Everything Under the Sun

Everything Under the Sun by Rachel West
Dreamspinner Press

170 Pages

4 out of 5

Blurb:
What do you do when you have every choice in the world at your fingertips and no idea what you want?

Ever since Chris Bennett graduated high school a year ago, he's been trying to figure out what's next. His lifeguarding job has kept him busy, and in southern California, poolside isn't a bad place to be. But he's spent most of his time thinking about Seth, the former classmate who became something more for a few brief moments last summer. Now Seth is back, but he seems to be running toward Chris and running away from him at the same time. Meanwhile, Chris is increasingly drawn to Alex, his gorgeous new neighbor who puts up a sexy, confident front but may be harboring a few romantic demons of his own.

Chris doesn't know which direction to go, either in life or in love. But by the time he figures it out, will the right person still be around to want him back?


Review:
There are so many wonderful things I loved about this book, at first I was unsure about where the author was going but in the end it was written splendidly.  For me this book was relatable on so many levels, the young characters, the feeling of being stuck in a place they want desperately to get out off, and also being unsure of what the heck they want to do with their lives. It was fun, sweet, and all kinds of sexy. I still have a smile on my face.

Chris Bennett is one of many students who decide to take a year of school before heading out to college/university to do a little life exploring, only his year is turning into two and he is still unsure of how to progress. Working at a pool as a lifeguard, his life is pretty much a routine and is love life is in the same disarray. Chris is feeling good though because the guy he has been fooling around with is back in town after leaving for college, and he is feeling that this might be it. He might actually go all the way, all naked and everything. From the first kiss, followed by a night he would never forget, Chris is hoping that his feelings might be reciprocated.

All is not well in Chris land when he realizes that the guy he likes will never accept his feelings, and he is just sick and tired of being used. When a surprise trip leads to a heartbreaking realization. Chris turns to his sexy neighbour Alex. What begins as a true friendship, turns into hot blistering lust, it’s a great feeling for Chris to actually want someone else, and what might have begun as friends with benefits is becoming so much more. Once again Chris might be falling for someone looking for a quick hook-up but the vibe he is getting is saying that it is something more.

I enjoyed that all three guys are young guys, and their troubles are believable. Chris is just splendid his character truly thinks and act like a nineteen year old boy. He is undecided about life, scared of venturing off to the unknown and I found myself being able to relate to his trials. That is one of the many awesome things about this book. Its  also actually quite funny, the inner turmoil of the characters was wonderfully written and I loved how they always seem to be constantly berating themselves in their heads.

There is three POVs and it so totally works, you get a strong sense of all the characters and you understand them a whole lot better. When it came to Seth (this is the bastard friend who was fooling around with Chris), I was glad that we got to see things from his side, you just cannot dislike him. He is a scared young man, who has no idea about his sexuality; and there is this guy he is attracted to and that is freaking the crap out him. For me with Seth it was never about Chris, it was about him finally coming to understand that he might actually like men and he has no clue what to do about it. This is why the book was just so good, it’s realistic when it came to emotions and I have to give credit where credit is due.

All the characters are likable, Alex is a dream and he is also young, the oldest of the bunch but with still a lot to learn. This book is a discovery of what is important and what its like to fall in love, whether it be the first or second time around. The sex is hot, the chemistry between characters is off the chain, and I just found it so refreshing, it is a perfect summer read. I am hoping for a sequel because I want more Seth and I want to meet the guy who will lead him to find himself, and I think I might already know him. Just a very sweet book and I will be watching out for this author, I expect big things from Rachel West if her books continue to shine like this. Everything Under the Sun will give you warm fuzzies.

4 Pants Off

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 Reviewed for Three Dollar Bill Reviews

Menage Mondays: Unspoken Desires by Stormy Glenn

Menage Mondays

Howdy all, and Happy Monday. Welcome to another week of my ramblings and thoughts, and my pick for Menage Monday. Unspoken Desires book #5, in the Tri-Omega series by Stormy Glenn, book 3 and 4 were less than stellar so I didn't expect too much from number five. I was pleasantly surprised, and overall I really liked it. Color me surprised!


This book is all about the Trias (pretty sure I just made that word up), an actual relationship about three shifters. Thats what makes up this whole series, a tri-omega who needs two mates to keep him grounded and safe. Its fluff reading, no complications, and some added drama. If you like all of that, then this series is the one for you.

Unspoken Desires (Tri-Omega Mates, #5) by Stormy Glenn
Siren Publishing

Novel

4 out of 5

Blurb:  
Daniel James, required by his alpha to attend a wolf council meeting at Vourdala Island, never expects to run into his mate, Brom McGregor. Several years ago, Brom kicked him out of their pack, saying he would never mate him, that he didn't love Daniel. Running into Brom is almost more than he can handle when Daniel knows he still loves the man. Brom McGregor is shocked to see Daniel, the man he's always loved and never forgotten. He's even more shocked when his own jealousy makes him claim Daniel as his mate, especially since Brom is already married with two small children. To add to Brom's problems, there's a third mate, Jaryn, whom Daniel doesn't even know about, someone that Brom has spent their years apart protecting. Faced with a hunt to the death ordered by his father because he mated Daniel, Brom is forced to flee with his two small children and Jaryn. The only place he can think to go is to Daniel. Can he convince Daniel that he sent him away all those years ago to save his life even knowing that he's putting Daniel in danger again? Will Daniel forgive him in time to save Jaryn's life? ** A Siren Erotic Romance

My Thoughts: 
I enjoyed reading this one, loved how finally the amount of tri-omegas that are around were discussed. Its supposed to happen like once every century or something, and there is like a whole series of them. It still has to be explained, but I guess the answer is coming. Offers up a decent conflict with the right amount of sex, and it was great to read about all the other couples.

3 Pants Off

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Always remember "3 is never a crowd, and one more is always invited".

The Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel (St. Nacho's, #4) by Z.A Maxfield
Loose-Id

Novel

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Blurb:
Daniel Livingston is finally free. He’s come clean about his passionless marriage and moved to St. Nacho’s where he can spend time with his brother. Now he’s ready explore the endless sexual buffet being hot and rich and single has to offer.

The problem is a firefighter named Cameron Rooney who haunts his every waking thought and half his dreams. No doubt about it. Cam is going to require a level of honesty Dan has never before considered, and in order to achieve that, he will have to turn his life inside out. Coming clean to his ex-wife will cost him money, doing right by St. Nacho’s will anger his business partner, and exploring a painful family secret will hurt the one person Dan has sworn to protect.

Cam’s faith in Dan is tested and Dan’s belief in himself is nearly non-existent. In the end, forging a new path could cost him everything or net him the most important score of his life in The Book Of Daniel. 

Review:
This was one of my least favourite ZAM book ever, and it’s a part of one my fave series. This book had two of my favourite characters from the previous book, like two complete idiots. They were indecisive, contradictory, and spoiled children. I could not wrap my mind around it, and when they both acted like douches to each other, with a few words all would go back to normal.

If you have no clue about the St Nachos series, I absolutely recommend that you get to know this little town. The characters are quirky, and the food sounds awesmazing (I was constantly hungry reading this book). This series is the epitome of what ZAM does best. Though I did have my issues with this story in particular, the series is not to be missed. Cam and Daniel had me a drooling from the previous book, and I was impatiently waiting for their story. I knew it was gonna be hot, and about a man healing and finding love. We got all that, but we also got shallow Cam and Daniel with their multiple personalities.

Daniel the product of a bad home life has built his way up to owning his own company and having money. He lives to protect his little brother, but over the years, he has forgotten about others in order to make a disastrous marriage work. The marriage is over and Daniel has decided to be true to himself and come out to the world. Now he’s man whoring himself around town, and he’s hardly a good person. He lies, and is unable to find happiness in anything. A car wreck has left him without the use of one of his hands, and his pity party is strong. In comes Cam the hot fire fighter with the heart of gold, who can do and say no wrong (gimme a break). Their relationship was never the best, but a friendly relationship begins that leads to more.

The inconsistencies in this book is strong, I just do not understand what happened to my Cam and Daniel. At times, I really liked them, and at most, I wanted to slap them in the head. Daniel facing his issues was a good thing, but everyone around him kept making him the bad person, as if he was this horrible person. Honestly, I have yet to see this horrible person, sketchy and unsure yes, but horrible? Not even, close. His life has shaped him and he has every right to be wary. He is not a perfect person, and I sorta hated how they expected so much from him.

The sex between Daniel and Cam is desert storm hot, but the relationship part is a great big pot of 'you have got to be fecking kidding me'. They both have no idea what they want. One minute its not working but the next love is blooming like roses in a freaking garden. I yelled a few times 'just make up your mind already', and just when you think all is well, either Cam or Dan pulls a douche bag move. I had high hopes for them, though not completely disappointed I am also less then impressed.

Overall, I really enjoyed going back to St.Nacho’s and hearing about everyone from previous books. I liked many elements of the story (laughed my ass off a few times), but disappointed in the characters. Even though I got my HEA, I am still waiting for Daniel to bolt. In the upside, this might be the dirtiest ZA book ever; I was like “WHAT”, some very unexpected hotness. My final thoughts are that this series is not to be missed, and though it seems as if I am just hating, I honestly liked the book just wondering what the hell happened to the characters.

3 1/2 Pants Off

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Under My Skin

Under My Skin by M.L Rhodes
Amber Allure

Romance/Contemporary

Novella

4 out of 5

Blurb:
The smart guy”—Sebastian Keller’s lived with that label most of his life. Though he hasn’t always appreciated it, and it hasn’t exactly made him a man magnet, he’s put his intelligence to work building his store, Great Escapes Travel Book Shop, to the point it’s now the favorite recommendation of travel agents in the St. Louis area. His customers—especially the jet-setting senior citizens—love him for his amiable personality.

He doesn’t feel very amiable, however, when Rad Tattoos moves in next door to Great Escapes. Its owner, Dylan Radamacher, rubs Sebastian the wrong way from the get-go. The man’s insufferable, stubborn, and, worse, a bad boy. Everything Sebastian loathes. To add insult to injury, Sebastian’s certain the loud music, the congested parking lot, and the constant colorful parade of the counterculture in and out of the tattoo studio are scaring away his loyal, conservative customers.

And yet, much to his annoyance, the teasing sparkle in Dylan’s eyes, his hot, inked body, and come-hither voice set Sebastian’s libido on fire. Sebastian’s “been there, done that” with the bad-boy type before, though, and almost lost everything because of it. There’s no way he’s going down that road again.

But when Dylan sets his sights on Sebastian and is determined to take him for a walk on the wild side, Sebastian knows he’s in big trouble. It’s going to take all his smarts and a whole lot of willpower to resist the sexy tattoo artist before the man finds a way to burrow deeper under his skin...

Review:
What can I say about Under My Skin that the blurb didn’t? I think it covered every element of this short story so I am just gonna share my thoughts on the book. I was a sweet story with a nice message and I enjoyed reading it.

Sebastian is considered the "smart guy" by looks alone, he is actually a smart guy but he hates the label. Sebastian has a habit of picking bad men, and has sworn to stay away from the bad boy looking type, because they only bring pain. He has his own travel store, his neighbour store is a tattoo parlour, and he’s hating it but digging the owner. He knows that the motorcycle and tattoo wearing type is bad news but he can’t help his attraction.

When a late night get together leads to hot sex with the tattoo storeowner Dylan, Sebastian is cursing himself in all kinds of ways, yet he is drawn to the bigger man and is hoping that Dylan will be his right decision. Until a misunderstanding leads him to jump to conclusions and might put the love affair to end before it even begins.

I really liked this short story it was quick and sweet. A few life lessons to be learnt here (yes there is life lessons in M/M romance/erotica). This one is 'don’t judge a book by its cover', 'just because one orange in the bag is sour doesn’t mean that they all will be', you know that kinda stuff. Sebastian was quick to judge Dylan because of his rotten relationship in the past and it almost cost him a chance at real happiness. In addition, deals with labels, because body art does not mean you are crude and stupid. Just one of many ways a person can express themselves. Overall, a very nice read.

4 Pants Off

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Cake

I Framed It

Cake (Blood Nation, #1) by Derekica Snake
SL Publishing

Novel

4.5 out of 5

Blurb:
To be loved by a vampire…

I've been called many names in my day. Most of them weren't flattering but they were true. I was a right unholy bastard. Eighteen months ago, I was a fat, nasty, legally blind, computer programmer who decided to try his chubby hand at industrial espionage. I wasn't good at it. I caught the attention of a Vampire Assassin, Marcus.

He was just supposed to kill me; but he wanted me instead. I became his toy for a year. During which time he reshaped my body; fixed my vision and broke me psychologically into three pieces. On the anniversary of my kidnapping, he gave me the choice to become an equal or remain a toy. Little did we know that he would never be my equal.

It turns out that I was the last of the lost Blue Bloodline of the Royal House. A genetic hybrid hidden within the human race -- Xavier Von Drachenfeld, Lord Emperor of the Vampire Nation.

Then we start to find out why there are no Blue bloods left in the Vampire world.

Review:
Cake is yummy, yummy goodness. I have a serious crush on Derekica Snake; I would love to be a voyeur in her head. I first read an online fic by the author that was recommend by a friend and I fell in love. Tentacles for the Bride Bouquet is no longer available to read online, because I think it will be released as a book (yay). In the author, I found all my perve, come true. She writes sexy, mixed in with the unconventional and some very pretty men. Cake is one of those, and with this one also comes some warning. It seems that whenever I read a Snake book there has to be a warning list.

Avoid if you do not like:
- No-Con/Dub-Con
- Blood/Gore
- Ménage
- Pretty Pretty Men
- The Anti-Hero
- Hot Man Love

This book had me at its opening line “I was a slut”, and from there on, I just fell in love.  Edward aka Sex/Xavier was once a bitter man shaped by being overweight and almost blind. Then on his birthday, a beautiful man corners him in a bar and calls him beautiful, which Edward finds very hard to believe. At almost three hundred pounds, there is no way in hell this hot man would want him. That is until Edward wakes up with a pain in his ass (literally) and realizes that he is about to become the plaything of a man he will come know as Marcus.

Eighteen months later, we have a new Edward, his vision is no longer impaired and he is about half his size. It seems as if he has it made, but for those months Edward has been living as a toy, used and abused by Marcus and now is called Sex. That’s what he is needed for sex and the blood that flows through his veins. Sex realizes that Marcus is more than a man, and it amplifies his fears tenfold.

I will honestly say that as reader, you will either love or hate this book. There is just so much that pushes conventional relationships out the window. Edward/Sex/Xavier was tortured, raped and whole bunch of other things by Marcus. Yet Marcus is his lifeline, the true holder of his heart and if that isn’t a “What the Fuck”, I don’t know what is. The relationship is complex and effed up and I freaking love it.

The twists and turns of this book are truly entertaining and I have serious feelings in my heart for all the characters. I love Sex (teehee); he is truly awesome and feisty. Marcus I have a sneaking suspicion that I should hate his guts but I totally love him he is he anti-hero in every sense of the meaning. I loved their relationship, a mixture of hot/cold and molten lava (where is my pants?). This is every bit a Yaoi book, and if you are a fan of yaoi you will love it, if you don’t like yaoi then ‘Stay Clear’.

Apart from the annoying word 'portal' (is this some sort of space-time continuum), just say ass/hole just anything but that. This book is super cool, and I am excited to read the second in the series. I cannot get enough of my pretty men.

Side Note- That cover is gorgeous, and I have lascivious thoughts when I look at it. Lurve!

Side Note 2- I would love a signed copy of this book (hint, hint)

4 1/2 Pants Off

Go Ahead Take Those Pants Off