Book of the Week Poll
Welcome to the Love Bytes Book of the Week Poll!
Here are the books which achieved a 4.5 or 5.0 review last week from our reviewers.
As a reminder, the top two books from each week’s poll will roll into our Book of the Month poll at month’s end. Happy Voting!
Please scroll to the very bottom for the voting section.
POLL SCHEDULE:
This poll will remain open until at least 6PM, Amsterdam time next Friday. The actual closing time will vary depending on blog staff schedules…
Saving Sebastian (Custos Securities#3) by Luna David
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Saving Sebastian
SERIES: Custos Securities (book #3)
AUTHOR: Luna David
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 525 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2017
BLURB:
Gideon McCade—weighed down by memories of his previous life as a Navy SEAL and a CIA agent—has blood on his hands. He turns to his BDSM club, Catharsis, and Dominating submissives to get him through the daily grind of civilian life. Knowing his past is too much to inflict on a life partner, he keeps his connections brief and superficial. When his former life comes back to haunt him, his desire for revenge pulls him back into the shadows, darkening his hopes for a future in the light. Temporarily sidelining his career as a tattoo artist, Sebastian Phillips works as a composite artist for the local police department. To alleviate the inescapable burden of a congenital medical condition, he immerses himself in his art and seeks the catharsis of submission. But with life weighing heavily on his shoulders and darkness encroaching, he yearns for a contract with a Dominant that sees past the protective barriers he’s erected to the vulnerable submissive within. When happenstance brings Gideon and Sebastian together, their connection is undeniable. The knowledge that they are both too damaged to form permanent bonds of love causes them to rely on an impersonal contract to fulfil their physical needs. But staying emotionally detached becomes impossible, and breaking their contract seems the only option. Will Gideon’s need for vengeance and Sebastian’s declining health destroy what’s grown between them, or will they help each other find their way back into the light?Read More »
Boystown season 7 (Boystown #7) by Jake Biondi
Reviewed by Kimberley
TITLE: Boystown season 7
SERIES: Boystown #7
AUTHOR: Jake Biondi
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 366 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2017
BLURB:
“Cole struggled to free himself as the fire engulfed the bed around him. He then heard muffled voices and the sound of the front door of the apartment being broken down. ‘Derek, no! It’s a trap!’ Cole yelled as loudly as he could. ‘He has a gun! It’s a trap!’ The flames in the room spread to the carpeting and up the wall as Cole continued to scream. ‘It’s a trap! It’s a trap!’ Filling the room with black smoke, the flames raged over Cole as the sounds of two gunshots in the other room echoed in his ears.” -BOYSTOWN Season Six
The mission to rescue Cole O’Brien from the captivity of a deranged fan takes a tragic turn as several people are rushed to the hospital. At the same time, emergency crews make a desperate attempt to save Gino Ciancio and Justin Mancini who are trapped in their car at the bottom of Lake Michigan. And Dustin Mitchell’s return to Chicago places him at the center of a brutal battle that leaves a dear friend fighting for his life.
Inside their family crypt, Marco Ciancio and Camille Ciancio find themselves forever bound by murder as they unearth a family secret that will forever change the trajectory of the Ciancio-Mancini feud. Meanwhile, a family crisis brings the Mancini brothers together in sorrow, the search for Joyelle Mancini’s daughter takes an unexpected turn, and Jensen Stone struggles to accept life in prison.
The opening gala for the Ciancio-Mancini Youth Center sets the stage for number of live-altering events. Cardinal Franco Armani unleashes a plot to destroy several of his enemies, while the police use the event to lure a criminal out of hiding. The sinister Aiden Carmichael reveals his true motives, which have the potential to destroy several relationships. And the fight for Joyelle Mancini’s heart puts two men in a life-threatening situation. It all culminates in the most shocking deaths in the entire BOYSTOWN series.
There’s no place like BOYSTOWN! Read More »
Unexpected (Unexpected #1) by Valerie Ullmer
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Unexpected
SERIES: Unexpected #1
AUTHOR: Valerie Ullmer
PUBLISHER: Valerie Ullmer
LENGTH: 130 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 30, 2017
BLURB:
From the moment he entered the dark taproom, Caleb Hunt found himself drawn to the handsome man who sat alone at the end of the bar, away from the crowd. His interest in the dark-haired, muscled adonis took him by surprise, not remembering when he’d felt such hunger from a simple glimpse. Unable to stay away, he quickly found an open seat next to him and slid into it. When Ronan turned his ice-blue eyes to Caleb and introduced himself, his warm hand sent shivers of desire through his body and he was enthralled.
Ronan Scott’s boring Friday night had taken a turn for the better when Caleb took the seat next to him. Over the next few hours, he found Caleb easy to talk to and at the same time, he found that he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the beautiful man. Caleb captured his attention in a way that no other had for as long as he could remember. Taking a chance, he leaned forward and captured Caleb’s lips with his. And with the simple kiss, Ronan understood that Caleb would become an essential part of his life.
As Ronan and Caleb explore their new relationship and integrate their lives together, they realize that not everything will be so seamless… Read More »
Heart of the Steal by Avon Gale and Roan Parrish
Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Heart of the Steal
AUTHOR: Avon Gale & Roan Parrish
PUBLISHER: Philtre Press
LENGTH: 304 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 11th, 2017
BLURB:
Responsible, disciplined William Fox channeled his love for art and his faith in the rules into being an FBI Art Crimes agent. Right and wrong, justice and injustice—the differences are clear, and Will has spent his career drawing a line between them. Maybe his convictions have cost him relationships, but he’s not willing to compromise what he knows is right. Until the night he meets Amory Vaughn.
As the head of his family’s philanthropic foundation, Vaughn knows very well that being rich and powerful can get him almost anything he wants. And when he meets endearingly grumpy and slightly awkward William Fox, he wants him more than he’s wanted anything. Vaughn is used to being desired for his name and his money, but Will doesn’t care about either.
When Vaughn falls back on old habits and attempts to impress Will by stealing a painting Will admires, their nascent bond blows up in his face. But Vaughn isn’t willing to give up on the glimpse of passion he saw the night he took Will apart. Before Will knows it, he’s falling for the man he should have arrested, and Vaughn has to realize that some things can’t be bought or stolen. Love has to be given freely. But can a man who lives by the rules, and a man who thinks the rules don’t apply to him, ever see eye to eye?
Heart of the Steal is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It features a Southern gentleman who thinks he’s always right, a buttoned-up FBI agent who secretly likes his buttons unbuttoned, and wall sex. And desk sex. And picnic blanket sex. Read more
Reviewed by Chris
TITLE: Chief’s Mess
SERIES: Anchor Point #3
AUTHOR: L.A. Witt
PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing
LENGTH: 291 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2017
BLURB:
Anthony Talbot is in Anchor Point to visit family, but after two days of strife, he needs a break. A local gay bar is calling his name.
When Chief Noah Jackson sees that red head stroll into the club, he immediately wants him. They’re perfectly matched, and before long, they’re burning up the sheets. Noah can’t get enough. Anthony can’t stay in Oregon for long, but as soon as he leaves, he’s counting down the days until he can fly back for more. And between his increasingly frequent visits, there’s always phone sex, sexting, webcams . . . anything they can get.
But Noah’s got a carefully crafted façade, and Anthony can’t help noticing the slowly forming cracks. The scent of alcohol in the middle of the day. The extra drinks at dinner. The hint of red in his eyes. Anthony knows what it means. He doesn’t want to believe it, but he’s seen this before, and there’s no denying it. If Noah doesn’t get his downward spiral under control, he’s going to lose both his career and the first man he’s ever really loved. Read More »
Who We Truly Are (Enchanced #2) by Victoria Sue
Reviewed by Caroline
TITLE: Who We Truly Are
SERIES: Enhanced Book 2
AUTHOR: Victoria Sue
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 206 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2017
BLURB:
Talon’s deadly abilities are spiraling out of control. Desperate to keep Finn safe, Talon struggles to protect the man he loves with all his heart, and not become the greatest risk to Finn’s life.
Finn has no choice but to offer himself as bait for the evil forces kidnapping enhanced children, facing danger he is untrained and unprepared for, and he is having to do it alone.
Does Talon have one last fight in him? Will he slay everyone who wants to destroy Finn and the team, or will he finally discover that to defeat their enemy and the ultimate threat, the biggest battle he has to face is one with himself? Read More »
A Fugitive in Grass Valley by I.M. Flippy
Reviewed byDonna
TITLE:A Fugitive in Grass Valley
AUTHOR: I.M. Flippy
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 196 Pages
RELEASE DATE: June 24, 2017
BLURB:
A former Marine turned mercenary, Ernie has a trail of tragedies behind him that he’s barely begun to deal with, and that’s not to mention the little matter of some corporate espionage in the name of blowing the top off a major international scandal going all the way up to the Pentagon. The last thing Ernie wants to do is involve a sweet guy like Lev in his disaster of a life.
Lev is happy enough in Grass Valley, living with his best friend and her husband, working as a barista, and teaching art classes part-time. It’s been four years since a bout with cancer led to an ugly break-up that shook his confidence, but he’s getting by now if feeling a little stuck. Enter Ernie, the gorgeous stranger who arrives in town with a shadowy past and a boatload of issues. Everything in Lev’s head says that Ernie is a bad idea, but everything in his heart wants to reach out to this mysterious man in black with intensity in his eyes. Read More »
Unscripted Love (Road to Blissville #1) by Aimee Nicole Walker
Reviewed by PizzyGirl
TITLE: Unscripted Love
SERIES: Road to Blissville #1
AUTHOR: Aimee Nicole Walker
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 235 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 11, 2017
BLURB:
Kyle Vaughn had three goals in life: become a vet, find the man of his dreams, and start a family. He easily checked off the first item on the list when he took over his grandfather’s veterinary practice. Too bad he wasn’t as lucky in love.
Chaz Hamilton took a leap of faith when he decided to pursue a career in writing, but one best seller didn’t mean he could quit his day job. All work and no play threatened to make Chaz a very dull man when the only romantic action he saw was in the pages of his manuscript. Too bad he couldn’t write his own happily ever after.
Circumstances pushed the two men together, and one magical kiss beneath fireworks and stars changed everything. Kyle knew his luck had finally turned around and Chaz found a man far better than any book boyfriend ever written. There was just one problem. Chaz has kept a secret from Kyle that could ruin their chance at a beautiful life together.
Kyle and Chaz learn that the best-laid plans often go awry, the heart has a mind of its own, and the greatest love is unscripted. Read More »
Confessional (The Blake Harte Mysteries Book 2) by Robert Innes
Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: Confessional
SERIES: The Blake Harte Mysteries Book 2
AUTHOR: Robert Innes
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 209 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2017
BLURB:
St Abra’s church is harbouring a dark secret. Several elderly parishioners have been found dead in the church’s confessions booth, all appearing to have suffered fatal heart attacks.
But when another, much younger body is discovered in exactly the same way, Detective Sergeant Blake Harte must investigate how it is possible for the confessions booth to be killing off its occupants. Dark forces are at play, forcing Blake to believe it’s more than just tragic coincidence.
Are the deaths a punishment for the sins confessed, or are there ulterior motives in play? In a race against the clock, only Blake can discover the long-kept secrets and lies hiding in the shadows before they tear apart the sleepy village of Harmschapel. Read More »
The Rending (The Dreamwalkers of Larreta #2) by Carol Holland March
Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: The Rending
SERIES: The Dreamwalkers of Larreta #2
AUTHOR: Carol Holland March
PUBLISHER: Ellysian Press
LENGTH: 245 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2017
BLURB:
The saga of The Dreamwalkers of Larreta continues . . .
Deadly time rifts threaten Earth and Larreta. The rifts have swallowed people, buildings and the land itself. They must be stopped before the very fabrics of both worlds are torn apart.
Dreamwalker Leo can look backward in time. Jesse can walk into the future. Both of these abilities are needed to create the dangerous truan passage to locate and defeat the mysterious instigator of the rifts.
But Jesse is a volatile newcomer, unable to completely control his abilities. And Leo is still uncertain of his personal feelings for Jesse.
Working past their issues is key to discovering the location where the rifts originate. But the dark force behind the rifts has other plans—ones that won’t allow the two dreamwalkers to remain together. And only together can the rifts be stopped. Read More »