In His Command by Rie Warren- Don't Tell #1

In the dystopian future, two men discover attraction isn't just dangerous, it's deadly.

Two generations ago, the world was annihilated by a series of catastrophic environmental events. The remaining survivors were driven closer and closer to big city centers-damaged but not destroyed-divvied into sixteen identical international territories ruled by the Company.

Oppressive to the core, the Company has one rule in order to recoup the world's devastated population: homosexuality and deviant sexual behaviors are hanging offenses. First time offenders are last-time offenders.

It is the year 2070. Commander Caspar Cannon has a stellar military reputation-and a life-threatening secret. When a revolution rips through the territories, Cannon is ordered to escort Company Executive Nathaniel Rice to a secure location. Leaving the besieged city behind, their journey becomes a minefield of sabotage, betrayal, secrets . . . and intense desire for one another.

Cannon's militant self-repression takes a direct hit, his suspicions warring with passion for a man who can never be his, not while the Company remains in power. True to his mission, he delivers Nathaniel to the safe bunker where a fate he never expected awaits him.


If I had to be honest it wasn't love from the bottom of my heart when I started reading this book. "In His Command" is a dystopian book erotic M/M, the first one in the series "Don't Tell" by Rie Warren.
Usually the post-apocalyptic setting of dystopian books intrigues me a lot, but in this case I really struggled to move forward in  the reading, leaving the book slightly to decant to see if it was me in a moment of impatience.
Then I restarted it and although I stayed perplexed, but I went ahead and I passed the rock representing at first Caspar and Nathaniel, then I began to appreciate the full story when the two reach a rebel town and I was very impressed by how the author developed the ending of the story.
Caspar is a commander in the Company, the regime that took the lead of territories divided into sixteen Nations. A real dictatorship, which after catastrophic events occurring on the planet, washing the brains of survivors and with its propaganda and its laws established its domain, stating the homosexuality and sexually deviant behaviors are outside the law, going so far as to condemn the culprits  with also public executions.

Nathaniel is a valuable component of the company, thanks to his capacity for telecommunications management and security.
What I didn't like at the start? The book is told through the POV of Caspar, which among other things I wasn't really fond of, he was a bit too incoherent and hypocritical. Perhaps his contempt towards himself and his ideas were expressed so well, that had convinced me too, a homosexual who to hide his secret and joins the pack of wolves, becoming one of the most feared and respected commanders, but which participates in forbidden and secret meeting in order to vent his sexual frustration. The language used in the story is definitely full of testosterone, and given the two protagonists very alpha in their behaviors, it is perfect.
The other thing that had me a little bored initially was the fact of concentrating all alone and almost exclusively on the sexual attraction between Nathaniel and Caspar and hot nights of passions. Aside from great sex scenes is not that the plot had many outlets, but fortunately, while the two are on their way to an outpost of the company, they arrive in rebels' commune, that the system has labeled as "little more than beasts" and the book chenge, as well as the relationship between Caspar and Nathaniel.
About Caspar we learn about everything, even his past that led him to make his choices, and how much he's good to hide himself in the eyes of others; Nathaniel, on the other hand, in some ways I found him harder to decipher, but more fascinating as a character, with his secrets  that until the end did not clarify where are his loyalty and his heart.
I had my own ideas, but several times I found myself with big doubts about him.
As I said the final largely redeemed the beginning a bit difficult for me, and the overall rating is three stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for the book.

RATING: 3 stars

TITLE: In His Command
AUTHOR: Rie Warren
SERIES: Don't Tell # 1
PULISHER: Forever Grand Central Publishing

