Eight Nights in December by Keira Andrews

 

 by Keira Andrews

4.5 Stars

 

A geek. A virgin. One sexy holiday.

Orphaned Lucas figures spending the holidays with his obnoxious roommate’s family in New York City is better than staying alone on campus upstate. He ends up sharing a room again, this time with his roommate’s brother, Nate. Geeky photographer Nate isn’t at all what Lucas expects. In fact, he’s incredibly sexy—especially when he invites Lucas into his darkroom...

They hide their attraction during Hanukkah celebrations, but behind closed doors, Lucas and Nate can’t keep their hands (or mouths) off each other. Nate’s only looking for a bit of holiday fun, and amazing sex with a hot virgin definitely fits the bill. Yet as the candles burn, Nate and Lucas begin to realize eight nights will never be enough.

A really sweet holiday romance! This revised, expanded and rereleases Novella is everything a Christmas love story should be.  Keira Andrews writes engaging stories of people falling in love and Eight Days in December is a perfect example of her craft.

What did we love?

-  Hanukah:  We really enjoyed this story being set through Hanukah, instead of Christmas.  We don’t know much about the Jewish tradition so it was nice to read about a family that honored the holiday and learn a little more. So many stories are set against Christmas, so this was a nice twist on the traditional.

- The Love:  Normally we aren’t huge schmoopy love-story fans, but this time of year we want to feel the sweet and, Eight Nights in December delivers. The sweet, charming, enjoyable story brings home the holiday spirit.  The chemistry is hot between Nate and Lucas and we loved that the story and the love-story had equal value.

- The story:  This is an easy novella to read.  The story flows, the dialogue makes sense and we get just enough back stories to understand the main characters, and has very little angst. 

What we wanted more of?

- The boys:  We really enjoyed both Lucas and Nate, and LOVED the epilogue.  We would love to see a full length book of these boys awhile down the road.  They were engaging, fun and interesting characters (like we expect anything else from Keira Andrews) and really wanted to spend more time with them.

There are 1001 Christmas Love Story Novella’s out there but Keira Andrew’s Eight Days in December is a standout, it is a cute read, with delightful main characters falling in love.

Review of Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

 by Keira Andrews

5 stars

Even if it means quitting their boy band mid-tour, Troy Tanner isn’t going to watch his little brother snort his future away after addiction destroyed their father. On a private jet taking him home from Australia, he and pilot Brian Sinclair soar above the vast South Pacific. Brian lost his passion for flying—and joy in life—after a traumatic crash, but now he and Troy must fight to survive when a cyclone strikes without warning.

Marooned a thousand miles from civilization, the turquoise water and white sand beach look like paradise. But although they can fish and make fire, the smallest infection or bacteria could be deadly. When the days turn into weeks with no sign of rescue, Troy and Brian grow closer, and friendship deepens into desire.

As they learn sexuality is about more than straight or gay and discover their true selves, the world they've built together is thrown into chaos. If Troy and Brian make it off the island, can their love endure?

This is actually the first Keira Andrews book we read, when it first came out, before our blog.  And feeling some nostalgia this week, we decided that it was time for a re-read and we are so glad to spend our time with Troy and Brian.

The great?

-          Story:  this is a fascinating story, we think we say that a lot about Keira Andrew’s books, but so true for Beyond the Sea.  Two very different men marooned on an island, with nothing, so many things to go wrong.  They persevere in spite of their lack of knowledge and the harsh conditions they face they endure and try to thrive.  Even if this wasn’t a romance the story is amazing.

-          Gay-for-You:  Not only do we get one GFY gentlemen, but two!  GFY is one of our fav tropes and Beyond the Sea delivers all the great things about this trope.  Troy and Brian are not only dealing with a traumatic situation, the possibility of not being rescued, but with feelings for each other.  They don’t fall into bed with each other, but struggle with their situation and if their feeling real, or just a result of being faced with their reality.  People do have issues with the GFY trope, but this is a book, a slice away from reality.

-          Romance:  Man we love a good ROMANCE story and this is it.  Troy and Crian only have each other and spend all their time talking, sharing, getting to know each other, taking care of each other and falling in love with the essence of the other person.  There is no hiding between these men.  There is also the feeling that this might be the end for them, so they spill all their deepest darkest secrets and fears.  There are no games, or tricks on angst.  It is falling in love.

-          Characters:  Keira Andrews creates characters that we fall in love with.  We became so invested and immersed in the characters we laughed, grumbled and even shed a tear for them.  There is a heartbreaking scene towards the end, let’s just say that when real life comes back for them and they are like magnets, pushing and pulling against their feelings and what they left behind, and we cried so hard for these men. 

The bad?

-          Cover:  that is the one detractor.  I think we picked this book up by a recommendation, but not something we would have gravitated towards.  And we can’t imagine that we wouldn’t have read this remarkable book or the wonderful Keira Andrews.

Beyond the Sea, is a heartbreaking story of ‘love-is-love’ period.  It is heartbreaking, breathtaking, emotional read, and we adored every second.  Keira Andrews always finds a way to show us love blossoming in arduous ways.  Beyond the Sea is our favorite Keira Andrews book, and might even top our top 10 m/m romance of all time!

Kidnapped by Pirates by Keira Andrews

by Keira Andrews

5 stars

Will a virgin captive surrender to this pirate’s sinful touch?

Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it’s concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he’s sailing to the fledging colony, where he’ll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family’s financial gain. Then pirates strike and he’s kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World.

Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don’t deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel’s father—the very man whose treachery forced him into piracy—and he’s sure Nathaniel is just as contemptible.

Yet as days pass in close quarters, Nathaniel’s feisty spirit and alluring innocence beguile and bewitch. Although Hawk knows he must keep his distance, the desire to teach Nathaniel the pleasure men can share grows uncontrollable. It’s not as though Hawk would ever feel anything for him besides lust…

Nathaniel realizes the fearsome Sea Hawk’s reputation is largely invented, and he sees the lonely man beneath the myth, willingly surrendering to his captor body and soul. As a pirate’s prisoner, he is finally free to be his true self. The crew has been promised the ransom Nathaniel will bring, yet as danger mounts and the time nears to give him up, Hawk’s biggest battle could be with his own heart.

If you have read anything we have reviewed you know out fan-girl love of Keira Andrews – in our eyes she writes complete gems.   And we thought Kidnapped by the Pirate, a bodice ripping, harlequin style romance?  We weren’t sure, but really, sexy swashbuckling men, we might have a new favourite Keira Andrews book!

Loved?

-          Tropes:  So many to choose from; virgin, May-December, captives, sexy-pirates, enemies to lovers – take your pick.  So good! Now reading the list, there is a lot going on, but it all works together.  The virgin trope usually annoys us, but being set in 1710 added to the truthfulness, times were different and people were betrothed instead of jumping from bed partner to bed partner.

-          Piracy:  We found the subject of Kidnapped by the Pirate fascinating.  We haven’t read many pirate romances, and this one had so many details of the period of time, the piracy vs. privateering, we felt pulled into 1710 and life aboard a ship.

-          Fun:  This is a fun read.  Swashbuckling, kidnapping, battle on the high seas. There wasn’t’ a point we skimmed or fast-forwarded, or rolled our eyes ant the ridiculous of the situation, because it is so enjoyable.

-          Sexy times:  Wooohooo Keira Andrews can write a sheet-burner, and Kidnapped by the Pirate is smoking hot.  When Hawk and Nathaniel finally give up to their bodice-ripping desires, there is no stopping these very dirty men, it is scorching. 

-          Epilogue:  No spoilers, but man, we love a good epilogue!

Meh?

-          Hmmmmm.  We can’t think of anything – you?

Kidnapped by the Pirate promises a fast-paced, adventurous love story, and it delivers whole heartedly.  If you enjoy adventure on the high seas, sizzling sex and a sweet romance than Kidnapped by the Pirate should be your next read!  

Review of The Next Competitor by Keira Andrews

by Keira Andrews

4 stars

If he risks his heart, can he keep his head in the game?

To win gold, figure skater Alex Grady must train harder than the competition morning, noon, and night. He’s obsessed with mastering another quadruple jump, and due to the lack of filter between his mouth and brain, doesn’t have a lot of friends. As for a boyfriend, forget it. So what if he’s still a virgin at twenty? The Olympics are only every four years—everything else can wait. Relationships are messy and complicated anyway, and he has zero room in his life for romance.

So it’s ridiculous when Alex finds himself checking out his boring new training mate Matt Savelli. Calm, collected “Captain Cardboard” is a nice guy, but even if Alex had time to date, Matt’s so not his type. Yet beneath Matt’s wholesome surface, there’s a dirty, sexy man who awakens a desire Alex has never experienced and can’t deny…

A different kind of sports romance with slow-burn sexy characters – another total winner from one of our FAV authors Keira Andrews!

Alex Grady is driven, cold and takes no prisoners to get what he wants, Gold medal at the Olympics, is his ultimate dream and goal. He is a hard character to really get to love – at the beginning of The Next Competitor we were unsure if we could read a whole book with this Prima Donna figure skater who has chip on his shoulder.  But enter Matt Savelli, and Alex truly softened.  As the connection between Alex and Matt grows, the nasty demeaning Alex becomes more human.  He steps out of his comfort zone and we as so happy to see that Alex actually has empathy under his prickly exterior. 

Keira Andrews can write characters, and The Next Competitor does not disappoint.  She immerses us in a figure skating world; we can feel the cold stare of Alex’s Coach, the bitter cold of the ice on the rink and the aches and pains after falling over and over trying to get the Quad perfect.  This is not a long book, but that doesn’t limit the detail. 

So let’s talk about the relationship between Alex and Matt.  It is a sweet, slow-burn, low-angst journey.  Although they are both figure skaters they aren’t competitors, rather they are opposites.  They are both driven, but whereas Alex is single focused on the Gold medal at the Olympics without distraction, the road to the goal is Matt’s focus.  This difference brings about changes in their attitudes, for the betterment of both.   And as their relationship grows, so does their sexual tension, woohooo!  It is so good –sensual, dirty and swoon worthy.  Alex is a firecracker and Matt sees that beneath the icy exterior he is a passionate man, and helps Alex own that side of himself.  They are flammable!

All in all The Next Competitor is a great read; fascinating story of top-athletes, engaging secondary characters, slow-burn love and burnable between the sheets – so checkboxes all around! Keira Andrews builds another story that shouldn’t be missed!