contemporary

M/M Monday – After the Fall by L.A. Witt

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m
Series: Tucker Springs #6

Published: 10/7/13
Reviewed by Anne
206 pages

My love affair with Tucker Springs continues!  Nathan (who we met in the very first book, Where Nerves End) saved up to buy a horse he’d always wanted. Then, on the very first day he got to go out riding, the horse is startled by a motorcycle in the wrong place and throws Nathan off. Nathan breaks his leg and then his hand.  When Ryan, the motorcyclist wants to apologize and help Nathan through his recovery, Nathan hesitantly accepts that help.  They decide Nathan will teach Ryan to ride his horse to keep her in practice while Nathan heals up.
 
This bad luck beginning turns into a sweet love story!  Nathan is like an open book.  Ryan is much more guarded with his past and he has his own baggage, but he’s very understanding about Nathan’s issues.  The flirting between these two had me smiling throughout the book.  The angsty parts were realistic, too.
 
The main source of conflict in the story is Ryan’s lifestyle.  He’s happily nomadic, moving from place to place.  He has no problem committing to stay until Nathan is on his feet again, but he’s open about his plans to move on after that.  At first Nathan is fine with this set up, but as his feelings get more involved he feels like he needs to stop this relationship from developing, since Ryan’s wanderlust has doomed it from the start to being nothing more than casual.
 
Besides their flirting, my favorite part of the book is how Nathan and Ryan treat each other as their physical relationship is developing.  They communicate very well, and that leaves them open to taking care of each other and understanding each other’s issues.  And it’s really well written sex, too!
 
I can’t recommend this series enough!  I think every entry has been solid for me, and I enjoyed this one very much, too!

Fear For Me by Cynthia Eden

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Fear for Me: A Novel of the Bayou Butcher
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
356 pages

Warning! Lovers of straight romance, this is not the book for you. That being said, lovers of romantic suspense, pull up a chair and enjoy.

Lauren is a District Attorney in Baton Rouge. She always fights for justice for the victims of violent crimes. Not only is it her job but it’s also her purpose. Her sister disappeared at age 16 and has never been seen again. She misses her sister every day and uses the energy to find closure and peace for other families. She had an affair five years ago with Anthony that ended with him walking away from her. She tried to move on but Anthony owns her heart.

Anthony is a United States Marshall who is very good at his job. He helps track and apprehend serial killers. A recent case almost killed him, making him realize what really matters in life, Lauren. It happens that he gets a case in Baton Rouge that involves Lauren and himself. The Bayou butcher escaped from prison and murdered a woman in Lauren’s home. He has to protect Lauren at all costs.

This is a good, solid read. Romantic suspense but very heavy on the suspense. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse chase in the story. You were kept guessing until the end. Just when you thought you knew who it was, you didn’t. I picture Cynthia Eden sitting back and laughing maniacally at the readers as they try to figure out this plot twisting mystery. She helps you feel the characters’ pain and at one point, I was brought to tears. I really needed a break from the so-so books I’ve been reading and this was just what I needed. I probably would’ve given it five stars I’d there would’ve been more sex. What sex there was, was hot but not near frequent enough for me.

                      

Reflection by Elene Sallinger

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level- Moderate Kink
Series-Chrysalis Series #2
Genre-BDSM
Reviewed by Kate
240 pages

Reflection is the compelling story of Bridget and Connor. Bridget is a professor and is still dealing with a rape that happened 20 years ago. She hasn’t let herself invest in a relationship since then. Connor is a janitor at the university where Bridget works and is a hobby photographer and artist. But when Connor and Bridget run into each other, Bridget finds herself wanting more in her relationship with Connor than she’s ever dreamed.

I cold not stop turning pages while reading this book. The emotional pain that both Connor and Bridget have to travel through to reach  their happily ever after is gripping while their budding relationship is tender and sweet and hot and steamy. A perfect combination. There’s even a secondary plot that adds a bit of suspense to the story. I would highly recommend this book (as well as the first book in the series, Awakening) to anyone who enjoys an emotional journey on the way to happily ever after and doesn’t mind some mild-moderate BDSM thrown into the mix. Elene Sallinger has me eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.