May 2025 ⟫ Book Reviews Round Up

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Book_Endz

Every month, I try to post a round up of the books I have read and reviewed. They will mostly be M/M books, but occasionally something a little different slips in. These are the books I have read in May 2025.

Books are sourced through Gay Romance Reviews, Foreword PR, Indie Author Creative, Booksprout, BookSirens, Author ARCs and Kindle Unlimited but although some books are gifted, all views are my own honest opinion.

Fey Sovereignty by S Rodman ⟫ Fey Lords #4 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Fitch by N.R. Walker ⟫ Wylde Street Boys #2 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

The Legend Next Door by Jesse H Reign ⟫ Totally Pucked #2 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

No Pucks by J.R. Gray ⟫ Gods Versus Monsters Hockey ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

One Honeymoon, Two Hockey Bros, Three Little Words by Oslo Fox ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Netgalley

Three Times As Dirty by Sara Hurst ⟫ A Holt Family Novel ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Indie Author Creative

Sweat by Jonah Yorke

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Sweat
AUTHOR: ⟫ Jonah Yorke
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Tommy

I should hate Rowan Hughes. He was a bully when we were kids, and now I find out he’s messed around with my girlfriend. But how can I hate the campus soccer star when he’s everything I’ve always wanted to be?

With my reputation on the line, I can’t let Rowan get away with humiliating me in front of people I know—people we both go to school with.

When he swears he didn’t know Annalese was my girlfriend, I actually believe him. When he says I’m good enough to play beside him, I want to believe that too. But when he insists he’s not gay, all I want is to prove him wrong.

Rowan

I made one dumb decision at a party, and now Tommy Mathison thinks I’m into his girl. He couldn’t be more wrong, but it’s not because I’m gay. It’s because I’m weak. Now I’ve got a beefed-up babyface’s knuckle prints bruising the side of my face, and I can’t get him out of my head.

Tommy isn’t weak, and he may just be the missing piece my team needs to win a championship before I go pro. I don’t know why he quit soccer after high school, but getting him back on the field is easy. Keeping him close without losing control? That’s the real challenge.

SWEAT is a high-spice hurt/comfort sports romance that deals with heavy themes related to identity, mental health, grief, and coping with past trauma. This book is intended for readers age 18 and up.

REVIEW: ⟫ There is very little about this story that makes it seem like a debut novel – I am extremely impressed with this.

Tommy doesn’t have the best life – his sister is struggling from cancer, his Mother is stoic and blunt, and college isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And don’t even get him started on his long-term girlfriend who has cheated on him – again! But this time she’s cheated with someone Tommy knows – and hates.

Rowan honestly broke my heart. I thought all of my sympathies would be with Tommy, but the more into the book I got, the more I just wanted to give Rowan a huge hug and tell him that he wasn’t alone. He felt his only worth was in how he played soccer – finding love wasn’t on the cards for him.

Until Tommy barrels back into his life with a punch, somehow pushing all of Rowan’s buttons and making him face things about himself that he had managed to keep relatively pushed down. Perhaps the story could have been edited to be a bit shorter – we get a lot of training and football, and for a little while I wondered where the story was going. The relationship between Tommy and Rowan was actually really beautiful – the way that their broken edges fit together so well, how they grew to understand each other – was masterfully handled. There was a scene after a soccer match where I literally gasped out loud and clutched my pearls, terrified for what it meant for our boys.

The angst was handled so well – Erica deserves a special mention for making the decision to handle things on her own terms – and the characters were all ‘real’ people. There were no caricatures, obvious ‘bad’ guys or anything like that. The team mates were funny, entertaining and ultimately supportive and I enjoyed the banter and felt it was realistic. I will definitely keep an eye out for the next book in the series and am so pleased that I picked this up.

I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Claimed by the Orc Lord by Lee McCormick

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Claimed by the Orc Lord
AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick
SERIES: ⟫Orc Mate Selection #2

RATING: ⟫ DNF

BLURB: ⟫ Kai

When my best friend goes missing, it’s up to me to find him. There’s always been stories of people in Destiny entering the woods and never coming out, but we never thought it would happen to us. That is, until I walk through a cave and find myself stepping into a different world with no way home.

Nash

I’ve always believed my mate would find me. I just never thought he would come in the form of a tall, clumsy human who seems incapable of taking care of himself when he stumbles into my world.

From the moment I set eyes on him, I know he’s mine. Now, I have to convince a man who insists he only likes human females that he’s an Orc Lord’s Mate.

Claimed by the Orc Lord is book two in the multi-author series, Orc Mate Selection. Expect high heat, a sweet himbo who goes through a shocking bi-awakening, and the Orc Lord who will do anything to make sure he has his mate.

While this book can be read as a standalone, the series is best read in order.

REVIEW: ⟫ This is a did not finish for me. Normally, this author is an absolute must-buy but I couldn’t seem to connect with the story at all and had to give up. I think it’s most definitely me and not the writing!

Fitch by N.R. Walker (Wylde Street Boys Book #2)

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Fitch
AUTHOR: ⟫ N.R. Walker

SERIES: ⟫ Wylde Street Boys #2
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Dominic Lowing knows stress. He lost his father to a stress-fuelled heart attack, and his own fast-paced career as a lawyer has done little to help. But he knows which coping mechanisms work for him: diet and exercise, of course. And a very active particular sex life.

Fitch Lamont has been working his corner on Wylde Street for two years. Not exactly the direction he saw his life going, but he’s a glass-half-full kind of guy. He has a roof over his head, enough food to eat—sometimes—and two best friends that make it all worthwhile.

When Dominic encounters a rent boy who ticks all his boxes, he decides to make it a regular encounter. But then their arrangement, their personal lives—and feelings—collide in unexpected ways.

Fitch found more than a client in Dominic; he found safe arms and a kind heart. And maybe, if he could let his guard down long enough, he might realise he found his future too.

REVIEW: ⟫ Having read book one in the trilogy, I was interested in Fitch and his relationship with Dominic so I was looking forward to reading this. However, there were a number of things that I didn’t enjoy in this story – the sex was on more than one occasion painful for Fitch but he ‘pushed through it’ for Dominic because he wanted to please him. This bothered me because it wasn’t part of their Daddy/Boy dynamic and seemed borderline abusive to me. I understand that Dominic was ‘overcome’ by desire but it became a pattern that bothered me.

This was very much a retelling of the first book but from Fitch and Dominic’s perspective, which left me feeling a lot like I’d already read all of this and not feeling their connection/relationship. I am very much interested in Kynan which is book three so I will finish the trilogy but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first.

Himbo Hitman by Saxon James

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Himbo Hitman
AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James
RATING: ⟫ DNF

BLURB: ⟫ What do you do when you’re a hitman … who’s terrible at his job?

At first, I thought it would be an easy payday. A few pew pews for bad people, a couple of suitcases of cash for me. People have done worse for an honest living. Probably.

The problem is that after a couple jobs, I’ve never actually managed to unalive someone, and not for lack of trying. Apparently, a basic requirement of a hitman is being a good shot.

Despite my constant duck-ups–that my boss knows nothing about–I’m given another name, and I very nearly follow through. Only after obliterating this guy’s ear, and his fervent pleading to spare him, I’ve sent him into hiding and collected the cash anyway.

But wanted people are hard to hide, and bad guys don’t like paying big money for loose ends.

Now that Van Gogh has shown his face again—sans ear—I’ve scammed my way into his security team, which is sort of ideal since I’m now highly wanted as well.

Unfortunately, we have some “trust issues” to “work through” from our meet-shoot, and with the gorgeous bastard’s brother missing, he refuses to lay low until they’re reunited.

I’m not sold on the plan honestly, but this guy has me questioning my sexuality along with my career path, and I’m at the point where I’m determined to see a job through to the end.

Or die trying.

But hey, at least then I’d finally deliver a body.

REVIEW: ⟫ I don’t think I’ve ever not finished a book by Saxon James, and for it to be an ARC as well makes it even more unlikely. I don’t know if it’s because of recent ill health, a lack of connection with the characters or just a need for something different, but no matter how much I have tried to finish this one, I have failed. I don’t take it lightly that I was given an ARC and can only hope that I will be back on form sooner rather than later. My thanks to Foreword PR for the ARC I received and hopefully, better luck next time!

Demon and the Raven by Mary Calmes (Raven of the Woods #2)

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Demon and the Raven
AUTHOR: ⟫ Mary Calmes

SERIES: ⟫ Raven of the Woods #2
RATING: ⟫ ?/5

BLURB: ⟫ Speak of the devil…and he may just appear.

Xander Corey has never been happier. He’s in love, engaged to the man of his dreams, his friends are thriving, his land, Corvus, is safe, his community is booming, and he’s even back to working as a part-time librarian in Osprey, the tiny little town he calls home in Upstate New York. And yes, he’s a witch, though only a few are bothered about that.

But Xander is worried: Why is everyone so cranky? What’s happened to the bees in town? And who attacked his friend the nymph?

Chief of Police Lorne MacBain has issues of his own. He has a murder to solve that may or may not have something to do with magic. Before moving to town and falling in love with a witch, the supernatural was not a concern. But these days, both Xander and magic are an integral part of his life. His main priority is protecting the man he loves, yet that may prove harder than ever.

The evil stalking Xander and Lorne is real, and to fight it, they’ll have to figure out precisely what it is. If only that could happen before it kills them…

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

No Pucks by J.R. Gray (Gods Versus Monsters Hockey #1)

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ No Pucks
AUTHOR: ⟫ J.R. Gray

SERIES: ⟫Gods Versus Monsters Hockey #1
RATING: ⟫4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Finding out the guy I hooked up with is on my team isn’t the way I saw my first week of coaching going.

My name is Anthony Hawke, and I used to be a rising star in the NHL until someone purposefully tore my ACL, ending my career. I went from the top of my life to nothing in a matter of months.

I take a coaching job a thousand miles away as a fresh start, only to ruin it before I start.

Three months ago, I met him in a bar. Sexy and funny and built like a God—no names, just the best night of my life.

I never thought I’d see him again, but jokes on me, he’s a freshman on my team. Not only is he an insufferable playboy, but his father is the one who ruined my career.

I can’t lose this coaching job by sleeping with a player, but he won’t let it go. And if his father finds out, forget working anywhere in hockey again.

REVIEW: ⟫ I preface this by saying that I haven’t read any of the New York Gods series, which this author wrote with Andi Jaxon – I feel kinda guilty about that as I’ve had the first on on my kindle for over a year!

The blurb caught my attention – I loved the idea of a coach discovering his one night stand is actually one of his players – so I dived straight in. I know this is meant to be a grumpy/sunshine type thing, but I’m not sure that I would describe Logan as sunshine? He was upbeat and positive, especially considering his home-life, but not my definition of sunshine. Anthony was definitely grumpy though – I think it took nearly 75% of the book before he even smiled!

This was a nice enough read, a little surface maybe? There were a lot of time jumps – almost a fade to black of the two of them together and then it was the next morning or somewhere else. Logan’s father was a bit of a caricature bad guy and it seemed like all of his power was derived from his wife and father in law. It was a nice enough story, the chemistry between Anthony and Logan was good, and I even enjoyed the hockey. I will look out for more in the series and I will definitely dig out the collaborative stories written by JR Gray and Andi Jaxon!

The Legend Next Door by Jesse H Reign (Totally Pucked #2)

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ The Legend Next Door
AUTHOR: ⟫ Jesse H Reign

SERIES: ⟫Totally Pucked #2
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I didn’t think hockey was the game for me…now I’m obsessed.

My new neighbor, Ben Stirling, is a beautiful, famous ex-player. A living NHL legend. A single dad with sad eyes and a smile I feel in my knees.

I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s what would you’d get if you squeezed masculinity through a sieve. He’s the grit. The pulp. The hard stuff that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. On top of that, he’s kind and funny, and did I mention he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on?

Obviously, he’s straight.

And obviously, that’s fine.

It’s not like I’m going to flirt with him. Or fall for him.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, so as soon as I saw that Jesse H Reign had a new book out, I bumped it up my TBR pile and I am so glad that I did. I was wondering how this was going to go, with a widower who has a young son and a younger man who seemed more than a little easy-going in terms of what he wanted from life.

However, I should have trusted in Jesse – and from the first page, I totally did! Ben just about broke my heart in the first few chapters – the pain, loss and anguish he was feeling came through so clearly that I was almost in tears. Luca was an absolute delight and he reminded me of my nieces and nephews at his age – it’s so nice when an author writes a child as a child rather than a young adult. The bond between Luca and Ben was incredibly touching and he was an amazing father.

Then we have Jeremiah – or Jelly as he is affectionately called. There isn’t a thought in this man’s head that he doesn’t spill out of his mouth, or worse. Jelly was absolutely delightful – from his self-pep talks, his affection for Luca, and his absolute adoration of Ben. The whole ‘biggest fan’ made me giggle far too often, and I loved when Jelly was forcing Moop to watch Hockey as a zealous new convert.

The bi-awakening was underplayed, which I appreciated – this wasn’t so much about Ben discovering that he liked men as well as women. It was more about him recovering from the loss of his wife, realising that he can find love again, and being open to whatever form that took. The two of them together were really beautiful – I really loved how Jelly encouraged Ben to talk about anything and everything – especially silly things. And the way that they reacted to each other – I’m actually thinking of a scene where they’re not even in the same house that was incredibly sexy and touching at the same time.

We had a small cameo with our duo from ‘Poetry on Ice’ which reminded me of just how much I loved reading them. But this book – this book was all about Ben, Jelly and Luca making a new ‘three person’ unit, and I am here for it. Big up supportive in laws who had no issue with Ben moving on, even with a man – and I look forward to the next in the series.

Blitz’d by Lee McCormick & RS McKenzie (Evergreen University #1)

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Blitz’d
AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick & RS McKenzie

SERIES: ⟫ Evergreen University #1
RATING: ⟫ DNF

BLURB: ⟫ Zander

Kissing my rival shouldn’t have felt so good.

Finding out my girlfriend has been cheating on me for months makes me do something crazy: kiss my rival to make her jealous. I wasn’t supposed to like kissing Kerian Slade. He’s a psycho who demands things of me…things I shouldn’t want. But there’s something about Kerian that draws me in, and now that I’m caught in his web, he won’t let me go.

Kerian

The number one rule: don’t care about people.

Caring is a distraction, and emotions are messy… and messy is something I hate. Which is why I’m confused when the messiest player I’ve ever met—my rival—kisses me and turns my world on its head. Zander Braithe is sweet, emotional, and straight. That doesn’t stop him from coming back for more, and that doesn’t stop me from realizing I’ll burn the world down to make him mine.

Blitz’d is a dark themed MM romance between two rival football quarterbacks and a kiss that changes everything. It contains high heat, unexpected sweetness and a possessive quarterback that thinks stalking is a love language and a NFL hopeful that wants to love him despite his initial misgivings.

REVIEW: ⟫ I love a dark MM romance and thought this sounded like just my kind of book. Unfortunately, I found myself disliking both of the MMCs and the way the premise came about was just too much for me. I hate not finishing books which is why this has carried over for about three months but I think it’s time for me to admit that I’m not going to finish it. YMMV.

One Honeymoon, Two Hockey Bros, Three Little Words by Oslo Fox

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ One Honeymoon, Two Hockey Bros, Three Little Words
AUTHOR: ⟫ Oslo Fox
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫On his Hawaiian honeymoon, a jilted groom wakes up in the arms of his best man.

Ethan Lavallee’s life revolves around two things: hockey and hockey.

When his fiancée leaves him at the altar, his best bro and D-partner, Jean-Luc Bergstrom, whisks him away on what should have been his honeymoon.

Their easy friendship has always been the one relationship he could count on, but suddenly, sharing a bed in a romantic Hawaiian villa has Ethan questioning everything he thought he knew about himself.

As his feelings for Jean-Luc evolve from friendship to something more, Ethan must decide if he’s brave enough to risk their partnership on and off the ice for a chance at real love.

A steamy gay m/m friends-to-lovers dual POV romance novel featuring a double bi-awakening and a Hawaiian honeymoon with only one bed.

REVIEW: ⟫ Talk about oblivious! Ethan didn’t seem to have any idea whatsoever that he was basically married to Jean-Luc – he simply enjoyed doing whatever his D-man partner told him to do! Jean-Luc was a little aggravating – his flirtatious nature was fine, but he lost it when he thought Ethan was doing the same. The lack of communication between the two of them was comical although occasionally irritating – they both made decisions for each other based on assumptions that would have been so easy to sort out. I wasn’t expecting the sub/dom aspect to things, although it was nicely done and fit with the two characters. This was a fun read, albeit occasionally irritating with the miscommuncation, and I enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.