The Hazard and The Hitman (The Protectors #1)

Here's Cambria Hebert's "The Hazard and The Hitman." It's the first novel in the Protectors series. This was originally published in the Heart2Heart Anthology (Vol 8) and has since been expanded. 

["Desperate times call for desperate measures, and being in the hospital with stitches in my head and no way out makes me pretty desperate. So I log in to a dating app, searching for a guy willing to pretend to be my boyfriend so I can bust out of this overpriced nightmare.

But what do I get?

Accused of being a prostitute. Talk about a waste of phone minutes.

With plan A a no-go, I move on to plan B. Escape. Except, on my way to freedom, I’m nearly pummeled by a man wearing all black and with the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

When he pretends to be my boyfriend, I’m shook. And even more shook when I discover this is the rude guy from the app.

Turns out he’s not only rude but bossy, irritable, and he keeps calling me a walking hazard. I go along with the lie anyway, thinking I can ditch him as soon as I’m free.

Except that doesn’t happen.

I end up back at his place, eating soup and trying hard not to catch feelings.

Then my apartment is broken into, and I’m running for my life, confused, injured, and with nowhere else to go. Kieran vows to keep me safe, something he seems more than capable of… Which is kinda odd for a real estate agent, right?

As the threat to my life intensifies, I start to wonder if I’ll make it to my next birthday and, more importantly, if trusting Kieran is the deadliest hazard of all."]

When this short story first came out, I was fucking obsessed. I immediately fell in love with both of them, and I immediately wanted more. THIS was sooo worth the wait.

These two were hot fucking messes. Especially our stoic-as-fuck Kieran, hit man extraordinaire, falling in love and becoming utter goo and breaking all of his rules for a stranger with two-toned eyes and a special skill of getting hurt. 

Haz hasn't had it easy. And things just keep getting worse and worse...until a tall, dark and handsome man takes care of him..and then immediately claims he's going to keep Haz forever. It was intense, but Haz wasn't exactly complaining. At any point. He didn't like being coddled (just cuddled), but he was all for the breakfasts and plants and truths and fish.

I canNOT wait for more!!! I'm looking at you Ghost and Rhett.

Trigger Warnings: car crash, hospital stay, violence, murder, foster care, mentions of past abuse, and more.

#thehazardandthehitman #theprotectors #theprotectorsseries #cambriahebert #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Idol (Sacriligious Love #1)

Here's E Baileu's "The Idol" It's the first novel in the Sacriligious Love duology.

["Elior Ransom has never been allowed to be just a boy. To the Covenant, he is the Vessel of Light—sacred, untouchable, born to suffer so the faithful may be redeemed. Every lash across his back, every sleepless vigil, every silent prayer is a reminder that his life does not belong to him. And when unholy longings creep into his heart—longings for touch, for warmth, for love—he punishes himself with prayer until the ache subsides… almost.

Jace Agbayani never expected his latest assignment to bring him here, deep inside the hidden compound of a cult obsessed with prophecy and purity. His mission is infiltrate, observe, and gather enough evidence to bring down Malachi Ransom, the Covenant’s leader. But when he meets Malachi’s son—the so-called Vessel—Jace sees not a holy icon, but a lonely, fragile man who has never known life beyond worship and pain.

What begins as strategy soon becomes temptation. Elior craves Jace’s kindness like forbidden fruit, even as he chastises himself for the sin of wanting. And Jace finds himself risking more than his cover with every stolen glance, every whispered word, every touch he swore he’d never give.

But in a world where devotion is power and betrayal is death, desire is the most dangerous sin of all."]

I gotta say, I was all in very, very quickly. These two had love at first sight, even if neither understood the power or consequences of that love. Elior knew what he was feeling wasn't "right" according to his father and according to the life he grew up in, but he also really started questioning how something so warm and confronting and happy and safe could be wrong. Jace knew his feelings for Elior weren't good for his case or his career, but he quickly put all of that behind him for his little cherub.

These two were cute, even if they were playing with fire (and lives). They didn't have it easy, especially Elior, who knew next to nothing about the world. And Jace probably could have, arguably, went about the last chapter with a little more tact and preparation but....let's blame the FBI on that one. 

On to the next book...where I imagine myself crying. 

Trigger Warnings: religious themes, cult dynamics, distorted interpretations of faith, manipulation through faith, harmful uses of doctrine, MC suffering from long-term narcissistic abuse by a parent, noncon and dubcon, psychopath, physical abuse, violence, unhealthy power dynamics, and more.

#theidol #thejudas #sacriligiouslove #sacriligiousloveseries #ebaileu #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Boss (The Killough Company #1)

Here's MD Gregory's "The Boss." It's the first novel in The Killough Company series.

["Conall Morrissey’s life is pretty bloody easy. He helps his brother take care of the whores at The Exotic Virtue, an exclusive high-end brothel owned by The Killough Company. They might not be earning as much as the other brothels, but if they make ends meet, the Morrisey brothers can get by fine. Until they get a visit from the boss of the mob who owns it, Sloan Killough.

Sloan Killough means business. He’s brash, violent, and tough. He’s the boss for a reason and he doesn’t deal in excuses or exceptions. He visits The Exotic Virtue for a taste of his product, and when he sees Conall, he knows he must have him as his pet. When Sloan demands Conall on his knees, Conall’s horrified. He may be bisexual, but he’s not the guy who takes it. When his brother sells him like one of their whores, Conall has no choice but to submit to their boss if he and his brother wants to live.

Being a whore to a mob boss isn’t what Conall expects. He fights Sloan’s orders at every chance he gets, but the boss seems to enjoy the fights, and has no problem in teaching Conall his place. Conall promises himself he won’t give in, but with each touch and taste, he finds himself addicted to the dark, dangerous man who could rip out his throat the very moment he gets bored of him."]

This book was filled with possession and obsession and desire blinding to reason (the again, if you’re a mob boss, you mad your own reason). It was hate and tentatively approval to hidden meanings and wanting, all giving way to the start of feelings. 

Thai was a strong HFN. To be honest, if I knew that going in, might not have started this series. But I’ve read MDs books before, and I love them. And this book was great. The rest of the series should be great. Don’t love that the newest book (#5) is a continuation of this couple (more angst, more torture, more holding off the Feelings and love declarations). 

Let see if my reading journey takes me thru this series now or to another path (and eventually back here). 

Trigger Warnings: violence, threats, blackmail, trafficking (just guns and drugs), kidnapping, torture, murder, and more. 

#theboss #theprofessional #theassassin #theapprentice #thepet #thekingpin #thebodyguard #mdgregory #thekilloughcompany #thekilloughcompanyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Talk Nerdy To Me

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Talk Nerdy to Me" by Jett Masterson.

["When alpha football star Matthew Vega is failing his physics class, and it appears that he could miss out on the opportunity to play in his University's upcoming rivalry game, he gets assigned a tutor to help bring his grade up. He's not sure what to make of the beautiful omega who seems to hate his guts for no reason.

When nerdy physics major Miles Tran gets assigned to tutor the university's star football player, he's hesitant to accept the duty. He's got his own past with football players, one that has left him with scars both internal and external. He's unsure what to make of the handsome alpha who seems so different than the horrible abusers of his past.

Little do they know that their meeting is about to change both of their lives in ways they couldn't have foreseen."]

These two were adorable as hell! They were so smitten from the very beginning. They fell fast, but they fell honest. It was all sweetness and communication and spice and honesty and support. They were there for each other, cheering each other on, reaching for their individual and couple dreams. They had the support of sooo many friends and found family members. It was so easy for so long...

Honestly, it really was. There was barely any angst. Some past trauma coming back and battling baggage, but they did it together (and with their entire support system).

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, emotional/psychological abuse, bullying, physical violence/assault, ptsd, toxic masculinity, and more. 

#talknerdytome #jetmasterson #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Good Boy (The Boys of Apartment 13 #3)

Here's "Good Boy," the third book in Brianna Flores's The Boys of Apartment 13 series. 

["Good boy Baby Holbrook is unlucky in love...

Baby
I'm a stickler for rules, and for good reason. They keep life simple. Predictable. Safe. My roommates might not agree, but I think they're a necessity. Which is exactly why crushing on the one straight guy in the apartment is a terrible idea.
Logan Matthews is a rule breaker. He's shirtless at inappropriate times, allergic to knocking, and somehow convinced that pretending to be my boyfriend is no big deal. But for me, it most definitely is. Between all the hand-holding and praise, I'm finding it harder and harder to remember this is fake. The kisses feel real, the touches are lingering, and I'm forgetting what it was like to not have this beautiful boy's attention all on me.
There's only one way this ends, but if there's one thing I'm certain of, it's that Logan Matthews is worth the heartache.

Logan
I'm a firm believer that there are some rules that are meant to be broken. My favorite roommate might not agree, but I'm pretty sure I can change his mind.
Baby thinks I can't handle being his fake boyfriend just because I'm straight. He doesn't understand how much I already like being near him. I don't spend my nights watching eighties movies because I like them. I do it because it's the only time he lets his guard down. What started out as a favor he didn't ask for has become the realest thing in my life. I just hope I can convince him I'm worth the risk.
It may be easier said than done, but if there's one thing I know, it's that Baby Holbrook is worth the fight."]

These two gave me so much anxiety. Okay, so most of the anxiety was due to Baby, but he was (okay not entirely) justifiable. His past experiences mixed with his greatest fears and his unchecked anxiety made him continuously push Logan away. 

Logan...tried his best. He wanted to push Baby, but he knew he couldn't push Baby too far, too fast. And not to blame aaallllll of the miscommunication on him, but Logan could have, arguably, told Baby how he felt and how those feelings had changed slash had been there all along.

Meanwhile, all of the other boys were just like "whelp, we've been there; they'll figure it out." Like, awesome. Thanks. 

But also, Logan being jealous of a banana, to the point of almost throwing the bundle of bananas away, was hilarious. 

Trigger Warnings: mentions of homophobia (both internal and external), thoughts and behaviors that may be attributed to body and gender dysphoria, past bullying, and more.

#booksirens #arcs #arcteammember
#prettyboy #loverboy #goodboy #lonelyboy #briannaflores #theboysofapartment13 #theboysofapartment13sereies #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Pretty (King's Heart #2)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Pretty" by L Waltree, which is a part of the King's Heart series.

["Declan
He was supposed to be the one that understood.
The one that was different. But he’s just like everyone else.
It doesn’t really matter, though. At school, I’m the weird outcast, and he’s the big popular jock.
We were doomed from the start.
And yet, I keep finding myself drawn to him, no matter how much I don’t want to be.
I need to stay away, but I don’t think I can.

Javier
He was all I had in the world.
Mi muñequito.
Then he threw it all away.
So I wiped my hands of him.
Or I tried.
But he crept his way back into my brain. Back into my life.
I need to leave him in the past, but I don’t think I can."]

YES, all of the yes. This book was fucking amazing. Granted, I still loved the first one a litttle more, but this was far from a disappointment.

It was everything. It was pining and angst, it was fluff and spice, it was yearning and hesitation. It was history and future. It was fate, pushing and pulling them apart (okay, that wasn't fate. that was judgement and butt-hurt-ness preventing communication, looking at you Javi). 

Their friends knew they were meant to be, knew that they were falling in love, even if they didn't (okay, Declan knew what was happening, even if he was pissed off about it (and scared af)). I loooved these two, loved them (even if they made me cry).

Trigger Warnings: mention of suicide, emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, mention of date rape and sexual assault, assault, drugging, arrest of a loved one, victim blaming, victim in denial, sexual assault of a minor (off page, alluded to), and more.

#arc #arcteammember
#safe #pretty #kingsheart #kingsheartseries #lwaltree #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Orc CEO's Fake Fiancé (Billionaire Monster Deals #3)

Here's Viva Wilder's "Orc CEO's Fake Fiancé." It's the third novel in the Billionaire Monster Deals series.

["The coffee was an accident. Getting on his knees to mop it off the Orc CEO's crotch was a choice. A bad one.

Now Leo Caletti — broke, desperate, held together with duct tape and audition rejections — is fake-engaged to Gorrat "Gore" Vane, a seven-foot-two wall of grey muscle in a $20,000 suit who doesn't smile, doesn't blink, and smells like rain and bad decisions.

The deal is three months, fifty grand, no touching.

The deal falls apart in six days. Because Leo's scent triggers something ancient in Gore's biology — something possessive, feral, and very, very permanent. And now the Orc who filed his tusks for boardrooms is growling at waiters, scent-marking Leo's clothes, and building a nest he won't admit exists.

But Gore's father wants the bond destroyed, the company seized, and Leo gone. To survive, they'll have to the empire or each other.

They choose violence."]

This book was a mix of fluff and pining and fate and hormones and real feelings. But it was also so angst and self-sacrifice-y and light guilt and pain (soooo much pain). 

I loved these two. Even if there should have been a conversation or two before the bonding..about the bonding, but fate doesn't always leave room for talking about bonding consequences. Or toxic family members out for money and revenge. 

I loooved these two (I just said that, and I've said it again). They were adorable and a little manic and a lot possessive, but they were beautiful and supportive as hell. Granted, it was devastating and I cried, but I loooved them.

#orcceosfakeboyfriend #orcceossecretboyfriend #orcceosfakefiance #vivawilder #billionairemonsterdeals #billionairemonsterdealsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks