Ronan by G Eilsel (Mate's Mark #1)

 TITLE: ⟫ Ronan

AUTHOR: ⟫ G. Eilsel

SERIES: ⟫ Mate’s Mark #1

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB:⟫ It's been almost a century since the veil fell and monsters invaded the world. We didn't give the humans an opportunity to retaliate as we charged in and took over, and I was at the head of the front lines with my sword in hand. A perfect soldier, fighting the battles that ultimately put my people in charge of this planet. Half of humanity was slaughtered, and in the decades since the invasion, things have only gotten worse. Tensions between the rebel humans and monsters grew as the climate changed, and temperatures rose as resources dwindled. The sun scorched away plants and trees, leaving behind a husk of a planet where everyone fights for survival.

The Fates were furious at our violence, and now we're trapped inside the hell we created.

We've all heard tale of the Mate's Mark, and how we're destined to find our fated mate. One human, one monster - foretold to be the cure to this cursed world and repair the damage that has been done. What was once the cause of curiosity and intrigue has turned into nothing more than a mockery. Decades have passed, and not a single pair of fated mates had been found.

Until now.

Until me.

Until the night I pull off my armor and find the mark staring back.

Author's note: Ronan is a First Person Dual POV MM Monster Romance series with explicit content intended for readers 18+. It is the first in a series that will have an overarching storyline carrying between books. While this series ends with a guaranteed HEA, individual books end on more of a HFN basis. The feature couple's story will be resolved, though there will be some unanswered questions and mild cliffhangers that lead into the next in the series.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Limitless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Limitless

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals #5

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB:⟫ The Cheerleader and The Cheerleader

Hudson

Coming out to my straight best friend is harder than I think it will be. Not because he is phobic.

Because I’m in love with him.

I know; I am a walking, talking, queer cliche.

When I do come out, he is supportive… maybe a little too much, because before I know it, he has hatched a crazy plan that involves him easing me into the gay dating scene.

I’m not sure how us being fake boyfriends fits into this, but as if I’d refuse any chance to be close to Wyatt.

In the end, I know I will end up with a broken heart.

As long as I still have my best friend, it will all be worth it.

Wyatt

Hudson is my best friend. My ride or die. My bestie with testes. So when he comes out, I’m a little surprised, but I’m happy for him to live his truth.

In theory.

Because in reality, I’m not liking everyone and their mom trying to set him up on dates.

He’s my best friend, I should be the one to help him.

When I’m put on the spot and announce we are boyfriends, it takes me a minute, but I quickly realize it’s genius. I can keep all the horndogs away from Hudson, and it’s a great reason to spend even more time together.

I love Hudson and will do anything for him.

I love his kindness.

I love his dry sense of humor.

I love his smile.

I love the way his ass looks in his cheerleading uniform.

Wait…what?

Limitless is book five in Squad Goals, a MM cheerleader romance. Expect crystal..toys, meddlesome friends, spice, and a lot of cheer.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, fun addition to the Squad Goals series by Willow Thomas. Hudson finally got the nerve up to admit out loud that he is gay and his best friend, Wyatt, wants to help him celebrate. But also protect him because other men out there might not appreciate everything that makes Hudson such a great catch! The pouting/texting scene on movie night had me giggling, and the sheer lack of awareness that Wyatt showed on occasion was a trip. I loved the way he tried to show Hudson that things were real between them – poor Seth btw – and the fact that everyone else was rooting for them to figure out their lives was golden! This was just what I needed as I’m down with the flu (again) and I very much enjoyed this instalment and catching up with everyone.

I received an ARC from the Author.

Lyric by Wendy Rathbone (Love Sync Mates Season #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Lyric

AUTHOR: ⟫ Wendy Rathbone

SERIES: ⟫ Love Sync Mates – Season 2

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Can an alpha athlete and a traumatized omega find true love?

Lyric is a famous alpha athlete, a dragon shifter racer known as the fastest flier in the world.

Jinn is a rare omega dragon shifter who finds himself in trouble one night when he meets an alpha at a bar who won't leave him alone and who ends up being his stalker.

When Lyric is on a break from racing and goes to spend time at his private roost in the middle of the woods, he sees an omega running naked through the foliage as if fleeing for his life. When he realizes the omega is being chased by a feral dragon, he fights the out-of-control dragon and protects Jinn with all his might.

A bond quickly forms between the two, so powerful and unexpected that each man begins to question if their feelings are real.

An MM dragon shifter romance with two men who discover they are each other’s true mate. Rescue, hurt/comfort, omega heat, needy omega, protective alpha, mpreg and an HEA.

This book is part of the Love Sync Mates multi-author series but can be read as a standalone. It is also set in the author’s own Alpha Dragons universe.

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this to say that I haven’t read any of the author’s Alpha Dragons universe so entered this cold.

I actually quite enjoyed this new spin on true mates and dragons, especially with the way the dragons were separate entities with their own views, thoughts and voices. I loved how respectful Lyric was of his dragon Lyrican once he understood why the dragon felt the way that it did – it said a lot about his character that he wasn’t arrogant and assuming that he knew best.

I didn’t get as good a read from Jinn and struggled to relate to him at all, especially when the details of his meeting with Colt were revealed – it just seemed utterly out of character and more than a little foolish.

I liked the relationship that built between Jinn and Lyric, that neither of them assumed things about the other and that they were sensible enough to question whether what they were feeling was real given the circumstances. This was a nice, pretty uncomplicated read and I enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Pumped by Linden Bell (Mars Fitness #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Pumped

AUTHOR: ⟫ Linden Bell

SERIES: ⟫ Mars Fitness #3

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Love is co-parenting with my worst enemy.

Owen

Everest is an irresponsible, delinquent, attention-hungry man-child.

Ever since my brother married his sister, we’ve hated each other with an unrelenting passion. It was bad enough when I had to see him at occasional family gatherings, but now I’m living in a nightmare and he’s right here with me.

Everest

Owen is arrogant, uptight, snobby, and cold-hearted.

I don’t want to have anything to do with him, but I don’t have a choice. After a tragic accident, we’re forced to raise our niece together, but our grief and mutual animosity is turning the house into a pressure cooker. We have to make peace and learn to work together, if not for our sake, then for the little girl who’s already lost everything.

PUMPED is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract MM romance between a free-spirited personal trainer and his overbearing veterinarian brother-in-law. Expect reluctant cuddling, teasing as a love language, annoyingly hot backwards caps, pillow chastity barriers, pool wrestling, begrudging I love yous, and a little girl who has them both wrapped around her little finger. PUMPED is the third and last book in the Mars Fitness series, but can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a satisfying end to the Mars Fitness series. Everest and Owen were the epitome of enemies to lovers, although the circumstances were painful in the extreme. I really appreciated the way in which their grief was handled – it wasn’t a one and done, there were times when things were bittersweet, times when there was panic – it was really nicely handled. I enjoyed the writing of Ivy as I know it can be difficult writing age appropriate children but this was handled deftly. The sex scenes were extremely hot – Everest and Owen seriously burned up the sheets – and catching up with the other guys at Mars was lovely.

I enjoyed this series and will be looking into the ones linking to it to join my TBR. I received an ARC from GRR.

Love's Ace by Lee McCormick

TITLE: ⟫ Love’s Ace

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ There’s no good. No evil. No angels and demons. There’s love and there’s hate… and somewhere between the two, lust finds a way to thrive. It tips the scale. It burns everything to ash.

Wren — Cupid

We’re created from birth to unite soulmates and stop the monsters that would tear them apart. We’re trained to fight, to kill… and born without the ability to feel the thing we give. A cupid can’t feel love. A cupid can’t have a soulmate. And a cupid can’t fall in love with their sworn enemy, with the monster they’re destined to destroy. Until… Theo.

Theo — Enmity

When the world breaks a human, the Enmity can find a place in their heart and turn them into creatures of pure rage. The world has broken me over and over again until I’m not sure there’s anything left but anger. Hatred. Fear. I don’t believe in love, or soulmates… I don’t believe there’s anything out there that could stitch together the wounds that left me vulnerable to the monster I’m becoming. Until… Wren.

~~~

Love’s Ace is a dual POV enemies to soulmates MM Romance with a jaded cupid, a broken man turning into a monster, and the red string that connects them both. Expect high heat, high emotions, and an HEA that defies all odds.

REVIEW: ⟫ Dang, Lee McCormick did the thing! Not gonna lie, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Cupids and Anti-cupids fighting it out on earth but, my goodness, this book dragged me in from the very beginning and I didn’t stop reading until I’d finished.

Wren has been a cupid for over a century but feels next to nothing. Cupids are not allowed emotions and Wren has become more than accustomed to feeling nothing. Until he meets Theo – a man on the verge of turning into Wren’s sworn enemy, the Enmity.

Theo has lost everything and cannot think of the last time he felt something good. Which is why when his body begins burning with hate and only the touch of a Cupid can stem the pain, he has no idea how to handle things.

The way that these two hated each other initially was intense – you could feel Wren’s desire to kill Theo and just get things over with, and Theo almost wanted to give in to the hatred and lust for violence inside him. But then circumstances meant that they needed each other, until it wasn’t about the circumstances, it was about how they made each other feel.

The tension was palpable, the sexual tension was there in spades, but this entire story was just about emotion and how the right person can make you feel like you’d do anything for them. I loved the lore behind everything (although I can’t help but feel the way they created Cupids was unbearably cruel), and I absolutely loved the characters we were introduced to. This is a fast paced, romantic, sexy, touching and painful story to read and I almost wish I hadn’t finished it because now I’m left with all of these feelings!

A fantastic read and it solidified Lee McCormick as an auto-buy for me. I don’t know how much it fits with Valentine’s Day just being around the corner, but this dark romance definitely worked for me!

I received an ARC from GRR.

My Big Gay Secret Wedding by D.K. Sutton (Wedding Disasters #3)

TITLE: ⟫ My Big Gay Secret Wedding

AUTHOR: ⟫ D.K. Sutton

SERIES: ⟫ Wedding Disasters #3

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ That feeling when you wake up married to your best man…

When my almost-wedding to a popular media influencer implodes and goes viral, we head to Vegas to drown our sorrows and hide from the paparazzi. Everything is under control. Right?

But then I wake up naked, hungover, and married to my straight best friend.

A quick annulment is the perfect solution. Until it’s not.

I need to break free from my controlling father and stay in med school to gain access to my trust fund and the truth about my mother’s disappearance. The only way to do that is to prove my independence.

Mac and I agree to pretend our accidental marriage was intentional. Pretend Mac isn’t exactly straight. Pretend I'm madly in love with my best friend.

The hard part? All this pretending feels way too real.

Every kiss and touch from Mac feels more authentic than the last, making it difficult to hide how much I want our marriage to be forever.

Mac has been the only constant in my life. My best friend. My whole world.

But with our divorce only a signature away, I risk losing everything. Mac included.

Can what happened in Vegas be forever?

My Big Gay Secret Wedding is a low angst M/M romance and the third book in the Wedding Disasters series. It features best friends to lovers, waking up married, demi-awakening, fake relationships, small towns, and found family. It can be read as a standalone but is better read as part of the series. There is no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’m in so many different minds about this book. I should preface this by saying that I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, which, although this can be read as a stand-alone, I feel like I missed a few hints and connections whilst reading.

There were quite a few times when I felt pulled out of the story, but honestly it was mainly when it came to Mac’s refusal to swear. I don’t know why he doesn’t swear, but the words he chose instead just seemed kinda silly and each time it happened, it pulled me out of focus. There were a lot of plot lines in this story, including what happened to Rainn and Zye’s mother, the background of Mac’s father being an alcoholic, what happened between Zye and Mac – and honestly, it felt like they were superfluous. It was all a bit much and there were a few occasions when I wanted to just slide past sections.

Mac being unsure of his sexuality and his insistence that he wasn’t gay was also a bit of a niggle for me. However, Mac and Rainn were both very much there for each other – they weren’t just best friends in name, they also showed how much they cared for each other. The scenes between the two of them when they were alone were romantic, sweet and touching and I very much enjoyed the two of them together.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Sexy Possessed Roommate by X Everett (Planchette Playboys)

TITLE: ⟫ Sexy Possessed Roommate

AUTHOR: ⟫ X Everett

SERIES: ⟫ A Planchette Playboys Novella

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ This demon knows your heart's desire.

There’s only two rules for the party I’m hosting at my fraternity this weekend: don’t mess around with straight boys OR Ouija boards. When my hot, hunky college roommate gets possessed by a demon, I quickly find out why… but I keep asking myself, “Why not?”

SEXY POSSESSED ROOMMATE (Planchette Playboys Book #1) is a steamy M/M dark romance novella with elements of horror and the paranormal, death, possession, and humor. Tropes include friends-to-lovers, bi awakening, forbidden love, and size difference. This first-person, past-tense tale has a happy ever after, but trigger warnings include a dirty-talking demon, light bondage and degradation, homophobia, non-graphic death, and acts of the occult. Though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novella.

With contributions from indie horror author Xtopher

REVIEW: ⟫ This was well written with an interesting premise. Crispin was an interesting character, although sometimes he came across as really indecisive: one moment he was completely against using the board, the next he was like ‘yeah sure’. Stacio sounded absolutely lush and I loved the imagery the author created of the two of them together. I can think of at least two characters that I imagine are going to be featured and that sounded fun. It was a nice, easy read that I enjoyed. I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Candy Hearts : Volume #2 by Various Authors

TITLE: ⟫ Candy Hearts

AUTHOR: ⟫ Various

SERIES: ⟫ Volume #2

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ What's sweeter than a low angst queer romance at Valentine's Day? How about twenty-three of them in one anthology to help support a good cause?

Each novella in the Candy Hearts Anthology, volume 2, is overflowing with red-hot romance and all the good feels. This volume is all about wrong numbers—wrong phone numbers, addresses, office numbers, seats, and more. If you enjoy serendipity, then you’ll love this collection.

The Candy Hearts Anthology will be available for a limited time, and all proceeds will benefit the Rainbow Railroad.

The participating authors in this volume ⟫

Anna Sparrows * BA Tortuga * Becca Seymour * Beck Grey * Bix Barrow * BL Maxwell * CD Rachels * Chantal Mer * D.K. Sutton * David Gray * E.M. Denning * Hinsel Meyer * Jem Wendel * Lee Blair * London Price * Marie Sinclair * Merry Farmer * Minerva Howe * Riley Long * Rye Cox * Stella Rainbow * Susan Scott Shelley * Victoria Gillilan * Zoe Lee

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from GRR.

Paper Roses by Lily Morton (Confetti Hitched #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Paper Roses

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

SERIES: ⟫ Confetti Hitched #3

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Jed Walker thinks he’s having a midlife crisis. The only trouble is that it feels too good to stop.

Widowed at a young age, he’s spent his life since then avoiding any relationships that might end up hurting him again. He has his successful wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, and a series of uncomplicated hookups, and that’s all he needs in life

The one person disrupting this controlled stoicism is his younger assistant, Artie. He’s sweet and kind and has a funny way of calming Jed’s mind. So, when Artie comes to him with a problem, Jed moves heaven and earth to help, which is how he finds himself entering a fake marriage with the younger man and catching feelings. Too bad it’s all pretend. Or is it?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a story about how love can completely derail the best-laid plans.

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

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh the squee of delight I let out when I received this ARC! I am part of Lily’s Facebook group and was extremely chuffed to discover that the third Confetti Hitched book was due out on my birthday, but I wasn’t about to say no to reading it early!

This book – oh my goodness, this book! Jed is such an idiot! He was so kind, so caring whilst protecting his heart with a solid brick wall between him and everyone else. He was so utterly blind to the fact that it was obvious he was head over heels in love with Artie that it was occasionally so heartbreaking.

Artie was such a brave young man – from a childhood marred by a horrid stepmother, he still remained kind, sensitive and caring and completely in love with Jed. He took the opportunity that fate presented to him and ran with it, making a home for he and Jed, and risking it all for love. I was in awe of how strong he was, especially with stepping away to allow Jed to figure out some things on his own.

The two of them together were just amazing – so witty, so damned sexy and just made for each other. I adore ALL of the crew of Confetti Hitched and laughed so loudly at Raff and other shenanigans and just loved the updates that we got on how everyone was doing. As always, the background cast of characters were entertaining, funny af and perfect additions to the story line. Special shout-out to Mal and Cadan (I LOVE those two) and the descriptions of the various weddings, brides and grooms and insane situations made this a laugh out loud situation.

I will still be buying this for my birthday because it was just so darned good – if you have read any of the other Confetti Hitched books, you will not be disappointed. This is Lily Morton at her absolute best! I received an ARC from GRR and am insanely grateful for getting my birthday present a couple of weeks early!

Seth's Awakening by Kim Breyon (Unexpected Love #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Seth’s Awakening

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kim Breyon

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Love #2

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ After a devastating blow in my personal life, I hastily pack my bags and take off for San Diego, desperate for a new start. A new life. But where do I even begin? I sacrificed my entire adult life to raise my son, focusing on his dreams instead of mine. What do I now? How do I pick up the pieces?

Friends are hard to come by in the city that never slows down, especially for someone as depressed as me. Until a red-haired bartender at the neighborhood dive bar takes pity on me. His seemingly innocent gesture catches me off guard… but not nearly as much as my attraction to him. Declan is invading my every thought, every steamy, unrelenting dream.

Soon, he’s invading every hope. I want more, and I’m willing to risk everything to get it. But Declan has pain too, perhaps even deeper than mine. Opening his heart again just might shatter it completely.

Is it possible for two broken hearts to fit together? Or are we doomed to live in pieces forever?

****

Seth's Awakening is book 2 in the Unexpected Love series. It is highly encouraged to read the books in order.

REVIEW: ⟫ Teaching Quinn was still very much in my mind when I saw the opportunity to read Seth’s Awakening and I am surprised to admit that I actually preferred book two. Seeing Seth’s point of view of the situation made me think really hard about how it must have felt to walk in on what he did, especially after what must have felt like a lifetime of putting himself second at best.

I absolutely loved Declan and my heart broke for him. I loved the relationship between the two of them, how respectful they were, how kind and thoughtful, and the sex between them was hot. The side characters were a decent bunch of people and towards the end where Declan helped Seth resolve certain situations, I was really pleased. I’m glad I got to read these two books so closely together and can heartily recommend this one. I’m looking through the author’s list of books as I would like to read more of their catalogue. I received an ARC from GRR.

Stacked by Linden Bell (Mars Fitness #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Stacked

AUTHOR: ⟫ Linden Bell

SERIES: ⟫ Mars Fitness #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Preston and I have been best friends and roommates since the first day of boarding school. If it weren’t for me, he’d never step away from his precious dissertation, not to eat, not to shower, not for anything.

I might have been in love with him for ages, but Preston has never expressed any interest in anyone other than his research. That's fine, there are plenty of guys at Mars Fitness who can help me get my rocks off.

Then one day, the sexiest man alive walks through the front door and sweeps me off my feet. He's everything I've ever wanted, except there's just one problem. He wants my heart, but how can I give it to him when I've already given it to Preston?

Stacked is a best friends to lovers, gay-awakening, nerd/jock MM romance between co-dependent roommates. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone. Happily ever after guaranteed.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my goodness, has there ever been anyone as utterly oblivious as Preston?! This story made me smile, laugh cry – the relationship between Sawyer and Preston was absolutely beautiful, but I honestly don’t know how Sawyer put up with Preston! He’s literally been in love with him since puberty but Preston is so oblivious to anything that isn’t his research that he had zero clue until it suddenly looked like he might lose Sawyer to someone else.

I loved Sawyer’s Mom and Preston’s childhood sweetheart, Madison, but Preston’s parents were a complete nightmare and those were the bits that upset me the most. In the end, I found myself thinking the same as Sawyer – Preston needed to be kept safe, happy and loved because he didn’t experience that when he was growing up and he deserved all the love. In the end, Preston deserved the love he found with Sawyer and I adored the epilogue!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Barbarian by Onley James (Jericho's Boys Book #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Barbarian

AUTHOR: ⟫ Onley James

SERIES: ⟫ Jericho’s Boys #3

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Nico Michaels pretends to be carefree, avoiding anything serious, especially relationships; his chaotic past has taught him that love only complicates things. He’s content with one-night stands and his close-knit group of friends, including his roommate, Malachi Mizrahi.

Neurodivergent and gender-fluid, Malachi wakes up each morning with a whole new personality, but one thing remains his love for Nico. They clicked perfectly from day one, sharing a love of everything from anime to nature documentaries. They even share a bed. Platonically, of course.

One night, the lines blur when they share a kiss, but before things can go further, a desperate call from one of Mal’s dance students throws them into a missing person’s case that leaves them with more questions than answers. To complicate matters, Mal reveals he’s been quietly orchestrating Nico’s whole life without him even noticing. Nico is shaken to his core, his perception of their relationship shattered.

As they navigate the perilous world of a vicious Chinese triad, their bond deepens, and Nico begins to see that Malachi is not only the perfect friend, but the perfect man to fulfill all his needs. Together, they must face their past and survive their present if they want any chance of a happy ending in their future.

Barbarian is a friends-to-lovers, dark romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a masochistic vigilante with ADHD and a video game addiction and his sadistic and controlling best friend who worships the ground he walks on. As with any Onley book, you’ll find dark humor, steamy sexy times, and gratuitous violence, but only against people who totally deserve it. This is book 3 in the Jericho’s Boys series. Each book follows a different couple.

REVIEW: ⟫ In a feat of self control that I didn’t know I possessed, I stopped myself from reading this as it was posted to Onley’s patreon – I wanted to have the whole thing to binge in one go and I downloaded it last night. I haven’t been to sleep yet (I guess the patience and self control only lasted so long) because I had to read this in one go! And it is SO worth the lack of sleep!

Nico and Malachi are absolutely fascinating – the way that their jagged edges match so well. Malachi described it well when he talked about them being two souls waiting to be reunited – which, height of romance right there – and I cannot imagine either of them with anyone else. The sex was off the charts hot – as to be expected from Onley – and I loved the background plot involving the triads, counterfeit handbags and a psychopath (one of the bad ones) masquerading as a good brother.

I loved all of the other boys popping in and out; I adore Felix; but I almost stroked out when Freckles threatened Coe with ‘if you die, I’ll marry Kendra and have the kids call her Mom!’ That was absolute gold and I chuckled so hard I scared my cats.

I love Onley’s characterisations, how she builds the tension in both the plot and the relationship so that you’re on the edge of your seat waiting for the resolution. Thomas Mulvaney remains the absolute GOAT, and I had a complete and utter blast living in this universe for the last six hours. I might console myself with re-reading the Necessary Evils books before I go and have a mooch about on Onley’s Patreon – I don’t have to avoid it now so can catch up on all of the mini fics, etc!

Teaching Quinn by Kim Breyon (Unexpected Love #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Teaching Quinn

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kim Breyon

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Love #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ When my best friend’s son calls asking for help, I am not prepared for what he has in mind.

Quinn wants me to teach him about sex, and he wants me to do it without his dad knowing. That wouldn’t be difficult, since his dad is away for work for three months, but I still need to say no. He’s Seth’s kid, for starters. Plus, Quinn doesn’t need me. He’s an adult who can figure this out on his own.

But when his desperation leads him into a dangerous situation, I am forced to make a let Quinn continue to explore things with the wrong men, or show him what I know, safely.

There is only one right I need to protect him—but it just might cost me everything.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’ve read a few best friend’s father romances but don’t think I’ve read any best friend’s son ones so I was interested to see what would be different. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Quinn and Ian – there was respect from the very beginning, as well as palpable chemistry. Their relationship happened very organically once they had made the agreement and I really loved how caring Ian was – he was determined that Quinn was going to have a better experience than he himself had and it showed.

The background characters and subplots were interesting, and I loved the sibling relationship and how close Ian and his sister were. I was worried how things would go when Quinn’s father returned to the scene, and it didn’t disappoint – I wasn’t expecting it to happen when it did and it was explosive!

The ending felt a little rushed and I would have liked to see more about how the two of them transitioned to a full relationship, but I very much enjoyed reading this story and will keep an eye out for the next in the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Fey Regency by S.Rodman (Fey Lords #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Fey Regency

AUTHOR: ⟫ S.Rodman

SERIES: ⟫ Fey Lords #3

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ I wanted to kill a fey prince. But he called me pretty. And made me his pet.

All my life I've been different. My grandmother proudly declared we were descendants of the Fair Folk. I thought she was batty.

Until the fey invaded Earth.

And I saw I looked just like them.

A fact everyone else also noticed.

I had to leave my grandmother all alone. Run, hide and survive. My life was hell, and it was all the fey's fault.

So when I got the perfect opportunity to take a prince out, I seized it with both hands.

Except I messed it up and was claimed as a pet.

By Prince Tristan Y Mabinogi.

A flame haired himbo who is convinced life is about pleasure & gratification and the only reason I'm a moody, grumpy bastard is because I haven't had enough of either. A status he is determined to rectify.

I'd rather die than admit it to him, but he might just be on to something.

REVIEW: ⟫ If you like grumpy/sunshine, you’re going to love reading this one. Ollie has the ‘misfortune’ to be at least part-fey – misfortune because the fey have taken over the human world and are viewed very much as the enemy.

When he bungles an assassination attempt on a fey prince, he finds himself taken as a pet – with all that that entails. Discovering that he’s a sucker for praise as well as being a magical vessel is the least of his worries as he struggles to make his way through fey politics, family dynamics and learning more about himself as he falls head over heels for his captor – who insists on feeding him and sexing him up in equal measure. I laughed and sighed happily and immediately logged on to find the previous two books in the series!

I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Shared by the Gladiators by Taylor Wolfe (Straights Get Shared #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Shared by the Gladiators

AUTHOR: ⟫ Taylor Wolfe

SERIES: ⟫ Straights Get Shared #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Zane is finally checking off the number one item at the top of his bucket list: to visit the Colosseum. And when a ridiculously handsome tour guide dressed like a gladiator offers him a private tour, he certainly can’t refuse. Especially not after the gladiator stirs unfamiliar, but very welcome, feelings.

And when the gladiator offers to introduce Zane to his friends, Zane realizes that all his new fantasies might just become a reality.

REVIEW: ⟫ I love books like this – when you’re in the mood for something simple, a bit of smut, some insta-love, they completely hit the spot. I liked the historical aspect of this and the sex was hot – what more can you ask for?! I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Thunder Road by Morgan Brice (Badlands #7)

TITLE: ⟫ Thunder Road

AUTHOR: ⟫ Morgan Brice

SERIES: ⟫ Badlands #7

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Simon and Vic are home from their honeymoon, just in time for a brand new case!

Mysterious missing person reports, a cursed motorcycle club, and an ancient entity add up to trouble. A bad bargain to stop a long-ago gang war requires a yearly sacrifice from a tightly-knit group of riders, and even their coven of witches hasn’t been able to stop the deaths.

Then the granddaughter of a former lighthouse keeper comes to Simon for help. When the lighthouses were automated, they lost their live-in guardians, who worked protective spells to shield the coast from killer storms and a murderous creature. Those protections are fading, and an old evil has gained power, growing stronger with every life it claims.

Can Simon and Vic end the deaths and disappearances, or have they finally found a foe too powerful to stop?

Thunder Road is an action-packed MM paranormal romance chock full of old magic, protective guardians, found family, an ancient monster, brave motorcyclists, helpful ghosts, loyal friends, psychic visions, hurt/comfort, supernatural suspense, and an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was an interesting read with engaging main characters and a well thought out plot. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but surprisingly that wasn’t necessary even though this is book 7 in the series. There was a lot of lore and background information provided and sometimes that did slow down the pace of the story, and I felt that some of it was a little repetitive. The battle with the big-bad wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped but it was good and there was definitely a sense of danger that added to the ambience.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Impulsive Connections by Marie Reynard (Elemental Bonds Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Impulsive Connections

AUTHOR: Marie Reynard

SERIES: ⟫ Elemental Bonds Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Ignited by accident, fueled by fate. Some bonds burn brighter than any flame.

Kade Mills has spent over a decade dreaming of his ideal meet-cute. Surely the universe wouldn't toss the perfect mage at him while he's a scarred shadow of his former flirtatious self, recovering from his last encounter with the malicious spirits haunting his pack's territory.

Liam Batiste is a man of simple pleasures; a quiet room and a stack of books are all he needs to be happy. He's only in Lost Creek to help his friend save the Mills pack from the unknown evil infesting their land, but everything changes when he and Kade are paired up to capture the supernatural threat.

After a run-in with a spirit leaves them entangled—physically and magically—they must learn to control the newfound power their unwanted connection grants them. As they struggle to resist the heady pull of their bond, they begin to realize it may hold the key to defeating the dark forces that are endangering far more than just Kade's pack… and perhaps it's not as unwelcome as they first thought.

Impulsive Connections is a steamy 149k M/M paranormal romance featuring a playboy wolf shifter, a nerdy mage, and friends who are trying their very best not to meddle. This simmering slow burn is perfect for readers who love reluctant mates, unintended bonds, forced proximity, unfortunate bed shortages, and knotting. While it guarantees a happy ending for its main couple, the overarching plot does contain cliffhangers, and the series should be read in order. Please look inside for content warnings. (This series does not contain mpreg.)

REVIEW: ⟫ Part of my feelings about this story are my own fault – I have to be in the right mood for slow burn and I obviously wasn’t in that mood. The story continues from the first in the Elemental Bonds series, with Liam rushing to assist Elijah and his new mate, Victor, in solving just what is happening to the territory. In the process, he becomes accidentally bonded to Kade. The plot is interesting, with the details interwoven of the spirits they are trying to get rid of being quite fascinating. However, I think I would have preferred if there had been slightly faster progress on the relationship between Kade and Liam and less concentration on the issue with the spirits.

It was nice to see Victor and Elijah again and see how their relationship was thriving, but I almost felt like there was too much attention paid to everyone else instead of the main couple.

I loved the nods to MateHub, especially between Aran and Kade, and the one liners, banter and dick jokes were brilliant. I think I just wanted to feel more of the main couple. Even after they had both realised what was going on, sometimes it felt like the pace was glacial. I appreciated how important consent was to both of them – especially with how their bond was established – and the scenes between them were really hot. I guess I just wanted more focus on them and less on the over-arching plot. I am really looking forward to Aran’s story in the new year and I definitely recommend reading this one.

I received an ARC from GRR.

On Circus Lane by Lily Morton (Wright Brothers Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ On Circus Lane

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

SERIES: ⟫ Wright Brothers Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The first time Bee Bannister met Tom Wright, he couldn’t stand him.

Everything about the man aggravated him—his perfect hair and body, his confident arrogance, and the way he looked straight through Bee.

Which is why it’s such an unpleasant shock to find that he’ll be sharing space with him while on a Christmas holiday with friends in Scotland.

However, as the days fly by and snowy Edinburgh begins to work its magic on him, Bee discovers that sometimes first impressions can be very misleading. Tom is kind and funny, and somehow, rather than looking through Bee, he actually sees and likes all of him.

The two men grow closer, but will Bee follow his heart or his head when the holiday ends? And can relationships that start so badly ever lead to love?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a festive romantic comedy about enemies to lovers and the magic of Christmas.

This is the first book in the Wright Brothers series.

REVIEW: ⟫ This book was an absolute delight! Bee and Tom are the cutest couple ever, with both of them falling head over heels over the course of a short holiday. Their banter, chemistry, utterly unable to resist each other was a joy to read and I find myself wanting to visit the sites in Edinburgh to see what they saw. Lily Morton has such a deft touch when it comes to creating characters that you find yourself invested in, and story had those people in spades! I feel like I’ve read Jack and Arlo’s story (although I’m not sure how because this is meant to be book #1 in the series). I feel like I’ve been really lucky in my Christmas books this year – so far, not a dud among them!

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Remarkable Lover by Maya Jean (Sweet Southern Book #3)

TITLE: ⟫ The Remarkable Lover

AUTHOR: ⟫ Maya Jean

SERIES: ⟫ Sweet Southern Book #3

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Jackson

Dreams collapse in the blink of an eye, I know that better than anyone after losing my career as an athlete. Now I spend my days giving people pleasure for pay and playing with stocks. Most of my friends have settled in Clay Springs, Florida. A sleepy little town that moves slower than molasses. Call it boredom or infatuation with the redhead who scowls at me every time I smile his way, but I think there’s also something special for me in Clay Springs. If only Harper would let me show him.

Harper

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that most people suck. Not in the fun way either. All my cousins are settling down with their boyfriends and I’ve got my service dog and a brain disorder. Cool. When Jackson shows interest in me, I figure it has to be a joke. But the big guy wants to be my friend. Then he wants to date me. And now … well now I’m in too deep and it’s only a matter of time until he leaves. After all, I’m always too much or too little, never just enough.

The Remarkable Lover is the third book in the Sweet Southern series featuring one-sided annoyance to lovers, size difference, hurt/comfort, playboy/inexperienced, and a man who finally allows himself to be loved.

REVIEW: ⟫ Harper and Jackson are couple goals! They listen to each other, understand each other and care with a blistering heat that sears the page. Harper has had a tough ride – his epilepsy has limited his life so much, with a lack of understanding from his mother making things worse. So when Jackson keeps trying to ask him out on dates, insisting that he wants to be friends, Harper just doesn’t know how to take it.

And yet he allows himself to be vulnerable with Jackson, lowering his guard and letting himself be seen, appreciated and ultimately loved. Jackson was an absolute angel. The way that he accepted the limitations that Harper put onto things, whilst finding ways to tick off any and everything on Harper’s bucket list was so touching. And let’s not even talk about Honey – the goodest girl that ever was!

I really enjoyed this instalment in the Sweet Southern series and have high hopes for Benji and Nolan which is due out in April 2025. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Christmas Curse by Avery Cockburn

TITLE: ⟫ The Christmas Curse

AUTHOR: ⟫ Avery Cockburn

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Martin Gibson is cursed. Ever since a childhood clash with a Christmas elf, the holiday has brought him bad luck. In a desperate attempt to avoid the Curse—or at least protect his loved ones from its calamities—he leaves Scotland and travels to America for a Christmas utterly alone.

Anthony Bello is adrift. Fired from his job as a TV weatherman, he’s returned to West Virginia to be caretaker for his family’s vacation rental properties. When a hot Scot with an unlucky—and unlikely—story checks into one of the tiny homes he oversees, Anthony is more than smitten. Now he has a thrilling new help Martin break the Curse for good.

Will a wild winter storm let Martin and Anthony’s attraction build into something real, or will it trigger the most cursed Christmas yet? And when Martin’s transatlantic escape is over, can they bear to walk away with nothing but memories?

Get your holiday warm fuzzies with this standalone tale featuring a Christmas-tree heist, a bed-hogging dog, and the coziest hot tub ever!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very sweet Christmas story, with plenty of laughs, some feels and some incredible animals. I really enjoyed the fact that none of the families featured were perfect, and that both Anthony and Martin were able to see what was happening and feel that it was all worth the risk. The tale of the Christmas Curse made me giggle for far too long, and the line the Elf came out with? Absolutely perfect!

A lovely way to transition fully into holiday mode, this was an enjoyable romp that was easy on the brain and the heart! I received an ARC from GRR.