Tag Archives: gay romance

A Time to Rise by Tal Bauer

A Time to Rise is a Paranormal Male Romance.  The story takes place in Rome and Vatican City.  I learned a great deal about the Swiss Guard and their role in keeping the Pope safe.  The story has vampires, demons, revenants and basically all the things that go bump in the night.  A Time to Rise contains adult content suitable for mature readers only.

A Time to Rise releases May 2, 2016

a time to rise

My Four Star Review:

For the past 12 years Sergeant Alain Autenberg has been in charge of Special Projects for the Guard which basically means it’s his job to protect the Vatican and Rome from all the things that go bump in the night.  His partner is Father Lotario who is quite a piece of work and hard to believe he’s a father at all.  I immediately loved him.  They work together to eliminate any threat but things are starting to change in the dark world and they can’t seem to figure out why.  As a side note: Alain lost the love of his life 12 years ago and he’s been lonely but he’s sticking to the promise he made to himself to never love again.

In walks new guard recruit, Cristoph Hasse who Alain is immediately drawn to and who becomes his new mentee.  He’s never been a Mentor before and he’s not happy about it.  But he can’t say no to his boss, Commandant Best.

There are sections in the book, during the hunts, where Alain and Father Lotario destroy the “bad” guys.  Be prepared for it to be graphic and bloody.  But within all of the blood and gore, you can see a very strong friendship between these two men.

During the mentoring process, Alain and Cris form the start of a friendship.  Cris ends up finding out more then he should about Alain and what he does while he tries to find his place in the world.  Their friendship grows into something more and they start to care about each other.   At this point things start to get very crazy.  Vampires and Demons working together, someone in the Vatican wanting to “rule the world” and Alain trying to stop it all.  Let’s just say you need to hang on for this ride because it’s a rollercoaster!  There is a dramatic conclusion to this but however, the end of this story was left wide open.  Not a cliffhanger but there is definitely more story to be told and I look forward to book 2.

This is the second book I’ve read by Tal Bauer.  The first was Enemies of the State and you can find my five star review here.

Tal’s stories are a bit different.  While both these books are male romance, the romance is not really the focus of the book.  They are packed with action, adventure, some horror, some blood and gore, men saving the world and basically “stuff” that makes a novel exciting to read.   Don’t get me wrong, the romance is still there and it’s written beautify.  Tal’s writing flows smoothly, is very easy to read and also very entertaining.  I enjoyed both of these books and look forward to reading more by Tal.

More about A Time to Rise: 

History says the Knights Templar were destroyed in 1307.
History is wrong.

Vampires haunt the sewers beneath Rome, revenants desecrate graveyards, ghouls devour helpless passersby, and incubi stalk dark alleys and seedy nightclubs in Italy’s capital. Deep in the Vatican, a brotherhood exists, sworn protectors of the earth, and they stand firm against monsters from the dark depths. Operating in secret and silence, they protect our world from the sinister, the etheric, and the evils that exist beyond the Veil.

But it’s a lonely life, and Alain Autenberg knows that more than most. His lover was ripped from him years ago, and he vowed never to get close to another soul again. Even when the loneliness presses down on him, and his empty heart cries out for something more.

Something more comes in Cristoph Hasse, a new soldier arriving in Rome to serve in the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Young, brash, and fitting in at right angles everywhere he goes, Cris struggles in the murky, deceptive labyrinth of the Vatican. Propelled forward by a past he can’t understand, Cris collides with Alain, and both men crash headfirst into the darkest secret of the Vatican…and of the world.

Find Tal Bauer Here:  InternetFacebook, NineStar Press.

Pick up A Time to Rise at Amazon – here.  Pick up Enemies of the State at Amazon – here.

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

Note:  I received a copy of this book directly from the author.

Enemies of the State (The Executive Office Book 1)by Tal Bauer

Enemies of the State is an outstanding political, military, romantic, suspense novel by Tal Bauer.  It’s like The American President meets White House Down, but move over Police Officer John Cale played by Channing Tatum because Secret Service Lead Special Agent Ethan Reichenbach is in the house!

This is a male love story and is intended for readers 18 years and older.

enemies of the state

My Five Star Review:

As many of you already know, I never include spoilers in my reviews and I’m going to do my best to relay to you how much I absolutely loved this story without giving too much away. So here goes:

Fifteen years ago Jack Spiers lost his wife, Army Captain Leslie Spiers in Iraq. That’s when Jack made the decision to kick start his political career in hopes of changing the world and making it a better place.  Now he’s the President of the United States and he’s ready to start his first year in office.  Jack is a people person and he finds out pretty quickly that his job doesn’t really leave him time to have friends or get close to the people.  He has staff, cabinet members, but not anyone to bounce things off of or hang out with and it’s causing him some issues. On top of all that, he is major peace talks with the other world leaders.

Secret Service Agent Ethan Reichenbach spent 10 years in Army Special Forces and now is starting his 12th year with the Secret Service as lead security detail for POTUS.  Ethan is a bit of a loner, no family, no boyfriend, but he does have a few close Secret Service friends. He’s never been one to look for love or even think he needs love in his life.  Ethan is the job and he loves the job but everything changes one night at the White House.  The President needs a friend and Ethan can’t help but break every Secret Service rule there is to be a friend to Jack.  A couple months later and Ethan does something he never thought he would ever do.  He falls in love with straight, once married man and President of the United States, Jack Spiers.

Tal’s writing in relation to the build up of these two men falling in love is outstanding. You can feel all the emotions from each character and how they each feel from their different perspectives.  It is absolutely beautiful to read. Tal also gives an amazing political-military story that forced me to keep turning every page causing me to finish the novel in one day. It is really that good.  I am a huge fan of military type books with strong men saving the world and falling in love, and I really don’t care who they fall in love with.  It’s the heart and soul that picks who we love and sometimes we have absolutely no control over it.

By the time I reached the end of the book, I was praying there would be a book 2 and I hear we may see more of Ethan and Jack this year.  I will keep you posted.

More About Enemies of the State:

A rogue Black Ops unit with the president in their crosshairs.
A Secret Service agent who will break every rule.
A president falling for the one person he shouldn’t—a man.

Newly elected President Jack Spiers’s presidency is rocked from the very beginning, and he’s working furiously to keep the world from falling apart. Between terrorism attacks ripping apart Europe, Russia’s constant posturing and aggression, and the quagmire of the Middle East, Jack is struggling to keep his campaign promise—to work toward a better, safer world.

For Special Agent Ethan Reichenbach, Jack is just another president, the third in twelve years. With Jack’s election, he’s been promoted, and now he’s running the presidential detail, which puts him side by side with Jack daily. He’s expecting another stuffed suit and an arrogant DC politician, but Jack shocks him with his humor and humanity.

There are rules against a Secret Service agent and one of their protectees developing a friendship—big rules. Besides, Jack is straight as a ruler, and a widower, and Ethan has always avoided falling for straight men. Ethan keeps his distance, but Jack draws him in, like gas to a naked flame, and it’s a lure he isn’t strong enough to turn away from.

As the two men collide, rules are shattered and the world teeters on the verge of war, and a rogue Black Ops unit bent on destruction sets Jack in their deadly crosshairs. Ethan must put everything on the line in order to save the man he’s come to love, Jack’s presidency, and the world.

Find Tal here:  Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Goodreads,

Get Enemies of the State at Amazon: Here

Add Enemies of the State to your To Be Read at Goodreads: Here

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

Nice Guys Trilogy by Kindle Alexander

Nice Guys is a Mystery Suspense Gay Romance Trilogy by Kindle Alexander and is intended for adult readers 18+.

nice guys

Reading Order:

  1. Double Full (Nice Guys #1)
  2. Full Disclosure (Nice Guys #2)
  3. Full Domain (Nice Guys #3)

I really think you should read this series in order.  Each book contains a love story but also a mystery/investigation that continues with each book.

My Four Star Review:

Double Full is the story of Colt Michaels (College football star) and Jace Montgomery (Cheerleader.)  The two meet in college and fall in love but obstacles are thrown in their way to force them apart.  Ten years later Colt is the star quarterback for a NY team and Jace built an all-star cheerleading gym in Texas.   Major changes in their lives throw them back together but tragedy strikes by way of an accident causing Colt and Jace to make some changes in their future.

Colt’s team doctor calls in his son, Deputy US Marshal Mitch Knox, to look into Colts recent accident.  The Marshal discovers similar incidences where gay men were killed or hurt in sever accidents but will Knox be able to convince his superiors to let him open an investigation?

From the moment I started the book, I fell in love with both characters.  It was heartbreaking to watch Colt make the decision he needed to make but I think his decision really pushed Jace to follow his dreams.  When they finally got back together, it was wonderful watching Jace open up to Colt again and watching Colt change into the man he always wanted to be.

 

Full Disclosure picks up where Double Full leaves off and is the story of Deputy US Marshal Mitch Knox and Texas State Trooper Cody Turner.  This is where the investigation into the deaths and accidents really takes off due to the son of a senator becoming a victim.  Knox ends up having to work with the FBI and he’s really not happy about that.  He is so not a suit and tie kind of guy. It is extremely entertaining to watch Mitch deal with the stuffy FBI agents he works with them.  Mitch’s partner, Deputy US Marshal Kreed Sinacola, joins the investigation.

Colt and Jace make an appearance and it’s so great to see them again.  They take Mitch out drinking and dancing and that’s where Mitch meets Cody.  One night with Cody and it changes Mitch’s life.  They try to make a long distance relationship work, Cody gets stuck in the crossfire of the investigation but don’t worry, there is still a happily ever after for them. Keep reading and jump right into Book 3, Full Domain.

