Release Day Review: Slim Chance by Jeff Erno #Review #Giveaway

Author: Jeff Erno
Book: Slim Chance
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: LC Chase
Publication Date: June 26, 2017
Length: 200 Pages


Reviewed by Morningstar


Synopsis

Can a man improve his appearance without losing everything good inside him?

Oliver has always been obese and suffered from a negative body image. He’s tried diets before, failing time after time, but he vows this time will be different. As he begins an exercise program, his confidence increases—and so does his interest in his friend and coworker Benjy. Though they bonded long ago over a love of online gaming, it takes a lot of courage for Oliver to share his new body and be intimate with another man.

A passionate romance blooms, but as Oliver nears his goal, it seems he doesn’t need Benjy—with his chronic anxiety and troubled past—now that he’s made attractive new friends at the gym. But not all relationships are equal, and Oliver realizes that Benjy, who loved and supported him when no one else did, is more than a reminder of his old life.

A pleasing appearance means nothing when it hides a lonely, empty heart, and if Oliver cannot decide what’s truly important, he’ll lose what he cherishes most.

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Dreamspinner Press

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Review

This was one of the most real stories I’ve read with an overweight character. It was not easy to watch Ollie go through this. Watching someone struggle and hate themselves so much is never easy, but he is human and flawed. The way Jeff Erno writes Ollie is one of the many reasons why I can label him one of my favorite authors.

Ollie made me feel for Benji throughout this story with how he treats him sometimes. Snapping at him, thinking about how Benji wouldn’t understand, and then, later on, there were other things that I won’t go into but needless to say loving Benji was easy, not so much Ollie. But his struggle and inner thoughts were real and hurt to read; but each one was true to what it’s like to be someone who struggles so much with their weight. Ollie was so hard on himself throughout the whole story that at times it was aggravating, but just on the flip side, if I was in his place I probably be just as unhappy with myself.

Also, I’ve seen others mention cheating and I’m not sure where they got that idea when they read this story because I read no cheating at all in this book.

The romance between these two was cute and just right, which suited them perfectly. The ending was perfect in its triumphant moment for both Benji and Ollie. The journey wasn’t easy, but it was real and true, and I wouldn’t change it.

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Audiobook Review: Another Dumb Jock by Jeff Erno Narrated by Ezekiel Robison #Review #Giveaway

Author: Jeff Erno
Narrator: Ezekiel Robison
Book: Another Dumb Jock
Series: Dumb Jock #2
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Publication date: January 9, 2017
Length: 6 hours 3 minutes


Reviewed by Morningstar

Synopsis

Jeff Irwin and Brett Willson raised a fine son, Adam, in their unconventional, judgment-free family. But being the son of two dads has its challenges. Although Adam loves them, he’s determined to prove he’s not gay, like they are. To this end he’s become the star pitcher of his high school baseball team, a true jock.
Then Adam is suspended after he gets into a fight at school, and his dads find out his grades are slipping. Determined to put him back on track, they hire him a tutor: a short, nerdy kid named Trevor. Despite his resistance, soon enough Adam’s worst nightmare comes true when he finds himself attracted to Trevor. This gives him a choice: follow his heart or become just another dumb jock.

 Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

 Review

I fell in love with this series from the very first read of book one, Dumb Jock, watching Jeff Irwin and Brett Wilson come together through tutoring and homophobia in rural Michigan. Jeff and Brett are back but as adults raising their two children. Adam is their teenage son who works so hard to be like his dad Brett and nothing like his father, Jeff.

I felt for Adam in this whole story. His struggle to be nothing like his emotional “motherly” father Jeff was sad, and thankfully he never came across as a complete jerk more like a kid fighting against who he was. In comes nerdy Trevor to tutor Adam through a class he’s failing, and Adam’s struggles grow bigger because he is falling for Trevor, a boy just as emotional as his father, Jeff. I loved Trevor. He was this mix of strong and shy living a family life that makes being the small gay nerdy teenage boy even more challenging.

Jeff and Brett pay a significant role in this story and seeing them again, in particular through the struggle of parenting, was fantastic. I can you tell as a parent they deal, especially Jeff, with Adam and his issues, with extraordinary patience. Jeff Erno is one of my favorite authors who’s writing, and storytelling is one of the best out there.

The narrator gave this story layers and life and made me react with more emotion (i.e., screaming at the counselor while driving down the road) than just reading could have. The voices were spot on for me, and the emotion he put into each line made me feel the character connection even more. I know I’ve found a new narrator that I’ll be looking for more work from and hope that the author continues to use him.

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Random Review: The Escort by Jeff Erno #Review #Giveaway

Author: Jeff Erno
Book: The Escort
Publisher: Sea to Sky Books
Publication date: January 30, 2017
Length: 60,513 words


Reviewed by Meredith


Synopsis

At twenty-five, Travis Sheppard knows all about taking care of himself. He’s been on his own since the age of seventeen, and he learned long ago how to use his assets and natural-born talent to get what he needs…and wants. Travis is a hustler, a male escort, and he caters to men of means who like to shower him with gifts and cash in exchange for his affection—sometimes for his mere presence.

When Travis accepts an overnight gig with a new client, he’s surprised by the fact the customer has pre-paid. When Travis arrives at the gentleman’s surprisingly modest home, he learns that his client is an accomplished, best-selling author. Darren, otherwise known as DJ Torrent, makes Travis a proposal. He wants Travis to accompany him to a gay literature conference. The catch is that for their five days together, Travis is to be more to Darren than just his escort. Darren wants Travis to pose as his husband.

Buy Links:

Sea to Sky Books

Amazon

Review

Shockingly this is the first Jeff Erno book I’ve read! I know! Also, having never been to GRL or really any retreat for the LGBTQ community other than Rainbow Book Fair this book was quite eye opening.

The concept of this book was what caught my eye a great deal. I love the whole man (Darren) hires an escort (Travis) to pretend to be his husband to go to GRR. You KNOW they are going to be found out but you can’t place how. So you read and you meet smarmy people, drama queens, gossipy loons and all the while you’re trying figure out who is going to be the one to break up this happy couple. 

Of course while all that's happening Darren and Travis are getting closer and closer. And it’s all building really well. Darren and Travis both have the same heartache…. If only they would communicate; but in all honesty minus that little miscommunication they really faced each problem head on. They were a united front.

Now, like I said I never attended any of these retreats and from a person lacking those experiences I had a few thoughts run through my head:

“Oh god is everyone so gossipy?”

“Sweet Jesus, why are all these women so grabby?”

“I don’t think I ever want to go to this.”

“Oh Jan and Lou are amazeballs!”

“Cock walk?”

So, yeah, I had thoughts LOL. It was very entertaining that’s for sure. Like a soap opera kind of. So I road that ride!

There’s a serious side to all of this though. In this genre, like many, there’s backstabbers and hurtful people. There’s also lifelong friends and amazing memories. I loved Travis and Darren together and what each of them did for each other. This is a love story. And it’s lovely!

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