A Place to Call Their Own

Two twenty-year-olds set off for the wilds of Kansas in hopes that they can live their lives as lovers in peace there. As the case of Matthew Shepherd proves too little in the lives of gay lovers has changed over the last century. Having survived the Civil War Frank and Gregory leave their less than accepting families behind braving bands of ruffians, marauding Indians, bad weather, prairie fire, and suspicious neighbours to carve out a life for themselves. The book is well-written and charts pioneer life and spirit. Although it is made clear this couple sleep together and exchange hugs and kisses the text does not describe their further love-making nor does it find it necessary to use profanity. Although novella in length it is a very satisfying read.

An Ember in the Ashes

A fantasy with a dark tone the setting is a training facility within a militaristic society where there is little empathy, slaves and trainees alike are cruelly punished, the penalty for desertion being flailed to death, lesser crimes lead to slaves being disfigured or losing hands. There are two central characters: Laia who enters the training camp as a slave to spy on its Commandant who is the unfeeling mother of the Elias, a reluctant trainee whose best friend Helene is the only other female in the camp. Elias encounters jealousy when he pays attention to the slave whose handler on the outside is red-haired Keenan described as shorter but muscular. Hence a potential for two love triangles.

By Gaslight

There are two sets of characters here and initially no clear sense of how their stories insect. One is centred around the famous William Pinkerton in search of a ghost in London; the other Adam Foole who operates on the other side of the law. Charlotte Rickett's name appears in both story-lines.

In over 700 pages in flashbacks the novel ranges over India, South Africa, America as well as Nineteenth Century England. No quotes are used to indicate dialogue. Although historical characters appear this is a work of fiction. Not certain what all the diversions add to the story but they certainly serve to draw out the storyline to epic proportions. There is enough material here for at least two books.

AT Wolf Ranvh

Mixes Cowboy, Murder Mystery Thriller, and Romance. As you'd expect the guy is tall, lean, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted; the woman beautiful and bewitching. Well-edited for the most part with the usual coital interactions and foreplay. 

Call me a nit-picker but Uncle Phillip is described as shackled behind his back, he could not have banged his fists on the table two pages later. Not a bad read though I find the crude language unnecessary. 

Fractured Hymns

I sense a play on words here. This is the third book by A. M. Arthur I've read and I've come to expect a good read any time I encounter her writing and this book is no exception. Ethanial has a large extended family and none of them are treated as stage props. Unlike so many M + M books the relationship between two men develops against the backdrop of a fully realized family setting.

Unfortunately another book that could have used just a tad more editing. The strings on a guitar that has not been played for a decade would be “dead” and need replacing. I have some problems with chronology, Ruth's illness, Ethan's service time, his work time in Pennsylvania. In chapter 12 mention is made of the kitchen downstairs. I thought Ethan was on the same level as the kitchen because of his cast.

Flipping for Him

This is a novella length take on a teenage bromance. Until this book set near Central Park in NYC I’d never heard of the sport of Parkour. This latest wrinkle in the genre has the protagonist’s friends and families tolerant of their being out and gay but the Japanese lad’s parents insist he date someone of his own ethnicity. There are a few missing words and grammatical errors but otherwise not a bad read. Some advanced petting but no genital manipulation or anal sex. 

Northwords

A collection of stories inspired by a trip to Torngat Mountains National Park in Northern Quebec. Some of the stories could use a bit more editing, all give each author’s take on the experience but I’d rather have a chance to view the film footage taken of the park while the group was there. 

The Black Stallion

A boy and his horse, a book, first in a series, written for children. Not as moralistic as Black Beauty and a happier ending than Steinbeck’s The Red Pony. Alec’s age is not indicated. The story involves a shipwreck at sea, survival on a desert island, rescue and arrival home. The horse is gentled and trained for the big race. Written for children, the plot lines here are simplistic. Equine sounds have been described as neighs, nickers, whickers, whinnies, even yodels, whistles are new to me. 

The Cowboy and the Pencil-Pusher

A bromance written about a ranch hand and a banker. Their first meal together epitomizes the contrast when the city slicker asks for the wine list: a red and a white from the local food mart, beer on tap: Bud and Bud Light. Like most of these tomes there is an implied happily ever after ending. The book could use just a tad more editing and the language used to describe the pair’s trysts is rather profane. At least it’s written by a male.