Burn It Down (Bring The Heat #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Burn It Down" by Jillian D Wray. It's the first novel in the Bring the Heat series.

["He’s a billionaire living in a golden cage. I’m the mechanic who just handed him the key to freedom.

JACOB I was bred for success. As the CFO of my family’s empire, I play the part the cut physique, the designer suits, and the "perfect" girlfriend on my arm. But it’s all a lie. I’ve been living in a closet built by my controlling father since I was a teenager, suffocating under the weight of expectations and a legacy I never asked for. I thought I could keep pretending forever—until one look across a grocery store checkout line shattered my resolve.

DYLAN I wear my truth on my skin. Tattooed, Mexican-American, and struggling to keep my family’s auto shop afloat amidst increasing crime, I don’t have time for games. I’ve worked hard to be comfortable in my own skin, despite the judgment I face. When a Maserati crashes into my life—literally—I expect just another wealthy, entitled client. I don't expect the man behind the wheel to look at me with a hunger that could burn the city down.

THE COLLISION It starts with a wrecked car and a desperate excuse to meet. It turns into stolen moments that risk destroying the carefully constructed façade of a life. But Jacob’s father holds the purse strings to a billion-dollar future, and he won’t let his son go without a fight.

Now, he has to the safety and security of his lie, or the fiery, terrifying freedom of loving Dylan."]

Again with the pining and the angst and the heart eyes and the undeniable chemistry and the fluff and the spice and the secret looks (from their closest friends). 

And lots of drama and push back from others. Lots of drama.

But it’s okay, these two were quick to fall in love, fall in trust, and fall in ride-or-die. They had each others back, not matter what, even if the conversations were hard and the choices harder (well, the choice to be together wasn’t all that hard).

Was not expecting the ending…well, I predicted part of it. Part of it was a shocker; kept us readers on our toes.

Can’t wait for the other guys to fall in love. ;) 

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, internalized misogyny, racism, classism, targeted vandalism, cheating, blackmail, arson, grief from a deceased parent, and more.

#burnitdown #playingwithfire #fromtheashes #upinflames #bringtheheat #bringtheheatseries #jilliandwray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Dirty Angel

TBR, who? ARCS, what? Here's "Dirty Angel" by Nora Phoenix.

["When bubbly wedding cake baker Charles (not Charlie…never Charlie) accidentally overhears a mob boss plotting a murder, he contacts the cops. Detective Eamon O’Rourke offers to protect him…by posing as his boyfriend.

Soon, they’re cooped up in Charles’s cozy little house in the cute, small town of Charming, NY. Sparks fly, and it doesn’t take long before they give in to the attraction simmering between them.

But Eamon isn’t a cop at all.
He’s an angel.
Charles’s guardian angel.
And he’s anything but angelic, especially in what he wants to do with Charles…

Eamon has his hands full with Charles in more ways than one. Especially when Charles discovers Eamon’s been hiding the truth from him because if there’s one thing Charles is allergic to, it’s liars.

Is a happily ever after possible for the wedding baker and his Dirty Angel?"]

The pining! The angst!! It was addictive and beautiful, just as it was painful and anxiety-inducing. 

As was the pureness of them falling in love. It wasn't easy, being on the run from a dangerous mobster and all of the secrets Eamon was keeping. 

I had so many feelings about this book, and yet, after having finally finished it, I can't put them into words. This book was glorious and adorable and relatively angst-less. 

Trigger Warnings: mild danger, one shootout, description of someone's death, grief over losing a parent, and more.

#dirtyangel #nroaphoenix #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Beacon and The Brine (Monstrous Cravings #2)

Here's Katherine McIntyre's latest: "The Beacon and The Brine." It's a Little Mermaid retelling..sort of. This novel is the second in her new Monstrous Cravings series. 

["A desperate human dreamer. A sea monster bound by contract. A forbidden romance that could set them free…or end in destruction.

After one mistake too many, Elrich’s family is marrying him off.

Arielle Triton is his future bride-to-be, gorgeous, eligible, and from a wealthy family with connections to New Atlantis...who also hides the fact they’re merfolk. Except there’s no spark toward Arielle, none of the soul-searing romance Elrich dreamed of.

Yet, Ursuline, the serious cecaelia who’s their family lawyer? From the moment he meets them, he’s drowning in their sharp gaze, living for their low chuckles, their dry wit. But Ursuline is bound to the Triton family, just as Elrich is bound to marry someone he doesn’t love. And as those feelings grow stronger for Ursuline, the tug-of-war between duty and desire become unbearable.

As the truth behind the Triton family wealth surfaces, Elrich can no longer ignore the weighted whispers or disappearances from the staff. However, learning too many secrets in the Triton household is deadly, and if he and Ursuline stand a chance of survival, he’s clutching onto one hope.

Some contracts are destined to be broken."]

Obsessed. Utterly fucking obsessed. I love how true to the original tale this was but how entirely Katherine turned it on it's head. It's clearly The Little Mermaid, but it's also very clearly not what we grew up watching/reading. It's unique and dark and beautiful. 

Elrich was nothing like our beloved Eric. He was softer, but he was just as sweet and kind hearted and open to all kinds of people/life/love. Ursuline is a "monster" in the eyes of society just like Ursula was, but they have reasons for being colder and closed off. They're scared and scarred, but they're unbelievably caring and utterly devoted to the people they love.

I'm obsessed with those of these characters. They didn't have it easy, far fucking from it, but they held on to each other, onto the hope of something brighter. They loved each other fiercely in the face of being imprisoned forever. They fought for their HEA (alongside their found family and best of friends), and it was well deserved (even if they shouldn't have had to fight so fucking hard for it).

Trigger Warnings: off-page (not MC) mentions of sexual assault, parental neglect, discovery of death of a relative, and more.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#thethornandthespire #thebeaconandthebrine #thadderandtheally #monstrouscraving #monstrouscravingsseries #katherinemcintyre #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Joyful (Leather & Chrome #2.5)

Here's Kiki Clark's Leather & Chrome series. The next novel is "Joyful." This one is advertised at coming after the second book; however, as I was reading the series, it was being reworked for re-release (and it has since doubled in length).

["Ride hard. Love harder. Celebrate joyfully.

Rooster’s known he was a caretaker his whole life, but finding a boy who needed the same things he wanted to give had been… difficult.

Until sweet Emmett Moore falls back into his life.

Even though he’d practically grown up in the Moore house as Emmett’s brother’s best friend, it was like Rooster had never actually known the quiet young man. But anyone who shows up at a motorcycle club’s clubhouse to decorate Christmas cookies in a Snoopy sweater and superhero apron was someone he definitely wanted to get to know better.

Especially when he realizes the one thing he’s always wanted in a relationship might be the one thing Emmett has never been able to share with someone.

Was it too much to hope for a Christmas miracle?"]

I knew these two were going to be cute, having all of those hints and cameos of them from the other books, but these two were perfect. It was kismet, them meeting again, them wanting the same things, the instant chemistry. It was all just utterly adorable. 

Plus the utter lack of angst (except for Emmett's horrible family--and Emmett's anxiety)? And all of the other MC cameos (oh Olly...you fucking beautiful and well-meaning (usually) brat)? All of the yes.

Trigger Warnings: neglect from family, abuse from family, fatphobia, and more.

#reckless #temptation #joyful #yearning #possession #kikiclark #leatherandchrome #leatherandchromeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His Plaything (Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction #4)

Here's MM Farmer's newst series, Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction, which is a spin-off from her Omega's After Dark series. This is "His Plaything."

["All bets are off when a cruel prank and a case of mistaken identity throw a shy omega and a wounded alpha together under sexy circumstances

Linus
When my identical twin brother, Lucas, begged me to go to a job interview for him, I grudgingly agreed. Only it turned out not to be an interview at all, by brother tricked me into taking his place at one of his Dark Fantasies Club events. And the alpha I ended up with is definitely something straight out of a dream.
But it turns out my brother is involved in bigger things than pranks, and now Saint and I are stuck in the middle of real danger…and I’ve just gone into heat!

Saint
Dark Fantasies Club is supposed to be a way to practice control and keep the bad memories at bay. But when my play partner turns out to be a sweet, scared omega who needs my help standing up to his brother, I go into full-on protective alpha mode. Things get even worse when Linus’s brother turns out to be involved in genuine criminal activity.
Can I keep my omega safe, get him through a surprise heat, and protect us all from a criminal gang, or will the ghosts of my past mean I’m the one who needs a hero to take care of me?"]

Just when you think MM can't get any better (even though you think that every. single. time). She just does. Her books are never boring, they're never overly cliche, and they're somehow all unique and repetitive while all fulfilling the same theme. 

Plus these two?! D: Both desperate for...something. They both battled their own securities while falling hopelessly in love (without realizing it...or without their brain realizing it; their hearts and souls definitely knew). 

Not to mention all of the additional stress and danger.

All of while so much fluff and sweetness (and spice to HERE) to make your teeth ache, in the best of ways. 

Trigger Warnings: evil twin, gang, violence, threats, trauma, ptsd, smuggling, and more.

#arcs #arcteammember
#hisprize #hisreward #hisgift #hisplaything #mmfarmer #omegasafterdark #omegasafterdarkseries #omegasafterdarkomegaacution #omegasafterdarkomegaacutionseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hollis (Moore Men #2)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Hollis" by Ashley James. It's the second novel in the Moore Men series.

["When the universe hands me a hot, older, recently divorced man on a silver platter, who am I to turn down such a generous offer?

Big deal if he also happens to be my best friend’s boss.

Ford Wesley, Captain of the Wolf Creek Fire Department, is the whole package, with hair that’s a delicious mix of dark and silver strands, and deep brown eyes that hold a touch of mystery.

He’s also always been off the market… Until now.

When he gets caught in a bind and has to temporarily stay on my family’s property, I know it’s my chance to get closer to him, but I never expected it to be so easy.

One night, I match with an anonymous stranger on an app, and it doesn’t take long for things to go from innocent and flirty to raunchy and scorching.

Then when I catch a glimpse of my new neighbor shirtless one day, it becomes clear Mr. Tall, Broody, and Off Limits is the mystery man sending filthy messages to me every night online.

The best part? His profile may be anonymous, but mine isn’t… He knows exactly who he’s talking to.

The chemistry on the app morphs into a reality in the sheets…and at the firehouse, and what starts out as a secret, no-strings arrangement quickly becomes so much more. Before I know it, it’s not just his body I crave, but everything he keeps close to his heart as well.

But I’m not the settle down type, and he’s fresh out of a long marriage. When push comes to shove, will this turn into something more, or are we destined to crash and burn?"]

Opposites attract...where the opposites aren't nearly as opposite as they thought. As they fall in love, something they said they would never do. With some serious spice and out-of-nowhere (not really) fluff. Plus it's a cowboy and firefighter romance?! Yes, yes, yes, and yes. All of the yes. 

CanNOT wait for Gentry's book! God, he's in for it. ;) 

#august #finn #hollis #gentry #ashleyjames #mooremen #mooremenseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Finn (Moore Men #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Finn" by Ashley James. It's the first novel in the Moore Men series.

["Falling for my girlfriend’s twin brother wasn’t what I had in mind when I hired him to be my son’s nanny.

Working on my family’s cattle ranch, the hours are long, and sometimes unpredictable, so when my regular nanny quits, leaving me in a pinch, I have to think fast.

In walks Ash Tudor.

My opposite in almost every way.

He’s cheerful and bubbly, has horrible taste in music, and does yoga in my yard almost every morning in the tightest shorts I’ve ever seen.

Not that I’m looking.

But it’s none of those things that have me scratching my head and second guessing everything I thought I knew about myself.

No… it’s the fact that he’s a him and I can’t seem to keep my eyes away, no matter how confusing that may be.

I’m nearly thirty, and never once have I looked at another man the way I catch myself looking at him.

The feelings and urges growing inside of me make no sense, and then when he gets a special delivery to the house of items he plans to use on himself, I can’t stop imagining him doing just that… Or imagining me using them on him.

But confusion and curiosity aside, I can’t fall into bed with my son’s nanny.

Doing so would be reckless and irresponsible.

No matter how tempting it may be."]

I’ve been hearing a lot of really great things about this book, and it did not disappoint. It was a perfect mix of sweet and sass and temptation and angst and fate and found family. It was coming home in so many ways. It was loving yourself and loving your flaws, but it was also letting go and letting someone take the reigns for a while.

#august #finn #hollis #gentry #ashleyjames #mooremen #mooremenseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

August (Moore Men #0.5)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "August" by Ashley James. It's the prequel novella in the Moore Men series. It was originally published in the Saddles & Sweethearts anthology.

["“Teach me.”

Two words I never thought I’d say while lying underneath somebody I barely know, yet here we are.

August Moore is one of the sexiest cowboys I’ve ever laid my eyes on, with a flirty smirk and southern drawl that would make anybody weak in the knees.

When I move to the small town of Wolf Creek and get a job at a local coffee shop, he sets his sights on me, and I don’t stand a chance against his charm and filthy mouth.

After an embarrassing run in with him involving hot coffee and a whole lot of flour, he does the very last thing I expect… He asks me out.

Except I’m inexperienced in every sense of the word.

And him? Well, he’s more than happy to show me the ropes as we lie under the stars late at night.

But word around town is August Moore is a one night type of guy… Am I ready for that?"]

A sweet and flirty playboy cowboy who is (almost) instantly gone for the shy and adorable new-in-town barista? Yes, all the yes.

This novella was short and fluffy, just like the two of them. There was zero angst (except for some feisty Tripp--which August frankly found even hotter than innocent Tripp) and lots of sweet moments peppered with honest and vulnerable moments. 

I can't wait for the rest of these cowboys to fall hard and fast. 

#august #finn #hollis #gentry #ashleyjames #mooremen #mooremenseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Beastkin (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #3)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Beastkin" by Blake R Wolfe. It's the third novel in his Widdershins Supernatural Academy series. 

["A cursed Beastkin. A witch born of fire. A bond neither of them expected… and a love too dangerous to ignore.

Beastkin aren’t meant to fall in love with witches. That’s what the world tells me. My kind carries a curse—once human, now creatures of claw and fang, feared for a past drenched in war and betrayal. At Widdershins Academy, I’m the monster they all pretend not to watch.
Except for him.
Phoenix Emberwood—the boy who was once my best friend. The boy I lost when his family ripped him away. He’s back now, fire magic at his fingertips, stronger, sharper, and looking at me like he’s trying to decide if he still knows me at all.
I’ve only ever been with women. I never questioned that—never questioned myself. But when I see him, when I smell him, something inside me shifts, something primal and undeniable. It’s impossible. It’s forbidden.
And I want him anyway.
Loving Phoenix means turning my back on everything I know. It means facing a world that would rather see us apart—if not dead. But I’m not sure I can walk away. Not this time.

I never thought I’d see Karrick again. I never thought I’d return to a world where witches whisper warnings about Beastkin, about the creatures who were cursed for a reason.
But here I am, and there he is—bigger, stronger, impossible to ignore.
My family says I should stay away. The academy says I should know better. But my magic doesn’t listen. It flares every time he’s near, like it knows him, like it’s reaching for something lost.
I tell myself he’s just a childhood memory. I tell myself I don’t care. But when he looks at me, when our bodies collide in fleeting touches and unspoken confessions, I feel it.
The bond. The pull. The fire waiting to consume us both.
Giving in to Karrick means defying my family, my coven, the very laws that keep our world from falling apart. But maybe the only way to change history… is to burn it down."]

These two were fucking adorable! I love the flashbacks and the memories and the utterly strong reaction to seeing each other again. All of the moments of fluff and rightness. It was beautiful and adorable. Best friends to lovers, with some minor detours. 

Plus our favorite tetrad making some appearances to save the day. 

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, discrimination, violence, torture, and more.

#hexmate #faeheart #beastkin #dustborn #undertow #nightbound #evergreen #hearatflame #blakerwolfe #widdershinssupernaturalacademy #widdershinssupernaturalacademyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Faeheart (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #2)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Faeheart" by Blake R Wolfe. It's the second novel in his Widdershins Supernatural Academy series. 

["A sheltered witch. A reckless Fae. A bond they never wanted… and a passion they can’t escape

Rules? I don’t follow them. Hearts? I don’t keep them. I live for the chase, for the thrill of taking what I want and leaving before anyone gets too close. As a Fae, passion is my power, and at Widdershins Academy, where magic pulses in every shadowed corridor, I have my pick of lovers.
Then there’s Elias Thorne.
Sweet, quiet, untouchable Elias, the witch with too much potential and too little confidence. He’s the only one who has ever dared to look at me like I’m dangerous instead of desirable. The only one who doesn’t melt under my charm. And for some reason, that makes me want him even more.
But Elias isn’t interested in my games. He sees through the mask, past the wicked smirk, to the part of me I don’t want to acknowledge. And that terrifies me.
I don’t do commitment. I don’t do love. But Elias is different, and I can’t tell if he’s my greatest weakness or my only salvation. When a magical accident binds us together, things get dangerous. Because at Widdershins Academy, witches and Fae aren’t compatible, but now that we’re bound together, neither of us has a choice.

I’ve spent my life hidden behind spellbooks and expectations. The son of a prestigious coven, I was raised to be polite, reserved, and obedient—everything Wild is not. He’s reckless, untamed, a storm wrapped in silk and sin. And he infuriates me.
He pushes, I retreat. He flirts, I ignore. But somehow, Wild always finds a way under my skin, testing my patience and my control. The worst part? I think he enjoys watching me unravel.
Then on our first day back, a wild magic accident binds us together in ways neither of us understands. Now, his magic calls to mine, a pull that’s impossible to resist. Every touch is a spark, every glance a challenge, and the more I fight him, the more I realize… I don’t want to.
Loving him means risking everything—my magic, my future, my heart. But as whispers of war spread through the academy, I begin to what if Wild is the only one who can teach me how to fight back?"]

I loved how they were so different, and yet, deep down, they were nearly the same. They both wanted freedom and acceptance and love without obligations/expectations/strings. And the soul recognition?! On top of literally everything else?! D: End me. 

This book was so much more than the first novel It exceeded all expectations and predictions. It shocked even the Elder Council. It was glorious in this history and power and presence and connection. It was beautiful, in so many fucking ways.

Trigger Warnings: toxic parents, discrimination, violence, and more.

#hexmate #faeheart #beastkin #dustborn #undertow #nightbound #evergreen #hearatflame #blakerwolfe #widdershinssupernaturalacademy #widdershinssupernaturalacademyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Hexmate" by Blake R Wolfe. It's the first novel in his Widdershins Supernatural Academy series. 

["A witch without power. A werewolf with everything to lose. A forbidden love that will change it all.

Being a werewolf and the star of the wrestling team means my life is all about control—control on the mat, control under the full moon, and control over my emotions. I’ve spent years perfecting it. But then I met Caden, and all that control started to slip. He’s a witch without magic—or so everyone says—but there’s something about him that draws me in. He’s got this quiet intensity, a spark that feels more powerful than any spell I’ve ever seen.

But in a place like Widdershins Academy, where bloodlines and magical purism rule, witches and werewolves are not supposed to mix. The rules are clear, and breaking them could cost me everything—my pack, my title, and even my future. Yet, every time Caden looks at me, every time he brushes against me, it feels like the world shifts, and suddenly, those rules don’t seem so unbreakable. I can feel his soul calling to mine and when I finally get up the nerve to kiss him, I know I won’t be able to stop.

Caden:
I’ve spent my whole life feeling like a failure. Born into a legacy of pureblood witches, I should have been powerful, but my magic never came. In a world where worth is measured by power, I’ve always been on the outside, trying to blend in and failing miserably. And then there’s Atlas.
He’s everything I’m not—strong, confident, and untouchable. But somehow, he sees me, really sees me, in a way no one else ever has. When he’s near, it’s like I’m more than just a powerless witch. But I know better than to hope. He’s a werewolf, an alpha, and everything about our world is designed to keep us apart.
When a cruel prank leaves me stranded in the woods during a deadly snowstorm, it’s Atlas who finds me. He saves my life, his wolf instincts guiding him through the snow, but the storm traps us together in an abandoned cabin. There’s no escaping the truths we’ve been avoiding, and as the fire crackles, we give into the instincts we’ve been denying for too long. In those intimate moments, I see the vulnerability he tries to hide, and for the first time, I believe I might be someone he truly needs.
But the storm is only the beginning. When a magical attack threatens Widdershins Academy, we’re thrust into a battle bigger than either of us. As purists tighten their grip on our world, we’re faced with an impossible defy the rules that divide us and risk everything for the love we’ve found or let the system win and tear us apart before we’ve even had a chance."]

My GOD was this adorable as fuck. It was mix of fate moments and true love, which are magical as fuck on their own, mixed with real magic. Plus all of the fluffy moments and the protective moments. It was softer possession. It was also a connection to self and earth/nature and found family.

The angst was just enough to keep you reading and keeping you on the edge of your seat but not enough to make your chest ache or your heart race. And, spoiler alert, the angst wasn't between Caden and Atlas (not really). Watching them fall for each other, and then fall into the safety of loving each other, was beautiful. It was comfortable and confidence-boosting. 

I honestly can't wait for more!!

Trigger Warnings: threats of violence, violence, borderline blackmail/definite coercion, toxic parents, attempted assault, bullying, discrimination, and more.

#hexmate #faeheart #beastkin #dustborn #undertow #nightbound #evergreen #hearatflame #blakerwolfe #widdershinssupernaturalacademy #widdershinssupernaturalacademyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Lust (Saints and Sinners #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "Lust" by Devon McCormack. Its the first novel in the Saints and Sinners series.

["LUKE

I've never been attracted to guys.

I definitely would never be attracted to a privileged, cocky bastard like Brad Henning.

Even though I've only been at St. Lawrence University for a few weeks, this prick and his friends are on a mission to mess with me—a scholarship kid who I guess they don't think belongs at a prestigious school intended for the nation's elite.

I've always been a loner, so I've dealt with my share of bullies. But unlike the bullying I encountered when I was younger, Brad and his friends have some unusual tricks up their sleeves.

They're using...

I don't even want to name it, but it's the only explanation for what's happening.

Magic.

These guys have powers, and Brad is using his to make me want him.

No—not just want him. Lust after him like I've never lusted after anyone in my life.

The way I crave him sears to my core, causes physical pain until I have the only thing that brings relief—his touch.

But when I discover that whatever he's done to me hurts him too, I realize there's more to all this than Brad and his friends trying to mess up my life.

More to it than these feral urges that are, at times, more than I think I can bear.

I have to get to the bottom of this, but until I do, there's only one way to end my agony.

I must surrender to the lust."]

This book went in so many directions. And not in a bad way. It was unique and exciting, even if I couldn't predict what was going to happen next. 

Though I was really rooting for this two. A lot. Obsessively. And Cody. Not so much Seth, but I do recognize that he had good intentions. 

I love the mix of paranormal and supernatural with the fated loves and found family and the-power-chooses-you and karma/evolution. It was different than anything I've read before, but it wasn't too off-the wall. It was understandable while not being too explanatory or info-dumpy-y.

Though be forewarned, this book is a HEA for the couple but a HFN for the series...more spookiness to come..

Trigger Warnings: past parental deaths, anxiety, mild violence, mild bullying, and more.

#lust #fever #wrath #saintsandsinners #saintsandsinnersseries #devonmccormack #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Alpha Boss' Baby Service (Babies for Broken Dads #5)

Here is Anna Wineheart's latest: "Alpha Boss' Baby Service." It's the sixth novel in her series, Babies for Broken Dads (which is a spin-off series from her Closet Baby Chronicles series...which is also a spin-off series).

["Twin Buns needs help. To revive his dwindling bakery business, alpha wolf Titan comes up with a new Selling his own "cream filling."
Surprisingly, the Baby Service is a hit. Orders start pouring in, almost too many to fill.
Then everything goes Both of Titan's arms are injured, and his cream production grinds to a standstill.

Enter a single dad adrift with his baby, needing shelter and protection.
Titan hires him. But Mathlin is keeping secrets; there's something strange about his baby.
Not to mention Mathlin's constant disappearances.
It doesn't matter. As soon as Titan's arms are healed, Mathlin will be on his way.
Just that Titan's instincts keep Mathlin needs to stay."]

I flipping LOVE this series. All of the stories are unique and awkward and lovely and sweet and spicy and just...crack. It's all pure crack. 

And fluff. SOO much fluff. Plus some bad pick-up lines (some really creative bread/baking puns...soooo many) and helpful (and not-so-helpful) family members (and community members) and time acting right on time and fated moments and magic (of all kinds).

These two were perfectly adorable. Titan with his need to provide and comfort and care. Mathlin with his need to feel wanted and wanting to contribute. Titan with his baked goods and...helpful family. Mathlin with his vomit-mouth and sweet smile. They're perfect for each other; some people saw it right away, some people had to be hit over the head with it.

Trigger Warnings: past creepiness by bad guy, past captivity, violence, and more.

#theaccidentaldragonbaby #demonbassbabyload #alphadragonsmatingcontract #guardedbyhisalphawolf #alphabossbabyservice #alphabossbabyservice #alphadragonstealsamate #babiesforbrokendads #babiesforbrokendadsseries #annawineheart #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

This Might Hurt

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "This Might Hurt" by Riley Nash.

["One second can change everything.

I met him on the worst day of my life—the desperate boy with a gun and the most brilliant smile I’d ever seen. We saved each other’s lives and then walked away, because a hitchhiking criminal and one of the richest men in the world can’t possibly be made for each other.

I’m a void, silenced by my power-hungry family and pushed into an arranged marriage like the obedient pawn I am. I’ve given up hoping for anything more.

He’s an uncontrolled explosion, a lost man with a shattered moral compass who would do anything for redemption. He refuses to give up hope, even if it breaks him.

So when I come up with a wild, impossible revenge plan, there’s only one person I look for. One person unhinged enough to say "yes" when I ask him to marry me and ruin my family’s business deal. He can teach a good boy how to do bad things. He already owns me, body and soul.

The problem is, we’re both too broken to know when to stop. Our hearts are damaged and possessive and foolish. Now that we’re in too deep, I realize we only have one chance to build the kind of love that rewrites the damage they passed down to us."]

Well that did hurt. It hurt many times and many ways, and I probably would have cried more if I had let myself. And the complicated part, it wasn't tragic, it wasn't overly sad, it wasn't trauma/triggers/baggage/grief. It was loneliness compounded with an aching hollowness and un-medicated mental spiciness. Which maybe hit a few too many of my personal lows. 

But these two found solstice in their missing, jagged pieces in the other. Those broken pieces matched each other. Their darknesses reached out to each other. They were able to carry each other's baggage and bandage each other's trauma. 

All the while messing up a few times. But the utter sweetness of it all. And codependent spice and probably toxic levels of cuddles.

The moment of clarity when they first met? How the universe shifted back into place? How their very souls rewrote themselves? All of the yes. 

Trigger Warnings: suicidal feelings and intent, untreated mood disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, unhealthy coping mechanisms, emotional abuse, past physical abuse, parental rejection/abandonment, intensive hospital care, threatening with a gun, irresponsible gun safety, verbal threats of violence, and more.

#thismighthurt #rileynash #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Candy Hearts: Volume 3 (an LGBTQIA2S+ Charity Anthology)

Here's Candy Hearts, an LGBTQIA2S+ Charity Anthology. This is the third volume. (All proceeds will benefit the Rainbow Railroad, which helps LGBTQIA2S+ people get to safety worldwide.)

["What’s sweeter than a low angst queer romance at Valentine’s Day? How about twenty-one of them in one anthology to help support a good cause?

Each novella in Candy Hearts, volume 3, is overflowing with red-hot romance and all the good feels. This volume is full of “meet-uglies” and bad first impressions. What’s more satisfying than a happily ever after that started on the wrong foot?"]

I haven't read the entirety of either anthology, instead choosing to focus on the authors I've read in the past; when I have time (ha!), I hope to go back and read the rest of the short stories from these anthologies! I read 45% of this book, including: "Always This," "Love Thy Neighbor," "Grounded," "The Weekend Boyfriend," "What the Heart Wants," "All I Want Is You," and "My Demon Boyfriend."

TO BE UPDATED SOON

Favorite Story: 

Favorite Relationship:

I Want More Of:

#candyhearts #candyheartsvolume3 #candyheartscharityanthology #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Lies of Omission (Without Limits #3)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "The Lies of Omission" by Skyla Raines. It's the third novel in her Without Limits series. 

["Two men.
One forbidden love.
And a truth that could ruin them both—if it doesn’t set them free first.

Sinclair
Getting exiled to my aunt's country home and being disowned was supposed to be a punishment. My parents were sick of my parties, my hookups, my refusal to play the perfect son. So now I’m stuck working at some uptight country club, pretending I’m not falling apart inside. Then I meet Theo Astor—buttoned-up, ice-cold, and twelve years older. He acts like he’s better than me, like I’m just a reckless distraction. The way he looks at me says otherwise.
I didn’t mean to want him. I definitely didn’t mean to need him.
But once we start, I can’t stop. Even if I’m just a secret he’s ashamed of.

Theo
I’ve spent my entire life doing what’s expected. Running my family’s legacy, keeping up appearances, saying yes when I want to scream no. Then Sinclair Soul walks into my club—loud, messy, infuriating, beautiful. He challenges everything I’ve buried and makes me want things I’ve fought so hard to forget.
Unfortunately in my world, there are rules I must follow, prying eyes to avoid, and an engagement I didn’t choose.
I can’t have him. I shouldn’t even look at him.
But I do.
And once I touch him, it’s already too late."]

My fucking GOD! Why was this one worse than the last? Why was it more heartbreaking and more tragic and harder to swallow? Why did I cry (and sob) during most of it? 

The hurt-comfort-hurt was agonizing in execution. Theo had his reasons for being shut down and cold, keeping secrets and keeping his distance. But Sin, of all people, didn't deserve to be a secret, a shadow, a convenience, not after everything his parents did/said to him his whole life. That strong, loud, brazen man was broken by his life for Theo. Then again, Theo started off the book mostly broken.

But those last few chapters? When they finally accepted their feelings, themselves, and pushed for their own future? All of the horrible people got their karma? All of the okay people vowed to do better (and did better)? All of the good, honest, stand-by-your-side people go what was coming to them too? A cheesy as fuck, well-earned, romantic epilogue? Allll of the yes. 

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, mentions of conversion therapy, emotional child abuse, abandonment, manipulation, and more.

#thelieswetellourselves #thelieswebelieve #liesofomission #theliesoftemptation #skylaraines #withoutlimits #withoutlimitsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Lies We Believe (Without Limits #2)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "The Lies We Believe" by Skyla Raines. It's the second novel in her Without Limits series. 

["He was my safe place.

My protector.
My home.

River
Unwanted. Broken. Used.
I spent my childhood bouncing through foster care until I finally ran away, only to end up in the hands of a devil disguised in elegance. She promised me dreams spun in gold, but beneath the surface, they were nothing but sweet lies.
Now, I was trapped in a life where my worth was measured by others' desires, my screams unheard, my tears falling silently in the dark. The only thing stopping me from wishing it would all end was the thought of a boy from my past, the one with mismatched eyes—one like a clear summer’s sky, the other deep and shadowy like a forest. He was a fleeting spark of hope in a world that had none. A dream I never thought I’d hold on to.
The lies we clung to never came true... until they did. And when they did, they mocked us with their cruelty.

Bane
My world shattered the day my family was taken from me, plunging me into the foster system. I was lost and broken until I found solace in a boy with deep emerald eyes. He became my anchor, pulling me from the edge with his quiet smiles and steady presence. For two years, he was my everything, the one thing keeping me together.
After that loss, I vowed to make a difference—to fight for the innocent, protect the vulnerable, and bring justice to those who had none. I never thought the biggest case of my career would bring me face-to-face with the boy who had once seen straight through me. And I never expected the flood of emotion that would follow.
He was no longer the boy I remembered. He was hurt, broken, twisted by the cruelty of the world. I needed him for the case, but all I wanted was to shield him, to keep him for myself. I was torn between my duty to the greater good and the deep pull of a heart I didn’t even know I had."]

Well THAT was all kinds of painful. Like all kinda of painful. You start to feel like you can uncurl and let the blanket fall from your face a bit, and then booooom, more pain. So basically River, River's life, River's trauma, River's pain. The small bits of safety were Bane (and Shadow), but the life, the trauma, the pain, the reality (or the lies we believe (see what I did there)) demand attention. 

Which made their progress and their successes and their happily ever after all the more sweet.

Trigger Warnings: child abuse (mental, psychological, physical, sexual), abuse, mental health rep, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, loss of loved ones, sex work/trafficking, drug use, sexual assault/rape, stalking, physical assault, attempted murder, murder, manipulation, homophobia, and more.

#thelieswetellourselves #thelieswebelieve #liesofomission #theliesoftemptation #skylaraines #withoutlimits #withoutlimitsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Lies We Tell Ourselves (Without Limits #1)

Continuing on a TBR/Beat-The-Backlog kick (and ignoring my ARCs kick). Here's "The Lies We Tell Ourselves" by Skyla Raines. It's the first novel in her Without Limits series. Because apparently, I'm also crossing off a lot of the bully-romance books I have TBRed. 

["𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝.
𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞.
𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬.

𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐞
ʙʀɪᴀʀ ᴜ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ꜰʀᴇꜱʜ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ, ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀ ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ.
ᴏɴᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ.
ᴀ ꜰʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ᴡʜᴏ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ᴏᴡɴᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ꜱᴇɴᴛ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏꜰꜰ ɪᴛꜱ ᴀxɪꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ɪɴ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛ.

𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐧
ᴍʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱɪᴍᴘʟᴇ: ᴛʀᴀɪɴ, ᴘʟᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪɴ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴍɪꜱꜱᴛᴇᴘ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅʀᴏᴡɴ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ'ꜱ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ.
ᴀ ɢʜᴏꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ʜᴏʟᴅꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋᴇʏ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʀᴜɪɴ, ᴀ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ. ɪ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.
ɪ'ʟʟ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʜɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀꜱᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ꜱᴀꜰᴇ.
ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪꜰ ɪᴛ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜱ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ."]

God, what a roller coaster. That was a beautiful mess of fear and meanness and fierce devotion and unbridled chemistry. They connected (reconnected) instantly, like they did all those years ago..until fear and anxiety got ahold of Dillion.

Jamie is a ray of fucking sunshine, for everyone and everything, except himself. He was resilient and brave and so fucking kind. 

Their journey back together wasn’t easy, sooo many people and circumstances got in the way, but it made them stronger.

Trigger Warnings: mental health rep, bullying, homophobia, off-page memories of domestic violence, memories of physical childhood abuse, drugging, kidnap, attempted murder, beating, violence, and more.

#thelieswetellourselves #thelieswebelieve #liesofomission #theliesoftemptation #skylaraines #withoutlimits #withoutlimitsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Prince of the Barbarian (Not-So-Savage Barbarians #6)

Here's Amy Padilla's "Prince of the Barbarian." It's the fifth official novel in her Not-So-Savage Barbarians series.

["There’s always a point in someone’s life where they regret the decisions of their past. Take me for instance. I skipped my lessons as often as I could get away with, figuring I’d always have someone with me to translate or watch my back. As a prince of Al Nuzem, I was very rarely alone. But when one of my own guards stabbed me in the back and had me handed off to the barbarians, my inability to speak even the common tongue meant I couldn’t tell them I wasn’t what they thought. And no amount of fighting was going to get them to bring me home. Not until they learned to communicate with me. It wasn’t going to be the other way around. They’d learn eventually."]

I thought I would be annoyed with Zakai. Granted, he was a brat, but he had a good heart and just wanted to be loved and cared for and paid attention to. He wanted to be important and special to someone (and who doesn't?).

Uttin didn't know what he wanted, but it certainly wasn't a tribute who couldn't (wouldn't) talk while he was supposed to be training (and not sure if he wanted to be training) to take over the clan. Deep down, he want something of his, something he could call his own, something that no one else had (something that didn't necessarily come with loads of responsibility).

Together, they were adorable as hell. Fitting together perfectly, matching each other in ways they didn't know they needed. 

And this book was the PERFECT ending to an absolutely perfect series. Sweet and sassy, filled with all kinds of new loves and found family, new alliances and new homes on the horizon. Not to mention that last chapter (what's better revenge than living your best life (okay...torture/murder with a semi-villainous monologue is close)). 

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