Review of
Cats by P A Ellwood 4*
BLURB:Cats tells the story of Neisal, an Alien on another world. One who is the last of his race. Contemplating suicide, he is saved by the most unlikely of friends. Cats. Not just any cats though, these are not native to his world, but are from Earth.
My Review: This is a science fiction short story that was a little too twee. The alien was the last of his kind but it is never adequately explained how that came to be. Nor was the quick acceptance by the human women that believable. However that said it had a lovely feel good factor to it and was overall an enjoyable read. I believe it would work well for young readers and those people who (like me) enjoy a few minutes of escapism that makes them feel good to be human.
Review of
An Intrepid Trip to Love (A Little Bite of Love, #1) (A Little Bite of Love #1)by Charlie Cochet 5*
BLURB:Tristan ‘Trip’ Hagan is a Husky shifter who was born to be the Hagan Clan’s next Alpha, a position of honor and nobility, a position he never wanted and was all too happy to pass onto his younger brother. But when they discovered his brother couldn’t have pups, the responsibility of continuing the Hagan Alpha line fell back to Trip. At the tender age of eighteen, Trip gave in under the weight of the Hagan Council’s demand for him to fulfill his duty, but after years of struggling to uphold his family’s traditions, Trip found the courage to do what no other Hagan Alpha had done in the history of the clan: he came out.
With his Enforcers—the Devil Dogs, at his side, Trip won the battle against the Council, who attempted to banish him and take his young son away. His victory allowed him to remain within the clan and raise Robbie. Now five years later, the dust has settled, and Trip is living a happy life with his cheeky pup and their own little makeshift family. Brook—Robbie’s mother, her true mate Deacon, and the Devil Dogs are the only ones who support Trip and know of his heartache.
True mates within canine shifter clans are very rare, but Trip has had one since he can remember. Despite losing his heart to Boone twenty years ago, Trip holds little hope of ever getting to bond with the sexy Enforcer, as it’s against clan laws for pure-bloods to bond with half-breeds. How much longer can Trip and Boone resist the longing in their hearts? With the call from their feral halves to seal the bond growing stronger by the day, can Trip and Boone find a way to be together without losing everything?
My Review:This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's 'Love Has No Boundaries' event I am very grateful to Nikyta for providing the prompt that inspired this story. I loved the humour and the anguish and especially the love that was infused in this story. The Characters were so well written that I wanted to meet them. I hope the Charlie Cochet writes more about these wonderful Husky Shifters and their world. I for one will buy the books if she does.
Review of
The Good Fight (The Good Fight #1)by Andrew Grey 5*
BLURB:Jerry Lincoln has a problem: his Sioux Falls IT consulting business has more work than one man can handle. Luckily, that means he can hire some help. Jerry just hopes his new employee, John Black Raven, ends up being more helpful than distracting—but John’s deep eyes and long hair are very distracting.
John came to town for an education and a chance at a life he couldn’t have on the reservation, but what’s important to him now is getting a job and keeping it. Six months ago, his sister died, and now her children are in foster care. Despite having the law on his side, John can’t get custody—can't even see his niece and nephew.
As Jerry and John grow closer, John discovers he doesn't have to struggle alone. Jerry helps him win visitation rights and provides much-needed support. Yet their victories aren't without setbacks. Child Services is tangled up with money, politics, and red tape, and Native American children are their bread and butter. But John and Jerry are determined to fight the good fight and to win—in more ways than one
My Review: I was amazed by some of the things I learnt whilst reading this book. The author has done a wonderful job of teaching about Native Americans without making it preachy or insulting. As to the actual story, what can I say that can possibly do it justice? The characters were so good and the tension and conflict between them and the Child Services was well written and never intrusive on the overall romance between Jerry and John/Akecheta.
Review of
Human Frailties (Love Has No Boundaries )by Jaye McKenna 5*
BLURB: PHOTO DESCRIPTION: The man stands against a fog-shrouded landscape lit by a full moon shining through thin clouds, his long, black hair whipped by the wind. His stance is open but ambiguous― it could be welcoming or threatening― and one foot rests upon a glowing jack-o-lantern. Under his open robe he wears only leather pants and high boots. In one hand he holds a staff topped with a skull; above the other hand float glowing, arcane symbols.
Dear Author,
Darkness has been a part of my life since I can remember.
I never understood why it was so hard for me to be part of the bright world. The Internet couldn’t satisfy my need, so I went to this arcane little book shop. The old hag behind the counter gave me a book, where she said I might find the answers to my questions.
Supposedly, this book opened your power to summon entities to obtain knowledge. One in particular drew my attention. Its name was unpronounceable, but I could not bring it to me without saying its name aloud. Its symbols― a black dog, a pumpkin on fire, and a heart surrounded by thorns― were a potent siren song. They simply drove me crazy.
When I finally untied my tongue and called, it didn't come to me. Instead, it took me to a sinister realm. Forget my questions. All I want to do now is drop to my knees and worship him.
Sincerely,
Gabbo de la Parra
My Review: Another of the free stories for the Love Has No Boundaries event. Yet again a wonderful prompt and an equally wonderful response. The author has taken everything from the prompt and produced a lovely love story that was spiced up with fantasy and suspense.
Review of
Ashe's Nightmare by C.L. Warden 3*
BLURB:Ashe has fallen into his life as a vampire's food source by chance but when his mistress needs to leave the city he has two options. Go back to the street where she found him or let himself be given to the most feared of vampires in another city across international borders. His choice will lead him to Killian and the first chance he has at love with another man. Killian's power is of nightmares even if he is everything Ashe wants
My Review: For such a dark beginning this was really a very sweet and romantic love story about a vampire and his human servant.
Review of
Super Gay by Vicktor Alexander 4*
BLURB: When William “Will” Ladler shows up at the Radisson Hotel for the wedding of his best friend’s younger brother, he’s surprised to see the gorgeous, effeminate young man he’d danced with the night before at a club, standing at the altar dressed in a tuxedo as a member of the wedding party. Will watches as the younger man’s long auburn hair blows in the wind, missing the entire ceremony. He’s determined to not only find out the younger man’s name but to get his number and ask him out on a date, which is what he’d wanted to do the night before.
Derrick “Rick” Tramun is beyond shocked to see the gorgeous Will Ladler at his older brother’s wedding. Their night was cut short by a fight and Rick’s overprotective friends, who were determined to make sure that he makes it home by his curfew. After dancing with Will the night before and jacking off to the memory of it before bed, Rick is more than happy to take Will up on his offer for dinner, much to his family’s horror and against their objections. His family has always been super supportive of his lifestyle, so why were they so against his dating Will?
But when Will sees exactly how flamboyant and effeminate Rick is and Rick finds out exactly how much Will can “pass” as a heterosexual man, will the two of them be able to make a go of their relationship or is Rick too “super gay” for straight laced Will?
My Review: This is a story about how one's perceptions are too often based on looks rather than character. The older man is very conservative and a little bit in the closet about being gay and has to reevaluate his opinions when he falls for an out and out flamboyant makeup wearing gay guy. I like the way the two men interact and how the older guy manages to be more honest by the end of this rather sweet romance.
Review of
Blind Devotion (The Shifters #3)by M.D. Grimm 5*
BLURB: In Haven, Montana, the shifters and their human allies are safe-for now. But that safety hinges on the town's location remaining a secret, and it's about to be compromised.
Cougar shifter Travis Kuger spent the past ten years alternating between craving revenge and wishing he could forget his painful past. Ever since the shifter-hating Knights blinded him and killed his family, Haven-and Sheriff Jack Ulger-have been Travis's refuge.
Travis and Jack know their friendship could be much more, but Jack is part of Haven's ruling wolf shifter pack. If he takes a non-wolf mate, he'll be banished forever. But when one of the Knights infiltrates Haven, love becomes the least of their problems.
My Review: Even though this is book three in a series that I haven't read before, it didn't seem to matter. The story stood up very well on it's own and was very interesting.The two main characters are different shifters that aren't supposed to want to be together. One being a wolf and the other a blind cougar shifter. Yet somehow the author has made their love story interesting and added a dash of suspense by having psychics as the enemy of the shifters (and the cause of the cougars blindness). There was added tension by having the Wolf pack being very steeped in traditions that won't accept change very easily. I really liked this story and recommend it to any fans of the Shifter Genre.
