Review ~ Snowball in Hell by Josh Lanyon

TITLE: Snowball in Hell

AUTHOR: Josh Lanyon

COPYRIGHT: 2011

TYPE: M/M mystery/romance
PAGES: 191
SERIES: yes apparently this is book one!

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REASON FOR READ:
Love me some Josh Lanyon and I thought the book sounded interesting

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
It's 1943 and the world is at war. Journalist Nathan Doyle has just returned home from North Africa--still recovering from wounds received in the Western Desert Campaign--when he's asked to cover the murder of a society blackmailer.
Lt. Matthew Spain of the LAPD homicide squad hates the holidays since the death of his beloved wife a few months earlier, and this year isn’t looking much cheerier what with the threat of attack by the Japanese and a high-profile homicide investigation. Matt likes Nathan; maybe too much.


If only he didn’t suspect that Nathan had every reason to commit murder.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I have to admit that I am relatively new to the M/M genre that being said I don’t branch out much. Mr. Lanyon is one that I auto buy or try to get every time. In fact his Adrien English series is one of my favorite and the first I’d ever read in this genre. Fan girl squeal over…

Okay I don’t think I ever really thought about how hard it had to be for people in the 40’s or earlier to be different. And by different I mean to follow in love with someone of the same sex. I guess since I’ve grown up with gay and lesbian friends and have been around it a lot I never gave any thoughts to how hard it must have been for people who couldn’t come out over fear of death, beatings, or losing their jobs. To me while they are still fighting to be accepted it has never really sank in at what others before this generation has had to go through.

That being said this book really helped me to open my eyes about it. Mr. Lanyon has painted a world at work in 1943. His two main characters are war weary and tired. Lt. Spain was injured in the war and sent home to his wife who died from cancer recently. During the war he discovered that while he loved his wife he was happier with men. Nathan on the other hand has always know that he prefers men to women. Out of both of these men I felt sorry for Nathan who only wants love but due to society can’t get it, can’t have it in the open without fear, and it appears at times feels he doesn’t deserve it.

The way these two come together is interesting Nathan is a reporter and Matt is a police officer. A murder has been committed that Nathan is covering and discovers that the deceased happens to be someone he saw last alive. But, does he tell Matt this information? Nope. He then goes all Adrien on me and tries to solve the murders on his own. In the meantime Matt tries to protect him while also solving the murder.

The mystery was interesting there were a lot of suspects and it was fun to watch them get crossed off only to be brought back later. I was guessing toward the end and happily I did not guess right (I hate figuring these things out it ruins it for me). I really enjoyed this book.

If I had any complaints it would be that it was too short and the next one isn’t coming out tomorrow!

Favorite Quotes:
Jonesy said, “Lot of things could go wrong with that plan. The fact is the kidnappers might never have received the money.” “It was their plan,” Bob said. “We didn’t get a vote. We had to do it their way.” ~ Not sure on the page due to kindle but I loved how it shows the style of writing Mr. Lanyon has.

Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
E-book Challenge
Netgalley Review



Reviewing Next:
Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson

Willow Bend by Ally Blue

TITLE: Willow Bend
AUTHOR: Ally Blue
COPYRIGHT: 2002
TYPE: M/M romance
PAGES; 216 ebook
SERIES: no

REASON FOR READING: Ally was kind enough to give a free copy away on Wave’s site and I managed to snatch it up.

SUMMARY: {From Goodreads}
Can two men from different worlds cut the ties binding them to heartaches past and present, and make a life together? For Paul Gordon, the little town of Willow Bend, South Carolina is the perfect place to start over. A place where he can move on after his lover's death, alone and anonymous. Cory Saunders is just trying to survive. Between working two jobs and caring for his ailing mother, it's all he can do to keep his head above water. When Paul and Cory meet, their mutual attraction is undeniable. When the intense physical attraction starts to blossom into something deeper, neither wants to admit to what's happening. Cory doesn't have time for a relationship, and Paul isn't sure he's ready for one. But sometimes, what you thought you couldn't have turns out to be exactly what you need.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book is what I classify as a fluff read. Its something that is quick and easy, leaves you satisfied. Like I said it was a quick read nothing complicated in it. The only parts that were off involved death and seeing how I’m not a guy but a girl I know I would have reacted differently to the situation.

Things I enjoyed:
I enjoyed Cory and Paul they are both believable characters. I felt Paul’s pain at losing a loved one and I felt Cory’s pain of being an only child and the guilt that comes with that when your parent is sick. I understood why Cory did what he did and why he worked as hard as he did to take care of his mom. I also understood why Paul felt the need to get away after what happened to him back home. The romance was quick and hot. A little quicker than I would have liked but then again it fit the characters.

Things I didn’t care for:
Although the relationship was felt solid at times at other times I felt like it was rushed. Then again I am a very logical person and have never told anyone I love them within a span of a month. Also it felt like Cory was a little young for the relationship they were trying to build. And I thought moving in together after only 6 months was really rushing things. Than again like I said this was a fluff read and although I wouldn’t in real life do these things I can’t say it didn’t work for these two. I think it only felt this way b/c I know in real life it wouldn’t work but I found with the writing that it did? IDK make of that what you will.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes she was new and yes I plan to read more of her writing

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

Review ~ The Englor Affair by JL Langley

The Englor Affair by J L Langley

BOOK DESCRIPTION: From Goodreads:
In hiding who he was, Payton found himself-and the man he would grow to love.
After his brother is kidnapped, Prince Payton Townsend masquerades as an Admiral-s assistant in order to track the culprits through the tangled mysteries of the planet Englor. He finds way more than he bargained for in the form of Marine Colonel Simon Hollister.
Simon is no ordinary soldier. He-s heir to Englor and his life is mapped out for him: throne, bride, and eventually an heir. He never expected a dalliance with Payton to blossom into love, or that the organization that taught him to lead would threaten that love-and their lives.
Danger and intrigue abound as they learn more about their shared enemy, and about each other. What they learn could help them rise above to an enduring love-or pull them apart.

MY THOUGHTS
Things I Liked:
Pay and Si’s relationship. It started off with Si wanting to protect Pay and not realizing that he was fully capable of it himself. But when Si realizes this it was almost too late. I love the playful banter they have back and forth and how Si fell in love with Pay. It was cute to see him agree to a marriage but in secret to be happy about it. I love that Pay held his own with Si and didn’t stop doing what he does best playing with computers and taking charge in that area.
I also enjoyed the ending even though it had the dreaded Miscommunication they were still able to realize their love for each other and work through it. Unlike a lot of romance books that solely focus on drawing it out as long as possible this wrapped it up quickly and even had them both saying they were sorry instead of one party taking sole responsibility.

WARNING SPOILER!

I love that Payton feeling that he was wronged and unloved left without a major scene. He proved his point, he left a note and did what he thought was best. That is rare in real life and even rarer was Si going after him. So sweet and touching.

SPOILER OVER!!!

I enjoyed finding more out about both planets and how their societies worked. I really enjoyed learning what the differences were and I am dying for another!

Things I Didn’t Like:
Can I just say the jock strap scene and the whole sex scene in general with that particular device I could have lived without ever reading. No it wasn’t hot to me and no it wasn’t a turn on and yet I felt like it was a train wreck I couldn’t stop reading. LOL call me old fashion but if a guy did that to me I would gag from disgust LOL

Rating
8 out of 10

Additional Info
Make sure to read My Fair Captain first I really think this helps with the understanding of this book and the relationships already established. Not to mention this book pretty much takes off where the last one ended.

~ Published: 2008

~ Price: $5.50 in ebook

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-englor-affair

~Favorite Author Book
My Fair Captain (Nate is just perfect)

~ Author Website

http://www.jllangley.com/jllangley/Home.html

Review ~ Death of a Pirate King by Josh Lanyon

TITLE: Dead Sexy
AUTHOR: Kimberly Raye
COPYRIGHT: 2007
TYPE: paranormal romance
AGES: 224
SERIES: Surprisingly yes it’s the first in a vampire series. Although I think the series is part of the Blaze line.

REASON FOR READING: This is one of 2 category romances I had in the TBR and this month's challenge was to read one.

SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
She was looking for long-term. She wasn't expecting eternity! Just when Nikki Braxton has given up on finding a normal guy, she meets cowboy Jake McCann.
Tall, dark and delicious, he could be the ideal man if he wasn't a vampire. Well, at least that explains his...uh... hunger for her. Meanwhile, that down-and-dirty sex they're having is giving him the energy he needs to destroy his nemesis and break the vampire curse. Good thing, because being with Nikki makes him long for a normal life that much more.
But then Nikki is abducted. If Jake saves her, he may lose his only shot at becoming human again. Talk about damned if you do.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Quick summary Nikki is the good girl next door that doesn’t really know who she is or what she wants. She is split between what her loose and free mother thinks is best for her and what her tight and perfect aunt thinks is best for her. She doesn’t know how to be herself b/c she hasn’t discovered who she is. That is until Jake comes along and shows her that doing what she wants is okay nothing bad will happen.
Jake on the other hand is having a problem all his life he’s been tied down and trapped to one person or another never truly free. All he wants to do is kill his sire so that he can be human again and do whatever he likes not trapped by the hunger of the vampire in him.

Things I enjoyed: I liked both characters a lot. I understood where they were coming from and the final choices they had to make. It was refreshing to see Nikki’s reaction to her behavior the night after a “one night stand with Jake” she freaked out when they told her she was engaged b/c she would never do anything like that. But then got mad that they wouldn’t think she could do anything like that. A typical woman response LOL!! Jake was sexy and macho but still conflicted for good reasons. He was caring and wanted so badly to prove to Nikki that he wasn’t like the rest of the guys in her life that he was different.

Things I didn’t care for:
I didn’t care for the ending it wrapped up to HEA for me. I won’t spoil it here but it really upset me how the villain turned out to be… and how that all seemed to be okay in the end. I also didn’t realize this was a series so it made sense how it ended but still kind of disappointed me.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. All and all it was a quick sweet read.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes this was the first time I read this author and I might pick up something else by her if I happen to see in the stores. Her writing was nice, neat and sweet and the sex scenes she wrote were HAWT

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing I don’t usually hold on to categories

Anything else? I don’t know if this was the first in the series or not but it was good enough to be a stand alone.