Callback (Evergreen University #2)

Here's Lee McCormick and RS McKenzie's "Callback." It's the second novel in their new Evergreen University series.

["Luca
My life has always boiled down to two words: be good.
Be good because your grandparents didn’t have to take you in when your dad abandoned you. Be good so you can get a scholarship for college. Be good… and don’t tell anyone what happened freshman year.
But when Maddox Levine tells me I’m good, all the stress, all the worry… it fades away. Being good for him makes me feel like I’m floating… but wanting to be good for my professor…
That might be the thing that makes me fall.

Maddox
I’ve spent twenty years ignoring my past, never allowing my frozen heart to thaw for anyone. I’ve kept most people at arm’s length, my attitude ensuring no one gets too close.
Then I meet Luca and he cracks something inside me that’s been locked up for decades. He’s soft… innocent… sweet. More than I deserve. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting.
Or showing him a whole new world."]

Another fabulous look from Lee and RS. Another slightly dark romance in this universe (that is probably dark for most people but light gray to me). 

These two were perfect for each other. The angst and personal histories and emotional baggage kept them on the edge of falling in love for week. The chemistry and fluff and pining kept them coming back for more. It was a perfect balance.

Also, kinda miss Sandy (and his "psychotic blond boyfriend"--Luca's words, not mine)

Trigger Warnings: discussions of domestic violence against SC, discussion of sexual assault against MC, sexual assault against MC, violence, murder, mentions of homophobia, absent/poor relationship with parents, and more. 

#blitzd #callback #sacked #evergreenuniversity #evergreenuniversityseries #rsmckenzie #leemccormick #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Den of Paradise

Here's "Den of Paradise" by Eryn Hawk. 

["As the head of the most prestigious pack in the city, Caine Devereux doesn’t have the time or desire for a mate. That is until a routine visit to one of his “clubs” sparks an encounter with an omega in heat, and his resolve wavers. For the first time in his life, he’s not repulsed by the scent that greets him, so he lets instinct take over. It’s only three nights, after all? Except, what Caine doesn’t expect is for that same omega to show up on his doorstep two years later, begging for his help.

He shouldn’t get involved, he’s not interested in the archaic existence his father expected of him, but he can’t deny how the wilful little thing has captured his attention—it’s been a while since anyone dared to show him their claws.

Dylan Park is down on his luck, a single man with hardly a penny to his name, and after his first heat compels him into the arms of a powerful stranger, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. He quickly realises there’s no escaping the wolf’s den once you’ve ventured in, and he’s given no choice but to seek the leader’s aid. He’s offered a lifetime of protection, and with his baby girl in mind, Dylan signs on the dotted line, forfeiting his freedom and the chance of a bond like his parents had.

One tryst was all it took to flip his world on its axis, to tie him to an arrogant Alpha who barely tolerates his presence. But is security really worth never experiencing a fairytale ending for himself?"]

I waited for months for this book to come out! I counted down the days...and then it took me days to read. I was apparently not in a place for the kind of angst this book provided.

But it was soooo worth it!

This book was the perfect combination of spice and sass, of fluff and fire, of protection and possession. It was all over the top obsession and denial. It was found family and fate. It was fighting what you desire, fighting what you feel. It was overcoming those fears and accepting that love can concur.  

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, torture, past sexual coercion/assault, physical abuse, parental death, sexism, feelings of abandonment, old-fashioned ideals/traditions, ableism, asshole parent, scars/permanent injury, hospital aversion, guns/shooting, severe injury, blood and violence, 

#denofparadise #erynhawk #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

the witch doesn't drown in this one (women are some kind of magic #3)

Here's Amanda Lovelace's "the witch doesn't drown in this one." It's the third poetry in her series Women Are Some Kind of Magic

["In this one, the witch doesn’t burn or die or drown. In this one, she rages.

In the witch doesn’t drown in this one, celebrated poetess amanda lovelace revisits the titular voice behind her 2018 bestselling collection the witch doesn’t burn in this one. With candor, honesty, and well-earned wisdom, lovelace expounds on the roller coaster of feelings brought on by simply trying to exist as a woman in the sociopolitical climate of 2025’s America. Through poetry that encompasses a myriad of fem-centric themes, including queer love, trans rights, patriarchal oppression, and intersectional feminism, she demands that women of all backgrounds and lived experiences be seen, heard, defended, and loved.

the witch doesn’t drown in this one is a deeply felt and hard-won reminder that though some stories that start with bitch-fire end with tear stains, women are powerful, resilient beings who have always contained the strength to rise again, especially when we swim back to the surface together."]

another powerful and empowering collection. it screams female rage just loud enough for everyone to hear, even if they want to ignore it. 

#theprincesssavesherselfinthisone #thewitchdoesntburninthisone #thewitchdoesntdrowninthisone #womenaresomekindofmagic #womenaresomekindofmagicseries #amandalovelace #poetry #poetrybooks #poems #poetrycollection #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye, April!

It's already May..which is strange. Because each month this year seems longer than the last.

2026 Resolutions:

     (1) Don't stop reading
            (b) Complete Monthly Reading Challenge(s)
     (2) Make memories
     (3) Share love of books/reading
     (4) Be kinder to myself

(1) Book's Read This Month: 42 (though, I might squeeze one more in before midnight).

    (b) Monthly Reading Challenge(s): Shape = Ares. Got some A-Z stuff recorded. Some ARCs. Got a lot of Beat The Backlog done.

(2) April Memories: Lots of work. Lots of books. A few nice lunches with work friends. Nothing overly exciting this month. 

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 34.

(4) Ehh. Most days were good. The weather being indecisive as hell hasn't been fun. Nor the additional work stressors. Nor the endless work hours. Nor the season depression playing peek-a-boo. But the days that the sun is out and the temperature is warm, those have been nice. The laughter has been wonderful. The books have been the best of friends. 

