The Fifth Son by Blaine D. Arden

The Fifth Son by Blaine D. Arden
Storm Moon Press

Short Novella: 60pgs

Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
Llyskel is the fifth son of a King, but, unlike his brothers, he doesn't have a career in politics or the military to look forward to. In a world where everyone possesses magic to some degree or other, Llyskel is powerless, unable to perform even the smallest magic-based tasks. All his life, he's been under constant guard for his own protection from the magical world around him, much to his annoyance. The only time Llyskel feels free is when he paints, where the only spells he needs are the ones he weaves with brush and paint, capturing moments of beauty and giving them immortality on canvas.

Llyskel harbors a secret wish, though, a dark desire that haunts his nights. Only Ariv, a captain in the King's army, seems to sense the truth of Llyskel's needs. The pull he feels to Llyskel is unavoidable, and the passion between them undeniable.

But Ariv isn't the only one interested in Llyskel. The Queen of a neighboring country expresses her interest in the boy's talents, but her true intent goes far beyond a love of art. And what she asks may be too high a price for any of them.

Review:
Llyskel likes to paint and he does it in abundance, since he has no other duties as a fifth son and prince in his family. His life is even more dull because he is magic less in a world filled with magic. He is doted on by his parents, and protected like a newborn because he has no way to protect himself. So Llyskel spends his time painting, and watching his brothers and soldiers train. There is that odd time when he gets to spend a little time by himself but it takes a bit of scheming and hoping he isn’t caught by his brothers or guards. In that solitude, Llyskel can think about Ariv, the man who turns him on like no other.

Ariv is a Captain of his father’s army, and he alone knows the desire that lies with Llyskel's heart. Together the men discover an explosive passion, and it sets the course for life changing events for Llyskel. There is more that meets the eye when it comes to the fifth son, and he will discover his confidence and uniqueness in the arms of the man he so longed desired.

What a surprising short this one turned out to be. It brought the sexy, a little action, and romance. That one hell of a combination and with the magic it was just down right entertaining. I really enjoyed Llyskel, he embodied youth with the right amount naiveté and maturity. Love him and Ariv together they were so hot and did some surprising things in the bedroom 'you naughty boys'. There is a bit of drama and enough characterization to keep the reader engaged and helps with keeping the story from falling flat. Taking Llyskel out of his comfort, and offers him the chance to blossom on his own.

Overall, I really liked it and I am surprised. Blaine is really good at creating a fantasy world and interesting unforgettable characters. I am peeved it wasn’t longer, but that seems to happen to all the good books. They are never enough, but I believe my pants are quite thankful.

4 Pants Off

Absolutely Eric by Erica Pike

Absolutely Eric (Boston Boys #2) by Erica Pike
MLR Press

Novel: 261pgs

Rating:4/5

Blurb:
Eric Wesley is short and snazzy, hot and happy. Or that’s what he thought. After three years of living on the wild side he’s tired of being a playboy and wants to find love.

Eric, however, has never been in love before and doesn’t see that the guy who’s been gazing at him all summer might be Mr. Right. Boring-suit-guy Alexander Centauri isn’t only style-less and clumsy, but also terribly awkward. After a miserable date, Eric plants Alex on another guy’s lap and goes after Mr. Wrong…who looks so right.

When Eric realizes his mistake, it might be too late.

Review:
Could the real Eric please stand up? Because I am having a having a hard time connecting the most awesome character, I met in A Life Without You and the Eric that was in this book. Started off very Eric but then along the way I lost him, and if it wasn’t for the fact that I love these characters and they make me laugh I fear my rating would have been a lot lower.

Eric Wesley is the life of the party, he’s hot and he knows it. He doesn’t do boyfriends, he’s got plenty of sex friends to keep him entertained and life couldn’t be more awesome. Until a night of sexual fun with two of his closest friends leads Eric to the realization that maybe he’s ready for love. He definitely doesn’t want that love from Alex Centauri; the man would totally be his type if he wasn’t completely boring. He does feel sorry for him though, and goes on a pity date with Alex but he doesn’t plan to stay with him the whole night. When Eric gets a chance to leave Alex behind, he takes it and heads home with the sexy Latino. One of the first of Eric’s bad choices.

What then transpires throughout the book, I’m definitely not on board for most of them. I did enjoy Eric’s realization of Alex I found that to be the most honest part of him, after clone Eric came in. I am just in all types of =__= ‘where did the hell did Eric go?’. I am one for surprises in books cus predictability annoys me but these surprises went to Madagascar and stayed in Timbuktu. It all begins with Eric’s new boyfriend, the rush into relationship boyfriend that proves that Eric has no clue what a relationship is. There are some hard reading situations, but it fails to overshadow the stupid decisions made by Eric. I just cannot accept that was my Eric, I believed he loved himself too much to let all of the bad stuff happen but I must have been mistaken. On the other hand, maybe there’s a hidden meaning behind the transformation of his character that I am just not getting.

I really liked Alex, though I found him slight most of the time but he’s just so pure I really enjoyed him. I am surprised Eric got mixed signal cause I felt like Alex was wearing a neon sign when it came to his feelings. Alex and Eric together are super sweet and that’s really one of the saving factors for me and why I enjoyed reading.

Jesse and Adam do have some presence in the book, and offered up one of the best scenes. My heart almost gave out, oh god yes they are still so hot. Really enjoyed reading about all the boys again and I would give something to play a little ‘bottle extreme’ with them. Maybe not extreme, I will go with medium. Loved the friendships, and the fact that these guys stick together no matter what ‘it’s a beautiful thing’. Overall, with all my complaints I still really enjoyed it, though I fear it won’t go over well with some fans. I do enjoy that the author writes out of the ordinary, and Ms Pike still remains a must read author for me.

SideNote- I would talk about Eric's Latino boyfriend, but he doesn't deserve my typing time or my feelings.

4 Pants Off

Interview & Giveaway with Anne Brooke and Guest

I am really excited to have Anne Brooke here today with Dan from Where You Hurt the Most as apart of the RentBoys Blog Tour, bestowing on us an awesome Interview. Everyone give a warm welcome to Anne and Dan the man.

Interview with a Damaged Man

Anne: Hello, Dan. Thanks for coming to see us today.

Dan: [Shrugs] That’s okay. Adrian said it wasn’t so bad, so I thought I’d give it a go.

Anne: Thank you. Can I take your coat for you?

Dan: No! I mean, it’s fine. Sorry, don’t mean to shout. I know I don’t wear the hoodie now, but I like to keep it with me. Reassurance, I suppose, just in case.

Anne: I understand. Are you happy to talk about your car accident, Dan?

Dan: “Happy” isn’t the word I’d use, but I suppose it’s what I came here for. After all, me and how my face is now after the accident make up a large part of Where You Hurt The Most, don’t they?

Anne: Yes, that’s true. So, can you explain the difference between the man you were before the accident and the man you are now? I know the change is a key one for you.

Dan: You’re telling me it is. The accident itself was terrifying. I honestly thought I was going to die, and then afterwards when I realised what had happened I wished I had done. I wished I was dead. Though I felt guilty thinking that because the other bloke, the lorry driver, had died, and there’s no way back from that, is there? Stupid to imagine there is. I was lucky. It’s what everyone said and it’s what I knew, but it didn’t feel like that and I couldn’t pretend otherwise. Ever.

Anne: I apologise that this is going to be a stupid question, but in what way, exactly?

Dan: [Sighs, and rubs one hand through his hair] I wanted my face back, and my life, that was all. The accident took away what I knew about myself and I couldn’t see how things were going to be. All I could think about was how I looked, how ugly I’d become, and how people would always first see the scars I carry and nothing else.

Anne: What about all the plans you’d had for your career?

Dan: Ha! What would be the point? I’d worked so hard to build up the kind of design career I wanted beforehand, and one day I wanted to run my own business. There aren’t many people out there who have the set of all-round skills I was learning, and I really wanted to make the most of it. But who wants to employ any kind of designer with a face like mine? I’m not saying you have to have model looks to take up the kind of career I was planning because that’s obviously not true, but if people can’t handle my appearance now or are frightened of it, I’m never going to make a go of it. Not that I wanted even to try, of course.

Anne: [speaking softly] Why not? Why didn’t you want to try?

Dan: Because I didn’t have the confidence to any more, that’s why. I couldn’t even look at other people and I certainly didn’t want them to look at me, ever, so what kind of designer would I be if I couldn’t do that?

Anne: But Adrian’s different, isn’t he? You don’t mind looking at him.

Dan: [Smiles] No, no I don’t. And I don’t mind him looking at me either. It’s not the same with him. It’s crazy because of his job but he always seemed to be interested in my opinions, not just my looks, even from the very start. Okay, okay, I know what everyone’s going to think – that’s just his profession and of course he works hard to make clients feel good about themselves. I understand all that, but it still felt personal anyway. He got to me in ways I never thought he would. Even when I was angry, I couldn’t help thinking about what he said.

Anne: What did he say?

Dan: He asked about my interests and talked about art and made me see things outside myself, really look at them properly in the way I used to do. Nobody else had done that since the accident. He made me believe there might be other things to focus on again, not just my own problems. He did all this as if he really meant it and, believe me, it made all the difference.

Anne: I see. And what about now? How are things for you today?

Dan: Up and down. I have good days and bad days. It’ll probably be like that for a long while, but before I met Adrian there were only ever bad days. That’s something. Don’t know what yet, but it’s definitely something and it’s great.

Anne: Good to hear it, and thanks so much for popping in.

Dan: No problem, that’s okay. Thanks for the chat. See you around.

 Where You Hurt The Most by Anne Brooke

Blurb:  

Adrian is more than happy as high-class escort for a number of regular clients. When his boss and dear friend asks him to entertain his nephew, Adrian readily agrees, but meeting Dan challenges him in ways he'd never imagined.

Dan is scarred inside and out from an accident that destroyed a promising future. Despite Adrian’s loveless lifestyle and Dan’s withdrawal and anger, the two men forge a deep—if unnerving—connection. Soon they find themselves questioning the choices they’ve made and the futures they’ve mapped out for themselves.

Yet even bright young men like Adrian and Dan fear the unknown and take comfort in the familiar. Neither may be strong enough to step away from the life they know and toward the one they dare not hope for. But while it’s true that love can’t heal all wounds, it is the surest balm for where you hurt the most.

~Giveaway Details~

The prize is THREE ebooks from my backlist if these questions about Where You Hurt The Most are answered correctly:

1. What was Dan's hoped-for career before the accident?

2. Where does Adrian take Dan on their second meeting?

3. What month is it when Max visits Adrian for the last time?

*Answers should be sent to albrookeATmeDOTcom (and NOT left on the post), and winners will be notified as soon as possible after 18 May, when the tour ends. Good luck!*

Anne’s bio:

Anne Brooke’s fiction has been shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Novel Award, the Royal Literary Fund Awards and the Asham Award for Women Writers. She has also twice been the winner of the national DSJT Charitable Trust Open Poetry Competition.

She is the author of six published novels, including her fantasy series, The Gathandrian Trilogy, published by Bluewood Publishing and featuring gay scribe Simon Hartstongue. More information on the trilogy is available at: www.gathandria.com and the first of these novels is The Gifting. In addition, her gay and literary short stories are regularly published by Riptide Publishing, Amber Allure Press and Untreed Reads. Her most recent gay short story is Where You Hurt The Most, a tale of unexpected connections and possibilities, published by Riptide. All her gay fiction can be found at: www.gayreads.co.uk. 

Anne has a secret passion for theatre and chocolate, preferably at the same time, and is currently working on a gay fantasy novella, The Taming of the Hawk. More information can be found at www.annebrooke.com and she regularly blogs at: http://annebrooke.blogspot.com. 

Also Found at: Facebook Twitter

You can read an excerpt and purchase Where You Hurt The Most here. 

OMFG This Book #3

I took on my TBR once again, and was happy with the two books I read. Totally in love with one of them, and the other was sweet but totally forgettable. I am super happy with the way its going, like I am finally getting to read what I spent money on.

In Hot Pursuit by Kate McMurray

Loose-Id

Novel: 164pgs

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: In Hot Pursuit started off very slow for me, I was even making a face and just unimpressed with it. I think it could have been reading a few books in a row about one of the MC’s losing their previous partner. Then it just all changed and I found myself really liking the book, it became so super sweet and the cop/mystery part of it really kept me interested. I am so glad I stuck with it, I am just all kinds of impressed with Kate McMurray’s writing and I think I can finally do that interview with her. Since I finally read one of her books ^_~

4 Pants Off

 

Only in His Dreams by Shawn Lane

Amber Allure

Short Novella: 77pgs

Rating: 3/5

Thoughts: Another book about one of the MC’s dealing/getting over a dead lover. This one I didn’t quite enjoy, even the interracial part of it still couldn’t make me find it more than ‘Meh’. I liked Shawn Lane’s writing but just really had no connection with the characters and the ending just left me out. It’s a series after all so who knows, I might see them again.

3 Pants Off

Where You Hurt The Most by Anne Brooke

Where You Hurt the Most by Anne Brooke
Riptide Publishing

Short Story: 44pgs

Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
Adrian is more than happy as high-class escort for a number of regular clients. When his boss and dear friend asks him to entertain his nephew, Adrian readily agrees, but meeting Dan challenges him in ways he'd never imagined.

Dan is scarred inside and out from an accident that destroyed a promising future. Despite Adrian’s loveless lifestyle and Dan’s withdrawal and anger, the two men forge a deep—if unnerving—connection. Soon they find themselves questioning the choices they’ve made and the futures they’ve mapped out for themselves.

Yet even bright young men like Adrian and Dan fear the unknown and take comfort in the familiar. Neither may be strong enough to step away from the life they know and toward the one they dare not hope for. But while it’s true that love can’t heal all wounds, it is the surest balm for where you hurt the most.

Review:
Anne Brooke is a master of conveying emotions on pages; I am always blown a little away when I read one of her stories. Where You Hurt the Most was no exception and I found myself making a connection with characters, and it all had me thinking where I hurt the most.

Adrian is a high-class escort, and he is quite happy. It’s not really a sob story about him hating his life, and he can’t get out of his job. It’s his job and he takes pride in it, and wants all his client to get their money’s worth. Until his boss asks him for a favour. Adrian would do anything for his boss, so he jumps at the chance to entertain his nephew, but entertaining wont be easy because Dan is both physically and emotionally scarred.

The first meeting between Adrian and Dan is electrifying, there is a chemistry charged in their conversation and the illumination of beauty meeting the beast. Every conversation, every sexual encounter Dan remains behind his sweater hoodie hiding his badly scarred face, and hiding all that he is. The contrast is exceptional, because Dan is young and was out going and gave everyone is all. Adrian hides behind is work, and does anyone truly know him? It all is reversed; the one who hides is showing everything and the one who never hid from everything is hiding behind is hurt. I absolutely adore that!

The writing is superb as to be expected, and I wonder how deep the author goes to tap into human emotions so beautifully. I always walk away from an Anne Brooke story smiling, thinking, and believing in many things. Love heals all wounds and sometimes you find it in the most unexpected places and it can be so very beautiful. Another winner by the awesmazing Anne Brooke.

4 Pants Off