Tag Archives: rating: 4

In His Corner by H.L. Day

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TITLE: ⟫ In His Corner

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L Day

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Hayden Quinn’s worked his ass off to turn his restaurant into the thriving business it is today. Too hard to risk it all by letting an ex-con through his door. Yet, there Levi is. Six feet of attitude. Six feet of pure temptation.

No one warned Levi that getting out of prison would only be the start of his problems. He doesn’t need a boss who looks down his nose at him. Except behind that, there’s a heat. A heat that Levi can’t help responding to.

Together they burn hot, forging something that could be more than just lust. When Levi’s past comes knocking though, has he really got someone in his corner, or is he just as alone as ever?

In His Corner is a steamy hurt/comfort MM romance featuring a hot-tempered chef who needs his life shaking up a bit and a wounded character who might have a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, but deep down just wants someone to love him. When their fragile connection is put to the test, will their relationship endure, or will everything they’ve built crumble away to nothing?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was so much more than I was expecting. I loved the male leads in this story – both Hayden and Levi gave the impression of being completely closed off – from friendship, let alone falling in love But the chemistry between the two of them was undeniable from the very beginning. Things got steamy very quickly and the almost ‘hate sex’ aspect of things was very, very well done.

But where this book worked so well for me was after the hate sex. Levi questioning the way things were between them and then becoming ill was a turning point I wasn’t expecting and definitely enjoyed. Seeing such a caring side to Hayden was a real pleasure and I loved how he looked after Levi.

The blast from the past was very well done, especially because it didn’t rely on David being attracted to Levi – he was very much the type of arrogant man who couldn’t accept that Levi wasn’t prepared to go back to the life he had had before, and dragging Levi back into things against his will was such a rotten (but plausible) thing to do. Hayden acquitted himself well – special mention to his brother – and the way things were wrapped up made me give a satisfied sigh. This reminded me very much of the Strays series by Garrett Leigh in a good way. Very much enjoyed and will look for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Restless by Willow Thomas (Squad Goals Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Restless

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Thomas

SERIES: ⟫ Squad Goals #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ The Cheerleader and the Football Star

Gio

Kissing Tucker Evans at a frat party was a stupid idea. He’s still getting over his cheating ex and there is no way I am anyone’s rebound guy.

Except when he gets injured, somehow I find myself volunteering to help look after him.

In every sense.

So maybe I will be his rebound. If I know what the score is going in, I can’t be hurt.

Solid plan.

Tucker

Kissing Giovanni Russo at a frat party was a brilliant idea. There was more chemistry in that one kiss than there ever was with my ex.

Now I just have to convince him to give me a chance.

Sharing a bed at his parents house leads to some epic fun times, but he has it in his head that I just want a rebound.

With Gio I want everything.

Restless is a cheerleader/football player MM romance. It has overly helpful friends, forced proximity, one bed, and an accidental grand gesture.

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this by saying that I haven’t read Squad Goals Book #1, so many of the characters in this story were unknown to me. That isn’t to say that it can’t be read as a standalone as I very quickly caught up with who was who, and how the ‘lines’ mingled.

Squad Goals was a fun, light, sexy read with both Gio and Tucker being very sweet, loving guys who were just figuring out what they wanted in life. Tucker was cheated on by his ex and, quite rightly, was hurt by it. However, the hurt wasn’t personal to the ex – it was more the general ego bruising that was the issue. Unfortunately, Gio has obviously had experience being the rebound person before and is determined that it isn’t going to happen again. Even for Tucker.

I really liked the way that Tucker didn’t push Gio’s boundaries – he was respectful, understanding and honest about how he felt, and it was good to see both leads be so clear and upfront. The ‘helpful’ friends made me laugh – I loved the idea of just how petty one character was known for being – and I also really liked how supportive they all were in their own, distinct ways.

Gio’s parents made me laugh out loud a few times – his Mom was just absolute gold in her attitude and behaviour, and again, I liked how supportive they were to their son and his friends. I wish there had been a bit more cheerleading involved but that’s a minor quibble. All in all, this was a light, fun read with a decent bit of steam and enjoyable characters.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review and have downloaded the first book so that I can catch up on what I missed.

The Marie Sinclair Reader by Marie Sinclair

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TITLE: ⟫ The Marie Sinclair Reader

AUTHOR: ⟫ Marie Sinclair

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ The Marie Sinclair Reader: six stories and novellas that are the perfect morsels of romance. From first times and first loves to meet cutes, sensuous seductions, and second chances, these stories are sometimes sweet, sometimes steamy, but always with an HEA.

Might Delete Later: An epically clichéd breakup leads to the cutest of meet-cutes with love at first text, delicious pastries, and the best dog face ever.

Chef’s Kiss: A sensuous seduction of wine, food, and desire turns a failed romantic dinner into a brand new chance at love.

Man Down: Unrequited love and frustration as volatile as the whitewater rapids that bring a bar owner everything he’s ever wanted with his ex-head bartender if he can only let nature run its course.

Nothing Like a Summer Romance: First loves. First times. It’s everything you could hope for in a summer romance. Maybe.

Same Old Love: A former child actor turned winemaker and a spiraling, out-of-control rock star get a second chance at the love they were never able to have.

Voir Dear: Jury duty a bore? Not when you find yourself sitting next to the guy you haven’t been able to stop thinking about since he sent your travel mug flying into traffic.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’ve not read any Marie Sinclair so this seemed like a good opportunity to see if I liked her work. Some of the novellas worked better for me than others – I enjoyed Voir Dear and Nothing Like a Summer Romance the most, although each story was written well. Considering they were novellas, each protagonist was well defined with appropriate backstory and motivations, and the background cast of friends/characters were well done. Occasionally the stories felt a little ‘dense’ descriptively – Chef’s Kiss went into SO much detail about the food and the wine, which for me felt a bit much – it felt like a lot of research went into it and they were determined to get it into the story. Overall, I think it was a nice introduction to the author for me and I would look out for other stories.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Bump in the Night by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne (Black Oasis book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Bump in the Night

AUTHOR: ⟫ Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne

SERIES: ⟫ Black Oasis #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ You never know what’s hiding in your closet…

At twenty-six, Ivy has their life figured out. They have a decent paying job at the London office of Somnus Entertainment–the gaming company behind the wildly popular game Black Oasis–a draughty flat they inherited from their wild great aunt, and a few select friends to pass the time. They’re a responsible adult, thank you very much, and while they might get lonely at times, they know better than to put too much stock into that fanciful notion known as love.

But when a skeevy encounter during a fun night at the pub devolves into a violent hate crime, their life changes forever.

Waking up in a demon dimension, beaten within an inch of their life, is bad enough. But add a snarky, haughty healer with the universe’s worst bedside manner, and Ivy knows they’re in for a long, excruciating recovery. Lau the Dreamwraith is prickly, arrogant, and entirely infuriating, but for some strange reason, he seems hell-bent on nursing Ivy back to health. Despite Lau’s whinging over their “inferior human qualities,” there is a heat building between them that neither are able to fight. Like a match meeting kerosene, their chemistry ignites, but Ivy’s stay in the demon world is temporary and fire always burns out eventually.

Love is a dream, after all; it has no business in nightmares. Right?

Join Ivy and Lau as they nurture the sparks between them until they explode into an unexpected passion that crosses dimensions in Bump in the Night, the second book in Knight and Mayne’s co-authored queer, monster romance series, Black Oasis.

Bump in the Night is an M/X monster romance full of hurt/comfort, angst, humor, and a sweet, spicy love between a fiery Brit and their arrogant sleep demon. This love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Be sure to check the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book for more details

REVIEW: ⟫ The monster hiding in the closet is a childhood nightmare and is most definitely not meant to be you knight in hefty boots, complete with horns and claws, but then Ivy is not your typical person. So waking up in a nightmare scape to discover that he has been attacked and left for dead and is currently being tended by the world’s most grumpy, annoying and kind demon is something that he pretty quickly learns to roll with. I loved Lau in the first book, so finding out more about him and him gaining his happy ever after was always going to be a winner. I loved the way these two characters interacted with each other, bounced banter and smack-talk back and forth, and were generally both their best and worst selves with each other.

There is the expected heat between them as the authors are known to do, and this book is very sexy. But the thing I am taking away from it is how kind, loving and there for each other Ivy and Lau became – they didn’t need each other but they wanted to need each other which for some reason resonated so hard with me and made me very happy inside.

Catching up with Cody and Nor was brilliant – Nor was such an absolute sweetheart – but Vari cracked me up every single time he turned up on-page. A very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more in the Black Oasis world.

I received an ARC from GRR.

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.

Winner Take All by Ellie Roth (Longview Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Winner Take All

AUTHOR: ⟫ Ellie Roth

SERIES: ⟫ Longview Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ “You cannot just send me a text with the words ‘I think he’s in love with me’ and expect me not to come over.”

When the most powerful magic user in the tristate area loses his powers, Shiki Gonzalez’s ranking goes from third place to second place overnight. Unfortunately, the one thing holding him back from finally claiming the title of grand champion is taking down his old enemy Michael Vernon, and despite eight years of trying, that’s the one feat Shiki has never been able to accomplish. This time, though, Shiki has a plan.

Mehmet Argitakos is thrown for a loop when his longtime crush Shiki approaches him with a Shiki will help Mehmet climb his way up the ranks of the advanced Blizzard tournament if Mehmet teaches Shiki how to fight like the former titleholder, Mehmet’s best friend Chris. But taking down Vernon is a cause Mehmet can definitely get behind—and Shiki’s notorious penchant for casual intimacy doesn’t hurt, either.

As the cold days of training blur into long winter nights, Shiki’s and Mehmet’s worlds slowly start intertwining. But guarded Shiki doesn’t let down the walls around his heart for anyone, and Mehmet wants to be something more than just the next warm body in Shiki’s bed. With the Blizzard on the horizon, will their partnership crack under the strain or evolve into something more?

—

Winner Take All is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy that features a modern world imbued with magic, a slow-burn friends-with-benefits romance, found family vibes, tragic backstories, mild to moderate steaminess, major angst, and a happy ending for our protagonists (with a few plot threads left open for later books). Can technically be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed after Just Like Magic.

REVIEW: ⟫ I actually struggled with reading this up until about 56%. I was enjoying it but because it was heavy on the training aspect of things and only alluding to the tragic backstory that would make sense of things, I felt that something was missing. I couldn’t connect well with either Mehmet or Shiki and was struggling. Miscommunication isn’t one of my favourite tropes and there was miscommunication aplenty in this story.

However, after 56%, this story flew by! The actual magical tournament, the relationship difficulties between Shiki and Mehmet, Vernon and the consequences of his actions – all of it flowed quickly and efficiently, with some hard-hitting emotional impacts that took me off guard. I remember reading the first Longview book and being a little disappointed in the romantic storyline – this time, I took notice of the ‘mild steam’ warning and wasn’t expecting more. However, the emotional aspect of things was really beautifully handled.

Seeing Mehmet come into himself – truly blossom into the competitor that he should always have been was so satisfying, as was the support from his friends. I enjoyed this story overall more than the first Longview book, with prickly, grumpy Shiki turning into my favourite character! The series seems to be getting better as it goes along, so if you enjoyed the first book then I heartily recommend reading this one.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Bad Pucking Influence by Michele Lenard

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TITLE: ⟫ Bad Pucking Influence

AUTHOR: ⟫ Michele Lenard

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Thor meets Tony Hawk in this comedic, low-angst/high spice MM romance about a serious hockey goalie who is drawn out of his shell by a bratty skateboarder, a dare involving cake, and a lesson in how to use joysticks-for video games of course.

On the surface, I’ve got it all. I’m the starting goalie and Captain of the Colorado Bulldogs hockey team. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. I can count an entire team of elite athletes as my friends. And according to the pundits, I’m an eligible bachelor.

That’s the image everyone sees, but it’s just a role I play. A part dictated by my career. I have to be just as perfect off the ice as I am on it since everything I do reflects on my team in some way or another. So, those questions I have about why I don’t crave sexual contact the way my teammates do–questions I’m afraid to ask with the world watching… I decided a long time ago it didn’t make sense to look for answers until after I retire.

Then I ran into him.

Tripp is loud, obnoxious, and full of confidence. Some people find his sass off-putting, but not me. I find it intriguing, and I admire his ability to be himself, consequences be damned. Apparently, I also admire the way he looks, since my eyes seem to linger on him longer than they should, and when he sets his sights on me…

Waiting for retirement to explore who I am seems like too big a sacrifice, so when Tripp offers to help me answer some of those questions about myself, I jump.

I’m tired of pretending to be Mr. Perfect… Tripp and his playboy antics might be just the thing I need to figure out who I am outside of hockey. The only problem is, everyone–including our mutual friends–see him as a bad pucking influence.

Bad Pucking Influence is a low-angst, high-spice MM romance featuring a hockey player and a brat, not a hockey book featuring a romance. Fans of bratty playboys and gentle giants will enjoy this light-hearted, steamy yet touching love story.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was an absolute hoot! I don’t think there was a single sexual thought that crossed Tripp’s mind that he didn’t let out of his mouth and I am SO here for it. As was Noah.

I really enjoyed reading this journey of discovery – for both men – as Noah realises that he isn’t broken just because he’s not wired the same way as other people, and Tripp realises that letting somebody in might just be worth it. I enjoyed the background characters and will be looking out for books featuring them. The sex scenes were numerous, entertaining and inventive (just as Tripp likes them!), and the small side plot near the end didn’t derail things which I was pleased about.

I very much enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

When The Law Needs Help by Jackie Keswick (Dwight and Conrad Case Files #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ When The Law Needs Help

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jackie Keswick

SERIES: ⟫ Dwight and Conrad Case Files #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Can love, loyalty, and family step in when the law needs help?

Join Jack Horwood and Gareth Flynn as they tackle murder, secrets, and moral dilemmas in a world where the law isn’t always enough – while finding comfort in each other and their home-made family.

The first volume of Dwight & Conrad Case-files stories includes:

Mouse Hunt: When a friend’s death and old secrets collide, Jack has no choice but to step up and help.

A Very Bagpuss Christmas: Can adopting a cat really cause so much heartache that Jack considers escaping to Tokyo? Can Gareth fix what’s going wrong?

Grand Union Hunt: Gareth lives to help people. But should he obey the law or follow his conscience?

When the Law Needs Help is a collection of three stories set in and featuring the characters from the Power of Zero world.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very interesting set of short stories, set in the Power of Zero universe. It was really excellent to be back with Jack and Gareth, to fall back into their world and be swallowed up by the fascinating life they lead.

Jack has always been such a vulnerable character to me, and I worried about him being away from Gareth, Daniel and Nico whilst dealing with his grief from the death of one of the few people in his life that he has been able to rely on. I loved all of the small details that help immerse you in the world – you could almost feel like you were the home they had built for themselves, watching as they used their skills to help people who might otherwise not have a voice.

Before reading, I wondered if I should try to do a quick recap on the previous books, but the details came flooding back as soon as I began reading. Not that re-reading the previous books would have been onerous – I had almost forgotten Jackie Keswick’s ability to throw you in at the deep end whilst ensuring that you could keep up with what was going on – a deft hand is used to keep you interested in the spy/drug dealing/murderous goings on whilst concentrating on the things that matter – the relationships being revealed on page.

This is not a traditional MM romance – Gareth and Jack are an established couple with a rich history – but it was enjoyable to see them working and growing together, with the compromises and promises that they have made to make their relationship work, and the way that they are still learning about each other. I’m quite looking forward to reading more of the Dwight and Conrad Case-files – if you are looking for an immersing, absorbing read with great characters and interesting stories, you can’t go wrong with this series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Clueless Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James (Puckboys #5)

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TITLE: ⟫ Clueless Puckboy (Puckboys #5)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley & Saxon James

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Quinn

Straining my groin is bad enough. It puts my hockey career, my future, but even worse, my dignity on the line. Having to get massages in that area from Vance Landon, one of the team trainers, is mortifying. It’s impossible to hide my feelings toward him. If my constant blushing and bumbling doesn’t give it away, my body does. It’s getting to the point where I wonder if hockey is even worth the embarrassment.

Trying to avoid him only makes him seek me out more. He’s determined to rehab my injury, but all I want is for him to leave me alone. Or fall for me. One or the other.

Vance

Ayri Quinn isn’t your typical jock … except for the fact he refuses to admit when he’s injured. I’ve seen more than enough professional sportsmen lose the career they love due to injury, and I’m not having it happen again. Especially not when the guy in question happens to be the sweetest, most awkward, innocent jock I’ve ever met.

When a night out leads to Quinn re-injuring himself, I create a care plan that keeps me hands on, literally. Unfortunately, working with him in close proximity brings all those feelings I’ve been trying to ignore to the surface. I just need to get him better so he can be back on the ice and out of my bed. Ah, my massage bed. Because if this goes on any longer, I might mean my actual bed. Ayri Quinn is impossible to resist.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a lovely, low-angst, amusing read in the style we’ve come to expect from the authors.

Poor Quinn – I felt for him, especially with the heckling he received for his facial hair and just in general. Add to that his complete and utter inability to use his words when around Vance and he made me laugh far too much. Vance not realising the reason for Quinn’s ‘man reactions’ whenever he worked on him also made me laugh, especially when it became obvious that absolutely everyone else knew what was going on.

I enjoyed this story – I liked the way it played out with everyone being adult about things, no ridiculous misunderstandings and people using their words. Amusing, sexy and fresh, this was a lovely read and an excellent addition to the Puckboy series.

Fated Mates Anthology by various authors

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TITLE: ⟫ Fated Mates Anthology

AUTHOR: ⟫ Louisa Masters, Nikole Knight, Michelle Frost, Kelex

RATING: ⟫ 2.5 – 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Fated Mates is a Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology from some of your favorite MM authors!

It features new, exclusive stories from Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, Louisa Masters, Kelly Fox, Sheena Jolie, Jennifer Cody, Nikole Knight, Vinni George, Chloe Archer, Meghan Maslow, Lee Colgin, Kelex, H.L Day, Grae Bryan, AJ Sherwood, Michele Notaro, Lisa Oliver, Ariana Nash, Michelle Frost, and JP Sayle.

All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.

REVIEWS: ⟫ I received an ARC of four of the stories contained in this anthology.

Aether and the Elements by Louisa Masters

3/5 – I wasn’t a huge fan of this one to be honest. Aether confused/annoyed me simply because so many of his actions didn’t make sense. If he had been through this so many times before, why was he so confused by his mate’s actions/reactions? This felt like it should have been a full length novel rather than the length it was in order for the full back story and climax to be fully realised.

How to Survive a Summoning by Nikole Knight

4.5/5 – This made me giggle so much. I loved Lyn – who wouldn’t fall in love with Lyn? And Jamie was such an absolute sweetheart. I enjoyed the running gags throughout the piece, the hints of further, deeper lore, and the back characters were entertaining and made me want to learn more.

A Werewolf Called Ammon by Michelle Frost

2.5/5 – this didn’t work for me at all. To be fair, I should have known this would be the case after realising it was in the Hellhound called Derek verse, another book that just didn’t work for me. I felt no chemistry between the leads whatsoever, the premise was paper thin and it felt very much like not a lot happened and then it was finished. The weakest story for me.

A Squirrel Gets His Nut by Kelex

3/5 – having just recently read ‘Only Skin Deep’ which is the story following on from this one, I was interested to see how Luca and Ash got together. The idea of ‘wearing’ your mate like a tattoo was intriguing and I wanted to enjoy this far more than I did. Unfortunately, Luca’s feelings about police/authority seemed overblown and although I could kinda understand it, it felt like a bit much. I was also really confused by Luca’s mother and felt like there was much more to that story that we didn’t get to find out. Kudos for the title though!

I received an ARC from GRR but all opinions are my own.