Micro Reviews!

Hello Blogger friends!

I apologize for the delay in reviews!  Back to school has meant seating charts, lesson plans, and piles of papers already.  Reading has been my escape, but sadly the brief forays have been few and far between.  I'm reading an AMAZING series right now, (Joanna Chambers- THANK YOU! Review to follow when I'm done!)

Some of these reads rounded out my summer and the beginning of my school year.  Though they were light entertainment, they didn't grab me the way books do.  Some of these are very popular in MM reading groups, though, so check them out for yourself!  As Levar Burton said, "you don't have to take my word for it!"

Title: Moving Mountains

Author:  TN Tarrant

Publisher and GR Link: Dreamspinner, GR

Rating:  3/5 Stars

One Line Summary: Gay guy marries a woman, who then falls into a coma, and years later he falls for her physical therapist.

Thoughts:  A light, enjoyable read.  Sometimes the drama was a little over the top, but it was a great escapist read.  I really enjoyed the unique family structure.
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Title: You Can See Me

Author:  AE Via

Publisher and GR Link: Amira Press, GR

Rating:  3/5 Stars

Few Line Summary: Guy thinks he is straight, has a bitchy GF, and goes blind.  They break up.  He meets a hot guy.  Now he's kinda gay.  Big misunderstanding.  Meets another hot gay guy.  Too many gay guys?  Nope! MMM Presto Chango!

Thoughts:  I know MANY, MANY people love this one, but I wasn't totally sold.  Not poorly written or anything, I just never connected with these guys, though many have!  Check it out if you are looking for a hot MMM.
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Title: Saving Kane

Author:  Michelle Rakes

Publisher and GR Link: Loose ID, GR

Rating:  2/5 Stars

One Line Summary: Gay guy is terrible brutalized and raped, and then taken in my his (straight?) EMT.  More brutality ensues but somehow evolves into a love story.

Thoughts:  I couldn't get past some of the dub con/non con stuff in here.  I don't mind some boundary pushing (in fact I usually like it) but not after a brutal rape that has been explicitly described.  It just totally turned me off to the characters.  When well done, this can work, but the characterization wasn't built up enough to support the actions, and I disconnected from them.  Again, some love it, but it wasn't for me.  I will say that there were some cute secondaries (Miss Beulah!)
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Title: Pulling Leather (Pick Up Men #3)

Author:  LC Chase

Publisher and GR Link: Riptide, GR

Rating:  2.5/5 Stars

One Line Summary: Guy who bullied gay guy now knows he is gay, but fights it and refuses to acknowledge it, even when no one but him really cares anymore.  For some reason, another cute cowboy falls for him.

Thoughts:  I loved the first two books, but this suffered from a character who harped and harped on his gay identity until I, a normally compassionate reader, was SO sick of it.  It went on too long and it, like the previous book, made me disconnect from Scott.  I liked it in parts, and it was a light read, but by the end I was sick of his whining and I didn't know believe he was ready to be in a relationship with anyone.  Again, if you like the series, give it a whirl, but it wasn't as romantic as the previous ones.  It was, however, well written and I loved seeing some old favorite MC's again.  I'm glad I read it, but I felt myself looking forward to the next one with more hope.

DOUBLE Book Review: Keep Swimming books 1 and 2

Title: Keep Swimming, Bk1 and Going Under, Bk2

Author: Kade Boehme

Publisher/GR Link: Amazon, Bk 1 GR, BK2 GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Cute kids, excons, Commitment-phobes

Rating: 4.75/5, rated together

Lock this book up: 4 out of 5 keys.  The sex is *hot*, and totally suits the story.  

Length: Two novellas

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: I love them.

Best Line: "Forget the tourists, forget all the stupid fucking people that he could possibly know who might be watching.  He was finished.  He wanted Kyle more than he wanted acceptance."

Synopsis: 

Keep Swimming,  #1:

After his partner dumped him with a pregnant surrogate four years ago, Cary Whitmore was forced to play single parent while starting up a new business. With the dog bakery now semi-successful and his son healthy, Cary thinks he may be ready to date again.

Heath Cummings is trying his damnedest to get his charter boat service off the ground and dreams of one day soon being able to quit his job as an offshore driller. Paying off his dream requires making it through a couple more years, which means being open about his sexuality isn't in the cards just yet.

