Review of These Violent Delights by Jess Whitcroft

 by Jess Whitecroft

5 Stars

Flunking English, short on cash and trying to keep up with the demands of dancing a principal role in Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet; Milos has a lot going on right now. The last thing he needs is his English teacher riding him about his poor class performance. 

For teacher Tom, still raw from an ugly breakup, the last thing he needs is a new romance, especially one that drags him into the thorny ethical issues of dating a student. 

When a chance encounter opens the door on unexpected lust, Tom and Milos plunge headlong into an erotic, all-consuming affair, but can the violent delights of new love survive secrets?

This is only our second book by Jess Whitcoft, but WOW…. that’s all we can say.  We are bowled over by These Violent Delights and are eager to snatch up everything Jess Whitcroft has written.

The love?

- Writing Style:  There is something about the writing style, it is short to the point, like every word Jess Whitcroft uses fit perfectly there and need to be there.  The voice of the characters is strong and concise and easy to follow.  We loved the voice of this book.

- The relationship: We loved the relationship between Milos and Tom, they are funny, have fantastic banter and really seem to connect.  And we liked that even thought they are both a bit flawed they fit with each other.

- The Chemistry: WOWOWOWOWOW.  This book is hot.  The chemistry between Tom and Milos is palpable, it jumps off the page.  There is this magnetic pull between them, that you can’t help feeling the sexual tension, and it is so realistic, so authentic.

- Ballet:  We loved the references to Ballet, and Milos’s profession.  There aren’t a lot of MM books with ballet and this one was so interesting.  We also really loved how Jess Whitecroft put Milos’s feelings into his performance, and how that made him a better dancer.

The meh?

- GFY plot:  I have no issues about a GFY plot, and this one is easy to accept, as it is Milos discovering he is sexually fluid.  But, yes, there is a but, I wish there had been some thoughts from Milos about being actually Bi. 

- The editing:  There are a few little issues of editing and consistency in the 2^nd half of the book.  Nothing to really distract us, but they were there. 

- The Simon plot:  Hmmm, would have like to have that wrapped up a bit, it just kinda ended and wished there was some closure.

These Violent Delights is a fantastic read.  It is an engaging read, we were totally engrossed in Milos and Tom, we laughed with them, cried with them and fell in love with them.  Jess Whitecroft is a magical storyteller and we can’t wait to read all her other books. 

Review of Just a Summer Deal by E. Davies & Zach Jenkins

by E. Davies & Zach Jenkins

2 Stars

"You think you can go gay for the summer?"
"I'm the bad egg in Team Gay."

Gay romance author Aaron Douglas has almost everything going for him: a successful career, fun friends, and loving parents who live just far enough away. Unfortunately, he's earned a love 'em and leave 'em reputation, though. Finding a gorgeous gay romance author in this little Colorado town is a thrill, even if Conor says he's straight. When Aaron's landlord kicks him out, the solution is obvious: Aaron can stay with Conor, they can write and fix up Conor's cute farmhouse together, and they can pretend to date. That's all. Aaron won't fall for another straight guy again...even one as amazing as Conor.

"What do I know about gay romance?"

Conor Kennedy just wants to renovate and sell his old farmhouse, escape this small town, and find a nice girlfriend. His novels don't sell, though, and his repairs are taking forever. Everything feels broken until Aaron jokingly offers the perfect solution. Why not pose as a cute gay couple for the summer? Both of their careers will benefit and they'll both get the company of a great new friend... plus Hope, the stray golden retriever who's chosen to live with them. But all Conor can think about is the most illogical thing of all: he wants to do more with his gay co-author than write romance novels.

"Will you sweep me under the rug again?"

Living in tight quarters during the renovation while writing a book together challenges both men to stick to the terms of their deal. They're opposites in almost every way, and the tension is thick. As their fake relationship deadline approaches, questions loom over them both: were they only faking, or has something real blossomed between them? When the internet learns of Conor's past, will their love be strong enough to keep them together?

We aren’t usually a fan of second-chance romance, but it works so well in this short story.  Waiting for Clark is a must read!

Let’s start this review by saying that we did finish this book, but it was a bit of a struggle.  This is a gay-for-you romance, and the story idea has so much potential, but just didn’t come tighter in the end for us.

First off we meet Aaron, a successful, out, m/m romance author who is living a complete bachelor’s life; partying with friends, one night stand and living the good life.  He does however have a crush on another m/m writer, Conor, who is straight, and reaches out to him to see if they can connect.  They meet, and really like each other and decide to collaborate on a book tighter.  Somehow that translates into a fake-relationship for media, and living tighter to fix up Conor’s farmhouse.  But all this comes with a deadline, the end of summer.

See, sound like a cute premise, and we were SO SO SO hopeful.  They meet, fireworks, write and renovate a house and fall in love, all in an idyllic country setting.  That’s the first half. But man, it just has so many issues.  First off, the gay-for-you is done so much, but it can still be done well.  But, there isn’t real transition for Conor.  One minute he is trying to set up a one-night-stand with his neighbor, and the next minute he is making out with Aaron to post on Social Media.  Huh?  Conor never really explores his sexuality, just *knows* he wants to be with Aaron.  The between the sheets feels awkward, like they are kissing and then the next is full on. 

We are also a bit confused about that too. There is no chemistry between Aaron and Conor, none, zip, zilch; they just don’t seem to mesh with each other.  Other than both being romance authors, they have really no connection, nothing that keeps them coming back to each other.  They bicker ALL THE TIME about the book, about writing schedules, process, what to write, leaving tools around the house, and on and on and on.  Honestly, this is like after living with each other for like 2 weeks.  If this was us, we would have moved out!   

For 2 writers you think they would be better at communication, but nope, and the characters struggle with this internal angst “does he feel the same” “is he still faking this relationship” “what is going to happen at the need of the summer”. We honestly wanted to bang our head against the wall – for pete sake, just talk to each other!  There is so much miscommunication, confusion and unnecessary angst and it takes up way too much time.

So, all in all, it is really hard for us to say this, but we weren’t really a fan of Just a Summer Deal. We tried so hard to like this cute idea of a book, but it never really came together for us. 

Review of Game On by Olley White

 by Olley White

3.5 Stars

Dear Author,
We met in the strangest way.

I was convinced he was a girl because of his choice of character, and he thought the same thing about me. You can imagine how surprised we were when we first met in person. How confused I was about my feeling for him. I was already in love with the person behind the character, but I had never been attracted to a man before.

Can you tell the story of how we became that happy couple in the picture?

Game On by Olley White is such a great premise to build a story.  Max and Stefan fall in love over a shared passion, gaming but when they agree to meet they realize they aren’t who each other thought they were.  Instead of finding a girl, they each find a man.    

We really enjoyed the first half of Game On, it is basically a gay-for-you story in a small package.  Where we really lost our attention was the side stories or roller-skating, the dog-adoption center etc.  The joys of a short story are that it is a glimpse into 2 people’s lives while they fall in love.  But Game On added lots of friends, new-father best friend (or was he a brother), drama at their jobs and on and on.  We wish it had focused a bit more on their growing love for each other.

One thing that Game On excelled in was the gay-for-you storyline, and their slow-burn relationship.  The building sexual tension between Max and Stefan was palpable, and so believable.  And their agreement to go ‘slow’ even though they were both barreling towards going fast was so hot.  This is a story about 2 friends slowly finding more than friendship, and it so works.

As short stories go, this one meandered a bit too much for us, but the sweet building relationship between Max and Stefan is on reason to pick up Game On!

Review of Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

 By Keira Andrews

4.5 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 our first Keira Andrews book and will not be our last!  First let’s address the elephant in the room, the GFY storyline. We have had this book 6+months in our Kindle by never read, and honestly the blurb sucks.  The story tag “Two Straight guys. One deserted island.” Is not what this story is about.  Yes, there are 2 straight guys, and a deserted island, but it is about 2 people living their lives and finally having the chance to breathe, find themselves and accepting their authentic self.  And we LOVED it!!!

Beyond the Sea starts with a fight between brothers, and Troy finally making a stand and leaving the boy-band and his brother Ty, after finding Ty and other band-mates deep into drugs and alcohol.  Troy’s family has always had a shiny outside appearance, but just under the surface lurks deep addiction issues that claimed his father a number of years ago.  He charters a flight back home and meets co-pilot Brian Sinclair.  After a horrendous cyclone the small charter flight goes down on a deserted island in the middle of no-where.  Brian struggles with the memory of anther plane crash and they face the reality that they might die alone on the island.

The book is a slow-burn romance, but so interesting that is never lags or you want to flip forward to find some steam.  Rather, the book engrosses you in the daily life of surviving against all odds and the relationship these 2 very different men form trying to survive.  There are so many tender, poignant moments in Beyond the Sea that you can feel the love building between Brian and Troy.  And heartbreak when they both start to accept that they only have each other and that being rescued might not happen.

Now, the steam, as we said it takes a while to get there, but it is so worth it.  There is nothing forced, and the sex adds so much to the book, to their relationship.  It is almost a moment that they accept that this is their new reality and that they can be together here in their own little world.  It’s kind of a moment that we as the reader are torn between wanting them to stay on the island forever together and remembering that there are people grieving for them back in the real world. 

Beyond the Sea is one of the best books we have read in a while.  It is heartbreaking, yet so sweet and tender.  It is more than a story of love between 2 men, but just love, when everything is hard and bleak, it is about finding someone who loves and cares for you. 

Review of Off Base by Annabeth Albert

by Annabeth Albert

3.5 Stars

After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate—especially not Pike, who sees things about Zack he most wants to hide. Pike's flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike's arrival would spark from Zack's teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can't refuse.

Pike Reynolds knows there won't be a warm welcome in his new home. What can he say? He's an acquired taste. But he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he's had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can't risk his heart on another, not even one as hot, as built—and, okay, yeah, as adorable—as Zack.

Living with Pike crumbles Zack's restraint and fuels his curiosity. He discovers how well they fit together in bed…in the shower…in the hallway… He needs Pike more than he could have imagined, yet he doesn't know how to be the man Pike deserves.

We really enjoyed Off Base by Annabeth Albert.  She puts a military spin of the gay-for-you tried and true storyline and it really works.  

Zach is a good boy Navy SEAL who is struggling with who he really is, and the pressures from his family.  And man do you feel for him.  He is struggling with his everyday choices and his parents and their expectations make him feel that nothing he is feeling is right.  They keep trying to push the all-American-boy, marry-a-girl, have-lots-of-babies on him, and he is unsure what he wants.  But meeting and moving in with Pike, an out gay man, he is faced with temptation everyday. 

This story has so many good points, some seriously hot scenes, great secondary characters (and let’s hope the next one is the series is about Apollo!) and some really sweet boys in love.  And although the GFY storyline is a bit overdone, the pressure in  Zach’s life really give credibility that he is struggling with his sexuality. Being that this is a spin-off of the Gaymer Series, it is really nice to see some old faces. 

But there are a few things that get a little bit much.  The angst.  Don’t get us wrong we feel for Zach being closeted, but the push and pull of what he wants or needs gets a little tiring, and our heart breaks a little for Pike that he doesn’t trust what they have. And honestly, the homophobia is overwhelming, not only from his parents but Cobb, another soldier, it gets a bit grating after a while.   

So, if you like a good GFY romance with sweet characters and some steamy between the sheets action then pick up Off Base by Annabeth Albert.