Pareidolia (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

Here's Lee McCormick's "Pareidolia." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids.

["Something always has bigger teeth.

Aspen
I've spent my life chasing emotions I can't understand. I don’t feel bad for what I am—I don’t feel much at all, really. I’m a monster, comfortable in my own skin. When I move to a small town where people go missing and they say the woods are haunted by a beast, I think I’ve finally found a place to settle.
And then he finds me… A creature made of shadow and moonlight.
A beast with wings that feeds on pure emotion.
A monster who says I belong to him.

Nox
I am the shadow that hangs over my small town by the mountains. I am the thing the children fear and the adults speak of in hushed voices. I’ve never cared to know a human, until Aspen shows up in the woods with blood on his hands. I feed on emotions, but his are volatile… different. He doesn’t feel fear, but I can taste the desire for violence just beneath his skin.
I want to consume him. I want to keep him. I want to peel away his layers and wrap him up in my wings until I can taste his heart on my tongue.
I never believed in mates, but I know Aspen is mine."]

Dude, can you be that shocked that the monster wants to keep you when you literally just called him "my monster"? This being chapter two. Chapter one, you mentioned that you tattooed him on your body.

Sure, Nox didn't understand the difference between asking and telling, but Aspen barely felt any emotions so... they work. They really work. Nox feeds and teaches Aspen about "typical" human emotions that he's never felt before, and Aspen feed Nox that cold apathy and that untampered lust. Two monsters don't cancel each other out; they make each other stronger. Nox taught Aspen to welcome his monstrous side. Aspen taught Nox a little bit about being human.

And another fabulous epilogue that ties into what was quite frankly a fabulously dark prologue. 

Trigger Warnings: blood play, death, gore, murder, body horror, cnc, forced mating/marking, violence, torture, kidnapping, stalking/hunting/capturing of MC, mentions of past child abuse, and more.

#pareidolia #leemccormick #mortis #tenebrous #hollow #feral #paligenesis #tenebrous #golden #hush #leech #noctis #solivagant #solais #marked #mayhemmanuscripts #mayhemmanuscriptsseasontwo #mayhemmanuscriptscryptids #mayhemmanuscriptsseasontwocryptids #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Under His Rule (In The Spotlight)

Here's Davidson King's "Under His Rule." It's a novel in the multi-author series, In The Spotlight.

["Under his rule, nobody is safe.

Prince Julian Davaros is heir to the throne of the Lamdera Islands. He’s gorgeous, rich, famous… and just happens to be a serial killer. His family and bodyguard know his murderous proclivities, but to everyone else, he’s simply the heir apparent, loved by many. In reality, Julian can’t stand most people, he doesn’t have relationships, and if he’s alone with you it usually means you’re his next victim. However, once Wynn Carter catches his attention in a small café, Julian’s new obsession isn’t one he wants to kill but instead wants to own.

Wynn Carter has always wanted to visit the Lamdera Islands, and he’s using his thirtieth birthday as the perfect excuse. His plan is to soak up some sun, drink in the culture, and make memories with his friends. His agenda didn’t include catching the eye of the future king. Now Wynn finds himself swept up in a sort of fairytale of lavish dinners, intimate nights, and even some media attention. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve the prince’s interest, but he’s certainly not upset about it.

Unfortunately, secrets don’t stay hidden no matter how powerful you are, and when someone decides to push Julian out of the shadows by hurting the one person he wants more than anything, the quiet monster that lies within him bursts free. Julian’s and Wynn’s lives erupt into chaos, and Wynn finally discovers who Julian truly is. If he can’t live with it, the prince needs to decide whether to surrender everything… or get rid of his obsession."]

These two were the definition of instant connection and fast falling and opposites attract. They were each other's rock and each other's calm. But they also brought each other a lot of drama. If it wasn't for Wynn, Julian wouldn't have killed the governor (not that Wynn is to blame); if it wasn't for Julian, Wynn wouldn't be coerced into a relationship with a psychopathic prince. So their love story wasn't entirely easy.

It was kinda cute though. Julian, a virtually uncaring person, cared sooo much about Wynn and Wynn's feelings of him and Wynn's comfort and Wynn's future. Wynn hate that darkness in Julian, but he couldn't' help but constantly cave under the sweetness (and that spice) 

Trigger Warnings: torture, death, kidnapping, mild dubcon, and more.

#underhisrule #davidsonking #inthespotlight #inthespotlightseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (the Naughty List)

Here's Ashlynn Mills's "Stalking Around the Christmas Tree." It's part of the multi-author series The Naughty List.

["Henry

My life had finally started going in the right direction. I started selling out of my art pieces online left and right, I got invites to art shows and during my first event, my boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed.

I had everything, until one wrong turn during a snowstorm landed me alone in a my new cabin during the holiday season and needing to rely an app just to decorate a Christmas tree. The Army vet working the first night I use it is more than happy to assist me whenever I call on him. Even when I get snowed in and think someone may be trying to get inside. Its almost like he's right there with me when I need help navigating through each room and making sure every window is locked.

The more We talk, the more I start to think he actually might be, and maybe no one is actually trying break in anymore because they're already inside. He's already inside."]

Huey the pig!!! D: That’s all. He deserved mentioning. :D 

These two were nothing like I pictured. Henry was sweet but he was also sassy and assertive when he needed to be and not entirely innocent. Raf was less serial killer stalker and more sleepwalking his way through PTSD not-therapist-sanctioned therapy while trying his best to not. 

They got what they deserved: Christmas magic and a HEA. The other guys got what they deserved too: unaliving. 

Trigger Warnings: MC with PTSD from being in the military, light mention of past SA (no details on page), blind MC who was in a terrible accident that's on page, cheating spouse, stalking without trying to, nonconsensual drugging, an almost assault scene toward the end, some unaliving, and more. 

#stalkingaroundthechristmastree #ashlynnmills #acorpseforchristmas #mistletoemischiefandmurder #christmasmafaiprince #abloodymerrychristmas #murderunderthemistletoe #thesilentnightstalker #deckthehallswithbloodanddesire #thenaughtylist #thenaughtylistseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Icebreaker (Daddies of the League)

Here's Kerry Kilpatrick's "Icebreaker." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Daddies of the League.

["Sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never see coming.

Brennen Tate is the halfway decent goalie of a losing college hockey team. When he graduates in the spring, he’s heading straight to the mountains—no NHL dreams, no drama. With days full of studying and hockey and nights full of casual hookups, life is exactly how Brennen likes it…until Cooper “Ellie” Ellis upends everything.

Ellie’s a sweet, quiet guy working in the equipment room and crashing in the training room to escape his nightmare dorm. When Brennen’s roommate graduates early and moves out, he impulsively offers Ellie the extra room. No big deal, right? Just a favor.

But things take an unexpected turn when Brennen stumbles across Ellie’s little secret…which just happens to match Brennen’s deepest desires.

This Daddy-little story is full of rock collections, movie marathons, and way too many stuffies for a college apartment. Turns out, home isn’t a place—it’s a person."]

I was flipping between a dark and dirty romance and something soft but still a little cliched. At least this book was on my TBR and not a random (but highly accurate) targeted add. 

And fluffy soft sweetness this was. They were adorable together. They had a connection (and mutual) crushes before the book even started. First chapter, first couple of paragraphs, you can see the potential (literally most of the hockey team saw the potential). When they moved in together, it just grew and grew. They got to know each other, the feelings got deeper, the real stuff slowly came out.

The communication was on-point. The consent was on-point. The constant checking was on-point.1

#icebreaker #kerrykilpatrick #luckysucker #tutoringmrhotshot #thepuckdaddy #completelypucked #phantomfaceoff #rightpuckingdaddy #officemisconduct #daddiesoftheleague #daddiesoftheleagueseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Patchwork (Ink Slingers #3)

"Patchwork" is the third novel in K.M. Neuhold's Ink Slingers series. This series is a spin-off series from Big Bull Mechanics, which is a spin-off series from Bear Construction. I love that for us. ;)

["It's not a relationship, it's just a patchwork of tattoo sessions and sweaty secrets with a rock star. No big deal.

I've been keeping this secret for four years, counting down the months in between visits from Onyx.

To everyone else I'm “Hero” but he mostly just calls me “yes” and “more” while we trade heated kisses and wandering hands.

I know it won't ever be anything more than a wild secret and eventually he'll get bored hooking up with a tattoo artist fifteen years too old for him from Nowhere, Wisconsin. But I'm more than happy to enjoy this while it lasts.

But when Onyx shows up unannounced and tells me that instead of a hurried weekend we have 3 full months before he has to hit the road again, I don't know if I'm more excited or terrified to see where things will go.

I’m sure there’s more to life than tattooing Onyx and spending late nights talking until the sun comes up, but whatever that “more” is, it can’t be as fun as this.

No matter how hard I’m falling for him, there’s no way that he’s going to give up his rock star lifestyle to stay here with me… is there?"]

I have no clue why I waited so long for to read this book. It was just the fluffy sweetness I needed today. 

These two were adorable. Instant chemistry, love at first sight. But also talking around their feelings and alluding today then instead of talking about them. 

I loved the dual time lines too. We got to see them fall in love through the years, all of the stolen moments. 

#flash #virginskin #patchwork #inkslingers #inkslingersseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Callous Shot (Cranham Kings #2)

Here's "Callous Shot" by Becca Steele. It's the second novel in the Cranham Kings series.

["Daniel Hoyton has been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember. We play for rival hockey teams. We attend rival universities. Our families are on opposite sides of the law.

I hate him, with his irritatingly smug smile, his arrogance, and his inability to take anything seriously.
I want to wipe that smile from his face with my fist.
…Or my mouth.

I can’t decide if I want to punch him or kiss him, and it’s beginning to be a problem. A problem with big consequences. Not only is he completely wrong for me, but his family and friends are under investigation…and my uncle is in charge of the operation.

I know we’re going to crash and burn.
But I can’t seem to stay away from the flames."]

What is better than a hockey dark romance? Two of my favorite sub-genres/tropes all combined into an angsty, hidden-fluff hot mess wrapped in a knife-shoes bow. 

TO BE UPDATED SOON

Trigger Warnings: organized crime/gang violence, death of a parent, references to past stillborn, references to past child abuse, and more. 

#hostilegame #calloushot #beccasteele #cranhamkings #cranhamkingsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Mortis (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

Here's Lily James's "Mortis." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids.

["Some beasts never wanted to be monsters.
The most dangerous ones always did.

For sixty years, Kael has survived by hunting anyone foolish enough to enter Barrowfell Woods. Bound to his inner demon, every meal leaves him drowning in guilt. When he finally refuses to kill again, desperation drives him beyond the treeline and into the world of humans.

Teddy Adler has spent his life surrounded by the dead. As the mortuary technician at his family's funeral home, corpses don't scare him. Demons, apparently, don't either.

Instead of running from the seven-foot cryptid he catches eating one of his clients, Teddy offers Kael a solution neither of them expected. One that lets him feed on the dead instead of the living.

But while Teddy teaches a demon how to survive without murder, a centuries-old cult is preparing to finish what its founders started. Their leader has spent a lifetime searching for the beast his family once enslaved, and he'll burn down an entire town to drag Kael back into chains."]

Prologue: scary as fuck demon satyr monster who sadistically hunts people in the woods. Chapter Three: soft as fuck demon within a demon who doesn’t like hurting people but has no choice and when confronted by a tiny human about his B&E (and past murders) shrinks in guilt and shame.

And then there's Beastie. Definitely the sadistic hunting monster. More demon than not. Threatens Teddy (at first) but smirks at his confidence and gull. Always there to remind Teddy (and Kael) that he's a demon with demonic needs. Also utterly and entirely dedicated to Teddy's safety and happiness and pleasure. 

Teddy. Oh my sweet boy. So kind. Soo sassy and confident and doesn't put up with anyone's shit. He cares about other people and ethics, but he puts them aside for a monster who hates hurting people, anything to make his Kael less guilty.

These two were utterly perfect for each other. Their dynamic was tiny mortal savior and adoring demon puppy...until it wasn't. That very first spicy scene? Dead. I died. Utterly fucking deceased. It was perfection on top of perfection. Kael and Beastie becoming one? Yesss.

I loooved Arlo. And I swearing to fucking god, if he doesn't get a book with Mammon, I'll riot. 

Trigger Warnings: consumption of human flesh by nonhuman, preparing and coking of human flesh, desecration of a corpse, detailed descriptions of embalming procedures, demonic cult activity, mention of off-page human sacrifice, blood, gore, kidnapping/captivity, non-consensual use of chloroform, murder, graphic violence, and more.

#mortis #lilyjames #tenebrous #hollow #pareidolia #feral #paligenesis #tenebrous #golden #hush #leech #noctis #solivagant #solais #marked #mayhemmanuscripts #mayhemmanuscriptsseasontwo #mayhemmanuscriptscryptids #mayhemmanuscriptsseasontwocryptids #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks