The Dragon's Temporary Manny (Paranormal Au Pair Agency #3)

Here is Colbie Dunbar's "The Dragon's Temporary Manny." It's the third novel in the Paranormal Au Pair Agency series.

["My bag’s always packed, but nobody warned me I’d want to unpack it.

I take work with an expiry date for six weeks or three months, then I'm gone while it’s still fun. So a temporary manny gig for a single dad and his triplet daughters should've been easy with a clean exit.

But the girls are always pulling tricks, they talk about dragons like they’re in the room with us, and they never take off their charm bracelets. Their father is the most gorgeous man I've ever met, but he keeps his distance even when I catch him looking.

Somewhere between bedtime stories and the almost kisses, I stop watching the exits. And wanting to stay scares me far more than whatever this family's hiding."]

Sooo cute! I can’t get enough of this series. It’s so wholesome and healing all with the childlike wonder and excitement and antics. There’s enough angst to keep going but nothing to cause a reader anxiety. The mate situation is so cute snd fun and romantic. 

#thedragonsreluctantmanny #thedragonsaccidentalmanny #thedragonstemporarymanny #thedragonsrunawaymanny #colbiedunbar #paranormalaupairagency #paranormalaupairagencyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Odd Man Out (Once Upon an MM Romance #4)

I have sooo many ARCs due right now; so naturally, I'm avoiding them. Here is Trisha Linde and Colbie Dunbar's "Odd Man Out." It's the fourth novel in their Once Upon an MM Romance series. It's an Ugly Duckling retelling. 

["They say beauty only runs skin deep… but what if no one bothers to look beneath the surface?

Omega Joel has always been a bit of an odd duck. A square peg, an eccentric… a misfit. He doesn’t fit into his mother’s perfect new family, he doesn’t fit in with the preppy rich kids at school, and as he gets older and heads off for college, he knows with certainty that he doesn’t fit into anyone’s idea of a love interest. Not that it matters anyway, because no alpha will ever compare to his best friend, Toban. Toban has always been there for him, is the only person who feels right—which means that he is strictly off-limits. Nothing in the world can make Joel jeopardize that friendship. It’s just not worth the risk.

Alpha Toban is a good friend… and he reminds himself of this daily. Friends watch out for each other, they protect each other, and they most certainly do not fall in love. Toban has been in love with Joel pretty much since the first moment he laid eyes on him, but he knows that he’ll never be good enough for the smart and sexy omega. When they get to college, he finds the new dating pool is more like an ocean, and if he’s not careful, Joel could easily drown. Fending off the omega’s potential suitors quickly becomes a full-time job. One run-in with a handsy bully could spoil their friendship for good… or maybe it could lead them to an even more promising future."]

I wasn't too sure about these two at first, to be honest. The MCs were much younger than the rest of the MCs in the series. I did't know how I felt about two college guys having a baby. The fairy tale retelling didn't fell as flushed out as the rest of the series (Joel was the odd man out in his family, but not to Toban). But I was pleasantly surprised. 

Best friends to lover, with an interlude with jealousy and possessiveness. That was lovely. Angsty and spicy and adorable and sassy. Supported by all of their friends and the family who actually mattered. 

Not to mention that adorable as hell epilogue! 

Trigger Warnings: bullying, mentions of domestic abuse, child abuse, violence, and more. 

#badapple #sweetandsour #burningbridges #oddmanout #chasingeverafter #trishalinde #colbiedunbar #onceuponanMMromance #onceuponanMMromanceseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Burning Bridges (Once Upon an MM Romance #3)

I have sooo many ARCs due right now; so naturally, I'm avoiding them. Here is Trisha Linde and Colbie Dunbar's "Burning Bridges." It's the third novel in their Once Upon an MM Romance series. It's a Billy Goats Gruff retelling. 

["This gruff alpha has burned all his bridges… until he meets an omega who has him wanting to rebuild.

Alpha Cole wants nothing more than to be left alone in peace and quiet. Too bad there’s a huge new condo development going up in his backyard. If it were just a bit of hammering, he could live with that, but it doesn’t stop there. Oh no, it just keeps getting worse. Now they want his land, too. Well, you can forget it. His grandfather built this house with his own two hands, and there is no chance they’re going to tramp all over his land. No way!

Omega William is the youngest and the smallest of his foster brothers, but that doesn’t stop him from dreaming big. Together, he and his two siblings have started their own business, and they have just landed themselves a huge contract to build a new complex. It’s a dream come true! If only it weren’t for that house smack dab in the middle of the lot. No one seems to be able to convince the homeowner to sell, but maybe if William can get him to see some sense, maybe make him an offer he can’t refuse…"]

I loooved how the first two brothers went to try to intimidate Col, but failed epically. And then said "wait until you see the next guy." Very Billy Goats Gruff. 

Their love was fast and fierce, and then that stupid and silly and well-he'll-contact-me-first miscommunication trope hit. Spoiler alert.

I loooved all of the brotherly banter. 

And now that I know there’s a spin-off series of sorts by these authors, and one more, with even more fairy tale retellings, my ARCs will have to wait even longer. 

Trigger Warnings: death of a loved one, grief, mentions of foster care, and more. 

#badapple #sweetandsour #burningbridges #oddmanout #chasingeverafter #trishalinde #colbiedunbar #onceuponanMMromance #onceuponanMMromanceseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Sweet and Sour (Once Upon an MM Romance #2)

I have sooo many ARCs due right now; so naturally, I'm avoiding them. Here is Trisha Linde and Colbie Dunbar's "Sweet & Sour." It's the second novel in their Once Upon an MM Romance series. It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling. 

["Happily Ever Afters are overrated. Cake is far more satisfying.

Omega Bellamy knows better than anyone how food can heal the heart and soothe the soul. Since the death of his omega father, working in their family’s diner has been the only thing to bring him any kind of solace. Deep down, though, he knows that there has to be more to life than these worn floors and the handful of regular customers. Unfortunately, with the hospital bills piling up, and deadlines looming, it looks like his future may already be decided.

As a restaurant chain mogul, alpha Larkin is surrounded by everything he could ever possibly want… except his heart’s desire. Money and fame mean nothing without someone to share it with, but greed and arrogance are hard habits to break, and he’s convinced that no omega will ever be able to see past his flaws.

Larkin is in the process of buying out the local competition when he overhears Bellamy and his alpha father talking about their emotional burden. Struck by a sudden case of guilty conscience, he proposes a solution that could benefit them all. He will help them get back on their feet in exchange for Bellamy working in Larkin’s new restaurant. The alpha needs help with new recipes. And because he knows Bellamy would never fall for him, he figures seeing the omega every day is the closest he’ll get to a relationship. But he wouldn’t say no to more."]

This Gaston was definitely an ass. The staff at Larkin's restaurant secretly loved him even when he was slightly terrifying. Not to mention the push and pull between Larkin and Bellamy, the hurt/comfort, the will-they-won't-they, the romance that finally explodes right before they're separated. It was all very on-point to the original story.

SO good!

Trigger Warnings: loss of a loved one, cancer, arson, and more. 

#badapple #sweetandsour #burningbridges #oddmanout #chasingeverafter #trishalinde #colbiedunbar #onceuponanMMromance #onceuponanMMromanceseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Bad Apple (Once Upon an MM Romance #1)

I have sooo many ARCs due right now; so naturally, I'm avoiding them. Here is Trisha Linde and Colbie Dunbar's "Bad Apple." It's the first novel in their Once Upon an MM Romance series. It's a Snow White retelling. 

["There’s no such thing as fairytales—until there’s a happily ever after.

When mob boss Nico Drakos dies, his son, omega Zane, knows the time is ripe for change. Just because all the mob’s business dealings have always been illegal, that doesn’t mean they need to stay that way. Zane is well-loved by everyone, and the council is ready to follow him wherever he might lead them. Time to put his business degree to work! The only person that stands in his way is his father’s second-in-command, Donovan Morelli.

