Review: Jace's Justice (Highgate Shifters, #1) by Sydney Presley

Finding yourself isn’t always easy—unless your true mate helps you along the way…

Jace has always felt as though he doesn’t belong, that he’s surplus to requirements, alone and destined to stay that way for the rest of his life. His love for Louie, his true mate, is solid and real, but Louie has never shown Jace that they’re mates, has never given any indication that he wants them to be together. Jace is convinced that fate has got things wrong in pairing them—until a stranger arrives on pack land, throwing everything into chaos.

Louie has lived his whole life keeping his distance from Jace—and his emotions. He loves the man with a passion, but knowing Jace might be taken away from him at any moment means Louie has kept his mouth shut. Jace was found on the side of the road as a cub by their alpha, Sergeant, and Louie has always known that one day Jace’s true family will come back to claim him. To save Jace having to make a painful decision—leave Louie or join his family—Louie remained in the shadows.

But life has a way of changing things, and with the stranger comes knowledge of some terrible things happening on another wolf compound. Things that the Highgate pack feel compelled to fix. The question is, will Jace and Louie mating also change things, or will they remain the same as they’ve always been, forever circling around their love and never admitting it through fear of being hurt?

Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series.


Debut author Sydney Presley introduces werewolf suspense(?) in Jace's Justice. Jace is a 25 year old orphan that is in love with his friend, Louie, a fellow shifter. He is afraid to tell his friend that their are fated mates (Though if it's fated...would it already be known since it's fate? *shrugs*) and tries to keep his feelings a secret. Jace doesn't know his past but his past comes to surprise and comes with a bite that Jace, Louie and their pack has to help solve/defeat.

This story was rough going for me since the best thing about Jace's Justice was seeing the words: The End.

The story peaked at 19%.

What happens for the other 81%? A lot of redundancy.

The scenes were clunky, there are too many over explanations of a scene that just happened by the main characters and this was all telling not a hint of showing.

An example:
"What are you thinking?"
"Shit you probably wouldn't want to know," Jace said. "I keep thinking that, yea, I love you--somehow, I don't know where that came from, it's always been there--but I've been brought up with you, so maybe I just would. But then there's the fact that I've never let anyone in, never allowed myself to love anyone but you, so I must love you, right?"
Why ask if you're going to tell anyway? And this is coming from a 25 year old man? He sounds like a teen girl. Also, this sentence could have been edited down to cut out the nonsensical pondering. This is just a slice of what this story is peppered with.

There were sections and phrases phrases didn't jibe which just read more like a chore rather than pleasure.

Examples?

Like a one day old wolf can walk/crawl and hide? Survive without its mother for a day? I can't believe a day old wolf can remember it's kidnapping and was able to hide. *smh* I was able to find out facts about infant wolves in less than 10 seconds on the internet. Here's a link.  Baby wolves are blind and deaf and a whole list of other things that disproves this major plot point.

A little research can help sometimes.

Or the fact that this author clearly does not know anything about BDSM and introduced a D/s FAIL couple in secondary characters Vann and Kip. Just because a "big" man orders a smaller man around and tells him when to eat, etc does not a Dom make. A pet peeve of mine is when a guy orders someone around and they automatically get labeled as a Dom. It's just insulting all round. Or I guess I should have just accepted this explantion as why Kip was treated the way he was:
"You need to understand that Kip'll only do stuff when Vann says so. It's a lifestyle choice, so don't go thinking Vann's an asshole, right?"
I'm not a BDSM expert but a little research might go a long way in the future.

Another thing that surprised me was the setting, until the characters mention being in Texas, I though this was a British paranormal. I wish a content editor went through this so it actually read like it was set in America. There were odd phrases that were not American.

Oh and a kiss of death when reading romance for me is when the main character is called perfect...it proves to be a hard task to prove the character is actually perfect when you can find too many parts that show they aren't. 

I will not be following any more of this series. It's a safe bet I won't knowingly read more from this author. It's not a match.  This can appeal to a reader who might not really care about werewolves and just want a beginning, middle and end. No real plot delivery and a story that reads more like a first draft. This was drawn out uninteresting thoughts, too much filler and not enough substance for me.

I can't in good conscience recommend this to anyone.

Good luck to the author in future endeavors.

For more information on Goodreads!

Tag Team Review: Brandon Mills versus The V-Card by Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock

Smart, shy Prescott sophomore Brandon Mills is working hard to overcome his troubled past and be normal. With the help of his friends Mark and Deacon, and his brothers at Phi Sigma Kappa, he’s slowly coming out of his shell. But when he accidentally drenches a freshman in orange soda, he faces something he’s not ready for: a boy crushing on him. 

Alex Kekoa pledges Phi Sig because it has everything he wants: a house full of nerds who won’t tease him for being smart, a dog, and Brandon Mills. Brandon is just the type of guy Alex needs to help fulfill his college ambition: losing his virginity. Except Alex doesn’t know that Brandon can’t stand to touch or be touched. 

When Alex and Brandon are drafted onto the Phi Sig Academic Challenge team, their mutual attraction grows. If there’s anyone who can help Brandon discover it feels good to touch and kiss, maybe it’s klutzy Alex with his cute glasses and his dinosaur obsession. But as the competition--and their relationship--heats up, Alex’s determination not to die a virgin clashes with Brandon’s vow of lifelong celibacy, forcing them to examine what’s truly important to each of them about love.




So Downton and I tag teamed this review. Lorix aka Downton gave it 5 Hearts and I gave it 4 hence the 4.5 you see above. Needless to say, we both enjoyed the BeCheezus out of it and are eager for more of this series. Myself I'm hoping for a novella that stuffed to the gills with kinky Mark and Deacon and truckload of MANTIES. 

Oh god I need the next book now. Please tell me there's a next book. Please. 
(Also, I know this book was about Brandon, but I still adore Mark & Deacon).

It feels like I've waited forever for this book. In fact, I'd forgotten how much I love Mark - it doesn't sound good does it, the book's about Brandon and I keep writing about Mark. Don't worry though, the whole thing is great, the Brandon storyline is almost a complete contrast to the Mark one from book 1, but it was no less brilliant.

Great characters are at the heart of this story, and it doesn't just stop with the MC's - Blake is one of the most wonderful secondary characters I've ever read. I'd take him home with me if I could. If we all had friends like him the world would be a happy place!

Brandon and Alex - GAH! A far cry from the in-your-face Mark we met in book one, both of these characters are still adorable. They're not sad saps, they can be quirky and they make for a brilliant story. I laughed out loud several times, especially at Alex. He is gorgeous.

Written well and with sensitivity, this book touches on some very horrible issues (ones that were mentioned in book 1). Without becoming melodramatic it explores the ways in which gestures, actions and reactions can differ from person to person and experience to experience. It's a really great story.

My only complaint is I've not had enough of any of these characters and I hope there are plans for more in this series. I may have to re-read Mark Cooper V... soon.





I've been thinking about this book ALOT! 

Back-n-forth like a creeper.
description
And I keep coming back to 3 main points.

First, I asked myself what I liked about it. Easy. Mark. And Blake. Hells Bells, my status updates alone will attest to that. Not a single one doesn't involve them. Not one! Then the thought creeps in… But, it's Brandon's book, isn't it? Me thinks Mark stole Brandon's thunder which, when you think about it, is reflective of their relationship. Which brings me to Brandon and Alex.

These authors did a phenomenal job with Brandon's characterization. Brandon has real world issues that don't get fixed overnight that are made worse by his eidetic memory. I saw segment on 60 Minutes recently about a boy who described the downside to having this sort of memory which was exactly Brandon's. He could remember every slight, every unkind word, every negative experience he'd ever had in vivid detail like it just happened and he had nothing as harrowing as what Brandon's been through. What I found most touching about the piece was towards the end they brought in several adults who also had this memory and one of the women told him to think of it as a superpower. It really kind of is and he visibly brightened once she put it that way. I think Brandon needed the slight alteration in his perspective that he got from all of the main players in his life to start his own healing process. However, what I found difficult to believe was him going from having a panic attack at the notion of being touched in any way to having sex in a matter of weeks. I think the book would've been better… Christ on a fucking bike! I can't even believe I'm about to say this… served if they had stuck to frottage and maybe a blow job. Shit. I feel like I just lost some street cred. 

The last thing I keep getting hung up on is the last couple of chapters. I can't decide if they felt rushed or tacked on, but something felt off. 

Nevertheless, I can't bring myself to rate this anything less than 4 stars because it entertained the bejesus out of me as well as gave me a butt load of new sayings.

P.S. Henry, Rock, I'm talking to you. Come closer, please. I'd like to present my case.

Exhibit A:
"Caught a glimpse of lace."


description
Wut?

Exhibit B:
"Ooh. Should I bring the-" He leaned over to whisper something in Deacon's ear. Deacon's eyes widened. "Uh, yeah."


description
You're killin' me, smalls.

Exhibit C:
Be good, or I'll have to get out the-" He whispered something in Mark's ear. "-later." Marks eyebrows went up.


description
Now you're just being mean. Nobody likes a meanie.

Exhibit D:
Chelsea closed her eyes briefly. "Because I told him he should use the ladies' room whenever he had to go today. It's kind of a… thing we're exploring."


description
Oy fucking vey! 

The only fair restitution for the psychological damage you've inflicted the way I see it is at least 2 shorts explaining in detailwhat Marcon are up to that's wearing Mark out so AND Blake in some MANTIES. Well, I'd like copious MANTIES sightings in both shorts, but I hate to seem… pushy. That's so gauche.




Both reviews have previously been posted on Goodreads.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review and Give-Away: The Devil's Ride by KA Merikan

--- You don’t fuck with the club president's son. ---

Tooth. Vice President of the Coffin Nails Motorcycle Club. On a neverending quest for vengeance. The last thing he needs is becoming a permanent babysitter for a male hooker.
Lucifer. Fallen. Lost. Alone.

After a childhood filled with neglect and abuse, followed by his mother’s suicide, Lucifer set out into the world alone. There was nothing for him out there other than taking it one day at a time. As the bastard son of the Coffin Nails club president, Lucifer never got much fatherly love. So when the Nails show up at the strip joint Lucifer works in, the last thing he expects is to be put in the custody of Tooth, Nails Vice President famous for his gruesome interrogation techniques. The man proves to be the sexiest beast Lucifer has ever met. He’s also older, straight, and an itch Luci can’t ever scratch.

Tooth’s life came to a halt twelve years ago. His lover got brutally murdered, police never found the perpetrators, and all leads were dead ends. To find peace and his own justice, Tooth joined the Coffin Nails, but years on, he’s gotten nowhere with the case, yet still lives on with the burning fire for revenge.
Babysitting a deeply scarred teenager with a talent for disappearing is the last thing on his bucket list. He promised himself to never get attached to someone like him again. To make sure the openly gay boy is safe in the clubhouse, Tooth is stuck keeping an eye on him. The big, blue, attention seeking gaze is drawing Tooth in, but fucking the president’s son is a complete no-go, even when both their feelings go beyond lust.

What Tooth doesn’t know is that Lucifer might hold the key to the closure Tooth so desperately needs.

WARNING Contains adult content: a gritty storyline, sex, explicit language, violence and abuse. Inappropriate use of dental tools and milk.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Prostitution, Outlaw Motorcycle Club, organized crime, homophobia, family issues, coming out, discipline/punishment, organ snatching, hurt-comfort, age gap
Genre: contemporary gay erotic dark romance
Length: ~125,000 words


When you're hiding from a biker gang, in fear of your life, wearing nothing but some sexy, skin-tight leggings, the last person you expect to see heading the gang is your dad. But this is exactly what happens to Luci - or Lucifer, to give him his real name - and yep, the story just gets better and better from there on in.

I've not read a lot of biker books, and what I have read was many moons ago, yet everything about this book appealed to me as soon as the request to read and review came in. I know I like the Merikan's writing. I really do. They are the right side of quirky for me, interesting characters and scenarios, but always with a plot that makes sense. Whatever impression I have of a story going in I can always, pretty much, guarantee I'm going to like their characters. None of whom are written in a black and white, good or bad way. The good characters aren't perfect, the bad ones not entirely evil - mostly, and this makes for a story I'm invested in and interested in. This book was no exception.

The gruff biker vice president, with a penchant for pulling teeth sans anaesthetic and a secret nobody knows, paired with the out and proud ex-stripper twink who happens to be the gang's leader's son, the book was bound to be interesting. And it really was. I have to be fair and say some of the plot turns I figured out before the end, not all of them though. The story still kept me hooked. The balance of emotional/relationship plot to actual action plot was perfect for me.

I eventually loved the relationship between Luci and Tooth, though at first I wasn't so keen on it. As the story developed so did my love for them as a potential couple. At first Tooth got on my nerves. I was pulling for Lucifer and wanted him to get away from Tooth and the club...as time went on though, I found myself changing my opinion entirely and rooting so hard for them both.

I would say if you're a biker fan, or a fan of the Merikan's you'll enjoy this book. If you're even a little bit interested, give it a try. Heck, if you enter the competion below you might even win a copy for free. I'd say it's worth it, most definitely.


KA Merikan are kindly offering an e-copy of The Devil's Ride up to one lucky winner. To be drawn on Monday 8th December at 12pm GMT time, please comment below, remebering to leave a way of contacting you (e-mail, twitter, facebook etc). Good Luck!

A copy of this book was given to us in exchange for an honest review.

Buy Links:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Devils-biker-erotic-romance-Mayhem-ebook/dp/B00QKW8XGK/ARe - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thedevil039sridegayoutlawbikermcromance-1692435-340.html Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/496897

Happy Hour Chat: "Clockwork Tangerine" by Rhys Ford

Greetings, BMBR friends! Happy holiday season and all that jazz! In case you missed it, we have a ton of giveaways still live on the blog from our November of insanity, a.k.a. the Anniversary Shenanigans last month. Check 'em out here. We're even giving away a DOZEN books (plus a $20 Amazon gift card from Finn Marlowe)!

This month, we're chatting up a storm about steampunkery! *adjusts goggles and fiddles with whatzits and doodads* 

Don your steampunkiest finery and assemble your favorite concoction to join us in our Happy Hour Chat about Clockwork Tangerine by Rhys Ford.

Rhys Ford will be December's Author of the Month, so keep an eye out for more reviews of her work and an interview (with....maybe...a giveaway?? :D) with her later this month!


Warning: This chat contains spoilers.

Audrey: Today we're chatting "Clockwork Tangerine" by Rhys Ford.
Audrey: Quick copy/paste of the blurb: The British Empire reigns supreme, and its young Queen Victoria has expanded her realm to St. Francisco, a bustling city of English lords and Chinese ghettos. St. Francisco is a jewel in the Empire’s crown and as deeply embroiled in the conflict between the Arcane and Science as its sister city, London—a very dark and dangerous battle. Marcus Stenhill, Viscount of Westwood, stumbles upon that darkness when he encounters a pack of young bloods beating a man senseless. Westwood’s duty and honor demand he save the man, but he’s taken aback to discover the man is Robin Harris, a handsome young inventor indirectly responsible for the death of Marcus’s father. Living in the shadows following a failed coup, Robin devotes his life to easing others’ pain, even though his creations are considered mechanical abominations of magicks and science. Branded a deviant and a murderer, Robin expects the viscount to run as far as he can—and is amazed when Marcus reaches for him instead.
Lorix: I actually really, really enjoyed this book chat book.
Ann of Ween Gaybles: Me too LORI!
Sunny: I wish it had been longer, I really liked the MCs
MANTICORE of SRAL: I liked the book chat book. I just didn't feel like writing a review today. I'm reviewed out. Tomorrow.
Jenni Lea: Do I even have to tell you guys if I liked this book? It's pretty much a given that I liked it.
Lorix: I always write my review after the chat anyway
Natasha: i feel like rhys ford's writing is excellent
Ann of Ween Gaybles: I loved it!
Audrey: I haven't quite finished it, but the story so far is great. >__<
Cuppers: it's my first Rhys Ford
MANTICORE of SRAL: I have issues but overall it's good
Audrey: My first Rhys Ford story, too!
MANTICORE of SRAL: My first Rhys Ford too!
Sunny: It was my first, too, Cupcake
Ann of Ween Gaybles: I reviewed it for the blog many moons ago
Justin: First line: The stink of St. Francisco crept into Marcus’s nose and stayed there, an unwelcome sensory vermin plaguing him at every step. *gags*
Ann of Ween Gaybles: J and his smells
Natasha: overall, steampunk ain't my thang, but still, RF is an excellent writer
Audrey: Ditto, SRAL. Some issues, but so far I've enjoyed it. :)
Ann of Ween Gaybles: She writes very viscerally. I love that!
Justin: I'm with Nash...steampunk ain't my thang.
Sunny: I really like steampunk
Cuppers: she's got a unique voice
Sunny: I wish there hadn't been so much happening off page, though
Cuppers: ditto Sunny
Cuppers: i like all the punks

Find out more about what we think of the punks....AND manticore porn, peen, and dildo machines! All of that and more, after the jump! :)


Review: An Uncommon Whore by Belinda McBride

Genre: LGBT Science Fiction/Space Opera 

"As a general rule, you won't find the love of your life while you're on your knees under a table." -- Helios Dayspring 

Pasha is a slave, whoring for travelers at the most dangerous bar on Warlan. He has no memory, no future of his own, yet deep inside Pasha knows that that he is meant for better things. The day that Pasha spots the dangerous pirate in the bar, he knows that he mustn't let the stranger slip away, regardless of what he must do to attract his attention. 

Captain Griffin Hawke spent the greater part of a decade searching for his lost king, only to find Helios Dayspring crouched between his knees, swathed in the robes and shackles of a whore. Though he is appalled by the downfall of his king, the hardened officer finds himself falling for the allure of the sensual creature who has taken his place. Returning Helios to his position on the throne is the only right thing to do, yet Griffin knows that in doing so, he risks losing his lover forever. 

"A whore is a whore is a whore, unless he's something else completely. I guess I must be an uncommon whore." -- Helios Dayspring




Space opera. The ultimate space opera was the only place my head went only in this rendition Han and Luke would get it on. It started off so good. We meet Pasha and he's a slave to U'shma. Slave boys don't get to have erections. They are to serve the customers so you know what that means. Chastity!!!! 



In case you don't know, I'm a fan of chastity. A big un. 

Pasha's working one night when the rakish Captain Griffin Hawke. He looks like a pirate with the eye patch/all black/leather outfit thing going and he's not very… verbal. 




I'm dig dig digging it. There's some sort of strange connection between the two and the pirate enters into a wager with U'shma to win Pasha for 24 hrs. Turns out they know each other and Pasha has an odd case of retrograde amnesia. About two whole seconds later the chastity came off. *pause* Why is the chastity ALWAYS the first to go? WHY??? I will say the chastity got replaced by quite a bit of frottage so I can't be too fussy. Still… *huffs*

The space opera begins and there is a ton of world building. Several characters are introduced and I've since learned this is a book one in a series-the foundation book. Many of the characters seem promising, but I found myself getting increasingly bored as the story progressed. Honestly, I think it's a me problem rather than a book problem. The writing's good as the story of Helios/Pasha unfolds and he gradually regains bits and pieces of his memory. Ordinarily, I like anything even remotely having to do with Star Wars but this just didn't resonate with me as much as I was hoping it would.



A copy was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: The Bridge of Silver Wings (More Heat Than the Sun #3) by John Wiltshire

The third book in the series More Heat Than the Sun

Ben discovers the truth of the old adage 'be careful what you wish for'. Nikolas has exorcised his demons, but when they end up stranded in Russia, the monster inside needs to be let loose. Siberia in winter isn't a place for good men. There is nothing Nikolas won't do to keep Ben alive. Home again, Nikolas then faces an enemy he can't defeat: Ben Rider himself. Discovering a new family, Ben realises he's been living too long in the shadows cast by Nikolas's all-consuming love. For the first time, life apart from Nikolas is possible. Is Nikolas strong enough to let Ben go?






Move over favorites list!

*shoves past Jake & Adrien and Ben & Tim & Jace* (<- yeah, I said that)

*makes room for Ben & Nikolas*
  
Good. Now that they are right where they belong, we can begin.

This series is climbing higher and higher towards the very tip-top of my favorites list. It has it all. Crazy good plot, action, suspense, intense chemistry and a romance to die for.

Right away I was sucked into their romance. For me, it's all in the dialogue. The dialogue. For serious, John Wiltshire can write a conversation. I'm not much of a highlighter, but I have 11 highlights just in chapter one. Their connection is so intense, I feel it in everything they say and do. I'm not even gonna start with the quoting here. I won't be able to stop once I do.

In part 1, Ben and Nikolas are off to Russia. On the way, the plane crashes in a remote area. There are some survivors, but Nik and Ben have to come together in order to get themselves and the survivors to safety. It's not an easy task. They face some pretty horrific things and, oh my, the suspense! My heart may have stopped a few times.

Their relationship thrived in this crazy sitch they found themselves in. Amongst people dying and surviving late fall in Russia, these two are out having sex in the snow. And playing and cuddling and being all swoony and cute. Nikolas? Cute? Yeah, he was. They really made some progress in this love they share.

I thought we were all hunky dory. I was settling in for smooth HEA sailing in Part 2.

Ha! If I thought Part 1 was suspenseful... I really was not prepared for Part 2. Not in the least.

In Part 2, Ben is able to see his newly found house and reconnect with family he never knew he had. Sounds nice and peaceful, right? Yup, it shoulda been. But, as we know, Ben and Nik don't do well with calm. Ugh. This kind of stress is not good for my heart. Ben went a little bonkers. I get that his life was kind of turned upside down, but I really wanted to smack him. Which is weird, because it's usually Nikolas I want to smack.

Some crazy stuffs went down. There were times I gasped out loud or had to just stop, put the kindle down and take a few breaths. It was that intense. But it was so (sosososososo) worth it. Both men proved themselves to each other. The things they did... *sigh* they were so perfect and thoughtful and had so much damn meaning, that I was a blubbering mess.

Their relationship is just breathtaking. 

Here I've gone on and on about them and I've yet to mention how damn sexy they are. Nikolas may be the take-charge kind of guy in their 'everyday' affairs, but in the bedroom he is Ben's. And Ben takes full advantage of that control. Unf.

I feel like I'm not fully conveying my complete adoration of this series. I'm trying really hard not to be like 'OMG!OMG!OMG! It's so totally awesome and I can't get enough of them!' When this is really all I want to say when I talk about this couple. I want you to know that the writing is phenomenal, I love it and I want you to read it and love it, too. Then come tell me about it so we can gush about all the things. I need someone to gush with.


A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads!

Review: Mr. Rumpel and Mr. Grimm by Echo Ishii

Claude Rumpel is a goblin turned human, living a quiet life in his little repair shop at the edge of town. He is in sore need of money to fund his inventions, and a cure for his hands, which he must keep covered at all times.

Daniel Grimm is half elf, descended from a wealthy family but now down on his luck. He is determined to restore his family's prestige and has a daring plan to do so.

The gold thread that Claude spins, and Daniel's ability to sell it, seems a perfect plan for their goals. The casual sex is a pleasant bonus. But they are constantly thwarted from all sides: Daniel's dealing with a powerful witch, the opposing magic of their lineages, and Claude's dark goblin desires…


I love fairy tales. Not the “helpless princess” kind with off-page evil and a hearts-and-flowers HEA. I like the kind that are dark around the edges. I like my princesses (or princes) to be self-rescuing. I like my evil to be front and center and my wicked characters to thrive on their rottenness with maniacal glee. I don’t want a clean HEA. I’m ok with blurred lines between the good and the bad where my hero may have to resort to nasty shenanigans for the greater good. This story did not disappoint in that department and I was a happy Peachy in that respect.

Mr. Rumpel and Mr. Grimm have an arrangement, both in business and as fairy tale fuck buddies. When there business dealings seem to be coming to an end both are unsure of what will happen next and neither is willing to open up and share their secrets to become closer. Showing any weakness is potentially dangerous and while the two of them have a connection, obviously, it’s physically intimate but not personal.

I liked both characters, their personalities were a good match. Grimm is a lithe beauty with a flirty personality while Rumpel paints an imposing picture, but has a shy, quiet, yet strong demeanor. The author set the scene well and I could envision Rumpel’s shop and Grimm’s home. The Olde Hag and the Troll were deliciously evil and the tension that built up when Grimm and the Olde Hag were going to have their “meeting” was a scene I really looked forward to.

All that being said there was a shortage of information for me that would have driven me to fall for these characters completely and want to be their champion in the fight. I would imagine it’s a tough balance to strike when writing a fantasy or fairy tale in giving enough background and detail without it turning into a complete info dump, especially in a shorter story.

For instance, I know that Rumpel used to be 100% goblin and now he was mostly human, but I had no idea how or why, just that “things changed, and he’d become human.” I also know that there were the Scourge Wars, but I don’t know exactly who was fighting or why. I don’t need tons of detail, but some information here would have been helpful because it obviously affected the characters a great deal and may have explained why they made certain decisions, etc. When the story starts the two are already in a “relationship” but how they met and how they came to be intimate would have made the story. Because the two of them are so incredibly different, I couldn’t imagine the point where one would make the big move on the other, so I didn’t understand their dynamics as well as I wanted. Finally, the typos. I’m really not overly picky with typos, but a glut of them will take me out of a story pretty quickly. Extra or missing “its” “the” “and” “a”, etc. can slow the reading to a stutter unfortunately and referring to a character by the others name is a tough thing to get past.

The premise is great and I would love to read more about these two. Filling in some blanks and expanding the relationship some more would definitely get me hooked. I think there is enough outline there to continue Rumpel and Grimm’s story and it wouldn’t take much more to make this reader happy.


For more info on Mr. Rumpel and Mr. Grimm, check it out on Goodreads!



***a copy of this story was provided for an honest review*** 

Review: Bonfire Heart by Devon Rhodes

Sometimes fires burn and destroy, but from the ashes, new growth can heal and cleanse. 

Thierry Alexander is the deputy mayor of Chicago, a city he loves but can’t save on his own from the corrupt political system. His assistant and lover, Eduardo, is also known as Cesar, the head of the underground resistance movement. He has been working behind the scenes for years and finally gets what he needs—enough information to get the US government involved and take down the criminal elements strangling the city he loves.

But they need to act fast because legislation is about to be enacted that will give rise to social and ethnic purging in Chicago. Not knowing who they can trust, they will have to put their faith in one another and risk everything to save a city.

Publisher's Note: This story has been previously released as part of the An Unconventional Chicago anthology by Totally Bound Publishing.

*squints*

I finished this story with more questions than answers.

I had to search for more answers as to the setting and found out that this is part of an interconnected anthology called An Unconventional Chicago. Meaning: you should read the entire anthology to probably get what this story is about. Oh and this is the last story of the anthology which wraps up before it begins and the other characters...HEA? I'm not sure.

So I got a conclusion for something I knew nothing about and still don't fully understand. I'm more of the third-hand bystander on an established couple's relationship? Struggle? Fight? Against..something? In a contemporary alternate universe where being a minority is bad? And gay too? Maybe? *scratches head*

I'm not sure.

And I am not pressed to read the other stories from this anthology to try to figure it out.

There's a deputy mayor named Thierry who is in a relationship with his personal assistant Eduardo but they have to hide the fact because as mentioned before - I don't know. It could've been a crime. They are part of a resistance, Eduardo is the head of the resistance against...bad politicians and gangs, maybe? So he and Thierry have sex (3 times in 45 pages) while resisting the bill that is against minorities and I guess the poor.

Anyway, they run and Eduardo has a cousin that is missing who sent him a message. This is a loose end that I don't know if it will amount to anything in the future (again not curious to find out but it was important to Eduardo - thought I'd mention it).

So Thierry and Eduardo are in love (?) and they run from baddies and have sex. And then there's a press conference and the day gets saved. And a weaker epilogue to finish this weak plot.

I didn't connect with any of the characters especially the main characters. I still don't know what is going on. The idea is okay, the execution was okay. The problem is the reader wasn't included on the plans. Maybe if it was longer,with enough back story to either main character to understand why they were important including their actions, then maybe I'd have cared.

If you do plan on reading this, I'd suggest reading this anthology on a whole.

Maybe it can give you a clearer synopsis. Or not.

For more information on Goodreads!

Author Visit: KA Merikan


Today, the wonderful KA Merikan are taking over the clubhouse and bringing you news of their next book, The Devil's Ride. Over to Kat and Agnes...

Hop on the bitch seat and ride with Tooth, the feared vice president of the Coffin Nails motorcycle club. No one wants to end up in his dentist’s chair, deep underneath the club compound, but his bed? That might be another matter. Lucifer, the bastard son of Tooth’s friend, is used to doing things his way, and being under supervision of the most intimidating man he ever met is the last thing he wants. At least until he understands that there’s no place safer than the mattress at the feet of Tooth’s bed.

I enjoy stories with plenty sexual tension that for one reason or another can’t be resolved right away. That’s the case with The Devil’s Ride. Tooth and Luci can’t, or rather may not be together for a variety of reasons, and with danger lurking right behind the corner, the stakes are getting higher with every chapter. The book will be out on December 5th, and if you want to know more, here’s the blurb and an excerpt :) There’s also a pinterest with some inspiration for the book: 



--- You don’t fuck with the club president's son. ---


Tooth. Vice President of the Coffin Nails Motorcycle Club. On a neverending quest for vengeance. The last thing he needs is becoming a permanent babysitter for a male hooker.
Lucifer. Fallen. Lost. Alone.

After a childhood filled with neglect and abuse, followed by his mother’s suicide, Lucifer set out into the world alone. There was nothing for him out there other than taking it one day at a time. As the bastard son of the Coffin Nails club president, Lucifer never got much fatherly love. So when the Nails show up at the strip joint Lucifer works in, the last thing he expects is to be put in the custody of Tooth, the Nails Vice President famous for his gruesome interrogation techniques. The man proves to be the sexiest beast Lucifer has ever met. He’s also older, straight, and an itch Luci can’t ever scratch.

Tooth’s life came to a halt twelve years ago. His lover got brutally murdered, police never found the perpetrators, and all leads were dead ends. To find peace and his own justice, Tooth joined the Coffin Nails, but years on, he’s gotten nowhere with the case, yet still lives on with the burning fire for revenge.
Babysitting a deeply scarred teenager with a talent for disappearing is the last thing on his bucket list. He promised himself to never get attached to someone like him again. To make sure the openly gay boy is safe in the clubhouse, Tooth is stuck keeping an eye on him. The big, blue, attention seeking gaze is drawing Tooth in, but fucking the president’s son is a complete no-go, even when both their feelings go beyond lust.

What Tooth doesn’t know is that Lucifer might hold the key to the closure Tooth so desperately needs.

WARNING: Contains adult content: a gritty storyline, sex, explicit language, violence and abuse. Inappropriate use of dental tools and milk.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Prostitution, Outlaw Motorcycle Club, organized crime, homophobia, family issues, coming out, discipline/punishment, organ snatching, hurt-comfort, age gap
Genre: contemporary gay erotic dark romance
Length:  ~ 125,000 words (Standalone novel, no cliffhanger.)

Excerpt from the book
They climbed to the second floor and went into the corridor where Tooth lived.
“Why are you my designated guardian, anyway?” Luci looked up, and it was the first time he noticed a tattoo on Tooth’s neck. A small bloodied tooth. He wasn’t sure what to think of it.
Tooth opened the door to his room and let Lucifer in first. “Why do you think?”
“‘Cause you’re calm and possibly not homophobic?” Luci looked Tooth up and down as he walked into his cell backward.
And there it was, a smile he’d managed to press out of that brutish-looking man. “And I am reliable,” said Tooth, closing the door behind him.
“You’ll do all Priest asks for?” Luci pouted and sat on his mattress on the floor.
Tooth smirked and walked over to the closet. Was he intending to make himself look good for the girls at the party? “No. Of course not.”
Luci peeled his eyes out to see Tooth change. He was still waiting to get a glimpse of Tooth’s chest, and judging by the way the tank top hugged his body, it would be a feast for the eyes. “You know Priest well though, right?”
He began brushing his hair, and it felt so nice with the new brush. It wasn’t a shitty one either, it looked like something professionals used. Tooth must have asked someone for advice to bring him something like that.
When the tank top came off, Luci found himself staring, and it seemed everything slowed down when Tooth stretched, looking through his stuff. He had amazing pectoral muscles, with a bit of dark hair in between. And a ripped stomach.
“Yeah, It’s been twelve years.”
“Since you joined the Nails?” Luci watched the club tattoo on Tooth’s muscular back. Oh, God, he could crawl onto it and kiss it all over, then have Tooth turn around and suck him off like there was no tomorrow.
“Yeah. We’re good friends, but there are times when we disagree.” Tooth finally pulled out a T-shirt, and Luci wanted to howl in disappointment.
The long breath he’d let out was actually trembly. “Like when?”
Tooth chuckled and hid his gorgeous body beneath a well-fitting T-shirt that showed off his shape in just the right way. “Club matters. Can’t say.”
Luci wondered if Tooth brought girls to this room. He imagined himself on the mattress, watching Tooth naked, fucking some girl like a beast, with the strength Luci knew all too well by now. “If I meet someone tonight, can I bring them here?”
Tooth raised an eyebrow at him and pulled on his beard. “No. I’m sure you can live without sex for a few days.”
“Would you bring someone here?” asked Luci, making sure it sounded indifferent.
Tooth walked over to the fridge and pulled out two cans. He tossed one to Luci and straightened up, opening his own. It was plain soda. “No, it would complicate things. When I want to fuck, I find somewhere suitable.”
Luci needed to stop thinking about Tooth fucking, because the mere idea that he would get to eventually see Tooth naked if he stayed was taking his mind off his escape plan. And he had one.

About the authors
K.A. Merikan is a joint project of Kat and Agnes Merikan, who jokingly claim to share one mind. They finish each other's sentences and simultaneously come up with the same ideas. Kat and Agnes enjoy writing various kinds of stories, from light-hearted romance to thrillers. They love creating characters that are not easy to classify as good or evil, and firmly believe that even some villains deserve their happy endings. It is easiest to find them in galleries, restaurants and historical sites, always with a computer or notebook, because for Kat and Agnes, every day is a writing day. Future plans include lots of travel, and a villa on the coast of Italy or a flat in Paris where they could retire after yet another crazy venture, only to write more hot gay romances.

As K.A. Merikan, Kat and Agnes have published a number of books, which cross genres while always being gay romances.


More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Agnes Merikan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgnesMerikan


Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KAMerikan/

Anniversary Shenanigans & GIVEAWAY BONANZA: Anniversary Squee-filled Chat!

HOLY SHIZNITS, BATMAN! BMBR IS FREAKING ONE YEAR OLD!

*heavy breathing*


Seriously, uni friends, we are one year old, and we're freaking STOKED. So stoked, in fact, that we squee-sploded in a chat filled with ridiculousness that you can access EXCLUSIVELY here...after the jump...with *whispers* a GIGANTIC GIVEAWAY attached to it. (Okay, so maybe we don't know the meaning of the word "whisper.")

Here's a sneak peek...

Natasha: why is it called tossing salad, anyway?
Natasha: i don't see the link
Lorix: because you toss the leaves in the air (kinda)
Ann of Ween Gaybles: HAHAHAHAHAHA - Urban Dictionary
Justin: Tossing salad is sticking your tongue in someone's ass
Natasha: yes, but why is it called tossing salad?! i dont stick my tongue in salad!
Natasha: i still don't get it :(
Ann of Ween Gaybles: And there's J
Lorix: Really JJ? Not heard that one before
Audrey: Okay, guys, quick anniversary chat, aaaand begin!!!
Jenni Lea: I forgot what our anniversary chat is supposed to be about
Cuppers: erm…
Lorix: I've LOVED loved loved the first year at BMBR.
Audrey: Anniversary chat is about general squee-age over the occasion of our anniversary.
Ann of Ween Gaybles: Me tooooooooooo
Lorix: It's been way more fun than I could ever have imagined.


Want to know what comes next? We continue in the same vein....with lots of SQUIRRELS and SQUEES after the jump! Oh yeah....AND the humongous giveaway! *wiggles*


More STUFFS (plus the giveaway) - just keep reading! ♥