Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: The Real Baxter

SERIES:  The Baxter Chronicles # 1

AUTHOR: Lane Hayes

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 370 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 4, 2022

BLURB: 

The silver-fox and the faux bodyguard…

Sebastian

Who’s the true hero behind the Hollywood heartthrob, crime-fighting, adventure-seeking international man of mystery? Me. I’m the real Baxter.

Well, I wear the suit and let the action play out onscreen. You want to know the secret of my success? Sell the story you want to tell. Even if you have to bend the truth a little.

Okay…a lot.

Trust me, no one will notice. Except Trent, who seems to notice everything. And for some reason, I like that. I like him. I’m just not sure what to do about it.

Trent

Look, I’m not exactly killing it. I’m a typical struggling actor-slash-waiter, hoping for a break. And boom…in walks Sebastian Rourke. He’s a cutthroat, wickedly charming silver fox, a Hollywood legend in the making. No joke. You’ve got to sell a piece of your soul to get in this man’s orbit. Or fake a British accent, then take a job playing bodyguard to fool the press. As one does.

I know I should take advantage of the very strange situation I find myself in, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for it. However, I’m willing to take a chance, ’cause I want the real Seb.

Even though it might cost me everything.

The Real Baxter is a MM age-gap, bisexual romance featuring the man who has everything and the actor who’s willing to show him what’s real.

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Thick as Thieves

SERIES:  Aster Valley #4

AUTHOR:  Lucy Lennox

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  278 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 1, 2022

BLURB:

Julian:
I’ve been in love with my best friend since forever. Okay, fine. Like, kindergarten. It started out platonic, obviously, but then became… nope. Still platonic. The problem is that Parker Ellis has been straight since forever. And that makes it difficult to convince him the two of us are meant to be together.

And now there’s no point. All is lost. He’s gone and gotten engaged to his high-school sweetheart which means I have to grin and bear it while pretending to be the happy, supportive best man while he prepares to commit his life to a woman I can’t even fault. She’s great. We’ve all been friends forever. I know he’ll be happy with Erin, just not… just not as happy as he could be with me.

Parker:

I’ll admit. Sometimes I press the easy button. Like when Julian Thick had offered me half his sandwich back in grade school after noticing I didn’t have any food. Or when I’d needed a date to homecoming in tenth grade and Erin told me she was it. Or when I’d used the one thing that came easy to me, skiing, to get my college tuition paid for. Or when Erin had showed back up in my life six months ago and told it was time to marry and start a family…

But for the first time in my life I’m facing something that’s not at all easy. It’s my wedding weekend and I’ve just been left at the altar. Not only that, but when my best friend whisks me away to drown my sorrows in a snowy cabin in Aster Valley, I accidentally discover Julian’s been keeping secrets. Big secrets.

The kind of secrets that lead to hot experimental kisses in front of a blazing fire, tenative physical exploration in a way I’d never imagined before, and the kind of intimate, true confessions I’d never even dreamed of between me and the one person who’s always been my true home.

But after twenty-plus years of thinking of Jules as my friend without benefits, is it truly possible to change who we are to each other? There’s no easy button this time, but I’m willing to do the work. I only wonder if Julian is ready to trust I really mean it.

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: The Hitman’s Guide to Righting Wrongs While Causing Mayhem

AUTHOR: Alice Winters

SERIES: The Hitman’s Guide #4

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 348 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 3, 2022

BLURB:

Leland
Growing up, I was taught that getting too close to someone would be my downfall. But I’ve proven that wrong now that I’m happily married to Jackson, the greatest man in the world. The issue is that mayhem always seems to find me (which is definitely not my fault), and this time, it comes in the form of a woman looking for her daughter. What starts as a simple missing persons case turns into so much more, forcing me to rely on my found family and others, including a muscley “bear” who will definitely not whisk away my husband with his irritatingly sexy accent—I mean, yes, I’m very focused on this case… Jackson, don’t look at me like that.

Jackson
While Leland is “code potatoing” (whatever that means on his strange cheat sheet), I’m left questioning what he’s gotten himself into this time. At least he’s willing to let me assist him, even if he’s still positive that I should just “sit pretty” and let him handle everything. But with the girl missing, he knows we need to work together to determine whose game we’re playing because not everything is as it seems. Of course, when one gets involved with Leland, nothing is ever simple. But maybe that’s just the way I like it.

Reviewed by Larissa & Kat

TITLE: Jilted: Jaren

SERIES: The Foster Brothers Book 1

AUTHOR: Nora Phoenix

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH:  262 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 4, 2022

BLURB: 

USA Today bestselling author Nora Phoenix kicks off a new contemporary gay romance series with the story of a tattoo artist who finally has a shot at winning the heart of the one man he never thought he could have.

Years of pining.

Years of keeping his distance.

Years of lusting after Jaren, the one man Reid couldn’t have.

Because Jaren is straight.

Worse, he’s engaged to Reid’s sister. In other words: he’s off limits. Impossible.

But a day before the wedding, she calls it off, leaving Jaren with nowhere to go.

So what’s a man to do? Well, offer Jaren a place to stay, of course.

A shoulder to cry on.

A bed to sleep in.

And maybe someone to share that bed with?

Jilted is the first book in The Foster Brother series, a contemporary MM romance series about four men who chose to be brothers. It has hurt/comfort, found family, bisexual awakening, first time gay, and a guy who finally realizes that what he wanted most was right in front of him the whole time.

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 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 Valerie

TITLE:  Tough Luck

SERIES:  A-List Security #1

AUTHOR:  Annabeth Albert

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  286 pages

RELEASE:  March 24, 2022

BLURB:

My best friend’s little brother needs a bodyguard. Now I’m the one in danger…

I’m a SEAL. Or rather, I was. Retired at the grand old age of thirty-eight, I’m at loose ends. My best friend wants me to join his security team. I’m not sure I’m bodyguard material, but he needs someone to protect his kid brother. How hard can spoiled brat duty be?

Somehow, I missed the part where former child star Danny Love went from dorky TV darling to all grown up and disturbingly attractive. All the gossip about his wild ways fails to mention that he’s trying hard to clean up his act. But now he’s got a stalker.

Hiding out together in a remote mountain cabin, alone, the temptation keeps building. I’m feeling things I never have before. Secrets I’ve kept even from myself bubble to the surface every time Danny looks my way with those puppy dog eyes.

I’m a SEAL. We leap into danger. So why is it so terrifying when that danger comes with the softest pair of lips I’ve ever known? At some point we’re going to have to return to Hollywood and our vastly different lives. Will Danny still want me around when he doesn’t need me for protection? Can I be brave enough to give him a reason to?

TOUGH LUCK is book one in a brand-new SEAL bodyguard series. It features an age gap, steamy first times, and all the high heat, big emotions, and found family feels readers expect from this fan-favorite military romance author. Join A-List security for this lower-angst series featuring former SEALs and the celebrity clients who win their hearts. Happy endings and no cliffhangers guaranteed!

Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Frat Wars: Master of Mayhem

SERIES:  Frat Wars #2

AUTHOR:  Saxon James

PUBLISHER:  May Books

LENGTH:  275 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 23, 2022

BLURB:

Bro big or bro home.

Robbie

As social chair of Sigma Beta Psi, I’m the life of the party. It’s what I’m known for, and if it’s not fun, I’m not interested, simple as that. I’m not someone who overthinks. So when one of my brothers hooks up with a dude from another frat house, it catches me off guard when I can’t stop thinking about them … together.

There’s only one way for me to get this obsession out of my head and that’s by jumping in with both feet and putting it into practice. The problem is, the one guy who’s up for the ride, is the last one I’d expect.

Brandon

Being risk manager of a frat house is nobody’s idea of a good time. My brothers get annoyed when I put a damper on their plans, and wrangling drunken frat brothers isn’t how I pictured my Saturday nights of senior year. I’m bored. In a rut. Study, frat duties, planning for the future. When is it my turn to let loose for a moment?

So when my dumb-as-bricks frat bro is scoping out the house for a little experimenting fun, I throw out the offer like it isn’t the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever considered.

I never imagined I’d actually enjoy it.

Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE:  More Than Enough

SERIES:  Pelican Bay #4

AUTHOR:  Sloane Kennedy

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  277 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 17, 2022

BLURB:

Sawyer
Hiding and running, that’s what I’m good at. It’s who I am. It’s who I have to be…
For Sawyer Brower, the picture-perfect town of Pelican Bay was just supposed to be another place to take refuge for a few months before moving on. One year later finds the seemingly unflappable wildlife veterinarian settling into what’s supposed to be the quiet life of contentment he’s always wanted.

But there’s nothing quiet about the arrival of the gorgeous but very bitter ex-soldier who seems intent on destroying what’s left of his life after losing his legs to an IED.

Jett
I didn’t just lose my legs in that godforsaken desert, I lost the man I used to be… the man I should’ve been. How the hell am I supposed to come back from that? I can’t. I won’t…
While it took years of hard work and determination for Jett Sharpe to prove he deserved a spot in a prestigious military academy followed by an illustrious career in the army, it took just seconds for it to all be over. With nearly all of his brothers-in-arms lost to a roadside bomb and his own future irrevocably changed, Jett’s got little left to live for.

So when his best friend shows up in Oklahoma with an ultimatum—go freely with him to Minnesota or by court order— Jett knows he has little choice in the matter. But hell if he’s going to make it easy on any of the men who keep trying to convince him he’s family.

Two men running, one from the past, the other from the future…
Nothing about Sawyer and Jett makes sense. Not after their disastrous first meeting and most certainly not the white-hot chemistry that keeps pulling them together. Scarred minds and wounded souls are forgotten when desire takes over, but masks have a way of settling back into place for two men who have nothing real to hang on to.

Can Sawyer and Jett let the walls that are keeping them safe within themselves fall or will they miss out not only on each other, but the very thing the town of Pelican Bay is offering them?

A place to call home.