Without Sin by by J. Tomas

The bad boy and the angel girl, all church and home... It's quite a classical plot, only that here, the angel girl is an angel boy, better the altar boy, and bad boy Jacob sees him the first day at the boarding school where he was sent due to one fight more in public school. Jacob is 16 years old and he wouldn't be a bad student if not for the fact that he picks up too more fight, above all when someone call him names since he likes boys. Jacob has not a problem with liking boys, he is well beyond the phase when it was a doubt, now for him it is a sure thing, but Jacob is like a lot of other teenager, he is easily inflammable.

Avery instead is apparently a saint; but the truth is that he has mastered the skill to not listen to who he is around him. Avery has still one year left in boarding school and then he will be out at college. He made the mistake to have a thing with his roommate, someone who was not at all discreet and who left at the end of the previous year, leaving Avery to live with the consequences of his big mouth. Avery is only waiting for this year to pass, he is not for sure searching for another story inside the boarding school. But then he sees Jacob, and it's love at first sight. Even if Avery is older than an year and with more experience (he had sex 3 times...), he always falls in love: two times before he had a boyfriend, and two times he was in love and he was the first to say the L word. He swore to not do the same error again and then here he is, falling for the new guy since day one.

Jacob is for sure temperamental, but he is also very insecure; it's not that he hasn't a supportive family, they are not happy for him to be gay, but they are not even fiercely against the idea. When his father found out, when he was 14 years old, he beat him, and his mother cried, but then, they reached an unspoken agreement, a family don't ask, don't tell. I believe that most of the rage Jacob feels inside, is only a way for repressed feelings to come out, he has no one to speak to, and the only way he can "communicate" is through his fist. Jacob attacks the boys who call him names only since he still isn't at comfort with whom he is and with who he likes. And when he meets Avery, his balance, Jacob will manage to dissipate a bit of that repressed feelings.

On the other hand, Avery faces better the same situation, since he, first has the support of his mother, and second his a bit older than Jacob, and at that age one year is very important. Avery suffers from the jokes against him not since he is insecure, but since he is lonely; and when he meets Jacob, a soul mate and not before long, also a boyfriend, he fill that loneliness and he is content, he has enough to go through the last year in boarding school. Oh, he loves Jacob, no doubt, the boy is not only a convenience, but Avery knows that they are only teenagers, and what they feel now is only heightened by the feeling to be two alone against the world. When they will be out, when they will have the chance to meet someone else, what will happen then? But I have faith in Avery and Jacob and in their love, their story is so tender and sweet, that I can really believe that they will be happy together ever after.

Without Sin is a really romantic story, very suitable for young gay adult in love, but with that bit of romance with a much more adult feeling in it that can satisfy also an older reader. And then me, an older reader, I have always had a certain thing for young boys in uniform...

http://www.prizmbooks.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=46

Amazon: Without Sin

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Rose Lenoir

Without Sin by by J. Tomas

The bad boy and the angel girl, all church and home... It's quite a classical plot, only that here, the angel girl is an angel boy, better the altar boy, and bad boy Jacob sees him the first day at the boarding school where he was sent due to one fight more in public school. Jacob is 16 years old and he wouldn't be a bad student if not for the fact that he picks up too more fight, above all when someone call him names since he likes boys. Jacob has not a problem with liking boys, he is well beyond the phase when it was a doubt, now for him it is a sure thing, but Jacob is like a lot of other teenager, he is easily inflammable.

Avery instead is apparently a saint; but the truth is that he has mastered the skill to not listen to who he is around him. Avery has still one year left in boarding school and then he will be out at college. He made the mistake to have a thing with his roommate, someone who was not at all discreet and who left at the end of the previous year, leaving Avery to live with the consequences of his big mouth. Avery is only waiting for this year to pass, he is not for sure searching for another story inside the boarding school. But then he sees Jacob, and it's love at first sight. Even if Avery is older than an year and with more experience (he had sex 3 times...), he always falls in love: two times before he had a boyfriend, and two times he was in love and he was the first to say the L word. He swore to not do the same error again and then here he is, falling for the new guy since day one.

Jacob is for sure temperamental, but he is also very insecure; it's not that he hasn't a supportive family, they are not happy for him to be gay, but they are not even fiercely against the idea. When his father found out, when he was 14 years old, he beat him, and his mother cried, but then, they reached an unspoken agreement, a family don't ask, don't tell. I believe that most of the rage Jacob feels inside, is only a way for repressed feelings to come out, he has no one to speak to, and the only way he can "communicate" is through his fist. Jacob attacks the boys who call him names only since he still isn't at comfort with whom he is and with who he likes. And when he meets Avery, his balance, Jacob will manage to dissipate a bit of that repressed feelings.

On the other hand, Avery faces better the same situation, since he, first has the support of his mother, and second his a bit older than Jacob, and at that age one year is very important. Avery suffers from the jokes against him not since he is insecure, but since he is lonely; and when he meets Jacob, a soul mate and not before long, also a boyfriend, he fill that loneliness and he is content, he has enough to go through the last year in boarding school. Oh, he loves Jacob, no doubt, the boy is not only a convenience, but Avery knows that they are only teenagers, and what they feel now is only heightened by the feeling to be two alone against the world. When they will be out, when they will have the chance to meet someone else, what will happen then? But I have faith in Avery and Jacob and in their love, their story is so tender and sweet, that I can really believe that they will be happy together ever after.

Without Sin is a really romantic story, very suitable for young gay adult in love, but with that bit of romance with a much more adult feeling in it that can satisfy also an older reader. And then me, an older reader, I have always had a certain thing for young boys in uniform...

http://www.prizmbooks.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=46

Amazon: Without Sin

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Rose Lenoir

Loretta Chase: While Writing the Great American Novel

Ciao a tutte le mie amiche italiane!

I wish I could say everything in Italian, but I’m only a beginner student--and your beautiful language isn’t easy. Those prepositions! Those possessives! Mamma mia!

But I’ve always wanted to learn, and my 2008 book, YOUR SCANDALOUS WAYS, inspired me to take classes. This historical romance about a jaded spy and an unrepentant courtesan is set in Venice. My Regency era- 007, James Cordier, is half English and half Italian--and he and Francesca Bonnard exchange words in Italian, sometimes in anger, sometimes in passion, and sometimes to tease and joke. Discussions with my consultant in Italy reawakened my longing to learn the language. I know I’ll never be fluent, (and my accent might make you cry with pain) but I shall persevere. An Italian edition of this book is coming soon from Mondadori, and I’m looking forward to trying to read it.

Zoe Octavia Lexham, the heroine of my July 2009 book, DON’T TEMPT ME, is English, but after spending the last twelve years in a harem in Egypt, she’s not like other English girls. To survive, she learned all the arts of pleasing men--and completely forgot how to be a proper English lady. Now back in England, she’s a social outcast. The only one who can restore Zoe to her rightful place in Society is Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont. He’s tall, handsome, rich, powerful, witty . . . and stupendously lazy. Once she realizes that her future depends on a man who forgets her as soon as she’s out of his sight, Zoe does whatever it takes to get his attention--and the duke’s life suddenly become very exciting, indeed.

Right now I’m working on next year’s book, a spinoff of LORD PERFECT (which was released in Italian this month). It’s ten years later, and those two troublesome children, Peregrine and Olivia, have grown up--but some things haven’t changed at all.

I hope you’ll enjoy my books--and thank you for loving romance, in any language!

Loretta Chase

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/20521368/

Loretta Chase: While Writing the Great American Novel

Ciao a tutte le mie amiche italiane!

I wish I could say everything in Italian, but I’m only a beginner student--and your beautiful language isn’t easy. Those prepositions! Those possessives! Mamma mia!

But I’ve always wanted to learn, and my 2008 book, YOUR SCANDALOUS WAYS, inspired me to take classes. This historical romance about a jaded spy and an unrepentant courtesan is set in Venice. My Regency era- 007, James Cordier, is half English and half Italian--and he and Francesca Bonnard exchange words in Italian, sometimes in anger, sometimes in passion, and sometimes to tease and joke. Discussions with my consultant in Italy reawakened my longing to learn the language. I know I’ll never be fluent, (and my accent might make you cry with pain) but I shall persevere. An Italian edition of this book is coming soon from Mondadori, and I’m looking forward to trying to read it.

Zoe Octavia Lexham, the heroine of my July 2009 book, DON’T TEMPT ME, is English, but after spending the last twelve years in a harem in Egypt, she’s not like other English girls. To survive, she learned all the arts of pleasing men--and completely forgot how to be a proper English lady. Now back in England, she’s a social outcast. The only one who can restore Zoe to her rightful place in Society is Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont. He’s tall, handsome, rich, powerful, witty . . . and stupendously lazy. Once she realizes that her future depends on a man who forgets her as soon as she’s out of his sight, Zoe does whatever it takes to get his attention--and the duke’s life suddenly become very exciting, indeed.

Right now I’m working on next year’s book, a spinoff of LORD PERFECT (which was released in Italian this month). It’s ten years later, and those two troublesome children, Peregrine and Olivia, have grown up--but some things haven’t changed at all.

I hope you’ll enjoy my books--and thank you for loving romance, in any language!

Loretta Chase

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/20521368/

Behind the Cover: Cory and Catska Ench

Cory and Catska Ench are artists who happen to be married. Perhaps they were attracted to one anther’s art as much as to one another, because their visions are strangely complimentary.
 
Much of their work is illustrative, Cory’s tending toward complex fantasy, Catska’s towards the idealized human figure and landscape. These very talented painters must spend hours and days on their individual canvases. Each is rendered with meticulous care and precision.



( more pics )

 
Cory is an internationally recognized artists and designer with over 20 years of experience. He’s a fine artist, and illustrator, a digital artist, a muralist, and has done poster work for festivals such as Burning Man and Oregon Country Fair. His work is often on the cover of fantasy and science fiction magazines and books. Although he holds a degree in art, Cory says “I consider myself self-taught as in computer and representational painting.
 
Catska was born in Uzbekistan in 1978 and was trained as a child in her mother’s classical atelier. She has continued to study art independently through careful observation of nature, painting from life and learning from collaborative work with her husband.
 
Over the last eight years the couple has worked on various commissions that include cover art for Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine. Their most recent awards include a Chesley Award, 2008 (Best Magazine Cover), Spectrum 12 and Spectrum 14: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Arts; and Seattle, WA Norwescon 30 “Best of Show” and “People’s Choice Best in Show” awards.

http://www.enchgallery.com/

Behind the Cover: Cory and Catska Ench

Cory and Catska Ench are artists who happen to be married. Perhaps they were attracted to one anther’s art as much as to one another, because their visions are strangely complimentary.
 
Much of their work is illustrative, Cory’s tending toward complex fantasy, Catska’s towards the idealized human figure and landscape. These very talented painters must spend hours and days on their individual canvases. Each is rendered with meticulous care and precision.



( more pics )

 
Cory is an internationally recognized artists and designer with over 20 years of experience. He’s a fine artist, and illustrator, a digital artist, a muralist, and has done poster work for festivals such as Burning Man and Oregon Country Fair. His work is often on the cover of fantasy and science fiction magazines and books. Although he holds a degree in art, Cory says “I consider myself self-taught as in computer and representational painting.
 
Catska was born in Uzbekistan in 1978 and was trained as a child in her mother’s classical atelier. She has continued to study art independently through careful observation of nature, painting from life and learning from collaborative work with her husband.
 
Over the last eight years the couple has worked on various commissions that include cover art for Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine. Their most recent awards include a Chesley Award, 2008 (Best Magazine Cover), Spectrum 12 and Spectrum 14: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Arts; and Seattle, WA Norwescon 30 “Best of Show” and “People’s Choice Best in Show” awards.

http://www.enchgallery.com/

Best Unspoken by Bryl Tyne

Best Unspoken is a really short story, less than 20 pages and barely a night in the life of Rob and Levi, but it has some interesting points. Levi is a 25 years old social butterfly; in the space of the night we haven't the chance to understand what Levi does for living, we only know that he is living with Rob, a 44 years old high executive. Rob has the beautiful car, the beautiful apartment and the beautiful boy at this arm... and in a way Rob is also the classical "daddy" type: he takes his boy out and let him play with his buddy friends, also naughty games, since Rob knows that at the end of the night, Levi will come home with him.

All people around Levi, from his family to his friends, tell him that they don't understand how Levi can be with a reserved man like Rob; Levi is full of live, he likes to go out and dance, he likes to tease and be at the center of the stage, and Rob seems unmoved by Levi's behavior. But they have an agreement, an Levi knows that Rob is pretty much interested in what Levi does, Rob is always there, looking even if not talking. And what at a first glance can appear like a daddy and boy's relationship, in the private of their bedroom can reveal some unexpected turns, that work good since they are best unspoken. There is no need of words between Rob and Levi, they understand each other perfectly, and those few times when Levi doubts Rob, mostly due to the fact that Levi is young and probably wonders what Rob finds in him, Rob is always ready to prove to Levi that they are perfect together.

What is between Rob and Levi is one of the possible evolution of a May / December relationship; Rob proves to be a very wise man, since he can't break the wings of a young butterfly like Levi, but he knows that, if he let him fly around, Levi will always come back in his arms, if he is near and ready to welcome him back.

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=41

Amazon Kindle: Best Unspoken

Reading List:

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

Best Unspoken by Bryl Tyne

Best Unspoken is a really short story, less than 20 pages and barely a night in the life of Rob and Levi, but it has some interesting points. Levi is a 25 years old social butterfly; in the space of the night we haven't the chance to understand what Levi does for living, we only know that he is living with Rob, a 44 years old high executive. Rob has the beautiful car, the beautiful apartment and the beautiful boy at this arm... and in a way Rob is also the classical "daddy" type: he takes his boy out and let him play with his buddy friends, also naughty games, since Rob knows that at the end of the night, Levi will come home with him.

All people around Levi, from his family to his friends, tell him that they don't understand how Levi can be with a reserved man like Rob; Levi is full of live, he likes to go out and dance, he likes to tease and be at the center of the stage, and Rob seems unmoved by Levi's behavior. But they have an agreement, an Levi knows that Rob is pretty much interested in what Levi does, Rob is always there, looking even if not talking. And what at a first glance can appear like a daddy and boy's relationship, in the private of their bedroom can reveal some unexpected turns, that work good since they are best unspoken. There is no need of words between Rob and Levi, they understand each other perfectly, and those few times when Levi doubts Rob, mostly due to the fact that Levi is young and probably wonders what Rob finds in him, Rob is always ready to prove to Levi that they are perfect together.

What is between Rob and Levi is one of the possible evolution of a May / December relationship; Rob proves to be a very wise man, since he can't break the wings of a young butterfly like Levi, but he knows that, if he let him fly around, Levi will always come back in his arms, if he is near and ready to welcome him back.

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=41

Amazon Kindle: Best Unspoken

Reading List:

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

Mourning Doves by Angela Romano

First of all this book has a wonderful cover, second this is not a romance. So if you start it with the idea to read a kinky story of furry lovers, with the cute boy in the cover as player, think twice. I'm not saying that the book is not good, I'm saying that this is more like one of those futuristic - sci-fic novels aimed to a very young target, or to who still likes to play with videogame and read manga, even if they are no more teenager.

Mourning Doves is the entertwined story of three couple; to par condicio, one couple is gay and one couple is lesbian, and the other couple is not a "couple" in the common use of the word, and it's almost a shame, since they are the one on the cover and two I would really like to see together. Anyway the story start with Leander, son of a genetic change, born half fox and half human, with the ability to shift in a full fox, but when he is human he remains with cute fox ears and tails; Leander works for a special agency, a paramilitary organization called TASK, and he is partner with Epsilon. On the contrary of Leander, Epsilon was born a full human, but he was subjected to some genetic experiments when he was still a child, and now he has even more powers than Leander; when he shifts, he becomes an impressive black wolf, but when he is human, he doesn't sport any evidence of his inner beast. Leander and Epsilon are actually the main characters of the story, but they are not life partner; they have a very strong bond, that could lead one of the them to death if forcefully torn apart from his partner, but there is not sexual sparks between them. On the other hand, nor Leander or Epsilon are searching someone else outside their couple: it seems almost like they don't have the normal urges that push men and animals to mate, like they are enough for each other even if they don't share a sexual bond.

