A tender and somewhat cheeky New Age M/M Story
925264
While browsing for a new novel to read, Brent: The Heart Reader caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First, it is described as a New Age Romance and as far as I can recall, I have not yet come across a New Age M/M book. Moreover, the hero Brent is a Tarot card reader and I have to admit that Ive myself dabbled quite a bit in Tarot over the years (it's a great brainstorming tool for creative writing!). The author of the book, Wynn Wagner, is also the author of the Vamp Camp series which I really enjoyed so I thought Id give this one a go as well.

Brent, from whose point of view the story is told, is not your typical young man. He is a kind-hearted, emotionally wounded tarot reader who has just suffered the loss of his adopted mother and is finding life more than a bit challenging at the moment. His remaining adopted family  religious zealot cousins  want nothing to do with their gay tarot-reading Swedish relative.

But Brent isn't alone for long. He receives a new tarot client named Takota, an extremely handsome Sioux man who is recovering from recently having lost his lover. Brent provides Takota an amazing reading which helps the Sioux man move on from his pain and loss. A subsequent visit from Takota leads to a romp in the bedroom and the two men almost immediately fall in love. Brent finds a new family in Takota and as their relationship progresses, Brents past scars begin to heal. But the story does not end there.

What follows is an exciting adventure as the two men get to know each other and deal with the difficulties that face them  namely numerous attempts on Brents life. Throughout the novel, we meet Takotas zany family, Brents gun-toting best friend Kaela, and a sexy detective. But in the end, all is well and the healer is healed.

I cant begin to express how much I loved this book. Not only was the sex between the two men sizzling, but the witty and cheeky dialog had me laughing out loud on many occasions. Now I will say that it helps if the reader is a bit open minded as tarot card reading, Reiki healing, spirit guides, karma and universal balance are just some of the topics that the reader encounters.

I found this to be a refreshing, rich, well-written novel that combines humor, suspense, and romance into a tender, emotionally powerful story. Some folks may have a difficult time with some of the new age mystical elements but all it all, I find Brent: The Heart Reader to be well worth the time.

Who knows? After reading this amazing book, you might want to run out and purchase your own tarot deck.
2076098
Not sure why this relationship worked; it has to be chemistry.  On paper, it doesn't seem like a nearly agoraphobic 22 year old with tons of emotional baggage would gel with a laid-back porn 'model.'  But they do connect and it's very sweet.  Jon is beyond patient and kind to Isaac.  Isaac, on the other hand, is incredibly non-judgmental and accepting.

Both of these men have their fair share of pain to deal with. Isaac's is from the distant past, but it informs how he feels about physical expressions of  love.  Jon is enduring the pain of knowing the end of life is coming for his elderly best friend.

Wasn't the best AM Arthur book I have read, because she has some that I absolutely loved.  This was 'good enough' though.
236298
This novels lead, Raju, is sitting by a riverside shrine when hes mistaken for a holy man. In actuality, Raju was just released from prison for forging the signature of a woman with whom he has a complicated relationship. The woman is married to another man but she has a love of dance, and her husband wants her to give up such frivolities. She falls for Raju, who is working for her husband as a travel guide /expediter, because he supports her in the pursuit of dance. [One can see the dual meaning of the title as Raju is a travel guide by trade and becomes a spiritual guide to the villagers of the fictional town of Malgudi.] After experiencing some hard times with business, Raju finds success by being not only the lover of the dancer but also her Col. Tom Parker (i.e. her promoter /manager.)

The story isn't told in chronological order, but is easily enough followed and is the more interesting for its nonlinear telling. For example, we learn the details of Rajus troubles as a confession he makes to the individual who first mistook him for a guru.

The book explores several themes. One is the power of charisma and bumper-sticker wisdom in building a sage. When Rajus first student hears his confession, the young man is unswayed, following Raju unwaveringly. On a brighter note, one also sees how peoples strong beliefs, ill-founded as they might seem to be, can produce a guru. Ultimately, Raju becomes the teacher that the entire village thought him to be all along.

