Review: Safeword by A.J Rose

Safeword (Power Exchange #2) by A.J Rose
Voodoo Lily Press
Novel: 333pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Everywhere Detective Gavin DeGrassi looks he’s reminded of his attack by the Breath Play Killer. It’s in the house he lives in with his partner and Dom, Ben Haverson. It’s in the sympathetic yet pitying looks he receives from his fellow detectives when he returns to the force after a year-long hiatus. It’s in the suffocating coddling of his entire family, and the relentless reporter demanding an exclusive of his ordeal.

Most of all, it’s in his lack of submission to Ben, who isn’t convinced Gavin’s recovered enough to trust the power exchange between them.

The miraculous recovery of two teen boys from a twisted kidnapper gives him heart, and Gavin's determined to prove he can handle anything despite increasing strain between him and Ben, painful nightmares, and panic when anyone touches him.

But his next case is too close for comfort: a friend and colleague found raped and murdered in a fate chillingly similar to what could have been his own, and this killer isn’t stopping with one cop. As the body count rises and taunting souvenirs are being hand-delivered to Gavin, he faces a frustrating lack of leads, a crushing need to prove himself, and a sinking suspicion the imprisoned kidnapper’s reach is further than originally thought. A miasma of uncertainty and fear threaten to suffocate him when he asks a question with which he’s overwhelmingly familiar: what happens when a victim is pushed too far?

Review:
Gavin Degrassi is back in the sequel to Power Exchange; he's healing up and trying to get his life back after being violated by a serial killer. There's also the reoccurring guilt he feels everytime, like he could have done more and saved all the boys who lost their lives to the Breath Play killer. After a year long hiatus, Gavin feels ready to head back to work, and with the support of his lover Ben Haverson, Gavin is feeling pretty confident he's ready to dive right back into work.

Thats until his first case feels too close for comfort, someone is killing cops and in a style that is all too familiar to Gavin. Bounded, beaten, and defiled cops are dropping like flies and suddenly Gavin isn't feeling as confident because it brings back bad memories of his own assault at the hands of a killer. To make a bad situation worse, it involves kids, a vile pedophile and Gavin and his partner Myah have their hands full and have to beat the clock before a killer strikes again. Suddenly, the killer is making everything personal by breaking into Gavin's home and leaving him little gifts. Just maybe his job is becoming too much, and its putting a strain on his relationship with the man he loves.

Alright, I have to say I enjoyed the first book a lot more which doesn't mean this book was bad, I just didn't fall in love. I still enjoyed it, but found Gavin to be the same as he was in Power Exchange his head wasn't in the game and once again most things could have been avoided. Hooray for a killer that wasn't obvious and the execution of the overall mystery were well done. Twisted and all kinds of sad, this killer really hit me in the feels; it was a sad out come to a very sad situation. 

The relationship between Gavin and Ben took the backseat in Safeword but it doesn't mean that their relationship didn't play a role. With what happened to them both in the first book there was some hurdles that needed to be jumped for things to be overcome. The BDSM part of it all was very mild, and I sorta missed what their relationship used to be but it was understandable as to why they went easy with D/s thing. My peeve is that Gavin felt like he had to leave his job, and in the end I felt like it was forced on him but that’s just my feelings. 

Overall, I really enjoyed it and it turned out to be a solid written crime novel. With lots of twists and turns along the way, the reader is guaranteed to be kept on his/her toes. 

Should You Read It? Yes, if you enjoyed the first book and wanted to see how Gavin and Ben's relationship progressed. I enjoyed it and found it to be a solidly written sequel.

4 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 Power Exchange

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

What's Happening This Week! Jan 28-Feb 2

Hello my friends, hope you guys had a fab week? My week was pretty good, read some awesome books and I am happy. Feeling a bit under the weather today, but it's nothing I can't handle.

Lots of fantastic things coming this week *fantastic*. The first post for my Fan-Art segment goes live and I am just happy. I'm also gonna be hitting you with some yaoi, and FanFic Friday. Doesn't that just sound perfect?

Here's what's causing a pants losing this week...


Reviews:
Black Magic by Megan Derr
Secret Chemistry (Shifters #1) by Chris T. Kat (Fehu)
The Lightning Struck Tower by Theo Fenraven
Love You Like A Romance Novel by Megan Derr
My Roommate's A Jock, Well Crap by Wade Kelly

Other Posts:
FanArt/Art Segment (I am so incredibly excited for this)
You, Me, & Yaoi (You Make My Head Spin by Kazuhiko Mishima)
FanFiction Friday

~Have A Great Week~

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: Fifteen Shades of Gay (For Pay) by T. Baggins

Fifteen Shades of Gay (For Pay) by T.Baggins
Voodoo Lilly Press
Novel: 258pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:

MONEY…

Andrew Reynolds is determined to stay in New York City as long as his sister Marie, a cancer patient, needs him. But despite his good looks and talent, Andrew hasn’t managed to find work as an actor. With his bank account empty and his credit cards maxed, Andrew needs money fast. Gay escorts make a nice living, but there’s one problem—Andrew isn’t gay.

SEX…

Ever since his early teens, when Andrew’s father shocked everyone by coming out, Andrew has been uncomfortable around gay men. Pretending to be gay will be the role of a lifetime. From male/male dates to erotic toys, spankings and more extreme play, Andrew must satisfy his clients without revealing his usual tastes.

… AND ROMANCE

Andrew’s first date with closeted politician Cormac Donovan ends in disaster. Yet with each successive booking, the attraction between them grows. As Andrew struggles with unexpected new feelings, Cormac puts his senatorial career in danger. And what began as a way for Andrew to earn money becomes a one-way ticket to heartbreak—or lasting love.

Review:

Me: "Not another damn title with fifteen and freaking shades in it" *bleh* but the fact that the author wrote two favourites books of mine (before the name change) I definitely had to read it, ridiculous title or not.

Andrew Reynolds is a struggling actor, worried about how he's going to pay the rent and get food to eat. He could move back home, but his sister is in New York and living with cancer and he's determined to stay by her side and help. The medicals bills are piling up, but he's gotta grin and bare in hopes that something awesome and good paying will come along. What he never expected was to become gay for pay, as an escort he will have to wine and dine with men (the thought nauseates him but the pay will be good) Hopefully he doesn't blow his cover and gets the boot because of an unsatisfied customer.

Andrew already has history with gay men, one being his father and his father's partner of many years. The break-up of his family left him shock, hurt, and is the very reason he fears gay men. So being gay for money will be a true test. When he meets his first client Cormac, the night goes by pleasantly and Andrew finds that he enjoys Cormac's company. Suddenly he's drunk and spilling all his secrets and the men form a friendship, they never expected. 

Omo, this book went places I didn't expect it to. I expected that Andrew would fall for Cormac and dive into the pleasures of gay love. While he does fall for Cormac, Andrew's first sexual gay experience comes from elsewhere (which I completely hated and found sort of pointless in the long run). He was so dead set against this "gay thing" but then he just sort of fell into it. I wanted him to have a meaningful first time but in the end, it felt meaningless for me. Then suddenly he's a teacher of all things gay, which is a gigantic leap from how he was in the beginning. Would have bought it if there was a better transition.

Even with all the things I did not like, I enjoyed Andrew's adventures, his relationship with his sister was written wonderfully, and his developing relationship with Cormac was enjoyable to read. I am very glad the book didn't go the way I expected it to, which is what I have come to love by this author, she's never afraid to push it.

There is an HEA and I was very happy with it. I loathed most of Andrew's choices but in an odd way, I understand them. Loved the role Cormac's career played (made for some interesting situations) and he turned out to be a surprise. Overall, it was awesome and I gobbled it up fast.

Should You Read It? For one don't let the cheesy title put you off, and get ready to dive into an excellent read. Be prepared for the unexpected and to get a bit teary eyed. Though I did have moments of "fuck this shit", it's those moments that made me love it more. It’s a winner!

4.5 Pants Off

Review: Power Exchange by A.J Rose

Power Exchange by A.J Rose
Voodoo Lily Press
Novel: 270pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
From the moment Detective Gavin DeGrassi steps into the world of BDSM to solve the brutal slaying of Dom George Kaiser, his course is not his own. Mesmerized by the context in which the victim lived and the images of the lifestyle seared into his soul, Gavin must find a way to navigate these unknown waters. With his personal life in upheaval due to marital trouble, and his professional life uncertain with the assignment of a new partner, Gavin needs all the help he can get understanding the case.

Enter Ben Haverson, a psychologist and a well known Dom. With Ben’s help as a consultant and attention to Gavin's own murky truths, Gavin delves deeper than he ever thought he would into the world of restraints and paddles. Forced to scrutinize his true nature and his innermost desires, Gavin has a choice: keep the fear of submitting at bay, or dive in and solve the case with the knowledge he gains. When another victim is discovered, Gavin’s choice is made for him, and he’s pulled headlong into the deepest, most emotional journey of his life.

Unfortunately for him and Ben, a killer has noticed, has taken stock, and has set his sights on the D/s pair. Can Gavin outwit him, or will his first exchange of power be his last?

Review:
Gavin DeGrassi is hiding deep in the closet, so deep there is glimpses of Narnia in there. He is a Detective who loves his job of helping people and catching the bad guys. He has a wife who doesn't exactly want him working the field but would rather see him climb the justice ladder and sit behind a desk. To make matters worse his parents are on board with his wife Victoria, and they make it a weekly habit to get on his case about starting a family and the dangers of his job. Throw in his diarrhea of the mouth partner and Gavin always finds himself the man in the middle, always trying to smooth things over.

Gavin and his partner are called to the scene of a crime, and it’s a crime unlike anything they've seen before. Looks like a BDSM scene gone badly, but there is underlying of something more sinister at play. This investigation leads them to the bdsm community and Gavin is feeling a serious pull. They will need expert help with this one and in comes Ben Haverson a psychologist and a Dom and Gavin is feeling a serious pull to him too. Things go from bad to worse (well not really) when Gavin walks in on his wife and partner in bed. Suddenly, a weight has been lifted off his shoulder and maybe he can live the life he has always wanted. First things first, he has gotta catch a killer.

Without giving too much away, Gavin is submissive which really comes across from the beginning. The way he was with his wife and is easy going and compassionate nature. He blossoms as a sub with Ben (which I kinda feel is conflict of interest) because with his new discoveries I felt like they pushed him away from doing a good job on his investigation.

I enjoyed the writing a lot, and found myself completely hooked from beginning. I am a sucker for a good D/s story and Power Exchange has that but.... I did have a few problems with it.

• Gavin, he had his head in the clouds. I felt like after his hook up with Ben he completely lost his A-game. 

•  The wife Victoria she just disappeared. She seemed like a stubborn and persevering type of chick, so I cannot understand how she just up and disappeared. Did not work well with her personality.

• The killer, He couldn't have been more obvious if he were wearing neon-flashing lights saying "Killer Here". This irked me and made the ending all lukewarm water. Nothing frustrates me more than an obvious killer *grrrr* and no one sees it.

I did enjoy the slow development of a D/s relationship between Ben and Gavin. It wasn't a rush into the hardcore bondage stuff but a slow grind into them finding what worked for them. On that note, I did not love the characters but did like them. The mystery part was done well up to a point and after it started to feel ridiculous. The excitement I had reading in the beginning slowly started to dwindle and when it was time to catch the killer I could have cared less.

Even with all the things I disliked, I did enjoy a majority of the story and I liked the writing. This publisher seems to be pushing out books I’ve been enjoying a lot.

Should You Read It? Most definitely, if you like BDSM but can't stomach the hardcore kind written in detail. There is something very sweet and captivating about Gavin and Ben's relationship, and if you have no problem with a flaunting killer :D

4 Pants Off

What's Happening This Week: I'm Baaaaack!

WooHoo! I am back my pants losing friends :D and just in time for holiday cheer. First though, my break was awesome and I did get to read a few of my books. Some great ones, some not so great, and those that just fell right in the middle. It's so awesome to be back and I missed you all dearly.

This week we have some excellent reviews and our first ever double review (so nice to see what two of my reviewers thought of the same book), guest posts and more. It's gonna be a packed week of goodies. For the rest of December is looking to be an excellent month of awesome so be sure to stop everyday and see what's up.

You will notice that this post looks completely different from the previous posts, this is to take the pressure off and leave the schedule open to change. Only guest posts/giveaways will most likely happen on their scheduled days. So basically its 'maybe these reviews are happening this week' sometimes you can't rush the brush.

Be sure to enter Came Upon a Midnight Clear giveaway runs until December 11th 11:59pm EST.

What's causing a pants losing this week....

Reviews:

• Poison by Megan Derr
• The Coil by L.A Gilbert (Fehu)
• Dex In Blue by Amy Lane (Double Review) (Buggy, Hannah)
• Crow & Firefly by Sam C. Leonhard (Fehu)
• Power Exchange by AJ Rose
• Inflori by A.F Henley (Fehu)
• The Red King by Rosmary O'Malley
• Dumb Jock 3 by Jeff Erno
• Learning to Love: Michael & Sean by K.C Wells (Hannah)
• Making Ends Meet by S.L Armstrong & K.Piet

Guest Posts:

• A Little Humour and or Snark in Writing by BL Morticia
• Blog Tour: O Come All Ye Kinky (Riptide Publishing)

~ Have A Great Week Everyone~

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: Bringer Of Light by Lyra Blue

Bringer of Light by Lyra Blue
Voodoo Lily Press
Novel
2.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Four people in love... with each other.

Leigh has a secret: she can get inside your mind and give you the best sex you've ever had. But her special ability lets her do far more than she ever dreamed possible.

She hooks up with hot, sexy actor, Zeke, and his friends, Michael and Kat, and they bravely explore that power and realize just how far it can take them.

Love is exciting when it's between two, but when it involves four? It's explosive!



Review:
Another book I really wanted to like, but about half way through it completely failed on many levels. My initial excitement came from the fact it was a polyamory plot. You know me and my three is never a crown and one more is always invited, so lets just say I was excited to read it and to be losing my pants all over. I hardly lost my pants and I fear I might have missed a lot because I just wasn't interested :-(

Leigh is a waitress and lives a simple life. When her regular customer Grunge comes in to eat, she already knows what he wants to order, she always knows what he wants to order. When Grunge who is an actor invites her unto the set., its there she meets Zeke Kaye a man that would become her life partner and introduce her to Kat and Michael the others she would grow to love.

Well Leigh is not just your girl next door. She has some unique abilities and a different outlook on how people can live and love. Her abilities vary from reading auras, mind reading, telepathy, and telekinesis (just a few of the amazing things Leigh can do). During the discovery of all her abilities, the two men and women try to find a way to make their unconventional relationship work. What started as a trial quickly grows into something long lasting and fulfilling. The story then moves into them living as a family, and the affects it will have on their life, if any.

So as I said wanted to like the book a lot more, but it really fell apart for me. This being my first book where four people are in a committed relationship I was excited, but the main character Leigh really did not do anything for me. Since it’s her POV I was in ire for most of the book, she was just too good and too much. Without giving away anything, her having, so many abilities led to disbelief, which took away from the story. I think if Leigh was just a waitress without all telepathy and all that I would have enjoyed her more, I would have enjoyed the book more. She represented the glue that kept them all together, as if being what she is the reason that the foursome can work. I don’t believe that was the author’s intentions but that’s what I got from it.

The scene *slight spoiler* with the unborn baby really pushed it over the edge. My eye roll numerous reached significant highs and I just couldn’t….

The upside is that this is a love story, and its not meant to give us all this hot sex with four people but to offer up that ‘love is love’ no matter how many people you throw into the mix. I enjoyed Zeke, Kat, and Michael a lot, and wish there was more of their POVs would love to have gotten to know them better.

Overall, I liked it but there was just too much that felt like borderline fantasy and my heart couldn’t really go into it. Nevertheless, if you’re curious to read about four people in love, go ahead and check it out. You might end up loving it.

Astral projection O_O I just can’t…

2.5 Pants Off