Nothing But Trouble

Title: Nothing But Trouble
Author: Jenna Byrnes
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59426-512-9
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Graham Elliot makes a generous financial offer to his employee Adrian Scott for three nights of no-strings sex. The money is tempting to Adrian, who is burdened with bills, although the real attraction is not the money, but the handsome and exciting Graham. After two fantastic nights together, Adrian receives a big check and a thank you, but can it pay for Adrian’s broken heart after Graham’s rejection for a future together.

Nothing But Trouble is a heartwarming story of unrequited love for Adrian and coming to terms with reality for Graham. Adrian is openly gay, his mind tells him that Graham is out of his league, but his heart refuses to listen and Adrian falls in love. Graham is a closet gay who conducts his personal life similar to a business transaction, but he discovers that he is not able to move on after Adrian leaves. Jenna Byrnes has created real characters with very real issues. The story exhibits fabulous love scenes and emotional trauma that melts your heart. This is an amazing saga that I enjoyed immensely.

Dancing in the Dark

Title: Dancing in the Dark
Author: Jenna Byrnes
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60659-009-6
Genre: Contemporary Romance M/M
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Detective Nick D’Amato leaves the bar after having a drink with his friends and heads over to pick up his secret lover William. Nick is gay, so some things are best left undercover. Nick had never wanted a long term relationship until Will; now Nick is willing to do whatever it takes to have a commitment. The problem is that Will wants to continue having separate lives. Both men are stubborn and not willing to compromise until a serial killer changes their lives forever.

Dancing in the Dark is a walk on the dark side of life. Nick is part of the police force dealing with a growing number of dead bodies with few leads to the serial killer. Will gets caught in the middle of circumstances that could end his life. The talented Jenna Byrnes creates a story of romance and suspense that is both sensual and realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting dark tale.

Born to Run

Title: Born to Run
Author: Jenna Byrnes
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60659-124-6
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM, M/M
Nymph Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Detective Sam Nielson and his two best friends are having their regular get-together beer night when Bobby Rodriguez, a recent transfer to Sam’s detective division comes over to introduce himself. Bobby is a Dominant looking for a sub and Bobby wants Sam. Working together on a murder case, Bobby gets his chance to seduce Sam into a new lifestyle, but is this relationship something that Sam can be happy with?

Born to Run is book two in the Streets of Fire series. Jenna Byrnes creates an intriguing murder mystery alone with showcasing Sam’s new romance. This is an enjoyable episode for BDSM fans.

Wanted Dead or Alive

Title: Wanted Dead or Alive
Author: Jenna Byrnes

Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60659-144-4
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph

Eight years ago, Dan Radisson made a stupid decision resulting in his incarceration at Corcoran State Prison. Now, he’s out on parole and trying to put his life back together, except he’s finding it much harder than expected. Dan loves his older sister and is thankful he can live in the spare bedroom, but he’s uncomfortable with her cop husband, who clearly doesn’t like him. To make matters worse, Dan hates the daily AA meetings he must attend. He needs to find a job, and he could really use a little relief from his growing sexual frustration.

After becoming acquainted with Trey at an AA meeting, it looks like Dan has found the man he needs to take the edge off his frustration, except his chosen bedmate isn’t certain the newly released Dan is ready for a type of sexual relationship he wants and needs. It’s not long before Dan stumbles across a murder, and he stupidly makes the same wrong decision as before. He runs from the scene, and he suddenly finds himself wanted by the police; only this time he has a stubborn Trey in tow.

Wanted Dead or Alive is the first release in the new Slippery When Wet series and this story is by author Jenna Byrnes. The theme for this story had a lot of potential, but the short length really didn’t allow enough time for the plot or the characters to become fully developed. As a fresh out of prison ex-con, Dan starts the story lacking the confidence he needs to function on the outside, but that quickly and unrealistically changes as soon as he meets and hooks up with the friendly and sexy Trey. The characters of Dan’s sister and cop brother-in-law were as expected, supportive and unfriendly, respectively.

I actually liked Dan and Trey together, and the guys did have blistering hot sex, but I knew so little about Trey that I didn’t really understand what kept them together. This was especially true of Trey and why he was so willing to dump everything in his life to run with Dan from the police. Then there’s the complicated set-up of Dan for murder, but the perpetrator was a thug; a man who didn’t seem capable of putting such a plot together.

I liked the ending and it’s happily-ever-after, even if the culmination rescue scene wasn’t very plausible. Still, even with its faults, the story was enjoyable for a quick afternoon read.

Hungry Heart

Title: Hungry Heart
Author: Jenna Byrnes
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59426-667-6
Genre: Contemporary, M/M
Rating: 3.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

NYPD Captain Gil Gates and his two best friends are having drinks in their favorite bar; Gil is depressed over the questioning of his judgment being conducted by Internal Affairs after a double homicide happened on his watch. When the handsome and gay news reporter Brian Knight shows up on Gil’s doorstep, there is more than a felony case to explore, but can Gil trust Brian?

Hungry Heart is book three in the Streets of Fire series. Jenna Byrnes brings you up to date on the lives of Nick and Sam, while adding a love interest for Gil. This is an enjoyable story featuring romance with crime-solving as the background.

Dance Wars 4: Last Night Stand

Title: Dance Wars 4: Last Night Stand
Author: Sophia Titheniel
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publisher URL: http://www.changelingpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60521-151-0
Genre: Futuristic, Werewolves, M/M
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Lachian and Adair have been secretly meeting for a year and each time, it gets harder for them to separate. Lachian is a Pony Express Rider and Adair is the leader of a group of scavengers who prey on Pony Express Riders, taking their packages and whatever else that can garner them money. Adair and his crew are also the champions in the Dance Wars, gaining them the prize money at the bar in Chiodwig. Tired of hiding his ever growing love for Adair, Lachian is determined to find a way for them to spend their lives together. With a workable plan and help from his friends, Lachian goes into action.

Dance Wars 4: Last Night Stand is a heartwarming episode of Lachian and Adair. Lachian is a daredevil, not afraid to take risks for what he wants, and he wants to keep the love and connection he has with Adair, who is a werewolf. Adair is tired of the scavenger’s life; however his caring heart will not allow him to abandon his crew. The wolf side of Adair has claimed Lachian as his mate and refuses to give Lachian up; Adair is torn between the warring sides of his brain. Sophia Titheniel has created an outstanding series of well written plots, intense characters on an emotional roller coaster and a dash of humor in every installment. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and will be watching for her next venture.

Livin’ on a Prayer

Title: Livin’ on a Prayer
Author: Jude Mason
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59426-779-6
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph

Logan White was a young man when he made the mistake of getting involved in a B&E, which landed him in Corcoran Correctional Facility. Now, its eight years later and he’s been released early, for good behavior. He has no family or friends to contact, no skills and little money to tide him over until he can find a job. Unfortunately, no one wants to hire an ex-con. Enter Shane Grayson, the friendly neighborhood gay reverend who runs the local shelter, who helps Logan find a job. While the physical and emotional bond between the two men grows stronger, the job turns into a nightmare, threatening Logan’s life and his parole.

Livin’ on a Prayer is the second release in the new Slippery When Wet series and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Logan is a guy who made a stupid decision and paid for it with eight years of his life. He’s also handsome, kind, friendly and determined to stay out of prison. Ms. Mason did a very nice job in describing Logan’s frustration at his inability to find a job…that no one would give an ex-con a chance to prove he was worthy of their trust.

Yet, desperation often forces change, bringing Logan to the attention of Shane. This loving man of the cloth is a gem, hanging out in a rough area of town to keep the church mucky mucks from being embarrassed because of his homosexuality. It’s also an unfortunate but painfully truthful example of what gay men of faith endure every day.

The descriptions of Logan and Shane’s physical relationship were caring, loving and fiery, but the vivid scenes revolving around Logan’s job environment and the trouble that resulted are the best. These show not only Ms. Mason’s ability to write well, but also the tender loving care Logan and Shane have for one another.

Zeven Ways To Kill Your Lover

Title: Zeven Ways To Kill Your Lover
Author: L. Shannon
Publisher: Amber Heat
Publisher URL: http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat
ISBN: 978-1-60272-519-5
Genre: Shapeshifter, BDSM-light (m/f), Suspense
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Zeven is the top assassin in Las Vegas and has been given a contract to kill a doctor that could expose werewolves to humans. He doesn’t find out until he has accepted the contract that his target is his mate.

Harley knew Zeven when she was younger and had run from him after members of his clan killed her family. She and Zeven are now trying to come up with ideas about how to fake her death.

During the course of them running, setting up the scenario and going to get the rest of his fee, Zeven finds out that he has been set up.

Zeven Ways To Kill Your Lover was an intense action story with hot sex between Zeven and Harley. The different scenarios that both of them came up with and then shot down gave the book its title. I enjoyed reading this book as there were several unexpected twists and the back-story of how Zeven became an assassin.

Fighting Lady Jayne

Title: Fighting Lady Jayne
Author: Michelle M. Pillow
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419921575
Genre: Fantasy M/F
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Inter-dimensional Boxing Champion Jayne Hart has come a long way. Her past life is a simple memory the Divinity Corporation has no use to expose. After Jayne loses her last fight, she wakes up in a parallel universe. Sent to become a warrior’s wife, Jayne isn’t conditioned for love, a family or marriage. Jayne’s use to fighting for everything she has ever gotten and running before she gets too close to form bonds.

Ronen of Firewall has no desire to marry if it brings the misery he witnessed in his brother’s first marriage. He does not intend to choose a bride and is utterly shocked when Jayne lays claim to him. Their passion is explosive and Ronen thinks the Gods have sent him a blessing, until Lady Jayne decides it’s high time to run. Will Ronen finally allow his new wife to escape his grasp, or will Jayne discover it’s more fun to stay and play?

Fighting Lady Jayne is the second book in the Divinity Warrior series. Michelle M. Pillow’s characters are full of wit, charm, and sensual qualities. Jayne baffled me in the beginning. I couldn’t understand why she would run from such a handsome man who wanted to care for her. However, after understanding her background I could understand her fear of commitment and having her own family. Ronen was after my heart from the start, strong, stoic, smart, honorable, and handsome to boot. He’s the kind of man any woman would give her eyetooth to wake up next to every morning. They are perfect for one another; her sass verses his sensibility, made for moments of steamy passion and passionate fights. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I recommend Fighting Lady Jayne to those who enjoy knights who know how to treat their woman and the woman who keep them on their toes.

Like Coffee and Doughnuts

Title: Like Coffee and Doughnuts
Author: Elle Parker
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publisher URL: http://www.lyricalpress.com/
ISBN: 978-0-9824170-5-8
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph

Dino Martini is an Italian-American private investigator who likes old music, ballroom dancing and his classic convertible, Matilda. That doesn’t mean the old-fashioned man doesn’t do most of his work with a computer, or use a cell phone for communication with his clients and friends. He works alone unless he needs someone to watch his back and then he turns to Seth, his mechanic and best friend, who’s a hot-tempered brawler, and good to have around in a fight.

Life is good for Dino until circumstances force him to move out of his soon-to-be demolished apartment building and then he and Seth get involved in a dangerous case, after the two men repossess a seventy-eight Corvette. Now, there are some serious bad guys on their trail, but that’s not Dino’s only problem. After knowing Seth for years, their relationship unexpectedly changes from that of friends to lovers. Dino has never had a boyfriend before, has never even dated a man, so the change has him unsettled, and questioning whether he can keep them both alive.

The first thing about Like Coffee and Doughnuts that caught my attention was the unusual title new author Elle Parker has chosen for her first release.

Dino and Seth have been best buddies for years, but the two men couldn’t be more different in temperament. Dino, at forty-two, is calm, quiet, steady, loves to cook and doesn’t do flings…and did I mention he’s a clotheshorse, who likes to look just so-so. Seth, at thirty-three, is filled with boundless energy, is loud and brass, flirts endlessly and enjoys sex with members of either sex. And he’s definitely more of a faded jeans and beer kind of guy. In truth, these two are so different, it’s hard to believe they’re friends and even harder to believe that their relationship could turn into that of lovers. But it does, and this is where Ms. Parker excels. Her change in their relationship is well-timed and believable and their bantering dialogue snappy and fun.

The drug/crime sub-plot portion of the story is well integrated in the overall plot and has just enough danger and uncertainty to make it plausible, without totally taking over the story. Even though there are several years and vastly different life experiences separating them, Dino and Seth are perfect compliments to each other. I have to admit I was surprised when Seth made the first move and I was even more surprised to learn he’d loved Dino for years. Read and enjoy!

Sacrificial Sex

Title: Sacrificial Sex
Author: Laura Tolomei
Publisher: Extasy books
Publisher URL: http://www.extasybooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-55487-243-5
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror/Gay (m/m, m/f, m/f/m, m/m/m)
Rating: 2.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Satyr Vael

Mylos is the Blood Divine, the spiritual leader in a city ripe with a bloodthirsty legacy of human (and animal) sacrifice. It’s his job to conduct the sacred rituals involving the bloodletting and death of young virgins, and it’s something he greatly enjoys. Then along comes Rowen, a young man full of defiance who captures Mylos, like no one else ever has before.

