Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE:  Try Me

SERIES:  Extracurricular Activities #2

AUTHOR:  Neve Wilder

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

RELEASE DATE:  August 5, 2020

LENGTH:  347 pages

BLURB:

Two rivals. One law internship. A whole lot of objectionable activity.

It wasn’t always this way between us.
We were best friends growing up.
Competitive? Yeah.
Ruthless? Definitely.
Neither of us liked to lose.

But the intense chemistry?
That’s new.
The hatred in his eyes?
That’s new, too.

I should let it go.
There’s too much bad blood between our families. Between us.
But I can’t.
I don’t think he can, either.

Now we’re gunning for the same internship.
If he thinks I’ll back down, he’s dead wrong.

Once upon a time, I lost everything.
I won’t let it happen again.

Go ahead. Try me.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Foreign Affair

SERIES: Delingpole Mysteries #3

AUTHOR: David C. Dawson

PUBLISHER: Park Creek Publishing

LENGTH: 274 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 8, 2020

BLURB:

There’s a murderer stalking the gay bars of Berlin.

It’s September, the time of Folsom Europe, the city’s annual festival for gay men in leather.

And Berlin’s become a dangerous place for them.

British lawyer, and part-time sleuth, Dominic Delingpole is in town. He’s come to Berlin to visit Matty, the teenage son he first met only a year ago.

When Matty is arrested for the attacks, Dominic teams up with German lawyer Johann Hartmann, a good-looking man with a seductive charm.

As they battle to prove Matty’s innocence, Dominic and Johann discover the attacks are linked to a sinister, Russian-backed experiment.

But whose side is Hartmann really on?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Fisher’s

SERIES: Takoda Outreach Center #2

AUTHOR: Sammi Cee

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 136 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2020

BLURB:

A MM Contemporary Romance

Fisher knows what it’s like to be hungry. He’s dedicated his life to feeding those in need, and now that he’s offered sanctuary to two homeless teenage boys, that mission has never felt more personal.

Officer Marcus LeBleu is the newest volunteer at Takoda Outreach Center. He lives for upholding the law, and giving back to the community he serves, but he’s also found something he wants for himself—the handsome, yet cranky, Fisher.

Fisher is determined to protect the boys which means keeping their secret.

Marcus is determined to break down his walls so he can help him.

Will the truth be more than their new relationship can weather or can they find a way to save the boys without either man compromising his beliefs?

Takoda Outreach Center: When you’re holding hope in the palm of your hand… Deliciously sweet stories of finding your happily ever after where you least expected it.

*** Trigger warning: References to off-page past sexual abuse of a minor.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Shadow Men

SERIES:  Hunt&Cam4Ever #7

AUTHOR:  Adira August

PUBLISHER:  Red Deer

LENGTH: 379 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 7, 2020

BLURB:

DARKNESS FALLS, EVEN IN PARADISE…

“I said, no.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t accept that.”

Hunter gave Ben Hart an incredulous look. “Accept it or don’t Hart, I’m not leaving Cam right now.”

The billionaire put his hands into his pockets and looked around Cam’s yard—an unimproved clearing to the edge of the woods. Above the jagged line of the canyon rim, a lone raptor circled lazily. “I don’t like calling in favors, but if that’s what it takes…”

“If you ‘call them in’ they aren’t favors. And before you explain exactly what happened, why do you need me? If it’s a police matter, Hawaii has police departments. The locals aren’t meeting your high expectations?”

Hart’s indigo eyes flashed fire. “Remember who you’re talking to, Detective.”

“Remember I don’t work for you, Hart.”

Benedict Hart and Hunter Dane faced-off. They were both big men, both men who had killed, and both motivated by the same thing.

“Don’t fight me on this, Hunter; I’m protecting my family.”

“So am I, Ben. Either tell me what the hell is going on or leave. Cam and I are still on our honeymoon.”

Something desperate flickered across Ben Hart’s face. “I’ve done a lot for you, Hunter. And for Cam. You think I can’t hurt you? And hi—”

WHAM!

One billionaire facedown on the redwood table.

“Hunter!” Cam was on the patio, in sweatpants and nothing else. He crossed swiftly to the table. “Let him go before one of his bodyguards takes you out from the woods.”

Hunter didn’t move. “He threatened you.”

“Then he’s scared s**tless about something money can’t fix.”

A 72k word police procedural, the seventh in the Hunt&Cam4Ever BDSM-MYSTERY series. This is the book the author calls “The hardest book I ever wrote.” This is an ending no one was expecting.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Captive Mate

SERIES: Mismatched Souls #2

AUTHOR: Eliot Grayson

PUBLISHER: Smoking Teacup Books

LENGTH: 207 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2020

BLURB:

Captured, imprisoned, and…falling in love?

Arik is many things. Shaman, necromancer, a little on the snarky side…no one could ever accuse him of being boring. But one thing he never intended to be was imprisoned by angry werewolves. Maybe casting that love spell on the sexy alpha pack leader wasn’t such a great idea after all.

Matthew Armitage has a problem. Several of them, actually. And the biggest one is Arik. The shaman can’t be trusted. He’s dangerous enough to get the entire pack killed. Matthew knows that. But knowing doesn’t make it any easier to keep his mind (and hands) off Arik. Surely everything he’s feeling is a side effect of the spell…right?

It’s not long before enemies of the pack start circling—including one intent on claiming Arik as his unwilling mate. If they have any hope of surviving, Arik and Matthew will need to work together. And if they want a shot at happily ever after…well, they’ll just have to cross that bridge when they get to it.

If they get to it…

Captive Mate can (sort of) be read as a standalone, but works best when read in order as part of the Mismatched Mates series, beginning with The Alpha’s Warlock. This book contains a vivid memory of a sexual assault, but the assault occurs in the past and off-page and is not between the main characters.

REVIEWED by Jen B.

TITLE: Exposed

AUTHOR: H.L. Day

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 382 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 20, 2020

BLURB:

A survival gay romance

Sometimes salvation comes from the most unlikely hero.

When Tate Gillespie is marked for death for a crime he didn’t commit, his life crumbles. In a world where ‘justice’ is meted out by a relentless military force, he’s going to need more than a mythical guardian angel. His life down to seconds, he’s saved by the mysterious X, a knife-wielding man he’s never even met before. But who is X? Is he the man who threatens and kills without a second thought? Or the strangely gentle man who only seems to act that way around Tate?

X is a shadow. A wraith. A man who flits through the city virtually unseen. He’s got no time for people when knives are far more reliable. X does have one weakness though—the man he’s been keeping safe for years who doesn’t even know it. He’d burn the whole world to keep him alive. But what he won’t do is stake his claim. Tate’s not his and he needs to remember that, no matter how close they might become.

With the military in hot pursuit, they’re going to need to rely on X’s skills to keep them both alive. Tate’s feelings are growing with every hour they spend together, but X is a tough nut to crack. Can two people from very different backgrounds really find common ground? Or will one of the many perils they face throughout their long journey drive them apart?

It’s all about survival. Not love. Isn’t it?

Exposed is a 132k action/adventure story featuring two men who couldn’t be more opposite.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Mating in Stormy Waters

SERIES: Paranormal Wars: Storm Haven #6

AUTHOR: Shea Balik

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 103 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 12, 2020

BLURB:

Dasan Toomre is a water mystic who is having a rough day. Then he meets his mate, Jalin Black, a shark shifter and things start to look up. But before they are barely introduced, a bomb rips through Stone Haven killing nine residents. Dasan’s father was one of those residents. Devastated, he throws himself into his work in order to lessen the pain.

Jalin couldn’t believe his good fortune in meeting his mate. When his Dasan loses his father, Jalin does his best to comfort his mate, but it seems as if Dasan would rather be alone. Too hurt to stick around, Jalin goes to the only place he finds solace, the ocean.

Once Dasan realizes he’s pushed Jalin away, he chases his mate to the Pacific Ocean. As he looks out at the vast body of water he can only hope he’ll be able to find his mate in order to beg for a second chance.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Awkward Love

AUTHOR:  Riley Hart

SERIES:  Stumbling Into Love #2

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  218 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 7, 2020

BLURB:

Jameson
Being a twenty-two-year-old virgin was not on my list of life goals. I don’t know how it happened. Well…I never date, dedicate all my time to college, and I’m awkward with a capital A around hot guys–okay, so I know exactly how it happened. When my best friends come up with a plan to make the most of this summer before grad school, I’m all for it. That’s how I end up at a charity bachelor auction, bidding on a date I hope will help me toss this V-card out the window.

What could possibly go wrong?

Will
Life is good. I love my new job as PA to the owner of a major production company. Being a prize in a charity auction and scoring the highest bid? Icing on the cake. Now I get to be the date of the most adorable, rambling, bow-tie-wearing grad student I’ve ever seen. Seriously, I can’t be within ten feet of this guy without a smile on my face. When he slips that he’s looking for a summer fling to experiment with, I’m game. Jameson is so different from anyone I’ve hooked up with before, so completely himself, I’m immediately smitten.

Oh, and did I mention we find out he’s my boss’s son?

Between keeping our fling-turned-relationship a secret from his dad and another little familial bombshell that gets dropped in our laps, I’m quickly learning that love is a whole lot more complicated than I thought.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Alpha’s Fake Mate

SERIES: The Omega Misfits #2

AUTHOR: Wendy Rathbone

PUBLISHER: Eye Scry

LENGTH: 219 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020

BLURB:

The Alphas think they own everything. Including people. Well, I’m here to say they don’t own me, and I will never let one of those bastards touch me again.

The frenzy of their Burn cannot be trusted. I know from experience. My first time with an Alpha nearly ended in my death. And because of the laws which favor Alpha rights, and place a large number of unbonded, adult Omegas on chattel farms, my abuser can never be tried for his crimes against me.

Omegas are being hurt. Omegas are dying.

All Alphas are violent. Or so I believe. Until I meet Orion.

Ori is everything a guy could want in a mate. Six foot three. Beautiful brown wavy hair. Bright, dark eyes. Muscles like chiseled marble. He even says “please” and “thank you” at all the right times. He’s got it all, except he’s an Alpha.

Though he has given me a room in his home free of charge, and has signed fake paperwork saying we are bonded so I don’t have to answer my attacker’s claim, can I trust him?

But now I’m in danger. If I don’t take a real mate, my life as I know it will be over. Can I believe in the goodness of Ori? Can I learn to love again?

A non-shifter, fake mate, Alpha/Omega love story. Rescue. First time. Omegaverse. Mpreg. Healing from sexual trauma. (All books in The Omega Misfits series are standalone reads and can be read in any order.)