Title: Lord of the Forest
Author: Kay Berrisford
Cover artist: Anne Caine
Publisher: Loose Id
Buy Link: Lord of the Forest (The Greenwood)
Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Length: 60, 109 words
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: This smoothly written story celebrates the erotic and supernatural adventures of Robin Hood within a perilous forest.
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Title: Bolt-Hole
Author: Amy Lane
Cover artist: DWS Photography
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Buy Link: Bolt-hole
Genre: contemporary, interracial / multicultural
Length: 78,109 words
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: A terrific book except that I couldn’t connect with the two main characters.
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Title: Scarlet Blade
Author: Jez Morrow
Cover artist: BS Clay
Publisher: Torquere
Buy Link: Scarlet Blade
Genre: Historical
Length: 67,200 words
Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: Good writing and appealing characters give a swashbuckling adventure enough heart to be emotionally relevant.
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Title: How to Quit Playing Hockey
Author: Isa K.
Cover artist: Ginny Glass
Publisher: Loose Id
Buy Link: How to Quit Playing Hockey
Genre: Contemporary, Sports
Length: 50,235 words
Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: An unforgettable character with a big heart has a secret romance amidst the grunge and obscurity of the AAA minor hockey leagues in this smart, hot, vivid novel.
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Title: Wild Rose Silent Snow
Author: Angel Martinez
Cover artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: at Amazon (no link), at the publisher.
Genre: Contemporary reinterpreted Fairy-Tale, Fantasy
Length: 40,000 words
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: A fun, fast-paced, satisfyingly three-dimensional modern take on a classic fairy tale.
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Title: Chase the Ace
Author: Clare London
Cover artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: Chase The Ace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 24,000 words
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: A road trip quest in which nothing is what it seems and everything is linked together in surprising and deeply significant ways. Fascinating and fun.
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Title: The Long Road Home
Author: Sarah Granger
Cover artist: Adrian Nicholas
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Buy Link: The Long Road Home
Genre: Historical
Length: 15,693 words
Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: An overly simplistic story with shallow characterization and no sense of history.
Title: Captive
Author: Remy Jensen
Cover artist: Aisha Akeju
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Buy Link: Captive
Genre: Contemporary, Enemies-to-Lovers
Length: 18,000 words
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: Smart characters + fast pace + fun, sexy plot = must read
Title: Barbarossa’s Bitch
Author: Angelia Sparrow and Naomi Brooks
Cover artist: Dare Empire eMedia Productions
Publisher: Storm Moon Press
Buy Link: Barbarossa’s Bitch
Genre: science fiction, dystopian, futuristic
Length: 62,000 words
Rating: 4.75 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: A strikingly original futuristic love story that shouldn’t be missed.
Title: Locke and Blade
Author: Lynn Lorenz
Cover artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: Locke And Blade
Genre: Gay Romance, Fantasy
Length: 27,000 words
Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: This enemies-to-lovers story that humorously combines fantasy and police procedural elements is underdeveloped but still fun.
Title: The Chase
Author: Erin O’Quinn
Cover artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: The Chase
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 48,000 words
Rating: 2.75 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: A weak plot and too much sex swamped the good setting, characters, and chemistry.
Title: Blame it on the Cats
Author: ET Malinowski
Cover artist: Paul Richmond
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Buy Link: Blame It on the Cats
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 20, 656 words
Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: Cute but formulaic with Insta-Love.
Title: Just Between Us
Author: Aislinn Kerry
Cover artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: Just Between Us
Genre: Contemporary M/M/M
Length: 16,000 words
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: A smoothly written m/m/m that didn’t offer quite enough distinctiveness in the three men’s personalities. A mixed recommendation.
Title: The Low Between
Author: Vivien Dean
Cover artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: The Low Between
Genre: Mystery, Historical (1950s era)
Length: 38,000 words
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.0
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: The overly complicated mystery overwhelms the romance. Not recommended.
Title: The Heir Apparent
Author: Tere Michaels
Cover artist: Dar Albert
Publisher: Loose Id
Amazon Buy Link:
Genre: Mystery Thriller, Contemporary
Length: 46,966 words
Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: In this otherwise engaging love story, the whodunit is way too obvious.
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