The Art of Becoming

Here's "The Art of Becoming" by Violet Sallow.

["Arthur wasn’t looking for a savior.

Johannes wasn’t looking for a weakness.

Arthur learned early that being seen could be dangerous. After a past marked by control and emotional abuse, disappearing felt safer than dreaming, loving, or trusting again.

Johannes is used to power, loyalty, and fear. A man who protects what is his — and keeps the rest of the world at a careful distance. Falling in love was never part of the plan.

When their paths cross, attraction comes easily. Trust does not.

As Arthur rebuilds himself through art and begins to reclaim his voice, Johannes must learn the difference between protection and control — and decide how much he is willing to risk for something real.

Together, they’ll discover that sometimes, becoming yourself means unlearning everything you were taught to survive."]

TO BE UPDATED SOON

Trigger Warnings:

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#theartofbecoming #violetsallow #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

From the Ashes (Bring the Heat #3)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "From The Ashes" by Jillian D Wray. It's the third (or second, depending on how you look at it) novel in the Bring the Heat series.

["Phoenix
I was the best bronc rider on the circuit, but being openly bisexual wasn’t an option unless I wanted my talent overshadowed by my orientation. I thought I was the only one keeping my cards close to my chest, until our eyes met across the bonfire, and I knew he shared the same secret I did. Walker DeVille may have bested me in the ring that night, but I’d give him a ride he’d never forget.
And then he lied.
And that lie cost me everything. When Walker turns back up in my life, there’s no denying that same electrifying chemistry is there, but I learned my lesson, and where the fire once burned, there’s nothing left but ashes.

Walker
The first time I saw Phoenix Harding ride, I was smitten. But cowboys like me aren’t supposed to feel the way I do about other men. That’s the unspoken rule. The expectation. The understanding if you find yourself in my shoes. So, when Phoenix followed me into the darkness, away from the fire, I knew he knew what I was hiding.
Part of it at least.
One night with him gave me the wings I needed to soar above the guilt trying to drag me down.
But my salvation cost him everything. And when I have nowhere else to turn years later, it’s Phoenix who saves me yet again. He’s adamant that I blew our only chance…that nothing remains between us.
But he’s wrong.
He watched us burn, and now he’ll watch as we rise from the ashes."]

These two were utterly...perfect and tragic and adorable and broken and sweet and hectic on my nerves. They made me cry, a few times. But all of the angst and feels and traumas made the utter dive into fluff and HEA all the more beautiful and satisfying. 

And that epilogue? We're in for it with Knox..

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, injuries related to Bruno riding, mentions of suicidal thoughts, and more.

#burnitdown #playingwithfire #fromtheashes #upinflames #bringtheheat #bringtheheatseries #jilliandwray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Burn It Down (Bring The Heat #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Burn It Down" by Jillian D Wray. It's the first novel in the Bring the Heat series.

["He’s a billionaire living in a golden cage. I’m the mechanic who just handed him the key to freedom.

JACOB I was bred for success. As the CFO of my family’s empire, I play the part the cut physique, the designer suits, and the "perfect" girlfriend on my arm. But it’s all a lie. I’ve been living in a closet built by my controlling father since I was a teenager, suffocating under the weight of expectations and a legacy I never asked for. I thought I could keep pretending forever—until one look across a grocery store checkout line shattered my resolve.

DYLAN I wear my truth on my skin. Tattooed, Mexican-American, and struggling to keep my family’s auto shop afloat amidst increasing crime, I don’t have time for games. I’ve worked hard to be comfortable in my own skin, despite the judgment I face. When a Maserati crashes into my life—literally—I expect just another wealthy, entitled client. I don't expect the man behind the wheel to look at me with a hunger that could burn the city down.

THE COLLISION It starts with a wrecked car and a desperate excuse to meet. It turns into stolen moments that risk destroying the carefully constructed façade of a life. But Jacob’s father holds the purse strings to a billion-dollar future, and he won’t let his son go without a fight.

Now, he has to the safety and security of his lie, or the fiery, terrifying freedom of loving Dylan."]

Again with the pining and the angst and the heart eyes and the undeniable chemistry and the fluff and the spice and the secret looks (from their closest friends). 

And lots of drama and push back from others. Lots of drama.

But it’s okay, these two were quick to fall in love, fall in trust, and fall in ride-or-die. They had each others back, not matter what, even if the conversations were hard and the choices harder (well, the choice to be together wasn’t all that hard).

Was not expecting the ending…well, I predicted part of it. Part of it was a shocker; kept us readers on our toes.

Can’t wait for the other guys to fall in love. ;) 

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, internalized misogyny, racism, classism, targeted vandalism, cheating, blackmail, arson, grief from a deceased parent, and more.

#burnitdown #playingwithfire #fromtheashes #upinflames #bringtheheat #bringtheheatseries #jilliandwray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Dirty Angel

TBR, who? ARCS, what? Here's "Dirty Angel" by Nora Phoenix.

["When bubbly wedding cake baker Charles (not Charlie…never Charlie) accidentally overhears a mob boss plotting a murder, he contacts the cops. Detective Eamon O’Rourke offers to protect him…by posing as his boyfriend.

Soon, they’re cooped up in Charles’s cozy little house in the cute, small town of Charming, NY. Sparks fly, and it doesn’t take long before they give in to the attraction simmering between them.

But Eamon isn’t a cop at all.
He’s an angel.
Charles’s guardian angel.
And he’s anything but angelic, especially in what he wants to do with Charles…

Eamon has his hands full with Charles in more ways than one. Especially when Charles discovers Eamon’s been hiding the truth from him because if there’s one thing Charles is allergic to, it’s liars.

Is a happily ever after possible for the wedding baker and his Dirty Angel?"]

The pining! The angst!! It was addictive and beautiful, just as it was painful and anxiety-inducing. 

As was the pureness of them falling in love. It wasn't easy, being on the run from a dangerous mobster and all of the secrets Eamon was keeping. 

I had so many feelings about this book, and yet, after having finally finished it, I can't put them into words. This book was glorious and adorable and relatively angst-less. 

Trigger Warnings: mild danger, one shootout, description of someone's death, grief over losing a parent, and more.

#dirtyangel #nroaphoenix #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Beacon and The Brine (Monstrous Cravings #2)

Here's Katherine McIntyre's latest: "The Beacon and The Brine." It's a Little Mermaid retelling..sort of. This novel is the second in her new Monstrous Cravings series. 

["A desperate human dreamer. A sea monster bound by contract. A forbidden romance that could set them free…or end in destruction.

After one mistake too many, Elrich’s family is marrying him off.

Arielle Triton is his future bride-to-be, gorgeous, eligible, and from a wealthy family with connections to New Atlantis...who also hides the fact they’re merfolk. Except there’s no spark toward Arielle, none of the soul-searing romance Elrich dreamed of.

Yet, Ursuline, the serious cecaelia who’s their family lawyer? From the moment he meets them, he’s drowning in their sharp gaze, living for their low chuckles, their dry wit. But Ursuline is bound to the Triton family, just as Elrich is bound to marry someone he doesn’t love. And as those feelings grow stronger for Ursuline, the tug-of-war between duty and desire become unbearable.

As the truth behind the Triton family wealth surfaces, Elrich can no longer ignore the weighted whispers or disappearances from the staff. However, learning too many secrets in the Triton household is deadly, and if he and Ursuline stand a chance of survival, he’s clutching onto one hope.

Some contracts are destined to be broken."]

Obsessed. Utterly fucking obsessed. I love how true to the original tale this was but how entirely Katherine turned it on it's head. It's clearly The Little Mermaid, but it's also very clearly not what we grew up watching/reading. It's unique and dark and beautiful. 

Elrich was nothing like our beloved Eric. He was softer, but he was just as sweet and kind hearted and open to all kinds of people/life/love. Ursuline is a "monster" in the eyes of society just like Ursula was, but they have reasons for being colder and closed off. They're scared and scarred, but they're unbelievably caring and utterly devoted to the people they love.

I'm obsessed with those of these characters. They didn't have it easy, far fucking from it, but they held on to each other, onto the hope of something brighter. They loved each other fiercely in the face of being imprisoned forever. They fought for their HEA (alongside their found family and best of friends), and it was well deserved (even if they shouldn't have had to fight so fucking hard for it).

Trigger Warnings: off-page (not MC) mentions of sexual assault, parental neglect, discovery of death of a relative, and more.

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

Joyful (Leather & Chrome #2.5)

Here's Kiki Clark's Leather & Chrome series. The next novel is "Joyful." This one is advertised at coming after the second book; however, as I was reading the series, it was being reworked for re-release (and it has since doubled in length).

["Ride hard. Love harder. Celebrate joyfully.

Rooster’s known he was a caretaker his whole life, but finding a boy who needed the same things he wanted to give had been… difficult.

Until sweet Emmett Moore falls back into his life.

Even though he’d practically grown up in the Moore house as Emmett’s brother’s best friend, it was like Rooster had never actually known the quiet young man. But anyone who shows up at a motorcycle club’s clubhouse to decorate Christmas cookies in a Snoopy sweater and superhero apron was someone he definitely wanted to get to know better.

Especially when he realizes the one thing he’s always wanted in a relationship might be the one thing Emmett has never been able to share with someone.

Was it too much to hope for a Christmas miracle?"]

I knew these two were going to be cute, having all of those hints and cameos of them from the other books, but these two were perfect. It was kismet, them meeting again, them wanting the same things, the instant chemistry. It was all just utterly adorable. 

Plus the utter lack of angst (except for Emmett's horrible family--and Emmett's anxiety)? And all of the other MC cameos (oh Olly...you fucking beautiful and well-meaning (usually) brat)? All of the yes.

Trigger Warnings: neglect from family, abuse from family, fatphobia, and more.

#reckless #temptation #joyful #yearning #possession #kikiclark #leatherandchrome #leatherandchromeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His Plaything (Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction #4)

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 Plaything."

["All bets are off when a cruel prank and a case of mistaken identity throw a shy omega and a wounded alpha together under sexy circumstances

Linus
When my identical twin brother, Lucas, begged me to go to a job interview for him, I grudgingly agreed. Only it turned out not to be an interview at all, by brother tricked me into taking his place at one of his Dark Fantasies Club events. And the alpha I ended up with is definitely something straight out of a dream.
But it turns out my brother is involved in bigger things than pranks, and now Saint and I are stuck in the middle of real danger…and I’ve just gone into heat!

Saint
Dark Fantasies Club is supposed to be a way to practice control and keep the bad memories at bay. But when my play partner turns out to be a sweet, scared omega who needs my help standing up to his brother, I go into full-on protective alpha mode. Things get even worse when Linus’s brother turns out to be involved in genuine criminal activity.
Can I keep my omega safe, get him through a surprise heat, and protect us all from a criminal gang, or will the ghosts of my past mean I’m the one who needs a hero to take care of me?"]

Just when you think MM can't get any better (even though you think that every. single. time). She just does. Her books are never boring, they're never overly cliche, and they're somehow all unique and repetitive while all fulfilling the same theme. 

Plus these two?! D: Both desperate for...something. They both battled their own securities while falling hopelessly in love (without realizing it...or without their brain realizing it; their hearts and souls definitely knew). 

Not to mention all of the additional stress and danger.

All of while so much fluff and sweetness (and spice to HERE) to make your teeth ache, in the best of ways. 

Trigger Warnings: evil twin, gang, violence, threats, trauma, ptsd, smuggling, and more.

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