered up an e-book copy of each of her Match shorts (The Match Before Christmas, Fanning the Flames, A Lie I Can Live With) as a give-away prize set. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a copy please comment below with (1) a means of contacting you such as email, Twitter name, etc., and (2) the type of animal you would be if you were a shifter and why. The give-away closes at 12pm pacific time on Friday 27th June and a name will be picked at random then. 

Of course we couldn't let Eden visit without giving her a caricature of her Unicorn alter-ego, so here she is, the beautiful Plum Lovely Lady....

Review: Lily by Xavier Axelson

What does one say when they realize their child is gone? Better yet, what does one say when that child returns, but is different?

This is the question Pryor must ask himself after his daughter, Lily, is dragged into the woods by a wolf and her body is never found. It isn't until he sees a wolf in the woods with eyes that resemble Lily's that he feels hope. And then something is whispered from deep within the woods, a promise for him to see Lily again.

One day...

But which day and for how long?

And then Pryor meets Ned, a silversmith who brings out desires that Pryor hasn't felt in years and helps him hatch a plan to keep Lily with him.

Now the question isn't about how much time Pryor will have with Lily, it's about how far will he'll go to keep her with him.



I love this flavor of horror story, for me the subtle kind are the scariest. The kind that takes something that is good and perfect and makes it wrong. Wrong and completely out of a characters control. How does a man reconcile what he still wants to believe with all his heart to the horror of the reality he is now faced with? If you’re looking at the wolf on the cover and skimming the blurb you may think this is some sort of shifter story and you couldn’t be further from the truth. Those can be fun and sexy, but this? This is a story that will put you on the edge of your seat and tease you with hope that just isn’t coming.

Lily is a story of one night. In this one night Pryor waits for Lily to come home and waits to see what Lily has become. It also tells the story of the past year in a perfect “showing” not “telling” way. The moments are told so well and are crafted with such simple and subtle sentences that say so much. So much more than a multitude of mediocre paragraphs could have. Pryor is living a tragedy in a small town and as he says,

“Small towns are like quaint traps, everyone knows everyone’s business and my business was epic. I forgot how long memories are in a town like this.”

 If you have ever lived in a small town you know how very, very true that is. Pryor’s daughter, Lily has gone missing, dragged into the woods behind their home by a wolf. She was his life and he is both devastated by the loss and convinced she is still out there. She just isn’t Lily anymore and that’s the real heartbreaker when reading Pryor's thoughts.

Lily is there, she just isn’t Lily anymore. Pryor is in a committed relationship with Ned when the book begins and how they meet and come together is told through Pryor’s memories of the last year, the year since Lily was taken. Pryor is grieving heavily and Ned is everything Pryor didn’t even know he needed. The author captured all the thoughts going through Pryor’s mind so well. His thought processes are completely skewed as everything he thinks and feels now is in relation to Lily’s disappearance.

“My first memory of Ned is not a fair one. I wasn’t in my right mind. I wasn’t looking to see anything except my daughter, so when I first saw him, his back was to me and he was hunched over a long metal table. The only thing I remember thinking was how big he seemed to be. Size had become very important to me. I measured everything by how much room it took up in my life, how much stood between my lost kid and me.”

Pryor is overwhelmed by Ned when he first lays eyes on him. Ned is a silversmith in the small town jewelry store. He’s a big man with a gruff exterior and a kind heart. Being in a relationship with another man is pretty new to both of them, but I liked how the author didn’t make that an angst point in the story. The relationship was actually pretty simple and cleanly defined, much like Ned himself. Given ALL that Pryor had going on, Ned was a perfect match. I had to wonder if the two of them would have gotten together without the drama of Lily’s disappearance. Who knows, but I would sure hope so. The chemistry between them was off-the-charts hot and when an author can use the term “cock crazed” in a story and I’m all, “yeah, he damn well was, bless him and thank you”, you know there is some hot and sexy connecting going on. It did more than make for a tantalizing read though, Ned was what grounded Pryor and made him feel safe and centered amid all the turmoil. Ned’s kisses “had come to be a weapon against the unknown and no warrior takes to the field weaponless.”

As Father’s Day approaches, which is, not so ironically, the day that Lily is to return, the tension in the book is palpable. Both Pryor and Ned are on edge and throughout the story I could see Ned’s strength through Pryor’s eyes. Just by being his quiet and subtle self in Ned’s life. He never tells Pryor that he’s crazy or that Lily is never coming back, he just supports and loves unconditionally. But, as Father’s Day comes near even Ned is feeling it.

“The tension of the past few days strained Ned’s place in the house and confused him. He wasn’t a man used to living in the abstract, he preferred concrete and metal, not moonlight and shadows.”

This is the part of the story I loved the most and what made it a five heart rating for me. See, I LOVE being creeped out and stressed out by a book. I love when the story could go any direction and give me a happily ever after or horrify the hell out of me, I just don’t know. When Lily came home I really did not have a clue what was going to happen and it was great! Poor Pryor wanted his daughter back so badly and he had such hopelessly high hopes, he had “Belief in a lie as seductive as the lie itself”. Underneath it all was the dark atmospheric feel of what Lily had become and the whole time she was at home I was on the edge of my seat. The descriptions weren’t over the top and kept the whole meeting from being campy and kept it right in the creepy edgy place it needed to be.

There is no traditional HEA here. There is a solid relationship between two perfectly matched men, so you will definitely get that feel and it’s a good one. It’s the rest of the story that takes it to a whole new place and will make me remember the book and its characters for a long time to come.

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

Unicorn Favorites: Love's Landscapes Stories : Week One

The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads hosts a Don't Read in the Closet event each year where they invite members to submit a photo with a story prompt.  Interested authors then volunteer to write the requested stories, which are published for free for everyone to read.  It's a fun/exciting/stressful process, and a great opportunity to read stories from favorite authors.  And chances are, you'll also discover some new authors, who hopefully have a backlist of goodies to check out :)

This year's event was named Love's Landscapes and they started releasing the completed stories on June first. Here at BMBR, we've been following along on comment threads, anticipating the stories from our favorite prompts, and now greedily reading the stories as they become available.

As an aside, there are SO many amazing stories being released and while we haven't read all of them yet, we will get there. There will be a few however, that won’t be reviewed here. You see, unicorns are not only badass, they are also mysterious and magically rare. We can't expect their presence to show up in our reviews, the interwebz couldn't handle it. But, just know this, this week, we LOVED Carte Blanche by Nash Summers. That is all.

Other than Carte Blanche, here are some of our favorites from the first week of the event, June 1-7:

Ann: Broken Phoenix by Edmond Manning

My Sunday was completely shot when this story came out. I started Broken Phoenix with the intention of reading a little now, reading a little later, you know. No way could I walk away once I started, though. Completely fascinating world that was complex but still easy to follow and the MC's are charming as all hell. I laughed out loud more than once at the snarky banter. I loved how Gio attempted to grasp "New York" style speak and references. It really had everything: adventure, fantasy, romance, sexy times, big feels and little feels, it was all there. This one definitely has a spot on my summer reread shelf and a big than you to Edmond Manning for his contribution to this event!

Breann: Mr. Jaguar by K.A. Merikan

I'm not much of an enemies-to-lovers fan. There always seems to be too much useless banter and meanness for no apparent reason. 

But this? This.

Here we have two guys who really are enemies. One is the hot quarterback and the kid he used to pick on in HS. And the hot quarterback is doing what? That's right, pumping Mr. Nerd's gas. Priceless!

"This had to be the guy's dream come true. A prophecy written in the stars."

For reals!

Then! It was like gay Pretty Woman. Gah! Could it be more perfecter?

Not only did I totally dig the set up, but the characters were awesome. Mike was effing awesome. Not only was he sexy and funny but he was really sweet under that rugged, manly exterior. Big, tough guy turned into a puddle of melty goo when he was with his Jamie. Which then, turned me into a melty puddle of lusty goo.

*melts*

Hell, it was a full on *quelt*

Lorix: Metronomy by Suki Fleet

The Love's Landscapes event is amazing, where else do you get to read hundreds of stories for free? From both established and new authors we get a mixture of long and short, fantasy, contemporary, sci-fi, shifter, historical...and most other categories in between. If MM is a genre you enjoy there is bound to be something - several somethings - for you to read and enjoy.

And here is the first problem, how do I just choose one? I've not managed to read them all but I've read and relished several. Carte Blanche I adored but won't review here for reasons (see above), The Lonely Drop was one that I very much enjoyed and came this close to reviewing here first...but in the end I decided on Metronomy by Suki Fleet.

Suki Fleet is an author I've not read before (see already why this is an amazing opportunity?) but I'll definitely be reading her books in the future. At just 33 pages long this story is short. In fact I'm hoping it serves as a prelude to a longer story, even though it works well as a short story in its own right, because I really would like to hear more about Mouse and Hunter.

This is a fantasy story. I love fantasy, yet find the cross-over from mainstream to MM fantasy doesn't always work so well for me. This though, this was great. Magical gifts, friends-to-lovers, running for their lives, enemies, ...it has so many elements I love. I think if you're a fantasy fan you'll appreciate this and (even if you're not) I'd urge you to give it a go. After all, it won't cost you a penny.

SheReadsALot: Better Than New by Charley Descoteaux
Aw yeah...4.5 STARS!

Why this story is dope:

1. The fact that the author rocked the hell out of the prompt. 
Rocked.
The.
Fuck.
Out.
Of.
It.
 Down to the little smirks.
 Loved her style.

2. Did you see the picture attached to this prompt?

3. These quotes:
“I’m serious. I don’t even like guys all that much and I wouldn’t kick you out of bed for getting crumbs in the sheets. Wavy auburn hair, hazel eyes, flawless porcelain skin― low on the asshole scale― what’s not to like? You’re laughing, but I’m serious.” 
AND
“You shouldn't do that either. It’s bad for my health.” 
“I’m not doing anything.” 
“Yes, you are. You’re flirting with me. I’ve seen you look up through your lashes like that at all the cute queer boys.” 
He stepped away and leaned against the side of the building. He even looked up the street, the nearly empty street, like it was the most interesting thing he’d ever seen. 
“But that’s different.” 
"How?” 
“Because you’re different. Different than all of them.” 
AND
 “I thought a lot of things. Mostly, about what I’d do once you said the magic word: graduation.” 

4. Like it's not a major thing but two of my most favorite fucking main character names are the MC's names in this book. Both of them. And the last time both names were used as MC's...I fucking ate the story up. Coincidence? I think not.

5. Er...I dunno if you caught my hint in #3 but there's a ginge MC. So like...I dig gingers. And uh, yeah...

6. The writing is top fucking notch. The story line is sweet but not sticky but just has the right amount of everything. Some feelz, some adorbz, some reality swirl, great dialogue, some smexy. I love plots like this. The entire I dug you, you didn't know I dug you, you might not think you're hot but I think you are and we're friends type of deal. Plus a MC with a disability that didn't make it all about the disability.

*happy sigh* Done right.
Two Thumbs Up!
P.S. Title is dope as hell too. Gotta check for more from this author.
Most def.

Sunny: Human Choices by Jaye McKenna

From the blurb:
Khy is a prisoner and a slave. His life consists of days of drudgery and nights of agony. He has no memory of anything else, yet he knows there must be more beyond the fog that shrouds his mind. When his Master is called away on urgent business and Khy is left alone, a moment of unexpected clarity has him running for freedom.

This story is amazing!  Great world building, beautiful characterization, and an intense story with a sweet hurt/comfort theme that avoids over the top angst.  Everything flows just right, with perfect pacing- no dragging or rushing.
I love it all.
*hugs e-reader*


And there you have it, some of our favorite stories from the first week of the Love's Landscapes event!  Stay tuned for our favorites from week two :)

*** All stories are available for download at 

http://www.mmromancegroup.com/ ***

Review: Casting Call (Gin & Jazz #6) by Morticia Knight

Will Carmichael, an impossibly handsome silent film star, longs for the broodingly intense director André Chenard. Can they find their way to one another despite the hidden perils of the prohibition era?

Will Carmichael lives a carefree and fun-filled life as one of Global Studio’s most popular motion picture stars. Young and stunningly attractive, he could have any man he wants. However, the only one he has any interest in is the only one who won’t have anything to do with him.

André Chenard is Global Studio’s newest director. A proponent of the newly introduced Russian method of acting, he aspires to create true art through the films he directs. Not interested in wasting his time on frivolous pursuits, he spurns Will’s constant attempts to catch his attention. Although André can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous man, his initial meeting with Will leads him to believe that he is too shallow for serious consideration.

Resigned to the fact that André will never be his, Will is determined to enjoy himself to the fullest at his favourite speakeasy and pansy club. When his carousing becomes out of control and he’s injured, André steps in to help. As a result, they each discover that there is much more to the other than they had originally assumed.

Right when it seems they have found their way to one another, an outside threat drives a wedge between them. As a result, they may have more to worry about than lost love—the threat could be to their very lives.

I so dig the setting for this series. I love the era, their clothes and the lingo. Every time Will called someone 'Old Bean' I just had to giggle. 

Will has been mooning over André for quite some time now but his first impressions didn't go over quite as well as he'd hoped and it seemed as though André just wrote him off. I did like how smooth and seductive Will kind of turned into a lovesick fool around André. It was super cute and made him a very endearing character.

These aren't characters I had paid attention to previously so, in the beginning, their love story was just OK for me. Not only was I not really into the couple, they didn't have much interaction together until about 25% or so. Which was too long of a wait for me, especially with characters that I just didn't care too much about. 

Once they were together? Whew. I definitely felt their chemistry and was so into them as a couple after that. Once they got over their misconceptions of each other they were a great couple and worked well together.

The little bit of suspense was very well done and perfect for this story, especially for a character like Will. It gave him more depth than the fun, easygoing character everyone thought him to be. Of course, as readers we knew there was more to him, but the way he was there for his family really cemented him as a great character to read about.

Although, this could be read as a standalone, I wouldn't recommend it. *whispers* Mostly because then you wouldn't be able to read about Jack. My favorite little cutie-pa-tootie. *pinches butt* 

Even though this is my least favorite in the series, it was still a very enjoyable read, set in an era that I rarely see in M/M romance and I will definitely be on the lookout for more. Did I see that there will be more to come? Hmm?

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

Review: Invicta: Salvation #1 by Piper Kay

As Kaiden McKenzie and Holt Mitchell prepare to celebrate their fifteenth anniversary, and the grand opening of their new club, Invicta, they take a look back on how their lives together began.

When Holt wakes up to an outraged father, he finds himself suddenly homeless and hungry. With the help and caring of a certain bad guy, Holt finds life isn’t quite so bad as it seems. All he needed was the right man to guide him along.

Kade has spent his life running from anyone and everyone who tries to get close, but when he meets up with Holt, he suddenly finds himself wishing for something more. Who knew he was someone’s knight in shining tattoos…

My thoughts before reading: I don't give a flying shit what this book is about. 

The cover! The cover is Jake Bass! Jake motherfuckin' Bass, folks!!!

After reading: You gotta admit the cover is hot. I believe he's the muse for main character Kade, the bad boy, damaged hotheaded hero who strips but has been around the block more than once. Kade is likeable enough. He's not a carbon copy of the model on the cover so don't think this is fan fic. ;)

What is Invicta about? This novella is about two lovers, Kade and Holt, who are celebrating their fifteen year anniversary and opening of their new strip club named Invicta. The two flashback to the start of their relationship, one surprising one night stand that turned into something more for the nineteen year old, Holt-who was in the closet and got yanked out and twenty year old Kade--who only wanted to have unattached sex. But life changes like a two week stretch of homelessness and working at a gay strip joint happen and start the beginning of Holt and Kade, the pair.

There are things I liked and things I feel need some work. Yes, this story has some editing issues. There were a few times that it brought me out of the story, not for every page thankfully.

What I liked: I liked the theme of the cocky guy falling for the country boy. I liked some of the themes explored such as a homeless teen finding love or damaged men finding their way into happiness. Also, it's very light and easy to read. The main characters are likeable. The story didn't denigrate the profession of stripping.

Things I questioned: Some editing issues and questions - The flashback takes you to 1999...how would twerking and the Harlem Shake be popular back then? I am aware that twerking is not a new phenomenon but I doubt it had a name in 1999. The Harlem Shake (well what's popular now-it has a resurgence and change, since I remember the original dance moves when it first became popular was more of a local thing, so I question the popularity in Houston, Texas back then).
- The technical terms for dancing - I'm not a professional dancer the more popular terms I knew. But there were technical terms used that I had to Google about. Also with some character's dialogue. This made the reading not as smooth as I like.
- More telling than showing. Kade was not as bad as he was touted as. He did have miraculous recovery from injuries at times and he got into a fight. I would have preferred to have more scenes of him proving why he gets automatic deference.
- There are some areas of the story that don't come off as realistic, so I pulled my reality suspension rubber band out for being able to tell someone is starving from just looking at them. Or fighting against a person with a gun while having no weapons and winning. Or while recovering from the drug roofies (vomiting and leg cramps get ignored) to have sex.

But it's a love story about two strippers with pasts that aren't as golden as most, so why look for reality?

The story is sexy, popular and mostly fun. It does not delve too deep and is quick to read.

Who I think would most enjoy this series? Fans of Kindle Alexander, who want to read a book in her same vein. This was a lighter, sexier and uncomplicated story. Fans of dancer romance, there's a good number of technical terms peppered throughout the story.

My rating is somewhere within the 3-3.5 hearts range, so I'll round up.

Review: Galen and the Forest Lord by Eden Winters

Long, long ago in a faraway land, men were men (except when they were wolves), meddlesome aunts were meddlesome aunts, evil opportunists were evil opportunists, and heroes weren’t always the sharpest swords in the scabbard.

By the time Galen Olaf-kin woke up and smelled the spiced ale, it was too late, and he never finished the wicked deed for which he stood trial. Banished from his home, he flees to the forest, taking nothing but the unwanted infant he's rescued. Perhaps the legends are true and the forest lord will take them both in. The lord is said to give sanctuary to outcasts, but none of the stories mention the naughty, tempting things he whispers, or that he shares Galen's forbidden passions.

Lord Erik rolls his eyes at the prophecy that says when human hands deliver a babe to the forest, he’ll meet the mate destined to reunite forest folk with humankind. What interest has he in a child? The handsome human who brings the babe is another matter entirely, and little things like destiny and his own bumbling won’t keep Erik from claiming Galen as his own.



I don’t really read a lot of shifter stories. It’s not that I don’t like them, I’m just a picky pain in the ass, in the “it’s not the book, it’s me” kind of way. I don’t especially like the uber alpha ones with heaps of instantly accepted insta-lust. They all started to run together for me when I was reading them so now I don’t normally seek them out. There are some I do like though, the stories that don’t take themselves too seriously, have a good dose of camp and lots of snark. Those shifter stories I love, and Galen and the Forest Lord is one of those stories. It’s set in a simple fantasy world with a village, a forest, a silver lined path and a castle. It was simple enough that I could focus on the story, but not so simple that it was unbelievable or patronizing.

Galen is banished from his village in shame after being caught with a man. It was all manner of trickery and completely unfair, but, to be fair, he’d much rather be with a lad than a lass, so this outcome was probably inevitable anyway. The villagers are uneducated, ill-mannered and many of their beliefs are quite archaic, just like real life. Plus they have a terrible fear of the man eating wolves that live in the forest.

  “His (Galen’s) pursuers, armed with scythes, pitchforks, axes, stones and ignorance, their most dangerous weapon, were too afraid of the legendary inhabitants to venture past the forest’s edge.”

The forest dwellers, led by Erik the Forest Lord are quit a lively and lusty bunch and try to control their more animal instincts and live in a civilized manner. It’s a bit of an uphill battle and tests Lord Erik’s patience daily.

“They could be forgiven a lack of manners on occasion. This particular occasion marked the seventeenth time that day.”

What follows is Galen’s new life and new possibilities in the castle with Erik. Erik is noble and sexy as hell, but he’s also none too bright, bless his handsome heart. The real brains of the outfit belong to the Alpha Bitch, his Aunt Eydis At least until he takes a mate and then Aunt Eydis will gladly hand over the reins. I loved how the forest dwellers had adopted enough human tendencies to mostly hate the word “bitch” and it was used frequently to annoy as well as show reverence and the dichotomy was completely amusing. All of the dry humor in this story amused me greatly and it was really well done.

According to prophecy, Erik’s mate will be coming to him via human hands and in the form of a baby. Remember how I said Erik was none too bright? Well, his interpretation of the prophecy isn’t exactly spot on which is a comedy of errors in itself. So his wolf feels the undeniable desire to mate with Galen, his human consciousness is a little slow on the uptake. Galen is in the same boat really and their banter was fun to read. Aunt Eydis and the Court Seer, Jarl are behind the scenes driving the two men together, all the while convincing Erik and Galen it is their idea. As funny as it is to read, it is also quite sweet as they:

“ . . . enjoy the day’s entertainment – the courtship of the inept . . . “

The adventure that follows gives more than one HEA just like every good fantasy story should. I enjoyed reading about the secondary characters just as much as the main, including and especially Marta, that bitch Marta. The running joke of “that bitch Marta” is probably one of my favorite things about this story. We never actually meet Marta, but she is alluded to often enough that I feel like I can hate her good naturedly along with the rest of the characters. How Marta ends up with her own version of an HEA is priceless and that plot point was pure gold.

My only niggle, and it really isn’t much of one, is that I would have liked more of Erik and Galen together. Their characters were great and being able to see them as a couple beyond their acceptance of the prophecy would have been bonus gravy to the shifter feast that I enjoyed here.

Review: Love is a Stranger by John Wiltshire

How do you love someone who exists entirely in the shadows? How do you love a man who describes himself as dead? How do you get that ghost to love you back? Ex-SAS soldier Ben Rider falls in love with his enigmatic married boss Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, but Nikolas is living a lie. A lie so profound that when the shadows are lifted, Ben realises he's in love with a very dangerous stranger. Ben has to choose between Nikolas and safety, but sometimes danger comes in a very seductive package.

Well, this was different and refreshing! Twists, turns, lies, action. Just fun!

Right away we're thrust into the affair between Ben and Nikolas.  It's hot and heavy and 'just sex'. Pfft. Okay, I haven't heard that before. I know, I know, I just said that this is different, and it is.  Obviously, what Nik and Ben have is more than sex, we all know it even if they don't. But there's one little snag in their relationship (other than 'just sex'), Nik is married.

It's clear right away that Nik is not who or what he seems. As Ben is dragged further and further into Nik's web, he's finding out more and more about his lover and who he really is. Maybe. Kind of. Okay, not really. But regardless of who he is, as far as his identity goes, one thing was the the same throughout, he loved Ben. No matter how hard he tried to deny or pretend otherwise, he was.

"'So, I have not really changed all that much Benjamin. I believe I am very much what I once was.' He looked across the table. 'Totally obsessed with you.'"

Unf. If that doesn't make someone just swoon, I don't know what will. Nik is an excellent character. He's witty, funny and, even though we don't know much about his identity, his actions and feelings towards Ben are very real. And he knows he's a liar and secretive. He totally owns it and he owns it well.

"'I lied. I always lie, you know this.'"

Ben was great, too. He stuck by Nik, he knew there were secrets and danger, but he stayed, he was there and he was honest. He's not dumb though. Ben is very aware of the kind of person Nik is and I liked that he didn't let him get away with the lies.

This is different that your run-of-the-mill suspense. There isn't just one suspense storyline, solved and done. There's a couple of... erhm... missions, I guess you could say, that Ben and Nik have to deal with. They're full of action, fast-paced and we're even left with a mini-cliffy! *gasp*

Awesome characters and some awesome suspense, but there were a few dull moments in between. I did get a little bored a couple times, luckily the feeling didn't last long, but I was bored nonetheless.

