Tag Archives: book reviews

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

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Blitz’d – Lee McCormick & RS McKensie

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

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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.

April 2025 ⟫ Book Reviews Round Up

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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 April 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. <hr>

Lustful Nights by Ashley Rayne ⟫ Peaches Book #1 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Indie Author Creative

Forever Rebel by Garrett Leigh ⟫ Rebel Kings #11 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Foreword PR

Off Limits by Willow Dixon ⟫ Legacy Mechanics #4 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Foreword PR

The Other Half of Me by Aiden Wilde ⟫ Straight Friends Fall in Love #1 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ BookSirens

The Price of Ice by N.J.Lysk ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Gay Romance Reviews

Pucked Up by Frankie Abraham ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Gay Romance Reviews

Royal Crush by E.M.Lindsey ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Gay Romance Reviews

The Sin Eater by Onley James ⟫ The Watch #2 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Author’s Patreon

Worthy by Michele Lenard ⟫ Adrenalin Series #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Gay Romance Reviews

Pucked Up by Frankie Abraham (A Dark MM Hockey Romance)

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TITLE: ⟫ Pucked Up
AUTHOR: ⟫ Frankie Abraham
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ A romance about men who don’t play fair and the game that changes everything.

I shattered his collarbone in front of twenty thousand screaming fans.
One reckless hit. One sickening crunch. One choice I’ll never take back.
I thought I’d buried my hockey career—and myself—in the woods.
But now he’s standing on my porch.
Noah Langley, the rookie I destroyed.
He says he wants the truth, but I see it in his eyes. The way he watches my hands. The way he leans closer when he thinks I won’t notice. He doesn’t want closure. And he doesn’t want revenge.
He wants pain.
He wants me.
And God help us both, I want him too—wrecked and ruined.


REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very interesting style of writing that I think could be a little like marmite – you’re either going to love it or hate it. I found it difficult to get into at first – there was a lot of chopping wood and internal dialogue, as well as what felt like a lot of symbolic conversations. My biggest issue was not feeling anything for the two main character – I think the desire to make this dark meant that too much was left unsaid and I couldn’t see how they were attracted to each other, let alone how they fell in love.

I don’t think it helps that the original blurb that I read for this was different/incorrect – it meant that I went into the story expecting one set-up and got another. The writing is coherent, can be evocative and the story is well constructed but it didn’t have the coherence I needed and the darkness I expected barely materialised. I will look out for more from Frankie Abraham and am glad that I gave this a try.

I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews.

Three Times as Dirty by Sara Hurst – Part One (A Holt Family Novel)

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TITLE: ⟫ Three Times as Dirty (Part 1)
AUTHOR: ⟫ Sara Hurst

SERIES: ⟫A Holt Family Novel
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ One Marine. One Bodyguard. One Top too many.

A night at the club and a hook up before getting stuck on a ship in the middle of the Pacific with a few thousand sailors and Marines. That was all I’d had planned.

But…

Then I caught sight of Declan Holt from across the crowded club, and I had to have him.

He was smart and sassy and so, so sexy. We didn’t waste any time getting to know one another in a dark corner, but one taste wasn’t enough. Back at my place, I discovered we were more alike than I thought.

Aren’t opposites supposed to attract? At least that’s what I’ve always heard.

Now, here I am embarking on—God, I can’t believe I’m saying this—a relationship, thanks to a drunken night in Vegas, with my sexual twin in some aspects and my exact opposite in others.

What could possibly go wrong?

** Hayden & Declan’s story continues in Three Times as Dirty: Part Two. You will need to read Part Two for their HEA which will be found once they meet Marcie. **

REVIEW: ⟫ Having read the blurb, I was aware that this wasn’t a complete story – the author made it absolutely clear that the third member of this triad wouldn’t appear until the second book, so there was no surprise there. I read this as a mm romance, with a view to things opening up.

The relationship between the two men started from a very hot one night stand, and I enjoyed their interactions, the way that they opened up to each other and the way that they handled things initially – two tops meeting was bound to cause a clash and I loved how they were together. I liked how welcoming the Holt family were to Hayden and the fact that they were encouraging Declan to be honest – it was very much appreciated that they didn’t go the whole ‘what if he’s a gold-digger’ route.

However, the cliffhanger made me feel so mad! The secret that Declan was keeping was ridiculous and utterly obvious to anyone with half a braincell. I seriously don’t understand how Hayden didn’t figure it out – maybe not the full figures but the basic concept should have occurred to him. I also didn’t understand why he was giving Mara so much power – he knows how toxic she is and what an evil person and yet, he still allowed her that success. It was truly mind-boggling and it made the ending so much more irritating.

I will probably get part two to find out how they fix things between them as well as introducing a third, but given the choice now I would probably wait until both parts were available before reading.

I received an ARC through Indie Author Creative.

Worthy by Michele Lenard (Adrenalin Series #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Worthy
AUTHOR: ⟫ Michele Lenard

SERIES: ⟫Adrenalin Series #1
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Okay, I might have a reputation as a playboy, but I swear that’s not my fault.

Cade – When your small tourist town is lacking in single people, your only option for company is the temporary kind. And if given the choice between sleeping alone or sleeping around, well, can you blame me for choosing the latter?

If you think about it, I’m a victim of circumstance. A product of my environment. And that suits me just fine. Or it did, until a sexy stranger knocked me over, literally.

The newcomer is an angel to my devil. The type A to my slacker, working on a PhD thesis while I do everything in my power to delay taking over the family business. We should be totally incompatible. Yet somehow, I feel more at ease with this outsider than people I’ve known my whole life.

For the first time in—ever—I don’t want to be just a fling, but how do I win over a relationship prone genius when I’m a notorious flirt? That’s not even the worst part. Did I mention I’m crushing on a guy, and until I met him, I considered myself straight?

This opposites attract MM romance features a small-town bad boy, the studious boy next door, townspeople who love an excuse to wear a costume, and a not safe for work drinking game.

REVIEW: ⟫ This is a really sweet story about two men finding someone who thinks they are worthy of everything good and the struggle they have to make it work between the two of them. I really enjoyed the whole summer romance aspect of things, especially as both Maddox and Cade do anything and everything possible to ensure the other knows how special they are. The town was fascinating – I love the idea of the costumed bike rides and parades – and the bakground characters were interesting enough that I had an idea who was going to be the next in the series as I was reading.

There are some very hot moments which were extremely well written and evocative, and the build up between them, how they fell in love was really interesting to read. I enjoyed this and will look out for more in the series. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Sin Eater by Onley James (The Watch #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Sin Eater
AUTHOR: ⟫ Onley James

SERIES: ⟫The Watch #2
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Waylon Boone is no stranger to danger. As the headmaster of the Watch, an elite school hidden in the desert where the wealthy send their psychopathic children to become the perfect covert operatives, he’s trained killers, spies, and manipulators. But none have ever tested his control quite like Payton Skinner—the most dangerous student to walk through the doors, and the one Boone thought he could tame.

Payton’s obsession with the older man is immediate and all-consuming. Boone may be his teacher, but Payton has his own lessons to impart—lessons in seduction, power, and the art of taming a heart long since closed off to the world. But when a twisted video scandal rocks the school, accusing a trusted handler of betrayal, Boone and Payton are thrust into a high-stakes game of lies and espionage. A hacker threatens to reveal dark secrets, both real and fabricated, and no one knows who to trust.

As the investigation deepens, so does the heat between them, and the closer they get to unraveling the mystery, the harder it is to deny their growing connection. In a place where deception is currency and control is everything, Boone and Payton will have to decide how far they’re willing to go for the truth—and for each other.

The Sin Eater is an action-packed, smoking hot, age gap romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an exhausted, burnt-out assassin turned reluctant headmaster of psychopaths and an infuriating, calculating, psychopathic student who have absolutely no business being together but find themselves unable to resist forbidden fruit. As always, you can expect gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than a slaughterhouse, and enough steamy moments to power a ship. This is book two in The Watch series. Each book follows a different couple.

REVIEW: ⟫ The Sin Eater and the Little Monster – man, these two were fun!! I adored the fact that Boone was absolutely head over heels and fighting it, whilst all of his staff members were basically laying bets on when he would give in!

Payton was fascinating – I loved the insight into his brain and how committed he was to Boone. He decided that Boone was the man for him and did everything to make sure it happened. I loved the vulnerability that Boone and Payton showed each other; Boone’s protectiveness made me sigh in longing, and the sex scenes between the two of them were wild!

I loved the underlying plot arc and am fascinated by what is happening at the school – not least because of all of the intrigue going on whilst trying to corral a group of psychopaths just sounds insane! An excellent addition to The Watch series and I can’t wait for more!

I received an ARC through the author’s Patreon.

Fey Sovereignty by S.Rodman (Fey Lords Book #4)

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TITLE: ⟫ Fey Sovereignty
AUTHOR: ⟫ S.Rodman

SERIES: ⟫ Fey Lords #4
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Falling in love is not part of my mission.

I’m undercover as the pet of a fey prince.

The fey have conquered Earth. Getting rid of them is impossible, but putting someone on their throne who is more amenable, is not.

Prince Llywelyn Y Mabinogi is very keen on overthrowing his brother, and very welcoming of human help.

He is vain, arrogant, obnoxious. Not too bright. In short, he is the perfect candidate.

So here I am, in the midst of the fey court. Pretending to be his pet so I can see all, hear all. Learn all.

But I’m learning things I never expected.

Such as Llywelyn being not at all what he seems.

I’ve never met someone so lonely. So touch-starved. So needy.

He has terrible screaming nightmares about someone called Iestyn.

So many secrets I need to uncover. But some things are becoming clear.

Years as a Special Agent haven’t totally frozen my heart.

And being a prince doesn’t save you.

Fey Sovereignty is a sizzling gay romance containing enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed, undercover, a redemption arc, ‘he needs me’, and a secret relationship.

Happily ever after is guaranteed.

Each book in the Fey Lords series follows a different couple. This means each book can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, this book redeems a villain from the previous books, so will be more fun if the other books have been read (Especially Fey Regency).

Please note this story includes content that will be upsetting for some readers. If further information is needed, please use the “Look Inside” or sample feature to view the copyright page, where a full list can be found. Alternatively, this information can be viewed on the author’s website.

REVIEW: ⟫ I wasn’t sure how S Rodman was going to redeem Llewelyn so was quite intrigued before I began reading this book. It takes you instantly into the action – a secret agent has accepted a new mission as the pet of Llewelyn, with a plan to usurp the throne and get the Fey out of power. It should have been a simple task for Ethan, but from the very beginning Llewelyn didn’t meet his expectations.

It was interesting learning more about the rules and regulations that rule Fey society, although some of them are incredibly barbaric. I was fascinated by Llewelyn’s secret and the way he behaved with Ethan. It was truly heartbreaking learning his ‘romantic’ history and how he had been used and abused – no wonder it messed with Ethan’s perceptions of him. This was a story about finding someone who accepts all of you and Llewelyn has definitely earned his happily ever after. I really wasn’t sure how they were going to get there in the end – things seemed impossible, with the heartbreaking disconnect between Llewelyn and his brothers, spies within court and Ethan’s agency hovering in a menacing fashion. I really enjoyed how Rodman managed to get these two their happily ever after – it made my little romantic heart sigh with happiness!

Forever Rebel by Garrett Leigh (Rebel Kings)

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TITLE: ⟫ Forever Rebel
AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫Rebel Kings – The Long Goodbye
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Forever Rebel – The Long Goodbye

It began with one smouldering look across a crowded bar.

The lonely president of the Rebel Kings MC haunted by a forbidden desire for his sergeant-at-arms. An assassin hiding in an accountant’s skin—deadly, cold, and untouched by love.

It ends with soulmates and a love worth living for.

They’re back, one last time.
The beginning of The Long Goodbye.

“We ride out for family to the end.”

– Cam, Saint, and Alexei (MMM)
– Embry and Mateo (MM)
– Rubi and River (MM)
– Decoy and Folk (MM)
– Locke, Nash, and Orla (MMF)
– Ranger and Viktor (MM)

Hurt/comfort, found family, brotherhood, and the glorious happy ending these boys deserve.

REVIEW: ⟫ I finished reading this last night and gave myself time to sit with my feelings. And I had so many feelings – I hadn’t realise just how difficult it was going to be to say a final goodbye to the Rebel Kings – Cam, Saint, Rubi – they have been living rent-free in my head for so long, it’s going to be weird to not be thinking about what happens for them next.

This is the wrap-up that we all needed and there is no way you could read this without having followed the series – you’d get lost in the first chapter. We get to spend time with so many of the amazing men and women in the series, learning motivations, what may have been going on in the background of ‘bigger’ events, thoughts and feelings of characters that are ‘quieter’ – it was like being given a behind the scenes look at so many things.

This isn’t a happily ever after because that implies that life is going to be a breeze from now on – instead, it’s a slice of life where we get to see our favourite characters find peace, love and acceptance, and as such it touched my heart in ways I didn’t expect.

It’s been an entertaining, occasionally gut-wrenching, painful, loving, fabulous ride and I truly feel that Garrett Leigh did the Rebel Kings proud with this final instalment. If you’ve been ‘riding’ with the club since the beginning, this book is a must for you – and if you haven’t, what have you been doing? Go see where Cam meets the Accountant and fall into this amazing world!

I received an ARC from Foreword PR.

The Price of Ice by N.J. Lysk

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TITLE: ⟫ The Price of Ice
AUTHOR: ⟫ N.J.Lysk
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Hockey is all Kallen has ever wanted, but as an omega, his role is to keep his hockey team together. His body is his team’s both on and off the ice. It’s a price he is willing to pay to play, but when he is finally accepted into a professional team, all his expectations of team as family are shattered.

He still wants the ice badly enough to stay, even knowing one day he will be asked to breed with his team to produce a new generation of players. But no matter how hard he tries; he cannot help but wish for something more… Something an omega in his position can’t ever have.

An alpha of his own.

He knows that if he opens his heart, he won’t be able to do what needs doing, but when offered kindness amidst the chaos and the cruelty, he might not be able to deny himself anymore.

This novel has dark themes and a happy ending.

REVIEW: ⟫ The warnings about the dark themes were no joke – from page one, a sense of unease and disquiet is very obvious and it grows as each chapter passes. What was fascinating was how Kallen justified and accepted things simply because he was expected to – he blamed himself for so many things that were most definitely not his fault, it was heartbreaking.

Quite a bit of the story was relatively slow-moving and in that time, the author explored themes of discrimination and prejudice, omegas discovering their power and found family with a deft hand and an interesting slant. It was a very interesting read and to some extent, the romance aspect of things took a backseat to the politics and aftermath of what Kallen suffered through. It’s given me quite a lot to think about and I very much enjoyed the way that things ‘ended’, with Levy and Kallen having what could be considered a relationship that was out of the ordinary but which worked for them.

A very thoughtful, affecting read with some good characterisations, some lovely relationships and a new slant on the whole alpha/omega/beta dynamics but I would say take heed of the trigger warnings.

I received an ARC from GRR.