New Release Review: Too Close To The Flame by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood #Review #Giveaway

Title: Too Close To The Flame
Authors: Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood
Self Published
Publication date: July 31, 2020
Length: 298 pages

Reviewed by Truus

Synopsis

Can he ever learn to trust again?
Brandon Weber’s old boyfriend almost beat him to death. Brandon survived, but still bears the emotional scars. Eighteen months later, he has withdrawn into himself, convinced he’ll never be able to trust another man.
Devin Macadam, fresh out of law school, has an exciting new job. He is also on the lookout for just the right guy, someone to take care of and love.
When Devin shows up for the first day of work at his new office, he meets Brandon, a legal assistant there. Sparks fly, but Brandon is paralyzed by fear and isn’t about to give another man the power to hurt him again. Devin, never one to give up easily, doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Both men feel the magic, but can their relationship ever get past the friend zone?
Too Close to the Flame is a dark-to-light, sweet romance featuring out and proud gay men, lots of feels, steamy love scenes, and a wonderful happy ending.
Trigger Warning: Too Close to the Flame contains specific memories of physical abuse. That said, the book is about Brandon’s recovery and HEA romance with Devin. Our goal is to bring attention to the often neglected issue of abuse in gay relationships.

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Review

Brandon is deeply hurt by his ex, mentally as physically. He’ll expects himself to get old alone probably with a wrist injury, because a relationship asks for trust and that’s something Brandon lost on the way.
Devin got a job at his cousin's law firm. They grew up with each other and are still close.
When Devin meets Brandon, as his cousin's assistant, he can’t keep his eyes off him. After a few weeks, he asks Brandon for a drink.
A nice invention from Devin of course, only it will never be more than just a drink.

But two broken hearts recognize each other and pull at each other’s strings.
Very very gently Devin approachs Brandon and with a mountain of hesitation Brandon lets him.
They start a friendship and more.
We can follow them, It’s almost inevitable they’ll end up together. Besides Brandon’s trauma, the whole story is quite mellow and sweet. I expected a bit more variety, near the end it got some action, but at that moment it was, unfortunately, a bit predictable.

Both men are very kind and considerate. There was a lot of attention to Brandon’s healing process which was well done. There was less focus on Devin’s hurt, I would have loved some more development there, it was almost all about Brandon.
The story was entertaining, gentle, and engaging. Besides the main characters, we meet the family and friends, a good addition to the story. The writing style was captivating even though the story was for me a bit too stretched the way of writing kept me to the pages.
The end was very satisfying.

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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

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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!

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New Release Review: Out On The Serve by Lane Hayes #Review #Giveaway

Title: Out On The Serve
Series: Out In College #7
Author: Lane Hayes
Self Published
Publication Date: July 9, 2020
Length: 210 Pages

Reviewed by Sammy

Synopsis

Roommates to friends to lovers…

Elliot-

I need a roommate fast. Even a temporary one. Beggars can’t be choosers. Going pro after graduation has been intense, and time is precious. Thankfully, Braden seems cool. He’s a little quirky…and very sexy. Of course, I would never get involved with a roommate. That’s a bad idea. Isn’t it?

Braden-

Moving to Long Beach seems like a no brainer. It’ll be a perfect chance to wind down before grad school and a nice respite from my folks. Plus, my new roommate is a great guy. A little messy, but sweet. Gotta admit, I like him more than I should. And we’re off to a strange start when a mutual friend hooks me up with his ex. Elliot’s the one I want, but going from friends to lovers is a risk. We could end up out on the serve…or we could win it all.

Out on the Serve is a low-angst MM, bisexual romance starring two roommates, one neat, one messy, beach volleyball, a lot of sand, and a little summer fun. This story is part of the Out in College series but can be read as a stand-alone.

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Review

Elliot is living his dream—finally graduated and now playing professional volleyball. All he needs now is a roommate and he’ll be set. When his friend brings by Braden the guy looks familiar and turns out to be a fellow ball player like himself—how perfect. Plus the guys is easy on the eyes but there is no way Elliot is going to get involved with his new roommate, especially since his last breakup really left him turned off from anything more than casual, no strings sex.

Braden has his life mapped out for him. A summer to act in a play, some beach time and then on to grad school to finally work in his dad’s business. It’s all there before him and now he has a place to stay as well. Elliot is fun—a slob, but fun. If they can work out the cleaning thing everything is going to be great. Of course he’s gorgeous but it wouldn’t be prudent to get involved with a roommate plus Braden is only there for a few weeks—after the summer is over he is off to school. So why does he keep wanting to wrap his arms around Elliot and taste his lips?

Lane Hayes has released book seven in her Out in College series and it is really quite sweet. Out on the Serve may have crossover characters but it is definitely a standalone. Elliot and Braden just work on so many levels and watching them grow closer and maneuver the tangle of a pre-planned futures versus what both really want from life is the gist of this story. Both men are bisexual with Braden being newer at being out than Elliot. While Elliot’s mom is proud and quite the character to boot, Braden’s mother is a strict catholic who struggles with her son’s sexuality. It’s the idea that his mom really doesn’t want him to be gay that keeps Braden from fully embracing his chance at happiness with Elliot—that and the time limit that both know is at play.

Along with that theme there’s the best friend, Sophie, who tends to stick her hand in everyone’s business and often seems to be manipulating people and events to cause drama. I wanted to like Sophie but I must admit I struggled mainly because there is so much hinting at the idea that she is deliberately doing things to Elliot. For instance she sets him up with his ex who really hurt him when he broke off their relationship. But why? Is it just because she is jealous she can’t have Elliot. I wish there would have been a final confrontation that actually discussed her reasoning and not just one where Elliot finally comes to terms with her “planning” so I could be sure if she is a nasty person or just a drama queen. However that is of small concern when the story is done so well and the two main characters so incredibly lovable.

Out on the Serve is a very satisfying new adult novel with honest and charismatic characters and a beautiful romance. I love this series and can’t wait to see what comes next from this talented author.

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