Quick vacay-reading update

I’ve not only read quite a few novels while I was vacationing but also some short stories and novellas. I hope to write some longer reviews about the novels later. Meanwhile here are some quick thoughts about the short stories and novellas (for which I used the very handy Goodreads app to post them here):

Short stories:

The Hitchhiker by habu

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I thought this was a weird, plotless short story which is basically about a rape/noncon encounter. It has some strange twists and turns (seriously? a vice cop?) and not a HEA or HFN ending. Not for a romance lover like me, since it’s just pron/erotica and not even very hot imo. But it’s a free story, for those who want to see for themselves... 1.5 stars

An Anniversary Gift by Jude Mason

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a nice, free m/m story about breeders, which is practically one long erotic scene with a small introduction. It’s hot and well-written but maybe too short to consider it a real story.

A Love for All Nights by Jessica Coulter Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story asked for me to suspend my disbelief a little bit. It’s about a vampire (Carson) finding his mate (Alexa) by accident. It’s love at first sight, but this insta-love is explained with the paranormal feeling/force of ‘knowing’ your mate. It’s a nicely written story with a pleasant arc for such a short read. Plus it’s free. :) 3.75 stars

Up the Chimney He Rose by James Buchanan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really hot and well-written short m/m story about a 30-year old business man, Jeff, meeting a 20-year old student, Chris, at the Christmas party of his company while they were both hiding in the bathroom trying to escape the party. They have very hot sex including the sexy use of Jeff’s Christmas themed tie, but without a condom… This is one of the free stories you can find at the author’s website.

‘Love and War’ is another free one by the same author. Only, I didn’t enjoy this one as much. Before I figured out who these guys were the story was already over…

Joy Ride by J.M. Snyder

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Really cute, sexy free short story about a young and older biker hooking up for some hot and wild sex on the bike. For a quickie this was really good, and the couple made me smile. 3.5 stars

Valentine's Vindication by Keta Diablo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This well-written story takes place in one night in which both men are unbelievably sexually potent (up to three times). It’s about a cheating sub who wants to do everything for his Dom to take him back. The night is a test and there’s a lot of spanking and hot sex involved. Fun, quick read if you don’t mind the spanking. 3.5 stars

Novellas:

Gay Best Friend by Kim Dare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a nice and kinky GFY story about two best friends. The gay friend is submissive and when the straight friend finds out about that he makes a pass at his friend. But he’s drunk and that doesn’t work for his gay friend, submissive or not. But luckily they get a second chance and it turns out they match perfectly. Enjoyable read that I would rate somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.

Gay Man Seeks Same by Kim Dare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another kinky installment in Ms Dare’s G-A-Y series. This one is about two coworkers who seem the opposite, not only in looks (gray/dull vs leather/kinky) but also in their expectations in the relationship department (long term vs one-night-stand). When the first guy places a contact add the other one responds because he thinks it’s time they finally get romantically involved after knowing each other for 8 months. They have one kinky night together in which a sex sling is involved *waggles eye brows* but after that the first guy needs some more convincing before they can have their HEA. This story was kind of sweet and hot in one. 3.75 stars

Moving Day by Jaime Samms

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Moving Day is the first book I’ve ever read by this author and it was a great first read. It’s written in first person from Mike’s POV who’s helping his friend Jay move to a place he and his deceased lover bought. Gradually it becomes clear that Mike and Jay are in love with each other for ages now but never dared to take the step to tell the other guy so. There’s some heavy pull-and-push between them which makes this a very compelling and intense story about fear to commit and to show one’s weak side, mourning, insecurity, new and last chances, friendship and trust. I sometimes felt that everyone (including Mike) thought too easily it was all Mike’s fault that his and Jay’s relationship was tainted with misunderstandings. Jay was imo a wee guilty too, of at least some evasive behavior.
The writing style was pleasant and the author has a way of sucking you into the story. Anything you might want to call into query only shows up after reading the story, not during. The story arc was excellent and the choice for the first person POV has some limitations but it also added some of the tension. I must say that we had to wait pretty long for some smexy scenes, but I actually didn’t miss them until then, thanks to the excellent tension from the start between the guys which was concentrated around their feelings.
In short, a well-written and entertaining story that I rate somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.

Sammy Dane by Stormy Glenn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute and sexy story with nice secondary characters and a quick, little bit shallow story arc about a stalker. This stalker element is not annoying but not really adding some serious tension either. I was a bit confused that we got the HEA already around page 70 (of 134). Shortly after that the story became a bit silly imo, but it picked up most of its former pace soon enough.
This was my first Stormy Glenn book and it was not bad at all, despite some unusual twists and turns and a overly plotted nature. The characters were very nice, perhaps a bit stereotypical (cop and geek who reverse roles in the bedroom), but it worked and made for some hot scenes. Towards the end the love scenes became a bit more vanilla though but were still sexy.
All in all this was an enjoyable read that kept me entertained and had enough depth to make me believe the love between these two guys, which came a bit fast at first.

Stroke of Luck by Jenna Byrnes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable story about trusting people after winning the lottery. Steve only first meets Paul after he wins 97 million dollar and he keeps hearing a little niggle in his head about winning the lottery. He’s afraid Paul might not have been interested in him before he won the pot of money. Once he decides to take the leap, all is well. The falling in love does happen quickly but is not too unbelievable. These guys make a nice couple, the smexing is good and the premise of winning the lottery is great. I also liked the side story line about Steven’s brother and wife who recently had to deal with the loss of their 3 year old son. This story line is handled well (with an inventive solution) and adds some depth to the main story.

Bad Moon Rising by Leeanne Kenedy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Entertaining short m/f story with a nice flow, but nothing too exciting. It’s an easy read which is leaning towards stereotypical characterization. It has a hot sex scene and some good dialogues and ends with a sweet, fast told HEA. An enjoyable quick snack. 3.5 stars


That’s it for now. I’ve read some more, but I’m done writing about it atm…

Happy reading!