Close Quarter by Anna Zabo

Title: ⟫ Close Quarter
Author: ⟫ Anna Zabo
Blurb: ⟫ On a transatlantic cruise to New York, sculptor Rhys Matherton struggles to piece his life back together after losing his mother, inheriting a fortune, and finding out his father isn’t his father after all. He spills a tray of drinks on a handsome stranger, then he finds himself up against a wall getting the best hand-job he’s ever had. And for the first time in his life, he feels whole.

Rhys enjoys the company of Silas Quint, but for the eerie way no one pays attention to them even while they kiss in a crowded bar. Silas explains he’s a forest fae able to glamor the room around them—and more importantly, that he’s on the cruise to hunt vampires. Rhys thinks Silas is full of it, until he discovers vampires are real, and he’s part of their main course.

Silas Quint can’t be distracted by a human lover, even one as lovely as Rhys. Stuck in the middle of the ocean, he has barely enough of energy to hunt the vampires he’s been sent to destroy. Rhys is full of the one thing Silas needs needs most—the element of living plants. Only sucking energy from Rhys would make Silas as soulless as the creatures he hunts. How can he keep Rhys safe, without becoming like the very monsters he hunts?

This book was previously published.

Review: ⟫ Well this one went straight for the jugular – no pun intended!

I can’t believe I’ve never read this before – it is all kinds of hotness combined with evil vampires, the fae, Messengers and all crammed into a speedy, steamy read! All kinds of yummy! Silas sounded divine – tortured yet strong, with trauma in his past and control issues in his present. Rhys sounded like he’d really got the tough end of the stick in the recent past, and things didn’t seem to be looking up in his present.

The way they met wasn’t ideal, but the chemistry between them was absolutely incendiary from the get-go, and Silas’ method of getting his own back was devastatingly effective. And only then do we start getting into vampires, fae, quarters and halfs – it was fabulous! I admit, I read this in one sitting – I was taking a break from Cinnamon Roll but I will definitely be going back to finish that and probably leaving a review.

Possibly too much sex for some people, and there were occasions where I was questioning just how old Silas was because he was reacting to things like a youth when he should have known better. But ultimately I forgave him because he had been through so much! Freaking loved it and hope that there will be more in the future although probably not because this is from 2017.

Forbidden Mafia Prince by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank

Title: ⟫ Forbidden Mafia Prince
Author: ⟫ Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank
Blurb: ⟫ “What are you going to do with me?”
“Whatever the hell I want.”

In Manhattan, tensions are rising.

In a play for power, the Rossetti family has made a decisive blow, crippling their rivals—an act that has forced the Fiores to make a desperate move to maintain their supremacy.

Many miles away, Luca Davis, a young medical student, has no idea his life is about to change. No idea that everything he’s been told about his life has been a lie.

Enter Domenico Rossetti, the ruthless Mafia prince. Powerful and unforgiving, he’s a savage in a suit—and the one who holds the cards when it comes to his new captive.

But when the war escalates and both are forced into seclusion, the two men are faced with a new threat: the rising sexual tension between them.

You don’t fall for the one person you’re supposed to hate, but it’s a temptation neither can resist. Because falling in love with the enemy isn’t only wrong—it’s forbidden.

And the cost for defying everyone will be their lives.

Forbidden Mafia Prince is the first book in USA Today Bestselling Authors Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank's M/M mafia romance duet.

Review: ⟫ Yeah, it was a bad idea to read this in the middle of a heatwave because my goodness, this book is hot! The blurb says it all – Luca finds himself in the middle of a war between two mafia families, completely unaware of the crucial role he is to play. And Dom is – tied to his family, next in line, and seems to be fighting against his desires in order to fit in.

This book pulls no punches – there is some pretty strong violence, and Dom is most definitely a full-on member of a Mafia family – we meet him at the beginning of a torture session where it quickly becomes clear that there is a darkness inside him that needs an outlet.

The characters are damned entertaining – I don’t know if he was meant to, but Chef made me laugh quite a lot – and the intricacies and mystery definitely pull you in. I knew going into it that it was ended on a cliffhanger, but my mouth dropped open when it ended and I may have let out a little scream.

This was an entertaining, sexy, occasionally dark read that I couldn’t put down and had to review as soon as I finished. I wanted to keep this feeling fresh in my mind and, yes, I might have a few issues getting to sleep because as I said, this was HOT! Seriously looking forward to the second part – I need to check when it is due out – and I heartily recommend this if you like a bit of darkness and slight Stockholm Syndrome in your reads!

I received an ARC from GRR. 

The Sunny Side by Lily Morton (The Model Agency #1)

Title: ⟫ The Sunny Side (The Model Agency #1)
Author: ⟫ Lily Morton
Rating: ⟫ 5/5
Blurb: ⟫ Jonas Durand is successful, rich, and controlled. He owns a prestigious modelling agency and has the world at his fingertips, but a turbulent childhood has taught him to be focused and never deviate from a plan.

Dean Jacobs threatens that stance. He’s one of the world’s most sought-after supermodels, but he’s also laidback and lighthearted and free in a way that Jonas has never quite managed.

Dean has always been interested in Jonas and has never made any secret of his admiration, but from the beginning, Jonas put him in a neat little box labelled, “Don’t touch,” turned the key, and never looked back.

However, the universe seems determined to thwart Jonas’s plans. Over the course of one hot summer, the two men come together, and Jonas’s well-ordered life becomes something a whole lot wilder.

Moving from the glamorous worlds of London and Paris Fashion Weeks to the sleepy South of France, Jonas finds himself liberating partridges, chasing his supermodel, and falling in love.

From bestselling author Lily Morton, comes a romantic comedy set in the fast-paced and snarky world of modelling. This is the first book in the Model Agency series.

Review: ⟫ I had a bad day and then this turned up and the sun came out. This book was delightful! I don’t always enjoy Lily Morton – sometimes I’m just not in the right mood – but I really loved this book. Dean was an absolute delight, especially with how literally he took everything! And his charm shone through, from Pen at the police station to the way in which he treats absolutely everyone with respect.

But my main love for this book was for Jonas – poor Jonas, with his sharp tongue, incredible wit and complete inability to stop the train that is Dean from dragging him along the tracks to happiness. The cast of characters were entertaining, with throw away lines that made me giggle, whilst seeing people from Lily’s other books was great – enough for fans to think ‘oh yes, I read about him’ but not enough to make it feel like you’d read it all.

I loved how strong Jonas was, how protective he was of everyone, but I especially loved it when he let loose and allowed himself to be out of control with Dean. That scene in the car was so steamy, and later in the book when he’s jealous of a party Dean attended, he was the ultimate alpha male whilst still remaining as caring as loving as he had been throughout the book. I thought Ruby was very well written – she was a five year old and sounded like a five year old, which was a nice change as I often find children written in books often sound like scaled down adults.

I needed this book today and am truly glad I stayed up late finishing it. I look forward to reading more from the Model Agency series, especially if the characters are as engaging and entertaining as Dean and Jonas.

Sicken of the Calm by Marina Vivancos

Title: ⟫ Sicken of the Calm (Fox Lake #1)
Author: ⟫ Marina Vivancos
Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5
Blurb: ⟫ Joaquin would never forget the boy who came out in the middle of the school cafeteria when they were both fifteen. Would never forget his bright eyes and clenched fists, in defiance of the rest of the world. Ezra. His unapologetic bravery was something that would haunt Joaquin who, despite being the captain of his high school football team, was too reserved to come out before college, let alone approach the boy he admired from afar.

Joaquin is in his third year at Fox Lake University when he sees Ezra again. Joaquin expects the distance between them to remain unbreeched, but Ezra, as brash and impetuous as he was in high school, crashes into his life. At first, it’s just a shared class project, but it doesn’t take long for things between them to heat up. Before Joaquin knows what’s happening, he’s squirming on a chair as Ezra watches him jerk off, those clear, intent eyes pinning him in place. This starts a friends-with-benefits relationship with the aim of exploring a submissive and Dominant dynamic in bed, dipping a toe in the BDSM world together.

However, nothing is ever so simple. As their sexual relationship amps up, so does their friendship deepen, fed by those gentle moments after sex, underbelly-soft and vulnerable. As Joaquin gets to know Ezra better he realizes that his assumptions about who Ezra is, and even the assumptions he has made about himself, have to be challenged in order to break the cycles that may lead to their relationship breaking apart.

[This story contains plenty of banter, a fuckbuddies-to-more romance, and light, exploratory BDSM themes revolving around Dom/sub dynamics and kinks such as orgasm delay, praise kink and mild bondage. Although part of a series, this story can be read as a standalone with its own HEA.]

Review: ⟫ I wanted to love this book far more than I actually did. I found it incredibly wordy – beautiful, evocative words, but wordy nevertheless. It felt like the author veered between paragraphs that were almost like poetry and then complete and utter BDSM smut. It was – jarring isn’t the right word, but it made it difficult for me to figure this book out, which marred my enjoyment.

Another thing that marred my enjoyment, and perhaps should have had a spoiler warning, was a threesome scene. I still can’t figure out why that scene was in there – it felt so unnecessary, and for me unwelcome. Perhaps it was to show that Joaquin would do whatever Ezra wanted because he was under his spell, but that had been made plain in other ways so this felt superfluous. I have enjoyed other books by the author, but this one didn’t resonate with me and I was a little disappointed.

From other reviews I’ve read, it definitely seems like one of those books where YMMV with some people loving it, whilst others have left it unfinished. By the end of the book, I realised that I didn’t have any particular feelings for either Joaquin or Ezra, which felt more than a little sad. Not for me. 

Dark Cravings by Joel Abernathy (Hunters of the Church Book #1)

Title: ⟫ Dark Cravings (Hunters of the Church Book One) 

Author: ⟫ Joel Abernathy 

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ The hunter will become the hunted… 

I’m a monster. I’ve done things that can’t be undone. Things that can never be forgiven. 

When I saw him, I thought he was an avenging angel who had come to punish my sins. Instead, he captured me and brought me into his world of saints and hunters. Righteous predators who prey on monsters like me, using the power of the cursed blood that runs through our veins. 

I’ll do whatever it takes to become one of them. 

I'll give him my blood, my body, and my soul. 

Whatever it takes to prove to Castor that I can be more than the bloodthirsty beasts he hunts, and stand at his side as his partner. Even if I want to be so much more than that. 

When my sire comes to collect what's his, everything I thought I knew about my monstrous nature is called into question. But it might just explain the dark cravings Castor's touch awakens within me. 

Author's Note: Dark Cravings is the first book in Hunters of the Church, a Dark MM Paranormal Romance series. Each book follows a different couple, but the series should be read in order. Please see the author's website for content notes. 

Review: ⟫ I knew next to nothing about this book when I received the ARC but it grabbed me from the very beginning. 

We meet Eddie, who has effectively been stranded in his werewolf form since he was bitten when he was camping with his family in the woods. He knows pretty much nothing about this new side to himself and has absolutely no control. 

Which is the predicament he finds himself in when he is stuck between two sets of hunters. Being captured in what is known as neutral territory and thrown into a cell, Eddie has zero idea as to how the rest of his life is going to pan out. Much of the story revolves around Eddie learning about his new nature and how to (potentially) control it, all whilst trying to handle his inexplicable attraction to his captor: the beautiful Castor. 

 Castor is determined to see Eddie as a monster/the enemy due to trauma in his past, but yet he finds himself falling under Eddie’s innocent spell, until Castor is helping Eddie through his first rut and things take a sharp turn. 

Eddie loves everything about Castor – to the extent that he will accept pain and humiliation from him because some attention is better than none. Castor is more complicated, and perhaps harder to like because of that. 

The sex between Castor and Eddie is hot, slightly kinky and extremely satisfying to read, and leads very nicely into plot points that pull the story along. 

The other main characters we get are Father Marius and Arrow. Not gonna lie, I am completely and utterly fascinated by Arrow, even whilst thinking he acted like a bit of a dick more than once! 

Book two involves him and I am psyched for it! 

This whole new world of vampires, hunters and werewolves (sorry, shifters) was fascinating and well-written, with new elements that intrigued me and a background that made it all the more interesting. As this is book one, I know it means we have more to look forward to which I am very much pleased about. 

Happily rounding up from a 4.5 to a 5, Joel Abernathy has started a fascinating new series! 

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Hidden Door by Vinni George (Open Doors)

Title: ⟫ The Hidden Door 

Author: ⟫ Vinni George 

Rating: ⟫ 4/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Life is tricky…especially with a hidden identity. 

In a word, Brody’s life is complicated. He has enough secrets—and enough reasons to keep them—to fill the back of his Volvo station wagon. But something about the marine biology nerd who works at the smoothie shop has the things he’s kept hidden begging to be set free. 

Phin has never been one for complications, which is why he’s always avoided relationships. Hookups? Yes. Relationships? Definitely not. 

So why, after striking up an unlikely friendship with Brody, can Phin not seem to get the hot surfer with the pink surfboard out of his head? 

When circumstances force Brody and Phin together, will Brody’s new feelings be enough to convince Phin to build a relationship with him, or will Brody have to share parts of his past and present that no one else knows about to keep his man? 

The Hidden Door is the final full-length novel in the Open Doors series featuring a marine biologist who loves to teach, a SoCal surfer with a hidden identity, and an unlikely friendship forged over a shared love of tide pools, tacos, and vinyl records. 

Review: ⟫ This one was very sweet, a lovely read about building a relationship and learning to trust. Brody has been in and out of the Open Doors series, always as a good looking background character, but it was so nice to finally meet him properly and learn more about him. And there was so much to learn. 

After just a few pages of he and Phineas together, the need to watch them grow as a couple was strong and this was quite the satisfying read. I seem to have come across quite a few demisexual MCs lately, and it’s so good to see them becoming more widespread as we all learn about our ever-evolving sexualities. 

I was fascinated by the fact that Phineas and Brody had so much in common with regard to relationships whilst approaching them from different perspectives, and I really enjoyed the way they respected each other, always checked in and made sure that the other person was happily on board with what was going on. 

There were appearances by characters from previous books and it would most definitely help if you had read the previous Open Doors books. Sometimes the miscommunications that did occur annoyed me, but overall I enjoyed this final installment in the series. 

Recommended if you’re looking for slices of domestic life as a relationship grows, with a few hiccups along the way but ultimately a happy ever after. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

Gutsy by Ki Brightly

Title: ⟫ Gutsy 

Author: ⟫ Ki Brightly 

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ A Tale of Horror and Romance. . . . 

The Rich City Slicker 

Journey Baral met Pious on a night out and was immediately interested in him, but after only one dance they had a fight that sent Pious stomping off into a snow-filled night. 

Journey found the whole encounter humorous, though he did feel a little bad for causing issues, but he brushed off the incident. Days later, a peculiar hunger strikes Journey, and his life quickly runs off the rails. 

The Farmer – And Hex Meister 

Pious Sturms hexed himself. 

He didn’t mean to stir up trouble, but a hex is the only explanation for the barrage of bad luck that has been following him around. Everything in Pious’s life has been going downhill since he got home from a visit to the city. 

One dark night, Journey, the man Pious has been thinking about non-stop since he met him, turns up on his doorstep, and Pious is horrified to realize he didn’t only hex himself, he hurt Journey, too. 

Will Pious be able to fix this magical problem before it is too late, or will Pious and Journey both be consumed by the hex in the end? 

Gutsy is a spooky horror romance, so be prepared for your heart to race with fear as Journey and Pious fight for their happily ever after! 

Review: ⟫ Firstly, I don’t know if reading the first book set in this verse will help or hinder your understanding – it will help you figure out the one-eyed guy dating a possessed person, so there is that. 

This book was – different. There was a bit of insta-love, although probably to describe it as inst-attraction, and then our two MCs separate and some really weird stuff happens whilst they’re apart. 

I still can’t figure out if I even liked this book, and I’m sat here several hours after reading it trying to figure that out. 

This book’s subject matter is dark and I would definitely advise heeding the warnings, but my heart didn’t race with fear and I was very much left wanting something more. 

The characters were interesting, if only from the perspective of their very different backgrounds. I struggled with Pious’s brother and his attitude throughout the book, and I couldn’t quite get a grasp on the community in which he lived but that might be lack of experience on my behalf more than anything else. 

I would have liked to spend more time with their Oma as she was introduced as someone who might be able to help, but that seemed to go to a dead-end. I don’t know how to express my feelings about the medical staff and law enforcement in this book – in what universe would someone slowly going green NOT be something that caused alarm? 

The sex was good – not overly hot, but caring more than anything? Which fit with Pious’s wishes so that worked quite well. 

As you can see from my review, I am just not sure how I feel about this book. I finished it because I really wanted to know how they made their way to a HEA, but even after putting it down, I’m still not sure if I can say I actively enjoyed it. 

Some of it was a tad gruesome, and it really did go a long way to making the thought of finding the way someone smelled ‘delicious’ take on a whole new meaning. 

Ultimately, I’ve gone with 3.5 rounded down and will approach any other books in this series with less expectations. I received an ARC from GRR.

It's Not Unusual To Be Loved by An Alien by Chloe Archer

Title: ⟫ It’s Not Unusual To Be Loved By An Alien Author: ⟫ Chloe Archer 

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ A sexy alien living incognito on Earth meets a sci-fi loving nerd who wants to rock his universe. What could possibly go wrong? Besides the unexpected tentacles and the accidental Mating Courtship Ritual, that is.... 

RIVER SULLIVAN As a bona fide sci-fi nerd and total X-phile—the truth is out there—I’ve always believed in aliens. Duh. But I never thought I’d actually find them on Earth–let alone right here in Las Vegas! Now I’ve stumbled onto a big freakin’ secret and found my very own hot AF alien. 

I’m head over heels, but he’s being a total grump and holding back. 

How do I make him realize a geeky sunshine guy like me is just what he needs in his life? Did I mention he also has tentacles?!?! #HolyHentaiFantasyBatman #SwoonworthyAlien #SignMeUpSugar #MakeItSo #VivaLasVegas 

KAI GENARO 

The last thing I need in my life is a chatterbox twink who’s determined to woo me and could expose the secret existence of aliens on Earth to all humankind. Everything about him annoys me, including his stupidly attractive halo of golden curls and his bright green ‘come hither’ eyes. 

To make matters worse, he’s been recruited to work for the alien Alliance on Earth, and I’m assigned to keep him out of trouble. I don’t care how attractive he is. I don’t date humans! 

Except, my tentacles may have accidentally started the Mating Courtship Ritual with him… 

 It’s Not Unusual To Be Loved by an Alien (Tentacular Tales #1) is a (102,000 words) M/M sci-fi rom com featuring an adorkable twink with unexpected secrets and a slight obsession with extraterrestrials, the reluctant alien he wants to make his boo, tentacles with a mind of their own, zany extraterrestrial shenanigans in Sin City, and enough humor to fill an entire spaceship. This is the first book in the series. There is no cheating, and this book ends with a HFN. Never fear, the series guarantees readers an HEA by the end! 

Review: ⟫ Kinda obviously, this book requires a suspension of disbelief before you even start – unless you believe in the possibility of aliens living in Las Vegas, it’s going to be difficult for you to get through it. With that said, even with a healthy suspension of disbelief, I found this book to be very light and surface. 

It fulfils a lot of tropes, the humour is often puerile, and the sci-fi puns and nods come thick and fast. I don’t think there was a single page that didn’t mention Dr Who, Star Trek or something along those veins, which for me got old very fast. I love sci-fi and consider myself a nerd, but this was just a bit much. 

The characters all spoke with the same voice which could make it difficult to tell who was who (I kept getting mixed up), and I couldn’t help but feel like I had read similar stories many times before: quirky, loveable character who everyone absolutely adores falls for grumpy, restrained character, with hi-jinks ensuing before true love wins out in the end. 

It sounds like something out of Scooby Doo. 

I enjoyed the descriptions of the alien rituals taking place, and the writing was easy to read, with a passably engaging storyline. I did love that the beginning of each chapter had a section from the fiction written by River, in all of it’s campy glory, as well as the idea that aliens are reading it, waiting with baited breath for the next instalment. 

I also loved the character of uncle Benji but that might be because he was half-baked throughout most of the story. I think you have to be in the right mood to read this story and truly enjoy it so YMMV. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

Seraph by Lily Mayne (Monstrous Book #6)

Title: ⟫ Seraph (Monstrous Book #6) 

Author: ⟫ Lily Mayne 

Rating: ⟫ 5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ I’ve already mentally prepared myself to kill the screaming, murderous monster in the cage outside our camp. 

I’m used to it. It’s what I do here. Kill monsters and other people. And this monster, Seraph, is particularly unstable—has been since the moment he arrived from Collector Mary’s monster menagerie to the west, where the military stashed him away. 

He’s in pain. I can see it. But he’s not a mindless beast. Not like some of the others think. 

When I start guarding him in his cage every night, I begin to see the person beneath the agony that tortures his every waking moment. I begin to see who Seraph could have been if he hadn’t been twisted into this monstrous creature. I realise that I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to kill him, even for his own sake, but it doesn’t matter anyway. He’s already dying, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Not even when new visitors at our raider camp bring with them secrets about Seraph. 

Secrets the military has tried to hide. 

Secrets that reveal the true extent of the horror he’s been put through. 

And now… 

Now, I will kill anyone who tries to hurt him again. 

Seraph is Book Six of the Monstrous series, a post-apocalyptic m/m fantasy series that features monsters and human men falling in love. It is best to read the series in order. 

Warning: This m/m love story contains explicit sexual content and is not suitable for young readers. It also contains non-human genitalia, depictions of violence, serious injury, death, and one instance of violence between the MCs. 

Review: ⟫ I cried a lot with this one. I didn’t expect to – I have loved Lilac from the first time we met him, and I wanted him to have an epic love-story and an epic monster, but I didn’t expect Seraph. In fact, I don’t think anyone could ever really prepare themselves for Seraph – all I can say is to have the tissues ready. 

We got to spend a lot more time with our previous monster-human couples, with a heavy dose of humour incorporating Wyn of all people. And I hadn’t expected Gloam to be such a ‘dad’! 

There is so much that happens in this book, but even talking about my favourite bits feels like too much of a spoiler so I won’t say much. I will say that the monster-sex in this was hot in the extreme – not quite tentacles but very close! Rig is still a complete and utter sweetheart, and my love for him has not dwindled. But then, in each of these books it has been easy to fall in love with the protagonists. 

This is more than Lilac and Seraph’s love story – this is once again more about learning that humans can be far more monstrous than anything that should be terrifying as it swoops down! Once again, the monsters show more compassion and caring than the humans themselves do. I don’t envy Anchor her job of keeping the camp happy – the raiders do have the right to feel safe, and living with monsters is not what they signed up for. But the monsters who have joined the Raiders camp bring so much with them that surely they should be considered on their own merits? 

Sorry, this is meant to be a review, not a debate. I have been looking forward to his book for so long and it more than satisfied me – I sniffled through the ending and shed a few tears of happiness at the end. The path is set up for what is happening next, and I look forward to the next two books in the series that Lily Mayne mentions in her author notes at the back.

To Not Marry My Enemy by Gianni Holmes (The Simple Rules #3)

Title: ⟫ To Not Marry My Enemy (The Simple Rules #3)
Author: ⟫ Gianni Holmes
Rating: ⟫ 4/5
Blurb: ⟫ He’ll rue the day we say “I do”.

Ford

Being jilted once was bad enough, and it won’t happen again. This time I’m marrying for business. When my current fiancee dupes me a few days before the wedding, luckily she leaves behind someone who can take her place. It’s the right thing for him to do, since he convinced her our wedding was a sham. If he doesn’t agree, I know just how to get him down the aisle.

River

The first time I met Ford, I knew instantly we were bound to be enemies. I loathe every gorgeous, pretentious inch of the man, even after the I dos. If it’s a marriage he wants, then a marriage he’ll get…starting with our honeymoon. I’ll make our marriage such an unbearable hell that he’ll ask for an annulment. When my plan backfires and I accidentally sleep with my new husband on our honeymoon, things take a turn I least expected. Now I need a divorce…or maybe not?

To Not Marry My Enemy is an enemies-to-lovers short novel with marriage-of-convenience and bi-awakening.

Reviews: ⟫ Enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, bi-awakening – this book had a lot to live up to! And it did!

River and Ford were so blinded by their hatred of each other that they struggled to see past it to the people behind the masks. Their pride did them both favours, making it so that neither of them would back down and giving them a chance to make their marriage of convenience much more real than either had planned.

I really loved the banter between the two of them, the hate-sex was off the charts hot, and the fact that this wasn’t one of those miscommunication plot devices that could be fixed in one conversation really worked for me. I enjoyed watching them learn about each other, figure out what made the other person tick and slowly reveal the true feelings that were bubbling beneath the surface, and the banter and chemistry showed through clearly. I didn’t love the character of the brother and his motivations/actions felt like they were forgiven far too easily; I also wasn’t a fan of Cammie as it felt like she just abandoned River without considering that there might be consequences for him caused by her actions.

A nice addition to the Simple Rules series and I enjoyed it very much.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Bully for Sale by Leta Blake (Heat for Sale)

Title: ⟫ Bully for Sale 

Author: ⟫ Leta Blake 

Rating: ⟫ 4/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Bullied and outcast, Ezer has seen firsthand the cruelties of the world. He knows what’s expected from his kind—timid compliance and submission to his “betters.” But Ezer isn’t one to roll over and conform to the role society has forced upon him. 

Despite his defiant nature, Ezer is coerced into partnering with a man of his father’s choosing. One his father promises will love and care for him for the rest of his life. 

A night of nameless and faceless passion later, Ezer is horrified to find himself bound to Ned, a bully who has done so much to make his life hell. Ezer’s determined to hate Ned but he can’t help the way his body craves his touch. 

Ned is young, privileged, and hopelessly in love with Ezer. Too bad his pack of so-called “friends” have targeted Ezer for torment. Ned has a lot of regrets, but none greater than his role in Ezer’s misery. When Ned’s offered the contract of a lifetime, he sees it as the only way forward with the man he loves. 

The dual biological drives of heat and its aftermath might be all that’s keeping them close now, but Ned is determined to prove he’s worthy of Ezer’s love. While Ezer is just as determined not to fall for his bully. 

Bully for Sale is a standalone m/m romance set in the Heat for Sale universe featuring forced proximity, first times, bully romance, opposites attract, and enemies to lovers. Content warnings will be available at start of book, visible via the Look Inside and sample. 

Review: ⟫ When it comes to being a flawed hero, Ned Clearwater is miles ahead of anyone I’ve read in the past! This guy – I mean, how he was surprised about how Ezer felt about him was completely and utterly beyond me, and he was more than deserving of Ezer’s hate. However, Ned actually impressed me because he kept trying. He listened to Ezer, listened to his uncle and Earl, his servant, and he really did try. Which is more than could be said for some of the alphas in this story. I could quite happily strangle both Ned and Ezer’s father for their attitudes and behaviours. And don’t get me started on how I felt about Amos, Ezer’s Da. In fact, pretty much his entire family should be thrown away and he start again because none of them were really worth a thing! 

I have read all of the other books in the Heat for Sale series, but this one hit very differently. Both Ezer and Ned were so young – far too young to be dealing with the complexities and dangers of their new relationship. I was immersed and invested far more than I had expected, and I really liked the fact that the bullying and old-fashioned attitudes were handled realistically – there was no complete and utter happy ever after, and everyone had to work for their happiness. 

There were appearances from characters within the series but you don’t need to have read their books to go with this story. If you enjoy mpreg as well as alpha/beta/omega dynamics, I think you would find this book would be enjoyable. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Rising Tide by Amy Lane (The Luck Mechanics Book #1)

Title: ⟫ The Rising Tide (The Luck Mechanics Book #1)
Author: ⟫ Amy Lane
Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5
Blurb: ⟫ The tidal archipelago of Spinner’s Drift is a refuge for misfits. Can the island’s magic help a pie-in-the-sky dreamer and a wounded soul find a home in each other?

In a flash of light and a clap of thunder, Scout Quintero is banished from his home. Once he’s sneaked his sister out too, he’s happy, but their power-hungry father is after them, and they need a place to lie low. The thriving resort business on Spinner’s Drift provides the perfect way to blend in.

They aren’t the only ones who think so.

Six months ago Lucky left his life behind and went on the run from mobsters. Spinner’s Drift brings solace to his battered soul, but one look at Scout and he’s suddenly terrified of having one more thing to lose.

Lucky tries to keep his distance, but Scout is charming, and the island isn’t that big. When they finally connect, all kinds of things come to light, including supernatural mysteries that have been buried for years. But while Scout and Lucky grow closer working on the secret, pissed-off mobsters, supernatural entities, and Scout’s father are getting closer to them. Can they hold tight to each other and weather the rising tide together?

Review: ⟫ Oh my, this one was a delight!

I’ve never really gone for the grumpy/sunshine trope but I can definitely see the appeal having met Scout and Lucky. These two were so darned innocent yet so hurt by life that watching them together was just such a delight. Then add in a cast of characters ranging from a Hedge Witch trying to pay it back, a feisty sister free to figure out who she is, as well as other Luck Mechanics that appear, and I romped through this book in one sitting. The storyline was fun, sad, engrossing and entertaining; sometimes laugh out loud funny, and other times clutch at your heart sad. The sex scenes were sweet, hot and sexy, especially with Lucky still thinking that next time he’ll get to do things his way.

I really enjoyed the story, with gangsters and evil magicians out to spoil what sounds very much like paradise, but the romance between Lucky and Scout was really what swept me away. They just completely belonged to each other in all of their lustful innocence and commitment to each other. I am fascinated by Piers and can’t wait for his story which just has to be coming soon. Special mention to the strong women in this story who stood for no-nonsense and took care of things when ish needed to get done. I really hope Helen can forgive herself and find her own happiness.

In case this slightly effusive review didn’t make it clear, this is a stellar 4.5 from me, happily rounded up. I can’t wait to read more about the Luck Mechanics and have no hesitation in recommending.

I received an ARC from the author.

Soft Hands by E.M. Lindsey

Title: ⟫ Soft Hands (The Sin Bin : West Coast Book #2)
Author: ⟫ E.M. Lindsey
Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5
Blurb: ⟫ There are a few things Nolan Ouellet has come to accept about himself.

One: that his future with the NHL was irrevocably destroyed thanks to his reckless actions as a teenager destroying his knee.

Two: that he will never fall in love because the very idea of it sends his skin crawling.

Three: he will bed as many NHL players as humanly possible before he retires his game.

And four: he will never apologize for who he is and what he wants.

Then two men come barreling into his life and turn everything he knows upside down.

He still won’t play for the NHL, and he still won’t change who he is because he’s fought too long and too hard to accept his identity. But suddenly his future is starting to look a little different than he originally planned.

And that scares the absolute hell out of him.

When he met Marko Rudenko and Luka Wagner—two veterans of the Denver Huskies—they were supposed to be a game, just like everyone else. But now all he can think about is how to keep them around without compromising the person he’s become and ruining the love Marko and Luka have for each other.

Soft Hands is the third book in the Sin Bin: West Coast series which can be enjoyed on its own but is best read in order. Soft Hands features a goalie with a hard outer shell and soft marshmallow insides, a confused alternate captain who just wants to give up a little control, and a former NHL prospect who knows who he is, but maybe not what he needs. Soft Hands contains aromantic acceptance, no cheating, plenty of love and communication, and as always, a happily ever after.

Review: ⟫ I don’t think I’ve ever read something about an aromantic lead before so I was really interested in how this was going to play out. I liked the idea of no cheating and a lot of acceptance, so was happily in for the ride.

Unfortunately, this story didn’t really work for me – maybe the mood I was in? I just found myself feeling like so much of the angst and hand-wringing could have been avoided if the three of them had simply sat down and talked. Marko and Luka, for example, appear to have been together for quite some time but have never defined their relationship. That seemed odd to me – I understand a friends with benefits thing that lasts a few months maybe, but years?

Nolan made a bit more sense to me – historically, he’s not had much luck with people accepting him for the way he is or understanding what he means when he says he can love but he doesn’t fall in love. The attraction to Luka and Marko made sense, and I could also understand him not wanting to step on what they were building together. But, again, there seemed to be a lot of back and forth, with the three of them taking one step forward and then avoiding each other for weeks at a time. It felt like something that a teenager might do, not grown men.

The camboy thing was extremely hot – like sizzling – and I really enjoyed the scenes where Luka/Marko were together watching Nolan. But the scenes between the three of them together felt almost fade to black almost in their heat rating – I guess I wanted to see more of their dynamic in the bedroom and how things worked out there.

This was an enjoyable read, although there was some backstory I seemed to be missing with the character of Zane? I’ll happily look for more from this author and would say this is worth a read as long as you go into it accepting that miscommunication or lack of communication seems to be the words of the day.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Learning Curve by N.R. Walker (Franklin U #6)

Title: ⟫ Learning Curve (Franklin U Book #6) 

Author: ⟫ N.R. Walker 

Rating: ⟫ 5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Cobey Green 

 There I was, moving into the dorms at Franklin U, and not into the shared party house I’d lived in my freshman year. Last year had been all about football and parties, not schoolwork. Which was why my grades tanked, and why I was one failed class away from being kicked off the team. Why I needed to live on campus, and find myself a tutor. 

 

Funny that my new roommate just happened to be a tutor. Funny that he was oblivious to how hot he is. 

For a smart guy, he was pretty clueless. Maybe I could tutor him in how to be more outgoing in exchange for help with calculus? I could teach him how to talk to people, how to make new friends. Hell, maybe I could even help him punch his V card. 

Actually, now that I thought about it... that was a really good idea. 

Vincent Brandt 

And there I was, happy to be back at college, happy to be where I was most comfortable. Happy to be starting another school year, happy to start tutoring again so I could earn some money. 

And yes, there I was, equal parts excited and dreading to see who my new roommate would be... Until Cobey Green’s smiling face appeared at the door. 

A huge football player, loved by everyone, gorgeous, rich, and out of the closet. Everything I was not. 

It didn’t help that he was genuinely a really nice guy. It didn’t help that I could make him laugh, and we could talk so easily, and it certainly didn’t help that we started having private tutorials which ended up way more private than I’d ever dared imagine. I’d ranked top of my class in every subject since the first grade yet there I was falling stupidly in love with him. 

This was going to be a hell of a year. 

And one very steep learning curve for both of us. 

Review: ⟫ Do you know what it’s like when you read a new (to you) author and as soon as you finish, you have to go and find their entire back-catalogue because you need to read everything they’ve ever written immediately? Yeah, that was this book for me. 

I have been seriously enjoying the Franklin U series of books, not least because it has introduced me to authors I haven’t read before. As far as I know, I haven’t read any N.R. Walker books before and for that, I can only give past-me a smack to the back of the head. 

This was absolutely brilliant – witty, fun, touching, sexy – the relationship that grew between Cobey and Vincent was just everything! 

I picked this book up just after midnight and finished it just before 2 a.m. because despite being exhausted, I couldn’t bring myself to put it down. 

This book was so normal and ordinary in so many ways – it was boy meets boy, boy embarrasses the heck out of himself in front of boy, boys decide to help each other out and in the process fall in love. 

But it was also extraordinary in how it told their story – it showed how they fell in love, it showed how much they cared about each other in the little things that they did, how protective they were of each other and their relationship. 

I adored Nate and Jayda, as well as seeing glimpses of characters from other books in the Franklin U universe, and the epilogue made me laugh out loud. 

I would suggest flipping over a page after the epilogue so that you can see the newspaper clipping which literally made me say ‘awwww’ because it was just so sweet.

Bet You by Neve Wilder (Franklin U #4)

Title: ⟫ Bet You (Franklin U Book #4) 

Author: ⟫ Neve Wilder 

Rating: ⟫ 4/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Spencer 

Whose brilliant idea was it to build university housing next to one of Franklin U’s most notorious party frats? 

I’m a real student—the kind who actually came to college to learn, not some dumb frat bro who sees Franklin U as a four-year challenge to consume the most booze and throw out the best pick-up line. Their all-hours lifestyle is driving me crazy. Not to mention, the jerks keep taking my assigned parking spot. 

But the worst offender might be Cory Ingram. Sure, he has a smile that could melt a polar ice cap, but no way will I ever be one of his minions. I’m pretty sure I made that clear when I blew my top at him. So I have no idea why he’s suddenly everywhere around me, turning on the charm like I might actually fall for it. 

 

Nope. 

Not gonna happen. 

Cory 

From the first day I set foot on Franklin U’s campus, everything has been golden. I have a ton of friends, endless parties to be the life of, and whoever I want in my bed on any given night. 

Sure, I’m a shameless party boy, but I’m not a jerk. Ask anyone. Seriously. Even the crotchety old groundskeeper waves and smiles at me when I pass. 

Then there’s Spencer Crow. 

I’ve never seen a guy’s face get so red over a parking spot. Even when I try to make it right, he proceeds to give me the tongue-lashing of a lifetime—which is about the moment I notice that, in addition to being irrationally irate, he’s also crazy hot. 

My friends think I’ve finally met the one person I can’t seduce… 

Bet you I can. 

Review: ⟫ I’ve been enjoying reading the books in the interconnected Franklin U series and this one was no exception. 

I was a little unsure when I read the premise – it seemed a tad icky to be making bets on seducing someone and reminded me far too much of Cruel Intentions – but I was interested enough to keep reading and am glad I did. 

Cory and Spencer are a very cute couple, with their in-jokes, their ability to laugh at themselves at each other, and their interactions from their bedroom windows were extremely hot. 

It was obvious from the very beginning that the whole bet thing was going to come back and bite Cory on the butt – however, it was so enjoyable up until that point that it was easy to put it out of my mind. The background characters were fun and interesting, as was the whole DIKCon that was going on, and this book was an extremely easy read. 

I appreciated the reactions to the whole bet situation coming to life – there were no attempts to shrug it off or pretend that it wasn’t offensive. I also felt that Cory definitely realised what he had done wrong and was sincere in his grovelling. It didn’t hurt that he did his big gesture using one of my favourite TV moments featuring Tom Holland, and the imagery of the re-enaction was absolutely spot on! 

I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment of Franklin U and am happy to recommend this as a fun, satisfying addition to the series. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

Mr Romance by Louisa Masters (Franklin U #3)

Title: ⟫ Mr Romance (Franklin U #3) 

Author: ⟫ Louisa Masters 

Rating: ⟫ 4/5 

Blurb: ⟫ When you’re clueless, Mr. Romance can help. 

Charlie 

I’m not sure how it happened, but it turns out I’ve unknowingly been dating three people. Friends don’t spoil other friends, apparently. My trust fund means I can afford to, though, and what’s a meal here and there? Or some clothes? Or textbooks? That doesn’t mean we’re dating, right? Others disagree. 

If I want to get through the rest of college knowing who my friends are, I need help from someone who knows all about dating and can tell me what not to do. Someone like Mr. Romance. 

Liam 

When people look at me, romance is the last thing they think of… but I’m still the first person they call. Need a first date planned? A big romantic moment? Gotta beg for forgiveness? I’m your man. When it comes to romance, I’ve got it handled. 

Not personally, though. My romantic life is… barren. 

All I really want is someone to snuggle with and spoil me. What I’ve got is planning dates for people who have no clue about romancing someone. 

But now I’m somehow Charlie Martin’s anti-romance consultant. Charlie, who’s completely clueless yet the most accepting and friendly person I’ve ever met. Who’s giving and generous. Who’s befriended me and wants me to be happy. I’m supposed to help him stop his friends from falling for him. 

The last thing I need is to fall for him myself. 

Review: ⟫ I think this may be the first book by Louisa Masters that I’ve read, but I will be on the look out for more. 

Charlie is such a complete and utter Himbo, with the sweetest character and obliviousness that you can’t help but forgive him. The beginning of the book made me feel so bad for him, not least because his friend Ian had to intercede and save him whilst it was all being filmed. 

The thing is, I have known people like Charlie (albeit without the trust fund) so it was easy to picture how he got himself into that position in the first place. I did feel bad for him trying to figure out just who else he had unwittingly tangled in his web! 

Liam was a completely different character in terms of being extremely organised, romantic in spirit and an all around good guy. And picturing him throwing himself into those gymnastic moves didn’t hurt either! 

I really enjoyed this duo – from their initial meeting and Liam helping Charlie sort a few things out, to where they began to spend more time together and get to know each other. I felt very much like Ian and Matt inasmuch as I wanted them to take off the blinkers and see what was happening! Every now and then, the dual obliviousness or unwillingness to communicate got irritating, but on the whole this entire story was an enjoyable romp – very similar to Liam’s favourite rom-coms! 

I was intrigued by Ian and Matt, and will look out for their story, but was quietly satisfied with how this all played out and am looking forward to reading more of Franklin U.