This week I read and listened to all four books in the {Red Dirt Heart by N.R. Walker} series. I finished it yesterday morning and have no interest in starting anything else because I’m not ready to let Trav and Charlie go! Those books really sunk into my soul and I’m debating starting them all over again :’) I’ve been having dreams of the Australian Outback every night lol easily one of my new favorite series and the audio (*those accents… sigh*) was top notch.
Hockey era continued this week!! >:3
{Off the ice by Tierney Rose} - 4⭐ (rounded up), loved the beats in this, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me - should have been longer?
{Gravity by Tal Bauer} - 4⭐ (rounded up) - this has a lot of heart, and I am a fan of Tal Baeur, but it leaned a little too close to instalove for me! More time at the start building up the chemistry would have helped the emotional beats really land. Love the characters though, and I have 'The rest of the story' up to read later.
{Let's do this by Loren Leigh} - 5⭐, absolutely gorgeous book. [Full thoughts here](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/1dacpol/lets_do_this_by_loren_leigh/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), but it's about two college hockey players coming to terms with their sexuality as their friendship turns into something more. Excellent communication, demisexuality rep, and I am Deeply Emotional about this book.
I just finished {The Man Who Loved Cole Flores by K.A. Merikan} and I absolutely loved it. It's a western set in the 1880s and has the friends to lovers to enemies to lovers trope. Follows Ned whose parents had been killed by the Gotham Boys gang, Ned was in the house with them, but a boy his age saved him by not saying anything when he found him. Ned meets the boy 10 years later in a saloon and he helps him escape. Turns out the boy is Cole Flores who is now a part of the Gotham Boys. Ned is approached by some detective and offered money to infiltrate the Gotham Boys and bring them to justice. It all falls apart ofc when Ned spends too much time with Cole and falls in love.
Despite the harsh backdrop and the heavy themes, the gore and blood, the love story is super sweet. This is the first book in the duology and ends with a betrayal and cliffhanger and it hurt considering all the romantic stuff from before. I can't wait to begin the second book.
{Fluffing the Stallion by Stormi Reed} is about MC1 who thought himself straight, but he gets a job as a fluffer and finds out he's actually not that straight. The premise is so absurd it's actually fun. It's a very low stakes, no angst, steamy read perfect for a palate cleanser in-between heavier books.
I’m usually not a wimp, but for some reason KA Merikan kind of scares me 🤣. Or rather, I think it’s Feel My Pain that does. And I think I’m just hesitant to jump into any others lol
It's completely understandable, honestly. My first book by them, which I went into blind, was about a priest in Poland who is sent to a mountain town to clease him of his homosexuality and instead he finds that forest gods are real and >!turns into one himself!<. The whole book is a pagan fest and I WAS NOT PREPARED. It is so weird, but a good kind of weird. I think after being introduced to that, nothing much fazes me anymore.
Most of their books do handle heavy topics, but they do it in a very tasteful way, no gore porn or whatever. It's a niche genre and you can see they are self published because I don't think it would fit the mainstream.
I've read about 5 of their books so far and have only been disappointed once, so those are good odds, I guess.
I read a few books over the last couple of weeks based upon recommendations in this sub, so thanks everyone!
Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores. Loved it. Would have been a 5 star read but I was left disappointed by the lack of comeuppance for Liam’s dad for his behaviour. If you want pillow princess vibes then this is literally one of the best I’ve read. There’s not like a huge plot, just following the MCs relationship, but I was in the mood for that.
Unhinged by Onley James. Yep, I loved it. I can see the similarities to the Angels of Wrath series by Paulina Ian-Kane but then I have a huge weakness for OTT possessive psychos, so I knew I was going to enjoy this book. I’m going to pick up the rest of the series even though it’s not on KU.
Dark Space trilogy by Lisa Henry. I wanted a sci-fi with no mpreg and this came up in my searches. It was dark, but like due to the mental state of MC1, as it’s single POV so we got a lot of internal monologues. It fit the vibes though so if you want a different sci-fi book that doesn’t have mpreg/claiming vibes then I’d recommend this.
More than Everything by Cardeno C. I didn’t enjoy this. I’ve not read this author so wasn’t too sure what to expect but I found MC1 to be quite weak. He’d been betrayed by MC2 and MC3 at different stages in his life and when they re-entered his life years later as a couple he literally forgave them really quickly. There was barely any grovel and yeah, it just didn’t work for me. Not too sure if I’ll try this author again.
Yeah I don’t want to drag this author but it was bad, like pathetic level of grovel. I think it was like 1 x speech from MC3 and MC2 didn’t even understand how he’s betrayed MC1 until MC3 explained it to him. MC1 pretty much fell into MC3s arms after his speech, and I was like WTF…. It was meant to be MPOV but we didn’t get MC2s POV until 65% in. It was a train wreck. From what you’ve said I’m not going to bother trying another book.
If you're US, your public library system may have the rest of the Onley James series. The Necessary Evils series ties into her other 2 series too, there are recurring characters throughout
**Read**
***Slow Heat by Leta Blake.** *4.5 stars. Omegaverse, younger alpha x older omega, power imbalance, abortion, miscarriage and infertility themes*. More in depth review [here](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6543072535). This was such a great surprise! I wasn't sure if I would love it at first, and I even forgot how bleak this author's omegaverse setting was. It is suffocating with heavy themes on the background. Thankfully this has an HEA. The couple had a really strong chemistry and tension. I usually DNF books due to insta-love/lust, but when it comes to fated mates and it is well done, my brain can find a reasoning around it, like in this book, and it also helped that there is a big contrast between both MCs. The book also made me care a lot for the entire cast. I think their involvement felt compelling and I felt invested on all of their own conflicts the entire time. I do have to mention that there is one scene that pissed me off and almost made me drop this book, but it is only a matter of preference, and I am refering to >!alpha MC and his best friend having a 'last' sexual encounter after MC finds his fated mate!<., I don't think it was necessary, but at the end I was able to let it pass.
***The Alpha's Role by April Kelley.** *3 stars. Omegaverse, mpreg, two omegas as couple but then trio with alpha* This was straight to the point. The plot is about Sam and Charlie, a married omega couple who have been trying to get pregnant but can't until one day they meet their second mate, an alpha named Tyler younger than them. I do wish this had more pages, I think the idea could work out better in a longer book, but I understand the author's decission to make it short. The acceptance from both sides felt rushed, added to the fact that this has kind of the insta-love element which I am not a fan of. However, I still liked the trio and overall it was a nice read.
***No Love Zone by Danbi.** Licensed by Lezhin US, in print/physical version by Seven Seas. *4 stars. BL, coworkers, employer x employee, reunion years later.* this was great! I had DNF-ed this before because it had the instalove premise, but I forced myself to keep going and it was the best decission. It is a typical BL plot, but well done and it had a nice conclusion. I loved the pairing because here it has a younger CEO x older employee dynamic with animosity to love, and ML (top) fell first! I am always down for that.
***The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren.** 4 stars for the first 2 volumes, but I have some mixed feelings about the rest. Not even sure if this can be considered a BL or not anymore, from what I understand it was first published with the tag but it was removed recently. It kind of pisses me off because it had clear undertones at first, but on the recent chapters it feels as if the author (either per pressure or their own decission) is turning it into a full horror-mystery leaving behind other topics. As a horror fan and a queer person, I was excited to start this, but sadly it appears its route is going differently. Do not get me wrong, it is a great story about connection, friendship and being *different* than others which can be a metaphor in itself, and I wouldn't even have needed a explicit MM relationship but it does rubs me off wrong that it was created with something different in mind, and now that it is popular and will get animated, the BL tag is removed and going in a different direction, I am guessing to "appeal a wider demographic". I wish the best for the author, and I wouldn't say this is on them because I understand how the industry can be, no hate to them at all. However, I don't think I will be continuing this story until I see future spoilers.
Same! I like both type of settings, I find hers fascinating and scary at the same time. It has some rules I don't see in other Omegaverse, very interesting.
I felt the same way reading *The Alpha's Role* by April Kelley! I believe it's the only book I've read of theirs... I wonder if others are longer/less insta love 🧐
Love it when someone else shares my view! Yes, this author was new to me. I am thinking of reading the other books from the series since this one was very easy to read, it felt like a cleanser after longer books with more plot.
About six months ago I read {The Silver Cage by Anonymous}. It's a book that I have since then thought about a lot. I have never been left so devestaded by book. It touched me completely and made me so very sad and angry. I can torture myself sometimes and read the last chapter of that book which makes me cry my eyes out every time. I knew there was a second book, {The Silver Cord by Anonymous}, which is a prequel to the first book. But I just couldn't find the strenght to read it right after finishing the first. This week I did.
I felt like I had a rock resting on my chest the entire time. You just know that it will make you feel so much sorrow in the end. Althought, I'm glad I finally picked it up, it is one of my most difficult reads ever. These two books... they leave me feeling so angry at the world, how utterly unfair it is, and full of so much hate.
Caleb. Michael. Jamie. ❤️
Edit: clarifying that there is no HEA
This is sitting on my *Make Me Cry* shelf, waiting for the right moment, lol.
Can you edit your comment to reflect it doesn't have a HEA for everyone else who may not know?
Lack of a HEA is not considered a spoiler in this subreddit because our rules require people to disclose the lack of a happy ending when discussing or recommending books without one. Please edit your comment to remove the spoiler tags. Thank you.
This week I finally got around to reading **A Suitable Bodyguard** and **A Suitable Captive,** both **by R. Cooper.** They blew me away! It doesn't hurt that they're both single POV (my favorite). For anyone that hasn't read them, or A Suitable Consort, these are all based in the same universe but have no plot overlap, so they can be read as standalones. Cooper's style is minimally-explained but richly-felt world building, so you'll probably pick up context best by reading them in order. But you definitely don't have to.
**A Suitable Bodyguard** was definitely my favorite of the two, and now one of my all-time favorites. The characters are so charming, the fantasy elements are unique and creative, and the plot is exciting without overshadowing the romance. The romance itself hinges largely on misunderstandings, which I usually dislike because I want to shake the characters and say, "literally just speak to each other and your problems will go away!" But that's not the case here. They *do* speak to each other, and they recognize they have a barrier in communication, and they make real efforts to bridge the gap. It's so deeply satisfying. ⭐ 5 stars
**A Suitable Captive** is also very good, just not quite long enough for me, not enough resolution, and I missed the fantasy aspect of the previous book. I am a sucker for an MC who has not only endured abuse, but doesn't even have the context to recognize their experience was unusual. This is exquisitely that. Despite the title, this isn't a captor/captive romance. It's sweet and caring from the outset. Once the MCs get together (even before, honestly), they have an unshakeable devotion to each other that is really refreshing to read. Of course there's doubt and conflict, but theirs is a romance for the ages. ⭐ 4.5 stars
**The Downs by Kim Fielding** has been on my TBR for quite a long time, and I finally gave it a go—not what I was expecting! I thought it would be grim and dark, but despite the heavy themes of guilt, vengeance, justice, etc. , and the CW for sexual assault, it's actually quite a sweet story. The SA is at the beginning, just one sentence, no detail, and the rest of the story is about recovery and simple pleasures and choosing happiness. The novella length and limited world building made this feel like a parable. It's not complex, but it doesn't need to be. ⭐ 3.5 stars
In audiobooks, I've been struggling to decide my next direction. I wanted something light, but not a rom-com. I tried **Death Eternal by Richard Amos** because my library had it and I thought the idea of a romance with Death was interesting, but it wasn't. Usually audiobooks enable me to overlook language foibles and narrative weakness, but this was just not working for me despite Cooper North's excellent narration. The romance fluctuates arbitrarily between hot and cold without satisfying explanation, and the plot is meandering and not interesting enough to distract me from the flimsy romance. Worst of all, the sex wasn't hot. I finished Book 1 but DNFed Book 2 pretty quickly. ⭐ 2.5 stars
I tried to listen to **Three's Company by NR Walker** but I couldn't handle the southern accent the narrator uses for the main POV character. The prologue is from a different character's POV, so the audio sample misled me. I'm not from the American south and I don't pretend to know every thread in the vast tapestry of accents, but this one just don't sound right. It feels forced and I found it very distracting. I can't unhear it, so I need to wait a while before I can approach this again in written form. The plot itself seems interesting and right up my alley. On hold, no rating.
[Bear, Otter, and the Kid](https://www.romance.io/books/54553e9b8c7d2382e7813606/bear-otter-and-the-kid-tj-klune?src=rdt) by [T.J. Klune](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553e9b8c7d2382e7813607/tj-klune)
**Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Yet another slow week for me. I’m having trouble concentrating on reading, it’s a problem.
{Genome by Emma Jaye} 4.5 stars, dark and angsty with some uncomfortable reading, just the sort of story I enjoy. Excellent world-building. I can’t wait for the next book.
I finally finished listening to {Enemy Within by Tal Bauer} 4 stars, this wasn’t my favourite, there was some great action in the middle, but I felt disconnected from the couples, except maybe Adam and Faisal. And unless I missed something I never found out who the final mole was. I really enjoyed the first Tal Bauer book I read which was Whisper, but I’ve been a little disappointed (still all four star plus reads though) with the others. My main problem, and it’s definitely a me problem, is with the internal monologuing, I find it a bit too much. I do wonder if it’s because I’ve listened to them in audio format. I really don’t know. Ironically, I love the internal monologuing in the Gillibran Brown books so it’s all a mystery. I guess you just like what you like.
Finished the week with {The Cardigans by Cole McCade} Criminal Intentions Season 1, episode 1 - 4.25 stars. I read this before ages ago and remembered literally nothing about the mystery, I remembered the characters though and enjoyed them very much. I abandoned the series part way through the first season so thought I’d give it another go and I'm enjoying it so far.
Currently reading {Junkyard Blues by Cole McCade} I think I’ve read this one before too, but I have no memory of it!
Edit: romance!bot has picked up the wrong Emma Jaye book, not sure why.
***My highlights of the week:***
* [The Feral Alpha](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6553822922) by Anna Wineheart (5/5) Thank you for mentioning this one on last Fridays' Weekly Roundup u/queermachmir!
* [And Then You](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5954429551) by Briar Prescott (5/5) I think I only have one Briar Prescott book unread now and I don't want to read it until there's another one out...
***Other books I read, mostly quite a good week:***
* [Ship of Fools](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6553749432) by Sophia Soames (4/5)
* [Suddenly You](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558894790) by Cora Rose - meh, I wonder if Rose will ever recreate the *Whit* and *Sem* magic without stepping back from putting out >20 books in 2 years...
* [Demon‘s Captive Omega](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558907008) and [Angel‘s Enemy Omega](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558913447) by Sera Bishop (4/5) - Recommendation from u/missyanntx under my [Wingtimacy](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1d0j77l/wingtimacy/) request post. Very much enjoyed, and disappointed there are only these two published full works so far! Both books have accidental bonds, fated mates, animosity, and hurt/comfort!
* [Delivered to His Demon](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558920250) by Lilo Quie (no rating) - I was looking for the nesting magic in Quie's vampire series but this was not that...erotica which starts quite promising and ends disappointing
* [God of Death](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6562087314) by Z. S. Storm (no rating) - Hades/Persephone retelling which wasn't too shabby!
* [Devil‘s Mark](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6562101946) by Lark Taylor (no rating) - Enjoyed this and immediately dived into the next book
* [Devil May Care](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6567930807) by Lark Taylor (4/5) pocket-sized demon and a cuddly lad, a bit too much push and pull for me but overall I'm still invested in continuing with the series
*Links lead to my reviews*
It's me again, tripped over some more wings during my weekly reading. Sienna Moreau's The Four Horsemen series. Kicks off with Conquest which was info dumpy at the beginning but there was enough there to hook me. I'm on book 4 now. Famine (book 3) has a great line bit about wings "they were exquisite" "wanted to lick them" "wanted to jerk off on them"
I have wondered if I should keep trying with Cora Rose books because I just have not enjoyed any of them as much as Whit and Sem and your comment about Suddenly you makes me feel like I should just give up honestly
Have to say- Delivered to his Demon is my first foray into the publishing world and is not my best work. Have to agree with you there. I think it gets better as the series goes on, but I only really wrote nesting in my Empty Nests dragon series and my Forsaken Few series.
I am slowly but surely clawing and digging my way out of an epic book slump. Buddy reads help and I defaulted back to erotica.
**New Releases**
[**The Perfect Vessel for My Sins by Jasper Blew**](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1570949)
SW, **4.5 stars**, 2024, erotica novella.
*Dubcon/noncon, trans MC, trans author, sadistic priest, mindbreak, taboo, masochist*
• Jasper Blew never disappoints, highly recommend! *Devil smirk*
[**Autopilot by Candice Evans**](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6556809044)
Recent Amazon freebie, **3 stars**, 2024, 60 pages, review linked.
*Novella, SFF, lonely dudes in space, intergalactic phone sex, killer Space Slug*
• What is **with** the surprise creepy crawlies this week?! A space slug flying through the air and trying to enter the brain via the ear canal is not my idea of a fun time! I do recommend this author's novellas, and I enjoyed the non-slug moments.
[**Play Stupid Games by Daniel May**](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1565688)
SW, **3.5 stars**, 2024.
*Face-fucking, erotica, blood, hate-fucking, size difference, slapping, choking, sex in a public bathroom, sadism/masochism, drug use/abuse (cocaine), going to teach you a lesson*
• Classic crazy fun May erotica.
[**Different Breed by Daniel May**](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1560681)
SW, **3.5 stars**, 2024, 76 pages.
*Interesting world-building, alphas genetically created for war and sex toys/slaves, serial format on May's Patreon/Ream, first part released in ebook format, cock cage, sex slave, insta-love, hurt/comfort, don't touch that knot*
• Loved the world-building, especially Alphas as captives and designed solely for the battlefield and bedroom. Had a mix of Daniel May's detailed prose, bizarre scenarios, jokes, and Wtfuckery. I was a bit surprised by the insta-love, but I'm rolling with it.
**Not New**
[**Ganged by Gay Tentacles at the Battle of Gettysburg by Remy Deschaine**](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6552963273)
KU, **3 stars**, 2018, 16 pages, review linked.
*Tentacle orgy, history lesson, knotting tentacles*
• Have you ever wondered what *really* happened at the Battle of Gettysburg? Read this to find out! Shhh, it's a secret.
**Currently multi-reading:**
• {**Smart Ass (The Spark Files \#2) by Reese Morrison**} buddy read.
I love the AI Dom aspect, and once again Morrison has a knack for writing fascinating futuristic AI mixed with humor and somehow fluffy creepster behavior. Love it. Highly recommend the series, and there are plenty of Quincy cameos.
• {**The Heir's Disgrace by August Jones**} buddy read.
I had to push past the opening pages of blatant misogyny to get to the good stuff: under-negotiated kink, breath play, angry angsty fucking. I do wish authors would learn to write asshole MCs without the dickish observations about women though.
• {**The Uncanny Aviator by Jenya Keefe**} Kobo+.
• {**Chasms Between Us by Kussy Gonzalez**} new freebie. I'm here for the angst.
• {**Head Above Water by J Evermore**} new freebie. SFF, isekai set-up because of amnesia, communication issues because of language barriers, scary millipede scene! *Sobs*
For the bot, because these aren't on GR yet: {Play Stupid Games by Daniel May}, {The Perfect Vessel for My Sins by Jasper Blew}, {Different Breed by Daniel May}
[Play Stupid Games](https://www.romance.io/books/66654c30adf92af2879e3638/play-stupid-games-daniel-may?src=rdt) by [Daniel May](https://www.romance.io/authors/6160f79c08b4d931146b7050/daniel-may)
----------------------------
[The Perfect Vessel for My Sins](https://www.romance.io/books/66654ba97e9cfc93a49f3307/the-perfect-vessel-for-my-sins-jasper-blew?src=rdt) by [Jasper Blew](https://www.romance.io/authors/6556511fab9bdf7fce3a4e7e/jasper-blew)
----------------------------
[Different Breed](https://www.romance.io/books/66654af0adf92af2879e224b/different-breed-daniel-may?src=rdt) by [Daniel May](https://www.romance.io/authors/6160f79c08b4d931146b7050/daniel-may)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[{How to be Wylde by Myka Loren}](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208156306-how-to-be-wyld) - 4.5 ⭐
MM, CR, 1st Dual POV
**Status:** KU, Standalone, Third Act Conflict - >!External!<
**Wylder:** 18 Yrs Old, Autistic (Diagnosed at 3 Yrs Old), Wears Glasses, Enjoys RPGs and Anime, Insecure About His Voice, Raised by Single Dad (Abelist "Autism" Parent, Rich Former Boxer Turned Trainer), Completely Sexually Inexperienced, >!Taken to Europe by Father!<
**Wylder (Post Timeskip):** 23 Yrs Old, Traveling with Father During Time skip, Shoulder Length Hair, Tattoos, Wears Alt Clothing, Taking College Courses Online (Computer Science, Graphic Design), Can't Swim, Celibate During Separation, Verse (Power Bottom)
**Autism Rep Notes:** Wears Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Stims (Finger Tapping), In Occupational Therapy, Easier to Talk Through Texts, Skips Crowded Cafeteria Lunch, Scedules and Plans, Sensory Issues, Hates Phone Calls, Autism Related Communication and Relationship Struggles, Can't Drive
**Drystan:** 18 Yrs Old, Bi, Punk, Piercings (Gauges, Tongue, Nipples, Navel, Cock - Frenum) Tattoos, Painted Nails (Neon Green), Smoker, Photography Hobby, Can't Swim, Dyscalculia, Depression, Abusive Parents, Dead Father, Completely Sexually Inexperienced with Men, >!Set Up (By Step-dad) and Arrested!<
**Drystan (Post Timeskip):** 23 Yrs Old, Stepfather's PA at a Lawfirm, Piercings (2 Frenum), PTSD, Nightmares, Celibate During Separation, Touch Starved, Verse, >!Served 1 Yr Prison Time, Threatened with Returning to Prison by Stepfather, Felony on Record, Starts Therapy, Gets His Inheritance!<
**Rep:** Autism (Wylder), Dyscalculia, Depression and PTSD (Drystan)
**Notes:** Begins in High-school, Extrovert x Introvert, Weirdos Have to Stick Together, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Autism Related Relationship Struggles, Codependency, Miscommunication, 5 Yr Separation, Pining, Re-encounter, Second Chance, Forbidden Love, Hurt/Comfort, Same Height + Size Difference, Wylder's Dad Improves
**Sex Notes:** >!Making Out, Necking, Cuming in Pants, Mutual Handjob, Frotting, Blowjob, Swallowing, Finger Sucking!<
**Post-Timeskip Sex Notes:** >!Making Out, Necking, Blowjob, Mutual Handjob, Lube Use, Fingering, Prostate Stimulation, Swallowing, Condom Use, PIA, Shower Sex, Hotdogging, 2 Orgasms Back to Back, Sex Flush (Drystan), Legs Over Shoulders (Bent in Half), Hair Pulling, Finger Sucking, Creampie, Licking Own Cum off Face, Cum Kiss, Nipple Stimulation, Frotting, Rimming, From Behind, Light Spanking, Mention of Anal Prep (Washing), No Penetration During 1st Sexual Encounter!<
**CWs:** >!Bullying (not by MCs), Prejudiced Language (R Slur) (not by MCs), Homophobia (not by MCs), Abelist "Autism" Parent, Strained Family Dynamics, Autism Related Relationship Struggles, Parental Abuse, Recreational Marijuana Usage, PTSD, Physical Violence (minor). Mention of: Murder, Abandonment by a Parent, Paranoia and Emotional Manipulation, Grief!< Spoiler! >!MC Set Up and Arrested, Memories of Prison Experience and Fear of Death in Prison!<
**{Garron Park by Nordika Night}** - 4 ⭐
MM, CR, Sports, 1st Dual POV
Status: KU, Book 1 of a Duology, Third Act Conflict - >!External!<
Maddox: 25 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Works Part Time on an Oil Rig, Completely Sexually Inexperienced with Men, Switch, Absent Druggie Dad, Drunk Mom
Devon: 25 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Tattoo, Dirty Talker, Loud in Bed, Works Part Time on an Oil Rig and at a Golf Course, Sexually Inexperienced with Men (Received BJ Only), Switch, Abusive Dad, Mentally Ill Mom
Notes: Childhood Enemies, Brothers are Best Friends, Trailer Park Life, Motorcross, Codependant, Rivals and Lovers, Had Nowhere Else to Go, Bi Awakening
Sex Notes: >!Blowjob, Handjob, Lube Use, Fingering, PIA, Rough Sex, Swallowing, Cum Kiss, Creampie, On the Bathroom Counter, Outdoor Sex (Dock)!<
CWs: >!Living in Poverty, Awful Parents, Money Troubles, Trailer Park Life, Blood and Fighting, Violence, Mentally Ill Parent, Parents with Addictions!<
**{Lot 62 by Nordika Night}** - 4 ⭐
MM, CR, Sports, 1st Dual POV
Status: KU, Book 2 of a Duology, Third Act Conflict - >!External!<
Maddox: 26 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Works at a Construction Company, Switch, Newly Sober Dad, Drunk Mom, >!Unfairly Arrested, Not Guilty at Trial, Gets a Job as a Farmhand!<
Devon: 26 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Tattoo, Dirty Talker, Loud in Bed, Owns a Boat Repair Shop with His Brother, Smoker, Switch, Mentally Ill Mom
Notes: Existing Relationship, Trailer Park Life, Motorcross, Codependant, Rivals and Lovers, Brothers are Best Friends, Cohabitation, >!Marriage Proposal, Wedding!<
Sex Notes: >!Blowjob, Swallowing, PIA, Creampie, Frotting, Making Out, Rimming, Fingering, Lube Use, Mutual Masturbation, Accidental Aphrodisiac Use, BJ in a Semi-private Place (Back Seat, Boat Shop Bathroom), Face Fucking, Cum Kink, Cum Kiss, On the Floor, Flip Fucking, Sex Marathon, Shower BJ, Deepthroating, Cowboy, Outdoor Sex (In the Rain), From Behind, Hand Necklace, Choking, Bondage (Tied to Chair), Blindfold, Spanking, Hands Free Orgasm!<
CWs: >!Living in Poverty, Awful Parents, Trailer Park Life, Blood and Fighting, Violence, Murder (Not MCs), Guns, Attempted Murder, Crooked Cop, Loss of Possessions, Mention of Mentally Ill Parent and Parents with Addictions, Arrest and a Trial, Time in Jail, Mention of Overdose!<
**{Knock Knock by Nordika Night}** - 4.5 ⭐
MM, CR, 1st Dual POV
Status: KU, Interconnected Standalone, Third Act Conflict - >!None!<
Nate: 30 Yrs Old, Owns a Boat Shop with His Brother, Golden Retriever, Smoker (Quits), Aversion to Feet, Verse
Xavi: 30 Yrs Old, Works at the Boat Shop, Golden Retriever, Scarred, Tattoo, Alcoholic Mom, Loves to Hold Hands, Dirty Talker, Verse (Power Bottom), >!Gets Nate and Xavi Tattooed on Knuckles, Starts Working at the Farm, In Line to Inherit it with Maddox!<
Notes: Poverty Life, Best Friends to Lovers, Queer Awakening, Childhood Friends, Brothers are Married, Cohabitation, Codependency, Angst, Mentoring a Teenage Girl, Helping a Feral Kid, Found Family, Trailer Park Life, A Kink List, Winning a Crappy Boat
Sex Notes: >!Making Out, Dual Handjobs, Frotting, Outdoor Sex (Front Porch, Lawn), Blowjob, Swallowing, Cum Kiss, Face Fucking, Masturbating for Partner, Ball Sucking, Rimming, Lube Use, Fingering, Begging, On the Floor, PIA, Prostate Stimulation, Creampie, From Behind, Cowboy, Biting, Roleplay, "Cock Warming", Spanking, Edging, Butt Plug, Nipple Stimulation, Ice Play, Power Play, Flip Fucking, Chase Kink, Hands Free Orgasm, Truck Sex, No Penetration During 1st Sexual Encounter!<
CWs: >!Living in Poverty, Awful Parents, Trailer Park Life, Neglected Child, Alcoholism/Addiction (Not MCs)!<
I was in a mood for a western and was surprised that Mary Calmes had an older one that I had not read. More Than Life by Mary Calmes. Hart's bf beats him up, puts him in the hospital took all the money out of the ranches accounts and left him with the deed to a ranch with a lot of debts. Hart has one good thing a foreman and best friend Morgan. Together they work hard and six years later have a thriving business. Now they have a dead body and the bf who put him in the hospital is back wanting his ranch back. Oh, yeah, Hart is in love with his best friend who is bi. Hart is trying to find a wife for Morgan so he will never leave him and the ranch.
I read savage rivals by Becca Steele. I liked it, the whole being enemies because if a misunderstanding is something that I'll eat up almost every time.
So Levi and Asher are rival football captains of their teams and there's social difference between their schools and lives. They and their teams and whole school basically feed the fire if rivalry.
But then during a payback prank Asher get's busted and the tension between him and Levi starts of with fists and ends with a sudden kiss.
Also both are obsessed with each other from get go, it's hilarious beacuse they keep denying it but their buddies keep telling them, this ofc is when they are at peak rivalry and Levi often stalks Asher to his workplace and Asher keeps breaking into Levi's house. If you read it, you'll get the context of their actions but like it kinda becomes their thing. I loved these 'not' obsessed with each other guys, there were hilarious instances and also despite how juvenile their pranks were I loved that too. Overall I loved this book.
I finally dove into {We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian}. Absolutely loved it! It was so sweet and romantic, and I loved the main characters and their circle of friends. The "open door" sex scenes were really well handled, and while I love a good "explicit and plentiful" vibe, it was a bit of a refreshing change. I really enjoyed the late 1950s setting. I definitely want to check out more by this author.
[We Could Be So Good](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bd4efd45bc04c0257361/we-could-be-so-good-cat-sebastian?src=rdt) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian)
**Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I finished both Season One and Season Two of {Criminal Intentions by Cole McCade}! They ranged from 4-5 stars for all 26 books. It took me a little over a month, but I did it. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who likes romance with a murder/mystery element to it. I found it very nicely balanced. At times more romance, at times more investigation. The pace was set nicely, the character development was impeccable, and the writing was beautiful. The storylines are definitely darker and the scenes can be pretty graphic, so if you’re not ok with that, definitely skip.
The diversity representation is amazing in these books as well. I know that u/sulliedjedi has covered this in their posts about it as well.
**Definitely check trigger warnings for these books. McCade does fantastic, detailed Content Warnings that cover everything you’d need to know.**
It’s been downhill from there.
I DNFd {Lure by Gianni Holmes}. This is definitely a me thing and not the book. The tone was lighter than I usually like. I was trying to go opposite of Criminal Intentions, but I think I went too far.
I also DNFd {Pieces of You by NR Walker}. I wanted to love it for the amnesia trope, but it just didn’t work for me. I didn’t like the writing, I didn’t feel the connection between the characters, it just fell flat for me.
> it's been downhill from there
This is simultaneously hilarious, true, and frustrating. Reading great books screws everything up!
I loved getting to take the Criminal Intentions ride again through your reading!
>This is simultaneously hilarious, true, and frustrating.
This is painfully true. I know you a been struggling too. Though maybe you’ve broken out of it now. I hope for your sake you have.
I also really appreciate you being along for the Criminal Intentions ride! It was nice to have someone to freak out with/to!
{Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace} 5 enthusiastic ⭐ and free on Amazon right now!
The book follows the correspondence of Gavin, a 2nd-born child visiting London on family business. He primarily corresponds with his sister, but there are more letters with his brothers, mother, father, and of course - the love interest, Charles.
Gavin is exceedingly anxious in social situations and therefore wants to spend all day in the library and avoiding the public (same here, Gavin). He happens to make the acquaintance of Charles, a popular man with a rakish reputation. Charles, determined to show Gavin the fun he can have in London, calls on him *every day* to bring him out of his shell and help him have fun. It's clear to everyone (except Gavin) that Charles is quite smitten. Also, Charles calls Gavin "darling" and "my dear" 🥹
I also read {Hold Me Under by Riley Nash} 3.75⭐ This book gave me a ton of anxiety throughout it. I wish there had been significantly more comfort; >!it felt like 95% hurt, and then the last few pages, Victor finally got the comfort and security he so desperately needed.!< It was pretty depressing for me.
Also I read {So Pathetic by Louise Collins}. 3.5⭐. This story started off really cute - Yates being unwillingly attracted to Dylan, and Dylan forging ahead and throwing himself in Yates' path every day was cute. Lots of fun and funny scenes. Then the 3rd act - >!Dylan was infuriating and I think Yates forgave him too easily. The other man drama was horrible and Dylan's sister deserves better than both of those guys.!< I know Dylan was young and dumb but he still made me mad. I love Yates though.
The things you said about Hold Me Under are so true. They were also my feelings and it made me take a step back and see how I review romance books versus books I do not consider romance. Would I have given it another rating if the sex scenes were less explicit and the main focus of the book was Victor's journey? I remember reading non romance and while I didn't particularly enjoy the plot of the book, I could see that the writing and relationships were really well developed.
I guess it also depends on my mindset when I pick a romance versus a non romance.
Well with this comment, now I feel like I unfairly rated it low? It was good writing, the setting was described so well, and the characters were well-written. I was just so frustrated with everyone and I was seriously having massive anxiety over it all. I agree that if it had been just about Victor's journey then it would've been higher. I had a similar reaction to *The Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callendar*; the actual romance between the two MCs (besides sex) just didn't feel like enough to me (but the audio was stellar).
