Judith's bookshelf: arc en-US Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:12:19 -0700 60 Judith's bookshelf: arc 144 41 https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Other Book (Those Other Books, #1)]]> 43380012
Tyler doesn't overthink pleasure and avoids complications. He knows it might be stupid to get involved with his closeted boss, but the temptation is too great. At first, the cold and beautiful Joel Sandstrom seems to loathe Tyler's guts.

Except one late night at the office, his reasons become clear...and his control breaks.

Every time they touch, Joel's stony face comes alive, harsh lines smooth out, and for a minute, he looks serene. Happy, even. Just sex - dirty, intense, spectacular sex.

During their covert encounters, Tyler discovers the power he has over the lonesome man, and it's a heady feeling. What if he could set Joel free and give him peace of mind? When Tyler realizes how much Joel needs him, he doesn't regret breaking his own rules.

* * *

Gay erotic romance. Contains explicit scenes and sexual interactions between more than two partners. For adult readers only.]]> 133 Roe Horvat Judith 5 I wanted to worship him.





Firstly,for those who don't normally read the Author's note at the beginning I advise you to read it here.
This is hot,I mean seriously hot BUT it's not just gratuitous sex...it's important to the story.As the Author states physical pleasure shouldn't be wrong and who you love/experience love with is your choice.






Starting a new book by this Author is like Christmas.....

The anticipation,the excitement,the knowledge you're going to get something pretty special and when you unwrap that present and it's everything you hoped for.

Tyler and Joel couldn't be more different.Tyler is out,comfortable with who he is and hallelujah for a parent who is supportive and pretty damn special in his mother(I loved her).
Joel is just the opposite,deeply in the closest,for reasons which are explained.It's not just his sexuality he's hidden but who the man he is deep inside.

The floodgates are about to be opened when an encounter one night with Tyler leads to something neither man expected.Enemies to lovers? It's more about Joel fighting his attraction to Tyler....


I unlocked the cage, and the beast broke out. He was spectacular.(...)




This is highly erotic,and sensual, but don't be fooled it's also a beautiful love story.The writing is so compelling,I was totally swept up in Tyler and Joel's story.The story might start of with hot sexual encounters but it finishes with so much more....two men who kind of rescue each other and turn out to be just perfect together.


“Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life.(...)




More favourite quotes


It was what made me come to him again and again—these glimpses of the wild creature inside the clean-cut man made me want to unravel him, lure the beast out and see what it could do when set free. (...)





He looked pointedly at my hot-pink T-shirt, which featured the sign “Plastic is Fantastic” (...)


A kiss. The longest, deepest, single most erotic kiss of my life. (...)



My baby was gorgeous(...)



We were equals. He held me just like I had held him a minute ago. And it almost didn’t matter who was there in the room with us, who was touching us, (...)









Highly Recommended.


Review copy provided.

Merged review:

I wanted to worship him.






Firstly,for those who don't normally read the Author's note at the beginning I advise you to read it here.
This is hot,I mean seriously hot BUT it's not just gratuitous sex...it's important to the story.As the Author states physical pleasure shouldn't be wrong and who you love/experience love with is your choice.






Starting a new book by this Author is like Christmas.....

The anticipation,the excitement,the knowledge you're going to get something pretty special and when you unwrap that present and it's everything you hoped for.

Tyler and Joel couldn't be more different.Tyler is out,comfortable with who he is and hallelujah for a parent who is supportive and pretty damn special in his mother(I loved her).
Joel is just the opposite,deeply in the closest,for reasons which are explained.It's not just his sexuality he's hidden but who the man he is deep inside.

The floodgates are about to be opened when an encounter one night with Tyler leads to something neither man expected.Enemies to lovers? It's more about Joel fighting his attraction to Tyler....


I unlocked the cage, and the beast broke out. He was spectacular.(...)




This is highly erotic,and sensual, but don't be fooled it's also a beautiful love story.The writing is so compelling,I was totally swept up in Tyler and Joel's story.The story might start of with hot sexual encounters but it finishes with so much more....two men who kind of rescue each other and turn out to be just perfect together.


“Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life.(...)




More favourite quotes


It was what made me come to him again and again—these glimpses of the wild creature inside the clean-cut man made me want to unravel him, lure the beast out and see what it could do when set free. (...)





He looked pointedly at my hot-pink T-shirt, which featured the sign “Plastic is Fantastic” (...)


A kiss. The longest, deepest, single most erotic kiss of my life. (...)



My baby was gorgeous(...)



We were equals. He held me just like I had held him a minute ago. And it almost didn’t matter who was there in the room with us, who was touching us, (...)









Highly Recommended.


Review copy provided.]]> 3.73 2019 The Other Book (Those Other Books, #1)
author: Roe Horvat
name: Judith
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2018/12/31
date added: 2024/10/01
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, m-m
review:
I wanted to worship him.






Firstly,for those who don't normally read the Author's note at the beginning I advise you to read it here.
This is hot,I mean seriously hot BUT it's not just gratuitous sex...it's important to the story.As the Author states physical pleasure shouldn't be wrong and who you love/experience love with is your choice.






Starting a new book by this Author is like Christmas.....

The anticipation,the excitement,the knowledge you're going to get something pretty special and when you unwrap that present and it's everything you hoped for.

Tyler and Joel couldn't be more different.Tyler is out,comfortable with who he is and hallelujah for a parent who is supportive and pretty damn special in his mother(I loved her).
Joel is just the opposite,deeply in the closest,for reasons which are explained.It's not just his sexuality he's hidden but who the man he is deep inside.

The floodgates are about to be opened when an encounter one night with Tyler leads to something neither man expected.Enemies to lovers? It's more about Joel fighting his attraction to Tyler....


I unlocked the cage, and the beast broke out. He was spectacular.(...)




This is highly erotic,and sensual, but don't be fooled it's also a beautiful love story.The writing is so compelling,I was totally swept up in Tyler and Joel's story.The story might start of with hot sexual encounters but it finishes with so much more....two men who kind of rescue each other and turn out to be just perfect together.


“Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life.(...)




More favourite quotes


It was what made me come to him again and again—these glimpses of the wild creature inside the clean-cut man made me want to unravel him, lure the beast out and see what it could do when set free. (...)





He looked pointedly at my hot-pink T-shirt, which featured the sign “Plastic is Fantastic” (...)


A kiss. The longest, deepest, single most erotic kiss of my life. (...)



My baby was gorgeous(...)



We were equals. He held me just like I had held him a minute ago. And it almost didn’t matter who was there in the room with us, who was touching us, (...)









Highly Recommended.


Review copy provided.

Merged review:

I wanted to worship him.






Firstly,for those who don't normally read the Author's note at the beginning I advise you to read it here.
This is hot,I mean seriously hot BUT it's not just gratuitous sex...it's important to the story.As the Author states physical pleasure shouldn't be wrong and who you love/experience love with is your choice.






Starting a new book by this Author is like Christmas.....

The anticipation,the excitement,the knowledge you're going to get something pretty special and when you unwrap that present and it's everything you hoped for.

Tyler and Joel couldn't be more different.Tyler is out,comfortable with who he is and hallelujah for a parent who is supportive and pretty damn special in his mother(I loved her).
Joel is just the opposite,deeply in the closest,for reasons which are explained.It's not just his sexuality he's hidden but who the man he is deep inside.

The floodgates are about to be opened when an encounter one night with Tyler leads to something neither man expected.Enemies to lovers? It's more about Joel fighting his attraction to Tyler....


I unlocked the cage, and the beast broke out. He was spectacular.(...)




This is highly erotic,and sensual, but don't be fooled it's also a beautiful love story.The writing is so compelling,I was totally swept up in Tyler and Joel's story.The story might start of with hot sexual encounters but it finishes with so much more....two men who kind of rescue each other and turn out to be just perfect together.


“Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life.(...)




More favourite quotes


It was what made me come to him again and again—these glimpses of the wild creature inside the clean-cut man made me want to unravel him, lure the beast out and see what it could do when set free. (...)





He looked pointedly at my hot-pink T-shirt, which featured the sign “Plastic is Fantastic” (...)


A kiss. The longest, deepest, single most erotic kiss of my life. (...)



My baby was gorgeous(...)



We were equals. He held me just like I had held him a minute ago. And it almost didn’t matter who was there in the room with us, who was touching us, (...)









Highly Recommended.


Review copy provided.
]]> <![CDATA[Invitation to the Blues (Small Change, #2)]]> 38510053
Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.


The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.
]]> 220 Roan Parrish 0998967149 Judith 4



One thing I've come to expect from picking up a new book by Roan Parrish is never to expect a similar story with new characters.Her books are wonderfully diverse and this is no exception.

Book two in the series ( book one is MF ), but can definitely be read as a standalone.Both characters were introduced in Small Change and if you go both ways in your books I would definitely recommend that one.I was more than a bit fascinated by Jude and,especially,Faron and was really interested in reading their story...

This one deals with mental illness and kudos to the Author because her portrayal of Jude's condition was extremely well portrayed.His self doubt,insecurities,and feelings of worthlessness touched a cord with me as I have personal experience with a family member who suffered in the same way.My heart ached for Jude at times and Faron was just perfect with him.His patience and understanding with Jude was so special to read about.

It's a slow,sensual story that was beautifully written and one I would definitely recommend.


An Arc of Invitation to the Blues was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.>



My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev



Merged review:





One thing I've come to expect from picking up a new book by Roan Parrish is never to expect a similar story with new characters.Her books are wonderfully diverse and this is no exception.

Book two in the series ( book one is MF ), but can definitely be read as a standalone.Both characters were introduced in Small Change and if you go both ways in your books I would definitely recommend that one.I was more than a bit fascinated by Jude and,especially,Faron and was really interested in reading their story...

This one deals with mental illness and kudos to the Author because her portrayal of Jude's condition was extremely well portrayed.His self doubt,insecurities,and feelings of worthlessness touched a cord with me as I have personal experience with a family member who suffered in the same way.My heart ached for Jude at times and Faron was just perfect with him.His patience and understanding with Jude was so special to read about.

It's a slow,sensual story that was beautifully written and one I would definitely recommend.


An Arc of Invitation to the Blues was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.>



My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 4.20 2018 Invitation to the Blues (Small Change, #2)
author: Roan Parrish
name: Judith
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/03/23
date added: 2024/09/26
shelves: arc, m-m, slow-burn, sexual-chemistry, series-but-could-be-a-standalone
review:




One thing I've come to expect from picking up a new book by Roan Parrish is never to expect a similar story with new characters.Her books are wonderfully diverse and this is no exception.

Book two in the series ( book one is MF ), but can definitely be read as a standalone.Both characters were introduced in Small Change and if you go both ways in your books I would definitely recommend that one.I was more than a bit fascinated by Jude and,especially,Faron and was really interested in reading their story...

This one deals with mental illness and kudos to the Author because her portrayal of Jude's condition was extremely well portrayed.His self doubt,insecurities,and feelings of worthlessness touched a cord with me as I have personal experience with a family member who suffered in the same way.My heart ached for Jude at times and Faron was just perfect with him.His patience and understanding with Jude was so special to read about.

It's a slow,sensual story that was beautifully written and one I would definitely recommend.


An Arc of Invitation to the Blues was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.>



My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev



Merged review:





One thing I've come to expect from picking up a new book by Roan Parrish is never to expect a similar story with new characters.Her books are wonderfully diverse and this is no exception.

Book two in the series ( book one is MF ), but can definitely be read as a standalone.Both characters were introduced in Small Change and if you go both ways in your books I would definitely recommend that one.I was more than a bit fascinated by Jude and,especially,Faron and was really interested in reading their story...

This one deals with mental illness and kudos to the Author because her portrayal of Jude's condition was extremely well portrayed.His self doubt,insecurities,and feelings of worthlessness touched a cord with me as I have personal experience with a family member who suffered in the same way.My heart ached for Jude at times and Faron was just perfect with him.His patience and understanding with Jude was so special to read about.

It's a slow,sensual story that was beautifully written and one I would definitely recommend.


An Arc of Invitation to the Blues was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.>



My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> String Boys 44035120
Kelly Cruz has loved Seth forever, but he knows Seth’s talents shouldn’t be hidden, not when the world is waiting. Encouraging Seth to follow his music might break Kelly’s heart, but he is determined to see the violin set Seth’s soul free. When their world is devastated by a violent sexual assault and Matty’s prejudices turn him from a brother to an enemy, Seth and Kelly’s future becomes uncertain.

Seth can’t come home and Kelly can’t leave, but they are held together by a love that they clutch with both hands.

Seth and Kelly are young and the world is wide—the only thing they know for certain is they’ll follow their heartstrings to each other’s arms whenever time and fate allow. And pray that one day they can follow that string to forever… before it slices their hearts in two.]]> 341 Amy Lane 164405339X Judith 5

"I wanted to make your life beautiful,"he said simply,









I haven't read many books by Amy Lane but this is,without any doubt,my favourite.I loved pretty much everything about this book.I mean a story spanning over years is totally my thing and add in the angst,feelings-so many damn feelings,happy and sad,the ever present family connections that were so powerful in this story.I cried so many times reading this and it might sound weird but I LOVE it when a book moves me to tears.





Kelly and Matty are brothers and have been friends with Seth from a young age.Named the String Boys after being chosen to learn the violin.But it's Seth that excels,although he doesn't really see his own talent-he just loves to play.Kelly has loved Seth forever but it's Seth watching Kelly sleeping one day that has him recognizing his love for Kelly.




And it's a powerful love.It has to be.They go through so much but I never doubted their love or that they'd make it.Even when things seemed to crumble in front of them their love never wavered.This is one of the most believable love stories I've read in a long time.





Amy Lane tells their story and their struggles and their lives so beautifully.A massively important part of this story in family.Seth's family of two( him and his father ) and Kelly's family-the Cruz family.I could picture all their lives from the faded,worn furniture in their apartments to the laughter and tears as they grew up.




His boy. His beautiful, faraway boy.




One of my favourite books this year(so far)


Highly Recommended.



An Arc of String Boys was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



Merged review:

4.5


"I wanted to make your life beautiful,"he said simply,









I haven't read many books by Amy Lane but this is,without any doubt,my favourite.I loved pretty much everything about this book.I mean a story spanning over years is totally my thing and add in the angst,feelings-so many damn feelings,happy and sad,the ever present family connections that were so powerful in this story.I cried so many times reading this and it might sound weird but I LOVE it when a book moves me to tears.





Kelly and Matty are brothers and have been friends with Seth from a young age.Named the String Boys after being chosen to learn the violin.But it's Seth that excels,although he doesn't really see his own talent-he just loves to play.Kelly has loved Seth forever but it's Seth watching Kelly sleeping one day that has him recognizing his love for Kelly.




And it's a powerful love.It has to be.They go through so much but I never doubted their love or that they'd make it.Even when things seemed to crumble in front of them their love never wavered.This is one of the most believable love stories I've read in a long time.





Amy Lane tells their story and their struggles and their lives so beautifully.A massively important part of this story in family.Seth's family of two( him and his father ) and Kelly's family-the Cruz family.I could picture all their lives from the faded,worn furniture in their apartments to the laughter and tears as they grew up.




His boy. His beautiful, faraway boy.




One of my favourite books this year(so far)


Highly Recommended.



An Arc of String Boys was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 4.35 2019 String Boys
author: Amy Lane
name: Judith
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/05/24
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves: arc, cute-boys, friends-to-lovers, m-m
review:
4.5


"I wanted to make your life beautiful,"he said simply,









I haven't read many books by Amy Lane but this is,without any doubt,my favourite.I loved pretty much everything about this book.I mean a story spanning over years is totally my thing and add in the angst,feelings-so many damn feelings,happy and sad,the ever present family connections that were so powerful in this story.I cried so many times reading this and it might sound weird but I LOVE it when a book moves me to tears.





Kelly and Matty are brothers and have been friends with Seth from a young age.Named the String Boys after being chosen to learn the violin.But it's Seth that excels,although he doesn't really see his own talent-he just loves to play.Kelly has loved Seth forever but it's Seth watching Kelly sleeping one day that has him recognizing his love for Kelly.




And it's a powerful love.It has to be.They go through so much but I never doubted their love or that they'd make it.Even when things seemed to crumble in front of them their love never wavered.This is one of the most believable love stories I've read in a long time.





Amy Lane tells their story and their struggles and their lives so beautifully.A massively important part of this story in family.Seth's family of two( him and his father ) and Kelly's family-the Cruz family.I could picture all their lives from the faded,worn furniture in their apartments to the laughter and tears as they grew up.




His boy. His beautiful, faraway boy.




One of my favourite books this year(so far)


Highly Recommended.



An Arc of String Boys was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



Merged review:

4.5


"I wanted to make your life beautiful,"he said simply,









I haven't read many books by Amy Lane but this is,without any doubt,my favourite.I loved pretty much everything about this book.I mean a story spanning over years is totally my thing and add in the angst,feelings-so many damn feelings,happy and sad,the ever present family connections that were so powerful in this story.I cried so many times reading this and it might sound weird but I LOVE it when a book moves me to tears.





Kelly and Matty are brothers and have been friends with Seth from a young age.Named the String Boys after being chosen to learn the violin.But it's Seth that excels,although he doesn't really see his own talent-he just loves to play.Kelly has loved Seth forever but it's Seth watching Kelly sleeping one day that has him recognizing his love for Kelly.




And it's a powerful love.It has to be.They go through so much but I never doubted their love or that they'd make it.Even when things seemed to crumble in front of them their love never wavered.This is one of the most believable love stories I've read in a long time.





Amy Lane tells their story and their struggles and their lives so beautifully.A massively important part of this story in family.Seth's family of two( him and his father ) and Kelly's family-the Cruz family.I could picture all their lives from the faded,worn furniture in their apartments to the laughter and tears as they grew up.




His boy. His beautiful, faraway boy.




One of my favourite books this year(so far)


Highly Recommended.



An Arc of String Boys was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> <![CDATA[Dark & Dazzling (Sassy Boyz, #2)]]> 31129932 Z doesn't need a hero…

Azariah "Z" Hayes is a diamond. Equal parts strength and sparkle, he's more than capable of standing on his own stilettos. So if waiting tables and stripping at The Vibe are what it takes to keep a roof over his head, well, there are worse ways to earn a living.

Connelly is a white knight with a badge…

For NYPD detective Connelly Reid, to serve and protect is just another day at the office—even if that means protecting himself from his own true desires. He's been curious about Z, his waiter, for months, but it's not until he sees him in his makeup and heels that the curiosity becomes a fierce attraction. Z, despite all his over-the-top dazzle, might just be the man Connelly has been waiting for his entire life.

But when Connelly investigates underground porn and drug activity with ties to The Vibe, one thing becomes very clear—acting on what he knows is going to hurt Z, financially and emotionally. And though Connelly would love nothing more than to fix all of Z's problems, no amount of mind-blowing sex can make Z comfortable becoming dependent on his lover. Yet if there's one thing Connelly knows from his years on the force, it's this: when things go bad, you need a trusted partner to have your back.]]> 261 Elizabeth Varlet 1460397509 Judith 4







I love this series....men wearing make up,long hair and dancing in heels .....just my thing and couple them with a hot rugged man and I'm practically growling.

Azariah/Z was introduced in book one and I couldn't wait for his story.
A bit like Ansel(from book one) he's had a troubled past but has managed to turn his life around.But he's at a low point when this book opens.Without giving too much away he's put in an almost impossible position which causes him to make a monumental decision.He's way too proud to ask for help and wants to be in control of his own life.

Connelly is the good guy.Always there to help and try and 'fix' people.
He's already been a bit captivated by Z who works at a diner he goes to but his fascination goes into overdrive when he sees Z in his heels and make up.

While this is definitely harder hitting than book one I didn't find it particularly dark,although Z's actions were a bit difficult to read at times.
Z definitely went on more of an emotional journey in this one.The conclusion was HFN and I'm really interested to,hopefully,hearing more from these two men in future books.
Oh,and I want a Connelly of my own.....just perfect!!

If you enjoyed Fierce & Fabulous I'm sure you'll enjoy this one...


Merged review:









I love this series....men wearing make up,long hair and dancing in heels .....just my thing and couple them with a hot rugged man and I'm practically growling.

Azariah/Z was introduced in book one and I couldn't wait for his story.
A bit like Ansel(from book one) he's had a troubled past but has managed to turn his life around.But he's at a low point when this book opens.Without giving too much away he's put in an almost impossible position which causes him to make a monumental decision.He's way too proud to ask for help and wants to be in control of his own life.

Connelly is the good guy.Always there to help and try and 'fix' people.
He's already been a bit captivated by Z who works at a diner he goes to but his fascination goes into overdrive when he sees Z in his heels and make up.

While this is definitely harder hitting than book one I didn't find it particularly dark,although Z's actions were a bit difficult to read at times.
Z definitely went on more of an emotional journey in this one.The conclusion was HFN and I'm really interested to,hopefully,hearing more from these two men in future books.
Oh,and I want a Connelly of my own.....just perfect!!

If you enjoyed Fierce & Fabulous I'm sure you'll enjoy this one...]]> 3.91 2016 Dark & Dazzling (Sassy Boyz, #2)
author: Elizabeth Varlet
name: Judith
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/09/02
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves: arc, delicious-boys, men-with-long-hair
review:








I love this series....men wearing make up,long hair and dancing in heels .....just my thing and couple them with a hot rugged man and I'm practically growling.

Azariah/Z was introduced in book one and I couldn't wait for his story.
A bit like Ansel(from book one) he's had a troubled past but has managed to turn his life around.But he's at a low point when this book opens.Without giving too much away he's put in an almost impossible position which causes him to make a monumental decision.He's way too proud to ask for help and wants to be in control of his own life.

Connelly is the good guy.Always there to help and try and 'fix' people.
He's already been a bit captivated by Z who works at a diner he goes to but his fascination goes into overdrive when he sees Z in his heels and make up.

While this is definitely harder hitting than book one I didn't find it particularly dark,although Z's actions were a bit difficult to read at times.
Z definitely went on more of an emotional journey in this one.The conclusion was HFN and I'm really interested to,hopefully,hearing more from these two men in future books.
Oh,and I want a Connelly of my own.....just perfect!!

If you enjoyed Fierce & Fabulous I'm sure you'll enjoy this one...


Merged review:









I love this series....men wearing make up,long hair and dancing in heels .....just my thing and couple them with a hot rugged man and I'm practically growling.

Azariah/Z was introduced in book one and I couldn't wait for his story.
A bit like Ansel(from book one) he's had a troubled past but has managed to turn his life around.But he's at a low point when this book opens.Without giving too much away he's put in an almost impossible position which causes him to make a monumental decision.He's way too proud to ask for help and wants to be in control of his own life.

Connelly is the good guy.Always there to help and try and 'fix' people.
He's already been a bit captivated by Z who works at a diner he goes to but his fascination goes into overdrive when he sees Z in his heels and make up.

While this is definitely harder hitting than book one I didn't find it particularly dark,although Z's actions were a bit difficult to read at times.
Z definitely went on more of an emotional journey in this one.The conclusion was HFN and I'm really interested to,hopefully,hearing more from these two men in future books.
Oh,and I want a Connelly of my own.....just perfect!!

If you enjoyed Fierce & Fabulous I'm sure you'll enjoy this one...
]]> <![CDATA[Illegal Contact (The Barons, #1)]]> 34346381 The rules of the game don’t apply off the field in this first Barons novel. 

New York Barons tight end Gavin Brawley is suspended from the team and on house arrest after a video of him brawling goes viral. Gavin already has a reputation as a jerk with a temper on and off the field—which doesn’t help him once he finds himself on the wrong side of the law. And while he’s been successful professionally, he’s never been lucky when it comes to love.

Noah Monroe is a recent college grad looking for a job—any job—to pay off his mounting student debt. Working as Gavin’s personal assistant/babysitter seems like easy money. But Noah isn’t prepared for the electrifying tension between him and the football player. He’s not sure if he’d rather argue with Gavin or tackle him to the floor. But both men know the score, and neither is sure what will happen once Gavin's timeout is over…]]> 259 Santino Hassell 0399586296 Judith 0 REVIEW & RATING REMOVED

Merged review:

REVIEW & RATING REMOVED]]> 4.09 2017 Illegal Contact (The Barons, #1)
author: Santino Hassell
name: Judith
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2017/06/03
date added: 2024/09/16
shelves: arc, m-m, nfl, super-sexy, hot-hot-hott, favourite-author, arc-netgalley, sexual-chemistry, sexual-tension
review:
REVIEW & RATING REMOVED

Merged review:

REVIEW & RATING REMOVED
]]> The Remaking of Corbin Wale 36679884
Last month, Alex Barrow’s whole life imploded—partner, home, job, all gone in forty-eight hours. But sometimes when everything falls apart, better things appear almost like magic. Now, he’s back in his Michigan hometown, finally opening the bakery he’s always dreamed of. But the pleasure of opening day is nothing compared to the lonely and beautiful man who bewitches Alex before he even orders.

Corbin Wale is a weirdo. At least, that’s what he’s heard his whole life. He knows he’s often in a fantasy world, but the things he feels are very real. And so is the reason why he can never, ever be with Alex Barrow. Even if Alex is everything he’s always fantasized about. Even if maybe, just maybe, Corbin is Alex’s fantasy too.

When Corbin begins working at the bakery, he and Alex can’t deny their connection any longer. As the holiday season works its magic, Alex yearns for the man who seems out of reach. But to be with Alex, Corbin will have to challenge every truth he’s ever known. If his holiday risk pays off, two men from different worlds will get the love they’ve always longed for.

Twenty percent of all proceeds from this title will be donated to the Russian LGBT Network. To learn more about this charity or to donate directly, please visit their

Word 59,200; page 237]]> 237 Roan Parrish 1626496927 Judith 4





The Remaking of Corbin Wale is an unique story.I've read a few books by this Author and enjoyed them-but,this is something completely different.The writing is special,and,captivating,the story has a wonderful,almost,magical feel about it.


Alex Barrow has returned to his home town after his life in New York imploded in a matter of days.When his mother asks him to take over the running of the family cafe he sees his dream and sets about turning it into a Bakery.On opening day he catches sight of a beautiful young man who seems to be lost in his own world.

Corbin Wale is different.Shunned by people from a young age,he's lead a lonely life.People have labelled him a freak and he thinks he is one.He truly believes his family is cursed if they love someone....so he escapes into his own world where he has people..a friend?,a lover?,.....someone who is there for him when he needs them.


Alex and Corbin are drawn to each other from their first encounter.It's not insta lust or love-it's almost as if an external force brought them together.This is an extremely slow burn which worked so well.Corbin sees the world differently from others-he sees beauty in simple things and reading the story from his pov was an absolute joy.No one came close to really understanding Corbin....until Alex.

Both men have pasts but in the end it's,quite simply,a beautiful love story.

Highly Recommended...


An Arc of The Remaking of Corbin Wale was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 4.15 2017 The Remaking of Corbin Wale
author: Roan Parrish
name: Judith
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/11/23
date added: 2024/09/16
shelves: arc, m-m, beautiful, great-chemistry, slow-burn
review:
4.5 Stars.






The Remaking of Corbin Wale is an unique story.I've read a few books by this Author and enjoyed them-but,this is something completely different.The writing is special,and,captivating,the story has a wonderful,almost,magical feel about it.


Alex Barrow has returned to his home town after his life in New York imploded in a matter of days.When his mother asks him to take over the running of the family cafe he sees his dream and sets about turning it into a Bakery.On opening day he catches sight of a beautiful young man who seems to be lost in his own world.

Corbin Wale is different.Shunned by people from a young age,he's lead a lonely life.People have labelled him a freak and he thinks he is one.He truly believes his family is cursed if they love someone....so he escapes into his own world where he has people..a friend?,a lover?,.....someone who is there for him when he needs them.


Alex and Corbin are drawn to each other from their first encounter.It's not insta lust or love-it's almost as if an external force brought them together.This is an extremely slow burn which worked so well.Corbin sees the world differently from others-he sees beauty in simple things and reading the story from his pov was an absolute joy.No one came close to really understanding Corbin....until Alex.

Both men have pasts but in the end it's,quite simply,a beautiful love story.

Highly Recommended...


An Arc of The Remaking of Corbin Wale was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> <![CDATA[Reservations (Reservations, #1)]]> 36697817
Levi Silva’s dream of graduating from one of the country’s top medical schools is in his grasp, until news from home changes everything. Now, he’s raising his two teenage brothers and trying to keep everyone’s head above water, emotionally and financially.

When Levi’s new job puts him in Thane’s path, their chemistry explodes, but their fear of being involved in relationships keeps them apart. Unfortunately, despite the intense desire drawing them together, neither man can move forward until they get past their own…Reservations.

Available October 30, 2017]]> 432 Kindle Alexander 1941450148 Judith 4




Thane Walker,29,has made a success of his life in business with a string of restaurants and his new venture Reservations, an exclusive club for men,looks set to be just as successful.To say he's emotionally closed off is an understatement.His parents marriage was far from happy and has left Thane not wanting to go anywhere near any kind of relationship.He gets his kicks from escorts,that is until he spots a new waiter working in Reservations and is practically salivating at the sight of Levi in tiny purple briefs and boots.....and yes,I was more than happy with that mental image!



Levi Silva,26,is not in a good place in his life.Due to the recent death of his father he's had to put his medical studies on hold to take care of his two younger brothers.He's struggling,emotionally and financially.So when he gets an offer to work at Reservations the prospect of earning good money is too hard to resist.He's definitely not into random hook ups.He believes in family and monogamy so when he catches the eye of Thane,his life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.


-I adored Levi and everything he stood for.He doesn't want pity or charity,he'd rather struggle and make his life better on his terms.The relationship he has with his brother's was truly beautiful.

-Thane....what can I say? He absolutely infuriated me at times.He seems to think he can buy whatever he wants and that includes Levi.While his intentions were good he kept messing up time after time BUT,by the end I'd done a massive U turn and had fallen completely in love with him.

Great supporting characters,especially Julian and it's his story next which I'm really looking forward to.

Conclusion :

A very enjoyable MM romance that I would recommend.And I just adored the Epilogue!


coollogo_com-304632246 coollogo_com-9102879



My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> 4.06 2017 Reservations (Reservations, #1)
author: Kindle Alexander
name: Judith
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/11/02
date added: 2021/03/20
shelves: m-m, arc, hot-sex, emotional, great-characters
review:
4 Stars.





Thane Walker,29,has made a success of his life in business with a string of restaurants and his new venture Reservations, an exclusive club for men,looks set to be just as successful.To say he's emotionally closed off is an understatement.His parents marriage was far from happy and has left Thane not wanting to go anywhere near any kind of relationship.He gets his kicks from escorts,that is until he spots a new waiter working in Reservations and is practically salivating at the sight of Levi in tiny purple briefs and boots.....and yes,I was more than happy with that mental image!



Levi Silva,26,is not in a good place in his life.Due to the recent death of his father he's had to put his medical studies on hold to take care of his two younger brothers.He's struggling,emotionally and financially.So when he gets an offer to work at Reservations the prospect of earning good money is too hard to resist.He's definitely not into random hook ups.He believes in family and monogamy so when he catches the eye of Thane,his life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.


-I adored Levi and everything he stood for.He doesn't want pity or charity,he'd rather struggle and make his life better on his terms.The relationship he has with his brother's was truly beautiful.

-Thane....what can I say? He absolutely infuriated me at times.He seems to think he can buy whatever he wants and that includes Levi.While his intentions were good he kept messing up time after time BUT,by the end I'd done a massive U turn and had fallen completely in love with him.

Great supporting characters,especially Julian and it's his story next which I'm really looking forward to.

Conclusion :

A very enjoyable MM romance that I would recommend.And I just adored the Epilogue!


coollogo_com-304632246 coollogo_com-9102879



My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev



]]> <![CDATA[Coming in First Place (Between the Teeth, #1)]]> 48716224 170 Taylor Fitzpatrick Judith 0 4.00 2020 Coming in First Place (Between the Teeth, #1)
author: Taylor Fitzpatrick
name: Judith
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2020/06/11
date added: 2020/06/11
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, lgbtq, m-m
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Starting from Scratch (Starting From, #2)]]> 53152794
Ky Baldwin isn’t afraid to switch things up. He loves a challenge as much as anyone, but Charlie doesn’t make things easy. Zero’s manager is a force of nature with a razor sharp tongue, a quick wit, and a no-nonsense attitude. Ky can’t stop thinking about him. Winning over Charlie becomes Ky’s pet project. But when the ice between them thaws, neither is prepared for the intensity of going from enemies to lovers. They’ll have to decide if they’re willing to start from scratch and take a chance on the unexpected.]]> 220 Lane Hayes Judith 4



Ever since Charlie was introduced in book one I've been dying to read his story and it definitely didn't disappoint.This is book two and while it isn't a follow-up,the stories are connected so I would advise reading that first.Also to fully appreciate the characters and the family dynamics,especially Charlie's-I even struggled a bit initially remembering things.





So Charlie is just a bit fabulous (I'm sure he'd use that word to describe himself!).
Sassy,driven,immaculately turned out-a true force of nature.He's taking his job managing the up and coming band Zero very seriously.What he doesn't need is distraction in the form of a band member....the sexy skater boy Ky.He seemed to fight his attraction to Ky from the start.With his laid back vibe Charlie is sure Ky won't be sticking around and the last thing Charlie wants is casual.They weren't exactly enemies but the book certainly has that enemies to lovers vibe at the beginning.




For his part Ky doesn't do labels.He's bi but has had more experience with women than men.I loved his attitude.He wasn't constantly lamenting himself for his attraction to Charlie-he kind of just went with it.These two were pretty perfect together.Opposites,their relationship developed at just the right pace.And these boys know how to burn up the sheets.....





A bit of family drama with Ky added some angst and I loved how Ky handled things in that respect.




Overall I really enjoyed Starting from Scratch and would definitely recommend it.


Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design.




]]> 4.09 2019 Starting from Scratch (Starting From, #2)
author: Lane Hayes
name: Judith
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/10/17
date added: 2020/04/12
shelves: arc, bi-sexual, couldn-t-wait-to-read, cute-guys, gorgeous-men, great-characters, great-chemistry, hot-as-fuck-sex-and-chemistry, long-hair, m-m, sassy, indigo-arc
review:





Ever since Charlie was introduced in book one I've been dying to read his story and it definitely didn't disappoint.This is book two and while it isn't a follow-up,the stories are connected so I would advise reading that first.Also to fully appreciate the characters and the family dynamics,especially Charlie's-I even struggled a bit initially remembering things.





So Charlie is just a bit fabulous (I'm sure he'd use that word to describe himself!).
Sassy,driven,immaculately turned out-a true force of nature.He's taking his job managing the up and coming band Zero very seriously.What he doesn't need is distraction in the form of a band member....the sexy skater boy Ky.He seemed to fight his attraction to Ky from the start.With his laid back vibe Charlie is sure Ky won't be sticking around and the last thing Charlie wants is casual.They weren't exactly enemies but the book certainly has that enemies to lovers vibe at the beginning.




For his part Ky doesn't do labels.He's bi but has had more experience with women than men.I loved his attitude.He wasn't constantly lamenting himself for his attraction to Charlie-he kind of just went with it.These two were pretty perfect together.Opposites,their relationship developed at just the right pace.And these boys know how to burn up the sheets.....





A bit of family drama with Ky added some angst and I loved how Ky handled things in that respect.




Overall I really enjoyed Starting from Scratch and would definitely recommend it.


Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design.





]]> Black Lies (Guns n' Boys #10) 51132818 "That man is not your fairytale ending."

Griffith has spent two of the most amazing years with his boyfriend Mark, who is undoubtedly The One. Mark is everything Griffith could want in a man. Sexy, kind, always there for him, showering him with gifts and anticipating his needs.

Until one wrong turn sends them crashing into Mark’s past, and suddenly Griff doesn’t even know who his boyfriend is anymore. A spy? A mafioso?

Or a ruthless criminal who has lied to Griff about his identity all along, hiding his brutality under charming smiles.

Is there room for love in a relationship based on lies?

One thing is certain: Griff can’t know what the future holds for him and Mark until he discovers the truth. Too bad the truth is soaked in blood.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: mafia, organized crime, family ties, secrets, European setting, dance, deception, violence, fish out of water, established couple, lies, trust
Genre: M/M romance, suspense

Length: ~70,000 words (Book 10 in the series)

WARNING: Adult content. Scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Dark humor.
]]> 226 K.A. Merikan Judith 5







I started reading this series almost five years ago and here we are at book ten.It never gets boring,I look forward to each book with the same enthusiasm every time and have never been disappointed.




I can't remember which book Mark was introduced in and at first I didn't warm to him but if ever a character has grown and matured it's him.Honestly,I can't get enough of him. Deciding to leave his past behind him,for the last two years he's been living a low key-almost blissful life with Griffith. But,his past life is about to make a dramatic return and he can't hide things from his boyfriend any longer.





I loved the direction the Authors took with this book as the whole story moves to it's conclusion. It's a fine line Mark has been walking but at the end of the day he just wants to protect Griff from the darkness of his world.But the more lies that are told,the more Griff wants answers but will he still want Mark when the truth is revealed.



"How many people have you killed that it came to you so easily(...)"


"I don't know.At some point I stopped counting."





Mark went full throttle into badass mode and I couldn't get enough.Talk about hot!! He wrestled with his love for Griff and his commitment to his family and the outcome? ....you'll just have to read it and find out but suffice to say fans of this series will absolutely not be disappointed.The closer we get to the end of these highly complex characters lives and their story,I'm excited and dreading it at the same time.I know i won't want to say goodbye...








Review copy. ]]> 4.34 2020 Black Lies (Guns n' Boys #10)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/02/19
date added: 2020/04/04
shelves: arc, arc-from-authors, bad-boys, couldn-t-wait-to-read, delicious-men, fav-m-m-couples, favourite-authors, guns-n-boys, hot-as-fuck-sex-and-chemistry, long-hair, m-m, lgbtq, part-of-a-series
review:
4.5








I started reading this series almost five years ago and here we are at book ten.It never gets boring,I look forward to each book with the same enthusiasm every time and have never been disappointed.




I can't remember which book Mark was introduced in and at first I didn't warm to him but if ever a character has grown and matured it's him.Honestly,I can't get enough of him. Deciding to leave his past behind him,for the last two years he's been living a low key-almost blissful life with Griffith. But,his past life is about to make a dramatic return and he can't hide things from his boyfriend any longer.





I loved the direction the Authors took with this book as the whole story moves to it's conclusion. It's a fine line Mark has been walking but at the end of the day he just wants to protect Griff from the darkness of his world.But the more lies that are told,the more Griff wants answers but will he still want Mark when the truth is revealed.



"How many people have you killed that it came to you so easily(...)"


"I don't know.At some point I stopped counting."





Mark went full throttle into badass mode and I couldn't get enough.Talk about hot!! He wrestled with his love for Griff and his commitment to his family and the outcome? ....you'll just have to read it and find out but suffice to say fans of this series will absolutely not be disappointed.The closer we get to the end of these highly complex characters lives and their story,I'm excited and dreading it at the same time.I know i won't want to say goodbye...








Review copy.
]]> A Faerie Story 52277833 the fate of three men was decided in a world where it was forever Christmas.

A faerie forced to flee his homeland

Kaegan lives in fear of his vicious twin brother. Tormented and abused, his only option is to escape to the one place he knows he’ll be safe: Inverkillen, a haven of magic, eternal Christmas where he has the chance to live the life he craves. But leaving Faerieland means taking a huge risk.

A man searching for a second chance

Aiden’s world is broken. Life is a dark and wretched place—until a chance encounter with Kaegan gives him hope for a brighter future. But fate has never been Aiden’s friend. No sooner has Kaegan come into his life, than he’s gone. Aiden is resigned to loneliness, but after he makes a startling discovery, he takes a decision that could be the biggest gamble of his life.

An anguished soul ready to end it all

Pascal is afraid to love. He’s determined not to risk his heart when he knows everything can be snatched away in a single moment. A fateful meeting leads to a night of enchantment and passion, leaving Pascal hungry to know more about the mysterious Kaegan. But when morning comes, Kaegan is gone, leaving Pascal to follow the one clue he has to the beautiful stranger’s whereabouts.

Three men in search of a second chance, deep in a snowy wilderness. Will Christmas cast its magic to give them the greatest gift of all: their Happy Ever After?
 ]]> 254 Barbara Elsborg Judith 5

Utterly charming.

Snow globes+Faeries+Christmas+Snow+Three adorable men (who I absolutely fell in love with)













Barbara Elsborg certainly knows to craft a story.Things are never dull,never the same in her world.





.This one pulled me in from the beginning and never let go.





It's kind of centered around Christmas but I wouldn't say it's just a Christmas story at all.





Let's begin then,although I'm not giving much away.





Three men who are definitely destined to be together.I'm not normally a fan of MMM but this was just delightful.





The story opens when they are young boys and their stories make for uncomfortable reading at times.Honestly my heart hurt for Aiden so many times.But it's important to get their back stories because they've definitely made them the men they are today.





So,what's a Fearie to do when life in Fearieland gets unbearable? Go to a happy place where it's Christmas all the time and he can create anything his heart desires.




He didn't envisage meeting two totally different men who would change his life forever.



I loved these men for different reasons but my favourite character was Aiden without a doubt.I just loved his determination,resilience,and dry humour.You know when you just connect to a character from the beginning of a book?


I have such a fondness for books from this Author.I absolutely love how she writes,creates such fascinating characters who are far from perfect but always loveable and her stories are never the same....but always enjoyable.



A Christmas story with a difference...



Recommend.

Review copy.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession
]]> 3.94 2019 A Faerie Story
author: Barbara Elsborg
name: Judith
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/09/17
date added: 2020/03/10
shelves: arc, arc-from-author, favourite-author, gorgeous-boys, m-m, slinky-boys, magical
review:
4.5


Utterly charming.

Snow globes+Faeries+Christmas+Snow+Three adorable men (who I absolutely fell in love with)













Barbara Elsborg certainly knows to craft a story.Things are never dull,never the same in her world.





.This one pulled me in from the beginning and never let go.





It's kind of centered around Christmas but I wouldn't say it's just a Christmas story at all.





Let's begin then,although I'm not giving much away.





Three men who are definitely destined to be together.I'm not normally a fan of MMM but this was just delightful.





The story opens when they are young boys and their stories make for uncomfortable reading at times.Honestly my heart hurt for Aiden so many times.But it's important to get their back stories because they've definitely made them the men they are today.





So,what's a Fearie to do when life in Fearieland gets unbearable? Go to a happy place where it's Christmas all the time and he can create anything his heart desires.




He didn't envisage meeting two totally different men who would change his life forever.



I loved these men for different reasons but my favourite character was Aiden without a doubt.I just loved his determination,resilience,and dry humour.You know when you just connect to a character from the beginning of a book?


I have such a fondness for books from this Author.I absolutely love how she writes,creates such fascinating characters who are far from perfect but always loveable and her stories are never the same....but always enjoyable.



A Christmas story with a difference...



Recommend.

Review copy.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

]]> Tough Guy (Game Changers, #3) 52176125 alternate cover edition of ASIN B07WDLS4PJ

They have nothing in common—so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he’s with Fabian?

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.

Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.

Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan’s guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits—and the most amazing sex—Ryan’s starting to feel something he hasn’t experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.]]> 312 Rachel Reid Judith 3


Loved Fabian...

RTC.]]> 4.03 2020 Tough Guy (Game Changers, #3)
author: Rachel Reid
name: Judith
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2019/12/19
date added: 2020/03/06
shelves: arc, arc-netgalley, couldn-t-wait-to-read, femme-men, guy-liner, lgbtq, m-m
review:



Loved Fabian...

RTC.
]]> Tough Guy (Game Changers, #3) 51838143 They have nothing in common—so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he’s with Fabian?

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.

Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.

Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan’s guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits—and the most amazing sex—Ryan’s starting to feel something he hasn’t experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.]]> 292 Rachel Reid 1488068917 Judith 3









Didn't love it.Didn't hate it.It was ok.


Maybe I was,unfairly,comparing it to book two which was one of my favourite books from last year.Was I expecting that same intensity? Most definitely.But,to be fair,this was a completely different book.



Let's start with the positives....



Fabian He is my absolute favourite type of character.Femme( enough said really)...I loved everything about him.I could wax lyrical all day about him.


Ryan,on the other hand....I had mixed feelings about him.At times I kind of melted and at times he just irritated me( the inner thoughts started to bore me).


Overall,I loved these two guys together.I got their connection and chemistry,I really did.But something just wasn't pulling me into this one.I stalled around half way and never really got going again.



Review copy provided from the publisher,via NetGalley.]]> 3.59 2020 Tough Guy (Game Changers, #3)
author: Rachel Reid
name: Judith
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2020/02/27
shelves: arc, arc-netgalley, couldn-t-wait-to-read, femme-men, lgbtq, m-m, long-hair
review:










Didn't love it.Didn't hate it.It was ok.


Maybe I was,unfairly,comparing it to book two which was one of my favourite books from last year.Was I expecting that same intensity? Most definitely.But,to be fair,this was a completely different book.



Let's start with the positives....



Fabian He is my absolute favourite type of character.Femme( enough said really)...I loved everything about him.I could wax lyrical all day about him.


Ryan,on the other hand....I had mixed feelings about him.At times I kind of melted and at times he just irritated me( the inner thoughts started to bore me).


Overall,I loved these two guys together.I got their connection and chemistry,I really did.But something just wasn't pulling me into this one.I stalled around half way and never really got going again.



Review copy provided from the publisher,via NetGalley.
]]> Unshaken (Guns n' Boys #9) 51817796

Seven years.

Domenico and Seth have been together for seven years. After trudging through blood, tears, fights, and painful compromises, they’ve finally arrived at a point where every day doesn’t feel like it could be their last.

Settled in their comfortable life, they decide to go on vacation to Singapore. But their romantic break turns into a nightmare when an old adversary appears, tempting Seth and Domenico away from the peace and quiet of their home in Argentina, and toward a new kind of future.

What begins as a wild goose chase could be their ticket back to Italy, but when Seth and Domenico step into the snares that have been set up for them, they can only count on each other to get through a reality so horrific that death might be mercy.

What their enemies don’t know though is that their bond is stronger than ever before, and attempting to tear them apart will bring destruction on anyone who tries.

For Domenico, Seth would walk through hell and back.

For Seth, Domenico would tear down the heavens.

Together, they are not to be f*cked with.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: mafia, cartel, assassin, organized crime, family ties, betrayal, revenge, Singapore, human trafficking, ghost from the past, unbreakable bonds, established couple

Genre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thriller

Length: ~80,000 words (Book 9 in the series)

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists, as well as scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.
]]> 395 K.A. Merikan Judith 4







Talk about pushing the boundaries.Just when you think these Authors can't shock you anymore you get this.I wasn't sure what to expect here but this one has some seriously jaw dropping moments.Twists that I never saw coming.





Dom and Seth have had highs and lows throughout this series but this one definitely ramped up the shock factor.





A romantic trip to Singapore is just what they need but the best laid plans and all that....
Just when they weren't expecting it the elusive Mr Tropico gets entangled in their lives again with some of the most dramatic scenes in this series and let's face it there have been a few.





Nine books in and this series is as fresh as ever.Always,always expect the unexpected with these Authors. My love for these men has never wavered at all and they still remain my all time favourite couple.I can't even explain the strong connection and chemistry they have.If ever two men deserve their happy ever after it's these two.And they're almost there but not before a lot more drama I'm sure.Only two more books and I cannot wait..



Review copy.


]]> 4.49 2019 Unshaken (Guns n' Boys #9)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/09/22
date added: 2020/02/26
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, fav-m-m-couples, favourite-authors, guns-n-boys, hot-guys, long-hair, m-m
review:
4.5








Talk about pushing the boundaries.Just when you think these Authors can't shock you anymore you get this.I wasn't sure what to expect here but this one has some seriously jaw dropping moments.Twists that I never saw coming.





Dom and Seth have had highs and lows throughout this series but this one definitely ramped up the shock factor.





A romantic trip to Singapore is just what they need but the best laid plans and all that....
Just when they weren't expecting it the elusive Mr Tropico gets entangled in their lives again with some of the most dramatic scenes in this series and let's face it there have been a few.





Nine books in and this series is as fresh as ever.Always,always expect the unexpected with these Authors. My love for these men has never wavered at all and they still remain my all time favourite couple.I can't even explain the strong connection and chemistry they have.If ever two men deserve their happy ever after it's these two.And they're almost there but not before a lot more drama I'm sure.Only two more books and I cannot wait..



Review copy.



]]> <![CDATA[Declination (Borealis Investigations, #3)]]> 51017262
Until the night Shaw receives a phone call telling him that Detective Jadon Reck, his former boyfriend, has been attacked.

At the request of Jadon’s partner, Shaw and North begin an investigation into the attack. But nothing is at it seems. City police are working to cover up evidence faster than Shaw and North can find it, and the motive for the attack seems impossible to unravel.

When a conspiracy of dirty cops takes action against Shaw and North, the two detectives realize they are running out of time. They have to get answers about the attack on Jadon before they lose their own lives. But Shaw knows there are things worse than death. And one of them has come back for him, to finish what he started seven years before.

The West End Slasher has returned.]]> 383 Gregory Ashe Judith 5

“You’re wild,” North whispered, straddling him, his cotton tee so rough on Shaw’s overly sensitive body that Shaw let out a gasp. North’s hands took him over again. “You’re so fucking wild today.” (...)















Shaw pics...just because...




















Happy sigh.My gorgeous men are back and this book certainly delivered.




Gregory Ashe has created the perfect mix of mystery/action and relationship drama.




North and Shaw might finally be together but things are far from idyllic.Due to his past Shaw is still struggling with intimacy so they still have hurdles to jump.And Shaw seems intent on not letting go of the past....the man who turned his life upside down so many years ago is ever present in his thoughts and when his ex,Jadon is attacked his determination to find out the identity of The West End Slasher is paramount for him.Is it more important than North though?





Wow! I never saw something coming here,honestly.I like to think I'm a bit of a sleuth sometimes,I can normally work things out....not here though.





I cannot gush enough about how much I absolutely love this series and North and Shaw.This isn't a fluffy boy meets boy story full of sunshine and roses.Their relationship is complex to say the least but it feels so real.




I love everything about these men,


They are pretty much perfect for me.Great banter,sexual chemistry in spades.These two are one of the hottest couples I've read about-flaws and all.In fact the flaws somehow make them better together.





One final thought....Jadon...if he doesn't get his HEA at the end of this series I'm going to hunt the Author down......


Highly recommended.I could read about Shaw and North forever.



Review copy.]]> 4.26 2019 Declination (Borealis Investigations, #3)
author: Gregory Ashe
name: Judith
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/09/28
date added: 2020/02/06
shelves: arc, arc-from-author, couldn-t-wait-to-read, cute-guys, delicious-men, friends-to-lovers, great-chemistry, great-banter, long-hair, m-m, makes-me-happy, mystery-crime, part-of-a-series
review:
4.5


“You’re wild,” North whispered, straddling him, his cotton tee so rough on Shaw’s overly sensitive body that Shaw let out a gasp. North’s hands took him over again. “You’re so fucking wild today.” (...)















Shaw pics...just because...




















Happy sigh.My gorgeous men are back and this book certainly delivered.




Gregory Ashe has created the perfect mix of mystery/action and relationship drama.




North and Shaw might finally be together but things are far from idyllic.Due to his past Shaw is still struggling with intimacy so they still have hurdles to jump.And Shaw seems intent on not letting go of the past....the man who turned his life upside down so many years ago is ever present in his thoughts and when his ex,Jadon is attacked his determination to find out the identity of The West End Slasher is paramount for him.Is it more important than North though?





Wow! I never saw something coming here,honestly.I like to think I'm a bit of a sleuth sometimes,I can normally work things out....not here though.





I cannot gush enough about how much I absolutely love this series and North and Shaw.This isn't a fluffy boy meets boy story full of sunshine and roses.Their relationship is complex to say the least but it feels so real.




I love everything about these men,


They are pretty much perfect for me.Great banter,sexual chemistry in spades.These two are one of the hottest couples I've read about-flaws and all.In fact the flaws somehow make them better together.





One final thought....Jadon...if he doesn't get his HEA at the end of this series I'm going to hunt the Author down......


Highly recommended.I could read about Shaw and North forever.



Review copy.
]]> A Plump of Woodcocks 50397258 So this is another f**kton of gratuitous boning with the Venery boys.

That’s it, that’s the blurb.

“I had a horrible day," Tej said. "I mean, everything that could go wrong went wrong. And I saw you sitting in that booth and thought, Now there’s a guy I’d like to see bent over my bed. I think I’ll try to pick him up. End the day on a truly humiliating note.”

Jude slid his hands down Tej’s back and tucked his fingertips beneath the waist of his jeans. “Go back to the bent over your bed part?”

If you’re new here, you’ve been warned. This is pure, shameless smut. It doesn’t fit anywhere or take the place of anything in the Venery novels. It just is what it is. Smut for smut’s sake.

If you’re old here, welcome back and thank you for taking one for the team.

The bathroom was steamy and dark, a lit candle on the edge of the sink. Jav lolled in the tub, his hair slicked back. Stef brought in more candles and poured out two shots of rum to chug, then more generous tots to sip. He sat on the bathmat and read out loud. Jav rested an arm on the ledge of the tub, cheek on his bicep, damp fingers playing with a fold of Stef’s shirt. The walls of the little room drew close. Even the fixtures seemed to lean on their elbows and listen.

“This is nice,” Jav said softly, drawing up Stef’s neck and behind his ear.

Contains adults being nice to each other in adult situations using adult language. For those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they will like.]]> 70 Suanne Laqueur Judith 5






Well,this was something I wasn't expecting and didn't know I needed.



My gorgeous men...



Well,not mine but as a reader you kind of think they are yours,right? I've got nothing but admiration for Authors whose characters get inside their heads and they share them with us.




This was delighted,sexy(as hell),touching and damn,if this Author doesn't make me cry every single time...




Firstly,a few chapters from Tej and Jude and it was what I wanted(who knew?).Remember when they met...in the bar...I always wanted more...


And,hello....talk about dirty!!




The rest of the book is dedicated to Stef and Jav.I say dedicated because you can feel this Author's love for these two.And again,there are chapters here I didn't know I wanted,turns out I did.Honestly I really want to say more but I won't-no spoilers here.If you've read the Venery series you won't want to miss this little gem.


I don't think I'll ever not want to read about this Author's men.Her words,as usual,move me every time.One of the best at writing oh so dirty sex and at the same time with so much feeling and love.


Highly recommended.


Review copy-for which I'm so grateful.]]> 4.33 A Plump of Woodcocks
author: Suanne Laqueur
name: Judith
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2020/02/02
date added: 2020/02/02
shelves: arc, arc-from-author, best-m-m, couldn-t-wait-to-read, couldn-t-put-it-down, crazy-good, delicious-men, dirty, dirty-talk, emotional, favourite-author, filthy-dirty, lgbtq, m-m
review:
4.5







Well,this was something I wasn't expecting and didn't know I needed.



My gorgeous men...



Well,not mine but as a reader you kind of think they are yours,right? I've got nothing but admiration for Authors whose characters get inside their heads and they share them with us.




This was delighted,sexy(as hell),touching and damn,if this Author doesn't make me cry every single time...




Firstly,a few chapters from Tej and Jude and it was what I wanted(who knew?).Remember when they met...in the bar...I always wanted more...


And,hello....talk about dirty!!




The rest of the book is dedicated to Stef and Jav.I say dedicated because you can feel this Author's love for these two.And again,there are chapters here I didn't know I wanted,turns out I did.Honestly I really want to say more but I won't-no spoilers here.If you've read the Venery series you won't want to miss this little gem.


I don't think I'll ever not want to read about this Author's men.Her words,as usual,move me every time.One of the best at writing oh so dirty sex and at the same time with so much feeling and love.


Highly recommended.


Review copy-for which I'm so grateful.
]]> <![CDATA[Principles of Spookology (The Spectral Files, #2)]]> 49200184
Rain Christiansen, former FBI agent and current cold case detective, is starting to think it's the hardest job he's ever had—and the most important. He's determined to accept all the changes in his formerly well-ordered life, but that means embracing a whole lot of weird. There's no instruction manual for meshing his work with his medium duties, and he's painfully aware that he's flubbing the job. So are the ghosts, who are becoming increasingly impatient. And stronger.

To complicate matters, he's not sure what these spooktacular developments mean for his relationship. It certainly seems like Daniel McKenna, his partner in work and life, is in it for the long haul. But Rain can't help but wonder how long that patience will last...and what he'll do if Danny decides the intrusive ghosts are just too much.

Rain thought accepting his supernatural gifts would be the solution to his troubles. But he's starting to realize his problems are just getting started.]]> 333 S.E. Harmon Judith 4






Yes!!

More Rain & Danny & delicious banter...



When I read the first book, P.S. I Spook You I pretty much fell in love with this Author so this was just such a pleasant surprise...





My boys-Danny and Rain.I couldn't love them more.This was the perfect mix of ghostly goings on,mystery,and relationship.




It would have been so easy for the Author to add angst,relationship drama here for the two men (many would have I imagine), but she didn't.What you get is two men who are pretty much perfect together and definitely perfect to read about.They're sassy,snarky,passionate....and hello,I'd forgotten how well she can write sex scenes.No unnecessary drawn out foreplay or pages and pages of descriptive scenes.She manages to show desperation with emotion and chemistry that is off the charts.





Add into the mix a ghost story with an outcome I didn't see coming and this was a joy to read...







Recommended read-but you'll need to read book one first to get the vibe and fully appreciate these men.❤️❤️]]> 4.37 2020 Principles of Spookology (The Spectral Files, #2)
author: S.E. Harmon
name: Judith
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/01/19
date added: 2020/01/25
shelves: arc, arc-from-author, couldn-t-wait-to-read, delicious-men, favourite-author, gorgeous-boys, lgbtq, m-m, paranormal
review:
4.5







Yes!!

More Rain & Danny & delicious banter...



When I read the first book, P.S. I Spook You I pretty much fell in love with this Author so this was just such a pleasant surprise...





My boys-Danny and Rain.I couldn't love them more.This was the perfect mix of ghostly goings on,mystery,and relationship.




It would have been so easy for the Author to add angst,relationship drama here for the two men (many would have I imagine), but she didn't.What you get is two men who are pretty much perfect together and definitely perfect to read about.They're sassy,snarky,passionate....and hello,I'd forgotten how well she can write sex scenes.No unnecessary drawn out foreplay or pages and pages of descriptive scenes.She manages to show desperation with emotion and chemistry that is off the charts.





Add into the mix a ghost story with an outcome I didn't see coming and this was a joy to read...







Recommended read-but you'll need to read book one first to get the vibe and fully appreciate these men.❤️❤️
]]> <![CDATA[Candy Hearts (So Over the Holidays, #2)]]> 50170971
William has spent years focused on his career, and it has cost him friendships and love. Inexperienced in the business of romance, he’s on the hunt for the perfect partner, and he’s armed with specific criteria to guide him. But William didn’t expect a hunky mechanic wrapped in satin and lace to show up on his doorstep.

Unable to resist their attraction, Benji and William agree to be secret fake valentines for the weekend, but secrets have a way of getting out. William gets struck by Cupid’s arrow, and as the weekend winds down, he doesn’t want fake or secret. He wants Benji to be his valentine for real and for keeps.

Candy Hearts is a male/male Valentine’s Day novella featuring a house party power outage, meddling friends and siblings, naughty lingerie and naughtier toys, homemade Valentine's Day cards, and a happily ever after.
]]> 209 Erin McLellan 1732173486 Judith 0
Never a good sign when a book’s been on your ‘currently reading’ shelf and you’re just not interested in going back to it.

(I’m a bit grumpy atm-nothing is doing much for me)]]> 4.03 2020 Candy Hearts (So Over the Holidays, #2)
author: Erin McLellan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2020/01/18
date added: 2020/01/18
shelves: arc, lgbtq, m-m, a-novel-take-pr-arc
review:
On hold.

Never a good sign when a book’s been on your ‘currently reading’ shelf and you’re just not interested in going back to it.

(I’m a bit grumpy atm-nothing is doing much for me)
]]> Only Mostly Devastated 46027737 Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless in this boy-meets-boy spin on Grease

“Only Mostly Devastated is the kind of book I wish existed when my kids were younger—a charming, funny, laugh-out-loud teen romance that reminds all readers love comes in a multitude of flavors, and they are ALL sweet.” —Jodi Picoult, New York Times–bestselling author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light

“A delightful, heartwarming, heartrending story about family, love, friendship, and living your most authentic life. I couldn't put it down.” —New York Times–bestselling author Sandhya Menon

Will Tavares is the dream summer fling—he’s fun, affectionate, kind—but just when Ollie thinks he’s found his Happily Ever After, summer vacation ends and Will stops texting Ollie back. Now Ollie is one prince short of his fairytale ending, and to complicate the fairytale further, a family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country. Which he minds a little less when he realizes it’s the same school Will goes to…except Ollie finds that the sweet, comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn’t the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, closeted—and, to be honest, a bit of a jerk.

Ollie has no intention of pining after a guy who clearly isn’t ready for a relationship, especially since this new, bro-y jock version of Will seems to go from hot to cold every other week. But then Will starts “coincidentally” popping up in every area of Ollie’s life, from music class to the lunch table, and Ollie finds his resolve weakening.

The last time he gave Will his heart, Will handed it back to him trampled and battered. Ollie would have to be an idiot to trust him with it again.

Right? Right.]]> 289 Sophie Gonzales 1250315905 Judith 4






A hugely enjoyable YA romance which also tackles a serious subject-very well.This is only slightly touched on in the blurb so I'm not going to elaborate too much.





The theme of the book isn't a new one.High school setting with an out character and one firmly in the closest.But this is truly engaging.Told only from Ollie's pov and I think I fell for him instantly.





Ollie and Will have a summer fling.It's intense and passionate but once the summer is over Ollie is baffled by Will's silence.To make things worse Ollie and his family must move temporarily and Ollie starts a new school.Will's school and if Ollie was confused about Will's silence after their fling he's even more bewildered by Will's indifference to him at school.





Ollie is befriended by three girls who kind of take him under their wing.These characters definitely added depth to the story.They're not the stereotypical high school girls.They're individual with issues of their own that I'm sure any young person reading this will identify with.



I read The Law of Inertia by this Author and loved it so I knew I liked her writing.She manages to tackle a serious subject here,which doesn't overwhelm the story,along side the romance between Will and Ollie.



There are no on page sex scenes between the MCs at all.And I honestly didn't miss them.The story didn't need them.Strangely,I think I enjoyed the story more without them.





The story is very well crafted.It's sweet with a bit of angst,funny,with a serious side.Two highly likeable MCs,and great supporting characters.


A YA story that will appeal to a lot of people.Maybe too much of a 'young' feel for me but still very engaging.



Review copy provided by the publisher,via NetGalley.





]]> 4.00 2020 Only Mostly Devastated
author: Sophie Gonzales
name: Judith
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2019/08/31
date added: 2020/01/06
shelves: arc, m-m, young-adult, young-love
review:
3.5







A hugely enjoyable YA romance which also tackles a serious subject-very well.This is only slightly touched on in the blurb so I'm not going to elaborate too much.





The theme of the book isn't a new one.High school setting with an out character and one firmly in the closest.But this is truly engaging.Told only from Ollie's pov and I think I fell for him instantly.





Ollie and Will have a summer fling.It's intense and passionate but once the summer is over Ollie is baffled by Will's silence.To make things worse Ollie and his family must move temporarily and Ollie starts a new school.Will's school and if Ollie was confused about Will's silence after their fling he's even more bewildered by Will's indifference to him at school.





Ollie is befriended by three girls who kind of take him under their wing.These characters definitely added depth to the story.They're not the stereotypical high school girls.They're individual with issues of their own that I'm sure any young person reading this will identify with.



I read The Law of Inertia by this Author and loved it so I knew I liked her writing.She manages to tackle a serious subject here,which doesn't overwhelm the story,along side the romance between Will and Ollie.



There are no on page sex scenes between the MCs at all.And I honestly didn't miss them.The story didn't need them.Strangely,I think I enjoyed the story more without them.





The story is very well crafted.It's sweet with a bit of angst,funny,with a serious side.Two highly likeable MCs,and great supporting characters.


A YA story that will appeal to a lot of people.Maybe too much of a 'young' feel for me but still very engaging.



Review copy provided by the publisher,via NetGalley.






]]> <![CDATA[Ignite (Unbreakable Bonds, #7)]]> 49635243
Someone has taken shots at Noah.

And now Noah’s former lover, JB, is a target.

Noah, Rowe, and JB team up to track down a killer trying to take out all of Noah’s old Army team in hopes of covering up a dark secret.

But this trip to Washington, D.C. threatens to unravel the perfect life that Rowe and Noah have built over the past three years. JB’s arrival in their lives have Rowe and Noah wondering if they want the same thing for their happily ever after.

Rowe is sure of one thing—nobody threatens his man. And he sets out to show anyone with a hidden agenda what a bad decision that was.]]> 230 Jocelynn Drake Judith 3 arc, m-m






I'm sure this will be a massive hit for fans of this series but I was a little underwhelmed unfortunately...




The blurb hints at some kind of relationship drama between Noah and Rowe and with the mention of an ex of Noah being introduced I had high hopes here.I ended up being just a bit bored .I mean there really wasn't any great issue here,not for me at least.(they've been together for long enough for a conversation or two to have happened)




The mystery element started of holding my attention but towards the end I started skimming the action scenes,it all got a bit predictable for me.





I think it might be a case of me out growing this series to be honest.Things that I once found endearing about all these men just started to irritate me.And I can't remember how old Noah and Rowe are but I'm guessing late twenties? At times I found their behaviour/thoughts a little childish.I mean was there any need for Rowe to bang Noah into the mattress well aware that the ex,JB,could probably hear.


And I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in my review for these guys in the first book but the inner monologues just bored me.




Once again I find writing a 3 Star review the absolute worstIt sounds like I didn't enjoy this and that's not the case.It was ok,I just think my love affair with these men might be over.



Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design]]> 4.35 2019 Ignite (Unbreakable Bonds, #7)
author: Jocelynn Drake
name: Judith
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/07/26
date added: 2019/12/21
shelves: arc, m-m
review:
3.5







I'm sure this will be a massive hit for fans of this series but I was a little underwhelmed unfortunately...




The blurb hints at some kind of relationship drama between Noah and Rowe and with the mention of an ex of Noah being introduced I had high hopes here.I ended up being just a bit bored .I mean there really wasn't any great issue here,not for me at least.(they've been together for long enough for a conversation or two to have happened)




The mystery element started of holding my attention but towards the end I started skimming the action scenes,it all got a bit predictable for me.





I think it might be a case of me out growing this series to be honest.Things that I once found endearing about all these men just started to irritate me.And I can't remember how old Noah and Rowe are but I'm guessing late twenties? At times I found their behaviour/thoughts a little childish.I mean was there any need for Rowe to bang Noah into the mattress well aware that the ex,JB,could probably hear.


And I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in my review for these guys in the first book but the inner monologues just bored me.




Once again I find writing a 3 Star review the absolute worstIt sounds like I didn't enjoy this and that's not the case.It was ok,I just think my love affair with these men might be over.



Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design
]]> <![CDATA[Don't Fight the Spark (Soldiers and Mercenaries #1)]]> 45168050 alternate cover edition of ASIN B07QQNP96D

As the Light Festival draws near, the Něssyrians craft paper lanterns, awaiting the most important holiday of the year. 
The Lyliňg Fighting House, too, prepares for celebration--by laying fresh sand onto the arena and setting up a match against their top pit fighter, the unrivalled Yüuzuki Ōren. 
His last match. One he can't win. 
With the odds more than stacked against him, the gorgeous Barbarian is as good as dead. Unless his lover, healer Ĥaiatto Ẽkana, proves himself every bit as determined as he is clever and finds a way to protect the man he'd stop at nothing to save.]]> 154 Kasia Bacon Judith 4

Review updated 20/12/19 to include Audio review.Audio link provided by the Author.


Narrator: Michael Fox.

Running time: 2hrs 27 mins.

"Don't you see?It's magic every time you touch me."







Audio review:

To be honest I probably wasn't the best person to review this.I hadn't listened to an entire Audio before,having only tried samples with no success....so I had no idea what to expect or compare it to.




It took me a few chapters to really get on board with it but the first thing that struck me was a lot of detail that I'm sure I didn't appreciate reading the book.The second thing that stood out was that listening to it took so much longer than reading it and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing to be honest.




In my opinion the narrator did an excellent job.Every single voice was distinctive,at no point did I question which character it was.I was more than a bit worried about listening to sex scenes for some reason but I shouldn't have worried-they were perfectly narrated with a lot of feeling.


So my first Audio was definitely a success.Would I be in a hurry to read more? I'm still not sure ...


My rating is 4 Stars.


Original review:



I get quite giddy when I see Kasia Bacon has written another story in her truly engaging Order Universe.She's fast becoming my favourite Author in the fantasy genre.She has created some amazing couples who I absolutely always fall in love with.





From the beautiful scene settings,the addictive plots,the loveable characters,these short stories never fail to deliver.






Barbarian fighter Yuuzuki is resigned to his fate-he has one final match which he knows will only end one way.Time and circumstances are against him.His one wish is the safety of his lover,healer Haiatto.


“You’re everything I could’ve dreamed of. Everything I’ve ever needed. Perfect. You’re perfect. I want you to remember this. I just wish so damn much that I could love you for a little bit longer.”





Together for years,their love for each other might not have been vocalized yet but they both know it exsists and Haiatto is determined to do whatever he can to save his lover-but what will the price be?


Tell me, would you follow me if I found a way out?” His answer came in a heartbeat. “I would,” he said. “Anywhere.”





I adored this story,I loved these two men but damn I wanted more.


Prepare to be transported into the mystical,fascinating world Kasia Bacon has created once more in Don't Fight the Spark-you'll fall in love all over again....



Review copy.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 3.94 2019 Don't Fight the Spark (Soldiers and Mercenaries #1)
author: Kasia Bacon
name: Judith
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/04/08
date added: 2019/12/20
shelves: arc, fantasy, favourite-author, m-m, mystical, novella, vampires, magic
review:
4.5


Review updated 20/12/19 to include Audio review.Audio link provided by the Author.


Narrator: Michael Fox.

Running time: 2hrs 27 mins.

"Don't you see?It's magic every time you touch me."







Audio review:

To be honest I probably wasn't the best person to review this.I hadn't listened to an entire Audio before,having only tried samples with no success....so I had no idea what to expect or compare it to.




It took me a few chapters to really get on board with it but the first thing that struck me was a lot of detail that I'm sure I didn't appreciate reading the book.The second thing that stood out was that listening to it took so much longer than reading it and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing to be honest.




In my opinion the narrator did an excellent job.Every single voice was distinctive,at no point did I question which character it was.I was more than a bit worried about listening to sex scenes for some reason but I shouldn't have worried-they were perfectly narrated with a lot of feeling.


So my first Audio was definitely a success.Would I be in a hurry to read more? I'm still not sure ...


My rating is 4 Stars.


Original review:



I get quite giddy when I see Kasia Bacon has written another story in her truly engaging Order Universe.She's fast becoming my favourite Author in the fantasy genre.She has created some amazing couples who I absolutely always fall in love with.





From the beautiful scene settings,the addictive plots,the loveable characters,these short stories never fail to deliver.






Barbarian fighter Yuuzuki is resigned to his fate-he has one final match which he knows will only end one way.Time and circumstances are against him.His one wish is the safety of his lover,healer Haiatto.


“You’re everything I could’ve dreamed of. Everything I’ve ever needed. Perfect. You’re perfect. I want you to remember this. I just wish so damn much that I could love you for a little bit longer.”





Together for years,their love for each other might not have been vocalized yet but they both know it exsists and Haiatto is determined to do whatever he can to save his lover-but what will the price be?


Tell me, would you follow me if I found a way out?” His answer came in a heartbeat. “I would,” he said. “Anywhere.”





I adored this story,I loved these two men but damn I wanted more.


Prepare to be transported into the mystical,fascinating world Kasia Bacon has created once more in Don't Fight the Spark-you'll fall in love all over again....



Review copy.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> <![CDATA[Happy for You (Love & Family #3)]]> 49465330 Mort wants his de facto family back. . . .
He knows he doesn’t deserve them. Not yet, anyway. Not without making up for leaving them in their time of need.
But it’s not easy to make amends. Mort must show how much he wants the Rochester family back in his life. When his best friend’s younger brother, Felix, has his license suspended, Mort jumps at the chance to play chauffeur and to win back the family he desperately wants to call his own.
Repairing his broken relationships—with all five Rochester siblings—becomes Mort’s personal mission. Especially with Felix. Felix, who used to follow him everywhere. Felix, who idolized him. Felix, whom Mort has not stopped thinking about . . .

Felix is just trying to keep it together. . . .
With a perma-smile as his armor, he’s determined to make his family happy. Determined to be a positive role model to his three younger sisters, while their mum struggles with depression after her kidney transplant.
Unfortunately, no amount of smiling can save his license when he gets pulled over for the umpteenth time, and he still needs to get his sisters to school, soccer, and dance classes.
The solution to his problem emerges in the return of their prodigal neighbor, Mort. Mort, who left their lives without a word. Mort, who was in love with Felix’s older brother.
Mort, who is the last guy Felix wants charging back into their lives. . . .

Mort and Felix. Two guys bound by a rocky past—
—a past they must come to terms with to find true happiness in the here and now.

~ - ~ - ~

Set in New Zealand, Happy For You (Love & Family #3) is an MM gay romance featuring two guys pitted together in a blue 1988 station wagon — and there’s no doubt about it, Mort is going to drive Felix crazy.
Can be read as a standalone.

Tropes: brother’s best friend, second chances, family drama, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, found family
Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance
Trigger warnings: Depression and generalized anxiety (of a side character)]]> 282 Anyta Sunday 3947909144 Judith 4



Third book in the series but can be read on it's own.



Classic Anyta Sunday slow burn romance with the emphasis on family and second chances.





Felix just wants to make people happy from his siblings to his mother for whom he made one of the most amazing sacrifices ever.He's been in love with his brother's best friend for years and couldn't understand why Mort left them all a year ago.But now Mort's back and thankfully he finds out very early on the reason Mort left.It's very obvious there's a strong pull between them but Felix is understandably cautious.





Mort is determined to try and win back his family.Not just with Felix but with the three girls,Felix's mother,and with Roch his best friend.I really felt for Mort,I hated the way he was 'cast out' by Delores( Felix and Roch's mother ) and she never redeemed herself for me.His calm determination to put things right,so to speak,was one of the highlights of the book for me.I just adored him.




I loved his relationship with the three girls,especially the twins who are too precious for words.Him and Felix re connect slowly and it was super sweet.For me this one wasn't as up beat with the snarky banter as some of the Authors previous books but very enjoyable nevertheless...



Mort’s smile holds the world as he takes my hand and we dance.



Recommended read.


Review copy.]]> 3.86 2019 Happy for You (Love & Family #3)
author: Anyta Sunday
name: Judith
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/08/28
date added: 2019/12/18
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, m-m, slow-burn, cute-guys
review:




Third book in the series but can be read on it's own.



Classic Anyta Sunday slow burn romance with the emphasis on family and second chances.





Felix just wants to make people happy from his siblings to his mother for whom he made one of the most amazing sacrifices ever.He's been in love with his brother's best friend for years and couldn't understand why Mort left them all a year ago.But now Mort's back and thankfully he finds out very early on the reason Mort left.It's very obvious there's a strong pull between them but Felix is understandably cautious.





Mort is determined to try and win back his family.Not just with Felix but with the three girls,Felix's mother,and with Roch his best friend.I really felt for Mort,I hated the way he was 'cast out' by Delores( Felix and Roch's mother ) and she never redeemed herself for me.His calm determination to put things right,so to speak,was one of the highlights of the book for me.I just adored him.




I loved his relationship with the three girls,especially the twins who are too precious for words.Him and Felix re connect slowly and it was super sweet.For me this one wasn't as up beat with the snarky banter as some of the Authors previous books but very enjoyable nevertheless...



Mort’s smile holds the world as he takes my hand and we dance.



Recommended read.


Review copy.
]]> Rago 49122623
Rago is a fated mates/forced proximity short story, featuring a puffing dragon shifter and a romp in the fencing hall.]]> Kasia Bacon Judith 4
"He's recognised his mate,they said"(...)








Well,this was a bit good.


But damn I wanted more.More of them having breakfast.More of the reactions from everyone else.More of the the start of their story.Just more of them.The day this Author writes a full length book will be a happy day because she can tell a story.I mean,seriously tell a story.How many Authors can write a short story and have you hanging on every word.




About 30 pages and just outstanding character development (and one was a dragon for half the story)




Fated mates+a tipsy dragon+a perfect sexual encounter+the promise of so much more.




Another brilliant addition to The Order Universe


Review copy.
]]> 3.77 2019 Rago
author: Kasia Bacon
name: Judith
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/18
date added: 2019/12/18
shelves: arc, arc-from-author, couldn-t-wait-to-read, fantasy, favourite-author, lgbtq, m-m
review:

"He's recognised his mate,they said"(...)








Well,this was a bit good.


But damn I wanted more.More of them having breakfast.More of the reactions from everyone else.More of the the start of their story.Just more of them.The day this Author writes a full length book will be a happy day because she can tell a story.I mean,seriously tell a story.How many Authors can write a short story and have you hanging on every word.




About 30 pages and just outstanding character development (and one was a dragon for half the story)




Fated mates+a tipsy dragon+a perfect sexual encounter+the promise of so much more.




Another brilliant addition to The Order Universe


Review copy.

]]> <![CDATA[A King in Wonderland (Happily Ever Asher, #3)]]> 49379600 Or at least he was, until it all came crashing down.
He made a mistake. And even Asher himself, arranger of marriages and aider of lovesick hearts, doesn’t know how to fix it.

And like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay.
His inability to focus on love has turned his column into a disaster, his best friends are acting weirder than usual,  Christopher turns out to be a man of many surprises, and Morgan, well...

Maybe this time it does matter. Because when Asher’s heart finally realizes what he’s been looking for all along, it may be too late.
And too broken.
But there might just be a shred of hope somewhere deep down in his heart. Maybe Asher can fix everything and have his prince charming.
Because love is always like a fairy tale…right?]]> 109 Nash Summers Judith 5

LOVED IT.







In this series you kind of get a play on,


Red riding Hood,

Goldilocks and the three bears(or two bears in this case)


And here it's,

Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella....


Charming and clever.


In the final instalment of this delightful series things should be going well for Asher.He's just celebrated his birthday in the absolute best way but an overheard conversation sees his happiness short lived.




He's lost his mojo with his advice column.I mean a boy who's heart might be breaking a little bit can hardly be expected to give advice on all things love related can he?




But Asher can't stay downbeat for long and he has a new mission.....make the boy of his dreams see how much he cares.And it's just charming as he puts his plan in motion.Helped by a new love problem to solve and a fairy with a glittery wand( that Asher totally wants,by the way!), it seems true love will always find a way....





I know I've totally gushed about how cute Asher is in previous reviews for this series but he just is!! I absolutely loved him.He's all kinds of wonderful.



Fantastic characters,a charming story that you'll get swept up in.I didn't want it to end.


Books 1 and 2 currently available on KU.


Highly Recommended...


Review copy.]]> 4.03 2019 A King in Wonderland (Happily Ever Asher, #3)
author: Nash Summers
name: Judith
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/06/28
date added: 2019/12/17
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, cute-boys, cute-guys, m-m, part-of-a-series, slow-burn
review:
4.5


LOVED IT.







In this series you kind of get a play on,


Red riding Hood,

Goldilocks and the three bears(or two bears in this case)


And here it's,

Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella....


Charming and clever.


In the final instalment of this delightful series things should be going well for Asher.He's just celebrated his birthday in the absolute best way but an overheard conversation sees his happiness short lived.




He's lost his mojo with his advice column.I mean a boy who's heart might be breaking a little bit can hardly be expected to give advice on all things love related can he?




But Asher can't stay downbeat for long and he has a new mission.....make the boy of his dreams see how much he cares.And it's just charming as he puts his plan in motion.Helped by a new love problem to solve and a fairy with a glittery wand( that Asher totally wants,by the way!), it seems true love will always find a way....





I know I've totally gushed about how cute Asher is in previous reviews for this series but he just is!! I absolutely loved him.He's all kinds of wonderful.



Fantastic characters,a charming story that you'll get swept up in.I didn't want it to end.


Books 1 and 2 currently available on KU.


Highly Recommended...


Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds, #8)]]> 48984001 Someone has it out for Rialto. 

Ian Banner is loving his hectic life. He’s newly married, ready to start a family, and opening a new restaurant. All his dreams are coming true.

The last thing he needs is a problem with his restaurant. 

But when one attack after another comes, he grows convinced he has another enemy. 

Ian tries to handle things by himself, but his friends are soon drawn in when the attacks become violent. That’s when Ian realizes the target isn’t Rialto. It’s him. 

Rialto is the final installment in the Unbreakable Bonds series and features sexy times, Daciana snuggles, overprotective family, fire, and of course, code names.

]]> 259 Jocelynn Drake Judith 4



Personally I couldn't be happier that the final book in this series was about Ian and Hollis.Ian has always been my favourite character in this series and he's the reason I've come back to this series over and over. I haven't read every book and a couple haven't worked as well as others for me but I'm happy I read this final book and got to see Ian,Lucas,Rowe,and Snow happy and settled with their partners and families.






This series has had everything at times.Drama, a little OTT at times but I've come to expect it and I've realized it kind of works. Along with the drama the overriding factor in these books is family,love,and friendship and these men have it in spades.




I don't want to go into the events here but fans of this series won't be disappointed and the epilogue was pretty damn perfect.





His family had grown so much over the years, and he’d never expected this. Hoped, maybe, but never really thought it was possible.(...)





Recommended.


Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design.]]> 4.34 2019 Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds, #8)
author: Jocelynn Drake
name: Judith
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/16
date added: 2019/12/16
shelves: arc, cute-guys, indigo-arc, m-m, lgbtq, part-of-a-series
review:




Personally I couldn't be happier that the final book in this series was about Ian and Hollis.Ian has always been my favourite character in this series and he's the reason I've come back to this series over and over. I haven't read every book and a couple haven't worked as well as others for me but I'm happy I read this final book and got to see Ian,Lucas,Rowe,and Snow happy and settled with their partners and families.






This series has had everything at times.Drama, a little OTT at times but I've come to expect it and I've realized it kind of works. Along with the drama the overriding factor in these books is family,love,and friendship and these men have it in spades.




I don't want to go into the events here but fans of this series won't be disappointed and the epilogue was pretty damn perfect.





His family had grown so much over the years, and he’d never expected this. Hoped, maybe, but never really thought it was possible.(...)





Recommended.


Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design.
]]> Whatever It Takes 49019230
Roman is a world away from the naïve Russian boy who lost everything, one devastating day. Now he’s a fixer for a wealthy Russian, keeping the guy’s business dealings away from the attention of the British authorities. Roman is balanced on a moral tightrope which grows more unsteady by the day. The last thing he needs is to become emotionally involved with a young Syrian, especially when he can’t afford to trust anyone.

A chance discovery in Roman’s car by Zain sets off a violent chain reaction and Zain is thrown into a world that threatens not just his dreams but his life. Roman has difficult decisions to make. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep Zain safe. But lingering shadows from their pasts as well as prominent figures from Roman’s present need to be eliminated if they’re to have a chance together.
As lies and danger escalate, are they doomed before they’ve even begun?
]]> 446 Barbara Elsborg Judith 4




One thing I love about Barbara Elsborg's books is the journey her characters go on.I love getting their back stories and this is no exception.Starting when Zain and Roman are teenage boys this story isn't always easy to read. but both men's characters were shown at a young age.The terrible things they had to endure shaped them into the men they turned out to be.I loved them both equally.






From the war torn streets of Syria to a life changed in the blink of an eye in Russia,Zain and Roman's paths cross in London and their struggles were real....






Zain has a dream he wants to fulfil but will his involvement with Roman threaten everything and will Roman be worth the risk?






Their romance is cleverly woven into a ,at times,complex plot and even up to the last 20% I had no idea how things would play out.



These two had great chemistry and I was routing for them all the way.




As usual with this Author the story is quite gritty but her quirky humour is present mainly from Zain and I loved him even more for it.


Loved the epilogue!!

Recommended.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> 4.12 2019 Whatever It Takes
author: Barbara Elsborg
name: Judith
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/30
date added: 2019/12/10
shelves: arc, dbo-arc, emotional, favourite-author, gorgeous-boys, great-chemistry, lgbtq, m-m, mystery-spys
review:





One thing I love about Barbara Elsborg's books is the journey her characters go on.I love getting their back stories and this is no exception.Starting when Zain and Roman are teenage boys this story isn't always easy to read. but both men's characters were shown at a young age.The terrible things they had to endure shaped them into the men they turned out to be.I loved them both equally.






From the war torn streets of Syria to a life changed in the blink of an eye in Russia,Zain and Roman's paths cross in London and their struggles were real....






Zain has a dream he wants to fulfil but will his involvement with Roman threaten everything and will Roman be worth the risk?






Their romance is cleverly woven into a ,at times,complex plot and even up to the last 20% I had no idea how things would play out.



These two had great chemistry and I was routing for them all the way.




As usual with this Author the story is quite gritty but her quirky humour is present mainly from Zain and I loved him even more for it.


Loved the epilogue!!

Recommended.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------

]]> Daddy's Forbidden Room 48947038 “Oh, Kevin, no… you don’t need a boyfriend. What you need is a Daddy.”


Kevin knows his worth. He’s a cute twink who, despite his lack of experience, has a lot to offer. So when life deals him lemons, all he needs is sugar to make lemonade.

A Sugar Daddy that is.

Kevin is ready to throw caution to the wind when he meets a mysterious man who offers him the opportunity of a lifetime. A million dollars in exchange for becoming the man’s boy toy and staying with him for one year. Sandro is older, devastatingly handsome, and ready to show Kevin a world of sensual pleasures while lavishing him with luxury.

But Kevin’s new Daddy also has strict rules.

Never leave the island.

Never disobey.

And never enter the forbidden room behind the white door.

What starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement quickly turns into a whirlwind of passion. Secrets become too tempting to resist, and whatever hides behind the white door could be the undoing of all that Kevin loves about his Daddy.


***

“What’s this room?”
Sandro put his hand on Kevin’s nape. “This is a part of the house you’re not allowed in.”
Kevin stared at the white door with his lips parted. “Why, Bluebeard? Hiding all your dead ex-husbands?”
Sandro chuckled. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Daddy kink, secrets, age gap, Sugar Baby/Sugar Daddy, rent boy, spanking, discipline, lingerie kink
Genre: M/M romance with dark elements
Length: ~35,000 words (Standalone novel)
Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes

WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, and morally ambiguous characters.]]> 179 K.A. Merikan Judith 4
“I’ll be good to you all night, baby boy. You look so hot in those panties and stockings. Everyone’s a tease in lace. It shows off so much, yet still hides a little. (...)











Well,this was a bit delicious....



A virgin twink+lace panties+stockings+and a dirty talking Italian.














Kevin has more than one problem.Recently out to his parents who aren't best pleased,he sees his dream of going to Art school disappearing when they refuse to help him financially.On top of that he's still a virgin.....



*twirls*





What's a boy to do?? So when his friend offers to help,Kevin thinks why not??




A Sugar Daddy might just be the answer...





I went into this expecting kink and that's certainly what you get BUT, that's not all.





Sandro is older,hot,wealthy (and did I mention Italian with a filthy mouth?!!).But there's an air of mystery as well.Where does he keep disappearing to and why is one room is the house out of bounds?




Baring in mind this is a short read the suspense is ever present and Kevin and Sandro had great chemistry going on.And it's seriously hot...


Go and get kinky girls and boys...


Recommended.


Review copy.


]]> 3.42 2019 Daddy's Forbidden Room
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/05
date added: 2019/12/05
shelves: age-difference, arc, arc-from-authors, favourite-authors, kink, lgbtq, m-m
review:

“I’ll be good to you all night, baby boy. You look so hot in those panties and stockings. Everyone’s a tease in lace. It shows off so much, yet still hides a little. (...)











Well,this was a bit delicious....



A virgin twink+lace panties+stockings+and a dirty talking Italian.














Kevin has more than one problem.Recently out to his parents who aren't best pleased,he sees his dream of going to Art school disappearing when they refuse to help him financially.On top of that he's still a virgin.....



*twirls*





What's a boy to do?? So when his friend offers to help,Kevin thinks why not??




A Sugar Daddy might just be the answer...





I went into this expecting kink and that's certainly what you get BUT, that's not all.





Sandro is older,hot,wealthy (and did I mention Italian with a filthy mouth?!!).But there's an air of mystery as well.Where does he keep disappearing to and why is one room is the house out of bounds?




Baring in mind this is a short read the suspense is ever present and Kevin and Sandro had great chemistry going on.And it's seriously hot...


Go and get kinky girls and boys...


Recommended.


Review copy.



]]> <![CDATA[Straight as a Wheel: Smoke Valley MC (Sex & Mayhem, #11)]]> 43908251 “Your secret’s safe with me, Leo Heller. Whatever happens here, nobody will know. Ever. Do you understand?”


Zolt. Gay. Player. Predator. Fetish: Straight guys
Leo. Straight. Biker. Prey. Fetish: True love

Zolt knows what he wants from life--cold hard cash so that he can enjoy an early retirement in the Carribean as rent boys serve him drinks on the beach. Meanwhile, he’s got his pawn shop as a front for illegal operations, and a baseball bat to deal with troublemakers.

When it comes to men, Zolt loves the chase, and his favorite, most elusive prey is curious straight guys. He goes out of his way to seduce and devour them. If he can be their first, all the better.

His next mark? A biker. And not just any. An outlaw, Leo Heller.

Leo’s got his future all figured out. A wife, two to four kids, maybe a dog. If love was as easy as others make it seem, Leo would have been married already.

A string of failed relationships leads him to the one person he shouldn’t be crushing on, shouldn’t be admiring, and most definitely shouldn’t be touching. Because a man like Zolt Andorai won’t give Leo the family he wants. Hell, Zolt doesn’t even do boyfriends. But what Zolt does offer is no-strings-attached experimentation, and Leo is only human.

After all, if no one ever finds out Leo’s secret, it’s as if it doesn’t exist.

One kiss leads to another, lines blur, and before Leo knows it, he’s in over his head.

In love.

Helpless.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Outlaw motorcycle club, organized crime, homophobia, hurt/comfort, forced proximity, coming out, seduction, forbidden attraction, first love, greed, player, family ties
Genre: M/M romance, suspense
Length: ~110,000 words (Standalone novel)
Steam level: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes

WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, offensive language and morally ambiguous characters.]]> 309 K.A. Merikan Judith 4






K.A. Merikan perfectly combine grittiness with romance here.


This series is aptly titled Sex & Mayhem...



No one does biker stories in the MM genre better...




Book 11 but each story in this series can be read on their own.A friend recommended this series to me years ago and I've never looked back.Often in biker stories the club business can take over,over shadow,and complicate the story.Not here....the balance is just right.






The blurb promises all things delicious and it doesn't disappoint.





Zolt has plans.


Working towards his retirement.Lying on a Caribbean beach,drinking cocktails,rent boys on tap,and enough money for a comfortable life.The thrill of the chase is what excites him,especially if the man is straight....and he's got a certain outlaw biker in his sights.








Leo has plans.


He wants normality.A wife,children,maybe a dog? But the best laid plans and all that...
Events one night are set to change everything...





I adored Leo.Not a typical biker,he had an almost softer side to him which made him so endearing.It took a little longer to warm to Zolt but he had his reasons for the way he was and there was so much more to him than the tough exterior he portrayed.



Great chemistry between Leo and Zolt and I loved seeing each men's layers slowly getting peeled away as the story progressed.I'd honestly love a follow-up,especially after the epilogue.

Recommended read.


Review copy.]]> 4.03 2019 Straight as a Wheel: Smoke Valley MC (Sex & Mayhem, #11)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/27
date added: 2019/11/27
shelves: arc, arc-from-authors, bikers, couldn-t-wait-to-read, lgbtq, m-m, seduction
review:
4.5







K.A. Merikan perfectly combine grittiness with romance here.


This series is aptly titled Sex & Mayhem...



No one does biker stories in the MM genre better...




Book 11 but each story in this series can be read on their own.A friend recommended this series to me years ago and I've never looked back.Often in biker stories the club business can take over,over shadow,and complicate the story.Not here....the balance is just right.






The blurb promises all things delicious and it doesn't disappoint.





Zolt has plans.


Working towards his retirement.Lying on a Caribbean beach,drinking cocktails,rent boys on tap,and enough money for a comfortable life.The thrill of the chase is what excites him,especially if the man is straight....and he's got a certain outlaw biker in his sights.








Leo has plans.


He wants normality.A wife,children,maybe a dog? But the best laid plans and all that...
Events one night are set to change everything...





I adored Leo.Not a typical biker,he had an almost softer side to him which made him so endearing.It took a little longer to warm to Zolt but he had his reasons for the way he was and there was so much more to him than the tough exterior he portrayed.



Great chemistry between Leo and Zolt and I loved seeing each men's layers slowly getting peeled away as the story progressed.I'd honestly love a follow-up,especially after the epilogue.

Recommended read.


Review copy.
]]> Hometown Christmas 48840400
Yani Nicolaou is sworn off love for good. After fleeing a bad break-up in London, the only blood, sweat, and tears he has left are for his gyro stall at the Christmas market. Rebound fling? No thanks. He’s sticking to one-night-stands.

Ex-army vet Gavin Richie has even less capacity for romance. Managing a homeless shelter while recovering from injury keeps him far too busy. So what if he’s often alone? He’s content being single, or so he thinks until a chance meeting lights a spark he can’t ignore.

Yani is the warmth and affection Gavin hadn’t known he was missing. As Christmas lights up the city, their lives entwine in more ways than one. Falling for each other is easy. Holding on is harder, unless a hometown Christmas proves their love can last longer than the festive season.

Hometown Christmas is a standalone MM Christmas novella.]]> 171 Garrett Leigh 1913220176 Judith 5

Garrett Leigh at her best here.










This is pretty much the perfect Christmas story.It's not all tinsel and baubles,it's more low key twinkling lights because it's not all about Christmas.It's a story that happens to take place in the run up to Christmas.




Once again Garrett Leigh has created two highly likeable men. There's a grittiness about it because Gavin and Yani have their problems,they haven't exactly walked in a straight line.Both men's issues felt real and the Author tackled them extremely well.





Their first encounter was everything! That moment when you lock eyes with someone and the attraction is all consuming.I could totally picture them standing in that coffee shop just staring at each other.




I was so happy to get another story by her set in the North of England.Leeds has become a kind of second home to me and I could picture vividly the Christmas market where Yani had his food stall.






Highly recommended.You'll fall in love with Gavin and Yani,I'm sure.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 3.99 2019 Hometown Christmas
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/11/08
date added: 2019/11/19
shelves: arc, british-boys, british, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, gorgeous-boys, lgbtq, m-m, slinky-boys, dbo-arc, christmas
review:
4.5


Garrett Leigh at her best here.










This is pretty much the perfect Christmas story.It's not all tinsel and baubles,it's more low key twinkling lights because it's not all about Christmas.It's a story that happens to take place in the run up to Christmas.




Once again Garrett Leigh has created two highly likeable men. There's a grittiness about it because Gavin and Yani have their problems,they haven't exactly walked in a straight line.Both men's issues felt real and the Author tackled them extremely well.





Their first encounter was everything! That moment when you lock eyes with someone and the attraction is all consuming.I could totally picture them standing in that coffee shop just staring at each other.




I was so happy to get another story by her set in the North of England.Leeds has become a kind of second home to me and I could picture vividly the Christmas market where Yani had his food stall.






Highly recommended.You'll fall in love with Gavin and Yani,I'm sure.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> <![CDATA[The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings (Black and Blue #1)]]> 48752448
However, when he gets there, he finds a house that has never kept its occupants for very long. Either through death or disinclination, no one stays there, and after a few days of living in the place, Levi can understand why. Strange noises can be heard at all hours of the day and night, and disturbing and scary things begin to happen to him. He never believed in ghosts before, but when events take a sinister turn, he knows he must look for help. He finds it in the unlikely form of the blue-haired leader of a ghost tour.

Blue Billings is edgy, beautiful, and lost. Utterly lost. He conceals so many secrets that some days it’s a miracle he remembers his own name. He knows that he should ignore Levi because he threatens the tenuous grip Blue has on survival. But there’s something about the kind-eyed man that draws Blue to him. Something that demands he stay and fight for him when he would normally run in the opposite direction.

As the two men investigate the shocking truth behind Levi’s house, they also discover a deep connection that defies the short length of time they’ve known each other. But when events escalate and his life is on the line, Levi has to wonder if it was wise to trust the Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings.]]> 278 Lily Morton Judith 4




This was a pleasant surprise.Something very different from Lily Morton.Ghosts,things that go bump in the night,a plot that had me guessing and hanging on every word to get to the end and a blossoming romance between two highly likeable men.





Levi is ready for a fresh start after the end of a long term relationship.Moving from London to a new house in York he's inherited seems like the perfect solution.The house is in serious need of renovation and straight away the reader is pulled into it's mystery and secrets.
The city of York is the perfect setting here,let me tell you.It's a beautiful city,steeped in history with wonderful old buildings,it's quirky and quaint with loads of character.




The city has secrets which are used for many ghost tours( these tours actually do take place in York-in fact York is known as the world's most haunted city!).One such ghost tour has the enigmatic and rather flamboyant character,Blue in charge.Levi is drawn to him by his appearances initially but it's soon apparent that Blue is no ordinary tour guide....





Without giving too much away Levi and Blue join forces to try and uncover the secrets that surround Levi's house and along the way develop a lovely friendship that turns to so much more.This is a slow burn and I loved the progression of their relationship.



Some great supporting characters( even the ghosts!), and I'm hoping for more from some of them in upcoming books.


Thoroughly enjoyable and one I would recommend.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------]]> 4.31 2019 The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings (Black and Blue #1)
author: Lily Morton
name: Judith
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/12
date added: 2019/11/15
shelves: arc, british-boys, british-humour, british-setting, cute-guys, dbo-arc, ghosts, lgbtq, m-m
review:





This was a pleasant surprise.Something very different from Lily Morton.Ghosts,things that go bump in the night,a plot that had me guessing and hanging on every word to get to the end and a blossoming romance between two highly likeable men.





Levi is ready for a fresh start after the end of a long term relationship.Moving from London to a new house in York he's inherited seems like the perfect solution.The house is in serious need of renovation and straight away the reader is pulled into it's mystery and secrets.
The city of York is the perfect setting here,let me tell you.It's a beautiful city,steeped in history with wonderful old buildings,it's quirky and quaint with loads of character.




The city has secrets which are used for many ghost tours( these tours actually do take place in York-in fact York is known as the world's most haunted city!).One such ghost tour has the enigmatic and rather flamboyant character,Blue in charge.Levi is drawn to him by his appearances initially but it's soon apparent that Blue is no ordinary tour guide....





Without giving too much away Levi and Blue join forces to try and uncover the secrets that surround Levi's house and along the way develop a lovely friendship that turns to so much more.This is a slow burn and I loved the progression of their relationship.



Some great supporting characters( even the ghosts!), and I'm hoping for more from some of them in upcoming books.


Thoroughly enjoyable and one I would recommend.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> Twice Shy (New Milton #3) 48559190
Until he meets sweet but struggling single dad, Ollie Snow.

Following the tragic death of his sister and her husband two years earlier, Ollie became the legal guardian of their two young sons—much to the horror of the boys’ conservative grandparents. They think Ollie’s too young and too unreliable to raise their grandsons. So to prove them wrong, Ollie’s determined to parent the boys without anyone’s help.

Until he meets reserved but caring teacher, Joel Morgan.

As the only two men in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Joel and Ollie are thrown together over a series of fundraising events, and somewhere between the Beach Fun Run and the Fall Festival they fall in love. But Ollie has another reason for moving to New Milton—a reason he’s keeping close to his chest—and Joel’s wounded heart won’t trust a man with secrets.

Dare they hope for a future together, or will their past pain keep them apart forever?
]]> 310 Sally Malcolm Judith 4





Another charming story from Sally Malcolm set in and around the quaint sea side town of New Milton.




Can be a stand alone but fans of this series are sure to enjoy this instalment.





Joel Is living quite a lonely life when Ollie rocks into his world and turns it upside down.The title Twice Shy totally applies to him.Still recovering from his failed marriage four years ago and the fact that's he's not out in town he's extremely reluctant to have any kind of relationship.But Ollie slowly starts to break down his barriers.





For his part,Ollie is putting all his energy into bringing up his sister's two sons after she died tragically.He fought for the boys and just wants stability for them.He hadn't bargained on a sexy as sin teacher to complicate things.




I adored Ollie.I've got a real soft spot for men bringing up children on their own for some reason. And even though he doubted himself I loved his relationship with the boys.





There was a big misunderstanding towards the end which I did see coming and at times I wanted to slap Joel but I kind of got him...




These guys had great chemistry and it was a joy catching up with characters from previous books.

Overall,I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.


Review copy.]]> 3.84 2019 Twice Shy (New Milton #3)
author: Sally Malcolm
name: Judith
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/04
date added: 2019/11/08
shelves: age-difference, arc, arc-from-author, couldn-t-wait-to-read, cute-guys, favourite-author, m-m, slinky-boys, lgbtq
review:






Another charming story from Sally Malcolm set in and around the quaint sea side town of New Milton.




Can be a stand alone but fans of this series are sure to enjoy this instalment.





Joel Is living quite a lonely life when Ollie rocks into his world and turns it upside down.The title Twice Shy totally applies to him.Still recovering from his failed marriage four years ago and the fact that's he's not out in town he's extremely reluctant to have any kind of relationship.But Ollie slowly starts to break down his barriers.





For his part,Ollie is putting all his energy into bringing up his sister's two sons after she died tragically.He fought for the boys and just wants stability for them.He hadn't bargained on a sexy as sin teacher to complicate things.




I adored Ollie.I've got a real soft spot for men bringing up children on their own for some reason. And even though he doubted himself I loved his relationship with the boys.





There was a big misunderstanding towards the end which I did see coming and at times I wanted to slap Joel but I kind of got him...




These guys had great chemistry and it was a joy catching up with characters from previous books.

Overall,I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.


Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[A Scarcity of Condors (Venery, #3)]]> 38089560
Jude cautiously rebuilds his life in Seattle, becoming an accomplished pianist, but his his wings have been clipped and he cannot seem to soar in his relationships. Only family remains a constant source of strength and joy, until a DNA test reveals something that shocks all the Tholets: Jude is not their child.

Stunned by the test results, the Tholets must dig into their painful past, re-examine their lives in 1973 Santiago and the events surrounding Jude's birth story. It’s a tale rooted in South America’s Operation Condor. It spreads through Pinochet’s terrifying regime of detention camps, torture, disappeared civilians and stolen children. The journey forces Penny Tholet to confront the gaps in her memory while Cleón must re-live an ordeal he’s long kept hidden away in a secret world. The tale ends with Jude digging through his genetic code in a quest to find his biological parents. Are they alive? Or are they among Los Desaparecidos—the Disappeared Ones?

Suanne Laqueur’s third book in the Venery series explores the desperate acts of love made in times of war, and the many ways family can be defined.]]> 382 Suanne Laqueur 0578611341 Judith 5







I'm pretty sure my words here won't articulate how special this book is.I'm sure this must have been a labour of love for Suanne Laqueur.The attention to detail especially regarding the Historical aspects of this story took my breath away.Difficult to read at times but so important for this story,


I had no idea...



You watch the news,you hear stories of events in other countries and move on.




I had no idea....



This is powerful stuff,so strap yourself in and get ready for the ride...




The blurb tells the story and yet there's so much more. A story of family and how lives are defined.A close bond that was so powerful I cried many times because this Author's words are quite simply stunning.I knew these people,I felt their pain,I experienced their highs and lows and never doubted they'd make it.Told in the present with flashbacks to the past it's a truly compelling journey that you go on with these amazing characters.I couldn't single one out because each characters part is so important for many different reasons.





Suanne Laqueur,you clever,clever girl.....I was speechless. Honestly I want to say more but I won't....



Highly recommended...


Review copy.]]> 4.58 2019 A Scarcity of Condors (Venery, #3)
author: Suanne Laqueur
name: Judith
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/10/31
date added: 2019/10/31
shelves: arc, captivating, couldn-t-wait-to-read, couldn-t-put-it-down, emotional, family, favourite-author, great-characters, lgbtq
review:
4.5








I'm pretty sure my words here won't articulate how special this book is.I'm sure this must have been a labour of love for Suanne Laqueur.The attention to detail especially regarding the Historical aspects of this story took my breath away.Difficult to read at times but so important for this story,


I had no idea...



You watch the news,you hear stories of events in other countries and move on.




I had no idea....



This is powerful stuff,so strap yourself in and get ready for the ride...




The blurb tells the story and yet there's so much more. A story of family and how lives are defined.A close bond that was so powerful I cried many times because this Author's words are quite simply stunning.I knew these people,I felt their pain,I experienced their highs and lows and never doubted they'd make it.Told in the present with flashbacks to the past it's a truly compelling journey that you go on with these amazing characters.I couldn't single one out because each characters part is so important for many different reasons.





Suanne Laqueur,you clever,clever girl.....I was speechless. Honestly I want to say more but I won't....



Highly recommended...


Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[Their Property (Four Mercenaries #3)]]> 46247369 --- Bruised not broken. Loved. Always. ---

Clover’s life was perfect a year ago. He’d found four men to love, each essential to making him whole. Each one of them tough in their own way, part of a crew of mercenaries living on the wrong side of the law.

Tank was his loving Daddy, Pyro the wild one always pulling him into mischief, Boar taught him how to cook, and Drake showed him how to use knives in a wholly different fashion.

All Clover wanted was to finally be an equal in the group. So he trained, he pushed, and risked, but when real danger stared him in the face, he broke like a twig.

Now, with one of his lovers taken, Clover can’t find a way back to his former self. Each of the relationships they’d so meticulously built is fractured, and might never be the same.

If their group is to ever be whole again, Clover needs to find the courage he’s lost, but that means facing the monster who scarred him, and truths none of his men want to confront.

*

THEIR PROPERTY is a dark gay harem contemporary romance, book 3 in the “Four Mercenaries” trilogy. The story contains scenes of explicit violence, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters and lots of scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: polyamory, mercenaries, bounty hunters, albinism, commitment issues, dark past, male bonding, human trafficking, size difference, danger, alpha male, found family, size difference, distrust, shared, victim and protector, revenge, organized crime, angst, trauma, rescue, missing

Length: ~75,000 words]]> 265 K.A. Merikan Judith 4






Going into this final instalment I had no idea what to expect.Trust these Authors to turn all the madness and chaos into something that turned out to be romantic in a way.





With Boar still missing to say things are at breaking point is an understatement.But at the centre of everything is Clover doing his best to try and hold things together for these men.





Relationships are tested to the limit as the men try and come to terms with recent events but I was never in doubt they would all come out the other side.




And hello....Drake and Tank!! I was totally waiting for that to happen and it was beautifully written.It wasn't just sex at all.





It's always sad when a series ends and you have to say goodbye to characters you've grown to love but I'm so glad I went on this crazy journey with these guys.


Review copy.]]> 4.19 2019 Their Property (Four Mercenaries #3)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/08/05
date added: 2019/08/14
shelves: arc, delicious-men, favourite-authors, filthy-dirty, hot-guys, long-hair, m-m, m-m-m, mild-bdsm, part-of-a-series
review:
4.5







Going into this final instalment I had no idea what to expect.Trust these Authors to turn all the madness and chaos into something that turned out to be romantic in a way.





With Boar still missing to say things are at breaking point is an understatement.But at the centre of everything is Clover doing his best to try and hold things together for these men.





Relationships are tested to the limit as the men try and come to terms with recent events but I was never in doubt they would all come out the other side.




And hello....Drake and Tank!! I was totally waiting for that to happen and it was beautifully written.It wasn't just sex at all.





It's always sad when a series ends and you have to say goodbye to characters you've grown to love but I'm so glad I went on this crazy journey with these guys.


Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[Triangulation (Borealis Investigations, #2)]]> 46002738
Shep Collins runs a halfway house for LGBTQ kids and is a prominent figure in St. Louis’s gay community. When he disappears, however, dark truths begin to emerge about Shep’s past: his string of failed relationships, a problem with disappearing money, and his work, years before, as one of the foremost proponents of conversion therapy.

When Shep’s body turns up at the halfway house, the search for a missing person becomes the search for a murderer.

As North and Shaw probe for answers, they find that they are not the only ones who have come looking for the truth about Shep Collins. Their investigation puts them at odds with the police who are working the same case, and in that conflict, North and Shaw find threads leading back to the West End Slasher—the serial killer who almost took Shaw’s life in an alley seven years before. As the web of an ancient conspiracy comes to light, Shaw is driven to find answers, and North faces what might be his last chance to tell Shaw how he really feels.]]> 327 Gregory Ashe Judith 5 LOVED IT.








I'm gushing and twirling big time here.I absolutely ADORE Shaw & North.




Move over men because these two are firmly holding number two place in my favourite MM couples.And that's saying a lot because I've got a lot of favourites.



A new case to solve finds North and Shaw once more skirting around their feelings for each other...




I've read loads but the sexual tension between these two is some of the most delicious I've read.It's not obvious to them but to the reader it is and that just makes it even hotter.Talk about hanging on every damn word of this book waiting for things to happen....


And it's totally worth it,let me tell you...


-talk about swooning BIG time!!


But their story is just beginning,in a way.To say they both have emotional baggage is a bit of an understatement to say the least.Shaw is trying to cope with their recent assignment and that emotional fall out and dealing with intimacy issues which date back years.




North is trying to deal with the demise of his marriage and his acknowledgment of his feelings for Shaw.



The mystery element worked hand in hand here with the relationship development and it's a clever Author who can make that work without one overshadowing the other.



I honestly cannot fault this.The plot,the hugely complex but adorable characters,the writing that completely drew me in.




Highly recommended.



Release date 09 August/2019.Available on KU.


Book one currently available on KU.


Review copy.



]]> 4.27 2019 Triangulation (Borealis Investigations, #2)
author: Gregory Ashe
name: Judith
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/07/29
date added: 2019/08/05
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, great-banter, long-hair, m-m, mystery-crime, sexual-tension
review:
LOVED IT.








I'm gushing and twirling big time here.I absolutely ADORE Shaw & North.




Move over men because these two are firmly holding number two place in my favourite MM couples.And that's saying a lot because I've got a lot of favourites.



A new case to solve finds North and Shaw once more skirting around their feelings for each other...




I've read loads but the sexual tension between these two is some of the most delicious I've read.It's not obvious to them but to the reader it is and that just makes it even hotter.Talk about hanging on every damn word of this book waiting for things to happen....


And it's totally worth it,let me tell you...


-talk about swooning BIG time!!


But their story is just beginning,in a way.To say they both have emotional baggage is a bit of an understatement to say the least.Shaw is trying to cope with their recent assignment and that emotional fall out and dealing with intimacy issues which date back years.




North is trying to deal with the demise of his marriage and his acknowledgment of his feelings for Shaw.



The mystery element worked hand in hand here with the relationship development and it's a clever Author who can make that work without one overshadowing the other.



I honestly cannot fault this.The plot,the hugely complex but adorable characters,the writing that completely drew me in.




Highly recommended.



Release date 09 August/2019.Available on KU.


Book one currently available on KU.


Review copy.




]]> <![CDATA[Out in the Field (Out in College, #4)]]> 46036375
Phoenix Bell is a fabulous theater geek. He's excited about his recent transfer to a new school with an elite liberal arts program. Life has been on hold for a while, but this opportunity feels like the fresh start he was hoping for when he moved to California. And the chance reunion with the hot closeted jock is an unexpected surprise. The two men have nothing in common and their timing couldn't be worse. However, when their unconventional alliance blossoms into friendship and perhaps something more, it may be time to make some hard decisions. And perhaps risk it all...out in the field.]]> 200 Lane Hayes Judith 4




I'm becoming quite a fan of this Author.This is a delightful college romance with two hugely likeable MCs.




When I requested this I didn't realize it was actually book four but it definitely stands on its own.Characters from the previous book are very well introduced and while I believe Max and Phoenix featured in that book I didn't feel as though I missed anything here.





It might be a typical theme in gay romance...the guy deep in the closest and the guy who's out and proud but this one seemed to stand out for me because Max and Phoenix were just so adorable in totally different ways and watching them fall in love was so endearing.





Max is a popular/successful baseball player.He loves his sport and his team and has no intention of coming out any time soon.That is until a force of nature in the form of Theatre geek,Phoenix rocks into his world and makes Max realize that despite his sport/his team, his friends and his family he's lonely.




These two had a great connection from the start.Things might have started off just with sex but they kind of became friends without even realizing it and it was pretty special to read.





Opposites attract and different worlds collided in the absolute best way!


Would definitely recommend...

Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design]]> 3.83 2019 Out in the Field (Out in College, #4)
author: Lane Hayes
name: Judith
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/07/08
date added: 2019/07/12
shelves: arc, college-boys, coming-out, cute-guys, guy-liner, in-the-closet, m-m
review:





I'm becoming quite a fan of this Author.This is a delightful college romance with two hugely likeable MCs.




When I requested this I didn't realize it was actually book four but it definitely stands on its own.Characters from the previous book are very well introduced and while I believe Max and Phoenix featured in that book I didn't feel as though I missed anything here.





It might be a typical theme in gay romance...the guy deep in the closest and the guy who's out and proud but this one seemed to stand out for me because Max and Phoenix were just so adorable in totally different ways and watching them fall in love was so endearing.





Max is a popular/successful baseball player.He loves his sport and his team and has no intention of coming out any time soon.That is until a force of nature in the form of Theatre geek,Phoenix rocks into his world and makes Max realize that despite his sport/his team, his friends and his family he's lonely.




These two had a great connection from the start.Things might have started off just with sex but they kind of became friends without even realizing it and it was pretty special to read.





Opposites attract and different worlds collided in the absolute best way!


Would definitely recommend...

Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design
]]> Another Dance 41571972
Now Kaito is face-to-face with the man he's always admired. He believes himself insignificant and ordinary, a moth drawn to the light Alvarez casts. He can't allow himself to believe Cristian's flirtations are anything but natural charm—but Cristian has other plans. The tension pitches higher, legs and fingers intertwine, and Kaito begins to wonder if his fantasies have a shot at becoming reality.


Book Length: Novelette.]]> L.A. Ashton 1951057007 Judith 3 arc, novella, m-m




Another Dance is a cute enough novella but it didn't quite live up to my expectations because,really,not much happens to make it very memorable.





Kaito is a journalist/reporter who has followed and idolized Christian a figure skating champion for years.He can't quite believe it when he finally gets to interview Christian.




Christian oozes charisma and charm while Kaito is more self-deprecating.After a steamy encounter between them Kaito has no idea where he stands and is reluctant to even dream of anything more with Christian.But their paths cross again and they end up with a strong HFN and that's about it really.I'm not saying I wanted loads of drama but something was just missing here for me.




The characters are likeable and there definitely is chemistry between them,there just wasn't enough depth to the story for me.


The writing is solid and I would definitely be interested in reading more from this Author.

Overall,an ok read...


Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design]]> 3.35 2019 Another Dance
author: L.A. Ashton
name: Judith
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/07/06
date added: 2019/07/06
shelves: arc, novella, m-m
review:





Another Dance is a cute enough novella but it didn't quite live up to my expectations because,really,not much happens to make it very memorable.





Kaito is a journalist/reporter who has followed and idolized Christian a figure skating champion for years.He can't quite believe it when he finally gets to interview Christian.




Christian oozes charisma and charm while Kaito is more self-deprecating.After a steamy encounter between them Kaito has no idea where he stands and is reluctant to even dream of anything more with Christian.But their paths cross again and they end up with a strong HFN and that's about it really.I'm not saying I wanted loads of drama but something was just missing here for me.




The characters are likeable and there definitely is chemistry between them,there just wasn't enough depth to the story for me.


The writing is solid and I would definitely be interested in reading more from this Author.

Overall,an ok read...


Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design
]]> Rich Kids 2 (Rich Kids, #2) 45313482
I have cut all cords to my family except for my brother: Nate. He is the only good thing to come from the Preston name. He’s the sun to my sky, the apple of my eye. And a thousand miles away. Still, I bring him to his knees. I am his King. His God. Forever?

***RICH KIDS 2 is the continuation of a forbidden love romance, featuring enemies to lovers as well as detailed adult m/m content



TRIGGER WARNINGS: Brotherly "love", dubious consent, rough sex]]> 100 Quin Judith 5






OH-MY-GOD....



Talk about kink and filth and all things wrong and forbidden....




This book pushed ALL of my buttons.It's definitely my favourite by these Authors.If you've read book one you'll know what to expect and this is even better!!





BROCEST!!




I mean they're properly related.None of this pretend nonsense.And it's downright delicious.





It's two years into Sem and Nate's 'relationship' and the fact they're living in different countries doesn't stop these two getting down and dirty.I mean,good God!! How you might wonder? I'm not giving anything away and believe me I want to tell you what depravity they get up to.But I don't want to spoil a thing.....





Just a little teaser,though....


-manties(lace)

-stockings,

-a,frilly skirt( I might have died a little here)

-and heels,



It seems Sem likes Nate just a little bit girly.I mean I honestly have no words at how ridiculously HOT I found this.




The sex scenes are just perfect here.Just the right length,delicious content, I didn't skip a thing.So often Authors get these scenes wrong...too long,too short,too descriptive and in a book that's heavily focused on sex it could easily have happened here.But it didn't.This is sure to crank your engine.I was definitely flustered in the best way!




I've read a few books by these Authors now and honestly their writing just gets better.Because although this book is extremely sexual Sem and Nate's characters are extremely well developed.I adored these two boys.

And Meik and Sebastian feature here as well which was a pleasant surprise and cleverly worked into the story.






“What do you say, Nate? Wanna do this fucked up thing with me for eternity?”






Highly Recommended.....


Get kinky girls and boys...



Review copy.]]> 3.69 Rich Kids 2 (Rich Kids, #2)
author: Quin
name: Judith
average rating: 3.69
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2019/07/03
date added: 2019/07/03
shelves: arc, brocest, couldn-t-wait-to-read, filthy-dirty, hot-sex, hot-hot-hott, m-m
review:
4.5







OH-MY-GOD....



Talk about kink and filth and all things wrong and forbidden....




This book pushed ALL of my buttons.It's definitely my favourite by these Authors.If you've read book one you'll know what to expect and this is even better!!





BROCEST!!




I mean they're properly related.None of this pretend nonsense.And it's downright delicious.





It's two years into Sem and Nate's 'relationship' and the fact they're living in different countries doesn't stop these two getting down and dirty.I mean,good God!! How you might wonder? I'm not giving anything away and believe me I want to tell you what depravity they get up to.But I don't want to spoil a thing.....





Just a little teaser,though....


-manties(lace)

-stockings,

-a,frilly skirt( I might have died a little here)

-and heels,



It seems Sem likes Nate just a little bit girly.I mean I honestly have no words at how ridiculously HOT I found this.




The sex scenes are just perfect here.Just the right length,delicious content, I didn't skip a thing.So often Authors get these scenes wrong...too long,too short,too descriptive and in a book that's heavily focused on sex it could easily have happened here.But it didn't.This is sure to crank your engine.I was definitely flustered in the best way!




I've read a few books by these Authors now and honestly their writing just gets better.Because although this book is extremely sexual Sem and Nate's characters are extremely well developed.I adored these two boys.

And Meik and Sebastian feature here as well which was a pleasant surprise and cleverly worked into the story.






“What do you say, Nate? Wanna do this fucked up thing with me for eternity?”






Highly Recommended.....


Get kinky girls and boys...



Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[Their Obsession (Four Mercenaries #2)]]> 45886739 --- Loved. Protected. Shattered. ---


Clover has found love with not one man, but four. He never imagined such a relationship could work, let alone that he’d be at the center of it, but a year later, his bond with the four mercenaries is stronger than ever.

Each man in Clover’s life completes him in a whole different way. Where Drake teaches him shibari, Boar always showers him with cuddles. Where Tank is strict and protective, Pyro takes Clover on wild adventures.

To truly become a part of the mercenary crew, Clover chose to train under the guidance of his men. He’s itching for action to prove to himself and to others that he can handle the toughest jobs.

But through violence and mayhem, Clover will be tried in ways he never wished for. Old enemies resurface, bonds are tested, and one wrong move can mean death.

*

THEIR BOUNTY is a dark gay harem contemporary romance, book 2 in the “Four Mercenaries” trilogy. The story contains scenes of explicit violence, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters and lots of scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes.



POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: polyamory, mercenaries, bounty hunters, albinism, commitment issues, dark past, male bonding, human trafficking, size difference, danger, alpha male, found family, size difference, distrust, shared, victim and protector, revenge, organized crime

Length: ~70,000 words]]> 240 K.A. Merikan Judith 4







Wow.Just Wow!! I was definitely not expecting events to take such a dramatic turn. This the Merikans at their absolute best.Talk about going down a dark road....





Intense,so intense...once I started this I couldn't put it down.





So it's a year into Clover's relationship with four men.Tank,Pyro,Drake,and Boar and things are pretty much perfect.Clover is getting the necessary training to be part of the team and his relationship with each man is,getting much deeper.I honestly don't know how the Authors have done it but they've managed to make Clover have a connection to each man that is TOTALLY believable and turning out to be truly special.




BUT,




Clover makes a decision that will have so many consequences and my heart was in my mouth reading this as events unfolded.





I'm loving these men,this story,and cannot wait for the final part.



Review copy.




]]> 4.13 2019 Their Obsession (Four Mercenaries #2)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/06/20
date added: 2019/06/20
shelves: arc, dark, hot-guys, hot-sex, m-m, novella, part-of-a-series, bondage
review:
4.5








Wow.Just Wow!! I was definitely not expecting events to take such a dramatic turn. This the Merikans at their absolute best.Talk about going down a dark road....





Intense,so intense...once I started this I couldn't put it down.





So it's a year into Clover's relationship with four men.Tank,Pyro,Drake,and Boar and things are pretty much perfect.Clover is getting the necessary training to be part of the team and his relationship with each man is,getting much deeper.I honestly don't know how the Authors have done it but they've managed to make Clover have a connection to each man that is TOTALLY believable and turning out to be truly special.




BUT,




Clover makes a decision that will have so many consequences and my heart was in my mouth reading this as events unfolded.





I'm loving these men,this story,and cannot wait for the final part.



Review copy.





]]> Who We Are 34518620
Sebastian Day is content with life’s easy, if not a little monotonous, routine. After several failed relationships, he likes the simplicity of being alone in his truck at his job as a heavy goods driver, spending the weekends with his teenage son, and putting the world to rights with his cat, Marv. He’s not lonely. He isn’t hiding. At least…he doesn’t think he is until he meets the mesmerising stranger with the red hair and purple lips.

Can Oliver and Sebastian help each other embrace who they are? Or will a cruel twist of fate end their journey before it’s even begun?

(M/M Romance. Not recommended for readers under 18 years of age due to language and sexual content.)]]> 412 Nicola Haken Judith 5

"Are you flirting with me?"
"Is it working?"
"Maybe"










Personally the sign of a good book,for me,is if I'm still thinking about it hours after I've finished it.I absolutely loved this.I loved the happiness,the sadness,the hopes and struggles these amazing characters went through.

I've read Broken by this Author so I thought it wouldn't be all sunshine and roses and it wasn't but what it is,is a truly emotional love story.

Oliver has put his life on hold for 10 years,concentating on bringing up his younger half brother after their mother died.He struggles emotionally and finacially,all he wants is to be a good parent to Ty.He works as a hair stylist by day and a drag act at night as the wonderfully flamboyant Miss Tique.He loves his make up and heels and puts on a good act to the outside world.

Seb is a truck driver,one of the good guys.He shares custody of his 15 year son with his ex who he has a fantastic relationship with.In fact,he's got a lot of love and support from all his family.But things haven't been easy for him.He's bi and this is the first book I've read where I came to fully understand that being bi isn't easy.The Author perfectly portrayed the struggles he went through as he and others came to terms with his sexuality.

Oliver and Sebs' story is beautiful.It's far from perfect but they face what life throws at them together.

I'm not going into the story in any detail.I would advise going into this one relatively blind to get the most out of their story...trust me.
Some fascinating secondary characters who all played their part here.

You'll need the tissues here but don't worry,although there are sad tears there are truly happy tears as well.
A huge plus for me is that it's set in the North of England (near me ) and I love that the Author kept it British from the banter to local shop names and the food....who doesn't like beans on toast?.....that really is a British thing!

This is beautiful story that I wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend.


"Are you flirting with me?"
"Is it working?"
"Always"



An Arc of Who We Are was kindly provided by the Author to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review


This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession ]]> 4.28 2017 Who We Are
author: Nicola Haken
name: Judith
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/03/06
date added: 2019/06/19
shelves: arc, m-m, bi-sexual, british, couldn-t-put-it-down, sweet, sad-tears, happy-tears, family, acceptance, femme-men
review:
5 Stars.......So good.


"Are you flirting with me?"
"Is it working?"
"Maybe"










Personally the sign of a good book,for me,is if I'm still thinking about it hours after I've finished it.I absolutely loved this.I loved the happiness,the sadness,the hopes and struggles these amazing characters went through.

I've read Broken by this Author so I thought it wouldn't be all sunshine and roses and it wasn't but what it is,is a truly emotional love story.

Oliver has put his life on hold for 10 years,concentating on bringing up his younger half brother after their mother died.He struggles emotionally and finacially,all he wants is to be a good parent to Ty.He works as a hair stylist by day and a drag act at night as the wonderfully flamboyant Miss Tique.He loves his make up and heels and puts on a good act to the outside world.

Seb is a truck driver,one of the good guys.He shares custody of his 15 year son with his ex who he has a fantastic relationship with.In fact,he's got a lot of love and support from all his family.But things haven't been easy for him.He's bi and this is the first book I've read where I came to fully understand that being bi isn't easy.The Author perfectly portrayed the struggles he went through as he and others came to terms with his sexuality.

Oliver and Sebs' story is beautiful.It's far from perfect but they face what life throws at them together.

I'm not going into the story in any detail.I would advise going into this one relatively blind to get the most out of their story...trust me.
Some fascinating secondary characters who all played their part here.

You'll need the tissues here but don't worry,although there are sad tears there are truly happy tears as well.
A huge plus for me is that it's set in the North of England (near me ) and I love that the Author kept it British from the banter to local shop names and the food....who doesn't like beans on toast?.....that really is a British thing!

This is beautiful story that I wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend.


"Are you flirting with me?"
"Is it working?"
"Always"



An Arc of Who We Are was kindly provided by the Author to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review


This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
]]> <![CDATA[Golden Boy and the Two Bears (Happily Ever Asher, #2)]]> 38463946 His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own.
After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help.
But like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay.
Randy and Red can’t stop passing looks whenever Asher voices his plans;, the handsome Christopher might not be quite what Asher expected, and his dark, mysterious roommate, Morgan, might have a surprise or two up his sleeve.
It doesn’t matter though. Nothing will stop Asher when it comes to helping people find their true love.
He’s absolutely positive everything will work out in the end.
Because love is always like a fairy tale…right?

* * *

Golden Boy and the Two Bears is a slow-burn romance with over-the-top characters, fairy tale references, ridiculous texts, and eventually, a happy ever after.]]> 114 Nash Summers Judith 5







I honestly don't think I could love Asher more.I can't deal with how utterly adorable he is.





In this charming instalment Asher is firmly committed to his column Happily Ever Asher and with two new love problems to be solved he set's about things with his usual enthusiasm.He's still hopeful of finding his Prince( because,hello-true love will happen for him won't it?) and in the meantime he throws himself into his college experience attending his first frat party and he even manages to drag his grumpy roommate,Morgan,along.....





You know when you read a story and it's predictable? You can see the outcome a mile away.This is that story BUT it's perfectly predictable, if that makes sense.I'm sure I had a huge smile on my face reading this.Love is definitely in the air ( not just for Asher I'm hoping) but what makes this utterly delightful is that Asher has no idea....







I was swooning big time when I finished this.I'm,impatiently,waiting for the final instalment.




Because it was magic. Of that, Asher was sure. This feeling that simmered in his bones was threaded in magic and wonder and maybe something else. Maybe something more.(...)





Highly Recommended.


Review copy.]]> 4.17 2019 Golden Boy and the Two Bears (Happily Ever Asher, #2)
author: Nash Summers
name: Judith
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/06/18
date added: 2019/06/18
shelves: arc, cute-boys, m-m, super-cute
review:
4.5








I honestly don't think I could love Asher more.I can't deal with how utterly adorable he is.





In this charming instalment Asher is firmly committed to his column Happily Ever Asher and with two new love problems to be solved he set's about things with his usual enthusiasm.He's still hopeful of finding his Prince( because,hello-true love will happen for him won't it?) and in the meantime he throws himself into his college experience attending his first frat party and he even manages to drag his grumpy roommate,Morgan,along.....





You know when you read a story and it's predictable? You can see the outcome a mile away.This is that story BUT it's perfectly predictable, if that makes sense.I'm sure I had a huge smile on my face reading this.Love is definitely in the air ( not just for Asher I'm hoping) but what makes this utterly delightful is that Asher has no idea....







I was swooning big time when I finished this.I'm,impatiently,waiting for the final instalment.




Because it was magic. Of that, Asher was sure. This feeling that simmered in his bones was threaded in magic and wonder and maybe something else. Maybe something more.(...)





Highly Recommended.


Review copy.
]]> Crave (Curse of Cain, #1) 46159566
We begin our tale in Napa, California. Land of sun, wine and relaxation. The perfect setting for our romantic disaster.

Sebastian Nod is elegance and control personified. He may be the bearer of a biblical curse and a monster but he refuses to act like one. Sebastian finds himself tempted in fresh and torturous ways after he agrees to help a gorgeous young chef but he’s determined to guard his heart. He’s been around long enough to have learned that a romance between a vampire and a human can only end in heartbreak. All Sebastian has to do is pretend that he’s a vegan and keep his hands and lips off his new personal chef.

And that brings us to Jasper Abel. Bright, young and talented, he’s fled an abusive boyfriend in L.A. for a dream job in Napa. Unfortunately, things go wrong as soon as he arrives and Jasper is forced to accept help from the beguiling and mysterious Mr. Nod. Jasper is determined to be the master of his own fate, but fate has a very wicked sense of humor. He quickly realizes that something is very off about Sebastian Nod, but Jasper can’t help himself, the man is as deliciously tempting as he is befuddling.

It’s a dangerous and intoxicating concoction of coconut water, yoga, vegetable-based deception, a cruel curse and just a sprinkle of capricious fate.

*This is a "happy for now" romance. Crave is the first book in the Curse of Cain series and just the beginning of Sebastian and Jasper's love story.*]]> 238 Isla Bright Judith 4 arc, m-m, vampires







Good start to what is set to be a promising series.I haven't come across this Author before and if this is her debut novel I'm pretty impressed.





Take one extremely hot and just a little bit grumpy vampire (Sebastian),



An aspiring vegan chef (Jasper) with a sweet innocence about him,




AND



She might be the token best friend but Darcy(another vampire) was just a brilliant character and along with Sebastian she stole the show here.




Sebastian might just be one of my favourite vampire characters.Not a stereotypical vampire in every respect....there were things he was able to do which vampires wouldn't normally be able to which I did question but as the book progressed this was explained.And his desperate avoidance of trying to sample Jasper's vegan recipes was just hilarious at times.





The 'romance' between Sebastian and Jasper did progress fairly quickly but it kind of worked and the ending was brilliant,totally not what I was expecting at all.My only negative was that I didn't really connect to Jasper much but hopefully his character will become more developed in the next instalment.




Overall,I enjoyed this and am really interested in the continuation of this story.



Recommended.


Review copy.]]> 3.82 2019 Crave (Curse of Cain, #1)
author: Isla Bright
name: Judith
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/06/13
date added: 2019/06/13
shelves: arc, m-m, vampires
review:
3.5








Good start to what is set to be a promising series.I haven't come across this Author before and if this is her debut novel I'm pretty impressed.





Take one extremely hot and just a little bit grumpy vampire (Sebastian),



An aspiring vegan chef (Jasper) with a sweet innocence about him,




AND



She might be the token best friend but Darcy(another vampire) was just a brilliant character and along with Sebastian she stole the show here.




Sebastian might just be one of my favourite vampire characters.Not a stereotypical vampire in every respect....there were things he was able to do which vampires wouldn't normally be able to which I did question but as the book progressed this was explained.And his desperate avoidance of trying to sample Jasper's vegan recipes was just hilarious at times.





The 'romance' between Sebastian and Jasper did progress fairly quickly but it kind of worked and the ending was brilliant,totally not what I was expecting at all.My only negative was that I didn't really connect to Jasper much but hopefully his character will become more developed in the next instalment.




Overall,I enjoyed this and am really interested in the continuation of this story.



Recommended.


Review copy.
]]> Not Just for Christmas 36650819
For Ben Slater, moving back to Bristol means being closer to his family, living with his best mate, and volunteering at the local animal shelter. But there’s also Jason, his best mate’s eldest brother. Ben’s had a crush on Jason for as long as he can remember, but the eleven-year age gap has always seemed insurmountable.

Jason Armitage works as a vet at his uncle’s practice. He owns a cute cottage on the outskirts of the city, and a loving dog. The one thing missing is someone to share it all with. His brother’s best friend seems a bad choice, but Jason can’t help taking a second look. Ben’s changed a lot since Jason last saw him; both in appearance and attitude. Gone is the shy young boy, replaced with a confident, twenty-four-year-old man.

In the run up to Christmas, the festive period gives Ben the ideal opportunity to show Jason what he has to offer. But concerns for his brother’s feelings hold Jason back. If they have any chance of making this work, Ben must convince Jason that he’s old enough to know what he wants, and Jason needs to believe that a relationship with his brother’s best friend won’t ruin their friendship.


Approx 48000 words]]> 207 Annabelle Jacobs Judith 4




Ben has been crushing on his best friend Liam's older brother,Jason,for years.His infatuation was put on hold while he was away at University but now he's back in his home town and is bound to run into the object of his desires as he's moving into a flat with Liam.....


Jason was aware of Ben's interest in him but only saw him as his younger brothers best friend.But now Ben is back,all grown up and Jason definitely starts to see him in a different way!

A sneaky kiss under the mistletoe and when Jason sees Ben fresh from the shower,wearing only a towel...all bets are definitely off.

Add into the mix some adorable animals,some great family members and you have a sweet Christmas story.


An Arc of Not Just for Christmas was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.72 2017 Not Just for Christmas
author: Annabelle Jacobs
name: Judith
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/11/26
date added: 2019/06/10
shelves: arc, m-m, slow-burn, sexy-sweet, christmas, british-boys, super-cute
review:
4 Stars.





Ben has been crushing on his best friend Liam's older brother,Jason,for years.His infatuation was put on hold while he was away at University but now he's back in his home town and is bound to run into the object of his desires as he's moving into a flat with Liam.....


Jason was aware of Ben's interest in him but only saw him as his younger brothers best friend.But now Ben is back,all grown up and Jason definitely starts to see him in a different way!

A sneaky kiss under the mistletoe and when Jason sees Ben fresh from the shower,wearing only a towel...all bets are definitely off.

Add into the mix some adorable animals,some great family members and you have a sweet Christmas story.


An Arc of Not Just for Christmas was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> <![CDATA[When Red Cried Wolf (Happily Ever Asher, #1)]]> 38463887 It’s probably one of the reasons he makes such a fantastic matchmaker, love guru, and romance expert. And now that he’s in college, it’s finally his turn to shine.

Asher’s relationship advice column in the school newspaper is his strongest matchmaking instrument, especially when it comes to helping hopeless romantics find their soulmates.

But like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay.
There’s a damsel in distress Asher’s best friend thinks is a psychopath, a handsome prince Asher can’t stop drooling over, and a huge, mysterious roommate Asher can’t help but pester.

It doesn’t matter though. Nothing will stop Asher when it comes to helping people find their true love.
He’s absolutely positive everything will work out in the end.
Because love is always like a fairy tale…right?

* * *

The main romance arc spans across all three novellas. When Red Cried Wolf contains little romance but sets up for the rest of the series.
—
When Red Cried Wolf is a slow-burn romance with over-the-top characters, fairy tale references, ridiculous texts, and eventually, a happy ever after.]]> 115 Nash Summers Judith 4

Super cute!!







I want an Asher in my life,with all his sass and meddling and innocence.





The course of true love never did run smooth
True love always encounters difficulties.









-well,that's a quote Asher doesn't want to believe.And even if that is the case for some people,that's what Asher's here for.....





Love guru or matchmaker,call it what you will-Asher doesn't mind because he has the gift.He's a hopeless romantic,no casual hook ups for him thank you very much.He wants hearts and flowers and the full romantic experience and while he's waiting for his happy ever after and his knight in shining armour to sweep him off his feet he's more than happy...in fact it's his mission...to solve any problems with romance or dating people have.





This is just delightful! Asher is just too adorable for words.He's almost oblivious to the unfolding situations around him.I cannot wait for the next instalment in this charming story.



Who's the big bad wolf??? I've got my theory...



Highly Recommended.


Review copy.]]> 3.99 2019 When Red Cried Wolf (Happily Ever Asher, #1)
author: Nash Summers
name: Judith
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/06/04
date added: 2019/06/05
shelves: arc, m-m, novella, part-of-a-series, super-cute
review:
4.5


Super cute!!







I want an Asher in my life,with all his sass and meddling and innocence.





The course of true love never did run smooth
True love always encounters difficulties.









-well,that's a quote Asher doesn't want to believe.And even if that is the case for some people,that's what Asher's here for.....





Love guru or matchmaker,call it what you will-Asher doesn't mind because he has the gift.He's a hopeless romantic,no casual hook ups for him thank you very much.He wants hearts and flowers and the full romantic experience and while he's waiting for his happy ever after and his knight in shining armour to sweep him off his feet he's more than happy...in fact it's his mission...to solve any problems with romance or dating people have.





This is just delightful! Asher is just too adorable for words.He's almost oblivious to the unfolding situations around him.I cannot wait for the next instalment in this charming story.



Who's the big bad wolf??? I've got my theory...



Highly Recommended.


Review copy.
]]> Kiss Me Again 46129556
Ludo Giordano is trapped on the ward with a bunch of old men. His mind plays tricks on him, keeping him awake. Then late one night, a new face brings a welcome distraction. Their unlikely friendship is addictive. And, like most things in Ludo’s life, temporary.

Back in the real world, Aidan’s monochrome existence is no longer enough. He craves the colour Ludo brought him, and when a chance meeting brings them back together, before long, they’re inseparable again.

But bliss comes with complications. Aidan is on the road to recovery, but Ludo has been unwell his entire life, and that’s not going to change. Aidan can kiss him as much as he likes, but if he can’t help Ludo when he needs him most, they don’t stand a chance.]]> 234 Garrett Leigh 1913220028 Judith 4









If there's one thing I've come to expect from Garrett Leigh,it's that her stories don't hold back.In all the years I've been reading her books she's tackled some very emotive issues and this one certainly stands out.The blurb touches on issues but isn't specific so I'm not going to get into each men's issues in any great detail....but,be warned this book has a melancholy feeling to it.And it might not work for everyone.But if you want to read something that's really real and that a lot of people deal with,written with such grit and quite frankly in a captivating way then this might be for you.





Aiden and Ludo first connect in hospital....but it was always destined to be so much more.Different issues,different men but I fully connected to them individually and together.






I ABSOLUTULEY LOVED Aiden.....a completely grumpy b@stard....jaded with life,his only high was his trees and going down the pub ( a British thing ).....but behind that gruff exterior there was a man wanting something...and that something turned out to be Ludo.



Ludo with all his problems and insecurities and his illness rescued Aiden when he probably didn't even know he wanted to be rescued.





I totally got a handle on Ludo ( without going into anything ),his condition was both enlightening and disturbing-told in the most emotive way.Kudos to the Author for tackling this subject and actually making me understand it.





Go into this one knowing it won't be an easy read but at the end a truly beautiful story.





Would definitely recommend .




An Arc of Kiss Me Again was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.





This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------]]> 4.10 2019 Kiss Me Again
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/27
date added: 2019/06/02
shelves: arc, british-boys, favourite-author, m-m
review:










If there's one thing I've come to expect from Garrett Leigh,it's that her stories don't hold back.In all the years I've been reading her books she's tackled some very emotive issues and this one certainly stands out.The blurb touches on issues but isn't specific so I'm not going to get into each men's issues in any great detail....but,be warned this book has a melancholy feeling to it.And it might not work for everyone.But if you want to read something that's really real and that a lot of people deal with,written with such grit and quite frankly in a captivating way then this might be for you.





Aiden and Ludo first connect in hospital....but it was always destined to be so much more.Different issues,different men but I fully connected to them individually and together.






I ABSOLUTULEY LOVED Aiden.....a completely grumpy b@stard....jaded with life,his only high was his trees and going down the pub ( a British thing ).....but behind that gruff exterior there was a man wanting something...and that something turned out to be Ludo.



Ludo with all his problems and insecurities and his illness rescued Aiden when he probably didn't even know he wanted to be rescued.





I totally got a handle on Ludo ( without going into anything ),his condition was both enlightening and disturbing-told in the most emotive way.Kudos to the Author for tackling this subject and actually making me understand it.





Go into this one knowing it won't be an easy read but at the end a truly beautiful story.





Would definitely recommend .




An Arc of Kiss Me Again was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.





This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> <![CDATA[Who We Used to Be (Do-Over #1)]]> 45898523
Ten years ago Zeke Malloy had everything:
A happy childhood, a shot at a state championship wrestling title, a best friend, a boyfriend (albeit a secret one but that was okay because, once they graduated, that would change).
He had love, happiness…...a heart.
All of that changed in the blink of an eye.
One moment he was deliriously happy, looking forward to a future with Digger Brandt, building a life, a home, a forever, with him.
And then it was gone, disappearing like the tears that flowed down Zeke’s cheeks as he watched from the back of the church as Digger married Lisa - with his father sitting proudly in the front pew. Those tears were still flowing when he walked out of that church and went directly to the nearest recruiting office. Because he didn’t just lose the love of his life that day, he lost his hopes, his dreams, he lost…..himself.
For the next ten years he was a machine - the best Marine, the best friend, but like a machine, he did it all without a beating heart.
His was dead…..or was it?
Was ten years too long?
Was a broken heart too much?
Zeke didn’t know. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to know.
From the moment Digger walked up behind him and said Hello in that smooth, sexy voice that used to light him up six ways from Sunday, Zeke was screwed
The only thing he really knew now……..was that he was about to find out]]> 291 Dara J. Nelson Judith 3






When I read the blurb for this I was just a bit excited.Unfortunately it didn't quite deliver for me.I was expecting angst and heart break in abundance but that wasn't really the case here.





So Zeke and Digger were best friends,then lovers until they weren't and Digger broke Zeke's heart.Fast forward ten years and you get a lot of lamenting and quite frankly whining about how broken they both are.I think one of the problems for me was that I was expecting their story to start when they were young and be told over years and it wasn't.The story is told in the present day with flash backs from the past.There's really hardly any story about their lives in the ten years they were apart and as a result it didn't really work that well for me.There were too many things that didn't ring true to me,




-the reason for Lisa agreeing to marry Digger wasn't really explained in any great depth,



-Zeke had been back in his hometown where Digger was for four years and their paths didn't cross until one night in a bar?



-Zeke went from being angry,hurt,upset with Digger( emotions he'd been harbouring for ten years) and then suddenly,after one night everything seems to be forgiven.




Three star reviews are the hardest to explain because it sounds as though I didn't like this.And that's not really the case.There are positives here,





-I loved the relationship Zeke had with his military brothers and I'm looking forward to getting the other men's stories in future books.There are just enough teasers about a couple of the men to have me interested in this series,



-the writing is solid and even though I had issues it was a compulsive read,



-Zeke and Digger turned out to be super cute together,




Overall, it was ok and is a promising start to what looks set to be an interesting series.



An Arc of Who We Used To Be was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 4.08 2019 Who We Used to Be (Do-Over #1)
author: Dara J. Nelson
name: Judith
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/05/31
date added: 2019/06/01
shelves: arc, separation, spans-over-years, friends-to-lovers, m-m
review:
3.5







When I read the blurb for this I was just a bit excited.Unfortunately it didn't quite deliver for me.I was expecting angst and heart break in abundance but that wasn't really the case here.





So Zeke and Digger were best friends,then lovers until they weren't and Digger broke Zeke's heart.Fast forward ten years and you get a lot of lamenting and quite frankly whining about how broken they both are.I think one of the problems for me was that I was expecting their story to start when they were young and be told over years and it wasn't.The story is told in the present day with flash backs from the past.There's really hardly any story about their lives in the ten years they were apart and as a result it didn't really work that well for me.There were too many things that didn't ring true to me,




-the reason for Lisa agreeing to marry Digger wasn't really explained in any great depth,



-Zeke had been back in his hometown where Digger was for four years and their paths didn't cross until one night in a bar?



-Zeke went from being angry,hurt,upset with Digger( emotions he'd been harbouring for ten years) and then suddenly,after one night everything seems to be forgiven.




Three star reviews are the hardest to explain because it sounds as though I didn't like this.And that's not really the case.There are positives here,





-I loved the relationship Zeke had with his military brothers and I'm looking forward to getting the other men's stories in future books.There are just enough teasers about a couple of the men to have me interested in this series,



-the writing is solid and even though I had issues it was a compulsive read,



-Zeke and Digger turned out to be super cute together,




Overall, it was ok and is a promising start to what looks set to be an interesting series.



An Arc of Who We Used To Be was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> <![CDATA[Their Bounty (Four Mercenaries, #1)]]> 44600123 --- Taken. Prized. Possessed. Loved. ---


Clover is an orphan and has led a tough and chaotic life. No stability. No money. No friends. He trusts no one.

His already miserable life takes a nosedive when he ends up in the hands of a human trafficking gang. Someone has placed a request for a young albino man, and Clover is to become the property of a mysterious buyer who will stop at nothing to satisfy their depraved desire. Clover’s fate seems sealed until four bounty hunters appear to take out his captors and accidentally save him.

The four mercenaries want to move on, but when Clover pleads for protection, they offer it to him at a price. In the beginning, the arrangement is all kinds of shady, but as he gets to know the four men who’ve taken him on a wild ride, his developing feelings might become as dangerous as the elusive buyer.

But can a relationship with four such different men even work? Men who kill for a living? Men so full of contradictions?

Tank. The massive ex-soldier eager to be Clover’s Daddy.
Pyro. Wild, tattooed, with a filthy mouth and an itch for violence.
Boar. Ginger, bearded, a big teddy bear who can turn into a grizzly.
Drake. Dark and dangerous, with a tongue as sharp as his knives.

Can these men provide him with the love and security he craves? Or has Clover made the worst mistake of his life?

*

THEIR BOUNTY is a dark gay harem contemporary romance, book 1 in the “Four Mercenaries” trilogy. The story contains scenes of explicit violence, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters and lots of scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes.



POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: abduction, polyamory, mercenaries, bounty hunters, albinism, commitment issues, indecent proposal, dark past, male bonding, human trafficking, size difference, enemies to lovers, danger, alpha male, found family, size difference, distrust, shared, victim and protector

Length: ~92,000 words]]> 302 K.A. Merikan Judith 4 arc, favourite-authors, m-m






I went into this one with a degree of uncertainty.How on earth would it work? I mean five men! I shouldn't have worried because these Authors weaved their magic again here.





Clover has a distinctive look and it seems anything can be ordered for the right price.When he's captured by Human traffickers he finds himself in an impossible situation but are things about to go from bad to worse in the form of 4 mercenaries who come to his rescue.





One of the things I admire about these Authors books is that they,invariably,step outside of the comfort zone.A lot of their books have featured a character with a disability and while Clover's albinism isn't really a disability, it definitely isn't the norm.





Another thing I like is that they create characters who are just a little bit bratty,difficult,inclined to go there own way consequences be damned.And Clover is definitely that type of character.Initially he tries to manipulate the situation with the four men to his advantage but it isn't long before his actions force him to be more honest and feelings start to take over.





Yes,feelings because while this book is heavily focused on sex there's so much more going on here.And the sex is an extremely important part of this story.It's not just gratuitous,it's about each of the mercenaries finding their own connection with Clover and honestly it was so sweet at times.I especially loved the connection between Clover and Boar.





The main focus of the book is the relationship that develops between the men and I don't know how the Authors have managed it but it totally worked.I could feel each connection Clover developed with the four men who were so different but so likeable for different reasons.




I've got no idea what to expect in the next instalment but I'm really looking forward to more from these men.


(Must mention the way Clover got his name-found,abandoned in a clover field when he was a baby,both sweet and sad.)


Recommended read.


Review copy.]]> 3.71 2019 Their Bounty (Four Mercenaries, #1)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/16
date added: 2019/05/19
shelves: arc, favourite-authors, m-m
review:








I went into this one with a degree of uncertainty.How on earth would it work? I mean five men! I shouldn't have worried because these Authors weaved their magic again here.





Clover has a distinctive look and it seems anything can be ordered for the right price.When he's captured by Human traffickers he finds himself in an impossible situation but are things about to go from bad to worse in the form of 4 mercenaries who come to his rescue.





One of the things I admire about these Authors books is that they,invariably,step outside of the comfort zone.A lot of their books have featured a character with a disability and while Clover's albinism isn't really a disability, it definitely isn't the norm.





Another thing I like is that they create characters who are just a little bit bratty,difficult,inclined to go there own way consequences be damned.And Clover is definitely that type of character.Initially he tries to manipulate the situation with the four men to his advantage but it isn't long before his actions force him to be more honest and feelings start to take over.





Yes,feelings because while this book is heavily focused on sex there's so much more going on here.And the sex is an extremely important part of this story.It's not just gratuitous,it's about each of the mercenaries finding their own connection with Clover and honestly it was so sweet at times.I especially loved the connection between Clover and Boar.





The main focus of the book is the relationship that develops between the men and I don't know how the Authors have managed it but it totally worked.I could feel each connection Clover developed with the four men who were so different but so likeable for different reasons.




I've got no idea what to expect in the next instalment but I'm really looking forward to more from these men.


(Must mention the way Clover got his name-found,abandoned in a clover field when he was a baby,both sweet and sad.)


Recommended read.


Review copy.
]]> Gideon (Finding Home, #3) 45691552
A talented, mercurial, and often selfish man, Gideon has everything he should want in life. Fame, money, acting awards – he has it all. Everything but honesty. At the advice of his agent, Gideon has concealed his sexuality for years. But it’s starting to get harder to hide, and his increasingly wild behaviour is threatening to destroy his career.

Then he’s laid low by a serious illness and into his life comes Eli Jones. Eli is everything that Gideon can’t understand. He’s sunny tempered, friendly, and optimistic. Even worse, he’s unaffected by grumpiness and sarcasm, which forms ninety percent of Gideon’s body weight. And now Gideon is trapped with him without any recourse to the drugs and alcohol that have previously eased his way through awkward situations.

However, as Gideon gets to know the other man, he finds himself wildly attracted to his lazy smiles and warm, scruffy charm that seem to fill a hole inside Gideon that’s been empty for a long time. Will he give in to this incomprehensible attraction when it could mean the end of everything that he’s worked for?

From the bestselling author of the Mixed Messages series comes a story about a man who needs to realise that being true to yourself is really just a form of finding home.

This is the third book in the Finding Home series but it can be read as a standalone.
]]> 268 Lily Morton Judith 4






I'm going to echo a friend's review here and say that I'm probably one of the few who didn't dislike Gideon in book two.In fact an arrogant asshole character is totally my thing.






Gideon is a hugely successful Actor who seems hell bent on pushing the self destruct button-losing himself in mindless sex and out of control partying.Almost ignored by his parents from a young age he's been guided and manipulated by his ruthless Agent for years.Too jaded to care he just goes with acting roles that are presented to him and believes his Agent's advice that staying deep in the closet is the best thing for his career.When a serious illness forces him to take time out it's a spirited nurse that slowly breaks down his defences and make him see there's so much more to life.Unable to fly to Gideon's absolute horror he's been booked to travel back to the UK on a cruise,accompanied by Eli,the nurse.






I ABSOLUTELY ADORED the first half of this book.The 'golden oldies' cruise was priceless! This is Lily Morton at her absolute best and the reason she's one of my favourite Authors.The banter,humour,and one liners were just perfect.Gideon and Eli bounced off each other in the best way.






The second half,back on dry land, was just a little bit too sweet for my taste here.Still,though,I really enjoyed Gideon and Eli's story.A great addition to this hugely enjoyable series.And the inclusion of the other couples in this series added perfectly to the story.



Review copy.
]]> 4.25 2019 Gideon (Finding Home, #3)
author: Lily Morton
name: Judith
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/10
date added: 2019/05/10
shelves: arc-from-author, arc, british-humour, couldn-t-wait-to-read, great-banter, m-m
review:
4.5







I'm going to echo a friend's review here and say that I'm probably one of the few who didn't dislike Gideon in book two.In fact an arrogant asshole character is totally my thing.






Gideon is a hugely successful Actor who seems hell bent on pushing the self destruct button-losing himself in mindless sex and out of control partying.Almost ignored by his parents from a young age he's been guided and manipulated by his ruthless Agent for years.Too jaded to care he just goes with acting roles that are presented to him and believes his Agent's advice that staying deep in the closet is the best thing for his career.When a serious illness forces him to take time out it's a spirited nurse that slowly breaks down his defences and make him see there's so much more to life.Unable to fly to Gideon's absolute horror he's been booked to travel back to the UK on a cruise,accompanied by Eli,the nurse.






I ABSOLUTELY ADORED the first half of this book.The 'golden oldies' cruise was priceless! This is Lily Morton at her absolute best and the reason she's one of my favourite Authors.The banter,humour,and one liners were just perfect.Gideon and Eli bounced off each other in the best way.






The second half,back on dry land, was just a little bit too sweet for my taste here.Still,though,I really enjoyed Gideon and Eli's story.A great addition to this hugely enjoyable series.And the inclusion of the other couples in this series added perfectly to the story.



Review copy.

]]> <![CDATA[Adam Only (Those Other Books #2)]]> 45297701
Once Christoffer sees Adam dancing, he’s lost. The young man is mesmerizing, otherworldly, and unpredictable. Whatever might happen between them, it will be transient, and Christoffer will most likely get hurt. The temptation is too great, however, and the sex explosive. He might as well enjoy every moment he’s given, even if it’s just one day, maybe two. If Christoffer treads carefully, Adam might stay until Monday.
]]> 128 Roe Horvat Judith 4 When Adam appeared on the podium,it was Adam only.








Roe Horvat can do sweet and sexy with books like Vanilla Clouds and then you have this.This book is very erotic,I mean seriously erotic.There's a lot of sex here but it's important to the story.I didn't realize it was about Adam and Christoffer from The Other Book.....remember that hot threesome ?? While it was great to get the story of how an established couple met here I would say this could be read on it's own but you'd be missing out not reading The Other Book-Tyler is one of my favourite characters from this Author.





Christoffer is mesmerized when he sees Adam dancing at a party one night.The pull is instant,all consuming...a moth to a flame in a way.




"You found me," he said


-Adam to Christoffer



And that quote ,those three words moved me so much.Because,as cheesy as it sounds,these two really did find each other.




Adam oozes sexuality and confidence when he's dancing but behind the mask he's frightened of rejection and not being enough.Christoffer offers him so much,not just sexually -he wants to take care of Adam and my heart might have melted a little bit at how gentle he was with Adam at times.



He wanted to be owned without being shackled. He craved to be used without being punished. He needed a master, but he needed to feel free. He would lie down at his man’s feet if he could be sure he wouldn’t get stepped on.






I adored reading how these two met and fell in love.The writing is beautiful,as always.

Recommended read.


Review copy.]]> 3.99 2019 Adam Only (Those Other Books #2)
author: Roe Horvat
name: Judith
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/07
date added: 2019/05/07
shelves: arc, arc-from-author, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, m-m
review:
When Adam appeared on the podium,it was Adam only.









Roe Horvat can do sweet and sexy with books like Vanilla Clouds and then you have this.This book is very erotic,I mean seriously erotic.There's a lot of sex here but it's important to the story.I didn't realize it was about Adam and Christoffer from The Other Book.....remember that hot threesome ?? While it was great to get the story of how an established couple met here I would say this could be read on it's own but you'd be missing out not reading The Other Book-Tyler is one of my favourite characters from this Author.





Christoffer is mesmerized when he sees Adam dancing at a party one night.The pull is instant,all consuming...a moth to a flame in a way.




"You found me," he said


-Adam to Christoffer



And that quote ,those three words moved me so much.Because,as cheesy as it sounds,these two really did find each other.




Adam oozes sexuality and confidence when he's dancing but behind the mask he's frightened of rejection and not being enough.Christoffer offers him so much,not just sexually -he wants to take care of Adam and my heart might have melted a little bit at how gentle he was with Adam at times.



He wanted to be owned without being shackled. He craved to be used without being punished. He needed a master, but he needed to feel free. He would lie down at his man’s feet if he could be sure he wouldn’t get stepped on.






I adored reading how these two met and fell in love.The writing is beautiful,as always.

Recommended read.


Review copy.
]]> Splintered 44669567
But things start to splinter.

Evan begins missing time, not knowing where he was or how he got there. Terrors in the night rip them both from sleep, and Evan's suddenly violent outbursts cost him his job and his reputation.

And voices in his head turn from whispers to screams, commanding him to act.

To turn on Ben.

How far will Ben go to save his partner's life? How far is too far?

Should he have just... run away?



This book is part of the CRIMINAL DELIGHTS series. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurred.

High heat, twisted, and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted!]]> 161 Tal Bauer Judith 3



The overriding feeling I got from finishing this was this:




If this book was made into a film it would be paranormal horror.When reading it I was actually watching the film in my head.I could draw comparisons but I won't,only because I really don't want to give too much away.


Honestly it started out so positively.It's my first read by this Author and I loved his writing.I actually couldn't put it down but then it took a turn/ a twist that I kind of knew was coming but still hoped it wouldn't.I like pnr books,I really do but the theme (for want of a better word) here just isn't my thing at all.I just didn't find it credible.




On a positive note I was more than happy with the end.I'm sure this will work for a lot of people-just wasn't really my thing.



Review copy.
]]> 3.88 2019 Splintered
author: Tal Bauer
name: Judith
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/05/03
date added: 2019/05/03
shelves: arc, dark, m-m, suspense, thriller
review:
2.75




The overriding feeling I got from finishing this was this:




If this book was made into a film it would be paranormal horror.When reading it I was actually watching the film in my head.I could draw comparisons but I won't,only because I really don't want to give too much away.


Honestly it started out so positively.It's my first read by this Author and I loved his writing.I actually couldn't put it down but then it took a turn/ a twist that I kind of knew was coming but still hoped it wouldn't.I like pnr books,I really do but the theme (for want of a better word) here just isn't my thing at all.I just didn't find it credible.




On a positive note I was more than happy with the end.I'm sure this will work for a lot of people-just wasn't really my thing.



Review copy.

]]> Wounded Soul 45358893
Jesse Sykes has lived far longer than his youthful appearance suggests. Becoming a vampire after tragedy struck seemed the only option when his soul was shattered, after all he’s no stranger to having to hide what he is from the rest of the world. But eternal life isn’t without problems or heartache.

With a good job and great friends, Ian Moreton’s life would be almost perfect—if only he wasn’t in love with his best friend. His feelings are unrequited, and in an effort to move on, he takes a chance on a one-night stand with the handsome stranger he meets in a bar.

Jesse knows the risks of becoming attached to a human, but with neither of them looking for anything serious, where’s the harm? At least, that’s what Jesse thinks until his chemistry with Ian proves off the charts.

A second hook-up solidifies their connection…and brings Jesse to his senses. He scrambles to protect Ian from danger, but it’s already too late. With Ian unwittingly drawn into a world he knows nothing about, events are set in motion that will change both of their lives forever, and it’s up to Jesse to steer them safely through it.]]> 240 Annabelle Jacobs Judith 3








It's been a while since I read a vampire romance and,unfortunately,this was a bit hit and miss for me.





Ian has been lusting after his best friend for years but Blake certainly doesn't feel the same way.Realizing it's time to move on Ian accepts the advances of a hot stranger one night and a night of passion is about to have a dramatic effect on his life.Jesse knows it's wrong pursuing a human but the pull of Ian is too strong to resist.....





Positives,

-I liked the world the Author created here.The idea of vampires and humans existing side by side in the modern world worked here.However the vampires had to adhere to a set of rules and there's always the exception to the rule...


-Jesse and Ian were pretty adorable together and definitely had great chemistry going on.


-supporting characters that all played their part,especially the two female best friends.





Negatives,


-the villain in the story,Peter,was a completely over the top character.Something about his character just didn't work for me.


-the first half of the story was pretty good but the second half left me wanting.It became all about Peter,turned out to be a bit predictable and the 'romance' kind of took a back seat.


-For me,Ian seemed to accept the situation he found himself in much too easily.


Other reviews are much more positive but this turned out just ok for me.



An Arc of Wounded Soul was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.]]> 3.56 2018 Wounded Soul
author: Annabelle Jacobs
name: Judith
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2019/04/23
date added: 2019/05/01
shelves: arc, insta-lust, m-m, vampires
review:
3.5









It's been a while since I read a vampire romance and,unfortunately,this was a bit hit and miss for me.





Ian has been lusting after his best friend for years but Blake certainly doesn't feel the same way.Realizing it's time to move on Ian accepts the advances of a hot stranger one night and a night of passion is about to have a dramatic effect on his life.Jesse knows it's wrong pursuing a human but the pull of Ian is too strong to resist.....





Positives,

-I liked the world the Author created here.The idea of vampires and humans existing side by side in the modern world worked here.However the vampires had to adhere to a set of rules and there's always the exception to the rule...


-Jesse and Ian were pretty adorable together and definitely had great chemistry going on.


-supporting characters that all played their part,especially the two female best friends.





Negatives,


-the villain in the story,Peter,was a completely over the top character.Something about his character just didn't work for me.


-the first half of the story was pretty good but the second half left me wanting.It became all about Peter,turned out to be a bit predictable and the 'romance' kind of took a back seat.


-For me,Ian seemed to accept the situation he found himself in much too easily.


Other reviews are much more positive but this turned out just ok for me.



An Arc of Wounded Soul was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.
]]> <![CDATA[Made for You (Love and Family, #2)]]> 45177210 Ben wants to find a new home.

Twenty-four-year-old Ben McCormick is the primary caregiver for his brother Milo after their parents’ death. A year into the job, he’s totally got the hang of it. Mostly. Sort of. Not at all?

Defeated and thoroughly chastised for his lack in parenting skills at teacher-parent night, Ben slumps away with the resolve to finally get his life sorted: be a better role model, and sell their parents’ house for a fresh start.

But first, he needs to spruce up his house to hit the market. He’s no DIY king, but Milo’s hot-as-hell woodwork teacher is…

Jack wants an old home to fix.
Thirty-nine-year-old Jack Pecker is waiting for the home of his dreams to come on the market in the summer. What better way to wait the interim months than working on a small renovation gig?

Only trouble is, the gig is for the McCormick brothers. And working in close quarters to red-haired Ben McCormick won’t be easy. Not with the attraction that simmers between them. Attraction Ben makes no effort to hide.

But Jack’s professional. Dating a parent is highly discouraged at Kresley Intermediate, and he’d never cross the lines…

Ben and Jack. Two guys searching for a home –
– a home that might just be where their hearts lead them.

~ - ~ - ~

Set in New Zealand, Made For You (Love & Family #2) is an MM gay romance featuring two guys at very different places in their lives – but both finding out they are looking for the same thing.
Can be read as a standalone.

Tropes: friends-to-lovers, slow burn, age gap, found family
Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance]]> 258 Anyta Sunday 3947909101 Judith 5 Perfect.Just perfect.






I'm gushing and fangirling bit time here.I think this might just be my favourite book by Anyta Sunday. Talk about bringing the feelings,I'm sure I had a dopey smile on my face the whole time I was reading this.




Story in brief:



Ben is 24 and struggling bringing up his younger brother,Milo,after their parents death.He's dead set on selling the family home but renovations are needed and who better to help than Milo's woodwork teacher....and the fact he's hot is definitely an added bonus.





There is honestly so much to love here,




-my heart melted for Ben.He's convinced he's not doing a good job with Milo-constantly second guessing himself.I absolutely LOVED the relationship between the two brothers.From their love of bird watching,and orange fanta.



-Milo is 11 full of attitude and sarcasm but,at the same time,his vulnerability is so endearing.




-age difference that worked so well here.Ben and Jack couldn't have been more perfect for other.



-the feeling of family and home is ever present.I loved the laughter and struggles that were so true to life.Bringing up children is one of the hardest and most rewarding job there is and the Author totally nailed it.




-slow burn that Anyta Sunday is known for and delivered perfectly here.There are sex scenes but I honestly wouldn't have minded if there weren't any-the connection between Jack and Ben was just so damn special...I got so teary at times ( in a good way )




-Jack's Ben is the best because speach to Milo was,well,special .I think I read it about three times at least.




I can't fault this.I loved this little family of three with a passion.Read it-you'll fall hopelessly in love with these guys.



I look at Ben and I see a future. I see shared dinners and overshared stories. I see stupid fights and silly gestures to make up for them. I see him and Milo in the villa. A family to laugh with during the day . A partner to moan with during the night. The dream hangs between us.



Standalone.Highly recommended




Review copy.]]> 4.11 2019 Made for You (Love and Family, #2)
author: Anyta Sunday
name: Judith
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/04/14
date added: 2019/04/26
shelves: arc, banter, cute-guys, favourite-author, m-m, slow-burn, standalone, sweet
review:
Perfect.Just perfect.






I'm gushing and fangirling bit time here.I think this might just be my favourite book by Anyta Sunday. Talk about bringing the feelings,I'm sure I had a dopey smile on my face the whole time I was reading this.




Story in brief:



Ben is 24 and struggling bringing up his younger brother,Milo,after their parents death.He's dead set on selling the family home but renovations are needed and who better to help than Milo's woodwork teacher....and the fact he's hot is definitely an added bonus.





There is honestly so much to love here,




-my heart melted for Ben.He's convinced he's not doing a good job with Milo-constantly second guessing himself.I absolutely LOVED the relationship between the two brothers.From their love of bird watching,and orange fanta.



-Milo is 11 full of attitude and sarcasm but,at the same time,his vulnerability is so endearing.




-age difference that worked so well here.Ben and Jack couldn't have been more perfect for other.



-the feeling of family and home is ever present.I loved the laughter and struggles that were so true to life.Bringing up children is one of the hardest and most rewarding job there is and the Author totally nailed it.




-slow burn that Anyta Sunday is known for and delivered perfectly here.There are sex scenes but I honestly wouldn't have minded if there weren't any-the connection between Jack and Ben was just so damn special...I got so teary at times ( in a good way )




-Jack's Ben is the best because speach to Milo was,well,special .I think I read it about three times at least.




I can't fault this.I loved this little family of three with a passion.Read it-you'll fall hopelessly in love with these guys.



I look at Ben and I see a future. I see shared dinners and overshared stories. I see stupid fights and silly gestures to make up for them. I see him and Milo in the villa. A family to laugh with during the day . A partner to moan with during the night. The dream hangs between us.



Standalone.Highly recommended




Review copy.
]]> If We Could Go Back 45169057
Kieran was in a similar situation.

Were we monsters or men? Were they one and the same? Did we give a flying f—hell. We did care. Just not enough to stop, not enough to walk away, and I knew we constantly asked ourselves the same question because of it. If we could go back to when we met on the train…if we could erase the deceit, erase our first hello…would we?]]> 351 Cara Dee Judith 5 arc, favourite-author, m-m

"You're my 'if I could just have one more day ' person.You know what I mean?"








This is totally my thing.The angst,the feelings.This is definitely my favourite book by Cara Dee.Kudos to her for writing this because this won't be for everyone at all.





The blurb kind of touches on things with the word deceit but I still wasn't prepared how powerful this story would be.





Here goes.....cheating.There I've mentioned it but before you dismiss this and go running for the hills it's important to understand the situation here. I can hear people muttering cheating is inexcusable and I'm certainly not condoning it but I'm a firm believer in unless you experience anything first hand you really don't know how you'd react....unless you've walked in someone's shoes...





In this case we have two men who are married with children when they start taking the same train together to workThe narrator of the story(Bennett) is,at first,too preoccupied with his life to pay much more than mild interest in the man sitting opposite him every day but over time they start a tentative friendship which will eventually lead to so much more.This isn't lust at first sight at all...it's so much more.





Bennett and Kieran's marriages weren't the stereotypical ones.It wasn't all roses and sunshine....boy meets girl,fall in love,get married,have a family.There were reasons behind their marriages which are explained.(again,I'm not condoning what they did but I kind of understood).



The story spans over five years( one of my favourite things) and follows the men's lives with their families and with each other.The relationship they both have with their own children and each others' was truly special-I got teary on more than one occasion.





Almost,inevitably things reach breaking point but how far will they go and are they prepared for the fall out that will follow?





I guess a lot of people view people who have affairs as selfish and to a certain extent they are.But life is hard and it happens and things are not normally as straight forward as they appear.


I simply loved reading Bennett and Kieran's story.


Highly Recommended.



An Arc of If We Could Go Back was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.





This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------]]> 4.56 2019 If We Could Go Back
author: Cara Dee
name: Judith
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/04/21
date added: 2019/04/22
shelves: arc, favourite-author, m-m
review:
4.5


"You're my 'if I could just have one more day ' person.You know what I mean?"








This is totally my thing.The angst,the feelings.This is definitely my favourite book by Cara Dee.Kudos to her for writing this because this won't be for everyone at all.





The blurb kind of touches on things with the word deceit but I still wasn't prepared how powerful this story would be.





Here goes.....cheating.There I've mentioned it but before you dismiss this and go running for the hills it's important to understand the situation here. I can hear people muttering cheating is inexcusable and I'm certainly not condoning it but I'm a firm believer in unless you experience anything first hand you really don't know how you'd react....unless you've walked in someone's shoes...





In this case we have two men who are married with children when they start taking the same train together to workThe narrator of the story(Bennett) is,at first,too preoccupied with his life to pay much more than mild interest in the man sitting opposite him every day but over time they start a tentative friendship which will eventually lead to so much more.This isn't lust at first sight at all...it's so much more.





Bennett and Kieran's marriages weren't the stereotypical ones.It wasn't all roses and sunshine....boy meets girl,fall in love,get married,have a family.There were reasons behind their marriages which are explained.(again,I'm not condoning what they did but I kind of understood).



The story spans over five years( one of my favourite things) and follows the men's lives with their families and with each other.The relationship they both have with their own children and each others' was truly special-I got teary on more than one occasion.





Almost,inevitably things reach breaking point but how far will they go and are they prepared for the fall out that will follow?





I guess a lot of people view people who have affairs as selfish and to a certain extent they are.But life is hard and it happens and things are not normally as straight forward as they appear.


I simply loved reading Bennett and Kieran's story.


Highly Recommended.



An Arc of If We Could Go Back was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.





This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> <![CDATA[Mud & Lace (Rainbow Place, #4)]]> 44770380
Simon Wicks—Wicksy to his rugby teammates—has only ever been interested in women. But when he sets eyes on Lady Gogo, a drag queen who performs at Rainbow Place, he can’t stop thinking about her. He knows there’s a guy behind the fishnets and make-up, but he’s ready to explore his fantasies, and Lady Gogo is game for making them come true.

Charlie adores performing in drag. It allows him to indulge in his love of cross-dressing while earning some extra cash. Fooling around with a mostly straight guy in secret seems like a fun diversion, and gives him the chance to explore his feminine side. He feels safe wearing the mask of his confident alter ego, because the real Charlie is hidden from view.

When Wicksy sees more of the guy behind the make-up and glitter, his attraction to Charlie persists, and he realises he’s bisexual. In turn, Charlie begins to understand and accept his gender fluidity. As their mutual journey of self-discovery brings them closer, the secrecy becomes increasingly hard to deal with. If they’re going to have a future together, they both need to find the courage to show people who they really are.

Although this book is part of a linked series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.]]> 240 Jay Northcote 1095540858 Judith 4




Jay Northcote tackles the subject of self discovery/sexual identity and totally nails it.





After the introduction of drag queen,Lady Gogo,in the previous book I was more than intrigued to discover the man behind the make up and heels and Charlie was not what I was expecting but I absolutely adored him( he's definitely one of my favourite characters by Jay).





Charlie has always tried to hide his feminine side,never really having the courage to explore it.So when he has the opportunity to take part in a talent contest he can finally go there,so to speak,when he creates the fabulous Lady Gogo.But after the act is over and the make up is removed and the costumes put away he finds he's still not completely comfortable in his own skin.He starts to question his identity...





Simon (Wicksy) always considered himself straight but he's more than a bit fascinated by Lady Gogo.He knows under the hair and make up it's really a man and almost convinces himself it's ok because Charlie looks like a woman.He's never even considered the possibility of being bi or gay....



All Lady Gogo’s appeal for him was in her femininity— and she was an exaggerated version of femininity. So really, that made him extra straight.







They might have just started off with explosive sex,both living out their fantasies but how long before feelings start to complicate things and both men have to stop hiding.





Charlie slowly starts to accept/recognize his gender fluidity and I just wanted to wrap him up and hug him as he struggled with his emotions and what he felt comfortable with and not what others expected him to be.





The portrayal of Simon's struggle in accepting his own sexuality was very well done.I didn't warm to his character at first but I definitely understood him and I'm sure his character is very true to life. Coming out and admitting your sexual orientation must be extremely difficult.



Another great addition to this enjoyable series.


Recommend Read.


An Arc of Mud & Lace was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.





This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> 3.88 2019 Mud & Lace (Rainbow Place, #4)
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/04/19
date added: 2019/04/21
shelves: arc, british, femme-men, m-m, bi-sexual, drag-queen
review:





Jay Northcote tackles the subject of self discovery/sexual identity and totally nails it.





After the introduction of drag queen,Lady Gogo,in the previous book I was more than intrigued to discover the man behind the make up and heels and Charlie was not what I was expecting but I absolutely adored him( he's definitely one of my favourite characters by Jay).





Charlie has always tried to hide his feminine side,never really having the courage to explore it.So when he has the opportunity to take part in a talent contest he can finally go there,so to speak,when he creates the fabulous Lady Gogo.But after the act is over and the make up is removed and the costumes put away he finds he's still not completely comfortable in his own skin.He starts to question his identity...





Simon (Wicksy) always considered himself straight but he's more than a bit fascinated by Lady Gogo.He knows under the hair and make up it's really a man and almost convinces himself it's ok because Charlie looks like a woman.He's never even considered the possibility of being bi or gay....



All Lady Gogo’s appeal for him was in her femininity— and she was an exaggerated version of femininity. So really, that made him extra straight.







They might have just started off with explosive sex,both living out their fantasies but how long before feelings start to complicate things and both men have to stop hiding.





Charlie slowly starts to accept/recognize his gender fluidity and I just wanted to wrap him up and hug him as he struggled with his emotions and what he felt comfortable with and not what others expected him to be.





The portrayal of Simon's struggle in accepting his own sexuality was very well done.I didn't warm to his character at first but I definitely understood him and I'm sure his character is very true to life. Coming out and admitting your sexual orientation must be extremely difficult.



Another great addition to this enjoyable series.


Recommend Read.


An Arc of Mud & Lace was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.





This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------

]]> <![CDATA[Starting from Zero (Starting From #1)]]> 44179170
Gray Robertson has written dozens of hits and worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. But he’s never met anyone like Justin. The younger man is fiery, passionate, and smart. A powerful voice for a new generation. Other than an unforgettable one-night stand and a passion for music, the two men have nothing in common. Or do they? Justin knows the out-of-the-blue challenge to write a quintessential love song is a huge opportunity. And it’s the ultimate test for someone who’s doesn’t believe in happily ever after. When sparks fly, Justin and Gray realize they have a shot something special if they start from zero together. Maybe even love.
]]> 215 Lane Hayes Judith 4






I don't know how this has happened but this is the first book I've read by this Author.I wasn't really sure what to expect and I've got to admit I did struggle initially.I couldn't connect to the story at first and it wasn't until I got to about 30% that I started to enjoy it.But I'm so glad I stuck with it and I fell hopelessly in love with Gray.





I'm not a huge fan of stories centred around Hollywood but I'm guessing it was a good portrayal of the cut throat world in the music industry.Ambition and manipulation seem to be the order of the day and I loved that Justin refused to comply just to make easy money.His music was his passion and that was always his main focus.





What starts out as a one time thing between Justin( a struggling musician) and Gray a older successful song writer was always destined to become much more-these guys had a super hot chemistry going on and this Author definitely knows how to write sex scenes.Their relationship developed at just the right pace.




Great supporting characters,even the questionable ones.I especially loved Tegan and Charlie and really hope we get their stories at some point.





Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend it.



Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design.Thank you!]]> 3.93 2019 Starting from Zero (Starting From #1)
author: Lane Hayes
name: Judith
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/04/18
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves: arc, age-gap, music-band, hot-sex, slinky-boys
review:
3.75







I don't know how this has happened but this is the first book I've read by this Author.I wasn't really sure what to expect and I've got to admit I did struggle initially.I couldn't connect to the story at first and it wasn't until I got to about 30% that I started to enjoy it.But I'm so glad I stuck with it and I fell hopelessly in love with Gray.





I'm not a huge fan of stories centred around Hollywood but I'm guessing it was a good portrayal of the cut throat world in the music industry.Ambition and manipulation seem to be the order of the day and I loved that Justin refused to comply just to make easy money.His music was his passion and that was always his main focus.





What starts out as a one time thing between Justin( a struggling musician) and Gray a older successful song writer was always destined to become much more-these guys had a super hot chemistry going on and this Author definitely knows how to write sex scenes.Their relationship developed at just the right pace.




Great supporting characters,even the questionable ones.I especially loved Tegan and Charlie and really hope we get their stories at some point.





Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend it.



Review copy provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design.Thank you!
]]> Jude (Lucky #3) 44588388 220 Garrett Leigh Judith 4 "Tell me what to do,"he whispered.
"Tell me what you need."






As usual Garrett Leigh keeps it real with two complex men who are very different yet ended up working so well together.The writing is on point as usual,the subtle British humour is present,and the inclusion of the two other couples from the previous books incorporated into the story perfectly. I wasn't sure,initially,but Isha and Jude as a couple slowly but surely worked their way into my heart and they're a close second to Lucky and Dom.





Ever since Isha was introduced in book one I've been more than a bit intrigued by him.A complete workaholic he doesn't ever seem to relax and enjoy himself.Firmly in the closest with only his ex wife knowing the truth about his sexuality he's only ever had hook ups with men and,as a result,has no clue how to process his feelings for Jude-preferring to push him away rather than acknowledge that there's something more than sex involved.I kind of got him.Yes,the way he went about things with Jude was beyond frustrating at times but I felt he genuinely just didn't know what to do with his feelings and then there was the problem of coming out to Dom and his children. ( a big shout out for his ex Mina,I really liked her and thank goodness for an ex wife who isn't portrayed as a villain)





Jude is a character who I loved from the very beginning.He has his problems to cope with but he tries to just get on with life.Devoting his time to his beloved reptiles in the shop he owns he hasn't had time or the real inclination for any kind of relationship.But with Isha things feel different from the start and it's not just the amazing sex.


(On the subject of Jude's medical condition I really commend the Author here.I've got a family member with this condition and it was very well portrayed.)





It takes them a while but eventually they get there. I adored the relationship Jude developed with Isha's children,it felt easy,natural and was totally believable.Jude and Isha seem to take two steps forward and ten steps backwards at times as they try and navigate their way through the complexity of their attraction and feelings but I really enjoyed their journey and the Epilogue was pretty damn perfect.I've really enjoyed this series and I'm hoping we get a little more from these men in the future.


Recommend Read.



An Arc of Jude was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> 4.07 2019 Jude (Lucky #3)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/03/21
date added: 2019/03/25
shelves: arc, bi-sexual, british-setting, british-humour, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, hot-sex, m-m
review:
"Tell me what to do,"he whispered.
"Tell me what you need."







As usual Garrett Leigh keeps it real with two complex men who are very different yet ended up working so well together.The writing is on point as usual,the subtle British humour is present,and the inclusion of the two other couples from the previous books incorporated into the story perfectly. I wasn't sure,initially,but Isha and Jude as a couple slowly but surely worked their way into my heart and they're a close second to Lucky and Dom.





Ever since Isha was introduced in book one I've been more than a bit intrigued by him.A complete workaholic he doesn't ever seem to relax and enjoy himself.Firmly in the closest with only his ex wife knowing the truth about his sexuality he's only ever had hook ups with men and,as a result,has no clue how to process his feelings for Jude-preferring to push him away rather than acknowledge that there's something more than sex involved.I kind of got him.Yes,the way he went about things with Jude was beyond frustrating at times but I felt he genuinely just didn't know what to do with his feelings and then there was the problem of coming out to Dom and his children. ( a big shout out for his ex Mina,I really liked her and thank goodness for an ex wife who isn't portrayed as a villain)





Jude is a character who I loved from the very beginning.He has his problems to cope with but he tries to just get on with life.Devoting his time to his beloved reptiles in the shop he owns he hasn't had time or the real inclination for any kind of relationship.But with Isha things feel different from the start and it's not just the amazing sex.


(On the subject of Jude's medical condition I really commend the Author here.I've got a family member with this condition and it was very well portrayed.)





It takes them a while but eventually they get there. I adored the relationship Jude developed with Isha's children,it felt easy,natural and was totally believable.Jude and Isha seem to take two steps forward and ten steps backwards at times as they try and navigate their way through the complexity of their attraction and feelings but I really enjoyed their journey and the Epilogue was pretty damn perfect.I've really enjoyed this series and I'm hoping we get a little more from these men in the future.


Recommend Read.



An Arc of Jude was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------

]]> Devil Next Door 44383345 Criminal Delights

All Remy Harker wants is a fresh start.

Well, maybe that’s what he tells himself as he rolls up to his nice new house, in the nice little neighborhood, in a town where nobody knows his name.
He’s surrounded by friendly neighbors and a white picket fence. The ugly pink carpet might drive him to insanity, and he can’t stop wondering where the old lady who lived there before him died—but it’s nice.
And if he puts his mind to it, he can be anything—or anyone—he wants to be. He can be nice too.
At least, he thinks he can until he lays eyes on his next-door neighbor.

Luke Boucher is nice.
And quiet.
And perfect.

It doesn’t take long for Remy to insinuate himself into Luke’s life. A camera here, a break-in there.
– It’s not really stalking if you love someone, is it? –

But when Remy’s plan to make a good impression goes to hell, he ends up over his head in more ways than one. Then things aren’t quite so nice anymore.
– It’s not really murder if you love someone, is it? –

Loving your neighbor isn’t so easy when you’re the devil next door.

*****

This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.]]> 156 Alex Jane Judith 4 arc, dark, obsession, m-m "Come on,love.I'm coming in whether you want me to or not.Might as well let me hear you."


The crazy troll gif doesn't come out very often but it's totally appropriate here.Jump on board the crazy train and try and enjoy the ride...







Fancy reading something dark and twisted with some really fu*ked up characters...look no further.The blurb promises so much and this book certainly delivered.It was so much more than I was expecting.I think I just sat in stunned silence when I finished...I couldn't quite believe what I'd just read.





Nothing better than a stalkerish,obsessed character.Honestly I love this stuff.





Remy is obsessed.....




Arriving in a new neighbourhood he takes one look at the guy next door,Luke,and is immediately smitten.His instant obsession with Luke baffled me at the start but all becomes clear as the story is told.His obsession and actions are without doubt creepy as he tries to plant himself firmly in Luke's life.Everything seems to be going wrong for Luke and it's Remy who's always there to help out....





But he starts to get increasingly frustrated as things don't go according to plan....





There's a twist that I NEVER saw coming in a million years and the story takes an even darker turn. Be warned this most definitely isn't for the faint hearted.


Not gonna lie I disliked both characters but some of the best stories have despicable characters after all.


Be careful what you wish for....
I wanted dark and twisted and that's what I got.



An Arc of Devil Next Door was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> 3.36 2019 Devil Next Door
author: Alex Jane
name: Judith
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/03/20
date added: 2019/03/24
shelves: arc, dark, obsession, m-m
review:
"Come on,love.I'm coming in whether you want me to or not.Might as well let me hear you."



The crazy troll gif doesn't come out very often but it's totally appropriate here.Jump on board the crazy train and try and enjoy the ride...







Fancy reading something dark and twisted with some really fu*ked up characters...look no further.The blurb promises so much and this book certainly delivered.It was so much more than I was expecting.I think I just sat in stunned silence when I finished...I couldn't quite believe what I'd just read.





Nothing better than a stalkerish,obsessed character.Honestly I love this stuff.





Remy is obsessed.....




Arriving in a new neighbourhood he takes one look at the guy next door,Luke,and is immediately smitten.His instant obsession with Luke baffled me at the start but all becomes clear as the story is told.His obsession and actions are without doubt creepy as he tries to plant himself firmly in Luke's life.Everything seems to be going wrong for Luke and it's Remy who's always there to help out....





But he starts to get increasingly frustrated as things don't go according to plan....





There's a twist that I NEVER saw coming in a million years and the story takes an even darker turn. Be warned this most definitely isn't for the faint hearted.


Not gonna lie I disliked both characters but some of the best stories have despicable characters after all.


Be careful what you wish for....
I wanted dark and twisted and that's what I got.



An Arc of Devil Next Door was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------

]]> <![CDATA[Fracture (Unbreakable Bonds #6)]]> 44107359
Snow and Jude follow the clues, investigating a side of Jordan’s life none of them knew about…and is far darker than any would have believed possible. They get pulled deeper into the seedy side of life, while echoes from a past Snow thought he walked away from return to offer an unexpected insight into the cause of Jordan’s injuries.

But someone else has noticed their involvement and is furious, putting them both in danger. The risk is high but so is Jude’s determination to find the truth—though the knowledge could very well fracture his heart.]]> 249 Jocelynn Drake Judith 5





LOVED IT.



I'd forgotten how much I love this series and this group of men.Ian will forever be my favourite individual character but Jude and Snow have always been my favourite couple.




As we've come to expect with these Authors this is super hot,action packed,and the wonderful feeling of family from these men.





Jude and Snow are three years into their relationship and with the drama firmly in the past they're looking forward to a vacation when Jude gets some horrifying news about his younger brother Jordan.Was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time or is there so much more to it?Jude has no intention of letting the police mess this up and he and Snow set about uncovering the truth.




I'm not a huge fan of loads of action packed scenes but this one had me gripped and it's quite a bit darker than some of the books in the series as what happened to Jordan is slowly uncovered.But don't worry it's not all action as Jude and Snow still find time for lots of man-on-man action.And its delicious-and dirty-and put me in a very happy place.




All the other couples feature here as well which is always a delight.My only complaint is there wasn't enough of Ian,


*pouts*

Honestly,I can't get enough of that boy!


And Andrei and Lucas, *dreamy sigh*....I was screaming!!





A fantastic read and fans of this series will absolutely love this,I've no doubt.

Highly Recommended.



Review copy provided by Indigo Marketing & Design.Thank you!]]> 4.38 2019 Fracture (Unbreakable Bonds #6)
author: Jocelynn Drake
name: Judith
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/03/22
date added: 2019/03/22
shelves: arc, favorite-m-m-couple, hot-guys, m-m, mystery-crime
review:
4.5






LOVED IT.



I'd forgotten how much I love this series and this group of men.Ian will forever be my favourite individual character but Jude and Snow have always been my favourite couple.




As we've come to expect with these Authors this is super hot,action packed,and the wonderful feeling of family from these men.





Jude and Snow are three years into their relationship and with the drama firmly in the past they're looking forward to a vacation when Jude gets some horrifying news about his younger brother Jordan.Was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time or is there so much more to it?Jude has no intention of letting the police mess this up and he and Snow set about uncovering the truth.




I'm not a huge fan of loads of action packed scenes but this one had me gripped and it's quite a bit darker than some of the books in the series as what happened to Jordan is slowly uncovered.But don't worry it's not all action as Jude and Snow still find time for lots of man-on-man action.And its delicious-and dirty-and put me in a very happy place.




All the other couples feature here as well which is always a delight.My only complaint is there wasn't enough of Ian,


*pouts*

Honestly,I can't get enough of that boy!


And Andrei and Lucas, *dreamy sigh*....I was screaming!!





A fantastic read and fans of this series will absolutely love this,I've no doubt.

Highly Recommended.



Review copy provided by Indigo Marketing & Design.Thank you!
]]> Wrong Way Home 42622237 Criminal Delights

--- One wrong turn. One right man. ---

Colin. Rule-follower. Future doctor. Witness to murder. Captive.
Taron. Survivalist. Mute. Murderer. Captor.

Like every other weekend, Colin is on his way home from university, but he’s taunted by the notion that he never takes risks in life and always follows the beaten path. On impulse, he decides to take a different route. Just this one time. What he doesn’t realize is that it’s the last time he has a choice.

He ends up taking a detour into the darkest pit of horror, abducted by a silent, imposing man with a blood-stained axe. But what seems like his worst nightmare might just prove to be a path to the kind of freedom Colin never knew existed.

Taron has lived alone for years. His land, his rules. He’d given up on company long ago. After all, attachment is a liability. He deals with his problems on his own, but the night he needs to dispose of an enemy, he ends up with a witness to his crime.

The last thing Taron needs is a nuisance of a captive. Colin doesn’t deserve death for setting foot on Taron’s land, but keeping him isn’t optimal either. It’s only when he finds out the city boy is gay that an altogether different option arises. One that isn’t right, yet tempts him every time Colin’s pretty eyes glare at him from the cage.

*

“When Taron looped the heavy metal collar around the slender neck and closed the padlock, his body throbbed with the excitement of knowing he owned this boy.
Was it wrong? Yes, yes it was.
Was it so, so good? Definitely.”

*


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: prepping, alternative lifestyles, disability, crime, loneliness, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fish out of water, opposites attract, abduction, Stockholm syndrome, family issues
Genre: Dark, thriller M/M romance
Erotic content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes
Length: ~ 70,000 words (Standalone)

This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and will contain a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
This story contains scenes of explicit violence, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters.

This book is part of the Criminal Delights series. For other books in the collection, please see: Criminal Delights Listopia]]> 265 K.A. Merikan Judith 4



One impulse decision is about to change two lives forever....



Colin, is a medical student. Tired of the expectations people around him have about his life he's about to embark on a journey that will take him to a dark place.Returning home for the weekend he suddenly decides to take a different route home.What he never expected was to witness something horrifying and be taken captive by a silent,broody,imposing man.




Taron has lived a solitary life for years.Just him and his cats,he's self sufficient,his home is his haven and he's worked hard to keep it that way.When a pretty boy gets caught up in his life and sees something that can't ever be unseen he has no choice other than abduct him.




Colin's emotions run riot after his capture.There's anger,resentment,acceptance of sorts and the ever present sexual attraction.For his part Taron can't believe Colin has disrupted his life,he never wanted to develop feelings like this for anyone.




I loved both these characters. Colin was just a bit sassy,just a bit bratty,and just a bit adorable.And Taron....I ended up falling in love with him big time.He melted my heart on more than one occasion.I really wasn't sure what to expect with his character initially.Could a story that really centres around only two characters one of which is mute really hold my attention? And the answer is most definitely yes.Through the use of sign language,worked so well into the book,I almost forget Taron wasn't actually talking. The sex is scorching hot but these two are also just a bit cute together.....and hello....a first kiss (literally ) that had me swooning.




Not as dark as I was expecting but that's perfectly ok here.This was a refreshing change on the Captive theme...


Recommend Read.



Review copy.]]> 3.75 2019 Wrong Way Home
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/03/19
date added: 2019/03/19
shelves: arc, dark, favourite-authors, hot-sex, m-m, mild-bdsm, rough-sex, sassy, seduction, captive
review:




One impulse decision is about to change two lives forever....



Colin, is a medical student. Tired of the expectations people around him have about his life he's about to embark on a journey that will take him to a dark place.Returning home for the weekend he suddenly decides to take a different route home.What he never expected was to witness something horrifying and be taken captive by a silent,broody,imposing man.




Taron has lived a solitary life for years.Just him and his cats,he's self sufficient,his home is his haven and he's worked hard to keep it that way.When a pretty boy gets caught up in his life and sees something that can't ever be unseen he has no choice other than abduct him.




Colin's emotions run riot after his capture.There's anger,resentment,acceptance of sorts and the ever present sexual attraction.For his part Taron can't believe Colin has disrupted his life,he never wanted to develop feelings like this for anyone.




I loved both these characters. Colin was just a bit sassy,just a bit bratty,and just a bit adorable.And Taron....I ended up falling in love with him big time.He melted my heart on more than one occasion.I really wasn't sure what to expect with his character initially.Could a story that really centres around only two characters one of which is mute really hold my attention? And the answer is most definitely yes.Through the use of sign language,worked so well into the book,I almost forget Taron wasn't actually talking. The sex is scorching hot but these two are also just a bit cute together.....and hello....a first kiss (literally ) that had me swooning.




Not as dark as I was expecting but that's perfectly ok here.This was a refreshing change on the Captive theme...


Recommend Read.



Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[In Safe Hands (Heroes and Babies, #1)]]> 43985777
Deacon Daniels, onetime lead singer and idol to his teenage fans, saw his career and reputation ruined when a reporter’s exposé led to a devastating scandal. Without money or a job, a heartbroken Deacon has lost custody of his baby niece. And just when Deacon thinks his life can’t get any worse, a stalker’s threatening messages escalate to murder.

Mav only agreed to one meeting, but his protective instincts kick in, along with an attraction to Deacon. When the body count increases, however, Mav is unsure he is up to the task of protecting Deacon from a killer. But it is too late for Mav to step away, now that he’s lost his heart, and he must find the strength to reassure Deacon and his niece that they are in safe hands no matter the cost.]]> 230 Victoria Sue Judith 4 arc, m-m, mystery-crime







An enjoyable story with just the right balance of romance and mystery.

It's seven months since Maverick's world imploded.His Air Force career ended in the worst way leaving him with physical and emotional scares.His only comfort is too lose himself in drink and by his own admission he's having one long pity party....



When his sister asks for his help with a private protection case it's the last thing he wants but he finds himself in a position where he can't say no.




Enter Deacon....
As the lead singer of an upcoming band Deacon seemed to be living his dream but being in the public eye has it's problems and his life takes a downward spiral as the press publish a story that sees him lose everything.And someone seems to be taking an interest in him and not in a good way.




The story is told from Deacon and Mav's pov but you also the killer's which ramped up the tension.



Deacon and Maverick had a strong,believable chemistry.They find themselves both in a bad place when they meet and they almost rescue each other.The supporting characters while not always likable added depth to the story.


Arc generously provided by the publisher to DirtyBooksObsession.Thank you!


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------
]]> 4.25 2019 In Safe Hands (Heroes and Babies, #1)
author: Victoria Sue
name: Judith
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/02/23
date added: 2019/03/17
shelves: arc, m-m, mystery-crime
review:
3.5








An enjoyable story with just the right balance of romance and mystery.

It's seven months since Maverick's world imploded.His Air Force career ended in the worst way leaving him with physical and emotional scares.His only comfort is too lose himself in drink and by his own admission he's having one long pity party....



When his sister asks for his help with a private protection case it's the last thing he wants but he finds himself in a position where he can't say no.




Enter Deacon....
As the lead singer of an upcoming band Deacon seemed to be living his dream but being in the public eye has it's problems and his life takes a downward spiral as the press publish a story that sees him lose everything.And someone seems to be taking an interest in him and not in a good way.




The story is told from Deacon and Mav's pov but you also the killer's which ramped up the tension.



Deacon and Maverick had a strong,believable chemistry.They find themselves both in a bad place when they meet and they almost rescue each other.The supporting characters while not always likable added depth to the story.


Arc generously provided by the publisher to DirtyBooksObsession.Thank you!


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


----------------------------------------------------------------

]]> Blue Umbrella Sky 44098505
Billy Blue is a sexy California surfer type who once dreamed of being a singer but now works at Trader Joe’s and lives in his own trailer at Summer Winds. He’s focused on recovery from the alcoholism that put his dreams on hold.

When his new neighbor moves in, Billy falls for the gray-eyed man. His sadness and loneliness awaken something Billy’s never felt before—real love.

When a summer storm and flash flood jeopardize Milt’s home, Billy comes to the rescue, hoping the two men might get better acquainted… and maybe begin a new romance.

But Milt’s devotion to his late husband is strong, and he worries that acting on his attraction will be a betrayal.

Can they lay down their baggage and find out how redemptive love can be?
]]> 190 Rick R. Reed 1640808760 Judith 4 arc, age-gap, m-m




The more books I read by this Author,the more I love his writing.This one deals with some heavy topics,the death of a spouse and a recovering alcoholic BUT at no time did it feel depressing.It's more about coming to terms with the past,moving forward and letting love in again.




Milt wanted a fresh start when his husband died and chose to move to Palm Springs.He's kind of just existing,living in a trailer with his beloved dog for company.He certainly didn't expect to have his world turned upside down by a sexy blonde surfer type.




Billy hit rock bottom when his drinking got out of control.Now in recovery,he's desperately trying to get his life back on track.He's been watching Milt for a while,although Milt seems to be oblivious of his interest.A summer storm one night sees the two men's worlds colliding but is Milt willing to let go of the past and love again?




The Author perfectly portrays the two men's struggles.It's an extremely slow burn which totally worked.Both Milt and Billy are highly likeable,well developed characters who find each other at just the right time in their lives.

Recommend Read.



Arc generously provided by the publisher to DirtyBooksObsession.Thank you!



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> 4.00 2019 Blue Umbrella Sky
author: Rick R. Reed
name: Judith
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/03/13
date added: 2019/03/17
shelves: arc, age-gap, m-m
review:





The more books I read by this Author,the more I love his writing.This one deals with some heavy topics,the death of a spouse and a recovering alcoholic BUT at no time did it feel depressing.It's more about coming to terms with the past,moving forward and letting love in again.




Milt wanted a fresh start when his husband died and chose to move to Palm Springs.He's kind of just existing,living in a trailer with his beloved dog for company.He certainly didn't expect to have his world turned upside down by a sexy blonde surfer type.




Billy hit rock bottom when his drinking got out of control.Now in recovery,he's desperately trying to get his life back on track.He's been watching Milt for a while,although Milt seems to be oblivious of his interest.A summer storm one night sees the two men's worlds colliding but is Milt willing to let go of the past and love again?




The Author perfectly portrays the two men's struggles.It's an extremely slow burn which totally worked.Both Milt and Billy are highly likeable,well developed characters who find each other at just the right time in their lives.

Recommend Read.



Arc generously provided by the publisher to DirtyBooksObsession.Thank you!



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> Cowboy Seeks Husband 44153539 alternate cover edition of ASIN B07P91T73L

Walker Reed's Louisiana cattle ranch is in debt after costly repairs from hurricane damage. To get the money, his family schemes to make Walker the star of a new bachelor reality series: Queer Seeks Spouse. How hard can it be to fake interest in a dozen handsome men for a few weeks in exchange for enough money to solve all of their problems?

Roan Carmichael never got his Masters degree after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. With medical bills piling up, and a costly experimental treatment available, Roan signs on to be a suitor on Queer Seeks Spouse. While he hates having to leave his sick mother long enough to win the cash for her treatment, he's willing to do whatever it takes.

Can two men who are just in it for the money fake their way into real and lasting love?

Cowboy Seeks Husband, the latest book by Vespertine authors Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn, features a cowboy, a hipster, opposites attract, steamy scenes, and heart tugging moments that will leave you wanting more.]]> 332 Leta Blake Judith 4



I'm a tiny bit obsessed with reality shows so I couldn't wait to get my grabby hands on this.I mean a Cowboy and a Hipster twinky guy had my name written all over it.

Walker really had no idea what he'd let himself in for when the production team arrive with all their demands.But his farm is in need of the money that the show will pay him and it's only six weeks then he can just walk away.


Roan had his reasons for applying to become a contestant on a reality show where a Cowboy is looking for a husband and it certainly isn't love.With his mother ill he needs the money for medical bills and treatment.And the longer he stays on the show,the more money he'll get.


There's an immediate attraction between them but it worked for me.Opposites attract so it seems....



-Walker was a bit grumpy,a bit broody,and just a bit sexy,

- I loved the relationship he had with his father and step mother,

-Roan with his skinny jeans and styled hair was such a vulnerable and endearing character and his love for his mother was beautifully portrayed,

-it's a slow burn without a doubt but it wouldn't have worked any other way and the sexy times (when they get going) are super hot.

-given the subject of the story there is a lot about reality tv and how it's directed which did get a bit repetitive at times.Having said that I liked how the story evolved,the chapters at the beginning almost like watching each episode of your favourite show and I'm sure some of the characters here behind the scenes were (unfortunately) true to life.


An enjoyable story that I would definitely recommend.


Review copy.


Currently available on KU.




]]> 3.96 2019 Cowboy Seeks Husband
author: Leta Blake
name: Judith
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/03/03
date added: 2019/03/04
shelves: arc, cowboys, m-m, southern-boys
review:





I'm a tiny bit obsessed with reality shows so I couldn't wait to get my grabby hands on this.I mean a Cowboy and a Hipster twinky guy had my name written all over it.

Walker really had no idea what he'd let himself in for when the production team arrive with all their demands.But his farm is in need of the money that the show will pay him and it's only six weeks then he can just walk away.


Roan had his reasons for applying to become a contestant on a reality show where a Cowboy is looking for a husband and it certainly isn't love.With his mother ill he needs the money for medical bills and treatment.And the longer he stays on the show,the more money he'll get.


There's an immediate attraction between them but it worked for me.Opposites attract so it seems....



-Walker was a bit grumpy,a bit broody,and just a bit sexy,

- I loved the relationship he had with his father and step mother,

-Roan with his skinny jeans and styled hair was such a vulnerable and endearing character and his love for his mother was beautifully portrayed,

-it's a slow burn without a doubt but it wouldn't have worked any other way and the sexy times (when they get going) are super hot.

-given the subject of the story there is a lot about reality tv and how it's directed which did get a bit repetitive at times.Having said that I liked how the story evolved,the chapters at the beginning almost like watching each episode of your favourite show and I'm sure some of the characters here behind the scenes were (unfortunately) true to life.


An enjoyable story that I would definitely recommend.


Review copy.


Currently available on KU.





]]> <![CDATA[In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC #5)]]> 44128572
Laurent. Time traveller. Devoted husband. Stubborn as the devil himself.
Beast. Kings of Hell MC president. Will stop at nothing to protect his family.

After everything Baal put them through, neither Laurent nor Beast considered ever making another pact with a demon, but in the spur of the moment, temptation becomes too great, and they decide on one more deal.

This time, with Mr. Magpie.

But the gift might prove to be more than they can handle. The danger to the human world has already strained their relationship, but Magpie’s offering brings out the worst in both Laurent and Beast. Confronted with each other’s flaws, they need to decide if, despite all they’ve been through together, perhaps they’re just not meant to be.

With the world on the brink of collapse, and their pact binding them in new and unexpected ways, they have to put their differences aside to stand a chance at saving their family.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: motorcycle club, alternative lifestyles, demons, tattoos, secrets, crime, gothic, opposites attract, biker, commitment, family, sacrifice, relationship issues, established couple
Genre: Dark, paranormal M/M romance
Content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes
Length: ~105,000 words (Book 5 in the series)

FINAL BOOK IN THE SERIES. NOT A STANDALONE.

WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, offensive language, and morally ambiguous characters.
]]> 275 K.A. Merikan Judith 5



It seems the crazy Merikan world has no limits in this final book in the series.Talk about saving the best until last!

Who would have thought a series featuring modern day bikers,time travel,demons,gargoyles and an array of captivating characters would work so well.







I couldn't wait to read this.I mean it's Laurent, sassy,stubborn,opinionated and so endearing as he navigates the modern world.

With time running out and Baal's threats hitting way to close to home Beast is struggling to get a grip on the situation and when Laurent makes a decision that will forever change their lives the two men find their relationship at breaking point.-I never saw this delicious twist coming and was screaming inside every time it was mentioned!

And the epilogue( yes there's more than one!), were just delightful.


As I got towards the end there was a question I was dying to ask the Authors only to have it answered in the Authors note at the end....and I honestly CANNOT WAIT for that adventure.


Highly Recommended.


An Arc of In The Arms of The Beast was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.88 2019 In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC #5)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/02/27
date added: 2019/03/03
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-authors, long-hair, m-m, paranormal, part-of-a-series, bikers
review:




It seems the crazy Merikan world has no limits in this final book in the series.Talk about saving the best until last!

Who would have thought a series featuring modern day bikers,time travel,demons,gargoyles and an array of captivating characters would work so well.







I couldn't wait to read this.I mean it's Laurent, sassy,stubborn,opinionated and so endearing as he navigates the modern world.

With time running out and Baal's threats hitting way to close to home Beast is struggling to get a grip on the situation and when Laurent makes a decision that will forever change their lives the two men find their relationship at breaking point.-I never saw this delicious twist coming and was screaming inside every time it was mentioned!

And the epilogue( yes there's more than one!), were just delightful.


As I got towards the end there was a question I was dying to ask the Authors only to have it answered in the Authors note at the end....and I honestly CANNOT WAIT for that adventure.


Highly Recommended.


An Arc of In The Arms of The Beast was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> Redeem (Under My Skin #4) 44152554
Barista Stewart Jenkins has an abysmal track record with relationships, and no matter how hard he tries to keep things tightly under wraps, his life is spinning out of control. His hookup with the gorgeous Michael was only supposed to be sex—hot, dirty, uncomplicated—but that small taste leaves him yearning for more.

Every no-strings encounter that follows between Michael and Stewart peels away more layers, blurring the lines, until they’re left with a raw tenderness and acceptance they both crave. A relationship seems out of the question—they come from drastically different lives and are plagued by inexcusable sins. Being vulnerable is sure to reveal old wounds, and forgiveness seems out of reach, unless they can find a way around their fears on the road to redemption.]]> 255 Christina Lee Judith 4 arc, dirty-talk, hot-sex, m-m



Well,hello....this was a bit delicious....


I've only read a couple of books by this Author but this is definitely my favourite.Book 4 ,but without doubt it's a standalone (I haven't read any of the other books in this series )



Right so,who doesn't like a controlling asshole?



Michael is THE MAN........or so he thinks.He throws money about,he wants approval,he wants to be appreciated and noticed....


And I absolutely loved him....he totally made this book work for me (and he's got dogs-always a positive)


A dirty (and,yes it's filthy), New Year's hook up was about to be so much more


Two men,both with deep issues....and this is something that's been done to death in romance books but this really worked for me.The writing was truly engaging and it's always a plus when you're thinking,just one more chapter and before you know it you're almost done.


And it's seriously HOT...it's like take-me-now,I'm -desperate,man-on-man action at it's dirtiest-push me against a wall and do all those filthy things to me.


I didn't skim any of those scenes...AT ALL.



But it's not just sex at all.It might start off that way but the progression of Michael and Stewart's relationship developed at just the right pace.


-Lust,

-Friendship,

-Love,

Sometimes the simplest of stories can really work and this is definitely one of them.


Recommend Read.


An Arc of Redeem was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 4.21 2019 Redeem (Under My Skin #4)
author: Christina Lee
name: Judith
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/02/25
date added: 2019/02/28
shelves: arc, dirty-talk, hot-sex, m-m
review:




Well,hello....this was a bit delicious....


I've only read a couple of books by this Author but this is definitely my favourite.Book 4 ,but without doubt it's a standalone (I haven't read any of the other books in this series )



Right so,who doesn't like a controlling asshole?



Michael is THE MAN........or so he thinks.He throws money about,he wants approval,he wants to be appreciated and noticed....


And I absolutely loved him....he totally made this book work for me (and he's got dogs-always a positive)


A dirty (and,yes it's filthy), New Year's hook up was about to be so much more


Two men,both with deep issues....and this is something that's been done to death in romance books but this really worked for me.The writing was truly engaging and it's always a plus when you're thinking,just one more chapter and before you know it you're almost done.


And it's seriously HOT...it's like take-me-now,I'm -desperate,man-on-man action at it's dirtiest-push me against a wall and do all those filthy things to me.


I didn't skim any of those scenes...AT ALL.



But it's not just sex at all.It might start off that way but the progression of Michael and Stewart's relationship developed at just the right pace.


-Lust,

-Friendship,

-Love,

Sometimes the simplest of stories can really work and this is definitely one of them.


Recommend Read.


An Arc of Redeem was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> <![CDATA[Better Place (Rainbow Place, #3)]]> 43717814 Joe deserves better. Meeting Dylan helps him see that.

After a recent redundancy, Joe takes a few months off to try and make it as a writer. His partner, Harry, is less than supportive but Joe is used to that after ten years together, just like he’s used to Harry’s controlling nature and his drinking habit.

Dylan, a server at Rainbow Place, is fascinated by Joe as he sits in the café and works on his laptop. His attempts to flirt are met with awkwardness at first, but gradually Joe opens up. Dylan is disappointed when he learns Joe isn’t single. As their friendship develops he begins to worry about the nature of Joe’s relationship, especially when he witnesses Harry’s behaviour in person. Abuse isn’t always physical, and Dylan knows that from experience. His concern helps Joe see his relationship for what it is, and gives him the courage to end things with Harry.

Free to act on their mutual attraction, Joe and Dylan dive headlong into something that becomes serious fast. Joe revels in the passion and intimacy he’s been missing out on for so long, but Dylan is worried that Joe is on the rebound. He puts on the brakes, knowing that they need to slow down to make this last. For this new relationship to work, Joe needs to show Dylan that he’s ready to move on from the past.

Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone and has a satisfying happy ending.

66,000 words approx.]]> 245 Jay Northcote Judith 4





Third book in the series but can be read on it's own as characters from previous books who are present here are well introduced.Each story is loosely connected by Rainbow Place, a LGBT friendly cafe in a small town in Cornwall.


Dylan is in his early 20's and works as a server in the cafe and is growing increasingly attracted/drawn to a man who sits quietly working on his laptop.He's definitely Dylan's type so he tries to engage him in conversations which is met with some reluctance at first but Dylan is persistent and eventually Joe starts to open up a bit.When he finds out Joe is in a relationship he's disappointed but is willing to just be friends and he increasingly starts to worry about the nature of Joe's relationship with his partner after being in a similar situation himself.


Joe is 42 and on a kind of sabbatical writing his first book,something he's very passionate about.He's been in a relationship with Harry for 10 years and to say the relationship is breaking down is an understatement.They find themselves kind of going through the motions.Harry is controlling,has no interest in Joe's writing, and definitely takes Joe for granted.I'm sure a lot of people will identify with the situation these men find themselves in....the breakdown of a relationship is never easy and I just felt overwhelming sadness reading about how their love had died.


Joe is attracted to Dylan but won't act on it until he breaks up with Harry.This is were things got a bit uncomfortable for me.Joe moved onto Dylan very quickly,too quickly I felt.He gave himself no time to grieve for the end of his relationship with Harry at all.And Harry's involvement in the story was obviously very important but at times it over shadowed Joe and Dylan's relationship.


I wasn't really feeling the connection between Joe and Dylan and it wasn't really until the end that they worked as a couple for me.On a positive note I'm loving the small town setting and all the couples are starting to feel like an extended family.

Not my favourite in the series but still enjoyable.


An Arc of Better Place was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> 3.77 2019 Better Place (Rainbow Place, #3)
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/02/14
date added: 2019/02/14
shelves: arc, british, age-difference, m-m
review:
3.5






Third book in the series but can be read on it's own as characters from previous books who are present here are well introduced.Each story is loosely connected by Rainbow Place, a LGBT friendly cafe in a small town in Cornwall.


Dylan is in his early 20's and works as a server in the cafe and is growing increasingly attracted/drawn to a man who sits quietly working on his laptop.He's definitely Dylan's type so he tries to engage him in conversations which is met with some reluctance at first but Dylan is persistent and eventually Joe starts to open up a bit.When he finds out Joe is in a relationship he's disappointed but is willing to just be friends and he increasingly starts to worry about the nature of Joe's relationship with his partner after being in a similar situation himself.


Joe is 42 and on a kind of sabbatical writing his first book,something he's very passionate about.He's been in a relationship with Harry for 10 years and to say the relationship is breaking down is an understatement.They find themselves kind of going through the motions.Harry is controlling,has no interest in Joe's writing, and definitely takes Joe for granted.I'm sure a lot of people will identify with the situation these men find themselves in....the breakdown of a relationship is never easy and I just felt overwhelming sadness reading about how their love had died.


Joe is attracted to Dylan but won't act on it until he breaks up with Harry.This is were things got a bit uncomfortable for me.Joe moved onto Dylan very quickly,too quickly I felt.He gave himself no time to grieve for the end of his relationship with Harry at all.And Harry's involvement in the story was obviously very important but at times it over shadowed Joe and Dylan's relationship.


I wasn't really feeling the connection between Joe and Dylan and it wasn't really until the end that they worked as a couple for me.On a positive note I'm loving the small town setting and all the couples are starting to feel like an extended family.

Not my favourite in the series but still enjoyable.


An Arc of Better Place was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> Milo (Finding Home, #2) 43971325
Milo has been burying himself at Chi an Mor, hiding from the wreckage of his once promising career and running from a bad relationship that destroyed what little confidence he had. Niall, his big brother’s best friend, has been there for him that entire time. An arrogant and funny man, Niall couldn’t be any more different from the shy and occasionally stuttering Milo, which has never stopped Milo from crushing wildly on the man who saved him.

However, just as Milo makes the decision to move on from his hopeless crush, he and Niall are thrown into close contact, and for the first time ever Niall seems to be returning his interest. But it can never work. How can it when Milo always needs rescuing?

From the bestselling author of the Mixed Messages series comes a story about a man who needs to write his own happily ever after.

This is the second book in the Finding Home series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Content warning: There are descriptions of domestic abuse in this book.
]]> 290 Lily Morton Judith 5

Just being with him feels like home should always do.








I get ridiculously excited when I see Lily Morton has a new book coming out. I've been dying to get my hands on Milo,so to speak,and it didn't disappoint.This is turning out to be a delightful series set in the beautiful county of Cornwall.This Author creates some fantastic couples that you can't help fall in love with.


Milo has always been a bit over shadowed by his older brother Gideon who is much more confident and out going than Milo.When he was younger he followed him and his best friend,Niall around like a puppy and had a hopeless crush on Niall.


Milo finds himself trapped in a highly dysfunctional relationship when Niall swoops in and rescues him taking him home to Cornwall to lick his wounds,get his life back on track and hopefully learn to trust someone again.He had no idea that person might be his childhood crush.....he's tried to deny his feelings for Niall.....but for how long.

For his part, Niall just saw Milo as his best friends younger brother but things are about to get complicated.He's always been protective of Milo but is it just concern or something more that's been there all along?

Milo might appear to be a bit broken but underneath there's a quiet determination about him.The last thing he needs is another man like his ex....bossy and controlling and he's terrified of not being enough for someone.Niall recognizes that Milo has to make his own decisions and is so patient and caring with him I'm sure I had a few tears threatening.

These two are super cute together ( I adored the time they were looking after Cora....who,by the way might just be a baby but was an invaluable part in the story).Along with the cuteness and great banter this is also extremely hot.



AND THE EPILOGUE....


Lily Morton is one of the absolute best Authors at this.Tears might have threatened before but they were definitely present here.I absolutely love this delightful world she has created here....you know when you read a book and the characters feel so real,like friends,like people you would enjoy being around?


Highly Recommended.


Review copy.]]> 4.15 2019 Milo (Finding Home, #2)
author: Lily Morton
name: Judith
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/02/09
date added: 2019/02/12
shelves: arc, cute-guys, deep-friendship, delicious-men, delicious-sexual-tension, british, favourite-author, m-m
review:
4.5


Just being with him feels like home should always do.








I get ridiculously excited when I see Lily Morton has a new book coming out. I've been dying to get my hands on Milo,so to speak,and it didn't disappoint.This is turning out to be a delightful series set in the beautiful county of Cornwall.This Author creates some fantastic couples that you can't help fall in love with.


Milo has always been a bit over shadowed by his older brother Gideon who is much more confident and out going than Milo.When he was younger he followed him and his best friend,Niall around like a puppy and had a hopeless crush on Niall.


Milo finds himself trapped in a highly dysfunctional relationship when Niall swoops in and rescues him taking him home to Cornwall to lick his wounds,get his life back on track and hopefully learn to trust someone again.He had no idea that person might be his childhood crush.....he's tried to deny his feelings for Niall.....but for how long.

For his part, Niall just saw Milo as his best friends younger brother but things are about to get complicated.He's always been protective of Milo but is it just concern or something more that's been there all along?

Milo might appear to be a bit broken but underneath there's a quiet determination about him.The last thing he needs is another man like his ex....bossy and controlling and he's terrified of not being enough for someone.Niall recognizes that Milo has to make his own decisions and is so patient and caring with him I'm sure I had a few tears threatening.

These two are super cute together ( I adored the time they were looking after Cora....who,by the way might just be a baby but was an invaluable part in the story).Along with the cuteness and great banter this is also extremely hot.



AND THE EPILOGUE....


Lily Morton is one of the absolute best Authors at this.Tears might have threatened before but they were definitely present here.I absolutely love this delightful world she has created here....you know when you read a book and the characters feel so real,like friends,like people you would enjoy being around?


Highly Recommended.


Review copy.
]]> Stranded (Auctioned, #2) 43660794
“You have my word, Gray. I will get you off this island, and I will bring you home.”

It was supposed to be an easy in-and-out job. Nothing Darius Quinn hadn’t done before. But this job had something none of the others did: Gray Nolan.

​Like Murphy’s Law advised, anything that could go wrong, would. A mission to save one hometown favorite son was turning into a quest to rescue thirteen traumatized young men against odds so steep, he’d need an oxygen mask to scale them. ​

Facing new dangers and an uncertain future, Darius keeps Gray close and is soon forced to accept that this has become much more than an assignment. For a man whose reputation was built on being ice-cold under pressure, Darius is beginning to discover how good it feels to burn.]]> 259 Cara Dee Judith 4





Book 2 of 5.

I didn't realize there were so many books in this series when I read Auctioned but I'm totally into this story.I actually didn't find this one quite so harrowing as book one.That's not to say it's sunshine and roses because it still has a gritty feel to it and things that happened were realistic for the story arc.




One chapter of Gray's story might be over with the demise of the kidnappers but he,the other boys,and Darius still have a long road ahead of them.Cara Dee tackled the boys emotions perfectly as they struggled to cope with being free.




I absolutely loved that this was from Darius's POV, after getting Gray's in book one and it's official....I'm a bit in love with Darius....hot damn....i love an angry man who can't resist a cute boy .He's fast becoming a favourite character of mine.I loved being inside his head.And the poor guy can fight it all he wants but you can feel him falling for Gray.Not really a romance yet but it's going to be pretty explosive when it does happen.I'm not a massive fan of an age gap but these two are just so good together.The banter,the sexiness,and Darius getting all protective and possessive over Gray had me swooning.


Bring on the next one....I'm more than ready.

Recommended.



An Arc of Stranded was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 4.23 2019 Stranded (Auctioned, #2)
author: Cara Dee
name: Judith
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/01/27
date added: 2019/01/27
shelves: arc, favourite-author, m-m, part-of-a-series, dark, age-gap
review:
4.5






Book 2 of 5.

I didn't realize there were so many books in this series when I read Auctioned but I'm totally into this story.I actually didn't find this one quite so harrowing as book one.That's not to say it's sunshine and roses because it still has a gritty feel to it and things that happened were realistic for the story arc.




One chapter of Gray's story might be over with the demise of the kidnappers but he,the other boys,and Darius still have a long road ahead of them.Cara Dee tackled the boys emotions perfectly as they struggled to cope with being free.




I absolutely loved that this was from Darius's POV, after getting Gray's in book one and it's official....I'm a bit in love with Darius....hot damn....i love an angry man who can't resist a cute boy .He's fast becoming a favourite character of mine.I loved being inside his head.And the poor guy can fight it all he wants but you can feel him falling for Gray.Not really a romance yet but it's going to be pretty explosive when it does happen.I'm not a massive fan of an age gap but these two are just so good together.The banter,the sexiness,and Darius getting all protective and possessive over Gray had me swooning.


Bring on the next one....I'm more than ready.

Recommended.



An Arc of Stranded was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> Cash (Lucky, #2) 43188699
Hunt saboteur Rae can’t believe his luck when he wakes up the next morning. Cash is gorgeous, and the hottest hook up he’s ever had. He doesn’t expect to see him again, until a twist of fate lands him on Cash’s doorstep a few months later.

United by a cause that’s broken Cash before, they are drawn together. They have more in common than they ever imagined, but with Cash haunted by the past, and Rae so tangled in the present, it’s not long before love isn’t enough to keep them alive.


Part of a series, but can be read as a STANDALONE.]]> 266 Garrett Leigh 1794232389 Judith 4





I wasn't entirely sure what to expect here.Whenever I see Garrett Leigh has a new book I just go into grabby hands mode.One of the things I love about her books is how British she always keeps things and that's certainly the case here.Tackling such an emotive subject and making it so real.The 'sport' of Fox Hunting has been a topic of great debate over the years in England.Opinions differ,some see the unnecessary cruelty while some regarded it as a form of pest control.As an animal lover I'm firmly in the former camp and I really commend her for this story.




A hot encounter one night was supposed to be just that....a one off.Cash definitely wasn't looking for anything more or a repeat performance with Rae but, his past and Rae's present were about to collide.Something neither man saw coming.



I loved how,after their initial encounter,they didn't immediately fall into bed.Things between them developed at just the right pace for the story.In fact their romance wasn't the main focus here.Rae being a hunt saboteur and Cash's connection in that regard ran hand in hand here and it worked.They were both passionate about the cause and as a result their emotional connection was so strong.Their chemistry was palpable and extremely hot!

Fan's of the previous book will be happy that Dom and Lucky feature a lot here as well.I truly loved the development and closeness of Cash's relationship with Lucky and,as the book progressed,with Dom.

Overall,a difficult subject written extremely well by this Author.And a story of love and friendship and staying true to your beliefs.

Recommended.


An Arc of Cash was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 3.55 2019 Cash (Lucky, #2)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/01/12
date added: 2019/01/18
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, m-m, slinky-boys, british-boys, british-setting
review:
4 Stars.






I wasn't entirely sure what to expect here.Whenever I see Garrett Leigh has a new book I just go into grabby hands mode.One of the things I love about her books is how British she always keeps things and that's certainly the case here.Tackling such an emotive subject and making it so real.The 'sport' of Fox Hunting has been a topic of great debate over the years in England.Opinions differ,some see the unnecessary cruelty while some regarded it as a form of pest control.As an animal lover I'm firmly in the former camp and I really commend her for this story.




A hot encounter one night was supposed to be just that....a one off.Cash definitely wasn't looking for anything more or a repeat performance with Rae but, his past and Rae's present were about to collide.Something neither man saw coming.



I loved how,after their initial encounter,they didn't immediately fall into bed.Things between them developed at just the right pace for the story.In fact their romance wasn't the main focus here.Rae being a hunt saboteur and Cash's connection in that regard ran hand in hand here and it worked.They were both passionate about the cause and as a result their emotional connection was so strong.Their chemistry was palpable and extremely hot!

Fan's of the previous book will be happy that Dom and Lucky feature a lot here as well.I truly loved the development and closeness of Cash's relationship with Lucky and,as the book progressed,with Dom.

Overall,a difficult subject written extremely well by this Author.And a story of love and friendship and staying true to your beliefs.

Recommended.


An Arc of Cash was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> <![CDATA[Pisces Floors Taurus (Signs of Love, #4.5)]]> 42850396
Spend some more time with Zane and Beckett in this short & steamy follow up to “Pisces Hooks Taurus’” as they deepen their bond.]]> 25 Anyta Sunday Judith 4 He turned his head and captured Beckett’s hot lips. “Here,” he murmured. “This way I can say I floored you.”“You floor me every day.” (...)






Well that's definitely where Zane wants Beckett to be.......


This is a super cute,short instalment in the lives of Zane and Beckett and fans of this couple won't want to miss this


(-they're still my favourite couple from this adorable series.)


So the men are back and just as cute as ever with Zane pulling out every romantic gesture he can think of to finally get Beckett to do the right thing in more than one respect...


“I’ve made a list.” Zane slid the paper over the table toward Beckett, who glanced at it. “I don’t want to keep messing it up, so choose which scenario makes you feel the most.”“Zane.”“I mean it. I want this to be perfect for both of us.” (...)





Will Zane finally get what he wants in the bedroom and will Beckett put a ring on it?


*Happy sigh*......adorable.....I could read about these two forever.


Review copy.]]> 3.93 2019 Pisces Floors Taurus (Signs of Love, #4.5)
author: Anyta Sunday
name: Judith
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/01/14
date added: 2019/01/14
shelves: arc, banter, couldn-t-wait-to-read, cute-guys, fav-m-m-couples, favourite-author, m-m, super-cute
review:
He turned his head and captured Beckett’s hot lips. “Here,” he murmured. “This way I can say I floored you.”“You floor me every day.” (...)







Well that's definitely where Zane wants Beckett to be.......


This is a super cute,short instalment in the lives of Zane and Beckett and fans of this couple won't want to miss this


(-they're still my favourite couple from this adorable series.)


So the men are back and just as cute as ever with Zane pulling out every romantic gesture he can think of to finally get Beckett to do the right thing in more than one respect...


“I’ve made a list.” Zane slid the paper over the table toward Beckett, who glanced at it. “I don’t want to keep messing it up, so choose which scenario makes you feel the most.”“Zane.”“I mean it. I want this to be perfect for both of us.” (...)





Will Zane finally get what he wants in the bedroom and will Beckett put a ring on it?


*Happy sigh*......adorable.....I could read about these two forever.


Review copy.
]]> Tea (A Cup of John, #1) 43494696
And it really is love at first sight. Chris is like nobody John’s ever known, and John is caught from the start. All he wants, from that very first touch, is to never let go. But John is badly burned from his last relationship and in no fit state to try again. When Chris asks him out, he ought to say no.

But what if he says yes instead?]]> 322 Matthew J. Metzger Judith 4 "(...)I spilled coffee on him,and he laughed at me,and my heart stopped beating."







The blurb for this is quite vague so I had no real clue what to expect here.So this review is going to be just as vague.I think the Author may have included more detail in the blurb if he wanted people to know beforehand? Maybe I'm wrong-who knows but I'm not giving too much away.What I will say is if you've read books by him before you might have an idea,kind of...

This turned out to be so much better than I thought.About 30% in I kept thinking how much more is left to tell....turns out a lot and it was really quite special.

John and Chris meet in a coffee shop when John accidentally spills a drink on him.John is so drawn to the beautiful young man in front of him.Chris is flirty,charming and John finds himself captivated by him.



The stranger was tall and lean, with a halo of messy black curls that surrounded his face and threw the ethereal beauty of that smile into sharp relief. The smile itself was formed out of the most ridiculously kissable mouth John had ever seen.(...)


This is so difficult to explain without going into both men's backgrounds but this story gave me so much joy,so many emotions.In this superficial world we live in,it seems physical appearance is becoming more and more important and this was such a refreshing change because John wasn't perfect,or at least he didn't think he was but it turned out he was perfect because he had such a beautiful soul.Both men had their own demons to fight but they fought them together and it was so special...

A big shout out to John's sisters(who I loved), and Chris's crazy family.These supporting characters fit into the story perfectly.

This might not be a conventional love story but a love story it most definitely is.....turns out I could have read about John and Chris for a lot longer....



He was in love again. He’d found love again. He’d found trips to the coast, pints at the bar, terrible jokes, wonderful sex, the feel of feet tangled together at the end of a warm bed in the early morning. He’d found laughter, and remembered how to smile. He’d found safety , (...)







Review copy.]]> 3.97 2019 Tea (A Cup of John, #1)
author: Matthew J. Metzger
name: Judith
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/01/07
date added: 2019/01/08
shelves: arc, british, flawed-characters, m-m
review:
"(...)I spilled coffee on him,and he laughed at me,and my heart stopped beating."








The blurb for this is quite vague so I had no real clue what to expect here.So this review is going to be just as vague.I think the Author may have included more detail in the blurb if he wanted people to know beforehand? Maybe I'm wrong-who knows but I'm not giving too much away.What I will say is if you've read books by him before you might have an idea,kind of...

This turned out to be so much better than I thought.About 30% in I kept thinking how much more is left to tell....turns out a lot and it was really quite special.

John and Chris meet in a coffee shop when John accidentally spills a drink on him.John is so drawn to the beautiful young man in front of him.Chris is flirty,charming and John finds himself captivated by him.



The stranger was tall and lean, with a halo of messy black curls that surrounded his face and threw the ethereal beauty of that smile into sharp relief. The smile itself was formed out of the most ridiculously kissable mouth John had ever seen.(...)


This is so difficult to explain without going into both men's backgrounds but this story gave me so much joy,so many emotions.In this superficial world we live in,it seems physical appearance is becoming more and more important and this was such a refreshing change because John wasn't perfect,or at least he didn't think he was but it turned out he was perfect because he had such a beautiful soul.Both men had their own demons to fight but they fought them together and it was so special...

A big shout out to John's sisters(who I loved), and Chris's crazy family.These supporting characters fit into the story perfectly.

This might not be a conventional love story but a love story it most definitely is.....turns out I could have read about John and Chris for a lot longer....



He was in love again. He’d found love again. He’d found trips to the coast, pints at the bar, terrible jokes, wonderful sex, the feel of feet tangled together at the end of a warm bed in the early morning. He’d found laughter, and remembered how to smile. He’d found safety , (...)







Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[You. Forever. Always. (The Underdogs, #3)]]> 36216329 ---Years of loving in secret. Now the secret’s out.---

Mage. Reasonable. Mature. In love with his best friend’s little brother.
Dawn. Painfully shy. Crazy talented. An anxious cinnamon roll in need of protection.

Mage has always been Dawn’s hero. He’s been there for him when Dawn was bullied, when Dawn came out, and when he joined The Underdogs. He’s also been Dawn’s first and only love—painfully unrequited, since Mage is straight. But that’s only for the better, because they’re bandmates, and Dawn’s brother is Mage’s best friend.

It would all be too intense, too complicated, too real.

But then one drunken kiss proves Mage might not be as straight as he seemed, and their whole world turns upside down. Even though Dawn craves Mage’s love so much his heart could burst, his shyness stands in the way of any future they could share.

While they have to keep their budding relationship under wraps and they prepare to sign a major record deal, Dawn’s anxiety gets out of control. Mage will have to choose between the success he’s always craved and the love of his life.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: rock band, bandmates romance, older brother’s best friend, coming out, bisexuality, first love, anxiety, compromise, music, secret love
Genre: Contemporary M/M Rocker Romance
Heat level: sweet, explicit scenes

Length: ~50,000 words (Can be read as standalone, HEA)]]> 187 K.A. Merikan Judith 4




“I’ve been incomplete without you. You’re the only one I ever needed, and the only one I will ever need. No one else would do.”



it's always quite sad reading the final book in a series,saying goodbye to characters you've come to love.This series has a variety of couples that work together and as a group....a bit dysfunction at times but always loveable.

You get craziness with Dusk and Lolly,

Kinkiness with Sid and Asher,

And sweetness with Mage and Dawn.


Ever since I started this series,this is the one I've been dying to read and it was everything I hope it would be.Mage and Dawn couldn't have been more perfect for each other.Dawn's anxiety was handled with great sensitivity here and Mage's devotion to him was a joy to read.



Best friends from a young age Mage and Dawn's relationship has developed into something much stronger with a mutual respect for each other.This was the sweetest of slow burns.... Neither of them had ever been intimate with a man before and it was beautifully written with feelings galore and the Epilogue was truly adorable.


Could be read as a standalone but you'd be missing out on two other great couples in the first two books.


Review copy.]]> 3.66 2018 You. Forever. Always. (The Underdogs, #3)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/12/27
date added: 2018/12/27
shelves: arc, favourite-authors, couldn-t-wait-to-read, m-m, friends-to-lovers, long-hair, bi-sexual, super-cute
review:
4.5





“I’ve been incomplete without you. You’re the only one I ever needed, and the only one I will ever need. No one else would do.”



it's always quite sad reading the final book in a series,saying goodbye to characters you've come to love.This series has a variety of couples that work together and as a group....a bit dysfunction at times but always loveable.

You get craziness with Dusk and Lolly,

Kinkiness with Sid and Asher,

And sweetness with Mage and Dawn.


Ever since I started this series,this is the one I've been dying to read and it was everything I hope it would be.Mage and Dawn couldn't have been more perfect for each other.Dawn's anxiety was handled with great sensitivity here and Mage's devotion to him was a joy to read.



Best friends from a young age Mage and Dawn's relationship has developed into something much stronger with a mutual respect for each other.This was the sweetest of slow burns.... Neither of them had ever been intimate with a man before and it was beautifully written with feelings galore and the Epilogue was truly adorable.


Could be read as a standalone but you'd be missing out on two other great couples in the first two books.


Review copy.
]]> Up! 43307468
There's another side to Luke. Underneath his bed are five hidden pairs of jeans with matching Dr yellow, purple, striped, green and tartan. Some days he feels the itch to get them out. Nope. Those days are gone.

One day, an amazing thing happens. Dynamic blog artist Formaldehyde Bob comes to town with an exhibition of light and dark! Luke has crushed on him since being fifteen, idolising the man and his unusual creations. Something about the art calls to Luke like nothing else, makes him believe there might after all be someone out there who thinks in the same way. A soul mate. A bird with a similar song.

No. Luke isn't going to go and see Formaldehyde Bob. He isn't. Because he's happy with his monotonous lot and doesn't want to see hope sliding down a mountain of sand.

Will Luke take a chance and visit Formaldehyde Bob?
Can the jeans ever be worn again?
Does grumpy Barbara ever smile?
And the most important is there any magic left in the world?

Find out in this snowy tale of young love in the most unexpected places.

Content references to self-harm, mental illness.]]> 77 Al Stewart 1786453029 Judith 4 arc, favourite-authors, m-m

"Have you waited for me your whole life?"(...)

"I really have."






This is utterly charming.

A story of love and hope and family.

Life can be hard and anyone who has had experience directly or indirectly with Mental Illness will totally get this....but don't worry,it's not heavy or depressing,it's just the opposite...it's uplifting and beautifully written and yes,I shed some happy tears at the end.

Luke and Rob really are soul mates,they found each other at just the right time and kind of rescued each other.And Luke's father....I can't find the words...except to say ....he was pretty much perfect.

These two Authors are brilliantly unique,reading a new story by them you never quite know what to expect but one thing is guaranteed...the story will make you smile and feel...



Recommended read.

]]> 4.03 2018 Up!
author: Al Stewart
name: Judith
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/12/22
date added: 2018/12/22
shelves: arc, favourite-authors, m-m
review:
4.5


"Have you waited for me your whole life?"(...)

"I really have."






This is utterly charming.

A story of love and hope and family.

Life can be hard and anyone who has had experience directly or indirectly with Mental Illness will totally get this....but don't worry,it's not heavy or depressing,it's just the opposite...it's uplifting and beautifully written and yes,I shed some happy tears at the end.

Luke and Rob really are soul mates,they found each other at just the right time and kind of rescued each other.And Luke's father....I can't find the words...except to say ....he was pretty much perfect.

These two Authors are brilliantly unique,reading a new story by them you never quite know what to expect but one thing is guaranteed...the story will make you smile and feel...



Recommended read.


]]> The Story of Us 42645127
Are you okay?
The first words Zed says to Caspian, and the first time someone has cared about the answer. On a hot summer’s day, the lives of two boys are changed forever. A rebel and a risk taker, Caspian doesn’t give a damn for the consequences. Studious and obedient, Zed is the good boy who is never good enough.

The two couldn’t be more different, but there’s one thing they share, a need to belong to someone who understands them, someone who cares. Their friendship goes deeper than either can possibly imagine. They’re young, in love, and planning their future when an act of betrayal tears them apart.

Fate deals its hand. Seasons pass. Zed’s words follow Caspian through pain, fear and into the darkest of places. Friendships can last a lifetime, even when the world conspires to crush them. But this is more than friendship. This is love and they’re not going to let it slip through their fingers.

Warning
The Story of Us is a tale of love and survival, and the triumph of good over evil against the odds. It's a new adult contemporary romance that deals with family and social issues. There is violence and cruelty to children but not sexual assault. The story has sexual situations, dark elements and suspense. The events and locations are a mixture of real and fictional. The characters are fictional.]]> 437 Barbara Elsborg 0463505778 Judith 5 arc, favourite-author, m-m "(...)This is our story.We can make it whatever we want it to be. "








The Story of Us is a thought provoking,emotional story about 2 young boys who meet in the summr of 2010 and the subsequent story follows their lives over ten summer's.

Aged 14 and 15 when they meet both boys don't have happy home lives and their struggles within their families were incredibly difficult to read at times.Caspian is just a little bit wild,a free spirit,always looking for new adventures.Zed is more cautious,he definitely doesn't want to take risks and draw attention to himself but they compliment each other perfectly.Time passes and they wait and they plan...but the worst kind of betrayal leaves both their young lives in tatters.My heart was in my mouth more than once reading this,it's definitely not pretty at times but it had me completely gripped.

There's a reason Barbara Elsborg is one of my favourite Authors and this book is no exception.She weaves a carefully crafted story here,incorporating real life events effortlessly that fit into the story so well.

Caspian and Zed's story is so many things,

-there's love and laughter,

-there's pain and suffering,

-it's about friendship,family (not necessarily conventional),

-it's happy,

-it's sad,

Go on this remarkable journey with these two young men...you won't be disappointed.


An Arc of The Story of Us was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 4.26 2018 The Story of Us
author: Barbara Elsborg
name: Judith
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/10/03
date added: 2018/12/18
shelves: arc, favourite-author, m-m
review:
"(...)This is our story.We can make it whatever we want it to be. "









The Story of Us is a thought provoking,emotional story about 2 young boys who meet in the summr of 2010 and the subsequent story follows their lives over ten summer's.

Aged 14 and 15 when they meet both boys don't have happy home lives and their struggles within their families were incredibly difficult to read at times.Caspian is just a little bit wild,a free spirit,always looking for new adventures.Zed is more cautious,he definitely doesn't want to take risks and draw attention to himself but they compliment each other perfectly.Time passes and they wait and they plan...but the worst kind of betrayal leaves both their young lives in tatters.My heart was in my mouth more than once reading this,it's definitely not pretty at times but it had me completely gripped.

There's a reason Barbara Elsborg is one of my favourite Authors and this book is no exception.She weaves a carefully crafted story here,incorporating real life events effortlessly that fit into the story so well.

Caspian and Zed's story is so many things,

-there's love and laughter,

-there's pain and suffering,

-it's about friendship,family (not necessarily conventional),

-it's happy,

-it's sad,

Go on this remarkable journey with these two young men...you won't be disappointed.


An Arc of The Story of Us was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> Homebird 41956373 Crispin Henry isn’t an adventurer. He learned early on that the world is a frightening place and that home is rare and precious. If his friends didn’t drag him to sports games and ill-advised trips to Vegas, he wouldn’t get out at all—and his trip to Munich for Oktoberfest is no exception. But it’s there that he meets Luka Gabriel, and he learns to take a chance.


Luka is a free-spirited world traveler, working at Oktoberfest to feed his enchantment with new places and new people. His only possessions fit in his backpack, and he depends on the kindness of strangers for a place to sleep. Crispin should know better—but he takes Luka’s hand anyway, and together they turn three nights in Munich into the relationship neither of them has been brave enough to risk—and neither can let go of.


When Luka turns up on Crispin’s doorstep before the holiday season, Crispin takes him in on hope alone. Yes, he knows the odds are good Luka will flutter out of his life again and leave him bereft, but isn’t it worth it to see if Luka is a homebird after all?

]]> 202 Amy Lane 1644050102 Judith 4





This is my first solo read by this Author and a lot worked but some things didn't.It has a holiday vibe but that's not the main focus here which I was more than happy with.

The two main characters,


Crispin is 31 and really is a homebird and there's a reason for that.Home is his sanctuary,it's where he feels safe.Safe from a world where he's been left...


Luka
is just the opposite.A free spirit,he goes where life takes him going from one adventure to the next.(And,hello....long hair and a man bun...I might have squealed a bit)


The two men meet in Munich at Oktoberfest. Luka is waiting tables and Crispin is there on a short trip with work colleagues. If it wasn't for his friends dragging him to place Crispin would be quite happy to stay at home. But this adventure is about to change his life in a way he never would have dreamed of. They are both drawn to each other and spend an intense few days together.But is that enough and when Luka turns up at Crispin's door for the Holidays will he finally be able to put down roots and stay?

I struggled a bit with the first half and this was mainly down to Crispin and his friends.Crispin is 31 so I'm assuming they were around the same age but they came across as quite immature and the friends,especially,started to irritate me.

BUT,

I enjoyed the second half much more and the four guys seemed to work their magic on me and I ended up loving them individually and as a group.( There's one guy in particular whose story I would love to read).

Crispin and Luka are super cute together and although the feelings started early on I believed in them as a couple.And this Author can certainly write smoking hot sexy times!!

Overall an enjoyable story and I would recommend it.





An Arc of Homebird was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> 4.08 2018 Homebird
author: Amy Lane
name: Judith
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/12/05
date added: 2018/12/14
shelves: arc, m-m, holidays, long-hair, slinky
review:
3.5






This is my first solo read by this Author and a lot worked but some things didn't.It has a holiday vibe but that's not the main focus here which I was more than happy with.

The two main characters,


Crispin is 31 and really is a homebird and there's a reason for that.Home is his sanctuary,it's where he feels safe.Safe from a world where he's been left...


Luka
is just the opposite.A free spirit,he goes where life takes him going from one adventure to the next.(And,hello....long hair and a man bun...I might have squealed a bit)


The two men meet in Munich at Oktoberfest. Luka is waiting tables and Crispin is there on a short trip with work colleagues. If it wasn't for his friends dragging him to place Crispin would be quite happy to stay at home. But this adventure is about to change his life in a way he never would have dreamed of. They are both drawn to each other and spend an intense few days together.But is that enough and when Luka turns up at Crispin's door for the Holidays will he finally be able to put down roots and stay?

I struggled a bit with the first half and this was mainly down to Crispin and his friends.Crispin is 31 so I'm assuming they were around the same age but they came across as quite immature and the friends,especially,started to irritate me.

BUT,

I enjoyed the second half much more and the four guys seemed to work their magic on me and I ended up loving them individually and as a group.( There's one guy in particular whose story I would love to read).

Crispin and Luka are super cute together and although the feelings started early on I believed in them as a couple.And this Author can certainly write smoking hot sexy times!!

Overall an enjoyable story and I would recommend it.





An Arc of Homebird was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> Obsessed #4 42377268
Will he hoist himself out of depression to seal the past and face the present or will he lose himself in the bottom of the bottle?

This is the fourth and FINAL book of the Gay Erotic Romance "Obsessed". It features explicit adult m/m content as well as romantic elements. Warning: mentions of illness and death.]]> 77 Quin Judith 4



The final instalment in Meik and Sebastian's story finds Meik's life spiralling out of control after Sebastian walked away...

I started reading this series expecting smut and erotica and that's exactly what I got in the beginning but as the story progressed it turned into so much more....a love story past and present.



The more I read about Meik the more I fell for him.Definitely not an easy character to love,although even when he was being an asshole,I couldn't help liking him.If ever there was a case of the past defining someone this is it.I don't want to give too much away but if you've been reading this series you'll probably have a good idea about what happened in the past with Meik and Gabe but I hadn't expected it to be told with so much feeling.My heart broke a little bit here....

Told only from Meik's pov Sebastian doesn't feature much here,it's more about Meik and Gabe's story and getting the reader to full understand why Meik is the way he is today.Will he face his past and fight for Sebastian? I was routing for him all the way.

My only negative is that I was desperate for Sebastian's pov.There is a short Epilogue but I'd love something more from these two further down the line.

This is a series I stumbled across and one that I've really enjoyed.


Don't be put off by the fact it's a series.The books are all short.
Book one is currently free,
Books 2 & 3 available on KU.


Recommended series.


Review copy provided.


]]> 4.29 2018 Obsessed #4
author: Quin
name: Judith
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/12/03
date added: 2018/12/03
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, hot-guys, m-m, novella, self-discovery, series-must-be-read-in-order, sexual-chemistry
review:





The final instalment in Meik and Sebastian's story finds Meik's life spiralling out of control after Sebastian walked away...

I started reading this series expecting smut and erotica and that's exactly what I got in the beginning but as the story progressed it turned into so much more....a love story past and present.



The more I read about Meik the more I fell for him.Definitely not an easy character to love,although even when he was being an asshole,I couldn't help liking him.If ever there was a case of the past defining someone this is it.I don't want to give too much away but if you've been reading this series you'll probably have a good idea about what happened in the past with Meik and Gabe but I hadn't expected it to be told with so much feeling.My heart broke a little bit here....

Told only from Meik's pov Sebastian doesn't feature much here,it's more about Meik and Gabe's story and getting the reader to full understand why Meik is the way he is today.Will he face his past and fight for Sebastian? I was routing for him all the way.

My only negative is that I was desperate for Sebastian's pov.There is a short Epilogue but I'd love something more from these two further down the line.

This is a series I stumbled across and one that I've really enjoyed.


Don't be put off by the fact it's a series.The books are all short.
Book one is currently free,
Books 2 & 3 available on KU.


Recommended series.


Review copy provided.



]]> <![CDATA[Christmas Angel (The Christmas Angel, #1)]]> 41718418
Alec Allston is resigned to the fact that his love will ever be a river that flows out and never flows in. All he wanted to do was create a special gift so that a small part of himself could be with his unattainable and noble beloved, always. But when the gift keeps showing back up at his shop in the hands of a windblown and rugged thief-taker, Alec will need to reconsider his conviction that love is destined to remain an aethereal ideal.]]> 121 Eli Easton Judith 5
*twirling*

LOVED IT.

Get ready for an adorable Historical Christmas story.






The first book in this charming series.....I use the word series loosely because each book can be read on their own....BUT....there is a connection in the form of an Angel ornament/tree decoration.
What a lovely concept these Authors have come up with here.An Angel seemingly casting her magic and bringing men from different worlds together.Each book captures a different era and the romantic in me wants to believe it's the same Angel in each story.

This book takes place in 18th century London and I adored it.I'm all about the smouldering passion in Historical books,lingering looks,forbidden thoughts,clandestine meetings....I was practically swooning.

John is a London Bow Street Runner(yes,that's an actual thing from British history),law enforcement of sorts.When investigating a case one day he finds a beautiful carved Angel floating in the river Thames.Fascinated by it's beauty and determined to find out why it was cast aside he tracks down it's maker....a beautiful young sculptor,Alec.

Alec is horrified,the Angel had a special meaning to him and can't quite believe it's made it's way back to him.And the man who found it,along with the Angel keep returning...





Honestly,this story is just perfect.I devoured it.

-the setting in London at Christmas was just how I imagined it from history,

-John and Alec are just too cute together.A gentle courtship had me melting with John bringing Alec small gifts each day,

-a wonderful array of supporting characters that shared John's lodgings.

This is the third book I've read in this charming series and I highly recommend it.
You'll fall in love with John and Alec.


An Arc of Christmas Angel was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> 3.98 2018 Christmas Angel (The Christmas Angel, #1)
author: Eli Easton
name: Judith
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/11/18
date added: 2018/11/29
shelves: 18th-century, arc, british-setting, holidays, london, m-m, sexy-sweet, super-cute, historical, couldn-t-put-it-down
review:
4.5

*twirling*

LOVED IT.

Get ready for an adorable Historical Christmas story.






The first book in this charming series.....I use the word series loosely because each book can be read on their own....BUT....there is a connection in the form of an Angel ornament/tree decoration.
What a lovely concept these Authors have come up with here.An Angel seemingly casting her magic and bringing men from different worlds together.Each book captures a different era and the romantic in me wants to believe it's the same Angel in each story.

This book takes place in 18th century London and I adored it.I'm all about the smouldering passion in Historical books,lingering looks,forbidden thoughts,clandestine meetings....I was practically swooning.

John is a London Bow Street Runner(yes,that's an actual thing from British history),law enforcement of sorts.When investigating a case one day he finds a beautiful carved Angel floating in the river Thames.Fascinated by it's beauty and determined to find out why it was cast aside he tracks down it's maker....a beautiful young sculptor,Alec.

Alec is horrified,the Angel had a special meaning to him and can't quite believe it's made it's way back to him.And the man who found it,along with the Angel keep returning...





Honestly,this story is just perfect.I devoured it.

-the setting in London at Christmas was just how I imagined it from history,

-John and Alec are just too cute together.A gentle courtship had me melting with John bringing Alec small gifts each day,

-a wonderful array of supporting characters that shared John's lodgings.

This is the third book I've read in this charming series and I highly recommend it.
You'll fall in love with John and Alec.


An Arc of Christmas Angel was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> <![CDATA[Summerfield's Angel (The Christmas Angel, #2)]]> 42671914
When Alby pauses to admire an angel ornament in a department store window’s Christmas display, he meets Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Wealthy, handsome, and enthusiastic, Xeno brings Alby some temporary cheer. But for Alby to achieve his dreams of love and a real home, well, that may take a bit of holiday magic.
]]> 122 Kim Fielding Judith 5




This Christmas Series is turning out to be quite delicious.Some of my favourite Authors who have definitely delivered here.

The third book I've read and I'm more than giddy.The absolute cuteness,the perfect scene setting and the men who are just adorable together.




The Christmas Angel is back casting her magic in this charming story.Set in New York in the late 19th century where two men from completely different worlds collide and find their adorable HEA.I was melting at the story of how Xeno came across the Angel.

After a hard winter working as a ranch hand Alby has returned to the place he used to call home many years ago and is intent on tracking down his mother and brothers.Taking to the streets of New York he stops to look at a Christmas Angel in the window of Summerfield's department store.He's mesmerized by her and has no idea how his life is about to change.

Xeno Summerfield is like a breath of fresh air to Alby.He's everything Alby isn't-wealthy,charming,handsome and Alby feels the pull of him,no man has ever stirred up so many feelings in him.

Xeno and Alby were just too cute together,I was swooning big time here!

Highly Recommended.I can't wait to read the other books and see the Angel casting more magic.


An Arc of Summerfield's Angel was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> 4.26 2018 Summerfield's Angel (The Christmas Angel, #2)
author: Kim Fielding
name: Judith
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/11/24
date added: 2018/11/29
shelves: arc, christmas, couldn-t-wait-to-read, m-m, historical
review:
4.5





This Christmas Series is turning out to be quite delicious.Some of my favourite Authors who have definitely delivered here.

The third book I've read and I'm more than giddy.The absolute cuteness,the perfect scene setting and the men who are just adorable together.




The Christmas Angel is back casting her magic in this charming story.Set in New York in the late 19th century where two men from completely different worlds collide and find their adorable HEA.I was melting at the story of how Xeno came across the Angel.

After a hard winter working as a ranch hand Alby has returned to the place he used to call home many years ago and is intent on tracking down his mother and brothers.Taking to the streets of New York he stops to look at a Christmas Angel in the window of Summerfield's department store.He's mesmerized by her and has no idea how his life is about to change.

Xeno Summerfield is like a breath of fresh air to Alby.He's everything Alby isn't-wealthy,charming,handsome and Alby feels the pull of him,no man has ever stirred up so many feelings in him.

Xeno and Alby were just too cute together,I was swooning big time here!

Highly Recommended.I can't wait to read the other books and see the Angel casting more magic.


An Arc of Summerfield's Angel was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> <![CDATA[Love Around the Corner (New Milton #1.5)]]> 42779749 Gorgeously romantic and utterly charming, Love Around the Corner is the perfect way to while away a couple of hours on a winter afternoon" -- All About Romance

Real life enemies, online lovers. Two lonely men, destined for each other—if only they knew it.

Alfie Carter grew up in New Milton, caring for his sick father and keeping their auto repair shop on its feet. He’s touchy about his poor education and doesn’t take kindly to snide remarks from the town’s prickly bookstore owner—no matter how cute he looks in his skinny jeans. Left to run the family business alone, Alfie spends his lonely evenings indulging his secret passion for classic fiction and chatting online with witty, romantic ‘LLB’ as they fall in love over literature.

Leo Novak’s new life as owner of Bayside Books is floundering. And he could do without the town’s gorgeous, moody mechanic holding a grudge against him after an unfortunate—and totally not his fault— encounter last Christmas. Still reeling from a bad breakup and struggling to make friends in New Milton, Leo seeks comfort in his blossoming online romance with thoughtful, bookish ‘Camaro89’.

But as the holidays approach, ‘LLB’ and ‘Camaro89’ are planning to meet, and realities are about to collide…


This novella is approximately 39,000 words and comes with a HEA guaranteed.]]> 152 Sally Malcolm Judith 4 arc, favourite-author, m-m

Take,


One moody,sexy mechanic




And,

One sassy,nerdy bookstore owner





Real Life Enemies,

Online Lovers,



You won't want to miss this delightful Christmas novella set in the charming sea side town of New Milton that Sally Malcolm has created.

Alfie and Leo started talking online over their love of classic books.They're soul mates,right? What could possibly go wrong when they eventually meet in person??

Turns out,quite a lot....

Living in a small town they do their best to avoid each other after a disastrous encounter the previous Christmas.They've come to their own conclusions about each other.Alfie is sick and tired of the sarcastic comments thrown his way from the sassy bookstore owner,Leo.(of course I loved Leo...skin tight jeans and sass always work for me) And Alfie might be gorgeous and moody but Leo isn't about to forget 'that' encounter in a hurry.

Sally Malcolm is fast becoming one of my favourite MM romance Authors.She always gets the chemistry just right between her characters.

I loved the inclusion of some quotes from classic books( I even bought one,I was so interested).

Recommended read.


Available on KU.


Review copy.]]> 3.85 2018 Love Around the Corner (New Milton #1.5)
author: Sally Malcolm
name: Judith
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/11/28
date added: 2018/11/28
shelves: arc, favourite-author, m-m
review:
4.5


Take,


One moody,sexy mechanic




And,

One sassy,nerdy bookstore owner





Real Life Enemies,

Online Lovers,



You won't want to miss this delightful Christmas novella set in the charming sea side town of New Milton that Sally Malcolm has created.

Alfie and Leo started talking online over their love of classic books.They're soul mates,right? What could possibly go wrong when they eventually meet in person??

Turns out,quite a lot....

Living in a small town they do their best to avoid each other after a disastrous encounter the previous Christmas.They've come to their own conclusions about each other.Alfie is sick and tired of the sarcastic comments thrown his way from the sassy bookstore owner,Leo.(of course I loved Leo...skin tight jeans and sass always work for me) And Alfie might be gorgeous and moody but Leo isn't about to forget 'that' encounter in a hurry.

Sally Malcolm is fast becoming one of my favourite MM romance Authors.She always gets the chemistry just right between her characters.

I loved the inclusion of some quotes from classic books( I even bought one,I was so interested).

Recommended read.


Available on KU.


Review copy.
]]> Summer Heat 35307400
When Adam is dumped by his boyfriend, a week away at a beach resort seems like a great opportunity to get over his ex. Sun, sea, and no-strings sex will be just the boost he needs to move on with his life.

Adam’s best friend, Finn, agrees to accompany him at short notice. Finn’s had a crush on Adam for years, but is determined to put his feelings aside and be the perfect wingman in Adam’s time of crisis.

A spontaneous threesome with another guy forces Adam and Finn to confront their attraction to each other. Having a holiday fling together wasn’t part of the plan, and as their trip heats up, they soon realise that one night of fun won’t be enough for either of them.

The passion might be scorching, but their hearts and friendship are on the line. If their romance is going to survive the flight home, they have to be honest about what they want.]]> 205 Jay Northcote Judith 4




Perfect holiday read,
Low angst,friends to lovers story.


Adam and Finn have been friends for years.Finn has always had a bit of a crush on Adam but he would never act on it while Adam was in a relationship.Things are about to change,though,when Adam breaks up with his boyfriend and asks Finn to go on the holiday with him that he had planned with his ex.


Sun,sea,sand,and sex....


After a hot threesome,Adam and Finn go from being just friends.They are about to get as hot and heavy as the weather...

Ok,so they go from being friends to lovers at a rapid speed-but,it is what it is.....a light,sexy,summer story.

Recommend.


An Arc of Summer Heat was kindly provided by the Author to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.]]> 3.70 2017 Summer Heat
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/05/27
date added: 2018/11/24
shelves: arc, m-m, beautiful-boys, british, cute-guys, friends-to-lovers, super-sexy, sweet, spain, holidays, beach, sun, sea
review:
4 Stars.Sexy,summer story.





Perfect holiday read,
Low angst,friends to lovers story.


Adam and Finn have been friends for years.Finn has always had a bit of a crush on Adam but he would never act on it while Adam was in a relationship.Things are about to change,though,when Adam breaks up with his boyfriend and asks Finn to go on the holiday with him that he had planned with his ex.


Sun,sea,sand,and sex....


After a hot threesome,Adam and Finn go from being just friends.They are about to get as hot and heavy as the weather...

Ok,so they go from being friends to lovers at a rapid speed-but,it is what it is.....a light,sexy,summer story.

Recommend.


An Arc of Summer Heat was kindly provided by the Author to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.
]]> Stuck with You 42930903 Two clashing colleagues stuck together for Christmas--will opposites eventually attract?

Patrick has been single since he broke up with his cheating ex almost a year ago. With Christmas looming, he's resigned to spending it alone with only memories of happier times for company. When a business trip with a co-worker leaves them stranded in the Lake District due to heavy snow, it seems Patrick will have company for Christmas after all. It's a shame his companion is Kyle, who's undeniably attractive, but annoying as hell.

Aware of Patrick's reluctant admiration, Kyle basks in the attention even though Patrick isn't the type of man he normally goes for. Averse to relationships after being hurt in the past, Kyle enjoys the occasional hook up, but has given up on seeking anything more meaningful.

Stuck together, their antagonism escalates along with a heavy dose of sexual tension until it finally ignites. What starts as a Christmas fling soon feels like something special; but will their tentative connection melt away as the snow thaws? If they're going to take a chance on finding happiness together, they'll have to put their differences aside and learn to trust one another.

Contains: enemies-to-lovers, snowball fights, bickering, spanking, a cute dog, a wise old lady, mistletoe, and a happy ending (of course).]]> 212 Jay Northcote Judith 4




Take two co workers who apparently can't stand each other,a blizzard which leaves them stranded in a sleepy village in the beautiful Lake District,some delightful residents and you have a charming Christmas story.



Patrick isn't looking forward to spending Christmas alone but the last thing he was expecting was to spend it with Kyle but that's exactly what happens when Kyle's car breaks down a few days before Christmas on their way back from a work meeting.It seems 'there's no room at the Inn' is quite fitting as the only option for them is to rent a half finished cottage owned by a local.



The two men might not have got along at work but it turns out they've both had a simmering attraction to each other,so why not have some festive fun under the covers? The sex is HOT but they quickly realize they might just have a future together.



I loved the charming setting and a snowed in theme is one of my favourite things and the Author got the Christmas atmosphere just right...it was delightful.The Epilogue finished the story of perfectly.







Recommended.


An Arc of Stuck With You was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> 3.75 2018 Stuck with You
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/11/21
date added: 2018/11/24
shelves: arc, british, christmas, hot-sex, m-m, sexy-sweet, sexual-tension, short-read
review:
4 Stars.





Take two co workers who apparently can't stand each other,a blizzard which leaves them stranded in a sleepy village in the beautiful Lake District,some delightful residents and you have a charming Christmas story.



Patrick isn't looking forward to spending Christmas alone but the last thing he was expecting was to spend it with Kyle but that's exactly what happens when Kyle's car breaks down a few days before Christmas on their way back from a work meeting.It seems 'there's no room at the Inn' is quite fitting as the only option for them is to rent a half finished cottage owned by a local.



The two men might not have got along at work but it turns out they've both had a simmering attraction to each other,so why not have some festive fun under the covers? The sex is HOT but they quickly realize they might just have a future together.



I loved the charming setting and a snowed in theme is one of my favourite things and the Author got the Christmas atmosphere just right...it was delightful.The Epilogue finished the story of perfectly.







Recommended.


An Arc of Stuck With You was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> Oz (Finding Home, #1) 42840413 alternate cover edition of ASIN B07KKN5JFB

What happens when temporary becomes forever?

Oz Gallagher does not do relationships well. Bored and jobless after another disastrous hook up, he decides to leave London for a temporary job in the wilds of Cornwall. Surely managing a stately home on a country estate will be easier than navigating the detritus of his relationships at home. Six months there will alleviate a bit of his wanderlust and then he can come back to London as footloose and fancy free as the day he left it.

However, when he gets there he finds a house in danger of crumbling to the ground and a man who is completely unlike anyone he’s ever met. An earl belonging to a family whose roots go back hundreds of years, Silas is the living embodiment of duty and sacrifice. Two things that Oz has never wanted. He's also warm and funny and he draws Oz to him like a magnet.

Oz banks on the fact that they're from two very different worlds to stop himself falling for Silas. But what will he do when he realises that these differences are actually part of the pull to one another? Will falling in love be enough to make him stop moving at last and realise that he's finally home?

From bestselling author, Lily Morton, comes a romantic comedy about two very different men and one very dilapidated house.

This is the first book in the Finding Home series but it can be read as a standalone.
]]> 274 Lily Morton Judith 5


I’d thought the moment when I fell in love would be dramatic and full of noise and energy. Instead, it’s in a quiet bedroom where a soft song plays(...)





Get ready for a wonderful romantic comedy in a beautiful setting with two truly adorable characters.Lily Morton gets better and better at creating characters that have great chemistry and this is no exception.From the moment they met,I adored Silas and Oz.If you want to read about two characters falling in love this is the book for you.Add into the mix this Author's ability to write great banter and you've got a winner here.

After a disastrous relationship Oz finds himself homeless and jobless.Used to life in the fast lane in London he has no idea what to expect when he gets a job as a site manager in a crumbling stately home on a country estate in Cornwall.The job is going to prove a lot more difficult than he thought,especially when temptation is put in his way in the form of the owner,Silas.

There is so much to love here,

-Oz is just about the perfect character for me.Sassy,quick witted.He may be small in stature he more than makes up for it,with his personality.Just a bit flamboyant with his skin tight jeans and love of eye liner and nail polish(I might have died a bit here!)-he refuses to conform for anyone...

-Silas might be an Earl but he's down to earth with such a wonderful heart and he gets a lot more than he expected when the tornado that is Oz crashes into his life.

-These two men were just too adorable together.Opposites attract in the most delicious way and,like I said earlier,you could really feel them falling in love-I actually got a bit teary reading this.

-The setting,in Cornwall,was so atmospheric.A place I've visited many times and the Author captured it perfectly here.

-And the Epilogue was one of the best I've read-just adorable.


Highly Recommended.

Review copy.]]> 4.34 2018 Oz (Finding Home, #1)
author: Lily Morton
name: Judith
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/11/14
date added: 2018/11/17
shelves: arc, atmospheric, british-humour, british-boys, favourite-author, great-chemistry, guy-liner, hot-guys, m-m, super-cute, super-sexy
review:
4.5



I’d thought the moment when I fell in love would be dramatic and full of noise and energy. Instead, it’s in a quiet bedroom where a soft song plays(...)





Get ready for a wonderful romantic comedy in a beautiful setting with two truly adorable characters.Lily Morton gets better and better at creating characters that have great chemistry and this is no exception.From the moment they met,I adored Silas and Oz.If you want to read about two characters falling in love this is the book for you.Add into the mix this Author's ability to write great banter and you've got a winner here.

After a disastrous relationship Oz finds himself homeless and jobless.Used to life in the fast lane in London he has no idea what to expect when he gets a job as a site manager in a crumbling stately home on a country estate in Cornwall.The job is going to prove a lot more difficult than he thought,especially when temptation is put in his way in the form of the owner,Silas.

There is so much to love here,

-Oz is just about the perfect character for me.Sassy,quick witted.He may be small in stature he more than makes up for it,with his personality.Just a bit flamboyant with his skin tight jeans and love of eye liner and nail polish(I might have died a bit here!)-he refuses to conform for anyone...

-Silas might be an Earl but he's down to earth with such a wonderful heart and he gets a lot more than he expected when the tornado that is Oz crashes into his life.

-These two men were just too adorable together.Opposites attract in the most delicious way and,like I said earlier,you could really feel them falling in love-I actually got a bit teary reading this.

-The setting,in Cornwall,was so atmospheric.A place I've visited many times and the Author captured it perfectly here.

-And the Epilogue was one of the best I've read-just adorable.


Highly Recommended.

Review copy.
]]> Crossroads (Skins, #3.5) 41822040
Dylan is struggling. Being apart from Angelo is killing him, and he’s at the end of his rope. Angelo can’t live in London anymore, but can Dylan give up his whole life and move to a place that often feels like the end of the world?

As the end of a tough year approaches, they reach a crossroads. Dylan returns to Cornwall for Christmas and Angelo can’t imagine watching him leave again. Can the love that surrounds them on Whisper Farm show them the way home?
]]> 82 Garrett Leigh Judith 4




If this is the final book in the Skins Series, it's just the perfect ending.I'm really going to miss these men-I can't imagine what it must be like for an Author to say goodbye to their characters.


This Christmas novella,kind of,comes full circle-ending with more from Dylan and Angelo whose story is the first book in this series.Told only from each men's pov we still get more from the other couples in this series and I'm sure I had a huge grin on my face here.These three couples,whose lives have been intertwined,are all pretty special in their own way.


Dylan and Angelo are,without doubt,at a Crossroads in their lives but I never doubted at any time they would make it.

For only a short read the Author managed to take the reader into each couple's relationship with ease.Honestly,I could read about these guys all day long.


-The build up to Christmas on a farm in Cornwall couldn't have been more perfect,

- There's something so special that happens,that I didn't see coming at all,

-A sex scene involving 4 men(kind of) that was super HOT!....not saying anything else-just read it and find out


If you haven't read this series or this Author before and are into MM romance,don't hesitate.

Recommended read,without any doubt.


An Arc of Crossroads was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid

]]> 4.01 2018 Crossroads (Skins, #3.5)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/11/15
date added: 2018/11/15
shelves: arc, british, british-setting, couldn-t-wait-to-read, delicious-men, favourite-author, m-m, novella, part-of-a-series, super-hot-couples
review:
4.5





If this is the final book in the Skins Series, it's just the perfect ending.I'm really going to miss these men-I can't imagine what it must be like for an Author to say goodbye to their characters.


This Christmas novella,kind of,comes full circle-ending with more from Dylan and Angelo whose story is the first book in this series.Told only from each men's pov we still get more from the other couples in this series and I'm sure I had a huge grin on my face here.These three couples,whose lives have been intertwined,are all pretty special in their own way.


Dylan and Angelo are,without doubt,at a Crossroads in their lives but I never doubted at any time they would make it.

For only a short read the Author managed to take the reader into each couple's relationship with ease.Honestly,I could read about these guys all day long.


-The build up to Christmas on a farm in Cornwall couldn't have been more perfect,

- There's something so special that happens,that I didn't see coming at all,

-A sex scene involving 4 men(kind of) that was super HOT!....not saying anything else-just read it and find out


If you haven't read this series or this Author before and are into MM romance,don't hesitate.

Recommended read,without any doubt.


An Arc of Crossroads was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.



This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid


]]> Shrewd Angel 41718481 Pax Polo is the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.

Correction: Was the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.

Now he sports a black eye and his bros have kicked him out of their band—three weeks before Christmas. It’s an unfamiliar kick to his over-inflated ego, but . . . whatever.

No problem.

Thanks to some stellar eavesdropping, an unexpected angel ornament, and a bribe to open for his favorite band ever, Pax will weasel his way back into his mates’ good graces.

All he has to do is friend Clifford, the neighborhood man-shrew, for the summer. Distract him a bit so Clifford’s younger sister can sneak around.

It sounds like a piece of beginners Beethoven. Jolly good fun.

Easy.

Because, Pax totally knows how to friend people. He has heaps of friends. This shrew’s no match for his shrewd ways. Or is he?]]> 293 Anyta Sunday Judith 5 It was a wicked cool idea that this Christmas ornament was a lucky charm . Or more than that. A guardian angel. (...)





I'm swooning big time here.

Get ready for the cuteness people...


Take one Angel tree topper,a whole lot of meddling,some truly engaging characters and you get an utterly charming story that you won't want to miss.


Pax Polo,guitarist for Serenity Free,is slinky,sexy,charismatic and he's going to need his meddling skills to be on top form to get himself out of his current situation.Kicked out of his band a few weeks before Christmas,ever the optimist,he can manoeuvre things to his advantage,right?

What he hadn't bargained on was Clifford......a bit grumpy,just a bit serious but Pax can charm to birds from the trees ......but who's playing who??


Clifford's younger sister has two suitors....Luca and Henry.All Pax has to do is distract Clifford and let the battle commence,he's routing for Luca who he's staying with but Henry has connections that would get him back into favour with his band.


A modern take on The Taming of the Shrew


As usual with this Author the banter is delicious.Pax sets about his mission with great enthusiasm.There's a ton of hilarious exchanges between the characters and heart warming moments....and the Angel is always present seeming to sprinkle magic all around...

Will Pax achieve his goal or find that he was looking for something completely different all along?

And the Epilogue was just perfection...

Highly recommended.

Review copy.]]> 4.12 2018 Shrewd Angel
author: Anyta Sunday
name: Judith
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/11/08
date added: 2018/11/09
shelves: arc, banter, favourite-author, cute-guys, m-m, slow-burn
review:
It was a wicked cool idea that this Christmas ornament was a lucky charm . Or more than that. A guardian angel. (...)






I'm swooning big time here.

Get ready for the cuteness people...


Take one Angel tree topper,a whole lot of meddling,some truly engaging characters and you get an utterly charming story that you won't want to miss.


Pax Polo,guitarist for Serenity Free,is slinky,sexy,charismatic and he's going to need his meddling skills to be on top form to get himself out of his current situation.Kicked out of his band a few weeks before Christmas,ever the optimist,he can manoeuvre things to his advantage,right?

What he hadn't bargained on was Clifford......a bit grumpy,just a bit serious but Pax can charm to birds from the trees ......but who's playing who??


Clifford's younger sister has two suitors....Luca and Henry.All Pax has to do is distract Clifford and let the battle commence,he's routing for Luca who he's staying with but Henry has connections that would get him back into favour with his band.


A modern take on The Taming of the Shrew


As usual with this Author the banter is delicious.Pax sets about his mission with great enthusiasm.There's a ton of hilarious exchanges between the characters and heart warming moments....and the Angel is always present seeming to sprinkle magic all around...

Will Pax achieve his goal or find that he was looking for something completely different all along?

And the Epilogue was just perfection...

Highly recommended.

Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[In the Pines (A Charlie Schiffer Mystery #1)]]> 41139410
After the disappearance of Eastview High’s homecoming king, seventeen-year-old Charlie Schiffer must put his detective skills to work to help class heartthrob Dare Chalmers find his missing twin brother. From the gator-filled swamps of Paynes Prairie to the truck-stop strip club Café Risqué, there’s no situation too dicey for this amateur sleuth when he’s on the prowl for clues to this mystery.

Meanwhile, Dare is everything Charlie could want in a boyfriend—charismatic, handsome, polite—but as Charlie’s mother always says, the unlikeliest people can turn out to be criminals. When evidence surfaces revealing his suspects’ hidden motives, Charlie must dig deep to suss out who among them is innocent and who is guilty, even if it means betraying the man he cares for most.]]> 200 Laura Lascarso 1640807403 Judith 3




It pains me to not rate this higher because this Author is one of the best at writing totally engaging YA stories.This book is a lot different from the previous books I've read by her-maybe I was expecting something similar? That's not to say I think Authors should stick to the same formats,because of course they shouldn't-in fact I've got nothing but admiration for Authors who can be diverse in their writing.


If you're looking for a book mainly focused on romance,you won't find it here.It is there,but it takes a back seat.

Dare and Mason are twins,the popular kids at school.But along with popularity comes envy sometimes...


When Mason goes missing the whole town is thrown into turmoil and just about everyone is under suspicion.Did I work it out? No,but I'd kind of lost interest to be honest.

Charlie is a super sluth,it's what he loves and having a mother in the Police Force has fuelled his interest.But this time it's personal because he's been crushing on Dare for a long time so when Dare asks for his help in finding out what happened to Mason,of course he's going to help.But is Dare just playing him?


What I enjoyed,

-I couldn't help but love Charlie,he's got a bit of a nerdy vibe going on which I love,

-Dare and Charlie are super cute together and when they do get down and dirty it's just enough for the story,

-Tameka,what a,kick ass character....I loved that girl.


What didn't quite work,

-like I said,just about anyone who acted slightly out of character was a suspect,

-Charlie,basically,solving the mystery before the police was a bit far fetched for me

Can't say much more without completing spoiling it.So,not a massive hit for me but enjoyable enough.


Review copy.]]> 3.79 2018 In the Pines (A Charlie Schiffer Mystery #1)
author: Laura Lascarso
name: Judith
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/10/17
date added: 2018/10/25
shelves: arc, favourite-author, m-m, mystery-crime, slow-burn, young-love
review:
3.5





It pains me to not rate this higher because this Author is one of the best at writing totally engaging YA stories.This book is a lot different from the previous books I've read by her-maybe I was expecting something similar? That's not to say I think Authors should stick to the same formats,because of course they shouldn't-in fact I've got nothing but admiration for Authors who can be diverse in their writing.


If you're looking for a book mainly focused on romance,you won't find it here.It is there,but it takes a back seat.

Dare and Mason are twins,the popular kids at school.But along with popularity comes envy sometimes...


When Mason goes missing the whole town is thrown into turmoil and just about everyone is under suspicion.Did I work it out? No,but I'd kind of lost interest to be honest.

Charlie is a super sluth,it's what he loves and having a mother in the Police Force has fuelled his interest.But this time it's personal because he's been crushing on Dare for a long time so when Dare asks for his help in finding out what happened to Mason,of course he's going to help.But is Dare just playing him?


What I enjoyed,

-I couldn't help but love Charlie,he's got a bit of a nerdy vibe going on which I love,

-Dare and Charlie are super cute together and when they do get down and dirty it's just enough for the story,

-Tameka,what a,kick ass character....I loved that girl.


What didn't quite work,

-like I said,just about anyone who acted slightly out of character was a suspect,

-Charlie,basically,solving the mystery before the police was a bit far fetched for me

Can't say much more without completing spoiling it.So,not a massive hit for me but enjoyable enough.


Review copy.
]]> Obsessed #3 41058060
Easy sex in exchange for a cozy bed. Until Meik’s darkest secret scratches the surface, forcing him to cut Sebastian loose in a last-ditch attempt to regain his sanity.

But he’s not the only one with secrets.

All along, the enigmatic musician had something to hide. Will Meik manage to tear himself free or will his obsession and memories batter him into submission?

This is the third book of the Gay Erotic Romance “Obsessed”. It features explicit adult m/m content as well as romantic elements. The book ends on a cliffhanger.]]> 96 Quin Judith 4




More filthy goodness...

I'm absolutely loving this smutty series,the more I read,the more I'm loving Meik and Sebastian.I've no idea how I stumbled across these books but I'm so glad I did.


The story is told only from Meik's POV, so Sebastian is still quite a delicious enigma but he's just my type of character.....sexy,slinky(yes slinky!),sassy,with a kind of innocence about him.

And Meik (happy sigh!), he's controlling,arrogant but I can't help loving him.In this instalment we get more of his back story and a previous relationship that has defined the man he is today.I loved his jealousy and how possessive he is over Sebastian and really he has no right to be,after all he's made it perfectly clear it's just sex right?....poor Meik has no clue he's falling for Sebastian,or maybe he does?


And talking of sex.....

This is super hot!! Sex against a door(I might have growled a bit),spanking,dirty kissing,and lots of pounding!! (Amazon is going to totally reject this review)


I can't wait to get my hands on the final book...


Recommended for smut lovers everywhere,especially if you like a hint of romance mixed in.


Review copy.]]> 4.40 2018 Obsessed #3
author: Quin
name: Judith
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/10/18
date added: 2018/10/18
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, hot-as-fuck-sex-and-chemistry, m-m
review:
4.5





More filthy goodness...

I'm absolutely loving this smutty series,the more I read,the more I'm loving Meik and Sebastian.I've no idea how I stumbled across these books but I'm so glad I did.


The story is told only from Meik's POV, so Sebastian is still quite a delicious enigma but he's just my type of character.....sexy,slinky(yes slinky!),sassy,with a kind of innocence about him.

And Meik (happy sigh!), he's controlling,arrogant but I can't help loving him.In this instalment we get more of his back story and a previous relationship that has defined the man he is today.I loved his jealousy and how possessive he is over Sebastian and really he has no right to be,after all he's made it perfectly clear it's just sex right?....poor Meik has no clue he's falling for Sebastian,or maybe he does?


And talking of sex.....

This is super hot!! Sex against a door(I might have growled a bit),spanking,dirty kissing,and lots of pounding!! (Amazon is going to totally reject this review)


I can't wait to get my hands on the final book...


Recommended for smut lovers everywhere,especially if you like a hint of romance mixed in.


Review copy.
]]> Boy Shattered 42272771 352 Eli Easton Judith 4




A thought provoking read,a YA love story born from a tragic event.


Coming from the UK where the last school shooting was back in 1996 after which the ownership of handguns was banned I found this a difficult read.Due to the subject matter the book was always going to have a sombre feel to it but out of all the darkness there was a quite beautiful story of two young men who,in a different life might never have got together.

From the blurb the reader is well aware of what is going to happen and the Author powerfully portrayed the event that would have such a strong impact on the characters lives.In the aftermath of tragedy Brian and Landon formed a powerful bond that was totally believable-a connection that was so strong.


What I loved,

-Landon,what can I say...I adored that boy.His strength,and determination to stand up for what he believed in and his love for Brian.The Author created a truly special character in him.

-Landon's two friends and his wonderful parents were brilliant supporting characters who played their parts in the story so well.


Issues I had/what didn't work for me,


-Brian's father.I found it hard to believe his views wouldn't have changed after what happened to Brian.There wasn't an ounce of compassion in him and I hated the way he treat Brian.

-the reveal of the shooters and the manner in which they were revealed was a bit too fanciful for me.


Overall I mostly enjoyed it.


An Arc of Boy Shattered was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid



]]> 4.31 2018 Boy Shattered
author: Eli Easton
name: Judith
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/10/10
date added: 2018/10/17
shelves: arc, favourite-author, couldn-t-wait-to-read, m-m
review:
3.5





A thought provoking read,a YA love story born from a tragic event.


Coming from the UK where the last school shooting was back in 1996 after which the ownership of handguns was banned I found this a difficult read.Due to the subject matter the book was always going to have a sombre feel to it but out of all the darkness there was a quite beautiful story of two young men who,in a different life might never have got together.

From the blurb the reader is well aware of what is going to happen and the Author powerfully portrayed the event that would have such a strong impact on the characters lives.In the aftermath of tragedy Brian and Landon formed a powerful bond that was totally believable-a connection that was so strong.


What I loved,

-Landon,what can I say...I adored that boy.His strength,and determination to stand up for what he believed in and his love for Brian.The Author created a truly special character in him.

-Landon's two friends and his wonderful parents were brilliant supporting characters who played their parts in the story so well.


Issues I had/what didn't work for me,


-Brian's father.I found it hard to believe his views wouldn't have changed after what happened to Brian.There wasn't an ounce of compassion in him and I hated the way he treat Brian.

-the reveal of the shooters and the manner in which they were revealed was a bit too fanciful for me.


Overall I mostly enjoyed it.


An Arc of Boy Shattered was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession

dbo vid




]]> <![CDATA[Paint the Stars (Free Fall, #3)]]> 34401863
For Daevonte Randall, adulthood has worked out pretty well. He’s close to his parents and lives with an awesome roommate. He’s content with weekend hookups, teaching yoga, and taking college courses. What he doesn’t expect is to be so intrigued by the brooding and reserved painter he’s been tasked to stay after hours with at the center. Something fascinates him about Ezra, even after Daevonte’s attempts at flirting gets him friend-zoned on the spot.

As weeks pass, Ezra and Dae get to know each other, and soon their friendship catches fire. But Ezra’s been burned pretty badly before so trust and intimacy has to be earned. Daevonte feels up to the task, but it proves difficult as Ezra continues to keep his emotions in check. Dae’s only willing to wait so long, and when they’re dealt a surprising blow, Ezra needs to decide if love is worth the risk, that is…if it’s not too late.]]> 252 Christina Lee Judith 4








I haven't read the previous books in this series but that definitely didn't spoil my enjoyment of this so I would say it can be a standalone.

Ezra is an Artist,currently working on a mural at the Mind Body Holistic and Wellness Centre in Santa Monica.This is where he meets Dae who does Yoga classes at the centre.

These two couldn't be more different in terms of their personalities and their family background.
Ezra grew up in a highly religious Catholic family.His parents have never really fully accepted him being gay and certainly don't want the church,they regularly attend,to know about his sexuality.He felt suffocated growing up and once he left for college he hardly ever returns home.

Dae's family,in comparison,are like a breath of fresh air.His parents married when they found out,at a young age, his mother was pregnant with Dae and have a loving relationship.They have always been fully supportive of him and I absolutely loved the relationship he had with them.

Dae is a massive flirt,he's never really been interested in anything serious before but he finds himself drawn to the quiet,broody Artist.He makes it more than obvious he's interested in Ezra.
Ezra is quite introverted,and values his privacy but when Dae's flirting doesn't let up he's forced to tell Dae that he's demisexual.He's never instantly attracted to anyone,he needs a close bond with someone before he can start to feel anything.


This is a slow burn and it's a beautiful love story of two men finding what they want in each other.Dae recognizes that Ezra needs time to get to know him and it was quite special seeing Ezra finally letting someone get close to him.

Recommended Read.


An Arc of Paint the Stars was kindly provided by the Authors to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession ]]> 4.19 2017 Paint the Stars (Free Fall, #3)
author: Christina Lee
name: Judith
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/13
date added: 2018/10/16
shelves: arc, m-m, standalone, demisexual, slow-burn, gorgeous-boys, interracial
review:
4 Stars.









I haven't read the previous books in this series but that definitely didn't spoil my enjoyment of this so I would say it can be a standalone.

Ezra is an Artist,currently working on a mural at the Mind Body Holistic and Wellness Centre in Santa Monica.This is where he meets Dae who does Yoga classes at the centre.

These two couldn't be more different in terms of their personalities and their family background.
Ezra grew up in a highly religious Catholic family.His parents have never really fully accepted him being gay and certainly don't want the church,they regularly attend,to know about his sexuality.He felt suffocated growing up and once he left for college he hardly ever returns home.

Dae's family,in comparison,are like a breath of fresh air.His parents married when they found out,at a young age, his mother was pregnant with Dae and have a loving relationship.They have always been fully supportive of him and I absolutely loved the relationship he had with them.

Dae is a massive flirt,he's never really been interested in anything serious before but he finds himself drawn to the quiet,broody Artist.He makes it more than obvious he's interested in Ezra.
Ezra is quite introverted,and values his privacy but when Dae's flirting doesn't let up he's forced to tell Dae that he's demisexual.He's never instantly attracted to anyone,he needs a close bond with someone before he can start to feel anything.


This is a slow burn and it's a beautiful love story of two men finding what they want in each other.Dae recognizes that Ezra needs time to get to know him and it was quite special seeing Ezra finally letting someone get close to him.

Recommended Read.


An Arc of Paint the Stars was kindly provided by the Authors to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.




This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
]]> Lucky (Lucky, #1) 41732041
Lucky Coleman is on his knees when he meets a man with more money than sense. It’s a Grindr hook-up for cash, not a love match, but dreaming of his desperate, kind eyes earns a place amongst his numerous bad habits.

Meeting once was risky, twice pushes Dom’s courage to the limit. Losing Lucky seems inevitable, but his tight grip on his image counts for nothing when Lucky starts to fall.

Catching him could cost Dom everything, but if he can set his heart free, getting Lucky long term might be a risk worth taking.
]]> 288 Garrett Leigh Judith 4




A believable portrayal of a gay Premiership football player planted firmly in the closest and a down on his luck young man.


Neither of them had any idea a casual Grindr hook up would change both their lives...


"You're here for a blowjob,right?We said fifty quid(...)



Dominic cuts an extremely lonely figure....He's fallen out of love with the beautiful game....he might have wealth and unwanted fame but he's lost in a sea of bitterness and self hate.He's never had any kind of a relationship with a man.He can't due to the nature of the sport he's involved in....


Sometimes it seemed like my sexuality was nothing but a demon dancing around my brain, reminding me every ten minutes that I was living the worst kind of lie, but in moments like this it was real.



Unfortunately Garrett Leigh got this spot on.I say unfortunately because this appears to be the world we live in today.I've been following football for years and in all that time there have only been a few footballers who've come out and one of those cases ended in tragedy.So,I felt Dom's struggle....it was all too real.He's gone to great lengths to keep his personal life secret but his resolve is severely tested when he meets Lucky.


I adored Lucky and he's one of the reasons this book worked so well for me.He's got his demons but still knows right from wrong.I found him such an endearing,likeable character...and physically he pushed ALL of my buttons,


Fucking hell. Are you kidding me? LCK £ _98’ s profile picture had been a pale, slim torso, and in our private message exchange he’d sent me a snap of his full lips pressed together in a teasing pout, but there’d been nothing else to giveaway the streak of fae-like beauty that stood before me now. Dark skinny jeans clung to his long legs, and a ripped vest hung from his slender frame, showing swathes of milky skin, all set off by piercing blue eyes, a ton of weathered leather bracelets, and sandy hair tied into a messy knot at the nape of his neck.




AND.....


Long hair was my kryptonite. Damn. Did I dream him? “(...)



I was practically salivating at this point...



Dom and Lucky are from two completely different worlds but they fit together perfectly.This Author never fails in creating a believable chemistry between her characters.Theirs isn't an easy journey as they navigate their way from a sexual hook up to friends,to more with all the pressures surrounding them.

I absolutely loved the Epilogue and,hello? Cash? ......let the swooning begin......you know when you have a good feeling about a character?...Can't wait for his story.

Recommended read.


An Arc of Lucky was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.86 2018 Lucky (Lucky, #1)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/09/05
date added: 2018/09/17
shelves: arc, british, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, long-hair, m-m
review:
4 Stars





A believable portrayal of a gay Premiership football player planted firmly in the closest and a down on his luck young man.


Neither of them had any idea a casual Grindr hook up would change both their lives...


"You're here for a blowjob,right?We said fifty quid(...)



Dominic cuts an extremely lonely figure....He's fallen out of love with the beautiful game....he might have wealth and unwanted fame but he's lost in a sea of bitterness and self hate.He's never had any kind of a relationship with a man.He can't due to the nature of the sport he's involved in....


Sometimes it seemed like my sexuality was nothing but a demon dancing around my brain, reminding me every ten minutes that I was living the worst kind of lie, but in moments like this it was real.



Unfortunately Garrett Leigh got this spot on.I say unfortunately because this appears to be the world we live in today.I've been following football for years and in all that time there have only been a few footballers who've come out and one of those cases ended in tragedy.So,I felt Dom's struggle....it was all too real.He's gone to great lengths to keep his personal life secret but his resolve is severely tested when he meets Lucky.


I adored Lucky and he's one of the reasons this book worked so well for me.He's got his demons but still knows right from wrong.I found him such an endearing,likeable character...and physically he pushed ALL of my buttons,


Fucking hell. Are you kidding me? LCK £ _98’ s profile picture had been a pale, slim torso, and in our private message exchange he’d sent me a snap of his full lips pressed together in a teasing pout, but there’d been nothing else to giveaway the streak of fae-like beauty that stood before me now. Dark skinny jeans clung to his long legs, and a ripped vest hung from his slender frame, showing swathes of milky skin, all set off by piercing blue eyes, a ton of weathered leather bracelets, and sandy hair tied into a messy knot at the nape of his neck.




AND.....


Long hair was my kryptonite. Damn. Did I dream him? “(...)



I was practically salivating at this point...



Dom and Lucky are from two completely different worlds but they fit together perfectly.This Author never fails in creating a believable chemistry between her characters.Theirs isn't an easy journey as they navigate their way from a sexual hook up to friends,to more with all the pressures surrounding them.

I absolutely loved the Epilogue and,hello? Cash? ......let the swooning begin......you know when you have a good feeling about a character?...Can't wait for his story.

Recommended read.


An Arc of Lucky was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> <![CDATA[Safe Place (Rainbow Place, #2)]]> 41049130
Alex is about to turn eighteen and is firmly in the closet. He’s been biding his time, waiting to escape to uni, and finally come out away from the oppressive influence of his homophobic father. When he flunks his exams, he’s stuck in the small town of Porthladock—and what’s worse is that he’s working for his dad. The only thing that makes it bearable is Cam.

Cam’s comfortable with his bisexuality, but he doesn’t broadcast it. Young, free, and single, his social life revolves around playing rugby and hanging out with his mates. He’s attracted to Alex, but with the six-year age gap, Cam’s wary of getting involved. Plus, he thinks Alex needs a friend more than he needs a lover, and as their friendship grows, Cam decides he’s not willing to risk ruining it for casual sex.

When Alex’s dad finds out about his sexuality, Alex is suddenly both jobless and homeless. He finds work at Rainbow Place, the local LGBT-friendly café and Cam lets Alex stay in his flat for a while. But Alex would rather be sleeping in Cam’s bed than on his sofa. With them both living under one roof, their feelings for each other grow stronger, and the sexual tension is hard to ignore. Will giving in to it ruin their friendship and complicate things for Alex even more?

Although this book is part of a linked series, it has a satisfying happy ending, and can be enjoyed as a standalone.
]]> 188 Jay Northcote Judith 4




Second book in this delightful series but can be a standalone.I'm pretty much addicted to the charming setting and endearing characters Jay Northcote has created here.A small town setting is one of my favourite things.





Alex is 18 and looking forward to going to University where he can finally come out of the closest and be himself.But life has a way of turning things upside down and when he doesn't get the grades he needs he finds himself forced to stay at home, living in an oppressive environment with a Homophobic father.

His Safe Place is a LGBT cafe/restaurant,Rainbow Place and this is where he met Cam.


Cam is a few years older.He's aware of Alex's attraction to him and the feeling is mutual but he's terrified of crossing that line.Yes,he keeps Alex at arm's length insisting on only friendship but I kind of got him and his reasoning behind it.


And you end up with a truly believable friends to lovers story.One thing Jay Northcote does so well is keeping his characters real and this is no exception.


Highly Recommended.


An Arc of Safe Place was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> 3.86 2018 Safe Place (Rainbow Place, #2)
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/08/20
date added: 2018/08/27
shelves: arc, british-boys, british-setting, age-gap, favourite-author, m-m, friends-to-lovers, slow-burn, small-town-setting
review:
4.5





Second book in this delightful series but can be a standalone.I'm pretty much addicted to the charming setting and endearing characters Jay Northcote has created here.A small town setting is one of my favourite things.





Alex is 18 and looking forward to going to University where he can finally come out of the closest and be himself.But life has a way of turning things upside down and when he doesn't get the grades he needs he finds himself forced to stay at home, living in an oppressive environment with a Homophobic father.

His Safe Place is a LGBT cafe/restaurant,Rainbow Place and this is where he met Cam.


Cam is a few years older.He's aware of Alex's attraction to him and the feeling is mutual but he's terrified of crossing that line.Yes,he keeps Alex at arm's length insisting on only friendship but I kind of got him and his reasoning behind it.


And you end up with a truly believable friends to lovers story.One thing Jay Northcote does so well is keeping his characters real and this is no exception.


Highly Recommended.


An Arc of Safe Place was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev



]]> <![CDATA[Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love, #4)]]> 40784310 It’s a time for searching, and a time for finding, Pisces: keep casting your line and you will hook what you’re looking for.

Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cute, fall in love, and live happily ever after.
Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he’d be married to the woman of his dreams.
It would be perfect.
And it would be before his visa ran out.

But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure’s on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can’t make sense of anymore?

Just as well he’s met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is anything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all.

Don’t cast your line too wide, Pisces. Your perfect catch may already have bitten.

~ - ~ - ~

Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love #4) is an MM opposites-attract romantic comedy featuring an unapologetic romantic and a broken realist.
More wit, banter and bad puns - and even more heart-stopping slow burn!
Can be read as a standalone.]]> 288 Anyta Sunday Judith 5




All the love for Beckett and Zane.

I was swooning big time reading this.I'm sure I've said it before but Nobody does a slow burn romance quite like Anyta Sunday


Move over Theo and Jamie because Beckett and Zane now hold the number one spot of my favourite couples in this series.

Book Four but can be a standalone,although you'd be seriously missing out not reading the other books.


Zane has a dilemma......
His visa is due to expire in a month when he will have to return home to New Zealand.

Ever the optimist,he has the romantic notion that he will meet a girl,sweep her off her feet and live happily ever after and if this solves the visa problem it's an added bonus.But things don't exactly go to plan,especially when he meets Beckett.


Beckett is an English Professor.Hurt by love before he's not looking to go down that road again.But his world is about to be turned upside down when Zane crashes into his life.

You can feel Beckett's ever growing attraction to Zane.Zane,however,remains adorably clueless.In fact he has another mission.....make him and Beckett have the best Bromance ever! He even researches it online(too cute!!)


I found ‘How to Start a Bromance in 13 Steps’ on WikiHow, and this other awesome blog full of questions to deepen our knowledge of each other.”




This book is just delightful from start to finish

The Author wrote in her review that she's terrified to let these boys go

Me too!! I didn't want this to end.

More please!!

Highly Recommended.

Review copy provided by the Author for which I'm eternally grateful.]]> 4.17 2018 Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love, #4)
author: Anyta Sunday
name: Judith
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/08/20
date added: 2018/08/20
shelves: arc, banter, cute-boys, couldn-t-wait-to-read, cute-guys, favourite-series, m-m, slow-burn, super-cute
review:
4.5





All the love for Beckett and Zane.

I was swooning big time reading this.I'm sure I've said it before but Nobody does a slow burn romance quite like Anyta Sunday


Move over Theo and Jamie because Beckett and Zane now hold the number one spot of my favourite couples in this series.

Book Four but can be a standalone,although you'd be seriously missing out not reading the other books.


Zane has a dilemma......
His visa is due to expire in a month when he will have to return home to New Zealand.

Ever the optimist,he has the romantic notion that he will meet a girl,sweep her off her feet and live happily ever after and if this solves the visa problem it's an added bonus.But things don't exactly go to plan,especially when he meets Beckett.


Beckett is an English Professor.Hurt by love before he's not looking to go down that road again.But his world is about to be turned upside down when Zane crashes into his life.

You can feel Beckett's ever growing attraction to Zane.Zane,however,remains adorably clueless.In fact he has another mission.....make him and Beckett have the best Bromance ever! He even researches it online(too cute!!)


I found ‘How to Start a Bromance in 13 Steps’ on WikiHow, and this other awesome blog full of questions to deepen our knowledge of each other.”




This book is just delightful from start to finish

The Author wrote in her review that she's terrified to let these boys go

Me too!! I didn't want this to end.

More please!!

Highly Recommended.

Review copy provided by the Author for which I'm eternally grateful.
]]> Sky Full of Mysteries 41071844
That’s the dilemma Cole Weston faces. Now happily married to Tommy D’Amico, he’s suddenly thrown into a surreal world when his first love, Rory Schneidmiller, unexpectedly reappears.

Where has Rory been all this time? What happened to him two decades ago, when a strange mass appeared in the night sky and lifted him into the heavens? Rory has no memory of those years. For him, it’s as though only a day or two has passed.

Rory still loves Cole with the passion unique to young first love. Cole has never forgotten Rory, yet Tommy has been his rock, by his side since Rory disappeared.

Cole is forced to choose between an idealized and passionate first love and the comfort of a long-term marriage. How can he decide? Who faces this kind of quandary, anyway? The answers might lie among the stars….]]> 220 Rick R. Reed 1640801588 Judith 4 arc, m-m, paranormal




I've only read one book by this Author, Bashed , so I kind of knew going into this one it was going to be something different.


I'm,honestly,left a bit speechless here.I'm not sure what to make of this but one thing's for sure after I read the last word I was sitting stunned into silence....I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and the ending....and that's the sign of a good book(for me).


What would you do if the love of your life simply disappeared one night without any explanation,only to turn up twenty years later?


That's what happened to Cole....

He and Rory were in the first flush of romance,in love,starting their lives together.The future was exciting....until it wasn't and Cole is left struggling,not knowing what's happened to Rory.


Ok,I've pretty much summarized the blurb I know but I don't want to give anything away....


-is it romance,a love story? kind of but definitely not conventional,

-sci-fi,paranormal? really there is no other explanation.On that note let me say I hate sci-fi but I didn't hate this.I absolutely devoured this book,I couldn't read it fast enough and,yes,I was racing to the finish line with a lot of trepidation.I've never been so desperate to find out how a book ends.

Was I happy with the outcome??

Yes and no....for reasons I'm not going into but I feel the need to hunt out friends who've read this and discuss it!

Would I recommend it? Yes,but be prepared for something different.I think this one might divide opinion.Love it or hate it? Just try it and see what you think.


An Arc of Sky Full of Mysteries was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> 3.86 2018 Sky Full of Mysteries
author: Rick R. Reed
name: Judith
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/08/12
date added: 2018/08/12
shelves: arc, m-m, paranormal
review:
4 Stars





I've only read one book by this Author, Bashed , so I kind of knew going into this one it was going to be something different.


I'm,honestly,left a bit speechless here.I'm not sure what to make of this but one thing's for sure after I read the last word I was sitting stunned into silence....I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and the ending....and that's the sign of a good book(for me).


What would you do if the love of your life simply disappeared one night without any explanation,only to turn up twenty years later?


That's what happened to Cole....

He and Rory were in the first flush of romance,in love,starting their lives together.The future was exciting....until it wasn't and Cole is left struggling,not knowing what's happened to Rory.


Ok,I've pretty much summarized the blurb I know but I don't want to give anything away....


-is it romance,a love story? kind of but definitely not conventional,

-sci-fi,paranormal? really there is no other explanation.On that note let me say I hate sci-fi but I didn't hate this.I absolutely devoured this book,I couldn't read it fast enough and,yes,I was racing to the finish line with a lot of trepidation.I've never been so desperate to find out how a book ends.

Was I happy with the outcome??

Yes and no....for reasons I'm not going into but I feel the need to hunt out friends who've read this and discuss it!

Would I recommend it? Yes,but be prepared for something different.I think this one might divide opinion.Love it or hate it? Just try it and see what you think.


An Arc of Sky Full of Mysteries was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev



]]> <![CDATA[Gray's Shadow (Kings of Hell MC #4)]]> 41052468
Gray. Lost his twin. Will never be complete. Works alone.
Shadow. Monster? Human? Exists to be Gray’s one true companion.

After losing his twin brother, Gray has devoted his life to the Kings of Hell MC. He will do anything to protect his family and that means anything.

Even sell his own shadow to the devil.

Following a fire that left him without one arm, Gray feels pushed to the sidelines. In order to prove to his club that he is still capable of completing dangerous tasks, he will have to team up with the strange creature from the Other Side. Tall, inhumanly strong, and menacing despite the handsome exterior, Shadow is just the tool Gray needs.

The moment Shadow lays his eyes on Gray, he wants to crawl under Gray’s skin and make the human his.

Gray on the other hand isn’t willing to get attached to a monster destined to do the devil’s bidding and disappear once his time is up. Rejected, Shadow has to do everything in his power to convince his human that they belong together.

But as the clock ticks away precious minutes of Shadow’s existence, Gray will have to choose between his loyalty to the Kings of Hell MC and responsibility for the creature he brought into this world.


*

“Do you feel me running through your veins?”
Gray nodded.


*


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: motorcycle club, alternative lifestyles, demons, monster, tattoos, secrets, crime, gothic, grief, mourning, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fish out of water, opposites attract, demisexuality, gentle giant
Genre: Dark, paranormal M/M romance
Erotic content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes
Length: ~150,000 words (Book 4 in the series)

WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, offensive language, and morally ambiguous characters.
]]> 393 K.A. Merikan Judith 5




Get ready to have your world rocked in the latest instalment of this highly addictive series.Trust the Merikan duo to deliver something that turned out to be sweet and romantic against a back drop of the chaos that is the Kings of Hell MC





Gray has just been kind of existing since the death of his twin brother a few years ago,he feels as though he's literally lost one half of himself.Dedicated to the club,loyalty is everything to him.He will do whatever it takes to keep those around him safe-even if that means making a deal with the devil...


Shadow is a creature from the other side,a pawn in Baal's game.His human form is deceiving.His long hair(yep I was happy!),and stunning looks belies the man he is inside.He has no idea how to exsist in the human world.He has an almost child like innocence and naivety about him that was just so damn endearing.

However....

One thing he is absolutely certain about is his need for Gray.It's all consuming and he will stop at nothing to make Gray see they belong together.


As usual,the plot is complex with twists and turns and brilliantly executed and characters from previous books play their parts perfectly in the story.....I'll always have a soft spot for Laurent and Elliott!


Gray and Shadow turned out to be just perfect together and I can't wait for the final book in this series which has produced some truly memorable characters and a story line which only these two Authors could deliver so well.


Part of a series,must be read in order.


Highly Recommended.


Review copy.]]> 4.15 2018 Gray's Shadow (Kings of Hell MC #4)
author: K.A. Merikan
name: Judith
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/08/09
date added: 2018/08/09
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-authors, m-m, paranormal, bikers
review:
4.5





Get ready to have your world rocked in the latest instalment of this highly addictive series.Trust the Merikan duo to deliver something that turned out to be sweet and romantic against a back drop of the chaos that is the Kings of Hell MC





Gray has just been kind of existing since the death of his twin brother a few years ago,he feels as though he's literally lost one half of himself.Dedicated to the club,loyalty is everything to him.He will do whatever it takes to keep those around him safe-even if that means making a deal with the devil...


Shadow is a creature from the other side,a pawn in Baal's game.His human form is deceiving.His long hair(yep I was happy!),and stunning looks belies the man he is inside.He has no idea how to exsist in the human world.He has an almost child like innocence and naivety about him that was just so damn endearing.

However....

One thing he is absolutely certain about is his need for Gray.It's all consuming and he will stop at nothing to make Gray see they belong together.


As usual,the plot is complex with twists and turns and brilliantly executed and characters from previous books play their parts perfectly in the story.....I'll always have a soft spot for Laurent and Elliott!


Gray and Shadow turned out to be just perfect together and I can't wait for the final book in this series which has produced some truly memorable characters and a story line which only these two Authors could deliver so well.


Part of a series,must be read in order.


Highly Recommended.


Review copy.
]]> <![CDATA[Scorpio Hates Virgo (Signs of Love, #2)]]> 36156261 This year is all about healing the heart, Scorpio. It’s time to leave negative attitudes and stoic facades at the door and let others see the real, more vulnerable you.

Percy Freedman is not grieving. Absolutely not, take that back at once. No, he’s entirely sure that selling his dead aunt’s home and leaving the neighbors he’s known for years is the sane thing to do. Who in their right mind would keep the house that smells like all the hugs he’ll never have again?

Nobody, that’s who.

Well, except his cul-de-sac neighbors. They all seem to think some paint and new furniture will clean the emotional slate. They all want him to stay.

Even his nemesis, Callaghan Glover.

Especially his nemesis, Callaghan Glover.

Lured into a game of Sherlock Gnomes, Percy finds himself hanging out with his neighbors more than might be considered healthy. Along with juggling new and surprising verbal grenades from Cal, and his burgeoning friendship with Gnomber9, Percy is starting to wonder if selling might have been the grief talking after all . . .

That’s right, Scorpio. With a little patience, heartbreak might be a thing of the past . . .

* ~* ~* ~*

“Scorpio Hates Virgo” contains sarcasm, sexual content, a slightly sappy HEA, and an unhealthy obsession with dinosaurs.
It can be read as a standalone.

Themes: friends-to-lovers, slow burn
Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance

If you've enjoyed "Leo Loves Aries", you can look forward to a slow burn, will-they-or-won't-they romance, full of sarcastic banter and a delicious slice of unresolved sexual tension.]]> 284 Anyta Sunday Judith 5

Perseus vs, Callaghan







Well,this is just adorable!
This Author is one of the best at creating the cutest couples,mixed with a bit of sexiness,sassiness and a whole lot of delicious banter.


Percy was 17 when he was kicked out of home and went to live with Aunt Abby in the Cape Cod cul-de-sac,a charming place full of quirky residents.From the moment he met Cal their verbal sparring started.

Now both men are back for family reasons and the war of words between them certainly shows so sign of letting up.


This was a joy to read from start to finish,


-Percy and Cal are nothing short of adorable together.Cal has the whole sexy nerd thing going on while Percy has the sarcasm down to a fine art.

-the sexual tension was delicious,from the lingering looks to the hidden meaning behind their words.Yes,it's a slow burn physically between them but it was just perfect.

-hanging out with Cal's family who I loved.

-the wonderful neighbours who all look out for each other.

-Theo and Jamie's appearance was the icing on the cake.


All the love for this one!





Highly Recommended...

Review copy.]]> 3.94 2017 Scorpio Hates Virgo (Signs of Love, #2)
author: Anyta Sunday
name: Judith
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/08/14
date added: 2018/07/13
shelves: m-m, arc, cute-boys, couldn-t-put-it-down, couldn-t-wait-to-read, banter, slow-burn, great-chemistry, great-characters
review:
4.5 Stars.


Perseus vs, Callaghan







Well,this is just adorable!
This Author is one of the best at creating the cutest couples,mixed with a bit of sexiness,sassiness and a whole lot of delicious banter.


Percy was 17 when he was kicked out of home and went to live with Aunt Abby in the Cape Cod cul-de-sac,a charming place full of quirky residents.From the moment he met Cal their verbal sparring started.

Now both men are back for family reasons and the war of words between them certainly shows so sign of letting up.


This was a joy to read from start to finish,


-Percy and Cal are nothing short of adorable together.Cal has the whole sexy nerd thing going on while Percy has the sarcasm down to a fine art.

-the sexual tension was delicious,from the lingering looks to the hidden meaning behind their words.Yes,it's a slow burn physically between them but it was just perfect.

-hanging out with Cal's family who I loved.

-the wonderful neighbours who all look out for each other.

-Theo and Jamie's appearance was the icing on the cake.


All the love for this one!





Highly Recommended...

Review copy.
]]> Auctioned (Auctioned, #1) 40653850
He and seven other young men were taken aboard a luxurious yacht where they were to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Gray was beaten, shattered, and almost defeated by the time his buyer stepped out of the shadows in a swirl of his own cigarette smoke.

He was Gray’s new owner.

Darius Quinn had vowed never again to find himself in a situation like this. His days as a private military contractor were over. No more missions, no more risks, no more personal attachments. Yet, here he was, after weeks of searching, face-to-face with his broken prize.

It was time to get the knucklehead back to his family.

Quick and easy was Darius’s plan.

Then everything went sideways.

----------------------------------------------------

Auctioned, book 1. (Does not end with a cliffhanger.)]]> 207 Cara Dee 0463936981 Judith 4 arc, dark, m-m




Strap yourself in,because you're in for one hell of a ride with this book...


I've read a lot of dark books over the years and this one is up there as one of the most disturbing(for me.)

Human trafficking is something we're all too aware of in today's society but what really happens to the victims? We really have no idea about the physical and emotional abuse they go through.Is this an accurate portrayal? I've no idea but in some ways,although it's hard to read,I hope so.What I mean by that is I hope some things here aren't just included for the shock element...because shocking is most definitely what it is in certain parts.


It seems anything can be ordered/requested and that includes people. When Gray is kidnapped along with other young,gay men his life is never going to be the same again.After months on the road,it seems his final destination is on board a ship where he's involved in an Auction....


His buyer is Darius and Gray soon learns that Darius's reason for buying him isn't what he first thought...

I really don't want to elaborate too much on what happens....it's best to experience this one not knowing too much,go in with an open mind but,be warned,it's not for the faint-hearted...

It's brutal,disturbing,and utterly captivating...

Don't expect romance....it couldn't be,given the theme of the book.However the Author brilliantly manages to make the connection between Gray and Darius believable as the story progresses.

The story doesn't end here.I suspect these two have quite the journey ahead of them...

It wasn’t sex or freedom or blinding desire , but it was comfort. Gray got what he craved for a moment.(...)



Will i be along for the ride? Most definitely.


An Arc of Auctioned was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.88 2018 Auctioned (Auctioned, #1)
author: Cara Dee
name: Judith
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/06/24
date added: 2018/06/27
shelves: arc, dark, m-m
review:
4 Stars.





Strap yourself in,because you're in for one hell of a ride with this book...


I've read a lot of dark books over the years and this one is up there as one of the most disturbing(for me.)

Human trafficking is something we're all too aware of in today's society but what really happens to the victims? We really have no idea about the physical and emotional abuse they go through.Is this an accurate portrayal? I've no idea but in some ways,although it's hard to read,I hope so.What I mean by that is I hope some things here aren't just included for the shock element...because shocking is most definitely what it is in certain parts.


It seems anything can be ordered/requested and that includes people. When Gray is kidnapped along with other young,gay men his life is never going to be the same again.After months on the road,it seems his final destination is on board a ship where he's involved in an Auction....


His buyer is Darius and Gray soon learns that Darius's reason for buying him isn't what he first thought...

I really don't want to elaborate too much on what happens....it's best to experience this one not knowing too much,go in with an open mind but,be warned,it's not for the faint-hearted...

It's brutal,disturbing,and utterly captivating...

Don't expect romance....it couldn't be,given the theme of the book.However the Author brilliantly manages to make the connection between Gray and Darius believable as the story progresses.

The story doesn't end here.I suspect these two have quite the journey ahead of them...

It wasn’t sex or freedom or blinding desire , but it was comfort. Gray got what he craved for a moment.(...)



Will i be along for the ride? Most definitely.


An Arc of Auctioned was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> Believe (Skins, #3) 40531547
Entertainer Jevon Campbell is a play therapist like no other—dancer, magician, acrobat, he brings it all to his global mission to help children in need laugh again. He’s on a rare home visit when he encounters enigmatic Rhys in a London bar.

Their connection is instant, but Rhys fast realises Jevon’s easy confidence doesn’t stretch as far as the bedroom. He has no idea how mesmerising he is—how beautiful—and Rhys resolves to show him.

They grow closer, but time isn’t on their side. Rhys seems unable to articulate how he feels, and with Jevon’s imminent departure from the UK hanging over them, their separate commitments could tear them apart forever.

As the days slip by, Rhys must learn to believe he’s worth the happiness Jevon is offering.


Part of a series, but can be read as a STANDALONE.]]> 240 Garrett Leigh Judith 5

I was born needing you.I just never knew it.






Let the fangirling begin....

Book three in the hugely enjoyable Skins Series and without doubt my favourite in the series.There's nothing I didn't love about this and Rhys and Jevon are my new favourite couple from Garrett Leigh






Rhys Foster is most definitely a thrill seeker.Air paramedic by day.The stress of a demanding job finds him seeking his sexual thrills at a gay sex club.Nothing is really off limits,

-he likes being watched,

-he likes the threesomes,

-he likes the anonymous sex,

But lately the club hasn't been doing it for him and an encounter in a bar,one night,with a beautiful stranger is about to change his life.


Jevon Campbell is a Play Therapist working with children.His job takes him to different countries so he's never really put down roots anywhere.He's just coming to terms with his sexuality and is kind of testing the water when he meets Rhys in a gay bar.


-there's nothing I enjoy more than when an actual real life event is incorporated into a story.In this case it's the London Bridge Terrorist Attack of 2017.It made the story so much more real and the fact it happened in my country made it all the more impactful,


-Rhys and Jevon,what can I say? These guys are off the charts hot together.Sweet,sensual,and so damn sexy together.These are some of the best sex scenes I've read by this Author,

-I loved the inclusion of characters from previous books.Not just the two couples from the Skins Series but also Tom fromMisfits and Nero and Lenny from Strays,


-Finally,let's take a moment to appreciate Jevon and his dreadlocks! It's one of my favourite looks on a guy ...I was practically swooning every time they were mentioned!!

This was a total winner for me and I would highly recommend it.


An Arc of Believe was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 4.03 2018 Believe (Skins, #3)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/06/11
date added: 2018/06/23
shelves: arc, british, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, long-hair, m-m, super-sexy
review:
5 Stars.....Loved it!!


I was born needing you.I just never knew it.






Let the fangirling begin....

Book three in the hugely enjoyable Skins Series and without doubt my favourite in the series.There's nothing I didn't love about this and Rhys and Jevon are my new favourite couple from Garrett Leigh






Rhys Foster is most definitely a thrill seeker.Air paramedic by day.The stress of a demanding job finds him seeking his sexual thrills at a gay sex club.Nothing is really off limits,

-he likes being watched,

-he likes the threesomes,

-he likes the anonymous sex,

But lately the club hasn't been doing it for him and an encounter in a bar,one night,with a beautiful stranger is about to change his life.


Jevon Campbell is a Play Therapist working with children.His job takes him to different countries so he's never really put down roots anywhere.He's just coming to terms with his sexuality and is kind of testing the water when he meets Rhys in a gay bar.


-there's nothing I enjoy more than when an actual real life event is incorporated into a story.In this case it's the London Bridge Terrorist Attack of 2017.It made the story so much more real and the fact it happened in my country made it all the more impactful,


-Rhys and Jevon,what can I say? These guys are off the charts hot together.Sweet,sensual,and so damn sexy together.These are some of the best sex scenes I've read by this Author,

-I loved the inclusion of characters from previous books.Not just the two couples from the Skins Series but also Tom fromMisfits and Nero and Lenny from Strays,


-Finally,let's take a moment to appreciate Jevon and his dreadlocks! It's one of my favourite looks on a guy ...I was practically swooning every time they were mentioned!!

This was a total winner for me and I would highly recommend it.


An Arc of Believe was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> <![CDATA[Rainbow Place (Rainbow Place, #1)]]> 40500709 Can Jason find the courage he needs to be the man Seb deserves?

When Seb Radcliffe relocates to a seaside town in Cornwall, he feels like a fish out of water. He misses queer spaces and the sense of community he enjoyed when he was living in the city, and decides to open an LGBT-friendly cafe-bar.

Jason Dunn is the builder Seb hires to help renovate the rundown space where the cafe will be housed. Jason is also gay, but unlike Seb, he's deep in the closet. He's never had a relationship with another man--only allowing himself the occasional hook up with guys who are prepared to be discreet.

The attraction between the two men is instant and impossible to ignore. But while Seb is out and proud, Jason is terrified of being exposed. With the grand opening of Rainbow Place approaching, tension is growing among some locals who object to Seb's plans. When things escalate, Jason is forced to choose whether to hide in the shadows and let Seb down, or to openly support the man he's fallen so hard for.

Although this book is part of a series, it has a satisfying happy ending and can be read as a standalone.]]> 210 Jay Northcote Judith 4 arc, british, m-m




Book one in what looks set to be a great new series by Jay Northcote.A beautiful setting,highly likeable characters,a sexy story with a bit of drama.


Seb Radcliffe has started a new chapter in his life in a charming seaside town in Cornwall.With some inheritance money he's decided to open a Cafe/Bar.While he's looking forward to this new venture he realizes he misses some aspects of his London life and decides to make it LGBT friendly.


Jason Dunn is a local builder he hires to do the renovations.Jason has been married with a daughter and is deep in the closet-getting his hook ups as far away from town as he can.He knows he's hiding and hates himself for it.


The attraction between them is instant and they start a sex only arrangement because,really,that's all Jason can offer Seb initially.But Seb is out and proud of his sexuality and how long before Jason's insecurities start to threaten what's developing between them.

There are a ton of books about closeted characters but Jason's struggle felt real here.The Author perfectly portrayed his turmoil at coming out here.Yes,he makes mistakes but I kind of got him.


-I absolutely loved that this was set in Cornwall,one of my favourite places to visit in England,it's always special when you've visited somewhere and can clearly visualize the setting.

-a big shout out to the female characters here from Jason's brilliant ex,his daughter,and Seb's two friends.

-great sex scenes,perfectly placed in the story and a bit of dirty talk.

-a strong HFN and I'm looking forward to,hopefully,getting more from Seb and Jason in future books.


Overall,very enjoyable and I would recommend it.


An Arc of Rainbow Place was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.93 2018 Rainbow Place (Rainbow Place, #1)
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/06/05
date added: 2018/06/16
shelves: arc, british, m-m
review:
4 Stars.





Book one in what looks set to be a great new series by Jay Northcote.A beautiful setting,highly likeable characters,a sexy story with a bit of drama.


Seb Radcliffe has started a new chapter in his life in a charming seaside town in Cornwall.With some inheritance money he's decided to open a Cafe/Bar.While he's looking forward to this new venture he realizes he misses some aspects of his London life and decides to make it LGBT friendly.


Jason Dunn is a local builder he hires to do the renovations.Jason has been married with a daughter and is deep in the closet-getting his hook ups as far away from town as he can.He knows he's hiding and hates himself for it.


The attraction between them is instant and they start a sex only arrangement because,really,that's all Jason can offer Seb initially.But Seb is out and proud of his sexuality and how long before Jason's insecurities start to threaten what's developing between them.

There are a ton of books about closeted characters but Jason's struggle felt real here.The Author perfectly portrayed his turmoil at coming out here.Yes,he makes mistakes but I kind of got him.


-I absolutely loved that this was set in Cornwall,one of my favourite places to visit in England,it's always special when you've visited somewhere and can clearly visualize the setting.

-a big shout out to the female characters here from Jason's brilliant ex,his daughter,and Seb's two friends.

-great sex scenes,perfectly placed in the story and a bit of dirty talk.

-a strong HFN and I'm looking forward to,hopefully,getting more from Seb and Jason in future books.


Overall,very enjoyable and I would recommend it.


An Arc of Rainbow Place was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> Whisper (Skins, #2) 38482523
Cornish horseman Joe Carter is lonely too. Rescuing horses and managing Whisper Farm takes up most of his days, and by night he plays chicken with the farm’s perilous bank accounts.

At his sister’s unwelcome suggestion, he rents his only bedroom to a bloke from the city, and when Harry arrives, he’s everything Joe isn’t—calm, patient, and gorgeous enough to be exactly the kind of distraction Joe doesn’t need.

Harry doesn’t have time for distractions either—even shirtless farmers riding bareback past his bedroom window—but his moody host proves impossible to ignore.

On paper, they have nothing in common, but Joe is beautiful…glorious, and when an accident puts his life in Harry’s healing hands, the whisper of true love is inevitable. If the trouble that put the farm on its knees in the first place doesn’t get in the way.


Part of a series, but can be read as a STANDALONE.]]> 258 Garrett Leigh Judith 4




I've said it before,I'm sure,many times but Garrett Leigh is one of the best Authors for creating characters who fit together perfectly and have great chemistry and Harry and Joe are no exception.


Harry,is a Physiotherapist in London.He should be happy but he's lonely,although I'm not sure he knows what's missing from his life.He has a publishing deal to write a book but finding the time is another matter so when his Agent suggests taking some time off ,he's not entirely convinced but finds himself renting a room at Whisper Farm in the south west of England.


Joe, is also lonely,although with his hands full running Whisper Farm he doesn't have time to dwell on it too much.Taking in abandoned animals and juggling the farm's finances have consumed him.When his sister suggests renting out a room he's not happy but knows it makes sense,financially.



Joe and Harry couldn't be more different.A city boy and a country boy shouldn't work on paper....but it does,both men seem to bring out the best in each other.


-a slow burn that was totally believable.Their friendship started tentatively as they both got to know each other and broke down each others defences,

-a strong chemistry between them and the sex scenes and their placement in the story was just right,

-great supporting characters that complimented the story,

-and,of course,the fact that Garrett Leigh always keeps it British is a huge plus for me.


I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it...

An Arc of Whisper was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.97 2018 Whisper (Skins, #2)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/04/28
date added: 2018/04/29
shelves: arc, british, favourite-author, m-m, slow-burn
review:
4.25





I've said it before,I'm sure,many times but Garrett Leigh is one of the best Authors for creating characters who fit together perfectly and have great chemistry and Harry and Joe are no exception.


Harry,is a Physiotherapist in London.He should be happy but he's lonely,although I'm not sure he knows what's missing from his life.He has a publishing deal to write a book but finding the time is another matter so when his Agent suggests taking some time off ,he's not entirely convinced but finds himself renting a room at Whisper Farm in the south west of England.


Joe, is also lonely,although with his hands full running Whisper Farm he doesn't have time to dwell on it too much.Taking in abandoned animals and juggling the farm's finances have consumed him.When his sister suggests renting out a room he's not happy but knows it makes sense,financially.



Joe and Harry couldn't be more different.A city boy and a country boy shouldn't work on paper....but it does,both men seem to bring out the best in each other.


-a slow burn that was totally believable.Their friendship started tentatively as they both got to know each other and broke down each others defences,

-a strong chemistry between them and the sex scenes and their placement in the story was just right,

-great supporting characters that complimented the story,

-and,of course,the fact that Garrett Leigh always keeps it British is a huge plus for me.


I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it...

An Arc of Whisper was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> Dream (Skins, #1) 38077893 I can’t sleep…

When unrequited love leaves Dylan Hart sleepless and nursing his wounds, instinct draws him to the one place he's found mindless respite in the past—Lovato’s. It’s a place for every fantasy — for crazy-hot encounters — where a night of insane NSA sex brings relief to Dylan’s fragile feelings.

It should be a perfect escape, and for one magical night it seems that way, but then worlds collide, and reality bites when his hookup desperately needs a friend. Surely Dylan can’t trust his instincts when friendship has bruised his heart so badly before?

It’s burying me alive…

The deck is stacked against former ballet dancer Angelo Giordano ever finding real love. At least visiting Lovato’s offers respite from a life defined by illness; a glimmer of light in the dull grey of his so-called life without dance. But then he encounters Dylan — a glorious ray of the brightest sunshine — who makes his heart pound once more with purpose.

Angelo’s mind is blown by this man, but the disease that ended his career won’t let him bask in new love. He’s drowning, and Dylan can’t save him while insecurities swamp them both. The only way to make it means confronting their demons.

If Dylan can turn his back on the past, and Angelo can face his uncertain future, maybe they can chase their dreams together.

Standalone. 60000 words. First in the electric new series from bestselling author Garrett Leigh.]]> 252 Garrett Leigh Judith 4




Warning...voyeurism,a bit of kink,HOT,great chemistry,beautiful boys,emotional...



This is one of my favourite books by this Author.Right,so this is definitely one of her sexist books in terms of descriptive sex but it almost didn't matter here to a certain extent because Garrett Leigh is one of the best MM Authors who totally nails the chemistry between her characters...and that's pretty special,getting that connection might seem effortless when you're reading her books but that's the beauty of her writing.

This was such an easy book to read,if you get me.I read it in about 24 hours and at no point did I even check my reading progress...I was so caught up in these two men.


Dylan and Angelo hook up in a sex club...yes,I was a bit concerned because BDSM isn't my thing at all but there's no hardcore stuff here....in fact( for once ) I found myself enjoying scenes in a sex club...because...voyeurism,and it was super sexy.Turns out these boys like being watched and that's definitely my kink in books.


A one time thing,so they thought,turns into so much more when their paths cross in their every day lives.


It's not all sunshine and roses here.Both men aren't really in a good place when they meet but it almost seems like fate when they do....they complemented each other so well and I absolutely adored both of them for different reasons.


Highly Recommended.


An Arc of Dream was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 4.07 2018 Dream (Skins, #1)
author: Garrett Leigh
name: Judith
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/04/26
date added: 2018/04/26
shelves: british-boys, couldn-t-wait-to-read, favourite-author, british, arc, england
review:
4.5





Warning...voyeurism,a bit of kink,HOT,great chemistry,beautiful boys,emotional...



This is one of my favourite books by this Author.Right,so this is definitely one of her sexist books in terms of descriptive sex but it almost didn't matter here to a certain extent because Garrett Leigh is one of the best MM Authors who totally nails the chemistry between her characters...and that's pretty special,getting that connection might seem effortless when you're reading her books but that's the beauty of her writing.

This was such an easy book to read,if you get me.I read it in about 24 hours and at no point did I even check my reading progress...I was so caught up in these two men.


Dylan and Angelo hook up in a sex club...yes,I was a bit concerned because BDSM isn't my thing at all but there's no hardcore stuff here....in fact( for once ) I found myself enjoying scenes in a sex club...because...voyeurism,and it was super sexy.Turns out these boys like being watched and that's definitely my kink in books.


A one time thing,so they thought,turns into so much more when their paths cross in their every day lives.


It's not all sunshine and roses here.Both men aren't really in a good place when they meet but it almost seems like fate when they do....they complemented each other so well and I absolutely adored both of them for different reasons.


Highly Recommended.


An Arc of Dream was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> Masc (Femme, #2) 39717722
Meanwhile, Dog gets profiled in a work newsletter. He’s excited that he’s out at work, but doesn’t immediately realize that by fawning over Dog’s masculine nature the writer was also putting down all femme guys. Lionel takes it personally, which leads the to a crisis in their relationship. Attempting to make it up to Lionel, Dog makes a grand gesture—which backfires spectacularly.

Will the two manage to put things right? And will a night in jail, a morning of drag bingo, an afternoon of day drinking, and a month of moping make things better or worse?]]> 217 Marshall Thornton Judith 4




This is a delightful sequel to the fabulous Femme ,although I think it could be read on it's own.Marshall Thornton, once again delivers an engaging story.




Lionel is unashamedly femme, from his colourful clothes,his love of boy shorts,guy liner,and heels....he's a true force of nature.

Dog is just the opposite.He's just recently come out to his family(who are quite brilliant), and while he's not ashamed of his sexuality he's not completely out and proud at work.


This book finds Lionel and Dog six months into their relationship but are things about to hit a rocky patch?


Lionel is fretting...

-he's just done an online quiz and is horrified to discover he and Dog don't have much in common....well,there's sex but he's still worried.

-to make things worse it's the month he hates most,which he's named Mopey May when all he wants to do is hide in his apartment,with a copious amount of ice cream,frozen pizza,and bad DVD's....but he can't..


While Lionel is fretting,

Dog has his own problem...

It seems someone at work has quite the thing for him and wants to publish an article about him....but is drama just around the corner and will Lionel's insecurities be unleashed?


When they decide to join a gay bowling team/league this Author's humour comes into full force with a delightful array of characters and of course,Lionel won't be happy unless he's got high heeled bowling shoes....


“If you like bowling we’ll get you your own shoes.”“Something strappy with an open toe?”(...)


I loved catching up with these two men and Dog's delightful family and I'm very hopeful more of their highly entertaining story is still to come.

Recommend Read...

An Arc of Masc was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 4.21 2018 Masc (Femme, #2)
author: Marshall Thornton
name: Judith
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/04/25
date added: 2018/04/25
shelves: arc, couldn-t-wait-to-read, funny, great-characters, great-banter, m-m
review:
4 Stars.





This is a delightful sequel to the fabulous Femme ,although I think it could be read on it's own.Marshall Thornton, once again delivers an engaging story.




Lionel is unashamedly femme, from his colourful clothes,his love of boy shorts,guy liner,and heels....he's a true force of nature.

Dog is just the opposite.He's just recently come out to his family(who are quite brilliant), and while he's not ashamed of his sexuality he's not completely out and proud at work.


This book finds Lionel and Dog six months into their relationship but are things about to hit a rocky patch?


Lionel is fretting...

-he's just done an online quiz and is horrified to discover he and Dog don't have much in common....well,there's sex but he's still worried.

-to make things worse it's the month he hates most,which he's named Mopey May when all he wants to do is hide in his apartment,with a copious amount of ice cream,frozen pizza,and bad DVD's....but he can't..


While Lionel is fretting,

Dog has his own problem...

It seems someone at work has quite the thing for him and wants to publish an article about him....but is drama just around the corner and will Lionel's insecurities be unleashed?


When they decide to join a gay bowling team/league this Author's humour comes into full force with a delightful array of characters and of course,Lionel won't be happy unless he's got high heeled bowling shoes....


“If you like bowling we’ll get you your own shoes.”“Something strappy with an open toe?”(...)


I loved catching up with these two men and Dog's delightful family and I'm very hopeful more of their highly entertaining story is still to come.

Recommend Read...

An Arc of Masc was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> As I Am 35408623 Chase Hansen. Broke. College drop out. Male stripper.

My life wasn't at all what I imagined it would be. I should have been finishing up college, interning with a well-respected business, partying with my friends. But instead, I was raising my seventeen year old brother, struggling to make ends meet. Love wasn't even on my radar. Besides, what did I have to offer? A few crumpled singles pulled from my G-string? Defeated and exhausted, I knew I had zero chance of finding someone to love me just as I am.

Noah Carpenter. Angry. Betrayed. Doctor.

Just when I thought my life was going exactly as it should, everything turned upside down. With my final rotation in medical school complete, I finally achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. What I never expected was to catch the man of my dreams in our bed with the man of his. Beyond infuriated, I struggled to piece together the remnants of my life. Just when I'd decided to give up on love altogether, I found a man who loved me just as I am.


This is the extended version of the short story which originally appeared in the Drunk in Love Anthology.]]> 302 Melissa Collins 1987794419 Judith 4




A Stripper and a Doctor...


Chase Hansen, is in his final year of college when a devastating event turns his world upside down.He has no option other than to drop out of college and raise his 16 year old brother.He has to grow up fast and taking a job as stripper is far from ideal but the money's good and that's his main priority....providing for Benny.


Noah Carpenter ,doctor,thinks his life is going along nicely when he's betrayed by his boyfriend.He's left in pieces,struggling to get his life back on track and one night at work,exhausted by recent events something happens that he can't get out of his mind.


What I loved,

-Noah and Chase had great chemistry.They definitely fit together as a couple and the sex scenes are extremely hot and well written.

-I simply loved the relationship Chase had with his younger brother,Benny.He sacrificed so much to be there for him every step of the way.They might only have had each other but you get a great sense of family from them.

-When Chase and Noah got together,Noah was there for Benny as well and I loved him for that.Noah and Benny had an easy,believable relationship.


My only niggle here was that,at times,both men seemed quite immature at times and there was a lot of back and forth that could have been avoided.


Overall,an enjoyable story and the Epilogue was just perfect.

An Arc of As I Am was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.57 2017 As I Am
author: Melissa Collins
name: Judith
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/04/21
date added: 2018/04/22
shelves: arc, m-m, male-stripper, doctor, family
review:
3.5





A Stripper and a Doctor...


Chase Hansen, is in his final year of college when a devastating event turns his world upside down.He has no option other than to drop out of college and raise his 16 year old brother.He has to grow up fast and taking a job as stripper is far from ideal but the money's good and that's his main priority....providing for Benny.


Noah Carpenter ,doctor,thinks his life is going along nicely when he's betrayed by his boyfriend.He's left in pieces,struggling to get his life back on track and one night at work,exhausted by recent events something happens that he can't get out of his mind.


What I loved,

-Noah and Chase had great chemistry.They definitely fit together as a couple and the sex scenes are extremely hot and well written.

-I simply loved the relationship Chase had with his younger brother,Benny.He sacrificed so much to be there for him every step of the way.They might only have had each other but you get a great sense of family from them.

-When Chase and Noah got together,Noah was there for Benny as well and I loved him for that.Noah and Benny had an easy,believable relationship.


My only niggle here was that,at times,both men seemed quite immature at times and there was a lot of back and forth that could have been avoided.


Overall,an enjoyable story and the Epilogue was just perfect.

An Arc of As I Am was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]> Second Chance 39668825 Everyone deserves a second chance.

Nate and his teenage daughter need a fresh start, so they move back to the village where he grew up. Nate’s transgender, and not used to disclosing his history, so it’s hard living where people knew him before. When Nate reconnects with Jack—his best friend from school and unrequited crush—his feelings return as strong as ever.

Jack’s returned home to get his life in order after an addiction to alcohol caused him to lose everything: his job, his driver’s licence, and nearly his life. He’s living with his parents, which is less than ideal, but rekindling his friendship with Nate—or Nat as Jack once knew him—is an unexpected benefit of being back home. Jack is amazed by Nate’s transformation, and can’t deny his attraction. Trying for more than friendship might ruin what they already have, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Doubting his feelings are reciprocated, Nate fears he’s risking heartbreak. Jack’s reluctance to tell his parents about their relationship only reinforces Nate’s misgivings. With both their hearts on the line and their happiness at stake, Jack needs to make things right, and Nate has to be prepared to give him a second chance.
]]> 240 Jay Northcote Judith 4 arc, m-m, transgender "Everyone deserves a second chance."




This felt like a very personal story from Jay Northcote, that is beautiful written.

Jack and Nate find themselves back in the same town they grew up in when they were young,each having their own personal reasons for being there.A chance encounter between the two men is set to turn their lives around....

You,see....they have history.Back when they were teenagers they were best friends,inseparable...but back then things were different.Jack was coming to realize he was gay and Nate was Nat and had always been in love with Jack,


"I'm pretty sure I'm gay"


"Shame I'm not a boy,huh?"



I can't even pretend to understand what it must be like to feel trapped in the wrong body with all the conflicting emotions,and insecurities and unhappiness that must be ever present and Nate being transgender,here,was so sensitively portrayed.From the two men's discussions about sex and what would work for them to Jack's worry how his parents would react to him and Nate together.The story just felt so real...


The supporting characters all played their parts.I simply adored Nate's mother and his relationship with his daughter.

No unnecessary drama or angst,just a second chance love story which turned out to be quite special....and the Epilogue was perfect.

Recommended read.


An Arc of Second Chance was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev

]]> 3.93 2018 Second Chance
author: Jay Northcote
name: Judith
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/04/14
date added: 2018/04/15
shelves: arc, m-m, transgender
review:
"Everyone deserves a second chance."





This felt like a very personal story from Jay Northcote, that is beautiful written.

Jack and Nate find themselves back in the same town they grew up in when they were young,each having their own personal reasons for being there.A chance encounter between the two men is set to turn their lives around....

You,see....they have history.Back when they were teenagers they were best friends,inseparable...but back then things were different.Jack was coming to realize he was gay and Nate was Nat and had always been in love with Jack,


"I'm pretty sure I'm gay"


"Shame I'm not a boy,huh?"



I can't even pretend to understand what it must be like to feel trapped in the wrong body with all the conflicting emotions,and insecurities and unhappiness that must be ever present and Nate being transgender,here,was so sensitively portrayed.From the two men's discussions about sex and what would work for them to Jack's worry how his parents would react to him and Nate together.The story just felt so real...


The supporting characters all played their parts.I simply adored Nate's mother and his relationship with his daughter.

No unnecessary drama or angst,just a second chance love story which turned out to be quite special....and the Epilogue was perfect.

Recommended read.


An Arc of Second Chance was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.


My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

logo blog rev


]]>