Looking for It by Michael Thomas Ford

Looking for It by Michael Thomas Ford
Stars: 4/5

Overall:
As we follow the stories of six men whose lives weave together in a small New York town, we are shown the good, the difficulties, and the heartbreak of relationships. We are given a gamut of men, with those who are looking for love, those who have given up hope of finding someone, those who are in denial about their sexuality, those in a committed relationship and those who have lost their partner and struggling to return to "the scene" as an old man.

The accounts are sometimes amusing, sometimes heart wrenching, and sometimes tender. As their tales unfold, the stories of these men is the story of us all--searching for love, struggling to deeply understand another person, and trying to find our own place, whether its in our own self-worth or how society views us.

The two stories that moved me the most was those of Stephen, who is single, mostly comfortable with his sexuality, but feels incapable of forming a relationship with another man; and Thomas and Mike, who form a bond that just warmed me. No matter the angle Ford took to view these men and their relationships, he did a thorough job of exploring the complex dynamics involved. They are all touching and delightful.

A word of warning, there is some violence (gay-bashing) described in some detail and through the perspective of the perpetrator. Also, if you are uncomfortable with the word "fag/faggot," be warned that it is used by this same man often.

Liquid Glass by Zathyn Priest

Liquid Glass by Zathyn Priest
Stars: 2.5/5

Overall:
True love. Soul mates. Whatever you want to call it, Priest has it stretch across time and existence. I didn't really know what I was getting into when I started reading this story; in fact, I had some very wrong assumptions (which, after reading the description of the book, I'm not sure where they came from). We are given a ghost story in the barest sense that it involves ghosts and the past, but more importantly it involves true love which struggles through the ages to finally be happy together. While I didn't suffer while reading it, I wasn't captivated either. I'll probably give the author another chance, since I enjoyed one of his short stories.

What I liked
Story. The overall arch of the story was pretty interesting once they got into it and the action started happening. The flashbacks did an excellent job of explaining what was happening without further exposition (see What didn't work). Although it wasn't an intense story, it was "creepy" enough for it's ghost-story-like charms.

Characters. Most of the characters were enjoyable and complimented one another well.

True love. I'm a giant sucker for the idea of true love and soul mates, so this novel pushed that button hard. I really enjoyed the soul mates once they came together because they didn't completely lose their own identity. (Completely, see What didn't work.)

What didn't work
Over explaining. This problem mostly comes to head when Trudy is narrating. While she is the most knowledgeable about psychic abilities, she also tells the reader too much. While she has an important role plot wise, I'd rather if the author didn't use her as an unnecessary crutch to tell the reader things...things that we didn't really need to know in the first place. This is seen most clearly toward the end of the novel in the falling action when she pretty much tells all. In monologue. I felt like the author was trying to justify his own story when he didn't need to--I followed along with him until then.

Character loop hole. Cameron is frugal, a penny pincher, what have you. But as soon as his true love arrives, he's willing to blow massive amounts of money on him. I can't buy it. Yes, love makes you do crazy things, but love also rarely changes deep-seated behavior traits like that. It felt horribly out of character for him.

Construction. The story didn't grab me right off the bat, which I find to be a failing of any story/novel. Why should I continue if I'm barely interested? I realize some stories take time to build into a complex weave (and this one did have a fair amount of weave to work with), I still needed to be pulled in quicker than I was. Mostly the first few chapters left me annoyed, although it didn't help Malcom and Trudy initially led the story, and they were my least two favorite characters.

The Telling by Eden Winters

The Telling by Eden Winters
Stars: 4/5

Overall:
A well-paced, unfolding story of a war veteran trying to overcome his demons and discover who he is, and the young man who helps guide him on his journey. Everything felt realistic and tasteful while dealing with difficult topics. The bedroom scenes were well written and appropriate for Michael's state of mind, a matter Winters always kept in mind.

What I liked
Emotions. If Jay hadn't had a long-standing crush on Michael's picture, then the relationship between the two men would never have worked. Because he did, his feelings and actions were more believable, cementing a support system for Michael.

Struggles. I enjoyed their small miscommunications/misunderstandings in the beginning that caused a little strife but didn't linger. As the story developed, so did the problems, most of them resulting from Michael's innerself, but also realistic things like coming out and Jay's looming graduation.

Moments. Michael isn't completely broken, but he's not completely stable either. Winters did an excellent job of keeping the balance by using little moments (like when he wakes in the morning) to show the random terror he feels in life. He also experiences larger fears (being outside in the open), which are continued as bigger issues that become hurdles for him to overcome.

What didn't work
Pathos. While I liked the characters, there was no real depth of plot to make me extremely attached to them. When something happened to one, I felt a twinge of sadness, but not much else. I don't think this is necessarily a terrible thing, but it is the weakest point of the novel.

Fair Game by Josh Lanyon

Fair Game by Josh Lanyon
Stars: 5/5

Overall:
I don't do suspense novels, or murder mysteries, or the likes. I read this because it had men kissing men, and I wanted to try out some of the author's stuff. And...I think I'm in love! That may be an exaggeration, but I did, thoroughly, enjoy this novel. If you want action, suspense, romance and/or hot sex scenes (not all at once), then definitely give this book a try. I just finished reading it, and I want to start all over again.

What worked
If I say "everything" you won't believe me, but nothing really let me down. Still, there were strengths.

Plot. Although romance is a strong theme in this book, it wasn't the overwhelming focus, and I think that's what really drew me in. If you're looking for a book full of mushy love scenes, this isn't it. If you're looking for a story where the man gets his man while saving the world (so to speak), then pick this up. The plot developed slowly and carefully without lagging or rushing while giving just as many misleads to the reader while still making it just as possible for the reader to figure it out (sorta). Everything feels realistic and tastefully gritty.

Characters. All the characters were deep and multifaceted. Elliot was easy to relate to without being too soft; he wasn't perfect (none of the characters were, refreshingly), but he was strong (and a little stubborn). Tucker (the love interest) was tough and rescued Elliot but began to show a soft side to balance out his FBI exterior. Plus all the supporting cast played their parts well, mixing up the plot until you're not sure who the killer is.

What I didn't like
Only two problems..
...actually, as I typed out the two problems, they sort of resolved themselves for me. One was limitations of our narrator, that we never understood where Tucker was coming from, which clouded some ability to believe for me, but is excusable. The other, involving the killer and a victim, made me question why, but I was able to reconcile that as well, after consideration.

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford
Stars: 3/5

Overall:
A good story with a easy to get along with narrator. Although there are few surprises on the content, the way it's revealed is worth reading. One reviewer compared the novel to Girl, Interrupted, which feels like a pretty good assessment (It's been a while since I've watched that movie).

What I liked
Characters: While our leading man is struggling to deny he belongs in the mental ward, he doesn't shut down completely. We learn more about him through his interactions with others than what he actually tells us, which feels appropriate for the character and his situation. I enjoy his judgment of others and how he connects with each of them (for better or worse). All the characters were fun and individual, playing into stereotypes just as often as they fought them. Also, I loved his sister.

What didn't work
Originality. The story, as I mentioned, was very similar to Girl, Interrupted, so it wasn't the most refreshingly new angle. It had it's own story and resolution and was unique in some ways, but overall, the story felt "done." It wasn't surprising or peaked my interest in anything else, although I am interested in reading more of Ford's books.

Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley

Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley
Stars: 2.5/5

Overall:
While this is a beautifully written story with several positive points, the ending really sours the entire story for me.

What I liked
Writing. The style is unique and moving, feeling abstract and distant in many cases, which works to illustrate how the main character has become closed off (although the writing style doesn't change as he opens up.

Abuse. The main character's relationship with his father is handled well. The fear is palpable without showing any actual abuse being committed, just threats (which is enough).

What didn't work
The ending. I'm not sure if I'm missing something, I didn't read carefully enough, or it's just the style of the book, but the ending was extremely confusing. I'm not exactly sure what happened, and I'm not certain if I'm supposed to know if certain things happened. I found it frustrating to feel uncertain and confused about the ending.

Boyfriend. We have an obviously limited view of what other people think and feel, but the main characters "boyfriend" had several moments where I really disliked him. He had a girlfriend, he's hot and cold, he's almost cruel in some instances. While I can understand this logically, I never felt his behaviors were satisfactorily explained or defended. It wasn't until the end that he both ruined and redeemed himself.

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant
Stars: 4/5

If you're involved in discussions about politics, religion, ... actually, if you have heated opinions about anything, you should probably give this book a gander. Yes, its focus in God, religion, and christianity, but I think almost anyone can take something from this book.

His goal is to be a mostly silent observer, listening to what people on opposite sides of the line have to say about one another and the idea of the "Culture Wars." Merchant doesn't think he has all the answers, but he's pretty sure God does, and whether you believe or not, the author raises some excellent points about listening and perspective. Oh, and a reminder that we are all human, by the way.

This is a very successful book (in the author's goal, at least) and I'd recommend this to just about anyone who is willing to listen :)

Collision Course by KA Mitchell

Collision Course by K. A. Mitchell
Stars: 4/5

Overall:
A surprisingly fantastic tale. This was a free book on Amazon's Kindle page, so I expected mediocre at best. Instead, I was shockingly surprised. This was one of the longest M/M romance novels I've read (they tend to be shorter) but fed to all the appropriate avenues. It never felt as if it ran too long (although it was never a page turner either).

What I liked
Manly men. Men being men. Thick-headed, denying-emotions men. Joey is more sensitive (he's a social worker), but he is still just as hesitant about sharing his emotions. Aaron, finally free of being responsible for others, is wary of getting into an emotional relationship. Both their behaviors felt natural and testosterone-filled.

Character/relationship development. While "Hello to Bed" was under twenty-four hours, the actual development of their relationship took MANY pages. They had a wonderful ride of ups and downs, each side taking equal responsibility for causing discourse. Because of Aaron's unwillingness to share his emotions, the story is drawn out as Joey tries to get inside his shell and they both begin to realize what they mean to each other.

What didn't work
The reason this didn't get a higher score is because it's not what I'd call great literature. There were no plot, character, or writing issues, but it also wasn't one of those novels where you feel smarter/better/more human for having read.

The plot was also minimal, but this wasn't problematic, as the mundane story seemed befitting since the story was more about character development, which drove it's own sort of plot.

Also, I didn't find this problematic, but some may find Aaron to be an irredeemably character and impossible to read past.

And Is Never Shaken by Alexi Silversmith

And Is Never Shaken by Alexi Silversmith
Stars: 3.5/5

Overall:
An enjoyable tale, if not too brief. The characters are fun and come to the story with interesting history, even if nothing is fully developed. A good story, but needed more development over the six weeks they're dating.

What I liked
Awkward. I love when bedroom (and overall interaction) scenes don't go smoothly. It makes it feel more real. Andy, our PoV, is inexperienced and flustered and it plays out well without ruining the romance (or sexiness) of the moment.

Character Interactions. The conversations were delightful, the small gestures were pleasant. Andy was a fun perspective, because he normally tried not to take things too seriously, but he was obviously motivated by emotions in most things of life.

Overall story line/plot. Not the strongest I've come across, but enjoyable because of our characters.

What didn't work
The speed at which the relationship progressed was rather startling. While the "hello" to Bed speed isn't surprising, the intensity of the relationship was sudden. I understand it was going for a "love at first..err..third sight" but it felt abrupt to me. The story then skips ahead 6 weeks, never really letting us establish their relationship before the big reveal of deep, dark secrets.

My Dog Jack by Habu

My Dog Jack by Habu
Stars: 3/5

Overall:
A pleasant romantic tale starting with the friendship between a man and his father's dog. The story never gets hot and heavy, but it's quaint.

What I liked
Men and Dogs. The men's relationships with their dogs felt honest and true to me. I don't know of any guys who got quite as attached to Jack and mourned like Rick did, but it didn't seem unreasonable either.

Awkward. I liked how they were both attracted to one another and trying to feel each other out without pushing or coming off strong and then making assumptions and being generally human.

What didn't work
The end. It felt a little cheesy and rushed to me. I kept hitting the "next page" button, hoping there was more. I think I could have taken another 20 pages of Rick and Mike and their dogs. I didn't need a sex scene, but everything felt so pleasant, I wanted more. So maybe the shortness of the story is what didn't work.

I Was an Alien Cat Toy by Ann Somerville

I Was an Alien Cat Toy by Ann Somerville
Stars: 4.5/5

Overall:
Wow. Just wow. Although it has a pretty corny/awful title, this book is 99% excellent. The characters are deep, well developed and touching. The plot is just as well developed, thoroughly explored, and amazing. It takes a while to progress from A to B, but the journey was worth every word. The writing was well done, moving me to tears at two separate occasions.

What I liked
Characters and Plot. I'm grouping these together because I could probably rave on and on. The characters weren't perfect, they made mistakes, but they changes and grew and were overall good people (...err..cats?). Aside from the Big Bad, most of the characters had good qualities and bad ones, or good qualities that worked poorly for another person. AKA, they were realistic. They were living, breathing and caring. They didn't leap off the page, they molded the pages into a world that they wandered freely. The plot was just as masterfully constructed, following a natural flow of events and never making characters act outside their appropriate behaviors.

Language. Somerville realized that these two beings would not speak the same language, not have a similar alphabet or any similar grounds. Yet she took the time to have them learn one another's language, developing each element carefully. It was thorough without being boring. I, of course, adored this, but it may be a bit overwhelming for others.

Culture. The world the author created was well developed and alive. Aside from one or two moments where I think the content may have contradicted itself, everything was amazingly detailed and consistent. I give her props for creating a world that is so different from what we've experienced, and then making it feel real.

What didn't work
***SPOILER ALERT***
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***SPOILER ALERT***
The ending. I wasn't particularly happy with it. The way she set things up makes the ending fit and work, but the one loose bolt is that we never really feel connected to Jeng. While we know he is our hero's lover/boyfriend, and he is mentioned periodically throughout the book, the reader never connects with Jeng, never forms a strong emotional bond with him as we have with Gredar. So when Temin chooses to return home with Jeng, we feel betrayed. Of course it is the better choice; he's returning not just to his lover but to his family and a world where he fits in. It still depresses me.

I personally was hoping it was Jeng that had attempted to kill Temin and kept returning to make sure the job was finished. I wanted Temin and Gredar to stay together after finally making it over so many hurdles.

The Wish by Eden Winters

The Wish by Eden Winters
Stars: 3.5/5

Overall:
A touching tale of love and family, of being who you are and not what's expected of you. A story of trust, change and true love.

What I liked
Characters. They were good and likable, even Alex (the player). This story worked because the reader knows there will be a happy ending (we put that trust in the author) and we are not disappointed, bittersweet though it is. We get to watch the characters progress, which is the main focus of the story, and they overcome their challenges.

PoV. The previous Winters book I read (The Angel of Thirteenth Street), I complained that the perspective changed too often and should have stayed with just two characters (and been more evenly distributed among them. This book did the same thing...and yet it worked. What's the difference? Well, I think there were several changes that made it more acceptable. The rotating perspectives are consistent throughout the book, not just popping in halfway through. They also are repeated so that no one voice only appears once. Both of these worked to give the story a wide view without feeling disjointed.

Sex. There are only two sex scenes (that I recall...I wonder if Winters does only 2 per book). But they were good and thorough. And I love the slight awkwardness of two men who both normally top.

What didn't work
If you're looking for an action-packed story, look elsewhere. The plot is mundane (I felt in a good way). Very little happens, but this is supposed to be a realistic story, so I didn't feel like much had to happen.

The Solstice Mistletoe Effect by Serena Yates

The Solstice Mistletoe Effect by Serena Yates
Stars: 2/5

Overall:
The continuing story of Magnus and Lance leads us to Sweden, where Lance struggles with his life choices and the outside forces that don't want them together, while also dealing with a partner who can be a bit dense. Overall, this story improved upon the first, both in character, plot, dialogue, and writing.

What I liked
The emotional challenges faced in this story were more realistic and overarching. It felt true to the story, the characters and the plot. The reactions of the characters felt reasonable and made sense, both emotionally and logically.

The writing improved from the first book.

What didn't work
The characters still seemed too emotional in general. Lance I can excuse the trait, since it is his way, but it feels unnatural in Magnus, who I sometimes have difficulty reading (as in, reading his chapters).

Mistletoe Phenomenon by Serena Yates

Mistletoe Phenomenon by Serena Yates
Stars: 1.5/5

Overall:
While I was enchanted by the premise of the story, overall, it wasn't satisfying. The characters were overly emotional to the point of not feeling real. The story was cute, but left much to be desired.

What I liked
Happy ending. Everything works out and our two men find happiness, which isn't a surprise, really. The story is cute and satisfying in this regard.

Jakob. The young boy (nephew) is fun and adorable. He keeps the story moving and alive, and any forced conversations that involve him feel more natural because he's a child and is more likely to blurt what he's thinking.

There are also moments when I really feel for the characters and I empathize with them, especially Lance. I think he is easiest to relate to and feels like a real character.

What didn't work
Characters. We have two men, one is overly emotional, the other (starts) completely severed from his emotions. Obviously for them to get together emotions are involved, so Magnus learns emotions. Which worked sometimes and not others. He skipped from “no emotions” to “I love you” too quickly to feel realistic. His mental dialogue always felt stifling and awkward, and not because he was dealing with new emotions.

By the end, the phrase “chicks with dicks” comes to mind, which feels unduly harsh, but fitting. These characters are very expressive of their feelings, especially Lance, and have no problems discussing their feelings. I couldn't buy it, but that may be your thing.

Writing. The writing flopped back and forth between being adequate and pretty good, to some very awkward prose and conversation. The writing seemed to solidify better in the second part of the story, so maybe it was just “first book” nerves (unrelated to whether it was her first book).

Life After Joe by Harper Fox

Life After Joe by Harper Fox
Stars: 4/5

Overall:
A touching, highly emotional tale of love, trust, and rebuilding life. Matt's long-time boyfriend and best friend leaves him for the straight life, and Matt falls apart. He's rescued by Aaron, who has some demons of his own, and together it may be possible for them to help each other. Emotionally charged, some may not read these as "manly men," but they read true to me. Some may say the story was "angsty" but it felt like honest pain and suffering to me, a man drowning in having lost all that he knew in life.

What I liked
Honest writing. The prose was well done and neither too heavy nor too much. Considering the story comes from the perspective of a depressed man, things could have gotten out of control. Fox may have toed the line at some points, but overall the reader is shown inside the mind of someone spiraling out of control, but the reader is never forced to deal with too much whining.

Emotions. I enjoyed the overwhelming emotions evoked by the author. Matt makes us feel desperate for love (enough to ignore possible cheating) and so worthless that we understand his need for affection. Aaron becomes his rock, and when that balance is off-kilter, we see that Matt is as strong as Aaron says.

What didn't work
Aaron's background. Without spoiling...Aaron's history felt a little contrived, which could just be the chance meeting of these two men who both have devastating pasts. Aaron is strong through the entire book and the later chapter felt out of character for him, in my opinion. However, in the end, I think the resolution worked out well and what Aaron's history provided to the story was important, so overall, not too bad.