The To-Do List (Liberty Heights U #2)

Here's "The To-Do List" by Chase Moorcox. Its the second books in her Liberty Heights U series.

["Felix Messer’s life has always revolved around his childhood best friend, Jacob. So when Jacob announces he won’t move in with Felix because he isn’t ‘housetrained,’ the solution is obvious: Felix will learn how to be the perfect roommate before they move out of their college dorms.
What’s a little cooking and cleaning if he gets to live with the guy he’s been in love with since they were kids?
But he’s not the only one trying to change. Jacob has a List. A List that offers Felix everything he’s ever wanted… almost.

-

Jacob Branson is the same uptight, inexperienced guy he’s been since high school. But he has a List to change that: a List that involves his best friend Felix taking his virginity. Among other things.
The List is meant to make a whole new Jacob. But sleeping with Felix doesn’t make anything new. It only reveals something that Jacob has been repressing for a long time…"]

Oof, I was right. The hurt/comfort in this was real. It was the kind of hurt/comfort where the one mc doesn't know they're hurting the other mc. Jacob didn't know the things he said (and didn't say) were slowly breaking Felix and that hurts more than your standard hurt/comfort. One: obliviousness is only cute sometimes. Two: you don't realize you're hurting your best friend. Three: it's hard to comfort someone if you don't know you're hurting them. The annngggssst!

These two made me cry. My chest was tight during so much of this novel (see above described angst). But I was also smiling like an idiot..so often. They were adorable together: the care, the concern, the barely hidden possession, the fluff, the history, the s.p.i.c.e. Their relationship was easy (minus the angst--and the lack of communication), their friendship (almost) bleeding seamlessly into more. 

I wonder if we're ever getting a Jack (or David) story eventually?

Trigger Warnings: over controlling parents, and more.

#thedoover #thetodolist #chasemoorcox #libertyheightsu #libertyheightsuseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Do-Over (Liberty Heights U #1)

Here's "The Do-Over" by Chase Moorcox. Its the first books in her Liberty Heights U series.

["For snarky loner Shane Tuner, the best part of going to college is getting as far away from his small-minded hometown as possible. So when his creative writing TA assigns him to tutor Nate, the infuriatingly handsome jock who used to pick on him in high school, Shane lets everybody know just how much he isn’t going to do that.

Reformed jock Nate Whitterman vows to win him over, no matter how many scowls Shane aims at him. He wants to make up for high school, and besides, he’s weirdly excited to spend more time with the mysterious, alluring boy he used to stare at for reasons he still doesn’t understand.

Everything becomes clear when he discovers a note Shane didn’t mean to leave behind. A note that reveals that Shane does miss some things about high school… like Nate holding him down."]

I wasn't sure about this for the first few chapters. The characters (particularly our Shane) felt a little too juvenile. But the novel really started to flourish and mature as I kept reading. The hurt/comfort went from a little cringe to so achingly sweet and angsty. The mutual pining?! The spice?! It was alll so perfect. 

The miscommunication trope, as always, was frustrating. But it...kinda worked for them. It kept the tension up (and the hurt/comfort). The sweetness also sustained the plot nicely.

So HERE for Felix's HEA...even if it's also probably a lot of angst and mutual pining.

Trigger Warnings: past bullying, depictions of migraines, and more. 

#thedoover #thetodolist #chasemoorcox #libertyheightsu #libertyheightsuseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Stroke Frequency (Alchemy Ink #2)

Here's "Stroke Frequency" by Katherine McIntyre. Its the second books in her Alchemy Ink series, which is in the same universe as the Brannon Boys series and the Hot Under the Collar series

["One wild convention with a hottie cosplayer turns into Caspian’s worst nightmare—marriage.

Caspian
The point of this Vegas Comic Con trip is to unwind, enjoy myself, and steer clear of commitments—especially anything serious. A deadbeat dad and divorce debt sealed my opinion on marriage early on. So when I meet a gorgeous-as-hell cosplayer at the bar who’s on the same light-and-easy wavelength as me, my trip’s about to get even better.

Levi
One blackout drunk night in Vegas should’ve been just that, but when I get home, I find out…I accidentally got married. A quick search nets me the discovery that not only is the guy I met in Vegas on the East Coast like me…but he lives less than an hour away.
When I surprise him at work, we both agree that getting a divorce is first thing on the agenda. Should be easy, right?
However, between flaky lawyer hurdles, accidental Mom meetings, and a fake-real?-husband drop-in at my shitty sister’s baby shower, I end up falling head over heels in love with him.
Yet Caspian’s terrified of remaining married, and I’m terrified of what happens when this ends."]

The instant chemistry, the easy flirting, the honest friendship, the utter fluff? Absolute. Perfection. 

The banter was top fucking tier. These two could just talk and flirt and connect on a level that was so easy for them. It was adorable and honestly made me feel a little jealous (and lonely). 

I needed something sweet and fun and with very little angst. This book was a perfect balm for...life. I looove this series (this universe), and I canNOT wait for more! Hopefully Owen is next!

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, sexism, and more.

#arc #advancedreadercopy #arcteammember
#inkcaps #openliner #strokefrequency #continuousoperation #katherinemcintyre #alchemyink #alchemyinkseries #brannonboys #brannonboysseries #hotundertehcollar #hotunderthecollarseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Zero Chill for the Vampire King (Not Quite Dead #2)

Here's JF Miev's "Zero Chill for the Vampire King." It's the second novel in the Not Quite Dead series. 

["ISIDORO
I took the wrong vampire.
Julian Corvath wasn’t supposed to be part of my war, but now he’s my only leverage. The son of my greatest enemy. The key to finding a vampire who could destroy my claim to the throne.
Keeping him close is dangerous. Letting him go is not an option.
So I make a choice that binds us together in the worst possible way—one that should be nothing more than a strategy.
A marriage.
Julian is sharp-tongued, defiant, and far too tempting. Every moment at his side chips away at my control. Every glance lingers too long. But I have no choice when the truth about his father comes out and threatens to upturn a lot more than my own life.
Julian is a complication I can’t allow. A mistake I should have already corrected.
But I’m starting to want him anyway.

JULIAN
Getting kidnapped sucks.
Getting kidnapped by a dangerously powerful, morally gray vampire king? Worse.
Isidoro Altamirano thinks he’s in control. To him, I’m just a means to an end.
He’s so wrong.
If he wants my cooperation, he plays by my rules. And once he agrees, I hold him to it. But the longer we’re bound together—forced into trust and proximity—the harder it becomes to remember why I should hate him.
Because beneath the ruthless king is something else. Something real. Something dangerously easy to fall for. And when his attention turns possessive and I become the thing he refuses to lose, I should want out.
But I’m not sure I do anymore."]

I've been putting this ARC off for a while. I'm not really sure why. Maybe because the first book set suuuch a high standard? Maybe because I haven't been in the mood for this level of enemies-to-lovers? Who knows. I do know that I regret waiting. This book was sooo good!

The mutual pining took me out. It was addictive and alluring and dangerous and oh so wrong (at least that's what they told themselves). The butterflies, the need to be close to each other, the kissing being oh so explosive, the pining...you'd think there was more to their relationship than simply falling in love. Definite fated vibes. 

Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, death, mild gore, blood (they're vampires), and more.

#unholybaddecisions #zerochillforthevampireking #notquitedead #notquitedeadseries #jfmiev #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hollow (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

Here's MN Bennet's "Hollow." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids.

["Jack lives his life on social media, cosplaying as the cryptid local legend. Sure, he is an actual monster, but that detail doesn’t really matter when he’s focused on trending posts. All is going well in Jack’s life until a group of hunters show up, intent on taking the famed monster’s head as a trophy.

Dimitri has been trapped by hunters for years, forced to use his abilities so their organization can track down other cryptids. When he encounters Jack, he learns that not all monsters are made the same way. Jack easily removes the threat at his doorstep, and Dimitri gains a chance at freedom.

Jack introduces Dimitri to the world and the many wonders he’s missed out on during his captivity. Dimitri follows Jack’s lead as he explores this new era. But the hunter’s organization doesn’t take their loss lightly, and they set out to reclaim Dimitri and behead Jack. These monsters will have to trust their hearts and each other if they want to put an end to this threat."]

Okay, but Astaroth stole my heart from his first telepathic commands, evil little arch-demon of Hell commanding mere morals for belly rubs. :')

This one too me a smidge to get into only really because of the world building. My brain takes a while to grasp world building, but when these two started finally (also not a slow-burn girly) connected? Oh boy, I was gone. 

The fluff, the sweetness, the friendship, the vulnerability. A lot less darkness than I had anticipated (and a lot less angst). I’ll take adorable blushing monsters falling in love any day. 

Trigger Warnings: trauma, torture, a little casual slaughter, depression, anxiety, threats, bullying, death, off-page family loss, light gore, extreme acts of fluffiness, and more. 

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

Slick Trip

Here's "Slick Trip" by Lucy Castle.

["19-year-old Cooper has a plan: drive Grandpa's car from Illinois to California and earn some cash. Then Jon—his brother's best friend and Cooper's archenemy—is assigned as his unwilling babysitter. Cooper is livid. Yeah, he used to have a crush on Jon, but that was before Jon did something unforgivable.

Jon knows exactly why keeping his distance from Cooper matters. One reckless decision a year ago proved that some lines should never be crossed. Especially not with Cooper, the one person Jon would walk through fire for. He promised Cooper's family to keep him safe, but if anyone is a danger to Cooper, it's Jon himself.

When biology intervenes and things get heated, will Jon and Cooper finally admit how they really feel?"]

I've been WAITING for this book to come out for months! Social media adds are sooo teasing. And it was worth the wait.

These two were adorable and totally aggravating. They relied heavily on the miscommunication trope, but they eventually did start talking...after some hurt. But after the hurt always come the comfort. And the entire family going "fucking finally" (spoiler alert?). Overall, the only angst was the miscommunication (and haters).

I loved how this universe held a lot of the "traditional" A/O/B lure, but it also created it's own. It was familiar but refreshing.

Quote of the Day (Jon/Cooper): "'I haven't said anything about undying devotion.' // He threw the blanket away, looking indignant. 'Undying devotion is the bare minimum for a relationship with me.'"

Okay QotD Part 2 (Jon/Cooper): "'If I draw a line, are you going to respect it?' // 'No, but I"ll admire it while I step over it'."

I canNOT wait for Jack and Oliver's story!!

Trigger Warnings: religious extremism, prejudice, hate-motivated violence, foster care system, past physical and verbal abuse, on-page violence, and more.

#slicktrip #lucycastle #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Rope Me Down

Here's "Rope Me Down" by N Slater.

["I’ve spent eight months fighting my attraction to my boyfriend’s father, Boone, but when my boyfriend leaves me on the side of the road, all bets are off.

Especially when Boone rescues me, takes me back to the ranch, and shows me exactly what it means to fall apart.

And then he gives me a fantasy—two weeks with him and the three sons who live at the ranch.

A way to completely and utterly fall apart as they give me every filthy, tender thing I’ve been too starved to ask for.

Fourteen days of pure bliss.

We haven’t even truly started, and I don’t want it to end."]

Sometimes you need a happy, cheery contemporary romance to help heal. And sometimes you need something a little dark with a lot of fluff and some serious taboo (not too taboo--Zon still carries it).

I loved the unending communication and checking in. It was open and honest and totally...normal. It was so non-normal for Ash that it seemed abnormal. It was all kinds of sweet and adorable while being filthy and flirty. Four consent kings. 

This book was honestly fabulous. A little different and not conventional, but it was perfect. It did the healing I needed and more. It did the healing Ash needed (and more). 

Trigger Warnings: emotional and psychological abuse from former partner, manipulation, gaslighting, abandonment, physical violence, dubcon, self-worth struggles, recovery from emotional abuse, one scene involving drug driving and a hit and run, physical altercation, and more.

#ropemedown #nslater #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks