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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.

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!

Obliterated by N Boeyer (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ Obliterated
AUTHOR: ⟫ N Boeyer

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season 1: 1nf3ction Book #3
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ MAX

They fear me. Worship me. Call me an abomination.

I’ve earned my freedom a dozen times in The Pit, but I keep going back. Because violence is my church, and blood is the only thing that makes me feel alive.

Then he arrives. Pretty. Fast. New. A golden-haired boy with ocean eyes and no clue how this island works.
He doesn’t belong here, and he’s going to get himself killed. Just like all the other wide-eyed fools who think survival is about hope instead of brutality.
So why the fuck can’t I stop watching him? Why do I keep stepping in? Why does the monster in me go quiet when he’s near?

He’s everything I never wanted.
And everything I’d burn this whole godsdamned island for.

KIERAN

My mother is dead.

I followed her last instructions to the letter: get on the boat, get to the island, survive. Her final words still echo in my head—Live, Kieran. Live.
But Ibitha doesn’t want me. I have no papers, no useful skills, nothing to offer… except a pretty face. And here? That’s enough to get you owned. Now I pour drinks in a brothel I never chose, counting down the days until my debt’s repaid. Until I’m free.

Then he notices me. Max. A legend carved in blood and bone.
I should fear him, everyone does. He looks at me like I’m already his. Like he’s made up his mind. Like I’m something he plans to keep. And the most dangerous part? A piece of me wants that. Wants him.

But you don’t fall for someone like Max.
You survive him. Or you don’t.

OBLITERATED is a full-length MM romance as part of the 1nf3ction multi-author post-dystopian zombie apocalypse series. While all the stories take place in a shared world, each book can be read as a standalone.

Expect violence, obsession, biting banter, sword fights, broken boys, morally grey messes, and two lovers who’d rather kiss in a pit full of zombies than say “I love you” out loud.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my, yes!! This was brutal, gory, bloody and also incredibly romantic at the same time. Kieran has made his way to Ibitha, a place that’s meant to be a safe haven in these troubled times. The first person he meets is Max – who promptly slams him against a wall and threatens his life. Not the most auspicious start, but when he learns more about Max he can’t help but fall for him.

Max is – well, a monster. Part of what I loved about this story was that the author was unapologetic about just how brutal Max was. The man was a killing machine, with more than a few hints of sociopathic tendencies. He was also a big kid who thought a zombie alligator was fun, somehow built a family and inspired fear and loyalty in others. This was a RIDE!! I was seriously not sure how they were going to get their happily ever after and was utterly engrossed for the whole book. I have really been enjoying the books set in the Mayhem verse and especially when it leads to me finding a new author to read.

I would say there is far more gore and bloodiness than there is romance/sex – think Walking Dead but with slightly more romance if that helps – but as long as that doesn’t squick you out, I think this is one that many people will enjoy. There were some really sad moments that made me sniffle and I’m still not sure I forgive the author for one in particular (you’ll know what I’m talking about once you’ve read the book) but I am going to see if there is more written by them that I can read!

Late Bloomer by Morgan Hawes

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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)

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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.

The Club by Rina Saint (Dangerous Games Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Club
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rina Saint

SERIES: ⟫ Dangerous Games #2
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Rafael
What the hell is Dominic Capelli doing in my club? Best guess, he wants revenge. I did shoot his father, after all. And, yeah, he’s looking at me like he wants to hurt me. The thing is … I’m very much into that.

I know it’s a bad idea to play with him, but bad ideas are my favorite kind. And he’s so very, very sexy.

Dominic
I didn’t come in here to screw Rafael. I came in here to screw with him. I just wanted to see how he’d react. Now that I don’t have my father to hate, I need something new.

So when Rafael starts screwing with me, when he starts trying to expose my long-hidden desires, I decide to punish him. I know I’ll enjoy it. The problem is, I think he might enjoy it too.

I’ll have to kill him in the end, of course, but maybe, before I do, we can play a little game.

*Books in the Dangerous Games series can be read as standalones. However, The Club does pick up on some events from The Contract (and why on earth would you want to skip the smutty feast that is Dante and Tristan???). 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: ⟫ Oh heck yeah, this was awesome! Dark with some seriously nasty, dirty sex scenes with an underlying plot that was gruesome in some of its’ details. I really loved this – we learn more about Nate, but Rafael and Dominic were most definitely front and centre. The way in which they both tried to protect the other whilst putting themselves into increasingly dangerous situations was frustrating but also very, very hot! The ending was satisfying, bloody and so much justice was served – extremely satisfying. It looks like I’ve read all of the books the author currently has available but I will keep an eye out for more!

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

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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.

Off-Ice Misconduct by S. Legend (Daddies of the League #8)

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TITLE: ⟫ Off-Ice Misconduct
AUTHOR: ⟫ S. Legend

SERIES: ⟫ Daddies of the League Book #8
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Ace McKinnon

If you don’t want me, you want to be me.

Being so popular, my extracurricular activities crashed my GPA risking my NCAA eligibility. I asked my professor if there was any way to bump my grade. Let’s just say we worked out a clandestine deal.

Look, life is short, okay? My mom’s proof of that. The most beautiful female hockey player there ever was, died too soon.

But let’s see … captain of the hockey team, president of Alpha-Sigma, full-time course load, and looking after said hockey team and frat members around the clock.

Is it any wonder I have to persuade a few professors to help me with my grades?

Professor VanCourt doesn’t even look like a professor. It looks like someone abducted him from the wilderness and dropped him in the classroom. His feral eyes give “raised by wolves”, and I might have been the first human he’s talked to in a while, judging by how many of his words are grunts.

This guy is so not gonna let me “work out a deal”. He’s set on putting me in my place.

Luke VanCourt

His body is a conduit for power, all the force in the world his to harness. It bends to his will.

That’s probably why everyone trips over themselves for him. They probably want to be controlled by all that wild power.

Not me. I want to restrain it. Keep it under my thumb. Keep him under my thumb.

My brother has no issues keeping his team perfectly obedient on the ice, but he needs help with them off the ice.

Ace McKinnon is the key.

All I need to do is make him comply, and the rest will fall into line.

But I’ve never claimed to be a saint. What’s wrong with having fun while I do it?

Daddies of the League is a college ice hockey shared world, where you’ll find Daddies both on and off the ice. Skate into your newest obsession and grab them all. Off-Ice Misconduct features an MM age-gap relationship with the kind of possessiveness that will make you shiver and morally gray heroes.

REVIEW: ⟫
So a few arcs overtook this on the tbr pile so I’m only just finishing it. This was entertaining although a little confusing on occasion. I haven’t read any of the other Daddies books in the series, but Luke was an absolute trip and I loved him so much! Him and Ace together were a potent duo and I adored how Luke took Ace under control and made his life better. Obsession, but good obsession. Not sure how I feel about Coach but I guess I’ll find out in the next book!

Kiss-Fist by E.M. Lindsey & Cora Rose (Deaf Hearts #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Kiss-Fist
AUTHOR: ⟫ E.M. Lindsey & Cora Rose

SERIES: ⟫ Deaf Hearts #1
RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Whoever convinced me to join the gym needs to be hung, drawn, and quartered. Or, at the very least, suffer with a pillow hot on both sides every night, because this? This is terrible.

Running? No thank you.

Lifting? Who needs biceps anyway.

Now, I will say the eye-candy is nice. Especially my new personal trainer with the tattoos and dimples. But that’s all he can ever be: eye candy.

Because he’s fit and I’m not.

He’s gorgeous and I’m, well, me.

He’s hearing…and I’m Deaf.

For some people that might not be an issue, but for me, I have rules. And I’m a stubborn man who will not break them, not even for that sexy crooked smile that almost makes me forget my own name.

But I don’t date men who can’t speak my language, and while we can say plenty with our bodies, that’s where our communication ends.

Still, the longer I spend with him, the more I’m starting to realize there may be more to this relationship than frantic, feral office hook-ups. After all, he might be the first hearing person to learn sign for me. And he’s one of the first people I’ve ever known to make me feel worthy.

So maybe, just maybe, that’s worth a little compromise.

Kiss-Fist is the first book in the Deaf Hearts series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. It’s a spicy MM enemies to lovers rom-com featuring a grumpy professor, a sunshine gym-bro, and their swoon-worthy happily ever after.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Cruel When He Smiles by Avery Collins (Sinners of Blackthorne Book #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ Cruel When He Smiles
AUTHOR: ⟫ Avery Collins

SERIES: ⟫ Sinners of Blackthorne U #3
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Liam Callahan likes to break things.
… and Nate Carter was made to be broken.

Liam
I was trained not to feel. Taught to observe, manipulate, and control.
Nothing prepared me for Nate Carter.
He’s stubborn and beautiful in his resistance. The harder he fights, the deeper I sink my teeth in. I engineered the therapy sessions so I could get closer and watch him unravel. To dissect his fire and watch him spiral from the inside out.
But Nate is fury wrapped in lace, and he makes me feel things I was never meant to feel.
Want. Possession. Hunger.
Now, I can’t stop. Not until he’s mine; broken, rebuilt, and burning just for me.

Nate
I knew Liam Callahan was dangerous the moment I met him.
Too perfect. Too polished. Too in control.
They said the anger management sessions were routine, but nothing about Liam is routine. He gets into your head with softness, pulls you apart with praise, and leaves you craving the pain he caused.
So why do I keep going back?
I don’t know what’s real anymore…what’s me, and what’s Liam’s design.
***
Cruel When He Smiles is the third book in the interconnected Sinners of Blackthorne U series, but it is a complete standalone. Readers are advised to approach with caution and ensure they are comfortable with the listed triggers and content warnings before proceeding.

This is not a traditional romance. Reader discretion is advised.

REVIEW: ⟫ Reader discretion is right – this book was so full of red flags, it looked like a football stadium! I couldn’t decide which one of them was the most messed up but then I reached a certain point in the story and realised just why they were so well matched and fit together perfectly. The background characters were so good – Killian is my absolute favourite although I’m not sure what they says about me – but we also got to see Sage and Roman again which was great.

The research that must have gone into this is mind-blowing and I really wasn’t expecting this. I’m trying so hard not to give spoilers because I really think this series is so much more rewarding when you go into it blind, but suffice it to say that books 1 and 2 were tasters for the absolute gourment meal that this book was. The sex was steaming, the possessive obssessiveness was next level and I raced through it because I really wanted to know where it was going. The back and forth, the banter, the lace – yeah, this may well be my favourite out of all of these books and I’m not surprised to realise that I read all three of them within a week! Adding Avery Collins to my must-read list and contemplating reading her heterosexual romance to see if she can cause the same feelings in me that these three stories did!