REVIEW: CHEAP AS BEAST by Jon Wilson!

Like most soldiers, Declan Colette lost his fair share in the war—in his case a sailor, drowned off Iwo Jima. Since then he’s been scratching out a living as a cut-rate PI, drinking too much, and flirting with danger. Then a girl arranges to consult him, only to be murdered en route, and the cops tag Colette as their prime suspect. To save his neck he’ll need to find the real killer, a quest that pits him against a rival detective firm, a dangerously rich family, and a desperate foe whose murdering ways started back during the war.

Could this be the case he’s been waiting for? Catching the killer could make his reputation. Failing, could cost him his life.

Either way: win-win."

Cheap as Beasts by Jon Wilson is a noir, murder mystery book that is a quick, complex and entertaining read!

The novels' protag is a man named Declan Colette, who is almost hired by a rich brother and sister to prove that their step-mother killed their father...but before anything can come of that, another person in their family is murdered & Colette is hired by the brother, a man named Morgan.

The mystery of the novel is almost like a game of whodunit, which introduces the reader to a series of very interesting and sometimes, slightly suspicious characters. Even characters who are only around for a few pages make an impact and add layers to other characters and the novel's main mystery.

What I liked most about the novel was Colette himself, because the man is damaged and it is obvious in is demeanor, but its not cliche or overbearing - he isn't whinny or melodramatic, but he is believably dark, brooding and often, sharply sarcastic.

Colette is gay, but the romantic aspect of the novel is not front and center and though I would have loved more of a romance edge to the story, the fact that there isn't one, at least not exactly, is extremely powerful and dark and lends itself for their being a continuation to the story...Which I really hope there will be!

Def check it out!

- A

REVIEW: Backstrokes by Dylan Madrid!!

"After almost being expelled from a prestigious Chicago music conservatory for a prank gone wrong, twenty-two-year-old pianist Crawford Paul returns home to Northern California for what he predicts will be another boring summer. Concerned his scholarship is now at risk, Crawford accepts the only job he can find: accompanying a glamorous seven-year-old named Isabella to a community swimming pool for lessons. There, Crawford is befriended by a nanny named Nina, an aspiring fashion designer who finds it difficult to hide her disdain for children.

When Crawford meets Armando Leon, a lifeguard and Isabella's swimming instructor, he accepts Armando's offer to help him overcome his fear of water by way of private swimming lessons. As friendship turns into a summer affair, their lust for one another turns to love. When Crawford receives a chance of a lifetime audition, he is torn between returning to Chicago or staying in California to start a new life with Armando. As the end of the summer inches closer, Crawford and Armando fear they will be separated forever."

Backstrokes by Dylan Madrid was a nice short novel about a man named Crawford who is trying to find out who he is, who he wants to be and what he wants to do with his life.

The writing was pretty simple, but still very nice with lovely prose. It was descriptive and very atmospheric, if not a bit too slow at times because of the 'mood' of the setting.

Crawford was a solemn character who begins to find out more about himself when he meets Armando and the two, fairly quickly, fall in love. They fall in love after one date and a couple of mention moments of meeting up -  I did not believe it, but I accepted it.

The book focuses more on music, so the title is a bit odd, but that's okay.

Overall, Backstrokes was a good, quick, & simple read !

-A

REVIEW: Caught in the Crossfire by Juliann Rich!!

"Two boys at Bible camp; one forbidden love.

That is the dilemma sixteen-year-old Jonathan Cooper faces when he goes away to Spirit Lake Bible Camp, an oasis for teen believers situated along Minnesota's rugged north shore. He is expecting a summer of mosquito bites, bonfires with S'mores, and photography classes with Simon, his favorite counselor, who always helps Jonathan see his life in perfect focus.

What he isn't expecting is Ian McGuire, a new camper who openly argues against phrases like pray the gay away. Ian is certain of many things, including what could happen between them if only Jonathan could surrender to his feelings. Jonathan, however, tosses in a storm of indecision between his belief in God and his inability to stay away from Ian. When a real storm hits and Ian is lost in it, Jonathan is forced to make a public decision that changes his life."

Caught in the Crossfire by Juliann Rich is a cute story about a boy named Jonathan who struggles with his love for is fellow camper Ian and his Christian faith. The book is very short and moves along quickly, sometimes too quickly, but Rich is entirely capable of creating characters with personalities that are 3 dimensional and thankfully real.

I thought that the romance between Jonathan and Ian was sweet, albeit quick and I really appreciated Jonathan's turmoil over being a Christian, while having not only romantic feelings for another boy, but sexual ones as well. Rich doesn't just label him Christian and be done with it, the character is completely Christian and prays and has faith and is in love with his religion and is very hot and cold with Ian because of itwhich causes quite a bit of conflict.

Ian was also interesting and has a complex background which bonds the two boys.

The writing is great and Rich does provide some great details, but at times, because the book is under 200 pages, the story felt rushed and jumpy, but it didn't deter me from enjoying it.

It is a great summer read!

- A

REVIEW: Anything For A Dollar by Todd Gregory!!

"What would you do to make a buck?

They are the objects of desire—dancing on the bar or on boxes at circuit parties, performing for either the video camera or their own webcams, or coming to you for a night of passion at a price.

But they aren’t gods. They are men with needs and desires of their own, fantasy men with fantasies of their own. Some of today’s top writers of gay erotica take on the notion of using your body to make a living—and the result is a collection of erotica so steamy it might burn your hands.

Handle with care!"

While I'm not necessarily into books about people selling themselves for money, not because I'm a prude, but because those books tend to be just a way for the author to write about people having sex, often violent and the story be damned, "Anything For A Dollar" manages to avoid this!

There were a couple of a odd stories that I did not like because they didn't feel authentic and I did not connect with the characters, but for 90% of the book, I really enjoyed everything!

The men in this book are people who are in need to for security and they are willing to have sex or fulfill fetishes for this cash, while struggling with their own inner turmoil that have nothing to do with their need for money. This fact most definitely helped make the characters both more complex and more likeable, because while yes, they often had sex with random guys because they liked the sex, they were also trying to "fix" something within themselves and that's what makes for a good read. The anthology and nearly every story had an actual plot, if not, a message of trust, identity, relationship, pain/pleasure and love.

The stories while having actual plots can get graphic and aggressive and strange, but it is to be expected. If this is not your thing, don't read.

I read the book in about three hours, so buy it and spend a rainy afternoon with it! Its worth the read!

-A

REVIEW: Light by 'Nathan Burgoine!!

"Kieran Quinn is a bit telepathic, a little psychokinetic, and very gay—three things that have gotten him through life perfectly well so far—but when self-styled prophet Wyatt Jackson arrives during Pride Week, things take a violent turn.

Kieran’s powers are somewhat underwhelming but do have a habit of refracting light into spectacular rainbows for him to hide behind. Even so, it’s not long before Kieran is struggling to maintain his own anonymity while battling wits with a handsome cop, getting some flirting in with a hunky leather man, saving some drag queens, and escaping the worst blind date in history. It’s enough to make a fledgling hero want to give up before he even begins.

One thing’s for sure: saving the day has never been so fabulous."

I loved this book!

Action packed, dangerous, sexy, funny and dramatic!

Kieran was a witty and realistic character whose ability to refract light might seem silly to the max, but because of Burgoines' writing skill, it made for not only a pretty rad power, but a terrific usage in the story, and a lot of funny moments!

Wyatt Jackson was creepy as hell! I mean, seriously. I loved this aspect of the book and its clear allusion to Westboro Baptist. The surprise involving Stigmatic Jack, while I did see coming, was still, pretty awesome!

I loved Kierans' relationship with Karen and Miracle Woman and his brother and found them all to be sweet and believable. I liked that they all had their own type of humor too.

Sebastian was a good love interest and totally hot, but I did not like him completely. He was bit too strange.. There was a crazy dire and dangerous moment involving ropes and a van and Sebastian was horny which completely bugged me! He was at times too possessive and aggressive, but I guess(??) that's what Kieran likes/liked... Personally, I was hoping for something with the cop. He was cute and sweet and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Maybe in the next book...

... Cus honestly, I can see this becoming a series in lieu of Sookie Stackhouse, which is what Light somewhat reminded me of. And if Sookie can have sex with everyone, why cant Kieran too!!! ;~)))

Highly Recommend!
-A

REVIEW: Strange Angels by Andrea Speed!!

"Death is the family business, and Brendan Connolly is about to come into his legacy. Nobody warned Bren that Dad was a death god, or that someday he’d inherit his powers. So far, falling in love with the angel sent to protect him has been the only good thing to come out of this whole mess.
Bren’s guardian angel, Lorygdarain, knows the aura of a ticking supernatural time bomb when he sees one. Add to that the angel’s first taste of the human emotion called love, and protecting Bren from the god who killed his father could be Dar’s hardest job in an eon.

Snakes, amnesia, and a mysterious god named Bob might not be much of a rescue plan, but one guardian angel can only do so much. With a veritable pantheon on his heels, and the universe hanging in the balance, Bren must learn to lock and load the most dangerous weapon of all: himself."


Unfortunately I did not love this book, though I did like it! Strange Angels by Andrea Speed was strange, but not in the best way, but again, it was good. Bren and Dar are assumingly in love, but I never really felt that or bought it. They had no chemistry and no real romantic scenes together, which I was put off by. I wanted a lot more romance between Bren and his god, but it did not happen. The book mainly focused on Bren going to different worlds on the run as they try to get rid of a bunch of crazed gods who want Bren dead. The book is about this and Bren learning to get abilities under control.

The book has loads of action which was awesome and some interesting and strange characters and good humor, but the book felt more like two friends who liked each other but where too afraid to admit rather than an actual couple and that was frustrating! I wanted more angst to go with the action, but no.. hopefully a sequel will provide this!

I do say, however, you should check it out! Its fun!

-A

REVIEW: In Such Dark Places by Jospeh Caldwell!!

"When a photographer witnesses a violent crime in New York’s Lower East Side, he hunts down the missing camera that may hold answers

Eugene is a midwesterner living in New York, an erstwhile Catholic and not-quite-openly-gay photographer. When a Holy Week pageant in the gritty Lower East Side erupts into a riot, he is sucked into the city’s shadowy depths. While photographing the parade, Eugene has his eye on a handsome teen, but when things turn violent the youth is stabbed and Eugene’s camera is stolen. To find the camera and its precious film, which may provide evidence, Eugene has to become acquainted with a seedy, unfamiliar world, and hold on to his sanity in the process. In Such Dark Places is a thrilling debut novel of awakening and obsession."

In Such Dark Places by Joseph Caldwell, we are introduced to Eugene who is pretty messed up, to be honest. He is gay and Catholic and pretty tortured, which makes for a compelling and at times a both frustrating character and read, but I greatly enjoyed this book for its frank honesty.

The writing is poignant and direct and clean and the prose is truly lovely and lively, despite the fact how moody and lonely Eugene is and therefore the story.

This book is about the near trenches of a depressed man and his near repressed "gay lifestyle" with no true happy ending .. or beginning or middle, just life. I loved it, but if you want something more
hopeful, this is not for you!

--V

REVIEW: The Charioteer by Mary Renault!!

"Mary Renault’s landmark novel about a wounded soldier who returns from the front and must choose between relationships with two very different men

After being wounded at Dunkirk in World War II, Laurie Odell is sent back home to a rural British hospital. Standing out among the orderlies is Andrew, a bright conscientious objector raised as a Quaker. The unspoken romance between the two men is tested when Ralph, a friend of Laurie’s from school, re-enters his life, introducing him into a milieu of jaded, experienced gay men. Will Laurie reconcile himself to Ralph’s embrace, or can he offer Andrew the idealized, Platonic intimacy he yearns for?

This novel has been called one of the foundation stones of gay literary fiction, ranking alongside James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Gore Vidal’s The City and the Pillar. Celebrated for its literary brilliance and sincere depiction of complex human emotions, The Charioteer is a stirring and beautifully rendered portrayal of love."

 

The Charioteer is a dreamy, beautiful novel that says so much when it doesn’t say anything. The queer factor of the book is obvious and evident and of course, prominent, but the issue of being ‘gay’ and being labeled as such not only during the time period in which the novel is set, but the time in which Renault’s novel is published, has to be addressed by other means and other words in order for the characters to thrive and the novel to see the light of publication. Renault’s craftsmanship of writing allows her to effortlessly do this in a way that brings the story to a richer and more lavish arena. Some things may go over a readers head, but if you allow yourself to reread or to perhaps read slower and with more care, you will see the artistry in Renaults words choices and characters actions, and plot and prose and everything! Truly, a splendid novel! Romance, society, pressure, the human psyche, homosexuality, sexuality, war, right and wrong and so much more are explored and beautified and creates a wonderful, wonderfully sad and beautiful novel!

Purchase HERE!!

-A

REVIEW: As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann!!

"In the seventeenth century, the English Revolution is under way. The nation, seething with religious and political discontent, has erupted into violence and terror. Jacob Cullen and his fellow soldiers dream of rebuilding their lives when the fighting is over. But the shattering events of war will overtake them.

A darkly erotic tale of passion and obsession, As Meat Loves Salt is a gripping portrait of England beset by war. It is also a moving portrait of a man on the brink of madness.

Hailed as a masterpiece, this is a first novel by a most original new voice in fiction."

(Old Read)

One of the most thrilling, mesmerizing and beautiful stories I have read. The build up to Ferris & Jacob's affair was captivating and addictive and the pain, love and wickedness these two partake in was deepily saddening.

 It is not a story about love torn apart by society, but rather one about love beaten dead into the ground by one's own madness and inner demons. I wanted them to have love despite EVERYTHING and in the end, I was fullfilled as a reader, but not in the way I wanted... the lush writing is the guilty party on that front. If you are thinking about reading this book, then you must, you really must. You will not regret it. When its beautiful, its heartwarming, when its loving, you fall in love and when its scary & sad, you just might shed more then a tear - you will scream at the characters and find yourself of the same mind.

Easily, one of my favorite books of all time.

This book is phenomenal.

BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT Now!!

--Atlas

REVIEW: The Adorned by John Tristan!!

"My name is Etan, and I am Adorned.

A living piece of art, I exist to please the divine rulers of Kered. With nowhere to turn after my father died, I tried my luck in the capital city. Little did I know how quickly I would be robbed, beaten and forced to sell myself into servitude. But I was lucky enough to gain the attention of Roberd Tallisk, an irascible but intriguing tattoo artist who offered to mark me with enchanted ink for the enjoyment of the nobles. I was given a chance to better my station in life, and I could not refuse.

But the divine rulers want not only the art but the body that bears it. In their company I can rise above the dregs of society and experience a life most only dream of, at the cost of suffering their every desire as a pawn in games of lavish intrigue. Their attention is flattering, but I find I'd rather have Tallisk's.

Caught between factions, I learn that a revolution is brewing, one that could ruin Kered—and Roberd and myself along with it…"

What a wonderful surprise!

The Adorned by John Tristan was a completely thought out and realized novel with a rich and lush world, with brilliant writing and characters.

The world that John Tristan has created is realistic and is rich in characters and by the skill of the authors writing. The imagery of the tattoos and the creation process is precise but not too detailed as to make it clinical. There is an "awe" aspect to the whole thing, to how the Adorned are well, adorned, in their beautiful tats to become literal moving artwork. The world has gods but even though the fanatical exist nothing ever felt forced or out of place, it made sense and was frankly just plain awesome.

I really enjoyed what Tristan was able to do in regards to making the Adorned revered objects but sexual ones as well. There was a nice balance to it, tho at times the sexual expectations were a little off putting - not story or writing wise but because of the fact that there were characters who thought they could have whatever they wanted just because they could afford it in one way or another. Etan was a pretty great narrator; he was naive/inexperienced (though often way too submissive, he said "thank you" waaaay too often for my taste, in moments that made him seem like a little lost doe...)enough that so as he learned stuff about his world, it was a great mechanism for the reader to learn as well.

The buildup to Etan and Roberds relationship was slow but so worth it! I really liked Roberd and loved reading about his reluctance to give Etan up to clients as he was trying deny his feelings for him. So good. The side characters are just as great and have their own reasonings and motives and personalities which is always a major bonus.

I really liked this book and cannot wait for more in the series and more from the author! What an ingenious world Tristan has created.

Purchase THE ADORNED Now!!

- Atlas

REVIEW: Agamemnon Frost and the House of Death by Kim Knox!

"Book one of Agamemnon Frost

Liverpool, 1891

Decorated artilleryman Edgar Mason was forced to find new work when the British Empire replaced its foot soldiers with monstrous machines. Now he waits on the Liverpool elite as a personal servant. He has just one rule: he won't work for fashion-addled dandies.
Agamemnon Frost, however, is far from the foppish man-about-town he appears to be. He's working to protect the Earth from an alien invasion being planned by a face-changing creature known as Pandarus. And on the night he plans to confront the aliens, he enlists Mason to assist him.

For a man to love a man is a serious crime in Victorian England. But when Mason meets Frost, his heart thunders and his blood catches fire. And when Pandarus drags the two men into the torture cellars beneath his house of death to brainwash them, Mason's new passion may be all that stands between him and insanity.

The trilogy continues with Agamemnon Frost and the Hollow Ships."

I loved it!

While I wanted more, the promise of the sequels made up for any and all disappointments concerning the books length and lack of romantic storyline. Don't get me wrong, there was LOTS of romance, with LOTS of shockingly great character and world development, but the book was too short for me. I like to commit to long-ish novels, so novellas really aren't my thing, but Knox is so talented that the book's length was not a problem at the end of the day.

Mason and Frost are cute and endearing and sorta perfect for each other even though they just met. It's like the instachemistry that Sherlock and Watson have in BBC's SHERLOCK with Benedict Cumberbitch--er, Cumberbatch, and where the romantic undertones are only playful jabs in SHERLOCK, in Agamemnon Frost and the House of Death, there are no playful suggestions, just full on hot chemistry and wild on the wind romance - but no the cheesy kind.

There are aliens, but it makes so much sense! It is not silly or dumb, but just the perfect amount of camp! This world is extremely real and wonderful.

While the book does have romance and sexual m/m situations, the sextimes are not story fillers, but are rather simply organic and very - - fun...

The action is intense, the aliens are crazy and complex, the characters, even the brief side characters, are 3-D and brilliant.

Buy, read and love!!

This book is a win!

Cannot wait for the sequel.

Buy It Here!

-- Atlas