Echo by Willow Thomas (Fallen Gargoyles Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Echo

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ The Fallen Gargoyles Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Falling in love with a rival MC member wasn’t on my to-do list.

Echo

The Fallen Gargoyles are everything to me. Kenny took me in when I was at my lowest. It’s thanks to him I’m alive, making something of myself by going to community college. These people are my family.

When I’m not in class, losing myself in a book, or working construction, I’m doing my club duties as an enforcer.

I have zero time for a relationship. Even one with the gorgeous chatty guy who sits next to me in class.

I vow to not get close to him and drag him into my world.

But when I see him being kidnapped, it looks like the choice is taken out of my hands.

Joey

Growing up in a motorcycle club is all I’ve ever known and I hate it. My dad is the president of a one percent club which tells you everything about the kind of life he leads.

I don’t want it.

I want to get my degree and leave Oregon behind me. Until that happens I will look for bright spots wherever I can. Like the super hot guy in my Lit class.

Lessons are spent with me talking at him and with every grunt he graces me, I fall for him a little bit more.

When he saves me from a few of my dad’s enemies, I worry I’ve scared him off.

And then I find out who he really is.

Echo is book two in the contemporary motorcycle club series, Fallen Gargoyles. This is a low angst, steamy, humor filled book, with mentions of illegal activities and parental neglect.

REVIEW: ⟫ I loved the premise – the idea that these two guys are falling for each other, both with completely erroneous ideas about the other whilst actually inhabiting similar worlds really appealed to me.

I enjoyed the interactions between them with Joey chattering away and Echo simply basking in being in his presence – it was all a bit dreamy, especially with Echo escorting Joey to his car after class, very swoon-worthy! The background characters were interesting – the difference between Joey’s Dad and the Club’s leader was a sharp distinction but nicely made; and Molly made me smile a lot.

The Fallen Gargoyles were also very interesting – the name alone was enough to make me think they were kinda fascinating! I haven’t read the previous book in the series so perhaps I am missing out on something – I get the feeling Nicky and Booker had quite the story and I will be looking for it at some point.

However, there was a significant time jump in the story which meant that we missed out on a lot of the relationship building – the plot in the background was never resolved as I imagined it will be handled in a future book? – but it meant that after the discovery, things sort of jolted and suddenly we were in an established relationship without the little details and interactions based around who Joey and Echo honestly were. I think that was a big shame because I wanted those details – I wanted to know about their first time, how Echo came to be in the club, how the decisions were made about who moved from which club. Their chemistry was intense and Joey’s internal (and occasionally external monologue) were both entertaining and filthy and I would have loved to see Echo’s reaction to that!

I very much enjoyed what I read but would have liked to read the missing details. I received an ARC from the author.

Method Acting by N.R. Walker (Franklin U Book #7)

TITLE: ⟫ Method Acting

AUTHOR: ⟫ N.R. Walker

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #7

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Chase Soria

Every budding actor knows acting is a difficult gig. There will be grueling auditions and punishing rejections. If you’re lucky, there’ll be roles that pay the bills and even roles that won’t.

Roles we don’t believe in.

But that’s what acting is—acting as if we do believe in them.

So when the semester’s production project is announced and I’m cast as one of the leads, I’m ecstatic. A lot of responsibility, a lot of work, but I’m up for it. Even when I find out what my role is and who my partner is. Amos, the brooding James Dean wannabe, is my on-screen boyfriend. Which is great, except for the fact he hates me.

I can do this. It’s just acting.

Nothing more.

Amos Beddington

The 90s are back, apparently. 90210 and Friends, but with a reality TV spin, which means cameras following us around as if they’re capturing the everyday lives of Franklin U students.

Me, but not me.

Me, with no more than a character description, no script or screenplay. Method acting, being the character 24/7, not just when the cameras are rolling. With a campus boyfriend.

Method acting is immersive and intense, and it can be confusing if the lines begin to blur. I mean, I’ve dreamed of being with the irritatingly gorgeous and annoyingly popular Chase Soria, and now I have to be his on-screen boyfriend?

I’m a good actor, sure. But how can I be convincing when I’m not sure I can even convince myself?

REVIEW: ⟫ This may well turn out to be my favourite of all of the Franklin U 2 books and that is saying something! There was just something about Amos and Chase that dragged me almost immediately and I found myself so invested! The dilemma of what’s the line between method acting and truly feeling something was handled so well, and I really loved the way that all of the people involved stressed the importance of consent on several occasions – it wasn’t just a throwaway line and then completely ignored and I really appreciated that.

The relationship between Amos and Chase was fascinating to watch, especially with Amos being determined to remain aloof whilst Chase was literally a golden retriever that had discovered it liked this particular human – it was awesome and made me giggle more than once. Jimmy deserves a shout-out all of his own – this boy was absolute gold! I felt like I was watching a reality show and could well imagine the bloopers that we were allowed to see. The whole idea was built on so well and interesting to read – the issues with people who weren’t part of the experiment but who were affected by it; the intimacy exercises; the cliff-hangers (I’m talking about them slamming the door in the face of the camera in case you’re wondering!) – it was all masterfully handled and I loved it.

N.R.Walker is a favourite author of mine and they definitely hit the ball out of the park with this one. Engrossing, entertaining and sexy as all heck, I really fell in love with this method acting.

Deader Than Dead by H.L. Day (Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Deader Than Dead

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L.Day

SERIES: ⟫ Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Even death can’t stop fate.

Professional thief, Bellamy, might have bitten off more than he can chew this time. Jobs have gone wrong before, but never this wrong. His moral code might be grayer than most, but it exists, and he finds himself facing an impossible choice that could cost him everything.

Necromancer, John Averill’s day just got ten times worse. One more job, his boss says. Well, that job sucks, because not only does he find himself with a gun pointed at his head, but the man he’s been hired to raise temporarily from the dead is none other than his fated mate… the man he’s been searching for all his life.

Their love story is over before it ever began. Or is it? Fate still has a few tricks up its sleeve, and the impossible might just become possible.

Deader than Dead is a 57k Fated Mates MM paranormal novel featuring villains who will stop at nothing to get what they want, a stolen artifact, kidnapping, betrayal, lies, and two men determined to overcome death itself to be together.

Content warning for death and mention of suicide.

REVIEW: ⟫ A very entertaining premise, I came to this story after reading the second in the trilogy so I kinda knew what happened. However, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Both John and Bellamy were fun to read about – they lived such different lives and yet when they met, they were both more than ready to accept that what they had found was something special. The fact that Bellamy was dead when they met was neither here nor there!

The plot of the mask was really interesting, as was the view into a little more of Cade and the PPB. I’m sort of glad that I read the second book first – I’m not sure if I would have read more after this one because although I enjoyed it, it didn’t grab me as much as the second in the series.

A good set up for what sounds like an interesting show-down, as well as (hopefully) finding out more about Asher and the other members of the team, I’m glad I read this but I found book two more entertaining.

Ours - Young, Dumb and Full of Bad Decisions by Dominic N. Ashen

TITLE: ⟫ Ours

AUTHOR: ⟫ Dominic N. Ashen

SERIES: ⟫ Young, Dumb and Full of Bad Decisions

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ If growing up is hard, becoming an actual adult is even harder, and the transition between the two can, at times, seem like a minefield.

Cory is just an average 18-year-old nerd who plays video games and reads comic books. Well, mostly average. He’s also gay, in the closet, and into some pretty kinky stuff. Sure, his only outlet is the internet and his left hand, but with college right around the corner, he figures his secret is safe… Right?

Except Cory’s two best friends, Derek and Nic, recently found out about that secret. And just like a lot of teenage boys, they decide to think with their groins and take advantage of the situation. With the internet as their guide, they formulate a plan to train Cory into being their personal submissive plaything.

As they learn more about themselves, each other, and the kinky world of BDSM, Cory, Derek, and Nic may also discover that romance can bloom in the most unexpected of places.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a surprise for me – it was a fun read, but also covered some really interesting topics deeper than I expected. I was a little concerned with how things started because getting Cory drunk and then persuading him into sexual acts was more than a little problematic. Along with the initial stages of their relationship – and Nic’s insistence on sticking his head in the sand – made it more than a little unsettling.

It would have been very easy to leave this as a slightly dub-con friends to lovers story, but Dominic went further along the path, making the three of them see the errors that they had made, face up to things about themselves and realise that what had begun under such dodgy circumstances could mean so much more.

Derek struck me the most out of the trio – he has an obvious need to control things which explains his Dom side, but I appreciated his willingness to learn from the mistakes he made. I was also impressed with how open he was to Carl’s teachings and his obvious desire to do better. I liked how Nic struggled with his perception of himself and how he figured out his relationship with his family as well as how he felt about Cory and Derek. Surprisingly, Cory seemed to be the one who was most well-adjusted about the whole thing, which was an aspect I didn’t expect but definitely appreciated.

The sex scenes were numerous and entertaining, and I would definitely recommend this if you are in the mood for some BDSM light role playing, copious amounts of sex with varying people and three kids figuring out what they mean to each other. I received an ARC through Booksprout.

Dropping Like Flies by H.L. Day (Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Dropping Like Flies

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L.Day

SERIES: ⟫ Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #2

RATING: ⟫4.5 /5

BLURB: ⟫ Quickest way to catch a killer? Bring the victim back and ask who did it. Only, nothing’s that easy.

When the bodies of young gay men start piling up in London, DCI Ben Weaver would do anything to bring the massacre to an end. Well, almost anything. He didn’t have the powers-that-be recruiting a necromancer on his bingo card. Or who that necromancer would turn out to be.

Griffin doesn’t want to work for CID, but then he has little interest in most things these days unless it involves getting drunk. Especially if it brings Ben back into his life. Ben might be his fated mate, but Griffin refuses to dance to fate’s tune. Not when guilt still gnaws away at him.

Stopping Satanic Romeo from claiming any more victims requires teamwork. But as they try to navigate their feelings and work out the killer’s endgame, he might already have them in his sights.

Who’s hunting who?

Dropping Like Flies is book 2 in the Paranormal Problems trilogy but can be read as a standalone. It features a necromancer bond stronger than most, a killer with a liking for fingers and not in a good way, and two men far better together than they are apart.

Content warning for murder, violence and suicide.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a cracking story! Griffin is a necromancer who for reasons not explained initially broke things off with his fated mate, Ben. Ben works for CID and has a serial killer he desperately needs to catch. Ben’s boss has the brilliant idea of getting a necromancer ask one of the victims about his murderer and just his luck, Griffin is the man called in.

It sounds really simple but it’s actually pure genius. Trying to solve the case whilst dealing with the tension between Ben and Griffin was engrossing, and the more I heard about the PP, the more I wanted to know. I knew this was book two (although it can be read as a standalone quite successfully) but I downloaded book one as soon as I finished reading the ARC because I really want to read more about what happens in this verse.

I’m not used to reading a police/paranormal procedural from H.L. Day although I have enjoyed other stories from them, but I am really chuffed that they branched off into this area. The story was fast paced, the romance and sex was grounded in reality with the perfect twist of fated mates and mysticism, with a storyline that seems to follow on from book one but the over-arcing plot-line doesn’t get in the way. Perfect way to spend a Saturday evening reading this and looking forward to spending Sunday reading book one!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Something Borrowed by Lily Morton (Confetti Hitched Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Something Borrowed

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

SERIES: ⟫ Confetti Hitched Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Stan has never let his blindness hold him back, but he’s beginning to realise his love life is keeping him from moving forward.

He can’t remember a time when he wasn’t in love with his best friend. Rafferty is everything to him—his partner in crime, his confidante, and the person who understands him best. But Rafferty is incapable of reciprocating Stan’s feelings.

As a successful wedding planner, Rafferty is passionately committed to helping newlyweds begin their happily-ever-afters, but after a rootless childhood he’s equally determined not to seek his own. How can he trust in love and marriage when so many of his brides and grooms are repeat customers?

Stan is the glue that keeps the pieces of Rafferty’s life together, and as such Rafferty has always kept Stan safely in the friend box where he can’t lose him. However, lately that conviction has wavered and now Rafferty is bursting with complicated feelings for his best friend. The timing couldn’t be worse because Rafferty has realised he’s in love with Stan just as Stan is moving on.

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a friends-to-lovers story about realising you have the perfect man when you’re on the brink of losing him.

This is the second book in the bestselling Confetti Hitched series, but it can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a lovely, slightly frustrating, but ultimately satisfying read. As per usual, the sassy banter was top-notch and Rafferty and Stan were such an absolutely delightful couple that you couldn’t help but root for them. Rafferty is fighting off the effects of his parents on his lifestyle, unable to see that he already has a strong, solid relationship with Stan that his parents could never hope to emulate.

Stan was a brilliant character. I think there can occasionally be a tendency to make characters who have a disability either paragons of virtue or their disability becomes their entire personality. Stan was most definitely not like that. He was as acerbic (if not more so) as Rafferty, unwilling to suffer fools gladly and making the most of the life he has built with himself. The only thing that would make it more perfect would be to finally be rid of his patronising and controlling boyfriend, Bennett, and get over this useless love he has for Rafferty.

With a cast of familiar and new characters being less than subtle cupids, weddings to organise, and life to survive, the relationship between Rafferty and Stan was stellar. They simply fit together and everyone but them knows it. I loved this story – the flashbacks, the sex scenes, the music store – it all pulled together to make the time fly as I read it in one sitting. I always forget just how much I love reading Lily Morton books until I fall back into one and this was no exception.

Rowan & Aldred by Lucie Fleury (Ambrosia Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Rowan & Aldred

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lucie Fleury

SERIES: ⟫ Ambrosia Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Rowan is a bully. Always has been, always will be. After all, what better way to prevent people from hurting you, than hurting them first? But this time, he’s gone too far. The God of Justice has heard about his crimes, and now he must suffer the consequences…

Aldred, God of Justice and Retribution, is all too willing to take Rowan into his dungeon to deliver the sentence he rightly deserves. After all, punishing humans is his favorite pastime—he’ll take great pleasure in the careless, sadistic fun that Rowan’s incarceration offers him.

What he doesn’t expect is finding more. Because there’s something underneath Rowan’s spitefulness. Something he wants to find, care for and protect. However, if he acts on his urges, his ward will become permanently addicted to the ambrosia his body produces, altering Rowan’s life forever.

Set in a medieval fantasy world full of magic, conniving divinities and a newborn god gone rogue, follow the redemption story of one broken boy who gets his second chance at life, and a god who discovers his softer side.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was very interested in just how Lucie Fleury was going to get the reader to like Rowan after the person he was in book one. But they did it somehow – Rowan was a fascinating character and I admired Aldred for digging deeper into why Rowan was the way that he was. The other thing that I really enjoyed was how the relationship between the two of them built up as it was so different to Lodrick’s story – Aldred was punishing Rowan and he held nothing back as he dived into everything that made Rowan who he was.

The background story regarding the God that was risking so much by letting mortals have ambrosia was well handled, although the God responsible was a little bit of a cliché. The BDSM aspects of the story were well written and entertaining and my favourite characters are definitely the familiars and the horses – Felicity was the snarkiest cat I’ve read on page and I loved her. I also really loved Rowan’s familiar – that was cute beyond belief.

Definitely an entertaining addition and I will look for more in the ambrosia series in the future.

Lodrick & Godefroy by Lucie Fleury (Ambrosia Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Lodrick & Godefroy

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lucie Fleury

SERIES: ⟫ Ambrosia Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Lodrick had the perfect a good and loving family and a promising future as a Royal guard. But hatred and jealousy ruined everything. He was forced to drink ambrosia, the highly addictive substance produced by god’s bodies. Now to survive he only has one to become a god’s lover.

Godefroy, the god of Peace and Harmony, has longed for a companion for a long time. He’s ready to love and care. Yet, as good willing as he is, he has trouble understanding humans and Lodrick is a real mystery. Why does he refuse his soothing?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a really interesting story – from the blurb, I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, especially as Lodrick would have been well within his rights to hate everything about his circumstances. Considering it was quite a short story, I was impressed with how much time and effort went into looking at how Lodrick was feeling, how he found a way to spend his time and begin to build a life, as well as encompassing his shame and unhappiness with how he came to be in the situation.

Godefroy was a real sweetheart, much like you would expect from the god of Peace and Harmony. However, I particularly enjoyed how he was prepared to maintain his boundaries – he could accept Lodrick’s unhappiness and anger without letting it ruin his hard-earned peace. I was fascinated by the host of background characters and loved the world-building, lore and hints of the darker side to the entire Nymph/god relationship.

I have already downloaded the second book because I am very interested in reading more in this verse and would recommend this if you like your stories spicy but with some thought there too.

Taylor-Made for Me by K.C. Wells

TITLE: ⟫ Taylor-Made for Me

AUTHOR: ⟫ K.C. Wells

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Cupid ran out of arrows – so he used a luggage cart…

Will Bryant Gets Roped In

It’s only for one night—well, a weekend, actually.

Becca Taylor needs a fake fiancé to take to her parents’ anniversary party. All Will has to do is shake hands, smile on cue, and act as if they’re totally in love. No problem.

They get there, they’re holding hands in the hotel lobby, and then BAM. Something heavy plows into Will’s back, and suddenly he’s flying, only to be greeted by the most gorgeous guy he’s ever seen.

Aiden Taylor Gets Attacked By The Green-Eyed Monster

It was a total accident. Aiden’s hand slipped.

Okay, it sort of slipped. He wanted to scratch his sister Becca’s eyes out. Her fiancé is freaking perfect, but not for her—for Aiden. And he did try to warn Will, especially since Aiden wasn’t aiming for him in the first place. So now he’ll spend the rest of the weekend trying to make it up to Will.

Then everything snowballs, and now there are plans for a wedding that was never supposed to happen. Becca is panicking, her girlfriend is distraught, Aiden is confused…

And the more time Will spends around Aiden, the more convinced he becomes that he’s (accidentally) engaged to the wrong Taylor.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, there is a fair amount of suspending belief required for reading this story. Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the premise – the set up seemed rife for what could be conceived as cheating and I was interested in seeing how the author was going to work around that.

The story made me laugh more than once, especially at Will’s internal musings – his view on his best friend’s behaviour was entertaining to say the least. I enjoyed meeting the family and their interactions – it reminded me of Christmases spent with my own very large family. I’m not generally a fan of pranks, which might have affected my viewpoint on quite a chunk of the storyline, but overall I quite enjoyed reading this. It was entertaining watching as Becca failed time and time again to take the chances offered to her, with Will in the background face-palming and Aiden plying him with alcohol! Light-hearted (with zero cheating), some lovely family moments and a nice romance with a little bit of steam. Definitely worth a read.

I received an ARC from GRR.

His Captor by MM Farmer (Omegas After Dark Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ His Captor

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Omegas After Dark Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Indulging in a Dark Fantasy can lead to deep consequences in reality…

Hayden

It wasn’t my first time indulging in that particular fantasy. I was on a business trip and looking for something fun. I didn’t plan on going into heat while playing around, or to like the alpha I played with so much.

I also didn’t expect to end up pregnant.

And what I really didn’t expect was for that anonymous alpha I played with to end up being my boss at my new job…

Mace

Playing with a cute omega from out of town was supposed to be a test of the new security tech I’d been developing. It wasn’t supposed to end with me cutting ties with my old, crooked business partner and starting a whole new company in Barrington. It also wasn’t supposed to leave me wishing I’d gotten the real name and phone number of my omega playmate.

They say be careful what you wish for. Now, not only is Hayden back in my life with all his charm and feisty spirit, he’s carrying my baby. And I’m his boss.

And because of me, the cute omega I’m falling hard and fast for is in danger from my ex-business partner, who is out for revenge…

Omegas After Dark is an omegaverse mpreg story set in the same world as the lighter, fluffier Bangers & Mash series, but it deals with much more intense subject matter. Sink into the underworld of Barrington in all its super-hot glory, but don’t say you weren’t warned!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a fun, quick read, and despite the subject matter there wasn’t a huge amount of sex! We originally met Hayden in His Hunter and I remember him being a very fun character. This story gives more background and fills him out into someone quite interesting. I loved the fact that Hayden didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t aware of what happened, and once he knew that he was pregnant, he moved on with his life. I really enjoyed the back characters we got to meet during this story, as well as catching up with Ari and Samson.

The industrial espionage/threat was well written and interesting, especially with the introduction of a character near the end of the book. I must admit, I laughed when Hayden was proved correct about Colin – a more deserving fate I cannot imagine! I thought the ‘toys’ the Ace used during their torrid weekend were absolutely fascinating and can only imagine how they could be put to use in a wider community!

I’m glad that I read this one and can recommend if you are in the mood for some kinky spice and a little light threat to your story. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt (Subpar Heroes Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ The Accidental Necromancer

AUTHOR: ⟫ Liv Rancourt

SERIES: ⟫ Subpar Heroes Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Last Year—yes, it was so bad it needs to be capitalized—continues to haunt Brandon. A fresh start in a new town should have been the solution, but the memories follow him everywhere, in the form of undead roadkill he can’t seem to stop conjuring.

And Brandon’s growing posthumous pet problem is attracting attention. At least Stefanos, the paranormal veterinarian who offers to help him, is cute.

Who even knew paranormal veterinarians were a thing?

The resurrected animals are bad, but the wraith who starts dogging—pun intended—Brandon’s every step is far, far worse. This unwilling necromancer will have to figure out how to put Last Year behind him if he ever wants to find peace in the warm and willing veterinarian’s bed.

The Accidental Necromancer is a part of the multi-author Sub-Par Superheroes MM romance series. This book is set in the same world as The Richmond Vampire, though it features different characters. Mack and Bellafleure will be back in an upcoming book, because there's definitely more to their story!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a quick, fun read, with an interesting premise and storyline that was easy to get into. I enjoyed the quick introduction to SPAM, as well as the background on what happened to Brandon in the past to make him so scared of his new-found power. It was fun catching the snippets of information on supernatural creatures existing alongside unknowing humans, and I found Stef to be a very human character – he wasn’t the perfect knight in shining armour, showing signs of a quick temper and a slightly judgemental attitude on occasion. It was a little frustrating sometimes with Brandon’s refusal to discuss his past – it obviously affected him deeply and also bore some relevance to the situation they all found themselves in, so sharing that information could have been really helpful.

I liked the interactions between Layla and Greg, and the animals were incredibly cute, especially Sparky. This is the first story I have read by this author but I will definitely look out for more from them. I received an ARC from GRR.

Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley (Franklin U 2 Book #8)

TITLE: ⟫ Twincerely Yours

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #8

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ EMMETT

My twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.

But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me.

JONAH

From the moment I meet Emmett, I know he looks familiar but I can’t pinpoint where from. It’s not until I see his twin brother in the quad that I put two and two together.

Dating the sibling of one of my ex-students isn’t a huge problem for me, but I can’t help thinking the twins are hiding something.

The more time I spend with Emmett, the more I fall for him, but as my insecurity grows, so does my worry that I’m being played.

When my heart and my gut tell me two different things, I don’t know which to trust. My gut tells me to cut and run, but my heart won’t let me. Even though I’ve been telling myself to hold back, it’s too late. I’m already in too deep.

REVIEW: ⟫ If you told me that I’d be crying at the end of this book, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Emmett and Benny have well and truly got themselves into a mess, but this book shines the light on Emmett. There are depths to his character that haven’t previously been seen – his need to have one thing just for him, to be seen as himself – it really touched my heart and was a theme throughout the book. I mean, how incredibly difficult to be someone else for six months with little to no break? I also couldn’t see how he and Jonah were going to get their happily ever after – someone was going to suffer and it kinda felt so incredibly unfair. Yes, Emmett and Benny made bad decisions but they weren’t being malicious. Part of what I enjoyed was that Eden didn’t try to lessen what the twins had done – nor allow them to avoid the consequences.

I really found Jonah and Emmett to be special, with a sincere desire for the other to be happy and safe. There was a section where they are spooning and take turns and my heart just melted. This was a steamy, sexy. Heart-felt romance, with a lot of family and history, as well as new beginnings. Definitely one of the best of Franklin U 2 that I have read so far. I received an ARC from GRR.

Full Service by Cora Rose (Franklin U 2 Book #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Full Service

AUTHOR: ⟫ Cora Rose

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #5

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ In all of my years as a professor, never did I imagine I’d end up getting a lap dance from a student. But I did. What’s worse? He’s my new TA. And the icing on top of the cake? I can’t stop thinking about it. Can’t get him off my mind.

I’m Dr. Silas Sinclair. Respectable educator and a man with his head on his shoulders. I don’t break the rules. I don’t cross boundaries. And I certainly don’t stalk students.

Or at least I didn’t until him.

Everly Winslow is bad news waiting to happen. He’s everything I should stay away from, but I can’t. The flirting. The taunting. It’s constant, and it’s too much.

I’m only human and it’s only a matter of time before I crack and give in to my desires. When all is said and done, will I be able to maintain my respectable career or will it all crash and burn?

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Tongue-Tied by Christina Lee (Franklin U 2 Book #6)

TITLE: ⟫ Tongue Tied

AUTHOR: ⟫ Christina Lee

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN

Dex has always been my best friend, so it’s no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We’re complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let’s just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys, even with Dex’s help? I’m useless. Maybe it’s because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX

After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he’s desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it’s addicting. I’m getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I’m not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a friends to lovers story in its’ most purest form. Dex and Aus have been friends for what feels like forever and despite their very different personalities and experiences, they are the very best of friends. When Dex moves out of their shared accommodation, they have to make more of an effort to spend time together and it makes them both appreciate the other even more.

Austin wants to move on with his love-life – or rather, start to actually have a love life – and as his best friend, Dex steps up to help him gain the confidence to get out there and find his man. What begins as a sweet attempt to help out turns into a series of dates and situations that make both of them realise just how much the other one is their person. But the big question is whether or not they take the risk on their friendship in order to have something more.

This was a very sweet story, with two young men who don’t want to lose what they have together who don’t realise how much they already share, with a group of friends who are rooting for them, and some nicely steamy moments. I received an ARC from GRR.

Their Wicked Ways by Willow Dixon (Crimson Club #6)

TITLE: ⟫ Their Wicked Ways

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Dixon

SERIES: ⟫ Crimson Club Book #6

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ A year ago I lost everything and moved across the country to try and start over. It wasn’t easy, but I found a job I love, I have friends who’ve become my family, and I’m ready to start exploring my bisexuality.

Just when I think things are finally starting to go my way, I show up to work and find out the new guys on the crew are the super-hot couple I hooked up with last weekend.

F*ck. My. Life.

Now I’m stuck spending my days with the men who not only popped my dude cherry, but the ones I can’t stop thinking about.

The ones I have to try and be friends with after they awakened a part of me I didn’t even know was there.

The ones I can never have again.

Until one night turns into two, then more.

Being with Ezra and Wesley feels right, even if everything I was taught tells me it’s wrong. I can’t deny the pull between us, or how safe and seen they make me feel.

But how can two men who love each other as much as Ez and Wes ever feel the same for me?

REVIEW: ⟫ I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this story – turning a couple into a throuple isn’t always easy without making the third person seem like an add-on, and I was interested to see how this would develop.

From the beginning, this book was steamy and hot – Wes and Ez are a powerful duo and with the addition of Jett, things just got hotter. But what I actually found I enjoyed the most was the respect each of them showed each other, how willing they were to be vulnerable and honest. They each truly valued communication and it showed in the way they were together. It wasn’t all sweetness and light, and I appreciated those moments – for example, how Jett grew up, their individual coming out stories, etc. It was great to catch up with the rest of the crew and characters that I have read about previously.

This was a sexy, thoughtful read, with a believable duo to throuple, a lot of communication, honesty and vulnerability. For these reasons, it might well be my favourite of the Crimson Club stories. I received an ARC from GRR. . I received an ARC from GRR.