Gutter Mind (Sex & Mayhem #12)

Here's KA Merikan's "Gutter Mind." It's the twelfth novel in her Sex & Mayhem series, which are all interconnected standalones, mostly. I was craving a novel with a betting plot (sooo goooooo), and this one popped up on a Reddit thread. Both of those are reasons why I'm reading the ninth book first.

["— Face of an angel. Mind in the gutter.---

Mike. Macho Biker. Scarred. Will never love again.
Arden. Femme boy. Jaded. Will never succumb to lust again.

Mike is always on the lookout for a fresh fling, and there are more than enough chicks for a stud like him at the Smoke Valley MC clubhouse. But the pretty little thing he spots at the gas station turns out to be a boy, and that triggers all sorts of confusion.
Mike loves a challenge, so when he’s given the cold shoulder, his predator senses are set aflame! Straight or not, Mike makes a bet with his cousin and won’t settle for anything other than a total seduction of Arden.

Arden has bigger fish to fry than some biker’s petty insecurities. His last relationship has left him jaded and hurt, so he will never again succumb to the charms of a bad boy. Especially since Mike isn’t just hot, he’s freaking irresistible. Older, dangerous, and cocky, Mike will be Arden’s downfall if he isn’t careful.
But when a monster from Arden’s past reaches out his claws, the only deterrent Arden can think of is claiming Mike is his new boyfriend. So now he’s stuck in a fake relationship with a straight guy.

For Mike, what starts as a game turns out to be an awakening he’d never expected. The ice prince in lace is actually hot as hellfire, with a gutter mind to match Mike’s, and all of a sudden, his scarred heart is not as safe as he’d thought it was."]

These two had instant chemistry, instant lust. But they both held back. Mike wanted Arden, he wanted Arden in all of the physical possible ways, but he pushed all of the realness and feelings away. Arden wanted Mike, but he was trying to do better and be stronger and not get into his feels or into trouble. But the connection between them pulsed and grew as their friendship grew. 

A fake relationship benefited both of them. They both could claim (and get) safety from the situation. It also gave them an excuse to grow that friendship, a true friendship in which a true, real, right relationship could grow from. 

Not to mention the danger around them or the spice between them. Spice and fluff galore. (Soooo much spice).

Trigger Warnings: violence, mentions of past abuse, mentions of past rape, mild homophobia, mild internalized homophobia, kidnapping, and more.

#roadofnoreturn #thedevilsride #nomatterwhat #hotbutpsycho #lokisnewjob #onesteptooclose #hisfavoritecolorisblood #heartripper #straightasawheel #guttermind #guardianangelinleather #sexandmayhem #sexandmayhemseries #kamerikan #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Turned By The Bully (Only One Room #3)

Here's Evan Barnes's "Turned By The Bully." It's the third novella in the Only One Room series, which are all novellas surrounding shared dorm rooms.

["I thought I knew who I was. Then my personal bully became my roommate.

Zachary Kovac is a god of muscle and rage, and for years, his favorite pastime has been making my life hell.

Now, there’s nowhere to run from his relentless taunts or the dark, obsessive way his eyes follow me across our tiny dorm room.

I should be terrified. I’m supposed to hate him. I should be running.

But with every heated confrontation, the line between hate and something else begins to blur.

His anger feels like a cover for a primal hunger, and my body is starting to burn with a need I can’t explain.

He wants to prove he has complete power over me, and the most terrifying part is… I’m starting to want him to succeed."]

A deliciously dark and hidden fluff romance. A true enemies to lovers. A touch (or more) of confusion over your feelings, your bully's feelings, your body's reactions to all of the feelings. Other people realizing his true feelings for you before you do.

This was the last of Evan's books that I had to read. I hope he comes out with more soon!

Trigger Warnings: bullying, and more.

#thejockssecretobsession #studyincravingmybestfriendsbigone #turnedbythebully #evanbarnes #onlyoneroom #onlyoneroomseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Study in Craving My Best Friends Big One (Only One Room #2)

Here's Evan Barnes's "Study in Craving My Best Friends Big One." It's the second novella in the Only One Room series, which are all novellas surrounding shared dorm rooms.

["My best friend Steve–all muscle and classic jock charm–is finally my roommate. I figured living together would be easy. No surprises, no drama. We know everything about each other.

I was wrong.

On the very first night, everything changes.

First, a glimpse of him that I can’t unsee. My God, he has the biggest package imaginable.

Then, a quiet, loaded comment from him that flips a switch inside me: “Guys can do everything faster and better when it comes to having a really good time.”

What the hell does he mean?

And more importantly, why is the straightest guy I know suddenly looking at me with an intensity that feels like pure craving?"]

Another very sweet novella/short story. It had barely any angst, just best friends...getting closer. And do I love best friends to lovers romance (another top five trope). These two were adorable. Total opposites attract, loud and muscle-y jock meets total nerd who thinks of everything in terms of computer programing and the scientific process. Of course they're fire friend cheimstry ignited when they let more into their relationship. 

#thejockssecretobsession #studyincravingmybestfriendsbigone #turnedbythebully #evanbarnes #onlyoneroom #onlyoneroomseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Jock's Secret Obsession (Only One Room #1)

Here's Evan Barnes's "The Jock's Secret Obsession." It's the second novella in the Only One Room series, which are all novellas surrounding shared dorm rooms.

["For two years, my grumpy roommate was a wall of muscle and silence.

Darren Stenbeck, the college’s hockey god, barely knew I existed. I was the friendly, talkative and one hundred percent straight nerd who lived on the other side of the room.