Soon they’re bound as lovers, Mylos finding the release he craves in the arms of his blond but mysterious man. Rowen introduces Mylos to many things – sex with a servant Mylos occasionally only used for his own pleasure, and even sex with a woman, which is a feat, given Mylos’ absolute hatred of women in general.

But Rowen isn’t quite what he seems, and neither is the young lady who shows up as a sacrifice, yet confounds Mylos without even trying.

Sacrificial Sex is… hard to describe. It’s set in an intriguing science fiction world and I’d love to learn more of the places these people inhabit. It’s fairly well written, with very descriptive love scenes and brutal images of sacrifice and death.

My biggest complaint is that I honestly had a hard time keeping track of everything. The plot seemed to jump a good bit, and in the middle, took a turn I wasn’t expecting. While it wasn’t necessarily bad, it did leave me a bit confused.

Sacrificial Sex is a difficult book to read due to the meanderings it takes, but for some, it might be just right.

Warning: This book contains very graphic scenes of human sacrifice resulting in death. Please be forewarned.

Tangled Web

Title: Tangled Web
Author: Cassie Stevens
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/
ISBN: 978-1-60272-532-2
Genre: Gay M/M, Adventure, Suspense
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Rick Ramone and his partner Scott have been exploring Mayan ruins, in hopes of coming across ‘the find’ that will allow them to continue their stay in Guatemala and bring in funding, as well. With time running out and a new group of interns coming any day, the two men have to find something fast. When a family emergency occurs, the two men pack up and head out.

Val cannot wait to get to Guatemala. The archaeology student has been looking forward to his internship for some time but a call from his sister throws things up in the air. He only hopes that his new boss will understand.

When Rick and Val end up on the same rescue team, they could not be more pleased but when secrets start coming out into the open, the two men wonder just what is going on.

Cassie Stevens does an excellent job weaving suspense, action and love into Tangled Web. Rick and Val sizzle together from the very beginning. The various family members are something out of The Sopranos with the backstabbing, murder, drug deals and affairs that go on. One of the things I loved about the story the most though is that she leads the reader on a merry chases as they try to figure out who the good guys and bad guys are.

629 Miles To Love

Title: 629 Miles To Love
Author: Fae Sutherland & Marguerite Labbe
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
ISBN: 978-1-60272-520-1
Genre: Gay, Contemporary, M/M
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Six years ago, Cal Green’s best friend and high school sweetheart left town to pursue his dreams. The pain is still fresh and the scab over his wounded heart is still unhealed. Love stopped existing for Cal when Noah Parker was no longer part of the equation. Seeing Noah makes him face all the pain, regret, and lost time. Cal is reluctant to listen to Noah. What’s done is done and there’s no way to go back.

Noah came home to handle some unfinished business. His move six years ago doesn’t bother him as much as losing Cal as a part of his life. He knows getting Cal back is going to be an uphill battle. With a full tank of gas and a steel iron will, Noah sets out on a 629-mile journey to reclaim the love of his life.

Fae Sutherland and Marguerite Labbe’s 629 Miles To Love is about second chances, accepting the past, and fighting for love. Regardless of what Cal and Noah accomplished professionally, they both knew they were living an incomplete existence without the other. I was able to relate to both characters, and could understand the reluctance and why giving up was not an option. Their ache for the other was clear. I’ll admit I straddled the fence throughout this entire story, unable to take sides after each new point came to light. The setting, a truck cab where the men are isolated and faced with no alternative but to communicate, was the perfect location for this battle of wills to take place. It allowed me to focus on the couple with a minimum amount of distractions. I was delighted with this story and look forward to reading more from this duo.

Toy Box: Biting

Title: Toy Box: Biting
Author: Misa Izanaki, Jourdan Lane and Mike Shade
Publisher: Torquere Press
Publisher URL: http://www.torquerebooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60370-716-9
Genre: Paranormal, M/M
Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Caen Nymph

Curiosity by Misa Izanaki - 3 Nymphs

Dante wants something from Kale; however Kale realises that as a half-vampire, controlling his urges is far from easy. Curiosity brings backs the lovable characters of Dante and Kale from the author’s fascinating mythical world she has built over numerous short stories from the same publisher. I have really enjoyed reading about Kale and Dante’s relationship and was glad they were featured in this story. It’s easy to forget that Kale is a vampire; however Dante brings the man’s vampirism to the centre and we are made to deal with Kale’s other side. It was an intriguing read and it brought about a lot of issues regarding Kale’s second nature.

Clarity by Jourdan Lane - 4 Nymphs

Caleb has been paying his dues after his incident with Lucien. Both Xander and Logan have been helping him as much as they can, but Caleb can no longer deny his natural instincts; will Lucien allow him to feed again? Clarity is one of those stories I have been looking forward to this year. From the first book in the Soulmates series, I loved Caleb; he’s like the adorable puppy, bad boy and best friend all rolled into one character. His story in the Soulmates series goes from happy-go-lucky to heartbreaking. I think the author did very well addressing Caleb’s emotions and problems in this story, and I loved Xander and Caleb’s interactions. I just wish there was more of their story to read; that might sound greedy but I was expecting more story than sex.

Keifer and Me by Mike Shade - 2 Nymphs

Keifer has been gone for a year and when he returns, he calls Davey. However, he gives Davey precise instructions and when Davey arrives he realises that Keifer is not the same man he once was. Keifer and Me is an odd story and I felt like these characters were already established. The whole story left me with a surreal feeling, and I didn’t actually enjoy it. The plot, the characters and the emotions were all very overdramatic for my liking. I appreciated the originality of Keifer and Me, but I just couldn’t like the characters or the way the story was written.

Toy Box: Biting has two out of three good stories, and I really enjoyed the second story. It should be noted that the first and second stories take characters from previous established works, and while the first one can be read as a standalone, the second one requires the reader to have read the whole series (alongside the shorter works) to get the feel of the series.

My Soul to Keep - Calen

Title: My Soul to Keep - Calen
Author: Rie McGaha
Publisher: Noble Romance
Publisher URL: https://www.nobleromance.com/
ISBN: N/A
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Calen MacLeod wants the touch of the woman he’s been dreaming of and he has to follow his instincts to get to her. When he finally reaches the mountains that he has been lead to, he finds himself surrounded by beautiful women and he thinks he’s died and gone to heaven. Little does he know that from this point on, his life will never be the same and that includes Arianna, the woman he has come to love. Now that Calen has been told of his lineage and what it will mean to his people that he procreate for their survival. It helps him to complete his goal of destroying the 500-year old demon bent on the destruction of all witches.

My Soul to Keep – Calen is a beautiful story with an evil twist to it that I did not expect. We have a race of people who were always willing to help mortals, witches who are without even a hint of malice in them. Then we have one man who was so full of evil and bent on slaughtering all of the witches. It required a group effort to rid the witches of him, and that was only temporary because of a son being born to one of the witches that awakens him.

This is a fantastically written book by Rie McGaha, who told of the past lives of the witches, and what could happen in the future for two the characters. There was never any mention of what race the witches were but I fell in love with them nonetheless, and admired their strong survival bond. I am hoping that Ms. McGaha will continue on with the story of Calen’s brother, Caleb, who was his brother’s right arm.

Cyr's Revenge

Title: Cyr's Revenge
Author: Ava Rose Johnson
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419921308
Genre: Gay M/M
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Whoever said revenge is a dish best served cold must have known Cyr. Seven years away from his lover, Smith Knox, has left him ready to wreak havoc on those responsible. Cyr sees his old lover and automatically remembers his touch, his smell and the passionate encounters they once had. He will pull every trick out of his hat to ensure that Smith isn’t just around for one night, but for the rest of his life.

Smith Knox hasn’t forgotten his feelings of abandonment by his former best friend and lover. Livid is an accurate description of how Smith felt, and he hasn’t trusted anyone with his heart since that day. His work as a bounty hunter is a lucrative career that supplies very little time left worrying about a past he cannot change. Well, it used to distract him until he picked up his latest assignment. Smith has teamed up with Cyr to take down a drug lord. Buried under the heartache, the love still burns bright. The question is will Smith let down his guard long enough to accept Cyr with open arms?

Cyr's Revenge is part of the Hunters for Hire series. Smith learned to tolerate the ache of losing his lover and best friend. Not a man to mope around, Smith made a life where he could be content. Cyr has waited for the day he could reclaim Smith as his own. Those years of separation were tough, but he took the time to prepare for their future. Regardless of their mixed emotions, Cyr and Smith’s attraction was instantaneous as if their years of separation never existed. I’ll admit, my first impression of Cyr wasn’t good because of the anxiety and hurt rolling off Smith in waves. However, as I got further along in the story, Cyr’s background and reasons for his disappearance altered my opinion. The story allows you to visualize the surroundings without distracting you from the story, adds a touch of suspense, sexual tension as well as five alarm sexual encounters, and a splash of action. Ava Rose Johnson writes about second changes at love, revenge, and a fresh start at life in Cyr's Revenge. Lovers of the genre will enjoy this wonderful addition to the series.

Surf n Turf

Title: Surf n Turf
Author: Scott & Scott
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59632-943-0
Genre: Gay M/M, Erotic
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Robert knew things in his relationship with David hadn’t been going well lately, but he always figured they would work themselves out. When David decided to end the relationship after 10 years, Robert not only loses his lover but the bookstore they owned together. At loose ends, Robert decides to take his few belongings and the money from the store’s sale and heads for Seaside, a gay friendly resort town.

Blakely left the south to find himself. Knowing he would never be accepted after coming out, he headed north. Finding out his boyfriend was picking up boys and having sex in alleys causes Blakely to pack up once more. Getting a job in Seaside was just what he needed for the summer.

What neither man realizes is that what they hope will be a quiet summer to figure out their futures will be anything but, once the Meanies and Queenies get involved.

Surf n Turf, the newest book in the Romentics series (all books are stand-alones) is a great story that will have the readers thinking of Westside Story, The Outsiders, and even a little bit of Cinderella. The authors take two men, each looking for something more and fearing they will never find it and places them in a situation that, at times, will have the reader laughing out loud. Left on their own, Robert and Blakely would have had no problems getting together. However, once the authors threw in the Meanies, a group of leather daddies and the Queenies, highbrow society men, what would have been just a sweet read becomes a hilarious tale that readers will speed through.

Heart of an Angel

Title: Heart of an Angel
Author: Stephani Hecht
Publisher: Extasy Books
Publisher URL: http://www.extasybooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-55487-290-9
Genre: Paranormal/Romance/Shapeshifter
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Chief Archangel Michael is going crazy trying to find his abducted mate Rachael and his warriors are helping him all they can. The search is an added distraction from the war going on with Heaven and their fight with Lucifer’s demons. Knowing that he still had to handle the running of the compound where they live doesn’t help but gives him a distraction until Rachael could be found.

Rachael realizes that she has to keep it together until Michael can get to her but that is proving to be very hard, considering who took her from her bedroom. Knowing that she had to stay focused, all of her attention is on destroying their enemy, and not on Michael, who is her distraction.

Heart of an Angel leads up to the battle of the Order of Four against Moloch, who is more powerful than Lucifer himself. My heart went out to Michael, who was experiencing so many different emotions he usually kept suppressed, regarding his family and especially his soul mate Rachael. This was tough for him and tearing him up trying to find her. It was time for all of the archangels to come together to accomplish a common goal and that was to remove a threat that was very powerful. In comes the Order of Four; Abdiel and the siblings, Rachael, Appolion, and Camael.

Stephani Hecht did a wonderful job of continuing her series of the Archangels with this book, and it was not at all what I expected. The way that she expressed the love of family, loyalty and a determination to survive as a group of warriors with so much humor among them, is well done. I hope that now they can focus on solving the problems with the Council in Heaven. I await the next book in this series to see what will happen to the Archangel warriors.

Play it Again, Sam

Title: Play it Again, Sam
Author: Jenna Byrnes
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59426-742-0
Genre: Contemporary M/M Erotic Romance
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Marc Phillips runs the projection booth for an old fashion neighborhood theatre. He doesn’t work there because of the ambiance, but purely for the comfort, the theatre gives him. Sam Merit interrupts Marc’s normally boring existence the day they meet. Sam is trying to cope with his recent change in employment, or rather his new status of unemployed. The trips to the theatre are good to fill the void and supply a healthy dose of eye candy while he checks out Marc.

They discover a connection that surpasses what either expected, but Marc’s past is looming over their new bond like a black cloud. Can Sam gain Marc’s trust or is the relationship doomed before it has begun?

Play it Again, Sam is a book about acceptance, new beginning, and learning to take risks. Sam needed the gentle distraction of Marc in his life. While the stress of being unemployed was lurking on the edge, the fun and smiles Marc supplies helped the situation become less taxing. Marc’s baggage was serious. Watching his apprehension told me there was more than meets the eye to the bear of a man. They have fantastic chemistry, and their passion moves from softly sensual to fiercely demanding. I enjoyed reading Play it Again, Sam and recommend it to those who read the genre.