Friends of Dorothy by Sandi Toksvig

320 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Group UK / Virago

Release Date: September 26, 2024

 

Blurb

After much searching, the happily married young couple, Amber and Stevie think they have found the perfect spot in Grimaldi Square. Despite the rundown pub across the way, the overgrown garden and a decidedly nosy neighbour, number 4 is the house of their dreams. Stevie, a woman who has never left anything to chance, has planned everything so nothing can spoil their happiness. But ... upstairs in their new home, seated on an old red sofa is the woman they bought the place from - eighty-year-old foul-mouthed, straight-talking, wise-cracking Dorothy - who has decided that she's not going anywhere. It turns out that Dorothy will be only the first in a line of life-changing surprises.

Friends of Dorothy is a touching, funny novel about a family that is not biological, but logical; a story close to Sandi Toksvig's heart.

 

Review

The last thing anybody moving into their new house expects to find is the former owner still in situ. But that’s exactly what happens to Stevie and Amber when they take possession of number 4 Grimaldi Square. Dorothy Franklin sits comfortably on a red sofa in one of the bedrooms with a suitcase by her side and she has no intention of leaving. Despite Stevie and Amber’s best efforts, there’s no getting through to Dorothy who appears to be staying for a reason she isn’t willing to disclose.

Life with Dorothy turns out to be anything but boring. From a demolished internal wall, via delicious meals, to heart-stopping rides through London, Dorothy keeps the two young women on their toes. She also introduces them to the neighbourhood and the pub across the road that has seen better times and is called The Price of Onions. Without being sure how it happens and while they’re busy trying to come up with a solution for Dorothy that doesn’t involve her living with them, Stevie and Amber find their new life taking shape and their circle of friends growing.

This is mostly a lighthearted, at times laugh-out-loud story. However, it isn’t without its deeper and darker moments. It is also a commentary on parenting, the housing market, the way society deals with our elderly, and LGBTQ+ issues, for starters. It is fair to say that while I found myself crying on numerous occasions while reading this book, most, but not all, of those tears were triggered by laughter. Overall though I would call this a feel-good read. While the book itself states that it isn’t a fairytale, the story does come with perfect happy endings for all the characters who deserve them.

I adored this book. It’s almost certainly going to be (one of) my favourite book(s) this year and goes straight to my ‘extra-special’ list. There is so much to love on these pages. Quirky and charming characters, lively dialogue, and not a boring moment, make this a memorable read. While the stories are different, the atmosphere of this book, the diversity of the characters, and the idea of logical rather than biological families reminded me of the Tales of the City books by Armistead Maupin. Considering how much I loved those tales the comparison is a compliment.

Finally, I’m pretty sure Sandi Toksvig referenced herself in her book when she wrote:

 “That lesbian on the telly – what shername – she has kids.”

And yes, this was one of many times when I laughed out loud.

Long review short: Friends of Dorothy is a delightful book! So much so that I want to live in Grimaldi Square, be part of that world, and become one of Dorothy’s friends.

A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

352 pages

Publisher: Orion

Publishing Date: June 27, 2023

NetGalley

 

Blurb

When a wealthy bachelor drops dead at a ball, a young lady takes on the decidedly improper role of detective in this action-packed debut comedy of manners and murder.

Feisty, passionate Beatrice Steele has never fit the definition of a true lady, according to the strict code of conduct that reigns in Swampshire, her small English township--she is terrible at needlework, has absolutely no musical ability, and her artwork is so bad it frightens people. Nevertheless, she lives a perfectly agreeable life with her marriage-scheming mother, prankster father, and two younger sisters-- beautiful Louisa and forgettable Mary. But she harbors a dark secret: She is obsessed with the true crime cases she reads about in the newspaper. If anyone in her etiquette-obsessed community found out, she'd be deemed a morbid creep and banished from respectable society forever.

For her family's sake, she's vowed to put her obsession behind her. Because eligible bachelor Edmund Croaksworth is set to attend the approaching autumnal ball, and the Steele family hopes that Louisa will steal his heart. If not, Martin Grub, their disgusting cousin, will inherit the family's estate, and they will be ruined or, even worse, forced to move to France. So Beatrice must be on her best behavior . . . which is made difficult when a disgraced yet alluring detective inexplicably shows up to the ball.

Beatrice is just holding things together when Croaksworth drops dead in the middle of a minuet. As a storm rages outside, the evening descends into a frenzy of panic, fear, and betrayal as it becomes clear they are trapped with a killer. Contending with competitive card games, tricky tonics, and Swampshire's infamous squelch holes, Beatrice must rise above decorum and decency to pursue justice and her own desires--before anyone else is murdered.

 

Review

What do you get when you mix Jane Austen and Agatha Christie? Well, that would be a combination of manners and murder, of course. And that is exactly what A Most Agreeable Murder gives us. This book can only be described as a closed-circle-mystery set during the Regency period. Throw in a large helping of humour, and you have a good idea exactly what to expect when you pick up this book.

We have a heroine, Beatrice, who struggles with societal rules and frequently breaks them secretly to satisfy her curiosity about crimes and solving them only to have her dream come true when she’s faced with a real murder in need of investigation. An investigation that will expose not just a murderer but also all the ways in which those around Beatrice may also have been playing hard and fast with the strict rules they’re supposed to be adhering to.

I guess this book may be best described as a romp. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story as such, it all felt a bit forced and over the top at times. The characters are a bit like caricatures, as is the setting of Swampshire, and those societal rules are pushed beyond credulity.

Caper is another word that springs to mind. The author has taken the strict societal rules from the Regency period and pushed them to such an extreme point that I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling every now and again. But, at no point did it interfere with my reading enjoyment. In fact, I flew through this story and found it all but impossible to put it down. Because while the social mores were somewhat ludicrous, the mystery and the road to the eventual solution worked perfectly. The clues were there for those perceptive enough to pick them up, the red herrings were clever and effective, and the denouement pulled everything together very satisfactorily.

Quite a bit of suspension of disbelief is required, though. For example, for a woman who has never been allowed to do just about anything, Beatrice is quite self-sufficient when it comes to defending herself. Bareback horse riding doesn’t seem to be something a Regency period young woman would be proficient at either. 😊

However, caricatures or not, I really like Beatrice and Inspector Vivek Drake and the personal journeys of discovery they make while investigating the murders in Swampshire. And I can honestly say there isn’t a single dull or dead moment in this book.

To summarize: If you enjoy a light-hearted and comical period piece featuring larger-than-life, over-the-top characters combined with a satisfying mystery, and a frantic murder investigation, you’re going to love A Most Agreeable Murder.  Personally, I hope that the sequels the ending leaves room for will materialize. Because, rolling my eyes or not, I couldn’t put this book down.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

 

Thursday Murder Club Mystery #2

423 pages

Publisher: Penguin Random House

 

Blurb

It's the following Thursday.

Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He's made a big mistake, and he needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life.

As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a ruthless murderer. And if they find the diamonds too? Well, wouldn't that be a bonus?

But this time they are up against an enemy who wouldn't bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them?

 

Review

WOW

As soon as I finished The Thursday Murder Club—a book I didn’t write a detailed review for, for some unknown reason— I wanted to pick up this sequel. Unfortunately for me I had to wait about nine months but, now that I’ve finished The Man Who Died Twice I can say it was well worth the wait.

Here is the little I did write about The Thursday Murder Club:

This book was a revelation. I'm not sure what I expected, besides a mystery, but it wasn't this complex, charming, funny, touching, and enthralling story.

To be honest, I could simply repeat those two sentences and leave it there. The first book was indeed a revelation and I have to admit I was concerned that maybe the sequel wouldn’t live up to expectations. Fortunately, I worried about nothing. The Man Who Died Twice is at least as complex, charming, funny, touching, and enthralling as The Thursday Murder Club was.

Of course, at first glance, neither of these stories should work. For starters, it is impossible to classify these books precisely. Part cosy mystery, part crime caper, part suspense, and featuring spies, it is remarkable that not only do these stories work, they do so exceptionally well.

Of course, there are far more explanations as to why they do work so brilliantly, such as the fantastic cast of characters. It would be hard to find four people as unlike each other as Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron but it is exactly the differences between them that make them so good together. The host of secondary characters, both those who return and those only present in one of the stories, are as distinctive, original, and yet very recognisable as the four protagonists. The mysteries, while very well and cleverly plotted, lean toward being over the top but somehow manage to stay both believable and fascinating.

Away from the mystery and all the mayhem resulting from it, there is this deep and warm humanity to these stories. As much as they are mysteries, they are also stories about friendship and tolerance. Without ever getting sentimental, they show the fragility that comes with getting older. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are all matter of fact about where they are in their lives. They're getting on with it. But between the lines and without ever getting sloppy you can read the fear, the insecurities, the loneliness, and the frustration.

I can’t help feeling that Richard Osman must like people and not only observes those around him but also really sees and understands them.

I can’t imagine anybody reading these books and not getting drawn in. As much as I want to avoid ever having to live in a retirement home or village, these stories almost managed to convince me it might be fun. And, if my accommodation came with the promise of mysteries and a group of friends like the foursome in these books to help me solve them, I might yet be persuaded. 😊

Finally, I want to say something about the title. But I can’t. So I’ll restrict myself to two words: utter genius.

Darkness Dawns by Zakarrie Clarke - Blog Tour

Book Title: Darkness Dawns

Author: Zakarrie Clarke

Publisher: MLR Press

Genre/s: Contemporary/Humour/MM/Disability (Blindness)

Length: 65 000 words/150 PDF pages

Release Date: February 1, 2019

 It’s a novel with a sequel. 

The first 43 chapters form Darkness Dawns; it concludes on a HFN and the sequel completes the novel. 

I've written both, but thought it best to split it, or it would be over 140 000 words long.

Add on Goodreads

 

Blurb

Darkness Dawns is a love story. It also tells the tale of one man’s war with himself, brought onto the battlefield of his blindness. Leo Ferrar suffers from diabetic retinopathy and lost his sight two years ago. Unable to bear the scrutiny of strangers or the impact of his blindness on those he loves, Leo has determined on shutting the world out ever since. This is the man Ben meets on his first day at work as Mr Ferrar’s care assistant.

A former heroin addict, Ben was sentenced to six months community service as punishment for his crimes by a judge entitled to condemn him to a seven-year stretch. Far too charming for his own welfare, Ben proves unaccountably brilliant at ‘bulldozing the blind’.

When fate sees fit to dispatch Ben to the home of the man he has dubbed Mr Ferrarcious;it is with the words of the last five unfortunates who’d dared darken Leo’s doorway ringing in his ears. A door that is opened by a man who might be Lord Byron himself. Drop dead gorgeous and as hot as hell, Leo Ferrar hasthemost beautiful eyes Ben has ever seen.

Never has an irony seemed so cruel. Nor fate so fortuitous.

Buy Links: Publisher - MLR | Smashwords | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Excerpt

Leo knew he should have opted to use the cane, instead of the arm Ben offered him for their unexpected walk.Should. Every time that word left someone’s lips, Leo wanted to scream; fists clenched in a screech of hopeless, helpless rage. The fact that everything he should do was For-His-Own-Benefit, made it so much worse, which was as ludicrous as it was true. Independence was the only thing he had left to aspire to. So, why the fuck did should rub Leo so raw it obliterated any inclination he may have had to do whatever it prefaced? He ought to want to do the things he should. But what if he tried…and failed? What if Leo couldn’t master any of them? Then he would lose even the hope that he might, one day, be able to. Even more galling, that loss would be down to him, because he was so bloody useless. He did want to show Ben that he was quite capable of managing…didn’t he? Very much, although why that mattered, Leo had no idea.

Why care what this latest in a long line of functioning eyeballs thought of him? It was probably more politic to say, ‘visually unimpaired’. Visually Impaired. Leo had to stifle the urge to punch people who described him thus. Impaired? Adj: weakened or damaged. Weak. Weakened. F’fuck sakes. He was still chewing that particular wasp when Ben asked for his wrist.

Does he intend to lead me by it, as if I’m a toddler?

Leo found himself holding it out anyway. Christ knows why he was going along with all this. It was just that…being in Ben’s company was rather like sitting in the passenger seat of a snow plough driven by a drunk. Far preferable to standing in its path…and yet, somehow more appealing than staying behind, wherever the hell it was off to.

Nevertheless, he was still relieved when Ben clasped the proffered wrist—not to cart Leo off as he’d feared—but to plant his hand on top of Ben’s head. The fact that Leo could have changed the lightbulb without stretching a whole lot further, did seem to suggest he’d been addressing Ben’s nipples for the last half hour.

Quite how Ben then contrived to claim fault for something that was Leo’s mistake was less clear, but this was pulled off with such disarming charm, it would’ve been churlish to argue otherwise. Why the hell did the notion of calling Ben’s bluff feel as brutal a prospect as drowning his cat? If he had one, of course. Cat? More to the point…nipples?

“Thank you,” Leo managed to mumble, which was something of a result itself. Half an hour with Ben and he’d started to feel several sandwiches short of the proverbial picnic. He’d also begun to suspect that Violet had been a sweet little old lady—and quite sane—when she’d met Ben.

So off they went. The blindingly daft leading the blind off on a stroll around Camden.

In a bid to distract himself from well, pretty much everything he’d thought for the last five minutes, Leo decided to ask Ben to describe himself. For some reason he was intrigued, not only to know what Ben looked like, but to hear the picture he drew. Leo had an inkling this would prove more unmissable than an aural tour around the National Portrait Gallery. Unmissable?It was a bloody masterpiece. There most definitely were not any renderings of Steptoe’s six-four daughter there. The last two years might have felt a damn sight less soul-destroying if Ben had voiced Leo’s DVD visual descriptions.

Walking outside had lost all its appeal when the world became a giant landmine lying in wait to blow up in Leo’s face; every step into the unknown, a potential public humiliation. Despite this, and Ben’s partiality to lamp posts, they somehow arrived in Gloucester Crescent, alive and well. Even more shocking, was that Leo hadn’t fretted about…anything really, along the way. He’d just drifted along, listening to Ben weave words too beguiling to question where embellishment waved farewell to the truth. But who the fuck would want to, when that would feel as blasphemous as punching a fist through a Picasso?

About the Author 

When Zakarrie was little and dreamed big, she wanted to be a writer. Just like Enid Blyton. Or p'raps not...having been most remiss on the lashings of ginger beer front. After moving to London at eighteen and flitting about for far too long, she finally settled, as blissy as can be, by the sea. When her castaway dreams resurfaced, they were believed into being by the warm words of friends who breathed life into her own. Her one wish now is that someone, somewhere, might enjoy the misadventures of her miscreants as much as she adores writing them.

Author Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |  Pinterest

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a £10 Amazon gift card and a choice of ebook from Zakarrie’s backlist.

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Counterblow (Shatterproof Bond #4) by Isobel Starling

Length: 169 pages

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

***BONUS SAM AIKEN SHORT STORY "TOP HAT" INCLUDED IN THIS EBOOK UNTIL 30th June***

After the devastating events in the Scottish Highlands, Sam and Declan have moved on to a new, deeper level in their romance. Their commitment to each other is unquestionable; however, there are plenty of questions that need answering about other aspects of their lives, and those who sought to end them.

Sam is trying his best to deal with the day to day frustrations of his injuries. He’s completely dependent on Declan for everything and hates the way the scales have tipped in their relationship. Although he’s officially on leave, Sam’s mind cannot stop replaying all that happened to him and questioning why, and who is behind it all.

Declan’s relief at having Sam home throws him into house-husband mode. He’s happy to take the reins and care for his partner, however, beneath the surface Declan cannot help but be drawn back to how he felt in the Highlands, and how they were betrayed by a man who was supposed to have their back. Declan had promised Sir James Aiken that he would pay if he hurt Sam, and now Declan has to decide how he can deliver his payback and put his and Sam’s world back on an even keel. 

Review

Oh my. Poor Sam really went through hell in the Scottish Highlands (Return to Zero) and, unfortunately, the situation didn’t instantly improve upon coming home. Far from it. Poor Sam finds himself immobilised with both a leg and an arm busted up. Declan takes care of the man he loves as best he can but even he can’t stop the nightmares from plaguing Sam night after night. Declan is however inventive enough to ensure that intimacy and sex don’t fall victim to Sam’s injuries and boy does his imagination lead to hot scenes.

Even when Sam recovers enough to get most of his mobility and independence back, the events in Scotland still haunt both men, and each of them is looking for ways to deal with what happened to them. Declan is determined to get his revenge on Sam’s father, and Sam just wants to find out exactly what happened and, more importantly how it could have happened.

None of this would have been a huge issue, if only the two men would have talked to each other. But, determined not to burden the other and more than used to living with secrets, both Sam and Declan make plans of their own, leading to fear and a sense of betrayal on both sides, not to mention unexpected consequences.

Because of course Sir James Aiken, as always, has an ace up his sleeve; an ace which requires Sam to face his demons head-on, and forcing him to call on courage he didn’t know he possessed.

Just like the previous books in this series, Counterblow gave me an exhilarating, thrilling, sexy, laugh out loud funny, and intriguing story. The interactions between Declan and Sam never fail to make me either smile or get all hot and bothered, while Declan’s confrontation with Sir James was as tense as it was satisfying. In short, I couldn’t put the book down once I’d started reading and was disappointed when the story, inevitably, had to end. I’m already yearning for the next instalment. But, to help me deal with my separation anxiety, the author very generously provided a short story featuring a much younger (and pre-Declan) Sam.

Top Hat – A Shatterproof Bond/Sam Aiken prequel short story:

What a delightful glimpse of Sam as a teenager whose hormones all burst to life when he first sets eyes on Alexander Deveraux, the lecturer replacing Sam’s regular tutor during his final year at Oxford. For Sam, the attraction is instant and it isn’t long before he realizes the feeling might well be mutual.

Teenage Sam is adorable, clumsy, insecure and…did I mention adorable? But the first traces of flirty and sexy Sam are all too obvious in this 16 ½ year old version. Poor Alex didn’t stand a chance. He may have thought he wanted to be responsible and sensible, faced with a turned on and determined Sam and an impressive pole dance routine, Alex didn’t have a choice other than to give in to the sizzling attraction between them.

If there’s anything wrong with this short story it is that it ended too soon for my liking. But then again, maybe Sam takes after his creator when it comes to teasing.

And just in case you are new to this series, here are my reviews of the earlier Shatterproof Bond books:

As You Wish | Illuminate the Shadows | Return to Zero

About the Author

Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art in Ireland. She relocated to the UK and, faced with the dreaded artist’s creative block, Isobel started to write and found she loved writing more than making art.

The 'Shatterproof Bond' series is an Amazon Gay Romance bestseller. Isobel has just completed her eleventh book and signed French and German and Italian, translation and publishing rights deals for the whole Shatterproof Bond series. The 'As You Wish' translation “Comme Vous Voudrez” is a best seller on Amazon France. It was released in German in March 2017, and as an audiobook in May 2017. 

Isobel's greatest love is writing M/M relationships, and she hopes one day to actually finish the fantasy novel that she put ‘to rest’ three years ago. 

                                                Website | Twitter | Goodreads

How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton - Audio Review

Howl at the Moon #1

Unabridged Audio

Narrator: Matthew Shaw

Length: 5 hrs, 52mins

Publisher: Pinkerton Road

Audible link: US | UK

Blurb

Sheriff Lance Beaufort is not going to let trouble into his town, no sir. Tucked away in the California mountains, Mad Creek has secrets to keep, like the fact that half the town consists of "quickened" - dogs who have gained the ability to become human. Descended on both sides from Border Collies, Lance is as alert a guardian as they come.

Tim Weston is looking for a safe haven. After learning that his boss patented all of Tim's work on vegetable hybrids in his own name, Tim quit his old job. A client offers him use of her cabin in Mad Creek, and Tim sees a chance for a new start. But the shy gardener has a way of fumbling and sounding like a liar around strangers, particularly gorgeous alpha men like Sheriff Beaufort.

Lance's hackles are definitely raised by the lanky young stranger. He's concerned about marijuana growers moving into Mad Creek, and he's not satisfied with the boy's story. Lance decides a bit of undercover work is called for. When Tim hits a beautiful black collie with his car and adopts the dog, its love at first sight for both Tim and Lance's inner dog. Pretending to be a pet is about to get Sheriff Beaufort in very hot water.

My thoughts

How to Howl at the Moon was quite a little story. In fact it was a delightful combination of sweet, angsty, thrilling, and sexy. What’s not to love about a story set in an world (or, in this case, town) were many are ‘quickened’ dogs, meaning that they have the ability to become human while still being able to shift back to their dog form, and never completely losing their dog’s sensibilities.

When the story starts Sheriff Lance Beaufort is as far removed from his inner dog (a black Border Collie, how wonderfully appropriate for me) as he can get. Taking his duties of keeping his town safe and the quickened’s secret well buried very seriously, he hasn’t shifted to his dog form in ages, rejecting the playfulness for what he perceives to be the necessity to be human and on guard all the time.

Tim Weston needs a fresh start in a safe environment. Having been let down by people who should have loved and protected him and those who would take advantage of his trusting nature, he decides to keep his cards close to his chest, in the process, inevitably, triggering Lance’s mistrust towards him.

In order to discover exactly what is going on with Tim, Lance decides to introduce his inner dog into Tim’s life. And this may well be one of the cutest things I’ve ever read. Chance, the dog, is so adorable, especially compared to the stand-offish Lance. And Tim’s instant love for the creature he thinks he’s harmed is deeply touching. Of course, things get complicated for Lance when his two natures find themselves on opposite sites. The human Lance may still have suspicions about what exactly Tim is up to, Chance his dog has been won over by Tim’s joyous love and sharing nature. 

Throw in a meddling mother, territorial drug dealers, a former military shifter, and a secret that can’t be let out into the open, and you’re in for a story that will charm you while it also keeps you on the edge of your seat. Combined with a fabulous and very easy-on-the-ear narrator, all of the above made How to Howl at the Moon a very enjoyable second venture into the world of audio books.

The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Length: 62,000 words 

Cover Design: Harper by Design 

   

Blurb

Two plus one equals scorching hot fun.

Dumped by his boyfriend and reduced to living in a grotty bedsit, Josh Carpenter lives for his job as a glassblower. That and occasional glimpses of his sexy downstairs neighbours, Rai Nakamura and Evan Truman.

Whenever he overhears the diminutive academic and the hunky plumber having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is whipped into a state of frenzied lust… and a longing for a relationship like theirs.

To his amazement, Rai and Evan find his embarrassing tendency to blush utterly charming, and the three men grow closer over the course of the long, hot summer. Despite enjoying Rai’s charming flirtation and Evan’s smouldering gaze, Josh is determined never to do anything to split them apart.

However, when a naked Josh falls—quite literally—into the middle of one of Rai and Evan’s marathon sex sessions, the force of their mutual attraction takes over. But just as Josh dares to hope, he senses a change. If the three of them can’t renegotiate the rules of their new relationship, Josh risks losing their friendship—and any chance at love—forever.

Warning: Contains one well-endowed stud with a sexy accent, one improbably toppy bottom boy with an unfortunate owl obsession, and one blushing naïf who can’t believe his luck. Also, the occasional indulgence in mathematical spanking and some shameless armpit sex.

Bonus Christmas Hot Floor short story included in this edition!

Originally published by Samhain Publishing, September 2012

My thoughts

Well now, this is one very…very hot story. Mind you, it’s also charming, funny, and a wee bit angsty, but mostly it is very…very hot. I mean, what else could I possibly say about a story containing lines like:

‘my debauched deep-throating angel in nerd specs’

But, enough about that for now. I’m sure you’ve caught on to the idea that this is one very sexy story, but that’s not to say there isn’t a lot more to it than just fun and games.

Poor Josh is a bundle of insecurity. After having been dumped by his closeted ex-boyfriend his self-confidence has pretty much taken a nosedive, as has his sex life. Having two sexy men living one floor below them, and hearing the noises resulting from their loud and enthusiastic love making, makes him horny and at the same time intensifies his loneliness.

When the shoddy building he lives him results in him falling, bathtub and all, into Rai and Evan’s apartment, it heralds a change Josh could never have foreseen or even hoped for. But as hot and exciting as his time living with the two men is, Josh is sure it can never be more than a temporary arrangement, no matter how hard he is falling for both of them and yearns to be theirs.

And so an enticing tale of seduction, kink, and attraction ensues. But all new relationships are awkward and when there are three partners involved, two of whom have been together for longer, it only gets more complicated.

Taking that into account, there’s very little real angst in this story. Sure, Josh is second guessing himself, Rai, and Evan, as well as the whole set up quite often, but for the most part, this is a story of three men getting ever closer, discovering how incredibly compatible they are, and enjoying each other’s company, bodies, and kinks.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The humour in it had me smiling a lot, and laughing out loud occasionally too. The characters charmed their way into my heart. What’s not to love about a gentle giant (Evan), a toppy bottom with well hidden but deep insecurities (Rai), and an almost innocent with a humiliation kink(Josh)? And who knew that glass blowing could not only be utterly fascinating but also very titillating?

If you’re in the mood for a well written, fun, touching, and sexy few hours I highly recommend The Hot Floor.

‘Home wasn’t the bricks and mortar. Home was these two men, making me fly.’

Double Trouble – A Hot Floor bonus story

This was a wonderful short story, almost an epilogue really, proving that a few months together has done nothing to diminish these men’s appetites or kinkiness — quite the opposite in fact. And how promising is it that this short story ends with the words: ‘The End (for now…)’?

How to be a Normal Person by TJ Klune

Unabridged Audio Book

Narrated by Derrick McClain

Duration: 11hrs 7mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Buy link: Audible US | Audible UK

Blurb

Gustavo Tiberius is not normal. He knows this. Everyone in his small town of Abby, Oregon, knows this. He reads encyclopedias every night before bed. He has a pet ferret called Harry S. Truman. He owns a video rental store that no one goes to. His closest friends are a lady named Lottie with drag queen hair and a trio of elderly Vespa riders known as the We Three Queens.

Gus is not normal. And he's fine with that. All he wants is to be left alone.

Until Casey, an asexual stoner hipster and the newest employee at Lottie's Lattes, enters his life. For some reason, Casey thinks Gus is the greatest thing ever. And maybe Gus is starting to think the same thing about Casey, even if Casey is obsessive about Instagramming his food.

But Gus isn't normal and Casey deserves someone who can be. Suddenly wanting to be that someone, Gus steps out of his comfort zone and plans to become the most normal person ever.

After all, what could possibly go wrong?

My thoughts

Today is going to be an okay day

And this was a more than okay, or rather, fabulous book. The story captured me from the start, but what impressed me most was the wonderful combination of laugh out loud hilarity and poignant moments. The two are so perfectly balanced that I would alternately find myself laughing despite recognising the underlying pain and deeply touched while a smile tugged at my lips.

While I wasn’t quite a TJ Klune virgin before starting this book, I can’t say I’ve read many of his stories either. Obviously, that’s something I’ll need to change as soon as possible. If this book sets the standard, I’ve been missing out.

It is safe to say that this author has a unique way of using his words and telling a story, which is something that always captures my attention. And there was so very much in this book I adored it’s hard to know where to start (or where to stop, for that matter) but I’ll give it a shot.

What’s not to love about a story featuring ‘Biker Vespa Lesbians, also known as ‘We Three Queens’, an ‘asexual stoner hipster’, a main character often addressed as ‘Grumpy Gus’, who’s best described as ‘abnormal, weird, and strange’, a video store in which Tuesday’s are dreaded because at least four customers come in’… I could go on, but honestly, you should just read or listen to this book.

It may surprise some, but for me Casey was the easier to understand and define character of the two. He is a stoner hipster and asexual and doesn’t make a secret of either. Gus on the other hand is less easy to pinpoint. He is, without a doubt awkward and a loner, not to mention OCD. But on more than one occasion I found myself wondering if he wasn’t (borderline) on the autism spectrum.  This is ‘just’ my personal interpretation. Such a label is never suggested in the book, but I found the thought lingering in my mind as I read. Having said that, it wasn’t something I needed to know for sure. When push came to shove, Gus was Gus. ‘Abnormal, weird, and strange’, for sure, but also utterly unique and all the more charming for it.

I think the pivotal moment in this book for me was when the ridiculous website Gus had been getting all his guidance on ‘how to be normal’ from suddenly made perfect sense and gave the best advice EVER: Don’t assume; talk!

Oh. My. God. I was listening to a romance addressing my pet peeve when it comes to romances head on. I don’t even want to try and count how many reviews I’ve written in which I state my frustration about the two main characters ending up in a crisis which would have been easily averted if only they had talked to each other. And here, at last, was a love story doing exactly what I had wished for in all those other books; it made the two men communicate and resolve their issues as the more or less sensible adults they were.

This story left me with a lot to think about, a renewed appreciation for hugs, and a soft curse on my lips when the author ended it one word too soon. Well played Mr. Klune. I also feel I need to issue a health and safety warning; listening to this book while driving is akin to putting your life in danger. It is very hard to keep your eyes on the road when you’re laughing so hard, tears are streaming down your cheeks.

Since I listened to this story rather than read it, I suppose I should also say something about the narrator. Derrick McClain was a delight to listen to. I loved how he managed to give all the characters individual voices without ever appearing to alter how he spoke. But, I have to admit that this has been my first audio book in probably ten years, so I don’t really have anyone to compare him to. Having said that, he now finds himself at the top of a new list I started today called ‘narrators to keep an eye (or should that be ear?) on’.

Overall this was a hilariously funny yet thought provoking story, posing the question as to what is and isn’t normal, and who gets to be the judge of that. It’s a story about love, friendship, loyalty and being true to yourself and those around you. Ultimately it is a book I can see myself revisiting several times. And since I in general don’t do re-reads, that is saying something.

The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Length: 62,000 words 

Cover Design: Harper by Design 

Blurb

Two plus one equals scorching hot fun.

Dumped by his boyfriend and reduced to living in a grotty bedsit, Josh Carpenter lives for his job as a glassblower. That and occasional glimpses of his sexy downstairs neighbours, Rai Nakamura and Evan Truman.

Whenever he overhears the diminutive academic and the hunky plumber having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is whipped into a state of frenzied lust… and a longing for a relationship like theirs.

To his amazement, Rai and Evan find his embarrassing tendency to blush utterly charming, and the three men grow closer over the course of the long, hot summer. Despite enjoying Rai’s charming flirtation and Evan’s smouldering gaze, Josh is determined never to do anything to split them apart.

However, when a naked Josh falls—quite literally—into the middle of one of Rai and Evan’s marathon sex sessions, the force of their mutual attraction takes over. But just as Josh dares to hope, he senses a change. If the three of them can’t renegotiate the rules of their new relationship, Josh risks losing their friendship—and any chance at love—forever.

Warning: Contains one well-endowed stud with a sexy accent, one improbably toppy bottom boy with an unfortunate owl obsession, and one blushing naïf who can’t believe his luck. Also, the occasional indulgence in mathematical spanking and some shameless armpit sex.

Bonus Christmas Hot Floor short story included in this edition!

Originally published by Samhain Publishing, September 2012

Author Bio

English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

Jo’s novel Stuff won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Bisexual Romance, and her novella Merry Gentlemen won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Romantic Comedy. She loves to be busy, and is currently having fun trying to work out how she is going to fit in her love of writing, dressmaking and attending cabaret shows in fabulous clothing around the demands of a preteen with special needs and an incessantly curious toddler.

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