Welcome to the Love Bytes 2019 Book of the Year Poll!
This year we have some fantastic books up for your votes! Remember, you can vote for as many as you would like, but you only get one visit! So make it count!
Here they are…in month order. The voting poll is at the very bottom of the page and is in monthly order.
The poll will close at Midnight (Amsterdam time zone) next Friday night, so don’t delay! Happy voting
Campy (Ballsy Boys #4) by K.M. Neuhold & Nora Phoenix
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Campy
SERIES: Ballsy Boys #4
AUTHOR: K. M. Neuhold & Nora Phoenix
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 295 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 4, 2019
BLURB:
What will happen when my secrets are exposed?
I’m lying to my mom about doing porn.
I’m lying to the Ballsy Boys about my life.
I’m lying to myself about who I am.
I pretend to be Campy, but I am Cameron. But does anyone even know the real me?
When I meet my new roommate, a sexy Texan cowboy and break-out TV star named Jackson, all my lies start to come out. He makes me want to be myself, but I’ve spun so many lies that I don’t even know who I am anymore. The more I fall for him, the more I worry that all my secrets will destroy us before we have a chance to be together.
Good thing Jackson has a stubborn streak and won’t give up so easily.
How Not to Blend (LOVESTRONG #1) by Susan Hawke
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: How Not to Blend
SERIES: LOVESTRONG #1
AUTHOR: Susan Hawke
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 276 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2019
BLURB:
One clueless single dad…
Dr. Corbin Davis is a busy guy just trying to do his best as a single parent. He may be oblivious to a lot of things, but surely he would’ve noticed something as important as his fifteen-year-old son, Grayson, being bullied, right? And what the heck is non-binary, and why hasn’t Gray shared this all-important part of himself with his own dad?
Plus one sassy Southerner…
Andy Ferguson, or Kandi as the Thursday night drag community knows him, is just trying to get along in a small town and hold things together while he takes care of his beloved Gam-Gam. If she’d just get off his back about finding himself a man, that would be fantastic, thank you very much. He’ll get around to love… one of these days.
Equals a pair of fake-boyfriends who will keep you in stitches.
When Corb gets the wild idea to ask Andy to pose as his boyfriend to let Gray know that his dad is bisexual and open-minded enough to talk to about his nonbinary status, Andy is amused and just intrigued enough to say yes… especially since he seems to be in the market for a fake boyfriend himself, if it will get Gam-Gam to quit nagging.
IRL: In Real Life by Lucy Lennox & Molly Maddox
REVIEWED by Danielle
TITLE: IRL: In Real Life
SERIES: After Oscar #1
AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox & Molly Maddox
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 311 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 5th 2019
BLURB:
Conor:
It starts with a drunken text pic. The kind I would normally never send. Only, instead of it going to the flirty hotel bartender, it goes to some random stranger who actually responds. I tell myself an unexpected night of hot as hell back-and-forth is the perfect way to blow off a little steam while I’m in New York closing an important business deal. Little do I know the man on the other end of the line is none other than Wells Grange: the most controlling, egotistical, emotionless SOB I’ve ever met. I spend my days squaring off against Wells in the boardroom, and my nights succumbing to the sexy stranger’s commanding texts in the bedroom. Within days, I’m falling for someone I shouldn’t, and I have to remind myself that none of this is real.
Wells:
The first thing I notice about Conor Newell when he sits down in my high-rise conference room is how delightfully nervous he is. Then I see his tie. The same geeky tie that’s held hostage on my phone. The one that belongs to my anonymous late-night texter. And it changes everything. I should confess. Tell the truth about who I am. Instead, I decide there’s no harm in flirting. After all, once our business is concluded, he’ll be out of my life for good. The more I get to know Conor, however, the more I start to fall for him. Which is a problem, because I made a vow long ago to never let emotions interfere with my life, either business or personal. Except I can’t stop thinking about him night and day. If it’s only in my head, though, it doesn’t count.
After all, it’s not like we’re falling for each other in real life…
Diamond in the Rough (Four Kings Security #4) by Charlie Cochet
REVIEWED by Jen B.
SERIES: Four Kings Security
AUTHOR: Charlie Cochet
PUBLISHER: Charlie Cochet
LENGTH: 1729 KB
RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2019
BLURB:
For Ward “King” Kingston the role of protector, forged by fire and tragedy, is one he takes seriously. When King is asked to safeguard the son of a four-star general and friend, he is pulled back into the world of government black ops on a mission that raises painful memories from his past. The moment King meets Leo, amid the chaos of a lockdown at a secret black site, it’s clear he’s never faced a challenge like this—one that will test his unwavering sense of control.
Leopold de Loughrey is a misunderstood genius whose anxiety and insecurities are sent into overdrive when he is forcefully recruited to work on a top-secret project. Terrified of what his role as invaluable asset means, Leo’s stress leads to disappearances, arguments, and blowups that threaten the project and Leo’s future. King’s arrival is a calm in the storm for Leo and his frenetic thoughts.
King and Leo couldn’t be more different, yet as they navigate the dangers of a secret multi-agency operation and face unknown threats, their differences could be what saves them. Neither man believes happy ever after is in the cards, but their hearts might just prove them wrong… if they can survive a deadly betrayal.
Upside Down by N.R. Walker
Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Upside Down
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: Self Published
RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2019
LENGTH: 179 pages
BLURB:
Jordan O’Neill isn’t a fan of labels, considering he has a few. Gay, geek, a librarian, socially awkward, a nervous rambler, an introvert, an outsider. The last thing he needs is one more. But he when he realises adding the label ‘asexual’ might explain a lot, it turns his world upside down.
Hennessy Lang moved to Surry Hills after splitting with his boyfriend. His being asexual had seen the end of a lot of his romances, but he’s determined to stay true to himself. Leaving his North Shore support group behind, he starts his own in Surry Hills, where he meets first-time-attendee Jordan.
A little bewildered and scared, but completely adorable, Hennessy is struck by this guy who’s trying to find where he belongs. Maybe Hennessy can convince Jordan that his world hasn’t been turned upside down at all, but maybe it’s now—for the first time in his life—the right way up.
Snow Storm (Haven Hart #5) by Davidson King
Reviewed by Cheryl
TITLE: Snow Storm
SERIES: Haven Hart #5
AUTHOR: Davidson King
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 2529 KB
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2019
BLURB:
The city of Haven Hart rests under the heel of Christopher Manos. He reigns over the most dangerous and deadliest citizens as the most powerful crime boss the city has seen in generations. Yet, for the last five years, the harshest edges of his nature have been tempered by the loving devotion of his husband, Snow, and the nephew Christopher adores like a son. His life is a balance of darkness and light until a birthday trip for his nephew, Simon, is interrupted by a hail of bullets and explosions, threatening to destroy it all.
Snow has found a home, a family, and the love of one of Haven Hart’s most powerful men. When Christopher and Simon are kidnapped, Snow risks everything to find his family. Utilizing specialized skills he learned on the streets and the finer points of running a city from his crime boss husband, Snow takes on roles he never dreamed he would–protector, leader, and avenger. No one threatens his family and lives. Experienced enough to know he can’t do this alone, Snow calls in every favor he is owed, risking his life promising favors in return, all to save his family and the man he loves.
The sins of the Manos crime family are escaping the dark recesses of the past and threatening the bright future of everything Snow and Christopher have built. Yet, even with the help of some unlikely and uniquely dangerous people, Snow finds himself wondering if their efforts will be enough to save the two most important people in his life. Will the loving family Snow has finally found be taken from him forever?
How to Heal (LOVESTRONG #5) by Susan Hawke
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: How to Heal
SERIES: LOVESTRONG #5
AUTHOR: Susan Hawke
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 277 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2019
BLURB:
Take one former bully, unable to forgive himself for the sins of his past…
Clark Danvers is a wild twenty-one year old who’s trying to prove he’s an adult. With a two-year degree in hand, he manages the family car dealership and seemingly parties by night. Given the amount of times he’s been pulled over for speeding by Deputy Rick Matthews, public opinion seems to be right. But what people don’t see are the scars he carries both inside and out. Scars from a past he can’t run away from and will never be able to atone for, no matter how many times he beats himself over it.
Add one no-nonsense cop who longs to be a Daddy for the right boy…
Jericho “Rick” Matthews never expects the bratty kid who gets on his last nerve to pull at his heartstrings. When he finds Clark battered and fighting for his life in a motel room, Rick’s Daddy mode is instantly engaged. Before he can think of anything else, he must first comfort this hurting boy.
To equal a pair of men who might just be what the other needs.
The two men who thought they couldn’t stand each other are drawn together after a date gone wrong. While Rick tenderly cares for Clark, he decides what this brat needs is a Daddy… someone to help him break free from the past and embrace the promise of many happy tomorrows.
This is the fifth book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Intended only for 18+ readers, this is an mm romance full of all the sweet feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.
Note: Possible trigger warning for mentions of self-harm and a scene involving a man who’s consented to having himself tied up. What he didn’t agree to was being left that way for an entire weekend. This highly emotional scene is the catalyst to evoke “Daddy’s” protective mode in a tale filled with themes of hurt and comfort and the struggle of overcoming a difficult past.
Open Mind (Kink Chronicles #1) by Luna David & Morningstar Ashley
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Open Mind
SERIES: Kink Chronicles #1
AUTHOR: Luna David and Morningstar Ashley
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 269 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 25, 2019
BLURB:
At twenty-eight, Jamie Gray has realized his dream of becoming a traveling nurse. After years of moving from place to place, he’s met so many new people but hasn’t formed any true connections. Jamie knows it’s time to stop avoiding his life, like he’s been doing since the death of his mother; his only family. Moving to the big city of Powell’s Point to share an apartment with his best friend is exactly what he needs. It feels like the best time to set down some roots and get into a routine…and maybe, just maybe find love.
Ronan Kincaid comes from a long line of doctors. Not being one to conform to the desires of his parents or society, his small practice focuses on the people in the BDSM community of Powell’s Point. Often misunderstood, the community needs someone who knows and lives their lifestyle…someone who will take care of them the way they deserve.
With his well-respected practice and exceptional bedside manner—coupled with afterhours scenes and kinky house calls—the nickname Dr. Kink takes hold, much to his dismay. Needing to replace his long-time nurse, he hires the best candidate for his growing practice, figuring his mild attraction is of no consequence. But as time passes, he finds it harder and harder to keep his thoughts and hands away from his new nurse. If only Jamie wasn’t so captivating, drawing Ronan to touch.
As their mounting attraction becomes impossible to ignore, their secrets are revealed, changing everything between them. Heated glances turn into heated touches, and they find themselves wondering: Is what they have a passing phase of pleasure and kink, or can they both open their minds to the possibility of a forever love?
Author’s Note: For those of you that prefer warnings use the “Look Inside” feature to find them within the first several pages. For those of you that prefer to be surprised, ignore them. . . Happy reading!
Wilde Love (Forever Wilde #6) by Lucy Lennox
Reviewed by Danielle
TITLE: Wilde Love
SERIES: A Forever Wilde Novel
AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 275 Pages
RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2019
BLURB:
Weston “Major” Marian:
After running away at the age of seventeen, I found a home in the Army. It wasn’t long before my fellow soldiers became family, giving purpose to my time in Vietnam.
But everything changes when Doc Wilde joins my medevac crew. A night alone in the jungle after a helicopter crash forces us to rely on each other for survival, the secrets we share cementing a bond between us deeper than any I’ve ever known.
Doc begins to play a starring role in my late night fantasies even though he can never be anything more than a friend, a brother-in-arms. He’s straight, with family back in Texas, and I could kiss my career goodbye if anyone in the Army discovered my secret.
When our tours finally end, and we go our separate ways, Doc heads home to his perfect family while I continue to serve. I thought that was the end of our story. Turns out I was wrong.
Liam “Doc” Wilde:
When I wind up on the front lines in Vietnam young and afraid, it’s Major Marian who comes to my rescue. He’s tough, brave, and quiet, and he vows to keep me safe. He’s the only reason I make it home alive.
For some, a friendship like ours might have ended once we left the jungle behind, but life without Major Marian isn’t an option. Over time, our connection continues to grow. It’s no surprise when, years later, an unexpected illness turns my life upside down, he’s the first person I turn to for help.
And, as always, he drops everything to rescue me.
I soon realize that at every step of my life, Major has been there, by my side, putting me first. All this time he’s been standing in the sidelines, waiting patiently to hand over his heart into my safekeeping.
Even though I never imagined building a future with another man, seeing Major in this new light is a revelation. And suddenly I can’t imagine my life any other way
Pixie (Ballsy Boys #5) by K.M. Neuhold & Nora Phoenix
Reviewed by Kat
SERIES: Ballsy Boys (book #5)
AUTHOR: K.M. Neuhold & Nora Phoenix
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 264 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2019
BLURB:
Everybody loves Pixie.
Everybody wants Pixie.
But Pixie needs a Daddy, and his heart is set on me.
I’m determined to resist him, for more reasons than I can count.
He’s too young for me. He’s my employee. And he’s everything I’ve been avoiding for half my life.
He’s vibrant. He’s sweet. He’s absolutely perfect, no matter how much I don’t want him to be.
I want nothing more than to take care of him, to protect him and pamper him…but how can I start something with him when I know I’ll eventually break his heart? Can I really be the Daddy Pixie needs?
**Pixie is the fifth and last book in the Ballsy Boys Production series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s more fun reading the series in order.
Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold
Reviewed by Kat
AUTHOR: K. M. Neuhold
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 276 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2019
BLURB:
Does my husband’s heart still miss me now that it beats in the chest of another man?
Lub-dub
A heartbeat more familiar than Easton’s own
Lub-dub
He vowed to love his husband until death do they part. And then the worst happened.
Lub-dub
His heart kept another man alive. River. A stranger in the world with Easton’s husband’s heart pumping the blood that warms his skin. Does his heart ever miss Easton without knowing why?
Lub-dub
Sweet, kind, beautiful, River. Easton never meant to meet him…never meant to know him…never meant to fall for him.
Lub-dub
Easton loved River’s heart long before he ever met him, but is it possible he’s falling in love with his mind and soul too?
***Change of Heart is a stand alone story with strong hurt/comfort themes, mild bi-sexual awakening themes, and a HEA
Picking Up the Pieces by Annabella Michaels
Reviewed by Kat
AUTHOR: Annabella Michaels
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 169 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 30, 2019
BLURB:
Two Shattered Hearts
Brody Murphy feels as if he’s lost everything when his best friend and partner, Paul, dies in the line of duty. Partners on the force for years, Paul Donovan was all Brody had. Paul accepted Brody as he was—standoffish from a childhood in the foster system, bisexual in a police force that wasn’t entirely welcoming, Brody is now adrift. Wracked by survivor’s guilt and grief, Brody devotes what’s left of his heart to help Paul’s widow and her children. And when his partner’s oldest child returns home a grown man, Brody is torn between what he thinks he should do and what his heart wants.
Grief Binds Them
Cooper Donovan is in his senior year of college when the unthinkable happens. His father dies, and Cooper returns home to be with his family, and help his mother with his little sisters. So many things were left unsaid between Cooper and his father, a fact that weighs heavily on his heart. College helped Cooper learn more about who he was and what he wanted from life, and with Brody Murphy comes unexpected feelings and complications.
Hope Leads Them Home
Brody and Cooper forge a connection that leaves Brody conflicted, Cooper determined, and both men wounded by their shared grief. While Brody struggles with why he lived, and Paul died—he had no one and nothing, and Paul had everything to live for, Cooper sees a man who deserves love and happiness under the grief. Tension rises when Brody and Cooper can’t deny what’s happening between them. Both men are picking up the pieces of their previous lives and putting together a new future, one where hope and love heals, and home is in each other’s arms.
King Me (Forever Wilde #7) by Lucy Lennox
Reviewed by Danielle
TITLE: King Me
SERIES: Forever Wilde #7
AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox
PUBLISHER: Lucy Lennox
LENGTH: 4443 kb
RELEASE DATE: July 16th, 2019
BLURB:
Falcon:
Three years ago I arrived at the scene of an art heist to find Kingston Wilde tied to a radiator, claiming to be an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was only later I learned he was actually, the elusive art thief I’d been tracking for years. And I was the one who’d let him sweet-talk his way out of my grasp. Ever since, I’ve made it my mission to get my hands on him again, and this time I don’t plan on letting go.
Unfortunately, fate has other plans. A priceless artifact has gone missing, and King is the only one who can help recover it. I thought nothing could be worse than being forced to work with the egotistical SOB, but I was wrong. Falling for the charming art thief in the middle of an operation is way, way worse.
King:
The key to being a good art thief is knowing when to call it quits. After one close call too many, I decide that time is now and head home to Hobie, Texas, intending to hang up my lock picks for good. Unfortunately, the FBI has other plans. Agent Dirk Falcon approaches me with an offer I can’t refuse: full immunity for my past crimes in exchange for helping him with one last job.
The catch? The job involves stealing from the very man who taught me everything I know. The same man who double-crossed me years ago. Pulling this off means trusting Falcon and his team, but how do I trust the sexy agent when he’s staked his career on taking me down?
Unwritten Law (Steele Brothers #1) by Eden Finley
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Unwritten Law
SERIES: Steele Brothers #1
AUTHOR: Eden Finley
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 189 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2018
BLURB:
Being an identical twin doesn’t come without issues.
No one can tell us apart, not even our parents sometimes. We don’t usually use that to our advantage, but it comes in handy when my brother needs help breaking up with his boyfriends—which happens more than I’d care to admit. I know it’s enabling him, but I can’t say no to Anders. I will do anything for my twin. The breakups always go the same; they’re swift and simple.
Until Reed.
He’s everything I’ve fantasised about but never allowed myself to have. When I give in to temptation and begin to freak out, it’s not because he’s a guy. It’s because he thinks I’m my brother, and I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth.
**Unwritten Law is a 52,000 word stand alone with a HFN/HEA guarantee and no cliffhanger. It contains a mistaken identity trope. Please check trigger warnings in the front matter.**
The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love (The Hitman’s Guide #1) by Alice Winters
REVIEWED by Jay V.
TITLE: The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love
AUTHOR: Alice Winters
SERIES: The Hitman’s Guide #1
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 343 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 30, 2019
BLURB:
Leland
Being a hitman has its perks, but I never thought getting an accidental mooning by an attractive PI while he’s caught on a fence would be one of them. While it’s not exactly love at first sight, he’s captured my interest and won’t let go.
Suddenly, I find myself caught in a game of cat and mouse, determined to attract the attention of Jackson, the PI who should be my enemy. He pretends like he’s not flattered by my flowers and the mentions of my totally-not-fictitious blow-up doll Randy (or was it Dandy?), but I know better. Why else would he be teaming up with me to bring down Hardek, one of the city’s most ruthless criminals?
Jackson
Even though the cops are telling me that the hitman is a notorious contract killer, I can’t help but admit that I’m drawn to him. He’s funny, charismatic, and attractive. There’s no way this ridiculous man can be the person the cops are after.
But when Leland ends up at my doorstep injured, I’m faced with a tough choice. It’s my duty to hand him over to law enforcement, but my heart has other plans. I want to keep him. To protect him. To be with him.
Though one question remains: why in the world does the man have so many d*mn guns?
Realize (Men of Hidden Creek season 4 #2) by Susan Hawke
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Realize
SERIES: Men of Hidden Creek season 4 #2
AUTHOR: Susan Hawke
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 269 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2019
BLURB:
“What we have can’t be faked.”
Max Jackson’s life is pretty close to perfect—except that he’s secretly in love with his straight best friend and roommate. He’s got his dream joband a family he secretly pretends are his own. But they aren’t… no matter how much he might wish it were true.
After the tragic death of his wife, Parker Wilson didn’t have time to wallow in grief—not when he had two young children to raise. He’s not looking for romance or a new partner. He doesn’t need one anyway… he has his life-long buddy Max to help him through every struggle.
When Parker loses his job and can’t afford his daughter’s pricey insulin, Max suggests fake marriage for insurance coverage. Since he’s already a second parent to Parker’s cute kids, it should be easy… until the marriage becomes a little too real.
Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains dad jokes, a pair of kids that will steal your heart, and more heat than a Texas summer.
Rocket Science by K.M. Neuhold
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Rocket Science
AUTHOR: K. M. Keuhold
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 357 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2019
BLURB: Relationships aren’t rocket science. If they were, I might stand a chance of figuring one out.
Elijah
Saying I’ve had a crush on my best friend’s older brother, Pax, most of my life is like saying the big bang was just an explosion. It’s true, but I’m not sure that quite captures the essence of its true enormity.
I know he’s only hanging out with me because I’m new in town and getting my PhD doesn’t leave me with much time to make friends. And even if it did, my strength is mathematics, not friend-making. What I don’t understand is why he kissed me… why he seems to want to keep kissing me. I don’t think my advanced physics knowledge is going to help me figure this one out. But I think for once I’m okay with not knowing, as long as Pax and I don’t know together.
Pax
He’s still the awkward nerdlet I remember…he’s also probably the cutest, most tempting man I’ve laid eyes on. I know I should keep my hands off him, but this thing between us is like a force of nature. I want to be his first everything. He says we’re nothing more than atoms crashing into each other. I’m no scientist but I don’t think either of us are braced for the explosion.
**** Rocket Science is a stand alone MM romance featuring an inexperienced nerd, a cocky player, and a satisfying HEA
Tallowwood by N.R. Walker
Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Tallowwood
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: Blue Heart Press
RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2019
LENGTH: 375 pages
BLURB:
Cold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.
Sydney detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone — and that’s exactly how he likes it. His work is his entire life, and he’s convinced a string of unsolved cold-case suicides are linked to what could be Australia’s worst ever serial killer. Problem is, no one believes him.
Senior Constable Jacob Porter loves his life in the small town of Tallowwood in the middle of the rainforests in northern New South Wales. He runs summer camps for the local Indigenous kids, plays rugby with his mates, has a close family, and he’s the local LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Indigenous Liaison Officer.
When human remains are found in the camping grounds at Tallowwood Reserve, Jake’s new case turns out to be linked to August’s cold cases, and Jake agrees they’re not suicides at all. With Jacob now firmly in August’s corner, they face one hurdle after another, even when more remains are found, they still can’t seem to gain ground.
But when the body of a fellow police officer turns up under the same MO, it can’t be ignored anymore. August and Jake must trace the untraceable before the killer takes his next victim or before he stops one of them, permanently.
Ground Zero (Zero Hour #1) by Aimee Nicole Walker
REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Ground Zero
SERIES: Zero Hour
AUTHOR: Aimee Nicole Walker
PUBLISHER: Chasing Rainbows Press
LENGTH: 287 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 22, 2019
BLURB:
Ground zero, noun: the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change.
Heat, humidity, and homicide are things veteran detective Sawyer Key expects to encounter on his first day with the Savannah Police Department, but the hostile reception from his new partner catches him by surprise. Sawyer isn’t a stranger to heartache and recognizes that Royce Locke is a wounded man who’s reeling from a devastating loss. Relentless and patient in all things, Sawyer is determined to make the new partnership work.
Savannah, Georgia is known for her quirky people, oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and antebellum architecture. Beneath the Southern charm and hospitality, festering hatred and violence is soaring with the summer temperatures. Locke and Key find themselves at the epicenter when their first case involves the death of a former shock jock who appears to be the victim of vigilante justice.
Opposites in nearly every way, the two detectives set aside their differences to take back their city and restore law and order. From this reluctant truce, an intense attraction grows that will either tighten or shatter their tenuous bond. Falling for his partner spells inevitable disaster, but Sawyer’s always been a sucker for wounded things. Sawyer could be the key to the life Royce has always wanted, if he’s brave enough to trust him. The fuse is lit, the clock is running, and the zero hour is upon them. Tick tock.
Ground Zero is the first book in the Zero Hour series, which follows Locke and Key’s investigations and evolving relationship. Ground Zero has a happy-for-now ending with no cliffhanger. It contains mature language and sexual content intended for adults 18 and older.
Deosil (Whyborne & Griffin – Book 11) by Jordan L. Hawk
Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: Deosil
SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin – Book 11
AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2019
BLURB:
Whyborne, Griffin, and their friends have faced down cultists, monsters, and sorcerers. But their greatest challenge is now upon them.
On the return voyage from Balefire Manor, Whyborne receives the worst news possible: Widdershins has fallen before the onslaught of the Fideles and their servants. There’s still time to stop the return of the Masters, but that window grows shorter by the hour.
Together with Christine and Iskander, Whyborne and Griffin must reach Widdershins to face the ultimate test—and decide the fate of the world, once and for all.
Rules to Break (Davey’s Rules #2) by Susan Hawke
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Rules to Break
SERIES: Davey’s Rules #2
AUTHOR: Susan Hawke
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 311 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2019
BLURB:
Davey’s Rule #91: Daddy never loses faith in his boy.
Bryan Miller is satisfied with his uncomplicated life. He’s a discipline Daddy who’s not in the market for any kind of permanent relationship. And why should he be? Like the waves he surfs in the small beach town he calls home, there’s always another body available to warm his bed when he tires of the current flavor of the week.
Preston Wallace is a snotty rich brat with enough attitude to keep all the Daddies from giving him a chance. He gets it… people are jealous of him for being rich, hot, and fit. It would take a strong Daddy to take him in hand.
A casual conversation on the night of Preston’s twenty-fifth birthday ties these two stubborn men together in a bet right out of the musical My Fair Lady. Can Daddy Bryan turn the obnoxious brat into a dateable boy within a ninety-day timeframe?
Strap in for a roller-coaster of emotions as Bryan takes firm control of a brat who might just need to know someone cares enough to try.
This is the second book in this series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book. Possible trigger for the death a background character
The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings (Black and Blue #1) by Lily Morton
Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings
SERIES: Black and Blue
AUTHOR: Lily Morton
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 301 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 14, 2019
BLURB:
Levi Black is at a crossroads. After suffering a loss and breaking up a long-term relationship, he’s looking for a change. When he receives the news he’s inherited a house in York, he seizes the opportunity to begin a new chapter in his life.
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.
Omega’s Power (Irresistible Omegas #8) by Nora Phoenix
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Omega’s Power
SERIES: Irresistible Omegas #8
AUTHOR: Nora Phoenix
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 276 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2019
BLURB:
When one needy boy makes taking it slow impossible…
Sivney is determined to take his sweet time to get to know his new lovers, Naran and Lev. After all, they each brought quite a bit of baggage into their relationship and figuring out how they fit together is not easy.
But Lev can’t wait until Sivney is ready for more. He needs Sivney and Naran to take care of him now. Preferably, like, yesterday. Will Sivney step up when Lev needs more than he’s willing to give initially?
The pack as a whole has bigger worries. Civil War is on the verge of breaking out, and since the capital is only miles away, that doesn’t bode well for the pack members. But when one of the pack members becomes deadly sick, even war isn’t their first concern anymore…
Omega’s Power is book 8 in the Irresistible Omegas series, a bestselling mpreg romance series which needs to be read in order to enjoy the plot lines fully. This MMM romance has a little kink, a lot of love, and some high angst moments, but ends with a HEA for all characters.
Hat Trick (Fake Boyfriend #5) by Eden Finley
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Hat Trick
SERIES: Fake Boyfriend #5
AUTHOR: Eden Finley
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 335 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 5, 2019
BLURB:
Soren:
You know what’s not fun? Going on a Fiji vacation with four other couples. Especially when recently single.
What’s even worse is when a past hook-up arrives unannounced.
Not only do we have a history, but he’s ten years younger and a famous rock star. Most importantly, he’s my friend’s little brother.
Being trapped on an island with Jet Jackson is going to be sweet torture because all I want is another chance.
I just don’t think he’s going to give it to me.
Jet:
You know what’s not fun? Escaping one guy who broke my heart only to run into another.
Being on the road for three years has left me exhausted. The last thing I want is for Caleb ‘Soren’ Sorensen to try for round two.
I can’t fight my draw to him. I’ve never been able to.
I’m suddenly back to being the naïve kid who stupidly lusted after a hockey player. All I can think is if I let Soren get close, I’ll walk away from this vacation with a double broken heart.
*Hat Trick is a full-length M/M romance with a guaranteed HEA. This is the final book in the Fake Boyfriend series and as such is not recommended to be read as a standalone. All main characters of the series feature heavily.*