Laney Cairo

This was truly what the doctor ordered... sorry, I know, bad pun. 4.5 stars actually.

But in all honesty it was a great story that I didn't want to put down. There was no angst, no heartbreaking, soulsearching 'is this okay'... as I said just what I needed. Instead it was a hot, sexy book about a relationship that started unapologetically as a purely sexual one, but grew into so much more. Add to this hot doctors and a bit of kink and I ask you: what more does anyone want?

The story being told show more from both MC's point of view in alternating chapters did take a little getting used to, and at times I did have to stop to think in whose head we were in for a moment. But it also made sure we knew how they both felt throughout the relationship so it wasn't an issue for me. show less

This is an extremely funny shifter story – and one of the most unconventional ones around. In this version of the world, shapeshifting is like a superpower, something magical that can happen anytime. And the best part is that Eric, the guy who turns out to be a bear shifter, doesn’t even know about his newfound abilities until Martin, his new lover, figures it all out. The reason behind what happens is particularly cute, and a pretty unique idea!

Martin and Eric are great together, Martin show more especially, and I got a front row seat because he is telling he story. Martin is clearly falling for Eric in a big way but he is hesitant about admitting it.
“Sleep cuddling?” Martin said.

Eric slung an arm across Martin’s chest and rolled in closer. “I think we have mutual sleep cuddling needs. Worked that out the first night you stayed at my place.”
Martin was quiet. It’s possible Eric was right, and that Martin was something of a stealth sleep cuddler.

A “stealth cuddler” indeed! But it doesn’t stop there! After some weird dreams, Martin and Eric start hiking together, and it is during one of those hikes that Eric begins to understand what being a bear shifter can mean – especially in the middle of the woods with a deluge coming down on them.

If you like a bit of humor with your shapeshifters, if a story about two men who are clearly made for each other sounds interesting, and if you’re looking for a read that is as funny as it is sweet, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: The anthology this short story was published in has been provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. show less

This story was good and sweet, no major conflicts or expected (typical) plot devices, so it was refreshing. But it just wasn't great. After reading the last page I felt a bit unsatisfied. The beginning was wonderful, how Andrew and Matthew interacted and became involved, and it was nice to read about the supporting characters, the strike, and medical issues--things to do nothing with the romance. But then once they fell for each other it seemed a bit empty.

Firstly, there wasn't really much show more of a transition from lust and persistent interest to love. They admitted love for each other after a week or two of sleeping together, and while it can happen, it just didn't feel really supported by their time spent together before that to me. They basically spent all their time in bed together, and that went directly into love. And I didn't really feel their love either. They got emotional, stared at each other, cried, and whatnot, but it came out of left field. There didn't seem to be an explanation for why they were suddenly so deeply emotional, they just were. (I guess from previous loneliness and happiness at finding one another, but it still just popped up and got intense without emotions actually forming and leading up to that intensity.)

Secondly, after about 70% of the book, the main conflict was over (and was a tad anticlimactic, without any actual conflict or big point made), and everything just kind of came together perfectly fine. It seemed like no effort was put into the ending 30-ish%, and that it rather went from scene to scene with the attitude of "here's the situation, now it's a page or two later and it's done, next scene."

Besides the story being "blah" after the strike, I still liked the beginning portion, the characters (especially their unanimously accepting attitude towards homosexuality), and the premise of student and teacher (ehm...doctor and medical student!). It was an okay read, a good break from the usual genres that I read, and I'd recommend it if you like this type of story, but it's not something to write home about by any account. show less

I got my copy from the talented Laney Cairo yesterday (thank you!) and read it last night, I was kinda mesmerised. It hits so many touch points of my life (admittedly from when I was about 18) that it felt incredibly real and my only objection is that there should have been more of it. Lori wants a gig as a drummer so she starts a band. Jude is gay, he can sing and looks hot and Luk can play but needs to grow up and figure out who he is. Bands tend to be like families and sometimes that can show more be enough, especially when you have sex, drugs and violence to survive. I also love the thread of Buddhism woven through the story. The cover reminds me of Tank Girl :) show less