REVIEW: "Tiger Boys" by Linda Gayle

Title: Tiger Boys
Author: Linda Gayle
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 230 pages

Grade: A


BLURB:

Grad student Jules has always felt different. He’s got buddies, sure, but relationships make him turn tail and run. Dreams of tigers and memories of a mysterious great-grandmother make him wonder if there’s something his parents aren’t telling him. When an unexpected inheritance offers clues to Jules’s destiny, he’s intrigued, to say the least. It doesn’t hurt that the news is delivered by a sexy Russian who seems to know Jules better than he knows himself.

A prince of a powerful tiger clan, Sergei Sidorenko wants to live as an ordinary man. But his family nags him to take his place as king. They offer him a deal: teach the lost prince Julian how to shape-shift and control his untapped sorcerous talent. Then Jules will be king, and war between the once-rival clans will be avoided. Most importantly, Sergei will be released from clan obligations forever. It sounds like an easy out. But Sergei doesn’t count on Jules being so temptingly innocent, so eager to learn. Lessons in sorcery turn to lessons in love. And Sergei falls hard for Jules.

Dark clouds gather over the tiger clans. In a bid to seize power, Jules’s ambitious older brother, Anton, works on the key to immortality. And he needs Jules’s flesh and blood to finish the spell. Tangled in Anton’s machinations, with a traitor in their midst, Jules and Sergei must fight for their lives—and for the love that destiny would deny them.


MY REVIEW

One of my Top Five Paranormal Books of 2013 was Linda Gayle's A Shadow of Wings, which I gave 5 stars (A+) review here and on Reviews by Jessewave. So, I was very happy to see that the author had published another M/M book with Tiger Boys. Now, it isn't a sequel to A Shadow of Wings, but introduces another fascinating shifter universe, one with magical Russian tigers!

As with every book I've read by Ms. Gayle, she is able to weave incredible original world building along with a steamy romance that knocks my socks off and makes me beg for more. In Tiger Boys, she gives us Sergei and Jules, two men who should be enemies because of their family backgrounds, but who instead come together in a quest to save their lineage from a ruthless villain (namely Jules' brother). Add in complex secondary characters like Sergei's sister and Jules' parents and you have a great read. But the thing I loved best about Tiger Boys was the chemistry between Jules and Sergei. The slow build-up to their coming together is not to be missed and when you add the magical/paranormal elements of the novel, you will be rooting for Sergei and Jules' happy ending.

Because I read so many paranormal books when I find one that resonates with me, I want to shout about it from the rooftops and I can with Tigers Boys. Highly recommended!


P.S. If you haven't read A Shadow of Wings, run out and buy it. It is only .99 on Amazon right now! BUY LINK.

Review: Pretty Poison by Kari Gregg

Title: Pretty Poison
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 160 pages

Grade: A


BLURB:

Deadly poison…or exquisite cure?

Noah fell from an eighth story balcony as a toddler, cracking open his skull and shattering his body. The accident would’ve killed a human, but even shifter blood can’t heal some damage. After the pack recommended a mercy killing, Noah’s family ran. But there’s no outrunning the mating pact formed before Noah’s birth.

Wade, the new alpha, chooses an adult Noah to fulfill the pact. Wade believes the previous alpha was a fool to reject Noah as a weak and inferior wolf, but Noah’s family was wrong to hide him and starve his wolf, too. Human doctors with human medicines are poison to shifter physiology. Now that Noah is fully grown, halting his shift to retain the pins, plates, and bars holding him together hurts rather than helps him, and for Wade, more than Noah’s recovery is at stake.

Noah’s family sacrificed everything to keep him alive. Noah will do whatever it takes to save them—including mate with the alpha who is determined to correct past mistakes and defeat old prejudices contaminating the shifter community.

Too bad some still believe Noah is the true poison…and should be culled from the pack for good.


MY REVIEW

There are two things I can expect from a Kari Gregg novel: hot sex and various characters who have ulterior motives. That is exactly what you get in Pretty Poison, Gregg’s newest shifter book. The reader is introduced to Noah, a disabled shifter who lives with his family on the outskirts of a pack. Enter Wade, the pack’s Alpha who comes to Noah’s family and demands they honor a contract of marriage made years before. Since Noah’s sister ran off and married a human, Wade picks from the remaining brothers for his “bride.” And to everyone’s surprise he chooses Noah as his mate. Noah’s not happy but goes along with the proposal because if he refuses Wade could have his entire family killed. What ensues is a turbulent and rather sweet love story as Noah and Wade learn to love each other and made changes to their pack.

Since I read about 90% paranormal books these days, it takes a really good shifter book to make me sit up and take notice. What I loved about Pretty Poison was that we finally get a disabled shifter character, whose serious injuries do not automatically heal. Noah walks with crutches and his disability has made him a liability to his old pack, they even suggested a “mercy” killing, which is why the family removed themselves from that pack. Any type of disabilities are rare in M/M books, more especially more rare in paranormal books. I thought the author handled Noah’s limitations and his eventual semi-recovery in a very unique manner.

The second best thing about Pretty Poison is the scorching hot sex scenes. K.A. Mitchell, look out for Ms. Gregg! Wow. Wade and Noah burn up the sheets and cement their bond their many, many sexy scenes. Those readers looking for a “is-it-hot-in-here?” novel will not be disappointed.

The third item I enjoyed were the secondary characters. We have strong female characters, a great beta character and the dynamic of the pack is explored very well in my opinion. My only complaint and why I did not give this 5 stars was I felt there should have been one more extra scene between Noah and Wade — like a date — that didn’t involve sex. There were some very sweet moments between the two men, but I felt more would have rounded out the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it all the paranormal fans out there. It has something different that I think most M/M readers would like.

Originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave

Guest Author Kari Gregg: Marry, Shag, Cliff?

Marry, Shag of Cliff?

The game is Marry, Shag, or Kill/Cliff. If you haven’t heard of it before, you pick a character that you would marry (steady job, handy around the house, doesn’t leave the toilet seat up, etc), a hero you would shag (not talking about carpet, dudes), and the character you would toss over a cliff. Then climb down said cliff to drag the corpse back up and toss him over again. Well, maybe not that last part, but whatever, you get what I mean.

Looking at my backlist, which of my heroes would I marry? That’s hard for me to decide. David in Collared has a nice job. CEO. La dee dah. Any financial woes would be over, right? Except in that world, Connor would’ve been doing most (if not all) of the housework and while I might enjoy cooking...no. Cal in I Omega is a CEO too, but oh hell no. I’m going to have to go with Zachary from In the Red. He’s no CEO, but he’s steady, nurturing, protective and he actually touched a dirty dish in that book. Be still my heart. My hero!

Shag? I guess all of them wouldn’t be a good answer. If I’m not in lust with those heroes, logical that my readers wouldn’t be either so it’s very true that every single one of my characters turn my crank for one reason or another . Or many others. The right hero has to be smexy, of course. RAWR! But also capable. Smart. Adaptable. And for that, it’s got to be Shane from the pornocats. Er...I mean An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt, my new one this week at Loose Id. That man has got it going on, the whole package. He shows great survival skills in the first chapter of that story and if you make it through chapter two without wanting to jump him (or jumping on your Significant Other), you’re a stronger woman than me. Woo boy.

Funnily enough, which of my heroes I’d toss over a cliff is easy – Cal in I Omega. Don’t get me wrong. I love him. I love all my characters, warts and all. I like flawed characters, but some of my characters go above and beyond the call of duty. Cal basically rules that field. He’s strong, confident, a good leader for his pack, and an aggressive lover. But he’s also a jerk. The man does not talk to Gabriel and leaves him to flounder to find his way. JERK. He’s perfect for Gabriel, mind, but I’m about as submissive as a lobbed brick. No, no, no. Off the cliff you go, buh bye.

So...Now it’s YOUR turn! To celebrate the release of An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt (*ahem*...pornocats...*cough*), this contest’s for you. Marry, Shag, and Cliff – which of the heroes from my backlist would you choose for each? 

Leave a comment below with your email and your answers for who you’d marry, shag or cliff to be entered into a random drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card. And thanks for playing along! 

* * *

 Blurb from An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt:

On Mariket, the strongest competitors win...by losing.

Narone native and former heir of Class II shipbuilder Denbo-West Industries, Shane West surrendered his perilous birthright to compete in the Hunt and tried his luck with the lusty cats of Mariket. Shane's mastery of survival craft in the untamed forest made him an early favorite among gamblers, fans, and arena officials. When he lured a cat into an arousing chase the first night, mating with Lore to become the season's first victor seemed guaranteed.

Then news from Arena 4 slowed to a trickle. Rumors emerged about cats who'd gone feral as well as shocking breaches in security. Unconfirmed reports of assassins and rogue predators circulated before offworld communications screeched to a halt.

In this unprecedented glimpse inside the arena, Shane peels back the veil of secrecy. What does it take to tempt a sexy cat? How does being marked as prey by a feline lover feel? Experience the wanton pleasures of the heat with Shane and his mysterious mate--and discover which of last season's scandalous rumors are true.

Run, pounce, fuck.

Mate?

Welcome to the Hunt.


CONTEST CLOSED.

Review: Something New Under the Sun by LA Witt

Title: Something New Under the Sun (Falling Skies #2)
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Length: 221 pages

Grade: A


BLURB

Liam Lansing is heir to a prominent family of bio-modified vampires. That is, until he chooses the wrong lover and is cast down to the Gutter to scrape for his life.

Daniel Harding is heir to Cybernetix and a prince of the corporate Sky. That is, until his ideology drives his father to put a price on his head, forcing him into the Gutter.

But Daniel and Liam won’t vanish meekly into the smog. Together, they plan to rip open the hidden corruption that runs the Sky—for vengeance, for justice, and for hope. They strike against the corporations in a daring raid. When everything goes wrong, Daniel must betray his core beliefs to save the man he loves and protect his dangerous secret. Only through courage in the face of death—or worse—might he and Liam change the world they live in and create something new under the sun.


MY REVIEW

I absolutely loved LA Witt’s A Chip In His Shoulder, it was my first and only 5 star book review Reviews by Jessewave. So, I was overjoyed when I found out a sequel would be released this year, and LA Witt has not disappointed. As with the first book, Ms. Witt has created a unique world where the elite live in the “Sky,” and the down-trodden live in the “Gutter.” While both protagonists come from the Sky as privledged men of power, vampire Liam Lansing was thrown into the Gutter for falling in love with a mod-hating human, Daniel Harding. Liam did what he had to do to survive, including whoring himself out and finally becoming an assassin. The first book started with Liam taking a contract to kill his former lover, Daniel; but when he sees Daniel again, that plan changes. Now, in this installment, Liam and Daniel are back together and determined to fight the powerful men in the Sky to bring reform to their world, even if it costs them their lives.

As I stated in my review of A Chip In His Shoulder, I adored the world building in these novels. It’s a cross between Cyperpunk and a dystopian society where the have and have-nots are clearly defined. Add in some vampires, reunited lovers, an underground rebellion and you have the makings of a great book. Personally, I think this book would also make a great sci-fi movie too, as the action was like a roller coaster with so many unexpected turns and twists that I was hooked from the get-go.

The only reason I did not give this version 5 stars also was because I found the romance angle to be lacking. Basically, I read romance books for the romance. So, if readers are looking for a M/M romance book with sci-fi elements, then Something New Under the Sun might not be your cup of tea. While the romance between Liam and Daniel is there, it takes a back-seat to the sci-fi plot. But, for readers who like a little paranormal/fantasy twist in their M/M books and are not looking for overt romance, then this will be right up your alley. The action is non-stop – reminded me of the 1930′s serial movies that had jaw-dropping cliffhangers and you waited with baited breath for the next installment – and the writing top-notch.

So, if you love a good science fiction/fantasy novel with a tight plot, great characterizations and a sub-plot that has the main protagonists as gay lovers…then this is your book.

Recommended.


Originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave