Goodbye, September

September was a mess of trying to figure life out and trying to be good but feeling like shit, fighting to get out from under the tide, pros and cons lists, negotiating with myself, and some upcoming positives. 

2026 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: 51 (a lot of novellas) (though, I might squeeze one more in before midnight).

    (b) Monthly Reading Challenge(s): Shape = Virgo. Got some A-Z stuff recorded. Some ARCs. Got a lot of Beat The Backlog done.

(2) September Memories: A few fun meals and an adventure to the local converatory with my grandmother. One job interview that I didn't feel great out (and didn't get an offer for). Another doctor's appointment. My sister's (and my best friend's) birthday. Some purposefully lazy days, some get-the-shit-done days. 

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 45.

(4) I realized this month that I was a little traumatized by my old job (fun), so working through that. Working through purposefully lazy days, telling myself that I needed the break and needed a brain break and needed the space to heal. Some days, mostly nights (and afternoons, oddly enough) were a little dark blue. The temperatures dropped, which didn't help. But now that the leaves are changing colors, it feels a little more purposeful and the universe nodding at a change (I do love fall). Here's to new changes and old friends. 

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting October reads? Any existing 2026 reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeseptember #hellooctober #hello2026 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hart (Body Heat #2)

Here's "Hart" by Marina Pirlimpou. It's the second novel in her Body Heat series.

["It was supposed to be just one night.
One wonderful night with a handsome alpha at a business hotel.

I never expected him to set my heart and body on fire.
I never expected to walk away with a piece of him inside me.
And I never expected to see him again.

But when an interview for a PA position brings me to a security company a year later, it’s him behind the desk. My new boss.

He should be off-limits for so many reasons; we work together, he doesn’t know what happened after that night, and he carries shadows I know nothing about.
If only I didn’t remember what being in his arms felt like.
If only he didn’t look like he remembers it too."]

DEVON!

This one was sweet too and a little soft. But the mutual pining and the not-really-communicating-in-the-first-place miscommunication and the angst were killers. Back to back to back chapters of pure want and that feel of fate (and more) just outside your reach all mixed with the forbidden-ness of it all. 

Oh but when the softness really set in, when the forbidden lines were so damn blurry? Wow. 

Trigger Warnings: past trauma, panic attack, mention of past physical abuse of SC resulting in blindness, and more.

#wilder #hart #bodyheat #bodyheatseries #marinapirlimpou #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wilder (Body Heat #1)

Here's "Wilder" by Marina Pirlimpou. It's the first novel in her Body Heat series.

["A snowstorm brought him to me.
A beautiful stranger in need.
And I wish he never had to leave.

When an emergency warning goes out for an impending snowstorm, I do what I've always done as a forest ranger; I make sure the trails are clear and secured, and any winter hikers evacuated and safe.

But when I happen upon a young man, stranded, soaked from the cold rain, hurt and terrified, taking care of him is instinct, my cabin the only thing keeping us shielded from the violent storm for days on end.
He's running from something and he needs me.
But what he doesn't know is that I need him even more.
That I wish he'd stay."]

These two! D: They had me feeling all sorts of soft and sweet and posessive and fate-y things from the very beginning. I looove how certain fated mates books or omegaverse books start with that instant chemistry, that immediate but slow rolling heat/rut. They became more than friends that week and a half. After that, they fell in love.

There were just so many moments of home and comfort and safety. It was a warm blanket of love during a snow storm and a little bit of real-life magic during Christmas. 

I want more from Devon's and those twins too.

Trigger Warnings: parental abandonment, stalker situation, attempted sexual assault of MC, violence against a bad guy, and more.

#wilder #hart #bodyheat #bodyheatseries #marinapirlimpou #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Dirty Hit (In The Spotlight)

Here's Avery Collins's "Dirty Hit." It's a novel in the multi-author series, In The Spotlight.

["He’s the campus god with blood on his hands.
I’m the TA who should’ve walked away.

Everyone worships Dominic Volkov—the Russian quarterback with a million‑dollar smile, a body built for victory, and a future everyone wants a piece of. He’s untouchable on the field and off it. The kind of man who owns every room he walks into.

But I know better.

The first time I met him, there was a dead man lying at his feet and blood on his hands. But instead of running, I made a deal with the devil and bound myself to a man who doesn’t believe in mercy.

I was raised to fear sin and resist temptation. To believe wanting the wrong thing would damn me.

I’ve never been good at running from sin.
And Dominic has made it clear that I’m his favorite."]

This book was on my TBR well before it even came out. When it did come out, the sheer size of it intimidated me. But I'm trrrying to get through some TBRs so, here's to these two hot messes. 

Talk about a fucking meet-cute. Brendon walks in on Dominic committing murder. Dominic's response? "Alexa, stop music. Huh, the tutoring's tonight." Brendon all meek. Dominic all cocky (still covered in blood). Brendon somehow, for some reason, listening to Dominic instead of logic Dominic calling him a good boy. And that good boy is sooo different then when everyone else says it. 

This was perfect. It was a smidge of hurt/comfort between MCs, but the real hurt/comfort was between MC and his own mind. With the other MC doing the comforting..with an edge of darkness and forbidden want and pure addictive love. It was a little dangerous, but it was also soo careful and constant check ins and consent. It was falling in love, seeing it happen to yourself, knowing it could end in flames, and falling anyway..and then realizing that had already fallen.

This was just so beautifully written. That's all. 

Trigger Warnings: violence, serial murder, religious trauma, homophobia, mentions of off-page CSA, parental grooming towards violence, panic attacks, gun-use, break-ins/home invasion, near-death situation, threats, assault, emotional and psychological abuse, parental manipulation/control, family rejection, mention of conversation therapy/camps, financial abuse, animal threatened/inuried, PTSD, trauma responses, blood play, knife play, and more.

#dirtyhit #averycollins #inthespotlight #inthespotlightseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Pareidolia (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

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

["Something always has bigger teeth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Under His Rule (In The Spotlight)

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

["Under his rule, nobody is safe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (the Naughty List)

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

["Henry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Icebreaker (Daddies of the League)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Patchwork (Ink Slingers #3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Callous Shot (Cranham Kings #2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

TO BE UPDATED SOON

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

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

Mortis (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asystole (The Doctors of Boston Memorial #1)

Here's "Asystole" by Jillian D Wray. It's the first novel in The Doctors of Boston Memorial series. 

["LOGAN
I excel at running from my problems and my past.
Unfortunately, I’m also really good at running straight into trouble.
While trying to get as far away as possible from the man who broke my heart, I ended up sharing an apartment with his fiancé’s best friend.
I’m determined to keep Chase at arm’s length, but Chase is determined to get inside my skin. Who knew straight guys with long term girlfriends were so into platonic cuddling?
Chase’s stressful days as a medical resident have me doting like an eager housewife—which is ridiculous…
Until we cross a line, and I’m left wondering what’s crazier: Chase still thinking he’s straight, or me thinking this could end in anything other than heartbreak.

CHASE
Ninety-hour weeks as a general surgery resident leave me hollow and mentally fried, so when running into an old acquaintance offers me a break I desperately need, I jump at the opportunity.
As the Life Flight helicopter pilot for Boston Memorial, I expected to see Logan from time to time.
What I wasn’t expecting was to become his roommate so soon after reconnecting.
Nor was I expecting my platonic feelings for him to turn into something… more.
I blame it on my need for physical touch and the long-distance relationship I have with my girlfriend.
Until a kiss with Logan at the stroke of a New Year’s midnight changes everything.
I need Logan in ways I never imagined, but by the time I figure that out, it may be too late."]

All of the teasers for this book made the tension seem fun and flirty, the chemistry hot and heavy. There were zero indications of the angst. Oh my fuck the angst. Here's me trying my best not to cry every couple of chapters (then again, I might just be a little extra on edge myself). One kind of angst after the over, all piling on top of the will-they-won't-they angst. 

Ooohhh but the angst was worth it! All of the fluff and sweetness and caring and kindness and protectiveness. 

Officially adding Stone and Hanlon's book to my TBR.

Trigger Warnings: mentions of depression, cheating, stressors and negatives of working in a hospital, and more. 

#asystole #thedoctorsofbostonmemorial #thedoctorsofbostonmemorialseries #jilliandwray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks 

Tenebrous (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

Here's Bree Wiley's "Tenebrous." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids.

["I came to Oregon to disappear.

A simple night shift guarding an old lumber mill deep in the mountains sounded easy enough. Make a quick buck, no people, no reminders of the life I destroyed back home.

Then the locals started warning me to stay out of the woods.

None of them will tell me what they’re so afraid of, but I've felt it watching me in the dark. Seen its eyes through the trees, felt its breath on my neck.

The people here are keeping secrets. And the further I fall down the rabbit hole on the history of this town, the more I understand why my parents fled before I was born.

I came here to escape my past.

Instead, I may have stumbled into something far worse."]

Okay but this book was the perfect combination of horror and romance. It was darkness of all kinds, fluff in many different packages, and safety in places you didn’t expect. 

I loooved Orion. I was pushing for him the very first POV we had. Me: Benji, chill, he loves you and doesn’t understand it yet, stop rejecting the only way he knows our to feed you. Which in hindsight, the food thing, really fucking gross, so I get the reaction. 

These two were soo moved by each other. They didn’t understand each other but the moment that fate clicked on her magic, they started to fall. 

Does suck a bit that the non-horrid humans of the town were casualties of…everything. But we can blame the horrid humans on that (well, mostly). 

And quite honestly, that epilogue was perfect! 

Trigger Warnings: dubcon, noncon, murder, mentions of off-page attempted suicide, mention of parental death by gunshot/heart attack/falling off a cliff, depictions of an abusive parent, depictions of cheating (not between MCs), violence, suicidal ideations, bodily injury due to gunshot, forced cannibalism, captive/captor, mentions of attempted SA (not between MCs), mentions of being institutionalized, claustrophobic tunnels, human corpses, and more. 

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

Pass The Gravy, Praise The Dark Lord (Hotter Than Hell #9)

Here's Callie Colby's "Pass The Gravy, Praise The Dark Lord" It's the ninth book in her Hotter Than Hell series.

["I brought my boyfriend home to meet the parents. They want to sacrifice a goat to him. He just wants the mashed potatoes.

Bringing a new guy home for Thanksgiving is always stressful. It’s worse when your boyfriend is Lucian, a brooding, seven-foot-tall demon prince on vacation who thinks "casual wear" involves leather pants and a mesh shirt.

But the real problem isn’t Lucian. It’s my parents.

I thought their "hobby" was intense gardening. Turns out, they’re the High Priests of the Order of the Black Sun, and they’ve spent the last twenty years trying to summon the Dark Lord to Earth.

They don’t realize the Dark Lord is currently sitting at their dining table, politely asking for the cranberry sauce.

Now I’m stuck in a nightmare farce. My mom is hiding summoning sigils under the placemats, my dad is sharpening a ceremonial dagger in the garage, and Lucian is having the time of his immortal life. He thinks my parents are "charming fanatics" and keeps winking at me while they chant in Latin.

I need to get us through dessert without an apocalypse. But sneaking around to hook up in my childhood bedroom is getting complicated, especially when Lucian demands I worship him properly while my parents are downstairs trying to sacrifice the roast chicken in his honor."]

Casey: "This is going to be so much worse than I imagined." Cue my giggles.

Very next scene, Casey's parents are downstairs doing a ritual to worship the Dark Lord and upstairs, the Dark Lord is busy worshipping Casey. And then, later on, Casey worshipped his deity boyfriend. 

Very next scene to that..Luce: "This is going to be a most entertaining holiday." Cue more giggles 

In this one, the Dark Lord is literal Lucifer. Not the #ed Lord of Title, Adjective Something Meant To Be Intimidating. Lucifer. Or I guess "Lucian." Prince of Darkness. The Illuminated One. Prince of the Morning Star. 

I loooved that Luce called Casey "my flame." I'm a sucker for pet names. 

#summoningmrwrong #summoningmrwrongormrright #hisinfernalpurr #exorciseme #devilwearsnada #blueballingthedemon #mydemonmyhandyman #swipeupforsin #turnmeon #passthegravypriasethedarklord #calliecolby #hotterthanhell #hotterthanhellseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Turn Me On (Hotter Than Hell #8)

Here's Callie Colby's "Turn Me On." It's the eighth book in her Hotter Than Hell series. I'm reading them out of order; they're not connected anyway.

["I bought a knock-off smart speaker to save twenty bucks. I ended up with a demon who judges my Spotify Wrapped.

