Goblin Twins by Kit Barrie

 

Title: ⟫ The Goblin Twins

Author:= ⟫ Kit Barrie

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ What do you do when you have nothing to give and everything to lose?

Twin goblin princes Shi’chen and A’bbni Er-Ha’sen did not ever plan to take the Emperor’s throne. Older twin Shi’chen is a military prodigy, and younger twin A’bbni is studying to be a physician. But when their father attempts and fails to overthrow their cousin, the murderous crown prince, the brothers are accused of taking part in a rebellion they know nothing about.

Forced to flee for their lives, the twins find that not everything is what it seems in the goblin empire of Hanenea’a. With the help of only a half-elf sailor and a handful of nobles, the brothers must confront the Emperor and his supporters, risking everyone they love for one chance to save it all.

The Goblin Twins is a debut m/m non-magic fantasy novel with romance from Kit Barrie.

This is the first book of The Goblin Twins duology, and the first of a collection of stories set in the lands of Hanenea’a and Kendarin. It has all the angst but does have a Happy For Now ending with no cliff-hanger. It does not contain twincest.

Please mind the author’s note on the first page, as this book contains sensitive material and is also not intended for children. Additional information can be found on kitbarrie.com. Reader discretion is advised.

Review: ⟫ I’m not sure how to review this book. The world-building was brilliant – it was easy to picture things in your mind due to the detailed descriptions of the history and surroundings. The characters were fully fleshed out, with the villains being suitably villainous, and in the case of the cousin, slightly insane.

The aftermath of the assault was handled sensitively and with thoughtfulness, with it not being brushed aside but an obviously painful issue for those involved. The fight to regain control of the kingdom was well described and very understandable, with lines clearly drawn between what was happening and what was desired.

The friendships were solid and well-written; all of the behind-the-scenes machinations were clearly set out so that it was possible for the reader to understand what was being fought for. The actual fighting scenes were well written, with the divided loyalties made understandable and clear.

Unfortunately, for me, the romance seemed a bit superficial and I couldn’t understand just why or how A’bbni and Lai fell in love. The friendship between Lai and Shi’chen made more sense to me, with the romance feeling a little tacked on. I didn’t actually enjoy reading the book because everything felt very much like it was the build-up to the next story – most of the action felt like it happened towards the end of the book and was perhaps a little rushed, but at the same time I felt like things were very drawn out.

I think that this is something that a lot of people will enjoy – the depth of the story, the characters and the world building were very well done. It just wasn’t for me. I was surprised to discover that this was a first novel – it was very well written in that case, and I would think that the author will be very well received.

I received an ARC from GRR. 

Devil May Care by Lark Taylor (The Reckless Damned #2)

Title: ⟫ Devil May Care

Author: ⟫ Lark Taylor

Rating: ⟫ 5/5

Blurb: ⟫ One life-altering kiss sets our whole world on fire.

Harlow

I’ll tell you what isn’t on my agenda for this century: finding my fated mate only to have him reject me.

In fact, having a mate and tying myself down for eternity isn’t even a blip on my radar. But the moment I meet Bailey, there’s no denying he’s meant to be mine. Everything about the gentle Welsh giant calls to me, consuming my thoughts.

The problem? He doesn’t feel the same way. One life-altering kiss has him running in the other direction, leaving me to watch over him from the shadows.
When the opportunity arises to build a friendship, I grab it with both hands. Surely being his friend is better than nothing, right?

It will have to be, especially with a clan of mages sniffing around and looking for trouble. Not unusual since I am an estranged son of Lucifer. But now that I have my mate to consider, things are a lot more serious. How can I truly protect Bailey when he doesn’t even know I’m a demon?

Bailey

I learned a long time ago that relationships aren’t for me. Nobody wants to commit to a bigger guy, especially one who craves a different role in the bedroom.

When Harlow sashays into my life, I can’t help but wish things could be different. Sure, he seems interested, but history has proven that eventually, everyone leaves me.

There’s no way a vibrant firecracker like Harlow wants to be anything more than friends.

But the closer we get, the harder it is to keep him at arm’s length. He tells me he wants a relationship, but how can I believe him when I know he’s hiding something from me?

Devil May Care is an exciting, high-heat, friends-to-lovers paranormal romance with a guaranteed HEA. It is the second book in The Reckless Damned series, and although it can be read as a standalone, more enjoyment would be gained from reading the series in order. Each book focuses on a different couple and will have an HEA.

Review: ⟫ I have been waiting with baited breath for Harlow’s story ever since he was introduced in the first one, and this did not disappoint at all.

Bailey broke my heart for so many reasons, but the obvious one is the mask he wears every single day – the mask that hides his insecurities and doubts, his fear of never being loved enough for someone to stay; his fear that his ex was right – they touched so many of my own insecurities it was difficult to read sometimes.

And we learned so much more about Harlow – how the slightly insane, out of control, full throttle demon could pull back and just – be. The side of himself that he showed to Bailey was so different to what we had seen in the previous book, it almost felt like a privilege or that we were peeking in through a window.

Obviously, the sex was <i>insanely</i> hot and slightly kinky. Actually, skip the slightly kinky part – I just remembered a scene with wings and falling that made me gasp!

But this story was so much more than that. It was a true friends to lovers story, with Harlow and Bailey growing closer slowly, learning about each other and realising that they were friends and it wasn’t just about the demon mark.

It was fabulous to catch up with Cal and Oscar again, and yes, I might just be champing at the bit to find out just what went on between Dagon and Dimitri. I giggled a few times with how Dimitri reacted to Dagon being in danger – the imagery was absolutely spot on! And can I just say, I would dearly love to see the inspiration for Ferry because hot damn!

I have to read this story again because I may have missed out on important plot details in my rush to see just how Bailey and Harlow were going to get their well-deserved HEA – the witches and ghasts were intriguing and the possibilities of what exactly are going on have my brain working overtime. But ultimately, what I truly loved about this story was the relationship between Harlow and Bailey – from the size-difference between them, the way they brought out the best/worst in each other, how protective they were of each other – it was just so so lovely!

I received an ARC from the author.

Never Have I Ever: Punched My Roommate's V-Card by Willow Dixon

Title: ⟫ Never Have I Ever: Punched My Roommate’s V-Card

Author: ⟫ Willow Dixon

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Why can’t I stop thinking about my roommate after walking in on him “taking care of business?”

What should have been a humiliating experience for both of us ends up being the start of one of the best friendships I’ve ever had. Finn is smart, adorkable, and his shyness pushes all my buttons. The problem? My interest in him quickly shifts from friendship to something less than platonic. Feelings I’ve been pushing down for years bubble up to the surface, and I find myself unable to see him as just a friend, or keep my hands to myself.

When a night out leads to some extracurricular fun, Finn and I decide to have a no-strings-attached fling. He’s the perfect person to explore my bisexuality with, and our chemistry is off the charts. Finn might still have his V-Card, but he’s not inexperienced, and the more we’re together, the more we learn about ourselves.

Until it’s not enough.

I want him, and he wants me, but the idea of coming out terrifies me. Is Finn the person who can help me discover who I am? And can I get my head out of my a*s in time to prove to him I’m worth taking a chance on?

Beck and Finn’s story is a friends-to-lovers MM romance between roommates who discover that opposites really do attract. Expect super hot, slightly kinky encounters, a houseful of quirky college guys, and a ton of sweetness once this jock and nerd finally get on the same page. It is the first novel in the exciting new Never Have I Ever series but can be read as a standalone.

Review: ⟫ Beck is an all-around good guy, who looks out for the people around them and is in general a people-pleaser. When he meets Finn, he initially thinks it’s just his care-giver instincts kicking in, but the more time they spend together, the more he realises that how he feels about Finn is not simply friendship but so much more.

Finn is free(ish) from his overbearing parents and trying to figure out who he wants to be. He also desperately wants to push himself out of his comfort zone, get over his social awkwardness and maybe find love.

When the two of them get together – as friends – it is so completely fascinating to watch them fall in love whilst being unaware of it. Finn is slightly more self-aware, but he is also wary of misunderstanding the way Beck takes care of him.

As the venture into the LGBTQ world, with Beck acting as Finn’s wing-man, and discover that there is a place for both of them, it makes for a satisfying and fun read. The sex scenes between the two of them were very hot, especially when they ventured into the slightly kinky.

The supporting characters were well rounded and intriguing – Eli and Alex come to mind here – and this book was a really engaging, satisfying read. This is the first book by Willow Dixon that I have read, but I will be looking out for more as I really enjoyed this and am happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys the college/university environment and reading about a baby-gay and an introverted extrovert figuring themselves out.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Dead Serious: Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy by Vawn Cassidy

Title: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #2: Mrs Delores Abernathy 

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy 

Rating: ⟫ 4/5 

Blurb: ⟫ It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right? 

Wrong… 

When the spirit of a sweet old lady suffering from Alzheimers follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation. 

For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him. 

Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves. 

 From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series. 

Review: ⟫ Funny and touching describes this book perfectly – there were moments when I was cackling with laughter, and more than a few moments when I had a tear in my eye. 

If I say that figuring out what happened to dear Mrs Dolores Abernathy is the least of Tristan’s worries, then you might have a little insight into what a riotous ride our poor lead is in for. 

This book reminded me a little of Murder She Wrote or perhaps the Aurora Teagarden movies, with Tristan somehow running from pillar to post, experiencing things that he could never have expected, whilst inadvertently assisting Danny in solving the murder. 

We get to spend a bit more time with Danny in this book and discover a little more about what led to him coming to New Scotland Yard. Chan is back and experiences a far better birthday than they could ever have expected. Evangeline reminds me of a slightly annoying ghost Dumbledore, with obscure clues to help Tristan along the way, and the romance between Dusty and Bruce is going strong. 

Underlying all of that is the sweet, sexy romance between Danny and Tristan, with both of them fearful that although they love each other, things are moving so quickly and needing the reassurance from friends as well as each other to accept that all is going according to plan. 

And speaking of plans… anything more would be a spoiler, but if you enjoyed the first mystery/romance with Ms Dusty, then you will love this one! A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next ‘case’ with happy anticipation. 

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

Five Night Stand by H.L. Day (Snowed Inn)

Title: ⟫ Five Night Stand

Author: ⟫ H.L. Day

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ The advantage of a one-night stand is being able to walk away. Except, Nathan can’t.

Workaholic Nathan Nicholls hasn’t had the easiest time of late. Still reeling from his publisher’s rejection of his latest book, he seeks refuge in a remote hotel. When he’s propositioned by the sinfully sexy CJ, a man who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to go for it, why shouldn’t Nathan throw caution to the winds for once and have a bit of fun? After all, he’s leaving the next day.

When an avalanche puts paid to Nathan’s quick exit, he finds himself stuck there for Christmas. Stuck with CJ. What should be awkward, quickly becomes something else. The snow might be cold, but the time they spend together is far from it, and Nathan finds his heart warming. If only their passion and laughter didn’t have a shelf life, doomed to come to an end once the road is cleared.

Nathan Nicholls doesn’t do one-night-stands. But maybe, just maybe, if he makes a Christmas wish, this could be something more.

A sweet and steamy 43k forced proximity story which features a man who never was any good at one-night stands, a cheerful wildlife photographer who might not be as confident as he makes out, rustic log cabins, snow, Christmas cheer, and two men gaining a whole new perspective on life.

All the books In the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can be read in any order.

Review: ⟫ This was such a sweet, sexy story.

The beginning – oh man, I felt for Nathan – that rejection from his publisher was painful to read. How he walked out of there not bawling his eyes out is beyond me. His time at the hotel seemed to be a bit of a wash – he was struggling to connect with what his publisher wanted and the only thing that had changed was his location.

And then along comes C.J. He was so hot, so in control and so totally owning what he wanted, it was incredibly sexy. I really loved their first interactions and their first night together, and was saddened that Nathan allowed his doubts to prevent him from saying goodbye. Then fate stepped in and wow, the story bounded along. I really loved reading the two of them opening up to each other, being vulnerable and just doing their best to enjoy the enforced proximity.

I admit, I was almost shouting at Nathan when the road was cleared and he was going to bottle it, so I was very proud of him.

I loved how honest they were with each other; how C.J. pulled Nathan out of his head and got him to see there was a world he was missing out on; how Nathan bolstered C.J. and respected what he did. They were very sexually compatible but there weren’t too many sex scenes for the size of the book – I felt that it was just enough.

This was a real feel-good book, with a lovely ending and it was all very fairytale which I guess I needed this weekend.

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

Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett

Title: ⟫ Tentacles and Triathlons (Leviathan Fitness #2)
Author: ⟫ Ashley Bennett
Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5
Blurb: ⟫ Leviathan Fitness is the favorite place of monsters, muscles, and a tentacled creature who can seduce even the hardest to win over human.

When local police chief Reece Rollins decides to sign up for a triathlon– there are two things holding him back. One, his distaste for monsters. Two, his sub-par swimming skills.

At the urging of his sister’s wolven mate, Reece joins Leviathan Fitness to train in the gym’s olympic size swimming pool. After running into Reece at the pool, Cyrus offers to help Reece get ready to win the race.

New feelings arise from the depths as Reece and Cyrus learn that monsters and humans go together, tentacle in hand. The only question is- can these two hold on to their new found love despite their differences?

Muscles & Monsters is book two in the Leviathan Fitness series. Each book will center around the gym and feature a different monster pairing.

Review: ⟫ First of all, I think Reece was a park ranger not a police officer but that doesn’t really have an impact on the story.

I’ll be completely honest – I picked this book because I thought the cover looked really pretty and I was interested in how they were going to handle tentacle sex! This book was actually really sweet – Reece sounded like he had an absolutely awful childhood with his father, and I felt a lot of sympathy for him.

I would well imagine that Cyrus would be a little depressed and lonely after so many years alone and although he had some extremely good friends, he definitely needed love.

The relationship between the two of them was really nice, with Cyrus understanding Reece’s initial reaction to him and not being awful to him about it. Their training sessions were a lot of fun, especially when Cyrus was under the water watching Reece swim above him.

I think, for me, things took a turn when they actually got together. First of all, Reece went from being very anti-monsters and hating being touched, to dreaming about extremely explicit tentacle sex. That felt more than a little fast for me, and when things finally snapped and they got together, it was as if Reece turned into another person.

The tentacle sex was innovative and entertaining, and the whole triathlon situation was a nice plot to carry things along. I’m not sure what I was expecting to be honest but it just felt like something was missing. Admittedly, this is book no.2 and I haven’t read book.1, so I might have missed a lot of information in that book, which is about Reece’s sister Tegan finding her mate who just happens to be a werewolf.

All in all, this was a pleasant read although considering all of the tentacles that are involved, I expected it to be a lot kinkier! 

The Christmas Leap by Keira Andrews (Festive Fakes)

Title: ⟫ The Christmas Leap (Festive Fakes)
Author: ⟫ Keira Andrews
Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5
Blurb: ⟫ Fake romance shouldn’t feel this real…
Will: I’ve never been with a man.

Sure, I’ve thought about it. Wondered. Daydreamed. Imagined. But I wasn’t ready to take the leap.

I have a reputation as a “ladies’ man.” No one has any idea how curious I am about men—not even my openly bi best friend. Make that former best friend. Michael ghosted me, and I have no idea why.

Michael: The man I love is straight.

It hurt like hell when I had to distance myself from Will. I’ve tried desperately to grow up and get over him, but my carefully constructed life just fell apart—and Will rushes to my rescue.

Now we’re pretending to be a couple to impress his boss at a holiday retreat. We’re holding hands and hugging.

We’re sharing a bed.

And Will just kissed me.

Is my best friend falling in love with me after all?

The Christmas Leap by Keira Andrews is a Christmas romance featuring friends to lovers, bi awakening, first times, and of course a happy ending. This stand-alone novel takes place in the same universe as The Christmas Deal.

Review: ⟫ Okay, just how does anyone in this verse manage to keep anything a secret? They are constantly talking about their capers, and not in private either – how have they not been overheard by now?

Angela is meant to be this fabulous boss who’s a bit of a genius yet she is constantly being ‘fooled’ by these people into thinking that they’re queer? Sorry, but of all things, this was the thing that annoyed me the most – that and the whole ‘pretending to be bisexual in order to get ahead’ – it just left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyway, the story is nicely written and you immediately feel a little sad for Michael – not because of the whole Will thing but because it’s incredibly crappy timing for what happens to him at the beginning. The whole Will thing – him ghosting him to enable himself to get over his feelings was a big struggle for me. What an awful thing to do to one of your best friends, no matter your reasoning.

I enjoyed reading this story but upon finishing it, I couldn't really tell you much about it. There were some relatively hot sex scenes between Will and Michael, and I enjoyed some of the family members and friends that we got to meet. There were at least two couples who I am pretty sure the author has written other stories about (I haven’t read them).

But the meat of the story – the idea that Michael has been in love with Will for years and Will has become a bi-curious? It was resolved what felt like so quickly and so easily, it was a bit of a non-event.

I loved Will’s accent and listening to him talk to his parents – I feel that that was well done. There didn’t feel like enough differentiation between the two main leads because sometimes I didn’t realise who was narrating.

I’ve read other stories by this author and enjoyed them more – I guess this one just didn’t resonate with me. It was a sweet, enjoyable story with some heat between the leads with only a little angst – it will probably be just the thing to relax with with the run-up to Christmas.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Lunatic by Onley James (Necessary Evils #6)

Title: ⟫ Lunatic (Necessary Evils #6) 

Author: ⟫ Onley James 

Rating: ⟫ 5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Every psychopath in the Mulvaney family has a role to play. 

Archer Mulvaney is the gambler, a drunken reprobate making his living as a high-stakes poker player. Very few people know the real Archer, not even his brothers. But there is one man who knows far too much. 

Mackenzie Shepherd spends his days photographing endangered wildlife. He’s also the brother of a sociopath and son to the woman who literally wrote the book on raising one. When his mother asks him to head a secret government project, it seems like the perfect excuse to run away from his life. 

But running from his past has Mac colliding straight into Archer. And that’s a problem. For this project to be successful, Mac and Archer have to agree on every decision, and the two see eye-to-eye on nothing. 

Except, maybe the sex. 

The sex is off the charts. 

When Mac’s old life comes back to haunt him, Archer insists on putting their differences aside to help keep him safe. But Mac, like Archer, is used to solving things on his own. Can they finally stop fighting each other to find the truth, or is their relationship the next thing on the endangered species list?

Lunatic is a filthy hot, enemies to lovers, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a sexy, roguish degenerate and a hunky bleeding heart ginger who love how much they hate each other. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than a slaughterhouse, and enough heat to melt your metaphorical undies. 

This is book six in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple. 

Review: ⟫ As a member of Onley’s Patreon, I got to read this book as it was written. However, I tend to force myself to stop reading before the end simply so that when the book comes out, I can binge the whole thing, complete with the utter rush of excitement and action that is always present. 

Lunatic was an exception in that I really struggled to stop myself from checking Onley’s page. I needed to know what was going to happen next with Archer and Mac, more so than almost any other couple in the Necessary Evils’ series. 

There was just something about Archer, about how vulnerable he allowed himself to be, about the complicated man that Mac turned out to be when he was initially presented as very much what you see if what you get – I really wanted to see how their HEA played out. 

There were moments during this book when I really needed Noah to share his Squishmallow – either with myself or Archer, or preferably both of us; there were also moments when I was laughing so hard I had to explain myself to my daughters! 

One of those was in the strip club – when you read it, you’ll know! 

My favourite characters this time: Grover the tapeworm; Molly fangirling and Archer. Archer captured my whole damned heart from the prologue where he was trying to be tough in the face of horrors, to his confessions to Mac, to their well-deserved HEA. 

Some of this book was hard to read – the human trafficking, the language used for the people who were suffering – it was sickening. As usual, the warnings should be heeded. 

This book was hot, like burning up the pages hot. The chemistry between Mac and Archer was scorching, made even more so by the fact that Mac understood Archer in a way that no one else ever had. And when he didn’t get it, or was unsure, he was prepared to ask for help to make sure he was giving Archer what he needed. 

We got to spend time with all of the Mulvaneys (and their additions like Calliope and Cricket), and the relationship between Archer and Noah was so special to see, it really touched my heart. When they shared a moment of mutual understanding that only people who had suffered as they had could appreciate, I really and truly welled up in tears. 

Every time I read one of the Necessary Evils books, I decide that this couple is my favourite and nothing will change that. And every time, the next book surpasses that. Mac and Archer are on my permanent re-read list because there are so many nuances that in this first reading of their full story, I picked up things that I had missed. 

I loved the hints regarding Aiden and Thomas; Felix is an absolute demon and his game of tic-tac-toe with Mac may be one of my favourite moments; Archer and Noah bonding was absolutely amazing; the storyline was very well handled; Avi and Asa getting to play with new ways to murder people was excellent – I loved every single page! 

It’s so difficult not to spoil things by revealing too much, so all I will say is that anyone looking forward to reading about the pirate Mulvaney will definitely not be disappointed. 

 A solid 5/5 from me and I look forward to the last in the series when it comes out. 

I received an early-release ARC from the author.

A Temporary Situation by H.L. Day

Title: ⟫ A Temporary Situation (Temporary #1) 

Author: ⟫H.L. Day 

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Please note that this is a re-release. Only the cover has changed. There are no major revisions to the story. 

Personal assistant Dominic is a consummate professional. Funny then, that he harbors such unprofessional feelings toward Tristan Maxwell, the CEO of the company. 

No, not in that way. 

The man may be the walking epitome of gorgeousness dressed up in a designer suit. But, Dominic's immune. Unlike most of the workforce, he can see through the pretty facade to the arrogant, self-entitled asshole below. It's lucky then, that the man's easy enough to avoid. 

Disaster strikes when Dominic finds himself having to work in close proximity as Tristan's P.A. The man is infuriatingly unflappable, infuriatingly good-humored, and infuriatingly unorthodox. In short, just infuriating. A late-night rescue leading to a drunken pass only complicates matters further, especially with the discovery that Tristan is both straight and engaged. 

Hatred turns to tolerance, tolerance to friendship, and friendship to mutual passion. One thing's for sure, if Tristan sets his sights on Dominic, there's no way Dominic has the necessary armor or willpower to keep a force of nature like Tristan at bay for long, no matter how unprofessional a relationship with the boss might be. 

He may just have to revise everything he previously thought and believed in for a chance at love. 

Review: ⟫ This book was a laugh riot! I absolutely adored Tristan – he was so freakin’ funny, with a straight-forward honesty, brilliant attitude and he sounded hot af! He could have been a complete disaster, coming across as too perfect to live, but the way he ate, how he dragged Dominic around and just took over his life was so much fun to read! And the fact that he was more than happy to embrace a new facet to his sexuality with a willingness to research and just dive in was refreshing! 

Dominic was a little infuriating on occasion – when he was talking to his friend Paul, there were times when I didn’t understand why Paul didn’t throttle him – but he was sarcastic, funny, honest and generally a good guy! 

This was such a fun, easy read, with the barest hint of a big-bad guy, a few hot sex scenes, but it flowed so nicely. I really enjoyed reading this one and am heading off to the next in the series happily. A nice and easy 4.5 rounded up!

Haunted Hearts by Leighton Greene

Title: ⟫ Haunted Hearts (Friends of Friends #4) 

Author: ⟫ Leighton Greene 

Rating: ⟫ 5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Lord Arden is an arrogant, prickly, critical jerk…and I’m falling for him. 

 After a disastrous first weekend as his service sub while he's on a working vacation in LA, I give in to the pleas of my friends and return to try again. 

Haughty Hottie, I call him. 

Never in his hearing, or I’d get another five infractions marked down in the little card of punishments he's tied around my wrist. The more time we spend together, the more his icy exterior seems to melt. But as hot and haughty as he is, he’s also haunted… And he won’t share his heart. 

After the Halloween masquerade, he'll be gone. Back to England, back to his lonely life. Can I persuade him to open up before then, or is he already planning to ghost me? 

*** 

Haunted Hearts is the fourth book in the Friends of Friends series. HFN/HEA guaranteed, and no cliffhangers. While this book is part of a series, it can be read on its own, but characters from previous books do show up in cameos. 

Review: ⟫ I’ve never really understood the whole service kink thing so I went into this wanting to learn. And boy howdy, did I learn! This book steamed right through my expectations and showed me exactly what’s so sexy about service. 

I adored Oliver – I thought he was an honest, straight-forward, cool guy. But I LOVED Lord Elliott. I haven’t read any of the other Friends of Friends books, but I will definitely be adding them to my list because I was blown away by this book. The pain Lord Arden was suffering from was apparent in every word he spoke and every move he made, but so too was his instant attraction to Oliver and his desire to find a way out of the rut he had found himself in. 

I had tears in my eyes on more than one occasion, but I think it was the walks in the maze and the music that really touched me the most – this book really surprised me in so many ways. 

I liked how respectful of each other they were – and how they were both willing to admit to their failings when they messed up – and their honesty was refreshing. Yes, there were moments when I wanted to shake both of them, but it wasn’t through lack of effort on either of them – it was about reality and how things don’t always come tied up in a sweet little bow, perfectly fitting in with your plans. 

I have enjoyed Leighton Greene’s mafia series previously and this definitely reached the same heights – really pleased I read this and open to the idea of reading more about service. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

In Darkness and Dank by K.L. Hiers

Title: ⟫ In Darkness and Dank 

Author: ⟫ K.L. Hiers 

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Kittisak Amarin is not a scientist—he's barely a student, but he joined his college professor's research team for an expedition into the Amazon as a last ditch effort to pass his biology course. 

His professor thinks they're going to discover a new species out here, but Kittisak is more worried about being eaten alive by giant mosquitoes and staying awake while the team studies test tubes of dirty water. When he sees a fantastic amphibian creature watching over him one night, he thinks it's just a dream. 

Until it comes back. 

A fatal misunderstanding leaves Kittisak wounded and unable to flee once the creature has taken him prisoner. As the creature nurses him back to health and shows him the wonders of his mysterious jungle home, Kittisak has to confront his growing attraction to his enigmatic captor and his dwindling desire to escape. He begins to realize that the creature may not be the monster he appears to be... And that even amongst darkness and dank, the sweetest romance can blossom. 

In Darkness and Dank is an MM Horror Retelling of Creature from the Black Lagoon, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist. 

Review: ⟫ The heroines of the horror movies these stories seem to be based off of were nowhere near as horny as this! 

I went into this expecting it to be a real horror story which is my mistake. This story was a retelling of the Creature from the Black Lagoon and it was so camp, it was funny. The most serious part of this book seemed to be the science – other than that, this seemed to be written/played completely for laughs – from Kittisak’s initial response to the creature, to how things transpired between them, to where things went in the end. 

The writing was a bit simplistic (apart from the science), and mildly entertaining and I think if you are looking for something light to read, it’s pretty ideal. Just don’t go into it expecting any real horror other than the human kind! 

I received an ARC from GRR.

Making Waves by Christina Lee (Franklin U #7)

Title: ⟫ Making Waves 

Author: ⟫ Christina Lee 

Rating: ⟫ 3/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Alex Larsen 

 Remy Duval was my high school crush and secret first kiss, but he’s also so much more. A painter, a tattoo artist, my best friend Bailey’s older brother…and Bailey’s sworn enemy. 

It was easier to keep my distance the past two years, but now that Bailey and I are attending Franklin University with him, I’m only drawn to Remy more. I should be loyal to my best friend, focus on classes and swim team, but the more I see Remy around campus, the harder it becomes to stay away. 

Remy Duval 

My brother hates me, but that’s no surprise. I’ll take the fall for ruining our family if it means doing the right thing. But as soon as my brother and his best friend show up on campus, I know I’m in trouble. 

Alex is all grown up, and I can’t help wanting him, especially when he’s in those tiny swim briefs that emphasize everything. One kiss leads to more, and before we know it, we’re tumbling into secret, no-strings-attached hookups. 

But who knew Alex would understand me in ways few others have? And I think, just maybe, I understand him too. I keep telling myself it’s temporary. Alex doesn’t want to disappoint his best friend, and after what my parents went through, I’m not looking to settle down. 

Making waves is nothing new, but the further I fall, the more I drag Alex in the deep end with me. 

Review: ⟫ I hate to pile onto the character hate that I’ve seen on Goodreads and Amazon, but OMG Bailey!! Why was he given so much power in this book? 

I get not wanting to upset your best friend; I get not wanting to pile on to someone who is struggling with realising their hero isn’t worthy of their adoration – I get all of the possible reasons why Bailey was struggling with what his father did. But. What the heck – this man-child had absolutely everyone making excuses for his atrocious behaviour and was responsible for pretty much all of the angst in this book. So much so, that it was almost impossible to understand why Alex and Remy let him get away with it. Someone needed to tell him to take several seats and get a grip! 

The actual romance between Alex and Remy was sweet, especially the way they were both trying to deny how attached they were to each other. From attending all of his swim meets, to cooking for him, cuddling with him and sharing his art, I loved Remy as a character. I thought he was really sweet and deserving of all of the love. Alex – I didn’t get much of a feel for him, although the backstory of his sister and parents made sense of a lot of his thought processes. 

But unfortunately for me, Bailey overshadowed all of that and utterly ruined the story for me. Ugh – just, no.