Title: Warrior's Cross
Author: Madeline Urban & Abigail Roux
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 316 pages
Publication date: August 31, 2009
Rating: Three Stars
Blurb: Cameron Jacobs is an open book. He considers himself a common waiter with normal friends, boring hobbies, harmless dogs, and nothing even resembling a secret... except a crush on a tall, dark, devastatingly handsome man who dines alone at his restaurant on Tuesday nights. All it takes is one passionate night with Julian Cross to turn Cameron’s world on its head.
Julian's love and devotion are all Cameron could have hoped for and more. But when his ordinary life meets and clashes with Julian's extraordinary lifestyle, Cameron discovers that trust and fear can go hand in hand, and love is just a step away from danger.
Review:
I actually liked this one. Or at least, I liked most of it. The twist at the end seemed a little forced. I would say that the twist wasn't necessary but I happened to glance over the other reviews and was surprised to find that people expected more action. It leads me to believe that the ending was written to appease the Hollywood movie crowd of readers, which is a little disappointing. But not entirely unexpected. The writer wants to sell the book after all, and that can be made easier by anticipating the needs of the audience. Furthermore, the humor felt a bit forced too. This is a bigger problem because the comedy is meant to be a tension breaker, a light transition. Instead, it only stumbles along.
To sum up: characters good, story line good, dialogue (aside from the humor) passable. In addition, the book has an overall feel that is quite pleasant and well presented.
To sum up: characters good, story line good, dialogue (aside from the humor) passable. In addition, the book has an overall feel that is quite pleasant and well presented.
Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Cross-ebook/dp/B003TO5GLC/ref=cm_cr-mr-img
More titles by Madeline Urban:
Title: Man of Mystery
Author: Madeline Urban
Genre: m/m mystery/suspense
Print length: 50 pages
Publication date: August 1, 2008
Overall reviewer rating: Three Stars
Blurb: All Alan wants is a little escape from his daily life as a house husband and father, and his favorite mystery novels provide it. But after a vicious showdown over the books with his strident and controlling wife, his headlong flight takes him into the path of an oncoming car. But it's not Alan who wakes up in the hospital—it's Terrence Whitehead: Man of Mystery, a drifter who makes his way by taking advantage of the kindness of others.
His escape takes him from Los Angeles to New York with the help of a handsome meal ticket, Jared. Terrence and Jared’s deal to exchange sex for transport moves them along from the tables in Vegas to relaxing spas and fancy hotels, and while Jared finds himself falling in love, Terrence knows somehow that it has to end... and when it does, who will survive the clash of his two worlds? The brave, outgoing Terrence? Or quiet, withdrawn Alan?
More titles by Madeline Urban:
Title: Man of Mystery
Author: Madeline Urban
Genre: m/m mystery/suspense
Print length: 50 pages
Publication date: August 1, 2008
Overall reviewer rating: Three Stars
Blurb: All Alan wants is a little escape from his daily life as a house husband and father, and his favorite mystery novels provide it. But after a vicious showdown over the books with his strident and controlling wife, his headlong flight takes him into the path of an oncoming car. But it's not Alan who wakes up in the hospital—it's Terrence Whitehead: Man of Mystery, a drifter who makes his way by taking advantage of the kindness of others.
His escape takes him from Los Angeles to New York with the help of a handsome meal ticket, Jared. Terrence and Jared’s deal to exchange sex for transport moves them along from the tables in Vegas to relaxing spas and fancy hotels, and while Jared finds himself falling in love, Terrence knows somehow that it has to end... and when it does, who will survive the clash of his two worlds? The brave, outgoing Terrence? Or quiet, withdrawn Alan?
Review by M. Nix:
In a loveless marriage, with a shrew of a wife who belittles and browbeats him whenever she can, the only thing that makes Alan happy is his son and his books. Alan, a stay at home dad with very little confidence in himself has absolutely nothing in common with Terrence, the charismatic sexy drifter who uses his body to get what he wants...except the fact that they are one-in-the-same.
After a nasty verbal fight with his wife, Alan gets into an accident trying to get away from her. Alan is taken to the hospital where Terrence awakens and so begins his adventure of a lifetime that leads him to Jared, a rich, older man who agrees to help him get to New York. Jared quickly finds himself falling for Terrence even though he knows very little about the mysterious man.
Man of Mystery is okay, but not all of the dots were connecting with it for me. The characters were great, I adored Alan/Terrence and Bobby, Alan's son, he's a sweetheart, but I felt there were gaps in the flow of the story. With Madeleine Urban stories I know I will always get characters I love, hot sex scenes and some beautiful tender moments, Man of Mystery has all that, but the overall story just didn't work for me.
After a nasty verbal fight with his wife, Alan gets into an accident trying to get away from her. Alan is taken to the hospital where Terrence awakens and so begins his adventure of a lifetime that leads him to Jared, a rich, older man who agrees to help him get to New York. Jared quickly finds himself falling for Terrence even though he knows very little about the mysterious man.
Man of Mystery is okay, but not all of the dots were connecting with it for me. The characters were great, I adored Alan/Terrence and Bobby, Alan's son, he's a sweetheart, but I felt there were gaps in the flow of the story. With Madeleine Urban stories I know I will always get characters I love, hot sex scenes and some beautiful tender moments, Man of Mystery has all that, but the overall story just didn't work for me.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Man-of-Mystery-ebook/dp/B001BUFWBU/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368059119&sr=1-6
More titles from Abigail Roux:
Title: According to Hoyle
Author: Abigail Roux
Genre: m/m historical romance
Print length: 260 pages
Publication date: January 21, 2011
Overall reviewer rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: By the close of 1882, the inhabitants of the American West had earned their reputation as untamed and dangerous. The line between heroes and villains is narrow and indistinct. The concept that a man may only kill if backed into a corner is antiquated. Lives are worth less than horses. Treasures are worth killing for. And the law is written in the blood of those who came before. The only men staving off total chaos are the few who take the letter of the law at its word and risk their lives to uphold it. But in the West, the rules aren't always played according to Hoyle.
US Marshals Eli Flynn and William Henry Washington are escorting two prisoners to New Orleans for trial when they discover there’s more to the infamous shootist Dusty Rose and the enigmatic man known only as Cage than merely being outlaws. When forces beyond the marshals’ control converge on the paddlewheeler they have hired to take them downriver, they must choose between two dangers: playing by the rules at any cost or trusting the very men they are meant to bring to justice.
Review by Robert Carnevali:
"According to Hoyle" is a very well-written romantic western that also delivers on thrills and suspense. The characters are three-dimensional, engaging, and filled with nuance, the writing is superb, and the pacing is smooth and swift. Abigail Roux has done a wonderful job with placing this story in the 1800's Wild West, bringing the lifestyle, customs, and people alive.
Marshalls Eli Flynn and William "Wash" Washington are charged with transporting two prisoners to New Orleans... the mute and reserved Cage, and the charismatic and talkative Gabriel "Dusty" Rose. Cage is convicted of a crime and is being delivered for execution (and on this point, the Marshalls believe the punishment is too excessive), and Gabriel is being delivered for a trial and is neither guilty nor innocent at this point. To make matters difficult, Gabriel is a well-known outlaw with an extensive reputation, and many people who wish to make a name for themselves will attempt to kill him to gain fame, making the Marshalls' job of protecting him that much more difficult. When all become involved in a plot to steal an artifact from the paddleboat they are travelling on, all hell breaks loose. Oh, and there's one more little wrinkle that doesn't sit well with Marshall Flynn... Gabriel has no problem admitting that he "prefers the company of men" and it appears that he and Cage, who is chained to him for the trip, are becoming rather close. This starts kindling long-buried emotions Flynn has for Wash. Emotions that Flynn would rather keep buried.
First and foremost, this story is a western. There is romance interwoven into the story, but no erotica. The settings, dialog, lifestyles, and characters do have an authentic feel to them. Not being an historian, I have no idea if the dialog, plot, and lifestyle are indeed authentic, but it certainly feels like Abigail Roux is much more on the mark than off. The story flows seamlessly from beginning to end, with suspense, action, thrills, and love. Flynn resolving his feelings towards the ends may seem just a tad too neat and tidy, but it's a minor quibble at most, and the story still thoroughly delivers a wonderful and unique experience. I started the book and couldn't put it down until I was finished.
Kudos to Abigail Roux! If you enjoy a m/m romantic adventure, be sure to pick this up. It will not disappoint.
Marshalls Eli Flynn and William "Wash" Washington are charged with transporting two prisoners to New Orleans... the mute and reserved Cage, and the charismatic and talkative Gabriel "Dusty" Rose. Cage is convicted of a crime and is being delivered for execution (and on this point, the Marshalls believe the punishment is too excessive), and Gabriel is being delivered for a trial and is neither guilty nor innocent at this point. To make matters difficult, Gabriel is a well-known outlaw with an extensive reputation, and many people who wish to make a name for themselves will attempt to kill him to gain fame, making the Marshalls' job of protecting him that much more difficult. When all become involved in a plot to steal an artifact from the paddleboat they are travelling on, all hell breaks loose. Oh, and there's one more little wrinkle that doesn't sit well with Marshall Flynn... Gabriel has no problem admitting that he "prefers the company of men" and it appears that he and Cage, who is chained to him for the trip, are becoming rather close. This starts kindling long-buried emotions Flynn has for Wash. Emotions that Flynn would rather keep buried.
First and foremost, this story is a western. There is romance interwoven into the story, but no erotica. The settings, dialog, lifestyles, and characters do have an authentic feel to them. Not being an historian, I have no idea if the dialog, plot, and lifestyle are indeed authentic, but it certainly feels like Abigail Roux is much more on the mark than off. The story flows seamlessly from beginning to end, with suspense, action, thrills, and love. Flynn resolving his feelings towards the ends may seem just a tad too neat and tidy, but it's a minor quibble at most, and the story still thoroughly delivers a wonderful and unique experience. I started the book and couldn't put it down until I was finished.
Kudos to Abigail Roux! If you enjoy a m/m romantic adventure, be sure to pick this up. It will not disappoint.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/According-to-Hoyle-ebook/dp/B004TXOGN6/ref=la_B003VG4QKA_1_9_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1368059482&sr=1-9
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