Familiar Angel by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Title: Familiar Angel

Series: Familiar Love 01

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Gomez Pugh

Genre: Paranormal

Length: 6 hrs, 50 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (5th June 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: One hundred and forty years ago, Harry, Edward, and Francis met an angel, a demon, and a sorceress while escaping imprisonment and worse! They emerged with a new family – and shape-shifting powers beyond their wildest dreams.

Now Harry and his brothers use their sorcery to rescue those enslaved in human trafficking – but Harry’s not doing so well. Pining for Suriel, the angel, has driven him to take more and more risks until his family desperately asks Suriel for an intervention.

In order for Suriel to escape the bindings of heaven, he needs to be sure enough of his love to fight to be with Harry. Back when they first met, Harry was feral and angry, and he didn’t know enough about love for Suriel to justify that risk.

Can Suriel trust in Harry enough now to break his bonds of service for the boy who has loved his familiar angel for nearly a century and a half?

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Familiar Angel is the first book in Amy Lane’s Familiar Love series. While I love to read and listen to Amy Lane’s audio works, I wasn’t sure what to expect as this is the first book of Lane’s that I’ve read that is a paranormal. Typically, I love the writing style of Lane’s contemporary works and was pleased to see that this translated over into the paranormal story.

Narration for this book was performed by Gomez Pugh. According to my Audible library I’ve got another book narrated by Pugh, also written by Lane, but to be honest (although my review says I liked his work) I have zero recollection of the book. So I kinda went into this one blind. For Familiar Angel, Pugh has done a fantastic job. There are a number of characters, all requiring their own voices, with six secondary characters who are just as important as the two main characters of this story. Pugh made it easy to follow the various conversations and to follow when the book goes to a flashback.

Ugh. Sorry, this leads me onto a bit of a rant and the only reason why I didn’t give this a full 5/5.

I personally can’t stand a book that has a lot of flashbacks. And there were a number of long flashbacks here. I’m a simple person who wants near-instant gratification, particularly when there are flashbacks occurring at pivotal moments and disrupting my flow. The way I see it, especially for long drawn out scene that span a chapter or more, just tell me the important point in the present because I want to get to the guts of the story. While I did find it a bit tedious, both Lane’s writing and Pugh’s animated narration managed to pull off a really enjoyable story that I think I would find near impossible to read myself.

The story starts out when we are introduced to Harry, Edward and Francis in early 1800s California. They’ve lived a rough life and that wouldn’t get any easier, in fact, they would be lucky if they lasted another couple of years. But when Harry and Edward try to escape their predicament, they stumble upon a witch trying to help a beloved demon with the help of another demon and one of God’s angels. It is here that the boys turn from humans to become a witch’s familiar with a significantly longer life span.

More than a century later, the family use their powers to help those without hope – they will do anything to stop human trafficking. Harry has struggles through the decades, the biggest issue for him being his unrequited love for the angel that helped their family, Suriel. However, for Harry his past still haunts him, the fear of what had happened in his human life has followed over into immortality and he needs the help of his family and Suriel to help him defeat it (and as a bonus the family can save the day).

Suriel is a strong being, but he has his doubts and concerns when it comes to Harry. Harry is reckless and his family need Suriel to help save Harry. He knows that Harry is worth falling for, but there is so much uncertainty that Suriel is waiting until the absolute last possible days to figure it all out, when he had been visiting the family for almost a century and a half. However, to be with Harry permanently Suriel has to make drastic changes to his life and his being, going through a horrific trial of his own, as soon as he helps Harry and the family with breaking a massive human trafficking ring.

I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Book 2 is already out (I can’t wait for Edward and Mullin’s story) and there is to be a book 3 for Francis. I think those 2 will go a lot smoother since Familiar Angel has built a very complex world and given backstory for over six characters who are central to this story.

I recommend this to anyone that loves to read paranormal, although there are no shape shifters per se (the boys are familiars and there are no established packs, alphas, etc.), the battle between good and evil with witches, cats, angels and demons is a fun roller coaster.

A Flicker of Hope by Shea Balik

Title: A Flicker of Hope

Series: Druid’s Curse 02

Author: Shea Balik

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novella (139pgs)

Publisher: Shea Balik (May 29, 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Kegan Tulach already knew that monsters were real. He’d faced them. Watched in horror as they killed those he loved. Then run from them. It was his response for the past two years. But now, on his twenty-first birthday, running wasn’t an option. He had no where to go. It was time for him to face his worst nightmare.

There weren’t many people who could do what Bjorn did. Fight monsters and live to tell the tale. It was a job thrust upon him as a kid. If he had known the true hell that would be cursed upon him, he would have preferred to die even though he’d only been fourteen at the time. Now, years later, he had hope that the curse would come to an end. The question was, would he choose the death he’d so desperately craved for more than a millennia, or would he do the one thing he swore he’d never do? Choose love.

If Kegan and Bjorn can find a way past their fears, they may discover something worth living for – each other.

This is a stand alone with an HEA, but reading the first book is recommended for full enjoyment.

ISBN: B07RX4DZPK

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Bjorn and Kegan’s story continues the series. Bjorn finds Kegan in a fight for his life. Injured Kegan does what he can to help but ends up passing out. Bjorn takes Kegan and flees. Recuperating in different areas the two finally make it Bjorn’s home.

I liked the entire story. Each of stories contain a different element at play and I was intrigued by Kegans gift. Bjorn was tough yet sweet. I am looking forward to reading about who else in Bjorn’s group finds their mate as well as what the druid’s power will be when they find them,

Fantastic read.

Lincoln’s Park by Parker Williams ~ Audio Review

Title: Lincoln’s Park

Series: Links in the Chain 01

Author: Parker Williams

Narrator: Tristan James

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 8 hrs, 42 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (4th April 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Lincoln Merriweather was born an entitled brat with a silver spoon lodged so deep, it might nev-er have come out. At the BDSM club or in business, Lincoln was a storm, blowing in and disrupt-ing the lives of everyone he touched, until the day he met a man who peeled away the tarnished layers to expose a decent person.

Lincoln found – then lost – love.

Since then, he’s tried to atone for his past, including walking away from his family’s wealth. He opened a diner, hiring people to work for him that he would have spit on before his epiphany. He’s found peace, which he’s about to lose to a hazel-eyed man.

Noel Simmons wound up on the street when his parents discovered he was gay. His path leads him to Lincoln’s diner, where he asks for a job. He’s thrilled when Lincoln agrees to hire him but finds his new boss perplexing. Can anyone be this kind and decent?

What starts out as business becomes something more. Noel discovers he needs Lincoln in or-der to feel safe. Lincoln needs Noel to complete him. But when Lincoln’s past gets in the way of his present, will the two have a future?

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Lincoln’s Park is the first book in Parker Williams Links in the Chain series.

I’m not overly familiar with Parker Williams and I have to say the mention of BDSM often concerns me in books. For me BDSM is fine as long as its written well between consenting adults instead of being used as a way to disguise literary porn as a romance, and let’s not go down the Fifty Shades path either. But I’m so happy to report that: 1) Parker Williams had such a wonderful way with words in this book that I can’t wait to get onto the rest of the series. 2) BDSM is only a background plot device and I had nothing to worry about at all.

The story starts with Lincoln Merriweather. He had been a ruthless businessman who had played as hard as he worked. He was raised a spoilt, rich brat until the day he met someone who changed everything about the way he saw the world. There was love but there was never going to be a future together. And so when he found himself on his own, he opened the Park View Diner and decided that he would help as many people as he could.

The Park View Diner has been his life for the past ten years now. Noel walks in off the street, quite clearly homeless and desperate for a job that no one would give him due to his appearance. Noel is young, only in his early twenties, but he’s been on the streets since his parents discovered that he was gay. Lincoln is a dream come true and gives Noel so much opportunity to help him to get out of the hole he had found himself in.

Lincoln and Noel both fight the feelings which are developing as they try to figure out what is happening between them. The one thing that is clear is that they belong together, and they need each other to feel complete. Added to that Lincoln’s past in the form of his rich family come to threaten all that he has built. Noel is there to lend Lincoln strength, but the stress and the situation could threaten what is shaping up to be a beautiful romance.

The narration of this story was performed by Tristan James, who was an unknown narrator to me until I finished this book. James does justice to the story and characters. He captures the vortex of emotions mixed with the strength of Lincoln, while he conveys the strength, vulnerability and determination of Noel.

This is a sweet story full of heart. It’s an intense emotional roller coaster, too, which just makes me so happy that I can’t find words for how much I loved this plot and the characters. I recommend this to people that want a sweet romance with a lot of hope. I can’t wait for the next book, which features Lincoln’s brother and look forward to a story of redemption.

Fox Hunt by j leigh bailey

Title: Fox Hunt

Series: Dreamspun Beyond 37 / Shifter U 04

Author: j. leigh bailey

Genre: Paranormal, Shape shifters

Length: Novel (248 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-64405-203-7

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (2 July 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Outfoxing their enemies will be a bear of a task.

Aspiring journalist and fox shifter David ends up with a target on his back after hacking the Moreau Initiative, the shifter world’s greatest enemy. But he won’t let that stop him from the campus tour road trip that’ll help him become the next Anderson Cooper… even if his family insists he travel with a grumpy grizzly bear bodyguard.

Buddy Brady is older, sexy, and too damn distracting for David, and as the sexual tension builds, so does the suspicion around the repeated attacks—first in Chicago, then in New York. Someone is tracking them, and all clues point to a traitor in the shifter ranks. Worst of all, they could be after David’s family….

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Fox Hunt is the fourth book in j. leigh bailey’s Shifter U series. I fully recommend to read this series in order, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable series and each book is about a different couple, but also I found that since it has been a while since I read the previous books I had to do a quick flip through to reacquaint myself with the other characters and the over-arching storyline that continues through to the present book.

As I said, Shifter U is a really enjoyable series and I was pretty excited to get into the next instalment. The way that bailey has written the book made the whole thing feel more accessible in the fact that despite this is about shifters being hunted, I find it so easy to relate and sympathise with the characters. Fox Hunt, just like the previous books, are a really good book to read when you want to relax and take it easy, while having a bit of intrigue to keep you going.

The story starts out with David. He’s a fox shifter, journalist who recently graduated from the so-called Shifter U and his mother, brother and stepfather are on a supernatural group/committee who only want the best for shifters and peaceful relations with humans. Let’s face it, most paranormal/shifter/vampire books tend to have a paranormal governing body, so it’s not anything new.

David is seen as a bit of a flake, a spoilt brat by many, including his mother and brother. Yet under the surface is a man who is passionate about the truth as well as the safety of humans and shifter alike. He recently used his mother’s work computer to hack into the group known as the Moreau Initiative (as in The Island of Doctor Moreau), this group functions as the “boogie man” of this series, the evil people that are after shifters. David has effectively painted a target on his back, the last thing that he wants because David is about to do a road trip and interview to get into several internships and move to the next stage in his career.

Fearing for David’s life, David’s mother, brother and stepfather insist on David bringing a bodyguard with him on the journey. That bodyguard is Buddy Brady, an older, grumpy bear shifter who put his life’s ambitions on hold to raise his younger brothers, ultimately leading to his current career and his latest assignment. Buddy quickly finds out that there is something strange happening around David. He is definitely being targeted but it is a mystery as to how his attackers are tracking him.

Together, David and Buddy solve the mystery and uncover more disturbing facts surrounding the Moreau Initiative while going on David’s cross country road trip. These guys are well suited and while they are very different on the surface, I love how passionate they both are about just about every aspect in life. It’s now that they are together that they grow and learn to trust love and passion of a different nature. What I love the most is that with both David and Buddy there is a lot more going on under the surface than first expected and so I really enjoyed their development as individuals as well as a couple.

Fox Hunt is something of a buddy (pun intended) road trip, mixed with mystery, danger and love. This is really a typical shape shifter romance in terms of formula, but the characters have great personalities and are intriguing. Fans of Shifter U series will enjoy the latest instalment, but I also recommend to people that like shape shifter stories.

I look forward to more from this series. While David and Buddy have a really satisfying romance and we are left with a HEA for these guys, there is more to come with the whole storyline of the Moreau Initiative and I’m sure we’ll get to meet some more interesting characters from the world of Shifter U.

A Blaze in the Dark by Miranda Turner

Title: A Blaze in the Dark

Series: BoT World Stories 01

Author: Miranda Turner

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Length: Novella (120pgs)

Publisher: Miranda Turner (February 6, 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.75 Hearts

Blurb: Bain never thought he’d escape the prison he’d lived in for the last five years. He spent his days chained up like an animal, and his nights…they were better not spoken about. Until one day Antonio came stumbling into his darkness, lighting a fire in his soul and giving him a chance at a new life.

Antonio loved his position as a Bellator, and he loved his brother Luc; it was Luc’s friends he could do without. When he came upon an emaciated and beaten boy at his brother’s best friend David’s house, he knew he had to get him out of there. Risking his place on his team, his relationship with his brother, and even death was something he’d never regret. After all, Bain was Antonio’s sodalis vitae, and soulmates were forever.

The small problem of Bain being a member of the Tenebrix, the Bellators’ mortal enemies, was nothing compared to what could happen if David found out where he was. But Antonio won’t let anything—race, being hunted by his own kind, or Bain’s fears—keep him from finally claiming his mate.

This novella is a standalone in The Bearer of Truth world and takes place three years before Shadowing the Light. Antonio and Bain do appear in The BoT series as side characters, but you do not need to have read those books to read this one or vice versa.

This book is LGBT Romance and Urban Fantasy. Not recommended for readers under 18. Use the Look Inside feature or download a sample to see additional content advisories on the Copyright page..

ISBN: B07NGGMDFJ

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: I really enjoyed this story about Bain and Antonio. Antonio finds Bain in the house of his best friends house abused. David was a cruel man to Bain and I so wanted to hurt David myself for all he had done to Bain.

I really liked that Bain did not just act like he had been through nothing and fall into Antonio’s arms. This was a slow progress between the two men as Bain deals with what he has been through. Antonio was there for him every step of the way even at times it seemed the men struggled with each other.

All in all it was an entertaining read and beginning to a series.

Great read.

Saving Sawyer by Stormy Glenn

Title: Saving Sawyer

Series: Mech Warriors 02

Author: Stormy Glenn

Genre: Paranormal

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc. (July 18, 2019)

Length: Short (79pgs)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Heart

Blurb: Allied Defense Force soldier Stefan Andres lost the love of his life two years ago in a terrifying mech attack. He harbored hatred in his heart until his friends convinced him Sawyer might still be alive. Dealing with the guilt of shooting his commander isn’t nearly as overwhelming as discovering Sawyer is actually alive. What he learns when he finds the man might be more than even he can handle.

Lewis Sawyer loved Stefan more than his next breath, which was the only reason he forced himself to stay away from the man after escaping the mechs. What was done to him could put Stefan’s life in danger. When a nighttime attack forces him to come out of hiding, he has to face his demons, and the love he left behind, but will Stefan see him as the man he was or the monster the mechs made him?

ISBN: 978-1-62741-804-1

Product Link: Siren-BookStrand

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: For many years Stefan followed his team and commander. He fought mech’s, saved humans, searched for his commander’s man. However when the man he loved was killed he blamed Roark for it. He was stuck in his grief. That is until Frankie suggested that just maybe Sawyer was still alive. That was after he made the mistake of shooting Roark. Now he was determined to find the man he loved.

Sawyer had been abducted by the mech’s two years ago and for six months they kept him. Then he escaped but hid away from his team. The mech’s had done things to him that he just didn’t think anyone would accept him. Either that or they would experiment on him. Then after a fight with some baddies he knew he had to let Stefan know he was alive. Then wait for the man to kick his ass.

A virus killed millions over ten years ago, a warrior changed, some exciting new twists to the story and lets face it this was a big hit with me. The characters were fun to read about and their stories just made me wish I was there with them. What was truly shocking was that the virus didn’t have anything to do with the aliens but with the government. So two different dangers with pretty much the same ending, death.

The thing that I didn’t much care for was how Sawyer didn’t show much trust with his team nor with the man he loved. It moved maybe a bit to fast for me in parts of the story. However it doesn’t take away from the story to much.

I had a blast reading this and can’t wait to read the next story. I can guarantee that it will be read many times over.

Out Of The Office by Louisa Masters

Title: Out of the Office

Author: Louisa Masters

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Short (82pgs)

ISBN: 9781393429722

Publisher: Louisa Masters (25^th July 2019)

Heat Level: Nil

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Whoever thought achieving career goals could be boring? Not Duncan Witten, but here he is at forty-one, in his dream job… and hating it. Throw it all away for a challenge? Yes, please!

If only Dunc had known his challenging new job came with Paul Hanks, a man who redefines “stubborn.” They need to work together to meet targets, but thanks to Dunc’s idiot predecessor, Paul won’t take his calls or reply to emails.

There’s only one solution: travel across the country and confront Paul face-to-face. It’s time to take things out of the office.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Review: Duncan is called in to rescue a telco project from disaster, the previous Resource Manager made a complete mess of it and now the company is looking at a huge loss of money paid out in penalties because the project is in such a mess. While Duncan begins to get the project back on track one of the main problems he has now is overspending on resources and the biggest culprit being Paul Hanks, who is dodging his emails and calls, so the ever resourceful Duncan comes up with a plan to corner Paul.

This is a surprisingly enjoyable read, I quickly got pulled into the story and thoroughly enjoyed watching as Duncan agonises over his reaction to Paul and their colleagues/friend or more relationship. I also became fascinated by the inner workings of a telecom company; I don’t think I ever actually thought about what must be put into effect for us to use mobile phones!

When Duncan and Paul meet it isn’t the friendliest meeting, Duncan is instantly attracted to Paul, but what Paul feels is resentment. When Paul’s feelings change I’m not quite sure and neither is Duncan really, while he knows that they have kinda moved into the friends column he has no idea if what they have is more than that. And it isn’t until near the end that we all find out together.

I really did enjoy this story as it’s a nice little treat where there is a building of a relationship through texts and phone calls, Duncan and Paul get to know each other before falling into bed and there isn’t any sex on page. There’s a gentle humor throughout the book that balances the high stress job they are doing, it’s a nice and easy story to read without any angst.

I recommend this to those who love enjoyable stories, hot guys connecting during stressful times, and a happy ending that’s cute.

The End of Darkness by Shea Balik

Title: The End of Darkness

Series: Druid’s Curse 01

Author: Shea Balik

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novel (200pgs)

Publisher: Shea Balik (April 15, 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Ryley Duggan resented his family for forcing him home on his twenty-first birthday to perform another stupid fire ritual, instead of letting him go out and get shit-faced like normal people his age. He’d never believed in the stories his grandmother told him about the reason behind what they were doing. That was, until he walked outside to the bonfire to see bloodcurdling creatures that no Hollywood studio had ever come close to replicating, killing his family.

Since an early age, Eirik had one job, to protect the descendants of the one who’d cursed him and his friends. It hadn’t been what he’d ever imagined for his life, but after nearly a millennia Eirik had learned one thing, life never went as planned. Never had that been truer than when he’d rescued Ryley from certain death.

Now the two must learn to work together to save humanity. Will all be lost? Or will they discover a way to heal their hearts by opening themselves up to love?

WARNING: Unseelie monsters run amok in this story!

ISBN: B07QFNB7HN

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: After watching his family be massacred by fae minions Ryley and his sister Meghan travel with Eirik, the man who saved them, to his home. What he learns will change his life. Eirik is cursed to protect druid families for centuries. He is a warrior through and through. When he meets Ryley he has no idea what is in store for them. But soon learns they are meant to be together.

I loved the entire book. The battles were fierce. I also loved meeting all the brothers and hope that each get their own stories. Fen was an enigma to me as his part is glossed over. I also wanted to know whose mate cursed the brothers because at one point in the story it says a druid did yet in another part it says Fen’s mate did so I was confused, unless I read it wrong.

Aside from that it was a wonderful beginning to a series that I hope continues. Fantastic read.

Fantastic read.

Demons Don’t Dare by Hannah Walker

Title: Demons Don’t Dare

Series: Demonic Tales 04

Author: Hannah Walker

Genre: Paranormal, Science Fiction

Publisher: Hannah Walker (June 28,2019)

Length: Novel (439 Pounds)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Heart

Blurb: As the ruler of an empire, King Vict’arin is accustomed to living a life that is anything but normal. Unable to enjoy the simple things in life the way his demons do, he chooses to live and work for the good of his citizens. Lonely and tired, he finds solace with his family, enjoying watching his new grand-demonesses grow. Longing for more, he begins preparing to pass the crown onto his son so he can relax for a change.

Commander Dima Carilion has lived through the worst of what the universe has to offer, including being forced to watch his brother die at the hands of those he should have been able to trust. Unable to stay in the Alliance, Dima leaves his career and the life he knew behind, helping others work to bring change to the universe and stop the evil forcing its way from one world to another. With the help of powerful friends and allies, he sets out to find others, aiding in their quest to return peace to the universe.

Delivering a message to the Demon King, Dima finds himself in unknown territory and surrounded by a race filled with warriors. Yet, not only is he welcomed by them, he feels a kinship to them— these are men of honor, reminding him of his brother, and those under his command. The one thing he’d never expected was to find himself attracted to the king. Vict is unlike any man he’s ever met, and there’s a peace inside his soul when the two of them spend time together.

While wanting to help as much as possible, Kenistal is facing its own crisis. Infighting between the guilds is on the rise, and rumors swirl around them. Who is plotting, and what are they planning? As Dima starts to believe he might find peace, a new home, and something special with Vict, a power struggle between the guilds leaves Kenistal in chaos.

Vict finds himself drawn to Dima, even though he’s never been with a man before, and hasn’t even considered it. Yet, this pull is stronger than anything he’s ever experienced before, even with his treacherous ex-queen, who he’d been mated to for years. Could Dima be what he needs, can things work out between them, and more importantly, will the demons he rules over accept a him having a non-demon mate?

ISBN: B07TN7HZG6

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Dima had started not trusting the Alliance many years ago. But when he was forced to watch his older brother’s execution he knew things needed to change. Not only his brother but his brothers team had been executed when they refused to kill. He saw what was happening all around him to those who refused or fought back and he had to find a way to stop it. He was sent with a message to a far away planet to ask for their help. I don’t think he expected it to be met with guns or swords pointed at him.

Vict is the king of all demons. He had lost his mate when he put their daughter to death for her misdeeds. He had his son, son-in-law, a man that was close enough to be his son and another son-in-law as well as his granddemonlings with him. However he wished for more. He was bone tired of the fighting all around him and fought to bring the demons out of their state. He just had not expected that wish to be answered.

With getting to know each other and finding a deep friendship, a relationship is forming. However there is more danger coming and it is going to need more help then what one would expect.

When I first came across this I was not as sure about reading something from an author that was new to me. However the moment I started reading was the moment I realized I had found someone that would be an automatic purchase for me. This story was full of excitement and danger mixed in with action and some hot sexy times. I loved how the king was in the other stories and I was glad that he was going to be mated once more. Dima was a big hit with me. I could feel the pain he felt at loosing his brother and I will admit that I ended up in tears from it. When the one that was meant to protect him, well lets just say there was another round of tears. These two just made the perfect couple in my eyes.

This is a world that I would find amazing and would love to be in. It has so much going on and the people are great. I was glad to see Avanti and their king show up also. I hope that there will be many more stories coming for these guys. Give me more Demons and Avanti, I beg of you.

I had a blast reading this and can guarantee that they will be read many times more.

Survive and Conquer by Andrew Grey

Title: Survive and Conquer

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (193 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-64405-455-0

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (9 July 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Newton DeSantis was on the ground when the towers collapsed on 9/11. Though he still carries the scars on his body and his heart, he’s determined to ease some of the world’s suffering. Now a social worker and father to two children with special needs, he’s doing his best. But when one of his cases needs a good lawyer, Newton turns to Chase for help.

Family law attorney Chase Matthews is a rising star, and he’s in high demand. Still, Newton is very persuasive, and Chase takes his case pro bono. Everything about the other man appeals to Chase, but he’s determined to keep the relationship professional—even though, after meeting Newton’s kids, he wants to be a part of their lives.

Chase’s job doesn’t always allow him to pick his clients, though, and a case that could make him partner will put him on the opposite side of the courtroom from Newton—along with everything he believes in and the future they could build together.

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: I love an Andrew Grey book and I know that I repeat myself all the time when I write a review for one of Grey’s books. But the short story is that I love the emotions that are evoked, both the highs and lows, throughout the book. It’s not uncommon for me to cry during a book by Andrew Grey and I feel that’s awesome. Grey also has a special touch when he includes children in his books, they are always cute kids (sometimes seriously ill or with a disability) whose personalities are just as big as the main characters who are their dad/s.

Survive and Conquer is everything that I expect from an Andrew Grey novel. The emotions are overflowing, the characters are very deep and complex, it was a wild journey to get to know them and their motivations. It was especially heart wrenching when Newton DeSantis opens up about being at Ground Zero on 9/11.

Newton DeSantis’s life turned upside down on 9/11, he was nearby on the ground and lost friends in the towers who are among those still unidentified. He is both mentally and physically scarred from his experience. He has made it his life to help people and that is something of a healing balm, as are his two kids whom he adopted. The girl has hearing issues and his son has a blood disorder. He works as a social worker, wanting the absolute best outcomes for the kids he comes into contact with.

However, when one situation with a child requires legal expertise, Newton turns to and manages to convince family lawyer, Chase Matthews. Chase loves his job and is an up and coming star at his firm. And while he doesn’t need more work, he agrees to look into a case for Newton pro bono.
The men have a lot in common and their connection is instant. But their careers are not always complementary. As a lawyer Chase can’t pick and choose which clients he wants to take but as feelings between he and Newton evolve, things get complicated, of course. While getting to know each other personally, their lives also cross professionally. Ultimately, this is the moment when Chase needs to get his priorities right and decide just how essential Newton and the two kids are to his life.

In short, Chase must sort out his work-life balance, he is looking to take the step of becoming a partner to man with two kids who he also forms a connection to. Likewise, Newton also needs to let in the romantic kind of love in his life, balancing his life as a dad, a partner and a social worker.

Volley Balls by Tara Lain ~ Audio Review

Title: Volley Balls

Series: Balls to the Wall 01

Author: Tara Lain

Narrator: Nick J. Russo

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 4 hrs, 1 min

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (10th April 2018)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 2.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: A “pumped up” version of the Volley Balls story, twice as long as the original.

A double dose of alpha male might be better than one.

Despite just getting out of an abusive relationship with an asshole alpha, David Underwood’s wandering glance lands on two hot members of the Australian volleyball team on Laguna Beach and gets him harassed again. Still, when the delicious Gareth Marshall proves his interest by coming out to his team, David succumbs to his attraction. But Gareth’s volleyball partner, Edge, who’s equally hot, makes the lovers’ lives miserable.

For Gareth, a lifetime of hiding his orientation – and his attraction – from his best friend, Edge, as well as everyone else around him, adds up to hurt and frustration. David’s the first man to ever compete with Edge for Gareth’s passion. But Edge has secrets of his own, and David’s ex-lover will never be happy without David under his fist. With everything stacked against him, can a gay Laguna man find happiness with an alpha male – or two?

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Volley Balls is the first book in Tara Lain’s Balls to the Wall series, set in idyllic Laguna Beach (much like her series Love in Laguna, and I think the Love You So series, too). The way I understand it, this is a revised and expanded edition of the story, although I’ve had no prior knowledge of it before listening to the audio. I was interested, however, because I have enjoyed a number of other books and series of Lain (like those already mentioned). I’ve found it very easy to connect to Lain’s characters and get so easily invested into their storylines. So I thought that this would be a no-brainer – a cool, short story to get into to pass some time. As always when I see something involving Australia or Australian characters, that was just the icing on the cake for me to get into the story.

But – there is a big but… I struggled with this story. I struggled with the characters – connecting to them, empathising with them, wanting them to have their HEA. I struggled with how the plot went too and how the characters story arcs panned out. I got annoyed when Australians were brushed with the homophobic brush, but I pushed that aside because while it’s not all Australians, naturally there are a lot of homophobic a*holes here as there is anywhere else. I struggled so much that I have left it almost 2 weeks to write the review because I just don’t know what to say.

Before I break this down further, let me get into the plot of this story.

An Australian volleyball team is in Laguna, two of the guys are Gareth and Edge. Gareth and Edge have been friends for years. But Gareth has stayed closeted for fear of what his teammates and his best friend would say if they found out he is gay. His actions appear justified when his team and Edge are homophobic a*holes, not holding back calling men names such as fairy.

But Gareth has caught the attention of David Underwood, and vice versa. David is a sweet, down to earth guy and has major concerns about what it would mean to get involved with a closeted volley ball player whose friends who are horrible, homophobic and even seem to border on psychotic (though I am sure that was just a way to get the story moving forward).

Then there is Edge. Gareth’s best friend and the man that could prevent David and Gareth from being together, completely in love. Edge is jealous and doesn’t know how to deal with his emotions when it comes to Gareth, who has been his best friend and so much more for so many years. To me, Edge is the most difficult character, because his actions are so full of venom and at times manipulative it is then hard for me as the reader to understand his about face which leads Gareth and David opening their minds to a different kind of relationship.

As you can now probably guess, my biggest issue in this book is Edge. While I liked David and Gareth together and felt the connection and potential between the characters, I felt that the addition of Edge into the relationship was tacked onto the end. Although, to be honest, I don’t feel that there was a lot of character development to fully understand the motivations of each of the guys, especially Edge. I normally love MM menage romances but I found it difficult to believe Edge’s connection and chemistry when he was so full of hate and venom. I’m not sure, part of me kind of thinks that if the book was longer and that if there was significantly more character development this book would be better, and Edge could be more relatable.

My feelings for this book are so intense that I’m not just getting to the narration and tacking that onto the end of the book. To be honest, it was the narration by Nick J Russo that kept me going. I’ve heard Russo’s work in the past and so I didn’t have any concerns there. He does a great job with the characters, even does a fairly good Aussie accent for Gareth and Edge. For me, while his performance couldn’t fully redeem the book in my eyes (because there are some books that I just can’t read but totally love the same book when I listen to the audio), his performance was great.

Despite my issues with the book, I am certain there are many people that would love this – I mean, I’ve read other reviews that show just that. I recommend this to people that want a very sexy book, with tonnes of steamy sex scenes, menage/poly romances and a relationship that is best described as instalove.

Can You Protect Them by Sheri Lyn & Jennifer Wedmore

Title: Can You Protect Them

Series: Federal Paranormal Unit 01

Author: Sheri Lyn & Jennifer Wedmore

Genre: Paranormal, Mystery

Publisher: MTW Press (March 21,2019)

Length: Novella (128pgs)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Heart

Blurb: He was an ordinary guy, who had unusual desires, ones that would dub him a serial killer. Unlike most, he decided to act on his whims. The media dubbed him the Professor, it fit. He was determined to learn new things, stuff others would balk at. The Cops and FBI upped the bets when they caught his trail.

Detective Remington Conahan was a little jaded and a lot dedicated. When the first body is found, he is called because everyone knows he will give her the justice she deserves. No one’s life is worthless to him.

Grayson Knox is the newest member to join the Federal Paranormal Unit. When he gets a call from an old friend that a witch was killed and there is a threat of a new serial killer, he agrees to help with the investigation. What he didn’t expect to find was a man who made him lose sight of why he was here.

When evil masquerades as a regular man and travels the country, can anyone protect them?

ISBN: B07PXRLNFJ

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Remington is one hell of a detective who has just been thrown into a case that was not what he had expected. A killer who is called the Professor just wanting to kill and find out how it felt to play with the body. And Grayson who works for the Federal Paranormal Unit but he is also a god. Sounds like a bad joke but Remington and Grayson are determined to find out who is behind this. While Remi is trying to keep his attention off Grayson.

This story was different. Remi is not only jaded but damn the man is cranky. He can also be a hard ass, but one kiss from Grayson and the steam just rolls all over. I am not really sure why it is called a paranormal story other than the fact that Grayson is a god and the first girl that was killed was a low level witch. They didn’t really do anything to make the paranormal part stand out in this story.

The killings and the fact that it was actually told from the killers voice was just a bit creepy. However like I said above the story was like some cop shows I have read with just a paranormal twists. I didn’t care for how fast and mushy Grayson was, for one he is god, yet he came off different. There was no word of matings, so I am guessing it was just sex and love. However it felt rushed to me. Remington was well defined in the story but you just hear parts of Grayson’s story, so that made the story rocky.

Now the story itself with the murders and the way the man just kept teasing them was pretty crazy and I actually found myself liking it. It had quite a bit of errors that I found, but lets just say that these authors would make a mint with murder stories. I would say that character development needs to be worked on. However as strange as it sounds I actually liked the story enough to read it twice before doing this review.

It doesn’t sound like it but I did like the story quite a bit. I hope we see more of the paranormal side of things in the next book.

Tart and Sweet by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Title: Tart and Sweet

Series: Candy Man 04

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Philip Alces

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 47 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (1st August 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: In the Army, Robbie Chambers turned on his lover out of fear — and he hasn’t been able to live with himself since. Now he’s out of the Army but still trapped in the closet that brought on his most cowardly moment, and he starts to think he’ll never be able to fight his way free.

Until he sees Cy McVeigh. Beautiful and uninhibited, Cy is dancing on the boardwalk at Old Sac for no other reason than the moment called for it. Robbie not only joins in the dance but is smit-ten from the very beginning.

However, Robbie still has old business to clear up, and when he helps out a kid in need and comes face-to-face with the man he betrayed, he’s forced to come clean with himself. He can’t redeem his mistake if he’s still locked into his old patterns, and he won’t ever be worthy of Cy if he can’t earn Adam’s forgiveness. He’s going to need all the help he can get from the people at Candy Heaven in order to make things right with his past so he can have a future with Cy.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Tart and Sweet is the fourth and final book in Amy Lane’s Candy Man series. It continues with the themes of friendship, healing and romance. While it probably works as a standalone, I recommend reading or getting your hands on the audio of the previous books as there is a lot of interaction with a whole cast of fully developed secondary characters.

I’ve have come to enjoy some of Lane’s books and this book is no exception. I find the writing style is really accessible, in that it is well written and very expressive without too much complicated language, so it’s easy to relax and read or listen to the book. The narration was performed by Philip Alces, who narrates the full series. Alces has a soft and gentle voice that matches the sweetness of the plot and conveys the variety of emotions that tumble through the MCs. It was a wonderful performance and completely on point.

Candy Man has a really cute premise. It’s about this almost hippy-like guy, Darren, who runs a boutique candy store in Old Sacramento and just so happens to have psychic visions about the people that he needs to help, i.e. people that are down on their luck and may not be looking for love but are gonna get it anyway. Really cool.

The characters that have brought together this entire world was Adam, Darren (the psychic Candy Man), Clopper the Dog and Jacob the Cat. It’s also nice that there is the background plot where Ezra has developed the gift to help Darren bringing together people, so Ezra who had his story in the previous book is also quite important in this one.

Robbie Chambers has left the army. He feels a lot of shame for how things had ended there and he was sure that he had lost the man that could have been the love of his life. Life in Old Sacramento after the army is difficult. He picked up the first girl he met at a bar in an attempt to be straight for her very conservative parents. But all that changes when he sees a beautiful man dancing on the boardwalk, attracted to him to no one he had been attracted to in his life. That man is Cy and on top of their sexuality, Robbie knows that his parents would also disapprove of the fact that Cy is black.

But as soon as they meet, Robbie is side tracked by saving a handsome man from being hit by a car – helping the man, Finn, to where Finn’s boyfriend works, he discovers Finn’s boyfriend is his ex, Adam. Adam who had not stood up for in the army and made the end of Adam’s army career hell and breaking Adam’s heart after planning happily ever after together. But Adam has moved on now and the magic of Candy Heaven is throwing Cy and Robbie together, they are now inevitable.

Robbie’s need for healing is the main theme in this plot, he has a lot of mental baggage to deal with and Cy is the man with the patience and strength to befriend and then help Robbie heal with love. They have a great attraction which starts as a friendship of necessity and a strong mutual attraction, before developing into love. An awesome ending to what has to be one of the sweetest, pun fully intended, series I’ve read or listened to.

The Engineer’s Mate by C.W. Gray

Title: The Engineer’s Mate

Series: Blue Solace 05

Author: C.W. Gray

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Paranormal

Publisher: (May 16,2019)

Length: Novel (318 Pages)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Heart

Blurb: Welcome back to Charybdis Station and the crew of the Blue Solace.

Beck Brackenstone is a simple Grell. He loves his family and friends and enjoys tinkering in his shop. His greatest dream is to meet his life-mate, settle down, and raise a bunch of babies. When he finally does meet his mate, he realizes how completely unprepared he really is. How do you court an assassin? How do you keep your brain from melting when your mate smiles?

Guild Master Beol is not a simple man. He runs one of the most prominent assassins guilds in the galaxy and has a troubled past. He has responsibilities and contracts to worry about and no time for a mate. When he meets Beck, that all changes. His Grell completely bewitches him and sparks something inside him that he thought died a long time ago. The problem is that Beck has secrets that even his most trusted friends don’t know, and Beol has some major trust issues.

The two men may appear to be a horrible match, but in truth, they are perfect for one another. Unfortunately the Crellic Queen and Humans First are terrorizing the galaxy and Charybdis Station is their next target. They will need to trust in one another and their friends to end the Queen’s path of destruction once and for all.

ISBN: B07S1CCBM3

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Beck’s best friend always thought and said that Beck needed a soft and gentle mate for the big guy. He is a sweet young man that turns into a darling animal but he does more than that. He has hidden a big secret from all of his friends and his family. He is making robots that have feelings and thoughts of their own. Rus is his son but he was made to be a warrior, to his father’s surprise, he wants to be a cook. Beck wants at least eight kids but never expected it. Well he might just get a mate that can have them. His poor best friend is going to have a melt down.

Beol is not sweet and gentle, well unless he is around his sexy mate. Now if he could just get him to set down long enough to talk, well without burning the house down. Beol is the head of the most dangerous and prominent assassins guild for the galaxy. His brother and himself were raised by the old leader and lets just say their father was one cold man. Their mother was just as evil. Now he has a mate and damn if things were not looking up.

With the Human Firsts and the queen causing terror in the galaxy they are going to need all the help they can get. They have death and fire on their side, it might just work. They are in for a bigger surprise.

The worlds are turning out pretty sweet. I love what this author has created and their characters just pop out at you. Beck and Beol are just the best couple one can see and their friends rock. They seem to be protective as hell, and lets face it the guys need quite a bit humor with all the kids they keep ending up with. This story as the previous ones had, caught my attention from the start and kept till the end. In fact I read this story three times before even starting this review.

I can also guarantee that it will be read many times more. I had a blast reading this and can’t wait till the next story comes out.

Eminently Elf by Jessamyn Kingley

Title: Eminently Elf

Series: D’Vaire 13

Author: Jessamyn Kingley

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novel (305pgs)

Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley (July 25, 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Emperors Chrysander and Ellery Draconis are in love and looking toward the future. Ellery is the first hybrid to survive a dragon shift, becoming a legend. Chrysander couldn’t be happier with his elf dragon, and for the first time he is truly savoring life. Despite the demands of their schedules as the leaders of the Council of Sorcery and Shifters, the pair have also managed to find balance. But not everyone is happy to see the leader of the dragons with a half-elven mate.

As the two go about their daily business, those sworn to protect them work tirelessly each day to ensure the safety of their emperors. They lived through the horror of the previous rulers being murdered and are all too aware of the dangers that lie in wait. Nothing is left to chance, but regardless of their dedication, not even they can prevent evil from rising from the mists.

On a seemingly ordinary day, an unexpected attack shocks everyone. A matebond is taken to the brink and the limits of magic are tested as the strongest forces unite to try to repair the damage. It will take time, patience, and perseverance for good to prevail. Chrysander and Ellery will once again overcome the odds and emerge victorious, but in the end, nothing will ever be the same..

ISBN: B07VG2LRSX

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: This is part two of emperors Ellery and Chrysanders story. The two are settling into life together as mates. They are happy and enjoying each other. But not everyone is happy for the newly mated couple and a devious plan is set in motion that will change their lives forever.

History has a way of repeating itself and in this case that is almost what happens. The spans a year or more as Chrys and the sorcery of D’Vaire struggle night and day to reverse what is done to Ellery. I was heartbroken as the event unfolded and could not imagine the agony the emperors were going through. Chrys was a rock for Ellery through this trying time though he did have his doubts from time to time.

I was thrilled as many characters we know and love came together as a whole to find out who did this horrible thing to their emperor. I am always amazed with every book that comes out as they always add more depth and understanding to an already fascinating series.

I loved meeting the new characters that were introduced in this addition as well as hints to future matings. It’s always a pleasure to read each book that comes out and I feel humbled and honored that I was introduced to such an amazing and intriguing series as this.

I highly recommend the entire series. You must read these books in order as each picks up where the previous one leaves off. It is my greatest wish that this series continues for a long time as I simply love it. It’s my favorite series of all time.

Family Man by Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton (2nd Edition)

Title: Family Man

Author: Heidi Cullinan & Marie Sexton

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (206pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (11th September 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Sometimes family chooses you.

At forty, Vincent “Vinnie” Fierro is still afraid to admit he might be gay—even to himself. It’ll be a problem for his big, fat Italian family. Still, after three failed marriages, it’s getting harder to ignore what he really wants.

Vinnie attempts some self-exploration in Chicago’s Boystown bars, far from anyone who knows him. Naturally, he runs smack into someone from the neighborhood.

Between working two jobs, going to school, taking care of his grandmother, and dealing with his mother’s ongoing substance abuse, Trey Giles has little time for fun, let alone dating someone who swears he’s straight. Yet after one night of dancing cheek-to-cheek, Trey agrees to let Vinnie court him and see if he truly belongs on this side of the fence—though Trey intends to keep his virginity intact.

It seems like a solid plan, but nothing is simple when family is involved. When Vinnie’s family finds out about their relationship, the situation is sticky enough, but when Trey’s mother goes critical, Vinnie and Trey must decide whose happiness is most important—their families’ or their own.

ISBN: 978-1-64080-053-3

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Any

Review: A comforting read.

There’s just something really warm about this story that makes reading this fun and easy. I read this over a couple of cold, wintry evenings, and it was like having hot chocolate and marshmallows. Yum.

The pace is superb for a light read. There is no major angst or any dramatic unexpected turns, the story is simply about two sweet guys, Vinnie and Trey, who let themselves show their attraction to one another and it simmers and grows into love.

The two perspectives worked for me as well. Trey’s perspective is in the first person and Vinnie’s is in the third—both are skillfully written and pleasant to read. Though, I felt a touch more connected with Trey most of the story.

This was a smooth, fast read with a simple plot. If you’re looking for a break in-between more angst driven stories, this is a great option.

Dread by Shannon West

Title: Dread

Series: Gods of War 02

Author: Shannon West

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

Publisher: Painted Hearts Publishing (January 10,2019)

Length: Novella (171 Pgs)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Heart

Blurb: Will Logan and Luke Warren are still running, with no refuge in sight. After stopping in Tennessee to meet up with teammates Ron Perry and Jake Wilson, they head for Atlanta, to rendezvous with the remaining member of their team, Todd Jackson. Kowalski told Logan he murdered Jackson, but Logan knows all too well how hard it is to kill any of them now. He’s hopeful that Jackson survived and is waiting to meet them. Once they arrive in the city, they find Jackson easily enough. They soon discover, however, that he’s involved in a strange and savage situation, a member of a vicious fight club in the basement of an Atlanta club. When he tells Logan he’s in trouble and can’t extricate himself, Logan finds an oppressive atmosphere of evil in the club, seeming to center around the club’s owner, a charismatic man named Austell. Logan is disgusted by the illegal fighting, but Luke and the others are all inexplicably drawn to it. Something or someone is influencing the men, infusing them with violence and cruelty. A chain of events begins to unfold that will test Logan and Luke’s bond to the breaking point. Logan’s life is turned upside down as he has to fight for the lives of his friends and the man he can’t live without. When they’re kidnapped, and everything Logan holds dear is in deadly danger, will he be strong enough to save them all?

In this book, the second in a three part series, new clues and revelations emerge as to what happened to Logan and his friends in book 1, Origins, Gods of War, to change their lives. They face a new and savage threat to their safety, and receive intervention from Heaven itself? Or could it be Hell?

ISBN: 978-1-946379-27-6

Product Link: Painted Hearts Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Luke and Logan had been prisoners together along with other members of their team. They had escaped with many different gifts. Gifts that might just turn into curses. After killing Kowalski, Logan knew their team needed to get the hell from where they were hiding. Then one of them got a vision that lead them straight into hell it would seem. However they had to get Jackson back.

I don’t remember reading book one but noticed I had given it a high rating. After reading this though, I am not too sure I actually want to finish the series. It has a very dark tone to it and almost no humor whatsoever. Logan and Luke fought more times then I can count, plus Logan’s fear of Luke leaving him left me not able to connect at all. There were so many twists and turns to this story that it should have gone in one direction but for me it went in the other. I couldn’t connect with the characters and the story was just too dark to even like.

However it is well written except for the jumping around part. I hate to admit that this story was a downfall for me. I couldn’t get into it and pretty much hated the characters. Even though it sounded like I didn’t like Logan, he was the one I actually did like. As for the story it never really delved into the questions I had.

I am sorry to say but this story was not for me.

Stay With Me by Patricia Logan

Title: Stay With Me

Series: WITSEC 01

Author: Patricia Logan

Genre: Mystery, Contemporary

Length: Novel (302pgs)

Publisher: Westburg Publishing Inc. (July 22, 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: More than nineteen years ago, ATF special agent, Kane Delancey, witnessed his father’s murder at the hands of an enforcer for the Boston mob. He put his past behind him when he and his family entered the witness protection program. Now, many years later, the murderer he testified against, is about to go free on a technicality. The FBI and US Marshals are asking Delancey to go undercover to help to stop the killer before he has the chance to tap his son as successor.

Luca Price is a fun-loving young jewelry store manager with a bright future ahead of him. After a robbery, he suddenly comes face to face with a man who takes his breath away. Kane Delancey is big, brawny, and downright alpha male, everything Luca’s ever dreamed of. When their attraction strays from the professional, Luca hopes for so much more but there’s no way he’s going to be forced to live life in the closet for anyone, no matter how perfect the man is.

Kane has been straight all his life. He can’t imagine a scenario where he’d want to take a guy to bed, much less form an intimate relationship with one. Then he meets Luca Price, stunningly beautiful, smart, and sweet in a charming way that has nothing to do with him being gay. When Luca’s path crosses with the man Kane is chasing, Delancey is suddenly faced with a different challenge… keeping Luca and his own family alive while trying his best to end the murderer’s legacy.

*NOTE*
Stay with Me contains an excerpt of Play with Me (Book 2… coming soon)

ISBN: B07VGC5XRT

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Kane is given an assignment to go undercover as a dirty cop with the LAPD to take down Brandon and Enoch Moore. While undercover he meets Luca Price, the manager of a jewellery store that is robbed. Luca sends Kane’s thoughts and feelings in a tailspin. Kane is straight or so he’s always believed.

Kane was a massive roller coaster ride of emotions. I felt the way he treated Luca was unfair as it was not Luca’s fault Kane was attracted to him. It surprised me that Luca even gave him the time of day when Kane keeps running into him.

While trying to figure out his feelings for Luca Kane is also trying to keep ahead of a criminal mastermind and keep his head. Lots of drama, sexy moments between Kane and Luca as well as suspense draw the reader into an interesting story.

Fantastic read.

Unlikely Hero by Sean Michael ~ Audio Review

Title: Unlikely Hero

Author: Sean Michael

Narrator: Jeff Gelder

Genre: Contemporary, Thriller

Length: 7 hrs, 30 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (2nd March 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: When his three-year-old daughter is kidnapped, Eric Wilson doesn’t have many options, and time is running out. With nowhere else to turn, he reaches out to his ex, influential businessman Brock Vencenza, whose money and contacts might be able to save Josie.

Brock never got over Eric’s loss, and he’s more than willing to help when Eric needs him most. Together with law enforcement and private security, they embark on a twisting investigation to find the little girl – and who wants to hurt her and destroy both men in the process. Under the circumstances, confessing he still has feelings for Eric would be inappropriate, but Brock can’t deny what’s in his heart. He doesn’t know if their love can be rekindled or if he can even protect Eric and Josie. But one thing is certain: Brock’s determined to be the hero in reality that he is in Eric’s eyes.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Unlikely Hero is a really well written story of second chances, the family you make with a rush of danger. Written by Sean Michael, I really looked forward to listening to this audio, mostly because I don’t think I’ve come across a book by Michael that I didn’t at least like. I also love how Michael has a knack for weaving wonderful child characters into stories as well, which is where many of his characters form their own families.

Jeff Gelder did the narration for the audio, which I thought was a perfect choice. I’ve heard Gelder perform a number of different books before, but I think he just really nailed this one. Specifically, I think his voice and tone was flawless for the main character, Eric. He also does a pretty good voice for Eric’s little girl Josie.

Eric and Brock are interesting characters, especially since we get into the story where these guys have a very well developed and described past. They had been together and in love when Eric broke up with Brock ten years earlier and they never lost their love for each other in the intervening years. There is no animosity between them, in fact it’s like that one friend you have where you don’t talk to them for years but you get back in touch and it’s like none of those years or months have passed, you just fall back into the old rhythm. However, in this case it’s more of a case they had Mr Right, they were simply in the right place at the wrong time. More than anything else, though, Eric had feared Brock drifting away because Brock was a rich businessman and Brock a high school teacher.

Time has been kind to them for the most part, Eric has adopted a little three year old called Josie (she is totally adorable) and he is mostly estranged from his family. For Brock while there had been a few men in his bed, he admits that he had hardly changed at all (probably a good plot device so that we can focus on the danger and allow the romance to just happen). I think if I have any real problem with this book, it’s that they were apart for so long before coming back together.

When Eric’s little girl is kidnapped, he cannot think of anyone he can trust more to help him than his ex, the rich and handsome Brock. Brock has never stopped loving Eric and when he finds out what has happened he will do anything to help. It’s not a smooth and clean ending to the ordeal though, and Brock becomes very protective of Eric and Josie. Brock had never wanted a family, another part of the reason why Eric broke up with him, but being in Eric and Josie’s life brings him the discovery that maybe life could really be a compromise of what he and Eric want most and they might just find their HEA.

While it’s not insta-love, there is a definite feel of things just falling into place between the men automatically. For that reason, despite their past, I do wonder if people that don’t like insta-love will have the same reaction to this relationship, especially with a ten year gap.

As for me, I absolutely loved the book. The dynamic and connection between Brock and Eric, as well as the kidnapping and psycho storyline was enough for me to forget some of the little things that should annoy me, as well as the fact that I figured out who was behind the kidnapping well before the end. The two men had fantastic chemistry and very definitely belong together!

Nothing Special by A.E. Via ~ Audio Review

Title: Nothing Special

Series: Nothing Special 01

Author: A.E. Via

Narrator: Aiden Snow

Genre: Contemporary, Action, Thriller

Length: 9 hrs, 47 mins

Publisher: A.E. Via (14th May 2019)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Detective Cashel “Cash” Godfrey is big, tattooed, and angry so people typically keep their dis-tance. He’s fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six-foot-four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn’t expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis “Leo” Day.

Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He’s proud, out, and one bad-ass detective.

Together, Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta’s ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.

When Cash saves Leo’s life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does…something special. But Leo fears he’ll never break through the im-penetrable wall that protects Cash’s heart.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Nothing Special is the first book in AE Via’s series of the same name. Being that I’ve not read much of Via’s work in the past, I had no idea what to expect, but the blurb seemed interesting, especially if you’re in hot cops and gritty action.

And wow! This was amazing. I loved this book from start to finish.

There were so many hot sex scenes, but they didn’t feel superfluous, in fact I was impressed because I normally hate too many sex scenes in books, especially because many of them don’t feel that they belong in the story and have just been slapped in for a sexy break between high points.

The story starts with Leonidis Day, or just Day. His first day on the force as a detective he is paired up with Cashel Godfrey, or God as he is better known. Day gets trouble from a fellow officer on his first day for being gay, but Day is a fighter and doesn’t stand down. He is also immediately aware of just how sexy his hulking, tattooed partner is. Four years later Day and God have become an unbeatable force in the drug squad. They’re known for their cowboy antics but no one can argue with their results. They are not only partners, they are also best friends.

But things change as their feelings have evolved from day one to the present and they are faced with having to admit to a few things. God and Day aren’t scared and Day is not about to lose his best friend when he knows that they are meant to be so much more. A couple life threatening instances create tension that neither can deny. Through all this, the sexual tension, their jobs and illness, we also get to know so much more about God and Day, more about their family and how this ties into their motivations as characters.

The plot and premise is actually quite simple, but there are so many moving parts that are so well executed, I was hooked from the start and was sad to see the end.

The characters are wonderful. As well as Day and God, there are also a number of secondary characters who are just as vital to the story as the MCs. Each of them are very well developed, we are given their backstory, we see them grow. Nothing Special is one of those books where I am just so happy because the characters are so well fleshed out, the character arcs makes sense as the story goes along so there aren’t any wild card scenes that don’t make as much sense as the rest of the book. The chemistry between Day and God is electric. It’s so easy to understand why they are such good partners and why it is so natural that their relationship evolved into something a lot more. I think I just have to leave it at that I love each everyone of Via’s characters.

The narration was as amazing as the book itself. I don’t think that I am familiar with the work of Aiden Snow. However, he has a tone and timbre that matches the gritty, dangerous feel of the book and the cops that put themselves in the line of fire to do their duty. His voices for Day and God are great and it was just a joy to listen to. I especially loved how he was able to convey the snarkiness and the caffeine junky that is so central to Day’s character. Day and God are both very strong men, and this is heard in the narration. Overall, a wonderful performance that I cannot fault.

I recommend this one to people that love hot cops, a story with a touch of danger, a lot of love and a heck of a lot of sex.

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