ARC REVIEW: Finding North by Carmen Jenner #MM #LGBT #Romance

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 25, 2016
Publisher:  Carmen Jenner
Length: 203 pages

Description: Red Maine’s blue-collared bad boy, North Underwood, has a dirty little secret—Will Tanner. Friends since kindergarten, North had been the one to jump first, and his fall into Will’s bed ten years ago had been no exception. Will and North had been inseparable, but things change, people grow apart, and even a blazing flame can dwindle to a dying ember over time. 

The more things change the more they stay the same. 

After a run in with a bottle of Bundy rum, Will and North find themselves in a compromising and all too familiar position. 

Blurred lines, bad decisions, and one wrong foot after another lead these two down a spiral of sarcasm, secrets, and sex, but when North’s hetero status is called into question he can’t figure up from down. And despite Will telling himself he wouldn’t fall again, he’s head over heels and wandering without a compass. 

Love is love. 
Love is truth. 
Love … shouldn’t be this damn hard to figure out. 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1LamYz2
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1TEohZS

OUR REVIEW: 

First off, let me just say - that cover? Hot!! And a fabulous introduction to one of our heroes, Will. He's tattooed, pierced, and out in a little town that doesn't do gay. In fact, Will's gay-ness and the feelings he stirs up in his straight childhood friend, North, is what causes the rift between the two that lasts for more than a decade. North is determined to keep his hetero status, until the day he can't. The day he finally gets his hands on Will again and everything changes.

This GFY story (gay for you) has it all: hot guys, steamy sex, and tons of reasons for the "straight" guy to say no. The timeline flashes back every so often to when these two guys were in their early teens so we can see how deep their friendship was and the string of events and circumstances that led to their estrangement. It's a story that's all too real. 

"You gonna buy a drink? Or should I pull up the couch so you can lie down and tell me all your feelings?" Will smiles in that cocky way only Will can. If he were anyone else, he'd get his skull beaten in because of that douche-kebab smile. Always the shit stirrer.

I have to say that I loved the humor in this story. Some of the Aussie expressions had me giggling for hours. And since much of the story takes place in and around Will's bar, there is a whole host of secondary characters to round things out. 

My lip is all busted up, my jaw is bruised too where North tapped it a couple of times, and I had two rounds of Berocca this morning and it hasn't done jack. I'm still fucking lagging like a cock at a christening. 

Will and North's story is exciting and the sex is rough and hot. It takes a lot for these two guys to get to the point where they can even begin to get over the hurt they've caused each other. But a love that deep deserves a second chance. 

OUR RATING:  4 stars!

(02/23/2016)

ARC REVIEW: Flying Solo (Men of London #6) by Susan Mac Nicol #MM #LGBT #Romance

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance, part of the Men of London Series
Release Date: January 28, 2016
Publisher:  Boroughs Publishing Group
Length: 173 pages

Description: Flight attendant Maxwell Lewis has spent years cultivating a bon vivant image only to find he finally wants something more—and that something more includes the never-does-repeats game designer Gibson Henry. 

ABOVE AND BEYOND 

Maxwell Lewis is proud of the life he’s made. Having turned tragedy into triumph, he’s now a beloved member of a Target Airlines cabin crew with more than his fair share of attention both in the air and on the ground. But lately he’s wanted something more than the occasional hook-up or sometime sex buddy—particularly after meeting game designer and passenger Gibson Henry. 

Talented and driven, Gibson has built a company ready to be the next big thing in gaming. Devoted to his work, he takes onetime pleasures where he finds them and never does repeats…which is what he tells handsome, sexy Maxwell Lewis after a little mile-high flight attendance. But a chance encounter in a London club is about to change things forever. Two men, one who’s flown solo and another who’s only ever played alone, are about to find that at some point all games come to end, it’s time to bare your heart and try for love. 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1K5ny0R
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KxB2SY

OUR REVIEW: 

Flying Solo is the tale of two very different men. One, Maxwell, has crawled and scraped himself off the streets, where he did whatever he could to survive, and into a respectable position as part of the cabin crew at Target Airlines. But he's getting tired of the mile-high club and the array of sexual partners at every port. He wants something more. He wants Gibson.

Unfortunately, Gibson wants something less. A man with a relatively uncomplicated past, he's a computer nerd who is determined to make it in the gaming world. He never sleeps with the same man twice because why bother with relationships? He's far too busy getting his new company off the ground. He never even thinks about past sexual partners... But that all changes when he meets Max. 

I loved seeing how the relationship between these two men evolved from one focused on sex only to one where trust and friendship become the main elements. As they share more of themselves, more of their hearts, their bond deepens until neither man can imagine a life without the other. 

Susan did a great job of incorporating humor into her writing with this book. Maxwell is always up for a great one-liner, and while he keeps his most outrageous thoughts to himself, we as the reader are privy to them. These two had me laughing out loud:

When he was released and Gibson stepped back, lips swollen and wet, Maxwell tried to gather his brains back into his head from his crotch so he could form a sentence. He was still trying to when Gibson spoke.

Wall to wall geek. Maxwell wasn't sure what the collective noun was for a bunch of them gathered at a gaming conference, but he thought that perhaps a google of geeks might be a good term. Maybe even a nerd herd.

Flying Solo is some of Susan Mac Nicol's best writing!

OUR RATING: 4.5 stars!

(02/06/2016)

See more of Outrageous Heroes of Romance reviews for the Men of London series: 

Suit Yourself (Men of London #3): http://outrageousheroes.blogspot.ca/2015/05/arc-review-suit-yourself-men-of-london.html

Cross to Bare (Men of London #5):
http://outrageousheroes.blogspot.ca/2015/11/arc-review-cross-to-bare-men-of-london.html

REVIEW: Us Three by Mia Kerick #lgbt #romance #YA

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance, young adult, part of the One Voice series
Release Date: April 2, 2014
Publisher:  Harmony Ink Press
Length: 180 pages

Description: In his junior year at a public high school, sweet, bright Casey Minton’s biggest worry isn’t being gay. Keeping from being too badly bullied by his so-called friends, a group of girls called the Queen Bees, is more pressing. Nate De Marco has no friends, his tough home life having taken its toll on his reputation, but he’s determined to get through high school. Zander Zane’s story is different: he’s popular, a jock. Zander knows he’s gay, but fellow students don’t, and he’d like to keep it that way. 

No one expects much when these three are grouped together for a class project, yet in the process the boys discover each other’s talents and traits, and a new bond forms. But what if Nate, Zander, and Casey fall in love—each with the other and all three together? Not only gay but also a threesome, for them high school becomes infinitely more complicated and maybe even dangerous. To survive and keep their love alive, they must find their individual strengths and courage and stand together, honest and united. If they can do that, they might prevail against the Queen Bees and a student body frightened into silence—and even against their own crippling fears.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1KALVy7
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JzpIFP

OUR REVIEW:

I don't read a lot of young adult books, but Us Three blew me away. It kept my attention from the first page to the last, and now I can't wait to read the second book in the One Voice series! 

Casey is the small, sweet boy. The one who's known he's gay forever. He is also the victim of severe bullying at school. And it is this bullying that eventually gets the attention of Nate and Zander. 

Nate used to be a stoner. Now he's a loner. Until he befriends Casey in French class after coming to Casey's defense when he's bullied yet again. 

Zander is the school jock. He's pretty sure he's gay, but he's definitely not going to come out and be bullied like that poor Casey kid. 

I loved seeing how the friendship between the boys started out as a tentative collaboration over a group project. Despite how different they are, they soon realized that they had a lot in common and that they actually liked each other. At this point, none of them were thinking about sex. As they grew to know each other better, their friendship turned into more, and it was beautiful to see it unfold. I loved seeing Nate step out of his shell to protect Casey, and seeing Zander go from an uncomfortable bystander to an outspoken activist. And Casey... poor Casey. He has the biggest balls of all.

There is sex in the story, but it's age appropriate. Okay, yes it's a threesome, a very tastefully done threesome. 

OUR RATING: 4.5 stars!

(01/25/2016)

ARC REVIEW: Cross to Bare (Men of London #5) by Susan Mac Nicol #MM #LGBT #Romance

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance, part of the Men of London Series
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher:  Boroughs Publishing Group
Length: 197 pages

Description: Tough in business but romantic at heart, fashion designer Lenny James isn’t hiding his masculinity behind his super successful female alter ego, but a vulnerability that only handsome financier Brook Hunter will be man enough to reveal…and worship.

TWO OF A KIND

It’s amazing what a little mascara and lipstick, a blonde wig, false boobs, and top-notch female fashion can hide. Not that Lenny James is hiding his masculinity. He uses his normal voice when he’s Laverne, and he’s not particularly camp as a man. His reasons for creating his alter ego are locked deep in his past. He is who he is: tough in business, and a romantic at heart. What he’s hiding is vulnerability. He wants a man to accept both sides of him.

Gorgeous, commanding, and dark as sin, Brook Hunter meets Lenny and knows nothing about Laverne until fate pushes her into his path. Cross-dressing is as far from Brook’s reality as fashion is from his world of diplomacy and high finance. Understanding and truth take time, and trust doesn’t come easy. But Brook is about to show Lenny that there are no sides to true love, just the place where they meet in the middle.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NkyEtX
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1GR4wJV

OUR REVIEW: 

Cross to Bare is a fun inside view of the fashion industry and into the life of a cross-dresser.
I really enjoyed the Lenny/Laverne character. Lenny is a very strong character, who is very clear about who he is—a man—and who he wants to be—a man. He is a cross-dresser, not a transgender woman. Throughout the book, the author drives this point home, and I came out of the reading with a much better understanding of why a man might choose to cross dress.

The very conservative Brook is, of course, the perfect foil to Lenny. LOL. It was fun to watch Brook overcome his own prejudices and insecurities as he gradually opened himself up to the fantabulousness that is Laverne.

We accompany both heroes in their work environments, when they are out with friends, as well as when they are alone together. This allows us to see different facets of their personalities, and how they each adapt to the differences in the other in these different scenarios. The dialogue is witty and often very funny. Oh, and the sex scenes are pretty hot too!

The secondary characters, all fun and unique, bring a lot to the depth of the story. It is always a joy to see more of the quirkily endearing Leslie, Laverne’s hilarious and out-spoken assistant.
Cross to Bare also reveals more about Ryan and Mango’s story. Dare I hope they will be featured next?

OUR RATING: 4 stars!

Our Review of Suit Yourself (Men of London #3): http://outrageousheroes.blogspot.ca/2015/05/arc-review-suit-yourself-men-of-london.html

(11/10/2015)

ARC REVIEW: Not My Boyfriend by Monica L. Anderson #MM #Romance #LGBT

Genre: Standalone M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 8, 2015
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Length: 155 pages

Description:

If “I love you” is a lie, why does it feel so much like the truth?

Stuck at a co-workers retirement party, Max prepares himself for a long, boring night—until a guy across the bar with an intense brown gaze and a dangerous smirk offers some mutual gratification in the bathroom. Max had been looking for a forever love, but Karson’s so hot, forever can wait.

Ever since his cheating ex broke his heart, Karson’s had rules. Only pleasure. Never more than once. Never stay the night. Yet long after their romp in the bar bathroom, Karson still wants Max—maybe enough to break his own rules.

As Max and Karson struggle to sort out their complicated non-relationship, Karson’s ex resurfaces in full win-him-back mode. One white lie later, Max attends Karson’s tenth annual high-school reunion as his “boyfriend” to keep his ex away. But pretending is hard, when all Max wants is for the lie to be the truth.

Warning: Contains a slew of misunderstandings, one cheating, jealous ex, and steamy sex scenes between two guys who fall accidentally in love.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NkGzr8
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1L4Nvae

OUR REVIEW:

Not My Boyfriend is the type of book you pick up when you want a fast-paced story with a ton of angst, hot sex, and a sweet ending. In terms of plot, this isn’t War and Peace, but then again, we don’t want it to be.

Max and Karson meet in a bar. Max is looking for Mr. Right, Karson is looking for Mr. Right Now and Only For Now. The rules are clear, and both men agree to them.

“One night,” Karson whispered against Max’s lips. “No regrets.” 

Max, mouth slack, ready and willing for many more kisses, nodded. “No regrets.”
[…]
Karson was a fling. A really hot, ridiculously good-kissing fling. Of course Max wasn’t his first. Wouldn’t be his last either. 

But that didn’t mean Max was going to sit back and let himself be another notch on anyone’s bedpost. If he was going to be a notch, he was going to be the biggest, most memorable notch on the line.

But their chemistry is off the charts and neither can resist the lure of a do-over. And that’s when the trouble starts.

Cursing, Karson covered his face with his hands. He was a fuck-and-forget kind of guy. This remembering—this longing—had never happened to him before.
[…]
Karson was trouble; he seemed to like slow, touchy sex that unraveled Max to his core and rebuilt him again in pleasure.

When Max attends Karson’s high school reunion as his boyfriend, they both know they are putting on a show, but everything feels all too real. Emotions run high in this story and both guys try to sort out their feelings. They know the other isn’t what they need, but is everything they want.

As expected, the I love you’s come, and when they do, the moment is honest, sweet, and very satisfying.

If you enjoy angsty, fast-paced stories with steamy, emotional sex and sweet romance, this is the book for you!

Our Review: 4 stars!

(11/08/2015)

ARC Review: Tempted in Texas by Sara York #MM #Romance #LGBT

Genre: Standalone M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 31, 2015

Description: Rusty Briggs knows his chance of finding a man while living outside of Sweetwater, Texas are slim to none. Few know about his little secret, but his ranch hands have run out on him and the folks in town aren’t as hospitable as they were before the incident. He’s resigned himself to the fact that working his ranch will have to be enough or he will need to sell and move to the big city…that is until he meets Trent Anderson.

On the outside Trent appears to be a man with full access to silver spoons and caviar dreams, but his parents cut him off and tossed him out once they discovered he was gay. After living on the street, selling himself, then ending up in a destructive relationship, Trent pulled his life together and came out on top, all by using his compassion and intelligence—or so Trent thinks. Recently, Trent’s grandfather passed away and left him his ranch, as long as he meets a few conditions, like living in Texas for ninety days. But Trent’s secret benefactor, Reed, is dissatisfied that Trent isn’t living in Atlanta and wants him back. The only issue for Reed is that Trent is involved with Rusty.

Money, greed, lust, and power work to keep Rusty and Trent apart. They are forced to trust each other when life falls apart, but can they actually become close enough in ninety days to create a solid, trusting relationship, or will old relationships come between them?

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1MlZPbh
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1MfhsGe

OUR REVIEW

The setup: A tough Texan rancher with confidence to spare, an abused and down-trodden LGBT youth center worker, and a 90-day will stipulation that forces Trent to live on his recently deceased homophobic grandfather’s land if he wants to inherit.

Rusty, with his long legs and big muscles, is exactly what Trent needs to get him through 90 days of living in Sweetwater on his grandfather’s ranch. From the moment they meet, the electricity between them shoots of the page. It was a joy to watch Rusty help Trent build back his confidence and begin to flourish in the relationship that develops between these two men. The sex is hot and fresh, and the love between these two men is brave and genuine. Here’s one of our favorite passages:

Trent ran a hand down Rusty’s chest, sending shivers over his body. “You’ve not tried to change me, not once. When I eat pizza with you, you don’t tell me that I’ll get fat. Do you know how many times I heard that in Atlanta? ‘Don’t eat that, you’ll get fat and no one will want you. Don’t eat bread or you’ll lose your figure. No one wants fat boy toy.’”

“Fuck, you could gain weight or not. That’s not the only thing sexy about you. Sexy isn’t a body size. It’s a personality trait.”

As always in Ms. York’s books, the issues faced by many LGBT youth and adults is not glossed over or only hinted at. No, as the story unfolds, we are made very aware of what has happened to Trent up to this point.  The events depicted aren’t at all a departure from reality.  Rather, sadly, they figure far too often in the coming-out stories of LGBT people.

Tempted in Texas is a story of coming into oneself, of accepting yourself and your past so that others can accept you too.   It is a story of triumph.

OUR RATING: 4 stars!

(11/05/2015)

ARC REVIEW: Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe #Romance

Genre: First in a Series, Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Random House LLC

Description: Fans of Jodi Ellen Malpas, K. Bromberg, and Joanna Wylde will be unable to resist this sexy, deeply intimate tale of a woman running from her past, and the darkly mysterious man who sets her free.

I didn’t think answering someone else’s cellphone would change my life. But the stranger with the low, deep voice on the other end of the line tempted me, awakened my body, set me on fire. He was looking for someone else. Instead he found me.

And I found a hot, secret world where I felt alive for the first time.

His name was Dylan, and, strangely, he made me feel safe. Desired. Compelled. Every dark thing he asked me to do, I did. Without question. I longed to meet him, but we were both keeping secrets. And mine were dangerous. If I took the first step, if I got closer to Dylan—emotionally, physically—then I wouldn’t be hiding anymore. I would be exposed, with nothing left to surrender but the truth. And my truth could hurt us both.

Amazon US (Kindle): http://amzn.to/20xTUX1
Amazon US (paperback): http://amzn.to/1l9LYuH
Amazon UK (Kindle): http://amzn.to/1Q7pQO6
Amazon UK (paperback): http://amzn.to/1Q7pRS9


OUR REVIEW

What starts out as a phone call between strangers turns into so much more. Something that will change both Annie and Dylan’s lives forever.

On the surface, Annie and Dylan couldn’t be more different. But inside, they are the same. Broken. Running from their pasts. Ashamed. Can they save each other or will their sexy, twisted relationship only make things worse?

Everything I Left Unsaid is an excellent story. Very gripping and surprisingly sexy, with an oh-so enticing slow burn. The writing is fantastically smooth and very realistically plunges the reader into the heads of the hero and heroine, making us feel like we're right there, along with Annie and Dylan.

Note: Ends on a cliffhanger, but the second book will be available on Nov. 24.
Possible trigger warning: contains references to and depictions of abuse.

OUR RATING: 5 stars!

(11/05/2015)