Not Dating Material by Saxon James (Accidental Love #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Not Dating Material (Accidental Love #2)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ MOLLY

Moving to Seattle is supposed to be all about getting a fresh start and leaving the bitter man I was becoming behind.

I have new room-mates–quirky, sometimes strange, room-mates–a nosy, next door neighbor and a grumpy kitty for company, but even surrounded by people, I still don’t feel like I belong. Plus, it turns out the men in Seattle are exactly the same as the ones I left behind, and my string of romantic disconnections continues.

It’s not until one of my room-mates, Seven, hits me with some hard truths that I realize where I was going wrong.

Maybe the men aren’t the problem.

I am.

And there’s only one way to fix that.

SEVEN

Being found tied up naked to my bed by my cute new room-mate isn’t an ideal way for us to start a friendship.

But apparently a quid-pro-quo is.

He keeps his pretty lips zipped about the compromising position, and I step in as his dating coach. We go out, I point out where he’s going wrong, and he magically becomes dating material.

The problem is, between my codependent brother Xander and a new best friend I can’t get rid of, Molly and I are the target of a matchmaking scheme. My life is way too busy to add another person to it, and Molly is the kinda guy who needs to be made a priority, which I just can’t do. Xander’s medical anxiety takes up too much of my time, and I’ve never found a partner who doesn’t resent it.

I’m determined to help Molly find his ever after.

But that guy will never be me.

REVIEWS: ⟫ I really wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Molly after his appearance in Ford and Orson’s story, but Saxon made me feel so bad for him that I forgave his rash behaviour. He’s moved all the way to Seattle to get a fresh start, and what a start – meeting the boys from Big Bertha is an eye opener in so many ways.

I enjoyed how vulnerable Saxon allowed Seven to be – he presented as this big, tough guy, covered in tattoos and intimidating until you got to learn more about him. Refusing to swear, his badly hidden inner marshmallow and just the way he was always there for any of the boys (and Aggie) made me fall in love with him.

I liked the way in which the subject of Seven’s no dating rule was brought up – he thought he was being upfront, honest and direct whereas throughout the book, we see that HE might not have thought he was dating people, but others were not quite so sure.

There was background angst, especially with regard to Xander and Seven, but it didn’t really filter through to the main story – it more formed a background thread that you were aware of but didn’t have to suffer through. I loved the dates that Seven and Molly had; loved the way that Seven helped Molly build his confidence; the relationship between Molly, Seven and Xander; and the return to Big Bertha.

One of my favourite parts was when Madden asked Rush how come, if he wasn’t aware of the no-sleeping with room-mates rules, then how come he hadn’t made a move on Madden – that made me laugh so hard, although what a knock to Madden’s ego! I’m looking forward to more in the Accidental Love verse, especially after Seven met Molly’s dad and his initial reaction – that too made me giggle, and I loved the ease with which the two verses intermingled.

This book kept me entertained and gave me a HEA I could sigh happily about after reading and I can’t ask for more than that!

What We Earned by Hinsel Meyer

TITLE: ⟫ What We Earned

AUTHOR: ⟫ Hinsel Meyer

RATING: ⟫ 3/5

BLURB: ⟫ Glenn

With so many things to do before I graduate college, any distraction is an unwelcome one. I’m not in the greatest mindset when George arrives at my place to move in, and let’s just say I’m not a ray of f***ing sunshine our first day as roommates. When I finally make things right and start a tentative friendship with him, he throws me a curveball by kissing me. Can anyone blame me when my reaction to that kiss is to offer him a friends with benefits deal? The guy’s the definition of handsome—he looks like he could be a Hemsworth for f*ck’s sake—I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by now that I know he’s not straight. I have way too many things to do in order to get the life I want, so having a live-in hookup seems to be the perfect solution to let off some steam.

George

I’ve known I’m not straight for almost a year now. The realization didn’t come because of Glenn, but my attraction to him cemented it. Now, I have a chance to explore this new side of my sexuality with the only person in campus who I hung out with last year, too. The fact that he’s a gorgeous walking contradiction—buff and tattooed, but also a big-glasses-wearing genius—doesn’t hurt a thing. How he’s able to be so willingly vulnerable draws me in, and before I know it, I’m catching feelings. And just when I think he’s catching some himself, he drops a bomb that makes me question if the “friends” part of our deal is real.

Will Glenn ever fully trust me?

Glenn’s moving to Boston next year; no matter how much of a nervous wreck he is about getting his acceptance letter to MIT, I know he will—he’s worked too hard not to. And I… I don’t know where I’ll be, all I know is I’ll be playing for an NFL team. Our deal to be friends with benefits for our last year at Cavendish and then go back to being just friends seems to be the most logical, and we both love logic. But when things start going off track we have some decisions to make.

Will we fight for each other?

What We Earned is a contemporary MM Friends with Benefits, Bi-awakening, College Romance and Book 2 in the Fan Service Series. While it is a standalone, it would be best enjoyed by reading the series in order. This book has no cliffhangers and ends in a HEA. There are a lot of very gay things happening inside, so if that's not for you, then this book isn't either. If it is, then welcome to the mostly low-angsty world of the Fan Service Series, I'm thrilled to have you and hope you enjoy this journey.

REVIEW: ⟫ I struggled with this book – for me, it dragged until around 50%, and then I kept going through sheer bloody-mindedness and sunk-cost fallacy. That’s not to say it’s a bad book – I just found it nearly impossible to get into it, like the characters or care what was happening.

I would say that it was difficult to read as a stand-alone. From the very beginning, it references things that seem to have happened in the first book in the series (which I haven’t read) involving the intermingled friend groups of the two main characters. Sometimes when this happens, I will try to read the first book in the series to ‘catch up’ but I couldn’t bring myself to do that this time. I also found myself kinda disliking some of the characters from the previous book – they felt like ‘set’ pieces rather than real people. It’s hard to describe what I mean, but for example, Sebas was over the top, annoying and apparently loved by absolutely everyone.

Glenn was an interesting character – having survived his childhood, he was very self-aware and knew that he had issues. He had even pencilled in therapy as part of his life plan. He was determined to stick to his plan and a friends with benefits thing with George seemed ideal until he started catching feelings and then things just got very confusing for him. Unfortunately, I just didn’t like Glenn. I admired his resilience and his determination to get where he wanted in life, but I didn’t like him as a person. I found him difficult to picture in my head – I know he was meant to be a buff, tattoo-covered geek wearing glasses, but apart from the stereotypical imagery that produced, I couldn’t ‘see’ him in my head. Which made it difficult to figure out what all of the fuss was about – yes, Glenn was a genius, but when it came to human relationships he seemed like a bit of a robotic a**hole.

Then we come to George and I feel really bad, but I can barely remember anything about him. He just didn’t seem to come alive for me in any respect, and as such I didn’t care about him or what happened to him. Between him and Glenn, I didn’t feel heat, chemistry or even true regard – it began as a relationship of convenience and carried on that way. Even the ‘break’ felt overly complicated although I was really annoyed with Glenn for breaking such a cardinal rule. That felt out of character to me – for it not to even occur to him what he was doing until George reacted felt wrong, somehow.

The writing is solid, with good grammar and no plot holes. Perhaps if I had read the first book, this one wouldn’t have been such a struggle for me? I think marketing it as a stand-alone might be doing it a disservice somewhat but without reading the first novel, I couldn’t confirm that. This is a YMMV I think – perhaps I simply wasn’t in the right frame of mind for it?

I received an ARC from GRR.

Whispers in the Dark by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne (Black Oasis Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Whispers in the Dark (Black Oasis Book #1)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Nikole Knight and Lily Mayne

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ You never know what’s hiding under your bed…

At twenty-four, Cody has already lost hope of having a life of his own. All his time is spent playing nurse to a dying, spiteful step-father and maid to his bully half-brother. His only escapes are playing his favorite online fantasy game, Black Oasis, and talking to the strange, unearthly presence under his bed that may or may not actually exist.

But everything changes when his nightly visitor, who introduces himself as Nor, starts talking back.

As their connection deepens, Nor invites Cody into the surreal world existing just beyond his nightmares, filled with haughty demons, passion-killing pet bugs named Gef, and a dark landscape that is oddly familiar. With his sweet but monstrous companion by his side, Cody might finally gain the life of freedom and adventure that he’s always wanted.

Join Nor and Cody as they unearth the true meaning of hope, passion, and a love of endless depths that spans between worlds in Whispers in the Dark, the first book in Knight and Mayne’s co-authored queer, monster romance series, Black Oasis.

Whispers in the Dark is an M/M monster romance full of hurt/comfort, angst, humor, and a sweet, spicy love between a redheaded Texan and his precious, six-fingered Deepdweller. This love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Be sure to check the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book for more details.

REVIEW: ⟫ I went into this with vaguely high hopes and I wasn’t disappointed.

Cody’s life is just so sad, empty yet full of pain that it’s no wonder he begins talking to the darkness beneath his bed – even knowing it’s most likely either a monster or a figment of his imagination, it’s still the best thing to happen to him. It doesn’t take far into the book to realise that Cody is living in a dangerous situation – between the verbal abuse of his stepfather, the emotional damage being caused by his absent mother and the physical abuse he suffers fro his half-brother, it’s a wonder that Cody is the kind, caring individual that he is.

Nor is just amazing. I adore the fact that he rumbles and purrs encouragement at Cody; is terrified of a Pomeranian and thinks comparing something to dirt is a compliment. I giggled more than once at their interactions, but more than anything it was so sweet as these two began to trust each other and their relationship grew until it became sexual. Lily Mayne has a knack for writing hot monsters and she definitely achieved that with Nor,as well as creatures that I imagine will feature in their own story in the future.

Black Oasis as part of the world building was an excellent move and I’m intrigued as to how there are so many similarities, although I suspect a certain curly haired ghost might have something to do with that.

The story doesn’t shy away from the less pleasant aspects of looking after someone who is bed-bound, especially someone who treats their carer with such little respect and regard. The underlying subtext from Cody’s brother, as well as hints given elsewhere, gave the story some urgency and after visiting Nor’s home, I did wonder if it would be possible for Cody to get his happy ever after with Nor.

This book has some laugh out loud moments (Lau’s brother and his mischievous gifts comes to mind) meant that there was some levity to what could quite easily have been an angst-filled story and I appreciated that. Even when things got dark, there was always light and the authors did a great job of ensuring that you knew there was going to be a way through. I felt that the joint-writing was almost seamless and that the authors seemed to work well together and produce something more than worthy of an afternoon’s read.

Captured: A Dark Romance by R.A. Frick

TITLE: ⟫ Captured: A Dark Romance

AUTHOR: ⟫ R.A. Frick

RATING: ⟫ 1/5

BLURB: ⟫ Running away from small-town Montana to Los Angeles, and meeting the handsome Jayantha, Cal thinks his luck is getting better. The man with Jay is looking for models, but Cal gets kidnapped and brought far away from his American life and innocent world view.

Jay learns his family has secrets of their their matchmaking is a front for kidnapping people to sell. He's not sure how to save himself, let alone the innocents they have imprisoned...

Can Cal trust anyone, or will he have to save himself?

*

Content Warning: If you like your stories dark and twisty before the romance happens, this book has that in spades. If you like your romance fluffy with insta-love, this is not the book for you! Third person, past tense, dual POV. Full content warning inside.

REVIEW: ⟫ I love a dark and twisty romance so this sounded like it would be well up my street. Judging by the other reviews this has received, this hit the mark for a LOT of people. Unfortunately, not for me.

None of the characters were built into someone to care/root for; lots of the story seemed to make little to no sense, with villains that were worse than caricatures; I seriously do not understand how any of this made it past beta readers because it was just all so off. It had the bones of a really good, interesting story but unfortunately it was never truly fleshed out.

The relationship between Jay and Cal could barely be called a relationship – in fact, the blurb says if you like insta-love, this is not for you but there is no other way to describe the situation-ship between the two men. There was no reason for Cal to trust Jay, and certainly no reason for Jay to want to save Cal and the others. Even the ‘intimacy’ between Cal and Jay was transactional at best and the fact that Cal was a virgin before anything happened between them actually makes things feel so much worse.

There felt like there was a lot of MF content, albeit non-consensual, and just overall I don’t think this was the book for me at all. I’m not going to get into the whole editing, spelling thing because I know that isn’t the substance of the book, but there were errors in who was speaking, etc that didn’t help.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Only Skin Deep by Kelex

TITLE: ⟫ Only Skin Deep

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kelex

RATING: ⟫ 3/5

BLURB: ⟫ Welcome to the world of Enchanted Ink! For a price, master tattooists can place a beautiful spell directly onto your skin. Want to be wealthy? Beautiful? Loved? You’ve come to the right place. Just make sure the price you’ll pay is worth it as the cost isn’t always in gold.

****

Luca Galioto can tattoo just about any spell, but he specializes in healing tattoos. He’ll need to create his masterpiece after his mate, and Salem PD detective, Ash Montgomery brings in a human suffering a curse to end all curses. Luca uses every ounce of strength to save the man—because they both sense he’s their third.

Colby Kennedy doesn’t believe in witches, demons, fated mates, and the things that go bump in the night. Yet he struggles to ignore the deep-seated lust he feels every time he looks at Luca and Ash. No matter his need, he has his brother to care for and a business to run. He doesn’t have time for nonsense.

The demons don’t stop coming, putting everything he holds dear in jeopardy. Luca and Ash, and the coven at Enchanted Ink, are the only things keeping him and his brother from losing everything.

But can he accept their world and his place in it before it’s too late?

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh I wanted to love this one! Fated mates who just happen to be thirds, tattoos with magic imbued in them, demons and a coven in trouble – it just sounded like it would be a breakneck-paced romance with masses of passion and lust, with protectiveness thrown in and magic being thrown around to protect people. Phew!

Yeah, no – this wasn’t that. For a story that involves a third being nearly killed by a tattoo, with demons threatening to destroy much needed/desired third parties, this story lacked passion for me – which is a surprise as in order to recharge, Luca and Ash go at it quite a bit. I felt like the story got a bit lost in the people – not a lot actually happened apart from hints of another pairing, Daniel turning out to be more than just a little magical, and Colby falling under the spell of two good looking men who insisted he was sent to complete them.

We didn’t find out the underlying reason for what the demons were doing, there was no big battle, and even getting Colby to accept his new reality was nowhere near as difficult as I thought it might be. It all just felt a bit – flat? Or maybe too ‘normal’ for a story that was so heavily steeped in the paranormal.

The writing was solid, some of the characters were better written than others, and the world building/premise behind the mate-mark were really intriguing but this story just didn’t fill in enough of the blanks that I wanted to read. Perhaps further through the series, we will learn more about the background of the coven, why the demons might choose to attack the way they have and how everyone fits into this world, but at the moment I don’t think this was a satisfactory introduction to a new series and I’m not sure I’ll read any further.

I received an ARC from GRR.

A Salt Bitter Sea by Amy Lane (The Luck Mechanics Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ A Salt Bitter Sea

AUTHOR: ⟫ Amy Lane

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Miller Aldrun has spent his life being Cassandra, the prophet nobody believes. Born knowing when a dangerous, armed presence is nearby, Miller has always been dismissed—and had to see the people he cares about hurt. Grieving the death of a closeted lover, he finds solace cruising the waterways of Spinner’s Drift, making sure the people in the outlying islands feel safe.

When Miller discovers the weekly gathering at The Magic of Books, its members become the family he didn’t know he could have. That includes Piers Constantine, who’s hiding on the islands with his cousin to elude her stalker.

Golden, kind, and humble, Piers finds Miller fascinating. But Piers is destined to leave the island, and even if he’s the only person who ever had faith in Miller, Miller can’t bear the thought of losing someone else he loves.

Then Miller wakes up with that familiar warning in his gut. The long-ago evil that has been stalking Piers and his cousin is catching up. Miller’s gift might be the only way to protect them… but he’ll have to let Piers in. Together, they plunge into one of the island’s oldest mysteries. For once, being Cassandra is on Miller’s side. Piers and Miller conceive a desperate plan to set them free from fear—but if Miller fails, he knows nothing will be left of him but the salt-bitter sea.

REVIEW: ⟫ A Salt Bitter Sea is more of an ensemble piece than a romance novel – the lives of all of the Luck Mechanics are so intertwined, it couldn’t really be any other way.

I’ll admit that Miller wasn’t really on my radar when reading the first book and I may well reread it to see what Piers sees in him. This book is another rapid descent into magical insanity, with Miller being able to tell them that something ‘bad’ is coming. The sheer disbelief when not only do they believe him but make plans based on what he says is so obvious – you can feel Miller waiting for the other shoe to drop as these people accept something about him that even his parents didn’t.

The romance between Piers and Miller felt like it was in the background for quite a chunk of time, which is a shame as they have a fascinating dynamic. We find out more about the ghosts around Tom’s bench and what can be done for them, as well as adding at least two new people to the core group.

This was an enjoyable romp, full of suspense, terror-inducing ideas, love and found-family, and a very good additional to the series. There is still more coming the way of the Luck Mechanics and I look forward to seeing just how all of their gifts together can make things better for everyone.

I received an ARC from the author.

Second Match by Wendy Rathbone (Perfect Match Agency #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Second Match

AUTHOR: ⟫ Wendy Rathbone

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ One failed attempt with the Perfect Match Agency leads to a second—will this omega be The One?

Morgan Dor is a handsome wealthy businessman who attracts young omegas easily, but most are looking for a sugar daddy and never stick around.

Signing up with the Perfect Match Agency sounded like the best bet for finding his perfect mate, someone with whom he might form a real relationship, but his first match ended almost before it could get started when the omega matched to him fell for his office assistant instead.

Now the agency has found a second match for Morgan. He’s been skunked before. His heart is yearning but his mind tells him not to get his hopes up. Will it happen again? Will his second match find someone else, just like all the other omegas he’s ever dated or hooked up with? Or will this omega, finally and forever, be his perfect match?

Perfect Match Agency is a multi-author gay romance series. The stories are non-shifter omegaverse, with high heat and low angst. Male pregnancy is possible in the world. Each book can be read as a standalone, features a new couple, and a satisfying happily ever after.

REVIEW: ⟫ Morgan would have been well within his rights to be sceptical of the Perfect Match Agency having a suitable omega for him – the last time they sent someone, they fell in love with his assistant. But Morgan is prepared to give them a second chance and allow for some idiosyncrasies in how he was to meet his omega – at his parents’ property in the evening. There was also the fact that they were insisting on marriage before any mating took place, which was a little out there but he was prepared to risk it for the chance to meet the right man for him.

Riley is allergic to sunlight, which in his parents’ religion means that he’s a demon. As such, they have done the right thing for him all of these years, but now that he is old enough to go into heat, they need to marry him off. He’s managed to avoid the less than attractive offers he’s received from the alphas in the community but time is running out and something has to be done. But what kind of alpha will want an omega with Riley’s condition?

This was actually a sweet, gentle romance with an omega who has more than made the best of what life has given him but who yearns for freedom, and a mature, sensible Alpha who longs for his perfect match. Riley and Morgan were supportive and kind to each other and the Perfect Match agency have managed to do it again.

There were some parts of the story that I felt were unnecessary – the ‘villain’ was a bit of a caricature who wanted Riley for himself which didn’t make sense to me because according to their religion, he was a demon so surely none of the members should have wanted anything to do with him? I thought Riley’s parents were a little bit one-dimensional but to be fair, they weren’t the main thrust of the story. It was nice to see characters from other books in the series and I would recommend this if you are looking for something quietly sweet to read.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Right Place, Right Time by H. L. Day

Title: ⟫ Right Time, Right Place

Author: ⟫ H.L. Day

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Sometimes the path to true love twists so much that you end up right back where you started.

Ben Sutcliffe’s teenage crush on his best friend’s dad burned hotter than a forest fire. Jasper Bennet was sexy, kind, and caring—the perfect man. He was also straight and off-limits. The wrong man at the wrong time. So when tragedy sent Ben running for the hills, he never looked back… until now.

The sleepy village of Pilsdale is exactly how Ben remembers it, and so is Jasper. Only this time, there’s a glint in Jasper’s eye that says Ben might not have known everything about him.

The key to overcoming Ben’s past can be found in Jasper’s arms. But he can’t stay. He has a whole life waiting for him outside Pilsdale. But the longer he stays, the more he thinks it’s finally the right time to be with the right man.

Right Place, Right Time is a low angst contemporary, small town, best friend’s dad, age gap, M/M romance. It features a main character who had good taste even as a teenager, a main character who always puts others first to his own detriment, an animal sanctuary, not-so-secret admirers, meddling villagers, a massage or three, and a sprinkling of humor.

Review: ⟫ Right Place, Right Time is exactly as described – it’s a sweet, low-angst romance with an age gap, complete with the best friend’s dad twist just for a little more spice. Ben and Jasper were sweet, kind and both deserving of a HEA but Ben is wary especially as he doesn’t want to read into things too much. There were a few mishaps and misunderstandings, but one of the best things about the story is the fact that both Ben and Jasper made an effort to talk to each other – communication wasn’t just a buzz-word, they did make an effort to let the other person know what they were feeling.

I liked the way that they addressed the age-gap thing face-on – in fact, they went through ALL of the possible reasons why a relationship between the two of them wouldn’t work – it was lovely that the author didn’t hide behind any of that to make an artificial complication. Especially when they had a naturally occurring one!

I felt that the ending was perhaps a little rushed and a couple of the characters felt like a little too much, but that feeling will probably depend on the mood you’re in/life experiences. I didn’t grow up in a place where everyone knew who you were, so the village occupants’ actions felt a little over the top for me, but what do I know?

A nice, generally uncomplicated romance, with a smidgeon of humour and a good set of characters, this was a lovely read. I received an ARC from GRR.

Consumed by Bailey Nicole (Black Diamond Unlucky 13 #7)

Title: ⟫ Consumed (Black Diamond Unlucky 13 #7)

Author: ⟫ Bailey Nicole

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa…

Growing up in a small town in Georgia, I never dreamed of starting a band that would blow up from a viral video or that I’d live in a mansion on the beach in Miami, Florida.

Since we were seven years old, my best friend Percy had dreamed big enough for both of us. He’d always known this would be our future.

But he’s been slowly killing me for years, and yet he’s the only reason I’m still alive. He needs me. He needs me for comfort. He needs me to hold him and love him. Percy wants to live in my skin, and even that wouldn’t be close enough.

But he doesn’t want me the way I want him.

Money. Fame. Medications. Therapy.

None of that could’ve prevented what transpired that night, and even though it put me in a mental health facility, I don’t regret it. Not one bit.

Because without him, there is no me.

Consumed is an M/M romance between two highly codependent childhood best friends. Please read the content warning at the beginning of the book as there are themes that might be triggering for some readers.

Review: ⟫ This is actually a really difficult book to review for several reasons. The main reason is that the depiction of the mental struggles of the main character felt so personal that commenting on them feels wrong.

The relationship between Percy and Junesy is so incredibly co-dependent that I kinda wondered how they managed to breathe when other person wasn’t in the room. Their relationship was – well, strange – and part of my difficulty in reviewing is that I struggled to understand the miscommuncation. I fully understood Winston’s feelings – he didn’t feel good enough for Percy, and that along with the issues with his mother and father meant that he tried to pull away. But I didn’t get why Percy didn’t tell Winston how he felt – like, outright just say it. Mind you, it wasn’t like he wasn’t giving HUGE clues with the physical aspect of things that were happening.

I feel that this has quite a different vibe to the other books in the series and therefore it’s difficult to review it on the same level. Who am I to say whether or not this is an accurate depiction of the mental disorders that Winston was struggling with? The ‘romance’ was intense, troubling, complicated but also heart-warming and rewarding, with both men well aware of who/what they are to each other.

Winston’s method of handling the management issue was brilliant and I admit, I welled up a little reading the letter.

I would say take any author warnings seriously, consider whether this is a good book for you to read, but if you are not triggered, I think a lot of people will find this book enjoyable.

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative.

Diablo by Cora Rose (Unexpected #7)

Title: ⟫ Diablo (Unexpected #7)

Author: ⟫ Cora Rose

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ After my honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, it only made sense to put my skills to good use as a personal bodyguard. The contracts keep me moving and traveling, and the money is good. All I’ve ever wanted was to make sure my mother and sister were taken care of after my father passed away. So when Anthony Costello, the notorious mob boss and my dad’s ex-employer, asked me to take on a special job for his family, I couldn’t say no.

But not even my six-year stint as an elite Marine could have prepared me for the hellscape that is being trapped in a secluded safe house with his son. Diablo Costello is a rude little chaos gremlin that lives to push all my buttons. I can’t keep him safe if he’s determined to fight me every step of the way. But I can see through the bratty facade. I know what Diablo needs. What he longs for. And God help me, I’m going to give it to him.

This book is a little different than my other books due to the characters involved. Please check the content warning in the beginning of the book!

Review: ⟫ From the first page, you’re thrown into the chaos that is Diablo's life – when we begin reading, he is being threatened by an ex-boyfriend of his twin brother’s who he has ‘hacked’ and needs to be put somewhere safe.

Skylar is his bodyguard, a man pushed beyond his patience by the chaos that is Diablo and how he goes through life. The difference is that Skylar sees Diablo, as well as the needs he is hiding behind his chaotic, obnoxious exterior.

This would normally push so many of my buttons: size-difference, bodyguard, psycho falling in love, mafia – so much to choose from and devour. Unfortunately, this book simply did not work for me. I disliked Diablo intensely and thought he was immature and annoying. The refusing to admit he liked something was amusing to begin with – when it kept happening in situations where his denial was completely absurd, I began to get annoyed.

The feelings of annoyance got worse the more that I read and I finished the book because I felt obligated rather than because I wanted to know what happened in the end.

The physical relationship/sex scenes were intense and fun but I didn’t feel that there was enough between our two leads for there to be a HEA – Diablo felt too young and immature, and I didn’t know enough about Skylar to feel like I knew who he was and what he wanted. Some of their interactions were funny, but overall this book just didn’t work for me because I didn’t like the main protagonist. I admit I have been enjoying Cora Rose less and less with each book but that may well be my issue – YMMV. If you enjoyed Lex, then you will probably enjoy Diablo but this book wasn’t for me.

Stepbrother Dearest by Willow Dixon (Crimson Club #1)

Title: ⟫ Stepbrother Dearest (Crimson Club #1)

Author: ⟫ Willow Dixon

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Of all the people who could have seen me when I was at my most vulnerable, it had to be him.

Caleb. My stepbrother and the golden child of our messed up blended family. We barely know each other, but for some reason he takes care of me when an incident at the club leaves me helpless and alone.

He hates me as much as I hate him, but something about his bossy attitude and unflappable calm soothes me. I don’t want to want him, but no one has ever made me feel the way he does.

Hooking up with my enemy is stupid as f*ck. So is breaking my rules for him. I know this, but whatever is between us will eventually burn out and I can go back to my solitary life and forget all about how amazing it feels to let someone else take control.

* * * * *

Gray and Caleb’s story is an enemies-with-benefits-to-lovers romance between stepbrothers who discover that sometimes the person you hate is the only one who can give you what you need. Expect lots of steamy encounters, tons of dirty talk, and reluctant feels as these two enemies learn the truth about themselves, and each other. It is the first book in the exciting new Crimson Club series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Review: ⟫ I’m always fascinated by the stepbrother trope – I have seen it written so many different ways but I enjoyed reading this one. Gray and Caleb are stepbrothers in name more than anything else – there was very little interaction between them when they were growing up and they didn’t have a sibling relationship. I know that can be something that puts people off reading this trope (although others prefer it if the couple DID grow up together – YMMV).

Gray was very close to rock bottom and feels like a failure when he meets up with Caleb again and lingering resentment from the past taints their interactions. I thought Caleb sounded dreamy and could well understand Gray’s feelings of insecurity and resentment – it seemed like everything had gone Caleb’s way whilst Gray was left to struggle. Add that to his brother’s relationship with Gray’s rival from his past, potentially losing his job and being forced to live in his car again and Gray was not in a good place.

What I loved about Gray was his ability to be honest with himself – to see his brother’s relationship as something to be happy about; his ability to make the most of what he had, especially with his relationships with the other dancers and how that grew stronger throughout the story; his feelings for Caleb and how he slowly began to relax and see that he could have this, that his life could take a new, unexpected turn that gave him a chance for happiness.

Caleb was brilliant – I loved his character, his caring nature, his ability to see past Gray’s prickliness to what was underneath, and ultimately how well he fits with Gray. This was a sexy, involving read, with a host of entertaining characters and a satisfying ending. Definitely a good read and I would recommend it.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Dead Serious: Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes by Vawn Cassidy

Title: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tristan Everett was finally getting used to the strangeness that was his life. Being able to see the dead and helping them solve their unfinished business and cross into the light wasn’t so bad after all, especially when he was accompanied by his best friend, dead drag queen Dusty Le Frey. His boyfriend, sexy Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, now knew the truth about Tristan’s “gift,” and they were about to move in together officially.

Life was good.

That is until Death—honest to god, Death (aka The Grim Reaper)—pitches up in Tristan’s kitchen with an unusual stop Dusty’s ghostly hookup Bruce from crossing into the light, which may result in dire consequences.

Determined to do the exact opposite, Tristan and Danny assemble their own ragtag gang of one prickly witch, one snarky psychic private investigator, one living drag queen with an affinity for feathers, and one dead one with an affinity for a deceased rugby player in tiny shorts. Together they must solve a forty-year old cold case, while juggling a dose of the flu, a broken leg, a supernatural storm, and an immortal death deity with the looks and temperament of a sexy but grouchy CEO.

Seriously… what could possibly go wrong?

Review: ⟫ Tristan is back along with Danny, Dusty, Chan and the beginnings of quite the Scooby Gang. The third instalment deals with our very own Bruce, the rugby player in the skimpy shorts who has Dusty in a tizzy.

The relationship between Danny and Tristan seems to be the only solid thing in Tristan’s life as everything else goes haywire – including visits from Death, a supernatural storm, Bruce’s body being found and all of the potential mess that can incur along with Death’s slightly deranged ‘twin’ in the form of chaos trying to escape the book store. So, business as usual.

As is usual with Vawn Cassidy, all of the characters get their chance to shine and watching as the gang get closer together and Danny and Tristan realise how loved they truly are, we learn about Bruce’s life (and death) and get more insight into the strangeness that surrounds Tristan like a fog.

I enjoyed reading this one – as I may have mentioned before, these books feel like reading/watching Murder She Wrote but with more sexy times and a little bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed seeing Chan being pursued, can definitely sense some tension between other members of the gang, and I was so pleased with how Danny handled Viv – who knew we needed the miserable, cantankerous drunk and could grow to like her?

Despite being a murder case, that took the backseat to revelations from the past, people admitting their feelings and Danny and Tristan finally finding somewhere to live without a leaking roof. A very good instalment in the series and I look forward to seeing just what Tristan, Danny and the gang have to deal with in the next book.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The First and Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer by S.E. Harmon

Title: ⟫ The First and Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ In the archaeology community, Christopher “Kit” Sawyer’s family is a legacy. And while he may be a historian, not a treasure hunter, he thinks he does a pretty good job of living up to the Sawyer name. He's a book-smart research fanatic and does his best work at his tidy desk. No fedora and whip for him, if you please—a nice cup of coffee and a comfy chair will do. But decoding an ancient relic soon gives him more adventure than he bargained for.

Unwittingly, he unleashes a force he doesn't know how to control. And now he has to reunite the relic with a powerful Aztec God. The trouble with that? Kit doesn’t where to find the Tlaloc’s temple. No one does, in fact. Finding it could be a discovery for the ages. It could also lead to his untimely death. So...yay? But it’s not like he has a choice. So off to the Mexican jungle he goes.

At least he isn’t going alone.

Ethan Stone, former stepbrother and overall pain in the rump, horns in on the expedition. An experienced archaeologist, he's only coming along at their grandfather's request—which annoys Kit to no end. But he knows Ethan is just the right person to get them through the jungle safely. It’s just too bad someone is trying to beat them to the temple. And he’s willing to do anything to get there first.

Ethan thinks Kit is in over his head. Kit is secretly afraid he just may be right. In manners of archaeology...and manners of the heart….

Review: ⟫ Ooh think Indiana Jones meets National Treasure and you have this book, but throw in some hot men falling in love and it gets SOOO much better! I happen to list the Indiana Jones and National Treasures as some of my favourite comfort movies, so reading the blurb of this had me happy dancing in my seat.

And I was not let down!

This book was a humdinger of a ride, with thrills galore, a smidge of the supernatural and banter and hot sex – an absolutely perfect recipe if you ask me! Kit made me laugh with his self-deprecating humour and he touched my heart – feeling such an imposter in a famous, adventurous family and health concerns meaning he literally couldn’t pick up the family mantle.

I felt for poor Ethan – there he was, thinking he was being so blatant and at every turn Kit misunderstood him and his intentions. It’s enough to drive a swashbuckling hero insane. His protectiveness over Kit yet his willingness to stand back and let Kit have his shot was just one of Ethan’s good points – he was an absolutely brilliant foil for Kit, understanding both sides of his personality and aware of his history enough to just get why Kit felt the way he did.

This was a fun read, with some hot sex amidst the adventure and I am really pleased I read it – S.E. Harmon has never let me down yet!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Anonymous Alpha by MM Farmer (Bangers & Mash #7)

Title: ⟫ Anonymous Alpha (Bangers & Mash #7)

Author: ⟫ MM Farmer

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ When everything goes wrong and the world is set against him, who can a desperate omega in trouble turn to for help?

Evan

I should have been careful what I wished for, because after the most amazing and torrid heat I’ve ever experienced, I certainly got it! The glittery, bubblegum pop image that the record label created for me, the one I was so ready to move away from, has been blown out of the water, because someone leaked a tape of me and the ESA I’d hired to take me through heat.

And on top of that, despite precautions, I might have an even bigger “little” problem after that heat. I have no one to turn to but Sable, who the media is calling the “anonymous alpha”. I barely know him, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.

Will he help me, or will he think I’ve ruined his life?

Sable

I’m used to helping high-profile omega clients, but nothing could have prepared me for the media firestorm when a tape of me and Evan Mercer hit the internet. Everyone is saying Evan leaked the tape on purpose to get out of his recording contract, but when I get a tearful, panicked call from Evan, an entirely different story comes out.

I will do whatever it takes to protect my omega, because Evan is mine now, even if it was just an ESA call that brought us together. I’m ready to stand by my man, and once we figure out who blasted his career and his life to bits, the gloves will come off and I’ll show the world just what it means to defend the man I love.

Anonymous Alpha is a stand-alone, an omega in distress, alpha to the rescue story in the Bangers & Mash series. It contains a very good boy doing very, very bad things, the worst day ever, hidden cameras (not the good kind), an escape from the media, friends coming to the rescue, and Evan Mercer’s BIGGEST FAN EVER!!!

PLEASE This is not a shifter series. But you know how the other books have had a warning that no omegas are impregnated during the course of the book? *whistles innocently*

Review: ⟫ I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series so went into it completely blind. I found it fascinating the whole idea of having a service where alphas would help omegas through their heats and enjoyed the way that this was handled in the book – the sex work aspect of this was handled very professionally which was nice to see.

Evan is ready to move on from his teeny-bopper image – and his awful manager. Once he’s through this heat, his contract will be up with the record company and he can outwardly become the grown-up they refuse to allow him to be. His manager is a complete sleaze who sees Evan as a cash-cow and is not happy at the changes ahead.

Into this mix comes Sable, an Emergency Support Alpha, who feels a pull towards Evan that he’s never experienced before in all of his time helping omegas through their heats. He certainly isn’t expecting a sex tape to be released, labelling him as Evan’s anonymous alpha and splashing the time they spent together all over the press.

The 180 turn of the media and some of the fans towards Evan at this negative happening felt a little too realistic – we all know that the press loves nothing more than a scandal and this is a huge scandal. How Evan and Sable find their way through the terrible situation that they’re placed in whilst adjusting to their new bond and a surprise pregnancy makes for an interesting story.

It is light and doesn’t dwell too much on the negative side of fame and the role that social media plays in that, but the subject is touched on and I appreciated that. Otherwise, this is a fated-mates/insta-love story with some hot, very kinky sex and a fight for justice that was entertaining.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener

Title: ⟫ Between The Devil and the Sea

Author: ⟫ Chani Lynn Feener

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ What happens when a devil claims a demon?

Detective Shadow Yor hates his life.

He spends all of his time, day after day, struggling against the demons in his head that tell him he’s a worthless, unlovable person. This doesn’t change when he’s sent on a new assignment with his partner to solve a series of murders. He’s good at his job and will find whoever did it, there’s no doubt there. The only question is whether or not he’ll be able to keep himself together, or if his empathic abilities will finally be the death of him.

Apollo Orobas is bored.

He’s bored of his secret nighttime proclivities and bored of playing the part of charming neighborhood do-gooder. Apollo isn’t good, never has been, but just when he’s starting to think life holds no interest, Shadow Yor stumbles into his sights. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out the detective is also hiding his true self, and suddenly coaxing Shade’s monster out into the light is all Apollo can think of. As obsession sinks its claws in, he decides it’s time for a new game, one Shade is going to play with him. Whether he likes it or not.

Kidnapped and forced to endure whatever twisted plans Apollo has in store, Shade struggles to hold onto his idea of right and wrong, but the more he tries to resist, the more those lines start to blur. What chance does a mere demon have against an actual devil? Especially one who soothes those twisted voices in his head and makes him feel for the first time ever that maybe he isn’t as unlovable as he’s always believed.

Trigger Warning: This is a stand-alone dark romance which means there are many themes that some might find disturbing. Some of these include, but are not limited to, dub-con, violence, a seriously obsessed male lead, a male lead who deals with low self-esteem, and explicit sexual content not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to read the Author's Note for a complete list of warnings! HEA guarantee!

Review: ⟫ I debated on writing a review for this book – my mind was kinda all over the place. I loved the premise and the blurb caught my attention, along with the beautiful cover. However, I found that some of the book dragged – we had a LOT of Shadow’s thought processes and after a while it became more than a bit tedious.

I was also struck by the way in which characters behaved: Shadow’s partner’s actions towards the end of the book simply didn’t ring true for me and I struggled with that aspect of things quite a lot.

The idea of a White (slightly dusty) Knight being turned to the darkness definitely intrigued me, but I don’t feel that this book really managed to portray just why Shadow made the decisions that he did. It was more than obvious that he was struggling with feelings of worthlessness and depression, but despite his inner monologues I couldn’t quite figure out just why/how he fell for Apollo.

The other thing I struggled with were the character’s voices – sometimes they merged in my head and that made things very confusing.

I did like the world building that was present and would be interested in reading more about such a place/world but ultimately, this book didn’t hit the spot for me.

Atlas by Eden Finley (Mike Bravo Ops #3)

Title: ⟫ Mike Bravo Ops: Atlas

Author: ⟫ Eden Finley

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ ATLAS

Working undercover at a strip club is not my usual kind of job. If it weren’t a great opportunity to show the Mike Bravo team I can run my own op, I wouldn’t have agreed to it.

When my boss asks me to befriend the biggest gossip in the establishment, the person who knows everything, I’m even more reluctant. Because that happens to be one of the dancers. The only dancer to catch my attention in all the wrong ways.

I need to be professional or I will never prove I’m leadership material.

Only problem is, the guy with the stage name Lemon makes me want to be anything but professional.

LEMON

I’m sick of the new bartender throwing dirty looks my way. He’s as judgmental as he is hot, and let’s just say he’s really judgmental.

I don’t know why he’s working here if he looks down on us dancers so much. He could bartend at a regular club.

But when he saves me from a drunken customer getting too handsy, his attitude suddenly flips, and we find ourselves becoming … friends?

Underneath the judgment, it turns out Atlas is a total sweetheart.

Maybe more caring than anyone I’ve ever met.

I’ve never had a relationship before, but something tells me it could be way too easy to fall for the gentle giant.

Review: ⟫ I have to be honest and admit that I didn’t remember much about Atlas – which is a shocker because he sounds absolutely divine! This was Lemon’s story all the way: from the descriptions of his dancing to his sassy attitude and his ‘Mom’ demeanour, Lemon owned this whole book.

I liked how Atlas faced up to his subconscious prejudices and addressed them, and even when he wasn’t perfect about it, he was willing to listen and to learn. I loved Lemon’s audacity in how he chose to take care of his boys, and my heart broke for him when the betrayal was revealed.

This was a really lovely addition to the Mike Bravo series, giving us glimpses of the other guys (especially Iris but everyone has a soft place in their heart for Iris) and I was pleased with the instalment.

Goes Unpunished by M.J. May (Maverick Insurance Mystery #2)

Title: ⟫ Goes Unpunished

Author: ⟫ M J May

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ Three years ago, Perry Atherton’s young life almost ended in a dark alley when he tried to play a superhero. Now, Perry’s stagnant life has been resurrected into happy contentment. No one’s tried to kill him in months, and beyond Wille Slater’s creepy vibes, Perry’s custodial position at Maverick Insurance is going well. Even better, his relationship with Detective Nathaniel Harmon has the potential to turn into something loving and lasting.

Lying in the back of a pick-up truck, the Milky Way stretched above him and snuggled up next to Nate, Perry couldn’t be happier. A phone call from Nate’s work partner ends the best date Perry’s ever been on and throws his boyfriend back into another murder investigation.

As a homicide detective, Nate’s used to the inconvenient calls, late hours, and missed promises with Perry. What he’s not used to is sort of, kind of knowing the homicide victim and the need to interrogate Perry’s best friend—Gayle Ridley.

Death is never easy. Murder is worse. Dealing with your boyfriend’s hurt feelings and protective instincts is brutal. Nate needs to solve this murder pronto so he can get out of the doghouse and crawl back under the covers with the man he loves.

When a suspect in Nate’s latest murder investigation threatens Perry, Nate will push himself to the limits. Perry has suffered enough, and Nate will be damned if he brings his dangerous work to Perry’s door. The world needs to learn that Perry Atherton is off-limits, and Nate will make sure the message is delivered loud and clear.

Goes Unpunished is the second book in the Maverick Insurance Mysteries series. The first book, No Good Deed, should be read prior. Goes Unpunished is a m/m romantic mystery and contains good friends, sketchy coworkers, lazy and hungry cats, thoughtful dating, and an exhausted detective and his understanding boyfriend.

Goes Unpunished contains descriptions of homicide and a character using a homophobic slur once.

Review: ⟫ When I saw this book offered by GRR, I made a point of reading the first one in the series so that I knew what was going on, but to be completely honest, I’m still not sure!

The majority of the novel concentrates on the homicide case Nate is working on. Keith just so happens to be dating the roommate of Perry’s best friend, Gayle, who is in the unfortunate position of having been completely upfront and honest about just how much she hates Keith. It’s this tenuous link that involves Perry in the investigation – Nate has to be careful to be impartial, even if it means sitting back whilst Perry’s best friend is accused of murder.

That all sounds good so far and we are involved in the investigation as we follow Nate and his partner as they follow the clues. But absolutely none of that has anything to do with Maverick Insurance and that’s where my confusion lies. There is something odd going on where Perry works as a custodian for Maverick Insurance – he has found himself amidst a group of killers and that is made plain in the book – but it has nothing to do with Nate’s investigation.

And that’s where my suspension of disbelief struggles. The big story is obviously Maverick Insurance – how it came to be, who they are, and why they are watching over Perry – but none of that is discussed or alluded to in the two books in the series so far. And, to be a little blunt, I think that story would be far more interesting than the ones we’ve read so far. We don’t get to find out just why Delia and Malcolm are so attached to Perry – apart from the fact that he shows basic human decency.

The relationship between Nate and Perry is moving along at a quiet pace, and despite both men stating how much they care for each other, this isn’t some madcap, passionate affair. Their relationship is handled on a superficial level which I found frustrating. Perhaps that’s where I’ve gone wrong with this series – I’ve been reading it as a romance/mystery type thing, with the relationship between Perry and Nate being at the forefront and Maverick Insurance as the backdrop. Instead, it is the police procedural aspect of things that are concentrated on, with details about relationship/mystery only being given to the reader very sparsely.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did and I think my frustration is evident in my review – there are so many other things I would prefer to find out than how well Russ cooks or the minutiae of police investigating. I don’t know if I’m going to read any more of these books if/when they come out because of this frustration and that feels like a shame because I feel like those details would be fascinating.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Il Padrone by Leigh Kenzie (Vendetta Series Book #1)

Title: ⟫ Il Padrone

Author: ⟫ Leigh Kenzie

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Allesandro

I’m Il Padrone, the Master of this Family, and Emilio will learn his place. I’ll bathe in his tears and watch as he humiliates himself. It’s all for my pleasure. I own it all and he’s just another addition to my collection.

Emilio

Il Padrone calls me his toy. His property. He says I can earn the right to be higher in his organization if only I submit. If only I change who I am. I may be younger, but he hasn’t seen the likes of me before.

Just how twisted can a tale of vengeance become?

Trigger Warnings: This is a dark MM Mafia with graphic violence and extreme sexual situations. Please see inside for more information.

The Vendetta Series also contains MMM and MMM+ scenes. While the series becomes dark romance, it does not begin that way.

Book 1 of the Vendetta Series, ends on a cliffhanger

*This has been re-edited as of July 2022 but no new content has been added

Review: ⟫ Firstly, I would say to heed the warnings within the book and the author’s website – this is very dark, with talk of torture, abuse and sexual domination. Secondly, I wasn’t surprised that this was the author’s first book – I felt that that came through in the writing as there was a lot of telling rather than showing. Also, there were occasions when the writing came through as choppy and disjointed, and not when I would have expected it to be like during the torture sessions.

Few of the characters are fully fleshed out but it shows more with the two ‘main’ characters, Emilio and Alessandro. They were almost cut-outs of what you would expect: dark, mafia boss with twisted sexual desires, disconnected from the world and everyone within it and showing a complete disregard to life; intelligent, college boy who has remained a virgin and finds himself in an impossible situation whereby the most he expects is to survive, and any enjoyment he gains is a shock to him.

It became clear that this is the first in a series of books that will presumably dig deeper into the backgrounds of the characters, but unfortunately for me the story didn’t grab me enough to make me want to read any further. And that wasn’t because I found the book too dark – it was plain and simply lack of interest. I didn’t feel anything for any of the characters. Their motivations and actions made no sense to me and I didn’t care what happened to them, which in the case of Emilio is absolutely essential to be able to carry on.

The writing itself was solid if a tad simplistic and I would imagine that for some people, it would be a joy to discover that there are at least six more books in the Vendetta series. I’m not one of those people and I doubt I will be looking further into the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Bloodlines by AE Lister

Title: ⟫ Bloodlines

Author: ⟫ AE Lister

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ A Hot Bite story

Can a bratty young vampire behave himself for the ultimate reward?

Benjamin Wilde has been around for four hundred years. Clove Noble has only recently joined the clan of the undead. But Clove has also joined Professor Wilde’s Egyptology class, and now the other students have begun to disappear, one by one.

Professor Wilde knows he has to do something to curb Clove’s youthful recklessness. And when the young vampire expresses an interest in Benjamin’s attractive bloodslave Sage, he thinks he might have a way to control him.

Or is Clove smarter than he seems? Will bringing Clove home to Sage be a mistake—or the way to a better future for them all? Because Clove is vulnerable to the other vampires out there, Benjamin wants to protect him as much as he wants to keep him in line.

And what about Sage? Can a human handle being with two hungry vampires, or will Sage make an offer that has been years in the making?

Review: ⟫ I truly wanted to like this story more than I did – in fact, I put it down several times thinking it was just that I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read it and that I would enjoy it more later. Unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be – I found Benjamin patronising and annoying; Clove was arrogant and annoying and Sage was vapid and annoying. In short, I couldn’t find anything to like in any of the main characters and so the book fell short for me.

I loved the premise and the world-building/history was interesting, especially the long-term relationship Benjamin has managed to preserve with Sage. It made perfect sense that he wouldn’t want a young vampire coming along and messing everything up. I get the feeling Benjamin’s character was meant to be slightly stuffy and set in his ways, with Clove representing an influx of new vitality into him. But to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t figure out why Benjamin didn’t dispatch Clove as soon as he realised what an issue he was being – that would have made so much more sense to me.

In his time on earth, Benjamin must have witnessed great beauty so his attraction to Clove being based on how he ‘lit up’ the room seemed too exaggerated and shallow and my annoyance spread from there. I couldn’t understand why he would risk what he had for a beautiful face – especially as I found Clove’s personality so annoying! I also didn’t understand why Sage had allowed the status quo to continue for so long if he was unhappy and it made me feel like his relationship with Benjamin was more transactional than I think the author intended.

I have to think that this was a ‘me’ issue, as I have seen other reviews where people have been delighted by the characters and the story. The sex scenes were well written, and the gritty, bloody portions of the book kept me interested, but overall I would say that this wasn’t for me.

His Fatal Love by Leighton Greene (West Coast Mobsters #3)

Title: ⟫ His Fatal Heart

Author: ⟫ Leighton Greene

Rating: ⟫ 5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Easily bored, completely manipulative, and utterly deadly…and that’s just in bed.

As an assassin for the Castellani Family, I live for the thrill of the job.

I'm devoted to my Family and my Don, because they keep me safe.

To Leo Bernardi, I'm a monster.

A killing machine.

And a puppet that his Family can use for their own ends.

To me, Leo is just a pawn in a game that I'm playing.

A means to an end.

And if I have a little fun with him along the way, who cares?

Leo thinks he can seduce me. Tame me. Use me.

In this game of cat and mouse, the Bernardi Lion is about to get a big surprise.

But the more entangled we become, the more I start to feel…

Things I didn’t think I was capable of feeling.

Things I’ve never wanted to feel.

In my line of work, love is a fatal flaw. But the more time we spend together, the harder I fall.

Leo Bernardi is my greatest enemy…

Could he also be my greatest love?

**

Dive into a forbidden romance between a psychopath assassin and a Mob Enforcer. Get ready for seductions and betrayals, scorching love scenes, and an unforgettable romance as a cold case comes back to haunt two Families sworn to destroy each other.

Review: ⟫ Oh, Julian! I have wanted his story from the first time I met him and I was in no way disappointed! And the Lion! Oh my good Lord!

These two burned up the page – the psychopath (not officially diagnosed) and the henchman make an absolutely amazing couple, and adding to the whole BDSM club sexy madness, we have the mystery of who killed Julian’s mother.

There are plot points in here that had my mouth dropping in awe and glee; the sex scenes were hotter than Hades and I was absolutely engrossed in the whole story. Okay, I admit it – I’ve read it twice since I got the ARC which is NOT GOOD because I have five other ARCs to read – but I just wanted to immerse myself in the details and glory in the beauty that is Julian and Leo. Two more suited individuals I have yet to read, and the fact that both of them were trying to deny what it was made it completely and utterly delicious.

We also get Xander, Jack, Miller and Teddy as well as meeting other capos, many of whom don’t survive the book! In case it’s not obvious, I freaking adored this book and I am just so incredibly pleased that Julian lived up to all of his previous billing. An easy five stars from me and I am so in love with the West Coast mobsters that they almost replaced my other favourites in Leighton’s series.

I received an ARC from GRR.