Not Your Golden Boy (Rent-A-Boyfriend #3)

Here's MM Farmer's newest series, Rent-A-Boyfriend. This is "Not Your Golden Boy."

["He hired a fake boyfriend to ruin his reputation. He fell in love instead.

Nikky Smith became famous overnight. He's spent every day since wishing he could disappear.

Between a stalker who won't leave him alone and a spotlight that never turns off, Nikky's had enough. His plan on arriving in London is to hire a fake boyfriend from Rent-A-Boyfriend, get caught in a scandal, and torch his own image so the world finally looks away.

He didn't plan on falling for the man he hired.

Ten years ago, Harry Bayonne’s musical career seemed unstoppable, until the same producer now managing Nikky's album ended his career for refusing to sell out. Now, living off royalties for his one-hit wonder song, bitter, and B-list famous, Harry only takes the fake boyfriend gig because helping another industry golden boy self-destruct feels like justice.

But the more time he spends with Nikky, the less he wants to watch him fall. He wants to protect him. Claim him. Give him the safety and the structure no one else has offered him.

Then one impulsive video lands in the wrong hands, and their fake relationship becomes very real leverage for the people trying to destroy them both.

Now Harry has to decide if he's brave enough to fight for the career, and more importantly, the man he never thought he'd get a second chance at. And Nikky has to learn that the only way out is standing his ground, not running from it."]

These two were adorable! Soo fucking adorable. They were perfect for each other. Instant chemistry, sure. But love of creative things and making music, being honest and open, love and friendship over money and influence. Interconnected wants inside and outside the bedroom. They were so supportive of each other, even when, especially when, it was scary. 

This should have explored the kink more, but Merry's contemporary books aren't all that spice-heavy (it's there, but itis not overly detailed or explicit). It also could have, in theory, been more angsty. The potential was there, but I'm sooo glad she choose not that route. I didn't need to or want to cry over these two gems. 

Trigger Warnings: stalking, toxic Hollywood bullshit, past foster care, mentions of past toxic/abusive parent, mention of past parent with drug addiction, blackmail, threats to releasing NSFW tape, and more. 

#theweekendboyfriend #alikelystory #notyourgoldenboy #racetothebottom #rentaboyfriend #merryfarmer #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

A Likely Story (Rent-A-Boyfriend #2)

Here's MM Farmer's newest series, Rent-A-Boyfriend. This is "A Likely Story."

["He needed a fake boyfriend to save his career. He found the love of his life instead.

Drew Oberlin became an overnight sensation after starring in a breakout queer TV series. But all that fame comes with a price. As accusations of queerbaiting threaten his skyrocketing career, Drew’s ambitious girlfriend devises the perfect PR solution: hire a fake boyfriend through Rent-A-Boyfriend while filming in London. A few staged photos, a carefully crafted romance, and the internet will finally believe Drew is the real deal.

Enter Lee Cresswell, bestselling indie fantasy author, hopeless romantic, and Drew’s very unexpected fake boyfriend.

Lee only signed up with Rent-A-Boyfriend for “research” while preparing to write contemporary romance novels. He never expected to be thrown into the spotlight beside one of the most famous actors in the world. Or to fall hard for him almost immediately.

What starts as a publicity stunt quickly becomes dangerously real. As Drew experiences a life-changing bi-awakening and finally confronts the truth about himself, the chemistry between him and Lee becomes impossible to fake. But when Drew’s furious ex exposes the truth behind their relationship, both men are forced to decide what matters more: protecting their career or risking everything for love."]

This was adorable and angsty. These two needed to talk more. With each other and Drew with himself (and his team). It was stressful and frustrating. But it was also easy to fall into friendship and easy to fall into chemistry and easy to fall into love, all bookended by people who cared way to much about the lives of celebrities. 

It’s not fair that people care this much about famous people, but we do. Some people take it in stride (Lee), some people take it like an extrovert surrounded by a captive audience (Drew), and some people take it as a reason to be a little too selfish (Jessica).

But with the help of some friends and some cake, these two figured it out. 

I canNOT wait for Nikki!! 

Trigger Warnings: death of a loved one to cancer, cheating, internet abuse, and more. 

#theweekendboyfriend #alikelystory #rentaboyfriend #merryfarmer #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Venegful Monster (Monstrous Heirs #1)

Here's "Vengeful Monster" by JR Gray, which is the first novel in the Monstrous Heirs series.

["Is stalking just a one sided meet cute?

Ash Conrad throws his meticulously curated life plans out the window to attend an Ivy League. In a country he’s never been to, against family tradition, all in the hope of gaining entrance to an ancient and exclusive secret society.

The Legacy of Power isn’t just an elite secret society, it’s where the heirs of the criminal underworld play. Admittance would guarantee Ash access to the type of people who might help him save his brother.
But first he has to get through Rurik Locke.

Son of the world’s most notorious assassins, Rurik’s family founded Legacy. He’s a ruthless, violent enigma of a golden retriever—who’s not above a little stalking—and is utterly obsessed.

Ash needs his help, but Rurik’s chaos threatens every aspect of the careful structure he’s built to survive.

They’re about to find out the skeletons in their closets are a lot more intertwined than they realize, and Ash will have to let Rurik in to save them both."]

Talk about addictive. Rurik was gone from the very first moment he laid eyes on Ash, before they even met each other's gaze for the first time. Ash knew Rurik was...special? different? trouble...from the very beginning, but it took him a while to admit he liked Rurik's stalking and attention let alone what all of that actually meant. Rurik was addicted to Ash, Ash was addicted to Rurik, I was addicted to the both of them.

You know when you connect the things that connect wwweeellllll before the MCs connect the things? The horror at the facts, but the utter euphoria over how fucking smart you are? That was me here. Both unfortunately and fortunately. 

It took me a really, really long time (nearly the epilogue) to realize the little chapter break symbol's were sea glass. Then I read the epilogue and cried. 

Notable Quote (Ru): "I'm confused as to how Locke things the Jackal will listen to him any better than the rest of us." Because they're in lurve, duh (or in lurve and in denial about it). Spoiler alert? 

Trigger Warnings: MC drugged with rohypnol, mentions of past negative experiences with drug hallucinations, mental health is joked about, thoughts of suicide, negative self-talk, dissociation, OCD, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, sleep paralysis, homophobic family, violence, murder, pas sexual assault, gun violence, torture, blood, mention of past child trafficking, knife play, CNC, stalking, kidnapping, internalized homophobia, and more. 

#vengefulmonster #violentmonster #monstrousheirs #monstrousheirsseries #jrgray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Binding His Fate Mates (Wolves of Crescent Springs #2)

"Binding His Fate Mates" is the second book in Jay Castle's Wolves of Crescent Springs series, which is a Blood Bonded Mates spin-off.

["Hunter
Look, it's not like I'm being unreasonable here. Daniel is a liar. He betrayed us. And his mistakes cost us our home, our relationship, even our humanity. We're werewolves now because of him. The fact that I grew up loving him (or that I still can't stop) doesn't mean a damn thing. Lee can shove it. I'm never letting him back in.

Lee
Hunter is a lot less ready to forgive than I am. He won't talk about the mate dreams we’re having (starring Daniel), or the fact that both of us are constantly pulled to our warlock the way a compass finds true north. I've been patient for… well, too long. But the moment I watch Daniel almost die, everything changes. Hunter can hate me all he wants. We're protecting our mate. That's final.

Daniel
When my initiation into the Crescent Springs pack starts triggering dangerous magical accidents, I'm suddenly forced to share a space the size of a postage stamp with the two men I've hurt most. It’s not exactly what I’d call fun times.
Especially since I'm desperate for Hunter and Lee to forgive me. And, if I'm being honest, to do a lot more than forgive, too. But they have every right to hate me. I did this to them. Which is why I've got a plan to fix what I've broken. The only itsy-bitsy downside? Pulling it off will probably cost me everything I have left."]

What a painful beginning. Granted, their beginning had been painful in the past two books. The angst and the guilt and the pining and the existential crises and the heartbreak and the guilt (sooo much guilt). It was all a ball of pain trying to smother (and be smothered by) fate and love and an eternal connection forged by friendship and stars picked out of the sky like apples. 

Their love was painful but it was also beautiful. Childhood friends to lovers (ignoring the to enemies to lovers part). Intense need for the other(s) to be safe and happy. Support from inside their relationship but also undying support from within their found family. 

Not to mention the, you know, monster hunting people...again. This one wasn't as prominent in the plot as the previous two books, but I think their relationship did deserve more of a page-presence, after years of all of that pain. Then again, was the monster the Mara or Daniel's family? 

Trigger Warnings: supernatural violence, existential material and discussions of self/agency, temporary nonconsensual on-page loss of bodily autonomy due to a supernatural threat, abusive and controlling family dynamics, and more. 

#claiminghisfatedmate #bindinghisfatedmates #wolvesofcrescentsprings #wolvesofcrescentspringsseries #jaycastle #bloodbondedmates #bloodbondedmatesseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Liar in Room 5 (Halo House #2)

Here's Kerry Kilpatrick's "The Liar in Room 5." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Halo House ("a shared world that follows vulnerable boys finding shelter, chosen family, and protective Daddies who are ready to love them exactly as they are").

["Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

Andrew Greene
I always thought I was pretty good at relationships.
Sure, they ended eventually, but people break up. You dust yourself off, meet someone new, and move on. Looking back, I suppose I should have found it a little odd that my next boyfriend almost always came from my last boyfriend's group of friends. No one seemed to mind, though, so I didn't question it.
Then I came home from vacation to discover I'd already been replaced.
Now I'm staying at Halo House while I figure out what comes next. Getting a job would probably be a good place to start. It turns out "professional boyfriend" isn't something you can exactly put on a résumé. Unfortunately, getting a real job would mean leaving my room.
And then I met Henry Mercer.
The problem with Henry is that he never seems interested in the version of me standing in front of him. Every question he asks makes me wonder if he's looking for someone I haven't met yet.

Henry Mercer
I've built a career figuring people out.
Clients lie. Studios bluff. Everyone wants something, and it's my job to figure out what that is.
Andrew should have been easy to read.
Instead, he's the first person I've met in a long time who doesn't make any sense. Andrew says he loves pickleball, but he clearly doesn't know the first thing about it. Every question I ask somehow ends with me doing all the talking, and before I realize it, I've learned almost nothing about him.
The more time I spend with Andrew, the more I'm convinced he's spent so long becoming what everyone else wanted that he never took the time to figure out what he wanted for himself.
I'd have a much easier time with that if I were interested in any version of him besides the real one.
I hope that when Andrew finally learns to want something for himself, it's me."]

Gotta say, wasn't feeling too good about Andrew at first. His first chapter screamed very spoiled and a little shallow. But he really was that trusting and that naïve. Which isn't a bad thing. Drew is sweet as hell and cares about the happiness of others. But when you're constantly putting other peoples' happiness above your own, you're never really happy. 

Good thing Henry stepped in when he did. He was always careful to give Drew options, so he knew he had autonomy, but never too many options, so he was taken care of. He was soft but firm where it counted.  

That epilogue took me out! In the best of ways. In the most adorable of ways. In the “I’m not crying, it’s allergies” kinda ways. 

Trigger Warnings: off-page parental death, and more. 

#theliarinroom5 #kerrykilpatrick #theliarinroom5 #thestarinroom7 #thegoalieinroom1 #theroyalinroom3 #halohouse #halohouseseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Twisted Little Game (Crimson College #5)

Here's "Twisted Little Game" by Raleigh Reubins. It's the fifth novel in the Crimson College series. 

["My stalker is a problem… but my bodyguard is a monster.
I never asked for Roman Petrov.
I made one mistake, got threats on my life, and now my brother hires me a bodyguard?
Roman is six-foot-five, pure muscle, and a gorgeous, scowling face.
I break a few of his rules on my first night of his protection.
Provoke him, 'til he pins me to the wall.
And something explodes between us when he lays his hands on me.

Our size difference sparks a pure physical addiction.
His two rules:
His family runs the mob… but we don’t talk about it.
And he’s usually 100% straight… but completely obsessed with me.
I can take a man who’s taller and bigger in every way.
As threats escalate, Roman demands I stay in his room, closer than ever.

When I’m attacked on campus, Roman’s unhinged, vowing to destroy anyone who hurts me.
He’s the heir to a powerful Bratva crime family, and war with the mafia is erupting now, too.
I know I’m in danger.
Lines blur between who I can or can’t trust.
But I have Roman close to me. And I believe it when he says I’m his."]

I have been WAITING for Roman's book!

Raleigh is reeeaaally good at the enemies to lovers NOT jumping right into soft feelings as soon as something dangerous or spicy or sweet happens. It's aggravating, but it's more real-to-life accurate. Saying that, I really like that these two weren't reeeaaally enemies. They didn't get along, but it didn't last long (and their original hostility wasn't actually with each other but with third parties). 

So instead of enemies-to-lovers angst, we got when-will-they mutual pining. Arguably, that was worse. The pining even when they're ready to admit that their feelings are more than just lust and tentative trust. The pining when the feels are real but so is the danger.

They were sooo perfect for each other. Sweet and spicy. Challenging and caring. Lives completely different, but dreams explicitly the same.  

SOO fucking here for Maks getting a book next!!!

Trigger Warnings: stalking, past parental childhood abuse, violence, intense criminal mob violence, past death/murder of a loved one, blackmail, gun violence, and more.

#darklittlegame #possessivelittlegame #recklesslittlegame #forbiddenlittlegame #twistedlittlegame #raleighruebins #crimsoncollege #crimsoncollegeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

The True-Blue Romance (Sweet Southern #5)

Here's Maya Jean's "The True-Blue Romance." It's the fifth novel in her Sweet Southern series.

["Joey
I don’t know what’s up with my best friend, Lee. He’s been the sunshine of our trio for the majority of our friendship. Beau is the strong but quiet one who roots us. I’m the goofy one who is impulsive but keeps everyone on their toes. And Lee… Lee is everything. He’s family in a way I’ve never known before. He treats my daughter, Savannah, like she’s his own. Now he’s putting distance between us for reasons beyond me. I have to fix it. I have to keep him. Lee’s my best friend and he’s all mine. I can’t let Lee go.

Lee
I thought I’d be free of my drunk father once I was a grown adult, but the joke's on me. Now he needs me even more. I don’t want to make any decisions for him, and now I’m taking on more responsibility at the farm. Life is a blur of work, gardening in my backyard, and wishing with all my heart that my best friend, Joey, loved me back. The same way I love him. But living the way we are isn’t just hurting me; it’s hurting Savannah, too, and I love her too much to keep explaining why I can’t be her second dad. It’s time to put distance between us so Joey can find another person to love. Another wife. Grow his family. And maybe this time he’ll leave me behind so I can be free from this curse that’s loving him in secret."]

The HEA we've been waiting aaagggeeesss for!

The pining!! D: I forgot how deep and painful Maya can make the pining. There were a lot of devastating quotes, but "loving someone shouldn't hurt this much" will always gut me. Had to take a few breaks so i wouldn't spend half of the novel crying. Have they both been in love with each other the whole time, all twenty years? Yes? Did it take Joey twenty years to figure it out? Yes. Did that fact continuously break Lee's heart? Yes. Did literally everyone know that they were It? Yes. All of those "yes"s doesn't mean the pining wasn't soooo fucking angsty. 

At least it wasn't all sad tears. The amount of times I cried happy tears? Whelp, those were just allergies. ;) 

I had to look up the definition of "true-blue," and when I did, I cried some more.

These two were perfect! That is all. 

There were pets who had the potential to be Main Characters, but Savi was too fucking perfect and sweet and honest to let them take her spot light. Love a kid who can see the happiness of her two dad's HEA before they (*cough* Joey *cough*) can. 

Trigger Warnings: abusive parent, life-long alcoholism which causes an end-stage illness, caring for a past abusive parent, parent with dementia, high-conflict divorce, brief illness of a child, brief internalized fat-phobia/self-esteem issues/mild disordered-eating, and more.

#thehusbandexperience #theformerfakeboyfriend #theremarkablelover #thelongrefrain #thetrueblueromance #mayajean #sweetsouthern #sweetsouthernseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks