City Falcon by Feliz Faber

Book Blurb: New York, 1994

What on earth is a live falcon doing in the middle of JFK airport? The answer to this question brings PAPD officer Mark Bowman face to face with falconer Hunter Devereaux, right in the middle of a fascinating field experiment using falcons to keep runways free of nuisance birds. The falcons are intriguing, but it’s arrogant, out-and-proud Hunter himself who really rubs Mark the right kind of wrong. Too bad Mark can’t act on the attraction: he’s deeply in the closet, and since he wants to keep his job, that’s where he's determined to stay.

However, every time their paths cross, Hunter gets a little deeper under Mark’s skin, until Mark can’t deny his feelings any longer. Giving in to his desire makes Mark happier than he can remember being, but Hunter isn't willing to hide their relationship forever. If they’re going to make a life together work, something has to give. Someday soon Mark will have to choose, or life will make the choice for him before he’s ready for it.

Review: I like birds of prey, so the title (and blurb) had caught my interest.  I found myself enjoying the story itself, as well as the author's note regarding it's inception.  The characters, their backgrounds, how their relationship evolves and the story really worked well for me.  I think that, aside from seeing how the characters' relationship develops, my favorite parts of the story was reading about how the birds were flown at the airport and the little glimpses into their care.

Enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by Feliz Faber in the future.

(Picture and blurb (c)Dreamspinner Press.)

One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn & M.J. O'Shea

Book Blurb:  “Daddy” is not a title Rue Murray wanted, but he never thought he’d have sex with a woman either. Now he’s the unwitting father of a newborn named Alice. Between bartending and cosmetology school, Rue doesn’t have time for babies, but he can’t give her up. What Rue needs is a babysitter, and he’s running out of options. He’s on the verge of quitting school to watch Alice himself when he remembers his reclusive new neighbor, Erik.

Erik Van Nuys is a sci-fi novelist with anxiety issues to spare. He doesn’t like people in general, and he likes babies even less. Still, with his royalties dwindling, he could use the extra cash. Reluctantly, he takes on the role of manny—and even more reluctantly, he finds himself falling for Alice and her flamboyant father.

Rue and Erik are as different as two people can be, and Alice is the unlikeliest of babies, but Rue has never been happier than when Alice and Erik are by his side. At least, not until he receives an offer that puts all his dreams within reach and he’s forced to choose: the future he’s always wanted, or the family he thought he never did.

Review: I found One Small Thing to be a sweet story filled with humor, wonderful characters, and a wonderful baby.  Reading how the characters met, how their friendship developed and blossomed, where they came from, where they would like to go is what really made the story for me.

Of the characters (all of which I liked), I think that Erik is my favorite as I can relate to some of the issues he has.  Although, there may be a little bit of Rue lurking around a little bit too.

Look forward to seeing what comes next.

Bulletproof by Mary Calmes

Book Blurb: Sequel to A Matter of Time Vol. 1 and 2

Jory Harcourt doesn't have to go looking for trouble. Wherever he goes, it seems to find him—particularly when his partner, Sam Kage, is working undercover on a federal task force.

After the recession forces him to close his business, Jory goes to work as a matchmaker and event planner. From there, it's only a matter of time before his big mouth and up-front attitude make him the rope in a tug-of-war between a trust fund baby and a drug-smuggling criminal. Then, as if that situation weren't delicate enough, Jory's undercover lover shows up working for the smuggler.

Between the men who want him and the men who just want him dead, Chicago is getting a little crowded for Jory, so on the advice of his brother, his boyfriend, and the FBI task force, he heads for Hawaii... where a serious accident threatens his quality of life. Can Sam and Jory keep the faith and prove that their relationship really is bulletproof?

Review:  I had read A Matter of Time, Vol. 1 and 2 for Night Owl Reviews and my reviews can be found there and I really liked them.  Yes, Bulletproof is another story about how trouble seems to follow Jory without him looking for it, but it is not stale, repetitive or old.  There are so many ways that this type of story can get old (and I have read a couple of series that I wound up quitting reading because they started sounding entirely too repetitive), but Ms. Calmes keeps the writing fresh and Jory is lovable as opposed to being annoying due to his personality.  Part of it is the characters, part of it is the humor sprinkled throughout, and part of it is that all of it is balanced with other emotions too.

Another great read from Mary Calmes.

(Picture and blurb (c)Dreamspinner Press.)