Posts labeled Book Reviews
Review - The Rise and Fall of the Sacred Band of Thebes
My rating: 
This review has also appeared at Speak Its Name. The Rise and Fall of the Sacred Band of Thebes opens on that fateful day on the plain of Chaeronea, when Philip and his golden son wipe out almost all of the Sacred Band. Almost all, for although badly wounded, Nikanoras still lives, much to his shame. Alexander finds him and has his wounds tended. From that desperate opening scene, we flash back to Nikanoras’ childhood.
Tags: Historical Ancient Greece
Review - All the Gear, No Idea
My rating:
Theo is a young man looking for a little fantasy fulfillment on Valentines Day. He’s had dreams about the BDSM scene, but this is the first time he’s entered the club to act on them. He has all the gear, and no idea what he’s getting into. McCormack is an experienced dom who apparently has been without his own sub for quite some time. On Valentine’s Day, McCormack receives a message from the club owner’s sub, Bret, that the owner wants McCormack to ‘break in’ a new sub - Theo.
Tags: Contemporary D/s BDSM
Review - By His Rules
My rating:
Aiden is a 23 year-old aspiring actor. He wants to continue his studies, but for now he’s taking some time to explore his submissive side. He’s played with a lot of tops and doms, but most of them were just into the role, the experiences didn’t seem real. Then one night at a BDSM club, Aiden meets Scott, a dom he’s played with once before, with a reputation for being rough.
Tags: Contemporary D/s BDSM
Review - Alike As Two Bees
My rating:
This review was originally written for Speak Its Name. This version contains a bit of a spoiler, so if you don’t want that, read the version that appears at Speak Its Name where it’s been edited out. Anatolios and Philon are young apprentice sculptors in Classical Greece. Anatolios is a precocious boy of just 13 years. Philon is much older, around 20, and treats Anatolios like a brother. Their master Nikias treats both boys as his own sons.
Tags: Ancient Greece
Review - Eromenos
My rating:
The story of Hadiran and Antinous has provided great fodder for gay historical romance. After all, there are few male historical figures that we know had sexual relationships. Even Alexander and Hephastion may have enjoyed a purely platonic affair. But that Antinous was Hadrian’s sexual partner there can be little doubt. The many memorials left by Hadrian to Antinous seems to suggest there was love there as well, and the fact that Antinous died so young makes the story a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare.
Tags: Historical Ancient Rome
Review - Time To Make the Donuts
My rating:
Chris is a relatively happy man. He owns the most popular donut shop in Chicago’s boy’s town, which he inherited from his uncle. He’s out and proud, and has a group of employees that are loyal friends. The only thing missing in his life is a man to share it all with. So, naturally, into the shop one morning comes Andre, Chris’ caramel colored dream come true. There’s an instant connection between the two, and Andre especially pushes hard to woo the love struck Chris.
Tags: Romance Contemporary
Review - In the Red
My rating:
This review originally appeared on BDSM Book Reviews: Brian Foster is a broken man, scared and alone. He was one of the FBI’s top forensic accountants, able to see patterns in money movement that nobody else could and taking down some of the most dangerous terrorists in the process. But a year ago he was abducted, brutalized to find out what he knew, and left for dead. Now he lives alone on an isolated farm in Maryland, with enough guns to create a small army and enough lights to chase every shadow from every room, all night long.
Tags: Contemporary D/s
Review - The Finder
My rating:
It’s been a while since I read any science fiction. There doesn’t seem to be much out there that really appeals to me. It’s also been a long time since I read anything by Brandon Fox, but I have fond memories of his old sex and magic trilogy, which were fun reads in many respects. The Finder marks Fox’s return to the publishing world, and it’s quite a return, with all the elements you expect from this author.
Tags: Science Fiction
Review - Pain and Revenge
My rating:
It’s generally not a good sign when you notice two factual errors within the first two pages of a book. Most readers might not have noticed them, but I did and it put me on guard for the rest of the story. Fortunately, I didn’t notice anything else, but it still probably impacted my impression of the book. For the record, your passport and visa gets checked by immigration, not customs, and if taking the train into London from Heathrow, you don’t leave the terminal building to get to the station, which is underground.
Tags: Contemporary BDSM
Review - Gaius and Achilles
My rating:
This review was written for, and first appeared, at Speak Its Name. It’s not often anymore that a book catches me completely by surprise, taking turns that you just don’t expect an historical romance to take. “Gaius and Achilles” surprised me, and I don’t mind saying right up front it was quite a pleasant surprise. We’re first briefly introduced to Achilles and Hippothous, two aristocratic Greek youths of Paphos, on the island of Crete.
Tags: Historical Ancient Rome BDSM
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