Liked this one till one of the last scenes, which I felt was just a little unnecessary - but super hot. I am conflicted. I think if I want that, I'd rather just read Sticky Pen or Best Gay Erotica 2k whatever. heh. ( )

I had hoped this book would be more like book 3 rather than book 1, but unfortunately it was more like 1.


It was fairly tropey and I did not care for the character of Rush. He did several things that I would have said "screw you".

But I was ready to give it a 3 until the ending. I completely said WTF! The third book is certainly my favorite. ( )

This is m/m erotica. It's not porn, though it's strength is clearly in its sexual tension and explicit sex scenes, but it's not strong enough to stand without those sex scenes, so it's not a pure romance either. The sex really glues it together and permits the reader to gloss over the bits that still need work. Brian and Rush meet and have great phone sex but Rush is deep, deep within the closet. And yet, after a couple of really hot phone sex scenes and one unsuccessful actual meeting, there are declarations or thoughts of love. Clearly these two men did not know each other at all at that point and to expect them to think about love shows that they were infatuated, but there had been no time for love to grow.

As the book moved on, the issues of trust and emotional (and physical) availability became more prominent, and I felt the book start to slip away from me. I could see it was not as well written as I would have liked, not as emotionally engaging. There are also hints of paranormal abilities, but I didn't find them necessary and they just added to the confusion, did these men find each other because they were gay, or because they were psychic/other. What did it mean that all the characters have these slightly strange abilities? Why throw them in and then not explain them at all... so they actually detracted from ten book as a whole. However the sex scenes are excellent, so well worth exploring for that. ( )

Common Powers is a 'strange' paranormal series; as it said by the name, it's about common men who have some powers, but not so much to make them extraordinary men. In the first installment, Sammi, a young hustler, has the power to hear the thoughts of the people around him, and when he finds his true love, he shares with him a mind bond. Their friend was Brian, a PI who has premonitions. In the second installment Brian meets his man, Rush, a true blood cowboy. The special power of Rush is the night vision, but unlike the powers of the other men, this particular power is not something that has a special role in the story, it's only like another body characteristic of Rush, like his eye color...

There are two plot in the story: the main one is the developing relationship between Brian and Rush, with they struggle to overcome Rush's insecurities; Rush lives in a small town USA and he fears to come out, the only time he did that with his father he was beaten like and animal and forced to stay hidden or leave. Even if now Rush is alone, he still has not found again the courage to come out with his friends and neighboors. The second plot his Brian's research for Sammi's identity.

Both Brian and Rush are interesting characters. Brian is an old fashioned man, he believes in Mr Right, and even if he isn't a virgin maid waiting for his knight in shining armor, he still believes in wooing and in having a relationship with his lovers and not only mindless and no strings attach sex. He wants to be respected, he likes sex, but he needs something else with it.

Rush is a troubled man. He spent all his life in hiding, and when he has some urges, he goes far from home, in the big city where he is a stranger. But when he meets Brian he knows that, if he doesn't change his attitude, he will loose the man. Rush makes a lot of error in this relationship, a less constant man than Brian would give up to him with the first mistake. Instead, since Brian as I said believe in true love, he exercises a lot of patience and tames his skittish cowboy with praise and sugar.

The story is sexy, there are a lot of sex scenes, but all in all it's more romantic than erotic. I should say that I like this aspect of the book, and for this reason, I felt almost as not necessary the last erotic encounter... but well, better too much than not much!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596329408/?tag=elimyrevandra-20