Genre: Fantasy
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Mysterious forces are at play when Paul’s vacation to Spain unexpectedly detours to Gibraltar and then Morocco, to a vodka bottle in a hole in the wall bar, to a handsome genie with a slew of secrets, plus almost limitless powers, virtually no memory, and a keen desire to be freed from his curse. Along the way, Paul is reunited with his ex-lover and the genie’s previous master as fate draws them ever deeper into a murky, dangerous past.
On our heroes travel, from the frigid north of Russia to a magic carpet ride across China, ultimately finding themselves in the deserts of ancient Jordan. Here, they encounter another of the genie’s previous masters and a power far greater than they could’ve ever imagined, all within a massive temple carved into a mountainside. Can our intrepid foursome uncover the truth before the curse takes them all and possibly the entire world down? Will love win out in the end? Or is the genie forever doomed to a life foretold in fairy tales?
In this funny, frisky, and frequently heart-pounding adventure, only one thing is for certain: magic can happen even without three wishes.
The Review
Rob Rosen’s Genie In A Vodka Bottle takes the reader on a chaotic journey that’s steamy and humorous. As the saying goes “be careful what you wish for” and how you phrase it!
Paul is funny and snarky. He has just broken up with his boyfriend and is stuck going on their anniversary celebration to Malaga, Spain. Paul can’t help cursing out his ex continuously as he makes the trip.
He mysteriously meets three Omars: The first Omar tells him to see Gibraltar, where he meets a second Omar that sends him on to Morocco, where he meets a third Omar.
Traveling alone and being in Morocco, Paul is very nervous. He’s lured into a bar after being told it it’s safe. Omar (number three) brings Paul a unique bottle of vodka with a picture of a man’s face on the label. There’s a lot of bottle rubbing as Paul struggles to get the bottle uncorked. It leads to Paul coming face to face with Genie, and he is now the Master with three wishes.
As Paul and the Genie become very familiar, with each other, Paul doesn’t want to make that last wish. He wants the Genie to be free. He and the Genie go on a journey to find out how it came to be that he was trapped in the bottle. Their travels take them to Russia, China and a multitude of new, exotic and dangerous places.
They meet Yuri in Russia, who has a very unique brass bottle.
Paul only knows one person that can shed light on that bottle and that’s his ex – Luke. Luke has the expertise and a degree in Asian art.
Paul, Genie, Yuri and Luke set out once again on the journey to find out the mystery of the bottle. Is it lore or a curse, and who’s responsible? What can Paul do or give up to save the Genie from this trap?
Rosen makes this story quite comical and fun to read as this little group of characters – Paul, Genie, Luke and Yuri – get into all kinds of situations. There’s also the magic of the carpet ride, and unique ways to travel to different countries.
There’s a lot of history that goes along with new discoveries of the bottle, too.
There’s a serious part too – Paul wants to save Genie from the life of his repetitive trap. He wants Genie to have a future and a life to dream about and look forward to. Paul also has to dig deep, what would he give up or wish for to give Genie his freedom.
All the banter, snark and some fun erotic moments made this a very enjoyable read!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.