Book of the Week Poll
Welcome to the Love Bytes Book of the Week Poll!
Here are the books which achieved a 4.5 or 5.0 review last week from our reviewers.
As a reminder, the top two books from each week’s poll will roll into our Book of the Month poll at month’s end. Happy Voting!
Please scroll to the very bottom for the voting section.
POLL SCHEDULE:
This poll will remain open until at least 6PM, Amsterdam time next Friday. The actual closing time will vary depending on blog staff schedules…
Chasing Destiny (Silver Tip Pack #2) by Megan Erickson
REVIEWED by Caroline and Jen B.
TITLE: Chasing Destiny
SERIES: Silver Tip Pack #2
AUTHOR: Megan Erickson
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 224 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2017
BLURB: Some live on memories…
Some live on memories…
Almost dying during a pack uprising has a way of shaking things up. I’m no longer Mr. Laid Back now that there’s an itch under my skin I can’t scratch.
On a volunteer mission that goes beyond the walls of our compound, we enter the territory of a pack long thought dead, and find ourselves on the business end of their spears.
What I’m not prepared for is what I find within their walls—The one shifter I never thought I’d see alive, the one I’d mourned twice, the one I’d always loved. He is alive, and if I have anything to do with it, he’ll stay that way. But he’s got secrets, and exposing them could lead us to an enemy worse than the bloodthirsty undead shifters wanting to kill us all…Read More »
Sons of Earth (Sons of Outlaws Book 1) by James Cox
Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Sons of Earth
SERIES: Sons of Outlaws Book 1
AUTHOR: James Cox
PUBLISHER: Evernight Publishing
LENGTH: 83 pages
Release Date: October 18, 2016
BLURB:
Twenty years after the Outlaw MC series, their children may not know the cost of war but they will know terror when Mars starts to reject humanity.
President of the Outlaw MC of Mars has a son—one that matches his temperament and the ability to find himself in trouble. Arie likes the notoriety a biker club offers, but being the oldest son of a founding member are big shoes to fill. When a quake makes the sleepy city on Mars rumble, Arie and his best friend Kavin are drinking in an off-limits spaceship. An unexpected kiss, followed by the quake, makes for one hell of a mistake. They take off without any ability to control the ship. Their destination? Earth.
There’s a lack of clothing, earth animals, and a growing relationship that leaves Arie confused about his future, but none of that compares to the dangers. Arie must now face a beast that nearly killed his father, and a love he never saw coming….Read More »
El Presidio Rides North by Domashita Romero
![El Presidio Rides North by [Romero, Domashita]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51gXBzqr77L.jpg)
Reviewed by Marte
TITLE: El Presidio Rides North
AUTHOR: Domashita Romero
PUBLISHER: Less Than Three Press
LENGTH: 53 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 18, 2017
BLURB:
On the verge of death by zombie in a public restroom, a young man is saved at the last minute by a shovel—and the intriguing man who wields it. A man who doesn’t really want company, and definitely isn’t interested in sharing names. But ‘Mercury’ also comes with an RV that doubles as a zombie-proof fortress, and almost any company is better than none—even if that company has a cute nickname for his nailgun, and inflicts him with the name ‘Gaga’….Read More »
Depth of Field (Last Chance #1) by Riley Hart
Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Depth of Field
SERIES: Last Chance #1
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 230 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 12th, 2017
BLURB:
Shane Wallace has made a decent life for himself in Last Chance. He built his own home on his mom’s property to take care of her, owns an automotive repair shop, and when he wants to get laid, Portland isn’t too far away. Not too shabby for the boy who spent his childhood getting bullied and feeling alone. Shane’s content to leave his past behind him…until one of his childhood tormentors comes back to town.
Maxwell Sullivan never planned to step foot in Last Chance again. Here, he was Maxwell, a teen who suffered in silence while everyone thought he had the perfect life. Now, he’s “Van,” the erotic artist and photographer. He’s only here to help his mom tie up some loose ends after his father’s death and to apologize to Shane. After that, he’s heading back to LA for good.
Shane never thought he’d have anything in common with Maxwell, but there’s a depth to Van that surprises him. Van knows what it feels like to be alone. He sees Shane in ways no one else does. There’s a shared connection neither can deny. Somehow, despite their rocky history, they get each other.
It’s not long before the two are so drawn to each other that they tumble into bed—sometimes with Van’s camera involved. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom is undeniable. Except nothing is ever black and white. Shane can’t leave his mom and Van’s life is in LA. With two different lives pulling them in opposite directions, their picture-perfect ending might not be in the cards….Read More »
McShayne’s Dragon (McShayne’s Bloodline #1) by Nicole Dennis
![McShayne's Dragon (McShayne's Bloodline Book 1) by [Dennis, Nicole]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tFVcwIZUL._SY346_.jpg)
Reviewed by PizzyGirl
TITLE: McShayne’s Dragon
SERIES: McShayne’s Bloodline #1
AUTHOR: Nicole Dennis
PUBLISHER: MLR Press
LENGTH: 70 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2017
BLURB:
Betrayed, Morric McShayne, a bloodline elemental witch, wakes during a lightning storm, bound to a post – the latest sacrifice to appease a dragon. He swears to survive as the last McShayne and there is no dragon until a powerful claw plucks him away from the precipice.
With every equinox, the dragon’s keeper, Xavier, pushes back the loneliness. The keeper holds a secret until magic flares. This sacrifice is different.
They battle desire and duty. When a single kiss changes everything, can the Fae help them answer more secrets and a legend’s promise? Do they fight against Fate’s choice?…Read More »
Found at the Bookstore by Christi Snow
Reviewed by Cinnamon
TITLE: Found at the Bookstore
SERIES: Found Book 2
AUTHOR: Christi Snow
PUBLISHER: self published
LENGTH: 279 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2017
BLURB:
After suffering a traumatic brain injury the final football game his senior year in high school, Ryder Garrett’s life was never normal again. Most days he’s happy when he can remember the way home. There’s no room in his life for romance or love, which means he’s destined to die a virgin.
Stig Minton doesn’t remember what virginity felt like. Twelve years older than Ryder, he’s been around the block too many times to count and has the scars to prove it…both physically and mentally.
But as these two men come together to help with a wedding, they forge a friendship, a friendship they both desperately need. As their relationship evolves, feelings go deeper. But is it stupid to risk this new—and, yes necessary—bond in pursuit of something that’s doomed to fail?
They both think they’re too broken to make this work. But what if they’re wrong?
Two broken souls may just be able to find reparation in one another….Read More »
Orientation by Rick R Reed
Reviewed by Tammy
TITLE: Orientation
AUTHOR: Rick R Reed
PUBLISHER: JMS Books
LENGTH: 249 pages
RELEASE DATE: 25 March 2017
BLURB:
A novel about reincarnation and love
Christmas, 1983: Robert is a young man tending to his soul mate Keith, who is dying from AIDS. Robert tries valiantly to make this a special Christmas, but loses the fight late Christmas night.
Christmas, 2007: Robert ventures out and finds a young girl about to fling herself into the waters of Lake Michigan. He rescues her, and the two form a bond forged from familiarity, and even love. Neither understands it, since Jess is a lesbian and Robert is gay. But there’s more …
Jess begins having strange dreams, reliving key moments she couldn’t know about in Keith and Robert’s life. They begin to wonder if their feelings might be rooted in something much more mystical than a saviour/victim relationship.
As the two move toward each other, Robert’s younger lover Ethan plots the unthinkable. His crystal meth-addled mind becomes convinced there’s only one way to save himself: Robert’s destruction.
There’s a murder attempt … salvation … redemption …
And a new love is born….Read More »
Finnegan’s Promise by Carol Lynne
Reviewed by Cinnamon
How much will it cost Fin to keep his promise?
During the off-season, professional football player Calder Finnegan returns to Boston to help run his estranged father’s pub. Little did he know he’d find the love of his life in the pub’s bartender, Mick Sullivan. Fin soon discovers his father has only weeks to live. All his hopes of getting to know the man who always seemed too busy to be a father are dashed. With Mick’s help, Fin begins the healing process between father and son and through this some of Mick’s wounds are healed as well. When Fin makes a deathbed promise to his father, he’ll do anything to keep that promise. Even if it costs him his lover and his career. Read More.
Ripples (The Blake Harte Mysteries – Book 3) by Robert Innes
Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: Ripples
SERIES: The Blake Harte Mysteries #3
AUTHOR: Robert Innes
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 209 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2017
BLURB:
When Detective Sergeant Blake Harte is given the opportunity of a relaxing week away at a spa manor, he jumps at the opportunity. He can take one person with him – and who more than Harrison Baxter deserves time away from Harmschapel after everything he has been through?
But once at the Manor of the Lakes, the rest and relaxation they both crave is quickly brought to an end, when Blake and Harrison witness a man being murdered, by a mysterious hooded figure who appears to have the ability to walk on water.
How is it possible for someone to defy the laws of physics? And Blake’s problems are only just beginning. The visit to the manor finds him coming face to face with figures from his past – and one in particular who could ruin any chance of Blake and Harrison ever being happy together.
The ripple effect is well and truly in play…Read More »
The Sumage Solution (San Andreas Shifters #1) by G.L. Carriger
Reviewed by Chris
TITLE: The Sumage Solution
SERIES: San Andreas Shifters #1
AUTHOR: G.L. Carriger
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 314 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 18th, 2017
BLURB:
Can a gentle werewolf heal the heart of a smart-mouthed mage?
NYT bestseller Gail Carriger, writing as G. L. Carriger, presents an offbeat gay romance in which a sexy werewolf with a white knight complex meets a bad boy mage with an attitude problem. Sparks (and other things) fly.
Max fails everything – magic, relationships, life. So he works for DURPS (the DMV for supernatural creatures) as a sumage, cleaning up other mages’ messes. The job sucks and he’s in no mood to cope with redneck biker werewolves. Unfortunately, there’s something oddly appealing about the huge, muscled Beta visiting his office for processing.
Bryan AKA Biff (yeah, he knows) is gay but he’s not out. There’s a good chance Max might be reason enough to leave the closet, if he can only get the man to go on a date. Everyone knows werewolves hate mages, but Bryan is determined to prove everyone wrong, even the mage in question.
Delicate Sensibilities?
This story contains M/M sexitimes and horrible puns. If you get offended easily, then you probably will. The San Andreas Shifter stories contain blue language, dirty deeds, and outright admiration for the San Francisco Bay Area. Not for the faint of heart (mouth/tongue/etc.)…..Read More »
Where I Belong by Jae Moran
Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Where I belong
AUTHOR: Jae Moran
PUBLISHER: JMS BOOKS, LLC
LENGTH: 84,640 Words
RELEASE DATE:
BLURB:
Bestselling author and erstwhile musician Harper Ellison started running from his troubled past before he graduated high school. When his sister tracks him down ten years later, Harper hesitantly agrees to visit the family and small North Carolina community that rejected him when he needed them most.
Life has taught Harper to avoid relationships, but he can’t seem to ignore his attraction to Lucas Rhodes, the buff, blond social worker living on his grandparents’ farm. Lucas quickly becomes an anchor in the maelstrom created by Harper’s homecoming. Together they wade through the grief and loss Harper buried six-feet deep just a few miles from his childhood home.
Choosing to forgive is the only way Harper will ever find peace, but can he learn that lesson before it’s too late?…Read More »
Up in the Air 1: Johannesburg by George Loveland
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Up in the Air 1: Johannesburg
SERIES: Up in the Air (book 1)
AUTHOR: George Loveland
PUBLISHER: LoveBow Publishing
LENGTH: 77 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2017
BLURB:
Looking for love is the last thing air steward, James Foster, is thinking about when he swaps flights to save his hung-over best friend’s job. He doesn’t know that fate has other ideas and he would fall for the tall, bearded passenger, Darren Busby, sat in 14D. Up in the air, James finds that the connection he has with Darren is too strong to ignore. After missing the opportunity to ask for Darren’s number, James’ jaw hits the floor when Darren walks into the same hotel he is staying at. Butterflies and nerves take over, but soon give way to excitement as they get to know each other on the ground. When James’ ex, Richard, shows up and begs for forgiveness, James has to decide if going back to the man who broke his heart would be worth it, or if he should finally move on and take a chance on Darren….Read More »