Hard on You: Wingstead Book 4, Caleb Marks

Evan and Finn, what a pairing. This was the first book I've read not just from this series, but from this author as well and I have to say, I was impressed in a lot of ways.

Evan, the big, gruff cop with a bit of trauma to make accepting an open love with Finn difficult. Finn, the sassy, devil-may-care young man with a lot of loneliness to make accepting that he's worty of love difficult. Together they have a tough road that's filled with a deep need to accept themselves first.

I was on board for every bit that they were progressing. There were quite a few secrets that bit them in the bums and I can't say I was totally convinced that they were necessary. I can definitely see why they may have kept certain secrets, but some just felt like they belonged to someone else.

For instance, Evan. His arrangement before Finn wasn't untoward, that it was out of guilt was a little bit of a surprise but also not altogether untoward. But why Evan skirted around it, didn't say what needed to be said, and ended up doing what he did made no real sense for the person we were introduced to and got to know up to the point where that blew up in his face.

And Finn, I can see where a breach of privacy was absolutely out of order, but his reaction, his determination to stay mad and punish Evan the way he did felt so wrong. It didn't do anything to push their romance into a place it needed to be, nor did it really enlighten Evan because he already could tell how much he was in the wrong. It felt so uncomfortable for me to read that scene because it was vindictive, humiliating, hurtful, and a betrayal that was so unnecessary. I nearly put the book down to finish it later because I had such a hard time stomaching that part.

Evan's hints about a previous love was a bit confusing...was it love? Was it heartbreak? Was it pivotal? Was it blended up in the PTSD, homecoming, loss, and grief that followed with his military brothers? Those things felt unanswered. And adding in Evan's struggle with PTSD and his shocking confession to Finn after a big scene in his patrol car kind of came out of the blue and wasn't really something we were leading up to nor was it really revisited either. These things really brought me out of the story.

The reconciliation and ending were quite nice though and I appreciated how they came back together, the things they said to one another fit them both and went a long way to soothe my own ruffled feathers over some previous bits in the story.

Overall I liked it but I'm really not sure if I'll keep going with this series. I'll definitely be back for more from this author, but the other characters we've gotten to know through this book aren't ones that I find myself interested in at all. That being said, when this book got it right, it was really awesome. From the feels to the spice, this book really shone in those moments and they were what kept me reading.

99¢ on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Wayward Love: Cedar Cove Book 2, Rhys Everly

I'm a huge fan of May/December relationships and with a premise promising an intelligent, driven young man and an older man that needs new perspective and life breathed into his existence, I had high, high hopes for this story.  I'll admit that I'm less of a fan of the author's stories under their other pen name and I figured I'd give them another chance.  I wish it had worked out.

Kyle had exuberance that he let run away with him at every single turn.  For being so smart he was so very unaware of his impetuousness and both men would have greatly benefitted from some good old fashioned communication.  Andy's stick needed to be removed for sure and sometimes it takes a bit of steamrolling to make him see the light, but Andy was stubbornly awful about everything because he was uncomfortable.

And then there was the relationship.  Kyle's assertion that it's just for fun is something that always comes back to bite everyone and his impetuous nature had him promising things and then blowing up when he just needed to stand still and see things from another perspective for five minutes.  Andy's excuses about keeping things special and therefore secret is the same in that it always gets revealed in the worst way and this was completely avoidable, but he was more selfish than all the rest for unsustainable reasons.  Countless times he was shown love and support for the possibility between him and Kyle and he continually shot it down because he hid behind the disapproval of his children.  As a parent, children's feelings are absolutely taken into account when navigating a new relationship, but to allow adult children to dictate your adult relationship is beyond ridiculous.  Nope, just a big fat nope all around.

The grand gesture had sweet moments, but it was nearly ruined by impulsiveness on both sides, yet again.  I know my opinion is in the minority for this book and I feel awful about that, but there's just no denying that the relationship was dysfunctional, the adults acted more like children, acceptance was demurred as often as it was spat on, and straightforward honesty was thin on the ground.

*$5.99 on Amazon

He’s a ray of sunshine, but he’s my son’s best friend.

My life has had three modes since my wife passed away.

Work.
Work.

And work.

And I’m not even any good at that.

Unless I find the money I owe everyone, only a miracle can keep my bar afloat.

Until he comes into my life.

Kyle Brady. 

I’ve never looked at another man the same way I look at him. 

It’s a dangerous feeling.

Somehow I’m roped into letting him help my business and he wants to fix everything.

Including my broken heart.

Want to know how?

Read now and find out.

A Bit of Me, Kent Lowe

With a good ending and characters that made me feel conflicted, there were some great aspects to the story that other readers obviously really enjoyed.  My enjoyment was a bit less however, because there was just too much conflict that felt forced, enhanced, and prolonged far beyond what was necessary.  It's like the fighting became the focus instead of the changes in the individuals and their relationship.  I didn't dislike the story, but I can't honestly say I loved it either.

George was so juvenile and whiny and immature and reactionary all. The. Time.  The first few pages were interesting because we could see someone who is young but clearly struggling with where life seemed to be taking him, his girlfriend, his friends, and then there was the slightly baffling interest in the young tattooed man across from him in the train.  There was a great start, but very quickly it was snuffed out by the rest of his pouting, lamenting, pining, and general ornery sullenness.  Combine that with his disrespect, drunken behavior, and the incessant moping and I was so very over him.  Only later in the story, much, much, much later, did he start to turn around and with the new softness that Jack brought out in him I could finally see some potential for him and them together.  Of course it wasn't something that lasted in the face of his all-too-frequent freakouts.

But thank goodness for a great grandmother.  She was pretty much the star of the book and I was incredibly interested in Aimee, but she kept getting shunted to the side with all of George's intentional avoidance of anything positive in his life for so long.  Without them I'd probably have skimmed a lot more of the story than I did.

The real conundrum was Jack.  He had an incredibly interesting and complicated past that bled profusely into his present and his situation was vastly more interesting than George's.  Except we didn't really get much of that.  His character was much more problematic and traumatic and the processing of all of that with the requisite healing that needed to happen for him to embrace some kind of future with George was so slow coming that I wasn't sure it would ever happen.

The course and transformation should have been the focus of both sides of the story, but we got mired in all the awful before the switch came, and when it did it happened too quickly to be truly believable.  The moment itself wasn't a bad one, it's just that it wasn't developed into something really transformative, something real and the mark of something that would build a foundation meant to last.  They were both still so young and getting their actual romance in nearly the end of the story wasn't satisfying enough.  So while their story wasn't bad, it was far too focused on the angst and wasn't given enough time to develop into something positive and loving enough to balance the heartache they both faced.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 47

  

• Becoming Sienna: Tide Series Book 0, T.M. Bashford
• Rebound: Latent Series Book 0, Alana Timms
• Whispers of the Heart: Hartwood Valley Book 1, Anita Therry

There were a few things that held promise, but I'm not sure that everything worked together to actually draw me into the larger series.  The two MC's can be great for one another if they can only figure out what the specter in Sienna's world and what they want.  With a mystery within a mystery there are a lot of tangled threads to unravel and it left me with a more confused and dissatisfied feeling than intrigued and invested.  Quite a lot of the emotional aspects felt forced and I had a hard time with Sienna's end choice.  Yes, healing is necessary, but I don't think her choice is actually the right one for both her and for the situation.  Overall I'm just not exactly a fan of the story and it didn't make me want to read more from this world, especially because the first story in the series isn't about the MC's from here.  2 stars.

I find that this story lacked balance for me.  We spent far too long pining for a friend who though virtually nothing of Trent, not even enough friendship to care about their dynamic and the situation Trent would face without him.  Chasing after his own urges put Trent into a situation that was more than unfortunate.  I did like Noah, though I thought there were so many threads and desires he had regarding his views on their inner wolf that would have beefed up the story and made it so very intriguing.  If we hadn't spent so long on Trent's yearning and the discordant feelings for both alphas we could have had an amazing story.  As it stands, Trent was alright though a bit one-note with a bit of a backbone, Noah was intriguing though in a basic way, and the story was merely alright when so much potential was set aside.  Honestly though, the vampire lounge thing really should have happened, I was really interested in that, but it too was set aside in favor of other unimpressive details.  3 stars.

I liked both characters and thought they matched together as a couple.  Their attraction in the past was there and while I didn't like that it took so long for them together, once they gave in to what they really wanted, it worked out in a sweet way.  That both men didn't expect monumental changes or for the "lowly omega" to give up his dreams and hard work now that he had an alpha in his life was wonderful.  Not everything was easy, especially with someone attempting to undermine and lie their way into taking everything away from them.  As they discover who it is and why it gives both men a chance to support one another.  And in the face of everything, they not only come together as a partnership, but they created a family and an environment where they could all truly thrive.  3.5 stars.

Honesty (Ben and Eric): Six Degrees Book 2, Sandy Smith

When we left Home, Ky and Nicholas' story, we got the sweetest, most honest, fantastic epilogue in a beautiful setting that gave a little hint that sent itself to grounding and supporting that moment.  And now we're on the other side of that setting with how everyone got to that point.  Well, how Eric and Ben got to that point.  I was on the fence about Home, but I cannot express how glad I am that I gave this author and series another chance.  Honesty was sweet, honest, and so much more engaging.

Told only from Ben's POV, we learn about his difficult situation and just how much he has on his plate.  When he meets Eric it seems that he's finally on the way to forming a relationship that can give him a lightness, a sweetness that is just out of reach.  It's very clear how young he is and while I would have loved to have a dual POV, Ben's evolution is the one that needed the most work so it was appropriate to have the tale told in his words.

Ben had quite a few immature moments and I wasn't exactly thrilled with them, but knowing his age and life experience, I wasn't surprised.  He had a couple of experiences that attempted to get him out of his own way, but it ended up being harsh words from a sweet friend that shocked him out of himself enough to see that his world is not as narrow as he's believed it to be up until this point.

Having met Eric a few times in Home, we're aware of who he is and what he does, so seeing that he kept that a bit of a secret wasn't surprising in the least and the reveal coming from someone other than Eric was incredibly cliche and predictable.  It wasn't bad, just formulaic and uninspiring.  What I did appreciate however, was that the man didn't become defensive, angry, or hurtful in response.  His heartbreak was more from his own acknowledgement that he could have made this a non-issue from the beginning and the scene with his grandmother really put that into perspective for Ben.

Ultimately, there were so many tender and sweet moments, especially in Byron Bay, that made me sigh and come to truly love these men.  Their separation wasn't too prolonged and their reconciliation was full of sincerity.  Their entire romance was governed by their hearts and their desire to be good, hardworking men.  Life sometimes got in the way of them seeing it in themselves, but finding one another gave them the foundation they needed to face everything life deigned to throw their way.  I truly enjoyed this story.

*$3.99 on Amazon

How do you build a relationship without honesty?

To care for his teenage sister and her newborn baby, Ben Sinclair gave up his carefree university student life, playing gigs with a band, and his boyfriend Wyatt, who he thought was the love of his life. Handling a breakup, bills, and a baby is bad enough. Then Ben discovers Wyatt was cheating on him their whole relationship, and everyone knew but Ben.

Finding out his ex wasn’t quite as honest as he thought shatters Ben’s confidence, but it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have time to do anything other than work, babysit, and stress over bills anyway.

When Ben starts a new job at a hotel and meets Eric, he begins to dream of a better life. Eric is hot, charming and funny. He’s also straight… or so Ben believes. Eric is everything Ben ever wanted but couldn’t possibly have.
Eric helps Ben find his footing and rediscover his passions. But when Ben discovers Eric has been lying to him all along about who he really is, can Ben ever forgive him? Or were they doomed from the start?

No matter what else happens, Ben vows never to make the mistake of falling for someone who lies again. There is no way he’d make that mistake a second time, right?

Disrupt: Iron Heretics MC Book 1, Michelle Frost

We jump in after an incredibly significant event takes place (found in Cold Light, apparently) and as I didn't previously read how Pax and Mace meet, there was a small feeling of being behind the curve at the outset.  What I appreciated was the snippet we get into the depth and level of commitment Mace held toward Pax and his trauma.  That tenderness and fierceness was carried very well throughout this story and I liked that it gave a basis for deeper attraction and emotion that followed.

The connection between both men was believable and the pacing of their romantic relationship was appropriate for the men as individuals and the flow of the overall story itself.  Both worked together well as the drama unfolded around them and the gifts of trust and love were supported.

This is a standalone in terms of seeing a beginning and a promise between these particular characters, but the motivations, actions, and consequences of events surrounding them and the MC they're affiliated with necessitate reading more of this and the connected "parent" story, Cold Light.  While not a light-hearted story in the least, the romance felt lighter and sweeter than I was expecting and gave a warmth that was definitely needed in contrast to the darker elements that surrounded them all.  I like where this series is going and the attitudes of the MC members so it's safe to say I'll be back for more of the Iron Heretics MC and the men they come to love.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Being vulnerable makes you a target. Pax knows this all too well. He doesn’t want to need a hero, but the green-eyed biker that keeps rescuing him anyway has him sliding into dangerous territory—namely, Mace’s bed.

Mace is the Sergeant-at-Arms of the St. Louis Iron Heretics MC—treading through volatile situations is all in a days work. At the end of the day, he knows better than to let his heart rule out over his head, but Pax is an anomaly he can’t shake loose.

When a threat returns, taking aim at Pax and disrupting the balance they’ve reached, Mace has to recalibrate his sights, bringing what he truly wants into focus. Unfortunately for them, danger doesn’t always stay dead.

Fake it 'Til You Make Out: Love & Luck Book 1, Isla Olsen

I'm a huge fan of the fake relationship and friends-to-lovers tropes so I was already pretty sold on the premise alone, but I was definitely not expecting to love it as much as I did.  There were a couple points that really bothered me, but on the whole it was the banter, the sexiness, the acceptance, the love that won me over so completely.

Oh geez.  Those texts!!  I think I died a few times with all the hilarious back-and-forth between everyone.  The sexy times were filled with both passion and humor and Heath constantly surprised me with how much openness he had toward his sudden enlightenment.  I have a harder time with the angst that comes with self-judgment due to attraction outside of monogamous heterosexual leanings because it often quickly slides into a blind judgment of everyone that doesn't fit archaic societal views of sexual normality because they refuse to accept themselves being anything other than that.  Heath was a little shocked, a whole lot interested, and accepted himself without prejudice.  A lot of that was because of who he was experiencing everything with.

Declan wasn't the stereotypical best friend that secretly harbors lust or love that has to be denied in order to keep the friendship.  He's a happy, mostly settled, gay male that just hasn't found his person yet.  When he finally sees that Heath is his person, he's surprised that they took so long to get together, but still took most things in stride.  I really enjoyed that aspect of this story.  But how he handled the Joel situation was bad.  Knowing Heath and what drove him to fabricate the relationship in the first place should have immediately gave Declan pause.  He didn't have to share Joel's situation, but to at least give Heath some kind of heads up instead of flat out lying?  Hell to the no.  The denials and secrets were absolutely unnecessary.

I wish so much that the Big Mis hadn't preyed on Heath's insecurities, but I will concede that the question brought up about trusting Dec because of who Dec is and what they've had together for most of their lives, even before romance entered the picture was appropriate.  And the reunion scene, while mildly humorous with the full-body tackle, was a picture I don't think Heath needed to walk in on because, from his perspective and what he saw both previously and here, no matter the reasoning, was misleading enough that Declan should have made more of an effort to be the friend more than the miffed lover.

Other than that pretty glaring thing that really frustrated me, I loved this story.  Heath and Declan had great chemistry both in and out of the bedroom and their families were awesome...how could I not fall head over heels for everything?  And with so many siblings that are other-than-straight, I'm looking forward to a whole lot more awesome from this series!

*$3.99 on Amazon!

Heath
It’s a classic story: Boy meets girl, girl breaks boy’s heart, boy pretends to be gay to get back at girl, girl outs boy to everyone on Facebook…
Okay, maybe it’s not that classic. But it’s what happened to me.

When I bump into my cheating ex and catch sight of the moon-sized rock on her finger, there’s only one option to save face: pretend to be dating my gay best friend, Declan.
And when she outs me on Facebook and everyone I know sees it, there’s still only one option: keep pretending to be dating Declan.
And when Declan and I have to kiss to keep up the ruse and it turns out there’s actually a spark between us (more like a blazing inferno, if truth be told) there’s once again only one option…

A Crown of Iron & Silver: Soulbound Book 3, Hailey Turner

In a world where nothing is sacred and yet everything is sacred and grudges are long, Patrick finds himself embroiled in yet another Godly tug-of-war.  Old friends are just as prone to secrecy as he is and old enemies are still tossing his world into chaos.  Amidst all the crazy, he and Jono are settling into their bond and finding where true strength really lies.  The gods of a trillion pantheons might not be done screwing with them, but they'll stand their ground together and prove yet again that they'll screw with them right back.

This is a much softer story in the Soulbound world.  Well, there's nothing soft about the battles, the Wild Hunt, the Sluagh, or the vast number of warriors of the fae, but the overtones were ones of all the bonds that can be shared and the complicated emotions that accompany them.  Patrick and Jono are feature characters and yet also take a backseat to bonds in general.  As they settle into their own and grow to appreciate and utilize it fully, the tender aspect of what they can be together as lovers comes forward.  Bonds between parents, children, family, pack...all of them are fought for and are what's at stake if Patrick, Jono, and the Hellraisers fail their missions.

Poor New York.  So many of the paranormal trouble that follows Patrick centers on this particular city and while its had more than its fair share of collateral damage, the biggest battle is taken to another field and it finally gets a little break.  I really thought it fit extremely well, this scene change, and not only gave New York a tiny respite, but also showed that there's nowhere that's immune to the havoc Gods and Ethan can cause.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below!

While not a completely new pantheon in this series, the specific pantheon featured in this story was given center stage with very little crossover from other meddling gods and showed incredible focus as well as integration of all the various threads tangled around Patrick and Jono.  A particular artifact was mentioned in the end of All Souls Near & Nigh and that was the thread picked up here in A Crown of Iron & Silver.  Though I will say that this thread is given zero closure and we're left pretty much exactly where we started, this story gave background, depth, and layers to the series that I believe will be necessary as we move forward.

Kind of like those epic anime that are hundreds of episodes long and then a few times there are side story arcs that are related but not central to the story but can still be considered important, that's more what I'd categorize this story in the whole series so far.  It provided new allies, a growth in their pack and all the immense tension that will come as a result of that, and all the tenderness of deepening feelings.  I'm still crazy addicted to this series and can't get enough of the world that I'm immediately drawn into and all the characters that I've fallen in love with.

*$4.99 on Amazon!

Never promise a life that isn’t yours to give.

New York City is decked out for the holidays, and Special Agent Patrick Collins is looking forward to a reunion with his old team when he gets assigned a new case. A human child is missing, and the changeling left in her place causes a prominent witch family to demand justice from the fae.

Meanwhile, continued harassment from the New York City god pack forces Jonothon de Vere to formally establish his own with Patrick. Doing so will mean a civil war within the werecreature community—a war they risk losing from the start without alliances. Making bargains with the fae is never wise, but Patrick and Jono have nothing to lose when a fae lord comes asking for their help.

The Summer Lady has been kidnapped from the Seelie Court, and if they can find her, Patrick and Jono will cement an alliance with the fae. But the clues to her disappearance are found in Tír na nÓg, and the Otherworld has never been kind to mortals.

Venturing past the veil, Patrick and Jono risk losing territory, time, and their very lives while searching for answers. Because the Queen of Air and Darkness knows they are coming—and the ruler of the Unseelie Court has an offer for them they can’t possibly refuse.

About Hailey...

Hailey Turner is a big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing.  She's been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.  Hailey loves stories with lots of action, gritty relationships, and an eventual HEA that satisfies the heart.

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Temporary Insanity: Paul and Indy Book 1, H.L. Day

There are always two sides to every story and while what constituted their first "meeting" was pretty awful, it's clear that Paul is happy with becoming an ostrich.  When that habit nearly costs him the very person who could bring him out of himself, despite it being the one he blames for putting him on his current path, it takes a good look from the outside to give him the kick in the ass he needs to make things right.  Paul and Indy's banter is amusing, their chemistry is hot, and their compatibility is spot on.  Indy said they could be good together—he was right.

Paul was so dead set on hating Indy that he nearly missed out on something great.  I was thoroughly amused by their interactions until things got too real and Paul denied his feelings to the point of misery and I was less than thrilled by his inability to think clearly and respond with his heart.  Until he did.  His confession was truly sincere and it absolutely matched his character.  It was unique and totally believable; he didn't all of a sudden become a sappy romantic, he kept everything honest and his own style.  That's ultimately what endeared him to me.

Indy, on the other hand, was far more lovable right from the start.  Yes, he was a party to something abhorrent, but in his defense, it wasn't him that did all the lying.  I liked that he didn't spend the book groveling because he had a point with saying that the past was in the past and while he was immensely sorry for participating in something hurtful, what he wanted now, more than anything, was to build something with Paul.  The explanations came much later in the book and I liked the placement of them.  It felt organic to the story and believable considering his motivations and the climate of their situation.  His humor was the best part of the story for me.  Because of his ability to laugh, to engage, and to be straightforward he was far and above the best person for the acerbic Paul.

The interactions with the side characters sometimes brought humor, but it felt a little forced in many of the situations.  A couple of the characters felt a bit more like caricatures rather than unique individuals well-placed in this series.  I'm mildly intrigued by Dom and Tristan's story as well as Russell's, but I can't say I'm incredibly drawn to them and must read their stories, but there is a mild interest there.  Overall this was a successful story with two men that I enjoyed reading about.  Their interplay, passion, and evolution were absolutely worth the read.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Sleeping with the enemy never felt so good.
When Paul Davenport comes face to face with the man he caught in bed with his boyfriend years before, it's hate at first sight. Well, second sight. Indy should be apologizing, not flirting. Except the gorgeous barman is completely oblivious to their paths ever having crossed before. 

Despite his feelings, Paul's powerless to resist the full-on charm offensive that follows. It's fine though. It's just sex. No emotions. No getting to know each other. Just a bout of temporary insanity that's sure to run its course once the simmering passion starts to wear off.

Only what if it's not? Indy's nothing like the man Paul expected him to be from his past actions. What if they're perfect for each other and Paul's just too stubborn to see it? Forging a relationship with him would require an emotional U-turn Paul might not be capable of making.

There's a thin line between love and hate, and Paul's about to discover just how thin it really is. He can't possibly be falling for the man that ruined his life. Can he?

Apex Shifters Boxset, Emilia Hartley

Book 1: The Bear's Home

A giant of a bear-man who knows very little about his past, a sly feline-woman whose avarice might just ruin her chance at a future with that bear-man, and an unknown danger threatening everyone.

Starting off the series with a simple-minded bear and a crafty feline, there's a lot of drama both in the relationship and in the danger behind the scenes.  I enjoyed the story more for the plot surrounding the town of Ripple and involving the "villain's" machinations of the MC's rather than for the characters themselves.  Thorn and Felicity were likable in an aloof way, but not relatable, admirable, or even charming.  There was an immense amount of objectification and brawn over brain that threatened to tank the story, but the direction of the series just may save it.

Book 2: The Jaguar's Romance

Helping an innocent bear shifter caught in the middle of a feud brewing into a war, the jaguar player might just have met his match in the curvy, insecure, subtly passionate woman who needs him...in more ways than one.

I can't say my opinion of Sally and Oscar was very good going into the story and wasn't holding out much hope for them.  They weren't bad, just not really my cup of tea.  With the drama in the story heating up, there's a lot more that drew me in and along the way Oscar managed to win me over with his heart and acceptance of all the changes he's willing to make to keep Sally and the love they've found.

Book 3: The Grizzly's Vendetta

Elathan is finally being brought to justice.  But the type of justice staring him in the face is none other than a past he swore to avenge...and to love.

Ending with a bang, there were a lot of surprises that kept drawing me into the story.  I don't feel the ending was complete enough and there was a lot of unresolved tension surrounding the MC's and the main players from Ripple, Oregon.  The dramatic story line throughout this series is brought to a satisfying conclusion, though only for us as readers, not for the rest of the characters from it.  I was so glad to get the full story, the bigger picture surrounding Elathan's actions and what goes down is definitely a doozy.  I'm glad I kept up with the series and didn't give up before getting to this point.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Black: MM Kitty Play Romance, Quin & Perin

The premise seemed simple with an undercurrent of emotional conflict.  What we got was far more complicated, more angst, more depth than I thought we'd get.  I'm so glad.  Initially thinking the story would be kinky sexy with a side of emotional struggle, I went into it with a lighter heart than I ended with.  Trials came both at the individual as well as the pair and the feels were heavier than anticipated and I was struck by the vulnerability and difficulties of both men.  Their love was hard-won and well worth the emotional journey to watch them achieve it.

Having the synopsis focus on the kitty play, it seems like that would be the focus of the story.  It's actually one part of it, but it really comes through well with how it's integrated.  Rather than being a necessary sexual act or lifestyle to feel complete on an every-day basis, it becomes a shared kink that's more for sexual and certain personality trait expression that fits in with the life they already live.  I like that it started off as a joke, then a surprise, and then grew into something fun, sexy, and excitingly comfortable.  It was an interesting take that I enjoyed reading about, especially since it was super hot.

Dima and Tony's relationship was a bit of a roller coaster and there was a good mix between Tony's tenderness and persistence and Dima's prickly, offensiveness.  There were huge reasons as to why Dima was the way he was.  There was one surprise reason and it altered their dynamic in a huge way that ultimately made their connection, their struggle to find their way together, and their ending much deeper.  Dima needed him so badly in so many ways that I loved watching Tony's heart slowly break down Dima's defenses until they could make everything they had together work.

There were a few confrontations that I felt were unnecessary because it just made things more complicated, but there wasn't anything so huge that it derailed the story or the relationship.  It was Tony's mellow yet determined nature that saved them over and over again.  Tony's situation with his family was supposed to be an individual focal point but didn't get a lot of attention or resolution.  His grief wasn't really addressed, nor was his relationship with his sister and her boyfriend, Jan.  Jan was inserted as an important side character and yet he seemed so milquetoast during most of his moments.  Everything with Dima and Tony had varied depths, but what surrounded them didn't really enhance that.  Instead it seemed as if the world around them was merely a prop instead of something well-balanced to support them.  Overall, though, I was so caught up in Tony and Dima that I could forgive all that and ultimately enjoyed their story quite a lot.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

“Meow!”

There it was.

The sound that made my knees buckle.

He purred, neck stretched, eyes half-lidded.

With those cat ears, in his hair.

And the tail, that he flicked.

A ray of sun in the drizzling rain. I’d been a traveler, floating adrift, while he’d stayed in one place. How was I supposed to know he’d become my anchor? My light. My everything. But would I ever become his?

How Not to Wait and Break: Lovestrong Books 0.5 and 3, Susan Hawke

A snowstorm and a sexy night ignites a longing that lasts a decade and only a stalker after Shaw shakes Nick's head out of his...well, gives him a chance to truly see Shaw as the man he is and not the boy he was.  They've got a lot of chemistry together and it's clear there's more than lust, but a lot of time is between a moment and a lifetime.  They'll both have to be honest with themselves and one another if they've got any chance to make that moment become their life.

There was just enough background on these two men to give the short story enough depth to jump right into the steamy encounter.  The attraction is absolutely incendiary and the way they come together is all kinds of awkward and a little bit inappropriate, but the sparks between them are absolutely real.  While it's not the ideal first encounter, it gives us a very clear image of why it takes them a decade to do anything about it.

With the hints we've gotten over the course of this series already we can see there's a lot of unresolved issues and tension between Nick and Shaw.  What I enjoyed most was that they both came to the realization that they needed to grow on their own and come to terms with who they were outside of grief and the one night that changed their whole world in so many ways before they could have something real together.

The focus was kept on Shaw and Nick finding a way forward together amidst the crazy stalker issues and I appreciated that it stayed focused throughout.  Even with the potential awkwardness with Rick, there was no unnecessary drama or complications to distract from Nick and Shaw together and solving the crime that gave them their second chance.  The villain was kept predictable and simple, but not in a bad way.  By having a few names thrown around as possible suspects but the feeling that it was really one person kept the suspense at the same time as not drawing it out or making it unnecessarily complicated.  Shaw's pride and determination to maintain his independence didn't trump smart actions to stay safe and I can't fully express how much I liked and respected that about him.  It's a big pet peeve of mine when the "I have to do this myself/I can take care of myself" attitude smothers common sense.

The dreams were helpful for the individuals and ended up being really sweet moments, though I will say they felt a little out of place on the whole mainly because it didn't exactly jive with the overall feel of the story or any kind of spiritual-ish vibes from either Nick or Shaw up to that point.  The ending, though, was totally perfect for these men and the story was a really great way to showcase their happiness, it felt so right for the couple.  I really enjoyed getting the story of their second chance, finally watching them find their forever was worth the wait.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Take one former SEAL with a healthy dose of regret… 

Nick St. Cloud is living with shame from the one time he let his lust override his sense of honor. He’s haunted by the memory of when he made love to his best friend’s eighteen-year-old son. The tragic accident that happened that same night has only compounded his guilt. A decade later, he’s doing his best to be there for Charlie’s son, but anything more than that just wouldn’t be right… would it?

Plus the younger guy who he’s tried to forget…

It’s been ten years. Ten long years. Does Shaw Michaelson feel bad about having seduced his dad’s best friend? Umm, maybe? Although he could’ve done things differently, Shaw can’t find it within himself to be sorry for the hottest night of his life with the one man he’s never been able to forget. The man he’s patterned every subsequent relationship after… yeah, Shaw totally has a type.

Equals a pair of men who deserve a second chance at a first time. 

The two men are living in an uneasy peace within the same small town and circle of friends, being careful not to let the other get close enough to open old wounds. All their walls fall when a stalker begins terrorizing Shaw, sending him running to the one man he knows will keep him safe.

Hell to Pay: Hellhound Champions Book 2, Macy Blake

Annoyance turned to affection, longing turned to satisfaction, hopes turned to reality...with a little help from an app, Solomon finally gets his chance with Cody.  We all knew there was something there between them, but I didn't grasp just how much was in Solomon's heart for the gregarious bartender until we got this story.  The softness of his heart blew me away and I can't adequately express just how much I grew to love this man.  Cody's fire and commitment to the family of Hellhounds that adopted him is fantastic.  He made the right kind of partner for the generally gruff yet caring bouncer that was hiding all kinds of tenderness under his abrupt, demanding exterior.  And the passion between them?  Incendiary.  All kinds of awesome in this book.

Despite where they ended up, I couldn't help but be annoyed at Cody's blindness toward Solomon.  It was hard to read at times because we're getting the full force of Solomon's yearning as well as his angst over how to turn Cody's head.  And to know that it's been that way for years was difficult to swallow.  But once they are on the same page, it's all kinds of great and I softened toward Cody enough to not only love  him for himself, but to love him for Solomon.

It's clear that we're heading toward a really big confrontation in their world and I cannot wait to get there!  What I like about this series is that we have one conflict that goes throughout the whole series, including the connected one and each book deals with a small part of it that both illuminates a piece of the bigger picture as well as including a small victory.  It's really tough to read a series that just sees failure after failure until the big moment comes and only then are all the pieces revealed and somehow everything works out.  This series is proving that it's getting deeper and better with each subsequent book and where Hell to Pay gives us more for the whole, it's on its own too with Solomon and Cody finding their place not only together, but in the supernatural world with their new roles and responsibilities.  Big changes are coming for the Hellhounds and I'm eagerly awaiting them!

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

As a hellhound beta, Solomon has no complaints. Life is fine. His pack and his goddess-given duties as a protector of the human realm are enough. So what if he’s a little bored and a smidge lonely? Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. When his alpha’s mate suggests he pull his head out of his ass where one of their human pack mates is concerned, Sol cooks up a scheme to break through the wall between him and Cody, but it comes at the worst possible time. 

Cody is convinced the bar he works in is run by a group of elite mob enforcers. Nothing else makes sense. The funny thing is: he doesn’t care. They treat him well and he’s come to consider them family, but like any family, there’s always someone who stirs up trouble. For Cody, that’s Solomon, the bouncer who is constantly glaring at him from the back of the bar. Something is going on, but Cody has a new distraction in the form of an anonymous online lover who knows how to push all the right buttons.

A magical attack causes havoc for their pack, dragging Cody into a world he didn’t know existed. His new family is involved in a much more dangerous life than he could ever have imagined. Hellhounds and humans must join together to stop a terrifying creature hell bent on raining destruction down on them. Solomon and Cody must step up and fulfill their destinies, or risk losing the one thing they desire most: each other.