Tag: Steam eReads

Guest Review: Heart’s Truth by Tamsin Baker

Posted October 20, 2013 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Heart’s Truth by Tamsin BakerReviewer: Tracy
Heart's Truth by Tamsin Baker
Series: Melbourne Men #1
Publisher: Steam eReads
Publication Date: July 17, 2013
Format: eARC
Genres: Anthologies (multiple authors), M/M
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

 

Marcus is a 30-year-old successful architect. He wants someone to love and knows the right man will turn up when he least expects it. That moment arrives at his friend’s party. He sees Danny for only a moment, yet his interest is piqued. What could be more irresistible than a blue-eyed beauty who is completely untouched?

Danny knows he doesn’t find women attractive, but how is he going to find out if he’s gay? His sister’s party answers his prayers and the most gorgeous guy he has ever seen asks him out. But can their love survive when Marcus wants more than a closeted partner and Danny wants nothing more than to hide forever?

Marcus is at his friend Sienna’s 30th birthday party when he sees a man who flips his switch. Since his switch has been decidedly Unflipped for a long damn time he’s definitely intrigued by the young man. Finding out he’s Sienna’s brother makes him hold back a bit but not for long.

Danny is unsure of who he is – and if he’s gay or not. He’s definitely attracted to Marcus and when Marcus kisses him he’s all in. Marcus invites Danny over to watch football with is friends in a weeks time to give Danny time to think about things.

Danny attends the get together at Marcus’s house and decides that Marcus is into another guy – which isn’t true at all. Marcus soon has Danny believing that it’s only Danny that he’s been thinking about and they end up spending the night together. This starts a relationship and six months later they’re a solid couple. Danny however still, after all that time, ready to tell his friends or family that he’s gay and no one knows about their relationship. As much as Marcus cares for Danny he’s tired of hiding but willing to go along with Danny. When their relationship is found out Danny’s family acts as expected but it ends up being what’s perfect for the two men.

Heart’s Truth is a short novella that tells a tale of two men who fall in love but are held back by secrecy. Marcus is out and proud by loves the younger Danny so much that he’s willing to hide their relationship. This creates tension between the two men which had me feeling horrible for the guys. I could tell that they truly cared for each other but Danny lived in fear and that just wasn’t healthy for their relationship. The author did a good job of involving me in their trials and had me pulling for the guys to make it thru.

This is a sweet, sexy story that I very much enjoyed.

Rating: 4 out of 5

four-stars

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Guest Review: Finding Billie by Priscilla Brown

Posted July 3, 2013 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

18044437Tracy’s review of Finding Billie by Priscilla Brown

Billie Williams belongs to a rare breed – she’s a female mechanic. Though happy with her life, she is not as independent as she believes and in her heart she knows something is missing. When Zac Jarvis walks into her garage, they are shocked to meet by chance eighteen years after the abrupt end to their teenage friendship. Zac is a man trying to cope with a tragedy. Dare she risk loving someone with so much baggage? Can he learn to love again?

Zac Jarvis is traveling near his boyhood home so he decides to take a look and see how things have changed. When he stops for gas he finds his childhood friend, Billie, owns the station. Zac and Billie start talking and they find a connection with each other.

Billie definitely wants to get to know Zac better but she knows he travels and can’t quite get a bead on his emotions. Zac’s wife and 2 children were killed in a earthquake 2 years prior and Zac is still dealing with his grief and though he feels something for Billie he’s not sure he can handle a new relationship – or if he even wants to.

The book is about Billie and her life, as well as Zac’s. It highlights an issue with a company that wants to buy Billie’s land to put up a mall. Not only is she not interested in selling the proposed mall would kill the local platypus’s, which is a big deal.

While this book had a good premise, I frankly didn’t feel any emotion when I read it. The writing was very matter of fact and even when someone was supposed to be upset or frightened or even passionate I just didn’t feel it. The book was only 200 pages long and I seriously had to force myself to finish it (and that took 3 days!) because I kept putting it down.

There were definitely good ideas in the story and I liked Billie, her “adopted” son, Tim, and her family. Zac was confused, which confused me. He truly wasn’t ready to move on and that made the “romance” even more awkward. The whole point is that Billie heals him but it just felt almost rushed at the end and that did nothing to make things better.

I’m giving this one a 2 because I really did think the story had potential – it was just the execution that did nothing for me.

Rating: 2 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from Steam eReads.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.  This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest Review: Ellie’s Gentleman by Georgiana Louis

Posted June 14, 2013 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Ellie’s Gentleman by Georgiana LouisReviewer: Tracy
Ellie's Gentleman by Georgiana Louis
Publisher: Steam eReads
Publication Date: May 19th 2013
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 60
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars

Ellie Sommers is twenty years old, beautiful, lively and intelligent. She has finally returned to her family home after another long London season. She wants nothing more than to stay in her beloved country town and ride her horses. Enter Robert Blakely, a widower and a true gentleman. He has come to spend Christmas with his long-time friend William, Ellie’s father. Robert has no wish to marry again and is shocked to discover his own interest in the beautiful daughter of his friend. The only problem is that he is twice her age and a widower who has convinced himself he will never marry again.

Ellie is excited to be home from London. She hates London and after three Seasons she’s happy to be in the country once again. She’s positive now that she really doesn’t want to marry a man from London, or one who will spend any time there. The smell, the materialistic people, the hours they keep – she can do without all of it.

Her father tells her that he has an old friend visiting and when Ellie meets Robert Blakely she’s almost immediately smitten. They get along famously and have much to talk about. They both love the country and soon Ellie is determined to get Robert to propose marriage – even if he is 22 years her senior.

Robert is captivated by Ellie and humor and liveliness but as much as he likes her he won’t be asking for her hand in marriage. After his wife died in childbirth, he decided that he could never care for someone again who might end up dying. Understandable, but he wasn’t prepared for Ellie’s charm.

This was a charming short story. I really liked Ellie’s openness with Robert as well as her determination. It certainly didn’t take her long to decide he was the man for her but as it was a short story I forgave that – it didn’t feel rushed at all even though it all took place within a matter of days.

Robert was wonderful as well. I can just see him getting so flustered by his feelings toward a much younger woman and trying to fight them – especially his friend’s daughter. He was such a nice man and was nothing but kind to Ellie.

Overall a sweet book and one that it was nice to pass a bit of time with.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This book is available from Steam eReads. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

three-half-stars

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