Review: Making the Grade by Carol Lynne

Making the Grade
Carol Lynne
Series: Cattle Valley #19
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Published: October 4, 2010
Kindle {p.137}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: LGBT
Kenny Trenton, Eli Sanchez
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Kenny Trenton has had a crush on Cattle Valley English teacher, Eli Sanchez, since the age of seventeen. Although Kenny's no longer a schoolboy, Eli refuses to see his fellow faculty member as anything but a student.

Eli has spent his life hiding from the outside world. When the loneliness gets too much, he decides to make the changes necessary to open himself up to friendships and perhaps a relationship.

When Eli attends a high school football game in a neighbouring community, he's attacked in the parking lot. Although Kenny's the one to rescue him, Eli begins to think he's made a mistake and living in the outside world isn't a good idea.

Kenny's determined to keep Eli from retreating into his shell once again, but will his love be enough?

I didn’t really get into this one like previous books in this series. I didn’t really care all that much for either lead character.

Eli, who was supposedly a former member of the armed services, seemed to be frightened by his own shadow. He was overly sensitive to everything. The smallest thing could cause him to have hurt feelings and to withdraw into himself.

This relationship of the older man, Eli, and the younger man, Kenny, felt in reverse. I felt Kenny was the more mature one in this relationship taking care of Eli. It didn’t feel like Eli was bringing anything into this relationship.

Review: Taming Black Dog Four by Carol Lynne

Taming Black Dog Four
Carol Lynne
Series: Bodyguards in Love #4
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Published: May 10, 2010
Kindle {p.95}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: LGBT, Menage
Jack Drake, Carlo, Lobo, Renaldo
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

The bodyguards of Black Dog Four had been carefully chosen for looks, temperament, battle skills and sexuality. In the tradition of the Spartans, the idea was to see if lovers worked better as a team than merely friends. The experiment had seemed like a complete success until they'd been sent to guard Maria Valdez. After Maria was killed in an explosion, all four men had refused to work together.

Addy Constentine needed around-the-clock security if she hoped to legitimise her father's empire. With her stepbrother now in prison, Addy's goal was to keep the family out of the underworld it had been entrenched in for decades.

With death threats coming from several different sources, Addy needed the best. She needed the men of Black Dog Four.

The Black Dog Four team has just recently reunited after losing the person they were hired to protect. So going in you already know who is with whom because they already have an established relationship. This story was mainly just about them trying to make a relationship of four work for the long haul.

There were also the side stories of Alec and Lon and Abby and Joe. Those two relationships are the ones that actually develop during the span of the book. Both of these relationships developed rather quickly and seemed to only scratch the surface with no real depth to them. Especially Alec and Lon’s relationship. Alec’s whole time spent Taggert seemed to diminish his relationship with Lon.

But as always, Lynne delivers on the hot sex front.

Review: Their Taydelaan by Rachel Clark

Their Taydelaan
Rachel Clark
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publish Date: April 12, 2011
Kindle
Source: Publisher
Genre: Sci-Fi, Menage
Characters: Jade, Mitchell, Zack
Challenge: 100+, Ebook
Buy the Book: Amazon

How did bumping into a man in a hospital corridor develop into dreams of red-hot threesomes? Jade can't understand why she's dreaming of the man she literally bumped into three months ago, but when she actually meets the men from her dreams at her sister's party, things seem to spiral even further out of her control. Unwilling to believe her sister's explanation, Jade still can't deny the telepathic link she now shares with the two men. Zack and Mitchell have finally found their third, the woman who completes them-their Taydelaan-but she seems intent on denying their future together. Can they convince Jade that being loved doesn't mean being dependent?

Jade encounters her mates while at the hospital for the birth of her sister’s child.

Their Taydelaan is an erotic adventure of Jade, Zack, and Mitchell becoming a permenant triad. These three were having amazing sex before ever truly meeting each other.

I really enjoyed the fact that Jade questioned the whole situation and didn’t just accept what was being told to her. She didn’t automatically accept the that these people were aliens and her life partners.

Once again Ms. Clark does a great job in getting across the emotions of all the parties involved.

Review: Squire by Jet Mykles

Squire
Jet Mykles
Series: Indigo Knights #1
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: September 7, 2010
Kindle {p.158}
Genre: LGBT
Characters: Izzy Rose, Rabin Squire
Challenge: 100+, 50 States ~ Illinois

Rabin Squire is on top of the world. At long last, everything is going his way. He’s about to go into the studio with none other than Brent Rose to put together a new album for his band, the Indigo Knights. Okay, so there’re currently only two members of the band, but with Brent’s help, that’ll soon change. Things are looking up.

Then there’s Izzy, Brent’s cousin. Rabin’s never been interested in a guy before but he can sure tell when one is gorgeous, and Izzy is that. He’s also funny, and sweet and...sexy as hell.

Since he’s not gay, Rabin never expected to have a fling with Izzy. But Izzy says their having sex doesn’t make him gay. Rabin’s not so sure about that but if Izzy’s good with it, what harm can come of it? Izzy agrees; no one else needs to know.

Then an even bigger opportunity means that Rabin has to move away. So if the thing with Izzy was no big deal, why does it hurt when it comes to an end?

Izzy is attracted to Rabin and is constantly flirting with him. Rabin enjoys the attention though he claims to be straight. He also can’t seem to help but notice how pretty Izzy is.

After a night spent clubbing, they find themselves in bed together. They both claim it’s just sex and fun with no strings, no emotions. Of course that always works out. The two of them fall in love with each other, but neither discloses this information to the other.

I’ve always been a fan of Jet since my very first book by the author. I would have liked to see Izzy and Rabin interact more outside the bedroom. I’m not a big fan of the secret relationship.

Squire was just an okay start to the new series for me. But I am looking forward to seeing what’s next.

Review: Tangled Past by Leah Braemel

Tangled Past
Leah Braemel
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: June 13, 2011
Kindle
Source: Publisher/Net Galley
Genre: Historical, Western
Characters: Sarah McLeod, Jackson Kellar, Nate Campbell
Challenge: 100+, Summer Romance

Forced to marry a man she just met, Sarah McLeod clings to the hope that she’ll finally find the love and acceptance she’s always craved. Her tenuous dreams of a happy life on the frontier are in danger of being dashed by the one thing she can’t change—her husband’s love for another man. Jackson Kellar’s determined to do right by his bride, yet he’s torn between his newfound love for Sarah and his still-burning desire for Nate.

Ranch owner Nate Campbell loves them both. He hates to see Jackson’s loyalties so divided, and doesn’t want Sarah hurt either. How can they fix the tangled mess they find themselves in? Nate suggests a possible solution—a permanent threesome.

With the open frontier closing in around them, is Nate’s solution their path to happiness—or will others destroy what they’ ve found together?

Once Sarah's stepfather catches her in the barn with Jackson, who is in a state of undress, he forces them to marry. Jackson was attracted to Sarah and seen how poorly her stepfather treated her, so he didn't mind marrying her. Except for the fact that he was in love with his best friend Nate.

The triad relationship felt to me like Jackson was the glue that held them together. Sarah was in love with Jackson and he in love with Nate. It didn't seem that Sarah had a relationship with Nate other than friendship. Since Jackson loved him, and she wanted to please him, Sarah invited Nate into their bed.

The overall read was pretty steamy, it just lacked a little on emotional connection.

Review: Fool's Gold by Jenna Byrnes

Fool's Gold
Jenna Byrnes
Series: Cattle Valley Women #2
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing
Publication Date: June 22, 2009
Kindle
Genre: LGBT
Characters: Abbie Murphy, Melissa
Challenge: 100+, LBGT, Ebook

Adeline Murphy believes the Apple Valley Inn is the only thing waiting for her in Cattle Valley, and it's up to Melissa Danes to change her way of thinking.Adeline Murphy heads to Cattle Valley, Wyoming looking for a fresh start. She's invested every dime she has and purchased the local bed and breakfast. Arriving in town with a cranky girlfriend in tow, Addie's devastated to discover the inn has been vandalised. With the property uninhabitable, she has no source of income and a mounting stack of bills.Melissa Danes' quiet Cattle Valley existence is shaken by the arrival of the beautiful Addie and her surly tagalong, Chloe. She's captivated by Addie, but stays away thinking Addie and Chloe are in a committed relationship. When she discovers differently, all bets are off.Mel discovers Addie has several barriers to cross, including repairing the damaged inn and her even more wounded self-esteem. When Mel looks at Addie she sees more than Fool's Gold, but she needs to find a way for Addie to see it too.

Abbie arrives in Cattle Valley as the new owner of the bed and breakfast. She meets Mel, who happens to be in possession of the keys to the inn, and there are immediate sparks. The only problem is Abbie isn’t arriving in town alone.

When Chloe, Abbie’s tag-along, finally gets tired of small town life and moves on for the bright lights of the big city, Mel and Abbie don’t waste any time acting on their attraction. These two start out hot and heavy. Then of course one falls for the other while the other is holding back.

The two of them do eventually get on the same page and starts what looks to be a promising relationship.

Review: Forbidden Heat by Opal Carew

Forbidden Heat

Opal Carew {Facebook | Facebook Page | Twitter}
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: January 5, 2010
Trade Paperback {p.266}
Genre: Erotica, Menage
Characters: Danielle Rayne, Jake Jamieson, Trey Garner
Challenge: 100+, Erotica

If you could make your most forbidden fantasy come true, would you dare?

Danielle, Jake and Trey were inseparable back in college. They used to tell each other everything—except for one big secret Danielle always kept hidden. That even though they were best friends, Danielle always had a huge crush on them. But it was a harmless, hopeless crush, because the two men were in love…with each other.

Years later, Danielle learns a startling truth. Jake and Trey have not only broken up— they date women now. Danielle’s most sinful fantasy has always been to have a threesome—and now she finally has the chance to spend the night with not just one, but with both sexy men. Yet when fantasy becomes reality, life gets complicated fast. Despite Jake and Trey’s rocky past, it’s clear to Danielle that they’re still deeply in love with each other. The trouble is, now Danielle’s falling for them too…

Danielle is reunited with her college crushes at her friend Harmony’s wedding. They too had a crush on Danielle, but never acted upon it because they were in a committed relationship with each other at the time. What starts out as one night to live out her threesome fantasy quickly becomes much more.

Forbidden Heat is filled with page after page of white hot sex. The sexual interaction between Trey and Jake was very minimal and only towards the end of the story. I found that aspect to be very disappointing considering the fact that these two used to be in love with each other. Sometimes it felt as if they didn’t even like each other let alone loved each other.

The storyline too was a bit minimal, but enough to want to see how it all played out. I did enjoy the fact that Ms. Carew was able to write it where I didn’t feel like either Trey or Jake was a third wheel.

This book is a spinoff of Six, so I’m hoping there will be more books for some of the other members of their group. And maybe a story for Trey’s sister, Suzie as well, because she was an interesting secondary character that I wouldn’t mind seeing more of. I will definitely continue reading Opal’s work.

Review: Easy by Ally Blue

Easy
Ally Blue {Facebook | Facebook | Twitter}
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: April 20, 2008
Kindle
Genre: LGBT
Characters: Stevie Sanger, Dan
Challenge: 100+, 50 States ~ North Carolina

Dan get is a man with a secret. Stevie Sanger is fighting a past that won't leave him alone. They want each other from the moment they meet, and that attraction quickly blossoms into something deeper, something that could become permanent. But first, they need to overcome all the obstacles in their way. Dan's fear of his own nature, Stevie's belief that he's not good enough for Dan. The unresolved pieces of Stevie's past. Building the relationship they both want may be a challenge too big for either of them. But nothing worth having is ever easy.

Dan rescues Stevie after he’s been beaten by one of his johns. At this point I could tell how the rest of the story would unfold. Stevie constantly in need of a savior.

