Tag Archives: mm arc reviewer

Forever Rebel by Garrett Leigh (Rebel Kings)

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TITLE: ⟫ Forever Rebel
AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫Rebel Kings – The Long Goodbye
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Forever Rebel – The Long Goodbye

It began with one smouldering look across a crowded bar.

The lonely president of the Rebel Kings MC haunted by a forbidden desire for his sergeant-at-arms. An assassin hiding in an accountant’s skin—deadly, cold, and untouched by love.

It ends with soulmates and a love worth living for.

They’re back, one last time.
The beginning of The Long Goodbye.

“We ride out for family to the end.”

– Cam, Saint, and Alexei (MMM)
– Embry and Mateo (MM)
– Rubi and River (MM)
– Decoy and Folk (MM)
– Locke, Nash, and Orla (MMF)
– Ranger and Viktor (MM)

Hurt/comfort, found family, brotherhood, and the glorious happy ending these boys deserve.

REVIEW: ⟫ I finished reading this last night and gave myself time to sit with my feelings. And I had so many feelings – I hadn’t realise just how difficult it was going to be to say a final goodbye to the Rebel Kings – Cam, Saint, Rubi – they have been living rent-free in my head for so long, it’s going to be weird to not be thinking about what happens for them next.

This is the wrap-up that we all needed and there is no way you could read this without having followed the series – you’d get lost in the first chapter. We get to spend time with so many of the amazing men and women in the series, learning motivations, what may have been going on in the background of ‘bigger’ events, thoughts and feelings of characters that are ‘quieter’ – it was like being given a behind the scenes look at so many things.

This isn’t a happily ever after because that implies that life is going to be a breeze from now on – instead, it’s a slice of life where we get to see our favourite characters find peace, love and acceptance, and as such it touched my heart in ways I didn’t expect.

It’s been an entertaining, occasionally gut-wrenching, painful, loving, fabulous ride and I truly feel that Garrett Leigh did the Rebel Kings proud with this final instalment. If you’ve been ‘riding’ with the club since the beginning, this book is a must for you – and if you haven’t, what have you been doing? Go see where Cam meets the Accountant and fall into this amazing world!

I received an ARC from Foreword PR.

The Price of Ice by N.J. Lysk

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TITLE: ⟫ The Price of Ice
AUTHOR: ⟫ N.J.Lysk
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Hockey is all Kallen has ever wanted, but as an omega, his role is to keep his hockey team together. His body is his team’s both on and off the ice. It’s a price he is willing to pay to play, but when he is finally accepted into a professional team, all his expectations of team as family are shattered.

He still wants the ice badly enough to stay, even knowing one day he will be asked to breed with his team to produce a new generation of players. But no matter how hard he tries; he cannot help but wish for something more… Something an omega in his position can’t ever have.

An alpha of his own.

He knows that if he opens his heart, he won’t be able to do what needs doing, but when offered kindness amidst the chaos and the cruelty, he might not be able to deny himself anymore.

This novel has dark themes and a happy ending.

REVIEW: ⟫ The warnings about the dark themes were no joke – from page one, a sense of unease and disquiet is very obvious and it grows as each chapter passes. What was fascinating was how Kallen justified and accepted things simply because he was expected to – he blamed himself for so many things that were most definitely not his fault, it was heartbreaking.

Quite a bit of the story was relatively slow-moving and in that time, the author explored themes of discrimination and prejudice, omegas discovering their power and found family with a deft hand and an interesting slant. It was a very interesting read and to some extent, the romance aspect of things took a backseat to the politics and aftermath of what Kallen suffered through. It’s given me quite a lot to think about and I very much enjoyed the way that things ‘ended’, with Levy and Kallen having what could be considered a relationship that was out of the ordinary but which worked for them.

A very thoughtful, affecting read with some good characterisations, some lovely relationships and a new slant on the whole alpha/omega/beta dynamics but I would say take heed of the trigger warnings.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Off Limits by Willow Dixon (Legacy Mechanics #4)

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TITLE: ⟫ Off Limits
AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Dixon

SERIES: ⟫ Legacy Mechanics #4
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Asa

For eight years I’ve lived in the shadow of my golden child stepbrother. Dex is everything our parents want in a son, and I’m the weirdo who can’t seem to get his life together.

After getting renovicted from my apartment, I’m forced to ask Dex for help. He agrees to let me stay with him while I find a new place, but neither of us is happy about it. Then I accidentally discover that my perfect stepbrother has an online side gig, and I learn how lucrative it can be.

Working together is supposed to be a way to make some extra cash, but it’s impossible to keep things in the business zone when I start to realize that maybe Dex is just as misunderstood and lonely as me.

Dex
The only downside to moving home after college is that I can’t avoid my stepbrother anymore. Asa is one of the most aggravating people I’ve ever met, and he’s spent the last eight years letting me know exactly what he thinks of me.

After agreeing to let him stay with me so he doesn’t end up homeless, he accidentally finds out about my online job. No one else knows my secret, but instead of using it against me, he suggests we work together as a solution to his money problems and my desire to get him out of my apartment as quickly as possible.

I already know this is going to be messy, but I’m not prepared for how difficult it is to keep our arrangement impersonal. And the more I learn about my closed-off stepbrother, the more I realize that maybe we aren’t so different after all.

Asa and Dex’s story is an opposites attract stepbrother romance between a jock and a nerd who can’t keep things in the business zone. You can expect dislike to friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, found family, online spicy times, reluctant roommates, some snark, lots of heat, and all the feels as these two men realize that sometimes the person you need is someone you shouldn’t want. It is book 4 in my Legacy Mechanics series but can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This book was so much more than I expected and I really, really enjoyed it. Asa is demisexual (or seems to be) and his only experience has been with the one-off with his stepbrother four years ago. His parents don’t care, his mother and stepfather use him as a babysitter and errand boy, and he absolutely detests his perfect stepbrother. Until he’s in a real bind and Dex comes through for him.

Dex gives the appearance of having everything, but it’s only now that he’s finished college and is living alone that he is becoming his true, authentic self. He can’t see his stepbrother made homeless, so allows Asa to move in without considering the consequences. When Asa catches him camming accidentally, it opens the way for the two of them to rediscover who the other is, realise that the hatred they felt for each other when they were younger was a result of the situation, and also realise that the one person meant for them might just be right in front of their eyes.

The camming was hot but it was actually the way that these two communicated, tried so hard for each other and how they became each other’s safe haven that really made this book for me. I quite possibly enjoyed this the most of the legacy mechanics series and I am looking forward to the author’s Silvercrest U series that they are currently working on

I received an ARC from Foreword PR.

Royal Crush by E.M.Lindsey

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TITLE: ⟫ Royal Crush
AUTHOR: ⟫ E.M.Lindsey
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ As an actor, there’s nothing more humbling than crawling my way back into the spotlight after a vicious spiral that nearly ended my career. But I’m determined to do it. Especially since the role of a lifetime was just dropped into my lap: the chance to play Camillo Soriano, the stone-faced, unflappable, second-born Prince.

This is my chance to make it, to prove to the world that I’m not the mess the media wants everyone to believe I am.

But things get complicated when the studio decides to hire a wheelchair consultant to ensure I’m doing the job right. And not just any consultant, but the Prince himself…

…and Camillo is not thrilled about the casting.

Now have a babysitter on set, and with Camillo’s standards, the infuriatingly gorgeous Prince isn’t making it easy on me.

The man is an absolute royal pain, but the more I get to know him, the more I realize how much we’re alike. It’s becoming increasingly obvious he’s the only person who truly understands me, and the longer we’re together, the more I start to believe in fate.

Royal Crush is an enemies to lovers, actor/prince standalone with a snarky wheelchair using prince, a bitter former child actor, secret dates, tons of snark and banter, the inglorious realities of doing spicy scenes for a camera, a secret romance and a swoony, steamy happily ever after.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was an absolute surprise to me and I commend E.M.Lindsey for what they have written. Camillo’s disability played a part in everything and was so realistic including the non-glamourous aspects of being a Prince in such a situation. Camillo and Aleric were brilliant together – from the time they met, there was an honesty to their interactions that was palpable. The chemistry between them was obvious but I really liked the fact that this story was about intimacy – the intimacy of seeing someone in a fragile, vulnerable position and loving them; the intimacy of recognising inner pain and helping that person feel seen; the intimacy of trusting that someone isn’t going to use your personal trauma against you. I read it in one sitting and felt refreshed by the ending – they chose each other and it was just incredibly special.

I received an ARC from GRR.

March 2025 Round Up

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Every month, I try to 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 March 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.

George’s Big Day by Mary Calmes ⟫ With George #3 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Limitless by Willow Thomas ⟫ Squad Goals #5 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Author Arc

NotJason by Jennifer Cody ⟫ The Banshee House #1 ⟫ 4/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

His Wicked Wants by Leighton Greene ⟫ West Coast Mobsters #8 ⟫ 5/5 ⟫ Author ARC

On The Edge by JJ Mulder ⟫ SCU Hockey #3 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ GRR

Possessive Puckboy by Eden Finley & Saxon James ⟫ Puckboys #8 ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Foreword PR

Royal Scoundrel by Saxon James ⟫ Frat Wars Novella ⟫ 4.5/5 ⟫ Kindle Unlimited

Ronan by G Eilsel ⟫ Mate’s Mark #1 ⟫ 3.5/5 ⟫ BookSirens

Lustful Nights by Ashley Rayne (Peaches Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Lustful Nights
AUTHOR: ⟫ Ashley Rayne

SERIES: ⟫Peaches Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Lennox

A string of bad boyfriends has me questioning my taste in men.

They’re either jealous of my job as a dancer at a strip club, or they use it as an opportunity to try hooking up with my friends. It also doesn’t help that my big brother is the definition of overprotective, meaning nobody is ever good enough for me.

When I notice his best friend—his very straight, very good-looking best friend—at the club where I work more than once, I wonder if maybe he’s not as out of my reach as I once thought he was.

Jensen

My life is pretty simple, which is totally fine with me. I work remotely, spend time with my best friend, Nick, and ride my motorcycle. I’ve had a few girlfriends here and there, but nobody recently, and definitely not anyone serious.

When my boss has his bachelor party at a local all-male strip club, I know I have to make an appearance. Then I notice a fit body attached to a familiar face. I wasn’t expecting to see my best friend’s brother dancing onstage, but I also wasn’t prepared for the feelings watching him perform brought out in me. But even if I wanted to explore anything with Lennox, am I willing to risk my years-long friendship for him?
​​​​​​​
Lustful Nights is the first book in the Peaches series about a group of friends who work at a strip club. You can expect a confident bi-awakening, a virgin MC falling for his brother’s best friend, and game nights with strip poker.

REVIEW: ⟫ I don’t think I’ve read very much from this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lennox is very confident – he’s come into his own now that he’s dancing at a strip club, following his calling educationally and just generally feeling like his own person. Now if only he could find love!

Jensen comes across as a very simple character – he follows his heart and how he feels, and falling for Lennox requires only a mild shift in his attitude as he’s only ever been with women before. I liked the fact that these two communicated so well with each other – they asked questions in a fun way of getting to know each other, and even when they were nervous they didn’t shy away from the difficult conversations.

The conflict between them and Nick was handled relatively respectfully – I did find Nick to be more than a little overbearing, although I understand that Lennox’s taste in the past has been less than stellar. There were quite a few sex scenes, which (for me) didn’t actually add much to the story. I did like the fact that both Lennox andd Jensen were switches and so there wasn’t as much emphasis on Lennon losing his virginity as to be obnoxious. This was a nice example of falling for your brother’s best friend and I quite enjoyed reading it.

I received an ARC through Indie Author Creative.

On The Edge by J.J. Mulder (SCU Hockey #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ On The Edge
AUTHOR: ⟫ J.J. Mulder

SERIES: ⟫ SCU Hockey #3
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Henri Vasel has perfected the art of people pleasing. He’s a good student, a fair hockey player, and he has a group of friends he’d do anything for. He’s happy. Or, rather, as happy as he can be when he has a class with the one person he can’t seem to please at South Carolina University.

Atlas Kaiser hates a lot of things, but right now he hates Henri Vasel the most. He doesn’t want to have to stare at his perfect face, or listen to his adorable German accent. He wants to be left alone. Unfortunately, they’re partnered together for the semester so he’ll have to grit his teeth and try to make it work.

Animosity morphs into a tentative friendship, which eventually leads to more. But while Atlas doesn’t trust their budding relationship, Henri wants more.

REVIEW: ⟫ I sat after finishing this book to give myself time to let it settle. It wasn’t your typical mm romance, although I have to say Henri and Atlas are actually incredibly romantic! Henri could be classed as asexual, although he never actually labels himself that way. He simply hasn’t ever met anyone that interested him sexually before Atlas. Henri is an absolute sweetheart – very hard on himself, caring about others and generally just one of the good guys.

I wasn’t sure about Atlas initially – he was very prickly, judgemental and occasionally downright mean and I wondered if his grumpy was going to be too much for Henri’s sunshine. As I read more and realised what Atlas had been through, I began to understand his reluctance to let anyone in. I really appreciated how gentle, understanding and loving he was with Henri – not only was there constant informed consent, but there was an understanding on both sides that they could stop anything that was happening at any time. It was beautiful because it was just who they were to each other rather than something special.

The “misunderstanding” between the two of them was painful but it was a good kind of painful, inasmuch as it made Atlas realise that pulling away from Henri to avoid getting hurt wasn’t going to work because it was too painful being away from Henri. I loved the interactions with Atlas’s brothers, and Nate was the MVP of this with his way of ignoring Atlas and his grumpy personality and being the friend that we all need at some point in our lives.

I loved catching up with Carter, Zeke, Max and Luke as well as news about the coach and others. This was a really lovely, relaxing read – sometimes a bit sad, but ultimately hopeful in that the main characters found the right person for them, in spite of their character flaws. I can’t comment on whether or not it was an accurate representation of asexuality, but I thought it was quite eye-opening in how Henri felt about the sexual side of things – there were times when he just wanted to hold Atlas and sleep, and other times when they explored the sexual side of things, but it definitely took a back-seat to the character development and their relationship.

Ultimately, I very much enjoyed reading this story and felt a sense of satisfaction at the end with where they were and how they were living their lives. The SCU Hockey series has been quite the delight to read and I look forward to more from this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.