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A Stealthy Situation by Saxon James (Franklin U 2 Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ A Stealthy Situation

AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Harrison

My life’s goal? Make plants fun!

I’m gonna be fighting for flora when I’m older and it all starts with auditing stats so I can level up for my masters, and lucky for me, the intriguing guy in my class is a math whizz.

He’s standoffish at first, but after a class where I bet my sitcoms can make him laugh, one bet leads to another and we’re hanging out all the time. Even though I know he’s interested in me, we’re easy friends, until I start to think I might be a little interested in him, too.

The only problem? He seems like a totally different guy in class to when we hang out. I brush it off as him trying to concentrate, but then I spot something I can’t explain away.

A scar. On his palm.

One I’m positive Benny has never had before.

Benny

Since we were little, my twin brother and I have always switched things up–literally. It started as funsies, and now we’re college juniors and still taking each other’s classes. I suck at Math, he sucks at English, and we both have a rule not to make friends in class as the other person. Our system is perfect.

Only Emmett has the audacity to get sick right before stats and I have to actually show up for my own class–where I meet my future husband.

Harrison is smart, weirdly into plants, and we instantly hit it off like old friends.

Only of course the gorgeous mountain of a nerd is straight.

Just when I’m telling myself to let my dreams of matching rings go, our text messages become constant, flirtier, deeper than I’ve had with any other guy before. My butterflies have butterflies every time we catch up.

And then I get a text from Emmett: I’m so sorry. I think I messed up.

REVIEW: ⟫ How lovely it was to read the beginning of the twins’ story. Emmett and Benny basically come from Hockey royalty, so the decision to run away from all of that hockey was a difficult one. Benny is doing okay for himself – he loves his frat, enjoys most of his college work, and is happy with his various hook-ups.

Until he meets Harrison when he is forced to actually attend one of his stats lectures. And suddenly, he’s doing and wanting things that he’s never wanted before. And that’s not even taking into account that Harrison has always previously identified as straight. The relationship between the two of them is an absolute delight, made even more so by the fact that Benny seems to be allergic to ‘love’ and being nice, whereas Harrison is the sweetest, most cheerful, cinnamon roll!

All looks like it might turn out pretty damned good until Emmett returns to stats class and Harrison notices something awry. That opens a whole new can of worms that it took some real effort to get through. I appreciated the fact that Harrison is prepared to accept the new ‘him’, support Benny and try to understand the twins’ actions without judging them too harshly. And the resolution – what we see of it – made me quite happy. I definitely feel like things were left up in the air because of Emmett but look forward to where Saxon James is going to take things for the Dalton twins.

A fun, satisfying read and a worthy addition to the Franklin U 2 series.

The Hookup Mix-Up by Riley Hart (Franklin U 2 Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Hookup Mix-Up

AUTHOR: ⟫ Riley Hart

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #1

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Perry

I moved to San Luco to get to know my brother, and so far, it’s been great. Working as a bartender at Shenanigans, a bar close to Franklin University, there are beautiful men and women everywhere. When a hot guy falls into my arms at a party, I’m down for some naughty fun. Until I realize he’s way too drunk for anything to happen. Thankfully, we agree to meet up the next day.

One near-kiss later, I discover Theo has no idea I’ve been hitting on him. He thinks we’re hanging out as buddies, and to my great regret, says he’s straight. How did I misread this situation when I thought he was giving me all the right signals?

Theo

Perry thinks I’m a nine…a nine! Sure, I’m not into dudes, but it’s flattering that someone as attractive as him thinks I’m hot. Despite the confusion, Perry and I click and agree to keep hanging out. The more time I spend with him, the more I realize there’s a part of myself I’ve been ignoring. One that’s super bi and wants Perry as more than a friend.

Trying to study with him makes things hard for me…below the belt. Unfortunately, his abandonment issues have him open to a fling and nothing more, while I’m catching feelings in a big way. Can I be satisfied with a hookup? Or should I find a way to convince him to take a chance on making this something real?

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh (Porth Ewan Bay #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Junkyard Heart

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Porth Ewan Bay #2

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The drifting photographer and the man who knows just what to do with lost things that wash up on the beach. Get lost in this smoking hot trends-to-lovers hurt/comfort MM romance.

Tired of the London rat race and the heartbreak that comes with it, photographer Jas Manning returns to Porth Ewan, the Cornish seaside town where he spent every childhood summer on his father’s farm. Resigned to year-round rain, wind, and homemade jam, he’s sorely unprepared for the impact that artsy carpenter Kim Penrose has on his heart.

Kim’s free-loving reputation precedes him, and he’s as generous with his inked-up body as he is with his time. The sex is hot, the easy friendship even better, and Jas’s time with him building his family’s new farmhouse canteen is everything Jas was missing in his empty city life.

But Kim’s carefree existence isn’t as simple as it appears. He’s worked hard to vanquish his demons and build his dreams, but the devil on his shoulder is ruthless, and when it comes to call, their happy bubble bursts like it was never there at all. The canteen opening looms, but Kim is gone in more ways than one, and it’s down to Jas to shore up Kim’s soul and convince him that he deserves his place in Jas’s heart.

*Previously published with the Porthkennack shared world series, these books have been significantly reworked and re-edited

REVIEW: ⟫ This book crept on me, much the same way that Kim crept up on Jasper. Jas is in no position for a relationship – he still bears the scars from his last one, and returning to Porth Ewan was meant to be a bit of a bolthole while he sorted himself out. Meeting Kim one morning changes that in momentous ways that Jas could never have imagined.

I adored the first Porth Ewan book and didn’t think I could love anyone more than I loved Brix and Calum, but Jas and Kim swept me away and dragged me into their relationship with their open hearts, vulnerability and the beauty of what they create together. I love love love reading these stories and cannot believe how well Garrett Leigh creates such characters that make you feel so much for them, root for them, and sigh happily when they reach their well deserved happily-ever-after. I’m fascinated by the hints we have of things in the future – Lena and the baby come to mind with that one – and can only say that alongside the Rebel Kings, these may well be my favourite characters by this writer.

Suddenly You by Cora Rose (Our Exception #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Suddenly You

AUTHOR: ⟫ Cora Rose

SERIES: ⟫ Our Exception #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ We’ve all heard the saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

God help me, if only that were true.

Because as it turns out, my surprise gay husband is very much still my husband outside of the great state of Nevada. And let me tell you, as a straight guy, waking up married to a man I barely know with no memory of how it happened wasn’t even on my Bingo card.

What started as a fun weekend getaway to support my brothers in their relationships and show them how much I’ve grown, has somehow spiraled wildly out of my control.

Cooper Barone is rich, kind, and charming, but he’s holding all the cards now. Because he doesn’t want our marriage annulled. No, he says he wants us to make a deal. He wants me to spend time with him, to move in with him.

All I know is that I’m broke and I can’t afford a divorce without his compliance, without his help.

So there’s nothing left for me to do but agree and accept my fate.

I’m a straight dude with a husband.

This is my life now.

REVIEW: ⟫ I have not enjoyed the most recent Cora Rose books as much as I did when I initially started reading their books. I think it was more me than the actual material – I was looking for something else, whereas I feel that they write slightly insane meet cute circumstances with steamy sex scenes very well. Perhaps I was in my dark era?

Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Suddenly You because, like many of their other books, it calls back to different series that they write, and Matt did not stand out to me when I met him before. However, despite the ‘getting married in Vegas’ trope being a little out there, along with Cooper’s insistence that there wouldn’t be a divorce until he was ready, this book touched me quite deeply. Matt is a troubled young man, struggling against his upbringing, what he has been taught by his parents, and drowning in debt. The only good thing in his life is his reconnection with two of his brothers, and even that comes with issues.

Adding a bisexual awakening to the mix seemed like just too much for the poor man to handle. Until there was Cooper. Cooper who seemed to understand just how touch-starved Matt was; who despite ‘spoiled rich boy’ vibes was actually incredibly kind, caring and careful with Matt. Cooper was the standout for me in this book – he was as much deeper character than first presented, allowed Matt to move at his own pace, and was also willing to risk his heart on a closeted man who has demonstrated less than stellar behaviour in the past.

I really enjoyed reading this and was surprised by how much depth was in the book, whilst still allowing for the usual madcap adventures, albeit in the background. It was cool to see Whit and Caleb are still as deranged, and obviously Sem gets a special mention. Now that I am out of my ‘dark’ era (or taking a break from it at least), I think I may revisit the Cora Rose books I’ve overlooked in the meantime. .

Clueless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Clueless

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The Cheerleader and His Twin’s Best Friend

Lexi

I’ve been in love with Ryder Jackson since my twin sister brought him home and declared him her best friend five years ago. He is funny, smart, gorgeous. The perfect man. Except he’s never shown any romantic interest in me. Ryder only does hookups, but my poor demi heart wants the whole package.
I vow to get over him and focus on my upcoming cheer competition, but suddenly, he’s everywhere, making me fall harder.

When he accidentally walks in on my self-love time, everything changes. One night with Ryder isn’t enough.

I know it’ll hurt when it ends, but if friends with benefits is all Ryder can give, I’ll take it.

Ryder

No boyfriends, no repeats. That’s always been my motto. But when I nearly get my ass handed to me by the disgruntled ex of a former hookup, I realize I need to change things up.

No sex until I learn to avoid the walking red flags.

I can do this.

Except, suddenly, all I can see is Lexi, my best friend’s brother. I’m creating situations to get cuddles from him during nineties movie night and even going to a football game just to watch him cheer.

After one hot night, I want more.

But how do I get Lexi to see me as more than just a hookup?

Clueless is book one in Squad Goals, an MM cheerleader romance. Expect demi rep, witty banter, delicious pining, and cheertastic fun!

REVIEW: ⟫ To be fair to this book, having accidentally read the second one in the series first meant that I kinda felt like I already knew what was going to happen. I’m pretty sure that that affected how I felt about the story – it felt like I already knew it all and what was left was filling in the details. It’s a sweet story – Lexi pining for Ryder who is completely oblivious to how he feels as he views Lexi very much as his best friend’s brother. Both Ryder and Lexi were nice characters, and their chemistry was strong once they got together. There were a few instances of misunderstandings that definitely could have been avoided, and I wasn’t much of a fan of the use of those as both men seemed more than capable of discussing things rationally. I did get irritated at Ryder a couple of times – leaving without saying something, running away at finding something out – but overall, I enjoyed reading the story.

On Guard by J.R. Gray & Andi Jaxon (New York Gods)

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TITLE: ⟫ On Guard

AUTHOR: ⟫ J.R. Gray & Andi Jaxon

SERIES: ⟫ New York Gods

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Selling my virginity wasn’t how I saw my first week of college going.

But after my parents cut me off, an offer from a gorgeous rich stranger doesn’t sound so bad.

It’s only twenty-four hours and I’ll never have to see him again.

Wrong.

Much to my horror, the stranger is Oliver Godfrey, the captain of my fencing team.
And as if that isn’t bad enough, his parents own half the city.

There is no escape from him or the way he makes me feel.

He’s everything I don’t want.

And everything I need.

A playboy like him shouldn’t look at me twice, so why is he ruining my life?

But what Oliver wants, Oliver gets, and he wants me.

He’s arrogant, possessive, and infuriatingly obsessed with me.

This can’t work.

His parents want him to marry an heiress so I can’t keep him.

All I can have is stolen moments hidden in the dark.

He’s going to break my heart and I’m going to let him.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Work: Strictly Professional by Jesse H Reign (Bad Decisions Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Work: Strictly Professional

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jesse H Reign

SERIES: ⟫ Bad Decisions Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ “Not to worry, I’ll compensate you for your time and your… skill.”

My boss is a walking red flag. He’s bolshy and rude. Impossible to please. A big, broody man with dark eyes that carry an unmistakable message – I am not manageable. Seriously, he’s the worst. If it’s not bad enough that he’s a nightmare in the office, he’s all but ordering me to be his date to his son’s wedding. He says it’s called ‘winning a divorce.’ I try telling him that’s not a real thing, but it falls on deaf ears. Not only that, he appears to be in the throes of a major personal awakening and is determined that I’m the man to guide him through it. I’m all for going above and beyond at work, but the man’s demands are becoming downright indecent. See what I mean? Red flags galore. So many red flags I can’t count them all. I might as well be playing a game of red flag bingo at this point. Just my luck, when it comes to Derek MacAvoy, I see a red flag…and instantly want to date it.

REVIEW: ⟫ There’s so much about this story that shouldn’t work – mainly all of the red flags that Wyn notes about Derek when he first meets him. And yet, this was a five star read for me because of Jesse H Reign’s writing style! I laughed so hard with so many of the things that happened – from Derek’s complete and utter cockiness regarding his ‘skills’ (well earned by the way), to how stupendous Wyn was at spending Derek’s money and making it worth while, to the sex scenes – like, phew, these two were hot together!

It was lovely to have the references to previous characters and I really enjoyed just watching Wyn at work – he was absolutely epic and reminded me so much of my working days when you had to manage the boss to ensure optimal output whilst still ensuring they remained somewhat human! The red flags were flying but Wyn managed to turn them all at least a darker shade of green by the end of the book.

A fun, sexy read that put a smile on my face and made me happy indeed!

The Caretaker by CP Harris (Infidelity #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Caretaker

AUTHOR: ⟫ CP Harris

SERIES: ⟫ Infidelity #3

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The only thing Noon Waters is sure of is his undying love for his wife. But when a devastating accident ripped both her and a good deal of his memories away from him, he’s left to navigate a new life weighed down by grief, anger, and confusion.

After stumbling upon an old receipt dated one day prior to the tragic event, Noon’s curiosity leads him to Haley Cove, a place he can’t remember but is somehow certain holds the key to regaining his forgotten years.

So focused on the memories he hopes to recapture, Noon is unprepared for the oddly familiar stranger he finds there instead. As a tentative friendship between the two men blooms into something more, Noon’s reasons for being in the quaint town become less clear. What starts as a quest for answers ends with a revelation too painful to bear.

What happens when the beautiful life you thought you had lived was a lie, but that lie is all you can remember?

**The Caretaker is a MM romance and book 3 in the Infidelity series. It ends with a HEA, and can be read as a stand-alone but may be better enjoyed if read in series order. Themes include amnesia, hurt/comfort, and second chances. Both MCs are consenting adults. Please use the Amazon “Look Inside” feature for a full list of what you can expect.

REVIEW: ⟫ Well this one is going to rip your heart out and squeeze it into a million pieces in every chapter! My goodness – it’s 6 am in the morning and I’ve just finished reading The Caretaker and the bonus scene available on C.P. Harris’ website and I had to get down how I felt immediately.

Each time I begin to read one of their books, I find myself wondering if I will care about the characters as much as I did the first time. And each time, I find myself dragged into a maelstrom of emotions – fear, pain, love – literally tears making it hard to read the words but needing to keep reading because I need to know how they make it through the hell that they are in.

Noon and Solace are no different to Jasper, Cole, Leland, Frankie – they are human beings with good and bad within them, fighting to find a way through their life that means something and contains some happiness. And it is a battle – Noon and Solace fight to get back to each other, even when one of them isn’t aware that that’s what he’s doing. This story was just freaking masterful in the way it wove the past and the present together. Even when you KNOW what’s coming, it’s still so heartbreaking that there just aren’t words.

I think I’ve said it before that C.P. Harris is quite possibly one of the few authors that can make me read infidelity and understand it – the understanding of people’s motives, how they live and breathe, what they need – it shines through in each story, and the Caretaker is no exception.

I would dearly love it if this one was made into a movie – simply because I would love to see if there was a man out there who could play Noon in all of his seven foot, intimidating glory. That and I think the sex scenes would be hotter than fire.

An easy 5/5 from me and please don’t forget to read the bonus scene – it was the literal cherry on top of a perfect sundae!

The Revenge Agenda by Saxon James (Accidental Love #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Revenge Agenda

AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James

SERIES: ⟫ Accidental Love #3

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Rush

When I show up to surprise my boyfriend in a barely-there festive outfit, I’m expecting him to be alone.

Not hosting family.

His fiancé’s family.

Down one boyfriend and up a lot of embarrassment, I flee with my tail between my legs. The broken heart will fade. My humiliation, not so much, but my saving grace is the fact that I never have to see either of them ever, ever again.

Until I walk into work and come face to face with my new boss.

Hunter

I never, in a million years, would have guessed the man hiding under his desk at work would be the one person I hoped to never see again.

My ex-fiancé’s side piece.

Apparently I can’t fire the guy because of personal issues, so I try to play nice, which is a whole lot harder to do when I find out my ex is still texting Rush. The same ex I haven’t heard from since I walked out on his begging.

Rush tells me he didn’t know about me. He tells me there were others. He also tells me our ex still wants him and so, we come up with a plan. To show him what it feels like when you want someone who doesn’t want you back.

All we need is a camera. His number. And one shared kiss.

Revenge has never been sweeter.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was all kinds of sweet! Rush is an absolute darling (as are all of the other Bertha Boys) and it broke my heart when he seemed to accept what Ian had done to him – his view of himself is severely skewed because of his ADHD and the belief that no one would be willing to put up with the way his mind works.

Until, strangest of all things, the man who should by rights absolutely hate him seems to ‘get’ him better than anyone else in the world and he makes Rush feel calm and safe. How else can he repay Hunter for this than by helping him get a little revenge on Ian?

Hunter made me laugh – mainly because of his confusion about Rush and how he found himself dragged into an adventure and relationship almost against his will. I loved how supportive he was of Rush and the way his mind worked (P.L. Ant will live on in my heart forever), his willingness to be open to new suggestions both at work and in his private life, and for the way he saw the Bertha Boys – naked, inappropriate, scary – but ultimately quite possibly the best found family he could have hoped for.

I really enjoyed reading this book, catching up with the other boys and learning more about Rush. The romance was sweet, sexy and steamy and the way in which they got their revenge against Ian was absolutely brilliant. A very good addition to the series and I look forward to reading more about how Xander and the others find their own, well-deserved happily ever after.

Rogue by Onley James (Jericho's Boys Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Rogue

AUTHOR: ⟫ Onley James

SERIES: ⟫ Jericho’s Boys Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Levi Akira’s existence is far from ideal. His mother’s addiction consumes their lives, his academic standing is crumbling, and the convenience store he works at is a constant target for ruthless robberies. But amidst the chaos, Levi finds solace in only three things: his tight-knit group of friends, protecting his neighbourhood as one of Jericho’s Boys, and streaming his favourite video game, where he assumes the role of Rogue—a hero who will break the rules for the greater good.

Shiloh Mizrahi’s hope has all but dwindled. With one brother unjustly imprisoned, and the other a sadistic puppeteer, he endures daily torment at the hands of the latter. And his latest demand? Get close to Levi at any cost.

In the midst of another ordinary night shift, Levi’s world is upended when a captivating and terrified stranger appears, brandishing a weapon and claiming he has been forced to kill Levi by his own brother. Levi, torn between self-preservation and an instinctive aversion to harming the vulnerable boy, takes a bold leap—he kisses him. And then, just like that, the boy disappears into the night, leaving Levi haunted by his memory.

Driven by an unshakeable connection, Levi’s path crosses with Shiloh’s once more, igniting a passionate bond that refuses to be extinguished. However, Shiloh harbours a labyrinth of secrets, torn between loyalty and desire. With his brother’s freedom dangling in the balance, can Levi and Shiloh navigate the treacherous path to be together, or will Levi forever remain a hero confined to the online realm?

REVIEW: ⟫ I started reading this on Onley’s Patreon but Real Life got in the way and I decided to save it until the book was published.

I’m so glad I did because Levi and Shiloh’s story deserved to be devoured in one sitting, along with a box of tissues and a soothing cup of tea. If you’ve read the Necessary Evils stories, you know that these people meet their person and imprint like a duckling and Levi is no exception. But this time, he meets the love of his life at the end of a gun.

Shiloh broke my whole damned heart for so many reasons: Micah was a grade A A*hole who loved nothing more than torturing Shiloh mentally and physically, and as such Shiloh is expecting nothing good from his life. Which is why when Levi prevents him from committing murder on camera with a stunning kiss, he imprints just as much as the other man does.

Levi’s pain was of a whole different kind and man, this is where the tissues really came in handy. This boy had been through it and is still dealing with it in the form of his alcoholic mother. The only reason Levi hasn’t broken is his found family with Jericho and the rest of the Murder Muppets. Shiloh takes him completely by surprise but from the beginning, Levi is all in.

I admit that there were three ‘background’ characters that really grabbed me: Malachi, Shiloh’s brother was like ‘woof’ – I cannot wait to read more about him; Seven being flippant, bratty and downright needy made me laugh and LONG for his story; and then we met Enzo. OH MY GOODNESS. Seriously, these two didn’t interact that much on paper, but they burned up the room together in the short amount of time we spent with them and I am relishing finding out Enzo’s backstory. Which is coming – right?

Like the other stories in this series, this was wild, violent, sexy ride and I was more than happy to hold on to the ‘oh sh!t’ bar and make the most of it. Shiloh and Levi did not disappoint in any way, although reading what the two of them have gone through really made me feel kinda bleak more than once or twice.

Some of the Mulvaneys made an appearance, including Avi and Asa (I can never get enough of these two), and we got to see the family in action as they helped Levi help Shiloh. But this was definitely all about the Murder Muppets, with an excellent mix of old characters whilst allowing the newer ones to shine. Obviously I’m a big Onley James’ fan so it’s no surprise that this scored a five from me, but I would definitely say the tissues are needed for this one – it felt so much more emotionally wrenching, which would make sense since the Muppets are not psychopaths – they’re human, with past trauma, a need to belong and find someone to love. Which is precisely why they work so well.

Also, don’t forget to grab the bonus epilogue because it was the absolute cherry on the top of the cake!