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Reading Steele
Bitten by a mutant scorpion in a motorcycle club initiation gone wrong, former rich kid Damon awakens with the power to read minds.
Damon doesn't belong in this Arizona town. Until a few months ago, he was out and proud and studying theater in his Brooklyn prep school. Then his father went to prison, and Damon was shipped off to live with his redneck uncle. There's no way he's joining his cousin's MC-- even if one of the riders has the most amazing hazel eyes.
Steele figures the New York boy can't be interested in a guy covered in dragon tats. But he wants Damon near him just the same. Why not initiate him into the MC? It's one bite. They've all gone through it. But who knew that this particular scorpion's bite would give Damon the power to see straight into Steele's soul?
"Reading Steele" is a 14,000 word, 54 page novella about two eighteen-year-olds from different worlds who find out they have more in common than they ever suspected. This bad boy male/male romance includes strong language and some sexual situations. It's a complete Happy For Now story with no cliffhangers and no cheating.
Damon doesn't belong in this Arizona town. Until a few months ago, he was out and proud and studying theater in his Brooklyn prep school. Then his father went to prison, and Damon was shipped off to live with his redneck uncle. There's no way he's joining his cousin's MC-- even if one of the riders has the most amazing hazel eyes.
Steele figures the New York boy can't be interested in a guy covered in dragon tats. But he wants Damon near him just the same. Why not initiate him into the MC? It's one bite. They've all gone through it. But who knew that this particular scorpion's bite would give Damon the power to see straight into Steele's soul?
"Reading Steele" is a 14,000 word, 54 page novella about two eighteen-year-olds from different worlds who find out they have more in common than they ever suspected. This bad boy male/male romance includes strong language and some sexual situations. It's a complete Happy For Now story with no cliffhangers and no cheating.
54 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
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33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 14, 2016
I was given a copy of this book free by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Such is often the case with novellas, you read it and just as it gets i teresting, it ends.
Its not a cliffhanger but more of a HFN ending. I really want to know what happens to them. Does Damon go to college? What about Steele?
I loved the idea that Damon could read Steele's mind after being bitten by the mutant scorpian. The author could have had so much fun with that one.
The collection of reptiles was freaky. Damon letting them loose was a good idea and I would like to think when the MC went back in to catch them, maybe something nasty might have be fallen them.
So all in all a 3.5 star read rounded up. A book definitely calling out to be made i to a full length novel, or a full length sequel.
Such is often the case with novellas, you read it and just as it gets i teresting, it ends.
Its not a cliffhanger but more of a HFN ending. I really want to know what happens to them. Does Damon go to college? What about Steele?
I loved the idea that Damon could read Steele's mind after being bitten by the mutant scorpian. The author could have had so much fun with that one.
The collection of reptiles was freaky. Damon letting them loose was a good idea and I would like to think when the MC went back in to catch them, maybe something nasty might have be fallen them.
So all in all a 3.5 star read rounded up. A book definitely calling out to be made i to a full length novel, or a full length sequel.
September 12, 2016
Title: Reading Steele
Series: A Motorcycle Bad Boys M/M Romance
Author: Parker Avrile
Publisher: Paris April Press
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: September 7, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Romance
Page Count: 53 pages
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Review:
This is a super short story. I have read another book by this author that I really enjoyed. I am sorry to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. I expected an MC story, but what I got was delinquent boys on motorcycles. I guess the title was spot on. Yes the story did have some redeeming qualities. I liked the main characters Damon, and Steele. If Parker Avrile does write more to this story, which was suggested at the end of the story, I would read it. I would like to see these characters better developed. The plot has Damon moving from Brooklyn to his Uncle’s home in Arizona when his mobster dad was sent to prison. Damon just has to make it through the summer until college starts. When Damon is stung by a mutant scorpion during the club’s initiation, he wakes up with the ability to read and feel lustful thought of people that he touches. When he realizes that super straight Steele is gay and attracted to him, a strong bond forms. Making them both vulnerable if the rest of the gang finds out. There is a heated chemistry between Damon and Steele. The pacing is fast and even though there is no cliffhanger, you know that there has to be more to this story. I would have liked to see more character development. I hope we do if the story continues.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5
Categories
PLOT: 3 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 3 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 3 Stars
Review Copy of Reading Steele provided by the Parker Avrile for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
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Series: A Motorcycle Bad Boys M/M Romance
Author: Parker Avrile
Publisher: Paris April Press
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: September 7, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Romance
Page Count: 53 pages
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Bitten by a mutant scorpion in a motorcycle club initiation gone wrong, former rich kid Damon awakens with the power to read minds.
Damon doesn't belong in this Arizona town. Until a few months ago, he was out and proud and studying theater in his Brooklyn prep school. Then his father went to prison, and Damon was shipped off to live with his redneck uncle. There's no way he's joining his cousin's MC-- even if one of the riders has the most amazing hazel eyes.
Steele figures the New York boy can't be interested in a guy covered in dragon tats. But he wants Damon near him just the same. Why not initiate him into the MC? It's one bite. They've all gone through it.
Who knew that this particular scorpion's bite would give Damon the power to see straight into Steele's soul?
"Reading Steele" is a 14,000 word (50 page) novella about two eighteen-year-olds from different worlds who find out they have more in common than they ever suspected. This bad boy romance includes strong language and some sexual situations. It's a complete Happy For Now friends to lovers gay male/male romance with NO cliffhangers and NO cheating.
Review:
This is a super short story. I have read another book by this author that I really enjoyed. I am sorry to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. I expected an MC story, but what I got was delinquent boys on motorcycles. I guess the title was spot on. Yes the story did have some redeeming qualities. I liked the main characters Damon, and Steele. If Parker Avrile does write more to this story, which was suggested at the end of the story, I would read it. I would like to see these characters better developed. The plot has Damon moving from Brooklyn to his Uncle’s home in Arizona when his mobster dad was sent to prison. Damon just has to make it through the summer until college starts. When Damon is stung by a mutant scorpion during the club’s initiation, he wakes up with the ability to read and feel lustful thought of people that he touches. When he realizes that super straight Steele is gay and attracted to him, a strong bond forms. Making them both vulnerable if the rest of the gang finds out. There is a heated chemistry between Damon and Steele. The pacing is fast and even though there is no cliffhanger, you know that there has to be more to this story. I would have liked to see more character development. I hope we do if the story continues.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5
Categories
PLOT: 3 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 3 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 3 Stars
Review Copy of Reading Steele provided by the Parker Avrile for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
August 21, 2016
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story. It was short, but it wasn't too short. I was still able to get a feel for the characters and I did feel their affection and love for each other. Damon and Steele, very HOT characters. And whoa boy, the heat that Steele feels for Damon is just, wow.
The blurb tells it all except for the fact that Steele is very deep in the closet, the MC (motorcycle club) is also part of Damon's uncle's crew of black market reptile (animal, etc) dealers. When Damon is bitten by the odd scorpion, his ability to read thoughts center only around those of a sexual nature. Which is totally hot, and is perfect for a MM romance story. Damon and Steele want to be together in the open but know that they can't show their affection for one another around the rest of the gang. They often talk of plans for getting out, getting away, and they do. It's pretty low on the angst but I did still feel worried for them. I mean, who knows if something bad will happen.
This was a well written short story with a few spots I thought could have been done better/different. I will certainly be looking for the next installment. It ends with a HFN, and I can't wait to see what's next for these two crazy kids.
If you are looking for a short, light read with lots of fun, this book is for you. It does have some heavish moments but it all ends well in this one. I felt happy at the end, and I had been in a serious funk earlier (I had just watched the movie Ghost. Totally sobbed like a baby at the end.) and this cheered me right up. Yay!
P.S. While it might be nice to be able to read your lovers thoughts about sex, I can only imagine how frustrating it could be. :) I would love to have this skill if I could turn it on or off. The fact that Damon couldn't just made it that much funnier (he would pick up random thoughts from strangers, totally LOL moments).
I really liked this story. It was short, but it wasn't too short. I was still able to get a feel for the characters and I did feel their affection and love for each other. Damon and Steele, very HOT characters. And whoa boy, the heat that Steele feels for Damon is just, wow.
The blurb tells it all except for the fact that Steele is very deep in the closet, the MC (motorcycle club) is also part of Damon's uncle's crew of black market reptile (animal, etc) dealers. When Damon is bitten by the odd scorpion, his ability to read thoughts center only around those of a sexual nature. Which is totally hot, and is perfect for a MM romance story. Damon and Steele want to be together in the open but know that they can't show their affection for one another around the rest of the gang. They often talk of plans for getting out, getting away, and they do. It's pretty low on the angst but I did still feel worried for them. I mean, who knows if something bad will happen.
This was a well written short story with a few spots I thought could have been done better/different. I will certainly be looking for the next installment. It ends with a HFN, and I can't wait to see what's next for these two crazy kids.
If you are looking for a short, light read with lots of fun, this book is for you. It does have some heavish moments but it all ends well in this one. I felt happy at the end, and I had been in a serious funk earlier (I had just watched the movie Ghost. Totally sobbed like a baby at the end.) and this cheered me right up. Yay!
P.S. While it might be nice to be able to read your lovers thoughts about sex, I can only imagine how frustrating it could be. :) I would love to have this skill if I could turn it on or off. The fact that Damon couldn't just made it that much funnier (he would pick up random thoughts from strangers, totally LOL moments).
September 13, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.5 stars
The above synopsis sounds like it could be fun, right? Well, not so much. There was very little about this short story that worked for me. Damon and Steele were both initially interesting characters with a story to tell, but that story went off in too many directions.
Damon’s uncle is shown as merely tolerating him and Damon can’t wait to head out to his first year of college, which had already been paid for by his father. Arizona is a long way from Brooklyn and he’s so out of place. Chollie hasn’t made it any easier, yet one day he just decides it’s time for Damon to be bitten by a scorpion so he can be initiated into the MC. Chollie and the club members range in age from 18-20, they all have dropped out of high school, and besides trying to race scorpions in the yard, it is unclear exactly what they do with themselves.
So Damon is bitten and he can then hear people’s thoughts when they touch him, but, he can only hear their thoughts if they are sexual in nature. This is how he becomes aware that Steele is into him. Prior to that, neither Steele nor Damon knew the other was interested and there was zero sexual tension and zero build up to a relationship. A major component to this plot was Damon’s ability to read minds and this wasn’t handled in any way to hold my attention. So much could have been done with a storyline like this but at best it read as him getting just basic thoughts and at worst it read as creepy and intrusive due to the execution. Throughout the story, no one ever becomes aware of this new development with Damon.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
2.5 stars
The above synopsis sounds like it could be fun, right? Well, not so much. There was very little about this short story that worked for me. Damon and Steele were both initially interesting characters with a story to tell, but that story went off in too many directions.
Damon’s uncle is shown as merely tolerating him and Damon can’t wait to head out to his first year of college, which had already been paid for by his father. Arizona is a long way from Brooklyn and he’s so out of place. Chollie hasn’t made it any easier, yet one day he just decides it’s time for Damon to be bitten by a scorpion so he can be initiated into the MC. Chollie and the club members range in age from 18-20, they all have dropped out of high school, and besides trying to race scorpions in the yard, it is unclear exactly what they do with themselves.
So Damon is bitten and he can then hear people’s thoughts when they touch him, but, he can only hear their thoughts if they are sexual in nature. This is how he becomes aware that Steele is into him. Prior to that, neither Steele nor Damon knew the other was interested and there was zero sexual tension and zero build up to a relationship. A major component to this plot was Damon’s ability to read minds and this wasn’t handled in any way to hold my attention. So much could have been done with a storyline like this but at best it read as him getting just basic thoughts and at worst it read as creepy and intrusive due to the execution. Throughout the story, no one ever becomes aware of this new development with Damon.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
August 17, 2016
I really liked the way the book begin. It had something fun about the way the Damon thinks about the Motorcycle Club guys, I really love how mocking he was about the way they conduct themselves, it was very entertaining. The pace was ok for most of the book, but I felt like the ending was a little rushed and it finished leaving a lot of questions in the air.
It had an interesting concept, but after a while of Damon's ability to listening into people’s thoughts it became a little predictable, and I was expecting it to go away and that the story would only concentrate in the relationship between Damon and Steele, which sort of did, but I wanted that particular feature of Damon to disappear. It also made me feel angry at him because it is a really mean thing to do, to know what people think, and not tell them. I think that made him a little unlikable for me.
Steele was ok, but I don’t think really got to know him, only some of his thoughts. What I knew of him was nice, he was very unsecure guy behind a hard cover. I can’t help to think Damon take advantage of him, I really feel bad for him.
The plot was nice, but I think it would be just fine without the mind reading stuff. I wasn’t too sure about the bad guys, they didn’t convinced me too much, they were a little soft for what they were portraying.
Overall it was a nice book to read, I enjoy most of it and even with the issues I had, it was fun to read.
I Received copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
It had an interesting concept, but after a while of Damon's ability to listening into people’s thoughts it became a little predictable, and I was expecting it to go away and that the story would only concentrate in the relationship between Damon and Steele, which sort of did, but I wanted that particular feature of Damon to disappear. It also made me feel angry at him because it is a really mean thing to do, to know what people think, and not tell them. I think that made him a little unlikable for me.
Steele was ok, but I don’t think really got to know him, only some of his thoughts. What I knew of him was nice, he was very unsecure guy behind a hard cover. I can’t help to think Damon take advantage of him, I really feel bad for him.
The plot was nice, but I think it would be just fine without the mind reading stuff. I wasn’t too sure about the bad guys, they didn’t convinced me too much, they were a little soft for what they were portraying.
Overall it was a nice book to read, I enjoy most of it and even with the issues I had, it was fun to read.
I Received copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
September 16, 2016
A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I usually steer clear of Motorcycle Club books. Most of them, I’ve found, are written about drug selling, gun wielding tough guys who can't string a sentence together with noun and verb. The author’s writing is horrendous and I make it about 10 pages before I DNF it in disgust.
BUT having read Ms. Avril's Runaway Model series, I opted to give this short story a chance, and I'm happy to say it was the right decision.
Damon is only eighteen. He's been sent to Arizona to live with his uncle and cousin when his father was sent to prison for mob related activities. For months, he's watched his cousins MC club of 18-21 year olds sell exotic animals and play dangerous games with scorpions. When a strange scorpion bites him upon forced initiation into said club, he gains the ability to read the most intimate sexual thoughts of anyone touching him. He hadn't given the tattooed Steele more than a passing glance (and actually kind of is disgusted by the neck tattoo) until he discovered just how much Steele lusts after him.
Damon opens himself up to the opportunity presented by Steele and is rewarded. However, when Uncle finds out, all gloves are off. Sweet and harsh mingle in this tale of budding love, maybe not so elegantly as Ms. Avril’s other stories, but she got it just right in the mind of eighteen year old Damon.
3.5 stars
I usually steer clear of Motorcycle Club books. Most of them, I’ve found, are written about drug selling, gun wielding tough guys who can't string a sentence together with noun and verb. The author’s writing is horrendous and I make it about 10 pages before I DNF it in disgust.
BUT having read Ms. Avril's Runaway Model series, I opted to give this short story a chance, and I'm happy to say it was the right decision.
Damon is only eighteen. He's been sent to Arizona to live with his uncle and cousin when his father was sent to prison for mob related activities. For months, he's watched his cousins MC club of 18-21 year olds sell exotic animals and play dangerous games with scorpions. When a strange scorpion bites him upon forced initiation into said club, he gains the ability to read the most intimate sexual thoughts of anyone touching him. He hadn't given the tattooed Steele more than a passing glance (and actually kind of is disgusted by the neck tattoo) until he discovered just how much Steele lusts after him.
Damon opens himself up to the opportunity presented by Steele and is rewarded. However, when Uncle finds out, all gloves are off. Sweet and harsh mingle in this tale of budding love, maybe not so elegantly as Ms. Avril’s other stories, but she got it just right in the mind of eighteen year old Damon.
September 8, 2016
Teaser
What can I say about Parker Avrile’s Reading Steele? Well first let me say the plot was unlike anything I have come across yet. Secondly, because of that my four heart review is unlike any I have previously given.
This short somehow did manage to light an imaginative fire in me. For me Reading Steele was a fun escape. Something that would be a quick little read after a heavy, angsty novel.
It’s a nice little reminder that we are reading fiction and not everything has to be spot on, real or perfect to be catching and enjoyable.
Read Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2bWZwtv
What can I say about Parker Avrile’s Reading Steele? Well first let me say the plot was unlike anything I have come across yet. Secondly, because of that my four heart review is unlike any I have previously given.
This short somehow did manage to light an imaginative fire in me. For me Reading Steele was a fun escape. Something that would be a quick little read after a heavy, angsty novel.
It’s a nice little reminder that we are reading fiction and not everything has to be spot on, real or perfect to be catching and enjoyable.
Read Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2bWZwtv
August 14, 2016
I recieved an ARC copy for review and I did beta-read this for the author, too. It's an unusual premise, a bit of a YA story about two young men becoming involved under unique conditions. For a short novella, the characterization and the Arizona atmosphere is well done. The characters are a little hard for me to relate to at my age and it's more open ended than I like. It's an HFN and would be an interesting story to follow as they matured and grew their relationship.
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