Monthly Archives: October 2022

Never Have I Ever: Punched My Roommate's V-Card by Willow Dixon

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Title:
⟫ Never Have I Ever: Punched My Roommate’s V-Card

Author:
⟫ Willow Dixon

Rating:
⟫ 4/5

Blurb:
⟫ Why
can’t I stop thinking about my roommate after walking in on him
“taking care of business?”

What
should have been a humiliating experience for both of us ends up
being the start of one of the best friendships I’ve ever had. Finn
is smart, adorkable, and his shyness pushes all my buttons. The
problem? My interest in him quickly shifts from friendship to
something less than platonic. Feelings I’ve been pushing down for
years bubble up to the surface, and I find myself unable to see him
as just a friend, or keep my hands to myself.

When
a night out leads to some extracurricular fun, Finn and I decide to
have a no-strings-attached fling. He’s the perfect person to
explore my bisexuality with, and our chemistry is off the charts.
Finn might still have his V-Card, but he’s not inexperienced, and
the more we’re together, the more we learn about ourselves.

Until
it’s not enough.

I
want him, and he wants me, but the idea of coming out terrifies me.
Is Finn the person who can help me discover who I am? And can I get
my head out of my a*s in time to prove to him I’m worth taking a
chance on?

Beck
and Finn’s story is a friends-to-lovers MM romance between
roommates who discover that opposites really do attract. Expect super
hot, slightly kinky encounters, a houseful of quirky college guys,
and a ton of sweetness once this jock and nerd finally get on the
same page. It is the first novel in the exciting new Never Have I
Ever series but can be read as a standalone.

Review:
⟫ Beck is an
all-around good guy, who looks out for the people around them and is
in general a people-pleaser. When he meets Finn, he initially thinks
it’s just his care-giver instincts kicking in, but the more time
they spend together, the more he realises that how he feels about
Finn is not simply friendship but so much more.

Finn
is free(ish) from his overbearing parents and trying to figure out
who he wants to be. He also desperately wants to push himself out of
his comfort zone, get over his social awkwardness and maybe find
love.

When
the two of them get together – as friends – it is so completely
fascinating to watch them fall in love whilst being unaware of it.
Finn is slightly more self-aware, but he is also wary of
misunderstanding the way Beck takes care of him.

As
the venture into the LGBTQ world, with Beck acting as Finn’s
wing-man, and discover that there is a place for both of them, it
makes for a satisfying and fun read. The sex scenes between the two
of them were very hot, especially when they ventured into the
slightly kinky.

The
supporting characters were well rounded and intriguing – Eli and
Alex come to mind here – and this book was a really engaging,
satisfying read. This is the first book by Willow Dixon that I have
read, but I will be looking out for more as I really enjoyed this and
am happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys the college/university
environment and reading about a baby-gay and an introverted extrovert
figuring themselves out.

I
received an ARC from GRR.

Dead Serious: Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy by Vawn Cassidy

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Title: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #2: Mrs Delores Abernathy 

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy 
Rating: ⟫ 4/5 
Blurb: ⟫ It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right? 
Wrong… 
When the spirit of a sweet old lady suffering from Alzheimers follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation. 
For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him. 
Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves. 
 From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series. 
Review: ⟫ Funny and touching describes this book perfectly – there were moments when I was cackling with laughter, and more than a few moments when I had a tear in my eye. 
If I say that figuring out what happened to dear Mrs Dolores Abernathy is the least of Tristan’s worries, then you might have a little insight into what a riotous ride our poor lead is in for. 
This book reminded me a little of Murder She Wrote or perhaps the Aurora Teagarden movies, with Tristan somehow running from pillar to post, experiencing things that he could never have expected, whilst inadvertently assisting Danny in solving the murder. 
We get to spend a bit more time with Danny in this book and discover a little more about what led to him coming to New Scotland Yard. Chan is back and experiences a far better birthday than they could ever have expected. Evangeline reminds me of a slightly annoying ghost Dumbledore, with obscure clues to help Tristan along the way, and the romance between Dusty and Bruce is going strong. 
Underlying all of that is the sweet, sexy romance between Danny and Tristan, with both of them fearful that although they love each other, things are moving so quickly and needing the reassurance from friends as well as each other to accept that all is going according to plan. 
And speaking of plans… anything more would be a spoiler, but if you enjoyed the first mystery/romance with Ms Dusty, then you will love this one! A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next ‘case’ with happy anticipation. 
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Five Night Stand by H.L. Day (Snowed Inn)

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Title:
⟫ Five Night Stand

Author:
⟫ H.L. Day

Rating:
⟫ 4/5

Blurb:
⟫ The
advantage of a one-night stand is being able to walk away. Except,
Nathan can’t.

Workaholic
Nathan Nicholls hasn’t had the easiest time of late. Still reeling
from his publisher’s rejection of his latest book, he seeks refuge
in a remote hotel. When he’s propositioned by the sinfully sexy CJ,
a man who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to go for
it, why shouldn’t Nathan throw caution to the winds for once and
have a bit of fun? After all, he’s leaving the next day.

When
an avalanche puts paid to Nathan’s quick exit, he finds himself
stuck there for Christmas. Stuck with CJ. What should be awkward,
quickly becomes something else. The snow might be cold, but the time
they spend together is far from it, and Nathan finds his heart
warming. If only their passion and laughter didn’t have a shelf
life, doomed to come to an end once the road is cleared.

Nathan
Nicholls doesn’t do one-night-stands. But maybe, just maybe, if he
makes a Christmas wish, this could be something more.

A
sweet and steamy 43k forced proximity story which features a man who
never was any good at one-night stands, a cheerful wildlife
photographer who might not be as confident as he makes out, rustic
log cabins, snow, Christmas cheer, and two men gaining a whole new
perspective on life.

All
the books In the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can
be read in any order.

Review:
⟫
This
was such a sweet, sexy story.

The
beginning – oh man, I felt for Nathan – that rejection from his
publisher was painful
to read. How he walked out of there not bawling his eyes out is
beyond me. His time at the hotel seemed to be a bit of a wash – he
was struggling to connect with what his publisher wanted and the only
thing that had changed was his location.

And
then along comes C.J. He was so hot, so in control and so totally
owning what he wanted, it was incredibly sexy. I really loved their
first interactions and their first night together, and was saddened
that Nathan allowed his doubts to prevent him from saying goodbye.
Then fate stepped in and wow, the story bounded along. I really loved
reading the two of them opening up to each other, being vulnerable
and just doing their best to enjoy the enforced proximity.

I
admit, I was almost shouting at Nathan when the road was cleared and
he was going to bottle it, so I was very proud of him.

I
loved how honest they were with each other; how C.J. pulled Nathan
out of his head and got him to see there was a world he was missing
out on; how Nathan bolstered C.J. and respected what he did. They
were very sexually compatible but there weren’t too many sex scenes
for the size of the book – I felt that it was just enough.

This
was a real feel-good book, with a lovely ending and it was all very
fairytale which I guess I needed this weekend.

I
received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest
review.

The Forbidden Equation by J.R. Gray (Love Equations #3)

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Title: ⟫ The Forbidden Equation: Love Equations #3

Author: ⟫ J.R. Gray
Blurb: ⟫ My father’s the president and my brother’s the golden boy which leaves me the black sheep. The son who never wanted to be here at all. The white house my gilded cage, and the secret service my prison guards.

I’m nearly twenty-one and nothing about my life is normal.

The only thing giving me life and any motivation to get out of bed is the way he looks at me. The stolen glances across the West Wing. Heated gaze in the private dining room.

He’s my father’s best friend, which isn’t even the worst part, he’s also the vice president. Utterly off limits and I can’t bring myself to care. Can’t bring myself to stop encouraging his flirting, dreaming, and hoping he won’t be able to resist me forever.

Review: ⟫ I am so ambivalent about this one. The writing style seemed different – each chapter was a little bit of a time-jump, which I actually quite enjoyed. It made the writing more spare, removed extraneous details. The political stuff was interesting to read as well as the history of the White House and all that surrounds it.

The relationship between Matt and Liam was – hard to describe. Just from the basics, with the age difference and Matt being in Liam’s life from the time he was born, it would be really easy to think that Matt was grooming him. But Liam was such a definite character – he knew what he wanted, what he needed, and to some extent he was most definitely the more dominant partner. I understood and sympathised with Matt’s dilemma and could well understand his reluctance, but I kinda hated the fact that he didn’t pull away. He had given up so much for Liam’s Dad that him finally being selfish and grabbing something for himself made sense, but there was a feeling (for me) that he perhaps should have left Liam alone.

And then there was Lucas. I sometimes felt like there was more chemistry between him and Liam, and there is a part of me that wished that they had got involved. Liam made some points that I hadn’t ever considered – about how he had never had a normal life because he had always been part of his father’s political life. It made me feel so sad for him, never to experience some things from a normal perspective with no choice in it because of what his father had chosen as his career path.

It might not seem like it, but I really enjoyed this book. I was fascinated, involved and hurt by the events and I read it in one sitting because I really wanted to know how this doomed relationship could possibly work out. This one gave me a lot to think about and for that reason alone, I would recommend it. It turned a few of my ideas about age-gap relationships on their head and opening myself up to a different viewpoint can only be a good thing.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Grudge by Gianni Holmes (Ruthless Daddies)

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 Title: ⟫ Grudge: An MM Mafia Romance (Ruthless Daddies)

Author: ⟫ Gianni Holmes
Blurb: ⟫ Can their love grow stronger than a twelve year old grudge?

Mitch spent the last twelve years dreaming about his plans when he gets out of the slammer. The last thing he expects is to be abducted the same day he’s released from prison. And sure as hell not by the boy who’s responsible for his criminal record. But Cesare is no longer the snivelling, pathetic, abused boy Mitch protected that day. He’s the Boss of the Lacovelli family. And one glimpse of the onesie beneath the boy’s expensive suit is enough to make Mitch’s knees go weak.

Cesare never forgot the man who saved his life at the expense of his own freedom. When he abducts Mitch to get close to him, he doesn’t count on the sight of Mitch to affect him so much. It doesn’t take long for his teenage crush to turn into full blown love. As Cesare and Mitch grow closer, how can Cesare be sure of Mitch’s feelings when he forces Mitch to stay by his side out of a sense of duty?

Grudge is a part of the Ruthless Daddies multi-author mafia collab and a complete standalone. Expect to find an age gap romance with an ex-convict Daddy, a trigger happy Mob Boss boy, and a sweet HEA. Want more deliciously morally gray Daddies and boys? Grab the whole series!

Review: ⟫ I think I should say that I haven’t read any of the other Ruthless Daddies stories in the collaboration, but I accept that this story can be read as a complete standalone.

There are so many aspects of this story that I thought were good. Cesare was such an intriguing mix: sadist, little, submissive – it was a lot! I liked how his little side was expressed – that he knew exactly what he needed and was able to express it clearly. I also really liked the harsh, dominant side of him that ran his family with a willingness to choose violence when necessary.

Mitch was harder for me to read and get into. Sometimes it almost felt like he was locked in to his relationship with Cesare by duty – there felt like there was very little development of their relationship, and I didn’t feel the connection as strongly from his side.

There was so much going on in the story – possibly too much – with the Russians, the family being unhappy with Cesare being openly gay and the changes he was making, the situation with his uncle, his friend Faro. I think I ended up feeling a little fatigued by it all. There were also times when there was a disconnect – things sort of jumped around. For example, how Mitch and Cesare found the time to be at the Loft when things were allegedly exploding within the family and a hit being taken out on Cesare.

The sex scenes were hot and varied, with all of the different areas of Cesare’s desires being explored. But there was a lingering sense of dissatisfaction – most likely caused by the disconnect I felt – and overall the story didn’t work for me. It was well written and I would imagine a lot of people will find it interesting and hot. It just wasn’t the story for me.

I received an ARC from GRR.

His Lethal Desire by Leighton Greene (West Coast Mobster #1)

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Title: ⟫ His Lethal Desire (West Coast Mobster 1)

Author: ⟫ Leighton Greene
Blurb: ⟫ There’s nothing more lethal than a hitman in love.

Johnny “Jack” Jacopo was once the Castellani Family’s top hitman, but one terrible mistake saw him kicked back down the ladder. So when the Boss orders him to look into the disappearance of a Hollywood starlet, Jack sees an opportunity to rise back up the Family ranks.

His first move is to question the missing actress’s twin brother. Miller Beaumont is charming, gorgeous, flirty…and he’s the same guy who was hitting on Jack in a bar the night before.

Jack tries to keep things strictly business, but Miller has access to inside information that Jack needs to solve the case. And it’s just too tempting when Miller proposes that they team up to find his sister.

As their search leads them into danger, Jack finds he has more to lose than he ever expected. Someone is coming after Miller, and Jack finds himself torn between duty to his Family and his own foolish heart.

Because despite himself, Jack is making one more mistake, the biggest of them all, the one dumb thing he swore he’d never do.

He’s falling in love.

***

His Lethal Desire is the first book in the West Coast Mobsters series. Follow the men of the Los Angeles underworld in this page-turning romantic suspense series as they find love, danger and mystery in the most unexpected places.

Each book in West Coast Mobsters tells the love story of a different couple who find their happy ending, as well as a resolution to the mystery they’re investigating, but there are cliffhangers to the wider suspense plot for the series.

Content advisory notes are available to view on the Copyright page via Look Inside or by downloading the sample.

Review: ⟫ Ooh this one was a lot of fun! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the blurb – in fact, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it from the blurb, but something about it got to me so I thought I would give it a go and I am so pleased that I did!

This book was fun, sometimes scary, the mystery was seriously like watching a film noir, and majorly sexy! I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t bring myself to put it down – I kept promising just one more chapter and then flying past that marker!

Jack sounds absolutely divine – especially with his pale blue eyes and the way he’s described – just completely yummy! Initially he fulfilled every mafia stereotype I could think of and came across as a bit of a thug, but the more I read, the more I fell in love with him. He was just so loyal and upfront, as well as wisecracking! The image of him driving around in a Pinto made me smile for ages!

And Miller – he surprised me more than once. Yes, he got himself into a couple of issues in not doing as he was told, but he was also intelligent enough to know when he was out of his depth. Miller was a softy for the people he loved, always willing to put them first and often to his detriment. And he didn’t deserve to be treated the way he was by the people that he loved.

The background characters were fascinating in their own way as well – Sandro made my heart break just a little; Freddy is the man to have at your back. And I must admit, I have a bit of a soft-spot for Julian – just because he sounds so completely and utterly insane, and I kinda hope he gets his own story.

Probably nowhere near as dark as some might expect a mafia story to be, I nevertheless found it engrossing, entertaining and a big hit. I will definitely be looking out for more on the West Coast mobsters. 4.5/5 from me, happily rounded up to 5!

I received an ARC from GRR.

War Games by Daniel May (The Hanged Men #2)

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Title: ⟫ War Games (The Hanged Men #2)
Author: ⟫ Daniel May
Blurb: ⟫ Sons of opposing mob bosses, secretly married when they were seventeen, Nerva Alms and Joseph Pascal were doomed from the start.

After his father’s gruesome murder, Pascal was mutilated and banished, and Nerva grew to replace his own father as head of the Hanged Men. Now, ten years later, Pascal has returned.

War Games is book two in the Hanged Men series, following Blood Sports. While War Games is standalone, the story is best understood in the context of the first book.

Reviews: ⟫ I discovered that this had come out from a post on Reddit and you better believe I switched to my Amazon tab so fast I gave myself whiplash!

If book one was a laugh alongside the horror, book two is a different beast. It comes after the events of the first book, but Daniel has provided a handy recap at the beginning and it can be read as a stand-alone.

The beginning of this book was torturous – my heart broke in several places for both Nerva and Pascal. Imagine finding your person at such a young, impressionable age and then losing them – completely devastating. Which explained why Nerva appeared so cold and unfeeling to everyone. And then we met Pascal.

When people talk about a roller-coaster of emotions, this book encompasses that feeling. Sorrow, fear, confusion, hysterical laughter – all in a matter of chapters and sometimes within just one of them. There are flashbacks – some of them sweet, some painful – with an underlying story/mystery slowly unravelling for Nerva and Pascal that made me feel sick at the world they live in whilst completely enthralled.

There’s no real way to talk about this book without spoilers, but Mars is my second favourite character if only for the attitude. Hadrian remains my favourite and I need a story with him because I think it would be amazingly chaotic and astounding! The special horses make another appearance – in the background and then more and more integral to the storyline – and I still can’t decide how I feel about them. I think I’ll settle for terror and stick around Nerva’s level when it comes to the horses.

This was a fantastic read and more than satisfied my itch for the Hanged Man – for a short time anyway. A hearty 5/5 from me.

Cold Blood by L.C. Davis (The Godbearer #2)

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Title: ⟫ Cold Blood (The Godbearer Book 2)

Author: ⟫ L.C. Davis
Blurb: ⟫ I’m pregnant.

Just when I was starting to get used to being alone in my own head, now I’m possessed in a whole new way. And apparently, I’m an omega, which seems to be code for “magical thot who gets harassed by every alpha within a hundred miles.”

The worst part is, I don’t even know which one of these bloodthirsty douchebags knocked me up. With my luck, it’s probably Cameron, who sees me and the baby as a threat to his precious goddess, especially now that she’s gone MIA.

Weirdly enough, the news has caused a split within the cult, pitting brother against brother. Even though I thought they’d all be on the same side, now Sam, Cyrus, and (ugh) Alex claim they’ll do whatever it takes to protect me and the baby. Even if it means going up against Ichor and the rest of her cult.

Obviously, I don’t trust them. I might be a “dumb blond,” but I don’t need to get sacrificed twice to learn that lesson.

If only my traitorous heart would get the memo.

Blurb: ⟫ I knew 50% of the way through this book that I was going to be frustrated and I was right – I was so frustrated by the ending. I get it – I completely do – but there was a part of me that felt if they had just got a move on in the main part of the book, they wouldn’t have had to leave things on a cliffhanger.

To be fair, the story did move along at a fair clip – and it made sense in terms of Chase’s growing feelings for his harem. It also presented a surprise (probably not if you read between the lines at all) that made things more complicated. I enjoyed the interactions outside of the group, especially Sam’s grandmother and Chase’s mother, but the main focus of the book was on building the relationships within the group and seeing how feelings were changing. It was no longer simply about the Ichor and so much more about the men and how they felt now.

Even Cameron – it feels like we’re being steered in one direction but that it’s a misdirect. I can’t help but think that he’s going to surprise everyone.

It was an engrossing, hot read and I’m really pleased I read it, but now there’s the wait until the third book and that’s going to be so frustrating. If you enjoyed the first story, you’ll enjoy this but be prepared for a wait for book 3.

Roman by Grae Bryan

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Title: ⟫ Roman
Author: ⟫ Grae Bryan
Blurb: ⟫ Danny Kingman is used to fending for himself. Working non-stop as an ER nurse to pay for his mother’s care, he’s been putting his own life on hold since he can remember. But when an unbelievably hot, strangely intense man saves him from a mugging, Danny has a feeling everything is about to change. Especially when that man suddenly pops out a pair of fangs.

Roman Mourier has been wandering aimlessly for decades, waiting for the inevitable day when the last of his humanity leaves him, and the demon inside him takes permanent control. He doesn’t believe in fated mates, or the myth that there’s a soul out there that could tether his humanity to him. Until he feels a strange pull to the lovely young man at the hospital, and hope stirs in him for the first time.

But Roman has demons other than just the one inside him. Is he strong enough to keep Danny safe from the past that haunts him? He knows one thing for sure: now that he’s found his mate, he will do anything to keep him.

Review: ⟫ This was a sweet and overall gentle story and I think for me, that was the problem. I was hoping for more – more bite to it, more sexiness, just more. Instead, although it was a perfectly pleasant read, it wasn’t anything particularly special. There isn’t anything memorable about it, which is a shame because the idea is sound and could have been quite spectacular.

Roman is surprisingly sweet, understanding and restrained – what he does for Danny and his mother, giving them time together where she remembers him is one of the loveliest things I’ve ever read, and an amazing use of vampire compulsion. Danny seems completely unflappable, which was a little incongruous considering he’s been introduced to vampires, stalker vampires and what his new mate calls his Demon. To be honest, Danny seemed more than a little too good to be true – even suspending disbelief, I expected at least one freak out.

Nicely written and a pleasant read, this is a gentle, relatively low-angsty vampire mate love story that was mildly enjoyable.

Presidential Chaos by Saxon James (Frat Wars #3)

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Title: ⟫ Presidential Chaos (Frat Wars #3)
Author: ⟫ Saxon James
Blurb: ⟫ Two houses. Two Presidents. One hell of a happy ending.

Zeke

Being President of a frat house means everything is on my shoulders.

Idiot brothers, epic pranks, a list of organizational duties long enough to make my eyes bleed.

None of it fazes me.

But senior year is almost over, and I’m ready to take a step back.

Until the hazing rumors start.

I might not know where they’re coming from, but I know they’re total BS.

Now, instead of dialling back the stress, we’ve broken the number one rule on the row: Don’t get the dean’s attention.

I need to find out who’s driving the lies.

And all evidence points to one person.

Charles

I never wanted to become Kappa President.

The appointment was made easier, though, when none other than Zeke Ariston took over Sigma house. I’ve always been … drawn to him.

Fascinated.

And maybe a little attracted too.

Pity I’ve never been more than an afterthought to him.

But when rumors start to circulate about hazing, and the sources lead back to my house, it puts me square on Zeke’s radar.

I want to help him get to the bottom of it all.

And with his attention finally on me, I want to tell him how I feel.

The guys on Greek Row meet their chaotic conclusion with this rivals-to-lovers romance full of pranks, shared hoodies, and secret meetings made in the dark.

Review: ⟫ Okay, I’ll admit it – I downloaded this book pretty much one minute after midnight because I was desperate to read it! And I stayed up all night so that I could finish it!

I did not want this to end because I absolutely adore the guys on Greek Row! I didn’t think anything could top that flash mob parade in the second book, but I am more than happy to admit that Zeke and Charlie may well own my heart! They were so hot together, so open to the idea of the secret they shared becoming more – there were very few misunderstandings, lots of communication, and lots and lots of yummy sex!

Characters from previous books make an appearance (obviously) and this was a delightful end to an entertaining, well-written series, I may re-read all of them because they were that enjoyable and am more than happy to recommend this book with a 5/5 from me!