If you need a break from the typical M/M tropes Love is a Stranger is a great choice. I'd definitely recommend it and I'll be on the lookout for more of Nik and Ben.

I need a solid HEA, dammit!

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

Review: The Duke in Denial by Alexandra Ainsworth

Sebastian Lewis never expected to become a duke. But with the sudden deaths of his cousin and uncle, Sebastian’s position changes. He is determined to fulfill his new responsibilities with grace, even if it means remarrying, and even if the attractions of women, so often lauded by poets, fail to interest him.

Captain William Carlisle, newly returned from India, is elated when he meets Sebastian. Nobody knows of his inclinations, but his harrowing experiences in battle have prompted him to reach for the type of companionship he longs for. He thinks Sebastian might feel an attraction as well, but to his dismay, he discovers that Sebastian is courting his sister Dorothea.

After a semi-arranged engagement and a disconcerting romantic tangle with William, Sebastian escapes London to look after his manor, only to face mysterious thefts, a headless ghost, and the arrival of his fiancée, her brother, and his family. Sebastian’s new estate sits on the south coast, England’s most vulnerable location, and Napoleon has set his sights on conquering the area. Amid this growing turmoil, Sebastian must sort out his feelings for his fiancée’s brother and keep his home safe . . . and determine if he has the courage to reach for his own happiness in the process.

What to expect a lot from "The Duke in Denial": pacing, confuzzlement and so-so characters.

Alexandra Ainsworth's debut novel is a gay regency...romance(?) about a country gentleman widower who just became a duke and a damaged solider who is gay but does not reveal his preference because...you know it's a Regency romance. And you'd get jailed, hung or worse for being gay back then. The widower Sebastian is a quiet sort of fellow who does not care about which lady he marries as long as he gets it over with so he can father an heir to secure the line. And he might or might not admire the male form. He'll never tell a soul because...it's just not done. And the solider, William, is a frequent visitor of molly houses (male brothels) wants a man to call his own.

And finds it the moment he sees Sebastian on the street. It was insta-dick from then on. William is so in love with Sebastian. Sebastian is drawn to William but does not want to go to jail so he gets engaged to William's sister. The two flip flop so much they could also be known as fish so much in this book. They will say one thing to each other, then question it over and over...*smh* William is there loving Sebastian for what reason I do not know because Sebastian offered nothing as a character. Nothing. I love a good quiet character but he was dull as a butter knife. I don't understand what William was so love-crazed about. Nor William. Sometimes it felt like I went back to reading MF Regency. And I cut my teeth on those books so I know what I like and what to look for.

The author had a good idea for the plot line (well not the suspense part as much). I wished we stuck to that instead of the extra filler we get and odd scenes that add nothing to the story. This book could have been shaved in half, IMO.

Do I need to know about war preparation plans in Sussex? Not really.
Do I need to read about a frivolous cousin? Nope. I think she was supposed to add humor. But I grimaced whenever she showed up.

The secondary characters were not strong nor were the main characters. William is besotted with Sebastian. Sebastian is hard pressed to marry William's sister to avoid any rumors, though if the guys tried harder on making not making googly eyes and trying to touch their legs together in a carriage, I don't think they'd have to worry about people catching on.

Steam Level: 1 out of 5 - Sometimes the sex can save a dull book. This didn't.

A mystery/suspense angle got thrown in the second half. Flat lined for me from the start, sloppy sleuthing. Then the plot thickens, the pseudo-villain is found out. And the reasoning behind the entire 'crime'? The villain had TEN years to do something about it. Too many questionable reasoning for my taste.

No one was interesting enough to connect with. I questioned everyone's motive down to the carriage driver because there personalities weren't concrete enough. An example, Sebastian is a widower who lost a child. He came off like a virgin or more exactly a blushing miss.

The two blushing misses misters get a HEA of sorts. Meh, I liked neither of them.

Would I read more from this author? Maybe. There are good ideas. This book takes a meandering stroll to get to the point. Not bad also not memorable. I'm in the middle of the road with my rating. *shrugs*