Touch in the Night (Blood and Bonds #1)

I'm trying to tackle and fight myself into a new path in life. In doing so, I've adding more things to my To Do lists and more things to my TBR lists. BUT that also means more ARCs for me! :D Here's S.J. Coles's latest. "Touch in the Night" is the first novel in the new Blood and Bonds series. The first two books have already come out, but the third novel debuts August 6, 2024.

["Jesse Truelove never felt a part of his own family. But can a vampire really give him a new one?

With a criminal record, no steady job and a penchant for kink, Jesse Truelove has spent most of his life feeling like an outsider. He tells himself it doesn't bother him, that he never needed human connections anyway.

Now the Undying Baron, Emory Von Magnusson, a vampire— or, to use the modern term, ‘haemophile' — has reclaimed his ancestral home north of Jesse's hometown, and the human population isn't sure how to react. Jesse knows a thing or two about what it's like to be misjudged, so he keeps an open mind. But when a bungled break-in at Emory's home brings them face-to-face, Jesse finds it's much more than his mind that's stimulated.

However, building a relationship with an undead blood-drinker was never going to be straightforward, especially when that undead blood-drinker reveals he wants a family."]

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. Angst, fear, confusion, trepidation, arousal, acceptance, betrayal, lust, love, hate. But it was so freaking good. I mean, honestly. It was about so much, but ultimately, it was about acceptance (of yourself--to others and to yourself) and family. It was unlike any vampire story I've read to date, but I wouldn't mind reading more of S.J.'s things. 

I could go on and on about different aspects of this book, but let's just leave you with one two steamy quotes instead. ;)

Quote of the day (though there were a LOT of them in here) (Jesse//Emory): "'Sweet Mary and Joseph.' // 'Not people I'm intimately acquainted with...Though I'm happpy to make you call their names a few more times before this is done.' // 'Christ,' Jesse cursed and blinked blindly at the ceiling. // 'Him, too,' Emory murmured against his skin. 'Maybe his father by the end?'"

QotD Part Two (Jesse//Emory): "'Jesus. God.' // 'I was wondering when God would make an appearance.'"

Trigger Warnings: unsupportive family, anxiety, species-ism, violence, and more.

#gayromancereviews #arcs #arcteammember
#touchinthenight #bleedinthenight #huntinthenight #sjcoles #bloodandbonds #bloodandbondsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Claiming a Demon (Dallying with Demons #3)

I was recently introduced to Amy Padilla and her Dallying with Demons series. The third book is "Claiming a Demon."

["As an exuberant extrovert, Zach has been known to adopt nervous introverts and take them under his wing. So when he sees the quiet demon struggling to find a gift for his friends, he can’t help but step in. So maybe he’s also drumming up business for his job. Who says you can’t multitask? But this demon is in need of more than a massage, and Zach finds himself falling head first. The only problem is… does his new demon boyfriend feel the same way? Or will he toss Zach away when he no longer needs him?

Mal has always been quiet. When you grow up with six older sisters, if you want to avoid being dragged into an argument, you keep your mouth shut. So when the most important person in his life gets sick, he thinks it's best to keep it to himself. But the little pixie who keeps rescuing him won’t let that fly. Zach is determined to help him. And Mal doesn’t put up a fight.

But when Mal’s dad takes a turn for the worse, their new relationship is put to the test. The question is, can they handle the pressure?"]

And the bonus tags (because they're arguable better than the blurb itself): ["Zach adopts an introvert, protectiveness, size difference, opposites attract, spa treatment, accidental erections, Zach’s in charge, Mal likes it, Shadow plague, emotional hurt/comfort, snuggles, Zach has the best shower, bossy bottom, family drama, Mal learns to rely on others, witches make the best friends, too many sisters, hospital chairs are uncomfortable, caretakers need help sometimes too"]

God, how does one feel SO. MUCH. of what BOTH Zach and Mal were feeling? Both too afraid to rock the boat and say something, but feeling as if you're too much for people? Holy. Shit. Moving on from that not-needed-atm-life-revelation...

These two were freaking adorable. Mal felt uncomfortable almost everywhere, always hiding away his thoughts and emotions (and facial expressions), until he met Mal and just accepted that this pixie-shaped-person was his new security blanket slash emotional support person. Zach always wanted to help people, to take care of people (but was never truly taken care of back) and when his walking dream man stumbles into his life needing help and care? He was a goner, all "I volunteer as tribute" style. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with. 

Trigger Warnings: life threatening illnesses, sick fathers, emotional struggles, feeling too much for most people to handle, and more

#datingademon #tamingademon #claimingademon #lovingademon #savingademon #dallyingwithdemons #dallyingwithdemonsseries #amypadilla #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Life Doesn't Frighten Me At All

Stumbled upon another quirky but fascinating book, y'all. "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" was written by Maya Angelou and the accompanying paintings were by Jean-Michel Basquiat. 

["Maya Angelou's poetic celebration of the courage within each person is matched by the daring vision of artist Basquiat, whose childlike style reveals the fanciful imaginings of childhood. In this introduction to poetry and contemporary art, brief biographies of Angelou and Basquiat accompany the text and artwork."]

A lot of these fears are child fears, paired with almost child-like drawings, but the combination of the two transform the poems into adult fears, things that adults are still haunted by (or where haunted by has kids and forgot until now). Its a powerful show of emotions and the power of expression. 

#lifedoesntfrightenmeatall #mayaangelou #jeanmichelbasquiat #poetry #picturebooks #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His Hunter (Omegas After Dark #1)

I'm trying to tackle and fight myself into a new path in life. In doing so, I've adding more things to my To Do lists and more things to my TBR lists. BUT that also means more ARCs for me! :D Here's MM Farmer's latest. "His Hunter" is the first novel in her new Omegas After Dark series. It debuts June 7, 2024.

["The Dark Fantasies Club can make your wildest dreams come true…

Ari
An arranged marriage to a first-class, high-society jerk means that my life as I know it is just about over. The wedding is only weeks away, so I only have one chance to give myself a memory I won’t ever forget. Through the Dark Fantasies Club, I’ve found an alpha who can fulfill my primal fantasy of being chased through the forest, captured, and taken through heat in the most brutal way possible, just like I’ve always dreamed about.
Falling hard for my alpha hunter was not part of the deal, though…

Samson
I moved to Barrington to get away from bad memories of my time on the force, working in the Missing Persons Unit. But even as an ex-cop, I need to get my rocks off somehow, and the Dark Fantasies Club is perfect for that. Ari is the perfect fantasy partner, too. But the more I learn about his reasons for contracting me for play, the more I want to help him in reality.
And when our fake danger turns very, very real as we discover we’re not alone in the forest, I might just have to be the savior he’s needed all along…."]

Just when you think MM can't, she comes up out of nowhere and proves that she fucking CAN. This book was soooo gooooood! It was everything promised (all the sweetness and omega-y-ness of Bangers and Mash plus some darker kinks and trigger warnings) and more (soooo much bonding and Feels and going-scorched-earth and throwing yourself in front of bullets and *fangirl swoon*).

I would have read this in a single setting if it wasn't for Life (sleeping, chores, work(ish), ect). And I'd continue sitting here without moving (or eating/drinking) if I had access to book two (that spoiler was too much for my mushy, angsty brain to handle).

Trigger Warnings: violence, drugs, guns, threats, and more

#gayromancereviews #arcs #arcteammember
#hishunter #hiscaptor #mmfarmer #omegasafterdark #omegasafterdarkseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Malicious Desires

I'm trying to tackle and fight myself into a new path in life. In doing so, I've adding more things to my To Do lists and more things to my TBR lists. BUT that also means more ARCs for me! :D Here's Caz May's "Malicious Desires." It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling (with a happier ending??), and it debuts June 4, 2024.

["In beautiful Vemore our story begins, where a family feud spanning generations is about to shatter when two young men, forbidden to associate fall in love.A Romeo & Juliet mm reimagining

Reece
I’m a monster. A killer for hire by my father.
And I kill the enemy. The scum of Vemore, those by the name of Capullo or those who side with said scum.
And despite hating the man my father has forced me to become it’s never been an issue until now.
Because I kissed the enemy. And I’m breaking every rule set out by my name being Montserrat just for another tempting kiss, for his forbidden touch.

Jasper
I’m an artist.
A lover of history and following the rules.
And I strive to do the right thing. What my father wishes.
But he doesn’t know the real me. The man my father knows is the good boy, he doesn’t know the man I really am so I’m unavoidably staying deep in the closet.
It’s never really been an issue until I was kissed by the enemy.
And I’m sinning over and over with him, begging him for any scrap of attention he wants to give me, giving into his tempting kisses, and longing for his forbidden touch.
Falling for your enemy is the biggest sin one can commit, and
I’m a willing victim to that great temptation."]

Goodreads is divided on this one (as am I). I looooove me a good retelling. At points, this one seemed a little too formula, a little too on-the-nose, a little too copy-modernize-paste. The writing itself (including some of the formatting) could use some work, as parts of just needed rewritten or flushed out or made less awkward. But, devil's advocate, I do have an ARC, and it isn't necessarily the Final Copy.

The storyline though?! My. Fucking. God. Bi Shakespeare himself would be dancing in his grave (though I think I read somewhere that his body wasn't in his grave?--ignore that detour). This was dark as fuck (a classic tragedy--and a modern dark romance) and spicer than Shakespeare ever had words to describe (though, maybe he could have; that man did invent over 1700 words). It was beautiful and protective and weird and flirty and messy and wow, just Wow. 

Trigger Warnings: non con, blood play, knife play, gun play, drug (marijuana and prescription) and alcohol use (and misuse), overdose, hospital stay, on page torture and murder, on page graphic violence, religious themes, bigotry, and more.

#gayromancereviews #arcs #arcteammember
#maliciousdesires #cazmay #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Inappropriate Date

Trying to add things from my blog/IG to my Goodreads and TRYING not to look at the "Books Similar To This" section while doing so...I failed. Opps. Here's Jax Calder's "The Inappropriate Date." At least its just a baby novella. ;)

["Hunter has always been a good son - respectful, hard-working and high achieving. Unfortunately, his mother struggles to handle the fact he’s bisexual, regarding his sexuality with the same enthusiasm she’d normally reserve for roadkill.

When she warns him not to bring someone inappropriate to his sister’s wedding, in an uncharacteristic fit of spite, Hunter decides to track down the most inappropriate date possible.

Blue Hair. Tattoos. Irresistible smile. Most definitely male. There’s more chance his mother will learn to moonwalk than approve of Adam as his date.

But appearances can be deceiving. And Hunter is about to learn this lesson along with the rest of his family…"]

Oh. My. God. 

This novella was so freaking perfect! There was just the right amount of angst, soooo much mutual pining/attraction/desire, Feels, and a mini epilogue that was utter perfection. 

I feel like I read something very similar to this, but I also feel like I never read anything like this before. It was funny and clever and sweet. The bet? Swoon. Adam? Haaaaard swoon. Adam and Hunter together? *Fangirl in tears*

#theinappropriatedate #jaxcalder #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Fall of Elijah Gray (Moonlight Falls #0.5)

I'm trying to tackle and fight myself into a new path in life. In doing so, I've adding more things to my To Do lists and more things to my TBR lists. BUT that also means more ARCs for me! :D "The Fall of Elijah Gray" is the prequel novella/introduction to Collette Rivera's latest series (Moonlight Falls). It debuts June 3, 2024.

["Focus on magic (not the hot chef) and everything will be fine.

Elijah Gray didn’t want to end up back in Moonlight Falls, but when he’s sent to the spooky small town as part of his magical research, he has no choice but to return home.

Parker Hayes is Eli’s brother’s best friend. He’s older, a powerful magical practitioner, and a pillar of the Moonlight Falls community. Eli has known Parker for years and isn’t sure why it feels like he’s never seen Parker properly…

Until now.

Eli has always considered himself straight, but he’s flustered around Parker. He’s noticing Parker in ways straight guys don’t usually think about other men.

He wants Parker but will never act on it. Something casual with his brother’s best friend would be a mistake, and anything more would mean accepting life in a town he can’t wait to escape.

All Eli has to do is ignore his new, confusing desires until he leaves Moonlight Falls. But every casual touch from Parker feels like a revelation, and Eli can’t help wondering if letting himself fall would be so bad."]

I've opened myself up more to paranormal things over the last year or so, but not so much magic and magical societies; this novella was an excellent excuse to do so. ;)

Elijah (very first chapter): "However, he wasn't entirely sure why he had to remind himself of his straightness." Oh you poor, sweet, summer child (so much like our precious Alexander Claremont-Diaz).

This book was so freaking cute! There wasn't much angst at all (which is a nice break). I loved the main character and seeing him have a full arc and development, even over a short time, was breathtaking (and hard to write).

There were some larger plot things that have been left unresolved, BUT this is just a prequel to the series; hopefully, the rest will come out soon and we can see what's up with these shades (which I LOVE--the idea, not the things/beasts/shadows themselves). 

Trigger Warnings: death of loved ones (past, off-page) and associated grief, mentions of past fatal car accident, magical violence, and more.

#booksprout #arcs #indieauthorcreative #arcteammember
#thefallofelijahgray #theseducationofjamesgray #thecursedsebastainstorm #theheartofmoonlightfalls #moonlightfallsnovella #moonlightfalls #moonlightfallsseries #coletterivera #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks