Hollywood Series (2 Books) by J.P. Bowie
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M/M, Romance
All Edward Conway needs is someone to love, and in sexy Puerto Rican Alex Martinez, he may have found that someone—until a wild party threatens to take everything from him. When Edward Conway came out to his family he never imagined their reaction would be to shut him out of their lives. Searching for acceptance he leaves his hometown hoping to find a new life in Los Angeles. Finally daring to enter a gay bar by himself, he meets Alex Martinez, a celebrities publicity agent, and the two men connect on all kinds of levels. Despite the pressure of Alex’s job, which takes him out of town soon after he and Edward connect, Edward feels he may just have met the man who can give him something to live for. Things look good until Edward’s wild roommate Troy, needs a lift to a party where ‘sex, drugs and rock’n’roll’ are the order of the day. Reluctantly Edward agrees to drive Troy to the party, but before he can leave he becomes the victim of a vicious incident that could shatter the hopes he had for the future. Alex is there to lend support but he is haunted by a tragic past, and in the present is torn between an old loyalty and the wish to make Edward a lasting part of his life.
3 out of 5 (good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I find these reviews, the three star ones, the hardest to write. I can gush and rant and rave about the four and five star ones, and I can be critical, but fair, as to why I rate a book two stars (Although I tend not to write reviews for those anymore) But when I'm left with a three star feeling after I finish a book, and can't say much why I'm left with that?? I don't like it, at all. I usually run with my initial feeling once finished, sometimes it changes as I write the review, but rarely. And I am left with a firm, solid three star feeling. So, here is what I DID like: we get both Edward and Alex in the third person. we get an insight into book two Every Breath I Take Alex and Edward get their happy ever after. What I didn't like: the speed. the book moves fast from the first meeting to the end is only a space of weeks. the dialogue. something niggled me about it, and I've no idea what. I'm sorry, but not one for me. I do have the next book to read for review. Had I BOUGHT this one, I would not have bought the next book. 3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
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M/M, Romance
Troy Kendall was a bad boy, an addict with attitude, but, since Detective Mark McLennan entered his life, all he wants to do is help others—even if they really don’t want him to. Life for a recovering drug addict isn’t easy. Fortunately for Troy Kendall, he has handsome Detective Mark McLennan to lean on for love and support. When Mark asks Troy to move in with him, Troy is over the moon, sure that now his future will be everything he has dreamed of. Now that he’s able to think about the bigger picture without himself as the main feature, he starts taking an interest in others. Like his ex-roommate Kevin. Troy feels a bit guilty about finding happiness when it’s obvious Kevin is lonely and miserable. Or Teresa, the food server working at the corner diner. Troy is sure she’s a victim of domestic abuse. Ignoring Mark’s opinion that he’s being annoyingly nosy, Troy goes on a mission to try to help those he feels are lacking in the happiness department. He’s given excuses from Teresa when he asks her how she came by all the cuts and bruises he sees her suffering from on a daily basis. Is it the boyfriend or her domineering father who’s making Teresa’s life a misery? After a conversation over a drink with Kevin, he’s worried that his ex-roomie is on the verge of signing up for gay conversion therapy. When Kevin goes missing, Troy and Mark along with Kevin’s new roommate, Roger, go on a search that leads them to a basement in the suburbs where a homophobic couple are holding Kevin captive. Is Troy’s plan to find happiness for others doomed to failure? Or can he and his friends change the course of disaster both Kevin and Teresa are on?
3 out of 5 (good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This book follows on from All I'll Ever Need, it does help, massively, if you read that one first. Not absolutely necessary, but it helps. And because I've read them back to back, I can honestly say, these books are not for me. Oh, don't get me wrong, they are well written, well delivered stories, but something about them just makes me wanna go .....ARGH!!! And I can't figure out what. And that stresses me, beyond belief, it really does. Why I can't say what I need to say, why I cannot find the right words, absolutely stresses me. And I hate not being able to word what I need to say, you know I do. So here's what I did like: Edward and Alex (the first book) play a part here. Troy and Mark get THEIR happy ever after Kevin (the third room mate) and Roger (the new room mate) also get THEIR happy ever after. Its not as explicit as the first book, but it does contain some scenes that some readers may find disturbing when Kevin goes off to be "cured". Painful scenes, made for difficult reading. I'm sorry I can't love them, really I am. Some books just don't work for me. 3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
J.P. Bowie was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. He wrote his first (unpublished) novel – a science fiction tale of brawny men and brawnier women that made him a little suspect in the eyes of his family for a while. Leaving home at age eighteen for the bright lights of London, he found himself in the midst of a “diverse and creative crowd” that eventually led him to the performing arts. For the next twelve years he sang, danced and acted his way around the theatres of London and the provinces, appearing in shows with many famous British singers, actors and comedians. After immigrating to the US and living for many years in Las Vegas where he worked for that incomparable duo, Siegfried and Roy, J.P. found himself entranced by the fair city of San Diego where he currently lives with his partner, Phil. J.P. loves to hear from his readers and can be contacted at jpbowie@cox.net