Friday 24 May 2024

The Captive's Curse by Eliot Grayson (Twilight Mages Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ The Captive’s Curse

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eliot Grayson

SERIES: ⟫ Twilight Mages Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Unwanted. Unloved. Unransomed. And unable to control his dawn magic by any other means…

At odds with his family and on the run, Lord Cyril is taken prisoner and held in a gloomy mountain fortress—which he brightens up quite a bit, thank you. His captor wants him to be quiet and not cause any trouble, but who cares? Cyril may need the mysterious highwayman to quell his dawn magic and keep him sane, but he’s overbearing, sardonic, and unpleasant.

Mostly. Except when Cyril can’t live without his touch, or his voice, or his rare smile…

Ser Enzo, a robber and (not quite) a gentleman, desperately wants his obnoxious, adorable, irritating, irresistible captive off his hands…and other parts. Lord Cyril’s wanton, irrepressible, and worst of all—his family won’t take him back. Enzo can’t release him without being paid. It’s against his principles.

But so is keeping his bewitching captive forever. Cyril may be his prisoner, but Enzo’s dangerously close to losing his own freedom by falling under the mage’s spell…

The Captive’s Curse is the second book in the Twilight Mages series, but it takes place concurrently with book one and can be read as a standalone. Contains wildly inappropriate discussions of vegetables (no vegetables were actually harmed in the making of this book), the mad ghost of an evil lord (the Mad Lord is harmed, to no one’s regret), and the overcoming of fears, family quarrels, and scheming villains to reach a guaranteed HEA.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my good Lord, Cyril is a complete and utter menace and I loved everything about him!! I have been looking forward to this story ever since I read the first Twilight Mages story and I am so happy to report that it is actually BETTER than the first one!

Cyril was such a character – misunderstood, lonely and in need of purpose and how bizarre that it took being kidnapped for him to find his people. Quick-witted, hot tempered and stronger than he gives himself credit for, Cyril not only makes the most of the opportunities presented by his kidnapping, but firmly makes a home for himself amongst a group of people that he could never have expected to encounter.

Enzo was the epitome of the hulking ruffian with a heart of gold and a sense of humour that more than matched Cyril’s. The different names he endowed Cyril with cracked me up, and the way he made love to Cyril was absolutely perfect. These two were filthy in the best possible way and I loved the entire story.

Quite obviously a 5/5 from me and I highly recommend this to anyone who likes high heat, masses of humour and a healthy dose of plot without being too heavy.

His Hunter by MM Farmer (Omegas After Dark Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ His Hunter

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Omegas After Dark Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB:The Dark Fantasy Club can make your wildest dreams come true…

Ari

An arranged marriage to a first-class, high-society jerk means that my life as I know it is just about over. The wedding is only weeks away, so I only have one chance to give myself a memory I won’t ever forget. Through the Dark Fantasy Club, I’ve found an alpha who can fulfill my primal fantasy of being chased through the forest, captured, and taken through heat in the most brutal way possible, just like I’ve always dreamed about.

Falling hard for my alpha hunter was not part of the deal, though…

Samson

I moved to Barrington to get away from bad memories of my time on the force, working in the Missing Persons Unit. But even as an ex-cop, I need to get my rocks off somehow, and the Dark Fantasy Club is perfect for that. Ari is the perfect fantasy partner, too. But the more I learn about his reasons for contracting me for play, the more I want to help him in reality.

And when our fake danger turns very, very real as we discover we’re not alone in the forest, I might just have to be the savior he’s needed all along….

Omegas After Dark is set in the same world as the lighter, fluffier Bangers & Mash series, but it deals with much more intense subject matter. Sink into the underworld of Barrington in all its super-hot glory, but don’t say you weren’t warned!

REVIEW: ⟫ Well this was quite the adventure! I was expecting the steam and it was there almost immediately. Ari is in the awful position of being an omega being married off by his family. But he wants one last adventure before he settles down into married hell.

Samson has seen far too much of the dark side of people. Taking contracts for ‘dark fantasies’ is the only thing he wants to bring with him to his new life. And the contract with Ari ticks all of his boxes.

The primal fantasy played out very well, with a lot of begging, pleading, exclamations of mine and satisfaction on both sides. But it pretty much immediately becomes obvious that what these two have together goes far beyond the fantasy but how exactly do they find their happily ever after when Ari has to return to reality? What follows is an adventure that the two of them fall into featuring people that they could never have expected and with potentially life threatening consequences.

The story was well written and enjoyable, with a palpable chemistry between Samson and Ari and an engaging darker storyline. I have read previous stories by this author and was pleased to have read this instalment. It will be interesting to see how further entries in this series turn up the darker aspect of things.

Sunday 19 May 2024

Clueless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Clueless

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB:The Cheerleader and His Twin’s Best Friend

Lexi

I’ve been in love with Ryder Jackson since my twin sister brought him home and declared him her best friend five years ago. He is funny, smart, gorgeous. The perfect man. Except he’s never shown any romantic interest in me. Ryder only does hookups, but my poor demi heart wants the whole package. I vow to get over him and focus on my upcoming cheer competition, but suddenly, he’s everywhere, making me fall harder.

When he accidentally walks in on my self-love time, everything changes. One night with Ryder isn’t enough.

I know it’ll hurt when it ends, but if friends with benefits is all Ryder can give, I’ll take it.

Ryder

No boyfriends, no repeats. That’s always been my motto. But when I nearly get my ass handed to me by the disgruntled ex of a former hookup, I realize I need to change things up.

No sex until I learn to avoid the walking red flags.

I can do this.

Except, suddenly, all I can see is Lexi, my best friend’s brother. I’m creating situations to get cuddles from him during nineties movie night and even going to a football game just to watch him cheer.

After one hot night, I want more.

But how do I get Lexi to see me as more than just a hookup?

Clueless is book one in Squad Goals, an MM cheerleader romance. Expect demi rep, witty banter, delicious pining, and cheertastic fun!

REVIEW: ⟫ To be fair to this book, having accidentally read the second one in the series first meant that I kinda felt like I already knew what was going to happen. I’m pretty sure that that affected how I felt about the story – it felt like I already knew it all and what was left was filling in the details. It’s a sweet story – Lexi pining for Ryder who is completely oblivious to how he feels as he views Lexi very much as his best friend’s brother. Both Ryder and Lexi were nice characters, and their chemistry was strong once they got together. There were a few instances of misunderstandings that definitely could have been avoided, and I wasn’t much of a fan of the use of those as both men seemed more than capable of discussing things rationally. I did get irritated at Ryder a couple of times – leaving without saying something, running away at finding something out – but overall, I enjoyed reading the story.

Saturday 18 May 2024

The Husband Experience by Maya Jean (Sweet Southern Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ The Husband Experience

AUTHOR: ⟫ Maya Jean

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

SERIES: ⟫ Sweet Southern #1

BLURB:Elijah

Being a fake boyfriend is usually pretty easy. My part time job slots perfectly into my schedule as I pursue my PhD. But when the agency sends me on a week-long vacation to play husband … I don’t expect the experience to feel the opposite of fake. Colby Smith is everything I never knew I needed. He’s sweet, he even blushes, but in the bedroom, he calls all the shots. This experience is supposed to be for him, but as time goes on, I think it’s starting to be real for me.

Colby

After losing my husband, my cousin recommended I reach out to The Boyfriend Experience to get back in the saddle, so to speak. I asked for a husband for a week and they sure delivered. Elijah Ruiz is wild, in a way that shakes my world to the core. But after a week of tender touches, of breathtaking smiles, I start to wonder if it’s really all an act. Can we make this something real after only a week of playing pretend?

The Husband Experience is the 36k novella that starts the Sweet Southern series. It features a professional fake boyfriend, a ready for love again widower, an age gap, fake husbands for a week by the beach, lots of swoon, emotional steam, and just a sprinkle of kink.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very sweet, sexy novella that acts as a very good introduction to the planned Sweet Southern series. Colby comes across as a self-aware man who has accepted the loss of his husband and is ready to re-enter the world of dating. However, he wants his first real experience to not be a random hook-up – he knows himself well enough to know that that is not how he operates. Hence the husband experience.

Eli comes across as a little less self aware. Initially with Colby, he tries to put up artificial barriers, constantly reminding the both of them that he is a ‘sure’ thing and doesn’t need the romance, etc that Colby keeps trying to offer. I really enjoyed the way in which Eli slowly let down his barriers and began to accept the affection and attention Colby was offering until the two men began to have an experience that perhaps neither of them fully expected. I was impressed with how much the author managed to pile into the novella, but obviously being that length it suffered a little from how ‘surface’ and superficial things had to be. I definitely enjoyed reading this story and will look for more from the Sweet Southern series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Under Your Skin by Lee McCormick

TITLE: ⟫ Under Your Skin

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB:You’re the only one who can get under my skin.

Levi

Trapped in nightmares from my past, the only comfort I find is in gifts from the man who killed my mother’s killer—presents wrapped in a body bag and delivered to the morgue for me to examine.

From the first time I saw his mark, I knew I had to keep my Killer safe, had to keep his work a secret for me and me alone. Every body is a love letter, and I’m the only one who can read them.

Jonah

When I accidentally leave evidence behind during a kill, I have to go to the morgue to rectify my mistake. I didn’t expect to find a young mortician admiring my work.

Relishing in it. Studying it.

Covering it up.

I have no idea why someone would want to hide my crimes, but I’m determined to find out. What I discover is a man named Levi—a man obsessed with the idea of who he thinks I am.

A man who threatens to change my entire world.

~~~

Under Your Skin is a dark romance set in a world where a corrupt town lets a serial killer walk free, and a young mortician is determined to make sure it stays that way. Expect high heat, intense emotions, and two men who find their own way to define what love really means.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a dark and delicious insight into the mind of a serial killer and a traumatised young man that was just the right side of unhinged.

Levi survived a trauma that no one should ever have to go through at such a young age – not only the loss of both parents but actually seeing his mother die whilst trying to save him. It’s no wonder that his adopted father represents such safety and that the young man has a few quirks. What I didn’t expect was for Levi to be the character who came across as the darkest one – the way in which he views the bodies he works on daily, his obsession with his Killer, his coping mechanisms – Levi could definitely be viewed as a sick puppy.

Jonah initially came across as a more standard psychopath but he had hidden depths. The way he watches Levi and how he thinks of him – it was both hot and disturbing, and yet I very much felt that Jonah was completely under Levi’s spell in more ways than he had ever thought possible.

The links that brought them together were twisting and fascinating, as was the way they moved around each other. This could almost be classed as slow-burn as they manoeuvred around each other. Levi’s integral understanding of Jonah – the ways in which he made Jonah admit things, show Levi his allegiance and his unwillingness to be seen as a damsel in distress – they were all incredibly sexy even whilst they could be viewed as disturbing.

The underlying story about the town that they lived in – the corruption of the local government and police force was really interesting. Everyone turning a blind eye to the things going on was bizarre to watch as I’ve never seen this play out with even our main characters being involved in hiding the seedy underbelly. Of course, Levi had ulterior motives but it was fascinating nevertheless.

I loved the way these two worked together and how they came together – psychos in love is definitely my catnip! But the thrill and suspense didn’t end with just Levi and Jonah – the other characters in the book had so much going on. This felt like I dived head-first into a murky river and was trying to find my way out whilst also wanting to see what was under the surface.

This is the third (fourth?) book I’ve read by Lee McCormick and I am definitely putting them on my insta-read because it was just as good as others I’ve read whilst being completely different. Lots of surprises, oodles of sexiness and a satisfying conclusion made this an excellent read for the Bank Holiday weekend and I heartily recommend this to anyone who likes their romance on the dark side. I received an ARC from GRR.

Cross My Heart by Darcy Archer

TITLE: ⟫ Cross My Heart

AUTHOR: ⟫ Darcy Archer

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ When a tackle stopped NFL superstar Tyler Fantana’s heart, millions of fans watched their MVP die on camera. Now America’s Tightest End has headed home to put his broken pieces back together. Tyler knows returning to football could kill him, so keeping his rehab on track seems impossible—until he starts training with a familiar guy-next-door who knocks his jock off.

Josh Ayres has harbored a secret crush on Tyler since high school. Fifteen years later, Josh has blossomed from a quiet nerd into bona fide beefcake, coaching the team for his alma mater. Helping Tyler get back in the game might become the second chance he never expected… if he can work up the courage to confess his feelings to the bad boy he never stopped loving.

Sparks fly as Tyler and Josh join forces to save the school library, battling book bans, malicious gossip, and media pressure. What happens if infatuation turns into something that feels like forever?

Love is a contact sport.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from the author.

Monday 13 May 2024

In His Corner by H.L. Day

TITLE: ⟫ In His Corner

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L Day

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Hayden Quinn’s worked his ass off to turn his restaurant into the thriving business it is today. Too hard to risk it all by letting an ex-con through his door. Yet, there Levi is. Six feet of attitude. Six feet of pure temptation.

No one warned Levi that getting out of prison would only be the start of his problems. He doesn’t need a boss who looks down his nose at him. Except behind that, there’s a heat. A heat that Levi can’t help responding to.

Together they burn hot, forging something that could be more than just lust. When Levi’s past comes knocking though, has he really got someone in his corner, or is he just as alone as ever?

In His Corner is a steamy hurt/comfort MM romance featuring a hot-tempered chef who needs his life shaking up a bit and a wounded character who might have a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, but deep down just wants someone to love him. When their fragile connection is put to the test, will their relationship endure, or will everything they’ve built crumble away to nothing?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was so much more than I was expecting. I loved the male leads in this story – both Hayden and Levi gave the impression of being completely closed off – from friendship, let alone falling in love But the chemistry between the two of them was undeniable from the very beginning. Things got steamy very quickly and the almost ‘hate sex’ aspect of things was very, very well done. But where this book worked so well for me was after the hate sex. Levi questioning the way things were between them and then becoming ill was a turning point I wasn’t expecting and definitely enjoyed. Seeing such a caring side to Hayden was a real pleasure and I loved how he looked after Levi.

The blast from the past was very well done, especially because it didn’t rely on David being attracted to Levi – he was very much the type of arrogant man who couldn’t accept that Levi wasn’t prepared to go back to the life he had had before, and dragging Levi back into things against his will was such a rotten (but plausible) thing to do. Hayden acquitted himself well – special mention to his brother – and the way things were wrapped up made me give a satisfied sigh. This reminded me very much of the Strays series by Garrett Leigh in a good way. Very much enjoyed and will look for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Friday 10 May 2024

On Guard by J.R. Gray & Andi Jaxon (New York Gods)

TITLE: ⟫ On Guard

AUTHOR: ⟫ J.R. Gray & Andi Jaxon

SERIES: ⟫ New York Gods

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB:Selling my virginity wasn’t how I saw my first week of college going.

But after my parents cut me off, an offer from a gorgeous rich stranger doesn’t sound so bad.

It’s only twenty-four hours and I’ll never have to see him again.

Wrong.

Much to my horror, the stranger is Oliver Godfrey, the captain of my fencing team. And as if that isn’t bad enough, his parents own half the city.

There is no escape from him or the way he makes me feel.

He’s everything I don’t want.

And everything I need.

A playboy like him shouldn’t look at me twice, so why is he ruining my life?

But what Oliver wants, Oliver gets, and he wants me.

He’s arrogant, possessive, and infuriatingly obsessed with me.

This can’t work.

His parents want him to marry an heiress so I can’t keep him.

All I can have is stolen moments hidden in the dark.

He's going to break my heart and I'm going to let him.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Work: Strictly Professional by Jesse H Reign (Bad Decisions Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Work: Strictly Professional

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jesse H Reign

SERIES: ⟫ Bad Decisions Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB:“Not to worry, I’ll compensate you for your time and your… skill.”

My boss is a walking red flag. He’s bolshy and rude. Impossible to please. A big, broody man with dark eyes that carry an unmistakable message – I am not manageable. Seriously, he’s the worst. If it’s not bad enough that he’s a nightmare in the office, he’s all but ordering me to be his date to his son’s wedding. He says it’s called ‘winning a divorce.’ I try telling him that’s not a real thing, but it falls on deaf ears. Not only that, he appears to be in the throes of a major personal awakening and is determined that I’m the man to guide him through it. I’m all for going above and beyond at work, but the man’s demands are becoming downright indecent. See what I mean? Red flags galore. So many red flags I can’t count them all. I might as well be playing a game of red flag bingo at this point. Just my luck, when it comes to Derek MacAvoy, I see a red flag…and instantly want to date it.

REVIEW: ⟫ There’s so much about this story that shouldn’t work – mainly all of the red flags that Wyn notes about Derek when he first meets him. And yet, this was a five star read for me because of Jesse H Reign’s writing style! I laughed so hard with so many of the things that happened – from Derek’s complete and utter cockiness regarding his ‘skills’ (well earned by the way), to how stupendous Wyn was at spending Derek’s money and making it worth while, to the sex scenes – like, phew, these two were hot together!

It was lovely to have the references to previous characters and I really enjoyed just watching Wyn at work – he was absolutely epic and reminded me so much of my working days when you had to manage the boss to ensure optimal output whilst still ensuring they remained somewhat human! The red flags were flying but Wyn managed to turn them all at least a darker shade of green by the end of the book.

A fun, sexy read that put a smile on my face and made me happy indeed!

Thursday 2 May 2024

Beautifully Fractured by Michele Lenard (Front Range University #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Beautifully Fractured

AUTHOR: ⟫ Michele Lenard

SERIES: ⟫ Front Range University #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Ever have someone get you so well it’s like looking in a mirror?

Cruz

Starting over is not what I had planned.

Those stories about magically becoming best friends with the person assigned to live with you… Yeah, that won’t be me. I already have a best friend. Even if I wanted a new one, Liam wouldn’t be it. He’s permanently grouchy, carrying a negative energy I don’t need since I’m finally in a good place. But I’ve never been good at ignoring when people need help, so I paste on a smile and play nice.

Predictably, Liam isn’t much of a talker, but after an unexpected accident he needs my help in other ways. Ways that offer me answers about myself. Ways that raise new questions about the football dreams I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. Ways that make me relive the past I want to ignore.

To say I’m confused is an understatement, but there’s one thing I know for certain…Liam is either the key to one door or the bolt that could prevent another from ever opening. And I have to choose which I want him to be.

Liam

Starting over is exactly what I need.

I can’t get any more invisible than I’ve been for the past few years, and I figure rooming with another person means at least one human on the planet can’t ignore me. Unfortunately, that human is Adonis personified, and not gay, so it’s looking like my invisibility streak might continue.

Then I suffer a minor accident, and Cruz’s hero complex comes out in full force. I should be grateful to have someone to open my door and carry my books, but when you pair his selfless personality with that body… My mind starts to blur the roommate line, which makes his blur the line of not being gay.

My heart is already battered, and I doubt it can take rejection from the one person who broke down all the walls I’d built around it. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to give it to him anyway.

**Beautifully Fractured is a high-heat MM romance with medium angst that features a grumpy/sunshine relationship, forced proximity, hurt/comfort situations and a bi-awakening. This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones. Though the main characters are athletes, this is not a sports romance. Rather, it's a romance that happens to feature people who play sports.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was beautiful in so many different ways and I don’t think any review I write can do it justice. This book was my ‘treat’ – I’d been looking forward to it for some time, and I decided to settle down with a drink, a cat and a heated blanket. And oh my, did this book deliver.

Cruz is like the world’s happiest golden retriever of a person and it would be so easy to dismiss him as such a simple character. But as the story continues, we learn about the things that Cruz struggles with, the fears he’s hiding, the confusion about who he is and what he is – it’s handled in such a nuanced fashion, I was really impressed. And I loved him so much as a character – so matter of fact about things that would send most people into a tailspin, with a solidness to him that I appreciated more and more the further I read.

Liam broke my heart – over and over – but I was also incredibly impressed with how strong a character he was. With his history – with his family – it would have made the most sense in the world for him to shut down completely, allow himself to be utterly bitter and beyond even the grumpy trope. But instead, Liam allowed Cruz to see the person he was beneath the crusty exterior; made friends with people who by rights should have terrified him based on his history; opened himself to new friendships despite how badly friends had burned him in the past; and ultimately move past his family and the aftermath of the tragedy.

I absolutely adored the relationship between these two – I gotchu was a catchphrase that was made for the two of them, and they demonstrated it so many times over and over with how much grace they gave each other; how supportive they were; how much they understood the other person. I feel like I’m just spewing out words of praise without any substance but I don’t want to risk spoilers – this is a book that deserves people going into it without knowing what’s coming because then they get to enjoy as it all unfolds without warning, to have those ‘awwww’ moments as well as the ‘oh wow’ ones.

I think it’s really easy to tell that I truly adored this book – all I can say is that it’s one of the best ones of the year so far for me. A well deserved 5/5. I received an ARC from GRR.

Dad Next Door by Willow Dixon (Crimson Club #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Dad Next Door

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Dixon

SERIES: ⟫ Crimson Club #5

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Moving into my first house is step one in starting my new life. Next is setting up my contracting business. I’m so focused on my future that a relationship is the last thing on my mind.

Then I meet Tristan, the single dad next door. He might be my total opposite, but we click in a way I’ve never experienced, and he quickly becomes one of my closest friends.

After attending a wedding as his fake date to make his ex, and his ex’s new boyfriend, jealous, I can’t deny that things between us have changed. I always thought I was straight, but being with Tristan doesn’t just feel good, it feels right.

Having a fling with my neighbor might be a recipe for disaster, but it could also be exactly what we both need to finally move on from our pasts.

Quinn and Tristan’s story is a friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening romance between a retired porn model who just moved into his first home, and a single dad trying to navigate life after divorce. Expect a fake relationship, an age gap, found family, all the feels, lots of spice, and tons of heat as these neighbors find out that sometimes opposites really do attract. It is the fifth novel in the exciting new Crimson Club series but can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, slow-burn read, with a lovely relationship being built between Tris and Quinn. The two men are at different places in their lives: Tris is divorced with a young son and a bitter ex, whilst Quinn is making the transition from adult entertainment/influencer to becoming a contractor and I liked the way that this was reflected in their attitudes and behaviour. This wasn’t a case of one being swept off their feet by the other – this was a friendship that grew naturally into something bigger and better, and the way that they respected each other was so natural and strong.

I enjoyed the comeuppance of the ‘bad guy’; the numerous pets that Tris had, as well as the relationship with his son and his sister; the friendship that Quinn had with the other guys from the Crimson Club – it was a really well-rounded story, with a realness to it that can often get lost in the romance. The sex scenes were hot without being over-powering, and the epilogue was so lovely that it had me smiling so much! Definitely enjoyed reading and can recommend.

House of Cards by Garrett Leigh (Port Ewan Bay Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ House of Cards

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Porth Ewan Bay #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB:What's better than one broody tattoo artist? TWO, that's what. Hurt/comfort, friends-to-lovers, and forced proximity combine in this gorgeous second chance MM romance.

Calum Hardy’s life has unravelled. Reeling from the betrayal of a man he once loved, he boards a train heading south, with no real idea where he’s going except a world away from London.

Brix Lusmoore can hardly believe his eyes when he spots one of his oldest friends outside Truro station. He hasn’t seen Calum since he fled the capital himself four years ago, harbouring a life-changing secret. But despite the years of silence, their old bond remains, warm and true—and layered with simmering heat they’ve never forgotten.

Calum takes refuge with Brix and a job at his Porth Ewan tattoo shop. Bit by bit, he rebuilds his life, but both men carry the ghosts of the past, and it will take more than a rekindled friendship and the magic of the Cornish coast to chase them away.

*Previously published as part of the Porthkennack shared world series, these titles have been significantly reworked and re-edited, with strong links to the Rebel Kings MC universe*

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my poor aching heart! When I saw that Garrett Leigh had released another story adjacent to the Rebel Kings, it was an instant click. And I thought I knew what to expect – the Rebel Kings stories have obliterated my heart more than once.

But then along came Calum and Brix and I truly knew heartbreak. Calum was such a gentle, beautiful soul that the beginning of this story brought out so much rage in my heart, I swear if Rob had been in front of me, I’d have skinned him alive. But fear not, Brix found Calum and offered him sanctuary.

The relationship between these two was so soft and easy, the trust rebuilding slowly, whilst the love between them was obvious to everyone but them. Brix has bricked himself behind a massive wall ever since his diagnosis, only letting people in so much before he hides again. He’s doing everything right to maintain his health but he’s not really living. Until Calum comes back into his life and he see someone he could want a future with. If only he wasn’t too scared to reach out for it.

Like pretty much every other Garrett Leigh book I’ve ever read, this one grabbed me by the heart and made it very difficult to care about anything else until I’d reached the conclusion. The characters – both new and those familiar to me from the other series – were fully fleshed, amusing, aggravating and people you could well imagine spending an evening with. But front and centre, Calum and Brix were absolutely spot on. I adored these two men and as we meandered our way to their happy end, I was grinning like a lunatic whilst wiping a tear from my eye. I’m seriously pleased that this is a new series and I cannot wait for Kim’s story. An obvious five star story for me.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Monday 22 April 2024

The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer by Chloe Archer (Monsters Hollow Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer

AUTHOR: ⟫ Chloe Archer

SERIES: ⟫ Monsters Hollow Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB:Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no bounds—even in a town full of monsters!

A quirky romance writer in hiding. A sexy gargoyle lover turned bodyguard. And a stalker that just won’t quit...

Ryder St. James

I assumed writing swoony romance novels about humans and Otherkind might attract some unsavory attention. But I never imagined I’d have an obsessive fan stalking me.

As a former foster kid, I’m pretty resilient but this situation is messing with my sleep and I’m on deadline for my next book!

About the only thing that can help at times like this is some regular mind-blowing…release. Trust me, solo methods just aren’t enough and hooking up with randos isn't my style. I need someone safe who can reliably rock my world in the bedroom and maybe help me with my research as a bonus!

Enter the hunky Scottish gargoyle who’s been flirting with me ever since I arrived to hide out in Mystic Hollow. We come up with an ideal no-strings and no-feelings arrangement.

After all, romance is just a fantasy I write about in my books--right?

Vash DarkWing

From the moment I met Ryder St. James, I wanted to know more about the bonnie, brave man who speaks his mind. With no filter.

When he proposes a few weeks of mutually beneficial shagging before his book tour starts, I immediately jump on the chance to, well, jump him. Just a bit of fun and maybe friendship.

Hell’s bells, but Ryder slips past all my defenses and wins my affections without even trying! Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the man I love safe. Even if it means putting my heart as well as my life on the line.

The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer features an inappropriately curious novelist, a sexy Scottish gargoyle, a speciality harness for aerial…shenanigans, a creepy stalker, and true love for the win. This is the second book in the Monsters Hollow series and can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ I actually find this review difficult to write because this book was – different. I haven’t read the previous book in the series (I didn’t realise it was a series initially) so I had no previous knowledge of the characters. This possibly impacted my initial enjoyment as from the very beginning, we start the book on an incident that obviously harks back to the first one.

I found the characters to be a bit of a caricature on occasion – Max, for example, came across as a bit of a stereotype with the way he was described, his mannerisms and attire. This wasn’t necessarily a negative but I was a little thrown by it. I also struggled to connect with Ryder as a character – it felt very much like I should feel a certain way about him because of his upbringing, his attitude and his demeanour. It felt very much like he was written as a neurodivergent character whereby a lot of his mannerisms were ‘covered’ by his neurodivergence. It felt – maybe a little lazy? His inappropriate questions were not amusing after a few occasions of them happening, and I would have expected a man of his age to have better masking techniques.

I thought Vash was fascinating and I wish I had learned more about him – the bits we did find out about his home, actions and motivations was really interesting. The forum entries at the beginning of each chapter were fun to read and to try to guess who each person was. I thought the relationship between Vash and Ryder was nice – it built slowly with regard to the emotional aspect of things, and I liked how respectful, open and honest they were with each other.

I’m not sure if I would describe this story as steamy – there were sex scenes that were quite descriptive and explicit, but I didn’t connect with them very well and wasn’t as involved in them as I might have been. The best way that I can describe it is that I felt like I was told what they were feeling and experiencing rather than feeling it myself – the best sex scenes affect you on a visceral level and I didn’t get that from this story.

The stalker storyline felt under-developed but that might have been covered more in book one, so that is on me for not reading the first book. I did guess who the stalker was going to be but I don’t think it was meant to be a huge surprise by the time the confrontation took place. I did enjoy the confrontation, especially because Ryder proved himself more than capable of looking after himself which I appreciated – he wasn’t a damsel in distress.

The investigation into the magic within Mystic Hollow was intriguing and the arrival of a particular character definitely alludes to future stories. Overall, this was a pleasant read and I enjoyed the time I spent in Mystic Hollow. I’m not sure if I will try to read the first story, mainly because a lot of the plot might well have been spoiled for me by reading this first. I would recommend finding the rest of the series first so that you can enjoy things in the correct order.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Restless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Restless

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB:The Cheerleader and the Football Star

Gio

Kissing Tucker Evans at a frat party was a stupid idea. He’s still getting over his cheating ex and there is no way I am anyone’s rebound guy.

Except when he gets injured, somehow I find myself volunteering to help look after him.

In every sense.

So maybe I will be his rebound. If I know what the score is going in, I can’t be hurt.

Solid plan.

Tucker

Kissing Giovanni Russo at a frat party was a brilliant idea. There was more chemistry in that one kiss than there ever was with my ex.

Now I just have to convince him to give me a chance.

Sharing a bed at his parents house leads to some epic fun times, but he has it in his head that I just want a rebound.

With Gio I want everything.

Restless is a cheerleader/football player MM romance. It has overly helpful friends, forced proximity, one bed, and an accidental grand gesture.

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this by saying that I haven’t read Squad Goals Book #1, so many of the characters in this story were unknown to me. That isn’t to say that it can’t be read as a standalone as I very quickly caught up with who was who, and how the ‘lines’ mingled.

Squad Goals was a fun, light, sexy read with both Gio and Tucker being very sweet, loving guys who were just figuring out what they wanted in life. Tucker was cheated on by his ex and, quite rightly, was hurt by it. However, the hurt wasn’t personal to the ex – it was more the general ego bruising that was the issue. Unfortunately, Gio has obviously had experience being the rebound person before and is determined that it isn’t going to happen again. Even for Tucker.

I really liked the way that Tucker didn’t push Gio’s boundaries – he was respectful, understanding and honest about how he felt, and it was good to see both leads be so clear and upfront. The ‘helpful’ friends made me laugh – I loved the idea of just how petty one character was known for being – and I also really liked how supportive they all were in their own, distinct ways.

Gio’s parents made me laugh out loud a few times – his Mom was just absolute gold in her attitude and behaviour, and again, I liked how supportive they were to their son and his friends. I wish there had been a bit more cheerleading involved but that’s a minor quibble. All in all, this was a light, fun read with a decent bit of steam and enjoyable characters.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review and have downloaded the first book so that I can catch up on what I missed.

Thursday 18 April 2024

Bromantic Puckboys by Eden Finley & Saxon James

TITLE: ⟫ Bromantic Puckboy

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley & Saxon James

SERIES: ⟫ Puckboys Book #6

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB:Bilson

The idea of moving away from Seattle was a joke at first.

I have too many failed relationships here. Too much baggage.

So when I find myself signing with Nashville and leaving everything behind, I’m hopeful a new start will cure me of my attachment problems.

I fall fast and hard, and I’m quickly realizing it’s not so easy to escape my emotional damage. That follows no matter where I go.

When my new teammate, rookie goalie Miles Olsen, attaches himself to my side, the media are excited to exploit our bromance. Little do they know, he’s doing me a favor by keeping me away from making mistakes with women.

That’s the deal we made at the beginning of the season, but as time goes on, and we’re both going through a dry spell, Miles suggests a different arrangement. One I’ve never contemplated. One I shouldn’t consider.

One I can’t stop thinking about.

Miles

My first day as starting goalie for Tennessee is made mildly more terrifying by coming face to face with NHL veteran Cody Bilson. Hero worship? Me? Never!

He reminds me of my old frat buddies; loyal, kind, easy to trade banter with. But my dude is lost and trying to find himself again--without getting married this time.

I want to help him, and while my suggestion might not be conventional, it sure as hell is effective. The only way to make sure he doesn't marry a woman again? Blow off steam with a man instead.

We're both straight, we're both single, and we're both down for a good time.

After all, what are teammates for?

REVIEW: ⟫ This book was an absolute delight! Bilson isn’t just unlucky in love – he’s an absolute idiot about it, and he’s self aware enough to know that something has to change. Moving cities and teams, he decides he needs to work on himself and his abandonment issues but finds that it can be a lonely road he’s walking. Miles has finally stepped up to the big leagues – this is his chance to show what he can do in the goal and he’s determined to start things off on the right foot.

I adored both of these men for different reasons. Bilson because he’s putting in the work to figure himself out, despite how hard it’s proving to be. Moving cities to get away from his four exes and find himself is drastic but necessary, and I admire that about him. Miles is cocky, self assured, a little submissive, and more than a little eager to please. He’s the weird youngest kid who despite appearances to the contrary, isn’t sure of who he is or who he wants to be.

Put the two of them together and from the very beginning, the wise-cracks and banter take off and they never stop. It’s not even about an unconventional attraction – neither of them takes the time to think about just what it says about them that they are open to the idea of ‘helping each other out’.

Names and faces from the Queer Collective as well as Frat Wars appear aplenty, and life within the NHL as viewed through these eyes sounds like an absolute blast! We meet a few new people who I can only hope will feature in future books, but this is most definitely all about Bilson and Miles.

Their relationship is just so simple, even when it gets complicated, and I loved how in tune they were with each other, as well as their ability to be honest and open. From the very beginning, Bilson accepts all of Miles – whether it’s his rocks or Annette – and Miles gets Bilson in a way no one else ever has.

Really loved reading this and it made me want to re-read the rest of the Puckboys and maybe go back a little further to Frat Wars and beyond! An easy 5/5 from me.