Se devo essere onesta non è stato amore alla follia quando ho iniziato a leggere questo libro. "in His Command" è un libro distopico erotico M/M, che dà il via alla serie "Don't Tell" di Rie Warren.
Di solito l'ambientazione post-apocalittica dei libri distopici mi intriga parecchio, ma in questo caso ho veramente faticato ad andare avanti nella lettura, lasciando il libro un po' a decantare per vedere se ero io in un momento di insofferenza.
Ci sono ritornata e nonostante rimanessi perplessa sono andata avanti e ho superato lo scoglio che rappresentavano in un primo momento Caspar e Nathaniel, per poi cominciare ad apprezzare la storia appieno quando i due raggiungono una comune di ribelli e rimanere decisamente impressionata da come ha sviluppato il finale della storia l'autrice.
Caspar è un comandante all'interno delle milizie della Compagnia, il regime che ha preso il comando dell'insieme dei territori suddivisi in sedici nazioni. Una vera e propria dittatura, che dopo eventi catastrofici accaduti sul pianeta, ha plagiato la mente dei sopravvissuti e con la sua propaganda e le sue leggi ha stabilito il suo dominio, dichiarando tra l'altro l'omosessualità e i comportamenti sessualmente devianti fuori legge, arrivando a condannare i colpevoli anche a pubbliche esecuzioni.
Nathaniel è un prezioso componente della Compagnia, grazie alle sue capacità con i mezzi informatici per la gestione delle telecomunicazioni e sicurezza.
Cosa non mi ha convinto all'inizio della mia lettura? Il libro è raccontato attraverso il POV di Caspar, che tra l'altro non è che mi risultasse simpaticissimo, lo trovavo un po' troppo ipocrita e poco coerente. Forse il suo auto disprezzo verso se stesso e le sue scelte lo esprimeva così bene, che aveva convinto anche me delle sue idee, un omosessuale che per nascondere il suo segreto si unisce al branco dei lupi, diventandone uno dei comandanti più temuti e rispettati, ma che però partecipa a incontri proibiti e segreti per poter sfogare la propria frustrazione sessuale. Il linguaggio utilizzato nel racconto è decisamente ricco di testosterone, e visti i due protagonisti molto alpha nei loro comportamenti, la cosa ci sta tutta.
Altra cosa che mi aveva un po' annoiato inizialmente era il fatto di concentrare tutto solo e quasi esclusivamente sull'attrazione sessuale presente tra Nathaniel e Caspar e relative nottate di fuoco tra i due. A parte gran scene di sesso non è che la trama avesse molti sbocchi, ma per fortuna, mentre i due sono in viaggio verso un avamposto della Compagnia, arrivano in una comune di ribelli, che il regime ha etichettato come " poco più che bestie" e il libro arriva alla sua svolta, così come il rapporto tra Caspar e Nathaniel.
Di Caspar impariamo a conoscere tutto,  anche il suo passato che l'ha portato a fare le sue scelte, e quanto riesca bene a nascondersi agli occhi degli altri; Nathaniel, invece, in un certo senso l'ho trovato più difficile da decifrare, ma più affascinante come personaggio, con i suoi segreti che fino alla fine non chiariscono dove stanno la sua lealtà e il suo cuore.
Avevo le mie idee, ma più volte mi sono ritrovata con grossi dubbi su di lui.
Come ho detto il finale ha riscattato ampiamente l'inizio un po' difficile di questa mia lettura, e il giudizio complessivo è di tre stelline.
Ringrazio Netgalley e la Forever Grand Central Publishing per il libro

VOTO: 3 stelle

TITOLO: In His Command
AUTRICE: Rie Warren
SERIE: Don't Tell #1
PUBLISHER: Forever Grand Central Publishing

His Client by Ava March- His Client #1

Love wasn't supposed to be part of the bargain…

On every visit to Madame Delacroix’s brothel, Nathaniel Travers requests the same man. Stunningly handsome and highly skilled, Jasper not only shares Nate’s fondness for wickedly erotic games and black leather corsets, but he has become a trusted confidant. And Jasper’s the only person who knows Nate longs for a committed relationship with his childhood friend, Peter Edmonton.

Unrequited love hurts, but it hurts even more when the object of affection is in love with another. Jasper Reed has been working at Delacroix’s for a decade. He’s saved enough to retire, yet he remains at the decadent London brothel. Leaving would mean leaving Nate and the hope someday the rugged gentleman would stop pining for his best friend and realize he loves Jasper, just as Jasper loves him.

Edmonton’s impending marriage looms before them, causing Jasper to take another look at his stubborn heart. Yet Jasper’s a bastard whore, and Nate’s the nephew of a viscount. Surely there can’t be any hope for them…

I love Ava March's regency books, I like her way of writing simple and smooth and her plots that speak of forbidden love and about a London that already at that time had many dark sides to hide at the sight of High Society.

Having a noble title and be the sole heir in life for a man at the time meant having him also a lot of pressure because of duties towards the whole family; among them there was also to make a good marriage and have heirs. Homosexuals were almost forced to live a double life, to avoid scandal, but also to prevent the jail itself, because in that civil Britain at the time there you were going to end, because sodomy was considered a crime.

 The love stories written by this author are always very passionate, romantic, but also a bit kinky. The reality, however, always seeps through her characters ' thoughts.

Jasper is a wonderful character, living and working in a brothel, with exclusively male clientele.  He is in love with Nathaniel for years, but he is quite realistic to look for evidence that sentiment towards his client. He knows that in life, outside the walls of the brothel, there is no place for a relationship between them, in the light of the sun.

 Over the years becomes the lover, confidant, friend, the only one with whom Nathaniel can be himself, and even his wildest fantasies forbidden. 

Over the years they become the lover, confidant, friend, he's the only one with whom Nathaniel can be himself, even with his wildest fantasies forbidden. 

From a financial point of view, Jasper could retire, but he indulges in order to continue to see Nathaniel, but when he realizes not being able to remain detached, the he is hopelessly in love, hedecides to make a change in his life, to think more to himself and start again from nothing a new existence, without Nathaniel.

I loved him for that, for his desire to try to build something, not only living the illusion of love, but to fight against his feelings, because he realizes he  deserves more than a few fabulous nights, with what still remains only a customer.

Nathaniel is a dear guy, Jasper is really like a friend and lover for him, but he had slices of salami on the eyes, he thinks himself in love with his childhood friend, but it's just an infatuation.  He just don't realize what Jasper became for him, of his importance in his life, until he loses him. 

Theirs is a beautiful story, a love that shows all its facets, I loved seeing them together, read what they had to say and I worshipped Jasper and the truth that seeped through his words and his thoughts.

For those who love the books M/M but also the regency I recommend this author and her books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the book.

RATING: 4 stars

TITLE: His Client

AUTHOR: Ava March

SERIES: His Client #1

PUBLISHER: TKA Distribution

Built 4 it by Daisy Harris

EBook three in the Love-Bots series.When a riot erupts in Built4’s stein-building lab, the alpha stein Kee drags a submissive young lab assistant into his cage. Kee’s been studying the human. Ben’s sad eyes and slender form call to Kee—urging him to equal parts lust and possessiveness.Prisoner to the alpha, Ben surrenders to the stein’s fierce determination and gentle seductions. He’s long hated his job, feeling like a monster for following his boss’s orders, especially once he’s seen intelligence flickering in the alpha’s green eyes.If Kee’s to escape, he needs Ben’s help to learn about the world outside the laboratory—a world full of people, sex and experiences Kee’s only beginning to discover. And guilt-ridden over the things he’s done, Ben can only forgive himself if the alpha forgives his sins first.

It was a bit strange reading this short-novel Sci-Fi and M/M where the protagonists are a human laboratory technician and an undead created in the lab to do testing.

In my imagination the zombies are those of Romero's film and then I find myself reading a story that has one them for the protagonist, who falls in love and feels attraction for another person, it was a little unusual.

The story has all the limitations that you may have because of its brevity, but it's a cute story, very hot, but also very sweet.

Kee, the stein (or zombies) is the dominant alpha among the creatures trapped in the lab. He is physically and sexually attracted to Ben, and his ways are sometimes a little "barbarians", but he feels aso a big protective instinct toward the man. It's one of the traits that I appreciated most in him, along with his intelligence and ability to learn and adapt in order to survive.

Ben has some conflicting feelings towards Kee: fear, curiosity, attraction. His work forces him to horrible actions and he must deal with his conscience

This is the third book in the Love-Bots series, but you can also read it individually, by focusing on the protagonists of the story.

Thank to Netgalley and Ellora's Cave for the book.

RATING: 3.5 stars

TITLE: Built 4 it

AUTHOR: Daisy Harris

SERIES: Love-Bots # 3

PUBLISHER: Ellora's Cave

È stato un po' strano leggere questa short-novel sci-fi e M/M dove i protagonisti sono un tecnico di laboratorio umano e una creatura non morta creata nel laboratorio per fare sperimentazione.

Nella mia immaginazione gli zombie sono quelli dei film di Romero e quindi ritrovarmi a leggere una storia che ne ha uno per protagonista, che si innamora e prova attrazione per un altra persona è stato un po' insolito.

Il racconto ha tutti i limiti che si possono avere a causa della sua brevità, ma è una storia carina, molto hot, ma al tempo stesso molto dolce.

Kee, lo stein (o zombie) è la creatura alpha dominante nel gruppo di creature imprigionate nel laboratorio. È attratto fisicamente e sessualmente da Ben, e per quanto i suoi modi a volte siano un po' "barbari", prova anche un grosso istinto protettivo verso l'uomo. È uno dei tratti che ho apprezzato di più in lui, insieme alla sua intelligenza e capacità di imparare e adattarsi per sopravvivere.

Ben prova dei sentimenti un po' contrastanti nei confronti di Kee: paura, attrazione, curiosità. Il suo lavoro lo obbliga a compiere azioni orribili e deve fare i conti con la sua coscienza.

È il terzo libro nella Love-Bots serie, ma si può leggere anche individualmente, concentrandosi sui protagonisti del racconto.

Ringrazio Netgalley e la Ellora's Cave per il libro.

VOTO: 3.5 stelle

TITOLO: Built 4 it

AUTRICE: Daisy Harris

SERIE: Love-Bots #3

EDITORE: Ellora's Cave

Love Comes Home by Andrew Grey

When architect Gregory Hampton’s son, Davey, starts having trouble in Little League, Greg takes him to an eye doctor. The diagnosis hits them hard. Davey’s sight is degenerating rapidly, and eventually he’ll go blind.

Tom Spangler is used to getting what he wants. When Greg captures his attention, he asks Greg for a date. They have a good time until Greg gets a call from the friends watching his son, telling him Davey has fallen. Greg and Tom return to find the worst has happened—Davey can no longer see.

With so much going on in his life, Greg doubts he’ll see Tom again. But Tom has researched beep baseball, where balls and bases make sounds to enable the visually impaired to participate in Little League. Tom spearheads an effort to form a team so Davey can continue to play the game he loves. But when Greg’s ex-wife shows up with her doctor boyfriend, offering a possible cure through a radical procedure, Greg must decide how far he’ll go to give Davey a chance at getting his sight back.

Love Comes Home is the third book in the Senses series by Andrew Grey.

All books can be read as one-shots, each story has different special protagonists and as specials are the story of their romance.

As the title says, Senses, the leitmotif of these M/M romance novels are characters who in one way or another have a disability related to each of the organs of sense.

Actually in this third book is the son of one of the main characters to lose his sight, but this misfortune has a series of repercussions on Greg's life, who actually make no significant between the two who has become blind.

Greg has a deep bond with his ten-year-old son, he fought and obtained his custody after the divorce from his wife, he does not hide his homosexuality to his son and they have an amazing bond, but the impact of what happened to Davey is devastating for them.

Tom meets them because of a party of mutual friends and he remains impressed by the deep love he can see through from the pain that Greg feels for his son knowing what is going to  experience in the future.

In his past Tom didn't have a father figure present and he really struggled for that. He is attracted to Greg both physically and as a person and Greg's paternity  and his problems doesn't scare me.

Tom is a man with a deep sensitivity and he is able to empathise with Davey. From the outside he has a more objective view, he can understand the problems  between Greg and Davey and carefully manages to fit into their lives and to help both of them.

A moving story, very beautiful. A book in which Tom feelings, Greg and Davey are the real stars, the attraction and passion between the two men is there, palpable, but both agree to let it overshadow and so it starts their relationship in a deeper and more important way for them.

I think it might be a good story for anyone curious to read a M/M novel  without fear of feeling embarrassed to find too explicit sexual content.

I arrived halfway through the book without realizing it, because it was smooth and nice story in which I was immersed. I could call it "The world I'd love to live in" this described by Andrew Grey, a reality in which a gay parent gets the sole custody of his son, where a homosexual couple can kiss and hold their hands in the sunlight and a ten-year-old son is happy because the father finds a new mate.

Yes, it would be a beautiful world.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamspinner Press and Smith publicityfor the book.

RATING: 4 STARS

TITLE: Love Comes home

AUTHOR: Andrew Grey

SERIES: Senses #3

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press- Smith Publicity

Mark of the Gladiator by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane

Bello, veramente bello e un po' al di fuori delle mie solite letture, visto l'ambientazione storica di questo libro M/M nell'Antica Roma, con tanto di gladiatori, schiavi, nobilitas romana, complotti e intrighi di famiglia.

Non ci viene risparmiata la crudezza e la crudeltà che veniva utilizzata all'epoca, dove le vite degli schiavi contavano davvero zero, oppure la decadenza e lussuria nelle quali indugiavano i nobili Romani, ma questo mette in risalto ancora di più la dolcezza della storia d'amore che nasce tra i due protagonisti.

Dopo una poco apprezzata dimostrazione di pietà nell'arena, il gladiatore Anazar viene allontanato dal terreno dove si svolgono i combattimenti e viene ceduto al nobiluomo Lucius Marianus, tramite un contratto tra quest'ultimo e il suo padrone, che lo incarica di addestrare un gruppo di gladiatrici femmine. Le donne delle quali si deve occupare sono demoralizzate, impreparate e mostrano i segni degli abusi che hanno subito. Anazar ha appena due mesi di tempo per prepararle per l'arena, e il suo nuovo padrone esige la perfezione.

Il gladiatore rimane sorpreso dalla sua volontà di riuscire nell'impresa... volontà che va al di là del puro istinto di auto conservazione. Forse perché Marianus è eccezionale: bellissimo, onorevole, nobile e sembra mostrare per Anazar lo stesso interesse che il gladiatore prova per lui.

Ma la rivalità tra Marianus e il fratello fa nascere un complotto con l'obiettivo di commettere un'omicidio, coinvolgendo nella cospirazione Anazar e le sue gladiatrici. Uno dei fratelli può offrire la salvezza... ma quale? In un mondo dove una vita vale meno del volere della folla o dei capricci di un padrone, ci può essere spazio per l'amore? Come gladiatore le difese di Anazar sono impenetrabili. Ma come uomo, impara a sue spese, che un'armatura o uno scudo in realtà non possono proteggere il suo cuore.

Molte cose mi hanno sorpreso in questo libro: prima di tutto pensavo che la storia fosse incentrata su Marianus e Anazar, mai fidarsi delle apparenze, e come diceva De Niro nel film Gli Intoccabili, Marianus è "tutto chiacchiere e distintivo".

Al principio ho faticato ad accettare la rassegnazione e sottomissione di Anazar al suo destino, alla sua vita da schiavo e alla sua accettazione per le umiliazioni continue alle quali viene sottoposto; saperlo gladiatore e combattente da una parte strideva con la sua vita da schiavo, ma in seguito ho capito che forse sono io ad avere una visione "Disney"della vita di uno schiavo.

Felix è un meraviglioso, l'ho adorato da subito! Ribelle, sarcastico, un po' perverso, ma con un animo dolce e puro, pieno di ideali che si scontrano con la realtà della società in cui vive. Grazie a lui riusciamo a scoprire il vero Anazar che si nasconde dietro una facciata da perfetto schiavo senza volontà e speranza.

Le gladiatrici e le loro storie arricchiscono il racconto, mostrandoci ancora di più, se possibile, la crudeltà presente nell'Antica Roma.

Aelia è perfetta nella sua capacità di essere spietata, manipolatrice ed egoista, la cattiva per eccellenza, mi è piaciuta molto.

Un bel libro con un ottima trama ben scritta, personaggi ben caratterizzati.

Mark of the Gladiator è il quarto libro della serie Warriors of Rome, ma si può leggere some libro a sé.

Come in molte letture M/M le scene di sesso sono descritte in modo molto esplicito, con un alto contenuto erotico, ma molto intense, passionali e Felix e Anazar sono spettacolari insieme.

Si ringrazia Netgalley e la Riptide Publishing per il libro.

VOTO:4 stelle

TITOLO: Mark of the Gladiator

AUTRICI: Heidi Belleau e Violetta Vane

SERIE: Warriors of Rome # 4

EDITORE: Riptide Publishing

DATA PUBBLICAZIONE: 19 novembre 2012

LINGUA: inglese

Nice, really nice and it's not one of my usual readings, as the historical setting of this book (M/M) in ancient Rome, with Gladiators, slaves, Roman nobilitas, plots and intrigues.

We are not spared the crudity and cruelty that was used at the time, where the lives of slaves were meant less than zero, or the decay and lust in which Roman nobles lingered, but this emphasize even more the sweetness of the story between the two protagonists.

 After an inconvenient display of mercy in the arena, the gladiator Anazâr is pulled from the sands and contracted to nobleman Lucius Marianus to train his new stable of female gladiators. His charges are demoralized and untested, and they bear the marks of abuse. Anazâr has a scant two months to prepare them for the arena, and his new master demands perfection.

Anazâr is surprised by how eager he is to achieve it—far more eager than a man motivated only by self-preservation. Perhaps it’s because Marianus is truly remarkable: handsome, dignified, honorable, and seemingly as attracted to Anazâr as Anazâr is to him.

But a rivalry between Marianus and his brother sparks a murder conspiracy, with Anazâr and his gladiatrices caught in the middle. One brother might offer salvation . . . but which? And in a world where life is worth less than the pleasures of the crowd or the whims of a master, can there be any room for love? As a gladiator, Anazâr's defenses are near impenetrable. But as a man, he learns to his cost that no armor or shield can truly protect his heart.

Many things surprised me in this book: first of all I thought the story was focused on Marianus and Anazar, but never trust appearances, and as De Niro speaked in the movie The Untochables, Marianus is "nothing but a lot of talk and a badge".

At the beginning I struggled to accept the resignation and submission of Anazar at his fate, to his life as a slave and his acceptance for the humiliations to which he is forced to accept;  I have different  picture in my mind for him as Gladiator and fighter and with his life as a slave too, but later I realized that maybe I have a vision "Disney" about slaves life.

Felix is a wonderful, I loved him at first sight! Rebellious, sarcastic, a little wicked, but with a sweet and pure soul, full of ideals which collide with the reality of the society in which he lives. Thanks to him we can discover the true Anazar that hides behind a facade of perfect slave without a will and hope.

Gladiatrices and their stories enriched the book, showing even more, if possible, the cruelty in ancient Rome.

Aelia is perfect in her ability to be ruthless, manipulative and selfish, real bad, and I liked her a lot.

A beautiful book with a good story well written, well characterized characters.

Mark of the Gladiator is the fourth book in the Warriors series of Rome, but you can read it stand alone.

Like many readings M/M sex scenes are described in a very explicit way, with a high erotic content, but very intense, passionate and Felix and Anazar are amazing together.

Thanks to Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for the book.

RATING: 4 stars

TITLW: Mark of the Gladiator

AUTHORS: Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane

SERIES: Warriors of Rome # 4

PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing

PUBLICATION DATE: November 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: English

The Bacchi by Belinda McBride

Anni e anni che non leggevo un libro di genere sci-fi, che è stato uno dei miei preferiti nel passato, ma visto questo libro di Belinda McBride, non ho saputo resistere. Amo questa autrice, i suoi libri e personaggi non mi deludono mai. Devo precisare che in questo caso The Bacchi è un libro erotic sci-fi, ma veramente molto molto bello e appassionante.

Ms McBride ha creato a ruota libera una realtà e dei personaggi totalmente fuori dai canoni usuali, dando libero sfogo alla sua creatività, mantenendo però costante alcune caratteristiche che si ritrovano nei suoi libri: storie d'amore meravigliose, un amore che non ha limiti di sesso, razze ecc... descrizioni così accurate dei suoi protagonisti, che sembra quasi di poterli vedere, un'ottima trama che rende impossibile accantonare la lettura e poi adoro il suo stile di scrittura, semplice scorrevole e chiaro.

Lefi Dhrahn è un Bacchi, un professionista nel mondo del sesso a pagamento, vive la sua vita immerso nel lusso, perseguendo il piacere, ma è tormentato dai ricordi di un amore perduto. Sopravvive al dolore circondandosi della bellezza in tutte le sue forme, il sesso e qualsiasi tipo di auto indulgenza. Quando incontra il seducente Ispettore Afton Teris, Lefi pensa che il detective potrebbe essere una bella aggiunta alla sua serie di conquiste.

Non prende in considerazione il rischio di potersi innamorare.

Afton Teris è un ermafrodita Valorano, come tutti i membri della sua specie, è un tipo austero, intellettuale e disapprova la frivolezza di chi si prostituisce.

Afton è orientato verso la sua componente maschile, ma il bellissimo Lefi risveglia in lui un desiderio che non ha mai provato, facendo nascere nel suo intimo dei dubbi su tutto ciò che ha sempre saputo di se stesso. Ad aumentare la sua confusione, Afton scopre di essere attratto dai piaceri proibiti che circondano la vita del Bacchi.

Quando vicino a casa viene rapita una persona, i due si ritrovano a lavorare insieme sotto copertura, infiltrandosi in un bordello per investigare durante un'operazione per liberare persone mantenute schiave. Qui, Lefi si trova ad affrontare dolorosi ricordi del suo passato, mentre Afton scopre una realtà piena di orrori che potrebbe minacciare il suo futuro e forse la sua stessa vita.

La loro sopravvivenza dipende l'uno dall'altro, ma solo se Lefi riuscirà a mettere da parte il suo dolore e ascoltare il suo cuore.

Il libro fa parte dello stesso mondo di un'altra storia di Ms McBride "An Uncommon Whore", ma come ho già detto, la storia è così ben scritta, in modo accurato che ci si riesce immergere in questo mondo fantastico, pieno di creature di razze strane e diverse senza nessun problema.

Lefi è un personaggio stupendo, affascinante, sensuale e decadente, ma sotto questa superficie è di una dolcezza e fragilità che commuove e lascia senza parole.

Afton che in apparenza è molto austero e quadrato, è un tipo tosto, disposto ad affrontare una verità che potrebbe cambiare ciò che ha sempre pensato di essere. Lefi nella sua vita è come un uragano, ma il Bacchi è talmente segnato dalle tragedie del passato che, dopo aver sconvolto la vita di Afton, non è certo di potergli dare tutto ciò di cui il Valerano ha bisogno.

Una storia d'amore stupenda, insolita, particolare e unica, inserita in una trama ricca di azione e colpi di scena.

Bellissimo.

Si ringraziano Netgalley e la Loose Id per il libro.

VOTO: 5 stelle

TITOLO: The Bacchi

AUTORE: Belinda McBride

EDITORE: Loose Id

DATA PUBBLICAZIONE: 31 luglio 2012

Years and years that I didn't read a Sci-Fi book, that was one of my favorites generes in the past, but when I saw this book by Belinda McBride, I Couldn't help my self . I love this author, her books and her characters never disappoint me. I must say that in this case The Bacchi is a book erotic Sci-Fi, but it's so good,very very nice and exciting.

Ms McBride created her characters, giving free rein to her creativity, maintaining some constant features that are found in her book: beautiful love stories, a love that has no limits in sex, race etc.  accurate descriptions of her characters that you can almost seems to be able to see them for real, excellent plot that makes it impossible to set aside the reading and I love her writing style, simple and clear.

The Bacchi Lefi Dhrahn lives a life of luxury and decadence, but is tortured by memories of a lost love. He survives the pain by surrounding himself with sex, beauty and all forms of self-indulgence. When he meets the alluring Inspector Afton Teris, Lefi believes the detective will make a very nice addition to his string of conquests.

He doesn't count on falling in love.

Afton Teris is a Valoran hermaphrodite and like all members of his species, is stern, cerebral and disapproves of the frivolous prostitute. Afton orients as a male, but the beautiful Lefi Dhrahn stirs him sexually, making him question everything he knows about himself. To further confuse his emotions, Afton finds himself tempted by the forbidden pleasures surrounding the Bacchi.

When a kidnapping ring strikes close to home, the two go undercover on a brothel barge to investigate a slavery operation. There, Lefi is confronted by painful memories from his past, while Afton is faced with a horror that threatens his future, and perhaps his very life.

Their survival lies with one another, but only if Lefi can set aside his pain and listen to his heart.

The book is part of the same universe of another story of Ms McBride "An Uncommon Whore", but as I said, the story is so well written, so accurate that you can immerse in this fantasy world, filled with amazing creatures and different breeds without any problem.

Lefi is a wonderful character, charming, sensual and decadent, but below this surface he is  very kind with a gentleness and fragility that break through your heart and leaves you speechless.

Afton that apparently is very austere and square, is a tough, willing to face a truth that could change what he always thought to be. Lefi in his life is like a hurricane, but the Bacchi is so scarred by the tragedies of the past which, after having upset the life of Afton, is not certain to give him everything the Vareran needslove amazing love story, unusual, uniqueai with plot twists and action.

Beautiful.

Thanks to Netgalley and Loose Id for the book

RATING: 5 stars

TITLE: The Bacchi

AUTHOR: Belinda McBride

EDITOR: Loose Id

PUBLICATION DATE: July 31,2012