Review: To the Highest Bidder

Title: To the Highest Bidder
Author: Kate Steele
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: 8 December 2008
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 106 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5

Review: Ben is delighted when his partner presents him with lunch with his favorite TV star for his birthday. Unfortunately, Mitch is seemingly nothing like the character he plays on TV, being such an ass that Ben can't escape their awkward meeting soon enough. When Mitch contacts him to apologize for his behavior, it seems too good to be true. Can it really work between a gay bookstore owner and a supposedly straight TV star?

Ben is an affable character, likable enough that it's no struggle to enjoy his point of view. I cheered his walking out from lunch with Mitch, but it seemed as though his spine deserted him after that; by the time he left Mitch's house after Mitch's apology, I was wondering what had happened to his self-regard. That parting seemed gratuitous to me, not something I would expect from the grown man I'd been led to believe Ben was.

Mitch never really appealed to me, though I can't pin down why. He was perhaps too good to be true, initial douchebaggery aside, so that I couldn't really identify with him as a character. His traumatic past struck me as unnecessary, or at least built up to an unnecessary degree--again, gratuitous.

Given the length of the story, it's pretty much a given that supporting cast is thin on the ground. Becca was really the only consistent secondary character, and she was never developed beyond the stereotypical super-supportive straight female best friend. A little variance would have been refreshing.

The chemistry between Ben and Mitch was okay, but the sex never really pulled me in. Some ridiculous sex talk didn't really help; I can't read "shoot my wad" and take it seriously. I just can't. I also have to confess to being a bit put off by the description on an erect penis as a stalk. It might be correct by definition, but I can't help but picture said erect penis as rather more green and leafy.

There were a fair number of grammatical errors scattered throughout, though nothing particularly heinous. However, I think there was a sale at the adjective store. One of Ben's orgasms was so overly described as to be ridiculous; I really didn't need that much information about his come. Some of the dialogue was also... weird. I don't understand the conversation at the end of chapter 3 much at all, for example; the allusions could go in so many directions, for all that none of the ones I could come up with struck me as particularly funny.

Not directly related to anything... why is the clean conversation so prevalent? "By the way, I always use a condom and get tested, so I'm clean." "Oh, me, too. I just got tested and also always use condoms. You'll not be catching any vile STDs from me!" Is this part of foreplay to which I've never been introduced? Or does it only apply to gay men? It baffles me, especially when the characters themselves even outright acknowledge it as mood-killing. It's not necessary, it's sure as Hell not hot, so why include it? Are we supposed to assume that any character not having the clean conversation is secretly a festering pit of venereal disease?

For a novella, I took me far too long to finish; once I put it down, it was a struggle to pick it up again. I liked the premise, but I think that the execution has a long way to go.

Review: Dirty Kiss

Title: Dirty Kiss
Author: Rhys Ford
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 1 July 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 225 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Cole is an ex-police officer, retiring into life as a private investigator after an injury resulting from his partner's betrayal. When he agrees to look into the suicide of Kim Hyun-Shik at his brother's request, he doesn't realize that he's taking not only his life into his hands, but also his heart when he meets Hyun-Shik's cousin, Jae-Min. The deeper Cole digs, the more the bodies start piling up, until it's a desperate race to save not only his own life, but also Jae-Min's.

Cole is an immediately engaging narrator, starting with the snappy tone right from the start as he flees from a shotgun-toting grandmotherly type. He's easy to like, a wise-ass without being too much so. He's a deeply-scarred man, on the inside as well as the outside, but, while he does feel those scars, he doesn't let them cripple him. He fights for what's important to him and doesn't compromise on what he believes is right. All together, he's surprisingly likable, someone I'd like to be able to hug at various points throughout the story.

Jae-Min is more of a mystery, which is natural given that the entire story is told from Cole's point-of-view. I like Cole's initial appraisal of him--feral. It's very apt to his behavior and past as they come out in dribs and drabs. Despite not having his own voice in the story, he too is very well-developed, and another man to whom I would love to give hugs.

