Tag Archives: books

Late Bloomer by Morgan Hawes

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Late Bloomer
AUTHOR: ⟫ Morgan Hawes
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ After a rough start, Malcolm Roy III has cleaned up his act, gotten (mostly) sober, and now stands to inherit his family’s wealth and his father’s business. But Malcolm has a secret: he’s spent the last ten years on dangerous suppressants. After collapsing at work, and on his doctor’s orders, Malcolm has cut them out completely. Now he has to return to the office, presenting as himself for the first time ever.

As an omega.

Vincent Hoffman has a good life. He’s got a home, he’s got his cats. He likes his job, even though his boss is the annoying, smarmy son of the CEO. Vincent couldn’t ask for anything more. He might’ve done, once upon a time (or eighteen months ago–but who’s counting?), but his ex-fiancee put an end to those dreams when she walked out of his life. For now, Vincent is content.

But after a disaster at the office, his comfortable life is threatened when Malcolm discovers his secret. Despite how he’s presented himself all these years, Vincent isn’t a harmless beta.

He’s an alpha.

Now Malcolm’s biological clock is ticking down towards his first heat. He’s rich, he’s connected, and he’s gorgeous – an ambitious alpha could take a lot from man like Malcolm and there’d be nothing he could do about it. He needs to make a choice, and fast: he needs to find an alpha he can trust.

Someone like…

Late Bloomeris a non-shifter, extremely slow burn m/m a/b/o standalone romance novel that features explicit consent in every sex scene, lots of chemistry, mild BDSM themes, no mpreg, and a HEA.

REVIEW: ⟫
This was such a fascinating read – it felt like something unusual in the area of omega/alpha dynamics. I struggled with both leads – I liked them on occasion but also found them frustrating because they were both so horrendous at communicating. However, as a story about how sometimes you need to just trust your inner thoughts, this was great. Both Malcolm and Vincent worked so hard to do the best that they could by each other and the ‘big gesture’ towards the end was so romantic. I really enjoyed reading this – it was just so different to what I’m used to – I looked for more by the author but couldn’t find anything. I would say to definitely give this a try, even if on occasion you want to slap both MCs over the back of the head!

Rotten by Bree Wiley (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #2)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Rotten
AUTHOR: ⟫ Bree Wiley

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Surviving is all I’ve ever known.
Abandoned young, I was left to fend for myself in a place ruled by fear and control. Silver runs everything—rations, medicine, currency—and those like me, carriers of the infection, are treated less than human.

Everyone I love is gone.
All that’s left is my sister, but she vanished into Zone T years ago, and I won’t stop until I find her. Even if it means stepping onto his boat.

An eye for an eye.
They call him the Ferryman. A monster with a bird of prey, tasked with bringing criminals across the river. Those who board his vessel never return.

But he’s not what I expected. There are secrets behind his quiet stare and a history soaked in blood. His gentle touch draws me in deeper than I meant to go. The closer I get to the truth, the more he unravels parts of me I thought were long dead.
The Ferryman wants to claim my soul, but I don’t know if I could ever be his.
All I am is…rotten.

Rotten is a full-length MM dark dystopian horror romance as part of the 1nf3ction shared world collaboration. Each book is a standalone containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18. Both characters are consenting adults. This story features a mute, morally grey cinnamon roll, Greek mythology themes, a talking crow too smart for her own good, and a guaranteed HEA.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for with this one – I don’t think I’ve read any Bree Wiley before. The story begins in the middle of some gnarly action and just kept going! This was such a ride – my heart broke for both Charon and Hector, what they had been through and were still going through. The plot was fascinating and horrifying at the same time – humanity can truly be monstrous and unfortunately I could well see the things that happened in the story happening in reality. The zombies are the background – what’s at the forefront is just how people keep going during these horrific times. Finding love amidst all of that seems next to impossible and yet Charon and Hector were both brave enough to allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other.

I would suggest reading the warnings listed in the back because like I said, a lot of this I just wasn’t ready for, but this was an excellent addition to the series and I will be looking out for more books by Bree Wiley.

Ash on the Tongue by Lee McCormick (Mayhem Manuscripts Season one : 1nf3ction Book #1)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Ash on the Tongue
AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

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

BLURB: ⟫ Humans were always monsters, the rain just gave them an excuse.

Aubrey

The infected didn’t break me. They didn’t capture me for experiments and use me like an object. Humanity made me into the monster I am.

I’m reckless because it makes me feel alive, careless because I’m addicted to pain. And I’m dangerous because I’ve got nothing left to live for.

Nothing, until I meet a raider who seems to see right through me… who demands I do the one thing I said I’d never do again.

Let him in.

Phoenix

My mother left me to die on streets flooded with crimson rain. From the time I was born, all I’ve known is betrayal.

Now all I know is my pack. We take what we want when we want. We survive and we thrive because we know humans are as bad as the infected, and in this world, you eat or get eaten.

When I find a man who seems like he’s got a death wish… I know he’s mine. His reluctance makes me crave him. His defiance makes me burn like the fire in his eyes.

I’ve never wanted anything the way I want him. I need to know if his blood runs as red as the rain.


Ash on the Tongue is a Dual POV MM dystopian dark romance, and part of the 1nf3ction multi-author series. It features a man broken by the world around him and a raider who thrives on his chaos. Expect dark situations, high heat, and two men willing to burn down the world to keep what’s theirs.

REVIEW: ⟫ Whoa, I was not expecting this! A whole new world, where crimson rain has effected humanity in many different, horrendous ways and the discovery that often the monsters are human.

Both Phoenix and Aubrey were just walking red flags – they had been through so much individually, and the world in which they lived wasn’t set up for soft or kind. But somehow, the two of them together managed to look beyond the external scars and the things they had done to survive to the person underneath. This was beautiful – also dark as heck, occasionally made me gasp (seriously, read the warnings because I didn’t have cannibalism on my bingo card for reading romance), brutal and yet there was an underlying desperate need for family, connection and love. I seriously loved reading this one and am looking forward to reading more in the series. I haven’t really enjoyed reading McCormick’s collaborations with R S McKensie so it felt really good to return to their books and find myself turning pages with anticipation for what they were coming up with next. Yeah, this series could be seriously good – fingers crossed for the second book in the series!

September 2025 ⟫ Book Reviews Round Up

Posted on by
Reply

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 September 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>

A Quiet Fire by N.J. Lysk ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Author provided copy

Bitter When He Begs by Avery Collins ⟫ Sinners of Blackthorne U Book #2 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Body Count by L Eveland ⟫ Wayward Sons #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Confession by Rina Saint ⟫ Constantine Brothers #2 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

The Contract by Rina Saint ⟫ Dangerous Games #1⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Cruel When He Smiles by Avery Collins ⟫ Sinners of Blackthorne U Book #3 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Flagrant Foul by Jesse H Reign ⟫ Totally Pucked #3 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Free Fall by Leta Blake ⟫ Free Fall #1 ⟫ /5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Full Body Hit – (Books #1 & #2) by Marina Vivancos ⟫ Alpha Omega Hockey #5 & #6 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Just This Once by Garrett Leigh ⟫ Men of Porth Luck #1 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Foreword PR

Out of a Fix by Mary Calmes ⟫ Torus Intercession Book #7 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Not Gentlemen by N.Y. Lysk ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Author Arc

Outsiders by October Arden ⟫ Inside Book #2 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Author Arc

Possession by Rina Saint ⟫ Constantine Brothers #1 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Pretty When He Bleeds by Avery Collins ⟫ Sinners of Blackthorne U Book #1 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Red On His Lips by J Tomala ⟫ Blood on His Lips #1 ⟫ 3/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Taste of Blood by A.J. Church ⟫ Cord & Asher #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ BookSirens

Tempting Frey by Roe Horvat ⟫ Bears of Beauville #2 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

The Weight of Duty by N.Y. Lysk ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Author ARC

Wilde’s End by Saxon James ⟫ The Wilde Men #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Foreword PR

A Quiet Fire by N.J. Lysk

Posted on by
2

TITLE: ⟫ A Quiet Fire
AUTHOR: ⟫ N J Lysk

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ What duty binds, only love may set free.

At thirty-three, Lord Valgar, Earl of Saran, is the last surviving water mage of noble blood. Forbidden from joining the war himself, his duty is preserve the magic by fathering children.

But after fifteen years of a loving but childless marriage, the council has run out of patience. They demand he take a second omega. Valgar refuses to betray his mate—so he makes a calculated an older omega, unlikely to bear a child.

But to Lord Quincy, the proposal he is pressured to accept is no mere formality. Still mourning the alpha he lost in battle, Quincy clings to the quiet life he’s built around his grief and his garden, his books, and his beloved animals. He’s not ready for another bond—and he harbours a secret that could unravel all of Valgar’s careful plans.

Can two reluctant husbands find common ground—and maybe even find that quiet fire known as hope?

“A Quiet Fire” is an arranged marriage romance novella featuring elements of dubcon, consensual polyamory, non-shifter omegaverse, feminisation and mpreg.

REVIEW: ⟫ Despite the subject matter, I actually found this book incredibly romantic. Quincy is an omega and as such, has very little say in what happens to him after the death of his Alpha. Valgar is an Alpha but because of his magic, he has very little say in what leads him into Quincy’s life. Without Mar, I’m not sure these two would have ever managed to find their way to each other, but this woman has such a huge heart and so much love, she paves the way for her husband to find love and happiness with someone who was meant to be her replacement. I loved the calm, kind way in which Mar communicated with both Val and Quincy, and yes, I cried a little towards the end when she finds more happiness than she ever expected – a reward for her being willing and able to help the two men get out of each other’s way. Even with the harsh realities of life for omegas in the society of the time, the author manages to make the reader aware of the inequalities and unfairness whilst also opening the door to a view to a love that is made bigger and stronger by the addition of a third person – a person that wasn’t wanted but ends up being very much needed. Really enjoyed this one!

The Contract by Rina Saint (Dangerous Games #1)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ The Contract
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rina Saint

SERIES: ⟫ Dangerous Games #1
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Dante
My moral compass is broken. That’s why I need rules. They keep me from killing people I shouldn’t. They keep me from crossing certain lines. I’m possessive. Obsessive. Deviant. And I like to fight.

That’s what I see in Tristan when I spot him working in the swanky nightclub. His cool detachment is a mask. He’s angry, he’s lost, and he’s totally new to what he’s feeling.

I want to feel that anger. I want it to burn me. I want him to fight me—then I want to feel him submit. He won’t have any choice, not in my play room. He would look perfect there on the black sheets … with red blooming across his creamy skin.

Tristan
Okay, so I’m not as straight as I thought. I can deal with that, but I don’t know if I can deal with him. I could tell Dante was dangerous even before I saw him talking to a mobster connected to my brother’s death. I mean, Dante cornered me and bit me. I don’t even know him! He’s a thousand red flags. And yet … my body has never responded to anyone like it responds to him. That’s why I sit down with him one night after work.

Is this real? Are we actually about to discuss a sex contract? It looks so normal at first. He can’t hit me in the face. He can’t maim me. Why do we need rules for this?

“I don’t think you’re understanding this,” Dante tells me in his dark, sexy voice. “These are hard limits. Everything else—everything else—is fair game.”

He won’t tell me what that means. Half the fun, he says, is finding out.

*Books in the Dangerous Games series can be read as standalones, though some events are connected and characters may cross over. Please note that these dark MM romances have HEAs but contain potentially triggering content. Each book’s content list (which will contain spoilers) can be found in its ebook sample.

REVIEW: ⟫
Dante was not kidding when he said everything else was fair game! This book continually took me by surprise. I liked how Tristan didn’t just let Dante get away with things – the way he handled the whole apartment situation had me fist-pumping for him – and I can well understand why Dante was so surprised by it all. I would agree that it’s probably a good idea for people to be aware of the trigger warnings – I didn’t read them beforehand and so certain aspects took me very much by surprise. The author has an engaging writing style and they handled the sex scenes masterfully – very evocative. Once I’ve read something a little lighter in subject matter, I will definitely be back to read the next book.

Confession by Rina Saint (Constantine Brothers #2)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Confession
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rina Saint

SERIES: ⟫ Constantine Brothers #2
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I’ve been keeping secrets from my boss. I have to. Because how the hell do you tell a straight man that you’ve been in love with him for years?

If he found out, everything would collapse, and I’ve worked so hard to hold my life together, all these pieces that I don’t deserve: a home, a position, trust. But it’s only getting harder because he keeps watching me, keeps touching me—and I can’t handle it.

I try to tell myself that it’s in my head, but it’s not. Something’s changed between us, and I don’t understand. I don’t know what to do, and I’m terrified that I’m going to do something really, really stupid.

I just have to lock down. I’m good at that. I’ve been doing it for years. I don’t need anything. I swear I don’t. But then he touches me again, unnecessarily, like he’s trying to figure something out, and everything I tell myself I don’t need, everything I can’t have anyway, feels very much like everything I can’t live without.

REVIEW: ⟫ I grabbed this as soon as I finished reading ‘Possession’ and it looks like very little time has passed since that book. Vitali is dealing with his guilt that he didn’t find Roman or save him from his captors, as well as how blind he feels he was about his uncle.

And this whole new view on Quinn that has taken over his mind is driving him insane. I really enjoyed reading as Vitali began to understand what was happening to him, and I especially loved the way that he handled Quinn – the imagery of this bodyguard giving in so completely was incredibly sexy. I loved the ongoing plot regarding what happened to Roman, as well as Vitali trying to consolidate their power in the territory – the double crossing of double crossing was mind bending and so well done. Yeah, really enjoyed this one, especially the strange family that the Constantine brothers made with Lucas, Sasha and Quinn. A very good duology that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Possession by Rina Saint (Constantine Brothers #2)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Possession
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rina Saint

SERIES: ⟫ Constantine Brothers #1
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I’m a beast pacing around my cage waiting for the next fight. It’s all I have, those brief moments of rage and destruction. It’s a sort of freedom. Then I go back into the cold, dark emptiness.

That’s why I don’t speak anymore. What’s the point? I stopped being human a long time ago. I’ve given up on anything but that cycle of violence and isolation—until they throw him into my cage. They expect me to kill him as soon as he gets me through my injuries. That’s what I usually do. People thrown in with me make so much noise with their begging that I have to kill them to shut them up. But Lucas is different. He’s quiet. Lost. He intrigues me.

So I don’t kill him. I claim him instead.

At first, my handlers are happy. They think he makes it easier to manage me. Control the beast by controlling its possession. Beasts are simple like that.

What they don’t realize is that he’s waking up the man I used to be—and that man is a hell of a lot more dangerous than the beast.

* Possession contains dark and potentially triggering content. A content list can be found in the ebook sample.

REVIEW: ⟫ I do enjoy a bit of the dark themes every now and then, so reading the description for this fascinated. Oh my! This was seriously dark – an underground fighting ring with no escape, a young man sold to pay off debts, the murderous beast he’s locked away with. But dang, I did not expect this to hit so hard.

My heart absolutely broke for Roman, especially when he began trying to speak to Lucas because he needed to communicate. He was trying so hard, so determined to protect his new possession. The way the two of them built a relationship in such extreme circumstances, the way that Lucas understood and accepted what Roman could afford to give him was awesome. I also loved the fact that ultimately, Lucas wasn’t a victim – he was strong enough to make some really tough choices and I appreciated the different sides to his character.

As soon as I finished this, I downloaded the next book in the series because I wanted more and I can see that I will be reading all that I can find of Rina Saint’s catalogue this week – looks like my TBR has a new author!

Tempting Frey by Roe Horvat (Bears of Beauville #2)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Tempting Frey
AUTHOR: ⟫ Roe Horvat

SERIES: ⟫ Bears of Beauville #2
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Oliver

I’ve been in love with Theodore Frey for as long as I can remember. When I turned eighteen, I ignored the acceptance letter from the best college I’d applied to, as well as the facts that Frey was my dad’s best friend, the mayor of Beauville, the scariest bear shifter in the mountains, and twenty years older than me.

Armed with an outrageous set of lingerie and a great deal of naiveté, I showed up on his doorstep. I thought he was my fated mate and that we’d be together forever.

As a reasonable adult, Frey did the only thing he could have done: he rejected me.

Four years later, I’m back in Beauville. I’ve changed, but one thing hasn’t. Frey is still the only alpha I’ve ever wanted.

Frey

I’ve never told my best friend what happened the night Oliver came to my house. No need to make things awkward. Especially since our sheriff is a protective hothead when it comes to his only omega son.

I’ve caught glimpses of Oliver over the years, and that clumsy teen is long gone. Even though I’ve tried to keep my distance, his blue-green eyes haunt my dreams.

Now he’s back for good, working at the town hall right under my nose, and I’m climbing the walls. I’ve never seen anything sexier than Oliver putting me in my place. Beautiful, sharp, and full of fire… he’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

With his father watching my every move, I’m barely holding it together. If Oliver so much as crooks his finger at me, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist.

Tempting Frey is the second book in the Bears of Beauville series—a standalone MM omegaverse romance featuring bear shifters, fated mates, and mpreg. HEA, no cliffhangers.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh man, the second-hand embarrassment I had on Oliver’s behalf had me scarlet! There’s no doubt that Frey did the right thing but that was so difficult to read! When Oliver returned after college, he seemed far more secure and confident in himself and Frey was slowly able to realise what he had known all along – Oliver was his Omega and he wanted to claim him. I enjoyed the story although the plot was very simple and so was the execution. This felt like a low stakes story, with little angst (after the beginning) and I enjoyed reading it. I liked seeing people from the previous part and hints of what was to come. A good read.

Full Body Hit (Book #1 & #2) by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey #5 & #6)

Posted on by
1

TITLE: ⟫ Full Body Hit (Book 1 and Book 2)
AUTHOR: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

SERIES: ⟫ Alpha Omega Hockey Book #5 and #6
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ A scentless Omega. A grumpy hockey legend. An anonymous hookup app that turns everything upside down.

Chase Spalding finally has his shot at the NHL—and a place on the New Orleans Spirits, the team his longtime idol, Auston Mazdaki, plays for. As a scentless Omega, Chase is used to hiding in plain sight, wearing a synthetic profile and keeping his head down. But under the confidence is a boy who aches to be seen, touched, and claimed.

Auston is a veteran in every sense: older, jaded, and done pretending he wants more from the game—or anyone. He’s not interested in rookies, least of all one with a blank scent and too many secrets.

But when two lonely men connect on an anonymous hookup app, they find what they didn’t know they were missing. In the safety of digital walls, Aunix and Charlie explore kink, power, and Daddy/boy dynamics, praise, obedience, and the kind of care neither thought they deserved.

Anonymous identities. Age gap. Grumpy/Daddy Alpha x rookie Omega. Praise, power exchange, and all the tenderness kink can hold.

When the truth comes out, love is the hardest—and most rewarding—game they’ll ever play.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’m going to start this with a warning – you need to make sure you have part 2 before you begin to read part 1, quite simply because you will not want to wait to find out what happens.

This book took me by surprise for so many reasons. I absolutely loved the fact that despite his mother, Chase was able to step out of his comfort zone and make friends – Sammy alone is utter gold, but Nathan cracked me up so many times just because he was so completely oblivious to so much of what was going on.

Auston – I wasn’t sure how I felt about him. I understood the roots of his trauma (which is more than he can say initially) but he irritated the heck out of me because he didn’t question things more. He assumed so much about Chase that occasionally I wanted to give him a shake and tell him to pay attention to the man and forget about the scent. But then the whole online thing happened and I got to see Auston for who he was without all of his baggage. And as an Alpha, this guy was absolutely amazing. He talked Charlie down so many times, encouraged him to embrace his inner Omega and was willing to try new things to be the best for his omega. The joint next building almost took me out, especially with how dedicated Charlie was to getting it right and Auston just being so adoring and understanding – just, so so awesome.

The chemistry between these two burnt up the page and showed how incredible intimate and special an online relationship can be. They really brought out the best in each other and once they realised who the other was, this transferred so well to real life. The PR incident where they played chase was fun because we got to see them being free and fun together during a time when they really didn’t understand each other or even care about the other.

The less said about Chase’s mother the better – she sounded so incredibly bitter and downright nasty and my heart broke for Chase so many times. The way in which Sammy dealt with her had me giggling with joy and when Auston tried to help Chase come to terms with the fact that he was allowed to be angry with his mother for the things that he did, I wanted to cry. The happily ever after was hard-won but I also liked how some things weren’t just solved because they found each other – they were still putting in the work and it was so worth it.

Suffice it to say, this was an excellent addition to the Alpha Omega Hockey series and I really enjoyed reading these two books back-to-back. Grab them both – you won’t regret it!