Valentine Wish by Eden Winters

Valentine Wish by Eden Winters
Stars: 2.5/5

Length: 36 pages
Blurb
Isaac Lewis left the gangs behind to remake himself. He’s a street fighter turned gym rat, a thug turned honest man—only his loneliness hasn’t changed.

Success as a restaurateur hasn't erased Thierry Guillaume’s insecurities. Well-padded in a world where looks matter, he’s been grasping at crumbs of affection. Can Isaac convince him he deserves the whole cake?

Overall
A sweet, short tale that is probably just the treat for the February holiday.

Review
A sweet little short that has a good message, but lacks much depth, both for the characters and the plot. I definitely enjoyed this, and I especially liked how it was both a Valentine's story and not solely focused on Valentine's day.

I would have liked to have seen more of Isaac's backstory. We get the major points that are related to the plot, but in some ways the straightforward provision of this information makes it feel less real and more an element that was added to create the story. A more natural reveal, as well as a few more character-building facts about Isaac's previous situation, would have made everything feel more realistic.

Thierry was just the right mix of uncertain, nonaggressive persona and knowledgeable bed partner. They had a nice dynamic and I was happy when they ended up together, but the story lacked any depth that really would have helped me care about the characters and their relationship.

A Lie I Can Live With by Eden Winters

A Lie I Can Live With by Eden Winters
Stars: 3.5/5

Length: 67 pages
Blurb
With a few extra pounds and a geek reputation, Otis Tucker despairs of ever finding someone to share his life with. When the GLBT dating service GetaDate.com matches him with handsome hunk Garret, he thinks it's some kind of joke. But the more he learns of Garret, the more he realizes that even gorgeous people can be taken at face value and that Mr. Perfects come in many different sizes.

Overall
A wonderfully sweet holiday piece that puts you in the lovey-dovey mood, but is more sugar than substance.

Review
The only reason I couldn't give this a perfect 5-star rating was that not much happened. It's a great story to sit down and read in one sitting, and it has all the required tender moments, but it lacks in plot. Aside from Otis's internal struggles, there is no conflict. Which is great for our leading guys, but will leave some readers disappointed.

Despite the lack of conflict, I still enjoyed this. Maybe I associate with Otis too closely (and hey, where's my Garret?), but if you're looking for a laid-back romance, this will probably be your thing. I found Otis to be positively adorable, and hearing their tame exploits as they wooed each other was fun and sweet.

So yes, there isn't much plot, no twist, no real challenge to overcome, but if you need your shot of romance happiness, this will give it to you tenfold.

The Match Before Christmas by Eden Winters

The Match Before Christmas by Eden Winters
Stars: 4/5

Length:
Blurb
Candlelight, mistletoe, gaily wrapped packages beneath a trimmed tree, and someone to share it with. That's all Barry Richards wants for Christmas. Desperate for a traditional holiday, he takes drastic measures. Creating a profile on "GetaDate.com," he hopes to find the perfect man in a matter of weeks. One date after another goes sour, while all around him friends are falling in love, and Barry starts to lose faith. The first snow falls and the world is filled with seasonal cheer, all except for Barry, for whom time is running out. Facing the prospect of a lonely holiday, he tries just once more to make The Match Before Christmas.

Overall
This was a cute little Christmas story that will ring especially true to all the single people reading it. The narrator is funny and a little self-pitying (but who isn't?) as he struggles through date after horrendous date on an online dating service. The men he meets are outrageous but ring true, and his reaction (normally running away as fast as he can) is enough to put a smile on your face. I think my favorite "date" was with "John," who is oddly the second best thing to come out of the dating service.

Definitely going to re-read this right before the holidays, even if the main character does seem to get luckier than me!

Night Watch by Eden Winters

Night Watch by Eden Winters
Stars: 3/5

Overall:
This story probably isn't strong enough to stand alone, although the plot itself is self contained. It's a nice story, but nothing amazing. It is very touching to watch Jay "deal" with Michael's problems and seeing the relationship from his perspective (since Michael would surely say Jay got the raw end of the deal).

What I liked
I felt the story really picked up once Jay actually arrived home. I realize the need for the detour, but that section dragged a little for me (on the other hand, the story would probably feel like it was missing something if it wasn't there). More than the sex (not that I minded that, it was enjoyable!), I liked watching Jay help Michael come out of himself and his memories through the sensory questions, especially when Michael describes Jay's touches on him.

What didn't work
There was one possible plot hole: The story takes place on July 4th, and the fireworks of New Years are referenced, but The Telling takes place in spring, which mean a July 4th would have already passed once.

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.

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.