Dee Rose

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this but it's not what I expected. I have a few notes.

I don't necessarily mind the erotica genre vs. general romance so long as there's a decent story to tell behind it, but what this book is... let me consider how to phrase this. It's less erotic than I would have expected, and far more story-driven, which is obviously fine and entertaining, but I'm not sure it's advertised as being what it really is; in simple terms, not actually that gay.

There are numerous erotic scenes between the two straight couples written with more passion than the characters have openly stated they're even having. Some setup is okay, but I figured "the big one" between the two male lead characters, Mark and Jesse, would have to go on for quite some time after all this buildup. And then, with a countdown timer for added effect to "The Night of Passion", it just kind of... happens, in a few sentences. I guess that was it.

But then, and here's the fun part, the book keeps going. We are past the timer and into even more plot to tie up some loose ends, and I'm wondering if this is the extra content added in the second edition or whether it was meant to keep going past the Night of Passion. At this point, I'm incredulous, but still having a lot of fun with it.

There's this story about an inoperable brain tumour, and workplace fallout, and a childhood enemy gaining a position of power making a few scenes particularly odd, and married couples arguing, and all of this leading me to the same question: What was the original point we were trying to achieve here? It's sort of like showing the viewer what happens after the end of the movie where life just keeps happening day by day. Normally this wouldn't work, most stories end with the happy ending. Here, however, the happy ending isn't the ending at all! (See what I did there?)

I was expecting a gay erotica as that's what was advertised. Yes, that's certainly in it, but it wasn't really the point at all. It put far more emphasis on the straight couples and their activities and then sort of brushed past the central one that the book likes to make you believe is the big point, only to move right past it quickly, and jarringly.

I'd like to point out that one of the wives is written pretty unrealistically, she punches her husband in the stomach because she's "worried about our relationship" without actually knowing why she's worried. I would be too if you punched me for no reason. She could've ruptured an organ or something, and then she'd have no choice but to be worried. It was a strange reaction that couples, nay, human beings don't really do to each other? I'm not sure what that was about, but it seemed a bit much.

The cover characters on both editions don't make any sense, and judge not a book by its cover, but the characters on it don't seem to match the characters in the book at all. I typically give covers a pass, especially on a budget, but it sells the illusion there's either a happy couple and a random shirtless man behind them or a crying woman at some point. None of these things actually happen. As for the grammar which I've heard about from other reviews, I can't really speak to it as I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator was fine for what it was.

Overall, I had a fun enough time with this one because it completely flipped my expectations. It isn't the gay erotica it sells itself as, so perhaps I wasn't in the right "mood" for what it offered, but there is a story in here, so that's the central issue I would point out to people who are expecting something different. The ending made me laugh with how completely odd it was, it doesn't make any sense. I'm really not too sure what to make of it, in all honestly.

I'm literally right down the middle on this one for so many different reasons. Don't go into this story as a strict erotica, because it'll give you something else entirely. A bizarre story with strange characters, and I'll give points for having an unpredictable plot that ties up well and is honestly pretty difficult to write, but I can't deny it was a lot of fun. This one, if nothing else, is just pure unapologetic entertainment where absolutely anything goes, and typically does.

Thanks to Dee Rose for a copy in exchange for an honest review, it was very much appreciated.… (more)

Jericho Caine Vampire Slayer Love Lust and Blood by Dee Rose is the 3rd book in what is a series of 4 books currently. Jericho Caine is a vampire slayer who has lost interest in life and doesn't feel he really has true purpose any longer. He is not dealing with the loss of his "Death Brother", Tom Padilla. Jericho is suddenly faced with the challenge of stopping a new vampire clan from spreading vampirism all over the world. At the same time he must deal with issues from his past, werewolves, a witch and other supernaturals who pop up. The book is fast paced and action packed. At times I really struggled trying to follow the storyline because I haven’t read the 1st two books in the series. I'm going to search for books 1 & 2 before purchasing book 4. The author does a good job of developing strong enough characters to survive a successful series. Dee Rose sent an autographed book as part of the Librarything.com Early Reviewers Group. Nothing surpasses having autographed books in my library. Thank you Mr. Rose making them available to the group.… (more)