Chiaroscuro by Jenna Jones

I've got a review up for Chiaroscuro by Jenna Jones over on The Good, The Bad, the Unread.

Watcha think?

The Thatchers by Julia Talbot

Julia Talbot - Thatchers series - Torquere Press
1. - Jumping into Things - (double novella) Jed and Eli, Ross and Kevin
2. - Landing with Both Feet
3. - Taking the Leap - Ross and Tank

I’ve linked to Fictionwise, but this series (and more of Julia’s books), are released through Torquere Press.

Series Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. Most books fall in this category. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 7” out of 9”

In Jumping into Things, we first meet Jed Thatcher, a Colorado pilot, and Eli, a Portland smoke jumper. Jed allows Eli to be himself for the first time in his life, prompting Eli to take the scariest leap of his life.

We then meet Jed's younger brother Ross, a jump trainer, lady charmer, and good ol' boy. He's straight... or so he thought... until he meets Kevin.

In Landing with Both Feet, Jed and Eli are facing some life changing decisions together. In the meantime, Kevin’s life changing decision callously splits him and Ross up. Watching Ross struggle through his bewilderment and sense of loss is heartbreaking. He consoles himself with women, alcohol, and daring Jed to kick his ass. As for Kevin? I’m sooo over him! Ross deserves better.

Taking the Leap continues Ross' story. After leaving Colorado and wandering aimlessly, his truck breaks down in Texas where he meets Tank. Tank is an auto mechanic and budding hot sauce entrepreneur who takes the down-on-his-luck Ross into his home while they wait for a part for Ross' truck. A true friendship develops long before they become lovers and Ross never does get around to movin' on again. When Ross brings Tank back to visit Colorado, Tank just fits right in with Ross' family. And we, as readers, get the satisfaction of catching up with all the warm, colorful, salt-of-the-earth people we've grown fond of throughout this heartwarming series.
Piquant Opines: JERR, RRTE, TwoLips

Sean_Michael, Pâtissier_Extraordinaire

Sean Michael - Jarheads series
1. Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Jarheads 4
2. Personal Leave - Jarheads 6
3. Three Day Passes - Jarheads 1
4. Tempering - Jarheads 2
5. Out of the Closet - Jarheads 3
6. All Roads Lead Home - Jarheads 5

Note: I've listed them in chronological order rather than released order. Also, I've linked each book to Fictionwise, however they are also available directly from Torquere Press.

Series Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9" (actually 12", but that would make me a size queen wouldn't it?)

I’m spotlighting Sean Michael’s Jarhead series, but the fact is that I’ve yet to read one of Sean's books that wasn’t beautifully written. Sean has a unique voice. He doesn’t give us much physical description of his characters, but somehow paints an emotional picture. We get to know them through their words and actions. In another author’s hands, I might feel that the characters are less than three dimensional because, as a reader of Romances written mainly by women, I’m used to those detailed character descriptions that aid my development of a picture of the characters in my mind. But Sean might mention hair color in one chapter, maybe eye color in another, and height in yet another. Yet, even without that complete physical picture in my head, I still feel like I KNOW these men. That is the beauty of Sean's writing, he creates real, living and breathing men.

The Jarheads series is my favorite of Sean's. We follow the relationship between Rock, a Marine sargeant, and Rig, a flight nurse. In Three Day Passes, they are joined by Dick, a Marine private. But it is Rock and Rig's relationship that is at the the center of these stories. I grew to love and adore these boys, particularly Rigger, who is the heart and soul of the series and someone I'd like to count as a good friend in real life. I have to admit that I never quite developed a strong attachment to Dick. For me, he was a way for me to see just how strong the connection between Rock and Rig was. And even for the men, it was Rig that held the three of them together- I'm sure there would never be a Rock and Dick without Rig. And that damn Rock! Every time I was convinced he was nothing more than a self-centered, selfish sonofabitch, he would do something to or for Rig that would make my heart melt.

Now, to be honest, there were times that even I wanted to say "Enough with the sex, already! Get on with the story!" But, oh how I was completely caught up in the lives of these extraordinary, lovable and loving men! In Don't Ask, Don't Tell, we learn how Rock and Rig met and the amazing leap of Faith our redneck cowboy, Rig, makes. Even though we already know how it turns out, I still couldn't help feeling nervous and holding my breath with him. In Personal Leave, Rock and Rig's relationship is firmly established and we get to see the extreme contrast between their two families. As I said before, a triad is formed when Dick joins them in Three Day Passes, which was the first Jarheads story released. The events of Tempered left me horrified and outraged. How could anyone hurt our Rigger?! This is a life changing book in more than one way. And Out of the Closet is a complete emotional roller coaster ride. Happy tears one minute and sobbing for Rig's pain the next. Now that they are free of their commitments to Uncle Sam, they are all free to live as they please, but their happiness is tempered by heartbreaking events. All Roads Lead Home is fairly short, but I consider it Sean Michael's gift to his Readers. A way for him to let us know that our beloved boys are still together and doing okay. Thanks Sean!

For a beautiful sampling of Sean's artistry with words, try his anthology Bus Stories and Other Tales. And, in addition to a rather lengthy list of his own books, Sean has stories in several other anthologies over at Torquere.