So I know I've been absent this week from the blog, which usually means someone should send out a search party because I'm such a blogging addict. But as I mentioned last Friday, I'm under the gun with a couple of deadlines and some of the balls have been dropped. However, I have been reading a little lately in between writing because...you know, a girl has to feed the muse, right?
I'd hit a stretch where I was reading a lot of books that just didn't hold my interest, so that's why I haven't mentioned any lately. But over the last few weeks, I've finally hit a hot streak on picking some good ones. And when I find great stories, I can't help but want to share them.
So here are a few I've given two thumbs up...
The Theory of Attraction
Blurb from Amazon:
Camilla can set her watch by her hunky rocket-scientist neighbor who jogs past her window each day. She relishes each glimpse of his shirtless abs, and is dying to see more. But it's hard to connect with a man who doesn't seem to know she exists...
Ivan feels at home in the lab, not in social situations. When he finally approaches his attractive neighbor, it's not for a date—he wants tutoring in how to behave at an important fundraiser. Ivan doesn't expect the chemistry between them to be quite so explosive, and is surprised when Cami actually accepts his proposal to embark on a series of "lessons."
Cami soon discovers Ivan's schedule isn't the only thing he likes to be strict about—he needs to be charge in the bedroom as well. She's shocked at how much she comes to enjoy her submissive side, but wonders if a real relationship is in the equation...
My take: I love a geek hero (and am trying to write one as we speak) so I was looking forward to this one. Really, really sweet and sexy story. And funny. It almost had a YA vibe to it--maybe New Adult erotic? Lol. I feel like that's becoming a thing. Definitely enjoyed this one.
The next two are male/male stories (a favorite subgenre of mine)...
Collision Course
Blurb from Amazon:
Paramedic Aaron Chase doesn’t have anything against love. It just comes with a lot of responsibility, like when he had to raise his sister and brothers after their drug-addicted mom took off for good. Now that the last one is off to college, Aaron’s anticipating enjoying life on his own terms. He certainly wasn’t expecting Joey Miller to accidentally drop into his life.
Joey’s sexy, funny and annoyingly optimistic, and his tendency to get into trouble keeps sending him Aaron’s way. Even the fact that Joey works for the hated social work system isn’t reason enough to keep him out of Aaron’s bed.
Joey knows all about love. He’s fallen in it ten times—he thinks. It’s not that he can’t tell the difference between sex and love. All that experience has to count for something, right? With Aaron it’s different. Maybe because there’s something to fight for.
This time Joey’s fallen for good. He’s not going to let number eleven get away.
My take: This one was a fun, sexy romp. There were some heavy backstories in there, but the tone of this one was light and even humorous at times. And the characters felt like real people, not superhuman perfect heroes, just two guys trying to figure things out.
And then there's this one. Lorelei James recommended it to me a few weeks ago, and when I saw it was two fireman, I mean, come on. Of course I had to buy it.
Hot Head
Blurb from Amazon:
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire...
Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181, Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately, Dante is strictly a ladies’ man, and the FDNY isn’t exactly gay-friendly. For ten years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish.
Griff’s caution and Dante’s cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there’s nothing Griff wouldn’t do… until a nearly bankrupt Dante proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay porn website where uniformed hunks get down and dirty. And Dante wants them to appear there—together. Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship?
My take: I don't give too many books a 5-star rating, but this is going to be one of them. Holy hell this book was good. I couldn't put the damn thing down. And yes, there was a little bit too much backstory upfront so it started off a little slow for me, but stick with it. I promise it's worth it. So, so fantastic. So much tension build up, so much angst. Oh, the angst. (I'm a total sucker for angsty heroes.) If you like m/m stories or were looking to try one out, go get this one. Go!
All right, that's all I've got for you today, back to the salt mines for me. ;) So what fantastic books have you read lately?
*And just a note since I've been getting a number of requests lately. I DO NOT accept books for review on this blog. This is not a review site. I only share what I happen to read on my own time and enjoy.