Dead Serious: Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes by Vawn Cassidy

Title: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tristan Everett was finally getting used to the strangeness that was his life. Being able to see the dead and helping them solve their unfinished business and cross into the light wasn’t so bad after all, especially when he was accompanied by his best friend, dead drag queen Dusty Le Frey. His boyfriend, sexy Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, now knew the truth about Tristan’s “gift,” and they were about to move in together officially.

Life was good.

That is until Death—honest to god, Death (aka The Grim Reaper)—pitches up in Tristan’s kitchen with an unusual stop Dusty’s ghostly hookup Bruce from crossing into the light, which may result in dire consequences.

Determined to do the exact opposite, Tristan and Danny assemble their own ragtag gang of one prickly witch, one snarky psychic private investigator, one living drag queen with an affinity for feathers, and one dead one with an affinity for a deceased rugby player in tiny shorts. Together they must solve a forty-year old cold case, while juggling a dose of the flu, a broken leg, a supernatural storm, and an immortal death deity with the looks and temperament of a sexy but grouchy CEO.

Seriously… what could possibly go wrong?

Review: ⟫ Tristan is back along with Danny, Dusty, Chan and the beginnings of quite the Scooby Gang. The third instalment deals with our very own Bruce, the rugby player in the skimpy shorts who has Dusty in a tizzy.

The relationship between Danny and Tristan seems to be the only solid thing in Tristan’s life as everything else goes haywire – including visits from Death, a supernatural storm, Bruce’s body being found and all of the potential mess that can incur along with Death’s slightly deranged ‘twin’ in the form of chaos trying to escape the book store. So, business as usual.

As is usual with Vawn Cassidy, all of the characters get their chance to shine and watching as the gang get closer together and Danny and Tristan realise how loved they truly are, we learn about Bruce’s life (and death) and get more insight into the strangeness that surrounds Tristan like a fog.

I enjoyed reading this one – as I may have mentioned before, these books feel like reading/watching Murder She Wrote but with more sexy times and a little bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed seeing Chan being pursued, can definitely sense some tension between other members of the gang, and I was so pleased with how Danny handled Viv – who knew we needed the miserable, cantankerous drunk and could grow to like her?

Despite being a murder case, that took the backseat to revelations from the past, people admitting their feelings and Danny and Tristan finally finding somewhere to live without a leaking roof. A very good instalment in the series and I look forward to seeing just what Tristan, Danny and the gang have to deal with in the next book.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Triple Trouble by Jesse H Reign (The Situationship Book #2)

Title: ⟫ Triple Trouble (The Situationship Book #2)

Author: ⟫ Jesse H Reign

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Two dude-bros, one beautiful femme boy, and a game of gay chicken that goes badly awry…

It’s fair to say my best friend Mat and I are looking for trouble when we head out for a wild night on the town, and boy, do we find it. We find it in the form of Trouble, a guy with long, silky black hair, doe eyes, and thick, fleshy lips. Sweat glitters down his spine and he moves like there’s music in his soul. Every eye in the place in on him. He’s magnetic. The second we see him, we want him. We both do.

Suddenly, the fact we thought we were straight doesn’t seem all that important.

Trouble turns our lives upside down. He makes us do things we’ve never done. He makes us want things we’ve never wanted either.

He makes me look at Mat in way that’s brand new, too.

Everything is changing. Nothing is as it was.

There’s only one thing that’s certain anymore - Mat and I both want to get into Trouble.

Triple Trouble is the second book in The Situationship Series. It can be enjoyed as part of the series, or as a standalone novel.

Triple Trouble is an MMM romance featuring a double bi awakening, a triple serving of steam and enough sweetness to give you a sugar rush. Use the look inside feature and scroll up to the copyright page to see if this is the book for you.

Review: ⟫ Well, to describe this book as insanely hot is an understatement – for some reason, I was simply not prepared.

I completely and utterly understand Trouble’s dilemma – I wouldn’t be able to choose between Mat and Will either. I freaking loved the fact that there was no particular bi-freakout – Mat and Will were awesome in the way that they both seemed to accept that although there might not have been any particular attraction to men before, Trouble had opened their eyes. And the relationship between the two of them made my heart melt and everything else just combust! They were so THERE for each other, with everything – understanding when the other needed reassurance, affection or just someone to step up and speak for them. It was beautiful.

I also understood Trouble’s concerns about the relationship between Mat and Will and how he fit in – the fact that he was worried about things like who cleans the bathroom actually made me giggle for some reason. Quite possibly because how they all fit together in the bedroom might have been more of a thing for me! The sexual relationship between the three of them was hot, steamy, soft, kind, dominating, passionate – it was just everything because it wasn’t just based on the physical. Mat and Will were perfectly attuned to Trouble and what he wanted/needed and it was absolutely awesome.

By now, I can simply just accept that I’m a Jesse H Reign Super-fan – I haven’t read a single one of their books that didn’t hit so many high spots for me, and I can’t wait to read anything they release in the future. This was highly anticipated, gratefully received and consumed, and utterly satisfying!

Volatile by J.R. Gray (A Black Diamond Novel - Unlucky 13 Book #6)

Title: ⟫ Volatile (Black Diamond – Unlucky 13 Novel #6)

Author: ⟫ JR Gray

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa… and my exile…

A guy in a skirt wouldn’t turn a straight guy on, right?

I spent the last decade performing next to him. I’ve never looked at him as more—until I walked in on him in a skirt.

He’s as broken as I am.

We survived our childhood together. And when he’s finally trying to embrace the parts his father tried to beat out of him, I can’t handle it. He’s taunting me with smeared eye-liner and a filthy smile, singing to a sold-out crowd, and it’s getting too hot under these stage lights.

I can’t look him in the eyes. I can’t be with him—not like that—but I can’t stop thinking about him.

He's pushing me over the edge.

Now we’re banished to this forsaken celebrity timeout—to play emotional chicken—and he’s determined to make sure I lose.

He’ll push every button I possess until I give in.

Review: ⟫ I still haven’t figured out if I think Royal and Aspen are actually good for each other – Aspen seemed to be such a mess in terms of how he dealt with things, and I struggled with his attitude. He might have been defending Royal to his brother, but at the same time he was constantly pushing him in a way that I wasn’t always comfortable with.

Apart from that, the relationship between the two of them was hot af, full of steamy scenes whether they were on stage or not. I appreciated how, when Royal decided he was all-in, he really was all-in. He turned away from his father’s teachings, was honest with his mother and made sure that Aspen knew that their relationship was his number one focus and I truly thought that was wonderful.

There were links to other works by JR Gray (the Pretty Broken series) and I did enjoy catching those. I have also read most of the book in the Black Diamond series and this is the first one (for me) where the outside world was featured more and I enjoyed that too.

Messy rock stars falling in love and getting steamy on stage – can’t really ask for more than that. I enjoyed reading this and look forward to more in the Black Diamond series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Mr Nice Guy by Isla Olsen (Suits & Sevens Book #3)

Title: ⟫ Mr Nice Guy (Suits & Sevens Book #3)

Author: ⟫ Isla Olsen

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tanner When you’re staring down the barrel of half a century’s existence on this planet, you tend to think about things… Like…maybe I should think about retiring? And I guess I could start crossing things off my bucket list? And should I get my colon checked? Something I wasn’t intending to start assessing too closely at this stage of my life—or ever, really—is my sporadic, complicated, and rather inconvenient attraction to men. Some people do yoga. Others bake. For me, the only sure-fire way to release all that tension and anxiety that’s always building up inside me is…well, I’m sure you can figure it out… But that’s all it is. Stress relief. Or, at least, that’s all it was. Until I met Deacon Stapleton. Gorgeous, funny, and great in bed—it only takes one night for me to decide I want him to be my permanent stress ball. But there are some problems…he’s too young; he’s too nice; and he doesn’t do casual flings. Oh, and did I mention he’s my daughter’s kindergarten teacher? Mr Nice Guy is book three in the Suits & Sevens series and features a billionaire silver fox and a rugby-playing kindergarten teacher. It can be read as a stand-alone. billionaire, single dad, age gap, bi-awakening.

Review: ⟫ A sweet, heart-felt and caring love story between a billionaire who uses men for stress relief and a kindergarten teacher that surprised me. I found Tanner a little confusing initially – the mental gymnastics he seemed to go through to explain what he does would far better have been spent on better therapy and fighting his ex-wife. But the more I read, I could actually see why he didn’t look into it too closely – he’s been through so much but has to remain strong for his kids and his employees – he doesn’t have the mental bandwidth to actually consider his sexuality.

Deacon was really sweet and what I really loved about him was how, despite how frustrating he sometimes found things, he didn’t rush Tanner. He listened, tried to understand but also laid down his own boundaries and I respected that. The rugby players made me laugh and I definitely remember at least one of them which makes me think I’ve read more in this series without realising it.

The sex was hot, the relationship was interesting and loving, and can I just say how very much I love Tanner’s son, Jazz.

A solid read and I am going to see if I can find the other books and catch up with the others.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Reluctant Renegade by Garrett Leigh (Rebel Kings MC)

Title: ⟫ Reluctant Renegade

Author: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ “I was never scared of dying until I loved you.”

The shy single dad and the gentle assassin. Domestic bliss and a bloodthirsty revenge mission battle it out in the emotional fifth instalment of the bestselling Rebel Kings MC series.

Decoy

I met a dude in a bar once. Tall and strong, he had moon-blue eyes and tawny hair, and he moved with the grace of a lion.

It didn’t pan out, but that’s a theme in my life, and I’ve spent the last five years knowing that kind stranger dodged a bullet.

Divorced and miserable, I’m not exactly a catch.

But the thing is, that man...he’s not a stranger anymore.

And he’s as beautiful as I remember.

Everything you want in a fake boyfriend, right?

Don’t ask me to explain that one. But let me tell you I thought my biggest fear was losing my daughter. Then Folk came home, and I realised you can give your heart to more than one person.

We have a second chance. Goddamn, we deserve it.

But this life, man. It’s a journey.

And there’s no guarantees we’ll both make it to the end.

Reluctant Renegade is an MM/gay biker/MC romance. Content warnings for everything you’d expect in a sizzling biker romance, in addition to divorce/custody stress, addiction, and mental health rep.

Review: ⟫ We finally get to the brother with a kid, the one who remains on the outskirts because getting too embroiled in club business could cost him everything in his divorce/custody battle and it was yet another intriguing look into things.

Decoy is a puzzle – an integral part of the club, he nevertheless seems to remain on the outskirts. It’s been a tough time for the Rebel MC and everyone is more than a little punch-drunk as yet more threats head their way, and in the meantime, Decoy is fighting with his ex for access to his daughter. It was immediately evident that Decoy was kinda drowning – not through lack of support but due to the precarious situation he was in with his daughter, Ivy. Add to that, his hidden past with Folk has come back to bite him in the form of an idea that should keep him and Ivy safe and help with the custody issues.

Folk has his own reasons for being with the Rebel Kings and his history with Decoy is an issue. Add to that being tapped by Alexei for his special skills, and his commitment to looking after his old friend’s children, and Folk has a lot on his plate.

I loved the way they carved out time for each other; how they acknowledged that that night in the past had meant a lot to both of them, and worked honestly to find a way forward. It was also brilliant to catch up with the others and see how they’re doing – Embry is still suffering ill-effects, and the Rebel family is growing so quickly.

I didn’t feel that the romance was as much at the forefront this time and I found it a little difficult to understand why they both held onto the memory so strongly, but Garrett Leigh continues to weave the Rebel MC throughout readers’ hearts and this is an excellent continuation to the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Overtime by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

Title: ⟫ Overtime (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

Author: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Ishir is happy when his best friend Zane is traded to his team, the Brooklyn Cats. Why wouldn’t he be? They’ve known each other since they were kids. Zane was the first person he came out to as gay—an Alpha who’s attracted to other Alphas. Zane has been there for him every step of the way.

Oh, and Ishir is madly in love with him.

Ishir isn’t going to make it a problem, though. Sure, they’re living together, so he has to see Zane strut around shirtless. And, okay, Zane knows about Ishir’s weird little superstition—Ishir can only come when he scores a goal. It’s his thing, okay?

But when Zane starts involving himself in who Ishir can sleep with…in how he gets himself off…well, things start getting a little more complicated.

Zane likes to tell him what to do, and Ishir likes listening.

They’re just best friends, though. Nothing more.

Ishir is just going to have to accept that…or break his heart trying.

This is the fourth instalment of Alpha Omega Hockey but can be read as a stand-alone.

Review: ⟫ I seem to have this issue with Marina Vivancos – I go through a couple of her books and absolutely adore them, then hit one that just doesn’t make it for me. Unfortunately, this is the second of the Alpha Omega Hockey books that I have read that didn’t hit the mark.

I didn’t like Ishir – I tried to, but I just didn’t. And I think I would possibly have enjoyed this book far more if told from Zane’s POV because I found his dilemma far more intriguing. The dynamic between the two of them was intense – to absolutely everyone other than them, it was more than obvious that they were enmeshed far more than they were willing to accept. Zane literally did everything but pee on Ishir to claim his territory, and his pouting/sulking was entertaining. The scenes where Zane insisted on helping Ishir to celebrate were extremely hot – I loved the way that during those moments, there were no insecurities or doubts – they trusted each other and that was lovely.

I wanted to like this more than I did but ultimately, I enjoyed this entry into the Alpha Omega Hockey verse and I will be reading any further entries.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The First and Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer by S.E. Harmon

Title: ⟫ The First and Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ In the archaeology community, Christopher “Kit” Sawyer’s family is a legacy. And while he may be a historian, not a treasure hunter, he thinks he does a pretty good job of living up to the Sawyer name. He's a book-smart research fanatic and does his best work at his tidy desk. No fedora and whip for him, if you please—a nice cup of coffee and a comfy chair will do. But decoding an ancient relic soon gives him more adventure than he bargained for.

Unwittingly, he unleashes a force he doesn't know how to control. And now he has to reunite the relic with a powerful Aztec God. The trouble with that? Kit doesn’t where to find the Tlaloc’s temple. No one does, in fact. Finding it could be a discovery for the ages. It could also lead to his untimely death. So...yay? But it’s not like he has a choice. So off to the Mexican jungle he goes.

At least he isn’t going alone.

Ethan Stone, former stepbrother and overall pain in the rump, horns in on the expedition. An experienced archaeologist, he's only coming along at their grandfather's request—which annoys Kit to no end. But he knows Ethan is just the right person to get them through the jungle safely. It’s just too bad someone is trying to beat them to the temple. And he’s willing to do anything to get there first.

Ethan thinks Kit is in over his head. Kit is secretly afraid he just may be right. In manners of archaeology...and manners of the heart….

Review: ⟫ Ooh think Indiana Jones meets National Treasure and you have this book, but throw in some hot men falling in love and it gets SOOO much better! I happen to list the Indiana Jones and National Treasures as some of my favourite comfort movies, so reading the blurb of this had me happy dancing in my seat.

And I was not let down!

This book was a humdinger of a ride, with thrills galore, a smidge of the supernatural and banter and hot sex – an absolutely perfect recipe if you ask me! Kit made me laugh with his self-deprecating humour and he touched my heart – feeling such an imposter in a famous, adventurous family and health concerns meaning he literally couldn’t pick up the family mantle.

I felt for poor Ethan – there he was, thinking he was being so blatant and at every turn Kit misunderstood him and his intentions. It’s enough to drive a swashbuckling hero insane. His protectiveness over Kit yet his willingness to stand back and let Kit have his shot was just one of Ethan’s good points – he was an absolutely brilliant foil for Kit, understanding both sides of his personality and aware of his history enough to just get why Kit felt the way he did.

This was a fun read, with some hot sex amidst the adventure and I am really pleased I read it – S.E. Harmon has never let me down yet!

I received an ARC from GRR.