G. A. Hauser

I started this book right after reading another of the author's books, "The Kiss". While that book was a bit disappointing, this one made me an instant fan. "Naked Dragon" is a well done gay romantic mystery with a more serious tone.

David Harris is a police officer. When the story opens, he has been called to the scene of another brutally murdered young Asian man. Seattle has a serial killer, and he's hunting in Dave's district. But, the killer has struck in two other states so the FBI is show more stepping in to help. Agent Robbie Taylor is "psychic." So, he knows the killer is far from done, and also that Dave is attracted to him. Robbie quickly invites Dave back to his place. This is Dave's first time with another man, and Robbie eerily knows that too. So, their first sexual encounter is frenzied, but paradoxically tender as well. The characters have very good chemistry, and their instant attraction and consummation is very believable in this story. They are under a lot of stress from a tense and dangerous case; Dave has been keeping his feelings tightly under wraps so his fellow officers don't discover he's gay and Robbie is still working to earn the respect of his fellow agents who think he's weird or crazy. All these factors lend a certain gravitas to the story that isn't often found in gay romance, even mysteries. And, the serial killer is BRUTAL. Hauser doesn't sugar-coat the murder mystery. The men need to take solace in each other as the killer gets more and more out of control the closer Robbie gets to catching him. Their passion slowly evolves into love that keeps them going.

One aspect of the novel I really liked was Robbie's ability. Throughout the novel, he anticipates not only Dave's and other people's thoughts, but also the killer's actions. Yet Hauser never confirms that he's actually psychic, or if he's just enormously gifted in observation (such as the characters from television's Psych and the Mentalist). It prevents the character from being laughable, and places him in the real world. Another good point is how the author tackles stereotypes head on, but in a subtle way. Robbie's fellow agents quickly pick-up that Robbie and Dave have a relationship. They are surprised "that big, black cop is gay." Robbie takes them down a peg for their prejudice with some pointed remarks that bring home how intelligent he is, and the issues he and Dave must contend with. The law enforcement community is not known for its open-mindedness, and being ostracized could put their lives in danger if back-up doesn't show. Robbie and Dave both earn the respect of their fellows with their professionalism and determination on the case, but these issues still linger. This isn't the first interracial romance I've read, but I liked how Hauser handled it - which was not at all. Readers get a physical description of each man, and the men express how attracted they are to each other, but the fact that one is black and the other white is irrelevant to them.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent story. The book has a lot of action as the men chase the killer, and the conclusion was exciting. Though the resolution of Dave living in Seattle and Robbie in Virginia was blatantly predictable, it worked anyway. Both characters are engaging, realistic and their romance is lovely. The sex is hot and frequent, but not too explicit. I found this to be a romantic mystery rather than erotica. The very dark case was a surprisingly good back drop for the romance - it's in our darkest hour that we need our loved ones the most. I would love to see a sequel with these two characters on another case; this would make a great series! show less

G.A. Hauser has to have a kink for English brat... and if she continues at writing so beautiful stories she will manage to pass me her kink!

Steve is a young executive at an advertising firm. He is a very successful man and till now he has had not interest in men (even if he has fantasized about a porn actor who performed in gay film when he was still a teen). Instead he is still mourning on his former girlfriend, a beautiful and strong-head Afro-American woman, who has dumped him with no show more apparent reason. And now the new guy on the firm, an handsome Brit block, charming and outspoken, apparently is on the good way to stole him an important contract he has worked so hard to obtain.

Mark has spent all his life to claim to all the world he is not gay. Too handsome for his own good, first his abusive father has tried to take off him the 'queerness', then during the college he has avoided the advance of his gay roommate, and best friend, and then during his first work, he was obliged to quit cause all the innuendo from the colleagues about him gay. And now he is about to marrying a girl he no more loves, and maybe he has never loved, only cause it seems to complicate to stop the flow.

But when Steve and Mark meet, better crash, the sparks fly and the sex seems inevitable, and when happens is so good! Steve and Mark are two young stud in heat. It seems impossible not to touch, and then they work good as a team and so neither at work it will be a problem if they are a couple. Steve wants Mark and wants him in his life forever, but Mark is too bound to duty and even if he craves Steve's touch, everytime he tries to quit with his fiance, the courage seems to lack.

Steve and Mark are very intensive characters: they fight, they fuck, they love and they cry, but I have never had of them a feminine perception, they are all male and very sexy. I don't know if they are the female fantasy of how we women want to imagine two male in love, but I like them very much. Steve is in love and Steve has no problem to say it aloud; Steve lusts for Mark and Steve has Mark where he wants and when he wants. Mark is in love with Steve, but he is not the perfect man who can, without second thoughts, drop everything and embrace his new 'gay' future. They fight and Mark seduces Steve not with words but with his body, because he loves and he aches to be far from Steve.

Capital Games is a novel who has aroused and satisfied me.

P.S. The cover doesn't suit the book, both Steve and Mark are more handsome of the guy on it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001167UZA/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

This is the second book I read by G.A. Hauser and it's a confirmation of her ability to enthral me. I really try to finish it in one night but it's impossible, fortunately you have a lot to read and I have to put down the book at 2.00 a.m. but as soon as I can I finish it.

This is the story of Scott, 25 years old unsuccessful model and actor: it's the typical american male, muscalar and tanned, with a boy next door face. He is an average guy in a world where you have plenty of average guys show more who try to find their way to the stardom. But Scott have something more: he has an old sister, who happens to be the owner of one of the most important agency model of New York. And so Scott, one time or two, gets a job and meanwhile he lives behind his sister's shoulders. The next job will be an ad commercial for a gum: he has to kiss a male. No problem, he is an actor... but it's not so simple cause Ian, the other model, is a beautiful androginous guy who draws Scott like a magnet. And the interest seems mutual.

But when Scott and Ian finally let the passion drive them, they discover that none of the two has never neither kiss a man. They wrongly believe the other gay, and now they have this passion between them and... they want to share it. And so begins a clandestine relationship but nor Scott or Ian are the usual perfect characters of novels. Scott is insecure and has a deeply feeling of failure; and he is also jelously of the instant success of Ian, the new guy in the city. Ian, 21 years old, is for the first time far away from home and from his parents. He is like a child who suffers the lontanance from his mother. He is a simple guy and he is open with his feeling, but it is like a teenager with his first crush: everyone around him can demolish his certainty.

And then there is Claire, Scott's sister. She has a main role in the novel, she is the instigator of all what happen to Scott and Ian, but she is not like a fairy godmother... She is a bitchy woman who amuses herself playing the role of God in the other life, and like the Greek Gods, when humans don't play according to her rules, she became a fiery beast.

And so here again the magic of Hauser, who manage to write a perfect story with imperfect characters. Some of the novelty from the first novel (For Love and Money) is again played in this second book, the English young guy who has to live among the stranger american people, and the fascination of this people for the naiveté of him, but all right, if a trick works a time, can works also a second, doesn't it? So all right, Hauser has hit a certain button, who can blame her? Not certain me, that after reading this story have spent 25 dollars ship costs to buy the prequel of For Love and Money, only available as print book!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602020566/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

Bryan Tyler is a computer magnate living in Seattle, Washington. At the age of twenty-four, already he is a millionaire. Amidst the AIDS pandemic, Bryan has resigned himself to a life of celibacy. Having witnessed the deaths of numerous friends, he is overwhelmed with paranoia and fear. When he notices a newspaper article featuring a fifteen-year old orphan in need of adoption, Bryan devises a plan which he hopes will fill the lonely void within his life. He vows to offer this boy a foster show more home, and in return he expects that a meaningful and satisfying relationship will ensue.Julian O’Connor is the young orphan boy. Unbeknownst to Bryan or the Child Protective Services of Washington, Julian is also gay. While housed in the orphanage, he began sexual experimentation with one of his bunk mates. When to his surprise he’s informed of his possible release into the foster care of an unmarried heterosexual couple, Julian realizes that he must carefully guard the secret of his sexual orientation. When Julian discovers that his new foster home is not what he’d originally envisioned, he begins to put the pieces together. His guardian, Bryan, does not appear to have a female partner at all. It also seems to Julian that most of Bryan’s friends are homosexual. It doesn’t take long until Julian has Bryan pegged. He knows his foster father is gay, and Julian is starting to fall in love with him.If you are at all like me, up until this point in the story, you are sure to be captivated. The premise of this plot is very gripping, and it has the potential to be an amazing, heart-rending story. The problem, however, is that instead of a beautiful father/son relationship developing with this young boy and his gay foster parent, a sexual relationship blossoms. Now before you throw the book at me for being closed-minded and prudish, please hear me out. I’m 100% in favor of consenting adults of any gender pursuing the romantic relationships which bring them personal fulfillment. Whether these be Dom-sub, me'nage trois, homosexual, transgendered, or traditional relationship, is of no consequence to me. I even am in favor of examining and rethinking our age-of-consent standards. So what then is my problem with this particular relationship?Julian is a fifteen year old boy who still sleeps with a stuffed rabbit. He has been sheltered his entire life, raised in an orphanage. He’s at the cusp of his adolescence, beginning to emerge as a young man physically, yet emotionally and mentally still a mere child. He is placed in a situation where a man nine years his senior has all of the power. This man provides for him, clothes and feeds him, and makes literally all of his decisions. I was so astonished and heartbroken when I watched this story unfold, that it actually moved me to tears, and I do not mean this in a complimentary way. I’m absolutely flabbergasted that an author would actually use a story such as this to make a case for adult-child romantic and sexual intimacy. As a victim of child sexual abuse, I am particularly disgusted by this portrayal.What is further disturbing to me, is that this young boy was not only exposed to this twisted and convoluted sort of sexually permissive rationalization, he also was led into a lifestyle in which he was suddenly treated as an adult. On the second day of residence in his home, Julian was invited to have a couple beers with his foster father, and from that point forward he was provided alcohol throughout the story. At one point in the story, the boy even performs oral sex on his foster dad while an audience of two friends (one male and one female) eagerly watch and cheer them on. They also engage in a game of strip poker.There is a period of separation in the plot in which Julian is temporarily removed from the home, and he becomes so distraught with depression that he bangs his head against a brick wall which results in a head injury and placement into the psych ward. The child protective services authorities ultimately decide to release Julian back to the care of Bryan because they determine the cause of his suicidal ideation is the separation itself. WHAT???!Obviously I have very strong negative opinions about this plot, and as much as I respect the success and writing credentials of this otherwise brilliant author, I find this particular book to be deplorable. The last thing on earth that I would ever want to do in gay-themed literature would be to feed into the negative stereotypes where gay men are perceived as loathsome pedophiles. I think this book does exactly that! Does liberal-minded actually mean that we must have no boundaries whatsoever? Are we supposed to be able to ignore the reality that this is a child and an adult who are making love to one another and simply see the “beauty” of their feelings?On another note, there were some inconsistencies in the setting of the story. It was 1987, and although the technology that was mentioned within the story was accurate to a degree (i.e. VHS players, cassette tapes, etc.) there was some technology present which had not yet been introduced in the 80’s. The Internet was created in the late 70’s and was used on a very limited basis throughout the 80’s. It was not until the early-to-mid 90’s that the Internet became available worldwide, yet it is talked about as such within this story. Cell phones were also used in the story, and they did not emerge until the late 90’s. On a positive note, I loved the conversational and informal writing style of this author. I look forward to reading her adult erotic material, and I have little doubt that it will be sizzling hot. I also think the dialogue was strongly written, and the vocabulary was impressive. I cannot recommend this particular book, however. I take ownership of my own biases as they relate to this review, and I do not discourage any readers from reading and enjoying this book or any other which I personally may rate unfavorably show less