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Star Quality
ON-SCREEN PASSION AND OFF-SCREEN INTRIGUES
Kevin Kaisho plays gay on the popular nighttime TV drama Shadow Lane. Kevin's on-screen love interest is his long-time friend, the out and proud (and married) Nick Jantzen. After spending a press junket flirting with Nick to titillate fans, Kevin's feelings become complicated: Nick's husband Andrew shows up, making suggestive overtures. With unexpected desires invading his dreams, Kevin must discover what kind of starring role he really wants.
Andrew Walker is successful in his own right as a fashion designer, and he's quite happy with his life, even if he and Nick are often kept apart by their work. But when he sees a picture of Nick and his new co-star Kevin cozied up for the camera, he's intrigued. Can he coax Kevin--and Nick--into seeing that starring together in real life can be richer and more complex than a TV drama?
Kevin Kaisho plays gay on the popular nighttime TV drama Shadow Lane. Kevin's on-screen love interest is his long-time friend, the out and proud (and married) Nick Jantzen. After spending a press junket flirting with Nick to titillate fans, Kevin's feelings become complicated: Nick's husband Andrew shows up, making suggestive overtures. With unexpected desires invading his dreams, Kevin must discover what kind of starring role he really wants.
Andrew Walker is successful in his own right as a fashion designer, and he's quite happy with his life, even if he and Nick are often kept apart by their work. But when he sees a picture of Nick and his new co-star Kevin cozied up for the camera, he's intrigued. Can he coax Kevin--and Nick--into seeing that starring together in real life can be richer and more complex than a TV drama?
85 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Ajax Bell
4 books45 followersA Seattle native, Ajax Bell writes queer fiction, including the Queen City Boys books, an interrelated series of standalone stories. Spanning four decades in Seattle, Queen City Boys tells the explicit adventures of an eclectic group of gay friends as they find their way through the ends and beginnings of their most important relationships.
According to Ajax the best thing in life is a perfect Pacific Northwest spring day spent on a sunny bench with a good book. Never a sea captain, but a background in library sciences and a lifetime of pencil pushing together left Ajax with a rich fantasy life and a compulsive need to write it down. No matter what the task, Ajax always has the right pair of shoes. One day Ajax hopes to own a genetically altered hippopotamus the size of a small dog.
According to Ajax the best thing in life is a perfect Pacific Northwest spring day spent on a sunny bench with a good book. Never a sea captain, but a background in library sciences and a lifetime of pencil pushing together left Ajax with a rich fantasy life and a compulsive need to write it down. No matter what the task, Ajax always has the right pair of shoes. One day Ajax hopes to own a genetically altered hippopotamus the size of a small dog.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 27, 2015
THREE HEARTS--"Kittentits"
A term of endearment in Ajax Bell's "Star Quality". I renamed this story "Kittentits" in my head though.
Kittentits? The formerly straight MC, Kevin is called this by one half of the married gay couple in "Star Quality". When I first read it, I misread kittenitis. I wondered if it was a new disease that caused kittens to sprout when you're sick but no...it's "kitten-tits". Um...I hated it in the beginning and by the end, it made me laugh. Unexpected comic relief score!
Set in Vancouver, the novella is about straight, Hapa actor Kevin and his co-star, Nick. Kevin finally hit the big time scoring a lead on a popular nighttime soap, as Nick's romantic lead. Nick is openly gay and married to Andrew, famous fashion design. The married couple are still in love after being together for over a decade. They have a strong open relationship and bring in thirds in their bedroom from time to time. Andrew sees the way Kevin looks at his husband and wants that straight, virgin ass spread on his bed and filled with he and his husband's cock. He manipulates Kevin into their bed for a night of fun...and unexpectedly into their hearts?
I was going to DNF this. The beginning wasn't strong. I couldn't get a sense of any of the characters. There was a miasma of superficial that I tend to disconnect from in stories. I don't care if Nick is so beautiful he's like a star in the sky or water in the ocean. (The water/ocean metaphors--*smh* I will gripe about this soon) Or that Nick's pale skin and blue eyes are so orgasmic that they look great against Andrew's dark skin or Kevin's amber eyes. I don't know if the shallowness of the main characters was supposed to add to the story's tone. If it was planned, it succeeded. If it wasn't...then everyone is two dimensional.
The story is basically PWP that played in the erotica romance(?) sandbox. PWP works best when kept to the sexy bits. This story would have worked better if it stuck to the sex, it pretty much covered about a third of the story anyway. Warning: there is a detailed M/F sex scene. I also don't think it was necessary to the story. Kevin really didn't struggle opening his anus to thick fingers, cocks or both at the same time. I'd have rated this higher if this just stayed in the PWP lane, the sex touched 4 Hearts range. I had to suspend reality a little to believe an ass virgin could handle not one but two cocks at the same time...just with some fingering and rimming and a "three-quarters hard" cock.
Even one of the sex partners thought this during the DP scene:
While I love a good double penetration scene as the next smut loving gal, I just couldn't buy it. Maybe if the attempt to try to make Kevin have a semblance of depth didn't get in the way. I mean snowballing, felching and virgin double penetration menage doesn't grow on the smut trees overnight! And it sure isn't anything to sneeze at.
I think Andrew the manipulator was my favorite out of the three. I like my triads to have equal sides but it's clear Andrew has one more brain cell than those other two. They just bring a ready mouth, asshole and cock when needed. Andrew planted the seed of lust in both Kevin and his husband's heads and got exactly what he wanted.
The ending is HFN with a possible HEA. It wasn't bad. Kevin is readily open (ha!) for more and the couple seems to want to jump into permanent triad status. I just wished the filler was kept to a minimum. The waves and water analogy? Andrew or Nick or Kevin took turns are being waves and the ocean or a sea...I don't need metaphors in the smut. No thanks please. The filler diminished the impact the smut made.
The filler was 2 Hearts. The sex? Mmmm...I'll rate it 4 Hearts.
My rating is the average. :)
A copy provided for an honest review.
A term of endearment in Ajax Bell's "Star Quality". I renamed this story "Kittentits" in my head though.
Kittentits? The formerly straight MC, Kevin is called this by one half of the married gay couple in "Star Quality". When I first read it, I misread kittenitis. I wondered if it was a new disease that caused kittens to sprout when you're sick but no...it's "kitten-tits". Um...I hated it in the beginning and by the end, it made me laugh. Unexpected comic relief score!
Set in Vancouver, the novella is about straight, Hapa actor Kevin and his co-star, Nick. Kevin finally hit the big time scoring a lead on a popular nighttime soap, as Nick's romantic lead. Nick is openly gay and married to Andrew, famous fashion design. The married couple are still in love after being together for over a decade. They have a strong open relationship and bring in thirds in their bedroom from time to time. Andrew sees the way Kevin looks at his husband and wants that straight, virgin ass spread on his bed and filled with he and his husband's cock. He manipulates Kevin into their bed for a night of fun...and unexpectedly into their hearts?
I was going to DNF this. The beginning wasn't strong. I couldn't get a sense of any of the characters. There was a miasma of superficial that I tend to disconnect from in stories. I don't care if Nick is so beautiful he's like a star in the sky or water in the ocean. (The water/ocean metaphors--*smh* I will gripe about this soon) Or that Nick's pale skin and blue eyes are so orgasmic that they look great against Andrew's dark skin or Kevin's amber eyes. I don't know if the shallowness of the main characters was supposed to add to the story's tone. If it was planned, it succeeded. If it wasn't...then everyone is two dimensional.
The story is basically PWP that played in the erotica romance(?) sandbox. PWP works best when kept to the sexy bits. This story would have worked better if it stuck to the sex, it pretty much covered about a third of the story anyway. Warning: there is a detailed M/F sex scene. I also don't think it was necessary to the story. Kevin really didn't struggle opening his anus to thick fingers, cocks or both at the same time. I'd have rated this higher if this just stayed in the PWP lane, the sex touched 4 Hearts range. I had to suspend reality a little to believe an ass virgin could handle not one but two cocks at the same time...just with some fingering and rimming and a "three-quarters hard" cock.
Even one of the sex partners thought this during the DP scene:
"He didn't think Kevin could take Nick's full size right now. He wasn't sure how Kevin was taking any of this at all."
While I love a good double penetration scene as the next smut loving gal, I just couldn't buy it. Maybe if the attempt to try to make Kevin have a semblance of depth didn't get in the way. I mean snowballing, felching and virgin double penetration menage doesn't grow on the smut trees overnight! And it sure isn't anything to sneeze at.
I think Andrew the manipulator was my favorite out of the three. I like my triads to have equal sides but it's clear Andrew has one more brain cell than those other two. They just bring a ready mouth, asshole and cock when needed. Andrew planted the seed of lust in both Kevin and his husband's heads and got exactly what he wanted.
The ending is HFN with a possible HEA. It wasn't bad. Kevin is readily open (ha!) for more and the couple seems to want to jump into permanent triad status. I just wished the filler was kept to a minimum. The waves and water analogy? Andrew or Nick or Kevin took turns are being waves and the ocean or a sea...I don't need metaphors in the smut. No thanks please. The filler diminished the impact the smut made.
The filler was 2 Hearts. The sex? Mmmm...I'll rate it 4 Hearts.
My rating is the average. :)
A copy provided for an honest review.
June 2, 2015
I really enjoyed beta reading this super sexy, fun, summer read! Two tv stars, one gay and one straight, have been playing lovers for the camera and for fans, but their attraction is becoming more and more real. Andrew, the husband of Nick, the older of the two tv stars, becomes invested in bringing Kevin in as a third for a night...or maybe longer. The seduction and unfolding is super sexy and fun! I'm not usually a big fan of m/m/m but this was a titillating, enjoyable read. Oh, and let's praise the ethnic diversity in this erotic novella, too! :D A really enjoyable, hot read and a very different follow-up to This Charming Man. Loved it!
April 8, 2019
3.5 Stars. Short, sweet and very hot but could've used further editing.
June 4, 2015
This story was cute and enjoyable to read. I think if it was a little longer it would have been really good. I did like it.
March 30, 2019
Ssssssmokin'! 85 pages of increasingly heated thoughts, then actions, between three distinct personalities who are all sweet and loving individuals. I don't know what more you need. It's FREE and it's LOVELY! Go-go-go!
I'd love to have helped in final edits, to catch the few missing word and spare word type edit fails, but they're minor compared to the unmitigated joy of this story.
I'd love to have helped in final edits, to catch the few missing word and spare word type edit fails, but they're minor compared to the unmitigated joy of this story.
July 1, 2019
Omg this is all the adorbs! It didn’t feel remotely real but I was ecstatic to lose myself in the fantasy.
June 16, 2015
Ménage with lots of delicious tension. Unfortunately, for me, once the gang moved it to the bedroom, I lost interest. Solid quickie read, though.
April 11, 2019
This story has generally positive reviews, so my opinion is definitely in the minority, but this wasn't my cup of tea. It's difficult to put into words why, exactly. I had trouble getting into the story. I can usually finish a book of this length in just a few hours. But I kept getting distracted, clicking over to Gmail or Twitter at the end of every chapter. It wasn't holding my interest. It ended up taking me almost a week to slog through it. The characters were... fine. It's an erotica read so I wasn't expecting deep character development, but there was a hint of that there and the almost promise yet overall lack of it was kind of frustrating. Also - kittentits. I swear to god I wanted to yank my hair out every single time Andrew calls Kevin "kittentits." What the fuck even is that.
This does have really good bisexual rep, and is, IMO, pretty good at walking the polyamory line in a respectful yet not monologue-y way. It just wasn't really my jam, all in all. YMMV.
This does have really good bisexual rep, and is, IMO, pretty good at walking the polyamory line in a respectful yet not monologue-y way. It just wasn't really my jam, all in all. YMMV.
September 13, 2023
This was pretty lightweight for menage erotica, with too much focus on innuendo masquerading as sophisticated seduction when it was hardly more than a flirty banter. The overall heat level was surprisingly low. There were sex scenes, yes, and dirty talk, but they were not dominant enough for erotica and the menage content was minimal. This story really would have worked better as short story with two or three scenes.
I was somewhat amused by the effort to describe the inner workings of a trashy soap opera like it was some Shakespearean tragedy, effort that was immediately undermined by the choice to base the show plot on fanfiction.
I was somewhat amused by the effort to describe the inner workings of a trashy soap opera like it was some Shakespearean tragedy, effort that was immediately undermined by the choice to base the show plot on fanfiction.
May 27, 2018
I liked the unresolved sexual tension in the first half of this novella, but the way it played out in the second half was less interesting to me.
September 12, 2016
Honestly, this book lost me at an MC using the endearment "kittentits" and never recovered. After I'd read him say it a few times I just couldn't take this book seriously.
There wasn't anything terribly wrong with it. An attraction develops over time between co-stars Kevin and Nick and is slightly manipulated and pushed along by Nick's husband Andrew.
But be warned - there are
It ends on a HFN.
There wasn't anything terribly wrong with it. An attraction develops over time between co-stars Kevin and Nick and is slightly manipulated and pushed along by Nick's husband Andrew.
But be warned - there are
It ends on a HFN.
October 22, 2015
I’ve always been a fan of menage books, be it one night or like this one with a HEA.
But what sets this one apart from the others is the fact that all three are in the public eye, the one they bring in, is the co-star and hasn’t had these thoughts about another man before. He’s also several years younger then both other men.
The dynamic between Nick and Andrew is magnetic. You can tell they love each other, that they get each other. The why they send each other emails, even one or two lines just to keep in contact is priceless.
I also very much enjoyed they way that Andrew gave us a snapshot into Kevin and Nick attraction with us actually having to ,sit down, and listen to them talk. Since this is a novella, that commentary from a third party, really worked. And I loved the way, Andrew was the one pursing Kevin and not his co-star Nick. That they gave Kevin time to comes to terms with the feelings and possibilities of what could happen and what would happen.
The final scene when all three come together was beautifully done. Giving Kevin time to back out, get his head around not just the night ahead but the future.
Having never been in that situation, there was one act that left me saying, really? And it did take away my overall enjoyment of the scene but not my overall enjoyment of the novella.
I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
But what sets this one apart from the others is the fact that all three are in the public eye, the one they bring in, is the co-star and hasn’t had these thoughts about another man before. He’s also several years younger then both other men.
The dynamic between Nick and Andrew is magnetic. You can tell they love each other, that they get each other. The why they send each other emails, even one or two lines just to keep in contact is priceless.
I also very much enjoyed they way that Andrew gave us a snapshot into Kevin and Nick attraction with us actually having to ,sit down, and listen to them talk. Since this is a novella, that commentary from a third party, really worked. And I loved the way, Andrew was the one pursing Kevin and not his co-star Nick. That they gave Kevin time to comes to terms with the feelings and possibilities of what could happen and what would happen.
The final scene when all three come together was beautifully done. Giving Kevin time to back out, get his head around not just the night ahead but the future.
Having never been in that situation, there was one act that left me saying, really? And it did take away my overall enjoyment of the scene but not my overall enjoyment of the novella.
I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
June 28, 2015
Wow, this book was a really hot read!! I love reading threesomes and this book did not disappoint.
We meet Kevin, who is an actor, and who when he returns to his house after four weeks promoting the TV Drama he stars in, he finds he is lonely. He has got used to being with his on-screen love interest Nick, and they became great friends. While on his own, Kevin tries to analyse his feelings for his married friend Nick, and he is not sure exactly what they are……
4.5 star Review
When Nicks husband Andrew sees the promotional pictures of Nick and Kevin, he realises that Kevin may have feelings for Nick, but rather than anger him, Andrew is ecstatic with the turn of events, so much so that every time there is a party, Andrew makes a bee line for Kevin and starts dropping hints to him about joining him and Nick in real life.
Nick and Andrew invite Keith over to their house one evening, and then things really heat up …. OMG, a cold shower will be needed after you read what happens….
How the author describes everything that happens with Kevin, Nick and Andrew you can see it all in your mind, and it really was beautifully descriptive.
I really did enjoy this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Reviewed by Dawn at Gay Media Reviews.
We meet Kevin, who is an actor, and who when he returns to his house after four weeks promoting the TV Drama he stars in, he finds he is lonely. He has got used to being with his on-screen love interest Nick, and they became great friends. While on his own, Kevin tries to analyse his feelings for his married friend Nick, and he is not sure exactly what they are……
4.5 star Review
When Nicks husband Andrew sees the promotional pictures of Nick and Kevin, he realises that Kevin may have feelings for Nick, but rather than anger him, Andrew is ecstatic with the turn of events, so much so that every time there is a party, Andrew makes a bee line for Kevin and starts dropping hints to him about joining him and Nick in real life.
Nick and Andrew invite Keith over to their house one evening, and then things really heat up …. OMG, a cold shower will be needed after you read what happens….
How the author describes everything that happens with Kevin, Nick and Andrew you can see it all in your mind, and it really was beautifully descriptive.
I really did enjoy this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Reviewed by Dawn at Gay Media Reviews.
July 20, 2015
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. 8/10 pots of gold.
It’s always hard to review erotic shorts because it’s hard to fit a lot of content in a small amount of pages. Star Quality did do a good job of setting up the menage, telling the story from Kevin and Andrew’s perspectives, mostly. I liked their viewpoints, both of them being close to Nick, but having limited contact with each other, however I would have liked to hear more of Nicks thoughts. Kevin’s story is sort of a gay for you, completely straight until he goes on a press tour with Nick teasing a future storyline. Nick and Kevin are an established couple who frequently add thirds to their bed and Andrew wants the next to be Kevin.
When they finally get together, their chemistry is hot! But it seems like there are a lot more emotions tied to their joining then a one time experience for Kevin. The story has a HFN ending in my view. No “L” words are exchanged but their feelings seem to run pretty deep. It was enjoyable watching the events unfold that lead them all together. The scene with a female and an unfortunate nickname Andrew uses were the only things that weren’t my cup of tea. For a shorter story, I thought it was developed well, and I would have loved to read more about these three men.
It’s always hard to review erotic shorts because it’s hard to fit a lot of content in a small amount of pages. Star Quality did do a good job of setting up the menage, telling the story from Kevin and Andrew’s perspectives, mostly. I liked their viewpoints, both of them being close to Nick, but having limited contact with each other, however I would have liked to hear more of Nicks thoughts. Kevin’s story is sort of a gay for you, completely straight until he goes on a press tour with Nick teasing a future storyline. Nick and Kevin are an established couple who frequently add thirds to their bed and Andrew wants the next to be Kevin.
When they finally get together, their chemistry is hot! But it seems like there are a lot more emotions tied to their joining then a one time experience for Kevin. The story has a HFN ending in my view. No “L” words are exchanged but their feelings seem to run pretty deep. It was enjoyable watching the events unfold that lead them all together. The scene with a female and an unfortunate nickname Andrew uses were the only things that weren’t my cup of tea. For a shorter story, I thought it was developed well, and I would have loved to read more about these three men.
June 9, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is a cute and sexy menage story with an existing couple who brings in a third for some fun, and maybe more. I enjoyed the way the push to this hook up comes from Andrew, the one who is sort of on the outside of the connection beween Kevin and Nick. Those two men work together and have a close friendship filled with some sexual tension. It may have been more expected to have Nick be the driver here, and I loved how instead we see Andrew is both attracted to Kevin in his own right, and wants the experience for Nick as well. The story is filled with lots of good sexual tension as we see these guys dance around each other for a while before ultimately bringing Kevin in to the bedroom. The scene with the three of them is super hot and I loved the dynamic between them all.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is a cute and sexy menage story with an existing couple who brings in a third for some fun, and maybe more. I enjoyed the way the push to this hook up comes from Andrew, the one who is sort of on the outside of the connection beween Kevin and Nick. Those two men work together and have a close friendship filled with some sexual tension. It may have been more expected to have Nick be the driver here, and I loved how instead we see Andrew is both attracted to Kevin in his own right, and wants the experience for Nick as well. The story is filled with lots of good sexual tension as we see these guys dance around each other for a while before ultimately bringing Kevin in to the bedroom. The scene with the three of them is super hot and I loved the dynamic between them all.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
July 27, 2016
An erotic, ménage story written by Ajax Bell? Yes please!
You really need to go into this book knowing that it's pretty, fucking hot. I made the mistake of reading this at work and nearly spontaneously combusted while eating my lunch. Read it at home or perhaps while having a cold shower - it might be safer ;)
4 stars
You really need to go into this book knowing that it's pretty, fucking hot. I made the mistake of reading this at work and nearly spontaneously combusted while eating my lunch. Read it at home or perhaps while having a cold shower - it might be safer ;)
4 stars
June 16, 2015
Review to follow
June 20, 2015
Steamy! Passionate! Review soon!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews