The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick

Introduction

I have been reading M/M romance for about 5 years now, everything from fantasy to contemporary and BDSM.  But this was the first YA that made me want to read more in this genre.  I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy YA, I mean I’m pushing 50 so how can I connect with characters whose main concern in life is what to do on a Friday night?  Well, I was surprised to find characters with depth and stories that made a huge impact on me personally.

My Review

First of all, there are two covers for The Red Sheet.  The first is by the very talented Dan Skinner featuring a young, sexy, and very blond MJ.  The second is more inspirational and better suited for the content and its YA audience.

The Red Sheet tells a story of high school bullying through the eyes of a reforming bully.  Some of the story elements were tough to read but the story was told with humor, honesty, and compassion.   I am always surprised by how Mia captures the teen voice so well.  The Red Sheet is written in first person and the inner monologue is humorous and thoughtful.

Bryan is a high school jock who wakes up one morning transformed – from a typical, complacent, selfish teenager into an animal-saving, mom-hugging, socially conscience young man. With the set of red sheets his mother bought, Bryan feels like Superman, ready to save the world. The problem is, he doesn’t know what caused the transformation.

The other MC, Scott, is a lonely boy who has been bullied by his peers for his size, his clothes, and for his sexual orientation. He has suffered verbal as well as physical abuse.

Bryan and Scott discover together that people can change, people can forgive but the process is hard and long. It takes individuals to own up to their prejudices, complacency, and ignorance, but forgiveness is equally important.  I really liked Bryan.  He’s certainly not perfect.  Before his transformation he was that typical super jock and enjoyed the benefits that title afforded him.  He hardly noticed others not like him until he met Scott.  Bryan was deep in the closet and until that fateful weekend that began his transformation, he was happy to remain there.  Scott, who on the outside seem small and weak, didn’t hide the fact that he was gay.  There is strength in being yourself when that’s not the norm.

Forgiveness is a major theme in this book.  Both boys learned that forgiveness is an important part of healing but forgiveness doesn’t mean you forget.  Cody Kennedy says in the Forward, “To say that you will recover from bullying is a myth.  You can survive and compensate for it when and if you are able.”  And the healing process for both boys involve taking action against injustices that they see around them.  I enjoyed all the Mahatma Ghandi’s quotes used in this book:

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Nobody can hurt me without my permission.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.

In a gentle way you can shake the world.

The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

My favorite quote from The Red Sheet is said by Bryan to Scott, “‘My life is my message.’  I’ve really changed, Scotty.  Just watch me and you’ll see.”  And isn’t this true for all of us.  We can say the right things but it is our actions that matter in the end.

So let’s talk about sex… This is a YA, so their physical interaction is limited.  I hope this doesn’t turn you away from this book.  It is carefully crafted and cleverly told.  There are so many great YA titles out there so I hope you give this and others a try!

I highly recommend this book and hope that all high school students will read it. I know my son will be reading it.

 

By Kari Higa

 

Dreamspinner Press

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Catch A Ghost by SE Jakes

This book was my first introduction to the writing of S.E. Jakes, and the first book in her Hell Or High Water series; immediately I was hooked.  And I must say, I downloaded it rather reluctantly because underground cage fighting is just NOT my thing.  But, this series has become my crack.  As well as the spin-off series, Dirty Deeds.

The character development for the two main characters is what I would call Swiss cheese – blocks of information with some big holes.  But, fear not, Jakes fills in the information.  Albeit the filling in the holes is slow and spread out over the series, but this way the reader sees the central puzzle slowly filling in.  Jakes drops little crumbs of information on the background of her characters in each chapter, leaving the reader hungry for more and more.  Presently there are three and a half books in the series, and sadly one left.  I still feel like I don’t know all of Tom and Prophet.  But that’s okay, I have faith Jakes will explain all by the last book.

Prophet is haunted by his past, literally.  He sees his old friend and fell Navy SEAL team member, John Morse.  He carries the guilt of Morse’s death on his shoulders and it is slowly overtaking his life. Or, did Morse somehow survive and did Prophet abandon him in torturous captivity?  And that guilt is even more crippling in Prophet’s mind.  To compound this, Prophet is dealing with a life-altering medical issue.  Can he dig to the bottom of the truth of his best friend’s death before his life is forever altered?  It’s a race against time.

Tom believes that he is bad luck, and being raised in the Cajun country of Louisiana, bad luck is something he takes very seriously.  He had bad luck in his home life, bad luck as an FBI agent and bad luck running for sheriff in the parish where he worked.  He has serious anger issues, but that serves to aid him while he and Prophet go undercover in the world of fighting.

The attraction between Prophet and Tom starts to sizzle in the first chapter and keeps building until they have nuclear meltdown sex after Tom’s first fight.  Both of them recognize what they have between them is certainly more than being just fuck-buddies, but both of them are dealing with so many personal demons they work quite hard to resist their underlying feelings.  It’s hard, harsh, smoldering sex that wrecks both of them, but wrecks them in a good way.  Through the violence of them coming together, they both find a level of comfort and peace within each other.

Jakes also introduces us to Cillian and Mal, two people who orbit Prophet’s world and who add excellent layers to the story.  Their introduction and recurrence in the other books lay the foundations for her Dirty Deeds series.  Cillian and Mal also play pivotal roles in the John Morse mystery.  The book ends on a semi-cliff hanger, but there is some satisfaction of the Happy For Now ending, but she does promise the series will definitely end with a Happily Ever After – and that is what keeps readers coming back for more.

Amazon.com book blurb ~

“Everyone knows that Prophet — former Navy SEAL, former CIA spook, full-time pain in the ass — works alone. But his boss at Extreme Escapes, Ltd. has just assigned Proph a new partner and a case haunted by ghosts from Proph’s past. Suddenly, he has to confront both head-on.

Tom Boudreaux — failed FBI agent, failed sheriff, full-time believer in bad luck — is wondering why the head of a private contracting firm has hunted him down to offer him a job. Still, he’s determined to succeed this time, despite being partnered with Prophet, EE’s most successful, lethal, and annoying operative, on a case that resurrects his own painful past.

Together, Prophet and Tom must find a way to take down killers in the dangerous world of underground cage matches while fighting their own dangerous attraction. When they find themselves caught in the crossfire, these two loners must trust each other and work together to escape their ghosts . . . or pay the price.”

Susan Haggerty

Riptide Publishing

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Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton

One of my favorite books is Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton. This book’s seems so real to me. Ms. Sexton deals realistically with Jaime’s abuse and how he reacts to everyday situations. You can feel Levi’s anger and hurt towards his family. You can feel the fragile friendship that builds over time into romance. You can sympathize with Lev’s family with their dilemma towards their religion and their faith.

Blurb: Levi Binder is a Miami bartender who cares about only two things: sex and surfing. Ostracized by his Mormon family for his homosexuality, Levi is determined to live his life his own way, but everything changes when he meets massage therapist Jaime Marshall. Jaime is used to being alone. Haunted by the horrors of his past, his only friend is his faithful dog, Dolly. He has no idea how to handle somebody as gorgeous and vibrant as Levi. Complete opposites on the surface, Levi and Jaime both long for something that they can only find together. Through love and the therapeutic power of touch, they’ll find a way to heal each other, and they’ll learn to live as sinners in a family of saints.

One of the things that stood out to me while reading this book was the respectful way that Ms. Sexton treated the Mormon faith. During the course of the book she never bashed nor condemned the Mormon faith. No matter how any of the characters disagreed , their faith is never made to look bad. This is a great book of finding something you didn’t know you were looking for; of healing with the help of someone else. A great book to read that combines M/M romance and religion in a respectful way.

Denise Dechene

 

Amber Quill Press

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Alpha Trine by Lexi Ander

I thought I would write my review about a book that’s science fiction. The reason I’m writing this review for this particular book genre is because normally I don’t read science fiction, I really don’t, but this book was so good and so engaging that I had to write about it just in case there’s people like me who are scared to read science fiction. Don’t be scared to read this book. It is that good. I’ve read it twice and will probably read it again.

The book is Alpha Trine (The Valespian Pact #1) by Lexi Ander’s, it’s about a sole survivor on a science Vessel. His name is Zeus who is found and adopted by the Emperor and Empress of Mar’Sani. He is human and blind but from the moment they laid eyes on him they loved him like he was one of their own. The mom, the dad, the brothers and sister, they were all so awesome. It was just the sweetest thing. This family had each other’s backs at all times.  I loved how they treated him and how they welcomed him into the family. They never thought of him as different, not once. And that’s one of the reasons why I loved this book, because they just loved each other so much.

Zeus is aboard a ship working when he meets Dargon Kal-Turak and his symbiote Alpha, now you’re going to have to read the book to understand how Alpha, Dargon Kal-Turak and Zeus get together, it’s really hard for me to explain, that’s where Lexi practices her writing magic. I don’t want to give it away (let’s be honest I’m not a professional so it would be hard for me to explain, lol) so you can read it and you’ll understand. They all meet aboard the ship and have to run for their lives and they end up having to take Zeus with them. That’s where the adventure begins and the start of their love story. I loved watching them get together, getting to know each other. It was non- stop action. It was just so good.

There’s just so much going on that would be hard for me to explain it all, read it, you will not regret it. I just loved this book so much and the great news is if you enjoyed this one the second one is out also and I think it was even better than the first one. It’s just a great start to the series.  If you love science fiction this will be great read for you and even if you’re unsure I would still pick this book up and read it and even if it’s not your go to genre I would still read it, step out of your book box and don’t let this genre keep you away from this gem of a book.

Leaundra Angelique Ross

 

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Less Than Three Press

Acrobat by Mary Calmes

I love to read.  I can’t seem to get enough of it.  Last year I read over 300 books and 98% of them are m/m romance.  Everyone has that one book, no matter how much they read, that is their go to book.  You know the book I mean, that book you read when you get done with a really emotional book or just need a feel good read.  This book does that for me.  Acrobat is a book that really pulls you in and makes you connect with the MC.  The way the book starts and the end result are so different from what I was expecting.  This is a story of how the life you never knew you wanted can happen when you aren’t even looking.  I have read this book at least 30 times and that is not an exaggeration.  If you have read Mary Calmes you will also see cross characters in this book and her other books have a few of these characters peeking in every once in a while.

Nate Qells is a 45 year old English literature professor who has never been in love.  Oh he thinks he knows what love is and that he has been in love but he really hasn’t.  He is a divorced father and his son comes into the book with a bang but it makes you love Nate even more because of his love for his son and family.  His laid back attitude and just good guy persona just pulls you in.  With college, students, parties to plan and a new relationship, Nate’s life is full of unexpected fun and intrigue.

Andreo “Dreo” Fiore is a 28 year old who lives in Nate’s building.  He has custody of his teenage nephew (his mother passed away) and works as a bodyguard for a notorious mob boss.  He is trying to get out of the business and live a respectable life for his nephew Michael and his future.   Nate has spent the last 4 years helping Dreo with raising Michael.

Though the two see each other almost every day, to Nate they are only acquaintances but to Dreo he wants so much more.  As Nate starts to explore the possibility of starting something with an ex-student, Dreo starts to make his move.  Come and see how Nate finds out what true love really is.  Read with me about how Dreo wants to change his whole life so that he is worthy of love and respect from the one man he has wanted for four years.  The background characters ,from Nate’s Ex-wife and her new husband and his outrageous college colleagues, help make this just an all around great read.  I hope you all enjoy Acrobat as much as I do.

Christy Thomas

 

Dreamspinner

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Owning Corey by Maris Black

I chose Owning Corey, the debut novel by Maris Black. I had read Pinned (SSU Boys Book 1) first. The book was amazing, and two side characters mentioned near the end of the story intrigued me. I wondered if they were from a previous book. Sure enough, they were the two main characters from Owning Corey.

Let me start by saying this not a ménage book. This is a 100% gay love story, but because Ben identifies as straight, the only way Corey can woo him is by arranging threesomes with women. Even die-hard m/m fans can enjoy these scenes, because they focus on the interaction between the two men and their growing attraction, with the women being pretty much incidental. And the sex scenes are not gratuitous or irrelevant. They are essential to the story and to character and plot development.

Dr. Ben Hardy comes off as a harsh character in the beginning. He is uptight and uncomfortable in his own skin. He is a borderline antisocial serial dater who resents the fact that women in his small town see him as a meal ticket. He is dating Christina, a blatant social climber who is dying to be a doctor’s wife. Ben uses her for sex and companionship, but it quickly becomes clear that Ben is just not satisfied in the bedroom. When they meet Corey, the new EMT, they are both taken with him.

Christina shocks the two men by suggesting a threesome, and what ensues is an emotional roller coaster ride. Ben is deeply disturbed at the idea, but something inside him can’t resist it. Christina thinks she is getting two hot men in her bed, but what actually happens is that Ben and Corey discover a mutual attraction that neither of them can deny, and the conniving Christina gets left out in the cold.

Corey is one of the most surprising and endearing characters I’ve ever read about. He has a naive charm and optimism that really draws you in. You know from early on that he has a dark past, but the extent of it is shocking and not revealed until near the end of the book. When I found out what had happened to him, it freaked me out and made me want to jump into the book and give him a hug. The fact that he could go through such awful things and come out so hopeful and strong really resonated with me. I have never in my life rooted so hard for a character to have a happy ending.

I don’t want to give away too much, because there are a lot of surprises in the book, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys m/m romance, a good love story, or a good story about self-discovery and perseverance. The characters were well-developed, lovable and realistic, and in the end they each save each other in their own way.

Lisa Wilde

 

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Smashwords

 

 

Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley

I read Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley years ago. I am surprised that it is not as well known as I personally think it should be:

Shades of Gray is a book that will blur your lines about what you think is right and wrong:

The basic plot is this: Danny is a drug runner for Mr. Hinestroza, a big-time drug cartel bad guy. Danny gets into trouble and they bust him. He then meets Miller, the FBI agent who wants to bring Hinestroza down.

They make a deal, Danny testifies against Hinestroza in return for not being sent to prison for gun charges.

We learn more about Danny and Miller. We learn that Danny is sarcastic and bitter. We learn that Danny is not a bad man though. *side eyes everyone* He is just a beautiful broken man who has taken a lot of bad hits in his life. But we also learn that despite everything he is comfortable with whom he is and he is not afraid to go for what he wants:

While spending time together Miller learns things about Danny, painful and heartbreaking things. He learns that things are not always what they seem:

And on this journey he also learns things about himself. Things he fears about himself.  Oh Miller………….you poor, terrified, broken darling:

And Danny is sweet and so patient with Sutton’s fears:

And we the readers get to watch their story unfold. We get to watch these broken men find strength in the other:

“Why,” he panted into Danny’s neck, “why’s it so goddamn good?” He was surprised at how full his voice sounded, so close to overflowing its steady banks. 
Danny stroked his hair, his lips warm against Miller’s cheek. “Because it’s us, Miller,” he whispered. “Because it’s us.”

We watch these two perfectly imperfect men fall in love. And you know what?

Danny & Miller break my heart. They make me laugh. They make me cry. They make me scream at the unfairness of the world.

Their story is a long and painful journey, but I can promise you that their journey is worth it. Theirs is a story you will reread for years to come.

By Emily Engesser

 

 

Dreamspinner Press

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Bear’s Pup by Belleann Summer

I recently stumbled upon a series from siren publishing Rescue for Hire by Miss Belleann Summer. I have to say I am hooked. The first book in this series is Bear’s Pup.

Ok let me give you a little background Rescue for Hire is a search and rescues company started by Cade Miller. With the help of his four other team members they make up the crew of rescue for hire.

Cade Miller thought he was prepared for everything life had to throw at him until a Midwestern flood turned his life around.in the miss of a four day rescue something floating down the river. It was a person cling on to a head board.

Cade and his second in command Jack went into the icy cold water to rescue the body holding on for dear life. But what Cade did not know was that the person he rescued should be his hearts desire.

Brett thought he found love in Dirk but what he found was a psychotic, sociopathic abusive asshole. Thinking that his life was over after being beaten torture and swept away in a raging flood. Thinking he was going to die he was rescued by the bear of a man who caught his eye.

What started out as a rescued turned into love. But love does not come with out some life interruptions, a kidnapping and a stalker. Will Cade and Bret’s new relationship survive all the mishaps and life interruptions. If you want to know more check out the Rescue For Hire Series.

 

Monique Thompson

 

Book Strand

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Deliver US by Lynn Kelling

DELIVER US BY LYNN KELLING

I went into this book after reading some reviews that were not so great….I nearly stopped reading it but I am so glad I didn’t….Where to start….My Gabriel who I’ve since grown to love so much (just ask the author how much)….He is a hard person to love at the start..His upbringing was by far a bad one…suffering bad physical and mental abuse, this has made him into the hard man that he turned out to be. Darrek is a straight guy who goes to Diadem for some BDSM play hoping to get a domme to use him….He ends up with Gabriel…and his first scene is not a mild one due to him not filling his form out properly (lesson learned) but he quickly learns to love Gabriel and he soon becomes Darreks Master…..They are perfect together..The BDSM scenes are damn hot, very strong and not for the faint hearted…The things Gabe does to him are not to be taken lightly but Gabe is falling for Dare and they soon learn they need each other as Dare has done something in his past that will soon come out……We also meet Ben and his submissive Kyle who have a tumultuous relationship…..Kyle is also messed up from the past but that will not be known until book two. To say this is a hard book to read???

Yeah it is kind of but the story pulls you along and you just have to keep reading….There’s a moment with Gabes mum near the end that tore my heart out,I just wanted to hide Gabe from the world and protect him just like his friends did with his dad……You will love Gabriel…Dare…Ben and Kyle…..They are strong men (even the submissives) and they will hold your heart long after finishing the book….This is book one out of four (at last count) no cliffhanger just that I want to know what happens next feeling….You also get the strong feeling of love between the men even with the strong BDSM scenes….I’d only ever read mild BDSM before this Miss Kelling took me to the dark side and I haven’t looked back….I dare you not to love this series and this is an amazing start to it

BY SUE BOWDLEY

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Smashwords

 

Bent by Sean Michael

Before I read Bent by Sean Michael I have to admit I wasn’t into the BDSM genre very much. I could never understand what people saw into it. After this book it all changed. Jim was a bitter, unhappy, angry, unpleasant man who was going through life one day at a time. He had been accused of inappropriate behavior towards a student and lost his job, house, lover and life because of it. He lived his life day by day with coffee and routine. He was almost OCD in his routine and lived on Xanax to get through every day.  Marcus, a local dominant, runs into him screaming at a poor bookstore clerk and suddenly knows he can help him and wants him.

Now before this, Jim has never known the BDSM lifestyle or dealt with it. He comes from a strict background with a Minister father, and as a professor didn’t go far outside the norm. Marcus, slowly but surely eases Jim into the ways of BDSM. He, “trains” Jim in the lifestyle. Showing him how discipline can help him handle his past and become happier with his future.

Now, most people will say this is unbelievable. How can someone just jump into the lifestyle and everything be ok? And you would be right. The book, which is quite long actually, shows Marcus guiding Jim through it slowly. Little steps taken, not big ones. You can actually see how someone could ease their way into BDSM and become happier in the lifestyle. It’s a great example of someone finding a new outlet in pleasure and happiness. You follow Jim from being in abject misery to someone who is happy. You cheer for him finding his way and for Marcus who knew what he wanted right away and went for it.

This is the 1st book in the Hammer series and I have read the rest as well but Bent will always be my favorite. If this was a paperback it would be in tatters by now. I love the play between Jim and Marcus and watching them fall in love while using BDSM to soothe Jim’s demons. Watching Jim become a happier person. While the sex is smoking hot, the story matters to me more. And that’s what I fell in love with.

Torquere Press

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