Destiny on the Tracks, Drake Braxton

-Review by Kazza K

Wheeler Reynolds is a twenty eight year old Financial Advisor. He works for a large NYC company scrutinising the books of businesses that people are looking at buying. On one journey he finds himself outside Chicago staying at the B&B of Ms Pratchett, wondering why someone would want to buy a B&B a good forty five minutes outside of town. Wheeler likes the big city and he especially likes anonymous liaisons with men he picks up in bars, airport restrooms, steam rooms, wherever he can get it. He likes wham-bam-no-strings attached sex just fine, and quiet towns don't offer him the bright lights and action he likes so much. While he is bedding in for the night at the B&B he hears his name - 'Wheeler.'

The following day Wheeler asks Ms Pratchett if she has always lived in the house -

"The house has passed through so many generations of my family," Ms Pratchett said. "But there is no one left to leave it to. It ends with me."
As if underscoring her comment, the calliope music playing in the other room stopped. Wheeler looked at the woman, who was silent.
"What was just playing?"
"A music box my grandmother gave me. Sometimes it just kicks on by itself."

Wheeler likes the direct and grandmotherly Ms Pratchett who has stories to tell. They talk about the fact that the train line out back hasn't been used in decades and that there was a terrible train crash on the line involving a circus in 1918. All intriguing stuff but he is looking forward to his 6 AM wake-up call and getting back to New York the following day.

"The wind is picking up," she said "We're gonna have some storm tonight. You may not be going anywhere in the morning."
"Oh, my plane will be leaving, and I'll be on it."

Famous last words.

For the first five chapters Destiny on the Tracks shifts between current day and 1918. Between Wheeler and McGowan & Flannigan's circus that is bound for Chicago next stop. More specifically it shifts between Wheeler Reynolds and twenty year old Nicola.



A bit of poetic licence by me :)

Nicola Tenaglia is a circus aerialist. He's different to Wheeler. He loves country towns, the outdoors and the peace and quiet that it affords him. Every time the circus stops somewhere, with all the noise and mayhem that accompanies it, he finds a lake, pond, or river that he can be beside to think and find some solitude. Nicola is tired of being in the circus but stays for the sake of his older brother Emilio. Emilio has taken care of Nicola after their parent's died, and the circus is not easy to leave. He has friends -  Catherine the clown, a mother figure, and Penelope the seamstress, who wants more from Nicola. Nicola doesn't know why but he isn't attracted to her or any other women sexually. Nicola is lovingly drawn by the author, Drake Braxton. He is a lovely combination of sweet, down-to-earth and unsure of what it means to be someone who has affections for men - it is 1918.

Meanwhile, Wheeler is hearing his name whispered again, sees an apparition on the tracks, hears the sound of animals, and a train -

"I thought I heard a whistle and brakes last night."
The elderly woman laughed. "You're hearing the whistles of the past. That's what my grandmother used to tell me."

From chapter six onwards events occur that draw Wheeler into 1918. He's staying in the same house, still as a guest, but Ms Pratchett is not the owner. He's not certain of his exact reasons for being in 1918 but it must be to do with the train crash. The whispers of his name and the train he hears and sees on a line that is closed. He's drawn to the arriving circus and for the first time he sees Nicola, and Nicola sees him. It is love at first sight and everything that occurs from chapter six onwards is a build to their developing relationship and whether or not Wheeler can stop the inevitable train crash,
save Nicola, and have a relationship with one man - the first time he has ever wanted to know a person's name let alone wanting to share his life with him. He may be living in 1918, he may not know how he will get back to current time, but, no mater what, he will have Nicola by his side. I won't say any more as it is best read to enjoy.

I wasn't sure if I was going to become emotionally engaged in this story (it's approximately 88 pages) but I definitely became engaged. I raced through the pages to see what would happen to the MC's. The secondary characters were also memorable in their own way - from Ms Pratchett through to Catherine, Penelope, Emilio and Maurice the Magician.

The primary problem for the ebook is its lack of length, particularly given there are more than two POV on occasion. It would have been a better book with yet further character development but, having said that, a good job is done in the pages allocated. The story was lovely. I liked the protagonists and I really wanted, hoped for something nice for them both. I knew going in that this book was a Bittersweet Dreams title. So I could guess that the ending would not be stock standard, but I just had to know what would happen to both Wheeler and Nicola.

Destiny on the Tracks encompasses a few themes - time travel, contemporary and historical themes, a bit of an urban legend/fairy tale feel,  romance, a first time sexual encounter,  and a journey that I thoroughly enjoyed. Yes, it has a bittersweet ending, but I liked it nonetheless. Don't let that put you off. If you like any of these themes I mentioned then I definitely recommend Destiny on the Tracks.

4 Fated Stars.

 

This book was supplied by the publisher, Dreamspinner Press, in return for an honest review.

Bane Of Boston (2013 Daily Dose: Make A Play), J P Barnaby

-Review by Kazza K

 

 

 

I would love to say that I loved or really liked this short by J P Barnaby. I loved Aaron and that is why I wanted to read the Bane of Boston as soon as I saw it. Unfortunately this book and I did not have that same affinity.

 

Jonathon 'Jack' Young leaves Boston after catching a foul ball which stopped the Red Sox from a possibility of getting the pennant, for going to the series for the first time since 1918. His brother won't talk to him, his landlady doesn't want to rent to him, he is hounded everywhere he goes, and offered big money to talk about his baseball faux pas. There's a difference between being a fan and being crazed. I personally cannot understand the lengths of the freaky-deaky fanaticism here. I mean I love sport... but not enough to want to ruin someone's life over it. Anyway, Jack has to leave Boston and he goes to Chicago, the game is still there, just  a different team - insert the Cubs over the Red Sox. Here he has a certain anonymity but he still has to be careful, he won't actually venture into a stadium, but he will go to a bar to watch baseball. It is at such a bar that he meets Ryan, a Cubs supporter, who he likes, and the feeling seems mutual. And, hallelujah, Ryan doesn't seem to know him as the Bane of Boston. He can be just another guy. Just Jack. And hopefully have some much needed contact with another guy. The trouble is, Ryan does know who he is and that just pissed me off. They are having sex, and a pretty good go at it, and Ryan is thinking about the possibilities of a scoop with the Bane of Boston. That did me in. 

 

 

I know Ryan had issues, a (gay) journalist who needed to prove himself.  I didn't care. Once that initial deception was committed by Ryan I was out of this book -

 

Hot, tight, and fucking gorgeous, Jack sank down on his cock while Ryan watched. He didn't bring guys home guys often, not often at all, but he had to make an exception for Jonathon (Jack) Young. The guy had looked familiar in the bar, but once he saw the Boston Red Sox patch on his backpack when they headed towards the door, he knew. His editor would have a field day with an exclusive on the Bane of Boston.

 

Having sex with someone knowing what he does is deception. Thinking what he did during sex? NOT. COOL. AT. ALL. Killed it for me right there.

 

There is making up by Ryan to Jack, but not enough. I believe other readers could view this as a fun, sexy, easy read, but I could not get into it. My pet peeve got me. I also found that there was a lot of talk about baseball players, past and present, and lots of talk about Wrigley Field and the surrounding areas, the fans, I wasn't into it. I personally found it overload for the word count. Another reader? Possibly no problem. 

 

It is technically well written. I cannot fault it on that front. My rating of this book, my review is based on what irked me personally. So maybe look for another review that is less biased because I know there are things in this book that are well done, but I couldn't get into it enough.

 

2.5 Deception Doesn't Grab Me Stars.  

 

 

This book was supplied to me by the publisher, Dreamspinner Press, in return for an honest review.



Riding The Board (2013 Daily Dose: Make a Play), Cate Ashwood

-Review by Kazza K

 

 

 

This is a cute short by Cate Ashwood which I pounced on because I loved Keeping Sweets.

 

Blake is a 10 metre platform diver who has been away from diving since his synchronised diving partner, Patrick, was injured. Blake's coach, Alex, has asked him to come in and have a chat about getting ready for Brazil 2016. Blake isn't keen but Alex assures him that he has a new partner for him, a good diver. So Blake agrees. The problem is that the 'good diver' is Nick Freeman, not only known for being a good diver but also known for being an all-round butt head and jerk. Which he is.

 

Things do not get off to a good start with snarky comments from Nick directed at Blake. Alex calls Blake Lou, a nickname he has always used. Nick decides he will call Blake Lucy. To make matters worse Nick pushes Blake and he tumbles off the 10 metre platform. Alex is not a happy coach. So what does he do? He handcuffs the guys together and gives them a week to start to learn to become a team. They're both good divers they need to work out team spirit and co-operation. I don't think too many sporting bodies would be adopting this measure, but you know it's going to work and there is some sexy fun along the way because of it - two hot guys handcuffed....showering, sleeping in the same bed.....together. 

 

He turned and grudgingly climbed the stairs behind Nick, trying very hard not to notice how nicely his ass filled out his Speedo. He was pissed off at himself for even sneaking a look.

 

Nick Freeman was the last guy he should be scoping out. Not that his dick knew the difference.

 

His dick certainly does lead him :) Both of them actually.

 

I found the short to be fun and it had some sexy teasing with one full-on sex scene and some other choice tidbits.

 

If you like the idea of some guys in sexy speedos being handcuffed together with all the difficulties and fun that comes from that, then I recommend Riding The Board.

 



This book was supplied by the publisher, Dreamspinner Press, in return for an honest review.





Sidecar, Amy Lane

- Review by K.M.

5/5 stars

The story starts in present day where the protagonists Joe & Casey come across Austin, a runaway kid on the side of the road on a cold winter night. They offer Austin food, warmth and most importantly a safe place to stay for the night. As Austin gets settled in the sidecar of Joe’s motorcycle, the reader learns that twenty five years ago they were in a very similar situation, where Casey was the runaway and Joe was the one offering safety. On the drive back home, Casey reminisces about their last twenty five years together. How they started out, the ups and downs of their journey together.

Casey is kicked out of his home by his parents when they discovered him making out with a teammate from his high school basketball team. It takes him two months to hitchhike his way to Foresthill and he grows up pretty quick in those two months. He is skeptical of Joe’s kindness at first but learns to trust him eventually. He never made a secret of his attraction and feelings towards Joe. He is determined to make Joe his and is willing to bide his time. Casey’s resilience is what appealed the most to me. He never lost the ability to hope, even after everything he went through.

Joe is a male nurse (a rarity in the nineties) who believes in doing good work and treating people with kindness and decency. When he brings a sixteen year old Casey home, his intention is to get Casey cleaned up, fed, let him rest and then turn him over to social services in the morning. Some events derail his plan and Casey persuades Joe to let him stay. You can see Joe’s feelings toward Casey changing as the book progresses. Joe is determined to not take advantage of Casey’s vulnerability even after Casey’s multiple attempts at seducing Joe. In fact it takes something drastic for Joe to realize what Casey has come to mean to him. I really admire the fact that Joe strived to do right by Casey and the other “strays” he took in. This would have been a totally different review if Joe had given in and started a romantic relationship with Casey when he was younger. Joe reminds me a little of Deacon Winters from Keeping Promise Rock, a favorite of mine by Amy Lane.

Amy Lane’s writing style is fluid and easy to follow. Each chapter was a song title which I thought was pretty nice and unique. She manages to touch on important issues that were just coming to light in the nineties, issues like AIDS and babies addicted to drugs before birth, without making the book too intense. You understand the gravity of the issue without losing the focus of the story.

All in all this was an enjoyable read and I’d recommend it to readers who want a good book which is not too intense and not too blithe. 

This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Welcome Guest Reviewers!

- By Cindi and Kazza K

In the upcoming weeks you will see new names on some of the reviews on On Top Down Under. We are lucky enough to have some of our closest reading friends consent to do reviews for the blog on occasion.  We aren't going anywhere and nothing will change with the exception of us sharing a bit of the love so to speak.  So we hope you will check out the reviews by our friends and show them the same love you have shown the two of us and the blog as a whole.  Give them a big welcome and comment on their reviews if you'd like. You know how hard it is to put your words out there so I hope you will give these folks a huge welcome.  Below is a little bit of information about our guest reviewers.  More info will be added to this post as we add new reviewers.  If you are interested in posting a guest review on On Top Down Under Book Reviews, click the Contact Us link on the right side of the page and all the information is listed.

K.M. - K.M. was Cindi's first real reading buddy on Goodreads.  K.M. can either blame or credit Cindi with pushing her in the right direction in regards to the LGBT genre as well as the BDB series. Shared love of Nora Roberts brought them together and the same can now be said for good M/M romance.  K.M. is a busy girl away from her Kindle but somehow she still manages to find time to sneak in a good M/M book every now and again.

Kazza K waves at K.M. *waving madly from Oz* and says a big "thank you" for adding to our blog. Taking the time to put your thoughts down on some books here with Cindi and I.


Today we have another guest reviewer in the form of the fabulous Letti. Letti is a busy lady in her everyday life and we seriously do not know how she finds the time to read, let alone write a great review. No matter, we're glad she decided to write some reviews for OTDU Book Reviews. Both Cindi and Kazza K are friends with Letti on Goodreads and we connect over the same books time and again. Welcome Letti!! We look forward to your first review today.

And welcome to the debonair Mr Austro-Hungarian. Student, avid reader, dancer extraordinaire, SpongeBob AND Gone With The Wind aficionado. Hmm, random, much like Mr A-H. Mr A-H is mostly over at Greedy Bug Book Reviews our LGBT YA site but he has recently added to On Top Down Under Book Reviews and will flit between the two sites as he sees fit.

Inertia (Impulse #1), Amelia C Gormley

"What is it?" Gavin's hands stroked his shoulders as Derrick hesitated.
"Teach me." Derrick whispered without any forethought or consideration, his heart hammering in his chest. "I want to know what you like, what you want. Help me learn you."
Gavin's hands stilled for a moment, his voice warm with understanding when he murmured back, "Gladly."

 

-Review by Kazza K

 

** CONTAINS SPOILERS**

 



This is a terribly hard book to review because the official blurb already gives you a good idea of the book without saying too much. It is also a book that is not so much about the parts but the  whole, so that makes it hard to pull out quotes. I guess what I can say, and the blurb can't, is just how lovely the main characters  Derrick Chance and Gavin Hayes are, and how charming the book is.

Derrick is a thirty one year old handyman who continues to live in his grandparent's house. He lived with them after his parent's died when he was fourteen. He is a private, insular, quiet man of routine. He looks after his dog, Chelsea, he works at something he enjoys, something that has an association with his mother. He has a couple of good friends, Hannah and Devon, and LeeAnn, his ex girlfriend, who still stays in contact with him and pops in when she is visiting her parent's in Detroit.  It is on her latest visit that she makes him think that, sure, his life is not bad, but he could do with some action and some fun. That he needs to push himself out of a comfort zone that is more like an eighty one year old than a thirty one year old. He likes men, and yet he has never had a relationship, or sex, with one. He's not in the closet. His best friends Hannah and Devon and LeeAnn all know, as does the ever-knowing Miss Ingrid, an octogenarian neighbour, who was his grandparent's good friend.  I loved Miss Ingrid. She is a terrific character and I hope I'm like her at her age.

I liked Derrick. He is not terribly exciting as a person but he is rock solid and, more importantly,  a decent man. After the loss of his parent's, his grandparent's took over his care moving him from Tennessee to their home in Detroit. Then, between eighteen to twenty one, he nursed both of his grandparent's until they died. For a young man he's had a lot of tragedy to deal with. Derrick and LeeAnn, who were together for seven years, also split up when he was twenty one. So some important people have all left. He has become quite used to being solitary and he feels like his life is pretty good, nothing can hurt him if he has nothing to be attached to....but LeeAnn has a point.

Gavin Hayes is an accountant. He hires Derrick to build some shelves in his home office. Derrick's happy to have a job which involves building something, using wood. Gavin is also an interesting person to Derrick. He seems to be flirting with him, but Derrick is not sure. He's been celibate for ten years, so his flirting game is rusty as rusty can be. The initial job ends, but suddenly Derrick is being called back for extra work at Gavin's place. It is obvious that Gavin has sabotaged whitegoods, and his toilet, but Derrick is a bit flummoxed as to why the confident suit, Gavin, is doing that. Why is he  interested in him? And what's worse, once he gets some flirting going on himself, which is no mean feat, why Gavin shuts him down every time. Then there is one more occasion for Derrick to come back. Something that is of an angry nature to do with a door that needs repairing. Did Gavin do that? If so, why? If not, who did?

By and large, this is a very gentle book. The build of the relationship between Derrick and Gavin is slow but lovely. The relationship Derrick has with his friends, his love and care of his dog, Chelsea, the times he looks in on Miss Ingrid and takes her shopping is sweet. But there is a big black cloud hanging over Derrick and Gavin's burgeoning relationship. Gavin's relationship with his ex has left marks on Gavin, not least of which is the fact that Gavin may have been infected with HIV. Gavin has had unprotected sex with his ex, which is realistically explained by Ms Gormley, and it appears there is a fair risk of Gavin having been exposed. His tests, thus far, have been negative but he is not out of the woods yet. The test only works when there are enough antibodies in your system for the test to pick it up, so it can take months after being exposed to HIV for the results to be considered reliable, and Gavin waits.

When Gavin tells Derrick about his possible HIV status they have been kissing and getting pretty aroused - fully clothed - then Derrick walks out. Derrick doesn't leave because he isn't man enough to support a (possible) love one with an illness. It's not that he is freaked out or prejudiced. It's not because he thinks he won't be safe with Gavin. It's because of two things - 1) he has spent a lot of his life as an independent person. You know from a young age there had been a fair bit of solitude in Derrick's life, which has become the status quo for him, and now he is feeling like he wants another person, Gavin. Relationships are scary and involve things Derrick has long since shut down in his life.  2) He has experienced a lot of loss. He's not sure if Gavin - who is growing on him, and makes him feel good  - has HIV if he can stand to watch a vibrant man waste away or die prematurely, it scares him how he would deal with that.....again. It's not about the illness, rather loss - loss of independence, loss of someone who is finding their way into his heart -

I won't call him. I won't. He couldn't put himself in a position to go through that again, to watch another person sicken and die, to lose...
...someone who mattered to him.

Derrick kicks his feelings around in his mind, tries to bury them, and keep his distance from Gavin for a week or so. However, the ever astute Miss Ingrid is the amazing voice of reason for Derrick. And he finds himself back at Gavin's door and wanting back into Gavin's life. Possible HIV and all. I loved Derrick for his decision. I loved Gavin for his acceptance of Derrick. Letting him (back) into his life. It has to hurt to feel you have been rejected by someone you do feel something for. I also enjoyed seeing him patiently guiding a man who is essentially a thirty one year old virgin - yes, he's been with LeeAnn, but that is it. I loved the way there was a dominance in the relationship that was younger man over older man. Not in a full-on BDSM sense - just little things -

"What's this?" Gavin's hand slipped back into his hair, fisting around it near the scalp. Another surge of arousal swept through Derrick, riding the breathless edge of danger mingled with arousal.

"Use your tongue."
As it had when Gavin's hand clenched his hair. Gavin's words did something to Derrick, something that felt both safe and exciting. Not just the words. His voice. Derrick felt like he could do anything as long as that voice kept murmuring quiet demands.

Here is something else that I liked in Inertia. There is no penetrative sex, which was safe and sensible at the beginnings of a new relationship. For all intents and purposes they are dealing with a serodiscordant relationship and Ms Gormley wrote it very sensitively and sensibly -

"...fuck. Derrick...." Gavin's moans choked off as he went still, shuddering, sliding through his fist as warm streams crossed the cooling mess on Derricks belly.
Derrick stared at the mingled splashes, fascinated by them as he'd never been by his own. He wanted to touch it, feel it. Swirl it and play with it. Learn it. But Gavin caught his hand as it twitched toward his abdomen.
"You work with your hands, he murmured, almost managing not to sound remorseful. "There could be cuts...."

The reason why I did not give Inertia 5 stars was purely because I missed Gavin's POV. It was well written but in the beginning I was concerned that the on-again-off-again-flirting from Gavin was game playing with Derrick. It wasn't until there was dialogue later I understood, that I embraced Gavin. I also missed Gavin's POV when Derrick walked out. I would have given anything to know how he was feeling at that time. Gavin's quick acceptance of Derrick coming back without knowing why Derrick initially retreated would have been welcome as well.

Also, know that this book ends in the middle of things - that's the best way I can describe it. In and of itself Inertia is not a stand alone book. I'm not concerned as I can go straight onto book two and three as it is a competed trilogy now. I'm now off to read book #2, Acceleration.

Overall -

Inertia is a lovely read. Beautifully written with excellent characterisations, both primary and secondary. There is nothing outlandish here. The telling of a story that does not mock a serious issue, yet it is sexy, sensible and has hope. There is no insta-love, rather a building of a potentially beautiful relationship between really genuine and likeable characters - who are not without personal demons, for understandable reasons. Highly recommended reading.

 

4.5 Hopeful Stars



 

A Shot at Forgiveness (2013 Daily Dose - Make a Play), Cardeno C.

- Review by Cindi

My rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

Rafi Steiner went through hell in high school courtesy of bullying by the star basketball player Isaac Jones.  As much as Rafi tried to avoid the huge athlete, Isaac always seemed to be around.  Isaac made it his mission to taunt Rafi at every turn.  There were homophobic comments and slurs.  Rafi was shoved in lockers on a regular basis and was given wedgies regularly.  

"I lived in anticipation of the day he'd come up with some way to taunt me for breathing.  Ass. Hole."

Twelve years and a lot of therapy later, Rafi is an up-and-coming real estate attorney and has put his miserable high school years behind him. He has a nice circle of friends and finally has found the self-esteem that Isaac and his cronies had taken away from him years earlier. He has never had any type of real relationship, choosing to settle with one-night-stands on a regular basis.  Then Isaac makes another appearance and Rafi's ordered life is turned upside down.

Isaac is a popular basketball player in the NBA, having even been the MVP at one point. He conveniently shows up at a restaurant where Rafi and his friends just happen to be.  Not only does he want to apologize for his behavior years earlier but he wants to have Rafi in his life... forever. The question is will Rafi take a chance with his heart with the one person who made his life a living hell years earlier?

This is a sweet yet humorous story.  The one-liners had me laughing out loud more than once. Initially I wasn't sure if Isaac deserved a second chance but as the story played out I found myself rooting for him.  The characters are charming.  The sex is hot as hell.  The ending is perfect.  A very good read.

This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.