In the Distance

Author: Nikka Michaels and Eileen Griffin

Length: Undetermined

Publish: Carina Press (June 2015)

Type: E-Book

Rate: 3

Synopsis: Tyler Mitchell has worked hard to rebuild his life after his family kicked him out. A culinary student and sous chef who spends his spare time volunteering with kids, he’s happy enough even though he has no time to consider a relationship. Trevor Pratt is finally getting over losing his best friend and the one person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but it’s taken screwing every cute guy in Manhattan to get there. He’s vowed to repair the friendship he endangered, but that’s hard to do when his friend’s new employee catches his eye. Despite being warned to stay away from Tyler, Trevor knows the sous chef is more than just a hookup. Romance is a terrible idea. Trevor is ten years older and a relentless playboy. Tyler is still unsure of his place in the world. Neither of them is ready for life-changing love, but as things heat up, their chemistry in the bedroom might just take that decision out of their hands.

My Review: The story of Trevor Pratt and Tyler Mitchell, a business manager and sous chef, respectively. Both are tired of being lonely, but neither expect to develop feelings for one another and because of their individual relationships with other characters in the book, pursuing anything beyond friendship is a difficult endeavor. Tyler is hardworking, quiet, and poor. He is tall and admittingly self-conscious with insecurities that make it hard for him to accept the rich, handsome, and charming Trevor Pratt would like someone like him. Trevor can have almost anyone he wants but fears opening up to someone in a manner beyond sexual gratification because a failed attempt at love. The failed attempt happens to be Trevor’s best friend and mentor to Tyler.

What I liked about the story is Tyler’s dedication to make something of himself despite the obstacles he’s endured after coming out to his family. He works sometimes more than one job to support himself and pay for his education which shows real character. I also liked that Trevor was willing to come out of his shell to show Tyler he had more to offer than material things. With that being said, this book was very drawn out in the development of Tyler and Trevor’s relationship. It is the typical story of boy chases boy, boy doesn’t know what he wants until 80% into the story, and to be honest it wasn’t very interesting until the last few chapters.

The story line between Trevor and Tyler missed the ability to grab my attention and I found it difficult to keep focus through to the end. Tyler seems consistently indecisive in almost every option from his educational or career path and especially in his decision to start, stop, or continue his long distance romance if it could be called that with Trevor. The story hinted entirely too much on the unrequited feelings Trevor had for his best friend and their history. I would have like to have seen more passion and feelings as it related to their long distance relationship and how it brought them closer to the conclusion. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book.       

Any reviews I post are the property of Fictionally-Speaking. They are not to be copied unless by the author, publisher or the reviewer. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Baked Fresh

Author: Annabeth Albert
Length: 131 pages
Publish: Lyrical Press (April 2015)
Type: Print
Rate: 4

Synopsis: From its famous coffee to the mouthwatering fare at its cafés, restaurants, and bakeries, Portland, Oregon, has a lot to whet the appetite, including the hard-working men who serve it all up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…Vic Degrassi is a baker on the rise, and it’s all thanks to his rare ability to make—and keep—his New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s losing weight, giving up smoking, or graduating from culinary school, Vic goes after what he wants—and gets it. This year? He wants Robin Dawson, the sweet-hearted hottie who volunteers with him at the local homeless shelter. When he learns that Robin is suddenly single after being unceremoniously dumped, Vic is more than happy to offer a shoulder to cry on—or at least a fresh-baked pastry to bite into. But it’s been a long time since Vic’s gone on a date, and he’s nervous about risking his friendship with Robin. So when their flirtation turns into a steamy night together, Vic and Robin have to figure out if they’re friends with benefits or lovers in the making, and if Robin is ready for something more than just a rebound. There’s only one way to find out: turn up the heat…

My Review: Baked Fresh is a light and delightful read about what happens when two characteristically different people try their hands at more than relationship. For a year or so Vic Degrassi has had a crush on his friend Robin Dawson. He’s watched Robin from the sidelines, wishing nothing but happiness in his relationships with other men, but when an opportunity revealed itself, Vic finds himself despite his insecurities stepping from the shadows. Robin has a past that he’s not proud of and his inability to accept previous actions keeps him walking a tight rope daily, but as his friendship with Vic flourishes into more than comfort meals and kind words, Robin finds that happiness can be a reality that even he is meant to have.

