Friday, 10 January 2025

Teaching Quinn by Kim Breyon (Unexpected Love #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Teaching Quinn

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kim Breyon

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Love #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ When my best friend’s son calls asking for help, I am not prepared for what he has in mind.

Quinn wants me to teach him about sex, and he wants me to do it without his dad knowing. That wouldn’t be difficult, since his dad is away for work for three months, but I still need to say no. He’s Seth’s kid, for starters. Plus, Quinn doesn’t need me. He’s an adult who can figure this out on his own.

But when his desperation leads him into a dangerous situation, I am forced to make a let Quinn continue to explore things with the wrong men, or show him what I know, safely.

There is only one right I need to protect him—but it just might cost me everything.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’ve read a few best friend’s father romances but don’t think I’ve read any best friend’s son ones so I was interested to see what would be different. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Quinn and Ian – there was respect from the very beginning, as well as palpable chemistry. Their relationship happened very organically once they had made the agreement and I really loved how caring Ian was – he was determined that Quinn was going to have a better experience than he himself had and it showed.

The background characters and subplots were interesting, and I loved the sibling relationship and how close Ian and his sister were. I was worried how things would go when Quinn’s father returned to the scene, and it didn’t disappoint – I wasn’t expecting it to happen when it did and it was explosive!

The ending felt a little rushed and I would have liked to see more about how the two of them transitioned to a full relationship, but I very much enjoyed reading this story and will keep an eye out for the next in the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Fey Dominion by S.Rodman (Fey Lords Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Fey Dominion

AUTHOR: ⟫ S.Rodman

SERIES: ⟫ Fey Lords #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ He is a fey prince. A ruler of the race that conquered Earth.I’m a leader of the Resistance.

There can never be anything between us.

I’m lucky he didn’t kill me when he caught me snooping around the palace, but then again, Prince Mabon Y Mabinogi is unlike anyone I’ve ever met.

His decisions don’t make sense.

He is beautiful.

Demanding.

Loud and dramatic.

He loves sparkly things and pretty things.

And keeping me as his pet.

I’ll play along for now. For the sake of the Resistance and the intelligence I can gather.

But as soon as I can escape his bed, I’m gone.

There is no reason to stay.

Is there?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was so different to what I was expecting after having read books #1 and #3, but then Mabon is very different from his brothers. We saw deeper into the politics that surround the fey, and how what may seem to be all-powerful is anything but. I really enjoyed seeing things through Blake’s eye, especially when the resistance got involved. Mabon revealed himself to have hidden depths and I very much enjoyed this instalment to the series. It’s a shame that I’ve already read book #3 because now I have to wait for book #4 to come out!

Saturday, 4 January 2025

Fey Conquest by S.Rodman (Fey Lords #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Fey Conquest

AUTHOR: ⟫ S.Rodman

SERIES: ⟫ Fey Lords #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ He is morally grey, with all the red flags. He isn't human. He conquered Earth and claimed me as his pet. So why don't I hate him?

Prince Rhydian Y Mabinogi. As beautiful as he is cruel. The man of my dreams, and of my nightmares.

I was just a normal human man. Now I am his pet. He will never see me as his equal, as his partner. I don't even know why I want him to.

I should hate him. I should try to escape. I should loathe the things he does to me every night.

But as I come to know the twisted politics of this cruel and violent fey court he dragged me into. I can't help suspect there is far more to Rhydian than meets the eye.

I think under his icy armour, one thing is true.

He needs me.

Fey Conquest contains captor/captive, enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, first times and touch him & X.

Happily ever after is guaranteed.

Please note this story includes content that will be upsetting for some readers. If further information is needed, please use the “Look Inside” or sample feature to view the copyright page, where a full list can be found. Alternatively, this information can be viewed on the author’s website.

REVIEW: ⟫ Well, I started this series on book #3 so I knew a little bit about the relationship between Rhydian and Jamie. However, I am pleased that I went back and read this because their coming together was really powerful. I loved how Rhydian tried his best to understand and respect Jamie; I absolutely adored how protective over Rhydian was and when he stood up for his man and challenged someone – well, I cheered. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed this beginning to the series and moved on to book two feeling very happy.

Fey Regency by S.Rodman (Fey Lords #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Fey Regency

AUTHOR: ⟫ S.Rodman

SERIES: ⟫ Fey Lords #3

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB:I wanted to kill a fey prince. But he called me pretty. And made me his pet.

All my life I've been different. My grandmother proudly declared we were descendants of the Fair Folk. I thought she was batty.

Until the fey invaded Earth.

And I saw I looked just like them.

A fact everyone else also noticed.

I had to leave my grandmother all alone. Run, hide and survive. My life was hell, and it was all the fey's fault.

So when I got the perfect opportunity to take a prince out, I seized it with both hands.

Except I messed it up and was claimed as a pet.

By Prince Tristan Y Mabinogi.

A flame haired himbo who is convinced life is about pleasure & gratification and the only reason I'm a moody, grumpy bastard is because I haven't had enough of either. A status he is determined to rectify.

I'd rather die than admit it to him, but he might just be on to something.

REVIEW: ⟫ If you like grumpy/sunshine, you’re going to love reading this one. Ollie has the ‘misfortune’ to be at least part-fey – misfortune because the fey have taken over the human world and are viewed very much as the enemy.

When he bungles an assassination attempt on a fey prince, he finds himself taken as a pet – with all that that entails. Discovering that he’s a sucker for praise as well as being a magical vessel is the least of his worries as he struggles to make his way through fey politics, family dynamics and learning more about himself as he falls head over heels for his captor – who insists on feeding him and sexing him up in equal measure. I laughed and sighed happily and immediately logged on to find the previous two books in the series!

I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Thursday, 2 January 2025

Shared by the Gladiators by Taylor Wolfe (Straights Get Shared #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Shared by the Gladiators

AUTHOR: ⟫ Taylor Wolfe

SERIES: ⟫ Straights Get Shared #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Zane is finally checking off the number one item at the top of his bucket list: to visit the Colosseum. And when a ridiculously handsome tour guide dressed like a gladiator offers him a private tour, he certainly can’t refuse. Especially not after the gladiator stirs unfamiliar, but very welcome, feelings.

And when the gladiator offers to introduce Zane to his friends, Zane realizes that all his new fantasies might just become a reality.

REVIEW: ⟫ I love books like this – when you’re in the mood for something simple, a bit of smut, some insta-love, they completely hit the spot. I liked the historical aspect of this and the sex was hot – what more can you ask for?! I received an ARC from BookSirens.

The Christmas Veto by Keira Andrews (Festive Fakes #3)

TITLE: ⟫ The Christmas Veto

AUTHOR: ⟫ Keira Andrews

SERIES: ⟫ Festive Fakes #3

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Can fake dating lead to true love?

My name’s Connor Lisowski, and here’s what you need to know about me:

I’ve had a massive crush on my best friend’s older brother since high school.

Everyone thinks I’m straight.

I have two dads but I’m afraid to come out.

I’ve never even been kissed.

And somehow, I’ve been roped into pretending to be Reid’s boyfriend for the holidays. Who’s Reid, you ask? Only the aforementioned best friend’s older brother who never looked at me twice.

Until now.

The Christmas Veto by Keira Andrews is a gay Christmas romance featuring fake boyfriends, a bisexual king in a designer suit, first times, and of course a happy ending. Connor first appears in The Christmas Deal, but this novel can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very sweet, low angst, fake to real relationship. Connor and Reid are very nice together, and it’s lovely how Reid reassures Connor that he won’t laugh at him, listens and understands. I really loved the way Connor went from a crush on Reid to seeing him as a real person, understanding and accepting that his life wasn’t perfect just because he was rich, and helping Reid become his more authentic self. A nice and easy read.

Thunder Road by Morgan Brice (Badlands #7)

TITLE: ⟫ Thunder Road

AUTHOR: ⟫ Morgan Brice

SERIES: ⟫ Badlands #7

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Simon and Vic are home from their honeymoon, just in time for a brand new case!

Mysterious missing person reports, a cursed motorcycle club, and an ancient entity add up to trouble. A bad bargain to stop a long-ago gang war requires a yearly sacrifice from a tightly-knit group of riders, and even their coven of witches hasn’t been able to stop the deaths.

Then the granddaughter of a former lighthouse keeper comes to Simon for help. When the lighthouses were automated, they lost their live-in guardians, who worked protective spells to shield the coast from killer storms and a murderous creature. Those protections are fading, and an old evil has gained power, growing stronger with every life it claims.

Can Simon and Vic end the deaths and disappearances, or have they finally found a foe too powerful to stop?

Thunder Road is an action-packed MM paranormal romance chock full of old magic, protective guardians, found family, an ancient monster, brave motorcyclists, helpful ghosts, loyal friends, psychic visions, hurt/comfort, supernatural suspense, and an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was an interesting read with engaging main characters and a well thought out plot. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but surprisingly that wasn’t necessary even though this is book 7 in the series. There was a lot of lore and background information provided and sometimes that did slow down the pace of the story, and I felt that some of it was a little repetitive. The battle with the big-bad wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped but it was good and there was definitely a sense of danger that added to the ambience.

I received an ARC from GRR.