Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: All in With Him

SERIES: Men of Summer #3

AUTHOR: Lauren Blakely

PUBLISHER: Hot Men Press

LENGTH: 310 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2021

BLURB:

Once upon a time all I needed was baseball, friends and extracurricular activities. Then everything changed when Declan Steele stormed into my life and upended all my priorities with his heart, his love, his passion.

So my next five-year plan will include this new ground rule—Love big.

Only, that’s easier said than done when my man and I come face to face with hard truths and new troubles about what it means to be all in.

That’s when I learn that finding love isn’t the hardest part.

Keeping it is.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Not His Omega To Love

SERIES: Mates of Convenience #2

AUTHOR: G. S. Holmes

PUBLISHER: Coco Nutz Publishing

LENGTH: 193 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2021

BLURB:

An unplanned pregnancy.
The omega who will do everything to keep it.
And the wrong alpha who steps up to claim it.

Nineteen-year-old Cody has always done the right thing. He’s graduating high school at the top of his class and most likely to be named the valedictorian. He’s even managed to snag the attention of the most popular alpha at school. But it’s the alpha’s dad that shows Cody how an omega is supposed to be loved.

Ethan can’t remember the last time anyone has caught his interest. The last thing he needs is to get involved with his alpha son’s neglected omega.

When everyone Cody is counting on fails him, he finds comfort in the most unexpected place. The more Cody gets to know Ethan, he falls a little bit more in love, but how can a relationship work between them when the baby Cody’s having is Ethan’s son’s?

Not His Omega to Love is a complete sweet, slow-burn non-shifter mpreg romance with no cliffhanger. It is set in a contemporary world and may contain triggers. A sequel His Omega to Cherish will be published about this couple.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: All You Touch

SERIES: Love Starts Here (Book 2)

AUTHOR: E. M. Lindsey

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 200 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2021

BLURB:

He was the best thing that ever happened to him…in the worst way.

West Balkany lived his life by one rule: make your own luck. And that means fighting his slum lord when his building starts falling apart, forcing himself to finish school no matter how much he wants to quit, and most importantly, never do something as stupid as falling in love.

Unfortunately, that last part isn’t so easy when his gorgeous one-night-stand who dragged him into a bar supply closet and made him see god, keeps turning up everywhere he goes.

But he doesn’t have time for Jake—no matter how much he wants to. His father’s health is failing, his deli is barely getting by, and now he’s facing a massive legal suit against Larsen Property Management for trying to kick everyone out into the streets. He also knows that Jake is hiding something, and he’s pretty sure whatever it is, it’s enough to turn his life upside down.

But Jake also makes him want to try, and that’s what scares him the most.

Jakob Larsen spent his life running from the man his father always wanted him to be, but that all comes to a stop when the man announced he was leaving LPM. He finally has a chance to prove to both his brother and to St. James that he can turn Larsen Property Management around and do something good for the people his father has been tormenting all these years.

The problem is, he’s just not quite sure how, when no one trusts him to do the right thing.

And it doesn’t help that Jakob has found himself distracted, falling for a gorgeous, stoic deli owner who has no idea who he really is. All Jakob has ever wanted was to be truly loved, but now that he’s found the one person he could see himself growing old with, he has to face the truth: everything they have is based on a lie.

Will he ever be a man worthy of forgiveness, or will he have to face the fact that everything he touches turns to dust?

All You Touch is the second book in the low-angst, humorous, steamy series, Love Starts Here. It contains no cheating, and a happily ever after.

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: The Former Assassin’s Guide to Snagging a Reluctant Boyfriend

AUTHOR: Alice Winters

SERIES: The Former Assassin’s Guide #1

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 304 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 26, 2021

BLURB:

Cassel

When I gave up life as a hitman, I thought everything was going to be better. I was going to become a PI, help people, and live normally… and then I met Jeremy, the most perfect man to have ever saved my life (I mean, he might be the only one who has saved my life, but he’s still the best at it). From that point on, it was all over for me—I knew we were meant to be. The issue is that he doesn’t… quite seem to realize that. But when he’s targeted by criminals (literally, someone just shot at his head), he needs to rely on someone, so why not me? He might not know about my past as a hitman or that I don’t need to be protected, but I’m prepared to do everything I can to save the day.

Jeremy

When my past comes back with a vengeance, I’ve never felt so alone and out of my element. That is, until Cassel offers me information that I desperately need, forcing me to drag him straight into danger. The issue is that he’s too sweet and innocent for this world and I’m not sure that I’m strong enough to protect him, but I can’t bring myself to push him away. As truths come to light, I realize that maybe Cassel isn’t quite who I thought he was, and maybe we’re not so different after all.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Head Over Tentacles

SERIES: Sucker for Love Mysteries #2

AUTHOR: K.L. Hiers

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 216 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2021

BLURB:

Private investigator Sloane Beaumont should be enjoying his recent engagement to eldritch god Azaethoth the Lesser, AKA Loch. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have time for a pre-honeymoon period.

The trouble starts with a deceptively simple missing persons case. That leads to the discovery of mass kidnappings, nefarious secret experiments, and the revelation that another ancient god is trying to bring about the end of the world by twisting humans into an evil army.

Just another day at the office.

Sloane does his best to juggle wedding planning, stopping his fiancé from turning the mailman inside out, and meeting his future godly in-laws while working the case, but they’re also being hunted by a strange young man with incredible abilities. With the wedding date looming closer, Sloane and Loch must combine their powers to discover the truth—because it’s not just their own happy-ever-after at stake, but the fate of the world….

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Gilded Mirror

SERIES: Treasure Trove Antiques #2

AUTHOR: L.M. Somerton

PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing

LENGTH: 234 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2021

BLURB:

Life would be simpler if X marked the spot.

When Landry Carran buys an antique mirror from a pop-up flea market, he doesn’t expect it to set him on a treasure hunt originating in the Second World War. He can’t resist tracking down the clues even knowing that every step brings him closer to danger.

Landry’s partner and Dom, Detective Gage Roskam, has his own problems handling a money laundering case that twists and turns as much as Landry’s treasure trail.

As a decades-old mystery collides with modern-day crime, Landry and Roskam must juggle work, friendships and their relationship to solve both puzzles. It’ll be a miracle if nothing gets broken along the way.

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of physical assault, gunshots and expressions of homophobia. There are references to non-nurturing parenting, addiction and attempted abduction.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE: Two for the Road

SERIES:  Cocktails & Chaos #2

AUTHOR: L.E. Franks

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH:  311 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 14, 2021

BLURB:

Nick’s unwelcome past roars into his life like a tornado. Will its path destroy his and Fatboy’s secret romance?

Hot and heavy under the covers, cool and distant in the public eye, Nick and FatBoy have been keeping their relationship secret from friends and coworkers at the bar. But if Nick gets his way, their first carefully planned weekend will catapult their relationship to the next level—after all, once FatBoy experiences the liberation of an exclusive gay resort, how can he possibly be content to keep their love life under wraps?

But circumstances have never been kind to Nick, and expecting Fate to give his love life a free pass is too much to ask. When an attack at the bar leaves Nick reeling and confused, it is merely the first domino to fall in a chain of events that leads Nick to question who he is, how he got there, and where he belongs. His only hope is that he’ll still have the man of his dreams at his side when he reaches the end of the road.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Not Alone

AUTHOR: Christie Gordon

PUBLISHER: Extasy Books

LENGTH: 366 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2021

BLURB:

Ash is a rock star. Micah is a broken man. Neither one wants to be alone.

Ash Oakley has spent his life making music and doing what it takes to reach the top, along with his best friend (with benefits) Wells by his side. After a year of touring and opening in stadiums for rock legends across the globe, he needs down time and rents an apartment in a beach town outside of foggy San Francisco. He decides to take up surfing. His first time out, he discovers a rude, but mysterious man on the beach who captivates him in a way he didn’t expect. The man is clearly grief stricken, something Ash knows a lot about after losing his guitar-playing brother to a drug overdose.

Micah Knowles left his friends, his family, and his high-tech job to sit on the beach, day after day, struggling to heal from a devastating event he can’t even speak of out loud. He doesn’t deserve friendship and certainly doesn’t deserve love, not after what he did.

When their worlds collide, Ash must uncover the truth about the man he’s falling for and decide if he can handle it. Micah must face his demons to heal and let Ash in. But after all that, Ash’s very public world and lifestyle might be the thing that tears them apart.

Reviewed by True

TITLE: Got Me Hoping

SERIES: Vet Shop Boys #1

AUTHOR: Casey Cox

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 238 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2021

BLURB:

It’s just a one-night stand, they said. It’ll be simple, no-strings fun, they said. They. Lied.

I’m done with love and being broken-hearted. The only dogs I want to deal with are the ones I treat in the veterinary clinic I work at.

But at thirty-four, having my first one-night stand can’t hurt. Right? The rules are pretty simple.

1. Don’t spend the night.
2. Don’t see him again.
3. Don’t share anything personal.
4. Don’t fall in love with him.

But when Haze, the guy I spent a blazing hot night with and haven’t been able to forget about, shows up as our new receptionist, the rules fly out the window.

There’s no way one night could lead to anything more. So why has Haze got me hoping this might just last?

Got Me Hoping is book 1 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, an adorable golden retriever, a foul-mouthed parrot, a whole new way of getting clean (as well as very, very dirty) and a heartwarming happily ever after!

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Whirlwind

SERIES: Daydream, Colorado #3

AUTHOR:  A.M. Rose

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  299 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2021

BLURB:

Opposites attract, right?

Felix had always been a relaxed, go with the flow, make no plans and see what happens kind of guy. He lived, he laughed, he spoke to ghosts. Pretty standard if you asked him. To the rest of the population? Not so much.
But once a spirit calls him to Daydream, he gets caught up in a race to find out what happened to him. The quest for answers throws him right in front of Daydream’s uptight librarian, and while riling him up is a lot of fun, the secrets unraveling in Daydream might be much more sinister than Felix expected.

Nicholas had always had a perfectly quiet, perfectly organized, and perfectly mapped out life. He got up, he worked, he spent the day ignoring the lies told around him. Anyone who envied his gift was welcome to take it. Any volunteers? He didn’t think so.
When a random guy breezes into town with ridiculous claims about mysterious ghosts, Nick knows he’s telling the truth. When he finds out that the stranger might hold the key to unlocking the chest of mysteries plaguing Daydream, and Nick’s heart, he’s forced to confront a truth of his own.
Tangled together they’ll try to navigate ghosts, mysteries, and feelings neither of them were prepared for.

**This book is the third in a series. It contains magical settings, cozy mystery vibes, a grumpy character falling for a sunshine one, and a whole lot of fun characters you’ve met in previous books. While it can be read as a standalone it’s best enjoyed with the other titles in the series.

Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE:  The Blood Boss

SERIES:  Black Veil #1

AUTHOR:  Davidson King

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  177 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 19, 2021

BLURB:

Vampires, mermaids, and witches…oh, my! Black Veil is full of them all, but at the end of the day, it’s The Blood Boss who has the last word. Ever since The Final War, Vampires rule Black Veil, and with The Blood Boss in charge, peace reigns.
Keeping the vampires under control is a task Cain takes seriously. Humans have accepted his rule, and anyone who seeks to destroy his territory is given swift punishment. His promise to keep Black Veil safe comes with great sacrifice and selflessness; never does he dare hope for more in life. Until one day, a man walks through his front door and changes everything.

Jayce has a happy life. His adopted parents love him, he wants for very little, and he lives every day to the fullest. But when a normal evening turns into a nightmare, and Jayce is forced to come face-to-face with The Blood Boss, the world as he knows it feels like a lie.

Then a great secret is revealed, and nothing is what it seems. Cain and Jayce must work together to stop the forces uniting against the vampires. Life and love are in jeopardy as they fight those who seek to destroy them. Can Cain and Jayce keep Black Veil from crumbling into the sea when every attempt to do so seems impossible?

Reviewed by Stephen K.

TITLE: The Stepbrother

SERIES: Red’s Tavern #5

AUTHOR: Raleigh Ruebins

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 179 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 24^th 2021

BLURB:

Sam’s guide to summer:

Step 1: Get stuck on an epic family road trip with your straight, cocky, filthy-rich stepbrother.

Step 2: Pretend he didn’t kiss you on the first night of the trip.

In high school, Fox was my rival. My new stepbrother was already a career-obsessed city boy, and I was a proud small-town theater geek. I said good riddance when his cocky ass finally moved to the big city, leaving us behind. But now after years apart, Fox agreed to come on our big family road trip. And he’s definitely not a teenager anymore.

We’re sharing way more than just an RV. I’m closer to Fox than I’ve ever been before–camping, hiking, and swimming in the summer heat. I’ve grown out of my acne and glasses phase, and I’m not afraid to talk back to him. But I’m also getting lost in his eyes. When he kisses me, I’m not sure if I’d rather strangle him or push him into bed.

…But I want his lips on mine again. Even though I should know better.

Fox has secrets, too. He’s been through hell, and I’m discovering the sensitive man behind his exterior. He takes me seriously, when everybody else sees me as a boy-crazy gym bunny in a tank top. But when Fox finally starts to win my heart, he gets an irresistible job offer back in NYC.

But it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I was falling in love with my damn stepbrother, anyway. Right?

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Friendly Fire

SERIES:  Never Just Friends #4

AUTHOR:  Saxon James

PUBLISHER:  May Books

LENGTH:  229 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 23, 2021

BLURB:

Rafe

It started in high school. We grew apart. Bit by bit, then all at once. The friend who was my ride or die suddenly wanted nothing to do with me. Now Cam’s back from college, living in the house next door, and pulling stupid pranks just to annoy me. Between my intense family and my failing relationship, I’m struggling enough without his antics. But Cam won’t go away. And I’m not so sure I want him to.

Cam

It started with a smile. A touch. A shared look of mischief. Rafael Ortega stole my heart before I realised it was mine to give away. We were best friends from the time we were in diapers right up until the unthinkable happened: he started dating. I put distance between us to save myself, but now I’m back, willing to do anything for his attention again. Because the only thing worse than Rafe breaking my heart … is him not getting a chance to.

Friendly Fire is the final book in the Never Just Friends series. It’s a low angst childhood-best-friends-to-lovers romance with skinny dipping, sex toys, and one final happily ever after.

Reviewed by Stephen K

TITLE: The Wingman

AUTHOR: A. Poland

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 165 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 21^st , 2021

BLURB:

Nathan, a college student with a thing for funky hats and a definite not-thing for the great outdoors, has been a wingman extraordinaire for his lifelong best friend Lorcan for as long as either can remember. With his innate ability to talk endlessly about how great Lorcan is to anyone who’ll listen, Nathan has always been the best man for the job—even if he’s secretly waiting for the day when Lorcan will realize that Nathan is the only guy for him.

But then, Lorcan sets his sights on Miles, the suave, leather-jacket-wearing musician with a love of mountaineering and a family of six overprotective sisters, and Nathan must once again put his wingman skills to work.

Trouble is, Nathan is getting tired of the old routine, and Miles is the only human being on the planet immune to Lorcan’s charm. Not to mention that Miles’s interest is immediately piqued by the outspoken and completely oblivious wingman.

Reviewed by True

TITLE: Bully Rescue

AUTHOR: Ki Brightly

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 266 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 18, 2021

BLURB:

The Washed-Up Fighter Who Can’t Play Nice
Peter Gaffin can be downright vicious, even while using a wheelchair. For years the former back-alley boxer has not only been terrified men from his past would exact their vengeance, but also of his sexuality. After an incident with the cops, Peter is on his way to prison. Behind bars, he won’t be able to repress his fears by being a reclusive alcoholic—or hide himself from the men who once preyed on him.

The Protective Prison Guard
Drew Greene has been working at Trident Falls Correctional for one reason: to keep track of the facility’s most dangerous inmate. The day Peter arrives at the prison, Drew’s solitary mission becomes something more. Peter gradually charms him and he wants to keep Peter safe. When he learns they share a dark secret, one that has ruled and ruined both their lives, Drew’s horror makes him even more determined to protect Peter.

Targeted by Their Past
Things look up when Peter is released from prison. Drew takes Peter home and helps him finish his long physical recovery that alcoholism derailed. Stronger and happier, Peter is ready to move on with Drew and try to repair the damage he caused. There is only one problem—Peter and Drew aren’t able to outrun their past for long. Can they come together to withstand the fallout from the truths they reveal, or will they both end up in prison… or worse, dead?

Bully Rescue portrays a hate group that has been invented. The people in the hate group are not good and are not presented as such; however, Bully Rescue does explore some of the ways individuals might enter and leave those types of harmful associations. As the author, I do not condone or support the ideologies or activities of any hate-based organizations, and this book is in no way meant to romanticize them. Please do not read Bully Rescue if you’re sensitive to this type of material.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: It’s Paradise, Baby

AUTHOR: K. D. Ryan

PUBLISHER: Self Publish

LENGTH: 80 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2021

BLURB:

A marriage on the rocks.
A tropical vacation.
A secret obsession.
Trouble might be brewing in paradise for husbands Nick and Ben.

Ben and Nick’s marriage is on shaky ground after the pandemic, but a getaway to Key West seems like the perfect way to rekindle their romance. Turns out, a secret fantasy Nick’s been hiding might be just what the two of them need to reconnect…

This 25K word novella features first-time exploration of breeding and daddy bedroom play. No A/B/O or mPreg. Dual POV.

TW: depression, body image/weight gain, mention of pandemic.

Tags: breedable boy, belly worship, daddy explorations, husbands reconnecting, vacation, chubby boys in crop tops, steamy shaving, a whole lot of love and care

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE: Make Mine a Double

SERIES:  Cocktails & Chaos #1

AUTHOR: L.E. Franks

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH:  307 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2021

BLURB:

Nick specializes in drinks, not feelings. With a passion shaken not stirred, can the new guy serve up romance?  If love ever walked into his bar, mixologist Nick Valentine would send it right back out the door. Figuring casual hookups are the best he can expect, he’d rather give his time to his makeshift family of inebriated patrons. But when the delicious new bouncer catches his eye, he can’t deny the flutters of his watered-down heart.  Former soldier Davis “Fat Boy” Newman can’t imagine coming out. But when the snarky hunk behind the bar proves irresistible, he wonders if he should risk it all for love. After days of subtle hints and flirty looks, the smitten security man finally secures an after-hours first kiss.  Just as Nick thinks he might have something real, St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans and an offensive live Irish band conspire to keep them apart. And while Fat Boy is head-over-heels, staying safely in the closet may cost him everything.  Can their perfectly mixed connection pour them a happily-ever-after?

Note: Make Mine A Double is the laugh-out-loud first novel in the Cocktails and Chaos M/M romance series. If you like undeniable chemistry, outrageous antics, and touching connections, then you’ll adore LE Franks’s sidesplitting tale.

Buy Make Mine A Double for a full-proof attraction today! This material previously released under Book One & Two of the 6 Days Series (6 Days to Valentine & 6 Days To Get Lucky). Series re-editing done to integrate into a single 90k+ novel.