J.F. Miev is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
This book is SOOOOOO unserious and I fucking loved every delectable second of it. Having a maJ.F. Miev is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
This book is SOOOOOO unserious and I fucking loved every delectable second of it. Having a mafia romance book with a double bi-awakening between two himbo-but-badass, kinky cinnamon roll MCs is the delicious chocolate cake that that I was craving and it's (YUM) frosted with the sweetest, whippiest lightheartedness.
Really, this book was just so much fun. I AM OBSESSED WITH LEO - THAT ADORABLE ASS MOTHERFUCKER WHO COULD ALSO IMPRESSIVELY BEAT THE SHIT OUTTA ANYONE. His character is just a riot of color and his golden retriever energy paired with Chai's wickedly-sexy-black-panther-but-is-really-just-a-cuddly-house-cat WAS SO STINKIN' ADORABLEEEEE.
Literally, this is Chai when he's on mafia duty: [image]
This is Chai when Leo is around: [image]
And this is Leo 24/7: [image] [image]
But if the adorableness is impressive, THE HEATTTTTTT IS- [image]
Even just reading these two FANTASIZING about each other was getting me all hot and bothered, GOOD LORD. And then we add the fact that both of these men are just immediately unbothered at how gay they are for each other and how they're so unapologetically eager to explore their interests and kinks?? [image]
Not to mention the banter and humor! It was so much fun and sweet without being cheesy and once you get past the "climax" (of the background plot cause Leo & Chai had more than one climax, rest assured *wink wink*), it just gets even more silly and ridiculous from there. It was really refreshing to read a book that has traditionally darker themes that isn't dark at all - it's a ray of fucking sunshine and I'm happy to bask in it any day.
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ALSOOOOOOOOOOOOO [image] Just gonna leave that there.....iykyk and if you DON'T know, go fucking find out if you wanna laugh your ass off.
(view spoiler)[THE ONLY TEENY TINY LITTLE ITTY BITTY part that I had a problem with is that Leo made Chai wait SIX FUCKING MONTHS before he finally topped him and that is a long fucking time to make him wait, Leo. Do better. (hide spoiler)]
Rating 4.5 rounded up to 5!
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
Dude...LITERALLY, I don't KNOW how I feel. This is gonna be a hard one to rate...
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Cause here's the thing: Book 1? FabHmm...I don't know, y'all.
Dude...LITERALLY, I don't KNOW how I feel. This is gonna be a hard one to rate...
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Cause here's the thing: Book 1? Fabulous. Amazing. Wouldn't change a word of it. And you would THINK the vibes and energy of Book 1 would flow into Book 2...but they don't, really. SOMETHING is off and I think I'm having trouble pinning it down because it's more than just one thing.
The book starts strong af; right where Silk & Sand left off. And I was even excited because Seth and Raider IMMEDIATELY communicated any and all misunderstandings which was a FUCKIN' RELIEF cause if that carried through the whole book, I would've literally died. But then that conversation seems to just happen over and over and over again throughout the book? As in, they have small disagreements/arguments but talk and come back together. Which, like, DUH, that's the definition of a relationship, but it felt like EVERYTHING ELSE in the book took a back seat to those conversations? And also their make-up sex?
Like even Seth and Raider as characters seemed to take a backseat to all the fucking and crying and FEELINGS.
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DO NOT GET ME WRONG, I still love those two with my whole fucking heart and I love a good Soft Dom/Brat Sub sex scene (more than you know) but there were SO MANY OF THEM that it overshadowed everything else. There is a reason why this book is on my "cliterature" shelf and Silk & Sand was not.
Guys. Girls. Gays. If I, Sarah the Smut Slut™, am saying there are too many sex scenes!? That means something.
And where that gets difficult is that all of these scenes are STILL SO SO SOOO GOOD. But the quantity and timing of them all makes for a book that lacks...finesse.
Though, what I'm truly most upset about is Raider (my fav character, obvs). I know that he goes through a lot more because he's confronting his past for most of the book but it made me sad that a lot of his vibrancy and sassiness was lost in this one. Again, after all the trauma he's been through, I can understand some of a difference in behavior and personality but he almost seemed like a different person. Because of that, we hardly get any of the banter and humor between him and Seth that we got in the first book.
Everything outside of their relationship (i.e. the plot lol) was still REALLY good - I liked the things that happened but because of the PACING of those things and how it all became background noise(?), it didn't quite reach the potential that was outlined in Book 1. Things happened fast and the ending, especially, felt SUPERRR rushed.
UGHGH, I'm on the verge of rambling but BASICALLY, if I had to summarize it, Silk & Sand contained and promised a lot of depth that Silver & Gold just didn't quite deliver.
BUT AGAIN, I still very much love these books and these characters which is why I'm so torn between ratings. I might end up changing my rating after letting it settle more but for now...
Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4!
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
"sMuT iS jUsT poRN, iT's NOt inTElLecTuALly stIMulATiNg nOr dOeS iT hAVe tRuE suBStAnCe blah blah blah" Well TODAY, I learned what docking is, so you "sMuT iS jUsT poRN, iT's NOt inTElLecTuALly stIMulATiNg nOr dOeS iT hAVe tRuE suBStAnCe blah blah blah" Well TODAY, I learned what docking is, so you can go fuck yourself (the vanilla way, you square). Just cause it's porn doesn't mean you can't LEARN somethin'. Alexa, play A Whole New World on max volume.
If you think I DIDN'T google it immediately to get a visual on what the fuck I just read (and to make sure it's physically possible), GUESS AGAIN, BITCH AHAHAHAH
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If nothing else, I did it so you don't have to. You're welcome.
OKAY FINE, we like Tristan. Love him, actually. Fuckin' adorable ass psycho. AND WHO BETTER to be paired with this emotionally stunted jack-of-trades-you've-never-even-heard-of (WHY DOES HE KNOW THAT THE POSSUM IS AMERICA'S ONLY NATIVE MARSUPIAL LOL) than an even more emotionally stunted scarily large and scarily hot mute mechanic whose maladaptive coping mechanisms seem to match his JUST RIGHT!?
Lord have mercy, the way in which a "Your crazy matches my crazy, let's be crazy together" plotline gets me off is fucking unreal. Signed with my blood, Sealed with my tongue, and Delivered straight to the little folder marked "NOT PORN" in my brain that hides all my weird quirks and kinks.
AND AS IF ERIN RUSSELL WASN'T ALREADY SPEAKING MY KINK-LANGUAGE, we're gonna throw in emergency med references left and right!? Hi, my name is Sarah, BSN, RN and THIS IS MY SHIT. Every reference to trauma-induced compartmentalization, constant dehydration, and THE FUCKING BANE OF MY EXISTENCE THAT IS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE spoke straight to my fucking soul. Erin...lovebug...my sibling in Christ - if there's a hill you chose to die on in this book, I was right there with you, babe. Blood in, blood out.
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Maybe will come back to write a legit non-word-vomit review, but until then I hope you enjoyed the ravings of a mad woman. Til next time, sluts.
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own (clearly lol).✧...more
Not only is Roe the absolute KING of all things dirty-nasty-delicious-smutty-smuCause of Death: Cuteness Overload
Roe, you BRILLIANT ass motherfucker.
Not only is Roe the absolute KING of all things dirty-nasty-delicious-smutty-smut, APPARENTLY, he has another jewel in his crown (that I was not yet aware of) in the form of the CUTEST WRITING I'VE EVER READ!?!
And, yeah, we've all read cute ass books but HERE's where it gets fuckin' wild - not a SINGLE line in this book even encroaches into cringe territory. This is MILES away from cringe. DO YOU KNOW how talented an author has to be to make my heart feel like it's hemorrhaging sparkly pink goo at every page turn WITHOUT including at least one line that makes me flinch from secondhand embarrassment?? THIS CHEESE HAS NO MOLD. THIS FLUFF WILL NOT CLOG YOUR LINT TRAP.
It's cute, it's cozy, it's charming, it's sweet BUT, true to every Roe classic, the SEX IS SEXING. It's not as wild or cum-guzzly as some of his other books but (in my totally unbiased opinion), I think the heat level matches the story PERFECTLY. Wouldn't change a word of it.
This is just one of those books that makes you LOVE love, ya know?
Pairing the absolute sweetest with the absolute scariest just HITS DIFFERENT *chef's kiss*
I HAVE BEEN DYINGGG for Hellfire Rayburn's chance at love anPairing the absolute sweetest with the absolute scariest just HITS DIFFERENT *chef's kiss*
I HAVE BEEN DYINGGG for Hellfire Rayburn's chance at love and MJ did not disappoint.
Even though he's the literal embodiment of all things hot fire flames, Ray is ICE. COLD. And who better to melt his chilly fairy heart than the cutest, sweetest, most selfless zombie boi to ever exist.
Guys, I wanna live in this world sooo bad. The fact that I don't have a scuttlebutt perched on my shoulder at all times of the day is truly a travesty. I loved that Trinket was basically a living personification of their relationship: absolutely adorable meets terrifying as hell. Didn't think I'd ever yell "GOOD GIRL" as a fictional fuzzball rips out a grown man's throat but here we are.
MY ONLY QUALM...I feel like the spice kind of flip-flops in these books? It kind of seemed like they were increasing in spice level as the series went on (like the author was getting more adventurous in adding in spicy elements) but, for how much Wendall talks about wanting to be intimate with Ray, the spice is virtually nonexistent and we're kind of just left imagining what it WOULD be like. Idk, I just feel like if you're gonna have the characters talk/think about intimacy a lot and frequently use the word "cock" in the writing, it teases the idea that we'll have closure in the form of a spicy scene. But instead, we're blue-balled to the point of pain.
BUT, with that said, I feel like docking an entire star just because I'm a horny, horny goblin monster is mildly extreme (PLUS I reeeeally loved everything else) so...
Bro, pour me some wine, cause you could make one helluva charcuterie charDUDErie board with all that cheese.
Angst? Conflict? Who're they? Never met 'Bro, pour me some wine, cause you could make one helluva charcuterie charDUDErie board with all that cheese.
Angst? Conflict? Who're they? Never met 'em. It's just familial love, brother bonding, and doggy-style boning as far as the eye can see. I ain't even mad.
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Brad is still balls deep in his Soft Boi Era™ (except for when he's in active labor lol), Raul is still the ever-adoring alpha, but the focus is very clearly shifting (hehe, pun) away from their love story. I'm excited to see the dynamic between Devon & Constantine and I'm kind of glad that the author kept most of it from us and saved it for their own series.
MY ONLY QUALM is that we were TEASED with the fact that male omegas can lactate, and yet, we never got to see Brad's flabbergasted (and I'm sure colorfully vulgar) reaction to seeing milk come out of his nips. Like, fine, he's a daddy now - but he's still BRAD.
Which, like, is very sweet obvi but respectfully, BRING BACK THE 'TUDE.
WHAT DO WE WANT!?SASSY-AND-EMOTIONALLY-COBrad has entered his Soft Boi Era™.
Which, like, is very sweet obvi but respectfully, BRING BACK THE 'TUDE.
WHAT DO WE WANT!?SASSY-AND-EMOTIONALLY-CONSTIPATED BRAD! WHEN DO WE WANT HIM!? NOOOOOW!
Yo, also - FUCK that bitch Catalina. What I wouldn't give to just [image] BRAD WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU. Fuckin' lemme in this book, I'll kill her myself.
Also, big fan of when intense/serious conversations are happening and I suddenly remember that everyone is having this convo buck-ass naked because they just shifted. I wouldn't last a minute in this world, I'd just be standing there [image] [image]...more
Gun to my head, I would NOT be able to tell you wtf I just read but, honestly? I had a great fucking time.
BasicPlot? What plot? You mean this? [image]
Gun to my head, I would NOT be able to tell you wtf I just read but, honestly? I had a great fucking time.
Basically, it's a giggly & ridiculous BL satire that's meta af and while you have to really, really, reaaaalllllyyyyy DIG for any discernible (or coherent) plot, I still laughed out loud more than once and I'm actually curious to see where the author goes with this.
AND YES, I read it for the title; fucking SUE ME. [image]...more
Ahjussi!? More like Ah-JUICYYY. CUE THE LADY BONER. [image] Best scene, bar none: Ahjussi smiling at Joonie's lil note and then getting all huffy and pAhjussi!? More like Ah-JUICYYY. CUE THE LADY BONER. [image] Best scene, bar none: Ahjussi smiling at Joonie's lil note and then getting all huffy and pissed that he's smiling.
LOL I'm sorry, low hanging fruit, I know. But it had to be said.
Ever since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last yI'll show you where to position your pole.
LOL I'm sorry, low hanging fruit, I know. But it had to be said.
Ever since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year, I have been foaming at the mouth at the very idea of an F1 romance book and not only did the MM book gods answer my prayers by putting this book in my sights, Rebecca Caffery absolutely delivered.
I love when a sensible, ambitious, fastidious MC (Kian) is paired off with a character that is, essentially, chaos incarnate (Harper) and their entire groove veers completely off track (hehe, racing jokes). Better yet when that chaos goblin is a closeted superfan but a very out, cheeky stud.
Kian's subsequent dismissal of Harper's adorable attempts at friendship leads to a delicious rivalry and NOTHING breeds sexual tension quite like competitiveness. I will say, though, that I wish that fight for dominance translated to the bedroom just a little bit more. More on that later.
The balance between their relationship development versus the developments in the actual sport was spot on for me. I'd say it was like 50/50 and normally, I'd want more on the relationship side, but I actually really appreciated the focus on the racing; it's the core of who our MCs are and it made me that much more invested in their individual development as well.
I am an absolutely sucker for all the tropes and mini tropes Caffery chose to include: forced proximity, hurt/comfort (I salivate for all things nightmares/injury/illness), mental health, found family, only one bed motorhome. A LOT happens in this book - so much so that I think some key plot elements were either forgotten or glossed over...
∘₊✧─── possible spoilers ahead ───✧₊∘
Okay, time for some critiques cause I do have a few.
I think the thing that I desperately wanted (and expected) the most and didn't get was a higher spice level. Both overall and with particular scenes. For one, there's only one actual (read: anal) sex scene (which is fine cause that's totally preferential) but if you're only going to have the one, it should be REALLY good. The scene felt kind of quick? Idk, it just felt like there was a lot of lead up and sexual tension and when they FINALLY fuck, you want it to REALLY pack a punch. The particularities come in with the dynamic between them. There's a scene earlier on in the book where Harper implies that he sees something in Kian relating to what he's into sexually - the implication being that Kian is a boring gentleman in the streets but a dominant freak in the sheets. Enough of a freak that Kian is all paranoid and thinks something like "there's no way Harper knows, right?" THAT SCENE is a promise to the readers that there is fun stuff to come and sadly, we get NONE OF THAT. There's plenty of lower-tier sex scenes that are still very, very hot but even those don't fall in line with Kian's supposed hidden sexual deviance.
Another huge plot hole for me was the whole thing with Kian's dad. NOT ONCE does Kian have an interaction with his dad - there's zero closure there. I get that Harper's part to play in telling Tyler not to come to the funeral was important, but when did Harper even realize that the dad was a piece of shit? His character goes from idolizing Tyler to suddenly telling him to fuck off at the airport and there should have been some type of conversation where Kian talks to Harper about why his dad is shit and is a trigger for him during interviews. Even if it's implied that it happens off-page, with how much Harper brings Tyler up to Kian alone, that was a conversation that needed to happen on page. And if there was never going to be any type of closure with Tyler's character, he shouldn't have made an appearance on page at all.
This isn't really a criticism per say, but I've seen a lot of people compare this book to Red, White, & Royal Blue - I think this is actually WAY more similar to Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. Kian is Oliver and Harper is Luc almost to a tee. I guess the criticism part comes in because it is slightly derivative (especially with their personality traits and Harper's negative portrayal in the media), but I think Caffery really went out of her way to make it her own so that critique doesn't hold much weight.
Lastly, the ending. The last 2-3ish chapters (including the epilogue) are primarily written in summaries. I feel like this is more common with authors who aren't quite sure how to end the book? So it comes off as very quick and choppy and just a tad bit cringey? I still love all the things that happened and I LOOOOVE how much Kian and Harper love each other, but those last few chapters just needed a bit of polishing.
But FOR THE RECORD, all of these critiques come from a place of deep love because I still VERY MUCH enjoyed reading this and I would honestly come back to it again to reread some of my favorite scenes. I will also be getting myself a physical copy, cause I need it in my grubby little hands.
✧While I received a free e-arc from NetGalley, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
A gorgeously feisty Brit and an American wet-dream walk into a bar...
And while neither of them end of being the butt of the joke, there's still plentyA gorgeously feisty Brit and an American wet-dream walk into a bar...
And while neither of them end of being the butt of the joke, there's still plenty of laughs and plenty of butts *wink wink*.
I had so much fun reading this! I loved how the story was a slow burn but still, somehow, hits the ground running. "Somehow" being the fact that Bowie is the most ostentatious flirt to ever exist. His character is only made better by the fact that, while he comes off as arrogant and cocky, he's actually a sweet little softie boi with imposter syndrome who just wants to be wanted. And WHO BETTER to want him that the fucking 6'4" tattooed Adonis that is Dr. James Sullivan PT, DPT (excuse me, just wiping the drool off my chin).
The banter between these two was absolutely DELECTABLE! Oftentimes, I find myself wanting or wishing that books had more casual dialogue between the MCs; just them talking and having fun. And this book has it in spades! There was something so pleasantly domestic about the way they spoke with one another, it had me grinning like a loon. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE GROIN EXAM OR THE TROLLEY MUSEUM. Nothing in life is funnier than desperately trying to keep your composure when you want to laugh.
It was just so CUTE. If the book had cheeks, I'd pinch the shit outta them. The nicknames, the dates, the banter, the foreigner-confused-by-all-things-American thing, the DOG!?! UGH, ADORABLE. The cheese had me cheesin'. So cheesy that, if you're lactose intolerant, I highly recommend taking a Lactaid supplement before reading. I will say that the cheesiness borders on cringey at times, especially after they get together, but I'm not super mad at it. And at that point, I had already jumped on the bandwagon trolley, so *shrug*.
Aside from the cheese pizza with extra, extra cheese, the only thing I need to point out is WOW, was this book LONG. Somehow I both loved and hated it? I obviously love that we get more adorable moments and face time with the boys but wooooooooboy, this one is a marathon, not a sprint.
In summary, this book has left me horny as hell and unable to look at a shopping cart the same way ever again.
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
Whose d*ck do I have to suck to get my very own Shizuma? Point 'em out.
Honestly, not a lot happens in this one but with the BULLSHIT we were getting wWhose d*ck do I have to suck to get my very own Shizuma? Point 'em out.
Honestly, not a lot happens in this one but with the BULLSHIT we were getting with the director in the last one (which I'm sure will be making its way back around UGHHHHH), this was a lovely little reprieve. It was very slice-of-life and domestic adorableness.
I would give it four stars but Minato protectively jumping on Shizuma when he thinks a bear is about to attack brings it back up to five for me. Fuck it; it's about the little things, really. ...more
Not to be dramatic (narrator: she couldn't remember the last time she wasn't dramatic), but if Lee McCormick asked me to slit my throat so they could Not to be dramatic (narrator: she couldn't remember the last time she wasn't dramatic), but if Lee McCormick asked me to slit my throat so they could use my blood as ink for their next book, I would strongly consider it.
HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGHHHH. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - this one did things to me. Things I should probably run past a licensed psychiatrist. Like, should I probably unpack the fact that my immediate reaction to a serial killer dicing up a guy because he had the audacity to touch the killer's love interest (possession? obsession?) be "Awww, that's so sweet!"? Most likely. But I've been raw-doggin' life for 30 years so...
But why am I talking about homicidal codependency as my preferred love language instead of this GLORIOUS. ASS. BOOK!?!
I'd call it a guilty pleasure but there's ZERO guilt and ALL the pleasure. Jonah and Levi really ticked all the right boxes for me (and then some). There's touch-him-and-die and then there's so-much-as-look-in-his-direction-and-you'll-wish-you-were-born-without-eyes.
I LOOOOOVE the way the story hits the ground running and it's a fucking ALL OUT SPRINT to the finish line the whole way through. Jonah is just the cutest most adorablest murderous psychopath I ever did see & Levi is a brilliant, beautiful BRAT and I love him with my whole heart.
The set up for the plot and the way everything played out was perfection. Better yet, it was even more than I expected. Cause here's the thing - I am my own worst nightmare when it comes to plot twists; most of the time I guess the plot twist WELL before it's revealed (or even hinted at in some cases). But this time?! Even AS THE PLOT TWIST WAS UNFOLDING I was like "Wait, literally what is happening right now and where the FUCK is this going!?" Levi's confusion was my confusion and I haven't had that feeling in a loooooong time. I ate that shit up.
AND ALL THE LITTLE THINGS!? Levi's relationship with his dad (MYYY HEAAARRTTTT ...more
In this essay, I will explore the age-old question: "Is it technically necrophilia if you have sex with a vampire?"
Jk....but not jk, let's talk aboutIn this essay, I will explore the age-old question: "Is it technically necrophilia if you have sex with a vampire?"
Jk....but not jk, let's talk about it. In the context of this book, I'm tempted to lean towards yes (especially with the temperature difference, and the thing with the ice bucket, which I very much enjoyed btw) but for some reason, boning-with-telekinesis makes me want to say no? Idk, it makes sense in my head. Also, is there a name for having a boning-with-telekinesis kink? Telekenisex? Telekinesophilia? Either way, I think I have one now, CAUSE THAT SCENE IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR?
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Dima and Casey are FUCKING ADORABLE. The sexual tension/chemistry was finger lickin' good and I especially enjoyed their playful banter. I would call their dynamic Grumpy/Sunshine but, like, fuckin' HELLO!? VAMPIRES!! So Grumpy/Moonshine? Grumpy/Thousand-Watt-Lightbulb? I'm having so many tangential thoughts today, but YOU GET IT.
The plot did NOT go where I was expecting it to go and it was such a pleasant surprise (especially all the stuff with Killian). I anticipated a steady, rom-com-y story, but really, it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
I didn't read the first two books in the series (am slut 4 MM), but meeting the other couples/characters genuinely peaked my interest enough that I might just come back to them one day, which is saying a lot.
∘₊✧─── POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1 AHEAD!! ───✧₊∘
I can't begin to tell you how ecstatiGroveling 101.
THAT IS HOW YOU WRITE BETRAYAL AND FORGIVENESS.
∘₊✧─── POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1 AHEAD!! ───✧₊∘
I can't begin to tell you how ecstatic I was when Jem didn't instantly forgive Cador in the first book. I am so sick of MCs forgiving their love interest after 0.2 seconds with little to no groveling. Jem makes Cador WORK FOR IT and WORK HE FUCKING DOES.
The same obsession I felt with the first book now extends to this one. I looooove that in Book 1 we see Ergh and Cador's world and culture and now Cador is thrown into Jem's world. Jem is holding the reigns in MORE WAY THAN ONE CAUSE OUR BABY BOY CAN RIDE A HORSE NOW MOTHER FUCKERS.
There's some amazing character development in this one and I just ate it all up. There's also some minor plot twists that I didn't see coming. Keira does an amazing job anticipating what kind of plot twists a reader would normally expect and sets the scenes up to follow that line of logic and then diverts at the last second; literally feints left then shoots right. The twists aren't anything crazy; they're honestly very, very minor parts of the plot - but I just had to point it out because it's refreshing when a book isn't wholly predictable. And actually, the resolution to the entire plot seemed a little too easy but, I had such a good time, I honestly can't find it in myself to care or be critical.
UGH, I'm just obsessed with this world and I'm OBSESSED WITH JEM AND CADOR. They're so fucking precious I wanna scream. There's so many little details that I love about this book and series - I wouldn't even know where to start in writing a more coherent review so I hope you enjoyed my word vomit. Brain isn't braining.