Review: Malcolm by Eliza Gayle

MALCOLM

Eliza Gayle

Gypsy Ink Books

Published: April 6, 2011

Paranormal Romance

E-book, 302 pages

Requested Review

Eliza Gayle's Website

 

RATING

SEXUAL

MY REVIEW

This is the 3^rd story in the Cougar Series.  At this point I haven’t read Kane or Lucas.  While there were a few things that were alluded to from these books, one can easily read this book without being lost. 

Holy Hotness Batman!  Whew, I need a cold shower.  Malcolm and Chey may have their issues, but when they put their minds to it the know how to have sex!  And while Malcolm mentions a love for bondage, there really isn’t any of that in the book. 

As I said, they have their issues.  They’ve been apart for nearly 5 years, even though they are mates.  They have trust issues and huge misunderstandings.  At times I wanted to shake the both of them.  They let their pride and anger get in the way of a relationship.  Things do get cleared up by the end, but the story definitely has moments where you are really frustrated with both of them.  Of course, that’s what helps make the book so good. 

Review: Return of the Legacy by K.H. LeMoyne

RETURN OF THE LEGACY
K.H. LeMoyne
Black Opal Books
Published  March 12, 2011
Fantasy Romance, Suspense
E-book, 374 pages
Requested Review
K.H. LeMoyne's Website

Three magical dimensions…Two mystical bloodlines…One undeniable destiny.

Born a magical empath, Logan MacKenzie has spent his life protecting his family from discovery. Evil has found them anyway. What begins as Logan’s search for answers on Earth becomes a race for survival in the magical dimension of Loci.

The battle to save those he cares about will reveal his true lineage—the bloodline of the Makir, one half of a pair of sentinels chosen to guard the mystical portals between dimensions. The price of his acceptance: a love he never imagined possible and a heartbreaking choice.


Her family attacked, her home destroyed, and now stranded on Loci, Briallen of Tir Thar, descendant of a magical race, has only to summon the power within her to return to her own dimension—or so she had hoped. Unfortunately, her powers aren’t cooperating, and the sorcerer bent on her family’s destruction will stop at nothing to possess her.

Raised without knowledge of the portals, the Makir guardians, or her own destiny, Bri takes a leap of faith in an alliance with Logan. Embracing an uncertain power and accepting his goals as hers offers her the only way home. If they fail, the consequences of allowing the portals to fall to evil are unthinkable—the destruction of every magical dimension throughout space.

RATING

SEXUAL

MY REVIEW

This book is not what I expected.  You know how you read a synopsis and get a “feel” for what a book will be about?  Well I got one for this book, and then things didn’t go that way at all.  I suppose the biggest reason I was wrong is that I didn’t realize that this was only the beginning of a new series.  So I assumed that everything would get wrapped up in one book, and obviously it didn’t.  So, if this helps you for when you start to read, so much the better.

Moving on, the story started out with action, and introducing us to Briallen, or Bri for short.  Shortly after the story shifts and we are introduced to Logan and his cousin, Robert.  All 3 have magical abilities, but exactly what they are capable of varies between them.  Logan and Bri’s relationship starts out slow, but eventually we get to the good stuff.  J 

Some of the descriptions could get lengthy and confusing, but I was able to work my way through them.  I think some of the confusion comes from the world building. 

Overall, the book was decent, and enough was left hanging that I’m interested in knowing what happens next and how many books will be in the series.  From the author’s website there is at least a novella and a 2^nd full book. 

Review: The Secret of Talmor Manor by Matthew Lang

THE SECRET OF TALMOR MANOR
Matthew Lang
MLR Press
Published February 28, 2011
ISBN: 978-1608202942
Paranormal Romance, Erotic, M/M, Mystery
E-book, 313 pages
Requested Review
Matthew Lang's Website

After a mysterious package arrives on Jake's doorstep, he starts having very strange dreams: when he falls asleep he finds himself in a dilapidated English Manor inhabited by a number of ghosts who believe he can free them from their eternal existence. But when the Lord of the Manor appears in Jake's living room, Jake finds himself facing some very difficult questions. What should he do about the attraction between him and this turn of the century living ghost? Why is someone trying to kill them in their dreams? And what should he wear to the upcoming Halloween party?

RATING

SEXUAL

 MY REVIEW

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the mystery surrounding Talmor Manor.   In the beginning you are really drawn into the story with Jake’s repeated visits to the Manor in his dreams.  In these visits things keep changing, and he meets new characters.  You really get into the story, and want to know what happens next.   There is quite a bit of humor throughout the book, and Jake loves to use sarcasm.  I definitely found myself laughing out loud while reading. 

Once Nate enters the real world things seem to slow down.  There are numerous time jumps where nothing happens for a few weeks.  Discussions on the Manor pretty much cease, and Jake and Nate act like a couple of roommates getting to know one another.  Jake is attracted to Nate, but doesn’t pursue his attraction at first because Nate believes himself straight.  Jake does tend to lecture and you feel like he is a know-it-all, which can annoy a person. 

As for the romance between Jake and Nate, it left me somewhat confused.  When Nate enters the modern day he has the mindset of someone from early 1900 England.  He doesn’t know about homosexuality or that people are openly gay.  While he’s never had sex with a woman, he’s never considered sex with a man.  Yet in the span of less than 2 months he not only considers sex with a man, but actually has sex and falls in love with Jake.  It’s a little hard for the reader not to feel like he’s experimenting or curious since he lives with an openly gay man.  Plus, with the way the story ends the reader is still left uncertain of exactly what Nate believes. 

The ending of the story had a bit of action.  And the story as a whole kept the reader wondering exactly what was going on and how things would be resolved.  The story wraps things up almost nicely, with the reader feeling a few things were unresolved.