Thursday, May 22, 2014

Review: Straight Shooter by Heidi Belleau

Straight Shooter (Rear Entrance Video #3) by Heidi Belleau
Riptide Publishing
Novel: 277pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
This macho jock has a crooked little secret.

College hockey player Austin Puett is in trouble. Unless he starts treating his flamboyantly gay roommate with respect, he’ll lose his room and his job at Rear Entrance Video. But Austin’s got a not-so-straight secret of his own: nothing turns him on more than insults implying he’s gay—even though he’s definitely not!—and all his old coping methods have stopped working.

Pure desperation drives him to rent a Mischievous Pictures porn flick about straight men tricked into servicing Puck, a male dominant. Instead of letting off steam, though, it just leaves him craving more, more, more, and suddenly, Austin finds himself at Mischievous Pictures Studios for an audition. After all, you can be Gay For Pay and still be straight . . . right?

But meeting Liam Williams, the real person behind Puck, confuses Austin even more. Liam really seems to like him as a person, and Austin likes him back. And while Gay For Pay’s okay, what does it make Austin if he still wants Liam when the cameras aren’t rolling?

Review
Heidi Belleau has done it again with Straight Shooter. I have yet to be disappointed in a story by this author, and in the REV series this book hands down is my favourite. Like my feels had feels and the importance of story when it comes to labels and dealing with sexuality is legit. I'm just in awe and Austin just took my heart a piece at a time (what a dude).

Austin Puett is losing his friends and roommates fast on the account of his being a homophobic asshole to Bobby (Wallflower). He can deal with Bobby just being a gay man but throw in the women’s clothing and he's at the end of wits. Also, he's surrounded by all the gays and he's worried that maybe it might rub off him and he's on the brink of his budding hockey career and as they say "aint nobody got time for that" time for being gay at least. But getting called "fag" and a heap of derogatory names really makes him hot under the collar, and throw in exhibit B, him working at a gay porn store and Austin is beginning worry.

When the roommates give him an ultimatum, to better shape cus not all the times is Bobby going dress like a man. Austin decides it time to become tolerable and while he's doing that maybe check out a few gay porn DVDs here and there. He's feeling confident that his boners in the locker room are for naught when he remains unaffected by them. That is until he pops in a Mischievous Pictures DVD and sees Puck for the first time and his world starts spinning.

Austin considers being gay for pay and his fascination with Puck gets the best of him. He's going into this for all the wrong reasons, and that’s to be dominated, humiliated, and most of all get this "gay" thing out of his system. He never expected Liam though, and Austin finds that his life was simpler when he was just merely questioning his sexuality. Now he's opened up a whole other can of worms and can he mange it (all fingers point to he's out of his league on this one).

Oh Austin you incredibly fantastic dude! I am just so in love with this guy and his asshole fantasticness. I'm also very in love with the story that surpasses the traditional romance novel, and the expected GFY while putting forward a non complicated idea of sexuality. I'm all for more books like this, and it’s no surprise that this one is by Heidi Belleau. Making shit legit since The Saturnalia Effect and writing complex diverse characters. The REV series is 100% great and these guys fill up a space dominated by the cookie cutter white guy with pretty faces.

The relationship that develops between Liam and Austin is golden, very sweet and sexy. I'm all for this, so for this, all down wit this. Straight Shooter is a fantastic addition to an already wonderful series. Legit!

4.5 Pants Off
Review: Book #1 Apple Polisher

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Review: Mirage by Tia Fielding

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Mirage by Tia Fielding
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 200pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
When forty-six-year-old washed-up country musician Jasper “Red” Blue looks at the past, all he sees is a series of failures. His one treasured success is six years battling alcoholism without the help of AA. To secure his children’s future, Jasper desperately wants to produce a new album, but he can’t write alone. And he won’t work with just anyone. 

Jasper's record company manages to secure the writer one of the biggest country music songs in recent history to help write the album. Cade Wallace is a long-haired former soul surfer, devastatingly handsome, talented, and willing to take a chance on the rugged musician. Jasper, on the other hand, is deep in the closet. 

With Jasper's career hanging in the balance, he can't promise Cade anything, and Cade eventually heads back to his full-time job as a truck driver, taking Jasper’s hopes of a relationship with him. If Jasper’s dream of a life together is ever to come true, he will have to take some big risks, putting both his career and his children’s security on the line.

Review
This is such a sweet, heartwarming story. To really find love and acceptance at any age. Going against your fear and coming out stronger on the other side.

Jasper “Red” Blue is a country singer who has struggled with alcoholism in the past. He’s always known that he’s gay, but country music isn’t known for being the most tolerant towards things that are different. Jasper sees his past and sees lots of failures. He’s got an ex-wife and 2 kids, JJ and Janey. Jasper is this really sweet, shy guy who even though he has issues that he must overcome; he’s got this great heart. He’s so scared of telling his children and the public finding out that he’s gay, he hides a part of himself. He’s this really kind and generous guy who loves his small circle of family and friends.

Cade Wallace lives his life as a truck driver and part-time song writer. He’s part Hawaiian and Maori. He’s lived his life as carefree as possible. He’s got a small circle of friends that he’s really close with. Cade is a kind, loving and so very generous guy. He has this wonderful capacity for giving so much of himself and loving life. Cade is just such a wonderfully giving man. Cade is just looking for the person who he can call “his home”.

The secondary characters in this story were so very supportive and loving to our MC’s. They showed such support to them. Giving them love and such honest and heartfelt advice. They stayed true to themselves and the guys with whom they loved and cherished. Jasper’s ex, Jolene and their kids, JJ and Janey, loved Jasper and only wanted the best for him. The kids were ok with their dad being gay and just wanted him to stay on the wagon. They were wonderful kids and even though they didn’t have much page time, when they did, you felt the love and support for their dad. Jet, was one of Cade’s best friends and he really helped Cade to see that Jasper really loved him and was doing what he could show him.

This book was sweet. Even though you read a bit about some lady bits in this story, there was actually no sex on the pages. So, if you like a good, sweet, tender romance with no sex on the pages, this is the story for you. I liked how it wasn’t really insta-love. It was more that they were attracted to each other and slowly getting to know each other. They were intimate, but that only helped them fall more in love.

Their time apart was actually what they needed in order to see that what the other truly wanted was each other. Cade, to see that Jasper was really his home the one that he’d been searching for so long. That his heart was safe in Jasper’s care. Jasper had to find the strength to be open with not only himself, but with everyone. That he didn’t have to hide who he loved and wanted to be with. It was good the way that they came back together. It was something that really showed the bond of love that was between them.

If you want a sweet, tender love story to while away some time, this is the book for you. Just a bit of angst, and it really wasn’t heartrending to read. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

4 Pants Off

Review: Wood, Screws, and Nails by Piper Vaughn and Kade Boehme

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Wood, Screws, & Nails by Piper Vaughn and Kade Boehme
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 176pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Aaron Costa’s summer was all planned. Despite having to remodel the family lake house, it would be a vacation of sorts, and he had every intention of enjoying it—until the friend who was supposed to help him got injured and left him in a lurch. He decides to take the opportunity to bond with his son and hires Julian and his roommate, Malachi, to assist. 

As a broke college student, Malachi could use the money, and spending the summer with Aaron for eye candy sounds like a dream. "Look but don’t touch" becomes his motto. But when Julian starts flaking on his responsibilities and Malachi and Aaron are forced to spend long hours alone together, their mutual attraction is impossible to resist. 

Aaron can’t fight the temptation sexy Malachi presents. But more than their age difference stands in their way, not the least of which is Aaron’s semi-closeted status and the fact that he’s never openly discussed his sexuality with his son. He has no idea how Julian will react when he learns his father is not only gay, he’s also dating his best friend.

Review
Ok, now this was such a sweet little romance. I enjoyed taking the time to read about these characters and fall a bit in love with them.

Aaron Costa is a 37 year old gay man who is not exactly out or in the closet. He’s just who he is. At the tender age of 16 he gets his best friend pregnant and they have their son, Julian. They raise him together and let him know that he’s loved. Aaron hasn’t been in a real long term relationship with anyone and that makes it easier not telling Julian that he’s gay. He wants to find someone to share his life with, but in his work as a contractor and dealing with the manly mentality of the job makes it hard to find someone.

Malachi is 21 years old and is Julian’s best friend and roommate. He’s given the chance to work most of his summer with Julian and his father in restoring Aaron’s Parents lake front property. He’s always known that he was gay and he has a thing for older guys. So, his falling for Aaron isn’t really a big thing for him. Malachi wants to go to school to become a teacher. He’s doing it for such wonderful reasons and he has such a great heart. I liked how Mal was this great character. Warm, funny and just an all- around good guy.

The secondary characters in this story were pretty great. Julian’s mom and step-dad were such good friends to Aaron they were there for Aaron to talk to and give good advice. Mal’s parents were so sweet and loving. I loved the way that they supported him. Even Aaron’s Parent’s stepped up in the end. Now…Julian. Sigh. This boy was the brat of the story. I really didn’t like him much. He was this spoiled brat and such a slacker. I disliked him for much of the story. But he redeemed himself at the end.

I know that Piper Vaughn stated that she was worried about how people would react to the age difference and the fact that Aaron was Mal’s roommate’s dad, but I have to say that it didn’t bother me in the least. I felt that it wasn’t really a big deal for me. That it was truly a story about two people falling in love with each other. That the age difference and who they were to each other didn’t factor in to it for me. I just love a great story and Piper and Kade delivered one.

This story flowed so smoothly and you were on the journey with them. You felt each emotion that our characters went through. You felt for them. You watched them try to hide how they felt for each other and watched them finally give in. You watched Aaron struggle with Julian’s behavior and how to handle it. You watched them struggle to find what they meant to each other. It was really a sweet and yet so very sexy book to read.

I would recommend you give this sweet book a try. Aaron and Malachi are such sweet characters and it was fun to watch them fall in love. Don’t let the age difference bother you. Just read this sweet love story and fall in love with these two wonderful guys.

4.5 Pants Off

Monday, May 19, 2014

Book Blast & Giveaway: The Actor and the Earl by Rebecca Cohen



Book Name: The Actor and the Earl: The Crofton Chronicles: Book One

Author Name: Rebecca Cohen

Blurb: 
Elizabethan actor Sebastian Hewel takes his bow at the proscenium only to embark on the role of a lifetime. When his twin sister, Bronwyn, reneges on the arrangement to marry Anthony Redbourn, Earl of Crofton, Sebastian reluctantly takes her place. At nineteen, Sebastian knows his days as a leading lady are numbered, but with this last performance, he hopes to restore his family’s name and pay off his late father’s debts. Never mind the danger of losing his head should he be discovered.

He didn’t expect Anthony to be so charming and alluring—not to mention shrewd. While he applauds Sebastian’s plan, Anthony offers a mutually beneficial arrangement instead. Sebastian will need every drop of talent he has to survive with both his head and his heart intact, because this is the best part he’s ever had.


Author Bio: Rebecca Cohen is a Brit abroad. Having swapped the Thames for the Rhine, she has left London behind and now lives with her husband and baby son in Basel, Switzerland. She can often be found with a pen in one hand and a cup of Darjeeling in the other.

Author Links: 
Blog: http://rebeccacohenwrites.wordpress.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/R_Cohen_writes 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.cohen.710 

DSP author page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_462 

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Cohen/e/B007UEFIXS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press



Excerpt

“So what of your sister, Mr. Hewel? Or were you always meant to play my bride?”

“Hardly. She has run off with a man she thinks herself in love with.”

Crofton laughed. “Clever girl.”

“So it seems.”

Sebastian watched as Crofton examined him closely, taking in his appearance from head to toe. “What now? You know what we planned to do.”

“I think the plan has merits,” Crofton replied with a sly grin.

“Her Majesty has granted me permission to wed Bronwyn Hewel. How would it look if Bronwyn were to refuse? But I think that we can come to an arrangement that will prevent me from having to sully the once-great Hewel name.”

Sebastian didn’t like the sound of that—the words too close to blackmail for his comfort. “Meaning what, exactly?”

“If you are willing to keep up this pretense, continue to play Bronwyn, then I in turn would take up the mantle of devoted husband.”

“What?”

“Your greatest performance, Mr. Hewel. Fool the court and polite society in an extravagant wedding, then retire to my country house to be my beloved wife for perhaps a year or two, after which time my young, but sickly, wife will succumb to a fever, and you will return to your life as Sebastian Hewel.”

For a moment Sebastian was unable to reply, Crofton’s shocking proposal robbing him of words. “But why would you want this?”

Crofton’s smile was predatory. “I have my reasons.”

“But—”

“No buts, Mr. Hewel. Do you have your answer? A life of luxury and your honor, or your family’s disgrace?”

Sebastian’s heart raced, but as he stared into Crofton’s expectant face, he really had little choice. “I accept.”


Tour Stops: Fallen Angel Reviews, Prism Book Alliance, 3 Chicks After Dark, My Fiction Nook, Love Bytes, MM Good Books, Parker Williams, Elisa Rolle, Nephylim, Iyana Jenna, Lee Brazil, The Hat Party, Up All Night, Read All Day, Cate Ashwood, Dawn’s Reading Nook, It’s Raining Men, Pants Off Review, Amanda C. Stone

Sales Links: 


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Thursday, May 15, 2014

Spotlight, Review, & Giveaway: Daylight Again by SE Jakes


Intro:
Thanks so much for hosting a spotlight of my new release— Daylight Again!  It’s book 3 in the Hell or High Water series, and it’s the return of Prophet and Tommy.  And Mal.  And Cillian.  And, as usual, some surprises.  Hang on for another wild (and hot) ride!

Daylight Again (Hell or High Water #3) by SE Jakes
Riptide Publishing
Novel: 265pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Before Prophet Drews can have a future, he must first put his past to rest.

Prophet Drews is a man on the edge, and he’s pulling Tom Boudreaux, his partner on the job and in real life, right over with him. When his old CO calls in a favor, Prophet asks Tom to join the off-the-grid rescue. But the mission raises all of Prophet’s old ghosts: CIA assassins, the terrorist Sadiq, and most importantly, John—traitor, former teammate, and Prophet’s first love.

To help bury those ghosts for good, Prophet and Tom gather the members of Prophet’s former SEAL team . . . and a spook named Cillian who’s been tailing Prophet for years. In the process, Prophet is forced to face his team’s shifting loyalties, ghosts who refuse to stay dead, and scariest of all, his own limitations.

With everyone’s lives in danger, Prophet and Tom must unravel a tangled knot of secrets, including their own. Prophet must decide how much to reveal to Tom, while Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go to help Prophet lay his ghosts to rest.

Review
So, I am a HUGE SE Jakes fan. I have loved Prophet and Tommy from the very first book. I’ve read the first two books multiple times and I couldn’t wait to read this book. So, with lots of fan girl glee….Let’s Go!!

We’re back with Prophet and Tommy about 4 months after the events in Long Time Gone (book 2 in the Hell or High Water series). Tommy has moved into Prophet’s place and they are still as sizzling as ever. Prophet gets a call to help his former CO rescue his brother that has been abducted. Prophet accepts and asks Tommy to come along. Of Course Tommy does and boy does this story really start popping off the pages.

We get such a deeper look into Prophet’s past and a lot of what he’s had to deal with. I had to stop reading a couple of times and just take a few moments to get my head back into the game. I felt so much more connected to Prophet than I was prior. You see so much more of Prophet’s vulnerabilities in this book.

Tommy is such a strong character in this book, and he really becomes a rock for Prophet. He goes along with Prophet on these missions and he’s so on his game. He is so strong for Prophet in this book. He’s got Prophet’s back and front as well. As Prophet starts to give Tommy more information on his life, Tommy is a rock! He stands tall and allows Prophet to lean on him.

You get to get see more of Cillian, Mal and the rest of Prophet’s team. It was really great to see them together as a whole. I loved that she put a part of Mal and Cillian’s story into this book. It showed such wonderful continuity that flowed well from each book. It really makes me want the next Mal and Cillian book BADLY!! It was great to see the team working in a field situation and kicking some Serious Booty!! Those guys are pretty damn AMAZING!!

Now, there were some baddies in this story as well. Sadiq that we met in Catch A Ghost (book 1 of the Hell or High Water series) is still his horrible self and Holy Hannah, I still Hate him!! Sadiq isn’t in the story much, but he always seems to give good page time with what he has. Lansing is another character that we saw but didn’t know who he was. Now, when the book starts out and you get to know who Lansing is….Man, I wanted to punch him in the throat. He’s a bad guy and it’s in a totally different way than Sadiq, but I Hated him more. Read the book and you’ll know why.

So, being the SE Jakes fan girl that I am, I have to say that you know that her sex scenes are hot and very passionate. That did not change in this book. In fact, I felt that the intimate moments between Proph and Tommy really bonded them together. It’s a way that they can truly show how they feel. It was beautiful to watch these two men fall deeper in love with one another. Never fear when it comes to smoking hot sex scenes from SE Jakes, it was hot enough to melt my Kindle.

I love the fact that as usual, SE gave you morsels of information that you’ll need later on. She’s really good at that. So even though you’re reading this book or hell any of her books that she’s already getting you excited about the next one and Boy….Did She!! I can’t wait for the next book. It’s not gonna come fast enough.

From the first words until the very last one…you were on a thrill ride and it never stopped. You will go through some serious emotional swings in this book and that’s just what a really captivating book does and SE does that in spades!!

So Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride That is….Daylight Again!!!

5 Pants Off

Excerpt

God, Prophet fucking loved a good bar fight—hadn’t had one in a while. He sent tables and chairs flying, was more cautious with actual people, but hell, anyone who came at him got a good, sharp right hook.

Ren had, of course, started the fight when Mal gave the signal that Cillian was heading toward the bar. Now, Prophet and Tom were the only ones from their group left inside the bar, and Tom ambled over to him while he waited by the dancers’ platform that was mostly unharmed. As were the dancers.

“You all right?” Tom asked.

Prophet nodded, noting that Tom looked entirely too pleased with himself. “That felt good.”

Tom shook his head.

“What? I needed to release some tension.” Prophet stretched his neck. “I definitely don’t get to do that often enough.”

“There are other ways to relieve tension, Proph.”

“I know that. And now I’m going to try one of them.”

He grabbed Tom and yanked him close, rubbing his rough-stubbled cheek against Tom’s, knowing full well Tom loved the scratch and burn. “You fought too, Cajun.”

“Self-defense, pure and simple,” he protested. “And I saw Mal and Cillian. We were clear before the fight.”

“And after. Saw Cillian leave with the majority of the crowds,” Prophet confirmed. “Where were they?”

“Closer to the back.” Tom waved a hand casually in that direction. “Shouldn’t we leave?”

“Not till we get the all clear.”

He pulled Tommy onto the dance floor, wrapping around him, burying his face in Tommy’s neck. Tom did the same as they swayed. Partly so they wouldn’t be spotted, but mainly because it was really nice to be able to hold Tom like this.

“Want to fuck you right here,” Prophet murmured. “Get on my knees, suck you. Then turn you around, hold you against the pillar and take you in front of everyone.”

Tom groaned against Prophet’s ear.

“Ah, you like that idea,” Prophet shifted his glance to another couple, made sure Tom noticed they were stroking each other.

“Fuck,” Tom muttered. “We need to go to clubs more often.”

“Right,” Prophet teased. “Because we don’t have enough sex.” But really, sex with Tommy was everything. It was where and how he’d gotten the best possible education on everything Tommy—and he was well aware that Tom had gotten the same information on him. Until you really knew what someone was like in bed, you didn’t really know them at all.

“Never enough,” Tom informed him seriously. “And maybe I’d push you onto your knees. Then down on the ground. Spread you and fuck you in front of everyone.”

Prophet hissed a breath, bared his throat slightly. “You’d make me perform?”

“You’d fucking love it, Proph.”

Fuck yeah, he would. “When this is all over . . . that.”

“Yeah, that,” Tom echoed.


About the Author:
SE Jakes writes m/m romance. She believes in happy endings and fighting for what you want in both fiction and real life. She lives in New York with her family and most days, she can be found happily writing (in bed). No really…
 You can contact her the following ways:
You can email her at authorsejakes@gmail.com
You can post to her Facebook page: Facebook.com/SEJakes
You can tweet her: Twitter.com/authorsejakes
You can post on her Goodreads Group:  Ask SE Jakes
You can follow her Tumblr page:  sejakes.tumblr.com
You can follow her on Instagram: instagram.com/authorsejakes
Truth be told, the best way to contact her is by email or in blog comments.  She spends most of her time writing but she loves to hear from readers!
Giveaway: 
SE Jakes will be giving away one $100 gift certificate to Riptide Publishing. Entries close at midnight, Eastern Time, on May 17th, and winners will be announced on May 18th.  Contest is valid worldwide.
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