Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Karma’s a Bit*h

AUTHOR:  Este Holland

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  173 pages

RELEASE DATE:  May 15, 2020

BLURB:  

Karma’s only a bitch if you’re bad.

Jake Michelson plays it safe. All he wants to do is keep a roof over his head and graduate from NYU in a few months. He can count on three things in life: his job at Dinkin’s Donuts, his best friend Marri, and school.

Archer Ferraro plays by his own rules. The one thing he can’t stand is when bad people get away with doing bad things. He’s dedicated his life to righting the wrongs the police can’t or won’t handle.

When Archer accidentally upsets Jake’s life, he vows to make it right and hires him.

Together, Jake and Archer must work on a new case involving stolen jewelry and a womanizer, deal with a lawyer brother and a jailbird father, and stay out of the cops’ way.

Should be easy…right?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Fight for You

SERIES: Beyond the Cove #4

AUTHOR: Jaclyn Quinn

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 253 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2020

BLURB:

Is this a love worth fighting for?

One man is haunted by a past he can’t outrun.

One man is branded by a legacy he can’t hide.

One man is burdened by a guilt he can’t deny.

The usually peaceful town of Riverside Falls has had its very core shaken by traumatic events. Three men find themselves at the center of it all, thrown together by circumstances beyond their control.

Sawyer Levy came to Riverside Falls four years ago to escape from…well…life, but when he finds himself in need of care, he’s forced to trust not one but two men for the first time in years.

Grant Belford is riddled with shame in the tragic aftermath of incidents he didn’t see coming, blaming himself for the terror that rocked his town over the last few months.

Captain Mason Lockley is struggling with the recent events that have shaken up the quiet town of Riverside Falls, tormented by one thought, over and over again: Did he miss the signs because of jealousy?

Having no choice but to lean on each other, the three men suffering with their own demons aren’t expecting to have such an undeniable connection—or to fall so hard. It’s a love they don’t understand, but will they realize it’s worth fighting for?

***Fight for You picks up where Thirst for You left off. Therefore, if you would like to avoid spoilers from Thirst for You, it is suggested you read that book first in order to truly understand what the characters in this book are going through.

***There is a retelling of a violent event from an MC’s past. Though it is not told as it’s happening, it may be triggering to some readers.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Mating His Nightmare

SERIES: Paranormal Wars: Stone Haven #5

AUTHOR: Shea Balik

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 142 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2020

BLURB:

Wolfe Koa grew up knowing only pain. As a newborn wolf Shifter he was placed in a lab where every experiment known to man was inflicted on him. When he was finally freed, he vowed to destroy every lab the humans had built to torture paranormals in the name of science.

Caleb Reid was a scientist who loved helping others. When his own race, the Psy, kidnapped him and forced him to create a breed of super soldiers, humans that were infused with animal and Shifter DNA, Caleb rebelled. His act of defiance had his father’s finger cut off with the threat of the same happening to his four-year-old sister. Not having a choice, Caleb did the unthinkable and gave in to the Psy’s demands.

When Wolfe realizes Caleb is his mate, he fights the need to be with him. Can Wolfe overcome the mate pull or will he end up mating his worst nightmare?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Forever

SERIES: Spy vs. Spook #3

AUTHOR: Tinnean

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 425 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2020

BLURB:

Mark Vincent has risen from senior special agent to Director of Interior Affairs in the WBIS. Lately, life has been sweet for him—in addition to his promotion, he’s found a partner in Quinton Mann, who can almost match his ability in the intelligence field, in spite of the fact Quinn’s CIA. Mark has also found a condo in Alexandria with the help of Portia Mann, Quinn’s mother, and it’s closer to Quinn’s town house than Mark’s present apartment. Sweetest of all, Mark plans to take Quinn to his island in the Caribbean for the holidays.

Quinn’s glad he has the holiday with Mark to look forward to—something is going on at Langley, and he feels he’s being kept out of the loop. To make matters even worse, useless missions and sleepless nights filled with nightmares are leaving him exhausted. But then his mother’s life if threatened, and Quinn discovers the accident that resulted in her hospitalization was no accident. The obsessively self-absorbed Senator Wexler is involved, and while Quinn considers himself a civilized man, now he’s out for blood.

Up until this point, Mark has stayed out of Quinn’s CIA business. But hurting Quinn and those he loves isn’t a smart move, and Mark has every intention of seeing Wexler pays. Quinn demands to come along, and while Mark isn’t happy, he finally agrees, and they set out together to deal with the senator. There’s just one catch: this will be the first time Quinn sees Mark at his deadly best, and Mark isn’t sure how his lover will react.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Weapon & Wonders

SERIES: Jak & Leander #2

AUTHOR: Devin Harnois

PUBLISHER: October Night Publishing

LENGTH: 201 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2020

BLURB:

Working on a military contract isn’t what Jak wanted, but he tries to look on the bright side. Enchanting several mechanical dragons is an exciting prospect, and more importantly, the project allows him to stay close to Leander. They’re even living together, but making excuses for it to Leander’s family and everyone else. Jak knows society is unaccepting, but he’s growing increasingly frustrated at the need to hide their relationship.

Leander still can’t believe flirty, popular Jak chose him. Their romantic partnership is unlike anything he’s experienced before, and a small part of Leander is worried Jak will grow tired of him.

When plans for the newest dragon go missing, suspicion falls on Jak, and Leander is terrified his lover will be taken from him. Then sabotage strikes the project, and it becomes clear a spy is in their midst. Far worse things are on the horizon, and this time Jak can’t run away. To keep Leander and his family safe, Jak is forced to make a terrible choice.

Reviewed by Marieke

Retro Review by Becca

TITLE: Blue Mountain

SERIES: Pack #1

AUTHOR: Cardeno C.

PUBLISHER: The Romance Authors LLC

LENGTH: 133 pages

RELEASE DATE: November 21, 2014

BLURB:

Exiled by his pack as a teen, Omega wolf Simon Moorehead learns to bury his gentle nature in the interest of survival. When a hulking, rough-faced Alpha catches Simon on pack territory, he tries to escape what he’s sure will be imminent death. But instead of killing him, the Alpha takes Simon home.

A man of action, Mitch Grant uproots his life to support his brother in leading the Blue Mountain pack. Mitch lives on the periphery, quietly protecting everyone, but always alone. A mate is a dream come true for Mitch, and he won’t let little things like Simon’s rejections, attacks, and insults get in their way. With patience, seduction, and genuine care, Mitch will ride out the storm while Simon slays his own ghosts and Mitch’s loneliness.

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: Seadrake

SERIES: Dragon Mage Chronicles #2

AUTHOR: J.A. Jaken

PUBLISHER: White Owl Publishing

LENGTH: 170 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2020

BLURB:

After much deliberation, Andrei chooses to bring his inexperienced and highly unusual apprentice to the faroff island of Sutan-lei, where the eminent mage-scholar Master Luth is rumored to abide. It is Andrei’s hope that Master Luth will have answers to the growing mystery he and Jander began to uncover in the city of Tempest as well as help his apprentice gain some degree of mastery over his unique–and highly unpredictable–prowess in the magic. But even as they struggle to piece together the puzzle in front of them, their enemy is close behind them every step of the way–and he is determined not to let the two of them get in his way.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Home Again

AUTHOR: W.S. Long

PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC

LENGTH: 108 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2020

BLURB:

David Peterson had his whole life charted out for him by his parents. An athletic scholarship to a prestigious college in California and a future in major league baseball were almost certain. But his high school love affair with quarterback Kaden Morris almost changed his predetermined path. When Kaden eventually rejected him, David swore he would never return to Orlando.

Fifteen years later and divorced with a child, David returns home to find a newly divorced Kaden seeking forgiveness. Old feelings resurface, but can the pain of the past be forgotten and a new future together forged?

Reviewed by Valerie & Becca

TITLE: Jasper’s

AUTHOR: Sammi Cee

SERIES: Takoda Outreach Center #1

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 116 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2020

BLURB:

Jasper’s helpful, mysterious… and homeless.

The soup kitchen was the only place I’d felt like I belonged in months, but working under the new, renowned chef had me doubting there was truly a place for me anywhere. He was nice enough, but he really didn’t “get” the people he was cooking for or the battles we faced. But my feelings didn’t matter, I had no home and my options were limited.

Caleb’s talented, successful… and clueless.

I wished I could say I’d pushed to be the main cook at Takoda Outreach Center out of selflessness, but that would be a lie. I knew my parents would never lower themselves to walk into a place like this, and I was counting on that. I was sick of being the perfect son, the celebrated chef—the price was too high, and now I had no social life and no idea who I was. And then I met Jasper, the sweet selfless younger man who opened my eyes to life’s harsher realities.

Just when Jasper thinks he’s found a way to make it through the winter unscathed by the elements, the shelter he’s found is ripped away. When Caleb offers him sanctuary, Jasper accepts the older man’s help.

Will Caleb’s questions about his past send him running back to the streets or has Jasper finally found the place he belongs?

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE: Shaking the Sugar Tree

SERIES: Sugar Tree

AUTHOR: Nick Wilgus

PUBLISHER: JMS Books

LENGTH:  80,393 words

RELEASE DATE:  March 14, 2020, 2nd edition

BLURB:

Wise-cracking Wiley Cantrell is loud and roaringly outrageous — and he needs to be to keep his deeply religious neighbors and family in the Deep South at bay. A failed writer on food stamps, Wiley works a minimum wage job and barely manages to keep himself and his deaf son, Noah, more than a stone’s throw away from Dumpster-diving.

Noah was a meth baby and has the birth defects to prove it. He sees how lonely his father is and tries to help him find a boyfriend while Wiley struggles to help Noah have a relationship with his incarcerated mother, who believes the best way to feed a child is with a slingshot. No wonder Noah becomes Wiley’s biggest supporter when Boston nurse Jackson Ledbetter walks past Wiley’s cash register and sets his sugar tree on fire.

Jackson falls like a wet mule wearing concrete boots for Wiley’s sense of humor. And while Wiley represents much of the best of the South, Jackson is hiding a secret that could threaten this new family in the making.

When North meets South, the cultural misunderstandings are many, but so are the laughs, and the tears, but, as they say down in Dixie, it’s all good.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Alpha’s Fake Mate

AUTHOR: Penelope Peters

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 296 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2020

BLURB:

Ricky Sandoval has a secret he won’t reveal.

By night, omega Ricky Sandoval is the darling of the dance club scene: friendly, flirtatious, and always up for some fun with whatever alpha strikes his fancy. But by day, Ricky pines for his neighbor and creative partner, Eli Epstein – who’s been in a committed relationship for as long as Ricky has known him. If creating a webcomic together is the best Ricky can hope for with Eli – then he’s willing to settle for second best, and find love elsewhere, one night at a time.

Eli Epstein has a promise he won’t break.

By day, alpha Eli Epstein is the quiet and clever introvert with the long-term girlfriend and a job that lets him stay safely tucked in his apartment. But by night, Eli worries about his neighbor and creative partner, Ricky – who’s also the subject of a crush Eli’s unwilling to admit. Everyone but Ricky seems aware of Eli’s feelings, Eli’s amused and super accepting girlfriend included. There’s no chance of acting on it, though – Eli has both promises and secrets he intends to keep, no matter where his heart might lie.

But just as their webcomic is about to be launched off the internet and into the physical world of publishing, one of Ricky’s one-night-stands leaves him pregnant… and alone.

Everyone’s keeping secrets. But sometimes…

Pretending to be a happy couple is the obvious solution – after all, half their internet fanbase already thinks it’s true. Ricky and Eli swear it’s only temporary – but the more time they spend together, the more fiction feels like fact.

Until Ricky’s one-night-stand reappears… and threatens to expose every secret they’ve promised to keep.

Torn between the guilt of loving Eli and the high-risk pregnancy he’s struggling to manage, Ricky now has to face that his affair might be the end of not only their publishing career – but their friendship, too.

…The biggest secret is the most obvious truth of all.

The Alpha’s Fake Mate is a slow-burn m/m mpreg omegaverse romance with an HEA ending. It features Twitter conversations, disastrous trips to department stores, and way too many wine glasses with way too much fruit juice in them.

Reviewed by Anabela

TITLE: Ruby Run

SERIES: Tin Star Witches: The Witches of Ruby Gulch #3

AUTHOR: Sam Burns

PUBLISHER: Self-published

RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2020

LENGTH: 208 pages

BLURB:

Augustus Ambrose never planned to return to the United States after graduation. His mother’s final letter, with its dire threats about what would await if he did, had been more than enough to keep him away. But when his Aunt Grace dies unexpectedly and leaves him her ranch in the New Mexico Territory, he can’t ignore it. Grace gave him everything, and he can’t let her legacy suffer for his childish fear of his mother.

Griffith Taylor doesn’t want much. Quiet nights on the range, a big blue sky, and no rattlesnakes in his boots. He definitely doesn’t want to travel to Boston to take care of his late boss’s heir. When he lays eyes on his charge, everything changes. Not just because Augie is the best looking greenhorn he’s ever clapped eyes on, oh no.

Someone wants Griff’s new boss dead, and they’re not afraid to use forbidden magic to get the job done. Griff can handle himself in a fight, but this job might be more than he’s prepared for.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Sin Eater’s Prince

AUTHOR:  Keta Diablo

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 236 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 15, 2012

BLURB:

Owen Rhys, the sin eater, has been shunned by the local villagers all his life–except for Andras Maddock, the local physician. In love with the one man he believes will never return that love, Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire.

Dagan, Dark Lord of the Underworld, vows to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword from Andras. The claymore’s power holds an immunity the vampires have coveted for centuries.

Star-crossed love, sorcery, and bloodlust collide on a vengeful path where only one side will remain victorious.