Make Music Together (Harmony of Hearts #2)

Up next (well, the final series--so far) in Ariella Zoelle's Sunnyside universe is the Harmony of Hearts series (each book has a rockstar as a main character). The second book is "Make Music Together."

["It all started with a song. Two neighbors singing duets in the shower finally meet at an open mic night. Sparks fly, but will it lead to true love?

Levi Benowitz
The walls in my new apartment are so thin that I can clearly hear my neighbor singing in his shower. Sounds annoying, right? Well, believe it or not, he actually has a really great voice and doing duets with him is quickly becoming the best part of my day. We've never met, but the hopeless romantic in me is spinning high hopes for our first encounter.
Imagine my surprise while performing at my open mic one night, the cutie in the audience who captivates me introduces himself as my duet-singing neighbor. Not only does he have the voice of an angel, but he has the face to match. Then, be still my romantic heart, his wicked sense of humor makes him even more attractive. I'm ready for our happily ever after, but he needs some convincing.
Will I be able to come up with the right playlist to persuade him to give our perfect duet a chance?

Noctis Ralston
How odd am I? I’m a “fall in love with my neighbor before I’ve ever met him” level of awkward aardvark. But in my defense, this mystery man has a golden voice that gives me chills even in the hottest of showers. My dreams center around meeting him someday, but I’m way too shy to knock on his door and introduce myself. Besides, he’d never be interested in somebody like me who lacks a filter and any social graces, right?
When I go to an open mic night, I hear an all too familiar voice. I look up and see a beautiful man that I am quickly realizing is my favorite duet partner, AKA my new neighbor. Holy frickenfrack, he’s a “make me forget the entirety of the English language” type of gorgeous. And for some inexplicable reason, he seems interested in me, despite the fact I’m embarrassingly lacking in experience with romance, dating, and late-night escapades. Adding that laundry list of cluelessness together means I don’t know the first thing about how to be someone’s boyfriend. Thankfully, Levi is an excellent teacher. So much so that he also introduces me to a whole new world of lace, love, and learning how to embrace my uniqueness.
Thank you, super-thin apartment walls. Can my life get any better than this?"]

This story was SO CUUUUTE! And spicy, like holy hell. I need a fan over here. They were a perfect match. It was fun and awkward. This story was filled with trust and reassurances and love and communication. It was a delight to watch the two of them fall in love and become more confident in each other (and themselves).

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

Anonymous Alpha (Bangers & Mash #7)

M.M. Farmer's "Anonymous Alpha" came out yesterday. It's the seventh book in her Bangers & Mash series (I'm not squealing...you are).

["When everything goes wrong and the world is set against him, who can a desperate omega in trouble turn to for help?
Evan
I should have been careful what I wished for, because after the most amazing and torrid heat I’ve ever experienced, I certainly got it! The glittery, bubblegum pop image that the record label created for me, the one I was so ready to move away from, has been blown out of the water, because someone leaked a tape of me and the ESA I’d hired to take me through heat.
And on top of that, despite precautions, I might have an even bigger “little” problem after that heat. I have no one to turn to but Sable, who the media is calling the “anonymous alpha”. I barely know him, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.
Will he help me, or will he think I’ve ruined his life?

Sable
I’m used to helping high-profile omega clients, but nothing could have prepared me for the media firestorm when a tape of me and Evan Mercer hit the internet. Everyone is saying Evan leaked the tape on purpose to get out of his recording contract, but when I get a tearful, panicked call from Evan, an entirely different story comes out.
I will do whatever it takes to protect my omega, because Evan is mine now, even if it was just an ESA call that brought us together. I’m ready to stand by my man, and once we figure out who blasted his career and his life to bits, the gloves will come off and I’ll show the world just what it means to defend the man I love."]

I'm not squealing...you are. Yes, I already said that, and yes, I'll say it again. 

Evan and Sable. Holy. Fucking. Hell. I mean, come ooooonnnnn. They were just D: so. damn. much. In all of the good ways. There was an instant connection. Then there was instant steam. There were also instant red flags (not between them) and instant troubles/horrors. But Sable stood by Evan (except for that one flash of a moment that was driven by hurt) and protected him at all costs. As the drama grew, so their did their bond. It was glorious and warm and sweet, and they were perfect together, even in the face of it all. 

#howtotrainyouralpha #thewrongomega #newalphaontheblock #christmasheat #omegaontherun #alphaversusomega #anonymousalpha #heatlightning #mmfarmer #merryfarmer #emfarmer #bangersandmash #bangersandmashseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Play By Heart (Harmony of Hearts #1)

Up next (well, the final series--so far) in Ariella Zoelle's Sunnyside universe is the Harmony of Hearts series (each book has a rockstar as a main character). The first book is "Play By Heart."

["Iason’s known worldwide for his romantic lyrics, but he never thought he’d fall in love. Will his luck change when the stars align to bring Orion into his life?

Iason Leyland
My love songs may have made me famous, but they were beautifully written lies that hid the fact I’ve never loved anyone. I had almost given up hope of finding true love, but then I meet him. Orion is all my wishes on stars who can make my dreams come true. He’s my perfect partner in every way except one: he’s straight. Why, universe? Why?
But the cosmic force that brought us together apparently knows what it’s doing based on the sweet way Orion blushes every time we’re together. Can I convince him that we could make beautiful music together that will be worthy of my most romantic ballad yet?

Orion Donati
I’ve been a fan of Iason and his beautiful voice and lyrics for years. I never expected him to know I even exist, let alone fall in love with me. But regardless of that impossibility, he looks at me like I’m the sun, the moon, and all the stars in his universe. As a straight man, I probably shouldn’t be interested, much less tempted by his flirtations. But despite that, everything in me wants a chance to be his magical muse for the songs I love so much.
Meeting him makes me realize that I’m not quite as straight as I thought. The most unbelievable thing of all is that someone as amazingly famous as him could ever want a shy nobody like me. But I don’t want to doubt his sincerity. I want to be brave enough to believe he’s interested in me for real.
Maybe I don’t have to settle for being a fan who adores him from afar. What if I dare to dream that I could be his boyfriend who loves him with all my heart instead?"]

I took a small break from Ariella because the utter lack of angst was a little too many rainbows and butterflies for me (then I got bitch-slapped by angst and regretted a few things).

Orion and Iason were sooooo opposite of angst. They were all of the rainbows and butterflies. They were soft moments and locked eyes and whispered lyrics and perfect moments and concert foreplay (so. fucking. hot.). They were meant to be, written in the stars. I loved it. It was perfect. I can't wait to see the rest of Iason's bandmates and friends and other Sunnysiders find their HEAs.

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

Alpha Versus Omega (Bangers & Mash #6)

I can't remember if I found this book on a recommendation email from one of my favorite authors or on a recommendation post from one of my author fan pages on Facebook or on Facebook as an add. Either way, it grabbed my attention. Here's M.M. Farmer's Bangers & Mash series. The sixth novel is "Alpha Versus Omega."

["Love is a battlefield when two bitter rivals on the battle robot circuit are stuck together during an emergency heat…
Cooper
I’ve spent the last ten years of my life fighting my way to the top of the academic world and breaking glass ceilings for omegas everywhere, and now I can’t help but feel like my bid for tenure in the Engineering department of Barrington University hinges on me winning this battle robot competition. And it’s just my luck that I’ve been pitted against my bitter rival, alpha Raymond Jessup, in the very first round.

But that’s nothing to the fact that my heat sneaks up on me and hits at the most inconvenient time possible. And the ESA who shows up to provide emergency services? You guessed it—Ray.
Ray
My dreams of owning my own electronics shop hinged on the prize money I could have won at this robotics competition, and when that weaselly omega, Cooper Plant, destroys my beloved robot, Jimmy, in the first round, all hope seems lost. At least I can pick up a few extra bucks by taking a heat call on short notice.
And when that call turns out to be for Coop? Well, let’s just say this is going to be one “interesting” ESA call.
But Coop and I have bigger problems when we get a second chance in the arena. Has heat changed the dynamic between us, and can we stop fighting long enough to battle a bigger enemy?"]

I'm not an idiot, you're not an idiot, but Ray and Cooper might be idiots. I mean, who didn't see the sexual tension there or the lack of actual hatred or the cliche? Sure, sure, we have the knowledge that it's a book and fiction and they're not even real, but bare with me (bear with me?---just sit tight).

They were so cute and so fun. They hated each other so much (not really) and when they finally came together (pun...not intended), it was hot and magical and fire-y. And then they [redacted for spoilers--though I predicted it based on the blurb], it was just...it made sense. They made sense in general. But it was still fun to see it all play out, and the two of them get their HEAs.

#howtotrainyouralpha #thewrongomega #newalphaontheblock #christmasheat #omegaontherun #alphaversusomega #anonymousalpha #heatlightning #mmfarmer #merryfarmer #emfarmer #bangersandmash #bangersandmashseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Omega On The Run (Bangers & Mash #5)

I can't remember if I found this book on a recommendation email from one of my favorite authors or on a recommendation post from one of my author fan pages on Facebook or on Facebook as an add. Either way, it grabbed my attention. Here's M.M. Farmer's Bangers & Mash series. The fifth novel is "Omega On The Run."

["An omega who is desperate to reclaim his life teams up with an alpha with nothing left to lose...
Mads
The only thing worse than being the son of The RV King of Barrington is having my father hire an ESA for my heats because he doesn’t trust any alphas around me. I’m so tired of having my life controlled just because I messed up my college experience by trusting the wrong people.
But I liked Benny from the moment I met him, even though he’s not my usual ESA, and he just might be my ticket out of the mess my life has become…whether he knows it or not.

Benny
I haven’t been an ESA for years, but I took this call as a favor for a friend…and because I need the money after inheriting my family’s run-down ski lodge and the problems that come with it. It was supposed to be easy, but when I end up with a runaway omega in heat, it’s all I can do to take care of Mads…as he wins me over to his plans to start a new life.
Mads could be the key to keeping the lodge and turning it around…if I can keep his father from catching up with us and taking him back."]

I just...this book was so much. But not in a bad way. There was so much angst and fluff and miscommunication and sweetness and steam and love and trust. So much trust. And a lot of not-trust. But it was about growth and learning oneself. Mads just wanted freedom, and Benny wanted an answer to his future (Benny gave Mads his freedom, and Mads gave Benny his future--I'm off to cry again).

#howtotrainyouralpha #thewrongomega #newalphaontheblock #christmasheat #omegaontherun #alphaversusomega #anonymousalpha #heatlightning #mmfarmer #merryfarmer #emfarmer #bangersandmash #bangersandmashseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Christmas Heat (Bangers & Mash #4)

I can't remember if I found this book on a recommendation email from one of my favorite authors or on a recommendation post from one of my author fan pages on Facebook or on Facebook as an add. Either way, it grabbed my attention. Here's M.M. Farmer's Bangers & Mash series. The fourth novel is "Christmas Heat."

["‘Tis the season for surprise heats, fake boyfriends, and landing on the naughty list…
Dan
It was looking like I might have the worst Christmas ever. I tanked a presentation at work that could cost my job, I drove my car into a snow bank on the way home for the holidays, and then my heat started while I was trapped in the mountains. The only glimmer of hope came from the tip I got to call an Emergency Support Alpha from Bangers & Mash. And wow, Teddy! How could I not catch feelings?

I’ve never had a stranger take my heat. Can I really do it…and then face my family afterwards?
Teddy
I hated Christmas. Always had. Christmas is for families, and all I had was a famous brother who ignored me. So taking an ESA call to help an omega in distress sounded perfect. And there was something about that particular omega that I liked…a lot. But giving Dan a ride to his parents’ house ended up with me pretending to be his boyfriend. It all got out of hand before either of us could put the brakes on.

How am I supposed to make like I’m Mr. Christmas…while falling hard for the very last omega I should be giving my heart to?"]

This book was so fluffy and perfect. Yes, there were a lot of nasty and backwards comments from Dan's grandfather, but everyone (everyone) protected the shit out of Dan. I cried (well, the post-heat feeling of failure makes me cry in each book) near the end there with Teddy and his brother (spoiler alert). It was hot and steamy and there was Christmas role-play. But it was so fluffy and cotton candy and beautiful. 

And I know the whole point of this series, of Bangers & Man, of being an ESA, is so the omega doesn't get pregnant, but at this point, I wouldn't be opposed to an accident pregnancy...just putting that out there.

#howtotrainyouralpha #thewrongomega #newalphaontheblock #christmasheat #omegaontherun #alphaversusomega #anonymousalpha #heatlightning #mmfarmer #merryfarmer #emfarmer #bangersandmash #bangersandmashseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

New Alpha On The Block (Bangers & Mash #3)

I can't remember if I found this book on a recommendation email from one of my favorite authors or on a recommendation post from one of my author fan pages on Facebook or on Facebook as an add. Either way, it grabbed my attention. Here's M.M. Farmer's Bangers & Mash series. The third novel is "New Alpha On The Block."

["A first-time alpha and an experienced omega are a recipe for one beautiful, steamy disaster…
Justin
It’s my first ever heat call as an Emergency Support Alpha, and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ve been training for this, and I can totally do it. But when I show up at the client’s house to find a frazzled, single father with three kids under the age of five about to go into heat and a possessive ex in the mix? Well, I might just panic a little.

No one ever warned me calls could be so complicated, or that single fathers could be so sizzling.
Kyle
I already have three children. I don’t need one more. Not as a result of heat, and not in the form of the newbie alpha who showed up at my door in the middle of chaos, looking hot as Hades, but with absolutely no clue whatsoever. I hired Bangers & Mash for a stress-free heat, but what I’ve ended up with is a cinnamon roll alpha who gives me all the inconvenient feels…and a vindictive ex who might just ruin my life because of it.

Is Justin the missing piece in the family I’ve always longed for, or is he the excuse my ex needs to take everything I love away from me?"]

This book felt so rounded out and even, something the last two books lacked a little. It wasn't too angsty or too fluffy or too quick or too trigger-warning-y. It was balanced and perfect.

The kids were adorable and Justin loved them from the start. Kyle loved him from the start. It was hard for both of them (again, get your minds out of the gutter people), but they made it work. Sure, they were a little hasty about things, but in the end, they were exactly where they were supposed to be: happy and in love and together, ready to figure out the details (together).

Trigger Warnings: forced impregnation, spousal rape, blackmail, threats, and more

#howtotrainyouralpha #thewrongomega #newalphaontheblock #christmasheat #omegaontherun #alphaversusomega #anonymousalpha #heatlightning #mmfarmer #merryfarmer #emfarmer #bangersandmash #bangersandmashseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks