At the same time Chase and Tommy are working through their emotional angst, they also need to handle their gay-for-pay side jobs. They’re having sex with multiple partners disconnected from any real emotions.

Chase has a life built upon a scaffolding of lies and half-truths. He reaches out to Tommy in a move that could save him, if only he’s willing to face the fallacies in his life. Tommy, on the other hand, has some serious body image issues he has to overcome.

Lane is a master at creating strong but flawed characters. She paints emotional scenes that make lasting impressions. Her books are always rich with characters who step from the page and tell their story. Lane does not fumble with the awkward moments even when they’re uncomfortable to witness.

Chase in Shadow is no exception. Chase has some very painful experiences in his young life. Even so, he’s barely of legal, and already he has a successful girlfriend and is saving for a house in the suburbs. He’s planning for the future, but is it the one he really wants. Chase in Shadow asks some serious questions about family and friendships, love and hate, lies and truth. Chase and Tommy are two young men very much worth getting to know.

Reviewed originally for Blackraven’s Reviews
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Image courtesy of Dreamspinner Press

Oscar Woodhaven is a sensitive young English aristocrat with plenty of money and lots of time on his hands. Despite his vast resources and social connections, Oscar is a lonely young man. When he meets Julian, Oscar is certain he’s found the friend with whom he can share his life. Julian has another agenda entirely. Julian’s spent his life on the edges of society, always the outsider, never having enough funds to support the life he feels he deserves. Julian’s reason for coming back to England is to find a rich wife.

March handles her characters with sensitivity. She reveals Oscar to be an open and generous character without making him appear gullible. Julian’s character comes through in a positive light, despite his single-minded focus upon gaining a fortune through marriage. The white-hot passion between Oscar and Julian is real and the feelings they inspire in each other ring true. March works out the plotting of Brook Street Fortune Hunter with skill–events flow naturally in the story.

March also includes other characters from other books in the Brook Street trilogy. Benjamin Parker and Cavin Fox from the first book make an appearance, as do Radcliffe and Anderson from the third book in the series. If the first two books are any indication, this is going to be a good series.

Publisher: Carina Press
Image courtesy of Carina Press

Grey weaves a taught tale; managing to keep the heist front and center of Artistic Pursuits while never losing focus on the budding relationship between Frank and Les. He deals with the mechanics of working on high-profile crimes, as well as the politics involved with much skill. The pacing in Artistic Pursuits is fast, but smooth.

Frank and Les move on the stage with purpose, both demonstrating skill as investigators pursuing their nemesis. It’s entertaining to watch them plot strategy over the case and maneuver through the pitfalls of a new romance.

Artistic Pursuits is part of a series, but it stands alone with rich characterization. Grey is a good storyteller and Artistic Pursuits is a good story. The scenes between Frank and Les are genuine, as well as the interchanges between Frank and his co-workers. This is definitely worth 4 stars.

Originally reviewed for Blackravens Reviews
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Image courtesy of Dreamspinner Press

A Tryst of Fate is a gay romance novel by H. C. Brown that involves time travel. Millionaire art dealer Colt Daniels finds himself transported back to 1775. He explores the cellar of his newly restored London home after purchasing the portrait of Lord Alexander Swift, a man he’s been fascinated by since he inherited his home.

Both Colt and Alexander are engaging characters and much of the action of the novel focuses on the two of them. Alexander is a lonely man suffering under the oppressive anti-sodomite sentiments of the time, while Colt is a free and openly gay man of the 21st century with the money and power to get what he wants.

In A Tryst of Fate Brown writes an entertaining time travel story with glimpses into the difficulties of a modern man trying to live in the 1700′s, as well as the obvious hurdles faced by a man from 1775 trying to fit into the modern world. Brown rushes the romance between Colt and Alexander somewhat. They barely know each other before they are falling into bed. A little more build up in their relationship could have made the story much richer.

Nevertheless, the scenes between the two are passion-filled and on occasion touching and sometimes humorous.

Reviewed for Blackravens Reviews
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Image courtesy of Silver Publishing

Unnatural Calamities by Summer Devon is a delightful romp about Christopher “Toph” Dunham, a headstrong venture capitalist and Janey Carmody, a wannabe caterer living in West Farmbrook, Connecticut. Toph and Janey are both trying to raise teenage girls in the picturesque little town.

Unnatural Calamities is a high-energy love story that involves kidnapping, prison breaks, hot sex in bathtubs, and laundry two days past its prime. Devon keeps the pace of the story moving from the opening scenes. Janey is a bundle of nerves and creativity, while Toph smolders with confidence and a take-charge attitude. These two characters have an immediate attraction for each other, but complications hamper their attempts to get together at every turn.

Devon handles her characters with skill and maneuvers them adroitly through the many plot complications. Unnatural Calamities also has some interesting secondary characters that populate the story, such as Mickey, the lawyer, Rachel and Cynthia, the two young teenage girls, and Bea, the ex-wife supermodel of Toph.

Unnatural Calamities is above all else-fun. Following the romance of Toph and Janey was an entertaining afternoon diversion.

Publisher Samhain Publishing
Image courtesy of Samhain Publishing

Love at first glimpse may be clichéd, but Reed makes it work. From the opening scenes, it’s clear that the two young lovers, Jim and the unnamed protagonist are very much in love. The plot only deals with two train rides ten years apart, but it manages to encapsulate lust, passion and loving comfort shared.

A Journey of the Heart is a very short story and the ending may disappoint some, but the story is a good one. Reed is a fine writer and pens scenes of tight-clench passion with much skill. He invests a lifetime of experience into two brief train rides: one in England and the other in New England. A Journey of the Heart is a touching tale that garners 3 stars.

Originally reviewed for Blackraven Reviews
Publisher: MLR Press
Image courtesy of MLR Press

Lyn and Grey work well together as a team in this opening episode of Vampire in Exile. The scenes between Vincent and John are fraught with sexual tension as they try to solve the mystery surrounding the death of Vincent’s landlord.

The story moves back and forth between Vincent’s life as a vampire and baker, and John’s life as young detective trying to resolve a puzzling mystery. For the Bite of It successfully combines a murder mystery with a romance and a paranormal tale of vampires.

The Vampire Council and the world of vampires weaves cleverly into the murder mystery, as does the romance between Vincent and John. Some entertaining secondary characters, Detective Free Norman and Angelo DeLuca also spice up the story.

For the Bite of It is a refreshing read with some interesting plot twists. There are some weaknesses in the story, particularly, the ending, which feels somewhat rushed. Still, the next episode promises to answer some of the questions left unresolved in For the Bite of It. This romance is definitely worth 3.5 stars.

Originally reviewed for Two Lips Reviews
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Image courtesy Liquid Silver Books

Shibari Auction House: Jack by Sean Michael is the first book in a new series that promises to be very good. The main characters JF and Jack meet as a consequence of Jack’s outrageous gambling debts. To save himself from his debtor, Jack auctions off three years of his life to JF. Beginning a relationship on such unbalanced terms, even a BDSM relationship, would seem risky, but JF and Jack appear to be off to a great start. The chemistry between these two unlikely bedfellows is strong.

Michael is great at writing BDSM stories that skirt around the edges of the lifestyle and Shibari Auction House is no exception. This is different from Michael’s usual fare though; Jack is definitely no twink. The tug of war between these two strong men is interesting to watch and the sex is not bad either.

Shibari Auction: Jack is a fun read. It’s worth 4 stars for originality and execution. The only problem with the story is the brevity. How’s this relationship going to proceed? How will two individuals from such different backgrounds make their relationship work? Perhaps, Michael will take up these details in the next installment.

Review originally reviewed for Blackraven’s Reviews
Publisher: Changeling Press
Image courtesy of Changeling Press

Cinder by Marie Sexton recounts a childhood fairy tale with a twist. Eldon Cinder has the role of the harried young Cinderella, while Xavier is the Prince desperately in search of a bride. The two young men find themselves caught in a dilemma: the Prince must marry or become a pauper.

How Sexton works out the challenges of this story that everyone knows is entertaining. The story has all the elements expected in a Cinderella tale, namely a stepmother and stepsisters, witchery and magic, as well as new elements to make the story fresh.

There’s no sex between Eldon and Xavier, but there is chemistry and a great hulking dog named Milton. Cinder is a fresh look at an old tale handled with much skill and romance. It’s worthy of 4 stars for its creativity and sweetness. Cinder is a real charmer.

Reviewed for Blackraven’s Reviews
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Image courtesy of Silver Publishing

Feral Lust by Mia Watts is a historical gay romance with paranormal twist. Main character Viscount Lord Atherton is a lonely werewolf hiding out on his reclusive country estate. He needs to get married and produce an heir to end his life of pain and change every full moon. Being unsure of his social skills, Atherton hires Michael Hastings, the third son of an earl to coach him in the niceties of high society etiquette.

The chemistry between the two men is interesting. There’s passion, but there’s uncertainty. Atherton plans to fulfill his goal of marriage, despite his attraction to Hastings, while Hastings is not sure what to make of the secretive Atherton.

Watts develops a passionate romance between Atherton and Hastings and the exchanges between the two of them are colorful. Feral Lust has some week points, namely, the werewolf aspect of the story.

Watts short changes the reader regarding the nature of Atherton’s “curse”. Wolves are not solitary creatures, but Atherton appears totally isolated. How is that he’s the only remaining member of his family? An estate the size of Atheron’s takes a sizable staff to run. Where is everyone? How did his family come to be under the “curse”? Feral Lust misses several opportunities to develop a more interesting and entertaining story, particularly the werewolf aspect. The sex scenes with the bondage flavoring are fine, but Feral Lust seems like it’s an opening shot at a story that could be very fine.

Unfortunately, Feral Lust appears peopled only by Atherton, Hastings, and Mr. Leedy, the solicitor. Feral Lust is a nice read worth 2.75 stars, but it needs work.

Review originally appeared on Two Lips Reviews
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Image courtesy of Resplendence Publishing