The Secrets We Keep by Rick R. Reed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (195 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Jasper Warren is a happy-go-lucky young man in spite of the tragedy that’s marred his life. He’s on a road to nowhere with his roommate, Lacy, whom he adores, and a dead-end retail job in Chicago.

And then everything changes in a single night. Though Jasper doesn’t know it, his road is going somewhere after all. This time when tragedy strikes, it brings with it Lacy’s older, wealthy, sexy uncle Rob. Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, an immediate connection forms between the two men.
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But the secrets between them test their attraction. Will their revelations destroy the bloom of new love… or encourage it to grow?

Jasper and Lacy are best friends and despite the difficulties in their lives they have such a good time together it’s impossible for either of them to remain sad for too long. But when Lacy tragically dies Jasper’s world is thrown into chaos. Jasper meets Lacy’s Uncle Rob and despite both their regrets and deep sadness the two men connect on a level neither had ever experienced.

I found this to be a really emotional, deliciously complex and realistic full length story. I was thrilled when I connected and became very quickly invested in Jasper’s character and it helped me sink right into the story. I thought the author was exceptional in his handling of some deep and not easy situations – readers should be aware that while suicide is shown in the story I strongly feel it’s tastefully and well written, not glorifying the situation nor dwelling too deeply on the actual action itself. I can understand though that even with the light and delicate touch from the author this might not suit all readers tastes.

Jasper really struck me as a normal, regular and highly relatable young man. I was nervous at a few of the less-than-ideal choices the young man made, but was pleased the tone and overall writing of the story was hopeful and optimistic. I also really enjoyed how the complexities of the plot slowly unfurled – I was really impressed with how the author managed to slowly lead me along as the reader and soon enough I realised that nothing was really as it seemed; layers covering layers. This made me really excited and intrigued to continue reading long into the night. While a few of the twists in this plot didn’t feel particularly realistic to me I did think they wove together exceptionally well and made the story a real delight to read.

While steamy and sexy, I found the interactions between Jasper and Rob were well-paced (no immediate jumping into bed together, which I wouldn’t have enjoyed considering the circumstances that they met in) and I thoroughly approved of how the plot was not just a second thought or half-baked. This story had a bunch of all the things I love in a longer length book – strong and interesting characters, a complex and well-thought out plot, good pacing and some steamy M/M romance. For me, this book ticked all the best boxes.

Complicated, relatable and really well written, I loved this story and will eagerly be searching out more by this author.

The First Step by Shira Anthony
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (229 pages)
Other: M/M, anal sex
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A Coastal Carolina Novel The first step is the hardest. After a scandal, New York political reporter Reed Barfield is lying low at the North Carolina coast, writing a story about the seafood industry. But it’s the harbor pilots on the Cape Fear River who capture his interest—men who jump across ten feet of open ocean to grab a rope ladder and guide huge container ships into port. Men like sexy but prickly Justin Vance. After surviving an abusive childhood and a tour in the Navy, Justin isn’t fazed by his dangerous job—it’s certainly easier to face than Reed’s annoying questions. Justin isn’t out at work, and he doesn’t need Reed digging into his personal life or his past. But Reed’s no stranger to using his considerable charm to get what he wants, and as he wears Justin down, they realize they have a lot in common—and that they like spending time together. Moving beyond that, though, will mean Justin confessing his sexuality and learning to trust Reed with his secrets—if Reed even decides to stay. Both men want a future together, but can they find the courage to take the first step?

In just one click your order will be shipped out from the online pharmacies warehouse. online cialis But, the kamagra drugs require sexual stimulation to make this drug work well. viagra online no prescriptions It is advisable for levitra from canadian pharmacy patients that smoke to quit smoking. It is one of the best herbs to boost male sex drive and stamina. cialis online robertrobb.com Reed is waiting for the storm of scandal to pass and for something new to take its place. But his interest is piqued by the habor pilots. These men who jump across open ocean – no safety nets in sight – and grab rope ladders and help guide containers into the port. In particular, prickly Justin captured Reed’s interest like no one ever has. Are these the first steps for both men towards a lasting relationship?

I enjoyed this full length story. I found both Reed and Justin to be interesting characters and they captured my attention from the first chapter. Justin’s character could be described as prickly – but I didn’t find him stand-off-ish at all. I enjoyed that he wasn’t dazzled by Reed’s charm or suave personality. I found Justin to be a down-to-earth, private kind of person and this actually made Justin and Reed’s initial few interactions a lot more interesting than I feel they would have been had the two men been instantly smitten. This also helped add a strong sense of reality to the story for me and I greatly enjoyed that.

I liked how Reed’s back-story – the circumstances that had him out of New York and in a sleepy coastal town in North Carolina – was properly explained quite early on in the story. I also enjoyed the cheekiness of how Reed was meant to be covering an environmental story, but this story about the harbor pilots and the unsung heroes was what really called to him and was the story he felt passionate about. It helped flesh out Reed into more than just a story-hound chasing glory and the next big break and into a more real person, someone who was passionate about their work, but also wanted to tell real stories and shed light onto people who deserve it. I found it easy to get caught up in Reed’s enthusiasm and passion and this helped me get really into the story as a whole.

Readers who like a slow-burning romance should find this story really fits the bill for them. I loved how Reed and Justin had plenty of time to get to know each other and how they (and us!) discovered neither was as simple or quite what the other expected. This slower pace in the men’s romance was lovely and I found it engrossing to read. The sex was hot and emotional between the two men and I felt it really added to the story and wasn’t just thrown in to give the content an explicit rating.

With a strong and interesting plot, a good set of secondary characters and two heroes that I found engaging and deliciously complex this was a great story. I’d happily read more by this author and can recommend this story for most readers.