Sully and Hayes' one-night encounter quickly becomes more complicated when they discover that not only will they be working together, but that Hayes iSully and Hayes' one-night encounter quickly becomes more complicated when they discover that not only will they be working together, but that Hayes is the best friend of Sully's nephew. This was a refreshingly low angst age-gap romance that went down smooth as I was running around doing last-minute preparations for my vacation. I loved the complete and total lack of homophobia in this town (the last few books I've read have had that as a theme and with the recent election, it's just more than I want to think about. I just want to believe a perfect utopia is possible right now!) I have not read any of the other Collier's Creek Christmas titles and even though this one does work as a standalone, there was quite a few intriguing hints that there were previous entries in this world.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
Ack, so...full disclosure, I read this about 2 weeks ago and I've read 9 books since then, so I'm not super fresh on the details of this one (I would Ack, so...full disclosure, I read this about 2 weeks ago and I've read 9 books since then, so I'm not super fresh on the details of this one (I would have reviewed it right away, but I couldn't find it on Goodreads...I think it was only created yesterday.) From what I remember, this was a grumpy/sunshine featuring two almost-but-not-quite stepsiblings, so it's got some juicy tropes for people that dig those! And I definitely don't remember anything notable that I disliked about it, so I am confident that I had fun reading it. Alas, if only GR let us manually add books...
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
I haven't read any of the series this is interconnected with (Rebel Kings?) but it holds up well as a standalone novel. I didn't feel like I was missiI haven't read any of the series this is interconnected with (Rebel Kings?) but it holds up well as a standalone novel. I didn't feel like I was missing any context or backstory of these two characters and there wasn't any super obvious references to prior works (which can sometimes be frustrating with these types of books). This book wasn't really Christmas-y, so much as it was during the winter, but that was fine with me. Tam and Bhodi's chemistry was really electric and their relationship progression, as well as their own character developments (Tam in overcoming his fear of hospitals and depending on someone, and Bhodi in healing his wounded sense of self-worth) felt organic and not rushed. Overall, this was a fun little read!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
The start is a bit awkward and clunky, but the writing eventually smoothed out and I became invested in the story. I like that Maddox was a bit blunt The start is a bit awkward and clunky, but the writing eventually smoothed out and I became invested in the story. I like that Maddox was a bit blunt and slightly standoffish, but without being a "bad boy" and Ren was totally sweet and adorable. I think the homophobia of the swim team was handled very realistically (i.e. they didn't all immediately repent and become bestest friends), but it still gave a satisfactory conclusion to that part of the story. There was definitely the introduction to a cast of characters that I can see being featured in upcoming books, but I found they blended together a bit and I didn't really get a super distinct impression of each of those side characters yet, but I would definitely continue to read the series.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
I was a little leery at first because the early chapters had some pretty dubious behaviour, but fortunately the story pivoted and Elliot matured quiteI was a little leery at first because the early chapters had some pretty dubious behaviour, but fortunately the story pivoted and Elliot matured quite a bit and stopped with the bordering-on dubcon behaviours. The story has multiple time leaps, so it feels a bit disjointed at times, but on the other hand, it was nice to see how committed they become to each other. The timing of the story felt off though, like it seemed very weird that they would already be living together without Elliot's family even knowing they were together. I understand why a professional country musician and a professional football player wouldn't be rushing to come out publically, but to their own family? Especially when Elliot's family seem relatively close-knit. Some of the plot decisions like that didn't seem to align with the timeline chosen for the story (spanning multiple years) for me.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
A fun reimagining of Beauty & the Beast, this instalment of the series focuses on Zain and Dominic. Even though Zain desperately wants to come out of A fun reimagining of Beauty & the Beast, this instalment of the series focuses on Zain and Dominic. Even though Zain desperately wants to come out of the closet to his parents, he lives in fear that they will reject him because of their traditional Muslim and Mexican backgrounds. He's finding it increasingly stifling to hide who he is though, and he yearns to branch out and experience more of the world. Enter Dominic, a harsh and domineering businessman who has come to call in the loan that Zain's father took out to pay for Zain's College tuition. Zain can't stand back and let his family lose it all, but he'd be lying if he wasn't intrigued by the freedom that entering Dominic's employ could offer him.
It was fun seeing the story twisted a bit, with Dominic providing freedom to Zain that living with his parents didn't provide him, unlike the original where the Beast takes Bell captive. It made it even more exciting to see the sexual tension between them build as the story progresses, knowing that there wasn't that same level of coercion there. I just realized that I forgot to go back and read the 1st book and have only read books 2 and 3, so I am off to check that out of KU!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
My only regret in reading this is that I didn't first reread the first instalment in Ink Slingers because I would have liked a little refresher on theMy only regret in reading this is that I didn't first reread the first instalment in Ink Slingers because I would have liked a little refresher on the characters. Neuhold is so good at creating interconnected worlds and environments filled with found families of wonderful characters. Fortunately, it only took me a couple of chapters before I felt refreshed enough and some of the quirks of the other characters started to come back from the depths of my memories (side note: oh man! I cannot wait until Jag's story!!)
Milo appears in town on a quest to track down the father he's never met and meets Piston, the sexual chemistry between them immediately sizzling. But imagine both of their surprise when Milo walks into Ink Slingers the next day to announce that Hero, one of Piston's lifelong friends, is his father. Piston tries to resist the attraction between them, but it's a lost cause. Milo was such a fun character to read with his ADHD making him easily distractible and excitable about the most random topics and Piston provided a complementary calmness to Milo's frenetic energy. I also really liked Hero's handling of the two of them together and that it wasn't milked for extra drama; it made a lot of sense to me since Hero was only just getting to know Milo and didn't have years of thinking of him as his son to fuel discomfort with the coupling.
Remind me to reread the first two before the 3rd one comes out! ;)
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
The Darling Brothers live up to their name: I am enamoured with this entire family! The second oldest Darling son, Jackson, is the grumpy rancher who The Darling Brothers live up to their name: I am enamoured with this entire family! The second oldest Darling son, Jackson, is the grumpy rancher who finds his darling Sunshine in Ashley, a transplant from Maine who turns Jackson's quiet Montana life upside down in all the best ways. Jackson was just the right amount of grumpy, not veering into curmudgeonly territory as sometimes happens with these types of pairings, and I loved how honourable and dedicated he was to his family, his ranch, and all the workers that keep the ranch running. Ash rolls into town with a mere two suitcases of possessions, but carrying some baggage from his chronic pain condition. He's a fighter though, and he knows what he wants, and what he wants first and foremost is for Jackson to give what they could have together a fighting chance.
This was a great introduction to the other three brothers--Lawson, Remi, and Colton--and I'm sure their stories will be just as delightful! I am already eagerly anticipating Colton and Noah's enemies to lovers story!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
The romance between Bhaskar and Anu was a slow-burn, but was satisfying for the most part, though I would have liked to have a more definitive conclusThe romance between Bhaskar and Anu was a slow-burn, but was satisfying for the most part, though I would have liked to have a more definitive conclusion. There was an interesting plot, but it sort of fizzled out and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying...and I don't really understand what happened? So is Bhaskar a god? Was he always a god? Did Bhaskar...control the earthquake? If you're looking for a story rich in Egyptian history, then this would be a good choice for you because the author was really good at painting a picture of life in ancient Alexandria.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
There's something very satisfying about a serendipitous love story. Drew (nee Andy) and Charlie had reciprocal feelings for each other during their brThere's something very satisfying about a serendipitous love story. Drew (nee Andy) and Charlie had reciprocal feelings for each other during their brief friendship in high school, but before anything could happen, Drew was moved away by his father. Now, many years later, their paths cross again and they get a second chance with each other. Charlie's immediate acceptance that they could have something special between them was so refreshing to read, but for as much as Charlie is confident they have a future, Drew carries baggage from a childhood of being torn away and moved somewhere else, so permanence is a foreign concept for him. As frustrating as the third-act breakup was because it could have easily been avoided by them simply having a conversation about their future, it only lasted a mere handful of hours, so that was a relief! I am looking forward to the winter installment of the series!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
This was a super cute read. I positively melted during the scene where Donovan FINALLY realizes/admits that he's in love with Beck. So freaking sweet.This was a super cute read. I positively melted during the scene where Donovan FINALLY realizes/admits that he's in love with Beck. So freaking sweet. It definitely works as a standalone, but I'm definitely going to have to check out the book preceding this that has Jack and Pete.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
This book came right out of the gate with the sexy times and I was ON BOARD. I found myself convincing myself that I would read "just one more" chapteThis book came right out of the gate with the sexy times and I was ON BOARD. I found myself convincing myself that I would read "just one more" chapter last night. I finally managed to tear myself away from it for a few hours of sleep and then I woke up and continued once more. Devoured the whole thing in less than a day. The sexual chemistry between Markus and Asher was off the charts and I loved seeing the subtle shift in his inner voice to be less harsh on himself (well, right until the last 20% of so anyway). It was great to see Markus slowly build up Asher's confidence without him even really noticing it. I also really loved the close bonds of friendship between Sasha, Danny, and Asher and how the three of them always had each other's backs. The third-act break-up felt unnecessary, but other than that, this book was a delight to read! Sexy, funny, emotional, enough plot to keep the story in motion...it has it all!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
The plot was really interesting and I enjoyed it quite a bit...but I'm in my sexy era and the lack of sexy times was a bummer (143 books this year andThe plot was really interesting and I enjoyed it quite a bit...but I'm in my sexy era and the lack of sexy times was a bummer (143 books this year and I can count on 1 hand the number that weren't romances, lol.) I also am not really clear on what happened with Father Dominic and his possession...they seemed to get control of him pretty quickly and kept him sedated, but then what about his demon? After so much time spent on the plot of the story, it seemed a little too convenient of an ending to it all.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
