Lights, Camera, Passion by Isabel Lucero

TITLE: ⟫ Lights, Camera, Passion

AUTHOR: ⟫ Isabel Lucero

RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Playing a lead role in a book-to-movie adaptation with a wild fan base? Sign me up! The only downside is that I’m cast alongside Jacoby “Heartthrob” Hart—Hollywood’s golden boy. If only they knew he was an uppity, pompous snob.

We don’t get along, and if you’re reading the tabloids, you’d assume it was because I “stole” his girlfriend, but they have it all wrong. Jacoby and his cold shoulder started this, and now we’re set to play lovers. The only thing I’d love to do is strangle him, but I’m a professional.

Behind the scenes, we’re either bickering or avoiding each other, but when the cameras start rolling, I can’t believe how much chemistry we have.

One night, during a passionate argument, something happens that I never anticipated. The chemistry that started out as an act turns into much more behind closed doors, but we both have secrets, and Hollywood is a hard place to keep those.

Lights, Camera, Passion is an enemies-to-lovers story between two supposedly straight actors who don't get along but are cast to play lovers in a book-to-movie adaptation. Expect bickering, banter, tension, chemistry, and a couple of revelations straining to burst free from the closet.

REVIEW: ⟫ I wanted to like this so very, very much. The idea of a closeted gay actor and a bisexual actor acting together in a book adaptation and falling in love – just the idea made me squeal with delight. Unfortunately for me, this just didn’t do it.

The actual filming was over so quickly and barely covered – for some reason, I expected there for be more of the actual ‘film’ involved in the story. The relationship that built between Roman and Jacoby also felt really perfunctory. Yes, they were both attracted to the other before they met to film. And I could see how the tabloids would have played up the whole ‘romantic rivals’ thing from them both dating the same actress. But there were far too many misunderstandings that felt contrived and unnecessary.

I felt like we spent a lot of time with Jacoby going back and forth about his desire to hide his sexuality, whereas Roman’s feelings about his parents were handled in less than one chapter – I was disappointed because the point was made that his feelings about his parents played a huge role in his public persona. I wanted that to be explored more and definitely felt a little less time on Jacoby and more on what made Roman tick would have helped the story.

Their relationship was portrayed as very steamy and passionate, but I didn’t feel it. Reading their love-making scenes I felt quite removed – I guess the best description would be it felt very much like telling me what they were feeling rather than making me feel it with them. I just found myself very removed from the whole thing and that was disappointing.

It’s a shame because I think the story idea was brilliant and I would have loved to have felt more immersed in the whole thing. Obviously, YMMV, but for me this wasn’t a success.

The Caretaker by CP Harris (Infidelity #3)

TITLE: ⟫ The Caretaker

AUTHOR: ⟫ CP Harris

SERIES: ⟫ Infidelity #3

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The only thing Noon Waters is sure of is his undying love for his wife. But when a devastating accident ripped both her and a good deal of his memories away from him, he’s left to navigate a new life weighed down by grief, anger, and confusion.

After stumbling upon an old receipt dated one day prior to the tragic event, Noon’s curiosity leads him to Haley Cove, a place he can’t remember but is somehow certain holds the key to regaining his forgotten years.

So focused on the memories he hopes to recapture, Noon is unprepared for the oddly familiar stranger he finds there instead. As a tentative friendship between the two men blooms into something more, Noon’s reasons for being in the quaint town become less clear. What starts as a quest for answers ends with a revelation too painful to bear.

What happens when the beautiful life you thought you had lived was a lie, but that lie is all you can remember?

**The Caretaker is a MM romance and book 3 in the Infidelity series. It ends with a HEA, and can be read as a stand-alone but may be better enjoyed if read in series order. Themes include amnesia, hurt/comfort, and second chances. Both MCs are consenting adults. Please use the Amazon “Look Inside” feature for a full list of what you can expect.

REVIEW: ⟫ Well this one is going to rip your heart out and squeeze it into a million pieces in every chapter! My goodness – it’s 6 am in the morning and I’ve just finished reading The Caretaker and the bonus scene available on C.P. Harris’ website and I had to get down how I felt immediately.

Each time I begin to read one of their books, I find myself wondering if I will care about the characters as much as I did the first time. And each time, I find myself dragged into a maelstrom of emotions – fear, pain, love – literally tears making it hard to read the words but needing to keep reading because I need to know how they make it through the hell that they are in.

Noon and Solace are no different to Jasper, Cole, Leland, Frankie – they are human beings with good and bad within them, fighting to find a way through their life that means something and contains some happiness. And it is a battle – Noon and Solace fight to get back to each other, even when one of them isn’t aware that that’s what he’s doing. This story was just freaking masterful in the way it wove the past and the present together. Even when you KNOW what’s coming, it’s still so heartbreaking that there just aren’t words.

I think I’ve said it before that C.P. Harris is quite possibly one of the few authors that can make me read infidelity and understand it – the understanding of people’s motives, how they live and breathe, what they need – it shines through in each story, and the Caretaker is no exception.

I would dearly love it if this one was made into a movie – simply because I would love to see if there was a man out there who could play Noon in all of his seven foot, intimidating glory. That and I think the sex scenes would be hotter than fire.

An easy 5/5 from me and please don’t forget to read the bonus scene – it was the literal cherry on top of a perfect sundae!

Broken Ice by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

TITLE: ⟫ Broken Ice

AUTHOR: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

SERIES: ⟫ Alpha Omega Hockey #4

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ After being forced to take suppressants for a year by his coach, Beau’s body is a mess. He has a debilitatingly painful heat every two weeks, and there’s no medication available to help him.

Being traded from the team that did that to him is a slap to the face. Being traded to their direct competitors, the Miami Manatees, is just the cherry on top of the sh*t sundae that has become his life.

Now Beau doesn’t just have to get through heats only an Alpha would be able to help with, but has to tolerate Emilio, the guy who doesn’t only hate him, but his Omega scent.

Which doesn’t really make sense, what with how protective and possessive the Alpha gets when Beau goes into heat…and how he keeps volunteering to help him through them.

Beau might take him up on that offer, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to fall in love.

This story contains a goofily oblivious main character and his long-suffering romantic interest, many a heat, plenty of nesting, hurt/comfort, and a dog named Bingo.

This book takes place a decade after the beginning of Alpha Omega: New York and can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ Hmm, I’ve read plenty of oblivious love interests, but Beau may just be the absolute worst one yet! I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I have a couple of the previous books in the series. Beau was so oblivious that after a while, it really began to get on my nerves.

Some of it was understandable – the reactions of his partners in the past and his old coach really did a number on him. But he had so many positive influences in his life – from his family to the few people he did let close – that it was difficult not to feel like he should have been questioning what he had been through in the past a lot sooner.

The story kinda gambolled along quite nicely, with an interesting cast of characters. It seems pretty obvious that Beau’s brother will get his own story with Sammy, and I will definitely read that because even when I’m not 100% along for the ride, Marina Vivancos writes a story that you want to read to the end. Even when you want to shake one of the main protagonists.

I did enjoy how secure Beau was when it came to the physical side of things – he made me laugh more than once with how straight-forward he was and how Emilio reacted. I didn’t get as much of a sense of Emilio as Beau, although the guy deserves a medal for putting up with Beau on occasion.

This was a fun read, with minimal angst, a chunk of heat sex, and a completely oblivious omega that you may find more than a little annoying even while you’re hanging in there for his HEA.

Soulmates by Kate Munro (Soulmates Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Soulmates

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kate Munro

SERIES: ⟫ Soulmates Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Maddox St. James and Jake Osterman have it all—a perfect friendship, powerful magic, and the future laid at their feet. The only thing that could make life any better is finally gaining the courage to admit that they are desperately in love with one another.

But this declaration carries the potential to ruin everything, and before they have the chance to explore their feelings, a spell gone drastically wrong nearly destroys them both.

Now, Maddox is fighting for his life, and Jake is fighting for his sanity as an unknown magic challenges everything they thought they knew about their world.

A race across the country, a quirky, reclusive mage, and a new kind of magic may be their only hope of survival and a chance at lasting love.

Soulmates is an urban fantasy friends-to-lovers romance featuring clueless best friends, a magic ritual, a swamp, and a connection that runs soul-deep.

REVIEW: ⟫ I picked this up for two reasons: book two is due out next month (February) and it caught my eye, and I thought it was a novella. Don’t ask me why – nowhere does it say that but my brain decided and that was that.

So it was obviously longer than I was expecting and that took some adjusting. I think I was expecting it to be the prequel to the book due out next month – it does centre around the same couple, so I can understand why I got that idea.

I liked this book and disliked it at the same time. I really enjoyed the friendship between Maddox and Jake that was made obvious from the beginning. And I must admit, I loved the idea of a school-wide challenge that no-one acknowledges but everyone knows happens – kinda Hogwarts but the kids are older and a little naughtier. I found the structure and world building interesting, and was definitely intrigued by the entire ‘spell’ that Jake and Maddox find themselves under.

I enjoyed Cricket and the history lesson the three of them received, as well as his cranky exterior whilst taking such good care of them. I was definitely intrigued by the happenings at the school, although we don’t really get to know much more than at the beginning.

I didn’t like the chasing across country – I understand why it happened but for me it slowed down the pace of the story too much. We didn’t learn much that we hadn’t already, and occasionally the whole point of the societal injustices, levels of power, etc just felt rather laboured. I wanted to learn more about Maddox’s father and the hints given to his childhood; I wanted to learn more about how the magic worked and how they were entwined (especially having to travel fused the way they were); their companion wasn’t fully fleshed and felt like a plot-device.

Once I had reached the end, I could see what the author was doing with the world building, raising questions that weren’t necessarily answered in this novel, projecting into the future. However, I think that for me some of that overshadowed the story that I was actually reading and as such, I’m not sure I actually want to read the next novel. Maddox and Jake didn’t grab me as much as I hoped they would, possibly because of the need to get people up to speed on everything meaning that not as much time was put into their characters.

I think this may well be a case of YMMV but this story didn’t resonate with me however much I wanted it to. I will say, the world building, style of writing and pacing was generally good, and the premise is most intriguing so I would say this is worth a go.

MateHub: Legend by Marie Reynard

TITLE: ⟫ MateHub : Legend

AUTHOR: ⟫ Marie Reynard

SERIES: ⟫ Elemental Bonds

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The contract was simple: three months, seven scenes, zero feelings. Following it was not.

Richard Knotz is a legend in the world of supernatural adult entertainment, and he knows it. While most paranormal adult actors shy away from the temporary bonds needed to perform knotting scenes, he's made them his brand. Bonding a human could never threaten to tear his empire to the ground, no matter how tempting that human smells.

Hunter Savage thinks Richard Knotz is a smug son of a wolf, but when he's offered a contract to work with him, the payout is too lucrative to say no. Three months bonded to Richard could make his entire career. He just doesn't expect to find a soft side under Richard's prickly exterior, or for the apartment they're forced to share to start feeling like home.

The bonding contract is easy and painless as long as they remember one cardinal rule: don't get attached. Their employer has no use for unprofessional fools who let feelings jeopardize profits. But in between filming scorching scenes with ridiculous scenarios, they discover they're more compatible than either could have imagined.

As their limited time together winds down, they face a choice—risk their careers for the unexpected connection they've found, or lose their bond forever.

MateHub: Legend is a high heat, arranged bonding, forced proximity, dislike-to-love paranormal romance featuring an arrogant wolf shifter who thinks a little too highly of various parts of his anatomy, the feisty human who finally takes him down a few notches, nosy fans, meddling friends, knotting, and a contract that is destined to fail.

This stand-alone novel is set in the Elemental Bonds universe and guarantees a HEA for its main couple. It does not contain mpreg or cheating. Please look inside for content warnings.

REVIEW: ⟫ Should I wax lyrical about the characters of Hunter and Richard, who quickly became clear in my mind as this romp of a story went on? Or perhaps the forum/messenger posts between each chapter which were absolute gold and reminded me so much of my early fandom days?

I could go on about the humour, the banter, sexiness, grouchy but lovableness that practically permeated every page but more than anything, the scorching yet tender sex scenes which were so well written and never repetitive. What I will say is that as soon as I had finished this book, I was back on Amazon looking for more reads from the author, joining their newsletter and friending their Instagram. I stayed up all night reading the Elemental Bonds story that is available, and cannot quite decide which one that I need the sequel to first.

Really blown away by this story and so pleased that I received it as an ARC from GRR.

The Surrogate Omega by Jacey Davis (Part #1 and #2)

TITLE: ⟫ The Surrogate Omega

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jacey Davis

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Omegas Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ This special edition of Surrogate Omega contains both part one and part two of the original story. It features a new cover and has been lightly revised and re-edited.

Part One:

With all of the changes happening in Lake Simmon’s life in the past year, he’s had to learn how to adapt and adjust, or he’d be lost. Since most of the changes are good ones, like his baby niece, he is learning to come to terms with the lack of stability that he has always relied on. While some of the changes make him uneasy, he finds he is comfortable with the knowledge that he also has the Omega gene, like his twin brother River. After friends receive some devastating news, Lake knows that he wants to help and offers to be the surrogate for them.

There is one change Lake never saw coming: falling in love.

But when events from his past lead to Lake meeting Evander, he feels an instant connection to the man that awakens feelings Lake has never felt before. Then Ev introduces him to his best friend, Logan, and sparks fly between the three men.

Part Two:

If someone asked Lake Simmons a year ago what he imagined his life to be like in a year, he’d never in a million years imagine this. He somehow went from never having a relationship to having not only one but two mates. And if that isn’t wild enough, he’s now helping his friends fulfil their dreams of a family by being their surrogate. He never dreamt he’d want a life like this, but now he can’t imagine anything else.

Not everything is smooth sailing, of course. Between the holidays, busy schedules, long work hours, and undercover work trips, Lake and his mates, Evander and Logan, find themselves fumbling to solidify their new relationship and find their rhythm. When one of his mates has a case at work he just can’t let go of, Lake finds himself getting involved against his better judgment.

When everything comes to a head, and the secrets Lake has been keeping come to light, the three men must come together to fight their battles as one. Because at the end of the day, no matter what struggles they face, Lake, Logan, and Evander know it’s better to face them together.

The Surrogate Omega is an MMM contemporary omegaverse romance with MPreg. It's the second instalment to the Unexpected Omegas but can be read on its own.

Content Warning: references to past child abuse, food insecurity, drugs, attempted trafficking (all off-page), infertility of a secondary character, surrogacy, a miscarriage scare (does not happen), kidnapping of a minor character, adoption, and found family. A more detailed content warning can be found in the front of the book.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was very interested in the premise of twin omegas and how they handled the revelation that Omega genes were reappearing and Mpreg was now possible. The interesting juxtaposition between River and Lake – with Lake showing signs of being on the spectrum which was handled smoothly, with people accepting his characteristics and quirks with little to no comment. River was full of emotion whereas Lake was far more comfortable leaving emotions out of things.

The characters of Logan and Evander were interesting in different ways. Logan identified as straight for his whole life, to the extent that he didn’t register just how entangled he was with Evander until Lake came into both of their lives. Deeply submerged feelings for Evander as well as the almost instant desire to make Lake belong to him means that Logan had to go on a voyage of discovery about himself. He went through the most changes – physical changes that he little to no preparation for and no point of reference to guide him – meant that I felt his character had the most ‘progression’. Evander to a certain extent seemed to represent the beta in the relationship, albeit taking on the role of carer in the throuple as they developed their relationship.

I wasn’t too enamoured of the subplot regarding the case that Logan was working on and Lake’s involvement – it felt a little superfluous to be honest and I couldn’t quite get behind it. I liked the idea – I just didn’t particularly enjoy the implementation. I enjoyed the fact that this was both parts of the story so not only did you see the beginning of the relationship between Logan, Evander and Lake but also how they managed to entangle their lives together. The Mpreg aspect wasn’t really explored, although signs of how the general population felt about male pregnancy were prevalent in the story and I would imagine played a heavier role in the first story in the series which I have no read. I would say for anyone slightly leery of the mpreg aspect of things that it is very lightly touched on and there are no graphic scenes.

I liked reading these stories but they didn’t grip me – I can’t even explain why as the idea of a hot threesome, with an emerging alpha, a switch and a submissive omega is right up my street. Well written with engaging characters and an interesting storyline, I think this just wasn’t the book for me – YMMV.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan by Vawn Cassidy - Volume 1

TITLE: ⟫ The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Volume 1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ CRAWSHANKS GUIDE TO THE RECENTLY DEPARTED

A Dead Serious Companion Novella

Set in the Dead Serious Universe, The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan is a compendium of bonus shorts told in chronological order and documenting the hilarious but sweet beginnings of the relationship between a drag queen and the supernatural entity known as Death.

This Volume includes the following:

Death goes on a Date

Death goes Shopping

Death goes on Holiday

Death gets a Puppy

REVIEW: ⟫ This was absolutely delightful! I haven’t read any of the bonus shorts before but was entranced at the idea of reading about Chan and Death’s courtship and these did not disappoint!

Chan has always been an intriguing character and we learn much more about him through these shorts – more about him and Dusty, how they came to be drag queens and the deep friendship that they share – even beyond death.

And then we have Death with a capital D who sounds like a complete DILF and is obviously head over heels for Chan! Chan decides Death needs to learn what it is to be human and the shenanigans are sexy, sweet and touching in a way that Chan truly deserves.

I loved reading these shorts and look forward to reading more – especially if it includes Death in a speedo! I received an ARC from the author.

Creekside Township Rivals by J T Fader

TITLE: ⟫ Creekside Township Rivals

AUTHOR: ⟫ J T Fader

SERIES: ⟫ Books #1 - 3

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Three HEA stories set in Creekside, a sleepy little town, where rivalries don't generally occur due to the leadership of the East Creekside pack. This boxed set follows the love stories of three brothers, dedicating a book to each. Lots of knotting, MPreg, and of course love.

REVIEW: ⟫ This is pretty much exactly as the blurb describes – three tales set in Creekside, featuring members of the East Creekside pack. It includes mpreg but doesn’t go into huge amounts of detail. There is minimal angst, some violence and an interesting look at werewolves living alongside humans and the issues it can cause.

Reading these was a nice way to while away a few hours – they are nice, gentle and romantic, with fated and chosen mates as the main tropes. If you’re looking for something simple and pleasant, these stories won’t steer you wrong.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Dead Serious: Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plum by Vawn Cassidy

TITLE: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plum

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #4

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Inspector Danny Hayes has something very important to ask his boyfriend Tristan Everett. Over the past six months they’ve survived reapers, chaos monsters, and biblical storms, not to mention averting an apocalypse. So, what’s left to do but pop the big question?

Tristan is ready for a break from world-saving, spectral crises, and most definitely from ghosts. He wants some one-on-one time with his boyfriend, preferably horizontally. So when the incredibly thoughtful aforementioned boyfriend books a romantic New Year’s getaway at a quiet little hotel in the wilds of the north Yorkshire moors and away from London, Tristan can’t wait.

But as usual nothing ever goes according to plan. Snowed in during an unexpected murder mystery weekend at what turns out to be one of the most haunted hotels in Northern England is not what they had in mind, but when one of the actors turns up really dead not just fake dead, they once again find themselves caught up in another investigation.

With only one night to figure out who the killer is while wrangling a multitude of overly helpful ghosts, Tristan begins to wonder if romance really is dead…

REVIEW: ⟫ It would be very easy for the romance between Tristan and Danny to take a backseat to a rip-roarer of a weekend where murder, family, extra marital affairs and ghosts are running riot, so it is a credit to Vawn Cassidy that that doesn’t happen.

Danny wants to propose to Tristan – has been planning it for some time – but can’t seem to find the right time. A weekend away where they can both relax after the extremely busy and challenging last few months seems like the perfect opportunity – now if only there wasn’t a murder, an affair, an insane amount of ghosts and a hotel on its’ last legs getting in the way.

I really loved the way that Tristan supported Danny as he faced up to various things from his past, and I was pleased with how went and was handled. Dusty is, as always, the absolute bomb and the interactions between her and Danny had me giggling at various stages. Once again, we have a murder and Tristan using his abilities to help solve the case. This time, other people get up close and personal with the ghosts and it was fascinating seeing their reactions, Danny in particular. At one point, Tristan notes that this is Danny’s first face-to-face conversation with a ghost and for some reason that really made me stop and pause. Up until now, Danny has taken Tristan at his word, not unduly questioned him or made him feel even stranger than he already does. But this represents an opportunity for Danny to see what it is like for Tristan all of the time and I really appreciated this touch.

This was an excellent follow-up to the previous books, with call-outs to characters from other books that were lovely little hints for regular readers to pick up on without being obnoxious for people only now discovering the author. I look forward to the next book – the ending definitely set things up to be completely fascinating and also more than a little bit darker.

This book was like watching a romantic comedy with a little drama/murder for added spice and I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend.

I received an ARC.

Beyond Time by Lee McCormick (Beyond Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Beyond Time

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

SERIES: ⟫ Beyond Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ SETH

I always thought my world would begin and end with Jayce Walker. When a sleep study offers us life-changing money, we jump at the opportunity. There’s only one I don’t have insomnia. Bluffing my way in is easy, but getting there and losing everything that’s ever mattered is a nightmare I can’t escape.

Jayce is gone. My only ally is a voice in my head named Clay, who insists the body walking around — the one I’ve known and loved my entire life — belongs to a man named Kade, and he only wants one thing.

To kill me.

KADE

Most people don’t get second chances, but I did. Brought back to life by a power-hungry company, I have one thought: I want revenge.

But... the man I’m chasing isn’t Clay. His name is Seth, and all my years of being a heartless, psychopathic killer never prepared me for the way his wide eyes make me feel. I don’t know how to deal with the emotions still knocking around in my chest that used to belong to someone named Jayce.

They make me question things. They make me wonder if my agenda has changed…

I want to make Seth mine.

~~~

BEYOND TIME is a dual POV dark romance with a twist on soulmates that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Prepare yourself for scorching heat, high emotions, and a psychopath who doesn’t know what to do with all the feelings he’s suddenly being forced to experience. Guaranteed HEA with a universe that’s wide open for exploration!

REVIEW: ⟫ Well, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, but boy oh boy, this kicked 2024 off with a bang!

The premise is so simple and yet full of twists, turns and idiosyncrasies and the characters are fully fleshed out – even the ones that are not at the forefront of the story for long become real through memories and feelings. The idea of bringing back assassins from the past is absolutely genius, and Clay and Kade were the ultimate duo. Their first task is to take the other one out – to prove that they are worthy – but both men have a personal stake in things. After all, Clay killed Kade once already.

Add to that baby-tiger Seth and the depths to his character that could not have been expected, and this book is an absolute roller-coaster of a ride. It’s actually difficult to know who to root for – the ultimate bad boy who decides from one taste of Seth that they are meant to be, or Clay who simply wants to keep Seth safe. And then we have Seth, who seems to be drawn to the very person who wants to kill him! It’s a troubling one – unless you’re used to, and love, the whole concept of Psychos in love!

I really enjoyed this and am very pleased to see that it is the first in a series – I can only imagine where the author will take things from here and I am excited to see where this goes.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Unnatural Fate by J.R. Gray

TITLE: ⟫ Unnatural Fate

AUTHOR: ⟫ J.R. Gray

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ My soul mate is my natural enemy.

Or close enough.

He’s a vampire and I’m a wolf.

Our kinds are at war. A centuries old blood war.

I can’t stay away from him. I hate him, but I want him.

Our love is a standoff. For every inch I take, he pushes a mile.

The world is against us. But I’m so tired of fighting the ties between us.

For every wolf that dies at the hands of a vampire, I feel more guilty.

Yet I go to him over and over and we use each other just enough until next time.

I can’t stop.

We both swear it’ll be the last time, but here we are again.

The cycle never ends.

But this time it has to.

I must either choose him and betray my people or walk away for good.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Royal Curse by Eliot Grayson (Twilight Mages Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ The Royal Curse

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eliot Grayson

SERIES: ⟫ Twilight Mages

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Dawn mage. Twilight mage. Cursed, useless, damaged, dangerous…

His birth magic leaves Prince Nikola with nothing but bad live as another man’s possession, subject to his whims and his desires, or remain dependent on a potion that stunts his powers and prevents him from knowing love. Andreas vows to protect the prince with his life—whether Nikola wants him to or not. After all, the queen pays his soldier’s wage. Nikola’s nothing but a job to do. But when they find themselves stranded, with Nikola’s potion running out, Andreas has to…improvise. Because what Prince Nikola needs to survive is the opposite of a lowly guard’s respectful protection. It should’ve been only one night. Just until the potion’s refilled. But now that Nikola’s had Andreas’s touch, he craves Andreas again and again. He shouldn’t. But he—and his magic—can’t live without it…

The Royal Curse is a high-heat MM fantasy romance with a stubborn prince, an even more stubborn soldier, and cursed magic that can’t be denied. There is an attempted on-page assault that is not between the main characters. HEA guaranteed.

REVIEW: ⟫ I need to start by saying that I am extremely happy that this is going to be a series because there needs to be so much more about Twilight Mages! Their magic is fascinating and I really enjoyed the descriptions included in the story.

This book is described as high heat and is well deserving of the notification – once Andreas and Nikola get going, they really get going! And I loved reading the two of them together – they were hot, sexy, caring and oh, so much fun! I enjoyed the back story regarding Niko’s trip and the reasoning behind it, and the subplot was entertaining even if just for seeing Andreas getting all possessive and violent over Niko.

This was a lovely addition to my Eliot Grayson library and I will happily re-read it in preparation for the next story – which, please, be out soon!

I received and ARC from GRR.

Tied Over by Mary Calmes (Marshals Book #6)

TITLE: ⟫ Tied Over

AUTHOR: ⟫ Mary Calmes

SERIES: ⟫ Marshals Book #6

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Josiah Redeker has been tied up, tied down, and just plain tied to Bodhi Callahan since the younger marshal was paired with him five years ago. It was an easy slide from partners to best friends, and though Bodhi wanted more, Josiah thought Bodhi could do far better than him. That made for a bumpy ride, and, of course, the moment Josiah realized that trying to live without the man he loved more than anything was not something he could do, that was when Bodhi broke the big news that he was getting married. Adding to that nightmare, they got reassigned as partners because other people needed them more.

It’s a disaster all around, and all Josiah sees ahead of him is pain—and not only from getting shot.

But what he thinks he knows for sure isn’t exactly all there is. Turns out, he’s not the only one who’s missing his touchstone, and Bodhi might be fraying at the edges, coming undone. When two people have been tied together over and over for so long, it’s not so easy to get loose. And maybe neither wants to be free of the other, and that could be their future, as long as no one comes between them… with a gun.

REVIEW: ⟫ This one has been coming for some time and Mary Calmes did not disappoint.

Jed Redeker is determined that his partner, fellow marshall, Bodhi Callahan should only have the best. And despite how much Jed loves him, he is also pretty determined that there is someone more worthy of Bodhi’s love than he.

That lasts until Bodhi finally seems to give up on his pining and moves on with his life, falling in love and getting engaged. That’s what it takes for Jed to realise that he has lost his chance at having Bodhi be his partner in all ways, and life kinda sucks. Add to that getting shot and being forced to vacation with Bodhi and his fiance and Jed is pretty sure he’s in hell.

Man, I had forgotten how much I loved the way Mary Calmes writes her characters. They’re not perfect – both Jed and Bodhi are argumentative, pig-headed, stubborn, know it alls with alpha male stamped all over them. But the streak of protectiveness in each of them and just how much they care about each other make them pretty much perfect together. It is a tried and trusted method that Mary Calmes uses – the main lead who everyone loves and sees in the best possible way, along with the partner who just has to get them to get their head out of their behind to see how happy they could be together. And it totally worked with Jed and Bodhi – no matter how frustrating the two of them could be (Jed is so determined that Bodhi has the best that he ignores his own desires for FOUR years), you are still rooting for them to make it.

Add in fellow marshals from the past – including Sam Kage who is one of my absolute fave of Mary’s characters, alongside Miro and Ian of course – and this story took me away from daily life and into the whirlwind that is the Marshals series. If you’ve read any of the other books, you know pretty much what you are in for: action, romance, banter, friendship, and men who will stand in front of a bullet for someone because it’s the right thing to do.

I regularly re-read the previous Marshals books, and having book six to add to that re-read list makes me a very happy person!

Weddings, Christmas and Such by Amy Lane (Holiday Stories from Granby)

TITLE: ⟫ Weddings, Christmas and Such

AUTHOR: ⟫ Amy Lane

SERIES: ⟫ Holiday Stories from Granby

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Welcome back to the world of Granby, where the yarn is soft, the knitting is fine, and the critters are never far off.... After the happy ever after of Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny's Lair, Jeremy and Aiden continued to be fan favorites, and author Amy Lane visited them from time to time in a series of whimsical shorts that were posted on her blog and Patreon. Those shorts, together with a brand-new, never before seen Christmas novel featuring the entire Granby family, are gathered here in Weddings, Christmas, and Such, a collection of stories that show the good times in the bad, and the hope even in the darkness. Welcome back to the world of Granby—Jeremy, Aiden, Craw, Ben, Stanley, Johnny, Ariadne, Rory, and baby Persephone are all happy to see you again!

In This The Gift of a

The folks at Craw's mill and shop have always knitted for each other's big holidays, but one person in their midst hasn't been entirely honest about his own birthday... Ariadne and Rory are going off on a much-needed vacation--are Jeremy and Aiden prepared for full-time childcare and all the hard questions it might entail?

And the Mountains Should

Hard times have come to Granby--can Craw and his small patchwork family survive fire in the pandemic, and find something to be thankful for on the other side?

Weddings and

After all the troubles and some years of peace, it really is time for everybody to get married. Has Jeremy come far enough along from his rabbit days to be the center of attention while his boy makes an honest man out of him?

Crocheting Hawks and Knitting Christmas

Gideon Haze and Pippen Madison commit a near-tragic mistake, and everybody's favorite bunny is laid up for Christmas! Can the bodyguard and his vulnerable charge find a way to atone for their lapse in judgment and grow into the men who can make themselves and their new Granby family safe from Pippen's dangerous father?

REVIEW: ⟫ The chicken in a Tuxedo on the front cover is fully explained, I promise.

Do you ever experience that feeling where you return somewhere and think, yeah, it was okay at the time but nothing special now? What about when you return somewhere and remember everything good about it, how it made you feel, the way it touched your heart and mind? Returning to Granby is definitely the latter – I only vaguely remembered Jeremy and Aiden until I started reading and my brain went ‘oh yes, happy place!’

Not that these stories are all happy – some of them are quite poignant, they remind us of a difficult time that the world went through, the struggles many are currently facing. But they also give us hope and faith that if we find our family – by blood or by choice – then we can make it out the other side.

I promised myself I was just going to read one of the short stories, and here I am at 6 am in the morning, sniffing away happy tears and writing these reviews whilst I still have all of those Granby feelings still in my heart. Having this now – for Christmas – may just be exactly what I needed to get me through the next few weeks, and I can only imagine the feeling is similar for so many other people. How Amy Lane continues to manage to rip my heart out with one hand, whilst giving me the mushiest love feelings of all time with the other is beyond me, but this book of stories is a perfect addition to Granby.

And, hey, if you can’t quite remember reading the Knitting/Crochet books, what better treat than to get them all for yourself in time for Christmas!

I received an ARC from the author.

The 12 Kittens of Christmas by Amy Lane

TITLE: ⟫ The 12 Kittens of Christmas

AUTHOR: ⟫ Amy Lane

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Killian Thornton likes his downtown life, tending bar, and enjoying time with his friends and community. He'd given up on passion long ago—he wasn't cut out for grand romance or dramatic gestures. Then one night, in a characteristic act of kindness, Killian offers his couch to help a friend's little brother find his feet in a new city, and everything Killian thought he knew about himself and his little life gets turned upside down.

Lewis Bernard, the funny, quirky guy happy to find a spot on Killian's couch, can’t believe his luck. After being forced to flee his parents’ house, he was afraid of what came next, but Sacramento seems to be treating him just fine. The stunningly handsome bartender who lives downstairs from his brother offers Lewis his couch and doesn’t even balk when Lewis discovers two abandoned kittens in a vacant lot as they walk home.

Vet bills, cat food bills, litter boxes—none of it was on Killian's Christmas agenda, but he jumps in gamely to help because all the shelters seem to be full, and that's just the kind of guy Killian is. But kittens can multiply faster than rabbits, and Killian and Lewis accidentally rescue more and more cats.

Lewis starts to panic. He really wants to know Killian better, but with each act of kindness, Lewis falls further in love while ruining Killian's life. How can Killian find time to fall in love with Lewis and ask him to stay if they’re inundated with destructive furry poop-machines who all seem to need a home before Christmas?

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my goodness, the cover for this book is absolutely perfect!

Right, on to the story! This was absolutely gorgeous – I read it on 1st December and it completely put me in the mood for Christmas. Killian was an absolute ANGEL who deserved everything and Lewis is just that!! And the cats – Boris and Natasha were so cute together, but Moose and Squirrel may well own my whole heart!

You have the traditional Amy Lane ability to create main characters that you love and want the best for; a cast of background characters who were the best friends available; and best thing ever for the festive season, there were SO many Easter Eggs from other series that I absolutely loved. You don’t need to have read any of them but it was a lovely nod to regular readers.

I’m about to put on some Christmas songs and head into another book – this one was absolutely brilliant and I am so glad it was the beginning of my Christmas reading.

I received an ARC from the author.

Honey Bee Murder by Dahlia Donovan

TITLE: ⟫ Honey Bee Murder

AUTHOR: ⟫ Dahlia Donovan

RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

SERIES: ⟫ Honey Bee Cosy Mysteries

BLURB: ⟫ George Bernard Sheth plans to spend July in the garden with his beloved pug, Bumble. He’s tending to his bees when a neighbour harasses him quite vocally. When the man winds up dead, all eyes are immediately on George and the many hives in his garden.

Murphy Baird knows without a doubt George wouldn’t harm a fly or a bee or an obnoxious rich businessman. He balances keeping his brewery going with trying to help solve the murder and preparing for the upcoming Highland Games. It’s not made any easier by the impending visit from his father.

As the mystery deepens, they find themselves not knowing quite who to trust. Can they find the killer before George winds up arrested for murder?

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this by saying that I didn’t realise that there was a book one. Once I realised that, I had to accept that I might be a little on the back foot with regards to the characters and dived in.

Not having read the first book was not much of a hindrance with regard to the characters – it’s made very clear who everyone is, how they’re related to everyone. The main character of George is neurodivergent, and this plays quite the role in his interactions with other people. It was quite heartening the way that the people around George understood the limitations he was under, supporting him in whatever way was necessary – there was quite the vein of love and affection that played out throughout the story.

The murder mystery was a little weak – simply the fact that George has bees should not really have made him a suspect. As George opines slightly dramatically, how is he meant to ‘control his bees’? I understood that the police had to investigate all claims but it just seemed a bit too exaggerated – at least in my opinion. Also, it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t tell who had committed the murder in that I didn’t care, which isn’t a great sign in a murder mystery romance.

I also felt that there was very little romance in the story. George and Murphy are a newly established couple and I expected more demonstrations of affection. I didn’t feel very much chemistry between the two male leads and there was no sex scenes to speak of. Murphy made little to no impression at all – he was the vague representation of a big, solid, protective male who was very involved in his brewery and loved his parents/family and George. Apart from that, I feel like I learned more about the pug, Bumble, than I did Murphy. It made his character more than a little one-dimensional and that was a shame.

My overall impression of this book is that it reminded me very much of an episode of a slow, easy, country life-style mystery along the lines of Murder She Wrote – easy viewing for everyone but nothing about it was particularly memorable. The writing itself was stilted and didn’t flow as easily as it might but I’m not sure if that was meant to be a representation of George or was simply the writer’s style.

If you’re looking for an easy, comfort read without little to no spice and a side-plot murder mystery, I can see people enjoying this book. I received an ARC from GRR.

Bad Pucking Influence by Michele Lenard

TITLE: ⟫ Bad Pucking Influence

AUTHOR: ⟫ Michele Lenard

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Thor meets Tony Hawk in this comedic, low-angst/high spice MM romance about a serious hockey goalie who is drawn out of his shell by a bratty skateboarder, a dare involving cake, and a lesson in how to use joysticks-for video games of course.

On the surface, I’ve got it all. I’m the starting goalie and Captain of the Colorado Bulldogs hockey team. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. I can count an entire team of elite athletes as my friends. And according to the pundits, I’m an eligible bachelor.

That's the image everyone sees, but it’s just a role I play. A part dictated by my career. I have to be just as perfect off the ice as I am on it since everything I do reflects on my team in some way or another. So, those questions I have about why I don’t crave sexual contact the way my teammates do–questions I’m afraid to ask with the world watching… I decided a long time ago it didn’t make sense to look for answers until after I retire.

Then I ran into him.

Tripp is loud, obnoxious, and full of confidence. Some people find his sass off-putting, but not me. I find it intriguing, and I admire his ability to be himself, consequences be damned. Apparently, I also admire the way he looks, since my eyes seem to linger on him longer than they should, and when he sets his sights on me…

Waiting for retirement to explore who I am seems like too big a sacrifice, so when Tripp offers to help me answer some of those questions about myself, I jump.

I'm tired of pretending to be Mr. Perfect… Tripp and his playboy antics might be just the thing I need to figure out who I am outside of hockey. The only problem is, everyone–including our mutual friends–see him as a bad pucking influence.

Bad Pucking Influence is a low-angst, high-spice MM romance featuring a hockey player and a brat, not a hockey book featuring a romance. Fans of bratty playboys and gentle giants will enjoy this light-hearted, steamy yet touching love story.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was an absolute hoot! I don’t think there was a single sexual thought that crossed Tripp’s mind that he didn’t let out of his mouth and I am SO here for it. As was Noah.

I really enjoyed reading this journey of discovery – for both men – as Noah realises that he isn’t broken just because he’s not wired the same way as other people, and Tripp realises that letting somebody in might just be worth it. I enjoyed the background characters and will be looking out for books featuring them. The sex scenes were numerous, entertaining and inventive (just as Tripp likes them!), and the small side plot near the end didn’t derail things which I was pleased about.

I very much enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Deliverance of Marek Sommers by Ashlyn Drewek

TITLE: ⟫ The Deliverance of Marek Sommers

AUTHOR: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

SERIES: ⟫ Spin-off from the Solnyshko Duet

BLURB: ⟫ Marek Sommers is everything Misha Chernyshevsky shouldn’t want—young, angry at the world, and, worst of all, a man. The fact Marek is dealing drugs for a competitor is the icing on the cake. None of that deters the Russian mafia boss, though.

From the moment he lays eyes on the surly bartender, Misha is captivated. Learning about Marek’s troubled past and fearing for his future, Misha is certain that Marek needs his help—whether he wants it or not.

Convincing Marek to trust him, however, proves to be a more formidable task than Misha anticipates. But if they have any chance of surviving the brutal world of the Russian mafia, Misha needs Marek to trust him before it’s too late. THE DELIVERANCE OF MAREK SOMMERS is a slow-burn MM romance about a down-and-out bartender with a harrowing past and the Russian mafia boss determined to save him from it all. Violence and heartache make the tender moments that much sweeter, HEA guaranteed. It is intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list of triggers can be found in the front matter of the book and at my website under Tropes & Triggers.

This book can be read as a stand-alone. However, it is a spin-off from the Solnyshko Duet and contains spoilers for those books if you haven’t read them.

REVIEW: ⟫ The Solnyshko Duet was the first experience of Ashlyn Drewek so finding out that Misha who featured in that duet had his own story made this a no-brainer. And like that duet, this book did not disappoint.

It would easy to get dragged down into the hell that life appears to be for Marek Sommers – he’s doing everything he can to take care of his siblings and save them from his nightmare of a mother, and yet he can’’t seem to catch a break. Throw in an abusive ex-lover who is determined to get Marek back and it’s perfectly obvious why Marek doesn’t trust Misha and everything he’s offering. I absolutely adored how stoic and consistent Misha would – he made himself a constant presence in Marek’s life, always there to lend a hand, a place to stay – something Marek hasn’t experienced.

It was even more touching with the fact that Misha was risking his life in how he was handling things with Marek – there was little doubt made of the fact that Sergei would have expected Misha to be more blunt in his discussions with Marek. The further insights into the views of the old-fashioned Russian brigade with regard to homosexual relationships and what they meant about the men involved with them were fascinating, albeit wince-inducing.

I loved the characters, especially Misha’s bodyguards who were incredibly loyal to him I also really enjoyed the fact that the brutal aspects of Misha’s life were not brushed over – from him making love with Marek with a single-minded determination to make everything about him juxtaposed with him handing out justice to the people who deserved it was handled extremely well.

There was a cameo from the Wolf and I loved the interactions between him and Marek – they made me laugh, especially after Misha got shot! The children in the story were written as children, not mini-adults which can often be the case. The slow burn was just long enough to make the interactions between Marek and Misha sizzle just that little bit more, and it was extremely satisfying watching them building such a normal relationship. Even after the truth of what Misha has done to get information out of Marek there wasn’t a miscommunication – Marek knew enough about the world to accept what Misha had done and why, and even appreciate the avenues he chose not to take.

This is a brutal mobster love story, very engaging, with excellent relationship building and a satisfying ending and merely confirmed my love for Ashlyn Drewek’s skilful writing.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Ben by Cora Rose (Unexpected #8)

TITLE: ⟫ Ben

AUTHOR: ⟫ Cora Rose

RATING: ⟫ 3/5

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected #8

BLURB: ⟫ It’s often said that everything is impossible until it’s done.

And while I’ve always known my infatuation with Cash and Ford was meant to remain an unfulfilled dream, I never really lost hope.

Hope that the two men, twice my age, would ever see me as more than just a kid. As more than just their best friend’s son.

But I’m not a kid any more, and at twenty-one, they’re about to see that little meek and quiet Ben is old enough for many things. Old enough to finally attract their attention. And frankly, old enough to know better. To know that these stolen touches and lustful trysts behind closed doors could never really amount to more.

Because everything will crumble as soon as Cash, Ford, and my father find out what I’ve been up to. That I’ve been keeping secrets from them all.

I can’t possibly keep them both.

I can’t keep them at all.

I know our love is impossible.

But, god help me, when has that ever stopped me?

REVIEW: ⟫ I find myself agreeing with another review that I saw that said this book could have just been a smutty novella without the unnecessary side-plots. Basically, this book was a sexfest from start to finish – not a bad thing by any means, but after a while I found myself wanting something more.

Ben was a confusing character for me. His insistence on secrecy made sense initially – having two best friends who happen to be your father’s age/friends and having sex with both of them secretly is a humdinger. I appreciated the fact that he told both Cash and Ford upfront that he wasn’t exclusive with either of them, thereby avoiding any hint of actual cheating. However, once the cat was out of the bag with those two, and it became increasingly obvious that Dean just wanted to connect with Ben and wouldn’t judge him, the concern about his father’s views seemed a little overblown and like padding that the story didn’t need.

I loved the dynamic between Ben, Ford and Cash – although I felt that their behaviour at the party was more than a little outrageous – and would probably have enjoyed this book more if it had been shorter. Full of Cora Rose’s standard banter, inner dialogue and interesting side-characters, this was well written but I do think it could have been much shorter and had a little more relationship development and a little less sex!

French Fancy by Lily Morton (The Model Agency #2)

TITLE: ⟫ French Fancy (The Model Agency #2)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Pip Simmonds is the twinkiest twink in London. He’s loud, proud, and packed to the brim with sass. But when he’s laid low by illness, even his hotpants lose their sparkle and his worried boss sends him to the South of France to recuperate in his holiday home.

Cap Ferrat is beautiful, and the periwinkle-blue villa is luxurious, but the real draw for Pip is the villa’s other resident—his boss’s younger brother, Olivier Durand.

Olivier owns a perfume empire and has spent his whole life running from any other form of commitment. He’s worldly, carefree, wild, and the perfect choice for a holiday fling.

Drawn together by proximity, the two men become lovers and friends and then something more. Something special. But will their special bond hold true after summer’s end, when they both must return to their real lives?

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

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.