Amanda Young (1) (2003–)

3 brilliantly written stars

Wow! This was a brilliant short m/m story. This book was written about a guy named Daniel whose whole world falls apart until his best friend from childhood changes everything. It was a great read and the only thing that truly pissed me off was how much of a jerk Perry was and the whole incident with Landon's parents. I would definitely read more from this author!

My first Amanda Young story and I'm in...like. (I always have trepidation when really liking a new-to-me author)

I love rent boy fiction. The romantic angle always intrigues me. And Hunger" book #1 of the Chicken Ranch series did not disappoint. 18 year old Declan Mayo has been kicked out of his home for being gay. He's homeless, starving and doesn't have many options. Joining the all male brothel, the Chicken Ranch, was his last resort. He might have forgot to mention he was a virgin but it show more doesn't matter right?

His first client is stuttering, geeky, loner Killian who is 30, lonely and okay with not having a partner. A friend suggests visiting the Chicken Ranch which he does.

The story is evenly paced through out the end. It should not be shelved as porn. The plot's good, the main characters even better. Even the secondary characters added to the story. There's sex but it is well written that could totally picture each action. Plus, this story more than sex. Surprised? Killian was my favorite character of the book. He was sweet without being mushy. His reactions and reasoning were sound. Love between an 18 and 30 year old? It can happen. And these two were deserving of one another, plus there was time for their love to build.

Thank you for Killian's introspection around 85% because I was seriously was wondering if he really did not have an issue with his boyfriend working as a prostitute after months of dating. It takes someone with bigger balls than me(and I don't even have any) to be able to sort of be okay with it.

On one hand there's a lover's jealousy with their partner having sex with others. (obviously open relationships are not included) And on the other hand Declan has a job and he shouldn't give it up just because he has a potential mate. *shrugs* It's up for debate. But I appreciated it.

A believable HEA Yes, Declan does retire from prostitution in the future! does happen. :)

I'm actually reviewing the next book of this series but I wanted to familiarize myself with the author. Happy I did. It looks like it might be a possible beautiful reading relationship." show less

3.5 Stars

Maybe I'm being too discriminating ('rent-boys' is one of my BIG things) but this book didn't quite make it for me. There was just something missing. I liked both the MCs well enough but they didn't connect, in my mind. About the only thing I could put my finger on is the inadequate 'internal voice' description of how Declan feels and copes with his new-found job - e.g. after his first night at the Chicken Ranch, the next time we see Declan it's 3 months later and no real show more description is given for the intervening time. show less

As expected by a story with a baby in it, Inestimable Blessings can give you the baby cuties, so if you don’t like to ohh and ahh on toddler, you will probably not understand Lee Calder’s desire to be a father at any cost (and with the bills for a surrogate mother that is a saying).

Lee Calder is an average handsome, average wealthy, average old gay guy. An adopted child with the bad luck to loose his foster parents when he was still young, he developed a desire to be a father; due to show more his loose ends, the desires to be a biological father is even stronger and since Mr. Right is not around, Lee decides to use his mother’s inheritance to hire a surrogate mother. Of course as soon as he has done that, Mr Right pops up out right next door, in the guise of his new very handsome neighboor.

This is a romance, and of course it follows all the romance rules: Mr Hunk next door is of course gay and free and he is more than willing to start a long-term relationship with Lee. Problem is, Finn is also a muscle car mechanic, more the beer than milk type, and a new baby in arrive is probably not a good surprise for him. Lee enjoys some weeks of bliss, but then he has to find the courage to confess to Finn that Lee will be soon a single dad.

While Lee has his originality, and maybe weakness, in being a man that doesn’t accept to be lonely (it’s also probably an aftercome from his own experience), I liked also the contrast of Finn; apparently he is not a family man, but I think that he is exactly that: even if young and still in the age range to play the field, Finn prefers an exclusive relationship and a steady lifestyle; he has an home, family ties, even a puppy.

Yes, puppies, babies, sweet and romance… definitely this is a novel for the romantic heart; maybe not so realistic, with little contrast and contraposition, but nice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1453699805/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less