Review of Steam by Kay Simone

by Kay Simone

4.5 stars

"What do you say to a quickie?"

Diverse, emotionally charged, and deliciously bite-sized...

Fans of Kay Simone will love Steam, a 60k collection of six standalone gay love stories with searingly sexy payoffs and happy endings. Two stories, "A Rational Man" and "An Honest Mistake," are brand new and won't be available anywhere but in the pages of Steam.

With a vast array of themes, from endearing enemies-to-lovers to scorching hot daddy kink, Steam has something to offer every reader!

*Bet Your Ass: When Rich dares Jonah to chug a bottle of hot sauce in a grocery store parking lot, Jonah knows there's only one thing that will make it worth it: the chance to tie up and top his older boyfriend. (May-December established relationship with edging and restraints. Includes light BDSM themes.)

*Red Handed: Habitual shoplifter Trent is no stranger to law enforcement, but he's never seen a rent-a-cop quite like Chester. When Chester begrudgingly busts the smug kid trying to walk through the front doors of the store with an ambitious score, Trent proposes an alternative to turning him in. Once Chester has the young shoplifter bent over his desk, he decides it's time to give Trent a punishment he'll remember--and one they'll both enjoy. (Includes light BDSM and some verbal humiliation.)

*The Duet: Barrett is unlucky in love, but at least he has his beautiful condo. It comes with great views, an ideal location, and a neighbor upstairs who plays the piano so beautifully that Barrett finds himself falling for the guy, sight unseen. When Barrett finally discovers the identity of his piano-playing crush, he's horrified to find that it's Josh: the rude neighbor that stole his mail and insulted him. Josh may not be the man Barrett pictured, but when they finally meet on new terms, he's certain he can make it up to Barrett with a little two-handed fortissimo action. (A sweet, funny enemies-to-lovers story.)

*Bets Are Off: Maybe it's a lapse in logic or maybe it's desperation that leads Logan to this spot. Wyatt has assured him that Eric's escorts are the best, but even then--a call boy? Really?
When the rude kid that shows up on Logan's doorstep is nothing like what he asked for, he's ready to pay the escort and say goodbye before he regrets the entire situation. But there's something about Henry that Logan can't quite turn away. In the end, Henry is ready to give Logan exactly what he's looking for--but he's going to make Logan wait until he's begging for it. (A hot May-December story with edging. Includes positive portrayals of sex work.)

*A Rational Man: Having multiple boyfriends sounded like a great idea in the beginning--and the reality of it for Owen was even better. But a year in, Owen suddenly finds himself left behind. Feeling like a third wheel, Owen lapses into bad habits that he thought he'd conquered years ago. When he begins to withdraw and restrict his eating, one of his boyfriends decides to prove to Owen that he loves him--and his body--by making Owen the center of attention. (Includes polyamory, body worship, and frank discussions of eating disorders.)

*An Honest Mistake: A re-imagining of the relationship between Will and Daniel from The Aftermath.

Steam is one of the best short story collections we have read in a long while, but we love everything by Kay Simone, so it isn’t really surprising!

We loved the diversity of the stories, so good, from call-boys to polyamorous relationships, there is really something for everyone.  And the re-imagining of The Aftermath is a really fun addition.  Although we aren’t really a fan of daddy kink, this had enough fun and humor to stay on this side of creepy. 

Thinking about stories that we would like in books, hmmm, Bets are Off would be fantastic, to see the relationship between Logan and Henry develop into something more.  Yes, please! 

But a warning – these are not love stories.  They are scorching hot stories, make you blush, make you squirm.  There is humor, and silliness, but they are get-in-your-pants stories.  That being said we loved them all!

Kay Simone has so many great reads out there, hello, Beauty and the Beast, but Steam lets you enjoy all the good things Kay brings to the table, a really story that captures the imagination, in a hot little package!

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 St. Nacho's by Z.A. Maxfield

by Z.A. Maxfield

 3.5 Stars   

Cooper has spent the last three years running from a painful past. He's currently moving from town to town, working in restaurant kitchens, and playing his violin for tips. As soon as he starts to feel comfortable anywhere—with anyone—he moves on. He's aware that music may be the only human language he still knows. Ironically, the one man he's wanted to communicate with in all that time is deaf.

Shawn is part of a deaf theater group at the nearby college. Shawn wants Cooper as soon as they meet and he begins a determined flirtation. Cooper is comfortable with down and dirty sex, just not people. As far as Shawn is concerned, dirty sex is win-win, but he wants Cooper to let him into the rest of his life as well.

Cooper needs time to heal and put his past away for good. Shawn needs to help Cooper forgive himself and accept that he can be loved. Both men find out that when it comes to the kind of healing love can bring, the sleepy beachside town of Santo Ignacio, “St. Nacho's” as the locals call it, may just be the very best place to start.

Z.A. Maxfield has woven a heart-sweet love story between 2 unlikely men.  Cooper is a man on the run from his life, content to drift through town after town just existing, but finds a home-away-from home at St. Nacho’s.  Shawn is a deaf college student that sees the true beauty of Cooper and although they are from two completely different worlds they fit together.

We really liked this booked to about 50%.  The first half was a building romance of 2 people finding each other and some sweet heat between the sheets, and then, bam, Cooper’s past comes back to claim him.  Jordan, Cooper’s ex, has some unresolved business and Cooper is drawn back to his hometown to help him find his way. 

We understand the 2^nd book of the series focuses on Jordan, but his story in St. Nacho’s didn’t endear him to us.  Jordan’s story takes up too much time from Cooper and Shawn.  It felt like Z.A. Maxfield forgot about the love-story of Cooper and Shawn and started on the sequel in the middle of the first book.  We wished we could have has more of Shawn’s backstory and understand where he is coming from. 

What did we love about St. Nacho’s.  We loved Cooper, he is a fantastic character with a sad story that he is trying to outrun.  He is loving, loyal and does not seem his own value.  But Shawn does and we adored the love between the 2 of these men. 

St. Nacho’s is a fantastic love story not to be missed, and even though Jordan ate up a lot of time we will totally be picking up the next story!