Just For Christmas by Crea Reitan (Longwood University Book #4)

TITLE: ⟫ Just For Christmas
AUTHOR: ⟫ Crea Reitan

SERIES: ⟫ Longwood University Book #4
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ It’s only temporary holiday magic

Brent

Life has taught me not to get attached to anyone because they’ll only let you down but I can’t stop myself from falling in love with my roommate and frat brother the moment we meet. It’s been three years and not only do I secretly pine for him, but now he’s also my very best friend. My first real friend.

Nothing can possibly go wrong when I agree to be his fake boyfriend for the holidays, right? I know I’m putting my heart on the line but it’ll just be a bit of hand-holding. My heart can survive that…

Rafe

I know my mother will get off my back about settling down if I bring home a partner so I recruit my best friend into becoming my fake boyfriend. It’ll be fun, easy, and a great holiday without all the subtle hints from my parents.

One kiss under the mistletoe changes everything and the childhood make believe suddenly morphs into so much more. There’s only one problem – this arrangement is only for Christmas and then we’re back to being only friends when we return to school.

I didn’t plan to fall in love with Brent Mitchell… I don’t know what to do now that he’s acting like I don’t exist.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was sweet and hot but also a little frustrating. I loved seeing the boys’ inner dialogue but I admit that part of me wanted to smack both of them to get them to just talk!

November 2025 ⟫ Book Reviews Round Up

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 November 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.

Breakneck Hockey by S Legend ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey Book #3 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Broken Bond by J.L. Cross ⟫ Claimed by Blood Book #1 ⟫ 1.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Disaster: The Biggest Fan by Nico Verce ⟫ 1/5 ⟫ BookSirens Arc

Forbidden Hockey by S Legend ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey #5 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Friendzone Hockey by S Legend ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey #4 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Heartbreak Hockey by S. Legend ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Ice Dance Hockey by S Legend ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey Book #2 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Heat Haze by Alder Snow ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ Gay Romance Reviews

Velvet Chains by River Winters ⟫ Lockswell Boarding House Book #1 ⟫ 2.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All The Men Want Me by Jaclyn Osborn ⟫ Book #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All The Men Want Me by Jaclyn Osborn (Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All The Men Want Me
AUTHOR: ⟫ Jaclyn Osborn

SERIES: ⟫ Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All The Men Want Me Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Evan just wants a quiet life where he escapes into books, drinks a ridiculous amount of coffee, and devours every muffin in sight. But then he’s transported to another world with magic, sword-wielding knights with big… hearts, and men who find him too adorable to resist.
Complicated? Well, that’s the understatement of the century.
And for Evan, the adventure is only beginning.

Book 1 in a low-angst “why choose” romance series from author Jaclyn Osborn! Follow Evan, a snarky bookworm, as he’s whisked away to a fantasy world with a ton of hotties, a dark forest that may or may not be filled with monsters, and a mischievous cat boy who loves cake.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet uncomplicated read with an interesting premise. The characters were fun to read and I love how uncensored Evan was with his speech. The big thing that came through was that there may well be a place for everyone but it isn’t always in this world! I may continue reading but it depends on other books in my TBR.

Noaz by Crea Reitan (Van Doren Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Noaz
AUTHOR: ⟫ Crea Reitan

SERIES: ⟫ Van Doren Book #2
RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Sometimes stars grant you wishes that come covered in blood.

I’ve wanted one thing for as long as I can remember – someone to love, a family, and a happily ever after. I finally found it with the least likely person across the street. Our life together has been dipped in espresso and given a massive jolt forward, but we couldn’t be happier.

That is, until someone threatens that happiness and I’m forced to respond in order to protect my family that’s barely begun. I didn’t mean for this relationship to begin bathed in blood but I will do anything to protect the love I’ve waited decades for.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Loren by Crea Reitan (Van Doren Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Loren
AUTHOR: ⟫ Crea Reitan

SERIES: ⟫ Van Doren Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I will kill to keep him.

Oakley

It’s a new start – brand new school in a completely different state. For the first time, I now have the freedom to be unapologetically me. But as my luck would have it, I have shit taste in men. The first man to pay me a compliment has so many red flags, I think I’m in a storm. Life can’t get any worse… until he turns into a stalker.

Then my stalker ends up brutally murdered, I walk blindly into a serial killer’s nest, and I catch the attention of a sociopath.

Loren

The moment I see Oakley walk into the cafe, I know he’s mine. I may be here to finish a job, but it’s impossible to concentrate on anything but him. My fascination quickly turns into an obsession, which might be fortunate for him because I think he’s trying to get himself killed.

Which is fine; I’ll protect him. It doesn’t matter how many lives I have to end to make Oakley mine.

REVIEW: ⟫ I know what to expect from Crea Reitan when it comes to those men who are utterly obsessed with their person, and Loren is definitely one of those men. For some reason, it didn’t really work for me in this story. I enjoyed the characters – Loren’s family, Oakley’s found family, the opportunity to find out how people from other stories were doing – but I had a disconnect and found that I just didn’t care enough about what was happening.

I couldn’t suspend disbelief long enough to believe that Loren’s behaviour was viewed as acceptable by Oakley’s friends; that the police were so incredibly inefficient; even, perhaps, that Loren’s family would up sticks and move like that when they were so concerned about his feelings for Oakley, especially as Loren was known for being quite unemotional.

I think that perhaps it was more the mood that I was in than the story, which is why I am going to read the next in the series and only really judge from there.

Broken Bond by J.L. Cross (Claimed in Blood Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Broken Bond
AUTHOR: ⟫ J.L. Cross

SERIES: ⟫ Claimed in Blood Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 1.5/5

BLURB: I was rejected at the altar. Now the most dangerous mafia heir in the city claims I’m his.

Julian Vescari was supposed to vanish after being cast aside—Hollow, ruined, unworthy of love. Instead, fate delivers him into the arms of Enzo Romano, the brutal heir to the Romano crime family.

Enzo Romano doesn’t ask. He takes. He burns cities for loyalty, carves fear into his enemies, and when he learns Julian carries his heir, nothing will stop him from keeping what he claims. Not rival families. Not blood feuds. Not Julian’s desperate fear of chains disguised as devotion.

But in a world built on power, survival, and whispered betrayals, being bound to Enzo is both protection and prison. The dockside runs red with Veyra blood, secrets crawl in the marble halls of the Romano mansion, and Julian must decide. Is he Hollow still? Or is he strong enough to stand beside the wolf who claimed him?

🔥 Broken Bond is a dark, high-heat MM mafia omegaverse romance featuring:

  • A rejected mate turned reluctant heir-bearer
  • A ruthless mafia alpha who kills for devotion as much as power
  • Mpreg, protective possessiveness, family intrigue, and found strength in fire
  • Themes of survival, blood oaths, and a bond forged where enemies circle


For readers who love dark omegaverse, mafia dynasties, and broken omegas who rise fiercer than fate—this book will leave you breathless.

One Hollow.
One heir.
One bond that could burn a city to the ground.

👉 Start reading Broken Bond today and discover the dark omegaverse romance everyone’s talking about.

Content Warning: Broken Bond is a dark MM mafia romance featuring violence, abduction, explicit intimacy, power imbalance, and mpreg. This story includes mature themes and is intended for 18+ adult readers only.

REVIEW: ⟫ The premise grabbed me and I was ready for darkness, alphas and omegas and a mafia background. Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to my expectations – I think I understand what they were trying to achieve with the style of writing – very spare and stark, although descriptive. Unfortunately, somewhere amidst all of that, the actual meat of the story got lost. Or maybe there just wasn’t any – everything was very surface, including the relationship between Julian and Enzo.

Having finished reading it, I still couldn’t tell if they even cared about each other, let alone found love. To a large extent, Julian being an omega didn’t even figure in the story – the fact that he was jilted at the altar meant that he was called a number of derogatory names and cast out, no longer fit for society, but there was no real explanation as to why. I just found myself with more questions than answers by the time I had finished reading, but I wasn’t interested enough to hope that the second book in the series might hold some answers. I can’t see me reading more by this author which is a shame because I really did love the idea.

Ice Dance Hockey by S Legend (Heartbreak Hockey Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Ice Dance Hockey
AUTHOR: ⟫ S Legend

SERIES: ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ DRAMA. HOCKEY. ROMANCE. BATTLES ON AND OFF THE ICE.

I thought this was going to be the story about how I lost Jack, but it’s not. It’s the story about how I found my way to you.”

Rhett

I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life and I can only hope it’s not too late for me to redeem myself. All my future plans included building a life with Jack, but now he’s playing house with some second-rate hockey coach he thinks he’s in love with.

I want him back, and when my father’s misguided effort backfires, the perfect solution skates right into my life.

Logan

When no one cared about me, my half-brother, Mercy, took me in, loving me as if we’d been siblings all our lives instead of just a couple of short weeks. He’s sunshine. I want to stay close to him, but I know it’s only a matter of time before I become a stain on his perfect life.

Speaking of sunshine, it would be a lot better for me if a certain ray of sunshine, Jack Leslie, were out of the picture. When the hockey God himself, Rhett, makes me a proposition, I know I can’t refuse, even if it means I’m going to hell for it.


Ice Dance Hockey is a fake boyfriend book, with lots of catastrophes, some angst, and much hijinks. We get to peek in on the lives of Jack and Mercy as Rhett and Logan stumble their way into a love they never knew could exist. Oh, and of course, it contains the caretaking dynamic Mock (S. Legend and Canadian) is known best for. It’s a verified member of the Hot Pink Peaches Club.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, after book one, I wasn’t prepared to actually like Rhett! I certainly wasn’t expecting him to find his absolutely perfect match in Logan. This book was even more insane than book one – we actually have a villain that nearly twirls his evil moustache! – but I adored the whole ride. We get more of Jack, Mercy and Stanley, as well as the Alderchucks (I can’t wait for Casey and Sutter) and this found family just continues to grow bigger and more impressive. An excellent addition to the series, touching on some delicate subjects without allowing them to sink the humour and insanity that is this series. Heartily recommend.

Breakneck Hockey by S Legend (Heartbreak Hockey Book #3)

TITLE: ⟫ Breakneck Hockey
AUTHOR: ⟫ S Legend

SERIES: ⟫ Heartbreak Hockey Book #3
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ GRITTY. RAW. A LITTLE EDGIER THAN THE AVERAGE HOCKEY ROM-COM

I don’t want Casey Alderchuck, but I don’t want anyone else to have him either.

My hook-up for the night wasn’t supposed to be my long-time hockey rival, but here he is. I’m too worked up to let him go home without having a taste. One little bite of that smart mouth is mine for the taking after how many times he’s broken my nose.

How was I supposed to know that I’d crave Alderchuck with the desperation of a starved man?

I’m always one bad day from an explosion, but since I hooked up with Alderchuck, my body’s constantly on fire. I’m thinking about things I haven’t in a long time. He’s dredged years of buried torment to the surface.

The cure? Alderchuck. My poison is my cure. How poetic.

At least he can’t keep his hands off me and our burning hatred is mutual. The flavor’s gotta wear off at some point, and that’s when we’ll go our separate ways. Until then, I’ll come up with every way imaginable to wreck him from the inside out. Use him up till there’s nothing left.

But I’m nothing if not territorial and protective. My instincts decide that Casey Alderchuck is mine and they pull him closer. My damn heart’s a traitor, too, trying to break the locks I put around it to let him inside. But I can’t let it win. Loving people like I would love Casey means risking the fragile sanity I’ve worked so hard to preserve.

Breakneck Hockey is a rivals-to-lovers story with some hurt-comfort, along with other vibes, like; I Can Hurt Him but You Can’t, Major Jealousy, Just Because I Say I Don’t Want Him, Doesn’t Mean You Can Have Him, Possessiveness Galore, a Morally Gray MC and, as always in this series, Found Family.

REVIEW: ⟫ These two together are such a wrecking ball! Chaotic in a way not even Jack and Logan managed, Casey and Mitchell are a bundle of red flags nicely decorated with a bow and together, they are quite possibly the most toxic, codependent pair I’ve ever read. I loved it – all of it. The very things that made them so infuriating (lack of clear communication, etc) were also what made them so special. I especially loved the way that Sutter had to learn/figure out the ways in which Casey needed to be loved – the sense of achievement when he figured it out had me fist-pumping. As always, the sex is hot and frequent, and the hockey talk is entertaining. I loved the background cast of characters and was so satisfied with this read.

Favourite part? Sutter firing pucks at Casey – absolutely hysterical!

Money Shot by Eden Finley & Saxon James

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

BLURB: ⟫ Finn

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

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

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

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

But I never said I was smart.

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

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

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

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

Wicked Confessions by Crea Reitan (Longwood University #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Wicked Confessions
AUTHOR: ⟫ Crea Reitan

SERIES: ⟫ Longwood University Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ What started as a job has led to some frightening confessions.

Edin

One mistake can ruin your life. I learned that at fifteen when my hormones got the best of me and I was landed with an unwanted pregnancy. My parents decided to punish me and forced me out of the sport I love to raise my child and provide for my newly forced-upon-us-both marriage.

One mistake can cost a life. My life. If not for my best friend who rescued me and my daughter, I’d have ended it all.

It’s been three years and all I want is to embrace this new lease I have on life – my daughter, school, and hockey.

One mistake can change your life. When an “adult” job leads to some complications, I realize that maybe I didn’t build my walls high enough to keep everyone out.

Elijah

My obsession started through a screen as I edited the videos my fraternity’s basement project Confessions produces. His name is Edin and I’m enthralled. While I don’t participate in shoots often, I make an exception.

Edin is everything – beautiful, mysterious, needy. He’s also very clearly broken. The very first time we’re together on screen, he breaks down after the shoot and I hold him for what feels like days as he trembles.

He refuses to let me into his life, no matter how many times I partner with him or run into him completely coincidentally. That is, until he has a hockey accident that leaves him bed-ridden and he needs help with his daughter.

REVIEW: ⟫ This one was pretty gut-wrenching. Having read Dak and Sparrow’s story, I knew who Edin was and wondered what happened. And it was just as awful as I thought – I was in tears listening to some of Edin’s thoughts about the situation he was in because of circumstances and his parents. The only bright light was Mo – even sex was fraught with difficulty, hence him working for a gay porn company – no chance of a second accidental pregnancy there! Elijah absolutely fascinated me – as did his brother Zeke and their relationship – he was just so ready to be there for Edin in whatever way he needed. The sex scenes were hot but it was actually the after-care and cuddling that really worked for me. I enjoyed watching the two of them fall in love, especially since Edin slowly opened up and began to accept happiness. A worthy addition to the Longwood University series that I enjoyed reading and appreciated the nuance and sensitivity.