Only the Small Bones by C.P. Harris (Slow Burns and Tragic Beginnings Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Only the Small Bones

AUTHOR: ⟫ C.P.Harris

SERIES: ⟫ Slow Burns and Tragic Beginnings Book #1

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ “What makes him so special?”

“He reminds me of someone I once knew…”

As the founder of Freedom Fighters, famed music composer, William Mayes, is often the first port of call when the FBI needs assistance with human trafficking victims.

After receiving such a call one night, William abandons everything to catch the next flight home. Arriving at Manhattan Memorial, he finds a beautiful young man restrained to a gurney. His eyes are wild with fear, and blood stains his skin. No one has been successful in getting him to speak.

When even he can’t get the young man to cooperate, William does something he may later come to regret—he extends an invite to his home.

The young man is non-verbal, angry, and at times openly hateful. All of which gives him control over William’s emotions.

William slowly begins to spiral from his own struggles with his tormented past. His nightmares return, sleep becomes a lost cause, and the dark voices in his head are out for blood.

Amid their co-dependent isolation, William’s feelings evolve. Lines are blurred, and then crossed altogether as they start down a path riddled with secrets and lies of omission.

The only thing that can set them both free is the truth. But maybe some things are better left buried. Because if the ugliest parts of William are ever unearthed, no one will be spared.

***Only the Small Bones is an MM romance, and book 1 in the standalone series Slow Burns & Tragic Beginnings. This story features an interracial romance, a non-verbal MC, and mental health representation. Cameos from cast members of the Infidelity series is also included. A full list of content warnings is provided on my website.

REVIEW: ⟫ Flipping heck – oh wow! Well, this was a multiple packet of tissues kind of book, and I hadn’t even realised that I was shaking and sobbing until I couldn’t read the pages. Watching Ryan struggling to accept his new reality was so incredibly difficult, as was being able to see how William was hurting himself. And that was in the initial stages – the pain just dug deeper, burned hotter, hit harder the further into the story I got. I’m not even going to pretend that this is going to be coherent because I’ve literally just finished reading the book, my eyes are puffy from crying and my heart is a twisted wreck.

I would say wholeheartedly read the warnings that are provided and if you decide to dive in, pack some comfort snacks, plenty of water and tissues – so many tissues. C.P. Harris ripped my heart out of my chest so many times in this story but it was also incredibly liberating and uplifting. A story about not letting the bad people/bad times win, to keep pushing forward and making connections.

I did warn you this would be almost incoherent – it’s not a typical Christmas story, but it is an incredibly real one, with fallible humans, an unkind world, and the ability of humans to survive damned near anything if they can only find the thing that keeps them sane.

The Christmas Collection by Garrett Leigh

TITLE: ⟫ The Christmas Collection

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

STORIES: ⟫ Angels in the City, Hometown Christmas, Christmas Mountain

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Dive in to the heartwarming world of MM holiday romances with Garrett Leigh's THREE bestselling novels, complete with EXCLUSIVE bonus content for all THREE books!!

Angels In The City

Jonah & Sacha. A fake relationship with a stranger, an office romance filled with doughnuts and white knights, and an addictive arrangement that fast evolves into a deeper connection neither man can give up. Don't miss the exclusive bonus epilogue featuring Alexei from the Rebel Kings MC series!

Christmas Mountain

Rami & Fen. The single dad probation officer caring for his dead brother’s baby. The wounded gentle giant with the biggest softest heart. Get ready for a heartwarming holiday story you'll cherish forever, along with an exclusive bonus epilogue featuring Embry from the Rebel Kings MC series!

Hometown Christmas

Yani and Gavin's friendship takes a festive turn as they venture from friends to lovers this Christmas. Fleeing a painful breakup in London, Yani finds himself drawn to brooding Army VET Gavin Ritchie. They're not looking for love. This is a no strings arrangement. But love finds them all the same. Dig into this sweet and steamy holiday romance, plus enjoy an exclusive bonus epilogue featuring Nat, Marc, & Jamie from the Between Ghosts universe.

"Must read books for any MM romance fan. Don't miss out on the love, laughter, and holiday magic Garrett Leigh has gifted us with these wonderful boys."

REVIEW: ⟫ This book (or rather books) may well be the absolute best beginning to my December reading I’ve had in a very long time! I knew at least two of the stories but it was so lovely and easy to fall into each one, become inveigled in their lives, feel for them cry for them and ultimately have a happy, tearful grin on my face when I reached the ends of each story.

The banter, the sex, the feels – these books had them all, and Garrett Leigh delivered in the way only they can. I’ve decided my Christmas present to myself this year is buying in to their Patreon because their works are simply too good to wait for. Make this your first Christmas read and your December will start off well.

The Bear's Brave Omega by A.J. Cane (Grizzly Ridge Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ The Bear's Brave Omega

AUTHOR: ⟫ A.J. Cane

SERIES: ⟫ The Grizzly Ridge Series Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3/5

BLURB: ⟫ Bear shifter Everett has found his fated mate, but he'll have to defeat another alpha to keep him.

When Milo’s date sprouts fangs and tries to bite him, he flees into the nearby forest and ends up lost. The gorgeous man who rescues him seems too good to be true… until Milo discovers his secret.

Everett knows the human omega is his fated mate, but the last thing Milo needs is another alpha shifter trying to claim him so soon after his traumatic experience.

Unfortunately, Milo’s date from hell is determined to mate with him—willing or not—and Everett will have to fight tooth and claw to protect their love.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, simple story. Milo, a human omega, is attacked on his first date with Tomas. He runs away and gets lost in the forest and is rescued by the town’s local search and rescue. The man who rescues him is a bear-shifter, Everett, who realises almost immediately that Milo is his mate, but then has to face the thought that Milo already be mated elsewhere but even if that’s not the case, has no idea about shifters. With an underlying plot regarding a rogue wolf pack, this is a sweet story, with Milo and Everett being honest, kind and trusting with each other. I actually read book 2 before this one so knew pretty much what the story was about. A nice read.

Christmas on Stardust Lane by Garrett Leigh

TITLE: ⟫ Christmas on Stardust Lane

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ A scarred ex-biker with a hardened soul. The hot new nurse in town guarding his own bruised heart.

Tam Dubois is used to being alone. With a body that bears the marks of his mistakes, he’s grown to like it. But scratching out a living with pen and ink is tough, the numbers don’t work, and the only solution he can think of gives him the opposite of Christmas cheer.

A lodger.

It’s the last thing he wants, but like most things in life, it happens anyway, and the stranger he’s so keen to avoid turns out not to be a stranger at all,

It’s him.

Tam can’t believe it--and he doesn’t want to. But matters of the heart don’t play by the rules, and as Christmas approaches, love might just prove the greatest gift of all…

If they’re brave enough to unwrap it.

Christmas On Stardust Lane is a steamy, angsty MM holiday romance. Expect: forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a chaotic canine with a bad case of little dog syndrome. If you love MM romance, holiday love stories, and the magic of two damaged hearts finding their way, Christmas on Stardust Lane delivers the perfect festive read.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, I might as well just move into Garrett Leigh’s brain because that is where I want to live! Tam and Bhodi were chef’s kiss – I adored the two of them, how closely they were trying to guard their hearts whilst it was so obvious that they were meant to be. The sex was hot (when isn’t it when Garrett Leigh is writing it?) but the banter between the two of them, the UST, how they cared for each other with things like fixing the car, shopping and cooking – absolutely stellar!! In case it wasn’t obvious, this is just another Garrett Leigh masterpiece that has to be read to be appreciated!

And yes, I am so HERE for Sab!

Newly Tied by Mary Calmes (Marshals Book #7)

TITLE: ⟫ Newly Tied

AUTHOR: ⟫ Mary Calmes

SERIES: ⟫ Marshals Book #7

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ For the last six months, Deputy US Marshal Delroy McCabe has been secretly pining for his partner, Langston Ross. He’s kept his desires to himself because he wants to do a good job and prove himself at work. More importantly, if Lang were to find out his true feelings, maybe the person he cares for the most might walk away.

Between the understanding and support Lang gives him, as well as time with his family, Del can’t afford to slip up. But then, why does his partner and best friend care who Del sleeps with? Why, if given a choice, would Lang prefer to do anything with him? Maybe Del’s been missing something important, and perhaps Lang’s not the only one who’s not seeing what’s right in front of him. Because sometimes the strongest ties are the ones that bind our hearts.

REVIEW: ⟫ If you’ve read any of the other Marshals books, then you know exactly what you’re in for. And Mary doesn’t disappoint – her books are very much comfort reads for me because despite being new people, new cases, new scenarios, there is always a clear line towards a happily ever after and I needed that at the moment!

Del and Lang made me laugh so hard – their humour, banter, the way they were around other people – it was so obvious that they were each other’s person that it surprised me that it took that long. It was also great to catch up with everyone else (I have missed Chickie so much!) and it was fascinating reading these people we watched mess up and fumble their own love lives being grown ups and settled whilst still being sexy as heck!

Another hit for me and I really loved trying to figure out who’s going to be next or if there will be a spin off. An easy good read for me.

The Backup Plan by Eden Finley (King Sports Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ The Backup Plan

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley

SERIES: ⟫ King Sports Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Thad

Failing to make it in pro ball left me absolutely devastated. Baseball has been my life, my dream, but it’s time to move on.

Becoming a sports agent was always my backup plan, and now that I’m interning at the biggest queer-focused firm in the country, I’m doing my best not to let my bitterness toward baseball affect my future.

That’s really difficult when I’m assigned to babysit Kelley Afton, hotshot rookie pitcher for Philly. He has everything I ever wanted, and he doesn’t even appreciate it. I didn’t become an agent so I could soothe the ego of diva athletes.

His constant need for validation from others frustrates me to no end, but that’s probably a good thing. Because if he didn’t have that, I’d find him irresistibly my type.

Attraction could lead to crossing lines which would put my position at King Sports in jeopardy, and I can’t have that.

I don’t have a backup for my backup plan.

REVIEW: ⟫ I remember reading Damon’s story so it was rather lovely to see him in the present, not just as a visiting uncle but as a major player.

Thad sounded absolutely dreamy – the tattoos, the way he dressed, all of it – but initially, he was a bitter p.i.t.a. However, what I really appreciated about him was that once he realised that he was being really awful to Kelley, he did what he had to do to turn things around. He read Kelley’s file, gained an understanding as to what made him tick, and he made a difference.

I thought Kelley was really relatable and the descriptions of his catastrophising and anxieties were very realistic. I very much felt for him and everything he was going through. What I liked about Kelley was that he gave Thad a chance, listened to him, learned from him, and the two of them together really made each other better. So much better.

I loved seeing King Sports in action and am already trying to figure out who’s going to be in the next book because there were at least two people that I was thinking ‘hmm’. A very enjoyable read and recommended.

Thrown by Merry Farmer (The Art of Love Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Thrown

AUTHOR: ⟫ Merry Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ The Art of Love Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The art of love is falling for your enemy without ruining everything…

Ceramic artist Robbie Hawthorne is dedicated not only to his art, but to keeping the arts center and school housed at his family’s ancestral estate vibrant and flourishing. But when the family runs into financial trouble and a heartless corporation offers to buy the estate to turn it into an amusement park, Robbie has to get creative to try to stop them.

That includes working together with a man he has nothing in common with and who instantly irritates him…

Toby Tillman has fought to overcome his working-class roots and to make a name for himself in the financial world. Now he finds himself pitted against his old mentor in the quest to save the Hawthorne House Arts Center, which is run by exactly the kind of entitled nobs he’s always hated. Worse still, he finds himself constantly hot for Robbie, a man he should utterly despise.

And then comes the road trip and a stay at a hotel with only one bed…

Can two men from opposite sides of the tracks find enough common ground to rescue a family’s heritage? And can enemies end up becoming each other’s salvation?

Thrown is an enemies-to-lovers gay romance that includes one tight-knit family and one family disaster, a Renaissance faire, a reality competition, a road trip, only one bed, constantly being mistaken for boyfriends, an unlikely rescue in a moment of humiliation, a familiar scene involving a pottery wheel, and a few things that would get this blurb flagged for naughtiness if I included them in the description. Oh! And a cameo by The Brotherhood!

REVIEW: ⟫ I wanted to love this book so much. I’ve enjoyed reading Merry Farmer before and thought I’d like what this offered – enemies to lovers, one bed, family – what could be better? But this just didn’t gel for me. There were too many characters to get a full grasp on – I kept mistaking the names of the kids. I found myself not liking the family at all – especially for the hotel thing – and for how they’ve let Robbie feel and treat himself for so long.

Toby was just too much – talk about chip on his shoulder. And as for Duckie and all of those shenanigans, it just left me cold. I don’t remember reading about the Brotherhood before which might explain why my reaction to them was verging on utter disbelief to just finding them too cartoonish.

I can’t say I liked the relationship between Robbie and Toby too much either. Everyone seemed convinced that they were hot for each other from the beginning, but to me they just seemed to find each other unendingly frustrating, and the declaration of love had me slack-jawed with disbelief because I simply couldn’t see where it came from.

I was considering getting the next one in the series but decided to wait and let this one fade from my mind first. This may well be where my mind is at and nothing to do with the book at all, but I didn’t enjoy it.