ARC Review: Bottoms Up by Etienne

From the blurb:

RN First Assistant Chris Bottoms enjoys being a bottom. Though abused by his stepfather as a boy and conditioned to enjoy sex only one particular way, he’s come to make the most of his life. And he enjoys bottoming—to the hilt—whenever and wherever he can.

As if colorectal cancer wasn’t enough of a trial, the subsequent botched surgery robs him of normal bodily functions—no more prostate massage for Chris. In the middle of his medical drama, his best friend, Mickey O’Donovan, accepts a promotion that brings him to live in Jacksonville. Roommates in college, they’ve remained friends and occasional fuck buddies ever since. Chris’s crisis brings their relationship to a new level, though, and long-suppressed feelings are revealed.

Chris and Mickey settle down together and life is good, even though they can no longer indulge in their favorite sexual position. But Chris can’t seem to catch a break. When his past rears its head, Chris and Mickey must face a new challenge, together.

Sandra's rating:




This was a good story with, I'm sorry to say, rather bad writing. The dialogue was stiff and inorganic, and the narrative felt dry and boring, and in some cases read like a glossy brochure advertising the city of Jacksonville, Florida.

Which is sad, because it's the location of the story that drew me to it initially (I'm very familiar with the city), plus the major plot point that's being hinted at in the blurb. But OMG, do your research. Nobody who just had a part of their colon and their rectum removed, and a colostomy bag attached is going to eat a freaking hamburger, even if it's from The Loop. That is major freaking surgery, and no hospital, not even a crappy military one, will allow that. Also, while we're talking about hospitals, St. Vincent is, if I'm not completely mistaken, the local Catholic hospital, and while I don't know this for a fact, I had to question the possibility of them hiring someone who's openly homosexual, as that might go against any morality clauses in their contract. I also questioned the validity of someone who's going to have to wear a colostomy bag for the rest of his life, serving as a surgical RN in a sterile OR.

While the author had pretty much all the landmarks down pat, I didn't need to be told (even if I hadn't lived there and knew all this already), that the Fuller Warren was once a draw bridge on an Interstate, and how the bridges across the St. Johns River are painted in different colors, and how all those special areas of Jacksonville are all so very special. Okay, so the anecdote about the Baptist Church being directly across from the Bathhouse was funny ironic, but that was about it. Leave the advertising for the city to the travel folks. It's one thing for an author to make a few points about a city you love (and where you possibly live), but driving that home again and again and again just makes your story boring and your writing stiff and annoying.

And oh, the dialogue. I don't know anyone in their late thirties who talks like that.

"Irv, old buddy. How the heck are you?"

ARC Review: Fusion (Book 2 North Star trilogy) by Posy Roberts (@posyroberts)

From the blurb:

How do you tell your friends and family you've fallen in love with a man when they've only ever known you as straight? How do you explain to your kids that you loved their mother very much, but your new partner is your best friend from high school?

Kevin Magnus must figure it out while trying to build a relationship with Hugo Thorson, whose bigger than life, out-and-proud drag queen persona is simply too big to be contained in a closet—even for the time it takes Kevin to come up with an explanation for his kids and Erin, his soon-to-be ex-wife.

But Erin faces an even bigger obstacle—one that shakes the entire family to the core. When she unexpectedly turns to Hugo, they form a connection that forces Hugo to grow up and offers Kevin the chance to become the kind of father he wants to be. Despite the coming complications, they'll all benefit from a fortunate side effect: it becomes clear that Hugo is very much a part of this unconventional family.

Sandra's rating:





I loved this!!!

For a second installment, despite the heavy topic and the pain and the drama that ensued, this book was as close to perfection for me as possible. Loved how their relationship grew, loved how they weren't perfect but worked through their struggles, loved how they found common ground and compromise. Loved the supporting characters, especially Erin and Summer, and adored the kids.

Fusion - the title itself hints at what's to come inside the book - is the story of Hugo and Kevin melding their lives together, as best as they can. It's the story of crafting a family of your own, against conventions and against the odds. It's the story of coming to terms with pain and loss, and finding ways to cope and communicate. It's the story of finding friendship in unexpected places, and giving from your heart. It's the story of two men who've loved each other for a very long time and who have to fight to be together and stay together. It's the story of one very strong woman who recognizes love when she sees it and has the inner strength to foster it, support it and celebrate it.

In short, it's a story about love and family and the fusion of their lives.

ARC Review: Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf by B.G. Thomas

From the blurb:

Kit Jefferies, a part-time department store Christmas elf, is an artist who loves life and his family. Unfortunately, his car dies at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere as he is heading home for Christmas. Enter Nick St. George.

Nick is a very unhappy man—he's achieved his professional goals only to find the rest of his life bleak and empty. Deciding there was only one way to make everything right, he is on his way to San Francisco on a dark mission, and even the horrible sleet storm that blocked his path won't deter him. That's when he found Kit.

At first, Nick is pretty sure rescuing Kit was a big mistake. Kit's personality is just too, well, effervescent. But as the miles go by, Kit begins to bring light to his dark heart. It might even be bright enough to illuminate a Christmas miracle.

Sandra's rating:





Well, this was a cute short piece of Christmas fluff, without any explicit situations (sexy times were fade to black), but a message of love and family and taking a chance that just might save your life.

Beautiful imagery in a tiny little package. And while Kit was certainly over the top swishy, he owned it and thus only skirted the edge of annoying. To me. To Nick, well - that's another story.

I really liked how the author pointed out their differences, what with Nick being angry and closed off most of the time, for reasons that are revealed slowly as the story progresses, and Kit being mostly happy, but also intuitive and kind and honest, again for reasons that are revealed through the narrative, without ever feeling like telling. Information is shared via dialogue and narrative, and the characterizations slowly emerge.

I've heard it said that anger can be an external manifestation of profound sadness. That certainly applies here. Grumble Monkey Nick is angry outwardly, hiding his pain so deeply that he doesn't even realize how much pain he is in, or why he reacts the way he does. When he has his epiphany, it's an awwww moment, and he does exactly what I wanted him to do.

There was one shocking moment toward the end, something that Nick relates as part of the narrative, something that I didn't see coming, but that fit overall with his characterization.

Kit is just so frakking happy most of the time, and innocent to a certain degree, and his character radiates that with most everything he does or says. He's the perfect antidote to someone like Nick.

A really cute Christmas story, with two lovable characters and a sweet message overall.

I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. This short novella is part of the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar which you can purchase here. 

Buy this novella from Dreamspinner Press

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Spotlight Blitz: On the Isles of Mozambique by Mila A. Ballentine

 On The Isles of Mozambique

by Mila A. Ballentine

Blurb

Samira McAllister, an aspiring writer working for The Seasoned Traveler magazine is offered an opportunity. She takes advantage of the chance to jump start her career, hoping to make a mark in the writing industry.

Unforeseen hurdles threaten her ability to follow through with her plans, and life as she knows it becomes a memory. From that point onward, every choice she makes will seal her fate.

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