Only for Ollie by Lisa Henry (Starcrossed #3)

Title: ⟫ Only for Ollie (Star Crossed Book 3) 

Author: ⟫ Lisa Henry 

Blurb: ⟫ Xander Finch is a top-ranked MotoGP rider, desperate to get back to the circuit after an injury. He’s going stir-crazy in his parents’ house in Ventura while he works on his recovery. Xander has tunnel vision when it comes to his sport—it’s all he’s ever wanted to do in life. 

When he hires a massage therapist to help speed up his recovery, he’s not expecting the guy to completely flip his universe on its head. 

Ollie Baker is living in his car after a disastrous break-up and jumps at the chance to earn some extra cash through massage. Xander Finch might be hot as hell, but Ollie’s not going there. He’s never going to let some rich guy screw him over again. 

Besides, Xander’s straight. Isn’t he? 

When their friendship deepens into something more, Xander discovers that Ollie makes him feel a way that nobody ever has before, and maybe motorbikes aren’t his only passion after all. Navigating Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality isn’t the only challenge they’ll have to face if they’re going to be together, because Ollie’s been burned before. It’s hard for him to trust Xander, to believe that he’s really willing to make room in his life for Ollie as well as his racing—assuming he recovers enough to race at all. 

Only for Ollie is the third book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly. 

Review: ⟫ Ooh I wanted to slap Xander! There was so much about him that I absolutely loved – the way that he was willing to accept a new view of himself, his kindness, his understanding and the way he treated Ollie was special. Just seeing him as a human being and doing what he could to help whilst remaining respectful and accepting boundaries. 

But the risks he took with his health made me want to slap him. I could well imagine the pressure he was under and it was very realistic – as long as people don’t see the spells he’s suffering from, he can get his life back. As someone who suffers with vertigo and has far too many spills, I know how easy it is to hope no one saw and try to go about your day like everything is fine. 

But the difference is, I’m not putting people in danger. He could have cost someone their life with his actions and I liked the way that this wasn’t brushed under the carpet – there were repercussions for what he did and he learned his lesson. 

Ollie was a cupcake who deserved absolutely everything in life, and it’s about time life handed it over in spades. The way he was accepted by the Finch family and open to their support and love despite how he has been treated in the past was lovely to witness and I really enjoyed his growth in the book. 

I loved reading this – learning more about MotoGP without becoming overwhelmed, the relationship that grew between Ollie and Xander, and the supporting characters – it was all extremely enjoyable. 

I haven’t read any of the other Star crossed books but I will keep an eye out for them. Thoroughly enjoyed and recommend. 4/5 from me – I received an ARC from GRR.

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

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

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review: ⟫ This story was completely delightful! 

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

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

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

Cross by S.E. Harmon (The Formicary #2)

Title: ⟫ Cross (The Formicary #2) 

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon 

Blurb: ⟫ I thought getting shot, losing my memory, and being hunted by people I didn’t know for reasons I couldn’t remember was rock bottom. Turns out I was wrong. I found a shovel, dug a little deeper, and found a whole new sublevel of suck. 

Apparently, I took something from the Formicary that doesn't belong to me. The boss, Petar Dobroslav, is willing to do just about anything to get it back. Making an enemy of a super-secret organization of assassins might seem like a bad idea and…well, it absolutely is. 

To be honest, it was inevitable that Grayson Laurie would get dragged into my mess. In my line of work, love is a luxury, a vulnerability I can't afford. But I couldn't stay away, and now we're both paying the price. But I can fix this. I will fix this. 

Everyone knows the Formicary is a formidable adversary. It's time to remind them that so is Christian Cross. 

Review: ⟫ Yeah, so I didn’t fangirl over the first book enough, but book two surpassed it! Talk about action packed – this was a wild ride, full of twists and turns and the return of favourite characters. 

Can we have a moment of appreciation for Chaos please? And his relationship with Nick cracked me up constantly. Like, can we have the two of them getting together, even if it’s just for a one-off hate thing? 

The Formicary #2 was full of fascinating characters, a better understanding of what Cross had got himself into and why, and the story just kept twisting itself into pretzel-like knots, then smoothing out. 

I loved it – Gray and Cross are so sweet in a hyped up, horny duo and intensely messed up pairing. On paper, Gray should be completely out of his depth, but he more than showed his mettle this time and I really appreciated seeing more of what makes Cross love him so much. Villains, henchmen, Operation Genesis – I raced through this book and was so sorry to put it down. 

Really appreciated how this was written, and have now got a kindle full of S.E. Harmon’s books to read because I just wanted more. Another 5/5 from me!

The Red Collar by M. Kato

Title: ⟫ The Red Collar
Author: ⟫ M. Kato
Rating: ⟫ 4/5
Blurb: ⟫ Chief Inspector Hayashi Teruo is short-tempered, impatient and a perfectionist. When another one of his partners resigns, Teruo is assigned a new one transferred from Hiroshima. But this comes with a condition: if his partner bails on Teruo before the end of the month, he risks demotion.

Miyazaki Shinji wants to forget the problems of his past, focus on his new position at Tōkyō MPD and work with the department’s best homicide detective. As a supernatural, Shinji speaks with ghosts of murder victims, gaining insight into the cases and solving them faster.

Before they get a chance to become acquainted, Teruo and Shinji are thrown into a new murder case. The body of a young man is found, killed with a weapon bearing a strange resemblance to a dog's collar. As more victims are discovered, they need to dig deeper and find the connection between them.

While working on the case, Teruo and Shinji are caught into an irresistible attraction. But being partners on duty and lovers in bed isn't easy. As Teruo slowly unravels Shinji’s secrets, he questions his partner's integrity, while Shinji is caught in endless lies threatening his relationship with Teruo as lovers and co-workers.

Review: ⟫ This book got more and more interesting the more I read, but I definitely had some issues with it. The main characters were not very defined in my opinion and their relationship got hot and heavy extremely fast with no real explanation as to why they were feeling such an intense attraction to each other.

The Supernatural aspects were really interesting, although I sometimes got confused with the terminology that was used. I was also fascinated by Teruo’s reactions – on the one hand, he was more than a little blasé, but on the other hand he was asking the questions I would want answers to.

The procedural aspects of things were good but a bit basic, but with all of the supernatural stuff to explain that is understandable. I will be looking for the second book in the series to read and would recommend this to people interested in a little supernatural touch to their police romance.

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

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

Title: ⟫ Pretty Toxic (Pretty Broken #2) 

Author: ⟫ J.R. Gray 

Blurb: ⟫ Saint Vincent 

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

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

And just as many rumors. 

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

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

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

Lowe Wilder 

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

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

Nothing could come between us. 

Until he kissed me and shattered my world. 

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

Review: ⟫ Ooh, this one was a doozy! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lord Garrington's Vessel by S. Rodman

Title: ⟫ Lord Garrington’s Vessel 

Author: ⟫ S. Rodman 

Blurb: ⟫ It's 2022. 

Magic isn't supposed to be real. 

Arranged marriages aren't supposed to exist. 

How are gay arranged marriages for the purpose of magic a thing? 

Fen has grown up all alone in boarding schools. Never meeting any of his family. At his graduation, his older brother turns up to take him home. 

Except Fen discovers he is the result of a shameful affair and not actually related to Lord Garrington at all. Yet, for appearance’s sake, everyone must continue to believe they are brothers. 

To make matters worse, an indiscretion reveals that Fen is a vessel. Someone who grows magic but cannot wield it. Magic can only escape his body and not kill him by regularly submitting his body to a mage. 

Hence the crazy arranged marriage idea. 

It's a shame the only mage he wants is his arrogant and obnoxious fake brother. 

 

Lord Xander Garrington, like all British nobility, is secretly a mage. 

He was only supposed to pay the boy off, but Fen turned out to be outrageously pretty. Then he turns out to be a vessel. The opportunity is too great to miss. 

He needs to pretend Fen is his brother and sell his stepmother’s bastard to the highest bidder. Securing the best possible match to advance the family’s fortunes. 

If only Xander's emotions would obey. He is supposed to sell his fake brother, not fall for him. 

Please note. Xander is a controlling, obsessive bad boy who likes to take control. This book touches on dark themes, including a side character subjected to the worst that can happen. Off page and not from either main character. 

This book is high heat. No Mpreg. HEA guaranteed. 

Review: ⟫ Suspend belief and strap in for a bonkers ride! Fen made me lmao off and I enjoyed his inner thoughts. Xander was a complete AH, even if he was a sexy one. The story was a fun, quick read that delivered exactly what it said it was. I wish we’d seen more of the magic side of things, but basically, this was hot and steamy with a plot that was pretty much Mills & Boon, but gay and with some magical elements! I read it for what it was and enjoyed it – solid 3.75 happily rounded up! I received an ARC from GRR.

Punching the V-Card by Leta Blake

Title: ⟫ Punching the V-Card 

Author: ⟫ Leta Blake 

Blurb: ⟫ Best friend’s hot older brother? Check. 

A weekend alone? Check. 

Finally punching that V-card? Oh yes. 

Carl has a pesky “innocence” problem that requires a solution. His best friend's brother Devon is the perfect answer. Devon’s experienced, gorgeous, and Carl’s been secretly crushing on him for ages. Carl doesn’t want to “lose it” to just anybody. Everyone says the first time should be special—and what’s more special than sharing it with the guy of his dreams? 

It’s not like Devon won’t enjoy it. 

Solving this so-called problem is an objectively fun experience for most people! The plan is totally win/win! Shockingly, Devon agrees. But even though it goes better than either of them ever expected, Carl’s moving across the country soon. It’s not possible to have more. 

No matter how much they both want it. 

Right? 

Punching the V-Card by Leta Blake is a is a high heat, low angst, new adult gay romance featuring a best friend’s hot older brother, scorching first times, and falling in love with the guy of your dreams. 

Review: ⟫ I have no idea how to review this story fairly! It sounds like a (fairly) realistic idea, but some of the elements are a bit fantastical. It was a very steamy, fun read and the entire book involves the two main characters with a small cameo from the sister. 

I think for me the things I found difficult were how innocent Carl was, and yet he turned out to be some kind of mega-dominant sexual maestro straight out of the gate. Probably a ‘me’ issue that I found that hard to get my head around? 

I did enjoy reading it, although I struggled a little with the emotions from Devon as he went from vaguely fancying Carl to being so in love with him by the end of the weekend that he literally changed his life plans. 

It was well written and perhaps if I had gone into it in a different frame of mind, I would have enjoyed it more and been less critical. I think I’m going to look for a few other books by this author to see if it was just this one that my sceptical mind struggled with! 

A solid 3.75 rounded up to 4 from me. I received an ARC from GRR.

Lost Touch by Eliot Grayson

Title: ⟫ Lost Touch 

Author: ⟫ Eliot Grayson 

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

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

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

But he’s dangerous. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author: ⟫ Cole McCade 

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

ABOUT THIS EPISODE 

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

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

ABOUT THE SERIES 

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

 

Especially one like Seong-Jae Yoon. 

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

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

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

Neither will make it out alive. 

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

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

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

 

Whatever. 

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

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

A very enthusiastic 5/5 from me!

Last Man Standing by Augustus Roth

Title: ⟫ Last Man Standing 

Author: ⟫ Augustus Roth 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Break Me Daddy by Skyler Snow

Title: ⟫ Break Me Daddy 

Author: ⟫ Skyler Snow 

Blurb: ⟫ I did something stupid. 

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

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

 

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

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

But he’s coming for me. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received an arc from GRR.

Bad Wrong Things by C.P Harris

Title: ⟫ Bad Wrong Things 

Author: ⟫ C.P Harris 

Blurb: ⟫ One promise. 

One summer to see it through. 

One explosive love fuelled by mutual obsession. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author: ⟫ Gianni Holmes 

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

BAZ 

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

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

ANDY 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But that wasn’t what the story was. 

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

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

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

3.5/5. I received an ARC from GRR.

If You Want Me Close by Skye Kilaen

Title: ⟫ If You Want Me Close 

Author: ⟫ Skye Kilaen 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received an ARC from GRR.