Did you know that August is National Romance Awareness month? Me either. But it got me to thinking, everyone’s definition of romance differs, so I wanted to share some books I’ve read and loved with characters and stories that aren’t your run of the mill, cookie cutter romance. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy pouring a glass of wine and curling up with my kindle and a cute, fun, endearing little love story full of fluff and romance. But I really like books that veer outside of that box and bring me something gripping, angst riddled and unique while still delivering a hard won happy ever after. These four books are all quite amazing reads and I’ve read them all multiple times.
Technical Difficulties is a about a trans female shifter with strong characters, some comic relief and a marvelous love story rounding it out. Second Chance is Nate’s story, a transgender single father that’s still in love with his childhood best friend. It’s a bit heartbreaking and intense, but so beautifully written that you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve finished. Temptations of Desire is the third book in a series, but you can read the books as a stand alone. Alex is gender fluid and prefers silk and lace to jeans and T-shirts, and is completely comfortable in his own skin. I loved the push and pull the two characters maintained throughout the story, the way Dal romanced Alex and accepted everything about him without hesitation. A little side note, there is a freebie on Amazon (Truth in Lace) if you want to get to know Alex before grabbing this book. And finally, Static by LA Witt, this is one of my favorite books, ever! The storyline is still unique, I don’t think I’ve read another book like it before or since. It’s intense, somewhat dark and will tug on your heartstrings.
Technical Difficulties (Lady Troubles 1) by Emily Carrington (click on the title to purchase from Amazon) 
Jack’s returned home to get his life in order after an addiction to alcohol caused him to lose everything: his job, his driver’s licence, and nearly his life. He’s living with his parents, which is less than ideal, but rekindling his friendship with Nate—or Nat as Jack once knew him—is an unexpected benefit of being back home. Jack is amazed by Nate’s transformation, and can’t deny his attraction. Trying for more than friendship might ruin what they already have, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.
Doubting his feelings are reciprocated, Nate fears he’s risking heartbreak. Jack’s reluctance to tell his parents about their relationship only reinforces Nate’s misgivings. With both their hearts on the line and their happiness at stake, Jack needs to make things right, and Nate has to be prepared to give him a second chance.
Temptations of Desire (Desires Entwined Book 3) by
Desires Entwined: Book Three
Alexander James Noble is a gender fluid gay man who gave up on finding Mister Right a long time ago. He’s not asking for much, though. He just wants a guy who loves all of him and appreciates his feminine form too.
At the local LGBTQ center where Alex regularly volunteers, he meets Dal Sayer, an officer of the Milwaukee PD. Because he’s been rejected one too many times, Alex doesn’t trust the huge cop and the interest he shows in him, but once Dal sets his mind on something, he goes all out. Pushing aside his preconceived notions, Alex opens up just a little and soon caves.
From their first date—while dealing with his father’s failing health and his parents’ demands for him to settle down and have children—Dal never takes his eyes off his goal of making Alex his. But proving to Alex he isn’t like all the men who couldn’t see him for who he truly was and only wanted to hide him away is harder than he thought.
Static by
After two years together, Alex has been dreading the inevitable moment when Damon learns the truth: that Alex is a shifter, part of a small percentage of the population able to switch genders at will. Thanks to a forced implant, though, Alex is suddenly static — unable to shift — and male. Overnight, he’s out to a world that neither understands nor tolerates shifters . . . and to his heterosexual boyfriend.
Damon is stunned to discover his girlfriend is a shifter, and scared to death of the dangers the implant poses to Alex’s health. He refuses to abandon Alex, but what about their relationship? Damon is straight, and with the implant both costly and dangerous to remove, Alex is stuck as a man.
Stripped of half his identity and facing serious physical and social ramifications, Alex needs Damon more than ever, but he doesn’t see how they can get through this.
Especially if he’s static forever.
My Review of Static…
The terms ‘Shifter’ and ‘Static’ are used within the context of this novel as a metaphor. A shifter is someone who can change gender at will. Imagine if you will, within our society today, if you are a bi-sexual or transgender person how fantastic it would be to change your body type as easily as you change your clothes. Now imagine having that ability stolen from you with a forced implant that blocks the shift, locking you into a body you want to crawl out of half the time.
Damon and Alex have been dating for two years, never taking that next step. Every time Damon approaches Alex about marriage, she shuts him down. Love is not the issue here, I’m afraid. You see Alex is a shifter, able to change gender at will. And Damon is a static, unable to change his sex and unaware that his girlfriend is a shifter. When Alex’s family, the type of family that picks the parts of the bible they want to wield like a sword and ignores every other part, drugs him and forces an implant that will block his shifting abilities; Alex is certain he is going to lose Damon. This is the very reason Alex never told Damon the truth about herself, for fear of losing the person she loved the most.
The majority of the story is spent with Alex coming to terms with the possibility that he may never be able to shift again. At times, he wants to crawl out of his own skin. His brain and his soul still shift to his female form, but now his body cannot adapt, and it’s driving him mad. Alex is having to learn to live every aspect of his life as a man. He’s still madly in love with Damon, he’s just not sure if Damon can still love him as a he. Alex has only ever been with men, wheter he was a male or female, but Damon is certifiably straight. Or is he?
All the while Alex is coming unglued inside and out, Damon is wrestling personal demons of his own. He will not abandon Alex, but he is having a little trouble reconciling his growing feelings for his girlfriend, that can only now be his boyfriend. There is a lot at stake for both men. Will Alex find a way to have the implant removed? And what if he can’t, will Damon still want to be with him if he can never be she again?
I loved everything about this book. It made me stop and think, is this what Transgender people live with everyday? Being stuck in a mans body when everything inside you feels feminine? Witt really conveyed Alex’s emotional distress perfectly. And to watch Damon falling in love with Alex as a man all over again was priceless and beautiful. At times the story was very dark, but it fit within the context perfectly.
Dark and dramatic, but kind of beautiful in a different sort of way. I highly recommend this book. Even if you don’t normally read this genre, I think you would still enjoy the storyline in this book.
*******************************************************************
You really should read all of these books, if you haven’t, but I hope you’ll grab at least one, pour that glass of wine and curl up with your kindle! See you guys next month, until then make sure you’re stalking me on social media.
Twitter: @TTCBooksandmore Instagram Author: @tammystwocents Instagram blog: @ttcbooksandmore Facebook: Author TM Smith & TTC Books and more
