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.

Overtime by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

Title: ⟫ Overtime (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

Author: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Ishir is happy when his best friend Zane is traded to his team, the Brooklyn Cats. Why wouldn’t he be? They’ve known each other since they were kids. Zane was the first person he came out to as gay—an Alpha who’s attracted to other Alphas. Zane has been there for him every step of the way.

Oh, and Ishir is madly in love with him.

Ishir isn’t going to make it a problem, though. Sure, they’re living together, so he has to see Zane strut around shirtless. And, okay, Zane knows about Ishir’s weird little superstition—Ishir can only come when he scores a goal. It’s his thing, okay?

But when Zane starts involving himself in who Ishir can sleep with…in how he gets himself off…well, things start getting a little more complicated.

Zane likes to tell him what to do, and Ishir likes listening.

They’re just best friends, though. Nothing more.

Ishir is just going to have to accept that…or break his heart trying.

This is the fourth instalment of Alpha Omega Hockey but can be read as a stand-alone.

Review: ⟫ I seem to have this issue with Marina Vivancos – I go through a couple of her books and absolutely adore them, then hit one that just doesn’t make it for me. Unfortunately, this is the second of the Alpha Omega Hockey books that I have read that didn’t hit the mark.

I didn’t like Ishir – I tried to, but I just didn’t. And I think I would possibly have enjoyed this book far more if told from Zane’s POV because I found his dilemma far more intriguing. The dynamic between the two of them was intense – to absolutely everyone other than them, it was more than obvious that they were enmeshed far more than they were willing to accept. Zane literally did everything but pee on Ishir to claim his territory, and his pouting/sulking was entertaining. The scenes where Zane insisted on helping Ishir to celebrate were extremely hot – I loved the way that during those moments, there were no insecurities or doubts – they trusted each other and that was lovely.

I wanted to like this more than I did but ultimately, I enjoyed this entry into the Alpha Omega Hockey verse and I will be reading any further entries.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Obnoxious Bad Boy by Devon Doe (Am I the Problem? Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Obnoxious Bad Boy (Am I the Problem? #3)

Author: ⟫ Devon Doe

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tl;dr: Am I the problem for hooking up in secret with the local bad boy? (Everyone thinks I hate him)

I [20M] am an accomplished pre-law student with my life mapped out for me by my parents. One day, I’ll be a respected lawyer, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying college, writing shameless gay smut, and getting absolutely zero action.

But I do have a crush. On the most obnoxious local bad boy [25M] and the exact type of person I shouldn’t like. He’s a tattoo artist, an ex-burglar, and, worst of all, an influencer. He’s ripped, inked, and his ice-blue eyes pierce my heart (even if he did once spill coffee on my laptop and was very mean about it).

He’s also straight and I hate him because I can’t have him.

Or so I thought, because one day, when he notices me, my world spins out of control, and my morals go out the window. I’ve always been the skinny pale nerd with no flirting game, but to Vex, I’m his sweetie, his baby boy, and his eager plaything. I can’t help but love it.

But he doesn’t want to come out, my trust fund is on the line, and I’m falling for him all too fast. This was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement, so I shouldn’t want him to be my boyfriend. But I do.

Am I the problem for trying to get more than he’s willing to give? Or is he the problem for dragging me into this?

Addendum: If my parents find out I’m seeing an ex-con, they’re gonna kill me.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

“Obnoxious Bad Boy” is an enemies-to-lovers, steamy, opposites-attract romcom where a snotty nerd gets the bad boy of his dreams and has to deal with the consequences of their hush-hush relationship.

While the books in the series share a setting each can be read as a standalone.

(Aaron and Vex’s story)

Will our nerdy protagonist find the courage to fight for what he truly wants, or will he lose everything he holds dear? Don't miss out on this scorching hot enemies-to-lovers romcom that will leave you crying with laughter!

Review: ⟫ I’m actually in two minds about this book so my review will probably reflect that. On the one hand, the chemistry between Aaron and Vex is steaming hot and there’s no doubting that they really want each other. I also really liked the way in which Vex encouraged Aaron and gave him the confidence to become more ‘himself’ around other people and particularly with his parents.

However, the whole in the closet and flirting with other people thing niggled at me. I could well understand Vex’s dilemma – if you are selling a product, you give the people what they want. And I would imagine it’s incredibly difficult to make a life-changing decision, especially if you’ve seen it go sideways for someone else. All that being said, there were more than a couple of times when I was side-eyeing, and his lack of support to Aaron during something pretty big made me very unhappy with him.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous two but this book has solid writing, excellent chemistry between our leads and of course, the background characters we are growing to know and love. Not my favourite but well worth a read.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Exception by Cora Rose (Black Diamond Novel - Unlucky 13 #5)

Title: ⟫ Exception (An Unlucky 13 Novel)

Author: ⟫ Cora Rose

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to the Black Diamond Resort and Spa . . .

When I fled my small town home to fly across the globe for a potential job on a remote island, I did it on a whim. And let’s just say, my parents were not happy. According to them, the journey of self-discovery is not nearly as important as tending the family farm.

I may not know a lot, but I do know that I needed space to breathe. To figure out who I am and what I want out of life. I desperately needed change.

So I traded in my work boots and flannels for flip-flops, golf carts, and fit men in teeny-tiny swim trunks.

I came here for adventure, but I never would have guessed that on a tropical island filled with creepy lizards, poisonous jellyfish, and one obscenely deranged monkey, it would be the surfer with the tight body and smart mouth that I really had to watch out for.

Review: ⟫ We’ve been teased with Holden throughout this series so I was very pleased when I realised that this was his book and that it was in Cora Rose’s hands. The glimpses we’ve seen of Holden to date showed him to be caring, fun, impulsive and kind so I was interested to see who his match would be.

I wasn’t expecting Chase – I don’t think anyone could expect Chase – but I thought he was sweet, a little bumbling and quite possibly one of the most innocent people to turn up on the island. Their relationship was swift, passionate and life-changing for both of them. Holden has been keeping part of himself aloof from other people, but somehow Chase gets beneath all of his barriers and armour and shows Holden what it is like to be/feel safe.

And Holden allows Chase to fly – to explore all of the unspoken things inside himself, which is the whole reason he came to the island.

Why no five score? I was seriously not a fan of Holden and Chase’s first solo interaction. I understand what was being conveyed but for me, it missed the mark. It felt far too rushed and confusing for one party – I think I needed an enthusiastic yes rather than what happened. It was in no way non-consensual but I just felt that things were rushed a little too much in the name of showing overwhelming passion.

This was a good addition to the Black Diamond series and I look forward to reading more.

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative.

Broken by Andi Jaxon (Black Diamond Novel - Unlucky 13)

Title: ⟫ Broken (An Unlucky 13 Novel)

Author: ⟫ Andi Jaxon

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa… After years of drowning myself in parties, hook ups, and pain, all it takes is one viral sex tape to get me thrown on a remote island to disappear for a while. That or lose my trust fund. Having to share a room with the one man I let hurt me is my worst nightmare. I’m the broken shell of the boy he walked away from on the single worst day of my life. I hate him almost as much as I hate myself. This island was supposed to be a place I could rest but instead I’m running. From Asher Vaughn. From myself. From the scars on my heart that never healed. It hurts to look at him and see all the things we never got to have. But how am I supposed to keep him at arm's length when he watches me the way he used to? When he touches me? When he calls me his? We can’t be together, not off this island. The straight football star and the gay femme son of famous parents. The media would rip us apart and ruin his career. I barely survived the last time he left me, can I live through being deserted again? Broken is a brother’s best friend, mm romance with some praise kink, and a broken boy in desperate need of love. This story has triggers which you can find on my website.

Review: ⟫ The first thing I would say is that checking out the author’s website for triggers is a good idea – there were several things in this book that I would imagine could cause issues and I appreciated the heads-up.

Asher and Eli are young and in love. Not such a bad thing except for the fact that they are hiding it from everyone, including Eli’s big brother Marcus. Asher is on his way to being a huge football star and falling in love with Eli was never his intention – now he has to figure out a way to walk away from the love of his life to have a chance at the life and career he has always wanted.

An unspeakable tragedy occurs just before Asher can walk away and it leaves both he and Eli broken and alone.

They meet up again by accident, both having been sent to the Black Diamond Resort to be out of the public eye whilst they handle public outcry from their (separate) meltdowns. What follows is a case of forced proximity bringing the past crashing down onto both of them, with secrets coming out and a lot of pain and hurt being excised.

I was not in the right place for angst so should have put this book down. It was well written but so much of it felt almost too dark for me, with neither Eli nor Asher seeming to be able to just communicate with the other in a useful way. Sex was used as a weapon and there were a lot of conflicting messages from both sides.

This was above and beyond the drama that led to them being at the Resort in the first place. I think the best way I can describe this novel for me is that too many things felt unfinished. There was a lot of discussion regarding Eli’s choices of clothing but if his parents were as dominating and controlling as they were made out to be, I don’t understand he’s been given so much leeway about the way he dresses in public.

I struggled with the way that Asher chose to handle things. Not when they initially happened – he was young so it was perfectly understandable – but what about when he got older and (hopefully) matured? Would it have been impossible for him to contact Eli and try to talk some things through? And this wasn’t just a simple misunderstanding – this was a huge secret, on top of what can only be described as parental abandonment for both of them. I just found it difficult to believe that someone who loved Eli so completely would be able to do something like that.

The subject matter(s) were handled sensitively and appropriately, with no band-aid fixes for what was going on. The sex scenes were hot and enjoyable and I didn’t doubt that Eli and Asher loved each other – it just felt a bit like they were frozen in time, acting like teenagers. It got tiresome on occasion and it affected my enjoyment of the book.

I would say that if you’re a fan of angst and can handle miscommunication as a major trope, this may well be the book for you. Both characters came across as ‘real’, struggling and suffering with things from their pasts, and you do end up rooting for them to find a way through the mess that their lives have become to be happy.

I believe this is book one in a 13-book series based at the same resort and am looking forward to reading more in this verse.

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative.

Whiskey and Sin by Emily Rath

Title: ⟫ Whiskey and Sin

Author: ⟫ Emily Rath

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Run.

In a world where unbonded omegas are worth their weight in gold, running is the only thing Silas Wright knows. Run from the criminal alpha pack hunting him. Run from the dark secrets haunting his nightmares. Run from himself.

Stumbling in the dark down a twisting mountain road, Silas is on the run when a stranger comes crashing into his life. This alpha is dangerous, but Silas is out of options. Forced to accept help, Silas finds himself holed up in a lonely mountain cabin. Cornered and desperate, Silas must quickly decide: Can I trust this alpha? Can I let him know my secret?

“My handsome rescuer may be an alpha…but I am no beta.”

WHISKEY & SIN is a standalone MM Omegaverse novel featuring dark themes in a small town setting. For a full list of content warnings, see the author's website. 

Review: ⟫ This was an easy book to sit and breeze through – the story telling was engaging and entertaining, the struggles that Bear had with being an Alpha were interesting as I’ve never read anything like that, and the character of Silas was a strong lead which made me want to see him reach his HEA.

It did begin to drag a little towards the end, and the big battle with the Rainer pack felt a little – well, weighted in Bear’s favour, but I guess that was explained by his military experience.

I did have some quibbles – there was nothing actively done about the Omega Centres and what they were doing; the Beresford Pack were difficult to like, and the fact that to a large extent Bear and Jared were prepared to ditch Silas before they found out his real designation didn’t sit right with me.

All that being said, I enjoyed the book and was pleased with the ending, and the special epilogue available through the author’s newsletter. Be aware of the warnings as they were necessary, even if a lot of the abuse was off-screen, but it was a nice book.

Just a Bit Bossy by Alessandra Hazard (Straight Guys #12)

Title: ⟫ Just a Bit Bossy (Straight Guys #12)

Author: ⟫ Alessandra Hazard

Blurb: ⟫ Boss from hell. Satan personified. A tyrant everyone fears.

Nate Parrish loathes his boss from the moment they meet.

Raffaele Ferrara is probably the most insufferable, domineering man in the world. He doesn’t seem to understand that his personal assistant isn’t actually his personal slave. He expects Nate to do his bidding with a single word. He expects that Nate’s whole life will revolve around him. He expects other, entirely unreasonable things, even though they’re both straight and there’s supposed to be a line your boss should never cross. Apparently, as his personal assistant, Nate has to assist him… personally.

Except Nate knows it’s just a game. His boss is straight. He knows Raffaele just wants to make him angry enough to quit. But Nate has always been too stubborn for his own good, and he’s determined to be the best assistant his boss has ever had, no matter how insane—or inappropriate—Raffaele’s orders may become. Before long, the two men are drawn into a twisted game neither wants to lose.

Nate knows it has to stop. He has to leave his job. It’s not good for his sanity. Except his horrible boss is like a bad addiction he can’t quit. The world feels boring without Raffaele’s intensity, and his focus on Nate might be infuriating… but it’s also something Nate’s starting to realize he can’t live without.

Just a Bit Bossy Is a hate-to-love steamy MM romance that contains dub-con (the character gives his consent, but there's an obvious power imbalance between a boss and his assistant), lots of snark, a long-suffering sister, two straight men who become obsessed with each other, and a happily ever after.

Review: ⟫ I still don’t know how I feel about this book.

It requires a HUGE suspension of disbelief, simply because the things that Raffaele has Nate doing are just so completely and utterly wrong. Nate’s sister even tells him that what is happening constitutes sexual harassment and he brushes it aside as part of the bet. That, and the insistence that they are both still straight for so long throughout the story was just completely ridiculous.

It was quite well written, entertaining, irritating and so out of time that I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I believe I read some of the ‘Straight Guys’ books a few years ago, but came back to them because of a few recommendations that I saw on Reddit and a few other places.

Raffaele was a complete AH – there’s no other way to describe him – and sometimes it felt like Nate was an idiot with what he put up with/did, but all in all, I did enjoy reading it, so I’m going to give it 3.75/5 rounded up and leave it up to people to decide if they want to read it!

Just Watch Me by Lee Blair

Title: ⟫ Just Watch Me

Author: ⟫ Lee Blair

Blurb: ⟫ My idea of an adventure is logging into my favorite game and meeting up with my online friends from the safety of my couch. I’m happy in my boring and predictable life. I certainly don’t need a gorgeous man moving into my building to mix things up.

When my neighbor brings home a fresh hookup, I mean to close the blinds. I really do! It’s just that he has a tattoo and shows all that skin, and well, I’m ashamed to say I get busted. It’s not my fault he never closes his blinds and our studio apartments stare right into each other’s. I try to ignore my shame until, one day, my neighbor puts on a show, and like the magic of my favorite video games—I forget how to be boring.

Just Watch Me is a 38,000-word low-angst, sweet, and steamy gay romance about a tech geek who tumbles out of his comfort zone thanks to his gorgeous temporary neighbor. This book is for fans of ridiculous T-shirts, secret geeks, all the cheese, neighbors who become lovers, and a homebody falling for someone always on the move.

Review: ⟫ I must admit, I thought I was getting into something kinky when I read the blurb for this book – the idea of watching your neighbour putting on a show was most entertaining. The manner in which it starts definitely matched my thoughts – one MC watches the other with another man and gets off on it.

It took a turn towards the sweeter end of things after that and became a much sweeter story about two men falling in love, finding someone who made them a better person and gave them a chance for a fuller life. It was exactly as described – low angst, very sweet with a side order of steam as they got to know each other and fell in love.

It was a nice, easy and enjoyable read, and I liked how respectful and supportive they were of each other. A very solid 3.75/5, rounded up to 4. I’ll have to look elsewhere for a full on kink-read!

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

The Primary Pest by ZA Maxfield

Title: ⟫ The Primary Pest

Author: ⟫ ZA Maxfield

Blurb: ⟫ If infatuated bodyguard Dmytro wants to come clean to his reckless young client Ajax, he’s going to have to get dirty.

Dmytro Kolisnychenko was a soldier and translator for the Ukrainian mob – until he lost his happy home life to an enemy with a home-made bomb. Now he wants only two things: to spend every precious second he can with his daughters and to provide for them by protecting people who can’t protect themselves. Even spoiled rich kids like Ajax Fairchild.

Ajax Fairchild isn't the monster Dmytro thinks he is. He's surprisingly intelligent, resourceful, and funny. He's also gorgeous and enjoys dating mature men. The first time they're alone together, Ajax makes Dmytro an offer that's hard to refuse.

Dmytro hasn't got time for a romantic dalliance, and Ajax is a client. But as one coincidence after another ruins Dmytro's plans to keep Ajax safe, and they're driven from one town to another on the central coast, trouble follows hot on their heels.

Can they trust each other enough to stay one step ahead while Dmytro's partners at Iphicles Security find Ajax's stalker and neutralize the threat? What if trust leads to love?

This book is a re-release of Three Vlog Night with no major changes to the plot. If you love hot bodyguards, mischievous geeks, age-gap romance, and a happily-ever-after you know will last, buy The Primary Pest today!

Review: ⟫ I have been a fan of ZA Maxfield ever since I read Crossing Borders years ago, so I was delighted to receive the opportunity to read/review her latest story.

It wasn’t what I was expecting and I was a little disappointed, The relationship between Dmytro and Ajax didn’t feel quite fully realised, and although the story was interesting, there was very little in the way of romance. They did connect – over Anton if nothing else – but there was something missing. I can’t explain it very well.

It was very action packed, and the character of Ajax was fascinating – very self aware and yet still destructive in many ways. The whole ‘Daddy’ aspect wasn’t explored the way I thought it might be. However, it was very well written and I did enjoy reading it. I guessed the identity of the ‘bad’ guy almost immediately, but was fascinated with how they were going to get out of the situation.

Strangely enough, the free short novella that is available from ZA’s newsletter gave a clearer picture of the relationship between the two MCs and solidified things in a way that the main story didn’t. I would say that this was a good read but didn’t capture me the way the author normally manages to.

I would give this a solid 3.75 rounded up to 4, and would recommend reading the free short immediately after the story for a more satisfying feel to everything.

I was given an ARC by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for a honest review.

Pretty for Master by Skylar Sweeney

Title: ⟫ Pretty for Master

Author: ⟫ Skylar Sweeney

Blurb: ⟫ Can a sociopath learn to love?  Master plans to find out, and his captive agrees to lend a hand.  But will Pretty lend his heart, too?

     PRETTY

   They call him the Mad Master. A giant in fancy clothes with a flower on his lapel, he rules his world like a king. He's as terrifying as he is enthralling and as cruel as he is kind.

   All I've ever known is pain, so the way he loves to hurt me is nothing new. It's how he holds me that makes me wonder if I could be more than a redneck biker working the street corner. Like his pretty boy?

   I won't get the chance to find out if the man trying to kill me catches up first.  Or worse, Master might realize what an unlovable loser I am and not want me at all.  Can a man that no one wants to love really win the heart of someone like him?

    MASTER

   I'm obsessed with a love I can't feel. I'm not sure what romance is, but it's all I think about—when I'm not thinking of pain.  Because pain and torture are kind of this sociopath's thing.

   Everything changes when I kidnap the most beautiful boy in the world to save him from a killer.  I'm determined to give him the love he deserves, with lace and glitter and maybe a little pain on top, but how will that happen when I can't love?

Warnings: ⟫ This book centers on forced feminization and humiliation with a TWISTEDLY SWEET HEA.

Review: ⟫ This book was all the way bonkers!

Prerequisite I haven’t read this author before so wasn’t sure what to expect – probably an average BDSM romance. This was nothing like that! It was like falling down a rabbit hole! Master is a psychopath who has been asked for a favour by a previous ‘friend’ in the form of kidnapping a young man and keeping him prisoner. This is knowing that Master has a habit of treating his young men badly – think whips, chains, etc. And that was the normal part of the story!

I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m actually not going to say much else about the plot. I will say that in spite of myself, I actually kinda liked Master – he had the money to be able to do whatever the heck he wanted so he did. No compromises, no hiding from himself, nothing. And Pretty? Pretty needed someone like Master to help him see who he really was and figure out what he actually liked. I had a lot of sympathy for Pretty – he had an awful start in life and things just got better. Imagine being kidnapped by a psycho being the best thing that could happen to you!

I laughed – a lot – sometimes at the misunderstandings between Pretty and Master, sometimes at the situations, and I also really enjoyed how bloodthirsty certain parts were, which surprised the heck out of me!

I would wholeheartedly take notice of the warnings that come with the book – this is so not safe, sane and consensual – but I finished this in one go because I really wanted to know what was going to happen! I will happily read something else by the author, especially as I now think I have an idea about how their mind works!

3.75 rounded up to 4/5 from me! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.