Release Day Review: Truth, Pride, Victory, Love by David Connor & EF Mulder #Review #Giveaway

Authors: David Connor and EF Mulder
Book: Truth, Pride, Victory, Love
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: December 30, 2016
Length: 368 pages



Reviewed by Meredith


Synopsis

Beneath the surface, they share more than dreams of Olympic gold.

Since elementary school, the question of Reed Watson’s race has needled him. But the one thing he’s always known is that he is destined to become an Olympic star—he felt it the moment he first hit the water. Chosen by a former Olympic swimmer to train for the 2016 Olympics, Reed determinedly works toward his dream.

Along the way, Reed develops feelings for two men he’s known since childhood: Cal, his next-door neighbor, and Mathias, his rival since the fourth grade. Cal’s struggle with his sexual identity and a tragedy complicate Reed’s feelings, while Mathias’s wealth quickly makes it obvious they are from vastly different worlds.

As Rio approaches, Mathias becomes a gay sports icon, while Reed is told to hide his sexuality for a lucrative endorsement deal that will offer his family a financial boost and help him with mounting debt. Reed’s unresolved desires for both men remain and so too do all the things that have kept them apart. Has he grown enough to navigate rougher waters, to find truth, pride, victory, and love?

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Review

This is a story about great determination. The goal? Get to the Olympics!

Mathias and Reed first meet in grade school. A bad day leads to Reed defending Mathias only for Mathias to never return to school again. It's not until years later, at a swim meet, these two see each other again. The attraction is immediate!

Mathias' family is well off where Reed's family is not. Money, as they say, is the route to all evil. Their attraction to one another matters not when money is involved... and serious secrets.

We watch these two over the course of four years. Together, not together, ups and downs. There were so many demons to face in this book. Reed's struggles seemed so much harder to me. Not to discount Mathias but Reed's were big and you felt the "make or break" scenario that played in a loop in his head.

I will say this book was a bit longer than it had to be. It lagged in quite a few places. Otherwise this is an emotional story about two guys who fall in love and fight hard for it.

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Release Day Review: More Things in Heaven and Earth by Paul Comeau #Review #Giveaway

Author: Paul Comeau
Book: More Things in Heaven and Earth
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: December 30, 2016
Length: 295 pages


Reviewed by Meredith



Synopsis

When young Danny Crawford’s father and a priest conspire to subject him to conversion therapy, Danny only sees one way out. But little does Danny know he’ll soon have a sentinel watching from the darkness, a guardian angel in the most unlikely form imaginable.

Damien, a vampire, is inexplicably moved by Danny’s plight. He takes it upon himself to make sure Danny’s father and the priest can never hurt him again, giving Danny a chance at a normal life. As Danny grows up, Damien struggles to keep the boy—and later the young man—from harm. He does not dare go any further, no matter how much he wants to. To do so would ruin everything he’s tried to do for Danny. He doesn’t realize that as Danny embarks on a successful modeling career and begins dating, Danny feels empty, longing for something—or someone—just beyond his reach: a shadow, a presence he despairingly believes forever lost to him.

When brutality and violence threaten Danny again, Damien must make a decision—risk revealing himself to Danny, or leave Danny to his fate.

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Review

More Things in Heaven and Earth by Paul Comeau is a debut book from this author. When reading a new author I tend to be more open-minded when reviewing. Breaking into the publishing world is hard. You have your own style and you're trying to get people to love it. Sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesn't.

I will say there were some issues with this book. Some that I'm shocked the author's editor (s) didn't catch. Not grammar! One huge issue this book had was head hopping. Almost to an uncontrollable level. It forced me to have to reread paragraphs over again. It's meant to be in one person's POV (Damien's) but the author slips many times into another character's head. It was extremely frustrating and because of it I had a very hard time getting into this book.

Now it's not all bad. The premise of this book is wonderful. It's what initially drew me to this story to begin with. A vampire and a guardian angel!? You don't get more opposite than that! The dark versus light aspect is intriguing. Danny and Damien, the MC's, are amazing characters and watching them fall in love is beautiful. However, naming two MC's so similarly is also a huge issue. I often confused the two when they were together. Both beginning with D and Danny and Damien are way too close to being the same name.

I felt this book as a whole held great potential. Parts of it that needed fixing should have been addressed in editing and BETA reading. If this is re-polished it can be a great book.

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Promotional Post: The Trouble With Trevor by Cin Forrester #Teasers #Review #Giveaway

Author: Cin Forrester
Book: The Trouble With Trevor
Series: Off Limits Book 1
Publisher: Elsewhere Publishing
Publication date: November 7, 2016
Length: 125 pages



Reviewed by Meredith


Synopsis

Like most other guys his age, Trevor Nash just wants to escape his small town, go to college and get laid. It’s not his fault his parents are freaked out because his older brother went to college and binge drank himself to death. Trevor’s not going to do that, but they won’t let him go unless he stays with his godfather, Marine vet Grady McKinnon.

Grady’s come to appreciate a quiet life in Boston since an IED tore off his foot and forced his discharge, but he owes his oldest friend a lot. He agrees to the babysitting, provided Trevor sticks to a few basic rules.

It’s been five years since Trevor’s seen Grady, a long time in a teen’s life. Now Trevor is stunned to find out his muscled temporary guardian is a walking wet dream. Trevor has a new plan: get Grady’s attention, no matter how many rules he has to break to do it.

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Review

The Trouble with Trevor is book one in Cin Forrester’s Off Limits series. It’s also Cin’s first book. Cin Forrester AKA KA Mitchell has written quite the erotic story that sits on the cusp of taboo. This isn’t a long book and you won’t find much closure in the end. It ends with a cliffhanger and the future of Trevor and Grady is very uncertain. There’s Trevor and his sexual relationship with Cael and then there’s Trevor and his infatuation with his godfather Grady.

Grady is a military man who believes in corporal punishment. SO when Trevor misbehaves he gets a spanking… and Trevor loves it. As does Grady. There’s so many questions each of them have and a lot of chaos. What’s the right thing to do? Where are the limits? Is Trevor only being seventeen an issue?

If you’re a fan of K.A. Mitchell’s writing understand her Cin Forrester is very different. This is strictly erotica. There’s no romance in this story so don’t go reading it thinking you’re getting a Mitchell book.

Though I did enjoy it I really wanted to know more but it ended before I got those. Being it’s book one and it had the ending it did I am very much looking forward to book two.

Right out of the gate Cin is letting you know what this pen name will stand for. So if erotica with some taboo and spanking is your thing than give this a go and enjoy the ride.

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Random Reviews... Falling Snow on Snow by Lou Sylvre #Review #Giveaway

Author: Lou Sylvre 
Book: Falling Snow on Snow
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: December 23, 2016
Length: 88 pages




Reviewed by Meredith



Synopsis

Beck Justice knows holiday sparkle and snappy carols only mask December’s cruel, black heart. He learned that lesson even before he landed on the streets eight years ago, and his recent step up to a tiny apartment and a busker’s permit for Seattle’s Pike Place Market has done nothing to change his mind. But one day in the market, Oleg Abramov joins his ethereal voice to Beck’s guitar, and Beck glimpses light in his bleak, dark winter.

Oleg, lucky to have a large and loving family, believes Beck could be the man to fill the void that nevertheless remains in his life. The two men step out on a path toward love, but it proves as slippery as Seattle’s icy streets. Just when they get close, a misunderstanding shatters their hopes. Light and harmony are still within reach, but only if they choose to believe, risk their hearts, and trust.

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Review

This is a holiday read that begins with a heavy blanket of angst. The sadness, I will say, stays through most of the story. The lift, the joy and comfort doesn’t rise until about the last 10% of the book. 

I found this book to be majestic in its poetic writing. With the mingling of music and descriptive writing made this book quite beautiful. Beck, a musician who plays his guitar in the market, has had one heck of a rough life. It doesn’t get any better for him until Oleg enters it. His beautiful voice and equally lonely heart pull Beck and him together.

Oleg does have a huge, loving family but it’s a great love he longs for and Beck can offer him that. Now, I hoped for more happiness in this story. It did end on an HEA but I was plagued with so many questions. What would happen to his step dad? What about George? Now, I’m guessing the author leaves us with those questions in the hopes we can put our outcomes into play. But I would have loved just a little bit longer to see what happened there. 

It was a very lovely story that was full of angst and emotion.

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