Review Cage Match by Bonnie Dee

Cage Match is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a plague has wiped out quite a bit of the population. The world has been rebuilt and is supposedly a better place, all run by corporations that took over after the fall of government. Everything is shiny and clean except for a walled in area of what used to be Boston. This area is called Brick Town and it is a high crime area filled with the less fortunate. If you don't like post-apocalyptic tales never fear, that's the only area where that post-apocalyptic bit comes in, it then becomes a journey of two men on a journey of self discovery.

I found Cage Match to be well written and intriguing. Andreas Fortias is the silver spoon baby, the prince of Fortias, a company that holds a large share of the market in this world. He, like his contemporaries fills his days and nights with trivial and meaningless pursuits. Cage fighting is one of these pursuits. A blood soaked, adrenaline fulled atmosphere where these idling rich boys can bet on the outcome of others pain and suffering. Jabez is a former Brick Towner who has been apprehended for robbery. He has chosen to serve his time in the cage. Cage fighting allows criminals a large reduction in sentence time but they will have to survive the indenture before freedom will be possible, a task which more often than not proves impossible. Both characters were interesting in their differences. One spoiled, pampered, and handed everything. The other struggling for survival from birth. That the two could ever find common ground is doubtful but together they bring out hidden depths that neither knew they possessed. I've read other offerings from Ms. Dee in the past but nothing that captured my heart like this one. If you love hot m/m action, testosterone filled action, and people discovering their true selves then this one is for you!

The M/M Romance Challenge Update

So I have exceeded my original goal of 60 by August. I knew I should have set it higher! LOL but anyway here it is so far.


APRIL
1. In for a Penny by Carol Lynne 4.5/5
2. A Strong Hand by Catt Ford 4/5
3. Hot Cargo by Ariel Tachna and Nikki Bennett 3/5
4. Dance Wars 3: Bad Moon Rising by Sophia Titheniel 4/5
5. Mitch by Dakota Rebel 5/5
6. A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn 4/5
7. Poker Night 1: Texas Hold 'Em by Carol Lynne 5/5
8. Adder by Ally Blue 4/5
9. Most Likely to Succeed by Shawn Lane 4/5
10. Secret Desires by Stormy Glenn 4/5
11. Sweet Treats by Stormy Glenn 4/5
12. Forbidden Desires by Stormy Glenn 4/5
13. Allergies by T.A. Chase 5/5 (Can't Wait for the Next in this Series)
14. Yummy Love 1: Coconut Cream Pie by Kate Hill 4/5
15. Yummy Love 2: Blueberry Muffins by Kate Hill 4/5 LINK
16. Yummy Love 3: Apple Crisp by Kate Hill 4/5 LINK
17. Hidden Desires by Stormy Glenn 4/5
18. Give It Time by BA Tortuga 4/5
19. Here and Now by Anah Crow 4/5
20. Renovations 4: Full House by Anah Crow and Dianne Fox 4/5
21. Affair in Paradise by Matthew Haldeman-Time 3.5/5
22. Between Us by AKM Miles 3/5
23. Hearts Afire: April by Emery Sanborne and Jamie Craig 5/5 LINK
24. Coyote Non Grata by Lena Austin 4/5
25. By Degrees by J.B. McDonald 5/5
26. The Whole Deal by Lorne Rodman 4/5
27. Tomcat Jones by Willa Okati 4.5/5 (would love to know what the deal is with Sur Lune)

MAY

28. Helldog Squadron 2: Angle of Attack by AR Moler 4/5
29. Private Dicks by Katie Allen 4/5
30. The Colors of Love and Autumn Lee Pulaski 5/5 LINK
31. Phoberia by H.B. Kurtzwilde (new to me author) 4/5 LINK
32. You First by Kim Dare 4.5/5
33. Horizons by Mickie B. Ashling 3.5/5
34. David's Dilemma by Lynn Lorenz 4.5/5 (new to me author)
35. Slippery When Wet by Stone Richards ( pending review publication on Fallen Angel Reviews)
36. A Strange Place in Time 3: The Merry Executioner Returns by Alyx J. Shaw (pending review publication on Fallen Angel Reviews)
37.The Valde: Water by Astrid Amara 4/5
38. Sex, Lies, and Wedding Bells by E.M. Lynley 5/5
39. Mr. Wonderful by Stormy Glenn 4/5
40. Highway Patrol by Wayne Mansfield 3/5
41. Northern Love by Nica Berry 3.5/5
42. The Doctor's Patience by Stormy Glenn 4/5
43. Three of a Kind by Stormy Glenn 4/5
44. The Katzman's Mate by Stormy Glenn 4.5/5
45. Dreaming of You by Ethan Day 3.5/5
46. Happy Ending by L.B. Gregg 4/5
47. The Colors of Love and Autumn by Lee Pulaski 5/5 LINK
48. Like Coffee and Doughnuts by Elle Parker 4.5/5
49. My Lupine Lover by Stormy Glenn 4/5 LINK
50. Three of a Kind by Sean Michael 4.5/5
51. True Colors by Clare London 5/5
52. Around the World by Jade Falconer 4/5
53. Forever Yours by Lexie Davis 4/5 LINK
54. Ethan's Choice by Jamie Hill & Jude Mason 5/5 LINK
55. Surf & Turf by Scott & Scott 3.5/5
56. Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville 5/5
57. Awakening by DJ Manly 4.5/5
58. Physical Therapy by Z.A. Maxfield (score pending review publication on Fallen Angel Reviews)
59. Kink for Love by Mallory Path 3/5
60. Play it Again Sam by Jamie Hill 3.5/5

JUNE

61. Cattle Valley 12: Eye of the Beholder by Carol Lynne 4.5/5
62. Here Be Dragons by T.A. Chase 5/5
63. Bottom's Up: A Kinky Orgasm 4.5/5
64. Dreaming of Dragons by T.A. Chase 5/5
65. Tri-Omega Mates 4: Stolen Desires by Stormy Glenn 5/5 LINK
66. One and One 1: The One That Got Away by TC Blue 4/5
67. One and One 2: The One That Was Lost by TC Blue 5/5 LINK
68. Marry Me or Die by D.J. Manly 4/5
69. Security by Mike Shade 4.5/5
70. Holed Up by Hank Edwards 4.5/5
71. The Collected Novellas of Josh Lanyon Vol 1 5/5 LINK
72. The Collected Novellas of Josh Lanyon Vol 2 5/5 LINK
73. Embracing The Leopard: Animal Attraction by Michelle Houston4/5 LINK
74. Car Wash by Shawn Lane 5/5 LINK
75. Miami Moon: Vampire’s Lair by A.J. Ryan(pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
76. Gay Like You by Kim Dare4/5 LINK
77. Frost Fair by Erastes 5/5 (new to me author, surprised me since i'm not a historical fan)
78. Heart of by Truth by Eon De Beaumont 4/5
79. Extinction by Carol Lynne 4.5/5
80. Grey's Awakening by Cameron Dane 5/5
81. Chasing Smoke by K.A. Mitchell (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
82. Dragon's Kiss Ally Blue (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
83. Somebody Killed His Editor Josh Lanyon (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
84. A Sure Fire Cure by Kate Steele
85. Riding Out the Bull by Catt Ford 4/5
86. Extreme Bull by Catt Ford 4.5/5
87. Simon Says by Ashley Ladd 4/5

JULY

88. Trapped by D. J. Manly (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
89. Wolf Creek Pack 1: Full Moon Mating by Stormy Glenn (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
90. Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
91. Cage Match by Bonnie Dee 4.5/5
92. Finn by Angel Martinez 4/5
93. Time After Time by J.P. Bowie (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
94. Reunion by Carol Lynne (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
95. Cattle Valley Days by Carol Lynne (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
96. ePistols At Dawn by Z. A. Maxfield (pending review pub. at Fallen Angel Reviews)
97. A Red-Tainted Silence by Carolyn Gray 5/5
98. Poker Nights: Slow Play by Carol Lynne 4/5
99. Ghosts of Alcatraz by Carol Lynne 5/5
100. Death or Life by T.A. Chase 5/5
101. Chicken Ranch: Hunger by Amanda Young 4/5
102. Calling Dr. Love by G.A. Hauser 4/5
103. The Sheikh and the Servant by Sonja Spencer 4/5
104. Blue Fire by Z.A. Maxfield 5/5
105. Dreaming in Color by Cameron Dane
106. He's Bewitched by Ryan Field 4/5
107. Nowhere Diner: Finding Love by T.A. Chase 4.5/5
108. A Heat Seeking Missile by E.M. Lynley

Review Eye of the Beholder by Carol Lynne

Eye of the Beholder is the eleventh book in Carol Lynne's fantastic Cattle Valley series. I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea why I love her books so much. I'm thinking that it has to be because the characters are so alive that the actual inconsistencies in plot lines and detail don't really matter so much. Some day when I have a day of nothing to do I'm going to sit down and make Ms. Lynne a board with all the character details and plot threads, because I want her to keep writing and taking time to do it herself would take away from that. But all that aside I really don't care! I LOVE CAROL LYNNE and I will certainly forgive these minor technical difficulties because in the grand scheme of things they really don't matter! It's just an obsessed reader who has OCD being driven crazy by some minor glitch.

Now, on to the review. I liked Eye of the Beholder I was very happy to return to my favorite town and my favorite people. Cattle Valley would be like the coolest place to live. Can you imagine? Really? The people are nice, the men are hot, and the women too. (Yes, I love the series so much that I even read the side series by another author). I liked Rance and Bo, no they aren't my favorite characters in the series, (that acclaim will always fall on the worthy shoulders of the cross over Good Time Boys characters of Ryan, Rio, and Nate) but they were good characters. The chemistry between them was electrifying and the angst was well written and managed to skirt the edge of being on just this side of too much. Of course the plot was delicious and the sensual scenes were well written. Thank you Ms. Lynne for letting this reader visit Cattle Valley once again and I'm hoping that it will be a trip that will happen again and again. You can pick up your own copy here. Eye of the Beholder at Total-e-Bound