Book of the Week Poll
Welcome to the Love Bytes Book of the Week Poll!
Here are the books which achieved a 4.25 and up review last week from our reviewers.
As a reminder, the top two books from each week’s poll will roll into our Book of the Month poll at month’s end. Happy Voting!
Please scroll to the very bottom for the voting section.
POLL SCHEDULE:
This poll will remain open until at least 6PM, Amsterdam time next Friday. The actual closing time will vary depending on blog staff schedules…
Unguarded (Vino and Veritas #10) by Jay Hogan
Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Unguarded
SERIES: Vino & Veritas #10
AUTHOR: Jay Hogan
PUBLISHER: Heart Eyes Press
LENGTH: 333 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2021
BLURB:
I fled Boston and my cheating jerk of an ex with three hundred dollars and a lip gloss in my pocket. Waking up the next day in Burlington, Vermont, with a crick in my back and a frozen ass wasn’t exactly in the plan. If there was one. Which there wasn’t. Story of my life.
Three hours later and I’ve been hired as temporary help in the local veterinary and grooming clinic, which is kind of impressive since I know zip about animals and even less about grooming. But one thing I do know—I’m crushing hard on the sexy, absent-minded vet I work for.
My life is a hot mess. The last thing I need is another relationship. Emmett pushes all my buttons, but he isn’t out. He’s overwhelmed with a business to run and a son to look after and the kind of domestic life I never thought I wanted.
I should walk away.
But Emmett believes in me, and I might just be starting to believe in myself. As different as we are, is it possible we’re exactly what the other needs?
Forever Mann (Bear Valley #1) by Aries France
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Forever Mann
SERIES: Bear Valley (book #1)
AUTHOR: Aries France
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 542 Pages
RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2021
BLURB:
Jack: Family. Bear Valley. Work.
My life is full. I wouldn’t mind finding someone to share these things with, but finding something that fits is harder than it looks. But, then Perrin Thayer moves to Bear Valley and fits so right – in all the ways – I can’t help but fall hard for the sexy C.R.N.A.
Perrin: Hospitals. Skiing. Travel.
I’ve been gone from the U.S. for five years of some long soul-searching. I want a permanent life somewhere. And I want it with a guy like Jack. But, when my past shows up in Bear Valley, I’m not sure if Jack and I can get through it for a future on the other side.
Forever Mann is the first book in the Bear Valley series. Bear Valley follows the Mann brothers: Jack, Quinn, Matt, and Baylor. Each book can be read as stand-alone, but are enjoyed best when read in order. The series is intended for mature audiences only, 18-plus.
Bear Valley is a contemporary romance, there are no Bear shifters in Bear Valley.
Forever Mann has elements of hurt-comfort, sexy times, a guaranteed HEA, no cheating or sharing.
Trigger warning: does contain description of a prior manipulative/abusive relationship of one MC. There is some on-page description of being in an abusive/manipulative relationship.
Blood (Scales ‘N Spells #4) by Jocelynn Drake & A.J. Sherwood
Reviewed by Anna Lynn
TITLE: Blood
SERIES: Scales ‘N’ Spells #4
AUTHOR: Jocelynn Drake, AJ Sherwood
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 410 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2021
BLURB:
Secret identities are hard to keep.
Sora finds this to be doubly true after meeting the struggling Burkhard Clan and the mischievous Ravi. The wind dragon has stolen his breath, and heart, away. Sora suspects he might have found his mate.
But his inability to be truthful with Ravi eats at Sora. When the Jaeggi attack, Sora can’t keep his secrets any longer. Not when Ravi is in the center of the war raging around them.
He has to reveal who he really is. It’s the only way to be with Ravi and give the Burkhards the help they need.
Sora’s secret could tip the scales to save them all.
Hennessey’s Handler (Protect and Serve #4) by Pandora Pine
Reviewed by Cheryl K
TITLE: Hennessey’s Handler
SERIES: Protect and Serve #4
AUTHOR: Pandora Pine
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 247 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2021
BLURB:
Bar owner Hennessey McCoy finally has his life on track after being discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard under mysterious circumstances. He’s rebuilt his life piece by piece and Hennessey is the right place to open his heart to the right man. When his three-year-old niece goes missing at a party, Hennessey is paired with an annoyingly handsome search and rescue dog handler to help find the child.
Morrison Rowe, with the help of his search and rescue K9, Ahab, saves the day and finds the missing child, no thanks to Hennessey’s gruff and sarcastic manner. He can’t help thinking there’s more to Hennessey than sarcastic quips and a razor-sharp wit. Morrison sees a different, gentler side of the grumpy bar owner when he’s reunited with his niece.
As a way to say thank you, Hennessey invites Morrison to his bar, Bait for a free lunch. Never dreaming Morrison would take him up on the offer, Hennessey finds himself undeniably attracted to the dog handler. The pair begin spending time together, both encouraging the spark between them to grow into something more.
Things are heating up between Hennessey and Morrison when a man from Hennessey’s past comes to town, threatening to destroy everything he’s built from the ground up. Can Hennessey overcome the mistakes of his past or will this man steal his future as well?
That Mafioso Magic (Mages & Mayhem) by Nicholas Bella
Reviewed by Cheryl K
TITLE: That Mafioso Magic: A Dark Mafia Paranormal Romance
SERIES: Mages & Mayhem Series
AUTHOR: Nicholas Bella
PUBLISHER: self
LENGTH: 271 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2021
BLURB:
Private detective, Adrian Elias, knows what trouble looks like, and ruthless mobster and lion shifter, Sage Tamir, was just that with a capital T. On top of smelling like heaven, the man has the face of an angel, with a body made for unbridled sin. A combination Adrian finds very hard to resist.
Unfortunately, someone is trying to kill Sage and they’re using magic to do it. Sage usually takes these types of matters into his own hands, but this time, he’s out of his league. He believes the only person who can help him is the down-on-his-luck detective. Problem is, Adrian doesn’t want to take his case because he feels it may be too dangerous. Never mind the volcanic-level attraction they seem to share for each other raising the stakes. Magic and mayhem awaits.
Reader Advisory: 18 and older. Strong adult situations and language. A sarcastic PI and a no-nonsense mobster will keep you turning the pages way past your bedtime. Best order that pizza, because once you start this book, you won’t want to stop.
Amazon
Holding onto Light – Lucien Grey
Reviewed by True
TITLE: Holding Onto Light
AUTHOR: Lucien Grey
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 197 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 13, 2021
BLURB:
Two strangers running from their dark pasts find redemption in each other.
Harry, a former army doctor, lives in isolation after the devastating war between Rasacara and the Empire came to a bloody and violent conclusion. His lonely life is disrupted by a young, beautiful man surrounded by secrets and suspicion, who would likely destroy Harry if he knew who he was.
Kit, former member of the witch army’s Blue Crows, now on the run from his former master, must keep his identity a secret as his enemy is closing in and Harry, the gruff, mysterious woodsman, is all that stands between him and the man who wants him dead.
Forced together by Kit’s injuries, the two lonely men find comfort in each other, both scarred by the darkness of their pasts, but when Kit’s enemy catches up with him, they are forced to fight, revealing to each other the evils both of them have committed, and testing the strength of their new, fledgling love.
Reader advisory: This book contains reference to child abuse, graphic violence and injury, death, torture, PTSD and slavery. There are mentions of suicidal thought and homophobia.
Ranger Hank (The Lonely Heroes #1) by Sam E. Kraemer
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Ranger Hank
SERIES: The Lonely Heroes Series (book #1)
AUTHOR: Sam E. Kraemer
PUBLISHER: Kaye Klub Publishing
LENGTH: 438 pages
RELEASE DATE: Re release March 2021
BLURB:
Hank Schatz
One of my toughest decisions was to join the Army after graduating high school. My second toughest was to decide it was time to get out. I wanted more than that life had to offer—namely the return of my humanity and a life beyond the pain that had leached into my soul during my deployments. Without a hint at what to do next, I said goodbye to my Army life and headed home to Missouri.
There were things I’d been hiding from my family for too many years—a secret that had nothing to do with my career as an Army Ranger. It was time I began to live my truth, but how to start, I didn’t know. I was aware of one thing for sure—I didn’t want to be lonely anymore.
##
Reed Bayless
I had a job I loved as a Special Education teacher at Carver Middle School in central Missouri. The kids were amazing, and their parents were supportive, unlike my last school where the parents believed their expensive tuition relieved them of their obligations to actually participate in their children’s education. Sadly, I was still alone, and I was getting a little long in the tooth to play the one-night game.
Unexpectedly, my diamond brought her brother to the Christmas Eve service at the local Lutheran church, and I found myself off-balance by the gorgeous man. I felt there was a sadness about him that made me want to hold him in my arms until his hurts healed. Of course, he was an Army Ranger, the toughest of the tough and the straightest of the straight.
Between Ranger Hank, and his dog, Cosmo, I wanted things I couldn’t imagine were possible. Or were they?
This work of fiction is approximately 142,000 words in length and doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. It is the first book in the series entitled, “The Lonely Heroes Series
So Far Away by Nell Iris
Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: So Far Away
AUTHOR: Nell Iris
PUBLISHER: JMS Books
LENGTH: 55 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2021
BLURB:
Engaged couple Zakarias and Julian are convinced nothing can separate them … until a global pandemic hits. Zakarias catches the virus with mild symptoms and isolates in the couple’s guest house.
The few meters dividing them might as well be the moon as he watches Julian, an ICU nurse, work himself to the bone, unable to support him the way he needs. Frustration and worry build as the weeks pass.
Will Zakarias be declared healthy before Julian burns out?
Perfectly Us by Jaclyn Osborn
Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Perfectly Us
AUTHOR: Jaclyn Osborn
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 237 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2021
BLURB:
One summer. Two hearts forever changed.
Alex is magnetic. His vibrant personality and easy smiles draw people toward him. No one would guess he’s secretly hurting.
Shiloh is quiet. His social awkwardness and anxious mind make it hard for him to make connections. He’s always felt different. A little broken.
When these two meet, they recognize something in each other. One hides his pain, while the other wears scars from his. They’re opposites in every way, but like magnets, it’s what brings them together.
What starts as a tentative friendship soon blossoms into so much more, bringing about a summer of self-discovery, healing, soft kisses under the stars, and two imperfect people who learn just how perfectly they fit together.
Fairytales from Verania (Tales From Verania #4.5) by TJ Klune
REVIEWED by Jay V.
TITLE: Fairytales From Verania
AUTHOR: TJ Klune
SERIES: Tales From Verania #4.5
PUBLISHER: BOATK Books
LENGTH: 329 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2021
BLURB:
New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune invites you back to the land of Verania in a new collection of short stories starring the beloved characters from the Tales of Verania series.
In the opening story—The Unicorn in the Tower—Gary is a princess trapped in a stone tower by the evil Lady Tina DeSilva, who plans on sacrificing him on the first full moon after his eighteenth birthday. With help from his friends—a bird named Tiggy and a mangy weasel called Sam—Gary interviews potential suitors to rescue him and love him above all others, as he so rightly deserves.
The Unicorn in the Tower is followed by Sam and the Beanstalk, wherein a poor farm boy exchanges his family’s bull for magical beans and the promise of treasure in the sky. But when he climbs the beanstalk, Sam finds things are not as he expected them to be.
The Good Boy sees Todd and his immaculate ears taking center stage. When Todd’s father dies, he leaves his son in the care of his evil stepmother and two stepsiblings who live to make Todd’s life a living hell. It’s not until the household receives an invitation to attend a ball for the mysterious Sir that Todd begins to wish for a life beyond what he knows.
David’s Dragon, the final—and only canonical—tale, is set a thousand years before the rise of the Dark wizard Myrin. It begins simply: a lonely boy in a small village befriends a dragon. What follows is a story of love and sacrifice, hope and heartbreak, and what it means to earn your place amongst the stars.
Welcome back to Verania. It’s going to be a hell of a ride.
A Reluctant Boy Toy (Men of St. Nacho’s #3) by Z.A. Maxfield
Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: A Reluctant Boy Toy
SERIES: Men of St. Nacho’s #3
AUTHOR: Z.A. Maxfield
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 258 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2021
BLURB:
A physically scarred veteran. An emotionally scarred young actor. Can they let go of the past and find a future together?
Stone Wilder is happiest with his emotional support dog and the hybrid wolfdogs he rescues. They don’t react to his scars or call him queer because sex doesn’t interest him all that much. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t believe the rumors that paint gorgeous Sebastian Keye as an unprofessional “it boy.” To Stone, Sebastian is simply a nice kid who shares his interest in dogs.
Sebastian is drawn to Stone’s warmth and caring nature. With the help of his stalwart PA Molly, Sebastian and Stone begin a quiet friendship. But a video from Sebastian’s past suddenly goes viral, causing old hurts and humiliations to destroy his emotional stability and nearly cost him his life.
After Sebastian’s world falls apart, Stone wants to support him. But Stone has his own tortured past, and they can’t move forward unless he makes things right.
Will growing close to Sebastian lead Stone to a new understanding of who he is and what he wants?
Heartwood (Daydream, Colorado #2) by A.M. Rose
Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Heartwood
SERIES: Daydream, Colorado #2
AUTHOR: A.M. Rose
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 301 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2021
BLURB:
You have to have roots before branches
Tate had been defying that sentiment all his life with terrible results. Unanchored, he existed with a gift so heavy it felt like a curse, made to do other people’s bidding, waiting for the perfect moment to break free. He expected to find somewhere he could be at peace, and find out who he was. He didn’t expect to find Daydream. Or Darian.
As Daydream’s healer, Darian was making sure everyone and everything in the magical community was healthy and thriving. He offered his time, his magic, and his care without ever asking for anything in return. When he was asked to keep an eye out for a man running away from trouble, he expected he’d wait for him, help him heal, and go back to his regular duties. He didn’t expect to find Tate. A man just a little bit broken but entirely beautiful. A man that needed a place in the world.
As Tate’s presence starts filling the empty spaces in Darian’s life, they’ll both start to wonder. Could Darian be that place for Tate?
Guardian Gabe (The Lonely Heroes #2) by Sam E. Kraemer
Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Guardian Gabe
SERIES: The Lonely Heroes Series (Book #2)
AUTHOR: Sam E. Kraemer
PUBLISHER: Kaye Klub Publishing
LENGTH: 315 pages
RELEASE DATE: Re-released April 23, 2021
BLURB:
Gabriele Torrente~
“Mr. Torrente? You need to come down here.”
My receptionist isn’t one to make demands, so I hurry down the stairs to see what all the fuss is about. Little did I know, the moment I walk down those stairs, my life is going to change in ways I can’t begin to fathom.
The boy and girl seated in the lobby come as a surprise, but the man bursting through the front door moments later has me nearly swallowing my tongue. He’s beautiful, funny, and infuriating. He says he’s a dancer with a job lined up on a cruise ship, but he’s crazy if he thinks I’ll admit to being the father of these two adorable kids I’ve never seen before in my life. His name is Dexter Carrington.
What the hell is happening to my once serene life?
-0-0-
Dexter Carrington~
A call from my mother informs me that she has my niece and nephew for the summer because my sister, a mediocre hair stylist from Jersey City, has decided to take a job that requires her to travel.
The unexpected call a few weeks later telling me my mother passed away is devastating, and a social worker says my niece and nephew will have to go into foster care, which only compounds my problems. I’m able to work out a deal to take the kids until my sister is found or their father is identified. Should be easy since I have a photo of him, right?
The handsome man I meet claims to be a wedding photographer, but when I catch the flash of a gun holster while he’s kneeling down to talk to my niece and nephew—who he looks nothing like—I have the impression there’s a lot more to him than he’s letting on. He’s unlike any man I’ve ever met, and his name is Gabriele Torrente.
What the hell is happening to my once dull and peaceful life?
This book is approximately 103,000 words in length, and doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. It is the second book in the series entitled, “The Lonely Heroes Series.”
Bad Daddy (Unexpected Daddies Book 3) by Victoria Sue
Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Bad Daddy
SERIES: Unexpected Daddies Book 3
AUTHOR: Victoria Sue
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 185 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2021
BLURB:
Bad so bad.
Caleb DeLuca knew that tattooed, scarred ex-cons didn’t usually get trusted with anything precious. He’d spent the second half of his forty-three years atoning for the lives he had destroyed in the first half and was shocked to get invited to the club his brother-in-law owned. Especially when he found out what type of club it was.
Max was too young, too beautiful, and too fragile for Caleb to get any ideas they could ever be more than friends. Besides which, Max was searching for a man that would inflict the pain he craved, and Caleb was done with hurting people.
Even if that was what they wanted.
Bad Daddy is the story of a man who doesn’t believe he deserves anything good and the boy who finds out sometimes the best things come in most unexpected packages.
Better to Believe (Harrison Campus #4) by Andy Gallo
Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Better to Believe
SERIES: Harrison Campus #4
AUTHOR: Andy Gallo
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 207 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2021
BLURB:
Fall for your best friend’s brother, just don’t break his heart.
Coury Henderson has wanted to play professional baseball since he threw his first pitch. If he’s drafted, he’s off to Tiny Town, USA to earn his ticket to the majors. But a freak injury threatens to derail his dream. If that weren’t enough, his graduation is in jeopardy. Physical therapy might solve the first hurdle, but he’ll need a tutor who is aces in science to solve the second. A tutor like Liam, his best friend’s little brother.
But when did Liam grow up to be such a hottie?
Liam Wright has crushed on his brother’s best friend since he was twelve. He jumps at the chance to tutor Coury and spend time alone together.
Not that anything could happen between them . . . as nice as Coury is to him, jocks don’t go for nerds.
So why does everything they do feel like a date?
“Better to Believe” is a best friend’s brother-to-lovers, nerd-jock, slow-burn M/M romance with a guaranteed HEA. This new adult, college age novel can be read as a standalone. The Harrison Campus series can be read in any order.
Following the Rules (The Script Club #1) by Lane Hayes
Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Following the Rules
SERIES: The Script Club #1
AUTHOR: Lane Hayes
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 191 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2021
BLURB:
The geek, the jock, and a new set of rules…
Topher-
My friend’s brother needs an academic assistant and I need a job. Problem…jocks are my weakness. Seriously. I lose my ability to speak coherently around muscle-bound hotties. Oh yeah, I lose my inhibitions too—not a good look for a guy with a genius IQ. So what am I going to do about Simon?
Simon-
Finishing college isn’t high on my list of priorities, but my future in professional football is looking bleak. I need a plan B or C, and I could use some help navigating life as an undergrad. Topher is perfect. He’s also a little strange…but in a good way. And I like the way I feel when I’m around him—as though anything is possible. Maybe if we follow our hearts, we’ll find what we’re looking for. But that means changing the rules…
Following the Rules is a MM, bisexual awakening romance starring a lovable nerd, a cool jock, and some extracurricular fun.
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