The supporting cast has its strong points--Scarlet and Bobby being my favorites. I never really warmed to Mike (though to be honest I'm not certain I was supposed to), and I felt that the police officers were more caricatures than well-realized characters, but they suited their purposes. I would've liked to have gotten to know Claudia and her clan better as well, but I can understand how the pacing of the story precluded that.

The chemistry between Cole and Jae-Min was fascinating. Cole is ridiculously far out of Jae's realm of experience--feral, remember--while Jae returns the favor. Neither seems to know what to make of the other, but they can't deny the attraction, despite the cultural and experience differences. It takes them a while to act on it, but when they do... well, it's worth the wait.

The story itself was mostly strong, though the resolution of the mystery struck me as being a little bit out of left field. (Maybe I just suck at figuring out mysteries, I dunno, but it wasn't until there were no other options left that I figured out who the killer was--about three pages before they were actually revealed.) Despite what I felt to be a lack of foreshadowing, it was tightly-plotted, without being so tight that there was no room left to explore the characters. The setting was well-realized, the characters well-fleshed-out, and ultimately it was just a pleasure.

I do have to admit that the name of the club threw me. It was originally referred to in English as Dirty Kiss (hence the title), after which it was always referred to as Dorthi Ki Seu. It took me forever to figure that it was the same thing and not a translation. (I hesitate to use the term 'romaji' as it's Korean, not Japanese, but I can't seem to locate the correct terminology.)

The story itself is self-contained within the book, to the point that it could easily be a stand-alone volume. This isn't to say that I'm not delighted to hear of a sequel, of course! There is plenty to explore between Cole and Jae-Min, but it's quite easy to let the story end here and still be satisfied.

In the end, I can't really come up with anything I strongly disliked about the story. I wish that the mystery had been just a smidge more transparent (but, again, that may just be my sucking with mysteries), but, even so, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this book a read.

Review: Once in a Lifetime

Title: Once in a Lifetime
Author: Ariel Tachna
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 8 July 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 193 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Shane can't pass up the opportunity to study in France for a year as a medical researcher before starting graduate school. As a still-mostly-closeted gay man, France is also an opportunity to explore his homosexuality without the judgment of his fundamentalist college and family. It's the perfect chance to find himself--and just perhaps the man he wants to spend his life with.

Shane is a young man (22 for most of the story) who knows what he wants. Although he's inexperienced, he's not willing to settle or let others make his decisions for him, and he's not afraid to stand up for himself. It makes him an honest, appealing character. The strength of his Christian faith and how he comes to integrate it with his homosexuality is inspiring, whether you share his faith or not. (As an agnostic, I had some difficulty appreciating his conflict, but his point of view was conveyed so well that it wasn't necessary in order to feel his resolve.)

Discussing his love interest strikes me as a bit of a spoiler, so I'll mention only that I adored him, rooting for him even when he wasn't a love interest at all. I would have been crushed if they hadn't gotten together in the end.

The supporting cast is nice, fairly vast without being overwhelming. They are all conveyed through Shane's viewpoint and thus flavored by Shane's perceptions, but they're still strongly-developed enough to be mostly memorable. (I still mix up some of Jean-Mathias's friends, but they're more an exception than a rule.)

The regard Shane and his ultimate love interest have for each other is adorable and although they move slow once their relationship is established it's impossible to miss the sexual tension between them. The sex itself is never graphic, given the story format, and the disconnect somehow makes it that much hotter.

Speaking of story format, the story is told as a series of journal entries. This limits it to first-person point-of-view, but has the advantage of limiting the voice--my huge complaint lately has been with omniscient-narration stories where the POV changes erratically. The journal entry format makes it easy to get to know Shane and, through him, the rest of his world.

There was never a point at which this story lagged for me; once I started it, I devoured it in a sitting. It was tight and well-done, with charming characters and a well-realized setting. I loved the more unusual aspects of Shane's character explored in this story, and certainly look forward to revisiting it.

Review: With The Band

Title: With The Band
Author: L.A. Witt
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: 22 March 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 250 pages

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review: Aaron is back home after his last band self-destructed, along with his relationship with Jason, its guitarist. Joining Schadenfreude, the band his brother and sister started with their friends, brothers Andre and Bastian, seems like the perfect opportunity--especially when the temperature between him and Bastian skyrockets. The only problem? The others will never approve of a relationship between band members. Add to the mix a psycho ex-girlfriend and a battle of the bands, and it's not so much a question of if things will fall apart as it is when.

Aaron is an appealing character, young and fresh. He's a fairly mild personality, with hints of mischievousness but never really stand-out in any direction. He's likable enough, just a bit underwhelming.

Bastian is even more mild, defined more by those that surround him than by himself. He's also likable enough, but still underwhelming.

Most of the cast, actually, is pretty middle-of-the-road. Even Denise (the psycho ex-girlfriend) is fairly vanilla, without any real development or surprises. They behave as you would expect them to behave and never really grow. This isn't to say that they're bad characters--I certainly enjoyed my time with them. There's just lots of things left to explore with them.

The chemistry between Aaron and Bastian is great, fraught with tension and heavy with anticipation. The build-up to their first kiss was awesome, and there's always the sense of heat between them, whatever the situation. I also particularly enjoy that they converse; the entire scene in the hospital made me smile, as too often the couple is too busy screwing around to actually, y'know, get to know each other. It's because of things like that that I could actually see them working as a couple, rather than fuckbuddies.

The story itself is fairly predictable for a band story, with a happy ending that I rather enjoyed. I can't shake the sense that nothing ever really happened, though. What drama there was was quickly resolved, and the conflict, despite the secrecy and issues, was minimal, mostly explored in exposition rather than events. This isn't to say that I didn't like the story as a whole--I did--but I still can't shake the feeling that there could have been a bit more in the way of plot.

I feel I'm doing a bit of a disservice, really, as I read this in fits and starts over the course of a week, but it never quite grabbed me enough for me to read it in a sitting. This may have lessened some of the impact, but I did still enjoy the time I spent with it. The characters were likable, the sex was hot--there are certainly worse ways to pass time.

Review: Witness

Title: Witness
Author: L.A. Gilbert
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 30 April 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 219 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Reece is a photographer working as a bike messenger while he waits for his big break. Ben is a beat cop, rattling around alone in the big house he inherited from his father. They meet on a call, but don't get to know each other until Ben accidentally runs over Reece's bike. It's not long until they can't imagine life without each other, but will Reece's baggage be enough to pull them apart?

Reece is a fun character with a great attitude and a big heart, the kind of friend you'd like to have. His issues make sense and he handles them in a manner that keeps his angst from being gratuitous.

Ben is a charmer, too, like a big puppy dog whose ears you just want to ruffle over and over. He's open and generous, and so accepting that it's hard to think of him as a real person, even as you wish that he was.

The supporting cast is surprisingly fun, if fairly small. My only quibble is that they're universally accepting; there's no conflict. What little conflict there was showed up in the form of an ex trying to hook up with Ben again, but that didn't last, petering out into a non-issue. I would like to have seen that developed a little more. I would also like to see Darren get his own story.

The chemistry between Reece and Ben is great, hot without crossing the line into unbelievability. The sex is frequent without being overly so, and walks that fine line between too much and too little detail. (I'm all for allusions to sex without a blow-by-blow account, but the details can admittedly be hot. Just... not in quantity.)

My main complaint is that there are frequent point of view changes. In the first chapter, they're mostly broken up by section--it's Ben's POV, then it's Reece's, with breaks in between. When Ben and Reece start sharing scenes, though, it turns into omniscient POV, switching back and forth by paragraph sometimes. It quickly gets hard to follow, confusing just whose POV is being conveyed.

In truth, the prose in general is not overly strong, being fairly choppy where it's not confused by the aforementioned POV changes. What really shines, though, is the dialogue. It sounds natural, even the sex talk, which tends to be ridiculous in the genre. I actually lost the thread of the story when I realized that I liked it, as this is such a rare occurrence.

There are some editing issues that should have been caught--pedal vs. peddle, you're vs. your--but they're not overwhelming, just the occasional distraction. There were also a couple of British idioms that slipped through--again, not overwhelming, just the occasional distraction.

I have to confess to one thing, though: I'm stumped as to the source of the title. I kept waiting for a mystery or some such to develop, or, you know, something that one could witness, and it just never happened.

