Tag Archives: Rating: 3.75

Rex by Willow Thomas (Fallen Gargoyles MC #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ Rex

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Fallen Gargoyle’s MC #3

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Falling in love was not something I had planned

Rex

Watching my club brothers find their forever men has got me wanting something more than the odd hook up.

Love isn’t on the cards for me though. How could it be when the example I had growing up was an abusive asshole.

I’ve always thought that I could never love someone the way that they deserve.

But then I meet him.

Sweet, funny, lonely Ian.

I don’t care if I can’t love, I’ll learn.

Because he deserves the world.

And I am going to be the only one who gives it to him.

Ian is mine.

Ian

I am so freaking lonely.

All my family are gone, I don’t have any friends, and working from home means I don’t even have work colleagues.

Being painfully shy does not invite friendships easily.

I miss hugs.

Having not been touched by another human being in so long I do something a little bit impulsive.

Getting a tattoo just so someone will touch me isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but it quickly proves to be the best thing when I meet Rex.

Rex gives me more than just a tattoo. Pretty soon I am drawn into his world of bikers, parties, and a family I would give anything to be a part of.

I want to stay here. With Rex.

Now I just need to hope the beautiful man might see me as something other than a friend.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very sweet, sexy, quick read. Ian has been alone for what feels like forever and longs for touch. Rex is surrounded by his friends finding love and feeling like it’s not on the cards for him. When they meet, it’s instant fireworks, with Ian choosing a tattoo with very special meaning to Rex.

The two of them were very sweet (even when their thoughts were decidedly adult) and I loved how quickly Rex’s found family accepted Ian and made sure he felt wanted for himself. The two of them together were a match made in heaven, especially with how much Ian enjoys being tattooed – I can only imagine how much fun they will have covering him in Rex’s work!

I received an ARC from the Author.

Ex Match by MM Farmer (Perfect Match Agency: Springtime Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Ex Match

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Perfect Match Agency: Springtime Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Sparks fly when the Perfect Match Agency matches two exes who had a bad, bad break-up. But the real fire starts after an emergency heat leads to a surprise pregnancy…

John

It’s been a year since my relationship with Michael imploded and my life fell apart, and I’m finally ready to date again. Especially with my heat about to come at any moment. I never thought I would resort to a matchmaking agency to help me find an alpha…and I never expected that alpha to be my ex.

Michael

My heart was in shreds after John kicked me out of the life we’d lived together for five years. So I when my therapist suggested I sign up with the Perfect Match Agency, I was skeptical. And then they went and matched me with John. My John! On top of that, what does he do on our “first date” but go into heat!

Now we have a far bigger problem than suddenly seeing each other after a year. We have a baby on the way and a mountain of baggage to sort through if we’re going to build a life for him. Can we take this second chance we’ve been given and do better the second time around, or will my family get in the way and ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to me?

Perfect Match Agency: Springtime is a multi-author gay romance series. The stories are non-shifter omegaverse, with high heat and low angst. Male pregnancy is possible in the world. Each individual book can be read as a standalone, features a new couple, and a satisfying happily ever after. Ex Match is the first book in the new series and features a second chance, emergency heat, surprise pregnancy, learning to love again, working it out, horrible parents, and a happily ever after.

Be sure to check out the first Perfect Match Agency series as well!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, fun read with very likeable main characters. I liked how neither of them were bad guys – they just hadn’t figured out how to communicate with each other. Once they were back together, I also really liked how they had to keep working on things, how it wasn’t just a one conversation and done. I will definitely look out for more of this series.

End Scene by A.V.Shener

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TITLE: ⟫ End Scene

AUTHOR: ⟫ A.V. Shener

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ A Hollywood dream turns into a nightmare.

***

In the early 1990s, Jonah Carter almost made it big. With a breakout role in a well-regarded film, he had never been closer to achieving his dreams. But behind the scenes, dark forces devised a plan of their own, costing the briefly shining star both his dreams and freedom.

Years later, Jonah is still bound to the City of Angels, living in solitude with the echoes of a long-forgotten dream. His peaceful life comes crashing down with the reappearance of his detective ex-boyfriend. Hayden is investigating the disappearance of a young actor, and the bloody signs all lead back to Jonah’s mysterious past.

As his buried secrets come roaring back, Jonah must join forces with the man he thought he’d lost forever. But how can they defeat the ones who live in the shadows?

***

End Scene is an intense read and meant for a mature audience. Please read the Author’s Note for more information.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was very much a dark read – I went into it with very little in the way of prior knowledge, so just how dark it was took me by surprise. The story itself was fascinating, as was the way it was told in two different times – flashbacks and the present time. It constantly surprised me with where it took things – sometimes for good, sometimes not so good. So why the rating? I think because I couldn’t find it in myself to like or care about the main character.

I definitely sympathised with what he went through because it was horrific, but there was something that kept me detached from the story – I wanted to know what was going to happen but I couldn’t actually say that I cared overly much. It was well written – the characters were nicely defined and I could sort of understand some of the decisions that were made. But like I said, I found it difficult to care. This didn’t rip my heart to shreds or make me want to weep. It was interesting but I just felt so distanced from it all.

This is the first book by the author that I have read and I think I might look into some of their other works. I would say if you like the idea of a dark thriller with some seriously morally ambiguous characters and some dark deeds, you may well find this an interesting read.

Deader Than Dead by H.L. Day (Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Deader Than Dead

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L.Day

SERIES: ⟫ Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Even death can’t stop fate.

Professional thief, Bellamy, might have bitten off more than he can chew this time. Jobs have gone wrong before, but never this wrong. His moral code might be grayer than most, but it exists, and he finds himself facing an impossible choice that could cost him everything.

Necromancer, John Averill’s day just got ten times worse. One more job, his boss says. Well, that job sucks, because not only does he find himself with a gun pointed at his head, but the man he’s been hired to raise temporarily from the dead is none other than his fated mate… the man he’s been searching for all his life.

Their love story is over before it ever began. Or is it? Fate still has a few tricks up its sleeve, and the impossible might just become possible.

Deader than Dead is a 57k Fated Mates MM paranormal novel featuring villains who will stop at nothing to get what they want, a stolen artifact, kidnapping, betrayal, lies, and two men determined to overcome death itself to be together.

Content warning for death and mention of suicide.

REVIEW: ⟫ A very entertaining premise, I came to this story after reading the second in the trilogy so I kinda knew what happened. However, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Both John and Bellamy were fun to read about – they lived such different lives and yet when they met, they were both more than ready to accept that what they had found was something special. The fact that Bellamy was dead when they met was neither here nor there!

The plot of the mask was really interesting, as was the view into a little more of Cade and the PPB. I’m sort of glad that I read the second book first – I’m not sure if I would have read more after this one because although I enjoyed it, it didn’t grab me as much as the second in the series.

A good set up for what sounds like an interesting show-down, as well as (hopefully) finding out more about Asher and the other members of the team, I’m glad I read this but I found book two more entertaining.

Lodrick & Godefroy by Lucie Fleury (Ambrosia Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Lodrick & Godefroy

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lucie Fleury

SERIES: ⟫ Ambrosia Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Lodrick had the perfect a good and loving family and a promising future as a Royal guard. But hatred and jealousy ruined everything. He was forced to drink ambrosia, the highly addictive substance produced by god’s bodies. Now to survive he only has one to become a god’s lover.

Godefroy, the god of Peace and Harmony, has longed for a companion for a long time. He’s ready to love and care. Yet, as good willing as he is, he has trouble understanding humans and Lodrick is a real mystery. Why does he refuse his soothing?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a really interesting story – from the blurb, I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, especially as Lodrick would have been well within his rights to hate everything about his circumstances. Considering it was quite a short story, I was impressed with how much time and effort went into looking at how Lodrick was feeling, how he found a way to spend his time and begin to build a life, as well as encompassing his shame and unhappiness with how he came to be in the situation.

Godefroy was a real sweetheart, much like you would expect from the god of Peace and Harmony. However, I particularly enjoyed how he was prepared to maintain his boundaries – he could accept Lodrick’s unhappiness and anger without letting it ruin his hard-earned peace. I was fascinated by the host of background characters and loved the world-building, lore and hints of the darker side to the entire Nymph/god relationship.

I have already downloaded the second book because I am very interested in reading more in this verse and would recommend this if you like your stories spicy but with some thought there too.

His Captor by MM Farmer (Omegas After Dark Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ His Captor

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Omegas After Dark Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Indulging in a Dark Fantasy can lead to deep consequences in reality…

Hayden

It wasn’t my first time indulging in that particular fantasy. I was on a business trip and looking for something fun. I didn’t plan on going into heat while playing around, or to like the alpha I played with so much.

I also didn’t expect to end up pregnant.

And what I really didn’t expect was for that anonymous alpha I played with to end up being my boss at my new job…

Mace

Playing with a cute omega from out of town was supposed to be a test of the new security tech I’d been developing. It wasn’t supposed to end with me cutting ties with my old, crooked business partner and starting a whole new company in Barrington. It also wasn’t supposed to leave me wishing I’d gotten the real name and phone number of my omega playmate.

They say be careful what you wish for. Now, not only is Hayden back in my life with all his charm and feisty spirit, he’s carrying my baby. And I’m his boss.

And because of me, the cute omega I’m falling hard and fast for is in danger from my ex-business partner, who is out for revenge…

Omegas After Dark is an omegaverse mpreg story set in the same world as the lighter, fluffier Bangers & Mash series, but it deals with much more intense subject matter. Sink into the underworld of Barrington in all its super-hot glory, but don’t say you weren’t warned!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a fun, quick read, and despite the subject matter there wasn’t a huge amount of sex! We originally met Hayden in His Hunter and I remember him being a very fun character. This story gives more background and fills him out into someone quite interesting. I loved the fact that Hayden didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t aware of what happened, and once he knew that he was pregnant, he moved on with his life. I really enjoyed the back characters we got to meet during this story, as well as catching up with Ari and Samson.

The industrial espionage/threat was well written and interesting, especially with the introduction of a character near the end of the book. I must admit, I laughed when Hayden was proved correct about Colin – a more deserving fate I cannot imagine! I thought the ‘toys’ the Ace used during their torrid weekend were absolutely fascinating and can only imagine how they could be put to use in a wider community!

I’m glad that I read this one and can recommend if you are in the mood for some kinky spice and a little light threat to your story. I received an ARC from GRR.

Tongue-Tied by Christina Lee (Franklin U 2 Book #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ Tongue Tied

AUTHOR: ⟫ Christina Lee

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN

Dex has always been my best friend, so it’s no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We’re complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let’s just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys, even with Dex’s help? I’m useless. Maybe it’s because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX

After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he’s desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it’s addicting. I’m getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I’m not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a friends to lovers story in its’ most purest form. Dex and Aus have been friends for what feels like forever and despite their very different personalities and experiences, they are the very best of friends. When Dex moves out of their shared accommodation, they have to make more of an effort to spend time together and it makes them both appreciate the other even more.

Austin wants to move on with his love-life – or rather, start to actually have a love life – and as his best friend, Dex steps up to help him gain the confidence to get out there and find his man. What begins as a sweet attempt to help out turns into a series of dates and situations that make both of them realise just how much the other one is their person. But the big question is whether or not they take the risk on their friendship in order to have something more.

This was a very sweet story, with two young men who don’t want to lose what they have together who don’t realise how much they already share, with a group of friends who are rooting for them, and some nicely steamy moments. I received an ARC from GRR.

Broken Ice by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

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TITLE: ⟫ Broken Ice

AUTHOR: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

SERIES: ⟫ Alpha Omega Hockey #4

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ After being forced to take suppressants for a year by his coach, Beau’s body is a mess. He has a debilitatingly painful heat every two weeks, and there’s no medication available to help him.

Being traded from the team that did that to him is a slap to the face. Being traded to their direct competitors, the Miami Manatees, is just the cherry on top of the sh*t sundae that has become his life.

Now Beau doesn’t just have to get through heats only an Alpha would be able to help with, but has to tolerate Emilio, the guy who doesn’t only hate him, but his Omega scent.

Which doesn’t really make sense, what with how protective and possessive the Alpha gets when Beau goes into heat…and how he keeps volunteering to help him through them.

Beau might take him up on that offer, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to fall in love.

This story contains a goofily oblivious main character and his long-suffering romantic interest, many a heat, plenty of nesting, hurt/comfort, and a dog named Bingo.

This book takes place a decade after the beginning of Alpha Omega: New York and can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ Hmm, I’ve read plenty of oblivious love interests, but Beau may just be the absolute worst one yet! I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I have a couple of the previous books in the series. Beau was so oblivious that after a while, it really began to get on my nerves.

Some of it was understandable – the reactions of his partners in the past and his old coach really did a number on him. But he had so many positive influences in his life – from his family to the few people he did let close – that it was difficult not to feel like he should have been questioning what he had been through in the past a lot sooner.

The story kinda gambolled along quite nicely, with an interesting cast of characters. It seems pretty obvious that Beau’s brother will get his own story with Sammy, and I will definitely read that because even when I’m not 100% along for the ride, Marina Vivancos writes a story that you want to read to the end. Even when you want to shake one of the main protagonists.

I did enjoy how secure Beau was when it came to the physical side of things – he made me laugh more than once with how straight-forward he was and how Emilio reacted. I didn’t get as much of a sense of Emilio as Beau, although the guy deserves a medal for putting up with Beau on occasion.

This was a fun read, with minimal angst, a chunk of heat sex, and a completely oblivious omega that you may find more than a little annoying even while you’re hanging in there for his HEA.

Overtime by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

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Title: ⟫ Overtime (Alpha Omega Hockey Book #4)

Author: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Ishir is happy when his best friend Zane is traded to his team, the Brooklyn Cats. Why wouldn’t he be? They’ve known each other since they were kids. Zane was the first person he came out to as gay—an Alpha who’s attracted to other Alphas. Zane has been there for him every step of the way.

Oh, and Ishir is madly in love with him.

Ishir isn’t going to make it a problem, though. Sure, they’re living together, so he has to see Zane strut around shirtless. And, okay, Zane knows about Ishir’s weird little superstition—Ishir can only come when he scores a goal. It’s his thing, okay?

But when Zane starts involving himself in who Ishir can sleep with…in how he gets himself off…well, things start getting a little more complicated.

Zane likes to tell him what to do, and Ishir likes listening.

They’re just best friends, though. Nothing more.

Ishir is just going to have to accept that…or break his heart trying.

This is the fourth instalment of Alpha Omega Hockey but can be read as a stand-alone.

Review: ⟫ I seem to have this issue with Marina Vivancos – I go through a couple of her books and absolutely adore them, then hit one that just doesn’t make it for me. Unfortunately, this is the second of the Alpha Omega Hockey books that I have read that didn’t hit the mark.

I didn’t like Ishir – I tried to, but I just didn’t. And I think I would possibly have enjoyed this book far more if told from Zane’s POV because I found his dilemma far more intriguing. The dynamic between the two of them was intense – to absolutely everyone other than them, it was more than obvious that they were enmeshed far more than they were willing to accept. Zane literally did everything but pee on Ishir to claim his territory, and his pouting/sulking was entertaining. The scenes where Zane insisted on helping Ishir to celebrate were extremely hot – I loved the way that during those moments, there were no insecurities or doubts – they trusted each other and that was lovely.

I wanted to like this more than I did but ultimately, I enjoyed this entry into the Alpha Omega Hockey verse and I will be reading any further entries.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Obnoxious Bad Boy by Devon Doe (Am I the Problem? Book #3)

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Title: ⟫ Obnoxious Bad Boy (Am I the Problem? #3)

Author: ⟫ Devon Doe

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tl;dr: Am I the problem for hooking up in secret with the local bad boy? (Everyone thinks I hate him)

I [20M] am an accomplished pre-law student with my life mapped out for me by my parents. One day, I’ll be a respected lawyer, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying college, writing shameless gay smut, and getting absolutely zero action.

But I do have a crush. On the most obnoxious local bad boy [25M] and the exact type of person I shouldn’t like. He’s a tattoo artist, an ex-burglar, and, worst of all, an influencer. He’s ripped, inked, and his ice-blue eyes pierce my heart (even if he did once spill coffee on my laptop and was very mean about it).

He’s also straight and I hate him because I can’t have him.

Or so I thought, because one day, when he notices me, my world spins out of control, and my morals go out the window. I’ve always been the skinny pale nerd with no flirting game, but to Vex, I’m his sweetie, his baby boy, and his eager plaything. I can’t help but love it.

But he doesn’t want to come out, my trust fund is on the line, and I’m falling for him all too fast. This was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement, so I shouldn’t want him to be my boyfriend. But I do.

Am I the problem for trying to get more than he’s willing to give? Or is he the problem for dragging me into this?

Addendum: If my parents find out I’m seeing an ex-con, they’re gonna kill me.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

“Obnoxious Bad Boy” is an enemies-to-lovers, steamy, opposites-attract romcom where a snotty nerd gets the bad boy of his dreams and has to deal with the consequences of their hush-hush relationship.

While the books in the series share a setting each can be read as a standalone.

(Aaron and Vex’s story)

Will our nerdy protagonist find the courage to fight for what he truly wants, or will he lose everything he holds dear? Don’t miss out on this scorching hot enemies-to-lovers romcom that will leave you crying with laughter!

Review: ⟫ I’m actually in two minds about this book so my review will probably reflect that. On the one hand, the chemistry between Aaron and Vex is steaming hot and there’s no doubting that they really want each other. I also really liked the way in which Vex encouraged Aaron and gave him the confidence to become more ‘himself’ around other people and particularly with his parents.

However, the whole in the closet and flirting with other people thing niggled at me. I could well understand Vex’s dilemma – if you are selling a product, you give the people what they want. And I would imagine it’s incredibly difficult to make a life-changing decision, especially if you’ve seen it go sideways for someone else. All that being said, there were more than a couple of times when I was side-eyeing, and his lack of support to Aaron during something pretty big made me very unhappy with him.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous two but this book has solid writing, excellent chemistry between our leads and of course, the background characters we are growing to know and love. Not my favourite but well worth a read.

I received an ARC from GRR.