Review: Heartache Cafe by J.S. Cook

Posted on January 30, 2010 by speakitsname

J.S. Cook debuts haunted American expatriate Jack Stoyles, whose numb exile in an unexpected Atlantic outpost is suddenly brightened by a stranger who kisses him — and then dies. Betrayal, graft, a lost girl, and too many deaths. With good reason Jack called his place Heartache Cafe. This short story in ebook format part of [...]

Filed under: 1940's, 4½ Stars, America, ebook, Fiction, Joanne Soper-Cook, novella, Reviews, World War II | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: The Pleasure Slave by Jan Irving

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Erastes

Lucius Mettelus Carbo, once a legate on the rise in the Roman army, rescues a beautiful young prostitute, Varick, who immediately stirs him. However, Lucius doesn’t believe anyone could want him, a man cursed by the gods with an ugly, twisted leg. He resists his attraction to the pleasure slave as they forge a tempestuous [...]

Filed under: 3½ Stars, Ancient Rome, ebook, Fiction, Jan Irving, novella, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Review: Josef Jaeger by Jere’ M. Fishback

Posted on January 26, 2010 by davidnsteerforth

Josef Jaeger turns thirteen when Adolf Hitler is appointed Germany’s new Chancellor. When his mother dies, Josef is sent to Munich to live with his uncle, Ernst Roehm, the openly-homosexual chief of the Nazi brown shirts. Josef thinks he’s found a father-figure in his uncle and a mentor in his uncle’s lover, streetwise Rudy, and [...]

Filed under: 1930's, 4 stars, Fiction, Jere' M. Fishback, Reviews, YA | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: To Hell You Ride by Julia Talbot

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Leslie

Big Roy is a hard rock miner with a not so secret love for the theater, so when he hears a new troupe of actors are coming to the Telluride opera house to put on a Shakespeare play, he saddles his mule and makes the trek into town to see it. The play doesn’t disappoint, [...]

Filed under: America, ebook, five stars, Julia Talbot, Leslie H Nicoll, novella, Reviews, Western | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Calico by Dorien Grey

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Alex Beecroft

“Calico” is something of a breakthrough novel in that it spans a bridge which is only now opening for two-way traffic. The author describes “Calico” as a “western/romance/adventure/mystery with a twist”…the twist being that its cowboy hero/protagonist just happens to be gay. Calico Ramsey finds himself with the responsibility of seeing that two 17 year [...]

Filed under: 4½ Stars, America, Fiction, Reviews, Western, YA | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Call for Submissions: Carina Press

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Erastes

Whilst this call doesn’t specifically mention gay submissions, Carina Press made it clear when they started up last year that they were going to accept and publish GLTBQ titles – so well worth a query. Hoop skirts, brocade, feathered headdresses, kid gloves, kid slippers, horses, carriages, talk of locomotion (not Kylie Minogue’s!), Queen Victoria, cowboys, [...]

Filed under: submissions | 3 Comments »

Review: Lovers’ Knot by Donald Hardy

Posted on January 18, 2010 by davidnsteerforth

Cornwall, 1906 After inheriting Trevaglan Farm from a distant relative, Jonathan Williams returns to the estate to take possession, with his best friend, Alayne, by his side. He’d only been to Trevaglan once before, fourteen years earlier when he’d been sent there after a family scandal and his mother’s death. But that was a different [...]

Filed under: 1900's, Donald L Hardy, England, Fiction, five stars, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 12 Comments »

Review: Sticks and Stones by Jamie Craig

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Erastes

Complementing each other on the dance floor isn’t enough to form a relationship. Is it? It’s 1953, and Hollywood is booming with extravagant musicals. Coming off a string of hits with MGM, Paul Dunham couldn’t be hotter. Hoping to capitalize on Paul’s popularity, the studio announces its attention to pair him with the latest actor [...]

Filed under: 1950's, 4½ Stars, America, ebook, Fiction, Jamie Craig, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Review: Madcap Masquerade by Persephone Roth

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Leslie

When Loel Woodbine, Duke of Marche, receives news that his great aunt has engaged him to a young lady he has never met, he’s a little nonplussed. His lifestyle doesn’t exactly lead itself to entertaining the fair sex; in fact, he prefers to devote his attentions to men rather than women. However, Marche owes his [...]

Filed under: 19th Century, 4 stars, England, Penelope Roth, Regency, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Review: Bys Vyken by Syd McGingley

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Erastes

Jack saves Nehemiah from drowning, or worse, on the Cornish coast, surprised to find he has an American in his midst. He’s also afraid that his fellow villagers will kill Nehemiah rather than look at him, all for the peridot ring on his finger. He takes Nehemiah in, sharing his home, and eventually his secrets. [...]

Filed under: 19th Century, 4 stars, ebook, England, Fiction, novella, Reviews, Syd McGinley | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Author Interview: Donald L Hardy

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Erastes

Today’s interviewee is author, actor and general Good Egg, Donald L Hardy, who has recently had his first novel – LOVER’S KNOT – published by Running Press, set around the turn of the century Cornwall. Speak Its Name: Tell us a little bit about Donald L Hardy and your writing career to date. Donald L [...]

Filed under: author interviews, Donald L Hardy | Tagged: , | 13 Comments »

Review: Because You Despise Me by J S Cook

Posted on January 10, 2010 by speakitsname

When Feldwebel Horst Stussel is murdered in Jake’s Plenty’s brothel, local police chief Captain Nicholas Renard suspects Jake’s involvement in the crime – but with an Allied invasion of North Africa mere days away, Jake and Renard must combine their wits, their cunning and their courage to defeat the Nazis for once and for all. [...]

Filed under: 1940's, 4½ Stars, Fiction, Joanne Soper-Cook, Reviews, World War II | 2 Comments »

Review: Wanted by J.M. Snyder

Posted on January 9, 2010 by Erastes

Jesse McCray ekes out a hard living cutting cattle from the local beef baron of Defiance, Texas. He’s known for his quick draw and his steady aim; no one outguns him. Whenever he and his ragtag group of friends known as the Rustlers ride into town, the local cowboys hold their breaths, waiting for the [...]

Filed under: 19th Century, 3½ Stars, America, ebook, Fiction, J M Snyder, Reviews, short stories, Western | 2 Comments »

Review: Cane by Stevie Woods

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Erastes

As this book has been reissued by Phaze and is now available in print and ebook – we are reprinting the review showcasing the new cover. From the blurb: Sint Marteen 1855. Privileged young Pieter may have grown up on a sugar cane plantation, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with the way his father [...]

Filed under: 19th Century, 3½ Stars, Reviews, Stevie Woods | Leave a Comment »

Review: The Catch Trap by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Erastes

A colorful novel of the circus world of the 1940s and 1950s, rich in detail, bursting with power and emotion.  Mario Santelli, a member of the famous flying Santelli family, is a great trapeze artist. Tommy Zane is his protege. As naturally and gracefully as they soar through the air, the two flyers find themselves [...]

Filed under: 1940's, 1950's, 4 stars, America, Essential Reads, Fiction, Marion Zimmer-Bradley, Reviews | 12 Comments »

Review: The Confession of Piers Gaveston by Brandy Purdy

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Alex Beecroft

The history books tell us that Piers Gaveston was many things: arrogant, ambitious, avaricious, flamboyant, extravagant, reckless, brave, and daring, indiscreet, handsome, witty, vivacious, vain, and peacock-proud, a soldier and champion jouster, the son of a condemned witch, who used witchcraft, his own wicked wiles, and forbidden sex to entice and enslave King Edward II, [...]

Filed under: 13th Century, 14th Century, 4 stars, Fiction, Reviews | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Headless Naked Torsos: A Note on Cover Art

Posted on January 5, 2010 by speakitsname

by Tracey J. Pennington I must say something about covers which feature the ubiquitous headless naked male torso. Please note–this is not a criticism of authors, who typically have no control over what gets put on the covers of their books. I will state here that publishers of gay romances are generally coping with numerous [...]

Filed under: covers, discussion, T J Pennington | 29 Comments »

Review: Lessons in Temptation by Charlie Cochrane

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Erastes

He thinks he has everything. Until someone tries to steal it. Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 5 For friends and lovers Orlando Coppersmith and Jonty Stewart, a visit to Bath starts out full of promise. While Orlando assesses the value of some old manuscripts, Jonty plans to finish his book of sonnets. Nothing exciting…until they are [...]

Filed under: 1900's, Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Charlie Cochrane, detective, England, Fiction, five stars, novella, Reviews | Tagged: , | 5 Comments »

Review: The Highwayman by Emily Veinglory

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Erastes

Reynard is the impoverished son of a cavalier, driven to highway robbery to support his sister, Emilia.  But a puritan he robs proves to be his new neighbor–and Emilia returns to the house with her intended fiancé, who demands her promised dowry or the deeds to the family lands. Finally a new sheriff turns up [...]

Filed under: 17th Century, 4 stars, ebook, Emily Veinglory, England, Fiction, Reviews | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Review: Le Frai de Demon by Sarah Masters

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Erastes

Life at sea brings new experiences to Vincent, but tragedy eclipses the happiness in his heart. Blurb: As Le Frai De Demon coasts the ocean waves, Vincent and Julian continue their love affair. Upon arriving at Hellion to trade wares, Julian takes Vincent to a special place where the crack of a whip brings them [...]

Filed under: 18th Century, 2½ stars, Age of Sail, ebook, Sarah Masters, short stories | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Review: The Lonely War by Alan Chin

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Leslie

The key issue keeping the U.S. armed forces from going beyond Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to give gay servicemen equal rights is a blind fear of love relationships forming, not between enlisted soldiers but between officers and soldiers, which would undermine the chain of command. The Lonely War tackles this topic head on. It tells [...]

Filed under: 1940's, Alan Chin, five stars, Leslie H Nicoll, Reviews, World War II | 4 Comments »

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