Book Review: Newton’s Laws of Attraction – M.J. O’Shea

Posted on December 9, 2014 | Leave a comment

Newtons Laws Of Attraction[Book 1 of Newton’s Laws of Attractions Series]

Okay, so this is going to suck big time because I loved M.J. O’Shea’s writing and her books are like my comfort books – some of my favorite rereads because they’re just happy stories and each character are all so likeable and you’d really root for them.

Newton’s Laws of Attractions centers on Ben Parsons and Rory Newton. They are best of friends since they were seven who fell for each other when they turned seventeen. Then during their senior year, things changed when Ben became one of the jocks and he started getting shit for hanging out with the science fag. He pushed Rory away until he stopped contacting him which ended everything for them. Eight years later, Ben now teaches art at his old high school and to his surprise, Rory went back as the school’s new chemistry teacher. Now that Ben’s very out of the closet and proud of it – he wanted to make it up to Rory and he’ll do everything to win the guy over although it may very well be too late for him…

I didn’t get Rory at all with the whole dating other people and all. I know he’s still hurting for what Ben did to him in high school but once they started fooling around again, I thought he’d at least not be a dick about “rejecting” Ben again before realizing at the end that he loves the guy. I thought the last part of the story was a bit lazy and ended abruptly. I didn’t get the way it just suddenly finished when there’s more to it that should’ve been dealt with. But since this was the first book of the series, I’m guessing we’ll be hearing more from them in the second book.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Trouble & The Wallflower – Kade Boehme

Posted on December 9, 2014 | Leave a comment

17798654The plot is fairly simply here. The Trouble – Gavin Walker meets The Wallflower Davy Cooper and the chase is on! It was actually uber-cute like bubblegum pop kinda cute where the bad naughty boy is trying to get into the pants of that one person who doesn’t give him the time of day. The story here was well-developed though I feel that it was rushed towards the end.

And for some reason, their sexual issues (sexual compatibility) early on really bothers me more than anything else in the book. It shouldn’t have but it does with me. (Oh what a pervy boo-hoo LOL) I couldn’t let go of it. That got me into thinking that their intimacy was rather forced especially at the end when Gavin and Davy finally did it. Why did Gavin have to wait for so long to bring up that particular issue? Or maybe I’m just making an issue out of it. But really, I adored this couple.

I loved the unpredictability of the story. I was thinking of more issues to come from Nate, Uncle Drew and even Maz and I’m sure glad they never materialized. It was a really good story and the ending was pleasantly surprising if I may say – that was like 180 degree turn for the MCs. I think you guys should really give this a try, and to Kade – please consider writing a series out of this book – I totally adore Gavin’s friends!!!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: The General and the Elephant Clock of Al-Jazari – Sarah Black

Posted on December 8, 2014 | Leave a comment

17798654“There comes a time, you have to stop running, stop pretending, and just be the man you were meant to be. It doesn’t matter what it costs, because to not be that man, that’ll cost you your soul. What am I going to do? I’m going to love him until the stars fall out of the sky.”

[Sequel to General And The Horse-Lord] Fresh out of the closet, General John Mitchel and Gabriel Sanchez are settling into their new life together when an old army colleague taps them for a rescue mission to Tunisia. Eli and Daniel, two former Rangers working security, have been arrested in Carthage, charged with blasphemy and thrown into prison.
With rampant unrest in the ancient city and an old enemy targeting them, John gathers a team to liberate the two captive men. When he discovers Eli s boyhood obsession with Al-Jazari s Elephant Clock, the rescue becomes complicated and strangely beautiful, and John and Gabriel have to risk what they love the most to bring their team home. Via Goodreads

The General and the Horse-Lord are totally growing one me and this continuation of their foray to building a new life together with their ever growing quirky family is just perfection! John and Gabriel seemed utterly realistic here with all their daily dealings with life as a newly out ex-military gay couple. The way they have each other’s back is just achingly beautiful!

The first book in the series was more personal in terms of dealing with their post-retirement careers, Gabriel’s divorce, Kim and Billy’s assault and of course, their “coming out” story. This book though is still pretty personal at some level and we see more of the General’s way back in his prime – his tactical side and man’ he’s a total genius! We also got a glimpse on how pro-active the Horse-lord is with John. It was all so sweet and touching. Here, there’s definitely some sort of attachment readers would definitely feel for the couple. This is a really promising series and I sure hope that we’d get more of this couple with more books to come!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: The General and the Horse-Lord – Sarah Black

Posted on December 8, 2014 | Leave a comment

“I NEVER want you to regret loving me.” Gabriel’s hands were gentle, moving down his chest.
“How could I? That would be like regretting the way my heart beats.” 

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

 

General John Mitchel and his favorite pilot Gabriel Sanchez served in the military for more than twenty years and have also been lovers for as long as they’ve worked together. After retirement, both men decided to give their love a chance to be in the open. But are they ready to face the consequence of this one big move?

I’m actually utterly floored by this story from Sarah Black. It’s just wow. After a disappointing read via Marathon Cowboys, it’s as if I already expected this to disappoint me but no. This is a gem. The storyline was a realistic one with characters so utterly likeable that you can’t help but totally feel for them and the life they could’ve had together long before their retirement. There’s this bittersweet melancholy about the couple’s relationship. I also love Kim’s [John’s nephew] colorful personality that somehow became a catalyst for John and Gabriel to finally come out in the open. It’s a lovely departure from the too good to be true stories tackling similar theme.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Fall Apart – S.E. Culpepper

Posted on December 7, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

Damon Wright is a regular guy with friends he could always depend on, a creepy insistent ex and a family he feels awfully responsible for. In one of his best friend’s wedding where he is delivering his Best Man speech, he apparently captured the eyes of the wedding’s hot photographer Alarik that leaves him reeling.

Alarik, who’s got all he could ask for is still searching for that wonderful feeling of falling in love. Meeting Damon feels like he’s found a way through it. But when life gets in the way, they both need to stand strong in order to survive it.

I’ve obviously enjoyed reading the series so far and getting to know new characters in this installment was such a welcome delight. I just loved Alarik and Damon and I didn’t think that I’d missed Zane and Mark [Book 2] when they appeared here. Although this story has more perspectives than any book I’ve read in my life [LOL], I find it an extremely good idea because it makes you feel attached with each character, building up excitement for the upcoming books in the series. With regards to the main couple here, I find them both utterly adorable and realistic. The dialogues, even with the secondary characters are dynamic and the story arc was obviously carefully thought of. Writing style-wise, S.E. Culpepper is up there!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Kris Tiffany Janson & Yvethe Marie Santiago: Crownless But Proud

Posted on December 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

Two minor pageants were held just this week in Europe and two of our Binibining Pilipinas queens were sent to carry out their mission. For Kris Tiffany Janson, it is to win the first ever Miss Intercontinental crown and for Yvethe Marie Santiago, that is to do a historic back-to-back placement for the Miss Supranational title. Both entered the semifinalists circle but failed to win the main title.

Kris Tiffany Janson / Yvethe Marie Santiago

Kris Tiffany Janson / Yvethe Marie Santiago

For the Cebuana beauty Kris Tiffany Janson, her second runner-up finish equaled the feat made by Maria Sovietskaya Bacud 19 years ago. On what deemed to be a rather controversial result, Phataraporn Wang of Thailand was declared the winner eclipsing Janson and Jeslie Mergal from Cuba, both favored by pageant fans and pundits to win the crown.

Kris Tiffany Janson, Phataraporn Wang of Thailand and Jeslie Mergal of Cuba

Kris Tiffany Janson, Phataraporn Wang of Thailand and Jeslie Mergal of Cuba

Meanwhile, Bicolana queen Yvethe Marie Santiago took a rather mean task to retain the crown for the Philippines after Mutya Datul snatched it last year in Belarus. It was an incredibly difficult mission for Yvethe who took the competition in stride but only managed a top 20 placement. It could be said however that the quality of the girls [beauty wise] in this year’s edition is perhaps the best in all of its six years of history.  Yvethe, though beautiful, smart and has what it takes to win any international pageant was greatly overshadowed by Asha Bhat of India who eventually won the title.

Miss Supranational 2014 Winners

Miss Supranational 2014 Winners

I thought Kris and Yvethe did pretty well and have done their homework perfectly. With regards to the hot mess that is Miss Intercontinental, I’m a bit disappointed because when I watched the whole thing via live streaming – I feel like telling them, “hey gotta call ‘em when I see ‘em”. It’s like crystal clear that there’s something off about the whole thing. I would’ve been more agreeable if Mergal actually end up winning. But really, what do I know about pageant politics right? For Miss Supranational, I am very much satisfied with the results and Asha Bhat’s a great winner.

Well, there – I’m still glad that Kris and Yvethe delivered well. I guess, we just have to wait now for the Miss World and Miss Universe results and see if we’re luckier in those two major pageants. I’m crossing my fingers until then.

Congratulations Kris and Yvethe – Mabuhay kayo!

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Book Review: Question Mark – S.E. Culpepper

Posted on December 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

13418642Recently dumped by his ex, Mark Newland is struggling to reinvent himself in order to avoid the same situations he’s had with his previous relationships. Heading for a vacation in Bora Bora, he stumbled upon Hollywood’s most eligible gay bachelor Zane Whitlow. Zane had his own trouble of finding love without his fame getting in the way. Meeting Mark feels like a refreshing balm for him that made him abandon his usual approach in dating. Both guys have they own fear and insecurities – things that they have to overcome in order for their budding romance to work.

I read this story non-stop. I love Mark’s character because he’s totally relatable. Zane, though reminds me a bit of the gay version of “Julia Roberts of Notting Hill” came across as this very sincere yet vulnerable character. Hah! They have all the money in the world but they cannot buy happiness and all those blah blah. I know that the characters here are somehow (will be) part of upcoming series but I find the interchanging POV too much at times. Nevertheless, the story has great characters, over the top but convincing enough plot lines and an incredible conclusion. I think I may have to read the rest of the books in the series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: The Boyfriend Mandate – River Jaymes

Posted on December 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

22692930[Book 2 of The Boyfriend Chronicle Series]

After a number of failed relationships, Doctor Tyler Hall decided to stick to one simple mandate that is NEVER TO DATE ex-boyfriends. But when his world collides again with his first love and first boyfriend stuntman and cancer survivor Memphis Haines, the doctor’s resolve seems to falter.

Tyler was the douche ex-boyfriend back in the first book in the series, The Back-up Boyfriend which featured his then ex and fellow Doctor Alec Johnson and his now boyfriend Dylan Booth. I didn’t think that Tyler will be able to redeem himself in this book after what he did to Alec. I never liked his character in the first book given that he was portrayed as the villain in it. In this book though, we see the true side of Tyler and why he did what he did to Alec. Here, we get a glimpse of the young mathlete geek who fell in love with his jock roommate in college. It was a nice story but rather long and repetitive.

And can I just mention the excessive use of “Judas Priest”, “Christamighty” “Jesus Fucking Christ” – I feel like reading these expressions every couple of pages and they get annoying at times. I’m like really??? 0_o I ain’t religious or anything but man’ that’s a whole lot of usage which is not necessary at all in some parts.

This was a good book to say the least. I’m not particularly jumping up and down after reading it but it’s alright. Definitely not as good as the first book in the series but it’s good. I’d still read the upcoming books in the series if ever there is another in the future – which I’m guessing will be for their rich, flamboyant gay friend Noah. Yup, I’d definitely read it.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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The First: Keith Carlos Is The Winner Of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 21!

Posted on December 6, 2014 | 5 comments
Keith Carlos

Keith Carlos

So I won’t even bother denying that prior to the season finale of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 21, I’ve already read some “spoiler” threads about Keith Carlos winning the competition. Not that I’m disappointed that a guy won the cycle (the first guy to win it) but I feel that a lot of people didn’t see him as an eventual winner from the start of the competition. Although he’s got one of the most modelesque faces amongst the male contenders so that’s really a plus for him! Anyways, let just allow Keith to bask in his winnings and congratulations to everyone who rooted for him! 🙂 Your support esp for his social media scores helped a lot! See ya next cycle!

Here’s the rest of Keith’s portfolio during this cycle.

Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
Keith Carlos
pictures via CWTV

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Book Review: Buried Bones – Kim Fielding

Posted on December 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

Buried Bones[Book 2 of the Bones Series]

After killing the guy who turned him into a werewolf and tried to kill his boyfriend, Architect Dylan Warner and handyman Chris Nock knows that they still have a lot to work on with in their relationship what with Dylan’s once-a-month transformation from man to beast and Chris’s difficult childhood. Working on their issues, a ghost haunting in Dylan’s home forced both men to deal with their pasts. Dylan is trying to deal with the aftermath of killing Andy by learning new things about the guy and Chris got face to face with someone from his childhood he’d almost long forgotten. These events led to new discoveries about both men’s pasts that neither of them ever expected.

I am in love with this series and I loved both MCs here. I thought Chris’s character was just way adorable and I love the easy chemistry between him and Dylan. It was instalove for me when I read the first installment of the series and for some reason, I’ve gotten pretty busy doing [or reading] other stuff that I didn’t get back to this until now. It’s wonderful to finally revisit the story of this wonderful couple. I loved how the author made this second installment seamlessly compatible with the first book without missing its charm. Dylan character is still someone you’d root for and his love and patient for Chris was just oh-swoon-worthy. Sometimes, with these sort of books involving supernatural being – there’s always a preconceived idea that there’s going to be a lot of exaggeration and almost ridiculous story-line because it’s fantasy after all but the author made sure that in this book, it feels like living an existing world where the characters just feels like your next door neighbor. Do you get my drift? If not, I rather have you grab a copy of this five-star [from me and from a ton of people] rated series and read it for yourself 🙂

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published May 22nd 2013 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 21st 2013)

Buy now:
Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

About The Author
Kim Fielding lives in California and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phonebooth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out homework assistance to her children. Her favorite word to describe herself is “eclectic” and she finally got that third tattoo.

All royalties from her novels Stasis, Flux and Equipoise are donated to Doctors Without Borders.

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