Wolves Always Bite (Willow Lake Supernaturals #2)

Here's "Wolves Always Bite" by Lori Ames. It's the second novel in her Willow Lake Supernaturals series. 

["What’s a simple human to do when he discovers supernatural beings are real?
Ask many, many, many questions and take lots of notes, of course.

Jeremy had always wanted to befriend mythical creatures, play with forbidden magic, and meet his fated mate. Okay, okay. He knew the difference between fiction and real life, he was an author after all… Or he would be if he ever got to The End on one of his stories. So, he knew his desire to live inside a fantasy romance novel was a touch unrealistic but where was the joy in living a life that was boring and predictable and overwhelmingly blah?

At least that’s what he thought until a hot AF werewolf saved him from his freaky boss and turned his whole life upside down. And his boss? She wasn’t the weird old lady he thought she was, but how could he have guessed she was a grumpy goblin with a reputation for selling black-market magical artifacts? Now, Jeremy is determined to know everything about the supernatural world and Adrian, his swoon-worthy werewolf hero, is willing to answer all his questions, even when they make the big guy blush.

But when his former goblin boss kidnaps his cat to convince Jeremy to return the items she thinks he stole, things get serious fast. Now in between plotting his next MM romance and seducing the beautiful werewolf (and not just for research purposes), he needs to stage a cat rescue. Life is definitely not boring now."]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["Jeremy has sooo many questions, Adrian tries to answer them even when they make him blush, no cats were hurt in the writing of this book, his best friend is a lying liar who lies, his book bag is his weapon of choice, don't touch the demon's dimples, supernaturals have magical everything, small towns aren't so bad especially when they are full of supes"]

I was a fan of Jeremy from Ash's book, through their text messages. But I turned into a FAN within a couple chapters on his own book. His stream of consciousness and randomness and kindness were genuine and hilarious and beautiful. Adrian handled all of Jeremy with grace, admiration, and fondness. They were perfect for each other.

Plus a whole new band of misfits and found family for more HEAs!?!?

Trigger Warnings: violence, car accident caused by bad guys, magical bomb, trafficking of supernatural people (not MCs), abduction of pet, threats to safety of family and pets, threats of murder, violent death of parents prior to start of book, and more.

#ravensneverfall #hellhoundsneverlie #wolvesalwaysbite #oraclesalwayswin #catsneverfly #alphasneverhide #loriames #willowlakesupernaturals #willowlakesupernaturalsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

All An Act

Here's "All An Act" by Leslie McAdam.

["Lachlan Doyle’s biggest problem seems to be which girl to invite to prom. Everyone thinks the golden boy of Royce High, captain of the football team and senior class president, has a charmed life.

Everyone except me.

To me, he’s the sad-eyed boy next door. All my life, I’ve overheard what goes on at his house and wished I could save him from it. I know that underneath Lachlan’s smiling, flirty exterior is a very broken human being.

One who has to fake interest in cheerleaders and so desperately wants to escape his horrible home life that he auditions for the school play just to be out of the house in the offseason. He’d rather spend hours rehearsing with the weird drama kids than deal with his family.

Except Lachlan didn’t know when he accepted the lead role that he’d have to kiss a guy—me—in front of the entire audience. And he didn’t know that I’ve had a crush on him forever. Although he might be suspicious, given what we get up to when no one else is around.

Regardless, there’s no chance we’d ever be together for real. The only time the popular jock and the emo goth make sense as a couple is when we’re both acting like someone else."]

TO BE UPDATED SOON

#arc #advancedreadercopy #arcteammember
#allanact #lesliemcadam #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

April's Book Shape Challenge 2026

2026 Book Shape Challenges... Last year, I went with an animal-theme. This year, I'm thinking zodiac constellations (which is less--and yet more--of a challenge (we'll see how it goes)).

Here's March's Book Shape Challenge! Ares!!

#reading #readingchallenge #readingdare #bookdare #bookchallenge #alphabetchallenge #beatthebacklog #monthlythemes #monthlychallenge #bookshape #bookshapechallenges #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Ravens Never Fall (Willow Lake Supernaturals #0.5)

Here's "Ravens Never Fall" by Lori Ames. It's the prequel novel in her Willow Lake Supernaturals series. 

["Oak thought he’d finally found a place to belong, but he didn’t find home until he met Mercer…

Mercer

I’ve always wanted to leave Willow Lake, but since my parents got sick and need my help to keep our family business going, I’m stuck here. This little town might seem nice, but with several local wolf shifters around, who would love nothing more than to drive the rest of us supernatural beings out of town, it isn’t exactly a magical Mayberry.

Everything gets worse when the wolf pack alpha and his mate unexpectedly die, especially when the tragic accident may not have been an accident at all.

This should be the perfect time to convince my parents we should all leave town, right?

There is only one problem with that, and his name is Oak. The big, gentle wolf shifter saves my life when I fall from the sky and into his arms, and now I’m questioning everything I thought I wanted.

But with some members of his wolf pack out to get us, will we survive long enough to find out if we could be mates?"]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["MM paranormal romance, fated mates, magic, Mercer loves shiny things, Oak loves Mercer, big insecure wolf shifter, small impulsive raven shifter, so much sparkle, hurt / comfort, finding home, sparkly nipple piercings, sometimes dreams change, sometimes dreams come true."]

I read the first book before I read the prequel, so many things had been spoiled already for me. But still, this book was beautiful. There was angst, but there was still also that immediate feeling of I-want-more-of-him, of-this. It was magical.

This book also set up a nice foundation for the series (as did the first novel). We saw many of the future MCs, ten-ish years before the series started and their stories started. 

Trigger Warnings: violence, magical bomb, threats of sexual violence, attempted abduction, attempted murder, patricide and matricide off-page, threat of fratricide, gunshot wounds, bullying, and more.

#ravensneverfall #hellhoundsneverlie #wolvesalwaysbite #oraclesalwayswin #catsneverfly #alphasneverhide #loriames #willowlakesupernaturals #willowlakesupernaturalsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hellhounds Never Lie (Willow Lake Supernaturals #1)

Here's "Hellhounds Never Lie" by Lori Ames. It's the first novel in her Willow Lake Supernaturals series. 

["A mage without magic. A hellhound without a home. A greedy wolf pack in the hills.

Ash is technically a fire mage, but he can’t do much. Turning his bedroom lights on and off without having to get out of bed isn’t exactly awe inspiring, not when anyone with the right gadget could clap and do the same thing.

Worse, sometimes he senses something bigger and brighter lurking under his skin, and it feels so familiar he knows it has to be his magic, but then he burps or sneezes, and the feeling passes. So it’s probably just allergies… or gas.

Yeah… Not exactly brimming with magical oomph. Not anymore.

It sucks.

But things start to change when he finds Dillon, a hellhound, being chased through the woods by an angry wolf pack. He is instantly smitten and it’s like something inside him unlocks. What’s even crazier is Dillon seems to think Ash still has magic… and now Ash isn’t sure what to believe.

What he does know is he’ll do what needs to be done to protect his friends and the little supernatural town of Willow Lake from the dirtbag wolves in the hills. Even with his magic on the fritz he can help, right? And, with Dillon at his side, what could possibly go wrong?"]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["a hellhound looking for a home, a fire mage without magic, a talking cat, a small town full of supernatural beings, size difference (BIG hellhound, small mage), fated mates, Ash has scars inside and out, Dillon wants to hurt people who hurt Ash, Ash is always cold (hello, big fluffy pink sweaters even in summer), and a curious human BFF who knows nothing about supes but has a very active imagination."]

YESss! This book was everything! A village of found family, everyone so different and so kind all coming together for peace and happiness, creating their own little pack in a tiny, quirky town. It was warm and welcoming from the very first page. There was also just sooo much history there, you felt it seep between the lines. 

Not to mention the instant connection between these two. They both felt it deep in their bones--that rightness, that safety, that protectiveness and possession--even if they didn't realize what it was at first. Their chemistry only grew as they grew closer together, as they got to know each other, as their broken pieces matched. 

I have a feeling I will be flipping obsessed with this town/series very, very soon.

Trigger Warnings: bullying, mention of murder, attempted murder, violence, hospitalization, gun wound, past partner abuse, past parental abandonment, and more.

#ravensneverlie #hellhoundsneverlie #wolvesalwaysbite #oraclesalwayswin #catsneverfly #alphasneverhide #loriames #willowlakesupernaturals #willowlakesupernaturalsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Losing My Rejection (Shifter Grove Rogue Wolves #2)

Here's Blake R Wolfe's "Losing My Rejection." It's the second novel in his Shifter Grove Rogue Wolves series. 

["I’m not into men, but my new werewolf boss is growing on me in ways I can’t deny. Can I come to terms with my attraction and win him back after I rejected him?

Josh
As a new rogue werewolf, Shifter Grove is my only option for sanctuary. The moment I step inside that small town, a complete stranger calls me his mate. I’m not into men or weirdos, so I send him packing. I need to get my life back together and get out of this nowhere town. So when the hotel owner gets me a job at a local bakery, I accept without question.
As soon as I open the bakery door, I see him, the wolf whom I rejected. He’s the owner of the bakery and my new boss. I need the job, but I’m wary. However, as we start to bond over our love of food, a strange attraction begins to develop, leaving me utterly confused.

Andy
The moment I see him, I know he’s my mate. Tall, handsome, and an Alpha to boot. I can’t help the words that slip out of my mouth. It’s no surprise he rejects me on the spot, and I know I’ll never see him again.
But when that wolf turns out to be my new baker, I can hardly contain my excitement. The way he oozes passion when he talks about cooking has me hooked. Josh is everything I want in a mate. The only problem is he’s straight. But I can’t seem to give up on him, even though I know it’s hopeless."]

Okay but like...what Andy said wasn't all thhhaaat offensive. It was blunt (and gay), but wasn't offensive. Though, in his defense, his life had just exploded (again) and he was experiencing some serious bi-panic (and internalized homophobia). 

These two were adorable though. All of the patience and kindness and secret fluff and cooking as a love language (I’m hungry now). 

I love how the Mate moments are instant, but the couples in this series take their time falling in love. Granted, the other shtick is the instant rejection, so we have to build back up to the HEA. 

I was thinking series feels a little lesser to me, like it was missing something or just overall very dramatic. But I’m coming off another dark romance binge, so I think I’m just used to everything bad all of the time and solving our problems with grunts and violence.  

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, homophobia, some internalized homophobia, mention of past parental death, 

#becauseyourejectedme #losingmyrejection #semirejectedlife #rejectmebabyonemoretime #thatsthewayrejectiongoes #shiftergroveroguewolves #shiftergroveroguewolvesseries #blakerwolfe #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Because You Rejected Me (Shifter Grove Rogue Wolves #1)

Here's Blake R Wolfe's "Because You Rejected Me." It's the first novel in his Shifter Grove Rogue Wolves series. 

["Homeless and nursing a broken heart, I rejected my mate the first time he spoke to me. A hunky alpha werewolf in a cowboy hat is my fantasy come to life. But is it too late to reel him back in?

Matt
I was kicked out of my pack and my home after I told the alpha's son I loved him. He broke my heart and told everyone my secret. Now I'm a rogue wolf with nowhere to go. That is, until I hear rumors of a rogue wolf hotel in a small town up north. It's a place where wolves like me can go to get back on their feet, and I need all the help I can get.
However, the moment I arrive, some douchebag in a cowboy hat calls me his mate. I lay into him, calling him every name under the sun and telling him he was the last person I'd ever be with. When he stalks away with his tail between his legs, I'm sure I've seen the last of him.
But then I end up being forced to work on his farm to earn my keep.

Ace
I've been in the small town of Shifter Grove since I was seventeen, and despite a rocky start, it’s been a peaceful life thus far. However, the day Matt rolls into town, that peace is shattered. The moment I see him, my heart begins to pound, and I blurt out "mate" before I can stop myself.
He tears me a new one, and honestly, I don't blame him. But I can't stop thinking about those perfect lips of his or the way those shorts hug his body. For the first time in my life, I want to share my heart with someone and I'm pretty sure he hates me.
However, when Matt is sent to work on my farm by the hotel owner, I realize that this might be my second chance to prove myself."]

These two were adorable! It was flirty and fun, it was sassy and sweet, it was love and little moments of magic (literal and figurative). There was some angst, but it was all justifiable and not necessarily entirely between the two of them. 

A town filled with found family and friends and utter support from every corner. A hotel owner and "foster dad" with a heart of gold and a penchant for meddling. I can't wait for more!

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, homophobia, stalking, mild violence, and more.

#becauseyourejectedme #losingmyrejection #semirejectedlife #rejectmebabyonemoretime #thatsthewayrejectiongoes #shiftergroveroguewolves #shiftergroveroguewolvesseries #blakerwolfe #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks