End of the Year list – My 10 Greatest Discoveries

This year I’m doing a slightly different list than other years. :) Where I usually pick a random number of my favorite reads of the past year in a few categories, I now decided to make it a list of 10 m/m books of new to me authors, that pleasantly surprised me the most in 2012. These 10 ‘discoveries’ made me want to read all the other books by the same author as well (if there were any) and in most cases I actually did manage to read one or a few more, and all with the same, or sometimes even with more, pleasure than that first ‘discovery’ book.

To be clear: These are all books I’ve read in 2012 so they are not necessarily books that were published in 2012. Most are, but some are older.
So, here are my 10 discoveries of 2012, in random order:

Review: Something to Believe In by Sloan Parker

Sloan Parker

Something to Believe In

MLR Press, December 23, 2012 | 53 pages, 17,000+ words

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
After running away from the hatred and abuse of their teen years, Sean and Gavin have been hustling to survive for too long now. When some extra cash lands them alone in a hotel room until Christmas, they can no longer deny their feelings for each other. Now neither one can imagine watching the other walk off with one more trick. Even with no money and no job prospects, Sean is determined to not just show Gavin what a real home and holiday is like, but to keep them off the streets for good and build a life together.

Merry Christmas!

Review: Angel Voices by Rowan Speedwell

Rowan Speedwell

Angel Voices

Amber Allure, December 18, 2011 | 61 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
On a frigid winter night, college freshman Will stumbles into the shelter of a church during choir practice. His father has just discovered that Will is gay, and has beaten him and thrown him out of the house. But right now Will’s interested only in getting warm.
Will’s college roommate Quinn is a soloist in the choir, which is practicing for a Christmas program. He discovers Will in the church—and his friend’s condition. Will, who has grown up in a repressed environment, including church school, an abusive father and a passive mother, is taken aback by Quinn’s enthusiasm and determination to take care of him.
Does Will have a future after all, especially one that will include Quinn?

Review: There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays by Shawn Lane

Shawn Lane

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

MLR Press, December 6, 2012

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
For the first time in years, Mac is going home for the holidays with his best friend Connor in tow, but he certainly doesn't expect the magic of Christmas to give him the love of a lifetime.

Fashion designer, Mackenzie Grayson, has no intention of going home for Christmas...until his sister calls and uses guilt to talk him into spending two weeks over the holidays at his family's home in California. With his best friend, Connor, in tow, Mac returns to California, a place he has mostly avoided after a bad breakup. Mac no longer does serious relationships, but maybe some time spent with Connor under the mistletoe will make this a more magical Christmas than either of them would have dreamed of.

Review Anthology: O Come All Ye Kinky

Sarah Frantz (Editor)

O Come All Ye Kinky

Riptide Publishing, December 3, 2012 | 234 pages

Publisher’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
20% of all proceeds from O Come All Ye Kinky will be donated to the Domestic Violence Project of the National Leather Association–International.

Christmas is a time of love and joy, and the New Year is a time of renewal. But they are also times of stress and strife, family drama, pressure and heartache—a potent mix of high expectations and conflicted emotions. Add in power exchange relationships, kinky gift swaps, and unconventional love in a sometimes unforgiving world, and you have a formula for a sizzling anthology of stories that tug at your heart.

Review: Bianca's Plan by B.G. Thomas

B.G. Thomas

Bianca's Plan

Dreamspinner Press, November 30, 2012 | 91 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Bianca worries that her daddy, Gavin, is lonely and decides he needs a boyfriend for Christmas. So she enlists her father's best friend, the straight and unattached Curtis. Gavin has a Christmas wish, too, and Curtis setting him up on disastrous dates isn't part of it! Meanwhile, Curtis finds life becoming complicated as he tries to please Bianca, make Gavin happy, and fend off his own unexpected mixed feelings. Will anyone's wish come true?

Genre & Keywords: M/M Romance, Contemporary, Christmas Wish, Single Dad, Friends to Lovers

Happy Gay Friday off sorts... An Update

It’s been a while since I last wrote a Happy Gay Friday post, so I thought maybe it's time for a little update...
I can honestly say that I feel much better than I did back then. I’m slowly starting to get my energy back and getting my head cleared of the chaos inside. But I’m not completely my old self yet. Far from, to be honest. However, the difference with a few weeks ago is that I now cautiously believe that I’m going to be alright again, eventually.

Although it often still seems as if - once more - all my energy suddenly went on a vacation, I at least have got my appetite for reading back again! It’s a rather versatile dish these days, but the main course is still romance (MM, but also a slash of Military MF & Romantic Suspense).
And I'm very happy it's the time of year for Christmas stories as well. I gobble these up like my favorite dessert.

As for the future of my Happy Gay Friday posts: I'm still not in the right mindset to decide wether I'm going to continue with them on a weekly basis or not. So for now I think it's best to go on as I did the past months and to postpone a decision for at least another 6-8 weeks. I also keep on writing reviews just when the mood strikes. So, it’s a continuation of the low key and irregular posting of the last couple of weeks. Meanwhile I’ll do my best to get better and all healthy again as soon as possible. :)

Happy Gay Friday!
~

Review: Inseparable by Chris Scully

Chris Scully

Inseparable

Dreamspinner Press, December 1, 2012 | 68 pages

Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
After a car accident, Adam wakes up in a hospital room with no memory and a man named Joe, who acts like his boyfriend. So when Joe says Adam is straight—and Joe’s not—and they’re just best friends and roommates, Adam is more than a little confused. But as Adam starts to fill in the gaps, the one thing that becomes apparent is that Joe is the missing piece that can’t be replaced.

Genre & Keywords: M/M Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Christmas, Accident, Amnesia, Friends to Lovers, Coming Out

Review: The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles

Josephine Myles

The Hot Floor

Samhain Publishing, September 25, 2012 | 233 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Two plus one equals scorching hot fun.

Dumped by his boyfriend and reduced to living in a grotty bedsit, Josh Carpenter has gotten used to expecting the worst. Now he lives only for his job as a glassblower…and occasional glimpses of his sexy downstairs neighbors, Rai Nakamura and Evan Truman.
Every time he overhears the diminutive academic and the hunky plumber having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is overwhelmed with lust…and a longing for a fraction of what they have.
To his amazement, Rai and Evan find his embarrassing tendency to blush utterly charming, and the three men grow closer over the course of the long, hot summer. Despite Rai’s charming flirtation and Evan’s smoldering gaze, Josh is determined never to break his new friends’ loving bonds.

December M/M Releases I Look Forward To

Wow, it’s the last month of the year already and (of course) it brings quite some seasonal reads, but also a few other titles that I hope will find their way under my Christmas tree. :) Here’s my selection of anticipated M/M reads for this month:

New York Christmas by RJ Scott

Release Date: Dec 01, 2012

Christmas, and the man of his fantasies is back in Chris's life.

It's been far too long since Christian Matthews has seen Daniel Bailey. In fact the last time they met Chris was...more

Swiftly Dusted: For the Living by L.A. Witt

L.A. Witt

For the Living

Amber Allure, April 1, 2012 | 302 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
For the last year, Jay Warren has struggled to find the nerve to tell his wife he’s gay. He’s ashamed of hiding it all this time and he doesn’t want to hurt her, so every time he gets the chance to tell her, he freezes up. The guilt has been almost unbearable, but when his wife dies suddenly, Jay’s conscience threatens to eat him alive.
Funeral director Scott Lawson deals with the bereaved every day of his life, and he’s also all too familiar with the inside of the closet. He offers Jay some much-needed compassion and understanding, and from that connection comes a friendship that quickly—perhaps too quickly—turns into something more.
But are grief, guilt, and loneliness the only things tying them together? Or will Scott get tired of being used as an emotional crutch before Jay realizes what he has?

Lis’ Review: Fifteen Shades of Gay (For Pay) by T. Baggins

T. Baggins

Fifteen Shades of Gay (For Pay)

Voodoo Lily Press, October 13, 2012 | 259 pages

Author’s weblog | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
MONEY…

Andrew Reynolds is determined to stay in New York City as long as his sister Marie, a cancer patient, needs him. But despite his good looks and talent, Andrew hasn’t managed to find work as an actor. With his bank account empty and his credit cards maxed, Andrew needs money fast. Gay escorts make a nice living, but there’s one problem—Andrew isn’t gay.

SEX…

Ever since his early teens, when Andrew’s father shocked everyone by coming out, Andrew has been uncomfortable around gay men. Pretending to be gay will be the role of a lifetime. From male/male dates to erotic toys, spankings and more extreme play, Andrew must satisfy his clients without revealing his usual tastes.

… AND ROMANCE

Review: A Life Without You by Erica Pike

Erica Pike

A Life Without You (Boston Boys, #1)

MLR Press, January 13, 2012 | 236 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Jesse's like a bar of soap: the tighter Adam holds on, the faster Jesse slips away. Or that's how it feels to Adam. It doesn't help that Jesse has a girlfriend back home and claims to be straight, but there's no way with all the sparks and physical intimacy flying between the two roommates.
When Adam believes he has reached his ultimate happiness, the bedroom walls come crashing down with a visit from Jesse's girlfriend.
Now Jesse has to decide if he can come to terms with his sexuality, while Adam has to learn to accept that Jesse might never be able to crawl out of the closet.

Lis’ Review: Bounty Hunter by Cornelia Grey

Cornelia Grey

Bounty Hunter

Storm Moon Press, June 15, 2012

author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
It wasn't so very long ago that James Campbell and William Hunt were lovers. They met at the horse ranch where they both worked, training and transporting stallions and mares all across the state and sometimes farther. But then, James discovered his employer's secrets and the truth behind the job he loved so much. The knowledge was too much, and James had to do something about it.
Now, James Campbell is a wanted man. Every bounty hunter in the area is hot on his trail, eager to be the one who finally brings him in. William, though, is determined to get there first. But when he finally catches up to James, he's torn between finding revenge for James' betrayal and helping him escape. Because his feelings for James are as strong as ever, and because he's not convinced that James was entirely wrong...

Random Recs - Muffled Drum by Erastes

Author: Erastes
Title: Muffled Drum
Series: N/A
Publisher: Carina Press
Date: July 4, 2011
Length: 187 pages

Backblurb/Goodreads link | author's website | buy link

Genre & keywords:

M/M, Romance, Historical, Bohemia & Prussia, 1866, Soldiers, Battlefield, Aristocratic Berlin, Loss of Memory

November M/M Releases I Look Forward To

It’s the first of the month again, so here’s my list of anticipated m/m releases for November.

Hurt Me Good

HC Brown

Release Date: Nov 05, 2012

Harper Cole may look like a best-selling author doing research for his next book, but underneath it all, he is a badass Dom and ex-rock star looking for a sub. When he meets a...more

Lis’ Review: Dirty Little Secret by Anah Crow & Dianne Fox

Anah Crow & Dianne Fox

Dirty Little Secret

Amber Allure, May 6, 2012

Anah Crow’s website | Dianne Fox’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
When Payton’s married boyfriend stands him up for their weekend getaway, he finally realizes Dominic isn’t treating anyone on either side of the whole mess with any decency.
Payton hardly knows what to do with himself when, out of the blue, he’s rescued by the arrival of Cord, a handsome Dear Lake tour guide. Cord isn’t looking for a relationship, but he’s not going to pass on helping Payton. And when helping Payton includes drinking, flirting, dancing, and sex, that’s even better.

Series Spotlighted: First Impressions by Josephine Myles

The First Impressions series by Josephine Myles is a collection of three short stories, which has been rereleased (with new covers) earlier this year. Main characters are surly artist Jez and brightly colored socks wearing businessman Steve. Jez and Steve meet on the train they take every morning to work. 

Giveaway & Guest post - GayRomLit: Desire (and fun!) in the Desert by Brien Michaels

Thanks for joining us on the Riptide Publishing FirstAnniversary Blog Hop Bash! All month long, we’re bringing you guest posts and interviews from your favorite authors, artists, and Riptide staff. As a thank you for helping us celebrate, we’re also giving away $10 in Riptide store credit to one lucky commenter at every stop! Simply leave a comment below by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 28^th to enter. Be sure to include your email address and to check out our complete tour schedule to find out where else you can enter to win—one Grand Prize winner drawn from commenters at all the stops will also win a Kindle that we’ll load with every book we publish in 2013!

Lis’ Review: On Thin Ice by Jessica Lee

Jessica Lee

On Thin Ice (Ariel Estates #1)

Resplendence Publishing, February 29, 2012

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Silas Murdock, lion Pride leader of Ariel Estates, is on the trip of a lifetime, big game hunting with his entourage in Alaska. Everything had been perfect right up until a freak storm barreled into the area ruining their plans followed by an assassin’s bullet plummeting them into the frozen tundra.

Enter wolf shifter and former pack physician, Theodor Lucas. Returning from a trip to a nearby village, he witnesses the crash and finds the wreckage along with an unconscious and barely alive Silas. Theo’s ethical sense won’t allow him to walk away, leaving the male to suffer and freeze to death when there’s a chance he could be saved. Despite the personal risk and his vow to never be responsible for another soul, Theo takes the lone survivor back to his cabin to care for his injuries.

Happy Gay Friday: An Abyss? Well...

This will be the last regular Happy Gay Friday post for a short period to follow. I’ve decided that it’s best for me when I free myself from ‘blogging with a schedule’ for a couple of weeks. At least for the next 4-8 weeks, maybe more, but I’ll keep you posted on that. This doesn’t mean there won’t be any HGF posts during those weeks, I might write one (or two) in the spur of the moment (but no promises). Nor does it mean there won’t be reviews or guest posts for the next couple of weeks, they probably just will be posted more at random. After this period of 4-8 weeks we hope to be back with our regular schedule of Monday, Wednesday and Friday posts.

Review: Summer School by Tam Ames

Tam Ames

Summer School

Silver Publishing, July 28, 2012

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
English teacher Jeremy Decker's split with his boyfriend has left him with no plans for the summer and credit card debt. One solution is to teach summer history classes. College history major Lucas Van Sloan is brought in to assist Jeremy, thrilled to have a summer job that doesn't include supervising kids at the hometown swimming pool. A summer heat wave has Jeremy more snarly than even upbeat Lucas can handle. Lucas drags the teacher back to his place and out of the heat, determined to drag Jeremy into his bed while he's got him there. However, Jeremy's ex isn't quite ready to let go, and a college student may be no competition for a high-powered attorney.

Giveaway & Guest post ‘Warning: This Book is Cursed!’ by Abigail Roux

We’re very pleased and honored to welcome back author Abigail Roux at Rarely Dusty Books. Last time she was here for a Ty & Zane interview that Sharon had with her, this time she’s here to talk about her newest book The Gravedigger’s Brawl, which releases today. Happy Release Day, Abi! The stage is yours. :)

Welcome to The Gravedigger’s Brawl virtual book tour! Thank you for helping me celebrate the release of the most haunted book I’ve ever worked on. Over the course of the next few days I’ll be giving away prizes to help you get through the reading experiences, namely bundles of sage to cleanse your electronics after you download a cursed book! In addition, every stop along this tour is a chance to win $10 in store credit to Riptide Publishing as part of their first anniversary celebration! To enter to win one of the prizes, just leave a comment here and make sure you include your e-mail address. The giveaway deadline is Sunday, Oct 21 at 11:59pm. Many thanks to Rarely Dusty Books for helping me get this spooky Riptide Publishing virtual book tour under way!

Belated Happy Gay Friday

I kinda miss them sometimes: Deniz & Roman

I know it’s Saturday, and I forgot to post yesterday... Sorry! Actually, Leontine and Larissa are the ones to blame for my being so late with the HGF post, hahaha. ;) They were here last night and I tried to trick them into writing the post for me, but they didn’t budge. *sulk*giggle*snort*

Lis' Review: A Foreign Range by Andrew Grey

Andrew Grey

A Foreign Range (Range, #4)

Dreamspinner Press, June 15, 2012

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb: Country singer Willie Meadows is a fake. He's never ridden a horse, and his "Western" gear comes from a boutique shop in LA. No wonder Wilson Edwards, the real man in those fake boots, is suffering creative block. Determined to connect with the music, Wilson buys a ranch in Wyoming to learn the country way of life, even if he has no intention of running the business. Then Steve Peterson shows up desperate, destitute, and hungry, having just escaped a gay deprogramming hospital run by his father's cult. Steve was supposed to train horses for the ranch's former

We have a winner!

The winner of the Riptide's First Anniversary Blog Hop Bash is

Yvette!

Congrats Yvette, you won the $ 10 in Riptide store credit! I'll email you for confirmation.

Thanks to Riptide Publishing and Aleksandr Voinov for their visit and the generous prize. And thank you to everyone for stopping by!
~

Happy Gay Friday: I'm Back

It feels like I've been away for a very long time, while in reality we were only 8 days in Egypt. This was one of the most intense vacations we ever had. 

Partly because of all the family dynamics that went on in a group of 10 people (and wow, do I have some selfish and/or obnoxious siblings) and partly because of the beautiful experience of diving and snorkeling between the exotic and colorful fish and coral reefs of the Red Sea. I definitely want to do that again soon. The quiet and beautiful world under water is truly mesmerizing! I couldn't get enough of it.

This is probably also the first vacation during which I didn't manage to read much books. There simply was no time and when I happened to have a small window of time for myself, I couldn't concentrate enough on the words in the book because of everything that was still whirling in my head. Things we did, things that were said, things that happened. So, no book talk this Friday... I have to find my reading groove again first and then hopefully next Friday's post will be more 'bookish'. :)

Happy Gay Friday!

~

Giveaway: Guest Author Aleksandr Voinov Looks Back On His Predictions For The M/M Genre

Today we're happy to welcome Aleksandr Voinov as a returning guest at Rarely Dusty Books. He's here as part of Riptide Publishing's Blog Party to celebrate their first anniversary. Congratulations, Riptide! 
Let's give the stage to Aleks, who brought some great prizes to win for you and has some interesting things to say about the developments in the M/M genre.

October M/M Releases I Look Forward To

Although I’m still vacationing in Egypt I had my list with anticipated m/m releases for this month ready before I left, because there’s one thing that I always keep up to date, and that’s my wish list of m/m ebooks! ;)

I might’ve missed some book news during the last week of September due to that vacation, but I hope you’ll give me a heads up in that case.

So, here is my shopping list for October:

Dex in Blue (Johnnies, #2)

by Amy Lane

Release Date: October 1

Ten years ago David Worral had plans to go to college and the potential for a beautiful future in front of him. One tragic accident later, he fled to California and reinvented himself as Dex, top porn...more

Happy Gay Friday: Short Vacation at the Blog

This is going to be my view next week: the desert of Egypt. :) Or something like this…
The above picture is actually one of my husband’s that he took when he was in Egypt a few years ago. I’ve never been there before; it’s going to be my first time.

Lis reports: UK Meet 2012 in Brighton

The Hotel

Fantastic, brilliant, fabulous, fun, thoughtful, thought-provoking, intense, interesting, wicked awesome, cool, marvelous, terrific, sweet, mind blowing and phenomenal. Those are just some of the words that come to mind when I think back to the [fill in all of the above] weekend at the UK Meet in Brighton.

Now sitting on my comfy couch with good country music and sipping a cup of tea, it’s not easy just what to put in this post without it filling ten pages.

Joint Review: Lashings of Sauce Anthology

UK MAT

Lashings of Sauce

JMS Books, July 22, 2012

Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
We Brits love our sauce, whether it's what we lash on our food, read on our seaside postcards, or write in our stories. Come and enjoy a buffet of tasty LGBTQ treats!
From marriages to reunions, via practical jokes and football matches, to weresloths and possibly the oddest Tarts and Vicars party in the world, join us as we celebrate the UK Meet in the best way we know: telling the story.

Happy Gay Friday: UK Meet, Gay Mermen & More

This weeks HGF illustration is a video compilation of one of my favorite gay You Tube channels: JJ Prods. This compilation is from three Eating Out movies (3, 4 & 5), which I’ve never seen and which don’t seem to get very high ratings at IMdB… but who cares: there are hot guys kissing hot guys in it. *g*

Quick Review: Oscar’s Soul by Missy Welsh

Missy Welsh

Oscar’s Soul

Amber Allure, June 17, 2012

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Satan, himself, has discovered love in the form of a beautiful young man whose soul he's been forced to reap. The poor devil's desperate for sweet Oscar's affection, actually does get it and more, but then The Big Man Upstairs wants Oscar up where he truly belongs. Now, Satan can't say "no" to his boss...or can he?

Genre & Keywords:
M/M Romance, Paranormal, the Devil, Short story

Happy Gay Friday: This Week’s High 5

This HGF post is going to be completely random about me, my friends and my books. :)

1
Let’s start with the boring part, the part about me: the above picture is one of my drawings made on my iPad and the isolation it conveys is kind of how I’m still feeling.

Quick Review: Dark Soul, The Complete Collection by Aleksandr Voinov

Aleksandr Voinov

Dark Soul: The Complete Collection (Dark Soul #1-5)

Riptide Publishing, June 1, 2012 | 310 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here or here

Backblurb:

Love lights even the darkest soul.

A killer's moral compass rarely points true, and among made men, being gay is a capital crime. But Silvio Spadaro, deadly prodigy and heir to a Family fortune, is determined to find his own way at the feet of the man he loves or by the barrel of a gun no matter the dangers or costs.

Stefano Marino lives a comfortable some might even say enviable life. As a mob boss at the top of the food chain, he has it all: money, respect, a beautiful wife he loves as much now as the day they wed. But he also has a turf war on his hands, and far too soft a heart for this dark business.

Lis’ Review: Coming Home by M.J. O’Shea

M.J. O’Shea

Coming Home (Rock Bay, # 1)

Dreamspinner Press, April 9, 2012 | 230 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Dead broke and newly homeless, Tallis Carrington is on the walk of shame to end all walks of shame. Back to Rock Bay, where he’d once ruled as high school aristocracy with his band of jocks, and tormented a freshman named James Barry. Until a scandal reduced his family's name to little better than a curse word. He needs a job, and fast, so he can put the town in his rearview mirror once again. But the people of Rock Bay haven’t forgotten him, or the kid he used to be.

Happy Gay Friday: September M/M Releases I Look Forward to

September is going to be a good month again in terms of anticipated m/m releases! Here's my selection:

Maybe This Time

Shawn Lane

Sept 02, 2012

Three years ago, Winston Abernathy did something completely out of character - he had a one night stand with a gorgeous dancer. But the next day the dancer left for New York to try to make it big on Broadway and Win went back to dating men who were like himself - boring, bland paralegals.

Now that dancer, Randy Lincoln, is back in Los Angles. That amazing night with Randy h...more

Sharon’s Review: Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux

Abigail Roux

Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run #6)

Riptide Publishing, August 13, 2012 | 292 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they're living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they're both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

Lis’ Review: Latin Boyz by P.A. Brown

P.A. Brown

Latin Boyz

Amber Allure, February 26, 2012 | 250 pages

Author’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
Gabe's entire world is gang-ridden Cypress Park, in South Central L.A. His mother died in a drive-by gang hit on the wrong house. His fourteen-year-old sister was left brain-damaged by the same bullet. He dreams of escaping and rescuing the rest of his family before the gang jumps him or finishes the hit on him.
Gabe's life is further complicated when the shooters return and young LAPD officer Alejandro Cerveras answers the 911 call. To the Eme, the all-powerful Mexican Mafia, homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle choice, so will Gabe's attraction to Alejandro be his undoing or his salvation?