Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Hold Me Under

SERIES:  Water, Air, Earth, Fire #1

AUTHOR:  Riley Nash

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  348 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 16, 2022

BLURB:

Victor Lang had everything—looks, money, fame. A chance to become the greatest swimmer in history. Until a failed dope test brought him crashing down.
According to the rumors, he turned into a recluse, a drug addict, a whore. Broken beyond repair. Incapable of love.
And for some reason, he’s set his sights on me.
A freak accident in his pool throws me into a world of wealth and status and people who are willing to do anything to get what they want. Before I know it, I’m being paid to fly to Italy and pose as his boyfriend. Trapped at his side, I learn what it means to truly hate someone.
Turns out, that’s exactly what he wants.
I can’t save him, and I can’t love him. But as things fall apart and I discover the truths he’s hiding, I learn that hate can be greater than love—an obsession, a prayer, dark days and darker nights, a need to be the only one who hurts him. Hate can heal the worst wounds love leaves behind.
But I have problems of my own, a broken spirit and loved ones to protect. And I’m scared to face the things he’s waking up inside of me.

A gritty, emotional, epic hate-to-love slow burn with an inexperienced top and his bratty bottom, hurt/comfort, obsession, and healing. Guaranteed HEA!

Content Warnings: Contains dark themes, adult content, and potential triggers, though every effort was made to portray them thoughtfully and sensitively. Specific triggers (potential spoilers): sexual abuse (off the page), suicidal ideation, drug abuse, disordered eating, trauma, mental illness, homophobic language

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Uniquely Average

AUTHOR: Susan Hawke

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 144 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2022

BLURB:

A twenty year age gap, a neurodivergent ‘boy’ and a gray ace of a ‘Daddy’, both lonely and unable to find their match… until now. 

Ethan Humboldt is a cocky, confident chef with zero filter and even less humility. He’s also a very good, neurodivergent boy who’s been searching far too long for the perfect Daddy. At thirty, Ethan knows what he wants—and what he needs. The only problem? Finding a caregiving type of Daddy to provide it.

Danvers Jones has more money than he knows what to do with and nobody to spend it on. He’s not looking for a fling, Dan needs someone to pamper. To romance… to adore. As a romantic gray ace, nothing else will do it for him.

Newly retired, Dan has one final mission—to find his former best friend’s long lost son and deliver a trust fund. After that, Dan’s determined to start fully living his life, which starts with the right partner. Only problem? Dan requires the type of person who’ll need his unique brand of Daddy.

Danvers and Ethan aren’t expecting to meet their perfect match in a random meet cute gone wrong, but when does life ever go according to plan?

This stand-alone novel is a full-length, 43k non-age play Daddy romance. The core of this story was previously published as a 15k short in the USA Today bestselling “Dirty Daddies 2021 Anthology.” It’s now been reworked and lengthened to provide the tale as originally intended.

Reviewed by True

TITLE: Dark Heart

SERIES: Darker Daddy Bodyguards #1

AUTHOR: Sue Brown

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 181 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2022

BLURB:

The bodyguard must keep his head in the game and his heart locked up. He may be a Daddy but there’s no way he can take this boy in hand. Not if he wants to remain breathing.

When you’re a bodyguard who comes with a brutal reputation for taking dangerous assignments and getting the job done—whatever the cost—you know there’s a high chance you won’t make it out alive.

But when Leon is assigned to protect Domenico, known as the Prince of Darkness, the spoiled heir to the Acierno family, he knows the assignment’s probably going to end with a bullet to the back of his head. Either by the family’s enemies or his employer.

It’s bad enough that Dom’s father controls the city with an iron fist. But there’s an added complication. The young prince may look like an angel but he’s feisty, out of control, and hunting for a Daddy to put him over his lap.

Domenico may be the boy Leon longs to take to his heart, but the bodyguard can’t afford to get involved with the beautiful young man. However the Prince of Darkness isn’t used to the word, no.

Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: No More Secrets

SERIES: Zone Defense #2

AUTHOR: Becca Seymour

PUBLISHER: Rainbow Tree Publishing

LENGTH: 284 Pages

RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2022

BLURB:

Some things you can’t just blurt out… right?

When you’ve shared a kiss with your best friend and it blows your mind—and other parts of your body—it’s inevitable that everything changes.

That’s the way it now is with me and Jayden Moore, my best friend who thought he could rock my world with no consequences, all while throwing me his signature grin.

But this is Jayden we’re talking about. He gets himself into unexpected trouble no matter what, and when visiting Australia, I’m compelled to make sure he doesn’t get eaten by a croc or try to steal a kangaroo. Like the glutton for punishment I am, I follow him.

And that’s all great until my desperation and big mouth send our worlds spiraling. Apparently, we’re now officially a couple. And because of course it goes one step further, I’ve now got my very own fake fiancé.

Being in the media is one thing, but being inspiration for others creates a whole new set of guilt and problems. But we’ll tackle it together and find our way back to how things were.

And if that’s not possible, just maybe Jayden and I can find ourselves with a brand-new label. One that’s real, and one I don’t run from. That’s the thing with Jayden: he has a way to extract my secrets. Whether he’s prepared for them or not.

Reviewed by Anabela.m

TITLE: 760 Miles

SERIES: Northern Horizons Book 1

AUTHOR: AE Lister

PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing

LENGTH:  329 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2022

BLURB:

How far would you travel for one man?

The very last thing Jimmy Downing needed was a skinny traveling partner who acted half his age with a chip on his shoulder and no idea how the real world worked, because Jimmy had a lot of experience with the world and he wanted no part of it anymore.

He was trying his best to be an honorable man after two decades of being outside the law. He’d stolen things. He’d killed people in the name of survival. He’d helped other men do horrible things. But now he was keeping his head down and trying to live under the radar. T’wasn’t his fault that Oscar needed someone to show him right from wrong, give him something to eat on the regular and try to keep him out of trouble, so he didn’t end up making a mess of his life the way Jimmy had. Maybe that was what being a good man was all about.

Except the things Jimmy wanted from this twenty-one-year-old man were far from respectable, and he couldn’t stop thinking about them, especially when Oscar Yates of the big brown eyes, cackle of a laugh and insatiable appetite for anything grilled over an open fire insisted on pushing all his buttons.

How was Jimmy going to last the 760 miles to Port Essington without giving in to those needs Oscar called to with the hint of a smile and a smart-assed curse? Because if Jimmy did give in, it would mean both of them living outside the law and never having the chance at a decent life again.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Twice Bitten

SERIES: Darlington Pack Series (Prequel)

AUTHOR: Dylan Reece

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 165 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 21, 2021

BLURB:

Sometimes even fate needs a second chance… 

Was I too brave? Or just stupid? Tired, hungry, and poor, I challenged my pack leader and now I’m exiled from the city… and from my fated mate. Peter’s my dream omega—sweet, smart, and gorgeous—the type of man I’d want to have pups with. But he’s a human who doesn’t know the secret of wolf shifters… And he’ll never forgive me for standing him up.

Destiny leads me to discover a new home in the unusual town of Darlington where I join a pack of daring misfits and exiles who rally behind each other—the kind of pack I’d only ever imagined. But I can’t delve into a new life without my fated mate. My wolf and I will fight like hell to win Peter back, encourage him to take my claiming bite, and build a family together in Darlington… But only if he’ll give me a second chance.

Twice Bitten is the 40,000 word prequel to the Darlington Pack Series, featuring mpreg, steamy heat, a close-knit pack, and small town coziness. It’s got big bad alphas, a sassy best friend, and love conquering all. With a HEA, this second chance mm romance is a great way to dip your toe into Darlington. But be careful—you’ll never want to leave!

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  On the Fly

SERIES:  Rail Riders #4

AUTHOR:  Nicky James

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  308 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 14, 2022

BLURB:

Everything is changing.

When her core group of freight-hopping friends start settling down, Willow is left adrift and all alone to ride the rails.
She can’t quit like everyone else. For eight years she’s been on a quest for answers about her past, and LA is where she suspects she’ll find them.
With a serial killer still loose on the rails and no one else to ride with, Willow’s lifelong best friend, Billie, insists on coming along.
Riding with Billie is a dream come true. They know each other inside and out, and Billie’s presence in Willow’s life has always kept her grounded.
But Billie has always had strong feelings for Willow that go beyond friendship, and Willow has always insisted on keeping things the way they are.
Why mess with a good thing and risk losing the one person who keeps Willow grounded?
Can Billie prove to Willow that she will be there no matter what, that she will never let go no matter how bad things get?
As secrets from Willow’s past unfold, their relationship is tested and hard choices must be made, but sometimes the only way to move forward is to make a decision on the fly.

** On The Fly is a best friends to lovers, female/gender fluid romance. Billie uses the pronouns she/her and they/them interchangeably. It is the last book in the Rail Riders series and should be read in sequence for full enjoyment. **

Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: All Inclusive

SERIES:  California Crush, Book 2

AUTHOR: Mia Monroe

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 229 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2022

BLURB: 

My best friend is the man of my dreams, but is there any chance I could be his?

My best friend is gorgeous. No, really. Like can’t take your eyes off him gorgeous. He’s also sweet, a little shy, and yet has a crowd of men clamoring to share his bed. I envy him in that way, while my desire for him grows.

What’s holding me back from making my move besides endangering my closest friendship? My pitiful lack of experience. Even if he was interested in me, how could I possibly compete with the men he’s dated before?

But when one of our coworkers plants an idea that’s too good to pass up, I’ll find out if we’re only meant to be friends or if our relationship can be All Inclusive.

All Inclusive is a best friends to lovers, mutual pining, opposites attract romance starring a shy but popular ginger-haired angel and his outgoing but inexperienced bestie. It is book 2 in the California Crush series, featuring tan lines, thick thighs, and plenty of hot guys. Book your vacation and meet the men of Hillcrest Hideaway.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Sapphire Sunset

SERIES:  Sapphire Cove #1

AUTHOR:  C. Travis Rice

PUBLISHER:  Blue Box Press

LENGTH:  489 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 1, 2022

BLURB:

For the first time New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice writes as C. Travis Rice. Under his new pen name, Rice offers tales of passion, intrigue, and steamy romance between men. The first novel, SAPPHIRE SUNSET, transports you to a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their heart’s desires.

Logan Murdoch is a fighter, a survivor, and a provider. When he leaves a distinguished career in the Marine Corps to work security at a luxury beachfront resort, he’s got one objective: pay his father’s mounting medical bills. That means Connor Harcourt, the irresistibly handsome scion of the wealthy family that owns Sapphire Cove, is strictly off limits, despite his sassy swagger and beautiful blue eyes. Logan’s life is all about sacrifices; Connor is privilege personified. But temptation is a beast that demands to be fed, and a furtive kiss ignites instant passion, forcing Logan to slam the brakes. Hard.

Haunted by their frustrated attraction, the two men find themselves hurled back together when a headline-making scandal threatens to ruin the resort they both love. This time, there’s no easy escape from the magnetic pull of their white hot desire. Will saving Sapphire Cove help forge the union they crave, or will it drive them apart once more?

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  The Inconvenient Love

SERIES:  Better With You #4

AUTHOR:  Briar Prescott

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  266 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 14, 2022

BLURB:

Max:

He’s funny, smart, dorky… and all grown up.
Isac. My best friend’s little brother. He kissed me when he was nineteen and told me he was in love with me. I shut him down, telling him he was too young and didn’t know what he was saying. That damn kiss is coming back to haunt me now. The softness of his lips and the hopeful look in his eyes—I remember it all too clearly, and it’s getting almost impossible to tell myself I don’t want a repeat of that kiss…

Isac:

You can only make a complete ass of yourself in front of a guy so many times. Luckily for me, I’m not the same pathetic, starry-eyed kid anymore. Max and I are better off as friends. Now, if only I could figure out why he’s looking at me so intently. And why he kissed me. And why we’re suddenly doing all sorts of other things friends don’t generally do.