GYM DANDY by STORM GRANT
ISBN# 9781934531945/9781934531952
January 2009
MLR Press, LLC www.mlrpress.com
Print/E-Book
$14.99/$5.99
208 pages
Gay Male Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Humor
Rating: 4 Cups

Victor Brighton works for a Toronto gym and is a personal trainer for clients there. Although divorced from an ex-wife, he is maintains that he is now gay and only attracted to men these days, and his newest client definitely has what he is looking for.

Douglas Newkirk is a forensics accountant who has been out in the field and working for the Canadian Mounted Police on an undercover assignment. He has come to the gym to work off the last bit of weight he needs to get in shape again.

Victor is instantly attracted to Doug when he comes to his club and is assigned to get him into a training program. The problem? Doug is giving mixed signals and claims to only like women. Victor has taken upon himself to go undercover and spy and report back to his femme fatal boss on any suspicious and illegal steroid drug activity. We learn that as a teen, Doug had a gay relationship with his former best friend who is now an NHL hockey player and the truth comes out. Victor and Doug must find out where they are headed, just friends or more maybe.

I love the way the author has Victor narrating as he goes along in the story line. An interesting bit is how the chapters are listed and the play on words throughout with Victor deliberating misusing words just to get a rise out of Doug. Another charming detail is that we are given hints, but we do not find out until late in the game, what Victor is really doing at the gym. I am not giving it all away so I suggest checking it out and seeing if you can catch all the word play and all the bad puns yourself.

Lainey
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

- - - -

Initially, it had a big honkin' spoiler in it, but the reviewer was very cooperative about revising it. Thank you so much, Lainey.

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Gymdandy.html

Details and book trailer
Or buy it here

A Sentinelized Movie Slash AU Novel by Stormy Stormheller, based on the Frank Capra movie, 1936, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Original Screenplay by Robert Riskin.

Fandom: The Sentinel
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Rating: PG-ish
Warning: AU
Beta’d by: etui and the gals from Blackfly PressesThank you kindly.
Length: 50,000+ words
Disclaimer: This is a transformative work of fiction inspired by the TV show The Sentinel. Other than names and charaterizations, this puppy is all mine. 

Notes: This story is based on the 1930s movie script, re-set in 2006. Although I re-wrote almost every word, it is a “Sentinelized” movie and I take no credit for the original plot and storyline. The complete list of Sentinelized movies can be found here.

My fannish writing is here.
My professional writing here.
Buy my first professional publication (formerly a Sentinel story) here.

Mr. Sandburg Goes to Town was fun for me to write; I hope you’ll enjoy reading it. Thank you.
~ Stormy

It's up! It's up! Tart & Soul is now available from Torquere!!! After years of fizzled contracts, my first short story is now available.

For the cost of a cup of coffee, you get a giggle and an "awww" and a peek inside my head. (No, c'mon. Not scary at all!) It's a cute m/m story of 15000 words, costing just over $2. The sign-up process is the easiest I've ever done.

I'm pretty damn pumped, people. Yays!

Tart & Soul is a fun, angsty, and sexy tale of young hookers in love.

Cameron Fairchild is an ex-marine plagued by weird allergies and atypical PTSD. Following a violent incident in an upscale department store, the courts release him into the custody of his mother, San Francisco's premiere madam! He learns a great deal at his mother's knee, including how to get down on his own. During the course of his internship, he falls for a pretty young man he first attempts to recruit, and later rescues from a nasty pimp. Together they find love and happiness and a brand spankin' new definition of monogamy.

Read an excerpt here.

  I was just over on the Lyrical Press site, and I see that cat_grant2008’s novel, The Arrangement, is their #1 bestseller!

Having read The Arrangement, I can certainly see why. And why it’s one of the select few novels Lyrical chose to launch with.

It’s a fascinating story—three stories actually—each one a complete and satisfying read unto itself. The writing is powerful and the editing flawless. It’s novel length and will be released in print in November.

The characters are engaging. Eric Courtland, is the “centerpiece” around whom everything flows. He’s wealthy, powerful, and destined for a career in American politics. He’s married to Allison, who would make a great trophy wife, except for her kick-ass personality and inability to take a role on the sidelines. She’s wonderfully flawed, and quickly became the character I most identified with. Both Eric and Allison have fiery tempers, where Nick is quieter, more inwardly focused. The twin roles of peacemaker and confessor often fall on him, even when he’d prefer it didn’t.

Eric is in love with Nick, and has been for a long time. The kicker is, that Nick and Allison also have a history!

The story tells of their pain at having to chose, and their unusual decision not to. I loved the power struggles and the conflicts, and how three strong personalities must work to maintain a healthy balance in their relationship. Different scenes are written from different POVs; I envy Cat’s ability to switch viewpoint at just the right moment. I expected head-hopping, but found only smooth transitions making the story richer. We have a chance to view the relationship from each character’s POV. We come to understand their insecurities and concerns without any whiny internals.

I think what I liked best about The Arrangement is that while the triad is the focal point of the story, it’s set against a backdrop of the daily minutiae of living: some careers rising while others experience difficulties; the death of a family member; the hounding by the press. Family gatherings are difficult because their relationship must stay under wraps for the sake of Eric’s career.

And when it doesn’t, well, I was quite surprised at the route Cat chose.

I liked the resolution of each of the three sections. I fell in love with their house in Tuscany, Cat’s lush description painting a picture of luxury and privacy I adored.

Did I mention, too, that the sex is hot? At first it’s between two at a time, but as they grow to trust each other, a little sharin’ and carin’ sneaks in. ;-)  My favourite scene is one in which Allison plays blatant voyeur, getting off while she watches her boys make love.

The sex is organic to the plot, never feeling “shoehorned in” or intrusive. It’s not pages of graphic detail, but it’s certainly not closed door either.

I enjoyed reading The Arrangement and highly recommend it; it’ll be $5.50 you won’t regret spending.

My friend Cat Grant's (cat_grant2008) first professional novel debuts today: The Arrangement is an erotic tale featuring a m/m/f ménage a trois, from Lyrical Press.

Here's a taste to whet your lusty appetites:

Eric Courtland loves his wife. But another man also commands his affections. When both wife and lover discover his secret, he rocks them with a daring proposal neither can refuse.

Initially their triad is tense and awkward, but growing trust and intimacy lead to a satisfying and worthwhile relationship for all--as long as their unusual romance remains strictly confidential to protect Eric's seat in the US Senate.

Blackmailing political rivals, stalking paparazzi, and a serious illness threaten their fragile arrangement... Are the daytime struggles worth the nights of passion and pleasure?

EXCERPT:

( Read more... )

Now go buy Cat's book so you can find out how the story ends!

(There's a much steamier excerpt in Cat's lj.)

Due to popular demand... the Duet zines are once again available: http://www.duetpress.com/ 

  

(I'm not really active in Due South fandom anymore, so if someone would be good enough to post this in the appropriate forums, I'd be most grateful.)

Thank you kindly and Happy New Year!