 

Full Domain is the final book in this trilogy and is the story of US Marshal Kreed Sinacola and Aaron Stuart, Young Computer Geek who works for the National Security Agency, joins Kreed and the FBI to infiltrate the group they think is responsible for the attacks.  Kreed has had a soft spot for Aaron the moment they meet through skype and has been trying to get into Aarons pants since the first met face to face at the airport.  The chemistry between these two is off the charts and it was an absolute joy to read the interaction between the two.

The investigation wraps up in this book and all the guys are involved.  It’s really like one big story all rolled into three books with this cast of characters becoming family.  I really enjoyed Kindle’s writing and her characters and I look forward to reading more of her work.

If you love a great mystery, strong men making the world a better place and romance with a happily ever after, then definitely pick up these books.

 

More About Double Full:

“Up and coming football hero, Colt Michaels, makes a Hail Mary pass one night in the college locker room that results in the hottest, sexiest five days of his young life. However, interference after the play has him hiding his past and burying his future in the bottom of a bottle. While Colt seems to have it all, looks can be deceiving especially when you’re trapped so far in a closet that you can’t see your way out. When ten years of living his expected fast-lane lifestyle lands him engaged to his manipulative Russian supermodel girlfriend, he decides it’s time to call a new play.
Jace Montgomery single-handily built the largest all-star cheerleading gym in the world, driven by a need to forget a life-altering encounter with a handsome quarterback a decade ago. His reputation as an excellent coach, hard-nosed business man, and savvy entrepreneur earned him respect in the sometimes catty world of competitive cheerleading. When Jace learns of his ex-lover’s plans to marry, his heart executes a barrel roll and his carefully placed resolve tumbles down without a mat to absorb the shock. Can his island escape help him to finally let go of the past and move his life forward?”

More About Full Disclosure:

“Deputy United States Marshal Mitch Knox apprehends fugitives for a living. His calm, cool, collected attitude and devastatingly handsome good looks earn him a well-deserved bad boy reputation, both in the field and out. While away on an assignment, he blows off some steam at a notorious Dallas nightclub. Solving the case that has plagued him for months takes a sudden backseat to finding out all there is to know about the gorgeous, shy blond sitting alone at the bar.
Texas State Trooper Cody Turner is moving up the ranks, well on his way to his dream of being a Texas Ranger. While on a two-week mandatory vacation, he plans to relax and help out on his family’s farm. Mitch is the last distraction Cody needs, but the tatted up temptation that walks into the bar and steals his baseball cap is too hard to ignore.
As Mitch’s case gains nationwide attention, how will he convince the sexy state trooper that giving him a chance won’t jeopardize his life’s plan…especially when the evil he’s tracking brings the hate directly to his doorstep, threatening more than just their careers.”

More About Full Domain:

“Honor, integrity, and loyalty are how Deputy US Marshal Kreed Sinacola lives his life. A former SEAL now employed by the Special Operations Group of the US Marshal Service, Kreed spent most of his life working covert operations and avoiding relationships. Never one to mix business with pleasure, his boundaries blur and his convictions are put to the test when he finally comes face-to-face with the hot computer geek he’s been partnered with. Hell-bent on closing the ongoing case for his longtime friend, he pushes past his own limits and uncovers more than he expects.
Aaron Stuart strives for one thing: justice. Young and full of idealism, his highly sought after computer skills land him a position with the National Security Agency. Aaron’s biggest hazard at his job is cramped fingers, but all that changes when he is drawn into the middle of a dangerous federal investigation. Aaron gets more than he bargained for when the FBI partners him with a handsome and tempting deputy US marshal. His attraction to the inked up, dark-haired man provides another kind of threat altogether. Aaron tries desperately to place a firewall around his heart and fight his developing feelings, knowing one misstep on his part could ultimately destroy him.
The solution isn’t as easy as solving the case, which is treacherous enough as it is. But the growing sexual attraction between them threatens to derail more than just Kreed’s personal convictions as he quickly learns temptation and matters of the heart rarely fit easily into the rules he’s lived by. Will Kreed be able to convince Aaron to open his heart and face the fact that sometimes the answers aren’t always hidden in code?”

Find Kindle here: FacebookInternetTwitter

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

What Happens At Christmas by Jay Northcote

what happens at christmas

What Happens at Christmas is an extremely touching and well written gay romance by Jay Northcote.  It is intended for readers 18+.

About the Book:

“When two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more?
Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.
Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretence and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.
In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas… right?”

My Five Star Review: 

What Happens at Christmas is a perfect book for the Christmas season.  It is well written, it revolves around Christmas, and it is a short/fast read.  Be warned, it contains some very steamy sex between two men in love.

Best friends since they were 7 years old, Sean and Justin reconnect and end up together right before Christmas. Will the love they’ve had for each other finally blossom into forever love?  Find out by picking this book up today!

Get your copy from Amazon here: Amazon link

Find out more about Jay Northcote here:  WebsiteFacebook , Twitter

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf