Monday’s Hot Couple & Coming Out Day

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Today’s couple won’t be accompanied by a sexy scene but by a video of Lizzy the lezzy in honor of National Coming Out Day which is today! I hope it’ll make you grin like it made me.
And here’s a link if you want to know more about Coming Out Day.

Have a fabulous Monday!
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Happy Gay Friday & Other happinez

Life is beautiful, isn’t it? No no, I’m not on drugs, I’m just happy! :) And very glad that work is back to normal and the headache that bothered me the first half of this week is history! Today I had the day off, I slept in, went to the hair dresser and the book store. And tomorrow I’m going to Amsterdam with four of my girlfriends; visiting a few museums, doing some fun stuff, having lunch and dinner at some hip places. Sounds good, huh?

Not so fun though was the mouse I spotted in the kitchen tonight! Yes, a mouse!! Eeek!! Don’t think we’re slops or filthy people. We’re not! Honestly. So, it really puzzles me where that little creature came from. And I’m wondering with how many they are!? And how are we going to get rid of it/them? Maybe hubby will agree with me now that it’s really time for a new kitten, or two. After all, it’s already more than six months ago that our little Binny passed away…

On to the book stuff…
I’ve been slacking on my reviews this week. But hopefully I’ll find some time to write a few on Sunday. There are two m/m books that I’ve read and need to review: Jasper’s Journey by Lisa Marie Davis and Touch Me Gently by J.R. Loveless. Both are dealing with heroes who were badly abused in their childhood and have to learn to trust again. Pretty heavy stuff.

Two other m/m books I’ve read but probably won’t review, are Quarterback Sneek by Pepper Espinoza and Gayish by Kim Dare; an older and a new novella. These were short reads and very enjoyable. Both authors know how to entertain me repeatedly with hot heroes and sexy scenes. I love to read their m/m novellas in between longer books. Like the m/f novel I’m reading atm: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione. I hope I can find the time to finish it this weekend!

What are your weekend plans?

Happy Friday!
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Review of Talker by Amy Lane

Amy Lane
Talker
Dreamspinner Press, 2010

Backblurb:
Tate "Talker" Walker has spent most of his life hiding his scars under a bright punk facade, and until he sat next to Brian Cooper on a bus, it worked. But Brian has spent his whole life being the invisible man, and he's used to looking below the surface. What he sees in Talker is a fragile and lovable human being.
Brian is outwardly straight, but Talker is desperate for love, and when Talker's behavior leads to some painful consequences, Brian is forced to come out of his closet—in dramatic fashion. He'll do anything to make sure Talker sees that he's the Prince Charming Talker has always needed.

Genre & Keywords:
M/M, Contemporary, College, Coming Out, Scarred, Music

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Heat level: 2 out of 3 flames
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Why I read it:
I received a review copy from the publisher

Talker is a touching and sweet love story about two young guys for whom life hasn’t been easy. Brian is an orphan and Tate is scarred badly because of an accident. Both are rather lonely and meeting each other brings an end to their loneliness as they become best friends and roommates. Tate is the talker while Brian is the quiet type, and Tate is openly gay while Brian seems to be straight.

The story is told from Brian’s point of view, in third person. With the help of flashbacks we learn about how they met and became friends - so the story jumps back and forth between ‘then’ and ‘now’, especially in the beginning. After some initial getting used to it, it’s actually a clever way to give the characters more history and depth without it taking too much time/pages. The character depth and development made this novella stand out in a positive way for me. I really enjoyed these rather unusual characters and their growing relationship.
Love for music did play an important part in it btw and I loved the choice of music. It fitted the characters so well. (I happen to know who had a part in that *cough*Chris*cough*).

Their love story is a Gay For You one. Brian is coming to realize he feels attracted to Tate and with the help of his ex-girlfriend Virginia he finds the courage to come out of the closet he didn’t realize he was in. The interesting part of this GFY storyline is that Brian has not only come to terms with being gay, he also has to work hard to convince Tate that he’s in love with him. Scarred as Tate is, physically and mentally, he doesn’t believe Brian on his word. I like the role Brian’s ex-girlfriend and aunt played in this. The outcome is convincing and lovely because the author did a wonderful job to convey the feelings and emotions of her characters.

I think Ms Lane wrote with Talker a rather unique love story, with intriguing and moving characters, which had me engrossed and invested from the beginning. It’s a well written, character driven novella and entertaining as such. It even made me sniff at one point and I completely and utterly fell in love with these guys. If you’re looking for a sweet and compelling love story with unforgettable heroes, I highly recommend reading this book. And let’s hope that we’ll see more of Brian and Tate in a future book…

Favorite quote:

As he walked out of the bathroom, though, he heard Tate start to sing “And our love would have soared, over treetops over rooftops.…” to himself, and Brian wanted to turn around and hug him just for that alone.
Oh God, he’d missed hearing Talker sing.

Linking:
Amy Lane’s website | weblog | Goodreads
Buy Talker here

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Monday’s Hot Couple & Sexy, Smutty Scene from Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

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I think I’m ready for some more demons. Last week’s sexy scene already was from a demon story (Fearless Desire by Stacey Espino) and this week’s scene is from Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione. Like I said yesterday, I want to start reading the Demonica series this month and to get in the mood I looked for a sexy, smutty scene for today’s post. It's from page 237-239.
Enjoy!

“
His words must have been exactly what she needed, because she sighed and arched into his touch, the small of her back coming completely off the floor. He should move them to the couch, but she wrapped her legs around his waist and his thoughts of comfort scattered.

Somehow, he managed to get out of his jeans without breaking the scissorlock of her thighs around his hips, managed to divest her of her clothing while her lips were sucking lightly on his collarbone. Her scent rose up, filling his nostrils with the sweet fragrance of arousal. Inhaling deeply, he let the passion high take over until his head swam with lust.

I love it when your eyes change color, she murmured, and he suddenly wanted to kiss her, a real kiss, not one like they’d shared the first time they’d had sex, when she was still in a dream state thanks to Wraith’s head games. Not like the one they’d shared today in the exam room, when he’d been overcome by s’genesis urges.

As though she’d read his mind, her gaze dropped to his mouth, and her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip. Gods, he wanted to take her mouth, but there was no way he’d be gentle, what she needed right now.

Careful to avoid her stitches, he dipped his head and tongued a nipple, eliciting a soft moan from her.

You taste like me, he said, savoring his dark essence in the salt of her sweat. He hadn’t come inside her since that day at the hospital, but her body was still processing his fluids, keeping her primed, ultrareceptive. Only me.”

His cock throbbed against her wet entrance, but he resisted the urge to possess her. Not yet. The doctor in him wanted to heal her with his touch more than the demon in him wanted to get off.

That had never happened before.

It scared the hell out of him.

[…]

His blood went south, and animal instinct took over. He pounced, grasped her around the waist, and brought her ass hard against his stomach. His erection pressed against her bottom, and he shook with the need to take her. In his arms, she struggled, and he let her because she needed to think she was resisting and if this was the only way he could have her . . . he sheathed himself inside her in one stroke. She cried out at the sudden invasion, her fingers clawing at the floor as she tried to escape.

The scent of fear, nearly masked by the more potent scent of lust, rose up from her, hitting him upside the head. Sonofabitch, he wasn’t healing her, he was scaring her. His mind told him to stop, but his hips ground into her, his body rebelling against what his head was telling him to do.
”

Backblurb Pleasure Unbound:

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . . She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life. Two lovers will dare to risk all.Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .


Happy Monday!
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Happy Gay Friday on a Sunday & How that happened

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Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging and other fun stuff. Like last Friday - after spending the rest of the week on the road for work, I was looking forward to a nice and quiet Friday at home, doing some errands, reading, blogging and bloghopping. But it wasn’t meant to be. Turned out that one of my colleagues got ill and I had to take her place as a coach in this course for a group of volunteers that work in our organization. There went my Friday and Saturday…

I didn’t even have time to post my m/m cookie, but here it is, two days late:

And then there’s the thing that I don’t feel fit at all today. I really hope it’s just a little after-effect of the exhausting week and not one of those nasty viruses that seem to be wandering about these days. Hubby is feeling under the weather too, so he might have caught something at the hospital where he’s working, and brought it home with him. Keep your fingers crossed for us that it’s not the latter.

But let’s get to the book stuff. Here’s the list of books I’ve read in September:

Jasper's Journey by Lisa Marie Davis, 3.5 stars
Fearless Desires by Stacey Espino, 3.5 stars
Talker by Amy Lane,  4.5 stars
Size Matters by Stephanie Julian, 4 stars
Genesis (Heaven Sent, #5) by Jet Mykles, 4 stars
Sly Spectral Trick (HS extra, #4) by Jet Mykles, 4 stars
Feisty Little Firecracker (HS extra, #3) by Jet Mykles, 3.5 stars
Sexy Spring Surprise (HS extra, #2) by Jet Mykles, 3.5 stars
Pretty Red Ribbon (HS extra, #1) by Jet Mykles, 3.75 stars
Faith (Heaven Sent, #4) by Jet Mykles, 5 stars
Hell (Heaven Sent, #3) by Jet Mykles, 4.5 stars
Purgatory (Heaven Sent, #2) by Jet Mykles, 4.75 stars
Corporate Seduction by Bridget Midway, 2 stars
In the Flesh by by Ethan Stone, 4.75 stars
Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys, #1) by Lorelei James, 4 stars
Gone Stumping by Braden Williams, 3.25 stars
Eternal Seduction (A Darkness Within, #1) by Jennifer Turner, 4.5 stars

Considering I’ve spent half of the time on the road having a hectic work month, it’s not a bad list at all I think. I’ve read a total of 17 romances, of which four were short stories. And I’m really proud that I’ve finished a series that was on my TBR for a while, the Heaven Sent series by Jet Mykles.
I think I’ll go try and read at least one of the other numerous series on my to-read shelf in October again. I did one in August too, so if I succeed in October as well, I might have started a new challenge for myself. ;) I’m thinking finishing the Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon in October should be doable…
Additionally I want to at least start (because ‘finish’ is aiming a bit too high) one of those paranormal series that are hiding on my shelves for quite some time now and about which I keep saying that I really want to start reading them soon, really, but still haven’t yet… One of those is the Demonica series by Larissa Ione, which I bought in paperback no less! This series has the advantage that it ‘only’ has five novels out yet, which seems a better start than the eight or ten books counting series by JR Ward and Kresley Cole. :)

Right now, I’m going to make the best of my Sunday, paying a visit to my mother in law who’s celebrating her birthday and tonight reading on the couch with hubby nearby. Who knows, I might get lucky… if he feels like rubbing my feet I mean. ;)

Hope you enjoy your Sunday too!
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