Slash Update!

Artist's impression of me writing reviews seperatly! 

As I stressed myself half silly with a job application and spent most of Easter being on my hols, I have got a little behind on my reviews especially as I have binge read Alessandra Hazard to the point of four books not reviewed. As I am trying to write more reviews, and for the sake of my sanity, I am going to do a multi review to split on Goodreads.  

Yes, I am aware that these books are a little problematic at times, by their very nature, but I don't consider them reality or a blueprint for relationships, so I can't really see the harm. Anyway, on to the reviews.

Just a Bit Unhealthy
Number 3 in the series, this moves to the UK for the tale of Gabe, a straight football star obsessed with Jared, his gay physiotherapist. Although Gabe had a girlfriend, he can't be separated from Jared and treats him like an extension of himself, which inevitably messes with Jared's head. Gabe is a bit of a spoilt brat who must have his own way, to the point that he strings Jared along promising a physical relationship without the sex, just kissing and cuddling. I thought this was a slightly weaker story in terms of the erotic content because Gabe spends a long time convincing himself of a physical relationship. And whilst the intense co-dependency is explored, Gabe ultimately doesn't seem to grow as a person, just admits he's gay. I suppose I wanted him to become a little more independent.

Just a Bit Wrong
Number 4 in the series. Gabe's brother, Tristan is also a top football player at the same club, but he's gay (although hiding it because of his career). Jared's friend Zach is the straight physio assigned to help him, but Tristan is having none of it. He's the enfant terrible of the football club who treats Gabe and his poor assistant like dirt. Zach on the other hand has an open relationship with his fiancé and no intention of putting up with Tristan's nonsense. In the course of the physio they discover that Tristan enjoys being spanked and Zach enjoys spanking him, which was very hot. I probably would have liked more spanking! Zach develops a kind of obsession which he is advised to 'get out of system' by actually having sex with Tristan which is a rather bad idea. Unethical physio and poor advice aside, I enjoyed it, particularly the introduction of Zach's family. And Tristan does grow as a person.

Just a Bit Confusing
Number 5 is another slow burner. Gay, closed James has been friends with Zach's brother Ryan forever. Born into a privileged family, he fears to tell his parents about his sexuality and has to watch his best friend and obsession Ryan kissing his girlfriend in front of him. They have a weird relationship where Ryan has a thing about cuddling James like a Teddy bear, but thinks of James as his brother. Poor old James spends much of the book moping, and Ryan's poor girlfriend gets dumped so that James won't stop being Ryan's friend. I have to say, Ryan was right be freaked out by some of James's antics, although at the same time he probably should have let James go or at least stop with the physical stuff if they were going to have a platonic friendship. All that anger and freaking out about the sexual stuff didn't do either of them any good.

Just a Bit Ruthless
Book 6. James's friend Like, who is gay, gets kidnapped after trying to impress his father in Russia. James is so busy mopping about Ryan he doesn't actually notice Like going missing. The kidnapper is a straight Russian mafioso with a grudge against Luke's father, a wealthy scumbag. At first, Like is subjected to beatings and starvation, but Roman realises that he can use Luke to get to his father so moves him to his room. This is not a book I'd put in the angst category, not after reading Sloane's stuff. Roman is surpringly open minded for a homophobic Russian mafioso and encourages Luke to stop thinking about who he should be to please his father. I loved the way Roman and Luke blossom in this book, Roman allows Luke to express his flamboyant side and Luke makes Roman care. However, if dub con is not your thing, or you object to Like looking like a teenager (although he's 23) then this won't be for you.

#guiltyreadingpleasures

Only kidding, I don't think we should feel ashamed of what we read (except tentacle porn 😉). I'm just talking about the go to books when you can't face anything else. Sometimes it's re-reads for me, but most often it’s m/m fiction from Kindle Unlimited, oozing with angst and sexy times! My favourite author is Sloane Kennedy, but I will read anything that takes my fancy. I don’t take it too seriously though, as with all romantic fiction it has it’s cliches (I constantly roll my eyes at how easy it is to find the prostate). My ratings are based on what I enjoy the best of the genre. IMHO don’t bother rating it if you are just going to sneer at it!

This Saturday was a slash fiction kind of day so I took the opportunity to try a new author, in this case Alessandra Hazard’s Straight Guys series. Short novels linked to one another on the theme of straight men realising they are attracted to men.

Just a Bit Twisted is the tale of Shawn, a college boy who has been left to look after his two four year old twin sister’s since his parents died. He somehow ends up pimping himself to his professor, the chilly Derek Rutledge. Okay, so the beginnings of their relationship does require some suspension of disbelief as Derek puts himself in an incredibly dangerous position but hell I liked both the characters and what she did with them, and I thought the sex was hot! Shawn struggles with his attraction but continually tries to act in a dignified way, especially about the money. The story is from his point of view but we do get to explore why Derek is so cold and against relationships. It left me wanting more. The only criticism I really had was the absence of proper lube in the sex!

Just a Bit Obsessed is the tale of Alexander who is pretty much forced into a threesome with his girlfriend and Christian (friends with Shawn from book 1 of Straight Guys). His girlfriend is bizarre and completely self-obsessed, Alexander REALLY DOESN’T WANT to do a threesome, he has some major issues with his father staying with his mother whilst still dicking around with men. He’s a bit of a control freak too. Yet she still forces him into it as she has a crush on Christian. She’s majorly turned on when he finally loosens up enough to kiss Christian then is surprised when it all goes sour and he only has eyes for the other man! Good characters, some hot sex and it left me wanting more.