Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Hard Justice

SERIES: The Asylum Fight Club #3

AUTHOR: Tibby Armstrong & Bianca Sommerland

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 520 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 24, 2020

BLURB:

Scandalous headlines threaten to turn Jamie Kent from a pop star to a pariah on the regular, but this latest one is a little too close for comfort. The Asylum Fight Club seems like a good place to hide out…until he has to prove he belongs—deep in a lifestyle with a contract and rules he breaks within the first five minutes. Staying means complete surrender, but a lifetime scripting love songs didn’t prepare him to give his heart to the one man who claims everything he has to offer.

The day he returns from prison.

Reputation has its own kind of power in a place where pain and pleasure depend on who’s in control. Entangled in the lives of those he’d give anything to protect, Noah Leonov rarely takes chances, but the hardened fighter refuses to abandon the vulnerable new sub to vultures who could tear his life apart with a camera flash. With the cage where he spent two years fresh in his mind, Noah won’t trap the man he loves in his brutal world. Jamie deserves the glamour and fame, where he can have more than a broken man can provide.

He belongs in the spotlight.

Neither man ever had the choice to decide their own destiny. Imprisoned by the roles they’re forced to play, their key to freedom might be to do the unexpected.

Refuse to let go.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Awakening

SERIES: Darklight #1

AUTHOR: Sean Ian O’Meidhir & Connal Braginsky

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 322 pages

RELEASE DATE:  May 11, 2020

BLURB:

Nathen was recently diagnosed with autism, and he’s a newly created vampire. His maker, a multinational corporation with its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, has recruited him to stop a terrorist plot. In the process, he meets Cameron, a telepath and psychologist, who has a troubled past he keeps locked up in the shadows of his psyche.

Nathen is confused by social cues and Cameron can barely block out the thoughts of others.

Together, they find common ground, and with the help of their friend Syn, they work out the secrets of the terrorist group and learn that the plot is far greater than they could have imagined.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Undeniably Yours

AUTHOR: Brittany Cournoyer

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 1247 kb

RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2020

BLURB:

Friend-zone: a place where feelings are buried after they aren’t returned.

Solomon yearned to be more than Brody’s best friend. But when there was no hope of Brody feeling the same way, Solomon took his place in the friend-zone and stayed there for thirteen years.

Serial dating was only ever a sport to Brody, but even then, he sucked at it. No matter who he went out with, something was always missing. Perhaps what he’s missing is the man who’d been standing beside him for the last twenty years.

Feelings can only stay buried so long before they surface.

Were Brody and Solomon always meant to be together? Or will giving into their feelings transform their friendship completely?

Undeniably Yours is a contemporary gay romance. It has adult language, and situations meant for an audience over eighteen years of age.

Reviewed by Donna

TITLE: A Sweet Man

SERIES: The Men of Halfway House #7

AUTHOR: Jaime Reese

PUBLISHER: Romandeavor, Inc

LENGTH: 361 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020

BLURB:

Gabriel “Bull” del Toro loves his fast-paced globe-trotting job, but aches for an honest relationship and the trust that comes with it. After a few too many heartbreaks, he’s nearly given up hope of finding that special someone.
Until Ben.
Born deaf, Ben is used to working twice as hard for what he wants, but risking a newfound friendship on an impossible dream is scary. After all, there’s one lesson he’s learned: everything is temporary—freedom, friends, even family.
Neither man expects the undeniable spark between them or for every moment together to fuel that connection. For the first time, a happily ever after is within reach, but they must trust that the dream of acceptance, family, and a place to call home is more than a sweet fantasy.
It can be forever.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Ripples of Threat

SERIES: Angel Hills Pack #2

AUTHOR: Rebecca James

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 218 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2020

BLURB:

An unknown danger continues to threaten the werewolves of Angel Hills compound. As the five omegas from River Wolf Pack continue to settle in with their new mates, two formerly rogue omegas join the pack, causing more mating issues. Gabriel’s health problems force his mates, pack alpha Grey and beta mate Ian, to make difficult decisions, including whether or not to allow humans on their compound if it might mean saving their omega’s life. Meanwhile, Gabriel feels more and more that he is a burden on his new pack.

Reviewed by Anabela

TITLE: Sub Zero

SERIES: Esto Universe

AUTHOR: Angel Martinez

PUBLISHER: Mischief Corner Books

RE-RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020

LENGTH: 182 pages

BLURB:

Returning to the frozen planet Aren died on was bound to have complications…

A Science Fiction Mystery from Angel Martinez…

Major Aren Dalsgaard’s newest assignment is to investigate a series of murders on the frigid planet, Drass, where relations between the Treaty settlers and the indigenous inhabitants have taken a nasty turn. A linguist and trained xenologist, Major Dalsgaard should be the ideal Special Investigations Officer for this case, but Drass is where he died, over a hundred and twenty years ago.

Sent by his family to the chigyel city, Nyachung finds himself confronted with a murder charge, racial prejudice, and a man who claims to be a hero from his grandmother’s generation. The man could be crazy or he could be lying to manipulate Nyachung, but the sincerity in those spring-green eyes disturbs him more than anything else he’s encountered in the foreigners’ city.

Evidence that makes no sense, mysterious boxes, and a suspicion that they can’t trust anyone in the city drives the major and Nyachung together and out into the wilderness. No one’s telling Major Dalsgaard everything, but every step leads him closer to a feeling of imminent catastrophe if he can’t wrap this case up in time.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Rare

AUTHOR: Briar Prescott

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 293 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020

BLURB:

One summer changes their lives forever…

Alex Ellison is well-educated, rich and good-looking. Too bad the ingredients of success haven’t mixed too well for him and instead of having the world at his feet, Alex has, once again, landed himself in a hot mess of trouble.

The community service his father arranges for him in a wildlife center on the other side of the country comes as a bit of a nasty surprise, though. Being shipped off to middle-of-nowhere, Oregon, is not Alex’s idea of the perfect summer vacation.

What Alex never expects is to meet Noah Price.

He never expects to be noticed and understood.

He never expects to feel valued and special.

He never expects to fall in love.

Everything is not what it seems, though, and love that feels invincible turns out to be anything but.

But love finds a way, and when Alex and Noah unexpectedly cross paths years later, they will have to risk it all for the love they both deserve and so desperately need.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Don’t Fight the Spark

SERIES: Soldiers and Mercenaries #1

AUTHOR: Kasia Bacon

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 86 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2019

BLURB:

As the Light Festival draws near, the Něssyrians craft paper lanterns, awaiting the most important holiday of the year.

The Lyliňg Fighting House, too, prepares for celebration–by laying fresh sand onto the arena and setting up a match against their top pit fighter, the unrivalled Yüuzuki Ōren.

His last match. One he can’t win.

With the odds more than stacked against him, the gorgeous Barbarian is as good as dead. Unless his lover, healer Ĥaiatto Ẽkana, proves himself every bit as determined as he is clever and finds a way to protect the man he’d stop at nothing to save.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Blade’s Distraction

SERIES: Paranormal Wars: Juarez #1

AUTHOR: Shea Balik

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 113 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2020

BLURB:

Forest Bradford is a coyote shifter who has always fought against his parents’ need to control him. So when he met his mate, Blade Castillo, a black panther and an elite soldier in the Alliance Army, he refused to let the man order him around. He’s disconcerted when he has to face his own needs when it comes to his mate, but he fights the urge to submit even though it’s what he and his coyote want.

Blade’s need to keep Forest safe was confusing him. As the second to his team leader, Blade has usually looked out for the others, but with Forest it was much more than that, it was nearly an obsession. When Forest was almost killed by the traitor they were hunting, Blade was forced to face that Forest had become a distraction that Blade couldn’t ignore.

Note: This book is written in one point of view.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Love According to Liam

SERIES:  According to Liam #3

AUTHOR:  V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:   205 pages

RELEASE DATE:  June 8, 2020

BLURB: 

Sometimes it takes a child to remind us that love and family are rarely perfect but an accepting heart can smooth out the imperfections.

Mike Kneller-Mettler’s life has certainly been on the fast track upward since he met his husband, Bryn. Now married for nearly a year to the starting goalie for the Pittsburgh Ravens, Mike’s found himself propelled into a new home, a new career, and a new role as loving spouse. As his baby sister’s wedding approaches, Mike is going to be faced with a couple of monumental decisions that will affect not only his future, but the everyone he holds close to his heart.

Bryn Mettler and his team haven’t had the best ending to their season. Nursing a recurring groin injury, Bryn isn’t quite sure he’s ready for wedding chaos. But, the nuptials are going to go off whether he’s able to dance with the bride or not. Amid the usual insanity that every wedding brings, unexpected guests show up to throw the beautifully planned affair into turmoil. As the adults slip into childish behavior, it might be up to Liam to be the voice of reason.

Reviewed by Cindy

TITLE: Desire and Denial

SERIES: Southern Boys #3

AUTHOR: K.C. Wells

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 328 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020

BLURB:

Jon has yearned for a man’s touch for as long as he can remember.
Now two younger men are about to bring his fantasies to life.

Jon Walters is a mess.
He’s thirty-eight. His roommates are eighteen and twenty. It’s never gonna work. But Lord, he wants it to.

He’s spent years hiding his sexuality. Denying his desires. Guys don’t come out at my age – do they? Except he did come out once – and went right back in again. How does he explain all this to Del, his brother? That’s a conversation Jon is dreading. Del is the only family Jon has left, and he’s going to be hurt. Angry. Not to mention, there are secrets Jon does not want to share.

And then there’s Chaz and Kendis. Wasn’t falling for one guy enough of a challenge? I had to fall for both of them? And what the hell do they see in me? Because they’re not making it easy for him to say no.

Whichever way he looks at it, Jon’s life just went way beyond It’s Complicated…

* first time
* age gap
* Out For You
* Menage

This is the final book in the Southern Boys trilogy, and it deals with characters introduced in book #2, Pride & Protection. Yes, you could read it as a standalone, but reading the previous book is recommended.

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: Just My Luck

AUTHOR: Alice Winters

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 342 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020

BLURB:

When I’m tossed into the trunk of a car, I realize that what little luck I have has finally run out—especially when I find that Tony, the man who’d abducted me, is planning on using me to get back at my father. My chances for escape look pretty bleak when I’m handcuffed to Tony’s bodyguard, an intimidating man named Shepherd who apparently loves tight shirts and seems to be amused by making my life miserable. Soon, though, I learn that Shepherd has a heart and a brain. And sometimes, those two things can be a bigger weapon than anything in a time like this. I just have to learn how to wield them.

After Shepherd gets me away from Tony’s men, I discover that he’s a survivor, a fighter, and the only person who seems willing to help me when it feels like the whole world is against me. At first, I’m not sure if I can trust the man, but the more we get to know each other, the more I realize that he’s funny and kind of sweet. He’s determined to protect me, but he doesn’t know all of my secrets. He doesn’t know that Tony isn’t the only one looking for me. But together, as we face betrayal and taking down the worst monster of all, we’re determined that we will be the lucky ones after all.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Baking Battles

SERIES: Scandinavian Comfort #3

AUTHOR: Sophia Soames

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 246 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2020

BLURB:

Are you brave enough to stay? Or strong enough to walk away?

Mattias Strømme’s life is a recipe for disaster. He is a single dad of a 2-year-old, has an ex-wife who scares him, and a job in finance where he scares everyone else. And now he has been dragged in as a last-minute filler contestant on Baking Battles, the hit reality baking show.

Mattias can’t bake. He can barely dress himself in the morning, and he definitely hasn’t got the skills to charm the viewing public, or the wannabe celebs who make up the rest of the show’s contestants. He’s not a nice person. He’s just… nothing.

Mattias left his wife when life became unbearable for him and he fell apart.

Now, when he is suddenly drowning in a mess of rumours, male supermodels, and unicorn glitter? Will Mattias be brave enough to stay? Or strong enough to walk away?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Third Mate

SERIES: River Wolf Pack #3

AUTHOR: Rebecca James

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 182 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2018

BLURB:

Sequel to Second Alpha. Second Edition. All rights have been returned to author.

The winds of change are blowing through the River Wolf Pack compound. River, the pack alpha, has allowed rogue wolves, a coyote shifter, and humans to join the pack. Then there’s the twin girls that Josiah, River’s mate, has given birth to. A movement to return to more traditional werewolf ways is gaining momentum.

In exchange for Leo’s help, Stone offers him the position of second alpha should Stone succeed in usurping River as pack alpha. Leo has his own problems — his desire to rise within the pack wars with his dislike of Stone. With the addition of Sam and Foster into the mix, Leo’s personal life is no less complex.

Jax knows he must make a difficult decision before he’s turned out of the compound. Should he remain human or accept David’s bite? He loves the alpha wolf, but he also has ties to the human world, ones he doesn’t want to sever. When David discovers Brooks is considering mating Stone, David determines to prevent it. Can Jax provide a solution to Brooks’s problem even if it means sacrificing his own happiness?

Can River remain in charge of an increasingly fractured pack? Does he even want to?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Bloodless

SERIES: Serial Investigations #1

AUTHOR: Rhiannon D’Averc

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 298 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 29, 2019

BLURB:

How do you solve a murder…

… When you’re the prime suspect?

A body cut up into pieces and left in Highgate Wood. It sounds like the most exciting case that private detectives Ram and Will have had to deal with since leaving their FBI training and returning to London.

As each new body is piled up amongst the trees, the stakes get higher – and Serial Investigations London embraces their first real challenge.

But Ram’s lifestyle – staying out all days of the week, drinking too much, and having sex with a different man every night – soon catches up with him when the police realise there’s just one link that connects the bodies.

And it’s him.

Will faces a battle around the clock to prevent his best friend from being put away for life – and while the two of them face their own demons, there’s a secret hanging over their heads that might just bring it all crashing down.

If you’re a fan of BBC’s Luther, Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Jump into the action from the very beginning with Bloodless, the first book in a series you won’t dare to put down.