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…
Godfather Wars by Brittany Cournoyer
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Godfather Wars
AUTHOR: Brittany Cournoyer
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 323 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2020
BLURB:
Dolan versus Everett. Snarky meets stoic.
Dolan Masters loathes many things: root canals, splinters in his fingers, and people putting toilet paper on the roll wrong—loose end over the top, please. But the one thing he hates more than anything else is Everett freaking Henson.
Everett Henson spends more time with animals than people, his best friend Eli being the exception. The downside of that friendship means crossing paths with Dolan Masters; the man who rubs Everett wrong in every way possible.
But a baby changes everything.
With both men believing they deserve the honor of being the godfather to their best friends’ baby, the only way to settle things is through a competition. Will there be bloodshed, or will these two realize the truth staring them in the face?
May the best godfather win.
Godfather Wars is a stand-alone MM romantic comedy, filled with funny mishaps, snarky banter, and colorful language.
The Holidays (Boys of Brighton #10) by M. Tasia
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: The Holidays
SERIES: Boys of Brighton #10
AUTHOR: M. Tasia
PUBLISHER: Boroughs Publishing Group
LENGTH: 126 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2018
BLURB:
It’s the holiday season in Brighton, Texas, and there’s a wedding too – everyone is invited to share in the love all these men have found.
‘Tis The Season
Some had waited years to find “the one,” while others had given up on love and had closed themselves off from feeling anything. But each of these men have found the person that makes them whole, gives them hope and strength to face whatever life throws at them, and to show them what love really means. Welcome to the holidays in Brighton, Texas. Sit down and stay a spell. We invite you to soak up the joy of the season with your favorite lovers.
Outwitted by a Husky (Mystic Pines #1) by Shea Balik
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Outwitted by a Husky
SERIES: Mystic Pines #1
AUTHOR: Shea Balik
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 201 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2020
BLURB:
Come join us for a fun-filled vacation in Mystic Pines, Alaska, where the weather isn’t always warm but our hospitality is.
Spencer Clarke and his four best friends decided to take the abandoned town of Mystic Pines and turn it into a vacation destination for the LGBTQ community. But nothing about Mystic Pines was as he thought it would be, especially when he encounters someone who challenges his notions of family.
When Reese Alston heard about Mystic Pines, he had to admit to being intrigued by the idea of a town that would accept everyone for who they were. But when he moved there in hopes of opening an animal daycare, he found that not everyone was as accepting as he wished. An animal lover at heart, Reese was dismayed to find out that Spencer Clarke was adamant no pets would ever be allowed in his resort.
Will they be able to come to a compromise? Or will one husky have to outwit them both to see the future they were meant to have?
Warning: This series takes place in the middle of the Alaskan Triangle. Anything could happen, from Bigfoot, to aliens, to disappearances and upside-down trees, so expect the unexpected.
Eeli (Brotherhood of Ormarr #3) by Steph Marie & Bobbie Rayne
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Eeli
SERIES: Brotherhood of Ormarr #3
AUTHOR: Steph Marie & Bobbie Rayne
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 261 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2019
BLURB:
Eeli~
I’ve been training my entire life for this; I need to be the best, the best fighter, the best dragon rider in the entire brotherhood. This is what I was born for. The only problem is that my bonded dragon, Bodhi, and I can’t seem to get it together. One minute I think we’re connecting properly, and the next she’s taking off, leading me to the one guy I don’t want to know: Slash. He’s basically the opposite of me in every way, and I don’t get why he’s suddenly everywhere I turn, but I can’t deny how he makes me feel when he looks at me.
Slash~
Three years ago my sister and I had to come to a new town and started new schools without our parents’ unconditional love and support. My uncle’s an uncaring drunk, so I’m doing the best I can to keep us both clothed and fed with only an after school job. If I didn’t have her to live for, the loneliness would be excruciating. Now, with only a few months until graduation, I’ve suddenly made a friend because of my sister, and another guy keeps stumbling into me who I think needs help: Eeli. I don’t understand why no one else sees how oddly he’s behaving, but I can’t deny my attraction for him is growing with every mishap.
Eeli is the third book in The Brotherhood of Ormarr series. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues in the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. Eeli is a m/m NA romance, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.
Late Night Poetry by Nell Iris
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Late Night Poetry
AUTHOR: Nell Iris
PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC
LENGTH: 41 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2020
BLURB:
A love story told in answering machine messages.
Saying “I love you” to someone who says it first, isn’t supposed to lead to a break-up, but that’s what happens to Sully and Lou. Sully is out and proud while Lou is in the closet, so when their relationship deepens, Lou runs.
But then Lou starts leaving emotional messages of remorse on Sully’s answering machine. Sully is torn between his love for Lou and his attempts to get over him. With each message, Lou’s regrets deepen. With each message, it becomes more difficult for Sully to forget him. With each message, Sully finds it harder to want to move on.
Can old love poems and heartbreaking honesty help Sully and Lou find their way back to each other?
Shadow (Boys of Brighton #9) by M. Tasia
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Shadow
SERIES: Boys of Brighton #9
AUTHOR: M. Tasia
PUBLISHER: Boroughs Publishing Group
LENGTH: 145 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2018
BLURB:
THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO DO…
Imagine knowing your family hates you and has no problem sending you away to be abused – to die alone. Randy Reynolds was living that reality until he was saved by a man called Shadow. What Randy learned about himself and the people who were supposed to love him was nothing short of horrific. What he found with the Sentinels and Shadow was everything miraculous.
IS FACE THE TRUTH
Jake Kennedy’s past haunts him. Ghosts drove him into the shadows until he became Shadow. Unseen and not really there, he lived his life without any connections but for the Sentinels, the team that saved him from oblivion. Then a mission changed his life and forced him to shed the shroud that kept his heart from feeling. Now, for Randy Reynolds, Jake will come out of the shadows, he’ll be present and whole instead of the man who had kept himself hidden for twenty years.
Rahim (Kif Warriors #5) by Kiki Burrelli & Crista Crown
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Rahim
SERIES: Kif Warriors #5
AUTHOR: Kiki Burrelli & Crista Crown
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 184 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 20, 2020
BLURB:
A frozen prince calls for a hero. The Fires send him a warrior.
For Rahim, life with his warrior brothers couldn’t be better, now that they’re not fighting for their survival on a pirate ship. Free to soar through space, Rahim and his kif are on a mission to explore their way home. When they get a cryptic invitation from a mysterious source, they eagerly answer the call.
Prince Nanuq is facing his wedding day. To live in the harsh frozen landscape, his people have adapted. Royals are married to entire tribes of men to ensure an heir. But Nanuq never accepted the burly tribal leader he’s been betrothed to all his life. And he wants more than a life of ice.
Though everyone made fun of him for it, Nanuq alone knows how to listen to the falling snow, and the drifts have been telling him for years that his mate is elsewhere.
Desperate to escape the destiny his family has laid out for him, he sends an invitation for his wedding to the man the snow has been telling him about his whole life. It’s his last hope.
The Asraf warriors expect an interesting vacation or an intriguing mystery, but as Rahim and his kif break through the ice, they find a landscape much harsher than they expected, and a prince who needs their rescuing.
Rahim is the fifth book in The Kif Warriors, an alien mpreg series. This series is the first co-write between Crista and Kiki. They’ve joined forces to bring you all the humor, magic, steam and action that you enjoy!
The Red Thirst (The Devil’s in the Details #2) by Pelaam
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: The Red Thirst
SERIES: The Devil’s in the Details #2
AUTHOR: Pelaam
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 109 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2020
BLURB:
Beauty may be skin deep, but sometimes staying young and beautiful is pure hell.
They say there’s no rest for the wicked, but Garen and Luke are eagerly anticipating a brief vacation on the South Island, doing nothing more taxing than tramping, skiing and snowboarding.
However, when Garen meets up with an old friend—a ranger in the nearby national park—he not only finds that several trampers have gone missing there but also that his friend has a new boyfriend, Harper.
Although on vacation, they visit the one tramper who was found alive. Luke detects an aura of evil that is still preying on the man. While he performs a ritual cleansing to free the man of the demonic power’s lingering touch, Garen goes into the forest.
When he’s attacked by an unseen entity, Garen manages to escape. He returns with Luke to locate a body so that they can identify what is lurking in the forest’s depths.
Although Garen suspects that his friend’s new boyfriend is possessed by the demon they seek, Luke is less convinced. When the Dearg Due strikes, she aims for Garen’s heart, and Luke and Garen must battle to defeat the undying Red Thirst.
Reader advisory: This book contains some minor corpse description, references to abusive childhood and relationships, bullying, self-harm and suicide.
The King and His Vigilant Valet (Paranormal Princes #3) by Charlie Cochet
Reviewed by Kimberley
TITLE: The King and His Vigilant Valet
SERIES: Paranormal Princes #3
AUTHOR: Charlie Cochet
PUBLISHER: Self Published
RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2020
BLURB: JEAN
The past has a way of catching up with you, even if you are immortal. I’ve spent thousands of years as the valet and companion to the powerful King of All Shifters. It has been my honor and duty to protect, serve, and advise him. I never intended to fall in love with him. My past is filled with death and bloodshed, but I never once regretted keeping Alarick safe. Now an evil I thought long gone has resurfaced, determined to kill Alarick and plunge the world into chaos. Saving Alarick means revealing the truth about myself. I don’t know what’s worse, failing to protect the king I love, or watching him turn away from me in disgust when he discovers what I really am.
KING ALARICK
As King of All Shifters, my powers are connected to the cosmos, and I have been around since the dawn of time. There are few things that can kill me. Unfortunately, one of those things has escaped its prison and is set to destroy me. The only weapon that can defeat this creature is the Scythe of Kronos, which has been missing for nearly as long as I have lived. When Jean and I set out on a quest to find the scythe, questions I had long ignored must now be answered. What is Jean’s connection to this evil? Why will he trust me with his life but not his secrets? As my most trusted valet, and my greatest friend, surely nothing that happens along this perilous journey can change what I feel in my heart for him. Or can it?
The Alpha’s Warlock (Mismatched Mates #1) by Eliot Grayson
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: The Alpha’s Warlock
SERIES: Mismatched Mates #1
AUTHOR: Eliot Grayson
PUBLISHER: Smoking Teacup Books
LENGTH: 172 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2020
BLURB:
Cursed, mated, and in for the fight of their lives…
Warlock Nate Hawthorne just wants a cup of coffee. Is that too much to ask? Apparently. Because instead of precious caffeine, all he gets is cursed by a pack of werewolves who want to use him for his magic. Now the only way to fix the damage is a mate bond to a grumpy and oh-so-sexy alpha in the rival pack, who happens to hate him. This is so not how he wanted to start his day.
Ian Armitage never intended to take Nate as his mate. The Hawthorne family can’t be trusted. Ian knows that better than anyone. The fact that he’s lusted after the way-too-gorgeous man for years? Totally irrelevant. Ian’s just doing what is necessary to protect his pack. This whole mating arrangement has nothing to do with love and never will. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.
Nate and Ian will have to work together if they have any hope of staving off the pack’s enemies and averting disaster. That’s assuming they can stop arguing (and keep their hands off each other) long enough to save the day…
The Alpha’s Warlock is an explicit M/M paranormal romance featuring a snarky warlock, a brooding alpha werewolf, knotting, enchanted socks (long story), and a guaranteed happily ever after.
What Happens After by Dennis Abrams
Reviewed by Cheryl
AUTHOR: Dennis Abrams
PUBLISHER: Harmony Ink Press
LENGTH: 181 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2020
BLURB:
Collin and his best friend, Nate, are high school juniors living in a suburb of Houston, where the politically and culturally conservative attitude makes coming out beyond difficult. One night they decide it would be a bit of harmless fun to sneak into a gay club in the city—a chance to dance, check out guys, and meet others like themselves.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
In minutes everything Collin took for granted is destroyed when a shooter’s bullets tear through the club. Collin survives, but that’s only the start of his ordeal. In the aftermath he has to face the loss of his friend, survivor’s guilt, the pain of his wounds, and judgment when he’s outed on a national level. Making it through his last year of school feels impossible when life as he knew it will never be the same.
The Single Dad and His Soulmate (The Hedonist #7) by Rebecca James
Reviewed by Anna Lynn
TITLE: The Single Dad and His Soul Mate
SERIES: The Hedonist Book 7
AUTHOR: Rebecca James
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2020
LENGTH: 199 Pages
BLURB:
The seventh book in the Hedonist series, this novel can be enjoyed as a standalone but is better read with the rest of the series.
It’s been five years since Flynn returned to New York and adopted his son, Cooper. In that time, not once has he run into his sexy biker ex-boyfriend. And then, at a party, Flynn and Matteo’s eyes meet, and in that moment Flynn realizes they haven’t lost the intense connection they’ve always had between them. But the issues in Matteo’s life that drove Flynn away seven years ago are still present, and Flynn needs to guard his son’s heart as well as his own.
Matteo is shocked to realize the love of his life has been living nearby for such a long time. He wants to wrap up Flynn and his little boy in his arms and never let them go. Except Matteo’s grandmother still doesn’t know he’s gay. How can he disappoint the woman who has always been there for him?
Being with Flynn again and getting to know his little boy have shown Matteo what he’s missing in his life, and this time he can’t blame Flynn for wanting more from him. In the end, Matteo must choose between familial responsibility and his own happiness.
Lost Between by Shawn Lane
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Lost Between
AUTHOR: Shawn Lane
PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC
LENGTH: 62 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 2, 2019
BLURB:
Horror author Curtis Macintyre has recently rented an apartment in an historical building in San Francisco. But the apartment comes with more than just old charm. It also comes with the spirit of Aaron Carmichael, a man murdered five years before.
After Curtis visits a medium, Aaron’s spirit comes to him for help in finding peace since he’s lost between two worlds, the living and the afterlife. When Curtis decides to visit Aaron’s boyfriend, Robbie Henley, a beautiful hairdresser, Aaron comes along … inside Curtis.
Now with Robbie’s help, it’s up to Curtis to find out what happened to Aaron so he can finally have peace. And maybe, together, Curtis and Robbie can find their own happily ever after.
Tamed by His Omega (Wolves in the Fae Court #4) by Marie Medina
Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Tamed by His Omega
SERIES: Wolves in the Fae Court #4
AUTHOR: Marie Medina
PUBLISHER: Evernight Publishing
LENGTH: 136 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 26, 2019
BLURB:
Ryden agreed to represent the Sons of Fenrir at the wedding of the fae king with every intention of leaving the reception as fast as his strict code of conduct would allow. Finding his mate there leaves him reeling, especially since his clan will never accept the omega wolf shifter. Ryden has a duty to his people and can’t allow Owen to influence him, no matter how sweet and tempting the little wolf proves to be.
But Owen refuses to give up. He understands why the fierce warrior thinks they won’t be a good match, but he feels the gods know what they’re doing. His persistence lands them in trouble, though, and now all he can do is continue trying to convince his mate they were fated for a reason.
Owen does all he can to woo the stubborn man, oblivious to how their mating is going to change fae history forever.