New Release Review: Molten by Pelaam #Review #Giveaway

Title: Molten
Rules of Summer Collection
Author: Pelaam
Publisher: Pride Publishing 
Publication date: July 21, 2020
Length: 67 pages 

Reviewed by Sammy

Synopsis

When it comes to fun in the sun, Steve and Jeff are burning hot.

Steve Anderson is a sommelier and the owner of a successful restaurant, although he prefers to keep that titbit to himself and a select circle of close friends. His orthopaedic surgeon husband Jeff is equally successful in his chosen profession. However, they play as hard as they work, and not only is Jeff a beloved husband, but he’s also a precious sub.

When they’re invited to a summer barbeque aboard a friend’s yacht, they don’t hesitate to accept. The theme is ‘a life on the ocean wave’, but Steve has very particular ideas about costumes…and the kind of fun they’ll have. For the couple, a pirate captain and his naïve captive will take on a whole new dimension for playing out a scene.

However, when someone tries to come between the Dom and his sub, they quickly learn their mistake, leaving Steve to show Jeff just who he belongs to.

Purchase links

Pride Publishing

Amazon

Review

Steve is nothing if not inventive when it comes to his husband and sub, Jeff, and their sex life. He has to be what with their different schedules. With Steve busy as the owner of a restaurant and Jeff as an on call orthopedic surgeon, they snatch moments when they can—often in an unused closet of the hospital. Still they make it work and life is good—until an old acquaintance of Jeff’s shows up at the hospital and sets out to ruin his reputation and marriage.

In many ways I wish Pelaam had stuck to just the relationship between Steve and Jeff and their onboard escapades at the costume party in the short story, Molten. The side event between Jeff and an old nemesis was, at best, a distraction and presented Steve as very arrogant—something that fits with his Dom status if he and Jeff are at play but not a great trait in real life. Still I cannot deny the set up at the party and their relationship overall is highly erotic and fun to watch. There is no denying the smoldering chemistry between these two men and their genuine love for each other. The clever back and forth as the characters they go to at the party is done so well and with a lot of tongue in cheek humor. The reading audience is in on the set up from the beginning making it even more fun as others are completely unaware of their game and the many ways Steve has prepared Jeff to keep him on edge sexually.

For a quick short story featuring a loving relationship that is a nice representation of the D/s lifestyle I think Molten hits it out of the park. It is a sexy fantasy come to life and who could not enjoy that!

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway

Contest ends July 31st

thanks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Random Review: Straight Up by K. Evan Coles & Brigham Vaughn #Review #Giveaway

Title: Straight Up
Series: The Speakeasy book 4
Authors: K. Evan Coles & Brigham Vaughn
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Length: 261 pages

Reviewed by Sammy

Synopsis

Love, served straight up.

Malcolm Elliott has been keeping secrets. Helping his mom through a financial crisis has nearly emptied both his bank account and his kitchen cupboards, despite his thriving career with Corporate Equality Campaign. Malcolm is also bothered by his inability to tell the most important people in his life that he identifies as gray ace.

Stuart Morgan has a secret of his own. Though years have passed since the tattooed chef fled the Mormon Church in Utah for New York, he’s never truly come to terms with the kink that ruined that rigid but outwardly perfect life. Experience has also taught Stuart that keeping his love of lacy things under wraps is safer than telling the truth.

After Malcom’s boss, Carter, hires Stuart’s restaurant to cater a gala fundraising event, the strait-laced Malcolm is thrown together with badass biker Stuart. Despite their differences and a couple of false starts, the men discover they work well together and a friendship quickly forms.

As Malcolm’s feelings for Stuart deepen, his sexuality awakens, but he remains tight-lipped about his problems. And though Stuart grows more and more attached to Malcolm, he remains fearful of confessing his kink.

When both of their secrets are finally exposed, they find themselves at a crossroads in which they must choose between playing it safe or finally coming clean to the person they love.

Reader advisory: This book contains references to homophobia and polyamory.

Purchase Links

Pride Publishing

Amazon

Review

Malcolm has always felt slightly out of step in the dating world. His final analysis that he is definitely asexual means that he must feel a deep attraction to a person in order to have any interest in physical intimacy of any kind with them. Not only that but even then sex just isn’t really something he needs or even feels comfortable with—it’s not that he dislikes it, rather it just doesn’t even ping his radar, such as it is. But no one, not even his close friends at the speakeasy, know that about Mal.

When he meets the chef who will cater a major fundraising event he is responsible for, the man sparks some sort of reaction in Mal. Confused and afraid to even attempt to get to know the man, Mal finds himself slowly becoming friends with Chef Stuart Morgan. If Mal is going to try to explore the funny feeling being close to Stuart produces deep inside Mal then he’s going to have to come clean and hope Stuart understands. Little does he know Stuart has a secret of his own that helped cost him his marriage but every attempt to establish another relationship after that.

Straight Up by K. Evan Coles and Brigham Vaughn is the final novel in their Speakeasy series. While some may say it’s not critical to have read the others in this series prior to picking up this novel, I would caution against that thinking. There are multiple characters whose interwoven relationships are central to this story and have been established in the other books and keeping them straight will be a monumental task if you’re not familiar with their pasts. It’s funny that the authors chose to make that a bit of a problem for Stuart—as if acknowledging that you should read the others in this series before attempting this one. Plus the series is really great so I recommend reading these in order.

I really loved this novel. The way in which the authors delicately and lovingly handled both Malcolm’s place on the spectrum and Stuart’s kink is just really praise worthy. I love how they use Mal’s attempt to help Stuart understand how Mal views sex and not just the act but physical intimacy itself to educate the reader. It is done in as thorough and respectful way as possible and I felt it really paid attention to the fact that this is a difficult area for most to understand. I also love how they allow Stuart and Mal’s relationship to develop slowly—particularly in the bedroom. I feel this is true to the character Mal has been established as in prior novels and really helps the reader understand all the inner thoughts of someone who is asexual. It’s also so refreshing to read about two men who communicate rather than just run when confronted with difficulties in their relationship.

There is very little I would change about this book. Seeing all the other characters from previous novels was delightful, and experiencing the magical moment between Riley and Carter, who began this series, is just so special and felt like it made the books come full circle. I felt such compassion for poor Stuart—not only because he was thrown into this group and had to deal with how close they all were but also because his worry about exposing his own personal kink kept him in fear and some embarrassment until he is able to come clean with Mal.

I am sad to see this series end but couldn’t really have asked for a better novel than Straight Up  to tie them all together. I am so glad Mal found his one true love and that the boys are all content and happy. It has been a lovely ride with this gang and I will miss them.

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway

Contest ends July 31st

Thanks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Review: Unlikely Match by Lily Michaels #Review #Giveaway

Title: Unlikely Match
Series: Improbable Bonds #2
Author: Lily Michaels
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
Length: 105 pages 

Reviewed by Truus


Synopsis

Almost two decades of boxing couldn’t prepare Clayton for the biggest fight of his life—one that put love on the line.

Boxing had been Clayton James’ life for nearly twenty years, but the threat of a serious injury if he continued to fight forced him into retirement. Refusing to be down for the count, he carried his love of the sport into a new career as the owner of a gym. But low membership and a tightly stretched bank account mean he’s faced with closing his doors—or taking one more match to save his business.

The bullying that Tyler Kirk thought he’d left behind in high school not only managed to carry over into college but also seemed worse. Being older than the average student because of the years he’d taken off to rehabilitate his sister after the accident that robbed them of their parents didn’t lessen the attacks he faced. His chance to find peace was in the meaty hands of the finely chiseled and sexy-as-hell owner of the gym he hoped could give him self-defense training.

Neither man expected the adversarial start of their relationship to melt into something that quenched Clayton’s long-neglected need and one that Tyler wasn’t even aware he had. Nor could they prepare for the intense sexual chemistry that flowed between them to quickly morph their training schedule into a hot and heavy hookup routine.
But the risks of Clayton’s final match are amplified when it’s no longer simply his health and well-being on the line but also the love of a good man and the promise of family.

Reader advisory: This book contains references to a fatal car crash, as well as homophobic violence and bullying.

Purchase Links

Pride Publishing

Amazon

Review

Clayton is the owner of CJ Gym & Boxing Club, after he’s forced to retire.

Tyler is skinny, almost looks like a kid, and has been bullied all his life. He’s his sister's caretaker after their parents died.

When Tyler enters the gym, he’s clear he wants to learn to defend himself against the bullies.

His whole attitude is demanding and that triggers something in Clayton.

Clayton’s demeanor trigger something in Tyler he never knew he had. Tyler is way too young for him. But never judge a book by its cover!

Clayton starts training Tyler and Tyler starts reading about D/s dynamic and relationships.

Clayton is welcomed into Tyler and his little sister lives, it’s his chance for a family. If only he didn’t have to make a life-changing decision that could ruin him, literally.

This is a super-fast-paced, short story, sexy, sassy, snarky, more than enough and very clearly developed. Every important fact is mentioned. I’m always in awe how authors can create a satisfying story with emotions, definitions, and a clear plot with even an HEA in just about a hundred pages! Tyler and Clayton were more than sexy in their scenes. The learning process was just like Tyler’s whole being convincing, the dynamic between Clayton and Tyler was awesome.

Overall a very attractive narrative.

My first read from this author but certainly not my last!

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway

Contest ends May 31st

thanks

a Rafflecopter giveaway