Alpha Blaze was practically raised by the mob, groomed and trained to follow orders, no matter how dark. But, seething with jealousy, Donovan gives Blaze a command. One he can’t refuse. While Blaze keeps a wary eye on Zane, he falls under the omega’s spell. Then the alpha does the unthinkable. He defies his order.

Zane needs a safe place to hole up, but he doesn’t give a damn about his surroundings because the alpha everyone considers a bad apple lights a fire in his heart, one Zane is powerless to extinguish. With a memorable cast of supporting characters, this classic fairytale gets a modern mpreg twist.

And while there is no once upon a time, they do live happily ever after."]

What, in any other book, would have been a meet cute was so much more here. Yes, it was cute, but it was also Blaze fumbling over his job while making assumptions about Zane’s naivety and so not falling in love at first sight. And it was Zane being sunshiney while being suspicious about Blaze’s intentions and so not falling in love at first sight. 

Add in a hunter failing to hunt, seven quirky as fuck protectors, and a surprise pregnancy. This was an insanely adorable and spicy and perfect fairy tale retelling. 

Trigger Warnings: death of a loved one, threats, violence, injuries, and more.

#badapple #sweetandsour #burningbridges #oddmanout #chasingeverafter #trishalinde #colbiedunbar #onceuponanMMromance #onceuponanMMromanceseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Shadow Lord (Shadowmen #3)

Here's S Rodman's "Shadow Lord." It's the third novel in the Shadowmen series.

["I have a crush on my shadow.

Ok, he's not actually my shadow, he's a shadow man from the Shadow Realm.

But he follows me around like he's attached to me. Wherever I turn he's there, watching me from a shadowy corner with those fathomless amber eyes.

He's silent, looming, brooding and terrifying.

Me? I'm annoyingly cheerful, apparently.

So having a being called Dark decide to stalk me is, you know. Ironic.

Not that I mind, because for a literal monster, he’s kinda sweet. Considerate. Extremely attentive.

All in all, moving to the city really has been wilder than I thought. I work in a coffee shop where the owner is engaged to a shadow prince and my manager is a witch, and that's how I met my shadow.

Although he isn't actually mine.

But I think I want him to be.

There’s just the small matter of saving the world from a doomsday prophecy to deal with first."]

BUNNY! Our sweet summer sunshine! Always soo positive and happy. 

This went from cute and protective and adorable and soft mutual pining and everything watching, waiting for the inevitable to happy. Then the angst came. That was mean. I cried. I had to take several breaks. Because what if Bunny started crying? Fucking Felix would cry (and then the apocalypse really would start). 

Plus three more books in the series coming soon!?!? Yes, please. 

Trigger Warnings: bullying, classism, deadnaming, sleep disorders, themes around being unable to become pregnant, relationship breakdown, blood, mild injury, cult/commune, war themes and violence, war causing separation, friends and lovers on opposing sides of a war, natural disasters, and more. 

#shadowprince #shadowking #shadowlord #suchawtich #shadowmen #shadowmenseries #srodman #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Dragon's Accidental Manny (Paranormal Au Pair Agency #2)

Here is Colbie Dunbar's "The Dragon's Accidental Manny." It's the second novel in the Paranormal Au Pair Agency series.

["I knocked on the wrong door and walked into a job.

When a live-in position lands in my lap, I don’t ask questions. Not about the wrong house I’m living in and not about the gorgeous man who handed me a home. And definitely not about his three kids who are warm to the touch, talk of flying and never take off their leather bracelets.

Somewhere between bedtime stories and the way he looks at me, I’m falling for the children and losing my head over the man who hired me."]

Just as adorable and patient as the previous book. It was fun and silly and healing for all of them. It has the same basic formula as the previous book, but it was still very unique. 

Honestly, this was a perfect little fluff story with very little angst that helped me get more reading done and without me have to focus too too hard to commit to anything too too long. Exactly what I needed. 

I can’t wait for more!! 

#thedragonsreluctantmanny #thedragonsaccidentalmanny #thedragonstemporarymanny #thedragonsrunawaymanny #colbiedunbar #paranormalaupairagency #paranormalaupairagencyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks