Mickie B. Ashling's Blog, page 155

Book Rec!

Hot Head by Damon Suede

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181: Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately Dante is strictly a ladies' man and the FDNY isn't exactly gay-friendly. For 10 years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish.

Griff's caution and Dante's cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there's nothing Griff wouldn't do… until Dante is nearly bankrupt and proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay-porn website where uniformed hunks get down-n-dirty… Now Dante wants them to appear there— together.

Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship

I really enjoyed Hot Heads from start to finish. Sure, it could have ended much sooner, but as an engaged reader, I was happy to keep on going and going. I loved experiencing the turmoil right alongside these two men as they fought to find their happy ending. And you do experience every second of their angst. The fresh new dialogue, pacing, and even the crazy porno arc all worked for me. Thank you for this great read, Damon. I can't wait for your next release.

2 Book Recs

Take My Picture by Giselle Ellis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Aaron has no idea what he's walking into when he shows up to pose for a famous—and famously bad-tempered—photographer. He certainly doesn't expect to end up working as Jake's assistant for five frustrating, thrilling, and crazy years instead of in front of the camera.

It all works until Jake realizes Aaron has become the focus of his life, a life that's threatened when Aaron actually leaves him to start a relationship with someone else. Though it breaks his heart, Jake realizes he has to set his beloved muse free to have any chance of winning Aaron back.

Reprint: This short story was originally published in the Dreamspinner Press anthology Size Still Matters.

Loved it! The writing style, the screwed up characters, the conflict...everything about this unusual love story appealed to me. I got all teary eyed when Aaron and Jake finally admitted their love. It was a beautiful scene and very emotionally charged. Highly recommended.




Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Love, like everything in the universe, cannot be destroyed. But over time it can change.

The hot Texas nights were lonely for Ben before his heart began beating to the rhythm of two words; Tim Wyman. By all appearances, Tim had the perfect body and ideal life, but when a not-so-accidental collision brings them together, Ben discovers that the truth is rarely so simple. If winning Tim's heart was an impossible quest, keeping it would prove even harder as family, society, and emotion threaten to tear them apart.

Something Like Summer is a love story spanning a decade and beyond as two boys discover what it means to be friends, lovers, and sometimes even enemies.

Much has been said about this book and I have to admit that a lot of it is true. Jay Bell is a new author to me and I purchased Something Like Summer because of the great reviews, and the price was right at the Kindle store. There's not much more I can add to what's already been said. It's an engaging coming out story with a wonderfully brave and complex protagonist. I was easily swept up in Ben's quest for a happy ending. Highly recommended.

On the home front, I'm almost done with the edits for Momentos: Mick's Journey which will be releasing at the end of July. I also signed a new contract this week for the sequel to Cutting Cords which will release sometime in November.

Book Rec

Natural Instincts by S.J. Frost

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Andreas Nikandros has one focus, to kill the vampire he believes murdered his sister, and he knows with their greater strength, the surest way to kill a vampire is to become one. As a zoologist, he's used to looking at the world from a natural standpoint, but when he sets out on a quest to find a vampire to Turn him, what he finds in Titus Antonius Calidus is the last thing he expected.

Titus has lived for over a thousand years, and in that time has only ever given his heart to one man. As they follow their natural instincts, they discover something truly worth living forever for, each other

I don't often reach for a paranormal but the setting of Natural Instincts is Chicago and I couldn't resist. S.J. Frost is new to me and I'd like to thank her for a wonderful reading experience. I really hope to see a sequel with Daniel and Ryu playing major roles. They are both great characters, as are Andreas and Titus. I especially enjoyed all the animals that played secondary roles in this great adventure. Titus is one of the sexiest vampires around. Yum...highly recommended!

Book Rec

The Gentleman and the Rogue by Bonnie Dee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A lad from the streets meets a lord of the manor...

When Crimean war veteran Sir Alan Watleigh goes searching for sex, he never imagines the street rat he brings home for one last bit of pleasure in his darkest hour will be the man who hauls him back from the edge of the grave.

A night of meaningless sex turns into an offer of permanent employment. As Alan's valet, Jem offers much more than polished boots and starched cravats. He makes Alan smile and warms his bed. Just as the men are adjusting to their new living arrangement, news about a former soldier under his command sends Sir Watleigh and Jem on the road to save a child in danger.

The journey brings them closer together as they travel from lust toward love. But is Alan's love strong enough to risk society discovering the truth about him?

I picked this up on the glowing recommendation of several well known reviewers. What a treat! Jem, the rogue, is a wonderful character who captured me from the onset. Alan's personality wasn't quite as appealing, but by the middle of the book I was completely engaged in his struggle and really hoped he'd overcome his past and find a happy ending. I have been on a historical binge lately and am delighted to add Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon to my growing list of great authors in this genre. Highly recommended!

On a personal front, another great review for Taste over at Literary Nymphs. I'm so delighted that people are enjoying this novel. It was fun to write about characters I love in my two favorite cities.

Here's the link: http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2011/05/taste.html

My Turn!

I was delighted to see this 4.5 star review for Taste over at Jessewave yesterday. This has been a very stressful month for me and seeing this certainly made my day. Read the review by Feliz here:

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2011/05/24/taste/#more-49513

My turn!

I just came across another lovely review for Taste here:

http://www.nightowlerotica.com/nor/Reviews/Lilyraines-reviews-Taste-by-Mickie-B-Ashling.aspx

Book Rec

Kindred Hearts by Rowan Speedwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it all: an ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can't do, whether it's seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father's controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive when he's dancing on the edge... until his wife's brother comes home from the wars.

Decorated war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his affection—or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying so valiantly to hide from the world

If I could award 6 stars to this novel I would. Kindred Hearts is a beautiful story. If you like historicals, this rich and impeccably researched novel will give you many hours of reading pleasure. It pushed every one of my damn buttons. Ms. Speedwell's characters are wonderfully complex and multi-faceted. I fell for Tristen and Charlie instantly, but I was very surprised at how much I loved Charlotte. What a unique and lovely character she turned out to be. I don't want to spoil this for anyone so I won't say more except, read it! Highly recommended!

Taste Reviewed

I stumbled across this nice review for Taste by Amos Lassen, He had reviewed my first published novel Horizons two years ago and I was pleased to see that he enjoyed this spin-off. Link is here: http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=5773

2 Book Recs

Snowball in Hell by Josh Lanyon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It's 1943 and the world is at war. Journalist Nathan Doyle has just returned home from North Africa--still recovering from wounds received in the Western Desert Campaign--when he's asked to cover the murder of a society blackmailer.

Lt. Matthew Spain of the LAPD homicide squad hates the holidays since the death of his beloved wife a few months earlier, and this year isn't looking much cheerier what with the threat of attack by the Japanese and a high-profile homicide investigation. Matt likes Nathan; maybe too much.

If only he didn't suspect that Nathan had every reason to commit murder.(less)

Excellent mystery/romance set during 1943. The authors attention to all the details of this era is what set it apart for me. I could smell the cigarettes, taste the highballs, and hear the gravely voices of the people hanging around the piano bars. Nathan Doyle is a man on the brink of despair who meets and is attracted to widower cop, Matt Spain, an improbable pairing. Nathan has got to be one of the most fascinating, but truly fractured characters Josh Lanyon has created. I fell in love with him from the onset and was crossing my fingers as I watched his story unfold. I hope this is the first of a long series.


The Cranberry Hush: A Novel by Ben Monopoli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Vince Dandro might be going through the quietest quarter-life crisis of all time. He lives alone, works at a comic book shop, and has a crush on his coworker he can't seem to act on. His life is just fine, but only just fine. Everything changes when Vince's long-lost friend Griff shows up at his house in the middle of a blizzard. They were roommates in college, so close back then that Griff's girlfriend called them "lifebuddies" -- but Vince's love for Griff ended the friendship, he thought, forever. They haven't spoken in years. Why has Griff shown up again? And, more importantly, can Vince handle his return?

Vince and Griff are two twentysomethings struggling to find their places in the world and in each other's lives. This is a story of friendship and love, both unrequited and requited, and learning how to fly through the post-college void, where sometimes the only sound you can hear is The Cranberry Hush.

I found this book through the review on Jessewave and was not disappointed. This is a new author who has self-published this jewel of a book about a gay man in love with his straight best friend. The excellent writing takes the reader on a journey between past and present quite effortlessly. Most of the sex is off page but I never missed it. Highly recommended.

Book Rec

In and Out by L.B. Gregg

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



They were star-crossed lovers from the start.

Former television sensation and renowned world explorer, Holden Worthington, is held prisoner by crippling agoraphobia. When a sexy young laborer arrives to set his property to rights, a ray of light begins to glimmer in Holden's dark and narrow world. A grisly discovery throws the two men together, and Holden finds his world turned inside out-- by his inappropriate longing for his awkward, young employee, Adam Morgan, and by a threat growing around them both. All of Smithfield believes Holden has something to hide, and Adam is determined to bring everything--including Holden Worthington--into the open.(less)

Very enjoyable book! This author is like comfort food for me. When I want to laugh, and cry, and lose myself in a wildly convoluted but terribly romantic story I know where to go. A highly recommended 5 star read.

I've been struggling with the dilemma of whether or not to continue with my book recs. So much controversy has cropped up over the last couple of months regarding the separation between writers and reviewers so I've been hesitant to give my usual one or two liners regarding my latest 4 and 5 star reads. I don't want the simple act of sharing a good book to be misconstrued so I'd like to reiterate-I am not a professional reviewer. My book recs are simply my way of sharing a good read with a friend or friends. If I can garner new readers for authors I've discovered than so much the better. My job is not to criticize, dissect, or tell another writer how to do it better. God forbid! There are professional review sites who do that. If anyone thinks this is a conflict of interest because I'm a published author, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.