The romance part of the book is slightly fulfilled by the other two couples; Wolf and Mercedes are long lost lovers that contingent events allow to meet again, and they are not sure if they have to take this second chance. There is some sparks between Wolf and Mercedes, even a sketchy sex scene in a shower, but nothing of explicit; nevertheless the reader knows that they are having a sexual relationship.

Even less details for the second couple of the story, Madison and Alexandria; they meet at the beginning of the book, Alex is the one who calls the Agency to help her with her former lover turned bad hunter; she is in danger and the Agency takes care of her... through an almost reticent Madison. Madison and Alex shares the only kiss in the book, and they are the sweet side of the story, even if, truly, their story is a fait accompli.

There is a lot of adventures, hunting parties, kidnapping, heroic gestures... but not so much love. I was really hoping in the last scene between Leander and Epsilon, and instead... maybe the author is planning to write something more? To finally give a romance also to them? At this moment, as I said, this one is for sure a good YA book or an adventure book for adults who don't care too much for the smushy parts (since here he will find very few of them).

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/currenttitles/mourningdoves/mourningdovesbuynow.htm

Amazon Kindle: Mourning Doves

Amazon: Mourning Doves

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Mourning Doves by Angela Romano

First of all this book has a wonderful cover, second this is not a romance. So if you start it with the idea to read a kinky story of furry lovers, with the cute boy in the cover as player, think twice. I'm not saying that the book is not good, I'm saying that this is more like one of those futuristic - sci-fic novels aimed to a very young target, or to who still likes to play with videogame and read manga, even if they are no more teenager.

Mourning Doves is the entertwined story of three couple; to par condicio, one couple is gay and one couple is lesbian, and the other couple is not a "couple" in the common use of the word, and it's almost a shame, since they are the one on the cover and two I would really like to see together. Anyway the story start with Leander, son of a genetic change, born half fox and half human, with the ability to shift in a full fox, but when he is human he remains with cute fox ears and tails; Leander works for a special agency, a paramilitary organization called TASK, and he is partner with Epsilon. On the contrary of Leander, Epsilon was born a full human, but he was subjected to some genetic experiments when he was still a child, and now he has even more powers than Leander; when he shifts, he becomes an impressive black wolf, but when he is human, he doesn't sport any evidence of his inner beast. Leander and Epsilon are actually the main characters of the story, but they are not life partner; they have a very strong bond, that could lead one of the them to death if forcefully torn apart from his partner, but there is not sexual sparks between them. On the other hand, nor Leander or Epsilon are searching someone else outside their couple: it seems almost like they don't have the normal urges that push men and animals to mate, like they are enough for each other even if they don't share a sexual bond.

The romance part of the book is slightly fulfilled by the other two couples; Wolf and Mercedes are long lost lovers that contingent events allow to meet again, and they are not sure if they have to take this second chance. There is some sparks between Wolf and Mercedes, even a sketchy sex scene in a shower, but nothing of explicit; nevertheless the reader knows that they are having a sexual relationship.

Even less details for the second couple of the story, Madison and Alexandria; they meet at the beginning of the book, Alex is the one who calls the Agency to help her with her former lover turned bad hunter; she is in danger and the Agency takes care of her... through an almost reticent Madison. Madison and Alex shares the only kiss in the book, and they are the sweet side of the story, even if, truly, their story is a fait accompli.

There is a lot of adventures, hunting parties, kidnapping, heroic gestures... but not so much love. I was really hoping in the last scene between Leander and Epsilon, and instead... maybe the author is planning to write something more? To finally give a romance also to them? At this moment, as I said, this one is for sure a good YA book or an adventure book for adults who don't care too much for the smushy parts (since here he will find very few of them).

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/currenttitles/mourningdoves/mourningdovesbuynow.htm

Amazon Kindle: Mourning Doves

Amazon: Mourning Doves

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain