I'm just gonna ramble behind this spoiler cut and leave my thoughts here. I love this author's books that I have read, but I'm sorry to say that this I'm just gonna ramble behind this spoiler cut and leave my thoughts here. I love this author's books that I have read, but I'm sorry to say that this one did not fully work for me. Please don't click the spoiler cut unless you want to read clear spoilers from the book.
(view spoiler)[OMG. OMG. so you're telling me that the entire reason these two idiots are in the situation they're in is because of - MISCOMMUNICATION!?!?!
Look, I love this author and every book I have read from her. But this one just didn't work for me on a personal level. This book literally has a man who, upon being fed lies about the man he's sleeping with, doesn't discuss it at all with him, and eventually winds up married to a woman he doesn't fully love - and we go through nearly the entire book before discovering this at the 85% mark.
Romeo is married to a woman he clearly dislikes (I actually thought she might be physically abusing him or holding something over him in a blackmail type of way - because why else would he have ever bothered getting and staying married to her for 5 years), and his wife, Selbi, lets Jude stay over while his house is being renovated. I still don't love how things go down for their first times together honestly.
I really think this book could have used POV chapters from Romeo as well, and not only Jude. If we had understood what Romeo was going through - why is he so terrified of being queer? He even says his mom would be happy that they're together. What was it really like with his wife, how toxic is it? Reading that may have helped me feel not so bad about him cheating on her with Jude. Or if I had at least read what happened between him and Benji early on - well, honestly I may have stopped reading because lack of communication/big misunderstanding is a huge huge trope pet peeve of mine - but at least things would have made more sense earlier into the book. Because I read nearly a whole book not understanding why Romeo wasn't with Jude from the chapters written about their past. (hide spoiler)]
I received an arc to read and review and my thoughts are my own. ...more
I love getting more of this story and these two! This is smutty goodness right here with some kink and kinky play!
I would say that this leans more intI love getting more of this story and these two! This is smutty goodness right here with some kink and kinky play!
I would say that this leans more into the erotica than schmoopy romance side of things. If you're a fan of Roe's omegaverse tropes and writing, and you loved his dragon series, then you will definitely enjoy his one!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
If Roe writes it, I must read it. I don't make up the rules....more
This is the first book in a new series from Annabeth Albert, and I think fans of her Out of Uniform series are going to really enjoy this one!
Linc isThis is the first book in a new series from Annabeth Albert, and I think fans of her Out of Uniform series are going to really enjoy this one!
Linc is a smoke jumper - he jumps out of planes to land in forests to contain/control/putout wildfires. We learn through flashbacks and also some scenes 6 years prior to the present story, that Linc promised his best friend that he would steer clear of his younger brother, Jacob, who was 19 at the time and had a major crush on Linc, who is ten years older. However, now Jacob has joined the same smoke jumper unit that Linc works for, and Linc struggles with how to come to terms with honoring his late friend's request.
These two had great chemistry together! I love the intensity of feelings between them both, and how it sort of just exploded after a while. Linc and Jacob start things off as a FWB type of deal (which, honestly, was kinda a shaky deal from the get go - if these two had just talked things out!), but of course the feels are going to come out into play. But I also loved their softer moments together, bonding over food and Linc's homegrown food, and their love of dogs.
I also loved that this spanned such a long period of time. We get the initial background 6 years prior to the story, as well as some flashbacks in-between what's currently going on. And then the story doesn't just end when things have calmed down - I like that we get some of Linc and Jacob making things work and also 6 months after, too.
My main issue was just Linc - how stubborn he was, how insistent he wasn't worthy of Jacob and he couldn't wrong his friend and risk losing his extended family. There was just so much push-pull in the middle of the book, and it was a bit frustrating, to be honest. I wouldn't have blamed Jacob if he had dipped out on him.
I really liked when the action around their job took the spotlight and became the focus of the story. Annabeth definitely did her research on this, and I think this is something she excels at (look at how detailed and realistic her SEALs were!). I don't know much about smoke-jumping, but what I read felt pretty legit. I feel like the smoke-jumping and work should have been the conflict of the story, rather than Linc's constant struggle to do the "right thing."
I can't wait for more stories in this series! I think - and hope - that we will get to see a group of friends and loved ones, much like her Out of Uniform series. Garrick needs a story, pronto!!
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This is the first book in a new series from Annabeth Albert, and I think fans of her Out of Uniform series are going to really enjoy this one!
Linc is a smoke jumper - he jumps out of planes to land in forests to contain/control/putout wildfires. We learn through flashbacks and also some scenes 6 years prior to the present story, that Linc promised his best friend that he would steer clear of his younger brother, Jacob, who was 19 at the time and had a major crush on Linc, who is ten years older. However, now Jacob has joined the same smoke jumper unit that Linc works for, and Linc struggles with how to come to terms with honoring his late friend's request.
