I seem to be back in the reading saddle

Didn't do much all weekend. The kid spent most of it at her barn doing ... horsey stuff. I spend most of it doing laundry and reading. Not bad all around. the weather was wet and cold so I didn't feel guilty about spending the long weekend indoors.

Hardass City by Kiernan Kelly (109 pages)
Torquere Books

Brad is a top gamer in the game Hardass City. One night he's approached in the game by the only gamer better than him who wants to talk to Brad about some strange game developments. Jeff actually came up with the game concept and was cut out by his partners who cheated him out of his share. Now he suspects something hinky is happening because the guys want to sell the game and are cheating the players out of money they owe them so Brad and Jeff work together to bring down the bad guys. It's very different in that there will be a chapter of Brad and Jeff as their alter egos Dare and Spike working the game to keep the players "alive" and then Brad and Jeff out in the real world trying to get the evidence to make Jeff's case. I'm not a gamer (I don't have the eye-hand coordination to even play Pac Man) so I don't really get being THAT into a game, so that part was kind of a "huh?" to me. When Jeff and Brad finally get together, it was very steamy though. It was interesting though to have the virtual and real world aspects in one book.

Touch Me Gently by J.R. Loveless (195 pages)
Dreamspinner Press

Kaden was badly abused as a youngster and has PTSD and basically freaks when around large men and loses his job again when he has yet another panic attack. His employment counsellor on a whim tells him his cousin in Montana needs a cook on his ranch, so Kaden takes the job leaving New York behind. He's not sure it was a great idea as Logan the owner is a big guy and there are tons of big cowboys around including one that decides he wants to get up close and personal which sends him into a tailspin which means cutting. Although Logan is straight, he and his sister Shea work on earning Kaden's trust and of course Logan is attracted. There is lots of angst as Kaden has panic attacks and struggles against cutting and I am a sucker for the abused kid finds love in a gentle man story. My only niggles were after Logan decides he's gay he takes to blow jobs and buttsecks like a pro and Kaden is often referred to as "the teen" which kind of threw me off since he's 19, I know he's technically a teen but I kept thinking 15 (probably because I have a "teen") and although Logan was only 28, it still bugged me a bit. I prefer just names to the kid, teen, younger man, etc.

Army Green by J. Rocci (125 pages)
Torquere Books

Cam and his veteran lover Evan run a riding therapy/lessons farm. Evan lost his left leg and hearing in one ear but has recovered. After talking with his old commander, Evan agrees to bring Reo, a wild child from his unit who saved his life when an IED got him. Cam and Evan develop some strain in their relationship when Reo starts stirring things up and Evan makes excuses for him. There is also an underlying story of Reo and Derrick, a young man who is leaving for college in a few months and their unspoken attraction. There isn't much story or conflict really, just the of a story of an established couple coping with everyday stresses. I'm wondering if there will be an additional book with Derrick and Reo because it was hinted at but nothing really came of it. It was humorous to see city-boy Reo deal with horses.