Review: Kiss Your Scars by Avril Ashton

Kiss Your Scars (Loose Ends, #3) by Avril Ashton
Amazon
Novel: 368pgs

5+++++++ Pants Off

Blurb: Being the king of Atlanta’s underworld used to have its perks, but lately all undercover agent Renzo Vega has seen is the downside. Someone is auctioning off women in his city, and he’s damn sure not about to let that offense stand. Just as he’s set to make a move, Renzo’s club is ambushed and he’s shot. Unsure of who to trust, he turns to the one man he definitely knows wants him dead. 

Yanked from his bed, blindfolded and spirited away in the middle of the night, Lowell Scott is shocked to find the darkly gorgeous Renzo bleeding and in need of his help. The very last thing he wants is to come to the aid of the man responsible for his cousin’s death, but the knife at his throat doesn’t give Low much options. 

Close proximity doesn’t temper the hatred Low harbors for Renzo, it only brings up new problems. Like the vicious attraction Low struggles to control, and bullets that won’t stop flying. It’s a tough sell to believe there’s anything good in a man as unapologetically dangerous as Renzo. And even if Low could forgive the unforgivable, Renzo is still shadowed in secrets. When they’re exposed, those secrets will bring far-reaching consequences that could sever not just their shaky bond, but Low’s family ties as well.

This is book three in the Loose Ends series, but can be read as a standalone

Warning: Contains references to subjects that may be triggering. Please read with caution

Review

KISS YOUR RENZOOOOO

I don’t know if I can write a review for this. I love it so freaking much!! My favourite in the series no freaking challengers.  

All I wanna do is run through the streets screaming Renzooooooooo. Like I don’t acquire much book boyfriends but for the few I have, Renzo is in the top 10. This man had me swooning and floundering around on my bed like some teenage girl. 

Renzooooooooooo 

So through most of Ms Avril Ashton books we have been hearing the name Renzo Vega, and now we finally get his story. And what a sad story it was, having suffer great abuse from the hands of a monster and taken away from his family. But Renzo turned out to be a survivor and now he’s one of Atlanta’s most feared criminals. He’s still haunted by his past and it affects him greatly, but even though he moves in the dark he still manages to bring light to some caught suffering through abuse. He bad, but he also good. 

“But the fact was, the waiting had come to an end. He was about to fuck up Low’s life.” 

When he gets a whiff of Lowell Scott he knows that the man is his, too bad Low hates his guts and can’t stand sigh of him. But hate can’t stop overflowing chemistry and Low gets damn putty in his hands. Low hates him for one reason only; and blames him for the death of his cousin who was also his best friend. Too freaking bad for all that, Renzo is out to get his man. 

“Because you and I, Lowell Scott? We’re about to burn each other to the ground, and I will speak your fucking name when I’m covered in the ashes of us”.  

Low moves in his own shadows keeping the secret of his sexuality from his Caribbean family who have very wrong misconceptions about gay men and homosexuality. While he hides who he is, he also hides how he is feels for one Renzo Vega. The man isn’t someone he should want but his treacherous body isn’t taking the cue. Low has fought for a long time to resist Renzo and its taking care of the man's broken body that leads him to a realization that he can’t not be with Renzo, and for that man he’s willing to lose the love of his family. While Renzo might be used to the shadows Low refuses to keep him there.   

“You-You’re a criminal.” He was the only person who required that reminder. 

“That’s Right.” Renzo murmured at his ear. “And I’ll fuck you like one, too”. 

I don’t even know what happened in this book my mind was just strictly all Renzo. Again Ms Ashton is good with the words, like sex is all good ad shit but the things my Renzo be spitting had me damn near weak for the entire book. Like plot pops up and all that but in all its entirety it could have just been Renzo saying shit and I’d still be uber happy. 

“Will you call me Daddy, Low?” 

The books goes to some serious topics, such as child sexual abuse and growing up in a Caribbean family while also being gay. I’m just gonna touch on the Caribbean stuff, being Jamaican myself and growing up hearing the harsh things said about gay men. The bible and god always come into play when discussing sexuality and the labeling of them deviants akin to those of pedophiles. So, reading about it in Kiss Your Scars was like my little old self listening in on adult conversations as a kid. Not quite understanding but knowing that without a doubt it was something they hated. So, Low’s struggle is not just fiction it’s real life things that gay men of a Caribbean background have to navigate.  

I just had a real connection with this one, with the food, with the family values and just the overall tone. Another culturally diverse book with two MC of colour and I am on the win. Always gonna give props to the author for her books, love or hate her work she’s one of few giving you black heroes, giving you Latino heroes and then writing them as couples. Then giving you both sides of what it’s like to be a person of colour from many backgrounds.  

Also Renzo!!  

There’s a scene in the book that caused the complete disintegration of panties, and that was the elevator scene. If you know about Caribbean people then you know how we dance and Low putting it on Renzo like that. Deceased!! 

Hands down my fave in the entire series. I love Renzo he’s a beautiful man and I am planning on how to steal his ass from Low 😈. Kiss Your Scars was a good finale to a series that I really enjoyed and while I’m sad to see it end. I’m looking hella forward to what’s to come, because my man Renzo got friends and his friends need to fall in love.  

SideNote- I do have a little problem with something in the book. So Renzo has suffered great abuse, I’m talking things no child should face, but he made it to adulthood without extensive therapy. I find that way too disbelieving. He was a god damn mess and needed help and it just irks me when things like that don’t get addressed. Renzo get your ass some help please!!!!

Review: Book 0.5 All These Hidden Scars

Review: Book #1 Scars and Secrets

Review: Book #2 Scars and Ruin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Songs
Feel It by Jacquees 
Drip by Cardi B, Migos
DayDream by J-Hope 
Don't by Bryson Tiller 

Oops! Where Did My Pants Go?? (Catch My Breath)

Initially I was going to give this book a 4 Pants Off, but I spent the weekend thinking about it and going back to look over my fave scenes (which is like pretty much everything). So Sunday night I realized that I am all kinds of in love with Catch My Breath which is so surprising cus M.J O’Shea books are always a little so, so with me. This one I love so damn much giving me boy band feels causing a pants losing and so it had to be added to my “Oops! Where did my pants go??”

I’d like to tell you where my pants went…

First I was all like “this is so sweet like YA” and then boom a Mr Elliot Price started saying and doing out sexy things. At first he was awkward as fuck and out of nowhere he starts saying shit like

“you’re mine and I’m gonna put your feet on my shoulders and fuck you” 

just like Danny’s face my pants were in a state of shock and disappeared. Then I realized that I love Elliot and my boy band feels were EPIC. Like the only group I was crazy about was the Backstreet Boys (keep the backstreet pride alive) and I never once thought about any of those guys getting together (whispering: I lie I totally thought Howie and A.J were banging and no one can tell me otherwise and how hoped to be a part of their little love nest).

Then there’s the somber mood of big money management trying to keep the boys apart but you can’t stop love bitches, you just can’t stop it. There’s been times I wanted to commit character murder but the urge was strong as shit for this, strong as shit. YOU CAN’T STOP TRUE LOVE YA BASTARDS!!

The writing was sweet and I love all the boys in this story, keeping the bromance strong and beautiful. I’ve never been more in love with M.J O’Shea’s writing like I am right now. This book is surely getting  on my faves of 2013 and phew where the fuck is my pants?

---

Catch My Breath by M.J O'Shea
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 350pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Danny Bright was born to entertain. He just needs his big break. So when he hears that Blue Horizon Records is holding auditions looking for the next big thing, Danny jumps at the chance. It doesn’t turn out exactly as he imagined, though. Instead of getting solo contracts, Danny and four other guys are put into a boy band. 

Innocent, idealistic Elliot Price thinks he’s headed for college. An impulsive decision to sing in the local talent search changes all that. A bigwig producer happens to see him, hands him a business card, and turns Elliot’s life upside down. 

Elliot and Danny are close from the beginning. They love all the guys, but it’s different with each other. Soon their friendship turns into feelings more intense than either of them can ignore. The other three boys only want Danny and Elliot to be happy, but when their management team and record label discover two of their biggest tween heartthrobs are in a relationship, they’re less than pleased. Danny and Elliot find themselves in the middle of a circle of lies and cover-ups, all with one bottom line—money. They have to stay strong and stick together if they don’t want to lose themselves… and each other.

