Red (Fairest of Them All #2)

I have sooo many ARCs due right now; so naturally, I'm avoiding them. Here is Harper B Cole, Trisha Linde, and Colbie Dunbar's "Red." It's the second novel in their Fairest of Them All series (a spin-off-ish series/in the same universe as the Once Upon an MM Romance series). It's a Red Riding Hood retelling. 

["All the better to eat you with...

Alpha Aran has always been the biggest of his brothers, the oldest, the most responsible, and therefore, he’s also the one tasked with running the family business, Gruff Construction. It only feels natural to take care of everyone in his life, even some distant relative he barely knows. Sure, he doesn’t mind bringing chicken soup to his foster mother’s estranged father in the middle of the woods… the woods filled with the sound of howling wolves… Nothing weird about that. What he isn’t expecting, though, is finding someone who wants to take care of him for a change.

Omega wolf shifter Oscar has been waiting to meet his match… or rather, his mate. No one in his old pack piqued his interest, and he thought a new pack might offer more enticing options. Except it’s just more of the same. His biological clock is ticking, and it doesn’t help that he’s become the de facto den father, surrounded by everyone else’s babies. For once, he wants to take care of someone he can call his own. However, no one is more surprised than he is when he stumbles on a mouth-watering human stranger in the forest, and he finds himself tempted to take a bite."]

Oof, talk about confusion and miscommunication and hurt/comfort. Though I guess it didn’t really last all that long. 

But two men who couldn’t understand what was right in front of them? One who should have just listened a smidge  harder to his wolf  could have made it much easier on both of them. 

Looking back, I guess Oscar couldn't have been Little Red if he was the in-real-life wolf, but the realization of Aran being Little Red was sooo fucking adorable. 

#cinders #red #seared #rebel #slumber #justright #harperbcole #trishalinde #colbiedunbar #fairestofthemall #fairestofthemallseries #onceuponanMMromance #onceuponanMMromanceseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye, October!

October was...a lot. It was a lot of good and a lot of stress and a lot of sleep, but overall, it definitely fell on the positive side of months. 

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: 36 (a lot of novellas) (though, I might squeeze one more in before midnight).

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

(2) October Memories: I started working at the daycare again; all of the cuddles and Abba's and germs. But I'm back with some of the people and family that I loved and missed. The touch-starved-ness is healing. Trunk or Treat at the school plus a Halloween party. The Jonas Brother's concert! God, that was amazing. I was third row. The pictures didn't even do anywhere near the justice of my view and the show. I sweeeaaar I made eye-contact with Nick (and my stomach fell through my butt).

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 37.

(4) Lots of cuddles from toddlers, which I missed. But also lots of germs and stress, which I didn't miss. A lot of naps and weird sleeps and weirder dreams. But I'm happy. Have had a few moments of the Sunday Blues, but nothing too blue overall depression wise. Getting "exercise" at work, and my body feels it (god, does my body feel it). Eating...okay. Not great but not totally horrible. 

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

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

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeoctober #hellonovember #hello2026 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Lonely Dragon Upstairs (Omegas of Moonridge Place #2)

I'm avoiding...everything while my mood-reading has been everywhere and nowhere. Here is Lorelei M Hart and Colbie Dunbar's "The Lonely Dragon Upstairs." It's the second novel in their Omegas of Moonridge Place series. 

["The alpha upstairs is tall, dark, handsome… and terrifying.

My roommates are horrible. They’re loud, messy, and inconsiderate. I tell myself it’s manageable, if it means saving money for my own place. But when they threaten to rehome my bunny when I’m at work, if I don’t pay their missing rent, staying here is no longer an option.

I sit down with a realtor, and luck is on my side. A new listing pops up with everything I’m looking for at a price I can afford. I can’t apply fast enough.

Move-in day has me second-guessing my life choices. The place has a weird vibe, and it feels like they don’t want me here, especially the hottie from upstairs. He turns and walks the other way every time we cross paths. I’m sure he hates me.

That is until one night when I’m out with friends. I notice my neighbor in the corner nursing a beer, but don’t go over. Why should I? He hates me. Or does he?

When an alpha starts getting handsy, my neighbor grabs him by the arm, and I hear a crack as my rescuer says, “Hands off what’s mine.” WTF?"]

"Jon did it again." He sure as fuck did. I'd say poor Jon, but people keep meeting their fated mates and falling in love, so it isn't all that bad (not to mention that Jon means all the kindness in the world). 

This was sooo achingly sweet with just the right amount of you're-such-an-idiot angst. It was adorable and hesitant and fluffy and possessive and communicative and protective. It was a found family still waiting with the door open and an empty seat. It was more than old rules from people who didn't care enough when it mattered. It was pets making friends and non-stereotypical hoards and found family (it does need repeating).

I want MORE!

#thesinglefatherupstairs #thelonelydragonupstairs #theomegasofmoonridgeplace #theomegasofmoonridgeplaceseries #colbiedunbar #loreleimhart #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Single Father Upstairs (Omegas of Moonridge Place #1)

I'm avoiding...everything while my mood-reading has been everywhere and nowhere. Here is Lorelei M Hart and Colbie Dunbar's "The Single Father Upstairs." It's the first novel in their Omegas of Moonridge Place series. 

["The alpha upstairs is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s also a widowed single father. I should stay away. I can’t.

Moving to a new city is expensive. I know that, but when places started asking for first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a deposit, and a pet fee, my hopes of an apartment of my own vanish. I’m about to sign a sublease with five strangers when I get a call from my real estate agent. They found the perfect place and well within budget. I sign sight unseen.

I arrive expecting it to be falling apart or in a sketchy neighborhood. It’s neither, but the residents are rude.

Some sniff me and turn up their noses.

Others refuse to say hi.

A few even go out of their way to avoid me.

The only person nice to me is an eight year old girl who absolutely adores my cat Rosey. When her father comes looking for her, it’s love at first sight except that only exists in fairy tales, but the sexy alpha checks off every box. Too bad he can’t get away from me fast enough."]

This was SO good! Just a little crazy and silly and off-the-wall. Just enough angst to have a successful plot. Great amount of fluff and adorable-ness and sweet moments. Fabulous amount of inner-animal and fated moments and spice. 

Quick, easy read with fun characters. What more could you possibly want?

#thesinglefatherupstairs #thelonelydragonupstairs #theomegasofmoonridgeplace #theomegasofmoonridgeplaceseries #colbiedunbar #loreleimhart #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Emerson

Here's Kat Marowe's "Emerson."

["Emerson Bennet has a perfectly reasonable approach to uncomfortable situations and avoid them forever.

But when his oldest brother looks at him with sad eyes and asks for a favor, Emery can't bring himself to say no. Even though that favor is helping a man Emery has spent years avoiding.

For good reason.

Several, actually.

Dillon Montgomery clearly does not feel the same way because he likes to bring it up. He also likes to press all of Emery's buttons, get under his skin, and make him forget why he needs to keep pretending Dillon Does Not Exist.

Dillon is a single dad with a business and very little free time. He shouldn't be playing games with his best friend’s younger brother, but...he never was good at telling Emery no.

One completely reasonable arrangement.

Emery has delusions and rules.

Dillon has hope and patience.

Both of them are running out."]

The banter!! D: God, that was some great banter. The sass, the chemistry, the mutual pining. It was angsty but with so much sweetness (don't forget the sass). 

I didn't expect the hurt/comfort (as minor as it was) to come from Emerson's side (spoiler alert). Though, as it turns out, Dillon started the hurt/comfort. And that added to the angst. As did neither of them communicating their honest wants and true feelings. 

Even with the angst and the hurt/comfort, I did not expect to cry. Thanks for that.

This can be a standalone but it can also be the start of a series. I wouldn't complain for more Bennet chaos. 

#emerson #katmarowe #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Feeder Legacy (The Vampire Dominion #1)

Here is Louisa Masters's "The Feeder Legacy." It's the first novel in The Vampire Dominion series.

["When the family secret is a history of being lunch…

I don’t have the best track record when it comes to jobs. Since finishing uni, I’ve been drifting from hospo to retail and back again, searching for something that will hold my interest and leaving a trail of irritated wanker bosses behind me.

When I once again find myself unemployed, my long-lost cousin steps in with a fantastic opportunity. Turns out, when my parents decided to walk away from the family, they left a generational business as well, and there’s a job waiting for me if I want it.

The catch? Vampires are real, and they’ll pay to drink my blood.

The Barale family sets the gold-star standard for vampire feeders, and the mere mention of my name gets me a job with a salary and benefits beyond my wildest dreams. In return, I need to move into a vampire’s house and offer him my wrist twice a day. Simple.

Except my new community—including my vampire, Tristan—doesn’t know that I’m clueless about their world, and it’s more complicated and dangerous than I thought. I’ve got to keep my head down and mouth shut while I learn the basics. How hard can it be?

After all, I’m a legacy."]

I mean, we gotta fault Cat a little a little (or more than a little) for not preparing Adam at all. Like at all, at all. Or advocated for a 24-hour processing period for him somehow? Anything really. No, she just pushed him right threw the fire and into the deep end. And as he learned more about this world (as we learned more about it), it just kept getting worse. His parents were somehow more chill about it than I thought they would be.

At first, I was upset that we didn't see Tristan's POV, but after a while, it really upped the drama. That was a beautiful choice, even if I wished to see Tristan simp over Adam (or mentally throttle him), because I refuse to accept that Tristan isn’t far more gone for Adam than Adam is for Tristan. 

At the halfway point, I kinda figured this would have ended like it did, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. Can we get book two now, please? February is too far. 

Trigger Warnings: threats, violence, torture, murder, and more.

#thefeederlegacy #thefeederdefence #louisamasters #thevampiredominion #thevampiredominionseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

His Cruel Exception (Ruthless Camorra Heirs #1)

Here's "His Cruel Exception" by MA DeVant. This is the first novel the Ruthless Camorra Heirs series.

["I was in the wrong place at the wrong time when I caught the attention of a notorious mafia heir.

I’ll do anything to pay off the debt hanging over my head, including becoming a stripper.

But then Antonio Scalera buys the club, and the only job he offers me is to be his tutor.

He’s a ruthless prince, and the last man I should work for if I want to keep my peace of mind.

He gives me no choice anyway, because once he decides I belong to him, there’s no escaping him.

He controls everything about me including my schedule, life, and even my body.

When his enemies realize they can get to him through me, I do the only thing I can think of to protect him.

I run.

But there’s one thing I forget about Antonio Scalera.

He never lets go of what’s his."]

God-fucking-damnit, that was addictive as fuck. It was a perfect mess of obsessed but not sure why, of spice and not-so-hidden fluff, of hurt/comfort. They were utterly fucking perfection. Well except for Antonio being utterly unable to communicated, let alone understand his feelings. Poor Alex didn't know what you said and did equaled what you felt, even if the rest of the Scarlera cousins saw it immediately. 

Not nearly as angsty or tear-ridden as I thought it was going to be (spoiler alert), but that was a nice surprise.

I canNOT wait for the rest of the cousins to get their messy af HEA. Literally going to be soo messy and perfect.

Trigger Warnings: non-con/dub-con, kidnapping, murder, violence, gun violence, stalking, panic attacks, neglectful/abusive parent, off-page death of a parent, parent with chronic illness, and more. 

#hiscruelexception #hissinfulattraction #ruthlesscamorraheirs #ruthlesscamorraheirsseries #madevant #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks