105. Three Gay Romance ebooks ~ C. Stevens, A. Dane & A. Young [229 pgs]

     I found Amber Quill Press when I went looking for some of Megan Hart's ebooks; so of course I signed up for the newsletter.  Uh yeah... I should have known that this would be very tempting... and I was right!  The first two stories reviewed here are both stories that I came across in one of the newsletters, and they both sounded so good... and my ability to stay away from stories that appeal is notoriously non-existent. 
The third story reviewed here is by a fairly new-to-me author ~ Amanda Young ~ that I've been gobbling up anything and everything that I can get my hands on.  Eye Candy is her latest release and actually a sequel to two of her previous stories, so that was a given.  Fun, fun, fun!

RATING:
Excellence ratings follow each story
Steaminess: Heat Wave to Inferno

          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *

BOOK READ:
Cassie Stevens, Don't Ask, Don't Tell; Amber Quill Press, LLC; 2008 [74 pgs]
FROM the Website:
     They loved each other more than life...twelve years ago. If only they'd been more worldly, more sure of themselves, and less inclined to bow to parental dictates and society...
     But they'd followed the paths laid out for them—Elliott Baldwin as a Marine Corps officer, Neal Cassidy toward a career in politics and eventually a shot at Congress. Never did they realize, however, that their college love affair would ever be exposed on nationwide television during a nasty political campaign...or that it would thrust them back into each other's arms.
     Now they are no longer boys, but men who know what and who they want, know the risks involved, and know society hasn't matured with them. And they also know choices have to be made even as they realize some secrets are best left hidden...
MY NOTES:
     I really enjoyed this story; Neal and Elliot were both strong, loyal and well-respected men in their lives.  And even though they had gone their separate ways, neither blamed the other ~ there was no pettiness in their personalities, nor in the way they dealt with the loss of the love and their relationship. 
     But when scandal threatened, each was concerned just what this scandal would do, not to themselves, but to the other.  Suffice it to say there was more mystery here than I thought, and it was well set up and solved.  But the best thing was that Neal and Elliot once again found the love of their life and nothing, but nothing, was going to get in the way this time.
RATING:
Excellence: Great to Excellent ~ 3.5 stars

          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *

BOOK READ:
Adrianna Dane; Hidden Impact; Amber Quill Press, LLC; 2008 [65 pgs]
FROM the Website:
     Reed Parr loves Drew Sanborn with a passion that flares bright and hot and lasting. Drew fulfills every fantasy Reed has ever imagined of the perfect lover, the perfect partner. And Drew loves him right back. So what’s the problem? Reed’s life, for one thing. Reed’s children and Drew’s parents. And their inner vulnerabilities. Age differences and past hurts...
     Drew, sixteen years younger than Reed, is openly gay. At some level, he understands Reed’s hesitance on outing their relationship. Yet after two years, he’s ready for their secret affair to transform into a public commitment.
     Can a week in the mountains, away from the pressures and expectations surrounding them, help to cement the relationship enough for Reed to publicly admit his love for Drew? Or will everything fall apart, causing the lovers to separate forever, no matter how painful the parting?
MY NOTES:
     This was a good story, but not exceptional.  I liked both Drew and Reed, but didn't really connect with them.  I was interested, but in more of an abstract way.  I don't think it was anythiing in particular, just a personality thing.
RATING:
Excellence: Good to Very Good ~ 2.5 stars

          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *          * * * * * *

BOOK READ:
Amanda Young; Eye Candy; Loose Id, LLC; March 2008 [90 pgs]
FROM the Website:
     Love is a fool's game Jake Remora has no intention of ever playing again. He works hard, plays even harder, and leaves a string of easy lovers in his wake. Having his first lover move home and resurrect long-dormant emotions is the last thing he ever expected...or wanted.
      Just as things reignite between the lovers, a new scandal of sexual impropriety arises. Past and present collide in a clash of rumor and speculation, jeopardizing any hope of a shared future the two men might hope to build.
MY NOTES:
     This story is one that I'd been waiting for since last fall:  it's the sequel to Man Candy, which I read and reviewed last year.   In that story, the H is Logan Remora who is the identical twin of the H in this story, Jake Remora.   Jake played a part in his brother's story and as it progressed I really wanted to know if Jake ended up with his own HEA... and Amanda Young did not disappoint! 
RATING:
Excellence: Excellent ~ 4.0 stars

          * * * * * *          * * * * * *         

Books read in March: 38
Har / Sil ~ 29
Others ~ 9

October's MEMBER OF THE MONTH

kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!