Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'story review'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Forums

  • Gay Authors Community
    • Clubs
    • The Lounge
    • Forum Games and Humor
    • Help
  • Authors and Stories
    • Promoted Author Discussion Forum
    • Stories Discussion Forum
    • Peeks and Prompts
  • Writing Forums
    • Writer's Circle
    • Speculative Fiction
    • Poetry
    • Anthologies
    • Editors
    • Copyrights
    • Writer Clubs
  • Comicality's Shack Clubhouse's Cafe
  • Headstall's Paddock's Topics
  • Mikiesboy's Drop in Centre's Topics
  • C James Fan Club's Topics
  • Mark Arbour Fan Club's Topics
  • Stellar's Fan Club's Topics
  • In Memorium's Topics

Categories

  • Fiction
  • FanFiction
  • Poetry
    • 2023- Exploration -Poetry
    • 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember
    • 2014 Poetry Anthology: A Storm Is Coming
    • 2013 Poetry Anthology: Whispers in the Dark
    • 2012 Poetry Anthology: Cracks of Time
    • 2011 Poetry Anthology: Into the Unknown
  • Fiction - Gay Authors Anthologies
    • 2024 - Long May You Run
    • 2023 - Leap of Faith
    • 2022 - Anniversary
    • 2021 - Spring - On The Road
    • 2021 - Spring - Potluck 2021
    • 2021 - Fall - A Winding Path
    • 2021 - Fall - An Unconventional Gift
    • 2021 - Fall - Potluck
    • 2020 - Spring - Full Moon
    • 2020 - Spring - The Storm
    • 2020 - Fall - Bridges
    • 2020 - Fall - Shadows
    • 2019 - Spring - Into the Stars
    • 2019 - Spring - Snapped
    • 2019 - Fall - Fall From Grace
    • 2019 - Fall - Raincheck
    • 2018 - Spring - Now or Never
    • 2018 - Spring - Encounters
    • 2018 - Fall - Fight Back
    • 2018 - Fall - Good Intentions
    • 2017 - Spring - Unintended Consequences & Jagged Edges
    • 2017 - Fall - The Fallout and Secret Spaces
    • 2016 - Spring - Crossing the Line
    • 2016 - Summer - Wicked Games
    • 2016 - Fall - Blindsided / The Forgotten
    • 2016 - Winter - Rewind: Pre-2016 Themes
    • 2015 - Spring - Full Circle
    • 2015 - Summer - Road Trip
    • 2015 - Fall - Blurred Edges
    • 2015 - Winter - Blackout
    • 2014 - Spring - Nature's Wrath
    • 2014 - Summer - The Backup Plan
    • 2014 - Fall - Scars
    • 2014 - Winter - Chain Reaction
    • 2013 - Spring - A Night To Remember
    • 2013 - Summer - Roll the Dice
    • 2013 - Fall - Pandora's Box
    • 2013 - Winter - Recipe for Disaster
    • 2012 - Spring - It Wasn't Me
    • 2012 - Summer - Choices
    • 2012 - Fall - Friends & Enemies
    • 2012 - Winter - Desperate Ends
    • 2012 - Special - Mayan Tribute: End of the World
    • 2012 - Anniversary - Secrets Can Kill
    • 2011 - Spring - People Are Strange
    • 2011 - Summer - Walk on the Wild Side
    • 2011 - Fall - Legends
    • 2011 - Winter - Aftermath
    • 2010 - Spring - I'd Never Do That
    • 2010 - Summer - Out of this World
    • 2010 - Fall - No Going Back
    • 2010 - Winter - Haunted
    • 2009 - Spring - Oops
    • 2009 - Summer - Carpe Diem
    • 2009 - Fall - Something Unexpected
    • 2009 - Winter - Deceptions
    • 2008 - Annual - It's Just a Game, Right?
    • 2008 - Spring - Living in the Shadows
    • 2008 - Summer - Escape
    • 2008 - Fall - Anniversary
    • 2008 - Winter - Ghosts
    • 2007 - Annual - The Road Not Taken
    • 2007 - Spring - Fairy Tales
    • 2007 - Summer - Ending and Beginnings
    • 2007 - Fall - The Rainy Day
    • 2007 - Winter - Worth Fighting For
    • 2006 - Winter - Blizzard
    • 2006 - Fall - Halloween
    • 2006 - Summer - Going on Vacation
    • 2006 - Spring - Day of Silence
    • 2004 - Winter - Christmas
  • Fiction - Story Contests
    • 2017- Halloween
    • 2017- April Fool's
    • 2016 - Secret Admirer Short Story
    • 2015 - Secret Santa Short Story
    • 2011 - Novella Contest
    • 2009 - Novella Contest
  • Non-Fiction
    • Writing Tips
  • Letters
  • Screenplays
  • World Building

Blogs

  • Liukas Soli's World of Words
  • Daddydavek's Blog
  • Escaping for just a little while
  • Myr's Corner
  • Tropical Paradise
  • Fortune and Mens Eyes
  • Wildenberg’s Blog
  • Gay Authors News
  • Incubus Lover
  • harcallard's Blog
  • Memoirs of Forgiveness
  • The Fantastic Mr. Wilde
  • 2010
  • GREEN & CHAZ'S BLOG
  • Daddydavek's other Blog
  • A Demented Blog
  • No longer here
  • Toast
  • but don't forget about my bomb...
  • Pocket Full Of Stars
  • Val's Blog
  • harveybirdman's Blog
  • Wombat Bill's out takes
  • What are you currently reading?
  • Writing Unblocked
  • Daveys Blog
  • A Stone's Throw
  • Stephanie L Danielson's Blog
  • Vic's Blog
  • Grunge - Zen
  • Just a thought
  • seanriter's Blog
  • wildone's other Blog
  • My Daily Bread Crumbs
  • Wry Wrambling of a Rebellious Rimbaud
  • mr.chris' blog
  • Fir Pro Diet
  • Mark Arbour's Pride
  • James Matthews Blog
  • Viv's Blog
  • Qboi's Cogitations On Life
  • Words, Words and Words
  • Joe's Blog
  • Luc Rosen's Blog
  • Editor's Notebook
  • ;; " .MidnightSecret. " ;;
  • Z's Blog
  • mmike1969's Blog
  • scotty94's Blog
  • Mercys writing
  • Read my blog
  • huktaunluv's Blog
  • CF's Ramblings
  • Owls' hoot's
  • Ichthyic Insanity
  • My Only Escape
  • advocatus diaboli's Blog
  • Zuri's Blog
  • Thoughts And Ideas That I'm Happy To Share
  • Rise and Shine
  • Rising towards reinvention
  • Twilight Chronicles
  • thephoenix's Blog
  • Aditus' Road Blog
  • The River Song
  • Personal Blog
  • Bender's blog
  • Daddydavek's Other Other Blog
  • Libby Drew
  • jamessavik's Blog
  • Ron's Random Access
  • Stevie’s In Love
  • HearSay
  • TetRefine's Blog
  • mickey1952's Blog
  • The Bad Dog Chronicles
  • Sagar
  • Thorn's Edibles
  • Thoughts, Oddities and Utter Chaos
  • Insurgency's Blog
  • Blog Archive
  • Thicker Than Water
  • John Doe's Blog
  • paul.b's Blog
  • On The Outside, A Soundtrack
  • Xan's Blog
  • Chronicles of My Life
  • DynoReads' Blog
  • When I'm Stuck
  • Genderqueer Musings
  • Zot spot
  • Little Buddha's Thatched Hut
  • Arizona Legislature: Crazy, Stupid, Misguided...or all of the Above?
  • Caedus' Blog
  • ACEd it!
  • See My Secrets... See My Shame...
  • Caz Pedroso's Blog
  • Nephylim's Blog
  • quokka's Blog
  • Camy's Blog
  • arsimms' Blog
  • PrivateTim's Blog
  • Reset, Reload, Redo
  • Kurt's Corner
  • THIS IS NOT A BLOG
  • Cole Matthews' Dark and Dusty History Corner
  • trackstar195's Blog
  • Wolf At The Keyboard
  • vlista20's Blog
  • Esther Night
  • Life's a Conflagration
  • JohnAR's Blog
  • LouisHarris' Blog
  • I fell in love with my straight best friend & it destroyed our friendship
  • Luc's Dementia
  • Renee's News
  • I fell in love with my straight best friend & it destroyed our friendship
  • My blog
  • Douw's Blog
  • ColumbusGuy's Blog
  • BarricadeBoy's Blog
  • IBEX's Blog
  • Craftingmom's Blog
  • Marc's Blog
  • lostone's Blog
  • Hogan2015's Blog
  • old bob's Blog
  • lilansui's Blog
  • Musings from Valhalla
  • drak's sekrits
  • John B.'s Blog
  • The Wisdom of M
  • Albert Nothlit's Blog
  • Dabeagle's Blog
  • The Life and Times of a High School Dropout
  • Mann's Ramblings
  • Jay's Blog
  • The Jordanation
  • Alex Canton's Blog
  • JustynC's Blog
  • Love that always hurts
  • Drew's Slice of Pi
  • Bolg
  • Meh
  • Riding Thoughts
  • blogage
  • double meh
  • Ducks and Fucks
  • C James' Goatpen
  • wildone's Blog
  • TheBlackDragon's Blog
  • It's knotme
  • My Life - My Views
  • On Call
  • Blog of Cynus the Pan-Ace
  • Ninja Scroll
  • Fixing My Destiny
  • The Alphabet Game
  • skinnydragon's lunch
  • The Talon's Claw
  • peaceofthesouls' Blog
  • Brandon Smiling: The Soundtrack
  • nobody
  • Making of My Stories
  • Melancholy ... the broken staff of life
  • James Hiwatari's Blog
  • Victor's Wavering Weirdness
  • My Feelings
  • North to Alaska
  • TIMID
  • Nymphetamine Abuse
  • Edward's Blog
  • Random Thoughts of an Alpha Female
  • NightOwl88's Blog
  • Writing World
  • Put onto paper...
  • Freddyness' Blog
  • Looking for sense in the chaos of my thoughts
  • jeet01's Blog
  • The Persephone Chronicles
  • General Silliness
  • blog
  • KC's Blog
  • GaryKelly's Blog
  • Snowflake: The Soundtrack
  • RainbowPhoenixWI's Blog
  • MusicalAlchemy's Blog
  • Renee's Recipes
  • MusicalAlchemy's Blog
  • Hunter Thomson's Blog
  • lomax61's Blog
  • Mortal Morphology
  • Ieshwar's Blog
  • Andy's other Blog
  • Chatter from the Chatterbox
  • Cailen's Conclave
  • Cody Waustin's Blog
  • What once was is now lost.
  • In My Own Way
  • News of My World
  • Skywriting
  • hands in the air.
  • The Seashell: Soundtracks and Textures
  • CassieQ's Fractured Thoughts
  • Reflections
  • MHSebastian's Blog
  • Character Galleries
  • jamiiewhiite's Blog
  • Continuous Story
  • A.J.'s Blog
  • JC's Writing Blog
  • Glittery Place
  • Mark92's Blog
  • Mikiesboy's Blog
  • ValentineDavis21's Blog
  • Adagio: Music and Textures
  • V's blog
  • Day in the life of KibaNaru
  • S.L. Lewis Many Thoughts and Updates
  • Strife and Harmony
  • HB's Blog
  • Altimexis' Blog
  • Wayne's Updates
  • Just random entries
  • The Fall of Ast@r0th
  • nordmanni's Blog
  • journals of the poems
  • We're all mad here
  • clo's closet
  • Musings by MacGreg
  • Randomnicity (aka Jay's thoughts)
  • Billy Martin's Blog
  • Dodger the Blogger
  • Eric's Blog
  • This and That
  • The GA Law Blog
  • Nick Buchanan
  • Bloggie Blog Blog
  • D/s BDSM
  • Of Gratitude, Goofing Off, and Good Times
  • 365
  • The DL Diaries
  • Trebs' Blog
  • Labrador's Blog
  • Lit's Blog
  • What Scares You?
  • Claustrophile's Blog
  • Nobody likes you when you're 23.
  • Michael's Playroom
  • hh5's Blog
  • Percy's Blog
  • Mollyhousemouse's Stash
  • Life is worth an entry
  • podiumdavis' Blog
  • sean's scribbles
  • ryan jo's Blog
  • Moggy's Haunts
  • Menace Years
  • Jordan's Blog
  • Raphael Farmer's Blog
  • The CSU Stories
  • Prompt du jour
  • KingdombytheSea's Blog
  • Happy birthday and I'm sorry
  • The Yettie's Blog
  • The Secret Life Of Billy Chase: Music For A Teenage Dream
  • Gone From Daylight: The Music of the Darkness
  • Intellectual Circuit Boy Gone Seriously Crazy in Hollywood
  • Linxe Termoil's Blog
  • Le Musique de le Souvenir
  • Andy's Blog
  • AdamP's Blog
  • Methodwriter85's Blog
  • DragonFire's Cave
  • kjames' Blog
  • Blashi Blog Blog
  • Ravings of a VampireMystic
  • My kingdom by the sea
  • Rompecabezas
  • BB's Blog
  • vEETalk
  • The Saga Continues...
  • Ashi's Blog
  • The new kid in school music collection
  • Do the sins of a parent transfer to the child?
  • Once Upon a Time Prompts
  • According to Puppilull
  • Saint Peter
  • When Life Gives You Lemons Make Beef Stew (PRIVATE CLUB)
  • Dear G A
  • Comments, Musings, Ponderings, Thoughts, 'N' Thangs
  • blogage (PRIVATE)
  • Pride of Lions
  • Simply Sid
  • Loveless - The Jimmy LaPlane Experience
  • Rano's Blog
  • Goodbye my Love.
  • asamvav111's Rainbow Couch
  • Random Thought's
  • Musings From Me
  • joann414's Blog
  • THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE
  • Jesse 101 Soundtrack
  • Thoughts from the Faerie Fool
  • The Triple J Ranch
  • Marty's Musings
  • SimonOhNoes' Blog
  • No Comments
  • layla's Nightwhisperz
  • A Class By Himself: Derrick’s Mixtape
  • Colored in Gray
  • Blog
  • S H E L T ER
  • TheLifeOfRydo
  • In Chandler’s Hands
  • Left Without Words
  • Gabriel Caldwell
  • miker33's Blog
  • rick thoughts
  • A Point of View...
  • Ranting and raving
  • The Great Escape
  • Autumn Dream's Blog
  • Umbereth
  • Dolores Esteban's Blog
  • Stuff from Cia
  • The Occasional rantings and ravings of Anita
  • Bandage's Blog
  • Waiting Outside The Lines
  • Delusions in A minor
  • The Vault of Worlds
  • Spots of Ink
  • My One Truth
  • GA Blogs's GA News Queue
  • GA Blogs's WW Queue
  • GA Engagement's Blog Staging
  • Review Team's Blog Staging
  • Site Archive of Doom's Blogs to Review
  • Site Archive of Doom's Archived Blogs
  • Prompt Team's Prompt Blog Posts

Product Groups

  • Member Groups
  • Advertising, Story / eBook Promotion
  • Site Promotion Groups

Categories

  • General Site Help
  • Step-By-Step Guides
  • Site Membership
    • Account Questions
    • Profiles
    • Rules and Discipline
  • Author Related Questions
    • Story Archive Author Questions
    • Authors
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Anthology Questions
  • Reader Questions
  • Forums
  • Forum Apps
    • Store
    • Blog
    • Gallery
    • Calendar
  • Advertisers

Calendars


Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


Favorite Genres


Topic Display Title


Interests


About Me


Website URL

  1. Well, it's the start of a new week, and for today's schedule, we're bringing you BlindAmbition's review of Button by Cole Matthews. Featured story days are a great way to highlight one of the many stories that can be found in GA Stories. With so many stories, it's easy for a single story to get lost in the shuffle. Now, onto the review. Hopefully you enjoy BlindAmbition's review enough to go check out Button for yourself! Button Cole Matthews Reviewer: BlindAmbitionStatus: CompleteWord Count: 77,786 I’m happy to be providing my first official GA story review. There are so many wonderful stories on GA, so it was hard to choose one. I decided on highlighting the story Button by Cole Matthews. It’s a little gem that flies below the radar. The story is full of heart and meaning, without being preachy. It offers a little something for everyone. I read this story before joining GA, and it still resonates with me. The story revolves around a full cast of characters, but it’s truly Button’s story. He is left on the doorstep of his father Craig’s house. Craig and his partner Graham take on the Herculean task of raising Button. Each chapter represents another year in their lives. Craig is the buddy and most relatable figure to Button, whereas Graham is the overprotective nurturer. Each father plays an invaluable part in what Button will become. Button will experience hardship through his learning disability. He will also learn to achieve and overcome adversity. Button gains confidence through an abundance of love. Learning how to deal with the curves life throws at you can be difficult, but it’s what you make of any situation that counts. Cole has written a story with a lot of heart. It’s not fluffy and sugarcoated. It’s also not depressing and a Debbie Downer. Button is just an honest portrayal of life, life that isn’t certain and often changing. The story's strengths come from showing people are flawed, constantly evolving and resilient. These are all things we inevitably learn in the game of life. The only criticism I have of the story is wanting more. Each chapter represents a year; this limits how much of Button’s life can be included in those chapters, although I feel writing in another format would have taken away from the story’s special quality and voice. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama Tags: gay, light-hearted, parents, psychology, modern, love Rating: Teen
  2. Before we get started this beautiful Monday morning (at least here), I wanted to give a quick Thank You to @wildone for handling the wrap up for me. It was greatly appreciated! Now, let's take a look at what the review team has for us this week. Today we're featuring Boy Story: The Road Taken by Rip Skor. Thank you to Puppilull for this review! Boy Story: The Road Taken Rip Skor Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 172,006 As I sat down to write this review, I thought about how to describe the story and not put people off from reading it. You see, Boy Story isn’t a tale of extravagant action, heartbreaking drama or romance so fluffy you need wool cutters to get through it. No, this is a story about the lives of two boys and to be honest, they lead pretty ordinary lives. They work, go to school, do sports, hang out… So why read it? I would say just for that reason. I have rarely read a story that manages to be so close to a documentary and still have me longing for the next chapter. So, who are the boys? Our main characters are Matt, who defines himself as straight, and Parker, who isn't shy about where his appetites lie. The attraction when their paths cross is so strong Matt can’t help but give gay sex a try. After that, he doesn’t really go back, and we get to follow the boys through those formative years at the end of high school and then through college. The lack of drama is never a drawback, but instead, for me, it's the main selling point of this story. The writer’s 'slice of life' approach works so well, and I enjoyed reading about quite normal people with quite normal issues and struggles. Also, as a woman who for some unknown reason likes to write about men having sex (hint: HOTNESS!), this story has taught me a thing or two about the male anatomy, by being just as honest when it comes to describing sex—and the effects thereof—in a very open manner. The way guys react to relationships and life in general also gave me food for thought, even if I did disagree at times with our protagonists. My rants in the chapter comments are only testament to how close I felt to these guys and how real they were to me. To see their love story unfold before me was such a treat. Category: Non-Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance, Creative Non-Fic, Screenplay Tags: young adult, mature adult, senior, bisexual, gay, autobiography Rating: Mature
  3. Monday, Monday, Monday. What could we possibly have for you on a Monday? Oh yeah! We have a new featured story for you. This week, courtesy of Timothy M., we are taking a look at Travelling Home by podga. Hopefully you'll like what you read and it will prompt you to go and read the story itself! Travelling Home podga Reviewer: Timothy M. Status: Complete Word Count: 24,715 With this review I pay homage to the author who brought me to GA five years ago, and to a story which warms my heart every time I read it. I’m sad to say podga disappeared before more of his stories, including the companion story to Travelling Home, got posted on GA. All of his tales center around the theme of adult guys trying to find love through the obstacles of shyness, family, not being out, a broken heart and other hang-ups from the past, or simply work schedules and conditions which make it difficult to build relationships and be open about them. The latter is the case with Jordan who falls in love with a man he meets at a conference in Stockholm. They travel all over the world, but mainly Europe, and their relationship progresses through five meetings in different cities. The one in London is my absolute favorite because of the hilarious descriptions of their growing attraction and teasing interactions in and out of bed. The ‘drilling into the mattress’ quip has me every single time. Jordan is half Greek, half American, and spent his childhood in Athens and his college years in the USA. He feels rootless and wary about committing himself, and a few remembrances during the story explain why. In both good and bad ways I guess you could say his past comes back to haunt him. I like Jordan who is real, normal, intelligent, self-aware, and easy to relate to, especially when he’s trying to hide how much he cares about David and the potential for love and a permanent home. As one reader @sorgbarn said back in 2012: I still think this story has a more realistic feeling to it than most romance or relationship fiction I've read online. Give this journey a try, and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: mature adult, gay, europe, 20th century Rating: Mature
  4. Well, we're at the start of another week and this week we are going to look at a story written by Parker Owens called "Predator Prey". If you like what spikey has to say in the review, why not go check out the story and leave the author a review! Also, if you've read a story you've enjoyed lately, and would like to see it featured in the GA News Blog, simply shoot me a PM and send me a review. I'm always looking for reviews. Predator Prey Parker Owens Reviewer: spikey582 Status: Complete Word Count: 75,843 Being part of the Review Team here on GA, I often find myself on the look-out for what will be the next story I review. So, I pretty much had my eye on this fantastic story since about mid-2017 when Parker Owens posted the final chapter. In Predator Prey, Parker Owens introduces us to a character, who’s extremely hard to care about at the beginning of this tale. This person is a predator, preying on vulnerable people, using and abusing them in the worst ways possible, and then tossing them aside on the hunt for his next victim. Something happens to the predator early on in this story, the tables are turned on him, and he becomes the victim of another predator possibly even worse than he is. He has to leave, to get away for his own safety. But, the question becomes, who will he turn to? He has no friends, no potential allies, just fellow predators and past victims. So, who does such a person turn to for help. And, possibly more importantly, does he even deserve help in the first place? I personally think this story is some of the best writing that Parker Owens has posted to the site. The main character is every bit as reprehensible as I described, and yet through Parker’s talented prose, I found myself finding sympathy with this predator. I became enthralled with his story, eventually finding myself caring about him, and rooting for him to overcome his struggles, even those of his own making. I don’t want to say too much more for fear of potentially spoiling something. I will say, this story definitely does start out in a dark place. However, it doesn’t stay there. It is the epitome of a roller coaster ride, filled with drama, romance, and thrills to satisfy all. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: young adult, gay, university, rape, modern, abuse Rating: Mature
  5. Well, it's the start of a new week, and for today's schedule, we're bringing you Puppilull's review of Shifter by skinnydragon. Featured story days are a great way to highlight one of the many stories that can be found in GA Stories. With so many stories, it's easy for a single story to get lost in the shuffle. If you're reading a story that you would like to do a blog review and bring attention to, PM me (Renee). Now, onto the review. Hopefully you enjoy Puppilull's review enough to go check out Shifter for yourself! Shifter skinnydragon Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 2,034 It’s strange how a story of a mere 2,000 words can take you on such a journey. In this case, it's a journey into the twisted mind of the main character. When writing this review, I read my comments to the story from my first reading. Hypnotic and intense were words I used to describe it and I still think they sum up Shifter rather well. Throughout the story, the reader is left in the dark about a lot of details surrounding the main character. Who is he? With only a vague outline, there’s yet enough of a backstory to give you a definite sense of him as a person. It’s written as a frenzied, sketchy account of events, based of a collection of grim memories. What particularly impressed me was the way the story is written or rather constructed. In the most fascinating way, skinnydragon uses repetition of words and phrases to emphasize the theme of the story in an almost hypnotic manner. Each and every word needs to be read slowly and deliberately, so don’t read this while rushed. Take your time to savor the excellence of the crafting of sentences. This short story had a deep impact on me. Both because of the story itself and because of the brilliant way it is written. It could all too easily have been simply an exercise in technique, but instead it leaves the reader feeling disturbed and upset at having entered someone’s mind. And not just anyone’s mind - a twisted mind that gives Brett Easton Ellis a run for his money. So when you read it, be prepared to carry it with you for a long time. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. It’s just that good. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama Tags: young adult, violent, dark Rating: Mature
  6. We hope everyone had a great weekend! Today is a "review" day and to help you start your week off, the review team has put together a special review featuring some stories by our Classic Authors. If you haven't read these, hopefully these reviews will make you want to add them to your reading list. A huge thank you goes out to the review team for helping keep the blog supplied with reviews. Sandy Altimexis Reviewer: Lisa Status: Complete Word Count: 11,123 Sandy’s so cute he steals every scene he’s in, which is great because he’s in all of them! Sandy is the narrator of this humorous, emotional, and heartwarming story. Sandy happens to be a golden retriever. Which is why, of course, I chose to read the story in the first place! Because who can resist reading a story from a dog’s POV? The story begins when Sandy is just a wee puppy and is given to a five-year-old boy named Timmy. Sandy and Timmy become inseparable. The story doesn’t get going until Sandy’s eight and Timmy’s thirteen. I’m not going to give away any spoilers, so I won’t tell you what happens at that point. I will tell you, however, what I loved about the story. I constantly found myself laughing at how Sandy describes things that we humans do, such as: 'Timmy got out of bed, leavin’ the covers all rumpled the way I like ’em, an’ he walked into his bathroom, lifted the seat on the big water bowl an’ let loose a steady stream. What a shame it was to waste a perfectly good bowl of water like that!’ And now I know why dogs love to drink the toilet water! Another endearing quality Sandy has is the way he leaves off all the ‘g’s and shortens the words ‘them’, ‘and’, along with many other words. I think it’s comical the way his ‘voice’ is written. Sandy, a Dog’s Tale is also a story about growing up and realizing you might not be right all of the time. It’s about coming to terms with the fact your life might not be all warm and cozy in that little box you squeezed you and your family in. And I’m talking about the adults in the story, not the kids! Put it on your “To Read List” if you need to, but definitely, check it out when you have time. It’s a really good story. Plus, how can you resist that cute dog on the front page?? Don’t you want to read all about him and his family? Category: Fiction Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance Tags: teen, gay, under 18, north america, animals, parents Rating: Mature Ticking Dabeagle Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 50,195 Starting a new school is never easy and Sean is nervous. Perhaps he has reason to be, as he finds himself thrust in the middle of students who are out of his league, at least financially. Sean is on an academic scholarship, coming from nothing and finding himself thrown into a very different world. Already on Day 1, he ends up in hot water, bumping into the resident bully and his sidekick. However, he also makes a friend that day, the instant way, by intervening in another fight. His new friend Harrison introduces him to his circle of friends at school and the story takes off. It takes us through a rollercoaster of events, shaking the lives of our protagonists. Like all of Dabeagle's stories, the characters are so well written you instantly feel like you know them. The story is told firmly with the voices of the young and show us the world through their eyes - a world where adults merely visit. The group of friends are witty and intelligent, the banter entertaining. The arrogance of youth can be annoying, but soon the reader gets to see the cracks in the façade. Beneath the superficial exterior, there are secrets this group of friends would rather not share with anyone. Dark, unsettling and infuriating secrets. How will that affect the friendship? The story is engrossing with a lightness and tempo to the writing that draws you in and keeps you going forward. Also, it doesn’t shy away from troubling subject matter, giving it a depth beyond the traditional “high school boy meets boy” stories. The varied vocabulary is a treat in itself, embellishing the story without turning it into a dictionary. So read it! Category: Fiction Genres: Romance, Mystery Tags: teen, gay, coming of age, crime Rating: Mature Desert Dropping DomLuka Reviewer: Spikey582 Status: Complete Word Count: 368,980 This is a story that I happened across just searching through completed stories on the site not long after I joined in 2015. Little did I know at the time, this is probably one of the better-known stories among those in the ‘classic’ category, and with good reason, as this is still my favorite among the exemplary writing of DomLuka. Sixteen-year-old Rory’s life gets turned upside down when he loses his mother to cancer. This might sound obvious, as a loss like that is bound to change anyone’s life. But for Rory, things change in ways he never expected. His mother’s dying wish is that, after she’s gone, Rory should go live with his father. A father he never met, and never knew anything about while his mother was still alive. Rory, without much say of his own, is whisked away from the only family he’s ever known --- his grandmother --- and shipped off to Arizona to start a new life among complete strangers. I can’t possibly give a full and fair synopsis of this amazing story in such a short review. That little summary of the inciting incident doesn’t even scratch the surface of what this story is about. It’s one part coming-of-age tale, one part coming-out story, one part family drama, and one part romance. There’s probably some other genres that cross over into this story as well. Suffice it to say, this story is packed full of something for everyone. Seriously, there’s a reason people still talk about this story a decade after it first posted. If you haven’t read anything by DomLuka, Desert Droppings is a great introduction to an awesome author. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: teen, anal, oral Rating: Mature Mistletoe and Handgrenades K.C. Reviewer: Litlover Status: Complete Word Count: 5,835 I’ve always been a fan of K.C.’s work and this story is no exception. It’s not a long tale, but --- pardon the pun --- it packs a wallop in only a few thousand words. This story is about AJ, a man who has just had his world blown apart by someone he thought loved him. As he picks his way through the pieces of his heart he receives more bad news that has him packing up and leaving his previous life behind. In his journey to rebuild, not only his life, but a home he’d once loved, he runs into someone from his past who brings with him fond memories of first loves and summertime kisses. I think my only issue with this story was the length; it was only one chapter. There was so much more I would have liked to know. I would recommend you read Mistletoe and Handgrenades yourself to find out what happens to AJ, although I warn you, by the end, you’ll want more. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: mature adult, gay, friendship, holiday Rating: Everyone The Summer of Aaron Luc Reviewer: Timothy M. Status: Complete Word Count: 21,854 Let me introduce you to one of the most poignant and beautiful stories which I read shortly after I joined GA. It never fails to squeeze my heart and bring tears to my eyes as I hold my breath and hope for love to conquer fear and the dreaded age gap. At the beginning of the story, Justin is contemplating jumping off a cliff, literally, but then he encounters Aaron who distracts him from the woes of having been dumped by his partner after fourteen years of catering to his wishes. The mutual attraction between the high school teacher and the eighteen-year-old is fairly obvious, but Justin knows all the reasons why he shouldn’t give in to temptation. He may be vulnerable, but he’s also sensible and honorable, two traits, which together with his kindness, make me admire him as he struggles with loneliness. The pace of the story is slow but every word pulls you deeper. Justin may find it easy to resist the offer of physical intimacy, but as the summer progresses so does their mutual closeness of mind and heart. Justin ends up at the mental cliff of whether to leap into the love and relationship offered by Aaron, for the summer or forever. Of all the stories by this Classic GA author, this is my absolute favorite, and I heartily recommend it. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: young adult Rating: Mature
  7. Well, we're at the start of another week and, to finish off the year, we are going to look at a story written by AC Benus called "Christmas at Famous-Barr". If you like what Timothy M has to say in the review, why not go check out the story and leave the author a review! Also, if you've read a story you've enjoyed lately, and would like to see it featured in the GA News Blog, simply shoot me a PM and send me a review. I'm always looking for reviews. Christmas at Famous-Barr AC Benus Reviewer : Timothy M. Status : Complete Word Count : 279,124 Who wants to get in the mood for Christmas? Or if you don’t celebrate Christmas you can simply enjoy a series of eight well-written and heartwarming tales with a most unusual main character. AC Benus’ impressive chronicle of Famous-Barr, a Saint Louis department store, takes us through more than a century, beginning in 1880 (story VIII) and ending in 2005 (story I). You can either read them chronologically, or you can read them in the order they were posted, starting with story III (Katie’s Sketchbook) from 1976 and my personal favorite story VI (It Had to Be Good) from 1929. It’s difficult to give justice to the huge amount of research AC did to get every detail right. There are pictures and links to documents and historical facts, both in the stories themselves, in the story topic, and in AC’s Famous-Barr blog, which are also well worth a visit. All of this is weaved together with an amazing set of main characters who capture our hearts as we follow their struggles to do the right thing and find love. Their stories will make you laugh and cry, whether the love is gay, straight, parental, sisterly, or even the love of working in a special place alongside your colleagues. Famous-Barr turns out to be an example of what we today would call an inclusive and socially aware work place. Long before corporate social responsibility, CSR, became a buzz word, this department store showed progressive thinking and behavior towards both employees and customers, irrespective of gender, race, and orientation. AC Benus depicts not only how narrow minds and tradition caused injustice but also how the influence of kind and clever Famousites (the nickname for the staff) made all the difference needed to set matters right. What better Christmas presents could you possibly get than acceptance and recognition of your worth as a human being? Now, before you get bored or scared off by all this philosophical stuff, let me assure you that Christmas at Famous-Barr has plenty of fun, tender, dramatic, and holiday-spirited moments. Not to mention vivid descriptions of the beautiful Santalands, Christmas window exhibitions, decorations, events, and presents, which are bound to make you either nostalgic or envious of the Saint Louis inhabitants and visitors who were lucky enough to experience these holiday miracles in person. Famous-Barr actually invented the concept of a department store Santa ! Visit Famous-Barr and find the true Christmas spirit of giving joy to those you love. No matter what your preference is, you’ll find a tale to suit your taste. Happy Holiday. Category: Fiction Genres: Historical, Comedy, Drama, Romance Tags: christmas, philosophy, psychology, parents, child, coming of age Rating: Everyone/Teen
  8. Monday, Monday, Monday. What could we possibly have for you on a Monday? Oh yeah! We have a new featured story for you. This week, courtesy of Lisa, we are taking a look at Confide/ant by Sasha Distan. Remember, if you're reading a story (or have read one) that you'd like to see featured in the blog, simply write a review and send it to me! Confide/ant Sasha Distan Reviewer: Lisa Status: Complete Word Count: 47,554 Sasha’s third most recent story centers around Marty, a sexy high school rock star (Hrishi’s words, not mine) and Hrishi, a short, geeky high school nerd computer freak (Marty’s words, not mine). Can these polar opposites find a common ground? Besides all the hot sex they’re engaged in. Oh no, not sex, “sexy stuff” is how Marty justifies it. Marty and Hrishi have this chemistry that jumps off the page. Even when they’re fighting and exchanging words (which is extremely often!), their chemistry is palpable. There is conflict, of course. It wouldn’t be a great story without conflict. Hrishi never hides who he is. Marty, on the other hand, spends his whole life hiding who he is. Hrishi refuses to be anyone’s dirty little secret, and he lets Marty know that in no uncertain terms. He is adamant they will never move forward physically, until Marty proves to him he’s not afraid to call out people who make homophobic slurs. Marty has a hard time doing this because he doesn’t want people to even think he’s anything but straight, and defending Hrishi against disparaging words might make others question him. Naturally, it’s Marty’s best friend and band mate, Leon, who makes the most homophobic comments. Can Mr. Rock Star defend Hrishi in front of others? Can he ever come out to his friends ─ to his family? Can the rock star and the computer nerd find happiness? Will they ever stop arguing? Inquiring minds want to know! And you will too if you read the story. Confide/ant is one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read. I loved it so much I never wanted it to end. In fact, I purposely waited seven months to read the last few chapters just to prolong the ending. This is a story I could read over and over ─ not because of the scorching hot sex, but because of the amazing chemistry Marty and Hrishi have together. If this were a published book, I’d be the first in line to buy it. Thank you, Sasha, for another awesome story! Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: young adult, adult, gay, fighting, parents, interracial Rating: Mature
  9. Well, it's the start of a new week, and for today's schedule, we're bringing you Puppilull's review of Personal Banking by Refugium. Featured story days are a great way to highlight one of the many stories that can be found in GA Stories. With so many stories, it's easy for a single story to get lost in the shuffle. If you're reading a story that you would like to do a blog review and bring attention to, PM me (Renee). Now, onto the review. Hopefully you enjoy Puppilull's review enough to go check out Personal Banking for yourself! Personal Banking Refugium Reviewer : Puppilull Status : Complete Word Count : 18,202 You know how sometimes you just want to escape for a little while? Go somewhere you can forget your everyday musts and simply have fun? But you don’t really have the time? If so, I have the perfect story for you! It’s humorous, sexy and the chapters are short enough to sneak in at a minibreak (or by all means, binge the whole thing at once…). The story is Personal Banking by Refugium and it’s about a man needing a loan to cover his debts. Sounds like you might as well look at your own, fun-filled life, doesn’t it? Well, only if your bank contacts consist of not one, but two very sexy loan officers who make your mind go to inappropriate places. The main character, Richard Andrews, is in trouble. He needs a loan to consolidate some debts he’s struggling with, but he doesn’t have any collateral. His attractive loan officer is willing to stretch the rules to give him the loan, provided Rich lives up to certain requirements—very specific requirements regarding his everyday life, such as no frivolous spending, no drinking and no drugs. And, of course, personal meetings once a week to ensure payments are being made to clear the debt. The loan officer Mr. Phillips turns out to be somewhat of a mystery man with an unclear agenda and a knack for confusing his client. Rich tries to be the perfect client but can’t help himself as he lusts after Mr. Phillips, trying to figure out if his bank man is in fact interested or merely polite. More than once, Rich loses himself in steamy daydreaming when he should be paying attention. And then there is the other guy, Jose, who leaves no question about where his interests lie. Maybe he’s the one Rich should be focusing his attention on? This story is written with an underlying humor that makes you giggle practically continuously. It’s lighthearted and quick paced which makes for the perfect distraction. At the same time, you feel strongly for the characters, especially Rich. A word of warning, though. Reading at a break at work would be ill-advised. There is some sex in this story—steamy sex that will have your cheeks turn at least a nice shade of pink. A slight element of dominance and submission adds to the tension between our characters. Throw in some jealousy and the cocktail gets rather potent. As a reader, you are kept in the dark about why Mr. Phillips makes Rich jump through all those hoops, and you are as puzzled as he is. His overactive imagination plays tricks on him as he interprets everything that happens as signs and then feels stupid when things turn out differently. The twists and turns of the story will make you jump to the next chapter and then the next, giving you pure reading fun. Category: Fiction Genres: Comedy, Drama Tags: mature adult, adult, gay, work place, urban, north america Rating: Mature
  10. Being the start of a new week, Monday's are also a good time to take a look at some of the different stories that can be found on Gay Authors. With so many great works, it can be easy to overlook one and Monday's provide an opportunity for us to help make one of them stand out and maybe catch your interest. Today, we're bringing you a review by AC Benus of Mikiesboy's story "Miss Silver Pretty-Pink Toes." Enjoy! Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes Mikiesboy Reviewer: AC Benus Status: Complete Word Count: 5,622 Mikiesboy’s range is pretty amazing. How many of us have thought of tackling a fairytale, and doing it old-school? In Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes you will encounter a beautiful goat who suffers a horrible fate: humanifacation! Her curse is to be set adrift among the caprice of mankind and to try to make her way back. Along the way, she meets unlikely love, and pure devotion – which she will need to return to her original form. We also meet a one-eyed goat, a massive slime-covered snapping turtle and an evil toad. In this highly original tales, many of Mikiesboy’s talents are called into use. There is poetry, fantasy, love and longing. There is also pain and confusion as some of the forces around Miss Silver act with malice. If you have not ventured into this remarkable fantasy world, please do. Like me, I think you soon be asking the author to create more imaginative tales along these lines. Category: Fiction Genres: Fantasy, Romance Tags: magic, sorcery, witchcraft, wizards, no sex, friendship Rating: Everyone
  11. First off, Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian members. I hope you have a wonderful holiday! Now, it's time for a story review! Let's take a look at what we have for you on this Monday morning. Wicked Witch provided us with this great review on our newest Signature Author, Headstall. We hope you enjoy the review on Morningstar: The Malaise, and if you haven't already read it, hopefully this review will inspire you to do so. Morningstar: The Malaise by Headstall Reviewer : Wicked Witch Status : Complete Word Count : 227,645 When Kellar found out he was a wolf shifter, he was alone in the world. After every one of his kind he met refused to talk to him, he became an island. Estranged from all, Kellar retreated to his little piece of the world, and lived a lonely but peaceful existence. Then he met Tobyn, the first shifter who answered his questions. And the peaceful existence was subsumed in following the mystery of the malaise and finding love and somewhere to belong along the way. With a few surprises. Headstall’s recently completed Morningstar: The Malaise quickly became one of my favourite stories as I followed the journey of the characters. And such a journey it was! Headstall provided more than a few twists along the way as the characters and the world grew. Action, romance and adventure spread out ahead of Kellar and Tobyn. The Morningstar world is interesting and well thought out, however this story's shining light are the characters. They’re interesting, they have troubles and conflicts, they grow as people throughout the story. And just when you think their journey is complete, they prove to you that they have many more interesting things to show you, the reader. You get to follow them through ups and downs and heart stopping moments, and sweet happiness at times that makes you smile with them. I commend Headstall for managing to avoid many of the pitfalls of werewolf stories and provide an intrigue twist on the usual fare. If you enjoy the paranormal/supernatural, you’ll love this one. Or if you haven’t had a chance to get your toes wet in the realm of fantasy stories, here is a perfect place to start. Category: Fiction Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery Tags: young adults, were creatures, gay, first time, anal, oral Rating: Mature
  12. I hope everyone had a great weekend, but now it's time to start off a new week. A great way to start the week is to take a look at a story that can be found on Gay Authors. Today's feature is Alex and Zach by Greg_A. Aditus was nice enough to provide us with this great review. If you haven't already done so, maybe it will inspire you to take a look. If you do, don't forget to leave Greg_A some reviews. Enjoy! Alex and Zach By Greg_A Reviewer: aditus Status: Complete Word Count: 108,013 Almost every time GA members have been asked to recommend a/their favorite story, Greg_A’s Alex and Zach has made the list. So, one rainy Saturday, I finally read it—all in one go. The story starts with Alex and Zach having a car accident. Luckily, nothing too bad happens, and the reader is compensated for the initial shock with a flashback showing Zach wearing a sexy pirate costume: ‘black half-pants...made of a shiny, satiny material that was very clingy, nearly melding to his skin’. Not only that, but the accident leads to Alex and Zach confiding their love for each other. Happily ever after, right? Wrong! A nagging that can’t be all is put front and center when Alex’s father makes a reluctant Zach call his parents to tell them about the accident. His mother’s only concern is that she and her husband might have to cancel their trip to visit Zach’s brother Mike. We slowly get an idea of why Zach was so sad on his birthday that he didn’t want a party, but just to get drunk by himself. During the ongoing story, we learn how deeply Zach has been, and still is, hurt by his family. It makes him doubt anyone could ever love him, even Alex.Alex and Zach has it all: sad moments contrast with happy ones, scathing words with witty dialogue—one moment I wanted to hit someone upside their head, the next I had to laugh out loud. Next time someone asks me to recommend a story, Alex and Zach will be definitely on my list. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: gay, roommates, coming of age, coming out, love Rating: Mature
  13. Today we have a treat for you! You don't just get one review, you get (counts)...eight! Gay Authors has always managed to remain free to its members, one of the ways that it has managed to do so is through its Premium Subscribers. Members choose to help support the site and keep it going by purchasing Premium Content which consists of a number of stories that are only available on the site by purchasing Premium. There are many great stories to be found in the Premium section, and today, the review team has decided to share some of their favorites. Broken Prince and Mismatched Eyes layla Reviewer: LitLover Word Count: 117,309 Broken Prince and Mismatched Eyes by Layla is one of my favourites on this site. It’s the story of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, pain, betrayal and ultimately finding love, trust and acceptance. The two main characters, Caden and Rhys, are good men facing trials in their lives not of their own making. Rhys had an accident, which left him with a badly injured leg, and a permanent limp. Since the accident he’s felt like a shadow of his former self and tends to lash out at those close to him when he feels hurt or threatened. Rhys also has a terrible habit of assuming everyone thinks less of him, and immediately goes on the defensive whenever he meets anyone new. Caden is a shy, reserved man who is often perceived as aloof to those who don’t know him well. His best and only friends in the world are his two large dogs. Because he’s been ostracized by his stepmother and the household staff, and all but ignored by his father his whole life, Caden tends to retreat into himself: walking the wild moors of his home as a near mute, rather than engaging with those around him. Faced with the prospect of an arranged marriage to one another it’s an uphill climb to get past their own insecurities before they can even make the effort to scale each other’s protective walls. Complicating matters along their journey to find love and trust, they face betrayal and outside attempts to destroy their fledgling relationship. Broken Prince and Mismatched eyes is a twenty-two chapter roller coaster ride of emotions but, in my opinion, the journey and the angst are worth every second. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Historical, Romance Tags: mature adult, adult, gay, serious, love Rating: Mature Coin in the Fountain comicfan Reviewer: Timothy M. Word Count: 6,844 Let me start out by saying you should not expect a HEA when reading this fairy tale. Comicfan rips away the sugary, Disneyfied glamour of magic and love, and we’re faced with the much darker and primeval version of the Old World fairy tales found in the Grimm Brothers’ collections and the later writings of the famous Dane H.C. Andersen. Here, selfish fools pay the price, and the cautious may escape danger by heeding the warnings of the old crone. Never look back – don’t eat and drink with the fey – avoid the easy shortcuts – don’t mess with magic – beware the butterfly effect. The story revolves around the ancient concept of wishing wells and the risk of making the wrong wish. But comicfan renews the tradition and brings it into the modern world. One family member in each of three generations faces the severe and permanent consequences of their choice. Did I feel sorry for them? No, actually not. I shook my head in sadness, but the logic was inescapable. Originally, fairy tales were told as warnings and moral guidelines, and this story follows the proud tradition. The story makes us ask difficult questions like: Would I be able to resist the temptation? Would I believe in old wives’ tales? Would I try to circumvent the conditions of the wishing well? Would I do the right thing, when my wish went awry? Read the story and tell us your answers. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance Tags: teen, magic, gay, north america, modern Rating: Everyone Comfort Only RCMills Reviewer: Timothy M. Word count: 52,560 Are you a fan of Dayne Mora’s E.P.I.C. stories? Then I bet you’ll like Comfort Only, which displays the same wit and catchy phrases. Especially the first chapters left me chuckling and reading the same sentences several times, to admire the brilliant word play. Judging by the comments left on the story I’m not the only one to regularly. There are several well-known story elements here. The chatty and bratty BFF, who unbeknownst to himself makes a crucial difference in the life of a repressed guy with a difficult home life. The obnoxiously selfish but witty guy who pokes wicked fun at his (of course) irritating roommate, his ex-girlfriend, his teachers, his best friend’s younger brother and anyone else he feels deserves it. But we forgive him, because his caustic wit is also used against himself, and his loyalty to his best friend knows no limits. There’s also an über-intelligent nerd, a mega-annoying girlfriend who sees nothing wrong with ‘kissing’ all her ex-boyfriends, a metrosexual fashionista, an unexpected love twist, and some painfully hot sex. But RCMills blends all of these elements in breath-taking ways which at times leave you as confused and gob-smacked as the main character, whose POV we follow. There is no traditional happy ending, yet I was left with the hope that love would prevail and dreams come true. Comfort Only was one of the unexpected bonus stories which made me feel I got extra value for my Premium membership. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama Tags: college, anal, oral, psychology, modern Rating: Mature Do Over dkstories Reviewer: Spikey582 Word Count: 303,971 What if you could go back in time and relive your childhood a second time, only this time with full knowledge of all the things that went wrong the first time? That is essentially the basic premise of Do Over by dkstories. In an experiment gone wrong, Davey Jones, a man in his 30s, has his consciousness transported back into his twelve-year-old body. There are a ton of themes and conflicts presented throughout this story. Davey, a man living in 2004, goes back to 1981, with all the memories of growing up in this era. At first, the conflict mostly hinges on Davey wondering if and when his mind will be brought back into the future. When he starts to realize that will never happen, he is presented with multiple conflicts of what horrible tragedies he should try to prevent. He tries first within his own family, and then with his memories of the era, world events. How much should he change? Will the changes he makes be for the better, or for the worse? This very brief synopsis of the plot barely scratches the surface of the themes and events covered in this tale: the AIDS crisis, which was in its earliest and darkest days (then known as the “gay plague”); there’s the anti-gay politics of the era with the Moral Majority; the gay rights movement; and, of course, the most prevalent conflict of the era -- the Cold War. All of which Davey, with his knowledge and attitudes of the future, gets thrust right in the midst of. I think what I liked most about this story was that it had such a mix of genres. It was an alternate-history story, a coming of age story, a romance, and an action/adventure story, all rolled into one. Spanning 40 chapters, this story has a lot to offer. So check it out; you won’t be disappointed. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi Tags: gay, alternate earth, coming of age, 20th century Rating: Mature In Enemy Hands M.A. Church Reviewer: Puppilull Word Count: 78,128 A handsome prince on a space mission vital to the survival of his planet meets a tall, dark and equally handsome stranger. Sounds like the start of a true romance novel, right? But what if both of our protagonists behave a bit like arrogant bastards, neither wanting to show any weakness in front of the other? And what if the stranger is in fact a highly skilled assassin with possible vampiric tendencies belonging to a very reclusive race known for not taking any prisoners? And he captures said prince, holding him against his will? That would throw quite a few spanners in the works for possible romance…. Meet Prince Varo, brought up in a culture of tough warriors and expected to be even tougher than most. After his mission goes awry, he crashes in his spaceship in an attempt at final glory. With no such luck and after ending up in the worst possible situation, he knows he has to do his utmost to get away. If only to appease his more than slightly insane father. The only problem is someone else is equally hellbent on keeping him there. Enter Adlar, a highly skilled warrior and fighter, who realizes just what a treasure Varo truly is. On more than one level. M.A. Church manages to keep the tension between Varo and Adlar without turning either of them into silly caricatures of romance protagonists. Throughout the book, there is an undercurrent of need and want, push and pull that is definitely sexy but there is much more to story. These two characters lead us through an intriguing dance, although without much of the usual misunderstanding and doubt. Our guys actually talk to each other, eventually at least. When they aren’t busy trying to fight for dominance. Or fighting their need to submit… And what a lovely fight it is. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi Tags: aliens, gay, off-planet, space, fighting, future Rating: Mature MetaWolf Series JohnAR Reviewer: Puppilull Word Count: 998,294 Anyone who’s spoken to me for more than five seconds knows I have a serious addiction problem. My addiction is the amazing MetaWolf series by JohnAR. It’s a series of eight books, or actually nine if you include the prompt collection (and you have to include the prompt collection to really get to know these characters). It’s the story of lonely nerd Colt, very smart but not very liked. As he escapes his past to college, he hopes his life will turn around. With no such luck, he resigns himself to simply enduring the last years of college. Then he encounters three guys who change his world. Not only on a personal level, but his whole view of the world. He is brought into the eternal fight between wolf shifters and vampires. As he and his wolves struggle to figure out how to incorporate an odd nerd as their Meta (i e the one calling the shots, out-ranking even the Alpha), their pack gains wolf after wolf, growing in strength and preparing for their fate. All this while having to battle vampire attacks and other dangerous situations. From there, the story unfolds in many unexpected ways. Meta can be read in different ways. It can be read as an action story of a man and his hunky wolves, with all the fighting and naughty sex. Who doesn’t like some hot, kinky action once in a while? If that is your fancy, not many do it better than JohnAR. It is also the story of a group of men, all pushed around by life and mistreated in various ways, learning how to trust and eventually love each other. This personal journey of our guys had me crying more than once, and I feel a definite connection to Colt and his life as a smart but not very popular person. One big part of Meta is trying to figure out what it all means. Throughout the series, there are clues and red herrings distributed liberally. The story incorporates various myths and historic events, from ancient Greece, parts of Asia and also more recent times. For a true nerd, this is like an Easter egg hunt. Each little detail you manage to figure out, makes you go “Ha!” and feel very pleased with yourself. Then at the end you’ll go “Huh?” and realize you have to reread the whole series to really get what it’s about. But don’t let the nerdness discourage you from reading. Above all, this is a series about love, loyalty, friendship, courage and determination. You will fall in love with at least one of the wolves, quite possibly more. And even though I have very strong feelings about Colt, I realize he’s not the easiest character to fall in love with. However, I have no doubt you’ll root for him and want what’s best for him. After all, if a pack of wolf shifters make him the center of their world, he can’t be all bad? Category: Fiction Genres: Mystery Tags: were-creatures, vampire, adult, gay, fetish, menage Rating: Mature Ship Logs of the Santa Claus Mann Ramblings Reviewer: Renee Stevens Word Count: 200,394 If I wasn’t already a fan of Mann Ramblings, this series would have changed that. The Ship Logs of the Santa Claus consists of three books at the moment: The Luxorian Fugitive, A Cook’s Tale, and Priest & Pariah. If I’m being honest, this review is hard to write. Not because I didn’t enjoy the stories, I did, but reviewing it as a series is difficult because each story has a different feel and what works for one wouldn’t really work for the others. Mann Ramblings has done a wonderful job building a true community of flawed individuals and making us empathize with each and every one as they struggle to accept and overcome the various obstacles put in their path. And there are a lot of obstacles! So, what is this series about? Well, let’s take a look at it. Needing an escape following a devastating civil war on Alpha Centauri, Captain Marc Danverse has created a life for himself and his crew on board the Santa Claus, a cargo vessel that travels through space transporting various cargo, and occasionally passengers. The one thing that sets the Santa Claus apart from other ships? The rule of no women and no hetero on board. That’s right, no women or straight men allowed. Marc has his reasons, and takes a lot of flak for the rule, but it creates a very accepting community for his crew to live in. Sure, there are issues like there is everywhere else, but the one thing no one has to worry about is being judged for preferring other men. But these stories aren’t just about Marc, in fact, Marc plays a supporting role for the most part. Instead, the three Santa Claus stories focus on his crew as they work their way through a number of obstacles. Whether it’s nightmares, medical issues, violence, guilt, self-image, or just memories of the past, the men of the Santa Claus work to persevere over the injustices life has thrown at them. If you decide to read Mann’s Ship Logs of the Santa Claus series, which I highly recommend you do, prepare yourself to run through a gamut of emotions. If you’re anything like me, there will be times you laugh, cry, and shake your head at the antics of the Santa Claus crew. But when all is said and done, you’ll hopefully be cheering for them as they each work toward making a better life for themselves. And when it ends, if you’re like me, you’ll be anxiously waiting to see whose story Mann will tell next. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi Tags: mature adult, gay, psionics, anal, military, future, bdsm Rating: Mature Social Skills Sara Alva Reviewer: Aditus Word Count: 105,010 There always comes this moment where I remember a scene from Sara Alva’s Social Skills, and I can’t resist looking it up, then I wind up reading just a few more pages and before I know it, I’m at the end! The story draws me in every time. So, why is that? The main plot is quickly told: Connor, a shy, diligent college freshman, plays the violin in the student orchestra. He meets Jared while tutoring football players who need to keep up their grades. They fall in love, they fall out of love… But will they be together in the end? The question What comes next? was always present on my mind while reading the book. It spurred me on until I turned the last page, still out of breath. However, it’s these wonderful, multifaceted characters who come alive in my head and never let me forget them that make Social Skills so special to me. I suffer with Connor, who bravely battles social anxiety and general awkwardness with the help of his music—and later with Jared’s love. I feel for Jared, who is conflicted, as he wants to live up to his recently-deceased father’s legacy as a successful football player, even though he knows he will never be as good as his dad. Then there is his sexuality. For Connor, Jared not only acknowledges he is gay, but acts on it for the first time, albeit in secrecy. Well-developed side characters underpin the events perfectly, bringing out certain aspects of the main characters, and generally spicing up the story. Rebecca, Connor’s stand partner in the orchestra, who became Connor’s best friend almost from the minute they met, is my all-time favorite. She is nosy, meddlesome, supportive, and inspiring. She is also a perfect role model for Connor, embracing her otherness instead of fighting it. I could go on and tell you about Ronnie, Ray, Tate, A.J., and Beth, but you have to see for yourself how they pull the plot in different directions. There is one other aspect of Social Skills I really like. It’s the familiarity with the campus—buildings, secret passages, routines described as only an insider can know. It makes the story much more genuine. Oh, I almost forgot the music. You should listen to it while reading the story. It’s perfect; each piece sets the respective scene. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: young adult, gay, first time, coming of age, music, modern Rating: Mature
  14. Well, it's Christmas Eve. Hope everyone is ready and if you celebrate, hopefully Santa visits you tonight. Make sure you're in bed early! To help you get into the holiday spirit, we asked the review team to pick some of their favorite Christmas/Holiday stories and write a short review. If you haven't already read these stories, they are definitely worth checking out. And maybe, if you have an extra moment or two during a lull in the festivities, leave the authors a story review! Now, I'm going to leave these with you as I finish with the preparations for Baby J's very first Christmas! Merry Christmas from the Gay Authors Staff Last Christmas Comicfan Reviewer: Parker Owens Status: Complete Word Count: 10,821 There are so many good things to say about this story, I’m not sure where to begin. That’s probably why it’s a favorite Christmas tale. For one thing, it’s about healing, a theme toward which I naturally gravitate. The central character, Frank, has suffered traumatic loss after traumatic loss. Tragedy and misfortune have taken so much away. He’s changed his profession from trainer to artisan; now he ekes out a living selling the products of his hands. He’s numbed by it all and seems beaten down by life. Yet something stirs inside Frank when Chris walks into his store. We see a friendship unfold and something potentially wonderful begin to flower for Frank. What warms the heart is watching Frank thaw, seeing him reclaim himself from his pain. The reader can cheer him on, willing Frank to see what ought to be plain. Of course, isn’t that an experience common to so many of us? We miss something splendid and incredible right under our noses, just as Frank does. Fortunately, he finds the courage to reach for that very thing, only to see it become something far more fantastic than he expected. Category: Fiction Genres: Fantasy, Romance Tags: gay, love, brothers, holiday Rating: Everyone Meeting Santa Wildone Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 3,287 Christmas… The time for cheer and goodwill toward all. However, the sweetness of the season can put you in a foul mood, just for being too much and sometimes fake. If this happens, I would prescribe an antidote in the form of Meeting Santa, a story devoid of Christmas coziness. It revolves around a man hellbent on proving Santa exists, and he has some big plans for the jolly, old man if or when they meet. Anticipation builds throughout the short story and your curiosity will mount for every paragraph. With a few, well selected lines, Wildone outlines his main character, a man who is rather bitter. Instead of letting the injustice of life paralyze him, he’s taking action. As an added bonus, the story will teach you quite a bit about what preparations and equipment are needed for a trek to the North pole. Category: Fiction Genres: Adventure Tags: mature adult, no sex, modern, holiday, christmas Rating: Mature Muscle Bear Santa Carlos Hazday Reviewer: Timothy M. Status: Complete Word Count: 2,992 If you like stories with lots of banter between hunky guys, Muscle Bear Santa is the perfect choice. Plus the banner will probably make you wish for a Christmas Night visit from this special Santa – or any night he’s free. Enjoy the warm feeling of spending time with two great guys who care about each other and people around them. Category: Fiction Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance Tags: young adult, adult, gay, north america, light-hearted, christmas Rating: Mature Rudolph's Tijuana X-mas Mann Ramblings Reviewer: Renee Stevens Status: Complete Word Count: 5,599 I kind of forgot how twisted this tale really was until I re-read it for this review blog. We all push the limits sometimes, and Mann Ramblings is no exception, which he clearly shows in this little tale. A moment of jealousy, peppermint schnapps, a riot, and a scandal that ruins Christmas send Rudolph far from the North Pole to escape the chaos. Sounds a bit messed up, right? Well, that’s because it is. I guarantee that after reading about Rudolph’s Christmas, you won’t look at Santa, Rudolph, or the elves in the same way as you did previously. At least, that’s the general consensus among those who have already read Rudolph's Tijuana X-mas. Mann freely admits that brandy may have been involved when he wrote this little Christmas tale, though he claims that was the only mind-altering substance involved. Regardless, this little tale will have you shaking your head and laughing out loud from the first word to the last. Category: Fiction Genres: Comedy, Fantasy Tags: mature adult, celebrity, 20th century, holiday Rating: Mature Santa's Little Helper craftingmom Reviewer: Blind Ambition Status: Complete Word Count: 5,674 The true spirit of Christmas is often lost in the commercialism and capitalism that we so often see during the holiday season. Christmas is a time to share with family and friends. A time to cherish past memories. More importantly, Christmas is a time to give of your time and heart. Craftingmom reminds us of these simple things in Santa's Little Helper, as we see the unfolding story of Chase. An innocent, bright-eyed child asking the mall Santa for a larger car to sleep in. How will Dean, Santa's aide, provide a little spirit and hope to Chase and his father Tony? This is a heart-warming story that represents the true magic of the holiday. A reminder of compassion, love, and empathy. Humanity at its best! Category: Fiction Genres: Drama Tags: child, young adult, gay, christmas Rating: Everyone The Sweater Valkyrie Reviewer: Aditus Status: Complete Word Count: 1,152 For Dean and Tommy everything starts with a joke, which then becomes their first Christmas tradition. Add another family member, and some more well-loved rituals and routines, and you have an amazing Holiday season to look forward to every year. Until everything changes and the bliss of the past seems to be out of reach. Their daughter Ashley thinks she has found the solution. By gift-wrapping the joke that started it all, she hopes to free all the beautiful memories locked away, and pave the way into a hopeful future. On a personal note: I couldn’t help buying an unbelievably kitschy novelty mug, big enough for the first portion of much needed coffee on Christmas Morning. Category: Fiction Genres: Historical, Romance Tags: holiday, christmas Rating: Mature Since this is the last review for the year, I just wanted to take a moment to thank the review team. You all are awesome, and I so appreciate your hard work and the time that you have spent providing me with reviews for the blog. I look forward to working with all of you in 2019! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and the absolute best in the coming year. Thank you, again.
  15. Welcome to another Monday! While Monday's might be the start of your work week, there is also a bright spot, at least on THIS Monday. Today we have a review from Cole Matthews on Valkyrie's in progress story, The Hollow Hills. Just a reminder, if you'd like to bring some attention to a story that you're reading, you are more than welcome to write a blog review for it! We do have a review team, but we also welcome reviews from members outside of the review team. If you're interested in reviewing a story for the blog, please message @Timothy M. to sign up for an available review slot. The Hollow Hills Valkyrie Reviewer: Cole Matthews Status: In Process Word Count: 86,114 Writers dream in stories. We fantasize about scenes, conjure characters to people them, and fill their fictional lives with events and emotions. That’s what a writer does to create a truth of their own. Readers indulge in a writer’s fancy, digging deeply into the words and images conveyed. A reader interprets a writer’s words and the characters come alive. At least that’s what happens when reading a story like “The Hollow Hills” by Valkyrie. This is Valkyrie’s introduction of the story to the reader. This story centers around The Hollow Hills - a horse farm in Vermont - and Galen and Joshua. Galen moves to New England after breaking up with his boyfriend and meets Josh. Their relationship is anything but easy, with many obstacles standing in their way. When tragedy strikes, they need to learn how to redefine their lives and live with the after-effects. The story seems pretty straight-forward. It’s not. Galen and Josh both have rich personal histories. Each man’s past affects their actions and reactions. These characters are steeped in pain, happiness, love, and fear, and they struggle to make their lives better. Surrounding these men are other characters, both loving and deeply flawed. They provide the kind of contour and texture that makes both men feel like people we know. In fact, I can identify with these guys personally. They are that real. The story is called “The Hollow Hills,” which is the setting for this drama. However, Valkyrie has managed to make this horse farm another actor in the story. The ranch is the place where Galen and Josh meet and interact, but those interactions take on a greater meaning as the farm becomes a protector. The horses too, are integral parts of the story as both men learn to heal with their help. So far, I’ve only described the setting, the story outline, and the theme. The story is so much more, so let’s take a look. Here is an excerpt from the first chapter, from Galen’s perspective. Galen’s past is still part of him. He’s struggling with the loss of his partner, Jamie, and yet he’s not alone. The man has a cousin, Liam, who is there for him like a brother. Jamie left him therefore Galen is dealing with waves of self-doubt and a crisis of confidence. He’s determined to move on though. Then, Galen meets Josh, and feels a striking attraction. Josh has a boyfriend, but that doesn’t prevent Galen from experiencing an interest in him. And vice versa. In chapter four, we begin to see the world through Josh’s eyes. Let’s take a peek. Josh also has a past filled with love and disappointment that he carries with him. His boyfriend, Roger, is a person he believes is good for him. The thrill of being around Galen is tempered by his love for his partner. Josh’s housemate at the ranch is Alannah, who can’t stand Roger. She’s a warm, no-nonsense woman, and something makes her view their relationship critically. What could that be the reason? You’ll have to read the story to find out. “The Hollow Hills” is written in first person from Galen and Josh’s perspectives. It’s set in modern times and I would characterize it as a novel. It contains some very disturbing content, so if you avoid stories with violence or depression, this isn’t the book for you. Valkyrie is finishing the last couple of chapters so it will be complete shortly. If you want a moving, emotional story you can sink your teeth into, you will enjoy “The Hollow Hills.” It’s worth the wild ride. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: adult, rape, animals Rating: Mature
  16. Who's ready for another story review? You're in luck then, as Puppilull has prepared one for lomax61's Twelve Gays of Christmas! Before we get to the review though, we would really like if a member of the community would be willing to provide a review for the December slot. The review team is working on a special treat for everyone and if someone could sign up, that would be awesome! If you're interested in getting one of your favorite stories some attention, send a message to @Timothy M. Now, onto the review! Twelve Gays of Christmas lomax61 Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 53,556 I can’t believe it! It’s that time of year already. The holiday season, where all shall twinkle along with the tinsel and stars, all happy and cozy, fa-la-laing in joyous harmony as fluffy snowflakes gently blanket the world outside. Except not all Christmases live up to those standards. When your husband has left you, for a woman no less, your circle of friends is falling apart and nothing seems to be going the way you planned – what do you do? You get on with it, of course! What else? Trevor is not about to let a deserting husband, friends away in far off places, breakup of his best friend, and death of another dear friend stop him from celebrating Christmas as they have been for the past years. The plans will go ahead or he’ll be forced to admit defeat. And he is not defeated. Sticking to their plans, the remaining gang with a few add-ons departs to a remote location in Scotland for the holidays. Off they go, this motley crew of old friends, new acquaintances taking the places of others, among them Trevor’s ex and Mary, the new woman. Yes, his rival will be joining them for the celebrations. Does this sound like an excellent idea? No, I didn’t think so either… Of course, there are arguments already from the get go, when Mary turns out to be a bit demanding to put it mildly. But in the midst of all the drama, the son of the landlord shows up. Enter the delicious Rudy. Trevor is instantly smitten, but what will Rudy think? And what is lurking in his not so distant past? Twelve Gays of Christmas is a fun but heartfelt read. You get the Christmas feel and also the romance to warm your cold evenings. The characters are well written, both the ones you root for and the ones you mostly want to hit over the head with a snow shovel. I found the villains also have some redeeming traits, even if I was pretty much alone in feeling sympathy for the Supervillain of the story (read to see who that is…). This keeps them from being cardboard cut outs and instead are people you can somehow understand. Most of all it’s a nice read, perfect for an evening in with some tea, a warm blanket and a crackling fire. It will set you in the right mood for Christmas. And perhaps add a slight longing for just a little more romance and drama in your own life… So unwrap this story as your own special Christmas treat. You are worth it! Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: mature adult, gay, rural, anal, serious, celebrity, modern, christmas Rating: Mature
  17. A very popular story in its day, many of our current readers might not have read this latest story to be reviewed by the team combing through the stories on the site to bring you recommendations like Pour Me Another by K.C. A winner of a Reader's Choice Award from when we polled site members for their favorite story content, see if spikey582 agrees with the voters and would have chosen K.C.'s story back then too! Pour Me Another K.C. Reviewer: spikey582 Status: Complete Word Count: 72,802 Last year when we did our review feature on Classic author stories, I knew at the time that I really wanted to do a review for more than one story. Unfortunately, at the time, I didn’t have enough time to get more than one story covered, so I’ve been wanting to go back through the GA archives and find another somewhat forgotten gem to draw attention to. That being said, I was happy to run across this story by K.C. that I actually had forgotten I read back in my first year on GA. In Pour Me Another, we are introduced to one Asher Burkhart, an openly gay bartender working in an upscale business center. At the same time, we’re introduced to Michael Waters, a seemingly straight, arrogant businessman, and frequent patron of the very bar in which Asher works. A series of encounters early on in the story, in which Asher finds himself rendering aid to Michael more than once sets a pattern of these two men to cross paths again and again. As they continue to meet and interact, both men are taken on a journey of discovery together. We are treated to the ups and downs of their interactions, as they get to know each other and we get to discover who they truly are right along with them. What I really enjoyed about this story was how well K.C. develops both characters. They have a depth to them, and they have to overcome some seemingly insurmountable challenges through their journey. This story handles some pretty heavy issues, and complicated situations, and does so in a subtle way. A simple boy-meets-boy story this is not. I’m not sure I can do this story justice in such a short synopsis for how good it really is. It is engaging right from the first chapter, and had me binging to read what happens next, even upon revisiting the story just this last month. Something I thought was interesting upon rereading this story was a notation on the title page. Pour Me Another was the winner of the 2013 Readers Choice Award for Best Story by a Promising Author. I joined GA in 2015, and as far as I am aware, there hasn’t been such an award voted on since joining. So, this is something that apparently was done on the site a few years ago. Either way, Pour Me Another was very deserving of such an award. It’s a great read, so go check it out. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: gay, urban, anal, masturbate, oral, modern Rating: Mature
  18. One thing many readers have in common here on GA is that, at one time or another, we've had to grapple with the fact that we're not quite what everyone expects us to be when we're growing up. We're different. But others can't tell. And sometimes, when you're reading, that's a good thing! There are a lot of teen coming-of-age stories on GA, but BlindAmbition really connected with this one for his review. Read on to find out why! Losing Kevin Ronyx Reviewer: BlindAmbition Status: Complete Word Count: 57,913 Choosing a story to read can be difficult, whether you’re craving a certain genre, or a specific mood. Deciding which story to review can be just as difficult. GA has a vast library of stories and authors. I gravitate more to stories that evoke reaction, or real emotion. Losing Kevin by Ronyx is one of those stories. This story has your typical teenage angst, but there's so much more complexity within these characters and their relationships. It’s a binge worthy pleasure from one of GA’s Classic Authors. Losing Kevin centers on Kevin Williams. A boy who is coming to terms with his sexuality, and what exactly that means for him going forward. A difficult moment for any teenager. Add in his identical twin Devin, and well, it’s a recipe for disaster. The brothers have become increasingly distant as they grow older. Kevin is a master at blending in and keeping secrets, while Devin is Mr. Popularity juggling a social climbing girlfriend. The only thing these two have in common is pleasing a demanding father. Each has their own way of dealing with him. This has created a certain level of sibling rivalry. Kevin has kept a low profile. That was until new student Cameron Lynch enters the picture. There’s instant chemistry. Something which hasn’t gone unnoticed. Brewing storms from multiple fronts are ahead for Kevin and Cameron. The realization of secrets and truths will pit brother against brother, friend against friend, parent against parent, parent against child in this complex tale. Ronyx masterfully dissects these relationships layer by layer, giving the reader multiple views of situations. He does this with extreme neutrality, leaving the reader the opportunity to form their own opinion. I’m usually not a fan of too many teenage coming of age tales. Ronyx is an exception. He tackles tough and taboo subjects. Sometimes the issues are hard to read about, but they are handled with an honest and delicate curiosity. The teen characters are well formed individuals. You know they are teens, but there is a level of maturity there. Losing Kevin is a good introduction to Ronyx’s stories if you’ve never delved into his library of work. Happy Reading! Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: teen, gay, coming of age, university Rating: Mature
  19. Well, happy Monday! Are those groans I hear? Well, hopefully you will either survive, if you're checking this blog before work or you obviously managed to make it through the day if you're home and hopefully relaxing. And what better way than to first read this review by LitLover of this eko tale written by our very own Promising author, Craftingmom? Blood of the Neko craftingmom Reviewer: LitLover Status: Complete Word Count: 61,158 Blood of the Neko is the sequel to the very popular Tears of the Neko by Craftingmom. This is a story about love, loyalty, and most of all, trust and how easily trust can be damaged. I’ve had a hard time reading stories about abused characters, but there was something about Kaden that drew me in and had me impatient for this sequel. Kaden is a young Neko hybrid; people who in this world appear part feline, with ears and a tail, and the agility of a cat. In Tears of the Neko Kaden was a slave, purchased as a gift for a nobleman. His sweet and loyal demeanor quickly endeared him to the household and to his new master, who eventually becomes his lover. In Blood the new lovers are learning how to live together as a couple and Kaden is adjusting to his freedom and life as the consort of a powerful lord. Kaden, fiercely protective of those he loves, decides he want to learn how to properly fight so he can protect Damien if he’s ever attacked again. Knowing his duke would disapprove putting himself in harms way, he decides to keep his lessons a secret. Damien, still smarting from his brother’s deception, immediately thinks the worst when he realizes his young lover is keeping secrets. The seeds of doubt fester as the days go by, resulting in angry accusations, a devastated hybrid and a kidnapping. The whole thing leads to an exciting ending that I won’t spoil for you. You’ll have to read the story yourself to see how everything plays out. Blood of the Neko is a story that pulled me in and had me wanting to wrap Kaden in a protective hug, while smacking Damien on more than one occasion. Warning; there is reference to abuse of a child in this story and it does involve physical abuse in the present day. It won’t be a story for everyone, but I think if you give this series, and this tale in particular, a chance you won’t be disappointed. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance Tags: young adult, alternate earth, serious, renaissance, love, abuse Rating: Mature
  20. This week we're featuring a story by one of GA's Classic authors, one that isn't quite finished based on the story status (always important to check if you have a preference). Good thing we have a lot of ways to filter stories. Even better than just doing a search for stories, are these great reviews by our very own review team. And today's review of Duncan Ryder's story is by Parker Owens. Let's see what he thought of How The Light Gets In. How The Light Gets In Duncan Ryder Reviewer: Parker Owens Status: In process (= unfinished) Word Count: 91,687 The lives of two young men who have known too much darkness in their lives intersect. They and their friends search for relief, and for healing. This is a sequel to the excellent story Everybody’s Wounded, but it can stand alone. How the Light Gets In is the second in a two-part novella. In the first part, Everybody’s Wounded, we meet three of the four central characters in part two. Even so, How the Light Gets In is the more powerful, more compelling of the two halves, perhaps because the reader is given deeper insight into the dark night of hurt which haunts each one. Readers should be warned that this story deals with very problematic subjects: rape and suicide. Ryder writes about these things with considerable and commendable care and compassion for his characters. The two central personalities, Luc and Matt are returning to university in deeply unhappy circumstances. Each is enveloped in his own inky well of gloom. Josh and Scott, students at the same university, are lovers. They, too, have a history of hurt. These four men share interlocking stories and injury and love. The tale unwinds some of these, while each man slowly gravitates through his own ache to that place in the dark where he realizes he is not alone. Ryder shifts viewpoints deftly to describe and develop their intersections, and these drive the story forward. One might be forgiven for feeling that one is reading or watching a French film. Conversation, both intimate and general, propels the plot onward at many points. This is not to say there aren’t dramatic moments of action; there are. Yet it is not these instances we recall, but how these young men handle, discuss, and interpret them. Growth comes with reflection and dialogue. It is a subtle way to tell a story, but effective, and very much in keeping with the way real people recover from deep injury. The growth and depth in the central characters is an abiding strength of the novella. Each has many facets, each has multiple layers. These young men, as well as their circle of friends, are well drawn without forcing too much detail upon the reader. One can easily call each person in the story to mind, but variations in what readers invent are certain. It is a trait of good writing to allow the reader to imagine, and Ryder does this especially well. However one imagines them, Ryder gives us understanding to connect with these men individually. One cannot help but care for them and sympathize with them as they make their way toward something more hopeful. How the Light Gets In is not without its flaws. There are times when characters respond to situations with maturity and wisdom quite unexpected in young undergraduate students. They seem older than their years, perhaps because of the burden each one carries. In addition, readers complained that the final chapter did not feel like an ending. A number of comments expressed a need for more, for some definite feeling of closure. Ryder does not give readers a happy-ever-after denouement. Instead, we get a far deeper moment in which darkness is transcended by the ever brightening and broadening cracks in its curtain. In this way, Ryder connects us to the quote from Leonard Cohen’s lyrics which provided the title for the story. This was one the first things I read on GA. Its quality made me return to explore further. I hope other readers will find this classic tale still compelling, and that it still sings its song and weaves its spell for many more to come. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: young adult, adult, gay, university Rating: Mature
  21. What's better than another great featured review from the hardworking review team here on GA? When it's about one of my fellow admins (you're reading that right, if you missed that Graeme is now stuck on our unruly team) that members might not know is also an accomplished author with a very popluar sporty epic. Sound intriguing? Check out Timothy's review we've been keeping under wraps to surprise @Graeme with today! The Lilydale Leopards Graeme Reviewer: Timothy M. Status: Complete Word Count: 821,737 Would you like to meet a team of hunky Australian footballers? If so, then Graeme’s Lilydale Leopards series is the perfect place to go. You’ll experience plenty of game action and footy skills, but no intimate bedroom stuff. Graeme’s writing never goes beyond kissing and cuddles. However, since most of the guys are straight, perhaps that’s OK? As for the locker room and shower scenes you’ll have to use your imagination. Of course, there’s an exception to the rule — the gay footballer— who makes the story even more interesting. In the first book, Leopard Skin Cover, ‘Ken’ is deep in the closet, mainly due to the lack of acceptance in the macho sport of Australian Rules football. He knows his chances of advancing to AFL, the major league, would be hampered by coming out. On the other hand, staying in the closet has several disadvantages, one of which is being unable to date Tony, the new marketing employee of the Leopards club. Another problem is the stress of pretending he’s straight to everybody around him, something many GAreaders can probably relate to. The sequels, Leopard Spots and Leopards Leap, are just as well written and the full story explores not only relevant themes of friendship, bullying, and bigotry, but also the striving for achievement and acceptance. I’ve returned to the series several times to spend time with the friends I’ve made there. The core group of team members and supporters, both staff and fans, are described and shown in such caring and fun ways that we readers engage ourselves in their lives and fortunes as if we know them personally. We cheer, groan, laugh, gasp, and keep our fingers crossed for the success of the Lilydale Leopards, and some of us occasionally rant at the stupidity of various characters. 😊 Don’t be put off by the sports setting. I had no knowledge about Australian football, but Graeme seamlessly weaves the information into the story. The training, games, and constant need for sponsors and winning strategies provide a rich background for the main story arcs. This is a tale with passion, drama, sadness, and joy, as well as love and the kind of loyal friends we all wish for. Well, maybe except for Alex. Once you’ve become part of the Lilydale Leopards family you’ll never forget them, or in the words of another devoted fan: Defiance19: Thank you for creating this family of football players whom we came to know as friends. For sharing their lives, and telling their story. We loved them, shared their pain, celebrated their highs, suffered their lows and everything in between. Take your time to savor the first three books and join the rest of us in the ongoing Book 4. See you there. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: young adult, Australia, no sex, coming out, psychology, sports, friendship Rating: Teen
  22. I hope everyone had a great weekend, but now it's time to start off a new week. A great way to start the week is to take a look at a story that can be found on Gay Authors. Today's feature is Rule #3 by CassieQ. William King was nice enough to provide us with this great review. If you haven't already done so, maybe it will inspire you to take a look. If you do, don't forget to leave Cassie some reviews. Enjoy! Rule #3 CassieQ Reviewer: William King Status: Complete Word Count: 16,582 I will often start a review of a story by saying something about whether it was well written, and easy and enjoyable to read. This story was all those things, but more than the fluidity of the writing and the well-balanced pace, there was the intriguing concept of the plot. As I got deeper into the story, I could not help thinking it was all too Nice! I repeatedly thought to myself—no way—things have to start getting nasty here, or it’s not real. But at the same time, I couldn’t help the warm feeling that leapt off the pages; I was drawn to these three nice characters. It was Marc who was at the center of things; the story revolved around this central character, but it was Ryland who came most alive. Don’t read that statement to mean Marc and Gabriel were not well-drawn personages, they were. Even Gabriel’s character was full enough, although of the three, he was the least written. But Ryland's feelings and emotions were so real, it felt like he was there with me when I was reading the story. The premise of the story is they all 'do the right thing' in extraordinary circumstances, but I doubt such relationships occur very often. And if they do, I can’t imagine that they work out like in Rule #3. But therein lies the skill of the author—a twofold talent—on the one hand, Cassie can tell a story that can’t fail to make you feel good inside, but on the other hand, she can do so in such a way it becomes completely believable. I found this story a joy to read and a treat for the heart, ending with what I have to suppose is a happily ever after—with a twist. Read Rule #3 to find out what that is! Category: Anthology Genres: Romance Tags: young adult, gay, urban, light-hearted Rating: Mature
  23. Well, it's the start of a new week, and for today's schedule, we're bringing you Puppilull's review of A Healing Heart by lilansui. Featured story days are a great way to highlight one of the many stories that can be found in GA Stories. With so many stories, it's easy for a single story to get lost in the shuffle. If you're reading a story that you would like to do a blog review and bring attention to, PM me (Renee). Now, onto the review. Hopefully you enjoy Puppilull's review enough to go check out A Healing Heart for yourself! A Healing Heart lilansui Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 71,209 Dealing with heartbreak and sorrow can be done in many ways, more or less healthy. One strategy is to lock yourself away from the world. Perhaps not literally, but still hiding yourself emotionally from others around, just so you won’t experience anything like that ever again. Talin has chosen to handle the shitty hands dealt by life by doing just that. He focuses all his energy on his club, making sure to keep a professional distance to those around him, no matter how supportive they try to be. In his corner of the world, life plods along in a predictable and safe manner. Or it could be if it weren’t for a certain man, Dimitri. A man with an uncanny ability to shake Talin up in seconds. Also a man surrounded by quite a few mysteries. As many of Lilansui’s stories, this is an action filled novel complete with gangsters and surprising twists. Some of them will have you reading at the speed of light just to know what’s going to happen. It’s one of those rare stories where you feel the outcome isn’t so easy to figure out. The odds seem stacked against our pair and at times all appears to be lost. Then there is the story of the growing relationship between Talin and Dimitri, written in a way that you feel the attraction they have for each other, even though it really isn’t a good idea to get involved. So much is at stake. But who can fight a pull like that? It’s a fast-paced story, with a straightforward language to match. Yet Lilansui always takes the time to add those extra lines to give you atmosphere and a feel to the surroundings. Not too much to make it tedious, but not so little that the story feels barren. The description of a strand of hair, the play of the setting sun over a face is just right. So if you’re in the mood for a sort of noir feel story with romance to boot, this is a story for you! Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: Mature adult, gay, urban, crime, modern, love Rating: Mature
  24. Being the start of a new week, Monday's are also a good time to take a look at some of the different stories that can be found on Gay Authors. With so many great works, it can be easy to overlook one and Monday's provide an opportunity for us to help make one of them stand out and maybe catch your interest. Today, we're bringing you a review by spikey582 of LitLover's story Unforgivable. Enjoy! Unforgivable LitLover Reviewer: spikey582 Status: Complete Word Count: 80,157 For my first official review for the site, I decided to go easy on myself and pick a favorite GA story from the last year: Unforgivable by LitLover. I discovered this just as Lit started posting in April of last year, and it was actually quite fun to experience a bite at a time, and see how fellow readers reacted to each new chapter. However, if you’re just discovering this story now, you’re in luck as you can experience the whole thing without those agonizing 7 day waits. In Unforgivable, we are introduced to two characters, Corey and Jason, and they have a long history together. Corey is the best friend of Jason’s younger brother Drew, and they all grew up together. Very early on in the tale, Jason commits the titular unforgivable act, and cheats on Corey and Drew’s other best friend when they’re all teenagers. This is where the crux of the conflict is driven from. You see, Corey’s father has a long history of cheating on his mother, and repeatedly being forgiven. The lesson Corey has learned from the long years of his father’s serial philandering is simple. Once a cheater always a cheater. Can someone like Jason, a known cheater himself, be forgiven? What I particularly enjoyed about this story was that each chapter is told through either Corey or Jason’s perspective. We get a good idea of what each character is about, what they’re going through. So even Jason, who seems like a jerk at first glance, actually becomes sympathetic and likable as we get to know him. Interestingly enough, LitLover, the very “Cliffie Queen” herself, didn’t leave us poor readers hanging from nearly as many cliffs during this story. However, there are still a few that will definitely propel a reader forward to find out what happens next. As I said before, if you’re just now finding this story for the first time, you’re lucky because you can now just plow right ahead and find out. This is definitely a “binge-worthy” story. So hopefully I’ve piqued your interest with Unforgivable. It’s filled to the brim with drama, romance, and even a touch of angst. Seriously, go check this story out and get to know Corey and Jason. Once you’re finished with Unforgivable, you can start in on the spin off tale, Choices, that LitLover is in the process of posting right now. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: Adult, gay, anal, oral, friendship Rating: Mature
  25. Monday, Monday, Monday. What could we possibly have for you on a Monday? Oh yeah! We have a new featured story for you. This week, courtesy of Timothy M., we are taking a look at The Navigator by Cynus. Hopefully you'll like what you read and it will prompt you to go and read the story itself! The Navigator Cynus Reviewer: Timothy M. Status: Complete Word Count: 93,473 The title of this story is sheer genius, and I’ll never forget the person or the concept which prompted the name. As we begin the compelling journey mapped out by Cynus we meet Silas Drake, his dog, and the band who has given him a ride as they travel from one gig to another. Even though their ways soon part, Cynus keeps track of both parties. Drake as he stops over in a small village and encounters several people, both good and bad, who will change his life. The band as they struggle to find success and deal with missing the young man who helped them navigate from place to place. While some of the dramatic events and villains in the story may seem over the top, the important thing is how Drake reacts to each challenge. He is both intelligent and sensible, shaped but not destroyed by events in his past. He does what’s needed to survive, but his integrity keeps his choices honorable. Even though he has been hurt by other people, he tries to avoid harmful actions, and though his trust is hard to gain, his loyalty to friends is unshakable. He’s not perfect, but that makes him all the more believable and admirable. The way he cares for his dog, Adelaide, who is a faithful protector, will win many readers’ hearts, and she plays a crucial role in the story. In addition, the story is well-written, with good dialogue and plenty of interesting characters apart from the Navigator. There is also a discussion topic, where Cynus answered questions, and readers had heated discussions on various story details, including the importance of Cinnabons. At one point Cynus said: I'm glad there are people to analyze this for me. I never would have figured that out on my own. To which Puppilull answered: If you want analysis, you're in the right place! You will probably also get far out speculation, wild theorising and just nosy questions in general... Cynus has talked about a sequel, which his fans would love, but The Navigator is worth reading as a complete and wonderful tale by itself. Category: Fiction Genres: Adventure, Drama Tags: Teen, Serious, Crime, Music, Religion, Abuse Rating: Teen
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..