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

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?

Reviewed by True

TITLE: Bears in the Woods

AUTHOR: K.C. Wells

PUBLISHER: Self-Publishing

LENGTH: 160 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2021

BLURB:

The secluded rental cabin offers Jim Traynor exactly what he needs: peace and quiet to finish his latest book, and maybe a little inspiration for a new series. There’s even a little dog named Buster to provide an adorable distraction. Buster’s owners, however, bring distraction of a very different kind. Jim’s determination to focus on his work doesn’t stop his delicious fantasies, but each new encounter with Julian and Michael makes him forcefully aware of the aching desire building within him.

Julian and Michael have built a wonderful life together. Then Jim’s arrival rocks it to its foundations. Julian is drawn to the quiet writer, aware of an intensifying connection between them. Michael feels that same magnetic pull, but remains haunted by the past: they’ve been down this road before. Reaching the end of it broke Julian’s heart, something Michael will not let happen again. He strives to be the strong one, but with every passing night, he’s falling for Jim just as hard as Julian is.

Both men know Jim can only hurt them if they let him in. The trouble is, Jim might already be through that door. If he is, the day will come when he’ll walk right back out of it.
Only this time, how many hearts will be broken?

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: Nixing the End of the World

AUTHOR: Alice Winters

SERIES: Phoenix’s Quest #1

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 347 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 29, 2021

BLURB:

Nix

“You are the savior of mankind” are the last words I ever expected to hear while nibbling on fries. The thing is, I’m not mankind saving material. I don’t even have magic (and just found out it exists). I’m the most boring, normal(ish) human ever.

Suddenly, I’m being tossed right into the middle of a fight that started years before I was even born, and then I get partnered up with Alastair, a quirky magical Guardian. He is rather attractive and sweet when he’s not into the whole “woe is me, I can’t let myself fall in love with you” nonsense. I mean, the moment he took my annoyingly judgmental grandma hostage, it was all over for me. I was hooked.

Now the only problem is… what exactly are we saving the world from?

Alastair

The moment I laid eyes on Nix, the naïve yet easygoing human captivated my attention, and now I’m determined to protect him. But despite my amazing and majestic abilities, we might not make it out of this mess. Still, there must be a reason Nix was chosen. No, he doesn’t have pizazz and maybe he really doesn’t have magic, but he’s also one of the strongest and kindest men I’ve ever met.

Now if I can just get him to stop throwing blankets at enemies, we might have a shot at this.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Breathe

SERIES: London Love #1

AUTHOR: Sophia Soames

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 368 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2021

BLURB:

Meet Ryan, aka, Joey Hole, disgraced former adult entertainer with more issues than he can keep track of. His boyfriend left him for an Instagram twink with 150K followers, his Mum wants him out of her spare room and then there’s that idiot at college who just won’t take no for an answer.

Meet Luke. He was once the rich kid who’d just been gifted his first car, and now he doesn’t even own a bike. He’s also slumming it in a house full of ungrateful siblings and his first trip to the Food-bank gave him some goddamn emotional scars. Life is getting better though, and he’s acing it at college, as well as making some brilliant new friends. Well except for that stuck up twatwaffle Ryan who won’t talk to him and refuses to like his brilliant social media posts….

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Kraken My Heart

SERIES: Sucker for Love Mysteries #2

AUTHOR: K.L. Hiers

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 191 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2021

BLURB:

A Sucker For Love Mystery

It’s just Ted’s luck that he meets the love of his life while covered in the blood of a murder victim.

Funeral worker Ted Sturm has a foul mouth, a big heart, and a knack for communicating with the dead. Unfortunately the dead don’t make very good friends, and Ted’s only living pal, his roommate, just rescued a strange cat who’s determined to make his life even more miserable. This cat is more than he seems, and soon Ted finds himself in an alternate dimension… and on top of a dead body.

When Ted is accused of murder, his only ally in a strange world full of powerful magical beings calling for his head is King Grell, a sarcastic, randy, catlike immortal with impressive abilities… and anatomy. The two soon find themselves at the center of a cosmic conspiracy and surrounded by dangerous enemies. But with Ted’s special skills and Grell’s magic, they have a chance to get to the bottom of the mystery and save Ted. There’s just one problem: Ted’s got to resist Grell’s aggressive advances… and he isn’t sure he wants to.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Getting Friendly

SERIES:  Never Just Friends #3

AUTHOR:  Saxon James

PUBLISHER:  May Books

LENGTH: 347 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 24, 2021

BLURB:

LEON

When I’m looking for a hook up, I want three things:
Big, thick, and rough.
So it doesn’t make sense that I can’t get my new hire out of my head.
He’s a tiny guy with big ideas … and he’s my apprentice which means he’s completely off limits.
But he’s already under my skin.
And for the first time with any guy, I don’t think I can hold my own against him.
Physically, yes. Emotionally, no.
Auggie makes me weak.

AUGGIE

Growing up, I always wanted to go into the family business and follow in Dad’s footsteps.
Until in my senior year of high school when he told me to find a new dream.
No one would let a small, clumsy guy like me on a construction site.
And after trying and failing for years, I was starting to believe him.
Then LJ Constructions calls me for an interview and when I meet Leon, he becomes my new dream.
He’s hot as hell, self made, and instead of putting me down, he sees what I’ve always seen in myself.
But I’m not dumb enough to throw away this one chance, not even for him.
Not even if I really, really want to.

Getting Friendly is a low angst friends-to-lovers romance with spa dates, a size difference, and an adorably awkward MC.

Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Playing It Out Straight

AUTHOR: Andrew McQuinn

PUBLISHER: Independently Published

LENGTH: 306 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2020

BLURB:

All coming out stories are told in two parts
The Before and After…

This is the year I come out.
Repressed by his father to be someone he is not, and feeling alone in his quaint, sleepy coastal Maine town, seventeen-year-old Kyle McKinley needs a fresh start. Then his father dropped a bombshell. They were moving across country to Santa Monica, California.
Recently, nineteen-year-old up and coming actor Scotty Valentin gave up all hopes of finding a boyfriend. Relationships in Hollywood came with a price, all for the cost of his privacy and trust.
Kyle and Scotty meet by chance. The chemistry between them is instantaneous, leaving Kyle wanting more. But at what cost? Could Scotty be the answer Kyle’s been bother running from and searching for?

Playing it out Straight is the Before.