Tag Archives: rating: 5

Confession by Rina Saint (Constantine Brothers #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Confession
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rina Saint

SERIES: ⟫ Constantine Brothers #2
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I’ve been keeping secrets from my boss. I have to. Because how the hell do you tell a straight man that you’ve been in love with him for years?

If he found out, everything would collapse, and I’ve worked so hard to hold my life together, all these pieces that I don’t deserve: a home, a position, trust. But it’s only getting harder because he keeps watching me, keeps touching me—and I can’t handle it.

I try to tell myself that it’s in my head, but it’s not. Something’s changed between us, and I don’t understand. I don’t know what to do, and I’m terrified that I’m going to do something really, really stupid.

I just have to lock down. I’m good at that. I’ve been doing it for years. I don’t need anything. I swear I don’t. But then he touches me again, unnecessarily, like he’s trying to figure something out, and everything I tell myself I don’t need, everything I can’t have anyway, feels very much like everything I can’t live without.

REVIEW: ⟫ I grabbed this as soon as I finished reading ‘Possession’ and it looks like very little time has passed since that book. Vitali is dealing with his guilt that he didn’t find Roman or save him from his captors, as well as how blind he feels he was about his uncle.

And this whole new view on Quinn that has taken over his mind is driving him insane. I really enjoyed reading as Vitali began to understand what was happening to him, and I especially loved the way that he handled Quinn – the imagery of this bodyguard giving in so completely was incredibly sexy. I loved the ongoing plot regarding what happened to Roman, as well as Vitali trying to consolidate their power in the territory – the double crossing of double crossing was mind bending and so well done. Yeah, really enjoyed this one, especially the strange family that the Constantine brothers made with Lucas, Sasha and Quinn. A very good duology that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Possession by Rina Saint (Constantine Brothers #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Possession
AUTHOR: ⟫ Rina Saint

SERIES: ⟫ Constantine Brothers #1
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I’m a beast pacing around my cage waiting for the next fight. It’s all I have, those brief moments of rage and destruction. It’s a sort of freedom. Then I go back into the cold, dark emptiness.

That’s why I don’t speak anymore. What’s the point? I stopped being human a long time ago. I’ve given up on anything but that cycle of violence and isolation—until they throw him into my cage. They expect me to kill him as soon as he gets me through my injuries. That’s what I usually do. People thrown in with me make so much noise with their begging that I have to kill them to shut them up. But Lucas is different. He’s quiet. Lost. He intrigues me.

So I don’t kill him. I claim him instead.

At first, my handlers are happy. They think he makes it easier to manage me. Control the beast by controlling its possession. Beasts are simple like that.

What they don’t realize is that he’s waking up the man I used to be—and that man is a hell of a lot more dangerous than the beast.

* Possession contains dark and potentially triggering content. A content list can be found in the ebook sample.

REVIEW: ⟫ I do enjoy a bit of the dark themes every now and then, so reading the description for this fascinated. Oh my! This was seriously dark – an underground fighting ring with no escape, a young man sold to pay off debts, the murderous beast he’s locked away with. But dang, I did not expect this to hit so hard.

My heart absolutely broke for Roman, especially when he began trying to speak to Lucas because he needed to communicate. He was trying so hard, so determined to protect his new possession. The way the two of them built a relationship in such extreme circumstances, the way that Lucas understood and accepted what Roman could afford to give him was awesome. I also loved the fact that ultimately, Lucas wasn’t a victim – he was strong enough to make some really tough choices and I appreciated the different sides to his character.

As soon as I finished this, I downloaded the next book in the series because I wanted more and I can see that I will be reading all that I can find of Rina Saint’s catalogue this week – looks like my TBR has a new author!

Flagrant Foul by Jesse H. Reign (Totally Pucked #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ Flagrant Foul
AUTHOR: ⟫ Jesse H. Reign

SERIES: ⟫ Totally Pucked #3
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ He’s my brother’s best friend. I’m the annoying kid who followed him everywhere.

Now we’re playing for the same team.

Sev Delorean is an NHL D-man with an excess of swagger and stickhandling techniques that made him world famous. He’s the bane of my existence and my reason for living.

He’s strictly off limits though. My brother has made that perfectly clear.

I can’t have him, but I can obsess over him.

REVIEW: ⟫ My absolute favourite part of this (apart from Mae) was that Teddy understood. This book was by turns aggravating, confusing, inspiring and beautiful – very much like the relationship between Sev and Teddy! It always surprises me how Jesse H. Reign manages to have such different characters in each story and yet inspire such adoration and love from me for these people – and seeing people popping up from previous stories is like seeing old friends again.

I adored this book – Teddy was out of his mind, but Sev wasn’t far behind – and his chaos was fabulous to watch. I would kill to see a video of Teddy dancing in the goal and Sev’s response – it sounds freaking brilliant! Actually, I lied – my favourite part was Sev’s response to Teddy being knocked into the goalpost and his reply to his manager – I cackled so hard reading what he said!

Yeah, my love for Jesse H Reign continues unabated and I cannot wait to see what’s going to happen to Nate!

Just This Once by Garrett Leigh (Men of Porth Luck #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Just This Once
AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Men of Porth Luck
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Love hurts. Love heals. Love stays. The Men of Porth Luck series is a steamy, gritty, and emotional MM small-town romance collection chock full of angst, deep connections, and healing soulmate love.

A broken soldier. A guarded nurse. A love that shouldn’t happen—and yet…

“Of course it f**king does.”
Mal’s just passing through. Skylar’s the small-town nurse who fixes everyone but himself. Mal swears he won’t fall, but Sky’s smile hides shadows he can’t ignore.

Those pewter-grey eyes.
That sun-kissed hair.
That ink.

We’re a mistake waiting to happen.
Inevitable. Excruciating.
So what’s the harm in Just This Once?

🔥 Steamy MM romance
💔 Hurt/comfort & gritty angst
🏡 Small town, big hearts, found family

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh damn, my heart hurts! I knew Skylar’s story would wreck me and yet I still thought that I was in some way prepared. I really, really wasn’t. Mal is an action man through and through, which is what makes his reason for leaving the special forces so difficult to bear. Add to that returning to Porth Luck where, despite his family and friends being there, he doesn’t feel he belongs and life, choosing to keep living, is hard. He meets Skylar and discovers that they are entangled way before they ever even kiss.

THEN things get dramatic! If you’ve read any of the Rebel Kings, you know the tangled webs that these people are constantly battling their way through. Finding out just why Skylar wants nothing to do with the motorcycle club that is in his blood is more like a war than a simple battle. These men – I’m including Jack and Sol in this – are so hard-headed and yet so soft-hearted that whenever I read one of their tales, my heart bleeds for them. I read a huge chunk of this book through tears and that was before Skylar finally broke down and explained some things to Mal. I have such a book hangover, it’s taken me half of the day to be able to pull my thoughts together to even attempt to write a review.The I love yous, the ending – absolute bliss and as always, Garrett Leigh makes the pain worthwhile!

I received an ARC from Foreword PR.

Full Body Hit (Book #1 & #2) by Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey #5 & #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ Full Body Hit (Book 1 and Book 2)
AUTHOR: ⟫ Marina Vivancos

SERIES: ⟫ Alpha Omega Hockey Book #5 and #6
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ A scentless Omega. A grumpy hockey legend. An anonymous hookup app that turns everything upside down.

Chase Spalding finally has his shot at the NHL—and a place on the New Orleans Spirits, the team his longtime idol, Auston Mazdaki, plays for. As a scentless Omega, Chase is used to hiding in plain sight, wearing a synthetic profile and keeping his head down. But under the confidence is a boy who aches to be seen, touched, and claimed.

Auston is a veteran in every sense: older, jaded, and done pretending he wants more from the game—or anyone. He’s not interested in rookies, least of all one with a blank scent and too many secrets.

But when two lonely men connect on an anonymous hookup app, they find what they didn’t know they were missing. In the safety of digital walls, Aunix and Charlie explore kink, power, and Daddy/boy dynamics, praise, obedience, and the kind of care neither thought they deserved.

Anonymous identities. Age gap. Grumpy/Daddy Alpha x rookie Omega. Praise, power exchange, and all the tenderness kink can hold.

When the truth comes out, love is the hardest—and most rewarding—game they’ll ever play.

REVIEW: ⟫ I’m going to start this with a warning – you need to make sure you have part 2 before you begin to read part 1, quite simply because you will not want to wait to find out what happens.

This book took me by surprise for so many reasons. I absolutely loved the fact that despite his mother, Chase was able to step out of his comfort zone and make friends – Sammy alone is utter gold, but Nathan cracked me up so many times just because he was so completely oblivious to so much of what was going on.

Auston – I wasn’t sure how I felt about him. I understood the roots of his trauma (which is more than he can say initially) but he irritated the heck out of me because he didn’t question things more. He assumed so much about Chase that occasionally I wanted to give him a shake and tell him to pay attention to the man and forget about the scent. But then the whole online thing happened and I got to see Auston for who he was without all of his baggage. And as an Alpha, this guy was absolutely amazing. He talked Charlie down so many times, encouraged him to embrace his inner Omega and was willing to try new things to be the best for his omega. The joint next building almost took me out, especially with how dedicated Charlie was to getting it right and Auston just being so adoring and understanding – just, so so awesome.

The chemistry between these two burnt up the page and showed how incredible intimate and special an online relationship can be. They really brought out the best in each other and once they realised who the other was, this transferred so well to real life. The PR incident where they played chase was fun because we got to see them being free and fun together during a time when they really didn’t understand each other or even care about the other.

The less said about Chase’s mother the better – she sounded so incredibly bitter and downright nasty and my heart broke for Chase so many times. The way in which Sammy dealt with her had me giggling with joy and when Auston tried to help Chase come to terms with the fact that he was allowed to be angry with his mother for the things that he did, I wanted to cry. The happily ever after was hard-won but I also liked how some things weren’t just solved because they found each other – they were still putting in the work and it was so worth it.

Suffice it to say, this was an excellent addition to the Alpha Omega Hockey series and I really enjoyed reading these two books back-to-back. Grab them both – you won’t regret it!

The Beast by J.R. Ward (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #14)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Beast
AUTHOR: ⟫ J.R. Ward

SERIES: ⟫ The Black Dagger Brotherhood #14
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted and lines have been drawn. The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself . . .

For Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites, but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect – or at the very least, perfectly enjoyable. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side and his King and his brothers are thriving. But Rhage can’t understand – or control – the panic and insecurity that plague him . . .

And that terrifies him – as well as distances him from his mate. After suffering mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities – and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world . . . and Mary’s. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from . . .

REVIEW: ⟫ CWell this had me in utter bits at numerous points of the story! JR Ward really knows how to turn the screws and this book was a doozy! It would have been far too easy to leave all of the Brothers happily mated, spawning young and living their best life, but that has never been the situation in Caldwell and Rhage is no exception. It was fantastic to return to his story with Mary, and being reminded of how he loves her was so special. It was also terrifying with V’s premonitions, the plotting and mischief going on, and all of the medical drama. Like, oh my goodness, I was really holding my breath at some points. And yes, I had more than one cry.

I don’t want to spoil this (even though it’s quite old and most people will have read it by now) but suffice to say, I was held hostage by the storytelling and completely enjoyed my return to Rhage, his Mary and their dinosaur. The ending made me so happy, I was squeeing with joy and I am looking forward to reading the further adventures with everything going on. Highly recommended and as a P.S. I cannot wait to see if we get this far in the TV adaptation because I think it would be amazing to watch this on screen!

Saving Sparrow by C.P. Harris (Slow Burns & Tragic Beginnings)

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TITLE: ⟫ Saving Sparrow
AUTHOR: ⟫ C.P. Harris

SERIES: ⟫ Slow Burns and Tragic Beginnings #2
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ A missing husband.

A deadly storm.

A stranger he shouldn’t trust.

Miguel Ramirez was living his happily ever after with husbands Quentin and Elliott when tragedy struck. He’s left reeling after waking up in a hospital bed to find both his husbands gone—but only one is missing.

After months of desperate searching, Miguel gets a tip about Elliott’s whereabouts—one that leads him straight into the heart of Alaska’s most brutal snowstorm on record.

Severely injured and with no means of escape, Miguel finds himself held captive in a crumbling mansion by a man he both recognizes and fears. Stumbling upon leverage that could gain him his freedom, he strikes a tenuous bargain with his captor—a bargain that slowly reveals the truth about Elliott’s heartbreaking past.

As buried secrets rise to the surface, missing puzzle pieces begin shifting into place, and Miguel comes to realize he never truly knew his husband at all.

The deeper he digs, the more entangled he becomes in a web of intrigue and longing for a man he thought was his enemy—someone who ends up being something else entirely.

As the polar night draws to an end, both captor and prisoner are aware that their time is running out. Miguel is conflicted, no longer wanting to choose between his past and his present—but he can’t have both. All that’s left to do now is surrender to the inevitable.

Saving Sparrow is book two in the Slow Burns & Tragic Beginnings series, but can be read as a standalone. You can expect an MMM romance, told in past/present timelines, that ends in a HEA. Saving Sparrow does contain unhealthy relationship dynamics. Please utilize the “sample” feature for a full list of content warnings, or visit the author’s website.

REVIEW: ⟫
Like, DAMN, C.P. Harris had me in a choke-hold with this one. The past/present timelines were fascinating, the sense of utter terror and dread built throughout the story, and basically my heart was shattered on numerous occasions. I don’t actually know if I even liked any of the characters but I felt so badly for them – I needed them to find a way to be happy. The subject matter was handled sensitively and with passion for what was the right way to demonstrate what they were going through. It’s taken me two days to write this review because I had to keep removing spoilers – it was an incredibly intricate story that was told and I feel so glad that I read it. I just might need to read some Mills & Boon stories and keep things light and fluffy for a while!!

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.

His Wicked Wants by Leighton Greene (West Coast Mobsters #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ His Wicked Wants
AUTHOR: ⟫ Leighton Greene

SERIES: ⟫ West Coast Mobsters #6
RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ For a man who takes what he wants, desiring the one thing he can’t have is torture.

Nero Andretti is used to getting his way. Cold, calculating, and criminally seductive, he clawed his way up from the back streets of Rome to the edge of the Castellani crime family’s inner circle.

No one can resist him.

No one except Gabriel Carstairs.

Straight-laced, stubborn, and infuriatingly principled, landscape architect Gabriel refuses to bow to Nero’s demands or succumb to his seduction. But each heated encounter leaves Nero more obsessed, more determined to conquer the man who looks at him with equal parts defiance and desire.

Gabriel fled East Coast shadows for California sunshine, hoping to bury his past. The last thing he needs is a tattooed Italian mobster stalking him with promises of pleasure. And as their arguments intensify, so does their dangerous attraction.

But when Gabriel needs a favor, he’s forced to turn to the last person he wants to trust. Nero is only too happy to offer his protection, for a price that has nothing to do with money and everything to do with surrender…

Because some wants are too wicked to deny.

His Wicked Wants is the final book in the West Coast Mobsters series, and delivers a finale packed with romance, heat, and the transformative power of found Family.

***

Follow the men of the Los Angeles underworld in this page-turning romantic suspense series as they find love, danger and mystery in the most unexpected places.

Each book in West Coast Mobsters tells the love story of a different couple who find their happy ending, as well as a resolution to the mystery they’re investigating, but there are cliffhangers to the wider suspense plot for the series.

REVIEW: ⟫ So I might be sobbing just a little upon realising that this is the last of the West Coast Mobsters – that means no more Julian, no more Sandro with his crooked grin, no more Bricker – like, how am I meant to go on without them?

However, Leighton Greene gave these guys the most insane farewell, with a story full of twists and turns, an amazing set of male leads and so much excitement. I was on the edge of my seat for Roxie’s wedding and for good reason – that was a wedding that few will forget. We got the answers to many, many questions and there were a number of people who got their just desserts.

Gabriel was a fabulous foil to Nero – strong, stubborn, loyal and faithful, with a rock-solid moral code that somehow made space for Nero. Nero needed a hug from an early age, as well as a slap for how infuriating he was throughout the story. I loved Ray and Linda (who wouldn’t?!) and have basically spent the last two days feeling like I was mainlining some of the best Mob content available. Obviously, I’m going back to the first book and doing a full re-read, as well as grabbing the extended epilogue offered by the author because I am really not ready to say goodbye to these people.

If you love a mafia romance, with excellent, strong storylines that satisfy, sex scenes that are hotter than a sauna, and men that love so deeply and utterly, get yourself this series – you won’t regret it.

I received an ARC from the author.

Not Catching Love by Saxon James (Accidental Love #5)

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TITLE: ⟫ Not Catching Love

AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James

SERIES: ⟫ Accidental Love #5

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Xander

There’s something seriously wrong with me.

For once, I’m not talking about the health anxiety that randomly pops up and wreaks havoc on my life. I’m talking about, well, everything else.

All my roommates have found someone to love them, and it hurts to see the guys who used to have me at the center of their worlds pair off and grow up, especially when it’s a reminder of everything wrong with me. I’ve always had an issue with relationships. With forming a connection with people outside of Seven, but this is more.

Because I want to find my someone.

Except the one person my brain has latched onto is the one person I can never have. The one person who’s there to help me when my panic attacks get too much.

Nurse Derek.

Derek

I should never have offered to treat Xander Moore.

And now here I am years later, my life on hold, while I wait day in and day out for the call that Xander needs me. It always comes, and I always answer, but I’m starting to dread those visits.

Lately, I’m looking at Xander in a way a medical professional should never look at their patient.

When Xander starts volunteering at the same nursing home that I do, I get to see a new side of him. The artistic, charismatic side that draws the residents in. I get glimpses of a man who’s so much more than his anxiety, and it does nothing to help my feelings for him.

When lines begin to blur, I have no choice but to stop treating him. That at least allows us to be friends. The only problem is, being friends isn’t enough for either of us.

It’s wrong, unethical, and unprofessional, but my heart won’t listen. It’s decided on Xander, and it doesn’t want to wait. Neither does Xander.

But if I want to keep my job, I have to resist.

I just wish he didn’t make that so difficult.

REVIEW: ⟫ Serious bit first – I am blown away by how well Saxon James handled Xander’s mental health issues. There was no magic cure, no easy way out or through – this took solid work, determination and a whole lot of love from the people who cared about him.

Now, onward into the last adventure with the Bertha Boys, and Saxon saved the best until last. Derek may well be one of my top ten favourites of her characters – it was how open he was, how caring, how understanding – he was absolutely everything that our Xander needed. And then some.

I literally steamed through this read with only a couple of bathroom breaks and I don’t regret a thing. Well, other than this was the last Bertha story because oh my goodness, I am going to miss these guys. I spent pretty much the entirety of the last few chapters reading through tears because it was all just so absolutely right. Like – Derek completely understood how Xander felt about Seven and Molly and wasn’t needlessly jealous; how much all of the boys love each other; Aggie – oh my goodness, Aggie – we all need an Aggie in our lives.

The volunteering at the retirement home touched me so deeply, especially since Xander didn’t water himself down even the slightest and yet still showed so much care for these people. I just – I could ramble for a very long time about all of the different things I loved about this story, but suffice it to say I began February with an excellent book, a snuffly nose from the quiet sobbing and a deep desire to see these books made into a series!!