My Vampire and I by J.P. Bowie

My Vampire and I by J.P. Bowie

Marcus is an eighteen hundreds years old vampire. He was a roman warrior, son of a Senator, and he was turned when he was 25 five years old, so now he is a rather handsome vampire. He lost a lover in the past, but now he is again on the prowl since for centuries he is dreaming of a new lover and now is the time to claim him.

Roger is a 24 year old guy with a rather simple life. Good friends, a pretty cute image and a steady work, he is quite enamored with himself. But when he meets Marcus he suddenly falls for this handsome vampire, since he always has had a thing for vampires and co. But some enemies from Marcus' past are not so willing to allow him to rebuild a life together with Roger.

I think J.P. Bowie wanted to write a good mix between paranormal and comedy. Roger is the classical "queen": while Marcus is telling his rather sad story life, all Roger could think is how cool it's to have a vampire lover; while Marcus is trying to explain to Roger the pro and contro of turning vampire, all Roger could think is how well hung is his new boyfriend and how all his friends will die for jealousy.

Well, so,maybe I'm a bit too harsh with poor Roger: he is not a bad guy, he is young and in love, and then he has the chance to have a wonderful and immortal life with an hunk like Marcus, something he has never thought possible for an average guy like him.

Marcus and Roger's relationship is quite a master and pet's one, but Marcus is not a dom for choice, he is only the stronger in the couple and so he takes the lead. But Roger is quite an imp, iperactive and sometime naivee, very tender and cute.

All in all My Vampire and I is more funny than suspence, and for me is a good thing. I was expecting a more classical vampire story, a bit angst and sad, and instead it's a comedy where in the end neither the evil ones are so scary.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/3j5uso694076/Gay-and-Lesbian/My-Vampire-and-I/p-75-242/

Amazon Kindle: My Vampire and I

My Vampire Lover by J.P. Bowie

Usually in a vampire story the Vampire is a strong and powerful man who lures and loves the innocent and naivee boy. My Vampire Lover turns the tables. Jean-Claude was a French artist of the end of the nineteen century; he didn't choose to become a vampire, he was seduced and betrayed by a man he admired, an artist like him. When he awakened as vampire, he was scared and helpless and his master abandoned him. A gentle and caring friend helped him to migrate to New World and Jean-Claude started a new life and also found the help of Marcus, who will be a good friend but not a lover.

Today Jean-Claude is drawn by Ron, a gentle man he sees every night from the window of his apartment. Ron manages the Italian restaurant around the corner and all in all he is a quite ordinary man, not someone who could steal the looks. But Jean-Claude sees something in him... I think he sees comfort and company, and also a man who can protect him! Yes, the vampire is lured by a man stronger than him. Obviously, Ron is stronger only if we consider the normal skill for a human, Jean-Claude is always a vampire, and he has special powers that makes him immortal and almost invincible. But still in their relationship, Ron is the leading man. As before with his friend Henry and then with Marcus, Jean-Claude is not a leader, he is the perfect picture of an artist, someone who can't relate with the day-to-day routine of life, someone who need a firm hand to address him.

My Vampire Lover is a little less funny than My Vampire and I, the two stories were released together in print form. But both are easy, smooth and enjoyable, not at all angst like so many vampire stories before.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/3j5uso694076/Gay-and-Lesbian/My-Vampire-Lover/p-75-252/

Amazon Kindle: My Vampire Lover (My Vampire and I)

Amazon: My Vampire and I (Vol. 1)
Paperback: 324 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010823
ISBN-13: 978-1907010828

Reading List:

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




Cover Art by Anne Cain

Regularly Scheduled Life by K.A. Mitchell

Have ever wondered what happens after an happily ever after? And when love seems to be too much to bear?

Kyle and Sean are a perfect couple. They met in college and had an affair of a couple of nights, but Kyle was too young and maybe still wanted to "play" around; and so Sean let him grow up and when they met a second time Sean was more insistent. After a close wooing, Sean staked his claim and convinced Kyle to move to Small Town USA to live in a marriage bliss. Now six years later they are like sugar for a rot, they are almost unbearable for how much happy they are... or not? The changes Kyle had to do, the jealousy of Sean, the little trouble from two apparently supportive families... are they all boiling under the surface waiting to blow up?

The domino effect is a tragic event: Sean is a teacher in an high school and a student gone mad starts a shooting; before Sean has the chance to stop him, the boy killed three person, one of them a little girl. Aside the fact that Sean shouldn't be the one assigned to stop him, nevertheless he feels guilty to not stop him in time. Obviously he becomes an hero and hearing all the people around him telling so maybe alleviates that sense of guilty: if everyone thinks he is an hero, maybe they are right and he is wrong, since inside himself Sean thinks he hasn't done enough, and the few people that accuse him seem to have a strong voice.

And Kyle? Since now he was the one to need reassurance; he is the man who was wooed and coaxed, and maybe he needs to stay in center stage to feel important: him, the hispanic-italian guy from a family with too much sons to make them feel all important, now has a lover who thinks he is the sun and that all turn around him... till the day the sun is shut down, and Kyle finds himself in the role of the caretaker. And maybe Sean, once in a time, finds nice to be the object of such devotion.

This good perspective on the situation is given to the reader and not to the main characters, since nor Sean or Kyle voice their uneasiness for the situation and for more than half the book try to hide it behind the sexual chemistry that never lack to them. But when also the sex is no more enough, Kyle and Sean will have to understand that going back is not possible, above all since what they had maybe was not as perfect as they thought.

The book is pretty long, 300 pages, and it's not a story you can read in an hurry. It's not light but it's not even too angst: I like that K.A. Mitchell manages to recreate a believable conflict between the two men without never make them forget that they are in love and so they still care for each other and don't want to make the other suffer. In comparison to the previous stories I read by the same author, in this one she seemed more contained, less flirty. Not that in the other stories she had not faced important matters (like parenthood for a gay father), but this work looks more complete.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/regularly-scheduled-life

Amazon Kindle: Regularly Scheduled Life

Amazon: Regularly Scheduled Life

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Campus Cravings 5: BK House by Carol Lynne

Hershie’s Kiss (Campus Cravings) by Carol Lynne

Another little step in the Campus Cravings soap opera. We just knew that Charlie, the supervisor of the all gay KB dorm, and Jack, the retired Marine and now cook, were lovers. And we also knew that, after an hot encounter on the kitchen table, Jack disappeared.

Now Jack is come back, with a fifteen years old son! And Charlie doesn't know if he is ready to be a lover AND a stepfather... plus Charlie has the impression that Jack is ashamed of him: they go pretty well on bed (and actually on any other surfaces) but Jack never once asked Charlie out. And Charlie has had the same experience in the past, with his family, a family ashamed of a blind son... or not? Since Charlie, who was always convinced to be a pure African American man, discovers thanks to Jack, that maybe this is not the real story: green eyes and straight hair don't match good with a pureblood African American. And so Charlie finds out that there is a secret in his past and he needs to go back to Los Angeles to investigate; he also needs Jack's support, but the man can't leave his newfound son alone...

As always, in a Carol Lynne's book, there is a lot of sex, a free enjoyment of life and a big social issue; in this case it's the relationship between a blind man and his lover, but also between a single gay father and his lover. Both problems are dealt with a light hand, not much angst in this story, but as always it's rather enjoyable. And as always we have the chance to meet the next heroes in the series, Theron (the last "straight" standing on the Demakis brothers) and Michael.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?s=peb2v6465009&strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=302

Amazon Kindle: Campus Cravings: Hershie's Kiss

Theron’s Return (Campus Cravings) by Carol Lynne

In the fictional college town where Carol Lynne sets her gay soap opera, being gay is the standard and straight men are scarce. And so now it's time for the only straight of the three Demakis to walk on the dark side.

Theron is the older, the wiser and the smaller on the three brothers. He is also the one who self-imposed himself the task to produce an heir for the Demakis family, giving that both his brothers are totally gay. On that matter, Theron is not totally straight, he liked men in the past, but he prefers to take his gay escapades in the closet.

When Michael, one of the residents of the gay dorm founded by Demitri Demakis, is raped, Theron volunteers to be his psychological help. But when the young guy starts to develop a sexual interest in him, Theron runs away: he can't be tempted. Only that for Michael this is a once more rejection he has not the strenght to overcome.

Michael is a young and friendly guy, but for how much big he is in body, he is very fragile in soul. He is also very young, always pampered by his family, and when for the first time he needs to walk alone, he is not ready and falls. He obviously needs a fatherly figure in his life, and Theron is just there, just that figure he needs so much. It's not very fair for Michael to unload a so heavy charge on Theron, but he can't avoid it.

Theron is not so clever as he seems. Being the older brother he takes upon himself the task to be the pater familias, but maybe he didn't realize that it's not necessary, since his father is still very good at it and has never expressed the need to be replaced. In a way Theron hides behind a finger, he tries to substitute his being smaller and less charming than his brothers, with being the wiser.

The story is pretty enjoyable, maybe a bit too simple, since in reality I believe it would not so simple to come out from all the problems (a rape, family pressure, moving in a new place, changing work...). And then I would really like to find a greek conservative family who has not problem in having all of its three son being gay... But well, as I always said, we don't expect reality in the gay soap opera by Carol Lynne.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?s=Yzuqat560677&strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=351

Amazon Kindle: Campus Cravings: Theron's Return

Amazon: Campus Cravings: BK House (Volume 5)
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010815
ISBN-13: 978-1907010811

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

Reading List:

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

Regularly Scheduled Life by K.A. Mitchell

Have ever wondered what happens after an happily ever after? And when love seems to be too much to bear?

Kyle and Sean are a perfect couple. They met in college and had an affair of a couple of nights, but Kyle was too young and maybe still wanted to "play" around; and so Sean let him grow up and when they met a second time Sean was more insistent. After a close wooing, Sean staked his claim and convinced Kyle to move to Small Town USA to live in a marriage bliss. Now six years later they are like sugar for a rot, they are almost unbearable for how much happy they are... or not? The changes Kyle had to do, the jealousy of Sean, the little trouble from two apparently supportive families... are they all boiling under the surface waiting to blow up?

The domino effect is a tragic event: Sean is a teacher in an high school and a student gone mad starts a shooting; before Sean has the chance to stop him, the boy killed three person, one of them a little girl. Aside the fact that Sean shouldn't be the one assigned to stop him, nevertheless he feels guilty to not stop him in time. Obviously he becomes an hero and hearing all the people around him telling so maybe alleviates that sense of guilty: if everyone thinks he is an hero, maybe they are right and he is wrong, since inside himself Sean thinks he hasn't done enough, and the few people that accuse him seem to have a strong voice.

And Kyle? Since now he was the one to need reassurance; he is the man who was wooed and coaxed, and maybe he needs to stay in center stage to feel important: him, the hispanic-italian guy from a family with too much sons to make them feel all important, now has a lover who thinks he is the sun and that all turn around him... till the day the sun is shut down, and Kyle finds himself in the role of the caretaker. And maybe Sean, once in a time, finds nice to be the object of such devotion.

This good perspective on the situation is given to the reader and not to the main characters, since nor Sean or Kyle voice their uneasiness for the situation and for more than half the book try to hide it behind the sexual chemistry that never lack to them. But when also the sex is no more enough, Kyle and Sean will have to understand that going back is not possible, above all since what they had maybe was not as perfect as they thought.

The book is pretty long, 300 pages, and it's not a story you can read in an hurry. It's not light but it's not even too angst: I like that K.A. Mitchell manages to recreate a believable conflict between the two men without never make them forget that they are in love and so they still care for each other and don't want to make the other suffer. In comparison to the previous stories I read by the same author, in this one she seemed more contained, less flirty. Not that in the other stories she had not faced important matters (like parenthood for a gay father), but this work looks more complete.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/regularly-scheduled-life

Amazon Kindle: Regularly Scheduled Life

Amazon: Regularly Scheduled Life

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Healing Doctor Ryan by Carol Lynne

For a novella that should be short and nice, Healing Doctor Ryan deals with a lot of heavy things. But right from the beginning, with the light but not stupid incipit of the story, Carol Lynne accompanies the reader with a smooth hand along the path. Ian is a young man still recovering from cancer. It’s not even an year that he was diagnosed and treated for the illness, but he really feels that it’s time to continue with his life. And Doctor Ryan, his oncologist, is the right man to help him. Or at least so thinks Ian’s Dick, and it’s right in the middle of this “very personal” conversation that the reader is introduced to Ian. And probably for thanks to this funny situation, even if the story is not at all light, the mood is never too sad.

Of course it’s against Dr Ryan’s, Bran, policy to date a patient: Bran would be unable to face losing a patient if he was emotional attached to one of them. Bran is kind with everyone, but he can’t allow himself to feel something more for them. It’s a right policy for a doctor, but the reader senses that there is something more, Bran is already emotional involved, so much that he is almost scared. Little by little, the reader understands that Bran has never recovered from a abandonment phobia he developed when he was still a young boy in the foster care system. Bran steeled himself to not care too much of anyone, not only for a professional reason, but above all for a very personal trauma.

I liked that the author didn’t underestimate the issue but at the same time didn’t push too much on the angst button. Healing Doctor Ryan was an unexpected little treasure; it’s not often that a novella is able to reach this level of deepness. I also liked the charm “necklace” subplot, just enough to give romanticism to the story, but not adding any “unrealistic” feeling.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=555

Amazon Kindle: Healing Doctor Ryan

http://www.total-e-bound.com/Print-Books/Legend/p-117-277/ (print book)

Amazon: Legend
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010831
ISBN-13: 978-1907010835

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Campus Cravings 5: BK House by Carol Lynne

Hershie’s Kiss (Campus Cravings) by Carol Lynne

Another little step in the Campus Cravings soap opera. We just knew that Charlie, the supervisor of the all gay KB dorm, and Jack, the retired Marine and now cook, were lovers. And we also knew that, after an hot encounter on the kitchen table, Jack disappeared.

Now Jack is come back, with a fifteen years old son! And Charlie doesn't know if he is ready to be a lover AND a stepfather... plus Charlie has the impression that Jack is ashamed of him: they go pretty well on bed (and actually on any other surfaces) but Jack never once asked Charlie out. And Charlie has had the same experience in the past, with his family, a family ashamed of a blind son... or not? Since Charlie, who was always convinced to be a pure African American man, discovers thanks to Jack, that maybe this is not the real story: green eyes and straight hair don't match good with a pureblood African American. And so Charlie finds out that there is a secret in his past and he needs to go back to Los Angeles to investigate; he also needs Jack's support, but the man can't leave his newfound son alone...

As always, in a Carol Lynne's book, there is a lot of sex, a free enjoyment of life and a big social issue; in this case it's the relationship between a blind man and his lover, but also between a single gay father and his lover. Both problems are dealt with a light hand, not much angst in this story, but as always it's rather enjoyable. And as always we have the chance to meet the next heroes in the series, Theron (the last "straight" standing on the Demakis brothers) and Michael.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?s=peb2v6465009&strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=302

Amazon Kindle: Campus Cravings: Hershie's Kiss

Theron’s Return (Campus Cravings) by Carol Lynne

In the fictional college town where Carol Lynne sets her gay soap opera, being gay is the standard and straight men are scarce. And so now it's time for the only straight of the three Demakis to walk on the dark side.

Theron is the older, the wiser and the smaller on the three brothers. He is also the one who self-imposed himself the task to produce an heir for the Demakis family, giving that both his brothers are totally gay. On that matter, Theron is not totally straight, he liked men in the past, but he prefers to take his gay escapades in the closet.

When Michael, one of the residents of the gay dorm founded by Demitri Demakis, is raped, Theron volunteers to be his psychological help. But when the young guy starts to develop a sexual interest in him, Theron runs away: he can't be tempted. Only that for Michael this is a once more rejection he has not the strenght to overcome.

Michael is a young and friendly guy, but for how much big he is in body, he is very fragile in soul. He is also very young, always pampered by his family, and when for the first time he needs to walk alone, he is not ready and falls. He obviously needs a fatherly figure in his life, and Theron is just there, just that figure he needs so much. It's not very fair for Michael to unload a so heavy charge on Theron, but he can't avoid it.

Theron is not so clever as he seems. Being the older brother he takes upon himself the task to be the pater familias, but maybe he didn't realize that it's not necessary, since his father is still very good at it and has never expressed the need to be replaced. In a way Theron hides behind a finger, he tries to substitute his being smaller and less charming than his brothers, with being the wiser.

The story is pretty enjoyable, maybe a bit too simple, since in reality I believe it would not so simple to come out from all the problems (a rape, family pressure, moving in a new place, changing work...). And then I would really like to find a greek conservative family who has not problem in having all of its three son being gay... But well, as I always said, we don't expect reality in the gay soap opera by Carol Lynne.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?s=Yzuqat560677&strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=351

Amazon Kindle: Campus Cravings: Theron's Return

Amazon: Campus Cravings: BK House (Volume 5)
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010815
ISBN-13: 978-1907010811

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

Reading List:

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

My Vampire and I by J.P. Bowie

My Vampire and I by J.P. Bowie

Marcus is an eighteen hundreds years old vampire. He was a roman warrior, son of a Senator, and he was turned when he was 25 five years old, so now he is a rather handsome vampire. He lost a lover in the past, but now he is again on the prowl since for centuries he is dreaming of a new lover and now is the time to claim him.

Roger is a 24 year old guy with a rather simple life. Good friends, a pretty cute image and a steady work, he is quite enamored with himself. But when he meets Marcus he suddenly falls for this handsome vampire, since he always has had a thing for vampires and co. But some enemies from Marcus' past are not so willing to allow him to rebuild a life together with Roger.

I think J.P. Bowie wanted to write a good mix between paranormal and comedy. Roger is the classical "queen": while Marcus is telling his rather sad story life, all Roger could think is how cool it's to have a vampire lover; while Marcus is trying to explain to Roger the pro and contro of turning vampire, all Roger could think is how well hung is his new boyfriend and how all his friends will die for jealousy.

Well, so,maybe I'm a bit too harsh with poor Roger: he is not a bad guy, he is young and in love, and then he has the chance to have a wonderful and immortal life with an hunk like Marcus, something he has never thought possible for an average guy like him.

Marcus and Roger's relationship is quite a master and pet's one, but Marcus is not a dom for choice, he is only the stronger in the couple and so he takes the lead. But Roger is quite an imp, iperactive and sometime naivee, very tender and cute.

All in all My Vampire and I is more funny than suspence, and for me is a good thing. I was expecting a more classical vampire story, a bit angst and sad, and instead it's a comedy where in the end neither the evil ones are so scary.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/3j5uso694076/Gay-and-Lesbian/My-Vampire-and-I/p-75-242/

Amazon Kindle: My Vampire and I

My Vampire Lover by J.P. Bowie

Usually in a vampire story the Vampire is a strong and powerful man who lures and loves the innocent and naivee boy. My Vampire Lover turns the tables. Jean-Claude was a French artist of the end of the nineteen century; he didn't choose to become a vampire, he was seduced and betrayed by a man he admired, an artist like him. When he awakened as vampire, he was scared and helpless and his master abandoned him. A gentle and caring friend helped him to migrate to New World and Jean-Claude started a new life and also found the help of Marcus, who will be a good friend but not a lover.

Today Jean-Claude is drawn by Ron, a gentle man he sees every night from the window of his apartment. Ron manages the Italian restaurant around the corner and all in all he is a quite ordinary man, not someone who could steal the looks. But Jean-Claude sees something in him... I think he sees comfort and company, and also a man who can protect him! Yes, the vampire is lured by a man stronger than him. Obviously, Ron is stronger only if we consider the normal skill for a human, Jean-Claude is always a vampire, and he has special powers that makes him immortal and almost invincible. But still in their relationship, Ron is the leading man. As before with his friend Henry and then with Marcus, Jean-Claude is not a leader, he is the perfect picture of an artist, someone who can't relate with the day-to-day routine of life, someone who need a firm hand to address him.

My Vampire Lover is a little less funny than My Vampire and I, the two stories were released together in print form. But both are easy, smooth and enjoyable, not at all angst like so many vampire stories before.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/3j5uso694076/Gay-and-Lesbian/My-Vampire-Lover/p-75-252/

Amazon Kindle: My Vampire Lover (My Vampire and I)

Amazon: My Vampire and I (Vol. 1)
Paperback: 324 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010823
ISBN-13: 978-1907010828

Reading List:

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




Cover Art by Anne Cain

Healing Doctor Ryan by Carol Lynne

For a novella that should be short and nice, Healing Doctor Ryan deals with a lot of heavy things. But right from the beginning, with the light but not stupid incipit of the story, Carol Lynne accompanies the reader with a smooth hand along the path. Ian is a young man still recovering from cancer. It’s not even an year that he was diagnosed and treated for the illness, but he really feels that it’s time to continue with his life. And Doctor Ryan, his oncologist, is the right man to help him. Or at least so thinks Ian’s Dick, and it’s right in the middle of this “very personal” conversation that the reader is introduced to Ian. And probably for thanks to this funny situation, even if the story is not at all light, the mood is never too sad.

Of course it’s against Dr Ryan’s, Bran, policy to date a patient: Bran would be unable to face losing a patient if he was emotional attached to one of them. Bran is kind with everyone, but he can’t allow himself to feel something more for them. It’s a right policy for a doctor, but the reader senses that there is something more, Bran is already emotional involved, so much that he is almost scared. Little by little, the reader understands that Bran has never recovered from a abandonment phobia he developed when he was still a young boy in the foster care system. Bran steeled himself to not care too much of anyone, not only for a professional reason, but above all for a very personal trauma.

I liked that the author didn’t underestimate the issue but at the same time didn’t push too much on the angst button. Healing Doctor Ryan was an unexpected little treasure; it’s not often that a novella is able to reach this level of deepness. I also liked the charm “necklace” subplot, just enough to give romanticism to the story, but not adding any “unrealistic” feeling.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=555

Amazon Kindle: Healing Doctor Ryan

http://www.total-e-bound.com/Print-Books/Legend/p-117-277/ (print book)

Amazon: Legend
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907010831
ISBN-13: 978-1907010835

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Survival by D.J. Manly

Russell and Gray were in high school together and they were also sweetheart. Gray as singer and Russell as leader guitarist, they founded the Survival, a rock band very popular in the local circuit. But one fateful night Gray's stepfather, Johnny, made a move on Russ and when he refused his advances he set up Russ with another guy to be found by Gray. Obviously Gray dumped Russ immediately and Johnny managed to lock him out of the band. Now three years later Russ is still mourning the loss of both Gray and the band. So when he is accosted by Eddie in a pub, and the man proposes him an "evil" pact, Russ makes a big mistakes and accepts the help.

Eddie is a twisted guy who has sold his soul to the devil. In exchange of a lot of powers, he needs to collect souls, and he starts doing it with all the men around Russ and Gray. But when Russ and Gray have the chance to meet again, love is stronger than ever, and maybe it will give them the strenght to face the devil.

The story is pretty complex, and there are a lot of supporting characters that enter and leave the scene. Even if it's not directly connected, the setting is the same of another novel by D.J. Manly, Payment Due, and like in that book, the two main lovers will have to fight a lot to be together, and before the ending, they will experience a lot of things, some good and some very bad, and unfortunately they will not go out without being deeply scarred.

Survival plays with what is good and what is evil, and maybe it doesn't end how you will expect it... maybe demons are not the evilest ones.

http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=8&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=5756&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

Amazon Kindle: Survival

Reading List:

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

Survival by D.J. Manly

Russell and Gray were in high school together and they were also sweetheart. Gray as singer and Russell as leader guitarist, they founded the Survival, a rock band very popular in the local circuit. But one fateful night Gray's stepfather, Johnny, made a move on Russ and when he refused his advances he set up Russ with another guy to be found by Gray. Obviously Gray dumped Russ immediately and Johnny managed to lock him out of the band. Now three years later Russ is still mourning the loss of both Gray and the band. So when he is accosted by Eddie in a pub, and the man proposes him an "evil" pact, Russ makes a big mistakes and accepts the help.

Eddie is a twisted guy who has sold his soul to the devil. In exchange of a lot of powers, he needs to collect souls, and he starts doing it with all the men around Russ and Gray. But when Russ and Gray have the chance to meet again, love is stronger than ever, and maybe it will give them the strenght to face the devil.

The story is pretty complex, and there are a lot of supporting characters that enter and leave the scene. Even if it's not directly connected, the setting is the same of another novel by D.J. Manly, Payment Due, and like in that book, the two main lovers will have to fight a lot to be together, and before the ending, they will experience a lot of things, some good and some very bad, and unfortunately they will not go out without being deeply scarred.

Survival plays with what is good and what is evil, and maybe it doesn't end how you will expect it... maybe demons are not the evilest ones.

http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=8&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=5756&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

Amazon Kindle: Survival

Reading List:

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

Behind the Cover: Dan J. O'Driscoll

"...I guess it all started with the dinosaurs.

I mean the ones I began drawing in the margins of my school books as a kid. Later on, I found more legitimate (or at least structured) expression in art classes, and the influence of friends and instructors led to further interests in sketching and painting, and years later to the possibilities of digital rendering programs which allowed me to create three dimensional models and environments. My graphite renderings usually depict historical, mythological or fantasy themes, while my colour work (CGI and otherwise) tends toward science fiction and space images.

 
The Canals of Mars, Dandelion Magazine, June 2005

( more pics )

My work has been well received at art shows, and have won distinctions for my graphite and digital renderings. My drawing style has its roots in architectural rendering, and has further evolved through the application of sharp focus drawing techniques. Visual (and literary) influences and sources of inspiration are many and varied, and include Michael Whelan, James Gurney, Arthur C. Clarke, and Frank Herbert, among others." Dan J. O'Driscoll

http://www.djostudio.com/

Behind the Cover: Dan J. O'Driscoll

"...I guess it all started with the dinosaurs.

I mean the ones I began drawing in the margins of my school books as a kid. Later on, I found more legitimate (or at least structured) expression in art classes, and the influence of friends and instructors led to further interests in sketching and painting, and years later to the possibilities of digital rendering programs which allowed me to create three dimensional models and environments. My graphite renderings usually depict historical, mythological or fantasy themes, while my colour work (CGI and otherwise) tends toward science fiction and space images.

 
The Canals of Mars, Dandelion Magazine, June 2005

( more pics )

My work has been well received at art shows, and have won distinctions for my graphite and digital renderings. My drawing style has its roots in architectural rendering, and has further evolved through the application of sharp focus drawing techniques. Visual (and literary) influences and sources of inspiration are many and varied, and include Michael Whelan, James Gurney, Arthur C. Clarke, and Frank Herbert, among others." Dan J. O'Driscoll

http://www.djostudio.com/

Publishers Weekly: The Hard-Core in Gay & Lesbian Publishing

Indies and UPs remain committed to a market often courted by the mainstream.

Laura Baumbach, MLR Press

“Just this month, the Romance Writers of America accepted a new chapter: Rainbow Romance Writers, devoted to authors who write LGBT romance. And New York publishing houses are publishing more mainstream stories with LGBT characters; one is even experimenting with a line of gay historical novels marketed to straight women. As a publisher of gay romance and fiction, I see a wider appeal growing in that audience of straight women, traditionally the largest consumer of romance novels. At the same time, in this age of expanding legalization of gay marriage and a growing realization that love and romance are for everyone, reading romance is even beginning to appeal to gay men. Acceptance of LGBT romance by mainstream readership can only nurture acceptance in other walks of everyday life.”

The Golden Age of Gay Fiction, edited by Drewey Wayne Gunn ($TBA, June; ISBN 978-1-60820-048-1). Essays by Earl Kemp, Ian Young, Victor J. Banis, William Maltese, Michael Bronski et al. survey the period roughly between the first Kinsey Report and the first collection of Tales of the City.

The 38-Million-Dollar Smile by Richard Stevenson ($14.99, Sept.; ISBN 978-1-60820-013-9). The 10th novel in the acclaimed Donald Strachey mystery series from a three-time Lambda finalist.

To read more:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6661546.html

Publishers Weekly: The Hard-Core in Gay & Lesbian Publishing

Indies and UPs remain committed to a market often courted by the mainstream.

Laura Baumbach, MLR Press

“Just this month, the Romance Writers of America accepted a new chapter: Rainbow Romance Writers, devoted to authors who write LGBT romance. And New York publishing houses are publishing more mainstream stories with LGBT characters; one is even experimenting with a line of gay historical novels marketed to straight women. As a publisher of gay romance and fiction, I see a wider appeal growing in that audience of straight women, traditionally the largest consumer of romance novels. At the same time, in this age of expanding legalization of gay marriage and a growing realization that love and romance are for everyone, reading romance is even beginning to appeal to gay men. Acceptance of LGBT romance by mainstream readership can only nurture acceptance in other walks of everyday life.”

The Golden Age of Gay Fiction, edited by Drewey Wayne Gunn ($TBA, June; ISBN 978-1-60820-048-1). Essays by Earl Kemp, Ian Young, Victor J. Banis, William Maltese, Michael Bronski et al. survey the period roughly between the first Kinsey Report and the first collection of Tales of the City.

The 38-Million-Dollar Smile by Richard Stevenson ($14.99, Sept.; ISBN 978-1-60820-013-9). The 10th novel in the acclaimed Donald Strachey mystery series from a three-time Lambda finalist.

To read more:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6661546.html

Sex & Chocolate by Reese Johnson

This is a book that, if you sit down to review without doing a little search before, could be easily misinterpreted: Reese Johnson is an African American man, and I gave you two important details to read the book, African American AND man. Why I underlight all of this? since I found the attitude of the main hero, African American Jim, toward sex a bit too much direct for my taste (hard and fast and very Alpha male behavior), but this is right, I'm a woman and the author is a man, and so it's obvious that our perspective is different. And then I also found that Jim was a bit too obsessed by the black and white contrast; sentence like "You ready for this big black dick?" or "I want to feel that chocolate sliding into me" if written by a caucasian woman (or man BTW, I think it would be the same), would lift a lot of eyebrows, but if they are from an African American man is it the same? mmm I don't know.

Anyway, the novella is nice, I have always liked the office affairs romances, and this is a classical example: Jim is the new lawyer of an important firm, and he is paired with handsome and friendly Steve, another young rising star of the same firm. At first glance both Jim than Steve recognize the mutual attraction, and it's not long before they start a torrid office affair. And now I will play the advocate devil and will say that I didn't like that Jim, at the beginning of their relationship, when they hadn't yet speak aloud the "commitment" words, had another office affair with an horny secretary... truth be told, it was the secretary that launched herself in Jim's arms, and it was nothing else than a quick entercourse, and Jim didn't think twice at it, it was so uneventful that he didn't even considered it something he has to say to Steve. So why the author put it in the book? I believe since it helps to frame Jim's characters, he is a bisexual man, he is quite free with his sexuality when he doesn't consider himself in a relationship, but he is also willing to be exclusive if he meets the right man... probably it would be more right to say man or woman, but I have the feeling that Jim, even if he professes himself bisexual, is more bend on the gay side, and for a real relationship he will always choose a man.

In all of this talk of Jim, I neglected Steve... how about him? Steve is probably a better man than Jim, he has more restraints, he probably needs more than a pang of desire to sleep with someone. I also have the feeling that he was not so happy when Jim talked about his past relationships, and how he was able to have relationships both with men than women, I had the clear impression that Steve let it go the matter, since he was not happy of what he was hearing. But Steve is not even someone you can use as welcome rug, he has a strong core, and its clear when he didn't accept Jim's moody behavior and searches his own answers when Jim is not giving them (look for the answering machine scene).

As I said Sex & Chocolate is not an easy novella, but I think that above all since it's "only" a novella, it has a great potential: both main characters could be stereotype, but then the author gives them deep and details to make them particular and interesting. Also the supporting character, Jim's ex Alan, is the classic flamboyant gay man, and the author could have played the drama card, but instead he dealt with him with sweetness and compassion. They are all details that make me thing that this is a very good first try for a new author.

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=37

Reading List:

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

Sex & Chocolate by Reese Johnson

This is a book that, if you sit down to review without doing a little search before, could be easily misinterpreted: Reese Johnson is an African American man, and I gave you two important details to read the book, African American AND man. Why I underlight all of this? since I found the attitude of the main hero, African American Jim, toward sex a bit too much direct for my taste (hard and fast and very Alpha male behavior), but this is right, I'm a woman and the author is a man, and so it's obvious that our perspective is different. And then I also found that Jim was a bit too obsessed by the black and white contrast; sentence like "You ready for this big black dick?" or "I want to feel that chocolate sliding into me" if written by a caucasian woman (or man BTW, I think it would be the same), would lift a lot of eyebrows, but if they are from an African American man is it the same? mmm I don't know.

Anyway, the novella is nice, I have always liked the office affairs romances, and this is a classical example: Jim is the new lawyer of an important firm, and he is paired with handsome and friendly Steve, another young rising star of the same firm. At first glance both Jim than Steve recognize the mutual attraction, and it's not long before they start a torrid office affair. And now I will play the advocate devil and will say that I didn't like that Jim, at the beginning of their relationship, when they hadn't yet speak aloud the "commitment" words, had another office affair with an horny secretary... truth be told, it was the secretary that launched herself in Jim's arms, and it was nothing else than a quick entercourse, and Jim didn't think twice at it, it was so uneventful that he didn't even considered it something he has to say to Steve. So why the author put it in the book? I believe since it helps to frame Jim's characters, he is a bisexual man, he is quite free with his sexuality when he doesn't consider himself in a relationship, but he is also willing to be exclusive if he meets the right man... probably it would be more right to say man or woman, but I have the feeling that Jim, even if he professes himself bisexual, is more bend on the gay side, and for a real relationship he will always choose a man.

In all of this talk of Jim, I neglected Steve... how about him? Steve is probably a better man than Jim, he has more restraints, he probably needs more than a pang of desire to sleep with someone. I also have the feeling that he was not so happy when Jim talked about his past relationships, and how he was able to have relationships both with men than women, I had the clear impression that Steve let it go the matter, since he was not happy of what he was hearing. But Steve is not even someone you can use as welcome rug, he has a strong core, and its clear when he didn't accept Jim's moody behavior and searches his own answers when Jim is not giving them (look for the answering machine scene).

As I said Sex & Chocolate is not an easy novella, but I think that above all since it's "only" a novella, it has a great potential: both main characters could be stereotype, but then the author gives them deep and details to make them particular and interesting. Also the supporting character, Jim's ex Alan, is the classic flamboyant gay man, and the author could have played the drama card, but instead he dealt with him with sweetness and compassion. They are all details that make me thing that this is a very good first try for a new author.

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=37

Reading List:

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

In memory of Edith Layton

Edith Layton wrote her first novel when she was ten. She bought a marbleized notebook and set out to write a story that would fit between its covers. An award-winning author with more than thirty novels and numerous novellas to her credit, her criteria changed with time. The story had to fit the reader as well as between the covers.

Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.

Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton had enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she said, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."

Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee. For her previous work, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times, and excellent reviews, awards and commendations from Library Journal, Romance Readers Anonymous and The Romance Writers of America.

Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- was just one member of Layton's household menagerie.

Edith Layton passed away June 1, 2009, after five years of very private struggles with cancer. During those years, she continued to write her wonderful books, post blogs, and welcome two much adored grandsons into the world.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/20676329/

In memory of Edith Layton

Edith Layton wrote her first novel when she was ten. She bought a marbleized notebook and set out to write a story that would fit between its covers. An award-winning author with more than thirty novels and numerous novellas to her credit, her criteria changed with time. The story had to fit the reader as well as between the covers.

Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.

Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton had enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she said, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."

Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee. For her previous work, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times, and excellent reviews, awards and commendations from Library Journal, Romance Readers Anonymous and The Romance Writers of America.

Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- was just one member of Layton's household menagerie.

Edith Layton passed away June 1, 2009, after five years of very private struggles with cancer. During those years, she continued to write her wonderful books, post blogs, and welcome two much adored grandsons into the world.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/20676329/