Kris Hamilton is an LA transplant to Minnesota, and a snow globe artist with an odd form of Tourette's that causes him to spout streams of synonyms whKris Hamilton is an LA transplant to Minnesota, and a snow globe artist with an odd form of Tourette's that causes him to spout streams of synonyms when overexcited rather than epithets. (Perhaps in his case it should be called Roget's Syndrome) Kris is obviously and openly gay, yet, he's chosen to relocate to a small town in Northern Minnesota with a year round Christmas theme that he thinks will complement his artistic specialty. And while the locals welcome additional tourists and the increased revenue that Kris's shop brings, they have a hard time setting aside their small-minded, small town bigotry.
One of the locals Tyr Tollefson, is also gay, though covertly so, and he's got all that he can handle in caring for Eddie, his sick uncle, and Bun, Eddie's developmentally disabled daughter who has never really gotten beyond her six year old-like belief in Santa.
Encountering Bun and Eddie for the first time triggers one of Kris's episodes and Tyr catches Kris at the exact worst moment. Can the two overcome their initial meeting and embrace the attraction both men feel? To find out, you'll just have to read this charming 34 page story (or listen to the 59 minute audio-book version as I did)
The audio version is narrated by Dave Gillies in a sweet and distinctive Scottish voice that adds an unexpected level of charm to this Hallmark card of a Christmas story. And as with any good Hallmark card, there are bittersweet moments that may call for a tear or two but one can rest assured that in the end it all comes right.
*** Note: I received a copy of this audio-book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***...more
Ethan is an odd guy. He's bright and quiet, and reasonably attractive, but he's bit goth and his hobby of taxidermy kinda freaks people out. He's convEthan is an odd guy. He's bright and quiet, and reasonably attractive, but he's bit goth and his hobby of taxidermy kinda freaks people out. He's convinced that he's got what it takes to pursue a career in art, but his parents (both lawyers) foresee a law school in his future.
Robert is the golden boy. A good student and athlete but with a hidden interest... I meant cooking!, but your first guess was right too. He's interested in guys but he's resolved to NOT have a boyfriend in high-school or suffer the pangs of coming out in such a judgmental environment.
When some teasing at a party goes horribly wrong and Ethan is injured, Robert is convinced he's at fault and is desperate to keep yet another secret.
This is a strange book and it's tale is kinda embodied in the character of Ethan, the taxidermist of the title. There's really a lot of sweetness and charm inside an exterior that's initially off-putting. What I found most intriguing was how the wrong-doing was so quickly distributed. Both MC's yield temporarily to their baser instincts and both must find their way back to a sort of redemption. And as with real-world redemption, the end result is not a shiny new soul as is so often promised by organized religions but a sadder but wiser character, that is perhaps more tolerant of the shortcomings of others as well.
Yes, this is a MM romance (and as the authors say, more new adult than young adult) but there is also some deeper meaning here as well. There are also some things here to object to as well... some very two dimensional parent figures, a non-consensual sexual situation, and a curious but possibly correct questioning of the value of a college education. Also there is the whole question of taxidermy as an acceptable art form. But then, I aspire to be one of those sadder but wiser adults and hopefully can find meaning and value in things even when I don't agree with all that I encounter.
By all means, I'd recommend this book. Like one of its MC's Ethan, it deserves more attention (and acceptance) than it's gotten.
Oddly: Unlike so much of today's self-published fiction, this tale is strictly third person (and fairly well written and edited) so the title is a bit wrong in the sense that it's not really a diary. This note is not a criticism, but more an attempt to set the record straight so as to not allow this book (like it's MC, Ethan) to undersell itself. ...more
I was given a copy of this book through the Don't Buy My Love list in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest. This book was not for me. In my opI was given a copy of this book through the Don't Buy My Love list in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest. This book was not for me. In my opinion it's the very exemplar of overwrought. I prefer my M/M romance simpler. I was tempted to say that it had the concision of Faulkner and the brevity of Proust. It felt to me as though no noun went unadjectived and no verb went unadverbed. I was also tempted to quote Dorothy Parker's "This Is Not a Novel To Be Tossed Aside Lightly. It Should Be Thrown with Great Force." But instead I'll follow the lead of kinder reviewers and suggest that it might have benefited from additional editing.
