45 and Holding by Jacki James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the first page I was in love. The writing was so light and fluff free. So many parts were hilarious and the dynamic between the MC's was perfection from the start.

Scott Anderson is a widower and a new empty nester when his daughter leaves for college. His best friend talks him into getting a puppy and then getting puppy training classes taught by Craig Baker, his former high school acquaintance.

Craig Baker is feeling all of his 45 years old and is quite possibly having a midlife crisis. He's thinking it may be time for a tattoo or a motorcycle. But when Scott brings his puppy to training classes, he's instantly attracted to him, even though he's straight. But there's no harm in becoming friends, right?

After spending lots of time together and suffering the signs of not being in their 20's anymore, Scott decides he needs to make a decision. Either just be friends with Craig or stop denying he has feelings. Hot, physical, romantic feelings.

So, this is a first time gay romance for Scott and the story is written so well that the scary feelings and worry were not glossed over. Not everyone was thrilled. It was very honest and real and every scene had an underlying humor about it, which kept it light.

I loved the musings at the start of each chapter about getting older. There was a lot of talk about aging and what the expectations are of others, but the story is about taking the opinions of others and throwing them out the window. This was just a sweet story of two men who realize that they can start their lives at 45 however they want and create their own family together.



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Roam by Dez Schwartz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book had so much potential! The MC, Ethan Roam, is a college student who feels as though his life is boring and his major is worthless and he has nothing. The cherry on top is that he has these vivid dreams, sometimes nightmares that haunt him during the night but have now started to seep into his mind during the day.

When his uncle sends him to meet with Dr. Grady Hunter, some sort of dream specialist, he hopes that he finally may get some sleep. But when he walks into the office, he realizes that nothing is what it seems and he's interviewing for some unknown job position.

From the start Ethan is this young, innocent doe eyed boy who sees only the good in people and has a strong hero worship complex. He is immediately drawn to Grady, who isn't even a doctor. After one night, he agrees to move into his home and give up his family and friends.

During this time, it is explained to Ethan that he has the ability to travel to different dream worlds. Okay, so this is exciting right? We are finally down to some pretty cool super hero type abilities? Wrong. So wrong. Nothing happens. Ethan doesn't even really ask any questions. He just blindly accepts this and then moves on to being in love with Grady. No pretense. Just love. Well, of course Grady, being like 14 years older and a hateful human is also in love.

But the lies! Oh, the lies. Grady has told some lies and kept some truths and apparently that doesn't really matter cause of the love. And then we fade to black. And then the ending is super cheesy. SUPER. CHEESY.

So, I was disappointed on a couple of fronts. First of all, there was absolutely zero romance involved. There was no burn of any sort. There was nice to meet you, we belong together, cue the sunrise. Secondly, I love an age gap when it works. This did not work. Ethan was so naive and when Grady spoke of his relationship with Dacey (a vampire), Ethan just smiled. When Grady basically hit on Ethan's mother and told Ethan she was attractive, he felt awkward. Really? Awkward? Lastly, there was so much potential with the premise of traveling to other worlds and dreams and being able to create wormholes. Nothing was tapped on that front.

It just left me with so much disappointment, sadly.

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Imperial Stout by Layla Reyne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I tried soooo hard to love this book. I really did. I was confused from the first line.

Right of the bat Cam and Nic are in the middle of a raid with characters that are both significant and not and too many glimpses of the past without explanation. The story is fast paced, but just gets more and more confusing. Some characters are known by their last names, which is fine, but then other characters call them by their first names, which is super confusing since there seem to be so many of them.

I also felt like I was somehow supposed to know their backgrounds and how they were all connected when there were only some random allusions to any of it.

I was also thinking there would be a slow burn between Cam and Nic, but mostly it was a match that kept going out, getting tossed and then reappearing 50 pages later fully lit, just to go out again.

I did enjoy the plot and the energy and communication between the MC's. There were definitely good things about this book, which is why it was a 3 star from me.

I'm keeping myself open to reading the next and hoping that it will enlighten me about things that are foggy.

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THE ROOMMATE: A Sizzling Stepbrother Romance by Lindsey Hart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Markus and Leanne meet at their parents engagement party and end up having to spend some time on vacation together getting to know their soon to be step siblings. When things quickly turn from hate to something steamier, will they mess up their parents relationship?

Okay, so yes, this was a very short novella, but seriously? They went from HATE to STEAMY in a 5 minute conversation and then turned into 'you make me a better person, yada yada yada'. I don't think so. There wasn't enough story for me to buy it. Sorry.

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Facing the Beat: Young Spades Book 2 by Riley Long
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What's not to like? Liam is the guitarist in a band, who's straight and single. Jack, a photographer, is taken to a Young Spades show by his roommate and can't stop staring at and taking pictures of the guitarist. When he introduces himself and offers Liam a drink, Liam, of course says, 'I'm not gay.'

And who doesn't love a line like that?

But Jack knows he was checking him out. So, being the persistent bugger that he is, he gives Liam his number and makes Liam promise to text him. Let the romance ensue... There were a few bumps in the road, but the story progressed at a good pace and was fun and light.

Honestly, I loved both Liam and Jack. They were so sweet to each other and despite the whole 'I don't like guys' act, Jack was so careful with him. It was refreshing.

I loved Liam's friendship with Trick, his band mate. He was open and honest and gave him great insight and help and I laughed so many times at his expressions/answers to Liam's embarrassment/questions.

Jack's attitude of *I want everything, but I'll go at your pace, but hurry...* was so fun. His character cared so much and so deeply.

Honestly, this was a great first time gay relationship book. I just really enjoyed it all.



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The Journalist and the Dancer by Liam Livings
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is about giving love a chance and accepting life and what comes.

Christopher moved to Ibiza to get away from a long term relationship and a fast paced life that was headed towards a heart attack. He's now a writer for an Ibiza travel magazine, mostly covering new clubs and nightlife. When he sees dancer Lucas at the club, he can't take his eyes off of him.

Lucas was in an abusive relationship in Spain and moved to Ibiza to be free and to start his dancing career. When he sees Christopher, he hopes that he'll contact him. After a couple of weeks go by, Lucas finally get the nerve to call Christopher.

I really got into the first half of the book. Both Christopher and Lucas had bad experiences in past with relationships and so they decide to take things very slow. That's fine and all, but somehow the way this was written there was no slow burn, which always adds something for me.

There was mention of Christopher having anxiety about a physical relationship and that thread returned a couple of times, but nothing was ever attributed to that, nor was it really ever discussed, which was weird to me.

I also thought the first half went at a good pace, but the second half was disjointed. It didn't flow at all. Months of time went by and nothing happened. Then an entire life changing event happened in the span of a couple of pages.

I would have enjoyed it more if there was some sort of conflict in the second half, or at least something to keep me interested.

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Drawn To You: A Single Dad Opposites Attract Romance by Preston Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dylan is a single dad, trying to be the best father he can to Josie while owning his own florist. He's got a large pack to help support him, but maybe it's time to start thinking of moving on beyond his deceased husband. When his brother urges him to have his wedding ring tattoo moved to his right hand, Dylan meets tattoo artist Jack, who is everything Dylan isn't. He's an alpha, he's fully covered in tats, he's easygoing and friendly, laid back and HOT.

Dylan has learned that life isn't always perfect, but you have to hold on to what you have when you have it because there are no guarantees. Is what they have enough to hold on to? Is it worth it?

I really did enjoy this book until the end. I gave it 4 stars because it totally held my interest, I loved both MC's and it was a good blend of different personalities, but not so different that there was no common ground. They absolutely fit. I didn't love the end. I won't spoil anything, but I found it to be rash and maybe not really in line with what I thought the characters would do, honestly.

A great read!

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Road To Romance: A First Time Gay Enemies To Lovers Romance by Peter Styles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Honestly, there are so many romance books that follow a formula where all roads lead to happy ever after eventually and to me this book started out that way, but I seriously fell in love with it quickly and realized that this was definitely not a sleeper to be missed.

Enemies to lovers is totally my bag. This book had it in spades. Max and Luke work for the same company, in the same department, under the same boss, in the same quad of cubicles. It's no surprise to their coworkers when they both make snarky remarks under their breath. But when they are given the mission to deliver an incredibly delicate package to a client in LA together for a chance at a promotion, things get a little heated. In every sense.

If Max were a real person, I'm pretty sure he'd be my bestie. He was so funny and sarcastic and let his heart rule his actions.

Luke was the high maintenance goofball who was worried about pleasing everyone, but still made time to enjoy the now.

They were awesome together. The chemistry was all there. It was just a really fun, quick read that left me with a smile.

*A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

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Jilted by Lilah Suzanne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Carter's fiance Matthew decides to take a last minute trip to New Orleans, no explanation. When they arrive and he breaks up a wedding, Carter realizes he's just been dumped. He runs into Link, who was the one actually getting married who was also jilted at the altar. When they decide to go on the honeymoon together, things get interesting.

The writing was fun and there were some really funny parts, but I just couldn't get into it. I found Carter to be super annoying and he was back and forth about everything. He couldn't make one decision on his own. His sister was far too involved in his life. Link was okay, but felt disjointed to me. The only character I actually kind of liked was Eli and he wasn't even a MC.

Overall, it was fine, but didn't really hold my interest.

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Honeymoon for One by Keira Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ethan is walking on air the day before his wedding. He and Michael have been together for years, and Michael was there for him during his years of depression, reeling from the death of his parents and his loss of hearing. When he arrives home early from work and finds Michael in a compromising (ahem) position with Todd, Ethan's best friend, his life seems over. Or is it just the beginning?

Clay is a driver for a touring agency in Australia. He's got two children in their 20's, an ex-wife and a dog, but mostly his life is filled with cricket. Until he meets Ethan, alone on his honeymoon and realizes he might not be as happy as he previously thought.

There were so many aspects of this book that I loved.

The fact that Clay was older and used outdated slang was just a part of his charm, but I felt like it made his character so real and comfortable, like a flannel shirt. He just oozed care.

I always love a MC that has some sort of limitation and Ethan's loss of hearing was just so HIM. Which sounds weird, but it was just one of those things that he really rolled with and I felt like his personality was such that it was just a unique quirk, not a detriment. And it's always enlightening to read a story with depth of emotion about an issue like that. I learned a lot and felt myself wanting to take care care of Ethan.

I hated Michael and Todd, obviously, as they were the righteous arseholes who cheated on their friend, but the scenes with them were portrayed so well in the story. I was proud of Ethan and the way he handled the situation and that he was able to get closure.

Honestly, I feel like I'm going on and on, but there was just so much in this book. There was hate from years ago that was perfectly opposite from the support and love from Clay's daughter, Sam and his son Pete. Well, and his ex-wife I suppose. It was just very well done from all angles.

The slow burn was slow slow slow but not torturous. It was slow until it wasn't and then it was perfect. I couldn't have asked for more.

It's definitely worth the read. I will have to check out more of Keira Andrews works after this.

*A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

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Beauty And The Bookworm by Nick Pageant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, this was awesome. I love a writer who is witty and sarcastic and can poke fun at things that are taken seriously. The shifter romance books that Mason read were just perfectly on point. And the token guy in the sun on the cover. Hilarious!

I loved the cardigan wearing librarian character of Mason, with his self deprecating humor and witty snark. Shane was awesome as well. His love of kale and quinoa was perfectly balanced with his charm and openness. I loved how he loved Mason as well.

This story was just fun. I think I smiled the entire way through it. So many great jokes and humor. I just wished it was longer.

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The Time Between Us by Preston Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Skylar becomes of age to shift for the first time, his family is expecting an alpha to take over, but his shift reveals a male omega and he’s exiled from his pack. As he travels across country, he is hardened and wronged until he meets Angelo and is given a safe place. When alpha Troy walks into the bar he calls home and both feel a strong connection, they spend a night together. But one night leads to a series of oversights, transgressions and one man falling to his knees.

This story takes place over five years and there are some flashback scenes. I personally don’t usually enjoy flashbacks when they take over the story but each of these was worked into the story really well and they were short and sweet.

We get two POV’s here was well. One is Troy and one is Skylar and it’s awesome because they really work together to tell the story and there isn’t an annoying overlap of info.

I truly LOVED this story. It had everything for me:

A good plotline that didn’t get boring

The characters were phenomenal and stayed true to themselves through the entire story
(I love love loved how sweet Troy was. He wore his heart on his sleeve. He was a big, intimidating alpha, but he was soft hearted when it came to those he loved and always put his family first.)

There were major conflicts throughout the story and none of the characters got away without dealing with any issues. The worst is reading through pages and pages of conflict just to have it resolved with a simple ‘sorry’. This book covered each issue with meaningful conversations and endings that were so so good.

There were plenty of hot scenes that weren’t over the top and didn’t take over the book

I never felt the need to skip ahead as the story had good flow

If you are looking for a shifter romance, this is perfect for you!


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Of Sunlight and Stardust by Riley Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

After Tanner loses his wife to illness, he buys the house and barn that Emma had always wanted for them. He has turned into a shell of a man, the property overrun with ruin. When Cole is released from prison, he drifts into town and finds kindness from Tanner, allowing him to help fix up the barn and property in exchange for a place to stay. The story turns into two separate but eerily similar love stories set 70 years apart on the same property.

Both Tanner and Cole had a great deal of backstory and the character development was well done. There was a lot going on, but the story just seemed to drag. The romance was a slow burn and worth it, but it felt like it took a very long time to get to where SOMETHING happened. And then, after finishing, I can't even tell you what that something was...

This book was purely romance for the sake of romance, so if you're looking for a slow burn, loving story, this is it. Not for someone who is looking for plot.

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Best Love by Lily Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two best friends join a dating site and get matched with their perfect match, sight unseen. But when they show up at the same place, they realize they've been matched with each other and decide to go on both dates that each of them had planned.

Short and sweet in the best way. Just enough background thrown in so you get a glimpse into their chemistry and how long they've been together and how many boyfriends they've survived and when they finally get it right, it's everything!

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Crooked Tree Ranch by R.J. Scott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

When Jay is laid off from his marketing job, he decides it's the perfect opportunity to start over with his sister and her teenage daughter and 6 yr old son. A job in Montana is posted by Crooked Tree Ranch looking for someone to develop their brand and website. The three Todd brothers run the ranch and realize that it's losing money. If they don't do something to drum up business they could lose everything. When they hire Jay, it seems they have all they need in more ways than one.

Okay, so this book was super sugar coated. Everything was easy. Everyone ended up getting along. No conflicts lasted more than a page. Which, yeah, can sometimes work, but this was a book with a lot of side stories going on and not enough action in my opinion.

The overall story was great and the characters each had so much potential. I felt like there could have been much more in depth reveal to each, though. It would have been nice to have a better background on each to understand their motives a bit better.

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Wolf: A Sports Romance by Lisa Lang Blakeney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

This was hard for me to rate because it felt really disjointed. The first two thirds was so different than the last third.

When billionaire sports star Cooper finds out his assistant of 3 years wants to quit, he has to decide if he wants her in his life and to what end.

So the first part was witty and funny and fast paced. I was really enjoying the back and forth. The two POVs was good but because the chapters were not alternating POVs and they weren’t labeled it took some time to figure out who was narrating.

Once the ‘big reveal’ happened I felt like the main parts that made up Coop (being aloof, sarcastic, distracted) completely vanished and he turned into this super sweet, caring man with nothing to lose. And Owens turned into a young, innocent submissive.

The story was entertaining and fun and I liked the back story that played out through its entirety but it just wasn’t solid for me.

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Calling the Ball by C.L. Mustafic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Henrick gets out of a two year relationship with his coworker he decides to take a vacation to the beach to get his life back on track. When he meets famous footballer Tino, he tries to keep his distance but Tino doesn’t take no for an answer... until he finally does. But as time passes, their friendship means more and more. Will they both change their lives to be happy?

