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May 24th, 2012
 Nate’s Deputy by Lavinia Lewis
Series: Shifters’ Haven, Book #5
Publisher: Total E-Bound Publishing
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Paranormal, Erotic Romance
Length: 128 pages
Summary:
Werewolf Nate Stanford is riddled with guilt over his brother Rick’s death…so much so that when he meets his mate—Deputy Sheriff Jared Ambrose—he rejects him, believing he is not good enough for Jared and not worthy of being loved. The only thing that matters to him is buying his childhood home in honor of his brother’s memory.
Since their father died, Jared Ambrose has taken on responsibility for his younger brother, whose drinking binges are constantly getting him into trouble. Jared’s only hope of saving his brother is finding them a place they can call home. Jared wants to make Sheriff, but believes he’ll never be elected if the residents of his new town find out he is gay. When he realizes Nate is his mate, he knows it’s not possible for them to be together.
But trouble in their small town and unrest in the supernatural council force them together and make them question their decisions. Can these two stubborn men conquer their demons and overcome all obstacles to carve out a life together?
Barb Manning’s Review:
Nate’s Deputy is the fifth book in Lavinia Lewis’ Shifters’ Haven series. It’s a standalone story about two strong-willed gay werewolf shifters, Nate Stanford and Deputy Jared Ambrose. Nate’s Deputy focuses on life in the small town of Wolf Creek, New Mexico and the activities of its denizens.
 Jared is looking to find a home for him and his troubled younger brother, Tristan; while Nate’s want to restore the home his deceased brother Rick lost. At the same time these two stubborn young men work to gain a home, they must deal with the shady activities going on in Wolf Creek involving the Supernatural Council. They also need to cope with an attraction so passionate it threatens to overcome all the other obstacles in their lives.
Lavinia Lewis writes some steamy scenes between Jared and Nate, as well as other key characters in Nate’s Deputy, including Aaron and Cary from other Shifters’ Haven stories. Ms. Lewis has a strong voice and her characters are sympathetic and compelling. Jared’s relationship with Tristan is tender and caring. Nate’s grief over the death of his little brother is touching, as are the scenes with Cary and Aaron.
Nate’s Deputy moves at a fast clip; the action almost never stops. On occasion, this shortchanges the depth of the story. There are also some minor technical and grammatical problems with Nate’s Deputy that are not present in other installments of Shifters’ Haven. Nevertheless, Nate’s Deputy is a fun read worth 3.5 Ravens. Shifters’ Haven is a nice series with some interesting characters worth getting to know.
Rated 3.5 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 1/2 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, Erotic Romance, GLBT, Lavinia Lewis, m/m, Nate's Deputy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Raven Divas, Total E-Bound | 1 Comment »
May 15th, 2012
 Solitary, a Hammer novel by Sean Michael
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, BDSM, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 174 pages
Summary:
Greg’s on a downward spiral. He broke his back a few years into a promising stunt career, then his master died shortly after they began living a BDSM lifestyle together. He’s just lost. So lost, that he can’t keep a Master for more than two weeks. So lost that he’s been arrested several times and is this close to winding up in jail. So lost that Master Oliver doesn’t know what to do with him anymore.
In desperation, Oliver calls on his friend Appleton who lives in isolation in Northern Canada. Ap enjoys working with subs, and has both the time and the inclination to work with a lost soul like Greg. Not to mention, there’s no way to get into legal trouble or run away from Ap’s house given its location. So, Ap takes Greg in, hoping to help Greg find his center and himself again.
Will Greg find what he needs with Ap? Or will he find so much more? Find out in this latest addition to Sean Michael’s Hammer Club series.
Barb Manning’s Review:
Solitary: A Hammer Novel by Sean Michael is a sweet novel that’s part of the long-running Hammer BDSM series. The main characters Greg and Ap are immediately sympathetic and engaging. Solitary deals with the development of Ap and Greg’s relationship as Dom and sub.
Greg comes to Ap with some serious emotional baggage. A fractured and beaten-down spirit leaves him unable to keep a Dom for more than a couple of weeks. Greg is very high maintenance, demanding a great deal of attention. Ap, on the other hand, is a self-sufficient individual comfortable with his solitary existence out in the middle of the wilds of Northern Canada.
