S.A. McAuleyReviews
Author of One Breath, One Bullet
Reviews
Nevertheless, the last chapters were so good that increased my enjoyment and interest in how the series follows, to the point that I immediately started [b:Dominant Predator|17402451|Dominant Predator (The Borders War, #2)|S.A. McAuley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1377006327s/17402451.jpg|24237319].
The first half of the book was a bit boring for me. I didn’t feel the spark between Evin and Finn, until that guitar session in the pub, and that was way in the middle of the book. Ritchie is an interesting man, I actually would’ve been happier if the three of them end up together. Miah is a fucking dick and I hate him. He’s a typical front man, bitching about everything, and doesn’t see, that everything is falling apart because of him. I don’t even know how they were even friends.
So all in all, I don’t really know what my problem was (besides Miah, but every story needs a villain).
My interest in this book started when I read the blurb and discovered the unusual setting. The idea of Erik losing his entire life, including his lover, only to discover years later than Kerry is still alive had me deciding I would read it despite the slight fear it would be utterly depressing. And boy, did the author hold me in suspense. The events dragged me along, the characters fascinated and infuriated me in equal measure, and the tension was almost unbearable in places. So much so that I was tempted to skip ahead and read the ending first. I hate myself when I do that, but let me tell you, with this book it was a close call!
If you like tension-filled stories with lots of angst and drama, if you want to experience what it's like to have your heart ripped out then put back together again, and if you think you're up to following these characters into hell and back, then you will probably like this book as much as I did. What a ride!
NOTE: This book was provided by Silver Publishing for the purpose of a review.
In a somewhat amusing confrontation of “man against machine”, this story focuses on Galen, a Marine known for his ability to detect drones, and Zach, a man determined to design a drone offense system that can beat any human. Galen is pretty sure about his abilities on a professional level, not to say arrogant and slightly cocky. On the other hand, he is totally insecure about his skill for attracting the kind of man he is interested in. Zach isn’t exactly a man magnet either, or so he thinks, and I found the resulting “dance” between two men who are normally awkward and somewhat nerdy very entertaining. Their antics, be they chats or interactions in real life, went from cute to hot, and their developing relationship gave me hope for more.
If you like military men and those who work with them, if you enjoy stories about men who are set to oppose each other professionally, but fall for each other on a personal level, and if you’re looking for an entertaining and very hot read, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
The story settings range from the frontlines, be they a storm at sea or a desert full of hostiles, to the home front, where some men go through heavy adjustments when returning to civilian life. They cover the kinds of issues military men face, including having to deal with loss, PTSD, and leaving loved ones behind for long periods of painful separation. Above all, they show the kind of courage and determination needed to become a member of the very elite of the military: Marines, members of the Coast Guard, or Naval officers. All of the men in this anthology love deeply, and are ready to fight for that love. So, if you are so inclined, sit back and enjoy what the authors have come up with for you.
Anomaly by S.A. McAuley
In a somewhat amusing confrontation of “man against machine”, this story focuses on Galen, a Marine known for his ability to detect drones, and Zach, a man determined to design a drone offense system that can beat any human. Galen is pretty sure about his abilities on a professional level, but he is equally insecure about his skill for attracting the kind of man he is interested in. Zach isn’t exactly a man magnet either, or so he thinks, and I found the resulting “dance” between two men who are normally awkward and somewhat nerdy very entertaining. Their antics, be they chats or interactions in real life, went from cute to hot, and the developing relationship gave me hope for more.
Always Ready by T.A. Chase
Suspense on the high seas is the focus of this story, and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dean is out to save lives while exploring the possibilities of sharing his life with the man he has fallen in love with. Phil is a fisherman, and makes a living braving the Bering Sea on the family boat. The descriptions of icy waters, people potentially freezing to death almost before they can drown, and the desperate determination of the Coast Guard to save them before it is too late, held my attention. Dean’s reaction to the news of Phil’s ship having capsized was a little too professional and distant for me, but it is entirely possible Dean was just trying to protect himself. Don’t read this unless you’re snug and warm and far from any ocean!
A Ring and a Vow by Devon Rhodes
In this wonderful sequel to ‘A Ring and a Promise’, Marine officer Owen and Naval aviator Cary are back. This time, they intend to bridge the gap between the two arms of the service on a more permanent basis, and I loved watching them go through the necessary steps until they got to the “I do” that has been eluding them for years. Neither Cary’s nightmares nor time restraints imposed by uncertainty about the next posting can stop them from forging the future they have both been waiting for. This is a sweet story without major drama, well, unless you count wedding preparations and dealing with flower arrangements and relatives. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Owen and Cary were doing!
My Marine by L.E. Franks and Sara York
Marine Sean Kelly works in intelligence, so falling for an Afghani translator isn’t exactly something he planned for, nor does he want to succumb to Akim’s charms. Unfortunately he can’t help himself, and even the resulting mental anguish is pretty theoretical in the face of Akim’s attributes. And then the enigmatic man vanishes without a trace, and Sean is left wondering what is going on. It turns out Akim has a well-kept secret, and it leaves both Sean and him needing to deal with some pretty basic “can I trust him” considerations. While this isn’t an intense and emotional thriller, I found it to be a pretty tension-filled short story.
Soul Sick by Kendall McKenna
Marine officer Jamie may have made it back to his lover Tucker in one piece, with only a few physical scars to show for his year-long deployment, but his mental state is a different story. I didn’t understand his reactions at first, but once I realized what was going on, the things he did were as fascinating as they were scary. Nobody who has never been through the kind of hell Jamie had to endure while fighting the Taliban will be able to fully understand what it’s like, but this story gives an excellent, if painful, description of some of the consequences. A lot of the more factual information about PTSD and some important details are missing due to how short this story is, but if you’re looking for an emotional sketch, a somewhat shocking description of some of the consequences of warfare, give this read a go. It isn’t easy reading, but I found it well worth the effort, and one of the best in this collection.
Safe Shores by Morticia Knight
This is a great story about two men who have never really emotionally opened up to each other even though they’ve been together for three years. Partly this is due to the small town Kirk lives in, has always lived in, as a fisherman, it isn’t exactly gay-friendly. But not everyone is a homophobe either, so Kirk is beginning to think about telling Coast Guard officer Shane how he feels about him. Interestingly, Shane is in the same place, and the result is explosive. In a sense the increased intimacy prepares them to better deal with the catastrophe of Kirk’s teenage son getting lost at sea in the midst of an awful storm. Shane is the only qualified rescue swimmer around, and he is determined to save the kid’s life. Emotionally explosive and very hot, these two men will never be the same after going through their fears together. And what a perfect ending!
NOTE: This book was provided by Totally Bound Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
This anthology is really special for many reasons. Different from many others, it has a purpose that has touched many people’s hearts. Authors Eric Arvin and TJ Klune, both of whom write for Dreamspinner Press, have been through the hell of Eric’s medical condition and its consequences over the past few months, and the sale of this book is intended to help them cope. S.A. McAuley, one of the “crack crew” of friends who came to Eric and TJ’s assistance in the early days and have been there for them throughout, gives some of the background in her well written foreword. I cannot say it better than she does, so please, read her words. They come from the heart and moved me deeply.
The reason this anthology was published is to raise money for Eric and TJ as they work to adjust to a new situation. All royalties and proceeds will go to them, and we, the team that reviewed the book, hope that this review will help you make up your mind to buy a copy. Not just because it will support these two men who are so clearly in love, but because the stories contained within its pages are amazing. All of us who have contributed to the review have struggled to keep our comments short and to the point, but each and every piece deserves your attention. Some are funny, some are deeply emotional, but all of them have a common theme: love is a “grand adventure” likely to lead you to unexpected places, always with the hope for a better future – because it is shared.
So, dive into these reviews, hopefully followed by you buying the book (if you haven’t already) and reading the stories themselves. They are totally worth it.
Let’s go!
Prologue by Brandon Witt
A beautiful introduction to the “worlds” created by the authors donating their stories for this anthology, the prologue gives a unique framework for the varied contributions. I loved the idea of a gardener or caretaker who helps the worlds grow and prosper, weeding out the ones that don’t work, and making room for the ones that will. Like a fairy tale, or a fantasy set in a faraway universe, this short tale took me into a different realm with its almost poetic language, and set the tone for the entire anthology. Well done, Brandon!
An Unexpected Thing by John Amory
Jamie and Ben in this opening story are on a trip, trying to make their way to Seattle by car after unexpectedly landing at a different airport. Jamie is trying to read the map, without much success since he isn’t very familiar with the paper version, and Ben is driving. Without some sort of electronic device to tell them the way, they are completely lost. When they finally resort to asking for directions at a diner it turns out they weren’t as lost as they thought.
Just like some relationships, including theirs, the unexpected can happen but it doesn’t always have to be bad. The two men may be slightly bewildered by their exile “in the wilderness”, but they don’t really mind that much because they are together. And, after all, that’s the only really important thing.
The Twinkie Ignition by J.E. Birk
Benjy is a man afraid of his own birthday party. Huh? The things he does to prepare himself for it and the situations he ends up in may be hilarious, but the reason why he is so upset and panics is really sad. Luckily, his boyfriend Kyle is there to support him, help him deal with his fear, and ultimately makes him see there is nothing they cannot deal with as long as they do it together.
I loved this story of quiet support, the deeply felt emotions of both men, and the way Benjy manages to overcome his fear. A great illustration of how love can make your life worthwhile, this one is likely to make you laugh as much as cry. Simply wonderful!
Simple Desires by Tempeste O’Riley
Even though James, an artist, and Seth, a businessman and his lover/Dom, are characters from ‘Designs of Desire’, this short story stands really well on its own. It is a snapshot of their lives together now that James is a full-time artist, and makes very clear how much they love each other. The heat between these men jumps off the pages, and any excuse to become physical is eagerly taken advantage of.
I loved how the somewhat “revealing” nature of James’s work makes him doubt the priest in the audience will appreciate his style. But the priest is very much in love with his own man, and definitely approves of “love in all its forms”. If you’re looking for a short, hot story about a successful artist and his lovingly dominant boyfriend/partner, this read is right up your alley.
What You Will by Tinnean
Kipp and Hyde are characters from ‘Two Lips, Indifferent Red’, and they are a wonderful example of “older, extremely rich man” falling in love with a much younger guy. As tumultuous as their initial meeting and courtship was, in this short story the focus is on them adopting a baby now that they have settled into a loving relationship. Marriage truly becomes these men, and watching the lifestyle of the rich and famous was a lot of fun.
If you like billionaires and the way they live, and if you want to now what Kipp and Hyde are up to, then you will probably enjoy this short glimpse into their post-wedding life.
Mistaken MD by Phoenix Emrys
Have you ever wondered if a stethoscope can have magical abilities? Neither have I, not until I read this story. And no, the object that quickly becomes the centerpiece in this tale doesn’t really come with an ability to make amazing stuff happen, but it does serve as a very interesting conversation starter. One that Peter, the narrator of this story, sorely needs if he ever wants to get over the devastation the previous owner of this piece of medical equipment has left behind in Peter’s heart.
Within the space of an hour, as Peter sits on the bench near a dog park and gets peed on by not one, but two canines, I found out what is wrong with his life, why he is depressed, only to finally see hope appear on the horizon. What follows is a wonderful, funny, and very encouraging conversation that gives Peter hope for the future, and made me smile. If you’re looking for a fun story with a hopefully-happy ending, give this one a go.
Stalking 101 by Moria McCain
This story had me at the opening sentence: “REGINALD ISAAC Thornton the Third stalked his prey with all the grace of a turtle, or so it felt to him.” Humor: check. A mystery as to who or what is his prey: check. And finally, a man who may be a student but is probably used to getting what he wants, and is now clearly at a disadvantage: check. The way the story is set up is hilarious, and the hunting imagery had me laughing throughout. All the guy really wants is to talk to the object of his admiration/lust/obsession, but he sure doesn’t make it easy for himself. Plan after plan doesn’t work, embarrasses him, or gets commented on by his twin sister, but there is one certainty: Reginald will not give up his quest for the hunky construction worker who has caught his attention.
I loved this story! It is short, funny, and the two men are really hot together once they manage to connect. But the best part is the ending – it had me in stitches!
Last First Kiss by LE Franks
Short, intense, and emotionally draining, this is the story of three men who grow up together only to be torn apart by circumstances and the lack of talking about what’s really important to them. Jeremiah, or J as he prefers to be called, tells the story, and it was fascinating to read about his inner turmoil, pain, and final realization that there is only one thing that’s really important: love. The language is incredibly descriptive, and the author paints a picture with her words that had me moved to tears.
J may be the one who ran away, who calls himself a coward, but it is clear that all three men had issues. Danny’s suicide brings J back to his hometown years after he left, and his emotions are allover the place. Chief among them are anger about Danny leaving them, regret that he didn’t do more to be closer to his best friend, and devastation about Henry, the third man in this triangle of friendship and love. It made me sad to watch J and Henry struggle to get at the truth, but incredibly relieved they managed to carve out a new reality for themselves once all was said and done.
Please find the full review at Rainbow Book Reviews.
My interest in this book started when I read the blurb and discovered the unusual setting. The idea of Erik losing his entire life, including his lover, only to discover years later than Kerry is still alive had me deciding I would read it despite the slight fear it would be utterly depressing. And boy, did the author hold me in suspense. The events dragged me along, the characters fascinated and infuriated me in equal measure, and the tension was almost unbearable in places. So much so that I was tempted to skip ahead and read the ending first. I hate myself when I do that, but let me tell you, with this book it was a close call!
If you like tension-filled stories with lots of angst and drama, if you want to experience what it's like to have your heart ripped out then put back together again, and if you think you're up to following these characters into hell and back, then you will probably like this book as much as I did. What a ride!
Merq has gone from a cold-blooded soldier with only one mission in mind to a man who cares about others, Armise at the top of his list. Merq would probably say it has made him vulnerable; I would say he is right (especially in the chaotic world of shifting alliances he lives in), but I’d also say it has made him grow and become stronger in many ways. Continuing revelations about his and Armise’s past, their enemies’ plans, and what might come next kept me glued to the pages. Armise and Merq’s struggle is not just about completing their mission in this book. Yes, saving the children who have been genetically modified into soldiers is important, and they do partially succeed. But there are so many more obstacles than they had imagined, and one of them turns out to be their own potential unreliability.
What happens next is worse than anything the author has put them (and me) through before and leads to THE WORST cliffhanger ever. Seriously, if you haven’t got the final volume in your hands before reading this one, you are better off waiting. This ending is not an ending – it is “reader torture” of the most ingenious and cruel kind. Well done, S.A!
If you think you can stomach the war atrocities, extreme violence, and psychological abuse so prevalent in this series, this book (and the cliffhanger at its end) might still be too much. If you're curious to find out what S.A. McAuley puts Merq and Armise through this time, get ready for one heck of an amazing story. And if you're wondering about the power of shifting alliances and psychological manipulation, this is the right series for you. This fourth installment is more shocking than the previous books but continues to make the point that humankind is capable of inflicting horrors on people that I’d rather not think about. If you made it through the first three books, you’ll want to read this one. If you haven’t started the series yet—go back and start at the beginning. ‘The Borders War’ series with its scary vision of the future is unusually cruel and realistic because so much of its horrors, while hopefully far in our future, seem entirely possible.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Merq is a soldier to the core. He's strong, an excellent sniper, a tough fighter, almost immune to levels of pain that would kill a normal person, and with bare traces of a conscience. For him following orders is as natural as breathing, maybe more. It isn’t really clear whose orders he's following throughout most of the book, at least it wasn't clear to me. In a world of double identities, spies, and counter intelligence, half the fun of reading a story is trying to figure out who is on whose side. Merq doesn’t have any of those issues, and while he is loyal to his superiors, he also falls for an enemy soldier and doesn't seem to be able to stop his attraction. Needless to say, there are a few major confrontations over the seventeen years this story spans.
Armise is an enigma. He is the object of Merq's lust and attraction, but Merq doesn’t really know a lot about him. While Armise is one of the enemy's snipers, he doesn’t seem to be as determined to kill Merq as I would have expected. He lets several opportunities to end Merq's life pass, and while Merq believes that he stopped Armise, I wasn't so sure. In the end, all becomes clear, but the suspense is masterfully developed and maintained up to the last pages of this book.
Loyalties are fierce, yet from my point of view it was very tough to decide who was "right", or morally better. Since Merq tells the story, I automatically wanted to side with him, and that would have some merit. The problem is that the exact stances and objectives of any of the five countries that are left, including Merq's, are so foreign, I had no benchmark against which to really decide. And maybe that is the whole point of this series? Once everyone is at war with everyone else, out to kill and destroy, maybe none of them are morally okay any longer?
Now that this book has been rereleased, I found it even more enjoyable and fascinating than the original edition I read years ago. The elimination of all the flashbacks alone contributed hugely to my enjoyment. So did the additional scenes, and the glossary and additional information in the back helped me keep track of “who is who” in this scary future version of Earth. Despite all these clarifications, the sense of mystery, impending doom, and curiosity have not been eliminated at all. All they have done is remove some unnecessary lack of clarity with the effect that I liked this novel even more this second time around.
If you don’t like books about war and violence, stay away from this one. If you're curious to find out what might happen if we decide we need to go back to fighting for dominance with weapons, rather than wielding economic supremacy or diplomacy, this is an interesting look at how that might potentially go. This story is gritty, powerful, and will grab your attention and not let go once you start reading. And even though I have read this series before, I can’t wait to see what changes and additions the author has made to the next volume!
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Merq is still a soldier, but the sudden absence of a clear mission in the aftermath of his successfully assassinating the leader of the Opposition is hard on him. He knows following orders is easy, and he has no problem with any of them. But he discovers that it matters a great deal to him who gives them to him. Blind obedience is no longer an option. Merq now has a loyalty he never had to deal with before - Armise. He doesn’t admit it, but it affects his actions. The fact that Armise openly admits he wants to stay with Merq only makes it more difficult for Merq to deny that he does have feelings for the man. His "solution" is to word it slightly differently, making their relationship about trust. Which is as true as anything else, I guess, since the political maneuvering only intensifies, and the question of how to win this war is as dependent on military power as it is on Merq and Armise's new mission: kill all members of the Opposition council.
Armise remains as interesting a conundrum as he was in the first book. And since Merq tells the story, I have no idea what goes on in Armise's head. Interestingly, his external loyalty, for the time being, is clearly with Merq. Armise has switched sides in the war, and supports what Merq does, working with him to fulfill their assassination mission. But additional information about his past emerges, and it makes it much less clear who he really is. Genetic modification will mess with anyone's self-image, as well as, potentially, with their fundamental loyalties. I had no doubts that he will do anything to protect Merq, but as for the bigger picture and how he fits in? That remains to be seen.
As in the first book, loyalties are fierce, and the battle lines clearly drawn. The five remaining powers on Earth in this version of the 26th century are still somewhat difficult to comprehend - having been involved in 300 years of war, unsurprisingly, has changed everyone. I think this is fascinating, and puts me right in the same spot as Merq: the instinctive tendency is to side with the party he is fighting for, the Revolution, but there are too many questions about their methods for me to be completely certain I want them to win. So, I ended up with Armise: I am siding with Merq as a man, and can’t wait to see what else he learns as he begins to question the stories he has always been told by the political leaders of "his side".
If you don’t like books about war, extreme violence, and torture stay away from this one. If you're curious to find out what might happen to humanity in a future where fighting for dominance with weapons has become a reality again, this series is an increasingly fascinating look at what might happen. If you're wondering about the power of propaganda and how someone who grew up believing what he was told might begin to question the truth of it all, this is the right series for you. This second story is moving, brutally honest, and very powerful. I suspect it will grab your attention and not let go once you start reading – it certainly held me in its grip from beginning to end!
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Merq has already changed and grown from the cold-blooded soldier focused only on following orders to a man who cares about others. He is now a man who has ideals and will think about what he does in light of his objectives before he acts. But he has a lot more learning to do in terms of his relationship with Armise, and his ability to love the man he has been with, in a sense, for fifteen years. In ‘Strength of the Rising Son’ Merq faces who he is, finds out what he was meant to do, and has to deal with the consequences of what others have planned for him. And central to every decision he has to make is the question of how important Armise is to him, and exactly what Merq is ready to sacrifice to be with him.
The entire Borders War, the search for the infochip, the question of what the genetic modifications are about – all of it unravels in this final volume of Merq and Armise’s story. Because as much as world politics, historical events, and morality are key themes in this series, at the end, what it boils down to is Merq’s and Armise’s roles in the ending of the three-hundred-year war. But that is just on the surface. Deep down, this series is their story. And that is why the ending is perfect. It may be slightly flawed, if only in one tiny aspect, but what did I expect? The world of the Borders War is brutal, and Merq and Armise are its children.
If you have made it all the way to this final installment of S.A. McAuley’s incredibly detailed and very scary vision of the future, you can now take a deep breath. I certainly did, but I suspect it will take me quite a while to deal with the emotional effects of these books. I’ll have to read them all again, this time knowing the outcome because I think they will be even more astounding with that understanding, But not for a while. I may not need therapy after this, but I came close!
If you’re ready for an emotional roller coaster of epic proportions, and if you think you’re up to the challenge of dealing with the war atrocities, extreme violence, and psychological abuse so prevalent in this series, give these books a go. ‘The Borders War’ with its scarily accurate vision of one possible future for humankind is one of the best science fiction series I have ever read.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Merq has suffered before, but this time he is really put through the wringer. In fact, he is ground down so far, both physically and emotionally, it looks pretty bleak for him for quite a while. I had my doubts he’d ever be able to make it back from the depths of his suffering, and was beginning to fear the worst. Where he was arrogantly sure of himself and his purpose in book one, and began to see the world around him in more realistic eyes in book two (helped by Armise), he never stopped being the perfect soldier, totally dedicated to his cause. In this third book he begins to doubt and question himself and that, for a “man who was built to be invincible”, as the blurb says, is a very dangerous thing. Soldiers are not supposed to think, yet he has no choice but to begin asking certain questions.
Different from the first two books, this one really focuses on Merq. Yes, Armise plays a role (and one that makes things much worse), but the other two men in Merq’s life are the ones who push him on and cause him to reevaluate everything. And when Merq’s fundamental loyalties are challenged, when his basic trust in Armise is crushed, he has nobody left but himself to figure out if life is even still worth living.
What a scary, horrible, surprising, and cruel world S.A. McAuley has created here. Outside forces and enemies are expected to be upsetting the balance, but when the internal stability and integrity of the Revolution is challenged, I held my breath in anticipation of the threatening revelations. And let me tell you, it is pretty horrific. The ending is slightly different than in the first edition, with a nice little teaser in Armise’s point of view to make me REALLY wonder what surprises book four is going to bring. Wow!
If you don’t like books about war atrocities, extreme violence, and psychological abuse, stay away from this series. If you're curious to find out what will happen on S.A. McAuley’s Earth of the 26th century, this third book in the series is a very well-designed, yet harsh look at Merq’s role in everything and his personal growth, hard-won though it may be. If you're wondering about the power of political machinations and the effects of psychological manipulation, this is the right series for you. This third story is shocking in its honesty, moving in its emotional intensity, and very powerfully makes the point that humankind is capable of inflicting horrors on people that I’d rather not think about. If you made it through the first two books, you’ll want to read this one. If you haven’t—go back and read them first. They may be painful to get through, but they will give you the necessary background as well as grab your attention and not let go.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Nick and Adam have not seen one another in just over 15 years. Neither one realizes that they have been living in the same town for the past three years. They are both raising daughters and trying to move forward with their lives, when their paths cross. But will they be able to be civil with one another after all this time has passed?
The fire that they once had for one another still burns and closer to the surface than they could have expected. When they take a chance to go out and learn more about where they each have been the past 15 years, Adam struggles with letting Nick back in. He still carries a lot of anger and hurt over how they left things all those years ago. Now his life revolves around raising his daughter and his art. He is an up and coming artist and has the world at his fingertips. But does he have a place in his heart and life to let Nick back in? Can he find it in himself to trust him again?
Nick never got over Adam, the one he let get away. After high school he was off to college and he cut ties with Adam. He never meant to leave things the way he did, but life has a funny way of throwing things our way. Now he is the VP for the local operating system of hospitals and lives a good life. He is raising his daughter and trying to move past his divorce. Finally realizing that he has to be true not just to himself, but to his now ex-wife. When a chance meeting with Adam brings all his old feelings right back to the surface, he has to try and make amends and win him back.
Filled with the love and support of their mothers, their very cute daughters and a crew of crazy friends who are more their family than anything, will Adam and Nick be able to say goodbye to the past and embrace a future together and build on what they once had? Or will they fizzle out before they even have a chance to start? Grab your copy today and find out. This is a cute, contemporary m/m read about second chances and learning to love yourself and to forgive those that mean the most to you. 3.75 stars
Anomaly by S.A. McAuley - 3 Hearts
Hmm...this was an interesting take on a Marine MM story. Is it romance? Not really. But there is room for more. It ends with a HFN-ish ending, a little abrupt BTW. Galen is a Marine who is used to find anomalies on the battlefield. He's better than drones, gaining the nickname, "Magneto". And guess what else he likes? Comics. He's a geek and it's cute. I'm not interested in drones but that didn't affect my rating. It's more about the rough progression through the short story. The ideas were cool though, basically this story was hooking up through Waze. That's right, the app. Galen sees a cute boy, who turns out to be a rocket scientist named Zach. The story started to open up once the Waze flirtation started. The breakout star? Secondary character, Linc! I'd read a romance starring him. He certainly livened up this story. There was a sexy cupcake infused handjob rolled into a one night stand (we only got the handjob on page). I liked that but it seemed a little weird on how those two got to that point. Something about it seemed too soon and I'm not sure if it was true to how the main characters were introduced. Could also be I didn't get a lasting enough impression of Zach or Galen.
The ideas though: possible Marine submission (wish we got to explore that), the geeky Dom(?), the two MC starting a relationship, LINC - the wisecracking ginger aspiring pop singer...those things would have been awesome.
Always Ready by T.A. Chase - 3.5 Hearts
Established couple alert! Ginger Silver Fox alert! Also, cool setting alert: Bering Sea, Alaska...someone's a Deadliest Catchfan, maybe? I dunno. What I do know is that a crab fisherman and Coast Guard diver finally come out as a couple officially after two years of being private and sneaking off once a month or when time permits in their busy schedules. This story had some things going for it: ginger, older lover who had a believable refractory period, a cute blond, younger lover who finally wants the world to know about him and his man, some decent sex (maybe 3 out of 5). But there were a couple of things that didn't work for me - the weird action twist, the way it all ended so neatly. All that was missing was a bow. Oh and there were editing issues.
And this butt hole descriptor: "rose-shaped hole". Now bear with me a minute...I've encountered a number of buttholes in my lifetime and I've yet to buck up on a rose shaped hole. The name isn't as bad as "palsied channel" *coughs Mexican Heat*coughs* but rose-shaped hole?
Here's a refresher for the anus:
As you see in this edible chocolate anus, these are for sale BTW (and you're welcome), there isn't a rose to be found anywhere. Maybe a ridged chip, wrinkles and tightly squeezed valley but not a rose for that anus bouquet.
So the story was semi memorable (pretty much have only rose shaped holes on my mind)...the characters were likable enough, not much depth. Established couples really ain't my gig. But I liked.
A Ring and a Vow by Devon Rhodes - 3.25 Hearts
Another established couple story except this is a follow up to a novella (which I did not read nor plan to because I already know how it pans out). It was very sweet. And it could be read as a standalone, I guess. It just felt like all the characters had a back story. A Navy soldier and a Marine finally get married in Virginia. There were military terms and happiness for finally being able to get married after 5 years of separation. There was a shower handy-j and honeymoon night special. And a saber arch, the guys walked down under their friends swords (no this isn't me being slick) at their wedding and it read like sugar flaked butter cream. Memorable, not really. And there wasn't a description on how the main characters looked (i.e. hair color, etc) which I guess means I should have read the first book. I kinda wished that was here in the story that probable first time readers would read. The author did their research with the terms and laws. It ends with syrupy epilogue where they have a cavity inducing HEA. Good for them.
My Marine by L.E. Franks and Sara York - 2 - 2.5 range (for math purposes: 2)
Oh dear.
A great idea - Marine subterfuge, spying, Afghani setting for steamy hooking up. But there were too many factors that ruined the experience. With a plot twist I saw coming a mile away, Marine intelligence (which I question) officer, Sean Kelley falls for Afghani interpreter after first glance. The start of the story was interesting, I thought this was finally going to be a hot one. But the instalove, over the top declarations and long quotes while sexing ruined this story for me. There was potential but everyone was too tolerant - the general helps them out so easily? Really? How about the main characters calling each other "beauty", "the other half to my soul", getting all alpha jealous after fucking once. It's a case of magic dick and jizz wizards but it was hot. I'll give it that. I tried to love this story but after the flamboyant male military nurse calling Kelley, "sweetie", flirting and he"sashayed" out of the hospital room...I couldn't take this story seriously. It'd probably would have worked if the pretty descriptions were toned down (these are Marines we're talking about, not civilians who forget to do their job because they're dickmatized), there wasn't such an ease from all the secondary characters and more length to develop an actual relationship. Shame really.
Soul Sick by Kendall McKenna - 3.75 Hearts (barely)
Cherry popper read for me. And this was one of the stronger stories in the anthology...but that's not saying much. I am still wearing a 'WTF just happened' face after finishing this. This was like reading a condensed novel in a short story. It kept the longer sex scenes, introduced interesting ideas and cut out the middle. Are there missing chapters somewhere? I feel like there are missing chapters hidden in an encrypted part of the eBook and I missed it. This could have been a home run - reunited lovers (yes, an established couple again but they were separated for a long period of time) Marine captain Jamie and his tattooed, ex-bad boy now brilliant drug counselor Tucker finally reunite to have long (and I mean long) sweaty sex in between Jamie's PTSD and domestic violence episodes. Jamie's PTSD was always turned up high, I know each survivor reacts differently but maybe if this story was longer, it wouldn't read so OTT at times.
And where were the scenes to see how Tucker handled all of this? And Tucker as a counselor, on one hand
To Keep a Smile – Valentina Heart
Tumbleweed – S.A. Meade
Underwater Secrets – Charlie Richards
Using Broken Wings to Fly – Eden Connor
The Vampire and the Bear – Deanna Wadsworth ★★★✩✩
The War at the End of the World – Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane
West, Haven – Jenna Jones
Where the Land Goes on Forever – S. A. McAuley
A Whispered Cry – Sammy Goode
With This Ring – Jeff Erno
The Wolf at My Door – Pia Veleno