Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Snowed In is a wintery blend of frost, snow, and romance from eight of Torquere Press’ M/M authors.

Winter storms are dangerous, and in Celibate Cold by Lynn Townsend, Topher finds himself stranded in one when his car slides into a ditch. Alone and scared, he tries to walk home in the blizzard but ends up at Chase’s house, desperately in need of help.

Can an accident on Luke and Tom’s annual hike lead to them becoming more than good friends? Find out in Jessica Chase’s Falling for Love!

In This Winter’s Night by Kassandra Lea, Barry is devastated when he realizes he spends more time talking to his horses than his boyfriend—but that’s about change.

These snow angels have a devilish side! Huey and Tommy think their neighbor Marshall would be a naughty, fun addition to their snow day in Snow Angels by Leigh Ellwood.

In Snow Job by Logan Zachary, winter doesn’t always come with a chill—sometimes it’s smokin’ hot! For Lance and Leo, snowbound and icicles are about to take on whole new meanings.

Beau and Leon are two strangers on a chairlift. When Leon—the “experienced” skier—laughs at himself, Beau looks at him in a whole new light in Taking the Fall Line by Tray Ellis.

In Snowy Reunion by Emjay Haze, Steven wonders if he even has a boyfriend since Jonathan walked out after their last argument. But Jonathan surprises Steven during a ski trip and it just might save their relationship.

Seeking the elusive Yeti is Joel’s passion, but he finds more than he bargained for in Adventures of a Yeti Hunter by L.J. Hamlin.

Book Review

There is something very attractive about the idea of being snowed in, kept inside a warm and cozy place, while the winter storms rage outside. The “wintery blend of frost, snow, and romance” offered up in this anthology contains eight different versions of such a scenario. The contrast between winter storms and freezing cold outside and the safety and warmth these characters find inside (once they get there!) had me wishing for a real fire and a hot drink of my own. Wonderfully varied in the setup, they all have a happy or even sweet ending. If you want to enjoy winter weather without ever leaving the safety of your home, this is your chance.

Celibate Cold by Lynn Townsend
Topher isn’t the first man to get stranded in a blizzard, but he has been particularly unlucky. Let go from work too late to make a difference, his car ends up in a ditch and he decides to walk the rest of the way home – in dress shoes. No wonder he looks like a Yeti by the time Chase sees him staggering toward his porch. A fire welcomes them, but Topher and Chase are both hesitant about showing how much they are interested in each other. Small villages in Virginia are not exactly known for their gay-friendly attitude. But not even fear can stop them and neither minds very much when the power fails.

If you like stories about men who are rescued from freezing to death after walking for miles, you might like this one. It’s short, hot, and heartwarming.

Falling for Love by Jessica Chase
Sometimes old friends suddenly see each other in a new light, and that is what happens to Tom and Luke on the hiking trip that marks the tenth anniversary of their first excursion with the same group of close friends. When Luke gets into trouble, Tom not only stays with him while the others get help, he also opens up about what’s been going on with his ex. All sorts of new possibilities open up for Luke, who has been in love with Tom for years.

If you like stories about outdoor adventures going wrong and forcing two men to reconsider what they mean to each other, then you might like this read. It’s suspenseful and sweet.

This Winter’s Night by Kassandra Lea
Barry and Oliver have been together for six years, but Barry is no longer sure he is wanted. Oliver has locked himself away in his home office for days, even missing a few dinners. Barry slinks off to the barn to share his pain with the horses, and the longer he thinks about it, the more certain he becomes that Oliver is about to leave him. But when he gets back to the house, Oliver is there, waiting for him, and Barry’s fantasy of being snowed in with the man he loves may come true after all.

If you like stories about men who seem to be drifting apart only to find out that not all is as it seems, then you will probably like this short story. It’s full of angst and has a great ending.

Snow Angels by Leigh Ellwood
Huey is a teacher, and his day is made when he finds out that his school is closed for the day due to snow. Proof that not just kids like snow days! Now Huey only has one problem: his fiancé, Tommy, works from home and there are no snow days for him. After a brief romp in their bed, Huey decides to make the most of it and ventures outside to make snow angels. One thing leads to anther, and when their hunky neighbor, Marshall, comes to his aid when he trips, it opens the door to a threesome both Huey and Tommy have dreamed of and discussed at length. It’s a miracle the snow around Marshall’s house doesn’t melt from all the heat the three soon generate!

If you like stories about a committed couple taking a third man to their bed for some fun, then you will probably like this short story. It’s very hot and totally sweet.

Snow Job by Logan Zachary
Travel at Christmastime can be risky for many reasons. Delayed or canceled flights, blizzards making road travel impossible, engines dying due to freezing conditions are just a few. Lance, like many others is determined to travel and heads north from Minneapolis despite the fact that it’s snowing like there is no tomorrow. But Christmas waits for no man, and he has a family to visit and exchange gifts with, right? While the wisdom of that attitude is debatable, and he almost gets stranded on the interstate, his luck holds and he finds a welcoming chef in a roadside café. Leo, said chef, has a team of sled dogs and takes Lance to his home – what an adventure!

If you like stories about strangers meeting in a blizzard and finding more than companionship, then you might like this short story. It’s a hot read.

Taking the Fall Line by Tray Ellis
Two strangers meeting on a ski lift is the intriguing beginning of this story. Beau is an experienced snowboarder, and he doesn’t warm up to the expensively-outfitted man next to him at first. But then he sees him attempt to ski before falling, and decides to help. Best move he ever made: Len turns out to be a nice guy and they spend quite some time together as they get to know each other better. A very promising beginning!

If you like stories about mistaken first impressions, then you might like this short story. It’s fun and sweet.

 
Snowy Reunion by Emjay Haze
Couples fight for all kinds of reasons, and job-related ones are probably in the top ten. As in “you work too much, I never get to see you anymore”. While the workaholic partner has his reasons, the one left behind can have a very hard time dealing with it. Especially when, like Stephen in this story, he is artistic, sensitive, and doesn’t have to travel for his job at all. It’s gotten so bad for Stephen that he plans to meet up with his friends, minus Jonathan, just to take a break. He is shocked when Jonathan turns up instead, and things change way more than Stephen expected.

If you like stories about ”the one left behind” finding out there is more to his lover than he expected, then you will probably like this short story. It’s a little angsty, fun, and full of surprises.

Adventures of a Yeti Hunter by L.J. Hamlin
Joel may be a serious university professor, but he hunts yetis in his spare time and has been laughed at more than once for believing in a mythical animal. On this specific trip he gets separated from his colleagues as a heavy snowstorm blows in, and ends up rescued by a stranger named Tommy, who invites him to stay in his cabin rather than try to make his way back to his team and their cars. Their rapport is immediate, and over coffee, then dinner, Joel discovers his interest is mutual. Things heat up and both men decide this won’t be the last time they meet.

If you like your stories with a touch of mystery and some unexpected discoveries, then you will probably like this short read. It’s entertaining and very sweet.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Anthology/8 short stories, 144 pages/44000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	27-January-2016
Price	$4.49 ebook
Buy Link	http://bit.ly/1Uq3NBt