Wednesday 23 October 2024
Breathless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals Book )#
TITLE: ⟫ Breathless
AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas
SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals Book #4
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5
BLURB: ⟫ The Cheerleader and The Guy Next Door
Perry
My life is a mess.
My mom and sister treat me like I’m the worst person in the world because I enforce my lone boundary. I’m really close to failing a class that is crucial to my degree. The very important regional cheerleading competition is coming up.
It’s a lot.
Then I meet my new neighbor and realize it’s the hot guy who witnessed something I do not want my cheer squad to find out. My life gets even more messy as I come up with a proposition to convince him to keep my secret.
He tells me he’ll keep my secret anyway, so why do I push him to take the deal?
Beau
Inheriting my grandfather’s old house after he passes away is bittersweet. It’s not been lived in for twenty years and is next to a house full of college cheerleaders, but it is perfect for me and my bee hives.
When I introduce myself to the squad, I come face to face with Perry, the guy whose family life imploded in front of me weeks ago.
He offers to help me kick start my business in exchange for never mentioning what I witnessed. No way would I say anything, but I still take him up on his offer.
Perry is the kind of man you use any excuse to spend time with.
So I do.
Breathless is book four in Squad Goals, an MM cheerleader romance. Expect a not-so-meet cute, Petty Perry, bee puns, spice, and a lot of cheer.
REVIEW: ⟫ It’s time for the king of petty, Perry, to find his HEA and as expected, this one was a lot of fun. Perry has an absolutely awful family consisting of his mother and sister, and the first time he meets Beau is during one of the most awful interactions.
However, when Beau moves in next door and has a business proposition that is exactly what Perry needs for his course, things go a lot more smoothly. Beau is not quite as petty as Perry but does a good enough job to keep up with our lovely cheerleader. The rest of the gang is present and correct, complete with their normally inappropriate and/or funny behaviour so this was like revisiting old friends.
I liked Beau and Perry together, especially the way that Beau views Perry as something special – it’s exactly what our boy deserves! A solid addition to the Squad Goals series! I received an ARC from the author.
Friday 18 October 2024
Reluctantly You by Cora Rose (Our Exception Book #3)
TITLE: ⟫ Reluctantly You
AUTHOR: ⟫ Cora Rose
SERIES: ⟫ Our Exception Book #3
RATING: ⟫ 3/5
BLURB: ⟫ They say blood makes you related but loyalty makes you a family…
Sounds like a tacky wall-art quote to me. But what do I know? I don’t have a family. Not anymore. And I definitely don’t know loyalty. Not since my brothers collectively decided to shut me out of their lives... Not since my mother lied to me and kept a devastating secret... Not since my father sold our company out from under me to a smug jerk with a chip on his shoulder.
Gideon Masters… he’s my new boss, and I hate him for everything that’s happened to me. For everything that’s been taken away. Even though I know, deep down, that being an angry bastard all my life hasn’t done me any favors, and that my hatred must have consequences. So maybe Gideon is my rightful punishment. Maybe I deserve his retribution for my sins. But the way he taunts me and torments me, the way he commands me, it all feels too good to be wrong. Maybe I don’t want him to stop. Maybe my punishment could also be my savior.
This story contains intense themes of depression and homophobia, as well as other potential triggers. Please see the full list of trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
REVIEW: ⟫ I think sheer stubbornness made me finish reading this. I wanted to know what happened to the third brother and kinda close the door on Sem and Whit, etc. I have found my reaction to Cora Rose books to be variable – I either absolutely love them or just find them too quirky for me.
The thing is, this one wasn’t quirky but it also didn’t work for me. I mean, we got cameos from a whole feast of previous characters and occasionally the links to them are a little unbelievable. I didn’t like Mitch but to be fair, I didn’t like Gideon either. I just found them to be caricatures rather than fully fleshed people and their relationship just didn’t connect in my mind at all.
I think the issues of internalised homophobia and depression were handled quite well, and I did enjoy reconnecting with Basil and his menagerie. I’m glad I read it if only to consider the series ‘complete’ but it wasn’t my favourite by any stretch. Obviously YMMV.
Just Bromantically Invested by Saxon James (Accidental Love Book #4)
TITLE: ⟫ Just Bromantically Invested
AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James
SERIES: ⟫ Accidental Love Book #4
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ Madden
My best friend is uptight, gorgeous, the greatest person I know … and I might be a smidge in love with him. Just a small amount. Barely worth the mention.
Which is a stupid choice on my part when the guy is straight.
Starting a landscaping company with him was the perfect mix of doing what I love and an excuse to spend time with him, only it hasn’t completely taken off yet and now he’s telling me he’s lonely.
Lonely.
Apparently having one friend in your life isn’t enough.
So I’m determined to help him find love. With someone other than me. Maybe if I can pull that off, it’ll mean my heart will finally get the message and move on.
Or finish breaking into a hundred pieces.
Same thing, right?
Penn
Being besties with an overenthusiastic, gold-hearted, nudist of a man is a challenge sometimes. Madden makes everything sunshine when he’s around.
The problem is that he hasn’t been around as much lately. We work together, sure, but he’s got his roommates and I have … no one. Just him. So I feel the distance acutely.
My one reassurance is that we have work tying us together, but when an old client calls with a proposition for us, it feels like our once solid friendship is unraveling fast.
He wants Madden to help him open a nudist resort, and if Madden’s doing that, he won’t be working with me.
I’m trying not to panic over the thought of losing him, which is a typical, common best friend reaction. Nothing out of the ordinary.
And neither is the way my body has been reacting to him lately.
Everything is totally, completely normal between us.
While there’s still an us at all.
REVIEW: ⟫ I readily admit that I’m a Saxon James stan – I love her characters, the situations they find themselves in, the hot sex – yeah, I’m a fan for life I think. And I wanted a lot from Madden’s story – maybe because he was always so giving and caring in the other stories.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about Penn. I couldn’t quite picture him – maybe if he had been the cover model instead of Madden? But because I couldn’t picture him properly, I couldn’t get the right image of him and Madden together which affected my reading of the story. I fully believed in their relationship, especially how honest they were with each other. I loved how they talked – about the good and the bad – and I really enjoyed reading the naturalist aspects and why Madden is, well, Madden.
But I also found myself half hoping Damien might tempt Madden away from Penn which was a surprise to me. This was a very good addition to the Bertha Boys – as always I’m switched between irritated and scared for Xander, and catching up with the others was lovely. I think I need to maybe re-read to get a better understanding/love of Penn but that’s not exactly going to be a hardship. A solid read and looking forward to Xander finally finding his person next!
Every Missing Moment: Rebel Kings by Garrett Leigh (The Outtakes Volume Two)
TITLE: ⟫ Every Missing Moment : Rebel Kings
AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh
SERIES: ⟫ The Outtakes Volume #2
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5
BLURB: ⟫ Every Missing Moment. Rebel Kings Volume Two
The missing moments you've longed for from the beloved Rebel Kings MC series, all wrapped up in a gorgeous new collection. Deleted scenes, outtakes, prequels, and character extensions for your favourite Rebel Kings boys!
Volume Two encapsulates content from books 5-8:
5. Reluctant Renegade
6. Unholy Trinity
7. Eternally Blessed
8. Divine Heart
Plus many EXCLUSIVE extras unpublished ANYWHERE else.Don't miss this special collection of short stories from the Rebel Kings series. Contains sizzling MM romance, MMM/poly romance, and all the gritty angst, found family, and brotherhood you've been craving.
REVIEW: ⟫ I didn’t do a review for Volume One of the out-takes which I regret because I know they were a great read. This volume hit me seriously in the feels – there was so much going on in the background and I completely and utterly understand why they couldn’t be included in the stories but this whole verse is so rich that I imagine Garrett Leigh could just keep writing in it forever.
The behind the scenes of what was happening whilst the Elders was off fighting, the hospital times when we didn’t know if people would survive, the continuing tales of couples learning to be with each other – these out-takes were exactly what I needed. I love the Rebel Kings so very much and cannot imagine not re-reading these time and time again.
Wednesday 16 October 2024
Mine by Mary Calmes (The Vault Book #1)
TITLE: ⟫ Mine
AUTHOR: ⟫ Mary Calmes
SERIES: ⟫ The Vault Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 5/5
BLURB: ⟫ Trevan Bean has a job that’s going from illegal to frightening, a boyfriend who may not be in his right mind, and a guardian angel who might actually be evil incarnate. Add to that the reappearance of his boyfriend’s estranged family, death threats, kidnapping, and the struggle of saving money to realize a dream, and Trevan has a lot on his plate. But Trevan is up to the challenge: he promised Landry a happily ever after, and Landry’s going to have it if it kills him.
It just might.
Landry Carter was a broken doll when they met two years ago but has grown into a partner who can stand at Trevan’s side… most of the time. Now that Trevan’s life just got scary—and Landry just got himself kidnapped—Trevan has to hope Landry’s love stays strong through this newest challenge, because the happily ever after won’t happen if Trevan has to go it alone.
REVIEW: ⟫ This is one of my absolute favourite books by Mary Calmes! I freaking love Trevan, his whole attitude and behaviour just does it for me! And Landry – he was so scary and yet his trust and love in Trevan was so absolute! I re-read this constantly, especially loving having Connie in there before reading his own story. I read a lot of Mary Calmes over and over again, but this and ‘Frog’ are ones that I have on audio as well as ebook copies and I can’t imagine not having them in my library!
Ravager by S.B. Hazel (A Twisted Bonds Novella)
TITLE: ⟫ Ravager
AUTHOR: ⟫ S.B. Hazel
SERIES: ⟫ A Twisted Bonds Novella
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ Running through a haunted Halloween maze, I feel the heat rising inside me—chased by a sexy devil in a mask, hotter than I ever imagined.
The thought of being captured, ravaged, ruined… it tempts me beyond reason. I want to stumble, to fall and surrender, to feel his arms close around me.
Desire and fear churn in a terrifying mix, my body burning for what comes next.
I want to be his, to be wrecked by the faceless man at my back.
When he catches me, what will he do? Will I succumb to his darkest desires?
Ravager is a 12k MM novella featuring a Halloween maze and primal play.
REVIEW: ⟫ Heading into Halloween season, it seemed appropriate to start reading/reviewing things that are a little bit darker! Which was why the cover of his novella caught my eye – it looks like it would be fun and a little bit dark!
This novella is part of a larger series although I haven’t read any of that series. There was backstory provided here but mainly enough to titillate you into reading the rest of the series rather than being necessary for enjoying this.
Cole is a little bit twisted by his upbringing and appears to be obsessed with Avery. He is very much the darker half of the duo, with some daddy issues thrown in for good measure. He steals from his father in order to afford Avery in an ‘auction’, which as part of the prize includes a chase through a Halloween maze and a private dance.
Avery comes across as a little naive maybe? But also really likes the idea of being chased as something a bit different from the ordinary.
Obviously with a novella, things happen very quickly, but time is given to the chase in the maze that was fun to read. I got a little distracted with the descriptions of the decorations – I guess it seemed a bit superfluous to things and I would have preferred there to be more of the interactions in the maze. It sounded like it was going to be seriously hot and slightly terrifying at the same time.
The dancing/sex scene was generally good although no real negotiation between them for what was happening. Avery seemed into the whole anonymous idea of things but I would say it was slightly problematic that Cole knew who Avery was but not the other way around. However, this was clearly listed in the warnings so that if it’s something that doesn’t appeal, there was definitely time to close the book!
Overall, I enjoyed reading it – it was fun, sexy and entertaining and I think I would be quite interested in reading a full novel about how Cole gets out of the situation he’s placed himself in.
I received an ARC from BookSirens.
Sunday 13 October 2024
His Mate By Resistance by Mel Aitchess (Lunetti Pack Book #2)
TITLE: ⟫ His Mate By Resistance
AUTHOR: ⟫ Mel Aitchess
SERIES: ⟫ Lunetti Pack Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ His boy deserved better. He deserved to be the centre of someone’s world.
Luca stumbled on something he shouldn't have and now someone's trying to kill him. If only he knew what and who. He hates that he has to use his hacking skills against his own pack as he hunts down the traitor. He hates it even more when his Alpha sends him away for his safety. Hex-Rated—the hottest gay nightclub in New Trinity—is the last place he expected to be hiding out. The water witch who owns it better keep his damn hands to himself.
Cal has no time for the three crime families that run the city. He's worked hard to keep his club on the right side of the law. That's all put at risk when a favour for a friend has him faking a relationship with a Mafia wolf shifter. Luca's a criminal and there's no way Cal would go there for real. Even if the shifter brings out every protective instinct in him. Even if Luca is so good for him despite himself.
His Mate By Resistance is an enemies to lovers MM Paranormal Romance. It's book two in the Lunetti Pack series, but can be read as a standalone. It features forced proximity, a fake relationship, knotting, a water witch Daddy, and magic sensory play. There is no mpreg in this world.
REVIEW: ⟫ Having read the first book in this series, I had an idea of who Luca was but not what had happened to him to make him seem so vulnerable and for the pack to treat him as fragile. This was more than adequately explained in this book, as well as the reasons why Luca felt so suffocated by his Pack – he wanted to let go of the past, avoid thinking about how it had affected him and move forward but there was so much holding him back.
I really enjoyed getting to know Cal a bit more. He was an interesting character in the first book and reading more about him, about his past, about what he wanted from his life, made him someone I was rooting for.
It was a bit frustrating just how much the pack left Luca to deal with. On the one hand, they acted like he was fragile and on the other hand, they had him working day and night on things without proper consideration as to how it was affecting him. I loved how easily Cal picked up on Luca’s kink, how open he was about his attraction and how he allowed Luca to set the pace.
I had some niggles: Luca knew he was in danger yet goes down to the club unsupervised; I needed to know more about how mating worked in order to understand the issue with Gio; Luca’s twin sister was aggravating at times and not necessarily in a good way.
But overall, I really enjoyed this story. The relationship between Cal and Luca, the scent-marking, possessiveness and their obvious attraction to each other hit the spot and I was glad that I read it. I will be looking out for the next book in the Lunetti Pack series. I received an ARC from BookSirens.
Between the Pipes by JJ Mulder (Offsides Book #3)
TITLE: ⟫ Between the Pipes
AUTHOR: ⟫ JJ Mulder
SERIES: ⟫ Offsides Book #3
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ Nico Mackenzie is angry and argumentative— in every way, he is the exact opposite of NHL goaltender Anthony Lawson. Thrown together for a summer of coaching college hockey at South Carolina University, Anthony makes every effort to be friendly; Nico, on the other hand, seems intent on being infuriating and keeping the other man at arm’s length.
When a causal relationship forms between the pair, they form an unsteady truce. The summer is finite, however, and when it comes to an end a decision has to be do they end things as they are or try for more?
REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, so I loved Lawson in the first two books so I was very invested in him getting his HEA. I wasn’t sure about Nico – I loved him in Carter’s story which is in the SCU verse, but here he definitely came across as angry and a bit of a PITA. However, these two – the way they worked together, how much they cared about each other – they melted my heart.
I was heartbroken when the summer came to an end and was really not sure how the author was going to bring them back together. The way it was done, how it was handled – yeah, definitely worked for me. I loved seeing the other guys from in the series but I think Lawson holds a special place in my heart!
Square to the Puck by JJ Mulder (Offsides Book #2)
TITLE: ⟫ Square to the Puck
AUTHOR: ⟫ JJ Mulder
SERIES: ⟫ Offsides Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ Corwin Sanhover could almost convince himself that the night six years ago didn’t happen. But when Nigel St. James is traded to South Carolina, it becomes a lot harder to keep their history in the past.
Nigel St. James can’t imagine a team he’d like to play for less than South Carolina, and he knows Corwin probably feels the same. But when things between them become friendly, it’s clear that they both still want each other now, the same as they did back then. Is it possible to start fresh and build a relationship, or are some things—and people—better left in the past?
REVIEW: ⟫ I wasn’t expecting the darker aspects of this story. They were very well handled – the way things came out seemed natural and real, and my heart broke for Corwin, especially considering what an amazing friend he was to Troy and Lawson in the first book of the series.
I really enjoyed reading Nigel and Corwin becoming a couple, especially with how patient and kind Nigel was with everything Corwin was handling. Really well handled/written and definitely enjoyed reading this.
Friday 11 October 2024
Jon's Helter Skeleter Cold Case by A.J. Sherwood (Jon's Mysteries Book #6)
TITLE: ⟫ Jon’s Helter Skelter Cold Case
AUTHOR: ⟫ AJ Sherwood
SERIES: ⟫ Jon’s Mysteries Book #6
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ Jonathan Bane and Donovan Havili cordially invite you to their wedding.
They just have to prove a man’s innocence and get him out of prison first.
Not to mention prove Solomon completely inept (not hard), and fired from being a detective.
Oh, and train Jon’s new apprentice.
They can probably get married this year. Probably.
Tags:
Jon has an apprentice, apprentice finds him an innocent man in prison, as usual it snowballs from there, frustrating cold cases, hinky bonds, wedding!, part time soul mates full time problem, I treat canon like a buffet but in a gentle way, allllllll the cameos, ALL, never play paintball with Eli, Solomon gets his comeuppance, so does Rodger, stalkers are not friends, -sniff- Jon’s little girl is all grown up, this book sponsored by PIZZA, HEA, last case do enjoy!
REVIEW: ⟫ The last in the series about Jonathan Bane and Donovan Havili and it was a rollicking ride! There were so many people in this story from other series – I wish I could remember them all, but the good thing is I get to re-read the ones I’ve forgotten!
AJ Sherwood has an engaging style that picks you up and swirls you in a tornado of fun, detecting, supernatural gifts and family – whether by blood or by family – and at the end you are left with a huge grin and good feeling in your heart. This story delivered this in spades and was a more than fitting end for this particular series. I love reading about Jon and all of the Havili family members and this took me back to some rather epic reading I’ve done in the past.
I highly recommend reading the books leading up to this – as well as the ones that link to it – if only to get a true feeling for all of the characters. Excellent read!
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