Then I found his sketchbook.

The secret he’d been keeping wasn’t just his incredible talent. It was a filthy, detailed fantasy–with me on my knees, at the center of it all.

Now, a leaky ceiling has forced us into a single bed.

He’s spent two years looking at me with those icy eyes, but his art showed me how he really sees me. And the most terrifying part?

That drawing didn’t just expose his secret desires. It awakened my own."]

I love how soft Darren was...and yet he was still the stereotypical grumpy athlete, closed off and a little cold. He was so obsessed with his roommate, drawing pictures, protecting him, over-the-top jealous. It's just a dichotomy, and it might be a little toxic, but it's addicting. 

Another couple I could have read even more of. Nothing felt as if it was missing, nothing was too fast. I just wanted more.

#thejockssecretobsession #studyincravingmybestfriendsbigone #turnedbythebully #evanbarnes #onlyoneroom #onlyoneroomseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His To Ruin (Years Between Us #2)

Here's Evan Barnes's "His To Ruin." It's the second novella in the Years Between Us series, which are all novellas surrounding age-gaps.

["He said I was too innocent. He was wrong.

He’s connected to my family and I’m supposed to be off-limits for him. But he’s watching me like a predator.

Rylan says I’m too naive for a place like Verdict, a decadent club where the only rule is that there are no rules. He thinks he needs to protect me. But his protection feels more like a possession.

When he drags me into a dark, private room to teach me a lesson, I expect a lecture.

Instead, his touch becomes a different kind of education. He shatters my world, awakening a raw, desperate need I never knew I had… a need only for him.

I walked into this club thinking I was straight.

Now, I’m on my knees, and he’s just getting started. He’s not just breaking the rules"]

There's something that's just extra (delicious, exciting, dangerous) about a brothers-best-friend trope. It's cliched, but it's never enough (I will literally never get enough of this trope--top five favorites). And this one was just as exhilarating and forbidden as you'd expecct.

Especially considering the setting. And how naive Theo really was (I mean, baby, it's clearly a sex club--at least on many of the floors). But he had Rylan there to take care of him...and take care of him. ;)

Oddly enough, with this brothers-best-friend book, I wasn't feeling as though I was missing something eevn though we didn't see the brother/best-friend confrontation. Maybe because this novella was more of a short story?

Trigger Warnings: dub-con, bullying-ish, and more.

#tamedbyhisbestfriendsdad #historuin #evanbarnes #yearsbetweenus #yearsbetweenusseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Tamed By His Best Friend's Dad (Years Between Us #1)

Here's Evan Barnes's "Tamed By His Best Friend's Dad." It's the first novella in the Years Between Us series, which are all novellas surrounding age-gaps.

["I was straight. Until I met my best friend’s father.

My summer was supposed to be about beer, soccer, and girls at my best friend’s ridiculously luxurious mansion.

Then his father showed up.

Gavin Horton was a predator with dark eyes that promised things I’d never dared to imagine.

My first mistake was opening my mouth. A stupid, crude joke at a barbecue was all it took to get his attention.

My second mistake was thinking my best friend’s father didn’t hear me. He saw my cocky, straight-guy bravado as a personal invitation.

From that moment on, he made it his personal mission to teach me a lesson in humility. He was determined to take my words and make me eat them, proving my witty mouth was good for more than just talking back. He didn’t seduce me with sweet words. He cornered me. He challenged me.

Under his intense pressure, I found myself breaking.

I was falling for my best friend’s father, and he wasn’t just seducing me… he was claiming me."]

This one was completely different. Age-gap certainly helped. As did the narrator being more of a jock-y, frat-ish bro, trying to fit in and impress his friends. 

I wasn't as impressed by that character as much to be perfectly honest. It could be the internalized homophobia (not a fan of that trope typically). Could be the brat vibes he was giving off. Sure he wanted attention and didn't know how to get it, sure he was struggling with his own identity, but it just didn't feel as..something as the other narrators. 

Still a fun story though. The back and forth dynamic, the pull of their chemistry, their (probably not so secret) clandestine meetings. 

Trigger Warnings: internalized homophobia, and more.

#tamedbyhisbestfriendsdad #historuin #evanbarnes #yearsbetweenus #yearsbetweenusseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

One Bed With The Bully (Side By Side Tonight #2)

Here's Evan Barnes's "One Bed With The Bully." It's the second novella in the Side By Side Tonight series, which are all novellas surrounding travel mishaps.

["What’s worse than being trapped in a motel room with your bully?

Being trapped in a motel room with your bully… and only one bed.

I thought I knew what to expect—his usual insults and mocking smirks.

I never expected the raw hunger in his eyes when he looks at me, or the way his hands seem to know just how to break me down.

The tension between us is so thick you can taste it, and after he catches me in my most private moment, all bets are off.

He knows I want something I shouldn’t, and he’s not going to let me run from it."]

Romance Pro Tip--How to end an argument on a high (and win..?): kiss your enemy. And it rarely, if ever, works (to end/win the argument...to get the HEA? Yes.) 

I love how all of Evan's work is very, very similar, and yet none of it is repetitive. It still all feels very fresh and unique. A few new facts here and a few tweaks of characteristics/settings here--bam! new book. And just to prove my point, I'm going to (continue to) binge Evan's entire backlog. 

Trigger Warnings: mentions of bullying, and more.

#claimedbythejockwhilecamping #onebedwiththebully #evanbarnes #sidebysidetonight #sidebysidetonightseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks