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

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: Suit Yourself (Men of London #3) by Susan Mac Nicol #MM #Romance

Genre: Series M/M Contemporary Romance (can be read as a standalone)

Release Date: May 21, 2015

Scarred both physically and emotionally after a motorcycle accident, twenty-five year old ex fashion model and porn star Oliver Brown is about to be stripped bare by flamboyant twink Leslie Scott—and they’ll rebuild love from the bottom up. 

BARING THE BEAST 

Twenty-five year old Oliver Brown is addicted. Two years ago, he was at the height of his career as “Nicky Starr,” fashion model, porn actor, partier without peer. Then came the accident. Hiding his scars, both emotional and physical, he’s gone into hiding. But fine clothing is some solace. A new suit by Debussy? Better even than a ride on his motorcycle Hulk or all the things he used to give and take on camera. 


Enter Leslie Scott, the flamboyant, dark-haired, heel-and-tiny-short-wearing twink sent to deliver Oliver’s newest fix. A firecracker, Leslie is dapper, generous, in touch with his feminine side but all man, and as gorgeous as any garment ever made. He makes Oliver dream of ending his reclusion, of recapturing a future forever denied him. But for that to happen, Leslie would have to strip him to the bone. Only then will they rebuild life from the bottom up.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1c8nGMv
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KnQ7VF

OUR REVIEW: What do you get when a fabric buyer for a high-end suit design house meets up with a damaged ex-porn star with a suit obsession? You get SUIT YOURSELF! 

Leslie Scott is exactly as advertised: witty, flamboyant, and forthright. He’s ready for a real relationship and his eyes are open for a contender. Life in the porn industry has left Oliver Brown damaged, both physically and emotionally. Living like a hermit in his luxury hide away, he’s lonely, and after two years, maybe it’s time to give life a try.

When the two meet, it’s a clash of opposites. But, Leslie is just the man to bring about Oliver’s metamorphosis and drag the man, screaming and kicking, back into the world.

I enjoyed many aspects of this book: the characters are strong and well developed; the writing is well above average; the fashion aspects detailed and clearly researched. However, the book lacked intensity. I was not dragged along by the story to rapidly turn the pages to find out what happened next. 

It's warm. It's comfortable. It's a great read for a lazy Sunday, whether on the beach or in front of a fire. 


OUR RATING: 3.5 stars