Lost Touch by Eliot Grayson

Title: ⟫ Lost Touch 

Author: ⟫ Eliot Grayson 

Blurb: ⟫ Not being able to feel pain might sound like heaven… but it’s a living hell. 

After enduring more than a year of imprisonment and experimentation, Ash is finally free—but not unscathed. Unable to feel pleasure or pain, and without any memories of his life before his ordeal, he’s at the mercy of his rescuer: an alpha werewolf who promises he’ll protect Ash no matter what. 

Drew is handsome, caring, and kind, but he might not be all he seems, and he’s suffering his own ill effects of his briefer imprisonment. When he burst into Ash’s cell drenched in blood after ripping their torturers to pieces, Ash looked into his eyes and didn’t see anything but safety. 

But he’s dangerous. 

And if he can’t control himself, Ash could suffer a worse fate than the one he escaped… 

Lost Touch can be read as a standalone and has new main characters, but it closely follows the events of Lost and Bound and is better read in series. Contains knotting, amnesia, pack politics, and a human who’s willing to offer himself up in every way to help the alpha werewolf who saved him. This series does not contain mpreg. HEA guaranteed. 

Review: ⟫ The idea doesn’t sound so awful when you first think of it. Being pain-free (especially to someone with chronic illnesses) sounds pretty damned awesome to be honest. 

But when you get into this story and realise what has been done to Ash, the actual reality of it is completely horrendous. I was kinda awestruck at the idea to be honest – not being able to taste food, feel things – how would you keep going, knowing that’s going to be your existence? 

The relationship between Drew and Ash was fascinating. There was a lot of misunderstandings on both sides, with communication being an issue for them, but there was also a sweetness there. They were both committed to protecting the other, seeing the good rather than the bad and it was lovely to witness. 

This story was also hot as hades – not being able to feel meant that Ash was completely and utterly in the moment when he and Drew were together in bed, and it was so well articulated how he gained pleasure from them being together that way even though he couldn’t feel. 

Drew’s family were interesting, and I loved his sister – especially how she ended up helping him. That made me raise an eyebrow and applaud her ‘sacrifice’. It was really good to catch up with the others (Calder is still one of my absolute favourites) and the banter and snark between Arik and Nate never gets old. I enjoyed this instalment and was really glad to see the notification turn up in my inbox. 

A happy 4/5 from me and I wouldn’t mind knowing what happened to that Fairy!

CRIMINAL INTENTIONS: Season One, Episode One: THE CARDIGANS by Cole McCade

Title: ⟫ CRIMINAL INTENTIONS: Season One, Episode One: THE CARDIGANS 

Author: ⟫ Cole McCade 

Blurb: ⟫ Read the complete first two seasons of this thrilling, action-packed investigative suspense romance with two strong-willed detectives, an undeniable slow burn attraction, and a terrifying puppetmaster in the shadows before Season Three returns! 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE 

When a string of young queer men turn up dead in grisly murders, all signs point to the ex-boyfriend—but what should be an open-and-shut case is fraught with tension when BPD homicide detective Malcolm Khalaji joins up with a partner he never wanted. 

Rigid, ice-cold, and a stickler for the rules, Seong-Jae Yoon is a watchful presence whose obstinacy and unpredictability constantly remind Malcolm why he prefers to work alone. Seong-Jae may be stunningly attractive, a man who moves like a graceful, lethal bird of prey...but he's as impossible to decipher as this case. And if Malcolm doesn't find the key to unravel both in time, another vulnerable young victim may end up dead. 

ABOUT THE SERIES 

Baltimore homicide detective Malcolm Khalaji has his own way of doing things: quiet, methodical, logical, effective, not always particularly legal. He’s used to working alone—and the last thing he needs is a new partner ten years his junior. 

 

Especially one like Seong-Jae Yoon. 

Icy. Wilful. Detached. Stubborn. Seong-Jae is all that and more, impossible to work with and headstrong enough to get them both killed…if they don’t kill each other first. Fox-like and sullen, Seong-Jae’s disdainful beauty conceals a smouldering and ferocious temper, and as he and Malcolm clash the sparks between them build until neither can tell the difference between loathing and desire. 

But as bodies pile up at their feet a string of strange, seemingly unrelated murders takes a bizarre turn, leading them deeper and deeper into Baltimore’s criminal underworld. Every death carries a dangerous message, another in a trail of breadcrumbs that can only end in blood. 

Malcolm and Seong-Jae must combine their wits against an unseen killer and trace the unsettling murders to their source. Together, they’ll descend the darkest pathways of a twisted mind—and discover just how deep the rabbit hole goes. And if they can’t learn to trust each other? 

Neither will make it out alive. 

Review: ⟫ First of all, how come this is the first I have seen of this? I can’t believe this series isn’t being talked about more – or have I just had my head up my butt? 

Secondly, omfg, this was grisly! Like, I was wincing when I read the descriptions on page because I could quite clearly see the scenes that Seong-Jae and Malcolm were seeing. I don’t blame some of the cops for running from the murder scenes and hurling! 

In the interests of honesty, there is very little ‘romance’ in the first book – although, I’m not sure it was in the romance section so I can’t complain. Not that I am – complaining that is. The only sex involved one of the MCs and another character and was hot as hell (unless I’m conflating book one and book two). 

 

Whatever. 

The lack of romance/sex was absolutely cool with me because I was knee-deep in the murders and trying to figure out who the killer was. This was a complete mindf*ck to me – the sense of urgency they felt as the serial killer began to deteriorate and kill sooner; the effects on both Malcolm and Seong-Jae, and how the two of them rubbed each other completely up the wrong way yet worked together so well. I cannot believe there are currently twenty-nine of these stories and am practically rubbing my hands with glee! 

I really enjoyed the style of writing – it was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds in written form – and my mind happily provided images for the main characters (yummy). Stellar writing and such a satisfying read. And I’ll admit, I’m 50% of the way through episode two already! I really hope the level of writing is maintained and cannot wait to plough through the remaining twenty-seven books! 

A very enthusiastic 5/5 from me!

Last Man Standing by Augustus Roth

Title: ⟫ Last Man Standing 

Author: ⟫ Augustus Roth 

Blurb: ⟫ “You know, if anybody was going to give death the middle finger, I would have thought it would be him.” 

Ezekiel 'Kel' Warbis is the last of them - the only one left after his two best friends (and childhood sweethearts) died tragically and gruesomely young. 

Over a decade later, their loss is still a fresh wound. Kel works alone as a private investigator, wandering through the world functional but aimless, trying to live up to what his friends would have wanted for him. 

He has one friend, a handful of dogs, and a well-organized spice cabinet. He tries. 

His numb reverie is broken by a phone call: noisy teenagers, begging his help finding their missing friend. Guilt compels Kel to take the case - guilt, and an eerie sense of familiarity. 

As he searches for the missing teen, it becomes increasingly clear that this tragedy rhymes with his own. By the time things become dangerous, it's too late for Kel to turn back. He can only move forward, confronted with answers to questions he was always too ashamed and too terrified to ask. 

He comes to realize that his loved ones might not be gone forever... and that the truth may be more horrible than the bloody memories which echo in his dreams every night. 

Last Man Standing was originally published as Spoiling the Machine by Daniel May. It is a supernatural thriller with a tragic MMM romance at its core and contains a HEA ending. 

Review: ⟫ I’m not sure ‘enjoy’ is the correct word to use to describe reading this book. I was fascinated, repelled, confused and impressed, sometimes all at the same time. And I wanted to know what was going on – although, having finished it, I’m still not sure I fully understand – so I kept reading, hoping that the ending would be satisfying and make sense of it all. 

The ending was satisfying but I am still confused. I think I’m going to be avoiding anything resembling eyes for a very long time, and some of the imagery I would really like to be purged from my mind. I would recommend this book because it was an interesting read – extremely well-written, thoughtful and thought-provoking. 

Just don’t expect to find it a comfortable read! 

4/5 from me – I received an ARC from GRR.

Break Me Daddy by Skyler Snow

Title: ⟫ Break Me Daddy 

Author: ⟫ Skyler Snow 

Blurb: ⟫ I did something stupid. 

Something needlessly, hopelessly, stupid and now my past is catching up with me. 

I knew when I saw that cash I should have left it alone, but I needed it. And doesn’t the world owe me a little bit of luck? A little reprieve from the constant BS? 

 

Sorry. I can’t help but to rant about my situation because the truth is that I am royally screwed. You see, I stole money from the mob. 

One stupid decision made in the heat of the moment and now I’m running for my life. A friend gave me enough money to hide… 

But he’s coming for me. 

Amadeo wants to possess everything that I am and punish me for what I’ve done. Maybe I could take that if he wasn’t so intent on making me call him ‘Daddy’. 

And maybe I wouldn’t care about that title, if it didn’t make me tingly all over. But I despise him and I always will. No matter what my stupid body…and heart…has to say. 

Break me Daddy is a full-length MM Daddy romance with morally gray characters, a possessive and demanding Daddy, a willful and bratty boy, a load of bloody violence and a well deserved HEA. 

Review: ⟫ I seem to have come across a lot of stories lately that are Mafia based, but I was very interested in the whole Mafia Daddy thing so I went with it. 

For a start, this story does include some bloody violence, unlike other ‘dark’ books that I’ve read recently. And it was interesting how Six reacted to the violence – he didn’t look at Amadeo through rose-tinted glasses, he knew that he was a gangster. 

And Amadeo did a few things throughout the book that made me wince more than once – I mean, his reaction to Angelo upsetting Six made my jaw drop! 

 The sex was pretty hot, and the storyline was relatively engaging. I think the main issue I had was that I found I didn’t really care for either of the main characters – they didn’t grab me in any way, and I kinda lost motivation for reading when I realised that I didn’t like them. 

I actually found Six to be really irritating a lot of the time, and although he admits that he often does things without thinking them through, I wanted to smack him a couple of times for his unthinking actions. 

The story was well written and had an interesting plot-line apart from the relationship between the two leads. I really enjoyed reading the interactions of Amadeo and his siblings, and thought that was very realistically conveyed. It was all in all an enjoyable read. 

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.

To Not Date My Best Friend by Gianni Holmes (The Simple Rules #2)

Title: ⟫ To Not Date My Best Friend (The Simple Rules #2) 

Author: ⟫ Gianni Holmes 

Blurb: ⟫ What do you do when you meet the man of your dreams, but you’re already engaged? You become best friends and hope for the best. 

BAZ 

It was a meet-cute that should have come with a happy ending. I was hardly at my best when I caught Andy snapping photos of me topless in the name of street photography. I fired angry words at him. In exchange, he gave me his jacket to keep me warm. 

Thus began our friendship and an unrequited crush on a man who was about to get married. 

ANDY 

After a photography assignment in the Middle East left me scarred, I have no choice but to face the many issues in my life—my marriage is over, my wife has moved on, and I may never hold another camera between my hands. 

But there’s no hurdle I can’t get over once I have my best friend, Baz, in my life. When he tries to transition from a stylist to a journalist at the magazine where he works, he enlists my help in writing a column. 

How can I prove to him that moving from best friends to lovers makes sense when he’s determined to prove the opposite? 

To Not Date My Best Friend is a bi-awakening romance between a plus-sized stylist who’s claimed his place in the fashion world and a bi-curious photographer who happens to be his best friend. 

This book can be read as a stand-alone and has mild angst in some parts. 

Review: ⟫ I should preface this to say that I think this is more about me than the book. 

I wanted to like this story, I really did. I thought the premise was excellent and I loved the idea of the two of them dating whilst Baz was trying to confirm that it couldn’t work whilst Andy wanted to prove that it could. 

But that wasn’t what the story was. 

I wanted to learn more about what Andy went through that made him decide he needed to face his issues; the whole friends-to-lovers thing happened in a flash with what seemed like very little thought about the consequences if things didn’t work out; and I can’t fully explain it, but it felt like it held little substance. 

I didn’t like the cheating thing with the wife and thought it was unnecessary to the story, and perhaps that affected my perception? I don’t know, this just didn’t work for me. 

It was very well written, descriptive and interesting in parts, but somehow didn’t strike a chord for me. 

3.5/5. I received an ARC from GRR.

If You Want Me Close by Skye Kilaen

Title: ⟫ If You Want Me Close 

Author: ⟫ Skye Kilaen 

Blurb: ⟫ Falling in love with your best friend is wonderful… until tragedy means fighting for the romance and the friendship. 

 Bisexual event coordinator Simon Novotny thrives on connection. He cherishes his large, queer-friendly family and his friends—especially his cute, brilliant work bestie, gay IT geek Ziah Holdaway. It’s taken forever for Simon to to coax Ziah out of his shell. 

Time and again people have let him down, especially those who should have loved him unconditionally. But Simon would do anything for Ziah: text him jokes when he's down, bring him home-made lunches, change his tire in the rain. Heck, if Ziah needs a kidney, Simon’s got two. 

Minor crush? Maybe, but Simon’s not a make-the-first-move kind of guy. 

So when an unplanned hookup with Ziah proves their chemistry is off the charts, it also shakes Simon to his core. Because for Ziah, it's not casual, it's love. Before Simon can fully process his feelings, a life-altering tragedy upends Ziah's world. Simon throws himself into helping and also rallies his family. 

But for Ziah, family means rejection, and Simon's uber-helpful clan sets off major alarm bells. Can they find a middle path through the storm, or will this crisis cost them both their romance and their friendship? 

A high-heat contemporary M/M romance novel with a guaranteed HEA. 

Tropes: friends to lovers, hurt-comfort, grief, nerds in love, bisexual disaster, single parenting. 

Detailed content warnings will be available in the book's front matter and on the author's website. 

Review: ⟫ This was a well-written story, with careful and considerate descriptions of anxiety and depression, as well as one of the main characters dealing with feelings of rejection from family due to their sexual orientation. 

The characters were well defined, clearly distinguishable, with very human reactions to the situations they found themselves. The background characters were also well written, with issues of their own that didn’t overwhelm the main story but made them defined as more than just ciphers for the main characters to play off of. 

Which is why I’m really confused as to why I just didn’t like the story. I didn’t like Ziah at all – I sympathised with his plight but didn’t like the way he handled things at all. 

I found Simon annoying and slightly wishy-washy, and some of the background characters struck me as far more interesting. I didn’t feel the connection between Ziah and Simon and found their sex scenes to be perfunctory and lacking in real heat. 

Perhaps it was just the frame of mind I was in when I was reading the story? I felt a distant sympathy for both men, but apart from that I didn’t really engage at all, which is a shame as the subject matter, the struggles they were both experiencing and their story was a very good one. 

3.5/5 from me. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Final Stroke by Daniel May (Taste of Ink #3)

Title: ⟫ The Final Stroke (The Taste of Ink Part 3)
Author: ⟫ Daniel May
Blurb: ⟫ “I’m not a people person, but I’m also not an idiot. I know what it looks like when someone is trying their best to sabotage a good thing.”

Trinket’s affair is coming to a close. After living with boyfriend Zee and side piece Mini under one roof for weeks, his ability to play the game has finally hit a wall. It isn’t just guilt, and it isn’t just the impracticality of cheating on Zee right under his nose. It’s the fact that Zee and Mini actually seem to <i>like</i> each other.

Zee’s patience seems like it can hold out forever, his care for Trinket expanding to cover the abrasive tattoo artist. As Mini settles in as house-guest, he gets cozy with more than Zee’s credit card. The two of them talk art, kink, and baggage. Opening up comes alongside new opportunities in the bedroom, and the inevitable question of ‘What’s next?’

When the time comes, Trinket isn’t the only one finally forced to make a choice.

Review: ⟫ I didn’t think this series could get any hotter but I was so, so wrong! How Trinket didn’t explode with having Mini and Zee under the same roof, I really don’t know! The relationship between Zee and Mini is incredible – it was like two lions circling each other and I was on the edge of my seat, wondering when/if they were going to attack each other!

I really didn’t know how this whole situation was going to be resolved – I couldn’t see how there could be a happy ever after with how things had started and I was fascinated to see just where it was going to go.

Daniel May handled this whole thing masterfully – Trinket, Mini and Zee felt real; their reactions, emotions, actions – it all felt real and I was immersed from the first page to the last. I wasn’t sure if there was any way in which I could be satisfied with how this trilogy ended but I completely am. There are too many ways in which I could spoil things and I am trying to be as vague as possible. All I can say is if you can get past the cheating angle, this series is a hot, intense read and I cannot recommend it enough.

5/5 from me and I may re-read once I’ve managed to get my brain cells together after reading all three of these books in one weekend.

I received an ARC from GRR. 

The Taste of Ink by Daniel May (Taste of Ink #1)

Title: ⟫ The Taste of Ink 

Author: ⟫ Daniel May 

Blurb: ⟫ "If he gives you everything you need, then why are you here?" 

 Trinket has everything he wants, and it’s not enough. 

Perfect boyfriend, Siebold AKA ‘Zee,’ adores him. It took years of mutual pining to confess their feelings, and Trinket should be elated to finally have what he wanted — but the night of their confession went horribly wrong. 

Two years later their relationship has yet to recover. 

Zee has the love, the money, the unending patience, but it isn’t enough. Trinket is still insecure in bed — even afraid. Despite his best efforts, Zee can do no right. 

Tattoo artist Mini can do no wrong. 

From the minute he and Trinket met — when Trinket tried in vain to mend his relationship with a two-year anniversary tattoo — no taboo has been off the table. 

Trinket didn’t mean to cheat. 

But he also doesn’t mean to stop, or to leave his boyfriend. For the first time in his life, he plans to get everything he needs, or lose it all trying. Everything will change — not just for himself, but for the two men he can't possibly choose between. 

The Taste of Ink is book one in a high heat, slow burn MMM trilogy with a happy ending. This trilogy was originally published as a series of seven books: A Taste of Ink, Lost in the Linework, A Guilty Canvas, A Stanza on Skin, A Darker Palette, The Color of Need, and a Final Stroke. The Taste of Ink contains content from the first three books. It has been lightly revised, with a few small changes and an extended ending in the third book. 

Review: ⟫ First of all, if cheating is a trigger for you, then don’t even think about picking up this book – the storyline is all about the cheating and the effects on the main relationship and there is no way to avoid it. 

With that out of the way, holy moly, Daniel May has done it again! 

This book is so hot, it’s practically steaming. 

As a person who has more than their fair share of tattoos, I completely agreed with what Mini said: once you’ve had one, you’re already planning the second on and so on. However, I have never had the reaction that Trinket has, and I’ve certainly never had that interaction with any of my tattoo artists (shame!) 

Trinket is fascinating – he seems so completely unaware of himself, of his feelings and watching as Mini peels back the layers of his character whilst tattooing him is completely fascinating. 

And his relationship with Zee is a bit like car-crash TV. You almost read the story between your fingers, waiting for disaster to strike with how completely Trinket is stumbling through this situation. 

The story is about Trinket figuring himself out as a person apart from Zee, learning his power and also what makes him tick. 

It is also incredibly hot and steamy, with some sections that literally made me feel hot and bothered in the extreme. I cannot wait for the next in the series as I found myself desperate to find out what happens between Mini and Trinket when Trinket doesn’t have to go home to his lover. 

I’ve never ready anything like this and completely loved it. 5/5 from me. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

Bully in My Bed by Rue Whitney

Title: ⟫ Bully in my Bed 

Author: ⟫ Rue Whitney 

Blurb: ⟫ What are you supposed to say when the guy who shattered your world asks to pick up the pieces and gently put it back together? It’s a tale as old as time: Closeted bully picks on openly gay kid. Then the bully grows up to be a hot, confident, out-and-proud man while his punching bag grows up to be a hot mess. 

I’m Drew, the hot mess, and now my former bully, Beau, is on his knees, begging for me to let him make amends. 

Most people would be thrilled to get that kind of apology. I just want him to leave me alone so I can pretend high school never happened. But Beau is on a mission to make up for his past and I’m the last box he needs to check off. 

I decide one day of debauchery will be a good enough peace offering. But the next morning—and the next week, and the next month—he’s still there. In my life and in my bed. 

Is a guilty conscience keeping Beau around, or is there more than one reason I’ve been on this bully’s mind all these years? This is a stand-alone MM romance, with a HEA and no cliffhangers. It is loosely connected to the Giving In series. 

Review: ⟫ I must admit, I think the blurb for Bully in my Bed is misleading. 

I expected a hot, semi-revenge falling in hate/love story but that wasn’t what this was. I learned quite a bit about what goes on behind the scenes for influencers, and there were some intriguing ideas in the story. 

I didn’t like Beau or Drew. 

To be honest, I thought Drew was insipid, with a tendency to be swayed by whoever he was with. I also didn’t find it even slightly believable. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I didn’t like any of the characters – they were all kinda one-dimensional and irritating. 

The idea of a secret club where gay influencers and business people could get together and mingle without fear of being outed sounded really interesting – instead, it came across as very sleazy and I found it uncomfortable. 

The relationship between Drew and Beau was also a bit blah and by the end of it, I still found myself unsure if Drew was with Beau because he actually loved him or because he couldn’t figure out what else to do. 

More than likely, the issue is mine – I went into the story expecting one thing and didn’t like what I got instead. YMMV. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

Debunked by Pandora Pine (Haunted #2)

Title: ⟫ Debunked - Haunted? #2 

Author: ⟫ Pandora Pine 

Blurb: ⟫ Ghost hunter Marlowe Bond is shocked when Peyton West, the man who spent the last two years doggedly debunking his paranormal investigations, calls for help after allegedly being attacked in his home by a spirit. 

After a night in the house, Marlowe’s not sure anything more than a well-staged hoax is the culprit. Along for the ride is Marlowe’s boyfriend, artist Trip Cahill. Trip is expecting your standard low-grade paranormal activity, but gets more than he bargained for when Peyton explains that he’s being haunted by the ghost of Jordan Finch, a businessman who was killed fifteen years ago by his wife’s teenaged hitman. 

Is the spirit of Jordan Finch plotting the ultimate revenge for his murder, or is this “haunting” another in a long line of fantasies for Marlowe to debunk? 

Debunked is book two in the new Haunted? series and features a quirky ghost hunter, his witchy boyfriend, and a disinterested cat named after a Stevie Nicks song. Fact or fiction, haunting or hoax, join Trip and Marlowe as they work together to uncover the truth, no matter what it might be. 

Book one in the series, Haunted, is available through the Your Book Boyfriend's Boyfriend promotion 

Review: ⟫ It’s my bad that I didn’t read all the way to the bottom of the blurb to find out that book #1 was in YBBB promotion, as when I began reading I realised that I really needed to read that one – I was thrown into the story straight away and felt lost until I realised that book 1 was a must. 

After reading book 1, I felt like I stood a better chance of having a grasp on the characters and would be able to fall into the story better. I have enjoyed reading about ghost catchers, etc. in other book series, so was really hopeful – I’ve also read previous Pandora Pine and enjoyed it. 

This book didn’t do it for me. 

I didn’t gel with either Trip or Marlowe and thought Peyton was irritating. The storyline was interesting and well-written, but I found that I couldn’t get past my feelings about the main characters enough to enjoy it. There were crossovers with previous books, but I found myself getting a bit confused with who was who, and who did what. 

I did finish the book but I didn’t really get any satisfaction from it. This is one of those series that I can’t see myself going back to, unfortunately, but obviously YMMV. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

We Choose You by Katy Manz

Title: ⟫ We Choose You 

Author: ⟫ Katy Manz 

Blurb: ⟫ We Choose You: Choice Verus Fate Book One 

James and Aidan didn’t need fate. They had each other. Alpha James and Beta Aiden love each other and don’t care what fate has to say about that. Mating doesn’t need to be based on pheromones and scents. And kids? There were many ways to build a family. 

When fate comes knocking years later, James does what any wolf in his situation would—he runs away. He has a mate he loves more than anything, and they’re just about to get everything they want: a family. He can’t risk losing everything because Fate decided to be a butt. 

Omega Riley scented his fated mate once months earlier, and the wolf ran away. He is coming to terms with his singledom. Everything is going as well as it can, that is, until his fated mate’s children walk into his classroom. 

We ChooseYou is book one in the sweet with knotty heat MM shifter mpreg romance series: Choice Vs. Fate. It features an alpha wolf shifter who mated his beta best friend, the omega sent by fate, true love, twins who will steal your heart, adorable babies, and a guaranteed happy ever after. 

Review: ⟫ I really liked the premise of this story and was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, for me, it was never truly fleshed out enough to live up to its potential. There seemed to be very little in the way of character development and what felt like big time jumps with no rhyme or reason. Just as an example, they met with the twins and the next thing you know they’re parents; the relationship between James and Aiden was barely explored, and when Riley joined them it became even more sparse. 

I think if there had been more depth to each ‘section’ – Aiden and James, the kids, meeting and getting to know Riley – this would have read so much better. I would imagine if you’re looking for something sweet and surface to read, this would satisfy, but for me it never quite got off the ground. 

I received an ARC from GRR.

A Foot in the Door by Vinni George (An Open Doors Novel)

Title: ⟫ A Foot in the Door – an Open Doors Novel 

Author: ⟫ Vinni George 

Blurb: ⟫ The student… 

If he wants a job when he finishes grad school, Tanner Brown needs to get a foot in the door. But when he arrives at the country’s largest statistics conference to find he has nowhere to stay, he’s not sure it’s worth it. Especially when he realizes his hot faculty crush just witnessed his embarrassment from a front row seat. 

The professor… 

Dr. Beckett James is happily focused on his career until one of his former students slides into his line of sight. Tanner is brilliant and engaging, and when he ends up without a room, Beckett has no choice but to offer him a place to stay for the weekend. Even if it means testing his restraint. 

The problem… 

When their conference fling turns into an on-campus complication, Tanner and Beckett will have to control the variables that threaten to keep them apart or risk losing their chance at a happy ending before it’s even begun. 

  A Foot in the Door is the third full-length novel in the Open Doors series featuring a statistics professor who makes a mean curry, a ginger-haired student with a bright future, and an offer neither can refuse. 

Review: ⟫ I should admit that numbers and I don’t get along very well. Maths was one of my worst subjects and I hate it to this day. Maybe that’s why this book never really got going for me? There seemed to be a lot of talk about statistics and data that either went over my head or just made me switch off. 

The relationship between Tanner and Beckett was going full tilt from quite early on in the book but I wasn’t sure I was feeling the chemistry. Then the fly in the ointment hit and I just – for some reason, it annoyed me. They could get past the idea of dating as ex-student and professor but the whole Mentor thing caused such a melt-down? All Beckett would have had to do was talk to his friend and explain. I don’t know, it just annoyed me so much that the rest of the book kinda passed in a blur of annoyance. 

I’ve enjoyed other books by this author so can only assume that this couple just happen to be a miss for me. The story is well written and engaging, with a relatively low-angst rating, and I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy reading it. It just wasn’t for me – we didn’t add up! 

I received an ARC from GRR.

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.

North's Pole by Leta Blake (Camp Bay Christmas Story)

Title: ⟫ North’s Pole

Author: ⟫ Leta Blake

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Located on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in beautiful Northern Idaho, Camp Bay Chalet is a discrete and cosy B&B, popular with both locals and minor celebrities for its fabulous holiday weekends.

The pic seen around the world….

The son of Hollywood royalty, North Astor-Ford has lived his entire life in the public’s eye. He knows better than anyone that someone is always watching.

So when one not-so-innocent picture meant for a hook-up accidentally ends up cross-posted across all his social media, North is left humiliated and scared. With no one to turn to, he flees to Camp Bay Chalet to be close to the one person he used to count on to protect him from the world.

Liam’s life has been in a holding pattern since the moment North fired him three years ago, even if it was for the best. A romance between a bodyguard and his client would’ve caused exactly the sort of scandal Liam was hired to prevent.

Now that North is back in his orbit, Liam’s going to do what he does best, protect North from the world. And maybe, just maybe, the charm of a Camp Bay Chalet Christmas will be enough to both heal North and bring about the romance they’ve both always wanted.

North’s Pole takes place in the Camp Bay shared universe, but can be read as a stand-alone. Look for more of the Camp Bay universe in Stolen Christmas by Marie Sexton.

Review: ⟫ Despite the raunchiness of the initial subject matter, this was a very sweet, quite romantic story with some sexy times thrown in. North was a really sweet guy – slightly naive and perhaps even gullible considering his upbringing, and not the brightest bulb in the box. His humiliation and anguish at the accidental pic that went around the world was palpable and actually made me think about real-life celebrities and wonder how they cope when sex tapes, etc. get released.

Liam was the official white knight – riding to the rescue and taking care of North the way he always did in the past. I thought it was really interesting the circumstances behind him getting fired – both he and North actually handled that with maturity and quite a lot of dignity.

Camp Bay sounds absolutely lovely, especially around Christmas time and this was all-in-all, a lovely Christmas read. The ages of the MCs bothered me a bit – they both seemed so long to be riding into the sunset, but the epilogue definitely helped there – and I quite enjoyed the read. I haven’t read any other books set in the Camp Bay verse but I will keep a look out.

I received an ARC from GRR.