Aliens, buttsex, and the end of the world…oh my

Dark Space by Lisa Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed reading Dark Space. I’ll be honest and say I read this one on a recommendation from Rain on the Roof. It has some decent world building, a pseudo interesting plot, a well-developed narrator, and a happy ending. That’s not to say it was without problems, as there were numerous issues, but on the whole I enjoyed reading this more than I thought. So much so I’ll be checking out the author’s other books. I think the whole of the story elevates the enjoyment and makes up for the individual problems. For a reader who is not as engaged with the writing, this story could be frustrating.

More promising…alien BDSM

The Heracian Affair by Liv Olteano
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For my second choice I went with a BDSM choice from Dreamspinner. There’s a slight improvement with the cover, which again I didn’t see, but a huge improvement in the writing. DSP is hit or miss but I’m extremely pleased I seem to have hit with this choice. The writing is smooth, engaging, and interesting while there is a considerable amount of hot sex, almost too much. I’m not complaining as this is smutty good fun with some solid writing and decent, if sketchy, world building. As far as sci-fi/erotica offerings go, I quite enjoyed this quick novella and would definitely go back for more from this author.

Review: Fettered

Fettered by Lyn Gala
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was really surprised by Fettered. I didn’t expect anything bad, after all it’s Lyn Gala and I quite like her books, but I was surprised by how good this one was. I think that’s due to the more intense subject matter and how it’s handled. The concept and plot are good and the story isn’t afraid to delve into pretty dark areas. It’s also not afraid to show a kink that may not be for everyone but definitely works between the main characters. The writing is very good, but what really shone here are the characterizations. The various cast members all have shades of interesting gray and it definitely hooked me to want to read more.

Review: Harm’s Way

Harm’s Way by Geoffrey Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by the blurb and not sure what to expect. This isn’t romance, more like a murder mystery, yet very absorbing. In fact I practically sped-read it wanting to find out what happens. While the writing is very good and the concept unique and eye-catching, I’m not sure what I think of the story as a whole. It’s fascinating and makes you think, so for that alone I’d recommend it. However I didn’t always like the characters or like the book itself, probably the actions themselves that turned me off more than anything. I’m glad I read this but wouldn’t read it again.

Review: Claimings, Tails and Other Alien Artifacts

Claimings, Tails and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this quick novella. It’s incredibly hot, interesting, and a lot of fun. The writing is clean and descriptive with a nice blending of instruction and emotion. Blending an alien world and culture with a human submissive is a fun idea but the story is very clever. From start to the finish the entire novella is well crafted. The characters are also well developed, even if the differences in cultures are sometimes hard to imagine. This is a great introduction for those new to this author and fans are likely to appreciate the quirky humor and excellent writing.

Review: Screwing the System

Screwing the System by Josephine Myles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like Josephine Myles’ work quite a bit and Screwing the System is easily one of my favorites from her. The writing is clean, crisp, and evocative and the characters are engaging from the start. The sex is incredibly hot and the relationship is pretty low key. I found a few easy coincidences that I could have done without but beyond these there are very few, if any, missteps. Instead it’s a fun and interesting story to read without a lot of drama or problems. There’s no big drama and end scene, which is actually nice, and maturity wins the day.

Review: Cherish

Cherish by Tere Michaels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this quick novella and return to Matt and Evan. Michaels is really at her best when writing in this series and I’m always happy to revisit the characters no matter what. This particular novella is light and doesn’t necessarily advance the relationship much but I’m not complaining. It’s a wonderful look at two favorite men and their chaotic, crazy family. The writing is top notch as always and the ending gives a hint that there might be more similar revisits in the future.

Review: Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge by Geoffrey Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I got this one due to the author, who I knew wrote funny and very entertaining stories. Under the Bridge is definitely not what I was expecting as it’s a tense, gripping, and possibly surprising story. It’s not romance nor is there a happy ending. It’s more of a brief glimpse into a tense situation. The writing is incredible though and I’d consider this one an easy recommendation for fans of interesting literature. It goes beyond the typical m/m genre in the best ways.

Review: Guardians of Stone

Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When my dog immediately ate the cover of this book, I thought it was a bad sign. Thankfully I was wrong and Guardians of Stone is a really fun, entertaining, and sexy foray into a new series and new author for me. I’m actually lamenting the loss of the cover because it’s hard to convince people to try a new book with teeth marks on the spine; no really, the dog LOVED it too. The review quote on the back is a perfect descriptor as “a cross between Indiana Jones and Stephanie Plum.” The book is nicely balanced with relic action scenes – searching catacomb bones for an ancient box amid deadly booby traps – and a romantic triangle between the female lead and two equally gorgeous and grumpy men. It’s a bit of a stretch so readers have to be willing to buy into the premise and suspend disbelief but it’s worth it with sharp writing, good dialogue, sensible if familiar characters, and an overall interesting plot that keeps the action moving and readers interested.

Review: The Saturnalia Effect

The Saturnalia Effect by Heidi Belleau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Storm Moon Press continues to publish thought provoking, edgy, and very compelling stories. The Saturnalia Effect is no different and offers an absorbing and clever novella. It’s the perfect length to tease the reader but could easily have been longer and more involved. The short scene at the end attests to how much more the story still has to say. Nonetheless, TSE is a great quick tale that excites, engages, and leaves you wondering. My only criticisms are that the characters could have been explored more and the ending, which is both genius and a cop out.