Little Boy Blu: Little Big Heart Book 1, Wendy Rathbone

This is saccharine, sugar, and all kinds of sweet so if you're craving sweet, no angst, cuddlef**king then this is your jam.

Blu and Maks both aren't prepared for the kind of perfection they could provide one another and yet they fall so effortlessly into exactly what they need.  While I can absolutely see some of the pitfalls that reality should have put in their path, this wasn't meant to be picked apart that way.

The one thing that made this such an awesome read for me was Blu's short yet very, very clear deliniation between being a little and yet still a man.  Sometimes a lot of these age play stories give me the really uncomfortable icks because it seems so close to something that should make everyone uncomfortable between adults and children but that is so very not what happens here.  Blu is well aware of who and what he is and also what he needs in all aspects.  I see him as a little and I also see him as a man, this blend is done extremely well here.

Maks is such a good Daddy.  He's been yearning for this for so long and yet never knew what or how or when it would ever happen.  He was just right.

What dropped this from 5 to 4 stars was the frequent hints that there would be obstacles, interference, discovery from family or media.  I was very glad none of it panned out, but there was something hanging around nearly every scene that made me wonder if some kind of conflict or angst was going to be tossed in just for the sake of "believability", but I should have remembered whose book I was reading.  This author is quite good at not creating needlessly convoluted or contrived storylines more often than not.  So while this all worked out well, there were too many hints that didn't play into anything beyond giving me more apprehension than sugary sweet lovin'.

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Bound to Happen: AirB&D Book 4, Olivia Joy

I know these stories are short in this series, but a couple of them have still managed to win me over with their honesty, connection, and chemistry.  This story didn't manage to do that.  While there was chemistry, a really decent amount, that played well to their mutual desires, it didn't translate to a relationship in a real way for me.  Overall it was a nice story, a fairly okay addition to the series, but it wasn't my favorite.

Will was a little easier to know as we begin with his POV and his internal commentary on his life, relationship status, job, and feelings about the situation as well as about Mitch.  Mitch on the other hand, was bland to me.  There wasn't a good enough explanation of his motivations, his redemption for the bet, or a real connecting moment between him and me as a reader.  I just didn't care about him and wasn't convinced that he deserved Will.

The outcome was a tale of two men who got a second chance at a college attraction turned sour and all the spice you'd expect from this series.  It wasn't fully successful for me by the end, but it wasn't an entirely unenjoyable reading experience either.  It was just...meh...and a bit disappointing.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Will Simpson figures he’s the epitome of boring. He works in a cubicle, goes to the beach for vacation every year, and even the ex who only wanted sex once a week left him. So when he gets an invitation to spend a weekend at a B&B in Maine with a bunch of his old frat buddies, Will figures why not do something totally out of his comfort zone. He knows he might see Mitch again, but with enough guys around, it wouldn’t have to be awkward.

Mitch Archer thinks a weekend with his old buddies might be fun, too, but when he gets to Maine, he surprised to find Will is the only one who made it. He’s also surprised to discover that the house itself is more than just a fun place to vacation in small-town New England. He’s always wondered what he and Will could have had together, so he grabs at the chance to test things out between them. He’s ready to explore, and he’s bound and determined to show Will how adventurous he can be.

Dante: Love at the Haven Book 1, Stella Shaw

With such a short story there wasn't much time to develop a complex plot or convoluted characters.  I appreciated that the conflicts were kept simple and didn't change throughout the story.  While the last minute hesitations came from an understandable place, the resolution was quick and a little too uncomplicated.  I enjoyed the story alright, but would have loved it to be at least 20-50 pages longer to give a better resolution before the epilogue and to get more of Blake.

The chemistry was kind of there, mostly being read as there because we were expected to expect it rather than in the way it was written.  I feel that was more because we didn't get to know Blake hardly at all and aside from some steamy moments in The Haven, they didn't have much of anything to build on at all.

Getting Dante's POV until the epilogue made sense because he was the one needing to evolve and accept the hope and love in the circumstances, in the person offering them.  I was very glad the epilogue was in Blakes POV though because we really needed it to make their relationship and the life changes on Dante's part even remotely believable.

Overall this was a good story and a good introduction to The Haven and all the men we'll get to know and root for throughout the series.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Everyone deserves a second chance – both in life and love.

Dante's been fooled in love before, and his career is dead in the water – he’s determined he won’t be betrayed again. In between part-time jobs, he’s been tricking at the Haven, a run-down London hotel, and rebuilding his independence. But on a particularly cold winter’s evening, a disaster in Room Four nearly finishes him off for good. Will he and his new friends lose the shelter they’ve come to rely on?

When they meet the hotel’s new owner, Rick, they don’t expect him to accept the rent boys who’ve been using the hotel’s hospitality, however respectful they’ve been. But while negotiations are in progress to renovate the Haven, Dante meets Rick’s friend Blake. Neither of them can ignore the sudden, fierce spark of attraction between them.

Blake is successful, rich, and totally committed to honesty. And, apparently, just as determined in having a relationship with Dante. As they explore the physical fascination between them, they can’t help developing the emotional bond too.

But if Dante confesses his past to Blake, will that be the end of everything? Or will their time at the Haven provide the comfort and understanding that both men have been seeking?

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 48

  

• Love Vintage Blend: Home in Hollyridge Book 2, Elle Keaton
• Unicorn Unashamed: Rainbow Fever Book 1, Riley Rivers
• Dirty Chef, Cara Dee

We didn't get what I expected, though I have to say I was happy to be wrong.  With very little angst and a whole lot of cute interactions there was a lot to like about this story.  Add in a loveable pup and I was well pleased.  There was a bit of drama surrounding the ex and issues he caused both in the beginning and in the end, but both were quickly and easily resolved so nothing negative was left lingering.  Zach and Jeff were really good together, especially when they finally got on the same page in both their business and personal lives.  The self-deprecation on Jeff's part was understandable, but it was a bit too present and not truly worked through, it just miraculously went away.  And then there was the really cute reunion at the end that opened the door for the all-important question and gave us a wonderfully tender moment that wrapped up the story with warmth.  A satisfyingly sweet read with great characters in a town with lush descriptions.  3.5 stars.

Once the seemingly unrequited pining ended and they got a chance to burn up the sheets, they really showed a lot of passion.  They still held feelings back for a bit, but it wasn't unbearable and they made some really tender confessions.  The story was definitely short and sweet, but the steam was incredibly present and I really enjoyed the world that was created.  I'm for sure wanting to come back for more from the interesting side characters we met as well.  3.5 stars.

Ooh damn, this was HOT!  I love the Camassia Cove world and am always stoked to come back to it.  Alessia and Adam have been dancing around one another for a decade and finally, finally!, with one menu tasting, everything they thought they couldn't have explodes with some serious sexual napalm.  What's even better?  All the tenderness that hits you right in the feels.  Short, infinitely sweet, and incredibly sexy, this is definitely going on my re-read shelf.  4.5 stars.

Accidental Mates, Anitra Lynn McLeod

This was a unique and really funny beginning to a series that I'm definitely going to dive into.  I enjoyed the premise quite a lot and the demon was really easy to come to love.  He had a lot of passion and compassion for Alex that went a lot way to evening out the more forceful and secretive parts of him.  Alex was interesting in that he stood up for himself and used his brain more than his reactions to the sexy demon.  It was his father that bothered me.  Yes, I can understand his blustering and the reasoning behind his actions, I just felt like there could have been a bit more of an apology on his end for the secrets and the way he treated Alex.  Overall, I thought this was a very humorous start and I'm definitely coming back for more.  4 stars.

Not as charming at Demon, but still interesting.  I'm a sucker for dragons so I thought this would be my favorite of the series.  Not so, unfortunately.  I found there to be very little real chemistry between the MC's and neither character really captivated me.  The mating stuff was interesting, a little amusing, and very unique.  I'm not sure I was won over by the dragons' world either.  It was definitely unique and gave Mitch a purpose, but his individual character was so very milquetoast before this point that I just didn't really think his journey was anything close to what we got with Alex.  Alex's "quest" was interesting and fit with the story.  While Mitch's was fitting to the story, I didn't think it showed strength or any significant change to make him a stronger character.  It was an okay story for sure, but a let-down from the first.  3 stars.

This was a nice story with two men who really did need one another. While I wasn't really invested in their story, I did really like how it ended. Gabriel was a little harder to like because of his constant dismissal of many of Luke's concerns, questions, and convictions. Luke's moral beliefs when it came to relations, intimacies, etc. seemed a little out of place. To claim he knew little about religious things but held notions of prudish appropriateness that typically come from religious experience felt incongruous. I absolutely respect his desire to wait, that it was something special to him, and I had zero problems with that sentiment, but Gabriel's countering and then praising it didn't sit well. There were quite a few things that didn't really add up and it detracted from my enjoyment of the story.

Where the first two stories in the series had the human mate go on some kind of journey, Luke's was very different in that he needed to find himself and know who he really was and what he was all about without strong male personalities guiding, taking advantage of, or protecting him. I don't think he fully achieved it, but it was a nice thought that could have used a bit more attention. By the end I was okay with the story and haven't given up on the series.  3 stars.

Of all the stories, I think this one had the most well-rounded characters and the story was sufficiently wrapped up with an exciting beginning and a sweetly wonderful ending.  While I think there were a couple bits that didn't really work as well, like near the end with Os'vald's weirdly justified behavior in the beginning as well as the ease of location change to satisfy the story's end, overall I think this was an immensely successful story.  It felt complete because there were two unique characters with quirks and vulnerabilities and motivations that were believable and interesting.  The drama was specific to the MC's and their dilemma.  The ending was appropriately sweet, it fit with the story, and was a believable solution to any difficulties they might face because of their different races.  This one got me in the feels at the same time that it satisfied my need for a believable and well-played plot.  4 stars.

The story was good overall, especially with where they finally got their HEA, but the road was a bit bumpier than I expected.  A couple dramatic elements that were thrown in were surprises and I don't think one of them fit at all, in fact, it caused unnecessary complications to their already complicated situation.  Some things were brought up to increase the angst with intimated hurts and reasoning behind Von's decision to be a player but were never explained or fleshed out.  Silver is adorably earnest and naive and while I think he was a bit superficial, in that he wasn't given enough depth as a character and not that he was vapid or shallow, he was the character that drew me in the most.  Von's opening scene was promising, as was the end, but through the whole middle I found him to be lacking.  Where they get to in the end was really sweet though, so overall it was a sweet, nice story to add to the series.  3 stars.

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 41

  

• Protecting His Heart: Nox Bay Pack Book 2, Connor Crowe
• Aurora Borealis: Cold Case Psychic Spinoff Novella 8, Pandora Pine
• Chandler: Training Days Book 1, J.D. Light

A sequel that earned it's place in the lineup for sure.  But I wish it were longer.  There is so much going on, so much story, so many elements, that it should be turned into a novel.  I really enjoyed this one and found it even more interesting than the first, though I wasn't sure this story's events could outshine Felix.  Even though Arric spends a lot of time squashing and denying his feelings and urges what builds between him and Elliot turns into something memorable.  The dragons, female alphas, stones, and powers were all attention-grabbing.  Though I will say the pregnancy testing stone part was a bit...strange, it was something I was willing to overlook in favor of just enjoying the overall story.  3.5 stars.

Wow.  Pandora sure packed a lot into this little story.  My heart ached for Aurora and was so glad Jace and Kevin had the whole Crew of awesome to support them all.  I was glad that the opposition from the relatives was kept civil and simple so the focus could be on assimilating Aurora into the family.  Watching Jace and Kevin become fathers and seeing them commit to one another and being there for Aurora no matter what was a growing moment for both of them in different ways.

While Jace still isn't my favorite, he's growing on me as we see him become less selfish.  I think I had one idea of him from his care of the LGBTQ+ youth at his shelter.  His role there led me to believe he was someone he consistently has issues being when it comes to the most important person/people in his life.  He is that person, to some degree, but it's when it directly involves his own life that he becomes reactionary, petty, immature, and juvenile.  His determination to be a good partner to Kevin and father to Aurora shows us the less selfish, more empathetic, more mature side of him we know is in there.  I have hope.  I think he has great potential and I'm interested to see him develop as the Cold Case series progresses.  3.5 stars.

Holy sweetness!  I was completely shocked that I loved this story to the degree I did.  I was expecting something sweet, cute, and sexy, but not like this.  What was the most surprising was the character depth and connection achieved in such a short story.  I loved that Chandler wasn't actually insecure despite his endeavor to become fit coming from insults from a few exes.  There were quite a few appearances of people who could derail Chandler and Baker's progress that could have been eliminated, but overall I didn't find that it decreased my enjoyment.  It was so fluffy, so sweet, and definitely sexy so I was happy.  4.5 stars.

At a Stranger's Mercy: Badge and Bullets Book 1, Brittany Cournoyer

With a lot of acerbic interactions interspersed with disturbing and grizzly murders, this book was intriguing and dramatic from the word go.  I enjoyed that the main characters weren't caustic and antagonistic out of spite and that when there was fear, it was a real fear expressed in a real way.  There were no unbelievable or unlikely moments of sudden heroism, adrenaline-filled bravery, or blinding passion.  Starting the series strong with a case straight from hell and a tentative bond between two men who have a whole lot of baggage, I was invested right from the start.

Bradley is first introduced as somewhat of a fuddy-duddy with a strict and regimented life that is suddenly thrown into chaos because of one departure from his routine.  I wasn't sure I would like him with all his rigidity, but he grew on me.  He took his safety seriously and aside from one error, he made the best of the situation with intelligence and caution.  I respected that far more than someone who tries to shout their independence from the rooftops in an ill-fated attempt to assert their character "strength".  He's also not a pushover, no matter how fearful he is of his situation.  That's not to say there aren't moments of pouting or sulking, he's only human, but on the whole, he's someone to be admired.  My favorite moment is when he takes Max to task for the situation he ended up in and his utterly fantastic challenge that paves the way for something more between them as the series continues.

Max is more conflicted as a character and we get pretty much nothing about his past.  A past that clearly haunts him, but it's not something we're privy to at this point.  His baggage is hinted at and I'm guessing there's a whole lot of angst that we'll get to experience with him as he strives to meet Bradley's challenge.  All throughout the book he was a paragon of prickish behavior.  He was rude, condescending, brusque, short-tempered, non-communicative, and closed off.  But despite all those negative traits, there's something more to him; something damaged and vulnerable and desensitized to the evil he fights and hunts every day on the job that draws me to him.  There's so much promise for a man who will grow, soften, and find strength in what he might have with Bradley.  I'm really eager to see how he'll achieve that.

I absolutely knew this was going to end with a romantic cliffhanger so I kept that in mind when each page, each chapter held zero passionate moments between the men and I have to say I loved that.  It makes their entire dynamic believable and then as we see them grow in the subsequent books their development will progress organically.  And the notion that the evil wasn't just one person?  There's something big that's going to come and I'm really looking forward to see how that works out too.  Overall, there's so much to enjoy about this story that had a good flow, enjoyable characters, and a suitably suspenseful plot.  I'm definitely in for the next book in the series.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

Making eye contact with a killer wasn’t exactly how Bradley Danforth had planned to start his day. As an accountant, he craved structure and routine. What he hadn’t anticipated was being part of a real-life murder mystery with him cast in the starring role. 

Death and sorrow were part of Max Donohue’s job description, leaving the detective hardened after years on the job. On his latest case, he’s the one stuck protecting the only witness in a sadistic homicide.

One death becomes two… then three. And soon Max and Bradley find themselves playing a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Max save Bradley from the clutches of a serial killer? Or will the killer finish what he started?

Center of Gravity: Nook Island Book 1, Neve Wilder

We all wear masks.  For some it's being the life of the party to mask the pain or struggles inside.  For others it's a mask of indifference or pomposity covering the same things.  So it's prudent not to judge solely on those masks.  But also not to judge what we do to cope.  Rob and Alex are at odds in so many ways but they just might be exactly who the other person needs to break through their pain and to shed the masks.

Slow burn...much, much emphasis on the slow.  Well, maybe only in terms of romance.  When it comes down to attraction and sexual situations they've got an awkward club bathroom moment as their foundation and weekend hookups precariously stacked on top of that once they surrender to their chemistry.

I have mixed feelings about their evolution.  On the one hand it's wise to make them resolve so much of their individual angst before they create a life together based on hope, love, and a future rather than grief, fear, and frustration.  On the other, it takes so freaking long for them to wise up, admit who and what they want, and to go for it.  I would have loved something more in the way of getting together earlier to forge something deep based on sharing burdens and complete honesty as well as some grief counseling as individuals to work through the myriad of things felt during the grieving process.  I could definitely have done without the mentions of other partners.  Yes, in reality they weren't truly together when they were with others.  I'm just more the type to enjoy romantic ideals rather than reality most of the time.

So. Much. Angst.  But when they finally get to their "lay it on the table" moment...man, there's so much heart packed into what they say that I'm blown away.  All their heartache, miscommunications, failings, frustrations, vulnerabilities, fears, hopes, yearnings, and tenderness coalesce into two freaking fantastic confessions.  This was a story fraught with reality, sadness, and love.  Despite my mixed feelings about what I typically look for in a romance novel and what I got, there's no denying that this was a moving story about love, loss, and picking up the pieces after it all.

*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

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Change for You: O'ahu Lovers Book 2, Crystal Lacy

The plans you make and the people you love don't always mix.  In Stephen's case, his whole life has revolved around his ambition.  It has cost him love and companionship in the past and he's not holding out hope of that ever changing.  In Max's case, his dreams and his reality are the two elements that don't seem to mix.  When he meets Stephen he's attracted for sure, but there's something deeper that calls to him.  As both men navigate the waters of professionalism, desire, and ambition they'll find that change and compromise are what will win them their HEA...but only if they have the courage and determination to do so.

Though we do get an introduction of Stephen in Brave for You we're not given much.  Diving deep right from the get-go from Max's perspective and office gossip the picture that's painted is of a lonely, hard, cold man who has blinders that keep him oblivious to anything and anyone that would distract him from his professional aspirations.  Reality however, shows us a much different man.  He's tired, he's vulnerable, he's scared.  He's also wickedly smart, driven, and controlled.  And Max sees it all, wants it all.

Max is young, definitely, but he's not naive or unaware of the personal ramifications of his romantic interest in Stephen.  What he wants is everything that Stephen is...well, maybe a little more than that.  But it's that little more that throws a wrench or two in the whole thing.  The things he wants aren't unreasonable, but the way he goes about getting them shows his youth and inexperience with romantic hardship.  I do completely appreciate the way he doesn't actually give up ever.  He tries and tries and tries and, even heart-sore, he holds out hope for Stephen to do the trying.

I really enjoyed their resolution.  Stephen's groveling was perfect for their dynamic.  It was heartfelt, honest, earnest, and right for the type of future that was most likely between the men.  For all of Max's lightness and perseverance in the face of Stephen's dumb-head moments, it was actually Stephen that captured my interest the most.  His complexities were believable as well as frustrating and it was his growth, his change, his complete evolution that made the story interesting, made it all work.  Even though I can't say I liked Derek's moments, I did feel that the closure both he and Stephen got was necessary for all the pieces in Stephen's plan to fall into place in his mind before he could make things right with Max.  

Staying true to her writing style, the descriptions in the story were spot-on but were much more to-the-point and focused here in Change for You than in Brave for You.  The characters were vivid and know-able, the food choices were perfection and really apropos for Max's family, and the internal struggles for each character were well-written and in sync with the story's flow and end goal.  Such a great read!  And with the next book's MC subtly and expertly introduced, I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Ready for You this winter.

*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!