This was a really enjoyable MMM story. The slow-boil pining between Hayes and King was delectable and provided a yummy snippet of angst, but it wasn'tThis was a really enjoyable MMM story. The slow-boil pining between Hayes and King was delectable and provided a yummy snippet of angst, but it wasn't overwhelming because it wasn't too long before the three men decided to proceed as a polycule. Just the right amount of angst for me, and paired with all those sexy throuple times? Yes, please! My only complaint is that when Jamie's dad was pressuring him, I really wanted Jamie to buy the old company he worked for and become his former boss's boss and put him in his place, lol. I wanted a little more pettiness in that storyline, haha.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
I was a little hesitant about the cheating TW but I'm so glad I decided to give it a try because, frankly...Carter had it coming. That's what you get I was a little hesitant about the cheating TW but I'm so glad I decided to give it a try because, frankly...Carter had it coming. That's what you get for naming your son Carter. Has there ever been a Carter that wasn't a total dirt stain of a human being? lol! I loved seeing Gray love up Ozzie and rebuild his self-esteem after two years of Carter tearing him down and making him feel self-conscious. I just wanted to give Ozzie a big hug and tell him to stop being so blind to what he could have with the father that he's definitely not getting with the son. I can't wait to read Matty and Hudson's love story next!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
A sexy, quick little read. I wish it was a little longer because everything felt a bit rushed, but since it was a friends-to-lovers story, it wasn't uA sexy, quick little read. I wish it was a little longer because everything felt a bit rushed, but since it was a friends-to-lovers story, it wasn't unbelievable that they would fall for each other as quickly as they did. If you're looking for a fast read that is packed full of sexy times, this is a great choice!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
This anthology was a complete and utter delight! The hijinx of the Kelly family was utterly delightful and these stories had me laughing out loud on mThis anthology was a complete and utter delight! The hijinx of the Kelly family was utterly delightful and these stories had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. It was so fun seeing familiar scenes pop up in later stories as they wound together and we got to see more and more of the love stories unfold. The only thing that I didn't like was that there's only four stories in the anthology! I need ALL the Kelly siblings' love stories and shenanigans in one spot!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
Grumpy/Sunshine isn't *always* my go-to because sometimes I find that the characterizations are a bit too over-the-top for me, but this incarnation ofGrumpy/Sunshine isn't *always* my go-to because sometimes I find that the characterizations are a bit too over-the-top for me, but this incarnation of the trope really worked for me. Kayden was such a gentle giant character that it was hard to not feel an affinity for him, and I could 100% see how he was able to scale Maddox's walls (that were definitely topped with barbed wire!) and sneak inside his heart. And learning about Maddox's history of domestic abuse made it clear why he would be guarded and try to protect himself from letting people get too close to hurt him.
There was also a lot of very intriguing side characters that got me invested in this world. This is my first Ava Olsen book (at least, I am pretty sure it is...I have been on quite the reading tear lately though, so I could just be forgetting!), so I'm really hoping that either Dane and Jackson are going to be covered at some point in the series as a "flashback" book, or that they were already featured in an earlier series, because I want to know more about their story together. And I'm very much looking forward to seeing the sparks fly between Axel and Jace in the next installment!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
I was immediately filled with empathy for Caspian. I can't imagine the torture it would be to have to work with not only your ex-husband, but also theI was immediately filled with empathy for Caspian. I can't imagine the torture it would be to have to work with not only your ex-husband, but also the man he cheated on you with! I know that this was a work of fiction, but that injustice still irks me, even though I've now finished the book. This is my second Fearne Hill book I've read and I definitely will be checking out more by them. I love how they center characters with conditions/experiences that are outside of the norm. Max was such a delightful character to see into his head and it was super sweet and funny watching his autistic brain navigate novel situations for him. I especially loved how assured he was that Caspian would fall in love with him and want to stay. So flipping sweet!! Such a delightful read. Now I have to backtrack and read #2 in the series because I missed it, lol.
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
It was really fascinating to read from the perspective of a person with synesthesia, which I haven't read a book featuring before. It's such a unique It was really fascinating to read from the perspective of a person with synesthesia, which I haven't read a book featuring before. It's such a unique approach to describing characters and situations, through a kaleidoscope of colours, and I really enjoyed the fresh look at a well-tread theme. This book felt really well-paced and characterized as well, and even though it did feature a late-stage breakup (which I don't generally enjoy), the reasoning behind it was hard to argue with and it felt very realistic (and devastating to read!) Definitely looking forward to the next installment!
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I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review....more
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