This is the second book I’ve read by CL Mustafic and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this one. I was very impressed by the writing and the story. I literally did not want to put this one down. Henrick was funny and witty and stood up for himself over and over again while Tino was so charming and patient and such a family guy. I loved this so much!

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Lucky is out today! Another fantastic Garrett Leigh book

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I've been a fan of Garrett Leigh ever since I found Slide and she's not let me down yet. This book is no exception. When professional footie player Dom meets Lucky through his Grindr app, he knows something is different. But he's not out and he won't end his career to be out of the closet. Lucky has had a rough past and is basically homeless when he meets Dom. There's something about him that he just isn't ready to let go of and it has nothing to do with his money. Will they be willing to risk everything to be open and honest and out?

Okay, first off, the easter egg of Sam Nowak was awesome. I love when an author throws in something from another book of theirs. I loved Lucky. He was honest and sincere and he put it all out there all the time. I just wanted him happy from the start. Dom could have been an ego rich jock, but he wasn't. He was sweet and kind and such a teddy bear. This book was awesome. The characters never betrayed their roles and the writing was stellar.

I Love You, Johnny Darling by Jere' M. Fishback
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Johnny Darling is leaving his mom and sister behind and starting his single life at UF in Gainesville. When his new roommate Ben arrives, he's delighted by him and they quickly become best friends. But when Ben tells Johnny his secret, Johnny shares one as well and it leads them down a very different path.

Okay, so I really liked the writing. I liked the inclusion of music that was always playing when they were in the car because it brought me back to the relevant times and how different they are from today. It was fun to hear about Ben's GTO and Steve's VW.

I loved Ben's character. He had depth and pain and grief and a maturity that was so sweet. And he was just an all around nice nice guy. I wanted so much more for him. I was agonizing over Johnny and his treatment of Ben. Every single time he had an opportunity to do the right thing, he caved and was selfish and heartbreaking and I just couldn't stand him by the end. I almost hoped for a different ending just because I feel like Ben was so much more deserving of someone with integrity and respect.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by NineStar Press, Inc via NetGalley.

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New book out today! Go get it!!!

There's Something about Pain by Schuyler L'Roux
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I finished this unsure of what my thoughts are. There is a definite cliffhanger at the end and I'm not sure if it's about the ultimate revenge or something else.

When one night turned into the next morning, Gerry promised he would call Thom. The call never came and Thom hasn't been the same since. When he finds his opportunity to see Gerry again, he is mad. Well, that's an understatement. He wants a thousand apologies and he wants to understand.

I felt like at some point Thom was asking a little too much from Gerry. It was one night. On the other hand, being busy with CrossFit isn't the greatest excuse for having no time either.

In the end, I'm intrigued enough to see where the next installment takes these two, as I'm sure it will be a whirlwind and a surprise.

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Ravensong by T.J. Klune
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just read Wolfsong recently and I’m glad I didn’t have to wait years for this sequel. It was so very good. I loved the first, but this I found less poetic yet more... exciting?!

Gordon and Mark’s relationship was woven through the first book but we get to the meat of it here in Ravensong and it’s just as epic as Joe and Ox. The years of sadness and rage that spanned what could have been was heartbreaking but such a good slow long burn.

I loved how this book was about them but it wasn’t necessarily the focal point throughout the entire story. There was so much more story to tell and so many battles to fight between wolves and omegas and hunters and humans.

And oh how I loved Team Human. Rico was better than ever with Tanner and Chris.

I loved every word of Wolfsong but Ravensong was just as good or better.

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Innovative Desires: An Enemies To Lovers Billionaire Romance by Peter Styles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Simon and his roommate are looking for investors for their newest technology. When Simon meets Alard, CEO of Innocorp, he thinks he's got the money he needs and accepts his conditions, until they keep changing. Things turn more personal and Simon can't help thinking that this could be the relationship he's looked for. But Alard is suspicious of the new tech because it's eerily the same as his newest project. Throw in a dad with a secret and a bunch of feelings and you've got quite a story.

And it was. I was super intrigued by the story line. I liked the age gap because Simon seemed so mature and Alard had never enjoyed his youth like he could have while he was building his empire. It was real and hard and totally fun!

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Second to None by Felice Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Felice Stevens and I'm going to have to go back and do some reading. I realized halfway through this that it's the third in a series, however, it could be a complete stand alone. I didn't feel as though I was missing any information at all.

Marcus grew up alone and has set up himself for a reality where he answers to no one and he gets what he wants. Until he meets Tyler. Tyler is a single dancer who's taking care of his 4 yr old niece and living paycheck to paycheck. All of his previous work experience involved inappropriate bosses who devalued his talents. Trust comes hard to Tyler and love comes hard to Marcus.

I really enjoyed this book. It was steamy and funny and real. I enjoyed the fatherhood aspect as well, for Marcus as he was so selfish and unforgiving at the start. It was fun to see his character grow. This was a great read.

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Breeding Rights: A Virgin Cinderfella Romance by Preston Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When Owen's pack is attacked and unable to afford healthcare for many of it's members, he decides to auction himself as a breeding omega at the next HOWL meeting. Dante is an alpha, but unsure of himself. He's had his eye on Owen for years but was too shy to do anything about it. Now that he's up for sale, Dante has the opportunity of a lifetime. But when Owen thinks he's being bought as a pack breeder, he doesn't know his place in his new pack and he's never been wanted before for anything else.

This is real. The confusion and the miscommunication and the difference in packs and the internal relationships was all so real. Owen was totally unaccustomed to outward signs of affection and truly didn't know how to show his feelings. And Dante too his friends advice and believed him over the man he was falling for.

I liked the story. I liked the characters. It kept me entertained and was super fun.

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Rend by Roan Parrish
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Riven. I loved Theo and Caleb and I have loved so many of Roan Parrish's works. The relationships she creates and weaves are just amazing. Rend was no less. Rend was a bit different because we kind of glossed over the getting together part and went straight to post marriage, but it was so much better because it was the meat of Matt and Rhys's problems and love and hope and despair. Honestly, I really enjoyed how honest and real it was. I loved that even though Matt thought he had no one but Rhys, he had Grin and he had Theo, which was so great, but he also had Caleb and Mona and a family.

Loved it, loved the characters and Ichabod Crane and the cemetery and the music and Max.

Thank you to Roan Parrish for writing another brilliant work.

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Love Spell by Mia Kerick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very uplifting, sweet story of Chance, who is not exactly sure who he is. He's smart and funny and sassy and on his own. His parents work too much and think he's better off raising himself. His BFF Emily supports him in ALL of his efforts and he's got an amazing relationship with her.

When he meets Jasper at a pumpkin festival, he's decided he'll do anything it takes to get him to fall for him. Emily and Chance decide to take magazine advice and try manipulative tactics to get him on the hook. And if that doesn't work, they'll attempt a love spell.

When Chance discovers that Jazz is taking care of his family and just needs someone to lean on, he's got to decide where he fits and if he fits.

I loved this as a young adult book because it's perfect for this age. It's just so sweet and innocent and loving. The way the relationships are formed and how much Jazz loves his sister and mom and even though Chance has never had a real family like that, he totally fits in.

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Over and Over Again by Cole McCade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never realized how many words there are for love. This book was sooo long and I feel like every page showed love in a different way, a different light.

I typically don't love reading pages and pages of description but this was just so beautifully written. Yes, it was long. Yes, there were times when I thought, okay something has to happen soon, right? But after finishing this book, I can't think of an event that could have been left out.

It was just a really, really satisfying read with a lot of emotion.

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Sex, Lies, And Headlines: A Second Chance Romance by Peter Styles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given this arc by the author/publisher via BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.

When Simon meets Luke in a bar, the connection is strong and grows stronger by the hour. But when Luke leaves a fake phone number in the morning, Simon tries to forget what he felt. Six years later, they meet again at a San Diego Comicon where Luke is famous and Simon has a secret.

I thought this story was okay. I was hoping for more, I guess. It bothered me that Simon didn't have enough spine to tell the truth about his name on the first night, but I suppose there wouldn't have been much of a story. I liked Luke's character. I felt like he was true to himself, but I found the ending lacking something. It was an entertaining read and I enjoyed it.

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Wolfsong by T.J. Klune
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Omg. This was candy canes and pine cones. Epic and awesome. This was pure love, family, friendship, searching, finding, needing, poetry, everything. I will remember this book for years to come.

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The Customers Always Write by C. DeAndré Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given this arc in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.

When Andre loses his job as a writer, he moves from LA to San Diego. Unable to find another writing gig, he applies for and accepts a job at a porn store. This book is a collection of short stories, really, about conversations that he had with clients and friends and coworkers during this time. Many of the antics and stories are humorous and some make you think deeper into the perceptions that you may have, but I felt after a while that I was reading the same things over and over.

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Looking Forward by Michael Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I have a love/hate relationship with books like this where decades of time go by and as the reader you feel like lives have been lost or wasted, but this was worth the heartache. Great ending. Great read!

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Just One Night by Jack Harbon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given a copy by NineStar Press, LLC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Cam has a business trip to Vegas, his work friends make a bet on how his night will go. Being a writer for a romance column, he's looking for inspiration. When he meets Owen at a nightclub, he's hoping to have an evening that will mix business and pleasure.

I thought the writing was good and the characters were interesting. I think if this is a series of novellas, that's one thing. Being just a short story, there wasn't enough for me to love. I thought the ending was somewhat ridiculous, honestly. I don't want to spoil anything, but it didn't sit right.

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Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes: Owlturd Comix by Andrew Tsyaston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's like the antithesis to all of those platitudes we give others. It's awesome and real. And funny... bonus! Like not giving a crap when people want to put us in a box and we don't fit. Or knowing you don't always HAVE to have a good day. And it's okay.

Super fun to be able to read a bunch of these quirky comics in one place.

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Remembering Love: An Accidental Pregnancy Romance by Austin Bates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book via BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.

When Adam wakes up and realizes he's in a hospital bed, he quickly realized he can't remember how he got there. And there is a stranger in his room keeping vigil. When his family shows up, he discovers he was in an accident and two months later he has woken from a coma and has lost 2 years of memories. When his friends show up, it becomes obvious that he doesn't remember seeing them before, especially Bolton, who no one knows.

Reese is a paramedic who happened to witness a horrifying accident and was able to save Adam but in all these months he can't forget him. He's been by his bedside as often as possible just watching over him. He tells himself that he will get over it when he's no longer a patient, but when the time comes for Adam to go home, he realizes he can't let him go.

There is a hint of mystery in this one, which was what kept me going. Who was Bolton? Why were strange things happening? I thought the addition of his character was very interesting, especially since Adam didn't remember him, but didn't find him suspicious or threatening. I was totally engrossed in the story and loved Reese's character. I loved that he was so calming and caring. It was a great read.

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Guarding My Heart by S.C. Wynne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book. I was given a copy by BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.

Liam is a rich kid who's suffered a break up and has subsequently quit college, moved back home to his families vineyard and basically quit life. When his parents hire a personal bodyguard for him, he's immediately upset about having a babysitter. Especially when Scott would prefer to keep things professional, unlike the last one. But when someone really is trying to endanger Liam's life, will the edges of professionalism start to blur?

Oh, man. Read this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I loved Liam. I loved how he flew off the handle and was cocky and didn't think before he acted. Scott was so grounded and fun and funny and pulled so much out of Liam it was awesome. The chemistry between their personalities was super fun and I really enjoyed the whole story. Very well done.

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First Heat by Preston Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given a copy of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.

Logan, an omega, is beaten and tied up by his family and sent to the bait pit to fight for his life. Deacon, an alpha, is there to see if any omega's catch his eye. He's looking for a mate. Once he sees Logan, who is tied up and unable to defend himself, he stops the fight and takes him home. But their personalities clash and the alpha tires to rule over the omega, causing quite a disruption in the pack.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a slow burn, but kept growing, which was fun. I loved how much Logan wanted to protect his future cubs and the other omegas. Deacon seemed like less of an alpha at times, which was annoying, but I was glad he took his omega father's advice, staying true to his alpha father. All in all, I'd recommend it.

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Little Dove by K.C. Decker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Etta was in an accident in school, she died. When she was brought back to life, she was able to read the aura of those around her. At 25, she's working weekends at a bar and lives at a motel. She spends her days with Tobias, the son of the motel owner, and Moxie, her best friend. When she comes across the dark soul of a bar patron, she decides to kill him, with the help of motel drug dealer, Dallas. But it's harder than it should be to get Dallas to sell to her. And when she takes Stephens life into her own hands, she finds she might not be as prepared as she had first thought.

OMG. This book! I was tortured through the entirety. I couldn't stop reading and I finished it in one sitting. I had no idea the twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat and just when I thought I knew things, they just got deeper and crazier and sexier. So so good. Amazing writing. Wonderful, crazy characters. Loved it!

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Undertow by Brooklyn Ray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars

When I started this book I wasn't aware that it was the second in a series, so it was extremely confusing at first. Ryder and Liam are both powerful beings who are in a circle of others who share in the occult. Liam feels as though he's changing. When the circle gets together to read their tea leaves, panic sets in when Liam's leaves are dry. The question is, what is Liam becoming? And will he have to kill Ryder?

I enjoyed the story. It was interesting to see how all of the characters in the circle interacted. There were so many different and opposing personalities. I would love to read the first book to get a better understanding of the past and what turned Ryder into a darkling necromancer. I'll read the rest of the series too. It's very well written.

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All I Want Is You (Love Everlasting) by Iris Morland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phin Younger is a state defense attorney who is smart and excellent at what he does, but he's also lonely. When Emily Lassiter walks into the courtroom he is overwhelmed. She's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen, but he's also the sister of his client and he's got an old colleague that's looking for a way to tarnish his reputation.

This was a really cute story. I thought Phin was great and I loved him with his family and his coworker. Emily was trying her hardest to not use her looks to get ahead, but she was falling so far behind that she had to make a choice and it fit in so well with her character and her desperate need to save her brother.

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High Time by Keelan Ellis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Paul Solomon and his partner Tim Cullen are investigating the murder of Penny, a college girl who was last seen 27 years ago. Things hit close to home when Tim's sister Kathleen ends up being the last known person who spoke with Penny, then they find photographic evidence that her husband knew Penny as well.

I like a good mystery and I love it when it's not something that is far off in left field. This was great. The characters were fun and imperfect, which was nice. They were real. It wasn't confusing, yet it wasn't obvious either. It was very well done.

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Lucky by Garrett Leigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ARC given in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU.

I've been a fan of Garrett Leigh ever since I found Slide and she's not let me down yet. This book is no exception. When professional footie player Dom meets Lucky through his Grindr app, he knows something is different. But he's not out and he won't end his career to be out of the closet. Lucky has had a rough past and is basically homeless when he meets Dom. There's something about him that he just isn't ready to let go of and it has nothing to do with his money. Will they be willing to risk everything to be open and honest and out?

Okay, first off, the easter egg of Sam Nowak was awesome. I love when an author throws in something from another book of theirs. I loved Lucky. He was honest and sincere and he put it all out there all the time. I just wanted him happy from the start. Dom could have been an ego rich jock, but he wasn't. He was sweet and kind and such a teddy bear. This book was awesome. The characters never betrayed their roles and the writing was stellar.

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A Few Good Fish by Amy Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amy Lane has done it again. Jackson and Ellery are back with still more fallout from November. This time they need help from Sonny and Ace and Burton makes a cameo as well.

I have loved this series and the relationship between Ellery and Jackson. How hard it is for Jackson to believe he’s worth anything and then the relationship between him and Lucy Satan. It’s just awesome to get so invested in a character.

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