Gay Romance Challenge: July 2012

Here is the Bestsellers List on Amazon I'm referring to for the challenge:

Bestsellers in Gay Romance

And here is the actual situation (in bold the books I read with link to the review and marked as New the books entering the Challenge this month):

1) What He Wants by Kate Aaron
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YUJCN0/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Review: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1644535.html
2) The Isle of... Where? By Sue Brown
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1613727070/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 29, 2012)
3) Sidecar by Amy Lane
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/161372568X/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 29, 2012)
4) North's Complications (Lost Shifter) by Stephani Hecht
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008E20HAE/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: eXtasy Books (June 15, 2012)
5) A Werewolf's Soldier (Warwolves) by Kayley Scott
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0087HNX8E/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment (May 29, 2012)
6) Dominating the Wolf (Kontra's Menagerie) by Charlie Richards
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008E1OWJ2/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: eXtasy Books (June 15, 2012)
7) Trinity Bound (Redwood Pack) by Carrie Ann Ryan
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007PH8GU2/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (March 27, 2012)
8) Love Means... Renewal (Love Means... Series) by Andrew Grey
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008F9K47M/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 26, 2012)
9) A Foreign Range (Stories from the Range) by Andrew Grey
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1613725507/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 15, 2012)
10) Cry Wolf (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack Series 2) by Shannon West
Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CGWG7E/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (June 12, 2012)

( books from 11 to 100 )

Coming Soon: Keep The Lights On by Ira Sachs

Keep the Lights On chronicles an emotionally and sexually charged journey of two men in New York City through love, friendship, and addiction. Documentary filmmaker Erik (Thure Lindhardt) and closeted lawyer Paul (Zachary Booth, Damages) meet through a casual encounter, but soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. Individually and together, they are risk takers – compulsive, and fueled by drugs and sex. In an almost decade-long relationship defined by highs, lows, and dysfunctional patterns, Erik struggles to negotiate his own boundaries and dignity while being true to himself. Director Ira Sachs’ fearlessly personal screenplay is anchored by Lindhardt, who embodies Erik’s isolation and vulnerability with a gentle presence. Harrowing and romantic, visceral and layered, Keep the Lights On is a film that looks at love and all of its manifestations, taking it to dark depths and bringing it back to a place of grace.

Premonition by D.H. Starr

I’m true, I’m not really a huge fan of cop thriller novels, and so, every time I start one, I have some preconceptions, but Premonition surprised me. Nor Martin or Justin are the usually tough cops who are scared to admit their feelings, on the contrary they are ready to acknowledge them almost as soon as they met, and they have little fear of the consequences.

Also the psychic skills of Martin, his premonitions, are dealt in a way that this novel is far from being a paranormal thriller. Martin’s premonitions are simply something more he has and that is allowing him to be a better cop. Justin’s reaction to them is fully accepting, and actually, he is a little like a kid that discovered a new functionality in his toy. That is probably one trait I found in both Martin than Justin, they still have the “innocence” of souls that is typically of young people, they are not yet jaded by life, and are able to face everything, life, love, with an open predisposition.

Of the two Martin is maybe the more cautious, and indeed he is one year older than Justin, but there is really little difference between the two of them. Maybe Martin had it easier on the job, Justin suffered from the homophobic attitude of his former precinct, and it’s a nice surprise to find in Martin not only a work partner but also a lover.

If you are more the romance type, and usually you skip the more mystery / thriller novels, Premonition can be a good middle way mix.

http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=DHSPREMO

Amazon: Premonition
Amazon Kindle: Premonition
Paperback: 212 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608203042
ISBN-13: 978-1608203048

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