Category Archives: Riptide Publishing

November 9, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: There’s Something About Ari by L.B. Gregg

ariTitle: There’s Something About Ari by L.B. Gregg
Bluewater Bay Series Book Two
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance
Length: 95 pages/Word Count: 25,000
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Buck Ellis’s future seems pretty damn bright. With a full college scholarship in hand, he’s going to ditch Bluewater Bay and pave the way for his kid brother Charlie to do the same. The only fly in Buck’s ointment is his ten-year addiction to his best friend since second grade, his true love, and his Achilles heel: Ari Valentine, Mr. Least Likely to Succeed.

But then Buck’s mother dies, changing everything, and five years later, his future is still on hold. It’s a struggle to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and Charlie on the straight and narrow. Buck can’t afford any temptation, especially in the form of the newly returned, super hot, super confident, super successful television star Ari Valentine.

ADHD poster-child Ari Valentine left for Hollywood and lost everything, including his bad reputation. Then the breakthrough role of his skyrocketing career lands him back in Bluewater Bay, to the stunned disbelief of, well, everyone. But there’s only one person Ari longs to impress—the only person who ever really mattered to him, the person he left behind: Buck Ellis.

The Review:

Fans of L.B. Gregg and the Bluewater Bay series are going to love There’s Something About Ari. This second installment in the series is a fast-paced and engaging novella that is quite engrossing. Intensely emotional, it is a very heartwarming and sometimes poignant second chance at love romance between two reunited friends.

Buck Ellis and Ari Valentine’s close childhood friendship abruptly ended when Ari left Baywater Bay just before their high school graduation. His departure coincided with Buck’s mother’s death and this double loss hit Buck hard as his future forever changed. Buck abandoned his college plans to care for his younger brother Charlie and while he gladly sacrificed his future for Charlie’s sake, Ari’s unexpected return brings a few regrets to the surface. While their lives have gone in very different directions, one thing still quickly becomes clear: Buck’s longtime attraction to Ari burns hotter than ever, but it remains to be seen whether he will find the courage to act on it.

Buck and Ari are absolutely wonderful characters and their pasts are absolutely heartbreaking. Ari’s childhood was incredibly dysfunctional due to his mother’s erratic behavior but he eventually triumphed over his chaotic past. Ari is finally at a good place in his life and he has mostly come to terms with the baggage from his past.

For the most part, Buck has made peace with a lot of his past as well, but he still harbors a lot of anger toward Ari. Barely keeping his head above water, Buck is still working the same job he did in high school and his dreams of college remain out of reach until Charlie is on his own. He has no desire to pick up where he and Ari left off, and his continued attraction to the seemingly unattainable Ari is definitely part of the reason why. A shocking revelation leads to a surprising encounter, but will Buck fully let Ari back into his life?

L.B. Gregg’s There’s Something About Ari is a short read, but the storyline and characters are fully developed. Written in first person from Buck’s perspective, readers fully experience his often turbulent emotions as he comes to terms with the changes in his life. It is the perfect contribution to the fabulous Bluewater Bay series and while it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the entire series.

1 Comment

Filed under Bluewater Bay Series, Contemporary, LB Gregg, Rated B+, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, There's Something About Ari

August 24, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Double Up by Vanessa North

double upTitle: Double Up by Vanessa North
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 139 pages/Word Count: 37,000
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Knowing he’s loved can make any man fly.

Fifteen years ago, Ben Warren was a wakeboarding champion: king of big air, ballsy tricks, and boned grabs. Until a career-ending injury left him broken in ways he still has no hope of fixing. Now he takes his thrills where he can get them, and tries not to let life hurt too much.

Then Davis Fox arrives in Ben’s sporting goods store with a plan to get in touch with his estranged brother by competing in the annual wakeboarding double-up contest. The catch? He’s never ridden before. It’s crazy, but Ben’s a sucker for the guy’s sob story—and for his dimples, too—so he agrees to coach Davis.

Davis is everything Ben isn’t: successful, confident, and in love with life. And he wants Ben to love life—and him—too. But before Ben can embrace a future with Davis, he needs to remember how to hope.

The Review:

Double Up by Vanessa North is a sweet and sexy romance that is fast-paced and engaging. It is an absolutely delightful love story between a former wakeboarding champion and his wealthy, yet down to earth, student.

Ben Warren’s wakeboarding career was cut short after a catastrophic injury while he was at the peak of his career. Now forty, he remains involved with the sport through his job at a sporting goods store where he also teaches the sport he still passionately loves. Although he has a few reservations, he agrees to coach Davis “Dave” Fox, who is hoping to use a local wakeboarding competition to reconnect with his estranged younger brother. A surprising attraction between Ben and Dave leads to an unexpected romance but Ben’s unresolved past threatens to derail their budding relationship.

Ben and Dave are wonderful protagonists who come from completely different backgrounds. Ben is ten years older than Dave but he is definitely the less mature of the two. Until he meets Dave, Ben does not do serious relationships and he is not very introspective. He is someone that pretty much lives in the here and now and he lets his fears continue to keep him from making a decision that could lead to a better quality of life. Although Ben is honest with Dave about most of his past, the things he does not disclose are what eventually come between them.

Despite a few initial misunderstandings, Dave and Ben’s relationship progresses pretty quickly. They do not hesitate to act on their mutual desire, but their relationship is anything but casual. Dave is relatively laidback and easygoing, but in the bedroom, he is the one firmly in control. Although Ben is a little uneasy with Ben’s dominance, it also turns him on and their resulting sex scenes are highly erotic and scorching hot.

Double Up is a wonderful romance with a great cast of likable characters. The conflict between the protagonist is believable and it is resolved realistically with minimal angst. The wakeboarding element of the story is unique and Vanessa North does an excellent job describing the different aspects of the sport without overwhelming the storyline. All in all, Double Up is an engrossing and enjoyable read with well-developed characters, a compelling plot and incredibly steamy lovemaking that fans of the genre are going to LOVE.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Double Up, Erotic, M/M, Rated B, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Vanessa North

July 30, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: Home the Hard Way by Z.A. Maxfield

HardWayTitle: Home the Hard Way by Z.A. Maxfield
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance, BDSM, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 374 pages/Word Count: 94,100
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Dare Buckley has come home—or at least, he’s come back to Palladian, the small town he left as a teenager. After a major lapse in judgment forced him to resign from the Seattle PD, Palladian is the only place that’ll hire him. There’s one benefit to hitting rock bottom, though: the chance to investigate the mystery of his father’s suicide.

Dare also gets to reacquaint himself with Finn Fowler, whose childhood hero worship ended in uncomfortable silence when Dare moved away. But Finn isn’t the same little kid Dare once protected. He’s grown into an attractive, enigmatic stranger who neither wants nor needs what Dare has to offer.

In fact, Dare soon realizes that Finn’s keeping secrets—his own and the town’s. And he doesn’t seem to care that Dare needs answers. The atmosphere in Palladian, like its namesake river, appears placid, but dark currents churn underneath. When danger closes in, Dare must pit his ingenuity against his heart, and find his way home the hard way.

The Review:

Home the Hard Way by Z.A. Maxfield is an intriguing and suspense filled mystery that is full of unexpected twists and turns. After a colossal error in judgment costs him his job with the Seattle PD, Dare Buckley returns to his small hometown of Palladian. Dare’s homecoming is quickly complicated by his friendship with Finn Fowler, a suspicious death and his father’s long ago suicide.

Dare and Finn lost touch when Dare left town fifteen years earlier and a lot has changed for both of them in the intervening years. Finn’s life currently centers around taking care of his Aunt Lyddie who is dying from cancer. Between his nursing duties, two jobs and his leather making business, Finn does not have time for any type of social life but he welcomes the chance to reconnect with Dare. Dare is not happy with his disgraced return to Palladian and some of the demons that led to his downfall are still plaguing him. His transition to the local police department is anything but smooth as he is faced with resentment from his fellow officers and the animosity from an old childhood nemesis. His reunion with Finn is uneasy and shrouded with unspoken secrets from their shared past.  A surprising attraction flares to life between them but a relationship seems unlikely amid all of the chaos swirling around them.

As children, Dare and Finn shared a unique but close friendship. Dare was a popular, well-liked athlete from a well-respected local family. Finn, on the other hand, was different from everyone else in just about every way. He and his mother were the target of small-town gossip and speculation and he had a difficult time living down his mother’s rather loose reputation. As the older of the two boys, Dare took on a protective role with Finn and kept him from being bullied by the other kids. Both of their childhoods were marred by the untimely deaths of Finn’s mom and Dare’s father and their friendship ended when Dare and his mother left town after his dad inexplicably committed suicide.

Now meeting on equal footing, both men have been shaped and changed by events in the intervening years. Dare is cynical, world-weary and his shining armor has definitely been tarnished by his poor decisions. Finn maintains tight control over everything around him and he keeps himself at a distance from everyone but his aunt. When Dare stumbles across Finn in a very shocking situation, the balance of their relationship is irrevocably changed. Dare is filled with numerous doubts about their future as a couple and when the case he has been working on breaks wide open, Dare realizes how little he and Finn really know one another.

Home the Hard Way is a compelling novel and Z.A. Maxfield does an excellent job keeping readers on their toes with quite a few startling plot twists. There are two separate mysteries that need unraveling and I was completely surprised by how these storylines were eventually solved. The one thing I really did not see coming is the direction that Dare and Finn’s relationship takes and while I confess to a few doubts about how they would resolve their differences, I was satisfied by how things turned out between them. All in all, it is another fabulous read by the extremely talented Z.A. Maxfield.

1 Comment

Filed under BDSM, Contemporary, Erotic, Home the Hard Way, M/M, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Suspense, ZA Maxfield

July 15, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Running Wild by S.E. Jakes

RWTitle: Running Wild by S.E. Jakes
Havoc Universe
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 270 pages/Word Count: 69,300
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Embrace the danger.

Sean Rush is an adrenaline junkie. That’s why he was in the Army, why he steals and races classic muscle cars . . . and why he can’t stay away from bad boy Ryker, a Havoc Motorcycle Club lieutenant. Fortunately, Ryker can’t seem to stay away from Sean—he’s spent the last eight months breaking into Sean’s apartment and stealing into his bed, leaving Sean physically satisfied but increasingly restless.

Sean has always avoided relationships. He likes to come and go without being controlled. And Ryker is possibly the most controlling man he’s ever known. Still, he finds that he wants more from Ryker than their silent nighttime encounters.

Then one of Sean’s thefts goes bad, and Ryker’s protective instincts kick into overdrive. He takes Sean to the Havoc compound, determined to keep him safe. But Sean’s past threatens the safety of Havoc—and everything Ryker holds dear. Worse, Ryker’s hiding secrets of his own. Soon it’s obvious that the adrenaline rush can’t keep them together anymore. But maybe love can.

The Review:

Havoc, S.E. Jakes’ new series centered around a motorcycle club, is off to a strong beginning with the first installment, Running Wild. The storyline is refreshingly unique with a few unexpected twists and turns. The lead protagonists, Sean Rush and Ryker, are complex and a bit damaged, but these flaws and imperfections add to their appeal. The sex is über hot and erotic, but there is always an emotional component to the scenes that adds depth to their somewhat complicated relationship.

For the past eight months, Ryker and Sean have been involved in a super sexy but rather confusing non-relationship that is scorching hot and immensely satisfying.  However lately, Sean is feeling a little restless and wants more from his enigmatic nighttime visitor. He has no way of contacting Ryker but when a favor for a friend takes an unexpectedly dangerous turn, Ryker is quick to whisk Sean away to the safety of the Havoc motorcycle club compound. Their relationship continues to heat up, but Sean’s unresolved issues, his continued loyalty to his friend and a dangerous car theft ring threaten their future.

Ryker and Sean are richly developed, vibrant characters, and of the two, Sean is the most fragile. His troubled childhood led to stealing cars and street racing, but since his return to town after getting out of the army, he has been keeping out of trouble working as a mechanic. Sean is still struggling with PTSD and he has yet to come to terms with the guilt he feels about a close friend’s combat related death. He is also very uncertain when it comes to his bewildering relationship with Ryker and his insecurities come between them on numerous occasions.

Since Running Wild is written in first person from Sean’s point of view, it is a little more difficult to get a good grasp on Ryker and his motivations where Sean is concerned. He has a strong and rather forceful personality, but he is also quite caring and very protective. He takes the dominant role in the bedroom, but this perfectly complements Sean’s need to give up a little control. Sean does a fairly decent job of peeling back Ryker’s many layers but he unexpectedly uncovers a secret that casts doubt on their entire relationship.

Running Wild is engrossing but it moves at an unhurried pace.  The different storylines eventually merge together and seemingly unrelated events eventually intertwine. The secondary characters are well-developed, colorful and interesting. A lot of the communication between Ryker and Sean occurs during sex, and their scenes are exquisitely detailed and deliciously erotic.

With this first novel of her new series, S.E. Jakes focuses more on the characters and relies less on action to carry the story and I hope future works continue along the same vein. Very well done and I am eager to read Running Blind, the next book in the Havoc series.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, Havoc Universe, M/M, Rated B, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Running Wild, SE Jakes

May 14, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Hostile Ground by L.A. Witt & Aleksandr Voinov

hostileTitle: Hostile Ground by L.A. Witt & Aleksandr Voinov
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 362 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Enemy territory is a dangerous place to fall in love.

After the deaths of three undercover cops investigating a drug ring in a seedy strip club in Seattle, Detective Mahir Hussain has been sent to finish the job. He joins the club’s security team in the hopes of finding enough evidence to bust the operation before the men in charge find a reason to put him in a shallow grave.

To protect the strippers, only gay men can work the club. Ridley, the cold and intimidating head of security, knows exactly how to test potential new hires—including Mahir. From the minute they meet, Mahir and Ridley engage in a dangerous dance of sex and mind games. Mahir needs to find his evidence before Ridley figures out he’s a cop—and before they both grow too close to betray one another.

As the game goes on, Mahir burrows deeper into the operation, where he learns there’s much more happening than meets the eye . . . and why every cop who made it this far has been silenced with a bullet.

The Review:

L.A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov’s latest collaboration, Hostile Ground is an extremely fast-paced and engaging mystery. There is also an incredibly sexy but understated romantic element as lead protagonists Mahir Hussain and Ridley give in to their smokin’ hot desire.

With the deaths of three cops weighing heavily, Mahir knows there is no room for error when he accepts his first undercover assignment working security in a local strip club. But first, he has to convince Ridley, the unflappable, daunting head of security, that he is not a cop and that he has no interest in the female strippers. Proving he is gay is easy since the air between them is positively sizzling due to their mutual attraction. But convincing Ridley that he has no connection to law enforcement is fraught with danger and Mahir is forced to take drastic measures to dispel Ridley’s suspicions.

Hostile Ground is written from Mahir’s perspective and he is a wonderfully complex protagonist. He is an ethnically diverse character with strong faith, close family ties and an impeccable work ethic. Due to his Arab heritage and Muslim faith, Mahir faces bigotry, slurs and epitaphs in both his personal and professional lives but he can usually diffuse racially charged situations before they can escalate. Mahir is conflicted by his attraction to Ridley and he is also confused by some of the inconsistencies in his behavior. Although Mahir tries to keep his undercover and real life identities separate, the two areas overlap when his nephew, Kinza, seeks him out following a major disagreement with his father.

Ridley is another great character but it is difficult to get inside his head since everything we learn about him is filtered through Mahir’s point of view. There is never any doubt that Ridley is tough, dangerous and extremely focused on his job. But the fleeting glimpses of tenderness and something that resembles jealousy are at odds with his ruthlessness. These contrasting facets of his personality leave Mahir wondering if Ridley the cold-blooded psychopath he appears to be.

While there are quite a few secondary characters, the two that figure most prominently in the storyline are Mahir’s nephew Kinza and crime lord Gene Lombardi. Lombardi is oddly charismatic and he is an astute businessman. But he is a thoroughly despicable and utterly merciless criminal and Mahir is horrified once he uncovers the full truth about his criminal activities.

Kinza is a great addition to the novel and his storyline is heartbreaking. A typical teenager in most ways, he turns to Mahir for support and while on one level, he understands the reasons why his uncle is gone much of the time his immaturity leads him to resent Mahir’s continued absence. All of this spills over into an act of rebellion that could have deadly consequences.

The mystery aspect of the plot is engrossing and well-executed. Myriad twists and turns take the story in very unexpected directions. Mahir sometimes makes rookie mistakes that serve to remind readers this is first undercover operation and his zeal to uncover the truth leads to reckless decisions. Not knowing exactly what Ridley is thinking or feeling adds to the mystery surrounding his character. This also makes it easy to understand how difficult it for Mahir as he struggles to sort out his confusion over his attraction to a man that, to all appearances, is a brutal killer and hardened criminal.

The sex scenes between Mahir and Ridley are incredibly intense and highly erotic. They are locked in a powerful battle for control and their encounters are raw and gritty with a hint of savagery. There is plenty of hot man on man action that not only advances the storyline but reveals helpful insight into their personalities.

L.A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov’s Hostile Ground is an intriguing and suspenseful mystery. The overall plot is realistic and well-executed. The characters are superbly developed and with a few notable exceptions, they are sympathetic and likable. While it is not traditional romance, there is no mistaking Mahir and Ridley’s emotions run deep. All in all, a splendid novel that I highly recommend to old and new fans of the genre.

3 Comments

Filed under Aleksandr Voinov, Contemporary, Erotic, Hostile Ground, LA Witt, M/M, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance

April 30, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: It’s Complicated by L.A. Witt

complicatedTitle: It’s Complicated by L.A. Witt
Tucker Springs Book Seven
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 205 pages/Word Count: 52,000
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

After their umpteenth breakup, Brad Sweeney and Jeff Hayden are living apart and starting over from scratch. The morning after a promising first date, they’re more optimistic than ever that they can make it work this time . . . until Jeff’s ex-wife and business partner calls to announce she’s pregnant with Jeff’s baby. Brad’s already competing with a demanding business for Jeff’s time. Now there’s a baby on the way, and worse, he’s afraid Jeff is still carrying a torch for the woman who’s carrying his child.

Jeff is desperately trying to keep his life together, but before he can even get his head around the news that he’s going to be a father, his ex announces that she wants to leave Tucker Springs. Now he either has to take over her role at the shop while ferrying the baby back and forth from Denver, or move the business—and himself—with her.

Brad and Jeff knew reconciliation wouldn’t be easy, but they’re rapidly running out of room for compromise. And sooner or later, something has to give.

The Review:

I absolutely adore the Tucker Springs series, and L.A. Witt’s newest contribution, It’s Complicated, is a rollercoaster ride of emotion as Brad Sweeney and Jeff Hayden try to make their on again/off again relationship work. But a surprise pregnancy, Jeff’s grueling work schedule and Brad’s (well-founded) insecurities threaten to derail their fragile new beginning.

Brad and Jeff’s tentative reconciliation is off to great beginning. Their “first” date is a resounding success and the sex is hotter than ever, but with one phone call, they are quickly back on shaky ground. During their last break, Jeff and his ex-wife Christine, who is also his business partner, indulged in a one night stand and now Christine is pregnant. Even more surprising is Christine’s decision to leave Tucker Springs and their very successful company. While Jeff is thrilled about becoming a dad, he is conflicted about Christine’s plans and coming up with a solution that works for everyone is virtually impossible.

Written in first person from both Brad and Jeff’s perspectives, there is never any doubt what each character is thinking. Both agree that Jeff’s long hours are a major source of conflict and that numerous minor irritations are the catalyst for major blow ups. They never seem to address the underlying issues which, in part, stem from Jeff’s continued relationship with Christine and his inability to fully commit to Brad. And all of this a problem before Christine’s pregnancy, so it is not any wonder that Brad’s concerns that Jeff and Christine will reconcile become a big issue for him. There is never any doubt that Brad and Jeff love each other, but their obstacles do seem insurmountable. Of course, the solution to their problems is staring them in the face for the whole novel, but getting them to see it takes forever!

It’s Complicated is an engaging and fast-paced addition to the Tucker Springs series. The story is well-written, the problems between Brad and Jeff are realistic and since this is an L.A. Witt novel, the sex is hot. While there is a lot of emotional turmoil, the novel does not really feel overly angsty. There really aren’t any communication issues between Brad and Jeff and they do a fabulous job discussing their issues. However they are often unable to come up with viable answers for their unresolved problems and I love that neither is willing to give up on their relationship without a fight.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, It's Complicated, LA Witt, M/M, Rated B+, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Tucker Springs