Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Not a Word

AUTHOR:  Dawn Sister

PUBLISHER:  Beaten Track Publishing

LENGTH:  133 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 31, 2018

BLURB:

Niall doesn’t speak to his neighbours. He doesn’t speak to anyone. Avoiding conversation is easier than the pity and impatience he senses from everyone the moment he opens his mouth and nothing comes out. Since he split up with his partner years before, he hasn’t had much to do with anyone and that has suited him just fine. He has his dog, Zen, for company. Zen doesn’t care that Niall can’t get through an entire sentence without stuttering. Zen is all Niall needs. And that’s how it would have stayed until the day a new neighbour moves in next door.

Zak is Niall’s exact opposite—twenty-three years Niall’s junior, bubbly, gregarious and never shuts up. His arrival fills Niall’s quiet life with constant noise and constant company. Zen appears to have defected, and Zak doesn’t seem to even notice that Niall rarely speaks. Gradually, Zak’s endless patience brings Niall out of his shell. To Niall’s surprise, he suddenly has a friend, a confidante and perhaps something more.

And he didn’t even have to say a word.

Reviewed by Danielle

TITLE: Fighting Chance

SERIES: Fighting Chance #1

AUTHOR: Anni Lee

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 1862Kb

RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2021

BLURB:

How can you write a love song before you’ve felt one?

Roland Finley is convinced he has what it takes to win the Battle of the Bands, a reality TV show where up and coming musicians compete for a record deal. But between college, work, and band practice, he hasn’t had time to experience any of the romance he sings about, and his amateur writing needs a lot of work. This is never more apparent than when a stranger in the park stumbles upon his notebook and tells it exactly like it is.

Jay McClintock wanted nothing to do with this silly reality show, but as the head writer for ALIVE Records, his boss had other plans. After being tasked with writing and coaching one of Roland’s biggest rivals behind the scenes, the only thing keeping him sane is teasing the strange (and low-key talented) young writer he encountered in the park.

Writing for the enemy should have been no big deal, but the more Jay accidentally (and not-so-accidentally) runs into Roland, the harder it is for him to come clean about his involvement with the show. Fortunately, there’s one medium through which they both know how to communicate: Song.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Charles

SERIES:  Learning to Love #1

AUTHOR:  Con Riley

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  344 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 22, 2021

BLURB:

Life should be a breeze for a playboy like Charles Heppel. As the third son of an earl, he lives for the moment, partying and playing. Settling down isn’t for him. Not when London is full of beautiful men who he hasn’t one-and-done yet.

To escape his family’s nagging, Charles applies for a temp job that matches his playful skill set. A role in a Cornish classroom could be his until the summer, if Charles meets two conditions: he must move in with the headmaster’s best friend, and teach him to be happy.

Living with Hugo should be awkward. Charles is a free spirit, but Hugo’s a man of faith, with morals. A man who almost took holy orders before disaster changed his direction. Only far from being a chore, Charles finds that making Hugo happy soon becomes his passion.

Together, they share physical and emotional first times. Ones that change Charles, touching his soul. He wants Hugo for longer than they have left, but learning to love with his heart, not just his body, will take a leap of faith from Charles — in himself as well as Hugo.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  The Dating Experiment

SERIES:  Better With You #2

AUTHOR:  Briar Prescott

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH: 280 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 20, 2021

BLURB:

Jamie:
Three years ago, I sold my soul to the devil.
Also known as my boss. Same thing.
Here’s the deal. Connor Quinn is arrogant, impossible to please, cold as ice, and prone to find flaws in everything.
Since that fatal day three years ago, many a murder plan have been made and many a weapon considered.
Until…
I accidentally get to know him better, which is unfortunate, since it turns out that underneath Connor’s icy exterior, there’s a man shaped by past hurts and difficult life lessons.
Which means I’m in a bit of a pickle since it also turns out I might kind of like the bastard…

Connor:
For as long as I can remember, I’ve chased calm. I’m the exact opposite of an adrenaline junkie with my pursuit of peace and quiet.
My rules are simple. I don’t make terrible decisions. I don’t make mistakes. And I don’t do chaos.
Until Jamie.
He’s an anomaly. A glitch in the system. Unpredictable. Distracting. Confusing.
But now I’ve accidentally gotten to know him better, and it turns out he’s also warm. And funny. And interesting. And with him, the world gets just a tiny bit quieter.
And I fit just a tiny bit better.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Lost and Bound

SERIES: Mismatched Mates #6

AUTHOR: Eliot Grayson

PUBLISHER: Smoking Teacup Books

LENGTH: 268 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2021

BLURB:

Kidnapped, imprisoned, and experimented on for two years, Jared Armitage has lost the will to live. When his captors give him to another prisoner, one who can and probably will take Jared’s life, he comes face to face with the most terrifying thing of all: hope.

Calder’s warlock captors meant to turn him into a monster, and they nearly succeeded. Starved, desperate, and filled with rage, Calder hasn’t cared about anyone in years. Until Jared. Together they have a chance at escape and Calder has someone to fight and kill for. To cherish. Someone he doesn’t want to hurt.

Life after captivity isn’t easy. Jared never wanted a mate like Calder, but he craves Calder’s intense attention, his ability to take Jared apart…and then put him back together again. Even if their mate bond is only temporary.

But Calder’s made a promise—one he’ll die before he breaks—never to hurt Jared or let him be hurt. Unexpected enemies are lurking, targeting Jared, Calder’s one weakness. Their intense bond—and maybe even love—are worth everything, and they’re both willing to fight for it…or die trying.

Lost and Bound contains dubcon and graphic violence. It also includes a monster who torments his mate by being too gentle, the werewolf who can’t stop craving him, and knotting—and a guaranteed HEA. The book has new main characters, but it is best read in series. This series does not contain mpreg.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Temptation Ranch

SERIES: Beat the Heat (BDSM Sumner Reads)

AUTHOR: Jodi Payne & BA Tortuga

PUBLISHER: Tygerseye Publishing, LLC

LENGTH: 3091KB

RELEASE DATE: July 20,2021

BLURB:

Playboy Tad Dawson dedicates his Saturday nights to looking for a strong man with the firm hand he craves at a certain sort of club in Austin. So when he heads out to his favorite neighborhood gay bar for a more casual Friday night, he’s looking to drink, dance with his friends, and maybe have a little sexy fun on the side. Tad certainly doesn’t expect to run into a man like Strait McMasters, a stunning, deep-voiced, stoic cowboy who seems to be everything Tad wants in one studly package.

Billionaire Strait intends to have a drink in honor of a friend who passed away when he stops in at the bar, but he’s not one to question his gut, and his instinct says that Tad, the young man with the unruly blond hair, is worth a second look. When their one-night stand turns into a several-day binge, Strait knows he’s found something special, and he hopes to keep it.

Tad is sure Strait can give him a stern look and a firm hand if only Tad can find the right way to tell him what he needs. Strait, meanwhile, isn’t sure Tad is ready for what it means to be part of his life, which includes a private island and full-time security. Will they find a way to truly understand each other, or is this temptation short term?

Temptation Ranch is part of the Beat the Heat Summer Reads Series.

Reviewed by Stephen K

TITLE: Keeping Hope

AUTHOR: Alexandria Redding

SERIES: Littlefield Fowl #1

LENGTH: 229 Pages

RELEASE DATE: July 17^th 2021

BLURB:

After an unstable childhood, Jensen Malone’s hard work is paying off: he’s picked up as a temporary goalie for the Littleford Fowl, brought in to cover for a player who’s out for the season with an injury, and he’s been accepted at the community college. Hockey is his first love, but he needs to stay true to his dream of being a firefighter to guarantee he’ll never be homeless again. Now that he has the chance to pursue both, nothing can stop this fiercely independent transplant from Chicago. One little problem: he’s gay, completely unwilling to stay in the closet, and hockey’s not the most inclusive sport.

Lawrence Paisey’s a defenseman for the Littleford Fowl and he’s got the brooding new goalie in his sights. The guy’s excellent in goal and has a love of hockey to rival Law’s own. Together they could whip the team into shape. Despite his studies and hockey, Law can’t stop fantasizing about Jensen. One little problem: Law needs to win Jensen’s trust to make his dreams come true.

Join Law and Jensen for a hockey-heavy exploration of college, friendship, and one another.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Waiting for Ru

SERIES:  Unfinished Business #4

AUTHOR:  Barbara Elsborg

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  224 pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 22, 2021

BLURB:

Ruari Byrne may not have had an easy life, but now he’s determined to live in the present, not his past. Trouble is, it’s hard to be independent when you’ve no money and no qualifications. All Ru knows is horses, and when he finds out that his beloved Joni and Cookie are off to auction, his heart is in his throat. How can he protect them if he can’t even look after himself?

Jasim bin Rajhi hadn’t intended to buy two working mares; the horses in his rarefied life are priceless polo ponies, but there’s something that intrigues him about the guileless young man who’s so concerned for their welfare. They might be worlds apart in every way, but Jasim doesn’t want this to be the last time he sees Ru. It can’t be because Ru might just be the one he’s been waiting for.

Reunited at Jasim’s polo grounds, the pair bond over lives lived in darkness and secrecy. But there’s a truth about Jasim that should make Ru bolt like his beloved horses. Jasim knows he should let Ru go for his own safety, and yet it feels like happiness might be within their grasp. Can they overcome their pasts and trust in a future, or will Jasim’s obligations forever have a hold on him?

Warning: contains references to past abuse and paid-for sex, physical violence and abduction. There is one oblique reference to suicide. But no horses were harmed in the making of this tale.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  A Case for Christmas

SERIES:  The Lords of Bucknall Club #2

AUTHORS:  J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry

LENGTH:  238 pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 15, 2021

BLURB:  

He loves no-one and never will.

Lord Christmas Gale is a genius and a misanthrope, and, quite to his disgust, adored by all of Society for his capacity to solve mysteries. When a man approaches him seeking help in locating a lost dog, Gale rebuffs him. But what begins with a missing dog ends in murder and intrigue—two of Gale’s favourite things, if it weren’t for the orphan that comes attached to them. Oh, and Benjamin Chant.

He has sworn to never love again.

The Honourable Mr. Benjamin Chant isn’t sure how he got swept up in Gale’s mad investigation, but there’s something intriguing about the man—a vulnerability that most of the world doesn’t notice, but which captures Chant’s interest, and his sympathy, from their first meeting. After a disastrous love affair in the past, Chant has sworn to never give his heart away again. Especially to a man who does not want it.

But it isn’t just their hearts at stake.

When their investigation takes a dangerous turn and their lives are threatened, both Gale and Chant are forced into the realisation that perhaps two imperfect men might fit perfectly together—that is, if they can outwit the killer who is intent on seeing them both dead.

A Case for Christmas is the second book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance. The Lords of Bucknall Club can be read in any order.

Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Sleight of Hand

SERIES: The Kings: Wild Cards #3

AUTHOR: Charlie Cochet

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 208 Pages

RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2021

BLURB:

Former Special Forces Green Beret, Sacha “Joker” Wilder, is well-versed on the subject of demolitions. As a silent partner of Four Kings Security, Joker spends his days working alongside his brothers-in-arms and his best boy, Chip—a bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois with sass. Years of military and private security experience have prepared Joker for almost anything, except the explosive attraction between him and Giovanni Galanos.

When Gio returns from his travels abroad, everyone is charmed by the handsome billionaire philanthropist, but in Joker’s experience, anyone who’s too good to be true usually is. Gio is hiding something, but the more time Joker spends around Gio, the more his walls start crumbling, leaving him exposed and at risk of losing his heart, something he swore he would never do. Love is for suckers, and that’s not him.

For years Gio has dedicated his life to his charity work, helping people around the globe, but when things go horribly wrong during one particular trip, Gio decides it’s time to come home for good. The desire for family, and a certain ex-Green Beret with a chip on his shoulder, has Gio eager to restart his life Stateside. For all of Sacha’s blustering and griping, no one makes Gio feel safer. If only Sacha could see how right they are for each other.

Danger lurks in the shadows as someone sets their sights on Gio, and secrets are forced into the light. If Gio and Joker are to have any kind of future together, they’ll have to face difficult truths, because where love is concerned, it’ll take more than sleight of hand to make things work.

The Kings: Wild Cards series is a spin-off of the Four Kings Security series.

Reviewed by Danielle

TITLE: The Rabbit’s Foot

SERIES: The Wald Pack #1

AUTHOR: Parker Williams

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 186 Pages

RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2021

BLURB:

All rabbit shifter Alpin Dawkins wanted was some peace and quiet. Being kidnapped and trundled off to a lab to undergo six years of sadistic experiments wasn’t what he had in mind. And now all he wants is to go home.

Although Malachi Kurian spent years training to be a First, the leader of his wolf pack, he had no desire to be at anyone’s beck and call, so he ran. Life as a lone wolf worked out great – until the night he heard the screams.

He might have escaped, but Alp is certain this time he’s going to die. When a wolf kills his pursuers, Alp fears he’s about to be on the menu.

He never expects the wolf will save him, or come to love him.

Now all they have to do is rescue the others still held in the labs….

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: His Sweet Boy

SERIES: Air B&D (book 2)

AUTHOR: Olivia Joy

PUBLISHER: Tygerseye Publishing, LLC.

LENGTH: 98 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2021

BLURB:

Sometimes it takes a little push to start over.

Texan Jon Oliver’s need to serve comes completely naturally, it’s simply a part of who he is. But he’s been alone a long time caring for his dying mother, and now that she’s gone, he’s at loose ends. Needing a strong connection, if only for a week, he spends a chunk of his inheritance for a chance at the AirB&D.

Liam Oberlin lives and works in New York City and hasn’t been anyone’s master in a very long time. He lost his lover a few years ago and doesn’t believe there’s anyone else out there who could love and serve him as completely. His week at AirB&D is a gift from an insistent friend, and although Liam is skeptical, he tries to be what Jon needs him to be.

The matchmaker’s instincts are rarely off-base. But are these two men really ready for new beginnings?