Obnoxious Bad Boy by Devon Doe (Am I the Problem? Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Obnoxious Bad Boy (Am I the Problem? #3)

Author: ⟫ Devon Doe

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tl;dr: Am I the problem for hooking up in secret with the local bad boy? (Everyone thinks I hate him)

I [20M] am an accomplished pre-law student with my life mapped out for me by my parents. One day, I’ll be a respected lawyer, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying college, writing shameless gay smut, and getting absolutely zero action.

But I do have a crush. On the most obnoxious local bad boy [25M] and the exact type of person I shouldn’t like. He’s a tattoo artist, an ex-burglar, and, worst of all, an influencer. He’s ripped, inked, and his ice-blue eyes pierce my heart (even if he did once spill coffee on my laptop and was very mean about it).

He’s also straight and I hate him because I can’t have him.

Or so I thought, because one day, when he notices me, my world spins out of control, and my morals go out the window. I’ve always been the skinny pale nerd with no flirting game, but to Vex, I’m his sweetie, his baby boy, and his eager plaything. I can’t help but love it.

But he doesn’t want to come out, my trust fund is on the line, and I’m falling for him all too fast. This was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement, so I shouldn’t want him to be my boyfriend. But I do.

Am I the problem for trying to get more than he’s willing to give? Or is he the problem for dragging me into this?

Addendum: If my parents find out I’m seeing an ex-con, they’re gonna kill me.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

“Obnoxious Bad Boy” is an enemies-to-lovers, steamy, opposites-attract romcom where a snotty nerd gets the bad boy of his dreams and has to deal with the consequences of their hush-hush relationship.

While the books in the series share a setting each can be read as a standalone.

(Aaron and Vex’s story)

Will our nerdy protagonist find the courage to fight for what he truly wants, or will he lose everything he holds dear? Don't miss out on this scorching hot enemies-to-lovers romcom that will leave you crying with laughter!

Review: ⟫ I’m actually in two minds about this book so my review will probably reflect that. On the one hand, the chemistry between Aaron and Vex is steaming hot and there’s no doubting that they really want each other. I also really liked the way in which Vex encouraged Aaron and gave him the confidence to become more ‘himself’ around other people and particularly with his parents.

However, the whole in the closet and flirting with other people thing niggled at me. I could well understand Vex’s dilemma – if you are selling a product, you give the people what they want. And I would imagine it’s incredibly difficult to make a life-changing decision, especially if you’ve seen it go sideways for someone else. All that being said, there were more than a couple of times when I was side-eyeing, and his lack of support to Aaron during something pretty big made me very unhappy with him.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous two but this book has solid writing, excellent chemistry between our leads and of course, the background characters we are growing to know and love. Not my favourite but well worth a read.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Exception by Cora Rose (Black Diamond Novel - Unlucky 13 #5)

Title: ⟫ Exception (An Unlucky 13 Novel)

Author: ⟫ Cora Rose

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to the Black Diamond Resort and Spa . . .

When I fled my small town home to fly across the globe for a potential job on a remote island, I did it on a whim. And let’s just say, my parents were not happy. According to them, the journey of self-discovery is not nearly as important as tending the family farm.

I may not know a lot, but I do know that I needed space to breathe. To figure out who I am and what I want out of life. I desperately needed change.

So I traded in my work boots and flannels for flip-flops, golf carts, and fit men in teeny-tiny swim trunks.

I came here for adventure, but I never would have guessed that on a tropical island filled with creepy lizards, poisonous jellyfish, and one obscenely deranged monkey, it would be the surfer with the tight body and smart mouth that I really had to watch out for.

Review: ⟫ We’ve been teased with Holden throughout this series so I was very pleased when I realised that this was his book and that it was in Cora Rose’s hands. The glimpses we’ve seen of Holden to date showed him to be caring, fun, impulsive and kind so I was interested to see who his match would be.

I wasn’t expecting Chase – I don’t think anyone could expect Chase – but I thought he was sweet, a little bumbling and quite possibly one of the most innocent people to turn up on the island. Their relationship was swift, passionate and life-changing for both of them. Holden has been keeping part of himself aloof from other people, but somehow Chase gets beneath all of his barriers and armour and shows Holden what it is like to be/feel safe.

And Holden allows Chase to fly – to explore all of the unspoken things inside himself, which is the whole reason he came to the island.

Why no five score? I was seriously not a fan of Holden and Chase’s first solo interaction. I understand what was being conveyed but for me, it missed the mark. It felt far too rushed and confusing for one party – I think I needed an enthusiastic yes rather than what happened. It was in no way non-consensual but I just felt that things were rushed a little too much in the name of showing overwhelming passion.

This was a good addition to the Black Diamond series and I look forward to reading more.

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative.

Unfortunate by Nicole Dykes (Black Diamond Novel - Unlucky 13 Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Unfortunate (An Unlucky 13 Novel)

Author: ⟫ Nicole Dykes

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to the Black Diamond Resort and Spa . . .

I’m in exile in this luxurious refuge after a scandal, which shouldn’t be a scandal at all. I’m Elijah Hunt, former child actor, now beloved action star.

When a picture of me in a compromising position is posted online, for the entire world to see, my agent sent me here to escape the limelight.

But here, it’s different from my crazy, loud, glitzy life. It’s quiet and peaceful. No one seems impressed with my celebrity.

And no one is less impressed than the sexy, aloof member of the cleaning crew. He couldn’t care less who I am or why I’m here.

He’s convinced I’m one of the fortunate ones—and I suppose I am. I’ve had it all—big houses, the best care, money, fame, and shallow adoration . . . but I’ve never been loved.

I’ve never known if people like me for who I am underneath it all or just for my money and fame.

And to me . . . that seems awfully unfortunate.

Review: ⟫ I think I must be missing my emotion chip this week because I can tell that this was an emotional read, with both Atlas and Elijah daring to hope for more, all whilst being terrified of the potential consequences to their heart, mental health, life yet I didn’t find myself connecting with either of the m/c.

I could well understand the underlying message about what can be perceived as fortunate not always being the prize that it seems, but I just wasn’t feeling anything. I can see from other reviews that other people definitely felt that connection and I’m sorry I missed out on it.

The other thing I would say was that the ending/resolution felt a little rushed. Now it may be that we see more of this couple further on in the series, but I wanted to see more. I think this is more of a me issue –the book was well written, the sex scenes were good and I enjoyed the story in general.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Anonymous Alpha by MM Farmer (Bangers & Mash #7)

Title: ⟫ Anonymous Alpha (Bangers & Mash #7)

Author: ⟫ MM Farmer

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ When everything goes wrong and the world is set against him, who can a desperate omega in trouble turn to for help?

Evan

I should have been careful what I wished for, because after the most amazing and torrid heat I’ve ever experienced, I certainly got it! The glittery, bubblegum pop image that the record label created for me, the one I was so ready to move away from, has been blown out of the water, because someone leaked a tape of me and the ESA I’d hired to take me through heat.

And on top of that, despite precautions, I might have an even bigger “little” problem after that heat. I have no one to turn to but Sable, who the media is calling the “anonymous alpha”. I barely know him, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.

Will he help me, or will he think I’ve ruined his life?

Sable

I’m used to helping high-profile omega clients, but nothing could have prepared me for the media firestorm when a tape of me and Evan Mercer hit the internet. Everyone is saying Evan leaked the tape on purpose to get out of his recording contract, but when I get a tearful, panicked call from Evan, an entirely different story comes out.

I will do whatever it takes to protect my omega, because Evan is mine now, even if it was just an ESA call that brought us together. I’m ready to stand by my man, and once we figure out who blasted his career and his life to bits, the gloves will come off and I’ll show the world just what it means to defend the man I love.

Anonymous Alpha is a stand-alone, an omega in distress, alpha to the rescue story in the Bangers & Mash series. It contains a very good boy doing very, very bad things, the worst day ever, hidden cameras (not the good kind), an escape from the media, friends coming to the rescue, and Evan Mercer’s BIGGEST FAN EVER!!!

PLEASE This is not a shifter series. But you know how the other books have had a warning that no omegas are impregnated during the course of the book? *whistles innocently*

Review: ⟫ I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series so went into it completely blind. I found it fascinating the whole idea of having a service where alphas would help omegas through their heats and enjoyed the way that this was handled in the book – the sex work aspect of this was handled very professionally which was nice to see.

Evan is ready to move on from his teeny-bopper image – and his awful manager. Once he’s through this heat, his contract will be up with the record company and he can outwardly become the grown-up they refuse to allow him to be. His manager is a complete sleaze who sees Evan as a cash-cow and is not happy at the changes ahead.

Into this mix comes Sable, an Emergency Support Alpha, who feels a pull towards Evan that he’s never experienced before in all of his time helping omegas through their heats. He certainly isn’t expecting a sex tape to be released, labelling him as Evan’s anonymous alpha and splashing the time they spent together all over the press.

The 180 turn of the media and some of the fans towards Evan at this negative happening felt a little too realistic – we all know that the press loves nothing more than a scandal and this is a huge scandal. How Evan and Sable find their way through the terrible situation that they’re placed in whilst adjusting to their new bond and a surprise pregnancy makes for an interesting story.

It is light and doesn’t dwell too much on the negative side of fame and the role that social media plays in that, but the subject is touched on and I appreciated that. Otherwise, this is a fated-mates/insta-love story with some hot, very kinky sex and a fight for justice that was entertaining.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener

Title: ⟫ Between The Devil and the Sea

Author: ⟫ Chani Lynn Feener

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ What happens when a devil claims a demon?

Detective Shadow Yor hates his life.

He spends all of his time, day after day, struggling against the demons in his head that tell him he’s a worthless, unlovable person. This doesn’t change when he’s sent on a new assignment with his partner to solve a series of murders. He’s good at his job and will find whoever did it, there’s no doubt there. The only question is whether or not he’ll be able to keep himself together, or if his empathic abilities will finally be the death of him.

Apollo Orobas is bored.

He’s bored of his secret nighttime proclivities and bored of playing the part of charming neighborhood do-gooder. Apollo isn’t good, never has been, but just when he’s starting to think life holds no interest, Shadow Yor stumbles into his sights. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out the detective is also hiding his true self, and suddenly coaxing Shade’s monster out into the light is all Apollo can think of. As obsession sinks its claws in, he decides it’s time for a new game, one Shade is going to play with him. Whether he likes it or not.

Kidnapped and forced to endure whatever twisted plans Apollo has in store, Shade struggles to hold onto his idea of right and wrong, but the more he tries to resist, the more those lines start to blur. What chance does a mere demon have against an actual devil? Especially one who soothes those twisted voices in his head and makes him feel for the first time ever that maybe he isn’t as unlovable as he’s always believed.

Trigger Warning: This is a stand-alone dark romance which means there are many themes that some might find disturbing. Some of these include, but are not limited to, dub-con, violence, a seriously obsessed male lead, a male lead who deals with low self-esteem, and explicit sexual content not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to read the Author's Note for a complete list of warnings! HEA guarantee!

Review: ⟫ I debated on writing a review for this book – my mind was kinda all over the place. I loved the premise and the blurb caught my attention, along with the beautiful cover. However, I found that some of the book dragged – we had a LOT of Shadow’s thought processes and after a while it became more than a bit tedious.

I was also struck by the way in which characters behaved: Shadow’s partner’s actions towards the end of the book simply didn’t ring true for me and I struggled with that aspect of things quite a lot.

The idea of a White (slightly dusty) Knight being turned to the darkness definitely intrigued me, but I don’t feel that this book really managed to portray just why Shadow made the decisions that he did. It was more than obvious that he was struggling with feelings of worthlessness and depression, but despite his inner monologues I couldn’t quite figure out just why/how he fell for Apollo.

The other thing I struggled with were the character’s voices – sometimes they merged in my head and that made things very confusing.

I did like the world building that was present and would be interested in reading more about such a place/world but ultimately, this book didn’t hit the spot for me.

Atlas by Eden Finley (Mike Bravo Ops #3)

Title: ⟫ Mike Bravo Ops: Atlas

Author: ⟫ Eden Finley

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ ATLAS

Working undercover at a strip club is not my usual kind of job. If it weren’t a great opportunity to show the Mike Bravo team I can run my own op, I wouldn’t have agreed to it.

When my boss asks me to befriend the biggest gossip in the establishment, the person who knows everything, I’m even more reluctant. Because that happens to be one of the dancers. The only dancer to catch my attention in all the wrong ways.

I need to be professional or I will never prove I’m leadership material.

Only problem is, the guy with the stage name Lemon makes me want to be anything but professional.

LEMON

I’m sick of the new bartender throwing dirty looks my way. He’s as judgmental as he is hot, and let’s just say he’s really judgmental.

I don’t know why he’s working here if he looks down on us dancers so much. He could bartend at a regular club.

But when he saves me from a drunken customer getting too handsy, his attitude suddenly flips, and we find ourselves becoming … friends?

Underneath the judgment, it turns out Atlas is a total sweetheart.

Maybe more caring than anyone I’ve ever met.

I’ve never had a relationship before, but something tells me it could be way too easy to fall for the gentle giant.

Review: ⟫ I have to be honest and admit that I didn’t remember much about Atlas – which is a shocker because he sounds absolutely divine! This was Lemon’s story all the way: from the descriptions of his dancing to his sassy attitude and his ‘Mom’ demeanour, Lemon owned this whole book.

I liked how Atlas faced up to his subconscious prejudices and addressed them, and even when he wasn’t perfect about it, he was willing to listen and to learn. I loved Lemon’s audacity in how he chose to take care of his boys, and my heart broke for him when the betrayal was revealed.

This was a really lovely addition to the Mike Bravo series, giving us glimpses of the other guys (especially Iris but everyone has a soft place in their heart for Iris) and I was pleased with the instalment.

Tink by Emmy Sanders (Elite 8 Studios Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Tink (Elite 8 Studios Book #3)

Author: ⟫ Emmy Sanders

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Have you heard the tale of Goldie and the Two Bears?

Alex

Working in the adult entertainment industry has its challenges. Mainly, scoring a date that lasts longer than a night. I’d started to wonder if my own happily-ever-after wasn’t in the cards.

But then a hookup turned meet-cute lands me right on top of Rowan, the shy, submissive bear of my dreams with a serious weak spot for sweetly spoken words. He doesn’t see Tink, the performer. He sees me.

Yet before I can lick my territory, Rowan’s neighbor Finn walks in. Quite literally. And the tatted, pierced, ginger-haired papa bear has his sights set on my new crush. Even worse, Rowan returns his interest. I assume that’s game over, so imagine my shock when Finn suggests a less-than-traditional arrangement in which we all win.

They say you should never run from bears. So really, what’s a boy to do when faced with his ultimate fantasy?

After all, maybe happily-ever-after is meant for more than two.

Tink is a poly MMM romance between one golden-haired troublemaker and two very delicious bears of the human variety. There’s praise, furry chests and unexpected piercings, an extensive collection of orchids, tight white pants, coworkers who are like family, and one very HEA. It’s book 3 in the Elite 8 Studios series but can be read as a standalone.

Review: ⟫ I haven’t read any of the previous Elite 8 Studios novels but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story. This was a sweet, easy read that covered some pretty big topics but not in a preachy way.

Rowan is looking to dip his toe back into the dating scene after an absolutely awful breakup, just in time for Alex to take him up on the offer of a night of passion. Both men feel the pull of something more and it would have been quite a simple story if it had remained on that level.

However, Alex is a porn-star and has had previous lovers who didn’t like his choice of profession, so is understandably guarded. Especially when Rowan’s neighbour, Finn, throws his hat into the ring and what began as a hook up begins to turn into a hot relationship between the three of them.

The way in which this trio communicated with each other was gold – there were no misunderstandings about where they all were and how they felt; the support for each other was beautiful and the relationship as it grew was beautiful to witness. They each have their vulnerabilities but they were all ready to throw everything at this chance at a once in a lifetime love and that was amazing.

There were plenty of sex scenes, including a very intense scene later in the book and they were well written. Perhaps a few too many for my taste but they didn’t detract from the main story. I liked how everything wove together – from handling Manuel, building Rowan up so that he got a handle on his self-esteem issues; seeing the people who worked for Elite 8 as people rather than just performers, with outside lives and interests that further fleshed them out.

I did enjoy reading this and based on some of the character descriptions, I think I might have a look for the other Elite 8 studio books. The puns about Goldilocks and the Bears came thick and fast, and I loved the way it was incorporated into what Alex was working on. The reality of polyamory and how people might view it was shown gently, and the outing of Alex’s profession and how various family members felt kept this from being too fairy-tale-esque. If you’re looking for something low-angst, sexy and with some interesting themes underlying the story, this might just hit the spot.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Goes Unpunished by M.J. May (Maverick Insurance Mystery #2)

Title: ⟫ Goes Unpunished

Author: ⟫ M J May

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ Three years ago, Perry Atherton’s young life almost ended in a dark alley when he tried to play a superhero. Now, Perry’s stagnant life has been resurrected into happy contentment. No one’s tried to kill him in months, and beyond Wille Slater’s creepy vibes, Perry’s custodial position at Maverick Insurance is going well. Even better, his relationship with Detective Nathaniel Harmon has the potential to turn into something loving and lasting.

Lying in the back of a pick-up truck, the Milky Way stretched above him and snuggled up next to Nate, Perry couldn’t be happier. A phone call from Nate’s work partner ends the best date Perry’s ever been on and throws his boyfriend back into another murder investigation.

As a homicide detective, Nate’s used to the inconvenient calls, late hours, and missed promises with Perry. What he’s not used to is sort of, kind of knowing the homicide victim and the need to interrogate Perry’s best friend—Gayle Ridley.

Death is never easy. Murder is worse. Dealing with your boyfriend’s hurt feelings and protective instincts is brutal. Nate needs to solve this murder pronto so he can get out of the doghouse and crawl back under the covers with the man he loves.

When a suspect in Nate’s latest murder investigation threatens Perry, Nate will push himself to the limits. Perry has suffered enough, and Nate will be damned if he brings his dangerous work to Perry’s door. The world needs to learn that Perry Atherton is off-limits, and Nate will make sure the message is delivered loud and clear.

Goes Unpunished is the second book in the Maverick Insurance Mysteries series. The first book, No Good Deed, should be read prior. Goes Unpunished is a m/m romantic mystery and contains good friends, sketchy coworkers, lazy and hungry cats, thoughtful dating, and an exhausted detective and his understanding boyfriend.

Goes Unpunished contains descriptions of homicide and a character using a homophobic slur once.

Review: ⟫ When I saw this book offered by GRR, I made a point of reading the first one in the series so that I knew what was going on, but to be completely honest, I’m still not sure!

The majority of the novel concentrates on the homicide case Nate is working on. Keith just so happens to be dating the roommate of Perry’s best friend, Gayle, who is in the unfortunate position of having been completely upfront and honest about just how much she hates Keith. It’s this tenuous link that involves Perry in the investigation – Nate has to be careful to be impartial, even if it means sitting back whilst Perry’s best friend is accused of murder.

That all sounds good so far and we are involved in the investigation as we follow Nate and his partner as they follow the clues. But absolutely none of that has anything to do with Maverick Insurance and that’s where my confusion lies. There is something odd going on where Perry works as a custodian for Maverick Insurance – he has found himself amidst a group of killers and that is made plain in the book – but it has nothing to do with Nate’s investigation.

And that’s where my suspension of disbelief struggles. The big story is obviously Maverick Insurance – how it came to be, who they are, and why they are watching over Perry – but none of that is discussed or alluded to in the two books in the series so far. And, to be a little blunt, I think that story would be far more interesting than the ones we’ve read so far. We don’t get to find out just why Delia and Malcolm are so attached to Perry – apart from the fact that he shows basic human decency.

The relationship between Nate and Perry is moving along at a quiet pace, and despite both men stating how much they care for each other, this isn’t some madcap, passionate affair. Their relationship is handled on a superficial level which I found frustrating. Perhaps that’s where I’ve gone wrong with this series – I’ve been reading it as a romance/mystery type thing, with the relationship between Perry and Nate being at the forefront and Maverick Insurance as the backdrop. Instead, it is the police procedural aspect of things that are concentrated on, with details about relationship/mystery only being given to the reader very sparsely.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did and I think my frustration is evident in my review – there are so many other things I would prefer to find out than how well Russ cooks or the minutiae of police investigating. I don’t know if I’m going to read any more of these books if/when they come out because of this frustration and that feels like a shame because I feel like those details would be fascinating.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Il Padrone by Leigh Kenzie (Vendetta Series Book #1)

Title: ⟫ Il Padrone

Author: ⟫ Leigh Kenzie

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Allesandro

I’m Il Padrone, the Master of this Family, and Emilio will learn his place. I’ll bathe in his tears and watch as he humiliates himself. It’s all for my pleasure. I own it all and he’s just another addition to my collection.

Emilio

Il Padrone calls me his toy. His property. He says I can earn the right to be higher in his organization if only I submit. If only I change who I am. I may be younger, but he hasn’t seen the likes of me before.

Just how twisted can a tale of vengeance become?

Trigger Warnings: This is a dark MM Mafia with graphic violence and extreme sexual situations. Please see inside for more information.

The Vendetta Series also contains MMM and MMM+ scenes. While the series becomes dark romance, it does not begin that way.

Book 1 of the Vendetta Series, ends on a cliffhanger

*This has been re-edited as of July 2022 but no new content has been added

Review: ⟫ Firstly, I would say to heed the warnings within the book and the author’s website – this is very dark, with talk of torture, abuse and sexual domination. Secondly, I wasn’t surprised that this was the author’s first book – I felt that that came through in the writing as there was a lot of telling rather than showing. Also, there were occasions when the writing came through as choppy and disjointed, and not when I would have expected it to be like during the torture sessions.

Few of the characters are fully fleshed out but it shows more with the two ‘main’ characters, Emilio and Alessandro. They were almost cut-outs of what you would expect: dark, mafia boss with twisted sexual desires, disconnected from the world and everyone within it and showing a complete disregard to life; intelligent, college boy who has remained a virgin and finds himself in an impossible situation whereby the most he expects is to survive, and any enjoyment he gains is a shock to him.

It became clear that this is the first in a series of books that will presumably dig deeper into the backgrounds of the characters, but unfortunately for me the story didn’t grab me enough to make me want to read any further. And that wasn’t because I found the book too dark – it was plain and simply lack of interest. I didn’t feel anything for any of the characters. Their motivations and actions made no sense to me and I didn’t care what happened to them, which in the case of Emilio is absolutely essential to be able to carry on.

The writing itself was solid if a tad simplistic and I would imagine that for some people, it would be a joy to discover that there are at least six more books in the Vendetta series. I’m not one of those people and I doubt I will be looking further into the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Broken by Andi Jaxon (Black Diamond Novel - Unlucky 13)

Title: ⟫ Broken (An Unlucky 13 Novel)

Author: ⟫ Andi Jaxon

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa… After years of drowning myself in parties, hook ups, and pain, all it takes is one viral sex tape to get me thrown on a remote island to disappear for a while. That or lose my trust fund. Having to share a room with the one man I let hurt me is my worst nightmare. I’m the broken shell of the boy he walked away from on the single worst day of my life. I hate him almost as much as I hate myself. This island was supposed to be a place I could rest but instead I’m running. From Asher Vaughn. From myself. From the scars on my heart that never healed. It hurts to look at him and see all the things we never got to have. But how am I supposed to keep him at arm's length when he watches me the way he used to? When he touches me? When he calls me his? We can’t be together, not off this island. The straight football star and the gay femme son of famous parents. The media would rip us apart and ruin his career. I barely survived the last time he left me, can I live through being deserted again? Broken is a brother’s best friend, mm romance with some praise kink, and a broken boy in desperate need of love. This story has triggers which you can find on my website.

Review: ⟫ The first thing I would say is that checking out the author’s website for triggers is a good idea – there were several things in this book that I would imagine could cause issues and I appreciated the heads-up.

Asher and Eli are young and in love. Not such a bad thing except for the fact that they are hiding it from everyone, including Eli’s big brother Marcus. Asher is on his way to being a huge football star and falling in love with Eli was never his intention – now he has to figure out a way to walk away from the love of his life to have a chance at the life and career he has always wanted.

An unspeakable tragedy occurs just before Asher can walk away and it leaves both he and Eli broken and alone.

They meet up again by accident, both having been sent to the Black Diamond Resort to be out of the public eye whilst they handle public outcry from their (separate) meltdowns. What follows is a case of forced proximity bringing the past crashing down onto both of them, with secrets coming out and a lot of pain and hurt being excised.

I was not in the right place for angst so should have put this book down. It was well written but so much of it felt almost too dark for me, with neither Eli nor Asher seeming to be able to just communicate with the other in a useful way. Sex was used as a weapon and there were a lot of conflicting messages from both sides.

This was above and beyond the drama that led to them being at the Resort in the first place. I think the best way I can describe this novel for me is that too many things felt unfinished. There was a lot of discussion regarding Eli’s choices of clothing but if his parents were as dominating and controlling as they were made out to be, I don’t understand he’s been given so much leeway about the way he dresses in public.

I struggled with the way that Asher chose to handle things. Not when they initially happened – he was young so it was perfectly understandable – but what about when he got older and (hopefully) matured? Would it have been impossible for him to contact Eli and try to talk some things through? And this wasn’t just a simple misunderstanding – this was a huge secret, on top of what can only be described as parental abandonment for both of them. I just found it difficult to believe that someone who loved Eli so completely would be able to do something like that.

The subject matter(s) were handled sensitively and appropriately, with no band-aid fixes for what was going on. The sex scenes were hot and enjoyable and I didn’t doubt that Eli and Asher loved each other – it just felt a bit like they were frozen in time, acting like teenagers. It got tiresome on occasion and it affected my enjoyment of the book.

I would say that if you’re a fan of angst and can handle miscommunication as a major trope, this may well be the book for you. Both characters came across as ‘real’, struggling and suffering with things from their pasts, and you do end up rooting for them to find a way through the mess that their lives have become to be happy.

I believe this is book one in a 13-book series based at the same resort and am looking forward to reading more in this verse.

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative.

Bloodlines by AE Lister

Title: ⟫ Bloodlines

Author: ⟫ AE Lister

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ A Hot Bite story

Can a bratty young vampire behave himself for the ultimate reward?

Benjamin Wilde has been around for four hundred years. Clove Noble has only recently joined the clan of the undead. But Clove has also joined Professor Wilde’s Egyptology class, and now the other students have begun to disappear, one by one.

Professor Wilde knows he has to do something to curb Clove’s youthful recklessness. And when the young vampire expresses an interest in Benjamin’s attractive bloodslave Sage, he thinks he might have a way to control him.

Or is Clove smarter than he seems? Will bringing Clove home to Sage be a mistake—or the way to a better future for them all? Because Clove is vulnerable to the other vampires out there, Benjamin wants to protect him as much as he wants to keep him in line.

And what about Sage? Can a human handle being with two hungry vampires, or will Sage make an offer that has been years in the making?

Review: ⟫ I truly wanted to like this story more than I did – in fact, I put it down several times thinking it was just that I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read it and that I would enjoy it more later. Unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be – I found Benjamin patronising and annoying; Clove was arrogant and annoying and Sage was vapid and annoying. In short, I couldn’t find anything to like in any of the main characters and so the book fell short for me.

I loved the premise and the world-building/history was interesting, especially the long-term relationship Benjamin has managed to preserve with Sage. It made perfect sense that he wouldn’t want a young vampire coming along and messing everything up. I get the feeling Benjamin’s character was meant to be slightly stuffy and set in his ways, with Clove representing an influx of new vitality into him. But to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t figure out why Benjamin didn’t dispatch Clove as soon as he realised what an issue he was being – that would have made so much more sense to me.

In his time on earth, Benjamin must have witnessed great beauty so his attraction to Clove being based on how he ‘lit up’ the room seemed too exaggerated and shallow and my annoyance spread from there. I couldn’t understand why he would risk what he had for a beautiful face – especially as I found Clove’s personality so annoying! I also didn’t understand why Sage had allowed the status quo to continue for so long if he was unhappy and it made me feel like his relationship with Benjamin was more transactional than I think the author intended.

I have to think that this was a ‘me’ issue, as I have seen other reviews where people have been delighted by the characters and the story. The sex scenes were well written, and the gritty, bloody portions of the book kept me interested, but overall I would say that this wasn’t for me.