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Back Porch Reader

LGBTQ+ Romance and Erotica Book Reviews

Type: Series

Review: Trust the Focus (In Focus, book 1), by Megan Erickson

November 5, 2015 by Katie, Back Porch Reader

The Blurb:

cover-trust-the-focusWith his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

[ MORE ]

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Author: Megan Erickson, Genre: Contemporary, Genre: New Adult, LGBT+, Rating: 3.5 Stars, Type: Series

Review: Walk Through Fire (Chaos book 4), by Kristen Ashley

November 3, 2015 by Katie, Back Porch Reader

The Blurb:

WalkThroughFire-KAshleyMillie Cross knows what it’s like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn’t be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie’s chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can’t ignore. And this time, she won’t let him ride off . . .

[ MORE ]

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Author: Kristen Ashley, Genre: Contemporary, non-lgbt, Rating: 5 Stars, Type: Series

Review: The Queen (Original Sinners Book 8), by Tiffany Reisz

November 1, 2015 by Katie, Back Porch Reader

The Blurb:

TheQueen-ReiszOnce upon a time, Nora and Søren made a fateful deal—if he gave her everything, she would give him forever. 

The time has finally come to keep their promises. 

Out of money and out of options after her year-long exile, Eleanor Schreiber agrees to join forces with Kingsley Edge, the king of kink. After her first taste of power as a Dominant, Eleanor buries her old submissive self and transforms into Mistress Nora, the Red Queen. [ MORE ]

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Author: Tiffany Reisz, BDSM, Genre: Contemporary, Genre: Erotica, Rating: 5 Stars, Type: Series

FIVE STAR FRIDAY Review: Duck Duck Ghost (Hellsinger series Book 2), by Rhys Ford

October 30, 2015 by Katie, Back Porch Reader

It’s that time. The night before All Hallows’ Eve. This is not a favorite holiday for my own stupid reasons you can read all about here in my self-deprecating blog post. I know loads of people who go all-out for this day. That’s cool. The ghoulish stuff folks come up with is crazy good, and I’m always amazed. It’s just…not my day.

But what kind of person would I be if I hid on my back porch and ignored it altogether? So, in the spirit of goodwill and goblins, I bring you a ghostly story that scared me out of my fucking mind. Have at it. Note though, it’s book two in a series. I think this can be read as a stand-alone, though.

Or, check out the recently released, read, and reviewed Stygian by Santino Hassell…it also scared the bejeezus out of me.


About the Book

DUCK DUCK GHOST, RHYS FORDParanormal investigator Wolf Kincaid knows what his foot tastes like.

Mostly because he stuck it firmly in his mouth when his lover, Tristan Pryce, accidentally drugged him with a batch of psychotropic baklava. Needing to patch things up between them, Wolf drags Tristan to San Luis Obispo, hoping Tristan’s medium ability can help evict a troublesome spirit haunting an old farmhouse.

With Wolf’s sister handling Hoxne Grange’s spectral visitors, Tristan finds himself in the unique position of being able to leave home for the first time in forever, but Wolf’s roughshod treatment is the least of his worries. Tristan’s ad-hoc portal for passing spirits seems to be getting fewer and fewer guests, and despite his concern he’s broken his home, Tristan agrees to help Wolf’s cousin, Sey, kick her poltergeist to the proverbial curb.

San Luis Obispo brings its own bushel of troubles. Tristan’s ghost whispering skill is challenged not only by a terrorizing haunting but also by Wolf’s skeptical older cousin, Cin. Bookended by a pair of aggressive Kincaids, Tristan soon finds himself in a spectral battle that threatens not only his sanity but also his relationship with Wolf, the first man he’s ever loved.


The Finer Details

Published:
Publisher:
Genre:
Length:
POV:
Type:
September 8, 2014
Dreamspinner Press
Paranormal, M/M, GLBT+
214 e-book pages
3rd person
Series (BOOK 2)

 

See the book on GoodReads.

Review:

Shame, shame, shame on me. See, I’m a big ole scaredy cat, and I explained in my review of Fish and Ghosts (Book 1) here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show… that I don’t particularly go for ghost/paranormal stories unless they’re written by an author I really like who typically writes in other genres I like. I handled Fish and Ghosts like a champ and only got a little bit squicked out once. So I sallied forth without a thought or a care and dove right on into Duck Duck Ghost without reading the description or any reviews. That was my first mistake.

My second mistake was that I woefully underestimated Rhys Ford. I thought (stupidly in hindsight) that Ms. Ford had exhausted all of her horror-inducing tricks in Fish and Ghosts. I thought (again, stupidly), I’d get another steamy romantic tale with a few brushes with some ghosts who might be aggravating at worst. They’d cause some mostly mild disturbances, move some furniture around, stuff like that….but mostly, I’d get a lot of laughs. But noooo. Ms. Ford upped her game. She was holding back. She’s got a sick and twisted, twisted mind. I imagine she’s pretty damned pleased with herself right now with a MWA-HA-HA evil, maniacal laugh going on. Go ahead. I deserve it.

***F-Bombs and Warnings Ahead***

Child ghosts….horrifying. Just….I can’t go further with that. Don’t get any ideas Rhys, but thank fuck there weren’t twin child ghosts. RED-RUM anyone?

DOLLS people! Dolls are straight-up fucking creepy. I did NOT play with them as a child because I KNEW back then they were creepy. They’re all possessed. They all do things when left unattended and especially, especially, at night when everyone is asleep. Who does not know this? Y’all think Toy Story is a sweet, innocent Disney flick? Go back and read the real Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty then come tell me I’m nuts. I’m telling you, Toy Story is Disney’s sparkly version of Chucky.

Then Rhys had to up the freak factor with CLOWN dolls. Clowns alone – the real living, breathing, circus freak, McHamburger peddling, Birthday party crashing clowns – are also sick-ass creepy, full-body shiver frightening. There had to be clown dolls?

Oh and DOLL PARTS. And why would anyone have doll PARTS lying around? Everyone knows those things don’t need to be part of the whole to wreak havoc. Jars of doll eyeballs and grasping, choking, tongue-pinching doll hands, and cracked and faded doll HEADS that move and crawl in bed with you. Oh, Hellz No.

Christ on a popcorn kernel, I won’t sleep for a week.

There’s gonna be another book, isn’t there? I know there is. Just please more funny stuff from the likes of Gildy and Mara and more sexy times with Wolf and Tristan.

My being freaked right the EFF out aside….this was a great, well-constructed read in the high-caliber style I’ve learned to expect from Ms. Ford. It was fast-paced and sexy with some funny to break up the fright factor.

Yeah, I’ll read book three. But gotta say I’m glad it’s not out yet. I need a shot or twelve of tequila so I can get some sleep.

This review also posted on GoodReads.


QueerRomanceMonth.comThis is probably the last post from me mentioning Queer Romance Month until next year. I hope you’ve paid them a visit, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I’ll still be bringing you queer stories since that’s primarily what I read. I also hope to provide links, so you have good resources for information if you’re an ally, or have questions. Or when I have questions and find answers I’ll be sure to share.

Thanks for visiting!

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Author: Rhys Ford, Five-Star Friday, Halloween, LGBT+, Rating: 5 Stars, Type: Series

Review: Stygian, by Santino Hassell

October 27, 2015 by Katie, Back Porch Reader

The Blurb:

Jeremy has been isolated and adrift since the death of his brother. Most people just see him as the skinny emo kid who wears eyeliner and plays drums. No one gets him. Nobody tries. He thought the indie rock band Stygian would become his anchor, but—lost in their own problems—they’re far from the family he sought.

[ MORE ]

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Author: Santino Hassell, Genre: Horror, Genre: Paranormal, Pairing: M/M, Publisher: Dreamspinner Press, Type: Series

FIVE STAR FRIDAY Review: Bear, Otter & the Kid, by T.J. Klune

October 23, 2015 by Katie, Back Porch Reader

I know it’s been radio-silence from me this week. There’s been lots happening and I haven’t been able to pop in. But, I had no intention of missing Five Star Friday.

This week I selected one of my favorite sweet reads from one of my favorite authors. That’s kind of a lie. It’s not all sweetness. There’s angst, there’s some tear-jerking, great humor, but there’s also lots of love and an amazing cast of characters that create an even more amazing family finding their way.

I needed to bring something relatively light this week. So I wanted a book that shows that family doesn’t always mean the people who share our blood and genes. Sometimes it’s in the people we choose.


The Blurb:

Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living—with a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that. Until Otter comes home.

Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect. This time, though, there’s nowhere to run from the depth of emotion between them. Bear still believes his place is as the Kid’s guardian, but he can’t help thinking there could be something more for him in the world… something or someone.


The Stats:

Published:
Publisher:
Genre:
Length:
POV:
Series:
August 11, 2011
Dreamspinner Press
Contemporary, M/M, GLBT+
350 e-book pages
1st person
Bear, Otter, and the Kid, book 1

 

See the book on GoodReads.

Review:

This is my first T.J. Klune book…so I’m really late to the party and I feel the need to explain my tardiness. I’m thinking this title showed up in my recommendations about a year ago. Honestly, the title and cover probably turned me off a bit. My brain was creating images of a Big Hairy Leather Daddy and his playmate (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and I did not even want to contemplate about how “the Kid” fit into that mix. For the longest time I never even read the blurb. Finally, I did…because the recommendation wouldn’t go away, and I was mostly intrigued. Then I perused the reviews…there were some glaring ones that were a bit frightening – but thankfully didn’t include allusions to big hairy leather daddy. But I continued to put it off…for months.

There’s an even longer story involving a con-artist, a ghost, and a YouTube video about how I finally got around to buying and reading this but I’m not going into that…it might or might not involve a tiny bit of innocent cyber-stal research that has utterly endeared this author to me.

The point is I’m here now. The bigger admission is that I am delighted, in this very rare instance, to admit that I was wrong . If only my ex-husband could see those words…HA!

I loved this. Immensely. I laughed (a lot), I cried (also a lot), and totally fell in love with this incredible cast of characters. This was highly entertaining with tons – TONS – of wit and tugging of the heart strings. For a first novel – very well done. I look forward to seeing how the author has grown in the last several years. I’m also very glad this was made into a series because I wasn’t quite ready to part ways with these folks…especially the Kid. I’m excited to continue my journey through the titles of T.J. Klune.

The moral….I don’t think I have anything profound to say….other than don’t judge a book by its cover – or title – and don’t let bad reviews get in the way when there are SO many more good ones. And sometimes, when the ghosts want to be heard, you should listen.

Review posted on GoodReads.


QueerRomanceMonth.comQueer Romance Month is still going strong and I continue to be amazed at the beautiful posts and eye-opening revelations. I’m learning a lot over there; and I think we can never learn too much about all of the amazing people in our world. Give them a visit.

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Author: TJ Klune, Five-Star Friday, Genre: Contemporary, LGBT+, Pairing: M/M, Publisher: Dreamspinner Press, Rating: 5 Stars, Type: Series

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