Book of the Week - Holed Up

Title: Up To Trouble #1 - Holed Up

Author: Hank Edwards

Publisher: LooseID

Length: 101 pages

Rating: 2.5 Quills

Tags: law enforcement, contemporary, mystery, series, novella

Blurb

FBI Special Agent Aaron Pearce, tall, muscular, a lone wolf with an attitude, is assigned to protect Mark Beecher, a witness to the plans for a terrorist attack. The discovery of an unknown informant within the FBI's ranks, however, forces the two men to hole up in a loft apartment with only one another for company.

After long conversations and their shared attempt to unravel the puzzle of the terrorist group's next target, Pearce and Mark find they cannot deny their mutual attraction. Pearce gives in to his passion, sleeping with the man he's sworn to protect and going against his training as he risks heartbreak once again.

When the informant reveals himself to Pearce and takes him hostage, Mark finds he cannot run and leave Pearce to die. Instead, their roles have been reversed and now he is the only person who can save Special Agent Pearce.

Review

This is the story of Mark, who overheard a terrorist plot being planned by a fellow resident of his apartment building. Being the upstanding citizen that he is, he cannot let that slide and reports it to the authorities. He is then put in witness protection under the watchful eye of FBI agent, Aaron Pearce. Mark and Aaron end up running for their lives once a mole within FBI security is discovered. They end up hiding out at Mark's ex's apartment while the ex is out of town. Then after a very limited resistance (I am supposed to be protecting him, I am running for my life, ahhh) they fall into bed together and by the end of their story, in love.

I guess the first thing to say is that this was not a bad book. It just wasn't a good book either. I am pretty willing to suspend my disbelief about how MCs are thrown to together (if the author makes it work) but hearing a terrorist plot through the air vents of his building seems a bit far fetched to me. Also, it seemed a lot like insta love to me. The author makes a point of saying that they stayed up talking for a long time and bonded but didn't show it to us or at least didn't make me believe it. I admit, here and now, that I almost always hate insta-love, unless there is something more to the story that challenges the relationship (internally not externally...J.L. Langley's With or Without series is a good example of ok insta love) so that is a bias of mine. And you can't always tell, from a blurb if a story is going to be insta love so it hard to just avoid them.

That being said, I enjoyed Hank's style of writing and felt that the pacing of the story (other than the sex/love aspect) was good. So overall, I give this story 2.5 Quills. I do not regret reading it but it was not my cuppa. However, I would be willing to read another book by Hank Edwards to see if perhaps my reaction to this book was due to mood/illness/weird day/etc.

If you are looking for a good witness protection/federal agent type book two I really enjoyed were Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley and Under a Rock by India Harper. If I have not scared you off Holed Up (everyone has different tastes...you might love it) then you can find it for $4.99 at Loose ID.

Book of the Week - Digital to Analog

Title: Digital to Analog

Author: Evie Kiels

Publisher: Less Than Three Press

Length: 4,600 words

Rating: 3.5 Quills

Tags: contemporary, short, sweet, friends to lovers, online relationship

Blurb

College is not proving to be exactly all it's cracked up to be for Seth. His only relief from classes, loneliness, and asshole peers is his online friend, Atropos. But even that is a problem because Atropos is also one of the assholes he hates most, leaving Seth confused as to who is more authentic: the asshole from class or the friend online.

Then Seth slips up, and he fears he may have ruined the only good thing he had ...

Review

Seth has been talking online with Atropos for over a year and found himself falling in love with his online companion. One problem: In real life Atropos is the asshole who seems to always be tormenting him at school. This seems like a recipe for disaster. Until we find out that Atropos' real life persona may not be making fun of Seth for the most apparent reasons. As soon as he discovers Seth is the man behind the screen, he does everything he can to make this Valentine's Day special for both of them.

This was a short (14 pgs) sweet story. There were one or two places I had to suspend my disbelief a bit as the situations appeared unrealistic. However, if I am enjoying a story, I am more than willing to do so. The only place that stopped me in my tracks was when Seth was telling us how he figured out who Atropos was. I get how he figured out they were in the same class but the individual person. I read it three times and still don't know. That aside, I really liked this story. I was in the mood for something simple and romantic and Digital to Analog delivered. If you have 10-15 minutes to spare and want to read something that leaves you with a happy romantic glow, you should definitely read this story. 3.5 Quills.

You can find Digital to Analog at Less Than Three Press for $1.49 if you buy it by itself or you can buy it as a part of the Kiss Me Quick: Bundle 1 which comes with seven Kiss Me Quick shorts for $8.99 (this is essentially buy six get one free). 

Book of the Week - Ink

Title: Ink

Author: Isabelle Rowan

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 230 pages

Rating: 1 Quill

Tags: paranormal, vampire, contemporary, tattoos

Blurb

Roman centurion Dominic drew his last human breath during the time of Hadrian. In the centuries since, he’s seen much of the world change around him, but the vampire finds himself held captive in Melbourne, Australia, by his fascination with young, passionate, fun-loving, and alivetattoo artist Michael Chapman. Unable to resist the lure of Michael’s beauty, Dominic finds himself entering the parlor to get a tattoo he knows will fade.

The attraction he feels only grows, and despite Dominic’s extreme reluctance to get involved with a human, he and Michael form a bond—a connection that all too soon attracts the attention of a dark specter from Dominic’s bloody past. Soon, a dangerous game of cat and mouse threatens not only the budding romance, but also their humanity.

Review

First off, I must say I was not able to finish this book. I am having a hate on for Insta-love this week and I just couldn't deal with it. First of all, our vampire character is just "drawn" to our tattoo artist. Okay, that works. You can build on that. But then he just keeps making him forget until it doesn't work anymore. Then, even though our tattoo artist can't remember our vampire, he is drawn to our vampire. At some point during all this being drawn to each other they actually hang out for one night, in which our vampire almost gets incinerated cause he is an idiot and doesn't notice the sun is about to rise. Then, our vampire runs off and leaves our tattoo artist to his own devices and decides he want to commit suicide by sunlight. The idiocy continues until,a after knowing each other for maybe a week, our vampire turns our tattoo artist in a vampire. This is where I stopped reading.

I am not saying that no one could make me buy eternal love after a week but it was just not working for me in Ink. I will be finishing this book at some point because it was picked for me as a part of a challenge over at the Goodreads.com M/M Romance group. I will try to finish it when I am in a good mood and haven't read any good vampire books recently (e.g. Sunset). Whenever I finish I will come back and let you guys know my final eval (maybe it redeems itself in the second half, who knows...).  Since this is currently a dnf (did not finish) for me I am awarding it 1 Quill. If I ever finish it and change my mind I will update this review.

If you want to read this book to try to prove me wrong or perhaps just absolutely love vampire insta love stories (legitimate reading choice even if it is not my own) or you know, whatever, you can find Ink for $6.99 at Dreamspinner Press. Also, if you loved this book (or hated it or somewhere in between), please comment. I'd love to hear what others thought. =)

Book of the Week - Sunset

Title: Pact Arcanum Book One - Sunset

Author: Arshad Ahsanuddin

Publisher: Smashwords

Length: 145,000 words

Rating: 4.5 Quills

Tags: paranormal, vampires, fantasy, law enforcement, musician, second love, spy, alternate world

Blurb

By Day

Los Angeles, 2040. When the terrorist known as Medusa threatens to kill millions with a stolen nuclear bomb, Nick Jameson makes a fateful decision. He reveals himself on global television as a Daywalker – a vampire with a soul. To save Los Angeles, Nick exposes not only his own gifts but three separate cultures based on millennia-old magic. 

By Night

The three metahuman races exist in careful balance, working to maintain a fragile peace. Nick and his fellow Daywalkers successfully master their natural bloodlust. The Sentinels, armed with both magic and steel, repress their warlike instincts. And even some Nightwalkers, normally their natural enemies, have deserted the Court of Shadows to join the triple alliance. Nick Jameson is deeply involved with two such Nightwalkers – handsome Lorcan and powerful Rory. Both men love Nick. But neither can protect the new Ambassador to Humanity from the events he has set in motion.

By the Sword

Jeremy Harkness was lured into Medusa’s service under false pretenses. A loner with no one and nothing to cling to, he was willing to die for his cause. But the night Medusa tried to obliterate Los Angeles, Jeremy met Nick Jameson, triggering the onset of his own psychic gifts. For Jeremy is the third race of metahuman, a Sentinel, born to kill the Nightwalkers with no quarter asked or offered. And neither Medusa nor the Court of Shadows will settle for peace when they can make war…

Review

Nick is forced to reveal not only his powers but the existence of supernatural beings to the whole world on national television in order to prevent a group of terrorists from blowing up a nuclear bomb. This is the start of this action packed story. In the end he befriends one of the terrorists, Jeremy, when it is revealed he is a latent sentinel and was just awakened. Sunset is a story that seems beyond categorizations. It is a fantasy novel filled with ancient vampires, power filled sentinels with genetic memory to kill those same vampires. It is a science fiction romp with space flying and futuristic weapons. It is an espionage thriller with layers of deceit and alliance that are ever shifting. And it is a romance in which you can never really decide who you want to win the final affections of our main characters. But more importantly, this was an engrossing and engaging read that I would highly recommend.

Arshad built a comprehensive world that you can just imagine yourself in as you read through the pages. And more importantly, he filled it with a cast of characters that you can't help but fall in love with. They are stupid and arrogant and do all the wrong things for all the right reasons but then they are caring and self-sacrificing and genuinely awesome. 

However, there were a few jarring moments. I was a bit confused and possibly overwhelmed by the romantic triangle (square?) with Rory, Lorcan and Jeremy all being in love with Nick. Rory and Lorcan's obsession with Nick did not seem to add to the story and just muddied the waters. Perhaps more with this plotline will be revealed later in the series and I will discover why it was absolutely necessary but as is I think the story would have been better without this strange arc. There were a few other minor details that pulled me out, such as it seemed that almost every one of the main characters used to be an internationally acclaimed musical artist. It wasn't bad, just odd. 

Nevertheless, despite these few jarring moments/plotlines I absolutely loved this book. It had the kind of in depth plot, world building and character development that is missing in a lot of books these days. 4.5 Quills.

You can find Sunset (Pact Arcanum #1) for $3.99 at Smashwords. So go out and read it!!!

Book of the Week - Holiday Matinee

Title: Holiday Matinee

Author: Elizabeth Lister

Publisher: MLR Press

Length: 21 pages

Rating: 3.5 Quills

Tags: bdsm, holiday, toys, contemporary, short

Blurb

Jack Claridge has been dating Professor Michael Donovan for a couple of months. When Michael discovers that Jack has never seen The Nutcracker, he insists on purchasing expensive seats for a performance by the prestigious Winnipeg Ballet. During the production, Jack and Michael relive their initial encounter at the National Arts Centre and experience a resurgence of the intense feelings that brought them together. What begins as a relaxing afternoon at the theatre ends up as a passionate exchange at Michael's apartment involving some early Christmas gifts and an unexpected proposal.

Review

This holiday short was written as a part of the MLR Press's Story a Day for the Holidays 2011 package. Jack and Michael have been dating for about two months and remember the first time they met as they attend a showing of the Nutcracker at the same location. They tease each other all through the show and then dinner. Then Michael gives Jack a few early Christmas presents for them to play with together.

This was short, hot little Christmas story. At about 12 pdf pages, it is difficult to really delve into any relationship. However, I found myself pleasantly brought along for the ride as Jack and Michael moved to the next stage of their relationship. I won't tell you how cause I wouldn't want to give away spoilers. ;) Just a slight warning to readers. There is a light bdsm aspect to this story, as our two MC's play with their toys. I will read just about anything as long as the authors sells it well within the given relationship (Elizabeth did) but I know that is something some readers feel strongly about avoiding. Overall, I enjoyed this holiday interlude. However, as I almost always say with stories this short, I wish I could have gotten to know Jack and Michael a little better. So I am giving the sexy story a solid 3.5 Quills. Go indulge yourself with one more holiday treat before the season is completely over. =)

You can find Holiday Matinee for $0.99 at MLR Press.

ETA: Your friendly neighborhood reviewer is sometimes at idiot. =) Apparently this story is a follow up with characters from the novella length story, The Crush. You can find this book for $5.99, also at MLR Press. I do not have the time to go and read this right now and re-review but hopefully when you read Holiday Matinee you will be curious to go back and see how the couple got together. So go forth and read my followers!!!

Book of the Week - Admit One

Title: Admit One

Author: Jenna Hilary Sinclair

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 350 pages

Rating: 4 Quills

Tags: teacher, theater, banker, angst, contemporary

Blurb

When high school teacher Tom Smith meets Kevin Bannerman at a gay club, he violates his own rule: one-night stands only. But when the weekend is over, he walks away, reminding himself that he lives a deeply closeted life for painful, compelling reasons. He keeps his secrets, his heart, and the cause of his crippled arm to himself, but almost immediately he bitterly regrets leaving Kevin. Months later, while Tom serves as reluctant assistant director for his school's production of Rent, he fears that the show's same-sex love angle will somehow out him. Protests against the play begin, one of the student actors is harassed, and during a parents' meeting, Tom encounters Kevin again. This time Tom can't fight the attraction between them, and he and Kevin begin a tentative relationship. Within Rent's message of acceptance and support, and as local churches oppose the play, Tom struggles to find the strength to admit one man into his heart.

Review

"Give in to love or live in fear. No other path. No other way." This is the story about a man who has been hiding in fear for almost 15 years. He was hurt and betrayed by the one person he thought he could count on. He has been living half a life making due with a highly satisfying job and no personal connections. Until one night he meets someone he can't get out of his head. He runs away time after time until somehow this man crawls under his skin and won't leave.

This is a story about the healing power of love, the strength we often can't see in ourselves and how it is never too late to overcome our fears. I fell in love with the two main characters in this story but this story would not have been what it is without it's spectacular cast of side characters. The students in the play, the director, Kevin's daughter were all well written, engaging characters who added immeasurably to this story. 

While I did love this story, it had a few pacing issues. It is quite a long story (459 pdf pages) and I think that some of the back and forth at the beginning could have been cut. I did like the slow reveal of what happened with Tom and Sean in the past. I also would have loved to see more of Tom's brother, Grant. He had such a pivotal role in Tom's life but we barely got to know him at all.

So, overall, I give this story 4 Quills. It was an amazing read but had just a few places where it dragged and a few places where it was a little thin.  But do not let this turn you away because if you do, you will miss a story well worth the reading.

You can find Admit One for $6.99 at Dreamspinner Press.

Book of the Week - Zombie Wonderland

Title: Zombie Wonderland
Author: Piper Vaughn
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Length: 15,400 words
Rating: 4 Quills
Tags: paranormal, zombies, holiday, action, short

Blurb

Nothing says Christmas like droves of the undead...

All Emery wants for Christmas is someone to share it with. It looks like he might finally be getting his wish in Ross, the sexy customer he's been crushing on for months. But neither of them counted on the zombies, or on being caught in the worst blizzard in half a century. Even with a plan for contending with the zombie hordes, surviving will take a miracle.

It's not exactly how Emery dreamed of spending Christmas with Ross, but he can’t think of a better way to spend a zombie apocalypse. 


Review

Emery is feeling lonely because the diner customer he has been crushing on for the last few months has not come by tonight. It's not unexpected because it is Christmas Eve. Much to Emery's surprise, Ross bursts into the diner just a few minutes later, followed by....a Zombie.

I particularly liked this book because the zombies are zombies. They are undead creatures who eat brains, are hard to kill and look gross. There are none of those zombies with a heart of gold or zombies who really remember who they are...deep down inside. Yay for slicing up zombies with butcher knives and running them over with cars!!!

This is a zombie apocalypse tale worthy of the title. Add to that Ross' sweet and capable need to keep Emery safe and Emery's determination and trust, you get a m/m romance tale also worthy of the title. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you are tired of overly sappy and ridiculous holiday stories that abound this time of year!!! 4 Quills.

PS If there is ever a real zombie apocalypse I am totally headed over to Ross' cabin. Guns, a generator and lots of man love, what more could you ask for? =)

You can buy Zombie Wonderland for $3.99 at Less Than Three Press.

Book of the Week - Infected: Freefall

Title: Infected: Freefall (Book 4)

Author: Andrea Speed

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 343 pages

Rating: 4.5 Quills

Tags: paranormal, shifter, detective, mystery, second love, artist

Blurb

In a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective trying to solve crimes involving other infecteds.

Conceived bearing the lion strain of the virus, Roan is the only fully functioning virus child in the country—maybe in the world. But that doesn’t mean he’s okay. He’s still struggling with the death of his husband and the guilt of finding new love; his old enemy, the Church of the Divine Transformation, is becoming increasingly hostile; and he’s taken on a tragic cold case involving a long-missing boy.

As Roan fights to control the lion inside him, his world explodes with all kinds of trouble. The leader of the church is ramping up the violence against him, calling Roan out as a traitor to his kind. There’s a loose Infected terrorizing the city. And Holden, male prostitute and Roan’s unofficial assistant, brings him a case involving the suspicious death of one of Holden’s clients, which puts Roan far too close to a murderer for his state of mind....

Review

Freefall is a continuation of Roan's story and it is a wonderfully rich addition. Normally, I am all about the HEA when I am reading. I feel let down when I don't get it and will often eschew authors who I know won't give it to me. It must be a testament to her skill that despite almost never giving me a traditional or partial happy ending, I keep coming back for more of the Infected series.

The brilliance of this series is that is not merely a paranormal story or merely a detective story or merely a romance. It is a series about Roan's life. He happens to be a private detective were-cat with somewhat of a roller coaster of a love life. We are let into every aspect of his life and the lives of those around him. Andrea paints a picture of a complete world. What, in other books, might come across as meaningless minutiae, in this book, comes across as world building of the most epic and beautiful and simple kind.

Roan is such a tragically, humanly, wonderfully flawed character that you can't help loving him while at the same time pulling your hair out as you watch him do one stupidly heroic macho thing after another. Furthermore, (spoilers ahead) after reading about him with Paris for two books and crying along side him as he spirals into a deep dark place after Paris dies, it almost seems like there could be no hope for him. But Andrea brings you along on his painfully slow journey of healing (which is by no means complete yet) and allows Roan to become more than just a character on the page. He crawls into your heart, along with his hopelessly loveable band of friends and won't let go. This book gets and unreserved 4.5 Quill rating.

On one final note, the cover art for this series is some of the most hauntingly creepily beautiful work I have ever seen.

Again, you can find Infected: Freefall for $6.99 at Dreamspinner Press.

Book of the Week - Bear, Otter and the Kid

Title: Bear, Otter, & the Kid

Author: T.J. Klune

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 350 pages

Rating: 4 Quills

Tags: family drama, kids, angst, in the closet, contemporary

Blurb

Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living—with a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that. Until Otter comes home.

Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect. This time, though, there’s nowhere to run from the depth of emotion between them. Bear still believes his place is as the Kid’s guardian, but he can’t help thinking there could be something more for him in the world... something or someone.

Review

This is the story of one man's struggles to keep his family together. He must realize that he is not alone and his family is larger than he ever expected. Three years ago, Bear's mom left him to raise his little brother on his own. Since then, he has been doing the best he can to provide a loving stable environment for the Kid, all the while missing the one person who makes him feel like home. When Otter finally returns and they are forced to admit their feelings for each other, fireworks ensue, and not just the good kind.

I had avoided this book for quite awhile because it was so hyped up. I tend to purposely ignore "it" books until they have lasted for awhile. However, this book deserved the hype. I started reading it, planning just to start it for a few minutes before bed. 4 am rolled around and I was just finishing it. The characters drew me in and would not let me go. I experienced a whole gamut of emotions from tears to laugh out loud moments to wanting to rip my hair and knock some sense into Bear and Otter. 

However, my one complaint is that the "big misunderstanding" felt a little contrived. I get that he was being threatened and felt there was no way out but it seemed a little over the top how that played out (no spoilers here though). Despite imperfect characters and a few over-worked moments, this book is a gem. 4 Quills.

You can find Bear, Otter and the Kid at Dreamspinner Press for $6.99.

Book of the Week - In the Darkness

Title: In the Darkness

Author: Charles Edward

Publisher: LooseID

Length: 177 pages

Rating: 4 Quills

Tags: fantasy, first time, demons, magic

Blurb

Gareth is his parents’ dirty secret: Cursed with a demonic appearance, he has always been in hiding just to stay alive. He must never be seen or his family will die. But when a violent attack endangers a local youth -- whom Gareth adores from the shadows -- there is no one else to help, and Gareth is driven to risk everything to save him.

Now the young man, Evin, wants to know more about this terrifying and beautiful stranger. Where did he come from? Is he a demon, or something more? They begin to meet in the darkness, becoming friends and then lovers. Evin’s sexual exploration and adoration of every part of Gareth’s strange body erase fear and self-loathing; and Gareth’s enthusiasm and prowess make every tryst more powerful, more deliriously sensual than the last.

But there is a purpose to Gareth’s existence, and when it is revealed, Evin and Gareth will be enslaved by rivals, separated to end up on opposite sides of a war. Evin will be forced to play a dangerous role: One which may make him Gareth’s destroyer.

Review

This is the story of Gareth, who has been hidden away his whole life by his parents because of his "demon-like" appearance and Evin, a boy just turned man who has been abused his whole life and always felt left out. Gareth is unfailingly kind and naive in the sweetest sense. He is loyal and true of heart, if occasionally misguided. Evin is slightly jaded but still open to the unexpected when he is saved by Gareth.

The first half of the book was sweet as they got to know each other and I spent the second half of the book on tenterhooks, wondering when they would find each other again. The simple joy at finding each other and then the exquisite pain at their separation is palpable when reading and my heart broke for Gareth and Evin as I was reading. But never fear, there is a happy ending, and one I never would have expected from Evin. ;) 

I know that there has been some discussion about there being on screen m/f action in this book. There was, but very limited in detail and only to demonstrate the evil machinations of the queen. This was not an m/f romance plot by any means. All the romance is between our two boys.

So now for what you have been waiting for.....I give this book a solid 4 Quills. Go forth and read it!!

You can find In the Darkness By Charles Edward at Loose ID for $7.99!

Book of the Week - The Girl for Me

Title: The Girl For Me
Author: Failte
Publisher: Fictionpress
Length: 268 pages
Rating: 4 Quills
Tags: high school, athlete, cross dressing, first time, contemporary

Blurb

Straight jockboy Kevin thinks he has gay, cross-dressing Danny under his thumb. Kevin only likes girls.

So... why does he keep thinking about her?

Or him.

Whatever.

Review

All I can say to begin with is, "Wow." This is the story of two high schoolers trying to figure out who they are. I think it highlights the fact that there aren't necessarily discrete boxes in which people's sexuality fit into. Danny, or Dani, depending on how s/he is feeling that day, struggles with fitting in with what s/he perceives as trans. Kevin struggles first with realizing he might be attracted to a guy and then with having that guy being confused with his own identity. This story was heart warming at times and brought into the light the struggles many people have to deal with. These two get into any number of hijinks that only high schoolers can find themselves in and occasionally you want to smack one or the other of them upside the head just for being a teenager but overall you can't help but loving these two characters.


I did have one issue with the story. ALERT - SPOILER COMING BELOW.

In one scene, Kevin gets very excited and doesn't listen when Dani says no and Dani is hurt. This scene was relatively explicit and could be too far for some readers. I was torn reading this because I felt that Kevin had unforgivably violated Dani. I will not say how this was resolved, but, thankfully, it was not ignored.  I am not sure how realistically I was able to engage the end of the book because of this though. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and feel that it portrays the gender and sexuality struggles of many teens very well. Despite some of my misgivings, I would still highly recommend this book and give it a 4 Quill rating.

You can find it for free at Fictionpress. I'd love to hear from you if you decide to read this book. =)

Book of the Week - Grown Men

Title: HardCell #1 - Grown Men

Author: Damon Suede

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Length: 95 pages

Rating: 4 Quills

Tags: sci fi, futuristic, first time, isolated/desert island, series

Blurb

Every future has dirty roots.

Marooned in the galactic backwaters of the HardCell company, colonist Runt struggles to eke out an existence on a newly-terraformed tropical planetoid. Since his clone-wife died on entry, he’s been doing the work of two on his failing protein farm. Overworked and undersized, Runt’s dwindling hope of earning corporate citizenship has turned to fear of violent “retirement.”

When an overdue crate of provisions crashes on his beach, Runt searches frantically for a replacement wife among the tools and food. Instead he gets Ox, a mute hulk who seems more like a corporate assassin than a simple offworld farmer.

Shackwacky and near-starving, Runt has no choice but to work with his silent partner despite his mounting paranoia and the unsettling appeal of Ox’s genetically altered pheromones. Ox plays the part of the gentle giant well, but Runt’s still not convinced he hasn’t arrived with murder in mind.

Between brutal desire and the seeds of a relationship, Runt’s fears and Ox’s inhuman past collide on a fertile world where hope and love just might have room to grow.

Review

I have to say that the first thing that struck me about this book was the intense world building. And I mean that in a good way, a wonderful way. Reading this book I could almost taste sea air of a distant planet in the Andromeda Galaxy. I could imagine the bio engineered animals scurrying around the beach. It was like I was transported into this world that was created by Damon's mind and come alive on the page.

As I jumped headfirst into the universe unfolding before me, I got to meet the prickly on the surface but open underneath, Runt, and the gentle giant with a secret past, Ox. Those of you who read Damon's Hot Summer Days Short, Seedy Business, will begin to recognize some of the back story before the end of this book but by no means must you have read Seedy Business in order to enjoy Grown Men.  For the first half of the book, I wondered how Damon was going to get these two together and if, in the end, it would be a matter of "I'm just so horny, I can't help myself." But I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of feeling and breadth of emotion these two displayed.

So, if you are in the mood for fun sci-fi story with a bit of quirk and real heart, Grown Men is definitely for you. 4 Quills.

You can purchase Grown Men at Riptide Publishing for $4.99.

Book of the Week - Deceived

Title: Deceived

Author: Megan Derr

Publisher: Less Than Three Press

Length: 88,000 words

Rating: 5 Quills

Tags: historical(ish), alternate world, anthology, royalty/nobility, family drama

Blurb

Five stories of men and the secrets and lies that shape their lives...

Review

First off, let me say that Megan Derr is a master of the short story. She always leaves me wanting more but feeling satisfied (Is that possible?). Deceived is no exception. Originally I waffled on whether to buy this book because I had read the first story, Deceived, while it was free on her website. However, the allure of four new stories in the same universe won out. Since last Wednesday when it was released I have re-read the whole thing once and parts of it three to four times.

I am not going to rehash the plot of each story here as that will force you to go forth and read in order to discover what happens in each of these stories about truths finally being revealed. While some of the situations the characters of these stories find themselves are improbable, that is what makes them all the more fun. Megan draws you into the world she has created and forces you to enjoy yourself there. Her main characters are stubborn and blind and sweet and loyal. They do the exact wrong thing for all the right reasons. They find themselves in situations beyond their ken and react badly but do so endearingly. Through the throwing of small objects, much yelling, misunderstandings, bad weather, lying relatives, smugglers and secret loves these ten men find the happily ever after they deserve. This collection of stories gets a solid 5 Quill rating. So go out and read it!!!!

Deceived can be found at Less Than Three Press for $6.99 in multiple formats.