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

Hollis (Moore Men #2)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Hollis" by Ashley James. It's the second novel in the Moore Men series.

["When the universe hands me a hot, older, recently divorced man on a silver platter, who am I to turn down such a generous offer?

Big deal if he also happens to be my best friend’s boss.

Ford Wesley, Captain of the Wolf Creek Fire Department, is the whole package, with hair that’s a delicious mix of dark and silver strands, and deep brown eyes that hold a touch of mystery.

He’s also always been off the market… Until now.

When he gets caught in a bind and has to temporarily stay on my family’s property, I know it’s my chance to get closer to him, but I never expected it to be so easy.

One night, I match with an anonymous stranger on an app, and it doesn’t take long for things to go from innocent and flirty to raunchy and scorching.

Then when I catch a glimpse of my new neighbor shirtless one day, it becomes clear Mr. Tall, Broody, and Off Limits is the mystery man sending filthy messages to me every night online.

The best part? His profile may be anonymous, but mine isn’t… He knows exactly who he’s talking to.

The chemistry on the app morphs into a reality in the sheets…and at the firehouse, and what starts out as a secret, no-strings arrangement quickly becomes so much more. Before I know it, it’s not just his body I crave, but everything he keeps close to his heart as well.

But I’m not the settle down type, and he’s fresh out of a long marriage. When push comes to shove, will this turn into something more, or are we destined to crash and burn?"]

Opposites attract...where the opposites aren't nearly as opposite as they thought. As they fall in love, something they said they would never do. With some serious spice and out-of-nowhere (not really) fluff. Plus it's a cowboy and firefighter romance?! Yes, yes, yes, and yes. All of the yes. 

CanNOT wait for Gentry's book! God, he's in for it. ;) 

#august #finn #hollis #gentry #ashleyjames #mooremen #mooremenseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Finn (Moore Men #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Finn" by Ashley James. It's the first novel in the Moore Men series.

["Falling for my girlfriend’s twin brother wasn’t what I had in mind when I hired him to be my son’s nanny.

Working on my family’s cattle ranch, the hours are long, and sometimes unpredictable, so when my regular nanny quits, leaving me in a pinch, I have to think fast.

In walks Ash Tudor.

My opposite in almost every way.

He’s cheerful and bubbly, has horrible taste in music, and does yoga in my yard almost every morning in the tightest shorts I’ve ever seen.

Not that I’m looking.

But it’s none of those things that have me scratching my head and second guessing everything I thought I knew about myself.

No… it’s the fact that he’s a him and I can’t seem to keep my eyes away, no matter how confusing that may be.

I’m nearly thirty, and never once have I looked at another man the way I catch myself looking at him.

The feelings and urges growing inside of me make no sense, and then when he gets a special delivery to the house of items he plans to use on himself, I can’t stop imagining him doing just that… Or imagining me using them on him.

But confusion and curiosity aside, I can’t fall into bed with my son’s nanny.

Doing so would be reckless and irresponsible.

No matter how tempting it may be."]

I’ve been hearing a lot of really great things about this book, and it did not disappoint. It was a perfect mix of sweet and sass and temptation and angst and fate and found family. It was coming home in so many ways. It was loving yourself and loving your flaws, but it was also letting go and letting someone take the reigns for a while.

#august #finn #hollis #gentry #ashleyjames #mooremen #mooremenseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

August (Moore Men #0.5)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "August" by Ashley James. It's the prequel novella in the Moore Men series. It was originally published in the Saddles & Sweethearts anthology.

["“Teach me.”

Two words I never thought I’d say while lying underneath somebody I barely know, yet here we are.

August Moore is one of the sexiest cowboys I’ve ever laid my eyes on, with a flirty smirk and southern drawl that would make anybody weak in the knees.

When I move to the small town of Wolf Creek and get a job at a local coffee shop, he sets his sights on me, and I don’t stand a chance against his charm and filthy mouth.

After an embarrassing run in with him involving hot coffee and a whole lot of flour, he does the very last thing I expect… He asks me out.

Except I’m inexperienced in every sense of the word.

And him? Well, he’s more than happy to show me the ropes as we lie under the stars late at night.

But word around town is August Moore is a one night type of guy… Am I ready for that?"]

A sweet and flirty playboy cowboy who is (almost) instantly gone for the shy and adorable new-in-town barista? Yes, all the yes.

This novella was short and fluffy, just like the two of them. There was zero angst (except for some feisty Tripp--which August frankly found even hotter than innocent Tripp) and lots of sweet moments peppered with honest and vulnerable moments. 

I can't wait for the rest of these cowboys to fall hard and fast. 

#august #finn #hollis #gentry #ashleyjames #mooremen #mooremenseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Beastkin (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #3)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Beastkin" by Blake R Wolfe. It's the third novel in his Widdershins Supernatural Academy series. 

["A cursed Beastkin. A witch born of fire. A bond neither of them expected… and a love too dangerous to ignore.

Beastkin aren’t meant to fall in love with witches. That’s what the world tells me. My kind carries a curse—once human, now creatures of claw and fang, feared for a past drenched in war and betrayal. At Widdershins Academy, I’m the monster they all pretend not to watch.
Except for him.
Phoenix Emberwood—the boy who was once my best friend. The boy I lost when his family ripped him away. He’s back now, fire magic at his fingertips, stronger, sharper, and looking at me like he’s trying to decide if he still knows me at all.
I’ve only ever been with women. I never questioned that—never questioned myself. But when I see him, when I smell him, something inside me shifts, something primal and undeniable. It’s impossible. It’s forbidden.
And I want him anyway.
Loving Phoenix means turning my back on everything I know. It means facing a world that would rather see us apart—if not dead. But I’m not sure I can walk away. Not this time.

I never thought I’d see Karrick again. I never thought I’d return to a world where witches whisper warnings about Beastkin, about the creatures who were cursed for a reason.
But here I am, and there he is—bigger, stronger, impossible to ignore.
My family says I should stay away. The academy says I should know better. But my magic doesn’t listen. It flares every time he’s near, like it knows him, like it’s reaching for something lost.
I tell myself he’s just a childhood memory. I tell myself I don’t care. But when he looks at me, when our bodies collide in fleeting touches and unspoken confessions, I feel it.
The bond. The pull. The fire waiting to consume us both.
Giving in to Karrick means defying my family, my coven, the very laws that keep our world from falling apart. But maybe the only way to change history… is to burn it down."]

These two were fucking adorable! I love the flashbacks and the memories and the utterly strong reaction to seeing each other again. All of the moments of fluff and rightness. It was beautiful and adorable. Best friends to lovers, with some minor detours. 

Plus our favorite tetrad making some appearances to save the day. 

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, discrimination, violence, torture, and more.

#hexmate #faeheart #beastkin #dustborn #undertow #nightbound #evergreen #hearatflame #blakerwolfe #widdershinssupernaturalacademy #widdershinssupernaturalacademyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks