Fabulous Freebies

So in the last little while I won some free books, so I decided to read all of them (I think it's all of them that were outstanding) in one fell swoop.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Pepper Espinoza (106 pages)

I won this at Wave's as the Amber Allure free book.

Set in 1970, Alan and Simon are actors who have been friends and coworkers for years. Following the end of their TV show and an unexpected night of passion following Alan's divorce, they have a falling out and Alan leaves town, presumably for NYC. Alan's ex contacts Simon saying that Alan is working some hick town traveling theatre and sends him to find him as Alan's kids miss him. When he finds him, Alan finally explains that he has to stay because he sold his soul to the devil and his payment is to be in the same play over and over in Georgia. Once Simon realizes it's true, he confronts the devil and comes up with a plan for him and Alan to perform a piece and if they are good enough they get to go free, if not he gets Simon's soul as well. Meanwhile Simon and Alan act on their long-time feelings for each other. It was an interesting concept. I'm not sure quite why it was set in 1970 as that didn't really factor in except for a lack of cell phones. I liked how Alan and Simon finally admitted their feelings and how it was resolved although probably completely unrealistically as they didn't seem worried at all about Alan's ex's reaction to them being together or how it could affect their careers. Alan was pretty angsty but then I suppose being stuck in "Hell" can do that to a guy. If you're looking for something kind of different with a paranormal feel it's a good read.

Maritime Men by Janie Chapel (60 pages)

I won this on Janey Chapel's LiveJournal site. Thanks so much Janey.

Eli and Cooper are in the same unit training to be Navy Seals. Eli is the defacto leader of the group and manages to get them through the grueling training. One night Cooper helps Eli out with his "frustration" and then they kind of start fooling around and getting closer, not only as friends but lovers and yet they never say they are gay or that they are exclusive. They just kind of let it happen. I REALLY enjoyed these guys. What I particularly liked was while neither had been in a gay relationship before they didn't get freaked about it. Cooper in particular still seemed to like girls but was content to have sex with Eli and he loved him, in part because of the bonding through training. So I'm really looking forward to Anchors Aweigh now so I can find out what happens to Eli and Cooper. They were a great couple with very distinctly different but likable personalities.

Seeing You by Dakota Flint (54 pages)

I won this courtesy of Jen of Well Read and Dakota over at DIK. Thanks Jen and Dakota.

Following the death of his brother, Dylan left the ranch his brother ran with his partner Wade, partly because it was hard to be there and partly because he had always been in love with Wade as well. He gets the call to come back home because the ranch has gone to hell in a hand basket. He comes home and kicks Wade in the ass and gets the ranch back on track. He admits how he feels about Wade but doesn't jump in to be Wade's security blanket until he gets his head on straight. Okay, everyone knows I have a squick factor, big time, with the sibling hooking up with an in-law following death and I just didn't know if this would work, but I won it and I thought it would push me out of my boundaries a bit. So did it work for me or not? Oh yeah. I even needed a freaking tissue. *sniff* *sniff* Really well done and I wasn't squicked at all and yes, it's pretty angsty (see tissue reference) but it's also very hopeful I guess is the word, that you can move on after your life is shattered. So I'm glad I got the chance to read it and thanks again Jen and Dakota.