Blue Blood by L.C. Davis (The Godbearer #3)

Title: ⟫ Blue Blood (The Godbearer book #3)

Authors: ⟫ L.C. Davis

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ If three's a crowd, what does that make four?

My love life, apparently. Now I'm on the run with Cyrus, Sam, and Alex, and that's not even accounting for the fact that I'm pregnant—with twins—and my overbearing mother is along for the ride.

Oh, and did I mention I found out Zeus is my father? Yeah, that Zeus. Turns out Cameron's not the only one who's been hunting me down. And I might have to rely on my not-so-absent dad to protect me from the relentless vampire who's probably the father of my children.

Can you get a bulk discount on paternity tests? Because I'm going to need around half a dozen to sort this shit out.

Review: ⟫ I thought this was the last book in the series, but nope, there is definitely more to come which is both a good and a bad thing. Good because this story is addictive, entertaining, innovative and enticing – this instalment was chock-full of Gods, enemies, the Ichor and Cameron being confusing as all hell. Bad because I thought we were going to get all of the answers and a conclusion but now I have to wait for the next instalment.

I actually stayed up all night reading this – I was so excited when I received the ARC that I decided sleep was for the weak (in retrospect, I am weak and need all of the sleep). It kept me entertained and glued to the page until the very end. We received POV from Alex, Cyrus and Cameron which I don’t remember so much from the first two books but they were appreciated.

Chase remains sassy and determined – I don’t know if I would have the guts to do what he did with Cameron and the river, and let’s not even go there with a certain dog! His men continue to muscle each other around for ‘pole’ position, and the plot continues apace. Most definitely an entertaining read and only one niggle really from me – there is a part of me that would have preferred the complete book in one giant blockbuster read, but then I’d probably need matchsticks to keep my eyes open!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Per Sangiuinem by Ashlyn Drewek

Title: ⟫ Per Sanguinem

Authors: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Vampires don't get a happily ever after. Over the centuries, Eric Collins learned that the hard way, which is why he has sworn off the idea of companionship and throws himself into his job as a detective. But his plan for a peaceful, solitary existence is disrupted the night he saves Chase Turner, a fellow cop, from being murdered. Aside from the once-dormant feelings Chase stirs up, Eric has a bigger problem. There’s another vampire in Chase’s life whose intentions are even less noble than his own. If Eric leaves Chicago, Chase is as good as dead. But if he stays, he’ll end up in a war with the rest of the city’s vampires and Chase might become a casualty after all.   

Falling in love with his partner was never part of Chase Turner’s career goals. He already has two strikes against him at Chicago PD — the last thing he needs is a third. The son of an infamous Internal Affairs commander and the survivor of a shoot-out that left his partner dead, Chase is trying his best to keep a low profile until the heat blows over. Then he’s reassigned to Eric Collins’ division, the detective who saved him from certain death. Despite the fact Chase’s life is a complete mess, Eric is the only one who seems to think there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And no matter how much Chase denies it to himself or his therapist, it soon becomes clear that Eric is going to be Strike Number Three.  

How much is too much to risk for happily ever after?  

PER SANGUINEM is a slow-burn paranormal MM romantic suspense stand-alone about vampires and cops with commitment issues and what happens when you fall in love with your partner.   

Content Warning: This book contains references to alcohol/drug use; homophobic and racial slurs, as well as other insensitive language; on-page violence and torture; PTSD in various forms including flashbacks; suicidal thoughts and flashbacks; parental estrangement, and a lot of death. Reader discretion is advised.

Review: ⟫ If this was an 18+ movie, I would tune in to see it with popcorn and a HUGE smile on my face!

I loved this slightly new take on vampires, especially the idea that the Queens ran the territories and the males lived kinda on their whims! Kinda.

We dived straight into the action with Eric in a less than glamorous environment, but it did give us a very good insight into the type of ‘person’ Eric is – prepared to do anything and everything to get the bad guy. Despite his many years on this earth, and his attempts at making himself seem uncaring, it was pretty obvious that Eric was one of the good guys.

Chase was a different type of person altogether – you could sense that there was very little holding him together as he tried to keep himself aloof and show an uncaring attitude to the world, whilst inside he was a lonely, scared boy in need of love and security.

And amidst all of that, we have a vampire serial killer, an out of control IA officer, and a queen vampire in need of a smack-down. Add in a werewolf from New Orleans, and this story was a sexy, riotous, gory ride that I absolutely adored. This was very entertaining, full of romance, some sex, and a serial killer case where there was absolutely no way the killer could safely be arrested, and it was a satisfying chunk of a read.

My only quibbles are that occasionally the timeline got a little squiffy for me – sometimes it seemed like not long had gone by at all, and then someone says something that lets you know that at least a few weeks have gone by – that kind of thing. And secondly, I think it could have been a bit shorter – some of it felt like it could have been removed and not missed. Finally, if Eric and Chase thought they were being discreet, I would hate to see them when they were being blatant about things, but to be honest, none of that really messed with my enjoyment of the story.

Vow Maker by Lily Morton (Mixed Messages #4)

Title: ⟫ Vow Maker (Mixed Messages #4)

Authors: ⟫ Lily Morton

Blurb: ⟫ Dylan Mitchell wants to get married.

However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.

Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour. He’s confounded an army of wedding professionals, and now Dylan, the man who knows and loves him better than anyone, has joined the ranks of the confused. Can anything please his fiancé and get them to the altar?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes the sequel to Rule Breaker. A romantic comedy novella full of family chaos, meddling friends, sexy bathroom encounters, and love. Always love.

Review: ⟫ It was lovely to catch up with Dylan and Gabe – it made me want to go back and re-read their story. As usual, this story was full of snarky banter, heavy sarcasm, a whole lot of innuendo and chock-full of love and sex. We had cameos from other beloved characters and an introduction to at least one that I imagine is going to get his own book.

I really enjoyed this book – it was like snuggling down with an old favourite but with new information. I did grab the book Short Stack but didn’t have time to read it, but having been reminded of the amazing cast of men that Lily has written about, I think I’m going to re-download it.

An easy, relaxing, amusing read – well worth it.

Budding Attraction by Saxon James (Divorced Men's Club #3)

Title: ⟫ Budding Attraction (Divorced Men’s Club #3)

Authors: ⟫ Saxon James

Blurb: ⟫ Ford

I’ve never thought much about Orson Naples.

He’s a cute guy who I’d seen around town a few times, but then one day he up and left and didn’t reappear until a few years later. No one knows where he went or what he was doing, all this gossipy town knows is that he’s a widower, owns the florist, and is friends with that divorced group that hang out at the Killer Brew all the time.

But then one day I step into his flower shop and go from rarely thinking about him, to him constantly being on my mind.

There’s a restlessness to him that I’m dying to unlock answers to.

And his eyes linger on me a little too long for a straight man …

Orson

Ford Thomas is a pest. A delightful one. A tempting one. But I’m too old for games.

The ones I’ve played in the past have always led me to trouble which is why I vowed to settle down and live a quiet life.

So when Ford walks into my shop all uncontained energy and flirty quips in a pair of heavy work boots, I know I should show him the door.

I don’t need fun. I don’t need experiences.

Especially when those experiences have me questioning things I thought I knew about myself.

Review: ⟫ This was not what I expected at all but I loved it.

Orson wasn’t even bi-curious when things began between he and Ford and I loved reading about this man who had been all the way to the bottom who was willing to open his mind and his heart to something completely out of the realm of his experience.

The descriptions of Ford have always made my brain go ‘yum’ and this story completely solidified that. A gentle giant – with a past – I loved how respectful he was of Orson’s previous life experiences, of the fact that all they might share was friendship, and their journey together.

Other members of the DMC featured as usual (please, when are we getting Art’s story?) and their helpfulness if you want to call it that was appreciated. I loved Ford and Orson’s interactions with the kids building cars – it was wholesome, cheeky and irreverent in a way that definitely reminds me of my experiences with teenagers.

I readily admit that in my mind, Orson’s Pour Some Sugar on me moments could have featured in a Magic Mike film, and I truly loved the banter between these two guys. The friendship that grew between them was just awesome and I enjoyed every page of this book. Really looking forward to reading more and I am a certified member of the Saxon James fan club!

The Big Fix by Mary Calmes (Torus Intercession #5)

Title: ⟫ The Big Fix (Torus Intercession #5)

Authors: ⟫ Mary Calmes

Blurb: ⟫ Philanthropist. Humanitarian. Soldier. Spy.

Jared Colter, the head of Torus Intercession, has a secret life he left behind, one that only his closest confidants know about. Normally, the past keeps its secrets, but not this time. Old ghosts come calling to the very doorstep of his new life, when Owen Moss, the person closest to him, goes missing. A carrot left dangling to lure Jared out and into the hands of an unknown enemy.

Owen Moss was once a scared, orphaned boy saved by Jared, but he’s no longer a child even if Jared is having trouble seeing him that way. He’s thirty-two now, in love with Jared, and as Jared’s obliviousness keeps butting up against Owen’s desire, the tension between them keeps escalating. Something has to give, and soon.

With a bounty on his head, Jared races through the brutal underworld of Southeast Asia, in search of Owen. It’s a maze of treachery and murder, where one false move means death. The answer is tied to the man Jared used to be, taking him into the heart of the lion’s den, where he’s forced to face the darkest questions about himself to save the man he loves.

Review: ⟫ This reminds me very much of some of the early Mary Calmes books that I’ve read – specifically the ones with Jin and Logan – as it was sprawling, full of action, violence with the love story underpinning but not the main thrust of the story.

Jared has always been rather larger than life in the way he has been described and he didn’t disappoint – he was very much the man he has been viewed as by his employees in the previous Intercession books – a man on a mission, determined to leave the world (or people) in a better place.

However, this kinda came back to bite him in the butt in this story, as there was someone from his past determined to make Jared pay – and with a long list of enemies to choose from, it was a real puzzle to figure out who it was.

I loved seeing all of our guys from other stories (I’m talking about Darius and Dante to name just two) and the way their lives were interwoven was extremely skilful. Thinking about it, this reminded me very much of the cast of The Expendables movies – all of these men are over forty, not who you would expect to be in the field, but still skilled and talented in what they do. I liked how it was shown that they were the older generation – Jared didn’t just snap back into action with no repercussions. He felt the punches that landed, running around made him tired, and the day after shenanigans he needed painkillers and sometimes crawled out of bed with his body aching.

That brings me to the torture scenes. Oh my goodness, they were kinda hard to read. Not that I would consider them particularly graphic normally, but in a romance novel by Mary Calmes, they were really painful to read and Fang was a complete and utter *bleep*.

The romance very much took a backseat, but the build up between Owen and Jared has been coming since book #1 so I guess it could be considered that we’ve been reading their story since the beginning. I really enjoyed the flashbacks that fleshed out the storyline, and I could understand Jared’s reluctance to view Owen as a romantic partner – he was the hero, saving the day and it would have been really easy for Owen to mistake hero-worship for love. I thought that Mary did a good job of showing the Owen had been living a full life and made an adult choice regarding Jared – it wasn’t like he was locked away in an ivory tower and had no comparisons so that Jared was his only choice. Owen knew what he was doing,

Speaking of Owen knowing what he was doing – those sex scenes! Whoa – they surprised and delighted me in equal measure and I may have to re-read them – just to refresh my mind for the purposes of this review of course.

I think this was a different kind of romance, with the love story underpinning things rather than being at the forefront. I absolutely enjoyed this book, racing from page to page to find out just who was causing such chaos, and I am so pleased that Jared and Owen finally got their happy ever after. The background cast of characters will possibly be confusing for people who haven’t read most of Mary’s previous books, which is a shame, but I found this to be a rollicking, painful, funny and heart-felt story that I really enjoyed. Any stars it may have lost for the main leads not being together for so much of the story were regained for me by the return of Darius, George and Dante, etc. I loved it.

Headcase by Onley James (Necessary Evils #4)

Title: ⟫ Headcase

Author: ⟫ Onley James

Blurb: ⟫ Asa Mulvaney is half of a psychopathic whole. He and his twin brother live together, party together…kill together. In the Mulvaney family, murder is the family business and business is good. So, when an experiment separates Asa and his brother, Asa is forced to navigate the world on his own for the first time in his life.

Zane Scott is a small-time crime blogger, but he dreams of a byline in a major paper and his suspicions surrounding Thomas Mulvaney are about to make that dream a reality. When an invitation to a boring fundraiser lands him not beside Thomas, as he had hoped, but Asa Mulvaney, they share an intensely passionate encounter that leaves Zane trapped in a cage of his own making.

At a nearby college, a cluster of suicides isn’t what it seems. When Asa’s father asks him to look into it, he sees the perfect opportunity to exploit his little crime reporter and make him fall in line. And Asa needs him to fall in line. Zane is suspicious of Asa’s motives and half-convinced he’s dead either way, but he won’t say no to a chance to peek behind the Mulvaney family curtains.

As the two unravel a sinister plot, Asa’s obsession with Zane grows and Zane finds being Asa’s sole focus outweighs almost anything, maybe even his career—which is good for Asa because loving a Mulvaney is a full-time job. Can he convince Zane that he’s worth navigating a family of psychopaths and tolerating an almost too close for comfort twin? Or will Zane learn the hard way that the Mulvaney boys always get what they want? Always.

Headcase is a high heat, intense, lovers-to-frenemies, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an obsessive, calculating psychopath and a wannabe reporter who will stop at nothing to earn himself a major byline. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, enough killers to fill an auditorium, and enough heat to melt your kindle. This is book four in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.

Review: ⟫ Holy sh1t, Onley turned up the heat with this one!

I’ll admit that I have had a bit of a thing for the twins ever since they were first introduced and finding out that their books were next up made me clap my hands with glee.

This is Asa’s book and it should come with a warning to have a large glass of ice water and a cold shower to hand because OMFG the heat rating is off the charts! The sex between Zane and Asa is dark, dirty and sometimes painful but in the best possible way. Their relationship starts at ten and just roars along faster than a speeding bullet!

As usual, the other Mulvaneys are part of the story, we have more insight into the happily ever after of previous brothers, as well as more on Calliope, how Cricket is doing – let’s be honest, just checking in on everyone could be a whole book on it’s own! (Onley, if you’re reading this, I would be MORE than happy to read how the brothers celebrate Valentine’s Day with their chosen person)

The background story is painful to read, and scary because I know that it happens in RL. The delicate subject matter is handled deftly, with plenty of warning given to anyone who might find it triggering.

I don’t understand how each book just gets better and better; how each couple becomes my new favourite; how the sex just keeps getting hotter! I am literally chomping at the bit for Avi’s story because the idea that he thinks that he’s got a leash on Felix is laughable and I cannot wait to see how he handles the truth.

One of my favourite lines – which isn’t a spoiler – is ‘Our Lord and Saviour John Wick’ which had me giggling for far too long, although that might be because I stayed up all night reading the book. Also Avi’s joy at Zane giving permission for him to tick something off his bucket list was absolutely hysterical! This series is a bona fide favourite of mine and I am really happy that they continue to be five star worthy!

I received an ARC from the author.

The Blacksmith and the Ex-con by Jackie North

Title: ⟫ The Blacksmith and the Ex-con

Author: ⟫ Jackie North

Blurb: ⟫ “If anybody ever needed him, Ellis did. Ellis was broken. Jasper liked to fix things.”

Jasper has the perfect life. He’s a blacksmith at a small guest ranch in Wyoming. The last thing he needs is to have that perfect life interrupted by a shifty-eyed ex-con, but the ranch needs the tax benefits the ex-con program will bring.

Traumatized by his time in prison, Ellis can barely speak. He’s about to be offered parole. He knows he will hate working on the guest ranch, but what other option does he have?

It’s not love at first sight. It’s not hate at first sight, either, but something in between.

A gay m/m cowboy romance with age gap, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, forced intimacy, emotional scars, trauma leading to mutism, grumpy/grumpy, and baths. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA.

Review: ⟫ This was a very sweet read, despite the subject matter. Ellis made a mistake, under very trying circumstances, and more than paid for it. The situation with his mother was heartbreaking, and although I half screamed at his plan for when he reached the ranch, I did understand. I was gratified by Jasper's response, and that sustained me through what I would definitely describe as slow-burn, which I am not used to reading. The relationship between Jasper and Ellis built very slowly in an organic fashion, with Jasper showing understanding and care with Ellis, despite his initial impressions. The cast of characters were interesting enough for me to look for other books in the series, and the descriptions for the horse ranch were extremely enjoyable.

Solid 4/5 from me and I will be looking for the rest of the series at some point.

Blood Sins by Jex Lane (Beautiful Monsters #3.7)

Title: ⟫ Blood Sins (Beautiful Monsters #3.7)

Author: ⟫ Jex Lane

Blurb: ⟫ Vampire Cyprian Von Bamberg has spent centuries hiding in the shadows, existing only to eliminate those his sire wants dead. Sent on a routine mission to kill an incubus lord, he didn’t expect to face a tempting hunter whose blood sings so sweetly…

When vampire hunter Risk was tasked to protect yet another pompous incubus lord, he didn’t expect to be defeated and taken captive by a deadly vampire assassin. And he certainly didn’t expect his heart to skip a beat every time the bloodsucker’s grey eyes landed on him, for there is no greater sin than a hunter desiring a vampire.

Review: ⟫ I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed what I did get. Vampires, hunters, shapeshifters – compulsion, blood-lust and just straight forward lust – yep, this book contains a lot. I read it in one evening because I really just wanted to know how they were going to resolve the situation they found themselves in – it seemed like one way or another, someone was going to lose.

I felt bad for Cyprian and could 100% understand his reluctance to turn Risk because of his past. I thought he came across as slightly geeky (can you be geeky if you’re that old?), but very sweet as well as completely out of his depth with Risk. And Risk made me laugh, as well as feel bad for him for his childhood. They made a fabulous pair and I really enjoyed reading their story.

My favourite character may well be Cyprian’s sister, Karlene – a meddling sibling as well as being a pragmatist with a romantic heart. My kind of person!

Solid 4/5 from me and I will be looking for the rest of the series at some point! I received this book free from the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend giveaway!

Just a Bit Bossy by Alessandra Hazard (Straight Guys #12)

Title: ⟫ Just a Bit Bossy (Straight Guys #12)

Author: ⟫ Alessandra Hazard

Blurb: ⟫ Boss from hell. Satan personified. A tyrant everyone fears.

Nate Parrish loathes his boss from the moment they meet.

Raffaele Ferrara is probably the most insufferable, domineering man in the world. He doesn’t seem to understand that his personal assistant isn’t actually his personal slave. He expects Nate to do his bidding with a single word. He expects that Nate’s whole life will revolve around him. He expects other, entirely unreasonable things, even though they’re both straight and there’s supposed to be a line your boss should never cross. Apparently, as his personal assistant, Nate has to assist him… personally.

Except Nate knows it’s just a game. His boss is straight. He knows Raffaele just wants to make him angry enough to quit. But Nate has always been too stubborn for his own good, and he’s determined to be the best assistant his boss has ever had, no matter how insane—or inappropriate—Raffaele’s orders may become. Before long, the two men are drawn into a twisted game neither wants to lose.

Nate knows it has to stop. He has to leave his job. It’s not good for his sanity. Except his horrible boss is like a bad addiction he can’t quit. The world feels boring without Raffaele’s intensity, and his focus on Nate might be infuriating… but it’s also something Nate’s starting to realize he can’t live without.

Just a Bit Bossy Is a hate-to-love steamy MM romance that contains dub-con (the character gives his consent, but there's an obvious power imbalance between a boss and his assistant), lots of snark, a long-suffering sister, two straight men who become obsessed with each other, and a happily ever after.

Review: ⟫ I still don’t know how I feel about this book.

It requires a HUGE suspension of disbelief, simply because the things that Raffaele has Nate doing are just so completely and utterly wrong. Nate’s sister even tells him that what is happening constitutes sexual harassment and he brushes it aside as part of the bet. That, and the insistence that they are both still straight for so long throughout the story was just completely ridiculous.

It was quite well written, entertaining, irritating and so out of time that I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I believe I read some of the ‘Straight Guys’ books a few years ago, but came back to them because of a few recommendations that I saw on Reddit and a few other places.

Raffaele was a complete AH – there’s no other way to describe him – and sometimes it felt like Nate was an idiot with what he put up with/did, but all in all, I did enjoy reading it, so I’m going to give it 3.75/5 rounded up and leave it up to people to decide if they want to read it!

Misconduct by Lynn Van Dorn

Title: ⟫ Misconduct

Author: ⟫ Lynn Van Dorn

Blurb: ⟫ An age gap MM romance

Maxie is too fabulous and fierce for relationships. Derek is too ready to settle down to want yet another empty hookup. These two have no business being together, but Maxie has a mind of his own and Derek is a man who knows what he wants.

MISCONDUCT contains:

One sparkly twink. He wears make-up and there are panties under his bespoke suits. Be careful. He's a lawyer.

One GenX aging gay silver fox with a terrible ex (may he rot in hell) and a taste for pretty men.

A loyal, if bossy, best friend

Banter for days

A defiled dildo

Gobs of hot sex

Pastry theft

Eomma

Suit porn

Probably a HEA if these guys ever get their act together

Review: ⟫ Maxie gets his HEA!!

I adored Maxie when I read him in Rebound and very much wanted to read his story, and even more delightful it was free in the YBBB giveaway.

This was so funny! Maxie was amazing (as per usual) but it was the insight into Max that was really cool to read. And Derek – I thought the way in which he handled Maxie, the difficult situation with regard to their working arrangement and let’s be frank, Maxie’s occasionally abbrasive behaviour was so cool. They matched extremely well and I loved reading about them. The sex was off the wall hot, although I certainly appreciated Maxie’s feelings about getting his suit dirty!

Jacob from Rebound returned in all of his sassy, loveable glory, providing Maxie with a helpful kick up the butt to prove that he was a true friend; Maxie’s mother and sister (as well as the other women in the salon) were a riot, and I truly loved reading the whole thing – even the heart-breaking parts. I think, perhaps, my favourite was Maxie’s rant at Derek’s (non-existent) twink – that was just class! A lovely read that I would heartily recommend. You don’t have to have read Rebound or any of the other related books, but I recommend them too!

This was free as part of the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend group giveaway.

Had to Be by Mary Calmes

Title: ⟫ Had to Be

Author: ⟫ Mary Calmes

Blurb: ⟫ Special Agent Kyler Blue, and his Forensic Accountant husband, Alasdair McKenna, are getting a divorce, or are they?

Review: ⟫ I think anyone who’s ever read a Mary Calmes book before will know what they are getting into and what they will be reading. And this is no different. Alasdair is separated from Kyler and getting ready for a divorce – if only his soon to be ex-husband would stop getting involved in his business like helping him find workmen, or putting off potential boyfriends simply by existing.

It was a fun, satisfying read and exactly what I needed and expected. There was snark, some hot sex and the happy-ever-after that Mary always ensures happens for her characters. I knew exactly what I was getting and was very happy with it!

This was free as part of the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend group giveaway.

Saving Ziggy by Alex J. Adams

Title: ⟫ Saving Ziggy

Author: ⟫ Alex J. Adams

Blurb: ⟫ Leaving home four years ago was the best thing I could have done. Selling myself on the streets for the past two years, the worst, but what else was I to do? All I truly wanted was someone I could love and someone to love me in return. Was it really too much to ask?

Meeting him, the most handsome man ever, I thought all my prayers had been answered…..until they weren’t.

That man was almost the death of me.

I survived though, it’s what I’d always done and now I needed to try and rebuild my life.

Marc saved me, was with me every step of the way, showing me that finally, good things can happen. He thought I was damaged, and I probably was, too many emotional scars that would take time to heal.

But Marc had them as well and together, I knew we can find the love we both deserved.

Saving Ziggy is a darker MM romance about a male prostitute and the paramedic that saves him. Please heed the trigger warnings: This book features abuse, both verbal and physical and sexual assault.

Review: ⟫ The first thing I would say about this book is that you need to heed the trigger warnings – there is some pretty strong verbal, physical and sexual assault in the book and this might be difficult for some people to read.

The first half of the book I found very realistic. Ziggy is making his living as a sex worker and this isn’t romanticised in the slightest. His first interaction with Damian, his feelings of concern, were quite visceral and the caution he displayed was very realistic. The insidious manner in which Damian slithered his way into Ziggy’s life and affections was actually sort of difficult to read – it was like watching a friend ignore all of the red flags and falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole.

The (inevitable) turn in Damian’s behaviour was signposted so well for an outsider – as a reader, I almost felt like shouting at Ziggy to get out of there, to stop ignoring the signs like love bombing, etc. but it was also so clear that there was no way out. Where else did he have to go?

Stuart I found a bit one-dimensional and a bit of a caricature, and although I liked the character of Liam, it did feel a little like he was shoe-horned in there for plot/sequel purposes.

I had more issues with the second half of the book. I thought Marc sounded amazing, but the idea that his involvement with Ziggy would extend to finding him a place to stay where he did felt a little far-fetched. I did enjoy watching as Ziggy discovered there were kind people in the world and that he had friends – it was lovely to watch him being built up, finding love and acceptance. It would have been good to know more about Marc, his background – thinking about it, I can’t even picture Marc in my head apart from the tattoos and big build, which for me shows that he wasn’t fully fleshed out, although it might just be that I missed it in reading the story.

The difficulties Ziggy experienced with handling the sexual assault and trust-issues were dealt with very well and not simply brushed under the carpet. I just think that, for me, the second half lacked the realism of the first half and that affected my enjoyment. It was a bit like going from a gritty crime drama to a hallmark romance, complete with romantic misunderstanding, before the happily ever after. I think I would have preferred the second half to be longer and more in-depth, but I completely understand that that might not have been possible.

I enjoyed reading the book and the author did a very good job in pulling me into the story and caring for the characters, so I will look out for more books by them. A solid 4/5 from me and I recommend if the subject matter isn’t triggering that you give it a read.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heart2Heart Charity Anthology (Collection) by Various Authors

Title: ⟫ Heart2Heart – A Charity Anthology (Collection) Volume #6

Authors: ⟫ Various

Blurb: ⟫ Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered... what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating app responsible for pairing up the quirkiest, most perfect couples, brought people together by asking the questions they never knew they needed answered?

From learning each other’s secret zombie survival skills, to disputing the greatest starship captain ever, to confessing their feelings about Cornish pasties, the characters in these fourteen brand new stories inspired by reader suggestions will learn that no matter how random the question… love is always the answer.

And, as always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every day of the year!

Stories included in this collection are:

Heist of Hearts, by Alice Winters

Keeping Him in Cornwall, by Con Riley

Hate 2 Love U, by Daryl Banner

Love Down Under, by Eden Finley

Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Kate Hawthorne

Dog Days, by Kelly Fox

The London Chance, by Lane Hayes

My Darcy, by Lily Morton

A Drag Made in Heaven, by Max Walker

Connection, by Nicole Dykes

Worst. Date. Ever., by Onley James

Down the Mountain, by Rachel Ember

The Anti-Wingman, by Saxon James

The Choice, by Sloane Kennedy

Review: ⟫ You better believe when I saw that this was up for review, I sent in my request immediately! And I was lucky enough to get to read four stories including two by favourite authors of mine, plus two new ones.

Rock Paper Scissors by Kate Hawthorne

Bagel sounded absolutely magnificent in this story of which is better, mountains or the beach. This one started out as sex with no complications but pretty soon, feelings were being caught and things got a whole lot more complicated. I felt this one was more of a HFN rather than a HEA but it was a satisfying read and I liked the protagonists. ⟫ 3.5

My Darcy by Lily Morton

Typical Lily Morton with snarky banter, snappy dialogue and interesting side characters. Our leads were delightfully oblivious and if you’ve ever enjoyed any of Lily’s previous books, you’ll know exactly what to expect and enjoy this immensely. ⟫ 4.5

Down the Mountain by Rachel Ember

Second chance at love, very steamy but still quite heartfelt, I think this might be the first Rachel Ember story that I’ve read. I will definitely be looking out for other books as I really enjoyed the style of writing. ⟫ 4.5

Anti Wingman by Saxon James

As is often the case with characters written by Saxon James, Kai made me laugh my head off! He reminded me of an over-exuberant Labrador, with Rylan having to rein him in. A chance encounter on the Heart2Heart app which could have gone wrong in so many ways turns into a fabulous friendship that built into a beautiful relationship, even if someone had to let our leads know that they were in a relationship! ⟫ 5

I received and ARC of part of the anthology for review from GRR and will definitely be grabbing the whole thing when it’s released on 1st December. Overall score of 4.5 for the stories I read.

Daddy's Stepstalker by Gianni Holmes

Title: ⟫ Daddy’s Stepstalker

Author: ⟫ Gianni Holmes

Blurb: ⟫ He’s been Daddy since he won me my first stuffie at a carnival booth.

Even when he married her and became unavailable.

For years Daddy Shaw’s all I’ve ever wanted.

But he still sees me as the innocent boy he took in.

It's a giggle how sweet he thinks I am.

He has no idea of the things I have done.

Of how I've stalked him…

...fantasized about him

... killed for him.

Will he still think of me as his little angel when he finds out I'm rotten to the core

Review: ⟫ Oh wow, this book was a study in contrasts! Ari was an absolute delight – completely committed to Shaw and keeping him safe, whilst pretty much acting like a psychopath to anyone else. There were so many layers to him, it was absolutely fascinating reading and I really enjoyed it as each one was peeled back and you got to know him better.

I really liked Shaw. He was out of his depth but once he had committed to Ari – and knew what he was getting into (kinda) – he really was all in. He showed such care for Ari in a way that few people in his life had done previously, and it made the obsession understandable. Even once he found out some of the lengths that Ari had gone to, Shaw did his best to impose rules to keep them both safe and sane. Sane was not the byword here though – the two of them together were pretty much all the way bonkers and I was so here for it!

There were many aspects to their relationship, some of which were a complete surprise to me, although in the context of how the two of them were together, it made sense. and I believe the author provides a comprehensive list of trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. I chose not to read them because I don’t have particular triggers (so far) but I would advise anyone who is concerned to make sure to read these warnings.

I am looking forward to the next book in the Daddy’s Little Deviants series, and happily give this book a 4/5.

I receieved an ARC from GRR.

Static by Romilly King (The Teams Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Static (The Teams Book 3)

Author: ⟫ Romilly King

Blurb: ⟫ This is Static - communications expert, extrovert, former witness, surrounded by secrets

In a team of monsters I’m the normal guy. The one making peace. The one soothing the raging beasts in the likes of Blue and Snipe. I don’t mind, I trained as a witness, I’ve always been good with the borderline personalities [remembered sadness and guilt].

I guess that’s why I’m drawn to Janus. I sense the complications in him. He’s like a puzzle I want to solve.

When he calls me, utterly terrified, panicking, totally at odds with his usual personality, I know he needs me. I’ll move heaven and earth for those who need me.

I’ve got a huge saviour complex. Show me a cause and I’ll nail myself to the nearest tree for it.

Janus is a cause I’d willingly martyr myself for, and I’ve never even seen his face.

He has hidden himself all the time I have known him, but so have I. If I’m going to save him I’m going to have to show myself, the real me, to him and to the team.

Static is the third book in The Teams, the new series from Romilly King, author of the Handled and Outreach series of mm romances and gay thrillers. Set in the same universe as Handled, the world of The Teams is dark, morally ambiguous, and full of secrets and lies. Please be aware this book ends on a cliffhanger.

Review: ⟫ I ended up giving this book a 3 star rating because I enjoyed the story. BUT - I hated the cliffhanger. Like, raging and moaning at my daughter about it because it was so completely unexpected, and in my opinion, kinda unforgivable. Why not simply wait until the rest of the story was ready before writing such a cliffhanger? Why split it into two stories when it was for one couple and Static was relatively short? I just couldn't figure out the reasoning behind it and it truly spoiled this book for me.

Now, I know that it’s partially my fault for not reading the blurb fully – it does state at the bottom that the book ends on a cliffhanger. And I have read other stories that had ended in such a way, understood the reasoning and been relatively happy to wait for the resolution. There was just something about this one that enraged me.

The story was unexpected inasmuch as it involves a Dom/sub relationship – I didn’t see it coming, although the control aspect of things made sense in the context given. There wasn’t very much relationship building, but perhaps that’s because things have been building up to this in the other Teams books – Static has always had an interest in Janus, so I guess I should accept that that is all the ‘building’ we’re going to get.

I would have liked to know more about Static’s previous experiences, especially in relation to his first Witness. There seemed to be a lot thrown into the pot that covered a lot of bases but seemed very surface in the way it did it. There were also a few noticeable spelling and grammatical errors that dragged me slightly out of the story – it could do with a bit of an edit maybe? Perhaps I am letting my disappointment colour my view? Anyway, I’m going to leave it as a 3/5 for now and revisit once the fourth book is available – hopefully Janus will complete it satisfactorily and I can view them (in my head) as one book.

Maximus by Stella Rainbow

Title: ⟫ Maximus

Author: ⟫ Stella Rainbow

Blurb: ⟫ Maximus

The wellness check on the nephew of a murdered man was supposed to be just that: a wellness check. I had work to do, evildoers to catch but everything changed the moment I saw Kym.

For the first time in my long existence, I'd found something more important than my work. But with evil brewing in the shadows, my realm needed me more than ever.

I had no idea what to do with these feelings.

Kym

After the mysterious way my uncle died, I'd grown wary of every stranger I came across. I knew something was off about my uncle's death, but I had no proof and no one who would believe me.

When I'd spotted the huge, intimidating man lurking outside my shop one times too many, I was sure he knew something. There was something about him that told me I could trust him, but that couldn't be right.

I had no idea how my life would be turned upside down by him.

Review: ⟫ I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. I really enjoyed the world building as it sounds absolutely fascinating, with Soul Collectors, the afterworld and burning chasms. However, the relationship between Kym and Maximus didn’t grab me the way I was hoping. I really liked the way in which Maximus allowed Kym to get used to the idea of falling in love – it might have been fated for him, but he didn’t expect Kym to just fall in line. And the underlying plot-line story was really interesting. But I guess I just felt like I didn’t get enough of either – I wanted to know more about the overarching plot or I wanted it to concentrate on the romance, and it didn’t do enough of either.

I was also disappointed not to learn more about Kym’s abilities. The fact that he was a kitsune wasn’t really explained apart from his very cute ears and his tail, and he seemed to adapt to the whole idea of it far too easily.

It was a nice, easy read but I was a little disappointed. I might read more in the series, especially MistVale. 3/5 from me.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Pretty Puppy by Morticia Knight

Title: ⟫ Pretty Puppy

Author: ⟫ Morticia Knight

Blurb: ⟫ Breaking Daddy Lee’s heart wasn’t intentional, but Ash has paid the price in misery ever since. Surely, a teensy little lie and a bit of scheming to get Lee back won’t backfire…

Ash first met Daddy Lee when he was a young pup and just beginning his kink journey. If only he hadn’t been so flighty and full of himself, he could’ve seen what a rare treasure he had in the handsome older Dom. But now that Ash is back in town, he’s determined to make Lee’s heart go pitter-patter again by being the best doggone boy ever.

Five years ago, luxury resort owner, Lee Petrovsky, fell too hard and fast for the pretty Asher Griffin. Ever since then, he’s resolved to seek out only older, more mature boys. There’s only one problem—no one has ever crushed the walls of steel around his heart the way Ash did. That doesn’t mean he’d ever take him back, though. No one makes a fool out of him and gets a second chance.

Can Ash prove to Lee that this time it isn’t just a case of puppy love?

Note: Pretty Puppy is the fifth book in the steamy Command & Care M/M Daddy romance series and can be read as a standalone. Each book shares a common theme, but no characters overlap. If you like puppy play, a dose of hurt/comfort and a strict Daddy Dom whose heart melts for his boy, then you’ll adore Morticia Knight’s second chance romance.

Review: ⟫ I expected more background when I read this – perhaps more about the relationships Lee had been in since Ash, or just how Ash crashed and burned. Instead, we were pretty much straight into the scheme Ash has concocted to get back into Lee’s life, and how badly it was going to fail.

This was a really fun and easy read, and I especially enjoyed the puppy play and having an insight into Champ’s mindset whilst he was a puppy – I’ve never read an author who’s gone into that much depth and I really appreciated it. There was a scene that perhaps needed a warning (for some people – I didn’t mind it) with a particularly intense sexual act, but overall I got exactly what I was expecting from this story and enjoyed it.

Solid 3/5 and I may look into the rest of the series.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Just Watch Me by Lee Blair

Title: ⟫ Just Watch Me

Author: ⟫ Lee Blair

Blurb: ⟫ My idea of an adventure is logging into my favorite game and meeting up with my online friends from the safety of my couch. I’m happy in my boring and predictable life. I certainly don’t need a gorgeous man moving into my building to mix things up.

When my neighbor brings home a fresh hookup, I mean to close the blinds. I really do! It’s just that he has a tattoo and shows all that skin, and well, I’m ashamed to say I get busted. It’s not my fault he never closes his blinds and our studio apartments stare right into each other’s. I try to ignore my shame until, one day, my neighbor puts on a show, and like the magic of my favorite video games—I forget how to be boring.

Just Watch Me is a 38,000-word low-angst, sweet, and steamy gay romance about a tech geek who tumbles out of his comfort zone thanks to his gorgeous temporary neighbor. This book is for fans of ridiculous T-shirts, secret geeks, all the cheese, neighbors who become lovers, and a homebody falling for someone always on the move.

Review: ⟫ I must admit, I thought I was getting into something kinky when I read the blurb for this book – the idea of watching your neighbour putting on a show was most entertaining. The manner in which it starts definitely matched my thoughts – one MC watches the other with another man and gets off on it.

It took a turn towards the sweeter end of things after that and became a much sweeter story about two men falling in love, finding someone who made them a better person and gave them a chance for a fuller life. It was exactly as described – low angst, very sweet with a side order of steam as they got to know each other and fell in love.

It was a nice, easy and enjoyable read, and I liked how respectful and supportive they were of each other. A very solid 3.75/5, rounded up to 4. I’ll have to look elsewhere for a full on kink-read!

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

The Face of the Wicked by J.K. Jones

Title: ⟫ The Face of the Wicked

Author: ⟫ J.K. Jones

Blurb: ⟫ Yuli knows a predator when he sees one.

A wide smile, pink lips pulled over rabid teeth.

Ren Hirokazu. A trained assassin who answers to no one.

His stare cripples him. His rough voice unravels him.

Yuli craves exactly what he shouldn’t.

Not a human. An Android.

A criminal. A murderer. A monster.

The sweetest sin.

Then a mysterious discovery forces Yuli to defect from the Yakuza.

Hunted. Branded as a traitor there’s nowhere left to hide.

Yuli must take the devil’s hand. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

And Yuli is about to be consumed.

Warnings: Cyberpunk MM romance, third-person present tense, dark MM romance that deals with mature themes of rape and torture with a HEA please be advised.

Review: ⟫ Unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. I felt that it showed a lot of promise and loved the story idea. However, the execution just didn't work for me. I felt like I was reading (bad) fanfiction. There were leaps in the story that made little to no sense, the character development was non-existent and there was little to no world-building.

I don’t want to tear this down, so will leave it as a 1.5/5 from me, rounded up to 2.

I received an ARC from Booksprout.

Sins of Yesterday by Romeo Preminger

Title: ⟫ Sins of Yesterday

Author: ⟫ Romeo Preminger

Blurb: ⟫ The first book in Preminger's Southern Gothic, family secrets epic: the Arizona series.

It's 1984, and fifteen-year-old Arizona is doing his best to take care of his younger brothers and sister while their daddy drives a truck cross-country and spends his pay-check on booze and gambling. In small town southeastern Louisiana, his family is known as the lowest of the low, and they say it's on account of a family curse that's so ugly, no one would dare speak of it.

Then Arizona's daddy loses his job, and things go from bad to worse. He baits Arizona into a fight, and their brawl results in him and his brothers and sister being split up by Social Services. Arizona is determined to make a better man of himself and take care of his siblings, but he's up against a world controlled by adults, small town prejudices, and unfathomable family secrets that will change everything he thought he knew about himself.

Review: ⟫ I had no clue what I was getting into reading this story.

It sucks you in with it’s almost casual telling of events, events so horrific that there were a couple of times I had to go back and re-read what I had taken in. This poor boy goes through so much it’s just awful, and it seems like every single time he gets a break, things get worse.

When he finally found love, real love, my heart lifted. Even when it became apparent that Nicholas wouldn’t be able to follow Arizona out into the world, the fact that Nicholas was happy for him to fly and thrive, trusting that he would come back, made it all worthwhile.

School was just how I imagined it to be – perhaps because Arizona is only two years older than me I could imagine just the type of thing he faced. But to find that school wasn’t the worse thing that was going to happen to him – I didn’t expect that. And perhaps I should have been prepared, but I wasn’t.

It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I think people should be warned about, but I am heading into the second book once I’ve taken an emotional break.

The writing is engaging – almost slowly hypnotic in that you can ‘hear’ the accents and how people spoke. I haven’t read any Southern Gothic books before so didn’t know what to expect. Depending on how this trilogy ends, I may dip my toe further into the genre.

A very solid 4/5 for me and I am looking forward to reading more.

I received an ARC from GRR in return for an honest review.

The Primary Pest by ZA Maxfield

Title: ⟫ The Primary Pest

Author: ⟫ ZA Maxfield

Blurb: ⟫ If infatuated bodyguard Dmytro wants to come clean to his reckless young client Ajax, he’s going to have to get dirty.

Dmytro Kolisnychenko was a soldier and translator for the Ukrainian mob – until he lost his happy home life to an enemy with a home-made bomb. Now he wants only two things: to spend every precious second he can with his daughters and to provide for them by protecting people who can’t protect themselves. Even spoiled rich kids like Ajax Fairchild.

Ajax Fairchild isn't the monster Dmytro thinks he is. He's surprisingly intelligent, resourceful, and funny. He's also gorgeous and enjoys dating mature men. The first time they're alone together, Ajax makes Dmytro an offer that's hard to refuse.

Dmytro hasn't got time for a romantic dalliance, and Ajax is a client. But as one coincidence after another ruins Dmytro's plans to keep Ajax safe, and they're driven from one town to another on the central coast, trouble follows hot on their heels.

Can they trust each other enough to stay one step ahead while Dmytro's partners at Iphicles Security find Ajax's stalker and neutralize the threat? What if trust leads to love?

This book is a re-release of Three Vlog Night with no major changes to the plot. If you love hot bodyguards, mischievous geeks, age-gap romance, and a happily-ever-after you know will last, buy The Primary Pest today!

Review: ⟫ I have been a fan of ZA Maxfield ever since I read Crossing Borders years ago, so I was delighted to receive the opportunity to read/review her latest story.

It wasn’t what I was expecting and I was a little disappointed, The relationship between Dmytro and Ajax didn’t feel quite fully realised, and although the story was interesting, there was very little in the way of romance. They did connect – over Anton if nothing else – but there was something missing. I can’t explain it very well.

It was very action packed, and the character of Ajax was fascinating – very self aware and yet still destructive in many ways. The whole ‘Daddy’ aspect wasn’t explored the way I thought it might be. However, it was very well written and I did enjoy reading it. I guessed the identity of the ‘bad’ guy almost immediately, but was fascinated with how they were going to get out of the situation.

Strangely enough, the free short novella that is available from ZA’s newsletter gave a clearer picture of the relationship between the two MCs and solidified things in a way that the main story didn’t. I would say that this was a good read but didn’t capture me the way the author normally manages to.

I would give this a solid 3.75 rounded up to 4, and would recommend reading the free short immediately after the story for a more satisfying feel to everything.

I was given an ARC by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for a honest review.

Pretty for Master by Skylar Sweeney

Title: ⟫ Pretty for Master

Author: ⟫ Skylar Sweeney

Blurb: ⟫ Can a sociopath learn to love?  Master plans to find out, and his captive agrees to lend a hand.  But will Pretty lend his heart, too?

     PRETTY

   They call him the Mad Master. A giant in fancy clothes with a flower on his lapel, he rules his world like a king. He's as terrifying as he is enthralling and as cruel as he is kind.

   All I've ever known is pain, so the way he loves to hurt me is nothing new. It's how he holds me that makes me wonder if I could be more than a redneck biker working the street corner. Like his pretty boy?

   I won't get the chance to find out if the man trying to kill me catches up first.  Or worse, Master might realize what an unlovable loser I am and not want me at all.  Can a man that no one wants to love really win the heart of someone like him?

    MASTER

   I'm obsessed with a love I can't feel. I'm not sure what romance is, but it's all I think about—when I'm not thinking of pain.  Because pain and torture are kind of this sociopath's thing.

   Everything changes when I kidnap the most beautiful boy in the world to save him from a killer.  I'm determined to give him the love he deserves, with lace and glitter and maybe a little pain on top, but how will that happen when I can't love?

Warnings: ⟫ This book centers on forced feminization and humiliation with a TWISTEDLY SWEET HEA.

Review: ⟫ This book was all the way bonkers!

Prerequisite I haven’t read this author before so wasn’t sure what to expect – probably an average BDSM romance. This was nothing like that! It was like falling down a rabbit hole! Master is a psychopath who has been asked for a favour by a previous ‘friend’ in the form of kidnapping a young man and keeping him prisoner. This is knowing that Master has a habit of treating his young men badly – think whips, chains, etc. And that was the normal part of the story!

I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m actually not going to say much else about the plot. I will say that in spite of myself, I actually kinda liked Master – he had the money to be able to do whatever the heck he wanted so he did. No compromises, no hiding from himself, nothing. And Pretty? Pretty needed someone like Master to help him see who he really was and figure out what he actually liked. I had a lot of sympathy for Pretty – he had an awful start in life and things just got better. Imagine being kidnapped by a psycho being the best thing that could happen to you!

I laughed – a lot – sometimes at the misunderstandings between Pretty and Master, sometimes at the situations, and I also really enjoyed how bloodthirsty certain parts were, which surprised the heck out of me!

I would wholeheartedly take notice of the warnings that come with the book – this is so not safe, sane and consensual – but I finished this in one go because I really wanted to know what was going to happen! I will happily read something else by the author, especially as I now think I have an idea about how their mind works!

3.75 rounded up to 4/5 from me! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daddy's Boy by Romeo Preminger (Arizona Series Book #2)

Title: ⟫ Daddy’s Boy: Book Two in the Arizona Series

Author: ⟫ Romeo Preminger

Blurb: ⟫ Arizona started a new life when his birth daddy, Gaston Bondurant, found him living with a foster family and facing criminal charges for assaulting his abusive stepfather. Plucked from the squalor of rural Acadiana, Arizona was thrust into New Orleans high society and an elite New England boarding school.

Home for the summer, Arizona sets out to find his younger brothers and sister, who were scattered to different places when their family was torn apart. Along the way, he reunites with his tenth grade sweetheart, Preston Montclair, who still holds a torch for him.

But Arizona is struggling to figure out the man he’s supposed to be. He’s got an obligation to his daddy, who wants to mold him as his heir, but he’s also got a responsibility to his wayward siblings. It feels like he’s swimming against the rapids, trying to do both while figuring out if he belongs with his boyhood love or an educated man who can help him with his dream of being a famous writer.

Review: ⟫ After reading the first book, I was quite eager to get to the second so I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get into it. We start from where the first book ended and follow Arizona to college, where he struggles to fit in with boys who have lived a privileged existence from the time of their birth – nothing at all like him.

I picked this up and put it down numerous times, before finally determining that I was going to bull through. And I finally realised why I couldn’t get into the book. I don’t like Arizona – like, at all. In the first book, I sympathised with his plight and supported many of his decisions – or at least, understood them. In this book, I found Arizona to be reckless, uncaring and selfish. Even the things that were happening to his ‘siblings’ all seemed to be based on how it made him feel – little about what they were suffering through.

His behaviour at school – the lack of empathy for what his actions could cause – really annoyed me. Admittedly, he’s a young man and there were times when he tried to show maturity and responsibility like when he and his friends went out to clubs, etc, but I just couldn’t find anything about him to like. And that meant that my investment in the story dwindled until I finished it because I felt like I should rather than because I wanted to.

It is a very well written story, evokes the era extremely well, and the writing style is engaging, but my feelings towards the MC, how he treated Preston, some of how he behaved at school meant that I lost any inclination to read further. I completely understand that this is a ‘me’ problem rather than anything to do with the book, and perhaps it was written intentionally to create this feeling. Either way, for me this book was a 3/5 and I’m not sure if I care enough to read the third and final book.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Scapegoat by J.R. Gray (Working Dogs Book #1)

Title: ⟫ Scapegoat (Working Dogs Book One)

Author: ⟫ J.R. Gray

Blurb: ⟫ Special Agent Nolan Hudson

At seventeen, I ran. I joined the military and planned to never step foot in my home town again. Nothing could make me return to that hellhole and the pain I buried there, or so I thought— until I found myself on a plane to that very place.

Almost two decades later, I’m forced home to help find a missing nine year old. As a member of the most elite K9 special unit in the country, it was my job and you can’t exactly say no to the FBI. It should be easy, and I won’t have to face what I ran from.

However, the case is anything but simple and to make matters worse, I’m faced with the last person I ever wanted to see again: Officer Callum Stone— the sheriff’s son and the town’s golden boy. Only he’s not anymore—he’s a ruin of what he once was.

It’s Callum’s kid who’s missing, and all the feelings I’d spent almost twenty years running from rise to the surface. As secrets come to light, we realize our small town is hiding a lot more than we thought, and we’ll have to follow the trail of deception to get justice and maybe a second chance at love.

Scapegoat is a second chance MM romantic suspense, featuring a small town, some FBI K9 fun, and hurt/comfort vibes. It is the first book in J.R. Gray's Working Dogs series, which will be packed with action, suspense, and humor.

Review: ⟫ I read Sitting Ducks as part of the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend and really enjoyed it, so when the chance came to read Nolan’s story I leapt at it!

I didn’t enjoy this anywhere near as much as I liked Sitting Ducks. Initially, I wasn’t sure why – the parts I really enjoyed included Nolan’s relationship with Maddie, Snoop, the friendship between Hayes and Hudson, Knox and the procedural stuff. These were all top notch in my opinion.

The bits I didn’t like: the relationship between Callum and Nolan. Which, as they were the MCs was obviously a bit of a problem. I didn’t like how easily Nolan forgave Callum for what he had done in the past, and I didn’t feel enough time was given to resolving all of that between them. I didn’t like that Nolan seemed to be doing all of the work between the two of them – initially,yes, I could see why that was but after a while, it just got tiresome! Flying back and forth across the country once a month whilst Callum didn’t reciprocate just bugged the heck out of me! There were times when I mixed up Nolan and Callum because they didn’t come across to me as two separate people – their voices were too similar. There were too many loose ends for me – there felt like there was a huge amount of build up with regard to the Sheriff with no pay-off (for me at least); the relationship between Nolan and his parents – what was up with that? How come after such an intense friendship where they shared everything, Nolan treated Hayes so shabbily?

I really enjoyed getting to know Knox better, and like I said the stuff with the dogs was brilliant – the Snoop thing completely cracked me up! I am working my way through J.R. Gray’s M/M catalogue and really enjoyed Pretty Obsessed, and I will be on the lookout for the next Working Dogs book, but this one just didn’t work for me.

3.5/5 for me, although obviously YMMV.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Best Belly Buddies by Ki Brightly & M.D. Gregory

Title: ⟫ Best Belly Buddies

Author: ⟫ Ki Brightly & M.D. Gregory

Blurb: ⟫ In Need of TLC

Zayden “Z” Shoemaker has secrets. He’s been in love with Dare, his straight best friend, for longer than he can remember, and on top of that tragedy in progress, he has an odd quirk none of his ex-boyfriends could handle. After every nasty breakup, Dare is there to help him through the heartache—and wipe away tears.

The Port in Every Storm

Fern “Dare” Darrow is tired of seeing men break Zayden’s heart. As far as he’s concerned, no one is good enough for his Z. When Zayden’s current man cheats and sends him into a cocoon of blankets and despair, Dare steps up in his role of best friend. Dare doesn’t expect to walk in on Zayden in a vulnerable position, which causes Dare to seriously question his sexuality for the first time. Dare is shocked into examining his true feelings for his best friend.

Scared But Determined

After confessions from both men, Dare and Zayden must make a decision that could transform every piece of their relationship and life, especially since they already live together. They’ll either grow with the change or destroy the one friendship that has kept them sane. Dare isn’t a coward, and Z is stronger than he thinks, but they will need each other more than ever if they want to overcome a lifetime of expectations.

Review: ⟫ I’ve never heard of this kink outside of perhaps werewolf romance, so that was a new one on me. I was very interested in how it worked and how the writers were going to incorporate it without too much feminisation and I do think they did that very well.

The story was very sweet – friends who to the outside look like they’ve been dating for years, with one pining after the other – sounded right up my street. But this didn’t gel for me – at all. There seemed to be a lot of extraneous characters – some, I believe, who have books of their own – that got too much attention. Their work life also seemed to play a huge role in the story but didn’t actually add anything to it.

I liked how Dare didn’t just dive straight into things as soon as he admitted his feelings – his concerns about what Zayden was looking for based on the porn he had watched seemed valid and I liked the fact that they communicated. I liked Zayden’s character development in as much as he learned to stand up for himself more and accept that what he was looking for from a relationship wasn’t as out there as he might have initially believed.

But it just felt too long – very drawn out and almost laborious. I loved the idea of the Boudoir shoot, but I was completely thrown out of the story by what happened there. It just seemed completely out of character considering how concerned/hesitant Dare had been up until that point. It felt wrong and it bugged me.

Perhaps I just wasn’t in the right mood for this? I think it was overall very well written and it passed the time, but I can’t see me looking into the various other stories written in the verse.

3.5/5 from me.

Chosen by Nicholas Bella (Demon Gate Series Book #1)

Title: ⟫ Chosen (Demon Gate Series Book 1)

Author: ⟫ Nicholas Bella

Blurb: ⟫ Officer, Brian Cordero, didn't expect his life to be flipped upside down the day Raphael Ledeo sped past his patrol car in an Aston Martin. It was supposed to be a routine patrol stop, but the moment their fingers touched, his fate was sealed. He'd been chosen as Raphael's mate unbeknownst to him.

Now human no longer after he and Raphael bond, Brian has to figure out how to navigate life as a powerful demon. And that's just the beginning of his troubles. He discovers that there are eight gates to hell, and one of them – the worst one – is open, and a secret demon-hunting organization needs his help to close it. If that wasn't enough on his plate, his attraction to Raphael grows more intense the longer he tries to deny it. Brian considers himself straight, after all, and Raphael has been the only man he's been with.

But can he deny his desires any longer or will he have to finally admit his feelings for Raphael?

Reader Advisory: This book is filled with sarcastic demons, devilish charm, enough steam to fog up all of the windows in your home or car. And a plot that will keep you engaged until you finish the last page. 18 and older. Content may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.

Review: ⟫ I went into this story vaguely aware that some people found there were problematic issues with the mating of the two MCs, and the warnings that content might be sensitive to readers. I wasn’t expecting the straight up rape up scene that I read. I must admit, that threw me quite a bit – I’ve read dub-con and non-con, but this was just – nope. I think that the warnings given need to be clearer as they are too euphemistic for what actually happened on page.

The main character, Brian, was horrible – as in, I couldn’t find a single redeeming quality about him. He blundered around, getting himself into all kinds of trouble with secret societies and demon royalty with the subtlety of a dumper truck. He whined, constantly. His attitude towards women was abhorrent, and I was barely 30% of the way through the story before I decided that I really couldn’t give two sh1ts what happened to him. He was a complete dumbass.

Raphael was one-dimensional at best, and you would think considering his age, he might have handled things better. He was barely on page (mainly because Brian was such a dumbass but I digress), but when he was there, it was all about how pretty he was whilst he acted like a complete AH.

I was actually intrigued by the idea of the gates of hell, working to close them as well as secret societies and all sorts of demons, but it just wasn’t there. It was all about how powerful Brian’s demon was (told, not shown), him eating souls and sex. That was it. I know it was episode one, but there was pretty much nothing here that made me want to go back for episode two. I have read other Nicholas Bella books and enjoyed them, so I was a little disappointed in this one. I didn’t even find the story that dark – perhaps all of that will come in further episodes when it gets more into the demon gates? Or maybe I’m just a bit too dark in myself!

2.5/5 from me.

Wrecked But Not Ruined by Nicole Dykes

Title : ⟫ Wrecked But Not Ruined

Author: ⟫ Nicole Dykes

Blurb: ⟫ Ethan

I had everything. I was going to college and having a blast. Enjoying myself and not taking much seriously. But then, two years ago, everything changed.

A car wreck destroyed my life. It sent me into a total tailspin. I walked away, even when everyone said I wouldn’t be able to.

But I haven’t recovered from it.

The only thing I have left is my best friend, but I’m sure he’ll give up on me soon. Even so, I can’t fight the truth . . . I’m irrevocably ruined.

Knox

College is coming to an end, and I couldn’t be happier to finally start my real life.

Ethan and I had plans. So many amazing plans. And then, everything changed. He was in a horrific wreck, but he miraculously survived. Except it took a piece of him.

I’ve tried to help him get it back. Tried to get him to go to a trauma support group and come back to me.

He thinks he’s broken, but I know the real Ethan is still there. The brave, outgoing man I’ve known my entire life. And I’m going to help him see the truth. That he can overcome this.

That he may have been a little wrecked, but he wasn’t ruined.

Review: ⟫ This may well be one of the sweetest, most hopeful and most caring books I've ever read.

Ethan has survived a traumatic car accident but because he escaped with minimal injuries, he truly doesn't see the trauma. Reading how his life has changed since the incident and his view of himself was really painful, but also very realistic. After all, a lot of people would dismiss his fears and continuing trauma as him being overdramatic - after all, he wasn't that hurt. 

It was really interesting seeing the group of people he has managed to surround himself with who all care for him dearly, but are also aware that they can't help him until he is ready to help himself 

Knox was really sweet and a rock-solid friend in a way that so many people need. And it was an interesting twist to realise that he had suffered trauma of his own. I liked the parallels the author made and the overriding message that came through loud and clear - it doesn't have to be life-threatening to be trauma.

This was a very nicely written story, with a great list of characters and a solid pairing in Knox and Ethan. I found it a quick, satisfying read and am happy to recommend it.

I received an ARC from GRR. 

Double Play by E.M. Lindsey (Hit and Run Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Double Play (Hit and Run Book #3)

Author: ⟫ E.M. Lindsey

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ If self-destruction is an art-form, then Hervé is a master artist.

After all, he’s perfected self-sabotage since he was young and full of promise.

He’s spent his life running from his past and pushing away anyone who might break down his walls, but it wasn’t until his body betrayed him that he realized just how lonely his present had become. Now he’s in the countryside, trying to figure out if anything is worth salvaging, and wondering if he’s the sort of man who will ever be worth a second chance.

Even when Orion Coulter—one of the star pitchers on the Denver Vikings—shows up in his little village like some sort of predestined knight on a white horse, Hervé doesn’t trust him. How can he when Orion is close to all the men Hervé hurt?

But Orion’s situation is more complicated than Hervé realized, full of pain and grief, looking for some kind of escape. And while Hervé knows that he hasn’t quite earned meeting the man of his dreams, Orion’s quiet voice, tender hands, and impossible promises has him wondering if maybe—just maybe—the universe is willing to give him the chance he doesn’t deserve.

Double Play is the final book of the Hit and Run MM baseball romance series. It features countryside kisses, grief, redemption, long walks, careful handling, and a painfully tender happily ever after. 

Review: ⟫ I haven’t read any of the previous Hit and Run series and that may have influenced my experience with this book.

Well written, and extremely well researched, this book was an interesting read. I didn’t know about cataplexy although I knew a little about narcolepsy, and I found it quite educational. It features characters from the previous Hit and Run books (I assume so anyway), and there is obviously a lot of history playing a role in things. 

 Unfortunately,I think that may be what I struggled with. I haven’t read the previous books, knew none of the characters and therefore had no frame of reference and no ‘side’ in things. There were a lot of references to something Hervé did in previous books (and I know some people figured it out just from this book) but I couldn’t quite grasp what he had done that was so wrong, and I wasn’t sure I really cared.

That sounds really callous, but neither Hervé or Orion appealed to me at all – I felt their relationship moved at light speed when both of them were going through something completely life-changing and perhaps should have been more cautious. The struggles Hervé had with his health were handled sensitively and incorporated into the story – this wasn’t a case of saying a character is suffering from something and then never mentioning it again. But, again, I felt like he should be concentrating on stabilising his life and not on falling in love with someone based in a completely different country. I also thought recovering addicts were advised not to get into a relationship in the first year?

Basically, for me, this story didn’t connect and I think that is in large part because I didn’t have the history with the characters. As such, I personally don’t think that it can be read as a stand-alone novel. The sports was minimal, so I probably wouldn’t class it as a sports romance either.

The last two chapters were absolutely romantic, blistering and everything I could have hoped for. I just didn’t gel with the rest of the book. I received an ARC from GRR.

To Whom It May Concern by A.M. Johnson

Title: ⟫ To Whom It May Concern: A For Him Novella 

Author: ⟫ A.M. Johnson 

Blurb: ⟫ To whom it may concern, I can't be sure what you're into, that being said, if you like sexy and sweet romance with a whole lot of quirk, keep reading… 

Ever since Clay Saxon's parents passed away a year ago, he's been stuck in a rut, running their business, and suffering from the worst writer's block ever. 

But when Syrus Albie, aka yellow sweater guy, (you'll see) walks into The End Book Store, Clay's mundane little world turns to sunshine. 

I don't want to ruin it, but I can definitely say, when an introverted as hell narrator finally meets his favorite author and crush, all of his usual protocols go up in flames. 

Set in the For Him World, this stand-alone is the perfect introduction or addition to this steamy MM collection. 

Sincerely yours, 

A.M. JOHNSON 

Review: ⟫ I’ll preface this by saying that I haven’t read any of the ‘For Him’ verse that is mentioned in the blurb so went into this blind. I don’t think it made any real difference – I may have missed out on cameos that are from the other books, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment. 

This was a very sweet, soft, gentle read, with a socially awkward Syrus moving from a slight case of hero worship to love with a genuinely nice guy in Clay. There was no real angst in this book, just two guys meeting each other when they needed someone in their world and finding that they meshed really well. 

The communication between the two of them was a very strong point for me – perhaps because I recently read a book where I was almost screaming at the two main characters to just talk to each other – and Clay and Syrus made a lovely couple. I don’t know if I’ll look into the rest of the series, but this was a nice interlude. 

3.5/5 from me. I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

His Boy To Cuddle by Morticia Knight (Naughty or Nice Season 2)

Title: ⟫ His Boy To Cuddle (Naughty or Nice Season 2) 

Author: ⟫ Morticia Knight 

Blurb: ⟫ Dear Santa, 

I just recently moved to Boston and would love to find a sweet, pretty boy to spend the holidays with. I’m a fit, thirty-eight-year-old Daddy who loves to cuddle, pamper and kiss up a storm. Spankings and punishments? Not so much. With that in mind, I’d prefer a nice boy. 

Naughty in bed? That’s a different story! I’m all about heating up the sheets and keeping my boy satisfied. 

All Littles are welcome, any age, but if he likes dolls and frilly things—even better. I love me a femme boy who knows what he wants. 

I need to be up-front, though, Santa. This is a no strings attached arrangement for the week leading up to Christmas only. A long-term relationship isn’t what I’m searching for right now and be sure to let any potential boys know I’m not a wealthy dude. 

I can’t shower him with lots of presents but I can sure shower him with tons of affection! 

Thanks, big guy. I hope you can fulfil my wish. 

DareDaddy 

His Boy to Cuddle is part of the Naughty or Nice Season Two multi-author series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but there are so many Daddies looking for some holiday magic to bring them their perfect boys, why not grab them all? 

From this novella, you can expect a super shy boy who prefers nighties over PJs, a spectacular vintage Barbie collection, first times, and a muscular, bearded Daddy who can’t keep his hands off the prettiest boy he’s ever seen. 

Review: ⟫ I’ve never read a femme Little story before and that was what initially attracted me to reading this. An added benefit was that the Daddy in the story wasn’t wealthy – most of the other books I’ve read, money hasn’t been a problem which I think can sometimes skew the dynamic. 

This story was very sweet with excellent communication between Jaxon and Tracy. Although there were a few other characters, the focus was predominantly on the new couple, with Tracy learning about what he needed as a Little and Jaxon realising that he wanted more from the arrangement than he had initially thought. 

Lots of festive romance, playing with dolls and a little bit of sex. A solid 3.5/5 and I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Moth by Lily Mayne (Monstrous #5)

Title: ⟫ Moth 

Author: ⟫ Lily Mayne 

Blurb: ⟫ When I—along with my best friend and his big purple monster boyfriend—come across a fortress-like raider camp while journeying across the monster-infested Wastes, we stop to deliver a message. 

Somehow, that simple pit stop turns into a seemingly impossible quest to get this camp’s missing leader out of the prison where he’s being held and forced to fight monsters and other humans. And I know exactly where it is, because I’ve been there. 

 Problem is, I’m making this journey with the prickliest and most arrogant guy I’ve ever met, who seems to immediately hate me on sight. 

Oh, and he’s also half monster. 

So there’s that. 

And he’s in love with a raider who definitely does not love him back, and he seems determined to take it out on me. So there’s also that. But I’m not going to rise to his childish insults and barbed words. I’m not. 

I’m also going to try very hard to ignore how mind-numbingly beautiful he is, even when he’s scowling at me. 

But the longer we’re out here together, the more I learn about my prickly half monster companion Moth. I realise there’s a reason he’s so closed off and angry. There’s a reason he hates everyone. There are secrets he’s been keeping, and when I find out what they are, I want to do everything in my power to help him—even though he’s telling me he can’t be helped. 

Moth is Book Five of the Monstrous series, a post-apocalyptic m/m fantasy series that features monsters and human men falling in love. It is best to read the series in order. 

Warning: This m/m love story contains explicit sexual content and is not suitable for young readers. It also contains graphic depictions of death and violence. 

Review: ⟫ Oh Moth!! 

My heart broke for this half-monster – I knew there had to be a good reason for what had happened in previous books, but I never imagined this. 

Lily Mayne pulled out the stops with this one – all of her monsters are beautiful, alien and scary in their own way, but Moth with his vulnerabilities, differences and awful childhood just about broke my heart. 

I devoured this in one sitting, then re-read it immediately to pick up all of the things that I might have missed, and I will probably re-read it again. This is another one of those series where each subsequent book somehow manages to replace your current ‘favourite’ couple, and Moth and Charlie most definitely did that. 

I loved Charlie. I loved how affable he was, how kind and understanding, how strong and unflinching. His loyalty to the people he cares about was palpable and what he did for Moth – building him up, listening, understanding and ultimately loving him – was just beautiful. 

More world building, catching up with our previous favourites and Cat – this was just such a brilliant book. I cannot wait for Lilac’s book, if only so we can finally see him wield that machete! An easy 5/5 from me.