Special Delivery – Heidi Cullinan

Special Delivery

Author: Heidi Cullinan
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Word Count: 106,986
Published: 2010
Fictionwise: $5.94

A trucker meets a very young and innocent, dare I say “perfect” submissive, during one of his cross-country trips in Iowa. The young boy, Sam, has experienced several recent setbacks and continues to try and make it in an un-gay friendly environment. When he meets Mitch by chance, he finally steps out of his comfort zone and starts living his own life – on his terms.

This story is well-written with great character development. You feel what Sam and Mitch feel, which is great, as the story is told from both points of view. You get inside their heads and want to yell at them when they make wrong choices, laugh with them at an inside joke, but most of all, you feel involved with their relationship.

There is SEX in this book… lots of it. Lots of detailed M/M sex, experimentation, Dominance/submission, and more. At some points, the sex dominants (no pun intended!) the story line, but just when you think you want to skip a few pages or put it down for a break, the plot picks back up.

Overall, this book is a good read – it takes place in a “new” environment than most books – on the road; is focused on the relationship between two regular guys, and takes you along the journey of Sam coming into his own person.

Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥♥♥
Plot: ♥♥♥

Read this if you are looking for a longer story to get involved with (it’s a series too!), a different/unique setting, a coming of age novel of sorts, or just plain sex – lots of it, lots of ways. Can you say voyeurism too?

Other authors/books to try (and why you’ll like them):

If you  liked the first, the second brings back Sam and Mitch, and a new story forms. It’s a very different read, but another unique setting with the same characteristics that you’ll find in this one.

“Slow Bloom” is another long read, and the character development is very exciting to follow. There is sex, lots of hot sex in this, but also a great plot that you can dig into.

Bound by Nature: A Forces of Nature Novel – Cooper Davis

Bound by Nature: A Forces of Nature Novel

Author: Cooper Davis
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Word Count: 53,440
Published: 2010
Fictionwise: $3.83

While not my usual cup of tea anymore, this is an interesting shapeshifter story about two alpha male wolves from rival packs. Calling all werewolves/shapeshifter fans – this series will likely be for you!

The story is about how two young alpha males lives continue to cross with personal circumstances interfering with their mutual attraction. The story itself was well-written, but the plot unfolded very quickly. There were parts that could have been interesting to have learned more about, and there were clues given, that were quickly resolved.

There was only a little bit of sex in this one – two scenes, which were both very tame and lacking details. However, you could feel their shared passion, their regrets, and their relationship. If you are looking for hot werewolf sex – this is not the book for you.

Overall, this book is a great way to see if you are interested in shapeshifter M/M books – as it is focused around the story, with very tame sex (and no wolf sex scenes – THANK YOU very much!).

Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥
Sex Heat:
Plot: ♥♥

Read this if you are trying to jump into something new, or be entertained by the shapeshifter craze right now. This is not the best book on the market (see below for my recommendations), but it’s a quick read with a real story and twists woven in, that you can enjoy the M/M tension while exploring a new sub-genre.

Other authors/books to try (and why you’ll like them):

One of my favorite werewolf/shapeshifter book to date is Kate Steele’s “Altered Heart.” It is a great M/M read that is action packed with a LOT of sex action. It was also a great story and read.

Loribelle Hunt’s “Lunar Mates” series is a must-read series for all werewolf fans. You are able to easily get into the story and learn the characters. The sex is more tame, but still hot (and hotter than “Bound by Nature”).

Jeigh Lynn’s “Lunar Mates” series has more traditional male/female relationships with great plots. Not for M/M fans… but definitely for werewolf fans looking for intense relationships, hot sex and an action-packed story line.

The Wish – Eden Winters

The Wish

Author: Eden Winters
Publisher: Torquere Press
Word Count: 68,260
Published: 2010
Fictionwise: $3.57

This book was a great find that I stumbled upon. Essentially, a long-time gay couple has kept their “sons” apart for so many years, until a tragedy brings them together. The two sons couldn’t be more different from each other – one is a struggling, down-to-earth literary enthusiast, determined to do everything on his own; the other is a playboy, happy to accept his “given” place in society and living off of his uncle.

While the story is quite predictable from the beginning and set-up, it gets there in a somewhat realistic way. These two men do n0t finally meet and suddenly fall in love – they have several misunderstandings, jealousy, anger and the such, until they finally learn to build a life together, which each other.

The sex, once it happens, is hot – but be forewarned, this is not a very “graphic” read. The sex has a little bit of flair, when it finally arrives, but this book isn’t for someone looking for some heavy erotica. But it definitely does get hot (and unexpected!).

Overall, this was a read worth diving into. The characters were well-developed and the story, was quite realistic – you will go through many emotions when reading this, a true sign that the plot itself was well thought-out and written. You will stumble upon beginning bondage and more male erotic love scenes.

Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥♥
Sex Heat: 
Plot: ♥♥♥

Read this if you like… An enjoyable read with a predictable, but more realistic plot. Also, if you are a reader who loves a good story (with sex interspersed), this is for you!

Other authors/books to try (and why you’ll like them):

I am a big fan of Carol Lynne, especially for stories with a plot… and sex! Ok, tame sex, but action none-the-less. You’ll enjoy reading this series, currently a series of five, if you enjoyed “The Wish.”