Can you believe we’re already heading into the midway point
of 2014? And with that, we’ve got a list of some of our favorite books to share
with you from the month of May. It was another one of those months when some of
us ::coughs:: me ::coughs:: had a hard time narrowing our choices down to just
one, but we’ve managed to come up with some excellent reading recommendations
for you once again.
So, without further ado, here they are, our top reads for the
month of May:
*~*
Tina – The Perfect
Place by Kol Anderson
“I will not spoil the end of this story. I am dying to share
how it ends, but I want everyone who reads it to be as shocked as I was and to
love it every bit and as completely as I did. It is an ending that had me
saying, out loud, “What. The. F**k!?” That was the e-mail I sent to Kol
immediately after I read this wonderful gem of a book. It is a finale that
would make M. Night Shyamalan proud. As an avid reader, I am usually able to
see surprises coming from around corners. Well, I couldn’t have found these
corners with a map and compass.
Read this book. It will make you smile and laugh, all the
while breaking your heart. It will make your head spin. It will make you curse
Kol Anderson for his brilliance and his willingness to, no, his glee at,
tightening the screws on our thumbs. You won’t be able to look away, he won’t
let you. I expect nothing less from Kol.”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Jackie – Love You Forever by Amelia Bishop
“Amelia Bishop has done a fabulous job showing how “forced”
closeness can eventually push two people apart, no matter how much they love
one another. As human beings it seems that we need free will, even in love, if
we expect any relationship to grow and prosper. Cole and Rick find this out the
hard way.
This book truly caused me to stop and think about how two
people in love can grow apart yet find their way back to each other. It is a
true example of letting someone you love go and knowing they will find their
way back if it is meant to be.
I have to say this is one of the best books I have read so
far this year, and I am going out on a limb and calling it a “must read” for
2014. I don’t believe you could read this and not cry for these two, as well as
celebrate the full circle of their relationship.”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Lynn – Spring Affair
by B.G. Thomas
“I am absolutely in love with this book. The reader is
thrown into the lives of the two main characters, Sloan and Max. I loved being
inside both of their heads, knowing what they were thinking throughout the
story. I really enjoyed reading the journey these two men take together. Their
deepening friendship as the story progresses is beautiful and endearing. The
self discoveries are at times earth shattering, but necessary.
The secondary characters were phenomenal. It was interesting
to watch their interactions with each other, and read their dialogue. At times
they were hilarious and other times just downright aggravating. You’ll know
what I mean when you read the book. Max’s wife started out being the typical
bitchy character we come to expect in this genre, but she turns out to be
someone who will surprise you in the end. I’m told the author is planning for
some of these characters to have their own books. I will definitely be reading
those. I’m hooked.”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Lana – Spinning the
Top Anthology by Torquere Press
“While all the stories were exceptional, one stood out in my
mind because my mind started to fill in between the lines of what was not
written! A Taste of Sin by
Kassandra Lea was just that and
more. The story is about the Archangel Samuel, who can’t stop himself from
visiting a demon named Flynn, and giving himself over to him. The dynamic
between Samuel and Flynn was perfect. Samuel is the powerful warrior who
commands other angels. He’s always in control and obviously, works for God.
Flynn is the demon who is also powerful and commanding, but works for Satan.
We’re not told what kind of demon Flynn is. But Flynn is not all bad; there is
some goodness in him, and love. Oh, how I wanted to know more about Flynn! For
some reason Samuel trusts Flynn to give him what he needs, he gives up control
and power to Flynn, and Flynn takes that power and protects it.”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Kim – Dirty Kiss (Audio)
by Rhys Ford (Narration – Greg Tremblay)
“What I found interesting was Jae himself, his culture, and
his sense of family. It kind of reminded me of that saying “it takes a village
to raise a child”. I may not have understood his obligations to his family, but
I, too, like Cole, had to respect them.
Again, Greg Tremblay did an excellent voice characterization
for Jae and surprisingly, Scarlet too. I wish I could have heard more of
Scarlet singing.
So, if you loved the book, you’re going to love the audio
version of Dirty Kiss. I’m
giving it a high 5 star rating, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment,
hoping that Greg is the man for the job!”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Sammy – Stranger on
the Shore by Josh Lanyon
“A good mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat and has
you silently rooting for its heroes. Griff, while reluctant to wear the mantle,
is every bit a hero. He settles down amidst a company of players and an opulent
world that is both so familiar yet so foreign to him and his rather strange and
humble upbringing. So many things about little Brian Arlington’s disappearance
haunt Griff. He feels driven to find out what happened to the boy so keenly
that when “Brian” suddenly reappears, Griff fears he has immersed himself so
completely in the pursuit of answers that he has tricked himself into believing
he is somehow a part of the very mystery he is investigating. With every turn
of the card, Josh Lanyon pulls us more deeply into Griff’s psyche and, in doing
so, invests us emotionally in Griff’s well being.
With an amazing cast of secondary characters and the coolly
aloof yet intensely smoldering love interest, Pierce Mathers, Mr. Lanyon once
again produces an intricately woven plot with mayhem and murder afoot that
captures your imagination and leaves you breathlessly racing toward the finish.”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Jules – The River
Leith by Leta Blake
“I absolutely love how Leith’s discovery of his feelings for
Zach is handled. His brain “itching” at certain smells, looks, feelings. His
gradual realization that the relationship is much more, at least for him, than
friendship. And, the scene in the hospital garden…THE scene – when you read the
book, you’ll know the one I mean – could not have been more perfect. Their
connection and chemistry are amazing, and I’ll tell you what… Leta Blake writes
some beautifully steamy sex scenes.
Honestly, the writing style overall just really spoke to me.
I could say so much more about how much I loved this book, but I’ll let you
all, discover it for yourselves. I will say, though, that I’ve been looking for
a long time for a book to recommend as a first time M/M read to one of my best
friends, and I think I might have finally found it. I highly recommend this
book, folks. And, I plan to rush out and get Leta’s other stories!!”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Traci – Chase in
Shadow (Audio) by Amy Lane
(Narration – Sean Crisden)
“Of course, Sean Crisden (my fav) is the narrator, and you
could not have picked a better person to tell Chase’s story. Sean makes you
feel every one of Chase’s emotions and choices throughout the story. He plays
the fake, happy Chase, the apathetic Chase, the cocky Chase, the scared little
boy Chase, sad Chase, and finally, the at peace Chase. He does an excellent job
with the other characters as well. Tommy became one of my favorite characters,
and I loved his voice throughout the audio. I wanted to skip work to finish
this audio, so plan to listen to this in one sitting.
I have read, probably, all of Amy Lane’s books, and I have
to say this is my favorite. I love this series and will definitely buy the
whole series on audio. You will not be disappointed. Again, it has my two
musts: an interesting story, along with great narration that made me not want
to stop! Enjoy and bring tissues!”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
Me – Necropolis
(Whyborne & Griffin #4) by Jordan
L. Hawk
“In Percival Endicott Whyborne, Jordan has created the
perfect narrator because he’s both reliable and unreliable, and we know when to
trust him and when to scoff at how very un-self-aware and blind he is to his
worth where Griffin is concerned. There are some powerfully emotional moments
in Necropolis that bring a
lump to the throat, all while you’re trying to catch your breath from the
Indiana Jones style action that delivers a promise of death if Whyborne,
Griffin, and Christine can’t stay more than a few steps ahead of it.
As has become the norm with Jordan L. Hawk’s books, Necropolis isn’t anything so simple
as a book filled with words that tell a story. Necropolis is a book filled with imagination, with love, and
with the bonds of something powerful. There’s so much imagery in this
installment of the series to fill in the shadows of your own headspace that it
draws you in and makes your heart beat just a little faster as you bask in the
fear and embrace the romance between these two men.”
Full Review and Buy Link HERE
*~*
And that does it for the month of May. Until next time, happy reading!
Wow! Thank you so much! I am so pleased you like my book. And to be included here is an honor. And rest assured I will be checking out these other recs--those that I haven't read already! *GRIN*
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I'm on the same page as Amy Lane, Rhys Ford, Kol Anderson, BG Thomas, Jordan Hawk, Leta Blake, and Josh Lanyon! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all of these and I am excited to be adding to my TBR!!! Awesome
ReplyDelete