Reviewed by Tori (Vicki)

TITLE: Brandon Mills versus the V-Card  

SERIES: Prescott College #2

AUTHORS: Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock

NARRATOR: Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 7  hours, 50 minutes

RELEASE DATE: June 19th, 2018

BLURB: 

Smart, shy Prescott sophomore Brandon Mills is working hard to overcome his troubled past and be normal. Life at Prescott and in his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, is good. With the help of his friends Mark and Deacon, Brandon is slowly coming out of his shell. When he accidentally drenches a freshman in orange soda, though, he faces something he’s not ready for: a boy crushing on him.

Alex Kekoa pledges Phi Sig because it has everything he wants – a house full of nerds who won’t tease him for being smart, a dog, and Brandon Mills. Brandon is just the type of guy Alex needs to help fulfill his college ambition: losing his virginity. Except Alex doesn’t know Brandon can’t stand to touch or be touched.

When Alex and Brandon are drafted onto the Phi Sig Academic Challenge team, they start spending time together. If there’s anyone who can help Brandon discover it feels good to touch and kiss, maybe it’s klutzy Alex, with his cute glasses and his dinosaur obsession.

But as the competition – and their relationship – heats up, Alex’s determination not to die a virgin clashes with Brandon’s vow of lifelong celibacy, forcing them to examine what’s truly important to each of them about love.

This is a second edition previously published elsewhere.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Tight Quarters

SERIES: Out of Uniform #6

AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert

NARRATOR: Greg Boudreaux

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Audio

RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2018

LENGTH: 8 hours, 18 minutes

BLURB:

Petty Officer Bacon, a Navy SEAL and ace sharpshooter, has been on the front lines of more than his fair share of dangerous ops. Yet when a minor injury relegates him to the beta team, he’s tasked with what may be his riskiest assignment yet: babysitting a silver fox journalist, who is the hottest, most charismatic man he’s ever encountered.

Award-winning journalist Spencer Bryant may have been named one of Pride magazine’s most eligible bachelors of the year, but he’s not looking to change his relationship status. He’s a consummate professional who won’t risk his ethics or impeccable reputation by getting involved with a source. Even a sexy-as-hell military man. But while Spencer can resist his physical attraction to Bacon, he has less control over his emotions – especially when the mission goes sideways and the two men are trapped alone.

Getting out of the jungle alive turns out to be easy compared to facing the truth about their feelings for one another back in the real world. And whether or not they can build a future is a different story altogether.

Reviewed by Christine

TITLE: Yanni’s Story

SERIES: Spencer Cohen #4

AUTHOR: N.R. Walker

NARRATOR: Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

LENGTH: 15 hours, 14 minutes

RELEASE DATE: June 5, 2018

BLURB:

When Yanni Tomaras is kicked out of his family home, his parents’ final words are religious insults and an order to never return. Homeless and desperate, he’s lured in by Lance – charming on the outside, an evil predator underneath – who abuses Yanni until he finds the courage to leave. Yanni should feel free. But by the time Spencer Cohen finds him, he’s resigned to being handed back to Lance and once again being caged by fear.

Starting school and a part-time job, Yanni begins to reclaim his life. But a love for silent films leads him to Peter Hannikov, a man with a kind heart but who’s twice his age. An unlikely friendship between them blooms into so much more. Neither man knows what he wants, at first. Finding out exactly what he needs is Yanni’s story.

“I’d spent years as a bird, caged with my wings clipped, tormented and beaten. I thought I’d escaped when I’d left my abuser, but in hindsight, I could see that I was still caged, this time by fear and self-doubt. Spencer and Andrew, and Andrew’s parents, opened the door to the cage that confined me. But it was Peter who taught me how to fly.”

Contains mature themes.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Squared Away

SERIES: Out of Uniform #5

AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert

NARRATOR: Greg Boudreaux

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Audio

RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2018

LENGTH: 8 hours, 42 minutes

BLURB:

In the wake of tragedy, SEAL Mark Whitley rushed stateside to act as guardian to his sister’s three young children. But a conflicting will could give custody to someone else—someone Mark remembers as a too young, too hot, wild party boy. Even after six years, Mark can’t shake the memory of his close encounter with Isaiah James, or face up to what it says about his own sexuality.

Isaiah’s totally over the crush that made him proposition Mark all those years ago. In fact, he’s done with crushing on the wrong men altogether. For now, he’s throwing himself into proving he’s the best person to care for his cousin’s kids. But there’s no denying there’s something sexy about a big, tough military man with a baby in his arms.

As the legal details get sorted out, their long-buried attraction resurfaces, leading to intimate evenings after the kids are tucked in. A forever future is within reach for all of them, if only Mark can find the courage he needs to trust Isaiah with his secrets—and his heart.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Off Base

SERIES: Out of Uniform #1

AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert

NARRATOR: Tyler Stevens

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Audio

RELEASE DATE: January 9, 2017

LENGTH: 8 hours, 9 minutes

BLURB:

A friends-to-lovers novella that came from Out of the Shadows because Nate and Dylan needed a story….

Nate and Dylan have been pals for a long time. So what if their friends think they’ve got a little bromance going? Doesn’t mean there’s anything more to it than that, right? And even if there is, Nate and Dylan are totally oblivious….

Until the night they share a drunken kiss, and everything changes.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Someone Worth Saving

AUTHOR: Ruthie Luhnow

NARRATOR: Sean Crisden

PUBLISHER: Self Published

RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2018

LENGTH: 8 hours, 11 minutes

BLURB:

Wyoming? Kill me now.

Reed: I’ve spent my whole life causing trouble for my parents, but this time I went too far. After the scandal I caused nearly ruined my mom’s political career, they decided to do something drastic—and that’s how I ended up in on a ranch in Ely, Wyoming, a zillion miles from civilization. But it’s not like I care that I have no friends, my family despises me, and I totally ruined my life in a really public way. And I definitely don’t cry myself to sleep every night.

The good news? The ranch hand, Brady, is super hot. I mean, I only want to get him in bed to prove I can. So what if he’s the first person who’s ever been really kind to me? So what if, behind his stoic cowboy act, he’s unbelievably considerate and thoughtful and so totally wonderful. I just want to sleep with him—it’s not like I have a crush on him or anything. The bad news? I think he hates me.

Brady: Life on the ranch is quiet and simple, and that’s the way I like it. But then Reed comes along—blond and bratty and completely out of control—and suddenly I can’t get a moment’s peace. When he’s not busy accidentally destroying something, he’s hitting on me or throwing a tantrum. Good thing he’s only here for a year.

When Reed’s not being a diva, he’s insightful and clever and shockingly sweet—and, yes, I suppose I think he’s gorgeous. But after all the loss and heartache in my life, I’m afraid to risk loving someone, only to lose them all over again. Something about Reed’s vulnerability, though, is making me open up. Reed’s someone worth saving… and maybe I am, too.

Someone Worth Saving is an m/m slow burn contemporary romance with enemies-to-lovers and hurt/comfort themes, plenty of heat, and a happy ending.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Fox and Birch

SERIES: Rowan Harbor Cycle #3

AUTHOR: Sam Burns

NARRATOR: Chris Chambers

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2018

LENGTH: 5 hours, 16 minutes

BLURB:

Five years ago, Jesse dropped out of college and came home to Rowan Harbor to find safety with his pack. A broken man, he’s been living as though the world is ending – allergic to responsibility and spending most of his nights at the local bar. But he can’t avoid growing up forever.

On the night of his 30th birthday party, he finds his childhood friend Isla unconscious, attacked in the middle of their peaceful hometown. The wolf inside him wants to protect its people from the slick-haired, smooth-talking vampire who’s brought trouble to town, and Jesse can’t run from his instincts any longer.

Now that his inner wolf is out of its cage, it’s picked the most inconvenient moment to find its mate. Sean Anderson – recently back from college and much changed from the skinny preteen Jesse once knew – is just what he never knew he needed.

Reviewed by PizzyGirl

TITLE: The Veranda

SERIES: Lavender Shores #3

AUTHOR: Rosalind Abel

NARRATOR: Kirt Graves

PUBLISHER: Wings of Ink Publications

LENGTH: 7 hours, 49 minutes

RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2018

BLURB:

Donovan Carlisle helps countless people in Lavender Shores with his skills as a therapist. It seems, however, that his ability to enable others to live their happiest life only works outside of himself. Donovan truly loves his life but isn’t able to find a relationship that satisfies his heart’s craving. Maybe the problem is that the only man he wants is off-limits.

Spencer Epstein came to Lavender Shores to find himself. Instead, he married one of the local town beauties. He’d thought his prayers had finally been answered. Then he met his pregnant fiancée’s brother. It turned out those answered prayers were just cruel twists of fate.

A decade later, after a divorce and the crumbling of all Spencer thought was set in stone, he sees his brother-in-law at a masquerade sex party. He takes full advantage of the anonymity and acts on the desires he’s held at bay all those years.

The problem is those silent and frenzied moments didn’t satiate anything. The fire and heat between the two men only grows as secrets are uncovered, and they must determine if the cost of their passion is too high….

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: New Beginnings: Abel’s Journey

SERIES: Healing Hearts #2

AUTHOR: Nicky James

NARRATOR: Adam Gold

PUBLISHER: Self Published

RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2018

LENGTH: 10 hours, 48 minutes

BLURB:

Life is beyond our control. It can bring joy, laughter, and happiness, then turn around and rip your heart out of your chest without warning.

Abel Matheson received a cold dose of life’s reality six months ago when the man he loved most lost his fight against cancer.

Free-spirited, easy-going Abel doesn’t know how to cope with the rotting, festering grief growing inside him. What was once an easy life has become a struggle to put one foot in front of the other.

His grades are slipping, his job is suffering, money is tight, and the nightmares plaguing his sleep are relentless. Something has to give. He can’t keep going like this.

Desperate to end his suffering, Abel falls back on old habits. Self-destructive habits he knows are wrong. Every time he tries to stand, he ends up face-first in the mud.

On the advice of a counselor, Abel makes attempts to find a support system to help him handle his grief. Unexpectedly, during his quest toward healing, Abel makes a connection with the most unlikely of people.

His mind wants to rebel against the man who stands before him. Run far and fast in the other direction. But his heart forms a bond that annihilates his fear.

Why this man of all people?

Sometimes you find help and love where you least expect it.

This audiobook has been written as a follow-up to No Regrets. WARNING: This audiobook includes self-harm, substance abuse, grief and loss, anxiety, and depression.

Reviewed by Tori (Vicki)

TITLE: Blood From a Stoner 

AUTHOR: L.A. Witt

NARRATOR: Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 2 hours and 52 minutes

RELEASE DATE: May 23rd, 2018

BLURB: 

Greg Dawson’s not sure which he regrets more – becoming a vampire or becoming a software engineer. Immortality? Not all it’s cracked up to be. The job? Way more headache than it’s worth, especially on those increasingly frequent nights when he’s overworked and hangry.

With a deadline looming and his hunger growing, he’s nearing the end of his tether. Then relief comes from an unexpected source – Zane Webber, the hot programmer Greg’s been fantasizing about for two years.

Disregarding company policy, Zane lets him feed, but kind of forgets to mention he’s got some weed in his system. The next thing Greg knows, he’s high as a kite…and he likes it. He wants more.

Except how much of that high is secondhand weed, and how much is the electric and undeniable chemistry between him and Zane?

That chemistry draws them back to each other again and again, and suddenly their downtime is full of sex, smoke, feeding…and emotions.

The only problem is Zane’s a mortal. If they’re in this for the long haul, then Greg has to either turn Zane or accept a future of watching him wither and die. Greg doesn’t want to lose Zane, but he also can’t stomach condemning him to this “life.” And if they can’t find some middle ground, they’ll have no choice but to let their love go up in smoke.

Reviewed by Tori (Vicki)

TITLE: Leaning Into the Look 

SERIES: Leaning Into #6

AUTHOR: Lane Hayes

NARRATOR: Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 8 hours, 20 minutes

RELEASE DATE: June 18th, 2018

BLURB:

Grant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job, but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept he’s gay; they just wish he’d meet a nice Greek man.

Miles Harrison is a fabulous redhead going through a rough patch. Between getting dumped by his long-term boyfriend and finding a new place to live in the city, he’s nearing his wits end. He’s not sure why he thought rooming with his boss’s friend was a good idea. Miles has had a crush on Grant for years. However, he knows attractive people aren’t always pretty on the inside.

As the two men grapple with external problems, they form an unexpected bond of friendship and trust that feels like the real thing. The only way to know for certain is to let go of fear and lean into the look.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Connection Error

SERIES: #gaymers #3

AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert

NARRATOR: Sean Crisden

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Audio

RELEASE DATE: September 5, 2016

LENGTH: 6 hours, 29 minutes

BLURB:

A friends-to-lovers novella that came from Out of the Shadows because Nate and Dylan needed a story….

Nate and Dylan have been pals for a long time. So what if their friends think they’ve got a little bromance going? Doesn’t mean there’s anything more to it than that, right? And even if there is, Nate and Dylan are totally oblivious….

Until the night they share a drunken kiss, and everything changes.