Monday, July 9, 2012

Hot Summer Fun anthology book tour


It's Raining Men comes out with its summer anthology for 2012. Ten hot stories by ten hot authors.

Summer's Dawn by Sue Brown 

Together with his friends, Seth spends his summers watching the high school boys play beach volleyball. His girls are desperate to attract the attention of the hunks on the beach, but they can't complete with the older girls. Seth watches them too, content to let his friends think he's looking at the girls, until one day he realizes one of the boys is watching him back. Summers pass, and Seth and Joel continue to watch each other, yet it's never the right time to acknowledge their attraction.
Review:
Set in an unmentioned location with a timeline that contradicts itself, I found I could not get into this book. The characters had the potential to be more, but they were lost in this unrealistic story that leaves more questions than answers.  
1 pen

A Summer Night Fling by Raine Delight- 
Cal Larson wasn't expecting to find a hot sexy man stuck in a tree as he took his morning walk in the woods. When he meets Alex, sparks fly and these two find that love is waiting to claim them. Except Alex has a secret...one that may bring danger to Cal's doorstep. Can Cal find it in his heart to accept Alex and let this summer fling turn into something much more?
Review:
Cal seem to be just a little trusting, friendly and accepting for this to be a modern day story. Alex came off as selfish and weak with no honor or loyalty to his own people. 1 pen

Working Stiff by Sara York- 

When Josh finds himself out of work he jumps at the job his cousin arranges even though he hasn't done construction in years. His muscles are sore, his body aching but that doesn't keep him from noticing Zane, the hot foreman on the project. But admiring your boss and sleeping with him are two different degrees of stupid. Josh steers clear of Zane until they are thrust together one weekend.
Review:
I enjoyed this story very much. The characters and the scenario were believable. I was very pleased that this didn't turn out to be another story where some "small-town whosit" from "Nowhere USA" goes to the big city and conquers it when he never even left his porch until then.
4 pens

In the Heat of the Night by Lisa Worrall -
The heat wave gripping Southern California has driven Nick and Oliver apart—as far as their sleeping arrangements are concerned. Despite Nick’s complaints, the combination of the oppressive heat and the heat Nick himself generates, Oliver heads for the downstairs guest room. In the middle of the night, when Nick is awoken by mumblings and doors opening downstairs, his first thought is for Oliver’s safety. But will he find the burglar he suspects, or something more surprising?
Review:
I was kind of disappointed with this story. There was plenty of build-up with no "ta-da!" at the end. Not really a bad story, but I was hoping for more. 2 pens

Summer House by Jaxx Steele - 

Marcus’s twin brother asked him to take his place for the weekend at the summer house they owned in Key Largo. Marcus looked forward to a weekend by the pool, but it’s what he didn’t expect to find at the summer house that made his impromptu vacation one of the best he ever had.
Review:
I have read and enjoyed Jaxx Steele's books before, but wow. The characters were engaging and the flow wasn't rushed allowing the reader enjoy what was happening along with the the main character. This story was hot and emotion provoking. Excellent read! 5 pens 

Summer In The Wild by CR Guiliano - 
Gillian Daleth knew he was a rare breed. Being driven out of his pack proved it. No werewolf wanted a Delta in their pack. Gil spent the next sixteen years researching, getting a degree in European History while he was at it, and finding out exactly why he was not welcome in any wolf pack. Not that it bothered him. He considered himself a loner anyway. Until he met Jeriah Peirson. An Omega that was just as sweet as he could be. But Gil couldn’t mate with Jeriah. Not without an Alpha. And the only Alpha Gil knew was Laramie Cane. An Alpha that had no interest in a mate, or mates in Gil’s case.
Review:
Unfortunately this was one of the few books I could not finish. I’m aware it may have gotten better if I kept reading, but I was more than half done and had no desire to prove that point. 1 pen 

One Night in Paradise With You by Rawiya-
Peter Galley is a successful businessman taking a well deserved vacation to Hawaii after being overworked. He has one night left before he goes back to New York to fulfill his fantasy of having sex with a man. He meets Cruz Vallejo, resident surfer, party boy, a gorgeous town hunk. Peter immediately wants to make this man his conquest but will Cruz even notice, and if he does will he give Pete the chance?
Review:
This book delivered smoothly. Peter did what he set out to do, but when the deed was done I enjoyed the ride, but was a little disappointed with how the story ended. 3 pens

Air Bear by A.J. Llewellyn -
Hawaiian-born Kappy is thrilled to be back in the land of his ancestors with the man of his dreams, Jason, an Air Bear--Military Trooper--stationed at Wheeler Air Force Field. Kappy is excited to introduce his husband to all his island friends and to show him the sites. When they drive along the once-forbidden H3 Freeway, Jason is amused that Kappy seems so frightened about displeasing the old island gods. Kappy tries to explain the ancient kapu associated with it but his Air Bear is not convinced. Jason is now determined to prove that the legend about bad things happening if you take the drive with pork in the car is just local superstition. Mumbo jumbo. A silly myth...
Or is it?
Review:
The cool urban legend, lovely scenery and believable characters make this story a great read. 4 pens

Hot Summer Hogs by Patricia Logan
It's a sticky August week in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Every year, bikers from around the world gather in the town of Sturgis for the world's largest bike rally. Partying and fun along with men and women determined to have a good time, are a hot combination. Hook-ups and unadulterated excitement are everywhere. Cade Littlebear, famous custom bike builder and his husband Jake Maxfield join the sexy crowd for their first ever, bike rally. When Cade is challenged by a sexy ex, Jake is there to support his lover and keep his 'spirits' up. How he chooses to keep Cade's 'head' in the game, will leave you breathless and wanting more. When the rubber meets the road, the fun really begins. The heat of the day is cool in comparison to the scorching hot nightly activities of the sweaty, leather-clad lovers. Come and join the sexy heroes and a town bursting with "Hot Summer Hogs".
Review:
This tale did not lack sex scenes, but for me it was the case of too much of a good thing. The visuals were too descriptive at times. I felt like some of those guys should seek medical attention for the over abundance of leaking and dripping. 1 pen

A Midsummer's Night Pick-up by Ike Rose -

Hans Rotmusen is a twenty-five-year-old blond whose socially prominent family kicked him out when they discovered that he was gay after he fell in love with a fellow actor, Jonathan. Living in a small apartment with his lover was great, until Jonathan decided that he needed to marry a woman to hide his gay past. Hans, refusing to continue on the down-low, kicked him out. After two years alone, he's horny as hell, so he decides to go cruising in Central Park on Midsummer's Night of 1978. Under the magical moonlight, Goldilocks encounters Pappa Bear, a hot older bearded man, deep in the woods. Following the most passionate kiss of his young life, Hans is helplessly attracted to the gruff, rugged stud, but when they get to Pappa Bear's Den, he discovers a big surprise. Will Pappa Bear be Goldilocks' true love, or just a Midsummer’s Night Pickup?
Review:
This story was well written and flowed great. As a native New Yorker I longed to live in the time this book took place as it was unlike the New York that I know. The life of the main character was flawlessly magical. It was the stuff dreams are made of. 3 pens 

Overview:
This anthology didn't completely suck. There were a few stories that I liked very much and some I simply didn't enjoy at all, but that is the beauty of an anthology: you get variety.  
For me, the jewels of this antho were Working Stiff, Summer House and Air Bear. Their presence in this grouping make the $5.99 price tag worth it.

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