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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Lighting the Lamp by K.R. Collins (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: The New Normal by L.J. Hayward (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Thylacine
Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.
A young couple nearing their nine months anniversary hit a road block when one decides to have lunch with an admirer. The relationship is tested as they face their insecurities along the way.
Meh, he’s going to cheat one day soon…
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MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: From Rom-Coms to Serial Killers
I had a movie marathon last weekend so I’m going to do mini reviews of the movies I watched. I usually gravitate towards rom-coms only because they’re guaranteed to have happy endings but I was able to watch a couple of darker movies.
Anyhoo, here goes…
The Thing About Harry
Sam is a young gay man who’s forced to share a car ride with Harry — a popular jock who was his enemy in high school. But things take an unexpected turn when Sam learns that Harry has come out, opening the door for a potential romance
The thing I liked about this movie is that whenever I thought I knew where it was going, it doesn’t go the way I expected it to. It tried not to go the usual rom-com routes while still delivering our requisite happy ending. This one has not only one but two grand gesture moments. I’m kinda meh on how they played musical chairs when it comes to sleeping with their friends turned boy/girlfriends turn exes then back again. Still, if you like a feel-good gay rom-com, this is it.
Shadowlands
Shadowlands explores love in three separate stories – a couple renegotiating a relationship, a narcissist grrasping to comprehend it, and star-crossed lovers mourning its loss.
When I first saw trailer, I was reminded of the Japanese movie, Ranpo Noir, with its dark themes and sensual imagery. This anthology is divided into three parts, what I liked to call, The Weird One, The Cute One and The Sad Sad One.
Narcissus a.k.a The Weird One is about a surgeon in 1928 who was obsessed with his own fucked up idea of perfection. This one would have been more effective had the acting been a little better. The main actor looked the part but he lacked the intensity.
Mating Season a.k.a The Cute One is about a couple in 1951 talking about the idea of having an open relationship while camping in the woods. One day they met a young man who they welcomed into their company. This is my favorite. It’s sweet and fluffy with just a hint of paranormal.
Pygmalion Revisited a.k.a The Sad Sad One. is about a modern day artist grieving the loss of his partner. This here was raw grief. The flashbacks of happier days juxtaposed with the present one nearly had me bawling like a baby.
eCupid
A gay man nearing 30, and in a 7-year relationship rut, taps into an otherworldly Internet ad that starts omnisciently controlling his life.
I first saw this on Youtube, tried to watch it but found it a little bland. Then I tried to watch it again and found it’s not so bad after all. As far as gay rom-com goes, this is one of the okay ones. Marshall was an ass for trying to dump his cute boyfriend and he needs to grovel more.
Vampire Boys
Jasin and his vampire brood’s time is running out. In order for them to survive, Jasin needs to find a mortal to turn into a vampire to spend eternity with. Los Angeles provides plenty of young candidates. The brood has their eyes set on Tara, a young, gorgeous blond college student. Tara is open to the idea of becoming a vampire, but someone else enters the picture to disrupt the brood’s plans. Caleb, a fresh face college student new to Los Angeles, keeps dreaming of a mysterious stranger. At school, Caleb meets the stranger, Jasin, and they have an instant connection. The problem is that time is short, and Jasin needs to convince Caleb that eternity as a vampire can be a very sweet life.
This is so low budget I can’t even!
We are way past overdue for a proper gay vampire movie, Hollywood! Somebody do a big budget remake of this because F4 vampires for the win.
Devil’s Path
Two men encounter each other on a dangerous gay cruising park trail, and quickly find themselves caught up in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
A twisty suspense thriller that has a lot of running around. Normally I get bored with chase scenes but I really liked that this movie has two very unreliable MCs so it’s pretty unpredictable.
A group of social gay men welcomes a handsome new guy into the circle of friends, but they fail to notice that friends start disappearing, one by one.
A very tongue in cheek serial killer falls in love story. Not exactly hilarious and I didn’t even get the Youtube jokes but heck, it was cute. Cute’s my jam so…
I had a great time and would have watched more but my eyes were getting blurry already. I’m happy that the quality of LGBT movies have been improving instead of being relegated to the usual B-movie category. Here’s hoping for more quality LGBT movies.
Are rom-coms your thing? Or are you more into the darker stuff? What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
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BLOG TOUR: Love Means More by A.F. Zoelle (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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BOOK TOUR: Improbable Bonds by Lily Michaels (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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MANGA: Kamisama to Tobenai Tsukai
Kamisama to Tsubenai Tsukai – Hagi
Shin, born to a race of winged messengers, faces life as an outsider due to the tiny deformed wings on his back. Flightless, he endures ridicule and loneliness. His people tend to the needs of the Gods who reside in the same mountains, and unexpectedly, he is tasked with the care of the mysterious God residing at Mountain 32. A troubling future looms ahead as Gods and Messengers have begun to disappear without trace. What danger awaits Shin and his people, and the Gods they care for?
OMG! Fluffy mountain gods with gorgeous human forms and their loyal doting messengers! This manga is adorbs!
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AUDIO REVIEW: Falling for My Roommate by Garrett Leigh
Falling for My Roommmate – Garrett Leigh
Falling for his roommate gives ex footballer Micah the second chance he deserves, and what could be better than loving your best friend?
Micah
I’m a broke ex-football player with a bum leg and PTSD. Last summer, I had two choices: the streets, or find a cheap room to rent in the city. I chose the second option, which landed me with a brand-new problem, cos I hadn’t banked on my roommate becoming my best friend. Or that before long I’d find myself head over heels in love with him. Trouble is, even if Sam likes me back, I ain’t fit to be no one’s boyfriend. I don’t know how. All I do is wade through every precious moment and hope that he doesn’t regret the day he ever met me.Sam
I’m a gay book nerd with no business falling in love with hunky athletes. Micah is the dictionary definition of beautiful, inside and out, he just doesn’t know it. And he definitely doesn’t know I’m ridiculously in love with him. The embarrassing kind of love.He’s all I can think about.
But it’s not as simple as loving someone who doesn’t love me back. Micah is damaged goods—at least, that’s how he’d put it. The world has chewed him up and spat him out, and he thinks he deserved it. That he’s still the battered mess he was a year ago.
I want to shake him, and shout in his face that he’s not. To force the truth on him and make him believe in himself the way I do. But I can’t save Micah. One day, perhaps he’ll realise that he already saved himself.
Trust Garrett Leigh to create a raw, emotionally gripping story out of the simple premise of falling in love with a roommate.
Micah and Sam are roommates and best friends. After mutually pining for each other and some sassing from nosy friends, they finally had the courage to confess their feelings and kiss.
You think it would end happily there.
After the kiss came miscommunications and insecurities. If these are your pet peeves, they could get pretty annoying.
Sam is Micah’s own personal ray of sunshine. I liked how they played off each other and how domestic they are. They’re practically like an old married couple with their household routines down pat. I enjoyed their banters. My favorite part were the trips to the library and cuddling in the corners.
But this is not just about romance. It’s so much more.
Most of the Garrett Leigh’s books I’ve read featured characters with mental illness and how this affects their lives and relationships.
My heart went out to Micah. He made poor choices in the past and now had to live with the consequences. He has PTSD, depression and a bum leg. He might have sunk back to his gloomy moods but I appreciated that he knew when to ask for help. All he wanted was to live a normal life with Sam.
Sam, himself, was not perfect. He was quick to make negative assumptions that hurt Micah. Their relationship basically revolves around Micah and his issues and I loved how he really tried to be there for Micah 101% of the time.
I also appreciated how the story underscored the importance of proper and consistent mental health care. It painted an accurate picture of what happens when we stop taking meds, even if not on purpose. And as expected with this author, she handled the issue with much respect and sensitivity.
The story also talked about the aftermath of a public outing by a footballer. Sad to say that the media treated gay footballers horribly. Tabloid columns splashed lurid headlines. Paparazzi preyed on their every move. No wonder Micah is going mad just thinking about how it could affect him and Sam. Especially on the heels of another public outing that had gone down disastrously.
Narrator Dan Calley did a great job bringing this book to life. The spot-on voice acting coupled with a variety of authentic accents made the conversations sound very natural.
Falling for My Roommate ran through a variety emotions that strongly resonated with me. The characters are flawed yet they made me root hard for them. There’s a lot of angst, some humor, some sweeter moments. The ending was full of hope and promise. All in all, it is a beautiful book that’s a pleasure to read/listen to.
P.S.
Thank you to Signal Boost Promotions and Audible UK for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of Garrett Leigh books here.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: A Million Years
Artist: Human Drama
Album: The World Inside -
SOUNDTRACK: A Million Years by Human Drama
Soundtrack to Falling For My Roommate by Garrett Leigh
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Push a pin into my arm. I will bleed like anyone
Pull it out and I forget
On a trail blazed with words. One that I was lost upon
The road that I depended on, I follow no moreTortured man take your hand, take it from the fire now
Place it in cool water
A hypocrite is one who prays only when he feels pain
It’s time to open your eyes. So open your eyesI could wait a million years, look into a billion eyes
To find another love like this
I could wait a million yearsThe slamming door the unseen wall
The hurt I never could forget, I struggle to remember
And take my hand from the fire refusing all intended scars
You are cool water. Into you, I swimI could wait a million years, look into a billion eyes
To find another love like this
I could wait a million yearsHeld still in one place for too long
Gone blind to the miracle of saving
I pray this angel in my eyes was put here to save my lifeThrough your eyes I feel your soul
What I feel I must believe
What I believe I live
This coming from a man who clenched the truth so tight in his hands.
Then opened to find evil
Found trusting love againI could wait a million years, look into a billion eyes
To find another love like this
I could wait a million years
