Category Archives: Erotic

October 28, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: Sort of Dead by Rob Rosen

Title: Sort of Dead by Rob Rosen
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Supernatural (Ghosts, Physic), Gay, Erotic, Romance
Length: 198 pages/Word Count: 65,171
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

Nord wakes up to find himself sort of dead. Well, that is to say, he’s dead, alright — murdered, in fact — but not in heaven, at least not yet. In this limbo-like state, he meets Max and learns that everyone there is waiting for the final poof, hopefully to a better place. Only, with unfinished business back in the real world, like bringing his murderer to justice, Nord’s poof is nowhere in sight. So he and Max set out to find the killer and make things right again. Of course, that’s easier said than done when you’re nothing more than a couple of randy spirits.

With the help of Voltan, a diminutive mystic with a predilection for turbans, and Clark, a nerdy computer geek eager to shed his loner past, plus a ghost accountant Bruce, Bruce’s drag queen brother Eve O’Destruction, and Nord’s kick-ass mom, the newly enamored pair set out to hunt for the murderer, and are quick to discover how much they’d taken for granted when they were alive.

In this hysterically funny and often poignant mystery about fate and love and family, it ultimately takes dying for our heroes to have the times of their lives.

Review:

Sort of Dead by Rob Rosen is a madcap, ghostly mystery with romantic elements.

Nord wakes up to discover he was murdered and he is now in a heavenly holding room. With Max to guide him through this disconcerting and unexpected twist in an otherwise normal life, they decide to try to figure out who killed him and why. With assistance from a quirky yet lovable group, Nord and Max begin their hunt for a killer.

Nord, Max and their motley crew are wonderfully developed with plenty of um, interesting, eccentricities. The storyline is interesting with clever otherworldly abilities. The romance aspect is understated yet endearing. Fair warning-the romantic encounters are erotic. The search for Nord’s murderer yields vital clues but will their efforts uncover the motive and identity of the person responsible for his death?

Sort of Dead is a very entertaining mystery with a lively cast of eccentric characters. The storyline is fast-paced, amusing and heartwarming. Rob Rosen brings this zany mystery to a heartfelt, sigh-inducing romantic conclusion. Fans of the genre will enjoy this sometimes bittersweet but always engaging story!

Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, Gay, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Rob Rosen, Romance, Sort of Dead, Supernatural Elements

April 20, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Business of Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey

Title: The Business of Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Fiction
Length: 399 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

All is fair in love and lust in New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey’s tale of two brothers, four women, and the business of desire.

Unlike their younger brother, André, whose star as a comedian is rising, neither Dwayne nor Brick Duquesne is having luck with his career—and they’re unluckier still in love. Former child star Dwayne has just been fired from his latest acting role and barely has enough money to get by after paying child support to his spiteful former lover, while Brick struggles to return to his uninspiring white-collar job after suffering the dual blows of a health emergency and a nasty breakup with the woman he still loves.

Neither brother is looking to get entangled with a woman anytime soon, but love—and lust—has a way of twisting the best-laid plans. When Dwayne tries to reconnect with his teenage son, he finds himself fighting to separate his animosity from his attraction for his son’s mother, Frenchie. And Brick’s latest source of income—chauffeur and bodyguard to three smart, independent women temporarily working as escorts in order to get back on their feet—opens a world of possibility in both love and money. Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte know plenty of female johns who would pay top dollar for a few hours with a man like Brick… if he can let go of his past, embrace his unconventional new family, and allow strangers to become lovers.

Eric Jerome Dickey paints a powerful portrait of the family we have, the families we create, and every sexy moment in between.

Review:

The Business of Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey is an entertaining novel that is quite thought-provoking.

Brick Duquesne is still getting over the painful break-up with his girlfriend six months earlier. A lot has happened in his personal life and currently, he is on leave of absence from his job. Brick is friends with his neighbor Penny and he is currently chauffeuring her around town. He is also playing the role of protector for her while she is meeting with clients. He unexpectedly steps in to help her friends Christiana and Mocha Latte and the quartet form a surprisingly close friendship. With his ex popping in and out of his life, will Brick finally recover from his broken heart?

Brick’s actor brother Dwayne is also back in town after his teenage son Fela sends him worrying texts. Dwayne and Fela’s mother, Frenchie, never married but Dwayne has always lived up to his responsibility to his son. With Frenchie not returning his texts, he convinces Brick to check up on Fela. Sworn to secrecy, Brick helps as much as he can but will he honor his promise not to tell Dwayne what is going on with Fela and Frenchie?

Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte are vibrant young woman who never planned to become escorts. Penny is a college student whose ex left her with nothing but a pile of bills and ruined credit. When her friends find themselves in dire straits, she offers them a new career and a place to stay. Christiana is a Cuban refugee who is a highly educated professional who discovers she cannot work in her previous career in the US. She has gone through a multitude of low paying jobs in order to survive. She is a pragmatic woman with a practical outlook and she knows what she wants for herself. Mocha Latte is extremely uncomfortable working as an escort. Although she has a loving family, she does not want to ask them for help after losing her job as an engineer. She is uncertain what she wants further down the line, but she knows her current career is just temporary.

Brick is a wonderfully caring man who genuinely likes the women now in his life. He is a little frustrated with Dwayne but family is family so he does what he can to help his brother. Brick’s unlikely friendships veer into the “friends with benefits” territory, and he also himself to be talked into briefly becoming an escort. But it is not in his nature to keep the proceeds from his unlikely career. Being an escort is at odds with his desire for a wife and family so he has a decision to make about his future. With Dwayne, Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte making changes in their lives, what will Brick decide to do next?

The Business of Lovers is a funny, sexy and serious novel that features a diverse and appealing cast of characters. The storyline is interesting with plenty of depth and substance. The sex scenes are plentiful and explicitly detailed. With an unexpected plot twist, Eric Jerome Dickey brings this insightful novel to an absolutely heartwarming conclusion. A very enjoyable novel that I highly recommend.

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Filed under Contemporary, Dutton, Eric Jerome Dickey, Erotic, Fiction, Rated B, Review, The Business of Lovers

December 28, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: Rebel by Rhys Ford

Title: Rebel by Rhys Ford
415 Ink Series Book One
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Gay, Romance
Length: 220 pages/Word Count: 83,884
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

The hardest thing a rebel can do isn’t standing up for something—it’s standing up for himself.

Life takes delight in stabbing Gus Scott in the back when he least expects it. After Gus spends years running from his past, present, and the dismal future every social worker predicted for him, karma delivers the one thing Gus could never—would never—turn his back on: a son from a one-night stand he’d had after a devastating breakup a few years ago.

Returning to San Francisco and to 415 Ink, his family’s tattoo shop, gave him the perfect shelter to battle his personal demons and get himself together… until the firefighter who’d broken him walked back into Gus’s life.

For Rey Montenegro, tattoo artist Gus Scott was an elusive brass ring, a glittering prize he hadn’t the strength or flexibility to hold on to. Severing his relationship with the mercurial tattoo artist hurt, but Gus hadn’t wanted the kind of domestic life Rey craved, leaving Rey with an aching chasm in his soul.

When Gus’s life and world starts to unravel, Rey helps him pick up the pieces, and Gus wonders if that forever Rey wants is more than just a dream.

Review:

Rebel by Rhys Ford is a heartfelt second chance at love romance. This first installment in the 415 Ink series is full of heartbreak and angst, yet these deep emotions enhance the overall story.

August “Gus” Scott is finally forced to stop running from the man who broke his heart, Rey Montenegro, after he receives stunning news: he has a young son from a one night stand. Wanting to give his son Chris what he never had, a father, Gus rejoins the family of his heart but in doing so, he must also figure out a way to move forward from the tragedy in his past. Rey is an integral part of his history and he will continue to be part of his future since he is Gus’s soul brother Mason “Mace’ Crawford’s best friend and roommate. Gus is not exactly introspective since he would rather ignore his problems than face them but will he finally break free from this unhealthy pattern to ensure he will fully be a part of Chris’s life? Will Gus be willing to let Rey back into his life? Can they overcome the issues that lead to their break up?

There is no other way to describe Gus than “broken”. His childhood was incredibly dysfunctional with the people who should have been his advocates writing him off as irredeemable. Luckily, his cousin/father figure Barrett “Bear” Jackson fought to provide him with a stable home, but the damage had already been done by the time they were finally reunited. Gus holds all of his pain inside and he has never come to terms with the incredible damage wrought by his horrible excuse of a mother.

The 415 Ink family’s introduction to Rey was rather dramatic but life took a much better turn for Rey not long after their first meeting. He has a great relationship with his mom and stepdad but when things went wrong between him and Gus three years earlier, he decided to end their passionate yet troubled relationship. Since communication was not their strong suit, Rey’s resentment toward Gus finally spilled over into a painful breakup that neither man has truly recovered from yet.

While there is a romantic element to the storyline, the main focus of the novel is Gus and his personal journey of healing. He has a strong support system with the family he has made for himself, but Gus still has difficulty verbalizing the things that are troubling him. Despite the close ties he shares with the brothers of his heart (which includes his actual brother, Ivo), Gus does not actually begin to heal until he finally opens up to Rey about the traumatic events from his childhood that continue to skew how he views himself. Gus’s willingness to share his secrets reveals a heartrending vulnerability that he does not show to many people. In the aftermath of his revelations, he and Rey tentatively resume their sizzling hot romance.

Rebel is an engaging and deeply affecting romance with a fantastic cast of primary and secondary characters. The first few chapters are a bit confusing as characters are introduced and a little of their history is divulged. Gus is an enigmatic yet immensely appealing character whose backstory is parceled out in drips and drabs over the course of the novel. Rey is definitely the more stable of the two but he also comes with a bit of emotional baggage. One of Rhys Ford’s strengths as an author is her ability to infuse plenty of angst into her novels without making it feel contrived or unnatural. The drama is perfectly balanced by humor and the richly developed characters add depth and substance to the developing storyline. A brief glimpse of which characters will be starring in the installment of the 415 Ink series will leave readers impatiently awaiting its release.

Filed under 415 Ink Series, Contemporary, Dreamspinner Press, Erotic, Gay, Rated B, Rebel, Review, Rhys Ford, Romance

October 22, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: Murder and Mayhem by Rhys Ford

Title: Murder and Mayhem by Rhys Ford
Murder and Mayhem Series Book One
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Erotic, Romance, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 236 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

Murder and Mayhem: Book One

Dead women tell no tales.

Former cat burglar Rook Stevens stole many a priceless thing in the past, but he’s never been accused of taking a life—until now. It was one thing to find a former associate inside Potter’s Field, his pop culture memorabilia shop, but quite another to stumble across her dead body.

Detective Dante Montoya thought he’d never see Rook Stevens again—not after his former partner falsified evidence to entrap the jewelry thief and Stevens walked off scot-free. So when he tackled a fleeing murder suspect, Dante was shocked to discover the blood-covered man was none other than the thief he’d fought to put in prison and who still makes his blood sing.

Rook is determined to shake loose the murder charge against him, even if it means putting distance between him and the rugged Cuban-Mexican detective who brought him down. If one dead con artist wasn’t bad enough, others soon follow, and as the bodies pile up around Rook’s feet, he’s forced to reach out to the last man he’d expect to believe in his innocence—and the only man who’s ever gotten under Rook’s skin.

Review:

Murder and Mayhem is the first suspenseful installment in Rhys Ford’s new mystery series, Murder and Mayhem.

Ex-thief Rook Stevens is walking the straight and narrow now he has opened a collectible shop. So when he arrives to find the very dead body of former associate Dani Anderson in his shop, he is at a loss to understand who killed her or why. Despite his prior walk on the crime side, Rook is a genuinely kind, caring and compassionate man who goes out of his way to help those who are less fortunate than he is.

Rook’s relationship with his newly found grandfather, Archibald, is a work in progress. Rook and Archie take great pains to hide the fact that they care about each other and their scenes together are as funny as they are heartwarming. Archie has his grandson’s back no matter what but Rook cannot help but feel great remorse that his grandfather is smack dab in the middle of this increasingly dangerous situation. But Rook is not one to reveal his tender side, so he continues to keep everyone at arm’s length including the cop he has some personal history with, Detective Dante Montoya.

Dante and his former partner worked very hard to build a case against Rook several years earlier, and when their efforts came up empty, Rook became his personal white whale. Never imagining their paths would cross again, Dante does everything possible to ensure he and his new partner, Hank Camden, do everything by the book. However, this plan quickly falls by the wayside when his relationship with their chief suspect crosses over into very personal territory when Rock is very nearly killed.

By this point in the investigation, Dante has very strong doubts that Rook had anything to do with Dani’s death. When the body count continues to rise, he and Hank look to Rook’s past to try to figure out why Rook has been targeted and more importantly, by whom. Rook makes no secret of the fact there was animosity between him and Dani but since he gave up his thieving ways soon after their last job together, he can think of no explanation for her being in his shop. With Rook’s input, Dante interviews someone who gives him a possible motive for everything that has been happening, but has he discovered this information too late to save Rook?

Despite the circumstances of their unexpected reunion, there is no denying the sexual tension that underscores Rook and Dante’s interactions. Dante is a by the book detective who is upfront with both his boss and Hank about their history and he tries to ignore his attraction for Rook. The circumstances surrounding them giving into their mutual desire are a little unrealistic but there is no doubt there is more to their relationship than just sex. Dante is pretty much an open book with everyone and he has no reason to hide his sexuality. Rook’s default is to deflect and deny so he is not exactly onboard with admitting to himself, let alone Dante, that there might be more to their relationship than sex. Will Dante find a way to sneak past Rook’s formidable defenses?

With an intriguing mystery, plenty of action and a colorful cast of characters, Murder and Mayhem is a fast-paced and engaging novel. Rook and Dante are wonderful protagonists and their budding romance is an absolute joy to watch unfold. Their sex scenes are definitely on the steamier side but there is little doubt there is more to their relationship than sexual chemistry. Rhys Ford does an outstanding job with the mystery element of the storyline and the novel comes to a stunning, adrenaline-laced conclusion.

Filed under Contemporary, Dreamspinner Press, Erotic, Gay, Murder and Mayhem, Murder and Mayhem Series, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Rhys Ford, Romance, Suspense

· 11:57 pm

Review: Tramps and Thieves by Rhys Ford

Title: Tramps and Thieves by Rhys Ford
Murder and Mayhem Series Book Two
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Erotic, Romance, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 210 pages/Word Count: 80,852
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

Murder and Mayhem: Book Two

Whoever said blood was thicker than water never stood in a pool of it.

Retiring from stealing priceless treasures seemed like a surefire way for Rook Stevens to stay on the right side of the law. The only cop in his life should have been his probably-boyfriend, Los Angeles Detective Dante Montoya, but that’s not how life—his life—is turning out. Instead, Rook ends up not only standing in a puddle of his cousin Harold’s blood but also being accused of Harold’s murder… and sleeping with Harold’s wife.

For Dante, loving the former thief means his once-normal life is now a sea of chaos, especially since Rook seems incapable of staying out of trouble—or keeping trouble from following him home. When Rook is tagged as a murder suspect by a narrow-focused West LA detective, Dante steps in to pull his lover out of the quagmire Rook’s landed in.

When the complicated investigation twists around on them, the dead begin to stack up, forcing the lovers to work together. Time isn’t on their side, and if they don’t find the killer before another murder, Dante will be visiting Rook in his prison cell—or at his grave.

Review:

Rhys Ford jumps right into the action in Tramps and Thieves, the second installment in the Murder and Mayhem series starring reformed cat burglar Rook Stevens and his cop boyfriend L.A. detective Dante Montoya.

Although Rook willingly walked away from his previous life, he cannot deny he misses a few of the thrills from his illicit past. So when the opportunity arises for him to take a brief walk on his former wild side, he is quick to agree. What he does not count on is winding up smack dab in the middle of another murder investigation after discovering his cousin Harold Martin’s corpse. Things go from bad to worse when homicide Detective Mark Vicks is convinced Rook killed Harold in order to assure his future inheritance from their wealthy grandfather, Archie. Since Dante is quick to realize Vicks is going to pin Harold’s murder on Rook, he and his partner, Detective Hank Camden get their boss’s official blessing to conduct an unofficial investigation of their own. With the bodies piling up at an alarming rate and someone gunning for Rook, Dante and Hank are desperate for answers, but will they catch the killer(s) before it is too late?

Although they are rather comfortable in their new romance, Rook is still a work in progress as he tries to let down his defenses and completely trust Dante. While Rook is not quite as uneasy with their emotional intimacy, he still finds it difficult to open up to Dante. Rook is also making strides with his relationship with Archie, but his grandfather still has a habit of lashing out when he feels vulnerable. Rook’s reaction in the aftermath of Archie’s verbal assault is a testament to how much healing he has undergone since meeting Dante.

While they still avoid discussing Rook’s past, Dante has absolutely no doubt that Rook has nothing to do with Harold’s death. He is very protective of his new boyfriend and his first instinct is to ensure Vicks does not pin Harold’s murder on him. Following a somewhat traumatic and dramatic discovery, Dante and Hank’s unofficial investigation becomes official but finding a motive for the murders remains elusive. When numerous attempts are made on Rook’s life, Dante is under even more pressure to wrap up the case sooner rather than later.

Although the investigation is fast-paced and intriguing, there are a few passages that are overly detailed and just a touch long winded. Some of the banter between the various characters (especially Hank) is irritating since it adds little to the storyline and these discussions occasionally occur at questionable times.

With scorching hot love scenes, a beguiling mystery and an eclectic cast of likable characters, Tramps and Thieves is a pulse-pounding addition to the Murder and Mayhem series. Dante and Rook are appealing protagonists who perfectly complement one another despite the vast differences between them. Their relationship is heartwarming yet filled with plenty of heat and sexual tension. The murder investigation keeps the novel moving at a brisk pace and Rhys Ford brilliantly obscures the perpetrator’s identity and motive for the murders until the novel’s exciting conclusion.

Filed under Contemporary, Dreamspinner Press, Erotic, Gay, M/M, Murder and Mayhem Series, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Rhys Ford, Romance, Suspense, Tramps and Thieves

October 2, 2017 · 11:56 pm

Review: Making Home by Dev Bentham

Title: Making Home by Dev Bentham
Bay Valley U Series Book One
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Gay, Romance
Length: Novella/Word Count: 30,000 (approx)
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

In his real life, Manu Contrares makes a decent living as a videographer in New York. But when his mother goes into hospice, he heads home to Bay Valley to help take care of her and ends up back at his first job on the janitorial staff of the local college. It feels like a long step down for a proud Hispanic man.

Chris Hall loves teaching but hates research. That’s becoming a big problem because his third-year faculty review is coming up and if he doesn’t make something happen soon, he’ll be out. He’s spending his nights working in the lab on a Hail Mary attempt to save his job.

When the two men meet, it’s explosive. And complicated. Chris is lily-white and culturally tone-deaf and Manu’s only in town for a short stay. It’s a recipe for heartbreak. Still, the pull between them is too strong for either to ignore. Can they overcome their different backgrounds and somehow surmount the geographical problems, or is this a fling that will leave them both more exhausted and lonely than before?

Review:

With a poignant storyline, an appealing cast of characters and sizzling hot love scenes, Making Home by Dev Bentham is a captivating romance between two unlikely partners.

Manu Contrares is back in Bay Valley for a heartbreaking reason and he has enough on his plate without a romantic entanglement complicating his life. He is also not a relationship kind of guy so he is disconcerted by his strong attraction to Professor Chris Hall whose cultural insensitivity is particularly irritating. So why is Manu suddenly eager to catch a glimpse of the biology professor during his nightly rounds cleaning the college?

Chris loves teaching but he is struggling to produce the research he needs for tenure. Despite his efforts to concentrate on his current project, he finds himself too easily distracted as he waits for the nightly appearance of too sexy for words Manu. With his professional future riding on making significant progress on his research project, the last thing Chris needs is to give in to his unexpected attraction to Manu.

While their initial meetings get off on the wrong foot, Manu and Chris cannot deny the sexual chemistry that simmers beneath the surface every time they see one another. Both men have compelling reasons to ignore their mutual attraction, but they find it surprisingly easy to eventually agree to a no strings fling. After indulging in several explosive encounters, neither Manu nor Chris can deny their feelings go deeper than casual sex. But with Manu planning to return to New York and Chris chasing tenure at Bay Valley U, will they find way to overcome the obstacles that are preventing them making their relationship permanent?

Making Home by Dev Bentham is a scorching hot romance that fans of the genre are sure to love. Manu and Chris are endearing characters with all too realistic flaws and imperfections. The storyline is quite emotional and both protagonists undergo significant growth. An absolutely outstanding beginning to the Bay Valley U series that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

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Filed under Bay Valley U Series, Contemporary, Dev Bentham, Erotic, Loose Id, M/M, Making Home, Rated B+, Review, Romance