5 Pants Off

Review: Special Needs by K.A Merikan

Special Needs (Special Needs #1) by K.A Merikan
Self-Published
Novel
3 Pants Off

Blurb:
Liam slept with his boss. Again. And lost his job because of it. Again. Set on changing his ways and tired of sleeping in his car, he applies for a job as a live-in caretaker, even though he has no experience in it whatsoever. He has a lot of practice in lying his way out of any situation though. Only problem is, his new boss - wheelchair bound owner of a sex hotel - is gay, cute, funny and oh, so fuckable! There is only one logical solution to Liam’s dilemma - pretending he’s straight. Brilliant!

When Ryan inherited his aunt’s B&B, he thought he’d hit the jackpot by changing it into a fetish sex hotel. Things didn’t go as planned though, all of his marketing efforts seem to fail, and the debt is mounting up. Being a wheelchair user doesn’t help in actively promoting his hotel, but his luck starts to change when he hires a new caretaker. Liam is open-minded, helpful and caring. All that Ryan needs from a caretaker to kickstart his business, but things would all be a lot simpler if he didn’t start crushing on his new employee. And even if, in some other dimension, Liam did return his feelings, how long can Ryan keep his fetish a secret?

The web of lies they weave around each other is more bondage than any of them enjoy.

Review
Liam has a bad habit of sleeping with his bosses and then getting fired. It’s becoming old and he always finds himself sleeping in his car and without a job. This time he swears it’s going to be different, he's going to find a job and he will keep his dick in his pants for once. His job options are limited because of course his last boss/lover has put out the word and he probably won't get hired by any restaurants in the area. It’s time to find something else, and when he sees and ad to be a caregiver (knowing nothing about it) he decides to try his hand. His luck is that the sexy twink in the wheelchair is into guys and Liam fits everything he's looking for.

Ryan is the owner of a B&B and not your generic run of a mill B&B I'm talking sexy kink hotel filled with all fantasy your heart can desire. The hotel isn't doing as well as he's hope and with his disability and struggling with a wheelchair Ryan needs all the help he can get. Hiring Liam might not have been the best choice basing his decision of sexy alone but Ryan can't deny that they're a good fit. Too bad Liam is as straight as they come any Ryan knows that even if he wasn't who would want him anyways?

Alright, I had few problems with this book and the first being it’s just too freaking long. I found some scenes unnecessary and others way too long which took away from me really enjoying the story. It’s like boom, you tighten up some of those scenes cut down 3 chapters to one and you have golden. Next, the character Ryan irked me most of the time and yes I get that he was a bit innocent and stuff but dude you run a sex hotel your naiveté was just too freaking much. He had these weird childish tangents and wouldn't use his words and most of the time I wanted to move on from him. Third, what irkes me above all else is flaunting killer and obvious shit (seriously the rope and digging doesn't give it away) unless I'm being set up and would have to say that I was tricked quite splendidly. Seriously, I feel like I could have liked this one more because it is unique but the story dragged and Ryan irked me.

The ending, I was all like "WTF" where is the rest of it and that was me complaining about it being too long, if that don't beat all. I am truthfully looking forward to reading the second in hopes with a more mature Ryan where he actually starts to be a bit truthful. Liam, he's just Liam he means well.

Should You Read It? I am a supporter of K.A Merikan cus I feel like they offer up some unique stuff and I give kudos to authors writing any kind of diversity. While I didn't love this one, I could have called it quits at anytime but it intrigued me enough to continue and left me wanting more. Who knew?

3 Pants Off

Review: Black Hurricane by Erica Pike

Black Hurricane (Boston Boys #3) by Erica Pike
MLR Press
Novel: 259pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Twenty-three year old Jasper Jones fell in love with Dean McQueen at fourteen, but after a disastrous relationship, Jazz would like nothing better than to see the rock star choke on his own vomit.

After a catastrophic reunion, Dean seems bent on destroying Jazz’s life. It all started when an impromptu bar performance ended up on YouTube and Jazz became an internet sensation overnight. The name “Jazdean” keeps popping up in headlines and the paparazzi stalk his every move. To make matters worse, Jazz is about to end up on the streets for the second time in his life.

In a desperate attempt to keep his home, Jazz signs a deal with Dean’s band, Black Hurricane, to perform at a couple of concerts. It feels like one of Dean’s feeble attempts to get Jazz back, but painted into a corner like he is, Jazz has no choice.

Note: Can be read as a standalone

Review
I am a huge fan of the Boston boys after reading A Life Without You by Erica Pike and that was the book that made me fall in love with the author. So yeh really excited to read Black Hurricane because Jazz has been an amazing sexy character throughout the series and I just was so ready for his HEA. While Black Hurricane is absurdly entertaining I was still disappointed with the overall story and I did not love it as much as I had hoped.

Jasper *Jazz* Jones is single, hot, and has an amazing group of friends. Yes, life is little challenging with making a steady income and keeping his home but he's willing to put in the hard work. When his friend Eric offers a serious amount of cash to take some pics Jasper jumps at the opportunity but he's regretting his decision because that would mean he gets to see Dean McQueen after many years. Dean is the leader of the wildly successful rock group Black hurricane he's also an asshole who broke Jazz's heart back in high-school. Sucks cus he's still sexy as fuck and Jazz just wants someone to ruin that smug face. Jazz his hoping that Dean doesn't recognize him and he doesn't but he's hell bent on getting Jazz into his bed. When Dean shows up at Jazz's place of work his cover his blown and Dean finds out exactly who he is.

Now it becomes a game of cat and mouse with Dean going after his prey and Jazz hell bent on never getting sucked back in. He knows staying away from Dean is the best course of action, too bad Dean can't take a hint and his financial dreams get answered when he's offered to join Black Hurricane on a few charity concerts. Old hurts and old love collides which causes tense filled rehearsals and a sexually charged atmosphere. Now Jazz must listen to his heart or walk away from Dean forever.

Alright, this book confused me in the very beginning. Like Jazz goes to take the pictures of Black Hurricane but comes off like he didn't know Dean was in the band all along and was all surprised then the story moves into like he did know it all along. Maybe I missed something but that was the impression I got. I'm also starting to find the characters a bit superficial which surprises judging from how the series started to where the characters are at now. A Life Without You had so much substance, the characters were so rich and I wanted to know everything about them. Now, I feel like I don't want to know them because I might end up disappointed. There clouded in parties, glitter, and fucking and that’s all I'm seeing.

Yet, the story was still very entertaining and while I'm all types of confused to what happened with such a promising series I am still kinda in love with them. I like Jazz as character but I used to love him and as for Dean he gets a bad rap in this book. I would have liked more from his POV because he's been through some things and it was just too much about poor ole Jazz.

Should You Read It? It’s still a yes for me, and while the last two books doesn't compare to the first in the series they are fun to read. So I still enjoy Erica Pike and I still am looking forward to the other characters story.

4 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 A Life Without You

Review: Book #2 Absolutely Eric

DarienMoya

Review: From the Ashes by Daisy Harris

From the Ashes (Fire and Rain #1) by Daisy Harris
Samhain Publishing
Novel: 259pgs
3-3.25 Pants Off

Blurb:
Fire and Rain, Book 1

When an accident burns down Jesse’s apartment, he’s left broke and homeless, with a giant dog and a college schedule he can’t afford to maintain. And no family who’s willing to take him in.

Lucky for him, a sexy fireman offers him a place to stay. The drawback? The fireman’s big Latino family lives next door, and they don’t know their son is gay.

Tomas’s parents made their way in America with hard work and by accepting help when it was offered, so he won’t let Jesse drop out of school just so he can afford a place to live. Besides, Jesse’s the perfect roommate—funny, sweet and breathtakingly cute. He climbs into Tomas’s bed and tugs at his heart. Until Jesse starts pushing for more.

Their passion enflames their bodies but threatens to crush Tomas’s family. Tomas is willing to fight for Jesse, but after losing everything, Jesse isn’t sure he can bear to risk his one remaining possession—his heart.

Review
I am having a hard time with rating this book or even telling how I actually feel about it. I was really excited to read this one, so my expectations were high and somehow I can't help feel like it under performed. I had a hard time really getting into the characters and sometimes scenes would seem a little pointless (IMO).

Jesse was just doing a bit of grocery shopping, but instead of packing away his groceries he's watching his home burn to the ground. The few things he had just went up in a pile of flames and the reality that he's homeless just hasn't hit home. With his little job at a coffee shop and school fees, Jesse is barely making ends meet. Now he's got no place to live, no family to depend on, and no friends to call. Shit seems more hopeless as the ashes settle. Upside is that there is a fireman that is going above and beyond his duty to care for Jesse. All his kindness is a little suspicious but without the help Jesse would probably crumble and fall just like his burning home.

Tomas can't understand all his feels for the sad looking kid. But he finds himself wanting to care for him and help him out. Could be that Jesse looks like the kids (his word) that usually end up on their knees blowing him but he's never wanted to take one home before. Yes, he's attracted to the boy but his offer for help is sincere and he makes that clear. Suddenly he's offering up his home and inviting Jesse to stay while fighting a hell of an attraction. But Tomas can't be gay, he just can’t not with his family, not with his job, and it’s most definitely not alright with him. If only...

A part of me liked this book but the other part was really excited when it ended. Tomas and Jesse are alright enough characters, but they're chemistry was lacking and overall too many fluffy feels. I felt like this one should have been heavy on the angst but somehow it was just too sweet. What I enjoyed the most was Tomas's hang-ups when it came to sex. Sex with men has always been a seedy affair for him, so finally doing it with someone he cared about really put him in a bad place. It was both understandable and equally foolish but I enjoyed it.

Another dislike was the unnecessary characters that mostly felt like fillers instead of supporting characters. For instance Tomas's brother Diego, he was both unnecessary and annoying. Jesse's friends kinda fall into the same category and were just there. Again, I was hoping to like this one a lot but kudos on the interracial love I always appreciate them.

Should You Read It? If you're a fan of Daisy Harris and want to read about a hot fireman, for me it was just "ok" somewhere between a 3 and a 3.25 rating but as I said, I have mixed feelings about this one and found it a bit difficult to rate. Cover be amazing though!

Review: The Italian Connection Vol.1 by Alex A. Akira

The Italian Connection Vol.1 (Dojo Boys #4) by Alex A. Akira
Triple A Press
Novel: 213pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
This swiftly paced 2 Volume romantic Yaoi love story tells the story of the multi-talented thief/dancer Philippe Michael Ponty. First introduced in Dojo Boys: Dragon & Crow Volume II, the now 22 year old platinum haired, petite Adonis struggles to make a home for himself in America.

Volume I finds Philip settling in Connecticut in disguise as he doesn't want to draw too much attention to his true line of work. Despite his caution, he meets and befriends a local rock musician Tommy Sear, who despairs of ever having his band make it.

Quickly smitten by the dark haired, shy Asian male that is Philip, Tommy seeks to make the young man his, but Philip doesn't believe in love, besides he has a very real problem, he can't seem to get the victim of his last burglary, green eyed, virile Italian male... out of his mind.
With Philip's encouragement, Tommy renews his efforts to get his band Sear a record deal. He makes a demo and shortly after a scout contacts him, from Italy no less.

The Italian scout is coming to America hear them play in the hopes of signing Sear to the much sought after label Romano Studios. But Tommy has a secret and he's afraid that without Philip's help, they may not get the deal.

Review:
So I went into reading this one without having read the first 3 volumes, and though there were characters I was unfamiliar with, the story was pretty easy to follow. The book begins with Philippe a lithe thief breaking into a home, research says no one should be home but his plans get thwarted when a beautiful man is asleep in a couch in the very room he needs to steal from. Philippe is attracted to him, and wish he could have seen the man under different circumstances but he's got a job to do. What he never expected was a confrontation with the sleeping man and a kiss that would come to change his life.

Julian Romano is in Italy for a little R&R after a very nasty break-up with his partner. He's hurting and was being a bit destructive, and as a part owner with his twin brother Gregori of Romano Records, he needs to have his wits about. What he never expected was to be robbed on his vacay, and to want the thief something fierce. Many months later he's still pheneing for his little thief, but alas real life calls and it’s time to head back home and get back to work.

The book is very fast paced, and I did enjoy pretty much all the characters but I had a few niggles. The constant knowing what every character is thinking was annoying, really killed the flow of reading. So I found myself not reading all those inner thoughts written in italics (it was like a character always having an aside). The flashbacks also felt very contrived and out of order, which once again messed with overall delivery (it probably cause some confusion for readers). While most things seem all over the place, the author manages to bring everything together, but still left me with questions and anticipating reading the next volume. Things is about to get serious.

The thing to remember is that this book is yaoi, from the very core of the plot to how the characters talk to each other. There is a lot of story happening, with many characters and eye rolling moments. The Italian Connection is a fun read, with likable characters, and pretty men all around. An insta love thing going on which works with the story line and Philip's past which is very questionable, will not be for all readers (underage talk of sex) something which is not unusual in yaoi so I wasn't bothered. Overall, I liked it and can't wait to read volume 2.

Should You Read It? If you are a fan of yaoi and enjoy reading about pretty men then this book is for you. The sex part of it is very tame, and mostly it’s all very character based. Needed to be bit cleaner in delivery, but I liked it nonetheless. Plus, that covers is all kinds of pretty!!

3.5 Pants Off

ARC Review: Velocity (Impulse #3) by Amelia C. Gormley

Velocity (Impulse #3) by Amelia C. Gormley
Self-Published
Novel: 210pgs
4+ Pants Off

Blurb:
REACHING OPTIMUM SPEED

For Detroit handyman Derrick Chance and his lover, Gavin Hayes, the holiday season is filled with the promise of new beginnings. Gavin’s officially moving in, and after the New Year, they’ll begin house hunting. But they both know all the talk of gift exchange, whose holiday ornaments go where, and what repairs and remodels will be needed to put Derrick’s house on the market is only a smoke screen.

Before the month is over, Gavin will have the final verdict on whether or not his dangerously delusional ex, Lukas, infected him with HIV. No matter how good Gavin’s chances appear with the three-month hurdle already passed, neither he nor Derrick knows what the future holds for them.

The holidays have always been a time of loss and mourning for Derrick, but now he has to stay strong as Gavin’s own fears and doubts assail him relentlessly. And when Lukas returns, unexpectedly penitent amid troubling revelations, Gavin has to ask himself whether he can offer Derrick the future he deserves, or whether these first few months of happiness are the best they will ever get.

Review:
In Velocity the final book in the series, Derrick and Gavin are pretty much living together. They both know they're in it for the long haul, but there are some things left to deal with, things that could drive a permanent wedge between the relationship they're trying to make work. From the beginning Gavin shared that he could be HIV positive, and though Derrick was honestly terrified he stuck around and remained a constant support. Now Gavin must face off with the man who started it all.

The entire Impulse series deals with a pretty heavy hitting issue, but it’s not an angst or sob fest. The story of the two men coming together is surprisingly sweet, and they really set fire to the pages. Where I felt the first two books focused primarily on Derrick, Velocity was Gavin's time to his face his worst demons and find solidity in his relationship with Derrick. It's the holidays, and with the looming test results Gavin is scared, and when the very man who might have infected him comes begging for help, he's unable to walk away. Suddenly, he's filled with doubts, but he is determined to get some answers regardless of whether he will like them or not.

Amelia Gormley has taken a serious topic, and presented it in a realistic manner. Gavin's fears are real, and his worry for involving Derrick is believable.  Though, the HIV thing could have been the entire focus, this book is really about Gavin standing up for himself and finding closure. Which thank the lord because he was becoming very frustrating. I really wanted to slap him upside his head, and Derrick’s passive attitude towards his stupidity irked me a lot. But I guess he really needed to figure this one out on his own, which making him getting a backbone at his disgusting ex all the more worthwhile.

Velocity, though tamer than book two is still a sexy fest. There are some hot scenes to melt the pants off your body. These characters have so much chemistry it’s freaking crazy. The very light D/s play really kicks it up the lovemaking a notch and have made me realize that I have a suspenders kink. I talk about sexy nerds, and Gavin is surely on that list.

The fact that these books are self-pubbed, and are so excellently written it should definitely be on everyone’s radar. The covers are gorgeous, the author's talent is legit, and the Impulse series is easily one of my faves. Gavin and Derrick are strong characters with a wonderful story that people should go out and discover for themselves. I can't recommend this enough!

Should You Read It? Seriously, you should go pick up all three books right now. Good point is that you don't have to wait and gobble up all three, and lose your pants all over the place. Amelia Gormley is an author to keep on radar, because I expect big awesmazing things to follow.

4 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 Inertia

Review: Book #2 Acceleration

Review: Off With Their Heads by K.A Merikan

Off With Their Heads by K.A. Merikan
Self-Published
Short Story: 40pgs
3/3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
It’s 1907, twenty years after the outbreak of a zombie Plague. For a young medicine student like Clint, the undead bodies provide an opportunity to study human physiology in the working. He is a good young man: tidy, well-mannered and hard working. Focused on his goal to become an excellent surgeon, Clint has a bright future ahead of him. If it weren’t for a shameful secret he’s forced to keep, his life would have been perfect.

Xavier, a peculiar foreigner he finds in the morgue late at night, claims to be an assistant to one of Clint's professors, but doesn’t know the first thing about the proper way to behead zombies. Xavier’s story has many loose ends, but something about him unlocks all the emotions Clint always kept bottled up inside. When he learns the truth about Xavier, Clint finds himself involved in a conspiracy that could destroy everything he’s worked so hard for. Frightened by the possible consequences, yet strangely fascinated by the eccentric, tattooed stranger, Clint follows him to places he would never dare explore on his own.

Review:
Clint is a medical student who works closely with zombies. They are provide a way to study the human body, and how it’s evolving. 20 years since the plagued hit and left millions of the undead walking around, Clint doesn't know what the plague was like, but he knows what life is like now, crowded and safely inside behind protective walls. When he runs into a professor assistant cutting off some heads, Clint offers his help because clearly the assistant is new to the removal of zombie heads. What's peculiar is that he says he needs ten heads, and that’s a hard job without some help.

It all becomes clear when Clint finds himself sneaking out with heads in a bag, and the beautiful thin stranger sharing his plot to make living art (well undead art). Running through back alleys, trying to stay clear of the cops, suddenly life for Clint has become a lot more interesting. If only Xavier wasn't so thin, different, and beautiful because trying to hide his body's reaction isn't easy.

The thing with short stories is that they end far too quickly for my liking. Off With Their Heads was getting into the meat, and then it just ended. So it’s very hard to rate and come up with my exact feelings. Firstly, I am very interested in the skinny Xavier, he's all artsy and rebel (also a bit silly). Clint is his complete opposite, sheltered, intellectual, and very innocent. They come together in a playful hot kinda way.

Not my first Zombie book by the authors, but this one failed to move me like the Scavengers stories. I am feeling all blah about it, so I don't know how to rate it. I didn't really like it, but I don't dislike it (at a crossroads). Hopefully there will be more of Clint and Xavier because the plan for the heads is just too big to be ignored.

SideNote- Cover is AWESMAZING!!

3.5 Pants Off

Review: 40 Souls to Keep by Libby Drew

40 Souls To Keep by Libby Drew
Carina Press
Novel: 253pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Seven years ago, Jase awoke with the mystical power to heal people—and no memory of his past. The only clue to his identity is the number forty tattooed on his arm. Driven by a mission he doesn't understand, Jase follows his visions to those he's meant to save. He is convinced that the fortieth person he's drawn to—a little girl named Macy Pearl—is the key to finally learning the truth...

Social worker Lucas Jacobson has made a promise to protect Macy, orphaned when her parents were brutally murdered. So when Jase shows up in Naples claiming he's there to heal the child, Lucas is wary, despite his attraction to the enigmatic stranger.

Then Macy is abducted, and Lucas has no choice but to trust in Jase. Scouring the city from its glitzy resorts to its seedy underbelly only deepens the mystery—and draws the two men closer. But Jase is certain of one thing: if Macy dies, a dark fate awaits them all.

Review:
This is going to be one of those books that you really love or sort of hate; I am somewhat stuck in the middle. The idea behind the book is somewhat brilliant, and the writing is excellent, I am just very dissatisfied with how it all came together, even though it does have the power to keep you from stop reading. A great effort by Libby Drew, but by the end I kind of stopped caring for the MCs.

A man awakes in a park with no recollection of how he got there, or who he is. A young boy is also at the park with his grandmother and they care enough to take him home and feed him. They pick the name Jase for him, and Jase struggles with the fact that he can’t remember anything about himself. What he does discover is that he has a tattoo (a number 40) and he has the power to heal. That little part comes a surprise but Jase knows what he must do, and that tattoo is about to become the bane to his existence.

Lucas Jacobson is with Child Protective Services, and he’s just been called to his worst case yet. Seems the little girl he’s supposed to pick up might have witnessed the murder of her parents. The fact that they lived in poverty and might be surrounded by gators is another sad fact to add to the equation. Lucas Knows one thing, he’s willing to protect the little girl Macy with all he has, and that is exactly what he has to do.

7 years later Jase has saved many a souls and he is down to his last one a little girl called Macy, and then it will all be over and he can go back to the life he forgot. However, Lucas Jacobson wasn’t supposed to be a part of package but he seems to Macy’s protector. The men are thrust into keeping Macy alive while trying to figure out who’s after her, and realizing not everything is, as it seems.

As I said, the idea behind the book is great. The setting is so rich I was instantly caught up in what the author created, from the lavish setting of the rich, to that of the poorest of poor. It was like one giant awesome road trip (with an ominous countdown). That was my fave part of the entire book, them driving around and the description of the scenery. That part is very well done. It’s another one of those books where it’s longer than it needed to be and by time the ending rolled around my interest was gone. I liked Lucas and Jase a lot, but not that much time was spent on them together, so I can’t call them a couple but as individuals I really like them. Again, lots to like, the plot is interesting and as much as I liked the driving and running around this probably will turn some readers off.

Should You Read It? Yes, if you want to read suspense with a nice paranormal twist. I legit will be reading more from Libby Drew; this book has captured my interest with her obvious talent for spinning a tale. 40 Souls To Keep will be a hit or miss for most readers, but for me I liked it.

3.5 Pants Off

Review: Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley

Acceleration (Impulse #2) by Amelia Gormley
Self-Published
Novel
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
GAINING MOMENTUM

Gavin Hayes is everything Derrick could ask for in a lover. Gorgeous. Passionate. Great in bed. Derrick finds it very easy to just let himself go, to let Gavin guide him and teach him all the things he missed during a decade of celibacy. In the course of a single weekend, Derrick’s routine is transformed, his mornings and evenings filled with sex. Sweet, seductive, wild, or raunchy, Gavin offers Derrick all the pleasure he’s denied himself for so long.

But learning how to be a lover in bed is one thing. Learning to be one out of bed is another. For Derrick, being alone has become habit. Sharing his confidences doesn’t come nearly as readily as sharing his bed. After so many losses, the last thing Derrick wants is to become dependent upon another person who might not always be there.

And Gavin always being there is far from certain. With an ex-lover lurking in the background, and the question of Gavin’s future health still outstanding, neither Gavin nor Derrick feel capable of asking for anything more than right now. But Gavin won’t be kept on the fringes of Derrick’s life. Can Derrick let someone in before the opportunity passes him by?

Review:
I am blown away! Where I found the first book in the series goodish, this one was excellent. I did not want it to end, and Gavin and Derrick are INTENSE. I am excited for the next book and man am I impatiently waiting.

 In Impulse book 1, contractor/handyman Derrick meets Gavin whom he finds very attractive. After spending many years celibate and alone, his attraction is both exciting and terrifying. Plus, Gavin is coming on strong and Derrick was finding it hard to resist to him. Then Gavin drops a bomb that blew up their fledgling relationship before it even got started.

Both men are dealing with past hurts, and this terrifying reluctance to trust each other. Gavin's previous relationship has left him emotionally and quite possibly physically damaged. Derrick’s fear of being abandoned has him keeping Gavin at arms length (giving but never quite giving all). He hides things that affect them both, and he is wary of the day that Gavin will up and leave him. Which is interesting, based that Gavin might be seriously ill and Derrick has this past of caring for ailing people.

The men do this tango of sex and apprehension, and man was it beautiful to read. I really liked Derrick, his fears were sound and I felt like sometimes he was backed into a corner. They were moving at a speed that just felt too fast, for where their relationship was at. It's only been a few months and expectations seemed excessively high, and sometimes both were asking for too much.

I thought there would have been more angst (doom and gloom) but I found it very sweet, and of course sexay as hell. This was hot, hot and Gavin delivered his superior Dom like a boss. I was both impressed and excited in my pants by the amount of awesomeness. It’s as if the author planed to unleash all the sexy in book two "I will wait and then I will kill them with utmost exceptional ass eating scenes ever written". I really believe that was the plan :D

The writing is superb, the care that went into it, is in every chapter on every page. For a self-pub, it really can't get any better than this (it really can't). Acceleration is definitely going on my fave list of 2012; it was a wonderful surprise in awesmazing. Also, that freaking cover *squee* EXCELLENT!

Should You Read It? Yes, yes, and more yes. Blew me out of the water because I was expecting to like it, not love it. Worth taking a chance on. I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series; Derrick and Gavin have captured my heart and have caused some mega pants losing.

4.5 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 Impulse