Well, okay, two things: I'm also stumped as to how Ben could keep buying the gifts for Reece that he did, especially the final birthday gift. He comes flat out and says that he doesn't earn much as a cop, so where does that throwing-around money come from? It just wasn't ever really explained adequately, though the gestures were lovely.

Really, I'm scoring this a bit high, but I'd much rather have likable characters and good dialogue than perfect prose. A bit more polishing could help this really shine, but it's a solid start, and one that I certainly enjoyed.

Review: Bewitched by Bella's Brother

Title: Bewitched by Bella's Brother
Author: Amy Lane
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 11 August 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 192 pages

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review: Sebastian is set to work on his second doctorate when his best friend Bella's brother Asa invites them to stay at his house for the summer. As the only member of Bella's large family that he has never met, Sebastian is not certain what to expect in Asa, but it's not quite what he finds--a composed, taciturn man who's devoted to his son. As Sebastian and Bella find their way together into Asa's family, though, separation looms as the summer comes to a close and Sebastian's plans take him away.

Something about this story just didn't sit right with me, and I can't quite put my finger on what it was. It never clicked.

Sebastian is a likable character, sarcastic but laid-back, and devoted to Bella and her family. It was sometimes difficult to see him as a doctoral candidate (especially for a second doctorate), but his education didn't really play into the story much, aside from being the reason for separation that added a poignancy to his relationship with Asa.

Asa is less developed to me--I think he's part of what failed to click. He seemed somehow too perfect, and I just couldn't get a good handle on him. His physical description also didn't sit right with me; the components listed when Sebastian first meets him didn't jive in my head with an attractive picture, despite the author's insistence otherwise. (Really, the facts that his eyes were slightly crossed and that his nose was Roman didn't need to be mentioned as often as they were.) I'm still not sure how to pronounce his name either. I'd thought it was AH-sa, but there's a scene in which Asa's ex-wife calls him Ace-hole, which makes me think that it's perhaps pronounced AY-sa. I like to taste characters' names in my head while I'm reading, so wondering how it was correct pulled me out of the story more than once.

The supporting cast was good, with the high point being Bella. I never did quite come to like Jordan, despite my predilection toward appreciating single dads and their kids in the genre. The rest of the Bryne family was lovely, if fleeting, and Julie was fun for the bits she was actually there, rather than an aside.

The chemistry between Sebastian and Asa was okay, if not particularly steamy. I did, however, enjoy Sebastian's seduction of Asa (if it could be called that, the first time he encouraged him to make a move). I could believe in them as a couple, but they were a rather boring couple.

The story itself flowed nicely, well-paced and engaging. Some of the word choices made me snicker, though, especially during sex. Reading a character screaming "Gawwwwwdddd" comes across as rather ridiculous. (I totally wish I was exaggerating that, too, but I actually counted the Ws and Ds in the story, and my reproduction is accurate.)

This wasn't a bad way to spend an afternoon, being a pleasant read if not stand-out. I'd recommend starting with other stories by this author first, though; there are better introductions to her writing out there.

Review: The Next Competitor

Title: The Next Competitor
Author: K.P. Kincaid
Publisher: Prizm Books
Publication Date: 13 January 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 237 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Alex has trained his entire life for an Olympic gold in figure skating. He's focused, he's driven, he's not looking for anything like love--it's too much of a distraction. Matt trains with his partner Mylene at the same rink, a low-key figure that blends into the background. So why is Alex suddenly noticing him so much? When tragedy strikes, Alex is there for Matt and support and sympathy soon grow into something more. There's still the quest for gold to contend with, though, and Alex must decide what he truly wants--and what he's willing to give up.

I have to confess that I don't usually read YA, but if this book is representative I may need to start.

Alex is a bit of a brat, outspoken, inconsiderate, and blunt. It's easy to dislike him at the start, actually. Throughout the course of the story, though, he definitely grows, so that I went from wanting him to stop whining to rooting for him in all he did. The story is told from Alex's point of view, so as he grows, so too do the other characters, evolving from the caricatures he originally views them as into their own people.

Matt is sweet enough to begin with, but does his own growing, too. He develops from a fairly cardboard background character (again, viewed from Alex's point of view) into the kind of person I would love to know. His upset over Mylene is heart-breaking, and I couldn't help but smile the next time he skated.

Alex and Matt as a couple were adorable, when Alex wasn't being a dick. I loved their relationship overall, seeing how they fit and how they fought. Matt provided stability that Alex desperately needed, while Alex was Matt's kick in the pants. I could believe their relationship, and see it continue to develop and grow after the story ended. I wish there was a sequel following more of their development as a couple, actually, as the way they worked together was addictively appealing.

Given that this is a YA story, there was no graphic sex in it, which is a refreshing change from the blow-by-blow most stories written for adults offer. Not to say that they didn't have sex--there's no mistake about that--but it's shown in what's not said, nicely glossed over and alluded to rather than blatant.

The story itself was interesting, too, even if the first person present tense point of view took some getting used to. The author's knowledge of and love for the subject of figure skating was impossible to miss but not overwhelming, explained just enough to be understood by one not as familiar with the subject but not quite drowning them in it. I'm still not entirely sure I'm keeping all the organizations and events straight, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the story; if I wanted to know all the ins and outs, I'd find some non-fiction, so turning my brain off and just enjoying the story was fine.

One quick note, though: it's harakiri, not hari-kari. A (very) minor quibble, but it made me sigh.

For all that I wasn't quite certain I really wanted to delve into a story on men's figure skating, I'm glad in the end that I did. I'm happy to have met Alex and Matt, and look forward to revisiting their story some day.

Review: Life Lessons

Title: Life Lessons
Series: Life Lessons
Author: Kaje Harper
Publisher: MLR Press
Publication Date: 3 May 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 276 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: All Tony wants is to finish the chore of collecting one last box of books from his classroom when another teacher bleeds to death at his feet. When Detective MacLean--Mac--gets the call about a murder at Roosevelt High, he has no idea that his life is about to change, touched by blue eyes and a crooked smile. The case brings them together, a closeness that becomes more important when Tony begins receiving threatening notes. Tragedy brings them even closer, until Mac can no longer imagine life without Tony in it--despite the killers attempts to bring about just such a fate.

This story doesn't start out with the freshest premise. Namely: Character 1 is somehow involved in a crime and quickly becomes a suspect (a position from which he may or may not be expediently cleared). Character 2 is an investigating officer who may or may not believe in 1's innocence. 1 is out and proud, 2 is deeply closeted. Sparks fly between them and they eventually fall into bed together. 2 decides that he will do anything to keep 1 by his side, especially when it becomes apparent that 1 will be the next victim. Throw in the probable death of someone close to 1 as collateral damage and all of the points are hit.

Honestly. Probably three-quarters of the gay mysteries I've read have ticked most, if not all, of those boxes. Maybe I'm just reading all the wrong books?

That being said, I suspect it's such a common trope because, when it's done well, it works. It's unfortunately far too easy to do it poorly, but competently-written, well-planned examples of it are absolute delights. Free from having to reinvent the genre, the author is able to really stretch their wings, to build layers upon the trope until the bones of it are support for an exemplary example of flesh.

This is one of those delights.

Tony is a high school teacher who's worked hard to be accepted as a gay man. He stands up for himself and is occasionally a touch belligerent, but not without provocation. He is well-liked by most of his students and co-workers, and his characterization is such that it makes perfect sense. He's sweet and funny and exactly the type of person I would love to have for a friend.

Mac is a homicide detective who's always identified as gay but never admitted it to anyone but a string of out-of-town one-night stands. He's good at his job, grateful for what life gives him, and willing to give up almost anything to make his daughter happy--including her. Hell, I even like the way he melts down; it makes sense with his past behavior, showing a side of him hinted at but never quite revealed until then.

The chemistry between Tony and Mac is awesome. I found myself holding my breath for their first kiss, and the way they worked together both in and out of bed made me sigh--both happily and sadly. Their shared pain over the necessary obfuscation of their relationship made me wish I could give them hugs and tell them it would all work out in the end. (Never mind that I don't know this; that's what sequels are for.) I really liked that it took them a while to act upon their attraction, and that, once acted upon, they weren't constantly in each others' pants. (I'm a fan of the slow burn, if that isn't apparent.)

The supporting cast was fairly good, if mostly throwaway (at least when it came to characters not directly important to Tony or Mac). There are few enough of real significance that, when the killer finally showed up, I was able to guess it was them immediately.

Speaking of the killer... the mystery worked fairly well, but once the killer was introduced, it basically unraveled and it went from mystery to thriller. I'm actually okay with this; it allowed for more of a look into the killer's head. The way they reacted after being found out was fascinating (and a bit worrisome), and certainly something I could see given what was revealed about them. I ached for poor Tony throughout that experience, though.

Ultimately, I liked it well enough to immediately head over to purchase the sequel. (I was stymied when I remembered that I was on my Kindle Fire, through which I have no idea how to download a new document. Sigh.) I look forward to the continuing developments of Tony and Mac's relationship but strongly suspect that I'll be revisiting its beginnings, once again holding my breath for that first kiss.

Review: Mercury in Retrograde

Title: Mercury in Retrograde
Author: CJane Elliott
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 30 November 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 112 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Alex is ecstatic when his astrologer tells him that he's going to find his true love, just in time for him to not spend his thirtieth birthday single and alone. It's even better that he's just gotten back together with Jeff, an old love. Could the timing be any more perfect? He's still celebrating when a vacation brings him to a lodge in Oregon, where he meets Ben, the lodge's river guide. Ben's cute and a great listener, but Alex's destiny is Jeff... isn't it?

I wasn't sure what to expect with this story, torn between hippy-dippy and Hollywood drama. I'm delighted that it turned out to be neither.

Alex was charming, quite understandably torn between Jeff, with whom he'd been in a steamy relationship before, and Ben, a new acquaintance who just clicked. I could actually see him as a Hollywood star, if a particularly down-to-earth one, but the conveyance of him as such wasn't all that defined his character. His relationship with Jeff (by whom I was also pleasantly surprised in the end) worked as far as believability goes; it was easy to see them as friends in the end.

Ben was a little more difficult for me to get into, especially when he started in on marching orders from God, but I still liked his steadfastedness. The God-demands made him sound a little creepy-stalkerish, but not so terribly for me to be too weirded out to like him.

The chemistry between Alex and Ben was good, sweet and well drawn out. I liked that it took them a while to work up to even a kiss, so that by the time it happened I could believe in what they shared.

This isn't a story about sex; what sex there is takes place primarily off-screen, tastefully implied without providing a blow-by-blow. It's a nice change from stories where the characters fall into bed together ten pages in. It's more about the characters coming to know each other than it is about tab A into slot B, rinse and repeat.

The story itself is the perfect length for its purposes, neither too long nor too short. I might wish for more time spent with the characters, but that would have been padding, and I'd rather the time spent be quality over quantity.

In the end, I really rather liked this little story. It just worked for me, and I'm happy to have spent time in its small corner of the world.

Review: The Replacement Guitarist

Title: The Replacement Guitarist
Series: Replacement Guitarist
Author: Lori Toland
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 1 February 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 220 pages

Rating: 1 out of 5

Review: From the moment Blaze Shinozuka walks into his interview for the position of guitarist for pop princess Cassie, he can't deny the heat between him and Jason Stockton, Cassie's manager. It doesn't take long for the heat to ignite, and Blaze and Jason are engulfed in the inferno. Will they be able to overcome all that stands in the path toward happiness together, or will the strain of their careers tear them apart?

I wanted so badly to like this story, but it was just so clumsy. The pacing was uneven when it wasn't much too fast, and the constant POV shifts were confusing when they weren't downright annoying. Although there were often breaks for major POV shifts, other times the POV would change in the same paragraph. It was more than omniscient narration, which is a pet peeve of mine anyway.

The characters were remarkably uneven also. Jason, despite being an apparently powerful manager, is a mire of doubt and self-flagellation. The inferiority complex just didn't make sense, and when he confessed it to Blaze, I rolled my eyes hard enough to get a serious case of eye strain. Blaze, on the other hand, is a woman with a penis. They're both prone to womanly mood swings and emotions, for that matter, to the point that I couldn't take either seriously. I like my men to be men, not hysterical females. I also never got the impression that Blaze and Jason actually knew each other, outside of the carnal sense. They frequently professed their love for each other, but what was really between them, aside from sex?

The supporting cast was virtually non-existent, and shallow caricatures when they actually had more than a throwaway scene. Cassie was a raging bitch for no apparent reason, and I think only one other band member was mentioned, much less named. It made it difficult to get into the story's world.

The sex didn't make the story any more appealing. It is actually possible to have too much detail, to the point of being almost clinical. I also kept wondering how none of the other staff members figured out they were fucking, given how noisy they were in Jason's office. Doors do not equal sound-proof bubbles! Is it so difficult for them to show a little decorum, given their professed concerns of the others finding out? I realize that these things work differently in romance stories, particularly in the male/male genre where it seems like everyone's a screamer, but pondering it was enough to throw me out of the story way too often. Add to that the fact that they could barely go three pages without getting their hands on each other, and it was just too much for me.

By the way, did you know that 'mahu' is Hawaiian slang for 'gay'? Once more: 'mahu' is Hawaiian slang for 'gay'! And now that it's been specifically pointed out twice, it will never be mentioned again. The repeated emphasis of little throwaway factoids was the equivalent of name-dropping, and just as aggravating.

Honestly, a third of the way through, I had to put it down and walk away, because I was getting so terribly frustrated with it. The scene where Jason literally runs into Blaze at the airport and proceeds to have a conversation with him while lying on top of him on the floor was the straw that broke the camel's back. Normal people don't behave like that, and such abnormal behavior just makes it that much harder to invest in the characters.

I realize that I'm being harsh here, but this story honestly just pushed so many of my crap buttons that I can't help but feel almost betrayed, or foolish for spending money on it. I can't think of a single thing that stuck in my mind as redeeming. I don't think I can recommend anything but giving this one a pass.

Review: Lord and Master

Title: Lord and Master
Series: Lord and Master
Author: Jules Jones
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: 13 February 2007
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 148 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Mark is a PhD candidate looking for some job experience. Steven is an entrepreneur in need of a PA. It's lust at first sight, though they're having too much fun playing the are-they-aren't-they game to fall into bed--or at least across a desk--immediately. The heat burning between them becomes undeniable after an exhausting day, and its consummation sets in motion changes in both of them.

This is a very... cozy story. It's about two people finding each other, growing together. What conflict there is is easily overcome, whether its the reactions of peers or Steven's mental illness. It's characters rather then events that move the story along.

Given that so much of the focus is on the characters, it's a damned good thing that they're so likeable. I like Mark in particular, with his bluntness about what he wants and his steadfastedness in the face of adversity. Steven is a bit toppy for my tastes, but I still enjoy his humor and sense of morals. Their chemistry is great, too, hot but not over the top.

Not a whole lot actually happens, so this is not a story to satisfy a craving for action. On the other hand, it's great for something short and sweet, with great characters to spend an afternoon with.

Review: Yakuza Pride

Title: Yakuza Pride
Author: H.J. Brues
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 13 June 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 346 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Ken is an American raised in Japan, returning for a vacation from the States. Shigure is an underboss in Shinayawa-gumi, one of the city's largest yakuza gangs. They meet at a formal function, Ken there at his friend Ryu's insistence, Shigure as a reminder of Shinayawa's influence, and the heat between them is immediate and unmistakable. Passion--for each other and the sword--brings them together, but is it enough to bridge the gap between their worlds of light and shadows?

I feel I have to confess: I have a weakness for a good yakuza. Story. A good yakuza story. Yeah, that's right. Stories involving Japanese culture in any way are already likely to make me happy, but the yakuza element just pushes that one more button to bring happy to ecstatic. Yakuza are my g-spot.

That being said, I set myself up for disappointment, expecting it to be window-dressing filled with awkward gratuitous Japanese and mob cliches. Imagine my delight when that disappointment failed to manifest! The window-dressing is all there, yes, but it actually serves to set off the story, instead of obscuring it as I had so feared.

Ken (Kenshin, to his friends) is a charming character, culturally-sensitive, artistic, and confident in a quiet way. He could so easily have become a wilting flower, but instead he was a reed, bending but never breaking under everything that he endured. The regular reminders of his mis-matched eyes weren't as necessary as they were prevalent, but that is honestly my only quibble, and I'm stretching for that one.

Shigure came up from dirt, but has as much honor as any yakuza could ask for. He's gruff but kind (in an appropriate way), working well within the confines of his position and characterization. I enjoyed his interaction with his men and Oyone in particular, as well as the fact that he didn't compromise who he believed himself to be.

The supporting cast was mostly strong, with Kotaro and Kinosuke as particular high points. I also enjoyed Uehara rather a lot, and Shinya and Tachibana, once they found their voices. I wish Ryu hadn't faded quite as much as he did, but even that suited the story.

The story swings between a number of extremes; there's light-hearted sex, and then there's fairly graphic torture. I have to be honest: I am not a fan of angst, and had I known going into this that major characters were going to be tortured I would have probably given this a pass. By the time it came up, though, I was too invested to put it aside. The described torture is terrible, but it fits the context.

Japanese is interspersed throughout the story, but it is used well, lending accents instead of bludgeoning awareness. It's so easy to turn foreign language usage into an annoyance, but that was masterfully avoided here.

I ultimately got everything I wanted out of this story, in a perfect little package. You don't need to be a fan of yakuza stories to enjoy this; you just need to enjoy stories of personal growth and love overcoming obstacles.

Review: As Seen on TV

Title: As Seen on TV
Author: Rebecca Leigh
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 29 June 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 30 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5

Review: Graham just wanted to get away from his busy life as a New York stockbroker when he planned his trip to Hawaii. His vacation gets a lot more interesting--and intimate--when he finds television star Bruce checking into his hotel.

I appreciate that this short story features older men. (Well, comparatively, as the men are around 40.) It's a nice change from the usual. That being said, aside from the mention of the grey in Bruce's hair, they behave identically to any younger character set. I'm not certain yet if this is a good thing or not.

The chemistry between the characters isn't bad, believable if not particularly appealing. The fact that they consummate their relationship with bathtub sex makes me laugh for entirely unrelated reasons, but the sex itself isn't bad. (It's not the author's fault that I find it silly, after all, and it certainly fits the soap theme.) Although the story ends with a hopeful note, though, I just couldn't see their relationship continuing once they'd left Hawaii.

One thing that irked me: it's mentioned that Bruce is best known for his soap commercials. What kind of career did he have to be known for commercials instead of programs? Do commercial actors qualify as television stars? Do they qualify as big enough television stars to be able to brush off being recognized with a casual "I get that a lot"? I don't see that, which makes it difficult for me to buy into Bruce as a serious sex symbol.

It's not a bad story, just one that I find requires more of a suspension of disbelief than I am prepared to give. If you can shut your brain off enough to get past the silly bits, you just might enjoy it.

Review: 11:57

Title: 11:57
Author: Brian Rowe
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 1 June 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 22 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5

Review: Ryan only wants someone to be with at midnight on New Year's. In walks Landon, an on-line acquaintance who may be just what Ryan is looking for.

Although the lack of character development is pretty much inevitable given the nature of short stories, I was surprised to find how much of the little character development there was I disliked. Ryan, his brother Dustin, and Dustin's girlfriend Kami started out so unlikeable that I nearly put it down within the first three pages. They never got much better, what little characterization they had portraying them as shallow idiots. Landon's character development didn't make it much past a nice smile.

The premise is charming, but the execution is less so. Ryan recognizes Landon across a crowded room despite never having met him in person and decides to chat him up as Landon returns from an excursion to the bathroom. Landon's lack of recognition makes far more sense. The hook-up by text message was cute, but the suspense was forced, and the timestamps didn't tie in to the title. No, that was left for the tacked-on ending, which left me confused and pondering mpreg.

I recognize that the characters are supposed to find twoo wuv, given the opening and the ending, but their chemistry was just meh. I couldn't shake the impression that Landon was giving Ryan the kissing equivalent of a pity fuck, especially given the time lapse between the end of the story proper and the mini-epilogue.

In the end, despite the intriguing concept at the center of it, I can't really find anything redeeming in this little tale. I'd recommend giving it a pass.