Skin Deep by S. W. Vaughn

Aside from having a very hot cover, Skin Deep is also a very good novel. It’s the story of Will Ambrose and Cobalt, two men who have more in common than simple an odd name.

Will is a DJ for a night show on the radio. He is gay and out but that is not a free ticket for happiness; Will tends to attract people with violence issue, boyfriends who end to hurt Will and not only in a figurative way. And now Will is even more in danger since his boyfriend Lyle, not only is violent, he is also a cop, and so Will is scared to go for help. But one night Lyle goes way over a push and a bruise, and it’s the time that will realize that his life is in danger.

Cobalt is a hot tattoo artist with a successful parlour in Manhattan. His place is like a haven for people, and more than ordinary crow can understand. Cobalt is a banished fae, and he built a shield around his parlour to avoid unwelcomed guests. It was thought for protect otherworldly creatures, but it’s useful also to Will, he really needs a safe haven. And Cobalt is ready to give it to him, only that he fears that Will is not strong enough to also accept more from him. The previous three love relationship Cobalt had, all ended badly when his lovers discovered Cobalt’s true nature: they were not able to accept him, and refusing him, they refused also reality and lost their minds. Cobalt believes to be cursed and for sure he is not willing to start a relationship with a very fragile man like Will.

I like the intake of the author in the issue: there is no paranormal explanation, as Cobalt believes, he is not cursed at all. Like Will attracts bad boyfriends for him, since he is a fragile man bad boyfriends think they can treat like an object, Cobalt attracts fragile men; a fragile man sees in Cobalt a safe haven and they really need it. But there is fragility and fragility, and Cobalt doesn’t understand that Will is stronger than expected, and with a good man by his side he is able to face everything.

There is a good love story here, but there is also a good portion of violence; fortunately, the reader doesn’t witness it, but he has second-hand report. There is also rape, and again, you don’t read it, but you know it happened. So be aware, it’s not an easy story, but I like all the complex development. I think the author is planning more stories in the same setting, and so she spent quite a time in preparing possible scenario: there are too many supporting characters that have a strong personality to be confined only in this story, Nix and Malik, for example, but also Skelly and even Jared, Will’s neighbour who does only a little cameo, but who left me a strong impression.

http://www.loose-id.com/Skin-Deep.aspx

Amazon: Skin Deep

Amazon Kindle: Skin Deep

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

In Hot Pursuit by Kate McMurray

From the beginning In Hot Pursuit was different from the usual gay Mystery/Thriller romances I’m used to; no crash-bum-bang action, no big invincible hero, but instead a very much ordinary NYPD cop who unfortunately has to face a very much common situation for a same-sex couple living together in a state that doesn’t recognize their union.

Noah’s partner, Josh, is wounded in hospital and his parents don’t want Noah near their son; probably if their reaction was dictated by the pain of seeing their son on a death bed, I could understand, but Josh’s parents are only, and again, denying that their son was gay and that Noah was the love of his life. To add hurt to hurt, Josh got a gunshot aimed to Noah, and so Noah is now not only dealing with the lost of his partner, but also with an enormous sense of guilty.

One year and half later that guilty is yet big on Noah’s shoulder and his boss thinks better to send him on a forced leave; Noah is not out at the Department, and so his boss can’t understand why one of his best detective is loosing tracks. Again, there is not “in your face” drama, Noah is not having temperamental issues, he is not drowning himself with alcohol, and doing unnecessary hero actions, he is simply fading, and above all, he is not living as he promised he would do on Josh’s death bed.

This is probably the strength of this book, there is everything, prejudices, love, loss, hope, but each of them is woven in the plot without being a sore eyes, the texture is fluid, like silk, and warm, like wool. Noah’s character feels real, in his hurting, in his trying to deny that hurt, and in his searching for solace in anonymous sex.

When he has a one night stand with Harry during his first night of vacation in Tampa, Florida, there is no love at first sight; Noah got what he was searching and so did Harry. True, they are both interesting men, and probably they like each other (of course they do, if not they wouldn’t have sex), but they are what they are, two strangers met in a bar, one of them from out of city, not chance of a future together and it’s not what they want. Only that the morning after Harry is missing, Noah is the last person to have seen him, and he is a detective with experience in missing persons… it’s only right for him to help the police. Again, Noah is not trying to be a big hero, and he is not doing that since he is particularly interested in Harry on a personal level, it’s only his job.

At this point I’d like to spend a few words on Harry: cocky attitude and big body, he is the epitome of a top, on business, in bed, at life… but he is also the same man who fainted when he got kidnapped, who can stand the sight of blood, and who likes to play bodyguard and guarded body with Noah. I really could imagine him, and maybe yes, he is a little the stereotype of the gay man, free sex and a bit of drugs don’t hurt, but more than a stereotype of a gay man, he is a son of the ‘90s.

In Hot Pursuit came out (no pun intended) without much notice, or at least I didn’t see it around a lot, and instead I think people should go back and take notice of it.

http://www.loose-id.com/In-Hot-Pursuit.aspx

Amazon: In Hot Pursuit

Amazon Kindle: In Hot Pursuit

Reading List:

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

Skin Deep by S. W. Vaughn

Aside from having a very hot cover, Skin Deep is also a very good novel. It’s the story of Will Ambrose and Cobalt, two men who have more in common than simple an odd name.

Will is a DJ for a night show on the radio. He is gay and out but that is not a free ticket for happiness; Will tends to attract people with violence issue, boyfriends who end to hurt Will and not only in a figurative way. And now Will is even more in danger since his boyfriend Lyle, not only is violent, he is also a cop, and so Will is scared to go for help. But one night Lyle goes way over a push and a bruise, and it’s the time that will realize that his life is in danger.

Cobalt is a hot tattoo artist with a successful parlour in Manhattan. His place is like a haven for people, and more than ordinary crow can understand. Cobalt is a banished fae, and he built a shield around his parlour to avoid unwelcomed guests. It was thought for protect otherworldly creatures, but it’s useful also to Will, he really needs a safe haven. And Cobalt is ready to give it to him, only that he fears that Will is not strong enough to also accept more from him. The previous three love relationship Cobalt had, all ended badly when his lovers discovered Cobalt’s true nature: they were not able to accept him, and refusing him, they refused also reality and lost their minds. Cobalt believes to be cursed and for sure he is not willing to start a relationship with a very fragile man like Will.

I like the intake of the author in the issue: there is no paranormal explanation, as Cobalt believes, he is not cursed at all. Like Will attracts bad boyfriends for him, since he is a fragile man bad boyfriends think they can treat like an object, Cobalt attracts fragile men; a fragile man sees in Cobalt a safe haven and they really need it. But there is fragility and fragility, and Cobalt doesn’t understand that Will is stronger than expected, and with a good man by his side he is able to face everything.

There is a good love story here, but there is also a good portion of violence; fortunately, the reader doesn’t witness it, but he has second-hand report. There is also rape, and again, you don’t read it, but you know it happened. So be aware, it’s not an easy story, but I like all the complex development. I think the author is planning more stories in the same setting, and so she spent quite a time in preparing possible scenario: there are too many supporting characters that have a strong personality to be confined only in this story, Nix and Malik, for example, but also Skelly and even Jared, Will’s neighbour who does only a little cameo, but who left me a strong impression.

http://www.loose-id.com/Skin-Deep.aspx

Amazon: Skin Deep

Amazon Kindle: Skin Deep

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Cairo Catwalk (Vampire’s Lair 2) by A.J. Ryan

A.J. Ryan, the same author who penned the Fathom’s Five series under the name of Geoffrey Knight, has the ability to mix comedy with adventure and, in this specific case, horror, but in any case, the output is light and bright, even if it’s the bright red of fresh blood!

A.J. Ryan’s characters are always over the top, always stunning and handsome, always extraordinary. In this novella we have Ryan and Nash, two male top models involved in a special catwalk in Egypt. It’s not the first time they work together, and between them the steam sizzles, and it’s not a consequence of the hot weather. It’s not clearly said, but nor Ryan or Nash profess themselves “gay”, but they don’t mind to be able to appreciate male beauty and between the two of them there is a lot to appreciate. Ryan teases Nash and Nash is up to take the teasing and turn it in something more, but right when they probably are ready to take the next step in their relationship, Ryan and Nash are involved in a more dangerous games, with a mysterious man.

For Eternal Press, A.J. Ryan has created two series, the Darcy Boys and the Vampire’s Lair Series; I prefer the first one, it’s an all around full comedy; the two novella I read in the Vampire’s Lair series are for sure good, but maybe a bit too much dark for my own personal taste. Said that, if you are searching a good vampire novella, I think that the Vampire’s Lair series is on a “classical” track, the vampires here are really dangerous and deadly, they are not the romance heroes so common in today paranormal literature. And this is even more highlight by the fact that instead, A.J. Ryan’s men are fashionable and chic, all sleek muscles and coiffeured hair, living a life where appearance is more important than substance.

http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781926704845

Amazon: Cairo Catwalk: Vampire's Lair Book 2 (Volume 2)

Series: Vampire's Lair
1) Miami Moon: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/761132.html
2) Cairo Catwalk

Reading List:

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

Cairo Catwalk (Vampire’s Lair 2) by A.J. Ryan

A.J. Ryan, the same author who penned the Fathom’s Five series under the name of Geoffrey Knight, has the ability to mix comedy with adventure and, in this specific case, horror, but in any case, the output is light and bright, even if it’s the bright red of fresh blood!

A.J. Ryan’s characters are always over the top, always stunning and handsome, always extraordinary. In this novella we have Ryan and Nash, two male top models involved in a special catwalk in Egypt. It’s not the first time they work together, and between them the steam sizzles, and it’s not a consequence of the hot weather. It’s not clearly said, but nor Ryan or Nash profess themselves “gay”, but they don’t mind to be able to appreciate male beauty and between the two of them there is a lot to appreciate. Ryan teases Nash and Nash is up to take the teasing and turn it in something more, but right when they probably are ready to take the next step in their relationship, Ryan and Nash are involved in a more dangerous games, with a mysterious man.

For Eternal Press, A.J. Ryan has created two series, the Darcy Boys and the Vampire’s Lair Series; I prefer the first one, it’s an all around full comedy; the two novella I read in the Vampire’s Lair series are for sure good, but maybe a bit too much dark for my own personal taste. Said that, if you are searching a good vampire novella, I think that the Vampire’s Lair series is on a “classical” track, the vampires here are really dangerous and deadly, they are not the romance heroes so common in today paranormal literature. And this is even more highlight by the fact that instead, A.J. Ryan’s men are fashionable and chic, all sleek muscles and coiffeured hair, living a life where appearance is more important than substance.

http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781926704845

Amazon: Cairo Catwalk: Vampire's Lair Book 2 (Volume 2)

Series: Vampire's Lair
1) Miami Moon: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/761132.html
2) Cairo Catwalk

Reading List:

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