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Asylum
Johnny Cairo is known as the Scaremaster. He works for Fear Asylum, his father’s traveling haunted house, and makes his living terrifying people. But Johnny has never frightened easily himself. That is, until he wakes up in the middle of the night and finds his best friend’s younger brother in his bed. Naked.
Johnny’s fought against his attraction to Brennan for years, worried that giving in to it will lead to losing the friendship he shares with Brennan’s older brother, Eddie. As much as he fights it, though, the lure of having Brennan in his bed proves too hard to resist. They start an affair that’s supposed to be no-strings-attached, but Johnny’s persistent denial of the growing feelings between them leads to a rift that might not be mendable. Then an accident at Fear Asylum nearly costs Johnny the one thing he holds dear, and he learns that while his nickname might be the Scaremaster, he knows next to nothing about real fear.
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Johnny’s fought against his attraction to Brennan for years, worried that giving in to it will lead to losing the friendship he shares with Brennan’s older brother, Eddie. As much as he fights it, though, the lure of having Brennan in his bed proves too hard to resist. They start an affair that’s supposed to be no-strings-attached, but Johnny’s persistent denial of the growing feelings between them leads to a rift that might not be mendable. Then an accident at Fear Asylum nearly costs Johnny the one thing he holds dear, and he learns that while his nickname might be the Scaremaster, he knows next to nothing about real fear.
No longer available.
52 pages, ebook
First published February 22, 2013
5 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Piper Vaughn
47 books1,154 followersPiper Vaughn is a romance author and lifelong fan of the genre. Since writing their first love story at age eleven, they’ve known writing in some form was exactly what they wanted to do. A reader to the core, Piper loves nothing more than getting lost in a great book.
Piper is of Puerto Rican descent and grew up in a diverse neighborhood in Chicago. They love putting faces and characters of every ethnicity in their stories, making their fictional worlds as colorful as the real one. Above all, Piper believes there’s no one way to have an HEA, and every person deserves to see themselves reflected on the page.
Sign up for Piper's newsletter: https://www.pipervaughn.com/newsletter
Piper is of Puerto Rican descent and grew up in a diverse neighborhood in Chicago. They love putting faces and characters of every ethnicity in their stories, making their fictional worlds as colorful as the real one. Above all, Piper believes there’s no one way to have an HEA, and every person deserves to see themselves reflected on the page.
Sign up for Piper's newsletter: https://www.pipervaughn.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 23, 2013
3.5 stars
Some Housekeeping:
The title - a bit misleading. Other than "Fear Asylum" being the name of the haunted house they run, there's nothing sinister or crazy about this story at all.
Haunted houses - has anyone been to the one at Universal Studios? Holy cow...I've never screamed so much in my life. I almost had a heart attack!
Review:
This was a great 50+ page short! Johnny runs a traveling haunted house spectacle and Brennan works for him and is his best friend's younger brother. This is a sweet "you're just an annoying kid"-to-lovers story that has just enough arcs in it to keep it interesting, but not too many to be overwhelming for a short, sprinkled with some hot, smutty bits that were perfect. I loved the chemistry between the 2 MC's and I found myself rooting for Brennan and his eager, earnest, enamored, young self.
This would be the perfect introduction to what I hope could be more of this coupling!
March 27, 2013
I love hanging out in haunted houses. The thrills, chills, and anticipation float through the air along with the whispers and screams! Even though I know the haunted house business around Halloween is a packaged to sell, rubber masked, blood out of a bottle silly, giggle fest—my heart still skips a happy beat whenever I step foot in one. Well more like my heart *JUMPS* and skips! Haha…So I jumped into Piper Vaughn’s Asylum with a grin already on my face.
Johnny Cairo travels the country promoting, working, and scaring the bejesus out of the masses with his family business—The Fear Asylum. A traveling haunted house extravaganza that settles in one city for the Halloween season. I longed to walk and work the crowd, hear the screams, and feel Johnny’s joy in his haunted nights. A wonderful, wicked, and relatively unexplored atmosphere and setting in fiction that unfortunately felt wasted here to me. We heard about the basic set-up and a few of the crew’s scare techniques, but I never felt the spooky fun and shivers. Now that we got my disappointment out of the way, let me tell you what we do get…..
”In the semi-darkness, he was beautiful, his black hair damp and curling around his face, lips kiss-bruised and swollen.”
Crackling sexual tension jumps and jives off the page! Jolts of naughty toe curling fun!
Johnny has been lusting after his best friend’s little brother, Brennan (Bren) for years. Never wanting to risk that friendship though, Johnny keeps his distance. But Brennan has been harboring desires of his own for Johnny through the years, so when he slides into bed with Johnny one night their relationship takes an intense, sexy turn! The moaning, kissing, squeezing, slamming, and slapping escalate every time one of them gets pinned to the bed! This hot, dirty, slick fun is addictive! Night after night Johnny tries to resist and push Bren away, but he always succumbs to the sparks, persistence and tongue of the man getting closer and closer to stealing his heart every time they touch. What starts out as lust soon turns into feelings that have Johnny running scared. Will Johnny risk it all or let fear rule his heart?
My short story love and addiction often helps me recharge with quick doses of passion, humor, and action. The way a short story can seduce, captivate, and steal my heart in such a short about of time will always amaze me. So it is rare for me to utter the—“I want more”—plea after a story. Well this is one of those rare occasions. Please let this be an introduction to this world and characters. More please. I want to explore the Asylum from tip to toe! :)
A very HOT mix of tenderness and wet, screaming lick it up fun! Once again, Ms. Vaughn delivers a sure fire blast of sexy & sweet for your bag of reading treats.
February 24, 2013
Yikes! Too much door-mat-ness happening here for me to be happy. MC Brennan let MC Johnny walk ALL over him, numerous times, and it irritated me enough to suck the joy out of the story.
As you can see from other reviews, I am in the minority in saying I cannot recommend this book. It was not romantic. I was just sad watching Brennan get beat down over and over again.
As you can see from other reviews, I am in the minority in saying I cannot recommend this book. It was not romantic. I was just sad watching Brennan get beat down over and over again.
February 26, 2013
One thing I love in m/m romance is when you can feel the ST and chemistry between the two ( or more if the case may be :D ) main guys. No complaints on that side with Johnny and Brennan! This was very enjoyable and a great ' just before bed' read. Not masses of conflict but enough to make the HEA very satisfying. Short enough to read in one sitting but not too short to feel cheated, I finished this feeling warm, fuzzy and contented. I love Pipers stories and this didn't disappoint. The only thing that I'd have liked to have seen more of was the actual travelling haunted house. iIt would have been good to have seen a bit more of Johnny in action in his guise as ' The Scaremonger'. Still really liked it though and the love scenes are sexy enough to generate some great heat between Johnny and Bren. Nice!!
April 20, 2013
When will I learn to stop buying short stories. I always end up wanting more. The same thing happened with this one.
Asylum was a good little story, and I enjoyed reading it very much, but was left wishing that we had seen more of what made these men what they were.
I read this as a bedtime story, and appreciated the fast pace and steam factor. Perfect for an adult bed time story. Just wanted to have more. I am a little greedy like that.
The name was a little confusing at first. The story is about two young men who work for a travelling Haunted House called Fear Asylum. Nothing sinister happens. Just lots of sexual tension, hurt feelings and angst before a satisfying happy ever after.
Asylum was a good little story, and I enjoyed reading it very much, but was left wishing that we had seen more of what made these men what they were.
I read this as a bedtime story, and appreciated the fast pace and steam factor. Perfect for an adult bed time story. Just wanted to have more. I am a little greedy like that.
The name was a little confusing at first. The story is about two young men who work for a travelling Haunted House called Fear Asylum. Nothing sinister happens. Just lots of sexual tension, hurt feelings and angst before a satisfying happy ever after.
February 26, 2013
Very very disappointed.
It's not bad. Really, it's not. If you don't go into this expecting romance and a slightly creepy background - which I did. My bad?
The whole setup for the story is rubbish. The Fear Asylum sounds insanely interesting, doesn't it? Well, it's not. Because it's insanely underdeveloped..
The love story? Guys, they're fuck buddies - if even that. More like Brennan is a sensitive, delicate doormat and Johnny is the sleazy asshole who's fucking with his head - both in a literal and figurative sense.
As for the reason of conflict, I don't even know what to say. Johnny doesn't want a relationship with Bren because he's his best friend's little brother. It bears mentioning that said best friend lives miles away from them and 1: wouldn't have a reason to care and 2: wouldn't have a way to find out anyway.
The big, suspenseful climax was... *drum roll* ...a black out. Seriously. A fucking black out.
I could have forgoten these flaws - really, I wouldn't have minded if not for one major issue. Well, two, but they count as one. Cardboard characters and prefab sex.
Let's just leave it at that and pretend this never happened.
1 star because you can't give less and 1 for the blurb, because at least that sounded good.
It's not bad. Really, it's not. If you don't go into this expecting romance and a slightly creepy background - which I did. My bad?
The whole setup for the story is rubbish. The Fear Asylum sounds insanely interesting, doesn't it? Well, it's not. Because it's insanely underdeveloped..
The love story? Guys, they're fuck buddies - if even that. More like Brennan is a sensitive, delicate doormat and Johnny is the sleazy asshole who's fucking with his head - both in a literal and figurative sense.
As for the reason of conflict, I don't even know what to say. Johnny doesn't want a relationship with Bren because he's his best friend's little brother. It bears mentioning that said best friend lives miles away from them and 1: wouldn't have a reason to care and 2: wouldn't have a way to find out anyway.
The big, suspenseful climax was... *drum roll* ...a black out. Seriously. A fucking black out.
I could have forgoten these flaws - really, I wouldn't have minded if not for one major issue. Well, two, but they count as one. Cardboard characters and prefab sex.
Let's just leave it at that and pretend this never happened.
1 star because you can't give less and 1 for the blurb, because at least that sounded good.
February 23, 2013
2.5 Cute short story. Kinda similar to another short story.
December 13, 2014
If you go into this novella expecting haunted houses and angst-ridden falling-outs with bosom buddies, you might be disappointed. If you're looking to get hooked on a sweet and sexy romance between two fun guys, you'll love it to bits.
Piper Vaughn has a gift for pulling the reader into the central relationship from page one. Before you know anything much about the characters or their situations in life, you're already invested in their relationship. And what a relationship - sexy, sweet, funny; Johnny and Brennan are a couple you love to love.
The story wasn't what I expected from the blurb - I got hooked by the idea of a traveling haunted house and was expecting a story with all manner of crazy props and scenery to create a frightening backdrop to the central story. Instead the haunted house elements are mentioned but never really shown - the story might as easily been set in Disneyland or a rides-based carnival.
The blurb also had me anticipating a close friendship between Johnny and his best friend Eddie, something so crucial to both the men that losing it could ruin them forever. Instead we aren't really shown why Eddie is so important to Johnny at all. Instead of seeing the friends together or even being shown any memories of the two of them together, we're just told by Johnny again and again that Eddie is really important to him - which is less convincing than the very delicious constant presence of Brennan in his life, so doesn't seem a valid reason to keep them apart.
That having been said, the relationship between Johnny and Brennan is captivating and if I hadn't gone into the novella expecting something different, I wouldn't have at all noticed the underplaying of Eddie or Fear Asylum.
The strength of Vaughn's writing is definitely in her ability to hook you on that central romance so you love and cherish every moment the heroes have together. This novella develops on-form, and has some very saucy tantalizing moments indeed.
Piper Vaughn has a gift for pulling the reader into the central relationship from page one. Before you know anything much about the characters or their situations in life, you're already invested in their relationship. And what a relationship - sexy, sweet, funny; Johnny and Brennan are a couple you love to love.
The story wasn't what I expected from the blurb - I got hooked by the idea of a traveling haunted house and was expecting a story with all manner of crazy props and scenery to create a frightening backdrop to the central story. Instead the haunted house elements are mentioned but never really shown - the story might as easily been set in Disneyland or a rides-based carnival.
The blurb also had me anticipating a close friendship between Johnny and his best friend Eddie, something so crucial to both the men that losing it could ruin them forever. Instead we aren't really shown why Eddie is so important to Johnny at all. Instead of seeing the friends together or even being shown any memories of the two of them together, we're just told by Johnny again and again that Eddie is really important to him - which is less convincing than the very delicious constant presence of Brennan in his life, so doesn't seem a valid reason to keep them apart.
That having been said, the relationship between Johnny and Brennan is captivating and if I hadn't gone into the novella expecting something different, I wouldn't have at all noticed the underplaying of Eddie or Fear Asylum.
The strength of Vaughn's writing is definitely in her ability to hook you on that central romance so you love and cherish every moment the heroes have together. This novella develops on-form, and has some very saucy tantalizing moments indeed.
February 25, 2013
This is full of young love in all its glory...consisting of sex, pain, hurt and agony.
Brennan is bending over backwards trying to get Johnny to see him as more than a kid. Johnny does but is more worried about what others think than just accepting that he and Bren are good together.
Takes a lot of hurt feelings, and lots of sex, and the possibilty of losing a true love before they finally, finally get it right.
~~Smacks Johnny upside his head~~
Brennan is bending over backwards trying to get Johnny to see him as more than a kid. Johnny does but is more worried about what others think than just accepting that he and Bren are good together.
Takes a lot of hurt feelings, and lots of sex, and the possibilty of losing a true love before they finally, finally get it right.
~~Smacks Johnny upside his head~~
February 23, 2013
Well done novella about Johnny and Brennan. There always seems to be a taboo about getting involved with the sibling of a best friend. If it doesn't work out, how does that affect the friendship? If it does work out, uh, how does it affect the friendship? Add that to the fact that you've watched the kid grow up and you're having trouble reconciling the hot and confident guy in front of you with the scrawny annoying little brother of your best friend.
Johnny and Brennan work together in Johnny's family business - a travelling Haunted House. Brennan is the younger brother of Eddie, Johnny's BFF who is now settled, married and has a couple of kids. But Brennan has set his sights on Johnny and he's not taking no for an answer. Brennan is 20 - not a kid anymore - but Johnny is having trouble separating his desire for Brennan and his logical reasons for NOT getting involved with the brother of his best friend. Brennan, however, is pretty relentless in his pursuit of Johnny and keeps crawling into his bed at night. While his head says no, Johnny can't seem to make his body and mouth follow through.
In the meantime, Eric calls Johnny and gives him some news he is a little bit surprised to hear and Johnny thinks he knows now what he needs to do for Brennan. Brennan has other ideas however and they end up having a disagreement. As Halloween approaches, a situation arises that forces Johnny to take a good hard look at his situation. He has to figure out what is really going on between him and Brennan and how he needs to deal with it.
I liked the characters in this story and the relationship between the 2 MCs. The shifting dynamics of their relationship and the issues that are the result of worries about possible choices and reactions of people outside the relationship were realistically portrayed. Big thumbs up for Chicago setting as well :D
Johnny and Brennan work together in Johnny's family business - a travelling Haunted House. Brennan is the younger brother of Eddie, Johnny's BFF who is now settled, married and has a couple of kids. But Brennan has set his sights on Johnny and he's not taking no for an answer. Brennan is 20 - not a kid anymore - but Johnny is having trouble separating his desire for Brennan and his logical reasons for NOT getting involved with the brother of his best friend. Brennan, however, is pretty relentless in his pursuit of Johnny and keeps crawling into his bed at night. While his head says no, Johnny can't seem to make his body and mouth follow through.
In the meantime, Eric calls Johnny and gives him some news he is a little bit surprised to hear and Johnny thinks he knows now what he needs to do for Brennan. Brennan has other ideas however and they end up having a disagreement. As Halloween approaches, a situation arises that forces Johnny to take a good hard look at his situation. He has to figure out what is really going on between him and Brennan and how he needs to deal with it.
I liked the characters in this story and the relationship between the 2 MCs. The shifting dynamics of their relationship and the issues that are the result of worries about possible choices and reactions of people outside the relationship were realistically portrayed. Big thumbs up for Chicago setting as well :D
August 25, 2014
3 Spookfest Stars
Too short! Such an interesting story idea crammed into just under 60 pages. A group of young carni types traveling the country setting up and breaking down Fear Asylum a haunted house: reputed to be THE scariest one of all. The day to day operations handed down from father to son, Johnny Cairo. He's used to the life and having people come and go, and his best friend's younger brother Brandon is someone he notices but keeps at arm's length until one night when Brandon crawls into his bed.
I'm a newbie dabbler in MM and this was a perfect read for me. The sex was hot. But it could have been hotter, filled with more passion and desperation. The scenes felt a bit rushed. As was the story, unfortunately. There was so much more to explore about this nomadic lifestyle and the roles of the inhabitants, who they were and where they came from. Then there was the running of the haunted house, the break down and set up and the actual scarefest, knowing that fine line between scaring and terrorizing.
I was left thinking maybe this could be expanded into a longer story or maybe even become a romantic series. As for Johnny and Brandon's tale? Well, you'll just have to read this moody, romance for yourself.
February 23, 2013
4.5 stars
A relatively short story about a man who falls in love with his best friend's brother knowing it could destroy the best friendship he's ever had.
Brennan is the little brother of Eddie, Johnny's best friend. Brennan and Johnny work for Fear Asylum, the traveling haunted house owned by Johnny's father. Johnny is known as the Scaremaster for his ability to scare the hell out of people night after night. Brennan has secretly been in love with Johnny for years and he finally does something about it. Boy, does he do something about it. :) Johnny tries to push Brennan away because of his fear of losing Eddie. It takes something happening to Brennan for him to finally see that pushing the young man away is the last thing he wants to do.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. I loved Brennan from the get-go. Johnny, not so much, but he grew on me after awhile.
Another great read by Piper Vaughn.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews:
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
A relatively short story about a man who falls in love with his best friend's brother knowing it could destroy the best friendship he's ever had.
Brennan is the little brother of Eddie, Johnny's best friend. Brennan and Johnny work for Fear Asylum, the traveling haunted house owned by Johnny's father. Johnny is known as the Scaremaster for his ability to scare the hell out of people night after night. Brennan has secretly been in love with Johnny for years and he finally does something about it. Boy, does he do something about it. :) Johnny tries to push Brennan away because of his fear of losing Eddie. It takes something happening to Brennan for him to finally see that pushing the young man away is the last thing he wants to do.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. I loved Brennan from the get-go. Johnny, not so much, but he grew on me after awhile.
Another great read by Piper Vaughn.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews:
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
February 22, 2013
Two men who should not, cannot, be together still find the pull irresistible.
One is the brother of the best friend of the other. They can't. It just won't work.
The other fears losing his best friend over the feelings he has. They shouldn't. It would hurt too much.
Yet still they come together. Each time is the last time one of them says. Perhaps the next time.
When tragedy strikes will it be enough to pull them together or will it simply pull them apart?
One is the brother of the best friend of the other. They can't. It just won't work.
The other fears losing his best friend over the feelings he has. They shouldn't. It would hurt too much.
Yet still they come together. Each time is the last time one of them says. Perhaps the next time.
When tragedy strikes will it be enough to pull them together or will it simply pull them apart?
February 27, 2013
Ah what a great, smexy story!
Johnny and Brennan are in a classic push-pull, can't have you kind of relationship but oh, there's a twist. The can't have doesn't hold up against the MUST HAVE and Johnny falls hard.
This is a fantastic sweet tale of feared regrets, want, and surrender.
Johnny and Brennan are in a classic push-pull, can't have you kind of relationship but oh, there's a twist. The can't have doesn't hold up against the MUST HAVE and Johnny falls hard.
This is a fantastic sweet tale of feared regrets, want, and surrender.
December 11, 2013
My only complaint is that it was TOO SHORT! This is a wonderful story about hope, love and the joy of getting scared. I really enjoyed it!
February 23, 2013
Sweet quick read...not one bit dark.
February 28, 2013
3.5~4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
This very quick story is perhaps a study in seduction. Loved it and mostly loved Brennan. His insistence was hilarious having poor Johnny scrambling for some semblance of sanity.
Johnny has crushing on Brennan for years, but Brennan being his best friend’s younger brother complicated things. Johnny has no intention of jeopardizing his friendship due to lust. While working on the Fear Asylum and keeping an eye on Brennan for his friend’s sake, Johnny fails to realize how much Brennan has really grown up. That is until one night he finds him in his bed. So yes, Johnny is shocked and that keeps him from reacting and turning Brennan down… the first night. The second night he’s determined to do so, but Brennan kisses him and well, his brain melts and the third and the forth…
But eventually Johnny gets a grip in his sanity that seems to be escaping him lately and turns the young man down, a bit harsh admittedly but the result is the same. Problem is Johnny never thought that he’d be missing Brennan this much and the very idea of losing him for ever hit the target when an accident occurs and the very possibility that Brennan with leave forever knocks on the door.
The story was very sweet and sexy. As I said I loved Brennan. He was cute and persistent even when it hurt him. And Johnny, oh dear, poor guy lost his mind. It happens of course but reading it just brought memories and made me smile.
Problem is that it was too short of a story and left some questions behind. First of I have no idea how old Johnny is. Brennan is twenty and calls Johnny “old man” at some point, but I’d love to have a clearer view. And the story being so short left no room for emotions to develop. Yes, the lust was almost tangible and the intensity of the guys lovemaking nearly there, but that desperation for me was due to a long longing and the fact that nothing was secure between them. I’d have loved if this story was a bit longer and gave us some more “quality” time with the guys.
As it was, it was sexy and fun enough and a quite enjoyable read. The writing was easy going and I literally inhaled it. If you’re up for this kind of read I totally recommend it.
P.s.
This is definitely one of those stories I’d love a sequel to come by and give us a bit more. It’d be such a shame for Johnny and Brennan to end here.
Thommie.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
This very quick story is perhaps a study in seduction. Loved it and mostly loved Brennan. His insistence was hilarious having poor Johnny scrambling for some semblance of sanity.
Johnny has crushing on Brennan for years, but Brennan being his best friend’s younger brother complicated things. Johnny has no intention of jeopardizing his friendship due to lust. While working on the Fear Asylum and keeping an eye on Brennan for his friend’s sake, Johnny fails to realize how much Brennan has really grown up. That is until one night he finds him in his bed. So yes, Johnny is shocked and that keeps him from reacting and turning Brennan down… the first night. The second night he’s determined to do so, but Brennan kisses him and well, his brain melts and the third and the forth…
But eventually Johnny gets a grip in his sanity that seems to be escaping him lately and turns the young man down, a bit harsh admittedly but the result is the same. Problem is Johnny never thought that he’d be missing Brennan this much and the very idea of losing him for ever hit the target when an accident occurs and the very possibility that Brennan with leave forever knocks on the door.
The story was very sweet and sexy. As I said I loved Brennan. He was cute and persistent even when it hurt him. And Johnny, oh dear, poor guy lost his mind. It happens of course but reading it just brought memories and made me smile.
Problem is that it was too short of a story and left some questions behind. First of I have no idea how old Johnny is. Brennan is twenty and calls Johnny “old man” at some point, but I’d love to have a clearer view. And the story being so short left no room for emotions to develop. Yes, the lust was almost tangible and the intensity of the guys lovemaking nearly there, but that desperation for me was due to a long longing and the fact that nothing was secure between them. I’d have loved if this story was a bit longer and gave us some more “quality” time with the guys.
As it was, it was sexy and fun enough and a quite enjoyable read. The writing was easy going and I literally inhaled it. If you’re up for this kind of read I totally recommend it.
P.s.
This is definitely one of those stories I’d love a sequel to come by and give us a bit more. It’d be such a shame for Johnny and Brennan to end here.
Thommie.
November 6, 2017
I wanted to read a short, sweet, and hot love story, and for some reason I couldn't get this book out of my mind. I can't believe I wasted my time on this.
I read 'One Thing' series and I liked it very much, so I thought that choosing another book by one of the authors is a safe thing, a guarantee for a great read. Well, maybe I should have chosen something by M.J. O'Shea.
This story is way underdeveloped, even if you take into consideration its length. It's a piece of... There's this haunting house business which should have been a really great basis of the story but the author didn't pay enough attention to it. Instead, we have to spend 70% of the plot in bed with Brennan and Johnny. (I'll be honest, I wanted to read it for some steaming hot scenes, but I didn't want the book to be just about it.) And when they didn't do it, suddenly Johnny's conscience woke up and he pushed Brennan away every f*cking time. I felt sorry for the kid; he shouldn't have wasted his time on this piece of crap of a guy.
I'd like to say that at least the love between the guys is believable and you can root for them, but... Love? Where? They are just f*cking without any strings attached. Okay, Brennan wants more, that's pretty obvious from the beginning, but Johnny is just uses him. I know that he loves him, it just doesn't seem like that because his feelings are so badly written.
I give it 2 stars, for 2 reasons. 1: I liked the basic idea that Jhonny can't allow himself to act on his desires because Brennan is his best friend's little brother (fyi, Eddie never shows up in the story and never learns about their affair). 2: The erotic scenes are at least good, even if there are too many of them, hence some of them are pretty rushed.
I read 'One Thing' series and I liked it very much, so I thought that choosing another book by one of the authors is a safe thing, a guarantee for a great read. Well, maybe I should have chosen something by M.J. O'Shea.
This story is way underdeveloped, even if you take into consideration its length. It's a piece of... There's this haunting house business which should have been a really great basis of the story but the author didn't pay enough attention to it. Instead, we have to spend 70% of the plot in bed with Brennan and Johnny. (I'll be honest, I wanted to read it for some steaming hot scenes, but I didn't want the book to be just about it.) And when they didn't do it, suddenly Johnny's conscience woke up and he pushed Brennan away every f*cking time. I felt sorry for the kid; he shouldn't have wasted his time on this piece of crap of a guy.
I'd like to say that at least the love between the guys is believable and you can root for them, but... Love? Where? They are just f*cking without any strings attached. Okay, Brennan wants more, that's pretty obvious from the beginning, but Johnny is just uses him. I know that he loves him, it just doesn't seem like that because his feelings are so badly written.
I give it 2 stars, for 2 reasons. 1: I liked the basic idea that Jhonny can't allow himself to act on his desires because Brennan is his best friend's little brother (fyi, Eddie never shows up in the story and never learns about their affair). 2: The erotic scenes are at least good, even if there are too many of them, hence some of them are pretty rushed.
February 23, 2013
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
4.5 Johnny Cairo runs the Fear Asylum, which is a traveling haunted house extraordinaire. During the Halloween tour in Chicago, he wake up to find the lovely Brennan in his bed. Wouldn’t be bad, except Brennan is Johnny’s best friend’s (Eddie) little brother, so is off limits. Never know how brother will handle the idea, and there is always the real chance that if something goes wrong, your friendship is over. Very difficult.
Johnny loses a little bit for me because of his repeated mixed signals to Brennan, even after Johnny knows that Brennan loves him. He pushes it off as doing something better for Brennan, wanting more for him, but in reality, Johnny is just scared. It happens repeatedly, the push off, and I wanted to just smack him. Brennan, on the other hand, may be younger and less experienced but he knows what and who he wants. He isn’t a kid, no matter what Johnny may try to tell himself.
Different fears run through the novella – the obvious in terms of the Fear Asylum haunted house; the fear of accepting Brennan and losing Eddie; the fear of giving himself to Brennan and being hurt; and finally the fear of losing Brennan. It’s all wrapped up in Johnny.
This story is very sweet with very likeable characters (especially Brennan and Cam) in an awesome (Chicago!) location. Recommended.
4.5 Johnny Cairo runs the Fear Asylum, which is a traveling haunted house extraordinaire. During the Halloween tour in Chicago, he wake up to find the lovely Brennan in his bed. Wouldn’t be bad, except Brennan is Johnny’s best friend’s (Eddie) little brother, so is off limits. Never know how brother will handle the idea, and there is always the real chance that if something goes wrong, your friendship is over. Very difficult.
Johnny loses a little bit for me because of his repeated mixed signals to Brennan, even after Johnny knows that Brennan loves him. He pushes it off as doing something better for Brennan, wanting more for him, but in reality, Johnny is just scared. It happens repeatedly, the push off, and I wanted to just smack him. Brennan, on the other hand, may be younger and less experienced but he knows what and who he wants. He isn’t a kid, no matter what Johnny may try to tell himself.
Different fears run through the novella – the obvious in terms of the Fear Asylum haunted house; the fear of accepting Brennan and losing Eddie; the fear of giving himself to Brennan and being hurt; and finally the fear of losing Brennan. It’s all wrapped up in Johnny.
This story is very sweet with very likeable characters (especially Brennan and Cam) in an awesome (Chicago!) location. Recommended.
December 13, 2014
Although well written and enjoyable, this book is pretty short. But, I believe that the story wraps up well, and didn't need to be longer than it was. It's a fast read and the characters are familiar, as are the plot devices that convince the MC to reconsider his constant refusal of Brennan's attention. Nothing too clever or unexpected, but the intimate scenes ranged from a summary of what happened to some very nice and descriptive nights between the two MCs.
Overall it's worth the money if you're looking for a way to blow an hour(haha), but it's not anything that I haven't read before, and if you enjoy either m/m romance/erotica or Yaoi, then chances are high that it's going to feel very familiar.
Did I like it? Yeah. Am I impressed? No, haha. Cute and quick, with questionable ethics on the part of both of the characters in it.
Overall it's worth the money if you're looking for a way to blow an hour(haha), but it's not anything that I haven't read before, and if you enjoy either m/m romance/erotica or Yaoi, then chances are high that it's going to feel very familiar.
Did I like it? Yeah. Am I impressed? No, haha. Cute and quick, with questionable ethics on the part of both of the characters in it.
April 19, 2014
2.5 stars
At first I thought I was in for a dark, scary tale but I quickly found out I was wrong (kinda like watching "The Hunger Games" and expecting an action flick). I can't say I wasn't disappointed but I liked the author so much so I persisted.
This was a fairly short story with minimal angst and LOTS of sex. It's one of those I-love-you-but-I-don't-deserve-you plots that isn't really original but the author wrote it well for my enjoyment so I didn't mind it much. My pet peeve though was the character of Johnny who I thought was so hypocritical and a total jerk.. Even when Johnny came around, I still felt a bit of resentment towards him.
An enjoyable story but not my favorite from Piper Vaughn.
March 2, 2013
I feel like I'm being generous here by giving it 2 stars.
Very often with short books like this one, the author rushes the story and things feel fake because no feelings, connection or even dynamic has time to be developped.
I didn't feel connected to the characters. Their encounters could have been better if the connection between the characters had felt more real, and honestly, sometimes while I was reading I found myself thinking about anything but the story I was reading.
The plot was promissing and the position the characters are in could've led to something really interesting if only the book was longer than 80 pages or so.
Very often with short books like this one, the author rushes the story and things feel fake because no feelings, connection or even dynamic has time to be developped.
I didn't feel connected to the characters. Their encounters could have been better if the connection between the characters had felt more real, and honestly, sometimes while I was reading I found myself thinking about anything but the story I was reading.
The plot was promissing and the position the characters are in could've led to something really interesting if only the book was longer than 80 pages or so.
March 5, 2013
I debated between 2 and 2.5 when trying to decide on a rating. It's not that the story is bad, it's not. It's more that there just isn't enough here to get into the characters and what's happening. Johnny seemed like a prick throughout most of it and Brennan struck me as being pretty pathetic. The part that I hate is that I don't think either of them are as bad as they came across. They needed to be better developed in order for me to become invested in what was happening between them. I gave it a low rating because I ended it feeling unfulfilled.
February 24, 2013
From the title, I was expecting something dark and sinister. I didn't expect something sweet BUT I loved the book! Johnny was a bit of jerk at first and Brennan was sexy and steadfast with his long-time feelings for Johnny (which I find adorable). Love the hot scenes... they were yummy~~~~
! This was a perfect weekend read. I hope there's a sequel!
! This was a perfect weekend read. I hope there's a sequel!
April 4, 2013
This was hot and angsty. I get that siblings of best friends are tricky to fall for, but Johnny's indecision about Bren was not cool. I wanted him to be a little more clear at least with himself about what he wanted. Brennan sure was!
The smex was smexy and Brennan was obviously the man for Johnny. The Fear Asylum was mostly just background, but served its purpose well.
I love the way this author shows us the way one character sees his love interest. There's tenderness, there's vulnerability but there's also masculine lust.
The smex was smexy and Brennan was obviously the man for Johnny. The Fear Asylum was mostly just background, but served its purpose well.
I love the way this author shows us the way one character sees his love interest. There's tenderness, there's vulnerability but there's also masculine lust.
February 23, 2013
I loved this short story! Piper writes such cute romances and this was just as good as I'd hoped. I just wish there had been more, because Johnny and Brennan were so lovely and awesome. I wanted to see everything, especially Eddie's reaction and the progression of their relationship. But, even without that, I really enjoyed this read and the Fear Asylum sounded so awesome! Although I'd probably end up being one of those crying girls who has to be escorted out through an emergency exit :P
February 25, 2013
I'm very sorry but I didn't liked this short story . Above all I'm surprised because there is very few of that that I have learned to love of author in the books that I have read. I think that the blurb ,if also well describes the plot, still don't is that I expected and is also misleading . The title,the job of protagonists,nothing is found so significant in the story, either the relationship between Johnny and Brennan seem to me very poor in sentiment and intensity.
March 22, 2013
See Lucky's 4 1/2 sweet pea review on March 24, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Every Sunday please join us for reviews of short stories.
These are quick reads that are perfect for Sunday afternoon.
Leave a comment if there is a short story you would like for us to consider for review.
Every Sunday please join us for reviews of short stories.
These are quick reads that are perfect for Sunday afternoon.
Leave a comment if there is a short story you would like for us to consider for review.
July 13, 2014
First book by Piper and I loved it. I read a blog by Ms. Mary Calmes recommending this book and decided to try it.
Johnny and Bren were adoreable. I want more of them. I want to know their future. How did Eddie react? Did Bren go to college? Did Johnny go with them? Did they settle down? Did Johnny stick by his decision and stay with Bren and support him?
Piper give me more. Please!!
Johnny and Bren were adoreable. I want more of them. I want to know their future. How did Eddie react? Did Bren go to college? Did Johnny go with them? Did they settle down? Did Johnny stick by his decision and stay with Bren and support him?
Piper give me more. Please!!
February 25, 2013
1.5 stars. I don't get what the title or the ominous sounding blurb had to do with this short story. I expected something dark and edgy. Instead, I got an asshole MC and porn with very little plot (and what there was, was cliche and fairly ordinary). Disappointing.
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