Dirty Kiss (A Cole McGinnis Mystery #1) & Dirty Secret (#2) by Rhys Ford

Cole Kenjiro McGinnis, ex-cop and PI, is trying to get over the shooting death of his lover when a supposedly routine investigation lands in his lap. Investigating the apparent suicide of a prominent Korean businessman's son proves to be anything but ordinary, especially when it introduces Cole to the dead man's handsome cousin, Kim Jae-Min.Jae-Min's cousin had a dirty little secret, the kind that Cole has been familiar with all his life and that Jae-Min is still hiding from his family. The investigation leads Cole from tasteful mansions to seedy lover's trysts to Dirty Kiss, the place where the rich and discreet go to indulge in desires their traditional-minded families would rather know nothing about. It also leads Cole McGinnis into Jae-Min's arms, and that could be a problem. Jae's cousin's death is looking less and less like a suicide, and Jae-Min is looking more and more like a target. Cole has already lost one lover to violence-he's not about to lose Jae-Min too.

                                                     5 STARS

 

I have had this on my to read list for a little while and actually read it a couple of weeks ago, but since I just finished book 2 thought I would review them both together. Anyway I loved this story not only did I learn a lot about Korean culture and families but I got an exciting action packed crime drama and a really cute but intense love story all in one. Cole is PI that has been through some serious and intense emotional situations which I won't go into because I found that really pulled me into this story, when he investigates a suicide/murder for a client of Mike's whose Coles brother he meets Jae. Poor Jae has his own drama but he's a vital part of the story that's told from Cole's POV btw I loved how this mystery unfolds and how it brings Jae & Cole together, but poor Cole the guy is constantly getting shot at or the shit kicked outta him and his made up family Scarlet, Claudia & Bobby plus Jae's crazy cat I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. Very well done  Rhys Ford I couldn't wait to read the second book.

 

Sequel to Dirty Kiss

Loving Kim Jae-Min isn’t always easy: Jae is gun-shy about being openly homosexual. Ex-cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis doesn’t know any other way to be. Still, he understands where Jae is coming from. Traditional Korean men aren’t gay—at least not usually where people can see them.

But Cole can’t spend too much time unraveling his boyfriend’s issues. He has a job to do. When a singer named Scarlet asks him to help find Park Dae-Hoon, a gay Korean man who disappeared nearly two decades ago, Cole finds himself submerged in the tangled world of rich Korean families, where obligation and politics mean sacrificing happiness to preserve corporate empires. Soon the bodies start piling up without rhyme or reason. With every step Cole takes toward locating Park Dae-Hoon, another person meets their demise—and someone Cole loves could be next on the murderer’s list

 

                                                                    5 STARS

 

Now this book it went in directions I hadn't expected but absolutely loved anyway, it's still about a mystery but it has more about the way Jae & Cole are now a couple and living together plus it has  alot to do with their families mostly Coles. I will say I hated Cole's parents mostly his stepmother I think I was more shocked by the things she said than anything and that part of the story was emotional yes but explained alot of Cole's attitude and his thought process, plus it brings Jae & him closer together in a way. Cole is still getting shot at and the shit kicked outta him alot and it's still a action packed exciting thriller that brings his whole "family" together we get more story involving Scarlet (which was fascinating to say the least) Claude (and her kids I loved her story about Marcus it was intense but a well placed heart to heart) Bobby (where the hell is he meeting these guys? Trey & Rocket and OMG the bottle story o_0 ) and let's not forget Mike & and his wife I loved that they stood up for Cole the way they did. Now one little bone to pick why oh why did we get left with such an interesting cliffhanger and when (please tell me it's soon) will we get the next book to this series cause I will freak if that was it LOL I have to say I really did love both books and the stories are so worth reading I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BOTH!!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Starfish and Coffee by Kele Moon

On the island where they first met two lovers from opposite sides of the tracks are reunited. Now jaded and broken, Alex and Matt still can’t deny their sizzling connection or the memories of one perfect, uninhibited year together.

At twenty-two, Matt Tarrington is rich, good-looking and destined to be powerful, but behind that confident exterior lurks a man who resents the life his family thrust upon him. Desperate for an escape, Matt heads to Mirabella Island off the coast of Florida for a year of relaxation and some wild nights with vacationing party-girls.

Matt never expected to find real passion in the arms of Alex Hunter, a handsome, laid-back local.

Alex is gay, but closeted. Matt should be completely off limits, but Alex finds the deeply in denial rich boy too tempting to ignore. Especially when a bet has them working together, fighting the heat in the rundown, beachside cafe where Alex sweats for every dollar.

Their love felt inevitable until youth left them vulnerable to hatred and greed. Now after six years of hating the lies they live, Alex and Matt will have to risk it all for the second chance they both desperately need
                                                                         4.75 STARS

This is an interesting take on how meeting that one person can absolutely change your life. When Matt & Alex meet their both young and impressionable, their both very attracted to each other but they become friends first then lovers. Of course thats when life and families get in the way. Now it's six yrs later and so much needs to be said between them but they can't seem to get that pesky attraction to each other to get out of the way. A lot of this book is flashbacks which tells us the story of how Alex & Matt meet and fall in love but it also tells a story about Alex's brother and also his best friend who have their own story that goes to pot 6yrs ago. It's a very intense emotional love story but it's also a very sweet and beautiful story about growing up and the choices we make along the way. I Recommend

A Reason To Believe by Diana Copland

Detective Matthew Bennett doesn't believe in ghosts. So when the spirit of a murdered child leads him to her body, he's shaken to the core--and taken off the case. Unable to explain his vision, or to let go of the investigation, Matthew turns to renowned medium Kiernan Fitzpatrick. Though he has doubts about Kiernan's claims to communicate with the dead, Matt is nevertheless drawn to the handsome psychic, who awakens feelings he thought were long-buried.

Haunted by the lingering spirit of the little girl, Kiernan is compelled to aid in the search for her killer. The chance to get closer to the enigmatic Matt is an unexpected bonus. Although Kiernan's been betrayed by people who turned out to be more interested in his fame than in himself, with Matt he's willing to risk his heart. As the two men grow closer, Kiernan helps Matt rediscover that life offers no guarantees--but love offers a reason to believe...

                                                                            5 STARS

This was a very enjoyable story, and exciting as hell I was on the edge of my seat for most of it. It's based around Christmas but it was also very spooky so it's a perfect read for right now. Detective Matthew gets called out on Christmas day actually in the middle of the night to find a missing little girl it's very reminiscent of a news story that happened a few years ago, during that investigation he sees the little girl and she leads him straight to her body. Of course he's never seen a ghost before he doesn't believe in that sorta stuff, since he lost his own partner/lover  almost 2 yrs before and outed himself in the process, he's already stressed out from losing his love and the cops he works with are not supportive at all. This is his first case after being stuck behind a desk since then and his captain is really homophobic, so after being put on administrative leave for seeing ghosts he talks to his best friend /sister in law which is how he meets Kiernan. I loved Kiernan he's funny, but serious when it comes to being a medium, so the two get together to solve the murder. Which is a high paced action packed thrill ride that was absolutely fascinating it's also a story on how to move on and finding love again. I wouldn't mind reading more about this couple I Highly Recommend. 

With Love (Pushing the Envelope #14) by Kim Dare

Joe has a plan. If it works, Scott will begin the journey toward complete confidence in their relationship. If it doesn’t work, well, they’re screwed. And there is no Plan B.

Scott isn’t surprised to find that the final letter Joe intends to send him is filled with nothing but orders, and it doesn’t even occur to him to disobey them.

As he sits in the backroom of a leather bar, Scott has no idea what will happen next. And despite all Joe’s careful plans, it may well turn out that he’s in for a few surprises, too..
 
                                                      5 STARS 

Here was another excellent book to read, and a perfect ending to a really damn good series. This couple wormed their way into my heart easily and I couldn't wait for the next book in this series I thought maybe I would feel let down now that it has ended but that's not the case. It really is a perfect ending we have watched Scott & Joe go through so many different emotions and their reactions affected us as well as them, so this final note was just what I had been waiting to see since the first one started this journey. It's a really great love story with a BDSM theme but nothing that made me uncomfortable or squeamish, it's very tastefully written, but it's also a self discovery story as both Scott and Joe make new discoveries about themselves and each other too. I have to say Scott and Joe's story has been one of the most fascinating stories I have read the anticipation of waiting for the next installment was fun and exciting and getting to know this couple made them easy to love. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this entire series, but this was a perfect ending to it.

Tigerland (Tigers and Devils #2) by Sean Kennedy

Sequel to Tigers and Devils

After an eventful and sometimes uncomfortably public courtship, Simon Murray and Declan Tyler settled into a comfortable life together. Now retired from the AFL, Declan works as a football commentator; Simon develops programs with queer content for a community television station.

Despite their public professional lives, Simon and Declan manage to keep their private life out of the spotlight. Their major concerns revolve around supporting their friends through infertility and relationship problems—until Greg Heyward, Declan’s ex-partner, outs himself in a transparent bid for attention.

Though Simon and Declan are furious with Greg and his media antics, they can’t agree on what to do about it. Declan insists they should maintain a dignified silence, but both he and Simon keep getting drawn into Heyward’s games. Simon and Declan will once again have to ride out the media storm before they can return their attention to what really matters: each other

                                                                            5 + STARS

I have had the privilege to have read some extremely AWESOME books lately, and this one is one of the tops for me. It's a sequel to Tigers & Devils which was about how Simon & Declan meet and became a couple and their trials & issues that they dealt with and worked through, so imagine my joy when I saw we would get to read a continuing of this wonderful couple. Simon is such a fun character because he's not perfect and readily admits his flaws, but doesn't change how he is Loved him! Even his insecurities when it comes to Heyward (I'm with Simon on this I won't call him Greg LOL). Simon's loyalty to Declan is admirable because I personally would have had to have my say to what Heyward starts. Declan is also a really sweet guy I mean you can almost see the love he has for Simon through his actions and words it's really an incredible love story. Usually I like some sex in my favorite stories (makes my inner perv happy) but honestly with this story I never even realized that there wasn't any in it, it's that well written! Not that it's completely pg rated but I honestly never even noticed the details weren't there. Truly this story is that well written!!! I also loved their friends and the couples since they each had their own problems to deal with, and their families were just hilarious the way Simon is with his brother Tim reminded me of me and mine it was just great writing. My favorite part of this entire book was the little getaway that Simon & Declan take when the drama from Heyward becomes to much, I could almost picture where they were it was a beautiful scene to this book. I won't give away the ending but I did feel it was a perfect one for this story. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Here's Some Quick Reviews

I have read some really awesome books lately and being a procrastinator I'm getting behind so I've taken the shorter stories that I have read lately and doing some quick reviews to catch up

HOTEL PENS by Geoffrey Knight  5 STARS Yes this is a shorter story but it had such a beautiful intense emotional love story packed into it. I seriously enjoyed this story I would Highly Recommend

ANGEL AMONG WOLVES: THE INITIATION by Mallorie Griffin 2 STARS I got this as a free read from ARe. It wasn't what I thought it would be from the blurb didn't really work for me

RUN ALGER RUN by Stephani Hecht  4.5 STARS This is from the Wayne county series which is a spinoff of the Lost Shifters series and I really enjoyed it. It's a fun sweet mate story that introduces us to some different kinds of shifters that I can't wait to read about.

SAINTS CURSE:LUKE by Lee Brazil  4.75 STARS This is another mate storyline but I really enjoyed it too it was exciting and fun  I will definitely want to read the second one in this series.

IN ALL YOUR WAYS by Cari Z  4.75 STARS This was another free read I got and was pleasantly surprised I really liked it. A fascinating short story but very intense and well written characters.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DENNY by Kari Gregg 4 STARS another free read and I liked it would have liked it more if it was a little bit longer would have liked to gotten more back story because the characters were interesting and the plot was intriguing.

BLOOD OF AN ANGEL by Stephani Hecht 4.5 STARS This is one of the Drone Vampire series and it's really good I liked how it ended and how the characters interact with ones from previous books.

Okay that's it for now on the quick reviews but I got plenty more waiting LOL Have an awesome day and Happy Reading!

Oceans Apart (Separate Ways #2) by Laura Harner

It’s been two years since Lord Jamie Mainwaring and Detective Remy Remington worked and loved their way through their one and only case before going their separate ways.

Now Jamie is once again mixing agency business with pleasure as he and his partner, Agent Ryan Whiteside, are assigned to a case involving piracy in the Caribbean.

Remy and his old friend Miggy are still detectives, but they’ve gone private in Phoenix. When their biggest client sends them to supervise an unusual diamond transfer, they think their toughest challenge will be maintaining their cover as a gay couple on a barefoot-style cruise.

When murder connects the dots between the two cases, the four men must learn to work together as relationships and loyalties are tested amid misunderstandings and memories on the high seas.

                                                                     5+ STARS

This is the sequel to Continental Divide which I loved and have a review back around post #58 (don't know who to add link yet, what can I say self taught computer person here LOL) Anyway since I hate giving to much away about a plot I will say this is not the kind of storyline I usually love and to understand why I say that you'll have to read the book. It's an action packed adventure but it also has some beautiful but intense highly emotional moments that make this also a love story. Where to begin? Jamie & Ryan work together and have for 2 yrs when the previous book ended (you got to remember that part) they've been in a relationship for 1yr or so of that time but Jamie still deep down loves Remy also from previous book and honestly it's best to read that one first I think. Thats where we get how deep and intense Remy & Jamie's feelings run and why their both struggling with the decisions that they need to make now. On top of that they are thrown into a Diamond exchange that modern day pirates are interested in, Jamie & Remy haven't seen or spoken for 2 yrs so imagine their surprise when they see each other on a mini gay cruise with their back ups. Although Jamie & Ryan have a relationship it's rocky at best and Jamie can't get over Remy who has his own problems his "straight" best friend Miggy who we met in the first book not only owns a house and business with Remy they found Toby (also from the first book) got him cleaned up and back in school basically raised him as their son which was such a sweet cute part of this story.  But lately Miggy is thinking he may not be as straight as he thought since he is starting to have desires and feelings for Remy. Are you confused yet? No great because the book is written much better than my explanation is LOL. It's really a fast paced action packed story with this intriguing complex love story between two different couples plus the past love of Jamie & Remy. I found it utterly fascinating and I was so into it that I couldn't put it down til I finished it, my only question is: Is this the end or will their be another? I enjoyed this story so much because it wasn't afraid to ask the seriously difficult  questions and answered them accordingly and LOVED the James Bond references I'm a 007 fan and this story reminded me of that type of story again LOVED it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND