His Captor by MM Farmer (Omegas After Dark Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ His Captor

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Omegas After Dark Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Indulging in a Dark Fantasy can lead to deep consequences in reality…

Hayden

It wasn’t my first time indulging in that particular fantasy. I was on a business trip and looking for something fun. I didn’t plan on going into heat while playing around, or to like the alpha I played with so much.

I also didn’t expect to end up pregnant.

And what I really didn’t expect was for that anonymous alpha I played with to end up being my boss at my new job…

Mace

Playing with a cute omega from out of town was supposed to be a test of the new security tech I’d been developing. It wasn’t supposed to end with me cutting ties with my old, crooked business partner and starting a whole new company in Barrington. It also wasn’t supposed to leave me wishing I’d gotten the real name and phone number of my omega playmate.

They say be careful what you wish for. Now, not only is Hayden back in my life with all his charm and feisty spirit, he’s carrying my baby. And I’m his boss.

And because of me, the cute omega I’m falling hard and fast for is in danger from my ex-business partner, who is out for revenge…

Omegas After Dark is an omegaverse mpreg story 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: ⟫ This was a fun, quick read, and despite the subject matter there wasn’t a huge amount of sex! We originally met Hayden in His Hunter and I remember him being a very fun character. This story gives more background and fills him out into someone quite interesting. I loved the fact that Hayden didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t aware of what happened, and once he knew that he was pregnant, he moved on with his life. I really enjoyed the back characters we got to meet during this story, as well as catching up with Ari and Samson.

The industrial espionage/threat was well written and interesting, especially with the introduction of a character near the end of the book. I must admit, I laughed when Hayden was proved correct about Colin – a more deserving fate I cannot imagine! I thought the ‘toys’ the Ace used during their torrid weekend were absolutely fascinating and can only imagine how they could be put to use in a wider community!

I’m glad that I read this one and can recommend if you are in the mood for some kinky spice and a little light threat to your story. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt (Subpar Heroes Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ The Accidental Necromancer

AUTHOR: ⟫ Liv Rancourt

SERIES: ⟫ Subpar Heroes Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Last Year—yes, it was so bad it needs to be capitalized—continues to haunt Brandon. A fresh start in a new town should have been the solution, but the memories follow him everywhere, in the form of undead roadkill he can’t seem to stop conjuring.

And Brandon’s growing posthumous pet problem is attracting attention. At least Stefanos, the paranormal veterinarian who offers to help him, is cute.

Who even knew paranormal veterinarians were a thing?

The resurrected animals are bad, but the wraith who starts dogging—pun intended—Brandon’s every step is far, far worse. This unwilling necromancer will have to figure out how to put Last Year behind him if he ever wants to find peace in the warm and willing veterinarian’s bed.

The Accidental Necromancer is a part of the multi-author Sub-Par Superheroes MM romance series. This book is set in the same world as The Richmond Vampire, though it features different characters. Mack and Bellafleure will be back in an upcoming book, because there's definitely more to their story!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a quick, fun read, with an interesting premise and storyline that was easy to get into. I enjoyed the quick introduction to SPAM, as well as the background on what happened to Brandon in the past to make him so scared of his new-found power. It was fun catching the snippets of information on supernatural creatures existing alongside unknowing humans, and I found Stef to be a very human character – he wasn’t the perfect knight in shining armour, showing signs of a quick temper and a slightly judgemental attitude on occasion. It was a little frustrating sometimes with Brandon’s refusal to discuss his past – it obviously affected him deeply and also bore some relevance to the situation they all found themselves in, so sharing that information could have been really helpful.

I liked the interactions between Layla and Greg, and the animals were incredibly cute, especially Sparky. This is the first story I have read by this author but I will definitely look out for more from them. I received an ARC from GRR.

Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley (Franklin U 2 Book #8)

TITLE: ⟫ Twincerely Yours

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #8

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ EMMETT

My twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.

But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me.

JONAH

From the moment I meet Emmett, I know he looks familiar but I can’t pinpoint where from. It’s not until I see his twin brother in the quad that I put two and two together.

Dating the sibling of one of my ex-students isn’t a huge problem for me, but I can’t help thinking the twins are hiding something.

The more time I spend with Emmett, the more I fall for him, but as my insecurity grows, so does my worry that I’m being played.

When my heart and my gut tell me two different things, I don’t know which to trust. My gut tells me to cut and run, but my heart won’t let me. Even though I’ve been telling myself to hold back, it’s too late. I’m already in too deep.

REVIEW: ⟫ If you told me that I’d be crying at the end of this book, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Emmett and Benny have well and truly got themselves into a mess, but this book shines the light on Emmett. There are depths to his character that haven’t previously been seen – his need to have one thing just for him, to be seen as himself – it really touched my heart and was a theme throughout the book. I mean, how incredibly difficult to be someone else for six months with little to no break? I also couldn’t see how he and Jonah were going to get their happily ever after – someone was going to suffer and it kinda felt so incredibly unfair. Yes, Emmett and Benny made bad decisions but they weren’t being malicious. Part of what I enjoyed was that Eden didn’t try to lessen what the twins had done – nor allow them to avoid the consequences.

I really found Jonah and Emmett to be special, with a sincere desire for the other to be happy and safe. There was a section where they are spooning and take turns and my heart just melted. This was a steamy, sexy. Heart-felt romance, with a lot of family and history, as well as new beginnings. Definitely one of the best of Franklin U 2 that I have read so far. I received an ARC from GRR.

Tongue-Tied by Christina Lee (Franklin U 2 Book #6)

TITLE: ⟫ Tongue Tied

AUTHOR: ⟫ Christina Lee

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN

Dex has always been my best friend, so it’s no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We’re complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let’s just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys, even with Dex’s help? I’m useless. Maybe it’s because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX

After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he’s desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it’s addicting. I’m getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I’m not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a friends to lovers story in its’ most purest form. Dex and Aus have been friends for what feels like forever and despite their very different personalities and experiences, they are the very best of friends. When Dex moves out of their shared accommodation, they have to make more of an effort to spend time together and it makes them both appreciate the other even more.

Austin wants to move on with his love-life – or rather, start to actually have a love life – and as his best friend, Dex steps up to help him gain the confidence to get out there and find his man. What begins as a sweet attempt to help out turns into a series of dates and situations that make both of them realise just how much the other one is their person. But the big question is whether or not they take the risk on their friendship in order to have something more.

This was a very sweet story, with two young men who don’t want to lose what they have together who don’t realise how much they already share, with a group of friends who are rooting for them, and some nicely steamy moments. I received an ARC from GRR.

Their Wicked Ways by Willow Dixon (Crimson Club #6)

TITLE: ⟫ Their Wicked Ways

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Dixon

SERIES: ⟫ Crimson Club Book #6

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ A year ago I lost everything and moved across the country to try and start over. It wasn’t easy, but I found a job I love, I have friends who’ve become my family, and I’m ready to start exploring my bisexuality.

Just when I think things are finally starting to go my way, I show up to work and find out the new guys on the crew are the super-hot couple I hooked up with last weekend.

F*ck. My. Life.

Now I’m stuck spending my days with the men who not only popped my dude cherry, but the ones I can’t stop thinking about.

The ones I have to try and be friends with after they awakened a part of me I didn’t even know was there.

The ones I can never have again.

Until one night turns into two, then more.

Being with Ezra and Wesley feels right, even if everything I was taught tells me it’s wrong. I can’t deny the pull between us, or how safe and seen they make me feel.

But how can two men who love each other as much as Ez and Wes ever feel the same for me?

REVIEW: ⟫ I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this story – turning a couple into a throuple isn’t always easy without making the third person seem like an add-on, and I was interested to see how this would develop.

From the beginning, this book was steamy and hot – Wes and Ez are a powerful duo and with the addition of Jett, things just got hotter. But what I actually found I enjoyed the most was the respect each of them showed each other, how willing they were to be vulnerable and honest. They each truly valued communication and it showed in the way they were together. It wasn’t all sweetness and light, and I appreciated those moments – for example, how Jett grew up, their individual coming out stories, etc. It was great to catch up with the rest of the crew and characters that I have read about previously.

This was a sexy, thoughtful read, with a believable duo to throuple, a lot of communication, honesty and vulnerability. For these reasons, it might well be my favourite of the Crimson Club stories. I received an ARC from GRR. . I received an ARC from GRR.

Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (The Bridgertons Book #4)

TITLE: ⟫ Romancing Mr Bridgerton

AUTHOR: ⟫ Julia Quinn

SERIES: ⟫ The Bridgertons Book #4

RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for...well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret...and fears she doesn't know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide...is she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?

REVIEW: ⟫ Like many, I arrived at this book following the series on Netflix. However, Colin and Penelope’s story was the first that made me want to read the accompanying book – I adored the first two seasons and don’t get me started on Queen Charlotte – but I wanted more of Colin and Pen and decided to visit the source material.

I can well see why some of the book fans feel that Netflix has taken the essence of the characters and bounced off from there – it wasn’t impossible to imagine the characters as the actors but their actions and behaviours were so different from the series that I finally decided to divorce the two in my mind. I don’t read many heterosexual romances – MM is more to my taste – but I had hoped that the chemistry between Colin and Penelope would take over. However, in the book I was disappointed by so much. Colin’s internal dialogue about Penelope, his reasoning, his attitude – it was all a tad fratboy (or rather rakish) than I was expecting. He seemed quite shallow and superficial and I found myself wondering just what it was about him that Penelope fell in love with. I saw very little of his much vaunted kindness and indeed, more often than not I felt he was quite a petulant little boy in his behaviours and actions.

Admittedly, his declaration of love for his wife was brilliant – touching, romantic, proud – but it took what felt like far too long to get there. I think I will happily watch the series on Netflix and not read the rest of the books – I cannot imagine they will engender more affection for the characters than I already have and might instead taint my expectations/hopes.

I understand that the books have a very passionate fanbase, which I am glad for because without them I doubt the series would have been made, but it feels like the novels are not for me although obviously YMMV.

Vengeful Bonds by Nolah Harker - Vengeful Bonds Season #1

TITLE: ⟫ Vengeful Bonds

AUTHOR: ⟫ Onley James writing as Nolah Harker

SERIES: ⟫ Vengeful Bonds Season #1

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ in a world rigidly defined by secondary genders, a political storm brews, challenging the traditional alpha-dominated order with progressive ideals. Amidst this upheaval, eight strangers unite against Cerberus, a corrupt power broker. Their mission, born from loss, forges an unexpected bond, transcending societal norms.

This diverse group includes Fen, a sharp-witted omega hacker, Loch, the protective alpha leader, Binnie, a charismatic alpha political consultant, Saint, the former demolitions specialist who can no longer function in polite society, and Ollie, the analytical beta. Forced together by circumstance, they join Binnie in his secure residence for safety, bringing along Fen's Seth, an omega interpreter, San, an alpha artist, and Deacon, an unpresented makeup artist with a flair for the dramatic.

As they unravel Cerberus's sinister plots, they discover not just the hope of justice but also an unconventional love. Forming a formidable pack of four mated pairs, they challenge the very foundations of their world, redefining family and pack bonds in a society where loyalty and love are often confined by archaic norms.

Vengeful Bonds is more than just an Omegaverse tale of revenge; it's a journey of healing, self-discovery, and the forging of a polyamorous pack that challenges the very foundations of their world. Join them in the complete compilation of season one of this serialized adventure, where each chapter unveils layers of intrigue, romance, and a bond that defies all odds.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was absolutely awesome! So much in each ‘chapter’, with well defined characters, a cool backstory, a mission that anyone could get behind, and ABO dynamics. If you have any interest in Omegaverse stories, then this is definitely for you. Watching as the group comes together, slowly beginning to accept that fate is playing a hand in everything that they do; the diverse relationships that build so quickly; the potential for extremely hot times ahead – just ticked all of my boxes! Really looking forward to season #2 as they dig deeper into Cerberus as well as finding out more about the effects becoming a pack is having on them all.