Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: A Veiled & Hallowed Eve

SERIES: Soulbound #7

AUTHOR: Hailey Turner

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 485 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2021

BLURB:

Death is the last lover you will ever know.

SOA Special Agent Patrick Collins has lived a life full of lies, and it has finally caught up with him. There’s no denying his past any longer, not after giving up the truth to save himself from a murder charge. But truth alone can’t set Patrick free, and time is running out to stop the Dominion Sect from turning his father into a god.

Jonothon de Vere knows survival isn’t a guarantee, but he’s desperate to keep Patrick safe, even as hope slips through his fingers. With the future unknown, Jono will follow Patrick wherever he goes, even to Salem, where a family reunion reveals a bitter secret that was never going to stay buried.

With New York City under control of their god pack, Patrick and Jono must fall back on every alliance they’ve brokered to fill the front lines of a war coming directly to the city streets. The veil is always thinnest on Samhain, and what awaits them on the other side is the stuff of nightmares. For when it tears, all hell will break loose, and the gods will be summoned to face a reckoning the world isn’t ready for.

The stakes have never been higher, failure has never been so deadly, and the Fates have never been kind to heroes. Patrick knows that better than anyone—because everything has a price, every debt always comes due, and it’s finally time for Patrick to pay his. 

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Madison Square Murders

SERIES:  Memento Mori

AUTHOR:  C.S. Poe

PUBLISHER:  Emporium Press

LENGTH:  299 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 28, 2021

BLURB:

Everett Larkin works for the Cold Case Squad: an elite—if understaffed and overworked—group of detectives who solve the forgotten deaths of New York City. Larkin is different from others, but his deduction skills are unmatched and his memory for minute details is unparalleled.

So when a spring thunderstorm uproots a tree in Madison Square Park, unearthing a crate with human remains inside, the best Cold Case detective is assigned the job. And when a death mask, like those prominent during the Victorian era, is found with the body, Larkin requests assistance from the Forensic Artists Unit and receives it in the form of Detective Ira Doyle, his polar opposite in every way.

Factual reasoning and facial reconstruction puts Larkin and Doyle on a trail of old homicide cases and a murderer obsessed with casting his victims’ likeness in death. Include some unapologetic flirting from Doyle, and this case just may end up killing Everett Larkin.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Dual Threat Love

AUTHOR: Lola Noire

PUBLISHER: Jessica Watkins Presents

LENGTH: 204 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 15, 2021

BLURB:

Ace, the Billionaire Heir, and Patrick, the Help’s son, met when they were sixteen and thirteen years old, respectively. What started as childhood friendship forever altered their lives for better and for worse. Faced with misunderstanding and miscommunication, they went their separate ways hurt and heartbroken.

Years later, they met again. This time, the Billionaire CEO is determined to win his best friend and the love of his life, Patrick, back.

While Ace is determined to rekindle this love, will Patrick, now a Superstar NFL Quarterback, be willing to give Ace a second chance? Or will old pain and Patrick’s high-profile personality stand in the way?

Whether together or apart, both men will fight to the bitter end for their version of happily ever after.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Follow the Stars

AUTHOR:  Gwen Martin

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  270 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 28, 2021

BLURB:

Can the Stars Make Two Friends Lovers or Break them Apart Forever?

When Noah loses his best friend Rory to cystic fibrosis, he feels lost without her unconditional love and support.

Ezra—the one who understands his grief—suggests they embark on something they’ve been planning for years: a road trip along the Eastern Seaboard. But Ezra has a secret no one knows—he’s been in love Noah for years.

Ezra fears he won’t be able to hold back his feelings as they fulfill Rory’s biggest dream on her bucket list. Noah worries the connection he has with Ezra’s lost without Rory to guide them together. But through their grief, the question remains: If you follow your heart, can you find love as bright as the stars?

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Pity the Living, Not the Dead

AUTHOR: TL Travis

PUBLISHER: Sapphire Publishing

LENGTH: 157 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2021

BLURB:

Pity the living, not the dead they say.

Trust is earned, not given.

Clichés meant to make one feel better in a time of sorrow. How do these apply when the one you trust most isn’t among the living? Beware of things that go bump in the night when what you really need to fear is life itself. The one thing you will never get out of alive…

Elijah Walker has done his best to blend in amongst humans for centuries, drinking his fill and doing his best not to kill. Humans. Witnessing their digression firsthand, reverting to their caveman beginnings makes it hard to contain the beast lurking inside.

Liam Aldrich has spent his life in his family’s shadow. Never allowed to step out of line and forced into a life made for him rather than one he would have chosen for himself. Now the one time he has a choice that only he can make could end it all.

With Liam’s life and Elijah’s heart on the line, the pair are left at a crossroad forced to determine a path in which they could find may not align.

A portion of this book was previously available in the Virgin Shifters anthology.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  A Rival for Rivingdon

SERIES:  The Lords of Bucknall Club #3

AUTHORS:  J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH:   255 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 14, 2021

BLURB:

He must marry well, to secure his fortune.

The Honourable Loftus Rivingdon is poised to make his debut into Society. He’s beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. If only he could find the right hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Loftus has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Loftus knows just the peer—the dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing there’s nothing standing in his way.

He must also marry well, to secure his fortune.

The Honourable Morgan Notley is poised to make his debut into Society. He’s beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. And he has just found the perfect hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Morgan has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Morgan knows just the peer—the dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing there’s nothing standing in his w—

Damn it all to hell.

Their ambitions collide.

When Loftus and Morgan both set their sights on Soulden, the rivalry of the Season begins. Their mutual hatred escalates into spite, sabotage, and scandal, as all of Society eagerly waits to see which diamond of the first water will prevail. Except the course of true loathing, just like true love, never did run smooth. The harder they try to destroy each other, the closer they come to uncovering each other’s deepest vulnerabilities—and the more difficult it becomes to deny the burning attraction between them.

A Rival for Rivingdon is the third 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 Larissa

TITLE:  Breaking the Rules

SERIES:  The Triskelion Series Book 1

AUTHOR:  Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

PUBLISHER:  Tygerseye Publishing LLC

LENGTH:  452 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 22, 2020

BLURB:

Saul Reynolds manages a busy bicycle shop in downtown Boulder, Colorado. A recent CU graduate, he’s also a Dom, and has many friends his age in the scene. Saul’s an old soul, and even at twenty-five, he’s had enough experience to understand his own desires. He’s had plenty of lovers and he’s played the role of part-time Dom, but he’s never found the perfect combination of lover and sub in one man.

Troy Finch lost his lover in a rodeo accident twenty years ago, moved to Boulder, and has worked as a line cook in his friend Carter’s diner ever since. He’s attended many parties at Carter’s home with couples in the BDSM lifestyle and feels comfortable in a submissive role, but without a Dom of his own, Troy hasn’t explored what that really means to him. He has needs he doesn’t entirely understand and finds his only outlet at the hands of Carter’s husband, Geoff, a tattoo artist who has used Troy’s skin as a canvas for as long as they’ve known each other, covering Troy in colorful, intricate triskelia.

Troy doesn’t know what he was thinking accepting a dinner invitation from a kid half his age, but everything feels right about their evening together, including Saul’s Dominant side. The rules for a twenty-five year old gay cowboy from years ago, though, are totally different than for a twenty-five year old college grad in Boulder now, and despite Saul’s confidence, Troy isn’t sure whether they can make it work.

Saul and Troy manage to bend a good many rules in the name of caring and compromise, but in the name of love, there are some rules they’re just going to have to break.

Note: This is a “true series” and should be read in order.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Regroup

SERIES: Captured Earth #2

AUTHOR: TJ Nichols

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 88 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2021

BLURB:

Reunited with his lover and fellow soldier, Xavier Fisher, Josh Rayne and the other survivors from the alien base watch from the shore as their rescue is blown up. Now on the run and on their own, they need to find a safe place to regroup and figure out how they are going to escape alien country and get back home.

With no military support, they are in desperate need of supplies when they make it to a seemingly abandoned tourist town. But not all is as it seems, and Josh will have to decide who runs and who has to stay and fight to give them a chance. He wants to go home, and he wants more than the vague promises he and Xavier made to each other.

Book Two in the Captured Earth trilogy. For readers who like action, explosions, and don’t mind a little gore with their gay romance.

Reviewed by Danielle

TITLE: Truth or Dare

SERIES: Dare to Try #3

AUTHORS: Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 222 Pages

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2021

BLURB:

Truth or Dare is the final book in the Dare to Try trilogy and should only be read after Dare You and Dare Me.

Lieutenant Kieran Bailey never saw his life anywhere but the bustling streets of Chicago—but then again, he never saw his life with a boyfriend, either. That all changed when he fell in love with bombshell CEO Sebastian “Bash” Vogel.

But it’s one thing to fall in love. It’s another to try to build a life together when you live hundreds of miles apart.

How do you choose between everything you’ve ever known and everything you’ve ever dreamed of?

This series must be read in the following order:
Dare You (book one)
Dare Me (book two)
Truth or Dare (book three)

Reviewed by Donna

TITLE:  The Hunter and His Mates

 SERIES: Kincaid Pack # 4

AUTHOR: Kiki Clark

 PUBLISHER: Self Published

 LENGTH:   315 Pages

RELEASE DATE: September 16, 2021

BLURB:

As personal assistant to a powerful alpha of a large pack, there are certain rules Jamie has for himself to make sure he’s successful at his job.

First, nothing and no one gets to the alpha without his say so.

Second, schedules will be enforced for everyone. At all costs.

Third, a certain Enforcer with an enticing scent and scarred face is not to be stared at, drooled over, and/or daydreamed about.

And fourth, human hunters are never, ever mate material—no matter what their smiles or Southern drawls do to him.

But what if his own rules are preventing Jamie from finding something unique and magical and hotter than he could ever imagine? Because being caught between a grumpy cougar and a dangerous hunter was the last place Jamie thought he should be… but it might just be exactly where he needs to be to find both of his fated mates.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Resist

SERIES: Captured Earth #1

AUTHOR: TJ Nichols

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 4700 kb

RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2021

BLURB:

Capture is a soldier’s worst fear, but all his training couldn’t prepare Sergeant Josh Rayne for what it meant to be caught by the alien invaders, who have claimed the desert in Western Australia.

Josh believes he is the only man left alive from the teams sent out to spy on the aliens, but in the alien prison, he is reunited with his lover and fellow soldier Xavier Fisher. There is no time to celebrate though as Xavier is gravely injured and in need of medical care.

With the exfil date fast approaching, they have to escape before the ship leaves without them.

Book one in the Captured Earth trilogy. For readers who like action, explosions, and don’t mind a little gore with their gay romance.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Lights on Knockbridge Lane

SERIES:  Garnet Run #3

AUTHOR:  Roan Parrish

PUBLISHER:  Harlequin Special Edition

LENGTH:  288 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 28, 2021

BLURB:

Can one man’s crowded, messy life fill another man’s empty heart?

Raising a family was always Adam Mills’ dream, although solo parenting and moving back to tiny Garnet Run certainly were not. After a messy breakup, Adam is doing his best to give his young daughter the life she deserves—including accepting help from their new, reclusive neighbor to fulfill her Christmas wish.

Though the little house may not have “the most lights ever,” the Mills home begins to brighten as handsome Wes Mobray spends more time there and slowly sheds his protective layers. But when the eye-catching house ends up in the news, Wes has to make a choice: hide from the darkness of his unusual past or embrace the light of a future—and a family—with Adam.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Revolt

SERIES: Captured Earth #3

AUTHOR: TJ Nichols

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 

RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2021

BLURB:

Australia is split in half, humans on the east and aliens on the west, and Josh and Xavier are on the wrong side of the line. They need to make it from alien territory back home. But with aliens hunting them and survivors to protect, all their plans start to unravel.

To survive, they’ll have to fight.

They have discovered the aliens are not invincible, and they have weaknesses. Armed with new knowledge, Josh and Xavier are determined to stop the aliens so no one else ends up imprisoned on the base. But going back to the base means risking their lives and the future they have promised each other.

Book three in the Captured Earth trilogy. For readers who like action, explosions, and don’t mind a little gore with their gay romance.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Tempted

SERIES:  Firsts and Forever Stories #3

AUTHOR:  Alexa Land

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  187 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 26, 2021

BLURB:

I’ve been in love with my older brother’s best friend for most of my life. Now I’m a rent boy, and he’s a cop.

Not that I stood a chance with him anyway. He’s straight—or so I thought, until I caught him looking at me like I was too tempting to resist.

He considers me strictly off-limits though, so can I convince him to give in to temptation? And if he does will we be able to build something real, when all the cards seem stacked against us?

Reviewed by Cheryl

TITLE: Why Can’t Sophomore Summer Be Like Pizza

SERIES: The Pizza Chronicles

AUTHOR: Andy V Roamer

PUBLISHER: NineStar Press

LENGTH: 163 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 23 2021

BLURB:

It’s the summer after sophomore year and RV plans to enjoy new adventures and new challenges after finishing two years of high school.

He gets a job as an usher at a movie multiplex but discovers the realities of dealing with job stresses and unruly customers. It’s also time for him to start learning how to drive, and his father is eager to give him lessons. But he’s not the most patient of teachers and RV is not the most capable of drivers.

RV opens himself up to a new relationship and it looks like the start of a budding romance—until it isn’t.

And then there is RV’s family… Luckily, as always, Mr. Aniso, RV’s freshmen-year teacher, is always there to talk over anything that might be bothering RV. But he’s away for the summer, so there’s only so much time and attention he can give RV. It looks like RV’s summer won’t be fun and games after all.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Filthy Sweet

AUTHOR:  R. Cayden

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  220 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 27, 2021

BLURB:

Loner. Troublemaker. Rebel.

…and secret softie?

I try to enjoy the reputation I’ve earned as a hotshot music exec, even as I’m careful to hide my checkered past.

But after another unfortunate scandal catches me with my pants down (literally), I’m forced to clean up my image.

Enter Owen: my best friend’s little brother. The adorkable sweetheart is my wholesome polar opposite, which makes him perfect for a little fake relationship publicity.

Owen’s just out of the closet. He acts shy, but the more time we spend together, the more I glimpse his surprisingly filthy imagination.

And the more I can’t stop thinking about him.

I don’t do relationships. And with my past crashing down around me, I have no right to drag Owen into the chaos of my life.

But then he says my name with his gentle voice, and something unfamiliar stirs.

Owen breaks down the walls I’ve built, but can a guy like me give him the kind of love he deserves?

Filthy Sweet is a standalone M/M romance with a naughty geek, a secretly-sweet bad boy, and a dash of fake relationship. It features forbidden, best-friend’s-brother steam, dirty talk, and ongoing confusion about a pair of panties. Enjoy!