The Roommate Proposal: Perfect Opposites Book 2, Jace Hadley

Aleksei and Logan seemed very much on the opposite of everything and maybe that's why they fit together so well. I was drawn to both men, but for very different reasons. With Aleksei it was his struggle. His struggle to accept himself openly, while not always necessary for everyone, it was vastly important for him. Mainly because he had all his true acceptance buried beneath the weight of blackmail, control, close-mindedness, fear, and familial piety. Through his determination to be with Logan he found his strength to live his truth.

But it wasn't as simple as just wanting to be with Logan, it was a taste of freedom, love, passion, and happiness that opened to door to his own transformation. And without their brief separation he wouldn't have been able to see what he wanted for himself for the long term and not just until he could graduate.

Logan's charm was in his earnestness and his lack of guile. I can't say that his initial "invitation" to change their dynamic made me feel really comfortable, but with Aleksei's eager acceptance and initiation later on it got a little better. But Logan's general demeanor, honesty, and encouragement felt sweet and not manipulative and predatory. When we get to see Logan's heart, his way with family, and his understanding of Aleksei's personality quirks I really fell for him and new he was right for Aleksei.

Sometimes when the hurtful break comes each MC spend their time unequally feeling the hurt, realizing where they went wrong, and then planning or hinting at the grand gesture...nothing wrong with that, but it's predictable. What I really enjoy is when they use the time away to see, really and truly see, what they are and what they want to become and then go about making the changes necessary to enact their own transformation. When Logan and Aleksei came back together they had each found the thing inside them that would compel them to find and move toward their best selves so that when they reconciled they could really make the best foundation for a happy future together.

So it's pretty clear that I enjoyed the book. There were definitely a couple things, a few moments that had me nervous or frustrated about what might happen next, but I found that there were quite a few moments that overrode them and won me over. I want to read more in the series right away, especially our lovely misunderstood jock's story...

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Invincible Me: Stories of the Seasons Book 3, Addison Lloyd

This YA story felt very high school while also creeping into some New Adult themes.  There was discovery that had me curious, but the journey didn't exactly keep me captivated.  The ending was a hopeful HFN as age and the fact that their lives haven't even truly begun yet kept it from being an HEA.  Even though the title didn't exactly match the story, it contained a relatively good mix of angst, drama, curiosity, complications, and feelings.

I can't say I was truly drawn to any certain character besides Jade and they were only a peripheral side character for a short portion of the relatively short story.  To be honest, their short interactions with the MC's as a compassionate and meddling secret keeper and with another side character with their jealousy and animosity was far more interesting than the actual story I was reading.  Caleb was fine, but I didn't really connect with him much at all; he also read way older than 17 and the way he was written felt like he just didn't fit into the scripted role but was shoved in anyway.

I'm not sure the story reflected the empowered or invulnerable feel of the title.  I mean, sure, he survived something scary, but the self-discovery, the sudden realizations about his desires...none of that was on the level I'd been expecting with the title or the passion implied in the synopsis.  What I hoped to get from this story wasn't what I got, but I can't say I disliked it, I just didn't feel it the way I wanted.

*$2.99 on Amazon

A reaction to almost dying or gay awakening?

I don’t fit in anymore. Not at home. Not at school. And this jittery feeling—like I’m living someone else’s life—needs to stop. Nothing makes sense until I confront Caleb Patterson at his locker. Arguing with him makes me feel alive again.

I have a girlfriend, but Caleb lights me up like he’s flipped a switch. He’s patient and sweet. And I want to kiss him until I break his world apart and reach the person underneath.

I’m tired of labels and playing by the rules. But living my life on my terms is more difficult than I imagined.

All I want is to be his everything.

The Magpie Lord: A Charm of Magpies Book 1, KJ Charles

I adore this story.  I've read it probably five times and feel the series fits the genre, the period, and the two men are given adequate justice in the romance, the sexual, and the intrigue department.  This book is worth devouring as the magic is fascinating as is the whole structure surrounding the use of magic.  Stephen is wonderfully insecure and yet self-assured and Lucien is his match in fierceness and determination.  They make a wonderful pair and I find myself coming back to this series again and again when I want a detailed yet fast-paced story filled with magic, frustration, and sexy MM love.

Lord Crane is arrogant, lofty, frustratingly dominant, and yet fantastic.  There's something in him that drew me in right away and his "eff you, London" attitude was refreshing as he wasn't a repressed aristocratic "gentleman".  Stephen is equally frustrating except in a very different way.  Their relationship will absolutely be difficult because where Lucien has all the "freedom" afforded him by money, options, and societal respect due to his title, Stephen has nothing but his spit and pride.  They're an awesome match in far more than the bedroom, but it'll take quite a while and a journey to get them onto the same page and to get Stephen willing to be all in with Lucien.

Being a practitioner is no easy thing because there's a whole hierarchy and in-fighting and justice issue piling up and Stephen is bearing an incredible weight under it all.  And to top it all off with a request to help a man with the name and face of his family's tormentor and you've got a virtually unbearable load on his incredibly slight shoulders.  But when they find themselves in the country and at the mercy of some very evil warlocks, we get a ton of excitement, utterly intriguing magic use, and a powerful alliance.  The action, once it gets to the big confrontation, is both disturbing and awesome.  It moves so quickly that you almost fight to slow down to catch every word, every nuance, every bit so you're not lost.  Much of it comes back in the third story of the series, so my caution is to get caught up in the pacing, but be careful in its reading.

I can't find anything I don't love in the story.  While not something I expected to love because sometimes historical MM romances can be a bit dodgy, this fit nearly every bill and left me both reeling and swooning.  Such an awesome read.

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A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry.

Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.

Touch & Go: The Midwest Series Book 3, Brigham Vaughn

Redemption and self-acceptance net Micah the future and love he needs.

Micah is probably everyone's least favorite character.  Yes, he's a total ... yeah, pretty much any vehemently negative descriptor would be accurate here, but even though I had some seriously unkind thoughts about him in the first two books there was something deeper going on with him than self-hatred and cruel words and actions and I knew he'd get his chance to tell his story.  Brigham Vaughn is no stranger to writing internal angst and her brand of it can be poignant and honest.  I appreciated the way we saw Micah's internal struggle and the softness that gave me hope he'd pull himself out of his own misery.

And misery there was aplenty.  He sank himself so deep into his own bog of awfulness that he could see no way out or around to true freedom.  His growing and deepening feelings for Justin felt futile and yet so right.  Micah isn't an easy character to love because the surface of heartlessness and callousness is so thick that most won't even try to look past it.  I was glad for Justin's patience and willingness to try for him.

But everyone has their limit and I supported Justin's decision even though I hated his timing.  When Micah's emotional breakthrough came it was met with Justin's heartfelt yet heartbreaking limit.  Left on his own it was finally up to Micah to see exactly what he needed to do to fight for his light.  No final decision was easy, but I really enjoyed all he did to create the future he wanted by seeking redemption, forgiveness, and honesty.

Each story so far in the series has characters that grabbed me for different reasons, but I think that Micah is my new current favorite because of his evolution.  I believed in him, believed in his changes, and I adored his actions with Ian in the lead-in for Advance & Retreat.  I cannot wait to see his cameos in the next story.

*$4.99 on Amazon

It was supposed to be a secret fling.

Micah Warner spent his whole life dreaming of pitching in the big leagues. Signing with a minor-league team near Chicago puts him one step closer to making that a reality. But there are no out players in pro ball, so any involvement with a man must be discreet.

Physical therapist Justin Lamb loves his job with the Cougars. A romantic at heart, he wants to find lasting love—with a man or woman—but traveling with the team makes it difficult to maintain a long-term relationship.

Micah offers Justin a no-strings-attached way to blow off some steam, and Justin reluctantly agrees. It doesn’t take long before they’re both in over their heads but falling in love will risk everything.

With their careers and relationship hanging in the balance, they have one last play to make.

It’s time to take a swing for real and lasting love.

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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.