Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Boy Shattered

AUTHOR: Eli Easton

NARRATOR: Tristan Josiah

PUBLISHER: Pinkerton Road

RELEASE DATE: November 16, 2020

LENGTH: 8 hours, 3 minutes

BLURB:

Brian
You’ll make it out of here, Brian. I swear.
I had everything—school quarterback, popular with girls, and my dad was proud of me. I told myself it didn’t matter no one knew the real me. And then I nearly died. Landon saved my life. He’s the bravest guy I know. He came out a few years ago, proud and fierce, and he ran into gunfire to help others. Me, I’m a mess. Can’t even stand to be in a room with the curtains open. But here’s the thing about losing it all: You get a chance to start over and be someone new. Only how can I move on when the two shooters who attacked our school were never caught? And why do I feel like I’m still in the crosshairs?

Landon
Will you kiss me?
When I came across Brian Marshall,the hottest guy in school, dying on the cafeteria floor, I did what anyone would do. I tried to save him. His request surprised me, but I figured he needed comfort, so I kissed him on the forehead. When he survived and came back to school, he was broken in body and mind. He still needed me, and soon we were unlikely besties. But what I saw at school that day woke me up. I want to demand action on gun control, lead protests, raise my fist. I’ll tear the world down if I have to. And if I can get the man of my dreams and save the world at the same time? I’ll take it. Only I didn’t understand that the horror at Jefferson Waller High wasn’t over.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Finch

SERIES: Forbidden Desires

AUTHORS: Piper Scott & Virginia Kelly

NARRATOR:  Michael Ferraiuolo

LENGTH: 7 hours and 3 minutes

RELEASE DATE: October 29, 2020

BLURB:

Hugh Drake, the most whimsical member of the Drake family, wants a clutch badly…and despite his sanctioned period to reproduce nearing its end, he just might get his wish.

New information has emerged that suggests Disgraces are dragons and able to bear eggs. All that’s left to do is find one Hugh can tolerate, and who better to help him find his perfect match than his steadfast and faithful secretary, Finch?

If only Finch were a Disgrace, but alas, some things simply aren’t meant to be.

Sensible and straightforward, Finch has served as Hugh Drake’s secretary for more than a decade and secretly loved him for just as long. Hugh is the light of his life, but he’s also entirely too gullible, which is why Finch refuses to believe his claim that Disgraces are dragons. They’re not. Finch would know, since he is one. But that little fact will have to stay a secret because Finch would rather his love go unnoticed than be the one who breaks his dragon’s heart when he fails to produce a clutch.

Finch is a hilarious omegaverse mpreg-ish romance set following the events of the Forbidden Desires series. It contains an adorably clueless dragon, a faithful secretary whose heart is invested in more than just his job, the best Funfetti cake ever, “slippery” situations, and a single amethyst cufflink. For maximum enjoyment, Finch is best listened to following the events of Clutch, Bond, Mate, Swallow, and Magpie.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Fakers

SERIES:  Licking Thicket Book #1

AUTHOR:  Lucy Lennox and May Archer

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  9 hrs and 22 mins

RELEASE DATE:  July 27, 2020

BLURB:

Brooks Johnson’s words to live by:

When returning to Licking Thicket, TN, for the first time in 10 years to reunite with your nosy neighbors, heartbroken ex-girlfriend, and matchmaking mama who never quite believed you were gay, it’s best to bring a fake boyfriend as backup.

Just don’t be surprised when your ex-girlfriend does the same. And when her incredibly hot fake boyfriend becomes the one island of calm in a sea of bovine-based insanity, it’s best to exercise caution, especially when he pushes you up against the rough barn wall to check you very thoroughly for splinters.

Just don’t be surprised if you fall head-over-hooves in love with him.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Rag and Bone

SERIES: Rag and Bone #1 , The World of a Charm of Magpies

AUTHOR: KJ Charles

NARRATOR: Cornell Collins

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 5 hours, 37 minutes

RELEASE DATE: January 26, 2018

BLURB:

It’s amazing what people throw away…

Crispin Tredarloe never meant to become a warlock. Freed from his treacherous master, he’s learning how to use his magical powers the right way. But it’s brutally hard work. Not everyone believes he’s a reformed character, and the strain is putting unbearable pressure on his secret relationship with waste-man Ned Hall.

Ned’s sick of magic. Sick of the trouble it brings, sick of its dangerous grip on Crispin and the miserable look it puts in his eyes, and sick of being afraid that a gentleman magician won’t want a street paper-seller forever—or even for much longer.

But something is stirring among London’s forgotten discards. An ancient evil is waking up and seeking its freedom. And when wild magic hits the rag-and-bottle shop where Ned lives, a panicking Crispin falls back onto bad habits. The embattled lovers must find a way to work together—or London could go up in flames.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  One Time Only

AUTHOR:  Lauren Blakely

NARRATOR:  Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan

PUBLISHER:  Lauren Blakely Books

LENGTH:  9 hrs and 27 mins

RELEASE DATE:  November 16, 2020

BLURB:

A fiery, passionate MM forbidden romance from number one New York Times best-selling author Lauren Blakely, performed by Jacob Morgan and Teddy Hamilton!

Ever hear the story about the bodyguard who falls for the rock star?

Yeah, it never ends well.

Each day I remind myself that it’s my job to protect Stone. And nowhere in the job description does it say I should lust after the charismatic, charming man.

Especially since we’re opposites.

But every night I spend with him the dangerous, off-limits attraction grows more intense.

Until one night in a limo when we combust.

One time only will have to be enough. One scorching, forbidden night.

Because the mistakes from the past are chasing me. And if I give in again, I’ll lose everything.

But sometimes you grab hold of the desire. And other times, the desire takes hold of you.

No matter the cost.

ONE TIME ONLY is a standalone MM romance! Devour this MM rocker/bodyguard forbidden romance!

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  A Guy Walks into My Bar

AUTHOR:  Lauren Blakely

NARRATOR:  Shane East, Joe Arden and Full Cast

PUBLISHER:  Lauren Blakely Books

LENGTH:  10 hrs and 26 mins

RELEASE DATE:  August 17, 2020

BLURB:

A passionate, utterly addictive stand-alone M/M romance from number one NYT best seller Lauren Blakely performed with duet narration by Shane East and Joe Arden as the two witty, charming, and sexy heroes!

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.

Performed with a full supporting cast including: Vanessa Edwin, Emma Wilder, Ron Butler, Jakobi Diem, Zachary Webber, Vikas Adam, Maxine Mitchell, Stella Hunter, and with a special appearance from Sebastian York.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Liars

SERIES:  Licking Thicket Book #2

AUTHOR:  Lucy Lennox and May Archer

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Self published

LENGTH:  9 hrs and 42 mins

RELEASE DATE: November 04, 2020

BLURB:

Parrish Partridge’s true facts:

There’s nothing hotter than a tall, gruff, bewildered, tattooed mountain of a man cuddling a sweet, orphaned baby, so you can tell yourself that you’ll resist him…

But that’s a lie.

And when that man asks you to do him a favor and pretend to be his very temporary, very fake fiance to help him get custody of that adorable baby, you can pretend you know better than to say yes…

But that’s a lie, too.

And when you actually get to know your kind, strong, pullet-loving prince of a fiance, and all his crazy, lovable, meddling neighbors, you can tell yourself you’re not really falling for Diesel Church and the town of Licking Thicket…

But that might be the biggest lie of all.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: The ABCs of Spellcraft Collection, Volume 2

AUTHOR: Jordan Castillo Price

NARRATOR: Nick Hudson

PUBLISHER: JCP Books

RELEASE DATE: October 8, 2020

LENGTH: 11 hours, 3 minutes

BLURB:

Pinyin Bay is in peril!

Dixon Penn has done his share of traveling and is ready to settle down in the city where he grew up. Yuri Volnikov has finally found a place he can call home. But their idyllic life together is threatened when a mysterious buyer starts scooping up properties in Pinyin Bay…and not with the intention of sprucing things up. To add insult to injury, the buyer is using Spellcraft to get what they want.

Pinyin Bay might not be a thriving metropolis, but from the ramshackle tenements of Scrivener Village to the crumbling splendor of Shirque Mansion, the city is rich with Spellcraft history. Even more importantly, it’s the place Dixon and Yuri call home.

Yuri’s Spellcraft talent is exceedingly rare. And although Dixon came into his magical potential recently, he’s been training his whole life to wield his quill. The magic is notoriously capricious — but with explosions rattling the shoreline, Spellcraft is the city’s best hope. Can Dixon and Yuri harness the forces of Spellcraft to save Pinyin Bay?

The ABCs of Spellcraft is a series filled with bad jokes and good magic, where M/M romance meets paranormal cozy. A perky hero, a brooding love interest, and delightfully twisty-turny stories that never end up quite where you’d expect. This collection contains novellas 5 through 7 of The ABCs of Spellcraft series: Last but Not Lease, Don’t Rock the Boardwalk, and What the Frack?

Review by Sadonna

TITLE:  How to Elude  a Vampire

SERIES:  VRC: Vampire Related Crimes #2

AUTHOR:  Alice Winters

NARRATOR:  Michael Ferraiuolo

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  9 hours and 40 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  October 30, 2020

BLURB:

Finn 

When the vampire stalking me sent me a letter, I was prepared for my new life with the man I love to get thrown into chaos. But as the days stretch on and nothing happens, I become determined not to allow that monster to rule my life and decide that Marcus and I will move on.

We can’t always allow the past to haunt us. If that includes pestering Marcus and harassing my fellow detectives, they’d better learn to love it because I’m not going anywhere, even if they like to remind me I’m the only human working in a department filled with vampires.

But Marcus loves me for who I am, even if he’s not crazy about the cute pet names I call him like McBitey. Being with him is more than I could have dreamed, and even with the trials thrown in our way, he never fails to make me smile.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Starting From Here

SERIES:  Starting From #3

AUTHOR:  Lane Hayes

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Self Published

LENGTH:  8 hrs and 23 mins

RELEASE DATE:  October 23, 2020

BLURB:

Two bands, one goal, and a second chance….

Declan:

Everything is finally going well. I have a new band, a new label, and a debut album coming out. And then my drummer breaks his wrists. Just my luck. I need a quick replacement to record one more song, but my options are limited, and of course, the obvious candidate hates my guts. Okay, so I may have given him a few reasons over the years, but isn’t there an expiration date on holding a grudge?

Tegan:

I don’t trust Declan McNamara. Sure, he’s talented, smart, and has more sex appeal than any one person should be allowed. And yeah, he may be a rock star in the making, but beware – he’s trouble. However, our new record label’s survival may depend on a truce and extreme measures…of the fake boyfriend variety. If it’s our best shot at the big time, I’m willing to set the past aside and start over…here and now.

Starting from Here is a M/M bisexual romance rock and roll style…rival bands, fake boyfriends, and a second chance at a new love story. Each book in the Starting From series can be listened to as a stand-alone.