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