Mr. Michael brings these two disparate characters together with warmth and depth. Greg’s fragility is clear, but so is Ap’s strength. Both characters are well-drawn with distinct features and flaws. Mr. Michael focuses more on the control aspect of the BDSM life-style in revealing Ap and Greg’s story.
Oliver and Jack, owners of the Hammer Club, make brief appearances in Solitary to move the story along at strategic points as Greg and Ap get to know each other on Ap’s tree farm. Greg learns to deal with the loss of his former Dom, Tim, and he develops new strength under Ap’s peace-giving touch.
The Hammer Club series is a great collection of stories and Solitary is a fine addition. Ap and Greg’s story is worth 4 Ravens for the skill of writing and the passion of the characters.
Rated 4 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 4 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, Raven Divas, Sean Michael, Solitary, torquere, Torquere Press | 1 Comment »
May 14th, 2012
 Shibari Auction House: Alec by Sean Michael
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, BDSM, Contemporary, Erotic romance
Length: 54 pages
Summary:
Experienced sub Alec is back at the Shibari Auction House to sell two more years of his time after his master of ten years turns him in for a “newer model.” Novice Top Benj can’t believe anyone would throw the lovely Alec away or complain that he’s too old and snaps Alec up for twice the asking price.
Could it be both men are looking for more than a sale and some fun, and is it possible they’ll find it together?
Barb Manning’s Review :
Shibari Auction House: Alec is the second installment in Sean Michael’s Shibari Auction House BDSM series. It’s a short story that focuses mainly upon the two main characters Benj, the new Dom and Alec, an experienced sub. The two young men meet during an auction at Shibari House. Alec is selling his services for two years and Benj is looking for a new sub.
This Dom/sub pair has some problems to overcome from the outset. Alec, while an experienced sub, is unsure of himself after his former Master rejected him. On the other hand, Benj is not an experienced Dom. The two have good chemistry, though. There’s an immediate attraction. Mr. Michael builds the sexual tension between the pair with skill. This is a brief story, but it’s not an unfinished story. By the end of Shibari Auction House: Alec, it’s clear where these two men are going in their relationship.
Sean Michael is light-handed with the BDSM life-style. Much of Shibari Auction House: Alec focuses on the two main characters getting to know each other, discovering their sexual likes and dislikes. This second story in the Shibari Auction House series continues in the same vein as the first with the emphasis on the main Dom and sub. The auction house loosely connects the two stories. It might be interesting to know more about the Shibari House. For instance, who owns the house? What goes on there when an auction isn’t underway?
Shibari Auction House: Alec is worth 3.5 Ravens. It falls a little short of the bar set by Shibari Auction House: Jack, but it’s well worth the read.
Rated 3.5 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 1/2 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, Raven Divas, Sean Michael, Shibari Auction House: Alec by Sean Michael | 1 Comment »
May 4th, 2012
 Artistic Pursuits by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 200 pages
Summary:
Frank Jennings is an FBI agent looking for redemption. Leslie Carlton is an Interpol agent looking for a thief. Attraction flares from the moment they meet on a case searching for a stolen triptych of unique Tiffany windows, but after a single night of stunning passion, Leslie is called back to London to continue his search there.
When the case heats up again, Leslie returns to the States—and to Frank—but their investigation is complicated by their tumultuous feelings. Is it possible for two dedicated detectives to pursue each other while they’re tracking down stolen art and the unscrupulous man who steals it?
Barb Manning’s Review:
Andrew Grey’s Artistic Pursuits is a gay romance between FBI Detective Frank Jennings and Interpol Agent Leslie Carlton. The two men come together in the aftermath of a high stakes art theft of three fabulous Tiffany windows. Their attraction is powerful and immediate. While they’re chasing down leads and rounding up suspects, Frank and Les find themselves dealing with strong and unprofessional feelings for one another.
Andrew Grey weaves a taught tale; managing to keep the heist front and center of Artistic Pursuits while never losing focus on the budding relationship between Frank and Les. He deals with the mechanics of working on high-profile crimes, as well as the politics involved with much skill. The pacing in Artistic Pursuits is fast, but smooth.
Frank and Les move on the stage with purpose, both demonstrating skill as investigators pursuing their nemesis. It’s entertaining to watch them plot strategy over the case and maneuver through the pitfalls of a new romance.
Artistic Pursuits is part of a series, but it stands alone with rich characterization. Andrew Grey is a good storyteller and Artistic Pursuits is a good story. The scenes between Frank and Les are genuine, as well as the interchanges between Frank and his co-workers. This is definitely worth 4 ravens.
Rated 4 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 4 Ravens, Andrew Grey, Artistic Pursuits, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Dreamspinner Press, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, Raven Divas | 2 Comments »
May 4th, 2012
 Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: GLBT, Contemporary, M/M, Erotic Romance
Length: 320 pages
Summary:
Chase Summers: Golden boy. Beautiful girlfriend, good friends, and a promising future. Nobody knows the real Chase.
Chase Summers has a razor blade to his wrist and the smell of his lover’s goodbye clinging to his skin. He has a door in his heart so frightening he’d rather die than open it, and the lies he’s used to block it shut are thinning with every forbidden touch. Chase has spent his entire life unraveling, and his decision to set his sexuality free in secret has only torn his mind apart faster.
Chase has one chance for true love and salvation. He may have met Tommy Halloran in the world of gay-for-pay—where the number of lovers doesn’t matter as long as the come-shot’s good—but if he wants the healing that Tommy’s love has to offer, he’ll need the courage to leave the shadows for the sunlight. That may be too much to ask from a man who’s spent his entire life hiding his true self. Chase knows all too well that the only things thriving in a heart’s darkness are the bitter personal demons that love to watch us bleed.
Barb Manning’s Review:
Amy Lane’s Chase in Shadow is a poignant and painful romance between Chase Summers, a young engineer-in-training and Tommy Halloren, a veterinarian wannabe. Both young men carry some serious emotional baggage that they need deal with if they want a future together, if they are even going to have a future.
At the same time Chase and Tommy are working through their emotional angst, they also need to handle their gay-for-pay side jobs. They’re having sex with multiple partners disconnected from any real emotions.
Chase has a life built upon a scaffolding of lies and half-truths. He reaches out to Tommy in a move that could save him, if only he’s willing to face the fallacies in his life. Tommy, on the other hand, has some serious body image issues he has to overcome.
Ms. Lane is a master at creating strong, but flawed characters. She paints emotional scenes that make lasting impressions. Her books are always rich with characters who step from the page and tell their story. Ms. Lane does not fumble with the awkward moments even when they’re uncomfortable to witness.
Chase in Shadow is no exception. Chase has some very painful experiences in his young life. Even so, he’s barely of legal, and already he has a successful girlfriend and is saving for a house in the suburbs. He’s planning for the future, but is it the one he really wants. Chase in Shadow asks some serious questions about family and friendships, love and hate, lies and truth. Chase and Tommy are two young men very much worth getting to know.
Rated 4.5 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 4 1/2 Ravens, Amy Lane, Author Review, Barb Manning, Chase in Shadow, Contemporary Romance, Dreamspinner Press, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, Raven Divas | 2 Comments »
April 2nd, 2012
 A Tryst of Fate by H.C. Brown
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Historical, Erotic Romance
Length: 171 pages
Summary:
After inheriting a Georgian house in Berkley Square, London, Colt Daniels, millionaire art dealer, finds himself obsessed by a portrait of the home’s former owner, Lord Alexander Swift.
During a conversation with author, Jake Williams, Colt discovers Lord Swift and his cousin had mysteriously disappeared from the cellar one evening, shortly after Alexander’s illicit affair with the rogue, David Fitzhugh. Jake reveals Colt bears a remarkable resemblance to Fitzhugh.
Colt decides to investigate Alexander’s strange disappearance and ventures into his cellar late one night to look for a secret passageway. When his flashlight fails, Colt finds himself transported back in time to 1775 and there he comes face to face with the man of his dreams — Lord Alexander Swift.
Barb Manning’s Review:
A Tryst of Fate is a gay romance novel by H. C. Brown that involves time travel. Millionaire art dealer Colt Daniels finds himself transported back to 1775. He explores the cellar of his newly restored London home after purchasing the portrait of Lord Alexander Swift, a man he’s been fascinated by since he inherited his home.
Both Colt and Alexander are engaging characters and much of the action of the novel focuses on the two of them. Alexander is a lonely man suffering under the oppressive anti-sodomite sentiments of the time, while Colt is a free and openly gay man of the 21st century with the money and power to get what he wants.
In A Tryst of Fate, H.C. Brown writes an entertaining time travel story with glimpses into the difficulties of a modern man trying to live in the 1700′s, as well as the obvious hurdles faced by a man from 1775 trying to fit into the modern world. However, H.C. Brown rushes the romance between Colt and Alexander somewhat. They barely know each other before they are falling into bed. A little more build up in their relationship could have made the story much richer.
Nevertheless, the scenes between the two are passion-filled and on occasion touching and sometimes humorous.
Rated 3.5 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 1/2 Ravens, A Tryst of Fate, Author Review, Barb Manning, Erotic Romance, GLBT, H.C. Brown, Historical, Historical Romance, Historical/Regency, m/m, Raven Divas, Silver Publishing | 2 Comments »
March 15th, 2012
 A Journey of the Heart by Rick R. Reed
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 14 pages
Summary:
Take a journey back to that magical moment in time when two lovers first meet. In this case, it’s on board a train bound for England’s seaside community, Brighton. There, our narrator and his soon-to-be-true-love meet for the first time and what follows is an encounter so erotic and romantic that it has to be destined for a lifetime. They may have been strangers on a train when they boarded, but that all changes with just a meeting of the eyes, igniting a spark leading to a lifelong connection.
Barb Manning’s Review:
A Journey of the Heart by Rick R. Reed is a surprising short story that takes a brief, but poignant glimpse into the lives of two young men taking a journey on a train. A Journey of the Heart exposes that first magic of two strangers physically attracted to each other almost from first sight.
Love at first glimpses may be clichéd, but Mr. Reed makes it work. From the opening scenes, it’s clear that the two young lovers, Jim and the unnamed protagonist are very much in love. The plot only deals with two train rides ten years apart, but it manages to encapsulate lust, passion and the loving comfort they share.
A Journey of the Heart is a very short story and the ending may disappoint some, but the story is a good one. Rick Reed is a fine writer and pens scenes of tight-clench passion with much skill. He invests a lifetime of experience into two brief train rides: one in England and the other in New England. A Journey of the Heart is a touching tale that garners 3 Ravens.
Rated 3 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 Ravens, A Journey of the Heart, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, MLR Press, MLR Press Inc, Raven Divas, Rick R. Reed | 2 Comments »
February 19th, 2012
 Cinder by Marie Sexton
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Fantasy Romance
Length: 133 pages
Summary:
A CinderFella story–it’s all fun and games until somebody loses a shoe…
Eldon Cinder would give anything to see Prince Xavier one last time, but only women are invited to the royal ball. When the local witch offers to make Eldon female for just one night, he agrees.
One spell. One night. One dance.
What could possibly go wrong?
Barb Manning’s Review:
Cinder by Marie Sexton recounts a childhood fairy tale with a twist. Eldon Cinder has the role of the harried young Cinderella, while Xavier is the Prince desperately in search of a bride. The two young men find themselves caught in a dilemma: the Prince must marry or become a pauper.
How Ms. Sexton works out the challenges of this story that everyone knows is entertaining. The story has all the elements expected in a Cinderella tale, namely a stepmother and stepsisters, witchery and magic, as well as new elements to make the story fresh.
There’s no sex between Eldon and Xavier, but there is chemistry and a great hulking dog named Milton. Cinder is a fresh look at an old tale handled with much skill and romance. It’s worthy of 4 Ravens for its creativity and sweetness. Cinder is a real charmer.
Rated 4 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 4 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, Cinder, Fantasy, GLBT, m/m, Marie Sexton, Raven Divas, Silver Publishing | 2 Comments »
February 16th, 2012
 A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Genre: Gay, M/M, Historical Romance
Length: Novel
Summary:
To seal their bond, they must break the ties that bind.
Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens. When he hears rumors of an exotic new orchid sighted at a local hobbyist’s house, though, he girds himself with opiates and determination to attend a house party, hoping to sneak a peek.
He finds the orchid, yes…but he finds something else even more rare and exquisite: Michael Vallant. Professional sodomite.
Michael climbed out of an adolescent hell as a courtesan’s bastard to become successful and independent-minded, seeing men on his own terms, protected by a powerful friend. He is master of his own world—until Wes. Not only because, for once, the sex is for pleasure and not for profit. They are joined by tendrils of a shameful, unspoken history. The closer his shy, poppy-addicted lover lures him to the light of love, the harder his past works to drag him back into the dark.
There’s only one way out of this tangle. Help Wes face the fears that cripple him—right after Michael finds the courage to reveal the devastating truth that binds them.
Product Warnings
Contains wounded heroes, bibliophilic tendencies, orchid obsessions, a right bastard of a marquis, and gay men who get happily-ever-afters.
Barb Manning’s Review:
A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan is at its core the love story of Lord George Albert Westin and Michael Vallant. It’s a tale of failure and redemption in families, friendships and society. Ms. Cullinan paints a vivid tapestry of passion and pain, of love gone down to the depths of hell and reclaimed at great costs.
Heidi Cullinan is not a gentle writer. She can draw beautiful imagery, such as her descriptions of Wes’ orchids and Michael’s books. However, her power as a writer is in her depiction of emotional trauma. As she explores the contours of Wes’ addiction to opium, Ms. Cullinan delivers some gut-wrenching scenes; likewise, with the recounting of Michael’s early life with his courtesan mother.
While Ms. Cullinan is hyper-focused on the romance between Wes and Michael, she peoples A Private Gentleman with characters who step onto the stage with their own powerful history. Her secondary characters are not mere stand-ins or tools to move the tale. They have their own stories to tell.
Penelope and Rodger are just two of the secondary characters who demand attention on Heidi Cullinan’s stage. On the surface, it appears that Penelope, the crusader, stands at one end of the social spectrum while Rodger, the brothel owner, stands at the other end, but neither character is so clear cut, both are good and bad.
A Private Gentleman is a great read! Ms. Cullinan’s Wes and Michael make you root for them. You want them to win through the pain and trauma of their lives because they deserve to win. There should be 10 stars just for this book. A Private Gentleman is definitely a keeper.
Rated 5 Ravens and a Recommended Read by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 5 Ravens, A Private Gentleman, Author Review, Barb Manning, Gay, GLBT, Heidi Cullinan, Historical, Historical Romance, m/m, Raven Divas, Recommended Read, Samhain Publishing | 2 Comments »
February 2nd, 2012
 The Gallows Tree by RJ Scott
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Length: 232 pages
Summary:
Cody Garret is only just finding his way after an abusive relationship ended with his ex in prison. Coming to England to restore Mill Cottage is his way of running so he has time to heal. His goal is simple—hire a company to help make the mill cottage saleable then go back to the States.
What he doesn’t count on is meeting Sebastian Toulson-Brown, the brother of his contractor and the man who may be able to show him he can stop running.
But first Cody and Sebastian must deal with the ghosts of lost loves and the destinies that are woven into the story of the mill and the sycamore trees that stand on its land, one of which might be the gallows tree.
Barb Manning’s Review:
The Gallows Tree by RJ Scott is a tale of recovering from abusive physical and emotional trauma. Cody is running from an extremely abusive lover and he’s been running for the past six years. Coming to England to restore Mill Cottage is just an opportunity to get farther away from his pain.
When Cody meets Sebastian Toulson-Brown, the youngest brother of his contractor, all his plans go awry. He and Sebastian find themselves embarked on discovering just what happened to two hapless young lovers lost centuries ago. During the process of finding the truth and settling old hurts, Cody and Seb develop a passionate, but gentle and tender relationship.
Some of RJ Scott’s scenes in The Gallows Tree are touching while others are heart-breaking in their pain and pathos. Ms. Scott’s descriptions of the environs of Mill Cottage are very real. You can almost hear the sounds of crunching fresh powder snow as Cody and Seb trudge across the fields. Likewise, the intimate moments shared by Cody and Seb are sweet in the care they take of each other’s feelings.
The Gallows Tree is a story about finding the strength and courage to stop running and facing your fears. The quality of the writing and love story is a sweet tale you’ll definitely enjoy.
Rated 4 Ravens by Barb Maning!
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Posted in 4 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, Raven Divas, RJ Scott, Romantic Suspense, Silver Publishing, The Gallows Tree | 2 Comments »
January 17th, 2012
 Jesse’s Christmas by RJ Scott
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday
Length: 82 pages
Summary:
For Jesse Connor, Christmas is nothing but a series of bad memories. It takes a man imbued with the spirit of Christmas to help him realize that the Christmas spirit lies in everyone–if they only know where to look.
Barb Manning’s Review:
RJ Scott has a sweet little story in Jesse’s Christmas, a holiday treat about a talented photographer with the attitude of Grinch regarding all things Christmas. On assignment from his editor, Jesse is in charming, remote Eden Vale to take some Christmas photos for a client’s online magazine.
Almost immediately, Jesse is knee-deep in Christmas with picture-perfect landscapes and the delightful young Gabriel McClurey, the son of Eden Vale’s innkeeper. RJ Scott paints a clear image of Jesse as a man packing a great deal of baggage from a broken relationship. Ms. Scott writes poetic descriptions of Eden Vale as the little hamlet goes through it’s annual celebrations of the holidays.
It’s impossible not to smile while reading this tale of lost and found love, as Jesse and Gabriel struggle (all too briefly) to develop a relationship in a situation that could ultimately be temporary. After all, Jesse is on an assignment for Christmas.
The only shortcoming in Jesse’s Christmas is the brevity of the story. For a small town boy, Gabriel is a little too quick to get involved with Jesse. Still, the writing is good; the flow of the story fine in Jesse’s Christmas by RJ Scott .
Rated 3 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 Divas, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Gay, GLBT, Holiday, Jesse's Christmas, m/m, Raven Divas, RJ Scott, Silver Publishing | 4 Comments »
January 11th, 2012
 A-Hunting We Will Go by Kate Roman
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, M/M, GLBT
Length: 28 Pages
Summary:
The Honourable Philip Huntingdon is due to inherit a comfortable country estate, and what should have been a comfortable fortune. But Philip’s dissolute guardian has squandered the inheritance, and is now determined Philip must marry a rich heiress as soon as possible. Philip’s own preference runs instead to his boyhood friend Fergus, a groom on the estate. When a foxhunting accident brings things to a head Philip must decide: his home, and the life he was born to, or an unknown future with the man he loves?
Barb Manning’s Review:
A-Hunting We Will Go by Kate Roman is a Torquere Press Sip short story set in what appears to be 19th century England. A-Hunting We Will Go relates the story of nobleman Philip Huntingdon and Fergus, a young groom on his family’s estate.
Kate Roman weaves a tale of dissolution among the nobility and the courage of two young men determined to develop a life for themselves. The plot line focuses on the events surrounding a foxhunting accident and how Philip and his guardian, Sir John deal with the situation. There are some passionate sexual exchanges between Philip and Fergus, as well as some violent confrontations between Philip and his guardian.
Ms. Roman resolves the problem of Sir John’s dissolution and Philip’s sexuality in an interesting and unusual way. A-Hunting We Will Go is a nice little Sip of 28 pages that is worthy of 3.5 stars due the caliber of Ms. Roman’s writing. Her stories are always enjoyable.
Rated 3 1/2 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 1/2 Ravens, A-Hunting We Will Go, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, GLBT, Kate Roman, m/m, Raven Divas, torquere, Torquere Press | 1 Comment »
January 6th, 2012
 Sunset Ridge by Carol Lynne
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Genre: GLBT, M/M, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Western Cowboys
Length: 86 pages
Summary:
After the death of his father, Grayson Conner finds himself running, Sunset Ridge Stables, a prosperous horse breeding operation just outside of Wellington, Arkansas. Since riding a horse for the first time, Gray has known running the ranch would be his destiny. Years spent watching his father negotiate and build the ranch into a highly respected operation prepared him well.
In need of a manager to oversee the hired hands, Gray hires Jack “Ram” Ramsdale, a sexy temptation that could spell nothing but trouble. For years, Gray managed to keep his sexual preferences away from the ranch, but the introduction of Ram into his life changes everything.
Ram fell in love with Sunset Ridge Stables the first time he stepped foot on the ranch with its rolling green hills and views to take a person’s breath away. The handsome ranch owner is definitely a bonus, but more than anything Ram is searching for a place to belong.
With temptation at his fingertips, Gray gives in to his feelings and begins an intense affair with his new manager. For a few blissful months he believes he can have it all, the ranch and a man he loves at his side. When local gossip threatens the reputation of the Sunset Ridge, Gray and Ram are forced to make an important decision. Give up their relationship or lose everything they’ve worked for.
BarbManning’s Review:
Sunset Ridge by Carol Lynne is a fine tale about two lonely cowboys, Gray Connor and Jack “Ram” Ramsdale living and working in Wellington, Arkansas. Gray owns a successful horse breeding ranch and Ram hires on as the new manager. The attraction between these two strong men throws off sparks immediately.
The dilemma of their attraction arises out of the insular culture they’re living in and Gray’s reluctance to reveal his sexuality and risk the success of his ranch. Carol Lynne populates Sunset Ridge with some interesting characters, including young Raleigh, Gray’s rebellious teenage niece, Jesse Franks, a new ranch hand with problems of his own, and Ben Moore, the new veterinarian.
Sunset Ridge paints a colorful picture of life in a small western town and what can happen when two men face their attraction to each other and act upon it. The sexual tension is fiery between Gray and Ram. There are a number of sweaty clenches and burning kisses shared between Gray and Ram as they figure out how to have an open and honest relationship for the first time in their lives.
The question of revealing their sexuality underpins the entire plot of Sunset Ridge. How many people Gray’s known all of his life will desert him once they find out he’s gay? How many of his clients will take their business elsewhere once they know? Sunset Ridge is an entertaining tale about cowboys, horses and romance.
Rated 4 Ravens by BarbManning!
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Posted in 4 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, carol lynne, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, GLBT, m/m, Raven Divas, Sunset Ridge, Total E-Bound, Western Cowboys | 1 Comment »
January 4th, 2012
 Crate Trained by Julia Talbot
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, GLBT, M/M
Length: 14 pages
Summary:
Gary knows that anonymous cruising is dangerous, but he never expects for a night out to end in a painful bite that won’t seem to heal. His cop roommate Chey knows that bite is even more dangerous than Gary imagines. Can he convince Gary that he needs to take some precautions before it’s too late?
Barb Manning’s Review:
Crate Trained by Julia Talbot is part of Torquere Press’ short story series, A Sip. The characters are likable and the story is interesting. I hope this is going to be the beginning of a new, longer story, since much of the back-story is missing.
Crate Trained is a brief look into the possible relationship between Gary and Chey, two roommates. It leaves some key questions unanswered in revealing just what happens to Gary when he ventures out to a gay bar alone looking for a hook-up.
The pace of the short story is frenetic and the writing is strong. Ms. Talbot is a good teller of tales. The scenes between Chey and Gary are passionate and fun. Crate Trained is a nice tease.
Rated 3.5 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 1/2 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Crate Trained, Erotic Romance, GLBT, Julia Talbot, m/m, Raven Divas, torquere, Torquere Press | 2 Comments »
November 22nd, 2011
 Crankset by Kate Roman
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Erotica, M/M, GLBT
Length: 11,000 words
Summary:
San Francisco bike courier Matt Robinson wishes he and his boyfriend Jason had more privacy, sure, but their quiet, curtained-off living room in the Mission District is all the two of them can afford. Besides, it’s safe and homey, two things Jason missed during his tour in Afghanistan. But when the two boys run afoul of their roommates and a rent increase, will Matt let Jason talk him into a risky move to the Sunset District? Or will Matt’s big mouth land them both out on the street?
Barb Manning’s Review:
Crankset is a romantic vignette about two guys, Matt Robinson and Jason Hicks, in a committed relationship living in the fabled Mission District and working for a bike courier service. These two charming guys have a dilemma–should they move from their current digs or tough it out. Ms. Roman’s main characters in this brief piece have a long history with each other and their relationship is solid. But stress over living arrangements can strain the best relationship.
How Matt and Jason cope with the situation is entertaining and fun. Despite the lightness of the story, Ms. Roman makes it obvious that Matt and Jason endured much hardship to come to the place they are in their relationship. The love between these two men is clear, as is the trust. Crankset is a nice read about two nice guys dealing with life in the big city.
Ms. Roman is a good novelist with a fluid style and great characterization. She has a nice focus on the stage of her stories and pays attention to detail.
Rated 3.5 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 3 1/2 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, Contemporary Romance, Crankset, Erotic Romance, GLBT, Kate Roman, m/m, Raven Divas, torquere, Torquere Press | 1 Comment »
November 10th, 2011
 Lion Tamer: A Hammer Story by Sean Michael
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: BDSM, Erotic Romance, Erotica, M/M, GLBT,
Length: 5,200 words
Summary:
Single Hammer Club Top Christopher is dressed up for the club’s Halloween party as a lion tamer, complete with whip. He’s an expert with the whip; he just needs to find someone special to use it on. Will newcomer and sexy kitty Travis be just what he’s looking for?
Barb Manning’s Review:
Lion Tamer is another chapter in the Hammer Club series by Sean Michael. Like the other Hammer Club stories, Lion Tamer is about the BDSM life-style. The focus of the story is an encounter between Christopher and Travis at the Hammer Club Halloween party. Christopher arrives masked and carrying a lion tamer’s whip. While Travis wears the costume of a black cat, both men are looking for some action.
Sean Michael’s Hammer Club is a rich and decadent stage for the encounter between Dom Christopher and wannabe Sub, Travis. The owners of the club, Xavier and Marcus are recurring characters in the Hammer Club series. They and other club regulars tie the stories together.
Christopher is looking for someone to ply with his expert whipping skills and Travis is not sure what he wants, but he thinks he could like what Christopher is offering. Michael develops a nice chemistry between Christopher and Travis in Lion Tamer. There’s a great deal of high-energy play between the two main characters, but the BDSM doesn’t get too heavy. Sean Michael has light touch with sensitive issues and character development. He reveals things about his characters using facial gestures and body language — an uplifted eyebrow can imply many things.
Lion Tamer is a fun little tale with some playful sex scenes. It’s worth 4 Ravens. Enjoy!
Rated 4 Ravens by Barb Manning!
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Posted in 4 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Lion Tamer: A Hammer Story, m/m, Raven Divas, Sean Michael, torquere, Torquere Press | 1 Comment »
November 8th, 2011
 Temple Boy by Heidi Cullinan
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Fantasy, M/M, GLBT, Erotic Romance
Length: 165
Summary:Though he’s lived his whole life in a monastery, temple boy Aurel doesn’t believe in God — not until he wakes up knowing with stone-cold certainty God is dead. Then yet another god appears and he tells Aurel he’s a god too, and that it’s up to him to save the world.
Now giant stone beasts are running him down at mass, witches are dropping out of the sky, and a sad, headless man named Charles whispers to Aurel in his dreams. It isn’t until a band of vengeful women warriors drag him into the desert and introduce Aurel to a lover of his own that he realizes how much not just his life but the lives of others are at stake. Whatever he does with his newfound power, be it taking Charles’s place or finding a way to restore him to Timothy’s side, he’ll have to do it soon, because the man who had Charles killed is looking for Aurel too. But while Aurel has always taken refuge in being a simple temple boy, he quickly learns all the power in the universe isn’t worth anything unless he also believes in himself and his lover.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, dubious consent, menage (m/f/m with m/m content), rape, same sex practices (m/m, f/f), strong violence. Readers with a history of rape or sexual abuse may find elements of this story disturbing.
Barb’s Review:
Temple Boy by Heidi Cullinan takes up the tale of Timothy and Charles, lovers and gods in the world of Etsey. This chapter of the story is equally as complex as the opening salvo. Ms. Cullinan is a gifted storyteller. To fully enjoy Temple Boy you must leave behind ideas regarding the flow of time and the uniqueness of person, or even sex.
Charles and Timothy fragment themselves to such an extent that new characters step onto the stage to help reunite them. Male and female characters who contain shards of the Charles and Timothy move through the story weaving a great spell. Jonathon and Madeline are again key figures, as are some new villains and heroes.
Aurel, a young temple boy of Mantua takes center stage in this episode. He has a great task, saving the world. How and if he achieves this lofty goal is the focus of Temple Boy. In Aurel, Ms. Cullinan creates a sympathetic figure that evokes empathy as he confronts situations dealing with the existence of God and the Goddess. His bewilderment is real; his pain and confusion are real.
Temple Boy is fast-paced covering vast areas of land and sea, space and time. Ms. Cullinan takes the reader from warm temples in Manua, to the vast deserts of Peshani, to the desolated lands of Catal, the childhood home of Timothy. While the scenes change with dramatic effect, the central focus of the story is never lost.
Temple Boy is a successful addition to the Etsey series, full of passion, love and pain. It is as thought-provoking as Seventh Veil and as entertaining.
Rated 5 Ravens and a Recommended Read by Barb!
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Posted in 5 Ravens, Author Review, Barb Manning, Erotic Romance, Fantasy, GLBT, Heidi Cullinan, Loose Id, m/m, Raven Divas, Recommended Read, Temple Boy | 1 Comment »
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