What I liked most about this book was that it has realistic issues. Both Vic and Robin battle with different types of self-esteem and interpersonal communication issues. Vic has always been a big guy but when the circle of life seems to collect the people that mean a lot to him he decides that a change is needed to slow down the process. He has surgery to assist with his weight problem but it leaves him feeling that that certain areas of his body are less than atheistically pleasing and no one will want to view them. Robin is beautiful, but in this case where he is the beholder, beauty is not something he associates with himself. Robin wants to understand something that no one will ever have the answer to and is stuck in somewhat of a survivor’s remorse that makes his confidence in himself almost non-existent.

I also liked that Vic is a nurturer and rock for Robin, and Robin gives Vic hope and companionship. They each give each other the confidence that the other lacks. Robin assures Vic that his physical appearance is much more pleasing than he gives himself credit for and Vic aids Robin’s new found confidence in himself. Vic’s ability to put Robin’s needs above his own when temptation to travel down less than admirable roads were options makes Vic special in my book. Robin’s willingness to understand that beauty is more than skin deep when he makes love to Vic is the best declaration of love for someone who feels they’re an ugly duckling. I read how Vic became comfortable with himself but I would have liked to have read more about Robin becoming more sexual comfortable with anal sex as the relationship deepened and definitely before the HEA.

Overall, I highly recommend the book without reservation.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23450161-baked-fresh

Any reviews I post are the property of Fictionally-Speaking. They are not to be copied unless by the author, publisher or the reviewer. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Crash and Burn (Cut and Run Series, Book 9)

Author: Abigail Roux

Length: 419 pages

Publish: Riptide Publishing (March 2015)

Type: Print

Rate: 5

 
Synopsis: It’s been five years since Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett first worked together to solve the Tri-State murders, and time has been both harsh and kind. Engaged now, they face the challenge of planning a deeply uncertain future together. Zane is at the pinnacle of his career with one last mystery to solve, while Ty is at sea in a world where he’s no longer the tip of a spear. There’s just one more hurdle in the way of their happy ever after: a traitor from their inner circle who threatens to burn their world to the ground. Squeezed between the Vega cartel, an unknown mole, and too many alphabet agencies to count, Ty and Zane must gather all their strength and resources to beat the longest odds they’ve ever faced. To make it out alive, they’ll need help from every friend they’ve got. Even the friends who might betray their trust.

My Review

Meeting Ty and Zane was my first introduction to M/M fiction. Let me be the first to say, these two characters will keep a smile on your face from their charismatic personalities to the sensual way that two obviously different people mesh together to equal a whole. Once you read Cut and Run 1, you will not want to stop until you reach the last word in at the end of Crash and Burn (Cut and Run, book 9).

Crash and Burn begins five years into the professional turned personal partnership between two federal agents, Ty Grady and Zane Garrett. They have learned to work together, live together, and love as one while hunting psychopaths, impersonating criminals, surviving forced “vacations”, enduring bombs that literally ups the meaning of staring at four walls, cranky road trips, dealing with pissed off parents of scorned exs, stalking international murderers, and my personal favorite large tigers that love to hug.

Although Crash and Burn is last book in the Cut and Run Series, from beginning to end it is packed with wit, devotion, passion, and friendship. Ty and Zane have been hunting a mole within their small federal unit for years and trust is put to the test for those closest to the agents. Determined as ever to find and no doubt kill the traitor, Ty and Grady throw themselves into situations that can potentially end their partnership by premature death in order to keep the other safe. Crash and Burn shows the unwavering devotion Ty and Zane have for each other that has built during the years and the sacrifices each is willing to make for each other until one of them stops breathing. The love they have for each other is so well written it’s almost tangible.

Crash and Burn brings together characters from the previous books in the Cut and Runs Series in which more in-depth interactions with Ty and Zane is detailed when they are all put together for survival. Another aspect of the book that is favorable is the side of Zane’s mother, no matter how brief, that is hopeful and long overdue.  Crash and Burn is a delightful read that offers danger that tops the very definition of crazy love, sex that makes you want a cigarette after reading, and a twist that will have you shaking your head saying say it ain’t so.

I especially like that the series ends with a HEA that involves guns, black orchids, and rare books for the couple that seems more like friends than make believe characters.

Any reviews I post are the property of Fictionally-Speaking. They are not to be copied unless by the author, publisher or the reviewer. Any books we receive from an author or publisher are given an honest opinion.