Outstanding Gay Fiction: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Blood of a Leo by Dawn H. Hawkes

Title: Blood of a Leo

Author: Dawn H. Hawkes

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher URL: spsilverpublishing.com/

ISBN: 9781920468125

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Series

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Human Leo Adams realizes he has a chance to escape the drug addict vampire who has kept Leo captive for months. Unfortunately, the vampire drug he was forcibly injected with is deadly to humans. Half dead, Leo stumbles into the alley behind the nightclub and falls unconscious into the arms of lion shifter Maddox.

Blood of a Leo is the first book in the Solomon's Pride Series. The plot is a vampire versus shifters action-adventure blended with shifter mating as well as a dash of humor. The characters are emotionally convincing. Leo is a gay man, disowned by his family and kidnapped by vampires to be a donor. Because Leo is able to endure the drugs forced upon him, he is especially valuable to vampire Mika, who discovered that by blending the drugs into his food source, Mika achieved a longer lasting high. Maddox is a very compassionate man whose cat side reminds me of a gentle playful kitten with Leo but a deadly enemy to anyone who threatens his mate or the pride. The steamy mating scenes are amazing.

Dawn H. Hawkes has produced a fantastic saga. I enjoyed Blood of a Leo immensely.

Game On, Game Over by Chris Quinton

Title: Game On, Game Over

Author: Chris Quinton

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher URL: spsilverpublishing.com

ISBN: 9781920501242

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Action/Adventure

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Odd Man In by K. M. Mahoney

Title: Odd Man In

Author: K. M. Mahoney

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.total-e-bound.com

ISBN: 978-0-85715-697-6

Genre: {M/M/M} Science Fiction

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Space mercenary Daior Mathews is being held hostage, for reasons unknown to him. Dai has already discovered there is no escape off of the tiny planet, so he waits to learn what his captive’s demands are. That night, Dai is surprised when the guards toss another hostage into his cell. Terran is small, cute and instantly attracted to Dai. Exploring their mutual attraction is a good motive to escape in Dai’s way of thinking, so he contacts his ex-lover Tam, who comes to the rescue.

Odd Man In features a future world where everyone had some form of technological enhancement, the most common being intelligence augmentation. These enhancements have created a not-totally-human race of people. The storyline is a fast paced, action-packed adventure in hide and seek exploits, spaceship battles, galaxy jumps and hilarious commentary. There are moments of steamy intimate scenes as well as emotional insecurities. The characters are especially convincing. Dai and Tam are very much alike in personality, which has lead to numerous conflicts between them, even to the point of injury. Both men are protectors who object to being protected themselves. Terran has a snarky kind of personality on the surface; however he is very lovable along with being the gooey centre that binds the three men together in a contented relationship.

K. M. Mahoney’s Odd Man In is an immensely enjoyable outstanding saga.

Thief of Hearts: Tempted in Thailand by EM Lynley

Title: Thief of Hearts: Tempted in Thailand
Author: EM Lynley
Publisher: Ravenous Press
Publisher URL: http://www.ravenousromance.com/
ISBN: 9781607773818
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Love Is Snowblind by Deirdre O'Dare

Title: Love Is Snowblind
Author: Deirdre O'Dare
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
ISBN: 978-1-60272-689-5
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Action, Adventure
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Twilight by Carolina Valdez

Title: Twilight
Author: Carolina Valdez
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
ISBN: 978-1-60272-647-5
Genre: {M/M} Dark Fantasy, Shapeshifter, Action, Adventure
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Beyond the Shadows by Deirdre O'Dare

Title: Beyond the Shadows
Author: Deirdre O'Dare
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
ISBN: 978-1-60272-670-3
Genre: {M/M} Dark Fantasy, Paranormal, Action, Adventure
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Fires of Ballian by M. L. Rhodes

Title: Fires of Ballian
Author: M. L. Rhodes
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
ISBN: 978-1-60272-632-1
Genre: {M/M} Fantasy, Shapeshifter, Witchcraft, Action/Adventure
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Touch of a Wolf by Jez Morrow

Title: Touch of a Wolf
Author: Jez Morrow
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher URL: http://www.torquerebooks.com
ISBN: 978-1-61040-457-1
Genre: {M/M} Shape-Shifter, Action
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Silence by Lena Austin

Title: Silence
Author: Lena Austin
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publisher URL: http://www.changelingpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60521-454-2
Genre: {M/M} Vampires, Werewolves
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Touch Me Gently by J.R. Loveless

Title: Touch Me Gently
Author: J.R. Loveless
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher URL: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-61581-575-3
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Mated by A.J. Llewellyn

Title: Mated
Author: A.J. Llewellyn
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Publisher URL: http://www.extasybooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-55487-666-2
Genre: {M/M}{M/M/M} Contemporary, Action
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

72 Hours by Clare London

Title: 72 Hours
Author: Clare London
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher URL: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61581-593-7
Genre: {M/M} Action, Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Libra: Outlined in Ink by Vivien Dean

Title: Libra: Outlined in Ink
Author: Vivien Dean
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
ISBN: 978-1-60272-754-0
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Action
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

My Yakuza by A.J. Llewellyn and John Simpson

Title: My Yakuza
Author: A.J. Llewellyn and John Simpson
Publisher: Total E Bound Books
Publisher URL: http://www.total-e-bound.com/
ISBN: 978-0-85715-372-2
Genre: {M/M}, Suspense, Action
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Dead Run by Josh Lanyon

Title: Dead Run

Author: Josh Lanyon

Publisher: Loose Id

Publisher URL: www.loose-id.com

ISBN: 978-1-61118-464-8

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Action, Suspense Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Heart of Ice

Title: Heart of Ice
Author: SA Welsh
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Publisher URL: spsilverpublishing.com/
ISBN: 9781920502577
Genre: {M/M/M} Paranormal Series
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Demon warrior Frost Dante has his hands full with six younger brothers, all looking to him for guidance during assignments or when their parents are away on business. Add to that the twin snow leopard shifters Blair and Cian Pardus, rescued by Frost, are his mates. Frost is thrilled to have mates, even though Blair and Cian add more chaos to the household. However, Frost suspects there is a sinister plot in the works that endangers all of his loved ones.

Heart of Ice is the first book in the Demon Souls series, an exciting action-packed romantic suspense. Four sets of twins born in the same family were rare among the demons. Plus every set of twins born to the Dante line is powerful; their gifts made the family the Guardian Warriors who protects the supernatural race. Being the eldest son and having lost his twin, Frost is the most powerful of all the demons, yet he hides his abilities rather than create fear in his family. Frost is a compassionate protector with a good deal of common sense. These traits are illustrated in Frost’s affectionate interaction with his mates, Blair, who is a budding chef and Cian, who is close to finishing his studies to be a doctor. Blair and Cian are equally as loving and protective of Frost.

SA Welsh has created an amazing exhibit of an unconditional loving family, including the normal playful sibling roughhousing, a loving bond between mates and family members working together to solve a mystery. Heart of Ice has an exhilarating, as well as extremely enjoyable balance of humor, sensual lovemaking and displays of magical powers. Ending in a cliffhanger, I look forward to the next installment.