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting May reads? Any existing 2026 reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeapril #hellomay #hello2026 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Transition (Oakley's Crew #3)

Here's Nicole Dykes's "Transition." It's the third Oakley's Crew novel.

["Gabe
My favorite principle in landscaping is transition. In life? Not so much.
I can’t stand change when it comes to my life. I was married to the same woman since I was in my early twenties and now I’m just supposed to move on from being married to being single. Sharing custody of our daughter.
Transition works for landscaping. It’s the easiest thing for me. Making sure there’s a natural flow in everything we do.
But that works because it’s gradual.
This feels so abrupt, it’s jarring.I don’t know how to make this change.
I’m not sure that I want to.

Dakota
I like my routine. I love being in my house, working from home and I realize that most think I’m weird.I couldn’t really care less what other people think.
But when I hire Oakley’s Crew to build a new greenhouse, I feel things starting to shift. Like it’s possible that maybe the way I’ve been living my life for the last three years isn’t as satisfying as I’d like to think.
Maybe it is time for a change.
Maybe it will be worth it for…him."]

This was honestly soooo cute! It was the perfect amount of pining and sweetness and spice and just the right degree of angst to get you sucked in. 

All of the love and patience and trust and kindness. All for he cute and silly reasons to see each other. All of the good natured teasing. All of the barn movies and cat cuddles and blueberry pancakes.

Another HIT by Nicole.

Trigger Warnings: past bullying, past homophobia, past divorce, past emotional cheating, and more. 

#simplicity #balance #deckthehalls #transition #oakleyscrew #oakleyscrewseries #kensleypanthers #kensleypantersseries #nicoledykes #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Crystals and Corpses (Magic Misfits Murder #1)

Here's "Crystals and Corpses" by Lori Ames and Jacki James. It's the first novel in her Magic Misfits Murder series. 

["Magic, murder, and a whole lot of coffee—welcome to Ravenstone!

Declan Hawthorne is just your average caffeine-addicted guy—until a visit to his grandfather magic is real, witches exist, and apparently, Declan’s one of them.

Now he’s getting to know Ravenstone, a supernatural small town where the coffee is strong, the monsters are quirky, and someone just murdered a vampire at the first annual Magic Festival.

His ally? Gideon Blackwood—a gorgeous wolf shifter who can’t shift but still manages to growl in all the right ways. He knows he can’t be Alpha, but that doesn’t stop him from protecting everyone else… including one reckless new witch who doesn’t know when to quit.

Between magical cookies and cakes, a bunch of meddling misfit monsters, and a lot of spilled coffee, Declan and Gideon have their hands full. But if they want to catch a killer—and maybe fall a little in love—they’ll have to trust their instincts and maybe their magic.

Because in Ravenstone, coffee solves most problems. The rest? Magic and a hot wolf usually do the trick."]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["MM paranormal mystery romance, cozy mystery vibes with a bit of heat, an alpha without a wolf, a guy who’s just discovered he’s a witch, some magical cakes and cookies, supernatural small town creatures, low angst, lots and lots of coffee, a misfit monster support group with a heartbroken mermaid, a murder-board-creating shadow imp, a matronly spider lady, a grumpy demon, an extroverted sprite, a shy bigfoot, and Declan’s hippie grandfather"]

Well that was adorable as hell. A whole band of misfits who made their own little family in a small town that is also basically a big found family. All (well, okay minus the murder) very supportive and friendly and open and happy. 

I can’t wait to see more of the current mysteries solved as well as new ones in the next book! 

Trigger Warnings: violence, murder, and more. 

#crystalsandcorpses #hexesandhops #loriames #jackijames #magicmisfitsmurder #magicmisfitsmurderseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Undertow (Widdershins Supernatural Academy series #5)

Here's "Undertow" by Blake R Wolfe. It's the fifth novel in his Widdershins Supernatural Academy series. 

["A cursed song. A witch out of his depth. A love that could end in destruction...

My voice heals and ruins in the same breath. I’m a siren and every note is a hook, every melody draws promises from mortals that think they mean it until silence steals it back. I’ve watched their eyes clear, their vows dissolve, and my heart fracture in the aftermath. So I sing alone. I stay alone.

Until he finds me.

Theodore Voss—witch, varsity swimmer, and future valedictorian. He catches me skinny dipping in the academy pool after hours and now he can’t keep his eyes off me. After a one night stand on Halloween, we’re both hooked.

But my kind bears a deeper curse than a dangerous song. Once a siren gives their heart, it cannot be taken back. If our lover’s affection fades… we fade with it until we’re nothing but seafoam and memory. I have been hurt before. If I’m wrong about him, it will be the last mistake I ever make.

I swim to uphold my family legacy, my father’s dreams, and make an olympic team that is always just a few seconds out of reach. To appease them all I must keep the grades perfect, keep the times sharp, and keep the feelings locked down.

Then I see him.

Nerion doesn’t cloud my mind though… he clears it. What I feel toward him is not some enchantment… it’s the first honest thing in my life. But convincing a siren who has been drowning in false love to trust me might be the hardest race I’ll ever swim. We’re just friends with benefits until we’re not. And now my family wants to tear us apart.

I could live with losing a race or my family’s name. But I cannot lose him."]

This one seemed overall sadder than the other books in the series. There was so much personal tension and angst and trauma that they were both dealing with. Their connection helped to alleviate some of that baggage..until it started to bleed into their relationship. 

Of course the secretly-really-great-people professions had their back. And several (not all) of the Elder Council. And their friends (..friend). 

I love how this series is connected, but we aren't bombarded by past couples and cameos (though I could use a liiittle more cameos). 

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, discrimination, and more.

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