Nov. 17th, 2008

reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
I bought this book as soon as it was out, but for a reason of the other I didn’t read it sooner. So I didn’t know that it was the last in the Campus Cravings series; I have opposite feelings about it: Campus Cravings was the first book in what I later called the gay soap-opera world of Carol Lynne, and again I want to highlight that for me it’s a strong point, not a fault, being a “soap-opera”. So obviously, I’m a little sad to see it finish, like you are when something you are familiar with ends. But rightly, it was probably the time; the series gave birth to a spin off, the Poker Night series, Zac, the first character of Poker Night is one of the football players Justin coached, and Campus Cravings also “married” with Cattle Valley, Bo, one of the cowboys of Cattle Valley is former lover and best friend with Lark, one of the students of Campus Cravings. So, it’s not really a farewell, but more a realization that it was the time to move to other beaches, the little college town of Campus Cravings it was becoming too crowded of handsome gay men to be manageable.

And it’s even more right that the last story has the same characters of the first, Luc, the single father, and Justin, his lover and coach of almost half the characters in the series. Luc and Justin are the perfect couple, handsome and middle age, they are the reference figure for all the other men in the series, the headlight they all seal around and the safe “house” they always head over when something is wrong. And so it’s also right that they give an example, managing to deal with a crisis that usually wrecks most couple. Justin, the strong man in the pair, has to face a stroke that leaves him with a temporary physical disability, but more than the body, it’s the soul that has the stronger punch. He has to face the realization that he is not immortal, that he has no all the answers, and that he is only a man, no more a leader.

On the other side Luc has to understand that he is strong also without Justin, but he is stronger with him. I like that Luc, even when the things are not good, never once let his love for Justin go, the love is always there, and Luc turns in the strong side of the relationship thanks to that love.

Live for Today is a very nice wrap up for the story, it’s the right dose of melancholy due to the fact that it’s a farewell, but overall it’s as sweet and romantic as it was the first book in the series.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=383

Amazon Kindle: Campus Cravings: Live for Today
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (November 17, 2008)

Series: Campus Cravings
1-2-3) Campus Cravings 1: On the Field: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/133792.html
4-5) Campus Cravings 2: Off the Field: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/165064.html
6-7) Campus Cravings 3: Back on Campus: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/232559.html
8-9) Campus Cravings 4: Dorm Life: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/305570.html
10-11) Campus Cravings 5: BK House: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/400580.html
12) Live for Today

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
I bought this book as soon as it was out, but for a reason of the other I didn’t read it sooner. So I didn’t know that it was the last in the Campus Cravings series; I have opposite feelings about it: Campus Cravings was the first book in what I later called the gay soap-opera world of Carol Lynne, and again I want to highlight that for me it’s a strong point, not a fault, being a “soap-opera”. So obviously, I’m a little sad to see it finish, like you are when something you are familiar with ends. But rightly, it was probably the time; the series gave birth to a spin off, the Poker Night series, Zac, the first character of Poker Night is one of the football players Justin coached, and Campus Cravings also “married” with Cattle Valley, Bo, one of the cowboys of Cattle Valley is former lover and best friend with Lark, one of the students of Campus Cravings. So, it’s not really a farewell, but more a realization that it was the time to move to other beaches, the little college town of Campus Cravings it was becoming too crowded of handsome gay men to be manageable.

And it’s even more right that the last story has the same characters of the first, Luc, the single father, and Justin, his lover and coach of almost half the characters in the series. Luc and Justin are the perfect couple, handsome and middle age, they are the reference figure for all the other men in the series, the headlight they all seal around and the safe “house” they always head over when something is wrong. And so it’s also right that they give an example, managing to deal with a crisis that usually wrecks most couple. Justin, the strong man in the pair, has to face a stroke that leaves him with a temporary physical disability, but more than the body, it’s the soul that has the stronger punch. He has to face the realization that he is not immortal, that he has no all the answers, and that he is only a man, no more a leader.

On the other side Luc has to understand that he is strong also without Justin, but he is stronger with him. I like that Luc, even when the things are not good, never once let his love for Justin go, the love is always there, and Luc turns in the strong side of the relationship thanks to that love.

Live for Today is a very nice wrap up for the story, it’s the right dose of melancholy due to the fact that it’s a farewell, but overall it’s as sweet and romantic as it was the first book in the series.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=383

Amazon Kindle: Campus Cravings: Live for Today
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (November 17, 2008)

Series: Campus Cravings
1-2-3) Campus Cravings 1: On the Field: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/133792.html
4-5) Campus Cravings 2: Off the Field: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/165064.html
6-7) Campus Cravings 3: Back on Campus: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/232559.html
8-9) Campus Cravings 4: Dorm Life: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/305570.html
10-11) Campus Cravings 5: BK House: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/400580.html
12) Live for Today

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
Director: Micha Wald

Writer: Micha Wald (writer)

Release Date: 19 May 2007 (Cannes Film Festival) - Voleurs de chevaux

Plot: In this epic adventure of vengeance, betrayal and love set in 1856, four young men (two pairs of brothers) cross paths in the savage wilderness of Eastern Europe.

The handsome, charismatic Jakub (Adrien Jolivet) and his fragile younger brother Vladimir (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) are swimming in a river one day, when the powerful and clever Roman (Grégoire Colin) and his nimble, younger brother Elias (François-René Dupont) sneak up and steal their horses. The deadly aftermath leads to a merciless manhunt and a most unexpected conclusion.

Offering a terrific showcase of some of France's best young acting talent, the film stars Grégoire Colin of Claire Denis' BEAU TRAVAIL and Catherine Breillat's SEX IS COMEDY, Adrien Jolivet of Gaël Morel's APRES LUI (AFTER HIM), Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet of André Techiné's STRAYED, and exciting newcomer François-René Dupont.

Colin, Jolivet and Leprince-Ringuet have all been nominated for "Most Promising Young Actor" in the César Awards (France's equivalent of the Academy Awards®).

@IMDb
@Amazon: In the Arms of My Enemy
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video 



Cast (in alphabetical order)
Grégoire Colin ... Roman
François-René Dupont ... Elias
Adrien Jolivet ... Jakub
Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet ... Vladimir
Corentin Lobet
Igor Skreblin
Mylène St-Sauveur ... Virina



reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
Director: Micha Wald

Writer: Micha Wald (writer)

Release Date: 19 May 2007 (Cannes Film Festival) - Voleurs de chevaux

Plot: In this epic adventure of vengeance, betrayal and love set in 1856, four young men (two pairs of brothers) cross paths in the savage wilderness of Eastern Europe.

The handsome, charismatic Jakub (Adrien Jolivet) and his fragile younger brother Vladimir (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) are swimming in a river one day, when the powerful and clever Roman (Grégoire Colin) and his nimble, younger brother Elias (François-René Dupont) sneak up and steal their horses. The deadly aftermath leads to a merciless manhunt and a most unexpected conclusion.

Offering a terrific showcase of some of France's best young acting talent, the film stars Grégoire Colin of Claire Denis' BEAU TRAVAIL and Catherine Breillat's SEX IS COMEDY, Adrien Jolivet of Gaël Morel's APRES LUI (AFTER HIM), Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet of André Techiné's STRAYED, and exciting newcomer François-René Dupont.

Colin, Jolivet and Leprince-Ringuet have all been nominated for "Most Promising Young Actor" in the César Awards (France's equivalent of the Academy Awards®).

@IMDb
@Amazon: In the Arms of My Enemy
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video 



Cast (in alphabetical order)
Grégoire Colin ... Roman
François-René Dupont ... Elias
Adrien Jolivet ... Jakub
Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet ... Vladimir
Corentin Lobet
Igor Skreblin
Mylène St-Sauveur ... Virina



reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
Pendant of Fortune is the sequel of Volle, the first book about the adventures of a fox spy in a medieval anthropomorphic fantasy world. The previous book ended with Volle, a spy from Ferrenis who managed to insinuate inside the royal palace of Tephos, feigning to be the lost son of one of their aristocrats. During his previous adventures, Volle fell in love with a young cougar who was killed; apart this brief romance, Volle is more a love them and leave them type of fox, he doesn't discriminate on the breed, only on the genre: he prefers his bedmate to be males. For duty, but not for pleasure, he procreated a cub, but the mating itself is an experience he prefers to forget.

Between Volle and Pendant of Fortune there is a novella, The Prisoner's Release, in which finally Volle meets his romance: his long-term enemy Dereath keeps in captivity Volle for five months, and then sends inside the dungeon a new type of torture, a beautiful white young male wolf, someone Volle can't resist... and he doesn't resist, but so does Streak, the young wolf, who falls in love with Volle, and helps him to escape. They spend some idyllic months in a country retreat till duty calls Volle again in Tephos.

Volle is quite comfort and happy living in a farm with Streak, but, truth be told, it's a bit boring. No excitement, no news... no possible new lovers! It's not that Volle doesn't like Streak, but he is not sure that he is ready to settle down with only one male. And so when presented with the chance to be again in action, Volle is more than willing to jump... but Streak is not ready to let him go! Volle decides to take Streak with him at Tephos, even if he knows that he will be more weak against his enemy. Because deep in his soul, Volle is a good boy, he cares for friends and family, he has not the hard core needed to be a real lethal spy.

The story is very well plotted, the duel between Volle and Dereath is enjoyable and with enough twists to take your attention high; plus there are also some funny supporting characters, like Nero and Archie, an anthropomorphic version of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. There is less sex than in the previous book, but what sex you have is more romantic: Volle is growing, and with that he has more wisdom... sex is no more a recreational activity. A little warning to the more skittish readers: there is also a rape scene, but fortunately it's brief and not very detailed... it's not gratuitous, it serves the plot.

A nice side note: Kyell Gold winks at the female readers of gay romance, when describes a funny event; while searching Volle's private rooms, the royal guards find some gay romance novels that become favorite reading of the female members of the court... Volle wonders what these females find of interesting in those gay romance... well, as a female gay romance reader, I can say that, while I found the previous book, Volle, interesting but with very few romance, Pendant of Fortune totally satisfies my romantic side.

http://www.sofawolf.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=56

Amazon: Pendant of Fortune

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Sara Palmer
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
Pendant of Fortune is the sequel of Volle, the first book about the adventures of a fox spy in a medieval anthropomorphic fantasy world. The previous book ended with Volle, a spy from Ferrenis who managed to insinuate inside the royal palace of Tephos, feigning to be the lost son of one of their aristocrats. During his previous adventures, Volle fell in love with a young cougar who was killed; apart this brief romance, Volle is more a love them and leave them type of fox, he doesn't discriminate on the breed, only on the genre: he prefers his bedmate to be males. For duty, but not for pleasure, he procreated a cub, but the mating itself is an experience he prefers to forget.

Between Volle and Pendant of Fortune there is a novella, The Prisoner's Release, in which finally Volle meets his romance: his long-term enemy Dereath keeps in captivity Volle for five months, and then sends inside the dungeon a new type of torture, a beautiful white young male wolf, someone Volle can't resist... and he doesn't resist, but so does Streak, the young wolf, who falls in love with Volle, and helps him to escape. They spend some idyllic months in a country retreat till duty calls Volle again in Tephos.

Volle is quite comfort and happy living in a farm with Streak, but, truth be told, it's a bit boring. No excitement, no news... no possible new lovers! It's not that Volle doesn't like Streak, but he is not sure that he is ready to settle down with only one male. And so when presented with the chance to be again in action, Volle is more than willing to jump... but Streak is not ready to let him go! Volle decides to take Streak with him at Tephos, even if he knows that he will be more weak against his enemy. Because deep in his soul, Volle is a good boy, he cares for friends and family, he has not the hard core needed to be a real lethal spy.

The story is very well plotted, the duel between Volle and Dereath is enjoyable and with enough twists to take your attention high; plus there are also some funny supporting characters, like Nero and Archie, an anthropomorphic version of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. There is less sex than in the previous book, but what sex you have is more romantic: Volle is growing, and with that he has more wisdom... sex is no more a recreational activity. A little warning to the more skittish readers: there is also a rape scene, but fortunately it's brief and not very detailed... it's not gratuitous, it serves the plot.

A nice side note: Kyell Gold winks at the female readers of gay romance, when describes a funny event; while searching Volle's private rooms, the royal guards find some gay romance novels that become favorite reading of the female members of the court... Volle wonders what these females find of interesting in those gay romance... well, as a female gay romance reader, I can say that, while I found the previous book, Volle, interesting but with very few romance, Pendant of Fortune totally satisfies my romantic side.

http://www.sofawolf.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=56

Amazon: Pendant of Fortune

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Sara Palmer

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