Review: Heart Doctor

Title: Heart Doctor
Series: City Hospital
Author: Drew Zachary
Publisher: Torquere Press
Publication Date: May 2009
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 132 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5

Blurb:
Drey Banerjee, head nurse on the cardiac floor at City Hospital, loves his job. He loves it even more when heart doctor Brady MacDonald joins the team. Brady is cute, good at his job, and also gay. Soon the two are flirting like crazy and Drey's showing Brady the ropes, the local diner, his bedroom...

Brady's got rules, though, about not dating his co-workers. Not to mention the hospital frowns on fraternization between employees who work the same floor. Where does that leave Drey and Brady when innocent flirting begins leading to much, much more? With a cast of secondary characters egging Drey and Brady on, Heart Doctor is a heartwarming and delightful tale of falling in love.

Review:

Main Characters:
Drey is out and proud, loving his job as head nurse in the cardiac floor at which Brady is a new arrival. He's half-Indian and loves to cook... and that's about the extent of what we know about him. He's sassy and upbeat, but in a rather generic way; there's nothing in particular that makes him stand out as anything but half of an erotic equation.

Brady is equally difficult to get a hold on. Although he's initially more interested in circumspection than Drey, his rules quickly fly out the window. Beyond those rules and his relationships with Drey and, to a lesser extent, Eve, we're never really shown much about him. We know he likes to work out and doesn't cook, but we know nothing about his actual life--does he have friends? family? past lovers?--and that leaves him decidedly hollow, a vehicle for smut and not much else.

Chemistry:
Drey and Brady spend the vast majority of the book having sex in one form or another, but I never really felt drawn into it. Their lack of individual personalities made the depicted sex kind of sterile to me, like watching digital wire models going at it, unfinished and unsatisfying. I would've been much happier to have some character development to go with the smut, as the lack of it is definitely noticeable.

Secondary Characters:
Honestly, I strongly disliked most of the supporting cast. They were limited primarily to women--Brady's neighbor/friend Eve, the other nurses on Drey's floor--and the women were embarrassingly unrelenting fag hags. The nurses ran pools around Brady and Drey's relationship and took notes when pressing Drey for intimate details, then shot sly looks at Brady whenever they saw him. (This bothers me for another reason entirely, too: we're told that Drey is head nurse, which is a position of some authority. How can his authority be believed at all when we're never shown that the other nurses feel even a hint of respect for him? Friendship I could buy, if a particularly haggy friendship, but respect? No.) Eve pressed for details and, from the sound of it, listened avidly and shamelessly when Brady had Drey over for Chinese and loud sex. Some variety in the secondary characters and less of the fag hag stereotype would've helped my enjoyment quite a bit.

Story:
This is a book in which not a lot happens. They meet, they have sex, they move in together, the end. Things that might have been conflicts (the aforementioned fraternization being revealed) were neatly nipped in the bud, addressed quickly and forgotten. I get that conflict distracts from the sex, but a little more distraction couldn't have hurt.

Writing:
I was unfortunately not terribly impressed technically. The writing tended toward awkward, with conversations going on in parallel threads that were all too-neatly addressed in response. Some things were inserted for, I'm guessing, the sake of being cute, but where they were inserted didn't always make sense. (For example, while looking at an apartment, the manager has to leave Brady and Drey to attend to a matter. Brady tells him that the manager can trust him, he's a doctor. I get where the author was trying to go, but I don't think the situation was one where the destination was a possibility.) There's a lot of awkward phrasing, too, which makes the characters sound a lot younger than they're supposed to be (I still can't buy Brady as mid-30s), and a fair number of typographical errors.

Other Thoughts:
In addition to being a stereotype, Eve as a concept and as a character pushed a number of my other dislike buttons. First, she met Brady when he'd moved in next door to her, about a week before the story picks up... and the first conversation we're shown with her is Brady going on about how hot Drey is, in detail. I can't believe that anyone would share that much information with someone who is at best an acquaintance at that point. She also tends to come up with nicknames that strike me as intended to be cute and that come across as rather more insulting: Gay Drey and Drey the Fey and the Screamer. Way to trivialize a guy.

Overall:
Weak characterization and a lack of plot left me cold. Developing the main characters more, working in some secondary characters that weren't unrelenting stereotypes, and adding a touch of conflict could only have helped make this a more appealing story. Instead, it's a flat story with too much sex and not enough of anything else.

Review: Mongrel

Title: Mongrel
Author: K.Z. Snow
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 8 December 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 202 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Blurb:
Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus, a rollicking seaside carnival where imagination meets machinery, shines as the only bright spot in the dreary city of Purinton. A shadow is cast there one day when a tall, cloaked figure approaches the stand of Will Marchman, a young patent-medicine salesman. Fanule Perfidor, commonly known as the Dog King, isn't welcome at the Circus. No resident of Taintwell is; they're all Branded Mongrels, officially shunned. But Will is beguiled by the stunning, mysterious Perfidor. Their mutual wariness soon gives way to desire, and a bond forms.

Soon the naive but plucky pitchman becomes embroiled in a dangerous quest. Fanule suspects Alphonse Hunzinger and Purinton's civic leaders are responsible for the disappearance or incarceration of countless Branded Mongrels. But why? As Will's passion and regard for his tormented lover grow, he's determined to help Fanule get answers and prevent any further persecution... or worse. They just have to stay together—and stay alive long enough—to see their plan through.

Review:

Main Characters:
Will is a young man with no one in the world. After the death of his parents, he was raised by his uncle, a patent-medicine salesman. Upon his uncle's death, he took over the business and found a place at Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus, where he sells the Dr. Bolt's Bloodroot Elixir that the circus's owner endorses. He's also a twor--a man who prefers the company of other men. Although he lacks experience, he's not without gumption, and once he's set on a path he doesn't hesitate. He's a refreshing character, with an appealing blend of naïveté and determination.

Fanule--Fan--is the Eminence of Taintwell, leader of the village in which mongrels--people who are part human and part... other--live. He tends toward arrogance, though it's not unfounded, and making his own rules. He's determined to help his people despite frequently being unable to help himself, as he suffers from a debilitating mental illness that leaves him reliant on a powdered treatment to maintain an even keel. He also has a vulnerable side that comes out primarily around Will, with a tenderness that comes initially as quite a surprise.

Chemistry:
The first time Will and Fan meet sparks intrigue in both--Will has never before met a mongrel, and Fan is perfectly willing to nurture his initial attraction. The second time they meet is explosive, with conversation turning quickly into kisses that lead to a hotel room and eager lovemaking. From there it's easy--perhaps a bit too easy, but only a bit--for them to fall from lust to love. They're a touching couple, balancing each other well and giving each other something to cling to.

Secondary Characters:
I loved many of the secondary characters, Lizabetta and Clancy Marrowbone in particular. Although I was initially prepared to dislike him, I also came to like Simon, particularly once it became apparent that the other shoe I was waiting to drop wasn't going to. My only real complaint with characters is that the motivations of the antagonists was never really revealed; what they did was apparent, but I never came to understand the why of it.

Story:
The story follows Fan and Will as they unravel the mystery behind mongrel arrests and disappearances, and how they're linked to Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus. It's unwrapped a bit at a time in perfect little chunks, woven well into the growing relationship between Fan and Will. It never lagged for me, moving along in a smooth flow from beginning to end. I could've done with a little bit more world-building--we learn very little of the city of Purinton and the village of Taintwell, and nothing of areas outside--but what there was was certainly enough to set the scene.

Writing:
The writing was an absolute delight, lush and evocative, and reading it felt sometimes as hedonistic as sinking into a milk bath sprinkled with rose petals. Will and Fan each had their voice represented, and each had a tone that made it easy to distinguish to whom the current point of view belonged.

Other Thoughts:
This is one of the first times I've seen bipolar disorder depicted in the genre, and I was thrilled to find it extremely well done. Fan is rapid-cycling, very nearly ultradian rapid-cycling, which in his case makes the slide from mania to depression and back again frequent enough to be almost crippling. I also loved Will's reaction to it; knowing when to soothe and when to leave him alone was the perfect response.

Overall:
Distinct characters and an engaging story are only bolstered by smooth writing and an intriguing, if not quite fully-fleshed, world. Reading it was a pleasure, one that I look forward to experiencing again.

Review: Daybreak

Title: Daybreak
Series: Eight Nights
Author: Keira Andrews
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: 16 December 2008
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 135 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Blurb:
Lucas and Nate enjoyed eight steamy nights of forbidden romance last year at Hanukkah. Now after months of long-distance dating, they're living in their own apartment in Greenwich Village and beginning a new life together. Lucas hates lying to Nate's family about the true nature of their relationship, but being with Nate is worth it.

They revel in having a private place to explore their relationship -- and every inch of each other -- but Nate and Lucas soon discover that living together isn't always perfect. When an unexpected betrayal shatters their tentative happiness, they struggle to find their way back together as the holidays approach once more. As their first magical nights together become a distant memory, can Lucas and Nate's relationship survive the break of day?

Review:

Main Characters:
Lucas has grown up a bit since Eight Nights, transferring to NYU and finding a studio apartment to share with Nate. He does, however, still have a lot of growing up left to do, and a series of his bad decisions drive much of the story. It's interesting to see him growing into his possibilities.

Nate, on the other hand, still seems stuck where Eight Nights left him; despite spending the summer in Europe with his parents, he's no closer to telling them of either his orientation or his change in major. He's developed a jealous streak that is actually rather charming (most of the time), but he's also gotten prickly to the point that I sometimes found myself wondering what Lucas saw in him.

Chemistry:
Although the story begins with their living together, the sense that they didn't know each other was pervasive. They had sex--plenty of sex--and got on quite well in that aspect, but found themselves butting heads in other aspects of their lives. As events played out and they were separated, I wondered if it would even be for the best for them to get back together. That being said, they're still an attractive couple, just a very immature one, both with plenty of room left to find themselves.

Secondary Characters:
There is a large supporting cast, though they rotate through fairly quickly so that the numbers are never overwhelming. Some drove me nuts--I wish Casey hadn't played out the way he did--but others were surprisingly enjoyable; I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Nate's father or Sam. The secondary characters were breathed with just enough life to make them interesting without dragging the focus away from where it belonged, with Lucas and Nate.

Story:
As I'd mentioned, a large force in the story is Lucas's bad decisions, though they're not the only key points. Although some of the critical events, whether through Lucas's actions or an outside influence, came as a surprise, none of them struck me as gratuitous. My biggest complaint is the pat ending, when a particular player completely reverses a stance they'd taken regarding Lucas and Nate just in time for family sap; it seemed a little forced, and I'd rather have seen a more natural progression to resolution, rather than a switch being flipped.

Writing:
I enjoyed the writing in this book rather more than that of Eight Nights, though that may be simply because the author had rather more time to hit their stride. The balance of showing and telling was still excellent, and the dialogue was strong.

Overall:
Interesting (if sometimes frustrating) characters and a well-crafted story make this an easy book to like. Although the ending was a bit of a letdown, the rest of the story was charming enough to bear up through the stumble. I'm only sorry that we don't get to find out more about how Lucas and Nate grow into themselves.

Review: Beneath the Shield

Title: Beneath the Shield
Author: Diana DeRicci
Publisher: MLR Press
Publication Date: February 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 106 pages

Rating: 3 out of 5

Blurb:
Jack Torres has been harboring, zealously nurturing a hidden guilt for three years. This mire of emotions has hardened his heart and his want to reconnect to the living world, keeping him isolated and unapproachable.

Brant Teller is a chance encounter Jack keeps from growing physically violent in a crowded nightclub. Parting ways, Brant doesn't expect to see the brooding, silent officer again. Yet when a domestic violence call brings the surly officer right to his ER, Brant takes a chance. What begins as a Sunday of football has the possibility to become so much more. If Jack will open himself up enough to release the agony of his own personal nightmare.

Review:

Main Characters:
Brant is an ER doctor with a third degree black belt, a man who is used to taking care of himself. He's understanding to a fault but has no problem saying 'no' when the situation warrants it, and doesn't give up easily. He's an interesting, likable character, but somehow too good to be true when taken as a whole, which made it hard for me to invest in him.

Jack is a former DEA agent turned cop after the death of his partner and lover, Leo. He's closed himself off from the world, nursing his pain in silence with only his cousin Trevi for company--and even that is accepted only grudgingly. So much of his characterization is tied in to his psychological solitary confinement that it was difficult for me to get a hold on who he was otherwise. The flashes of him as a person outside of his pain are appealing, but they're also few and far between for the bulk of the book.

Chemistry:
Brant and Jack's relationship begins with a mutual attraction after Jack rescues Brant from a confrontation with an ex, though neither act upon it for some time as Jack is in denial. Brant's early insistence that Jack could at least have a friend was touching, and the way that they developed their relationship into a romance was sweet, even if my eyebrows lifted over how much (or, rather, how little) time it took for "Just keep me warm," to turn into "I'm seducing you." The sex was well-done, but it went on forever; by the end of their first encounter, I was skimming. (Thankfully, follow-ups weren't anywhere near as drawn-out.) I did greatly appreciate the fact that both Brant and Jack considered themselves reversibles, though; a lack of strictly defined roles opens up so very many possibilities.

Secondary Characters:
The supporting cast is small and, honestly, I'm conflicted by it. I enjoyed Janet (a nurse in the ER) in her brief scenes, but Trevi put me off; although he's 24, he came off as a bouncy teenager to me. Ryan (Brant's ex) was a handy impetus to bring Brant and Jack together, but it was never really shown why he was so fixated on Brant; a little more backstory might have helped me see him as something other than a cartoon villain.

Story:
The story is woven between Brant's determination to develop a relationship with Jack and Jack's desire to remain alone and mired in guilt over Leo's death. It moves along fairly well, although it is bogged down periodically by Jack's moping; it's much more even when Brant is the narrator. Once they work past Jack's angst, things seemed a bit rushed; the length of time from their first meeting to lifelong commitment struck me as just way too short to be believable.

Writing:
Although pleasant, there were quirks in the writing that distracted me fairly often. Comma usage is inconsistent, so that I found myself repunctuating as I read. Some word choices threw me (e.g. Brant's tongue shaking hands with Jack's cock) and the order of some phrasing seemed reversed to me, which lessened the impact. On the other hand, there were choices that made me smile, like Brant's wallowing like a happy pig in the mushy feeling Jack instilled in him. There were typos here and there, but nothing truly egregious.

Other Thoughts:
Brant's understanding stretched the bounds of belief at times, but there was one part that sucked me into their relationship: Jack is questioning his worth and insisting that he's a bad person who can't even stand to look at himself, and Brant tells him, "[...] learn to trust in what I see, Jack." It made me actually say 'awh'.

On the other hand, there's the balls-punching scene. Frustrated with his attraction to Brant and the erection resulting from it, Jack nails himself in the crotch. I had to reread the scene to convince myself that it was an actual event, and not something Jack was dealing with in his head. I'm still a bit baffled by the reaction.

Overall:
By turns sweet and confounding, I'm torn on this book. Although it was an appealing story, flaws kept me from being fully engaged and invested in Brant and Jack's relationship. A bit more development and a bit less moping would've helped my enjoyment, but it was still a nice little story to pass some time with.

Review: Eight Nights

Title: Eight Nights
Series: Eight Nights
Author: Keira Andrews
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: December 2007
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 63 pages

Rating: 3 out of 5

Blurb:
Lucas McKenzie figures spending the holidays with his annoying roommate's family is better than being alone on campus. The last thing he expects is to lust over Sam's brother -- or for Nate to actually want him back.

They hide their attraction during Hanukkah celebrations, but behind closed doors, Lucas and Nate can't keep their hands (or mouths) off each other. Nate's only looking for a bit of holiday fun, and amazing sex with a hot virgin definitely fits the bill.

Yet as the candles burn, Nate and Lucas begin to realize eight nights will never be enough.

Review:

Main Characters:
Lucas is... cute is the first word that comes to mind. An older college freshman due to his father's illness and eventual death, he's on a pre-med track and not quite certain that it's what he wants to do with his life. He's certain he's gay but never actually had any gay experiences--never even gotten over his nerves to look into his college's gay alliance. He's shy and uncertain and, well, cute.

Nate is far more confident--at least when it comes to anything but his family. He's out to his friends and pursuing an interest in photography, but he's afraid of his family finding out both his sexuality and that for him photography is more than a hobby.

Chemistry:
The relationship between Lucas and Nate is tinged with desperation, between Lucas's inexperience, the timeframe instituted by Lucas's visitation to Nate's family's home, and Nate's insistence that he doesn't want anything look longterm. The fumbling discovery of each other is charming--a bit silly at times, but it works within the context. They spend time together outside of having sex, so it's easy to believe that they might have a future as they slowly grow to know each other.

Secondary Characters:
For the length, this book has a fairly broad cast of secondary characters. Most aren't very consistent in their appearances, thankfully, but the central unit of Nate's family is present throughout. Sam and Nate's mother are the strongest, the latter moreso than the former. Lucas in particular interacts with them the most (not surprising, given that he's the story's narrator, but also because Nate tends to disappear to his bedroom when not required) and it's just enough to build another layer to the characters and story.

Story:
There's not a lot that actually happens here; it's driven by the characters, rather than events. There are a few instances of Lucas and Nate exploring the City, but the bulk of the story is spent in Nate's family's home or, more specifically, Nate's bedroom.

Writing:
The writing is competent, enjoyable if not stellar. The balance of showing and telling is excellent, and there are very few errors.

Overall:
Pleasant characters make this an enjoyable story set against the backdrop of Hanukkah. It's a nice bite of story and serves well as a set-up to the sequel, which I will definitely be picking up.

Review: American Love Songs

Title: American Love Songs
Author: Ashlyn Kane
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 31 December 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 251 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Blurb:
Jake Brenner has too many wild oats to sow to fall in love—or so he claims. Besides, he's much too busy with his band, the Wayward Sons, to go looking for romance. His reticence has nothing to do with his embarrassing crush on Chris, the band's lead singer and Jake's erstwhile best friend. But that was before enigmatic wanderer Parker McAvoy signed on as the band's new lead guitarist.

He can only deny his attraction to sweet, dorky Parker for so long before the urge to do something about it becomes impossible to ignore. The trouble is, Parker knows all about Jake's philandering ways—and oh, yeah, he's not gay. Or so Jake thinks until a string of related events provides encouraging new insight. Can he convince Parker to overlook his colorful past and give him a chance? Or will this love song fade out before it even begins?

Review:

Main Characters:
Jake is an easygoing guy, the mediator of his band of friends--and his friends in the band. He's a college dropout who hasn't looked back since he made the decision to pursue a career in music, a bit of a player, and completely oblivious to certain aspects of himself. He's a great, fun character, and one I came to adore as the story progressed.

Parker is much quieter and far more reserved, suffering from occasionally-crippling shyness. He is a musical genius with a gift for songwriting to go with his talents with instruments, and keeps secrets about his past close to his chest. He's downright adorable in his insecurities, and it's easy to root for him, especially as his past begins to come out.

Chemistry:
For much of the story, Jake and Parker are friends with no real inkling that they could be anything more. Their friendship is frankly sweet; I love the scene where Parker is dragged into bed by a sick Jake to play bedwarmer. Once they begin to recognize their attraction and act on it, though, things definitely sizzle. It's a slow progression, but a very appealing one; I found myself holding my breath each time they kissed, wondering if it would be that time they'd be carried away by it.

Secondary Characters:
The supporting cast is fairly large, including their bandmates, support staff, families, and other incidentals, but most are so well drawn that they're easy to keep track of despite the quantity. Several are stellar--I particularly liked Allanna and Mickey.

Story:
The story follows not only the development of Jake and Parker's relationship, but also the rise of their band from local notoriety to international glory. It was generally well-paced and engaging, but I found it lagged a little by the time Jake and Parker really started heating up; I found my attention wandering more than once toward the end.

Writing:
The writing was lovely, with engaging dialogue and lively prose. The prose was interspersed with occasional blog posts, which was interesting, and also sported the occasional footnote, for commentary by the characters.

Although I enjoyed the writing, the premise did throw me a little. It was presented as a story told to the fans, into which the blog posts and footnotes fit, but some of the things included that made sense in a traditional format didn't make sense as it was presented; would Parker really be comfortable with an account of him coming in his jeans being presented to the fans when he has to go onstage sans glasses to help control his nerves? I just couldn't quite equate the two.

Overall:
Likable characters and a fun story made this a pleasure to read. Although the premise still throws me, if you can move beyond that you'll certainly find plenty to like. I only wish it were possible to see more of Jake and Parker's growth together.

Review: Indigo: The Cat's Meow

Title: Indigo: The Cat's Meow
Author: Lucius Parhelion
Publisher: Torquere Press
Publication Date: 27 December 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 72 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Blurb:
Good jobs were hard to come by in 1930, even in booming Southern California, even in Hollywood. Fred Doyle was relieved when the chores his brother Charlie conned him into taking over, serving as handyman and cat sitter for their landlady's son, accidentally led to decent work with Carl Belasco, youngest and sharpest of the Production Heads at Metropolitan Pictures.

But now Fred and Carl are being drawn together by more than painting woodwork on weekends, trying to keep track of Mr. Flurry the cat, or even correcting errant movie directors. They're realizing that a more intimate and illegal taste they share is turning them toward each other. Too bad that onlookers, including the ever-conniving Charlie, may notice the growing attraction before Fred and Carl do.

Given this tangle, a quick trip to buy decorating supplies on romantic Catalina Island is likely not the wisest of ideas...

Review:

Main Characters:
Fred is a soon-to-be-CPA sleeping on his brother's couch. Seeking hourly work to avoid taking a job with the family construction company, he's pleasantly surprised to find regular work as Carl's personal assistant, something at which it quickly becomes apparent he excels. He's grounded and knows how to get done what needs to be done, but he's not above irreverence and doesn't take himself too seriously. His narration gives the story a decidedly light-hearted air and casts him as quite a likable guy.

Carl is a bit harder to get a read on, filtered through Fred's point of view. He's a powerful producer with a bad habit of keeping potential paramours--those of a lavender hue--close at hand in any way that fits. I rather liked him, though I can't pin down his character enough to determine why.

Chemistry:
So much of what is between Fred and Carl is in what is not said that it was hard to see their interest in each other at all until quite late in the story. Once it came out, it was a slow slide into acting upon that attraction, and much is still left in the spaces between; what sex there is in the end is tastefully implied, rather than splashed across the page. It's easy for me to see Fred and Carl together for the long haul, too, which never hurts.

Secondary Characters:
Although there is a decently-sized secondary cast, the one who steals the scenes is naturally Mr. Flurry. His frantic pawing under the bathroom door at bath time is downright adorable. Fred's brother, Charlie, is fun as well, especially when he rides to defend Fred's virtue, much to Fred's chagrin. Even the incidental characters are breathed with unique life that makes them a pleasant, integral part to Fred and Carl's world.

Story:
Much of the plot revolves around the work Fred and Carl are doing to Carl's mother's house while she is away. The development of their relationship, both personal and professional, falls into the cracks and comes out in relief, shown in its absence.

Writing:
The writing itself is an absolute delight, lyrical and dreamy. Things flow so beautifully from point A to point B that it's easy to get lost in it.

Overall:
You don't need to love historical romances to love this story, but it's an added bonus if you do. Excellent writing and impressively-drawn characters lend a timelessness that makes it easily accessible to anyone looking for a lovely, light romance.

Review: No Souvenirs

Title: No Souvenirs
Series: Florida Books
Author: K.A. Mitchell
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: 9 March 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 158 pages

Rating: 3 out of 5

Blurb:
A vacation fling. No complications. No connections. And no regrets.

Trauma surgeon Jae Sun Kim has just lost the job he wanted more than anything else in his life. Looking for a way to hit the reset button, he takes a scuba vacation. He didn't plan on seasickness, or a dive master who is sex-on-the-beach personified.

Shane McCormack's tendency to drift away from complicated situations has landed him a job as a dive master in Belize, which isn't as glamorous as it sounds. But with the big three-oh looming, asking his parents to bail him out again isn't an option. The job isn't without its perks, though, and as soon as he figures a way to keep that hot but arrogant ass of a doctor from tossing his cookies over the side of the boat, he plans to flirt the control freak out of his brittle shell.

The close quarters on the ship generate more heat than either expects, but a vacation fling is all that's in the plans. An unexpected adventure leaves them changed in ways that make it impossible to go back to their old lives. The risks they'll both have to take could leave them with nothing but more scars, or the best souvenir of all.

Review:

Main Characters:
Kim is prickly and unapproachable, even his closest friends held at a distance. He lives to work--and also in fear that his parents will discover that he's gay. He's an unequivocal top with no real history of relationships and a near inability to express himself. He's also an arrogant asshole. Despite that (or, perhaps, because of that), I adore him. He's uncompromising when it comes to his beliefs, but also isn't above trying to change when he feels it necessary. His evolution throughout the story is interesting to witness, and I think he comes out as quite likable (if you tend toward the prickly sorts).

Shane is far more easy-going. After nine years in college and with difficulties finding a position in his field, he takes a position as Divemaster as a stopgap, not having any idea what exactly he's going to have dropped in his lap. He's got a family that knows he's gay and loves him, although he doesn't really seem to have any other close friends. (At least, I can't recall any being mentioned, even in passing.) I liked him well enough, but he seemed a little more generic than Kim to me.

Chemistry:
Kim and Shane are definitely an attractive couple, which is good as they have a lot of sex. I particularly enjoyed that Kim was the dominant one in the relationship despite the height trope, although I could have lived with a little bit of reversing. I could also have done with a little more conversation, as, aside from one or two revealing talks, they never really seemed to get to know each other all that well.

Secondary Characters:
The supporting cast was thin on the ground; the largest were Joey and Aaron (from Collision Course), and even they barely made an appearance. While it was interesting to see how Joey and Aaron were doing, it also seemed as though they were thrown in for the sake of the cameo, without having any real impact.

Story:
Although there's a lot of sex, there's also a welcome amount of plot to be found here, mostly centering on a mishap during Kim's tour. Things move along well through much of the book, although almost too smoothly; there's not really any confrontation (mishap aside) until quite late. It could easily have been expanded, I think, especially as it's already a fairly short book--over 100 pages shorter than the previous book in the series.

Writing:
The writing flowed nicely, competent if not particularly captivating. It was easy to sink into, with few noticeable errors.

Other Thoughts:
This is so a non-issue, but I had to blink that at one point a condom was flushed down the toilet. Would you believe that threw me out of the story more than anything else? Tsk.

Overall:
An interesting story made for a good vehicle for appealing characters. If not particularly memorable, it's still an enjoyable read that has a place on my shelf.

Review: Collision Course

Title: Collision Course
Series: Florida Books
Author: K.A. Mitchell
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: 9 December 2008
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 266 pages

Rating: 3 out of 5

Blurb:
Immovable object? Meet the irresistible force.

Paramedic Aaron Chase doesn't have anything against love. It just comes with a lot of responsibility, like when he had to raise his sister and brothers after their drug-addicted mom took off for good. Now that the last one is off to college, Aaron's anticipating enjoying life on his own terms. He certainly wasn't expecting Joey Miller to accidentally drop into his life.

Joey's sexy, funny and annoyingly optimistic, and his tendency to get into trouble keeps sending him Aaron's way. Even the fact that Joey works for the hated social work system isn't reason enough to keep him out of Aaron's bed.

Joey knows all about love. He's fallen in it ten times—he thinks. It's not that he can't tell the difference between sex and love. All that experience has to count for something, right? With Aaron it's different. Maybe because there's something to fight for.

This time Joey's fallen for good. He's not going to let number eleven get away.

Review:

Main Characters:
Joey is an affable man who makes his living as a social worker, trying to save kids from bad situations. He enjoys surfing and has a waterbed simply because it's the closest he can come to sleeping on the waves. He's had ten boyfriends, with most of whom he remains friendly. He puts up with a lot, but isn't afraid to put his foot down when he feels that he's being needlessly targeted. He's certainly likable, and easy to root for.

Aaron is a bit more of an enigma to me. A paramedic (not an EMT) who raised three younger siblings when his crackwhore mother split, he's an arrogant asshole with issues maintaining close relationships. He also has no love for the social work system--or those who work in it. He never really evolved past the arrogant asshole for me, ultimately less compelling than Joey.

Chemistry:
Joey and Aaron might not have the best conversational skills, but they certainly did heat the sheets. It's a truly good thing they worked so well together, because there is a lot of sex in this book. There's also a touch of mild kink, though not enough to make most people uncomfortable, I think. I do wish they'd talked a bit more without one or the other of them getting angry, but they still shared enough that I could believe in them as a couple, rather than just fuckbuddies. They're a confrontational couple, but still a believable one.

Secondary Characters:
The supporting cast was widely varied and mostly well-drawn. I wish that some had gotten more attention--it seemed to me that Darryl was often overwhelmed and his issues kind of petered out--but they nevertheless worked well within the confines of the story.

Two of the secondary characters (Noah and Cameron) were the main characters in the preceding book in the series. It probably helps to understand them better to have read the first book (I didn't), as I found them a bit annoying; backstory may have mitigated that.

Story:
Honestly, I can't remember if there was much of a plot, as probably 75% of the book (if not more) was sex. Most of what happened that wasn't sex seemed to be a setup for sex, though there were a few events that provided revelations before the sex, at least. There was some family and work drama, but nothing with lasting repercussions; that came from the more personal, relationship drama. As a vehicle for the relationship as it progresses from sex to something more connected, though, the story is perfectly adequate.

Writing:
The writing was solid and enjoyable, with both prose and dialogue flowing well. There were a few errors here and there, but nothing noteworthy and not frequent enough to be annoying. Although there was nothing wrong, though, there was also nothing magical; no particular turn of phrase particularly stuck out for me.

Other Thoughts:
Both Joey and Aaron had voices in this story, though thankfully not at the same time; their points of view are clearly delineated by section. It's just enough to give an insight into both men, though I still feel that Joey is the clearer of the two.

Overall:
Well-developed characters and pleasant writing make this a quick, easy read. Although it lacks a spark to make it truly stand out, there's still plenty to enjoy here, with more in the series to look forward to.

Review: Dutch Treat

Title: Dutch Treat
Author: Andrew Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 14 July 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 200 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5

Blurb:
When Michael accepts a company assignment overseas, he doesn't count on being dumped by his boyfriend on the way to the airport. The breakup is a bad omen--Michael's time in Europe would be one long misery of loneliness and corporate backbiting if it weren’t for his friendship with his coworker, Stephan.

When he finds out Stephan wants more than friendship, Michael is torn. Even if he chooses to risk his one bright relationship in Europe for a chance at love, when this project is over, isn't his only choice to say goodbye?

Review:

Characters:
Michael is an information systems project manager for Shoe Box, an international athletic shoe retailer, with his life in line: he likes his job (if not his direct supervisor) and he's got a hot boyfriend who's been throwing around the L-word. Things begin to fall apart when he has a stint in the European office all but forced upon him... which is when his character starts to fall apart, too. He's supposedly (self-proclaimedly) strong and forceful, but I never really see it. He actually tends to be a bit of a pushover, mostly just going with whatever anyone else decides, whether it's his professional or personal life.

Stephan works in the marketing department of the Shoe Box European office. I had a hard time getting a handle on him, honestly. Part of it is that the entire story is told from Michael's point of view (which is not a complaint), but part of it I think is that he really didn't have much of a personality. He tends to come off sometimes as almost naive and childish, and runs hot and cold in an unappealing manner; the contradictions within the same conversation make no sense to me. (For example, there's a scene in which Michael rescues a child from drowning (more on this later). Stephan is all over him, claiming he's a hero. As the conversation progresses, it comes out that Stephan wants an intimate relationship with Michael and, when Michael refuses, Stephan calls him a coward and fumes. When Michael capitulates with an offer to date, Stephan is all sunshine and roses again.)

Try though I might, I cannot find Michael and Stephan appealing as a couple. Their chemistry is just zero; I zoned through their first kiss and ended up skimming most of the sex scenes. Even the declarations of love struck me as rote, something to be said because it was expected, not actually felt. It didn't help that I didn't buy into their first meeting: newly-arrived Michael is eating in his hotel's restaurant when he just so happens to be approached by Stephan, who'd heard someone new was arriving and thought it must be Michael when he saw him at the restaurant. I just don't buy it--it's too much of a contrivance.

The supporting cast was mostly conveniences. They popped up in sometimes non-sensical ways in time to give Michael an epiphany, then disappeared. Jake and Roger spring immediately to mind. Although they'd been Michael's friends for years, there's not so much as a mention of them until half-way through the book--how hard would it have been to insert a short scene with them prior to Michael's departure for Europe?--when they invite Michael to a dinner at which they make Michael think about how he regards Stephan. There's a brief conversation much later in which they give Michael more to think about when it comes to a pivotal decision, but nothing between the two, and nothing after. I realize that the focus is (and should be) on Michael and Stephan, but the sudden appearances and disappearances were jarring.

Story:
This is a decidedly character-driven story, so, while things happen, the story exists primarily to bring the characters together. Some of the events that work to do so, however, struck me as a little ridiculous. As an example: the aforementioned drowning child.

As they reached the spot where the walkway split to head out to the pavilion, Michael watched the waves break against the shore. A small round object bobbed between two waves near shore, and Michael stopped, watching. The object appeared again, and Michael took off running, tearing off his jacket and pulling off his sweatshirt, shoes left in the sand behind him. Hitting the water, he raced toward what was now plainly a small head of dark hair.

Aside from the introduction being clumsy (if it wasn't clear that it was, in fact, a child, why was Michael in such a hurry to get into the water?), the transparency of the vehicle was a bit off-putting. It seemed shoehorned in to facilitate the transition from Michael resisting Stephan's advances to giving in and agreeing to date. Other events (such as the final determinant of whether Michael stayed or returned to the States) struck me as equally forced.

Crises also resolve themselves a little too quickly. For example, there's a kerfuffle which first crops up on page 109 and which could have easily affected the rest of the story, but it was completely resolved 12 pages later--and it would have been sooner, had those 12 pages not included some sex. A little more in the way of lasting repercussions wouldn't have been a bad thing.

Writing:
It seems as though the author lost track of some of the details here and there. Michael returns from his first trip back to the States the day before Independence Day, but the Fourth of July comes around 31 pages later. Michael claims he doesn't date friends, but repeatedly asserts that he and Devon were friends first. Michael also claims he was never in love, but later shares the tragic story of his first love (which was almost embarrassingly melodramatic).

Although I can see how others appreciate the author's writing, it's really not to my taste.

"I wish I could talk more, but I have an appointment. Let me know what you decide." Dennis hung up, and Michael stood, walking over and opening his door before going back to work. At lunchtime, he ate alone. Usually Michael ate with some of the guys or other managers, but today he wasn't up for it. He had too much to think about. What bothered him most was that he knew he was going to do it. He knew he‟d put his life on hold and do this project because they'd asked, but he absolutely didn't want to go. It wasn't in his psyche to turn them down. Michael had always done what the company needed and asked of him, and it really wasn't in him to say no. He knew it, and he thought Curtis and Mark knew it too.

Though there's nothing technically wrong with the above, for me it's too much telling, too much information dumping. The reader is told more than s/he is shown, which makes it difficult to invest in the characters or the story.

I also found some of the dialogue to be rather unrealistic. Does anyone actually talk like this?

[...] "You must talk, Stephan. I don't know what Heinrich told you, but you have to talk to me. I want to hear your voice, your sounds, I want you to tell me what you like and what you don't. I want to hear you as well as see, taste, and feel you."

"But...," Stephan stuttered.

"You must always ask for what you want. I'll decide when and if you get it, but you must never be afraid to ask, and you must always say if you do not like anything." Michael touched Stephan‟s chin. "Always. I don't play games and I don't fool around. If we do this, it's an expression of our feelings for one another."

Other Thoughts:
There's a lot of mind reading in this book. The first time it struck me was when Michael had a conversation with his seatmate during his flight to Europe. Though he made no prior comment about being gay and the single word he said was Devon, Ruthie (the seatmate) instantly knows that Devon (a unisex name, last I'd checked) is a man and that he and Michael used to be involved. Later, Michael has a conversation with Devon in which Devon states that he was wrong to end things the way he did, which Michael immediately assumes means that Devon wants to get back together. There are other directions comments could have led, but the respondents always automatically know exactly what the speaker means. It's just a little unbelievable.

Overall:
It's not a bad story, but it's so out of line with my tastes that I just can't come to like it. Fans of the author will find a lot here, I'm sure, but this story has demonstrated that I am unfortunately not one of them.