Christmas reads

Review of The Bacchi by Belinda McBride 5*

BLURB: The Bacchi Lefi Dhrahn lives a life of luxury and decadence, but is tortured by memories of a lost love. He survives the pain by surrounding himself with sex, beauty and all forms of self-indulgence. When he meets the alluring Inspector Afton Teris, Lefi believes the detective will make a very nice addition to his string of conquests.
He doesn't count on falling in love.
Afton Teris is a Valoran hermaphrodite and like all members of his species, is stern, cerebral and disapproves of the frivolous prostitute. Afton orients as a male, but the beautiful Lefi Dhrahn stirs him sexually, making him question everything he knows about himself. To further confuse his emotions, Afton finds himself tempted by the forbidden pleasures surrounding the Bacchi.
When a kidnapping ring strikes close to home, the two go undercover on a brothel barge to investigate a slavery operation. There, Lefi is confronted by painful memories from his past, while Afton is faced with a horror that threatens his future, and perhaps his very life.
Their survival lies with one another, but only if Lefi can set aside his pain and listen to his heart.

My Review: This book is set in the same universe as An Uncommon Whore . It was nice to visit the same universe but end up meeting two very new characters who are as hot and interesting as Griffin and Helios. The insight into their inner feelings and the way they connect was all that I expected from Belinda's writing and she didn't disappoint. I look forward to reading anything else she writes in this sphere.

Review of Knight Errant by K D Sarge 4*

BLURB: From pickpocket and con artist to little brother and trusted comrade is a tough transition, but Taro is making it. His new sister, former Marine Eve Marcori, promised his dead mother she'd look after him. To her that means family, home--her interstellar freighter--and a solid future. In four years she has trained Taro extensively; the next step is college. Taro would rather be shot, but he never forgets his debt to Eve, so he means to honor her plans or die in the attempt.
When Eve rescues former joy-boy and current layabout Rafe Ballard, death seems the likely outcome. Rafe is so apparently useless that Eve calls him 'the baggage' and appoints Taro his custodian. Irritated into disobedience by his carefree charge, Taro tries to get rid of Rafe. Instead he gets them both kidnapped by the jealous husband Rafe was fleeing. Though they are off-planet before Taro can act, his training may be enough to bring them safely through--but now he has bigger problems. Forced into partnership--and freedom--with Rafe, Taro begins to see him differently. Kind, funny, and caring, Rafe is everything Taro never knew he wanted. And all he can't have. Eve's plans leave no room for a playboy boyfriend who can never measure up, and Taro can't let her down.
Caught between the sister he'd die for and the man he's beginning to live for, Taro decides it's time to start making his own plans. And if the new skills aren't enough, he'll give the old ones a try.

My review: This was both a sweet romance and a great adventure but it was also a story about family. Even though there are no blood ties between Eve and Taro, their relationship is very much big sister and little brother with big sister being oblivious that little bother isn't so little any more. Meanwhile Taro and Rafe have to try and learn to understand and accept each other whilst building a relationship that Eve is totally against. The love scenes are not too explicit so this is a book that can be read by younger readers who want to understand a little more about living with being gay.

Review of Be My Boy by Casey K Cox 3*

Blurb Devastated by the loss of his Master and long-time partner, Owen's life slips into a tailspin of loneliness and abuse. When he finally gives in and gives up, an angel pulls him from the filthy ground of a back alley.
Mitchell isn't in the market for a new boy, but he can’t bear to stand by and watch Owen's demise from the sidelines. He finds more than a companion in the older man when he takes him under his wing, and makes it his mission to show Owen it’s never too late to teach an old dog some new tricks.

My Review: This was a free download written for the M/M Romance Group's "Hot Summer Days" anthology at Goodreads. I downloaded it because it was set in my home city Cardiff. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the author wrote about the atmosphere and life of the city as the background to a lovely sweet story about a man who had lived as a companion all his adult life and was at a loss when his companion died. My only complaint and why I only gave it 3* was that it was a little too short and rushed.