Eruca by Xenia Melzer (Arthropoda #2)

Title: ⟫ Eruca

Author: ⟫ Xenia Melzer

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ There is no crime without witnesses

When Detective George Donovan and his eccentric partner, Detective Andi Hayes, need a break from their gruesome job, a hike seems like just the thing.

Unfortunately, the job catches up with them when they find three dead men in a lake.

When the promising clues dry up, George and Andi turn once more to Andi’s “gift”—but this time things aren’t so easy. Andi’s mysterious talents are growing stronger, making it harder to block out the barrage of information and taking a toll on his physical and mental health. The cryptic clues his informants offer are even more bizarre than the case itself. And the more they discover about the victims, the more uncomfortable the investigation becomes.

Torn between catching a killer and serving justice, between George’s career and Andi’s sanity, the detectives have their work cut out for them if they’re going to solve these murders.

Review: ⟫ Book two in the series, and the relationship between George and Andi is growing closer – through necessity, George often takes care of Andi and it’s this that forms the backbone of the story. Yes, it’s another murder mystery,with twists and turns aplenty along with hassle from the chief, but it’s the growing partnership that is the real story.

Andi is learning to rely on George and is alternately terrified/pleased. He doesn’t want to turn out like his grandmother – bitter, alone and unloved – but at the same time, George isn’t planning on staying in Charleston and what happens to Andi when George leaves?

George is beginning to realise that what he feels for Andi is more than a traditional partnership, and if that’s the case, how does he leave? But if he doesn’t leave, does that mean giving up on the career he’s spent his life working on?

Eruca is a very strong follow-up to the first story in the series, building on the strong foundation and bringing the reader further into Andi’s world. His relationships with Shireen and Evangeline, the way his gift is changing, and George all make for a fascinating read. Again, this is a book you need to concentrate to read and it is so intriguing seeing further into Andi’s gift and how it’s manifesting and changing. The frustration of wanting the two men to talk to each other is actually mitigated by the fact that they both have really good reasons for not talking – how do you define a relationship like theirs?

I adore when George talks to his brother and must admit, I would love to see what’s happening in his life. I can’t say I mowed through this book but that’s because I would sometimes go back and reread some bits to be sure I’d picked everything up. I really enjoyed reading this and was pleased to know that I didn’t have to wait for book #3.

Arthropoda by Xenia Melzer (Arthropoda #1)

Title: ⟫ Arthropoda

Author: ⟫ Xenia Melzer

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ An Andi Hayes Murder Mystery

Detective George Donavon doesn’t plan to stay in Charleston long. Skeptical and by-the-book, he’s on the fast track to the top, and he won’t let anything derail his career. Especially not Andrew Hayes, his grumpy, awkward new partner—and not the chief’s secret order to find out how said partner solves even the most difficult cases.

George and Andi can’t agree on anything except their mutual dislike, but when three dead girls turn up at a storage unit, they must put their differences aside before the suspected trafficking ring claims another victim.

There is no crime without witnesses. Andi knows George suspects his always-right “hunches” point to corruption, but he doesn’t care. All that matters is catching a killer… and keeping his secret. But with leads on this sprawling conspiracy drying up, he has no choice. He just can’t let his partner find out how he’s getting the information.

Andi’s on the verge of losing his life, his mind, and his career. He could take George down with him…

If the violent criminals who are always one step ahead don’t get to them first. 

Review: ⟫ I picked this book up because GRR were offering the third book in the series as an ARC and I like to try to read any previous titles, and I am so glad that I did.

Firstly, I would say that the ‘romance’ takes a very back seat in the series, an is non-existent in the first book. This is a police procedural with a supernatural twist and it would be unfair to judge it as anything else.

George Donavon has a very clear career tragectory in mind and Charleston is a small step on the ladder to success. His new chief asks him for a favour and there’s no reason for him to say no – and it always helps to have people owing him favours.

This favour means that he looks into his partner perhaps a little closer than he might have otherwise, and thus begins his complete and utter fascination with Andrew Hayes.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Andi, but his secret actually completely blew my mind. Like, how wasn’t he completely and utterly insane? The plot moved swiftly, was well written and the growing professional relationship between George and Andi was really interesting and I found myself completely hooked. It is an intense read and you have to concentrate so that you don’t miss things, so much so that it wasn’t until near the end that I realised that there really hadn’t been anything resembling romance in the story at all. I loved it – was absolutely fascinated, and extremely pleased to realise that there were two more books just waiting for me.

I would say go into it with an open mind and be prepared to be thrown off track, confused and then obsessed with this series.

Molly Boys by Vawn Cassidy (London Underside #1)

Title: ⟫ Molly Boys (London Underside Book #1)

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ London 1883:

For Lord Everett Stanley, escaping his fate seemed impossible. As the second son, he’s destined for ordination and the life of a priest, but he’s hiding a dangerous secret. The laws punishing homosexuality by hanging may have been repealed but he and others of his kind are far from safe. Given no other choice, they take solace in the underground molly houses of London. Now that fragile world is threatened when the East End is rocked by a series of gruesome murders.

Inspector Archibald Franklin worked hard to overcome his working-class roots, making a name for himself as a respected inspector of Whitechapel’s H Division, but when he begins to investigate the deaths of several beautiful young men, fate throws him into the path of the handsome and enigmatic Lord Stanley. His gut instinct tells him the young lord knows more about the murders than he lets on, but the closer he gets, the more Everett calls to him in a way he’s tried to deny his whole life.

As a reign of terror grips London, they are drawn together in order to stop a monster, but for Archie, the growing feelings he has for Everett are a betrayal of the very laws he has sworn to uphold. And as the killer closes in, the two men find themselves bound together by a passion that may be their ultimate salvation or their utter destruction…

Review: ⟫ As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I was very much looking forward to reading it. I seriously wanted to know just how Archie and Everett were going to get their happily ever after, especially in the period they lived in and the circumstances under which they met.

The story was rich in detail and you could feel the Victorian atmosphere: it felt very similar to “Oliver”, with children being pickpockets and having to give their ill-gotten gains to their overlord; the molly houses we saw were fascinating, and the plight suffered by Everett as the ‘spare’ to the heir was suffocating in the extreme. The manner in which the men had to hide their true selves for fear of retribution was palpable and that added to the drama.

The background characters were fully fleshed out and interesting, and I imagine we will see more of them in future books. Francis was an absolute diamond, especially with his regard for Everett, offering him a much-needed escape. There was talk of drugs, orgies and the like, much in line with the era – I don’t think it needed a trigger warning, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it.

The serial killer plot was fascinating and I was not expecting the conclusion of that the way it occurred. The twist took me by surprise, along with the resolution. So why the 4/4.5 rating? Quite possibly my fault, but although I knew it was a series, I expected more resolution in certain areas that I didn’t receive and that frustrated me. I was also frustrated by the amount of time our two leads spent together. I completely understand that this was setting up the series, but I felt that quite possibly we spent too much time in the Molly houses and therefore missed out on the relationship build-up.

I enjoyed Jack Lightfoot and am looking forward to reading more about him, and I will pick up the next in the series because I have a feeling it’s going to be a doozy, but I was a little disappointed in some areas and that is reflected in my rating.

I received an ARC from the author.

Waiting for You by Cora Rose

Title: ⟫ Waiting For You

Author: ⟫ Cora Rose

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ As a divorced man in my thirties with a throwaway job and very few friends, I admit that I’ve made a lot of bad decisions over the years. Rounding out the top of that epic list was allowing my son’s best friend, Quinn, to talk me into taking him on a two-week summer road trip…alone.

What was supposed to be quality father-son bonding time before Joshua goes off to college has somehow transpired into a battle of wills between me and his nineteen-year-old best friend.

Quinn may be young but he genuinely seems to enjoy spending time with me, something I’ve never experienced before, and it feels nice to finally have someone care. I mean, being friends with the kid wouldn’t be so bad, right?

But Quinn suddenly seems hellbent on flirting with me, and the way he looks at me is anything but friendly. My will to stay away from this sweet, attractive, and persistent young man is waning. With the two of us alone in a camper, in the wilds of Michigan…Christ, this is bad…very, very bad.

Waiting For You is a low-angst and spicy MM age-gap, son’s best friend romance.

Review: ⟫ In a way, this is a very different book from Cora Rose. All of the other books by this author I have read have been college age men, just beginning life and not as beaten down. Grey has been beaten down – by life, his ex-wife, by the lack of relationship with his son.

This trip is his last chance to spend some quality time with his son before Joshua goes off to college and he has put so much hope into the trip, it actually hurts when Josh lets him down.

Then we meet Quinn – Josh’s best friend – who volunteers to go on the trip with Grey and everything changes. Suddenly, Grey isn’t travelling as someone’s Dad, playing catch up with a bitter ex-wife, or just trying to be someone he’s not. Quinn sees Grey – more clearly than even Grey realises.

As a character, I had the utmost respect for Quinn. He was willing to put his feelings out there, let Grey know what he wants and just go for it, even knowing he’s risking rejection. And as their relationship builds – and from the very beginning, it IS a relationship, not a hook-up – my respect for Quinn grew. He’s had to be so self-reliant, with his parents erring too far on the side of ‘letting him be his own person’ from too young an age, and as such, even though he’s 13 years younger than Grey, he’s more than capable of holding his own and taking control.

The physical connection between the two of them is undeniable – hot, steamy, dirty in all the best ways – but it’s when they’re hiking, eating or just talking to each other that everything becomes so much sweeter. I loved the possessiveness that Quinn displayed, his willingness to be a sulky teenager if it suited the circumstances, but the way he took control of Grey was absolutely epic.

My feelings towards Grey were more mixed. I could see just how/why he was beaten down – he married young, stuck by his wife and child until he couldn’t any more, and instead of the amicable relationship they agreed on, he was quickly made out to be the enemy. It was easy to see how he fell into the role of silent provider, never taking anything for himself.

Until Quinn. I wanted Grey to stand up to his ex-wife, to tell his son the truth, to reach out for Quinn instead of letting Quinn make so many of the moves. It was fascinating to see his character grow and begin to realise that he wasn’t a bad person – that, yes, some people might have an issue with the age gap but as long as he and Quinn knew nothing inappropriate had ever happened, that was what counted.

There was some drama – to be expected with a best-friend’s-dad scenario – and it was heartbreaking to see it from both angles. However, I really appreciated the way that it wasn’t drawn out artificially, and I really loved the way that Grey finally stood up for himself. I was practically cheering when that happened.

All of the hallmarks of a Cora Rose romance are here – possessiveness, hot sex, deep, abiding love – but there feels like there was a maturity in this story that I found missing in a couple of the recent titles. I literally read this story in a matter of hours – I was completely engrossed and needed to see how things played out, and I think there’s no greater compliment that I can pay than that.

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative on Booksprout.

The Good Liar by C P Harris (Infidelity #1)

Title: ⟫ The Good Liar (The Infidelity Series #1)

Author: ⟫ C P Harris

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Six years ago, Jasper Des Moines traded in the only life he knew. In order to keep a promise and a secret, he walked from the only man he’d ever loved.

Now, he has a career in need of constant defending, a best friend who knows nothing about his past, and a husband he should love. He has the life he believes he deserves.

Until one day, the unfinished business he’d left behind catches up with him, and he’s faced with the one man he’d never been able to resist or forget.

Cole Kincaid arrives in New York City with ulterior motives, but good intentions. He simply wants a place in Jasper’s world again. And if Jasper is happy, then so is he. But as the truth of Jasper’s new life unfolds, the role Cole wants to play in it begins to shift.

He soon reminds himself that Jasper belongs to him, and no promises made before God to a man who isn’t him will ever change that.

Cole’s presence threatens the carefully constructed life of penance Jasper has created. And while Jasper is focused on maintaining the existence he’d rightfully earned, Cole tempts him with the existence he actually wants.

Tragedy might have torn them apart, but lies will bring them together again.

**The Good Liar is Book 1 in the Infidelity series. Each book features a new couple, can be read as a stand-alone, and ends with a HEA. Themes include possessiveness, jealousy, and second chances. Both MCs are consenting adults. Please use the “Look Inside” feature for a full list of tropes and trigger warnings.

Review: ⟫ C P Harris has a way of writing possessive, obsessive love in a way that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go for the whole story, and this was yet another stellar example.

Jasper is a happily(ish) married man, living in a rut of ‘okay’. He’s had consuming passion and it cost him too much and he doesn’t want to risk anything like that ever again.

Cole wants whatever he can have of Jasper – even though he knows it might kill him to accept that he can’t have everything.

And Daniel wants to be the best.

I did not expect this story to take me where it did. I expected the impassioned writing; the steamy scenes; the gut-wrenching reasoning behind decisions even, but I really did not expect the rest of what I got.

I have been struck down with some kind of mutated flu, but not even the coughing, sneezing, wheezing and revolting medicines could prevent me from devouring this story whole. And then I went and read all of the bonus scenes that were made available. And then I wanted to reread the story again with the benefit of those bonus scenes.

This was hot, possessive and intense and the codependency between Cole and Jasper was palpable – you could practically feel their skin yearning to touch whenever they were in the same room together. All of the pieces on the board had their role to play – and perhaps a future role for at least two of them maybe? – but this just didn’t play out the way I thought it would. There were times when I was practically raging at Jasper for the hurt he was causing – to himself and to Cole – and other times when I just wanted to scroll to the end of the book to see that they did get their HEA and their suffering would come to an end because I couldn’t stand the pain any longer.

The back-story involving the artificial heart, prosthetic limbs and child amputees was handled sensitively and with grace, and I loved the glimpses we had into the lives of the people Jasper let himself be with – the relationship Cole and a certain young lady constantly made me smile.

I adored Surviving the Merge – I’ve reread that more than a few times since the first time – but this one might just be a close second. I freaking loved this story so utterly and cannot wait for more. This may be only the second time an author has made me see past the infidelity tag and I am so incredibly pleased I decided I loved Harris’ work enough to give it a try.

I received an ARC from the author.

Lor by Lily Mayne (Monstrous Book #7)

Title: ⟫ Lor

Author: ⟫ Lily Mayne

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ My role as Moric—ruler of a small and prosperous fiefdom in a quiet corner of the world—has always been painfully dull and stifling.

Until a beautiful, otherworldly creature with pink skin and a mane of golden hair falls through a strange void that has appeared in my guest-room.

And I am instantly captivated by him.

I have never seen anything like him. I have no idea where he came from, and what else is through that unsettling void—another world filled with soft-skinned, defenceless creatures like him? No tails, no horns, no claws, no sharp teeth. Tiny clothing, rounded ears, bright blue eyes. He is fascinating. And I want to keep him.

But I have no idea how my citizens and councillors will react to his presence—to the knowledge that a whole other world exists, and there is a portal to it in my guest-room. As much as I try to keep him my secret, the truth starts to slip out.

And those in my fiefdom who cling desperately onto power do their best to tear us apart. To take him from me.

I won’t let them.

Lor is Book Seven of the Monstrous series, a post-apocalyptic m/m fantasy series that features monsters and human men falling in love. It is best to read the series in order.

Warning: This m/m love story contains explicit sexual content and is not suitable for young readers. It also contains non-human genitalia, mentions of a past familial death, grief, depression, attempted murder, depictions of death and violence.

Review: ⟫ Oh I don’t think people are ready for this one – not by a long shot. Initially, I was very confused by what was happening. This is the first time that we have begun a story on the ‘monster’ side and it was a brain-shift that took me a while (I’m old – sue me!) Jugs was hysterical, as was the translation between him and Lor initially. The beer can still makes me giggle because I’m a child like that. However, we were about 45% of the way through the book, I was madly in love with Lor and Jugs, and wondering how things were going to work out when I realised – there was no way the next part was going to be nice.

The sheer angst in this book blew me away – like, I was sniffling constantly and wishing harm on Lily Mayne for the cruelty of what happened. And it was worse because of the ‘battle’ that was under way – this wasn’t a matter of fighting with weapons – this was something else entirely. I’m trying so hard not to spoil any of the book but if you have enjoyed reading the previous Monstrous books, then rest assured, you will love this one.

The way that we meet familiar characters was genius – Wyn was so Wyn in this book, I cackled for ages. And the surprise at the end – I knew, I absolutely KNEW who it was as soon as a certain character returned and I was so HYPED for it.

This gets a 4.5 rounded up for me and I am seriously pleased that I pushed through my mood to finish reading this book.

Unbreak Me by Jesse H. Reign

Title: ⟫ Unbreak Me

Author: ⟫ Jesse H. Reign

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Young Englishman, David Hammond, discovers life on a remote farm in South Africa isn’t at all what he was expecting. He expected the change in climate to do him good. To lift his mood. He certainly didn’t expect farmer, Jonathan Rosseau, to be so rugged or handsome. It turns out, it’s more than the warm weather that gets David hot under the collar.

David deals with his emotions the only way he knows how. By keeping a diary. A very detailed diary. A diary you get to read.

Unbreak Me is a story about first love and coming out. It contains a dollop of angst, smatterings of self-deprecating humour, and enough steam to make your hair frizz.

Depression and self-harm are mentioned.

Review: ⟫ Oh, this book! Because I was on a Jesse H. Reign kick, I didn’t read the blurb – I just downloaded it and dived straight in. So I was a little confused with the format it took as the story is told in the form of David’s diary entries. Initially, I wasn’t sure where things were going, but slowly you get an idea of what has been going on and just why David is in South Africa.

Because you are reading diary entries, a lot of the extraneous details were removed – it was literally how David felt and experienced everything that was happening, and as such it was an intimate, sometimes heart-wrenching, always touching read. We can feel his lack of self-esteem and insecurities, his inner voice making it utterly clear why he was struggling as much as he was. And I fell a little in love with him reading his words – self deprecating but revealing a caring, sensitive young man, unsure of who he truly was but learning to accept everything that is within him as part of himself. It was beautiful.

Of course you fall in love with Jonathan as well – just the descriptions of him from David’s perspective were enough to make you need to fan yourself, let alone when he and David become lovers.

The book does cover aspects of self-harm and depression, and obviously everyone’s experience of this differs. I found it realistic and true to life, which is probably why David’s dilemma affected me so much – to find such happiness after experiencing such sorrow only to face the choices needed was heart-breaking.

The sex between David and Jonathan was steamy, sultry and absolutely downright filthy on occasion, and I loved it. It took me back to the days when I was first really discovering sex and they were excellent memories. This book cemented for me that the author is on my auto-buy pile as everything I’ve read has moved me – sometimes infuriated, sometimes made me cry – but always made me feel, and that is special.

The Tech by Amy Lane (Long Con Adventures #5)

Title: ⟫ The Tech – A Long Con Adventure

Author: ⟫ Amy Lane

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Can two quiet con men who lost their childhoods find their places as a part of a family—and with each other?

Ever since he watched his father die, Etienne Couvier has kept to himself. Under the tutelage of his adoptive family, the Salingers, Tienne grows into a gifted forger and artist. But no matter how hard they try to draw him into their midst—and despite the singular pull their friend Stirling Christopher has on his emotions—he resists.

When computer tech Stirling lost his foster parents, he found shelter and love with the Salingers. Stirling knows first-hand what Tienne has been through, so when an attacker shatters Tienne’s self-imposed isolation, Stirling urges him into the Salinger crew. Maybe they can finally explore the quiet attraction between them.

Then the Salingers announce their next project: an inquest into the mysterious deaths of Stirling’s adoptive parents. They descend on the Caribbean for answers, with Stirling and Tienne the quiet centers of the human justice-seeking hurricane. As they stretch out of their comfort zones, they learn that being family means someone always has your back. Hand in hand, they’ll solve the mystery. They might even be able to live with the consequences—as long as they do it together.

Amy Lane’s Long Con series follows a crew of civic-minded thieves on their quests for justice, adventure, and love. Fans of Leverage, heist movies, and romantic suspense will love The Tech.

Review: ⟫ Someone just needs to film this ish, release behind the scenes stuff, audition tapes, the whole thing because this series is just something else!

The Tech is about Stirling and Tienne, two young men who have been through far too much in their young lives who are not quite sure how they fit in with the Salinger’s team of loveable rogues. After all, they’re not the action-men – they’re the ones who create forgeries and sit on the computers doing all of the background stuff. They’re not the heroes or the mainstays of the family.

Amy Lane manages to create an action movie about family – found or by blood – whilst also weaving a love story between two young men who are not quite like everyone else. And she does it masterfully.

The latest con isn’t so much a con as a gift, and the whole family is in on it. We catch up with everyone from Michael and Carl, to learning more about Josh and Grace, to seeing more about how life doesn’t stay still. Felix and Danny have only just really settled into being together again with Julia by their side and Josh recovering when they have to consider how they will cope with a new person being within their midst (Leon is back and I am here for it because Julia deserves all the love).

I’m not sure there’s a man out there who could actually handle Molly – I feel like she needs someone who will be happy to be in the background, acting as a safe place for her to fall whilst allowing her to shine. But I kinda do need her to get her HEA too.

There are so many people to weave into this story that I think that might actually be part of the issue and why it’s a 4.5 instead of a 5 for me. It’s far too easy to get lost if you haven’t read everything that’s come before, and even if you have, cliff notes would really help. This Long Con adventure is turning into such a sprawling creation, that it’s in danger of getting out of control with so many characters and stories intertwined that it can be a little overwhelming.

Actually, thinking about it, maybe that’s why I related to both Stirling and Tienne so much – sometimes the Salingers as a group are just a bit much. I also found myself paying a lot of attention to Grace and worrying about him. His worry that he might become superfluous to Josh now that the young man is truly recovering touched my heart so much and I felt for him.

The love-making scenes were incredibly sweet whilst also being utterly filthy,and I adore the thought of Stirling researching all of the things he wanted to do and then putting his research into practice. The bad guys get their comeuppance in the best way, and the whole story was completely and utterly as described – think Guy Ritchie movie, or Ocean’s Eleven if that isn’t ageing me too much!

If you want a story that keeps you fully engaged, cheering, laughing and crying, then you can’t go wrong with picking up one of the Long Con Adventure stories and this is a worthy addition.

I received an ARC from the author.

The King's Delight by Sarah Honey

Title: ⟫ The King’s Delight

Author: ⟫ Sarah Honey

Rating: ⟫ 4.5

Blurb: ⟫ King Leopold of Lilleforth rules his kingdom well. He’s handsome, intelligent, and charming. It’s no wonder the neighbouring kingdoms are eager to provide him with a princess to marry. There’s just one problem—Leo has no interest in princesses. His tastes tend more towards handsome young men who enjoy a good spanking.

Felix Hobson left the kingdom of Lilleforth as a teenager to train as a groom. While he was away he learned a lot, and not all of it had to do with horses—although riding crops were definitely involved. Now an adult, Felix is home to take up the position of royal groom, where he hopes he'll have plenty of opportunities for a roll in the hay.

When Felix mistakes Leopold for a horse thief and attempts to seduce him, Leopold is delighted by the irreverent, attractive lad, and sparks fly. Their arrangement is all fun and games, right until they both fall hard and fast. But while what they have together is a delight, there’s no way it can last—can it?

They’ll have to navigate a visiting princess, an assassination attempt, and a kidnapping if they want a chance to find out.

Review: ⟫ This was a romp almost in the style of The Princess Bride and it definitely worked for me. Felix and Leopold were a delightful couple who showed mutual respect and understanding as well as scorching hot chemistry. I loved the characterisations, the world building and the story-line as the two of them fell in love and handled things within the kingdom.

Matthias and Sophia were lovely together, and I found Mother and the stable-lads charming and amusing. Low angst, relatively steamy and more than a little kinky, I really enjoyed reading this story and will be looking into the collaborations by this author as well as any future solo efforts.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Heart2Heart (Charity Anthology) Volume #6 - Part II

Title: ⟫ Heart2Heart – A Charity Anthology (Collection) Volume #6

Authors: ⟫ Various

Blurb: ⟫ Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered... what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating app responsible for pairing up the quirkiest, most perfect couples, brought people together by asking the questions they never knew they needed answered?

From learning each other’s secret zombie survival skills, to disputing the greatest starship captain ever, to confessing their feelings about Cornish pasties, the characters in these fourteen brand new stories inspired by reader suggestions will learn that no matter how random the question… love is always the answer.

And, as always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every day of the year!

Stories included in this collection are:

Heist of Hearts, by Alice Winters

Keeping Him in Cornwall, by Con Riley

Hate 2 Love U, by Daryl Banner

Love Down Under, by Eden Finley

Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Kate Hawthorne

Dog Days, by Kelly Fox

The London Chance, by Lane Hayes

My Darcy, by Lily Morton

A Drag Made in Heaven, by Max Walker

Connection, by Nicole Dykes

Worst. Date. Ever., by Onley James

Down the Mountain, by Rachel Ember

The Anti-Wingman, by Saxon James

The Choice, by Sloane Kennedy

Review: ⟫ This is the second review for this anthology – the original one was an ARC where I received only some of the stories.

Heist of Hearts, by Alice Winters

A bit of a comedy caper masquerading as a date. Reece is fast-talking and wise-cracking whilst Daryl is quietly supportive in a gentle giant kind of way. Not much in the way of romance and flashbacks explain their relationship. Sweet and funny, ⟫ 3.5

Keeping Him In Cornwall by Con Riley

This was sweet and relaxing to read. ⟫ 3.5

Dog Days by Kelly Fox

I haven’t read anything by Kelly Fox before but will be having a look at their back catalogue after this. This was a sexy, funny and touching read. The descriptions of characters – particularly Dame Judi – were evocative and I really enjoyed the story. ⟫ 4.5

Love Down Under by Eden Finley

This one made me laugh a lot! I have a great appreciation for snarky banter and sarcasm and this story had both of those in spades. The relationship between the leads was nicely done and I very much enjoyed their happily ever after. ⟫ 4.5

Hate 2 Love U, by Daryl Banner

Another nice, easy read. ⟫ 3.5

The London Chance by Lane Hayes

I didn’t connect to this one at all – in fact, I think it may be the only story in the anthology that I didn’t finish.

A Drag Made in Heaven, by Max Walker

A simple, sweet read ⟫ 3

Connection, by Nicole Dykes

Instagrammer meets tattoo artist on island paradise and they have a fling that turns into more. Sweet with some hot parts, but despite the title I felt it was a little ‘light’. Still enjoyed reading it though. ⟫ 3.5

Worst. Date. Ever., by Onley James

My favourite story in the anthology and could very easily fit into Onley’s Necessary Evils verse. A hitman uses a blind date as an alibi and everything goes – well, not wrong -- from there, but it definitely takes a turn! Laugh out loud funny interspersed with hotter than sin read and extremely satisfying read! ⟫ 5

The Choice, by Sloane Kennedy

Thought provoking story about the risks inherent in being your true self around people. I really liked the relationship between the two leads and would be interested in reading this if it was a full length novel rather than having to fit into an anthology. ⟫ 4

Overall, happy to keep my 4.5 rating for the whole anthology and pleased to have found a few new authors to follow.

Malum Discordiae by Ashlyn Drewek

Title: ⟫ Malum Discordiae (Tennebrose #1)

Authors: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Like all Necromancers, Cassius Corbin grew up knowing one irrevocable truth: death comes for us all. It was a lesson he learned well when his mother was murdered by fellow witches. Six years later, he is back in the town of Winslow, Massachusetts to attend Tennebrose University. But that's not the only reason. While he’s home, he intends to track down a magical folio stolen from his family centuries ago. Once he finds it, he'll finally be everything the witches in Winslow fear and the Corbin name will be respected once again — as long as Graeme Hewitt, the son of his family's arch-enemy, stays out of his way.

As the first weather witch born in a century, the witches in Winslow demand great things from Graeme Hewitt, despite his thoughts on the matter. He’s supposed to be their future, but all Graeme can think about is the past — until the infuriating Cassius Corbin returns. In spite of the blood feud that has raged for centuries between their families, Graeme finds himself in the unfortunate situation of needing Cassius’s help. Six years ago, Graeme’s little brother also died and Graeme wants the truth about what happened that day. So who better to answer his questions than the son of the woman who murdered him?

MALUM DISCORDIAE is a dark academia, paranormal MM romance about witches, Necromancers, and a blood feud that has lasted centuries. It is a stand-alone book of 117K words.  

Content Warning: This book contains references to animal cruelty, alcohol/drug use, death of children, murder, suicide, and dubious consent. Reader discretion is advised. 

Review: ⟫ This book was pretty darn good! The world building for the witches and necromancers and their history was very well done, as was the whole feud thing, and the sharp u-turn that things took so early in the book was an attention grabber. The intricacies of the different types of magic were really well handled, as was slotting the story into ‘history’ which really helped ground it in reality.

Surprising myself, I actually really liked the fact that Graeme kept going back and forth – he had spent his entire life being told one thing and it would have been unrealistic for him to suddenly believe the complete opposite just because Cassius told him so. I enjoyed the background cast of characters, and the overall feeling that no one was safe – it was a bit like watching a movie with an all unknown cast and realising that no one was too big a star to die!

I found the mystery of who the killer was intriguing, and the red herrings were really good! I did guess who was behind it all, but I actually didn’t mind that because the way the story ebbed and flowed really worked for me.

I found Cassius and Graeme both sweet, believable and incredibly snarky – like real, live teenagers which was refreshing. That, and the fact that sex was on their minds A LOT was very realistic.

I was so pleased to see that despite currently being a stand-alone novel, this was labelled as Tennebrose #1 because that hopefully means that there will be more set in this verse – I will be keeping my eyes open if that’s the case. I have found that I either love this author’s work or hate it, so I am extremely pleased to say this is definitely the same calibre as the Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair.

Per Sangiuinem by Ashlyn Drewek

Title: ⟫ Per Sanguinem

Authors: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Vampires don't get a happily ever after. Over the centuries, Eric Collins learned that the hard way, which is why he has sworn off the idea of companionship and throws himself into his job as a detective. But his plan for a peaceful, solitary existence is disrupted the night he saves Chase Turner, a fellow cop, from being murdered. Aside from the once-dormant feelings Chase stirs up, Eric has a bigger problem. There’s another vampire in Chase’s life whose intentions are even less noble than his own. If Eric leaves Chicago, Chase is as good as dead. But if he stays, he’ll end up in a war with the rest of the city’s vampires and Chase might become a casualty after all.   

Falling in love with his partner was never part of Chase Turner’s career goals. He already has two strikes against him at Chicago PD — the last thing he needs is a third. The son of an infamous Internal Affairs commander and the survivor of a shoot-out that left his partner dead, Chase is trying his best to keep a low profile until the heat blows over. Then he’s reassigned to Eric Collins’ division, the detective who saved him from certain death. Despite the fact Chase’s life is a complete mess, Eric is the only one who seems to think there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And no matter how much Chase denies it to himself or his therapist, it soon becomes clear that Eric is going to be Strike Number Three.  

How much is too much to risk for happily ever after?  

PER SANGUINEM is a slow-burn paranormal MM romantic suspense stand-alone about vampires and cops with commitment issues and what happens when you fall in love with your partner.   

Content Warning: This book contains references to alcohol/drug use; homophobic and racial slurs, as well as other insensitive language; on-page violence and torture; PTSD in various forms including flashbacks; suicidal thoughts and flashbacks; parental estrangement, and a lot of death. Reader discretion is advised.

Review: ⟫ If this was an 18+ movie, I would tune in to see it with popcorn and a HUGE smile on my face!

I loved this slightly new take on vampires, especially the idea that the Queens ran the territories and the males lived kinda on their whims! Kinda.

We dived straight into the action with Eric in a less than glamorous environment, but it did give us a very good insight into the type of ‘person’ Eric is – prepared to do anything and everything to get the bad guy. Despite his many years on this earth, and his attempts at making himself seem uncaring, it was pretty obvious that Eric was one of the good guys.

Chase was a different type of person altogether – you could sense that there was very little holding him together as he tried to keep himself aloof and show an uncaring attitude to the world, whilst inside he was a lonely, scared boy in need of love and security.

And amidst all of that, we have a vampire serial killer, an out of control IA officer, and a queen vampire in need of a smack-down. Add in a werewolf from New Orleans, and this story was a sexy, riotous, gory ride that I absolutely adored. This was very entertaining, full of romance, some sex, and a serial killer case where there was absolutely no way the killer could safely be arrested, and it was a satisfying chunk of a read.

My only quibbles are that occasionally the timeline got a little squiffy for me – sometimes it seemed like not long had gone by at all, and then someone says something that lets you know that at least a few weeks have gone by – that kind of thing. And secondly, I think it could have been a bit shorter – some of it felt like it could have been removed and not missed. Finally, if Eric and Chase thought they were being discreet, I would hate to see them when they were being blatant about things, but to be honest, none of that really messed with my enjoyment of the story.

Heart2Heart Charity Anthology (Collection) by Various Authors

Title: ⟫ Heart2Heart – A Charity Anthology (Collection) Volume #6

Authors: ⟫ Various

Blurb: ⟫ Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered... what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating app responsible for pairing up the quirkiest, most perfect couples, brought people together by asking the questions they never knew they needed answered?

From learning each other’s secret zombie survival skills, to disputing the greatest starship captain ever, to confessing their feelings about Cornish pasties, the characters in these fourteen brand new stories inspired by reader suggestions will learn that no matter how random the question… love is always the answer.

And, as always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every day of the year!

Stories included in this collection are:

Heist of Hearts, by Alice Winters

Keeping Him in Cornwall, by Con Riley

Hate 2 Love U, by Daryl Banner

Love Down Under, by Eden Finley

Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Kate Hawthorne

Dog Days, by Kelly Fox

The London Chance, by Lane Hayes

My Darcy, by Lily Morton

A Drag Made in Heaven, by Max Walker

Connection, by Nicole Dykes

Worst. Date. Ever., by Onley James

Down the Mountain, by Rachel Ember

The Anti-Wingman, by Saxon James

The Choice, by Sloane Kennedy

Review: ⟫ You better believe when I saw that this was up for review, I sent in my request immediately! And I was lucky enough to get to read four stories including two by favourite authors of mine, plus two new ones.

Rock Paper Scissors by Kate Hawthorne

Bagel sounded absolutely magnificent in this story of which is better, mountains or the beach. This one started out as sex with no complications but pretty soon, feelings were being caught and things got a whole lot more complicated. I felt this one was more of a HFN rather than a HEA but it was a satisfying read and I liked the protagonists. ⟫ 3.5

My Darcy by Lily Morton

Typical Lily Morton with snarky banter, snappy dialogue and interesting side characters. Our leads were delightfully oblivious and if you’ve ever enjoyed any of Lily’s previous books, you’ll know exactly what to expect and enjoy this immensely. ⟫ 4.5

Down the Mountain by Rachel Ember

Second chance at love, very steamy but still quite heartfelt, I think this might be the first Rachel Ember story that I’ve read. I will definitely be looking out for other books as I really enjoyed the style of writing. ⟫ 4.5

Anti Wingman by Saxon James

As is often the case with characters written by Saxon James, Kai made me laugh my head off! He reminded me of an over-exuberant Labrador, with Rylan having to rein him in. A chance encounter on the Heart2Heart app which could have gone wrong in so many ways turns into a fabulous friendship that built into a beautiful relationship, even if someone had to let our leads know that they were in a relationship! ⟫ 5

I received and ARC of part of the anthology for review from GRR and will definitely be grabbing the whole thing when it’s released on 1st December. Overall score of 4.5 for the stories I read.

Suddenly Beck by Vawn Cassidy (Belong to Me #1)

Title: ⟫ Suddenly Beck (Belong to Me Book 1) 

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy 

Blurb: ⟫ A surprisingly sweet, sinfully sexy, and deliciously hilarious romp along the Cornish coast. 

Nathan Elliott has run away from home at the age of twenty-six. His teenage rebellion may have come ten years late, but better late than never. Leaving behind a world of wealth and privilege, and a strict patriarchal family that would never except a gay son, he’s ready to embrace life and make up for lost time, but nothing’s ever that simple. 

A coin toss, a delayed train, and a wrong bus later, and Nat finds himself in a small bay in Cornwall being hauled out of the ocean by a gorgeous stranger and wondering how the hell his life got so off track. 

Beck Ainsley lives life by a very simple ethos, don’t get attached, don’t get involved and don’t fall in love. He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt that reads I’m a gullible idiot. Now, he keeps his life simple; all he needs is his dog, his art, his rambling sea cottage overlooking the bay and a few choice waves to surf. 

He’s not looking for love or commitment, but when he ends up plucking a posh boy from London with incredible blue eyes from the ocean, Cupid doesn’t just shoot him with an arrow, he decides to club him senseless with the bow too. 

One simple agreement. A summer fling, a chance to act on the insane attraction between them with no strings attached, and at the end of the summer they walk away. 

There’s just one problem, fate is a fickle and capricious creature, and she has no intention of letting them walk away unscathed. They’re about to discover that sometimes the heart wants, what the heart wants… 

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes this hot and sweet, first time, MM romance that will leave you laughing out loud and fanning yourself from the heat… 

Review: ⟫ This story was completely delightful! 

I adored Nat – the way he was determined to be free and experience everything; and Beck sounded completely delicious. There is a certain amount of suspending disbelief required, but this book is so well worth that. Full of love, laughter (Molly cracked me up so much), a family dealing with grief and a young man finding himself and true love – who could ask for more? 

The descriptions made me want to visit Cornwall again (I went about 25 years ago and there was nothing but wind and rain), and the whole story was just so sweet and enjoyable. The cast of characters were really cool – I come from a big family so it was fun watching the dynamics of the Ainsley clan and it brought back so many memories. I loved the surfing aspect, especially the family tradition – the description was so vivid and evocative, I almost felt like I was there. And the sex scenes were steamy as all hell – I wasn’t expecting the level of dirty talk but I LIKED IT a lot! 

Happily rounding up from 4.5/5, I received an ARC from GRR.

Pretty Toxic by J.R. Gray (Pretty Broken #2)

Title: ⟫ Pretty Toxic (Pretty Broken #2) 

Author: ⟫ J.R. Gray 

Blurb: ⟫ Saint Vincent 

 I might be the best-selling solo artist in the world, but my personal life is a disaster. For every number one album, there's a sea of my worsts, all documented in photos. 

Bad break-ups. Destroyed hotel rooms. Fights. Drugs. 

And just as many rumors. 

Every headline reaffirms the walls I’ve built around myself. Fame destroys everything it touches and I can’t let anyone close. The only exception is my best friend— Lowe Wilder. But I’ve fucked that one up too. 

It’s all about him. Every song, every lyric. Every piece of music I’ve ever written. I planned to carry that secret to my grave. He’s straight. Another break-up, another call to Lowe. I can’t bear to have another scandal splashed across the tabloids. 

At my absolute worst he’s here to pick up the pieces, and I ruined it all with a kiss. 

Lowe Wilder 

I’m the least famous member of the most famous band in the world. 

I’ve sat in the background while we toured the world and tore each other apart. I wouldn’t have made it through any of this without Saint. He came into my life like a nuclear bomb. Unapologetic and with about as much destruction, but he’s kept me sane from across the world. 

Nothing could come between us. 

Until he kissed me and shattered my world. 

Pretty Toxic can be read on its own or enjoyed part of the Pretty Broken Series. 

Review: ⟫ Ooh, this one was a doozy! 

Lowe and Saint are practically joined at the hip. Platonically. Or at least from Lowe’s side. 

And then Saint finally gives in to his feelings and opens a whole can of worms. 

This book is a mess of emotions and trauma, from the main couple, to the band Pretty Broken, and it was a roller-coaster of a ride from start to finish. Lowe and Saint are a couple in every way apart from sexually, if only Lowe would open his eyes and admit it. 

And Pretty Broken is living up to it’s name. 

I was immersed from the beginning, along for the ride, and suffering alongside both Lowe and Saint. It was a pretty intense look into what life is like for the rich and famous – whether it be living without consequences or in a fish-bowl. 

Lowe and Saint are two peas in a pod – possessive, nearly obsessive, and almost on a crash course to destroying each other unless they can get their act together and figure out how to be together despite how much time they have to spend apart. 

I really enjoyed this one – not as much as I liked Pretty Obsessed, but in a different way. And I am desperate to find out what is going on between Cas and Iris. This was an intense book and very real, and I think this entire series could well become one of my favourites for when I want to ‘suffer’ alongside the main characters. 

4.5 rounded up to 5 – I received an ARC from GRR.

Bad Wrong Things by C.P Harris

Title: ⟫ Bad Wrong Things 

Author: ⟫ C.P Harris 

Blurb: ⟫ One promise. 

One summer to see it through. 

One explosive love fuelled by mutual obsession. 

The day Clint sees his son, Joey, off to basic training, the young man he’s devoted his life to extracts one promise from him: spend the summer doing something selfish for a change. The request seems harmless enough until Joey puts his best friend, Raven, in charge of seeing it through. 

Raven would do anything for the people who took him in as a teen, and, when it comes to Clint, anything comes without limits. When encouraging Clint to explore his selfish side reveals Raven’s love for the older man, Raven is shocked to discover his feelings may not be unrequited. Not only are they returned, but all his darkest, most hidden desires have finally found their match. 

Clint’s possession feeds every craving Raven’s ever known. Raven’s openness provides Clint the freedom he’s longed for to take whatever he wants, and soon boundaries are abandoned at the bedroom door. 

As summer’s promise bleeds into winter, and the threat of Joey’s impending return looms over their heads, Clint and Raven love faster and harder. When Joey’s disapproval ends up being the least of their concerns, Raven and Clint go to desperate extremes to stay close because something is better than nothing. 

Facing an uncertain future, both men are left wondering if you can ever go too far or risk too much and still come out on the other side whole. 

Bad Wrong Things is an age-gap, best friend’s dad romance with two possessive MCs and themes of hurt/comfort and second chances. Both MCs are consenting adults and eventually get their hard-earned HEA.  

Review: ⟫ Oh my days, you had better buckle up for this one because it is a seriously hot and wild ride! 

From the first chapter, I was absolutely gobsmacked and enthralled by this romance. This was not the typical Best Friend’s Dad romance that I was used to reading – this went straight into hurt/comfort and man, did it hurt! 

I loved how flawed all of the characters were, but most importantly, I was fully in with Raven and Clint as they explored something that quickly became possessive, obsessive and all the way bad and wrong. This book never ceased to amaze me and was a real page-turner, if only because you knew something BIG had happened, but you were waiting for the explanation. 

My heart bled for Joey – far away from home and unaware of the bombshell that he had not only dropped, but also the one that awaited him. And what a homecoming! 

Raven and Clint! Well, I don’t think I have proper words for how Raven and Clint made me feel. They were so deeply into each other, it was hard to see how they could have a happy ever after – their relationship might have been exactly what they both needed, but it wasn’t healthy. 

As shown by some of the depths that they fell to. 

The sex scenes were hot (and numerous), but it was actually the moments of quiet, the times when they talked, encouraged each other to follow their dreams, peeled themselves raw for each other that really spoke of how deep their relationship was. 

I was gutted with how things went, but also incredibly hopeful – it didn’t seem right that two men who were so obviously meant to be together should be kept apart. 

I devoured this in one go and then just sat thinking about it and how I felt after reading it. They both had growing to do, and it was necessary that they did it the way they did, but it hurt. And I couldn’t imagine having to make the choices that they did. 

All in all, I really did love this book. I need a breather but I think I’ll probably re-read it because however much pain there was, there was also a lot of love in there, and so much hope. It spoke of families that are chosen, the scars that people can leave on our hearts and minds, and how far you can come if you are prepared to fight but also know when to walk away. 

I received and ARC from the author, but all views are my own.

Blitzed by S.E. Harmon (Rules of Possession #3)

Title: ⟫ Blitzed (Rules of Possession #3)

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ NFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so...yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It's not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there's no rule saying he can't do his hours and have a little fun. Right?

Wrong. Jesse may have to put up an athlete using his center as a "get out of jail free" card, but that's where he draws the line. And who cares if Andrew is unexpectedly sweet and thoughtful? The people in Jesse’s life think he should get a life outside of charity work and find love. And maybe he will. But it won't be with a playboy NFL player wearing an ankle monitor as an accessory. Besides, anyone who dated someone like that would be thrust into the public eye. Jesse has worked hard to become someone else—someone better—and he's not about to dig up the past.

That's just not a game he's willing to play.

Too bad it’s not in Andrew’s nature to give up on something he wants. It may have started as simple attraction, but now it’s much more than that. He doesn’t just want Jesse for now…he wants Jesse for always.

And that's not a game he's willing to lose.

Review: ⟫ I kinda went into this expecting a relatively shallow book about two guys falling in love, with the NFL and a community centre in the background. But this book was so much more than that.

Jesse has had a tough life and is doing everything he can to pay it forward and ensure that others don’t have to struggle the way that he did. In doing so, he’s protecting his heart – especially after his last relationship with a closeted NFL player and how that turned out. That doesn’t mean he’s blind – he can see that Andrew McAdams is a fine looking man and is attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean he has to make the same mistake again.

I really liked Jesse – I liked how aware he was of his flaws and weaknesses; how he could look at his past and the people who let them down and acknowledge that loving them might be something he couldn’t stop but that didn’t mean he had to let them in. I especially liked how he was at the Centre – it shone out of him how much the place, the people and the kids meant to him and he sounded like an exceptional person.

Andrew McAdams took me by surprise. It would have been so easy for him to be some dumb jock trying to get into Jesse’s pants, with no appreciation for what he had and no understanding of why Jesse was the way he was. Instead, he proved himself to be sensitive, caring and just an outright good person who it was practically impossible not to love.

They made a lovely couple, even if they spent almost 75% of the book trying to deny that that’s what they were. Both of these characters were so well written, with a brilliant supporting cast including Blue and Kelly from the previous Rules of Possession books, and an underlying plot that was enthralling, amusing and touching in so many ways.

I motored through this book even though I was completely exhausted and wanted to sleep because I needed to see Andrew and Jesse get their HEA. I have enjoyed every book I have read by S.E. Harmon and this was no exception – well worthy of a read and unputdownable in the best way.

The Sceptic by Lily Morton

Title: ⟫ The Sceptic

Author: ⟫ Lily Morton

Blurb: ⟫ As the best friend of a psychic, Will Buchanan can’t help but believe in the dead. It’s the living that he finds to be problematic. However, after a spate of betrayals, he finally has the chance of a new life within his grasp, and he’s not going to risk it for anyone or anything. Staying safe is the name of Will’s game.

Jem Dawson defines the word temporary. A talented cameraman, he’s here today and will undoubtedly be gone tomorrow chasing adventure and danger. But, while he’s in York, he’s made it clear he wants Will, and Will can’t help liking the charming daredevil.

This inconvenient attraction results in Will accompanying Jem to the site of a notorious poltergeist outbreak. A malevolent spirit has targeted a family, and now the ghost hunting team for whom Jem does camerawork are going to be locked down in the house for three days.

The house is strange and filled with sinister and violent undercurrents. One by one, the group experiences threatening incidents, and as events escalate, Will has to ask himself if he's risking not just his heart but also his life with this impulsive gesture.

This is the first book in the Arcana Books series featuring characters from the bestselling Black and Blue series.

Review: ⟫ It seems like it’s been my week for reading about extremely tall men with lots of tattoos, which lets be honest is a great way to spend the week.

I haven’t read the Blue Billings books although I might try to grab hold of them after reading this. The Sceptic was a really interesting combination of romance, suspense and quite a bit of terror – some of the nightmares in there actually freaked me out a little and my daughter accidentally jump-scared me as I was reading and didn’t see her come into my room! The spooky side of things was very well written – possibly a little bit too well – and I really wanted to know what was in the house as much as Jem and Ben. I also completely understood Will wanting to run away and never come back!

The relationship between Jem and Will was so much fun – they both seemed able to see the truth about each other, warts and all, yet appreciate the other person anyway. Will’s character didn’t have the typical background of a male lead and I appreciated that – he wasn’t a cardboard cut-out, but was full of fears, desires and aspirations – when was the last time a male lead aspired to be an accountant!

As always, very strong writing, believable side-characters, but with enough of a break from reality not to be depressing. I would like to know more about the characters in the bookshops and can see myself following the Arcana series in the future.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Suit by Amy Lane (Long Con Adventures Book #4)

Title: ⟫ The Suit (Long Con Adventures Book 4)
Author: ⟫ Amy Lane
Blurb: ⟫ Two and a half years ago, Michael Carmody made the biggest mistake of his life. Thanks to the Salinger crew, he has a second chance. Now he’s working as their mechanic and nursing a starry-eyed crush on the crew’s stoic suit, insurance investigator and spin doctor Carl Cox.

Carl has always been an almost-ran, so Michael’s crush baffles him. When it comes to the Salingers, he’s the designated wet blanket. But watching Michael forge the life he wants instead of the one he fell into inspires him. In Michael’s eyes, he isn’t an almost-ran—he just hasn’t found the right person to run with. And while the mechanic and the suit shouldn’t have much to talk about, suddenly they’re seeking out each other’s company.

Then the Salingers take a case from their past, and it’s all hands on deck. For once, behind-the-scenes guys Michael and Carl find themselves front and center. Between monster trucks, missing women, and murder birds, the case is a jigsaw puzzle with a lot of missing pieces—but confronting the unknown is a hell of a lot easier when they’re side by side.

Review: ⟫ Firstly, I haven’t read the other books in the series which meant that I felt a little bit like I’d been thrown into the deep end from the beginning. I would say that although it can be read as a standalone, reading the other books will help you with all of the names and characters because for quite a while, I was absolutely lost.

Have you ever seen Ocean’s Eleven? The one with Brad Pitt and George Clooney? Think of it as settling down to watch Ocean’s Twelve or Thirteen – you know there’s history and backstory, that the previous versions were amusing and entertaining as heck, but you don’t have time to watch them first. That’s how I felt reading this book. There were so many characters involved, so much history that could obviously only be alluded to in this book. I felt like I was missing out but I didn’t really have time to read them before diving into this book.

Michael and Carl were absolutely lovely – they seemed like complete opposites who brought out the best in each other. Unfortunately, their relationship felt like it got more than a little bit lost in the whole heist/murder birds thing. The story was engaging and headed towards an entertaining set of circumstances that had both Michael and Carl being brave, courageous and romantic.

As always, Amy has written loveable characters who you care about; unusual circumstances and a whole entertaining roller-coaster ride that you couldn’t make up in your wildest dreams. This book was a lot of fun to read, and perhaps the previous ones will join my TBR pile. You know what you’re getting with an Amy Lane book and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this one.

I received an ARC from the author.

Saint's Song by Garrett Leigh

Title: ⟫ Saint’s Song
Author: ⟫ Garrett Leigh
Blurb: ⟫ Expect: a fragile king, a sweet-hearted henchman, an enigmatic hitman, and a fight to the death.

Cam, Alexei, and Saint have survived their battle with the devil, but with too many enemies to count, can they survive the war?

“Kill me,” I choked out. “If he’s dead, you gotta kill me too.”

One club, one heart.

Three men, one soul.

Can loving someone kill you? I feel like the world is ending every time I look at them.

Cam. My brother. My president.

He’s the love of my life

And then there’s Alexei. I didn’t know I could feel this way about one person, let alone two. But I think of him in every breath I breathe for Cam. Every thundering beat of my heart. Because there is no Cam without him.

There is no me. My life wasn’t worth living until I found something worth dying for.

And I’d die for them a thousand times.

Saint’s Song is the second in a hurt/comfort, biker romance, MMM duet from the world of the Rebel Kings MC. Content warnings inside the book

Review: ⟫ Well, that was a ride and a half, no pun intended. I wasn’t sure exactly how Saint fitted into the dynamic between Cam and Alexei but I must admit, I see how it worked. They make an intimidating, powerful and beautiful trio and their journey was fascinating. It wasn’t easy and there was no magic trick to how they worked out, but I did enjoy reading about the aftermath to ‘Devil’s Dance’ and how the Rebel Kings moved on from there.

The relationship between the three men went beyond just physical, especially with regard to Saint who was not as sexual as Alexei or Cam – they accepted him the way he was with no questions, and that was really beautiful to see. Saint himself was a fascinating character, and seeing more of his inner thoughts was enticing. The backstory we got on him was heartbreaking.

The reason for 4.5 stars was that sometimes the story felt long and drawn out, and some of the drama regarding Viktor, etc felt extraneous but I imagine it was important for upcoming storylines. Now that was just my feelings and other opinions will vary. I did enjoy the impending sense of doom as our three guys worked on their relationship, but sometimes I just wanted them to get on with it.

The other relationships within the MC were set up and it was clear who would be getting a story. Devil’s Dance and Saint’s Story have made me consider joining Garrett Leigh’s Patreon and I have also added the Skins Box Set to my TBR list.

I received an ARC from GRR.