A.O. Chika's Blog, page 14
May 13, 2016
Book Review: Men in Love: M/M Romance
Title:
Men in Love
Author:
Multiple
Genre:
Romance
Publisher:
Bold Strokes Books
Release Date:
April 12, 2016
Format:
Paperback
Pages:
242
Source:
NetGallery
REVIEW:
Honestly, I'm on the fence on this one. It had some great stories, some decent stories and some that had me skipping pages. The prose was nice as was the editing.
The anthology consisted of 18 stories, out of which two or three were my favorite. Most of the stories seem to have a lot of details which I felt were unnecessary for a short story.
I didn't like the slow burn, mostly because the stories did not have enough suspense and tension to have me waiting patiently for stuff to finally happen.
The stories I loved were:
American Master Bakers by Dale Cameron Lowry
Joey and Terrence are contestants in a Baking reality show, I liked the chemistry they had and I liked how Joey kept calling Terrence 'Old Man'
Joey's half-assed denial was amusing and God I laughed at how 'thirsty' he was. I mean for all his declarations about how much he hated Terrence he was caught on air with a boner because he wasn't fast enough to adjust himself.
Photo-Love and Seven Ways to Get The Guy by R.W. Clinger
This one had me confused a couple time but Brody made me stay. I love how he tried to understand photography so he could impress Roarke except the only thing he knew about photography was from Instagram and Pinterest.
Also, this line happened.
"Brody I need you," Roarke sais, his voice wavering with nervousness.
It was nice to be needed by a man. What gay guy didn't want that? "Where and when?"
"247 Mossdale Street. Two o'clock this afternoon."
"I'll be there count on it."
Before I ended our cell phone conversation, he hurriedly asked, "Do you have any lime green underwear?"
What A Coincidence by Matthew Bright
The time travel was a nice touch, Travis and Winston's first date was a disaster until their future self from thirty years show up and guide help their younger selves, get their shit together rather than give up after just one date.
SYNOPSIS:
Spring approaches with the promise of new beginnings, fresh adventures, and the thrill of romance rekindled or discovered. Hot, sexy guys abound-meeting on the ball fields or the boardroom, at the theater or the classroom-falling in love and lust for the first time or celebrating a lifetime. Come join the rites of spring and indulge yourself in the passion and pleasures of our luscious men in love. Stories from some of today’s popular m/m romance authors explore the many faces of men in love: gay for you, seductions, weddings and more.
The post Book Review: Men in Love: M/M Romance appeared first on A.O. Chika.
Living Right: Excerpt
The house was quiet when, they got home from brunch. Josh must still be sleeping, Jenn thought as she threw in a load of laundry. Then she checked the answering machine. Her mom had called to say that her friend Mary had seen Jenn on the news. Guess this is my fifteen minutes of fame. Jenn smiled. Then she was immediately ashamed for being arrogant and admonished herself, I didn’t set out today to be on the news but to do the work of the Lord.
She climbed the beige-carpeted stairs to check on her teenager. His was the middle bedroom, adjacent to the kids’ bath. She tapped quietly. No answer. Opening the door slowly, she peered into the dark room and immediately a foul stench hit her.
After her eyes adjusted, she saw the cause: vomit speckled the side of Josh’s navy-blue comforter, ending in a puddle on the ground. Oh, poor honey, Jenn thought. He’d entirely missed the garbage can she had left in the night. Dead asleep, likely he hadn’t even noticed he’d been sick.
Fortunately, he was on his side, so she wasn’t worried that he’d inhaled his vomit.
She went to the bathroom to get washcloths and towels to wipe up the mess. As she approached the bed, she said, “Josh, it’s Mom. You threw up while you were sleeping. I’m going to wipe you down.”
He didn’t stir. She rubbed the damp terry cloth against his slack mouth. No movement.
“Josh,” Jenn said a little louder, her pulse speeding up.
She shook him gently and then urgently. “Josh!” He didn’t respond.
“Josh!” Jenn yelled and shook him hard. His head flopped back and forth. His breathing was shallow. A wave of adrenaline shot through her body, putting every cell of her body on high alert.
“Josh, wake up!”
Dear God, help my son. Jenn ran to the wooden banister overlooking the living room and called for her husband. “Steve!” Her voice was ragged and sharp, pushing down the rising force of hysteria. Without waiting for an answer, she rushed into her bedroom, grabbed the cordless receiver, and dialed 911. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up!
“Hello, what is your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.
“My son,” Jenn spoke in a rush. “He isn’t breathing very well, and he won’t wake up.”
“What’s your address?” the dispatcher asked calmly.
“Forty-four ninety-nine Sparrow Court, Dublin, California, 94568,” Jenn replied. “Off Hawk way.”
How long has he been unresponsive?”
“I don’t know. We just got home.”
Download Sample Here: 
Comment below on what you think, any tips you have for me?
The post Living Right: Excerpt appeared first on A.O. Chika.
May 11, 2016
Author Highlight: Interview Questions
Welcome to day four of Laila Ibrahim’s Author highlight. Today’s update will be the Interview Questions Laila would be answering on Sunday.
QUESTIONS:
Was any part of Living Right drawn from personal experience?
Who/what inspired Pastor Jerry?
What chapter was the toughest to write?
What chapter was your favorite?
Who/what inspired Jenn?
Did you plan Maya’s character or was she just a convenient way to show Jenn’s growth?
How much research did you do?
What was the weirdest thing you googled while researching/ planning Living Right?
Yellow Crocus is a hit! Do you anticipate the same for Living Right?
What made you decide to write Living Right from Jenn’s POV rather than Josh’s?
Who character is your favorite and why?
Where there any alternate endings you considered?
What was left out in the final draft?
What challenges did you face in the production of Living Right?
Did you consider publishing Living right with a traditional publisher?
What is your writing process like?
I hear a sequel to Yellow Crocus is in the works, what can we expect?
What drew you to writing?
Is there anyone you would like to say a special thanks to?
Any message you would like to pass to people similar to Josh, Jenn & Pastor Jerry?
Don’t forget to download the sample chapter as well as enter the giveaway to win a free copy of her book.
Download Sample Here:
Comment below on what you think, any tips you have for me?
The post Author Highlight: Interview Questions appeared first on A.O. Chika.
Author Bio: Laila Ibrahim
Laila Ibrahim is the acclaimed author of the best-selling novel, Yellow Crocus. The characters in Living Right came to her while she was on a road trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains a few weeks after she legally married her wife, Rinda.
She’s a devout Unitarian Universalist determined to plant seeds of love and justice in our hurting world. Ibrahim lives in a cohousing community in Berkeley, California, and is a mother of two young adult daughters. She’s grateful to be a full-time writer, excited to be working on a sequel to Yellow Crocus. She loves hearing from readers and calling/Skypping into book clubs. www.lailaibrahim.com
Download Sample Here:
Comment below on what you think, any tips you have for me?
The post Author Bio: Laila Ibrahim appeared first on A.O. Chika.
May 9, 2016
Book Review: Solace by Sierra Riley
Title:
Solace
Author:
Sierra Riley
Genre:
Romance
Release Date:
May 13, 2016
REVIEW:
This is the first book of Sierra Riley that I've read so I'm not sure how to compare it to her other books. The books hype made me expect something out of this world. The book was good, really good but I guess I expected too much out of it.
Shane and Aaron as characters were beautifully created, their chemistry was obvious and believable, they both brought their own baggage and personality making the book had to put down.
The sex was interesting... I mean, *sigh* I never know how to comment on a sex scene, forget I said anything about it.
I liked how both men were flawed, the PTSD and Aaron's anxiety was a nice touch. I also loved how Seira gave Aaron a spine because in the beginning I felt like he was a very emotionally vulnerable baby I would have to protect.
I also loved how I got to watch Shanes journey, it was emotional and very touching, the situation with his ex-wife and daughter ramped up the tension even more.
I love the structure of this book and how all the plot and subplots were tied together to seem like one big plot. It's amazing how Sierra did that!
SYNOPSIS:
“I feel safe with you.”
“It’s not safe for anyone to be around me.”
Shane Carter couldn’t wait to see his daughter after returning home from Afghanistan. Even though the scars he collected overseas ran deep, her light always brought him through the darkness. But when his ex-wife denies him the chance, those scars bleed into every part of his life and Shane is forced to admit he needs help.
“You can’t fool me. I know who you really are.”
Aaron Hayes thought he’d found the perfect career as a service dog trainer. Until he realized speaking to crowds was part of the job description. He’s never felt safe in a crowd, but one-on-one? That’s a different story. And when a handsome and troubled veteran needs his help training a service dog, Aaron doesn’t hesitate.
“You’re the only one who sees me.”
Shane tries his best to keep Aaron at a distance, even though his attraction to the man is undeniable. Convinced a quick fling will get it out of his system, he seduces Aaron. But he soon realizes he’s the one falling under Aaron’s spell. As Aaron starts to become his light in the darkness, Shane fears their future together–or lack thereof. If he can’t even win back his own daughter, how is he ever going to fend off his demons long enough to find solace with Aaron?
The post Book Review: Solace by Sierra Riley appeared first on A.O. Chika.
Book Review: Second Skin by Alex Whitehall
Title:
Second Skin
Author:
Alex Whitehall
Genre:
Sci-fi, Romance
Publisher:
Riptide Publishing
Release Date:
April 11, 2016
Format:
ePUB
Source:
NetGallery
REVIEW:
I am stuck between giving it three and a half stars and giving it four starts.
Interesting premise, some parts made me do a double take; the sudden sci-fi introduction gave me a whiplash, and Jay's reaction to it made me drop my tablet. Up until about 44% (introduction of sci-fi stuff), I was curious about Roswell.
After reading the book description, I was curious about Roswell, it was a bit of a letdown that the Author decided to take the sci-fi route.
PLOT: The concept of this book is original. The author incorporated Sci-fi elements, romance, and a low-key journey of accepting oneself. Thumbs up for the creativity! The prose was fluid, except for the parts where the sci-fi elements came in. I wish there was some preparation, some foreshadowing before that big revelation. Okay to some point, it was foreshadowed, but it was still a big surprise. I felt like I was smacked in the face.
CHARACTER: Jay is a transgender man who’s last relationship was rather awful, that made him somewhat insecure about himself and relationships. Then comes Roswell- sweet perfect Roswell. He's the epitome of the perfect man -handsome, geeky and a great cook.
I would kill for a female version of him.
The attraction between Jay and Roswell was well written, I loved the banter and the easy going vibe they had.
Jay's insecurity and flaws were visible from the get-go, and that made him easy for me to connect to, I’m also glad that he was unlike other trans character I’ve had the misfortune of reading -they are so whiny, so self-depreciating and forever the victim! I love Connor, he's a good bro.
Roswell is also an interesting character, on the surface he seems like the perfect guy, with just enough quirks to make him less overwhelming, but on the inside is a guy kinda afraid of what people would think of him.
Overall, it's a good book. I wish the sci-fi elements was thoroughly foreshadowed, though, it made the flow a bit choppy.
SYNOPSIS:
When Jay heads to the university’s learning center for help with his math class, he doesn’t expect his tutor to be tall, dark, and handsome. But Roswell is all that and more, and their instant connection over cult movies, books, and TV shows quickly evolves into dating.
That’s when things get tricky.
Roswell might claim he doesn’t have issues with Jay being trans, but when he’s constantly insisting they “take it slow,” Jay’s not so sure. He’s been hurt before, and he’s not going to let it happen again.
But then Roswell reveals that he, too, has a few secrets under his skin.
The post Book Review: Second Skin by Alex Whitehall appeared first on A.O. Chika.
Book Review: Mocha Kisses and Coffee by Rawiya
Title:
Mocha Kisses and Coffee
Author:
Rawiya
Genre:
Romance
Publisher:
Thirteen Below Press, LLC
Release Date:
April 1, 2016
Format:
ePUB
Source:
Indigo Marketing and Design Promotions
REVIEW:
It's 8am and I just woke up, I haven't had coffee yet so this might not be a nice review.
There are so many things wrong with this book that I don't know who to blame, the author, editor or the publisher for letting this book get to the public in this state.
I know writing a book is tough but, damn this book was bad. I'd give it 1 and a half stars but since that isn't possible I'll just give it 1 star.
Time to make the donuts
This was the first story in the book and it took me only two pages to know that this book would suck... and I was right.
I hated Chris best friend almost immediately after she was introduced, she seemed like a she was annoying, overbearing and who talks like that? Better still who talks like anyone in this book?
This, of course, brings me to the second thing wrong with this book: The dialog in this book cannot honestly be a called a dialog, it's so forced, unnatural and just plain weird.
At page three, I had this face on: 
Chris and Andre were the most boring, frustrating, one-dimensional characters I've ever read, the author tried to give them some backstory but it didn't take. Also, I know that in a romance book, the focus is usually on the development of the characters but with half-assed characters and half-assed conflict, you get a linear romance story that seems to drag on for ages where the everything about the 'romance' is forced. I couldn't feel any connection to Chris and Andre, so maybe that's why I didn't feel any chemistry/heat/ spark/ or even lust.
And the Instalove at the speed of light? 
The book would have done better if the Author took the time to properly expand the story, rather than shove everything down my throat.
Smooth like Latte
I'll admit to skipping lots of pages because after reading the first story, I wasn't really ready to read another book like it. The same problem in the first happened her, except the instalove didn't move with the speed of light, so yay! a plus.
Brendan as a character is annoying, spineless and God I wanted to get into the book smack him and tell him to get his shit together. Also, who the hell begins hinting towards marriage after dating someone for three weeks, even worse dating someone who has been in the closet his whole life because of his homophobic father. Author-san and Characters-san please get real!
The romance between this Brendan and Latte, while unbelievable, had more spark than Chris and Andre in the first story so yea...
SYNOPSIS:
Simple delicacies like donuts and coffee can bring two people together no matter what their differences; it can make for a very satisfying experience. But deceit can turn those experiences sour.
In these two stories, Cupid shoots his arrows at four men, drawing them to one another through chance encounters that instantly grow into something more.
Time To Make The Donuts
Christopher Wettlon has inherited his grandfather’s Donuts to Go shop. He’s young, educated, and pretty well off, but still something is missing from his life.
Enter Andre Bentley, who seems to have everything going for him. Little does Christopher know Andre is out for more than his fresh, strawberry creams.
The two men are getting along well until Chris confronts Andre about his job. Can Andre ‘work’ himself back into Chris’s good graces?
Smooth Like Latte
Brendan Walsh is committed to working for his irrational, homophobic dad who has threatened to disown him if he comes out gay to the world. Pretending to be someone he isn’t weighs him down. This puts Brendan on edge and alert at all times, leaving little to no time for him to build a steady relationship with anyone.
Davori “Latte” Jenkins is a happy go lucky barista working in the Walsh building. Born and raised in North Carolina, Latte possesses extremely good looks and charms the pants off anyone in his path using his Southern boy attitude.
When Brendan visits the shop Latte works in, they’re immediately drawn to one another. Latte makes him a caramel latte with something extra.
Because Brendan isn’t out of the closet, they keep their thoughts and flirtations private. Once they start dating, Brendan gets the courage to come out publicly and the relationship goes into overdrive. Still, Latte desires something more to define their relationship.
The post Book Review: Mocha Kisses and Coffee by Rawiya appeared first on A.O. Chika.
Book Bio: Living Right
Jenn Henderson is proud of the church-centered life she’s created for her family. She prays each morning, attends worship every Sunday, and confidently takes up the struggle to defend traditional marriage when she learns marriage licenses are being issued to gays and lesbians in nearby San Francisco. But the certainty that she is living right falters after her teenage son, Josh, swallows a bottle of sleeping pills. Her fear deepens when she discovers that Josh struggles with same-sex attraction. If she’s living right, how can Josh be gay?
Desperate for a cure, Jenn and her husband send Josh to a Christian conversion therapy camp recommended by their trusted pastor. Jenn is unwavering in her faith that Josh can be transformed by the grace of God. But as the story unfolds, her husband, son, and daughters seem to be questioning her deepest values, threatening irreparable damage to the tight-knit Henderson family.
Author Laila Ibrahim tackles a subject directly out of the headlines in Living Right, an intimate story about a mother’s struggle to reconcile her religious beliefs with her son’s sexual orientation. Living Right strips away the politics of gay rights to reveal what’s really at stake in this ongoing conflict: family. As with her debut novel, Yellow Crocus, Ibrahim’s second novel explores an intimate and sensitive topic with insight and compassion.
Download Sample Here:
Comment below on what you think, any tips you have for me?
The post Book Bio: Living Right appeared first on A.O. Chika.
Author Highlight: Laila Ibrahim
I’m proud to announce my first ever author feature. Okay, you are probably not as excited about it as I am, but hey, It took me days to get everything ready and I’m going to apologize in advance to the 50+ groups on Facebook and Google plus that the promo posts will be featured in. I hope the Author Highlight posts do not count as spammy, God I hope not!
As you’ve probably guessed, I will be hosting a week long Author highlight from the 9th to 15th of May. The featured author is none other than Laila Ibrahim- Author of Yellow Crocus (over 8k reviews on Amazon). She’ll be discussing her latest Book Living right.
I’ve already read and reviewed Living Right and HOLY FREAKING SHIT it’s good! She’ll be giving out free samples of Living right to everyone, she’ll also be giving out three free copies of Living right, so make sure to enter the giveaway.
I’m not sure how week long Author highlights work but, here’s the schedule for the Author Feature:
Monday (hey, that’s today): Introductory post.
Tuesday: Book Bio
Wednesday: Author Bio
Thursday: Interview Questions
Friday: Excerpt from Living Right
Saturday: Update from A.O. Chika
Sunday: Interview Answers + End of Giveaway
Like I mentioned above, this is my first Author Feature and I want to do it right, so the feature will also be posted on 50 Facebook groups and Google plus communities, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr! Don’t worry I won’t clog you with my enthusiasm.
Download Sample Here:
Comment below on what you think, any tips you have for me?
The post Author Highlight: Laila Ibrahim appeared first on A.O. Chika.
May 6, 2016
Book Review: Freeing Pain: Annex by Lor Rose
Title:
Freeing Pain: Annex
Author:
Lor Rose
Genre:
Fantasy, Romance
Publisher:
Thirteen Below Press
Release Date:
April 7, 2016
Format:
ePUB
Pages:
66
Source:
Indigo Marketing & Design
REVIEW:
Interesting premise but the execution felt short. Transition and pacing were somewhat choppy, also, some words were repeated over and over as though the author didn’t trust readers to get it right the first few times.
Kash curses, while amusing were not so fluid as he was portrayed as a saint up until that point making it feel somewhat out of character. If the author was looking to show a different facet of Kash with, that then congrats!
I followed the book throughout the first half despite the pacing but from the second plot point (when Kash wakes up in Maj's mansion) thing got too complicated and moved too fast, for the light and somewhat slow pacing the author had built up.
I would have commented on how Kash always knew how Maj felt even when he was a Liger but the author explained that with the Empath thing so at least the loose ends there were tied. I do wish the empath concepts was foreshadowed in the first half of the book, and in a way it was showed during his rescue of Teddy, still I got a whiplash when it came up during the second plot point, as I wasn’t prepared for that and it didn’t feel real.
In terms of character development, I can see that the author gave Kash and Maj a character arc which is a plus.
The story was nice and overall I’ll give it three stars, it would have been four if the last half of the book that introduced Kash powers, real father etc. weren't so rushed.
SYNOPSIS:
Jude Kash’s life was filled with abused animals and too little sleep. His work at the We Are One Foundation brought him his new devil-dog Teddy Bear and his new obsession: an abused liger named Sampson.
Sampson suffered from poor living conditions and threats with a gun. Jude, or Kash to his friends, witnessed it first hand when he snuck onto Whitman’s, Sampson’s owner’s, property. When Kash and others from the We Are One Foundation finally make a plan to rescue poor Sampson things go terribly wrong.
When Kash finally regains consciousness he awoke to a very handsome and naked man taking care of him. Kash felt a connection with the man he couldn’t explain. The man introduced himself as Maj and explained everything except for one small detail of his life: he was Sampson, a liger shifter.
Kash took the news considerably well except for one problem, that detail wasn’t so small, in fact, it could cost Kash his life.
The post Book Review: Freeing Pain: Annex by Lor Rose appeared first on A.O. Chika.
A.O. Chika's Blog
- A.O. Chika's profile
- 17 followers
