Friday, January 31, 2014

The Christmas Wish by Soulmate Ficwriter

The Christmas Wish by Soulmate Ficwriter

As a child Edward was fascinated by a little boy who stood ahead of him in line while waiting to meet Santa. Even though he no longer believed in the jolly man, he couldn't help but be pulled into the happiness and excitement the blond boy emanated. When he overheard Jasper's Christmas wish, Edward couldn't believe his ears. Jasper was pure innocence and joy and Edward didn't want to lose the feeling. Over the years, Edward and Jasper consistently crossed paths, but never had the opportunity to have a real conversation. Will fate bring them together once again?

Even though it's the end of January, this sweet Christmas-themed story warms the heart like a soothing mug of hot chocolate. This two-parter was written for this last year's Toys 4 Tots Christmas Wishes compilation and I can't wait to see how the story concludes!

~ M

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Guest Post: Julie Lynn Hayes' Big Bad Wolf Man


“Goodness, what big eyes you have!” Little Red Riding Hood exclaimed.

“The better to see you with, my dear,” said her grandmother.
Except we know it’s not really her grandmother, don’t we? It’s the Big Bad Wolf in disguise.

Little Red Riding Hood was my first introduction to the wolf as more than an animal. This wolf walks and talks, he has very human emotions and he’s sneaky and crafty. Is he really a wolf, or is he more... perhaps the forerunner of the loup-garou? More commonly known as the werewolf, or wolf man?

Outside of fairy tales, I think my first encounter with wolf men came with the Lon Chaney, Jr. film. His werewolf was a scary dude, and very hairy. Not to mention he was a total beast. And I mean that literally. As a werewolf, no remnant of Larry Talbot’s humanity was evident once he changed. He acted on pure animal instinct, and people were scared spitless at the sight of him.

There have been a number of films in this genre, with pretty much the same horrifying scenario of the man forced to turn into a hideous beast at the tug of the full moon, usually the result of a curse of some sort, or the bite of another werewolf. There was nothing romantic about these creatures.

And then along came An American Werewolf in London, which took werewolves in a new direction, and revitalized the genre and breathed new life in it (with more than a touch of humor), leading to such films as Van Helsing and Underworld, among others.

Meanwhile, in the world of fiction, the werewolf underwent a more startling transformation. Romance writers created tortured souls that were also incredibly sexy, and gave a whole new meaning to the word. The first sexy werewolf I can remember was actually on TV. Quentin Collins, in the old soap opera Dark Shadows, was sexy David Selby. He’s the first werewolf I remember thinking was hot. Okay, there was Oliver Reed too, in Curse of the Werewolf, but he was also scary lol.

Werewolves are now a staple of paranormal romance writers, rivaling the vampire in popularity. At any given time, usually one of these creatures dominates the field as far as who’s the top of the polls. But werewolves have actually devolved into two camps – the werewolf and the shapeshifter – and these are not the same thing, not at all.

What’s the difference, you ask? The werewolf is a slave to the pull of the full moon. Come rain or shine, hell or high water, no matter where he is or what he’s doing, when it’s time, he’s going to change, and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it. But the shapeshifter controls his change, and he’s generally in command of his faculties when he does, so he has the advantage of the hapless werewolf.

What brought about this sudden surge in shapeshifters? I think it was laziness, personally, because some writers didn’t want to deal with having their heroes wait until the Full Moon – they wanted guys that could change at a moment’s notice. And they didn’t want to be confined to once a month. Technically speaking, shapeshifters are not werewolves by their very nature. Doesn’t make them wrong, just different.
 
Not only that, but suddenly there are shapeshifting men for every species of animal you can imagine, and maybe a few you never expected to see in a book (or outside of one lol) I remember reading something about treeshifters! Not your every day variety of shapeshifter, you have to admit.

Werewolf or shapeshifter – both are fun to read about and to write about. I think they’re here to stay. I know I enjoy writing about them.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Across the Miles by kateyes085

Across the Miles by kateyes085

When Nasir's students decide to write letters and make care packages for soldiers overseas as a class project, he never could have predicted that the project would connect him to a sad a broken man so deeply.

Very short, but very sweet, this one-shot will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. It has its sad moments, but there are also moments of hope and happiness. Definitely take a few moments to read this quick story. I know you'll enjoy it!

~ M


picture credit: crazzzedope

Monday, January 27, 2014

Dead and Born and Grown by thesameoldfairytale

Dead and Born and Grown by thesameoldfairytale

Nasir is frantic. The love of his life left him and he doesn't know which way to turn. Will he be able to fix their broken relationship, and the broken man, or will he have to concede to the fact that it's truly over?

Anyone who has read Nagron fanfiction for any amount of time is familiar with the jealousy trope in which Agron cannot control, contain or hide his possessiveness towards Nasir. This story takes that trope and puts a unique twist on it. Agron still suffers from jealousy, but it's not the loud and sometimes violent emotion we're used to seeing from the tv show and other stories. This jealousy is eerily quiet, calm and full of resignation.

Still a work in progress, Dead and Born and Grown has grabbed my attention and taken it hostage. I really cannot wait to see what happens next! Check it out!

~ M

Friday, January 24, 2014

Steps by dreamingkate

Steps by dreamingkate

After a tragic accident, Kurt and Blaine's lives are forever changed. Things that were once so easy are now difficult, tiring and painful; testing their relationship and love for one another.

Wow! What a story! dreamingkate warns readers that this one-shot is full of angst and difficult topics like self-hatred and thoughts of suicide, and by the end of this story I felt completely raw emotionally. However, this is journey about self-discovery, self-worth and hope. Even though it has it's tough moments, there is also a ray of hope that warmed my heart. Definitely check out this incredible one-shot!

~ M

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Hasn't Felt Like This Before by wordslinging

Hasn't Felt Like This Before by wordslinging

Summary: On move-in day, Agron meets his brother's new roommate, Nasir. He's pretty much doomed from the start.

When Agron meets his little brother's roommate at the beginning of the semester, he is immediately smitten. Will he be able to catch the attention of the mysterious dark-hair man, or will his reluctance and fear of "making things weird" ruin his chances?

Nagron college AUs are always fun to read and this one is full of sweet and humorous moments. There is very little angst and Duro almost steals the show with his silliness and fun personality. Definitely check this one-shot out! Highly recommended.

~ M

Monday, January 20, 2014

Fifty Shades of Rainbow by AuthorBoi


Summary: Edward is alone for a month and, with no Bella to keep him company, he decides to do a bit of reading when he is interrupted by none other than Emmett. What will happen when they sit down and watch a classic movie together...will true feelings come out? 

After 150 years of marriage, Edward feels lonelier than ever. The spark he once had for his wife is gone and he feels as though he's back in that same depressed and dark place he inhabited prior to meeting her. When the one constant in his life, Emmett, invites him over to watch a movie, feelings that Edward hasn't felt in decades resurface. Will Edward accept his feelings or turn his back on the one person who loves him most?

I've read a few of AuthorBoi's stories so far and each of them has impressed me greatly. The amount of emotion he is able to inject into this story is realistic without being melodramatic, but dramatic enough to hold my attention and leave me wanting more. It's great to see a young author coming into his own and I hope you give this riveting and enjoyable story a try.

~ M

Banner by Cheryl Fflovr.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Domesticity by emptypalm

Domesticity by emptypalm

In this sweet one-shot, readers get a glimpse into the lives of Agron and Nasir after the final battle. This is everything I could have a imagined when I thought about what Nasir and Agron did after they walked into the sunset at the end of War of the Damned. There are plenty of sweet, fluffy moments, hot moments and touching moments. I have no doubt that Nagron fans will thoroughly enjoy this story! Definitely check it out!

~ M

picture credit: crazzzedope

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Nasir and the Imaginary Boyfriend by Gaia_bing

Nasir and the Imaginary Boyfriend by Gaia_bing

Nasir is through with love. The relationship he thought was real turned out to be one big lie, and Nasir is done with it all. He believes that love is wonderful, but due to his experiences, he knows he's just one of those people who will never have the love people read about in fairytales. Little does Nasir know that a close friend from his past is on his way to try to change his mind and show Nasir that love is very real and definitely in his future.

The first word that comes to mind when I think of this story so far is "aww'. It's absolutely adorable! My heart ached for Nasir and his attitude towards love, but Agron's determination and child-like innocence brought a huge smile to my face. Definitely recommended!

~ M

picture credit: AllieJacques

Monday, January 13, 2014

Moonlit Sands by SimplyMatt

Moonlit Sands by SimplyMatt

Emmett and Seth have been happily in love for 20 years. However, Emmett recently made a terrible mistake and Seth is trying to decide whether to forgive and move on or let go of the love of his life.

Wow! When this new story popped up in my alert notifications, I was not expecting such a heart wrenching, emotional read. The sadness, uncertainty and insecurity Seth feels is heartbreaking, and I felt as though I had a lump in my throat for most of the read. Dealing with this particular issue in a relationship can be very difficult and I appreciated the realism SimplyMatt injected into the one shot. Even though you may need a kleenex or two to get through this story, definitely give it a shot!

Story Links: FF I TWCS I AO3

~ M

Friday, January 10, 2014

Never Judge by the Looks by addicted-to-romione-bedward

Never Judge by the Looks by addicted-to-romione-bedward

Known as a player, party boy and consistent screw up, Edward barely knows what's going on when he arrives at his best friend's wedding reception after a long night of drinking. He was supposed to be the best man at the wedding, but his hangover prevented him from attending the ceremony. While there, a beautiful woman in a gorgeous dress catches his attention. However, upon seeing the lady close up, he discovers she is actually the bride's brother, Jasper.

Jasper has never fit in due to his love of wearing women's clothes. He's all man, but he loves the feel of the soft fabrics against his skin. Jasper is torn because of the connection he feels toward Edward, but he also has a boyfriend waiting for him at home and he cannot ignore Edward's tarnished reputation.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I haven't read many pieces in which one of the characters is a cross dresser, but addicted-to-rominone-bedward was able to write Jasper in a way that you fully understand that the cross dressing is just one aspect of his personality and does not define him. It was interesting to see Edward not only come to terms with his feelings for Jasper, but also his own sexuality and what he really wants out of life. Check it out!

~ M

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Music When the Lights Go Out by stjimmyjazz

Music When the Lights Go Out by stjimmyjazz

Blaine and Kurt have a seemingly perfect marriage. They have two great kids, live in nice apartment in New York and have great jobs. The only problem is that the two men have been drifting apart for some time now. They've each allowed life, petty arguments and growing resentments get in the way, and because of those things a huge divide has grown between them. When a serious emergency occurs, their relationship is tested and comes close to the brink. Will they be able to move forward and work on their marriage or end it once and for all?

This story is awesome! It's not your normal, happy-go-lucky, rainbows and unicorns love story. There is a lot of angst, pain and heartache. I experienced a myriad of emotions while reading this short story: sadness, confusion, frustration, anger and disbelief. I don't want to give away too much of the story because I really want you to read it for yourself. I'm confident that by the end you'll feel as though you've read a truly well written and well thought out story about two men who have to work hard to find their way back to one another. Highly recommended.

Story Links: AO3 I FF

~ M

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Book Review: Giving a Little TLC (Holiday Jobs that Don't Suck #9) by Jackie Nacht

3.5 stars

After his flight home to Colorado for Thanksgiving is canceled, Quinn finds himself all alone at the frat house. His friends Sawyer and Tyler are about to leave when Sawyer's twin, Mitch, arrives and invites Quinn along. At first he refuses because he doesn't want to intrude, but Mitch easily persuades him. Not only does he know very little about the family beyond his friendships with Sawyer and Tyler, but he also has a huge crush on Mitch...who also seems to be showing interest in him. Will Quinn be able to navigate the weekend without losing himself, and most importantly, his heart, in the process?

A continuation of Steamy Cider and Apples, this story is extremely heartwarming and sweet. The sexual tension between Mitch and Quinn is palpable and I found myself rooting for their blossoming relationship. The arrival of Merrick, the twins' older brother, and his husband, Darren, from Pink Bunny Ears...Seriously? was a real treat, especially when Merrick turned into a Black Friday extreme shopper, barking orders and delegating duties. Overall, this was a really sweet, holiday read.


Buy Giving a Little TLC here and here.

~ M

Monday, January 6, 2014

Stone Circle by Adsagsona

Stone Circle by Adsagsona

Nasir, a scientist who (begrudgingly) researches paranormal/supernatural activity, is tasked with researching a stone circle outside of Berlin. While doing his research, he somehow finds himself in a much different world at a very different time.

Occasionally a story will come along that completely immerses me in the world an author has created. Stone Circle is definitely one of those stories. It's fun to watch Nasir, a 21st century man, trying to exist in a 1st century world. Luckily, a strong warrior named Agron is there to help him along the way. I haven't finished the story yet, but I had to put it down long enough to recommend it here. I can't wait to see what happens next! Will Nasir return to the 21st century, or stay in a much simpler time with the man he's growing to love? Stone Circle is the first story in the Stone Circle series, so be sure to check out those works as well!

~ M