review

Title: Awake: Unsleeping Beauty: An Erotic Lesbian Fairy Tale

Author: Louisa Bacio

Print Length: 70 pages

Publication Date: 28 Jun. 2016

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Categories: Lesbian romance, fantasy, fairy tales, erotic

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30739278-awake

This is a fun, quick read that can be completed in a single cozy afternoon. I love fairy tales, especially featuring women who love women, and I especially like crossover/blended fairy tales. This is an erotic romance between the Princess and the Pea and Sleeping Beauty.

What I liked: Two beautiful women, bravery not requiring a man, and a clever twist on how Pea awakens Briar Rose. I adored the Cat (though I won’t give any spoilers about his role). I liked the way their relationship unfolded. The writing is good; Ms. Bacio is a new author to me, and this was my first full story. I’m definitely interested in more.

What I had mixed feelings on: This could easily have been longer. I understand fully why it wasn’t, and it was not necessary for it to be longer. But I wanted more about the magic. It felt like several plot strands were started and not finished. I’m hoping the lack of closure on a few things means we’ll get to revisit this world many times, though. I sense several of the other characters might have their own stories to tell, and I want to hear them.

What I loved: This is off-the-charts sexy without being too much. It’s explicit, and there’s plenty of hot loving despite the short length. Yet it doesn’t feel like too much or too graphic. There’s an underlying tenderness and playfulness which I adored. Besides being good together in bed, Pea and Rose are simply two delightful women. I couldn’t ask for better book girlfriends. I want to return to their world and keep reading about their adventures.

For smart writing, heroes to root for, and plenty of sweet, hot loving, this gets 8/10 fountain pens.

Heat Rating: 4/5 ink wells

Review also posted at Divine Magazine.

Amazon | Amzon UK | All Romance

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Title: Just Your Average Guy

Author: Paul Jason

Length: 51,000 words (172 pages) approx.

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

Publication Date: October 27, 2016

The author states his goal as writing to appeal to a wide audience, and he succeeds brilliantly. There are two facets to this memoir which make it engaging and relatable.

First, anyone who has ever had something they needed or wanted to keep hidden from the world should be able to understand. In particular, anyone who knows they would be condemned despite their secret being something entirely legal, ethical, and moral can understand. For those who are specifically part of the LGBTQ+ community, this has another layer of meaning. At various points while reading, I laughed, cried, or said an “amen” (good thing I was alone!).

The writing is phenomenal. It’s one thing to tell one’s personal journey; it’s another to tell it well. I was hooked from page one, and I didn’t want to stop. There’s occasionally a bit of jumping around, but it works in context. For the most part, the flow is smooth and the pacing good.

I found the author’s personal views on his own gender and gender identity/expression in general to be interesting. It’s important that readers understand in context that he grew up in an era where there wasn’t the internet to educate us on terminology and complex identity. His musings on the subject, and the words he uses for himself, speak to that. At the same time, he’s clearly a thoughtful person who holds the door wide open (and even says as much) for people who see things differently. This should not be taken as a guidebook on transgender issues but rather as one person’s experience of the world.

I left this book one part longing for more resolution and one part feeling entirely validated. I wish we lived in a world where men like the author could be fully free to live in whatever way brings them the peace he describes when dressed, as he calls it, en femme. It’s disheartening to know we’re still not there, maybe not even in our own families with some level of support. Despite that, this book brings hope: people are not as alone as they may think. There are others out there, some secret and some less so, who have the same fears and dreams and desires.

As far as I’m concerned, this book should be on everyone’s shelf. The more people read and understand, the more likely it is we can do away with outdated modes of communicating what it means to be a “real man.” If anyone qualifies for that title, it’s Paul Jason for his honesty, warmth, and generosity in sharing his story with us. I hope one day, it will be safe for people like him to live openly and authentically without fear if they so choose.

For honest, brave storytelling, a relatable hero, and leaving us with a lot to think about, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.

Paul Jason explores the roller coaster of emotions experienced in identifying with both genders. The conflicts, the breakdowns and the traumas – Paul has experienced it all. Whilst Just Your Average Guy focuses upon this subject matter, it was written with the intention of it appealing to a readership well beyond the LGBT community – to include women, trans admirers and anybody else with a general interest in gender crossover. Although there are many transgender books available, Paul approaches the subject from a different angle – that of a closeted, 9 to 5, family guy, attempting to balance the straight with the trans whilst encountering all the frustrations in between. Having written his first memoir, his attention is now firmly focused upon writing fictional stories with a transgender theme. https://twitter.com/MxPaulJason

Title: Tested

Author: Elizabeth Andre

Print Length: 99 pages

Publisher: Tulabella Ruby Press

Publication Date: October 7, 2016

Categories: Fiction, LGBT Literature

The year is 1993, and those in the gay community are dying of AIDS, caring for people with AIDS, infected with HIV or terrified of catching the virus. Edwin, Julio, Anastasia, and Jennifer are four 20-something friends who decide to spend a sunny Saturday doing the right thing: getting an HIV test at one of Chicago’s public health clinics.

After, of course, they shop, have lunch, have coffee, gossip about what that person is wearing, talk about sex, lie about their sexual past, and waste as much time as they can in hopes they won’t make it to the clinic before it closes for the day. They know they should get tested but don’t want to.

Edwin insists that he always has safe sex with men, if he’s had any sex at all, but the truth is far more complicated. Julio hardly eats, but he’s so proud of his numerous sexual conquests that he gives his boyfriends both names and numbers. Anastasia’s lesbian sexual history involves blood. Jennifer has boyfriends who don’t always take no for an answer.

Together they learn that fear can tear people apart as much as it brings them closer, and that their blood, along with their hearts and spirits, will be tested in ways they can’t even imagine.

This is a short read, quick enough to finish in an afternoon. Don’t let the length fool you—there is a lot of depth, and the characters are fleshed out well in such a short space.

The four friends in the story come from diverse backgrounds and histories. At the start, we see them together enjoying an evening of intimacy together. In their minds, the sensual acts are an extension of their friendship, not what they view as sexual. Through their close bond, they make an agreement to go together to be tested for HIV.

The rest of the story is told in a combination of flashbacks to their sexual histories and snapshots of their present actions. All four of them have reasons to believe their test may end up being positive, which leads to a good deal of stalling and tension among them. I loved the dialog among them. There were plenty of realistic conversations, and even their snapping at each other was raw and believable.

Without giving any spoilers, I will say that the ending surprised and touched me. I wasn’t sure how the author would pull it off in an empathetic way, simply because the subject is so sensitive. She did, though, and it’s really emotional.

Other than that, there’s not much I can say about the story because it’s so short. I do think this is an important read. While we’ve come a long way, there are still so many people who don’t know what it was like to live through that era. Because so many people are gone, we need to preserve their histories. I wonder if this is why so many people in my generation seem to be writing about the early 1990s right now.

For sympathetic characters, a compassionate and non-judgmental tone, and an emotional ending, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I67GV1K

Elizabeth Andre writes lesbian erotic romance, science fiction, young adult stories and other LGBT fiction. She is a lesbian in an interracial same-sex marriage living in the Midwest. She hopes you enjoy her stories. She certainly loves writing them.

Title: 7 With 1 Blow

Author: Caraway Carter

Length: 166 pages/46k words

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

Publication Date: October 21, 2016

Categories: Gay, BDSM, Contemporary

When Taylor Little, who styles himself “Dom Seven,” is unwillingly taken into custody by the Cadre, he is put between a rock and a hard place. Either he will go to jail for his abuses against the local BDSM community, or he will accept retraining from the bottom up, learning to be a slave before he ever lays a flogger on another human being again.

In this tale of redemption, Taylor must face his demons as he learns to accept his status with mouth, mind, and heart.

WARNING: This story contains scenes of sexual intimacy and BDSM.

Taylor Little is a Dom gone wrong. He has no sense of propriety or concern for the boys he trains. At the start of the story, he’s aggressive, arrogant, and cruel. He’s taken (unwillingly) by a group known as the Cadre in order to rehabilitate him. This is his journey toward being a better person, both through his own redemption and through the forgiveness of others.

As a person unfamiliar with the BDSM community outside of having a few friends who are involved, I can’t speak to the realism there. I can imagine it probably isn’t typical to gather intelligence and blackmail someone into penitence, but this is fiction and not real life. That’s hardly the point or the most important aspect of the story.

Over the course of the book, Taylor’s entire way of thinking shifts. He develops from a distrustful, carefully guarded, angry person into someone who cares about the well-being of others. The final act of his redemption is emotional and beautiful.

I’m a sucker for a good story about repentance and forgiveness, so that’s what resonated most with me about Taylor’s story. He’s not just being trained in how to do it “right.” He’s a hurting person who has done great harm because of the manner in which he was treated and the lack of good care or a healthy example in his life. Even for people unfamiliar with BDSM, Taylor’s struggles will feel familiar. The stages he goes through from acknowledging his pain to fighting his inner demons are common to most people.

It would be hard to choose a favorite scene or side character. There are so many good ones. This story has no wasted space. There are no precious minutes devoted to lengthy explanations or back story. Everything is focused on moving forward in Taylor’s journey to forgiving himself and the person who brought him to such a painful place.

I have to say, I think Boy Bob, who serves as a same-level mentor and confidant of sorts, is my favorite character. Taylor is fairly unlikable until near the end, which means it’s necessary to attach to the side characters. Fortunately, they are surprisingly well-developed, given that we mostly see from Taylor’s perspective and a few scattered scenes in a neutral point of view.

There is some sexual expression in the story, which I found typically emotionally rather than erotically charged. Some of the scenes in which Taylor was rewarded with discipline left me feeling raw in a good way. My favorite, which I won’t spoil the details of, involves Taylor and some well-used kitchen implements. It’s a highly rewarding and intense moment.

This is not a romance, an erotic tale, or a fantasy. While there are elements which transcend realism, this is by no means a story intended solely to excite or arouse. It’s heavily character-driven, there is no love story (unless you count Taylor’s development of genuine self-love), and even the few brief sex scenes are functional more than sensual. On the whole, I found the story highly satisfying, with its strong literary style and attention to the emotional detail. Those elements might not appeal to every reader.

At the end, I was left feeling glad I’d read this. Sharing Taylor’s experiences of self-acceptance, growth, and redemption was everything I hope for in a good story.

For an intriguing take on an old fairy tale, a stellar cast of characters, and a spiritually deep story, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.

Beaten Track Publishing

Amazon: US I CA I AU I UK I DE

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Smashwords

The man of the evening arrived—late as usual, but no one was surprised. It was just his style. During his few short years in the Scene, Taylor Little had gathered quite a following between customers, hangers-on, flatterers, and the occasional scene partner. It wasn’t the most experienced or the most prestigious crowd in the local Scene—in fact, many of Little’s followers were even less experienced than he was—and people had noticed. Important people, people who could make or break a new Dom.

Not that Taylor Little cared. He’d ruined munches, crashed play parties, and generally acted like an arrogant banty rooster in a too-small hen yard. It wasn’t surprising when he would show up at a munch, poach an inexperienced boy, and put him on the web in a BDSM porn shoot a week later; it was just inappropriate.

His lateness was also par for the course. Taylor Little—who called himself “Dom Seven”—made his elaborate entrance. Normally, his slaves crawled before him, regardless of the venue or whether it was appropriate. The sharper-tongued members of the Scene whispered that it was because of his height, which, even with his heavy boots, topped out at five foot seven. But this time, his current slave walked in front of him, shirtless, his neck enclosed inside a black leather collar. A chain snaked away from the collar’s single jump ring and into Taylor’s black-gloved hand.

In an uncharacteristic nod to propriety, Taylor had had this slave wear dirty white Converse tennis shoes and tight black jeans, with a thick black leather belt. As they entered the room, a scowl crossed Taylor’s face. It were as if no one had paid attention to anything he had done with his slave; the crowd was still looking at Mistress Joan.

Taylor and his slave were the only ones not looking at Mistress Joan. Instead, Taylor looked around the room to see if anyone was checking out his new boy while the slave kept his own eyes focused on his shoes. Not a single soul was looking their way. With a frown and a muttered command, Taylor tapped the slave on the shoulder. The boy nodded his head and dropped to his knees as Taylor looked around for an open chair. As the boy fell to the ground, the door of the backroom swung shut so that no one, aside from those gathered in the room, was witness to the slave boy’s further humiliation.

Caraway Carter has worn numerous hats. He’s been a furniture salesman, a dresser, a costumer, an actor/waiter, a rabble rouser, a poet and most recently a writer. He married his husband on Halloween and they are the loving parents of an adorable cat, named Molly. He loves words and stringing them together, he loves sex and sexy men. He loves seeing how far his muse will take him and he’s looking forward to entertaining you.

Caraway Carter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Today I’m chatting with Caraway Carter about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about 7 With 1 Blow.

What inspired you to write this story?

It was originally a prompt from a publisher. You told them you wanted to write a retelling of a fairy tale and they’d send you one. I was given The Giant & The Tailor, which most people have heard as The Brave Little Tailor.

It’s my least favorite fairy tale ever, because the tailor is a braggart and boaster, lies and cheats his entire way through the story and still gets everything in the end. There is no real moral. And very hard to turn into a love story, let alone a mm version.

The one thing that kept coming back to me was how could I give it a better moral, and 7 With 1 Blow was born, A tale of redemption, with a satisfying end for my MC Taylor Little.

AM says: You’ve hit on one of my favorite themes, which is probably why I loved it so much.

Is there a character you feel especially connected to?

I think there is a little of me in all the characters, but I’d say I identify with Boy Bob. Why? He’s made the decision to be a sub, he chose the life he wanted, he didn’t have to be trained into it, not that he didn’t have the training, but he is the most confident in his position. One day I plan on telling how he ended up where he is.

AM says: Oh, yes! I love Boy Bob. I’m definitely interested in reading more about him. He strikes me as a really gentle, loving soul.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

Figuring out how to tell everything I wanted to touch on. For a while it was broken up into 7 different parts – 1 with 1 blow, 2 with 2 blows, etc. And then one afternoon, my husbear and I were out to lunch and there was this big table of people discussing something that had to be done. I think it had to do with a family recently dying. I started taking notes and the meeting during the prologue was born and I knew were to take the story. The characters that popped into my head at that moment were practically based on the people at that table.

 AM says: Funny the places inspiration can be found.

Choose a favorite line or short passage.

“Boyd?” she read from the side of the cup.

“Yes, Madam?” Taylor looked back at her through the rearview mirror.

“Who is Boyd?” She pointed at the cup.

Taylor grinned. “I don’t know if you’ll believe this, Madam. They asked my name and I guess I said ‘boy.’ They must have heard ‘Boyd’ instead.”

What do you like about it?

I love it because the name just came naturally to him. It is a subtle turning point.

AM says: That was one of many favorite scenes for me in this story.

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

I had intended to  write a larger project, Tales of the Cadre, using fables as starting points for a story told through interconnected short stories. That takes place at a resort within the world.

Instead, 7 With 1 Blow evolved into a trilogy – Three Wise Monkeys – cool thing, for now the first book won’t have the series title. Future editions will have the series title added, so just think… These first editions will become collector’s items one day… LOL, ok, I’m thinking big.

AM says: Hey, whatever motivates you, right? So, tell me more about this series.

I decided to have each book be about a different aspect of BDSM – Book 1 deals with SM, even if it deals with different parts, it’s primarily about the SM. Book Two – Hitting the Mark, deals with a D/s relationship. And book three, tentative title I’ll Be Your Reason, will deal with BD.

AM says: That all sounds really interesting. I can’t wait to read the rest! Any other projects up your sleeve?

I’m working on a story that takes place in Peru, so I’ve got lots of cultural pieces as well. Hitting the Mark has lots of dance music from the 80’s and electronic music, because one of the MCs is a DJ, but, also lots of classical, because the other character is a composer.

AM says: Well, you had me at “classical” and “composer.”

How do you choose names for your characters?

I like to use this website called the The Academy of Saint Gabriel – https://s-gabriel.org I used to belong to an organization called the Society for Creative Anachronism, we re-enacted the middle ages. When I want a unique name, I go here. Most times, I like to use common names, since I mostly write about common, regular guys.

AM says: Oh, that’s fantastic! Might have to check that out myself, since I’m so awful at naming anything. Or I’ll just ask you.

Where do you look for inspiration for new stories?

I’m all about the visuals. I have a couple of resources. I’ve created a pinterest board called possible prompts – https://www.pinterest.com/carawaycarter/possible-prompts/ and I’ve got a super naughty tumblr where I get inspired for the more sexual aspects to my stories. – http://boyoedi.tumblr.com (NSFW)

AM says: I confess, I looked. Very…inspiring.

What else do you use to immerse yourself in the story (music, visuals, etc.)?

I always create a playlist for my stories on Spotify. I haven’t usually shared the lists, as my current spotify has my real name attached to it. Music really puts me into the minds of my characters. When I’m working on something that takes place in a unique place, I like to add traditional music.

AM says: Spotify is great for that! I’ve embeded playlists before, but I might just create the list and make everyone do the hard work of looking up the tracks themselves.

Word Sprints!

1. Plotter or pantser? I’ve become a Plantser.
2. Musical theater or rock concert? Musical Theater, I’m totes into Hamilton, like the rest of the world.
3. What’s your favorite book? Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
4. Do the people in your life know about your writing? Yup, everyone I work with has felt up my paperback book. From crew members I work with all the way up to my management team.
5. Who has inspired you the most? Samuel R. Delany, Laura Antoniou, & John Sanford. My three favorite authors.

AM says: Thanks for stopping by! Congratulations on releasing 7 With 1 Blow. Come hang out with me any time to chat about your books in the future.

September 30th: Mann Ramblings Lila Leigh Hunter

October 7th: Dawn Sister

October 14th: A.M. Leibowitz

October 15th: Posy Roberts

October 19th: Hans M Hirschi

October 21st: *RELEASE DAY* Aisling Mancy Louisa Bacio Tammy Middleton April Kelley

October 22nd: Nic Starr

Title: Raven’s Diary

Author: Anastasia Vitsky

Length: 117 pages

Publication Date: September 22, 2016

Alena’s gotten a sugar mama…but can she keep her?

Life as Raven’s submissive sounds perfect—on paper. Alena receives a stipend, gifts, and plenty of attention.

The problem?

Alena can’t come to terms with submission. She wants fun and games, but Raven expects maturity, wisdom, and self-awareness.

When Alena’s disobedience gets out of hand, Raven takes things one step further.

Two weeks in Florida, for a “boot camp.”

A daily diary for Alena to chronicle her journey toward submission.

And a surprise visit from a trusted friend.

Will Alena conquer her inner brat and learn to submit? Or will inexperience and confusion cost her everything?

I’ve been looking forward to reading the follow-up to Raven’s Girl, and this one definitely met my expectations. It’s no secret that I’m fond of brats, and Alena is the brattiest among them. It’s a treat to peek inside her mind and find out just why she has so much trouble submitting to Raven.

Although this is largely a sweet and fluffy (well, as fluffy as Ms. Vitsky ever gets in a book) story, there are some great underlying themes. I think almost anything I say would spoil the fun of discovering what makes Raven and Alena tick and why they are so good, and so bad, for each other.

As usual, there are lots of moments of tension followed by reconciliation. This is one of my favorite themes, and I love reading it in new ways. Both women grow as people in the story, but there is definitely room for us to learn more about them and their relationship. We’ve gotten to see a lot about Alena so far, but Raven remains largely a mystery to us as much as to Alena.

This is a cozy, quick read, something for a rainy afternoon with nowhere to be  except under a quilt with a book. Despite its length and fast pace, it still has good emotional impact. Less a romance and more a discovery through relationships, this is a good follow-up to the first book.

For a likable “everywoman” character, a deceptively light plot, and a slow unfolding of a deeper relationship, this gets 9/10 fountain pens.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZRYH6I/

Cookie queen, wooden spoon lady, and champion of carbs, Anastasia Vitsky specializes in F/F fiction. She hates shoes and is allergic to leather. When not writing about women who live spankily ever after, she coordinates reader and author events such as Spank or Treat, Love Spanks, and Sci Spanks. Her favorite event is Ana’s Advent Calendar, a month-long celebration of books, community, and making a difference.

She is too afraid to watch Doctor Who, but she adores The Good Wife and anything with Audrey Hepburn. In her next life, she will learn how to make the perfect pie crust. She can be found at governingana.wordpress.com and on twitter @AnastasiaVitsky.

These books definitely need to be read in order to get the most out of them. I’m glad I started at the beginning, and I think I have a slightly unfair advantage in that I was able to read all three at once. For me, that was ideal, keeping the momentum going. It’s release day for Jonathan’s Legacy, but I will be reviewing all three below.

ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-jonathanslegacy-2092618-145.html

Jonathan’s Hope

I skipped over this one when it came up as a recommended read because I wasn’t sure I would like it. The synopsis made it sound stark. I’m only sorry I waited so long to give it a chance.

For me, this was less about contemporary realism and more like the author sat down by the fire to offer a fable. While the characters themselves have a genuine feel to them, the story has a lot of moments where I needed to suspend my disbelief. However, when read as a metaphor, it works perfectly.

This is not lighthearted or tender and sweet. It has a lot of really dark moments, and the cold setting lends itself well to the story’s overall tone. My sense was that the theme, even more than hope, was about growth: Jonathan becoming a man and discovering who he was; Dan learning how to be his own person after losing his husband; and the two of them growing together through it all. I had the general sense of “it gets better” throughout.

There is a love story in here, but it isn’t only the romantic one between Dan and Jonathan. This is a love letter to anyone who has lost hope. If you’re looking for a passionate falling in love/lust story, this is not it. But if you want a modern-day gay literary parable, you’ve found your match.

For a lost boy I just wanted to hug, a thoughtful storyline, and a light at the end of the tunnel, this gets 8/10 fountain pens.

Jonathan’s Promise

This picks up many years after the first book starts, but essentially right after that one ends. The first thing I noticed was that the somewhat conversational flow was gone, and I did miss it a bit. However, I think it might not have worked as well for the plot.

If the first book was all about growth, this one is all about starting over. At many points throughout, various characters have a reset and do-over moment. There are some tough times ahead for the Jackson clan, but there are good times, too. Every time it seems like a character might be knocked down, something good comes afterward or even as a result.

This time around, there are a lot of small details sprinkled in which give us hints about the relationship between Jonathan and Dan over the years. But this is primarily about Jonathan’s journey as an old man, after losing Dan. He’s an incredibly optimistic person despite all of the things he’s been through. I loved seeing the world through his eyes and his ability to find the good in people.

For an excellent follow-up novel, a man whose love we should all aspire to, and a family built out of that love, this gets 9/10 fountain pens.

Jonathan’s Legacy

This is definitely my favorite of the trilogy, despite the fact that I miss Jonathan’s direct presence. He’s there in spirit, though, and it’s easy to see why this is indeed his legacy.

Like the first two, I saw multiple themes, but the biggest one I picked up on was family: we are not bound by the confines of blood, marriage, or legal adoption but by the bonds we choose to create. Jonathan may have left his family financially well-endowed, but he left more than that.

As in the previous two parts, there is a love story, but it’s not the focus. What I took away from it was the idea that people have a great capacity to love when allowed to do so freely. This fits nicely with the the ideas about family as well. The Jacksons have consistently invited people to share in the love they have for each other, and we as readers get to be part of it.

Now that I’ve completed the series, I can see another overarching theme, restoration and healing. I’m convinced there are other big ideas, and that’s what I loved most about the books. For me, they were not about the particulars of the plot or the characters but about what we as readers take away from the experience. I have no doubt that every person could see something that would make them think deeply about life, the world, and the people around us. I would hope anyone taking the time to enjoy the books would pause to reflect on how we can be better to each other.

For a solid ending to the series, characters I could read about forever, and a lot to think about, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.

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