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The Boy Who Loved Wicked by C.P. Harris
Release Date: March 4 This book slayed me. It was all the emotions, all the time. The very first chapter made me cry. And it sort of spiralled from there. Feelings all over the place. Joy, sadness, anger and … is horny a feeling? Anyway. It was overwhelming. This is an M/M, age-gap, student-teacher story. And it’s beyond amazing. Phoenix Michaelson, book-worm introvert and philosophy aficionado, is just starting his senior year of high school. Sebastian Wicked is the new philosophy teacher, and as it turns out, Phoenix new neighbour. His married neighbour. Phoenix crushes hard. Wicked’s attractive, but for Phoenix he’s also (finally) someone that can understand him. It’s…
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Cowboy (Busy Bean #2) by L.B. Dunbar
Release date: March 1 Cowboy is a super-cute, well-written romance that will have sooo many people go all swoon-y. It’s also a book that just didn’t click with me. Objectively, this book has just about every ingredient I crave in a good story; a spunky heroine, a hot hero and some seriously steamy sexytimes. And then there’s the little surprise. Yet, for some reason, I had trouble connecting with the characters. Synopsis: Cowboy is the story of Scarlett and Bull. Scarlett gets fired from her job the same day she discovers her husband’s been cheating on her. When going off to Vermont to get away from it all, she meets…
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Bad Judgment by Sidney Bell
This book is a gem. It was so much more than I expected and an emotional ride for sure. I knew going in that it would have a strong hurt-comfort theme and also contain some triggers such as domestic abuse and sexual assault. But that still didn’t prepare me for the ups and downs of this story. Let’s just say I felt so much during this read. Which is pretty much the highest praise you could ever give a book. Synopsis: Brogan Smith works in private security, and has just started a new assignment – guarding one of the higher-ups of a weapons manufacturer who’s been receiving death threats. It’s…
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Counterblow (Shatterproof Bond #4) by Isobel Starling
This has got to be the most uneven series in the history of series. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sort of in love with both Sam and Declan and they’re the most amazing couple to follow. However, these are supposed to be suspense/spy/secret agent kind of books. But you can never know if an instalment will actually contain any secret agenting (that’s a word right?) or not. I keep expecting this series to have a classically composed plotline. You know where there’s a case/mystery/whatever that slowly unfolds and then escalates towards the end where it’s finally resolved. All the while there’s a long-term plot that continues in the next book. Well.…
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Goal Lines & First Times (CU Hockey #3) by Eden Finley & Saxon James
As usual, Finley’s and James’ collaborations are bloody delightful to read. Goal Lines & First Times was no exception. It’s low-angst, feel-good, MM-love of the young-and-slightly-stupid-in-a-fun-way variety. The jock edition. This is the story of Seth – twin brother to Foster (CU Hockey #1), and a guy who claims to hate hockey – and Cohen – a hockey-player who thought it was perfectly normal for straight guys to practice kissing with their (male) best friend. Both Seth and Cohen are questioning themselves and their sexualities. Seth has sort of figured out he’s demi, but then his last girlfriend told him (during their breakup) that maybe he should try dating a…
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Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) by Alice Winters
No. Just no. Alice Winters – universally loved apparently – is just not meant for me. I read How to Vex a Vampire, VCR: Vampire Related Crimes (that everybody raves about) and I didn’t like it. But I thought I’d give her a second chance with Of Secrets and Wolves because sources that are (usually) reliable were practically gushing over it. This book is an MM-shifter story. And I usually love those! They’re my no. 1 guilty pleasure. But I just can’t make myself appreciate the writing. To me, this read displays all the exact same characteristics that I found so hard to like with VCR: One main character acts…
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Sweetheart (Busy Bean #1) by Sarah Mayberry
Release Date: March 1 This is a wonderful little story and a cute, low-angst romance. However, there’s a trigger that I was unaware of before starting, namely mental illness in a family member. And I can’t honestly say I would have read this book had I known that in advance. The romance-part in itself is low-angst and super sweet. But I can say with certainty that this story will not be perceived as such by those who have personal experience of a loved one with a mental disorder. Synopsis: This is the story of Haley, newly hired barista at the Busy Bean, and Beck, the hot lumberjack who roasts the…
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Claw of Exile by J.K. Jones
Release date: February 20 I’m super conflicted about this book. So this review will have two distinct parts; One where I praise the story, and one where I criticize the writing. I thought the premise for this book was amazing and I loved the storyline. I was sucked in from the very first page (it would be hard not to, it was a scene with Ryu getting railed by an unknown Alpha after all). And what’s even more, the plot held my interest to the very end. Which, quite frankly, is a minor miracle considering the quality of the writing. Anyway. Ryu is an omega, ostracized from his clan and…
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Primal Sin (Primal Sin #1) by Ariana Nash
This story really sucked me in. I was immediately intrigued by the world, the post-apocalyptic feel of an alternative London. The angels, the demons, and everything in between. Captivating is an understatement. Synopsis: This is truly the ultimate enemies-to-lovers narrative. An angel and a demon. Mikhail, the Guardian Angel of London and Severn, a demon lord gone undercover as an angel in his quest for revenge. It’s a wild ride without a doubt. Severn is determined to avenge his dead lover, and to kill the angel that cut off Severn’s wings and left him mutilated and earth-bound. But the closer Severn gets to his enemy, the more conflicted are his…
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Nothing Special Series (Books #1-5) by A.E. Via
There was a special offer on this box-set, and since you can’t enter an MM book forum without being drowned by gushes of A.E. Via praise, I decided to take a chance. That’s despite me reading His Hart’s Command (Nothing Special #6) a while back and not being even remotely impressed. But I’m sad to say this purchase was a complete dud. And the series is – unfortunately – quite aptly named. There’s truly nothing special about these stories. Well, not in the positive sense anyway. These books each follow a different couple. It’s the guys in a special narcotics task force in Atlanta who all meet their very special…