Beyond Fate by Lee McCormick (Beyond Novella #1.5)

TITLE: ⟫ Beyond Fate

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

SERIES: ⟫ Beyond Book #1.5

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ “Maybe in our next life, things will be different? It can be you and me. Maybe we’ll finally fit. Soulmates, right? So maybe…”

Clay

I’ve been on a hundred jobs, but I’ve never met a person like Jayce Holden. He’s everything I shouldn’t want, wrapped in a protective package that seems hellbent on making sure I’m safe from his family. Making sure I’m his.

I'm not sure what I want... not when my mission is to kill his father, and Jayce is the only person who knows where to find him.

Jayce

I’ve had a dream of the same man my entire life. Sometimes, he’s soft and sweet… and sometimes, he’s trying to kill me. Sometimes he does.

When Clay walks into my life, I recognize him immediately. I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him, whatever it takes to make him mine… even if it means defying my family and putting everything on the line.

BEYOND FATE is a dual POV novella that follows Jayce and Clay into the future for their shot at finding happiness in their next life. While connected to the Beyond universe, this is a uniquely crafted story set in the future to give two characters their very deserved happily ever after. Expect high heat, an assassin and the son of a mafia boss fighting for their chance at love, and the HEA that everyone demanded.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was one of those people who read the first book in this series and felt bad for Jayce and Clay, so when I heard that the author was going to release a novella featuring the two of them, I was so here for it. And this did not disappoint. Set in a non-disclosed future, Clay is an assassin for the government who does whatever is needed in order to get the job done. Including putting himself into the position to have to handle a serious sexual assault – all in a day’s work. But then the giant mechanic that keeps watching puts himself in the middle, messing up Clay’s plans for getting close to the big boss and suddenly, all bets are off.

The tension between Clay and Jayce is palpable from the very beginning and getting to see what they are thinking through the dual POV is excellent for understanding just what the heck is going on. Jayce has memories – dreams of Clay – that have been going on for a very long time and just wants to figure out what the hell is going on. And maybe see if Clay could be the one person in the horrid existence he is living that can make it all worthwhile. Clay, on the other hand, is discovering that there are things about his past and himself that he has no memories of and Jayce just happens to be one of them.

Despite being a novella, the story doesn’t rush straight into a relationship between the two of them. Instead, it simmers in the background whilst the story of a son desperate to get out from underneath the thumb of his evil father and the government assassin who should be using said, unknown son in order to get to the father hurtles along with a sense of impending doom hanging over everything. The interactions between Clay and Jayce get more and more intense, and things throw us into meeting characters that we completely and utterly hate (I’m talking Nick here) as well as hopefully someone we’ll meet again (Rhys) and this story grabs you and doesn’t let go.

I’m beyond excited for the next instalment and really pleased that Clay and Jayce got the action and romance that they deserved. A very satisfying novella and I recommend giving this author a read!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Eternally Blessed by Garrett Leigh (Rebel Kings MC Book #7)

TITLE: ⟫ Eternally Blessed

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Rebel Kings

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Locke

Three is the magic number. I gave them my heart, and they gave me theirs. But the downside of living my best life is that I have everything to lose. And sometimes it’s not the obvious thing that can rip it all away.

It’s fate.

It’s chance.

It’s the worst luck in the world for the soul who least deserves it, and the one cruelty I can’t take.

The one storm we can’t weather.

I’m not a religious man. Not even close. But I’m praying right now.

For her. For him. For me.

Cos there is no us without him, and I won’t survive it if everything we’ve fought for is nothing but a dream.

Eternally Blessed is the seventh instalment in the bestselling Rebel Kings MC series. An MMF romance with strong MM romance content, hurt/comfort, angst, found family, forced proximity, single dad, and friends-to-lovers tropes.

Content warnings for everything you’d expect from a gripping biker romance.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my heart!! What the hell, Garrett Leigh, I know I should have been prepared for how much this was going to rip my heart out of my chest but somehow, I wasn’t.

The cliffhanger that had me alternately screaming and worried cumulated in this book, and I finally understand why this couldn’t have gone into one book. There was SO much going on in this book – so much Locke, Orla and Nash went through – its really difficult to review without giving spoilers.

It seemed incredibly unfair that after everything that has happened to the Rebel Kings (but Locke in particular), that this is where things began in this novel. It was almost as if life waited until Locke finally took a breath and began to see how happy he could be, then cruelly ripped it out of his hands and plunged him back into hell. I was actually really angry – there’s unfair, there’s well damn, and then there is this book. I don’t understand how Garrett Leigh keeps managing to do this to me!

As always, the action and intrigue was top-notch, with all of the brothers we have come to know and love showing their fealty and love for each other. Alexei remains a favourite – I love his pithy comments and inability to show people how he feels apart from with violence, surveillance and sarcasm; Saint – I freaking adore Saint – but one of the favourite parts of this book for me was when the O’Brien’s were out without supervision – man, that was freaking awesome. And Orla is a queen indeed.

I know this is a bit rambly and incoherent – I wanted to be sure to give no spoilers because this is a book that needs to be read without ‘warnings’ so that you can appreciate every single twist and turn. Ultimately, trust the process – trust that Garrett might throw you high into the air, take your breath away and send you plummeting to earth with no safety net – but in the end, oh the ending was just sublime.

