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.

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.

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.