Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  A Guy Walks Into My Bar

AUTHOR: Lauren Blakely

PUBLISHER:  Little Dog Press

LENGTH:  434 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 19, 2020

BLURB:

Every bartender should follow one simple rule—don’t go home with the customers.

That’s been easy for me to stick to, until the night a cocky, confident, and sinfully charming hockey star walks into my bar. This sexy athlete is too hard to resist, especially when he makes it clear how much he wants the “sarcastic, witty, hot AF” guy behind the bar—also known as me. Still, I’m not keen on breaking my own rules since I know where that can lead—no place good. But when that man makes his case with one bone-searing kiss on the streets of London, I throw resistance out the window.

What could go wrong with a hot, no-strings-attached fling before he leaves town in five days? Trouble is, soon our nights together lead to days, to long conversations, to getting to know each other, and to something I never expected—falling ridiculously hard for a man who’s getting on a plane to America when I live a world away. My life is here. His is there. And no amount of falling or feeling will change that one big problem.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Lucky Cat

SERIES: Treasure Trove Antiques #1

AUTHOR: L.M. Somerton

PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing

LENGTH: 176 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2020

BLURB:

Antiques and ammunition do not mix well.

The antique trade is not known for its life or death excitement and Landry Carran is happy that he has to contend only with furniture polish, woodworm and his irascible boss. He gets all the thrills he needs at his favorite BDSM club, Scorch.

Detective Gage Roskam is hunting stolen jewels taken from a Tokyo exhibition then shipped to Seattle. Mired in a deadly race involving the Yakuza, an enigmatic Englishman and too many indecipherable clues, he doesn’t have time to indulge in Dominant fantasies.

When their worlds collide, neither Landry nor Gage expects things to get quite as complicated—or dangerous—as they do. When Landry steps into the path of some powerful, ruthless people, it’s up to Gage to protect him. Along the way they might just discover what they both need.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: A Novel Murder

SERIES: A Merrychurch Mystery #3

AUTHOR: K.C. Wells

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 234 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2020

BLURB:

A Merrychurch Mysteries Case

Hosting the Merrychurch Literary Festival is just the distraction Jonathon de Mountford needs. Placating his father and keeping his boyfriend, Mike Tattersall, happy is proving an increasing struggle. But the small event takes on new proportions with the appearance of Teresa Malvain—former Merrychurch resident turned famous murder mystery novelist. But is something about the quaint village setting of her books a little too familiar?

Teresa’s sudden death is certainly something right out of one of her stories, and Jonathan and Mike soon discover there are villagers who might not want the inspiration behind her books revealed.

When it emerges Teresa’s severe allergic reaction was no accident, Jonathon and Mike are compelled to investigate, aided by a few people keen to help them discover the truth. But they’re trying to work out what is fact and what is fiction, and the line between the two blurs constantly. And as for their relationship, Jonathon finally comes to a decision….

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Acsquidentally in Love

SERIES: Sucker for Love Mysteries #1

AUTHOR: K.L. Hiers

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 192 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2020

BLURB:

Nothing brings two men—or one man and an ancient god—together like revenge.

Private investigator Sloane sacrificed his career in law enforcement in pursuit of his parents’ murderer. Like them, he is a follower of long-forgotten gods, practicing their magic and offering them his prayers… not that he’s ever gotten a response.

Until now.

Azaethoth the Lesser might be the patron of thieves and tricksters, but he takes care of his followers. He’s come to earth to avenge the killing of one of his favorites, and maybe charm the pants off the cute detective Fate has placed in his path. If he has his way, they’ll do much more than bring a killer to justice. In fact, he’s sure he’s found the man he’ll spend his immortal life with.

Sloane’s resolve is crumbling under Azaethoth’s surprising sweetness, and the tentacles he sometimes glimpses escaping the god’s mortal form set his imagination alight. But their investigation gets stranger and deadlier with every turn. To survive, they’ll need a little faith… and a lot of mystical firepower.

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: Wardrake

AUTHOR: J.A. Jaken

SERIES: Dragon Mage Chronicles #4

PUBLISHER: White Owl Publishing

LENGTH: 236 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2020

BLURB:

Andrei and Jander return home to the city of Vallerin with the grimmest possible news and tell their king to do what he can to prepare his people for war. Kirin is heading toward the capital with a legion behind him, and he is determined to take revenge both on Andrei and on the apprentice he believes supplanted him in his former master’s heart. This time, with the might of an entire dragon army at his command, he very well might succeed.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Abstract Love

AUTHOR:  Sara Dobie Bauer

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  277 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 4, 2020

BLURB:

I hate Sam Shelby. So why do I want to kiss him?

Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland.
Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man.
Well, shit happens.

After high school, Sam Shelby moved to New York. Eight years later, he returns to Cleveland and lands a job at the best ad firm in town. It would be the perfect gig, if his boss weren’t such an ass.

After his wife leaves, Donovan Cooper questions everything. The arrival of a young, arrogant, gifted graphic designer at Donovan’s firm is the last straw.

Tempers flare over office gossip, and following a nasty argument and scathing kiss, Donovan flails away from heterosexuality while Sam struggles to keep his “no relationship” rule intact.

Despite ugly socks, fiery fights, and their best intentions to not fall in love, these bullheaded coworkers can’t deny their chemistry. Donovan seeks happiness while Sam seeks success, but is there room for more?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Disarm

SERIES: Iron Heretics #2

AUTHOR: Michelle Frost

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 103 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2020

BLURB:

I’m not in the market for a Daddy.

Famous last words, right?

I wasn’t in the market to get kidnapped either. Lucky for me, a burly, beautiful man decided he was going to rescue me and take care of me whether I liked it or not. Well, I did like it. Maybe too much and even though I’m safe now, he still wants to take care of me.

Did I mention he’s a member of the Iron Heretics MC? Turns out to be a good thing because my past is about to catch up with me and there’s no way I’d survive disarming that threat alone.

Disarm is the second book in the Iron Heretics MC series. The series is best read in order.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Reluctant Alpha

SERIES: West Coast Wolves #1

AUTHOR: Susi Hawke

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 204 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2020

BLURB:

“As much as I felt bad for this Elisha person—God, my heart was breaking for the young man and all he’d been through—I was also angry. I’d left that pack in my rearview ten years ago for a good reason.”

Matthias Longclaw is happy living his life on the back of his beloved Harley with his five best friends and brothers-in-arms at his side. The West Coast Wolves are a rare pack of alphas, made up of unwanted orphans and second-born sons. The packs they were born to may not have wanted them, but they’ve built a solid family of their own. They help where they can, doing random acts of kindness and expecting nothing in return, just helping to build a world they want to live in.

Then Matt gets a call from an old childhood buddy. He’s being called back—begged to return—to reclaim his birthright and save a life in the process. The problem is… to do it, he will have to take a mate. And if he refuses? The omega will die.

Torn between his duty to help others and his resentment of his old pack, Matt never expects for Elisha Whitetail to tilt his world and change everything. Can Matt and Elisha rebuild a broken pack while tending to a new love and a growing family while dealing with outside threats from neighboring packs?

They’re wolves. Strong, proud, and willing to do what it takes when their community needs them… whatever it takes.

This is the first in a new mpreg series about finding joy in a hard world, building family, and discovering that life can surprise a person when they least expect it. Although this world has harsher themes than my previous books, it still has the same heart you’d expect. Plus a dose of my irreverent humor and all the naughty, knotty heat that comes with true mates. It wouldn’t be a Susi Hawke book without it. Be sure to read the author’s note at the beginning for possible trigger warnings.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Interrogation

SERIES:  Hunter Dane Investigations #1

AUTHOR:  Adira August

PUBLISHER:  RedDeer

LENGTH:  194 pages

RELEASE DATE:  April 17, 2020

BLURB:

Hunter’s most twisted killer. Cam’s most dangerous case.

“SO WHO GOT DEAD?”

Twee asked, taking a pastry. Merisi pulled the plate away from her and closer to himself.

“Three little boys,” Hunter told them. “The fourth went missing this morning. If this killer’s M.O. hasn’t changed, the boy’s not dead yet.”

“You’re talking about the Wilderness Killer?” Diane Natani asked. “That’s McCauley’s case. How is our unit getting it?”

“The victim is the governor’s nephew. McCauley and his team haven’t gotten anywhere in a year. The governor requested us, and we’re taking over.”

“Well, that shouldn’t cause any resentment.” Merisi dunked half a doughnut into his coffee.

“It’s a recipe for a clusterfuck, Boss,” Twee said.

“True. It’s also exactly the kind of case this Unit was created to handle.”

Natani tossed down her pen. “We have political interference, departmental incompetence, personal resentment, and a boy who will die within eight hours. Somewhere.”

“No problem. We find the killer and get him to tell us where in the 1200 square miles of Colorado wilderness he staked out the governor’s nephew.” Merisi punctuated this with an eyeroll.

“The first part got done about an hour ago.”

Assistant District Attorney Natani perked up. “We have a suspect?”

Hunter nodded. “We do. Now I just have to get him to talk.”

“Just get him to talk?” Merisi tilted his chair back. “He’ll lawyer up before you can say ‘You have the right’ and a keyhole satellite couldn’t find this kid.”

“You’re forgetting the Boss’s cardinal rule.” Twee pulled the plate back toward herself and Merisi’s chair came down with a sharp bang.

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“Never assume.”

If you like a master gamesman for a detective and a few twists in your criminal cocktail, you want to read this.

A STAND-ALONE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Second Nature

AUTHOR: Alexa Land

SERIES: His Chance #2

PUBLISHER: Self Published

RELEASE DATE: August 29, 2020

BLURB:

The last time I saw Gabriel, he was putting me on a bus and sending me to some relatives I’d never met, with the hope of a fresh start after rehab.

That was four years ago.

Now he’s back in my life. I’ve wanted him for years, while he’s always thought of me as just a friend. This is my one shot at turning our friendship into so much more.

But how do I convince him I’m the man he needs, and not the broken boy he used to know?

Reviewed by Taylin

This is a review of The Mary’s Boys Collection (Books 1-4)

TITLE: The Mary’s Boys Collection

AUTHOR:  Brandon Witt

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH: 522 pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 7, 2020