The Wrong Omega (Bangers & Mash #2)

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 second novel is "The Wrong Omega."

["After ten years of being the best in the business, he’s messed up in the hottest way possible…
Ty
It was supposed to be an ordinary ESA call, but when I found my incoherent omega client in distress, I had to act. And then he turned out not to be who I thought he was. Instead, Winslow Grant was everything I didn’t know I was missing and then some.

The problem is, that “and then some” might be enough to obliterate my life as I know it.
Winslow
I was just trying to keep my shambles of a life together and to keep a roof over my and my brother’s head when my first ever heat knocked the stuffing out of me. Next thing I knew, it was stuffing of a different kind when gorgeous, experienced alpha, Tybalt Martin found me right when I needed him.

Ty is my hero, my champion, my alpha…but how can I ever be anything but an albatross around his neck?"]

This book had a lot of angst in it, let's just start there. Angst and self-hate and talk about things omegas go through (then again, the first book had that too) and depression. Check the trigger warnings on this one, please.

The entire first two or so chapters were glorious. I knew Winslow wasn't Ty's client (even though I forgot to read the blurb), you knew Winslow wasn't Ty's client (you probably were smart enough to read the blurb), but Ty didn't know Winslow wasn't his client (hence the title). It was so...kismet and serendipity. They just had an easy...okay, none of them, no part of this, was easy. It was all hard (get your minds out of the gutter) from the start to finish, but it was worth it. 

Trigger Warnings: anxiety, depression, self-hate, attempted sexual assault, talk about domestic abuse (secondary character), talk about sex work and selling heat (main character), and more.

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

How To Train Your Alpha (Bangers & Mash #1)

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 first novel is "How To Train Your Alpha."

["It’s time for the teacher’s pet to get a sizzling lesson on how to take an omega through heat…
Jesse
I wasn’t looking forward to wasting a weekend at the Bangers & Mash compound, sitting through Emergency Support Alpha training when I had no interest in actually becoming an ESA, but from the moment the course instructor, Phillip Mash, walked into the room, my alpha senses went nuts.

Who in their right mind would have an omega about to go into heat teach a class full of alphas?
Phillip
I wasn’t born yesterday. I’d taught the Heat Support class dozens of times. And I had time before my heat started. Or so I thought. But then Jesse Armstrong had to walk through the door and set me off. I thought I could keep it together, but when the two of us were trapped just as Nature took over and turned me into a whimpering pile of slick, I had no choice but to give Jesse a hands-on crash course in taking an omega through heat.

How am I supposed to teach a total newbie how to satisfy me effectively when I’m out of my mind with need?"]

This book! The angst and conflict and confusion in the beginning? Off to the instant rush of heat and steam and connection? Then to the feeling of completion and finality and pureness and love? Mix some more angst and heartache and miscommunication in there near the end? Fuck. Yes.

I wasn't sure if I should read the entire series (before I started this book), but now I"m fully committed. The soul mates and bonding thing? All of the fangirl-screams for that one. Paranormal isn't usually my thing, but soul mates and bonding? So. Much. Yes. (secret insight to my nightly, pre-falling-asleep mm daydreams--usually Drarry or Snowbaz themed).

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

Cherry Picked (Sunday Brothers series #3)

May Archer recently released the latest novel from her Sunday Brothers series. Here's "Cherry Picked."

["Never ask your brother’s best friend to… pick your cherry.

When I asked Jack Wyatt to help me lose my pesky v-card, I didn’t expect him to keel over in shocked disapproval and nearly tumble us down a mountain.
You might think a guy who's been reading romance novels his whole life would've figured out a smoother way to broach the subject, but in my defense, I’ve been pining for Jack for seven long years, just waiting for him to notice me.
Jack sees me as sweet, shy Hawk Sunday: his Pride and Prejudice-obsessed hiking buddy; his dependable employee; the honorary little brother he’s determined to protect, not…deflower.
But to me, Jack is everything a romantic hero should be: tall, gorgeous, kind, and brilliant.
Or at least I thought he was brilliant… until he started getting so many things so boneheadedly wrong.
Like refusing to do the deflowering himself, but also, erm... blocking any other potential plant-lovers from getting all up in my garden.
And like continuing to see me as someone who needs protecting, rather than a man who needs possessing…
A man who's determined to get his cherry well and truly picked this summer, whether Jack Wyatt likes it or not."]

I forgot what angst feels like. This book...this angst. God fucking hell fire and shit balls. I mean, I've read worse angst, but the build up? Hawk has been in love with Jack from the very beginning, and we saw that from the very beginning of this book. Everyone knew...well, everyone but Jack (and Webb...poor, oblivious Webb).

You'd think it wouldn't take quite so long for Jack to see it...I mean, he saw it, but he didn't seeeee it. If that doesn't make sense, you've never read romance. This book, this series, this author is a fantastic place to start (well, I'd start at the beginning of May's stuff, but I'm a purist like that...usually). 

ANYway. This book was so fun and the angst was worth all of the fluff and the sweetness and the love that was just THERE all along. Watching it bloom and grow and then explode into a thousand stars? So worth the anxiety and lack of breathing...and the tears (I'm not proud of myself, but Jack was so heartbroken and defeated, and I sobbed). So. Worth. The. Wait.

Now we need another Sunday brother to find love. There are at least two more of them. A not-spy and a college student. Both need love in Pippin Hollow with the meddling residents and the odd traditions and the protective family and the small town wonders. Maybe someone from Licking Thicket?  

#pickme #pickone #handpicked #cherrypicked #sundaybrothers #sundaybrothersseries #loveinoleary #loveinolearyseries #whisperingkey #whisperingkeyseries #mayarcher #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Honeymoon Ever After (Suite Dreams #5)

The next stop in Ariella Zoelle's Sunnyside universe is the Suite Dreams series (they all take place at Luxuriant Suites Hotels, hence the suite/sweet dreams pun). The fifth book is "Honeymoon Ever After."

["Rory’s never been attracted to a man before, but Kieran changes everything from the first moment they meet. Will he be able to embrace his unexpected feelings for the Hollywood celebrity?

Rory Kinsella
My new life plan is going great:
1. Dump my awful fiancée who is in love with her best friend and not me? Done.
2. Celebrate my newfound freedom and happiness by going on a solo “me-moon” honeymoon? Great, that should be fun.
3. Fall in love with a Hollywood action hero when I'm straight? Wait, what?!
Besides being absurdly handsome and incredibly charismatic, Kieran looks at me with his magnetic and captivating green eyes in a magical way that makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world that matters. But is that really enough to make me forget that I’m normally attracted to women?
Apparently, the answer is “Yes!” However, it’s not only his gorgeous good-looks that sway me into switching teams. No, what really makes him tempting is something much deeper than that. How can an academic nerd like me resist someone as sweet as a man who wears TARDIS pajamas and wants to shower me with all the love my ex-fiancée never gave me?

Kieran Aiello
My hide out from the paparazzi “vacation” plans:
1. Go to Sweden to escape from a scandal? Easy, I can do that.
2. Stay in my hotel room without leaving for any reason per my agent's orders? Yeah, that's not happening.
3. Find a hot Swede to hook up with in a sauna? Definitely doable.
But things take a surprising turn when I accidentally run into Rory instead, a cute grad student who actually sees the real me that most people don’t believe is hidden under all my Hollywood muscles. He wasn’t part of my original plans, but what could be more tempting than that?
I always thought the insta-love romances I portrayed in my movies were a little hokey, but Rory turns me into a true believer. The chemistry between us is undeniable, but I want more than just a physical relationship with him. If he’s willing to take a chance by opening his heart to me, then why should I settle for anything less than a true romantic ending of a lifetime of love together?"]

From the I-just-broke-up-with-my-toxic-ex to could-I-actually-be-gay to fuck-I'm-in-love-with-a-celebrity. I'd say it was a wild rollercoaster, but Arielle's books are too damn sweet to have any/too much angst anyway, so like...a kiddy-land rollercoaster. With cotton candy. And Dr. Who pjs. And fanfic. God, that would be the dream, right? Getting a PhD and talking about fanfic or Peter Pan or something and whatnot? Hell, yeah (but that's Kieran's brother, not Kieran or Rory--though, I'm hoping his brother will have his own romance soon).

This book was so fluffy and steamy and fun. From the hot tub to the sauna to the fanboying (over Dr. Who and Good Omen--fucking hell, I love Good Omens), it was glorious and nerdy. They were so in love and happy. Life fucked up for both of them, but they found their happily ever after together. 

#snowbodylikeyou #comefrombehind #flawsomeexplorations #loveatfourthsight #gaycationinparadise #honeymooneverafter #suitedreams #suitedreamsseries #ariellazoelle #sunnyside #sunnysideuniverse #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Dog and The Sailor

While reading one of Arielle Zoelle's books the other day, I discovered Pete Jordi Wood's "The Dog and The Sailor." 

["In a world of dragons, witches and magic, reckless Ruan yearns to become a sailor and escape his humdrum life as a tailor's apprentice. However, he soon learns that sometimes we should be careful what we wish for when a journey across the ocean takes a terrible turn for the worse. Fortunately, a chance encounter with a mysterious dog steers Ruan away from danger, leading him on the adventure of his wildest dreams..."]

Arielle's character did his thesis on queer fairy tales, on how they were all straight-washed by some old-white-man. On how there probably used to be so many but straight-culture erased them and how barely a few survived (this characterization/detail was based on an article on Forbes online by Jamie Wareham). 

It's kind of like how straight-culture altered facts about queer pirates in love by saying those men/people only got married to ensure their treasure was not lost slash given to the entire crew (sure, it makes sense, but you mean to tell me not a single on of those marriages was because of love??).

ANYWAY, Pete's book was a limited run from 2020 (Amazon only had a few left when I ordered it...somehow). He researched, wrote, and illustrated this wonderful children's book for his master's thesis. The publication accompanied "The Dog and the Sailor" Exhibition at the Bodega Bijou Illustration Gallery. This story, or variants of it, were originally recored by Jens Kamp and Nikolaj Christensen in 19th century Denmark; however, the very definition of folk lore is the auditory history of storytelling, which goes back to the very beginning and the true origin is unknown.

This book was gorgeous and bright. The details popped off the screen but not in a way that distracted you from the main characters/actions. I wanted to live in this world. Plus, the story?! A little angst (okay, so a lot--there is a curse and a sea witch involved) but so much fun and magic and love. D: Their love story was so cute and just D: (yes, another one). It was short and sweet and a little kooky but so much fun!

#thedogandthesailor #petejordiwood #arielleaoelle #jamiewareham #jenskamp #nikolajchristensen #folktales #queerfolktales #fairytales #queerfairytales #books #lgbtbooks #childrensbooks #childrenslgbtbooks #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Gaycation in Paradise (Suite Dreams #4)

The next stop in Ariella Zoelle's Sunnyside universe is the Suite Dreams series (they all take place at Luxuriant Suites Hotels, hence the suite/sweet dreams pun). The fourth book is "Gaycation in Paradise."

["On the run from scandal, Rook is about to get in even more trouble with sassy Aldo. Is he ready to risk his career for love?

Rook Warrick
As one of Hollywood’s most bankable action heroes, I have a reputation for always defeating the bad guys and getting the girl in the end. When a video of me passionately kissing my male co-star outs me from the closet and puts my career in jeopardy, I run away to a luxurious resort in the Maldives to hide out until the scandal blows over. That’s where I meet Aldo, my sassy live-in butler. My world feels like it’s collapsing around me, but he brightens my days and sees the real me that I’ve had to keep hidden. Our repartee turns my unwanted sabbatical into a true vacation in paradise.
Plus, the longer I’m around Aldo, the more his playful innuendos make me think things I really shouldn’t about a baby-faced twenty-year-old. Even worse, I think I’m actually starting to fall in love with him for real. But how can it be wrong when it feels so right?

Aldo Farnese
It’s no wonder Rook is tightly wound when he’s a gay man who has spent his entire professional career pretending to be a straight movie star. He needs someone laid-back like me to help him relax as I take care of all his needs. It starts as a fun way to make both of us feel better as we pass the time, but it quickly becomes so much more than that.
I’ve never been interested in a committed relationship, but Rook makes me want that with him. I know he could be the perfect boyfriend for me, but how can I convince him to give us a chance to star in our own romantic happily ever after?"]

The last series had a theme of best-friends-to-lovers and this one has a theme (besides the vaca one) of me?-fall-in-love?-ha!-that-will-never-happen. Poor Aldo, never saw it coming. 

These two, man...I just... They were so playful and honest and soft with each other, so open and vulnerable. No wonder they fell in love so fast. Then again, with ice cream and ocean sounds and sunshine (and the perfect person for you), who wouldn't fall in love?

Also, points to Rook for figuring out who in his life is worth it and who isn't. Double points for the way he told Aldo's family about their relationship (poor Albie is still picking his jaw up off the floor)!

#snowbodylikeyou #comefrombehind #flawsomeexplorations #loveatfourthsight #gaycationinparadise #honeymooneverafter #suitedreams #suitedreamsseries #ariellazoelle #sunnyside #sunnysideuniverse #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Love At Fourth Sight (Suite Dreams #3)

The next stop in Ariella Zoelle's Sunnyside universe is the Suite Dreams series (they all take place at Luxuriant Suites Hotels, hence the suite/sweet dreams pun). The third book is "Love At Fourth Sight."

["When Luca’s job brings him to a small town for business, he quickly discovers the magic of falling in love with a feisty local.

Luca Revello
As someone who grew up in the city, I experience some culture shock when I travel to the picturesque, small town of Wintervale to help an older couple launch their new ski resort. While almost everyone warmly welcomes me, I seem to rub the owners’ son the wrong way. While Albie seems determined to chase me away, his feisty nature makes him irresistible to me, despite our fifteen year age difference.
It may not be love at first sight, but by the fourth time we meet, I feel like I’m starring in my very own romantic comedy with Albie. Can the magic of a small town bring us a happily ever after worthy of the best schmoopy movies?

Albie Farnese
I want to hate Luca with everything I have. An outsider like him should have no business telling my family how to run our business. But instead of the stuffy, obnoxious know-it-all I expect to show up, Luca has the audacity to be charming, handsome, hilarious, and ridiculously perfect, making it impossible to hate him. Ugh, he’s such a jerk.
If I can’t hate him, I guess that means I have to love him for being the living embodiment of my dream boyfriend. The man even bakes like a master pastry chef! Who could resist a baking god? Certainly not me. Honestly, his only flaw is not being a permanent resident of Wintervale. But I can be very persuasive when it comes to getting what I want, so why should I let that pesky little detail stop us from being together?"]

Another book, another character who said he'd never fall in love (okay, to clarify, he said he'd never fall of Albie--or sleep for Albie--either way, he did both). And it was love at first sight...well, mostly. Albie loved Luca for that half-heartbeat before he knew who he was (and then he fell hard), and Luca fell hard before he knew he was even in love (and then it hit harder). Beautiful. 

So freaking beautiful. All of it. From the sass to the sweetness and the fluff to the consent and everything in between.

#snowbodylikeyou #comefrombehind #flawsomeexplorations #loveatfourthsight #gaycationinparadise #honeymooneverafter #suitedreams #suitedreamsseries #ariellazoelle #sunnyside #sunnysideuniverse #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks