Biltz'd (Evergreen University #1)

Here's Lee McCormick and RS McKenzie's "Blitz'd." It's the first novel in their new Evergreen University series.

["Zander
Kissing my rival shouldn’t have felt so good.
Finding out my girlfriend has been cheating on me for months makes me do something crazy: kiss my rival to make her jealous. I wasn’t supposed to like kissing Kerian Slade. He’s a psycho who demands things of me…things I shouldn’t want. But there’s something about Kerian that draws me in, and now that I’m caught in his web, he won’t let me go.

Kerian
The number one rule: don’t care about people.
Caring is a distraction, and emotions are messy… and messy is something I hate. Which is why I’m confused when the messiest player I’ve ever met—my rival—kisses me and turns my world on its head. Zander Braithe is sweet, emotional, and straight. That doesn’t stop him from coming back for more, and that doesn’t stop me from realizing I’ll burn the world down to make him mine."]

These two!! I'm obsessed. They made me ache with the feeling of impending drama/angst/Feels. Their chemistry was instant. As was the like, want of more, and the all around sense that this was something special/important/different. Both of them kept catching themselves with deep wants and desires. 

At least Zander was all in from the very beginning. Kerian was subconsciously in, but he fought it back and forth for a while. I almost felt bad for Kerian...if I didn't strongly suggest that he as going to make me cry (and Zander) at some point or another.

And I was soooo intrigued by so many of the secondary characters. So many possibilities for future stories.

Trigger Warnings: mentions of past abuse, mentions of neglectful/abusive parents, homophobia, panic attacks, and more.

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

Jet (Fallen Gargoyles MC #4)

Here's Willow Thomas's "Jet." It's the fourth and final novel in her Fallen Gargoyles MC series. 

["Falling in love with my club brother was not something I had planned.

Jet
If I had known that a drunken one-night stand with my club brother would change my life, I would have done it a lot sooner.
If only Fizz felt the same way.
He can barely look at me.
Until he gets himself into trouble, and we have to go into hiding.
The two of us alone in a cabin in the woods. Yeah, I’m gonna win him over and make him realize that we’re not done.
We’ll never be done.

Fizz
Sex with Jet was a mistake.
Because now I want to do it again and again and again.
My job and relationships don’t mix. Jet may be a biker, but he’s also a nurse. His job is all about bringing new life into the world, and my job is the exact opposite.
When I make a mistake and accidentally put Jet at risk, we have to go into hiding.
This is exactly why I need to keep my distance.
Even if he is doing everything he can to make me change my mind."]

Another surprisingly soft MC story. Then again, it's a Fallen Gargoyles story, and all of those men are adorably soft.

And obsessed with their men and falling in love and getting that HEA.

#nicky #echo #rex #jet #fallengargoyles #fallengargoylesseries #knockedforsix #caughtoffguard #caughtoffguardseries #willowthomas #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Like You Hate Me (Hawthorne University #1)

I'm honestly not sure if I've read "Like You Hate Me" before (by Bethany Winters--it's the first book in her Hawthorne University series). The blurb sounded familiar, some of the scenes are sorta vaguely familiar (at least in the beginning), but overall, I'm not sure I read it (or at least finished it). Now I have. 

["I’ve never hated anyone as much as I hate him.

The day my sister died, I told her best friend I never wanted to see him again, and I meant it.

I lost her because of him. Everything I used to care about means nothing now because of him.

It’s all because of him.

So when he shows up on my driveway two years later and tells me he’s moving in with me for his freshman year of college, I kick his ass and tell him to disappear. For good this time.

But I already know the defiant little brat’s not gonna listen. He never does.

Being near him again makes me crazy. I’m supposed to be the college basketball star my father raised me to be, but now I’m focused on a new game. I’m obsessed with watching him, touching him, breaking him. His body, his head, his heart, anything I can get my hands on…

I’m gonna take it all until he’s got nothing left.

And even though he knows exactly what I’m doing to him, he’s gonna let me do it anyway."]

I think I might have DNF this book previously. That sounds possibly correct. The bully aspect of this bully-romance is quite high. As are the feelings of hate and self-hate. For a while, there's some Feelings, we can see small signs of it and side characters see signs of it, but it doesn't seem as though there will be a HEA for either character until it's too late for them (Feelings-wise; both Nate and Xavi are both far too in love by the time they realize there's something other than hate between them.

It was a hard read for a while. Xavi hated himself quite a lot and trully believed he deserved to be hated by Nate. And Nate was far from kind to Xavi, knowing he was through his own trauma well before (during and after) his sister's death. The pay-off was worth it, but I can see why I took a break from this. The triggers are rough.

Though I was as addicted to Nate and his back and forth as Xavi was. One moment, he was full of hate and horrible words (causing all of us to cry); the next, he was being protective and possessive and ott-alpha-caveman (causing all of us to melt).

I cannot wait for the second book in this series! Though it seems there's a TON of book coming out in the next month/month and a half that I can't wait for.

Trigger Warnings: addiction, alcohol and substance use/abuse, depression, ideation of suicide, overdose, death of a sibling and best friend, violence, stalking, mentions of sexual assault, blackmail, homophobic slurs, and more.

#likeyouhateme #dontsayyouresorry #bethanywinters #hawthorneuniversity #hawthorneuniversityseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Dirty Love

On to a book that has confused me for a few hours now. Confused me because this book sounded soooo good and has been on my TBR for weeks now after I saw it on IG. Except, when I started reading it last night....I read this book already. I know I did. I don't have it recored on any Excel sheets or on GoodReads or on my bookstagram. Except, I knoooow I read it.

The book? "Dirty Love" by Bethany Winters.

["In a small town like ours, you’re either straight or you keep your mouth shut.

Being gay would be dirty.

Touching the guy who’s been your stepbrother since you were three would be dirty.

Falling in love with him would be even worse.

I protect him because it’s my job.

I resist him because I have to.

But when one night leads to two and two nights lead to more, lines are blurred and morals are tossed and my sanity takes a walk.

Now we’re risking everything we have for something we know we shouldn’t want.

And the only thing we’ll have left is each other."]

So I decided to review the book anyway...from the things I remember.

I remember this book being beautifully dramatic and possessive/obsessive/protective. I remember two people who love each other beyond any doubt, beyond any trauma they lived together, beyond any hate the town thrust at them. I remember some really horrible violence, some unjustifiable and totally uncalled for and just a little bit of karmic justice. I remember a hard-won and well-deserved HEA.

I don't remember why I didn't review the book before. Maybe it was the trigger warnings? Maybe it was the stepbrother things? Who knows. 

Trigger Warnings: underage drinking and drugs, homophobia and homophobic slurs, abuse, depression, self-harm, attempted sexual assault, graphic hate crime, and murder.

#dirtylove #bethanywinters #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Burn It Down

Here's Nicole Dyke's "Burn It Down." Yet another book by Nicole that talks about really, real stuff, no matter how hard is it (and yet another book that made me sob).

["Kade
I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter, and I never thought I would become a father, but it turns out—I’m both.
And while being a firefighter was the only career I ever wanted—being a father has become my greatest destiny in this world.
Now I need to do everything I can to protect my son, even if that means going back to my hometown. I won’t let my son down, no matter what, and I will do my duty as a fireman.
Hopefully, I can do it without everything else burning down around me.

Spencer
I never expected to see Kade again—my high school crush and my biggest heartache in adolescence.
I’m not the same person I once was. I’m stronger now. I won’t allow myself to be invisible.
I love being a teacher, and nothing will stop me from being the best one I can be. But Kade coming back into town with his adorable young son in tow—makes it a challenge.
All I can hope is to get through this school year without going back to that unsure, terrified kid.
I have to remember who I am—and when that fear comes back, threatening my newfound confidence—I hope I’ll find the courage to burn it down to the ground and come back stronger than ever."]

This was a book that proved over and over that someone having your back and showing you bravery, makes you stronger. They saved each other in high school without barely saying two words to each other. They saved each other again in adulthood was new fears and new traumas threatened to keep them down. But they made each other want to try, want to keep going, want to find a HEA.

Also, I looove that this book was (probably) intended to be a stand-alone, but Bowen (and others) was just so fucking load, that Nicole has future plans in this town for more (trauma and) HEAs.

Trigger Warnings: near-death experience, drug and alcohol addiction, death of a parent, PSTD, past bullying, homophobia, and more.

#grr #gayromancereviews #arc #arcteammember
#burnitdown #nicoledykes #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Legend Next Door (Totally Pucked #2)

Here's Jesse H Reign's latest novel "The Legend Next Door." It's the second novel in the Totally Pucked series. 

["I didn’t think hockey was the game for me…now I’m obsessed.

My new neighbor, Ben Stirling, is a beautiful, famous ex-player. A living NHL legend. A single dad with sad eyes and a smile I feel in my knees.

I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s what would you’d get if you squeezed masculinity through a sieve. He’s the grit. The pulp. The hard stuff that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. On top of that, he’s kind and funny, and did I mention he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on?

Obviously, he’s straight.

And obviously, that’s fine.

It’s not like I’m going to flirt with him. Or fall for him."]

Wow. This book made me cry quite a few times. And not because it was sad. I mean it was sad. But I cried because it was so happy. These two--these three--were so fucking happy. It was easy (after we got over our big feelings and talked--and didn't talk). They fell from a heavy friendship into a family in a manner of days. It was beautiful and glorious and healing. 

Also, that whole scene where Ben and Jeremiah had their first kiss? The whole crashing sound next door at Ant and Robbie?! Dying. I'm dead. It killed me. I reread that scene so many times, and not entirely for that first kiss. A tiny as hell detail, made all the better if you remembered the epilogue of the pervious book.

Trigger Warnings: loss and bereavement, and more. 

#poetryonice #thelegendnextdoor #flagrantfoul #totallypucked #jessehreign #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Poetry on Ice (Totally Pucked #1)

I'm HORRIBLE lately at picking a book and sticking to the plan on reading it. Here's Jesse H Reign's novel "Poetry on Ice." It's the first novel in the Totally Pucked series. 

["I can’t tell if we’re fighting…or flirting?

Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me.

Well, the joke’s on him because I’m faster and my stats are better than his.

Not that I’m competing with him. Of course not. I wouldn’t stoop to his level.

He’s the most infuriating person I’ve ever met. A dark, chaotic presence that distracts me.

When we’re not coming to blows on the ice, he tries to provoke me by calling me Princess. And Pretty Boy...and Babygirl.

I hate it. Obviously, I do. It makes me so angry I can hardly see straight.

So why does my body react as if I like it?"]

I was...just so not prepared for how much of a pouty, adorable brat Robbie was. Not at all. Then again, neither was Ant. All that is Robbie threw Ant for a loop and a half. Ant couldn't have been prepared for Robbie even if he tried. And he did tried resisting him, of course Ant did, but Robbie is a fucking force.

And the two of them together? Magnets. Poetry on (and off) the ice. 

I saw spoilers for this book. Mainly hints and teases of spicy scenes (and a few fluffy scenes), but I was just...once again not prepared. Ant and Robbie blew me away. They fought the chemistry between them, but with the force of plastic windows in a hurricane; they caved so fast and so often to the thing between them, that it quickly went from the occasional guilty pleasure to accidental-dates. Well, Robbie did tell Ant it was a date; Ant just didn't believe him until it was too late.

It was also far too late when both of these guys realized they had capital F Feelings for the other. They some how reacted exactly how I thought they would but also the exact opposite. Which...tracks, since that's how they were the entire book to me. 

Trigger Warnings: mild off-page homophobia, internalized homophobia, and more

#poetryonice #totallypucked #jessehreign #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Covenant (The Firm #1)

Here's the latest from Taylor Lark and Cora Rose: "Covenant." It's the first novel in their new series, The Firm.

["The Firm can make any wish come true.
Money. A job promotion. Murder.
Whatever you desire can be yours—for a price.

The Firm has ruled St. Dismas for generations. To most, they’re just a myth.
But in truth, they are the last resort of the desperate.

I never understood why anyone would go to The Firm. There’s always a price to pay—a price you won’t discover until your request has been granted.
It was a path I swore I’d never walk.
Or so I thought.

When my brother is gravely injured, everything changes.
I have no choice but to go to The Firm.
I don’t know what they’ll ask of me, but I’ll give anything to save Jackson.
He has his whole life ahead of him, and I’ll make sure he gets to live it.

But when my price comes due, it’s nothing like I expected.
Not drug smuggling or murder. Not the darkness I braced myself for.
No, this is worse.

My price is to fulfill someone else’s request.
To give them what they asked for.

A marriage.

For anyone else, it may seem simple. But not for me.
Because the man I must marry is my worst enemy.
My rival.
The man I once trusted above all others—until he shattered that trust and threw it back in my face.

The idea of pretending to be Matthias’s doting husband for a year is my worst nightmare.
But I won’t do it for me.
I’ll do it for Jackson.
For my brother, I’ll pay the price.

Even if it means condemning myself."]

These two were not entirely what I expected. Just when you think you have them understood (even though you were suuure you had Matthias figured out from the start), they make you rethink everything. It was beautiful and dizzying and perfect for the two of them, quite frankly. They were both so beautifully broken and tragically lonely (spoiler alert...), good think that old friendship of there's is so totally and completely behind them... ;)

They made me laugh and giggle, but they made me cry and sob. It was a beautiful mix of fluff and spite, of love and spice. It wasn’t easy, and it would have been simpler if they communicated, but the story wouldn’t have been as satisfying.

There are SO many brothers and sooo many potential story lines, annnd yettt, the prologue hinted at a brother/story that was completely unexpected. I. Want. It. Now!

Trigger Warnings: toxic and abusive parents, life-altering accidents (not MCs), and more. 

#covenant #deviant #thefirm #thefirmseries #corarose #taylorlark #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Resting Beach Face (Swallow Cove #4)

Here is D.J. Jamison's latest and highly anticipated "Resting Beach Face." It's the fourth and final novel in the new Swallow Cove series.

["He could have anyone he wants...so why is he so interested in me?

Cash is a gorgeous chaotic bi guy with a reputation for getting around. And me? I'm the antisocial grump, closed off and lonely.

We should be like oil and water. They say opposites attract, but when you're graysexual, that equation doesn't balance out.

Or does it?

When Cash gets close, my defenses begin to crumble one by one. Each warm smile, each friendly gesture or hug makes me realize what I'm missing.

Cash's sunny warmth is like a ray of light breaking through the clouds. I can't help but soak it up.

But can I really trust the town player to keep my heart safe when no one else ever has?"] 

These two made me ache. They were so adorable and piney. It did not help my current anxiety levels (neither did all that is Cash and how deeply complicated his emotions/feelings are--god, he made me want to sob on multiple occasions), but they were both so patient and communicated (multiple times).

And, like so many romance books (not always like life itself, but we can hope), life fell into place. Their jobs, their families, their love lives. After so much hard work and sacrifice and hard talks, it all just...worked out.

I'll miss this town and the people in it, but it was a really great transition into DJ's next series (Gray had so much page space here, teasing us (even though I read his book before this one) for his HEA in "Outcast", the first novel in DJ's Foster Bro Code series). Not to mention the sheer amount of cameos from Granville. 

Trigger Warnings: alcoholism, alcoholic parent, emotional/verbal abuse, and more.

#docktease #prettybuoy #knockinboats #restingbeachface #djjamison #swallowcove #swallowcoveseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Rules of Play (Saints of Westmont U #3)

Here's Hayden Hall's "Rules of Play." It's the third novel in his new Saints of Westmont U series.

["He was supposed to be my study subject, not my obsession.

Shane
I study elite athletes: their focus, their flaws, their fire. But Patrick Callahan? He’s a category of his own.
Too loud, too confident, and way too hot to be safe for science.
He’s all swagger and sweat and reckless charm.
Tracking his heartbeat was easy.
Keeping mine under control? Impossible.
Now I’m kissing this bi-curious jock in dark corners and pretending this isn’t the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done.
He’s not just messing with my research—he’s messing with my heart.
If I’m not careful, he might just break it.

Patrick
I agreed to let the shy nerd shadow me for a psych project.
Discovering the range of my sexuality and falling for him was never part of the plan.
But Shane—my sweet, brilliant, rule-following Shane—has no idea how much I crave him.
He thinks I don’t see how he stares when I stretch after practice, or how red his ears get when I take off my shirt.
He thinks I’m just a jock with no heart. I’ll show him just how wrong he is.
I’ll make him feel it—on the ice, in my bed, and everywhere in between.
Because once I’ve got him, I’m keeping him."]

These two were complicated but beautiful. It took a while for their feelings to evolve. Well, no. The feelings were almost immediate, but it took them a while for them to accept, acknowledge, and be okay with their feelings. After that, it was easy. Their love was loud and strong and not-always-easy, but it was theirs. 

Also, I really appreciated all of the cameos from the previous books in this series, as well as the other books that Hayden wrote. And I can't wait for the next one!

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#edgeoftemptation #costofredemption #rulesofplay #depthsofdesire #haydenhall #thesaintsofwestmontu #thesaintsofwestmontuseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Outcast (Foster Bro Code #1)

Here is D.J. Jamison's latest and highly anticipated "Outcast." It's the first novel in the new Foster Bro Code series. This series takes place in Riverton, which is next door to Granville (which appears in Games We Play and Rules We Break series).

["I'm the outcast brother ...

I'm headed back to Riverton and the foster brothers I left behind. But this homecoming isn't going to be sweet. I left without a word to them after getting outed and disowned.

The fences don't just need mending. They need rebuilding. My brothers and I had a code to always be there for one another, and I broke it.

Now, I have the chance to step up and help them with their floundering business. To prove myself and make good. And one night, while on a job, I see the town's golden boy shoved to his knees by none other than the jerk who got me outed in high school.

After I run to his rescue, everything changes...

Emory is a fragile, beautiful man trying to find himself--even as he struggles under the weight of guilt, grief, and expectation. And I'm the bad boy he's never let himself have.

I could be the key to his salvation or his ruin.

And suddenly, my brothers aren't the only ones I'm fighting for.

But can I really have it all--love and family--or will I just lose everyone all over again?"] 

WOW. I love these two. I love the new town. I love the brothers. I love the stray dogs. I love all of the possibilities!!!

These two were riddled with their own guilt and childhood trauma, trying to please the people in their lives instead of being happy as they are. Good thing love and support of a good partner helps you embrace yourself and grow you confidence, helping you then stand up for yourself.

Trigger Warnings: childhood trauma, homophobia, death of loved ones off-page, and more.

#outcast #wildcard #controlfreak #problemchild #djjamison #fosterbrocode #fosterbrocodeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

Here's Fae Quin's "Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions."

["If “bad decision” had a photo next to it in the dictionary, it would be of Alex Jones.

What’s better than attending your ex’s wedding? A camping trip in the woods, complete with bugs, critters, and sharing a tent with the hottest—and most infuriating—man alive. It’s basically a full itinerary of terrible decisions…

George:
When I came home for the first time in years, I was expecting a peaceful week celebrating my ex’s upcoming nuptials, some quality time with my overly enthusiastic mom, and a much-needed break from the dumpster fire that my life has become. Instead, I’ve been tricked into sharing a tent with Alex—the human equivalent of a smug smirk—who somehow manages to be both infuriating and alarmingly attractive. He pushes every button I have, knows exactly how to get under my skin, and worst of all… I think I want him to. Which is great, because nothing says “relaxing vacation” like emotional whiplash and unresolved sexual tension in a nylon sweatbox.

Alex:
I keep things casual. It’s easier that way. Safer than letting someone in and finding out—once again—that I’m not enough, or worse, that I’m too much. But George? He’s messing with my game plan. He’s uptight, prickly, and has made it painfully clear that he doesn’t like me. But there’s something in the way his eyes spark when we argue, something in his laugh and those quiet moments when we’re not at each other’s throats, that draws me in. The more time we spend together, the harder it is to ignore the pull between us. It terrifies me—because I want him, badly—but I can’t let him see the mess I’ve been hiding behind these walls. Not now. Not ever."]

I've been talking a lot about complex characters lately, but these two blew me away. They were soooo much. They morphed constantly in front of our eyes as they let their shields down again and again and again. The vulnerability was amazing. They grew as individuals and as people. They learned about what the other cared about. They Googled things and asked around. They wanted to be better. It was beautiful and refreshing. 

And frankly, I kept forgetting the timeline in this was soooo freaking short. They fell in love fast, but they fell in love wholly and completely and with communication and open eyes. And sharing traumas and stories of past ex's (and kinks).

I'm obsessed with these two. They were glorious!

Trigger Warnings: abusive ex-boyfriend, unsafe kink (ex-boyfriend), and more.

#grr #arcs #arcteammember
#cloudywithachanceofbaddecisions #faequin #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Desperately Delicate Viper (Mafia Bound #4)

Here's "Desperately Delicate Viper" by K.M. Neudhol. It's the the fourth novel in her Mafia Bound series. 

["That Feeling when the man you just robbed and left tied up and blindfolded turns out to be in the mafia…

I'm not proud of the things I've had to do for money to pay off my dad's debts and put my younger brother through college. But I'll never regret it.

What I do regret is accidentally robbing a Moretti.

Having to look over my shoulder and ducking every time a car backfires is bad enough, but when the man in question starts costing me business? Yeah, I think we’re going to have a problem.

I never knew I could feel the way I do when Luca Moretti gets on his knees for me, but I don’t have time to be romanced by this obsessed, submissive, mafioso.

No one has ever made me feel as strong and capable as he does. Can I really be the viper he sees me as? If I learn how to bite, can I finally make my life my own with Luca Moretti at my side?"]

These mafia men are soooo fucking soft for their partners. It's adorable and hilarious and perfect. I'm obsessed (so far they). And Luca is obsessed with Anders. He was in love after one evening, even if it ended how it ended.

He wanted to own him, but in a way that would set Anders free. He wanted Anders to be happy and confident, but free of his traumas and burdens. 

Also, watching Sal (and Dante--and the other family) laugh at Luca while he figured out his HEA? Priceless.

These characters are just so complex and caring and complicated and wow.... I want more. I always want more.

Trigger Warnings: Theft, ehhh use of kink, violence, blackmail, threats, abusive parents, drugs, attempted assault, and more.

#deadlylitlesparrow #beautifullysavagebutterfly #unhingedlittleangel #desperatelydelicateviper #mafiabound #mafiaboundseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Himbo Hitman

Here's Saxon James's "Himbo Hitman."

["What do you do when you’re a hitman … who’s terrible at his job?

At first, I thought it would be an easy payday. A few pew pews for bad people, a couple of suitcases of cash for me. People have done worse for an honest living. Probably.

The problem is that after a couple jobs, I’ve never actually managed to unalive someone, and not for lack of trying. Apparently, a basic requirement of a hitman is being a good shot.

Despite my constant duck-ups–that my boss knows nothing about–I’m given another name, and I very nearly follow through. Only after obliterating this guy’s ear, and his fervent pleading to spare him, I’ve sent him into hiding and collected the cash anyway.

But wanted people are hard to hide, and bad guys don’t like paying big money for loose ends.

Now that Van Gogh has shown his face again—sans ear—I’ve scammed my way into his security team, which is sort of ideal since I’m now highly wanted as well.

Unfortunately, we have some “trust issues” to “work through” from our meet-shoot, and with the gorgeous bastard’s brother missing, he refuses to lay low until they’re reunited.

I’m not sold on the plan honestly, but this guy has me questioning my sexuality along with my career path, and I’m at the point where I’m determined to see a job through to the end.

Or die trying.

But hey, at least then I’d finally deliver a body."]

PERCY!!! I'm gone for him. Gooooone. Then again, so is St. Clare.

Percy was the most himbo, sweet, golden retriever man. But he also broke my heart with his open honestly and loneliness and feelings of inadequacy. He was complex as hell, and that made him such a fabulously written character. Fabulously.

Like I said, St. Clare was as taken with all that is Percy as I was (as we were). He tried not to trust him, tried not to swoon and smile and endear himself to the himbo-iest of hitmen. But he fell hard, and he fell fast. This wasn't the turn (turns) he thought his life was taking, but after it's all said and done, and everyone is finally safe again, he's not all that mad about it.

Trigger Warnings: guns (or as Percy calls them "pew, pews"), violence (which Percy isn't good at either), and more.

#forewordpr #arc #arcteammember
#himbohitman #saxonjames #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Seducing a Barbarian (Not-So-Savage Barbarians #3)

TBR, who? ARCS, what? Here's Amy Padilla's latest: "Seducing a Barbarian." It's the third official novel in her Not-So-Savage Barbarians series.

["Tomas was a jealous little shit. He should’ve known he wouldn’t win going up against the best. Everyone knew I was the most popular in the brothel. There was no point pretending otherwise. In a shameless act of revenge, he had the guards called and had me arrested for offending the man who’d chosen me over him. They, in turn, sold me off to the barbarians. They don’t know who they’re dealing with. Especially the barbarian babysitting me; he says he’s uninterested in males. We’ll see about that. I’ll show them all. They chose the wrong man to mess with."]

I'm OBSESSED with looks-like-a-cinnamon-roll-but-can-kill-you meets looks-like-can-kill-you-but-a-cinnamon-roll! It's some of the BEST dynamics in a relationship. They compliment each other in sooo many ways and help each other grow in others. 

Simon and Feigrind are exactly those people. Simon is sassy and independent and puts up with zero shit from anyone. Feirgrind is kind and caring and wants people to be happy. They balance each other out and make each other happy.

Even if communicating that was hard as fuck for them. Seriously, they just needed to be like "I kinda like you, I want to stay"/"I kinda like you, I want you to stay." How. Hard. Was. That. Silly twink; silly barbarian.

Trigger Warnings: dubious consent, threats of violence, violence against MC, attempted assault, and more.

#theunexpectedbarbarian #thebarbarianstribute #savedbyabarbarian #seduingabarbarian #thebarbariansclaim #thephysiciansbarbarian #thebarbarianprince #notsosavagebarbarians #notsosavagedbarbariansseries #amypadilla #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Love Beneath the Guillotine

AHH! I've been waiting for this one for A WHILE! I've seen so many teasers and tropes, soooo many. It made me weak for these two. Here's W.H. Lockwood's "Love Beneath The Guillotine."

[""Desperate men have no morals..."

Léon Lyon: beautiful, beloved, broken. As premier executioner of Reims, he’s desired and feared in equal measure, a celebrity of the most dangerous kind, a symbol of justice and good citizenship in the explosive era of the French Revolution. But Léon has a secret. Each head he takes brings him one day closer to escape. He’s been saving every centime he’s ever earned, and any day now, he’ll leave town and rescue his little brother Émile from the same gruesome fate that has befallen him.

But all Léon’s plans are thrown into disarray when Émile is kidnapped by the dashing, dangerous, and despicable Henri De Villiers. At the mercy of a cruel and calculating (if handsome) blackmailer, Léon’s only chance to save his brother is to play the man’s wicked game.

Yet, as Léon is drawn deeper into Henri’s world, he begins to see a different side of him. Idealistic, passionate, willing to kill or die for those he loves, Henri might just be the escape Léon’s been searching for all these years.

But can Léon ever forgive Henri for what he’s done? And can either of them survive the mysterious supernatural force that seems to haunt their every move?"]

Spoiler alert, I was not prepared for how much of a hot mess both of these men were. Hot. Fucking. Messes. Add in a whole lotta gay disaster. Yeah, these two were Struggling. They made me put the book down for a while (at the same time, tearing through chapters to see what was going to happen next..and how they were going to respond to it).

Hot messes with an obsession with the hurt-comfort trope. Seriously, can we hate each other one moment and then make heart eyes the next more? Oh, I guess we can. Oof, there they go again. And again. 

And then there's the constant anxiety: is someone going to die? Are one of these beautiful and complicated and oh so adorably hot-mess-express main characters going to die on me? For a while, I didn't think it was possible; this is a fucking romance...then, I don't know, I got some "Call Me By Your Name" vibes, and I put the book down again for a while.

Of course, I learned a lot about the French Revolution (my only knowledge thus far is the one time I watched Les Mis and the many times I watched the Kristen Dunst "Marie Antoinette" movie). I kept wanting to Google "safe countries during the French Revolution" so I could predict where these two might end up for their HEA, but I didn't want to actively spoil anything.

And then I cried some more.

Trigger Warnings: executions, gore, fighting, violence, beheading, non-graphic death of animals, kidnapping, murder, discussion of abuse of a minor, blackmail, theft, vomit, consensual non-con, sexism, homophobia, slurs, gun violence, the French Revolution, and more.

#arc #arcteammember
#lovebeneaththeguillotine #whlockwood #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

June's Book Shape Challenge 2025

Here's June's Book Shape Challenge! A pretty little dinosaur in honor of National Dinosaur Day!

Last year, I went with holiday-themed (mostly) book shape challenges; this year, I'm thinking animals (which is less--and yet more--of a challenge (we'll see how it goes)).

(I picked all of these books at random, based off the color of their cover; not based on: whether I read them or not--most of which I haven't, sense why they were closest).

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