I really can’t express my love for this entire series coherently, but suffice it to say I will be waiting for the next book and may just take the time to marathon read all of the books again. An easy five from me.

Rogue by Onley James (Jericho's Boys Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Rogue

AUTHOR: ⟫ Onley James

SERIES: ⟫ Jericho’s Boys Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Levi Akira’s existence is far from ideal. His mother's addiction consumes their lives, his academic standing is crumbling, and the convenience store he works at is a constant target for ruthless robberies. But amidst the chaos, Levi finds solace in only three things: his tight-knit group of friends, protecting his neighbourhood as one of Jericho’s Boys, and streaming his favourite video game, where he assumes the role of Rogue—a hero who will break the rules for the greater good.

Shiloh Mizrahi’s hope has all but dwindled. With one brother unjustly imprisoned, and the other a sadistic puppeteer, he endures daily torment at the hands of the latter. And his latest demand? Get close to Levi at any cost.

In the midst of another ordinary night shift, Levi's world is upended when a captivating and terrified stranger appears, brandishing a weapon and claiming he has been forced to kill Levi by his own brother. Levi, torn between self-preservation and an instinctive aversion to harming the vulnerable boy, takes a bold leap—he kisses him. And then, just like that, the boy disappears into the night, leaving Levi haunted by his memory.

Driven by an unshakeable connection, Levi's path crosses with Shiloh's once more, igniting a passionate bond that refuses to be extinguished. However, Shiloh harbours a labyrinth of secrets, torn between loyalty and desire. With his brother's freedom dangling in the balance, can Levi and Shiloh navigate the treacherous path to be together, or will Levi forever remain a hero confined to the online realm?

REVIEW: ⟫ I started reading this on Onley’s Patreon but Real Life got in the way and I decided to save it until the book was published.

I’m so glad I did because Levi and Shiloh’s story deserved to be devoured in one sitting, along with a box of tissues and a soothing cup of tea. If you’ve read the Necessary Evils stories, you know that these people meet their person and imprint like a duckling and Levi is no exception. But this time, he meets the love of his life at the end of a gun.

Shiloh broke my whole damned heart for so many reasons: Micah was a grade A A*hole who loved nothing more than torturing Shiloh mentally and physically, and as such Shiloh is expecting nothing good from his life. Which is why when Levi prevents him from committing murder on camera with a stunning kiss, he imprints just as much as the other man does.

Levi’s pain was of a whole different kind and man, this is where the tissues really came in handy. This boy had been through it and is still dealing with it in the form of his alcoholic mother. The only reason Levi hasn’t broken is his found family with Jericho and the rest of the Murder Muppets. Shiloh takes him completely by surprise but from the beginning, Levi is all in.

I admit that there were three ‘background’ characters that really grabbed me: Malachi, Shiloh’s brother was like ‘woof’ – I cannot wait to read more about him; Seven being flippant, bratty and downright needy made me laugh and LONG for his story; and then we met Enzo. OH MY GOODNESS. Seriously, these two didn’t interact that much on paper, but they burned up the room together in the short amount of time we spent with them and I am relishing finding out Enzo’s backstory. Which is coming – right?

Like the other stories in this series, this was wild, violent, sexy ride and I was more than happy to hold on to the ‘oh sh!t’ bar and make the most of it. Shiloh and Levi did not disappoint in any way, although reading what the two of them have gone through really made me feel kinda bleak more than once or twice.

Some of the Mulvaneys made an appearance, including Avi and Asa (I can never get enough of these two), and we got to see the family in action as they helped Levi help Shiloh. But this was definitely all about the Murder Muppets, with an excellent mix of old characters whilst allowing the newer ones to shine. Obviously I’m a big Onley James’ fan so it’s no surprise that this scored a five from me, but I would definitely say the tissues are needed for this one – it felt so much more emotionally wrenching, which would make sense since the Muppets are not psychopaths – they’re human, with past trauma, a need to belong and find someone to love. Which is precisely why they work so well.

Also, don’t forget to grab the bonus epilogue because it was the absolute cherry on the top of the cake!

Brodie Winters The Chosen One Chronicles Volume 1 by Dion Marc

TITLE: ⟫ Brodie Winters The Chosen One Chronicles

AUTHOR: ⟫ Dion Marc

SERIES: ⟫ The Chosen One Chronicles Volume #1

RATING: ⟫ 1/5

BLURB: ⟫ Brodie Winters is the Chosen One, but he doesn't want to be…

Brodie Winters wants nothing more than to retire and have a little fun for once. Unfortunately for him, demon-slaying is more just than a career.

Moonhaven was supposed to be the safest city in America, the perfect choice for an Elemental Channeller seeking a sense of normalcy away from demonic forces. But Brodie was never destined for the for the Chosen One, danger lurks in every shadow.

So much for settling down.

As Brodie tries to focus on starting college and exploring the queer scene, a series of disappearances drags him back to battling powerful supernatural forces. As it turns out, Moonhaven is rife with evil.

A natural-born protector, Brodie can't help but get involved, threatening his dreams of living a normal life. Worse yet, his new friends may not be able to escape the paranormal either, and it's not going to be pretty.

'The Chosen Brodie Winters' is a serialised novella series containing three episodes in each volume. The story contains action, humour, gory horror and high heat. Written by bestselling Author Dion Marc, this story promises to be everything a kinky 90s fanboy of the supernatural could ask for.

REVIEW: ⟫ I struggled with how to rate this story. It was very similar to watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer inasmuch as that’s pretty much what Brodie is, although he actually uses magic and as far as I can recall, there weren’t any stakes involved. It was full of interesting creatures of the night, new friends that tried to help Brodie in his mission, and the vampire who became interested in Brodie definitely gave off ‘Angel’ vibes. As a dedicated Buffy fan, I was most definitely here for that side of things and enjoyed the different take on the supernatural aspect of things with the vampires.

However, there were aspects of the story that I really struggled with.

* As an experienced demon-slayer, I found myself extremely sceptical about the night out that Brodie went on with his friend – I am referring to the Wolves and Lambs evening. I couldn’t believe that Brodie would be that irresponsible and cavalier with his and his friend’s safety, especially when it came to offering himself up on a silver platter. He would be more than aware of the dangers that such an offer represented and even sex-addled, it seemed out of character;

* There were more than hints of non-con in his dealings with Adam and I basically got the extreme ‘ick’ with what happened with Adam and his friends. I truly don’t believe that Brodie was in any position to give informed consent and the whole thing didn’t sit well with me at all. Adam took away Brodie’s ability to say yes or no, and the rest of the jocks were obviously perfectly happy with that. I didn’t have an issue with the numerous partners aspects of things – I just felt that it more than skirted the line into assault.

* The lack of discussion regarding certain aspects of the play that Brodie and Adam engaged in together was also disturbing. Kinks should be discussed beforehand and the fact that Brodie wasn’t experienced/aware of his interest in such activities made me feel that, again, it erred too far over into non-con. No kink shaming, but the synopsis I have seen on Amazon and Goodreads does not give warning for some of the activities engaged in and I think that that is a mistake.

All that being said, most of the writing was solid, the storyline was engaging and as a serialised novella, it was an entertaining read. There was a little frustration with where things ended but then I would imagine the point was to grab the reader and keep them coming back for more. The Order sound like they could be intriguing and Brodie’s vampire admirer will no doubt be back and getting closer to our male lead.

I’m still not sure if I’m going to try to read more of this. My concerns above are still quite fresh in my mind and I would want far more trigger warnings before I went into the next volume. I love the premise, I’m just not sure if I want to wander further down this road, especially with so little warning. I haven’t seen any other reviews that have the same concerns so it might well be that I am being over-sensitive, but I do think that some warnings should be given so that people going into the story can prepare themselves.

Just Like Magic by Ellie Roth (Longview Romance book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Just Like Magic

AUTHOR: ⟫ Ellie Roth

SERIES: ⟫ Longview Romance

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The witches are rioting again.

Figures. They overreact to everything.

Anwer Alexander, son of the notoriously anti-magic governor, has everything he wants in life: a good job, amazing parents, and an annoying brat of a younger sister. But when his sister Shay manifests the same kind of magic powers that get countless teenagers kicked out of their houses, Anwer has to scramble to find her a witch who can show her how to control them—and make sure their parents don’t find out.

Christian Lewis, the most powerful magic user in the tristate area, doesn’t know what to do with himself when the Alexander siblings ask him to teach Shay in exchange for Anwer helping Chris with a life-changing ritual. But no matter how much he hates their parents, Chris has never been able to say no to mentoring a newbie magic user from a toxic household—even though her scowling older brother infuriates him.

As the long summer days grow warmer, Anwer and Chris find themselves slowly drawing closer to each other over Shay’s training. Sparks fly when Shay decides that she wants to compete in the Santiago, the largest magic tournament of the year, but will the five-day competition be the beginning of something more or the end of everything Anwer and Chris hoped for?

--

Just Like Magic is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy that features a modern world imbued with magic, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, found family vibes, tragic backstories, mild to moderate steaminess, major angst, and a happy ending for our protagonists (with a few plot threads left open for later books).

*Content warnings available on website.

REVIEW: ⟫ I am in two minds about this story. Admittedly, it did say that it was slow burn so I wasn’t expecting insta-love or anything like that. However, as the first book in a series, there was a lot of world-building and plot that had to be fitted in and as such, for me personally, the romance part of things did suffer.

The characters were nicely written – Chris and Anwer both had good reasons for the way they felt, it wasn’t manufactured, ignored or blown out of proportion. The plot was extremely interesting and the metaphor of children with magic being thrown out of their homes hit home without feeling like you were being bashed over the head.

I enjoyed the magic tournament and the things that happened there – it was brilliant to see Chris in his element and demonstrating his power, rather than us just being told that he was an incredibly powerful magic user. The additional characters were also well-rounded and not just there to pad out the background.

I found Anwer’s parents to be a little of a caricature but then it would be difficult to give them more depth when they weren’t the main thrust of the story. I was very interested in the persecution of the magic users and how it was described and I will be looking out for further stories in the series in the hope that it is examined in more depth.

The romance between Chris and Anwer was sweet – when we did spend time with them, it was possible to see them falling in love with each other and the reason why. I especially enjoyed when Chris was training Shay and Anwer was struggling to fight his fear/hatred of magic whilst falling under Chris’s spell. There were certain aspects of things that I wasn’t very happy with – especially with regard to how much it was made into a thing that being magic was an integral part of who people were – but that definitely falls under the category of YMMV. Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more in the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Arranged Salvation by Jacey Davis (Arranging Love Book #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Arranged Salvation

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jacey Davis

SERIES: ⟫ Arranging Love Book #3

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Bastion: Making that phone call was the hardest thing I’d ever done. But also the best. I was terrified of what would happen once I asked my half-brother for help, but I had no other choice. I’d do anything to protect the baby growing inside of me. Even if that meant escaping my husband’s home and possibly putting everyone’s life in danger in the process. It was the most selfish thing I’d ever done but for the most selfless reason.

I knew there would be consequences for my actions, but I never expected I’d have to pretend I had a fated mate. But being tied to an alpha like Arden wasn’t a hardship. He was kind, sweet, caring, and protective. He was everything I never thought an alpha could be. He was showing me that the world wasn’t as terrible as I believed, and that maybe not all alphas were cruel. I just wished fate was kind to me for once and he was truly my fated. But I knew better than to hope for too much and was grateful for what I did have with Arden.

Arden: I always knew I was a smidge overprotective. Caring for my pack was my love language. But nothing compared to how intense those feelings were toward Bastion. I had sensed…something…between us when I met him all those months ago but hadn’t thought much of it. Now that he was mine, though, even if it was just on paper, that caretaker side that was always just under the surface had its moment to shine. I’d do anything to protect Bastion.

Anything.

With the government breathing down our throats and the political climate getting more heated every day, I might be putting that to the test.

Arranged Salvation is book three in the Arranging Love series. Each book is an interconnected standalone with new MCs and at least an HFN for the couple. It is strongly recommended that you read the previous books, as there is an overarching storyline that continues throughout the series. However, it would be possible to read this one without those. Arranged Salvation is a slow-burn, plot-heavy MPreg omegaverse featuring a traumatized omega trying to protect his baby, an overprotective alpha with a soft side, a fake fated mating, and a lot of people doing anything they can to undermine them.

It is an alternate reality omegaverse with adult themes and explicit content. It is not meant for those under 18. This book contains on page MPreg. This is a world where omegas have very few rights and are essentially owned by their alpha guardian or mate. There is also a biological kink element where alphas are biologically inclined towards dominance while omegas are inclined towards submission.

Content warning: societal repression of a group of people, on-page violence, detailed mentions of abuse, undiagnosed PTSD, panic attacks, on-page MPreg, and off-page SA, and ongoing abuse (not by MCs) that is described. There is also a consensual Daddy kink dynamic between the MCs and very light age regression. Please see the book for a more detailed warning.

REVIEW: ⟫ There felt like simultaneously a lot to take in and yet not a lot happening on-page with regard to the central romance. I had read a previous book in this series, Arranged by Fate so the characters and premise were familiar to me. At the front of this book is a very helpful list of characters, how they fit into the story and who they are currently partnered with, as well as a list of triggers.

We are thrown straight into the action with Bastion locked away in a cupboard, finally calling for help from Lyric. It definitely felt like I needed to have read the previous books as it immediately referred to things that had happened previously, but I was able to guestimate what I had missed. Bastion’s plight – being at the mercy of his evil alpha – was described very well, as was his emotional state, so I was settled in for some hurt/comfort.

However, I would say that there were so many politics going on, the main couple didn’t get as much focus as I would have liked. This was definitely slow-burn, with things being very plot-heavy for a large amount of the story, often to the detriment of the romantic side of things. I wanted to see more of the interactions between Arden and Bastion, and however much I enjoyed the world building, I feel that the romance should have featured more heavily.

As mentioned, there is light age regression, which was handled smoothly and sweetly; however, the Daddy kink wasn’t explored as much as I was hoping. I was impressed with the fact that Daddy/boy was recognised as a ‘normal’ dynamic between mates and therefore no-one seemed to bat an eyelid at Bastion calling Arden ‘Daddy’ a few times.

After a while, the cast of characters felt like they became a little unwieldy – when they were trying to escape from government retaliation I knew there were a large number of people I should care about, but after a while they just became names on a page, and this was a shame.

I think the main issue I had with this story was that I wasn’t expecting it to be so politics heavy, and although it was interesting I feel that it got in the way of the building of the relationship between the two main characters. I also think it can be difficult to handle so many previously established relationships deftly enough to satisfy people’s desire for an update on previous favourites whilst dedicating enough time to the ‘featured’ couple.

It was a good addition to the series, and the writing is easy to read and understand. I didn’t “feel” as much as I wanted to but I think that might just be a me thing and YMMV. Well written, a solid entry in the series but I would definitely suggest reading the previous books to be able to know who everyone is and where they belong.

I received an ARC from GRR.

One by Paulina Ian-Kane (Angels of Wrath book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ One

AUTHOR: ⟫ Paulina Ian-Kane

SERIES: ⟫ Angels of Wrath

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Michael Caldwell —medical examiner, odd, blood obsessed. His new life in Chicago consists of performing autopsies and eating chips while watching old detective series.

Until…

“He’s suddenly standing in front of me. Leather jacket, washed-out jeans, jet black hair.

His deep, green eyes are so intense on me I can barely breathe.

It’s in his crooked smile, bold flirting and confident—borderline conceited—behavior that I get lost.

The fact that he protects me five minutes later during an attempted robbery only reinforces my crazy-instant attraction toward him, though.

But there are shadows hiding in his gaze. And his apathetic yet possessive attitude confuses me.

Makes me care.

Makes me crave.

But then secrets come out and my life turns into a thriller movie.

Now I’m left wondering how this all started. And when the answer comes, I know I can never go back to my uneventful life. Would I even want to?

Would I be able to leave him?

‘Never again’, he whispers.”

WARNING-This is not a sci-fi angel story, unless you see eager vigilantes with a dark side as angels.

This is an action packed romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an over the top possessive psychopath, and a peculiar medical examiner with a stomach made of steel. There’s violence, torture (only of very bad people), dark humor, amazing side characters and very spicy scenes with blood play. Morality’s grey area is quite stretched in this story.

This is book one in the Angels of Wrath Series. Each book follows a different couple.

REVIEW: ⟫ The main thing that it suffers from is comparison to Onley James’ Necessary Evils series. The idea of a family of psychopathic (and varying other diagnoses) who are kept under control by their parent and only kill bad people is a really good premise – I LOVE the idea, especially if they’re sexy psychos.

The writing is solid, and the premise is engaging. Michael was not as strong a character as I would have liked – he seemed like he just got dragged along for the ride. His particular kink didn’t get in the way of his career and I admit, I was a little confused as to why he was so ‘uptight’ about it since it didn’t seem to have any effect on his daily life.

Raphael was more fleshed out, but there were times when he felt a little one-dimensional and I don’t think it was his personality that caused that. His diagnosis and background were covered well, but his inner dialogue occasionally struck me like a teenage boy denied having some fun – he seemed like more of a liability than an asset to the family.

I enjoyed meeting all of the brothers and the dynamic between them was entertaining, especially when it came to the bets and pranks. The sex was pretty intense and the closeness between Raphael and Michael, the almost instant co-dependency was interesting to observe. There was a little too much telling rather than showing, and I didn’t like how days passed with nothing happening so it was hard to know how much time had passed.

I did like how things between Michael, Linda, Megan and Raphael were ‘resolved’ – there wasn’t instant forgiveness and understanding and I thought that was important and actually well handled.

All in all, I did enjoy reading this story and I have already downloaded ‘Six’ which is the next one in the series. If you’re missing out on some psychos in love, I would give this a go – just go in with reasonable expectations and I don’t think you’ll be too disappointed.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Broken Ice by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

TITLE: ⟫ Broken Ice

AUTHOR: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

SERIES: ⟫ Alpha Omega Hockey #4

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ After being forced to take suppressants for a year by his coach, Beau’s body is a mess. He has a debilitatingly painful heat every two weeks, and there’s no medication available to help him.

Being traded from the team that did that to him is a slap to the face. Being traded to their direct competitors, the Miami Manatees, is just the cherry on top of the sh*t sundae that has become his life.

Now Beau doesn’t just have to get through heats only an Alpha would be able to help with, but has to tolerate Emilio, the guy who doesn’t only hate him, but his Omega scent.

Which doesn’t really make sense, what with how protective and possessive the Alpha gets when Beau goes into heat…and how he keeps volunteering to help him through them.

Beau might take him up on that offer, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to fall in love.

This story contains a goofily oblivious main character and his long-suffering romantic interest, many a heat, plenty of nesting, hurt/comfort, and a dog named Bingo.

This book takes place a decade after the beginning of Alpha Omega: New York and can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ Hmm, I’ve read plenty of oblivious love interests, but Beau may just be the absolute worst one yet! I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I have a couple of the previous books in the series. Beau was so oblivious that after a while, it really began to get on my nerves.

Some of it was understandable – the reactions of his partners in the past and his old coach really did a number on him. But he had so many positive influences in his life – from his family to the few people he did let close – that it was difficult not to feel like he should have been questioning what he had been through in the past a lot sooner.

The story kinda gambolled along quite nicely, with an interesting cast of characters. It seems pretty obvious that Beau’s brother will get his own story with Sammy, and I will definitely read that because even when I’m not 100% along for the ride, Marina Vivancos writes a story that you want to read to the end. Even when you want to shake one of the main protagonists.

I did enjoy how secure Beau was when it came to the physical side of things – he made me laugh more than once with how straight-forward he was and how Emilio reacted. I didn’t get as much of a sense of Emilio as Beau, although the guy deserves a medal for putting up with Beau on occasion.

This was a fun read, with minimal angst, a chunk of heat sex, and a completely oblivious omega that you may find more than a little annoying even while you’re hanging in there for his HEA.

Soulmates by Kate Munro (Soulmates Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Soulmates

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kate Munro

SERIES: ⟫ Soulmates Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Maddox St. James and Jake Osterman have it all—a perfect friendship, powerful magic, and the future laid at their feet. The only thing that could make life any better is finally gaining the courage to admit that they are desperately in love with one another.

But this declaration carries the potential to ruin everything, and before they have the chance to explore their feelings, a spell gone drastically wrong nearly destroys them both.

Now, Maddox is fighting for his life, and Jake is fighting for his sanity as an unknown magic challenges everything they thought they knew about their world.

A race across the country, a quirky, reclusive mage, and a new kind of magic may be their only hope of survival and a chance at lasting love.

Soulmates is an urban fantasy friends-to-lovers romance featuring clueless best friends, a magic ritual, a swamp, and a connection that runs soul-deep.

REVIEW: ⟫ I picked this up for two reasons: book two is due out next month (February) and it caught my eye, and I thought it was a novella. Don’t ask me why – nowhere does it say that but my brain decided and that was that.

So it was obviously longer than I was expecting and that took some adjusting. I think I was expecting it to be the prequel to the book due out next month – it does centre around the same couple, so I can understand why I got that idea.

I liked this book and disliked it at the same time. I really enjoyed the friendship between Maddox and Jake that was made obvious from the beginning. And I must admit, I loved the idea of a school-wide challenge that no-one acknowledges but everyone knows happens – kinda Hogwarts but the kids are older and a little naughtier. I found the structure and world building interesting, and was definitely intrigued by the entire ‘spell’ that Jake and Maddox find themselves under.

I enjoyed Cricket and the history lesson the three of them received, as well as his cranky exterior whilst taking such good care of them. I was definitely intrigued by the happenings at the school, although we don’t really get to know much more than at the beginning.

I didn’t like the chasing across country – I understand why it happened but for me it slowed down the pace of the story too much. We didn’t learn much that we hadn’t already, and occasionally the whole point of the societal injustices, levels of power, etc just felt rather laboured. I wanted to learn more about Maddox’s father and the hints given to his childhood; I wanted to learn more about how the magic worked and how they were entwined (especially having to travel fused the way they were); their companion wasn’t fully fleshed and felt like a plot-device.

Once I had reached the end, I could see what the author was doing with the world building, raising questions that weren’t necessarily answered in this novel, projecting into the future. However, I think that for me some of that overshadowed the story that I was actually reading and as such, I’m not sure I actually want to read the next novel. Maddox and Jake didn’t grab me as much as I hoped they would, possibly because of the need to get people up to speed on everything meaning that not as much time was put into their characters.

I think this may well be a case of YMMV but this story didn’t resonate with me however much I wanted it to. I will say, the world building, style of writing and pacing was generally good, and the premise is most intriguing so I would say this is worth a go.

MateHub: Legend by Marie Reynard

TITLE: ⟫ MateHub : Legend

AUTHOR: ⟫ Marie Reynard

SERIES: ⟫ Elemental Bonds

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The contract was simple: three months, seven scenes, zero feelings. Following it was not.

Richard Knotz is a legend in the world of supernatural adult entertainment, and he knows it. While most paranormal adult actors shy away from the temporary bonds needed to perform knotting scenes, he's made them his brand. Bonding a human could never threaten to tear his empire to the ground, no matter how tempting that human smells.

Hunter Savage thinks Richard Knotz is a smug son of a wolf, but when he's offered a contract to work with him, the payout is too lucrative to say no. Three months bonded to Richard could make his entire career. He just doesn't expect to find a soft side under Richard's prickly exterior, or for the apartment they're forced to share to start feeling like home.

The bonding contract is easy and painless as long as they remember one cardinal rule: don't get attached. Their employer has no use for unprofessional fools who let feelings jeopardize profits. But in between filming scorching scenes with ridiculous scenarios, they discover they're more compatible than either could have imagined.

As their limited time together winds down, they face a choice—risk their careers for the unexpected connection they've found, or lose their bond forever.

MateHub: Legend is a high heat, arranged bonding, forced proximity, dislike-to-love paranormal romance featuring an arrogant wolf shifter who thinks a little too highly of various parts of his anatomy, the feisty human who finally takes him down a few notches, nosy fans, meddling friends, knotting, and a contract that is destined to fail.

This stand-alone novel is set in the Elemental Bonds universe and guarantees a HEA for its main couple. It does not contain mpreg or cheating. Please look inside for content warnings.

REVIEW: ⟫ Should I wax lyrical about the characters of Hunter and Richard, who quickly became clear in my mind as this romp of a story went on? Or perhaps the forum/messenger posts between each chapter which were absolute gold and reminded me so much of my early fandom days?

I could go on about the humour, the banter, sexiness, grouchy but lovableness that practically permeated every page but more than anything, the scorching yet tender sex scenes which were so well written and never repetitive. What I will say is that as soon as I had finished this book, I was back on Amazon looking for more reads from the author, joining their newsletter and friending their Instagram. I stayed up all night reading the Elemental Bonds story that is available, and cannot quite decide which one that I need the sequel to first.

Really blown away by this story and so pleased that I received it as an ARC from GRR.

The Surrogate Omega by Jacey Davis (Part #1 and #2)

TITLE: ⟫ The Surrogate Omega

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jacey Davis

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Omegas Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ This special edition of Surrogate Omega contains both part one and part two of the original story. It features a new cover and has been lightly revised and re-edited.

Part One:

With all of the changes happening in Lake Simmon’s life in the past year, he’s had to learn how to adapt and adjust, or he’d be lost. Since most of the changes are good ones, like his baby niece, he is learning to come to terms with the lack of stability that he has always relied on. While some of the changes make him uneasy, he finds he is comfortable with the knowledge that he also has the Omega gene, like his twin brother River. After friends receive some devastating news, Lake knows that he wants to help and offers to be the surrogate for them.

There is one change Lake never saw coming: falling in love.

But when events from his past lead to Lake meeting Evander, he feels an instant connection to the man that awakens feelings Lake has never felt before. Then Ev introduces him to his best friend, Logan, and sparks fly between the three men.

Part Two:

If someone asked Lake Simmons a year ago what he imagined his life to be like in a year, he’d never in a million years imagine this. He somehow went from never having a relationship to having not only one but two mates. And if that isn’t wild enough, he’s now helping his friends fulfil their dreams of a family by being their surrogate. He never dreamt he’d want a life like this, but now he can’t imagine anything else.

Not everything is smooth sailing, of course. Between the holidays, busy schedules, long work hours, and undercover work trips, Lake and his mates, Evander and Logan, find themselves fumbling to solidify their new relationship and find their rhythm. When one of his mates has a case at work he just can’t let go of, Lake finds himself getting involved against his better judgment.

When everything comes to a head, and the secrets Lake has been keeping come to light, the three men must come together to fight their battles as one. Because at the end of the day, no matter what struggles they face, Lake, Logan, and Evander know it’s better to face them together.

The Surrogate Omega is an MMM contemporary omegaverse romance with MPreg. It's the second instalment to the Unexpected Omegas but can be read on its own.

Content Warning: references to past child abuse, food insecurity, drugs, attempted trafficking (all off-page), infertility of a secondary character, surrogacy, a miscarriage scare (does not happen), kidnapping of a minor character, adoption, and found family. A more detailed content warning can be found in the front of the book.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was very interested in the premise of twin omegas and how they handled the revelation that Omega genes were reappearing and Mpreg was now possible. The interesting juxtaposition between River and Lake – with Lake showing signs of being on the spectrum which was handled smoothly, with people accepting his characteristics and quirks with little to no comment. River was full of emotion whereas Lake was far more comfortable leaving emotions out of things.

The characters of Logan and Evander were interesting in different ways. Logan identified as straight for his whole life, to the extent that he didn’t register just how entangled he was with Evander until Lake came into both of their lives. Deeply submerged feelings for Evander as well as the almost instant desire to make Lake belong to him means that Logan had to go on a voyage of discovery about himself. He went through the most changes – physical changes that he little to no preparation for and no point of reference to guide him – meant that I felt his character had the most ‘progression’. Evander to a certain extent seemed to represent the beta in the relationship, albeit taking on the role of carer in the throuple as they developed their relationship.

I wasn’t too enamoured of the subplot regarding the case that Logan was working on and Lake’s involvement – it felt a little superfluous to be honest and I couldn’t quite get behind it. I liked the idea – I just didn’t particularly enjoy the implementation. I enjoyed the fact that this was both parts of the story so not only did you see the beginning of the relationship between Logan, Evander and Lake but also how they managed to entangle their lives together. The Mpreg aspect wasn’t really explored, although signs of how the general population felt about male pregnancy were prevalent in the story and I would imagine played a heavier role in the first story in the series which I have no read. I would say for anyone slightly leery of the mpreg aspect of things that it is very lightly touched on and there are no graphic scenes.

I liked reading these stories but they didn’t grip me – I can’t even explain why as the idea of a hot threesome, with an emerging alpha, a switch and a submissive omega is right up my street. Well written with engaging characters and an interesting storyline, I think this just wasn’t the book for me – YMMV.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan by Vawn Cassidy - Volume 1

TITLE: ⟫ The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Volume 1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ CRAWSHANKS GUIDE TO THE RECENTLY DEPARTED

A Dead Serious Companion Novella

Set in the Dead Serious Universe, The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan is a compendium of bonus shorts told in chronological order and documenting the hilarious but sweet beginnings of the relationship between a drag queen and the supernatural entity known as Death.

This Volume includes the following:

Death goes on a Date

Death goes Shopping

Death goes on Holiday

Death gets a Puppy

REVIEW: ⟫ This was absolutely delightful! I haven’t read any of the bonus shorts before but was entranced at the idea of reading about Chan and Death’s courtship and these did not disappoint!

Chan has always been an intriguing character and we learn much more about him through these shorts – more about him and Dusty, how they came to be drag queens and the deep friendship that they share – even beyond death.

And then we have Death with a capital D who sounds like a complete DILF and is obviously head over heels for Chan! Chan decides Death needs to learn what it is to be human and the shenanigans are sexy, sweet and touching in a way that Chan truly deserves.

I loved reading these shorts and look forward to reading more – especially if it includes Death in a speedo! I received an ARC from the author.

Creekside Township Rivals by J T Fader

TITLE: ⟫ Creekside Township Rivals

AUTHOR: ⟫ J T Fader

SERIES: ⟫ Books #1 - 3

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Three HEA stories set in Creekside, a sleepy little town, where rivalries don't generally occur due to the leadership of the East Creekside pack. This boxed set follows the love stories of three brothers, dedicating a book to each. Lots of knotting, MPreg, and of course love.

REVIEW: ⟫ This is pretty much exactly as the blurb describes – three tales set in Creekside, featuring members of the East Creekside pack. It includes mpreg but doesn’t go into huge amounts of detail. There is minimal angst, some violence and an interesting look at werewolves living alongside humans and the issues it can cause.

Reading these was a nice way to while away a few hours – they are nice, gentle and romantic, with fated and chosen mates as the main tropes. If you’re looking for something simple and pleasant, these stories won’t steer you wrong.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Dead Serious: Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plum by Vawn Cassidy

TITLE: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plum

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #4

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Inspector Danny Hayes has something very important to ask his boyfriend Tristan Everett. Over the past six months they’ve survived reapers, chaos monsters, and biblical storms, not to mention averting an apocalypse. So, what’s left to do but pop the big question?

Tristan is ready for a break from world-saving, spectral crises, and most definitely from ghosts. He wants some one-on-one time with his boyfriend, preferably horizontally. So when the incredibly thoughtful aforementioned boyfriend books a romantic New Year’s getaway at a quiet little hotel in the wilds of the north Yorkshire moors and away from London, Tristan can’t wait.

But as usual nothing ever goes according to plan. Snowed in during an unexpected murder mystery weekend at what turns out to be one of the most haunted hotels in Northern England is not what they had in mind, but when one of the actors turns up really dead not just fake dead, they once again find themselves caught up in another investigation.

With only one night to figure out who the killer is while wrangling a multitude of overly helpful ghosts, Tristan begins to wonder if romance really is dead…

REVIEW: ⟫ It would be very easy for the romance between Tristan and Danny to take a backseat to a rip-roarer of a weekend where murder, family, extra marital affairs and ghosts are running riot, so it is a credit to Vawn Cassidy that that doesn’t happen.

Danny wants to propose to Tristan – has been planning it for some time – but can’t seem to find the right time. A weekend away where they can both relax after the extremely busy and challenging last few months seems like the perfect opportunity – now if only there wasn’t a murder, an affair, an insane amount of ghosts and a hotel on its’ last legs getting in the way.

I really loved the way that Tristan supported Danny as he faced up to various things from his past, and I was pleased with how went and was handled. Dusty is, as always, the absolute bomb and the interactions between her and Danny had me giggling at various stages. Once again, we have a murder and Tristan using his abilities to help solve the case. This time, other people get up close and personal with the ghosts and it was fascinating seeing their reactions, Danny in particular. At one point, Tristan notes that this is Danny’s first face-to-face conversation with a ghost and for some reason that really made me stop and pause. Up until now, Danny has taken Tristan at his word, not unduly questioned him or made him feel even stranger than he already does. But this represents an opportunity for Danny to see what it is like for Tristan all of the time and I really appreciated this touch.

This was an excellent follow-up to the previous books, with call-outs to characters from other books that were lovely little hints for regular readers to pick up on without being obnoxious for people only now discovering the author. I look forward to the next book – the ending definitely set things up to be completely fascinating and also more than a little bit darker.

This book was like watching a romantic comedy with a little drama/murder for added spice and I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend.

I received an ARC.

Beyond Time by Lee McCormick (Beyond Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Beyond Time

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

SERIES: ⟫ Beyond Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ SETH

I always thought my world would begin and end with Jayce Walker. When a sleep study offers us life-changing money, we jump at the opportunity. There’s only one I don’t have insomnia. Bluffing my way in is easy, but getting there and losing everything that’s ever mattered is a nightmare I can’t escape.

Jayce is gone. My only ally is a voice in my head named Clay, who insists the body walking around — the one I’ve known and loved my entire life — belongs to a man named Kade, and he only wants one thing.

To kill me.

KADE

Most people don’t get second chances, but I did. Brought back to life by a power-hungry company, I have one thought: I want revenge.

But... the man I’m chasing isn’t Clay. His name is Seth, and all my years of being a heartless, psychopathic killer never prepared me for the way his wide eyes make me feel. I don’t know how to deal with the emotions still knocking around in my chest that used to belong to someone named Jayce.

They make me question things. They make me wonder if my agenda has changed…

I want to make Seth mine.

~~~

BEYOND TIME is a dual POV dark romance with a twist on soulmates that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Prepare yourself for scorching heat, high emotions, and a psychopath who doesn’t know what to do with all the feelings he’s suddenly being forced to experience. Guaranteed HEA with a universe that’s wide open for exploration!

REVIEW: ⟫ Well, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, but boy oh boy, this kicked 2024 off with a bang!

The premise is so simple and yet full of twists, turns and idiosyncrasies and the characters are fully fleshed out – even the ones that are not at the forefront of the story for long become real through memories and feelings. The idea of bringing back assassins from the past is absolutely genius, and Clay and Kade were the ultimate duo. Their first task is to take the other one out – to prove that they are worthy – but both men have a personal stake in things. After all, Clay killed Kade once already.

Add to that baby-tiger Seth and the depths to his character that could not have been expected, and this book is an absolute roller-coaster of a ride. It’s actually difficult to know who to root for – the ultimate bad boy who decides from one taste of Seth that they are meant to be, or Clay who simply wants to keep Seth safe. And then we have Seth, who seems to be drawn to the very person who wants to kill him! It’s a troubling one – unless you’re used to, and love, the whole concept of Psychos in love!

I really enjoyed this and am very pleased to see that it is the first in a series – I can only imagine where the author will take things from here and I am excited to see where this goes.

I received an ARC from GRR.