Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Trifecta

Trifecta by Kate Sherwood
Loose-Id
Novella
3 out of 5

Blurb:
Mark and Alistair think they’re happy with their open relationship -- they can have all the anonymous sex they want, and still come home to each other for love and affection. That changes when they discover that they’ve both hooked up with the same guy, and, worse, that they’re both falling for him.

Tyler is a take-it-as-it-comes type, happy to coast through life on his good looks and charm. He doesn’t have ambitions and doesn’t make plans, but when he finds himself involved with Mark and then Alistair, he starts wishing that he could have something more long-term.

Nobody has any doubt that sex between the three of them would be fantastic, considering how hot things are when there’s only two involved. But can they make it something more? Is the threesome destined to be a scorching memory, or can they find a way to overcome their challenges and hit the trifecta?


Review:
All the ways I was excited to read this one. A book from one of my favourite authors, and about the genre she is excellent at. I was like “bring on the ménage a trois” halfway through the book I was literally in tears of frustration. With all honesty I thought ‘Kate Sherwood did not write this’ there is just no freaking way. I am supposed to be loving the hell out of this book that was shelved as ‘Can’t wait to read and lose my pants’. I just wanted to cry. Please don’t misunderstand Kate is an excellent writer; I just did not love this one.

Mark and Alistair is a couple with an open relationship. Mark is a pilot and is frequently away from home, so it was decided up on that he would sow his wild oats when he is away. Though one condition is very clear, it will only be for sex and both will come home to each other. I totally didn’t mind that, both men were aware of it so it was just apart of the story. Mark who is recently gay, and divorced his wife to finally be truly happy. He is still taking baby steps to living life as a gay man. The journey hasn’t been easy, but he is coping and coming into his own.

When Mark decides to hit up a gay club, looking for a little action. He realized that the club scene isn’t for him and he feels like a fish out of water. The night isn’t a bust, and Mark hooks up with a hot little thing. The sex is mind blasting, but the run in they both have with Alistair isn’t (seems Alistair was away and Mark brought his hook-up home to play). The hot little thing turns out to be Tyler a stable boy/horse trainer (isn’t that just so cliché). When his horse is injured he once again runs into an awkward situation with Alistair yet again. It doesn’t remain awkward and uncomfortable for long and Tyler becomes the centrepiece for both Mark and Alistair.

All right folks, it sounds interesting and exciting, and it sorta is, but my ire lies in the fact that Alistair/Mark become skeevy. They both swore to never mix feelings with sex but throughout the whole book, Tyler becomes an obsession for both men. I thought they were supposed to be in total love with each other, but I never once felt it. All thoughts were on stable boy Tyler. Ahem, Tyler he is a piece of work. He just came on to both men like white on rice, not wanting to cause ‘problems’ but did so at every turn. I could not love him or even like him, the smooth talking f*cker.

I will end this one now, and as you can see all characters are on my chopping block. Even at their HEA, I was cursing them to hell and high-water. Kate is a talent but this book did not sit well in my heart, still love her writing style and I don’t doubt her skill in writing a wicked ménage. If you are a fan, please do pick up a copy of this book; who knows you might love it.



3 Pants Off


Wild Passions

Wild Passions (Anthology) by Various Authors
Storm Moon Press
85,000 words, 195 pages
4 out of 5

Blurb (just as long as the review):
Other worlds, other planes of existence, other places where humans are not the only type of creature to walk and talk. Human-like animals populate the pages of Wild Passions! These are not shifters, but humanoid animals that experience love and lust in their sometimes wild, sometimes civilized worlds.

City of Foxes by Cornelia Grey
Meet Liam, a half-fox in a world where 'urban jungle' isn't a metaphor. When trouble comes in the form of an organized militia looking to experiment, Liam must put his trust where he never expected: in the hands of a human.

Trust Me by Elizabeth Hyder
Koit is a Shterpi, a reptilian alien with a reputation for womanizing. A dare from a friend has Koit changing his target to other men, and he finds that variety really is the spice of life.

Alpha's Pride by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet
Alec and Nahale are feral-Maith, genetic offshoots from a fantastic race. Under pressure, Alec challenges Nahale for leadership of their clan, threatening to destroy the relationship they'd been building for years.

I Do Like To Be By the Seaside by Wayne Mansfield
Panos only wants to live a normal life, free from the secret that's kept him isolated from others. However, he still needs a roommate, and his attraction to the other man has him wondering if opening up might not be so bad after all.

Opening Worlds by Cari Z.
Ferran is making his last trip away from his home planet of Perelan before duty calls him back. But a rakish spaceship captain tosses a wrench into his finely crafted plans, and his world may never be the same.

Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow
Gordon and Arthur work in the freak-show at a traveling carnival, wowing audiences with their half-animal physiques. But when animal constructs are second-class citizens and legal property of others, falling in love is the most dangerous act of all.


Review:
Anthologies for me are not always a great experience. I am always disappointed in a few stories, and wish others were a bit longer. This anthology had the disappointment, but with some good news. I am totally in love with the last two stories in this book; it’s as if they saved the best for last. The whole book deals with interspecies hook-ups, animal/human hybrids, and if I am not stretching too far some social and political issues. It all could just be my interpretation. Therefore, I will break down my review in terms of each story.

City of Foxes by Cornelia Gray
I liked this story, and yet I feel a little disappointed with it. Though it did offer up a nice plot, I wanted it to go a little further.  A dystopian society, filled with animal/human banished in a world of the lowest sort. This story takes a look in their fight, and the rescuing of their humanoid species. I liked Liam he sound spectacular and I am sort of in love with his tail (I have a thing for tails). Its one of those stories that would have been better if it were its own book, just too much going on.

Trust Me by Elizabeth Hyder
In Trust Me, we meet Koit who is a reptilian like alien. He is bit of a womanizer but the women flock to him, because his species are known for their big assets.  When his female friend challenges him to check out his own gender, Koit takes the challenge. The results are eye opening for Koit, and he realizes what he has been missing. His eventual partner is an asshole, but overall his little experiment leads to good things.

Alpha’s Pride by K.Piet & S.L Armstrong
This story was about a power struggle between two males of a fantastic race. What makes it unique is the love that both males have for each other, but pride and power will eventually pull them apart. They both believe in the survival of their tribe, but in the end opposing ideas leads to a fight of power. Its easy to resonate with both Alec and Nahale, they both wanted what was best for their people, and each other. One of my favourites, because I just wanted great things for both characters.

I Do Like To Be By the Seaside by Wayne Mansfield
Panos lives his life isolated from others. He has secret that he never wants anyone to know, but he does need a roommate that comes in the form of Jason. Panos’s turtleneck wearing is suspicious when it’s freaking hot as hell outside, plus whenever Jason offers up to go swimming with him he gets uncomfortable if not irritable. He is definitely hiding something. The truth leads to hot relationship, and a close call. What we do know is that humans can be intrusive and way too curious for their own good. One of my least favourite in the anthology, its was just all too predictable, though I understand why.

Opening Worlds by Cari Z
This was my favourite story in the entire anthology. It just felt right and complete, and made me happy with its conclusion. A captain of a passenger freighter, and the alien from another planet. A human and alien love story in the greatest form. Jason Kim the captain swore never get involved with his passengers, but there is something about Ferran that calls to him. He is willing to break all the rules at a chance at happiness, but there is more to Ferran and will Jason be able to live with losing him. Just really adored this one.

Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow
The darkest themed story and my absolute favourite of them all. This one tackles many issues in the form of half-human half-animal beings. The way humans can mistreat others deemed as different. The way stronger individuals take advantage of those that are weaker. This mini story dealt with rape, drugs, and a slew of social issues. Join Arthur and Gordon, in their world as slaves, and a love so innocent and pure yet deemed forbidden. Watch as Arthur would sacrifice everything for the boy he loves. I guarantee you will fall in love with this one.

Overall, a book worth your time. It’s quite colourful and different from anything I have read before. This book reflects on how I view life and its people. I don’t think race, sexual orientation, and social class should stop love but keeping in theme of the book. I don’t think being human and alien should stop the love or being a bear and loving a cat, or just being a man and loving another man. All this and more in Wild Pssions,plus a strong message of love and acceptance hidden in all the stories.

4 Pants Off
Reviewed for Three Dollar Bill Reviews

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pants Off Halloween Giveaway!

Welcome, to my Halloween giveaway. It might be your lucky Halloween to fill up that kindle you might have or order that book you have been dying to read. Enter Here to win one of two $20 Amazon Gift Card!


U Know You Want It!!

Happy Reading And Good Luck







*Please, remember to leave a blog post comment; to keep the contest fair to those who actually did*



Menage Mondays!

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 Welcome to Menage Mondays. Where I share my menage reads of the past week. So last week I read two books dealing with '3 is never a crowd'. Its quite coincidental that I didn't really love them. Don't get me wrong these books were incredibly hot, but in both books the characters weren't all that good. I wanted more from our main characters, but in the end I was disappointed in them. 

The overall story telling was knockout, but I just had some serious issues with the situations in both books. So without further rambling I introduce to you the two books of this weeks Menage Mondays.

Island Heat lives up to its name, but the characters were a bit shallow and sometimes incredibly stupid. I was so frustrated it brought me to tears. The sex was hot, and the menage great. I just didn't like the circumstances that the mange took place under.
3.5 out of 5
3.5/5 PL Scale

Trifecta is by my favourite menage author, but somehow this book lacked all the things I liked about her previous work. Another book that brought on tears of frustration, and a whole lot of "are you f*cking kidding me". Will express more in my review. Check out review for this book on Tuesday!
3 out of 5
3/5 PL Scale

Buy Island Heat Here
Buy Trifecta Here

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Cumming Up This Week!

Menage Monday- This one has two books that grinded my gears


October 17-21st  My blog Giveaway-  So be sure to check it out Pants Off Giveaway The prizes are fan-freaking-tastic.


October 18th Review for Trifecta- A book I liked but absoulutely loathed at the same time.

October 18th  Review for Wild Passions- A book in a league of its own. We meet Aliens, humanoid animals and so much more.


October 19th Review for Puppy Love 2- One of my fave series EVER.

October 20th Review for Blood Moon- I book I enjoyed but didn't really love, the sequel though is awesome.


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