Monday, June 30, 2025

Goodbye, June!


June was long as hell, y'all. May was forever ago. And yet, I can't believe that tomorrow is July.


2025 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: 53 (might get one more in there before midnight though).
    (b) Monthly Reading Challenge(s): Shape = Dino. Got some A-Z stuff recorded. Some ARCs. Got a some of Beat The Backlog done.

(2) June Memories: I got to meet my best friend's baby twice, hold his little baby toes and give him cuddles. We went shopping. I had a few nice days off. I got a looot accomplished at work this month; taught myself a ton of new shit, feeling (mostly) like a badass. Though, it's been hot as hell. Lots of plans for July (my sister's coming into town!!).

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 34.

(4) I've had lots of little headaches this month. It's a combination of the high heat as well as the numerous small storms blowing in and out. My depression took a day here or there to make itself know. I got some good walks in (for work, but walks are walks). Eating a lot more salads this month. Sleeping like hell though; stupid heat.


Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting June reads? Any existing 2025 reads?
Anything I should check out?


#newyearsresolutions #goodbyejune #hellojuly #hello2025 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Our Blood, Our Pain (Kozlov Bodyguards #1)


Annnd this has turned into an author-binge thing. Here's Syn Blackrose's "Our Blood, Our Pain." It's the first novel in the Kozlov Bodyguards series (a Kozlov Brothers spin-off). This takes place Between "Tied To You" and "Kill For You."

["Jules
Kai. He’s become my weakness. My purpose in life. I knew I was never a good man, but Kai has tipped me over the edge for the lengths I’d go to for him.
He’s a mess, a beautiful mess, and he wants me. I’ve never been attracted to a man before, so this is new territory for me. But it won’t take long for me to break. I want to fight him, punish him, and adore him.
Oh yeah, and most importantly, he’s my step-sister’s son.
I may not be his Uncle in blood. But this is wrong.
So wrong.
But we can’t help ourselves.

Kai
It’s been years since I last saw Jules, and when he shows up to right the wrongs in my life, the crush I had years ago hits me tenfold.
Jules is not who I remembered. He’s controlling and suffocating.
But he’s everything I want in a man. Protective, rough around the edges. Pure dominance.
I don’t care about our family. It’s not like we’re blood-related.
My need for him erases all logic and moral decency. I need him to breathe. I need his marks all over my skin.
I don’t care about anything else. I would give up my entire life and everyone in it to have him."]

This book was much longer than the Kozlov Brothers series, which meant the angst, the pining, and the burn were longer. But so was the reward. Though, the amount of times I wanted to cry (and did) was also a lot higher. 

Then again, these two didn't make it easy. On me, on each other, on themselves. Their was a lot to talk through (though as we call know, communication isn't exactly a man's strong suit, let alone someone who's probably, at least a little, on the anti-social-personality-disorder spectrum). 

But again, the reward was so much sweeter. The reunion, the apologies, the love confessions, the marriage-proposal-that-didn't-propose-but-just-was.

Plus alllll of the cameos from Lev/Aaron and Dima/Seb! D: Yes. So much yes. Plus all of the teasing for Simon/Carlos (which hasn't come out yet) and Ivan/Tyler (which, if Ivan is worse than Lev and Dima combined...Tyler must be something special to put up with all of that).

Trigger Warnings: violence, torture, murder, self-loathing, suicidal ideation, and more.

#ourbloodourpain #myhungeryoursoul #yourhatemyclaim #synblackrose #kozlovbodyguards #kozlovbodyguardsseries #kozlovbrothers #kozlovbrothersseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Kill For You (Kozlov Brothers #2)


Not sure if this qualifies as giving into social media posts or crossing things off my TBR, but here's Syn Blackrose's "Kill For You." It's the second novel in the Kozlov Brothers series.

["LEV
I don't do relationships. I don't do feelings. I don't do what's considered the norm. I love hurting people. I love their screams. I love their begging. I live for it. Until him. Aaron. He has his own version of crazy. His crazy mixed with mine? That's a recipe for disaster.

