Review: Kindred Hearts

Title: Kindred Hearts
Author: Rowan Speedwell
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 2 May 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 125,403 words

Rating: 5 out of 5

Blurb:
Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it all: an ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can’t do, whether it’s seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father’s controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive when he’s dancing on the edge... until his wife’s brother comes home from the wars.

Decorated war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his affection—or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying so valiantly to hide from the world.

Review:

Main Characters:
Tristan is a broken man at the end of his rope: forced into marriage by his father with a woman he likes well enough but doesn't love, living a life of drinking and whoring, taking on any challenge, no matter how foolish--or dangerous. By the time he meets Charles, he's prepared to end it all, arranging his affairs toward that end to ensure that his wife, Charlotte, his son, Jamie, and his unborn second child will be taken care of once he's gone. He'd never thought of another man romantically before he met Charles, despite an encounter that left him with an inconvenient memory, one that he's struggled to put behind him.

As the story progresses, Tristan grows. It's not an overnight transformation--he has too much bad history for that--but given time and positive reinforcement he becomes a man to respect. He still has his immature moments, his moments of doubt and defensive haughtiness, but they're fewer and farther between. He does cry a lot, but I found it to be mostly understandable; he's lived a life of emotional neglect and inadvertent abuse, and to be treated by Charles with kindness and love is overwhelming, thrusting him into unfamiliar territory through which he has no means to navigate. The only time I found it a bit silly was toward the end of the book: after his argument with an invalid Charles comes to a head and results in Tristan bringing him off with his mouth, Tristan breaks down weeping. It seemed a bit belated to me, and a bit extreme for the situation.

One thing I found particularly charming about Tristan came about in his first sexual encounter with Charles: Tristan becomes upset because he climaxed and Charles did not. His father had instructed him years prior that he was always to see to his partner's pleasure first, and only then address his own, and Tristan took it to heart. His religious following of the edict makes him more than a shiftless rake and adds a sweetness even to his promiscuity.

Charles is much steadier than Tristan, not surprising given his position as a major and ADC to Wellington. He's also known for years that he's quite bent, though his last love affair ended tragically when his lover saw the romance as a mistake and left their regiment for a situation that would eventually lead to his death. He has a fascination with medicine and herbal treatments, and hopes to study as a physician once he's sold his commission. He never displays quite as much growth as Tristan, though, again, this is not surprising as he started off in a much better place, confident in who he is and what he has to offer.

It's only quite a bit later in the story that we see another side of Charles, after he's recuperating from an injury taken during the battle of Waterloo. Up to that point, he was patient and steadfast almost to a fault. During his invalidity, he shows a crotchety side that's almost cute; it's good to see him as something other than the Perfect Man.

Chemistry:
Tristan and Charles are an incredibly tight couple, and the tension between them, even when they're unaware that it's mutual, is perfectly strung. Charles already feels familiar with Tristan due to his sister's letters about her husband, but Tristan begins in quite a different position, getting prickly whenever anyone mentions Charles. Rather than take rooms elsewhere, Charles moves into Tristan's home, where daily exposure to his sudden attraction begins to drive Tristan to the brink. By the time Charles discovers his plans and confronts him, the tension between them has drawn so tight that it can only snap, driving them unavoidably together.

Even after they've consummated their relationship, the tension remains, a construct of the times; although certain key people know of their bonds, they have to shield it from all others or risk being hanged as sodomites and criminals. What they do behind closed doors is definitely satisfying, building beautifully on their characters without overwhelming the story.

There are actually times at which Tristan seems too naïve, though. Revisiting the scene of their first sexual encounter, there's a revealing moment tied into the aforementioned delay of Tristan's pleasure that I found it just a little hard to believe:

Then Charles kissed him, one slick hand curving along Tristan's jaw and slipping down his neck, his fingers stroking, teasing sensation from Tristan's skin. He smoothed along the curve of Tristan's shoulder, then down over his pectoral muscle and paused. Drawing back, he whispered, "Do you like it when you're touched here...?" and his fingers brushed Tristan's nipple.

Tristan's body arched in response. The touch was gentle, but the sensation of the warm, slick fingers was too much. He cried out softly, then went limp again as Charles's hand moved away. "I've never... no one ever..."

There was a moment of stillness, then Charles said in disbelief, "No one's ever touched you there? No one?"

His face burning, Tristan shook his head, his hair scrubbing against the linen of the pillowcase. "Sometimes, when I'm making love, they rub against the woman's skin... it feels good."

"Then why don't you let them touch you there, if it feels good?"

Tristan let out a long sighing breath. "No one ever offered. Besides—my responsibility is their pleasure—it's just a bonus that I take my own."

"My God," Charles said flatly.

It's sweet, but I can't believe that someone as promiscuous as Tristan is supposed to have been hasn't had that kind of contact at least once in his life.

On another note, I'm in love with how they're in love. Tristan's vulnerability in love is perfectly portrayed more than once, but this is my favorite:

Tristan fumbled for Charles's cheek to guide himself in for a kiss; light, at first, but then Charles's tongue took possession of Tristan's mouth, and they shifted so that Charles sprawled over Tristan. Tris drew his legs up and wrapped them around Charles's back, sliding his hands down to cup Charles's muscular arse. He rocked against Charles, loving the solidity, the stability, the strength of his lover's body. "Love me, Charlie," he murmured, and took Charles's mouth again, his hands and tongue eager. He felt Charles's rumbling laughter and drew back. "What's so funny?"

"You, love," Charles said, dipping his head to lick at Tristan's throat. "Love you? As if I had any choice in the matter."

That little love me, Charlie gets me every time.

Secondary Characters:
The supporting cast is broad and evolves as the story does. Between Tristan's family (by blood and otherwise) and friends, Charles's military comrades, and the physicians and surgeons with whom they later become acquainted, there are plenty to keep straight. A few threw me, particularly those introduced later in the story--I just can't keep them straight, and I'm not quite certain how the relationship between Tristan and Chamberlain developed as it did given the situation--but they're overall well-drawn and appealing.

Charlotte is the definite high point for me, with her implacability and insight. The conversations she has with Tristan and Charles provide impetus and a perspective that propels much of the story, without being gratuitous or transparent. Early in the story is one of my favorites:

"He does care for you, then." Strange—he'd got the impression that he had disturbed Tristan fully as much as Tristan had affected him. But if Tristan loved Lottie...?

"Oh, we are quite good friends," Lottie said.

"I meant," he said patiently, "that he loves you."

Lottie considered this a moment. "I think he does, but not in a romantic sort of way," she said meditatively. "He is a very romantic sort of person, but I don't think he feels romantic about people. I think he just expects people to disappoint and so doesn't have very high expectations of them."

"Do you disappoint him?" Charles asked curiously.

"I don't think so." Lottie thought a moment. "I think, probably, because I never promised him anything. He doesn't expect anything of me, nor I of him, and so we can be quite comfortable." She patted her rounded abdomen contentedly. "As comfortable as I get these days."

"Don't you want anything more from your marriage, Lottie?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

She smiled up at him. "Of course not. I am not a romantic sort of person, Charlie, not like you and Tristan. I don't care for the marriage act, and don't really need much of anything. Tristan suits me quite well." She shook her head. "I sometimes think that he needs more than just fondness, but there isn't much I can do about that. When we were first married… well, that's all done now, anyway."

"What's all done?"

"You know that he was unfaithful to me," Lottie said. “I think he was still... I don't know. Looking. As if he thought maybe he could find someone who could love him in a romantic sort of way. But he never did. It is a shame. He does so want to be loved."

On the other end of the spectrum is James Ware, Tristan's father. I like him initially--I can certainly understand his awkwardness, his lack of knowledge about children on top of the grief of losing his wife. I can even understand the neglect of Tristan's emotional needs. How that devolves into verbal abuse (which Tristan very carefully catalogs) never quite made sense to me. By the time Charlotte forces a confrontation between Tristan and his father, Ware's behavior makes no sense to me; he bursts into tears while they're at dinner in a restaurant, sobbing that he had destroyed them. I just can't believe that he didn't see that their relationship was that bad, given Tristan's patterns of behaving a particular way simply to aggravate him and the emotional distance they'd shared for over two decades.

Story:
There is quite a bit that happens to back the romance. From Tristan's recovery to finding a shared purpose with Charles to Charles's past catching up with him, things move along at a good clip. They do drag a bit here and there--Tristan's recovery from illness springs to mind--but overall it's well-paced.

There is a fair amount of focus on politics and military actions, particularly later in the story, which is really unavoidable given Charles's position and the times. There's enough to dress the stage, but not so much that it ever felt overwhelming to me, although someone with no interest in either topic may find it annoying.

Writing:
I found the writing to particularly enjoyable, well-crafted and evocative of the period. It's apparent that the author did a large amount of research, but it's not intrusive--it provides the window dressing without every piece of research being inserted whether it was applicable or not.

Overall:
Well-drawn characters and a story of growth combine to make this a lovely book. Wound through historical events but not overwhelmed by them, flavored by angst but not overwrought, this book has a lot to offer to lovers of historical romances. A few flaws here and there are easily overlooked in the whole, leaving a riveting read, one I look forward to revisiting.

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: White Flag

Title: White Flag
Author: Thom Lane
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: July 2009
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 68 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Blurb:
Charlie is a nomad, a travel writer who will never settle down. Easy come, easy go: all his boyfriends have been flings or one-night stands. "Love them and leave them" is his motto, the rule he lives by. Until he meets Matthieu one day, by the side of a French canal. After a long hot night together, Charlie realises that this is at last the man he wants to keep, the perfect companion for his wanderlust life.

Matt is a beauty, a treasure, a joy—a man who knows just where he belongs, and means to stay there. His family has made wine here for generations; this valley is his home, and not even his passion for Charlie can shift him.

There can be no doubt of their love, but their own natures contrive to pull them apart—unless one surrenders. But will rolling stone or rooted tree raise the white flag?

Review:

Characters:
Charlie is a travel writer on assignment in France to write an article on canal boating. He's a nomad with a London flat he could just as well do without, who enjoys traveling the world far too much to settle. He knows what he wants but also does a good job of pushing it out of his lap when what he wants falls into it. He's adaptable and respectful, willing to please others but also capable of playful irreverence. In short: he's rather a charming rake.

Matthieu is what Charlie is not: he found where he belongs and is not ready to give it up. He has purpose in working for his uncle's winery and being surrounded by family, and is absolutely baffled by Charlie's wanderlust. He's less hesitant to pursue what he wants and is prepared to cling to it once he's gotten it, not wanting to let anything go without at least trying to make it work. He's as charming as Charlie, in his own way, and certainly very easy to like.

The relationship between Charlie and Matthieu is adorably awkward, sweetly comfortable, and satisfyingly steamy by turns. Their initial tap dancing was downright cute, and the result of it was definitely hot. The scene at the pool and the ease they display with each other never fails to make me smile.

The supporting cast was universally appealing, with my high point being Grandmére. They beautifully served to further define Matthieu, as well as to build the world in which he lived.

Story:
The story is carried by the characters, rather than driven by events. Because of this, not a whole lot happens--and not-a-whole-lot happens very well. Much of the story involves the building of relationships, not only between Charlie and Matthieu, but also between Charlie and Matthieu's family.

Writing:
I found the manner in which the story was told to be delightful. Written in the first person from Charlie's point of view, the story flows as easily as though it was a conversation between him and the reader. Things that would normally drive me nuts (like sentence fragments) just worked here.

And, really, things like this just make happy:

At least, I told stories I'd picked up in my travels, and he talked about life in the valley here. We hardly actually mentioned ourselves at all. They were stories about chance-met strangers and close neighbours, always other people, other lives; but they served well enough for self-portraits. This is how I live, who I live among; the only person missing from this narrative is myself. See that gap I left, the absence in the story? That's where I fit, exactly. Like portraits drawn in silhouette and shadow. We gave ourselves away with every word.

This style carries through even the sex scenes, which are mildly graphic and very nicely done. The use of the euphemism greedy little tyrant also makes me smile.

Overall:
If I had to pick only a handful of books to take with me to a desert island, this would be one of them. Although it's fairly short, it is a definite argument for quality over quantity--and the length makes it perfect for a quick comfort read.

Review: Bonds of Earth

Title: Bonds of Earth
Author: G.N. Chevalier
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 9 January 2012
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 240 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Michael is home from the Great War and working as a rubber in a Manhattan bathhouse when his uncle strongarms him into accepting a position as a gardener at the country estate of a Society maven. With the only option being his sister finding out that he is an invert, he sets off to find his new life. At the estate, he meets John Seward, a broken, bitter man who never recovered from his own war. They butt heads from the start, each too bound by his own scars to even begin to consider--much less heal--the other's. When things begin to change, it's a revelation for them both, but will they be able to move beyond their pasts to find a common future?

Michael is an angry, conflicted man with a hard past. Driving ambulance at the front before finding a position at a convalescent hospital in England, he saw his share of war horrors, which have left an indelible mark on him. He's devoted toward his sister and her children, but the rest of his family garners only scorn at best, rage at worst. He has little patience with what he feels to be the failings of others and tends to push for what he believes is right, damn the consequences. This isn't to say that he's nothing but rough and tumble--he has a well-hidden sympathetic side, especially for those abused by others.

John (Seward for most of the story) is physically broken, having suffered multiple broken bones and injuries that, coupled with his stubborn resistance of treatment, left him weak and infirm after he returned from the war. He's almost Byronic, actually. His only ties to the world are the estate's caretaker, the caretaker's family, and the aunt who holds the estate, and he fights tooth and nail to keep it that way. He has a past of discarded paintings in the attic and a complete disregard for medical professionals.

The build of the relationship between Michael and John is best described as 'slow'. Note that this is not a bad thing! It's quite some time before they even meet, even longer before they have regular contact. Even once they're in regular contact, they're mutually antagonistic and confrontational. Things change gradually, so gradually that it's difficult to pin down just when they change; it's such a natural progression that one state of being blends seamlessly into the next. I particularly enjoyed that we got to see their relationship fully evolve, past consummation and into the future.

The supporting cast is very well done, with distinct personalities and characters both appealing and maddening. The estate's caretaker and his family are particularly lovely, while Michael's family hit the other end of the spectrum for me; the betrayal he faces made me want to hug him (a bonus in my book as not many characters engage me enough to be that invested in their well-being). Their relationships evolve just as Michael and John's does, so that they're different people at the end of the story as well.

The story itself is something that I initially blew off--I keep telling myself that I don't have much interest in pieces set in that particular period, before I remember that I'm a moron. The setting is well-realized without being intrusive, evocative of the times. The progression of the story is well-paced, told entirely from Michael's point-of-view so that everything is shaded by his experiences. The writing is a joy to read, with lovely turns of phrase and lively dialogue that kept me thoroughly sucked in, and few typographical errors. I thought it ended 30 pages before it did, with the pattern of the genre, but the story beyond where I expected it to end added a great layer to the characters and story that made it sad when it actually did end.

You don't have to be interested in historical pieces to enjoy this story, though it is a bonus. Intriguing characters carry this touching story effortlessly, making it far too easy to spend an afternoon with it. Bring some tissues, and be ready to lose yourself until you're done.

Review: Deefur Dog

Title: Deefur Dog
Author: RJ Scott
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Publication Date: 19 June 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 109 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Eighteen months ago, Cameron lost his partner, Mark, to an automobile accident. Now, the only piece of Mark Cameron has left is his dog, Deefur. Unfortunately, between a hectic job, a 2-year-old daughter, and the dog, Cameron is running into difficulties: namely, finding a nanny who can deal with not only his lifestyle but also the energetic Great Dane mix. When the last one doesn't even make it through the door, Cameron resigns himself to giving Deefur up, but a trip to the local rescue gives him another answer in the form of volunteer Jason, who just so happens to be looking for work as a nanny. Is it exactly what Cameron needs, or is it just too good to be true?

Cameron is at the end of his rope, desperate to hang onto Deefur as the last remnant of Mark but unable to figure out how, when Deefur is directly responsible for the loss of countless nannies. His upset over the thought of losing Deefur is touching, as is his love for his daughter, Emma. He's conflicted over his attraction to Jason, still mourning the loss of Mark, but doesn't wallow in it much, instead focusing on moving forward. He's stronger than he thinks, and he's absolutely adorable.

Jason is struggling, about to be evicted, one year left for his degree, and blown off by the agency through which he's looking for work as a nanny. He volunteers at a friend's animal rescue which is where he meets Cameron, a happy coincidence that lands him not only a job but also a home. He quickly comes to love Cameron's family, both human and canine, and settles nicely into his new circumstances. He's content with what he has but also confident enough to go after what he wants, which makes him a really charming character.

Cameron and Jason work very well together, with a low-key attraction that builds slowly. Although the attraction is there from the start, it's a sweet development rather than breathless and overwhelming. This isn't a story about sex, although that does ultimately happen; it's two people growing and coming to realize what they could have together.

The supporting cast is small, with Emma and Deefur being the biggest secondary players, although Cameron's brother Neal and Jason's friend Billy both have decent roles. Given the focus on the build between Cameron and Jason, it works fine; the quality more than makes up for the quantity.

The story itself is minimal once Cameron and Jason meet, focusing instead on character growth. This is far from a bad thing--the characters are both appealing enough that they carry it effortlessly. The lack of conflict makes the whole story comfortable, like a warm sweater you can't wait to squidge into.

I picked it up for the dog and the kid, but I definitely got far more than that out of it. Great characters and a cozy romance make this a lovely little story, one that I definitely think I'll be revisiting.

Review: All's Fair in Love and Advertising

Title: All's Fair in Love and Advertising
Author: Lenore Black
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 2 December 2009
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 150 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Max is an advertising genius--a genius in general, really--who's taking a walk on the gay side after his divorce. Joe is a potential client whose ex-military Montana background Max assumes will equal backwoods hick. When his assumption proves to be well-removed from the truth, Max isn't sure what to make of the situation--or the sparks between them. Is it worth it to begin a relationship with the man whose account he's trying to win, or will Max have a bust on both fronts?

I adore Max. Really, I absolutely adore Max. He's an unashamed egoist, a self-described genius who rules his advertising agency with the iron fist of termination threats. He's also been on a gay rebound since his marriage self-destructed, living it up with relationships with twinks that never end well--his latest break-up left a vase full of anaphylaxis-inducing nuts as a parting gift. He has a therapist he can't read, an apartment with an inconvenient decor, and a decided lack of people skills. Admittedly, I'd loathe him if I knew him in person, but he still makes for a fun character.

Joe is far more laid-back, an excellent foil to Max's frenetic energy. He's far from what Max expected without being so over-the-top that I started rolling my eyes at his perfection. He's cultured, intelligent, and fit, morally-upright, confident, and sexy as hell--in short, the perfect man. He should be annoying, but he works.

The supporting cast is fun, if not particularly memorable; I can't keep most of Max's staff straight, although I smiled at their antics in the story. My favorite is, I think, Quinn, the unwillingly-if-temporarily-ex-hippie, but the others are still fun.

The chemistry between Max and Joe is amazing. Max's lack of self-restraint despite his frequent assurances that things need to be strictly business between them is utterly charming, while Joe just smiles and goes along with it. The sex is hot and funny all at once, with just enough of it interspersed with, you know, plot to be interesting without being overwhelming.

I particularly enjoyed the story itself, also, even if I did guess the point that the climax hinged on as soon as it was introduced. Told entirely from Max's point-of-view, the narration was mostly as frantic as Max's personality, adding nicely to his voice and keeping things moving along at a good pace. It was interesting to see how Max's perceptions evolved over the course of the story, too, going from completely self-centered to actually learning to appreciate other people.

My main quibble in the story was an occasional quirk in the dialogue of repetition. "Yeah, yeah," "Never, never, never," "You, you." It's mostly during sex when people are at the most incoherent anyway, but it still made me blink a few times with its sheer prevalence.

Truly, I enjoyed this story far more than I expected to. I adore Max. I adore Joe. I adore Max-and-Joe. My quibbles are so ridiculously minor as to be a non-issue. My only wish is that it were somehow possible to spend more time in its world.

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: 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: 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.