Tag: mm romance (Page 10 of 14)

Family Man by Heidi Cullinan & Marie Sexton

March 27, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I had this one pre-ordered. Cullinan and Sexton are two of my favourite m/m romance authors.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Sometimes family chooses you.How does a man get to be forty without knowing whether he’s gay? That’s a question Vince Fierro is almost afraid to answer. If he is gay, it’ll be a problem for his big, fat Italian family. Still, after three failed marriages, he can’t help but wonder if he’s been playing for the wrong team.There’s only one way to settle it, once and for all—head for Chicago’s Boystown bars, far from anyone who knows him. Naturally, he runs smack into someone from the neighborhood.Between working two jobs, going to school, taking care of his grandmother, and dealing with his mother’s ongoing substance abuse, Trey Giles has little time for fun, let alone dating someone who swears he’s straight. Yet after one night of dancing cheek-to-cheek to the sultry strains of Coltrane, Trey finds himself wanting to help Vinnie figure things out—no promises, and no sex.

It seems like a simple plan, until their “no-sex” night turns into the best date of their lives and forges a connection that complicates everything.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Vince Fierro has long had an attraction to men but his strict Catholic upbringing meant that he pushed those desires firmly away. He was so deep in the closet he didn’t even realise he was in it. But, after three divorces, he decides maybe it’s time to explore his attraction to men and see where that takes him.

Too Stupid To Live by Anne Tenino

March 19, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) It isn’t true love until someone gets hurt.Sam’s a new man. Yes, he’s still too tall, too skinny, too dorky, too gay, and has that unfortunate addiction to romance novels, but he’s wised up. His One True Love is certainly still out there, but he knows now that real life is nothing like fiction. He’s cultivated the necessary fortitude to say “no” to the next Mr. Wrong, no matter how hot, exciting, and/or erotic-novel-worthy he may be.Until he meets Ian.Ian’s a new man. He’s pain-free, has escaped the job he hated and the family who stifled him, and is now—possibly—ready to dip his toe into the sea of relationships. He’s going to be cautious, though, maybe start with someone who knows the score and isn’t looking for anything too complicated. Someone with experience and simple needs that largely revolve around the bedroom.

Until he meets Sam.

Sam’s convinced that Ian is no one’s Mr. Right. Ian’s sure that Sam isn’t his type. They can’t both be wrong . . . can they?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This book was a whole lot of fun. It’s more than just funny but it is certainly that.I have the prequel books on my reader (they’re available free from ARe) but haven’t read them yet (no time!). Given my enjoyment of this story, I don’t think there is any need to have read the earlier stories. Given my enjoyment of this story, I definitely plan to read the earlier stories. Continue reading

Captive Prince Vol 1&2 by CS Pacat

March 18, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I read a post by the author on Anna Cowan’s blog a while back and that put the book on my radar. More recently, my tweetstream has been going wild for it so I had to read it.

ETA April 2015: I’ve updated the author’s name to her current penname: CS Pacat.

Note: Even though this is two books, I’m reviewing them together. Volume 1 isn’t a complete story and Volume 2 can’t be read as a stand alone. Volume 3 isn’t out yet (sadly) or I’d probably be reviewing that at the same time too.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) This was Vere, voluptuous and decadent, country of honeyed poison.”Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is at it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reasons to hate him than anyone else…

———-

“This was Vere’s most powerful lords unfurling their banners for war.”With their countries on the brink of war, Damen and his new master Prince Laurent must exchange the intrigues of the palace for the sweeping might of the battlefield as they travel to the border to avert a lethal plot.Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent. But as the fledgling trust between the two men deepens, the truth of secrets from both their pasts is poised to deal them the crowning death blow…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I don’t suppose the basis of this story is terribly original. A stranger in a strange land learns to appreciate another society and experiences changes in himself from his exposure to difference. The concept is not new. But in romance, that is very common. There are only so many tropes after all. It is all in the delivery. And, here, we have a gem.

Once a Brat by Kim Dare

March 11, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Experienced dominant Marcus has a stalker. On the plus side, the boy following him around his local leather club is gorgeous and a self-professed submissive. Unfortunately, he’s also inexperienced, bratty, and liable to drive Marcus insane within his incessant chatter and questions.Bret Daniels fell head over heels with Marcus the moment he first saw him. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get Marcus’s attention and prove his worth as a submissive. He might not be a traditional sub, but he knows he has a lot to offer a dom who can handle his quirks.When Marcus gives in and agrees to do a scene with Bret, sparks fly. One scene quickly becomes another, and another. But will it be a case of once a brat, always a brat? Bret intends to prove to Marcus that—expectations and experiences aside—he deserves his master’s collar.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): The blurb gives fair warning there is insta-love from Bret to Marcus and insta-love is not my favourite thing. I like to read romance for the courtship and the emotional connection. In some books, there can be instant feelings but there is still time and interaction for the feelings to develop and to sell them to me as the reader. The problem for me with this book was that the interaction was almost all sexual and, while the scenes were very hot and well written, there wasn’t much interaction outside of that. Bret and Marcus didn’t have much by way of conversation. I didn’t see them falling in love, at least not Marcus falling for Bret. I was told it happened by didn’t see why. There was certainly a sexual connection but that is a very different thing IMO. I knew that Marcus generally avoided relationships but I didn’t know why. And, when he decided to break that rule for Bret, other than the sub’s persistence, I also didn’t see why.

Where Nerves End by LA Witt

March 7, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’ve had this one on my TBR for a while, having bought it shortly after it was released. After reading some other Tucker Springs books, I wanted to read all of them.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado: Population, 70-something-thousand. Home to beautiful mountain views, two respected universities, and a ridiculously high cost of living.Jason Davis can handle a breakup. And an overwhelming mortgage. And a struggling business. And the excruciating pain that keeps him up at night thanks to a shoulder injury. Handling all of it at once? Not so much. When his shoulder finally pushes him to a breaking point, he takes a friend’s advice and gives acupuncture a try.Michael Whitman is a single dad struggling to make ends meet. When a mutual friend refers a patient, and that patient suggests a roommate arrangement to alleviate their respective financial strains, Michael jumps at the opportunity.

Living together would be easy if Jason wasn’t so damned attracted to Michael. Good thing Michael’s straight, or the temptation might just be too much.

Well, their mutual friend says Michael is straight…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I quite liked this book. I enjoyed Jason and Michael’s relationship and their mutual friendship with Seth. (Seth’s getting his own book soon – Covet Thy Neighbor – cannot. wait.). It was certainly sexy and I enjoyed the slow build of the sexual tension.

Second Hand by Marie Sexton & Heidi Cullinan

February 28, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: Marie Sexton and Heidi Cullinan are two of my favourite m/m romance authors. I’d been saving this one but after reading and loving Dirty Laundry (Tucker Springs #3 Heidi Cullinan) recently, I decided I definitely needed more Tucker Springs.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Paul Hannon moved to Tucker Springs for his girlfriend, but she’s left him with a house he can’t afford and a pantry full of useless gadgets. All Paul wants is to get back to normal, even if he’s not sure what that is anymore. When he wanders into Tucker Pawn for a gift to win her back, he meets El Rozal, pawn shop owner and all-around cynic. El Rozal doesn’t do relationships, especially not with clueless straight boys still pining for their ex. El may make his living dealing in castoffs, but that doesn’t apply to men. Still, when Paul starts clearing out his old life, pawning kitchen equipment he never wanted in the first place, El is drawn to Paul in spite of himself. Paul and El have nothing in common except a past full of disappointments. There’s no reason to believe the two of them could fit, but in El’s line of work, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. When it comes to love, El and Paul may learn that secondhand doesn’t mean second best.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I loved the slow build of the romance in this story. Told in alternating POV (first for Paul and third for El), I enjoyed getting inside the minds of both men. El was smitten right from the start and his methods of making sure Paul returned to the pawn shop amused – Paul was so oblivious to what was going on around him but El didn’t take advantage. El tells Paul late in the book that he was happy to be the one to wait around long enough for Paul to notice and I liked that El didn’t make Paul suffer for it – it was part and parcel of who Paul is and El loved him. This is very much juxtaposed with Stacey’s treatment of Paul which is ALL ABOUT HER.