When the two take their flirting to the next level, Cary wonders if he can handle another guy who might take off, while Heath has to decide if he can risk his dream of a laid back life—and giving up his long-held and much enjoyed bachelor status while taking on a child when being a father was never on his to-do list. Will they sink, or will they keep swimming?

Going Under, #2:

Ex Coast Guardian Kyle Bevins is a joker, a friend, and unlucky in love. His friends know he’s a good guy to turn to if for nothing other than a much needed laugh, but he rarely heeds his own advice. He’s content as the new co-owner of his friend’s charter fishing company in Pensacola Beach, Florida, but he’s missing the companionship of having a significant other and tired of the old hookups.

Eddy Jiminez is unlucky, period. He’s been dealt most every negative consequence of being gay. He’s also an ex-con, so he figured he’d play it safe, keep working hard and trying to forget that it was men he craved. But when he meets Kyle, he can’t stop going back for more, but tired of the lies and hurting, he doesn't want to give Kyle up.

Kyle would do anything to keep Eddy from drowning again, so he decides to see him safely into the big world of being Out but a past connection may ruin everything. Will there be a second chance for both of them, or will their relationship go under?

Impressions:  I've been meaning to read these for a while, and I don't know why I waited!  These were amazing, and exactly what I needed.  I wanted to fall a little bit in love, and watch some cute, hurt guys do the same, and thats exactly what Boehme gave me!

Book one is an adorable exploration of Cary, a single parent, and Heath, a commitment phobic man finding love and creating a family.  I loved the time line that this took, and the way Cary's son Gus was woven into the story.  Nothing was over simplified (and I loved that Gus wasn't the most perfect, precocious kid ever- that gets boring!) The secondaries were really relatable and helped move the story very well.  There were no annoying misunderstandings, evil villains, or crazy twists.  This was just a great story of two very complex men finding and falling in love.

Book 2 is about Kyle, Heath's best friend, and Eddy, an excon with a hard life.  I loved Kyle, but Eddy melted my heart.  These guys were great, and great together.  Again, the timeline was great, and it was nice to revisit Cary and Heath.  The sex in this book is especially hot, and again, we met a host of secondary characters who really added to the story.

It is clear there is a good line up for book 3, and I can't wait.  I already love Phil and Kent a little, so it promises to be great!

When you are looking for a great contemporary, sexy, man loving romance, grab these two.  I couldn't put them down and neither will you!

Reviews posted on Amazon and Goodreads. 

Book Review: Rescued

Title: Rescued

Author: Felice Stevens

Publisher/GR Link: Loose ID, GR

Genre: Contemporary MM

Vice: GFY (with puppies!)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lock this book up: 3 out of 5 keys- sex is very hot, but supports the story and romance

Length: Novel

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: Cute boys + puppies = adorable

Best Line: "I didn't realize how being with the right person could change your world and your outlook on everything, but you've rescued me from myself."

Synopsis: Ryder Daniels has spent the last year recovering from rejection: his parents couldn’t accept his sexuality and his lover chose drugs over his love. The only bright lights in his life are his younger brother and his rescued pit bull. But now his mother's punishment for his lifestyle has cut him off from his brother he loves so deeply. Devastated, he throws himself into the work of the Pit Bull Foundation he and his friends started.

Jason Mallory can no longer hide the dissatisfaction of his relationship with his longtime girlfriend. When her marriage ultimatum pushes him to break things off, he's determined not to jump into the dating scene. But when a group of injured pit bulls are found on his construction site, he can’t forget the guy who shows up to help.

After Jason adopts one of the dogs, he and Ryder become fast friends—until one night, Ryder lets down his guard and Jason recognizes his desire. Soon, they can’t deny the passion between them but will family differences and ugly prejudices keep them apart, or can they fight to prove that love is precious, no matter the flavor?

Impressions: This was an adorable, fun read.  I needed something that would sweep me away, and an out for you with puppies sounded just like the thing!  It was!

I really loved these two guys, and they fit together so well.  Ryder makes me want to wrap him up and give him a hug.  He's had a very hard time with rejection from his family and his ex, and the bond between him and his brother is so great.  Jason is also a great MC, and I loved the relationships he had with his family.  I liked watching Jason realize he was falling for Ryder, and watching Ryder struggling to believe that this was worth trusting in again.

The secondary characters made this novel so much sweeter and more wonderful.  This was a sweet, sexy and fun read and I loved it!

I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves cute boys, good friends, and cute puppies!  And really, who doesn't?!

Review posted on Amazon and Goodreads.