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Centauri Survivors Second Chance Chronicles #2
A Cook's Tale
After a breakup, Erron Murfin finds himself broken, homeless, and destitute. The chance to become the Santa Claus's new cook is a beacon he can't ignore. The new position allows him to work under Gamin Rockwell, the man who helped raise him until he disappeared when Erron turned nineteen--well over a decade ago. While the two make up for lost time, Erron catches the eyes of many crewmen as well as James and Barrus, a married pair with real intentions who are determined to draw the cautious new arrival into their relationship. Even as he stitches together his ability to see a future for himself, Gamin's history and personal issues begin to surface. Secrets bubble out in ways Erron can't ignore and he finds himself with a mystery he needs to solve. Because there's something about Gamin that goes far deeper than the fatherly role he once held in Erron's life so long ago.
212 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2015
About the author
J. Alan Veerkamp
9 books31 followersWhile spending years more focused on visual arts, J. Alan Veerkamp never let go of his innate passion for storytelling, wanting to write and draw comic books when he grew up. Once he discovered M/M fiction, a whole new world opened filled with possibilities. Why couldn't you have fantastic and dynamic sexy tales with an M/M cast? He started reading the online tales of authors like, Night Tempest, Rob Colton, and Alicia Nordwell, which only fueled his need to create. Eventually he found GayAuthors.org, and with a little coercive nudge, started sharing his tales with an unexpected level of positive response. The experience and support gave him the courage to cross his fingers and aim for the world of M/M publishing.
Born and raised in Michigan, J. Alan continues to type away, wishing it was practical to use an noisy, old fashioned keyboard that clacks with each strike, if just to annoy his loving partner and spoiled miniature dachshund.
Born and raised in Michigan, J. Alan continues to type away, wishing it was practical to use an noisy, old fashioned keyboard that clacks with each strike, if just to annoy his loving partner and spoiled miniature dachshund.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2015
First let me say I love Mann Ramblings’ stories. I have also read book one, The Luxorian Fugitive, if you haven’t I highly recommend it.
Now to A Cook’s Tale, another great read and the one we’re looking at today.
Hmmm, what can I say without giving away too much? Well, I’ll start with the characters and setting.
Set on a spaceship that caters to only gay males the Santa Clause takes on passengers (also only gay males) and cargo.
The characters are funny, and really well developed, with a history behind each one. In the Luxorian Fugitive we heard about Liam, Hadrian, Mac, and Captain Danverse. In A Cook’s Tale we hear about Erron and Gamin.
I must admit that in places I wanted to bang their heads together. You all know what I mean…he wouldn’t like me…I’m not good enough for him…oh, how you want to just sit them down and say “Look, he likes you, you like him, kiss already.”
But of course the path of love doesn’t run smooth, and there are obstacles and situations they have to overcome to get their happy ending.
My favorite bit of this story has to be the poker game; where one of the characters is caught cheating and dealt with appropriately. Of course, to find out how he was caught and punished you’ll just have to read the story for yourself ;)
It is a great story of overcoming loss and physical impairments, making hard decisions, and of course love winning in the end.
Now to A Cook’s Tale, another great read and the one we’re looking at today.
Hmmm, what can I say without giving away too much? Well, I’ll start with the characters and setting.
Set on a spaceship that caters to only gay males the Santa Clause takes on passengers (also only gay males) and cargo.
The characters are funny, and really well developed, with a history behind each one. In the Luxorian Fugitive we heard about Liam, Hadrian, Mac, and Captain Danverse. In A Cook’s Tale we hear about Erron and Gamin.
I must admit that in places I wanted to bang their heads together. You all know what I mean…he wouldn’t like me…I’m not good enough for him…oh, how you want to just sit them down and say “Look, he likes you, you like him, kiss already.”
But of course the path of love doesn’t run smooth, and there are obstacles and situations they have to overcome to get their happy ending.
My favorite bit of this story has to be the poker game; where one of the characters is caught cheating and dealt with appropriately. Of course, to find out how he was caught and punished you’ll just have to read the story for yourself ;)
It is a great story of overcoming loss and physical impairments, making hard decisions, and of course love winning in the end.
Read
February 17, 2016Personal Tags: War; Hot Angst; Hot Sex; Alpha types; Space Traders; Science Fiction; Not Really Taboo; Older Man/Younger Man; Three Ways.
A Cook’s Tale
I had read the first book in this series, Ship’s Log of the Santa Claus, and had thoroughly enjoyed its premise and the way the whole story carried through. The pace of the first book is well done and the plot unfolds just right. So when I saw there was book two I bought right away. Unfortunately life happens and I couldn’t get to it as quickly as I wanted. Finally, here it is, the further stories and escapades of the crew of the Santa Claus, a trading ship and home to the unwanted veterans and survivors of the Centauri Civil War.
Erron knew the decommissioned ship had once housed over a hundred and fifty soldiers while transporting supplies and vehicles. For the thirty or so current members of the crew, it must be fairly spacious. After the Civil War, the Santa Claus had been purchased by Captain Danverse and populated primarily with a host of men whose military contracts had been bought out after being marked redundant.
THE CHARACTERS
Erron:
With a wolfish grin, Erron peeled his shirt over his head, catching the complete attention of all the players. As his flat, tight stomach came into view, all conversation stopped. Every male in the room projected his need at Erron without a single syllable. He tossed his shirt into the pot before he unbuckled his pants. A collective gasp went through the room as he peeled his clothing down his lean, taut thighs and depositing it on top of his shirt. Erron stood before the men in a pair of snug, wine colored briefs that molded obscenely to his form. “Holy shit, the new boy is packing!” Priest shouted.
… He’d never be large and imposing, his frame didn’t allow it. A lean body and smooth skin could still turn heads. The treatment responsible for his hair growing in green made all the rest on his body the same color. Jade colored hair on his arms and legs was too odd and a green pubic zone made him feel like a perverted clown, so it had to go.
Gamin:
Tall and thick, with coarse hair on his arms and legs, Gamin’s size and sturdiness were a stark contrast to Erron’s smaller stature. Wisps of fur reached around the sides of the chef’s rounded belly that matched the meaty globes of his behind. Everything about Gamin was solid and manly. The peppering of gray on his head and beard fit him as well.
Barrus:
A large man chuckled at the top of the steps. “A little anxious to get on board?” His head was shaved to the point of stubble, matching the growth framing his jaw. Dark eyes and a wide smile made Erron look twice. Strong and confident as he descended the steps, the man wore a snug T-shirt and breeches lined with pockets down the side. He was thick and muscular with a little padding around the waist. Obviously, the man knew his way around the gym, but enjoyed his food as well.
James:
Barrus and James were good together. Slightly mismatched, Barrus was large, wide, and slightly gruff to James’ lean and kept appearance. … A wave of vertigo hit him as gravity upended itself and the ladder was no longer under his foot. He braced for impact, but found himself caught in James’ arms. James may have been leaner than Barrus, but the man was strong and, damn it, he smelled good.
THE STORY
This is a really good M/M Science Fiction story with a solid plot and great characters. All of our favorite characters from the first book are back, the MCs as SCs this time and some of the SCs are now MCs, as it should be. The focus changes from Captain Danvers and Sergeant Jacks to Gamin, the chef, and his story which is intertwined with Erron’s story. Gamin was Erron’s mother’s best friend, until they had a huge falling out and never spoke again, some twelve years previous to Gamin and Erron reconnecting. Erron’s mother was a woman, unlucky in love, who had Erron and Gamin became his father figure as he was growing up.
As Erron joins the crew the angst over his nascent, unacknowledged, feelings for Gamin come in conflict with his feelings for Barrus and James, an open relationship couple with a somewhat, although really incorrect, tawdry reputation onboard. It is this interaction, intertwined with Erron’s reaction to the anti-space nausea medication that sets the stage for a truly heart-warming story.
THE WRITING
Mann Ramblings delivers with his easy flowing, comprehensible style of writing. The story arc flows at a natural, progressive pace without any rough edges or unpredictable jumps to distract the reader away from the emotional, exciting story. The sex scenes are really smoking hot, in an intense M/M way, reminiscent of the first book. Gamin and Niven’s story is told in such a tasteful, emotional and happy manner that I truly felt this enormous sense of loss, adding so much hot angst to this story. The characters are well developed with a complete wholeness about them. I can feel Erron’s mishaps and his feelings, Gamin’s gut wrenching sense of loss and Barrus and James’ interplay and interaction in their relationship. A truly solid, well written book.
I hope we are treated to a third in the series: Barrus and James’ story begs to be told.
Reviewed for - Attention Is Arbitrary Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.com
A Cook’s Tale
I had read the first book in this series, Ship’s Log of the Santa Claus, and had thoroughly enjoyed its premise and the way the whole story carried through. The pace of the first book is well done and the plot unfolds just right. So when I saw there was book two I bought right away. Unfortunately life happens and I couldn’t get to it as quickly as I wanted. Finally, here it is, the further stories and escapades of the crew of the Santa Claus, a trading ship and home to the unwanted veterans and survivors of the Centauri Civil War.
Erron knew the decommissioned ship had once housed over a hundred and fifty soldiers while transporting supplies and vehicles. For the thirty or so current members of the crew, it must be fairly spacious. After the Civil War, the Santa Claus had been purchased by Captain Danverse and populated primarily with a host of men whose military contracts had been bought out after being marked redundant.
THE CHARACTERS
Erron:
With a wolfish grin, Erron peeled his shirt over his head, catching the complete attention of all the players. As his flat, tight stomach came into view, all conversation stopped. Every male in the room projected his need at Erron without a single syllable. He tossed his shirt into the pot before he unbuckled his pants. A collective gasp went through the room as he peeled his clothing down his lean, taut thighs and depositing it on top of his shirt. Erron stood before the men in a pair of snug, wine colored briefs that molded obscenely to his form. “Holy shit, the new boy is packing!” Priest shouted.
… He’d never be large and imposing, his frame didn’t allow it. A lean body and smooth skin could still turn heads. The treatment responsible for his hair growing in green made all the rest on his body the same color. Jade colored hair on his arms and legs was too odd and a green pubic zone made him feel like a perverted clown, so it had to go.
Gamin:
Tall and thick, with coarse hair on his arms and legs, Gamin’s size and sturdiness were a stark contrast to Erron’s smaller stature. Wisps of fur reached around the sides of the chef’s rounded belly that matched the meaty globes of his behind. Everything about Gamin was solid and manly. The peppering of gray on his head and beard fit him as well.
Barrus:
A large man chuckled at the top of the steps. “A little anxious to get on board?” His head was shaved to the point of stubble, matching the growth framing his jaw. Dark eyes and a wide smile made Erron look twice. Strong and confident as he descended the steps, the man wore a snug T-shirt and breeches lined with pockets down the side. He was thick and muscular with a little padding around the waist. Obviously, the man knew his way around the gym, but enjoyed his food as well.
James:
Barrus and James were good together. Slightly mismatched, Barrus was large, wide, and slightly gruff to James’ lean and kept appearance. … A wave of vertigo hit him as gravity upended itself and the ladder was no longer under his foot. He braced for impact, but found himself caught in James’ arms. James may have been leaner than Barrus, but the man was strong and, damn it, he smelled good.
THE STORY
This is a really good M/M Science Fiction story with a solid plot and great characters. All of our favorite characters from the first book are back, the MCs as SCs this time and some of the SCs are now MCs, as it should be. The focus changes from Captain Danvers and Sergeant Jacks to Gamin, the chef, and his story which is intertwined with Erron’s story. Gamin was Erron’s mother’s best friend, until they had a huge falling out and never spoke again, some twelve years previous to Gamin and Erron reconnecting. Erron’s mother was a woman, unlucky in love, who had Erron and Gamin became his father figure as he was growing up.
As Erron joins the crew the angst over his nascent, unacknowledged, feelings for Gamin come in conflict with his feelings for Barrus and James, an open relationship couple with a somewhat, although really incorrect, tawdry reputation onboard. It is this interaction, intertwined with Erron’s reaction to the anti-space nausea medication that sets the stage for a truly heart-warming story.
THE WRITING
Mann Ramblings delivers with his easy flowing, comprehensible style of writing. The story arc flows at a natural, progressive pace without any rough edges or unpredictable jumps to distract the reader away from the emotional, exciting story. The sex scenes are really smoking hot, in an intense M/M way, reminiscent of the first book. Gamin and Niven’s story is told in such a tasteful, emotional and happy manner that I truly felt this enormous sense of loss, adding so much hot angst to this story. The characters are well developed with a complete wholeness about them. I can feel Erron’s mishaps and his feelings, Gamin’s gut wrenching sense of loss and Barrus and James’ interplay and interaction in their relationship. A truly solid, well written book.
I hope we are treated to a third in the series: Barrus and James’ story begs to be told.
Reviewed for - Attention Is Arbitrary Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.com
February 14, 2016
I recently read and enjoyed The Luxorian Fugitive, so I was keen to continue with the series. A Cook's Tale was another delightful read. Perhaps I wasn't as gripped with the characters as with those in the first book, but I still enjoyed hearing their stories. The world-building in this series is good, as is the pacing and character-development. If you are looking for a sci-fi MM series with a wonderful blend of drama and drollery, I recommend Ships Logs of the Santa Claus.
May 6, 2022
Is it just me? The author spends a lot of time setting up our MC Erron as someone very reserved, wary, not trusting himself to be a good judge of character, because he was emotionally screwed up by his ex. Erron is also extremely nervous about fitting in on his new ship's established crew. Then his first interaction with the crew off duty, he agrees have sex with whichever guy randomly wins a game of poker. I was like, WTF?
And this book is 80% Erron in a relationship with someone else before the MCs get their HEA.
This book just wasn't for me.
And this book is 80% Erron in a relationship with someone else before the MCs get their HEA.
This book just wasn't for me.
September 25, 2020
Not bad though I liked the first book better.
February 1, 2023
See my web site for my full review of “A Cook’s Tale.”
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews