Kneading You by C.S. Poe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.25 Stars

This was a novella done right. It had all of the elements of a flirty, believable romance with two cute MC's and a bit of hope.

Christopher had his heart set on living in a dreamy small town in New Hampshire, but once there, finding work was proving difficult. When he heard about the small library set in a historic old building, needing repair, upkeep and updating, he knew he'd be perfect. But no one mentioned he only had a month to prove the library was as important to the town as he thought it was, otherwise they'd tear it down.

Miles, the local handyman, was hired by Christopher to help fixing up some bookshelves and other items around the old building, but ended up staying for more. As a team, they decided to make the library into a place that would be meaningful to youth and adults.

The characters in this were so stinking cute. Christopher in his sweater vests and checkered shirts was the epitome of a nerdy librarian. And Miles, the shy, brooding baker/handyman who had more love in his heart than anyone. I fell in love with them instantly.

The cute little tale had a lot of heart, a lot of hope, a bit of yeast and punching and a perfect HEA.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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Curses, Foiled Again by Sera Trevor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

Felix and John's adventures together felt like the Odd Couple and I loved every minute of it.

Felix is a vampire on the prowl when he sees John walking home from work late one night. As he jumps out to scare him, John rolls his eyes and keeps going. Inexplicably, Felix is unable to bite him and it drives him crazy. It just so happens that John is a witch.

Unable to stop from thinking about John, Felix stalks him, investigates him, follows him, then finally shows up at his work. At this point, it's no longer just intrigue that keeps him interested, but John himself.

When John realizes he can't get Felix to leave him alone, he tells him that if he puts a drop of blood on a rose every day for 101 days, it will turn blue with magic and he can bring the rose to John and he'll see him. John knows that a vampire wouldn't be able to hold their interest long enough. But Felix isn't just any vampire. At this point, John can't stay away. But their lives start to get messy and entangled and they'll need vampires, blood and magic to fix it all.

There is a ton more to this story involving twins and curses and sharing hearts and cats and murders and movies and old film stars. And every single one of those things is central to the story. And what a story it was. I seriously loved it.

It's possible I loved the narration by Michael T. Bradley the most because his portrayal of John was just so innocent and sweet and even tempered, yet so very melancholy, which fit him perfectly. Felix's voice was magical. He was deep and dark and sometimes whiny, which just added a level of dimension for me, making this mysterious and fun.

I loved how much comedy was involved in this story. Felix wasn't the studious, formal vampire that is commonplace in the paranormal world. He was a little off, a lot sweet, very silly and oh so loving.

The characters were marvelous, each bringing so much to the story individually, then all blending at the end to create a stellar ensemble for the HEA.

I thoroughly enjoyed this listen and would absolutely recommend it to any audio lover.

*Audio generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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Warm Heart by Amy Lane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Soft and fluffy and heartwarming. It was pure Amy Lane.

Tevyn Moore is a world champion snowboarder and Mallory Armstrong is his finance backer, but really, there's more to their relationship than that. Even though Tevyn finds his way into a different bed each night, Mal is always there.

Tevyn's grandmother is dying and he's got to get to Colorado to see her one last time. When Tev and Mal get into a helicopter with Damien, things get rough in the snowy mountains and their copter crashes into the trees.

Now, for the three of them, it's all about survival. Damie's injured and both Tev and Mal lean on each other to figure out a way through this to survive. And quite possibly to start living a life they'd been pretending didn't exist.

After reading this inspiring story, I will say that if I was ever trapped on a mountain I'd want Tevyn and Amy Lane with me. I literally wouldn't have known half of what they came up with for survival. And the tenderness between the characters as they each tried to save the others... it was beautifully written.

With this story, nothing was vague. The words were clear and heart felt. The dialogue was proud and poignant. Hearts sat on the knitted sleeves of colorful sweaters, to be seen and felt throughout the story. I loved it. It's one I will definitely read again and I'm hoping the next book in the series is Damie and Preston!!

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*



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Rules of the Game by TL Travis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kendall is a player. Working for the family business, he's looking for something...more. When his father hires an architect, Kendall is instructed to be the main contact.

