Timing and After the Sunset #HAHAT

Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Ladies and gentlemen - readers of all ages....Guilty Indulgence Book Club is pleased to participate once again in the annual Hop Against Homophobia And Transphobia (#HAHAT for those social media savvy) Last year we reviewed some great books and paid tribute to a beautiful author who left us too soon.  This year we look forward to bringing more great authors, stories and romances to our Indulgent readers.  

While our book club has that modern mix of women and men, straight and gay, our focus has always been on romance and Love in all its forms.  One of the most important aspects of Love has to be it's connection to Hope. For those who have Love, who love and are, in turn, loved, Hope resides in the heart and mind.  Hope allows one to celebrate the good times and weather the bad ones. Hope allows one to succeed and to fight and to give others Hope.   For many GLBTQ youth, Hope is hard to find.   It is our greatest wish that all who read these reviews this week take the time to spread the message of Hope at all times.  Be the message to our diverse youth population that fear, hatred and intolerance are not acceptable.  Help us spread the message that it does get better, there will be equality, they are accepted and give them Hope!  

Please feel free to click on the following links for other ways to get involved:

Day Against Homophobia     The Trevor Project      NOH8      GLBT National Help Center

 It Gets Better Project      Human Rights Campaign       Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

PFLAG    

And by all means, stick around for the next ten days during the Hop Against Homophobia - make a comment on the Guilty Indulgence blog site daily for chances to win great reads and find new and fabulous authors!  And then, jump back on the Hop main page to visit each and every site for more chances at prizes, hear stories, read reviews and much, much more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now for the good stuff:

Timing, Mary Calmes, Dreamspinner Press
Timing #1
Stefan Joss just can't win. Not only does he have to go to Texas in the middle of summer to be the man of honor in his best friend Charlotte's wedding, but he's expected to negotiate a million-dollar business deal at the same time. Worst of all, he's thrown for a loop when he arrives to see the one man Charlotte promised wouldn't be there: her brother, Rand Holloway. Stefan and Rand have been mortal enemies since the day they met, so Stefan is shocked when a temporary cease-fire sees the usual hostility replaced by instant chemistry. Though leery of the unexpected feelings, Stefan is swayed by a sincere revelation from Rand, and he decides to give Rand a chance. But their budding romance is threatened when Stefan's business deal goes wrong: the owner of the last ranch he needs to secure for the company is murdered. Stefan's in for the surprise of his life as he finds himself in danger as well.

After the Sunset, Mary Calmes, Dreamspinner Press

Timing #2

Two years after riding off into the sunset with ranch owner Rand Holloway, Stefan Joss has made a tentative peace with his new life, teaching at a community college. But the course of true love never does run smooth. Rand wants him home on the ranch; Stef wants an exit strategy in case Rand ever decides to throw him out. Finally, after recognizing how unfair he's being, Stef makes a commitment, and Rand is over the moon.

When Stef gets the chance to prove his devotion, he doesn’t hesitate—despite the risk to his health—and Rand takes the opportunity to show everyone that sometimes life’s best surprises come after the sunset.

Hello everyone and welcome to a wonderful week of review. This past few weeks I took some time to go through my big pile of will read when I get a chance books and pick out some authors that I haven’t read before. I have been holding on to these two books for quite a while. You know what I’m talking about. I have tendency to buy a bunch of books at a time and then forget that I haven’t downloaded them into my IPAD or I download them but then get sidetracked (OK so anyone that knows me knows I can wonder more than a little bit) so the pile is rather large. So here is an author I have heard great things about, Mary Calmes! OK – I pick you to read!!!

If you love to read gay romance then chances are you have read these two books. I loved them so much that I actually went back and read them again just to see what I missed the first time and the second read was just as good. Mary’s description of the ranch, our two main character, and even all the secondary character is AMAZING! You actually see the story while you’re reading it and to me there is no higher praise then that. Here are two perfect men – both gorgeous – women falling all over them and on the outside everyone thinks they have all the answers to solve everyone’s problems. But… when you start reading you realize that they are just like everyone else. They have fears and insecurities and remorse of lost chances because in life you don’t get to go back in time and have do-overs. Timing is everything. You know that Rand and Stef make it but like all couples they still have to work through stuff. Don’t worry the books are anything boring or sad in fact their arguing will make you laugh. Stef has a way of wanting to save the world or at least everyone that he meets and Rand is your stay at home realist. Their personalities don’t change as the books evolve.

We all have books that are our comfort books. The ones you don’t delete and you go back to read again and again when you need a pick me up or you just want to relax and smile. This is that type of a book! My only complaint is that I wanted a book three. By the end of the second book our two men finally settle down and Rand is planning for kids. I WANT THE WEDDING AND THE KIDS PLEASSSEEEE. Oh please Mary give it to me. I feel so incomplete without it. These two books are worthy of 5 chocolate dipped strawberries. If you haven’t read them yet then you are missing out! Her writing is amazing. Great plot – meaningful intimacy – happy ever after. A keeper!

Into the River I Drown #HAHAT

Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Ladies and gentlemen - readers of all ages....Guilty Indulgence Book Club is pleased to participate once again in the annual Hop Against Homophobia And Transphobia (#HAHAT for those social media savvy) Last year we reviewed some great books and paid tribute to a beautiful author who left us too soon.  This year we look forward to bringing more great authors, stories and romances to our Indulgent readers.  

While our book club has that modern mix of women and men, straight and gay, our focus has always been on romance and Love in all its forms.  One of the most important aspects of Love has to be it's connection to Hope. For those who have Love, who love and are, in turn, loved, Hope resides in the heart and mind.  Hope allows one to celebrate the good times and weather the bad ones. Hope allows one to succeed and to fight and to give others Hope.   For many GLBTQ youth, Hope is hard to find.   It is our greatest wish that all who read these reviews this week take the time to spread the message of Hope at all times.  Be the message to our diverse youth population that fear, hatred and intolerance are not acceptable.  Help us spread the message that it does get better, there will be equality, they are accepted and give them Hope!  

Please feel free to click on the following links for other ways to get involved:

Day Against Homophobia     The Trevor Project      NOH8      GLBT National Help Center

 It Gets Better Project      Human Rights Campaign       Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

PFLAG    

And by all means, stick around for the next ten days during the Hop Against Homophobia - make a comment on the Guilty Indulgence blog site daily for chances to win great reads and find new and fabulous authors!  And then, jump back on the Hop main page to visit each and every site for more chances at prizes, hear stories, read reviews and much, much more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now for the good stuff:

Into This Rive I Drown, TJ Klune, Dreamspinner Press
At once an exploration of grief and faith, Into This River I Drown is one man's journey into the secrets of his father and discovering the strength to believe in the impossible.

Five years ago, Benji Green lost his beloved father, Big Eddie, who drowned when his truck crashed into a river. All called it an accident, but Benji thought it more. However, even years later, he is buried deep in his grief, throwing himself into taking over Big Eddie's convenience store in the small town of Roseland, Oregon. Surrounded by his mother and three aunts, he lives day by day, struggling to keep his head above water.

But Roseland is no ordinary place.

With ever-increasing dreams of his father's death and waking visions of feathers on the surface of a river, Benji's definition of reality is starting to bend. He thinks himself haunted, but whether by ghosts or memories, he can no longer tell. It's not until the impossible happens and a man falls from the sky and leaves the burning imprint of wings on the ground that he begins to understand that the world around him is more mysterious than he could have possibly imagined. It's also more dangerous, as forces beyond anyone's control are descending on Roseland, revealing long hidden truths about friends, family, and the man named Calliel who Benji is finding he can no longer live without.

Good LORD! Y’all know that I’m a huge TJ Klune fan and this book did everything to make me more of a fan. I grew up in a deeply religious household and still hold on to a lot of those values. There is a line somewhere in the Bible (forgive me for being a terrible Preachers Kid and not knowing where off the top of my head) that says that we “entertain Angels unaware”… Never has that been more true than with Benji. He’s floating through life after his father’s death, barely able to live day to day, yet something keeps him going. Once that “something” appears in his life, everything changes. I’m not going to ruin the book by telling you everything, but suffice it to say that you NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. It brought into stark relief for me my own relationship with God and what and who I believe in. I’m thankful for those small reminders TJ, truly. “Into This River I Drown” will rock you to the core of your beliefs and make you think, but it also will do what TJ does so well and that is make you FEEL! 4.5 ooey gooey strawberries dipped in chocolate for TJ Klune and “Into This River I Drown” and a job VERY well done Sir.

Small Footnote: I get to visit the real “Roseland” this summer in Oregon. So cool!

This book was give to us by Dreamspinner Press, many thanks!

Fantastic Ride Friday #HAHAT

Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Ladies and gentlemen - readers of all ages....Guilty Indulgence Book Club is pleased to participate once again in the annual Hop Against Homophobia And Transphobia (#HAHAT for those social media savvy,) Last year we reviewed some great books and paid tribute to a beautiful author who left us too soon.  This year we look forward to bringing more great authors, stories and romances to our Indulgent readers.  

While our book club has that modern mix of women and men, straight and gay, our focus has always been on romance and Love in all its forms.  One of the most important aspects of Love has to be it's connection to Hope. For those who have Love, who love and are, in turn, loved, Hope resides in the heart and mind.  Hope allows one to celebrate the good times and weather the bad ones. Hope allows one to succeed and to fight and to give others Hope.   For many GLBTQ youth, Hope is hard to find.   It is our greatest wish that all who read these reviews this week take the time to spread the message of Hope at all times.  Be the message to our diverse youth population that fear, hatred and intolerance are not acceptable.  Help us spread the message that it does get better, there will be equality, they are accepted and give them Hope!  

Get started today, May 17th - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia!  

Please feel free to click on the following links for other ways to get involved:

Day Against Homophobia     The Trevor Project      NOH8      GLBT National Help Center

 It Gets Better Project      Human Rights Campaign       Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

PFLAG    

And by all means, stick around for the next ten days during the Hop Against Homophobia - make a comment on the Guilty Indulgence blog site daily for chances to win great reads and find new and fabulous authors!  And then, jump back on the Hop main page to visit each and every site for more chances at prizes, hear stories, read reviews and much, much more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now for the good stuff:

A Wild Ride by Andrew Grey

Dante Rivers just lost the rodeo by two one hundredths of a point: he’s frustrated as hell, needs to get laid, and he knows just where to go. That night he meets Ryan Abbott and catches his eye—Ryan watched the rodeo and is still riding high on the rush. The chemistry between them ignites, but Dante, unable to deal with complications, leaves while Ryan’s asleep.

Ryan figures he’ll never see Dante again, but they’re fatefully reunited when Dante’s grandfather, Hy, hires Ryan to help straighten out some old investments. The attraction between Ryan and Dante still sizzles. Sex slowly turns to more, but obstacles abound: Hy’s failing health, Dante’s homophobic sponsor, an attack on Ryan, and Dante’s own struggle with his identity. Any one thing would be enough to separate them permanently… unless they both decide to hang on for the wild ride.



Andrew, Andrew how I love thee.... I adored this book and as usual I'm the backward blogger loving stuff for all the ODD reasons. I loved Dante and Ryan's relationship journey. I can totally connect with Dante feeling like he needs to be strong and take care of things himself and I can relate to Ryan needing to be in control. I've been told a time or two that I MIGHT be a control freak but those people don't know what they are talking about and they are probably talking out of turn anyways. But what got me loving this book was Dante's relationship with his Gramps Hy. I think Hy is the star of the show. He has to talk some sense into those two boneheads so they don't mess up the best thing that has ever happened to both of them. Most parent don't know their own children as well as Hy knows Dante. He puts the pieces together and can see the chemistry between Dante and Ryan. Hy also has a heart of gold. It takes a selfless man to put his own needs/wants aside and do what he thinks is right to take the burden off of others. Ryan also gets a gold star for stepping in and caring for Hy in his later days. This story also reminds me that maybe I need to visit more rodeo events. Never know what I might find:) I can trade my Nine West boots in on a pair of cowboy ones!

I give this book 4 chocolate dipped strawberries and tickets to the rodeo FOR ME!!!
PEACE

Denying Yourself by Silvia Violet

Denying Yourself by Silvia Violet
Matt and Shane both have secrets. Matt never believed he was anything but straight, yet he’s increasingly attracted to his best friend. Shane is comfortable with being gay, but when he discovers he’s part werewolf, he hides that part of himself, fearing Matt’s reaction. Suffocated by his uptight parents and conservative hometown, Shane begs Matt to run away with him.

But starting over doesn’t help. Matt still denies his desires, and Shane abuses alcohol to dampen his wolfish urges. When Matt breaks down and kisses Shane, the pent-up passion proves too much for Shane’s self-control, and his wolf gets free. Horrified, Shane flees—into deeper trouble. Before they can hope to accept each other, Shane and Matt must accept themselves.


REVIEW:
I knew as soon as I saw the cover for this book that I had to read it. I just didn't know it was going to break my heart. I don't know that I have read a character that needed to be loved like Shane did.

Shane is adopted and has never really felt a part of anything...and this was before he told his parents he was gay. Moving to a small town and refusing to hide his sexuality didn't help his feeling of loneliness, until he meets Matt.

Matt is one of the good guys and his friendship with Shane means everything to both boys. Matt is as far in the closet as Shane is out but that doesn't diminish the bond that the two share.

When Shane shifts in the middle of an argument with his parents and realizes that they never told him he might be a shifter he decides to leave but he knows he can't make it without Matt. When Matt agrees to leave Shane is sure that Matt is finally ready to admit he has feelings for him. When that doesn't happen things start to spiral out of control for Shane.

The self destructive actions that Shane takes to try and not only numb that pain of rejection but to also try and control his wolf are intense. While both boys are struggling with accepting their identities Shane's actions are much more damaging.

This book may be a  paranormal but the feelings of self loathing and denial not to mention the addictive personality traits are very real. Shane could be any teen today struggling, looking for approval and love.

This is an emotionally intense story about self acceptance.



BUY LINKS
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  This book was given to us by Dreamspinner Press. Many thanks.

All my favorites tied up in a little bow....new Bella Andre!

If you read our feature for Valentine's Day featuring our all time favorite love stories then you'll know that my favorite story is from the Hot Shot Series by Bella Andre.  I thought it would be next to impossible for her to top that story but she has yet again surprised me with her clever, fresh story that rounds out the first eight siblings featured in her Sullivan series.

In this installment it is Lori's turn - aka Naughty.  She has made many teaser appearances throughout the series letting us know that she has a boyfriend and it hasn't always been a great relationship, certainly one that her brothers would not approve of and one that her twin is urging her to end before the brothers find out about it.  The story opens with her having done just that, but in true Lori fashion she doesn't do anything by halves.  In finding out that her boyfriend is cheating on her and has used her to grow his own career, she walks away from it all - him, her career, her identity, her very life.  She flies home but instead of going home she rents a car at the airport and asks the attendant where she should go.  When the attendant smiles and says that her favorite getaway is Pescadero, CA Lori sets off not caring about anything but getting away and starting over without having to face her family.  She can't face her old life, as it feels as if her ex has tainted it and taken all the joy she felt from being a dancer.  Unsure what to do with herself since dancing is all she has ever done and ever wanted to do she is beyond lost.  Completely unaware, due to her state of mind, that she is still wearing her stage costume she arrives in the quiet rural farming town.  Stoping for a snack at the general store, she finds a ad for a farm hand and thinks....why not - could be fun.

Grayson has fled to this part of California and become a farmer because it was as far away from his previous New York executive life as he could get.  After his marriage to his college sweetheart turned bitter and ended tragically with her dying in a car crash, he has not been able to get over the guilt that he feels in allowing things to get that bad.  Fleeing town, buying a ranch and working non-stop to turn it into a fresh start has been his focus for three years.  He has worked tirelessly to shut out the world and close down his heart so he doesn't have to think beyond what needs to be done now. Until - Lori shows up in her stage outfit telling him she wants to be his new Farm Hand.

From the moment they meet they both feel the chemistry but neither of them want it.  Lori wants a job. Grayson needs help but doesn't think she is capable. Simple. But Lori has never allowed herself to fail or take no for an answer - ever.  So when he tells her to prove it she sets out in 4 inch dancing heels and spandex to try to round up the chickens.  Once successful - he challenges her again - and once again in her revealing outfit she sets out and does a perfect job cleaning the house.  The only problem is now that she has earned the job there isn't anywhere for her to stay in the small town other then in his house!  And so their journey begins.

They both have a ton of healing and emotions to work through.  The farm proves to be a playground for Lori.  Having loved as a child to garden and play in the mud, she surprises Grayson by not shying away from the pigs, chickens, weeding, etc.  And then further surprises him by standing up to him and not letting his gruff, cold personality push her away.  Her constant push backs begin to break down his walls as nothing else could and eventually they begin to heal each other and the chemistry that was there from the first moment they saw each other starts to become to much to continue to ignore.

There is simply nothing sexier then a dancing, horseback riding cowboy.  As they continue to be thrust together in magical scenes - him whisking her away on horseback as a storm rolls in leaving them soaked and feeling the adrenaline rush of being chased by lighting; his tender, strong arms around her as he spins her around in a perfect waltz at a barn dance giving her back her passion for dancing - they both come to realize that what they have is not a fleeting case of lust and they gingerly let the dance become more.

This story is...wow!  Lori is strong and amazing.  She has been kicked down in every possible way at the start of the story but instead of feeling sorry for herself she picks a new path and could care less if it makes sense or how difficult it might be.  She embraces the challenge and finds the fun in even the must yucky of tasks....to the point where she makes cleaning up a pig pen sound like a fun way to spend the day.  Grayson - well he is ornery.  But that is what makes him so charming.  As a man of few words, when he does speak it is honest and when he speaks from the heart there is no doubting that he means it.  Their journey is one of true ever lasting love built on a rock solid foundation of mutual respect and admiration. The scenery of the ranch adds a magical background - from the rolling farm land to the crashing waves of the beach - they are surrounded by energy and magic.  Add to that the farm animals that become Lori's friends, of sorts, and the story becomes a well rounded tale of family and love. This is a must read.  This could stand alone but I would recommend reading the whole series.

RATING: FIVE Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

 This book was given to us by Bella Andre for a unbiased review. Many thanks