A Taste of Honey by Ari McKay

August 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment

HONEY
A Taste of Honey by Ari McKay
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (105 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Boone Phillips needs a girlfriend and fast! His family reunion is approaching, and if he shows up alone, his mother will throw every woman in sight at him. But the only “woman” Boone trusts enough to ask is Honey, the alter ego of his gay, cross-dressing best friend Rob. Desperate, he begs for Rob’s help.

Rob has doubts about the wisdom of agreeing to help because he’s had a crush on his straight friend for years. After a practice date, however, he decides to go along with the charade, despite the chance that Boone might discover his secret infatuation.

Between nosey relatives, illegal moonshine, and the sight of Rob in white lace panties, Boone starts to wonder if he’s as straight as he’d thought. When an earth-shattering kiss sends Rob running to protect his heart, however, Boone learns some surprising things about both his family and himself. Now he needs to convince Rob to give him another chance, or else his first taste of Honey might also be his last.

What do you do when the annual family reunion has you scrambling for a date? For most single people, they’d find their closest, best friend and con them into coming along for the weekend. But when your closest, dearest friend happens to be a gay man who dresses in drag a few times a week, well, then things are bound to get interesting.

Boone Phillips is the proverbial boy-next-door. A good southern boy who’d do anything to make his mama happy, even if it means putting his dearest friendship at risk. Despite his belief that he’s happily hetero, his love life is flailing and gasping for life. Generally, when the crushing best friend falls for a guy like Boone, I have to roll my eyes a little. But, in this case, I could see exactly why Rob fell so hard so fast. Sure, he’s handsome, but he’s also sweet, charming, and loyal to a fault. All the things a guy like Rob needs in his life.

Rob Coombs is one of those guys that you hear about. The one that got completely disowned by his family for being something other than what they expected him to be. In Rob’s case, he’s not only gay but also a drag queen. A pretty darn good drag queen at that. His drag persona, Honey, is a total extention of himself and, in many ways, she’s the man he wants to be. Honey’s forthright, determined and unafraid. She’s also an incurable flirt and all around great gal. I loved the way she helped Rob cope with his feelings for Boone as well as bring them together in the end.

I’m going to come right out and say it – I’m a sucker for a guy in drag. The level of confidence it takes to put on a dress and heels – something I don’t even do as a woman – takes more courage than I’ll ever possess. Both Rob and his alter ego, Honey, are portrayed so well that they both come off as complete, separate characters bound by a common thread. It was refreshing to see that although Boone struggled with a lot of things once he and Honey arrived at his mother’s house, he didn’t let any of it get him down while he figured out exactly what he wanted. Although some of his family’s big reveal seemed a bit out of place, I respected the fact there was a little substance to Big Mama’s easy acceptance of all the crazy Boone and Honey brought into her home. Overall, this was an extremely cute and funny story that makes me want to know where they go from here.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Kellen’s Awakening by Angel Martinez & Bellora Quinn

July 20, 2016 By Leave a Comment

AWAKENING
Kellen’s Awakening by Angel Martinez & Bellora Quinn
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (264 pgs)
Other: M/M, Multiple Partners, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

The staff at AURA has had a busy summer. Between chronic understaffing, dealing with warring goblin factions and an unusual number of hazardous Events, everyone is overworked. Sinistrus the incubus, newly hired as an AURA medic, actually enjoys his busy new life of responsible employee and faithful lover to his gorgeous police sergeant, Ness the centaur. Life would be perfect, except for a niggling suspicion about a colleague. Everyone else seems to disagree, but Sin’s certain something’s not right with that pixie.

Kellen, a pixie crossover, loves his job working in AURA medical, even if he is something of an outsider. His job and the friends he manages to make are happy spots in an otherwise dark and secretive life. As the rest of AURA tries to discover the root of the inexplicable rise in violence and large scale Events, Kellen fights to preserve his own life and what dignity he has left.

These two unlikely heroes must put their differences aside and navigate tragedy and ever-escalating disaster together in order to stop the sinister forces that hold Kellen in thrall.

With an unusual increase in events AURA finds itself even busier than ever. As more and more otherworldly beings arrive, the staff is more than a little overworked. When incubus Sin is forced to deal with the newly crossed-over pixie, Kellen, sparks fly – but not of the pleasant sort. Sin is a ball of sarcasm and Kellen’s an awkward pixie with a secret. When disaster strikes, will they be able to put their differences aside and work together or will they let everything fall apart around them?

The incubus, Sinistrus, has been one of my favorite characters since the beginning. I was elated to find he had such a large role in this third installment. He’s an aggravating mixture of sexy and sarcastic, always quick with a quip or a heated smile. But that’s just part of being an incubus, I suppose. His relationship with the centaur, Nestor, is an interesting one and although an unlikely pairing, they really do balance each other out.

Kellen, a pixie crossover, is the newest addition to the AURA cast. From the very beginning, you know that he’s holding something back, but whether it’s good or bad remains to be seen. As his story began to unfold, I found myself feeling more and more sympathy towards him. By the end, I just wanted to give him a big hug. I was happy to see that, although he’s a pixie, Kellen is a regular-sized being instead of a Tinkerbell sized dragonfly. It makes him more relatable in a sense to have him be the same height and build as an averaged-sized human male.

Kellen’s Awakening is an intense and action packed novel that starts with a jolt and continues on through to the end. There was a character death near the beginning that caught me by surprise and colors the tone of much of the novel, making this a sadder story that the two prior. However, it’s not a depressing story by any stretch because there is so much going on, there isn’t time to get caught up in the loss. It actually makes for a deeper, more emotional story in the end. Each installment brings a better story and more interesting and diverse characters. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next novel.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Saint Underground by Adam Dunn

July 18, 2016 By Leave a Comment

SAINT
Saint Underground by Adam Dunn
Publisher: Dunn Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Election 2016—The Democratic and Republican parties are holding their conventions in NYC—simultaneously. Illicit campaign money pours through a new underground bank in the city’s newest subway tunnel. But this campaign isn’t about votes—the parties are at war. Santiago and More have uncovered a plot to hijack not just the presidential conventions, but the nation itself. As the feud erupts into open warfare, an embittered veteran turned high-tech warrior, enters the fray. Codenamed ODIN, he is More’s nemesis and they rock the city from the spires of Saint John the Divine to the bowels of the city’s subways. There is no judgment, only survival, for both sinners and saints—underground.

With his cover blown and everything up in the air, Special Agent Everett More is back at the NYPD with Detective Sixto Santiago, much to Santiago’s irritation. So when the presidential election of 2016 heats up and the feud begins, it’s up to More and Santiago to get to the bottom of the corruption coloring the election. But will they be able to set old grievances aside long enough to put things right? Or will their version of New York City fall into an even darker depression?

In this third installment of Adam Dunn’s “More” series, things get even more crazy and convoluted. I wasn’t sure that anything could get more insane than the previous two books, but I underestimated the power of Everett “Ever” More. Now that his cover has been blown, he has no real need to be as secretive as he had before. As over the top as More can be, he’s always intriguing in an ‘oh my god what next’ kind of way. His relationship with Santiago is one of the best parts of this series.

NYPD Detective Sixto “Six” Santiago is both amusing and aggravating. He tends to grouch a lot, but when you consider who he’s partnered with, you begin to understand his constant state of annoyance. But he’s a good guy at heart, trying to better himself and get away from More at all costs. Although their relationship is a bit antagonistic, they work well together, even when More has gone a bit off the deep end. His ability not to strangle his partner is probably his greatest strength.

As ever, Saint Underground is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride of a novel. Once the action starts, it doesn’t stop until the end. It’s obvious that the author has done his research although, at times, he’s done too much. When he gets into describing More’s weapons or any of a handful of other items, he does get a bit carried away. The overly detailed passages tend to disrupt the flow of the story for me, detaching me from the action. However, if you’re more familiar with the kinds of weapons and vehicles that the author’s discussing, it might not be as much of a knee-jerk for you. Full of intrigue and politics, this series might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like a thriller with political elements then it’s definitely a good choice.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny by Justin Hill

May 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment

TIGER
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny by Justin Hill
Publisher: Weinstein Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Another life-altering quest, another struggle between honor and lust for power, another generation of warriors forging alliances and enmities. The adventure, romance, and artistry of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon continues in this novelized companion to the first ever Netflix debut film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny based on the novel by Wang Dulu.