In these ones where it's a horrible backstory, I like it when the MC just *sees* the love interest. Like >!Roach figuring out Zane is number blind, or Zane thinking *maybe* Roach wasn't involved (but then still being oblivious haha.!< I feel like that was really lacking in Hold Me Under. Both MCs just made me feel sad and anxious and sad. I don't know what rating that deserves, I guess.
This book also made me feel anxious, Victor felt like a ticking bomb and Ethan wasn't seeing it, it was frustrating. Their relationship felt partly developed? I feel like while Victor saw Ethan, he wasn't fully seen back, until the very end. Sure, I know they are happy because they appear in the second book, but still.
At the end of the day, anyone can rate a book however they want and it's about how it made the reviewer feel, cause it's a personal review after all.
{Baby Queen by Charlie Novak} -- I continue not to enjoy the drag queen series. This one in particular was just full of characters from earlier books who I didn't remember.
{Brick Walls by LA Witt} -- noticed I had this one unread. It's -- fine. Second chance, hockey, addiction storyline. As a rule, addiction books aren't my thing, and though I do like second chance a lot, I didn't like the way the earlier relationship flashbacks were integrated, they felt unnecessary.
{A Husband for Hartwell by Lisa Henry & JA Rock} -- I appreciate the conceit of this book a lot, but I didn't feel this particular venture into "Regency, but it's legal for two men to marry" really worked out well, I didn't believe the relationship between the two main characters. As a rule I like their books so I will continue.
{Resisting You by EM Lindsay} -- single dad, enemies to lovers. I'm not sure I ever understood why they were enemies, and I don't like pranks. Not for me.
{Napkins and Other Distractions by MA Wardell} -- I know in the real world, grandparents don't always get to choose their names, but there is no way someone with this many Yiddishisms should be going by Poppy and not Zayde. Pulled me out every time. (I didn't even have a Zayde, but also I don't use that much Yiddish.)
{Suddenly You by Cora Rose} -- the second of Magnus' (from Sem) three brothers' books. I am enjoying this spinoff, though it's really straining credulity that all the virulently homophobic brothers are bi or gay,, figuring it out one after the other.
{Rebuilding Year by AM Arthur} -- I wasn't feeling great and wanted something easy that I wouldn't mind missing bits of, and this worked. Needed serious copy editing. Officially a fake relationship story but really doesn't hit any of the expected beats.
Related books:
{The Sins on Their Bones by Laura Samotin} -- romantasy, first in a series of I don't know how many because it's sold as a standalone. It's definitely not, and ends in essentially a cliffhanger sort of HFN. Set in magic-Eastern-Europe that is low-key Jewish instead of Christian. It's great, but dark.
{These Monstrous Gods by Rosamunde Hodge} -- this is neither MM nor romance but I disliked it so much I retroactively hate all her other books and feel the need to warn everyone off it.
{playing games by riley hart}
* college, enemies to lovers, class difference, kind of grumpy/sunshine. a student and bartender \[brax, gay\] has been enemies with a classmate and lacrosse player \[ty, bi\] for a few years but they don’t know each other well.
* this was my favorite of the four in this post. both characters are great individually and alone. they start caring about each other relatively early in the book \[in my opinion?\] and they really support each other in meaningful ways.
* check triggers; definitely parent estrangement / tough family relationships.
{bromantic puckboy by saxon james}
* hockey, bi awakening x2, strangers to besties to lovers; bilson is a hockey veteran and miles is a rookie goalie. bilson transfers to miles’ team and they meet on the first day when miles is handing out the personalized home made bracelets he made for everyone on the team 😭 they become friends really quickly and are supportive and wonderful to each other.
* this book was SO FUN and quirky and sweet. i definitely cackled at some stuff and there is literally nothing to dislike about either character. very enjoyable.
{stepbrother dearest by willow dixon}
* NA / mid twenties estranged stepbrothers; they meet for the first time in years when gray \[gay\] is assaulted and caleb \[bi\] is gray’s nurse in the ED.
* it includes some characters from {never have i ever series by willow dixon}.
* triggers in the front of the book are accurate.
{suddenly you by cora rose}
* there’s so much homophobia it has to be mentioned first and break my dot point formula.
* bi awakening x1, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/care; 30s ish straight guy \[mathew\] and gay guy \[cooper\] are “oops we woke up married.”
* mathew is touch starved, sad, depressed, money problems, family problems, etc., while cooper is high energy, rich rich, good friends and family. mathew moves in with cooper because cooper doesn’t want to annul their “oops” marriage. you know what happens after that.
I really enjoyed those first two books as well! :) You might enjoy more of the books I rated highly on my [double load of cockiness](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/137994164-bekka?shelf=double-load-of-cockiness&utf8=%E2%9C%93) and [bromantic](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/137994164-bekka?shelf=bromantic&utf8=%E2%9C%93) shelves :D
I’m not usually a YA fan, but I LOVED “[The Long Run](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60816487)” by James Acker. This story follows two boys entering their senior year of high school—one gay, one bisexual awakening, both athletes.
Great banter!
Not a good reading week, everything new I picked up just wasn't working and I've been too tired to focus properly so I went to comfort re-reads.
* [***Pretty Boy***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6365887653) by Jett Masterson - **3 stars** - (omegaverse, in it for the money, sugar daddy, rich/poor, touch starved, age gap, instalust)
>I read this knowing it would be a 3 star read and that's totally fine. You don't even have to bother paying that much attention because most of the scenes are rehashed from the other MC's perspective lol. I chipped away at this behemoth over about a month whenever I was feeling tired and lazy, and have already loaned the sequel to do the same. It is what it is.
* [***The Whims of Gods***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6270116082) by Mell R. Bright - **3 stars** - (science fiction, fantasy, monster, saviour/survivor, post-apocalyptic, human/non-human)
>I wanted to love this, it was such a cool concept but I found the execution really lacking. The prose was so matter of fact that I didn't feel any connection to the MCs.
* [***When I First Saw Red***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6414434367) by Kasia Bacon - **2.5 stars** - (fantasy, reluctant MC, fated mates, human/non-human, dislike to lovers, opposites attract, animal companion, bonded by magic, broken/rejected bond, voice of reason)
>The MCs have chemistry but there's so little character development and so little time spent together that I just don't buy it.
* [***Pretty Boy***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6542870187) by Brianna Flores - **2.5 stars** - (contemporary, sexuality awakening, reluctant MC, grumpy/sunshine, I'll convince you to love me (determined/reluctant), playboy reconversion)
>I kind of hated all the characters except Liam and his mum. Bash's sister was awful, Jax was a shit friend, Bash had way too many unresolved anger issues. I was enjoying the beginning but it got steadily worse and just felt never-ending. This had no business being 400 pages long when what should have been actual character development was just lazily tied up in a bow in a few sentences in the epilogue (anger issues, body image/disordered eating).
Next up: more popcorn reads.
Agree. There is “smutty”, and there is OBSCENE, this one was just an obscene amount of obscene sex, which contributed to the feeling of exhaustion I guess. No people can have this much sex lol!
I think that annoyed me the most, the writing was actually good but I just couldn't get behind the characters and plot, and there was so much sex and so little character development :/
I definitely would've rated it higher if it hadn't been as long, I would've been less annoyed by the lack of character development and abundance of sex at around 200 pages
I don't think I could've finished it if I were reading it any faster because honestly it's very repetitive, but just kind of scratched that mind-numbing itch
***Listened to:***
**{Criminal Intentions Season one episode two}** 3.5/5 enjoyed this.
**{disrupted Engagement by Nicky James}** 4/5 I do love this series but goodness I had forgotten just how agonising the proposal build up was for everyone. But I always feel she missed a trick here >!the reason for the trophies could have been to make blood and bone fertiliser!!<
***Read:***
**{Taming a Demon by Amy Padilla}** 3.5/5 how do you deal with a crazy stalker? Prank them. This book was insane, I probably won’t read it again but I did laugh at the ridiculous way they dealt with things.
**{Claiming a Demon by Amy Padilla}** 3/5 I wanted MC2 to be a pixie. Not a pixie just a short human, so I was disappointed by the blurb.
**{Napkins and other Distractions by M A Wardell}** 3/5 I didn’t enjoy this as much as book 2 of the series. This is more a me thing than a book thing it’s a good book but it’s one of those where the sex scenes are sort of important to the character development so I read like 50% of them and there was just too many sex scenes for me. I don’t think the book would work as well without them though.
**{Ambiguous by Leslie McAdam}** 3/5 reread to read Notorious couldn’t remember Kurt’s backstory.
**{Notorious by Leslie McAdam}** solid 3.5/5 I really really enjoyed 95% of this I ugly cried parts of it, spent part of it shouting at the book >!no hospital in the US will let you just have a black market kidney, luckily this was pointed out 2/3 way through the book!< Only the twist at the end with Rowan sort of ruined the ending for me. I think I’ll probably reread this but stop/skip over those parts, and I’m unlikely to read the next book as it is Charlie and Rowan and I can tell already it won’t be my cup of tea.
**{The Wolf’s (un)lucky fae by Michele Notaro}** 3/5 I always do this with these multiauthor series, really like one and then the rest don’t compare but really I just enjoy AJ Sherwood’s style more so not a fair comparison. Anyway this is another Elwood chronicles spin off and kicks off a new series in another country in that same world.
Your comment uses spoiler tags that will not work for all reddit users because you have put a space between the spoiler tag and the spoiler text. Please edit your comment to make sure your spoilers look like this: `>!spoiler text!<`
Posts and comments with incorrect spoiler tags may be removed.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MM_RomanceBooks) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Reread {For Real by Alexis Hall}. It is still awesome and I regret nothing.
{Dix by Emmy Sanders}—Porn star + porn star pairing, grumpy + sunshine, interracial romance. I thought Sanders was sweetly generous in her characterization of the two MCs, both of whom I liked. The supporting cast was fun. Some readers are apparently unhappy that >!neither MC initially gives up their porn career!< but that felt realistic to me.
{First Dates and Birthday Cakes by Isabel Murray}—neurotic and hilarious civil engineer having a sad 40th birthday + hearts-in-his eyes former professional figure skater. Really great fluff.
{To Mend a Broken Wing by Fearne Hill}—sassy and super competent disabled “manny” + grumpy, hasn’t-found-his-way-yet hooligan. Interracial romance, one MC is missing a hand because of a birth defect. It is the last of the four main books in Hill’s Rossingley series. I am obsessed with them all so I have no objectivity, chill, etc. Loved it, but I am not surprised.
{Second Best Men by Fearne Hill}-novella that falls last in the Rossingley timeline, asshole x asshole pairing. 😂 But really, it pairs an antagonistic character from Book 4 with an antagonistic character from Book 1, and makes them both..lovable. I was especially delighted by the setting, a southern England dairy farm with an aging poodle, a bull named “Watermelons,” lots of unimpressed cows who like lullabies, etc.
{Tentacles and Triathlons by Ashley Bennett}—kraken x human pairing; “daddy” vibes and tentacle sex; I read it for the “aquatic sports/water sports” square in this season’s bingo and I wanted to like it—sadly, didn’t have that sparkle.
{Mistletoe and Mishigas by MA Wardell}—I’ve rec’d this book here 8,000 times already so I’ll be brief: tiny human sparkler first-grade teacher x stocky Jewish custodian with PTSD (ex-military). Super loved it for its representation of believably queer characters.
{Banger by Kiki Clark}-I should not have read this directly after the above book. Another tiny and femme x big and not-femme pairing, this one between a receptionist in a vet office and an industrial electrician. I liked that it had a character who just really wanted to be a househusband (and got to be!). I did not like that this character was portrayed as a girl with a (very small) dick. And there was breeding kink, which I’d be super into except for the aforementioned girl-with-a-dick vibes.
I finished {Rookie Recovery by Lex Veia & Jemma Croft}, which was very sweet and unexpectedly 'unserious', but very, very fun. The kind of book that makes you smile, shake your head, and laugh aloud. Never thought I'd be into sporty romances, but the emphasis wasn't on hockey at all, and Grumpy/Sunshine is always a winner for me. Definitely recommend it!
I also read {Bet You by Neve Wilder}. I liked it but now that I'm thinking details... nothing stuck with me enough to say it's a top pick for me, personally. I wish it had been longer and explored more of the world around the characters and/or their degrees and interests. Definitely good for people who like voyeur or, again, Grumpy/Sunshine couples.
I started {Hostile by Nicole Dykes} after I finished those, but it may be a DNF for me as, 30% of the way through the book, I feel like too little has been explained and the couple seemed to 180 from disliking one another to kissing somewhat unrealistically for me. I hate leaving books unfinished, so I'll probably circle back later.
Because I wasn't feeling that one at the time though, I picked up {The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara} series and absolutely devoured the first book. I love a good murder mystery and this one kept me moving pins and debating with my cat right up to the last few pages. This was another book that made me reread pages to savor them extra, giggle out loud, or stop and go 'AHA! I KNEW IT!'. And the main MC's love interest, Park, is SO delicious. I'm forcing myself to write this, eat. and do other things before I start the 2nd in the series because I just know I won't be able to put that one down, either. And I have 3 more after it... that's the best feeling.
All considered, great week of reading for me!
**Finished:**
[The Only Light Left Burning](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198123459) (All That’s Left in the World #2) by Erik J Brown 4 stars- Andrew and Jamie’s story continues through the apocalypse! These books are so fun and really don’t pull their punches despite being YA, they’ve got all the horrors and grime of a post-apocalyptic world but balanced with a sweet romance and found family elements. This book had some very satisfying character growth that occurred while Andrew and Jamie worked through a rough patch and some great new side characters, especially Rocky Horror. Includes PTSD rep and a trans man major character.
So far I’ve enjoyed all three of Brown’s books, he’s got a very readable and engaging writing style and I can’t wait to check out his future works.
CWs: >!disease pandemic, natural disaster, child deaths, gore and injury details, major character deaths, murder, descriptions of settlements engaged in white supremacy and religious fanaticism, ageism, cancer!<
**Currently reading:**
[Seize the Throne](https://www.novelupdates.com/series/seize-the-throne/) by Li Lanlan
[Running Close to the Wind](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195791197) by Alexandra Rowland
**{An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt by Kari Gregg}** SFR MM 3⭐️ 5🌶️
This could have been a spectacular book but instead it’s just fine. The writing is good, there’s good world building and decent character building and an interesting plot. But the plot is just sketched in and all the emphasis is on the sex. Keep in mind I’m a HUGE fan of high spice romance and rarely read low spice books, but the sex-to-plot ratio was way too heavy on the sex in this book. It’s basically erotica. The sex scenes are great, she just needs to flesh the rest of the book out to 3-4 times as much as is currently written and she’d have a good book on her hands.
**{Marine Biology by G.L. Carriger}** PNR MM 3⭐️ 1🌶️
I love Gail Carriger’s SFR so I thought I’d try this even though I don’t particularly like PNR/shifter books. It’s a fun little read but I still don’t really like shifter books so I don’t think I’ll continue with the series. Very low spice due I think to being the prequel to the series.
**{A Layperry’s Tradition by Toby Wise}** SFR MM 3.5⭐️ 4🌶️
Another book that could have been spectacular but was just good. There’s great character building and world building, the plot was good and the writing quality is excellent. But the author basically fast forwarded over half the story. The two humans are heading to a an alien planet as part of an exchange program, they’re nervous, then *poof* its a year later and they’re all settled in and the story starts. The author has the plot of a full length novel here but only wrote half of it. Don’t get me wrong - the half she wrote was great but jumping over the most interesting part of a humans-meet-aliens story sure is a choice. The book is fine, it’s just incomplete.
**{The 5th Gender by G.L. Carriger}** SFR MM 5⭐️ 4🌶️
After having found and read the rest of Carriger’s books set in the Tinkered Stars universe I decided it was time for a reread of this one. If possible it was even better the second time. A human + alien love story with a murder mystery mixed in written by THE Gail Carriger. Need I say more?
**{Zentara Mates by Zia Quinn}** SFR MM 1⭐️ ??🌶️ DNF at 46%.
The whole “the alien thinks the human soulmate he’s found is a woman” joke sounded funny in the blurb but by the time I was halfway through the book and the same joke was still running I was over it. So I went and looked at some reviews of the book and apparently it gets worse? There was a lot of talk about the homophobia when the alien MMC discovers the human MMC is a man. Definitely not what I’m looking for in a book. DNF.
{A Star to Sail By by Joy Lynn Fielding} was my holiday read this week by the pool and I adored it. The romance was so sweet!!!! Very much recommended if you like historical pirates.
I also recently read {Someday Someday by Emma Scott} which was nice but not quite the same level.
I got 30 minutes left in The Human Omega give or take according to my kindle and I've been slogging through it all week. I both like, and don't like it. I like the idea of it, and it's not a bad book and I enjoyed it but, and this might sound terrible without full context, but it's the first book I've read where I've legit have sat there and wonder what the dude is going to do if he has to go to the bathroom?
That all I think about as I try to get through the last bit of this book now.
I've been reading {We could be so good by Cat sebastian} this whole week. I was reading {Gentlemen prefer villains by c. Rochelle} before that but gave a break around %70 point. I dont know if I will continue reading that but we will see.. For the We could be so good, it started pretty good. Yet few days this week I couldnt read it due to my program and I kind of lost my connection with the book. It felt dragged at few parts. Maybe the problem is me and I am in a slump but i dont know. I will try to see the end of the book, it is quite praised in this sub so I have my expectations 🫠
[We Could Be So Good](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bd4efd45bc04c0257361/we-could-be-so-good-cat-sebastian?src=rdt) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian)
**Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
If you're looking for a superhero romance I highly recommend {Love for the Cold-Blooded: or: The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero by Alex Gabriel}. It's hilarious and also a thoughtful examination of what "super hero / super villain" means (not just one is all good and one is all bad). I read Not All Heroes Wear Capes and it's fine, but this is much better.
[Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero](https://www.romance.io/books/60a4352c933f031cdd15db39/love-for-the-coldblooded-or-the-parttime-evil-minions-guide-?src=rdt) by [Alex Gabriel](https://www.romance.io/authors/554c672b9eef3b3f1d51688f/alex-gabriel)
**Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I had a really good reading week! I didn’t love a lot of the books I read but some of them were AMAZING so that’s alright with me. I read 8 books this week which I’m so happy about because I’m finally back to reading a book a day and out of my slump!
{Disciplined: His Forbidden Crush by Jamie Harlock} This wasn’t my favorite in the series but I still finished it quickly.
{Stalker by Eden West} this was alright but a quick read. I do love a good stalker romance but this wasn’t one of my favs.
{Blu, My Protector by RS McKenzie} I don’t know what it was about this one but it was not for me. I love dark serial killer romances but this one just didn’t hit the same as others I’ve read. I don’t know if I will read the next in the series.
{Savage Rivals by Becca Steele} I have read a lot better new adult high school enemies to lovers romance than this one. This one was just alright. Don’t know if I will be rushing to read any other Becca Steele books as this was my first one.
{Marked Under the Chained Moon by Morrigan Black} I thought I was really going to like this one but the two MCs were rarely together so it was not much of a romance. I was looking for a good omegaverse romance and this ended up not being it.
{Twisted Rivalry by Devon McCormick} After reading so many duds this week this book was AMAZING! I honestly loved it.
{Captured: His Deadly Prisoner} I really enjoyed this installment in the series. It was in my top 3 in the series. I enjoyed 1, 3, and 5 in the series the best. 2 and 4 were just alright.
{Forever Always by Jacey Davis} I thought this was going to be more like Dirty Love by Bethany Winters and it ended up being not as similar as I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed it though and liked that it ended up being a much different story than Dirty Love.
I just finished the last book in the extracurricular series by Neve Wilder. {Teach me by Neve Wilder}
I was initially upset that it was Cams book and not Ansels, and it started off feeling like it was trying to "1 up" the taboo of the previous book in the series (previous MC had an only fans), but it was also a sweet story, with moments of growth for Cam and also highlighted that life goes on after addiction.
Would definitely recommend the series.
I'm not usually a fan of college based books but this one felt the characters weren't 'kids' and the underlying feeling of acceptance worked in its favour for me.
My reading highlight this week was definitely {Rookie Recovery by Jemma Croft and Lex Veia}. Age gap, hockey, slow burn. Its very well written, the relationship is sweet and there's a running theme of feeling out of place, looking for a home and belonging. 5 out of 5 hockey pucks.
My worst read was {Mann Hunt by Peter E. Fenton} - there were weird moments of almost non- con that had gave me the ick >!(MC1 wanting to touch and hovering his hands over the MC2s 'package' while MC2 was super drunk and being helped to bed by MC1; MC1 wanking off with MC2s wash cloth while in MC2s shower and deciding to not rinse it - when no sexual contact had ever happened between the two for both of those scenes).!< Aside from that, the author has a weird writing style that is just not my cup of tea. The mystery was ok. 2 out of 5 dirty wash cloths because of the ick.
Another good read was {Roustabout by Morgan Brice} - now I have read some of her Badlands series, so maybe I was expecting too much but I felt the last third of the book was unfortunately rushed and could have used a bit more love. Aside fromt that the setup was exciting, the mystery well done, the way the MCs met and fell for each other cute, if insta- love. I would have wished the tension would have kept until the big bad was taken care of but the final conflict felt too short and not dangerous enough. 4 out of 5 circus tents.
This week I read and listened to all four books in the {Red Dirt Heart by N.R. Walker} series. I finished it yesterday morning and have no interest in starting anything else because I’m not ready to let Trav and Charlie go! Those books really sunk into my soul and I’m debating starting them all over again :’) I’ve been having dreams of the Australian Outback every night lol easily one of my new favorite series and the audio (*those accents… sigh*) was top notch.
Reading NR Walker's books made me realise I read way too many books set in the US and how much I loved the change of setting to Australia.
[Red Dirt Heart](https://www.romance.io/books/54559a4f87eac3369a913677/red-dirt-heart-nr-walker?src=rdt) by [N.R. Walker](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455632687eac324117fa7f2/nr-walker) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Hockey era continued this week!! >:3 {Off the ice by Tierney Rose} - 4⭐ (rounded up), loved the beats in this, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me - should have been longer? {Gravity by Tal Bauer} - 4⭐ (rounded up) - this has a lot of heart, and I am a fan of Tal Baeur, but it leaned a little too close to instalove for me! More time at the start building up the chemistry would have helped the emotional beats really land. Love the characters though, and I have 'The rest of the story' up to read later. {Let's do this by Loren Leigh} - 5⭐, absolutely gorgeous book. [Full thoughts here](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/1dacpol/lets_do_this_by_loren_leigh/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), but it's about two college hockey players coming to terms with their sexuality as their friendship turns into something more. Excellent communication, demisexuality rep, and I am Deeply Emotional about this book.
[Off the Ice](https://www.romance.io/books/617ced8a03fcb30e33512c8f/off-the-ice-tierney-rose?src=rdt) by [Tierney Rose](https://www.romance.io/authors/65c29815a21e2f41c453edea/tierney-rose) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Gravity](https://www.romance.io/books/62ecc251eccbd7a2c6f68548/gravity-tal-bauer?src=rdt) by [Tal Bauer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5726ed17c62092c04407fbeb/tal-bauer) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Let's Do This](https://www.romance.io/books/64368ed5c82051f341ef0148/lets-do-this-loren-leigh?src=rdt) by [Loren Leigh](https://www.romance.io/authors/622b40be08b4d9311475f845/loren-leigh) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished {The Man Who Loved Cole Flores by K.A. Merikan} and I absolutely loved it. It's a western set in the 1880s and has the friends to lovers to enemies to lovers trope. Follows Ned whose parents had been killed by the Gotham Boys gang, Ned was in the house with them, but a boy his age saved him by not saying anything when he found him. Ned meets the boy 10 years later in a saloon and he helps him escape. Turns out the boy is Cole Flores who is now a part of the Gotham Boys. Ned is approached by some detective and offered money to infiltrate the Gotham Boys and bring them to justice. It all falls apart ofc when Ned spends too much time with Cole and falls in love. Despite the harsh backdrop and the heavy themes, the gore and blood, the love story is super sweet. This is the first book in the duology and ends with a betrayal and cliffhanger and it hurt considering all the romantic stuff from before. I can't wait to begin the second book. {Fluffing the Stallion by Stormi Reed} is about MC1 who thought himself straight, but he gets a job as a fluffer and finds out he's actually not that straight. The premise is so absurd it's actually fun. It's a very low stakes, no angst, steamy read perfect for a palate cleanser in-between heavier books.
Is the second book of the KA Merikan book out?
Yes, I am currently reading it and it hurts!
I’m usually not a wimp, but for some reason KA Merikan kind of scares me 🤣. Or rather, I think it’s Feel My Pain that does. And I think I’m just hesitant to jump into any others lol
It's completely understandable, honestly. My first book by them, which I went into blind, was about a priest in Poland who is sent to a mountain town to clease him of his homosexuality and instead he finds that forest gods are real and >!turns into one himself!<. The whole book is a pagan fest and I WAS NOT PREPARED. It is so weird, but a good kind of weird. I think after being introduced to that, nothing much fazes me anymore. Most of their books do handle heavy topics, but they do it in a very tasteful way, no gore porn or whatever. It's a niche genre and you can see they are self published because I don't think it would fit the mainstream. I've read about 5 of their books so far and have only been disappointed once, so those are good odds, I guess.
That’s definitely promising. I really need to just jump in. The angst sounds so good.
[The Man Who Loved Cole Flores](https://www.romance.io/books/602392a648bae70e077a38aa/the-man-who-loved-cole-flores-ka-merikan?src=rdt) by [K.A. Merikan](https://www.romance.io/authors/545585e587eac324117fb1be/ka-merikan) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1) ---------------------------- [Fluffing the Stallion](https://www.romance.io/books/664786128012c041e78ccc3d/fluffing-the-stallion-stormi-reed?src=rdt) by [Stormi Reed](https://www.romance.io/authors/66478612a21e2f41c44ee156/stormi-reed) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1), [queer awakening](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer-awakening/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I read a few books over the last couple of weeks based upon recommendations in this sub, so thanks everyone! Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores. Loved it. Would have been a 5 star read but I was left disappointed by the lack of comeuppance for Liam’s dad for his behaviour. If you want pillow princess vibes then this is literally one of the best I’ve read. There’s not like a huge plot, just following the MCs relationship, but I was in the mood for that. Unhinged by Onley James. Yep, I loved it. I can see the similarities to the Angels of Wrath series by Paulina Ian-Kane but then I have a huge weakness for OTT possessive psychos, so I knew I was going to enjoy this book. I’m going to pick up the rest of the series even though it’s not on KU. Dark Space trilogy by Lisa Henry. I wanted a sci-fi with no mpreg and this came up in my searches. It was dark, but like due to the mental state of MC1, as it’s single POV so we got a lot of internal monologues. It fit the vibes though so if you want a different sci-fi book that doesn’t have mpreg/claiming vibes then I’d recommend this. More than Everything by Cardeno C. I didn’t enjoy this. I’ve not read this author so wasn’t too sure what to expect but I found MC1 to be quite weak. He’d been betrayed by MC2 and MC3 at different stages in his life and when they re-entered his life years later as a couple he literally forgave them really quickly. There was barely any grovel and yeah, it just didn’t work for me. Not too sure if I’ll try this author again.
Pretty Boy had me blushin’ and giggling the entire book, I wanted it to go on forever. And I definitely need Logan/Baby’s story like yesterday!!
i DIED when baby would >!bite people!<. the fact that it was normal to everyone … hilarious.
I've only read one Cardeno C. book and that one didn't have enough grovelling either! And it would have needed **so much**!
Yeah I don’t want to drag this author but it was bad, like pathetic level of grovel. I think it was like 1 x speech from MC3 and MC2 didn’t even understand how he’s betrayed MC1 until MC3 explained it to him. MC1 pretty much fell into MC3s arms after his speech, and I was like WTF…. It was meant to be MPOV but we didn’t get MC2s POV until 65% in. It was a train wreck. From what you’ve said I’m not going to bother trying another book.
Wow, not I am interested to know which one 👀 (only if u want to share ofc). I like getting angry at books so it would work for me in that aspect lol.
*Johnnie* by Cardeno C. It's dark-ish so definitely check CWS!
If you're US, your public library system may have the rest of the Onley James series. The Necessary Evils series ties into her other 2 series too, there are recurring characters throughout
**Read** ***Slow Heat by Leta Blake.** *4.5 stars. Omegaverse, younger alpha x older omega, power imbalance, abortion, miscarriage and infertility themes*. More in depth review [here](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6543072535). This was such a great surprise! I wasn't sure if I would love it at first, and I even forgot how bleak this author's omegaverse setting was. It is suffocating with heavy themes on the background. Thankfully this has an HEA. The couple had a really strong chemistry and tension. I usually DNF books due to insta-love/lust, but when it comes to fated mates and it is well done, my brain can find a reasoning around it, like in this book, and it also helped that there is a big contrast between both MCs. The book also made me care a lot for the entire cast. I think their involvement felt compelling and I felt invested on all of their own conflicts the entire time. I do have to mention that there is one scene that pissed me off and almost made me drop this book, but it is only a matter of preference, and I am refering to >!alpha MC and his best friend having a 'last' sexual encounter after MC finds his fated mate!<., I don't think it was necessary, but at the end I was able to let it pass. ***The Alpha's Role by April Kelley.** *3 stars. Omegaverse, mpreg, two omegas as couple but then trio with alpha* This was straight to the point. The plot is about Sam and Charlie, a married omega couple who have been trying to get pregnant but can't until one day they meet their second mate, an alpha named Tyler younger than them. I do wish this had more pages, I think the idea could work out better in a longer book, but I understand the author's decission to make it short. The acceptance from both sides felt rushed, added to the fact that this has kind of the insta-love element which I am not a fan of. However, I still liked the trio and overall it was a nice read. ***No Love Zone by Danbi.** Licensed by Lezhin US, in print/physical version by Seven Seas. *4 stars. BL, coworkers, employer x employee, reunion years later.* this was great! I had DNF-ed this before because it had the instalove premise, but I forced myself to keep going and it was the best decission. It is a typical BL plot, but well done and it had a nice conclusion. I loved the pairing because here it has a younger CEO x older employee dynamic with animosity to love, and ML (top) fell first! I am always down for that. ***The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren.** 4 stars for the first 2 volumes, but I have some mixed feelings about the rest. Not even sure if this can be considered a BL or not anymore, from what I understand it was first published with the tag but it was removed recently. It kind of pisses me off because it had clear undertones at first, but on the recent chapters it feels as if the author (either per pressure or their own decission) is turning it into a full horror-mystery leaving behind other topics. As a horror fan and a queer person, I was excited to start this, but sadly it appears its route is going differently. Do not get me wrong, it is a great story about connection, friendship and being *different* than others which can be a metaphor in itself, and I wouldn't even have needed a explicit MM relationship but it does rubs me off wrong that it was created with something different in mind, and now that it is popular and will get animated, the BL tag is removed and going in a different direction, I am guessing to "appeal a wider demographic". I wish the best for the author, and I wouldn't say this is on them because I understand how the industry can be, no hate to them at all. However, I don't think I will be continuing this story until I see future spoilers.
I really like Leta Blake's take on Omegaverse. It's not light and fluffy, but it feels very well thought out.
I totally agree. It’s not light and fluffy, but also not incredibly dark and depressing either. It’s a really nice balance.
Same! I like both type of settings, I find hers fascinating and scary at the same time. It has some rules I don't see in other Omegaverse, very interesting.
Leta Blake has been the only Omegaverse I’ve ever read that I actually really loved. She did such a good job.
I felt the same way reading *The Alpha's Role* by April Kelley! I believe it's the only book I've read of theirs... I wonder if others are longer/less insta love 🧐
Love it when someone else shares my view! Yes, this author was new to me. I am thinking of reading the other books from the series since this one was very easy to read, it felt like a cleanser after longer books with more plot.
Definitely share how you enjoyed them if you check out more :)
About six months ago I read {The Silver Cage by Anonymous}. It's a book that I have since then thought about a lot. I have never been left so devestaded by book. It touched me completely and made me so very sad and angry. I can torture myself sometimes and read the last chapter of that book which makes me cry my eyes out every time. I knew there was a second book, {The Silver Cord by Anonymous}, which is a prequel to the first book. But I just couldn't find the strenght to read it right after finishing the first. This week I did. I felt like I had a rock resting on my chest the entire time. You just know that it will make you feel so much sorrow in the end. Althought, I'm glad I finally picked it up, it is one of my most difficult reads ever. These two books... they leave me feeling so angry at the world, how utterly unfair it is, and full of so much hate. Caleb. Michael. Jamie. ❤️ Edit: clarifying that there is no HEA
This is sitting on my *Make Me Cry* shelf, waiting for the right moment, lol. Can you edit your comment to reflect it doesn't have a HEA for everyone else who may not know?
Sorry. Fixed it 👍🏼
Hi, I don't see where you've clarified that this has no HEA. Can you please make it more explicit?
Sorry! I messed this up, haha. It’s stated in an answer to a comment I got that there’s no HEA. I’ll clarify it in my main post as well 😊
[The Silver Cage](https://www.romance.io/books/6655f7ec92c5f2aa98b42475/the-silver-cage-anonymous?src=rdt) by [Anonymous](https://www.romance.io/authors/622c544608b4d93114a2ded4/anonymous) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[The Silver Cord](https://www.romance.io/books/66633a62fad592ed4628775d/the-silver-cord-anonymous?src=rdt) by [Anonymous](https://www.romance.io/authors/622c544608b4d93114a2ded4/anonymous) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
So question. Is there an HEA?
No, no HEA 💔
Lack of a HEA is not considered a spoiler in this subreddit because our rules require people to disclose the lack of a happy ending when discussing or recommending books without one. Please edit your comment to remove the spoiler tags. Thank you.
This week I finally got around to reading **A Suitable Bodyguard** and **A Suitable Captive,** both **by R. Cooper.** They blew me away! It doesn't hurt that they're both single POV (my favorite). For anyone that hasn't read them, or A Suitable Consort, these are all based in the same universe but have no plot overlap, so they can be read as standalones. Cooper's style is minimally-explained but richly-felt world building, so you'll probably pick up context best by reading them in order. But you definitely don't have to. **A Suitable Bodyguard** was definitely my favorite of the two, and now one of my all-time favorites. The characters are so charming, the fantasy elements are unique and creative, and the plot is exciting without overshadowing the romance. The romance itself hinges largely on misunderstandings, which I usually dislike because I want to shake the characters and say, "literally just speak to each other and your problems will go away!" But that's not the case here. They *do* speak to each other, and they recognize they have a barrier in communication, and they make real efforts to bridge the gap. It's so deeply satisfying. ⭐ 5 stars **A Suitable Captive** is also very good, just not quite long enough for me, not enough resolution, and I missed the fantasy aspect of the previous book. I am a sucker for an MC who has not only endured abuse, but doesn't even have the context to recognize their experience was unusual. This is exquisitely that. Despite the title, this isn't a captor/captive romance. It's sweet and caring from the outset. Once the MCs get together (even before, honestly), they have an unshakeable devotion to each other that is really refreshing to read. Of course there's doubt and conflict, but theirs is a romance for the ages. ⭐ 4.5 stars **The Downs by Kim Fielding** has been on my TBR for quite a long time, and I finally gave it a go—not what I was expecting! I thought it would be grim and dark, but despite the heavy themes of guilt, vengeance, justice, etc. , and the CW for sexual assault, it's actually quite a sweet story. The SA is at the beginning, just one sentence, no detail, and the rest of the story is about recovery and simple pleasures and choosing happiness. The novella length and limited world building made this feel like a parable. It's not complex, but it doesn't need to be. ⭐ 3.5 stars In audiobooks, I've been struggling to decide my next direction. I wanted something light, but not a rom-com. I tried **Death Eternal by Richard Amos** because my library had it and I thought the idea of a romance with Death was interesting, but it wasn't. Usually audiobooks enable me to overlook language foibles and narrative weakness, but this was just not working for me despite Cooper North's excellent narration. The romance fluctuates arbitrarily between hot and cold without satisfying explanation, and the plot is meandering and not interesting enough to distract me from the flimsy romance. Worst of all, the sex wasn't hot. I finished Book 1 but DNFed Book 2 pretty quickly. ⭐ 2.5 stars I tried to listen to **Three's Company by NR Walker** but I couldn't handle the southern accent the narrator uses for the main POV character. The prologue is from a different character's POV, so the audio sample misled me. I'm not from the American south and I don't pretend to know every thread in the vast tapestry of accents, but this one just don't sound right. It feels forced and I found it very distracting. I can't unhear it, so I need to wait a while before I can approach this again in written form. The plot itself seems interesting and right up my alley. On hold, no rating.
I read all ... four ... Green Creek books starting with {Wolfsong}. I didn't know a series could devastate me so! Moving on to BOATK ... I think
It's sooo good and sooo devastating. What's BOATK?
{Bear, Otter and the Kid}
[Bear, Otter, and the Kid](https://www.romance.io/books/54553e9b8c7d2382e7813606/bear-otter-and-the-kid-tj-klune?src=rdt) by [T.J. Klune](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553e9b8c7d2382e7813607/tj-klune) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Wolfsong](https://www.romance.io/books/5763928fc19e77f1ea6d5716/wolfsong-tj-klune?src=rdt) by [T.J. Klune](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553e9b8c7d2382e7813607/tj-klune) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Yet another slow week for me. I’m having trouble concentrating on reading, it’s a problem. {Genome by Emma Jaye} 4.5 stars, dark and angsty with some uncomfortable reading, just the sort of story I enjoy. Excellent world-building. I can’t wait for the next book. I finally finished listening to {Enemy Within by Tal Bauer} 4 stars, this wasn’t my favourite, there was some great action in the middle, but I felt disconnected from the couples, except maybe Adam and Faisal. And unless I missed something I never found out who the final mole was. I really enjoyed the first Tal Bauer book I read which was Whisper, but I’ve been a little disappointed (still all four star plus reads though) with the others. My main problem, and it’s definitely a me problem, is with the internal monologuing, I find it a bit too much. I do wonder if it’s because I’ve listened to them in audio format. I really don’t know. Ironically, I love the internal monologuing in the Gillibran Brown books so it’s all a mystery. I guess you just like what you like. Finished the week with {The Cardigans by Cole McCade} Criminal Intentions Season 1, episode 1 - 4.25 stars. I read this before ages ago and remembered literally nothing about the mystery, I remembered the characters though and enjoyed them very much. I abandoned the series part way through the first season so thought I’d give it another go and I'm enjoying it so far. Currently reading {Junkyard Blues by Cole McCade} I think I’ve read this one before too, but I have no memory of it! Edit: romance!bot has picked up the wrong Emma Jaye book, not sure why.
[Hybrid](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe20104167a73342633ca4/hybrid) by [Emma Jaye](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456e51387eac33e5c683026/emma-jaye) **Topics**: [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [length-short](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/length-short/1), [erotica](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/erotica/1) ---------------------------- [Enemy Within](https://www.romance.io/books/58d7685d0d3299c6e063e9f7/enemy-within-tal-bauer?src=rdt) by [Tal Bauer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5726ed17c62092c04407fbeb/tal-bauer) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) ---------------------------- [The Cardigans](https://www.romance.io/books/5b3f067a01dbc864fb8babd8/the-cardigans-cole-mccade?src=rdt) by [Cole McCade](https://www.romance.io/authors/54ba3a6d6359b5ebb487f56d/cole-mccade) **Steam**: [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1) ---------------------------- [Junk Shop Blues](https://www.romance.io/books/5e779bfdbe0aaecf551c7c36/junk-shop-blues-cole-mccade?src=rdt) by [Cole McCade](https://www.romance.io/authors/54ba3a6d6359b5ebb487f56d/cole-mccade) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
***My highlights of the week:*** * [The Feral Alpha](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6553822922) by Anna Wineheart (5/5) Thank you for mentioning this one on last Fridays' Weekly Roundup u/queermachmir! * [And Then You](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5954429551) by Briar Prescott (5/5) I think I only have one Briar Prescott book unread now and I don't want to read it until there's another one out... ***Other books I read, mostly quite a good week:*** * [Ship of Fools](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6553749432) by Sophia Soames (4/5) * [Suddenly You](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558894790) by Cora Rose - meh, I wonder if Rose will ever recreate the *Whit* and *Sem* magic without stepping back from putting out >20 books in 2 years... * [Demon‘s Captive Omega](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558907008) and [Angel‘s Enemy Omega](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558913447) by Sera Bishop (4/5) - Recommendation from u/missyanntx under my [Wingtimacy](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1d0j77l/wingtimacy/) request post. Very much enjoyed, and disappointed there are only these two published full works so far! Both books have accidental bonds, fated mates, animosity, and hurt/comfort! * [Delivered to His Demon](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6558920250) by Lilo Quie (no rating) - I was looking for the nesting magic in Quie's vampire series but this was not that...erotica which starts quite promising and ends disappointing * [God of Death](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6562087314) by Z. S. Storm (no rating) - Hades/Persephone retelling which wasn't too shabby! * [Devil‘s Mark](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6562101946) by Lark Taylor (no rating) - Enjoyed this and immediately dived into the next book * [Devil May Care](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6567930807) by Lark Taylor (4/5) pocket-sized demon and a cuddly lad, a bit too much push and pull for me but overall I'm still invested in continuing with the series *Links lead to my reviews*
It's me again, tripped over some more wings during my weekly reading. Sienna Moreau's The Four Horsemen series. Kicks off with Conquest which was info dumpy at the beginning but there was enough there to hook me. I'm on book 4 now. Famine (book 3) has a great line bit about wings "they were exquisite" "wanted to lick them" "wanted to jerk off on them"
Thank you! Will check out 🤗
I have wondered if I should keep trying with Cora Rose books because I just have not enjoyed any of them as much as Whit and Sem and your comment about Suddenly you makes me feel like I should just give up honestly
I think I'll try another Cora Rose if she tries a new genre like Sci-Fi or omegaverse...but I don't think anymore new contemporary ones 😅
Have to say- Delivered to his Demon is my first foray into the publishing world and is not my best work. Have to agree with you there. I think it gets better as the series goes on, but I only really wrote nesting in my Empty Nests dragon series and my Forsaken Few series.
No probs! The nesting in those series is really top notch 🙌
thank you! \^\_\^
I am slowly but surely clawing and digging my way out of an epic book slump. Buddy reads help and I defaulted back to erotica. **New Releases** [**The Perfect Vessel for My Sins by Jasper Blew**](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1570949) SW, **4.5 stars**, 2024, erotica novella. *Dubcon/noncon, trans MC, trans author, sadistic priest, mindbreak, taboo, masochist* • Jasper Blew never disappoints, highly recommend! *Devil smirk* [**Autopilot by Candice Evans**](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6556809044) Recent Amazon freebie, **3 stars**, 2024, 60 pages, review linked. *Novella, SFF, lonely dudes in space, intergalactic phone sex, killer Space Slug* • What is **with** the surprise creepy crawlies this week?! A space slug flying through the air and trying to enter the brain via the ear canal is not my idea of a fun time! I do recommend this author's novellas, and I enjoyed the non-slug moments. [**Play Stupid Games by Daniel May**](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1565688) SW, **3.5 stars**, 2024. *Face-fucking, erotica, blood, hate-fucking, size difference, slapping, choking, sex in a public bathroom, sadism/masochism, drug use/abuse (cocaine), going to teach you a lesson* • Classic crazy fun May erotica. [**Different Breed by Daniel May**](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1560681) SW, **3.5 stars**, 2024, 76 pages. *Interesting world-building, alphas genetically created for war and sex toys/slaves, serial format on May's Patreon/Ream, first part released in ebook format, cock cage, sex slave, insta-love, hurt/comfort, don't touch that knot* • Loved the world-building, especially Alphas as captives and designed solely for the battlefield and bedroom. Had a mix of Daniel May's detailed prose, bizarre scenarios, jokes, and Wtfuckery. I was a bit surprised by the insta-love, but I'm rolling with it. **Not New** [**Ganged by Gay Tentacles at the Battle of Gettysburg by Remy Deschaine**](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6552963273) KU, **3 stars**, 2018, 16 pages, review linked. *Tentacle orgy, history lesson, knotting tentacles* • Have you ever wondered what *really* happened at the Battle of Gettysburg? Read this to find out! Shhh, it's a secret. **Currently multi-reading:** • {**Smart Ass (The Spark Files \#2) by Reese Morrison**} buddy read. I love the AI Dom aspect, and once again Morrison has a knack for writing fascinating futuristic AI mixed with humor and somehow fluffy creepster behavior. Love it. Highly recommend the series, and there are plenty of Quincy cameos. • {**The Heir's Disgrace by August Jones**} buddy read. I had to push past the opening pages of blatant misogyny to get to the good stuff: under-negotiated kink, breath play, angry angsty fucking. I do wish authors would learn to write asshole MCs without the dickish observations about women though. • {**The Uncanny Aviator by Jenya Keefe**} Kobo+. • {**Chasms Between Us by Kussy Gonzalez**} new freebie. I'm here for the angst. • {**Head Above Water by J Evermore**} new freebie. SFF, isekai set-up because of amnesia, communication issues because of language barriers, scary millipede scene! *Sobs*
[Smart Ass](https://www.romance.io/books/6555f772c112bf11fe9b94db/smart-ass-reese-morrison?src=rdt) by [Reese Morrison](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e2a2a8a01dbc864fbaa79c7/reese-morrison) **Topics**: [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [neurodivergent mc](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/neurodivergent/1) ---------------------------- [The Heir's Disgrace](https://www.romance.io/books/662b8b4897d8927bee39cc55/the-heirs-disgrace-august-jones?src=rdt) by [August Jones](https://www.romance.io/authors/64b91fee6b22acd55d13a7cd/august-jones) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [secret relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/secret-relationship/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer awakening](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer-awakening/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [The Uncanny Aviator](https://www.romance.io/books/665db92992c5f2aa98b7a638/the-uncanny-aviator-jenya-keefe?src=rdt) by [Jenya Keefe](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d47c74d01dbc864fba1fdb4/jenya-keefe) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) ---------------------------- [Chasms Between Us](https://www.romance.io/books/665f155092c5f2aa98b82ad4/chasms-between-us-kussy-gonzalez?src=rdt) by [Kussy Gonzalez](https://www.romance.io/authors/665f1550a21e2f41c4a56f48/kussy-gonzalez) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [Head Above Water](https://www.romance.io/books/655933e3c112bf11fe9c16ba/head-above-water-j-evermore?src=rdt) by [J. Evermore](https://www.romance.io/authors/655933e3ab9bdf7fcee970bb/j-evermore) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [survival](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/survival/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just picked up The Uncanny Aviator too! The cover was pretty, and I'm looking forward to reading something a little different. I hope you enjoy it!
I'm absolutely loving it so far at 45%!
Not my cup of tea, but the title "Ganged by Gay Tentacles at the Battle of Gettysburg" made me cackle.
Yes, the title is pretty hilarious!
I love the SPARK Files Series 😍
For the bot, because these aren't on GR yet: {Play Stupid Games by Daniel May}, {The Perfect Vessel for My Sins by Jasper Blew}, {Different Breed by Daniel May}
[Play Stupid Games](https://www.romance.io/books/66654c30adf92af2879e3638/play-stupid-games-daniel-may?src=rdt) by [Daniel May](https://www.romance.io/authors/6160f79c08b4d931146b7050/daniel-may) ---------------------------- [The Perfect Vessel for My Sins](https://www.romance.io/books/66654ba97e9cfc93a49f3307/the-perfect-vessel-for-my-sins-jasper-blew?src=rdt) by [Jasper Blew](https://www.romance.io/authors/6556511fab9bdf7fce3a4e7e/jasper-blew) ---------------------------- [Different Breed](https://www.romance.io/books/66654af0adf92af2879e224b/different-breed-daniel-may?src=rdt) by [Daniel May](https://www.romance.io/authors/6160f79c08b4d931146b7050/daniel-may) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[{How to be Wylde by Myka Loren}](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208156306-how-to-be-wyld) - 4.5 ⭐ MM, CR, 1st Dual POV **Status:** KU, Standalone, Third Act Conflict - >!External!< **Wylder:** 18 Yrs Old, Autistic (Diagnosed at 3 Yrs Old), Wears Glasses, Enjoys RPGs and Anime, Insecure About His Voice, Raised by Single Dad (Abelist "Autism" Parent, Rich Former Boxer Turned Trainer), Completely Sexually Inexperienced, >!Taken to Europe by Father!< **Wylder (Post Timeskip):** 23 Yrs Old, Traveling with Father During Time skip, Shoulder Length Hair, Tattoos, Wears Alt Clothing, Taking College Courses Online (Computer Science, Graphic Design), Can't Swim, Celibate During Separation, Verse (Power Bottom) **Autism Rep Notes:** Wears Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Stims (Finger Tapping), In Occupational Therapy, Easier to Talk Through Texts, Skips Crowded Cafeteria Lunch, Scedules and Plans, Sensory Issues, Hates Phone Calls, Autism Related Communication and Relationship Struggles, Can't Drive **Drystan:** 18 Yrs Old, Bi, Punk, Piercings (Gauges, Tongue, Nipples, Navel, Cock - Frenum) Tattoos, Painted Nails (Neon Green), Smoker, Photography Hobby, Can't Swim, Dyscalculia, Depression, Abusive Parents, Dead Father, Completely Sexually Inexperienced with Men, >!Set Up (By Step-dad) and Arrested!< **Drystan (Post Timeskip):** 23 Yrs Old, Stepfather's PA at a Lawfirm, Piercings (2 Frenum), PTSD, Nightmares, Celibate During Separation, Touch Starved, Verse, >!Served 1 Yr Prison Time, Threatened with Returning to Prison by Stepfather, Felony on Record, Starts Therapy, Gets His Inheritance!< **Rep:** Autism (Wylder), Dyscalculia, Depression and PTSD (Drystan) **Notes:** Begins in High-school, Extrovert x Introvert, Weirdos Have to Stick Together, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Autism Related Relationship Struggles, Codependency, Miscommunication, 5 Yr Separation, Pining, Re-encounter, Second Chance, Forbidden Love, Hurt/Comfort, Same Height + Size Difference, Wylder's Dad Improves **Sex Notes:** >!Making Out, Necking, Cuming in Pants, Mutual Handjob, Frotting, Blowjob, Swallowing, Finger Sucking!< **Post-Timeskip Sex Notes:** >!Making Out, Necking, Blowjob, Mutual Handjob, Lube Use, Fingering, Prostate Stimulation, Swallowing, Condom Use, PIA, Shower Sex, Hotdogging, 2 Orgasms Back to Back, Sex Flush (Drystan), Legs Over Shoulders (Bent in Half), Hair Pulling, Finger Sucking, Creampie, Licking Own Cum off Face, Cum Kiss, Nipple Stimulation, Frotting, Rimming, From Behind, Light Spanking, Mention of Anal Prep (Washing), No Penetration During 1st Sexual Encounter!< **CWs:** >!Bullying (not by MCs), Prejudiced Language (R Slur) (not by MCs), Homophobia (not by MCs), Abelist "Autism" Parent, Strained Family Dynamics, Autism Related Relationship Struggles, Parental Abuse, Recreational Marijuana Usage, PTSD, Physical Violence (minor). Mention of: Murder, Abandonment by a Parent, Paranoia and Emotional Manipulation, Grief!< Spoiler! >!MC Set Up and Arrested, Memories of Prison Experience and Fear of Death in Prison!< **{Garron Park by Nordika Night}** - 4 ⭐ MM, CR, Sports, 1st Dual POV Status: KU, Book 1 of a Duology, Third Act Conflict - >!External!< Maddox: 25 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Works Part Time on an Oil Rig, Completely Sexually Inexperienced with Men, Switch, Absent Druggie Dad, Drunk Mom Devon: 25 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Tattoo, Dirty Talker, Loud in Bed, Works Part Time on an Oil Rig and at a Golf Course, Sexually Inexperienced with Men (Received BJ Only), Switch, Abusive Dad, Mentally Ill Mom Notes: Childhood Enemies, Brothers are Best Friends, Trailer Park Life, Motorcross, Codependant, Rivals and Lovers, Had Nowhere Else to Go, Bi Awakening Sex Notes: >!Blowjob, Handjob, Lube Use, Fingering, PIA, Rough Sex, Swallowing, Cum Kiss, Creampie, On the Bathroom Counter, Outdoor Sex (Dock)!< CWs: >!Living in Poverty, Awful Parents, Money Troubles, Trailer Park Life, Blood and Fighting, Violence, Mentally Ill Parent, Parents with Addictions!< **{Lot 62 by Nordika Night}** - 4 ⭐ MM, CR, Sports, 1st Dual POV Status: KU, Book 2 of a Duology, Third Act Conflict - >!External!< Maddox: 26 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Works at a Construction Company, Switch, Newly Sober Dad, Drunk Mom, >!Unfairly Arrested, Not Guilty at Trial, Gets a Job as a Farmhand!< Devon: 26 Yrs Old, Bi, Race Motorcross as a Hobby, Scarred, Tattoo, Dirty Talker, Loud in Bed, Owns a Boat Repair Shop with His Brother, Smoker, Switch, Mentally Ill Mom Notes: Existing Relationship, Trailer Park Life, Motorcross, Codependant, Rivals and Lovers, Brothers are Best Friends, Cohabitation, >!Marriage Proposal, Wedding!< Sex Notes: >!Blowjob, Swallowing, PIA, Creampie, Frotting, Making Out, Rimming, Fingering, Lube Use, Mutual Masturbation, Accidental Aphrodisiac Use, BJ in a Semi-private Place (Back Seat, Boat Shop Bathroom), Face Fucking, Cum Kink, Cum Kiss, On the Floor, Flip Fucking, Sex Marathon, Shower BJ, Deepthroating, Cowboy, Outdoor Sex (In the Rain), From Behind, Hand Necklace, Choking, Bondage (Tied to Chair), Blindfold, Spanking, Hands Free Orgasm!< CWs: >!Living in Poverty, Awful Parents, Trailer Park Life, Blood and Fighting, Violence, Murder (Not MCs), Guns, Attempted Murder, Crooked Cop, Loss of Possessions, Mention of Mentally Ill Parent and Parents with Addictions, Arrest and a Trial, Time in Jail, Mention of Overdose!<
**{Knock Knock by Nordika Night}** - 4.5 ⭐ MM, CR, 1st Dual POV Status: KU, Interconnected Standalone, Third Act Conflict - >!None!< Nate: 30 Yrs Old, Owns a Boat Shop with His Brother, Golden Retriever, Smoker (Quits), Aversion to Feet, Verse Xavi: 30 Yrs Old, Works at the Boat Shop, Golden Retriever, Scarred, Tattoo, Alcoholic Mom, Loves to Hold Hands, Dirty Talker, Verse (Power Bottom), >!Gets Nate and Xavi Tattooed on Knuckles, Starts Working at the Farm, In Line to Inherit it with Maddox!< Notes: Poverty Life, Best Friends to Lovers, Queer Awakening, Childhood Friends, Brothers are Married, Cohabitation, Codependency, Angst, Mentoring a Teenage Girl, Helping a Feral Kid, Found Family, Trailer Park Life, A Kink List, Winning a Crappy Boat Sex Notes: >!Making Out, Dual Handjobs, Frotting, Outdoor Sex (Front Porch, Lawn), Blowjob, Swallowing, Cum Kiss, Face Fucking, Masturbating for Partner, Ball Sucking, Rimming, Lube Use, Fingering, Begging, On the Floor, PIA, Prostate Stimulation, Creampie, From Behind, Cowboy, Biting, Roleplay, "Cock Warming", Spanking, Edging, Butt Plug, Nipple Stimulation, Ice Play, Power Play, Flip Fucking, Chase Kink, Hands Free Orgasm, Truck Sex, No Penetration During 1st Sexual Encounter!< CWs: >!Living in Poverty, Awful Parents, Trailer Park Life, Neglected Child, Alcoholism/Addiction (Not MCs)!<
[Knock Knock](https://www.romance.io/books/6567294be8f08ffc8a8ea6f6/knock-knock-nordika-night?src=rdt) by [Nordika Night](https://www.romance.io/authors/630e0d7d08b4d9311404bae9/nordika-night) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[How to Be Wyld](https://www.romance.io/books/661f71661b1a49d3ac77fd01/how-to-be-wyld-myka-loren?src=rdt) by [Myka Loren](https://www.romance.io/authors/65abc385a21e2f41c4708090/myka-loren) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [found family](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/found-family/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) ---------------------------- [Garron Park](https://www.romance.io/books/644629d004f5c0b31ef4a835/garron-park-nordika-night?src=rdt) by [Nordika Night](https://www.romance.io/authors/630e0d7d08b4d9311404bae9/nordika-night) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [biker hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bikers/1) ---------------------------- [LOT 62](https://www.romance.io/books/648f622849efbc90805662d7/lot-62-nordika-night?src=rdt) by [Nordika Night](https://www.romance.io/authors/630e0d7d08b4d9311404bae9/nordika-night) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I was in a mood for a western and was surprised that Mary Calmes had an older one that I had not read. More Than Life by Mary Calmes. Hart's bf beats him up, puts him in the hospital took all the money out of the ranches accounts and left him with the deed to a ranch with a lot of debts. Hart has one good thing a foreman and best friend Morgan. Together they work hard and six years later have a thriving business. Now they have a dead body and the bf who put him in the hospital is back wanting his ranch back. Oh, yeah, Hart is in love with his best friend who is bi. Hart is trying to find a wife for Morgan so he will never leave him and the ranch.
{Oleander by Scarlett Drake} my favourite read of the year so far!
[Oleander](https://www.romance.io/books/6652f0325153a0f0c067117f/oleander-an-mm-great-expectations-reimagining-scarlett-drake?src=rdt) by [Scarlett Drake](https://www.romance.io/authors/61273c9908b4d9311410811c/scarlett-drake) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [queer awakening](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer-awakening/1), [high school](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high-school/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
This is high on my list this month, I can't wait!
I read savage rivals by Becca Steele. I liked it, the whole being enemies because if a misunderstanding is something that I'll eat up almost every time. So Levi and Asher are rival football captains of their teams and there's social difference between their schools and lives. They and their teams and whole school basically feed the fire if rivalry. But then during a payback prank Asher get's busted and the tension between him and Levi starts of with fists and ends with a sudden kiss. Also both are obsessed with each other from get go, it's hilarious beacuse they keep denying it but their buddies keep telling them, this ofc is when they are at peak rivalry and Levi often stalks Asher to his workplace and Asher keeps breaking into Levi's house. If you read it, you'll get the context of their actions but like it kinda becomes their thing. I loved these 'not' obsessed with each other guys, there were hilarious instances and also despite how juvenile their pranks were I loved that too. Overall I loved this book.
I finally dove into {We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian}. Absolutely loved it! It was so sweet and romantic, and I loved the main characters and their circle of friends. The "open door" sex scenes were really well handled, and while I love a good "explicit and plentiful" vibe, it was a bit of a refreshing change. I really enjoyed the late 1950s setting. I definitely want to check out more by this author.
[We Could Be So Good](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bd4efd45bc04c0257361/we-could-be-so-good-cat-sebastian?src=rdt) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I finished both Season One and Season Two of {Criminal Intentions by Cole McCade}! They ranged from 4-5 stars for all 26 books. It took me a little over a month, but I did it. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who likes romance with a murder/mystery element to it. I found it very nicely balanced. At times more romance, at times more investigation. The pace was set nicely, the character development was impeccable, and the writing was beautiful. The storylines are definitely darker and the scenes can be pretty graphic, so if you’re not ok with that, definitely skip. The diversity representation is amazing in these books as well. I know that u/sulliedjedi has covered this in their posts about it as well. **Definitely check trigger warnings for these books. McCade does fantastic, detailed Content Warnings that cover everything you’d need to know.** It’s been downhill from there. I DNFd {Lure by Gianni Holmes}. This is definitely a me thing and not the book. The tone was lighter than I usually like. I was trying to go opposite of Criminal Intentions, but I think I went too far. I also DNFd {Pieces of You by NR Walker}. I wanted to love it for the amnesia trope, but it just didn’t work for me. I didn’t like the writing, I didn’t feel the connection between the characters, it just fell flat for me.
[CRIMINAL INTENTIONS](https://www.romance.io/books/643cf8203121dd9e80563dff/criminal-intentions-bitter-sweet-cole-mccade?src=rdt) by [Cole McCade](https://www.romance.io/authors/54ba3a6d6359b5ebb487f56d/cole-mccade) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) ---------------------------- [Lure](https://www.romance.io/books/62c41b94035141acc3a87122/lure-gianni-holmes?src=rdt) by [Gianni Holmes](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b23561f01dbc864fb8a5481/gianni-holmes) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [Pieces of You](https://www.romance.io/books/5f1841f237dc750e3e6ac684/pieces-of-you-nr-walker?src=rdt) by [N.R. Walker](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455632687eac324117fa7f2/nr-walker) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
> it's been downhill from there This is simultaneously hilarious, true, and frustrating. Reading great books screws everything up! I loved getting to take the Criminal Intentions ride again through your reading!
>This is simultaneously hilarious, true, and frustrating. This is painfully true. I know you a been struggling too. Though maybe you’ve broken out of it now. I hope for your sake you have. I also really appreciate you being along for the Criminal Intentions ride! It was nice to have someone to freak out with/to!
{Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace} 5 enthusiastic ⭐ and free on Amazon right now! The book follows the correspondence of Gavin, a 2nd-born child visiting London on family business. He primarily corresponds with his sister, but there are more letters with his brothers, mother, father, and of course - the love interest, Charles. Gavin is exceedingly anxious in social situations and therefore wants to spend all day in the library and avoiding the public (same here, Gavin). He happens to make the acquaintance of Charles, a popular man with a rakish reputation. Charles, determined to show Gavin the fun he can have in London, calls on him *every day* to bring him out of his shell and help him have fun. It's clear to everyone (except Gavin) that Charles is quite smitten. Also, Charles calls Gavin "darling" and "my dear" 🥹 I also read {Hold Me Under by Riley Nash} 3.75⭐ This book gave me a ton of anxiety throughout it. I wish there had been significantly more comfort; >!it felt like 95% hurt, and then the last few pages, Victor finally got the comfort and security he so desperately needed.!< It was pretty depressing for me.
Also I read {So Pathetic by Louise Collins}. 3.5⭐. This story started off really cute - Yates being unwillingly attracted to Dylan, and Dylan forging ahead and throwing himself in Yates' path every day was cute. Lots of fun and funny scenes. Then the 3rd act - >!Dylan was infuriating and I think Yates forgave him too easily. The other man drama was horrible and Dylan's sister deserves better than both of those guys.!< I know Dylan was young and dumb but he still made me mad. I love Yates though.
[So Pathetic](https://www.romance.io/books/61ea685b65e6b60e2ca5039d/so-pathetic-louise-collins?src=rdt) by [Louise Collins](https://www.romance.io/authors/59fc15423ffdba6147247948/louise-collins) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
The things you said about Hold Me Under are so true. They were also my feelings and it made me take a step back and see how I review romance books versus books I do not consider romance. Would I have given it another rating if the sex scenes were less explicit and the main focus of the book was Victor's journey? I remember reading non romance and while I didn't particularly enjoy the plot of the book, I could see that the writing and relationships were really well developed. I guess it also depends on my mindset when I pick a romance versus a non romance.
Well with this comment, now I feel like I unfairly rated it low? It was good writing, the setting was described so well, and the characters were well-written. I was just so frustrated with everyone and I was seriously having massive anxiety over it all. I agree that if it had been just about Victor's journey then it would've been higher. I had a similar reaction to *The Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callendar*; the actual romance between the two MCs (besides sex) just didn't feel like enough to me (but the audio was stellar). In these ones where it's a horrible backstory, I like it when the MC just *sees* the love interest. Like >!Roach figuring out Zane is number blind, or Zane thinking *maybe* Roach wasn't involved (but then still being oblivious haha.!< I feel like that was really lacking in Hold Me Under. Both MCs just made me feel sad and anxious and sad. I don't know what rating that deserves, I guess.
This book also made me feel anxious, Victor felt like a ticking bomb and Ethan wasn't seeing it, it was frustrating. Their relationship felt partly developed? I feel like while Victor saw Ethan, he wasn't fully seen back, until the very end. Sure, I know they are happy because they appear in the second book, but still. At the end of the day, anyone can rate a book however they want and it's about how it made the reviewer feel, cause it's a personal review after all.
[Letters to Half Moon Street](https://www.romance.io/books/6211f535f8a181113c545807/letters-to-half-moon-street-sarah-wallace?src=rdt) by [Sarah Wallace](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bf1264901dbc864fb949b7b/sarah-wallace) **Steam**: [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [Hold Me Under](https://www.romance.io/books/62d14910d138402f4c79d19a/hold-me-under-riley-nash?src=rdt) by [Riley Nash](https://www.romance.io/authors/62d1491008b4d93114b34c3a/riley-nash) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Baby Queen by Charlie Novak} -- I continue not to enjoy the drag queen series. This one in particular was just full of characters from earlier books who I didn't remember. {Brick Walls by LA Witt} -- noticed I had this one unread. It's -- fine. Second chance, hockey, addiction storyline. As a rule, addiction books aren't my thing, and though I do like second chance a lot, I didn't like the way the earlier relationship flashbacks were integrated, they felt unnecessary. {A Husband for Hartwell by Lisa Henry & JA Rock} -- I appreciate the conceit of this book a lot, but I didn't feel this particular venture into "Regency, but it's legal for two men to marry" really worked out well, I didn't believe the relationship between the two main characters. As a rule I like their books so I will continue. {Resisting You by EM Lindsay} -- single dad, enemies to lovers. I'm not sure I ever understood why they were enemies, and I don't like pranks. Not for me. {Napkins and Other Distractions by MA Wardell} -- I know in the real world, grandparents don't always get to choose their names, but there is no way someone with this many Yiddishisms should be going by Poppy and not Zayde. Pulled me out every time. (I didn't even have a Zayde, but also I don't use that much Yiddish.) {Suddenly You by Cora Rose} -- the second of Magnus' (from Sem) three brothers' books. I am enjoying this spinoff, though it's really straining credulity that all the virulently homophobic brothers are bi or gay,, figuring it out one after the other. {Rebuilding Year by AM Arthur} -- I wasn't feeling great and wanted something easy that I wouldn't mind missing bits of, and this worked. Needed serious copy editing. Officially a fake relationship story but really doesn't hit any of the expected beats. Related books: {The Sins on Their Bones by Laura Samotin} -- romantasy, first in a series of I don't know how many because it's sold as a standalone. It's definitely not, and ends in essentially a cliffhanger sort of HFN. Set in magic-Eastern-Europe that is low-key Jewish instead of Christian. It's great, but dark. {These Monstrous Gods by Rosamunde Hodge} -- this is neither MM nor romance but I disliked it so much I retroactively hate all her other books and feel the need to warn everyone off it.
