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Showing posts with label L.C. Dean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label L.C. Dean. Show all posts
Monday, July 23, 2012
Review: Too Hot To Handle by LC Dean
Too Hot To Handle
Author: L.C. Dean
Release Date: April 21, 2012
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: GLBT Contemporary Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Why the hell do I torture myself? Sitting in the sun and hiding a hard-on from his best friend is not Tucker's idea of fun. He’d rather drink beer and fantasize than destroy what he and Jase have.
A good f*** between friends, what the hell’s wrong with that? Heat and lust make a man do crazy shit, but Jase intends to prove he and Tuck can be lovers and friends.
When desire flares under the Texas summer sun, will it burn too hot to handle.
What B is talking about:
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Tucker’s best friend is gorgeous, blond, and completely perfect. If only Jason wasn’t straight as well as a total player. Still, Tuck can handle lusting after him from afar, as long as nothing happens to ruin the friendship they have. Jason’s got some secrets of his own, as it turns out, and he’s got plans for his personal geek that’ll change them both forever.
I tend to be a sucker for “odd couple” pairings, and Tucker and Jason definitely fall into that category. Jase is all brawn, and Tuck is the self-conscious geek who has no idea how hot he really is. Too Hot to Handle is a very short story, so there are quite a few clichés, but they streamline the backstory and allow the tale to stay true to it’s primary purpose, which is the explicit sexual reinvention of a solid friendship between two men.
Tucker and Jason are easy to like, and I enjoyed sitting back and taking in their story as it unfolded, without the need pick through unnecessary details. For a story of this length, that’s a definite bonus. The two men are awfully good together, and possess distinct enough personalities to keep them interesting. There was a slightly uncomfortable scene to add conflict to a story that might otherwise be too easy, but Jason remedied the mistake as quickly and enthusiastically as possible.
Too Hot to Handle is essentially a snapshot of one extremely sexy afternoon of wish fulfillment between two best friends. Although I read it in less than an hour, I enjoyed it quite a bit. There’s a fair amount of predictability and some phrasing that I stumbled over a little, but the sex between the two men is hot, and the guys are kind of adorable. This is exactly the kind of story I keep on my e-reader on the off chance I’ll be able to sneak a few minutes for a steamy m/m romance.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
3.5 stars,
Bs-review,
contemporary romance,
Decadent Publishing,
GLBT,
L.C. Dean,
novella
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1 comments
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Review: Ginger Snaps for Two
Ginger Snaps For Two
Author: L.C. Dean
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2011
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: GLBT Romance, Erotic Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Selleck Mathews knows what it’s like to hide behind what others expect, letting down his guard only around the gentle compassion of his partner, Neil Trygstad, who wants nothing more than to love and be loved. Together they are nearly content except they long for someone to laugh at Neil’s jokes and crave Selleck’s gentle dominance.
Ginger’s needs ring in her voice and shimmer in her expressive blue eyes. Once the guys decide to break through her shell and find the sweet center, they have no intention of letting up until her control snaps and she settles in their arms for the ideal holiday, perhaps even the perfect forever.
What B is talking about:
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Warning: this e-book contains graphic sexual situations and language, including pressured intimacy.
There’s nothing soft about Ginger Burke. She’s spent all of her adult life making sure of it. Dubbed the “Fire Queen” by the employees at her father’s firm where she’s a partner, Ginger is all business, and Heaven help anyone who gets in her way.
Selleck and Neil are lovers and partners, and entirely devoted to one another. But something is still missing between them, and they long for the love of another to make them feel complete. Neil is fun loving and gentle, and needs someone who can meet him on both counts. Selleck, a natural dominant, wants a woman who is both strong and in need of his sometimes heavy-handed guidance. Once they meet Ginger, they know they’ve found exactly what they’ve been looking for.
Some parts of Ginger Snaps for Two I found a difficult to get past at first. A couple of the earlier encounters between the three begin in a semi-forced manner, and although all the scenes end with Ginger’s recognition and acceptance of her desires, the “damsel in denial” angle took some adjustments on my part.
What Ginger Snaps for Two really seems to be about is Ginger’s path to her own sexual self-discovery and breaking free of the expectations that seem to come from the pressures of the life she lives, but which are actually a self-imposed means to hide who she really is; not only from everyone else, but mostly from herself.
Selleck and Neil are the perfect pair to help her let go of her precious control, and she begins to realize that there’s a safety to be found within submission if she’s brave enough to trust in them. Both men are stubborn and demanding, although in Selleck’s case this is doubly so. Occasionally, I think he pushes too far, but with Neil’s good-natured understanding to balance out his intensity, they truly are a good match for Ginger.
Ginger Snaps for Two is most definitely an erotic romance, and Dean fully explores all the possibilities to be had in each encounter. My previous concerns aside, Selleck, Neil, and Ginger are most assuredly scorching together, and there’s plenty of uninhibited lust throughout the story to fuel most any fantasy, including one particularly cheeky scene that takes place close to a nativity.
All three of the main characters are vastly different in every way, save their mutual need for love and acceptance. This common ground makes the struggle they engage in a captivating one, and the undercurrents of BDSM paint every scene with an enticingly darker touch. In the end, Ginger’s realizations about herself made me believe that what Selleck and Neil were offering was exactly what she needed, and that she was truly what they needed in return.
B’s Rating:
|
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Meet the characters from Ginger Snaps for Two in this fun interview.
Purchase Info:
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Contest Winner - L.C. Dean
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my special author interview with L.C. Dean. I also want to thank L.C. for graciously donating an electronic copy of her newest release, Ginger Snaps for Two, or any of Decadent Publishing’s holiday-themed books for the giveaway.
Every person that commented on the post was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.
The Winner:
jfort357
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I am sending the winner an email verify the address before the author sends a ebook. You have until Friday December 2, 2011 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Review: Mountain Claiming
Mountain Claiming
Author: L. C. Dean
Release Date: July 2011
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
1 Night Stand Series
Genre: GLBT, M/M Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher/Author
About the book:
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When Madame Eve and her 1 Night Stand offer a chance at escape, Daniel Long drops the yoke of submission and runs to the Castillo Resort, Grand Turk and the hope of a future without repression. Everything on the island steals his breath including the gorgeous hotel owner, Jagger Castillo. Daniel quickly discovers he’s out of bondage and way out of his comfort zone.
Jagger isn’t expecting the gift Madame Eve drops on his doorstep, but once he realizes how precious the present is, he won’t let go without a fight. The only question is, can he claim Daniel before the night slips away and cheats them both of paradise.
Jagger isn’t expecting the gift Madame Eve drops on his doorstep, but once he realizes how precious the present is, he won’t let go without a fight. The only question is, can he claim Daniel before the night slips away and cheats them both of paradise.
What B is talking about:
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Shy, haunted Daniel Long knows he doesn’t fit in among the happy guests at the Castillo Resort, but the lure of escape and possibility offered by the mysterious Madame Eve was just too hard to resist. His one hope is that a 1 Night Stand may be the very thing he needs to begin a whole new life.
Jagger Castillo loves his life in a resort by the sea, but has given up on the idea of his own happily ever after. One look at Daniel, though, and his opinion is decidedly altered. If only he could break through the wall the beautiful mountain of a man is hiding behind and discover the desires he keeps so well hidden.
Mountain Claiming is a quick, easy-to-read short, with a big story to tell. Dean packs a lot of emotional tension in a relatively few pages. Daniel is easy to fall in love with and he and Jagger are wonderful together as they try to find their way to true happiness.
The idea of having only one night to forever change the course of a life and find true love guarantees that there’s little time for potentially burdensome details, but in this case I’d have happily read any additional particulars Dean might have offered. There seems to be so much more to these two characters than can be explored in such a short tale, but, as Jagger so neatly puts it, “Dusk to dawn is not much time for a fresh start, so quit worrying about me and get on with discovering what gives you joy.”
Dean has done a lot with Mountain Claiming, considering these stories are supposed to be quick, steamy reads. Aside from a nearly too tidy shift in personality for one of the main characters at the end of the story, this was a solid, fun read. On the whole, Mountain Claiming has a lot going for it. Both main characters are distinct in their personalities, there are serious themes which are treated with appropriate consideration, and I found myself hoping for a happy resolution from the very beginning. While I have not had the opportunity to read any other titles in the 1 Night Stand series, I very much enjoyed this one, and feel that Dean is definitely an author to watch in the GLBT Romance genre.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
GIVEAWAY: for a chance to win this great book or another one of Decadent’s titles, please see yesterday’s interview with L.C. Dean, HERE.
Labels:
1 Night Stand series,
4 stars,
Decadent Publishing,
GLBT,
L.C. Dean,
m/m romance,
reviews
|
3
comments
Monday, November 21, 2011
Author Interview & Giveaway - L.C. Dean
Hello Readers! Today I bring to you erotica author L.C. Dean. L.C. has lived all over the United States from the glorious South to the freethinking West Coast, but returned home to the Midwest over a decade ago, and now resides in the beautiful state of Minnesota. L.C.’s main goal professionally is to push the boundaries her often puritanical upbringing created. Writing about love that does not need society to define it, has been a freeing experience for her and her characters, and she hopes that readers find a similar joy in the reading.
Originally, L.C. was going to come by to tell me a little bit about her new holiday-themed story, Ginger Snaps for Two. However, as you will read below... things didn’t end up that way! But even though L.C. didn’t make it to my office, she did send along some goodies, so stay tuned after the interview for details about a special GIVEAWAY that L.C. is sponsoring.
The day of the interview, I was expecting L.C. to come by, so I was a little thrown when three people walked through my door. Did L.C. bring some of her characters with her? I started to rise, gesturing for them to make themselves comfortable opposite my desk. “I’ll grab another seat.”
The tall gorgeous man, with skin the color of polished black walnut, shook his head. “No need.” With barely an effort he slid the visitors’ chairs together and created a wide, raised spot with the broad arms. His simple white dress shirt followed his movements, and I contemplated hiring him to rearrange my entire house. Maybe he could get the other guy to come along and make it a perfect afternoon. I’m telling you, I could probably sell tickets.
The gorgeous redheaded perched gracefully on the makeshift pedestal with Mr. Tall and Delicious to her left. The other man sank to his knee and slid her high heels from her feet so she could get comfortable without slashing my white leather chairs with her three-inch spikes. I love a practical man.
A shiver shook the young woman as he ran his thumbs over her arches and then dropped into the empty seat with a chuckle. “Sorry, didn’t mean to tickle, sweets,” he whispered softly to her, but I caught it, and her “yeah right,” sounded a bit breathless. She shook her head but contentment softened her eyes as she tucked her bare feet beside his thigh. I assumed he had to be the author, as the other man was far too Alpha not to be the male lead, but thick blond hair and an irresistible grin made him more than hot enough to be a hero. He wasn’t as tall as the first guy, but his wide shoulders and narrow hips spoke well of the muscles hidden behind his bright blue button-up.
I sat back down and searched my notes. The eBook title is Ginger Snaps for Two. The stunning woman had to be the heroine, so which man was the author and which was the hero? Both touched her in a possessive manner: a long, dark hand rested casually on her thigh, and a broader tanned one rubbed her back in slow and sensual circles, almost as if he wasn’t aware he did it.
“How about if we start with introductions,” I began. “I’m, Jen.”
“Selleck Mathews.” My hand disappeared in the grasp of the first man, and a flash of him touching me in more intimate places with his strong fingers made me uncomfortable in ways a woman should not be around another woman’s man. Something about Selleck urged me to give my will over to him and allow him to do with me as he would.
I shifted my attention to my other guests hoping my thoughts didn’t show on my face.
The blond flashed his killer grin again. “Neil Trygstad.”
Now, I was really baffled. Neil Trygstad as in Trygstad Technologies? “Excuse me? I assumed you were the author.” A glance at my notes told me I was wrong. “Is L.C. Dean a pen name?”
The woman laughed. “It is but not his. L.C.’s a bit shy so you’re stuck with us.”
“Oh.” I knew I should have read the book. “I’m a little confused then, I was expecting to do an interview with L.C. about her new holiday-themed ebook.”
Leaning forward, the redhead offered me her hand with a wicked smile. “I’m Ginger.”
And the light dawned. It took me a moment to shift from the sweet image the title had initially conjured to the hot one it implied. I laughed at myself. “Well, that certainly puts a different spin on things, doesn’t it?”
They all three chuckled and Neil laced his fingers through Ginger’s. “Decadent Publishing wanted a hot ménage filled holiday, so L.C. asked us if she could tell our story for Decadent. Decadent is actually offering several naughty yet nice three-way adventures this year.”
“Interesting. Many readers are fascinated with threesomes. Can you tell me a little about yours?”
Selleck made a choking sound and a flush turned Ginger’s fair skin red, but Neil rescued me again with a wink. “I assume you meant how this came to be not the specifics of what goes on in our bedroom, though if you want the truth it’s hotter than any fantasy I’ve ever had, and L.C. doesn’t spare the details.”
“For now, let’s stick to info about how you met and I’ll read about the rest in private.” My cheeks had to match the heroine’s in color. Blood pounded in my ears and warmed my face.
Neil settled back, his thumb caressing Ginger’s knuckles. “Selleck and I have been together a little over two years. He keeps me grounded and I try to show him the fun side of life, but we both felt something was missing, so we went looking for a third, a woman who could balance us and maybe soften our lives a bit.”
Ginger brushed a kiss over his temple. “Instead, they found a bitch.”
Selleck practically growled. “Don’t say that ever again.”
Neil nodded in agreement with his partner, but the gorgeous woman simply shrugged before looking at me. “It’s true. Maybe not so much anymore, but….”
“Enough.” Selleck’s scowl brooked no argument. “You were stressed. There’s a difference.”
The dynamic among the three of them was compelling to witness. Sexual awareness and something more, tenderness perhaps, arced like electricity, linking them all in a way I had never experienced before. I cleared my throat and brought their focus back to me.
“So, Ginger, if you could describe your relationship to outsiders, what would you say?”
She looked from one man to the other, her features soft and open. “I’d say Selleck and Neil are exactly what I’ve always prayed for but never hoped to find.”
The interview continued for nearly an hour, but when I looked back on the transcript to see what I wanted to share with all of you today, Ginger’s one line said it all. I quickly sent an email off to L.C. thanking her for sending me these wonderful characters to interview.
More about Ginger Snaps for Two
Ginger Burke is a hard-nosed bitch who micromanages every aspect of her world, including the subs she controls as a part time professional Domme. No one has ever been foolish enough to think she has a soft side.
Selleck Mathews knows what it’s like to hide behind what others expect, letting down his guard only around the gentle compassion of his partner, Neil Trygstad, who wants nothing more than to love and be loved. Together they are nearly content except they long for a woman, someone to laugh at Neil’s jokes and crave Selleck’s gentle dominance.
Ginger’s needs ring in her voice and shimmer in her expressive blue eyes. Once the guys decide to break through her shell and find the sweet center, they have no intention of letting up until her control snaps and she settles in their arms for the ideal Christmas, perhaps even the perfect forever.
In addition to the holiday release, Ginger Snaps for Two, L.C. has a deliciously erotic yet sweet m/m called Mountain Claiming which is part of Decadent Publishing’s 1 Night Stand series. To see B’s review 4-star review of Mountain Claiming, click HERE.
Click for Purchase Info
GIVEAWAY
Thank you to L.C. Dean for so much fun and sending Ginger, Selleck and Neil by That’s What I’m Talking About. L.C. is graciously giving away one (1) eBook of any of Decadent Publishing's holiday releases or anything from her back list. Please leave your comments for L.C. by Friday November 25, 2011, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the authors can send you the book. Thank you to L.C. for this fun giveaway!
L.C. Dean can be found online:
Labels:
Author Interview,
contest,
Decadent Publishing,
erotic romance,
giveaway,
holidays,
L.C. Dean
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