Spirited Situation by Louisa Masters

 

Title: ⟫ Spirited Situation (Ghostly Guardians #1)

Author: ⟫ Louisa Masters
Blurb: ⟫ When you can talk to ghosts, things are bound to get spirited.

The ghosts have been there since before I can remember. When I was a kid, they doted on me, but as I got older, they got more demanding. I’ve spent my whole life seeing and talking to dead people and trying to pretend I’m not, because the living just don’t understand. Nobody wants to be around the freak who claims to see ghosts.

Until I go to Mannix Estate.

Once a private country home, then a posh hotel, it was closed after a suspicious incident but is now an immersive historic experience. It’s also haunted AF, and everyone knows it. Finally, I’ve found a place to work and live where I can be useful. Where I’m actually wanted.

There are only two problems: I spent a hot, sweaty, satisfying night with Ewan the blacksmith before I knew we’d have to work together. Everyone knows sex with colleagues is a bad idea, right? Even if he’s the world’s most ripped cinnamon roll.

Plus, the ghosts are keeping secrets. There’s something going on that’s not normal, even for a haunted estate. And I suspect that when the truth comes out, I’m the one who’ll have to deal with it… and it won’t be good.

Review: ⟫ I think I might be in a book slump. I had high hopes for this because the blurb sounded really intriguing – the idea of finding somewhere to call home where you ability to see and speak to ghosts is not only understood and accepted, but a bonus? Sounds excellent.

But for me, this entire story just felt really flat. I kept reading in the hope that something would spark and I would begin to feel invested, but instead I just felt like I was working. There were so many meetings, lots of talking, and so very, very little doing.

Even the chemistry between Josh and Ewan was flatter than a pancake, which is saying something considering they had a night of life-changing sex that made it impossible for them to keep away from each other. Not only did I not get what they saw in each other, I didn’t care.

The secret the ghosts are keeping was so out of left-field – like, it’s been absolutely fine for fifty years but suddenly because Josh turns up it’s a HUGE deal that must be dealt with immediately? It’s not like they couldn’t have communicated all of this to the people living at the Estate! There are more in the series but I can’t see me diving in here again.

1/5 from me unfortunately.

Devil's Mark by Lark Taylor (The Reckless Damned #1)

Title: ⟫ Devil’s Mark (The Reckless Damned #1)
Author: ⟫ Lark Taylor
Blurb: ⟫ Cal and his brothers turned their backs on the family business over a hundred years ago – but Hell is tired of waiting for them to return.

Cal

I’ve never wanted a relationship – especially not with a human. With my father demanding my return to Hell and a demon leaving dead bodies in my bookshop, now is not the time to be losing my heart. But one look in Oscar’s broken eyes and I know I’m in trouble. Oscar’s been hurt before and everything in me is screaming to keep him safe. How can I do that when I know being with me will only put him in more danger?

More importantly though, am I strong enough to walk away from him?

Oscar

After escaping my last relationship with broken bones and an anxiety disorder, I’m tired of living half a life. My world revolves around my classroom, flat, and best friend. When fate throws Cal in my path, he seems too good to be true. Not only does he look like he’s been pulled from my fantasies, but my baggage doesn’t scare him. OK, so there’s the tiny issue of him being a demon, but I’ve dealt with far scarier.

I’ve been broken once before, and I don’t think I’d survive it again. Can I pull down my barriers enough to let Cal in?

‘Devil’s Mark’ is a thrilling high heat, hurt/comfort, M/M contemporary paranormal romance with a HEA and no cliff-hanger. It features a possessive demon and the broken teacher who captures his heart. ‘Devil’s Mark’ is the first in The Reckless Damned series but can be read as a stand-alone. Each book focuses on a different couple and will have a HEA.

Trigger warning for emotional abuse and domestic violence in a previous relationship, anxiety attacks, and descriptions of violence.

Review: ⟫ Well this one made me feel like my reading slump was over and I was extremely surprised when reading the dedications at the back to discover this was the first book published by this author!

The premise sounded like one I would enjoy so I dived in and discovered a whole new world in a place I already slightly know. My brother used to live in Southampton so some of the places described were familiar to me. But wow, just thinking that the likes of Cal, Mori and Harlow might be hanging around there makes me wish my brother was still there.

The story was a ride and a half, with twists and turns, witty banter and seriously hot sex. I loved it – the time reading it flew by as I dived into a world where Lucifer’s sons are kicking about in Southampton, running nightclubs and bookshops, wearing hot-pants and falling in love.

Very well written, with a tight plot, good depth in the world building without feeling like an info-dump, this book was a delight to read and I am very much looking forward to reading more. 4.5/5 happily rounded up to 5 – definitely recommend giving this one a try.

I received an ARC from GRR. 

Master's Boys by Patricia Logan - Books #1 - 7

Title: ⟫ Master’s Boys (Master’s Boys #1 - 7)
Author: ⟫ Patricia Logan
Blurb: ⟫ DOMZ.com is an online BDSM sex club where members pay good money to owner Zachary Teak for the privilege of being humiliated by his Doms. They can tune in online to watch from the privacy of their own homes or make an appointment with one or more of his in-house Doms for a scene to be broadcast via live-streaming. Lately though, things seem to be changing at DOMZ.com as it is rapidly becoming a refuge for throw away boys. Whether Zack realizes that his Doms have become more than mentors and the young subs every gay man’s fantasy, no one really knows but business is booming and DOMZ.com is hotter and sexier than it’s ever been.

Review: ⟫ I found the first book to be shallow, unimaginative and by the time I reached the second story, offensive.

I'm not even sure what I was expecting. I managed to finish one story and thought it was more than a little shallow. The world building was minimal (there was more information in the blurb than in the story), and the bad guy in the first story was a caricature and that’s trying to be nice. The relationship between Wade and Phoenix was superficial and slightly unbelievable - Phoenix picks Wade up from a street corner, installs him in an apartment, feeds him and buys him new clothes - all within the first few chapters. And Wade was in love and ready to do anything and everything that Phoenix wanted. A little too much like Stockholm Syndrome for me.

After that, it just got even more unbelievable - why did Phoenix think that Wade would enjoy being a Cam Boy? And the BDSM? I know there's often more than a little suspension of disbelief when reading this type of thing, but this was almost too much for me. I finished the first book which seemed to be a HEA and moved on to the next.

And this was where I decided the book was a DNF for me. The dialect/slang the author chose to use didn't work for me in the slightest, and yes I was a little offended. I assume it was meant to be authentic for the area, but instead the whole thing felt stereotypical and old-fashioned, from the way they spoke to their attitudes. Perhaps that changed further on in the story but I couldn’t bring myself to read more. I think if I’m going to read any more of the author’s works, I will stick to their Prosper Wood series. 1/5 from me.

Mike Bravo Ops: Rogue by Eden Finley

Title: ⟫ Mike Bravo Ops: Rogue

Author: ⟫ Eden Finley

Blurb: ⟫ TRAV

I remember the first time I met Dylan Rodriguez. It was one sweaty encounter I’ll never forget.

The second time we met, he arrested me. I can still see the hot scowl on his beautiful face as he slapped handcuffs on me and realized I was … me.

Dylan’s main goal in life is to forget he ever met me. My goal is to make him mine.

Turns out, I'm better at this game than he is.

DYLAN

When my law enforcement career falls to pieces in front of my own eyes, I don’t know who I can trust.

I have nowhere to go. No one to turn to.

Asking Trav for help is a last resort, but I’m desperate.

If he can’t get me out of this mess, I may as well turn myself over to the guys hunting me down.

I’m not sure which will be more difficult: protecting my life or my heart.

Because when it comes to love, my heart wants what my brain doesn’t. It wants Travis West.

Blurb: ⟫ This one was a lot of fun – the banter between Trav and Dylan was sexy, hilarious and occasionally incredibly childish and I absolutely loved it. The action was more intense this time – lots of assassins, things blowing up or being blown up by the Mike Bravo guys, plus some espionage. I enjoyed the storyline, especially their discussions about the difference between good guys and bad guys. I liked how they were both prepared to consider the others’ point of view as well as learning from each other. The MCs were both alpha males yet allowed themselves to be vulnerable which was cool to read – there was no stoic suffering in silence and I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the sex scenes between the two male leads – they have some serious chemistry and we were allowed to bask in it in its full glory!

We see the rest of the Mike Bravo guys again – Iris and Saint have a permanent place in my heart – and the resolution wasn’t rushed or haphazard – there was a logic to the things that happened. None of the Mike Bravo guys are portrayed as supermen – they got hurt, their plans fell to pieces, they had to rely on contingency plans and back-ups. It was awesome to read that sometimes things did go wrong rather than their missions all being perfect and them bulldozing through with no issues.

Really enjoyed this one and happy to give it a 5/5.

Rookie Mistake by Anna Zabo and LA Witt

Title: ⟫ Rookie Mistake
Author: ⟫ Anna Zabo & LA Witt
Blurb: ⟫ Rookie forward Isaac Rivera is still finding his footing in the big leagues where he’s no longer the best player on the roster. It’s a whole new world, especially now that several of his hockey idols have become teammates. Friends, even.

There’s one who’s more than a hockey idol, though… and he might end up being more than a friend.

Julien Landry is a powerhouse on the ice. In eight years, he’s become one of the league’s top defensemen and the heartthrob everyone wants to bed. But fallout from a painful mistake as a rookie, followed by years of rough-and-tumble hookups, have him itching for something more.

When a connection sparks between him and Isaac, he discovers what he’s been missing: someone he can trust with his body and his heart. As long as Isaac and Julien keep the heat between them off the ice, what could go wrong?

But Julien’s past is never far behind him, and when it comes crashing in, he might lose everything—his career, his friends, and the first person he’s ever really loved.

CW: discussions of past abuse and sexual assault

Review: ⟫ There was a lot I liked about this book. The characters were solid and distinct, the wordplay between the characters was brilliant and the sex was off the charts hot. In the first half of the story, it flowed very well with the relationship between the two leads growing organically with palpable chemistry – Julian and Isaac were hot enough to melt the ice. I wasn’t expecting the BDSM aspect of things and thought the research that went into it on-page was awesome – in this day and age, where else are you really going to get your information in the first instance?

The Landry family reminded me very much of my family when I was younger – absolute chaos, noise and love. It was really lovely to see that on the page and it was extremely well done. And yes, there were times that finding a place to hide and just breathe was essential!

Nikki and Elias were amazing and it’s no surprise to me that they form the basis of book 2 because it was more than obvious that there was something between the two of them. So much so that a couple of times, my mouth dropped open with something Nikki did as it felt out of left field – like, how dare he! I imagine we’ll hear all about that behaviour in the next book.

I didn’t like Julian’s lack of communication over the darker issues. It was understandable initially – he had no way of knowing how deep his connection to Isaac was going to be. But the further into the story we got, it made little sense to me that he wouldn’t explain even just a little more about the situation in his past when it was so obviously messing up his present and potentially his future. The subject matter was handled competently and in a satisfying fashion, with good consideration to the current climate.

I was disappointed that the supporting characters didn’t push for Julian to get some therapy after the situation in his past – they were so supportive of him that it seemed strange that they wouldn’t encourage him to do that. That felt very much like it belonged in a book from years ago – therapy and counselling wasn’t so much the norm then.

It was a little hockey heavy, although it feels weird complaining that a hockey romance has too much hockey in it. I enjoyed it but got a little lost – possibly because it feels like ice hockey isn’t as big a deal over here in the UK? And the book was far too long. I understand the need to build tension, establish the relationship and show the effect of the past on the present, but it went on for too long and got repetitive in the end. It lost me a few times because I felt like it was going round and round in circles and I almost wanted to shout at the characters. I’m really torn on the rating because of that – the story was good, the sex was brilliant, the characters were engaging and well written but it felt like it was dragged on unnecessarily.

I’ve not read any Anna Zabo before and am going to try some more of their books this weekend. I would recommend reading it because it was enjoyable as long as you heed the trigger warnings and take into account how long the book is.

Pretty 'n' Peak by Reese Morrison

Title: ⟫ Pretty ‘n’ Peak
Author: ⟫ Reese Morrison
Blurb: ⟫ Austin is done being a Dom. The thrill hasn’t been there since well before his ex left him. When he agrees to visit his friends’ B&B for a Cuffd Destinations weekend, all he wants is a vacation in the fresh mountain air. He’s certainly not looking for a new boy. His life is complex enough with a stressful job and navigating his vision impairment.

When he meets Mateo, a younger man who’s exploring his desires for the first time, it’s only natural to mentor him—to support the thrill of excitement that Austin can hardly remember feeling. Perhaps he can nurture the new boy in realizing just how attractive his thick, cuddly body is, and how stunning he would be in the satin and lace he’s been too frightened to dream of.

Just to help out, of course.

Pretty ‘n Peak has a blind Daddy who’s finding himself again, a chubby boy who wants to be beautiful, impact play, lingerie, and a HEA. (And no, it’s not a retelling of a movie with a similar title…) Pretty ‘n Peak is part of the Destination Daddies Season Two multi-author series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but there are so many destinations and Daddies to discover, why not grab them all?

Review: ⟫ I didn’t expect to love this story as much as I did, or get as emotionally connected. But there was something about Austin and Mateo that just grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go. Perhaps it was learning with Mateo as he went along, learning about himself, what he liked and who he was; maybe it was how brave Austin was in facing his depression, life changes and a new side to himself; maybe it was just the two of them together. Whatever it was, I spent a huge chunk of time panicking about Mateo’s family finding out at the wrong time, or the wrong way, or reacting badly – by the time it happened, I’ll admit I was a bit of a wreck.

This book was truly lovely to read and I learned a lot while I was reading it. And not in a preachy, condescending way but just from the questions that Mateo asked. And what Austin experienced and how he had to set up his life.

This is the first book by Reese Morrison that I have read, but I will be looking for more. Some of it reminded me of early Sean Michael, with how Austin called Mateo baby, etc. and I remember when I first read those books that I loved how much caring and emotion could be conveyed by those words.

The sex scenes were hot and varied; the BDSM was handled smoothly and with a clear cut understanding that can sometimes be missing – it was all about safe, sane and consensual. The only parts I didn’t like were how long it took for them to have the conversation about what they were to each other – although I understand the nerves that prevented both of them from doing so. And the situation with Cam and how Mateo handled that, but that was such a teeny-tiny thing that it barely deserves a mention.

Heartily recommend if you are looking for something to sink your teeth into, lose the outside world and just enjoy.

I received an ARC from GRR. 

The Forbidden Equation by J.R. Gray (Love Equations #3)

 

Title: ⟫ The Forbidden Equation: Love Equations #3

Author: ⟫ J.R. Gray
Blurb: ⟫ My father's the president and my brother's the golden boy which leaves me the black sheep. The son who never wanted to be here at all. The white house my gilded cage, and the secret service my prison guards.

I'm nearly twenty-one and nothing about my life is normal.

The only thing giving me life and any motivation to get out of bed is the way he looks at me. The stolen glances across the West Wing. Heated gaze in the private dining room.

He's my father's best friend, which isn't even the worst part, he's also the vice president. Utterly off limits and I can't bring myself to care. Can't bring myself to stop encouraging his flirting, dreaming, and hoping he won't be able to resist me forever.

Review: ⟫ I am so ambivalent about this one. The writing style seemed different – each chapter was a little bit of a time-jump, which I actually quite enjoyed. It made the writing more spare, removed extraneous details. The political stuff was interesting to read as well as the history of the White House and all that surrounds it.

The relationship between Matt and Liam was – hard to describe. Just from the basics, with the age difference and Matt being in Liam’s life from the time he was born, it would be really easy to think that Matt was grooming him. But Liam was such a definite character – he knew what he wanted, what he needed, and to some extent he was most definitely the more dominant partner. I understood and sympathised with Matt’s dilemma and could well understand his reluctance, but I kinda hated the fact that he didn’t pull away. He had given up so much for Liam’s Dad that him finally being selfish and grabbing something for himself made sense, but there was a feeling (for me) that he perhaps should have left Liam alone.

And then there was Lucas. I sometimes felt like there was more chemistry between him and Liam, and there is a part of me that wished that they had got involved. Liam made some points that I hadn’t ever considered – about how he had never had a normal life because he had always been part of his father’s political life. It made me feel so sad for him, never to experience some things from a normal perspective with no choice in it because of what his father had chosen as his career path.

It might not seem like it, but I really enjoyed this book. I was fascinated, involved and hurt by the events and I read it in one sitting because I really wanted to know how this doomed relationship could possibly work out. This one gave me a lot to think about and for that reason alone, I would recommend it. It turned a few of my ideas about age-gap relationships on their head and opening myself up to a different viewpoint can only be a good thing.

I received an ARC from GRR.