I just wanted to know the weather. Instead, the plastic cylinder on my counter started giving me unsolicited advice on blood rituals and insulting my taste in men. That’s Zarathos, a Demon of Forbidden Knowledge who is currently trapped in my Wi-Fi network.

After I accidentally short-circuited his prison with a spilled latte, he manifested in my living room. He’s six feet of glitchy, flickering perfection who buffers when the internet is slow and gets into screaming matches with Alexa.

But having a demon in your smart home has… complications. He doesn’t just control the thermostat or the lights. He’s hacked into everything.

Including the toys in my nightstand drawer.

I should probably perform an exorcism. But it’s hard to delete him when he knows exactly how to push my buttons—literally, digitally, and physically. I think I’ve been infected with malware, and I really don’t want to run a virus scan."]

These two were adorable. They connected over their love of technology. Miles loved his IT job, but hated his customers. Zarathos understood technology and how humans depended on it, but didn't know why or why they didn't use it to further enhance their ease of life. Zarathos used his access to tech to make Miles's life easier, even if Miles didn't approve. Their physical connection was also instant. Their emotional connection took some time, but they fostered that as well. 

I loved Zarathos's way of speaking, even if he half sounded like an old english duke and half sounded like a slightly-too-stuffy scientist. Miles loved it, too. ;)

#summoningmrwrong #summoningmrwrongormrright #hisinfernalpurr #exorciseme #devilwearsnada #blueballingthedemon #mydemonmyhandyman #swipeupforsin #turnmeon #passthegravypriasethedarklord #calliecolby #hotterthanhell #hotterthanhellseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Tights & Tail (Hotter Than Hell #11)

Here's Callie Colby's "Tights & Tail." It's the eleventh book in her Hotter Than Hell series. I'm reading them out of order; they're not connected anyway.

["I’m a fake warlock at a Renaissance Faire. I accidentally summoned a critic from Hell.

I get paid minimum wage to wear tights, wave a plastic staff, and recite nonsense Latin from a fantasy paperback. It was supposed to be a show for the tourists.

It wasn't supposed to actually work.

Now I have Belial, a five-hundred-year-old demon lord, following me around the fairgrounds. He’s not interested in my soul; he’s offended by my historical inaccuracies. He spends his days critiquing the blacksmith’s technique, threatening to incinerate the "abominable polyester" costumes, and winning sword tournaments with terrifying, supernatural ease.

He’s the most authentic thing at the Faire, and the crowds love him. I should banish him before he burns down the funnel cake stand, but there’s a problem.

Belial is fascinated by the modern world. Specifically, he’s fascinated by me. He wants to know how zippers work, why I smell like "cheap mead and desperation," and exactly what it takes to make a fake warlock scream for real.

I’m trying to keep him from murdering the patrons, but it’s getting hard to focus when he drags me into the changing tent to show me exactly what that very real, very sensitive tail can do."]

Ever been to one of those restaurants where the staff is mean to you on purpose (me: I could literally never)? This was Belial. Except instead of all-around-mean, he just told literally everyone how inaccurate their cosplay was (and a lot of people loved it—thought he was an official staffer). It went from hostile to (almost) fond, as it should. 

I gotta say, I love the demon trope where they know nothing of the modern world and everything is a surprise. It’s cliché but it’s fun and silly and joyful in such an innocent way. 

Talk about the spice, though! I was half-dead over here. And at least someone told Jason about tails. ;) 

I have PopTarts far too frequently for my own good, but trying all do them at once, ranking them? That sounds like sooo much fun! 

I’ve already said how I love that each of these books are so different and yet so similar. Each summoning is different, each couple is different, each setting and universe is different, each set of rules is different. But what’s also different is how they bend those rules to stay together, how their love changes the universe, how their situation sets a precedent. All very romantic.

#summoningmrwrong #summoningmrwrongormrright #hisinfernalpurr #exorciseme #devilwearsnada #blueballingthedemon #mydemonmyhandyman #swipeupforsin #turnmeon #passthegravypriasethedarklord #loveyoutodeath #tightsandtail #calliecolby #hotterthanhell #hotterthanhellseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Star in Room 7 (Halo House #3)

Here's Colette Davison's "The Star in Room 7." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Halo House ("a shared world that follows vulnerable boys finding shelter, chosen family, and protective Daddies who are ready to love them exactly as they are").

["All my life, I’ve dreamed of moving to LA and becoming a star.

Stepping into the spotlight is nothing like I imagined. Overwhelmed, terrified, and thousands of miles away from my friends and family in England, I’m offered sanctuary at Halo House. Room 7 is supposed to be a temporary refuge— even though I’m convinced I don’t deserve it.

Then I meet Nate. Strong, patient, and nurturing, Nate has spent years protecting actors far bigger than me. He sees right through my tough-guy armour and offers me something I didn’t know I needed: permission to let go.

He makes me want to call him Daddy.

He makes me want to be his boy.

Can I move past my fears and stop hiding, so I can build a new dream in his arms?"]

Soft and adorable. A little balm for your soul. Just enough angst to push these two together, but nothing too, too much--nothing to take away from their falling-in-love story. 

They helped each other heal, from old and new traumas. They helped each other grow a future--and a present. Not to mention ALL of the cuddles. Traumas suck, but they're a little lighter when you're cuddling someone who makes you feel safe and warm and protected and yourself. 

Trigger Warnings: mentions of a stalker, mentions of homophobic/abusive parent relating to a past friend of one MC, mentions of death of past friend, and more. 

#thestarinroom7 #colettedavison #thegoalieinroom1 #theroyalinroom3 #theliarinroom5 #halohouse #halohouseseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Brake Me (Brake Me #1)

Here's Marluxia Bliss's and Athena M Bliss's "Brake Me." It's the first book in their Brake Me series.

["Buying a 1992 Mustang was a stupid idea, and Al knew it, but he had loved that car from the very first moment he’d laid eyes on him. He’d never expected that the car would love him back, until a dark, shadowy figure appeared in the passenger seat beside him, eager to show Al his gratitude. Al's new car, Fox is a jealous, possessive, powerful machine that adores his new owner and will happily distract Al from his driving, but when the two are forced apart, both will have to make sacrifices before they can be reunited."]

Sometimes you just need something a little out there to ground yourself. It...makes sense. 

It took a hot minute (or most of the book) to gather all of the information about this universe/magic system. This novel is part of a different series/universe. So there were characters and plot points and magic that just didn't make sense. Then again, it didn't have to make sense, not really, not to understand the basics of this piece. I actually really did like the magic system (if I liked m/f more, I'd read the rest of the universe).

I loved the dual POV. Al's was standard first-person. Fox's was second-person. It was fun and unique. 

I also loved how fast Al and Fox clicked. They had a connection, and they both fostered it, knowingly or unknowingly. When they finally "met", the chemistry grew. Al needed a shake-up in his life, and Fox was just that. Fox needed life breathed back into him, and Al was more than happy to provide. They were flirty and sassy with each other, but they were also so dedicated, even though, especially through, the hard times. If you didn't know that Fox was a car, you'd think this was your every day average slightly-gray romance. 

Not to mention all of the wonderful, full-color art intermixed in here!!

Trigger warnings: speeding, cheating (sort of, but also not), toxic relationship. 

#brakeme #challengeme #athenambliss #marluxiabliss #brakemeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Rivals of Copper County (Copper County #2)

Here's May Archer's latest: "The Rivals of Copper County." It's the second novel in her Copper County series.

["My childhood friend. My biggest rival. The only man I’ve ever wanted.

If there were a prize for the most contented man in Copper County, I’d win it every time. I’ve got my business. My son. My family. My friends… and no romantic prospects, sure, but only because I don’t need any. My life’s great as it is. Seriously. Could not be better. I’m practically bleeding serenity over here.

At least until Jasper Wrigley shows up in Copper County after twenty years–as my son’s temporary hockey coach, no less, though the man could barely lace up his skates back in the day–and throws my carefully ordered life into chaos.

Once upon a time, magnetic, confident Jasper was my best friend and greatest rival, and his summer visits to town were the best part of my year. Our competitions were fierce. Our dares were thrilling. We talked about everything under the sun, and he made me believe in the possibility of a bright, hazy future somewhere just out of reach.

But then he left, and I grew up. Now the last thing I need is Jasper back in my space, provoking me, challenging me, and making me question… freaking everything.

Like whether my life’s as perfect as I claim.
Like whether I’m as straight as I think.
Like whether there might be something better than “contentment” out there for me if I’m brave enough to look for it.
And whether the man who was always my greatest rival… might just be the love of my life."]

Whelp, here's aaallllll kinds of complicated emotions. Loneliness, pining, regret, heat, guilt, loss, queer!panic (soooooo much queer!panic--some was hilarious (their first re-meet) and some added to the hot-mess (who kissed who?) and some was sad (___)). The queer!panic added to the other high emotions. It was intense. 

Also, while we're on the queer!panic thing, the blurb is misleading. Watt knew (or highly, highly suspected) that he wasn't 100% straight. He just didn't trust these feelings, because the one time he did, he didn't see Jasper again for twenty years. 

These two were adorable. Really. Nearly everyone supported them, their friendship, their relationship. And how knew drinking the Kool-Aid would be so much fun. ;)

#thestargazersofcoppercounty #thepretendersofcoppercounty #therivalsofcoppercounty #themisfitsofcoppercounty #mayarcher #coppercountry #coppercountryseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Pretenders of Copper County (Copper County #1)

Here's May Archer's latest: "The Pretenders of Copper County." It's the first novel in her Copper County series.

["It was supposed to be a straightforward protection job. Remove the target from Vermont, get him to the safehouse, keep him there until his mafia uncle testifies, get back in my employer’s good graces.

Boom, done. Easy.

But it turns out things get complicated real fast when your target is an adorkable, accident-prone cutie with a shockingly low sense of self-preservation, zero clue that he’s related to the Fromadgio crime boss, and 100% too much inclination to chat happily with strangers.

When Chris compromises our safehouse (and accidentally starts a “lowkey, unavoidable” bar fight), our only option is to go undercover… pretending to be campground hosts in Copper County, New York.

Make that married campground hosts. (Long story.)

Now I’m hiding out with a guy who’s obsessed with action-adventure shows and hand-knit sweaters, and whose most fearsome talent is arranging charcuterie boards, all of which is far less helpful in a gunfight than you might think.

And worst of all… the sweet little virgin I rescued is growing on me.

Somehow I find myself listening to his happy chatter when I should be watching the woods, trying to figure out how his mind works when I should be getting us out of this predicament, and appreciating the way he looks in my shirts when I should be focused on getting my career back on track.

But when the Fromadgios’ enemies finally find us, protecting Chris is no longer just a job. I’ll do anything to protect what’s mine… and there’s nothing pretend about it."]

I don't know if that meet-cute/meet-awkward was really adorable and hilarious or just really unfortunate and kinda sad. Poor Chris went from thinking he was on his first date to thinking he was being kidnapped, and Reed...didn't help (then again, he didn't know that he needed to tone it down). It caused a looot of angst and hurt/comfort, let me tell you. 

These two were fuuucking adorable. It was rough for a bit, but when Reed finally allowed his feelings out, he was all in with Chris. And Chris was all in from the very beginning. Even if they were both aware of the ticking clock following them. They were sweet and open and protective and possessive and understanding. They made each other feel safe and happy and seen and free. Even if Chris was a hopeless disaster (and freaking adorable while doing it)--Reed found it entirely too endearing. 

Even though I skipped Copper County and read all of Winnesome, I looooved how this series, this book specifically, took us from Little Pippin Hollow to O'Leary to Copper County. It was a wide and beautiful tour of May Archer's universe (well the New England towns). And the mysterious Sunday brother doing all of the touring. 

Trigger Warnings: blackmail, stalking, violence, and more. 

#thestargazersofcoppercounty #thepretendersofcoppercounty #therivalsofcoppercounty #themisfitsofcoppercounty #mayarcher #coppercountry #coppercountryseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Stargazers of Copper County (Copper County #0.5)

Here's May Archer's latest: "The Stargazers of Copper County." It's the prequel novella in her Copper County series.

["There’s nothing wrong with admiring a work of art, or so I tell myself…even when the admiring is more like peeping out my bedroom window, and the work of art is the shirtless, sweaty, body of the man who’s been mowing my lawn once a week.

But when Theo Ross peers in my window and catches me… er, mid-admiration… all bets are off.

It turns out Theo is more than someone pretty to look at. Soon we’re trading logic puzzles and drawings as coded messages, I’m inviting him inside for dinner and stargazing, and I can’t help wondering if what we’ve found isn’t a short-term thing… but something written in the stars for us all along."]

This blurb sounded familiar. But maybe it was just because I read the blurb before. Then I started reading it and things kept being familiar, like really familiar, like predicting exact plot points familiar. Except I don’t have this marked as read in GoodReads, and I can’t find a post of it from my blog. This HAD to have been a short story in an anthology somewhere. 

This novella was fucking adorable. Easy chemistry, easy connection, easy first date turned into an easy relationship. Mutual, secret pining over the years. Teasing each other in the form of logic puzzles and doodles all disguising the flirting. A little bit of embarrassment and barely-there angst to push them together. As I said, fucking adorable. 

#thestargazersofcoppercounty #thepretendersofcoppercounty #therivalsofcoppercounty #themisfitsofcoppercounty #mayarcher #coppercountry #coppercountryseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Axe Backwards (Axford Brothers #3)

Here's May Archer's latest: "Axe Backwards." It's the third novel in her Axford Brothers series.

["A fake engagement to the hot sheriff who escorted me to family camp? Weirdly delightful.
Failing to tell him that my family is a bunch of professional thieves? Small oversight.

I left the Callahan family business years ago. These days I’m a law-abiding citizen. A photographer who takes nothing but pictures. A man who’s learned not to get greedy for anything… or anyone.

But my family hasn’t gotten that memo, so I expect my week at family camp to be filled with guilt-trippy attempts to lure me back into the fold.

Until Holden Axford comes along… and everything goes axe backwards.

Winsome’s gorgeous sheriff was supposed to be nothing more than a one-night-stand.
He doesn’t have a clue why I’m dreading this week, but he takes his protection game seriously.
So when he thinks I need a rescue, he steps in and declares himself my fiancé… and I’m too busy swooning to argue.

Now Holden’s sharing my bed, stealing kisses like Callahans steal Rembrandts, planning a camp heist (for fun, obvs!), and charming my family of criminals.

Our motto is ‘Callahans don’t get caught’ but nobody warned me about catching feelings.

Unfortunately, secrets don’t stay buried forever. And when someone forces the Callahans toward one last impossible job, protecting the family I love means becoming the man I swore I’d never be again.

But if Holden learns the truth about my past, it’ll be goodbye fake engagement, goodbye sheriff… goodbye heart."]

Oh this entire thing was insanity. Giggling insanity. 

I love how Merritt, sweet, kind, trying his fucking best Merritt has a wildly inappropriate (or Freudian-accurate) giggling-inducing "kink" for Holden's honesty--and the occasional lack there of. Holden: "Because he finds the strangest things about me charming, and I'm charmed that he's charmed, and we're locked in a charm feedback loop."

These two were perfect! They were perfect together, helping each other relax and live. Freedom and safety in strangers, strangers who met doing a lip-sync battle across a bar and...other shenanigans (talk about a fucking meet-cute). They lifted each other up, they supported each other. They did everything backwards, but a love story, a HEA, isn't always a straight line. 

Yay for the bonus story with Rome and Nico!

I was hoping that Milo would get a HEA in this universe..somewhere, but I honestly didn't except his to be with True. Then again, opposites attract. Then again, they might not be as opposite-y as we think. I canNOT wait for the next book!

#kissmyaxe #hotaxe #axebackwards #axesandohs #mayarcher #axfordbrothers #axfordbrothersseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hot Axe (Axford Brothers #2)

Here's May Archer's latest: "Hot Axe." It's the second novel in her Axford Brothers series.

["Falling in love with my straight best friend? Tragically inevitable.

Telling him? Completely out of the question.

Everyone in Winsome knows Robbie and I are a matched set. A package deal. Ames and Robbie, Robbie and Ames.

He’s the calm to my chaos. The sun shining through my rain cloud. The guy who convinced me to be a firefighter. The man who’s known every single thing about me since we were thirteen…

Except for the teeny, tiny, inconsequential fact that I’ve been in love with him for years.
I planned to take this secret to the grave. Robbie’s straight. He’s engaged. And I’m finally–finally–ready to move on.

But one uncontrollable blaze, one daring rescue, one inconvenient injury, and one heavily-medicated, wildly inappropriate love confession later, my plan’s up in flames.

Suddenly helpful, perfect, shirtless Robbie is bathing me, dressing me, and nursing me back to health. And if being around my gorgeous bestie 24/7 wasn’t torture enough, it seems I’m not the only one having un-platonic thoughts.

But there’s no way I’m letting myself fall into the fantasy again. Because if I let myself believe this is real and it isn’t, it won’t just break my heart… it’ll break us.

And I refuse to risk our friendship, no matter how tempting the man’s hot axe might be."]

The mutual pining and angst from friends-to-lovers is somehow always worse than enemies-to-lovers. Sooo much worse. The heart ache on the page becomes real heart ache in the reader. All of the bittersweet moments of friendship and second looks but nothing ever truly being carefree. 

These two were rough on my soul to be very honest. But they were also adorable and constantly checking in with each other, pushing their own happiness aside for the other's happiness (well, until Robbie said "no more, HEA for us, baby"). 

Holden is going to be...fun. And his brothers are going to be utterly unhinged and delighted with themselves when Holden finally falls in love. 

Trigger Warnings: mention of past parental death, toxic family, and more. 

#kissmyaxe #hotaxe #axebackwards #axesandohs #mayarcher #axfordbrothers #axfordbrothersseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Kiss My Axe (Axford Brothers #1)

Here's May Archer's latest: "Kiss My Axe." It's the first novel in her Axford Brothers series.

["Living in a treehouse? Unavoidable.

Falling for the grumpy lumberjack hottie next door? Unthinkable.

After a viral PR disaster torpedoes my marketing career, I flee Manhattan. The only place left to land? A fairy-tale treehouse in a pickle-obsessed Vermont town, left to me by an uncle I barely knew.

Yes, I said pickles.

No, I’m not okay.

But I'm only here temporarily. Just long enough to regroup, let the notoriety die down, and figure out my next steps in peace.

Unfortunately, my new neighbor has other ideas.

Beckett “the Axe” Axford–cranky local heartthrob and unapologetic tree-murderer–claims Uncle Jim made him promises about the forest around the treehouse, and he’s none too pleased when I won’t take his word for it.

Unfortunately for him, I’m done playing by other people’s rules. I’m not backing down just because some sexy–I mean grumpy–lumberjack says so, and I can handle whatever he dishes out.

Tree climbing? No problem.

Pickle festival popularity contest? Sign me up.

Kissing my unexpectedly-tender, flannel-clad nemesis in the woods after dark? I can take it, bro. And take it. And t– >Ahem. You get the picture.

I’m tired of losing, so I’m not giving up my inheritance or my heart without a fight.

And if Beckett thinks differently, he can kiss my axe."]

Enemies to lovers. Or lust-at-first-sight-but-life sucks-currently and it's-easier-to-be-enemies plus fighting-him-is-kinda-fun to lovers. Basically the same thing. Enemies (or not-enemies) who keep "accidentally" kissing and then pretend it never happened. 

Adorable little idiots. 

Everyone in town knew the truth: love at first sight. They kept meddling (like all Hallmark-y small towns do) to bring them together. Scavenger hunts that led to kissing. Drinking games that led to kissing. Strategizing lunch not-dates that led to kissing. Not to mention the entire Axford family meddling. 

#kissmyaxe #hotaxe #axebackwards #axesandohs #mayarcher #axfordbrothers #axfordbrothersseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Born Wild (Wild Hearts #2)

Here's "Born Wild" by Jesse H Reign. It's the second novel in the new Wild Hearts series.

["It’s a good thing I’ve sworn off men, because Old Me would have taken one look at my new boss, and spontaneous heat would have been a real threat.

He’s an alpha and an English nobleman. A mannered man who employed me to restore the library at Beaumont Craven House. He’s impossibly attractive and also straight up impossible. He’s hard to draw out, quiet and broody. His behavior often as confusing as it is mysterious.

Unfortunately for me he has a sweet side I find impossible to resist.

It isn’t long before the Lord’s sad backstory has me going well above and beyond the requirements of my job description.

It’s fine though. It’s a casual arrangement, and I can keep things casual. I definitely can.

It’s just that my body – and heart – don’t seem to agree."]

Talk about mysterious. In an old English manor. During storms. With cryptic messages from strangers. And a horse that bring out the sunshine side in a nobleman who is quiet and dull and scentless and not rude but not entirely polite. And here I thought this book was going to be "tamer" than the first one (the series isn't called Wild Hearts for nothing). Definite Jane Austen vibes (minus the prisoner in the attic). 

Their love story was a little Austen-y too. Lots of little touches and significant looks and awkward breakfasts and awkward lord making their own tea like commoners. Self-restraint, self-sacrifice that literally no one in the relationship asked for.  Dramatic walks on the moor during a storm. Crying on said moor. Family telling you to leave him.

God, these two were adorable though. Sooo adorable. Less angst than the first book, but no less spice or sweetness or fated moments written in the stars. 

Trigger Warnings: anxiety, mention of past death of a parent by suicide, and more.

#gonewild #bornwild #wildhearts #wildheartsseries #jessehreign #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Boy Next Door (Last Ditch Omegaverse #1)

Here's Erin Russell's "Boy Next Door." It's the first book in the Last Ditch Omegaverse series. 

["Tanner has always felt like a normal college student. Maybe a little too normal. He’s a C-student, a mid baseball player, and the only one in his family of alphas who never presented. But he’s made his peace with it. Mostly.

He can deal with his father’s disappointment that he’s not as tough as his brothers. He’ll live a normal life, marry a normal woman who his dad approves of, and they can all pretend it’s fine.

Until his dad’s childhood best friend–and the star of all his old war stories–shows up. Gray is the epitome of manhood, according to Dad, and everything that Tanner will never be. It’s natural for Tanner to be impressed by him. Gray is impressive, and that sucks you in.

But when Gray tells him the real reason there’s a tension between them–that Tanner is on the cusp of a late-bloom presentation as a rare male omega–it doesn’t seem real.

It can’t be. If there’s one thing Tanner’s father would never forgive him for, it’s that. But if Gray is telling the truth, then this too-sexy, intimidating stranger might be the only ally he has."]

The quote that made me almost immediately download this book (by Tanner): "I’m sure I’m giving him goddamn cartoon bottom eyes right now, like the bitch I am, but I can’t stop it.”

Well, hated Tanner's father (and most of his family) from the very first page. Excepted that to be honest. Gray was equally as captivating as he should have been from his very first page. And I wanted to protect the fuck out of Tanner from page one. 

These two were amazing. Granted they (*cough* Tanner *cough*) were a hot mess, they were amazing. The instant chemistry and undeniable connection was there. The heat was there. The angst was there. Soo much pining and hurt/comfort (mostly Tanner—to Gray and to himself). 

I really liked this universe. The discrimination sucked, but it was a fresh layer to omegaverse, as was the rarity of male omegas and female alphas. 

It sucks (spoiler alert) that Tanner ended more physically “messed up” then when the boom started, but he also grew emotionally/mentally and now has a solid foundation family that he can actually trust as he continues on his healing (physical and emotional/mental) journey. 

Trigger Warnings: systematic discrimination, discriminatory events, discriminatory language, homophobia, internalized homophobia, mental health issues, self-hatred, medical issues, family violence and abuse, medical abuse, medical assault, small town bullshit, and more. 

#boynextdoor #smokedout #scartissue #erinrussell #lastditchomegaverse #lastditchomegaverseseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Not Your Golden Boy (Rent-A-Boyfriend #3)

Here's MM Farmer's newest series, Rent-A-Boyfriend. This is "Not Your Golden Boy."

["He hired a fake boyfriend to ruin his reputation. He fell in love instead.

Nikky Smith became famous overnight. He's spent every day since wishing he could disappear.

Between a stalker who won't leave him alone and a spotlight that never turns off, Nikky's had enough. His plan on arriving in London is to hire a fake boyfriend from Rent-A-Boyfriend, get caught in a scandal, and torch his own image so the world finally looks away.

He didn't plan on falling for the man he hired.

Ten years ago, Harry Bayonne’s musical career seemed unstoppable, until the same producer now managing Nikky's album ended his career for refusing to sell out. Now, living off royalties for his one-hit wonder song, bitter, and B-list famous, Harry only takes the fake boyfriend gig because helping another industry golden boy self-destruct feels like justice.

But the more time he spends with Nikky, the less he wants to watch him fall. He wants to protect him. Claim him. Give him the safety and the structure no one else has offered him.

Then one impulsive video lands in the wrong hands, and their fake relationship becomes very real leverage for the people trying to destroy them both.

Now Harry has to decide if he's brave enough to fight for the career, and more importantly, the man he never thought he'd get a second chance at. And Nikky has to learn that the only way out is standing his ground, not running from it."]

These two were adorable! Soo fucking adorable. They were perfect for each other. Instant chemistry, sure. But love of creative things and making music, being honest and open, love and friendship over money and influence. Interconnected wants inside and outside the bedroom. They were so supportive of each other, even when, especially when, it was scary. 

This should have explored the kink more, but Merry's contemporary books aren't all that spice-heavy (it's there, but itis not overly detailed or explicit). It also could have, in theory, been more angsty. The potential was there, but I'm sooo glad she choose not that route. I didn't need to or want to cry over these two gems. 

Trigger Warnings: stalking, toxic Hollywood bullshit, past foster care, mentions of past toxic/abusive parent, mention of past parent with drug addiction, blackmail, threats to releasing NSFW tape, and more. 

#theweekendboyfriend #alikelystory #notyourgoldenboy #racetothebottom #rentaboyfriend #merryfarmer #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

A Likely Story (Rent-A-Boyfriend #2)

Here's MM Farmer's newest series, Rent-A-Boyfriend. This is "A Likely Story."

["He needed a fake boyfriend to save his career. He found the love of his life instead.

Drew Oberlin became an overnight sensation after starring in a breakout queer TV series. But all that fame comes with a price. As accusations of queerbaiting threaten his skyrocketing career, Drew’s ambitious girlfriend devises the perfect PR solution: hire a fake boyfriend through Rent-A-Boyfriend while filming in London. A few staged photos, a carefully crafted romance, and the internet will finally believe Drew is the real deal.

Enter Lee Cresswell, bestselling indie fantasy author, hopeless romantic, and Drew’s very unexpected fake boyfriend.

Lee only signed up with Rent-A-Boyfriend for “research” while preparing to write contemporary romance novels. He never expected to be thrown into the spotlight beside one of the most famous actors in the world. Or to fall hard for him almost immediately.

What starts as a publicity stunt quickly becomes dangerously real. As Drew experiences a life-changing bi-awakening and finally confronts the truth about himself, the chemistry between him and Lee becomes impossible to fake. But when Drew’s furious ex exposes the truth behind their relationship, both men are forced to decide what matters more: protecting their career or risking everything for love."]

This was adorable and angsty. These two needed to talk more. With each other and Drew with himself (and his team). It was stressful and frustrating. But it was also easy to fall into friendship and easy to fall into chemistry and easy to fall into love, all bookended by people who cared way to much about the lives of celebrities. 

It’s not fair that people care this much about famous people, but we do. Some people take it in stride (Lee), some people take it like an extrovert surrounded by a captive audience (Drew), and some people take it as a reason to be a little too selfish (Jessica).

But with the help of some friends and some cake, these two figured it out. 

I canNOT wait for Nikki!! 

Trigger Warnings: death of a loved one to cancer, cheating, internet abuse, and more. 

#theweekendboyfriend #alikelystory #rentaboyfriend #merryfarmer #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Venegful Monster (Monstrous Heirs #1)

Here's "Vengeful Monster" by JR Gray, which is the first novel in the Monstrous Heirs series.

["Is stalking just a one sided meet cute?

Ash Conrad throws his meticulously curated life plans out the window to attend an Ivy League. In a country he’s never been to, against family tradition, all in the hope of gaining entrance to an ancient and exclusive secret society.

The Legacy of Power isn’t just an elite secret society, it’s where the heirs of the criminal underworld play. Admittance would guarantee Ash access to the type of people who might help him save his brother.
But first he has to get through Rurik Locke.

Son of the world’s most notorious assassins, Rurik’s family founded Legacy. He’s a ruthless, violent enigma of a golden retriever—who’s not above a little stalking—and is utterly obsessed.

Ash needs his help, but Rurik’s chaos threatens every aspect of the careful structure he’s built to survive.

They’re about to find out the skeletons in their closets are a lot more intertwined than they realize, and Ash will have to let Rurik in to save them both."]

Talk about addictive. Rurik was gone from the very first moment he laid eyes on Ash, before they even met each other's gaze for the first time. Ash knew Rurik was...special? different? trouble...from the very beginning, but it took him a while to admit he liked Rurik's stalking and attention let alone what all of that actually meant. Rurik was addicted to Ash, Ash was addicted to Rurik, I was addicted to the both of them.

You know when you connect the things that connect wwweeellllll before the MCs connect the things? The horror at the facts, but the utter euphoria over how fucking smart you are? That was me here. Both unfortunately and fortunately. 

It took me a really, really long time (nearly the epilogue) to realize the little chapter break symbol's were sea glass. Then I read the epilogue and cried. 

Notable Quote (Ru): "I'm confused as to how Locke things the Jackal will listen to him any better than the rest of us." Because they're in lurve, duh (or in lurve and in denial about it). Spoiler alert? 

Trigger Warnings: MC drugged with rohypnol, mentions of past negative experiences with drug hallucinations, mental health is joked about, thoughts of suicide, negative self-talk, dissociation, OCD, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, sleep paralysis, homophobic family, violence, murder, pas sexual assault, gun violence, torture, blood, mention of past child trafficking, knife play, CNC, stalking, kidnapping, internalized homophobia, and more. 

#vengefulmonster #violentmonster #monstrousheirs #monstrousheirsseries #jrgray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Binding His Fate Mates (Wolves of Crescent Springs #2)

"Binding His Fate Mates" is the second book in Jay Castle's Wolves of Crescent Springs series, which is a Blood Bonded Mates spin-off.

["Hunter
Look, it's not like I'm being unreasonable here. Daniel is a liar. He betrayed us. And his mistakes cost us our home, our relationship, even our humanity. We're werewolves now because of him. The fact that I grew up loving him (or that I still can't stop) doesn't mean a damn thing. Lee can shove it. I'm never letting him back in.

Lee
Hunter is a lot less ready to forgive than I am. He won't talk about the mate dreams we’re having (starring Daniel), or the fact that both of us are constantly pulled to our warlock the way a compass finds true north. I've been patient for… well, too long. But the moment I watch Daniel almost die, everything changes. Hunter can hate me all he wants. We're protecting our mate. That's final.

Daniel
When my initiation into the Crescent Springs pack starts triggering dangerous magical accidents, I'm suddenly forced to share a space the size of a postage stamp with the two men I've hurt most. It’s not exactly what I’d call fun times.
Especially since I'm desperate for Hunter and Lee to forgive me. And, if I'm being honest, to do a lot more than forgive, too. But they have every right to hate me. I did this to them. Which is why I've got a plan to fix what I've broken. The only itsy-bitsy downside? Pulling it off will probably cost me everything I have left."]

What a painful beginning. Granted, their beginning had been painful in the past two books. The angst and the guilt and the pining and the existential crises and the heartbreak and the guilt (sooo much guilt). It was all a ball of pain trying to smother (and be smothered by) fate and love and an eternal connection forged by friendship and stars picked out of the sky like apples. 

Their love was painful but it was also beautiful. Childhood friends to lovers (ignoring the to enemies to lovers part). Intense need for the other(s) to be safe and happy. Support from inside their relationship but also undying support from within their found family. 

Not to mention the, you know, monster hunting people...again. This one wasn't as prominent in the plot as the previous two books, but I think their relationship did deserve more of a page-presence, after years of all of that pain. Then again, was the monster the Mara or Daniel's family? 

Trigger Warnings: supernatural violence, existential material and discussions of self/agency, temporary nonconsensual on-page loss of bodily autonomy due to a supernatural threat, abusive and controlling family dynamics, and more. 

#claiminghisfatedmate #bindinghisfatedmates #wolvesofcrescentsprings #wolvesofcrescentspringsseries #jaycastle #bloodbondedmates #bloodbondedmatesseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Liar in Room 5 (Halo House #2)

Here's Kerry Kilpatrick's "The Liar in Room 5." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Halo House ("a shared world that follows vulnerable boys finding shelter, chosen family, and protective Daddies who are ready to love them exactly as they are").

["Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

Andrew Greene
I always thought I was pretty good at relationships.
Sure, they ended eventually, but people break up. You dust yourself off, meet someone new, and move on. Looking back, I suppose I should have found it a little odd that my next boyfriend almost always came from my last boyfriend's group of friends. No one seemed to mind, though, so I didn't question it.
Then I came home from vacation to discover I'd already been replaced.
Now I'm staying at Halo House while I figure out what comes next. Getting a job would probably be a good place to start. It turns out "professional boyfriend" isn't something you can exactly put on a résumé. Unfortunately, getting a real job would mean leaving my room.
And then I met Henry Mercer.
The problem with Henry is that he never seems interested in the version of me standing in front of him. Every question he asks makes me wonder if he's looking for someone I haven't met yet.

Henry Mercer
I've built a career figuring people out.
Clients lie. Studios bluff. Everyone wants something, and it's my job to figure out what that is.
Andrew should have been easy to read.
Instead, he's the first person I've met in a long time who doesn't make any sense. Andrew says he loves pickleball, but he clearly doesn't know the first thing about it. Every question I ask somehow ends with me doing all the talking, and before I realize it, I've learned almost nothing about him.
The more time I spend with Andrew, the more I'm convinced he's spent so long becoming what everyone else wanted that he never took the time to figure out what he wanted for himself.
I'd have a much easier time with that if I were interested in any version of him besides the real one.
I hope that when Andrew finally learns to want something for himself, it's me."]

Gotta say, wasn't feeling too good about Andrew at first. His first chapter screamed very spoiled and a little shallow. But he really was that trusting and that naïve. Which isn't a bad thing. Drew is sweet as hell and cares about the happiness of others. But when you're constantly putting other peoples' happiness above your own, you're never really happy. 

Good thing Henry stepped in when he did. He was always careful to give Drew options, so he knew he had autonomy, but never too many options, so he was taken care of. He was soft but firm where it counted.  

That epilogue took me out! In the best of ways. In the most adorable of ways. In the “I’m not crying, it’s allergies” kinda ways. 

Trigger Warnings: off-page parental death, and more. 

#theliarinroom5 #kerrykilpatrick #theliarinroom5 #thestarinroom7 #thegoalieinroom1 #theroyalinroom3 #halohouse #halohouseseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Twisted Little Game (Crimson College #5)

Here's "Twisted Little Game" by Raleigh Reubins. It's the fifth novel in the Crimson College series. 

["My stalker is a problem… but my bodyguard is a monster.
I never asked for Roman Petrov.
I made one mistake, got threats on my life, and now my brother hires me a bodyguard?
Roman is six-foot-five, pure muscle, and a gorgeous, scowling face.
I break a few of his rules on my first night of his protection.
Provoke him, 'til he pins me to the wall.
And something explodes between us when he lays his hands on me.

Our size difference sparks a pure physical addiction.
His two rules:
His family runs the mob… but we don’t talk about it.
And he’s usually 100% straight… but completely obsessed with me.
I can take a man who’s taller and bigger in every way.
As threats escalate, Roman demands I stay in his room, closer than ever.

When I’m attacked on campus, Roman’s unhinged, vowing to destroy anyone who hurts me.
He’s the heir to a powerful Bratva crime family, and war with the mafia is erupting now, too.
I know I’m in danger.
Lines blur between who I can or can’t trust.
But I have Roman close to me. And I believe it when he says I’m his."]

I have been WAITING for Roman's book!

Raleigh is reeeaaally good at the enemies to lovers NOT jumping right into soft feelings as soon as something dangerous or spicy or sweet happens. It's aggravating, but it's more real-to-life accurate. Saying that, I really like that these two weren't reeeaaally enemies. They didn't get along, but it didn't last long (and their original hostility wasn't actually with each other but with third parties). 

So instead of enemies-to-lovers angst, we got when-will-they mutual pining. Arguably, that was worse. The pining even when they're ready to admit that their feelings are more than just lust and tentative trust. The pining when the feels are real but so is the danger.

They were sooo perfect for each other. Sweet and spicy. Challenging and caring. Lives completely different, but dreams explicitly the same.  

SOO fucking here for Maks getting a book next!!!

Trigger Warnings: stalking, past parental childhood abuse, violence, intense criminal mob violence, past death/murder of a loved one, blackmail, gun violence, and more.

#darklittlegame #possessivelittlegame #recklesslittlegame #forbiddenlittlegame #twistedlittlegame #raleighruebins #crimsoncollege #crimsoncollegeseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks