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Dirt Nap (Marnie Baranuik 'Between the Files' short) Marnie Baranuik Series

Dirt Nap by A.J. Aalto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trust Marnie to turn an awesome plan into a comedy of errors. This short was so freaking hilarious, though I missed Harry. But Marnie's antics more than made up for it. Kill Notch and Snickerdoodle have a 'moment', this two have turned foreplay into an art form or more like a weirdly romantic mating ritual.

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Memory Kick (GLBT Sci-fi)

Memory Kick by C.M. Torrens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

I preordered this because I had read another title from this author before , and which I really enjoyed. The blurb did give me some hesitation because 1: I'm not a science fiction fan and 2: it dealt with substance abuse and tricks-themes that aren't at the top of my fave list. I'm glad I read this story, and although some of the subject matter did give me the queasies it was an engaging read all around.

Qusay has one certainty-nothing is free. He finds solace and numbness in drugs to deal with severe headaches and the constant fear of the gaps in his memory. Things that he knows one minute are gone in a fog the next. He makes his living turning tricks and his dealer Otis (UGH filthy disgusting #$%&) easily preys on Qusay when Qusay doesn't have enough for the drug of choice Kick. Under the influence, Qusay becomes victim to Otis and his twin Max's sadism. After barely escaping from the brothers latest perverted act, he literally bumps into Cameron.

When Cameron catches sight of Qusay's state, he only wants to lend a helping hand. He offers Qusay a meal and senses Qusay's instant wariness; the young man's personality changes from fearful to seductive in a flash, coming onto Cameron, obviously misinterpreting Cameron's intentions. But something pulls Cameron to Qusay and so he asks Qusay to accompany him for lunch for the rest of his stay in the station.

Little by by little Qusay opens up to Cameron and places his trust in him when he learns that Cameron works security, by asking Cameron to help find out who he is and where Qusay came from. But disappointment makes him run when Cameron asks about Otis-not knowing that Cameron is a bounty hunter that has his sights on Max and is not aware of Qusay's connection to Otis. But fate intervenes when Cameron's search for Max saves Qusay from the brothers' clutches. Feeling guilty when their simple search makes Qusay the subject of a bounty, Cameron takes Qusay off the station trying to evade the hunters on their tail.

In close quarters Cameron fights his growing attraction to Qusay as Qusay battles through withdrawal. When Qusay is captured, Cameron has to come to terms with his feelings in order to save Qusay from the man intent on breaking Qusay's body and mind.

Qusay (love the name), was an amazing character for me because with everything that he dealt with and everything he lived through he still managed to keep his sanity and his sweet nature-such a strong young man. I felt disgusted with his father's complete disregard of Qusay's pain, even after what he discovers at the end. I SO wished that Cameron had really punched the guy a good one.

Cameron I loved because of his gentle affection towards Qusay, something Qusay had never really experienced and just really really needed and more than deserved. I liked that Qusay's comfort was always a priority even before he fully realized what he felt.

I really enjoyed this novel, all the elements brought together worked well and of course the writing enhanced the experience. I thought the sci. would really lose me but in actuality I sometimes even forgot this was supposed to be science fiction. It was understated, easy to follow without me going huh?, and made this world easy to imagine in my head. The only thing that nagged me a little was Archer's whole obsession with Qusay's dad, but other than that definitely a thumbs up. Good reading.

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Forgotten Menagerie (LGBT anthology)

Forgotten Menagerie by Kate Lowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

I bought this along with and had a great time reading them both, unlike Dark Menagerie though this anthology offered a series of lighter more comedic and romantic stories. What made this so freaking entertaining was the shifters, they were not the usual wolf or cat as most often is the case and in some of the stories you didn't discover what kind they were until the end.

Kate Lowell's Nuts About You-Nathan is a shifter in love, and he uses his form to his advantage to spy on his crush. This story just had me smiling like an idiot the whole way through, it was hilarious the situations Nathan got himself into and how his shifter traits affected his human personality. A delightful romance comedy.

Alex Whitehall's The Greatest of These-I found this story wonderfully inspiring. Daniel a devout young man has struggled with becoming a shifter and being gay. Through his friendship with Liam he has learned to embrace his being a shifter, but his feelings for Liam is something that he hasn't yet made peace with. He constantly seeks guidance and support and then he finally gets his answer. That moment, that profound realization that Daniel makes was beautiful and sweet to me. I also loved the innocence and purity of Daniel and Liam's feelings, definitely my favorite story in the anthology.

