Review: Online Menage

Reviewed by Shelly
 

This is my first Kingston story and it was an okay read. I’m starting to question my sanity for reading these shorter stories because the majority of the time, I feel like I’m getting half a story. This is an m/m/f where the attraction started online. Alexis Thompson works as a graphic artist and for the past six months, she’s developed a crush on one of her company’s clients, Tyler Daniel. Tyler is in a gay relationship with Ryan Cooper. Unknowingly, Alexis and Ryan are online friends (supposed BFFs, but I don’t know how that can be if you don’t know each other’s real names). Finding out that the love of his life, Tyler, has kissed someone named Alex, Ryan is just beside himself with the what-if’s that could happen. Interesting idea, but I just didn’t feel it... neither the chemistry nor even vested in any of these characters.

A little new to me and a different way to deliver dialogue was done through texting and IM’s -- which I’m not fond of because I think that’s fine to say ‘hello’ and a quick ‘how ya doing’ but it’s no way for a couple or three to communicate.  It just kinda seems like an easy way out to have a misunderstanding between one or more characters. I’ll take the old school way of in-person, thanks.

I can’t give you too much, but it’s a cute read about a couple of guys who’re in a committed relationship and after so many years of ‘missing something’ they decide that the something is Alexis. Alexis is actually a pleasant and likable character, but I did have a problem with her breaking up with one boyfriend one day and jumped in bed with these two by the next. Just sayin’.

Ryan ‘Big Red’ was a nice guy and although the more physically imposing of the two, he was the softer hearted one. Tyler, although still likable, was more gruff and domineering. I think the story line left me with too many open questions about Ryan and Tyler’s background and how they got together. Also, there were some timeline questions between Ryan and Alexis online friendship that were confusing to me and threw me enough to make me re-read.

Overall, this was an okay story, not anything great, but not bad either. So if you’re wanting a little sexting in your m/m/f story – this might do the trick.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: C

Click to purchase: Amazon

Online Menage

by Sara Kingston

Release Date: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Siren

Review: Buried Bones

Reviewed by Jen
 

I really enjoyed Good Bones and had no idea a sequel was in the works... so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out about this book.  It picks up where the last story left off, following the relationship between neighbors Chris and Dylan.  The feel stays very true to the first book, though the men have new challenges to face.

Chris has come to terms very well with finding out Dylan is a werewolf and accepts his lover as he is.  Dylan has concerns about Chris' safety around him in his other form, but we learn quickly that is really not what they have to be worried about.  It seems there is a ghost haunting Dylan's house.   The guys have to figure out who the specter is and what he wants while they try to put their relationship on more permanent ground.

In the meantime, both guys have some issues they have to work on within themselves.  Chris has to come to terms with his difficult childhood and the father who abandoned him. Dylan has to figure out how being a werewolf fits in his life --and whether he can share his secret with others.  This, as he struggles with a big new project at his architectural firm.

I wasn't sure how I felt about a ghost coming in to the story. Yes, these books are supernatural in nature. But Good Bones was much, much less a werewolf story than a love story.  The wolf thing played a part, but it was secondary to what was happening between Dylan and Chris emotionally.  The supernatural does have a bigger role here, but I am happy to say that at the heart, Buried Bones is a relationship story too.

Things between Dylan and Chris are still pretty new.  Both guys have some insecurities about their future and how to ensure they stay together.  Chris is still the more vulnerable of the two, but I found that it presented itself a little differently in this installment. He was so sure he wasn't good enough before; that he was unworthy of Dylan.  Now, I think he is more emotionally invested. He has opened his heart and allowed himself to believe that Dylan loves him.  But instead of the heartbreaking statements he made in the past, now he makes a jab or a dig about it; his words are less desolate and more barbed.  I feel like he still doesn't see the worth in himself that Dylan sees, but he is moving away from being the wounded bird we first met.  He is trying to stand up for himself, instead of offering to take anything Dylan will give him.

I enjoyed watching these two move their relationship to a deeper level.  And Lord knows, the sex is hot. But with Chris' growth in the relationship, I didn't have the same gut-punched feeling that made me want to jump in the last book and give him a hug. It is a good journey, though.  I'm glad I got a chance to revisit these characters and see them take things to the next level.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Dreamspinner Press

Click to purchase: Amazon

Buried Bones

by Kim Fielding

Release Date: May 21, 2013

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Review: Saved by His Submissive

Reviewed by Shelly
 

Where should I begin? This story is centered around a group of Doms who happen to be Special Forces, or is it a group of Special Forces who happen to be Doms? I’m not really sure, but I don’t think it matters much in the end. Garrett Wyatt is a tormented man. Since his fiancé’s kidnapping and subsequent death, Garrett has hidden beneath his devil may care attitude. Sage Weston is a tortured woman. She was kidnapped by human traffickers and has been held in captivity for the past year. During what he thinks is a routine rescue mission, Garrett is unexpectedly reunited with Sage. Can these two find each other in spite of the trials and tribulations of their time apart?

This was a slower paced story than I would have liked. I felt like I was learning more about the couple’s individual internal shenanigans and about Sage being held captive than I was about Garrett and Sage as a couple. A majority of the story happens while someone is under duress. That probably shouldn’t be an issue, but this story isn’t long - about 145 pages (pdf version).

Garrett was way too alpha for me - I can take a modicum of grunting, snarling and growling, but jiminy crickets – use your words, man. The relationship between he and Sage was strained to say the least, and I can’t say that I was invested in them as a couple. By the time it was for the sex scene to roll around, I was over it. There were a few things that didn’t add up for me. But if I go into them, I’ll give spoilers and I don’t want to do that.

Sage is a very strong woman. She’s a survivor. Her stubborn nature does what it takes, mentally and physically, to survive so she can fight another day. But surprisingly, that’s not what I most liked about her. The most important thing about Sage is her smarts. You can be many things, but if you know how to use your brain, you’re bigger and better than your opponent, be they friend or foe. And here’s where I had a problem. Sage is a very smart person, she’s an RN, she’s a Sergeant, and she went through basic and survived. Heck, she survived over a year as a captive and despite all of that, Garrett treats her with kid gloves when the bad guy comes knocking. She’s not weak, why treat her like she is?

One of the other unsettling things for me was that the majority of the story felt dragged out and blasé. There’s only so much internal shenanigans from both Sage and Garret that I can tolerate. Last but not least, I have a golden rule that’s not negotiable, I don’t like cheating. This is not a spoiler because it happens on page 36, Garrett gives his affection away to someone not Sage. Dressing it up as role playing is not cool with me because Sage didn’t know about it.

Even with all that, the story is good enough that I’m looking forward to the next story... only if it’s Zeke and Rayna, I really liked her.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: C

*Book provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Saved by His Submissive

by Angel Payne

Release Date: March 1, 2013

Review: Erica's Choice

Reviewed by Shelly
 

I’m not sure where to start because I’m still amazed that I was so captivated by this story. This was a good book. Lee’s brilliant usage of dialogue worked to not only move this story along, but also to provide just enough kink to entertain the average gal. The majority of the m/m/f stories that I’ve read have an established relationship where a couple is looking for a third. That couple could be either m/m or m/f, this story is different in that these three are not involved in any relationship and they have to make it up as they go along. Sweet!

Reserved and conservative Erica Shannon discovers something that rocks her world. She’s not sure how she’s going to manage that, but she also realizes that it’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines watching life pass her by. Visiting the local bar, Erica walks in and sees her two dream men who she’s been checking out (on the sly of course) for the past several months. Firefighter Corey Wachawski has had his eyes on Erica for a while too, but it’s not until his friend and fellow co-worker Dale Griffin threatens to make a move on Erica, does Corey finally man up and introduces himself to the woman of his dreams; to add more spice, little does Corey know that Griff has his eyes on both Erica and his fellow firefighter. Oh my goodness, it's already soap-opera-ish and I'm just at the beginning - could this read get any sweeter? I thought, for sure, probably not. But do not fear folks, it does get that much better.

I found this book as I was looking for a story that would capture my interest without any flash and this one did the trick. It’s a simple story of three people who choose to be in a relationship. There’s no grand design with hidden agendas (other than some hot sex and sweaty bodies) and complicated storylines, instead it’s a story of falling in love and the angst and heartache that finding your forever-after entails. I found myself drawn to and rooting for each of them for different reasons. Lee does a remarkable job of finding and conveying the strengths and insecurities of her characters.

Erica has a past filled with heartache and abandonment. Even though Corey and Griff treated her like she’s best thing since sliced bread, her fears kept her from making them the family that Corey dreamed and wishing for. The relationship between the three was sweet, yet complicated, and definitely endearing. Like Erica, Griff had his own demons to bear. As the only one with experience as part of a triad, Griff was my favorite not because of his history but because he knew the bad that could happen and he still tried. There’s some really good stuff there.

The chemistry among the three was hot and heavy, the sex scenes plentiful and passionate. I don’t know if Lee’s got anything more in her arsenal like this but I can definitely say that this one is a winner.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Erica's Choice

by Sami Lee

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Samhain

Review: Soul Deep

Love the Photoshopped hair

Reviewed by Jen
 

I'll say this about the Breeds books: they are consistent.  The very same things that were so good in the previous installments are good here, just as the same things that bothered me before are back again.  It's an intensely sexual ride with a reluctant female and the alpha-hole mate who loves her.

In this case, our hero is a coyote shifter named Kiowa.  He has been serving as a stealth bodyguard for the president's daughter, protecting her against those who would use her against her father to shape the Breeds political agenda.  He is called into action when he witnesses her kidnapping. He saves her, but that is only the beginning of their story.

Amanda is unconscious during the rescue, but for some flimsy reason, Kiowa has her tied up when she wakes. When she tries to scream, he silences her with a kiss and thus begins their mating.  From the the first taste of his tongue, Amanda is unable to fight her intense attraction to her captor/ savior.  And they proceed to get busy right away... never mind the fact that she is still tied up.  From there, they end up moving to the protection of the other Breeds, where they both learn what their frisky funtime really means for their future.

The sex is crazy hot.  Crazy hot.  But it made me uncomfortable at times when I let myself think about how little say-so Amanda had in the matter.  She is also into a little bit of pain and submission, which isn't my thing, but it didn't bother me too much because she really took the lead on that side of their sexual relationship.

Kiowa is a lonely soul, suffering from a miserable childhood filled with emotional abuse and isolation.  There is no part of him that believes Amanda will ever love him, and for me, that was his saving grace.  It's hard not to feel for a hero that feels unworthy of love, even if he is an asshat sometimes as a result.

This is not deeply emotional or thought provoking.  It's a hot sex book.  And it does its job well... even if we were subjected to an overabundance of the word honey (honeyed heat, honey and spice, and so on.)   I think it popped up 19 times. But who's counting??

Rating: B-

  Click to purchase: Amazon

Soul Deep

by Lora Leigh

Release Date: July 1, 2008

Publisher: Ellora's Cove

Review: Dragon Heat

Reviewed by Shelly
 

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this story, considering that it’s a relatively new author. I always hope for something good, but you just never know. Phoenix you’ve got yourself a new fan.

Draconian demigoddess, Zoricah, is on the hunt for the killer who has been taking out both dracos and vampires. The bad guys have finally done the unthinkable and taken one of Zoricah's and she doesn’t have a lot of time to get her people back alive. Using her only option, she enlists the help of Tardieh, the Vampire King who she’s helped out in the past. Will these two put their differences aside and do what’s right for their people?

This was a fun, sexy, solid story. There are a couple of issues that could be solved with some stronger editing, but they didn’t take away from the story. Phoenix’s world building for the existence of dragons and vampires was well done. I found myself pleasantly enthralled with the imagery. Born into a world where their differences made them enemies, Zoricah didn’t let that stop her from helping Tardieh escape from a brutal imprisonment that he suffered by the hands of an unknown assailant. It’s too bad that Tardieh’s trust of her was based not on her actions but by tradition.

I thought these two were really well suited and I found myself rooting for them as a couple. Zoricah was a strong leader, fighter and woman, but not so strong that she couldn’t and wouldn’t take the advice of her most trusted warriors. Her ‘girls’ as she called them - which of course totally reminded me of Charlie and his angels – were well suited and provided the levity that she needed to continue by not taking herself too seriously and still getting the job done. The Vampire King, Tardieh, was actually a nice guy. He has his special moments of needing a verbal take-down or two, but overall I must say he was surprisingly and pleasantly likable. His guards added a nice foil to Zoricah’s girls and I can definitely see a future where they’re flushed out with their own stories.

The chemistry between Zoricah and Tardieh was smoking hot and although it moves along pretty fast, there’s the backstory of their acquaintance that makes their romance not seem so rushed. Taken as a whole, this was a good effort and I very much look forward to more from this author.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: B+

*Book provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Dragon Heat

by Ella J Phoenix

Release Date: April 6, 2012

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

Review: Beyond Eden

Reviewed by Shelly
 

I’ve had this story in by TBR for a long while now and have been hesitant to read it because, to me, the premise is sensitive and I wasn’t sure how this would work out. I’ve read other BDSM stories and for the ones I enjoyed, the overarching theme has been ‘sane, safe, and consensual’; one or two out of three doesn’t work – it has to be three out of three for me. The premise and promise of this story was good and I still think that the story itself was good; it was the telling that I had trouble with.

I didn't and still don't understand some of the details in this story. I mean I get that it’s fiction but it has to pass my single rule for all stories --- it has to make sense. Thank goodness there’s a category warning so I pretty much expected something that I might or might not be comfortable with to happen. Eve, Paul and Danny were all unlikable and let me not even get started on them as cheaters -- one of my big nos. Each of them thought that Paul cheating on his fiancé was justified because in the words of Paul, she's the c-word. I’m calling bullcrap on that because the woman was the nicest person and did absolute nothing to warrant the treatment that she got from Paul or any of the other two.

Who did I dislike the most of the three? It's a tossup, but Paul was my biggest problem. You can't treat people like you treated Trisha and it be okay. Yes, you have a pain fetish that you can’t tell anyone outside of the BDSM world about, but you didn't even give your fiancé a choice and, by the way, use a condom if you're going to lie.

As Danny is introducing Eve to the lifestyle and she’s going along just fine, everything is hunky-dory but she pauses to ask Danny if she needs a safe word because, hey she’s not stupid, just a novice. That jerk of the century has the nerve to say to her ‘Nope’…’if you trusted me, you wouldn’t have asked for it. I’m disappointed’ --- seriously, asshat, where’s the safety and trust in that? So other than getting up and leaving, which she clearly doesn’t want to do, because she’s asking you for guidance Mr. Professional Dom, how is she supposed to communicate to you that she wants to stop or take a break? When Eve continues to talk, Danny tells her she doesn’t have permission and BAM! he moves her right into puppy play immediately followed by being tied up and gagged. There’s some verbiage that Danny uses for his explanation for tying up Eve, and I just couldn’t believe he was saying that to someone’s first day on the job, per se. Talk about no learning curve.

Keeping with the idea of Eden, these are three of the most beautiful you’ve ever seen. But the only person who knows he’s beautiful is Danny, so apropos for Satan. So beautiful in fact, Danny can get any man or woman he wants as easily as a wink or a smile. Paul’s pain fetish and feeling of low self-worth is so deep he can't separate his work life from his home life. I didn't see evidence of that but I was told that, so I guess I should just go with it. He chose his profession as a lawyer because his self-worth is so low that he knows that’s all he deserves (sorry if you're a lawyer.) He constantly punishes himself but I don’t see him doing that, I’m only told. There's a scene of Danny whipping Paul to a bloody mess which was the only pain scene in the story and it was very rough to read, even Eve in her own sweet (insert sarcasm) way contributed on that one.

One of my biggest problems with this story was that for the majority I was told after about the things that each person would do, making everything seemed detached for me. I would have liked a lot more seeing of the actual actions that happened either between the threesome/twosome or individually. By the time things started getting a little interesting and feelings started coming to the surface, it was more than three fourths of the way through and too late for me to care.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: D

*ARC provided by Loose-ID via NetGalley 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Beyond Eden

by Kele Moon

Release Date: September 8, 2010

Publisher: Loose ID