Reading Round Up: The Best in Gay Fiction for 2010

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Indie Reviews

When I began writing this post I had the intention of listing ten of my favourite books in gay fiction for 2010. But it quickly became apparent that it would be impossible to restrict the list to only ten. Despite the fact that my reading time was more limited over 2010 due to the demands of real life and work and I read much less than in previous years, there were too many reading gems that I did read and could not omit from the year’s best.

Over the course of the year I made several wonderful discoveries in new-to-me authors, finally got around to reading books that had been sitting on my shelves for years, I received some great recommendations from online friends, some of my favourite authors released incredible stories and I gave myself permission to re-read some past favourites without guilt.

In the end, twenty books (novels, novellas, anthologies and short stories) made the final cut of my best in gay fiction for 2010 across several genres – contemporary, erotica, horror, historical, mystery, romance and young adult. Some were weighty stories, others lighter fare with happy endings, and several had unforgettable characters that continued to haunt me long after I was done reading their stories. But all the books listed as my best of 2010 in their own way dealt with the stuff of life and fed my mind, heart and soul.

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Reading Round Up: November-December 2010

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Match Maker by Alan Chin (Dreamspinner Press) – Read Review

Turn The Other Cheek by Chris Owen (Torquere Press) – Read Review

Shell Shocked by Angelia Sparrow and Naomi Brooks (Pink Petal Publishing) – Read Review

Painting by Numbers by David Thyssen (Smashwords) – Read Review

Match Maker by Alan Chin

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Indie Reviews

In the four years since being forced off the professional tour for being gay, Daniel Bottega has taught tennis at a second-rate country club. He found a sanctuary to hide from an unkind world, while his lover, Jared Stoderling, fought a losing battle with alcohol addiction to cope with his disappointment of not playing on the pro circuit.

Now Daniel has another chance at the tour by coaching tennis prodigy Connor Lin to a Grand Slam championship win. He shares his chance with Jared by convincing him to return to the pro circuit as Connor’s doubles partner.

Competing on the world tour is challenging enough, but Daniel and Jared also face major media attention, political fallout from the pro association, and a shocking amount of hate that threatens Connor’s career in tennis, Jared’s love for Daniel, and Daniel’s very life.

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Painting By Numbers by David Thyssen

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Painting By Numbers by David Thyssen is a visceral account of the journeyed descent into hell of an adolescent boy who has been pushed into the darkest of emotional places and as a result, his life and those of many around him end in tragedy. Although a fictional account, the story is based on the author’s own experiences of being bullied and humiliated in school.

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Reading Round Up: September-October 2010

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Indie Reviews

September and October were steady reading months with some very good to excellent reads. Early in September I revisited (and reviewed for the first time) two of my favourite books by gay romance/erotica author Sean Michael – The Center of Earth and Sky and its sequel Painting the Desert now available only in a compilation entitled, Center (Torquere Press), and made a small dent in my reading pile with Tere Michael’s third book in the Faith, Love and Devotion series and the eagerly awaited sequel to Faith & Fidelity – Duty and Devotion (Loose Id). I also had the opportunity to review for Rainbow Reviews The Guardian Angel of South Beach by Neil Plakcy (Loosed Id) an author I’ve been wanting to read for a while, as well as reviewed for Three Dollar Bill Reviews Test of Faith by Aleksndr Voinov and Raev Gray (eXcessica Publishing). Finally, I had the pleasure of reading George Seaton’s Big Diehl: The Road Home (MLR Press) which I reviewed for Three Dillar Bill Reviews and his short story entitled Continuum (Untreed Read) for Rainbow Reviews, both of which I absolutely loved.

The Center of Earth and Sky by Sean Michael (Torquere Press) – Read Review

Painting The Desert by Sean Michael (Torquere Press) – Read Review

Duty & Devotion by Tere Michaels (Loose Id) – Read Review

The Guardian Angel of South Beach by Neil Plakcy (Loose Id) – Read Review

Big Diehl: The Road Home by George Seaton (MLR Press) – Read Review

Continuum by George Seaton (Untreed Reads) – Read Review

Test of Faith by Aleksandr Voinov and Raev Gray (eXcessica Publishing) – Read Review

Continuum by George Seaton

Posted on October 10, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Continuum by George Seaton is a beautifully written short story that is part of the Diversity Short Story Collection published by Untreed Reads focusing on minority voices. The overarching theme of this story is the continuity of time and love.

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The Guardian Angel of South Beach by Neil Plakcy

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Despite regular work-outs, out-of-shape computer geek Leo can’t build the body he dreams of. Then he meets a strange old man who mixes up some magic pills, and Leo’s body blossoms. But even though he’s developing a killer body and having lots of great sex, he’s not happy, until he begins to change his personality, too. Can becoming The Guardian Angel of South Beach, protecting the weak, weird, and drunk from predators, make him happy and help him hook up with Dan, the man of his dreams?

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Reading Round Up: July-August 2010

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Given all the activity and travel over the months of July and August I’m quite surprised that I managed any reading at all. Not much actually, but certainly more than originally anticipated. Reviewing was another matter altogether as I found it extremely difficult to sit still long enough, especially on the many glorious sunny days, to actually write reviews for all the books read over the course of both months.

In all, I managed to read five books of which I reviewed three. Two books read were from new to me authors, Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy and Normal Miguel by Erik Orrantia, the latter of which I reviewed for Rainbow Reviews. I also read the first book in a new series by two of my favourite authors Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine entitled, Let Them Try, which I reviewed for Three Dollar Bill Reviews. All of the books read over these two months range within the good to very good categories and some are excellent.

With autumn just around the corner (although you wouldn’t know it with the 40° Celsius sweltering heat of this past week) and the cooler weather setting in soon I hope to fall back into my natural state of reading and reviewing more.

Love Means … Freedom by Andrew Grey (Dreamspinner Press) – Read Review

Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy (Dreamspinner Press)

Stuck On You by Selena Kitt (eXcessica Publishing)

Let Them Try by Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine (M&V Tailz) – Read Review

Normal Miguel by Erik Orrantia (Bristlecone Pine Press/Cheyenne Publishing) – Read Review

Love Means … Freedom by Andrew Grey

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Spurned by his father and driven from his home, Stone Hillyard is struggling to find shelter in the Michigan winter when he lucks upon the horse farm run by Geoff Laughton and his partner Eli. They take him in, warm him up, and give him a job working with their No Boundaries Therapy-Riding Program.

A drunk driver left Preston Harding unable to walk, and after months of hard work, his therapist recommends Geoff and Eli’s program. But Preston’s anger and arrogance nearly get him kicked out until Stone intercedes on his behalf, despite Preston’s insults. It’s a small act of kindness that helps open Preston’s eyes.

Stone and Preston will support each other as they face their families’ disapproval and fight old secrets. They’ll learn – sometimes the hard way – just how love can mean freedom for them both.

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Normal Miguel by Erik Orrantia

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Indie Reviews

Miguel Hernández is a teacher who has left Mexico City to complete a one year student internship in the rural hills of Puebla. He came to the school intending to focus on his teaching and his students but quickly learns that it is impossible to keep his private and professional lives separate — particularly as his experience turns into a voyage of self-discovery.

His students, the Directora of the school, the baker, and other people from the town all contribute to his growing awareness. But most important is Ruben, the owner of the candy store who progresses from merchant to friend to lover. He will be the man who has the most effect on Miguel — who, in turn, is transformed by the impact of Miguel on his own life.

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