♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Once in a Lifetime by Ariel Tachna

Once in a Lifetime
Ariel Tachna

Release Date: July 8th, 2011

Publisher: Dreamspinner

Page Count: 182

Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

Offered a yearlong medical research fellowship in France, Shane Johnson has many hopes for the experience: a chance to improve his French, an opportunity to hone his research skills before starting his PhD at Baylor, and the freedom to live life as an openly gay man for the first time. He'll chronicle his year abroad with its challenges, victories, and setbacks as he struggles to balance his faith with his sexuality.

As he navigates the shoals of a first kiss, a first relationship, and perhaps even lasting love, Shane will have to balance his newfound emotions with his long-term plans, and he'll face the decision of how his once-in-a-lifetime experience will fit into the life he wants to lead.

What Stephanie Thinks: This gay romance is unlike anything I've read before. I could almost classify it as Young Adult because it is a coming-of-age story that introduces heart-pounding firsts and nostalgic lasts. It's an extremely intimate journal that accounts Shane's overseas life—one that is an unpredictable adventure, always.

Shane, even in his private journal, sounds insecure; there are lots of "I guess"es and "I think"s in his writing that, while I personally find annoying, actually serve as powerful characterization, showing how unsure of his sexuality and how socially vulnerable he is. His innocence makes me feel really protective him, like I want to shield him from the inevitable heartbreak he will experience. But I'm also very proud of him by the end of the story, of how cooperatively he learns his life's lessons and how he accepts who he truly is and what his heart truly wants.

Tachna details the beauty and breathtakingness of France well. A lot can happen in a year—so much, that one's entire life can change—and this warm novel, told by the young, inexperienced voice of an uncertain gay student, speaks loudly about the journey of self-discovery. Sometimes, new environments are just what we need to really feel that sort of realization, and this is demonstrated by the lovable Shane as he describes his gay lifestyle and longing, making the book much more than a romance.

Stephanie Loves: "He didn't answer me then because he was afraid it was the wine talking, not my heart, and that I didn't know what I was saying or that I'd regret saying it in the morning.
The only thing I regret is being blind for so long."

Radical Rating: 8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Baron's Last Hunt by S.A. Garcia

Baron's Last Hunt
S.A. Garcia

Release Date: July 27th, 2011

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Page Count: 15

Source: Directly from publisher for review

Since his lover Samuel’s death, Baron can only keep his spirit alive by trying to recreate their first meeting at the Stockholm train station. Picking up a lively young stranger may ease his aching sorrow for a few stolen moments, but nothing can heal the emptiness in his soul—until a smiling young man calling himself Rogue steps into Baron’s Rolls. For the first time, Baron finds himself thinking beyond a brief release… but Rogue may be more than he seems.

What Stephanie Thinks: Baron's Last Hunt is a Bittersweet Dreams short story from Dreamspinner Press, which is an m/m romance publisher. I, being a tragic romance whore, love the concept of the Bittersweet Dreams line; essentially, all of its titles include the same romantic elements that most m/m novels do, but have heartwrenching, untraditional endings. These stories are not for those who root for Happily Ever Afters... these stories are for people who want a story to end in a painful, abrupt way, people who thrive off woes. Otherwise known as: me.

Garcia's voice is sardonic and playful; even throughout the rough romance and emotion, the tone remains light. The content itself contains hot 'n' heavy (le swoon) and the characters, even within a short fifteen pages, are well-developed.

The story itself is too short for me to become attached, yet I still feel the ending is weep-worthy. Both the plot and relationship between Baron and Rogue are deliciously twisted, with lots of surprises and a short-lived sense of satisfaction, until of course, tragedy strikes. I recommend this to anyone who wants a read that is both melancholy and inspiring at the same time—one that is over too soon, and lingers once it is gone.

Stephanie Loves: "His ripe mouth slowly relaxed into a fresh smile. His luxuriant lashes met in three rapid blinks before he stared at Baron in subtle challenge. A small smile offered vague confrontation."

Radical Rating: 7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Lorcan's Desire by SJD Peterson

Lorcan's Desire (Whispering Pines Ranch #1)
SJD Peterson

Release Date: May 30th, 2011

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Page Count: 184

Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

Despite the loving support of his family, Lorcan James wants to try life on his own, so at twenty-one, he finds himself walking halfway across the country in search of adventure. What he finds is desperation, desperation that leads him straight to Whispering Pine Ranch and right into the path of its strong, arrogant, gorgeous owner, who awakens something in Lorcan he didn't even know existed.

Quinn Taylor is up to his neck in grief and frustration dealing with a neighboring rancher who wants nothing more than to see him go belly-up. He doesn't need more complications, but from the moment he lays eyes on Lorcan, his world turns upside down. Despite finding in Quinn what his heart craves, Lorcan refuses to be Quinn's dirty little secret—and Quinn isn't the only one vying for Lorcan's attention. Ranch hand Jess will happily declare his love for Lorcan to the world, something Quinn won't offer—something Lorcan needs above all else.

What Stephanie Thinks: Burning passion, yet also skeptic true love, scathe the pages of Lorcan's Desire. Quinn is everything Lorcan wants—handsome, brooding, salacious—and he can tell Quinn wants him too (telltale signs of male body language, hello!) but his moodiness expresses otherwise. Lorcan has done everything to be kind, helpful, and sometimes even flirty around the strong cowboy who has taken him in and offered him a generous ranch job, but he's not exactly getting friendliness in return.

While Lorcan wants to have a public relationship with Quinn, Quinn is afraid of coming out of the closet, from old, nostalgic fears of his past that have to do with gay bashing. He knows his revelation will taunt him, and it may even make him lose his ranch.

There's lots of sexual frustration in this gay romance novel, but I can't say I feel any chemistry between any of the characters. Yes, some of the things lovers whisper to each other in the dark make my heart squeeze, and some of the sex scenes are fiery hot, but I just don't feel that zing I should feel between characters who are attracted to each other. This applies to both Quinn and Lorcan, and Jess and Lorcan: the two main relationships this book centers around.

To put it pleasantly, Peterson writes aggressively. The plot is aggressive, the characters aggressive, the sex aggressive. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I like to save intensity for necessary moments, rather than throwing it around every other approach. The straightforwardness of the story also makes for profound emotion, rawness, and haste because of the fast pace.

In the end though, the indispensable message Lorcan's desires reveals, is that love should be uninhibited, not restricted by society's expectations and standards. I felt lots of frustration myself, while reading about Quinn's inability to truly express his love for Lorcan. It was like I know the love is there—Quinn knows the love is there—he just refuses to display it because he fears what others will think of him for being gay. As a believer of true love, no matter what the gender, race, age (except pedophilia; ick), and religion, I totally sympathize with Lorcan's heartbreak about the man who will forever be unavailable. The ending is extremely dissatisfying; it's one of those tragic conclusions where one lover has a happily ever after, while the other doesn't. Very depressing. It shows what results from following the rules at the expense of following the heart, and makes me never, ever wish that sort of decision on anyone.

Stephanie Loves: "Sometimes being in love hurts. Hiding it or denying it causes the greatest hurt of all." — Pretty much sums up the most important part of this book!

Radical Rating: 7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: American Love Songs by Ashlyn Kane

American Love Songs
Ashlyn Kane

Page Count: 260
Release Date: 31 December, 2010
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

Jake Brenner has too many wild oats to sow to fall in love—or so he claims. Besides, he's much too busy with his band, the Wayward Sons, to go looking for romance. His reticence has nothing to do with his embarrassing crush on Chris, the band's lead singer and Jake's erstwhile best friend. But that was before enigmatic wanderer Parker McAvoy signed on as the band's new lead guitarist. He can only deny his attraction to sweet, dorky Parker for so long before the urge to do something about it becomes impossible to ignore. The trouble is, Parker knows all about Jake's philandering ways—and oh, yeah, he's not gay. Or so Jake thinks until a string of related events provides encouraging new insight. Can he convince Parker to overlook his colorful past and give him a chance? Or will this love song fade out before it even begins?

What Stephanie Thought: I'll tell it to you bluntly: it's been quite a while since I've read a book I've enjoyed as much as American Love Songs. It's more than a book—it's more than erotica. It's an authentic romance, and the story, characters, and dialogue are written to ensure they're something you'll keep in your heart forever, and never want to forget.

I don't read much m/m because usually it's associated with explicit sex scenes. Not that I don't like erotica, but usually even sex gets tiring after the first several pages. Rest assured, there are plenty of steamy scenes in American Love Songs—but they're so full of raw passion and underlying confusion, that they hardly seem too inappropriate.

Jake Brenner is in love with the mysterious, adorable, and captivating Parker McAvoy, but unfortunately, as most love revelations go, he is the last to find out. For starters, they'd make the worst couple ever—Jake's exhibitionist qualities clashing with Parker's bashful innocence—and let's go with logistics; Parker isn't even gay. But then why does it feel like the sizzling yet undiscovered chemistry the two share seem so, so right? Parker's secretive and heartbreaking past will allow both him and Jake to realize the real priorities in life, as well as the consequences of overwhelming musical success, helping them both find their true selves along the way.

For me, Ashlyn Kane's novel is a breath of fresh air, as well as a wave of sympathy-inducing nostalgia. Her original, witty plot is one that's hard to put down—I read the whole book in one night!  You'll be hooked by Jake and Parker's forbidden, but hectic love story. It's really difficult to write a novel about music, but Kane does it without flaw. Enjoy the thrill of rock stars, gay men, sex, and true love—all put to a soundtrack that you, on your own, will be prompted to vividly create. Think Brokeback Mountain meets Kings of Leon; does it get any better than that?

Kane has a way with words, but more importantly, she knows how to pull at a reader's heart, while still sparing a few giggles (or guffaws) all the way throughout. Her well-crafted ideas are spun beautifully with entertaining, realistic dialogue, and paired with creative blog posts, text messages, and other forms of communicative media, she is able to develop lovable characters and a story that is difficult to let go of. I wish Kane the very success the Wayward Sons achieved; if Grammys could be awarded to authors (and if you know... I had the authority to hand out Grammys like candy), she definitely deserves one.

Stephanie Loves: "'Oh, for God's sake, Jake, put some pants on,' Allanna told him when he emerged from the bathroom wearing only a towel. She hadn't even looked up from her PDA.

'Sorry,' Jake said snidely, 'I like to shower in the buff.'"

Radical Rating: 10 hearts: I'm speechless; this book is an extraordinarily amazingly wonderfully fantastically marvelous masterpiece. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