As an example... take this description of a stripper that was NOT a significant character in the story as much as a part of the setting of the first chapter.
The swaying youth had the lithe and muscled form of a man who's existence had thus far been fueled by pig stomach and shoo fly pie so that he might suffer a productive life erecting barns, plowing fields, and fucking joyless babies into his wife's joyless vagina, in the dark, a few times a year, but never on God's days.
my translation... The stripper looked Amish
I set this book aside and picked it up later three times and yet it never seemed any more inviting. Thinking about what was causing my reaction, I recalled something I'd read about... The Gunning Fog Index. This is a rating developed by an American businessman in 1952 as a measure of readability. Using that index the Gettysburg Address is 13.85 Chapter 1 of Pride and Prejudice is 7.2 Chapter 1 of Great Expectations is 11.46, while the first chapter of The Scarlet Letter just over 22. I found an on-line calculator and ran the first chapter of Pine Valley through it and came up with a 6.7. So what was my problem? Further research indicated that the index was intended for straight pose and that snippets of dialogue could give a falsely low score due to the brevity of spoken speech. Running just the narrative (sans dialogue) of the first chapter again Pine Valley scored a 17.57 In short, this prose was just too turgid, too convoluted, too opaque.
OK... So the prose was more treacly than what I'm used to. I then recalled another article that I read entitled "The Joys of Slow Reading" the premise of that article was that writers labor carefully over their prose and that if one wants to get the most out of it, it may be necessary to slow down and to read and savor the text. I tried yet again, this time taking the text at a much slower pace and trying to "suck the marrow out of the bones of the story" This worked to a point and when taken at a leisurely pace this book does have more interest. But still it wasn't for me.
I know that it's impolite to look a gift horse in the mouth but in this case, that's exactly what we're being asked to do. So, in all honesty I didn't like this book but I'm willing to take part of that onus on my own expectations and rate this one two stars -- It's OK ...more
Roan Mc Kichan is a private detective who's been infected since birth with a virus that makes him periodically transfer into the form of a lion. UnlikRoan Mc Kichan is a private detective who's been infected since birth with a virus that makes him periodically transfer into the form of a lion. Unlike may born with this condition he's been able to lead a relatively normal life. Despite being gay and despite being a product of the foster care system Roan even became a police officer for a time, though that didn't work out in the long run.
Roan recently met Paris Lehane, a young man with an even more serious strain of the virus (his causes him to transform into a tiger.) Paris was not born with the virus. He became infected through sexual contact by an irate woman that he slept with. Paris's strain of the virus is acknowledged to be the most severe and the most deadly with many "infected" not living past the first transformation and pretty much all dying at a young age.
Not being a shifter aficionado, my first reaction to this book was "Lions and tigers and no bears, oh my!" But I was quickly able to accept the plot premise and was continually drawn to the parallels with HIV. The idea of cat shifters as a hated and feared minority seemed like a great way to comment on the phenomenon without actually naming it.
The author has been criticized by some reviewers for her lack of believability in spots (primarily due to the size of the shifters) but overall I liked her level of detail and even learned of Polycythemia Vera for the first time. (Who knew? A disease where bleeding really IS a useful treatment!)
I first heard about this book because of the plethora of witty chapter headings and they really do add a level of creativity (and snarkieness) to the tale that I found quite enjoyable.
I'm NOT a big fan of private detective fiction but this one was really quite good and I do expect that I'll read more at some time. This one is actually a double helping, with two separate stories in the first volume, and there are eight books so far in the series.
One aside... I know that there are those who are NOT fans of cover art that suggest too strongly how a character should look. And this one does have an image of one character on the cover. However, I was more than half way through this book thinking that I was looking at an image of Paris on the cover but was very surprised to find that the image was intended to be Roan. Also I know that the cat featured isn't of the right species for either of the main characters but that didn't bother me quite so much as realizing how wrong I'd been about the human character pictured.
If you like shifter fiction or if you like detective fiction with an MM bent, you can't do much better than these books. The writing is smart, they adhere to the genre and the characters are likable with just the hint of impending tragedy that will ultimately draw me into reading the next in the series.
*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***...more
When an un-fan wins a contest allowing him to meet a star wrestler the prize package includes spending a day one on one with the his idol. Of course iWhen an un-fan wins a contest allowing him to meet a star wrestler the prize package includes spending a day one on one with the his idol. Of course in this this case, while the winner is not a fan per se he has idolized the guy behind the persona since they were both in college. Can he now make up for lost time?
This fun short fantasy fulfillment / romance story suceeds while never taking itself too seriously. The teasing and the snarkiness add to the flirtation and both MC come off as charming. ...more
As a result of a tragic traffic accident Rex Payton loses a mother and a kid sister in one fateful afternoon. He also loses his future plans for happiAs a result of a tragic traffic accident Rex Payton loses a mother and a kid sister in one fateful afternoon. He also loses his future plans for happiness as he becomes the caregiver for his sister's infant son Tyler. This instant responsibility also loses him his boyfriend and within the year, his father who basically dies of a broken heart.
As Tyler grows up Rex realizes all the joy that the boy has brought into his life but he still feels a bit isolated in the small Kentucky town where he now runs the family's tavern.
That is until young Josh Billings comes to town to intern with the local vet. He and Rex meet and soon Rex and Ty and Josh are forming their own version of a nuclear family. That is interrupted when some small minded homophobic inhabitants of the town feel it's their religious prerogative to intervene and report the couple for sexual abuse of a child. (because the couple were observed kissing in public) Will Rex and Josh regain custody of Ty? Best read it to find out!
This a story that pits small town religious zealots against our MC's and touches on many of the prejudices that are still all to prevalent in rural America. As with other things that I've read by Jeff Erno, heart and sweetness go a long way toward making for an enjoyable tale and pretty much compensate for any lack of masterful prose. Sure, at times some of the "villains" seemed a bit too one dimensional but the legal hearing aspects of the story actually seemed very realistic. It may only be a personal thing but the level of graphic detail about the men's relationship felt a bit weird in a book with a youngster so near at hand.
I listened to this in the audio-book format rather than reading it. It was narrated by Finn Sterling who was good without being great. The southern accents and Ty's "child voice" were well handled but the women's voices were a bit too grating for my taste. Also Chapter 7 had some volume level changes like I'd never encountered in an audio-book before. Given the graphic nature of that particular chapter it's getting unexpectedly LOUD made for a couple of interesting moments...
*** Note: I received a copy of this audio-book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***...more
This book reminded me a bit of the TV series "The Ghost Whisperer" except with a five o'clock shadow and no cute husband! The story starts with Billy This book reminded me a bit of the TV series "The Ghost Whisperer" except with a five o'clock shadow and no cute husband! The story starts with Billy as the main focus but we soon learn that Billy is dead and that he's visiting Alex the guy who took over his job only it's against the rules of Limbo and turns out that Alex isn't the MC either! We finally meet the MC, Terrance, a bit later. He, like the little boy in The Sixth Sense, can see dead people and it's kinda driven him crazy. In fact he's a diagnosed schizophrenic who's got a kind of casual relationship with his meds...
This is the first in a series and it does set the series up well while moving at a fast pace and wedging in the search for a demented serial killer that is preying on gay men. None of the characters are all that well developed but they are likable and the book has a roller coaster quality to it. Author D.J. Manly has over 200 distinct titles to his credit and he's an able writer and storyteller but his work has a certain made-for-TV quality about it that makes me think I'll be glad to read his other work but I'll NOT be revisiting it again and again as I do with my favorites. On the whole it reminded me a bit of junk food. Tasty fare but not a lot of nourishment for the soul, the intellect or the psyche.
If you're content with a novel that provides a fun time without touching upon any "great truths" or that instills in you some deeper understanding of the human condition, this one can be fun. And at 215 pages, it's a lightning fast read, leaving you plenty of time to get your philosophical fiber elsewhere....more
I recently re-read this book (after reading many others by this author) I initially rated it only 4 stars because of the deux ex-machina resolution/plI recently re-read this book (after reading many others by this author) I initially rated it only 4 stars because of the deux ex-machina resolution/plot twist toward the end. However, with a year since my last reading and going into this knowing what was coming I'd award that fifth star this time.
It was foreshadowed in a number of small ways and, even knowing what was coming, the plot development in question brought tears to my eyes. Some see it as "too convenient" but occasionally life does bring us surprises - a writer shouldn't be penalized for including them in his work.
This book had a special resonance for me in that I was good friends with an international flight attendant for a number of years and years after we'd sort of drifted apart I'd found out that he'd passed away under unexpected circumstances.
Still, if you haven't read this, you should. Bell's books span a lot more time than is common in this genre but they really do have a perspective and a "wisdom gained of years" quality that's hard to portray in any other way, It's even better the second time around....more
Wonderful wrap-up to the first series and a great passing of the torch to additional books. I really think that developing characters over time allowsWonderful wrap-up to the first series and a great passing of the torch to additional books. I really think that developing characters over time allows for greater depth and gives readers a chance to see that almost no one is a true villain. They all do things that seem valid from their points of view, though they do occasionally make mistakes.
I was especially happy to see Jace make an appearance in this as I thought we'd seen the last of him.
Loved the wedding toward the end. I never cry at weddings (even the Jane Austen ones) but this one had a twist that got me a bit misty. Course it could have been the pollen.
I'll continue to come back to these characters time and again and these books offer plenty of material to enjoy in re-reads. ...more
Kelly Phillips is a fleet young man to whom running comes as naturally as breathing. While he's generally aggressively competitive and dreams of somedKelly Phillips is a fleet young man to whom running comes as naturally as breathing. While he's generally aggressively competitive and dreams of someday competing in the Olympics, at the beginning of this tale he's more interested in helping his best friend Jared win a coveted trophy in a triathlon. Kelly's also struggling with coming out to his best friend and hoping that even if his feelings aren't reciprocated, at least that they can stay friends. The main stumbling block for Jared's winning might be William Townson, a guy that Kelly remembers as being a skinny bean-pole of a kid but who puberty has treated very well. Combative Kelly and "gentle giant" William's confrontation and the subsequent developments will change both of their lives forever.
This book is billed as the first in Jay Bell's new series but is really just a continuation of the older "seasons" series with many of the characters making appearances though the torch has definitely been passed to the younger generation. Personally I think that that is just fine. Bell's books span a lot more time than is common in most MM fiction but they really do have a perspective and a "wisdom gained of years" quality that's hard to portray in any other way. For me the perspective gained over time adds a level of depth and enjoyment to the stories and any new additions to the original series also add to that enjoyment.
When I started this one I'd NOT read Something Like Spring and I noted a few references that suggested that I'd enjoy the story more if I went back and filled in the gaps. So I did and I gotta say that I really liked both books. Actually reading Something Like Lightning before reading Something Like Spring made it easier to empathize with Kelly. In many ways the last book of the first series is really the first book of this series but then, like the seasons, one naturally follows the other and it doesn't really matter than much where you start.
All Jay's books use covers created by his husband Andreas and it was fun that this one included a spoiler of sorts but it was hidden in a mischievous way. Knowing that Jay is a transplanted Texan who now lives in Germany, it was fun to see his Texas based characters also making the trip and seeing a bit of Germany in this book.
Note: I was given a copy of this by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. ...more
As a huge blizzard makes it's way toward Ithaca, Seth Thompson heads to Cornell's campus clinic to see a doctor about the serious flu that he's pickedAs a huge blizzard makes it's way toward Ithaca, Seth Thompson heads to Cornell's campus clinic to see a doctor about the serious flu that he's picked up. At the clinic he encounters Bilal al-Mansoori apparently suffering from the same thing furiously working away on his laptop while waiting for treatment. On the way home from the clinic Seth encounters Bilal again, apparently a bit disoriented, as the storm grows worse. Seth invites the man inside and as the two men weather the storm, they share more than just Seth's prescriptions. Though Bilal is an Iranian Muslim, he's fallen from the faith a bit and has some other issues as well...
This novella is a lightning quick read and clearly an intro piece for some new characters for the Courtland Chronicles series. Given the "getting to know you" aspects of this short tale, there not a lot of sex to be had here but what there is, is well handled. The writing is well done and both men are charming and left me ready and willing to read more about them. The POV switches from Seth to Bilal and back again in a clear manner that allows us to see the key points of this tale from both men's perspectives.
Seth's father, Nick Thompson from the earlier books even makes a cameo appearance of sorts when the two MC's make a trip to New York City toward the end of the story.
This tale will probably be best enjoyed by those that have read the other books in the series but it's not necessary to have any knowledge of them for this story to make sense on it's own.
Note: I was given a copy of this as part of the M/M Romance Don’t Buy My Love Program in exchange for a fair and honest review....more
*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Kai Manter is a charming, self *** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Kai Manter is a charming, self confident high school senior with a pair of latter-day hippies as parents and two supportive siblings. Musically gifted and good looking Kai is out and proud and brags in the first chapter about his last 10 conquests.
But then he spots Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university who works as a waiter at the coffee house where Kai sings. Jamie has earned the nickname "Pretty Vacant" due to his good looks and his stand-offish attitude with anyone that tries to be friendly.
Turns out that Jamie was molested by a step-brother who is still giving him problems though moving out of the family home has stopped the worst of it.
I really like both MC's. The relationship that irrepressible young gay musician Kai has with his older brother is just great.
However I'm had a bit of trouble with the whole "Music as Intervention" idea. As much as I believe in the power of music to grab and change one's emotions, the way it's used in this story, (and the many song titles) just seems a bit far-fetched to me. But it's integral to the story and if one can set that aside, the story is a really touching look at how these two come together to affect Jaimie's recovery.
Kudos to the author for making this more than just a "rescuing a tragic waif" tale. The way that Kai grew through this story really made it a worthwhile read. Also the feelings that Kai had toward the end when he wasn't needed as much for rescuing, rang true and made this a richer and deeper story.
Tristan Wright narrates the audio-book and does a great job with the many male voices. His energetic and optimistic interpretation of Kai and his meeker and more childlike voice for Jamie really worked well together. For the most part Tristan isn't too annoying when trying to voice the female characters. There is one crying female that got a bit grating but then I've never been good with crying women.
Tristan Wright also narrated the audio-book version of A Broken Kind of Life but THAT was stiff competition with Tyler Stevens having done such a phenomenal job with the adult version (Aaron) ...more
*** Note: I received a copy of this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Trip Spector is a talented*** Note: I received a copy of this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Trip Spector is a talented comic book artist who's spent the last few years of his life drawing a watered-down, bowdlerized comic book for his boss at Big Dog comics. Trip has stayed with it partly because of the money and partly because of his crush on his boss, Cliff. The man that Trip's friends have dubbed the un-boyfriend. But then Trip meets Silas Goolsby a big, kinda goofy, easy-going southern boy who's carving out his own career as an FX makeup artist. Silas encourages Trip to let his creativity fly in a "very graphic" novel about a sex demon that starts to bear a remarkable resemblance to Silas.
Can Trip summon the courage and risk what he's achieved in order to follow his dream and is he willing to abandon a probably hopeless relationship with his boss to develop a real relationship with a charming southern man?
This is more than just a typical MM romance. It's a deeper look at one man's fixation with a straight but flirtatious boss and his timidity in developing his career. The main characters and many of the supporting characters are well thought out and developed to the point where the readers cares about them as more than just props to move forward the plot. The book features more than a few true moments and the nerd-romance aspects are sweet. The make-up and comic book aspects are detailed to the point that it's clear that Damon Suede is bit of a geek in his own right. The book is set in NYC and as a twenty year resident I felt that the settings rang true enough that the city sort of became a character in its own right.
The audio-book is ably narrated by Charlie David who does a great job of capturing the main character voices and even does justice to the deep Alabama drawl of Silas. The narrator does have some unusual ways of pronouncing a few words, particularly "pollen" (he makes it rhyme with "colon") that kinda pulls you out of the story for a bit but the rest is good enough that soon you're immersed right back in the tale.
This is one that I enjoyed and will probably listen to again. ...more
*** Note: I received a copy of this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
David Worral's first love *** Note: I received a copy of this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
David Worral's first love Dex died tragically in a collision with a deer in Montana shortly after David and Dex took their first timid steps out of the closet together. In his grief, the true nature of which he cannot admit to his family and perhaps even to himself, David spends the next 9 years in a self imposed exile to California where he has stumbled into gay-for-pay porn using Dex as his screen name. He's even become the guy Friday of the office and the one that everyone else depends on.
Now in his late twenties, Dex meets big vulnerable Kane, a young Hispanic guy from a working class Mexican family with a manipulative sister who condemns him for his porn work but gladly takes the money that it generates. Never a great student, Kane has convinced himself that he's dumb and only has his gym perfect body to offer. But Kane really is wise and has an intuitive side to his nature that's a perfect foil for Dex's care-taking ways. Together the two are a perfect match.
This installment is much lighter in tone than Chase in Shadow The characters are captivating. Plus, it's fun to revisit (even peripherally) the characters from the earlier book.
Amy Lane has succeeded in creating possibly the most wholesome porn stars ever, and it's a pleasure to spend time with them.
Sean Crisden narrates the audio-book and does a great job differentiating the large cast of male voices, the stolidity of Dex and the childlike sweetness and vulnerability of Kane shine though. Even the women's voices are convincing without being grating as is so often the case.
By all means check this one out. It's already been added to favorite re-listening shelf. ...more
One should NOT expect a simple light-hearted yarn from a book with a red cover that features razor blades and blood drops, particularly when the proloOne should NOT expect a simple light-hearted yarn from a book with a red cover that features razor blades and blood drops, particularly when the prologue has the MC locked in a bathroom with one of those blades to his wrist...
Chase Summers is a deeply damaged young man. After finding his mother dead in a bathtub as a child, after growing up with a drunken, abusive father who blames him and his "faggy" ways, it's a wonder that Chase can pass for normal at all. But he does. Chase is determined to be a success, to have a girlfriend and a successful college baseball career, get an engineering degree and even someday, a house of his own. All it will take is for him to deny certain aspects of himself which might make his father's assertions true. He must never, ever, let the people he cares about see the real him.
When Chase hears about "Johnnies" the gay for pay porn site he sees a way to explore some of his long sublimated desires and still maintain a level of denial. But as he meets the guys, and falls for one particular guy, the pressure that has been building since his early childhood redoubles.
Chase, his boyhood friends and even his workmates are all charming and well drawn and we soon come to care for all these guys. And yet Chase's damage is ever-present and growing. Symbolized by a "Red Door" that is soon all too frequent, it's clear that just as certainly as in any Greek tragedy, the flaws in Chase that his childhood created make his ultimate fate inescapable. And yet to attempt something is not always to succeed. And it's the events that happen after the attempt that make this story rise above the mundane. It's as much a tale of recovery and redemption as it is of the despair that gets us there.
I originally borrowed this as a Kindle loan and, as seems to be the case with all books I borrow, I knew partway through that I'd want to read it again. I volunteered to review this one as soon as I saw it available as a new audio-book release. Narrator Sean Crisden does a great job of keeping the narrator voice AND Chase's spoken voice AND the voice of Chase's inner monologue clear. That's tough to do. Meanwhile, he gives distinctive interpretations to the many other boys in the story as well."
If you're a fan of audio-books, you'll want to check this one out simply to enjoy the brilliance of Crisden's performance. However if you're NOT a big fan of audio-books, this might not be the best one to start with. The many distinctions between the narration and Chase's spoken voice and the turmoils of his thoughts and his inner demons, take a certain amount of concentration to keep sorted and it's not easy listening.
This book had been on my "Must Read" list for a while so when I saw that it was available for review as an audio-book I jumped at the chance.
What I kThis book had been on my "Must Read" list for a while so when I saw that it was available for review as an audio-book I jumped at the chance.
What I knew going in was that the story centered on Jerry Lincoln a gay man who'd moved back from San Francisco to Sioux Falls South Dakota to care for an aging grandfather. A relative who'd always supported him despite the rest of the family's turning their back on him when he came out. The old man has now passed and Jerry is a successful web designer and computer programming entrepreneur who takes on additional help to meet demand. One of those he takes on is John Black Raven.
John "Akecheta" Black Raven is a Native American who's left the reservation in order to seek gainful employment as part of his battle with the South Dakota department of Child Services. The department that has taken custody of his niece and nephew when their mother died.
As with many of Andrew Grey's books, the story starts slow but I enjoy spending time with his characters. His prose has a plainspoken quality that makes it easy to like the characters that inhabit his fiction. Plus his characters are generally good people, though there are the infrequently appearing, somewhat two dimensional, villain characters that are needed to bring drama to these homespun tales.
This book has the added merit of being based on a real problem that has been reported in the press concerning the uneven and oftentimes overzealous behavior of South Dakota's Childrens' Services representatives when dealing with the state's Native Americans.
I was first recommended this book while in search of something that depicted Native American attitudes toward MM relationships. This story really only touches on that briefly and is mostly set in the "white man's world." but I still found it a worthwhile and engaging read. It's a compelling tale that drew me in. I learned a few things along the way about Native American culture (particularly as to their hair-cutting tradition) and about the all-too real CPS conflict in South Dakota.
I listened to the audio-book version of this as narrated by Andrew McFerrin rather than reading it in text form and while McFerrin did a workmanlike job I think that I'd have preferred to have read this one.
This was primarily due to two problems. The first was that the book included a number of women's and children's voices and I personally found McFerrin's portrayal of these to be somewhat grating. Others may completely disagree with this and it may well be entirely a personal preference.
The second problem was one of pronunciation. John Black Raven's given Apache name is Akecheta meaning warrior. The narrator pronounced it as "a KEY chee tah" (with two long E sounds) From what spoken Lakota I've heard, I felt it should have been "a KAY chay tah" (with both e's sounding like long a's) Again, this is a MINOR problem but the name does occur quite frequently and I personally found it a bit hard to ignore.
If these problems are things that you feel wouldn't affect you as much as they did me, by all means, check out this otherwise commendable audio-version.
Overall I rated this a three star experience. I'm guessing that the same book in text form would have gotten a fourth star from me. But, as previously stated, personal preferences vary.
*** Note: I received a copy of this audio-book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***...more
After being dumped by his girlfriend (actually by her brother) previously happily hetero 19 year old Tristan decides that if he's that interested in wAfter being dumped by his girlfriend (actually by her brother) previously happily hetero 19 year old Tristan decides that if he's that interested in what's going on in the brother's shorts, just maybe he should see how the other half lives (and loves). Always a man of action, he's soon cruising in the local Borders bookstore with a stack of gay lit on his table waiting to see who'll stop by.
Imagine his chagrin when the hunky young cop that he's nicknamed Officer Helmet (because of his constant campaign to get skateboarders to wear the protective gear required by law) takes up station at the next table over and stifles his prospects! But things aren't what they seem and soon Michael AKA Officer Helmet is offering Tristan a ride home in his pick-up... or to pick him up, or both!
This is a fun tale of new love between a newly minted gay guy and a slightly older but not necessarily wiser older guy who just happens to take that whole "protect and serve" thing literally. The writing is entertaining and laugh out loud funny in spots while being sweetly sappy in others. There are issues here involving the boys in blue that I've not seen in an MM romance before, and I quite liked the way that it was handled even though other critics have disagreed.
If the idea of a horny teen looking to experiment on the gay side getting more than he bargained for appeals, by all means check this one out. The main characters, as well as many of the supporting characters, are well developed and likable individuals that I enjoyed spending some time with. The sex is as hot as one would expect given two fit young men, one of them just 19 and in his first MM relationship. And the dynamic that these two develop is interesting as well as hot, and in my opinion, integral to the plot.
*Note: I was given a copy of this in exchange for a fair and honest review...more
*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Jared Thomas was born and raise*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Jared Thomas was born and raised in the small mountain town of Coda, Colorado. His family owns a hardware/auto parts store and, apart from his time away at college, Jared has always called Coda home. He's out to those that matter and he likes being near his family. If only there were another man in his life, things would be close to perfect.
Matt Richards has just moved to Coda to join the local police department. He's a military brat and has lived all over but has never had place that he really called home. He's also never had many really close friends and the few he has had, have married and moved on with their lives. He's never had much success dating and generally prefers to concentrate on other aspects of his life.
When the two men meet, they quickly become the best of friends. Both love football, though they disagree about who to root for. Both seem to be comfortable around each other in ways that they've both been missing. The only problem is... Jared is gay and Matt is straight. Can two men be friends when one is attracted to the other in that way?
This is a well crafted story with two characters that it's easy to care about and to like. Both points of view seem realistic and the denouement seemed as believable to me as any I've read of in this vein. Jared's family are great and I loved the scenes that they were in. Matt's family was a bit over the top but not entirely unbelievable and mercifully they weren't in the story that much.
In some ways this was a M/M romance fantasy but it wasn't outside the range of possibility. And it was thoroughly enjoyable. Give it a try. ...more
Growing up, Idrys Bjornson's family and the Jackson family went camping together every year. When Idrys came out as a lad, he had to deal with the tauGrowing up, Idrys Bjornson's family and the Jackson family went camping together every year. When Idrys came out as a lad, he had to deal with the taunting of the three Jackson boys and even their homophobic father. But Idrys has gone off to college, grown into his exotic, model quality, good looks and is even a foot taller than the youngster that the Jackson boys used to torment. Idrys has been at pains to cultivate a confident if slutty, party boy persona, a close circle of friends and even a supportive inner circle of buddies with whom he regularly tricks.
This summer, after a hiatus of four years, Idrys is again going camping with the families and though things have changed, Idrys is worried that this vacation will just be a return to the purgatory of his earlier years. But Trystan Jackson, the oldest of the brothers and the cockiest, albeit the most strikingly sexy, of his tormentors seems to have become more accepting and perhaps a bit curious. Also Josh, the youngest Jackson, is clearly mooning after Idrys in ways that makes it clear, to Idrys at least, that the littlest Jackson isn't entirely straight.
If you like the enemies to lovers scenario and don't mind a bit of jail-bait making puppy-dog eyes at our MC, this might be the best book of the year. The cocky, possibly bi-curious, older brother with a physique that makes Italian statuary envious, the adorable interactions with the puppy-dog littlest Jackson, even Idrys's relationship with his straight best friend and his mouthy but lovable sister, all add up to a rollicking great read. There are reviewers that had problems with the persona that Idrys projects but those that can see it as a carefully crafted coping mechanism are gonna love this light hearted tale of angst where pretty much everyone is empathetically drawn and a joy to spend time with. ...more
A.J. Brandiosa and his best friend Tully have finally made it! They're on the Moose Jaw Saskathewan AAA hockey team The Cyclones. All that working outA.J. Brandiosa and his best friend Tully have finally made it! They're on the Moose Jaw Saskathewan AAA hockey team The Cyclones. All that working out has finally gotten rid of A.J.'s pesky baby fat and he's starting to like the way that he looks and the way that he can accomplish things on the ice that have always eluded him. Tully has always been the popular showboat both on and off the rink. But when A.J. gets a bit too physical in an early game and gets labelled as a "Bad Boy" and the team's enforcer it's A.J.'s name that gets in the paper and A.J kinda likes the attention. But then A.J. discovers that his best friend is gay. Worried about his own reputation and even more worried by his feelings about Tully that he now sees in a different light, A.J. must re-evaluate everything in his life and how's he gonna do that when it was always Tully that he could confide in?
Born and raised in rural Michigan, when I first heard about this book I was intrigued. What's not to like about an award winning coming out story that features masculine rural guys and hockey players no less? Then I read some of the negative reviews...
One 2012 review called this 1989 Governor General Award winner incredibly dated. After reading the book myself I believe that that's a bit unfair. Growing up in a remote rural area is a bit like growing up in the past and I'm pretty certain that much of the way that Moose Jaw is painted in this book is just as true today as when the book was first published.
Another reviewer objected to Tully's telling A.J. that A.J. wasn't gay and because Tully was a gay guy, A.J. took his word for it. Fact is, I believe that A.J. really wasn't gay, though he might have been willing to try it for Tully. A.J. was attracted to women throughout the book. Yes, he had some erotic thoughts about Tully as well but they mostly unsettling for him. And the guy's had a dynamic where Tully did tell A.J. how to think about things. This was really just an extension of their instigator-follower type of relationship.
On the whole this was really a well thought out story of two guys redefining their relationship in the aftermath of one of them coming out. For me it read as realistic and insightful and still as relevant as when it was published over 20 years ago. I'd recommend it. ...more
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