Dan immediately moves Stevie into his home and struggles to fight his growing feelings for him. He doesn’t have any problems or concerns about Stevie’s sorrid past, but is worried about what his friends and coworkers would think of him if they knew of his sexual orientation.

Stevie knows Dan has feelings for him but instead of waiting for him to figure out if he’s going to act on them he gets involved with someone else. This new guy that he gets involved with is controlling and very much like Stevie’s johns.

Stevie and Dan, when they were on the same accord, where a cute couple. Dan was a bit more likeable than Stevie, because Stevie seemed to always be in need of saving. Stevie doesn’t have much depth to him either. The story was well written but the characters were lacking. I intend to give this author another try.

Review: Scarred by Carol Lynne

Scarred
Carol Lynne
Series: Cattle Valley #18
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Publication Date: August 9, 2010
Kindle
Source: Personal Library
Genre: LGBT
Characters: Zac Alben, Jakob Cox
Challenge: 50 States, 100+
My Rating:

Zac Alben loved his life in Cattle Valley until he made the ultimate mistake and introduced his partner in life, Terry, to his on-the-job partner, Jakob. He hoped the two men would hit it off, but he had no idea the meeting would forever change his life.

Scarred and broken, Zac shows the facade of a man on the mend. He returns to work, joins the community in celebrating Cattle Valley Days and wakes nightly in a cold sweat.

Pushed away at every turn, Jakob Cox still doesn’t know what happened the night Zac nearly lost his life. Despite Zac’s cold shoulder, Jakob takes it upon himself to drag the man he loves back into the land of the living.

Zac is healing from a horrible accident that has left him disfigured. Not only that, but he blames the man he is in love with, Jakob, for what happened to him. Even though he blames Jakob he's still in love with him and cannot stop thinking of him.

The two of them eventually find their way back to each other and make a go of the relationship. They had a rocky beginning because at the time Zac was already in a relationship and Jakob was a third they occasionally invited into their bedroom.

The story of these two was an emotional journey. With Zac being diagnosed as bipolar and Jakob trying to fine that balance to let Zac function and not constantly worrying about him harming himself. But Carol seemed to make it work without losing any of the steam.

Review: Just a Taste of Me by Stormy Glenn

Just a Taste of Me
Stormy Glenn {Blog | Facebook | Myspace | Twitter}
Series: Wolf Creek Pack
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publication Date: July 1, 2009
Kindle
Genre: LGBT, Paranormal
Characters: Quilliam Reece, Keeley
Challenge: 100+, Ebook, M/M
My Rating:

Reece knows Keeley is his mate the moment he meets him. But Keeley is not only human, he's a man.

Alpha of his own pack for just three months, having a man for a mate is a headache Reece doesn't need. But not claiming his mate is not an option. However, Keeley is unlike any man he has ever met, from the top of his gorgeous honey blond hair to the bottom of his fire engine red painted toenails, Keeley is hot!

Reece becomes even more enchanted with his new mate when Keeley loses his temper with Reece and hits him with a cookie sheet. Just when Reece accepts being mated to a man and starts to care for him, Keeley is attacked and nearly dies. Reece discovers a plot that involves more than just the death of his mate, but also his entire pack.

Can Reece save Keeley and his pack, or will he have to choose between them?

Reece is the Alpha of his pack, so image his surprise to realize his mate is Keeley, a petite little man. Reece has been living his life up to this point as a straight man, so he doesn’t understand why he is fated to be with a man.

So when Keeley comes into the bar that Reece happens to be, he can’t seem to take his eyes off of him. And when trouble follows Keeley into the restroom, Reece follows to protect his future mate.

The whole mating process, Keeley easily complies with, letting Reece bite him as well as drinking his blood in return. No questions asked. And at this point neither of them knows the others name.

The two of them feel their way around each other in this relationship. Reece having never been with a man before, is untrained in the aspects of lovemaking with a man and has to rely on Keeley to show him the ropes. Keeley on the other hand is constantly getting upset and offended by everything Reece says or does, which leads to a lot of time in which Keeley spent sulking.

The two finally get it together and make a rather enjoyable read. The secondary characters prove to be of great interest as well.