11/02/2012

Review : Accidentally In Love


Title: Accidentally in Love
Author : Jane Davitt & Alexa Snow

Publisher: Loose ID
Date of publication :
May 2011

RATING: 4/5
Blurb:

When fun-loving, social butterfly Calvin Reece moves in with the cute but shy Tom Holden, he doesn't expect anything to come of it but friendship. In fact, his plan is to give Tom a makeover and find him a boyfriend, because Tom's such a nice guy it's just not right that he's alone. As Cal gets to know Tom better, he learns that under the ill-fitting clothes there's a gorgeous body and a kind, generous heart, and Cal starts to feel something new...

What do they have in common? Only that they've never been in love. But that may all be about to change.

REVIEW

As you can see, this book has been out for a while,  and I know it's caught my eye once or twice. There always seemed to be something just a little more shiny, a little more suited to my reading tastes though, and I never actually read it until today.

What attracted me to it? The cover caught my eye. The models look like they're having fun, and the scene is so domestic. Then blurb-  I love the set up. The flirty fun guy, outgoing and bold, moves in with the shy recluse. Why? Because I am that shy recluse. I identified so much with certain aspects of Tom's character that when a certain event occurs, I was as convinced as he that betrayal had occurred.

What I liked about this story- The characters were imminently likeable. Cal, the award winning photographer is self confident and flirty. He's comfortable with who he is and with going after what he wants. It's fun to see him unsettled by his unexpected feelings for his new roommate, and even more fun to see him doubt himself. Tom, the web designer, has huge confidence issues, and meeting his mother late in the story fully explains where that comes from. Tom is an intriguing mix of matter of fact and hesitant, and blunt, bold sexuality. He's completely charming. The two work well together as a pairing of opposites. Tom makes Cal less cocky, and Cal makes Tom more confident. It's all good. We can feel and understand Tom's doubts about Cal's transformation form party boy to faithful lover, and Cal's frustration with Tom's insecurity. That to me is the sign of a job well done.

What I didn't like – There's a bit of author trickery that I didn't think was quite fair play towards the end.  The characters come off at times as clichés. The party boy, the geek, the abusive parents, the interfering female friend, ...BUT...the author makes it all work so well that its still an enjoyable, witty read.

Recommended for those who enjoy a sweet, sensual read with a guaranteed HEA.


10/31/2012

The Next Big Thing- His Admirer



 The Next Big Thing 

I was recently invited to participate in The Next Big Thing, you may have seen it hopping about on the net or twitter. It's a blog hop of sorts and here's how it works...October 24th, I was tagged in Havan Fellow's post with 3 other writers, my post today which consists of 10 questions about my current WIP tags 4 other writers. 




10 Questions:

What is the working title of your book?

The working title of my book is His Admirer

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Well, the original story came from a picture prompt provided for The Story Orgy by Jade Baiser

What genre does your book fall under?

His Admirer is mm romance, contemporary.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?

Ooh...let's see. I'd like Steven Strait to be Z, and um Chris Hemsworth to be Gabe...

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

Love is more valuable than gold.

Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?

It will be neither self published nor represented. It will be published, I hope, by an e-book publisher, Breathless Press

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I wrote it a chapter at a time week by week in response to prompts, so probably about two months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre.

Er...I think it is a simple, sweet story, and perhaps it's best just to say that it's a typical Lee Brazil book?

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

The Story Orgy inspired this book- every step of the way  with pictures and prompts and encouragement.

What else about your book might interest the reader?

This book almost made it to completion without a bit of sex- I nearly considered making it a young adult story.


Mini-excerpt: 

So I told him. "I’m tired of being taken for granted. I think we need to spend time apart." The son of a bitch just flat out agreed. I think that will haunt me forever. His mellow voice, flat and unconcerned, echoed in my mind at all hours. He never even looked at me; his attention remained on the football game being replayed on ESPN classic. "Okay, Zeke, whatever you want."



10/30/2012

Crawl in Bed With Pan



Crawling Into Bed With Pan
And a Good Book Wicked Satyr Nights by Rebekah Lewis

*crawls into bed* Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton?

Cotton. Nothing against the silk ones, but I like to keep it simple….until it comes to what happens in them.

*eyes widen* Is that so? What are you wearing?

Now, now…wouldn't you like to know?  I'll give you a hint: nothing. Oops. Ruined the surprise!

Can't believe I missed THAT! What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight?

Is that an offer? The only cravings I suffer from are of the carnal variety. Pesky satyr curse. I promise I don't bite. At least not in this form.

Um...that's a damn shame. I quite enjoy a good bite...Okay, so if I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find?

Why, you would find my panpipes in that drawer. Go ahead. Caress them. Give them a good…blow.

*slams drawer* Why did that sound ominous? Let's change the subject...Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night?

Covers are for wimps. I've slept outside, in the nude, in a blizzard. But I don't advise trying that unless you are a god. You may freeze something off you may want to keep.

ER...Yes, I think I'll stick to sleeping inside. Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up?

Oh, they will warm you up alright. No need to have a puppy to sleep on your feet when you have a satyr in your bed.

This might have been a more dangerous undertaking than I thought...What are we reading?
Wicked Satyr Nights 


Blurb
Some creatures want to be found.

When Dr. Katerina Silverton travels into the Pine Barrens to make a documentary on the Jersey Devil, she doesn't believe she will find evidence of anything supernatural. However, Kat soon finds herself face-to-face with the very creature she was sent into the forest to capture on film.

In Ancient Greece, the god Pan made a terrible mistake which resulted in the creation of a race of immortal satyrs. Centuries later, he lives secluded in the Pine Barrens, frightening the mortals by taking the guise of an abhorrent local monster. When a beautiful woman shows up in his forest looking for proof of his existence, Pan can't resist revealing himself to her.

But outside forces may be manipulating them both, pushing them together for nefarious reasons. Kat must decide if she could learn to love a satyr or if his appearance is more than she can handle. Can she resist Pan's wicked nature, or will she give into the temptations beyond her wildest fantasies?


Available now at: http://buff.ly/PIe5jF
  
For more information about the author visit her website: rebekah-lewis.com
Twitter: @RebekahLLewis    (please note the double L)


Excerpt
He flapped his leathery wings, and gaining air, Pan swooped down in front of Rick first, shielding himself from the camera lens as he did. The footage would show no visible evidence of him to make believers out of the humans who would view it. As with the first time he toyed with them, he knew sound effects could be easily added from an unseen location, so he wasn't worried about being heard.

Cindy noticed the threat to her husband and shined the light in his eyes, hoping to blind him. He couldn't blame her for not knowing he wasn't a mere animal to be deterred by such a feeble attempt. His eyes adjusted easily to any location and most levels of brightness or darkness. But since he was going for dramatic...

He used his wing to slap the spotlight out of her hands. It skidded across the dirt road with a loud clatter. The light flickered once, twice, dimmed and finally went dead. The moon cast enough light to outline the individuals present, but offered little more than that. Cindy took a few steps back and tripped, landing hard on her ass. She immediately began scrambling backward, attempting to regain her footing.

Rick stepped in front of her, shielding her. He hadn't shut down the camera, but slowly he set it down, probably hoping the beast before him was too stupid to realize what a camera was. Keeping his hands out in nonthreatening gesture, Rick slowly stood up and began to back away. He remained between Pan and Cindy. How very noble.

Pan smiled, though in this form it likely appeared as a snarl. Pushing off from the ground once more, he knocked Rick to the ground, causing Cindy to tumble back down as well. Neither concerned him.

With a gust of air, he pushed upward, flapping his wings as he gained height. The trees made it difficult, but he maneuvered through them like he'd been born to fly. He glided under a low branch toward Katerina.

She dropped to the ground as he went over her head, dodging him. His adrenaline shot through his system, almost as invigorating as an orgasm in itself. He was pleased she wasn't going to be caught easily. The hunt would make the capture so much more satisfying.

Katerina was almost to the van when Pan landed on the top of the vehicle and perched in front of her like a gargoyle, crouched with one hand on the edge of the roof. His wings folded and towered above him as he leered down at her, sizing her up. She stared up at him, mouth open in a scream that provided no sound. He watched as a tear streaked down her face, and he felt it like a sucker punch to the gut.

She was terrified of him. He stood no chance with her now, and he knew it. However, if he gave up and let her go, she'd flee the area and give up her film. She should. flee and leave the area. It was the best thing for her to do. The only thing that would keep her safe from his lecherous thoughts.

No. She is mine.

The last time he'd felt a strong connection to someone, he'd let her slip through his fingers and into the path of harm before he could see if anything more could have blossomed between them. Not again. Fuck waiting to see why she was here. He wasn't going to let her leave or stand by as something happened to her.

Never again.

10/28/2012

Character Spotlight: Nate Hawthorne of Truth Deeper Than Logic




Please give a warm welcome to Nathan Hawthorne the hero from ­­Truth Deeper Than Logic today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

Q: So tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author?

I was perhaps a little excessive in my grief over Daniel's death...I believe Lee was captivated by the urban legends of black panthers stalking men in American forests.

Q: What was it that drew you to your mate?

He's was just too cute...running through the woods...I know, that's not nice, but well, I was in panther form and he just smelled right.

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner?

Oh, let's see...that time on the floor of the cabin...

Q: Boxers, briefs or Commando on a man?

Definitely commando...in fact, I really prefer naked in general. You humans with your preference for clothing don't know what you're missing.

Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure fire trick he/she can play?

That damn, beautiful, sexy little toy...

Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive them wild-in and out of bed?

His ears...I just breathe across them and he quivers in my arms...

Q: What was one of the most embarrassing thing your author did to you in Truth Deeper Than Logic?

Me? Well, strolling into a board room all set to wage property war only to discover that my opponent was the man I'd been lusting after for months....

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Yes. I never ate anyone. Those rumors are completely false. It's the wilderness. Humans are clumsy. Just because they go into the woods and never return doesn't mean I ate them.

Thank you for joining us on 'Meet the Character' day here at Breathless Press Blog.

Thank you for letting me set the record straight.


BLURB
His lover's death filled Nate Hawthorn with rage. From that time were born legends of bloodthirsty cats and killer bears, of humans entering the woods and never leaving.

Legend exaggerated, and he had calmed down and accepted the transiency of human life. Fragile, defenseless, but curious, brave, and loving. He'd allowed their presence in his valley in the beginning because they intrigued him with their resourceful cleverness in turning their fragile bodies into a strength rather than the weakness he'd taken them for.

When Daniel died, he'd chosen to live among them for simple reasons. He felt closer to his lover walking among his descendents. He took a warped pride in the growth and the progress of the town Daniel had started, in the prosperity of Daniel's people even as their growth and progress had overtaken his woods. Perhaps some fatalistic part of him believed that the circle of life would one day claim him, had known that they would one day kill him.

When Seth Greenwood, a junior architect with a local firm who dreamed of bigger things, pinned his hopes for career advancement on a project that required the use of Nate's land, Nate realized how much he wanted to live. And how very much he wanted Seth.
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Be Yourself

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955
The Romance Reviews