Category Archives: book-reviews

Heat Haze by Alder Snow

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TITLE: ⟫ Heat Haze
AUTHOR: ⟫ Alder Snow
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ After their car breaks down on the side of a hot Texan road, L.A. born Nico Marín and his friends are offered help by an all too friendly stranger. But after the Tavera family farm is turned into a slaughterhouse, Nico finds himself hiding in an old closet just praying he isn’t next. When the closet doors open and he’s face to face with Toro Tavera, the alarmingly big but mute black sheep of the family, he’s greeted not with words but with one sound.

Sh.

Then he’s left there. With a heart beating so fast he can barely breathe, he sits for what feels like hours. But when Toro returns he isn’t there to finish the job. Instead he drops down, unspeaking but not unfeeling, lifting Nico’s hand up to his head in an attempt to be pet. He doesn’t want to hurt him, but he does want to be loved.

Heat Haze is a single-POV standalone novel between a loveless L.A. city boy and a mute cannibal killer who craves genuine love. Two men with more in common than they realize learn to love and grow together in this HEA romance that turns a grim start into lots of fluff. This novel is lighter dark romance, with lots of affection between the leads and not as much ‘dark’ content. A full CW list is included inside!

REVIEW: ⟫ I really wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I saw this offered as an arc – a fluffy dark romance including cannibals was something I had never seen before, and I was fascinated to see how it was going to work.

There is A LOT of suspending disbelief reading this – like, seriously, don’t even think about trying to make sense of some of the decisions Nico made. I personally haven’t seen ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ but even I caught the references to it in the beginning. The relationship between Toro and Nico was very simplistically presented, and the thoughts about Stockholm Syndrome were definitely there. I’m not sure the author managed to convince me about this romance, but I feel it was a good attempt and I applaud the ‘different’ thinking behind the idea.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Velvet Chains by River Winters (Lockswell Boarding House Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Velvet Chains
AUTHOR: ⟫ River Winters

SERIES: ⟫ Lockswell Boarding House Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Velvet Chains is a dark omegaverse romance steeped in trauma, obedience, and the brutal unraveling of conditioned submission.

Charlie was raised inside the Lockswell boarding house—trained to be desirable, compliant, and silent. An omega shaped for service. For sale. For survival.

When Vincent, a calculating and emotionally restrained alpha, agrees to his friend’s rental request, he isn’t sure what to expect. But Charlie’s fractured dignity and quiet defiance begin to stir something deeper—something Vincent isn’t prepared to feel.
What begins as a transaction turns into something far more dangerous.

Master/slave dynamics thread through this story of ownership and undoing, where power is never taken—it’s offered. And healing doesn’t come softly. It comes with rules, restraint, and the kind of care that hurts before it heals.

This is a mm dark omgaverse romance novel. No mpreg is involved. It centers around a alpha/beta/omega world where blood type defines the label for where someone lives and how they get to live.

REVIEW: ⟫ I think I understand what this book was trying to do but unfortunately it didn’t succeed. I was thinking that I must have missed a previous book because of Adrian and Moore, but I don’t think that’s the case. Lockswell was scary enough but there was a lot of telling us about the horrors that Charles has suffered rather than showing us. Even the relationship he built with Vincent felt too surface – Vincent didn’t actually do very much to save Charlie, and I somehow thought the betrayal would have had more far-reaching effects. I loved the premise of the story but didn’t enjoy the execution which is a real shame.

As previously noted by another reviewer, there were numerous spelling and grammatical errors which did not effect the rating I gave the story but think should be mentioned. I don’t think I’ll look out for any more in this series as I didn’t enjoy this story enough.

October 2025 Book Reviews Round Up

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Every month, I 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 October 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.

All Your Days by Ali Woods ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: Book #4 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Ash on the Tongue by Lee McCormick ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season 1:1nf3ction Book #1 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Bad Blood by Lyla Dane ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season 1: 1nf3ction Book #8 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Bonded to the Alpha by Robin Moray ⟫ Book #1 ⟫ 2.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Call to the Devil by B Ripley ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #5 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

The Club by Rina Saint ⟫ Dangerous Games #2 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Coach Stare Down by Crea Reitan ⟫ For Puck’s Sake #6 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

The Crease by Crea Reitan ⟫ For Puck’s Sake #4 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

The Dead Don’t Talk by Rae Stone ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: Book #7 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Forbidden Omega by Jena Wade & Aria Grace ⟫ Mated in the Mafia #2 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

King of Lies by H.L. Day ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #6 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Late Bloomer by Morgan Hawes ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Lucky Shot by Crea Reitan ⟫ For Puck’s Sake #3 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Money Shot by Eden Finley & Saxon James ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Foreword PR

Night Call by C T Whistle ⟫ Omegaverse Case Files #2 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Obliterated by N Boeyer ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season 1: 1nf3ction Book #3 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Off-Ice Misconduct by S. Legend ⟫ Daddies of the League #8 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Project FU by Crea Reitan ⟫ Longwood University Book #3 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Rotten by Bree Wiley ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season 1:1nf3ction Book #2 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Rumor Has It by Crea Reitan ⟫ Longwood University Book #1 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Wicked Confessions by Crea Reitan ⟫ Longwood University Book #2 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Wingman Score by Crea Reitan ⟫ For Puck’s Sake Book #5 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Bad Bood by Lyla Dane (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #8)

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TITLE: ⟫ Bad Blood
AUTHOR: ⟫ Lyla Dane

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #8
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ All I know is this prison cell.

All I do is the bidding of my masters.

They call me a bloodhound and treat me like the dog I am.

When I finally get the chance to escape, I take it. I travel far away from this wretched place to create a new life where no one owns me.

But just when I think I’m free, I fall into another man’s trap.

Except… this one is different.

He treats me like a human, not a beast.

He saves me from the brink of death and gives me time to heal, a new name, and a new purpose.

He teaches me how to live outside of a cage.

But he doesn’t know what kind of dangerous creature he’s let into his home. A creature with tainted blood, a creature that’s more animal than man…

𝙀𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨.

REVIEW: ⟫ This final instalment in the series was very sweet. Bowen has been mistreated his entire life – either living in a laboratory or being used by sadistic brothers to hunt the infected. Until the day he escapes and finds himself free – for a short while. But this time, he finds himself captured not by chains and muzzles but by a man almost too good to be true – a man who begins to show Bowen what freedom is really like.

It was once again interesting that the real monsters were not the infected but the other humans – people living for profit, uncaring of what they gave up of themselves in their attempts to be in control. Both of our leads were such good, caring people and the way in which they helped each other, were there for each other, was incredibly touching. There were some seriously scary things that happened – Oz was enough to give me nightmares – but ultimately this was actually a really sweet tale of finding your person and making a life with them, which left me feeling really hopeful despite the fact that these two were living in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

I very much enjoyed this series and have definitely found a couple of a new authors that I will be looking into.

Money Shot by Eden Finley & Saxon James

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TITLE: ⟫ Money Shot
AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley & Saxon James
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Finn

When my sister moves from Chicago to Edmonton to get married, I take the opportunity to follow her. My life has become a lonely existence, only ever having time for work. The closest thing I have to a relationship is a one-sided affair with Gunner–the hottest cam boy on the app Money Shot.

This move will be good. It will allow me to slow down and sort out my priorities. Maybe I’ll even have time for a real relationship with someone in person.

The problem with that is, the only person to catch my eye in Canada is the commitment-phobe best man. There’s something familiar in the way Curtis moves. In his smile. Every interaction we have convinces me I know him from somewhere. When it clicks, it takes way too long to admit that Curtis and my favorite cam boy might be the same person. What are the actual chances my dream man is about to be my sister’s new brother-in-law?

The last thing I want is for Curtis to think I’m a creep, so I decide to unsubscribe, only it’s harder than I thought it would be. Getting to know Curtis in real life, and Gunner online, has made things murky, and the smart choice is to cut things off and pretend like it never happened.

But I never said I was smart.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was so much fun to read!! I absolutely adored both Curtis and Finn, especially the banter between them and the next level flirting! I completely understood why both of them felt it was a bad idea to get involved, with potential repercussions for their wider family/friends network and appreciated that they acted like grown men – i.e. not ruled by their loins! Until they were.

The whole thing between Gunner and KingdomHearts was incredibly wholesome (as well as sexy) and when Curtis began to figure out what was going on, I was on the edge of my seat! The way he dropped the mic on Finn was class and I cackled out loud.

I felt that the representation of Alzheimer was sensitive and not over-blown, which I appreciated. Finn trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life, as well as Curtis learning some things about himself were handled well and I felt that both of them showed such growth and maturity – it was refreshing and fun to read.

I love this writing duo so much and very much enjoyed this new story from them.

Stick Lessons by Crea Reitan (For Puck’s Sake Book #7)

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TITLE: ⟫ Stick Lessons
AUTHOR: ⟫ Crea Reitan

SERIES: ⟫ For Puck’s Sake Book #7
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Everyone should learn how to handle a stick.

Atty

High school sweethearts, dream wedding, exotic honeymoon, white picket fence, two and a half kids… that’s the dream. My prescribed future. Except, I don’t want any of that. When me and my on/off girlfriend of fifteen years finally call it quits for good, I decide that I’m ready for a new beginning.

I didn’t expect that new beginning to be a dude.

Toby

This man is perfect… he obeys like a marionette, lets me bend him and choke him until my heart’s content. He lets me dress him up, breed him, and refuse his pleasure as if he were built specifically for my needs.

But Atty isn’t who I thought he was and he’s struggling to find his new identity while I’m freefalling for him off the face of a cliff. I’m not used to needing a safety net in life so there’s a very real chance I’m going to hit the ground like a pancake.

Is love always this tragic?

REVIEW: ⟫ I must admit, I left Toby and Atty’s book a few times but I always came back. The dynamic between them was fascinating, and the respect they showed each other was refreshing. I loved catching up with guys from previous books, even if it was in the background, and ultimately, I was glad I read this book. It was really interesting to watch Atty try to figure out this new aspect of his personality, and the conversations surrounding it were stimulating and thought-provoking. Not one of my favourites from this series, but a solid read.

Forbidden Omega by Jena Wade & Aria Grace (Mated in the Mafia Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Forbidden Omega
AUTHOR: ⟫ Jena Wade & Aria Grace

SERIES: ⟫ Mated in the Mafia Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Louie knew Connor was different from the beginning. As a member of the harem, the whole family has access to Connor, but Louie staked his claim early on so none of the alphas go near him. And since he’s developed a close friendship with Joey, Connor is even more isolated from the rest of the in-house omegas than ever.

But that’s okay because he’s falling quickly for Louie. Everything is great until their precautions aren’t enough and Connor gets pregnant. He trusts Louie to do the right thing, but the family is in charge of who brings in heirs, and there’s a good chance they wouldn’t allow Connor to have the baby he already loves so much.

Which leaves him with only one option.

Run.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a quick, relatively low-angst read, with a pre-established relationship. I must admit, I didn’t like Louie at all. He understood what Connor was dealing with but didn’t seem willing to do anything about their circumstances. He basically caused Connor to be completely isolated and alone apart from Joey, and it was only when Connor took matters into his own hands that he took action.

I read this as a kind of ‘freshener’ after reading three books in a series back-to-back and it worked for clearing my brain, but it wasn’t particularly memorable and I didn’t connect with the characters very much at all.

Coach Stare Down by Crea Reitan (For Puck’s Sake #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ Coach Stare Down
AUTHOR: ⟫ Crea Reitan

SERIES: ⟫ For Puck’s Sake #6
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Adak

After a series of relationships where I’ve been made to feel inadequate because of my asexuality, I’ve made the sole focus of my life my coaching career. I love hockey – the chill of the ice, the fast paced, high stress game. I love the fans and the atmosphere. The energy. Now that I’m coaching in the NHL, I feel a sense of serenity and comfort with life. All that’s left is to get my team to The Stanley Cup.

A series of unfortunate injuries has riddled the Bobcats into a serious funk. The frustration that my boys feel echoes through me and after one of the most horrible plays I’ve ever witnessed, I turn my back on the ice – only to catch his eyes. Suddenly, I know what I’ve been missing. In a sea of over 15,000 faces, I found the one I’ve been waiting my entire life for.

There’s sadness in his eyes that’s only overcome with the fear behind it. Nothing will stop me from making Oren mine and giving him the life and love he deserves. Nothing.

Oren

My life is shit. I’m the pariah of my family for hell knows why. All I want is to get away. But I tried once – at nineteen, I ran and my father with his buddies on the police force dragged me home. I’ve since been dragged down into submission.

But then I meet his eyes and everything inside me just… shifts. Adak takes a chance on me and I think that perhaps my father has finally met a wall he can’t barrel through to keep control. That is, until he starts blasting his hate everywhere.

I wouldn’t blame Adak if he chooses to leave. This is his career on the line. His image and reputation. Am I worth it?

REVIEW: ⟫ I’m not sure how to review this one. There were aspects I struggled with – one of which being the fact that this was Oren’s first (and only) relationship so I felt a little bit wary. I felt that the description of Adak’s previous relationships and struggles was very well done. Oren’s family were a nightmare and I fully appreciate that Crea decided not to give explanations for a few things that happened – it was very grounded in reality because we don’t always find out why people do the things that they do. By the time I had finished reading, I felt like I was better informed about quite a few things but I still can’t decide how I feel about this story!

The Dead Don’t Talk by Rae Stone (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: Book #7)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Dead Don’t Talk
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rae Stone

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: Book #7
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ A decade ago, I was made a promise. Now, I get to watch him make the same one twice.

𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁. 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗙𝘂𝗰𝗸.

That’s all I’ve ever aimed for in this life. All I’ve ever needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.

Training others to do the same just made sense. No feelings. No expectations.

I never expected for the man I’ve kept at arms length for the last ten years to challenge that with the assistance of my brand new recruit and his sweet cherry pastries.

Is it possible to overcome the past and give up my heart to the two men that have shown me that it still beats?


𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 is a full-length MMM dark dystopian romance as part of the 1NF3CTION shared world collab. Each book is a standalone containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18. All characters are consenting adults.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was not expecting this. All of the other books in the series had a more contentious plot-line underlying the ‘romance’ so I went into this one expecting the same. Instead, this was much, much lighter. There were still zombies and a corrupt regime, but the focus was most definintely on the physical side effects of the red-rain and the growing relationship between the three main characters. There wasn’t a lot of time/effort given to background characters which meant I didn’t get that invested in any of them. Even the whole issue with the leaders was pushed to the background – this was full of adult scenes, which is absolutely fine. I love a good bit of smut. I think I was just expecting more about the world and the way things had changed. This wasn’t the main focus at all and even though there was some mention of things, it took the background.

I may revisit this one but I am waiting for the release of the last book in this season!

King of Lies by H.L. Day (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: Book #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ King of Lies
AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L. Day

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #6
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Two headstrong men. One broken world. And a connection that could destroy—or redeem—them both.

AUGUST

They say the world was better before the Red Rain―before the skies grew toxic and the virus transformed people into mindless savages.
I disagree.
There’s beauty in the wreckage, if you know where to look.
Desperation is profitable. Hope is a commodity. Dreams? I sell them daily.

Keaton Levine was supposed to be just another mark.
Until he wasn’t.
Because he sees me—really sees me.
And in this shattered place we call home, I’m not sure I’m ready to be someone worth saving.

KEATON

I lost everything when I got bitten.
Discharged, discarded, diseased. All I have left is vengeance.
Then came Tobias… August, whatever the hell his real name is.
He promised answers. He gave me lies.

But in peeling him open, I found something I didn’t expect.
A reason to fight. A reason to feel.
Maybe he is the answer.
And I asked the wrong question.

KING OF LIES is a full-length enemies-to-lovers M/M romance set in the 1nf3ction multi-author post-dystopian zombie apocalypse universe. Each book can be read as a standalone.

Expect: power struggles, a morally grey antihero, a mad scientist with a god complex, a cult holed up in a castle, (fireman’s) pole dancing, and two dominant forces crashing together in a world that wants them dead.
If they can learn to trust, they might discover something more precious than survival—each other.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very good read – both August and Keaton had their reasons for the way they were behaving, allowing them to make choices that weren’t always the most civilised. I enjoyed the back and forth between them, how they slowly built trust and a relationship from an uneasy alliance. The ‘bad’ guys were suitably scary – Oz freaked me out, not gonna lie – and I thought the resolution was handled very well. Definitely enjoyed this instalment in the series and the adversarial romance that grew between the two MC.