AARON
My life is not my own. My stepbrother won't let me go. I have to end him. I'm not normal. I fantasize about things I shouldn't and it's his fault. Lev. Lev has been my obsession since we started working for the Kozlov brothers. I need him. I want to be owned by him. I want to drown in his crazy until we are one."]

Lev is a different kind of crazy than his brother Dima. He's somehow more bloodthirsty, but in the act of kinda way, not end results kinda way. He's a different level of psychotic and a different section of the psychopath spectrum. 

He found Aaron, the pull between the, and his feelings for a while, a long while. But the broken, just-as-crazy doe-eye boy kept reeling him in. He fascinated Lev on so many levels, until he was in so deep there wasn't a way out. 

Lev wasn't as outrightly possessive/obsessive as Dima was, but he still put down threats and held his own against the world, threatening anything and everything that would hurt Aaron. When Aaron blushed and allowed himself to be vulnerable by telling Lev he was falling for him, Lev said "I'd kill for you", and it was somehow romantic as hell. 

Life won't be easy for the Kozlov brothers with these men by their side, but they wouldn't want easy. Easy is boring. Taming a sassy brat is more fun anyway. 

Trigger Warnings: graphic torture, sexual assault, homophobic language, murder, kidnapping, physical and mental abuse and manipulation, complex mental health issues, death of a parent when MC was a child, and more. 

#tiedtoyou #killforyou #synblackrose #kozlovbrothers #kozlovbrothersseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Tied To You (Kozlov Brothers #1)


Not sure if this qualifies as giving into social media posts or crossing things off my TBR, but here's Syn Blackrose's "Tied To You." It's the first novel in the Kozlov Brothers series.

["Seb
I have nothing. I feel nothing. Nobody cares about me and I crave to feel something. To be wanted.
When life can't get any worse, it suddenly drops a hot Russian bad boy in front of me whose orbit I have been thrust into.
He won't let me go. He annoys me. He thrills me. I hate him. And I can't wait for him to catch me.

Dima
I'm obsessed as soon as my eyes land on Seb. He is the hottest thing I've seen. I must stake my claim on him.
He thinks he has a choice. He doesn't. He thinks he can run from me. He can't. I will catch him and take whats mine.
I will devour him. I will claim him. He will be mine."]

I wasn’t sure about this book at first. It was dark and twisty and mafia-based and possessive/obsessive as hell. But it was also…it took me a bit to get into some of the language and the dubious consent (which was very dubious at first but turned very enthusiastic). 

I put this book down for a while, but then I decided to give it another shot. And I’m really glad I did.

It was still very dark and twisty and mafia-y, but it got softer somehow. And it was still very possessive/obsessive, but it turned very mutual very quickly. They talked out some things, negotiated some things. A real connection grew. It was honestly kinda romantic in the end. 

Trigger Warnings: dub-con, kidnapping of MC, blood play, knife play, torture, murder, and more. 

#tiedtoyou #killforyou #synblackrose #kozlovbrothers #kozlovbrothersseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Sunday, June 29, 2025

The Beast's Heart (Ever After #4)


Here's TL Gehr's "The Beast's Heart." It's the fourth book in their Ever After series, and it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

["An ex-wrestler, four foster children, a Scottish estate and the teacher who isn't supposed to be there.

Jonathan
My father is ill, but he was determined to take up this post as private tutor to four children in The Middle of Nowhere, Scotland. When I couldn't convince him not to, I stole his identity and replaced him. I'm a teacher too, we share the same name, and PR projects like this have hundreds of staff, don't they? So I'm sure no one will notice.

Adam "the Beast" De
My late husband dreamed of changing the US foster system, but we never got the chance while he was alive. Now it's up to me. The only problem? These children scare me more than I scare them (which, given my reputation in the ring, is a lot). I feel like I'm operating blind and the last thing I need is another complication. Such as this young teacher. He was not invited to my estate, and he certainly wasn't invited into my heart."]

This book was heart-racing and heart-aching. It was beautiful and ugly. It was soft and harsh. It was sweet and devastating. It was a lot of real-life all at once with a ton of trauma and baggage and worries, but it was also a lot of HEAs. So basically TL Gehr's thing in general.

This story was just...I laughed and giggled, but I also cried and sobbed.

It was about healing, about putting yourself out there. It was about hoping, about going for it. It was about love and family, about second chances and HEAs. 

Trigger Warnings: parental illness and potential death, child abuse, child neglect, suicide, grief, COVID pandemic, and more. 

#thespindlescurse #thechristmaswishes #themidnightdance #kissoflife #thebeastsheart #tlgehr #everafter #everafterseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Nine-Tenths


Here's JM Frey's "Nine-Tenths."

["Colin Levesque is at loose ends. He's finished university, but has no career; he adores romance novels, but he's crap at relationships; and his prickliness is a detriment at the café where he's making ends meet. He also has a crush on his regular Dav, a homo draconis who comes in every morning to read his newspaper, sip his double-strong coffee, and stare longingly at Colin in return.

So it figures that the day Colin gets up the courage to do something about the sexual tension simmering between them, he also learns that Dav has an embarrassing habit of hiccupping fire when he's nervous. Which, in this case, destroys the fancy custom-made bean roaster. When Dav volunteers to take over the coffee roasting with his fire-breath, being squished together in the hot, cramped kitchen leads to even hotter kisses.

Everything's finally happening for Colin—until people start claiming the dragon-roasted coffee has cured their genetic ailments. As their budding relationship struggles under the scrutiny of scientists and media, the hype around the coffee leads the lovers to be inducted into a centuries-old conspiracy: dragon-roasted food has always healed humans. And the most powerful draconic nobles have been withholding this symbiotic advantage to keep themselves on top. Colin and Dav are determined to expose the truth, but if they're not careful, their objections could goad power-mad monarchs into destroying everything they hold dear.

Including each other."]

These two were adorable. Both hot fucking messes. Gay disasters. Separately, for sure. Together, sooo much worse. Good thing it makes them all the more adorable and endearing. 

Which they needed. Their relationship started off...well, not easy, but it was more of a...hot-mess-express, no-you-ask-him-out, what-if-we-don't-work anxiety spiral. Once their relationship started? They got closer and their feelings got stronger, but life got harder. It tried to tear them apart. That HEA prevailed though (which real life was like that).

Trigger Warnings: discussion of the past death of a parent, grief, anxiety, panic attacks, kitchen fire, mild fantasy gore and violence, abuse of perfectly innocent coffee beans, and more.

#grr #arcs #arcteammember
#ninetenths #jmfrey #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Bratva's Intern (Bratva's Undoing #1)


Here's Gianni Holmes's "Bratva's Intern." It's the first novel in her her Bratva's Undoing series.

["They call me a businessman.
And that suits me fine.
Let them believe I built my empire with contracts and strategy.
Not blood, blackmail, and the resentment of a father who thought I had no place in his world.

Then Wren arrives.
Shy. Awkward. Unremarkable on paper.
The kind of intern meant to disappear into the background.
Until he throws himself in front of a blade meant for me.
Now he’s always at my side.
Craving the smallest scrap of praise like it’s air.
And I give it to him.
Not because he’s earned it.
But because I like who he becomes when he’s praised.
Bolder, braver, a little more mine each day.

I tell myself I can keep him close without letting him in.
But someone’s after me.
And if Wren keeps looking too closely, he won’t just see the truth.
He’ll get pulled into it.
I should push him away.
Protect him from the world I was born into.
But I won’t. I can't.
Because I’ve finally found something worth losing everything for.
And I’m not letting him go."]

That. Fucking. Meet-Cute. Which wasn’t a meet-cute, more of a Meet-Sass. I was legit giggling and kicking my legs. I can’t. It was perfect. And it foreshadowed soooo much of their relationship and portrayed so much of their individual personalities. Utter Main Character energy.

And weren't these two just utterly D: . Cute and sassy and soft and complex and possessive and adorable and obsessive and disaster waiting to happen. HEA waiting to happen to. 

This is part one of their two part love story. The next one comes out soon (not nearly soon enough). Because that ending? It left me breathless. I could see many, many endings to this first book. But that? I didn't see it coming. At all. Which, of course, makes me was the second book even sooner. It doesn't help that I read an ARC version of this, which isn't even out yet. Imma go cry now; I'll be back. 

Trigger Warnings: violence, references to organized crime, threats, manipulation, homophobia, and more.

#grr #gayromancereviews #arc #arcteammember
#bratvasintern #bratvasvow #bratvasmercy #bratvasundoing #bratvasundoingseries #gianniholmes #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Friday, June 27, 2025

Luxuries of Lust (Passing Through Cafe #3)


Here's Nik Knight's "Luxuries of Lust." Its the third novel in their Passing Through Cafe series. 

["When it came to love, Rusty had resigned himself to never being enough, and Gem knew he would always be too much. Turns out, they were both wrong.

As a Pyclon from Lust, Rusty learned early the cruel rules of the Pentagram. Happiness is for the privileged. Hope for the weak. And absolutely nothing comes free. So he accepts a life of happy enough, of good enough, of just… enough. Anything more is impossible for someone like him.

That is, until he meets Gemae Akyllo.

With a brain that never rests and an ass that won’t quit, Gem is objectively a lot. His physical size is rivaled only by that of his personality—neither of which he will ever apologize for—but there’s a cost. He’s fun for a night, chosen first for a good time, but come morning, his bed is cold and empty. Always wanted, but never kept.

That is, until he meets Rusty Róisyn.

Rusty never wanted love, and Gem doesn’t need it. But together, they find it all the same."]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but I looove that this series takes place along the same timeline. It's fun to see the same scenes from different POVs, see the before and the after. 

I also love that's we've been waiting for this couple since the first book. The second one just kept teasing us for more. It also made watching them slowly fall in love all the more pining and angsty and sad. 

Because of course their story had tons of sad parts in it. As the blurb says, Rusty never wanted love, and Gem doesn't need it. They were both so seemingly happy with their lives, but when their friendship grew and then grew again, they realized they were happier now, together.

Trigger Warnings: on-page grief, death of a parent (past), discussions/inner monologue about previous sex work and the aftermath thereof—including allusions to sexual assault/abuse (past), themes of classism, speciesism, and bigotry, non-consensual drugging/spiking of a drink, and more.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#passingthroughpurgatory #gratificationingluttony #luxuriesoflust #nikknight #passingthroughcafe #passingthroughcafeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)


Here's (finally) Ariella Zoelle's sixth and final book in her Harmony of Hearts series: "Prelude of Love."

["The only thing better than being a rock star with two hot guys in your bed? Having two hot guys who still want you there when the sun comes up and every sunrise after.

Being a famous rock god has its perks, like private jets, adoring fans, and never having to work hard for a hookup. But finding someone who wants me for more than my autograph or what’s in my pants? That’s about as rare as me hitting a wrong note.

When I land in Sunnyside for my first movie role, I head straight to the local bar for some liquid courage. What I find is Duke, the brooding, muscular owner, who is looking at me like I'm trouble walking in skinny jeans. And his husband Early? He’s an angelic imp with a wicked sense of humor who flirts as naturally as I breathe.

They say three’s a crowd. I say it’s just enough bodies to properly fill a king-sized bed for a night of fun. But somewhere between Duke’s heated kisses and Early feeding me homemade pastries, I realize I want more than just one wild night. I want to turn their perfect duet into a permanent trio.

Can I convince this married couple I’m ready to trade sold-out tours for breakfast in bed? Because I’m officially auditioning to be the meat in their husband sandwich, and I plan to nail the callback."]

Holy. Wow.

You know, we all KNEW that whenever Duke and Early finally found their forever-third, it would be epic and entirely combustable. Chance brought all of that and more. Duke and Early were perfectly happy and content with their lives, with their businesses, with their spicy sides, but Chance managed to elevate all of that and more. These three completed each other on levels previously unknown.

We waited forever for this book, but it was soooo worth it. I just hope the numerous sad-singles (said with love) we were reminded of in the wonderful town of Sunnyside are getting their HEA soon--it does look like Ariella has two new series coming at us, so fingers crossed. 

#forasong #playbyheart #makemusictogether #changehistune #musictohisears #skipabeat #preludeoflove #harmonyofhearts #harmonyofheartsseries #ariellazoelle #sunnyside #sunnysideuniverse #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

My Pucking Crush


Here's Tori Chase's "My Pucking Crush." Which has been on my TBR for a while now. 

["Protecting him is my duty, but falling for him could be my undoing.

I’ve spent five years burying my past, leaving behind the violence and bloodshed of my former life as a Bratva enforcer. Now, I’m just Luca—the quiet guy who keeps his head down, working security for a professional hockey team. I don’t get close to anyone, and I definitely don’t let anyone get close to me.

But then I’m assigned to protect Max Ryan, the team’s star defenseman, and everything changes.

He's my obsession. My crush.

Max is everything I shouldn’t want. Charismatic and stubborn, he’s got a knack for finding trouble, and now he’s got a target on his back. The last thing I need is to be drawn into his world, where old loyalties and deadly secrets collide with new, dangerous desires.

As much as I try to keep things professional, Max has a way of breaking through my defenses. But when a shadow from my past threatens to destroy him and everything I’ve built, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe.

Even if it means confronting the darkness I thought I’d left behind—and risking everything, including my heart."]

Because sometimes you need a dark romance, a mafia romance, a bodyguard romance, and a hockey romance all at once. Oh, it's also enemies to lovers, only one bed, hurt/comfort, found family, and more.

And these two put me through all of that and more. So many rollercoaster emotions, so much pining, and allllll the feels. Theirs and mine. And tears (there's and mine).

Their story, their romance, wasn't easy. It was back and forth between wanting and safety. Until those two things blurred, until the only safe place was each other, wanting each other, needing each other. They broke down walls and shared traumas and held space for each other. All of that, plus the occasional death threat, only brought them together. The things destined to tear them apart, pushed them closer. Then we all cried again.

Then again, based off of the tropes and the trigger warnings, I shouldn't have been so shocked when this story nearly broke me.

Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, reference to teenage SA by a male relative, reference to death of a spouse and a child, homophobic slurs, parental manipulation, car accident, threats, and more. 

#mypuckingcrush #torichase #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Camping with the Boss (Pride Summer Camp)


When you have so many ARCs due and so many TBRs to catch upon, naturally, you read a book that just debuted today. Here's DK Sutton's "Camping with the Boss." It's part of the multi-author series Pride Summer Camp.

["Remember the story about a beast imprisoning a maiden to atone for her father’s sins? This is like that.

Except not. Billionaire Wade Darian is a beast in attitude only. And I’m not a maiden, although the label does fit in ways I'm not thrilled about, if you know what I mean. This CEO is my brother’s boss trying to prove to his stockholders that diversity isn’t just a line in the company policy by arranging a Pride retreat. When my brother disappears the day of the event, his bossy bosshole boss insists I take my brother’s place. Only, you guessed it, there’s no mansion with a beautiful library and dancing dinnerware. I’m stuck for three days at a campground in Southern Missouri with a survivalist overlord, snooty employees, and a token gay guy.

Me. I'm the token gay guy.

Happy Pride to me.

Did I mention the killer squirrels?"]

DK said this book was different than the other books they wrote, mainly due to the Daddy nature of it. But it also just generally felt new for them. It was dramatic but not overly so. And it was a fairy tale retelling, which I'm allllways down for, but I don't think DK has done one before (I could be wrong).

I freaking loooooved these two. They were glorious! Was their love quick? Sure. Was it true? Hell. Yes.

And oddly enough, I loved the almost-too-many conflicts and secrets and confusing drama. It really added to the plot, the climax, and their love story.

I almost wish it was longer. Almost. Buuuut, they're timeline and their story was perfect just the way it was (even if I cried).

Trigger Warnings: off-page death of parents during childhood, interoffice politics and conflicts, past moments of child abuse, and more.

#campingwiththeboss #dksutton #pridesummercamp #pridesummercampseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Head Games (Wages of Sin #3)


Not sure how this series was skipped while I was binge-reading Onley James over a year ago. Here's Onley James's (yes, I know) "Head Games." It's the third book in her Wages of Sin series.

["“You’re a vigilante in an argyle sweater.”

Straight-laced psychologist Tobias is an expert in the deviant behavior of others but a novice when it comes to his latest endeavor: serial killer.

After years of high-profile kills and mentoring numerous other assassins, laid-back Soren lives his life in a state of semi-permanent vacation. He comes out of an early retirement to help out a friend, only to set off sparks with the renowned psychologist when they discover they’re hunting the same man.

One shaky truce and a whole lot of blood later, Soren has a new mentee in Tobias.

Soren finds Tobias and his dark impulses fascinating. Tobias finds Soren’s relaxed attitude infuriating. They have nothing in common except their ability to kill and chemistry neither can deny. But a kill list, a rage room, the Irish mob and the ghosts of their past all stand in the way of their happily ever after."]

Gotta say, I was not paying as much attention two these two in the previous book as I should have been. In my defense, I was trying to remember if Tobias was in any of the Mulvaney books...

These two were entertaining as hell! They danced around each other, teased each other, assessed each other. And they knew that other was doing it while they were doing it back. It was analytical flirting by two psychopaths. AKA, a lot sweeter and more adorable than they had any right being. 

Frankly, they were like August and Jericho, but different flavors. 

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

#badhabits #playdirty #headgames #onlyjames #wagesofsin #wagesosinseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Play Dirty (Wages of Sin #2)


Not sure how this series was skipped while I was binge-reading Onley James over a year ago. Here's Onley James's (yes, I know) "Play Dirty." It's the second book in her Wages of Sin series.

["“When you talk, chaos follows and I forget who I am.”

Madigan has spent his life indulging in the world’s most hedonistic pursuits, his skills as a sharpshooting killer-for-hire paying his way.

Azrael, an assassin referred to as the angel of death, is a chemist and a loner, his poisons as lethal as they are undetectable.

A chance encounter leads to a passionate night and a heated rivalry that spans years, but after they’re both offered a chance at big money by taking out elite targets on a mysterious hitlist, they find themselves once again in each other's way. And then in each other’s arms.

Trust doesn’t come easily for either of them, but no matter how far they stray, fate always seems to pull them back together. In a profession where your partner is just as likely to kill you as kiss you, maybe trust is as close to love as they get?"]

These two are almost like Harlow and Benito, without all of the stabbing (don't get me wrong, there is knife play) mixed with...many of the Mulvaney couples, without all of the rules (but still with all of the murder and ranges of psychopathy). They're feisty and competitive and revel in various types of violence/murder. They're mutually dominant and fight for the upper hand/hard win. They're seemingly allergic to emotions..until it's too late. It was glorious watching it all unfold.

It wasn't an easy romance. Neither would claim that. Sure, one fell harder and faster than the other, but heartbreak makes you do...crazy things. Getting back to a place after said heartbreak (and possible betrayal) is the hard part. 

Who knew these two (especially Madi) could be so fucking soft?

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

#badhabits #playdirty #headgames #onlyjames #wagesofsin #wagesosinseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Bad Habits (Wages of Sin #1)


Another day, another book I SWEAR I read before, but cannot find on IG or my Blog or my Excel or Goodreads. Here's Onley James's (yes, I know) "Bad Habits." It's the first book in her Wages of Sin series.

["Jonah taught Cas a million ways to protect his body but not one to protect his heart.

Smart-mouthed hacker Caspian escaped an abusive home at 16. Now he’s one of the most sought-after black hat hackers in the world.

Jonah is a ruthless contract killer with only one weakness, the vibrant runaway he took in years ago: Caspian.

But Cas bailed when he turned 18 and Jonah has maintained a steady diet of eat, kill, sleep since then.

Jonah had always been the fatal flaw in Cas’s code, the bug that froze the part of his brain separating logic from emotion.

A threat to Cas’s life brings him back years later—not as the boy Jonah remembers, but as a hardened computer hacker with a price on his head and a list of names everybody wants.

The chemistry between them is as undeniable as it is dangerous.

In a world of secrets and murder, trust is a liability and feelings can get you killed. But Jonah let Cas go once, and he’s not willing to do it again. Even if it means confronting his past, solving a twisted puzzle, and taking out half of New York city’s seedy underbelly to keep Cas safe."]

I'm not sure if I finished this book and never wrote it down as such (you know...like a serial killer crossing victim's off their list...we all do it; don't look at me like that). Or, if for some reason, I DNF this book.

I DO remember the angst and the hurt/comfort was high. It was softened by some sweet fluff and possessiveness/protectiveness. I remember cheering them on, telling Cas to keep his head up, and telling Jonah to take his head out of his ass. I remember the slow decent of Jonah falling in love until it was just There, Love so undeniable that he was stuck in it forever, without a hope (or necessarily a want) to get out. And I remember Cas being hopelessly in love with Jonah the entire time, just pining away. 

I also remember a whole cast of other characters waiting for their own angst, their own hurt/comfort, their own HEA.

Annnnnd, I ended up rereading this. I definitely read all of this before. I'm even more confused now.

Trigger Warnings: violence, drug use, seedy underbelly of NYC, threats, and more.

#badhabits #playdirty #headgames #onlyjames #wagesofsin #wagesosinseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Monday, June 23, 2025

End It All (Vitale Brothers #5)


Here's Brea Alepoú and Skyler Snow's "End It All." It's the fifth novel in their Vitale Brother's series. 

["What do you do when your only way out is to join a family you never knew existed?

I’m not well behaved, that’s a given. But meeting the Vitale’s puts my life into perspective. They’re everything I’ve longed for; rich, adventurous, fearless, and close. Really close.
This is supposed to be my family too.

So why do I feel like an outsider?

I have no choice except to fit in because I can’t go back home. Not when I’m on the run…
Amidst the chaos of a cooling war, a family struggle, and the law nipping at my heels, I meet Quincy. Bold, crazy, and hot as a five alarm fire.This man is the grand red flag of all red flags, but then again so am I.

And I’ve always loved to play with fire."]

A lot of us thought that the last novel (the fourth one) would be the last. We had run out of brothers, the mafia war had ended, everyone had a HEA. In walks Blake, practically kicking the door in. Which, frankly, is Blake in a nutshell. Blake and Quincy. Blake: bad timing, good intensions, too much sass for his own good. Quincy: violent and frankly a little unhinged, but an obsession with stubborn brats (and a stubborn brat himself). 

What is with broken boys healing each other only to break each other's hearts and then finally fall in love that's soooooo fucking addicting?! The protectiveness. The obsessiveness. The threats of violence. *Swoon*

And just like this one, this isn't the last one either. I canNOT wait for Caesar's book. Really. Because this book did some groundwork for a redemption arc, but it doesn't erase all of his behavior towards his sons over the years...or whatever that epilogue was about (and I will protect these four sweet, over the top mafia men till the end of time).

Quote of the day (Quincy): "Baby girl, we're in this together. Life, death, and crime." It seemed fitting. ;)

Trigger Warnings: gore, blood, death, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, depression, violence, past parental neglect, and more.

#takemeapart #paidinfull #sayido #neversaynever #mafiabreakin #enditall #alwaysthevillain #vitalebrothers #vitalebrothersseries #breaalepoú #skylersnow #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Totally Fanatic (Love in Play #4)


Here's Becca Jackson's "Totally Fanatic." Its the fourth novel in her Love in Play series. 

["Tim is the life of every party - whether he’s smashing it on the banana ball field or hosting a team game night on his rooftop terrace. With his killer smile, endless energy, and a social media game as big as his personality, he’s becoming the guy everyone wants to watch.

But Tim doesn’t really believe the hype. In fact, he spends most of his free time scrolling through the comments looking for the boost that comes from other people’s praise.

Enter Lion. Tim‘s ultimate fanboy. The guy who knows every stat, every play, and every witty one-liner Tim has ever posted. When they meet, Lion’s attention brings the same electric buzz that the online praise does, and their connection feels as easy as a rooftop barbecue.

But Lion’s not just your average cheerleader. His fan vibes come with a sprinkle of obsession. The kind of obsession that has multiple profiles dedicated to hyping up Tim‘s game. And while Lion’s adorably naive to how that could look to the outside world, Tim can’t help but wonder if he can trust something that started as a fan crush.

Will Lion’s over-the-top devotion strike out their chance of something real, or will Tim see that his biggest fan can become his heart’s MVP?"]

This one was a little second-hand-embarrassing in the beginning. It was cute as hell, don’t get me wrong, but as one obsessive fan to other, Lion was far more confident than I would/could ever be. Which, good for him. But I can see where Duckie and gang were apprehensive. 

And I can see where Tim was apprehensive about Lion’s fan crush. The multiple fan profiles had wonderfully supportive and kind intentions, but it can read…a little over the top. 

HOWEVER, these two were cute as hell. 

They were supportive as hell, positive to crazy optimistic degrees, and just sweet. Sooo freaking sweet. 

They communicated. *gasp* Shocked, I know. But instead of spiraling and catastrophizing, they talked things out. There was virtually zero angst. It was refreshing.

Here’s hoping I get Banana Ball tickets on Monday when they go on sale for Pittsburgh. *fingers crossed* 

#totallyblitzed #totallyducked #totallygeeked #totallyopposed #totallyfanatic #totallyplayed #loveinplay #loveinplaysseries #beccajackson #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Saturday, June 21, 2025

The Sapphire Dragon Prince (Omega Fairy Tales #4)


Here's MM Farmer's latest: "The Sapphire Dragon Prince." It's the fourth novel in her Omega Fairy Tales series.

["Once upon a time, in an enchanted kingdom of captive omega princes and jeweled dragon alpha princes….

Misha
The bravest thing I’ve ever done was to choose to leave the world I came from to stay permanently in the magical world. But it isn’t really a brave decision because I’m terrified and traumatized and I don’t know how to live anymore. I’ve met my fated mate, Azurus, but I’m not going into heat the way an omega should when they meet their mate.
All I want is to be normal and feel happy again, and Azurus might be the only person who can help me…

Azurus
It doesn’t matter how much of a warrior I’ve been, nothing has prepared me to fight the demons that plague my sweet, shy mate. But nothing I do seems to be able to heal him, and it’s breaking my heart. The only thing I can think to do is to take Misha to see my mother, Queen Gaia.
And then Mother sends us on a quest to collect three magical items that could either bring the two of us together at last or drive a wedge between us forever."]

This book was about and personified anxiety/depression. It was about working hard, accepting help, and loving yourself. None of that is easy, especially with life and mental health weighing you down. But it gets easier if you surround yourself with loved ones, get to a better place physically and mentally, and admit that you want to be happier. It's work, to be happy, but Misha pushed himself and pushed himself to get there, for himself and for Azurus. 

I love how each of these books follows a similar pattern/formula, but they're still so uniquely themselves, just like each of the princes (non-magical and dragon). I've loved everything we've read so far, and I can't wait for the rest! Also, gotta say, kinda loved the cliffhanger ending on this one.

#arcs #arcteammember
#therubydragonprince #thegolddragonprince #thediamonddragonprince #thesapphiredragonprince #thesilverdragonprince #theemeralddragonprince # #mmfarmer #omegafairytales #omegafairytalesseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Thursday, June 19, 2025

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

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

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

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

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

Monday, June 16, 2025

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

Sunday, June 15, 2025

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

Saturday, June 14, 2025

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

Thursday, June 12, 2025

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

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

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

Sunday, June 8, 2025

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

Friday, June 6, 2025

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

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

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

Sunday, June 1, 2025

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

Sick Bargain (Vile House #1)

Another day, another dark romance. Here's Nordika Night's "Sick Bargain." It's the first novel in the Vile House serie...