Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener

Title: ⟫ Between The Devil and the Sea

Author: ⟫ Chani Lynn Feener

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

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

Detective Shadow Yor hates his life.

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

Apollo Orobas is bored.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atlas by Eden Finley (Mike Bravo Ops #3)

Title: ⟫ Mike Bravo Ops: Atlas

Author: ⟫ Eden Finley

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ ATLAS

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

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

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

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

LEMON

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

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

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

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

Maybe more caring than anyone I’ve ever met.

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

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

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

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

Tink by Emmy Sanders (Elite 8 Studios Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Tink (Elite 8 Studios Book #3)

Author: ⟫ Emmy Sanders

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Have you heard the tale of Goldie and the Two Bears?

Alex

Working in the adult entertainment industry has its challenges. Mainly, scoring a date that lasts longer than a night. I’d started to wonder if my own happily-ever-after wasn’t in the cards.

But then a hookup turned meet-cute lands me right on top of Rowan, the shy, submissive bear of my dreams with a serious weak spot for sweetly spoken words. He doesn’t see Tink, the performer. He sees me.

Yet before I can lick my territory, Rowan’s neighbor Finn walks in. Quite literally. And the tatted, pierced, ginger-haired papa bear has his sights set on my new crush. Even worse, Rowan returns his interest. I assume that’s game over, so imagine my shock when Finn suggests a less-than-traditional arrangement in which we all win.

They say you should never run from bears. So really, what’s a boy to do when faced with his ultimate fantasy?

After all, maybe happily-ever-after is meant for more than two.

Tink is a poly MMM romance between one golden-haired troublemaker and two very delicious bears of the human variety. There’s praise, furry chests and unexpected piercings, an extensive collection of orchids, tight white pants, coworkers who are like family, and one very HEA. It’s book 3 in the Elite 8 Studios series but can be read as a standalone.

Review: ⟫ I haven’t read any of the previous Elite 8 Studios novels but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story. This was a sweet, easy read that covered some pretty big topics but not in a preachy way.

Rowan is looking to dip his toe back into the dating scene after an absolutely awful breakup, just in time for Alex to take him up on the offer of a night of passion. Both men feel the pull of something more and it would have been quite a simple story if it had remained on that level.

However, Alex is a porn-star and has had previous lovers who didn’t like his choice of profession, so is understandably guarded. Especially when Rowan’s neighbour, Finn, throws his hat into the ring and what began as a hook up begins to turn into a hot relationship between the three of them.

The way in which this trio communicated with each other was gold – there were no misunderstandings about where they all were and how they felt; the support for each other was beautiful and the relationship as it grew was beautiful to witness. They each have their vulnerabilities but they were all ready to throw everything at this chance at a once in a lifetime love and that was amazing.

There were plenty of sex scenes, including a very intense scene later in the book and they were well written. Perhaps a few too many for my taste but they didn’t detract from the main story. I liked how everything wove together – from handling Manuel, building Rowan up so that he got a handle on his self-esteem issues; seeing the people who worked for Elite 8 as people rather than just performers, with outside lives and interests that further fleshed them out.

I did enjoy reading this and based on some of the character descriptions, I think I might have a look for the other Elite 8 studio books. The puns about Goldilocks and the Bears came thick and fast, and I loved the way it was incorporated into what Alex was working on. The reality of polyamory and how people might view it was shown gently, and the outing of Alex’s profession and how various family members felt kept this from being too fairy-tale-esque. If you’re looking for something low-angst, sexy and with some interesting themes underlying the story, this might just hit the spot.

I received an ARC from GRR.

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

Title: ⟫ Goes Unpunished

Author: ⟫ M J May

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received an ARC from GRR.

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

Title: ⟫ Il Padrone

Author: ⟫ Leigh Kenzie

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Allesandro

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

Emilio

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

Just how twisted can a tale of vengeance become?

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

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

Book 1 of the Vendetta Series, ends on a cliffhanger

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

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

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

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

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

I received an ARC from GRR.

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

Title: ⟫ Broken (An Unlucky 13 Novel)

Author: ⟫ Andi Jaxon

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative.

Bloodlines by AE Lister

Title: ⟫ Bloodlines

Author: ⟫ AE Lister

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ A Hot Bite story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not My Groom by Devon Doe (Am I The Problem? Book #2)

Title: ⟫ Not My Groom (Am I The Problem #2)

Author: ⟫ Devon Doe

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tl;dr: Am I the problem for sleeping with my cousin’s groom before their wedding? I did her a favor, really!

I [25M] hate weddings, because I was jilted at mine a few years back. But while I might be cynical about love, I’m not gonna refuse free food and a five-star hotel at my cousin’s nuptials. And since I was visiting my hometown, I grabbed the opportunity to hook up before the event. What can I say? I’m an ass man, and when I spot a ripe peach, I’m gonna reach for it.

So here’s the issue: at the rehearsal dinner on the very next day, I found out the man whose cherry I took is the groom [20M].

This guy is to marry my cousin, so if he thinks I’ll let his behavior slide, he has another thing coming. He even has the audacity to make eyes at me during the wedding preparations. I don’t want to ruin the celebration, but I will tease and taunt this cheating bastard until he admits he’s gay and calls the whole thing off.

But it turns out he’s actually sweet as a basket full of puppies, lost in working out his identity, and now I’m falling for him.

Am I the villain and a wedding-wrecker? He’s the one who cheated!

(And why does his dog have to be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen? The guy cooks a mean steak, has an ass you can bounce coins off, and owns a cute dog? Come on! I’m not in the market for a husband.)

*

“Not My Groom” is an enemies-to-lovers steamy romcom filled with wedding disasters.

When a commitment-phobic cynic meets a cheating groom, who’s actually desperate for affection, only a dog can talk some sense into them.

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

Review: ⟫ This book seemed to be comprised of two separate ideas that kinda smushed together. We have the initial hot-as-heck meeting, where Logan and Kyle have intense chemistry and Kyle gives in to long-held desires. Unfortunately, he’s on the brink of getting married to Logan’s cousin and a whole farce commences there.

The second half is – more domestic I guess? I was confused by why Kyle chose to follow Logan – yes, they had chemistry but Logan’s behaviour was kinda awful and I couldn’t quite see just why Kyle would do what he did. The relationship between the two men is entertaining and pleasant to read, but the confusion – or maybe my inability to suspend disbelief – messed with how I felt about the story.

Ultimately, it’s a nice, pleasant read with some hot sex scenes and domestic bliss, but this missed the mark for me. I will, however, happily read more in the ‘Am I the Problem’ series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

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

Title: ⟫ His Fatal Heart

Author: ⟫ Leighton Greene

Rating: ⟫ 5/5

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

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

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

To Leo Bernardi, I'm a monster.

A killing machine.

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

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

A means to an end.

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

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

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

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

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

Things I’ve never wanted to feel.

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

Leo Bernardi is my greatest enemy…

Could he also be my greatest love?

**

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

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

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

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

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

I received an ARC from GRR.

Whiskey and Sin by Emily Rath

Title: ⟫ Whiskey and Sin

Author: ⟫ Emily Rath

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Run.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Himbro by Honey London

Title: ⟫ Himbro

Author: ⟫ Honey London

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Devon got dumped.

My tragic taste in men has left me in the lurch… again. This time it’s the day before I’m supposed to leave for a destination wedding. When my ridiculously hot older stepbrother volunteers to be my travel buddy, I’m ready for five days of brotherly fun in the sun. What I’m not prepared for? My very straight stepbrother introducing himself as my boyfriend to shut up my manipulative, evil ex.

Jesse saves the day.

I’ve spent my entire life protecting my nerdy little stepbrother. If spending a few days holding his hand and calling him baby is going to help him stand up for himself, I’m ready to give an Oscar-worthy performance in my role of fake boyfriend. What I’m not prepared for? A game of spin the bottle that changes everything.

Himbro is a steamy stepbrothers to lovers, jock and nerd, opposites attract, fake relationship, forbidden romance novel with a sweet happy ever after.

Review: ⟫ This was a funny, sweet read, with Jesse stepping up to help his stepbrother when his boyfriend dumps him just before Devon is going to a wedding. The worst part? His evil ex is going to be there and the thought of having to face him sans partner is enough to make Devon want to leave the country.

Bryce is a fantastic villain, upsetting and alienating everyone whilst Jesse steps up and is the hit of the wedding. He appears to be the picture-perfect boyfriend and everyone falls in love with him. Including Devon.

My favourite part was the quiz night when Jesse and Devon handed everyone their butts simply because they had known each other for so long and could use that to get the answers. The stepbrother aspect was kinda strange – I guess it could be viewed as a bit taboo, especially as they essentially did grow up together – but there wasn’t a lot made of it throughout most of the book. The fact that it slipped into the sex part of things was – a little weird. Simply because I would have thought they’d want to avoid those connotations and it wasn’t discussed or appeared to be a kink for them until then.

I’m not sure how steamy I would describe this story to be – until quite near the end anyway – but I laughed a lot and enjoyed reading it, so I don’t mind.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Out of the Wild Night by Marina Vivancos (Coven Ties Book #2)

Title: ⟫ Out of the Wild Night

Author: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ In a world filled with magic, where everybody is born a submissive or a Dom…

Mason might no longer hate being a submissive, but life has taught him his dynamic puts him at a disadvantage. Neglected in childhood, abused by the first Dom he ever trusted, he knows to keep his heart guarded.

Mason’s skill in Animal Magic allows him to move from coven to coven—never settling down. Never opening up to anybody.

The Meliora coven was supposed to be no different.

Mason has learnt the hard way not to fall for the kindness of strangers, but the people here are different. Charlie, the Dom Mason works with, is different. Joyful, teasing, caring—Mason’s icy suspicion can’t help but start melting.

Will it be so bad if he gives in and starts scening with Charlie? To get on his knees and beg for what he really wants?

Can he learn to trust again?

Content Warning: The beginning of this book deals with child abuse, grooming of a minor, and sexual abuse. It is not between the main characters but is on-page and may be distressing to read.

Review: ⟫ I read the first book in the Coven Ties series and didn’t get along with it, but I was very interested when I saw the blurb for this one and decided to give it another go. I’m glad I did – this felt like such a completely different style of story within the same verse and I enjoyed it very much.

Mason is holding himself away from human ties – he allows himself to scene, but because of his past he never truly lets himself go and therefore is missing out. Until he comes to the Meliora Coven and meets Charlie.

Charlie was an utterly delightful character – he was snarky, flirty, funny and above all else, he gave Mason time and space to figure out what he wanted. I loved their interactions, watching as their relationship grew, as Charlie encouraged Mason to open himself to people in a way he hadn’t felt safe enough to do before.

How Mason discovered whole new aspects of his character through allowing himself to ‘settle’ at the Meliora Coven was beautiful to read, but more than anything I liked the fact that the author didn’t pretend that it was simple and easy. Mason had to work for it, made mistakes, and took steps backwards – he struggled and worked to become the better person he was, and the author described it beautifully.

We see people from the previous book and I must admit, I had a more favourable reaction to them in this one – perhaps I will go back and re-read book one. All in all, I found this a beautiful love story, with the ‘magic’ aspect of things blending seamlessly with the human interactions and relationships.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Lost in the Past by Trent Allen (Slipping Through Time Book #1)

Title: ⟫ Lost in the Past

Author: ⟫ Trent Allen

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Why am I alive?

Cody Callahan has asked that question every day for the last ten years, ever since that psycho kidnapped two boys, him and his best friend, but only one survived.

Cody opens a doorway that leads him back to that nightmare. Shock that he’s traveled to his past sparks his resolve to change the outcome. Can he remember anything to help save his younger self and the boy who he will always love? Or, will the clock run out for both boys this time around?

Cody’s arrival derails Detective Jack Vance’s carefully crafted life, causing Jack to question everything he thought he wanted for himself. If they don't get to the boys in time, will Cody disappear from Jack's life forever? Why does that thought suddenly terrify Jack?

Cody’s pendant might be part of the reason. It looks exactly like the one hanging around Jack’s own neck, even down to the blue glow. Jack’s grandmother said it was magical. She even promised it would bring him love. He scoffed at the idea, but it never once glowed before Cody appeared. Could Cody possibly be that love? Jack wouldn’t be foolish enough to fall for a guy that isn’t from his own time… Would he?

This novel contains non-consensual m/m sex. It also has supernatural time-travel, consensual m/m sex, suspense, and lots of love!

Review: ⟫ This book surprised me in many ways and, to be honest, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. There is a lot that is good about the book – the pacing is good, the storyline is fascinating, and the thriller works well in itself.

My likes:

* Jack’s initial disbelief was well written – anyone would question someone telling them they were from the future, no matter what proof they provided;

* The mystery behind what has happened to Cody and Ricky was well written, with enough red herrings without going overboard;

* some pretty solid detective work by the police department rather than taking the easy way out and having future-Cody conveniently remember/recognise things;

* the twist took me by surprise and I was impressed with how it was handled.

My dislikes:

* I know the blurb warns about non-consensual sex but it gave me the serious ick factor just how often we were seeing things from Benji’s perspective. It began to feel a little over-the-top and unnecessary and I came close to skipping quite a few of those scenes;

* regardless of the time travel perspective, I think it possibly took too much suspension of disbelief that so many people noticed the similarities between future-Cody and past-Cody and nothing more was said/done;

* Cody was a little too ‘together’ for me considering he’d travelled through time and was faced with such an incredibly stressful time in his life. I think I would have liked to see just a bit more freaking out from him;

* the number of times the word ‘gawd’ was used jumped into my head and wouldn’t leave and I found myself flinching every time I read it. Other exclamations could be used!

* The style of writing was hard to describe – sometimes it felt a little too ‘simple’ and a bit immature, but that is most likely just my feelings on it. Other reviews I have seen have raved about the book so it’s probably my personal preference.

I really did enjoy reading this book and I will definitely be looking out for more from this author. I understand that this is their debut novel and I am impressed with their achievement.

I received an ARC from GRR.

In His Sights by K.C. Wells

Title: ⟫ In His Sights

Author: ⟫ K.C. Wells

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Random letters belong on Scrabble tiles, not dead bodies. But when a demented serial killer targets Boston’s gay population, leaving cryptic messages carved into his victims, lead detective Gary Mitchell has no choice but to play along.

As the body count rises, Gary gets desperate enough to push aside his skepticism and accept the help of a psychic. Dan Porter says he can offer new clues, and Gary needs all the insight into the killer’s mind he can get.

Dan has lived with his gift–sometimes his curse–his entire life. He feels compelled to help, but only if he can keep his involvement secret. Experience has taught him to be cautious of the police and the press, but his growing connection to Gary distracts him from the real danger. As they edge closer to solving the puzzle, Dan finds himself in the killer’s sights….

Review: ⟫ This was a very good read. Police procedural, with a touch of the paranormal and romance, and engrossing – I read it in just a few hours. The story pulls you along at a swift pace, throwing clues at you whilst the relationship between Gary and Dan grows before your eyes.

It definitely reminded me of an episode of maybe Bones or Criminal Minds, the characters bouncing off each other as they try to solve the mystery of the serial killer. As such, I was really pleased to learn that this is going to be a series – I greatly look forward to reading more about Dan and Gary, as well as Ritchie and the other team members who were in the background.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Never Have I Ever: Wanted My Brother's Rival by Willow Dixon

Title: ⟫ Never Have I Ever: Wanted my Brother’s Rival

Author: ⟫ Willow Dixon

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ “Why is the one person I hate the only guy I can’t stop thinking about?”

West, my older brother’s high school rival. The rich kid who has it all. The guy who disappeared six years ago and destroyed my brother’s life.

I thought West and I were friends. I trusted him, but he showed me I was nothing more to him than a means to an end.

Being twenty and in my last year of college isn’t easy. Neither is being a virgin. I’ve never been normal or felt like I fit in, and I don’t feel what I’m supposed to.

My online job has given me the perfect way to solve my virginity problem, but then the last person I ever wanted to see again shows up on my doorstep. Not only has West learned what I do for a living, he’s essentially my landlord.

I hate him. So why can’t I stay away from him? Why is he the only person I’ve ever felt a connection with, who makes me feel like there’s something in me worth wanting?

Eli and West’s story is an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance between a former bad boy who seemingly has it all and an awkward genius who’s never felt like he fits in. Expect lots of banter and hot first times as these two try (and fail) to stay away from each other. It is the fourth novel in the steamy Never Have I Ever series but can be read as a standalone.

Review: ⟫ This was a sweet wrap up to the series. I have enjoyed the glimpses of Eli that we have had, learning a little more about him in each book until it definitely felt like it was time for his story.

The link between he and West was so caring and sweet and made me smile on numerous occasions: one of the best examples is when Eli turns to West and asks him if they’ve been doing something and West replies ‘I wonder how long it would take you to notice’. West just accepts the person that Eli is, with his foibles, habits and little quirks – in fact, he relishes them and it shows in the way he treats Eli. In return, Eli flourishes under the attention.

I also really enjoyed the relationship between Eli and the housemates, how as he began to accept the care that West was giving him, he in turn blossomed in his friendships.

This was a lovely book, with some hot sex scenes (including the camming) and as I said, excellent closure for the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.