Avery Vanderlyle's Mirrors, The Moon, and The Boy-Eber is cursed, as have been generations before him. Each night before the full moon he goes to an exclusive club in search of company. With a trick that he pulls off with the help of the moon, he has made a reputation for himself amongst the other members; but this particular night he has eyes only for one man, Miguel-the proprietor's nephew. After spending a wonderful night with Miguel an obsessed ex lover who has an inkling of Eber's secret manages to trap him, and caught by the full moon Eber shifts and Miguel finally sees what he truly is. This story was rich, I loved the history; the things Eber could do with his erm, organ were freaky but intriguing and the type of shifter he was really caught me by surprise.

Angelia Sparrow's Burden's Lightened-Dobson is a working man, aside from doing a job in construction, he takes care of his farm. The town had an unspoken deal with certain matters; Dobson's was teaching the young gay men in the community. Jim is his boss' nephew and a young man seeking Dobson's guidance, but Dobson realizes that Jim he wants for keeps and he finally reveals his well kept secret. I enjoyed this story, it was a light easy read and I liked the fact that Dobson found someone to share his burden.

Cari Z's Dangerous Territory-Carter is a man on the verge of losing everything. The circumstances he found himself made me feel his despair and his anger, and although I sort of understood his sister's feelings I just really wanted to slap some sense into her. With the help of his friend Keena they come up with a plan that will help him start anew, and this is how he finds himself in the company of Rani. The shifter will lead him and his cattle through the treacherous Mason Canyon, so he can gain a lead on his sister's husband to sell his stock. By the journey's end he finds new hope and a partner who will do anything to stay by his side. Like all the other stories, I was fully engaged and thoroughly involved with this characters.

I spent a great time with this anthology. I didn't want to reveal what each shifter was because discovering what kind of shifters they were was half the fun for me and so I don't want to spoil it for other readers. I seriously hope there is more of this anthologies in the future.

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Dark Menagerie (LGBT anthology)

Dark Menagerie by Amanda Ching
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

I love shifter stories and I found myself in the mood for reading some, but nothing caught my eye until this popped up, along with while I was checking out ARe. I'm really glad I bought them, these are a great collection of stories. Some of the authors I'm familiar with but none of the stories disappointed.

Katya Harris' Dominant: Kade is a shifter, turned as a result of an attack he's had to learn and control what he is on his own; until he meets Jonas. Kade is both attracted an scared of Jonas, more so when he learns that Jonas is there to take Kade back to his pack willingly or not. I loved the strong chemistry between Kade & Jonas, it's what just made the story very enjoyable to me. It would've been fun to read of Kade meeting the pack and learning the ropes, but I still liked it.

Lor Rose's The Four of Us: Based on the Mares of Diomedes, this story both fascinated and creeped me out. It even brought to mind , because it felt sort of wrong and well, creepy to root for the couples. Podagros, Deinos, Xanthos, and Lampon are horses whose diet consists of human flesh; deadly and unfeeling they take turns enamoring men and then hunting them. Now it's Podagros and Deinos turn as they have just fed on Xanthos and Lampon's lovers. The game starts when Podagros and Deinos meet brothers Turner and Stacy, but these two brothers are unlike their usual quarry. This story was very fitting for Halloween, the elements worked really well and that made the story a pleasant surprise; but because of how the characters are constructed, who they are, it made me feel wrong about their happy ending.

Caitlin Ricci's Horsefeathers: This story was enjoyable, there is something very mystical for me about skinwalkers. Though I got a little confused at first because I thought Brother Mustang and Nohatu were two separate entities. Nohatu is a skinwalker and Brother Mustang is his spirit, having spent many years in animal form he finds himself bought by Justin, a ranch hand who was sent by his boss to the auction. Angry at being taken farther from his home, Nohatu finally takes his human shape to demand to be returned only to realize what Brother Mustang had sensed in Justin. Justin contains a spirit inside himself and not having found any of his kind in a long time Nohatu takes the risk and brings about Justin's transformation.

Arielle Pierce's Breathe: Nathan is a dolphin shifter who lives a sad life with a man who uses him as arm candy and a punching bag. His lover doesn't know that Nathan is a shifter and so Nathan comes up with excuses to leave the house when he yearns to swim in the sea. But the sea doesn't hold the complete peace that he's looking for, as two members of the pod he belonged to always destroy his respite with games of dominance and abuse. Nearing his breaking point Nathan meets Jacob, an Orca shifter that just moved into town. Jacob is a big man, and Nathan expects the same treatment from him he receives from the other men in his life, so he is surprised when Jacob offers him kindness and patience. Jacob's actions open Nathan's eyes to what his life has become and finally gives him the strength to take back control. I really liked Nathan's story, it was a little uncomfortable for me at the beginning but I'm glad that I held on. I'm happy that Nathan found his special man and got his happy ending.




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White Whale (GLBT Historical)

White Whale by Rose Christo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5

The taste of anger is bitter on my tongue, the sadness burrowed deep in my heart, and the images my mind can clearly picture will probably stay with me for a long time. This is not an easy story to read, at least it wasn't for me.

Orca is a man who's been to hell, even though not treated as an actual citizen with any rights, he has to go to war for his country. There in the midst of suffering and destruction the rest of his team become his family, his brothers-their race doesn't matter. When he finally makes it home, he thinks it's to finally devote himself to his son, only to discover that the government is closing down his child's school and want to send all the children to a boarding school. Orca has already known the pain of seeing what boarding school did to his father, and is prepared to fight to keep his child Rabbit from being dragged away and stripped of who he is. Then a letter arrives informing him of the passing of one of his brothers and he leaves to attend the funeral, there he reconnects with the rest of his team members and Jona-his team leader and a man that makes him want, want so badly that it both surprises and scares him.

Orca learns that Jona is running from prejudice and is without a home, so Orca takes him to his. Life appears to gain some semblance of normalcy that is quickly shattered when one day he goes to pick up his boy only to discover that Fawn-his boy's mother has turned him over to the BIA, to be placed in a boarding school. Orca and Jona set out to find Rabbit and bring him home.

This is a story of a soldier who doesn't know why he has to kill people that never hurt him, a father that only wants to love and nurture his son, a man who finds love unexpectedly with another man, and the child within him that only yearns for his Father's love and acceptance. Poignant and heart wrenching this story portrays the worst side of humanity and the devastating results of hatred and prejudice. While the relationship between Orca and Jona is really beautiful and Orca's bond with Rabbit is so warm and lovely don't expect a perfect and conventional ending.


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Evensong's Heir (The Songbirds of Valnon, #1) GLBT

Evensong's Heir by L.S. Baird
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This are the kinds of books I'm frustrated I'll miss out on when I'm in a reading slump, and the ones that make me glad that I go with my instinct and purchase without being familiar with the author or the ratings/reviews.

An epic beginning to a series that gets me excited for what is yet to come. Full of adventure, action, and intrigue this novel had me hooked from the beginning. Willim (The Dove), Dmitri (The Lark), and Ellis (The Thrush) are the Songbirds of the Temple of Valnon. Sheltered from the outside world, they are caught unawares by an attack. One of their own has turned against them, and for their own safety the Songbirds must escape the only home they've ever known. With few allies and unknown threats the Songbirds must find their strength if they are to save their city from impending destruction.

Willim is the Dove, with no inkling of his parentage, the Temple and his song are all he knows and is. The attack on his bodyguard opens up his eyes to how precarious Valnon's position is, and meeting Grayson-a sell-sword who has past ties with the Temple-opens his heart to emotions he's never known. He and his Songbirds get some hard lessons. They learn more of themselves and each other along the way while discovering more of their history and the machinations of their enemies. They create ties, unknowingly touching the people they meet with their song.

Grayson is a man that lost his honor in defense of a dear friend, unjustly charged he left the Temple of Valnon in disgrace losing the opportunity to serve as a Godsword. Now he has been called to duty; to protect The Dove of Valnon at all costs. He has to confront an old love, his feelings for a new one, and finally get his rightful place in the Temple.

This was a supremely wonderful story for me, I enjoyed it immensely. The writing made this world come to life, and the songs were so beautiful that they gave me goose bumps and tugged at my heartstrings.

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