These two had great chemistry together! I love the intensity of feelings between them both, and how it sort of just exploded after a while. Linc and Jacob start things off as a FWB type of deal (which, honestly, was kinda a shaky deal from the get go - if these two had just talked things out!), but of course the feels are going to come out into play. But I also loved their softer moments together, bonding over food and Linc's homegrown food, and their love of dogs.
I also loved that this spanned such a long period of time. We get the initial background 6 years prior to the story, as well as some flashbacks in-between what's currently going on. And then the story doesn't just end when things have calmed down - I like that we get some of Linc and Jacob making things work and also 6 months after, too.
My main issue was just Linc - how stubborn he was, how insistent he wasn't worthy of Jacob and he couldn't wrong his friend and risk losing his extended family. There was just so much push-pull in the middle of the book, and it was a bit frustrating, to be honest. I wouldn't have blamed Jacob if he had dipped out on him.
I really liked when the action around their job took the spotlight and became the focus of the story. Annabeth definitely did her research on this, and I think this is something she excels at (look at how detailed and realistic her SEALs were!). I don't know much about smoke-jumping, but what I read felt pretty legit. I feel like the smoke-jumping and work should have been the conflict of the story, rather than Linc's constant struggle to do the "right thing."
I can't wait for more stories in this series! I think - and hope - that we will get to see a group of friends and loved ones, much like her Out of Uniform series. Garrick needs a story, pronto!!
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Just me reading this whole series in like a week LOL
This was cute and fit in well with the overall series. I don't know, something didn't jive for me Just me reading this whole series in like a week LOL
This was cute and fit in well with the overall series. I don't know, something didn't jive for me as well as books 2-4 did? I'd definitely read more from this series though.
For people who want something after Henry the hu-cow books, this series might be right up your alley! ...more
Things move quickly for the couples in this series, so if you're looking for sweet, fun and quick novellas, with Honestly this series is just fun haha
Things move quickly for the couples in this series, so if you're looking for sweet, fun and quick novellas, with Daddy kink and most of the series with age play, I would give this a try. I would say this is my 3rd favorite of the series? I like how the scenarios are different for each couple.
3.5 stars for me! I believe that this is KA Knight's first mm book? Overall, I enjoyed it - there was some great UST and animosity between our two lea3.5 stars for me! I believe that this is KA Knight's first mm book? Overall, I enjoyed it - there was some great UST and animosity between our two leads!
This is the story of Alek - the grumpy street car racer, and Evan - the sunshine photographer. These two couldn’t have been more opposite from each other, but they had great chemistry.
I really loved all their banter-filled text messages back and forth. I also really loved Evan’s friendship with Alice, Alek’s sister.
Along the way of these two young men finding each other and finding love and acceptance, there is street car racing, photography, and then an on-campus murder and danger!
My main frustrations came from the following (view spoiler)[- Too much push and pull. There were just too many overdramatics of Evan pushing Alek away and then turning around and giving in to him right away. Way too much. This could be about 100 pages shorter and a lot tighter of a relationship without a couple of the "breakups."
I also feel so-so about how Evan would say he understood coming out and Alek taking his time, but then he didn't really allow Alek any of that time, he had to be OK with PDA immediately. And for 21? year old guys, they had some pretty purple prose in how they spoke to each other lol.
- Lube and condoms yall - where were they lol. It's mentioned once and then never again, for some scenes never at all, they just go. And then it's like it's there, and then at the end it's clearly not lol. (hide spoiler)]
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Think this is my favorite of the series so far! College roommates, daddy kink, jock/nerd (where the jock is the more submissive!), first times, all thThink this is my favorite of the series so far! College roommates, daddy kink, jock/nerd (where the jock is the more submissive!), first times, all the good stuff in this one!
Also liked that the premise was different in this one - Hunter is newly discovering all of this, whereas the previous 2 books the MCs have been well established and comfortable with their bodies.
I really enjoyed this one as the two became more than friends and comfortable with their needs and wants. More like this please!...more
I'm about 55% into this one and for now, I'm going to call it a DNF but not rate it. It's just not for me, but I think plenty of people will love thisI'm about 55% into this one and for now, I'm going to call it a DNF but not rate it. It's just not for me, but I think plenty of people will love this one!
This is being described as a strangers to lovers, forced proximity romance, with instalove and virgin MCs. What I guess I missed is that the two MCs are grown men in their early to mid 30's, when I was thinking this was more new adult and they'd be like 20/21. Also when it says instalove, it really truly is instalove in this book.
Honestly, I think if these two MCs were 19 then I would buy into all of this - the 100% lack of any experience, the intensity of the feelings coming on so rapidly. It also frustrates me - and I know that this is romance - that their time together in the hotel is so perfect. It could have had some fun fumbles and learning for the two of them - but it's perfect! lol of course it is
(Also "god" is said nearly 300 times and it was just too much.)
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I feel like this one felt more rushed than the first book. I know they are all still novellas, but this one just felt quick as compared to the first bI feel like this one felt more rushed than the first book. I know they are all still novellas, but this one just felt quick as compared to the first book. Still very sweet!...more
I have somehow stumbled onto this series LOL - and here I am having already read two books.
Age play, daddy kink, littles, and men who naturally lactaI have somehow stumbled onto this series LOL - and here I am having already read two books.
Age play, daddy kink, littles, and men who naturally lactate. Yeah, I said it lol
It kinda works for the kink factor, honestly. I have read the Hu-cow stories but this just - it happens lol, and they cash in on it happening haha....more
I really loved this series, and this was a great way to wrap things up, to have the first half for the first couple, and then to close things up with I really loved this series, and this was a great way to wrap things up, to have the first half for the first couple, and then to close things up with a new couple, brought together by their past relatives. I thought this was sweet, romantic, I loved how all of the other couples were included, and I just really enjoyed reading about these men. This was a great series, I recommend it!
Merged review:
I really loved this series, and this was a great way to wrap things up, to have the first half for the first couple, and then to close things up with a new couple, brought together by their past relatives. I thought this was sweet, romantic, I loved how all of the other couples were included, and I just really enjoyed reading about these men. This was a great series, I recommend it!...more
This one is out now and if you’re looking for a bit of a slow burn and an opposites atract story, with lots of great characters and humor and love, thThis one is out now and if you’re looking for a bit of a slow burn and an opposites atract story, with lots of great characters and humor and love, then you should check out this book and the whole series! I absolutely love the banter between Donnie and Richard, and there is so much humor in this one! These two are just so rapid back and forth with the wit and snark, I love it. I love the positivity towards sex work.
And despite their shaky first meeting, I love this slow progression to friends - to make this wedding work- while that attraction just build and builds. There is sweetness, some angst, and two men who have both been badly hurt in the past, finding the right person for them in the present.
I received a copy of the book for an instagram book tour. My thoughts are my own. ...more
I always love a Raleigh Ruebins romance - I know it's going to be swoony, sweet, silly men who think they're not good enough or shouldn't be in a relaI always love a Raleigh Ruebins romance - I know it's going to be swoony, sweet, silly men who think they're not good enough or shouldn't be in a relationship, and a sweet HEA.
They're just a nice escapism romance and I always love reading their books.
I really love this series, it's full of fun guys, found family feels, and sweet romance. And I love how new characters are introduced so seamlessly to get future stories set up. I really loved Adam in this one, all his anxiety and worries felt so real and relatable.
You could definitely read this as a standalone (although start this series from the beginning, you'll love it! The first two books are still my favorites I think)...more
This is his first contemporary in a while, and it's just another great example of his excellent writing and Roe is just automatic 5 stars for me lol.
This is his first contemporary in a while, and it's just another great example of his excellent writing and storytelling. I love the setting in this - a super small town in Sweden. The characters are all great, from the main couple to their family and friends.
If you're looking for small town romance with some meddling friends and family, a sweet burly lumberjack, and a fiercely independent ex-American teacher, then I can't recommend this enough! It's slice of life, low angst, no melodrama, and the high heat we know and love from Roe.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I think I say this after every book I finish from her - but I think I have a new favorite book from Jesse H Reign LOL
I adored every thing about this bI think I say this after every book I finish from her - but I think I have a new favorite book from Jesse H Reign LOL
I adored every thing about this book!
- Age gap of nearly 20 years - Grumpy/sunhine - Derek is a MASSIVE grump OMG I adore him - Fake dating - Red flags but they're no big deal lol - Boss/employee and some not-so-HR-approved workplace moments - First times and teaching moments - WOOING
I cannot with how great Derek and Wyn were together. I love Jesse's writing and how nuanced and subtle some moments are between characters. There are so many moments between Derek and Wyn working together and falling for each other and just UGH my heart. The goo!!
And I love this whole world that she has written, where we get to hear how Wyn explains all his friends and their relationships to Derek LOL, they all sound wild right? If you're a fan of interconnected romances, where they all know each other and kinda all orbit around each other, this is a great series for that.
OK, back to Derek and Wyn. I love them. The snark, the sass, the FEELS that they both have for the other but are so afraid of fucking things up, I just adored them so so much.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I continue to love this series and I would be very, very happy if it just never ended honestly.
Couple things to say - you need to read this series inI continue to love this series and I would be very, very happy if it just never ended honestly.
Couple things to say - you need to read this series in order, and you need to be okay with pretty much every kink possible.
Channon and Jack have come so far since this series started, and I just love where they are. I also love Nate and Ewan, and the intricacies of their friendships and relationships as things continue to change for everyone separately and together.
I really loved this one splitting Channon with Nate some, and then Jack and Ewan, and everyone learning a bit more about the other.
I just love everyone!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
This was such a sweet romance! I'm so glad that we finally got to Harlan's story!
This one has - Friends to Lovers - Bi-awakening - Found family feels - NThis was such a sweet romance! I'm so glad that we finally got to Harlan's story!
This one has - Friends to Lovers - Bi-awakening - Found family feels - No big misunderstandings!
Harlan and Sawyer's story was very sweet. If you like friends to lovers, you'll love this. I really like that as the two were working towards that HEA they kept talking to each other and stayed friends. There were no stupid big misunderstandings or melodrama.
My one thing that would make me think of this book as like 4.5 stars, is that they felt very YOUNG. And I think they're supposed to be in their mid 30's right? Just their insecurities and worries came off as a young man, and I kept getting worried that there would be drama because it's like they were trying to create issues when there were none LOL.
Overall I enjoyed this one, and if you love this author's other stories, you'll love this one too!
Now Chase needs a man!!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I love romances in the entertainment world, be it acting, singing, dancing, you name it. It’s always so much fun! And I really loved reading this one!I love romances in the entertainment world, be it acting, singing, dancing, you name it. It’s always so much fun! And I really loved reading this one! At the start, there is a lot of heated UST, tension, and animosity between Roman and Jacoby, and it is just delicious. We also get to read about them filming the movie and what they say in character, which I thought was fun! While filming they have to pretend to be friends, and there is just so much tension between the two as they work to get on the same page and clear up previous misconceptions and misunderstandings. I love how they learn about who the other is as a person, not the public persona and actor. Once the two start falling for each other, they are so smitten and sweet together, I just loved it!
There is no third act breakup, which honestly I had been waiting for, and we have two men who just fall totally for each other, enough to risk the consequences of coming out, to have love and happiness in their lives. No stupid big misunderstandings, no melodrama. This was sweet, sexy, with enjoyable minor characters and friendships, and I really loved reading this.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The build up for Arlo and Jack's story has been building since the very beginning of this series, and now with their book we finally get to see everytThe build up for Arlo and Jack's story has been building since the very beginning of this series, and now with their book we finally get to see everything that was going on off-page during books 1 and 2. I have been really looking forward to their story, to find out more, and to see how these two would get their act together and get to that HEA.
I loved this book and honestly, this might be my favorite book of the trilogy. The desperation, the co-dependency, the angst, and the PAIN, that these two went through for well over a decade was just heart-aching. There was definitely that push and pull with them, and I think it was important to see everything in the first half of the book that took place in the past to understand where these two were at the present day.
Couple things I loved! Major props for a wonderful demi-awakening with Jack discovering that part about himself and finding peace with it. I can personally understand what a light bulb moment it is when you have that identity realized and named, and find that you're not broken. I love that for him so much.
I also really appreciated the mental health aspect to this with Arlo. I love that this wasn't something that was magically fixed and he's fine, but a true ongoing day to day thing for him.
My main thing was - (view spoiler)[so much of this could have been avoided with just GOOD communication! LOL. Literally every book in this series has thrived on bad or no communication, and that's such a personal like/dislike in romance I feel like. But these two - ahem, JACK, let things go on for like another 4 years once their manager was gone, when he could have just talked to Arlo! And for the life of me, I can't think of any of her paranormal books using communication as the conflict device, so it's like....odd? to me that every book of this series revolves around the big misunderstanding and crappy communication.
Also, speaking of her paranormal series, I don't know how I feel with the crossover. I think it's cute when a band's name is dropped in her PNR world, or like how she mentions other mm authors in the bookstore, for example, because it's just that "if you know, you know" type of nod. But with the actions in this book, this is clearly all one 'verse now. I'm sure everyone else is gonna love this, and this is just a me thing lol. But it just seemed like an easy way out of what happened at the cabin, so Jack wouldn't have jail time lol. (hide spoiler)]
You want to read this trilogy in order - each book definitely builds on the previous and timelines overlap. I also totally want there to be a spin off with the Phoenix agency and those guys. I just want miscommunication and misunderstandings to not follow to the spin off as well.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Rachel Emily
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