Playing the Game by T.A. Chase

Out of Bounds (Love of Sports 1) by T.A. Chase

One thing you could say of T.A. Chase's books is that they are all very different. This one is a sexual romp (from Merriam Webster Online romp = a: high-spirited, carefree, and boisterous play b: something suggestive of such play: as (1): a light fast-paced narrative, dramatic, or musical work usually in a comic mood (2): an episode of lovemaking).

Kasey is a 23 years old pro basketball player. He is only in his second year as professional player and he has no courage to openly admit that he is gay. He is out with his family and friends, but not with the public opinion. Plus his twin brother Garrett, a famous actor, has made coming out some years ago and now all media are only waiting for him to make the same claim.

But Kasey till now has never had a boyfriend to care and he doesn't see the reason to suffer all the harrassment he will receive in the locker room if he makes that claim. That is, but now in Kasey's life enters Gram, a night club owner and an openly gay man who had bad experiences in the past with closeted lovers. 

Kasey must decide if he is willing to risk his career to keep his lover by his side.

The story is not very long, less than 90 pages, but it's very erotic. From the first time Kasey and Gram have a very intense relationship and they are driven by lust most of the time. Since Kasey is a 23 years old guy that for sometime was deprived of a sexual partner, I think it's not strange that now that he can have someone near him, he is in frenzy to make up for the lost time. Plus it was a true discovery that Kasey is a totally bottom. I'm used to sports characters to be always very manly, even if gay, and usually they are totally top. Instead Kasey wants to be mastered, even if he is a pushy bottom.

The main characters don't interact a lot with the supporting characters, but there are some interesting figures: Garrett, Kasey's brother, Paul, Kasey's teammate, but also Bo, Gram's employee and Colville, another pro basketball player. Since this is the first book in a series, I think we will have the chance to read something on one or plus of these characters.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/out-of-bounds

Amazon Kindle: Out of Bounds: Love of Sports book 1

High Line (Love of Sports 2) by T.A. Chase

I always liked T.A. Chase's work, I believe he is one of the first authors I read, but this last book probably is one of my favorite; the first impression I have soon after ending it, is of a very easy and well plotted book, once that despite being almost 200 pages long took me only a night to read since I was eager to know what was happening.

The second impression is the play of contrast, that the author uses in two different way: once between the two main characters, Garrett, an Hollywood actor, and C.J., a race driver; from their jobs and from the fact that C.J. was apparently straight and also older than Garrett (even if only for 4 years), you will expected C.J. to be the MAN in the relationship. Yes I know, I'm letting old habit and idea to lead me on, but well, I'm not the only one! Even if you are reading a male on male romance, if you are strong, older, and with a more manly job, you are the MAN. And instead in the relationship, Garrett takes the upper hand: he is the one who shelters and offers a friendly shoulder to C.J. when no one else apparently is willing to do it; and when C.J. is ready to admit that he is gay and wants to come out of the closet, Garrett is more than willing to be his training ship and to teach him everything a good and healthy gay man should know ; and here is when the naughty part of the book is coming, but strangely enough, is not the main aspect of the story, and it's not even so soon in the book, you have to savor it.

The second contrast I notice was in C.J.'s parents, and again my old fashioned idea kicked in to make me having the wrong mind. Usually mothers are more accepting and supporting, they are the ones who try to mediate with their husbands and sons when the truth comes out (pun intended). And even more in this case, where C.J.'s parents are old southern people and his father is a mechanic, not usually a job that allows people to be very open minded (why on earth when we are speaking of car and motor, it seems that women and gays are not enough clever to be involved?). Anyway, I was in for a big surprise when it was C.J.'s father who stood for his son when on the other side his mother kicked him out of house.

This are only two example to prove you that the story, as I said, is very well plotted and carefully crafted in every details. Plus the characters have a good development, enough for the reader to identify himself and try to imagine how it would be for him of he was in their shoes.

Last but not least, I really like as T.A. Chase seems to have done his homework right: the car racing world, even if only hinted, is enough vivid to give the reader the impression to be not only a nice cover for the main character: this is something I noticed before in this author's books, there is often a sport setting (baseball, rodeo, horse jumping and now car racing) and they are always rendered with nice details to help the reader building the world in his mind. So, two are the things, or T.A. Chase is an huge sport fan, or he does well his research work.

Only one regret: I would have liked to read about the Academy Awards night, hope to see it in a third book?

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/high-line

Amazon Kindle: High Line: The Love of Sports Series, Book 2

http://samhainpublishing.com/print/playing-the-game-print (print book)

Amazon: Playing the Game (Love of Sports)

Reading List:

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




Cover Art by Anne Cain

Playing the Game by T.A. Chase

Out of Bounds (Love of Sports 1) by T.A. Chase

One thing you could say of T.A. Chase's books is that they are all very different. This one is a sexual romp (from Merriam Webster Online romp = a: high-spirited, carefree, and boisterous play b: something suggestive of such play: as (1): a light fast-paced narrative, dramatic, or musical work usually in a comic mood (2): an episode of lovemaking).

Kasey is a 23 years old pro basketball player. He is only in his second year as professional player and he has no courage to openly admit that he is gay. He is out with his family and friends, but not with the public opinion. Plus his twin brother Garrett, a famous actor, has made coming out some years ago and now all media are only waiting for him to make the same claim.

But Kasey till now has never had a boyfriend to care and he doesn't see the reason to suffer all the harrassment he will receive in the locker room if he makes that claim. That is, but now in Kasey's life enters Gram, a night club owner and an openly gay man who had bad experiences in the past with closeted lovers. 

Kasey must decide if he is willing to risk his career to keep his lover by his side.

The story is not very long, less than 90 pages, but it's very erotic. From the first time Kasey and Gram have a very intense relationship and they are driven by lust most of the time. Since Kasey is a 23 years old guy that for sometime was deprived of a sexual partner, I think it's not strange that now that he can have someone near him, he is in frenzy to make up for the lost time. Plus it was a true discovery that Kasey is a totally bottom. I'm used to sports characters to be always very manly, even if gay, and usually they are totally top. Instead Kasey wants to be mastered, even if he is a pushy bottom.

The main characters don't interact a lot with the supporting characters, but there are some interesting figures: Garrett, Kasey's brother, Paul, Kasey's teammate, but also Bo, Gram's employee and Colville, another pro basketball player. Since this is the first book in a series, I think we will have the chance to read something on one or plus of these characters.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/out-of-bounds

Amazon Kindle: Out of Bounds: Love of Sports book 1

High Line (Love of Sports 2) by T.A. Chase

I always liked T.A. Chase's work, I believe he is one of the first authors I read, but this last book probably is one of my favorite; the first impression I have soon after ending it, is of a very easy and well plotted book, once that despite being almost 200 pages long took me only a night to read since I was eager to know what was happening.

The second impression is the play of contrast, that the author uses in two different way: once between the two main characters, Garrett, an Hollywood actor, and C.J., a race driver; from their jobs and from the fact that C.J. was apparently straight and also older than Garrett (even if only for 4 years), you will expected C.J. to be the MAN in the relationship. Yes I know, I'm letting old habit and idea to lead me on, but well, I'm not the only one! Even if you are reading a male on male romance, if you are strong, older, and with a more manly job, you are the MAN. And instead in the relationship, Garrett takes the upper hand: he is the one who shelters and offers a friendly shoulder to C.J. when no one else apparently is willing to do it; and when C.J. is ready to admit that he is gay and wants to come out of the closet, Garrett is more than willing to be his training ship and to teach him everything a good and healthy gay man should know ; and here is when the naughty part of the book is coming, but strangely enough, is not the main aspect of the story, and it's not even so soon in the book, you have to savor it.

The second contrast I notice was in C.J.'s parents, and again my old fashioned idea kicked in to make me having the wrong mind. Usually mothers are more accepting and supporting, they are the ones who try to mediate with their husbands and sons when the truth comes out (pun intended). And even more in this case, where C.J.'s parents are old southern people and his father is a mechanic, not usually a job that allows people to be very open minded (why on earth when we are speaking of car and motor, it seems that women and gays are not enough clever to be involved?). Anyway, I was in for a big surprise when it was C.J.'s father who stood for his son when on the other side his mother kicked him out of house.

This are only two example to prove you that the story, as I said, is very well plotted and carefully crafted in every details. Plus the characters have a good development, enough for the reader to identify himself and try to imagine how it would be for him of he was in their shoes.

Last but not least, I really like as T.A. Chase seems to have done his homework right: the car racing world, even if only hinted, is enough vivid to give the reader the impression to be not only a nice cover for the main character: this is something I noticed before in this author's books, there is often a sport setting (baseball, rodeo, horse jumping and now car racing) and they are always rendered with nice details to help the reader building the world in his mind. So, two are the things, or T.A. Chase is an huge sport fan, or he does well his research work.

Only one regret: I would have liked to read about the Academy Awards night, hope to see it in a third book?

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/high-line

Amazon Kindle: High Line: The Love of Sports Series, Book 2

http://samhainpublishing.com/print/playing-the-game-print (print book)

Amazon: Playing the Game (Love of Sports)

Reading List:

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




Cover Art by Anne Cain

Behind the Cover: Gregg Gulbronson

There aren't many info on Gregg Gulbronson on the net other than a lot of his romance cover art. Probably Gregg's covers are among the most famous and most posted. His style changed in the last years, becoming more sensual, but always with class.

 
For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale

( more pics )

Behind the Cover: Gregg Gulbronson

There aren't many info on Gregg Gulbronson on the net other than a lot of his romance cover art. Probably Gregg's covers are among the most famous and most posted. His style changed in the last years, becoming more sensual, but always with class.

 
For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale

( more pics )

Laid (Bad Cops Diaries 1) by A.J. Llewellyn

Good guys with bad boys, it's probably one of the most common pair in the erotic imaginery, but in this case, the good guy is not exactly so “good”.

Jack Cannon is a special agent of the LAPD. He is in a special squad, three men under his personal control, and basically he deals with the worst layer of criminality. But even if he is not an immaculate angel, he is not even the stereotype bad cop. Only that he doesn’t behave like a romance hero. Truth be told, I think he is not even an ideal gay icon, true, Jack is gay but he is not waving his rainbow flags. From this perspective I think his character rings quite true, I can’t really imagine that some gay romance cops I read before really exist in real life.

When Jack has to boil off a bit of steam he has a preferred way to do that, get laid. And the better place to do that is at his local gym. It’s there that he meets Lucky, a one night stand who becomes something more. Even the way Jack and Lucky meet sounds quite real, Jack is not the flowers and wine type, and I can’t see him falling in love for the first guy he meets. Instead it’s more right for him to go and find some willing bodies in a “safe” place. It’s not illegal and if all the men involved are willing and enjoy themselves, it can be also pretty good. So at first Lucky is only another one of those willing bodies, but from the first “taste”, Jack knows that Lucky is special.

I like the touch of romance that enters the story at this point. It’s not that suddenly both Jack than Lucky turn in perfect romance heroes, but at least they have a bit of reluctance in continuing with their occasional meet and hit encounters, when both of them know that probably the right guy entered their life. Another thing I liked is that all the sex encounters are nice, even the ones without romance. It’s always plain (meaning that there are usually only two, maximum, three men and their bodies, and nothing else) but good sex.

Note on the Series: In conjunction with Massive Studios/Falcon Films, this is the first book in a four part series to be filmed by director John Bruno for Massive Studios. Rob Romoni will star in the movie version of “Laid” playing cop Jack Cannon. Laid will be shot in webisodes for Massive Studios and then released as a DVD thru Pulse. LAID Book cover designed by John Bruno. Images of Hunter Marx and Matt Murdock provided by www.massivestudio.com.

http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=6516&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=94&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

The Rainbow Awards: Third (and last!) Phase: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/850354.html

Laid (Bad Cops Diaries 1) by A.J. Llewellyn

Good guys with bad boys, it's probably one of the most common pair in the erotic imaginery, but in this case, the good guy is not exactly so “good”.

Jack Cannon is a special agent of the LAPD. He is in a special squad, three men under his personal control, and basically he deals with the worst layer of criminality. But even if he is not an immaculate angel, he is not even the stereotype bad cop. Only that he doesn’t behave like a romance hero. Truth be told, I think he is not even an ideal gay icon, true, Jack is gay but he is not waving his rainbow flags. From this perspective I think his character rings quite true, I can’t really imagine that some gay romance cops I read before really exist in real life.

When Jack has to boil off a bit of steam he has a preferred way to do that, get laid. And the better place to do that is at his local gym. It’s there that he meets Lucky, a one night stand who becomes something more. Even the way Jack and Lucky meet sounds quite real, Jack is not the flowers and wine type, and I can’t see him falling in love for the first guy he meets. Instead it’s more right for him to go and find some willing bodies in a “safe” place. It’s not illegal and if all the men involved are willing and enjoy themselves, it can be also pretty good. So at first Lucky is only another one of those willing bodies, but from the first “taste”, Jack knows that Lucky is special.

I like the touch of romance that enters the story at this point. It’s not that suddenly both Jack than Lucky turn in perfect romance heroes, but at least they have a bit of reluctance in continuing with their occasional meet and hit encounters, when both of them know that probably the right guy entered their life. Another thing I liked is that all the sex encounters are nice, even the ones without romance. It’s always plain (meaning that there are usually only two, maximum, three men and their bodies, and nothing else) but good sex.

Note on the Series: In conjunction with Massive Studios/Falcon Films, this is the first book in a four part series to be filmed by director John Bruno for Massive Studios. Rob Romoni will star in the movie version of “Laid” playing cop Jack Cannon. Laid will be shot in webisodes for Massive Studios and then released as a DVD thru Pulse. LAID Book cover designed by John Bruno. Images of Hunter Marx and Matt Murdock provided by www.massivestudio.com.

http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=6516&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=94&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

The Rainbow Awards: Third (and last!) Phase: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/850354.html