Category Archives: Riptide Publishing

November 19, 2013 · 11:58 pm

Review: How I Met Your Father by L.B. Gregg

Title: How I Met Your Father by L.B. Gregg
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, M/M
Length: 98 pages/Word Count: 28,000
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

The man of your dreams could be sitting right next to you.

Former boy band member Justin Hayes isn’t looking for a man. He just wants a quiet, scandal-free Christmas at home in Chicago, out of the public eye. But his best friend and bandmate is subjecting everyone to his destination wedding, and Justin can’t dodge the “best man” bullet. All he has to do is get to the island on time, survive the reunion, and get Chuck to the altar with as little drama as possible. What could possibly go wrong?

Jack Basinger’s own plans for a quiet Christmas have been dashed by the summons to his daughter’s hasty wedding with a man Jack has hardly met. On the bumpy flight to the island, he finds himself comforting a nervous—and extremely attractive—young man. One hasty sexual encounter in an airport bathroom later, they both feel much better. No one ever has to know, after all.

Now Justin and Jack must find a way to explore their attraction, despite the distractions of disapproving family members, unexpected announcements, an impromptu concert, and an island paradise that proves there’s no place like home.

Note: 20% of all proceeds from this title are donated to the Ali Forney Center in New York, whose mission “is to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) youth from the harm of homelessness, and to support them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood.” To learn more about this charity or to donate directly, please visit http://www.aliforneycenter.org/.

The Review:

I absolutely loved every heartwarming, hilarious and sexy word of L.B. Gregg’s holiday novella How I Met Your Father. This quick read will have you laughing out loud as the members of the now defunct boy band Rhythm Method travel to an idyllic tropical island to help celebrate one of their former bandmate’s upcoming wedding.

Justin Hayes’ biggest concern about attending his best friend’s wedding is keeping out of the limelight. One rough flight and hot hook up later, he soon discovers publicity is the least of his concerns. The bride and groom are concealing a big secret and that anonymous encounter turns out not be so anonymous when he comes face to face with Jack Basinger and learns of Jack’s unexpected connection to the wedding party.

There is a surprising amount of depth to this fun-filled romance. Justin is still firmly in the closet, hiding behind the womanizing persona he perfected when the band was still together. Jack is rock solid and comfortable in his skin, but his relationship with his kids is not as close as he would like. Jack is older than Justin but the age gap is not as great as I first assumed and it was not really an issue for either of them.

Equally enjoyable is the rapport between Justin and his ex-band mates Chuck, TJ and Matt. Their scenes together are some of the funniest in the book, but many of them are also quite poignant. I really liked that they are not the stereotypical ex-rockers who crashed and burned. Instead, they are fairly well-adjusted and living pretty normal lives. They are supportive of each other but they are also brutally honest when they need to be.

An absolutely delightful story with a charming cast of characters, How I Met Your Father is a delectably steamy, light-hearted romance. The characters are three-dimensional and the various relationships are well developed. The dialogue is quite witty and the plot is unique and fast paced. The lush island setting is the perfect location for a destination wedding and L.B. Gregg’s descriptive prose brings it vibrantly to life. A sweet epilogue nicely wraps up this outstanding angst-free holiday story.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, How I Met Your Father, LB Gregg, M/M, Rated A, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance

November 14, 2013 · 11:58 pm

Review: Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux

Title: Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux
Sidewinder Series Book One
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, M/M
Length: 94 pages/Word Count: 25,300
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

After barely surviving a shootout in New Orleans, Sidewinder medic Kelly Abbott has to suffer through a month of recovery before he can return home to Colorado. He’s not surprised when fellow Sidewinder Nick O’Flaherty stays with him in New Orleans. Nor is he surprised when Nick travels home with him to help him get back on his feet—after all, years on the same Marine Force Recon team bonded the men in ways that only bleeding for a brother can. He’s very surprised, though, when Nick humors his moment of curiosity and kisses him.

Nick knows all of Kelly’s quirks and caprices, so the kiss was a low-risk move on his part . . . or so he thought. But what should’ve been a simple moment unleashes a flood of confusing emotions and urges that neither man is prepared to address.

Now, Kelly and Nick must figure out what they mean to each other—friends and brothers in arms, or something even deeper?—before the past can come back to ruin their tenuous future.

The Review:

The first installment of the Sidewinder series, Shock & Awe is a deliciously sexy friends to lovers novella that fans of Abigail Roux’s Cut & Run series are going to love!

Following his release from the hospital, Kelly Abbott and his close friend and co-worker Nick O’Flaherty, head to Kelly’s secluded cabin where a surprising confession from Kelly leads to a very hot experimental kiss. The sexual tension between them skyrockets after their extremely steamy kiss but will Kelly be able to persuade Nick to explore the unexpected and scorching attraction between them?

Their shared history is what makes Kelly and Nick’s transition from friends to lovers so believable. Nick is at first reluctant to indulge Kelly’s curiosity and I like that they take the time to discuss his concerns about what a kiss could mean for their friendship. Both men are caught off guard by their reactions to their kiss and Nick is once again unwilling to take their explorations to the next step. His concern is not just for their friendship, but he is also worried that Kelly’s thinking is impaired by pain medication.

It does not take Kelly long to overcome Nick’s objections and their explorations lead to toe-curling and explosive sex scenes. Nick’s care and concern for Kelly’s well-being extends to the bedroom and leads to some pretty inventive and creative almost but not quite sex between them.

But what I enjoyed the most about Shock & Awe is the depth of feeling between Kelly and Nick. They share an obvious affection, and neither man is afraid to show it or admit it. There is an incredible amount of intimacy between them before they give in to their passion and in the aftermath, that closeness only deepens.

Shock & Awe is a short and enjoyable beginning for Nick and Kelly’s new relationship. It ends rather abruptly, but Abigail Roux provides a very satisfying glimpse of their future with a short (but very hot) teaser that will leave readers impatient for the next installments of both the Cut & Run and Sidewinder series.

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Filed under Abigail Roux, Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Rated B, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Shock & Awe, Sidewinder Series

October 21, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Wallflower by Heidi Belleau

Title: Wallflower by Heidi Belleau
Rear Entrance Video Book Two
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, M/M
Length: 205 pages/Word Count: 54,500
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

This gamer geek has a lacy little secret.

Art student and MMORPG addict Robert Ng has always been a loner, but he’s recently made it his goal to make more (IRL) friends. Which is how he winds up working nights at Rear Entrance Video, shilling sketchy porn and blowup dolls as a favor to his roommate. The longer he works there, though, the more he realizes he’ll never be truly happy until he becomes the person he is online: his female persona, Bobby.

Bobby is cuter and funnier than Rob is, and a thousand times more popular with boys. Becoming Bobby IRL presents its own set of challenges, though . . . especially when you’re sitting on the fence between two genders, only one of which has caught the attention of your seriously cute customer/classmate.

Dylan Ford is a six-foot Inuit comic book artist who always says what’s on his mind, and screw anyone who doesn’t like it. As rough as he appears, though, Dylan has a soft spot for Rob. But will out-and-proud Dylan still want Rob if he’s not all man?

The Review:

Wallflower, the second installment in the Rear Entrance Video series, is a wonderful journey of self-acceptance for Rob Ng. More serious than Apple Polisher, Heidi Belleau has written an insightful romance about gender fluidity with Rob exploring all the facets of his sexuality.

Rob is shy, insecure and socially awkward and more comfortable in the virtual world than the real one. Filling in at Rear Entrance Video is way out of his comfort zone but it eventually provides him the opportunity to dress as his feminine alter ego, Bobby. The lines of Rob’s sexuality become a bit blurred and while he is gay, he is not transsexual. And everything is about to become even more confusing for Rob when he becomes romantically involved with his classmate/video store customer Dylan Ford.

The first half of Wallflower takes place mostly inside Rob’s head as he struggles with his gender identity. The anonymity of internet has allowed him the freedom to express his more feminine side and his comfort with his online persona leads him to act out one of fantasies with one of his virtual friends. Following this encounter, Rob decides it is time to bring Bobby into the real world, but only at work. Ultimately, Rob is going to have to figure out how to merge Rob and Bobby into his everyday life.

Physically, Dylan is the antithesis of Rob and his character is larger than life. He is less conflicted than Rob, but Dylan does a have few issues stemming from his adoption by a white family. Overall, he is outgoing, friendly and has absolutely no filter-whatever he thinks comes spilling out of his mouth. But Dylan somehow manages to keep a few things hidden from Rob that play a key role in the story’s resolution.

The second half of Wallflower is when the action begins. The confidence that Rob discovers as Bobby begins spills over into his “regular” life. A class project unexpectedly brings him and Dylan together and their desire for another explodes in a very hot encounter. Despite his hesitation in revealing his secret and some mixed signals from Dylan, the two throw themselves wholeheartedly into their relationship.

Wallflower is a delightfully unique novel and I love that Heidi Belleau steps out of the box with both the subject matter and the characters. Rob’s issues are sensitively portrayed and his explorations provide fascinating insight into different gender identities and roles. It is also quite refreshing that Rob and Dylan are not the stereotypical white characters usually found in M/M romances.

Although Wallflower is the second novel in the Rear Entrance Video series, it can be read as a standalone story.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, Heidi Belleau, M/M, Rated B, Rear Entrance Video Series, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Wallflower

September 30, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Illumination by Rowan Speedwell

Title: Illumination by Rowan Speedwell
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, M/M
Length: 307 pages/Word count: 80,200
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Adam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. After the final concert of their latest tour, he flees the afterparty, pursuing memories of lost summers and carefree days, until he passes out on the patio of a shuttered lake resort.

Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. When he discovers Adam asleep in a deck chair, he’s furious but intrigued. Adam soon charms his way into Miles’s bed, and they lose themselves in a summer idyll, safe from the compromises and claims of reality.

But Adam’s life, with all it demands, is waiting for him. And Miles, uncertain of Adam’s true feelings, is battling demons of his own. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together.

Reader Discretion Advised. This title contains drug use.

The Review:

Rowan Speedwell’s Illumination is a wonderful romance that beautifully illustrates how love can triumph and flourish despite overwhelming odds.

Adam Craig lives his life in the limelight and on the road while Miles Caldwell panics the minute he leaves his property. A chance encounter brings them together and they enjoy a few passion-filled weeks while Adam takes a much needed break following the end of his band’s latest tour. But Adam’s escape is only temporary and no matter how much he dreads leaving Miles, he has obligations that he cannot avoid. A long distance relationship is the only option for Miles and Adam but individual issues soon take their toll. Miles’s insecurities and fears cause him to doubt Adam’s feelings for him and his inability to express himself causes serious communication problems for the couple.

Of the two men, Miles is the most emotionally fragile. A traumatic event in his past has left him so scarred he is virtually a hermit and he spends most days lost in painting beautifully detailed illuminations. His sister Lisa and close friends Rob and Doug provide him with unwavering support but they also enable Miles as he continues to avoid facing his problems. He is socially inept and has such a difficult time reading other people it is no surprise he continually doubts Adam’s intentions.

Adam is such an incredibly confident character that it is at first difficult to see what lies beyond his rocker image. While he reached stardom with very little effort, he has had to completely bury his sexuality in order to maintain his position as the band’s front man. He is growing weary of life in the closet but coming out could have a devastating impact on his musical career. After he returns to CA, Adam remains pretty steadfast in his efforts to keep his relationship with Miles on track but he is soon plagued by doubts after Miles stops communicating with him. After Adam renews an old friendship he is back on the nightly party circuit where he uses drugs and alcohol to cope with his growing uncertainties.

Illumination might have a few familiar themes but it is a refreshingly unique novel. Miles is dealing with some pretty debilitating psychological issues but they are just one facet of this multi-layered character. His past is heartbreaking and it is quite gratifying to see him finally taking steps to conquer his debilitating fears. Adam is not the stereotypical drug addicted rock star who is about to crash and burn. His use of drugs is recreational but far from harmless. This part of the storyline is a cautionary tale of how even casual use of drugs can have potentially catastrophic consequences.

Adam and Miles are instantly attracted to one another and they are very quick to act on their passion. Their sex scenes are playful but intensely sensual. What begins as a physical relationship quickly becomes much deeper as they get to know one another. As the more intuitive and observant of the two, Adam fully recognizes that something is not quite with Miles, but he does not let that interfere with his growing feelings for him. Miles is charmingly clueless about, well, pretty much everything, but he is aware that his feelings run much deeper than just sexual attraction.

I was pretty much captivated by Illumination right from the very first page. I was dying to uncover the secrets of Miles’s past and Rowan Speedwell does an excellent job giving a little hint here and there which of course just made me even more curious. The complete story is revealed pretty late in the story, but is well worth the wait.

Final verdict: an emotional yet angst-free romance that is verrry sexy.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, Illumination, M/M, Rated B+, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance, Rowan Speedwell

September 10, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Catch a Ghost by SE Jakes

Title: Catch a Ghost by SE Jakes
Hell or High Water Series Book One
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Thriller
Length: 293 pages/Word Count: 70,600
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Everyone knows that Prophet—former Navy SEAL, former CIA spook, full-time pain in the ass—works alone. But his boss at Extreme Escapes, Ltd. has just assigned Proph a new partner and a case haunted by ghosts from Proph’s past. Suddenly, he has to confront both head-on.

Tom Boudreaux—failed FBI agent, failed sheriff, full-time believer in bad luck—is wondering why the head of a private contracting firm has hunted him down to offer him a job. Still, he’s determined to succeed this time, despite being partnered with Prophet, EE’s most successful, lethal, and annoying operative, on a case that resurrects his own painful past.

Together, Prophet and Tom must find a way to take down killers in the dangerous world of underground cage matches while fighting their own dangerous attraction. When they find themselves caught in the crossfire, these two loners must trust each other and work together to escape their ghosts . . . or pay the price.

Reader discretion advised. This title contains explicit violence.

The Review:

As a longtime fan of SE Jakes, I have been eagerly anticipating Prophet’s book and I am thrilled to say, it was SO worth the wait! In Catch a Ghost, we finally learn what makes this inscrutable man tick. He also meets his match in his new (and unwanted) partner Tom Boudreaux. And since this is the first installment in the Hell or High Water series, I am sure there are a few remaining secrets to uncover about both men.

Prophet is gruff, grumpy and haunted, both literally and figuratively, by a mission that went horribly wrong years ago. As an operative for Extreme Escapes, his skills are unsurpassed. There is little he won’t do when someone’s life is on the line. Even if that means impulsively acting on his own despite orders to the contrary. Preferring to work alone, Prophet goes through partners on a regular basis, so when his boss assigns newbie Tom Boudreaux to work with him, Prophet is less than thrilled.

Tom does not have a stellar track record with partners either, so he is not exactly happy with his new partnership with Prophet either. Like Prophet, Tom is also emotionally wounded but he is more approachable and definitely more tactful. Due to the circumstances surrounding their current case, most of Tom’s issues are revealed fairly early. Although Tom’s past may be out in the open, this does not necessarily mean he has made his peace with it. And it plays a direct role in a decision he makes at the novel’s end.

Both Tom and Prophet are alpha males so their partnership is a battle of wills. In the beginning, Prophet’s stubbornness forces them to work independently of one another. But when their investigations lead them to the same place, they reluctantly join forces. It soon becomes clear that the case is somehow tied to Prophet’s past but the reasons remain unclear.

With both men attracted to one another, it is inevitable that their relationship is going to take a personal turn. Following the same pattern as their professional partnership, Prophet and Tom are soon vying for dominance in the bedroom. This results in sex scenes that are rough with each man fighting to take control but there is also a certain degree of tenderness as well.

Just as things are heating up in bedroom, SE Jakes throws in some surprising plot twists which take the story in very unexpected directions. Prophet and Tom are not the typical romance characters and the storyline reflects this. Some of the plot is wrapped up while some of it is left up in the air. The ending of Catch a Ghost is not neat and tidy but it is guaranteed to leave readers impatiently awaiting Long Time Gone, the next novel in the Hell or High Water series.

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Filed under Catch a Ghost, Contemporary, Erotic, Hell or High Water Series, Rated B+, Review, Riptide Publishing, Thriller

July 29, 2013 · 3:57 am

Review: Apple Polisher by Heidi Belleau

Title: Apple Polisher by Heidi Belleau
Rear Entrance Video Series Book One
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 230 pages/Word Count: 60,800
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

This straight-A student has a dirty little secret.

Christian Blake dreams of being a kindergarten teacher, but making the grade means maintaining a squeaky clean image: no drinking, no drugs, no swearing, no sex. And definitely no falling for his new roommate—tattooed bad-boy Max, who may or may not be a drug dealer.

Most of all, it means no working at a porn store. But Christian’s aunt has cancer, and her beloved Rear Entrance Video will go bankrupt if Christian doesn’t take over managerial duties. Soon enough, Christian finds himself juggling sticky twenty-five cent peep show booths, a blackmailing employee, and a demanding professor who likes to make an example of him.

And then there’s Max, who doesn’t know anything about the store, but hates Christian’s preppy sweater vests and the closet Christian forces him into when they’re together. Max just wants Christian to be himself—even though Max is keeping secrets of his own. Christian struggles to find the impossible balance between his real life and the ideal one he thinks a teacher needs to live . . . all while trying to keep his aunt’s dream alive without losing his own.

This title is part of the Rear Entrance Video universe.

The Review:

Apple Polisher is a funny, sexy and thoughtful journey of self-discovery. Heidi Belleau perfectly balances real life issues with plenty of humor in this page-turning first installment of the Rear Entrance Video series.

While Christian Blake’s dear Aunt Beverly is fighting cancer, her video store, Rear Entrance Video, is about to go under but he is afraid that working in a video porn store will destroy his chances of becoming a kindergarten teacher. Throw in his (unwanted) attraction to his sexy new roommate, Max, and Christian spends much of his time fretting about his future.

Apple Polisher is written in third person from Christian’s point of view. The narrative is a little rambling and slow moving at times and Christian occasionally veers off on some lengthy thought tangents. But the story begins to come together when Christian begins working at Rear Entrance Video and he finally hooks up with Max.

Christian’s single-minded pursuit of his teaching degree makes him oblivious to a lot of things in his life. Everything and everyone takes a backseat as he devotes himself to school. Christian is slowly losing himself as he makes change after change in an effort to avoid his professor’s scrutiny. But his biggest mistake is his failure to make Aunt Beverly a priority. Trying to save Rear Entrance Video is Christian’s first selfless act and it is the first step in his much needed transformation. He sometimes takes one step back for every two steps forward, but he is putting a lot of effort (and risk) into his efforts to keep the store from going under.

Christian’s other saving grace is his relationship with roommate Max. Their romance is rocky in the beginning but once Christian commits to making the relationship work, he throws himself into it wholeheartedly. Max is just what Christian needs-he does not put up with Christian’s crap and he challenges Christian to think about the choices Christian is making. For the most part, their romance is a slow simmer but when it does heat up? Their sex scenes are positively incendiary and so down, dirty and smokin’ hot your eReader is in danger of melting.

Max remains an enigma for much of Apple Polisher. Tantalizing glimpses give away frustratingly little about him so it is completely and utterly shocking when the truth about him is finally revealed. Christian’s reaction to Max’s revelation is absolutely, positively, without a doubt, the best scene of the whole book.

An excellent beginning to Heidi Belleau’s ingenious Rear Entrance Video series, Apple Polisher is an entertaining and thought-provoking novel. The cast of characters is diverse and multi-layered. The video porn store is a wonderfully unique setting and it provides an interesting backdrop for the various characters and their upcoming stories.

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Filed under Apple Polisher, Contemporary, Erotic, Heidi Belleau, Rated B, Rear Entrance Video Series, Review, Riptide Publishing, Romance