Josh Lanyon Collected Novellas #2 in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

May 16, 2011 Tracy rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m

(going to have to do this a bit at a time; I tend to pick up and read a bit, then put it down and lose track of the book...)

"In a Dark Wood" was creepy, but compelling enough that, after it exceeded my creep facter I still couldn't put it down till I was done. Usually it takes a lot more than around 40 pages to mess with my head that much, but this one managed it.

"I Spy Something Bloody" was excellent. There was a part of me that was having a bit of trouble coping, since the hero, Mark Hardwicke (going to have to do this a bit at a time; I tend to pick up and read a bit, then put it down and lose track of the book...)

"In a Dark Wood" was creepy, but compelling enough that, after it exceeded my creep facter I still couldn't put it down till I was done. Usually it takes a lot more than around 40 pages to mess with my head that much, but this one managed it.

"I Spy Something Bloody" was excellent. There was a part of me that was having a bit of trouble coping, since the hero, Mark Hardwicke, was just out of Afghanistan, and my husband has been deployed to Iraq twice, but I had a lot of sympathy for both Mark and Stephen, both of whom were hurt by Mark's choices two years ago. Part of me couldn't help but root for Stephen sticking to his guns, even as that same part was breaking my heart over how much Mark was hurting. I know that there's some more Mark-and-Stephen out there; I'm going to have to get my hands on it soon...

"A Limited Engagement" was tragic, sweet and a little sexy all rolled up in one--good things really *do* come in small packages! (sorry, couldn't resist!)

"Dark Horse" is one of my favorites; Sean is such a wonderful combination of strong and vulnerable. Dan is all alpha-cop-knows-best, which can be hot, but I kind of felt like he could have shown Sean more respect by being more communicative about what's going on. Strong and Silent can be all well and good, but not talking about certain things is not good, and can destroy trust. Story is richer on a re-read, having read the sequel/prequel "White Knight."

"Ghost of a Chance" was a bit too short for me. I like shorts where the characters already know each other without a need for a lot of backstory (friends or enemies forever; work partners) because when they're complete strangers and have to fall in really-really-LIKE in just a relatively few pages, it can seem a bit forced and rushed. Especially if one character is being all mysterious and snarly and uncommunicative, while the other is all focused on some personal agenda and possibly rebounding.

Overall, really quite enjoyable. The last story was my least favorite, but it still managed to maintain an almost light-hearted-but-creepy vibe (hard to do) that kept me wanting to know how it was all going to turn out. ...more

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Jul 18, 2009 Emily G rated it really liked it

Shelves: erotica, gay-male, fiction, books-2009, murder-mystery

In a Dark Wood
I liked that Tim's childhood experience had never really left him and had bled through into his adult life and his problems. It was also refreshing that he wanted to deal with those problems before he felt he could be with Luke.

I Spy Something Bloody
I don't have any problem with May/December relationships so I enjoyed this story. I liked the spy angle and how Mark obviously did want to stay with Stephen but didn't really know how he was going to fit into civilian life and so had go ...more

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Aug 02, 2009 Ami rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-romance-or-erotica

In IN A DARK WOOD, Tim and Luke go to the woods to find a haunted house, and along the way, Tim also faces his own haunted past with Luke's help.

In I SPY SOMETHING BLOODY, British agent Mark Hardwicke, returned to the arm of the Dr. Stephen Thorpe, the man he left betrayed and left behind, for a shelter after a mission gone wrong. If only Stephen will give him another chance, of course. I usually dislike May/December love story, but this one is so good, so heart-pulling, I just can't stop lovin ...more

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