Hard Fall by James Buchanan

CCC

Great outdoorsy read with steam, intolerance, and self acceptance.

Joe is a solid, upright citizen. A man who contributes to his community and serves it because that is what he believes is right. He's well respected until it all hits the fan. There's something wrong with him--at least, that's what a portion of his neighbors think. Cue intolerance and homophobia. 

The temptation? Kabe. An ex-con that's settled into the area. When circumstances bring them together they have a hard time separating again. 

There's a lot more to this story than just a biracial, religious romance. There's some great climbing and hiking, and while I don't do the first, this story definitely made me want to do the second--now. Nature lovers take note, a good portion of the story revolves around the open spaces and it has a certain reverence to it. There is a strong emphasis on rock climbing in particular. 

Growing up in an extremely diverse area I find that multicultural stories often have a weird fetish to them or stereotyping that doesn't sit well with me, but here it wasn't an issue at all. Yes, there are instances of skin admiration, but it focused more on tonal hues in the sunlight and difference after a solid spanking--Yum. Gorgeous play that noted the inherent difference, but didn't feel skeevy.

The part that was a bit more uncomfortable for me was the LDS component and Joe's struggle with finding a balance between his beliefs, his orientation, and his church. Honestly, this underlined why I have issues with organized religion. Having a family member who converted during college, I can say that I understood and thought the portrayal of Mormon beliefs and behaviors were in line with what I've observed: missionaries, food stockpiles, tithing, caffeine/alcohol restrictions, and baptisms for the deceased. I have no knowledge of undergarments and Temple activities.

Overall, one man's struggle for acceptance in the wild open spaces of the West. 

3.5 Stars More than three, but not quite a four. 

Favorite quote:

"God may love me, but you don't."

Cheek to Cheek

by Chris Owen

CCCC

Charming and funny--a perfect cure for crankiness.

Two hot firefighters, an unexpected development, and scorching hot couplings make for a diverting read. So, I would have been happy with just that, it did make me smile after all, but it came with the BONUS PLAN! What do you get now if you read:

* Female character that is neither a bitch, a hag nor Mary Sue
* Non-objectifying interracial relationship
* Positive portrayal of bisexuality

Oh, and a goofy smile because Mallory and Will are pretty darn enjoyable

Favorite quip:

"Is this because of earlier?" Will was looking at him with deep suspicion. "If I fuck you again will you go back to normal?"

A Cupid's Wager (A Valentine Rainbow)

by Deanna Wadsworth

CCCC


Whaaaat? No, no, NO! *shakes ereader for stuck words*
More. Gimmee more. 

I admittedly can be a bit of a hard ass when people start rewriting mythologies to fit their needs, but I had zero qualms here. It was a fun reinterpretation of Graeco-Roman and Mesoamerican myths. First off, I like the cahones of blending those two with fearlessness. Second, it sets up a really adorable and funny story. 

Lio, a cupid, doing some off the records--unsanctioned-- work gets busted by Ethan. Scrambling to recover the situation as much as possible Lio negotiates with Ethan, which is all good and sorta working until his impetuous nature causes him to do something rash. He stabs Ethan with a lust arrow to prove a point. 

Anyway, let's just say that the steamy action that Lio was precipitating with his pro-bono work is soon eclipsed. Hot, romantic and delicious. It ends smoothly, but sets up an opening for more…a lot more. Let's just say a gauntlet was tossed down and has yet to be resolved. 

P.S. Like piercings? Yeah? Dig in. 

Favorite quote:

In his arms, the loneliness that plagued me every day did not exist.

He is Worthy

by Lisa Henry

CCCCC

Brutal, hard, brilliant. 

Excellent piece of historical fiction. The attention to detail and facts was a beautiful blend. Richly laid out like a banquet this story tells of political intrigue in the last days of Nero's reign. The weaving of history and story--seamless. 

The ancient world was not a soft place even in the most decadent of pleasure palaces. And this was highly entertaining and while I kept guessing where it would end, I was wrong. 

BTW. This totally revved my inner Roman geek

Mark of Gladiator

by Heidi Belleau

CCCCC

Cunning, Blood and Transmutability

Love me some gladiators, but this one comes with a twist--gladiatrices. Hell Yeah! 

Smart and sexy this story combines an alluring cocktail of gamesmanship and sexual power in the ruthless ladder climbing of ancient Rome. Reading this is truly like watching the Wheel of Fortune spin, who the goddess favors is always changing. And who's in charge? That changes, too. 

This is a meticulously scribed vision of a slice of one family's life and the games they play. The power shifts within the household, the roles people act out and the truth hidden beneath it all--awesome. I figured out the way to the center of this maze rather quickly, but was not once disappointed in the story. If anything, watching the threads being laid down and woven to reach that end were a pleasure and not without a few unexpectedly delightful twists. 

Gods! The best part? Besides watching Rhakshna--yeah, I'm more than a bit bloodthirsty--every single character was both flawed and admirable. Plus the understatement employed to depict the grimmer realities were all the stronger with the gentle delivery. 

::So Happy::

The Slave Catcher

by Lilia Ford

CCCC

One gruff bounty hunter and a job he doesn't want.

Surprisingly amusing ride along with Sam as he narrates, showing you the highs and lows as a denizen of one of galaxy's pleasure spots. For a short story this packed a nice range of emotions into a tight package and gives a good smack as you exit.

Favorite quote:

And one of the things you learn is that you don’t go smashing stuff you can’t put back together if you’ve no clue what the results will be— and that includes opening fire on beliefs you disagree with.

Fish and Ghosts

by Rhys Ford

CCCC

Not a ghost fan, but had a good time. A very good time. 

Tristan's different and he knows. His family knows it. And they've sent in the big guns to leverage themselves into a position to take matters into their own hands. 

Wolf is the penultimate skeptic and his backstory adds a level of interest to this tale. Along with his crew, they set out for Hoxne Grange to get the skinny on "the hauntings". What they find is something they've never experience before. 

Alright, so the set up for Wolf and Tristan's romance is entertaining and provides good opportunities. The secondary characters of Mara and Meegan are fabulous with Mara edging ahead easily with some spectacular lines:

"Yours is not the first dick I’ve seen, Dr. Kincaid. And it certainly isn’t the best.”

On the other hand, Gidget and Matt were far less endearing with their lack of professionalism and common sense. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum need to be smacked upside the head a couple times and I would have staked them out for their behavior. 

Best yet, there's a fun little twist at the end;

The blow to the man’s ego was going to be huge, and Tristan allowed himself a small bit of glee over Wolf’s continuing downfall.

Good ghost story with a sweet and feisty romance.