Review: Blue River by Theo Fenraven

Reviewed by SinChan
Blue River by Theo Fenraven
Dreamspinner Press
Short Story: 92pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
2nd Edition

Photography genius Ethan Mars is out and living the fast life in Los Angeles until a mysterious mist in Topanga Canyon sends him back in time. There he meets Quinn Parker, a farmer who has hidden his homosexuality from everyone, even Margaret, his fiancée. Falling in love is the last thing Ethan expects, and the last thing Quinn can allow—in 1863, being gay can get him killed. When Ethan is unexpectedly offered a way home, he faces an impossible decision: go back... or stay?

1st Edition published by MLR Press, 2011.

A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.

Review
This is the second edition of story first published for the "MLR Press Story A Day For the Holidays 2011" event.

The appearance of a "time travel" fog connects two different spaces and times. Ethan travels back in time through the fog to the 1800s and meets Quinn, who's in the closet. Quinn is engaged to a woman and the marriage is in 3 weeks because of societal expectations. Meeting Ethan has changed Quinn's outlook on life and love. Both men have to make choices and sacrifices on deciding what is "home."

The time traveling gives them a choice to either live in a gay-tolerant community in the 21st century or stay in the 1800s where the food tastes better. They both have families they don't want to leave behind but they also don't want to leave each other. That is the dilemma the characters face and this is well portrayed by the author from start to finish.

I love the humorous commentary about life in the 1800s and the luxurious amenities of the 21st century. It was fun to read about Ethan discovering the outhouse, bathing, killing and preparing a chicken for dinner. I really enjoy Ethan's voice in the story. At times, he's humorous but other times, he is bogged down with indecision and second-guesses on life. He asks himself some soul-searching questions to decide where is home and what is love. It's easy to connect with these characters and get a feel for life in the 1800s.

The HEA ending was great with just a hint of melancholy because decisions are tradeoffs. The book perfectly balances the realities of life with humor. This story is meaningful, honest, and showcases the good and bad of life. This is a memorable book for me and I highly recommend it.

5 Pants Off

Review: The Lightning Struck Tower by Theo Fenraven

The Lightning Struck Tower (Precog in Peril #3) by Theo Fenraven
Voodoo Lily Press
Novella: 120pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Gray Vecello and Cooper Key are back in the last book in the Precog in Peril series. Snatched by PsiOps, a covert arm of the government, they’re offered training in exchange for their psionic help. Will they take the deal, and if they don’t, what will PsiOps do to them?

Gray and Cooper meet new friends and enemies in this final chapter of the trilogy. The story takes the reader from New York City to Ely, Minnesota, and back to Gray and Cooper’s marina in Red Wing, where they will face the ultimate test of their powers. Someone will live… and someone will die.


Review:
The final book in the Precog in Peril series, and I am happy to report that I quite enjoyed it. Truthfully, the final two books didn't capture me like the first book in the series, but overall they were all pretty enjoyable. The Lightning Struck Tower brought everything to a neat close and left all the characters in a good place.

The Rundown
Gray Vecello inherited a house boat from his grandfather after he was killed, which comes a surprise because Gray was never close with his granddads. He picks up and leaves his job to move in on the houseboat, but the houseboat came with his own tenant. Cooper lived on the boat with his granddad, and with nowhere else to go he stayed on. The two men hit off, and sparks fly. Too bad there are psychic abilities to deal with, and the fact that someone is trying to kill them, and recruit them to a PsiOps ninja team.

Present
This book picks up right after where the second ended, when Gray and Cooper are kidnapped while vacationing in New York. Someone wants to use Gray's power as a Precog to something that seems very impossible, and on the other side there’s a government agency willing to give anything to train him and Cooper to their full potential. Let's just say that Gray and Coop have their hands full, and will go with the obvious choice. Joining PsiOps government program and getting trained.

With reluctance they decide to join, but it’s easier just accepting or forever spend their life running or trying not to die. Having to leave their houseboat is the hardest part, but with new surroundings there is the start of new beginnings and friendships they never expected. That doesn't mean they're out of the wood yet, there is still some crazy wanting to use Gray for his power and is willing to kill to get it done.

Alright, I did like this one a little more than the last book but I had a hard time with believing the whole story. What started out as interesting became sort of fantastical and over the top. Along the way I also started to not like Gray and Cooper very much (especially Gray). His personality kept switching up, from caring, to obnoxious, to caring again so I have mixed feelings about him. Seems like all he cared about was money, then that would switch to something else, and then he loved Coop so much, then doubted about being happy in the relationship (frustrating).

What I enjoyed in this book was the introduction of a Trans* character. There's books featuring Tran* character as the lead, but I liked that Wendy was a friend and apart of the story. I wish there was more books like that.

Should You Read It? It’s a light fun series, and could be enjoyed in a few days. As I said, book 2&3 weren't as awesome as the first book for me but I still found it all in its entirety an entertaining read. I would give the entire series 3.75, very entertaining and fast paced.

3.5 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 Three of Swords

Review: Book #2 Knight of Wands

Review: Knight of Wands by Theo Fenraven

Knight of Wands (Precog in Peril #2) by Theo Fenraven
Voodoo Lily Press
Novella: 100pgs
3 Pants Off

Blurb:
Gray Vecello and Cooper Key are back in the exciting sequel to Three of Swords. Graham’s treasure is only the tip of the iceberg as a thief helps himself to a hidden stash of cash, Jolly Roger makes another appearance, and the guys finally meet others with special abilities when an emergency meeting of the group is called.

Accompanying them on this new adventure is Gray’s cousin, Harper, who’s having problems of her own. Peace and quiet will have to wait as they take another trip downriver on their houseboat, The Constant Companion, before flying to New York City to beard a lion in his den and unexpectedly meet the SOS.



Short Review:
I am a little disappointed in how this story turned. What worked for the first story was surely missing in this one, and the characters seemed very different. The all around rollercoaster ride took away from my enjoyment, and I just kept looking forward to when it would end.

From the first book Gray finds out he is a powerful Precog, you can my review for Three of Swords to get an idea and how it all started. The second books picked up right where the first was left and I was looking forward to it. Gray and Cooper find the key left by Graham (Gray’s grandfather) and it’s a key to open a safety deposit box. They are both surprised by box’s content and deliriously happy cus they were left a ton a cash. The box also contains some super priceless Tarot Cards, and an unspeakable amount of mystery.

The story then picks up when the money goes missing on their houseboat when nobody knew they even had it. Then count in the arrival of Gray’s cousin Harper, and this is where the story started to lose me. All these things happening and none of it really made sense. The money, the trip to New York, it just all felt ludicrous.

I was so greatly looking forward to reading this and it just felt like a whole bunch of scenes and words got thrown together. It lacked the chemistry between Gray/Cooper that the first book had. The plot and story surrounding Gray’s gifts needed to be tighter, and all the mysterious intrigue is starting to feel contrived.

Should You Read It? I don’t know… I really enjoyed the first book but this turned out to be a disappointing read for me. I will continue reading the series, if only to see if the magic of the first book returns.

3 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 Three of Swords

Review: Three of Swords by Theo Fenraven

Three Of Swords (Precog in Peril #1) by Theo Fenraven
Voodoo Lily Press
Novella: 37,000wds
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
An old houseboat, a hot young guy, a couple of murders, and more mysterious keys than you can shake a stick at: this is what awaits Gray Vecello after his grandfather, Graham, is killed picking up high blood pressure pills.

A letter Graham left behind sends Gray and his unexpected ally, Cooper Key, on a journey downriver in an attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding an unknown treasure. On the way, they encounter both friends and enemies, one of whom will target Gray and Cooper for death. One thing working in Gray’s favor: he has the sight, just as Graham had, but will it be enough to save them both?


Review:
This was a big surprise for me cus I really liked the heck out of it. It was cute, sexy, and a great way to begin a series. A series, I expect to be awesome because I really enjoyed the characters and the set-up have me anticipating awesomeness.

Gray is attending his grandfather's funeral a man he hardly knew. So it comes as a surprise when he is mentioned in the will, because Gray is also carrying around some serious guilt. He saw his grandfather death before it actually happened, but to say he did see it would lead to admitting he can see the future. That's a can of worms he would rather not open. When the will reads that he was left a houseboat, Gray is both excited and apprehensive, though it could be the start of change. A change he most desperately needs.

The houseboat does come with a tenant, the very young and attractive Cooper. Gray is instantly attracted to young man who provides the insight to a side of his grandfather he was unaware of while slowly working his way into his heart. Suddenly Gray is finding out about his grandfather's secret life and it all has to do with the gift inside of him. It's untapped and he must figure out how to control it with clues left by his grandad and of course with the help of Cooper.

There is a lot to like about this book, but with every new series, sometimes the first book just never feels like enough. I really enjoyed the pacing, the getting into the meat of it all, but by the end certain things felt rushed, and I was a bit disappointed. I believe it needed a bit more pages; there is so much going on and with not enough pages to tackle it.

I liked Gray; he is a bit stubborn and was really intent on fighting the inevitable, which left him vulnerable. I like Cooper, there is a lot of growing left for him to do and I am looking forward to it. Together, they create a nice balance and have a solid relationship from the get go. There is a nice little surprise that tie them together, but it will remain a surprise *evil laugh*.

Overall, I enjoyed the hell out of it and I’m anticipating the next book in the series. I am excited to see what other adventures Coop and Gray get up to.

4 Pants Off

Review: The Blue Paradise by Theo Fenraven

Reviewed by Buggy
The Blue Paradise by Theo Fenraven
Dreamspinner Press
Novella
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Pro baseball player Devin Carter is set to break a home run record until a knee injury puts him on the bench. With nothing to do but wait for recovery, Devin impulsively treats himself and his dog to a vacation in the Florida Keys. He checks in at a family-run hotel called The Blue Paradise—and that’s where things get interesting.

Sparks fly when Devin meets Jim Dellwood, the resort owner's grandson, on the beach. Though Devin’s time in Islamorada is limited—and he's still in the closet to his teammates and the media—they decide to give the budding relationship a shot. Once he returns to Sarasota, Devin and Jim find ways to make their long-distance love affair work, but the team’s new outfielder has other plans for Devin. Can Devin make his way back to The Blue Paradise—and Jim?

Review:
Opening Line: “Devin Carter had five days off thanks to a torn knee ligament, and he needed to get away from everyone and everything he knew, so he threw some clothes and a couple books in a bag, loaded the dog in the car, and drove down the gulf coast of Florida to Naples, where he picked up the Tamiami Trail.” 

Wow, I totally got into this one, a real surprise as the story didn’t at all go where I was expecting it to and the love scenes were for the most part fade-to-black. Sure we get the usual hand jobs, blow jobs and make out sessions but except for a delicious “edging” scene (yup, learn something new every day in my M/M romances) our hero “makes love” and leaves the rest to our imaginations. Kinda refreshing.

Blue Paradise also gives us a creepy stalker plotline – which I didn’t see coming, and our hero is a professional baseball player. Yum! And wasn’t it fun going behind the scenes with him; locker rooms, agents, groupies etc. Giving me flashes of For Love Of The Game (without Kevin Costner) as he tries to break Barry Bonds homerun record on a failing knee. I should also mention the awesome Florida setting here; so well written that I could actually feel the humidity, smell the salt air and see the swaying palms. Total escapism and I loved it. This was a big hit for me and I’ll definitely be seeking out more from Theo Fenraven.

Professional baseball player Devin Carter is nursing a bad knee, benched by the team doctor he’s hoping a week’s rest in the Florida Keys will be just what his mind and body need to help him break the home run record when he returns for the remainder of the season. With no true direction in mind Devin just grabs his dog and hits the road, eventually checking into a non-descript hotel bungalow on the beach. It’s there at the Blue Paradise that Devin meets Jim, the grandson of the owner and the man he doesn’t know he’s been looking for.

Their affair is short lived but meaningful and when Devin returns to Sarasota they decide to keep it going over the phone. There isn’t any angst or unnecessary drama between Devin and Jim; it’s all very mature (that aspect has been saved up for Jorge.) Devin is still in the closet when it comes to the media and his teammates but otherwise quite secure in his sexuality so even though he’s never fooled around with a teammate before when the opportunity presents itself - and with Jim’s open minded blessing, he forges into unknown and potentially messy territory with the team’s new outfielder. And that’s when things get really interesting.

For a novella, I got way caught up in the stalker aspect of this story and the utter helplessness Devin feels as his life crumbles around him. He can’t even go to his coach or the police without coming out, however as the violence escalates he also runs out of options. The bad guy here is nothing new or special but he still managed to make me hate him while upping the suspense level. My only real complaint here would be Dev and Jim’s initial meeting which just felt a little too easy and convenient but hey what do I know about gay hook ups?

Lastly I have to give a shout out to Rusty the dog who manages to get quite a bit of realistic page time. So much so that when the stalker starts threatening him I actually said to myself (and the author) you better not hurt the dog or I’m gunna stop reading and when I start talking to my books I know it’s good. Cheers

4.5 Pants Off