A Spooky Legacy by S. E. Harmon (The Spectral Files #5)

TITLE: ⟫ A Spooky Legacy

AUTHOR: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

SERIES: ⟫ The Spectral Files #5

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Rain Christiansen is settling into married life with fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, and life is good. Better than good, even. But when it comes to the topic of expanding their family, Rain isn't so sure he's ready. Yes, a new addition could enrich their lives. But it could also tear down the delicate balance they’ve worked so hard to achieve. Do they really want to take that risk?

He’d love to brood over that a little more, but murder never takes a day off. A decade-old mystery of the missing Parker family is heating up. Most seem to think the Parkers pulled a disappearing act to get out of financial debt. It isn’t before the PTU finds out the reality is far grimmer than that. It seems that Quinn stumbled upon something better left hidden. Now that Rain has stumbled upon it, too, he has to be careful that he doesn’t meet the same fate.

Sometimes it amazes him how far he’s come from strait-laced FBI agent who couldn’t admit—even to himself—that he saw ghosts. He’s done the work, learning to get some measure of control of his paranormal side. And while his relationship with ghosts may not be perfect, it’s evolved into something symbiotic... which is a very good thing. Because in order to protect himself from the living, he might need a little help from the dead.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was so pleased when I saw that S.E. Harmon was doing another story in the Spooky files and this story didn’t disappoint. It was fantastic to be back with Rain and Danny, as well as the cast of usual suspects and to a certain extent, it felt like we’d never been apart.

I love Rain as a main character – he has no illusions about himself, about how grumpy and sarcastic he is – but there is also an understanding of just how lucky he is, despite all of the issues being able to communicate with ghosts have caused him. He and Danny are taking a truly grown up step, and we get to watch as Rain realises that he is ready, that he and Danny represent something good and kind, and that despite his flaws, Rain might just be exactly what is needed.

The cold case they are working is entertaining, twisty and downright insane on occasion, and we have our usual circumstances where Rain gets himself into situations that no-one else possibly could. I loved his interactions with the people in his life (his mother cracks me up every time she’s there), but throughout it all, I love that the relationship between he and Danny is centre stage. Slices of domestic life, including Watson, are treated with the respect that they deserve as Rain knows just how badly things can turn out for people through his work and his supernatural experiences.

This book was lovely to dive into – it was like turning on a new episode of your favourite TV programme where you know all of the characters and get to enjoy everything about them that you weren’t aware you missed. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and so pleased with the conclusion where Rain begins to understand just a little about the new star.

I received an ARC from GRR.

His Guilty Pleasure by Leighton Greene (West Coast Mobsters #5)

TITLE: ⟫ His Guilty Pleasure

AUTHOR: ⟫ Leighton Greene

SERIES: ⟫ West Coast Mobsters #5

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ When Redwood Manor's butler Darian is accused of murder during a high-stakes Mafia parley, he has to rely on the infuriatingly attractive Raffi DeLuca to prove his innocence—before one of the mobsters decides to take justice into their own hands.

Darian Thornfield-Hayes has always been content to fade into the background while he conducts his work with precision and perfection. But when murder threatens the fragile peace between rival Mafia factions staying at the Manor, he finds himself in the spotlight in the worst possible way.

Raffi DeLuca, acting head of security—and the flirtatious thorn in Darian’s side—jumps in to give him an alibi, claiming they spent the night together. But in doing so, Raffi finds himself compromising his honor and his vows to the Don.

When Darian and Raffi are forced to share a room to keep up the charade, the attraction simmering between them flares to life. Raffi sees past Darian's defenses to the real man underneath, awakening desires the untouched Darian never dared admit to before.

But Darian hasn't been telling the whole truth…

Torn between his heart and his duty, Raffi must decide how far he's willing to go to protect Darian.

Will their guilty pleasure be the key to solving the murders, or will secrets tear them apart?

***

His Guilty Pleasure is the fifth book in the West Coast Mobsters series. Follow the men of the Los Angeles underworld in this page-turning romantic suspense series as they find love, danger and mystery in the most unexpected places.

Each book in West Coast Mobsters tells the love story of a different couple who find their happy ending, as well as a resolution to the mystery they're investigating, but there are cliffhangers to the wider suspense plot for the series.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh me, oh my, Darian and Raffi are absolutely delicious! As is this entire book – the plotting, the tension, the secrets! When I tell you that my daughter had to call me several times to get my attention because we were at a crucial stage in the parley, and that I nearly jumped out of my skin, that gives you an idea of the intrigue in this book.

Add in a LOT of Julian (we all know how much I freaking adore Julian by now, right?!), as well as Sandro, Miller, Teddy and basically the whole damned cast, and you know you are in for a rollicking ride! The Lion and the Psycho have their own special moments – Darian telling Julian off for appearing less than fully dressed made me snort so loud – as well as catching up with others from the previous books mean that it feels like returning to a dear, familiar friend but with a sharp dangerous new twist.

The sexual tension between Raffi and Darian, their dynamic and how protective they were of each other reminds me so much of ‘Married to the Boss’ which is quite possibly the highest compliment I can pay their relationship. I devoured this in just a few hours and must now apologise to my family members for ignoring them. Cats are so unforgiving!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a true and honest review, and honestly? Get this book because it was brilliant!

The Caretaker by CP Harris (Infidelity #3)

TITLE: ⟫ The Caretaker

AUTHOR: ⟫ CP Harris

SERIES: ⟫ Infidelity #3

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The only thing Noon Waters is sure of is his undying love for his wife. But when a devastating accident ripped both her and a good deal of his memories away from him, he’s left to navigate a new life weighed down by grief, anger, and confusion.

After stumbling upon an old receipt dated one day prior to the tragic event, Noon’s curiosity leads him to Haley Cove, a place he can’t remember but is somehow certain holds the key to regaining his forgotten years.

So focused on the memories he hopes to recapture, Noon is unprepared for the oddly familiar stranger he finds there instead. As a tentative friendship between the two men blooms into something more, Noon’s reasons for being in the quaint town become less clear. What starts as a quest for answers ends with a revelation too painful to bear.

What happens when the beautiful life you thought you had lived was a lie, but that lie is all you can remember?

**The Caretaker is a MM romance and book 3 in the Infidelity series. It ends with a HEA, and can be read as a stand-alone but may be better enjoyed if read in series order. Themes include amnesia, hurt/comfort, and second chances. Both MCs are consenting adults. Please use the Amazon “Look Inside” feature for a full list of what you can expect.

REVIEW: ⟫ Well this one is going to rip your heart out and squeeze it into a million pieces in every chapter! My goodness – it’s 6 am in the morning and I’ve just finished reading The Caretaker and the bonus scene available on C.P. Harris’ website and I had to get down how I felt immediately.

Each time I begin to read one of their books, I find myself wondering if I will care about the characters as much as I did the first time. And each time, I find myself dragged into a maelstrom of emotions – fear, pain, love – literally tears making it hard to read the words but needing to keep reading because I need to know how they make it through the hell that they are in.

Noon and Solace are no different to Jasper, Cole, Leland, Frankie – they are human beings with good and bad within them, fighting to find a way through their life that means something and contains some happiness. And it is a battle – Noon and Solace fight to get back to each other, even when one of them isn’t aware that that’s what he’s doing. This story was just freaking masterful in the way it wove the past and the present together. Even when you KNOW what’s coming, it’s still so heartbreaking that there just aren’t words.

I think I’ve said it before that C.P. Harris is quite possibly one of the few authors that can make me read infidelity and understand it – the understanding of people’s motives, how they live and breathe, what they need – it shines through in each story, and the Caretaker is no exception.

I would dearly love it if this one was made into a movie – simply because I would love to see if there was a man out there who could play Noon in all of his seven foot, intimidating glory. That and I think the sex scenes would be hotter than fire.

An easy 5/5 from me and please don’t forget to read the bonus scene – it was the literal cherry on top of a perfect sundae!

Dead Serious Case #5: Madam Vivienne by Vawn Cassidy

TITLE: ⟫ Dead Serious Case 5: Madam Vivienne

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #5

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ For one brief shining moment, the utter insanity that is Tristan Everett’s world makes sense.

He’s marrying the man he loves, has a dead drag queen for a bestie and is surrounded by an amazing found family. Okay, so his life isn’t exactly what you’d call normal. By day, he’s a quiet, mild-mannered forensic pathologist, but the rest of the time, he guides lost souls into the light. He’s also averted an apocalypse, stopped Chaos from coming through a magic door, and drunk tequila with Death.

It’s all a bit bonkers, but it’s his life… and he loves it.

He’s flying high but, like Icarus, it’s only a matter of time before he’s brought crashing down to earth with singed wings. The strange reality of his life intrudes once again when his friend, Madame Vivienne, is murdered, and it’s clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary killing.

Someone is using dark magic.

Viv’s soul has been bound, leaving her trapped and unable to communicate. Tristan, Danny, and their friends must uncover the truth and find the killer. But the deeper they delve into the old bookshop in Whitechapel, which has been in the Crawshanks family for generations, the darker and the more dangerous the secrets that begin to unravel.

And what they discover may just change their lives forever…

REVIEW: ⟫ Sick as a dog and in need of comfort, I picked up Case #5 Madame Vivienne and what a ride it was! Danny and Tristan are as in love as ever, and good job too because the time we have all been dreading has arrived – Tristan’s father has been ill from the time we met him and we knew it was coming. Vawn Cassidy even warns us at the beginning of the book, but nothing could have prepared me for how absolutely devastated I was when the time came. I was right by Tristan’s side as he raged against what had happened and what he wasn’t allowed – it was so incredibly cruel!

The Crawshanks history gets deeper and deeper as we are pulled into the past, decisions made to protect people and the bookshop which seems to be the centre of everything. It doesn’t even matter if you manage to guess some of the things that are happening – it in no way lessens the impact. There are so many revelations in this story that my mind is slightly blown, but I cannot wait for the next instalment of Dead Serious. Vawn Cassidy has really and truly blown me away with this instalment and I salute her. So much history, so much interweaved so carefully – it was masterful. Sorry, in case it isn’t obvious, I really loved this instalment and have already downloaded a freebie mentioned in the back pages.

Read it – you won’t regret it. But I warn you – make sure you have tissues.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bump in the Night by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne (Black Oasis book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Bump in the Night

AUTHOR: ⟫ Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne

SERIES: ⟫ Black Oasis #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ You never know what’s hiding in your closet…

At twenty-six, Ivy has their life figured out. They have a decent paying job at the London office of Somnus Entertainment--the gaming company behind the wildly popular game Black Oasis--a draughty flat they inherited from their wild great aunt, and a few select friends to pass the time. They’re a responsible adult, thank you very much, and while they might get lonely at times, they know better than to put too much stock into that fanciful notion known as love.

But when a skeevy encounter during a fun night at the pub devolves into a violent hate crime, their life changes forever.

Waking up in a demon dimension, beaten within an inch of their life, is bad enough. But add a snarky, haughty healer with the universe's worst bedside manner, and Ivy knows they’re in for a long, excruciating recovery. Lau the Dreamwraith is prickly, arrogant, and entirely infuriating, but for some strange reason, he seems hell-bent on nursing Ivy back to health. Despite Lau’s whinging over their “inferior human qualities,” there is a heat building between them that neither are able to fight. Like a match meeting kerosene, their chemistry ignites, but Ivy’s stay in the demon world is temporary and fire always burns out eventually.

Love is a dream, after all; it has no business in nightmares. Right?

Join Ivy and Lau as they nurture the sparks between them until they explode into an unexpected passion that crosses dimensions in Bump in the Night, the second book in Knight and Mayne’s co-authored queer, monster romance series, Black Oasis.

Bump in the Night is an M/X monster romance full of hurt/comfort, angst, humor, and a sweet, spicy love between a fiery Brit and their arrogant sleep demon. This love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Be sure to check the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book for more details

REVIEW: ⟫ The monster hiding in the closet is a childhood nightmare and is most definitely not meant to be you knight in hefty boots, complete with horns and claws, but then Ivy is not your typical person. So waking up in a nightmare scape to discover that he has been attacked and left for dead and is currently being tended by the world’s most grumpy, annoying and kind demon is something that he pretty quickly learns to roll with. I loved Lau in the first book, so finding out more about him and him gaining his happy ever after was always going to be a winner. I loved the way these two characters interacted with each other, bounced banter and smack-talk back and forth, and were generally both their best and worst selves with each other.

There is the expected heat between them as the authors are known to do, and this book is very sexy. But the thing I am taking away from it is how kind, loving and there for each other Ivy and Lau became – they didn’t need each other but they wanted to need each other which for some reason resonated so hard with me and made me very happy inside.

Catching up with Cody and Nor was brilliant – Nor was such an absolute sweetheart – but Vari cracked me up every single time he turned up on-page. A very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more in the Black Oasis world.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Revenge Agenda by Saxon James (Accidental Love #3)

TITLE: ⟫ The Revenge Agenda

AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James

SERIES: ⟫ Accidental Love #3

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Rush

When I show up to surprise my boyfriend in a barely-there festive outfit, I’m expecting him to be alone.

Not hosting family.

His fiancé’s family.

Down one boyfriend and up a lot of embarrassment, I flee with my tail between my legs. The broken heart will fade. My humiliation, not so much, but my saving grace is the fact that I never have to see either of them ever, ever again.

Until I walk into work and come face to face with my new boss.

Hunter

I never, in a million years, would have guessed the man hiding under his desk at work would be the one person I hoped to never see again.

My ex-fiancé’s side piece.

Apparently I can’t fire the guy because of personal issues, so I try to play nice, which is a whole lot harder to do when I find out my ex is still texting Rush. The same ex I haven’t heard from since I walked out on his begging.

Rush tells me he didn’t know about me. He tells me there were others. He also tells me our ex still wants him and so, we come up with a plan. To show him what it feels like when you want someone who doesn’t want you back.

All we need is a camera. His number. And one shared kiss.

Revenge has never been sweeter.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was all kinds of sweet! Rush is an absolute darling (as are all of the other Bertha Boys) and it broke my heart when he seemed to accept what Ian had done to him – his view of himself is severely skewed because of his ADHD and the belief that no one would be willing to put up with the way his mind works.

Until, strangest of all things, the man who should by rights absolutely hate him seems to ‘get’ him better than anyone else in the world and he makes Rush feel calm and safe. How else can he repay Hunter for this than by helping him get a little revenge on Ian?

Hunter made me laugh – mainly because of his confusion about Rush and how he found himself dragged into an adventure and relationship almost against his will. I loved how supportive he was of Rush and the way his mind worked (P.L. Ant will live on in my heart forever), his willingness to be open to new suggestions both at work and in his private life, and for the way he saw the Bertha Boys – naked, inappropriate, scary – but ultimately quite possibly the best found family he could have hoped for.

I really enjoyed reading this book, catching up with the other boys and learning more about Rush. The romance was sweet, sexy and steamy and the way in which they got their revenge against Ian was absolutely brilliant. A very good addition to the series and I look forward to reading more about how Xander and the others find their own, well-deserved happily ever after.

Winner Take All by Ellie Roth (Longview Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Winner Take All

AUTHOR: ⟫ Ellie Roth

SERIES: ⟫ Longview Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ “You cannot just send me a text with the words ‘I think he’s in love with me’ and expect me not to come over.”

When the most powerful magic user in the tristate area loses his powers, Shiki Gonzalez’s ranking goes from third place to second place overnight. Unfortunately, the one thing holding him back from finally claiming the title of grand champion is taking down his old enemy Michael Vernon, and despite eight years of trying, that’s the one feat Shiki has never been able to accomplish. This time, though, Shiki has a plan.

Mehmet Argitakos is thrown for a loop when his longtime crush Shiki approaches him with a Shiki will help Mehmet climb his way up the ranks of the advanced Blizzard tournament if Mehmet teaches Shiki how to fight like the former titleholder, Mehmet’s best friend Chris. But taking down Vernon is a cause Mehmet can definitely get behind—and Shiki’s notorious penchant for casual intimacy doesn’t hurt, either.

As the cold days of training blur into long winter nights, Shiki’s and Mehmet’s worlds slowly start intertwining. But guarded Shiki doesn’t let down the walls around his heart for anyone, and Mehmet wants to be something more than just the next warm body in Shiki’s bed. With the Blizzard on the horizon, will their partnership crack under the strain or evolve into something more?

--

Winner Take All is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy that features a modern world imbued with magic, a slow-burn friends-with-benefits romance, found family vibes, tragic backstories, mild to moderate steaminess, major angst, and a happy ending for our protagonists (with a few plot threads left open for later books). Can technically be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed after Just Like Magic.

REVIEW: ⟫ I actually struggled with reading this up until about 56%. I was enjoying it but because it was heavy on the training aspect of things and only alluding to the tragic backstory that would make sense of things, I felt that something was missing. I couldn’t connect well with either Mehmet or Shiki and was struggling. Miscommunication isn’t one of my favourite tropes and there was miscommunication aplenty in this story.

However, after 56%, this story flew by! The actual magical tournament, the relationship difficulties between Shiki and Mehmet, Vernon and the consequences of his actions – all of it flowed quickly and efficiently, with some hard-hitting emotional impacts that took me off guard. I remember reading the first Longview book and being a little disappointed in the romantic storyline – this time, I took notice of the ‘mild steam’ warning and wasn’t expecting more. However, the emotional aspect of things was really beautifully handled.

Seeing Mehmet come into himself – truly blossom into the competitor that he should always have been was so satisfying, as was the support from his friends. I enjoyed this story overall more than the first Longview book, with prickly, grumpy Shiki turning into my favourite character! The series seems to be getting better as it goes along, so if you enjoyed the first book then I heartily recommend reading this one.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Beyond Fate by Lee McCormick (Beyond Novella #1.5)

TITLE: ⟫ Beyond Fate

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

SERIES: ⟫ Beyond Book #1.5

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ “Maybe in our next life, things will be different? It can be you and me. Maybe we’ll finally fit. Soulmates, right? So maybe…”

Clay

I’ve been on a hundred jobs, but I’ve never met a person like Jayce Holden. He’s everything I shouldn’t want, wrapped in a protective package that seems hellbent on making sure I’m safe from his family. Making sure I’m his.

I'm not sure what I want... not when my mission is to kill his father, and Jayce is the only person who knows where to find him.

Jayce

I’ve had a dream of the same man my entire life. Sometimes, he’s soft and sweet… and sometimes, he’s trying to kill me. Sometimes he does.

When Clay walks into my life, I recognize him immediately. I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him, whatever it takes to make him mine… even if it means defying my family and putting everything on the line.

BEYOND FATE is a dual POV novella that follows Jayce and Clay into the future for their shot at finding happiness in their next life. While connected to the Beyond universe, this is a uniquely crafted story set in the future to give two characters their very deserved happily ever after. Expect high heat, an assassin and the son of a mafia boss fighting for their chance at love, and the HEA that everyone demanded.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was one of those people who read the first book in this series and felt bad for Jayce and Clay, so when I heard that the author was going to release a novella featuring the two of them, I was so here for it. And this did not disappoint. Set in a non-disclosed future, Clay is an assassin for the government who does whatever is needed in order to get the job done. Including putting himself into the position to have to handle a serious sexual assault – all in a day’s work. But then the giant mechanic that keeps watching puts himself in the middle, messing up Clay’s plans for getting close to the big boss and suddenly, all bets are off.

The tension between Clay and Jayce is palpable from the very beginning and getting to see what they are thinking through the dual POV is excellent for understanding just what the heck is going on. Jayce has memories – dreams of Clay – that have been going on for a very long time and just wants to figure out what the hell is going on. And maybe see if Clay could be the one person in the horrid existence he is living that can make it all worthwhile. Clay, on the other hand, is discovering that there are things about his past and himself that he has no memories of and Jayce just happens to be one of them.

Despite being a novella, the story doesn’t rush straight into a relationship between the two of them. Instead, it simmers in the background whilst the story of a son desperate to get out from underneath the thumb of his evil father and the government assassin who should be using said, unknown son in order to get to the father hurtles along with a sense of impending doom hanging over everything. The interactions between Clay and Jayce get more and more intense, and things throw us into meeting characters that we completely and utterly hate (I’m talking Nick here) as well as hopefully someone we’ll meet again (Rhys) and this story grabs you and doesn’t let go.

I’m beyond excited for the next instalment and really pleased that Clay and Jayce got the action and romance that they deserved. A very satisfying novella and I recommend giving this author a read!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Eternally Blessed by Garrett Leigh (Rebel Kings MC Book #7)

TITLE: ⟫ Eternally Blessed

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Rebel Kings

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Locke

Three is the magic number. I gave them my heart, and they gave me theirs. But the downside of living my best life is that I have everything to lose. And sometimes it’s not the obvious thing that can rip it all away.

It’s fate.

It’s chance.

It’s the worst luck in the world for the soul who least deserves it, and the one cruelty I can’t take.

The one storm we can’t weather.

I’m not a religious man. Not even close. But I’m praying right now.

For her. For him. For me.

Cos there is no us without him, and I won’t survive it if everything we’ve fought for is nothing but a dream.

Eternally Blessed is the seventh instalment in the bestselling Rebel Kings MC series. An MMF romance with strong MM romance content, hurt/comfort, angst, found family, forced proximity, single dad, and friends-to-lovers tropes.

Content warnings for everything you’d expect from a gripping biker romance.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my heart!! What the hell, Garrett Leigh, I know I should have been prepared for how much this was going to rip my heart out of my chest but somehow, I wasn’t.

The cliffhanger that had me alternately screaming and worried cumulated in this book, and I finally understand why this couldn’t have gone into one book. There was SO much going on in this book – so much Locke, Orla and Nash went through – its really difficult to review without giving spoilers.

It seemed incredibly unfair that after everything that has happened to the Rebel Kings (but Locke in particular), that this is where things began in this novel. It was almost as if life waited until Locke finally took a breath and began to see how happy he could be, then cruelly ripped it out of his hands and plunged him back into hell. I was actually really angry – there’s unfair, there’s well damn, and then there is this book. I don’t understand how Garrett Leigh keeps managing to do this to me!

As always, the action and intrigue was top-notch, with all of the brothers we have come to know and love showing their fealty and love for each other. Alexei remains a favourite – I love his pithy comments and inability to show people how he feels apart from with violence, surveillance and sarcasm; Saint – I freaking adore Saint – but one of the favourite parts of this book for me was when the O’Brien’s were out without supervision – man, that was freaking awesome. And Orla is a queen indeed.

I know this is a bit rambly and incoherent – I wanted to be sure to give no spoilers because this is a book that needs to be read without ‘warnings’ so that you can appreciate every single twist and turn. Ultimately, trust the process – trust that Garrett might throw you high into the air, take your breath away and send you plummeting to earth with no safety net – but in the end, oh the ending was just sublime.

I really can’t express my love for this entire series coherently, but suffice it to say I will be waiting for the next book and may just take the time to marathon read all of the books again. An easy five from me.

Rogue by Onley James (Jericho's Boys Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Rogue

AUTHOR: ⟫ Onley James

SERIES: ⟫ Jericho’s Boys Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Levi Akira’s existence is far from ideal. His mother's addiction consumes their lives, his academic standing is crumbling, and the convenience store he works at is a constant target for ruthless robberies. But amidst the chaos, Levi finds solace in only three things: his tight-knit group of friends, protecting his neighbourhood as one of Jericho’s Boys, and streaming his favourite video game, where he assumes the role of Rogue—a hero who will break the rules for the greater good.

Shiloh Mizrahi’s hope has all but dwindled. With one brother unjustly imprisoned, and the other a sadistic puppeteer, he endures daily torment at the hands of the latter. And his latest demand? Get close to Levi at any cost.

In the midst of another ordinary night shift, Levi's world is upended when a captivating and terrified stranger appears, brandishing a weapon and claiming he has been forced to kill Levi by his own brother. Levi, torn between self-preservation and an instinctive aversion to harming the vulnerable boy, takes a bold leap—he kisses him. And then, just like that, the boy disappears into the night, leaving Levi haunted by his memory.

Driven by an unshakeable connection, Levi's path crosses with Shiloh's once more, igniting a passionate bond that refuses to be extinguished. However, Shiloh harbours a labyrinth of secrets, torn between loyalty and desire. With his brother's freedom dangling in the balance, can Levi and Shiloh navigate the treacherous path to be together, or will Levi forever remain a hero confined to the online realm?

REVIEW: ⟫ I started reading this on Onley’s Patreon but Real Life got in the way and I decided to save it until the book was published.

I’m so glad I did because Levi and Shiloh’s story deserved to be devoured in one sitting, along with a box of tissues and a soothing cup of tea. If you’ve read the Necessary Evils stories, you know that these people meet their person and imprint like a duckling and Levi is no exception. But this time, he meets the love of his life at the end of a gun.

Shiloh broke my whole damned heart for so many reasons: Micah was a grade A A*hole who loved nothing more than torturing Shiloh mentally and physically, and as such Shiloh is expecting nothing good from his life. Which is why when Levi prevents him from committing murder on camera with a stunning kiss, he imprints just as much as the other man does.

Levi’s pain was of a whole different kind and man, this is where the tissues really came in handy. This boy had been through it and is still dealing with it in the form of his alcoholic mother. The only reason Levi hasn’t broken is his found family with Jericho and the rest of the Murder Muppets. Shiloh takes him completely by surprise but from the beginning, Levi is all in.

I admit that there were three ‘background’ characters that really grabbed me: Malachi, Shiloh’s brother was like ‘woof’ – I cannot wait to read more about him; Seven being flippant, bratty and downright needy made me laugh and LONG for his story; and then we met Enzo. OH MY GOODNESS. Seriously, these two didn’t interact that much on paper, but they burned up the room together in the short amount of time we spent with them and I am relishing finding out Enzo’s backstory. Which is coming – right?

Like the other stories in this series, this was wild, violent, sexy ride and I was more than happy to hold on to the ‘oh sh!t’ bar and make the most of it. Shiloh and Levi did not disappoint in any way, although reading what the two of them have gone through really made me feel kinda bleak more than once or twice.

Some of the Mulvaneys made an appearance, including Avi and Asa (I can never get enough of these two), and we got to see the family in action as they helped Levi help Shiloh. But this was definitely all about the Murder Muppets, with an excellent mix of old characters whilst allowing the newer ones to shine. Obviously I’m a big Onley James’ fan so it’s no surprise that this scored a five from me, but I would definitely say the tissues are needed for this one – it felt so much more emotionally wrenching, which would make sense since the Muppets are not psychopaths – they’re human, with past trauma, a need to belong and find someone to love. Which is precisely why they work so well.

Also, don’t forget to grab the bonus epilogue because it was the absolute cherry on the top of the cake!