24 December 2017

Random Review: The Spirit of Kilapea by D.H. Starr


Title: The Spirit of Kilapea
Author: D.H. Starr
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books
Genre: New Adult Gay Romance
Length: Novel


Synopsis

Can one summer change the lives of two young men?
All-American boy Nick Pinchert, popular, athletic, envied by the jocks and desired by the girls—or that’s what he wants everyone to think. Deep down, he harbors a secret he fears will rip his world apart. His summers of leadership at sleep-away camp are sacred, a time to let go of trying to meet others’ expectations and just be himself…mostly.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Kip Davenport has everything except parents who care about him. He’s grown up shipped from boarding school to boarding school, and Camp Kilapea is one more holding station where he needs to claw his way to the top by tearing others down. Placed in a leadership position he hasn’t earned, Kip plans to deal with the extra resentment the same way he always has.
When the two meet, the attraction is immediate, terrifying Nick and providing Kip with the perfect target for his manipulations. But Camp Kilapea’s teachings challenge even the most obstinate. The three pillars of body, mind, and spirit force campers and leaders alike to examine their choices and to become better people.
But is the spirit of Kilapea strong enough to force Nick and Kip to lower their guards and let each other in?

Excerpt
Kip faced the group of leaders, somehow having managed to remain upbeat and to get through his speech without incident. Of course, he was no stranger to speaking before crowds, but back home, people feared him.
He hadn’t missed the several side conversations taking place, nor the glances he’d earned from the moment he stepped into the Great Lodge.
But it was Nick, the hunky, dark-haired Director of Leadership who’d captured his attention most. His looks alone had Kip interested, but as soon as the guy started talking, Kip knew he had to get to know him. His passion and love for the camp seemed so genuine.
Kip searched his brain to think of anything he’d ever cared about as much. While admittedly, his list contained only one item, he recognized the passion in Nick because it lived inside Kip as well.
More than anything, he loved the water. Whether boating, swimming, competing, or simply lounging and wading, the fresh coolness fed his soul. Water was essential to life, the most important component of cleaning, a never-ending cycle he could always count on. But more than that, water was an escape. A place where he could hide from the demons he lived with every day of his life.
Kip studied the Popsicle sticks on the walls, organized by year and each one containing a name. A voice from behind him startled him to attention. “Not a bad speech, man.”
Kip turned from his perusal only to have the breath knocked out of him Earthy, rust-colored eyes stared at him, the same one’s he’d fixated on during the meeting. “Thanks, uh, Nick, right?”
“Yeah. Nick Pinchert.” He extended his hand to Kip.
Kip took Nick’s hand in his own, wrapping his fingers around and soft-warm skin. “Kip. Kip Davenport. Nice to meet you.” And had his heart just decided to increase its beats per minute by twenty?
“I wish we could’ve met before tonight. If I’d known how much you clearly care about making the waterfront a vibrant and fun place, I would’ve skipped the first ten minutes of scrutinizing your every word.” Nick smiled, his gaze unwavering.
Well, damn. This guy doesn’t pull his punches. A sharp chill rushed down Kip’s spine and settled in his belly, leaving him edgy and alert. “Ouch?”
A warm chuckle emanated from deep inside Nick. And God if his laughter didn’t make the room light up. “I love this place. Needed to make sure the new guy cared as much as I do.”
“I doubt that’s possible.” Kip realized he hadn’t let go of Nick’s hand and quickly released his grip. “I love the story you told about your first cabin leader. Gave me a real picture of what life must be life for the campers.”
“The story came to me on my drive from home.” Another leader interrupted their conversation, pulling Nick into a hug. Kip watched as Nick hugged him back, no hesitation nor any sense of flirtatiousness or attraction. The guy truly loved the camp and all the people in the room.
After a brief greeting Nick returned his focus entirely on Kip. “Sorry ‘bout that. I haven’t seen these guys since last summer.”
Kip picked up right where they’d left off. “So where’s home?”
Nick’s cheeks pinked a little. “I live in Mianus, Connecticut.”
Although Nick had accented the first syllable of the town, pronouncing it Mee-anus, a chuckle escaped Kip before he could contain it. “M-Mianus? Are you serious?”
Nick stared at the floor, shuffling from foot to foot. When Kip glanced at Nick’s face he could see a trace of a smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. That’s what I said,”
“That’s…awesome. I bet you guys have a field day playing around with a name like that.” The moment he spoke, his heart skipped a beat. What if the guy was sensitive about the name of his hometown? Surely Kip hadn’t been the first person to poke fun, or the hundredth. Kip found himself staring directly into Nick’s eyes once again.
“Truthfully, we do. Anyways, I should mingle and greet everyone. Nice to meet you. I know we’ll be working closely.”
“Yeah. Nice meeting you too.” Kip watched as the hunk of All-American meat turned and sauntered toward another group of leaders.
Rubbing his hand along the back of his neck, Kip had to tear his eyes away from the toned, athletic form. Man, nothing like getting the hots for someone on the first night of camp.


Review


A very heartwarming and spiritual MM romance!!

At first I was very skeptical about reading The Spirit of Kilapea, but once I began I was so glad that I did. This book is amazing and educational in an emotional and real life sense.

Nick, a regular camper at Camp Kilapea who has spent 9 years working his way up the ladder to where he is now as Leadership Director. The day he shows up to camp he finds out someone that has never been to Camp Kilapea is now the new Waterfront Director and Nick is very skeptical about this decision.

When he meets Kip, the new waterfront director he is immediately attracted to him and he begins to wonder if Kip was actually a bad choice for the position like he had originally thought. As these two get to know each other they find out that they are both hiding something in their lives away from camp. Nick has a secret that he has kept for years and Rip realizes he isn’t happy with the person he is when he at home and at school.


Nick and Kip befriend each other and throughout their summer at camp they open up to one another. See how having a true friend know your secrets and the spirit of camp can change they way you see things. 🙂

Camp Kilapea changes people by living by the camp Motto.. You want to see what happens to Kip, Nick, and how Camp Kilapea changes so many people, you should read it for yourself today.

I recommend this book to anyone who like any type of romance as long as they do not have a problem with MM.

This is my one hundred percent honest and unbiased review of The Spirit of Kilapea.
❤️Kristina



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About The Author

Writing erotic romance in any genre and young adult stories as well, he likes to explore the emotions of discovering oneself while also allowing someone else into your heart as well. His style has been called angsty at times, and he takes pride in torturing his poor protagonists, making them work for their happily ever after.






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Random Review: Jesus Kid by Kayleigh Sky


Title: Jesus Kid
Author: Kayleigh Sky
Cover Artist: Kayleigh Sky
Publisher: Kiss Drunk Books
Genre: Sci-Fi Gay Romance
Length: 357 pages
Release Date: December 6th, 2017



Synopsis

Thirty years ago, an asteroid stuck the Earth. Now killer plants hunt the last surviving humans.

Ori Scott is a young junkie running from his mother’s prophecy that he’d one day save the world from the killer plants. Her preaching made him a laughingstock and now he hides in his drugs. But he can’t hide the change in his veins. They are turning green, and the prophecy is dragging him into a dark struggle between invisible forces. Set up on bogus drug charges, Ori is taken to a secret facility where he becomes a test subject in experiments to discover an antidote to the alien plant’s sting.

Jack Doll is a cop with a vendetta against the plants that killed his best friend. All he has in the world now is his old friend’s lover, Rive. Together they form an unbreakable bond—or so he thought. Jack has never liked Rive’s friend, Ori, but he believes in Ori’s innocence and doesn’t understand Rive’s strange indifference to Ori’s conviction.  Struggling with his suspicions, Jack can’t help digging into a mystery that draws him closer to Ori than ever before—and closer to somebody who has secrets to hide. 

Alone and scared, Ori is grateful for Jack Doll’s friendship, and his longtime crush soon blossoms into love. But Ori has no plans to accept his fate. He wants to escape, and he doesn’t care if he takes the cure with him.



Review

Jesus Kid was a great read. It was well written dispite the fact it was really drawn out. I enjoyed reading it. 

In Jesus Kid, you see people struggle with different hardship throughout the book, and also see how they conquer them.

Ori is a very self conscious young man, he thinks he is good for no one and nothing. He sleeps around and stays high all of the time acting like someone that he really isn’t.

Jake is a cop, a law informing and abiding citizen. He doesn’t have much left, just friends, that is until Ori finally catches his eye.

These two may seem like complete opposites, but they are perfect together. Things happen and Jake must save Ori, more than once. With Ori being the Jesus kid, a lot of things with be thrown their way and they will have to not give up on their battles or each other. Even going through h*ll, these two have a really great chemistry but because of they way Ori thinks of himself, he keeps trying to push the thoughts of “love” away.

If you would like to see how Ori, Jake, and all of their friends handle everything thrown their way, then you should start Jesus Kid for yourself, now.

I recommend this book to anyone that loves MM romance, fantasy, paranormal, and sci-fi.

This is my completely honest and unbiased review.





Excerpt

The robber glared at him. Movement flickered in the corner of Jack’s eye. Ori leaned in against the plate glass window, trying to peer through the space between the door and an advertisement for the Star Fall Festival. He cupped his hands near the spot where the tail of the asteroid streaked to the bottom corner of the poster. “C’mon, Wally. Lemme in.”

Strung out, maybe.

“Fuck,” muttered the robber.

Before Jack could say anything, the guy backed up, flipped the lock, and yanked the door open. Ori charged in. In a flash, Jack took in the strip of skin between his pants and shirt, the bare arms, the bracelet on his wrist, the silver rings in his ears and belly button, the long tangle of beige-colored hair, and the flinch when his gaze met Jack’s.

He licked his lips and winked. “Hey, Jack.”

“Yeah. Hey,” said the robber, sending Ori into a spin. His breath rattled in and out before he muttered, “Holy shit.”  


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Meet The Author

Kayeigh Sky is a m/m erotic romance writer.
Kayleigh’s stories are tales of struggle and pain, loss and despair. Love is won in the battle to rise out of the depths of darkness. Victory is in the sweet bliss of happily ever after.
Once upon a time Kayleigh hid out in a cold dark garage reading a book her parents forbid her to read. She was nine years old. The book? Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, a story of love between two men–well, actually the story was a little more complicated than that, but hey, she was nine.
In the dark of the garage, a light, a passion, a sheer joy for love in all its manifestations awoke.
And love between two men–Hot!
Kayleigh’s men are often broken, always brave, and always memorable.


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22 December 2017

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Why I Left You by Colette Davison

 

Book Title:  Why I Left You
Author: Colette Davison
Publisher: Smudged Ink Press
Cover Artist: Charlotte L R Kane
Genre/s: gay contemporary romance
Length: 72,000 words/234 pages
Release Date: November 7, 2017



Synopsis

Jamie is struggling with university, money and depression. The last thing he needs is for Brett—the guy who left him four years ago—to walk back into his life. Yet it could be just what he needs.
Ever since Jamie left him, Brett has been running away from commitment. But when he meets Jamie again, he’s forced to re-examine every aspect of his life.
Brett and Jamie are drawn back together by an undeniable spark, but unless they can come to terms with the past, their relationship won’t survive the present.


**Contains explicit language and scenes**



Teaser


 

Excerpt

 Holy shit. Jamie was kissing him. Brett’s head told him to back off and walk away, but his body remembered those lips and how much he’d once enjoyed having them pressed against his own. His body wanted to lean into the kiss and respond with four years’ worth of regret. For a few precious moments, he let himself give in to desire. His heart hammered against his ribs, desperate to escape his body and reclaim what it had lost. His fingers tingled as he wrapped an arm around Jamie’s shoulders and held him tightly, his thumb making small circles on Jamie’s shirt.

Then his brain kicked into gear again. What the fuck was he doing? This was the guy who had ripped his heart out in the worst possible way. Besides, Jamie was clearly at least half-gone. What they were doing was a mistake at best.

He pulled away, breathing heavily as he stared at Jamie, whose pupils were blown wide.

“You’re drunk,” Brett said in the most matter-of-fact tone he could manage.

Jamie curled his upper lip and turned away, shaking his head. It was dumb for Brett to follow him, but he did it anyway. They’d been best friends long before they’d realised they were attracted to each other. Brett had always looked out for Jamie, back when they’d lived next door to each other. Those instincts kicked in.
“Let me walk you home.”
Jamie stopped and rounded on him, fists clenched, teeth gritted. “Don’t pretend you give a shit.”


Review

I loved this MM romance novel, has to be my favorite one of 2017, even though it was an emotional ride.


Brett and Jamie will have you happy, mad, sad, and sometimes even confused.


Brett and Jamie have a past and now a present. But, can these two have a future with everything that needs to be said?

Brett is fighting guilt from something that happened with Jame four years ago, that he has always thought was his fault. While all along, Jamie has been fighting his own guilt for choices he made and has been angry with Brett for the past four years because he didn’t understand why in his time of need Brett just disappeared.

Four years later they meet and start again. Can they make it through all the struggles they will have to face? When the only way to face them is to confront the past and everything they have kept within, ‘together’!?

This is my honest unbiased review.🙂
❤️Kristina

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About the Author

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairy tale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.  




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Giveaway


  Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. 




REVIEW AND BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE



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~
   

21 December 2017

Random Review: Dawning Ascent (The Pearson Prophecy Book 1) by Jen L. Grey


Title: Dawning Ascent (The Pearson Prophecy Book 1)
Author: Jen L. Grey
Publisher: Jen L. Grey
Cover design: Eden Elements
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
Release Date: December 7, 2017
Length: Novel



Synopsis

Power comes with a price.
Treated like an outcast in her own kingdom, Ariah learned to live in the shadows. As she comes into her powers, she catches the eye of her life long crush and an unlikely ally. Trusting either of them could help her along a dangerous journey…or could bring her journey to a dangerous end.
When enemies come to light and distrust spreads, Ariah’s safety is put in jeopardy. If she places her trust in the wrong people, her hidden powers will be unveiled to those who wish to use them against her. To survive, Ariah must learn who has her best interests at heart. If she chooses wrong, it could mean not only her own death, but the crumbling of the entire country.
Game of Thrones meets Practical Magic in DAWNING ASCENT, a coming of age fantasy read for adults and young adults alike!




Review

Dawning Ascent (The Pearson Prophecy Book 1) by Jen L. Grey is the author’s debut novel as well as book 1 in the Person Prophecy series. Ariah Pearson, is the middle child and oldest daughter of the King’s Advisor. That doesn’t mean she isn’t special in her own right. Ariah has powers of her own that she has to contend with. There’s also the fact that she is in love with aa man she may never be able to be with. All of these are things that Ariah needs to get accustomed to in her life.

The book starts off with a prophecy about Ariah, her sister and her family. The intrigue escalated from there. As Ariah grows up, she realizes that her elemental powers are strong. In fact she’s stronger than everyone realizes and yet, she had to keep it hidden from the world. What I liked about this novel was the fact that there were many different elements to the story. It wasn’t just a coming of age romance. There was underlying political intrigue and plots as well as the fact that the women had powers that the men of the community revered and looked up to. The story was well developed, the characters and world was well thought out and the side characters were interesting.

While I typically don’t read books that are written in first person present tense because I find them hard to get into, the author did a very good job with this one. It pulled me in right from the beginning.


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Meet The Author


Reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies, even as a little girl. When I was a toddler, my parents would read stories to me over and over. I would hear them so often that I had the books memorized and could recite the story word by word.

The past year, I started having stories stuck in my head and finally decided to start writing. My favorite genres are fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary romance. So of course that's what I'm inclined to write. 

I have a husband, two young daughters, and a mini Australian Shepherd. I've lived in Tennessee the majority of my life and love the state.

I'm extremely addicted to caffeine and enjoy drinking coffee and lattes.



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