Joe has spent his life building up his business and he's finally accepted a major contract. When he meets Kendall, he's instantly attracted, but he can't do anything about it. He needs this job.

Kendall doesn't take no for an answer, or at least, not when he knows it's not a firm no. And that's what's so epic about him. He knows what he wants and he goes after it.

Joe's reluctance fell away and he was so sweet and honest. They were a perfect match.

As a short novella, I felt like this packed a pretty full punch with a lovely couple and a perfect HEA.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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Here Comes Trouble by A.E. Via
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As the third book in the Nothing Special series, this was engaging and entertaining, but not as full of action or suspense as the first two.

Mark Ruxsberg and Chris Green are the 'enforcers' on God and Day's team. They are the muscle and the heat and the ones in the field. They've been partners for years, but lately Mark has been having a rough go of things.

When his addict mother goes on a binge and Chris decides to start dating, he finds himself falling down a rabbit hole of solitude and alcohol. Oh, and he's caught feelings for his partner that won't go away.

Green can't understand what's going on with Ruxs or why he's acting so crazy lately, until one night he shows up at his door, the unmistakable look of lust in his eyes. He's wanted Ruxs for years, so he's finally getting the man of his dreams. But Mark is straight. And never been with a man. Not to mention his life is pretty close to rock bottom. Is he really looking to start something?

I was a tiny bit disappointed at the lack of action in this book. There was a lot of buildup from the start about a raid going down, but it was completely off page. Instead, this seemed to be centered more around Green and his relationship with Curtis, the 17 yr old kid that helped out around the precinct and sometimes stayed at Green's house.

While I totally enjoyed Green and Ruxs building a relationship and family around Curtis, I also found it odd that at the end we started getting into Curtis' POV. Especially since there isn't a book devoted to him.

This was still a wild and sexy ride...lots and lots of sexy times.

The narration by Aiden Snow was brilliant, as usual. There is just no one else that can pull of these big, brawny, cocky bad boys like he can.

Well worth the listen if you're into this series!

*Audio copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews*

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Home Improvement by Tara Lain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

If a fluffy romance between a carpenter and a rock and roll god sounds like your brand of screws, this delightful story will hit the nail on the head.

Gabe Mason is a 33 yr old single gay man raising his 17 year old daughter. His ex-wife is still in the picture, just enough to threaten his ability to have a life without worrying about her taking him to court. He makes his own furniture in his spare time, but living in Oregon doesn't truly afford him an opportunity to get his business off the ground. Instead, he works a day job at the local home improvement warehouse.

Jerry Castor is a rock star by night, but really wants a new life in the light of day. When he buys a run down home and has no idea what he's doing, he heads to the local hardware store for help and runs into Gabe. Who just happens to be perfect.

This first half of the book grabbed me and held on for dear life. I loved it all and couldn't put the book down. The attraction between the two men was palpable and explosive. But there were secrets that Jerry was keeping and things took a turn.

This is where things started crumbling for me. It seemed like the shy, stuttering Jerry turned into a wholly different person that oozed sex appeal and charm, which seemed contrived. It almost seemed to go to extremes. At one point I felt like we had gotten to the 'I think I like him' stage, and then a few minutes later there were declarations of forever. It just felt unrealistic to me, unfortunately.

Ellie stole the book for me. As Gabe's 17 year old daughter, she was the glue that held everything together. The voice of reason. The adult. The shoulder to cry on. I loved her and was thrilled that she ended up being such a vital character in the story. She's worth the read, just as herself.

Overall, it was a cute spin on the rich/poor trope with lots of fluff and hyperbole.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*



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Rise from the Ashes by Noah Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

This was very unlike any other shifter story I've read in the best way possible. Told in a single person POV, it was more than a romance between two characters. Yes, that played a huge role, but it was more about pack families, loyalty and friendship.

Adam Miller was content. He had an office job where he was respected, a pack that he loved, and alpha friend who guided him and plenty of freedom. It wasn't perfect, but he didn't want to rock the boat. He was next in line for alpha and his secrets could wait.

Joshua Wetmore walked into Adam's conference room and changed everything with a glance. His sweet omega side called to Adam and soon their connection sparked.

When Adam's alpha suddenly dies, the pack looks to him for comfort, guidance, and leadership, but most of all, revenge. They want blood and will stop at nothing to get it. Even if that means taking down Adam and his mate.

The overall theme of family and bonds was the main thread that wove this story. It was more than just Adam and Josh's relationship. There were so many elements involved with side characters and side stories that all interwove into an inspiring tale.

Noah Harris has a unique writing style that moves the reader with descriptive phrases and effortless flow. I can't wait to dive into more from this author.

The narration by Christopher Kauzlarich was impeccable. His voices were distinct for each character, adding emotion and depth to the story.

If paranormal/shifter romance is your thing, you'll absolutely love this audio version of Noah Harris' story. I'd definitely recommend giving it a listen.



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9 Willow Street by Nell Iris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Delightful.

This charming little tale (pun intended) came out of nowhere and hit me hard in the sweet tooth. There wasn't a thing I didn't love about it.

When Hannes' grandmother died, he was bereft. Instead of mourning her loss, his family waged war because she left her house to him. He was the youngest of the family, the only one who wasn't a 'real' doctor. A year after her death, he finally moves into her house and finds a cute little bunny with black ears in his kitchen. He and the bunny get acquainted and start a peculiar friendship.

Mattis is a bunny shifter. He's been given away to be married, but he's long held a belief that fate has something else in store for him. When he runs from home, he finds himself drawn to Hannes. It gets even more interesting as they both feel a bond, but Hannes is human and Mattis is a shifter. Soon enough Mattis' mother shares some interesting history and choices have to be made that will affect both of their lives forever.

I ate up every single word of this short story. Hannes was so driven and sure and Mattis... he sounded angelic with his golden curls and cherubic face.

A fluffy, heartwearming, endearing story of finding your own way and believing in yourself. It's definitely going on my must read list.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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Owned by R. Phoenix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMFG this series is sooooo good. It takes you to depths you didn't know existed and sends you spiraling down to the depths of humanity. And then you just beg for more.

This story was the continuation of Khaz and Noah, but brought in characters from previous books. It's all starting to weave together to bring the reader (or listener) to a place of torment.

I love how much I feel pulled into the story. Jack Noble is flawless as the performer of this dark tale and I can't imagine hearing it through anyone else's deep, delicious voice.

I can't wait to start book 5!

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Survive and Conquer by Andrew Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Andrew Grey writes, you know you are going to get a well planned, well executed romance with an HEA and this story provides it all.

Newton is in his 40's, has two adopted children, a bum foot and a social worker job he loves. When he needs an attorney for a client, his persistence pays off when Chase agrees to meet his client for dinner.

Chase, a family law attorney, has no time for dating. He's on the fast track to partner at his firm and he needs to get to where he can pick his own cases instead of having to represent the 'bad guys'.

With very little angst, this was purely about putting family first and finding the courage to trust after being burned in the past. Both MC's were sweet and took their time, but the longing was palpable.

This is the perfect story to warm your heart and give you all the feels!

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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Ravel by R. Phoenix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reese and Ashton were perfection. A werewolf and a human. A supe and a thief.

In this world where humans are at the bottom of humanity's list, a werewolf finds a connection with one. And it's angsty and forbidden and so very exciting.

The build up was perfection. The narration by Jack Noble was sexy and dark and absolutely brilliant.

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Mated by Tricia Owens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story packed a punch. There was so much to it making it difficult to put down.

Wren is the brother of the pack Alpha, who runs his pack with an iron fist. Wren has followed his alpha obediently, put doesn't necessarily agree with his ways.

Gideon is the Alpha of the Corbin pack, who just took over the lands that border Wren's. He's looking to make a deal on the land, but there are quite a few mysteries and secrets that get overturned along the way.

This book was so interesting. It had me guessing at what could happen all along the way. I really enjoyed the world building that was accomplished through trying to bridge the gap between packs. The differences in how the rules were followed, how they governed, where they lived, etc were so different that it created an added layer of interest.

It was a wild ride of intrigue and fun and I would absolutely recommend this fast paced shifter romance.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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The Bucket List by R.J. Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very sweet forced proximity romance centered around two kids who knew each other when they were young kids. When tragedy brings them together again, they join together to fulfill three separate dreams.

Jason and his brother Andrew were close. Especially as adults. When Andrew was diagnosed with cancer and given a deadline on his life, he put together a bucket list. Now it's up to Jason to fulfill his brother's requests, but he's been told they need to involve Andrew's old best friend Mark.

Mark's living in California, working as a soap opera actor. He's in the closet, the only one knowing about him other than his parents is Andrew. But when Jason finds him and tells him the news of Andrew's passing, he agrees to go on this strange quest in Andrew's name.

Both quickly realize there might be more to this bucket list than just a few places to visit on a map. Andrew may have known some deeper secrets.

As always, RJ Scott tells a brilliant story. Both men had been bullied for being gay in a small town. Mark had never fully recovered from the trauma that forced him out of town. But, together, they weave into each other's lives seamlessly and it's an amazing reading experience. I loved it.

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Save the Date by R.J. Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tennant Rowe and Jared Madsen have a special place in my heart and for anyone else who has loved them like I have, this novella will make you very, very happy. It's the perfect end of an era.

Two men who are busy with sports and life aren't supposed to spend their time planning a wedding. Besides, it's what Trent does best. But Trent goes a little overboard and pretty soon picking out napkin edging becomes too much for our boys.

As a last hurrah to the series, we get to see the entire Rowe family involved in wedding planning and pre-wedding interviews. The team shows up for bachelor party shenanigans and it's great to see them all come together to support Ten and Mads, but also to get a glimpse into their craziness as well.

Things fall apart last minute, friends steal the grooms and force them to wear neon, someone gets engaged and there's a silver hockey puck cake. But it wouldn't be a Ten and Mads story if there wasn't romance, a new idea for the future, and strawberries in bed.

As much as I hate to say goodbye to this couple, without an end, this book wouldn't exist. It's well worth the read, as is the entire series.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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Recipe for Romance by Ari McKay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rhys Montgomery is kind of a big deal in Charleston. He's the owner of the Montgomery House, a former mansion that's been completely renovated and turned into a restaurant and rental hall for catered events. It's within this house that all 4 stories are set.

Bay Leaves and Bachelors is the story of Rhys, the mansion owner himself. When he sees a diner at the restaurant one night he knows he wants him and tries his hardest to get him. Unfortunately, Clay Turner, historian, has been harboring issues from his last failed relationship and isn't very quick to trust.

Fennel and Forgiveness is the second chance age gap story of Darius Cooper, the maitre d of the Montgomery House and his long time ex, Max. When Max shows up to film a wedding, he sees Darius for the first time in 7 years. He had told Darius he wasn't looking for long term back then, but he made a mistake and now it up to him to convince Darius that he'll stick around this time.

Ginger and Gentlemen is the friends to lovers romance of Matt and Ian. Ian accepts his brother's request to be on his cooking show to save his diner with the help of Matt, his best friend and business manager. But Matt wants to help him succeed and does so without Ian's knowledge. Trust is a difficult thing to bridge.

Cinnamon and Seduction is the story of Robert and Stephen, the chef and his assistant, who have been talking around romance forever. Both oblivious to their obvious connection, it takes the whole of the business to get involved to show them what they've been missing.

If you are looking for a few fun, relatable, quick reads, this is a great place to go. Given that all of the stories are related, you get more and more glimpses into the relationships and the characters as you read their tales. Each story is unique in the issues and romance.

I was a bit disappointed at the lack of character depth. Given the length of each novella, it's difficult to accomplish, however I felt a bit lackluster at each of the couple's relationships. I had hoped for a bit more spark, though I felt the more I read, the better it became.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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When Love Flue In by Lillian Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was absolutely adorable and sexy all rolled into one.

Dominic had lusted after the chimney sweep, Reagan, for 5 years. When he finally revealed his crush to his wife, she left him.

Reagan shows up for his yearly gig but it’s obvious something is different. His lust for Dominic hasn’t faded, but something is definitely going on. When he leaves him his cell phone number, he’s surprised when Dom uses it the next day.

Seriously, I was just waiting for the magic moment where they threw caution to the wind and it was worth the wait. Both characters were shy and outgoing in their own, different ways that created the perfect pairing.

I loved how supportive Reagan’s mother was and how cute they were with each other.

Very sweet Christmas short.

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Love's Magic by Jan Jarrell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a pure delight to listen to. It trailed two separate couples, both in very different stages of their journey, but with overlapping stories.

David and Nate are an established couple, both professors at the University of Virginia. When Nate witnesses an attack on campus, he steps in and gets stabbed. With the backing of another professor, he wants to rally the efforts to fight back against on campus attacks. But when David is more upset about his tenure and professionalism, things between them quickly get muddied.

Colin Campbell is an on-campus security guard and meets David and Nate when he handles their assault case. He's got quite a backstory that fuels him to find the perpetrators and ensure they pay for their crimes. It's during the paperwork side of his job that he meets Joshua Abrams, a Title IV consultant. They quickly start a relationship, however, Colin proclaims his status as a one night only kind of guy. Things get heated between them over a case file, causing Joshua to run. In the months that follow Colin discovers that he might have let the one person that he's ever connected with go.

There was a lot of drama and action as well as a hot guy on a motorcycle. I won't lie, I stayed up listening to this story long into the night because there was no way I could turn it off. The story was gripping and enchanting and I loved getting four separate POV's with distinctly different voices.

Janice Jarrell's prose was lovely. I enjoyed her use of Irish songs and the many sections that boasted such detailed visual imagery. This book was a pleasure to read.

The narration by Walker Williams was spot on. The voices for both Nate and Colin were absolute perfection. His slow, rhythmic tone was soothing and light, but spared no emotion. This was my first audio book narrated by him and it won't be my last.

Very highly recommended!

*Audio copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

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In the Azure Noon by Mark C. Wade
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the premise of the story with a disabled MC. After losing his leg, he'd lost his way and couldn't find the path again until his boss, Steve, seemed to actually see him.

Their friendship helped to unlock something deep inside of him and he was able to repair something broken in Steve as well.

It was well planned and engaging, but I found the writing style to be a bit stunted and choppy. Some of the prose was beautiful, but the dialog seemed lacking in feeling and parts of the story seemed thrown in haphazardly instead of woven into the story line.

Both MC's had interesting back stories and seemed interesting enough on their own, but I had a hard time seeing them together towards the end, even though it ended well.

All in all, it ended up being a fun, easy read.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/ *


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Spellbound by Allie Therin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book came out of nowhere and surprised me. I had no idea how much I'd love it, but I did.

Rory Brodigan is working in his aunt's antique shop in New York in 1925. He's got a gift. When he touches an object he uses his powers of psychometry to validate its antiquity.

Arthur Kenzie is the rich son of a politician, but the friend of quite a few paranormals who are trying to rid the world of supernatural relics. In an effort to flush out another paranormal, he brings a relic to the antique shop that Rory works in. When it becomes obvious that Rory has powers, he needs protection, but he also might be the key to unlocking a mystery and saving New York.

This story was very well laid out, planned and executed. The characters involved were unique and interesting and I loved the slow burn between Rory and Arthur.

Allie Therin built a world that came alive and flew off the pages. A world with magic and potions, astral walkers and telekinetic powers. A world where a twenty year old boy can save the lives of his friends, lover and the state of New York with an ability that he doesn't even fully comprehend.

I loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the series.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/ *

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Dylan's Love by Clyde Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a delightful story of a 40-ish man spurned by love again and an enigmatic 24 yr old who isn't afraid to lay claim on what he wants.

It was charming and fun, the banter between characters fresh and witty. Definitely goes into the quickie re-read category.

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