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Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Problems by A.J. Sherwood

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Title: ⟫ Jon and Mack’s Terrifying Tree Problems

Author: ⟫ A.J. Sherwood

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ It’s like a bad game of Telephone.

Grant locates a murdered teen in McMinnville. He calls Jon.

Jon locates the girl’s ghost. He calls Mack.

Mack talks to the ghost who leads them to more ghosts. Who lead them to even more ghosts.

And why are all the murder victims buried under trees?

The boys are ready for this game to end, please. (Donovan especially.)

Tags:

Jon’s World crossover, hail hail the gang’s all here, oh look we meet Grant, trees are not to be trusted, according to Donovan, ya’ll pray for Donovan, there’s so many ghosts, the ghosts have some WORDS to share, car sex, bondage sex, Mack has plans, so of course they get ruined, BAMF female cops, Jon and Mack are ready for this case to be over, please and thank you, serial killer(s)? running amok, people get tombed, literally, Eli’s mad she missed the fun, Mack would like to say: Don’t use Jon as a battery, seriously don’t do it

Review: ⟫ There is not a chance that you’ll be able to follow this story unless you’ve read the other ones in the series so don’t even try!

As a fan of Jon, Mack and all of the others, it was really fun to dive back into this world. I did get lost a few times and had to remind myself of who was who and who did what, but once I’d got my memories back, it was full steam ahead. I loved how this story showed new sides to the powers these guys had (who even knew it was possible to use Jon as a battery even if it was a supremely bad idea), whilst solidifying what you already knew about them.

I wouldn’t say there a was a lot of romance in this book, although there were a few steamy sex scenes. It was more about the mystery they find themselves in the middle of, and how they all came together to figure it out and solve the crime.

I thought Jon and Mack were complete idiots a few times, especially towards the end, but they did so good in the end that I forgave them. The reason for the rating of 4 instead of 5 is because the book did get confusing a few times, and as I haven’t read the previous books in a while, I felt a little lost and I wouldn’t be surprised if other people felt the same.

It was brilliant to be back in this universe, and I look forward to reading more about the adventures of our guys – maybe a little recap/glossary in the beginning of the next book?

A Hellhound Called Derek by Michelle Frost (Mated to the Human #1)

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Title: ⟫ A Hellhound Called Derek

Author: ⟫ Michelle Frost

Rating: ⟫ 3/5

Blurb: ⟫ Touch his mate and you’ll wish for the fires of hell.

Alpha of the Hellhound enforcers, Derek doesn’t think he has time for a mate until the Paranormal Council of the city gives him one.

Hollis is smart, funny, vulnerable…human, and his police commissioner uncle has designs to use Hollis’s new mating for his own ends.

He’ll learn quickly not to mess with a hellhound’s mate. 

Review: ⟫ Okay, I can’t imagine that I’ll be the only person who jumps on this book simply because the title sounds entertaining, right? This is quite obviously setting up a new series and for me, that kinda ruins it. The romance between Derek and Hollis felt a bit perfunctory to the story – it was very sweet, and despite being a sort of insta-love thing, they took things relatively slowly. It felt for me like what was going on between them was in the background – instead, we learned about other characters who were being set up for the future, the politics behind the whole arranged marriage thing, and that was pretty much it.

Derek was an absolute sweetheart up until he wasn’t, when he went all grr argh to save his mate which was nice. And Hollis was written as a sweet, lacking in self-esteem, and in need of someone to bolster his confidence to make him realise what he was capable. Ultimately, I felt like I was being set up for the stories of the other candidates more than anything and I was a bit disappointed.

I was looking forward to any of the Hellhound lore and reveal which was set up to be a huge thing, but again, that was rather disappointing. Saying that, I will keep an eye out for more in the series because it was set up very well and the writing was confident and assured. Overall, I wish there had been more concentration on this story rather than setting up the next.

Only One Coffin by A.J. Truman

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Title: ⟫ Only One Coffin

Author: ⟫ A.J. Truman

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ I’m stuck sharing a coffin with the world’s perkiest vampire. This vacation is going to suck.

After centuries of eternal existence, and still mourning the loss of my lover to vicious slayers, I needed a few days of peaceful solitude at the Hotel Draugr.

But thanks to a double-booking mishap, I’m forced to share my coffin with Kilroy, a freshly bitten vampire who loves his new afterlife as much as he loves hanging ten. My unexpected room-mate is determined to show me how “totally awesome” being a vampire can be.

Doesn’t he know vampires don’t do sunshine of any kind?

Through epic snowball fights and midnight meetups at vampire speakeasies, the ice around my not-technically-beating heart begins to melt. And during days sharing our too-small coffin, one part of me has trouble staying dead.

Maybe this budding relationship has teeth…that is, if we can evade the slayers closing in on the hotel.

Only One Coffin is a grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, paranormal MM romcom featuring a 300-year age gap, coffin cuddling, and a vampire bro who wears flip flops no matter how cold it is outside.

Review: ⟫ With a neat twist on a few tropes such as age-gap, grumpy sunshine and forced proximity, Only One Coffin is mainly played for laughs. The puns drop thick and fast, blood is substituted for some truly entertaining food items and the relationship between Kilroy and Magnus is a sweet, fun read.

Magnus is still in mourning for the lover taken from him by the humans, and is making his annual trip to hide away in a frozen hotel when he is suddenly forced to face the reality of the fact that the rest of the world is still living. Kilroy comes along at a time when probably no one else would try to drag Magnus out into the world again, and is stagnating and, no pun intended, slowly dying.

Kilroy was most definitely one of those glass-half-full people that can be incredibly irritating or endearing depending on the mood you are in. He took being changed into a vampire as a ‘whoa, dude’ thing rather than a path to depression. I loved the idea of a group of vampires who help ‘newbies’ get on their feet, and on the whole Kilroy was fun in a seeing the world from a new perspective.

I did find the constant corrections to Kilroy saying things like good morning and good night a bit irritating after a while – yes, we get it, Magnus’s character is a little stuffy and formal but literally every single time someone said something like that, it felt like overkill. This gave me ‘Hotel Transylvania’ vibes, which was fun, and I did love how casually things like turning into a bat, etc. were discussed.

I would describe this as a nice, easy read, with an interesting take on the whole vampire life, and a sweet love story.

Trouble by Roe Horvat (Winter Sun #3)

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Title: ⟫ Trouble

Author: ⟫ Roe Horvat

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Hugh has been in love with Kirby for years, which either makes him the most foolish or the most patient alpha on the planet. Because Kirby Matthews, the famous porn star and omega of everyone’s wet dreams, is resolutely single. But Hugh knows the real Kirby underneath the armor of glamour and snark. When an opportunity arises to be with him during heat, Hugh will do whatever it takes—even get naked in front of the cameras.

Kirby has made it big time, from homelessness to international stardom. He can now enjoy the small things like the feeling of silk on his skin, long showers, and cupcakes. Life is comfortingly simple. But then his longtime crush auditions for a role in his next film, and Kirby is torn. Getting entangled with a close friend, a member of his makeshift family, is a certifiably stupid idea. But saying no to Hugh? Beefy arms, shaved head, and growly voice—all rough alpha, but with a ridiculously soft heart… How is Kirby supposed to resist such temptation?

The most anticipated porn flick of the year, starring Kirby Matthews in heat. Ten days on set, with no privacy and no space to explore their feelings. You can’t fall in love while filming porn, right?

Trouble is an omegaverse erotic romance featuring high heat, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort. HEA, standalone.

Review: ⟫ Roe Horvat has managed to make filming porn not just hot but romantic. Initially, I was a little confused with the time jumps, but the storyline pulled me in very easily and I enjoyed the set-up for the romance.

Kirby appears to have zero inhibitions when it comes to sex – the scene with three alphas seemed to confirm that – but we discover during his time with Hugh that no one has ever truly just wanted to make him feel good. Hugh comes through with that in a touching, sexy and sensitive manner, and I admit I had a tear in my eye with a certain scene involving simply being covered by a blanket.

I enjoyed seeing the previous couples and Burke as an over-protective daddy made me smile. A very enjoyable addition to the series.

Warning: Kirby does porn and there is an explicit scene with three other men in case this is a trigger for anyone. There is no cheating in this book.

The Bedroom Coach Agreement by Hayden Hall

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Title: ⟫ The Bedroom Coach Agreement

Authors: ⟫ Hayden Hall

Rating: ⟫ 3.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ We’re the least likely couple you’ll ever see. Until the lights go out.

Parker

My brother’s best friend has a secret. And I just happen to know what he does in a hidden down-town apartment at night. In front of a camera. Sculpted like a Greek god, Dayton soon becomes all I want.

But a guy like me could never hope to catch his attention. I’ve never been with anyone. I’ve never even kissed a guy. Hell, not even the strangers on dating apps want to take me out. And my brother’s growing worry that I’ll get my heart broken – or worse – is only making things more complicated.

There’s no pity in Dayton’s eyes when he decides to be my only ally. And there’s no prank behind the spectacular first date I ask him to take me to. Before I know it, I’m doing the very thing my big brother wants to prevent.

I’m falling in love with a guy who claims to be incapable of loving anyone back.

Dayton

My best friend has a younger brother. And he just happens to be a curious and inexperienced freshman. Ginger, sexy, and determined to have the time of his life this semester, Parker quickly becomes my newest obsession.

He wants his first date to be something special. And grand gestures are my speciality. I know all the pitfalls of giving away your V-card. Nobody’s first time should be as cold and careless as mine. A toss of a coin decides it: I am his dating coach. And more.

There’s only one little hiccough in our plan. His big brother must never find out.

Except, when Parker’s soul collides with mine in a night of exploration and delights, I risk more than losing my certified player status. I risk losing the only friendship I preserved through my entire life.

I’m not sure if that’s a risk I’m willing to take.

The Bedroom Coach Agreement is the sixth novel in the Frat Brats of Santa Barbara series. It features an unlikely pairing, big brother’s best friend, and first-time storyline. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, it’s just more fun to read all the books in order, starting with The Fake Boyfriends Debacle.

Review: ⟫ The blurb promised one thing but the story gave me something different but I’m not mad at it. This was jock falls in love with nerd but with some major feelings and I enjoyed it. I found their moments together in the courtyard to be sweet, especially when they just sat in silence and looked at the stars. And when Dayton pulled out all the stops for that first date – yeah, I would have had stars in my eyes.

I loved the camboy moments, especially after Dayton found out that Parker was watching and was ‘acting’ towards him. They were very sexy – very sexy!

I had some minor gripes – the main one being the behaviour of the brother. Perhaps something happened in the previous books in the series that explains his behaviour but it just seemed really over the top and more than a little bizarre to me. I also wasn’t too sure about all of the cameos of characters from previous books – I haven’t read the rest of the series and that might be why they didn’t gel with me, which is a bit of a shame.

All in all, an enjoyable read.

Malum Discordiae by Ashlyn Drewek

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Title: ⟫ Malum Discordiae (Tennebrose #1)

Authors: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Like all Necromancers, Cassius Corbin grew up knowing one irrevocable truth: death comes for us all. It was a lesson he learned well when his mother was murdered by fellow witches. Six years later, he is back in the town of Winslow, Massachusetts to attend Tennebrose University. But that’s not the only reason. While he’s home, he intends to track down a magical folio stolen from his family centuries ago. Once he finds it, he’ll finally be everything the witches in Winslow fear and the Corbin name will be respected once again — as long as Graeme Hewitt, the son of his family’s arch-enemy, stays out of his way.

As the first weather witch born in a century, the witches in Winslow demand great things from Graeme Hewitt, despite his thoughts on the matter. He’s supposed to be their future, but all Graeme can think about is the past — until the infuriating Cassius Corbin returns. In spite of the blood feud that has raged for centuries between their families, Graeme finds himself in the unfortunate situation of needing Cassius’s help. Six years ago, Graeme’s little brother also died and Graeme wants the truth about what happened that day. So who better to answer his questions than the son of the woman who murdered him?

MALUM DISCORDIAE is a dark academia, paranormal MM romance about witches, Necromancers, and a blood feud that has lasted centuries. It is a stand-alone book of 117K words.  

Content Warning: This book contains references to animal cruelty, alcohol/drug use, death of children, murder, suicide, and dubious consent. Reader discretion is advised. 

Review: ⟫ This book was pretty darn good! The world building for the witches and necromancers and their history was very well done, as was the whole feud thing, and the sharp u-turn that things took so early in the book was an attention grabber. The intricacies of the different types of magic were really well handled, as was slotting the story into ‘history’ which really helped ground it in reality.

Surprising myself, I actually really liked the fact that Graeme kept going back and forth – he had spent his entire life being told one thing and it would have been unrealistic for him to suddenly believe the complete opposite just because Cassius told him so. I enjoyed the background cast of characters, and the overall feeling that no one was safe – it was a bit like watching a movie with an all unknown cast and realising that no one was too big a star to die!

I found the mystery of who the killer was intriguing, and the red herrings were really good! I did guess who was behind it all, but I actually didn’t mind that because the way the story ebbed and flowed really worked for me.

I found Cassius and Graeme both sweet, believable and incredibly snarky – like real, live teenagers which was refreshing. That, and the fact that sex was on their minds A LOT was very realistic.

I was so pleased to see that despite currently being a stand-alone novel, this was labelled as Tennebrose #1 because that hopefully means that there will be more set in this verse – I will be keeping my eyes open if that’s the case. I have found that I either love this author’s work or hate it, so I am extremely pleased to say this is definitely the same calibre as the Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair.

Per Sangiuinem by Ashlyn Drewek

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Title: ⟫ Per Sanguinem

Authors: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ Vampires don’t get a happily ever after. Over the centuries, Eric Collins learned that the hard way, which is why he has sworn off the idea of companionship and throws himself into his job as a detective. But his plan for a peaceful, solitary existence is disrupted the night he saves Chase Turner, a fellow cop, from being murdered. Aside from the once-dormant feelings Chase stirs up, Eric has a bigger problem. There’s another vampire in Chase’s life whose intentions are even less noble than his own. If Eric leaves Chicago, Chase is as good as dead. But if he stays, he’ll end up in a war with the rest of the city’s vampires and Chase might become a casualty after all. 
 

Falling in love with his partner was never part of Chase Turner’s career goals. He already has two strikes against him at Chicago PD — the last thing he needs is a third. The son of an infamous Internal Affairs commander and the survivor of a shoot-out that left his partner dead, Chase is trying his best to keep a low profile until the heat blows over. Then he’s reassigned to Eric Collins’ division, the detective who saved him from certain death. Despite the fact Chase’s life is a complete mess, Eric is the only one who seems to think there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And no matter how much Chase denies it to himself or his therapist, it soon becomes clear that Eric is going to be Strike Number Three.
 

How much is too much to risk for happily ever after?
 

PER SANGUINEM is a slow-burn paranormal MM romantic suspense stand-alone about vampires and cops with commitment issues and what happens when you fall in love with your partner. 
 

Content Warning: This book contains references to alcohol/drug use; homophobic and racial slurs, as well as other insensitive language; on-page violence and torture; PTSD in various forms including flashbacks; suicidal thoughts and flashbacks; parental estrangement, and a lot of death. Reader discretion is advised.

Review: ⟫ If this was an 18+ movie, I would tune in to see it with popcorn and a HUGE smile on my face!

I loved this slightly new take on vampires, especially the idea that the Queens ran the territories and the males lived kinda on their whims! Kinda.

We dived straight into the action with Eric in a less than glamorous environment, but it did give us a very good insight into the type of ‘person’ Eric is – prepared to do anything and everything to get the bad guy. Despite his many years on this earth, and his attempts at making himself seem uncaring, it was pretty obvious that Eric was one of the good guys.

Chase was a different type of person altogether – you could sense that there was very little holding him together as he tried to keep himself aloof and show an uncaring attitude to the world, whilst inside he was a lonely, scared boy in need of love and security.

And amidst all of that, we have a vampire serial killer, an out of control IA officer, and a queen vampire in need of a smack-down. Add in a werewolf from New Orleans, and this story was a sexy, riotous, gory ride that I absolutely adored. This was very entertaining, full of romance, some sex, and a serial killer case where there was absolutely no way the killer could safely be arrested, and it was a satisfying chunk of a read.

My only quibbles are that occasionally the timeline got a little squiffy for me – sometimes it seemed like not long had gone by at all, and then someone says something that lets you know that at least a few weeks have gone by – that kind of thing. And secondly, I think it could have been a bit shorter – some of it felt like it could have been removed and not missed. Finally, if Eric and Chase thought they were being discreet, I would hate to see them when they were being blatant about things, but to be honest, none of that really messed with my enjoyment of the story.

Vow Maker by Lily Morton (Mixed Messages #4)

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Title: ⟫ Vow Maker (Mixed Messages #4)

Authors: ⟫ Lily Morton

Blurb: ⟫ Dylan Mitchell wants to get married.

However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.

Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour. He’s confounded an army of wedding professionals, and now Dylan, the man who knows and loves him better than anyone, has joined the ranks of the confused. Can anything please his fiancé and get them to the altar?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes the sequel to Rule Breaker. A romantic comedy novella full of family chaos, meddling friends, sexy bathroom encounters, and love. Always love.

Review: ⟫ It was lovely to catch up with Dylan and Gabe – it made me want to go back and re-read their story. As usual, this story was full of snarky banter, heavy sarcasm, a whole lot of innuendo and chock-full of love and sex. We had cameos from other beloved characters and an introduction to at least one that I imagine is going to get his own book.

I really enjoyed this book – it was like snuggling down with an old favourite but with new information. I did grab the book Short Stack but didn’t have time to read it, but having been reminded of the amazing cast of men that Lily has written about, I think I’m going to re-download it.

An easy, relaxing, amusing read – well worth it.

Budding Attraction by Saxon James (Divorced Men's Club #3)

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Title: ⟫ Budding Attraction (Divorced Men’s Club #3)

Authors: ⟫ Saxon James

Blurb: ⟫ Ford

I’ve never thought much about Orson Naples.

He’s a cute guy who I’d seen around town a few times, but then one day he up and left and didn’t reappear until a few years later. No one knows where he went or what he was doing, all this gossipy town knows is that he’s a widower, owns the florist, and is friends with that divorced group that hang out at the Killer Brew all the time.

But then one day I step into his flower shop and go from rarely thinking about him, to him constantly being on my mind.

There’s a restlessness to him that I’m dying to unlock answers to.

And his eyes linger on me a little too long for a straight man …

Orson

Ford Thomas is a pest. A delightful one. A tempting one. But I’m too old for games.

The ones I’ve played in the past have always led me to trouble which is why I vowed to settle down and live a quiet life.

So when Ford walks into my shop all uncontained energy and flirty quips in a pair of heavy work boots, I know I should show him the door.

I don’t need fun. I don’t need experiences.

Especially when those experiences have me questioning things I thought I knew about myself.

Review: ⟫ This was not what I expected at all but I loved it.

Orson wasn’t even bi-curious when things began between he and Ford and I loved reading about this man who had been all the way to the bottom who was willing to open his mind and his heart to something completely out of the realm of his experience.

The descriptions of Ford have always made my brain go ‘yum’ and this story completely solidified that. A gentle giant – with a past – I loved how respectful he was of Orson’s previous life experiences, of the fact that all they might share was friendship, and their journey together.

Other members of the DMC featured as usual (please, when are we getting Art’s story?) and their helpfulness if you want to call it that was appreciated. I loved Ford and Orson’s interactions with the kids building cars – it was wholesome, cheeky and irreverent in a way that definitely reminds me of my experiences with teenagers.

I readily admit that in my mind, Orson’s Pour Some Sugar on me moments could have featured in a Magic Mike film, and I truly loved the banter between these two guys. The friendship that grew between them was just awesome and I enjoyed every page of this book. Really looking forward to reading more and I am a certified member of the Saxon James fan club!

The Big Fix by Mary Calmes (Torus Intercession #5)

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Title: ⟫ The Big Fix (Torus Intercession #5)

Authors: ⟫ Mary Calmes

Blurb: ⟫ Philanthropist. Humanitarian. Soldier. Spy.

Jared Colter, the head of Torus Intercession, has a secret life he left behind, one that only his closest confidants know about. Normally, the past keeps its secrets, but not this time. Old ghosts come calling to the very doorstep of his new life, when Owen Moss, the person closest to him, goes missing. A carrot left dangling to lure Jared out and into the hands of an unknown enemy.

Owen Moss was once a scared, orphaned boy saved by Jared, but he’s no longer a child even if Jared is having trouble seeing him that way. He’s thirty-two now, in love with Jared, and as Jared’s obliviousness keeps butting up against Owen’s desire, the tension between them keeps escalating. Something has to give, and soon.

With a bounty on his head, Jared races through the brutal underworld of Southeast Asia, in search of Owen. It’s a maze of treachery and murder, where one false move means death. The answer is tied to the man Jared used to be, taking him into the heart of the lion’s den, where he’s forced to face the darkest questions about himself to save the man he loves.

Review: ⟫ This reminds me very much of some of the early Mary Calmes books that I’ve read – specifically the ones with Jin and Logan – as it was sprawling, full of action, violence with the love story underpinning but not the main thrust of the story.

Jared has always been rather larger than life in the way he has been described and he didn’t disappoint – he was very much the man he has been viewed as by his employees in the previous Intercession books – a man on a mission, determined to leave the world (or people) in a better place.

However, this kinda came back to bite him in the butt in this story, as there was someone from his past determined to make Jared pay – and with a long list of enemies to choose from, it was a real puzzle to figure out who it was.

I loved seeing all of our guys from other stories (I’m talking about Darius and Dante to name just two) and the way their lives were interwoven was extremely skilful. Thinking about it, this reminded me very much of the cast of The Expendables movies – all of these men are over forty, not who you would expect to be in the field, but still skilled and talented in what they do. I liked how it was shown that they were the older generation – Jared didn’t just snap back into action with no repercussions. He felt the punches that landed, running around made him tired, and the day after shenanigans he needed painkillers and sometimes crawled out of bed with his body aching.

That brings me to the torture scenes. Oh my goodness, they were kinda hard to read. Not that I would consider them particularly graphic normally, but in a romance novel by Mary Calmes, they were really painful to read and Fang was a complete and utter *bleep*.

The romance very much took a backseat, but the build up between Owen and Jared has been coming since book #1 so I guess it could be considered that we’ve been reading their story since the beginning. I really enjoyed the flashbacks that fleshed out the storyline, and I could understand Jared’s reluctance to view Owen as a romantic partner – he was the hero, saving the day and it would have been really easy for Owen to mistake hero-worship for love. I thought that Mary did a good job of showing the Owen had been living a full life and made an adult choice regarding Jared – it wasn’t like he was locked away in an ivory tower and had no comparisons so that Jared was his only choice. Owen knew what he was doing,

Speaking of Owen knowing what he was doing – those sex scenes! Whoa – they surprised and delighted me in equal measure and I may have to re-read them – just to refresh my mind for the purposes of this review of course.

I think this was a different kind of romance, with the love story underpinning things rather than being at the forefront. I absolutely enjoyed this book, racing from page to page to find out just who was causing such chaos, and I am so pleased that Jared and Owen finally got their happy ever after. The background cast of characters will possibly be confusing for people who haven’t read most of Mary’s previous books, which is a shame, but I found this to be a rollicking, painful, funny and heart-felt story that I really enjoyed. Any stars it may have lost for the main leads not being together for so much of the story were regained for me by the return of Darius, George and Dante, etc. I loved it.