Paper Roses by Lily Morton (Confetti Hitched #3)

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Paper Roses

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

SERIES: ⟫ Confetti Hitched #3

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Jed Walker thinks he’s having a midlife crisis. The only trouble is that it feels too good to stop.

Widowed at a young age, he’s spent his life since then avoiding any relationships that might end up hurting him again. He has his successful wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, and a series of uncomplicated hookups, and that’s all he needs in life

The one person disrupting this controlled stoicism is his younger assistant, Artie. He’s sweet and kind and has a funny way of calming Jed’s mind. So, when Artie comes to him with a problem, Jed moves heaven and earth to help, which is how he finds himself entering a fake marriage with the younger man and catching feelings. Too bad it’s all pretend. Or is it?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a story about how love can completely derail the best-laid plans.

This is the third book in the Confetti Hitched series, but it can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh the squee of delight I let out when I received this ARC! I am part of Lily’s Facebook group and was extremely chuffed to discover that the third Confetti Hitched book was due out on my birthday, but I wasn’t about to say no to reading it early!

This book – oh my goodness, this book! Jed is such an idiot! He was so kind, so caring whilst protecting his heart with a solid brick wall between him and everyone else. He was so utterly blind to the fact that it was obvious he was head over heels in love with Artie that it was occasionally so heartbreaking.

Artie was such a brave young man – from a childhood marred by a horrid stepmother, he still remained kind, sensitive and caring and completely in love with Jed. He took the opportunity that fate presented to him and ran with it, making a home for he and Jed, and risking it all for love. I was in awe of how strong he was, especially with stepping away to allow Jed to figure out some things on his own.

The two of them together were just amazing – so witty, so damned sexy and just made for each other. I adore ALL of the crew of Confetti Hitched and laughed so loudly at Raff and other shenanigans and just loved the updates that we got on how everyone was doing. As always, the background cast of characters were entertaining, funny af and perfect additions to the story line. Special shout-out to Mal and Cadan (I LOVE those two) and the descriptions of the various weddings, brides and grooms and insane situations made this a laugh out loud situation.

I will still be buying this for my birthday because it was just so darned good – if you have read any of the other Confetti Hitched books, you will not be disappointed. This is Lily Morton at her absolute best!

I received an ARC from GRR and am insanely grateful for getting my birthday present a couple of weeks early!

Seth's Awakening by Kim Breyon (Unexpected Love #2)

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Seth’s Awakening

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kim Breyon

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Love #2

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ After a devastating blow in my personal life, I hastily pack my bags and take off for San Diego, desperate for a new start. A new life. But where do I even begin? I sacrificed my entire adult life to raise my son, focusing on his dreams instead of mine. What do I now? How do I pick up the pieces?

Friends are hard to come by in the city that never slows down, especially for someone as depressed as me. Until a red-haired bartender at the neighborhood dive bar takes pity on me. His seemingly innocent gesture catches me off guard… but not nearly as much as my attraction to him. Declan is invading my every thought, every steamy, unrelenting dream.

Soon, he’s invading every hope. I want more, and I’m willing to risk everything to get it. But Declan has pain too, perhaps even deeper than mine. Opening his heart again just might shatter it completely.

Is it possible for two broken hearts to fit together? Or are we doomed to live in pieces forever?

****

Seth’s Awakening is book 2 in the Unexpected Love series. It is highly encouraged to read the books in order.

REVIEW: ⟫ Teaching Quinn was still very much in my mind when I saw the opportunity to read Seth’s Awakening and I am surprised to admit that I actually preferred book two. Seeing Seth’s point of view of the situation made me think really hard about how it must have felt to walk in on what he did, especially after what must have felt like a lifetime of putting himself second at best.

I absolutely loved Declan and my heart broke for him. I loved the relationship between the two of them, how respectful they were, how kind and thoughtful, and the sex between them was hot. The side characters were a decent bunch of people and towards the end where Declan helped Seth resolve certain situations, I was really pleased. I’m glad I got to read these two books so closely together and can heartily recommend this one. I’m looking through the author’s list of books as I would like to read more of their catalogue. I received an ARC from GRR.

Stacked by Linden Bell (Mars Fitness #2)

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Stacked

AUTHOR: ⟫ Linden Bell

SERIES: ⟫ Mars Fitness #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Preston and I have been best friends and roommates since the first day of boarding school. If it weren’t for me, he’d never step away from his precious dissertation, not to eat, not to shower, not for anything.

I might have been in love with him for ages, but Preston has never expressed any interest in anyone other than his research. That’s fine, there are plenty of guys at Mars Fitness who can help me get my rocks off.

Then one day, the sexiest man alive walks through the front door and sweeps me off my feet. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, except there’s just one problem. He wants my heart, but how can I give it to him when I’ve already given it to Preston?

Stacked is a best friends to lovers, gay-awakening, nerd/jock MM romance between co-dependent roommates. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone. Happily ever after guaranteed.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my goodness, has there ever been anyone as utterly oblivious as Preston?! This story made me smile, laugh cry – the relationship between Sawyer and Preston was absolutely beautiful, but I honestly don’t know how Sawyer put up with Preston! He’s literally been in love with him since puberty but Preston is so oblivious to anything that isn’t his research that he had zero clue until it suddenly looked like he might lose Sawyer to someone else.

I loved Sawyer’s Mom and Preston’s childhood sweetheart, Madison, but Preston’s parents were a complete nightmare and those were the bits that upset me the most. In the end, I found myself thinking the same as Sawyer – Preston needed to be kept safe, happy and loved because he didn’t experience that when he was growing up and he deserved all the love. In the end, Preston deserved the love he found with Sawyer and I adored the epilogue!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Teaching Quinn by Kim Breyon (Unexpected Love #1)

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Teaching Quinn

AUTHOR: ⟫ Kim Breyon

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected Love #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ When my best friend’s son calls asking for help, I am not prepared for what he has in mind.

Quinn wants me to teach him about sex, and he wants me to do it without his dad knowing. That wouldn’t be difficult, since his dad is away for work for three months, but I still need to say no. He’s Seth’s kid, for starters. Plus, Quinn doesn’t need me. He’s an adult who can figure this out on his own.

But when his desperation leads him into a dangerous situation, I am forced to make a let Quinn continue to explore things with the wrong men, or show him what I know, safely.

There is only one right I need to protect him—but it just might cost me everything.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’ve read a few best friend’s father romances but don’t think I’ve read any best friend’s son ones so I was interested to see what would be different. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Quinn and Ian – there was respect from the very beginning, as well as palpable chemistry. Their relationship happened very organically once they had made the agreement and I really loved how caring Ian was – he was determined that Quinn was going to have a better experience than he himself had and it showed.

The background characters and subplots were interesting, and I loved the sibling relationship and how close Ian and his sister were. I was worried how things would go when Quinn’s father returned to the scene, and it didn’t disappoint – I wasn’t expecting it to happen when it did and it was explosive!

The ending felt a little rushed and I would have liked to see more about how the two of them transitioned to a full relationship, but I very much enjoyed reading this story and will keep an eye out for the next in the series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Thunder Road by Morgan Brice (Badlands #7)

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Thunder Road

AUTHOR: ⟫ Morgan Brice

SERIES: ⟫ Badlands #7

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Simon and Vic are home from their honeymoon, just in time for a brand new case!

Mysterious missing person reports, a cursed motorcycle club, and an ancient entity add up to trouble. A bad bargain to stop a long-ago gang war requires a yearly sacrifice from a tightly-knit group of riders, and even their coven of witches hasn’t been able to stop the deaths.

Then the granddaughter of a former lighthouse keeper comes to Simon for help. When the lighthouses were automated, they lost their live-in guardians, who worked protective spells to shield the coast from killer storms and a murderous creature. Those protections are fading, and an old evil has gained power, growing stronger with every life it claims.

Can Simon and Vic end the deaths and disappearances, or have they finally found a foe too powerful to stop?

Thunder Road is an action-packed MM paranormal romance chock full of old magic, protective guardians, found family, an ancient monster, brave motorcyclists, helpful ghosts, loyal friends, psychic visions, hurt/comfort, supernatural suspense, and an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was an interesting read with engaging main characters and a well thought out plot. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but surprisingly that wasn’t necessary even though this is book 7 in the series. There was a lot of lore and background information provided and sometimes that did slow down the pace of the story, and I felt that some of it was a little repetitive. The battle with the big-bad wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped but it was good and there was definitely a sense of danger that added to the ambience.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Impulsive Connections by Marie Reynard (Elemental Bonds Book #2)

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ Impulsive Connections

AUTHOR: Marie Reynard

SERIES: ⟫ Elemental Bonds Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Ignited by accident, fueled by fate. Some bonds burn brighter than any flame.

Kade Mills has spent over a decade dreaming of his ideal meet-cute. Surely the universe wouldn’t toss the perfect mage at him while he’s a scarred shadow of his former flirtatious self, recovering from his last encounter with the malicious spirits haunting his pack’s territory.

Liam Batiste is a man of simple pleasures; a quiet room and a stack of books are all he needs to be happy. He’s only in Lost Creek to help his friend save the Mills pack from the unknown evil infesting their land, but everything changes when he and Kade are paired up to capture the supernatural threat.

After a run-in with a spirit leaves them entangled—physically and magically—they must learn to control the newfound power their unwanted connection grants them. As they struggle to resist the heady pull of their bond, they begin to realize it may hold the key to defeating the dark forces that are endangering far more than just Kade’s pack… and perhaps it’s not as unwelcome as they first thought.

Impulsive Connections is a steamy 149k M/M paranormal romance featuring a playboy wolf shifter, a nerdy mage, and friends who are trying their very best not to meddle. This simmering slow burn is perfect for readers who love reluctant mates, unintended bonds, forced proximity, unfortunate bed shortages, and knotting. While it guarantees a happy ending for its main couple, the overarching plot does contain cliffhangers, and the series should be read in order. Please look inside for content warnings. (This series does not contain mpreg.)

REVIEW: ⟫ Part of my feelings about this story are my own fault – I have to be in the right mood for slow burn and I obviously wasn’t in that mood. The story continues from the first in the Elemental Bonds series, with Liam rushing to assist Elijah and his new mate, Victor, in solving just what is happening to the territory. In the process, he becomes accidentally bonded to Kade. The plot is interesting, with the details interwoven of the spirits they are trying to get rid of being quite fascinating. However, I think I would have preferred if there had been slightly faster progress on the relationship between Kade and Liam and less concentration on the issue with the spirits.

It was nice to see Victor and Elijah again and see how their relationship was thriving, but I almost felt like there was too much attention paid to everyone else instead of the main couple.

I loved the nods to MateHub, especially between Aran and Kade, and the one liners, banter and dick jokes were brilliant. I think I just wanted to feel more of the main couple. Even after they had both realised what was going on, sometimes it felt like the pace was glacial. I appreciated how important consent was to both of them – especially with how their bond was established – and the scenes between them were really hot. I guess I just wanted more focus on them and less on the over-arching plot. I am really looking forward to Aran’s story in the new year and I definitely recommend reading this one.

I received an ARC from GRR.

On Circus Lane by Lily Morton (Wright Brothers Book #1)

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ On Circus Lane

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

SERIES: ⟫ Wright Brothers Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The first time Bee Bannister met Tom Wright, he couldn’t stand him.

Everything about the man aggravated him—his perfect hair and body, his confident arrogance, and the way he looked straight through Bee.

Which is why it’s such an unpleasant shock to find that he’ll be sharing space with him while on a Christmas holiday with friends in Scotland.

However, as the days fly by and snowy Edinburgh begins to work its magic on him, Bee discovers that sometimes first impressions can be very misleading. Tom is kind and funny, and somehow, rather than looking through Bee, he actually sees and likes all of him.

The two men grow closer, but will Bee follow his heart or his head when the holiday ends? And can relationships that start so badly ever lead to love?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a festive romantic comedy about enemies to lovers and the magic of Christmas.

This is the first book in the Wright Brothers series.

REVIEW: ⟫ This book was an absolute delight! Bee and Tom are the cutest couple ever, with both of them falling head over heels over the course of a short holiday. Their banter, chemistry, utterly unable to resist each other was a joy to read and I find myself wanting to visit the sites in Edinburgh to see what they saw. Lily Morton has such a deft touch when it comes to creating characters that you find yourself invested in, and story had those people in spades! I feel like I’ve read Jack and Arlo’s story (although I’m not sure how because this is meant to be book #1 in the series). I feel like I’ve been really lucky in my Christmas books this year – so far, not a dud among them!

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Remarkable Lover by Maya Jean (Sweet Southern Book #3)

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ The Remarkable Lover

AUTHOR: ⟫ Maya Jean

SERIES: ⟫ Sweet Southern Book #3

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Jackson

Dreams collapse in the blink of an eye, I know that better than anyone after losing my career as an athlete. Now I spend my days giving people pleasure for pay and playing with stocks. Most of my friends have settled in Clay Springs, Florida. A sleepy little town that moves slower than molasses. Call it boredom or infatuation with the redhead who scowls at me every time I smile his way, but I think there’s also something special for me in Clay Springs. If only Harper would let me show him.

Harper

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that most people suck. Not in the fun way either. All my cousins are settling down with their boyfriends and I’ve got my service dog and a brain disorder. Cool. When Jackson shows interest in me, I figure it has to be a joke. But the big guy wants to be my friend. Then he wants to date me. And now … well now I’m in too deep and it’s only a matter of time until he leaves. After all, I’m always too much or too little, never just enough.

The Remarkable Lover is the third book in the Sweet Southern series featuring one-sided annoyance to lovers, size difference, hurt/comfort, playboy/inexperienced, and a man who finally allows himself to be loved.

REVIEW: ⟫ Harper and Jackson are couple goals! They listen to each other, understand each other and care with a blistering heat that sears the page. Harper has had a tough ride – his epilepsy has limited his life so much, with a lack of understanding from his mother making things worse. So when Jackson keeps trying to ask him out on dates, insisting that he wants to be friends, Harper just doesn’t know how to take it.

And yet he allows himself to be vulnerable with Jackson, lowering his guard and letting himself be seen, appreciated and ultimately loved. Jackson was an absolute angel. The way that he accepted the limitations that Harper put onto things, whilst finding ways to tick off any and everything on Harper’s bucket list was so touching. And let’s not even talk about Honey – the goodest girl that ever was!

I really enjoyed this instalment in the Sweet Southern series and have high hopes for Benji and Nolan which is due out in April 2025. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Christmas Curse by Avery Cockburn

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ The Christmas Curse

AUTHOR: ⟫ Avery Cockburn

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Martin Gibson is cursed. Ever since a childhood clash with a Christmas elf, the holiday has brought him bad luck. In a desperate attempt to avoid the Curse—or at least protect his loved ones from its calamities—he leaves Scotland and travels to America for a Christmas utterly alone.

Anthony Bello is adrift. Fired from his job as a TV weatherman, he’s returned to West Virginia to be caretaker for his family’s vacation rental properties. When a hot Scot with an unlucky—and unlikely—story checks into one of the tiny homes he oversees, Anthony is more than smitten. Now he has a thrilling new help Martin break the Curse for good.

Will a wild winter storm let Martin and Anthony’s attraction build into something real, or will it trigger the most cursed Christmas yet? And when Martin’s transatlantic escape is over, can they bear to walk away with nothing but memories?

Get your holiday warm fuzzies with this standalone tale featuring a Christmas-tree heist, a bed-hogging dog, and the coziest hot tub ever!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very sweet Christmas story, with plenty of laughs, some feels and some incredible animals. I really enjoyed the fact that none of the families featured were perfect, and that both Anthony and Martin were able to see what was happening and feel that it was all worth the risk. The tale of the Christmas Curse made me giggle for far too long, and the line the Elf came out with? Absolutely perfect!

A lovely way to transition fully into holiday mode, this was an enjoyable romp that was easy on the brain and the heart! I received an ARC from GRR.

The Wolf's Wounded Omega by A.J. Cane (The Grizzly Ridge Series Book #2)

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Book_Endz

TITLE: ⟫ The Wolf’s Wounded Omega

AUTHOR: ⟫ A.J. Cane

SERIES: ⟫ The Grizzly Ridge Series Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Wolf shifter Knox is thrilled to find his fated mate…until the sassy omega rejects him.

Danny tried the relationship thing, and it ended violently. He has no desire to let another alpha close enough to hurt him…especially not an intimidating stranger like Knox.

Knox has never been called patient. He’s grumpy and stubborn, and he’s afraid he’ll inadvertently push Danny further away.

But when a rogue wolf pack threatens the omegas of Grizzly Ridge, Danny must trust Knox if he wants to escape with his life—and heart—intact.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, slightly complicated read, with a relationship shy omega and an outcast wolf shifter finding each other. I haven’t read the first book in the Grizzly Ridge series but I don’t think you need to – although the main couple from that are in this book, things are explained enough that this can be read as a stand-alone. I say complicated because it wasn’t as simple as see mate, fall for mate, mated!

I liked the fact that Danny didn’t immediately bounce back from what he went through, and that despite the biology telling him (and Knox) that they were meant to be together, they worked through things at a human pace. It felt more real – as did the reactions of Danny’s pack when it became obvious that Knox was his mate. Seeing someone you care about going through what Danny went through was bound to make the people who loved him wary of anyone new, but I also really liked the way they were prepared to give Knox a chance and appreciated him for what he brought to the pack.

The story does seem to be a continuation of a larger arc for everyone, but this was a good, solid read and I enjoyed my visit to Grizzly Ridge. I received an ARC from GRR.