4.5 Star Ratings

Book Review: Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington

Posted on April 25, 2020 by thebloggergirls

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: Meet Me at Midnight
Author: Jessica Pennington
Hero/Heroine: Asher/Sidney
Genre: M/F Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year–in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note–Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy–the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them. Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, M/F, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Death of the King by Jake Biondi

Posted on February 9, 2020 by susan65coug Miss Behaving

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Death of the King
Author: Jake Biondi
Series: Majesty #1
Heroes: Various
Genre: Historical
Length: 266 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 13, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: “Checking to ensure the king was dead, his murderer pulled the dagger from the monarch and rolled Zachary’s body onto its back. The king’s blood coated the ornate etchings on both sides of the knife. His dead eyes looking up toward the heavens, Zachary lay lifelessly on the tower floor.” -Chapter One

The shocking murder of King Zachary Chamberlain sends his entire family and kingdom into turmoil as the hunt for his killer begins. As Zachary’s eldest son Prince Tobias prepares to be crowned as the new king, suspicions arise between him and his three younger brothers. In the meantime, the once-ruling Henderson family seizes on the chaos in the kingdom in an effort to overthrow the Chamberlains and retake control.

As tensions rise and the search for the king’s murderer continues, some relationships crumble, forbidden love flourishes, a prisoner escapes, and a common farmer rocks the royal family to its core.

It all leads up to an exciting series of cliffhangers that plunge every member of the royal Chamberlain family into peril.

Power reigns. Absolutely.
Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2019, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: His Hart’s Command by A.E. Via

Posted on December 22, 2019 by susan65coug Miss Behaving

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: His Hart’s Command
Author: A.E. Via
Narrator: Aiden Snow
Series: Nothing Special #6
Heroes: Free & Ivan
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Available at: Amazon & Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Lennox Freeman (Free) is one of the best hackers in the world which has caused him to spend most of his life on the run. Never able to put down roots, he couldn’t trust anyone not to take advantage of him, even his own family.

Ivan Hart has lived and bled one creed all of his life: To Serve and Protect. His intense focus and determination in law enforcement has led him to finally commanding his own team. He’d worked hard to put together a squad of badasses capable of backing up a very dangerous team of detectives. Being God and Day’s last line of defense came with a lot of responsibility that he took very seriously.

After his divorce was final Hart turned right around and remarried his job. He had his good friends there in the office with him every day, so it was easier to ignore the few quiet hours he spent at home alone each night. He’d settled well into his new routine and was comfortable with it. Then God decided to disrupt everything by hiring another tech specialist for his department. A man whose brains, trendy looks, and voice would leave Hart tongue-tied and captivated at their first introduction.

Contains mature themes. Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2019, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: But by the Grace of Dog by A.F. Henley

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Nikyta

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: But by the Grace of Dog
Author: A.F. Henley
Series: Four-Legged Friends #1
Heroes: Thom & Justin
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 145 pages
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: November 27, 2019
Available at: JMS Books & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Thom Baron has been struggling with social anxiety his entire life. He’s taken the medications, gone to the therapists, followed the programs, and concluded his best life is a solitary one. When he comes across a dog in obvious need at his local market, it rekindles the desire to have some company around. It may come with a dishevelled coat, a notched ear, and a refusal to respond to anything but its given name “Ugly,” but it could still be a friend.

However, Thom’s new fur buddy has no such need to keep to itself and immediately befriends the man Thom has secretly coveted since he moved in — Justin, Thom’s gorgeous, bright-eyed neighbour. No matter how Thom tries to evade the man, the dog keeps drawing them back into each other’s lives, and it doesn’t take Thom long to recognize it’s simply pursuing the demands of Thom’s own heart. With the dog giving him the courage to try, Thom reaches out to return the love being offered.

Until a stranger shows up insisting the dog is his and demanding its immediate return … a loss Thom knows will take all of his efforts and newfound confidence with it.
Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Mr. Right Now by Annabeth Albert

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Nikyta

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Mr. Right Now
Author: Annabeth Albert
Heroes: Russ & Esteban
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 127 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 14, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: He’s Mr. Right Now, but for how long?

When Russ suffers a Thanksgiving disaster, his gorgeous neighbor Esteban is there to save the day. And after an innocent mix-up leads to the former Hollywood hottie playing the role of Russ’s date, Russ thinks scoring Esteban as his fake boyfriend is a huge win. The newly discharged marine is healing inside and out and could use some holiday cheer.

For his part, Esteban is intrigued by his big, bad neighbor. He likes how his matchmaking cat brings out an unexpected caring side of Russ. Desire flares as the reasons to continue their ruse pile up for both men.

And pretending feels so good. From chocolaty kisses to late night cuddles, their burgeoning friendship is getting cozier and cozier. But as the end date for their little deception looms, all the real feelings they’ve tried to ignore come tumbling in. Each must decide whether they have what it takes to ring in the New Year as a couple.

Mr. Right Now is a stand-alone holiday novella with sweet, low-angst feels, spicy love scenes, and foodie inspired, quirky Oregon romance with a military flavor. Happy ending guaranteed with no cliffhangers!
Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: A Highlander Walks into a Bar by Laura Trentham

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Nikyta

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: A Highlander Walks into a Bar
Author: Laura Trentham
Series: Highland, Georgia #1
Hero/Heroine: Alasdair and Izzy
Genre: M/F Contemporary
Length: 311 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The timeless romance, soaring passion—and gorgeous men—of Scotland come to modern-day America. And the rules of love will never be the same…

Isabel Buchanan is fiery, funny, and never at a loss for words. But she is struck speechless when her mother returns from a trip to Scotland with a six-foot-tall, very handsome souvenir. Izzy’s mother is so infatuated by the fellow that Izzy has to plan their annual Highland Games all by herself. Well, not completely by herself. The Highlander’s strapping young nephew has come looking for his uncle…

Alasdair Blackmoor has never seen a place as friendly as this small Georgia town—or a girl as brilliant and beguiling as Izzy. Instead of saving his uncle, who seems to be having a lovely time, Alasdair decides he’d rather help Izzy with the Highland Games. Show her how to dance like a Highlander. Drink like a Highlander. And maybe, just maybe, fall in love with a Highlander. But when the games are over, where do they go from here? Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, M/F, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Yuletide Treasure by Eliot Grayson

Posted on November 8, 2019 by thebloggergirls

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Yuletide Treasure
Author: Eliot Grayson
Series: Goddess-Blessed #3
Heroes: Eben & Tim
Genre: M/M Historical Fantasy
Length: 130 pages
Publisher: Smoking Teacup Books
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: There’s not enough Yuletide spirit in the world to fix this holiday disaster…

Eben Sypeman’s world is falling apart. It’s two days before Yule and his business partner is dead, leaving behind empty accounts and looming bankruptcy. And if that isn’t bad enough, his patron goddess is irritated with him. It seems she’s tired of his tendency to mince words and avoid conflict. She’s insisting—quite forcefully—that he start being totally honest with everyone, including himself. Divinely enforced honesty couldn’t have come at a less opportune time, especially when his clerk’s tall, dark and distractingly handsome son enters the picture.

The last thing on Tim Pratchett’s mind is romance. All the former soldier wants is to fill in for his sick father at work and recover from his war wounds in peace. But there’s something about the grumpy Eben that confounds and entices him in equal measure. Their timing couldn’t be worse. They’re complete opposites. And yet…none of that matters when he’s with Eben.

But if Eben and Tim have any hope of finding their very own happily ever after, they’ll have to survive a dickens of a truth curse and the machinations of a trickster goddess—all while searching for enough yuletide treasure to save them all.

A joyous, relaxing Yule indeed. Bah, humbug.

This is an M/M romance with explicit scenes, a voyeuristic pagan goddess, and an odious nephew. Despite any other possible similarities to A Christmas Carol, there are neither ghosts nor geese, but readers can expect a happy ending and at least one use of the word “dickens.”
Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Mastering the Flames by S.J. Himes

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Nikyta

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Mastering the Flames
Author: S.J. Himes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #4
Heroes: Isaac & Constantine
Genre: M/M Urban Fantasy
Length: 394 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 4, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The fourth book in the hit urban fantasy series shifts focus to the remaining Salvatore brother in this slow burn romance…

*
Guilt-ridden after the massacre of his family, Isaac Salvatore turned to binge drinking to escape the pain. Now twenty-four years old, Isaac is a recovering alcoholic woefully out of practice in the magical arts, leaving his fire affinity hanging on the edge of disaster. After a month of rehab, he returns to Beacon Hill and his family, determined to remain sober, learn to control his magic, and figure out a plan for his life that doesn’t involve drinking.

Constantine Batiste is the oldest, most powerful vampire in the city. Born in ancient Gaul, the bastard son of a Celtic king, his long life has been shrouded in tragedy and horrors. Recent mistakes have left him wary and determined to guard his clan from all foes. When two of his clan members fall victim to an ancient evil, he summons the Necromancer of Boston for aid. Accompanying his older brother to the Tower is the handsome young fire mage once wounded by Constantine’s arrogance, and their encounter reignites an attraction that burns within both Constantine and Isaac.

The answer to who is targeting the vampires of Boston is buried in the dark, early days of Constantine’s transition to an immortal life. Isaac finds himself saddled with a painful insight into the evil cutting a swath through the supernatural population of Boston. While his brother, Angel, takes over the hunt to find and stop the threat to the city, Isaac struggles to find a balance between helping his brother and finding his own purpose and place in the world, free from his brother’s shadow.

Falling in love wasn’t part of his plan, but mastering the flames that burn between him and Constantine soon becomes the most important thing in his life, even as an ancient evil seeks to destroy them.

Mastering the Flames is the fourth book in The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series and is not a standalone. The series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment and understanding of the plot and characters. The Content Advisory is on the Copyright Page and can be seen by downloading a sample or using the Look Inside feature. 130k words.
Continue reading →

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment