Country Mouse (Country Mouse, #1) in Riptide Publishing

Mar 19, 2012 Darien rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m-short-stories, 2012-reads, my-m-m-lovin, tie-me-up-and-use-me, release-2012, pants-off-reviews

So some crazy shit happened! Amy Lane and Aleks Voinov wrote a book together. I know what you’re thinking ‘OMFG! Am I gonna die of angst? Will someone be dying, getting raped? Will I be crying; will I throw my e-reader?’ The answer is no folks, you will be freaking smiling and losing your pants all over the place. I can see your shocked faces, the WTF faces, of are we talking about the same Amy Lane and Mr Voinov. It’s them alright, and it comes through in the writing.

Owen is vacationing in So some crazy shit happened! Amy Lane and Aleks Voinov wrote a book together. I know what you’re thinking ‘OMFG! Am I gonna die of angst? Will someone be dying, getting raped? Will I be crying; will I throw my e-reader?’ The answer is no folks, you will be freaking smiling and losing your pants all over the place. I can see your shocked faces, the WTF faces, of are we talking about the same Amy Lane and Mr Voinov. It’s them alright, and it comes through in the writing.

Owen is vacationing in Europe, and currently checking out the sites London has to offer. His tour guide, also his ex-girlfriend hooked up with an old flame and Owen has to entertain himself in a city he doesn’t know. He finds himself in a seedy bar, with questionable looking beverages and drinking glasses. Owen says what the heck, might as well just kick it, until the over confident man approaches him and offers him a drink. Owen is unsure if he’s feeling the sexy stranger, but what the hell he’s on vacation.

Malcolm has just been stood up by his sub, when he spots the ‘Yank’ and he’s just looking to get off. He thinks he can top the crap out of Owen cus he has that look, but clearly Malcolm called this one wrong. Owen is so much more than he anticipated, and is bringing out a side in him that he prefers to keep hidden.

The guys hook up, and let me just say hells never been hotter, or sugar any sweeter. Malcolm and Owen pull out surprises and you can see what character belonged to which author. It’s surprising that the author, who gave us Talker, presented us Owen. Or the man who wrote Silvio blessed us with Malcolm. Though not the same level of memorability, but fuck they are just so much fun. I am talking about going all Julie Andrews with “the hills are alive with the sound of music” birds chirping and just feeling so good you can’t help but smiling.

I have to say that Malcolm is my fave because he pretends to be all toppy and ‘I am an island’ but he just wants to be lurved. Plus, I love a man in glasses it's my very own Krytonite. Owen is so cute, and he might be country but he throws down like a big city boy. We can’t forget that London sets the tone for these guys to fall for each other. The description of all that awesome would have me salivating over my sexy tour guide. And they say Paris is the city of love, obviously they never toured the streets of London.

Overall, I really enjoyed Country Mouse! It made me smile, and lose my pants all in the same bloody paragraph. Owen and Malcolm truly are a delight and I would love to read about them again.

Real Talk: I am just loving this dynamic duo and I hope they have something for us in the future. If they decide to write the angst, and bring the sad and tortured. I am not worried, I have a defibrillator on hand and I’m not afraid to use it.
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Apr 18, 2012 Heather C rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cloud, m-m, ebook, contemporary-romance

Lane and Voinov...now that's an odd combination... but it worked perfectly for me. To be honest, I was terrified of reading this book simply because of the two authors named on the cover. I expected it to be hardcore and full of angst. But no, it was the complete opposite. There really was no angst at all and it could even be said that it was a little too perfect and a little too unrealistic, but it fit my mood perfectly at the time.

It was about Owen, the toppy country mouse, falling for Malcol ...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Jody rated it it was amazing

Before I get to a more in-depth review of this book, can I just say how wonderful this book cover is?.? The visual representation of them is exactly as is written and demonstrates the differences between these two men and yet shows how great they look together.

And together they are simply divine, as is this story. In too many of the books I've read that feature BDSM acts, the reason an individual chooses the lifestyle isn't made clear, but in this story it's clear that Malcolm chooses the lifes Before I get to a more in-depth review of this book, can I just say how wonderful this book cover is?.? The visual representation of them is exactly as is written and demonstrates the differences between these two men and yet shows how great they look together.

And together they are simply divine, as is this story. In too many of the books I've read that feature BDSM acts, the reason an individual chooses the lifestyle isn't made clear, but in this story it's clear that Malcolm chooses the lifestyle because of how he perceives himself in the high pressure business world. He doesn't feel he has time for anything other than business, so having a meaningful relationship is out of the question. He takes any emotion out of being with someone by being totally in control. He was closed off upon first meeting him, very business-like. Seeing him have doubts as he and Owen got together made him more human, more likable, and his sweetness made me smile.

Owen might have appeared pliable at the beginning, but he quickly showed he had a backbone. I liked that he wasn't a pushover and that he demanded honesty from Malcolm before being with him. I liked his outgoing nature that pulled Malcolm out of his shell. He was close with his mother but was by no means a momma's boy. He made Malcolm see his world with new eyes and it made Malcolm a new and more endearing person.

The descriptions of London completely immersed me in the environment and I felt like I was on vacation too. Malcolm and Owen's sightseeing allowed their relationship to grow and the sexual tension to keep intensifying. This led to some amazingly hot and sensual sexual interludes that were nicely spaced throughout the story. The lite BDSM play added to the heat while the emotional connection became stronger and more apparent.

I found this story simply delightful! Malcolm and Owen were truly cute together and I loved how they could express their emotions without being embarrassed about them. They were strong and sexy and complemented each other beautifully. They encouraged each other to be better people and to go after what you want and isn't that what defines a perfect couple?.? ...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Dee Wy rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m-contemporary, bdsm, m-m, under-100-pages

4.5 stars - It's all about the romance in this story and it will suck you in from the very start and not let go until the last page, whereupon you will sigh and smack your lips with great satisfaction. Yes, I loved this story and will mark any book by this author pairing as an auto-buy. ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Kris rated it liked it

I don't usually add a book to goodreads while I'm still reading it, but I had to write something down before I forgot it and this was the only place I thought I'd actually find it again. *stupid meds*

Anyways, my new word for the Amy & Aleks writing team...

'hard angst'

<3

And don't tell me if someone else has come up with that beforehand because I couldn't give a toss.

Also, I think I actually guffawed at one point.

Who knew that could happen in real life.

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Mar 29, 2012 Arzu rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, ebooks-owned, mm-romance

4,5 stars

Why? Because I wanted more.

I really loved both characters ... the "badass" dom and the "sweet shy" sub .. yep, exactly like that! I never expected this, love both authors and really was curious about their co-writing. And did they surprise me! :)

I am not writing a review. There are plenty of readers out there who do a better job with writing one and expressing feelings than I do, but I just wanted to say .... read and smile, my fellow readers. It really is worth it! ...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Didi rated it liked it

Shelves: m-m

I'm not sure I can rate this book properly. Story-line; fine, I bought it, and okay I kinda like both Malcolm and Owen. Some. I feel there's still so much can be explored for both characters, especially Malcolm.
I keep wondering why he tried to establish himself as a jerk; and while his inner-thoughts of his PT, gym, carbo-diet, works etc gave me some ideas, we didn't really know if those were truly the case. And I'm not gonna started on Owen.

Otoh, those sort-of-guessing makes you wondering if A ...more

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May 28, 2012 Cecile rated it it was amazing

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

I am just warning you.... This is a review about m/m rea For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

I am just warning you.... This is a review about m/m reading. So, if this is not your cup of tea... just drop a line and say hi!! If this... then keep reading!

Now with my warning out the way, we will continue the review... Amy & Aleksandr combined work is a very intriguing tale of two men who live worlds apart but come together for an explosive weekend. I am not sure how combining writing minds work... Like who writes what, who develops what character, but what I can tell you is it worked for these two. This story is smooth, passionate, and all things great!

My thoughts on this story is that it is well developed for a short story. I have heard through the grapevine that there is sequel coming out and I CAN NOT WAIT! This tale is filled with uncertainty but understanding. Let's meet two men who live in two completely different worlds and see how they collide!

Owen is a man who takes life as it comes... He knows life is not always going to go his way, but he makes the best of what comes his way. He has had his heart broken a time or two,but has remained friends with his past interlude. In fact he agreed to take a trip to London with an ex... Because she wanted to go! Now what that tells you... Owen wasn't sure what or who he was was looking for, he just knew that having an aboard fling would be better than sitting in the piss poor excuse for a bar that he sat in. He wasn't looking for love but he wouldn't knock it away either. But when Owen saw Malcolm, he wasn't sure what he was going to get....

Malcolm wasn't looking for anything other than a one night stand, if that. He is so round tight from his day job working in the trade market. He was tried and had enough of hiding. He has an image to uphold at work, he has an image to uphold on the scene... but behind close doors.. He wanted things he did not even know he wanted.. Until he spotted a man in a bar... Drinking some Gawd awful drink...

These two meet on a night where anything is game... You wanna see what happens... Why don't get you the book! Because believe me... The ending had me almost in tears! I could not believe what Malcolm was doing... To see a man come from one point in his life... to see him go where he never thought he would go himself.... So.... I will leave you with this... GO get it! The story is hot, sweet, adorable and just plain sexy!!!

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Apr 21, 2012 Evaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, m-m

This was just the thing to cleanse my reading palate after experiencing the horrendous writing of 50 Shades of Grey.

I kind of fell in love with Owen and Malcolm. :) They are cute and handsome, have wonderful sex, fall for each other in 60 hours and have messy hair. Oh... and they banter. I love banter. I love clever banter, and theirs is definitely that.

I had a couple of tiny negatives. First there was the missing pair of jeans during the encounter on the couch. Owen's jeans. They slid along t ...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Feliz rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, bdsm, sweet

Good try.
Amazing writing- would't have expected less from a writing team as versed as those two.
But the BDSM element didn't make much sense here. And what would've worked as the beginning of a longer novel- falling in love over the course of a vacation- didn't quite work here with the short format. The HEA ending felt rushed and overly sweet. ...more

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May 08, 2012 Crys Harris rated it it was amazing

I can't think of a single flaw in this tightly written, intensely romantic story. Even the length is perfect, where I generally prefer a longer journey. The characters are clearly drawn, although I wish Owen were a bit older, given his maturity. The intimacy feels real and the kink adds spice without distracting you from where the characters are headed.

Dialogue: 6 stars ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Trish rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, erotic, bdsm

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this novella.

And I instantly fell in love with Owen. Took me a while to warm up to Malcolm but I think that was the whole point, right? lol

This was great story about a one night stand and taking a risk with love. Sometimes with a novella story, I find it hard to bond with the MC's but this was written so well that I had an instant connection. The love scenes were hot and sweet at the same time. not an easy feat to pull off in a novella.

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