Review: The Boys of Summer by Sarah Madison

The Boys of Summer by Sarah Madison
Self-Published
Novel: 193pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Working for a California-based film production company, David McIntyre is the go-to man for matching the right location to the right project for the right price. On an extended trip to Hawaii, he hires Sutton’s Air Service to cart him all around to some of the most exotic locations in the South Pacific. During one of those trips, a freak tropical storm forces them to make a crash landing, leaving both men stranded without a radio and with very little in the way of food and water. Rick Sutton’s injuries make it imperative that they be rescued soon, and David finds himself calling on all his professional skills to keep both of them alive.

It takes a vivid dream about WW2 however, to make David realize that he has real feelings for Rick—more than just his natural concern that both of them get out of this mess alive. But putting his heart on the line might be the greatest risk David has ever taken—does he have the courage to make it before time runs out on both of them? 

Review
The Boys of Summer offers up a great mix of history intertwined with that of the present for David and Sutton. I was pulled in from the get go and got lost in these characters story and the setting.

David is good at his job for finding the right location to film for production companies. When he has his camera in hand he just knows what works and what won't do, plus there is a lot of traveling to be had visiting the most beautiful of places. This time he's in Hawaii and needs an aircraft service to get aerial views. With the service comes Rick Sutton, a man David has a slight crush on but appreciated his skill with the plane and pointing out prime location. Against Sutton suggestion of calling it quits, they end up in a storm and David is regretting not listening to Sutton. The storm is bad and from where their sitting it looks like the plane will go down. Good thing Rick is a fantastic pilot and they crash land and both men are intact, well...Rick is sorta intact.

With barely any food and with Rick badly injured their abandoned island isn't exactly paradise. But they've got to survive and wait out for help no matter how dire the situation seems. The men come across and old army base ravished by time but rich with history and provide a little hope. The place is deserted and old but it does provide shelter and fresh water (well sorta freshish). When Rick's injuries start to take toll it’s up to David to keep him alive and he's beginning to lose hope. I guess being surrounded by old war items started to affect David because he has this vivid dream, titled the Interlude.

Truthfully, that Interlude aka the Vivid Dream is my fave in the entire book. Without it this book would have just been another read for me, but the dream that David has absolutely wrecked me. Just thinking about it right now makes me all teary eyed and I just wanna go change the words and make them happy. That dream is woven into the story so wonderfully that you forget that it’s just a dream (a beautiful hit you right in the feels dream). It also the "aha" moment for David when he realizes that his feelings are no longer in the crush faze and he has real feeling for Rick. Whether he can act on those feelings is all up to on whether they survive the island.

I enjoyed reading this one, not in love with it but I did really like it. David and Sutton were enjoyable characters and I most especially loved them in the Interlude. What I least enjoyed is the ending which felt very abrupt and a little crazy. I'm just trying to understand how Rick can just up and leave his life and why David would even ask that of him in such a way. I found him a selfish, childish and disliked his approach. Other than that a good read that I liked very much and will look for more from Sarah Madison.

4 Pants Off

And the Winner Is...

SHIRLEYANN

~Winner of Dead in the Dessert by Lou Harper. Thanks to all who entered.~

Review: The Competitive Edge by Talya Andor

Reviewed by Fehu
The Competitive Edge (Appetite #2) by Talya Andor
Less Than 3 Press
Novel
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
It's been six months since Alex became Sous Chef at Schulze's, and in that time Alex has been working strenuously to improve and expand his skills, working toward the goal of becoming Nik's equal. He is kept motivated by the occasional breakfast shared with Nik, flirting and talking and offering tender bites of his culinary creations.

But just as his hard work seems to be paying off, a new challenge is thrust upon him. Selected to be one of five challengers on a new cooking competition, Alex is quick to accept the offer, certain that winning will prove his abilities to Nik and everyone else.

Except that to win, he will have to beat not only a handful of strangers, but also Nik, thrusting them right back to the ruthless competition of their school days—and quite possibly ruining any hope of a future as lovers.

Review
A fantastic sequel! I loved seeing Alex and Nik again and they didn't seem to have moved on a lot in their relationship, what with Nik still denying they are dating. Good thing Alex is persistent; a lesser man might have given up faced with Nik's reluctance to commit to dating. However their budding relationship has to take second place to a new challenge before them. Both Nik and Alex are chosen to compete in a TV cooking competition along with three other Sous Chefs and Alex, being himself is determined to win and prove himself to Nik.

I like Alex and he has grown as a Chef and as a character, no longer is he petulant, but actually he is supportive and no longer competitive in his relationship with Nik. Alex freely admits when something is good and I think there lays his strength. He still wants to win, but he can see his own mistakes, he has learned from his previous mistakes in the first book. He still has to learn and he admits that, I think that takes character and it shows character growth, since he was convince he was the best when he began his career in the first book. The focus of this story is on the cooking shows and on the different competition; the food angle is certainly interesting and not just window dressing for the romance.

All in all the story is very enjoyable, but don't read it when you are dieting or are hungry! Food is discussed a lot, different dishes and menu's and well it made me quite hungry. Story flows nicely; I've read this one in one sitting, since I wanted to know who would win the competitions and to see how Alex has progressed. The romance is, again, more secondary but still the relationship between Alex and Nik progresses more quickly in this book, especially at the end.

Should You Read It? If you are a cooking affectionado and like m/m romance this is a must read! This is a well rounded story, with an interesting plot, charming and warm characters and it's well written, all good ingredients for a good book are there and I enjoyed myself a lot reading this second instalment.

4.5 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 A Cut Above the Rest

Review: Sonata by A.F Henley

Sonata by A.F Henley
Less Than 3 Press
Novel
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
At thirty-six Ian feels done with the world. When a night at a bar goes as poorly as expected, he wants only to return home to be miserable in peace. Instead, he encounters Jordan. Hot, young and interested, Jordan is everything Ian's ever wanted and nothing he believes himself capable of actually obtaining.

Jordan has enough going on in his life trying to scrape together a living for himself and his autistic son. When he meets Ian, all he wants is a brief, erotic moment and nothing else.

But fate throws them together again and again, and Ian finds himself determined to do whatever it takes to give their story a happy ending – no matter what secrets Jordan's past has waiting for him.

Review
This was my very first time reading A.F Henley and it most definitely will not be last. I really enjoyed this story featuring an autistic little boy and the combination of music and a sincere main character that all leads to an Allegro.

Ian is hitting up the club even though he knows the night probably won’t end well, yet he's hopeful that maybe he will find true love or something. As expected the night is ending in a bust leaving Ian feeling more miserable than when he arrived. A quick trip to the toilets before heading home turns out to be more than Ian expected when he catches the eye of a hot a young thing. At first there is no way this guy who might be too young for him is interested until Ian pants is around his waist in a bathroom stall. While the sex was hot as hell Ian is looking for more and he wouldn't mind seeing more of his young hottie Jordan, but alas Jordan seems the do and go type of guy and Ian will probably never see him again but not if fate has something to say about it.

Ian still has Jordan on the brain and he knows it’s more than coincidence that they keep running into each other. When he finds out that Jordan has an autistic son Ian is still in it to win it. Getting close to Jordan is difficult but having sex with him poses no problem, it’s just that Ian is starting to feel more for the young man and is determined to help his autistic son Cole. Overtime the characters start to feel a lot for each other but it seems there might be skeletons in Jordan's closet and its more than Ian ever hoped of handling.

I really enjoyed this one a lot, but of course there were thing that irked me but let’s talk about the good for now. I really liked the characters of Jordan and Ian, so much realism and their hurt was just hitting me right in the feels. Jordan's son Cole really touched my heart; the author was on point when writing about his autism. I know firsthand what it’s like when a child has a trigger and it’s hard sometimes to calm them down. It can lead to tears of frustration, panic, and sometimes at a loss. The author captured this beautifully and I was moved to tears and also so very appreciative, it’s clear that research was done and thought was put into to writing Cole's story.

What I didn't like...is Ian's "friend" Aubrey and the return of the ex Madison. I was beyond irked and fist pumped when Ian finally stood up for himself. I have never wanted to pee in characters face as much as I did with Aubrey. Glad the author took the high road with the "hey girlfriend lets go shopping" character and she was cut down to size. The return of the ex was a little pointless and pissed me off, like dude just go away.

I sort of like and dislike how it ended. I feel like Ian's role was so huge in introducing Cole to music and helping him cope and it felt cut down to size by the end. He just didn't get the credit I feel he deserved but that could be because I like him so much. A man who took the time to learn about the man and the boy he loves is a splendid man indeed.

Should You Read It? Yes! I really liked this one, in no way perfect but enjoyable for all its realistic feels and charming characters. My first time reading A.F Henley and it most defi will not be my last (wait… I said that already).

4 Pants Off

Excerpt & Giveaway: Dead in the Dessert by Lou Harper

Blurb:
Jon Cooper used to think he wanted a life free of complications, but that was before he got involved with his roommate, Leander. Jon knows that the only thing he can't lose is what he doesn't have, but where does that leave him?

Leander Thorne, on the other hand, is an easygoing bookworm, with an addiction to books and cooking shows, and a soft spot for Jon, despite Jon's grumpiness. He also happens to be a psychic specializing in finding lost pets and—more recently—lost people. He's good at it. Too good if you ask Jon,

Unsolved crimes, missing people and bodies buried in the Mojave Desert make Jon's and Leander's lives anything but uncomplicated. Jon is forced to dig into his soul and find a way to let go of his past if he wants to keep Leander.

Buy Links:
Amazon
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Excerpt

Lipkin pulled up behind us. He wasn't alone—a woman climbed out of the passenger side. They made an interesting pair—a bulldog-faced white guy well into his forties and an attractive Latina at least a decade younger. She wore her curly, dark hair short, and her face serious, bordering on sour.

"My partner, Detective Cruz," Lipkin introduced her.

She greeted us with tight-lipped civility. I had an impression searching for dead bodies in the middle of nowhere with a psychic was not her idea of either detective work or a fun way to spend a Saturday. I understood the sentiment, but I wasn't happy to see her either. What the hell was Lipkin thinking? Was he gonna bring along the whole damn department next time?

Naturally, none of that ruffled Andy. He jammed a wide-brimmed straw hat on his head. "Do you have the…thing?" he asked Lipkin, after introductions.

The detective nodded and fetched a brown paper bag out of his car. From it he pulled out a gold watch, the kind nobody wore just to know the time. Too thick and heavy for anything but showing off.

Andy took the watch and just held it, eyes closed and head bowed, for several long seconds. At last, he spun on his heels and started walking, straight out into the landscape. There was nothing but dirt, sagebrush, and the occasional Joshua tree, as far as the eye could see, except for the line of mountains far off in the distance.

I took my place at Andy's side. He didn't pay much attention to his surroundings when he got into the zone. He'd walk into a den of rattlesnakes without noticing it. So I stayed next to him and I kept my eyes on the ground. The coppers trailed behind. They were arguing under their breaths. I couldn't make out the words, but caught the irritated pitch of Detective Cruz's tone and the low rumble of Lipkin's.

We were about a hundred yards from the road when Andy's steps faltered and he started ambling left and right. He stopped and a frown of indecision took over his face. I expected him to take his shoes off, like he had in a similar situation before, but instead he sat on the ground. After taking his hat off he lay back. The earth here was coarse: rocky sand, baked hard by the sun, but he paid no mind. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers onto the dirt.

For minutes nothing happened. I positioned myself to cast a shadow over Andy's face. Lipkin had seen Andy at work before, so he waited stoically, but Cruz kept fidgeting and giving Lipkin the hairy eyeball. Once she opened her lips to say something but Lipkin gave her a look and she closed them again. She scowled at him something fierce but not a peep escaped her lips. We were all sweating like horses but we kept waiting.

At long last Andy opened his eyes and pushed himself into a sitting position. I saw right away he'd gotten wobbly so I helped him up. He leaned on me for a moment, before tottering away another twenty feet. The rest of us followed. He stopped and kicked the ground. "Right here."

I took off my backpack and first took out a bottle of water. Andy gratefully took it. Next I pulled out a camping shovel, unfolded it and handed it to Lipkin. He pulled a face but began to dig while the rest of us watched.

Andy downed half his water in one go. "Lots of bones in the ground," he said.

Cruz snickered. "In the middle of nowhere halfway between Vegas and L.A.? You don't say." Her expression said she wasn't about to be bamboozled by a couple of shysters.

I ignored her and patted the dirt off Andy's back. He kept chugging his water, and Lipkin kept digging.

"Hey, there's something here." Lipkin stopped and dropped onto his knees.

To her credit, Cruz immediately crouched next to him, and the two of them used their hands to carefully clear away enough soil to make sure the blue piece of fabric was attached to an actual body.

She straightened up, glared at the ground, at us, and finally at her partner. Her eyes narrowed. "Damn you, Gary!"

Lipkin stood too, the shovel dangling in his hand. "What did I do?" Traces of a smug smile showed on his usually inexpressive face. I got an inkling they had a habit of ribbing each other, like people working close together often did.

Cruz put her hands on her hips. "You crazy cracker. You must be the only cop ever to know a bona fide psychic to find a goddamn dead body in the middle of goddamn nowhere."

Lipkin's lips twitched. I thought he might have been smiling. "I love you too, Cruz."

"There goes our weekend." She sighed and cast her eyes around, taking in the vast, scorching nothingness.

She turned toward us. "So, kid, can you tell us how he died?"

"Violently, I assume, or you wouldn't be looking for him. Am I right?"

"Don't be a smartass, kid," she said in her cop tone.

"The name is Leander, but you can call me Mr. Thorne, Detective. And your guy has a bullet in his skull. That might have something to do with the cause of death, but it's not my area of expertise." He smiled sweetly and innocently but didn't fool anyone, least of all Detective Cruz, who glowered at him for a few seconds.

In the end she shook her head and turned to Lipkin. "We might as well call this in."

"Oh, you can have this back." Andy handed her the gold watch, which she took with resignation. Unfortunately for her, Andy had more bad news. "There's another one, over there, left of that Joshua tree. Body, I mean." He pointed toward the direction of the mountains. "It's been there longer though. Years."

Lipkin was instantly alert, like a dog spotting a squirrel. "How old?"

"Not sure. It's only bones. Not like him." Andy cast his eyes at the patch of human visible in the dirt.

Cruz narrowed her eyes. "No fucking way. We could be digging from here to Vegas and find a dozen bodies." She fixed Lipkin in her sights. "It could be any old gangster from God knows when."

"It's a child," Andy said.

She turned back and scrutinized Andy's expression. A moment later she snatched the shovel from Lipkin and marched off to the tree. "Here?"

Andy nodded. "Yup, right there. A couple of feet down."

I zipped up the backpack and hoisted it on my shoulders. I also picked up the straw hat and shoved it back on Andy's head. "Nice job. Now let's get out of here before we bake. You're already half-done."

"Where do you think you're going?" Lipkin barked.

"Back to L.A. We're done here. This is all police work now; you don't need us. Oh, you can return the shovel later. Happy digging!"

He gave me a dirty look, which filled me with glee.

Andy leaned into me as we made our way back to the road. "You all right?" I asked.

"Tired, but it'll pass. I don't envy them. They'll have a long weekend." He tipped his head in the general direction of the detectives.

"They dug their own beds, now they can sleep in them."

He chuckled. "The king of mixed metaphors strikes again. You know Gary's not a bad guy. Why are you always so aggro on him?"

"He's bossy, keeps dragging you into his old murder cases. What's not to dislike? You almost got yourself killed last time."

"First of all, my life wasn't really in danger…" He ignored my derisive snort. "Secondly, that had nothing to do with Gary."

He had me there, but it wouldn't have done to admit it. "Exactly. You have plenty of talent getting yourself into trouble without his help. Is he even paying you?"

Andy's silence was an answer enough.

"Oh great," I grumbled on. "You're giving him a freebie. Very generous of you."

He wound his arm around my waist. "You're an old grouch, but I love you anyway."

Now, that shut me up.

Giveaway

• Must be 18yrs or older
• Leave a comment along with email
• Winner has 48hrs to reply to my email or another winner will be chosen
• Contest runs until October 5th 2013 11:59pm EST