Seventeen years after the legendary fighter Mubai dies protecting the world-conquering sword The Green Destiny, four great warriors are called together to guard the formidable weapon once more. The forces surrounding the sword irrevocably altered the life of Shulien, Mubai’s lover, but seventeen years later she is still honor-bound to defend the blade from the power-hungry warlord Hades Dai. The young fighters Wei-fang and Snow Vase, switched at birth, also have heritages and inheritances that inextricably link them to both each other and the fate of the sword. And Silent Wolf, Shulien’s former fiancé, returns from presumed death to thwart Hades Dai—and rekindle an emotionally isolated Shulien’s feelings.

Jam-packed with all the hallmarks of an epic adventure—sacrifice, battles, betrayal, vengeance, redemption, and destiny—this saga also explores the deeper meaning of true heroism and virtue. As Wei-fang and Snow Vase search for identity and forge their places in the world of warriors and heroes, Shu-lien and Silent Wolf struggle to reconcile both the traditions and heartbreak of the past with a fragile hope for the future.

Seventeen years have passed since Shulien last set foot in the world at large. Much has changed since then, but even more has stayed irrevocably the same. The lust for power as it battles against honor is an eternal war about to reignite with a group of new, young warriors hungry for fame and honor.

Shulien is a holdover from the first novel and she was by far my favorite. Her way of looking at things was different than anything I’d ever encountered before. She placed herself into exile only to be dragged out into the thick of it, just like any heroine would be in a time of crisis. She handles her forced return to society well, even if she can be a touch cranky at times.

The would-be pairing of Snow Vase and Wei-Fang is an old story, one that we’re all familiar with. They’re on different sides of the battle and yet, are drawn to one another. At first, Snow Vase really got on my nerves. But as I came to understand all she was putting at risk and the mother she was trying to make proud, it all seemed to make sense. Also, once she meets Shulien and later, Wei-Fang, she becomes a more well-rounded character. Wei-Fang is a typical boy. All he wants is to be a great warrior and almost immediately gets himself into trouble because of it. They make one of the best matched couples I’ve seen lately.

Having never read or seen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this novel was a new experience for me. Although not my usual reading fare, I found the characters interesting and the story full of action and adventure. I always tend to enjoy novels that visit the next generation, bring the past into the new chapter. The sword play was so well written that even someone unknowledgeable in such arts was easily able to imagine the flow of metal and bodies as the opponents fought. An intriguing and fascinating look at life in a long ago world.

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When Bunnies Go Bad by Clea Simon

May 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

BAD
When Bunnies Go Bad by Clea Simon
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (255 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Winter is hard in Beauville, where the melting snow can reveal much more than last season s dead leaves. So when a wealthy, obnoxious tourist and his ski bunny girlfriend surface in Pru Marlowe s little Berkshire town, she knows she should stay out of their way. The bad-girl animal psychic has to focus on more immediate concerns, including a wild rabbit named Henry, supposedly tamed and illegally living with an eighty-four-year-old lady in her home. Henry, who seems to be acting out and hiding, avoids responding to Pru. Yet when Pru discovers the tourist murdered and his girlfriend s high-maintenance spaniel falls to her care, she gets dragged into a complicated case of crime and punishment that involves some new friends, an old nemesis, and her own shadowed past. A recent museum art heist draws the feds into the investigation along with a courtly gentleman radiating menace, who represents secretive business interests in New York and shows a surprising awareness of Pru. Her on-again, off-again romance with police Detective Creighton doesn t stop him from warning her to steer clear of the inquiry. The spaniel, however, lures her in. Pru lives in a world where only her crotchety tabby Wallis knows the whole truth about her past, her flight from Manhattan, and her unique gift that surfaced abruptly one day. Fearing the worst, Pru now comes dangerously close to being exposed. With everything in motion, Pru, Wallis, and everyone they hold dear will be lucky to escape by a hare.”

Despite almost having her degree as an animal behaviorist, Pru Marlowe still struggles to make ends meet. By taking odd jobs walking dogs and helping out around the town, she finds a way to keep herself – and her cat, Wallis – fed and happy. She knows Wallis is happy too, and not just by the tabby’s contented purr. No, Pru has a limited psychic connection with animals of all varieties, which makes her day to day jobs both more difficult and more entertaining. So, when she stumbles across a murdered tourist, it’s only natural she’s going to enlist the aid of the critters all around her.

This was my first Pru Marlowe novel and I can safely say it won’t be my last. Although Pru herself is pretty problematic – she has a million and one personal issues – she’s also kind hearted, intelligent, and loyal. The relationship she has with her cat, Wallis, cracked me up because it reminded me so much of how I interact with my own feline. But the way she conducts herself around other animals’ people is probably her greatest strength. Even when the humans don’t deserve it, she’s polite and straightforward for the sake of the animals she cares for.

Some of the best characters in this novel were the animals. Wallis, Pru’s tabby cat, is a constant source of disdain and entertainment since he serves as Pru’s main confidante. Growler, a dog she walks regularly for a rather unpleasant woman, gives her great insights into what other animals might do and think in certain situations. He’s actually one of my favorite characters in this story because he’s such a gossip, giving Pru a running commentary on the neighborhood animal’s activities every walk. Stewie is a little spaniel who is wrapped up in the murder mystery and all he wants is to go back to his person, and you never really know for sure who that is, until the very end.

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres to read. Adding animals and a touch of the paranormal to it only makes it more fun, as far as I’m concerned. Clea Simon does an excellent job of mixing humor, romance, and mystery into one coherent and exciting tale. The humans are engaging and fun, but the non-human characters are even more so. That the author was able to infuse so much personality into animals that really have no voice – as sometimes all Pru can get from them is a vague sense of their emotions – really amazed me. I’ve already purchased the first book in this series because I can’t wait to start at the beginning and discover how this all started.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Big Dogs by Adam Dunn

May 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

DOGS
The Big Dogs by Adam Dunn
Publisher: Dunn Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (265 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

This is the second novel in the “More” series of dystopian thrillers set in the Second Great Depression in NYC. More and Santiago’s new unit is now detailed to the NYPD’s most elite division to investigate the brutal mob killing of a high-profile hedge fund founder. Their team is also assigned its first Federal, and female, member (whom More and Santiago instantly dislike) from a financial-crimes division of the Treasury Department. Tensions immediately escalate when the team discovers the victim’s underling is on the run with an encrypted computer drive containing information sensitive enough to draw in an array of international hit men who commence a deadly manhunt through the city. The case leads to a horrific terror plot against the city’s buses in order to create a stock market crash for the benefit of the criminal mastermind who created the encrypted drive. More is turned on the loose in full combat mode over Santiago’s objections and brings a taste of Afghanistan to New York City.

Seven months after the disappearance of Everett “Ever” More, Detective Second Grade Sixto Santiago is still desk-bound and waiting to be released into active duty. Left to clean up the mess More left behind him, Santiago has been putting his nose to the grind, studying for the sergeant’s exam. He’s finally beginning to accept desk duty, learning to cope with all the chaos that More had wrecked, when a woman from the Treasury department arrives… and Everett More isn’t far behind.

Santiago remains my favorite hard-pressed detective. The things that More puts him through make you want to jump into the book and take the Marine by the throat, just to help Santiago out some. That he hasn’t drawn his gun on his sometimes partner only proves that Santiago has the patience of a saint, even if it does falter now and again. He’s not perfect though, not by a long shot, but he is real and, in this fictional, devastated New York City, he’s exactly the kind of cop they need on the streets.

More is an enigma. He’s also an extremely frightening individual. Having seen combat in Afghanistan, he’s a trained soldier with very little to lose, and he makes sure everyone around him knows it. Despite that, there’s something intriguing and even a little bit endearing to his character. Maybe it’s that Santiago puts up with him so well or maybe it’s something else, but I was happy to see him reappear in this novel. Although, I’m pretty sure Santiago would have my head for even thinking that. Despite their differences and animosity towards each other, they really do make a good team, one that gets things done and done well.

The Big Dogs brings the same kind of intensity and excitement that you found in Rivers of Gold. Santiago is growing as a character and becoming more able to deal with the force that is known as Ever More. Although the author still goes overboard with the technical details, the mystery and action are as good as ever. The author brings a bleak and interesting look to a New York City we’ll hopefully never know, but one that is fitting for two men like More and Santiago.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Searching for Shelter by Morticia Knight

March 31, 2016 By Leave a Comment

sHELTER
Searching for Shelter by Morticia Knight
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (162 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play, Toys
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Teen shelter volunteer Rich searches for love until Diego, from LVMPD Search and Rescue, finds him.

After declaring his love life officially dead, Rich wonders if maybe he should stick with his shifter book boyfriends instead. It’s not as if he has much free time to date anyway. Between working long hours at a coffee shop, guarding his sodas from his hygienically challenged roommates, and running the programming at the Vegas LGBTQ teen shelter he founded—how could there ever be space for love in his life?

Diego Espinoza enjoys taking his downtime from working Search and Rescue, at the Lucky Cup coffee shop. He can set up his laptop, peruse good sport climbing spots and observe the blond barista he’s been pining over for a while. He imagines that the pretty boy has more offers than he knows what to do with, so it takes Diego time to work up the nerve to approach him.

Rich isn’t so sure about the rough looking Diego—even if he’s always thought he was hot—but once he decides to gives Diego a chance, there’s an immediate heat and connection that takes him by surprise. As they learn more about each other and try to find the way to a future together, strange and scary things start to happen.

It isn’t until Rich is injured in a bizarre accident that it becomes clear that there’s someone out there who not only doesn’t want Rich to find love—they want him dead.

It was just another quiet morning at the coffee shop, or so Rich thought. Then the dark, mysterious Diego walks in and changes everything for the better. That is, until Rich accidentally witnesses a murder on The Strip, triggering a series of coincidences that turn out to be much more than coincidental. They could possibly become extremely deadly… for both Rich and Diego. Can the handsome hunk from Search and Rescue keep his barista safe?

Rich is a sweet bundle of nerves. Living in a pigsty with two roommates, his innate need to be clean and orderly is severely challenged. His nearly neurotic need to be tidy is cute and quirky and made me grin sometimes. He’s very likable and the kind of guy I think I’d hang around with in real life. It did take me a minute to place him, however. It’s mentioned that he had a crush on Beau from Held Hostage and it had been downplayed pretty well in that book, so I had a hard time making the connection at first. But once I did, I remembered I liked him even three books back.

Diego is the complete opposite of Rich. Dark, swarthy, and rough looking, he works for Metro’s Search and Rescue department, saving climbers and boaters that get themselves into trouble. Looks are deceiving however, because despite his tough exterior, Diego is probably one of the sweetest and most considerate men in this series. He’s absolutely dedicated to Rich, both in keeping him happy as well as safe, which comes in handy near the middle of the book. They make a cute if unlikely couple.

Morticia Knight’s Sin City Uniforms series has become a favorite of mine, and Searching for Shelter was easily one of the best in the series. My one issue with this installment was that Rich and Diego went from acquaintances to forever-in-love a little too quickly. Although, they did spend a lot of time talking and hanging out, not just in the bedroom, so that helped a lot as far as the believability went. Despite the quickness of their love, they are an adorable couple and one that makes sense in the real world as well as in their fictional one. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for this group of guys next.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Rivers of Gold by Adam Dunn

March 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment

GOLD
Rivers of Gold by Adam Dunn
Publisher: Dunn Books
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Rivers of Gold describes an alternate reality of New York City. Restaurants and businesses are boarded and shuttered. Crime is rampant, black markets thrive. Drug dealers use taxis as a distribution network among the world of The Speaks, pop-up parties whose location changes nightly. NYPD uses taxis for undercover detectives desperately trying to rein in the chaos to keep the Euro dollars showing up. Neither network knows about the other. To survive, Renny a young fashion photographer must sell drugs at night. Detective Sixto Santiago is part of the undercover CAB force but his world goes boing when Everett More, a feral 42-year-old CIA operative with Dark Secret clearance, is assigned as his new partner. Rivers of Gold is a ride like no other. Climb inside…the meter’s running…

Welcome to New York City and the Second Great Depression. Everywhere you look, there is death, destruction and drugs. Crime is rampant and an underground party circuit has evolved to sate the needs of the depressed citizens. Enter the NYPD’s CAB unit – the Citywide Anticrime Bureau. But will a handful of detectives in beat up old taxicabs be enough to save the city from the influx of drugs and crime lords? It’s up to Detective Sixto Santiago and his partner Everett More to find out.

Rivers of Gold is filled with some of the oddest and most interesting characters I’ve read in a long time. Renny is a fashion photographer by day, drug runner by night. If he can keep making enough money selling drugs at night, he can continue his leisurely quest to shoot the photos he likes, when he likes. For me, his voice is the prominent one, although equal time is given between himself and Detective Santiago.

While Renny was sometimes hard to like – he can be a bit of a womanizer – I liked Santiago almost from the start. He had a rough childhood but didn’t let it hold him back nor did he let him lead him down the wrong path. He’s constantly conflicted when it comes to his job because his new partner continually crosses the line between what he thinks a cop should and shouldn’t do.

Everett More, Santiago’s partner, is like nothing I’ve ever read before. Even after having finished the book, I’m not sure whether I like him or not. He was over the top, a little scary and downright odd from the moment you meet him. Something that nagged at me in regards to the series is that they’re referred to as the More series and yet, More’s point of view isn’t one you get to see at all during the novel. It isn’t something that will detract from your enjoyment, but it did make me scratch my head at times.

Rivers of Gold was an interesting twist on your usual police procedural. Taking us to a New York that never existed and giving us a brigade of cops in cabs only added to the uniqueness. My biggest issue with this series was the endless paragraphs detailing makes and models of cars and weapons and other things. While detail is very important, too much can be overkill and has a tendency to kick me out of the story, no matter how much I’m enjoying it. In addition, once Santiago begins to wonder about More, you begin to wonder about him, too. Finding out his secrets becomes almost as important as finding out who’s supplying the drugs to Renny. Despite the sometimes overload of detail, the story is gripping and engaging.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Solo by Carol Lynne

February 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Solo
Solo by Carol Lynne
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (104 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Sam “Solo” Braun lives by one truth, the Grave Diggers Motorcycle Club above all. The creed has served him well, giving him the only real family he’s ever known.He would die for his brothers and them for him, but they don’t know he prefers men over women. Coming out to a group of men who fear no one isn’t high on Solo’s priority list, especially because he’s never indulged in more than one night stands.

Everything changes after one night with Eric James. For the first time, Solo can’t stop thinking about a single night he’d spent with a man. When fate intervenes, Solo comes face to face with his blue-eyed obsession only to find out Eric is a cop. Solo hates cops, and so do his brothers in the club. However, Solo decides to gamble everything and spend more time with Eric under the guise of getting information.

Falling in love with a cop is a very dangerous proposition for a man in Solo’s position, so why can’t he walk away?

There’s a fine line between good and bad and sometimes those lines get blurred. So, what do you do when you fall hard for someone standing on the wrong side of that line? Don’t ask either Eric or Solo because neither of them has any idea how to fight their immediate attraction to one another, even when it comes down to a matter of life or death. Neither is willing to give the other up, no matter the cost.

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like Solo when I first met him. He gave me a bad vibe and not just in that overly macho alpha-biker-male sort of way either. There was something about him and his outlook that put me on edge. However, pretty quickly into the story you begin to see another side of him and he becomes a very likable character. Despite his attitude of ‘I can do everything on my own’ which, considering his backstory is understandable, he knows when to ask for help, not something I had expected out of Solo. He’s a truly mutli-faceted character.

Eric, on the other hand, I had affection for right away. I’ll admit that part of it is his name–Eric’s always been a favorite of mine. But he’s also that wonderful combination of strong, secure cop and warm homebody looking for his lifelong love. He’s the right balance of ‘mundane’ to Solo’s ‘exotic’. I wasn’t positive they’d work, but once they got past the biggest walls separating them, they well and truly clicked as a couple.

Although I’d never thought to seek out a novel about bikers, I’m happy that I chose this one. Both intense and sexy as all get out, Solo is a fast and enjoyable read. Carol Lynne is a new author for me and I instantly enjoyed her voice and the unique and exciting characters she created. I hope to see many more books in this series because I want to know what’s in store for Eric, Solo, and all the rest of the Grave Diggers.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Negotiating Love by Morticia Knight

February 22, 2016 By Leave a Comment

LOVE
Negotiating Love by Morticia Knight
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (157 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Fetish, Toys, Spanking
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Can the kinky billionaire owner of the Dark Fantasy resort casino capture the heart of a muscled SWAT officer with a secret fetish?

SWAT Team Hostage Negotiator Steve wonders why he can’t stay away from the spoiled, rich Allistair, owner of Dark Fantasy Resort Casino. They have mutual kinks—ones Steve can’t find with other lovers—but there’s something else about the emotionally detached, beautiful man that calls to him.

Billionaire Allistair stays alone in his luxury penthouse apartment at the top of Dark Fantasy, terrified of the real world and of opening himself up to genuine emotions. He takes lover after lover, all of them allowing him to do whatever he wants to their bodies, in the hopes that they can scam something from him.

One night is all he ever shares with a plaything—he knows they only want the money and luxury he can offer them and nothing more. But the down to earth Steve is different. They share the same kinks and are explosive when together. But could the muscled law officer ever want more than the lust-filled encounters that have become such an addiction?

As they grow closer, they discover they also have to find a balance between Steve’s everyday world and Allistair’s entitled world before they can truly find an ever after. They also have to make sure Allistair stays safe. Filthy rich playboys are too tempting to those who seek the ultimate payday—and who aren’t afraid of hurting someone to get it.

They say opposites attract and there couldn’t be two men more different than Steve Ashwood and Allistair Richmond. While one works for the LVMPD as a hostage negotiator, the other is a billionaire playboy without a care in the world. Or so it would seem. As their worlds draw closer together, they begin to discover that not everything is as cut and dried as it once appeared.

Steve made his first appearance in Held Hostage as a hostage negotiator during the standoff at Brett’s clothing store in the Fashion Show Mall. His friends with benefits relationship with Cole was a decent sized part of the previous novel as they were best friends as well as lovers. I’m happy that we got Steve’s story this go around because all of his sneaky behavior in the middle of the previous book made me curious as to who he’d found and whether it was going to last or not. I liked Steve a lot, especially the contradictions between his outwardly appearance and his internal desires. It makes for an interesting character.

Allistair, on the other hand, was a completely new character for me. He’s also a bit of an odd duck, to say the least. In a lot of ways, he’s very adult and focused and in others, he’s extremely childlike and innocent. Although his childish exuberance got to be too much at times, I had to remind myself that he wasn’t used to the kind of interactions he was experiencing. He did eventually relax and calm down somewhat by the middle of the book and felt like more of a real character by then. By the time I finished the novel, however, I was convinced that he and Steve really were made for each other.

One of the things that makes Negotiating Love different from the previous four books in this series is that part of the storyline runs concurrent to that of the previous book, Held Hostage. It is interesting seeing part of the hostage situation from the previous book play out through Steve’s eyes rather than Cole’s. This fifth novel also ups the ante with the BDSM play as well. Despite the fact that it went a little farther into the BDSM than I usually care for, the addition of Steve and Allistair’s fetish balanced it out for me, giving me an exciting and sexy read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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