Too Good to Be True

Blue Moon #1

by A.E. Via

Angel DeLucca is one of the most sought after gay bachelors in Virginia Beach, but when he tries to find true love, no one takes him seriously. After a one-night stand goes wrong, he comes into contact with hunky, straight, firefighter Maximus (Max) Strong, and Angel’s mission in life is now clear.

Max’s older, protective, brother, Ryker secretly craves the attention and praise of a Master. Angel’s Security Chief, Master Dom, Sebastian ‘Bass’ Bagetteli, shatters that secret with their first intense encounter.

These men’s stories will unravel in a whirlwind of romance, bondage, revelations, action scenes, and very hot sex.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Contemporary, Military Fiction, Audiobook, Gay For You

350 pages, ebook

First published November 8, 2013

About the author

A.E. Via is an author in the beautiful gay romance genre and also founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

When she's not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family--a husband and four children.

Adrienne Via has tons of more stories to tell, but she really would like to hear yours. Via Star Wings Books is currently accepting submissions for established and aspiring LGBTQ authors. I've contracted and successfully published a couple authors - whose information can be found on my website - who can tell you that my passion is giving other writer's stories the love and care it deserves so it could be a gift to another. Visit my site to learn more!

Go to A.E. Via's official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she'll appear next.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Good to be True by A E Via
1st book in the Blue Moon series. M - M romance with erotic elements with romantic suspense in the last quarter of the book. Alternating stories between the brothers, one with BDSM.

Max didn’t know he could be turned on by another man. As soon as he and Angel set eyes on each other, they knew their lives have changed.
A virgin to M-M sex or intimacy, Max asks his brother Ryker for advice.
Ryker has always known he was gay. What he didn’t make public was his yearning to be dominated. Ryker falls for Sebastian in an instant and the feeling is mutual.

This story explores the love each couple feels, and yes, the sex is explicit and detailed, but the author prioritizes the respect, the support and the emotions.
Then it turns from romance to police/former SEAL action in the last quarter.

Romantic and HEA for two couples with beginning intros to others. I love a good HEA.

“He was fighting for the man he knew he was destined to love for the rest of his life.”

This was my first book for the #CMCon22 reading challenge.

[Megan [Semi-Hiatus] · Rating 1 out of 5]

MM Romance
*Included for free with my Audible subscription
Narrated by: Tim Paige

DNF @ Chapter 12

Wowza this is bad but apparently it was this author’s debut in 2014 and since it’s my first read by them, I can only hope they’ve improved. This book is not only written bizarrely but the cover and title made me think this was a paranormal shifter book of some kind when it’s about a nightclub owner and a fireman. Umm ok? 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️ The fireman, Max, has never been attracted to men before but once he meets nightclub owner, Angel, it’s love at first sight. Both of these characters are extremely unlikeable though due to the way this book started. Max had a girlfriend at the start that he had been dating for 3 months and his inner thoughts made it clear she was crazy, a bitch and she tricked him into a relationship. I hate this crazy ex girlfriend plot line so much and this one especially made Max sound like a complete dickhead. Then we have Angel who is a fuckboy that doesn’t want that life anymore but can’t stop himself from sticking his dick in every twink who comes into his club and then whines about always being used. However, they aren’t the only couple in this book because Max’s brother Ryker and Angel’s employee whose name I can’t remember also get together and because this is written in 3rd person, it was super confusing trying to figure out whose thoughts I was supposed to be in. Sometimes it would even change mid chapter with no header informing me it changed!

But what led to me DNFing this was the cringy AF dialogue and sex scenes. Who talks like this? They’ve known each other a week? Maybe? And are saying I love you, calling each other their soulmate and other cheesy horrible phrases that make me want to barf. It’s not the usual “you’re mine, I’m yours” bs either but Max is full on crying before sex baring his soul that Angel is the man he’s been looking for his entire life while he’s about to be speared by his dick even though Max had never been with a guy before or even considered it before now. 🙄🙄 Then to add to my misery, Angel is licking Max’s tears off his face while professing his love, promising to be a great husband when they literally just met! If this had been a shifter paranormal book then the instalove soulmate shit would have made sense but in this context it was just weird.

The romance Ryker gets into with the nightclub employee is clearly going to be some kind of BDSM thing and starts in the next chapter but I can’t stand another minute of this train wreck. I can say with 100% certainty that had I been reading this I never would have made it out of the sample but Tim Paige did a good job and made me want to give it a chance. This book made me wonder how audiobook narrators read some of this shit without cracking the fuck up. I would love a blooper reel because I couldn’t listen to it without cringing 😬 and I can’t imagine TP being able to read it out loud on the first try without dying of laughter. 😂

Even though I’m not at 50%, I rate the audiobooks I DNF especially if the narration is good because I’m usually so entertained by the narrator that I can overlook most flaws so the fact I had to DNF really shows just how cringy and bad this was.

[A.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello M/M readers!

I'm so happy to introduce my very first novel 'Blue Moon' to all of you and say thank you so much for the warm welcome. Fellow authors have been wonderful and so have the reviewers.
While this is my first gay erotic romance, I am far from new to the genre. I've been a loyal reader of m/m for many, many years and each year is more exciting than the last. I just wanted to introduce myself and say thank you for all the support.
Blue Moon will not be my last novel, my second is already contracted and being edited.
I suppose I should say something about Blue Moon's content, so here goes. I have caught some flack from one or two reviewers about the 'insta-love' that's running wild through my pages. That's probably because I'm a hopeless romantic and truly believe in love-at-first site, that has now bled through me and into my characters. I've read hundred of m/m novels and wanted to show readers that there are authors that are not afraid to let their strong male characters love fast and love hard...and my men most certainly do. Don't get me wrong...angst is fine, but every novel doesn't have to have MCs that are running from love and embedded in a closet, where by the end of the story you've only got two or three chapters of love and a sense of relationship. As long as the characters are complex, genuine, and believable than the insta-love can be there. However to pull it off a good M/M romance needs to have a rich plot with interesting twist and actions to go along with the love...and Blue Moon has that in spades.
Hope you all enjoy.

I'd love to hear your comments too.
See more of what's to come on my website: www.authoraevia.com

Sincerely, A.E.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

One smoking hot firefighter and one sexy siren club owner, when they meet it's an instant match.

The introduction to both Max and Angel make them out to be self-centered asses. I had a hard time believing the lip service Angel gave to wanting a "real" relationship when his behavior demonstrated the opposite. I had no trouble buying the Insta-Lust both Angel and Max exhibited, but I did have an extremely difficult time believing in the Insta-Love which accompanied it.

Overcoming the rocky start to this GFY themed story wasn't easy. There were some awkward turns of phrase and it felt like it was trying too hard. Too much was being explained which would have been better served through actions and with fewer adjectives. But what was most disconcerting were the character inconsistencies: Max's parting thought of Luna, Captain's unprofessional behavior in his office, and other instances.There were also a few editing errors for scene consistency that just caused double takes--Angel is drinking whiskey, but has rum-flavored kisses.

Some of my favorite moments in this story were the internal monologues of both Max and Angel.

If I’ve blown this already, I’m going to choke myself with waxed dental floss.

The second half is stronger than the first with the jump to thriller, but there are still a lot of plot lines being told and it feels like lily pad jumping from Max and Angel to Bass and Ryker to the Beasts to the flirtatious set up of two other couples. While all the stories were interesting there was just too much happening and too many characters; it left less time for deeper development. Finally, I had a really hard time accepting Max transformation at the end of the story--I guess it broke my believability barrier.

The overall story was entertaining, but I found it disjointed and cluttered. Also of note, the D/s in this story deals with Ryker and Bass. It is quite touching and lovely, but their story is secondary and thus the BDSM is not of primary focus.

I like different and odd twists so this book will undoubtedly be viewed more favorably by readers who enjoy a more traditional suspense romance story arc. All that said, there's one scene with Max and Angel's hair that will never leave my memory---HOT.

Favorite quote:

Shit, if he’s going to look at me like that anytime we have an argument then I’m fucked.

~~A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
~~~Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews~~~

[Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

struggling to finish this one. I know we have to suspend disbelief, but this is pushing it. everyone is wearing Gucci, Armani, etc and referred to as such. one mc's dad was out and proud in special forces for his career... DADT. describing shots in a nine-ball billiards game that have no part of a legal game. those things bring me out of a story. so far this is a het fantasy romance

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Amira Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Blue Moon Too Good to Be True is the story of two brothers, alone in the world except for each other, navigating their way through their first true loves.

Max Strong is a love 'em and leave 'em ladies man who works for the local Virginia Beach fire department and has recently been promoted to Sergeant. He has never been attracted to a man in all his thirty-three years until he meets Angel DeLucca on a call-out one evening. Angel is a businessman and the owner of the successful Virginia Beach nightclub Blue Moon. Angel is tired of the endless stream of meaningless gay one night stands and is constantly on the lookout for "the one" and recognizes him instantly when he meets Max.

Ryker Strong is Max's older brother and father figure with his own accounting firm and an empty love life. He is a sub without a Master and feels incomplete in his life. Angel’s Chief of Security, Sebastian ‘Bass’ Bagetteli, is also a Master Dom and has been looking for the perfect sub to complete his life and he finds that sub in Ryker the minute the two meet at Blue Moon.

This book comes in three parts. Part one is Max and Angel's love story. Part two is Ryker and Bass's love story. Part three is a high drama story about all four characters after a crime has been committed. We also meet several secondary characters in part three that leave this book open to become a series based on these other characters. Blue Moon Too Good to Be True could have easily been three shorter books of a three part series, but I found it very refreshing that it wasn't. Frankly, I'm tired of multiple short books of a long series.

I really enjoyed Blue Moon Too Good to Be True and found it to be campy, soap-operay fun. The situations were exaggerated and a little over-the-top at times, but always in a flirty, tongue-in-cheek way. You did have to suspend disbelief a few times, but I did so gladly and enjoyed every minute. There was a lot of insta-love going on, but it was necessary for the story to get things moving along in order to get to part three, so my no-insta-love-unless-it's-a-shifter-book rule totally gets a pass here. There was oodles of passion and romance and the sex was smoking hot! First time author A.E. Via will be one for me to watch in the future! She hit my firefighter and BDSM buttons right on the head in her first outing. Can't wait to see what she does in her second!

I can highly recommend Blue Moon Too Good to Be True to all M/M romance fans looking for a fun read with a touch of BDSM, hurt/comfort and just enough of a soapy feel to keep things from getting boring.

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR]

DNF!!! DNF!!! DNF!!!

I love A.E. Via's brand of Insta-attract/lust and OTT but I can't hang with this book. It's just,,,,,,not for me!!!!

[Riayl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sexual harassment is not funny. Noticing your waiter has a crush and pops a boner over someone, then laughing at him about it, then calling him back and making him stand around waiting on you ON PURPOSE so you can laugh at him some more AND make him more aroused & uncomfortable by doing something provocative (if it gets a response, it is provocative, even if it is only hair stroking) and making sexual remarks in order to embarrass him some more and laugh at him - even if not considered sexual harassment, IS the epitome of asshole behavior. It is rude, it is cruel, and it sure as fuck ISN'T sexy, or even remotely funny.

This is the scene: Last night Angel’s dad decided to take them to one of the local favorite restaurants in downtown D.C. It wasn’t a stuffy atmosphere and it had great American food. It was the little lovestruck twenty-one-year-old waiter that had Angel’s father and Max misbehaving, terribly.

The waiter was obviously gay, and had been to Angel’s club frequently.

He recognized Angel immediately. Every time the waiter came to their table,

whether to drop off something or check on them, the prominent boner in his thin uniform pants was right at their eye level. Angel’s dad and Max didn’t even pretend they didn’t notice.

They teased the waiter mercilessly. “Go to the bathroom and yank it out real quick, and then come back, we’re willing to wait.” Max said. “You’ll feel much better once it’s out.”

“Snap a picture of Angel with my phone and use that if it makes it better,” his father said. Angel was humiliated and felt even worse for the young man. Anytime the boy thought he may have his little problem under control he would hear the deep growl of Angel’s voice, and…surprise…there was mister winky again.

When the boy came to pick up their check his face was still beet red. Max pretended he couldn’t find his wallet, making the young man stand at the table and wait for almost five minutes. The whole time Max so-called searched for his wallet, he stroked Angel’s braid very seductively in front of him, making the front of the boy’s pants tent up even higher. When a small wet spot appeared suddenly in the boy’s pants, Angel’s father and Max burst out laughing, causing the manager to come over. Max never told the manager why they were laughing. He just dropped a fifty-dollar tip for the boy and left the restaurant, joking about it the whole way back to his father’s house.

Shame on Angel, shame on his father, shame on Max and shame on the author. I was barely holding on reading this due to the adolescent writing, the awful, hokey sex scenes, the insta-sex, insta-love, GFY, double romance, everything AND the kitchen sink going on, not to mention the wrong usage of words. At one point they are in a pub and at least twice in this scene something "didn't bode well with him". It should have been "didn't sit well with him" because neither of those times was it any kind of ominous feeling of something to come, instead it was something he found disagreeable, so...didn't SIT. (Apparently I found this misuse extremely annoying.)

While they are at the pub it is robbed. And Max can amazingly tell that the fully clothed (long pants, long sleeves, face masks) robbers are not only young, but also that they are junkies, and vagrants. Because all criminals are obviously homeless, especially when fully outfitted in clothing to hide their identity and wielding guns.

But you know, its been a shit day, week, month, year so far and I was willing to go pretty far for some happy fluff, so I ignored all of that. But the restaurant scene broke me. While the characters, and author I must assume, found that behavior funny, I found it cruel, heartbreaking, and sick. Definitely not something I expect from a main character in a romance novel when it isn't part of the plot. By that I mean, there is an understandable reason for the behavior, fear - such as a closeted gay character saying or doing something cruel to hide the fact they are gay, or for protection of another (I watched IRIS, the movie, the other night and the hero had to hit the heroine in front of the bad guys in hopes that he could keep her alive and get her free). That doesn't make the behavior okay but the reasons behind the behavior can allow for growth and forgiveness of the behavior.

But if you are pretty much already at the happy ever after part and your hero is an ass - there is no room for growth, especially when no one in the book sees it as problematic.

Anywho, pardon the rant. Some other time, maybe I would have just one starred it and moved on, but I was not in the mood to let it slide today.

[Pandora · Rating 1 out of 5]

(This book was provided for free by the author is exchange for an honest review.) I could not connect with this book. The problem seems to be implausibility on every level.

First, the characters seem too perfect. This makes them shallow and unbelievable. When they meet, they experience instant true love. There are three separate couples who become soul-mates within days of meeting each other. The insta-love cheats the reader out of the real uncertainties of first attraction. We don’t get to see two real individuals getting to know each other and earning each other’s regard. Instead, we get dialog during the sex scenes as the characters reaffirm at length how special their love is. And that just isn’t what men do during sex.

Second, there are too many plots crammed into the basic story. Three separate couples find true love. AND there is a thriller plot involving a special ops rescue. This makes for too much frenetic action like in a comic book. Then a sex scene hits and slows everything down for pages of detail. All this makes the pacing uneven.

Third, the atmosphere of the story is an unrealistic fantasy of the lives of the rich and beautiful. Because I could not believe in the story, it became tedious for me to read through to the end.

To give an example, the constant dropping of expensive brand names got ridiculous. The characters smoke Marlboros, light them with a Zippo, and ride a Harley when not driving a Dodge pickup. They wear Armani silk shirts, black Balmain jeans, and midnight Gucci blazers that match their Gucci shoes to perfection. They drink Glencairn glasses of Makers Mark bourbon. They also wear Yves Saint Laurent blazers coupled with an ivory and blue cashmere vest, Dolce & Gabbana dark denim jeans, Kenneth Cole midnight-black boots, and cologne, something expensive but manly, like Armani or Azzaro Chrome or Clive Christian. This dropping of brand names is a cheap substitute for showing us a character’s financial success or sense of style. What if I don’t know what the name Azzaro Chrome is? (Better to describe the exquisite smell. Or have one character recognize the price tag per ounce or something.)

It feels like this story just slaps some over-the-top elements together without taking the time to do it right. (This applies to research as well. Angel says about his father: “Being gay and out in the Special Forces didn’t go over so well for his dad in the beginning. So he had to kick ass left and right to prove himself.” Absolutely no way. Nobody’s father was openly gay in the military. Not even as recently as Desert Storm.)

Because there are too many things going on in Blue Moon, nothing is developed enough to make me care about it. Because the characters are so perfect and hot, there is no complexity to them. If you are in the mood for a light one-time read about hot people having hot sex, this might work for you. But who even has spare time for this anymore when there are so many better gay romance books out there that will make you believe and engage you emotionally?

[Monique]

DNF ~ That makes it sound like this book was really bad, but in truth, it's not... there are some great parts to this book... but unfortunately I just couldn't get past the insta love aspect. Plus I enjoy a little angst in my books and there was none to be found... So if you hate angst and don't mind the whole insta love theme, then this book is definitely for you.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made assumptions! Moon a color and shirtless dudes. Would have sworn this was a shifter book. No I didn't read the blurb. Yes I chose a book by its clever art design. My take away...well

This wasn't a book to listen to at work. They got right into the smexy times. The wayward feelings of one night stands being boring. Your family a.k.a. best friends, the club you own's bartender and day manager, use open placements as a dating pool. Because they are happily married and they want the same for you.

Enter the fire fighter...here's when I forgot that I'm not at home and become entranced with this world.

It was a great time. I only procrastinated on a few task. They are due next week, anyway!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story as I have enjoyed all of A.E. Via's stories. It has action, loads of romances, yeah...more than one... true love and acceptance. Chracters include firemen, SWAT, Navy Seals, hot night club owner, and some that we never suspect are who they are. Ms. Via explains some aspects of BDSM that are often misunderstood. It's not all whips and chains. She also makes us see how much each man needed to be with their partner in the roles of master and submissive...not as a slave but as a true partnership, living a lifestyle in which they loved and truly cared for one another. As one character explained to his brother "it makes me happy that I am finally at peace". We see a father's love for his son in spite of the said father being a big, tough, alpha male. These men were putting their lives on line to save others and their own without question. Thank you Ms Via for this wonderful experience. This should be made into an action movie! Please just keep writing and I'll keep purchasing & reading. I have the next two books and can't wait to again meet with some of the characters that graced the pages of this one as we learn their stories.

[I~❤️~Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand why some people did not really like this book...but lucky me...I was in the mood for this kind of book.😉😀...So I liked!
Now I want to know more, about Pierce and Hawk. 😉😀

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review written for The Blog of Sid Love.

Firemen and BDSM sound like a fabulous combination. This story is a little different than that though. It is told in three parts, the first being about Max, the firefighter, and Angel, the entrepreneur club owner. There isn’t much in the way of BDSM in their story. However, it was wonderful to watch their relationship grow. Poor Angel just can’t seem to find someone who wants an actual relationship with him. That is, until Max crosses his path. Max is an, until meeting Angel, straight fireman. They can’t seem to fight their attraction, and it is a wonderful, sweet story to watch unfold.

Part 2 is about Max’ brother, Ryker, who basically raised Max after their aunt and guardian died. He is a successful accountant who is looking for a dom relationship to take control from him. He finds that when he meets Angel’s head of security, Sebastian, a Master dom who has been looking for some time now for just the right guy/sub. I had a little trouble at times seeing Ryker, the strong, successful businessman, become a completely timid and obedient submissive, but these guys were really good together.

Part 3 is about both couples after Angel gets caught up in a bit of a mess. Angel’s father and his uncles (all members of a military team who raised Angel) step in to kick some major ass and save the day. There is a bit of a side story here with Angel’s dad and the head detective, but we only really get a taste of that potential.

My biggest issue with this story, which is just my own personal issue, is that there was insta-love involved with every couple. Max and Angel love each other the same weekend of their first date, and Ryker and Sebastian don’t take much longer than that. Even Angel’s dad and his hot detective were experiencing a bit of it. However, things actually needed to happen the way they did to move this story along at the pace it was setting.

Putting that aside, this was quite an enjoyable fun tale, with a smidge of BDSM, that held my interest to the end, and I certainly wouldn’t mind reading about them again. I’ll definitely be looking to read more from Ms. Via in the future.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review may be mildly spoilery.

3.5 stars

I have read A.E. Via's other books, but this one was lost on my Kindle for a while. There was a lot in this book that would normally turn me off, but for some reason I found myself enjoying this and it turned out to be a fun poolside read with a little bit of everything. Sort of like a summer blockbuster movie where you turn off your critical thinking, step out of reality and wait for things to get blown up.

Full of insta-love, and really made up of three parts, brothers Max and Ryker both find just what they need. I found myself liking the characters, especially the brothers who have been through so much together. Firefighter Max's story is GFY as he finds instant attraction to successful club owner Angel, while Ryker's is a BDSM light (and you really have to suspend disbelief and forget anything you know about BDSM relationships for it) pairing with Angel's head of security, Bass. The third part of the story brings everyone together for a kidnapping story, sets up some pairings for the next book and yes, things get blown up.

So regardless of the insta-love, insta-collaring, constant label naming descriptions of clothes, drinks, and glassware, and soap opera like story arcs, I had fun reading this. A.E. Via always writes some very sexy scenes and this book was no exception. Throw in a bunch of alpha men, a SWAT team, a group of Navy SEALs, firefighters, drug lords, robbery, assault and other felonies, with a healthy dose of steamy sex and some very sweet moments between the men and it was just crazy enough to be fun.

[Makhda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Be warned. This is super cheesy and OTT book. I'm lucky I'm in the mood for this.

What I liked :
- As usual with this author, I feel great chemistry with the characters.
- Not only we get Max and Angel's story, we also get Bass and Ryker's story. And I must say I loved them better than the MC's. *yikes*
- Insta love with high sexual tension.
- Rounded up because I'm in love with Bass and Ryker. <3

What I disliked :
- Sex scene with o/m (descriptive) before the MC's met. I dismissed this.
- Unbelievable GFY. I don't know. I just don't buy it. Max is bi.
- Foregone condoms at the first gay sex experience. Wtf, right? I keep chanting 'this is fiction, this is fiction'. Otherwise I would be really pissed. And that's not fun. We should read for fun.
- The way Angel's dad and Max mocking a waiter just because he was popping a boner for Angel. Seriously? Not cute. I didn't find it funny at all.

[Kaity · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I currently am having a love hate relationship with AE Via’s books I think I have currently read I think four and of those four I have DNF’ed 2 or maybe more…?

Something about this one I didn’t hate but didn’t love. I think the jumping POVs within the chapter and since it’s all 3rd person it takes me a minute to catch up. Also the fact there’s a lot more telling than showing is a bummer, I feel like this could be taken to a higher rating.

And since this had 2 couples in the book getting together simultaneously it was hard to really get to connect with the scenes and characters since it would switch POVs a lot. And there were two more couples who had some page time at the end which made it 6 couples wanting page time in this book! A little much for me to connect with any of the characters.

Also some of the things they did while doing the deed was a little weird for my tastes haha but to each their own!

Overall entertaining but wished for more.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flowery girly mm. Cheezy. Cliche. Brand name conscious. Clunky writing. Two romance stories in same book - The first half was instant gay for you with one brother, then abruptly introduced an instant D/s romance with second brother. WTF action scenes. Happy ending though. Not totally bad book, but not good enough to read unless you want to kill time waiting in a busy airport. Felt more in the genre of mm shifter novels.

There was a lot of page time devoted to Angel's sexy hair but the author wimped out. I kept waiting for Max to wrap Angel's "coconut-smelling silky smooth straight long black hair" around his "deep purple dick" and jerk off. Mess it up with his own conditioner. Oh well.......

[D.L. Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧🎧🎧🎧

You know I thought the last AE Via book I read was a fluke. The one that was so OTT and silly that I gave it a higher rating than it deserved. I mean I loved Bishop, it was so sweet and a slow burn with the perfect amount of angst. Not that instalove with characters that more so resemble caricatures.

I dunno but I might be done with this author. Maybe one more chance.

[Adrianamae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fluff is one thing, but this badly plotted book is just ridiculous.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.3 Stars

(SH:93)

Too much about this book drew me out of the story and made it hard for me to like. From the ridiculous fashion plate name-dropping to the weird idioms and oddly used colloquialisms. It happened so often I stopped making a list...

Some things that irritated me an editor would have caught. (If there is an editor, then a better one.) Not sure how misused words get through otherwise. (An "eloquent" drinking glass? "Switching his tight ass" in reference to how he walks?) Or why they'd let a simile comparing a serial killer chasing down their victim to the MC being cornered so he can "get it, and get it good." WTAF? Or claiming that someone's "heart rate and pulse are fairly normal." That's the same fucking thing. Or how about claiming to be an anal sex virgin, but then saying that "nothing compared to a warm, pulsing cock that shot a load inside." How the fuck would he know that if he's never had that experience? Oh, and that first experience? No lube. Just him sucking his Master's fingers t0 "soak his digits good." For a virgin. Yeaaaaah.

Speaking of words with extra letters for emphasis: If you're going to do that, make it the letters you actually draw out. Sound it out. See, "fuuccckkk" would then be pronounced fuucuhcuhcuhcuhcuhcuh; you probably wanted "fuuuuuuuck". "Mistttirrrrr" would be mistuhtuhtuhirrrr (needed more Ss but the multiples Rs are applicable). And that's just two of a dozen or so that jumped off the page. *eyeroll* Or, you know. Don't do that.

Oh, hey. How about saying that the saved little girl's family was being put up in a motel at the expense of the "state" (fire victims are usually assisted by the Red Cross) like they are destitute and unable to care for themselves when in fact said little girl's grandfather was the city's fucking mayor. Trust me, his people would have had that covered and if so, then it's taken care of by the "city."

Not to mention: That stunt he pulled by giving the girl his facemask? Sure heroic (not a NATIONAL hero, though as was claimed here) but it's also against all sorts of rules & regulations and likely would have been the basis of a rejected worker's comp claim making all his medical bills his own and no pay for the weeks he was out of work. Might mean the loss of some OSHA and firefighting certs, plus the basis of a write-up. Also, not qualified him for any kind of medal or commendation because that type of action isn't encouraged. It's like when you're on the plane and the attendants tell you to put your own fucking mask on before you help anyone else. JFC.

So, the hospital? Keeping one's family away from a patient isn't going to be "standard procedure" anywhere for a head injury (especially one so minor that has him released that quickly). And if someone has an Irish accent, maybe not write it out so that it sounds like they're actually from Jamaica. ("Didn't ya say dat...dat was you?") Or Australia. ("Let's get a good gander at ya, mate.")

Couple more:

☹The words "SEALS" and "Special Forces" aren't interchangeable. They get pissy when you do that. Kinda like when someone calls their sub a "ship." I don't know why, they just do. (They're "boats" for some reason, despite the "USS" designation and being ocean-based/independently powered.)
☹There ARE, in fact, rules to war and combat. Please see anywhere that references the Geneva/Hague conventions, Nuremberg, UN protocols...
☹No one has National Security Clearance and is "ten times above any law." See above regarding rules to war and combat.
☹Unlimited ammunition is not an actual thing unless you're sitting outside the factory and someone is feeding it to your gun from the production line. "Virtually" would have been a good modifier there.
☹It is not possible to come "for hours." Several times in an hour, sure, I buy that. But not one straight orgasm lasting hours. My muscles are cramping in sympathy & hurt just imagining that.
☹I don't know what distinguishes a Versace suit from a Gucci suit so maybe some other, more descriptive terms would be helpful that detail the cut, collar, length, lapels and whether it's single/double-breasted and has 1, 2 or 3 buttons. (However, I do know that an Armani or Hugo Boss suit has a distinctive look and that is one of high class and sophistication. The only thing I know in regards to a Gucci suit is that it might be pink.) (That's a Shelter reference.)
☹Firefighters are not interchangeable with SWAT forces either. Different skillset. Promise.
☹If someone isn't going to give in to your seduction, then, "I will fucking take it" is threatening RAPE, YOU ASSHOLE. It's not a sexy come-on.
☹Retinas are on the back of the eye; they do not have or change colors. If you're seeing someone's retina then something is very, very wrong. (Or you're an eye doctor.)

More important than any of these irritatingly minor quibbles is the too often repeated, offensive use of "pansy-assed" and "pussy" and "bitch slap" as derogatory terms by men trying to play up their own masculinity and put down less macho gay men. Oh, and the bi-erasure. See, if an MC has always been straight, finds women attractive, has sex with them, loves big ole titties (their words) and then finds out he is also attracted to a guy? It's not a given that *flip* now he's gay. He could also be bisexual. That is indeed a thing. A real and honest and true orientation. Still being attracted to women does not diminish the feelings he may have toward this new guy...

God, there was so much more but I gave up before I threw the Kindle through a window. I didn't even mind the Insta-love, and I don't remember ever having a problem with any of the author's other books (I actually really liked some of them). So, yeah. Moving on (and not to the next book in this series).

[Darien · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author’s books can get a little over the top but I still very much enjoy them, except for this one. It was vey painful to get through and just no good.

I’d like to forget it.

[Bitchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite by this author. Too much crazy, too much instalove, too much sappy dialogue. Full review to come.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

When you read sex scenes with "I love you" and "You are my only one" and both guys are together for the first time then you know the author of that book is WOMEN.

That story plot is disappointment on the whole line.

Story plot has many good characters thrown into one story; it's just sad how good start went toward bad ending. I don't get what author "A.E. Via" tried with that book. Its just like some kind of lemonade.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
This story had good bones but what I didn't like was:
To many cutesy names right from the get go.🤨
The instant love wasn't believable .
A situation with Max and Angel happened where Max froze up when Angel needed him the most and in the end Max looked like the savior which was so far from the truth!!! 😠
Ryker being into BDSM didn't feel believable either.
Overall just not what I'm use to with this author.🙄

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I would rate this book anywhere between 3 - 3.5 stars.

Warning: For those who dislike insta-love then this is not the book for you. Both relationships have the insta-love theme. Also this book does have some very unrealistic events. Personally this does not bother me because I expect it in fiction, but I know it can bother others.

The story starts off at the club Blue Moon. Angel is the owner of the club. He is they type of guy people flock to, but he is tired of the typical one night stands. He wants something more. One night he meets firefighter Max Strong. Angel knows this is the guy for him and Max has the same connection. One problem though, Max is not gay. Max is very open to the possibility that he could like men.

The one person Max always turns to when he is confused or in trouble is his older brother Ryker. Max and Ryer grew up in an abusive home and Ryker practically raised Max. He has always been there for Max. With Ryker’s support Max sets out to see where a relationship with Angel would lead.

In the meantime, Ryker has been carrying a secret. He desperately needs someone to submit to. He has spent his entire life caring and looking after others, that he needs someone to do the same for him. He meets Sebastian “Bass” at the Blue Moon. Bass is Angel’s Security Chief and a Master Dom. Bass knows exactly what Ryker needs but Rykers biggest fear is to give everything to someone and in exchange have them turn him away. Once again there is a insta-love connection between the two. Honestly, my favorite couple is Ryker and Sebastian. You can see how they easily fit together. The insta-love was a little off-putting, but not a deal breaker for me.

Overall the story flowed nicely. There was little downtime which was great. The book is separated into three parts. The first part is about Max and Angel getting together and introducing Ryker and Bass. The second part is about Ryker and Bass coming together and Max and Angel’s relationship building. The last part was when all hell breaks loose and the drama hits.

Like I said earlier, there are a lot of unrealistic events happening in the book but it is genuinely a sweet story. For me, the main focus of the book was the brothers Max and Ryker. Max has always relied on Ryker for help in every situation and Ryker always took it up the challenge to help his brother no matter what it cost him. During the book you see the shift from Max relying on Ryker to working things out for himself. Ryker works to let go of his role as Max’s rescuer and focuses on his own needs for a change.

I did enjoy the book and would definitely look for the others in the series. If you want a nice read filled with alpha males and men looking for everlasting love, then this would fit nicely.

[Absynthe · Rating 1 out of 5]

The words train wreck, outlandish, incongruous, improbable, far-fetched, ridiculous and melodramatic come to mind.

This hyper-masculine firefighter, who was straight until like a week ago, is crying because he wants his new bf to f**k him so badly. Ummm.... You lost me coach! And insta-love. Yay. Life partners after four hours. Ooookay.

Then half way through, this book completely mutates. Not in a good way. It's like 4 other really bad books got together in some dark, dank corner and had a word orgy. Giving birth to a mutated monster that should have never seen the light of day. Is this is romance? BDSM? Crime thriller? Book about SEALs and soldiers? Drug dealers? I don't know and neither does the author.

Oh and the bouncing between masculine posturing and weepy-ness is totally giving me whiplash.

This is a whole heap of "WTF?!?!" with sprinkles on top.

[~BookNeeds~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of A.E. Via, I’ve read most of her books and this was chilling in my “to read” list and it didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed the 2 in 1 book couples.

[Rosebud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angel DeLucca, entrepreneur, businessman, bachelor, man whore. His crown jewel ocean front club is a popular draw for those looking for a good time with a secondary consequence that Angel is never without a willing man to hook up with. Yet, Angel craves something more, a meaningful relationship with someone who sees the real him instead of the show man front he puts on for his business.

Firefighter Sergeant Maximus Strong is on the fast track in his career but it's only because of a lot of hard work. His latest promotion validates that his work is being noticed. Maybe it's time to get serious with his girl friend and look at the proverbial home with white picket fence, kids, and family dog future.

When a call comes in regarding a fire at a popular nightspot on the 4th of July wknd, Max realizes things could go south fast. Luckily it turns out to be a false alarm but as senior officer he needs to determine if the club should be cited for wasting the department's time and resources.

Experiencing conflicting feelings that have Max questioning his own sexuality, he turns to his openly gay brother Ryker for advice, feeling the consequences of his actions could be a career ending decision.

Little does he realize that his relationship with Angel will set off a chain of events that will affect his and Angel's family forever.

* * *

This book has three parts that feature three different couples. The first is obvious featuring Angel & Max. The second features Max's brother Ryker and his guy, the third you'll have to find out who by reading the book but a teaser: includes a blindside, C-4, and mobilizing high level law enforcement agencies.....

Part one of this book featured Angel, affluent openly gay entrepreneur and Max, blue collar existing hetero male. Now tell me, who doesn't love firefighters with their chiseled muscles and hero in the making demeanor. Man on man adult content scenes between the two are a no brainer.

Part two picks up on Ryker, Max's brother, who is a submissive desperately seeking his Dom. Not the poser and/or wanna be Dom's he's met so far. No, a Dom who knows and can appreciate what he could provide, total submission.

Part three is the mystery part (on my part). It basically brings the overall book full circle while adding the intro for other installments in this series.

While the concept and premise of this book/series was promising, the actual implementation was lackluster and lacking. I'd highly suggest the author go back and get a professional editor to revise this book as it's filled with inconsistencies, choppy scene to scene flow, failure to address details & follow through, and drags. I had a hard time getting past the first third of the book wanting to categorize it as 'DNF' and move on. The only reason I didn't was because it was a reading challenge book. I'm happy that at the approximate 50% point the story picked up and gave me hope. Annnnnnnnd, after a point, started drifting into 'DNF' status again. Non-spoiler examples include: addressing one character as 'father-in-law' CHAPTERS before that's even a possibility; "thick platinum link chain ....." ".... each link was encrusted with a two-caret green diamond stud"..... wtw?; being assaulted and/or robbed without law enforcement involved; a child's identity factor; bumbling law enforcement assigned to a prominent important case. Details matter.

Secondary characters served as a foil for the story and main characters. One group included Angel's father's associates. Readers will have their favorites but the good news is that most of them will be features in Blue Moon II: This Is Reality, next in series installment.

Each author has their own writing style and way of expressing themselves. Readers will gravitate to the style that appeals to them. In this case I felt the story was written with attention to factoids, identification of fashion & product line branding, and an obsession with hair. It lacked (for me) emotionalism and non objective elements normally associated with a romance which I look for to support the evolving relationship potential. Further, confusing/incomplete sub plots frustrated me immensely. Characters need to keep true to themselves and if a scene element impacts the story I want and need to know how it ends up. Girlfriends, heists, heroic commendations, etc.

For me to connect/bond to a character and or story I have to feel the overall reading experience has a viable touch of reality though I realize fiction makes the impossible possible. This story failed to do that for me though there were pockets of brilliance that have me on the fence whether to grab the next or any follow up installments in the series. One time I'd happily appreciate anyone who has read the series to let me know if there are improvements as the purchase price for them have me hesitating.

[Lisa ~ Books Are My Drugs ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A copy of this book was given to me as part of the M/M Romance Group's Don't Buy Me Love program in return for my honest review. I have not received any compensation for this review, it's freely given.

Things that I had issues with:
1. That vs. who - when referring to people who should be used instead of that. That should be used when referring to things. This drives me crazy to the point that it takes away from my overall enjoyment when it's done a lot & it's done throughout the entire book.
2. Insta-love doesn't work well for me in a story that isn't paranormal. All the new couples in this book had the insta-love going on. I would have like to have seen more build-up to the love declarations.
3. Dialogue seemed stilted - probably because of a lack of contractions.

I did like that the men in this book were strong characters who aren't afraid to be themselves.

Max Strong meets Angel DeLucca when he responds to a false fire alarm at Angel's club. Angel has sworn off casual hook-up, he's wanting a life partner. But he's instantly massively attracted to Max and he believes Max is attracted to him as well. When the two have a chance meeting at a different bar, Angel is glad he might get the chance to see where the attraction could lead. It only gets ramped up when the pair bond over some badassery. Max takes a chance & asks Angel on a date.

The pair have a good date & afterwards Max gets his first taste of man-on-man love & he's in it to win it. This is where the insta-love for these two happens. Then they're practically inseparable. Max runs into some trouble when he rescues a little girl from a fire & doesn't properly use his safety equipment. His brother & Angel are kept from him & Ryker (the brother) gets in-your-face livid with the doctor until Angel's head of security, can talk him down. This leads to Ryker & Bass exploring the beginning of their relationship when Ryker realizes Bass could very well be the Master he's been wanting to take care of him. So Ryker & Bass hook-up & it doesn't take much for them to be in insta-love either.

The big conflict in the story is when Angel is kidnapped by a drug lord who thinks Angel is trying to replace him in the city's drug business. Angel's dad & his badass team of SeALs come to the rescue as well as a couple of FBI agents (one of whom Angel's dad is instantly attracted to), Max, his best friend, & the SWAT team. More badassery occurs in order to rescue Angel.

The ending leaves with Max & Angel getting engaged & possible sets up a sequel for Angel's dad & Special Agent Fox from the FBI.

So for me, not a terrible story. I would probably read another book from this author. I'm curious enough about how a story with Angel's dad & SA Fox would play out.