Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Charlie Sunshine

SERIES: Close Proximity Book 2

AUTHOR: Lily Morton

NARRATOR:  Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 7 hours and 54 minutes

RELEASE DATE: January 14, 2022

BLURB: 

Sometimes love is a lot closer to home than you think. 

Charlie Burroughs can’t keep a man. All he wants is a good relationship like the ones he sees his friends having, but none of the men he picks ever work out. Despite him trying to be the perfect boyfriend, the men are either threatened by his looks or his epilepsy or a combination of the two. It’s lucky that he has his best friend, Misha, to turn to. The two of them are closer than peas in a pod and fiercely loyal to each other. He can’t imagine his life without Misha in it.

Misha Lebedinsky is the complete opposite of his best friend. Being the support system for his mum and twin sisters leaves Misha with neither the time nor the inclination for a relationship. Quick and frequent hookups are his favorite means of communication, and any other pesky emotional needs he has are met by Charlie, whom he’s devoted to. He lives a life of happy compartmentalization with no intention of ever changing. 

All of this changes when the two best friends move in together. Being in close proximity means they suddenly start to see each other in a very different light. But Charlie struggles when his drive to be the perfect partner clashes with the fact that he’s in love with a man who knows every little thing about him. And even if he can get past that, can a relationship ever work with a man who’d need a dictionary to tell him what love means? 

From best-selling author Lily Morton comes a love story about a sunny librarian who has relationship written all over him and a cynical banker who doesn’t even have it in his blurb.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  The One That Got Away

AUTHOR:  Nicky James

NARRATOR:  Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  12 hours, 34 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  January 3, 2022

BLURB:

Someone is following me. I’m not imagining it. I’m not crazy.

Charlie Falkingham is convinced someone is stalking him. There are signs. There are clues. But no one believes him. After living through a childhood horror, Charlie suffers from a severe paranoia disorder, among many things, and the Hamilton Police Department has labeled him the boy who cries wolf.

When the only person in the department who ever listened to Charlie’s concerns retires, who can Charlie reach out to for help?

Arrogant and young, Officer Takoda Dyani has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. He’s rude and brash and doesn’t play well with others. He has more enemies than friends. When his senior officer assigns him to be Charlie’s consultant, Takoda knows it will end badly. He doesn’t have time to coddle a prissy rich boy.

However, if he can’t calm Charlie’s paranoid delusions and act civil for once, he’ll lose his job.

But are they delusions?

The longer he knows Charlie, the more Takoda realizes something isn’t right.

Is someone really stalking Charlie, or is Takoda getting too wrapped up in Charlie’s world?

The One That Got Away is an MM romantic suspense thriller. Triggers for severe anxiety and panic disorder, OCD, dissociative episodes, and PTSD. The plotline includes a reference to a past child kidnapping and sex trafficking incident. Details of sex trafficking are NOT discussed in any part of the story.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Off Limits

SERIES:  Secrets Kept, Book 1

AUTHOR: Riley Hart

NARRATOR:  Tim Paige

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 6 hours and 51 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  January 10, 2022

BLURB: 

It started out as a little fun. When there was a man in my building on a hookup app, why not message him? 

Only we didn’t meet. We just texted – one night after the other, after the other.

GoodWithHisHands was the perfect escape from my life, where pressure was always on my shoulders: my father’s expectations, the worry about my sister, Maddy, getting sick again, and her ex-husband, Ryder Lynwood, suddenly back and volunteering at the same hospital as me. 

It would have been smart to keep my distance from the man who came out as gay, tearing our close families apart and breaking Maddy’s heart. Except Ryder intrigues me. I like talking to him, the same way I enjoy chatting with GoodWithHisHands. 

They weren’t supposed to be the same person. 

I wasn’t supposed to fall for him. To want him. To need him. Maddy didn’t deserve to get hurt again, and I didn’t need another reason to feel like an outsider in my own family. Ryder was off-limits. I knew that. Still, I couldn’t make myself stay away. 

Off Limits is a sister’s ex-husband romance with banter, feels, and two men who are perfect for each other, even if they shouldn’t be. There’s no cheating.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  The Best Men

AUTHOR:  Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely

NARRATOR:  Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan 

PUBLISHER:  Troliver Books

LENGTH: 9 hours and 9 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  January 18, 2022

BLURB:

Best-selling authors Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely team up for the first time in an enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, irresistibly sexy stand-alone romance between the best man and the other best man! Performed by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan!

In my defense, I was left alone with a bottle of single-malt and a lifelong penchant for protecting my baby sister. Still, that’s no excuse to send 10 drunk-texts on why her hasty marriage would be a mistake.

If only I had just texted my sister. But nope. I accidentally sent the message to her, her groom, and his super hot wingman.

I also used the phrase “super hot wingman”, so I’d like to die now.

Instead, I have to plan a wedding with the aforementioned hottie and share a too-small guesthouse in steamy Miami. Three days in the sun with the cocky, charming former athlete who likes to push my buttons? Fine, two can play at that let’s-infuriate-each-other game.

Until Asher ups the stakes with one wildly sexy suggestion. A no-strings fling, then I go back to my single dad life in New York, and he returns to his star-studded one.

Sign me up.

But the more nights I spend with the other best man, the more I want days too, and that just can’t happen. Especially when I find out the real reason why….

Contents Include: first times, a secret to-do list, champion-level flirting, fast cars, #eggplants, and two men who look good in formal wear.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Taxes and TARDIS

AUTHOR:  N.R. Walker

NARRATOR:  Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH: 3 hours and 8 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  December 11, 2020

BLURB:

Brent is a jock; Logan is a geek. These men are a world apart. But if opposites attract, maybe it’s the differences between them that make it worth the fight.

Brent Kelly is a laid-back electrician whose only concerns are drinks with friends and which man to bed next. In need of a new accountant to sort out his nightmarish shoebox of tax receipts, he’s referred to Logan Willis.

He doesn’t expect to be intrigued by the science-fiction-loving, geeky guy with dark-rimmed glasses and a blue TARDIS shirt. So his fascination with the soft-spoken Englishman surprises him,  and their mutual attraction is completely unexpected. He most certainly never expects to fall in love.

One a jock and the other a geek, both men know the differences between them are vast and could cause problems. But in this opposites-attract erotic drama, maybe it’s the differences between them that make staying together worth the fight.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Most Wanted

SERIES:  Wrecked: Guardians, Book 3

AUTHOR:  Kelly Fox

NARRATOR:  Zane Daniels

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  5 hours and 55 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  January 7, 2022

BLURB:

Thane.

Letting him go was the biggest mistake of my life. Giving me a second chance might be the biggest mistake of his. I’d spent a year as Ronan’s friend-with-benefits, convincing myself that he could never feel the way I felt. I was floored when those three little words flew out of his mouth. So, I ran and have regretted that decision every day for the last five years. Now, fate has led him back to me and to the Guardians, the merry band of mercenaries who have become my family. Our last several missions have gone sideways, and Ronan is convinced that he needs to go back into the field to understand what our team is dealing with. He’s putting himself in harm’s way, and we can’t keep our hands off each other. God help me if anything happens to him.

Ronan.

I can’t think of anything more dangerous than giving my heart to a man who’s already destroyed it. Then again, I might not have much say in the matter. My life’s been upended, and the only place that’s safe is with Thane and the Guardians. It doesn’t take us long to figure out that our passion burns just as hot as it always did. Undeniable. Unstoppable. I can’t keep my hands off him, but I can’t go back to being his friend with benefits. And, I have no clue how to trust him. Thing is…if we could learn to trust each other, I might actually have something to offer this team of morally flexible do-gooders.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  True Order

SERIES:  Prosper Woods Chronicles, Book 4

AUTHOR:  Patricia Logan

NARRATOR:  John Solo

PUBLISHER:  Westburg Publishing

LENGTH:  7 hours and 37 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  December 1, 2021

BLURB:

Bloodthirsty vamps. Dire wolf royalty. The prince of unicorns. What’s next? All-out war of course. 

When I came to Prosper Woods, the last thing I expected was to be walking into a world of magic. Horror movies at the theater hadn’t prepared me for the realization that vampires, werewolves, witches, shifters, and ghosts were real. After six months, I’ve learned to live with it, and I count many odd creatures as friends, not to mention my soul mate, a vampire who makes me tremble when he kisses me.

I’m hopelessly, helplessly in love.

When I came to Prosper Woods, my expectations were low. I brought Robert’s bones, numerous possessions, and regret for my role in my maker’s sheer blood lust. I also brought Robert’s ancient tomes. When Sergio showed up demanding I give him the books, I banished him with the help of a spell and a friendly witch. I never expected those books to be the source of danger to my man and our life together.

I’m hopelessly, helplessly in love.

When the vampire came to town, I knew things were going to change. What I didn’t expect was to become alpha of my pack and fall in love with my best friend. Werewolf royalty moved into town, bad vampires were about to go to war with us, and the biggest surprise of all: The unicorns had a king of their own. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but I want to avoid war. With Sam by my side, I’m pretty sure I can face anything. Because I’m hopelessly, helplessly in love.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Scratch the Surface 

AUTHOR:  Mary Calmes

NARRATORS:  Tristan James & Tim Paige

PUBLISHER:  Tantor Audio

LENGTH:  8 hours and 42 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  January 11, 2022

BLURB:

Sometimes things look one way, but when you scratch the surface, there’s more than meets the eye.

Jeremiah Wolfe has always done what was necessary to survive. On top of working two jobs, he’s going to school to become a social worker so he can give kids the help he never got when his mother left years ago. When a rare night off finds him with the chance to make a quick buck, he jumps on it. But his evening goes sideways, and he’s about to head home when he’s propositioned by a stranger. A meaningless one-night stand is simple and easy, so he steps into the hotel room—as he has many—without expectation. But the man behind the door is a surprise, as is the instant connection that builds along with passion and a glimpse of his heart. Small wonder that Jere can’t get the nameless man out of his head.

Cameron Gallagher has never been accused of being spontaneous. He’s an introvert whose life is about schedules, plans, and lists. He’s always been the careful one, so inviting a stranger into his bed on the lure of his gorgeous smile and warm brown eyes isn’t only out of his comfort zone, it’s entirely out of character. Surprisingly, when he wakes in the morning alone, it’s not regret he feels, but the need to find the man who held him in his arms all night. It seems crazy, but he can’t get the man out of his head.

When they’re brought back together, each man believes it’s more than luck. They feel as though they’ve gotten a second chance. Sure, love at first sight is just a myth, the stuff of romance novels, but the more they scratch the surface, the more they realize they’ve got a shot at something lasting.

Reviewed by Cheryl K

TITLE:  Dragon Scholar

SERIES:  Dragon Hoard Series

AUTHOR:  Minerva Howe

NARRATOR:  John Solo

PUBLISHER:  Turtlehat Creatives

LENGTH:  6 hrs. 37min.

RELEASE DATE: December 27, 2021

BLURB:

Devon Marks loves books more than just about anything. They’re his job and his passion, and they’ve brought him to an auction where he meets the hottest guy he’s ever seen. When Brand Drake offers to let Devon come and value his extensive collection at an old mansion high in the Colorado mountains, he knows life as about as good as it gets.

Brand Drake knows he wants Devon the moment they meet, so he goes about adding Devon to his hoard the same way he would an amazing old book. But when Devon starts eating him out of house and home and showing signs that he has emerging dragon traits, he knows he hasn’t just found a lover, he’s found a mate.

When Devon starts to show signs of something even more amazing, Brand calls on his brothers Eagan and Tyson to help him figure out what to do, as well as how to tell Devon what’s going on with his body, which is life-changing, and also dangerous. Someone always wants dragon magic to use, and Brand has to find a way to keep them safe, and to keep Devon with him, hopefully forever

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  You Had One Job

AUTHORS:  Cari Z and L.A. Witt

NARRATOR:  Michael Ferraiuolo

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  7 hours and 24 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  January 14, 2022

BLURB:  

Nikita Ravenov

It was supposed to be a simple job: Tail the Italian for an evening, see if he was up to anything shady, and report back to the Bratva.

But I didn’t expect him to go into gay bars. Is someone trying to out me to the Bratva? Am I being set up?

And what the hell do I do, now that my mark knows I’m following him?

Lorenzo Ferrari

It’s insulting, really. My organization wants to do business with the Russians, but they’re putting tails on me? That’s just bad manners.

But when that tail gets a beating from his own and for failing to tell them everything he knows about me, I know something is up.

Now, we’re both in way over our heads. Our only hope is working together.

And even then, I’m not so sure we’re getting out of this.

Content warnings include drug use, active addiction, graphic violence, suicidal ideation, domestic abuse.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Can’t Get You Out of My Bed

SERIES:  Love & Luck Book #6

AUTHOR:  Isla Olsen

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Moonwalker Press

LENGTH: 5 hours and 47 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  December 28, 2021

BLURB:

Aidan Kelly. To everyone else in the world, he’s the star of a successful extreme travel show, but to me, he’s the one that won’t go away.

It started with one of those typical high school crushes on my best friend’s older brother, which turned out to be not entirely unrequited…

There was that time just after high school where someone (not me) may or may not have hurled all over someone else’s c*ck. Then there was that incident in Austin where…well, let’s just say it gave a whole new meaning to the term “bull riding”. And let’s not forget that little thing with the rental car….

But it doesn’t matter how good the sex is, or how deep the attraction is; Aidan and I are just never going to work. There’s the distance, for one, and the fact that one of us (not me) is a closeted celebrity…and that’s all without going into how whenever we’re in the same place, we just can’t seem to stop from hurting each other. And not just in the good way…

The only option to maintain my sanity is to avoid Aidan and force myself not to think about him. But that’s easier said than done when – thanks to my best friend’s misguided “help” – we end up living in the same freakin’ apartment….

Warning: This book is not appropriate for anyone who doesn’t like laughing, anyone who doesn’t like terrible karaoke, or anyone who doesn’t like when two hella gorgeous guys have a ton of smoking-hot sex as they work through their sh*t to get to their happy ending.

Happily ever after included.

Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Mr. Right Now

SERIES:  Suits & Sevens #2

AUTHOR:  Isla Olsen

NARRATOR:  Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER:  Moonwalker Press

LENGTH:  4 hours and 35 minutes

RELEASE DATE: January 3, 2022

BLURB:

Right place. Right time. Right name.

Drew

When my parents decided to name me Andrew, I doubt they could have imagined it would lead me here…

Where is here, exactly?

The short version – the Wattleglen Inn on Long Island, where my roommate’s billionaire brother has roped me into pretending to be his boyfriend for a family wedding weekend. All because I happen to have the same name as the ex his family still thinks he’s dating.

The long version – a ton of questioning, fantasizing, and giving in to temptation after being on the receiving end of the most epic BJ I’ve ever had in my life.

Sullivan Stapleton is the last person I should be getting involved with; he’s on the rebound, he’s a guy, and he’s a freakin’ billionaire who never saw a problem he couldn’t throw money at.

But I can’t turn down the cash he’s offering to be his fake boyfriend for the weekend; not when I’m in dire need of funds to repair some storm damage to my auto-shop.

And then after the wedding…well, I should walk away. But for some reason I just can’t seem to let go.

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  True Prince

SERIES:  Prosper Woods Chronicles, Book 3

AUTHOR:  Patricia Logan

NARRATOR:  John Solo

PUBLISHER:  Westburg Publishing

LENGTH:  6 hours and 54 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  September 21, 2021

BLURB:

My life couldn’t get any better or more bizarre. Ever since moving to small town Prosper Woods, California, and meeting my vampire lover, the oddest things have been happening. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the fact that this whole place has turned out to be one giant melting pot of the strangest paranormal creatures on the planet. Let’s face it, this little place is like the United Nations of weirdos.

Not all of them like me.

I’m in love with my unicorn who just happens to be the most decent, honest, and kindest man I’ve known throughout my long life. I hadn’t planned on settling down forever. I usually must move on every 20 years or so, because I never age. I always wanted a family but alas, that wasn’t to be. Now, things are looking up and all because a curious little boy has come to town.

Unfortunately, our enemies are determined to spoil all this bliss.

I’ve had to combine forces with someone I absolutely hate. Plus…he smells like dog. The only reason we’re pairing up is because we share common enemies. A reckoning is coming for the vampire and the unicorn, and am I looking forward to ending them once and for all.

And if the kid gets in the way, I’ll just give him to Justine as a snack.