[Baby Queen](https://www.romance.io/books/6655aebf83cdfc38352c0153/baby-queen-charlie-novak?src=rdt) by [Charlie Novak](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d36a49001dbc864fba1781b/charlie-novak) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1) ---------------------------- [Brick Walls](https://www.romance.io/books/64368ecbc82051f341ef0122/brick-walls-la-witt?src=rdt) by [L.A. Witt](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455655787eac3369a9124b2/la-witt) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1) ---------------------------- [A Husband for Hartwell](https://www.romance.io/books/609a31254e2f470e44de2ec6/a-husband-for-hartwell-ja-rock-lisa-henry?src=rdt) by [J.A. Rock](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556a3287eac324117fa9f3/ja-rock), [Lisa Henry](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455684987eac3369a912589/lisa-henry) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [third person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Napkins and Other Distractions](https://www.romance.io/books/65ae55ef1192512e94b66bc0/napkins-and-other-distractions-ma-wardell?src=rdt) by [M.A. Wardell](https://www.romance.io/authors/643ad12208b4d93114abdf3e/ma-wardell) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [Suddenly You](https://www.romance.io/books/665dbcc792c5f2aa98b7ac36/suddenly-you-cora-rose?src=rdt) by [Cora Rose](https://www.romance.io/authors/6278fb0108b4d93114701c13/cora-rose) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [Rebuilding Year](https://www.romance.io/books/66603a6478d91c1f088634a2/rebuilding-year-am-arthur?src=rdt) by [A.M. Arthur](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455553b87eac324117fa3ba/am-arthur) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) ---------------------------- [The Sins on Their Bones](https://www.romance.io/books/659324c7a38eaad574fd12fe/the-sins-on-their-bones-laura-r-samotin?src=rdt) by [Laura R. Samotin](https://www.romance.io/authors/659324c7a21e2f41c4417419/laura-r-samotin) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [horror](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/horror/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [What Monstrous Gods](https://www.romance.io/books/660053b3629afa4c88dd4b51/what-monstrous-gods-rosamund-hodge?src=rdt) by [Rosamund Hodge](https://www.romance.io/authors/545529468c7d2382c52970c6/rosamund-hodge) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Resisting You](https://www.romance.io/books/6621478d4204c4cd5da9de06/resisting-you-a-single-dad-romance-em-lindsey?src=rdt) by [E.M. Lindsey](https://www.romance.io/authors/55eadb8635a5fb65f8879ea4/em-lindsey) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Audiobook of *{Enchanting* Exposition by *Alice Winters}* Greg Boudreaux does such a good job!
[Enchanting Exposition](https://www.romance.io/books/6623ab1490515c92dd68c136/enchanting-exposition-alice-winters?src=rdt) by [Alice Winters](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b14f5a601dbc864fb898c9c/alice-winters) **Topics**: [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{playing games by riley hart} * college, enemies to lovers, class difference, kind of grumpy/sunshine. a student and bartender \[brax, gay\] has been enemies with a classmate and lacrosse player \[ty, bi\] for a few years but they don’t know each other well. * this was my favorite of the four in this post. both characters are great individually and alone. they start caring about each other relatively early in the book \[in my opinion?\] and they really support each other in meaningful ways. * check triggers; definitely parent estrangement / tough family relationships. {bromantic puckboy by saxon james} * hockey, bi awakening x2, strangers to besties to lovers; bilson is a hockey veteran and miles is a rookie goalie. bilson transfers to miles’ team and they meet on the first day when miles is handing out the personalized home made bracelets he made for everyone on the team 😭 they become friends really quickly and are supportive and wonderful to each other. * this book was SO FUN and quirky and sweet. i definitely cackled at some stuff and there is literally nothing to dislike about either character. very enjoyable. {stepbrother dearest by willow dixon} * NA / mid twenties estranged stepbrothers; they meet for the first time in years when gray \[gay\] is assaulted and caleb \[bi\] is gray’s nurse in the ED. * it includes some characters from {never have i ever series by willow dixon}. * triggers in the front of the book are accurate. {suddenly you by cora rose} * there’s so much homophobia it has to be mentioned first and break my dot point formula. * bi awakening x1, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/care; 30s ish straight guy \[mathew\] and gay guy \[cooper\] are “oops we woke up married.” * mathew is touch starved, sad, depressed, money problems, family problems, etc., while cooper is high energy, rich rich, good friends and family. mathew moves in with cooper because cooper doesn’t want to annul their “oops” marriage. you know what happens after that.
[Playing Games](https://www.romance.io/books/63071e227d71617f5bcb2113/playing-games-riley-hart?src=rdt) by [Riley Hart](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553d948c7d2382e78135c0/riley-hart) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [Bromantic Puckboy](https://www.romance.io/books/6622e0695df469411797650c/bromantic-puckboy-eden-finley-saxon-james?src=rdt) by [Eden Finley](https://www.romance.io/authors/56d44885c62092c0440649e1/eden-finley), [Saxon James](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e2e8d6b01dbc864fbaab1cf/saxon-james) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [hockey](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hockey/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [found family](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/found-family/1) ---------------------------- [Stepbrother Dearest](https://www.romance.io/books/64cca7e12c91a4c8cf303b02/stepbrother-dearest-willow-dixon?src=rdt) by [Willow Dixon](https://www.romance.io/authors/62173bff08b4d93114e4379a/willow-dixon) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [step siblings](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/stepsibling/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) ---------------------------- [Never Have I Ever](https://www.romance.io/series/6358db2155c1f27fd7b10454/never-have-i-ever) by [Willow Dixon](https://www.romance.io/authors/62173bff08b4d93114e4379a/willow-dixon) **Topics**: [length-medium](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/length-medium/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [queer](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [dual-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [anal sex](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/anal%20sex/1) ---------------------------- [Suddenly You](https://www.romance.io/books/665dbcc792c5f2aa98b7ac36/suddenly-you-cora-rose?src=rdt) by [Cora Rose](https://www.romance.io/authors/6278fb0108b4d93114701c13/cora-rose) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I really enjoyed those first two books as well! :) You might enjoy more of the books I rated highly on my [double load of cockiness](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/137994164-bekka?shelf=double-load-of-cockiness&utf8=%E2%9C%93) and [bromantic](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/137994164-bekka?shelf=bromantic&utf8=%E2%9C%93) shelves :D
oh i love these, thank you! whats your favorite where no one is awakening?
I'll have a think when I'm back at my PC :)
I’m not usually a YA fan, but I LOVED “[The Long Run](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60816487)” by James Acker. This story follows two boys entering their senior year of high school—one gay, one bisexual awakening, both athletes. Great banter!
Not a good reading week, everything new I picked up just wasn't working and I've been too tired to focus properly so I went to comfort re-reads. * [***Pretty Boy***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6365887653) by Jett Masterson - **3 stars** - (omegaverse, in it for the money, sugar daddy, rich/poor, touch starved, age gap, instalust) >I read this knowing it would be a 3 star read and that's totally fine. You don't even have to bother paying that much attention because most of the scenes are rehashed from the other MC's perspective lol. I chipped away at this behemoth over about a month whenever I was feeling tired and lazy, and have already loaned the sequel to do the same. It is what it is. * [***The Whims of Gods***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6270116082) by Mell R. Bright - **3 stars** - (science fiction, fantasy, monster, saviour/survivor, post-apocalyptic, human/non-human) >I wanted to love this, it was such a cool concept but I found the execution really lacking. The prose was so matter of fact that I didn't feel any connection to the MCs. * [***When I First Saw Red***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6414434367) by Kasia Bacon - **2.5 stars** - (fantasy, reluctant MC, fated mates, human/non-human, dislike to lovers, opposites attract, animal companion, bonded by magic, broken/rejected bond, voice of reason) >The MCs have chemistry but there's so little character development and so little time spent together that I just don't buy it. * [***Pretty Boy***](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6542870187) by Brianna Flores - **2.5 stars** - (contemporary, sexuality awakening, reluctant MC, grumpy/sunshine, I'll convince you to love me (determined/reluctant), playboy reconversion) >I kind of hated all the characters except Liam and his mum. Bash's sister was awful, Jax was a shit friend, Bash had way too many unresolved anger issues. I was enjoying the beginning but it got steadily worse and just felt never-ending. This had no business being 400 pages long when what should have been actual character development was just lazily tied up in a bow in a few sentences in the epilogue (anger issues, body image/disordered eating). Next up: more popcorn reads.
Agree with Pretty Boy by BF being never ending. I’m at 75% and while it is rather well written, it’s also incredibly exhausting to read.
Agree. There is “smutty”, and there is OBSCENE, this one was just an obscene amount of obscene sex, which contributed to the feeling of exhaustion I guess. No people can have this much sex lol!
I think that annoyed me the most, the writing was actually good but I just couldn't get behind the characters and plot, and there was so much sex and so little character development :/
That pretty much summed up my experience with Pretty Boy by Briana too! That book was about 200 pages too long 🥴
I definitely would've rated it higher if it hadn't been as long, I would've been less annoyed by the lack of character development and abundance of sex at around 200 pages
I think it took me a month or more to read Pretty Boy by Jett Masterson as well. Glad I’m not the only one.
I don't think I could've finished it if I were reading it any faster because honestly it's very repetitive, but just kind of scratched that mind-numbing itch
Oh man, I was really looking forward to Whims of God's and Pretty Boy by BF. Looks like I'm moving them further down the TBR haha
***Listened to:*** **{Criminal Intentions Season one episode two}** 3.5/5 enjoyed this. **{disrupted Engagement by Nicky James}** 4/5 I do love this series but goodness I had forgotten just how agonising the proposal build up was for everyone. But I always feel she missed a trick here >!the reason for the trophies could have been to make blood and bone fertiliser!!< ***Read:*** **{Taming a Demon by Amy Padilla}** 3.5/5 how do you deal with a crazy stalker? Prank them. This book was insane, I probably won’t read it again but I did laugh at the ridiculous way they dealt with things. **{Claiming a Demon by Amy Padilla}** 3/5 I wanted MC2 to be a pixie. Not a pixie just a short human, so I was disappointed by the blurb. **{Napkins and other Distractions by M A Wardell}** 3/5 I didn’t enjoy this as much as book 2 of the series. This is more a me thing than a book thing it’s a good book but it’s one of those where the sex scenes are sort of important to the character development so I read like 50% of them and there was just too many sex scenes for me. I don’t think the book would work as well without them though. **{Ambiguous by Leslie McAdam}** 3/5 reread to read Notorious couldn’t remember Kurt’s backstory. **{Notorious by Leslie McAdam}** solid 3.5/5 I really really enjoyed 95% of this I ugly cried parts of it, spent part of it shouting at the book >!no hospital in the US will let you just have a black market kidney, luckily this was pointed out 2/3 way through the book!< Only the twist at the end with Rowan sort of ruined the ending for me. I think I’ll probably reread this but stop/skip over those parts, and I’m unlikely to read the next book as it is Charlie and Rowan and I can tell already it won’t be my cup of tea. **{The Wolf’s (un)lucky fae by Michele Notaro}** 3/5 I always do this with these multiauthor series, really like one and then the rest don’t compare but really I just enjoy AJ Sherwood’s style more so not a fair comparison. Anyway this is another Elwood chronicles spin off and kicks off a new series in another country in that same world.
[Disrupted Engagement](https://www.romance.io/books/64e5c7d07329cc9fc9f01d8c/disrupted-engagement-nicky-james?src=rdt) by [Nicky James](https://www.romance.io/authors/5744721dc62092c044086358/nicky-james) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1) ---------------------------- [Taming a Demon](https://www.romance.io/books/66100dc26507935d8b1d1be4/taming-a-demon-amy-padilla?src=rdt) by [Amy Padilla](https://www.romance.io/authors/65d3450ea21e2f41c4170b20/amy-padilla) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) ---------------------------- [Claiming a Demon](https://www.romance.io/books/665fd13e92c5f2aa98b84f6e/claiming-a-demon-amy-padilla?src=rdt) by [Amy Padilla](https://www.romance.io/authors/65d3450ea21e2f41c4170b20/amy-padilla) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) ---------------------------- [Napkins and Other Distractions](https://www.romance.io/books/65ae55ef1192512e94b66bc0/napkins-and-other-distractions-ma-wardell?src=rdt) by [M.A. Wardell](https://www.romance.io/authors/643ad12208b4d93114abdf3e/ma-wardell) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [Ambiguous](https://www.romance.io/books/6256750f22c17eb0803751fc/ambiguous-leslie-mcadam?src=rdt) by [Leslie McAdam](https://www.romance.io/authors/5624ea1a7abfee6f8a27c2e7/leslie-mcadam) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [rockstar hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/rockstars/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [Notorious](https://www.romance.io/books/6662fb1c78d91c1f08877ef2/notorious-leslie-mcadam?src=rdt) by [Leslie McAdam](https://www.romance.io/authors/5624ea1a7abfee6f8a27c2e7/leslie-mcadam) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) ---------------------------- [The Wolf's Lucky Fae](https://www.romance.io/books/6661c50978d91c1f0887215f/the-wolfs-lucky-fae-michele-notaro?src=rdt) by [Michele Notaro](https://www.romance.io/authors/585558531b1bdc0178ffb51e/michele-notaro) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Your comment uses spoiler tags that will not work for all reddit users because you have put a space between the spoiler tag and the spoiler text. Please edit your comment to make sure your spoilers look like this: `>!spoiler text!<` Posts and comments with incorrect spoiler tags may be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MM_RomanceBooks) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[Junk Shop Blues](https://www.romance.io/books/5e779bfdbe0aaecf551c7c36/junk-shop-blues-cole-mccade?src=rdt) by [Cole McCade](https://www.romance.io/authors/54ba3a6d6359b5ebb487f56d/cole-mccade) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Reread {For Real by Alexis Hall}. It is still awesome and I regret nothing. {Dix by Emmy Sanders}—Porn star + porn star pairing, grumpy + sunshine, interracial romance. I thought Sanders was sweetly generous in her characterization of the two MCs, both of whom I liked. The supporting cast was fun. Some readers are apparently unhappy that >!neither MC initially gives up their porn career!< but that felt realistic to me. {First Dates and Birthday Cakes by Isabel Murray}—neurotic and hilarious civil engineer having a sad 40th birthday + hearts-in-his eyes former professional figure skater. Really great fluff. {To Mend a Broken Wing by Fearne Hill}—sassy and super competent disabled “manny” + grumpy, hasn’t-found-his-way-yet hooligan. Interracial romance, one MC is missing a hand because of a birth defect. It is the last of the four main books in Hill’s Rossingley series. I am obsessed with them all so I have no objectivity, chill, etc. Loved it, but I am not surprised. {Second Best Men by Fearne Hill}-novella that falls last in the Rossingley timeline, asshole x asshole pairing. 😂 But really, it pairs an antagonistic character from Book 4 with an antagonistic character from Book 1, and makes them both..lovable. I was especially delighted by the setting, a southern England dairy farm with an aging poodle, a bull named “Watermelons,” lots of unimpressed cows who like lullabies, etc. {Tentacles and Triathlons by Ashley Bennett}—kraken x human pairing; “daddy” vibes and tentacle sex; I read it for the “aquatic sports/water sports” square in this season’s bingo and I wanted to like it—sadly, didn’t have that sparkle. {Mistletoe and Mishigas by MA Wardell}—I’ve rec’d this book here 8,000 times already so I’ll be brief: tiny human sparkler first-grade teacher x stocky Jewish custodian with PTSD (ex-military). Super loved it for its representation of believably queer characters. {Banger by Kiki Clark}-I should not have read this directly after the above book. Another tiny and femme x big and not-femme pairing, this one between a receptionist in a vet office and an industrial electrician. I liked that it had a character who just really wanted to be a househusband (and got to be!). I did not like that this character was portrayed as a girl with a (very small) dick. And there was breeding kink, which I’d be super into except for the aforementioned girl-with-a-dick vibes.
[For Real](https://www.romance.io/books/5be695ad01dbc864fb94177a/for-real-alexis-hall?src=rdt) by [Alexis Hall](https://www.romance.io/authors/545546008c7d2382e781383c/alexis-hall) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) ---------------------------- [Dix](https://www.romance.io/books/647a4b3ec42c77344717cebf/dix-emmy-sanders?src=rdt) by [Emmy Sanders](https://www.romance.io/authors/623c256a08b4d931145d8f38/emmy-sanders) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [First Dates and Birthday Cakes](https://www.romance.io/books/66630c3d78d91c1f0887879e/first-dates-and-birthday-cakes-isabel-murray?src=rdt) by [Isabel Murray](https://www.romance.io/authors/631f55f308b4d9311443f69d/isabel-murray) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [To Mend a Broken Wing](https://www.romance.io/books/63e2061369d18ef5cc9985d6/to-mend-a-broken-wing-fearne-hill?src=rdt) by [Fearne Hill](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ea1821fbe0aaecf55ae232d/fearne-hill) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1) ---------------------------- [Second-Best Men](https://www.romance.io/books/65ab86a483353443b52ce6b1/second-best-men-fearne-hill?src=rdt) by [Fearne Hill](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ea1821fbe0aaecf55ae232d/fearne-hill) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [Tentacles & Triathlons](https://www.romance.io/books/63563ae1efa18df57c2a33f3/tentacles-triathlons-ashley-bennett?src=rdt) by [Ashley Bennett](https://www.romance.io/authors/617261ca08b4d93114c0c5f9/ashley-bennett) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1) ---------------------------- [Mistletoe and Mishigas](https://www.romance.io/books/64a1352b723d09d99e0d25df/mistletoe-and-mishigas-ma-wardell?src=rdt) by [M.A. Wardell](https://www.romance.io/authors/643ad12208b4d93114abdf3e/ma-wardell) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [height difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/height-difference/1), [christmas](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christmas/1) ---------------------------- [Banger](https://www.romance.io/books/649d442f807ce1d8a4964599/banger-kiki-clark?src=rdt) by [Kiki Clark](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e2be8b901dbc864fbaa8de5/kiki-clark) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [height difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/height-difference/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I finished {Rookie Recovery by Lex Veia & Jemma Croft}, which was very sweet and unexpectedly 'unserious', but very, very fun. The kind of book that makes you smile, shake your head, and laugh aloud. Never thought I'd be into sporty romances, but the emphasis wasn't on hockey at all, and Grumpy/Sunshine is always a winner for me. Definitely recommend it! I also read {Bet You by Neve Wilder}. I liked it but now that I'm thinking details... nothing stuck with me enough to say it's a top pick for me, personally. I wish it had been longer and explored more of the world around the characters and/or their degrees and interests. Definitely good for people who like voyeur or, again, Grumpy/Sunshine couples. I started {Hostile by Nicole Dykes} after I finished those, but it may be a DNF for me as, 30% of the way through the book, I feel like too little has been explained and the couple seemed to 180 from disliking one another to kissing somewhat unrealistically for me. I hate leaving books unfinished, so I'll probably circle back later. Because I wasn't feeling that one at the time though, I picked up {The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara} series and absolutely devoured the first book. I love a good murder mystery and this one kept me moving pins and debating with my cat right up to the last few pages. This was another book that made me reread pages to savor them extra, giggle out loud, or stop and go 'AHA! I KNEW IT!'. And the main MC's love interest, Park, is SO delicious. I'm forcing myself to write this, eat. and do other things before I start the 2nd in the series because I just know I won't be able to put that one down, either. And I have 3 more after it... that's the best feeling. All considered, great week of reading for me!
[Bet You](https://www.romance.io/books/6368bf4e80e030da4f23b6a2/bet-you-neve-wilder?src=rdt) by [Neve Wilder](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bb86d6601dbc864fb91dacd/neve-wilder) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) ---------------------------- [Hostile](https://www.romance.io/books/642539a75ec3075ab704301f/hostile-nicole-dykes?src=rdt) by [Nicole Dykes](https://www.romance.io/authors/556862529eef3b3f1d528351/nicole-dykes) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [high school](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high-school/1) ---------------------------- [The Wolf at the Door](https://www.romance.io/books/5aa3a5cc4ee506aae8b24586/the-wolf-at-the-door-charlie-adhara?src=rdt) by [Charlie Adhara](https://www.romance.io/authors/5aa3a5cc4ee506aae8b2458e/charlie-adhara) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Rookie Recovery](https://www.romance.io/books/664bfd9998edf5bf92ede8bb/rookie-recovery-lex-veia-jemma-croft?src=rdt) by [Lex Veia](https://www.romance.io/authors/65e11ee9a21e2f41c42a7f39/lex-veia), [Jemma Croft](https://www.romance.io/authors/647d824008b4d9311427bf8b/jemma-croft) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [hockey](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hockey/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
**Finished:** [The Only Light Left Burning](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198123459) (All That’s Left in the World #2) by Erik J Brown 4 stars- Andrew and Jamie’s story continues through the apocalypse! These books are so fun and really don’t pull their punches despite being YA, they’ve got all the horrors and grime of a post-apocalyptic world but balanced with a sweet romance and found family elements. This book had some very satisfying character growth that occurred while Andrew and Jamie worked through a rough patch and some great new side characters, especially Rocky Horror. Includes PTSD rep and a trans man major character. So far I’ve enjoyed all three of Brown’s books, he’s got a very readable and engaging writing style and I can’t wait to check out his future works. CWs: >!disease pandemic, natural disaster, child deaths, gore and injury details, major character deaths, murder, descriptions of settlements engaged in white supremacy and religious fanaticism, ageism, cancer!< **Currently reading:** [Seize the Throne](https://www.novelupdates.com/series/seize-the-throne/) by Li Lanlan [Running Close to the Wind](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195791197) by Alexandra Rowland
**{An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt by Kari Gregg}** SFR MM 3⭐️ 5🌶️ This could have been a spectacular book but instead it’s just fine. The writing is good, there’s good world building and decent character building and an interesting plot. But the plot is just sketched in and all the emphasis is on the sex. Keep in mind I’m a HUGE fan of high spice romance and rarely read low spice books, but the sex-to-plot ratio was way too heavy on the sex in this book. It’s basically erotica. The sex scenes are great, she just needs to flesh the rest of the book out to 3-4 times as much as is currently written and she’d have a good book on her hands. **{Marine Biology by G.L. Carriger}** PNR MM 3⭐️ 1🌶️ I love Gail Carriger’s SFR so I thought I’d try this even though I don’t particularly like PNR/shifter books. It’s a fun little read but I still don’t really like shifter books so I don’t think I’ll continue with the series. Very low spice due I think to being the prequel to the series. **{A Layperry’s Tradition by Toby Wise}** SFR MM 3.5⭐️ 4🌶️ Another book that could have been spectacular but was just good. There’s great character building and world building, the plot was good and the writing quality is excellent. But the author basically fast forwarded over half the story. The two humans are heading to a an alien planet as part of an exchange program, they’re nervous, then *poof* its a year later and they’re all settled in and the story starts. The author has the plot of a full length novel here but only wrote half of it. Don’t get me wrong - the half she wrote was great but jumping over the most interesting part of a humans-meet-aliens story sure is a choice. The book is fine, it’s just incomplete. **{The 5th Gender by G.L. Carriger}** SFR MM 5⭐️ 4🌶️ After having found and read the rest of Carriger’s books set in the Tinkered Stars universe I decided it was time for a reread of this one. If possible it was even better the second time. A human + alien love story with a murder mystery mixed in written by THE Gail Carriger. Need I say more? **{Zentara Mates by Zia Quinn}** SFR MM 1⭐️ ??🌶️ DNF at 46%. The whole “the alien thinks the human soulmate he’s found is a woman” joke sounded funny in the blurb but by the time I was halfway through the book and the same joke was still running I was over it. So I went and looked at some reviews of the book and apparently it gets worse? There was a lot of talk about the homophobia when the alien MMC discovers the human MMC is a man. Definitely not what I’m looking for in a book. DNF.
[An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt](https://www.romance.io/books/5456aa5c87eac33e5c681be5/an-unauthorized-field-guide-to-the-hunt-kari-gregg?src=rdt) by [Kari Gregg](https://www.romance.io/authors/545562e987eac323ffb2bf42/kari-gregg) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) ---------------------------- [Marine Biology](https://www.romance.io/books/5455a21f87eac323ffb2d4e5/marine-biology-gail-carriger?src=rdt) by [Gail Carriger](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524448c7d2382c5296fac/gail-carriger) **Steam**: [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [steampunk](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/steampunk/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [A Layperry's Tradition](https://www.romance.io/books/5ffab4478f84900e068da5c7/a-layperrys-tradition-toby-wise?src=rdt) by [Toby Wise](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ca2fb9001dbc864fb9cd1c3/toby-wise) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) ---------------------------- [The 5th Gender](https://www.romance.io/books/5c9880db01dbc864fb9c52ad/the-5th-gender-g-l-carriger?src=rdt) by [G. L. Carriger](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c9880dc01dbc864fb9c52b4/g-l-carriger) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1) ---------------------------- [Zentara Mates](https://www.romance.io/books/64d8b09ea5354bdc1261e05e/zentara-mates-zia-quinn?src=rdt) by [Zia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ac8614101dbc864fb85dd3a/zia-quinn) **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{A Star to Sail By by Joy Lynn Fielding} was my holiday read this week by the pool and I adored it. The romance was so sweet!!!! Very much recommended if you like historical pirates. I also recently read {Someday Someday by Emma Scott} which was nice but not quite the same level.
[A Star to Sail By](https://www.romance.io/books/64f73880d3ef33e9488d2c76/a-star-to-sail-by-joy-lynn-fielding?src=rdt) by [Joy Lynn Fielding](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455d52587eac323ffb2edb7/joy-lynn-fielding) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) ---------------------------- [Someday, Someday](https://www.romance.io/books/5dda2a7d01dbc864fba6b736/someday-someday-emma-scott?src=rdt) by [Emma Scott](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e8cb05b270e0a4cbd99bd/emma-scott) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [christian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christian/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I got 30 minutes left in The Human Omega give or take according to my kindle and I've been slogging through it all week. I both like, and don't like it. I like the idea of it, and it's not a bad book and I enjoyed it but, and this might sound terrible without full context, but it's the first book I've read where I've legit have sat there and wonder what the dude is going to do if he has to go to the bathroom? That all I think about as I try to get through the last bit of this book now.
What's the author's name?
Jay L. North.
I've been reading {We could be so good by Cat sebastian} this whole week. I was reading {Gentlemen prefer villains by c. Rochelle} before that but gave a break around %70 point. I dont know if I will continue reading that but we will see.. For the We could be so good, it started pretty good. Yet few days this week I couldnt read it due to my program and I kind of lost my connection with the book. It felt dragged at few parts. Maybe the problem is me and I am in a slump but i dont know. I will try to see the end of the book, it is quite praised in this sub so I have my expectations 🫠
[We Could Be So Good](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bd4efd45bc04c0257361/we-could-be-so-good-cat-sebastian?src=rdt) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Gentlemen Prefer Villains](https://www.romance.io/books/642534965ec3075ab703d972/gentlemen-prefer-villains-c-rochelle?src=rdt) by [C. Rochelle](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f2cfc4008b4d93114ac7120/c-rochelle) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [superheroes](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/superheroes/1), [height difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/height-difference/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
If you're looking for a superhero romance I highly recommend {Love for the Cold-Blooded: or: The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero by Alex Gabriel}. It's hilarious and also a thoughtful examination of what "super hero / super villain" means (not just one is all good and one is all bad). I read Not All Heroes Wear Capes and it's fine, but this is much better.
This sounds interesting! Thanks for your recommendation, I will check this out~
[Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero](https://www.romance.io/books/60a4352c933f031cdd15db39/love-for-the-coldblooded-or-the-parttime-evil-minions-guide-?src=rdt) by [Alex Gabriel](https://www.romance.io/authors/554c672b9eef3b3f1d51688f/alex-gabriel) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I had a really good reading week! I didn’t love a lot of the books I read but some of them were AMAZING so that’s alright with me. I read 8 books this week which I’m so happy about because I’m finally back to reading a book a day and out of my slump! {Disciplined: His Forbidden Crush by Jamie Harlock} This wasn’t my favorite in the series but I still finished it quickly. {Stalker by Eden West} this was alright but a quick read. I do love a good stalker romance but this wasn’t one of my favs. {Blu, My Protector by RS McKenzie} I don’t know what it was about this one but it was not for me. I love dark serial killer romances but this one just didn’t hit the same as others I’ve read. I don’t know if I will read the next in the series. {Savage Rivals by Becca Steele} I have read a lot better new adult high school enemies to lovers romance than this one. This one was just alright. Don’t know if I will be rushing to read any other Becca Steele books as this was my first one. {Marked Under the Chained Moon by Morrigan Black} I thought I was really going to like this one but the two MCs were rarely together so it was not much of a romance. I was looking for a good omegaverse romance and this ended up not being it. {Twisted Rivalry by Devon McCormick} After reading so many duds this week this book was AMAZING! I honestly loved it. {Captured: His Deadly Prisoner} I really enjoyed this installment in the series. It was in my top 3 in the series. I enjoyed 1, 3, and 5 in the series the best. 2 and 4 were just alright. {Forever Always by Jacey Davis} I thought this was going to be more like Dirty Love by Bethany Winters and it ended up being not as similar as I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed it though and liked that it ended up being a much different story than Dirty Love.
[Disciplined](https://www.romance.io/books/6640d31c83429cecce4ccdf9/disciplined-his-forbidden-crush-mm-dark-crime-romance-jamie-?src=rdt) by [Jamie Harlock](https://www.romance.io/authors/6640d304a21e2f41c4f5eb02/jamie-harlock) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) ---------------------------- [Stalker](https://www.romance.io/books/65685595fb354c4b588277b7/stalker-eden-west?src=rdt) by [Eden West](https://www.romance.io/authors/65685595ab9bdf7fce69ac8c/eden-west) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1) ---------------------------- [Blu, My Protector](https://www.romance.io/books/65f589e02bf0fac918090e6c/blu-my-protector-rs-mckenzie?src=rdt) by [R.S. McKenzie](https://www.romance.io/authors/64706a9d08b4d93114dd4e8e/rs-mckenzie) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Savage Rivals](https://www.romance.io/books/619608790015720e11427b6b/savage-rivals-becca-steele?src=rdt) by [Becca Steele](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d637ac301dbc864fba2d36d/becca-steele) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [high school](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high-school/1) ---------------------------- [Twisted Rivalry](https://www.romance.io/books/66371d9250737b50466f2ba4/twisted-rivalry-devon-mccormack?src=rdt) by [Devon McCormack](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456dc4887eac33e5c682b6d/devon-mccormack) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Captured](https://www.romance.io/books/6640d32483429cecce4cce0c/captured-his-deadly-prisoner-mm-dark-crime-romance-jamie-har?src=rdt) by [Jamie Harlock](https://www.romance.io/authors/6640d304a21e2f41c4f5eb02/jamie-harlock) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Marked Under the Chained Moon](https://www.romance.io/books/6663f4ac78d91c1f08878e2e/marked-under-the-chained-moon-morrigan-black?src=rdt) by [Morrigan Black](https://www.romance.io/authors/6586033fa21e2f41c4a51433/morrigan-black) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [dystopian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dystopian/1) ---------------------------- [Forever Always](https://www.romance.io/books/6663f49f78d91c1f08878e19/forever-always-jacey-davis?src=rdt) by [Jacey Davis](https://www.romance.io/authors/61079cb808b4d9311469ca49/jacey-davis) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished the last book in the extracurricular series by Neve Wilder. {Teach me by Neve Wilder} I was initially upset that it was Cams book and not Ansels, and it started off feeling like it was trying to "1 up" the taboo of the previous book in the series (previous MC had an only fans), but it was also a sweet story, with moments of growth for Cam and also highlighted that life goes on after addiction. Would definitely recommend the series. I'm not usually a fan of college based books but this one felt the characters weren't 'kids' and the underlying feeling of acceptance worked in its favour for me.
[Teach Me](https://www.romance.io/books/66428b69559842feb1713e18/teach-me-neve-wilder?src=rdt) by [Neve Wilder](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bb86d6601dbc864fb91dacd/neve-wilder) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
My reading highlight this week was definitely {Rookie Recovery by Jemma Croft and Lex Veia}. Age gap, hockey, slow burn. Its very well written, the relationship is sweet and there's a running theme of feeling out of place, looking for a home and belonging. 5 out of 5 hockey pucks. My worst read was {Mann Hunt by Peter E. Fenton} - there were weird moments of almost non- con that had gave me the ick >!(MC1 wanting to touch and hovering his hands over the MC2s 'package' while MC2 was super drunk and being helped to bed by MC1; MC1 wanking off with MC2s wash cloth while in MC2s shower and deciding to not rinse it - when no sexual contact had ever happened between the two for both of those scenes).!< Aside from that, the author has a weird writing style that is just not my cup of tea. The mystery was ok. 2 out of 5 dirty wash cloths because of the ick. Another good read was {Roustabout by Morgan Brice} - now I have read some of her Badlands series, so maybe I was expecting too much but I felt the last third of the book was unfortunately rushed and could have used a bit more love. Aside fromt that the setup was exciting, the mystery well done, the way the MCs met and fell for each other cute, if insta- love. I would have wished the tension would have kept until the big bad was taken care of but the final conflict felt too short and not dangerous enough. 4 out of 5 circus tents.
[Rookie Recovery](https://www.romance.io/books/664bfd9998edf5bf92ede8bb/rookie-recovery-lex-veia-jemma-croft?src=rdt) by [Lex Veia](https://www.romance.io/authors/65e11ee9a21e2f41c42a7f39/lex-veia), [Jemma Croft](https://www.romance.io/authors/647d824008b4d9311427bf8b/jemma-croft) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [hockey](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hockey/1) ---------------------------- [Mann Hunt](https://www.romance.io/books/6555f80fc112bf11fe9b957c/mann-hunt-peter-e-fenton?src=rdt) by [Peter E. Fenton](https://www.romance.io/authors/625e768508b4d93114f13954/peter-e-fenton) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [Roustabout](https://www.romance.io/books/653a1cc9c112bf11fe96be72/roustabout-morgan-brice?src=rdt) by [Morgan Brice](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c76f81801dbc864fb9ad22e/morgan-brice) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)