Zombie Boyz (Anthology), TJ Klune, Eric Arvin, Ethan Stone, Daniel A. Kaine, Ethan Day, Geoffrey Knight

- Review by Cindi

5 out of 5 stars

When I saw this was coming out my immediate thought was a big "Uh, no. I don't do zombies" but then I saw the list of authors who contributed and knew that I would be reading it as soon as I could get my hands on it. Each story is co-written by some of the best M/M authors out there.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I started but I knew it would be entertaining. Each story has humor and there is quite a bit of gore thrown in as well. There's sex, intrigue and well, zombies. So grab a stiff drink, make everyone go away for awhile and get ready for a wild ride. Oh, and you know that TJ Klune is one of the contributors so I highly suggest you grab a box of tissues while you're at it.  This is the first anthology I've ever read (and I've read quite a few) where each story was an easy 5 stars for me.

Guess Who's Coming At Dinner by Geoffrey Knight & Ethan Day

"Is that what I think it is? Grammy Gabby shrieked, her eyes bulging so big that her gigantic, tinted 70s-style specs slipped an inch down the bridge of her nose.

And all my studly zombie boyfriend Zane could do was grin that big, stupid, handsome, kinda-undead smile of his while he pawed and tugged at the raging tentpole erection in his ripped jeans and announced to the whole table in that animalistic tone of his, "Me haaaaaawny."

The story starts out at the dinner table of nineteen-year-old Chandler Cox.  Life as Chandler and everyone else knew it disappeared after the Pandemic Transviral Apocalypse of 2013, "which was quickly shortened to PTA for tweeting purposes." Chandler has just brought his boyfriend, Zane Addison, home to meet the family for the first time for Grumpy Grampy's 90th birthday. Of course in the post-apocalyptic zombie world, Zane is not exactly the type of person that good old mom and dad may wish for their son (the fact that their son's 'friend' has a penis may also have something to do with their lack of excitement over said friend). Seated around the dinner table are Grumpy Grampy, Grammy Gabby, Chandler's sister, Sister Mary Abigail, his mom and dad and his drunken Aunt Tilly (who is also a big ho). Zane's conversation (and actions) don't exactly endear him to those sitting around the dinner table (with the exception of Chandler who is right there with him).

The story starts at the dinner table but goes back in time with hilarious flashbacks by Chandler describing how the Pandemic Transviral Apocalypse of 2013 occurred.  I'm not one for flashbacks in any type of story but the way these are done are hilarious.  It has been a long time since I've highlighted on my Kindle as much as I did with this story.

To say the PTA came out of nowhere is an understatement.  Apart from Charlie Sheen, everyone else was leading a fairly normal life up until that point in modern history.

Zane, the high school quarterback I had watched out of the corner of my eye between classes and had breathlessly fantasized about while alone--night after blissfully hot masturbating night--over the past three years.  You know, the good old days before Grampy moved into my room.

Yep, just my luck to have officially fallen heels over head in love the very same night that a zombie apocalypse kicked off.
Totally f'in rude, right?

"What the F are you talking about, dude?" That was my normal bad mood response when trapped within the hallowed high school walls of Shawnee Hills High, where using your grown-up words was apparently still a no-no.  Lesson learned after receiving two weeks of detention when my Chemistry teacher, Mrs. Venable, overheard me telling her to go fuck herself.

.. I felt I owed it to Zane to rescue him from whatever was going on.  Even though he was now foaming at the mouth.
God, he even made that look sexy!
I quickly shook away any and all completely inappropriate thoughts about self-lubrication---so not the time, asshole!

I punched the gas pedal and gunned the engine--a macho choice of words, I know, but I was suddenly feeling so butch and brave that I heard myself shout, "Get away from my man, you bitches!"

If I hadn't been terrified for my life, I'd have totally sprouted some serious wood over my newly discovered masculinity.

He looked so cute, I just wanted to chew him up.  In a non-people-sushi-cannibalistic sort of way.

Zane Addison's cock pulsed and throbbed before me, hard and huge and perfect, its veins thick, its head big and bulbous, its slit shimmering with precum.
Precum that was tinged with the slightest hint of greyish-green, but hey, nobody's perfect.

I could go on but then there wouldn't be room on this review for the other two stories. :)  The entire story kept me giggling from literally the very first paragraph until the last one.  The whole world has either turned into cannibalistic zombies or is boarded up and hiding from them. Chandler finally, finally falls in love and Geez, the entire apocalypse thing had to happen that same night and the new love of his life becomes one of the undead (with a side effect being extreme horniness as the first paragraph suggests). Thankfully, and with a hell of a lot of laughs along the way, Chandler gets his man and they have their HFN ending (they are teenagers so I wasn't exactly expecting a HEA).  The secondary characters are a blast, from Chandler's crazy family to his bestie and even the undead creatures.

An excellent story. I've read each of these authors separately before so I had an idea of what to expect.  Any author who can keep me giggling is great in my book and in the case of Guess Who's Coming At Dinner you get the talent of two. I will be reading everything these two authors have written, alone or collaboratively.  That, I have no doubt.

Surviving Sin City by Ethan Stone and Daniel A. Kaine

Cooper is on holiday in Vegas from England.  The trip was planned as a try to work things out type trip with his boyfriend Ewan but that didn't quite work out the way Cooper planned so he makes the trip alone. Not long after arriving everything goes to hell.  The zombie apocalypse that he had predicted and prepared for back home was happening and where did it just happen to be happening?  Right dab in the middle of Las Vegas where he just happened to be staying. And yes, Coop really did predict the downfall of civilization by zombies and he completely prepared for it but of course it happens when he's in the states so all the preparations were for naught.  

Kaleb Pierce has to make just one more pizza delivery before he can head home, clean up and go out to a club.  His tips had been good that night so he has enough cash to go out and have a little fun. When he pulls up for that delivery, however, everything goes to hell. The person who ordered the pizza is an old friend.  The old friend walks out as does his wife... his wife who is obviously very ill.  The wife attacks her husband would have also attacked Kaleb had he not hauled ass out of there, dialing 911 on the way.  It doesn't take long before Kaleb discovers that people have been infected by something and this something has gotten to his mother.  His brother is nowhere to be found so he sets out to find him.  Thankfully he gets word back that he is fine for the time being so Kaleb sets his sights on survival.  Along the way he meets an arrogant Brit, Cooper.  Cooper makes it clear that he has no interest in having anything to do with the other man even if the other man knows more about the city than he does.

"Bloody Americans," he muttered. "How can you be so ignorant?"

"Look, no offense, but I don't care what you want to do, or what you think I should do.  Like I said, come morning we're going our separate ways.  You do what you think is best, and I'll do what I need to do."
"No offense taken, arrogant prick," Kaleb mumbled.

Cooper is an arrogant ass.  He wants to be in control of everything and has no qualms leaving Kaleb behind.  Unfortunately his arrogance puts him in a bad situation later and thankfully Kaleb rides to the rescue just in time. 

A mile down Paradise Road, Kaleb saw movement near a gas station.  At first it seemed like four creatures, but upon closer look, it was actually three zombies and an arrogant prick.

"You didn't have to help me," he said, " I would have been fine."
Kaleb glowered at him. 
"Yeah? Well, unlike you, I'm not completely heartless.  Now, do you want a ride or not?"

A reluctant alliance is formed and they set out together.  One, to get Cooper to an airport heading back to England to the jerk he left behind, and two, Kaleb must get to his brother who managed to get a text through to him detailing his own destination for survival.  Along the way the two men must battle the undead, some of which actually have a little intelligence.  These are the ones who are the hardest to kill but somehow Cooper and Kaleb find a way.  And if they should happen to decide to have sex even though they don't really like each other? It is the end of the world after all. *grin*

I really enjoyed this. Cooper comes across as the above-mentioned ass who must be in control at all times but in reality, he's been knocked down one too many times by his ex and has zero self-esteem. The banter between him and Kaleb is hilarious.  There is a bit more detail and gore in this story than the one before it but never was it to the point where I felt too squeamish, though I do admit to a few "Eww!" moments. There are also a few (hot) sexual situations that I felt were written very well.  I love the way everything played out and was very pleased with the ending. I would love to see these guys revisited in a future story.  A great read.

Ghoul's Gym by TJ Klune and Eric Arvin

Uly and Jake have been together for a year.  They just had a disagreement but they have a rule to never leave the other without saying goodbye. It's a good thing too because a few hours later both their worlds fall apart.  

Uly is a big muscle guy who works for a gym that's used predominantly by gay men. 

Uly's a big fucker, muscles piled on top of muscles.  Some people might think it's gross how jacked he is, but not me.  There's something about the way his veins look so pronounced that gets my cock hard.  The cut and defined lines of his arms and thighs.  The massive chest. Everything about him is big.  Every single part of him.  Personality, body, mind.  Everything.
Except for me.

Jake? Well, he's tried everything imaginable but just can't get any bigger. He's a small guy and he feels inferior to Uly. Uly's boss at the gym is a real bastard and he wants Uly to himself so he is quick to say that a man like Uly needs a man like him, Stephen Fucking Dorian. 

He's made it no secret how he thinks Uly would be better off sitting on his cock rather than mine. Stephen Fucking Dorian isn't exactly an expert in subtlety.  

"Oh look," he says every time he sees me.  "Here comes Uly's princess.  How is the sweet pea these days?"

So when Uly is asked to go into work two hours earlier than normal (by Stephen Fucking Dorian) Jake makes a decision. He will do whatever it takes to get the body that he feels he should have to be able to stand next to a man like Uly. He will make his man proud.  But first, he has to call Dusty, the resident drug dealer. 

It only rings once. He's reliable, but then drug dealers usually are.

I don't know what I expected the home of a drug dealer to look like, but I'm pretty sure I saw a tea set complete with a crocheted tea cozy sitting on the table in the kitchen we passed. Somehow, a big man like Dusty doesn't scream tea cozy.

A visit to Dusty is made and as a result, things begin to spiral out of control for Jake. Uly is dealing with his own problems at the gym when some of the patrons start getting sick and start eating hurting other people.

I'm not going to go in to all the details of this story as it would give too much away.  There is a diverse cast of secondary characters from the gym bunny muscle men to the "Alphabet Twinks". There is quite a bit of gore in this story as compared to the other two in the anthology. Be prepared as parts are pretty graphic.

It's no secret that Eric Arvin and TJ Klune are two of my favorites. I've read all of TJ's and (including this one) ten of Eric's.  So of course the first thing I did when I started this was look for each author's individual writing style. It didn't take long to see the differences and to know who wrote what. However, everything flows so smoothly that someone not as familiar with the work of both authors would not know that it was not written by one person. The collaboration is done well and the writing is perfect.  

I would never give the ending away but I will say to be prepared. This is supposed to be the first of a few stories so the story doesn't end at THE END. Also, keep in mind that TJ Klune wrote half of this story and anyone who has ever read his stuff knows to expect to cry like a little girl at some point. He doesn't disappoint in Ghoul's Gym. 

Overall, a great story. It's creepy.  It's gory. It's funny in some places. The reader is left to anxiously await the continuation and as always, I will one of the first to read it when it is released. 



A huge thank you to my blog partner for sharing the equal rights zombie pic.

This anthology was provided by Wilde City Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Cowboy Waltz, Cameron Dane

-Review by Kazza K

**WARNING, SPOILERS ABOUND**

Jed Hastings is twenty seven. He works for Cliff as a stock manager. He works on a rodeo circuit as well as out of a base in Wyoming. He is responsible for training horses and the care of a team of horses for the circuit. He cannot stand the current assistant he has. He is unreliable and not doing his job properly. Cliff (Jed's boss) isn't at the coalface like Jed is and as much as he says he will get a new assistant for Jed, it isn't happening. Jed doesn't see how it is so hard to get someone to work out and do the job properly. And, the thing is, Jed has noticed a guy hanging around the current rodeo and he thinks he can replace Blake with this new guy. The guy hanging around has new boots and is too spiffy to be a cowboy but he spends his time around the horses all the time, so he's not a groupie either. Jed decides to suss out just how keen this young man is.

Booker West is eighteen. He is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about everything. He's hanging around the horses at the latest rodeo when a guy approaches him and asks if he has ever worked with them before, been around rodeos. Booker hasn't. He's been working at a fast food restaurant but he wants to be around the horses, around the rodeo. Turns out his mother spent a lot of time on the rodeo circuit having sex with riders and Booker is the end product of one of those encounters.

After making sure Booker is clear on what he is getting into - back breaking work, being away from any family for long periods - he hires him on a one month probation period. Booker does that easily, his enthusiasm for everything in life shines through and he loves the horses. Jed ends up nick-naming Booker Colt because he has unbridled enthusiasm and the, sometimes, uncoordinated movements that a newborn colt has. Marcy, one of the other people working on the circuit tells Jed he needs to make Booker a permanent offer otherwise others will snatch him up. They've all noticed what a good, hard, worker he is and a nice young guy as well. Something that Jed knows to be the truth so a permanent offer is made.

Jed and Booker are living in close proximity. They share a trailer together whether on the road or back at the ranch. They get to know one another really well, they talk and share a mutual love of the  horses and a simple, hard working lifestyle. The thing is, Booker is gay and Jed likes women. Booker doesn't tell Jed that he is gay, and while Booker has developed the hots for Jed, he doesn't do anything about it, apart from fantasise. He also likes learning the ropes from someone like Jed, who knows what he is doing and who gave a chance to someone like him - someone with no experience. So he isn't going to blow that opportunity, and also being around Jed, by outing himself.

Booker and Jed have been working together for over eight months now and are developing close ties. Booker has noticed that Jed is toey during storms, that he paces in their small trailer when a storm comes through. Jed is none to happy about sharing his personal life but after he gets a bit tetchy with young Booker, Jed lets Booker in - his dad died in a car accident during a storm when Jed was eight. They unsettle him to this day as he remembers the night vividly.

Likewise, Jed wants to know what drew Booker to rodeo, to this life. He has such a passion. Why is that? Booker's sister has raised him since he was five, there is fifteen years between them, and two different fathers. Booker doesn't know who his father is, and that's okay, but he wants to know more about his mother and what motivated her -

"I can't clearly define what pushed me to this world so completely, but I guess my interest lay more in trying to absorb everything around me so I could better understand the pull of the rodeo. I wanted to discover what made it so powerful that my mom chose to follow it and the cowboys to the exclusion of everything else...even her own kids."

"After she passed, I missed her cowboy stories as much as I did her."

Two years in and Jed and Booker are still close as can be, in a platonic way, much to Booker's quiet disappointment. It's his birthday, he makes a nice meal, but Jed forgets - he has a date with a woman in town. On he way in Jed remembers it's Booker's twentieth birthday and comes back with a leather and metal bracelet with the date Jed started working for the company on it, and some western movies, as presents. They watch the movies, fall asleep on the lounge, and Jed wakes to a lap full of Booker. He likes it, strokes his body, but it freaks him out- he isn't into men. It's just heat off Bookers warm body and the comfort. They're friends. But several other instances arise where Jed is thinking about Booker - wanking off about Booker. He fantasises about Booker and a girl he thought Booker might like, which then morphed into him and Booker having sex. Now Jed is thinking maybe when Cliff sells up he needs to go elsewhere because being in such close proximity to Booker for the past two years is messing with his head -

He could not let these fantasies continue. Even if it meant walking away from Booker for good.

Three years in and The Sprawling Ride buys Cliff's business. Jed is reeling that such a large concern would buy the ranch and the stock and that he will be relegated to just another worker. Despite being told they could probably work on for the new organisation Jed's concerned about what happens to him and Booker now. Sure Booker is the most accepting person he has ever known, but things won't be the same, maybe they won't be sharing their trailer anymore. Yes, he is relegated into a lower position but, no, they aren't separated. However, things start to heat up and Jed has to get out after a night of passion does his head in. He is straight. He is NOT gay, and even though a number of things have occurred there has always been a reason or excuse for them in Jed's mind. Not anymore. Not after they spend a night fucking each other into the mattress over and over.


What worked for me -

Irrespective of whether I did or did not like the main characters they definitely elicited emotions from me. I need something passionate about a book, whether I be in love with the characters or angry at them.

I won't lie, I like an age difference and there is nine years between Booker and Jed. And I like a virgin in the pairing as well. So I got that.

I really liked the nick-name - Colt - that Jed gave to Booker. It worked well.

I love Cameron Dane's sex scenes. They can be long, and they are, and they can have "dark tunnels" and "steaming channels" but I love them nevertheless. The sex here was Cameron Dane-erotic and hot. It was angry. There are few writers who can write such protracted sex scenes and keep me glued. There is always such emotion attached to the writing and the characters involved during sex, and Cowboy Waltz was no different.

You cannot say that Booker did not fight for the man, the relationship, and life he wanted. And his dogged determination won out. He deserves the 2013 perseverance medallion.

Lyle, Jed's brother. He loved Jed. He didn't understand homosexuality. Didn't accept it too well when he caught Jed all over Booker. When Jed finally admitted he liked a man - mind you Jed telling him he opens up his hole and takes it may have been a tad TMI for any brother to hear - he loved his brother enough to be there for him and listen. He sets Jed straight about their mother. He and his wife, Meg, who is twelve years older than Lyle, and can't have children, met with tough opposition from Jed and Lyle's  mother. Lyle had to fight for his relationship and marriage and he wasn't letting their mother dictate who he could and could not love, so he understood Jed's concerns over their mother's reaction.

The brief references to Luke and Cain from Falling. It made me want to pick that book up...again.

For the last 10% of the book I genuinely liked this pairing of Jed and Booker. I wish like hell this book had been edited more tightly, and the layer upon layer of angst and annoying behaviour was stripped back and the latter heartfelt aspects of the relationship were given more time. Because not long before the end it worked.

The fear of people coming out to a family member was certainly conveyed here.

There is something, just something, about Cameron Dane's writing that I cannot resist. And as much as I fought with aspects of this book, and I sure did,  I still appreciated reading a Cameron Dane novel.


What didn't work for me -

The characterisations of the MC's - This book is protagonist-centric. So, to drive this plot properly, sympathetic characters were mandatory. I can deal with a damaged/difficult character for only so long, unless I can see the reasons why. There must be something redeeming that this reader is aware of to make me invested. There must be some experience that I can understand as to why they are behaving the way they are. It has to be relatable -

Booker was, to me, likeable, but not loveable - although I am sure others may find Booker a lovely character. Yes, he is sweet. And as optimistic and shiny as he is, he needed to stand up for himself more and he needed to simply stand out more.

Then there was JED!! I struggled with him throughout the book. He stood out, but he was a terribly unsympathetic character.  He pushed my limits. I only liked him in the last 10% of the book.  Why is that? Well...simply put, he is unlikeable. He isn't damaged, he is just annoying and aggravating for a lot of the book. Some examples being - Jed makes fun of Booker one night, tells other people on the rodeo circuit personal things about Booker - his dreams, ambitions, his quirks. He ridicules him because he is in a snarky mood - after four beers. Booker works with these people, they like him, but, hey, let's humiliate Booker, shall we? Nothing like getting a laugh at someone else's expense. I know that endears people to me. Booker walks in on this as things are being said, is understandably upset, but Booker forgives Jed really quickly. Booker is badly injured, taken to hospital, where Jed stays the first night, then for two weeks leaves Booker on his own when he needs his friend. There was never any good excuse for that either. Jed decides to leave Booker after they finally have sex. He doesn't tell Booker, he finds out elsewhere that Jed is leaving. Surprise!! At his going away party he tries to hit on a sweet woman, Ali,  and another man, Harlan, tells Jed to back off, at which point Jed charmingly says that Harlan is only doing this to get between Ali's legs. Marcy, the tour mother hen, takes him back to Booker to get him patched up after Harlan slugs Jed.  Dutiful, reliable, kind Booker patches him up. Then Jed leaves. After he has left, Booker goes to Texas, at the behest of Lyle, to "fix" Jed. Jed is drinking and being self destructive in general. Then Jed tells him to "go" because he will keep drinking if he stays - he can't deal with being gay, he can't lose his family. This after Booker helps him, and they have sex. Jed tells Booker he will never choose him over his mother and his brother, and they won't accept him being gay, so their relationship is not happening. Never. So Booker leaves, anything to help Jed get better. Jed's sister-in-law, Meg, invites Booker back out to Texas for dinner, she wants to meet Jed's BFF. He goes, does nothing than be a friend during their night at Jed's brother and sister-in-laws, even though it nearly kills him to be so close to the man he loves and respects, and pretends to be something else. Jed follows Booker out and as Booker is getting into his car to leave, makes moves on him. Booker asks Jed  "please don't do this unless you mean it," but Jed keeps on going, Booker can't resist Jed, and when Lyle comes out and catches them Jed freaks out -

...Booker said, "I can help you. I went through this with my sister, and I can help you get through it with Lyle too."
Jed squeezed his eyes shut even tighter. "If you want to help, then leave."

He then shoves Booker away, slamming the door in a concerned Booker's face.

Booker did not respect himself enough when it came to Jed. There is fighting for a relationship, and then there is two-plus-years-non-stop-spent-in-a-mixed-martial-arts-cage-fight for a relationship. Booker was in the latter. I just kept thinking enough is enough. Move on, Booker. Make him come to you. Make him grovel.

Annnddd....there should have been some grovelling from Jed to Booker. Didn't happen. Gets back to Jed and characterisations again, doesn't it?

I wasn't buying the reasons for the bad behaviour of Jed. His father died when Jed was eight. He learns that his dad wasn't husband-of-the-year material - he drank, screwed around. His mother never remarried and worked two jobs to give her sons a good life. But Jed just kept thinking he had this bad DNA. It pissed me off. Yes, I know that there is a genetic predisposition towards alcoholism but, give me a break, it wasn't enough to drive some of the behaviour or the angst here. I just want to say you are what you decide to make of yourself.

In general -

Cowboy Waltz is a GFY or an OFY, so be aware of that going in. It is not my favourite, but Cameron Dane has written a couple that I have loved. This book spans approximately a five year period from the hiring of Jed until the conclusion of the book. You get both POV of the main characters, so you know how they are feeling - and there is quite a bit of inner monologue. In my opinion Cameron Dane always does that better than a lot of other authors. There was a HEA and an epilogue to let you know where Jed and Booker were at.

Overall -

While I did not love Cowboy Waltz I did enjoy it, in a love hate sort of way...but I'd rather passion than none at all.  I must disclose that Cameron Dane is an automatic buy for me. Remains so. If you like cowboys, if you like a bucket-load of angst. If you like any of the following - friends to lovers, an age difference, a virginal character, GFY/OFY, a character who is tolerant with a troubled character. If you like Cameron Dane then you may well enjoy Cowboy Waltz.

3 Stars

Improves with Age, Lavinia Lewis

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Haunted, Brynn Stein

- Review by Cindi

4 out of 5 stars

Lenard Blake has just gone through a nasty divorce. His ex wife comes from a very influential family in Denver, Colorado, so he is shamed and blacklisted by everyone. He loses his job as a detective and when he tries to find work in other parts of the state, the door is slammed on him each time.  The divorce was no fault of his, but that doesn't matter to those who know his meddling ex in-laws. Knowing that the only way to have any kind of life (or career) away from the influence of his former father-in-law, Lenard purchases a house sight unseen in a small town in Virginia, as far away from Denver as he can get and still find a new job.  The price is too right and the house is, according to the internet posting, a beautiful old farmhouse.  Exactly what Lenard is looking for.  The house has been sitting vacant for fifteen years and Lenard doesn't question why the house is being sold at such a cheap price. He makes an offer that is immediately accepted and is on the road to his new home in Virginia. He has been hired by the local police force as their newest detective so Lenard is excited about his new life. Unfortunately, when he arrives at the "beautiful old farmhouse" it is in no way as it appeared online.  The outside of the house is in a state of disrepair and the screen door literally comes off the hinges when he opens it.  Inside is not much better and on top of all the dust that has accumulated, practically every single room has something that is in need of serious repair. That is, with the exception of the master bedroom that does not have a speck of dust or anything out of place.  That room is beautiful.

Within minutes of arriving Lenard notices odd things.  Old sheets that he knows he removed from the living room furniture have been replaced when he walked out of the room. The back screen door flaps in the wind when there is none blowing.  Within days, he has gotten a feel for the house and has also been informed by his new coworkers of the fact that his new home is reportedly haunted by a young man who had been murdered there fifteen years earlier.  At first, Lenard is understandably skeptical but the ghost has made his presence known since the minute Lenard stepped foot on the property.  

Over time other odd things begin to occur. Lenard walks into his kitchen each morning with his breakfast laid out on the table, tea and a glass placed there another time after he replaces the damaged door frame, books that he leaves on a desk are suddenly back on their rightful places on the bookshelves.  These things happen so often that finally Lenard is convinced that not only is his house haunted, but it's haunted by someone who does not wish him any kind of harm.
This leads him to do research on the former inhabitants and then to actually speaking with the ghost, who Len is convinced is Jason Miller, the man who died under mysterious circumstances fifteen years earlier at the young age of twenty-three.  The more he speaks with Jason (who speaks back and is even able to manifest himself) the more he learns about Jason's death and his family who were all either killed under mysterious circumstances or who disappeared under them. An investigation is launched by Lenard and his skeptical partner Dan and over a short amount of time the friendship that has developed between Lenard and the ghost of Jason Miller becomes a love affair.  But what happens when the murders and disappearances are solved? Will the ghost person that Lenard is in love with disappear as ghosts are known to do when they no longer have unfinished business on earth? This is kinda/sorta explained toward the end of the book.

You obviously have to suspend belief as Haunted is about a man falling in love with a ghost. I love these types of stories so I had no problem jumping into it and remembering that the book is fiction. However, some might want more of a realistic story and if that's the case, I suggest you move on as this one is ....  as I said .... about a man and a ghost falling in love.

The mystery of what happened to Jason and his family does not stay a mystery for long but it does take awhile for Lenard and Dan to find the evidence needed for justice to be served. Lenard had left Denver in order to get away from one influential man only to be thrust right back into another town across the country with one who is influential in his own right.  

There is a little bit of humor as Jason calls Lenard (a police detective) various nick names from television and film (Starsky, Hutch, Dick Tracy, Spenser, Magnum, the list goes on). I loved Jason's character from the moment he was introduced, ghost or no.  I liked Lenard as well though I ended this with a couple of questions in regards to him. He was obviously married to a female and the divorce is the reason he moved across the country.  So is the Jason thing a gay-for-you type situation or was Lenard supposed to be bisexual?  Or was he gay and in the closet while he was married?  This may have gone unnoticed by some but throughout the entire (short) story I kept hoping to see those questions answered.

Another thing that I wouldn't say bugged me but that I noticed and found a bit distracting, was the use of his lover, friend (used a lot), the ghost, the detective, old man, etc.  This is a little overdone in my opinion though I was able to overlook it for the most part.

There is zero on-page intimacy in this story though the reader knows that Lenard and Jason do have a sexual relationship.

The person responsible for Jason's murder (and that of his family) is eventually caught after a bit of violence.  I kept wondering how the author was going to make things work at the end with Lenard and his ghost but when it is done, it is done well, considering. I only wish the ending would have had a little bit more (or perhaps an epilogue) added.

Overall, a nice story.  I will definitely be reading more by this author.

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

Stranded, Andrew Grey

- Review by Cindi

4.5 out of 5 stars

This book is a huge difference from what one would expect from Andrew Grey.  That's not a bad thing by any means.  I always think it's a good thing when an author is willing to take chances and step away from his or her norm.  If you've read Andrew Grey before you know to expect the love story and the happily-ever-after. That's a given, right?  But do you also expect to see quite a bit of intrigue and suspense? Sometimes maybe but not like Stranded.  This is my eighth by this author and I can say that it is much different from the seven I've read before it. Oh, the love story is there (would it be an Andrew Grey book without it?) but there is so much more to this story than just a love story.

Kendall Monroe is a popular Broadway actor. He has just completed the best run of his career when his latest show closes due to bad planning by the higher-ups.  For the first time in years he is not rushing to rehearsals or performances. He has been with his partner, Johnny Harker, for ten years and wrongly assumes that his free time will be spent with the man he loves. Johnny is a famous mystery author and can't quite get used to having Kendall at home while he's trying to write the next great novel.  He is famous in his own right with several books on the best seller list.  When Kendall is given a chance to do a movie in Hollywood he weighs the options but in the end decides to go for it.  Johnny is not exactly jumping to spend time with him so why not? Kendall is not fooled into thinking that the once great relationship is still on even footing but he chooses to pretend all is well and turn his cheek because sometimes one doesn't want to know the truth. He takes off to Hollywood with Johnny's blessing and begins a very grueling filming schedule. The director is a jerk but Kendall quickly puts him in his place and becomes respected as a result.  The assistant of another assistant (Juan) hits on him but later becomes an ally and a good friend. The lead female actress in the movie acts more like a spoiled teenage prom queen than a trained actor but she eventually comes around.  Kendall is no fool, having dealt with some of the worst of the worst during his Broadway career so he quickly puts those who consider him a naive boy from New York in their place. 

Things are going well for Kendall on the filming front until certain things start to happen.  One, there's the distance between him and Johnny and Kendall is convinced that Johnny is having an affair (all the signs are there).  Two, there is a stalker who has set his/her sights on Kendall. Johnny, who was once loving and sweet, has taken a major step back from Kendall so Kendall is constantly worried that there will not be a relationship to go home to once the filming is complete. Someone on the film crew is sending creepy messages and flowers so he has that to deal with on top of his relationship issues.  The messages and flowers are only an annoyance until the stalker takes things too far.  One instance is something that happens with his dressing room and another is so major that it almost costs Kendall his life.

There is a slow build up in this story.  It begins with Kendall's Broadway show closing and the reader getting a glimpse of his early relationship with Johnny. When Kendall goes to Hollywood to begin filming the movie, there is more build up that involves flashbacks to his and Johnny's earlier days, among other things.  While I'm all about a good build up in stories at times I was thinking that it was going a bit too far. 50% into the book and I was waiting for something to happen other than the flashbacks and the filming.  I will be the first to complain about flashbacks in books.  I hate them.  I seriously hate them.  At times they work but not when they are happening every few pages.  By the time I got to the 50% mark I admit to being extremely frustrated with seeing all of them in regards to Kendall and Johnny's earlier relationship. But then things started to happen and I realized that the story as a whole would not have worked without them.  The reader is able to get a big look at the Johnny of days gone by... and this is not the Johnny of the here and now.  You are literally looking at two different people. I constantly found myself wondering "is he?" or "isn't he?" with Johnny. I was not sure until long into the book. However, Johnny either proves his worth or shows what kind of a bastard he truly is toward the 60% mark on my Kindle. I refuse to type a spoiler of what happens there.

Kendall is extremely claustrophobic. This claustrophobia almost prevented him from accepting the role in the movie Stranded.  There is a scene that involves him being handcuffed to a steering wheel inside of a car in the middle of nowhere in the desert.  Granted, there will be a film crew all around him during the filming but his fear is very real and he wants to get the scene over and done with, film crew or no film crew.  But what happens when his stalker takes things too far once the filming of that scene is over?  Flowers and notes have been delivered all over the place and the stalker's behavior is quickly escalating.  No longer is the person just leaving flowers but he has begun to go in a more dangerous direction.  He wants Kendall and nothing will keep him from either having him or making sure that no one else can.  Kendall tries discussing this with Johnny but Johnny is not taking him seriously.  Keep in mind that Johnny is in New York while Kendall is hundreds of miles away in Hollywood and with every call Kendall is convinced that Johnny is moving away from him and the long-term relationship.  Suddenly, life is imitating art or is it all part of the movie? Kendall has been handcuffed to a steering wheel in the middle of the desert inside of a locked car.  His claustrophobia has kicked in and not only that, but he is literally on the verge of death if he is not rescued soon.

There is so much more I can say about this book but I refuse to.  If I go into what happens after Kendall gets locked in the car it will give the entire story away and again, I refuse to do that. The question is where does Kendall go once he is rescued?  Do he and Johnny go back to the same bland existence or do they move on away from each other or maybe, just maybe, find what they had before?  Does Kendall continue with movies or does he go back to his real love, Broadway?

I admit to complaining about the flashbacks early in the book, as I said. I shy away from books that suggest they may have them because I feel that it distracts from the story if I am one minute in the now and then instantly thrust back several years earlier. But with this story, it would not have worked without them.  I had a hard time reconciling the sweet and kind Johnny to the one years later.  I did not like him at all, though the author did an outstanding job making it look as if they were two totally different people.  I liked Kendall immediately and continued to as the story played out even if I didn't agree with a few things he did (or didn't do) early on as far as his relationship was concerned.  Ten years with a man you would expect there to be an open line of communication and instead of taking a step back you would expect there to be discussions about concerns and questions.  I will, however, say that I ended this book very pleased with the outcome.  

There is an amazing set of secondary characters who play a huge part in the story, from the bitch actress to the Australian director (who tends to lose his accent quite a bit) to the stalker, among others.  I had an idea early on who the stalker was and it turned out that I was correct. Don't get me wrong, Andrew Grey did a great job in making the reader believe one thing when in reality it was something else.

All in all I will say that this is a very good book.  I mentioned the slow build and I even mentioned my thinking at times that it was too slow early on.  However, the slow build up was necessary for this reader to get where she needed to be when everything else played out later. There is a lot of guessing and questioning what is right there in front of you. Kudos to the author for having me convinced one thing was about to happen when in reality it was going in an entirely different direction.  The time Kendall spent in the car locked up was written brilliantly. I am extremely claustrophobic myself and I could so sympathize with the character and what he was going through.  Normally I'm not a fan of books with established relationships and I will say that I never really felt any love for Johnny with the exception of the Johnny I saw in the flashbacks. That Johnny was a great person who would do anything for the man he loved.  The question is whether that man can ever be found again after so much time and distance.  You would have to read the book to find out.

If you are looking for a typical and sappy romance go somewhere else.  While the sappiness and sweetness is in Stranded, it is more about the suspense and discovering what is or what isn't there right in front of you.  Sometimes what you hope for is not in the cards and sometimes it is. Sometimes it takes an almost tragedy for the right thing to happen in the end.  I loved the way this book ended and I can't compliment the author enough for stepping a little outside his norm.  As always, I will be eager to see what he puts out next.

I've always had a thing for men wearing glasses so I adore the cover.  

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

Hunted: A Cyn and Raphael Novella (Vampires in America #6.5) D.B Reynolds



"But, Lucas," he added, his voice going cold and deadly, "once that's done, we're going to find out who was after us and why. Because, if there's to be a hunt, I intend to be the hunter, not the hunted."

- Review by Kazza K

Not my favourite cover.

I do love this series. I eagerly await each new release and I devour them. Have done ever since I discovered the terrific Raphael. Why do I "devour" them? Because they are well written, the MC's are always interesting and the women are generally very strong characters as well. These vampires are powerful and fierce, and they do not muck around with their opposition, they destroy them. There are interesting political machinations when they deal with one another and humans. Loyalty is expected and they are incredibly territorial. To top it all off, they are downright sexy.

I love Raphael and Cyn. They are one of my favourite couples of any genre of any time. I'm really enjoying that D B Reynolds has adopted this format of a novella between new books to give us more of Raphael and Cyn. It also helps introduce the new Vampire and his/her short backstory for the upcoming book. This approach to the series is working really well. I would be devastated if I didn't get my Raphael and Cyn fix, but I don't want them taking over the new vampire's book when it comes out. So, they are kept in the mix, and there is a progression of the series all at once. Perfect. I hope D B Reynolds keeps this format up.

Hunted is about Raphael and Cyn on their way to Chicago for the council meeting and, primarily, for the competition/challenge  to take over that territory after Klemens was taken down in the last book, Lucas. They stop over in Lucas' home of South Dakota on the way through. Lucas is one of Raphael's children  and he is backing a particular candidate (Aden) as the new Lord for Klemens' old territory. On the way to Lucas' property they suspect they are followed. Starting off a chain of events. Several attempts are made on Lucas and his guests, which will not be allowed to stand - if Cyn is in harms way Raphael is one pissed off Vampire Lord. There is much to this novella, with reasons why territorial claims are going to be fought more intensely now and why some challengers might soon be stepping up to the plate. There could be challenges even when there isn't a territory to be claimed. There is much potential for this series to diversify further.

In Hunted there are some ends tied up from the last book and Cyn and Katherine get some time to know one another, which is good. Cyn is recruiting members into the Mates Club for the partners of  Vampire Lords, where they can roll their eyes and have a mutual discussion about what it is like to be mated to them  - and not all the mates are female. Cyn also gets to use her PI skills and investigate who is behind these attempts in Hunted. She also sets Aden on the way to (maybe) having some respect and upgraded ideas about the value of a female, outside the bedroom.  Oh yes, Aden is going to be one interesting read because he appears to be a card-carrying misogynist, but you know that will all change. I am so hoping for one strong gal to bag this Vampire Lord in-the-making - he has to win the challenge first.

There are also plenty of sexy moments here between Raphael and Cyn -



He kissed her then, his lips moving over hers in a sensuous caress as he pressed his hips between her thighs. There was no foreplay, no preparation, just his cock, familiar in its weight and thickness, in the velvet stroke of it as he pushed deep inside her with a single thrust. She was wet and ready for him, had been ready from the moment he'd rolled her beneath him.
She hungered for him always, for his touch, his heat, the spark of silver in his eyes, the deep growl of his voice.
"I love you," she whispered, as he plunged between her legs harder and faster until they tumbled over the edge of ecstasy together, their passion a searing heat that entwined their fates forever. "I am yours, "Raphael rasped against her ear. "Always, lubimaya. Always."

Cyn gets to do her thing, and Raphael gives her a bit more latitude. But they bounce of each other deliciously as they are strong personalities in their own right. Cyn also learns more about  Raphael and the political aspects of all things vampire.

I mostly read in the LGBTQ genre these days, but I never miss this series. I think that sums up the value I place on the writing of Vampires in America - the characterisations, the plots, the passion, the strong world building. It is also why I recommend this series to all paranormal lovers across the board. This novella was a good read in every way - action, intrigue, humour, romantic and sexy.

5 Fang-Boy Stars

Confessions of a Gay Rugby Player

If you are looking for a M/M romance all I can say is "Wrong Way, Turn Back." 

-Review by Kazza K

Rugby Union is great game. It's a rough game - look it up if you never have and check out a ruck or two. I'll give you an idea. My brothers played Union. They are 6'7 and 6'5. Imagine them bearing down on you and you have to try and tackle the big buggers as they come at you with the ball. No padding, no nothing - shorts, jersey and a football. Imagine a team of them on top of you gouging the shit out of you, turning you into a pretzel in a ruck. So yeah, they are an adventurous, very hardy sort, and this was portrayed well in Confessions of a Gay Rugby Player.
















Conor Murphy is part of the Dublin Chiefs, an Irish Rugby side that has just been beaten by the team from San Francisco, but not without a tight on-field tussle, particularly between Conor and the sexy San Fran player Tonio. Conor would like to get some of that action with Tonio, but off the field this time...in the bedroom. Conor shares a room during the tournament with fellow player and friend, Sean -

I'm fond of telling Sean he is like the big brother I'm glad I never had. That's how close we are, thick as thieves. It's the back row forwards union.
Sean has taken me from a closet case to an "out and proud" A list gay. Well, I like to think of myself as an A list gay, anyway. No one else thinks that, but my ego is not for turning.

So Conor, Sean, and the lads from the team are about to go out and celebrate the tournament closing party at a local bar with other team members.  On-field competition may be over but now the off-field fun is just starting -

XXXL is an enormous venue. Like most nightclubs, it's dimly lit with pockets of darkness and plenty of hidey-holes. The club smells of fresh sex; we immediately feel at home.

 The crowd is a horny mix of players, supporters, and cowboys. Seems like the hot cowboys got an invite, so things could get very interesting. 

 From here things get down and dirty. Conor is on the look out for Tonio -

He is tall, like me, and has a great physique with a deep tan. Thick, black hair and chocolate brown eyes top off the gorgeous package....
He has great arms and pecs, and I can see the dark chest hair poking out from under his vest. This man is mine.

But he gets distracted by a hoover-esque blow job by a cowboy from Texas, Chad -


After making my balls suitably wet and tingly, he moves back to my shaft. I seize the moment, grab the long blonde hair on his head and stuff my cock deep into his throat, He takes my unsubtle hint and gets to work. like the true born cocksucker he is.
....as the pent-up belligerence takes over, and I start to throat fuck him very hard. Deep, long thrusts into his mouth. I want to feel his lips all over my shaft....

After his encounter with Chad, Conor is still plenty horny and back on the hunt for Tonio; wanting to let the off-field games truly begin. He runs into Stefan an old "ride" from the Copenhagen team, but his third time with Stefan is not to happen tonight, maybe next time. Conor finally links up with Tonio, they dance until 3am. Then it's time to get back to the hotel room to claim it before Sean does - whoever gets their sock on the door first has the room to themselves...and their fuck buddy. But they make a pit stop on the way to Conor's bed in a small utility room and Conor starts in on Tonio. The book goes into a pretty long fuck-fest from here starting with ice, an ice box, armpit licking, through to fucking and felching. Snippets of some of the action ahead -

I grind my hard groin against his, as I tongue-wash his pit. I give him the look half way between "I love you" and "I want to kill you." it is my famous  "I will fuck you to death" look.

I rub the melting ice cubes over Tonio's ass cheeks before biting his left buttock. I'm all about the biting today.
"Spread your ass, boy." Two broad hands reach back and reveal his fuck hole to me

Tonio has a wonderful dick with a thick vein that runs along the top. Like most men from this side of the ocean, he is cut. .. 

I take Tonio into my mouth. At first I gently suck on the tip of his meat, rolling my tongue around the head without applying too much suction. Then my throat relaxes and engulfs Tonio's cock I feel him grab the back of my head, and he face fucks me...

My right hand moves to wank his cock off in unison with the thrusts into his ass. We are glued together in one hot, nasty fuck.
"Squeeze your ring," I whisper into his ear. "Tighter."
"Fuck me harder, you cunt!" His power ass sure is well trained. I give him what he wants and fuck him more violently. I can feel the sticky pre-come in my hands, and I move my fingers to his mouth so he can taste it. He greedily sucks on them....

So this gives you a pretty good idea of what Confessions of a Gay Rugby Player is like. It is gay erotica, with some humour, some charming Irish turns of phrase, a bit of Rugby, just enough to give the reader a feel for the toughness of the game - although I do not know of guys who are thinking about arse when they are playing, you're liable to get your block knocked off. No matter, it's all good dirty fun. All of it presented in an easy to read style. And I liked it indeed. But then I do like some down and dirty erotica

4 Rugger Bugger Stars

 

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