A.M. Riley

"'A good old-fashioned homicide,' said Mary-Ann. 'Brings a tear to my eye.'"

Okay, frankly, that was incredible. This was more than a romance or a BDSM novel. This was a classic hard-hitting detective story with that distinctive, almost distant feel to the MC that later gets erased. It was a story of the past, of pain and struggles to understand oneself and others. It's a lesson of why we just need to, as a species, get over our damn selves and accept people for who they are, instead of show more ostracizing and hating people. That behavior leads to identity confusion or self-hatred or dissociative personalities, which only lead to sadness and bad things. (Like people perpetuating the cycle of abuse.)

What I loved:

I loved the ties to Ancient Egyptian culture. I loved the remembrances of the early 80's gay Leather culture, which conveyed such an authentic picture to me. I loved the secondary characters, and how they all were painted together to form the larger picture. I did guess relatively early on who the killer was based on probability and logic, but was still loved watching it all go down.

What I loved even more:

I loved the sense of the true Leather scene conveyed here, and the down-to-his-bones Dom that Roger was. And I loved Sean's submission alongside his bratty and pushy attitude.

"That bizarre noise of eating came across the line again. 'This organic peanut butter is great, man.'
'You aren't eating it from he jar, are you?' asked Roger.
Another silence. 'So. When d'you think you'll be home?'"

"'I thought you wanted a spanking, but I was wrong,' said Roger.
'That's a first, I'll bet,' said Sean breathlessly.'"

And the skill and perfect comfort I saw in Roger in his scenes was wonderful.

"The whip writhed through the air like ink spilled in water."
This was absolutely a true work of art, and I loved everything about it (as you can no doubt tell). I highly, highly recommend this. It pulls at the heartstrings, is cause for many smiles, and awes with its work and play scenes. it is mature, it is gruesome, and it is real.

"In the mirror, they were a two-headed monster. Red hair like a flame, blue eyes glazed, dark head bent over him, and green eyes intense. 'That's us,' said Roger."

Beautiful.

Added to my "my all time favorites list." show less

First thing, that is such a terrible cover, I don't know what they were thinking!

actually this was a good book, I liked Stephan Sanchez who is a genuinely complex character, haunted by both his father's crime and his own desires. I liked the small town feel, I loved the Chet, the conflicted cop. It had a playful noirish quality, dark but not bleak. Things were alluded to and not always followed up, but the main relationships fell into place by the end of the book and the mystery was solved. show more I would read more about Stephan and more by AM Riley show less

Vampires in "Immortality is the Suck" don't sparkle, they are not even remotely pretty after they are back in the world of the living. Death intensifies character traits: violent become more violent, angry become angrier, gluttonous become even more so. These guys are all about blood and drugs and biker gangs. They are all about murder and crime. The ugly animal behind the vamp's human facade actually makes its unpleasant appearance. Anne Rice's vamps are plain boring next to the ones in show more this book, Adam even says so himself and I agree with him wholeheartedly.

Closer to the end the snark and dark humor that sucks you in dwindles down some, but once sucked in (pun, no pun, look at it any way you want) it's hard to put the book down. Intensity, however, doesn't deteriorate in the slightest, it builds up until the very end.

Can't wait to sink my teeth into book two :)

PS I have to say I added a star just for the glossary of translations at the end of the book. I wish it was a requirement to provide translations for all the foreign phrases and/or slang. Yes, I can get by with my bits and pieces of spanish, french, and italian, but honestly, it's nice not to rake your brain while reading a story.

PPS Anyone knows where I can get the in-between Adam & Peter 1.5? =) show less

An ARe Cafe top pick!

The first-person narrative starts in Los Angeles at the waterfront as our hero, vice detective Adam, lies bleeding to death in the arms of his lover, homicide detective Peter. Neither knew that their separate cases would bring them together that night.

An ambulance transports Adam to the morgue where a supernatural creature attacks him. He fights his way free and escapes into night streets, determined to find out why he now has supernatural reflexes and a craving for show more blood.

Soon Adam realizes that he is a vampire. The drug lord who turned him has launched a plan to raise a vampire army from the ranks of the region’s outlaw motorcycle gangs and take over Los Angeles. Adam has to stop him with the help of several pricelessly vivid supporting characters such as Albert the pothead biker.

Meanwhile, Adam must re-evaluate his relationship with Peter whom he classifies as a casual sex-buddy though he knows Peter is in love with him. Just as he starts to realize that he loves Peter, his actions begin to sever their connection irrevocably. How can he save his future with the love of his life?

This 219-page m/m paranormal has so many strong points, including non-stop action, humor, an unforgettable narrative voice comprised of sarcasm and self-deprecation, hot sex, and a twisty and unpredictable plot. Best of all, the setting offers total immersion into the seamy and surrealistic underbelly of Los Angeles. (The author provides a glossary in the back that translates the Spanish slang flavoring much of the dialogue.)

I found the relationship between Adam and Peter to be very engaging. They’re both tough cops. However, Adam is a selfish sleaze ball (and fully aware of all his many flaws) whereas Peter is a straight arrow who would never allow himself to become involved with a homicide suspect. Adam simultaneously knows that Peter is too good for him, and hopes desperately that Peter won’t dump him.

Adam appears to have all the emotional power in the relationship because Peter is in love with him. He tells himself that Peter is just his sex buddy. At the same time, he thinks about Peter constantly in terms that reveal how deep their connection runs. Consider this passage from page 215:

“Nobody’s mouth tastes like Peter’s. I pushed him back onto the mattress. Leaned over him and studied his face. The shadow of his beard coming in, the way that corner of his lip turns up more than the other. The lashes beneath his eyes are very short and reddish. He has three and a half freckles on his face. The half looks like a tiny smile. I know Peter’s freckles so well I could name them, like stars.”

These are the thoughts of a self-deluded narrator who is deeply in love. Immortality is the Suck is an outstanding read and my Top Pick for January.

Val for AReCafe show less