Originally posted on Nov. 7, 2008 to friends-locked Livejournal and reposted here with permission.
I've been reading gay romance books and gay erotica in the hopes that my muse will enjoy the brief moments between academic readings and political blog searches. I've had these books on my wish list at Amazon for a while and finally decided to just go ahead and buy them and hope that the money was well-spent. These two did not disappoint.
The first one is Without Reservations by J.L. Langley. Published by Samhain Publishing.
Book Summary: Sometimes love just catches you by the tail. Chayton Winston is a veterinarian. He is also a werewolf. Much to his Native American parent's chagrin, he has always dreamed of a fair-haired, Caucasian mate. However, he never imagined his mate would be male. As a heterosexual man, he's not quite sure what to do with a male mate, but more than willing to find out. Keaton Reynolds wakes up, in wolf form, and finds himself with a mate. He's instantly attracted, but not so thrilled to find out the man is straight. Having been in a relationship once before where his partner professed to be "Not gay" left a bad taste in his mouth. Keaton wants to make a break for it and pretend he never set eyes on Chay-but Chay is not ready to let him go. Together the two work to solidify their shaky relationship and battle the prejudices against homosexuals. Chay must deal with not only his mother's prejudices against gay men but also her hatred of white people. When a power struggle in Keaton's pack threatens Keaton's life, the two men learn to depend on one another and their relationship to get them through it. Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, violence and hot man-love.
With a summary like that, who wouldn't want to read this, right? It appealed to the puppy-shipper in me and as I read it, I pictured Sirius and Remus a few times as much of the plot centers around the notion that once wolves find their mates, it's pretty much a done deal. They don't choose their mates, it's a higher power and one they can't suppress. The attraction is mutual, fierce and instantaneous. Many SB/RL fics I've read include this notion and I've always enjoyed it so it was not a far stretch for me to read Chay and Keaton fall in love this way.
Why I liked this book: Though the character development could have been better, in this book I'm kinda glad that the author didn't waste my time in giving me a lot of back-story on either character. You learn about their pasts through their courting. I like that the dominant wolf is actually the bottom in this book and though he oozes power (the other wolves feel it instantly but his lover doesn't) he not only controls it well, but manifests it only when necessary.
The porn was deliciously scattered throughout the book which made this a quick read without leaving out the key element that love shared between two people completely in love with each other is the most erotic of lovemaking scenes. One of my favorite scenes is the first time we see the pair give into their urges and includes the taller one pinning the smaller one against the door and devouring him from lips to cock. By the time he swallows his lover's prick, both the lover and the reader are panting and squirming madly. Yum!
Langley, a female author, writes the scenes with realistic UST while adding paranormal references that keep you engaged and wanting more. While it has many romantic moments, there are very little cheesy moments and many of them are accompanied by such great dialogue that you enjoy the sneak peek into a living room scene or post-coital schmoopiness.
Excerpt:
Chay bit his bottom lip, his balls drawing impossibly tight at the sight of Keaton sprawled at his feet, jeans open, prick hanging out, drops of cum still clinging to it... to his jeans and the bottom of his shirt as well. Fuck, the man is sexy. Chay rested his head against the door. He was too close and he did not want to drive home in squishy pants. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, concentrating on the cool door beneath his head.
He wasn't sure how long he stayed there, but a rustling sounded below him and then Bit's [Keaton's pet name] fingers started working the fastenings on his pants. "Bit, what—"
Keaton tugged his pants and boxers to his knees in one motion. Then his cock was engulfed in moist heat. "Oh shit."
Bit grabbed his ass, encouraging him to move. Bit slipped half of him into his mouth and pulled back before taking more in. It felt damned good. This was going to be the shortest blowjob in history.
He looked down to find that angelic face turned up toward him, the smooth cheeks hollowed out as Bit sucked. Those big sky blue eyes held his. Then Bit did the most amazing thing, he took every inch of Chay's dick into his mouth and swallowed. The sight of that pretty little freckled nose buried in the dark curls above his cock was the straw that broke the camel's back. Chay lost it. His balls squeezed tight, his prick jerked in Bit's mouth and he came and came and came. "Keeeeeeaton!"
Review: (★★★★ out of 5 stars) The smut scenes were great but not any better than fic I read on a daily basis (and if I'm going to pay for the smut, I expect it to be... I don't know... less predictable, I suppose) and though the UST was nice, the story could have been written better. Definitely a good summertime night's read and with it's 268 pages, you'll certainly go through this one a few hours. One thing I will add to this review for my slash fanfic authors... any and all of you could've written this story 10 times better and made money out of it. Look into Samhain's Submission Guidelines and consider becoming a published author. I'd pimp you like there's no tomorrow!
Book Summary: All hell breaks loose when Dean Smith, Earl of Carwick, is tricked into being discovered in the company of Rob, a handsome male prostitute. Now Dean needs to repair his broken engagement to a wealthy heiress…and Rob is the only one who can identify the man who set him up, proving to Dean’s fiancée that things weren’t as they appeared.The trip from Worcester to Bath turns into a journey of self-discovery, as Dean finds himself becoming increasingly attracted to Rob. His charming companion stirs feelings Dean has long kept repressed, but acting on them would make true the accusations that destroyed his engagement. Torn between duty and desire, Dean’s destiny lies in the hands of a Discreet Young Gentleman.
Don't let the cover fool you. It's not as cheesy as the cover portrays and many reviewers on Amazon.com wish the author would not allow for the cheesy covers of her works. The summary intrigued me (as much as the cover did, I'll admit) because I wanted something that could help me finish my Rentboy!Draco/Harry fic that torments me nightly with its unfinished state.
Why I liked this book: The characterization and character development in this one was as delicious as the UST. It was like peeling layers of a rose and knowing that with each petal that fell you were that much closer to it's end and not caring that it would be so. You learn about Rob and Dean (who look a lot like Ron and Harry, btw) by their getting to know each other on their journey to clear Dean's name. While Rob's not trying to take advantage of the situation, his attraction to Dean and that of Dean's to him is evident from their first meeting.
This isn't another 'but he's straight' book, nor is it a 'make him gay' book either. It's a true romance that grows from camaraderie and a shared joy for the company of a like soul. When you find your soul mate, the ache you feel when they're gone is so strong that you'd rather die than live your life without them... Dean's in search of his soul mate and though the reader knows it's Rob, their journey toward one another while they traverse the English countryside, is a great backdrop for that realization within the characters.
The smut is more fade-to-black and UST than anything else, but done well and true to the era it is being written in. There's the drunken moment where the boys take advantage of their inebriated state to pet, touch and caress more than they would had they been sober and many moments of conversation that always reveal more than we'd like to reveal to another person we profess not to be falling for. But their actual night of total surrender to each other is done beautifully!
Pearson does a remarkable job in keeping to the era while still bringing you into the time without feeling like the jargon or times are that long ago. Then again, I have thing for men in knee britches, long waistcoats with dozens of buttons to go through. :D
Excerpt: "Real cat?" Rob leaned against Dean, his naked skin warm and smooth, and stroked a hand tentatively down the animal's back. He laughed, a breathy sound that gathered strength as it went. The cat, black as the pit of Hell, growled at the jostling this merriment produced. "Sorry, puss," Rob gasped, scratching behind one twitching ear. She stopped her feline grumbling and deigned to resettle herself more comfortably on her abdominal perch. "Oh, my. Your uncle does have a peculiar sense of humor."
"And who's the one that said 'Oh, I like cats. I won't be afraid.'" Dean squeezed Ron's shoulder lightly, his voice teasing.
"I do like cats. And I never said I wouldn't be afraid." Rob snuggled against him, radiating heat in the cool night.
It was difficult to concentrate on the conversation. "Um. Wasn't it supposed to be my room that's haunted?"
"All over the east wing, your uncle said." Rob's voice was husky with sleep, or something else.
Dean's breath was short in his chest. "West wing."
"Whichever. It was good of you to come to my rescue." Rob reached up a hand and stroked his finger along Dean's cheek. "My hero."
Dean felt his face grow hot at the touch, and the admiration in Rob's tone. If you're all right, I should go. He opened his mouth, but the words refused to be said. What was the harm of it? Just one more moment, here in the dark, with his arm around Rob, the cat's purr a soothing hum in the night. He reached his other hand to pet the smooth fur as well, his fingers brushing Rob's along the animal's back. The additional contact made him tingle, and he knew he'd best leave while he still could. He cleared his throat. Twice. "If... if you're all right..."
"Stay. Please? Just for a little." Rob removed Dean's hand from the cat, placing it flat against his bare chest. "See? My heart's still galloping like a racehorse."
Dean couldn't breathe, feeling himself harden shamefully beneath his nightshirt at the simple touch. Nightshirt. Rob wasn't wearing one, was he? If his torso was bare, it followed that the rest of him was too, nude beneath cat, blanket and sheet. The thought broke him into a cold sweat. "Rob. I should go."
But he didn't want to go, and Rob didn't want him to. "Wait, please. Tell me just one thing." He turned and slid his arms around Dean, pulling him closer. Rob's heart was thumping wildly beneath Dean's palm, and his own thrashed against his ribs like a trout on a line. "Was that you, playing the piano at the Rose and Thistle while I was... last night?"
He licked his dry lips. "Yes."
"I thought maybe..." A hand slipped up the back of his neck, warm fingers cradled the back of his skull. "Dean. Were you playing for me?"
Dean nodded, wordlessly. And then Rob's mouth found his in the darkness, found and clung and opened in a hard, wet kiss.
Review: (★★★1/2 out of 5 stars) The story is so enrapturous that you don't want to put the book down. You want to see how and when they get together. The angst is a bit annoying on the Dean side as he can't seem to get past Rob's (I keep typing Ron) profession and more than once, I was afraid the book would end tragically. I will say that it does not, so don't be afraid to pick up this book. The scenes are so laden with UST that you will be turning pages quickly to reach your own climax.
I've received The Price of Temptation by M.J. Pearson and will be reading that this weekend and reviewing it as well. Got a book to recommend? Let me know!
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