Theres also the issue of passion versus familial bonds and tradition. While Rajus mother personally likes the dancer woman, the fact that the girl is of a lower class and caste (not to mention married to another man), creates a tension. Raju must decide between his love of the dancer and that of his mother. We also get to see the hard edge of tradition in the Rajus uncle who puts all the bias of class and caste in its most explicit form.

I enjoyed this novel. Its a nice compact story and is very thought provoking. The character of Raju is well-developed and interesting. The reader finds Raju likable even though at times hes a bit loathsome in his behavior.  Theres more than one comedy of error in the storys formulation to offer some lightness to contrast the family drama.

Id highly recommend this book for fiction readers. It was also interesting for me as an ex-pat in India as it offers some insight into the culture. It should be noted that its set in a bygone era.  But even though its dated, one can see the long shadow of cultural proclivities in the story elements.
3997682
In truth, I wanted to give this a 4.5, but that option isn't available, so a 5 star is just fine!

As the description explains, the main story is about two doctors who have a very intimate relationship behind the scenes. The story is well put together, but lacks the more lovey-dovey 'atmosphere' that many other yaois contain. (Though you can tell they really do love each other by the end. If that makes sense.) In most cases, like this one, it's not a bad thing though. The 'scenes' are semi-common in this one and very yummy! For those who wanted to know, haha.

The 2nd story is very cute. It's about a character from the first story and a new character who is becoming a professional physical therapist. I rather enjoyed this one, but it felt like it moved way too fast. (Even by quick, fall-in-love, yaoi standards. Though that's just me. My friend thought it was normal speed (haha).)

In short, this book is worth the money for any yaoi lover. It'll keep you entertained if anything.
389276
Embraced was an unusual book with an unusual premise. It was part sci fi and part love story, although this was not the kind of love story where everyone lives happily ever after.

I'll try to give a flavour of the story without giving too much away. It starts with Abby, a school headmistress. She is a likeable character but she has a problem that is somewhat unusual. She is troubled with clicking sounds in her teeth and is convinced that these are alien messages which she is desperate to decipher. She enrols the help of one of her students, Curtis, a rather unlikely sidekick who is overweight, has acne, bad hair, and body odour, however he is also a geek who helps her unravel the messages.

Cut to an alien environment now. I'm not sure whether this is a planet, or some kind of mythical Mount Olympus, or maybe even Heaven, but it is inhabited by Supreme Beings who are the Guardians of the Universe. In their world Earth is simply a speck that one of their number is assigned to watch over.

The person assigned to watch over Earth is Paul, a trainee Power. Paul, however, is a badly behaved adolescent who is enjoying himself by playing games on Abby. The clicking sounds in Abby's teeth are his doing, and they actually mean nothing. Paul is supervised by Yves, an Adjunct, who is in despair at Paul's bad behaviour because he is in love with Abby, despite it being against the rules for a Supreme Being to become involved with an earthling.

Paul continues to mess around with Abby and his interference in her life increases with drastic results. I don't want to go any further because that would involve revealing spoilers. Suffice to say that Abby becomes more distressed, Paul's games increase, and Yves becomes more disturbed.

The two interlinking storylines worked well, seamlessly moving between each other, and both held the interest. I did, however, relate better to Abby than the supreme beings, although I really wanted to take Paul by the scruff of the neck and give him a good shake. On the other hand I felt that Yves was a bit distant, and I was more concerned with Abby's bereavement over the loss of her love interest than I was with Yves unrequited yearning for her.

On balance, I enjoyed reading Embraced, although I would have liked a little more information about the Supreme Beings' world. I felt the storyline was different, unusual and intriguing. I was saddened by the ending, although there was a note of hope for Yves, if not Abby, and I had the distinct feeling there would be another book to come.

This is a well written novel with themes of control, adolescent behaviour, thwarted love, reincarnation, and godlike supreme beings. And now I'm off to read the first book in this series Embattled'. I wonder if it will answer the questions I was left with about the Supreme Beings' world?
3586276
As someone who practices yoga regularly, I was drawn to the title of this book.  I'm certainly not a Buddhist (or a follower of any religion), nor do I meditate regularly (although (I'd like to), but I am pretty open to holistic viewpoints in general and Eastern philosophies in particular, so I thought that I might like this book.

The plot is simple.  Main character Otto Ringling is a 40-something middle class family man living in the suburbs of New York City.  He has a wife he loves, two kids he adores, and a job he enjoys.  However, he is feeling oddly bereft and empty after his parents--in the early 70s but in perfect health--are suddenly killed in a car crash.  Not only does Otto have to settle the family estate in North Dakota, but also he has to drive there with his sister, a free spirit who is afraid to fly.  But there is still one more surprise in store for Otto:  his sister somehow convinces him that he must instead make the trip with Volya Rinpoche, her guru.

With this setup, Otto and Rinpoche set off.  Otto is also entrusted to show Rinpoche some of Americana.  Although Otto has always been skeptical about his sister's lifestyle (she makes her living as a psychic), slowly, he finds himself questioning Rinpoche about his lineage and beliefs, and even more gradually, Otto begins turning to Rinpoche for help.

On a pure enjoyment level, this was one of the best novels I have read in some time.  The developing relationship between Otto and Rinpoche is a joy to read--sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating, always engaging.  Surprisingly, it is the character of Otto, not Rinpoche, that at times comes across as a bit of a caricature, with his over-the-top skepticism and crazy food requirements.  And the place where Otto's relationship with Rinpoche wound up at the conclusion didn't quite feel believable to me.  Still, these were minor issues that did not significantly detract from my pleasure in reading this novel.

I think that this novel is best suited to those who are open to philosophical discussions, particularly those which involve some Eastern religious concepts.  Rinpoche delivers a message that might be fictional, but it sets a positive, hopeful for this book.
2849747
A great mix of fiction with current New Age thinking as related to the perceived increase of enlightened people upon the earth.  This is a light romantic quick read that is not asking the reader to step too far past their religious comfort zone.  I recommend this book for those who are looking for reading entertainment that has a quick paced story line that more than keeps your interest!!
2916581
If your M/M erotica has been missing the supernatural, than this book is for you.

Mirceo, a bisexual vampire prince, and Caspion, a (previously) straight orphaned demon, are mates, whether they like it or not. While there are a few actual plot elements to this story, like a bounty hunter mission and the disappearance of Mirceos sister, a majority of this story dances around a will they/wont they between the two male leads. According to their lore, their mating is inevitable but Mirceo is going to have to get Cas past his little hetero-inflexibility problem in order for that to happen.

Overall, the writing was fine, but the non-sexual action was brief. Most of the storys 232 pages were dedicated to the angst-y buildup and then the physical coupling of Mirceo and Caspion.

If you're looking for some actual plot development with your explicit romance, this may not be the book for you.
3009340
I liked this book for many reasons, but mostly for the way in which spirituality and mindfulness has been woven into the narrative. It is light and breezy and the characterisations are competent.

The one thing that grated on my nerves was how the female love interest has been portrayed as being curvaceous in all the right places, as if that is a huge requirement for being a woman these days. Her other qualities are numerous and far more difficult to achieve than a beautiful body and since Buddhism (and all other spiritual systems) teaches its followers that the body is but a vehicle for higher consciousness for a book that seeks to incorporate spiritual principles into its narrative to dwell upon the flesh aspects was a bit jarring.

But overall, a great and engrossing read.
4635875
The world as we know it is a thing of the past. Due to a case of mysterious global cooling, the world has been reduced to what amounts back to the medieval times. They still have all the knowledge of advanced medicine and etc. but at this point in the story those things are like fairy tales the old people tell their young kids.

(Takes a moment to fear global warming.)

On to the story. First of all it was better than I thought, next well, it really wasn't anything like I thought. I knew it was going to be deep but it's also a little less dramatic than I thought.

The romance is a big part of the story but I wouldn't say it's the sole focus.
This was really a story about David becoming a man and assuming himself. Note that David turns 16 about the middle of the book, but with the mentality they all have, you're a man the moment you learn to speak for yourself. Considering homosexuality is also illegal in that special time period, it deals a lot with homophobia and religious immorality and all that. Thankfully though, it slowly develops into acceptance~

David and Callan have this great shy attraction right at the beginning and it slowly develops into full fledge chemistry as the story moves forward. Having David describes himself as a rather hairy bulky troll compared to Callan before their most intimate moment was hilarious.

As a side note, there's also possibly the most gory scene I ever read so far in a non-horror book near the end. Aren't I glad we have the medical technology we do.

To finish, since it's all from David's PoV and most everybody, him included are farmers from a small isolated village, it's written in such a way to reflect that. So it didn't annoy me none, like they would say.
274157
Having never been to India, I cannot judge this book on its cultural authenticity.  The India that Buck portrays here is a country in transition (right after her independence), as are the characters within the book itself.  Buck's gentle, touching explorations of arranged marriages versus "falling in love" could probably be applied to any traditional culture that is confronted with modernism.  Can romantic love alone overcome differences of culture, caste, social and economic status?
Perhaps because the book was published in 1970, it deals with the sexual themes modestly and gracefully, without degenerating into gratuitous porn like so many of today's novels.  It is enough to know that the characters sleep together, we do not need the details.  More important is Jagat's discovery that "love" and "sexual intercourse" are not the same thing.  In the case of the relationship between Moti and Father Paul, there is no physical sex at all -- just a deep, platonic love bordering on the mystical.  And although Bert and Veera are deeply attracted to each other, neither could live "happily ever after" in the other's world.  These are timeless themes, regardless of the setting.
There are hints of reincarnation in the book, too, suggesting that  perhaps the lovers had known each other in another life and found each other again in this one.  Reincarnation becomes more obvious toward the end of the book, after Jagat's son, Jai, is killed in battle.  His mother is convinced that he still lives -- and perhaps he does, in the body of a 9-month-old child who reaches for a mummified tiger's paw that used to belong to Jai.  Was he Jai returned?  You decide.
768677
3.5 stars A story with many faces.
It starts with Declan and Sam as two best men. They never met before and email was their only contact and they like each other very much. But when they meet they both don't know who the other is. And their first contact isn't going well.
Declan is older and straight (his words) Sam the younger one and gay, both strong and demanding.
After they know who they are it's getting better and better.

When they start kissing and spending all the time they have together it's getting steamy.
They have, besides many sexual interactions a lot of fun together they fit like gloves.
Than Sam has to go and promise to return. Declan is determined to wait.

A lot is going on in this story. Family is not what it seems. After Sam returns the story gets a whole other turn....

Overall It's funny, hot and lovely. The revelation about certain things was for me not necessary, it was fine without it. A hfn would be enough and not a series.
When you love series you must give it a go.
A copy provided by Netgalley
4951813
FourStars
This is another gentle, well observed romance from Andrew Grey.  After being discharged from the Marines under DADT, Brick has fought his own battles with alcoholism and settled into a solitary life on his ranch.  But while he had managed to sort himself, he doubts his ability to care for the very damaged Marine Eli brings to his door.

Cody has also been discharged under DADT, but has spent his years since living through a series of delusional missions in his tent, living out of his Marine survival pack.  Bringing him firmly back to the present is a huge undertaking.

I really liked the story of Codys journey back to himself.  I didn't find myself fully believing the romance between Brick and Cody - it seemed more opportunistic than romantic.  When Brick allows the sleep-walking, delusional Cody into his bed, it also felt a little predatory. I loved Cody - but he sounded much younger than someone who had served in both Gulf wars.  I believed Brick was in his forties, but Cody seemed so damaged and vulnerable that he came across as very young.

Im not sure the whole murder mystery plot was necessary.  I have this hang-up about the lazy m/m plot device where one of the leads is rushed to hospital, prompting a declaration of undying love.  Andrew Grey usually writes too well for this - but he only narrowly avoids the cliche this time.

This isn't necessarily a sexy book.  There is a little bit of sex, but nothing wild and nothing graphic.  It is a story of healing, of romance and emotional connections.

By now, most m/m readers know Andrew Grey.  This doesnt necessarily stand out for me, but it is a satisfying emotional story - a sweet romance between two hot men.

I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.

Sarah
15701
As a reader of numerous m/m-themed books, they all start to blur together after awhile.  This book manages to distinguish itself from the pack though through a unique storyline and pleasant blend of steamy interludes and thought-provoking political issues.  From its heartbreaking and soap opera-ish beginning to its heartwarming HEA I found myself completely immersed in the story even as I chuckled at some of the over-the-top melodramatic events meant as roadblocks to the main couple's happiness.

Elijah is the son of a preacher man who's kept the truth of his sexuality hidden.  He spent his youth partying with liquor and women which unexpectedly leads to a dramatic life change years later.  When a car accident takes the life of his father, mutual grief has him bonding unexpectedly with the brother of the woman killed along with his father.  No longer content to keep the truth about himself hidden he goes after the quiet Seth wholeheartedly.  Their relationship evolves quickly as they bond over a life altering event that has them both thinking of a life together away from the small town prejudices that have kept them in hiding.  Elijah is a strong and domineering man both in and out of the bedroom.  He enjoys sex and isn't ashamed to admit it but is also capable of showing a more loving side too.  The moment he knew Seth was the one for him he held nothing back in very loud visual and vocal scenes.

Seth is a far more quiet and methodic man.  For many years it's been just him and his sister until the day drugs and alcohol take her from this Earth leaving behind big ramifications.  His guilt and grief over the event have him bonding with Elijah quickly which unexpectedly leads to more.  He's a bit shy when it comes to sexual interludes and is clearly the sub in his relationship with Elijah.  At first he considers himself unworthy of the powerful man but the feeling of family and security he finds with him has Seth willing to fight to keep Elijah beside him throughout a few unnecessary misunderstandings.

Those misunderstandings came from the secondary characters of Rhett and Kris, friends to the protagonists and not ashamed to create jealousy in the burgeoning relationship through their lies.  These two characters are one-dimensional and annoying in the melodrama surrounding them.  As two similar characters it's not surprising how their stories progress and I was pleased their interference didn't last for too long though I found Rhett's evolution a bit unbelievable considering how obsessive he acted early on.  From start to finish this was an emotionally intense story with a few unexpected twists and turns that I appreciated.  While I enjoy steamy stories I found this one to have almost too many sexual interludes that interfered with their developing relationship.  With these numerous sexual encounters came some thought-provoking political issues involving same-sex marriages and other gay rights that brought a modern-day spin to the story through its relevancy.  These issues didn't feel preachy but were subtly brought to the forefront.  I've read other books by these authors, and though this one went over-the-top from time to time, I still found it an entertaining and unique read.
3999003
Originally posted at: [...]

Finding one's heart's desire is difficult at the best of times; finding it in someone who is your opposite in every way except sexual drive poses extra challenges.

For everyone who was concerned about Wulgar's happiness at the end of Bee Among the Clover, this sequel is welcome and necessary. While we have the classic rough-hewn Alpha paired with a beautiful submissive half his size, a pairing so familiar in M/M fiction, the reader is given so much more than the usual. This is a tale of reaching across vast cultural divides, of adaptation and compromise, and of a determined love that refuses to bend to societal expectations.

The historical aspects of the novel, as with the previous installment, are a large part of the novel's strengths. Wulfgar is everything a thane of his time should be: hard, fierce, demanding, generous with those who serve him well, and protective of what is his. While Norse/Germanic cultures at the time didn't exactly condone male/male relationships, they didn't necessarily censure them either. The shame in Norse culture was not in the act but in being the one who was taken. No free man would allow another male to use him willingly and the act of male rape was sometimes used to humiliate the conquered. With that said, a man of Wulgar's rank could certainly have male bed slaves if he chose, since it would be quite clear to everyone who was topping whom. That his only son doesn't approve is a different matter, part jealousy and part anger at seeing his father, as Gaeric sees it, manipulated by his slaves.

Kintaro is one of the most charming characters I've ever come across. He's a whole person, so unlike most subs in m/m stories. Proud and often vain, he glories in who he is and what he's been trained to do. No simple sex slave, he has the body of a gymnast and a sharp mind, his training running parallel to a geisha's rather than a mere bed toy with all of the aesthetic qualities of grace and cultured skills one would expect. Though he has lived a privileged, spoiled life, and some of the misunderstandings he has with Wulfgar due to language barriers and cultural expectations become epic battles of wills, he truly does want to please his handsome thane and only wants the best for him. His efforts to adapt, to adjust to his new surroundings and still remain himself are wonderful to watch and he slowly unfolds to the reader as a young man of deep feeling and a compassionate heart much larger than his small frame.

Because the immersion in history is so well done and because the struggle of cultural divide is so fascinating, I found myself disappointed in the ending. While I do understand that Wulfgar needs some closure and perhaps a little shove in the right direction, the way the ending is handled felt too contrived to me. Magical interference in a world full of very real dangers seemed unnecessary and a more believable resolution certainly should have been possible.

With that said, the closing scene is lovely and I found the story as a whole more enjoyable than the previous one. With sympathy and an intuitive feel for the times, the authors have breathed life into two of the most memorable characters in historical fiction. What could have been clichd portrayals have been painted instead as fully realized people, each with their own strengths and blind spots. Wulgar needed someone just for him, someone to challenge him and force him to think beyond his comfortable, familiar world. I'm so glad he found him.
3186766
A commendable  book of sweet memories of life of New Man  of New Age which  will whet the appetite for many more books continuing the tradition,  in times and ages to come.
2598518
Long before he was editing the likes of Nabokov, Updike, Salinger, Welty, and Cheever at The New Yorker, William Maxwell had established himself as a moderately successful novelist and story writer. Although "The Folded Leaf" is not his most acclaimed or famous novel, it probably has the most devoted (indeed, nearly cult-like) following. Its charm is its utter simplicity; a coming-of-age story, it is also a passionate tale about love--between two men. Yet this is no classic of "gay fiction" (although it will certainly appeal to gay readers); instead, "The Folded Leaf" tells about the intensely intimate, innocuously physical, yet almost entirely platonic relationship between two boys who don't quite fit in with the crowd and who grow up to be very different men. Published in 1945, this is the type of novel only the bravest of straight male authors would be comfortable writing today--and, in a way, that's too bad.

Lymie Peters is the ectomorphic and studious introvert who meets Spud Latham, a dim yet muscular teenager who serves "as a kind of reminder of those ideal, almost abstract rules of proportion from which the human being, however faulty, is copied." Latham is new in town--his father has lost his job, and he lives with his family in a cramped apartment--and he inexplicably gravitates towards Lymie. At first Lymie's own feelings about Spud's attentions are ambivalent: "He couldn't help noticing the scales of fortune were tipped considerably in Spud's favor, and resenting it." What the boys have in common, though, is an undercurrent of barely suppressed fury that the people they know and the world around them aren't the stuff of their daydreams.

Maxwell is compelling in his ability to transform what should be two excessive stereotypes into recognizable and believable flesh and blood. Even though Lymie almost sycophantically fawns over Spud (even serving as his towel boy at the gym), Spud in return offers emotional protection, social acceptance, and true friendship; in spite of Spud's increasing popularity, it is a relationship of equals, and the pair is inseparable. Maxwell has re-created the ideal friendship, which many of us once had, if only briefly in our youth--or in our imaginations. Ultimately, however, as with any relationship this close, the snare of jealousy and the fear of being alone gradually introduce crises that build to a startling crescendo.

Although there is enough going on to move the story along, Maxwell's concern is psychological portrayal--and several of the pivotal scenes (even how the two boys meet) are completely left to the reader's imagination. But what makes this book memorable is Maxwell's lyrical and understated prose. This is a novel that invites hyperbole: the descriptions are disarmingly beautiful and the revelatory passages are quietly powerful. Lymie and Spud are so lifelike and, at the same time, so idealized that, when you've regretfully reached the last page, you'll be hungry to know even more about these two friends.