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*

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Price of Dick by Dan Skinner

Today we welcome Dan Skinner to BMBR! Check out the Q&A below and then enter the giveaway for an ebook copy of his hot new release, The Price of Dick.

Q: What costume would you wear that would truly show your hidden personality?

A costume of Dan Skinner.

Q: Why the lycra/spandex fixation? I know there’s a story there…

First guy I saw at my local pool was wearing one and I thought I’d die.

Q: In no more than two sentences, can you describe yourself to a complete stranger?

I’m the one the extraterrestrial abducted and threw back out. And as the spaceship doors were closing you could hear them screaming, "And for God’s sake, clean the Probe!”

Q: What is the most sentimental thing someone gave you that you cherish to this day?

The  answer to this question has been sealed in a document.

Q: How much do you run on an average day?

I average no more than 10 miles a day. When I’m stressed that number goes up.

Q: Do you have a plan to gain the weight you’ve lost lately? Does it include cheesecake?

If I like the way I fit in clothes, I stay with that weight.  If I want to gain weight it will be with some Old Vienna Hot Corn chips. lol

Q: What is your favorite guilty pleasure food? The one your trainer would highly disapprove of?

See answer above.

Q: Your top five recommendations of gay films please.

Shelter

Prayers For Bobby

Brokeback Mountain

Beautiful Thing

Eating Out (original)

Q: What is the meanest thing you've done to someone in an argument or fight?

Broke a coffee table over them.

Q: What song do you have to hear only once to get stuck in your head for an entire day?

Any friggin’ Gaga song.

Q: I'd empty my bank account and take out a loan to have sex with____. Why?

Prince Harry. Because he’s mine anyway. Everyone knows that.

Q: If you could wish one celebrity into the cornfield, who would it be and why?

Sarah Palin. Don’t even get me started why.

Q: Your models all look like they have so much fun during your shoots. Do they? And do you?

Them, yes. Me. No. I sweat bullets.

Q: Has it been difficult to stick with your recently adopted NBW (no bad words) policy? Explain a little bit about what NBW is.

NBW stands for No Bad Words. My trainer believes that bad words create bad events. I don’t speak them But I think them. I purge them on my runs.

Q: Do veggie sausages really taste as good as the real thing?

Better.

Q: What is the largest, um… attribute you have seen on a model?

Enough that I would never even attempt it.

Q: On a scale of 1-10, ten being a completely controlling perfectionist, how would your models rate your determination to get every little thing perfect in every shot?

1000

Q: I’ve seen one black model in your past work. Why haven’t there been more?

I try to get them. But there are very few in the Midwest. When I search the model sites I see tons of black and ethnic models on the east and west coast. I’m always looking tho.

Q: It is said that every traumatic event in life has the potential to make you bitter or better. You seem to have made a conscious choice to make yourself better through this difficult past year. Do you struggle with that sometimes? And how do you get yourself back on track after a bitter moment?

I still struggle. I’m not so much bitter as I am disgusted. Probably more with myself than anyone. I feel very duped.

Q: During the 2012 Presidential election, you were pretty vocal regarding your beliefs and opinions. You have a bigger platform now that you have two successful books and more photography work than ever. Do you plan to be as outspoken in 2016?

Always. This country needs to continue to move forward. As long as we have a party that lives and functions in a repressed past we have to make certain they never have a voice in lawmaking again. If they can’t move forward they need to get off the train.

Q: What is the largest group of models you have had in one shoot?

Eight. Will never do it again. Too ADHD to put up with the scramble.

Q: Why Cerberus as a company name? (This is the mythical three-headed hellhound who guards the entrance to the underworld)

It was one of the first sketches I ever made as a child that was pretty decent. The other was Dean Martin. So Cerberus it was.

Q: If you could write a letter to your 18 year old self, what would you say?

Don't get married twice. And check out the guy next to you in history class in 11th grade!

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

http://danthedanimal.deviantart.com/

facebook D.w Skinner

twitter @ DanSkinnerArt

Here's a quickie (PG-13) excerpt for those of you curious about The Price of Dick:

He began by telling me how much he admired me. That’s always a good opener if getting someone’s attention is your goal. He liked that I was my own man; that I could be myself without worrying what others thought of me, and said that made me seem very strong in his eyes. I was liking me better and better the more he talked. It didn’t hurt that every time I looked at him I had some kind of teenage-like hormonal surge. Amazing how a confluence of praise and lust can just make your defensive barriers collapse like Jell-O on a hot stove.

I asked him what was wrong. People who tell you they need space usually want you to invade it and ask what’s wrong. Otherwise they wouldn’t have invaded your space. And I ain’t going to lie. When he started rambling on with the redundant details of his job and how he was struggling to get ahead, I was still picturing that one night in my bed, pushing my aching dick through the crack of his ass, laying quarter-sized pearlescent droplets of myself all over those flawless mounds. I wanted to bite those muscled buns while he was telling me his problems. Oink.

I could tell there was something more; something deeper going on with him and he was having difficulty spitting it out. I asked him to grab a beer for both of us. That seemed to be exactly what he wanted to hear. We sat, and cracked beers together. He took off his jacket and tie, unbuttoned his shirt and gazed off into the corner.

It was nothing I didn’t expect. Mommy. He faced the same dilemma every night at the dinner table, every morning over breakfast before his mandatory appearance at Mass. He was coming unglued having to deal with her every day. The only reprieve was when he was at work, when she wasn’t calling him there. He rubbed his eyes as if there were tears there. I didn’t actually see any, but the idea of it was oddly endearing.

With a mixture of fascination and dread, I had a feeling I knew where he was headed.

“You’re absolutely the only person I have to talk to. My friends wouldn’t understand some things about me. I can’t talk to anyone at work. You’re the only guy I feel safe to tell my feelings to.”

Yep. Knew where this was heading.

“I don’t know how to ask this but I haven’t got anyone else to go to, and I was wondering if I could stay with you? Live with you for a while. Be a roommate.” he looked at me, his face all knotting like he was still near tears. “I can sleep on the couch. I don’t have many clothes. I’d never bring anyone back. I can help pay the utilities...I can help you with your shoots...”

I almost had my denial figured out before he uttered that last sentence, and then the wheels in my brain went spinning out like I was a NASCAR driver. It pushed everything else right out of my head. A hot, good-looking guy living in my apartment willing to help me with my shoots. I could have someone available any time for any shoot just by turning around and saying... “Hey there!” His face didn’t have to be in any of them if he didn’t want. A million covers were nothing but torsos. And he had one helluva torso.

It was a matter of weighing the conveniences against the inconveniences of two grown men living in a two-bedroom apartment where one bedroom was used as a studio/office. One bathroom.

And there was another thing. After my last relationship, I vowed to live alone because I just liked the freedom of it. A lot of thoughts went racing on perpetual left turns through my mind. Don’t think I wasn’t thinking of the possibility of a few more drunk sucks or even fucks with him if he became a roommate. Everyone was teachable.

So I said the words that would change pretty much everything about my life for a long, long time.

I had a roommate.

Blurb:  His name is Richard but he'll say, "Call me Dick." He's a big, butch, brainy guy in an executive suit, hotter than spit on a skillet. The type of guy you can see fully dressed and imagine buck naked in the throes of an orgasm - every six-feet-two, muscular, sexually intoxicating inch of him. He's an ambitious freshman in a prominent brokerage firm who's figured out he can use more than his smarts to get ahead. He's perfected a surefire method to drive home a hard deal. No one can resist him. And he's got one really big secret. But that will cost you.

For photographer J.J. Johnstone, the price of Dick just might cost him everything.

You can find The Price of Dick at these retailers: Amazon      ARe      Barnes & Noble

About Dan Skinner:

I'd already been in the photography business for too many years to count, shooting covers for hetero romance covers when I had my epiphany (ten years ago now) to shoot gay book covers and make them as acceptable and mainstream as the hetero ones. It was a big risk and I was told by many people, especially people who advised me financially, that it might not be a profitable thing to do, and could quite possibly ruin my reputation. But I was tired of seeing the proliferation of covers featuring a man and woman, the cologne and perfume ads featuring a man and a woman... every ad under the sun - only featuring a man and a woman, and knowing that only one side of life was being spoon fed to us by the media as the acceptable aspiration and ideal. In fact, it made me angry and crazy, and determined to do something about it. We were here... didn't anyone see us?!!

I had several things working against me. The m/m fiction genre was just beginning to come into its own, but television and the entertainment industry were slowly allowing us into their vision as folks who existed right alongside them, and I knew the flux and flow of gay literature was going to eventually change. Will and Grace helped that. Brokeback Mountain helped that. So I had hope and crossed my fingers that I made a good choice as well as a conscientious one.

Along with that, I had to find guys daring enough to pose with each other in photos mimicking the same love and adoration as was seen in every Harlequin cover since time immemorial... They had to embrace and kiss and portray romance… between two people of the same gender. So finding the guys was going to be a chore... and finding guys in the Bible belt of the country, the Midwest, was going to be even tougher. But I did it.

Revenge is mine… the dbag’s bed has been christened by the models during a shoot!!

And now...for the giveaway!

Giveaway Details: Dan has kindly offered an ebook copy of The Price of Dick to one lucky commenter! Woop woop!

How to Enter: Please leave a comment on this blog post and include some means of contacting you (e.g., email address, Twitter handle, Goodreads profile, etc.). The contest is open until 10PM (Pacific time) on Monday, June 16th, and the randomly-chosen winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. If you win, please respond within 48 hours or else we'll have to choose another winner.

Thanks for stopping by, Dan!

Happy Hour Chat: Naked Tails by Eden Winters

Hello, and welcome to June's Happy Hour Chat here on Boy Meets Boy Reviews! Today we're dishing up some moonshine and sweet tea while we discuss Naked Tails by Eden Winters.

Eden Winters is BMBR's June Author of the Month, so keep an eye out for more reviews on her stories, as well as an interview and giveaway later this month!

Ed. Note: The chat was held on the day Ann's beloved L.A. Kings lost Game 6 of the Western Conference match up. The Kings went on to win Game 7, and they are now competing for professional hockey's biggest honor, the Stanley Cup. We're pleased to report that Ann is no longer SUPER pissed. ;)

Warning: This chat contains spoilers.

Sunny: okay, are we doing this book chat now?

Sunny: *snaps whip*

Audrey: HEY GUYS, THERE'S A BOOK TO TALK ABOUT! :D

Lorix: Yes sir.

SRAL: Okay ready!! I just finished my review. Cutting it close

Audrey

Quick copy/paste of the "Naked Tails" blurb to know what's going on: Seth McDaniel wasn’t raised among a shifter passel and has no idea what it’s like to turn furry once a month. An orphan, torn from his father’s family at an early age, he scarcely remembers Great-aunt Irene. Now her passing brings him back to Possum Kingdom, Georgia, to take up a legacy he doesn’t understand and reconnect with a friend he’s never forgotten.

As Irene’s second-in-command, Dustin Livingston has two choices: assume control of the passel or select another replacement. Unfortunately, the other candidates are either heartless or clueless. Dustin’s best hope to dodge the responsibility is to deliver a crash course in leadership to his childhood pal Seth, a man he hasn’t seen in twenty years. However, while Dustin's mind is set on his task, his heart is set on his old friend.

Seth’s quest for answers yields more questions instead. What’s with the tiny gray hairs littering his aunt’s house? Why do the townsfolk call each other “Jack” and “Jill”? Do Dustin’s attentions come with ulterior motives? And why is Seth suddenly craving crickets?

Jenni Lea: LOL, I never write a review for the book chat books. :D

Lorix: I've not reviewed it but only finished reading it last night!

Jenni Lea: POSSUMS!

Ann who is SUPER pissed: Passel of possums :D

Breann: I thought it was so super cute

Sunny: I think they were much cuter in this story than in real life

Audrey: Weird shifters are great. :)

Lorix: Makes me think of Dame Edna Everage. Possums.

SRAL: I have a confession.

Wanna know more about SRAL's confession? Or what we thought of opossum shifters in the South? Then check out the Happy Hour Chat after the jump!

Review: Stitch (gothika #1) Anthology by Various Authors

Stitch is an anthology of 4 novellas by m/m romance authors, each with a Frankenstein/Creature theme.

It is the first in a series of gothic m/m romance anthologies called gothika. The stories in this volume are:

Made For Aaron by Sue Brown
As a teenager, Aaron Fox was sent to an asylum by his parents because he was gay, leaving him emotionally fragile after the treatment. However it gave him Damon Fox, the nurse he later married. For over twenty years, Damon’s devotion and strength has never faltered. When Damon is killed in a car accident, Aaron’s devastation soon gives way to confusion when he is shown Damon walking away from the hospital. Despite a desperate search, Damon isn’t seen again, and if Aaron can’t live with Damon, he may not want to live at all. But forces beyond Aaron’s understanding work behind the scenes, and if he can find the courage to unveil the secrets, he might get a second chance at happiness.

Watchworks by Jamie Fessenden
Harland Wallace made his name as one of the premiere watchmakers in Victorian London, so he isn’t surprised when a handsome young gentleman named Luke Prescott comes to his townhouse to hire him for a repair job. He is apprehensive when he discovers it is not a watch Mr. Prescott wants repaired, but a complex prosthesis he has in place of a hand. As further repairs are needed, Harland begins to wonder how much of Mr. Prescott is real and how much is mechanical, but he cannot deny the growing attraction he feels toward him. When he learns Prescott’s household servants pose a threat to the man they see as a monster, Harland must choose between what his culture tells him is wrong and what his heart tells him is right.

The Golem of Mala Lubovnya by Kim Fielding
In a small, 17th-century Eastern European town, a rabbi creates a man of clay—a golem—to protect the Jewish people from the threat of pogrom. Awaiting a call to duty, the golem spends a long time confined to an attic, lonely and sad. His only joys are watching the stonemason at work across the street and listening to a lovely voice singing prayers. When the golem meets the mason, Jakob, the two become friends, and Jakob names the golem Emet. But devout Jakob struggles with his attraction to Emet, and Emet dreads being used as an instrument for violence. Though Emet’s name means truth, honest love between a faithful man and a golem will only survive if they risk everything for a miracle.

Reparation by Eli Easton
On the harsh planet of Kalan, weakness is not tolerated. When young spore farmer Edward suffers an carriage accident that kills his mail-order bride and his factory manager, Edward has little chance of survival, until Knox—an enormous “reconstitute” labor slave—plucks him from disaster. Recons are part machine, part human remains from executed Federation prisoners. But Knox is different from other recons. He can read and has flashes of brilliance. With no one else to rely on over the bleak winter, Edward forms an alliance with Knox, and against social taboos, they become friends. Edward struggles against his growing lust for the large humanoid, and while Knox thrives in his new life, memories of his past torment him. A twist of fate brought Knox and Edward together, but there will be a price to pay in blood when they learn how deeply their lives truly intersect.

The Golem of Mala Lubovnya by Kim Fielding – 5 Hearts

Wow. After reading the title I really had no idea what to expect and I was so pleasantly surprised and really moved by this story. It’s a perfect little gem of historical folklore that snuck up and taught me things when I didn’t even realize it. Told from the perspective of the Golem, the story is simple and profound at the same time. The Golem, or Emet, as he comes to be known is created by the rabbi for protection of the village of Mala Lubovnya and his basic needs to serve his people is really bittersweet. He feels and sees so much more than what the rabbi expects and reading about his time spent alone in the attic is heartbreaking. It’s written so well too. With Emet’s limited experiences and knowledge of the outside world, he is still able to convey such a moody atmosphere of unease from the threats to the town, confusion about the world around him and optimism as seems to be his basic nature. As a reader, you can’t help but root for him and want better for him which is seemingly impossible.

Emet watches a lonely and seemingly sad stone mason, Jakob, from his window above the town as he goes through his daily work with his father and brothers. The two end up meeting when the rabbi shows the town Emet and his extraordinary strength. All Emet wants to do is be helpful and when he gets the opportunity to help Jakob he is so happy. What follows is quite sweet as two lonely souls (except one really has no soul) come together.

There is an ominous air hanging over the whole story that doesn’t even need to be articulated. Given their situation, Emet and Jakob could never be together and knowing they were living on borrowed time was a tough underlying note to read through. You really have to read it for the resolution and the last two chapters absolutely slayed me. This was a really unique story that will stick with me.

Watchworks by Jamie Fessenden - 4 Hearts

This is a steampunk story at its finest. Harland is confirmed bachelor watchmaker and he’s called to Dr. Mordecai Steward’s home to help him with a “project”. Harlan is no doctor, so he’s not sure what awaits him at the good doctor’s home. There he meets Luke Prescott and he is immediately taken with the beautiful man. Being that the story is set historically, it’s not safe for Harland to act on his desires, but Luke has gotten to him like no one else ever has. The misunderstanding about Luke that follows is understandable from Harland’s point of view and is the point of the story where I fell for Luke and his heartbreaking situation. The way he is treated by the household staff and the way he is hidden away because of who he is, makes him the damaged hero that I love.

The explanation of how Luke “operates” was fun and interesting to read. The moody setting of Dr. Steward’s house was a perfect setting for what was to come. As Luke and Harland get to know each other and the attraction grows I got a good feel for Harland’s frustration. How could he possibly have a relationship with a man, much less Luke? Didn’t make Harland’s feelings any less real though.

Dr. Steward’s health had me worried about Luke’s fate and rightfully so. What came next was inevitable and I hated it. Poor Luke! The fact that this was a historical really worked to make an HEA possible. It seems like the actual romance in historicals is less complicated, less emotionally angsty in and of itself. Possibly because the real world was enough of a threat then that the MC’s are just more appreciative of the love they have regardless of the “reality” of their partner (at least in Harland’s case).

Reparation by Eli Easton – 5 Hearts

Man, I got sucked into this story from the first. At the very beginning the author states:

“Reparation was inspired by two of my favorite gothic novels – Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights”

Well, she wins, definitely, because the atmosphere of Reparation is a complete blend of those two classics.

  Edward is a farmer in Kalan, a harsh and unforgiving land where the only commodity that is produced is lichen that is sold off world as an ingredient to life saving medicine. The spores from the lichen are incredibly dangerous so air purifying is a way of life and any infected cut can be a death sentence if not treated quickly and properly. Because the life is so dangerous, Reconstitutes (recons) have been created to work the farms. A recon is a cobbled together cyborg worker, part human and part robot. The human part is harvested from condemned prisoners and seen as a way for the prisoners to pay their debt to society. They are strictly programmed and made for manual labor.

After a horrific accident, Edward is left on the farm without his right-hand man and being that another transport wasn’t coming for many months and the storm season is bearing down on him, Edward has no choice but to enlist the help of Knox, the recon who saved his life after the accident.
Being that involved with a recon, much less giving him responsibility with your livelihood is virtually unheard of and an unlikely friendship forms.

This was so endearing to read. Knox is more than just a cyborg, he has true intelligence and Edward finally has a friend to talk to who understands him. Edward is just so lonely and you can feel it in every scene that Knox isn’t in. What makes this one unique is how Knox begins to change and what that means to both of them and everything they think they know. Knox begins to remember “before” in dreams and snippets of memory. The mystery that follows and the questions that are raised made for a really engaging read. As they are getting to know each other, Knox is also getting to know himself. He knows the massive strong body he has now is not the one his human self was born with and I kinda loved the fact that both Edward and Knox could appreciate the packaging in a unique way. It gave Knox even more of a human voice as the story progressed.

The mystery has to be read first hand to be appreciated. All is not as it seems in the land of Kalan and the twists and turns made for a really fun and fast ride once secrets began to be uncovered. A totally unique and moodily atmospheric tale of friends to lovers that was sad, hopeful and sexy all at the same time and I loved it.

Made for Aaron by Sue Brown – 3.5 Hearts

I loved this story and hated reading it at the same time. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with the great writing or the unique story but everything to do with how it broke my heart. It’s definitely different and I really appreciated the uniqueness of it.

Aaron had lived in an institution for all his formative years and he is so irreparably damaged it hurt to read his story. His whole life outside the institution is his husband Damon and when Damon disappears he is left floundering and lost. The meat of the story is about Aaron and how he deals with the loss of Damon. The hurt, confusion and anger he feels are palpable. I could feel his anguish and helplessness. Thing is, he handled himself and all things practical really well considering which was why reading about his “solutions” to the rest of his life were so heartbreaking. I understood his thought process, but really didn’t want to, if that makes sense.

We know Damon through Aaron’s memories and can see how Damon really was made for Aaron and that added to the feeling of helplessness while reading this one. Part of Aaron was relieved when he was instructed what to do, he’d been institutionalized for so long, choices were stressful and Damon was the calming anchor that kept him grounded. Once that was gone, Aaron could function, but he was so uncomfortable and so unhappy.

In keeping with an underlying theme in all these stories, all is not what it appears to be and all the questions do get answered. I left with an HFN feeling though when I really wanted a solid HEA. I’m not sure if it was because the end seemed to get wrapped up a little quickly and neatly considering all that Aaron had gone through or if I wanted an epilogue to feel some confidence in the longevity of the “happy”. Either way, another completely intriguing read.

I Owe it All to Tom Webb

One year ago, this month, I was in a dark place.  I had just been laid off from my job of 12 years, a job I absolutely adored.  I was depressed.  Broken hearted.  I felt as if all I had ever done, all I had worked up to in my life, was for nothing.  I was floundering without any direction in my life.

I was lost.

I’ve always been an avid reader.  I love books!  Now that I had all this time on my hands I became even more enamored of them.  I began to scour Amazon for more good books to read.  As I became more familiar with the site and read more reviews of books I potentially wanted to read I noticed a particular reviewer always had such entertaining and thoughtful reviews.  That reviewer signed his reviews “Tom Webb”.  Curious, I Googled his name.  Lo and behold, he had a website!  

I just had to check it out.  Hours and hours I spent reading all of his reviews.  Then I saw something.  He had referenced another site.

“Goodreads?”  I said to myself.  “What the heck is Goodreads?”

Oh, the wonders Mr. Webb has shown me!  I immediately signed up.  Navigating my way through I was excited to the point of being giddy.  I started listing and rating all the books I‘ve read.  Then I started to send my favorite authors friend requests.  Only authors at first - I was scared to ask other people to be my friend for fear of rejection.  Not for long though.  I finally screwed up the courage to friend request someone who wasn’t an author.  Just another reader who I could tell I had a lot in common with reading-wise.  Her name was Sara and she loved boys who loved boys.  I now call her Red.  

And it just exploded from there.

A couple of months later and I was completely immersed in the site.  I had quite a few friends and belonged to several groups.  I posted a simple status update - just three words and three letters - that garnered over 400 comments between a small group of friends.  One of them suggested  we create a group just for us and WHAM!  

The birth of the Unicorn Mafia.

Over the past nine months I have come to love each and every member of the UM as family.  No, more than that.  We have played together, read together, created a review blog together, been shoulders to cry on and cheerleaders for each other.  I have never felt more of a kinship for anyone as I do my fellow unicorns.  Who says you can't be real friends with people on the internet?  I feel closer to these people than those in my real life.  They know more about me, about who I am as a person than (with the exception of my husband) anyone in real life.  They are the ones that got me through this past year and are encouraging me to pursue my dreams in the next chapter of my life.

And I owe it all to Tom Webb.

So, thank you Tom.  Thank you for posting amazing reviews and piquing my interest enough to check out your blog.  I wouldn’t have met the best friends I’ve ever had without you.

♥