#FIRST IMPRESSIONS #SECOND CHANCES

#FIRST IMPRESSIONS #SECOND CHANCES by Heidi Belleau

Pages: 49

Date: 26/05/2014

Grade: 3.5

Details: Received from Riptide Publishing

            Through Love Romances and More

Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“Jonah Gilchrist lives a double life. On the internet, he’s a fashion-blogging Tumblr celebrity. In the real world, though, being an awkward gay virgin isn’t as cute and endearing as it is online—it’s a target on his back. After years of being bullied, Jonah’s determined to start afresh at college, but it’s hard to remake yourself when you’re sharing classes with your ill-fated junior high crush.

Sebastian Rose, with his easy-going manner and great sense of humor, was one of the most popular guys in junior high. He was also one of Jonah’s only defenders. Too bad Jonah knows Sebastian’s kindness was only pity.

Bumping into each other after all these years makes it seem like the universe itself wants Jonah to have a second chance at his first love. But how can he ever hope to reinvent himself when Sebastian’s presence pulls him further into his past? Then again, maybe moving forward doesn’t have to mean leaving the best part of your past behind.”

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My thoughts:

I enjoyed this short story. It wasn’t great and didn’t blow me away, but it was a nice and funny quick read; just what I needed right now.

The characters were so well established that poor Jonah made me cringe.  In fact he constantly seemed to be walking a fine line between becoming a caricature and being a real person. But then again, I think that’s exactly what he was meant to be. He’d created that online persona for himself because he could barely keep himself going in the real world. While his obsession with fashion and his social media followers made him at times infuriating it also brought quite a few funny moments.

Sebastian on the other hand was almost too good to be true. His infinite patience and willingness to accept Jonah’s awkward and at times rude behaviour stretched my imagination to its limits. Having said that, it did make him adorably cute and I couldn’t help feeling that everybody should be lucky enough to have a Sebastian in their lives.

Thankfully the author gave both characters enough ‘real’ moments to make the story work. Sebastian may be intrinsically good and patient; he does have his limits and insecurities. Jonah on the other hand may pretend to be a prima donna while really being social inept, he becomes very recognisable the instant he lets go of his invented persona and just enjoys the moment he’s in while allowing his feelings to rule him.

This is a short and enjoyable story in which opposites attract and two apparently completely unsuited characters connect and take their first steps on what may well be the road to a beautiful relationship. It would have been nice if the story had been longer. I imagine Sebastian’s influence would work wonders for Jonah and that is a journey I would have loved to be part of. Unfortunately that was not what this story was about. Should the author ever feel the urge to write the story of Sebastian and Jonah’s developing relationship I will be among the first to read it though.

SUNBURNS AND SUNSETS

SUNBURNS AND SUNSETS by Brigham Vaughn

Pages: 37

Date: 16/05/2014

Grade: 5-

Details: Story

Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“Best friends, Eric Carver and Kris Strider have always shared everything. Except for Eric’s growing attraction to Kris. On a camping trip to celebrate the end of the school year a sunburn leads to fooling around and neither are sure what it means. Kris is certain he likes girls but his sudden attraction to Eric can’t be denied. He’s completely fine with his best friend being gay, but now that he knows Eric wants him, he isn’t sure what to do about it. Eric thought all he wanted was to fool around with his friend, but when it starts to feel like something more, he isn’t sure what to do. Are his feelings for Kris worth risking twelve years of friendship?” 

My thoughts:

Brigham Vaughn is an author I discovered about a month ago when I read and loved ‘The French Toast Emergencies’. So when another of her stories became available on Amazon today I had to pick it up immediately. They say first impressions are important and often accurate; this book proves that. This author has the amazing and quite enviable ability of bringing two characters to fully fledged life in a small amount of pages with well chosen, beautiful and effective words.

‘Sunburns and  Sunsets’ is a wonderful and charming friends to lovers story. Kris and Eric have been friends for years. When Eric came out to Kris he accepted the fact without a second thought; the friendship didn’t change at all. The only thing Kris doesn’t know is that Eric had been attracted to him for a few years now. But, convinced that Kris is strictly heterosexual, Eric has been keeping those feelings hidden away.

When then the two young men go camping together for a week a mild case of sunburn leads to sexual exploration. And while it is definitely a case of all his dreams coming true for Eric he can’t help worrying that this is just a game for Kris and something that might affect their friendship once the week is over.

In thirty-seven pages Brigham Vaughn managed to give me a clear picture of Eric and Kris and their friendship. Not only that, she made the transition from friends to lovers believable and sweet. The issues both men try to figure out for themselves once their relationship changes were realistic and I loved that their years’ long friendship was strong enough for them to deal with those worries. The transition in the men’s relationship felt natural and unforced. Given the length of the story that is one achievement I’m really impressed with.

This is definitely a feel-good read. There is some angst but nothing too elaborate. The writing was beautiful and flowed with ease. All in all, this book confirmed what I already suspected when I finished ‘The French Toast Emergencies’; I’ve found myself another ‘must read’ author.

LIP SERVICE: THE BLOG TOUR

LIP SERVICE: THE BLOG TOUR

I’m delighted and honoured to welcome Nikka Michaels to my blog today and to share details of her latest release, Lip Service.

Sit back, read the post, enjoy the excerpt and, if you find it as tempting as I suspect you might, rush out and buy the book.

If you want to know what I thought about this story have a look at my review.

Lip Service

By Nikka Michaels

Genre: Erotic Romance, M/M

Length: Short Story, sequel to Room Service

Release Date: April 15, 2014

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

What is Cobblestone Press’ Blue Line?

The Blue short story line is erotica. For us, erotica is about the fulfillment of a sexual fantasy.  These stories are sexy, very graphic, and are by no means a “traditional romance”.

BLURB:

Dr. Seth Campbell and Carson Randall from ROOM SERVICE return in this short erotic sequel. Separated by their jobs on a daily basis, the partners have to make time for each other when they can. They combine their passion for each other in mini interludes to reconnect with each other and rekindle their connection.

When Seth finds Carson waiting for him in the hotel bar, their attraction and awareness smolders to life. When their already limited time together is interrupted by an important phone call, an impatient Seth takes matters into his own hands.

EXCERPT:

I reached between us to yank open his shirt, grinning when the buttons flew, plinking off the table and chair.

“This was my favorite shirt.” He glared at me.

“Well, now we’re even after last time.” I smirked and leaned down to push his shirt up and off his shoulders then his undershirt. I dragged my tongue over his nipple then tugged it with my teeth.

His frustrated whine turned into a long moan as I reached between us to stroke him harder. “God, Seth. Get naked. Now.”

“Impatient.” I grinned as I slowly unbuttoned my shirt far enough to yank it over my head, tossing it on the floor. The thin T-shirt I wore met the same fate as he pulled me in for another kiss.

“Lube. Your ass. My cock. Now.”

“Yes, sir.” I smirked then turned to grab the lube from my bag I’d thrown on the luggage rack, my breath stuttering out in surprise as I heard Carson move. Quicker than I expected I found myself flat on my back on the bed, staring up at my lover as he pinned my hands next to my head. His knees hugged my hips as he stared down at me, all amusement gone, replaced with something deeper.

“Not your sir. Just yours.” His gaze was serious as he dipped his head to kiss me deeply. When I pushed up against his hold to return his kiss, I moaned as my trapped cock ground against his ass and cursed my pants for keeping my skin from his. 

BUY LINKS:

Cobblestone Press: http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/lipservice.htm

NIKKA MICHAELS BIO:

Nikka Michaels lives in the often rainy Pacific Northwest where she spends her time cooking, laughing and crafting romantic tales to satisfy her craving for HEAs with heat. A voracious reader, novice knitter and music lover she’s been known to multitask without breaking a sweat. She loves to read and write M/M romance but believes everyone deserves a love story. She currently has four releases out, Chasing Matt, a M/M novella co-authored with Eileen Griffin, Christmas with Caden, a M/F romance novella from Cobblestone Press, “Waking up Wolf”, a M/M shifter romance in Evernight Publishing’s Alpha’s Claim: Manlove Edition anthology, and Room Service the M/M BDSM short story from Cobblestone Press’ Blue line.Lip Service, the sequel to Room Service is forthcoming from Cobblestone Press. Nikka is currently at work with her co-author on two M/M foodie romance novels, set to be released summer and fall 2014 from Carina Press.

Links:

Website and Blog: http://www.nikkamichaels.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nikkamichaels

Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/Nikka.Michaels

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/nikkamichaelsauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7231273.Nikka_Michaels

Cobblestone Press: http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/nikkamichaels.htm

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/nikka-michaels/

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/author/nikkamichaels

THE FRENCH TOAST EMERGENCIES

TITLE: THE FRENCH TOAST EMERGENCIES

AUTHOR: BRIGHAM VAUGHN

Pages: 45

Date: 29/04/2014

Grade: 5

Details: Story M/M

Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“Arthur Cain has removed himself from a social life littered with mistakes and unhappiness. When a freak April snowstorm hits, he just wants to stock up on the basics so he can get back to writing his thesis. Samuel Richards is a musician with a wicked sense of humor and he knows how to use it. The last thing he expected was to have it save him when he heads out for supplies and everything falls apart. The storm sends both to the grocery store, but neither had a “date” on their shopping list. 

It’s one disaster after another for Samuel, but the history student comes to his rescue. If only Arthur was as good dealing with live men as he was with dead Vikings.” 

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My thoughts:

“With ten to twelve inches predicted, don’t forget to stop at your local store and stock up on milk, eggs and bread. We have a level five French toast emergency...”

‘The French Toast Emergencies’ is a charming and wonderful story and since this is a new to me author also a revelation. I adored Arthur and Samuel and their meeting in a grocery store. With a freak April snow storm on the way, both young men are trying to stock up on essentials before the weather confines them to their houses. A tug of war over the last loaf of bread sparks something in both of them and when Samuel finds himself stranded outside the store after locking his keys in the car, Arthur offers him a place to sleep until the weather improves.

I loved the contrast between these two men. Arthur is very serious, caught up in writing his thesis, with little time for a social life, never mind dating. Samuel appears to be more carefree and playful and yet they’re perfectly suited to each other. I really liked that despite the obvious attraction between them, Arthur and Samuel decide not to rush things from the very first moment. And I loved, that when it came down to it, both of them were looking for the same thing. By the end of the story I felt that I knew both characters, which impressed me since it is ‘only’ 46 pages long.

All too often when I read short stories I’m left feeling short changed. The stories feel rushed, the characters underdeveloped or the ending disappointing. ‘The French Toast Emergencies’ had none of those issues. It was a complete and very satisfactory story about two interesting and likeable characters. I’m more than a little bit impressed and will have to add Brigham Vaughn to my must read list.

On a side-note, even if I hadn’t liked this story I would have loved the way it came into being; as the result of a Facebook thread. Which just goes to show that inspiration can really be found anywhere provided you’re open to it.