Goodbye, October!

I feel like October flew past. It was September one moment, we were talking about back to school, the leaves were green, Halloween was in the not-so-distant future. Then boom, October is over, school and book fair season are well on the way, the leaves are colored and falling, Halloween is today, Thanksgiving is in the not-so-distant-future.

2025 Resolutions:
     (1) Don't stop reading
            (b) Complete Monthly Reading Challenge(s)
     (2) Make memories
     (3) Share love of books/reading
     (4) Be kinder to myself

(1) Book's Read This Month: 31 (might get one more in there before midnight though).

    (b) Monthly Reading Challenge(s): Shape = Black cat. Got some A-Z stuff recorded. Some ARCs. Got a some of Beat The Backlog done.

(2) October Memories: I was super busy with work a lot of this month, but I got another promotion. I visited my sister in Tampa for a while where we hung out, ate good food, saw the Jonas Brothers again. Memories this month weren't quantity based but quality based.

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 32.

(4) Most of this month was really good. Happy and sleeping well. There were some suuuper stressful days. A few depression days. 

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting November reads? Any existing 2025 reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeoctober #hellonovember #hello2025 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Thorn and The Spire (Monstrous Cravings #1)

I was doing SOOO good at not requesting too many ARCs and getting overwhelmed and reading them at the very last minute..and here we are. Here's Katherine McIntyre's latest: "The Thorn and The Spire." It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling. This novel is the first in her new Monstrous Cravings series. 

["One lonely demon. One curious librarian. One tale twisted by time…

Beau’s father is missing.

The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he’s rumored to be, prepared to make Beau’s time as his personal assistant hellish.

The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him.

And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian’s cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he’d never dreamed of. Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable.

Yet Cillian’s made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires, and unbeknownst to Beau, he’s running out of time…"]

This novel was fabulous. It had all of the key points in your standard Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it was still fresh. It was dark and mysterious, it was sweet and fluffy, it was spicy and sexy, it was redemption and determination. 

The characters were multi-layered and complex. The plot was almost formulaic (the retelling aspect), but it wasn't cliched or too predictable. The romance itself built slowly until the chemistry exploded, and then it just kept growing and growing. 

I can't wait for more!!!

Trigger Warnings: on-page violence, murder, cnc, and more.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#thethornandthespire #monstrouscraving #monstrouscravingsseries #katherinemcintyre #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Money Shot

Here's Saxon James and Eden Finley "Money Shot."

["It's supposed to be easy.

Move to Canada - check.
Help sister plan wedding - check.
Discover groom's BFF is the guy you've been subscribed to for over a year - che--

Wait.

What?"]

This book was the perfect mix of fluff and spice and angst and Feels. There was so much “but this can’t mean anything” mixed with “wow I wish this could mean something” from both of them individually at the same time, more so Curtis. It was almost comical. 

Almost being the key word…if it didn’t make me cry. Past heat breaks and personal demons will make you do and say things you regret (and make me cry more). 

But don’t worry. They both FINALLY talked and figured it out. It took some family intervention and some hard truths, but they got tot he HEA that we all felt the moment they met.

Trigger Warnings: Alzheirmer's disease, sex work shaming, and more.

#forewordpr #arc #arcteammember
#moneyshot #saxonjames #edenfinley #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Substitute (New York Gods #4)

Here's Andi Jaxon's "The Substitute." It's the fourth novel in her New York Gods series.

["Competing with my step-brother for my roommates attention makes me hate him so much more than I already do.

I saved his life the same night I burned mine to the ground and now the guy who’s haunted my dreams for months is my new roommate. This should be great except I met him on the worst night of his life and all he sees is that I’m a hockey player.

Only made worse when my cocky, confident, infuriating step-brother, Savage, decides to flirt with Tobi to get under my skin.

Jealousy eats at me when I see life coming back into Tobi’s eyes when he smiles at his phone.

Savage knows it too, pushing me into competing for Tobi until my head is so twisted I don’t know what or who I want anymore.

Now I have to see his pretty face at my door and on the ice.

I can’t have my dream and both of them. The media will eat me alive.

Right?"]

This book hurt from sooo many angles. From the very first page, to very first meet ugly (then the re-meet-ugly). The backgrounds and baggages. The hurt-comfort (a looot of hurt). The traumas constantly popping up and being pushed back down.

At least they finally got to the comfort part of the hurt-comfort. They got to the fluff and the sweetness. They got to the vulnerability and trust. They got through the ugliness and to the beauty. It was far (sooo far) from easy. The triggers and the grievances (and the families) didn't help. But their love made them stronger, made them want to be better. These three deserved the HEA.

Trigger Warnings: abusive father, homophobic father, parental threats of financial abuse, parental domestic abuse discussed, parent with CTE, parent with depression (discussed not detailed), religious trauma mentioned from the past, religious school trauma/abuse mentioned in the past, implied conversion therapy (no details), hockey-related violence, mentions of skipping meals because of depression, MC has a hard time eating when he’s depressed, major depressive episode shown, racing thoughts/beginning of a panic attack, full panic attack, general trauma, suicide ideation in the past discussed, MC Contemplating suicide, past contemplation of suicide discussed, MC struggles to do basic self care because of depression, body dysmorphia, MC has body image anxiety when with a partner, MC mentions having PTDS from childhood, and more.

#booksprout #indieauthorcreative #arc #arcteammember
#onguard #theretreat #thepenalty #thesubstitue #thechallenge #newyorkgods #newyorkgodsseries #jrgray #andijaxon #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Bro Date (Best Bros Forever #2)

Here's Charli Meadows's "The Bro Date." It's the second novel in her Best Bros Forever series.

["Toby
For years, I’ve been pining after someone I can never have—my best friend, Shane. The thought of confessing my feelings and possibly losing him is so gut-wrenching that I’ve hidden my true identity from everyone, including myself.
Until now.
While staying with my grandparents for spring break—away from the testosterone-filled house I share with Shane and two other roommates—I decide I’m finally ready to pursue my attraction to guys. When I get back to campus, I download a gay dating app to meet people.
Shane’s overprotective side flares to life, and he starts to stalk me on my dates, making sure I’m safe and swooping in to rescue me from disaster after disaster. When that protective streak turns into possessiveness, and he asks to kiss me, I have to pinch myself.
Is this the happily ever after of my dreams, or is Shane just leading me on to eventually rip out my heart when he realizes he isn’t gay?

Shane
There’s always been one ray of sunshine in my otherwise dark existence—my best friend, Toby. But when he returns from a trip to Florida and confides in me that he’s gay and wants to start dating guys, irrational jealousy takes hold of me.
Stalking his dates may start by accident, but after the first time, I willingly lurk in the shadows, watching him. Protecting him. None of these losers deserve Toby, and when he continues to get hurt by them, I can’t take it any longer. I guess I’ll have to be the one to show him how special he is and what he deserves.
When one heated kiss turns into a series of dates, I find myself falling for my best friend and questioning everything. Will this be the beginning of something beautiful, or am I doomed to lose the only good thing in my life?"]

I was in need of something cute and fluffy and angst-free, and this beautiful piece of best-friends-to-lovers was perfect. It was nearly seamless, their transition from childhood besties to fake dating to real feelings. It was wholesome and kind and exactly what I needed. These two were a nice little balm for my soul this week. Their friendship, their history, their chemistry, their nicknames. I hope there’s more to this series (the first one was amazing, too).

Trigger Warnings: fighting, mild violence, narcissistic parents, brief flashbacks to bullying and parental neglect, and more.

#thebropact #thebrodate #bestbrosforever #bestbrosforeverseries #charlimeadows #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Absolutely Pucked (Punk as Puck #3)

Here's EM Lindsey's "Absolutely Pucked." It's the third novel in her Punk as Puck series.

["Sometimes the one-night stand you meet at a bar on the outskirts of town shows up at your house a month later to reveal he’s the one man you were never supposed to touch.

My friends are all I have, so I’d rather lose my other leg than do anything to hurt them. But how was I supposed to know the bearded stranger at the bar that night was the one person who hurt my best friend beyond repair?

I never would have known who Killian was if he hadn’t turned up at my door a month after our little tryst. But here he is, on my doorstep, with nowhere to go and a sob story that wounds my already bleeding heart.

I should turn him away, but I can’t. Killian makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.

And he’s the first man to ever look at me like I’m a whole person and not just shattered pieces from a bad accident and a broken family.

How can I give that up?

My only job should be to protect my best friend, but the heart wants what the heart wants. All I can hope is that in the end, when truths are finally revealed, I won’t have lost the only people who love me for exactly who I am."]

This book was rough. It was love at first sight. For both of them. Deep and connected, soul and cell level feeling of wholeness, missing/jagged puzzle piece completion love at first sight. The more they got to know each other, the more they snuck around, the more they fell. 

And the more guilty they felt. It was a knife's edge of so fucking perfect and we're ruined. It was horrible and wonderful all at the same time. Yes, I definitely cried.

I hope the rest of these broken and lonely boys get their HEA.

Trigger Warnings: past abuse, cheating (not between MCs), parental abuse, adoption trauma, step-parent abuse, step-parent causing a permanent injury (loss of limb), emotional abuse by a romantic partner (not between or by MCs), anxiety, abandonment issues, ableist language, and more.

#zeropucks #puckedup #absolutelypucked #emlindsey #punkaspuck #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Control Freak (Foster Bro Code #3)

Here is D.J. Jamison's latest and highly anticipated "Control Freak." It's the third novel in the new Foster Bro Code series. This series takes place in Riverton, which is next door to Granville (which appears in Games We Play and Rules We Break series).

["I'm the bossy brother ...

Controlling the world around me is the only way I feel safe. Childhood abuse has left me scarred inside and out. But control makes me feel strong.

Unfortunately, I can’t control everything I want--including my body's panic response to touch. It’s hard to share affection with my brothers, much less anyone else. I’ve all but given up on a romantic relationship.

My only intimacy is with a camboy who can give me what I need without triggering my trauma. Shiloh is beautiful, warm, and sensitive. We're not just camboy and client; we're friends. It’s not everything I crave, but it’s more than I’ve ever had.

Then I find out he’s in trouble—and I can’t stand by and watch him get hurt. I bring him home, pushing my boundaries to protect him. But once he’s in my safe space, so close and inviting, my temptation wars with preservation.

Can I overcome my touch-aversion for a chance at real love—or will I just hurt us both?"] 

Why are these books so heartbreaking? The triggers are one thing, but the moments when they're actively battling their baggage and taking on their trauma? When the emotions get so high? When the Feels are strong and the angst is stronger? It's hard on the heart and rough on my tissue box.

But they way they find a HEA, even if it's unconventional or "slow". It's real and right. It's happy. That's all this family wants, happiness. Something special all their own. A few steps into the direction of healing (even if healing is two steps forward, one step back).

Trigger Warnings: childhood abuse and trauma, abandonment, touch aversion, touch starved, lingering trauma and anxiety, physical assault/violence, harassment, threats, and more.

#outcast #wildcard #controlfreak #problemchild #djjamison #fosterbrocode #fosterbrocodeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wild Card (Foster Bro Code #2)

Here is D.J. Jamison's latest and highly anticipated "Wild Card." It's the second novel in the new Foster Bro Code series. This series takes place in Riverton, which is next door to Granville (which appears in Games We Play and Rules We Break series).

["I'm the wild brother ...

I live for the moment. For instant gratification.

And Deputy Dalton Harvey will bring me a lot of gratification.

He's fighting our attraction, but I see the lust in his eyes. I don't care that he's slapped cuffs on me before and probably will again. It'll just make it all the sweeter when he breaks.

When that happens, I'll gladly dirty up that lawman and move on, like I always do. It doesn't matter that Dalton is one of the best men I've met. Or that he's sexy as sin with a sweet smile that always reaches his eyes. Everyone leaves in the end.

The only ones I trust are the strays I take in. The pets abandoned on the side of the road are thrown away just like me. I give them my heart because they'll be unquestionably loyal to me.

Unlike humans.

Unlike Dalton.

He says he wants more. He has honorable intentions. But he just doesn't understand.

He'll leave too. He'll have to when he becomes the sheriff this town needs.

I'm bad news. I'll only drag him down with me. And he deserves better.

He just doesn't know it yet."] 

I’m not crying, you are (no, it is me, hi). 

These two near about ruined me. They were both so sad and had so much baggage and so broken (especially our poor, sweet Axel). But together, they helped each other get back up again and try. They healed each other, and they healed themselves. 

And the town is suuuuuch a better place now (spoiler alert), Dalton taking care of the people, Axel taking care of the animals. 

Off to Holden and his HEA..I mean his “business meeting.”

Trigger Warnings: childhood neglect, childhood trauma, abandonment, death of past coworker/partner, dogs being abandoned (they're okay but people suck), toxic law enforcement, on-page panic attack, and more.

#outcast #wildcard #controlfreak #problemchild #djjamison #fosterbrocode #fosterbrocodeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His Reward (Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction #2)

Here's MM Farmer's newst series, Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction, which is a spin-off from her Omega's After Dark series. This is "His Reward."

["When Fire and Ice meet, there’s bound to be a lot of steam…

Lucien
There’s no better feeling than being the favorite for the gold medal in figure skating going into the biggest competition of them all, the Winter Games. So what better way to reward myself for all my hard work than by applying for the Dark Fantasies Club’s omega auction event? I’m in for the time of my life at the super exclusive, darkly naughty event, and I love it.
But when the alpha partner of my dreams ends up saving my life once the fantasy is over, he may be the only person who can truly rescue me.

Boston
I’ve never had a play partner as all-in as Lucien. He ticks my boxes in every way. But it’s after the auction weekend, when our paths cross again as I pull him out of a raging inferno, that the connection we forged in a fantasy might change both of our realities.
Lucien needs someone on his side to help him battle severe injury and a father and sport that have turned their back on him. And I need someone who can help me save my fire station from going under. But could one man’s lie ruin everything between us?"]

I will never understand how authors like MM are able to write characters that are so lovable, people we want to cheer on right along side characters that are so hate-able, people who really need kicked in the ass by karma. These characters are so complex and full, and yet they complete such stereotypical characters without being boring. It's a talent, and this book has all of that and more.

Like the previous book in this series, just like a lot of MM's books, our main couple falls in love in the very beginning, or at least feels that bone-deep, earth-shattering feeling of completeness that is fate and a growing bond. Lucian and Bos are perfect for each other. They're beautiful and kind and caring and supportive (they're also spicy and dirty, but it works for them).

I loved this story. It was depressing and aggravating, but it was uplifting and glorious. 

Trigger Warnings: toxic families, fire, life-threatening injuries, severe burns, disability, and more.

#arcs #arcteammember
#hisprize #hisreward #hisgift #mmfarmer #omegasafterdark #omegasafterdarkseries #omegasafterdarkomegaacution #omegasafterdarkomegaacutionseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Crossroads

Here's Nicole Dyke's "Crossroads."

["Emerson
My mom thinks I’m spoiled. So what does she do? She ships me out to a farm in the middle of nowhere.
It’s supposed to teach me some sort of lesson.
It won’t.
The only thing that’ll come from this will be the small town of Kensley meeting its match.
And not just Kensley.
Him.
Jasper thinks he can best me? Well, he has another thing coming. I may look like a spoiled city boy on the outside, but I’ll be the fiercest competition this country boy has ever seen.

Jasper
He’s a spoiled brat. Who does this guy think he is, showing up in my hometown and challenging me in every possible way?
He has no idea who he’s messing with.
None.
I may be a little turned around right now, having lost my girlfriend, but I’ll get her back. And everything in my world will be right again.
Including him.
I’ll send him packing before he knows what’s happened. This city boy doesn’t stand a chance.
We’re at a crossroads now, him and me.
And only one of us will come out as the winner."]

These two were...a lot. They were both more complex and more alike than what's on the surface. They fought and hurt each other every step of the way until *bam* they were in love. It happened quickly, but it still felt organic and smooth. It was beautiful, watching them grow.

But did I sob during portions of this novel? Why, yes I did. 

So basically, another really fabulous and well-written Nicole Dykes book. ;)

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, chronic pain, disability, and more.

#grr #arc #arcteammember
#crossroads #nicoledykes #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Rumpelstilzchen (GriMM Tales)

Here's Sam Northman's "Rumpelstilzchen." It's a novel the new multi-author series, The GriMM Tales.

["Rumpelstilzchen, ruthless enforcer for the Queen and powerful shadow geist, is missing an important part of himself—his Heart.

Enslaved by the Evil Queen through black magick, Rumpelstilzchen’s only shot at freedom is to find his Heart—and claim it. What he doesn’t expect is for it to beat inside the beguiling son of a miller.

Boy is imprisoned in the palace cells for his family’s failure to pay the royal tithe, and unless he can deliver on his father’s impossible promise and spin a sack of straw into gold, he will die at sunrise. Awaiting his fate, Boy thought his biggest problem would be the Queen coming after his head, but when her Shadow comes for his heart instead, he finds himself caught in a lethal attraction.

Having expected to simply carve his Heart from the prisoner’s chest, Rumpelstilzchen’s plans are thwarted when his shadow magick wraps protectively around the sun-kissed skin of the beautiful young man.

Can Rumpelstilzchen find a way to break free of the black magick, claim his Heart, and keep his precious human alive?"]

Talk about instantly smitten and insanely taken. They were both (Rumple more so than Boy) immediately fascinated, obsessed, in love. Instincts taking over logic. Protective to a point of self-destructive. Love blinding purpose. It was glorious. 

This one was another I wasn't so sure about at first, but I was obsessed from the very beginning. It was deep and self-reflective and beautiful and romantic to a point in where you summon strawberries (steal) from the (evil) Queen herself.

I'm excited that there's only one book left in this series, but at the same time, I really, really, really enjoyed this series. 

Trigger Warnings: abusive relationship (historic, off-page, neglect and emotional), anxiety, assault (on-page, not between MCs), blood, bullying (not between MCs), child death (historic, off-page), death (multiple, on-page), demons, depression, famine, fire, gore, imprisonment, murder, poisoning, secret-keeping, slavery, and more.

#rumpelstilzchen #samnorthman #thegrimmtales #thegrimmtalesseries #snowwhiteandthesevenlittleminers #littleredridinghood #zel #hanselandgerhart #theelvesandtheshoemaker #cinder #thefrogprince #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Holiday Exchange

And the Christmas ARCs have started!!! Here's Riley Hart and Christina Lee's "The Holiday Exchange."

["Dawson

I have the most ridiculous crush on Briar, a customer who frequents my café. We never run out of things to talk about, and I find myself looking forward to his visits.

Just when I’m about to ask him on a date, he shows up at Sip and Savor with none other than my twin, who beat me to the punch. Definitely not how I hoped things would go.

Except my brother isn’t the settling-down type, so three months into dating Briar, he chooses the worst time to dump him—right before Christmas and straight after Briar asks Nathan to accompany him home for the holidays.

As I try to console Briar, he surprises me by cooking up a plot straight out of the movies, where I go home to Maine with him, pretending to be his boyfriend.

It’s supposed to be a friendly favor, I get a trip to the perfect Christmas town, and Briar can save face with his family and childhood ex. Only just like back in Boston, we have fun together, get each other, and I swear the spark I always felt between us grows.

But how does a guy tell his twin’s ex that he’s had feelings for him all along? And can what starts out as a holiday exchange turn into the perfect happily ever after?"]

This novella was a perfect holiday romance. It was cliche but it was sweet and fun and flirty. It screamed Hallmark (the town and the plot line), but in all of the good ways.

It was a flurry of fluffy moments and accidental cuddles and feeling at home and Christmas magic.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#theholidayexchange #rileyhart #christinalee #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Marry Me, Maybe? (Bristlecone Springs #2)

Here's Sage Abbott's "Marry Me, Maybe?." It's the second novel in her latest series, Bristlecone Springs.

["Hudson Granger was mine for one summer.
And one summer was enough to ruin me for anyone else.

On my father’s ranch, we worked side by side.
Rode hard. Kissed harder.
Between sunburns and sweat, he became my everything.

I told him I loved him before I left for university.
A month later, he married a woman and built a family.

I should’ve let him go.
But the land keeps us tied together.
Now we speak in silences sharp as barbed wire.
Every glance feels like a bullet.

Every day, I hate him a little more.
Every day, I remember how it felt to love him.

Then his world falls apart—wife gone, a three-year-old depending on him, and Hudson barely holding himself together.
And just like that, I’m caught in his gravity again.

Four years ago, we loved each other at the wrong time.
It nearly destroyed me.
Now, with a child between us and old wounds ripped open, do I dare to trust him again?"]

TO BE UPDATED SHORTLY...

Trigger Warnings: a past summer fling (four years earlier), where one character slept with a woman at the start of that fling leading to an unexpected pregnancy and the couple’s breakup, blackmail (not between the main characters), references to a main character’s past sexual assault as a minor (not shown on page, but discussed with implications), homophobia, a background that includes a short jail sentence and sex work, parental abandonment of a child, strained relationship between the MCs and their parents, and more.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#aislebethegroom #marrymemaybe #bristleconesprings #bristleconespringsseries #sageabbott #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Top Shelf (Love The Game)

Here's EM Lindsey's "Top Shelf." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Love The Game. 

["No one ever explained to me what to do when the man who took your virginity turns out to be the one in charge of your physical therapy.

NHL veteran Quinn Rhodes was supposed to be a one-time just a hookup who kisses like a dream and screws like a god.

Then, three weeks later, a freak accident threatens to destroy my debut NHL career before it begins. And if almost losing my spot on my team wasn't bad enough, I walk into my PT’s office and find him assigned to my recovery.

I can handle this, damn it. I can keep it professional.

And for a short while, it seems like Quinn’s willing to do the same. But it doesn’t take long for the two of us to shut our mouths and let our bodies do the talking.

If this was just physical, two guys scratching an itch, I could handle it. But deep down, I know there's more to it.

These stolen moments between us mean something. After all, Quinn doesn’t smile for just anyone, and the way he holds me when our hookups are over tells me that this thing between us doesn't have to end the moment my knee is healed.

The only question is, will either one of us be brave enough to take a shot on that goal?"]

These two met once before their massively cliched but entirely too perfect sexual experience. And that first time they met? Instant lust, instant chemistry, instant intrigue. The massively cliched but entirely too perfect sexual experience? More like falling in love in one afternoon, finding your perfect match, someone who understands you, sees you, hears you in ways that no one ever did.

Everything else? Fate stepping in and helping them along the way to their HEA.

They were perfect. Soft and warm and understanding. But it was also that perfect balance of spice. I loved them!!

Trigger Warnings: mentions of past emotional neglect, on-page severe injury, past career ending injury, on-page pedestrian struck by a car, ableism, ableist and self-deprecating language, and more.

#topshelf #emlindsey #fulltilt #theposterboy #barnburner #offsideplay #newrules #playwithme #puckshots #lovethegame #lovethegameseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Exorcise Me (Hotter Than Hell #3)

Here's Callie Colby's "Exorcise Me." It's the third book in her Hotter Than Hell series.

["They told me exorcisms were a battle for souls. They didn’t warn me about him.

Lucien—tall, charming, impossibly smug—was supposed to be the evil I drove out. Instead, he’s the temptation that moved in. He laughs when I recite holy verses, leans in close enough to make me forget the words, and insists he’s not wicked—just lonely.

Every time I tell him to leave, he just smiles and asks what’s for dinner. And maybe I’m damned already… because I keep cooking for him.

It started with stolen glances and teasing touches. Now he’s in my space, my thoughts, my bed—whispering things that make me ache, promising pleasures no mortal has a right to crave. I swore an oath to protect the innocent. I never imagined I’d risk it all for the one thing I was trained to destroy.

Banishing him would be easier if I didn’t crave the way he says my name."]

This book was adorable as hell (no pun intended)!!! They were so soft and accepting, even in the face of life-changing realizations. 

It was a different kind of angst than the previous two books, but it was also a faster, warmer fall into love.

I didn't expect this book when I read the previous two last week, but I wouldn't say no to more. 

#summoningmrwrong #summoningmrwrongormrright #hisinfernalpurr #exorciseme #calliecolby #hotterthanhell #hotterthanhellseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Jacked (Gymbos #1)

Here's KM Neuhold's latest: "Jacked." It's the first novel in her new Gymbos series.

["I'm starting to think hooking up with my gym bro roommate might be kind of gay…

The thing about guys is that we communicate on a physical, primal level. A hearty slap on the backside just means “good game, bro”. Some good old fashioned roughhousing just means we’re comfortable with each other. Some late night stress relief? Just dudes being dudes…

Right?

If I were gay, I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about what his lips taste like. I'd want to spend all my time with him and miss him when he's not around. I would find his god awful cooking skills a little charming.

But none of that is true… almost none of it.

We’re just friends. Just roommates. Just a couple of guys doing what guys do.

Of course I love him like a bro, but I'm not falling in love with my roommate, no matter how cool and funny and jacked he is.

Nope, not gonna happen…"]

These two were adorable as hell. And totally clueless. Two gym, dude-bro, himbos (gymbos) living life and being happy and saying "no homo." Then ones goes "that was at least 90% no homo", and then a little bit later it's "well that was definitely homo". I love them. 

I loved their journey. Together, falling into friendship and falling in love. And individually, figuring out themselves and figuring out their found family. 

It was adorable and fluffy. It was cute-cringe and slightly embarrassing. It was feet first into the spice and not feeling bad about it.

I can't wait for the rest of the guys at Sweat to get their HEAs.

Trigger Warnings: mild internalized homophobia, mild aspects of toxic masculinity, and more.

#jacked #pumped #gymbos #gymbosseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

October's Book Shape Challenge 2025

Here's October's Book Shape Challenge! A spooky, scary black cat in honor of Halloween Month.

Last year, I went with holiday-themed (mostly) book shape challenges; this year, I'm thinking animals (which is less--and yet more--of a challenge (we'll see how it goes)).

(I picked all of these books at random, based off the color of their cover; not based on: whether I read them or not--most of which I haven't, sense why they were closest).

#reading #readingchallenge #readingdare #bookdare #bookchallenge #alphabetchallenge #beatthebacklog #monthlythemes #monthlychallenge #bookshape #bookshapechallenges #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Taming His Vampire Mate (Blood Bonded Mates #5)

"Taming His Vampire Mate" is the fifth book in Jay Castle's Blood Bonded Mates series.

["THIERRY
Everyone knows tampering with fate is foolish. I’m doing it anyway. If I can stop even one person from becoming a monster, it’s worth the risk. Restoring a vampire’s lost humanity is simple. Theoretically. And now it’s time to put it to the test. Starting with myself.
Step one: Trick the universe into coughing up a fated mate on command.
Step two: Kick him to the curb faster than he can blink. Falling in love is not part of the plan.
But when my destiny turns out to be Jeremy, the maddening werewolf alpha with a dark past and a glare that could peel paint, I’m seriously rethinking my life choices. And somehow he thinks I’m the villain here.
Which is rich, considering he’s exactly like my maker, the sadistic monster who ruined my life eight centuries ago. I want nothing to do with him. Ever.

JEREMY
All I want is to be left alone. But my old pack is in terrible danger. They’re fractured, weak, and unprepared for what’s coming. It’s up to me to protect them and I need immediate backup. Which means asking for help from the vampire king.
Instead, I get saddled with Thierry. He’s as cold and cutting as he is gorgeous. Pack lore says all vampires are bloodthirsty predators. Which means I ought to be plotting ways to end him, not noticing the shape of his mouth, the strange electric blue of his eyes, or how perfectly his body fits against mine.
Losing one mate nearly destroyed me. I can’t survive losing another.
But even as an ancient and deadly threat from Thierry’s past stalks us from the shadows, it’s getting harder to remember why I should stay away."]

Hehehe, I kneeew Thierry would get the most complicated, most devoted of mates when it was finally his turn for a HEA. 

The most complicated...holy shit. These two started off on the right foot..and then they realized who the other was; after that, there was a lot of taught hate and self-doubt, traumatic baggage to work through. It's hard when you're brain is arguing with your heart.

The most devoted...I'm not crying, you are. That was surprisingly all so soft and warm and comforting. It was new and shocking and scary and vulnerable. But it was happy. 

Annnnd now there's 3+ new couples to discuss and a megalomaniac to take down.

Trigger Warnings: grief, instances of on-page violence (never between partners), recovery from trauma, mentions of past intimate partner violence, death, the loss of a partner (off-page), and more.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#snowedinwiththevampireprince #embracinghisvampiremate #marriedtothevampireking #huntinghisvampiremate #taminghisvampiemate #bloodbondedmates #bloodbondedmatesseries #jaycastle #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Festive Fugitive (Murder and Mistletoe #3)

And the Christmas ARCs have started!!! Here's K.A. Merikan's "Festive Fugitive." It's the third book in their Murder and Mistletoe series.

["I didn’t expect my Christmas gift to be six-foot-two, a trained killer, and obsessed with me.

Eli
One bullet. One dead man. And now my wreck of a life is spiraling out of control.
The bastard deserved it, but I’m just a regular guy. I botched the escape, and since I killed him while wearing a Santa costume, they call me the Festive Fugitive. Cute. Too bad I’ll be spending Christmas behind bars or in a body bag.
Then he appears. Cesar.
My dark salvation. A trained killer who looks at me as if I’m his personal miracle. I killed his boss, yet he says I did him a favor. He wants to protect me, claim me, cage me in his arms, and God help me… I let him.
Because what’s falling for a monster when there’s a manhunt hot on my tail and a target on my back?

Cesar
Taken as a child, I was turned into a loyal weapon. I killed, tortured, burned, and bled. I was respected and needed. Until I wasn’t.
When I lost an eye, my master pushed me aside, but as I waited for my ‘one last job’ so I could retire, Eli pulled the trigger.
I never expected some half-starved, grief-drunk civilian in a Santa outfit to free me, but that’s what happened.
Eli is everything I am not—fragile, impulsive, untrained. And yet he killed the man I was bound to. He doesn’t know it, but he owns me now.
He thinks I’m his protector, that I’ve taken him under my wing. But it’s more than that.
He’s mine. My obsession. My purpose. My beautiful, reckless mess of a man, and I’ll burn the world before I let anyone take him from me.
I guess Christmas came early for Eli this year."]

I wasn't entirely sure that KA would be able to write another, uniquely it's own holiday dark romance. I was wrong; I was sooo wrong. 

This book was glorious and dark and fluffy and beautiful. They were so attached so quickly, and it was probably toxic af, but that's what we love about dark romances (common sense and green flags don't have a place here).

They were both so supportive and patient and caring. They wanted the best of things for the other. They wanted a safe and kind HEA for each other. Sure there was some murder and theft and running from the police. Sure there was some feral possessiveness. But they loved each other. And that's what Christmas is all about (...right?).

Trigger Warnings: trafficking, brainwashing, loneliness, disability, violence, PTSD, murder, and more.

#grr #gayromancereview #arcs #arcteammember
#alliwantforchristmasisrevenge #hohohomocidalmaniac #festivefugitive #murderandmistletoe #murderandmistletoeseries #kamerikan #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Telepath's Associate (Charmed Away Temp Agency #5)

Here's Amy Padilla's "The Telepath's Associate" is the fifth novel in her latest series, Charmed Away Temp Agency. 

["Alistair wasn’t the kind of man to let the bad keep him down. His ex-wife may have left and taken his kids, but when his little brother offered him a lifeline, he took it and pulled himself back up. He joined a temp company, started working again, and did what he could to heal after a military mission gone wrong. He doesn’t expect to face his issues so soon, but when Isaac asks him to help a friend, the least he can do is give the man a ride. Right?

Elijah just wants to help others. It’s all he’s ever wanted. But with powers like his, powers that unnerve people, he’s learned the best way he can help is by keeping his distance. But when a plumbing disaster leaves him homeless, he finds himself crashing with one of the few people he considers a friend, along with said friend’s grumpy older brother with arms like a fantasy and eyes full of shadows. And when the brother decides he needs protection? He can totally resist a man like that. Right?"]

And the bonus tags (because they're arguable better than the blurb itself): ["Not all telepaths are bad, Elijah just wants to help, Alistair has hit rock bottom, it’s all up from here– right?, Alistair gets protective, some things aren't as they seem, give Elijah alcohol and hilarity ensues, accidental bonding, Alistair is okay with it, Guaranteed HEA."]

I cannot believe I ever disliked Elijah. Granted, it was only for a few chapters and that was books and books ago. But this man, this poor man, deserves all of the cuddles and cocoa. All of it.

So does Alistair. 

They've both been through sooo much, and together, they were able to heal. It was beautiful to experience. They helped each other overcome previous traumas and help each other regrow their confidence. Plus all of the found family?! D: This book was glorious.

As was all of the wine. ;)

Trigger Warnings: trauma, PTSD, POW, flashbacks, disability, violence, guilt, discrimination, and more.

#theincubssassistant #thedragonsaide #theshapeshifterssecretary #thevampiresreceptionist #thetelephathstemp #charmedaway #charmedawayseries #charmedawaytempagency #charmedawaytempagencyseries #amypadilla #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Frog Prince (GriMM Tales)

Here's AM Rose's "The Frog Prince." It's a novel the new multi-author series, The GriMM Tales.

["A man without a crown could still be a prince. But what about a monster?

Adalwin has always been a prince.
Born into royalty as the heir to the throne of Hallin, he was raised to rule a kingdom.
Only, the one he receives is not the one he expected.
Cruelly cursed and presumed dead by all who once knew him, his kingdom is now made up of a murky glen where water-splashers dwell and crooked linden trees block the light. Sitting on a throne built from bracken and moss, his only subjects are those creatures that won’t run in terror at first glance.
After all, who could swear fealty to a monster?
Only the bravest cross the borders into the Frog Prince’s kingdom, drawn by whispered rumors of a boon should you meet his price. An opportunity for him to show the man underneath the monster—a chance to break the curse’s shackles and return home.
When a beautiful, kind-hearted man with hair blessed by the sun itself stumbles into his lair looking to make a deal, more than just Adalwin’s interest is stirred. Maybe his lonely heart is too.
But when the man tries to break the deal, the Frog Prince must come to collect."]

I was very much not prepared for how soft Alwin was. His heart, his soul. His subjects. His Otto. He fell hopelessly in love with Otto from the very beginning. At first, it was just the hope of it all. But it quickly became real. 

Real for Otto, too. He didn't know why he was having these dreams when he was supposed to be afraid of the monster in the forest. Until he realized how far from a monster his Alwin was. Alwin looked different on the outside than humans did, but he cared, he embarrassed, he grieved. 

And all this time, I'm crossing my fingers the Cin and Ren are right around the corner. Then again, I'm sure the evil witch is, too so....

Trigger Warnings: death of minor characters, terminal illness, violence, mild gore, mild power imbalance/dub-con, body horror, mentions of gambling, mild fantasy racism/classism, famine, and more.

#thefrogprince #amrose #thegrimmtales #thegrimmtalesseries #rumpelstilzchen #snowwhiteandthesevenlittleminers #littleredridinghood #zel #hanselandgerhart #theelvesandtheshoemaker #cinder #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His Infernal Purr (Hotter Than Hell #2)

Here's Callie Colby's "His Infernal Purr." It's the second book in her Hotter Than Hell series.

["A legendary demon, now fluffy and furious. A veterinarian convinced I need saving.

Imagine being a Duke of Hell—terrifying, powerful, deeply respected—and then getting cursed into the body of an oversized, fluffy black cat with horns, useless wings, and a hiss that somehow earns you chin scratches.

That’s my life now. Morax, reduced to Finn’s pampered “rescue” pet. My threats are dismissed as adorable. My rage? Met with treats and belly rubs, which I secretly... don't hate.

Finn is infuriatingly kind, blind to every hint of darkness I throw his way. No matter how I plot or glare, he just sees a creature in need of love. But when his ridiculous goodness finally shatters my curse and my true power returns, everything changes.

Now the tables have turned.

I am free, formidable, and absolutely intent on claiming the mortal who saved me. But seducing Finn isn’t as simple as conjuring fire or snapping my fingers.

No, wooing this stubborn human will take grand gestures, a touch of terror, and—if I’m honest—a heart that’s grown far too fond of purring at his side."]

This book was fucking adorable. What's better than a duke of hell being turned into a black cat? All of his cursing and plotting (in cat form), but all anyone heard was meows?? It's just so fitting! Plus the purring?! Yes, yes, yes. It was all so perfect. Perfect for Morax. Perfect for Finn. Perfect for them and their unconventional HEA.

#summoningmrwrong #summoningmrwrongormrright #hisinfernalpurr #calliecolby #hotterthanhell #hotterthanhellseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Summoning Mr. Wrong (Or Mr. Right) (Hotter Than Hell #1)

Here's Callie Colby's "Summoning Mr. Wrong (Or Mr. Right)." It's the first book in her Hotter Than Hell series.

["A broke college grad with bad luck. A demon who refuses to leave my couch.

I was just trying to manifest some abundance. Light a candle, chant a little, maybe get lucky with rent money.

Instead, I woke up to six feet of smug, tattooed demon lounging in my living room, eating my cereal and mocking my life choices.

Apparently, I signed some kind of contract, and now he can’t leave until he fulfills a “favor.” Which, so far, has meant reorganizing my kitchen, sabotaging my dating apps, and making suggestive comments every time I so much as look at him.

Asmodeus is arrogant, ridiculously hot, and way too domestic for someone who claims to be an ancient being of darkness. And the longer he sticks around, the more suspicious I get.

Because his idea of a “favor” doesn’t look like torment at all. It looks a lot like trying to win my heart."]

I swear I read this story before, but I don't have it written down anywhere. Either way, I highly enjoyed myself. 

These two were adorable as hell. They helped each other grow, helped each other become stronger. They appreciated each other's passions. They supported each other's talents. They fell in love so deeply that Hell (well, The Between) changed their rules. 

#summoningmrwrong #summoningmrwrongormrright #hisinfernalpurr #calliecolby #hotterthanhell #hotterthanhellseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Puck Shots (Love The Game)

Here's Becca Jackson's "Puck Shots." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Love The Game. 

["I’m here to play hockey, get drafted, and maybe break a few campus records while I’m at it. My plan is simple, keep my head down, my skates sharp, and my name on the scouts’ radar.

Babysitting a legacy was not part of the plan.

Eli shows up to rush Kappa Omega Kappa looking like he got lost on the way to chess club. He’s quiet, awkward, and clearly has no clue what he’s doing in a house full of loud, alpha-type frat bros. But on day one, his quiet confidence somehow gets under my skin.

Then he goes and builds this crazy program that helps fine-tune my slap shot, and I realize there’s way more to him than shy smiles and nervous energy. He’s brilliant, thoughtful, and kind of a menace in the best way.

I was supposed to keep an eye on him. Instead, I can’t stop looking.

And suddenly, the biggest thing on the line this season... might be my heart."]

I've been wanting Cosmo's story for sooo long. He's a trip and a half in the group chat, but you can tell he has a pick heart. Of course he'd be destined for someone like Eli.

These two were adorable as hell! They were both smitten right off the start but a little shy to do anything about it. They became friends and got closer and closer until the spark between them was too bright and too strong to deny.

I've been reading a lot of borderline dark romances so this fluff and sweetness was a nice balm. I can't wait for next week for the next book in the series (x2 for the final book in two weeks).

#puckshots #beccajackson #fulltilt #theposterboy #barnburner #offsideplay #newrules #topshelf #playwithme #lovethegame #lovethegameseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Physician's Barbarian (Not-So-Savage Barbarians #5)

TBR , who? ARCS, what? Here's Amy Padilla's latest: "The Physician's Barbarian." It's the fifth official novel in her Not-So-Savage Barbarians series.

["When my father schemed to marry my sister off to a decrepit old man to boost his standing, I swore I’d protect her. Together, we drove suitors away, but his fury only grew. To punish us, he rigged the barbarian lottery—and when Evelyn’s name was drawn, her fate was sealed. Unless I stopped it.

There was only one way to spare her. I would take her place.

I’d do anything for my family. Even if it meant becoming a barbarian’s tribute."]

I love Godr, obsessed with him from the very beginning, wanted his happily ever after with each new book. I’m sooo glad he found it, found a partner, found a family. And our sweet and sassy neighborhood doctor from the previous book! Bonding over jokes and horse hugs. 

I love seeing all of our previous couples still living their best lives. And our next HEA? A prince…stay tuned!

#theunexpectedbarbarian #thebarbarianstribute #savedbyabarbarian #seduingabarbarian #thebarbariansclaim #thephysiciansbarbarian #thebarbarianprince #notsosavagebarbarians #notsosavagedbarbariansseries #amypadilla #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Cinder (GriMM Tales)

Here's DN Bryn's "Cinder." It's a novel the new multi-author series, The GriMM Tales.

["Cinder-Szule Reinholz has no intention of marrying his kingdom’s rake of a prince.

His place in the world is to keep his incompetent, destitute household afloat. It’s the only respectable thing he’s managed since his mother wasted her dying breath tasking him to do good, and the sins he’s stacked against that duty grow by the day—along with the bastards he’s stabbed and left for dead.

But while slinking through the royal matchmaker ball, Cin stumbles onto the prince mid-conquest. He’s whisked into a thrilling affair, as secretive as the magic that conceals his status and the feathers he leaves in his victim’s wounds. As Cin learns more of the prince’s familial burdens and perceived failures, his yearning delves beyond the prince's striking physique to his tender and attentive heart.

Cin’s nightly escapades are not going unnoticed by his family, though—not his time with the prince, nor his vigilante missions. Just as the King and Queen are presenting their own son’s hand in marriage like a trophy for the taking, they’ve offered a prize for whoever identifies the killer roaming their streets.

Caught between duty, desire, and something far darker, Cin fights for a future that doesn’t leave him trapped in someone else’s world—or their dungeons."]

I didn't think that it was possible to match the banter and flirting and nicknames from "Little Red Riding Hood," but the first time Lorenz called Cin "my dove," I full-on swooned. It wasn't pretty. Each and every time after, I got worse. It was glorious. They were glorious. 

It was an instant chemistry and a hesitant understanding and a need for more that was seemingly from nowhere. It was impossible positions and harder decisions and fate pushing them together while everyone else pulled them part.

This story was so classically Cinderella that I caught so many of the original details as they were happening, but it was also so unique that some of the original details were pleasant surprises.

I’m also obsessed with some of the twists that were added to layer this story and connect it to the series. Obsessed! 

Trigger Warnings: familial gaslighting and emotional manipulation, off-screen physical abuse of side character, death of an animal companion, minor body mutilation, chronic pain and dysphoria healed through magical surgery, and more.

#cinder #dnbryn #thegrimmtales #thegrimmtalesseries #thefrogprince #rumpelstilzchen #snowwhiteandthesevenlittleminers #littleredridinghood #zel #hanselandgerhart #theelvesandtheshoemaker #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Elves and the Shoemaker (The GriMM Tales)

Here's Emory Sander's "The Elves and the Shoemaker." It's a novel the new multi-author series, The GriMM Tales.

["Can three lonely, wounded hearts make a whole?

Johan had resigned himself to spending his life alone. Until them. Until two sets of scared but fierce amber eyes peer at him through curtains of silky white hair, and Johan’s heart takes on a new beat. A beat he can’t ignore.

Despite escaping their captors, a dark cloud looms over Elias and Henrik’s heads. They were bought and paid for, after all.

However, their luck appears to change when they cautiously accept the offer of a roof over their heads from a kind but silent shoemaker. Only, it was meant to be a stopping-off point, a place to re-group before they start their new life. They had each other, and they were not supposed to fall for him.

Struggling to recover from invisible wounds, the two elves can’t always bear the weight of each other’s burdens. But maybe he can…

When it becomes the talk of the town that a local, unassuming shoemaker is selling elf-made shoes, will they be able to evade their captor once more?

More importantly, will they ever truly belong to themselves again?"]

This one was a lot less angsty than the others. Their love story was softer and safer. It was less dramatic and a faster burn. Their angst came from outside of the relationship (aka horrible, evil people (who have/will have karma visit them)). 

...Until the outside-angst started to slowly poison their relationship, self doubt and old scars making themselves known. Then I cried (so did all three of them). But it's okay, we had lots of old friends helping them out, in one way or another.

It wasn't the most luxurious of HEAs, but without the Queen dying, I'm afraid most of our character's won't gets a perfect HEA, just a perfect for now one. 

Trigger Warnings: situational and selective mutism, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, internal and external ableism, references to slavery and captivity, references to violence experienced during slavery, trapped in a confined space, violence, murder, death of parents, family abandonment, self-harm, and more.

#theelvesandtheshoemaker #emorysanders #thegrimmtales #thegrimmtalesseries #theelvesandtheshoemaker #cinder #thefrogprince #rumpelstilzchen #snowwhiteandthesevenlittleminers #littleredridinghood #zel #hanselandgerhart #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hansel and Gerhardt (GriMM Tales)

Here's WH Lockwood's "Hansel and Gerhardt." It's a novel the new multi-author series, The GriMM Tales.

["Oh look! A house made entirely of sweets! Things finally seem to be looking up for Hansel and Gerhardt…

Dropped into a lonely cottage deep in the woods as a boy, Gerhardt would give anything to escape. He hates his life, he hates his abusive step father. He’s sure his irritatingly handsome step brother despises him for the share of food he takes, and even more for frequently angering their dangerous father. But Gerhardt’s never once learned to back down from a fight, no matter what it costs him.

Hansel is riddled with guilt for the life Gerhardt’s been forced to live. He knows his father’s actions aren’t his fault, but he’s sure Gerhardt hates him for it. Still, he can’t help but secretly adore the ferocity and defiance of his gorgeous step brother, even if it is likely to get them both killed any day now.

When their father finally snaps and chases them into the forest with an axe, Hansel and Gerhardt are forced to rely on each other in an incredibly dangerous place that’s bereft of food, inhabited by hungry wolves, and cursed by dark magic. As one adventure after another tests their bravery and their bond, Hansel and Gerhardt discover that maybe they don’t hate each other as much as they thought they did. In fact, maybe they even like each other. A lot. More than step brothers probably should… But who’s there in the forest to stop them exploring their explosive attraction?

And when they stumble upon the adorable little house made entirely of sweets… Well, what could possibly go wrong?"]

This story was beautiful. It was dark and the darker, but they made it through.

There wasn't so much enemies to lovers as misunderstandings to friends to lovers. Though that friends to lovers was a fast blur. They fell fast, and they fell hard. They had almost made it, almost had their perfect HEA when they reached Herr Candy's cottage. 

Then I was crying. Hansel was crying. Gerhardt was crying. Herr Candy was evil (not a spoiler alert).

Luckily (spoiler alert?), they made it out alive and stronger than ever. They got revenge, more revenge, and a golden ticket (is that you, Zel?).

Also, let's go check out that crossover with Little Red now. ;)

Trigger Warnings: domestic violence, murder, supernatural horror, a very very dark forest, and more.

#arc #arcteammember
#hanselandgerhart #whlockwood #thegrimmtales #thegrimmtalesseries #zel #littleredridinghood #theelvesandtheshoemaker #cinder #thefrogprince #rumpelstilzchen #snowwhiteandthesevenlittleminers #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Zel (GriMM Tales)

Here's Amanda Meuwissen's "Zel." It's a novel the new multi-author series, The GriMM Tales.

["An assassin in disguise is not meant to fall for their target... but Rapunzel’s life has never gone as planned.

Twenty winters ago, before the Great Famine, Zel’s parents were caught stealing the fabled sorcerer’s rapunzel, the magical lettuce that grows around the base of his tall tower in the wood. He released them under the condition that when their yet unborn babe reaches adulthood, she will stay with him for one month before becoming his bride.

Then Zel was born a boy.

Only Zel’s parents know the truth, but while he was raised to pretend to be a girl, he will be no monster’s bride. He will use his month in the tower to unravel the mystery of the sorcerer’s immortality, so he might slay his would-be bridegroom and claim the tower and its treasures for the Thieves Guild.

What Zel does not know is that the sorcerer, Ulrich, has his own deceptions planned, and their journey of secrets, seduction, and identity might lead to revelations neither expect."]

This book was fucking fabulous. The love was slow and subtle but it grew and grew until it exploded with depth and devotion. They both (spoiler alert?) had ulterior motives, both keeping secrets, both hopelessly failing at not getting to close. But fate had other ideas. Fate and magic brought them closer. Even with enemies everywhere, even with past traumas and hidden desires, they found a HEA.

And the way the gender was talked about and accepted in this book was beautiful. In a world were trans and gender-fluid doesn't exist, so many people where (spoiler alert) so ready to understand.

Trigger Warnings: violence, attempted assault, slight gore, mild-transphobia, and more.

#arc #arcteammember
#zel #amandaweuwissen #thegrimmtales #thegrimmtalesseries #hanselandgerhart #theelvesandtheshoemaker #cinder #thefrogprince #rumpelstilzchen #snowwhiteandthesevenlittleminers #littleredridinghood #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

You Are The Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder

"You Are The Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder." A Solve-It-Yourself Mystery. Written by the fabulous Maureen Johnson (of the #TrulyDevious series) and illustrated by the uber talented Jay Cooper (of several books, a graphic novel, and more). The team behind my other favorite creepy and quirky murder story, "Your Guide To Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village."

["November 1933. London. Seven people receive mysterious letters. Someone knows their terrible secrets. They are summoned to a posh townhouse where one is stabbed right in front of the others, but somehow no one saw a thing. Can you help Scotland Yard solve the mystery?

Dear Detective,

Surely you have seen the papers and read about the murder of the American novelist Roy Peterson—stabbed while in a room with six other people, and yet no one went near him or saw the murder occur. The crime is so devious, so logistically impossible, that it seems to have been committed not by a person but by a disembodied hand.

I must confess that we are at a loss. Who wrote the poison pen letters that lured these seven people to this deadly gathering? What do a poet, an Earl, an actress, a cook, a telephone operator, and a lothario have in common? And how can a man be stabbed in a room full of suspects when none of them could have done it?

We have had our best people on the case, Detective, and we still can’t make heads or tails of it. We are giving this case file to you. Can you decipher the clues, decode the witness statements, and identify the murderer? You are our last hope. Can you help us crack the Case of the Creeping Hand?

Yours truly,
Detective Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police"]

I…did not successfully solve this murder. I caught a great number of clues and fell for a red herring or two. But I didn’t manage to put everything together.

BUT it was a fabulous story. There were many different letters (type-writer, hand-written, poison pen), photographs, official interviews, and more. It was fun and quirky and dark and creepy. It was three murders tied together somehow with dark secrets and darker pasts. 

And it all ends with a letter tucked into the back of the book with the murderer sharing the details of their crime. 

#youarethedetectivethecreepinghandmurder #youarethedetective #thecreepinghandmurder #asolveityourselfmystery #maureenjohnson #jaycooper #yourguidetonotgettingmurderedinaquaintenglishvillage #thriller #picturebook #guidebook #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Nursing the Alpha

Here's Gianni Holmes's "Nursing the Alpha."

["It started with a contract.
I'd express my milk for what I thought was a family in need.
No names. No questions. No strings.
Just a big check.

Then I found out the truth.
The man buying my milk isn't a stranger.
He's someone I know.
Someone who's been doing things to me without my knowledge.
And he doesn't just want my milk.
He wants all of me."]

This is one of the books that you can open and finish without getting up, putting it down, or taking a break for snackies. I only put it down because sleep (ugh, adult-ing), but I could have read it in one sitting. It flowed so well, even between chapters. It was addicting.

This book was also darker than I imagined. Yes, I saw the trigger warnings. But it still threw me (in the best of ways). I was here for all of the stalking and the secrets, all of the feral and fucking. 

Plus all of the sweetness and fluff. It was all spicing things and and fun things. There was some bumps in the road, but they were more alike than either had anticipated, and those bumps just turned into pebbles in their journey. 

They were so in love and intoxicatingly happy. It was beautiful.

I wouldn't say no to more books like this in the future. 

Trigger Warnings: video recording of sexual act without consent, noncon, dub con, stalking, and more.

#nursingthealpha #gianniholmes #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wilde's End (The Wilde Men #1)

Here's Saxon James's "Wilde's End." It's the first novel in her new series, The Wilde Men.

["Hudson
Give me the smallest reason to make a bad decision, and I’ll jump in with both feet. Case in point: thinking that drunkenly buying an abandoned town with my brothers is a good idea.
As builders, we plan to renovate and flip the town, maybe turn it into something worth seeing, but the longer we’re here, the more things feel … off.
It’s not until a bearded mountain man breaks into my room in the middle of the night and threatens for us to get out of his town that I realize Wilde’s End isn’t as abandoned as we were told.
But there’s nothing waiting for me in the life I left behind, and in making his demands, Wilde has accidentally tapped into my competitive side.
Terrible decisions? Me?
Wilde can bring it on.

Wilde
I escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and since then I’ve dedicated my life to the town and the people who live there. Because if I focus on others, I don’t have the time or energy to face everything I’ve been running from.
The Bellamy brothers coming to town is like three horsemen of the goddamn apocalypse. They leave destruction in their wake, and when the eldest, Hudson, ignores my very kind request to leave, it’s time to take things into my own hands. Protecting this town is all I know how to do.
But I’ve never faced someone like Hudson.
His stubbornness matches mine, and his attitude has an irritating way of worming under my skin. The more I push him, the harder he pushes back, until we’re locked in a game neither of us will walk away from.
With his smart mouth, bullheaded recklessness and those damn eyelashes I’m starting to question whether I can win this one.
But if I lose, this town isn’t the only thing on the line."]

This book was emotional as fuck...then again, I've been, too. I cried a lot, but it felt really nice. I'm sure Hudson and Wilde would agree that every once in a while, you need a good cry. Even if their cry was due to past traumas and broken hearts.

This book was a lot deeper than I expected. It was your typical Saxon romance (and a reeeaaalllllly great start to what's going to be a fabulous series), but it was also a commentary on capitalism, environmentalism, small towns, found family, and more.

These two weren't easy on themselves let alone on each other. They had to face some seriously hard truths to get to their HEA, but they compliment and strengthen each other in the best of ways (and challenge each other in the must fun of ways).

I can't wait for the rest of this series. There's so much potential with soooo many of the characters. 

Trigger Warnings: past substance abuse, reference to parental neglect, reference to death of a family member, dark humor surrounding death/suicide, and more.

#forewordpr #arc #arcteammember
#wildesend #thewildemen #thewildemenseries #saxonjames #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks