Always Watching by Lee McCormick and RS McKenzie (Always Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Always Watching

AUTHORS: ⟫ Lee McCormick & RS McKenzie

SERIES: ⟫ Always Book #1
RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀ ꜱᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴀᴍʙᴏʏ ɪꜱ ʜɪꜱ?

ℝ𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕟

My life has become a nightmare. A stalker intent on having me permeates my waking moments. Gifts and threatening messages greet me at every turn. Every cam session is filled with the fear of them watching me in my most intimate moments. One day, my stalker takes it a step further than words and attacks me in my home. Just when I think I won’t make it, a stranger with a blue-green stare saves me from my fate.

ℕ𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙

I wanted him before I knew his name, and he’s belonged to me since the first time I touched him. When a crazed fan attacks him, there’s only one solution. I move in with Ranen to keep him safe. Now I need to navigate finding his stalker while keeping my murderous habits in check. All I want is Ranen. I just have to figure out how to make him mine.

~~~
𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 is a dark MM romance featuring a psychopath who will stop at nothing to keep his camboy safe from any danger that comes his way… By any means necessary.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.  

Possessive Puckboy by Eden Finley & Saxon James (Puckboys Book #8)

TITLE: ⟫ Possessive Puckboy
AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley & Saxon James
SERIES: ⟫ Puckboys Book #8
RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB:⟫ Connor

Finding out those closest to me don’t see me as the great guy I think I am not only kicks me in the gut, it makes me question everything.

Until that happened, I didn’t think I had many regrets in my life. Now, I have nothing but regrets. And when my NHL team is bought out, and the new owner makes his presence known, my existential crisis kicks up a notch. Because he might be my biggest regret of all.

Parker Duchene.

I made his life a living hell in high school, and now he’s inserting himself into my career to repay the favor.

With everything in my personal life already on the line, I can’t risk hockey too. I need to figure out a way to play nice with the new owner.

Parker

I bought Colorado’s NHL team to honor my late father. I did. Only reason.

Emotionally playing with one of my many high school tormentors is a nice bonus though.

Connor Kikishkin may be the one who made me the target for years of name-calling, but I’ve always wondered if my hatred for him bordered too much on the obsessive side to truly be classified as hate.

Infatuation is probably the right word for it.

Now his whole life is in my hands, and I can’t wait to see him beg for my mercy. Seeing Mr. Popular find his humility will definitely ease the grief from losing my dad … right? Because right now, that’s all I have, and I need to hold on to it so I don’t crumble.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from Foreword PR.

Ronan by G Eilsel (Mate's Mark #1)

 TITLE: ⟫ Ronan

AUTHOR: ⟫ G. Eilsel

SERIES: ⟫ Mate’s Mark #1

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB:⟫ It's been almost a century since the veil fell and monsters invaded the world. We didn't give the humans an opportunity to retaliate as we charged in and took over, and I was at the head of the front lines with my sword in hand. A perfect soldier, fighting the battles that ultimately put my people in charge of this planet. Half of humanity was slaughtered, and in the decades since the invasion, things have only gotten worse. Tensions between the rebel humans and monsters grew as the climate changed, and temperatures rose as resources dwindled. The sun scorched away plants and trees, leaving behind a husk of a planet where everyone fights for survival.

The Fates were furious at our violence, and now we're trapped inside the hell we created.

We've all heard tale of the Mate's Mark, and how we're destined to find our fated mate. One human, one monster - foretold to be the cure to this cursed world and repair the damage that has been done. What was once the cause of curiosity and intrigue has turned into nothing more than a mockery. Decades have passed, and not a single pair of fated mates had been found.

Until now.

Until me.

Until the night I pull off my armor and find the mark staring back.

Author's note: Ronan is a First Person Dual POV MM Monster Romance series with explicit content intended for readers 18+. It is the first in a series that will have an overarching storyline carrying between books. While this series ends with a guaranteed HEA, individual books end on more of a HFN basis. The feature couple's story will be resolved, though there will be some unanswered questions and mild cliffhangers that lead into the next in the series.

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

Limitless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Limitless

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals #5

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB:⟫ The Cheerleader and The Cheerleader

Hudson

Coming out to my straight best friend is harder than I think it will be. Not because he is phobic.

Because I’m in love with him.

I know; I am a walking, talking, queer cliche.

When I do come out, he is supportive… maybe a little too much, because before I know it, he has hatched a crazy plan that involves him easing me into the gay dating scene.

I’m not sure how us being fake boyfriends fits into this, but as if I’d refuse any chance to be close to Wyatt.

In the end, I know I will end up with a broken heart.

As long as I still have my best friend, it will all be worth it.

Wyatt

Hudson is my best friend. My ride or die. My bestie with testes. So when he comes out, I’m a little surprised, but I’m happy for him to live his truth.

In theory.

Because in reality, I’m not liking everyone and their mom trying to set him up on dates.

He’s my best friend, I should be the one to help him.

When I’m put on the spot and announce we are boyfriends, it takes me a minute, but I quickly realize it’s genius. I can keep all the horndogs away from Hudson, and it’s a great reason to spend even more time together.

I love Hudson and will do anything for him.

I love his kindness.

I love his dry sense of humor.

I love his smile.

I love the way his ass looks in his cheerleading uniform.

Wait…what?

Limitless is book five in Squad Goals, a MM cheerleader romance. Expect crystal..toys, meddlesome friends, spice, and a lot of cheer.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, fun addition to the Squad Goals series by Willow Thomas. Hudson finally got the nerve up to admit out loud that he is gay and his best friend, Wyatt, wants to help him celebrate. But also protect him because other men out there might not appreciate everything that makes Hudson such a great catch! The pouting/texting scene on movie night had me giggling, and the sheer lack of awareness that Wyatt showed on occasion was a trip. I loved the way he tried to show Hudson that things were real between them – poor Seth btw – and the fact that everyone else was rooting for them to figure out their lives was golden! This was just what I needed as I’m down with the flu (again) and I very much enjoyed this instalment and catching up with everyone.

I received an ARC from the Author.

Lyric by Wendy Rathbone (Love Sync Mates Season #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Lyric

AUTHOR: ⟫ Wendy Rathbone

SERIES: ⟫ Love Sync Mates – Season 2

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Can an alpha athlete and a traumatized omega find true love?

Lyric is a famous alpha athlete, a dragon shifter racer known as the fastest flier in the world.

Jinn is a rare omega dragon shifter who finds himself in trouble one night when he meets an alpha at a bar who won't leave him alone and who ends up being his stalker.

When Lyric is on a break from racing and goes to spend time at his private roost in the middle of the woods, he sees an omega running naked through the foliage as if fleeing for his life. When he realizes the omega is being chased by a feral dragon, he fights the out-of-control dragon and protects Jinn with all his might.

A bond quickly forms between the two, so powerful and unexpected that each man begins to question if their feelings are real.

An MM dragon shifter romance with two men who discover they are each other’s true mate. Rescue, hurt/comfort, omega heat, needy omega, protective alpha, mpreg and an HEA.

This book is part of the Love Sync Mates multi-author series but can be read as a standalone. It is also set in the author’s own Alpha Dragons universe.

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this to say that I haven’t read any of the author’s Alpha Dragons universe so entered this cold.

I actually quite enjoyed this new spin on true mates and dragons, especially with the way the dragons were separate entities with their own views, thoughts and voices. I loved how respectful Lyric was of his dragon Lyrican once he understood why the dragon felt the way that it did – it said a lot about his character that he wasn’t arrogant and assuming that he knew best.

I didn’t get as good a read from Jinn and struggled to relate to him at all, especially when the details of his meeting with Colt were revealed – it just seemed utterly out of character and more than a little foolish.

I liked the relationship that built between Jinn and Lyric, that neither of them assumed things about the other and that they were sensible enough to question whether what they were feeling was real given the circumstances. This was a nice, pretty uncomplicated read and I enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Pumped by Linden Bell (Mars Fitness #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Pumped

AUTHOR: ⟫ Linden Bell

SERIES: ⟫ Mars Fitness #3

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Love is co-parenting with my worst enemy.

Owen

Everest is an irresponsible, delinquent, attention-hungry man-child.

Ever since my brother married his sister, we’ve hated each other with an unrelenting passion. It was bad enough when I had to see him at occasional family gatherings, but now I’m living in a nightmare and he’s right here with me.

Everest

Owen is arrogant, uptight, snobby, and cold-hearted.

I don’t want to have anything to do with him, but I don’t have a choice. After a tragic accident, we’re forced to raise our niece together, but our grief and mutual animosity is turning the house into a pressure cooker. We have to make peace and learn to work together, if not for our sake, then for the little girl who’s already lost everything.

PUMPED is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract MM romance between a free-spirited personal trainer and his overbearing veterinarian brother-in-law. Expect reluctant cuddling, teasing as a love language, annoyingly hot backwards caps, pillow chastity barriers, pool wrestling, begrudging I love yous, and a little girl who has them both wrapped around her little finger. PUMPED is the third and last book in the Mars Fitness series, but can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a satisfying end to the Mars Fitness series. Everest and Owen were the epitome of enemies to lovers, although the circumstances were painful in the extreme. I really appreciated the way in which their grief was handled – it wasn’t a one and done, there were times when things were bittersweet, times when there was panic – it was really nicely handled. I enjoyed the writing of Ivy as I know it can be difficult writing age appropriate children but this was handled deftly. The sex scenes were extremely hot – Everest and Owen seriously burned up the sheets – and catching up with the other guys at Mars was lovely.

I enjoyed this series and will be looking into the ones linking to it to join my TBR. I received an ARC from GRR.

Love's Ace by Lee McCormick

TITLE: ⟫ Love’s Ace

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ There’s no good. No evil. No angels and demons. There’s love and there’s hate… and somewhere between the two, lust finds a way to thrive. It tips the scale. It burns everything to ash.

Wren — Cupid

We’re created from birth to unite soulmates and stop the monsters that would tear them apart. We’re trained to fight, to kill… and born without the ability to feel the thing we give. A cupid can’t feel love. A cupid can’t have a soulmate. And a cupid can’t fall in love with their sworn enemy, with the monster they’re destined to destroy. Until… Theo.

Theo — Enmity

When the world breaks a human, the Enmity can find a place in their heart and turn them into creatures of pure rage. The world has broken me over and over again until I’m not sure there’s anything left but anger. Hatred. Fear. I don’t believe in love, or soulmates… I don’t believe there’s anything out there that could stitch together the wounds that left me vulnerable to the monster I’m becoming. Until… Wren.

~~~

Love’s Ace is a dual POV enemies to soulmates MM Romance with a jaded cupid, a broken man turning into a monster, and the red string that connects them both. Expect high heat, high emotions, and an HEA that defies all odds.

REVIEW: ⟫ Dang, Lee McCormick did the thing! Not gonna lie, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Cupids and Anti-cupids fighting it out on earth but, my goodness, this book dragged me in from the very beginning and I didn’t stop reading until I’d finished.

Wren has been a cupid for over a century but feels next to nothing. Cupids are not allowed emotions and Wren has become more than accustomed to feeling nothing. Until he meets Theo – a man on the verge of turning into Wren’s sworn enemy, the Enmity.

Theo has lost everything and cannot think of the last time he felt something good. Which is why when his body begins burning with hate and only the touch of a Cupid can stem the pain, he has no idea how to handle things.

The way that these two hated each other initially was intense – you could feel Wren’s desire to kill Theo and just get things over with, and Theo almost wanted to give in to the hatred and lust for violence inside him. But then circumstances meant that they needed each other, until it wasn’t about the circumstances, it was about how they made each other feel.

The tension was palpable, the sexual tension was there in spades, but this entire story was just about emotion and how the right person can make you feel like you’d do anything for them. I loved the lore behind everything (although I can’t help but feel the way they created Cupids was unbearably cruel), and I absolutely loved the characters we were introduced to. This is a fast paced, romantic, sexy, touching and painful story to read and I almost wish I hadn’t finished it because now I’m left with all of these feelings!

A fantastic read and it solidified Lee McCormick as an auto-buy for me. I don’t know how much it fits with Valentine’s Day just being around the corner, but this dark romance definitely worked for me!

I received an ARC from GRR.