Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below. Jaime’s face pinched into a pout, and he made the most adorable little huff sound, which only madBook safety, content warnings, and tropes down below. Jaime’s face pinched into a pout, and he made the most adorable little huff sound, which only made Finn laugh even harder. Finally, he calmed down enough to speak. “Don’t give me that face, baby. It’s a damned weapon and I’ve done nothing to deserve it.”
This was a lovely story and a good debut novel. I especially loved the first half, as it tugged on my heartstrings a few times and really just hit the spot for a lot of the things and tropes I enjoy, even being a sort of second chance romance. It was a very entertaining story and I'll be looking forward to seeing what the author writes in the future. This one was set up well for future plot and some interesting side characters. It lost me a little bit at times in the second half, but it's hard to tell if that's because of my book slump or not.
It wasn't perfect, but I expect some of the things that made me scratch my head will be cleaned up in future books, and editing experience will help. I feel pretty confident I read the word 'hiccup' more times in this book than I have read in every other romance book combined, and not a single character had the hiccups once, lol.
All non-joky jokes aside, it was entertaining, and it made me melt from cuteness a few times, especially when the big, bad wolf started to purr.
I also wish to never read the word ‘splashed’ in relation to someone blowing a load inside someone else, ever again. Lol.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Fated mates Second chance lite (see information under 'breakup' if wanted) Debut book Redhead MC Military veteran MC Wolf shifter MC Private security Bodyguard MC Protective MC Shifter/human pairing Knotting Size difference Virgin MC Purring Romantic suspense Breeding kink
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️ Explicit sexual content Mentions of parent death (cancer, past, off page) Mentions of alcoholic parent (no details, past) Mentions of past pet loss and grief Graphic violence Graphic details of murder scene PTSD symptoms: nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety Prescription drug use (anti-anxiety) Isolation and symptoms of depression MC attacked and locked up for a short, non-specified amount of time (past, off page, some details) On-page panic attacks Brief mention of death of friend in military combat (past, off page) Knotting Mentions of past child abuse Decapitation of bad guy (on page, by MC) MC attacked and briefly restrained (off page) Breeding kink
⚠️Book safety ⚠️ Cheating: No Other person drama: No Breakup: No, but 1 year of no contact. They had not met in person prior to this, but were talking on the phone and videochatting, planning on going on a date together. Neither MC see or hook up with anyone else during this year apart. POV: 3rd person, dual Genre: Shifter romance Pairing: M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles Main characters’ age: 26 and 32 Series: Interconnected standalone, slight plot cliffhanger Kindle Unlimited: Yes Pages: 299 Happy ending: Yes
Was he staring at the moon right now, too? Did he sometimes wonder about Jaime? Did he think about Jaime as much as Jaime thought about him?
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
3.5 stars
This was very short but also very cute. I really enjoy Lily Morton's writing, and this Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
3.5 stars
This was very short but also very cute. I really enjoy Lily Morton's writing, and this one had a bit of everything in a short amount of time. Best friends to lovers and pining really isn't my favorite thing, pretty much because it usually just hurts too much, lol. While there was some hurt in this, it was totally okay. Didn't even make me cry, which is a miracle.
Joel Leslie did a fab job with it as per usual. He just brings stories to life.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Best friends to lovers Mutual pining Novella Jane Austen tour guide Unknowingly chatting online
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️ Explicit sexual content
⚠️Book safety ⚠️ Cheating: No Other person drama: No Breakup: No POV: 1st person, single Genre: Contemporary romance Pairing: M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles Main characters’ age: Not specified Series: Standalone Kindle Unlimited: No Pages: 66
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. "I like him." "First time liking a guy?" "Yeah. First time." "Confused?" "Not really." Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. "I like him." "First time liking a guy?" "Yeah. First time." "Confused?" "Not really." "Scared?" "Fuck yeah."
This was a quick and sweet read, that actually made me quite emotional. I cared about both characters quite quickly, and I wanted them to figure it out and be together. It was entertaining and well written. It’s also quite a beautiful story about recovery from addiction, family and forgiveness. Would definitely recommend. […] forgiveness is a gift. It won't change anything that's happened, but it'll unlock a much better future.
I think what made me so emotional was the fact that one of them had feelings from the start, and said yes to a FWB situation, knowing/thinking the other MC didn’t feel the same (yet), and might not ever do so. I’m making it sound way angstier than it actually was, but my little demisexual heart freaking hurt on Roman’s behalf. "Baby." Roman sweeps the side of my face with his long fingers. "The deal was sealed the moment I laid my eyes on you."
This is my first book by this author, so I don’t know if this one is a good representation or not, but I wanted a little more from the spicy scenes, mostly because it was the first time with a man for one of the MCs, and we got very little details/thoughts/feelings around that. Not a massive problem by any means, but I would’ve liked a little more. My downstairs department setting is set to floppy. Okay. Maybe not entirely floppy. Semi-floppy. Or semi-hard. Depends if you're a cock half hard or cock half soft person, I guess.
Overall very enjoyable.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Friends to lovers Ex criminal Roommates Friends with benefits Possessive and protective Gentle giant Bisexual awakening
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️ Cheating ex (some details) Non-consensual porn (past) Threat of revenge porn Mentions of being incarcerated Divorce proceedings Mild stalking (the friendly kind) Mentions of alcoholism/addiction (no relapse, few details)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Cheating: No OM/OW drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual POV Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles MC ages: 34 and 36 Have I actually changed? The person beneath the addiction and all the mistakes. Sure, I've got a job, and whenever I'm not working, I'm helping out at the shelter. Saving every penny and paying Bishop back in monthly installments. Completely eliminating booze and drugs from my life. But that's just stuff I'm doing differently, does it mean I'm a different person? Or do I still have the same impulses, the same tendencies, the same recklessness that created so much havoc in my life before?...more
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. I had always taken for granted the lovely warmth of the sun. If I got out of here aliveBook safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. I had always taken for granted the lovely warmth of the sun. If I got out of here alive, I would relish it. I could see it now, a spot in the woods, away from these people where I could sit in patches of sun that shone through the leaves of the trees. I could have a cabin maybe, hidden where no one could ever reach me.
I don’t like judging a book by it’s cover, but I did with this one, which is why I didn’t see the emotional impact coming. This book is heartbreaking and wonderful. I was recommended the book when I asked for ‘shifters + fated mates’, which is exactly what I got. I was very pleasantly surprised by the depth it had, and I feel a little bad about not thinking it would be anything more than surface level entertainment, to be honest. That’s on me.
Both MCs have had rough lives, one more so than the other, and hearing about it broke my heart a little. Seeing Ember go from broken down and thinking his life was about to be over, to trusting Coal and realizing there are good and kind people in the world, was lovely. It’s a quick-ish read with lovely wolf shifters, fated mates, and a bit more tear-jerking power than most shifter books I’ve personally read, as well as a suspense element. “My name is Coal and I told you I wouldn’t hurt you. I would never hurt you. I’ll kill anyone who touches you.” And there it was again, the almost sweet declaration that swiftly turned possessive and violent. The cliche alpha.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Fated mates Wolf shifter Paranormal Size difference Hurt/comfort a/b/o Single dad (actually big brother) Knotting Scenting
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️ Graphic violence Explicit sexual content Captive Homelessness Mentions of past trauma Hints at child abuse Mentions of past sex work Child kidnapping (not detailed) Malnourished MC
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Cheating: No OM/OW drama: Briefly, but nothing happens Third-act breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual POV Genre: Paranormal romance, M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles “Did they even feed you at all?” I asked quietly. Ember’s lip trembled until he bit down to stop it. “Sometimes,” he finally said.
Apparently, being locked in a cell with no autonomy whatsoever did something to a person’s confidence. Who would have thought....more
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. “Can I have ice cream with sprinkles?” Henry signed before I finished my sentence and gBook safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. “Can I have ice cream with sprinkles?” Henry signed before I finished my sentence and gave me the most adoring look. Oh dear, that was going to be a hard look to say no to.
I forgot (read: didn’t feel like) writing the review for this book, so it’s been a few days since I finished it. Therefore the details aren’t exactly fresh in mind, but I *do* remember how much I loved it. It’s easily one of my favorite books with age regression, and I really enjoyed the well done disability representation as well. I felt like it was all handled with sensitivity, and I would think the authors researched what they were writing about. As a hearing person I obviously can’t comment on the accuracy of the representation, but I *think* it was done well. When I got back into the bathroom, I learned a fundamental Daddy lesson. Never leave a Little alone in the tub with bath colors.
I really enjoyed reading about a Little who got a little bratty when he was comfortable. Nothing extreme, but he wasn’t always a ‘perfect boy’. The MCs connection overall was very sweet and believable. It was super fast though. Not necessarily insta love, but insta *something*, lol. “Hey. No one said anything about spanking me. You’re supposed to fuck me.” “You’re topping from the bottom, Henry. That’s a spanking offense.” “Am not.”
One of the MCs grew up in a cult of white supremacists, and he suffered some abuse there, including a vicious and violent attack when he tried to leave. There’s not a huge amount of details around any of these things, but that’s where all of the content warnings come from.
Definitely recommend if you enjoy reading about age play.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Disability rep Deaf MC Age regression ABDL with wetting Lonely MC Needy MC Age gap Found family Growing up in a cult Dong cage
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️ Mentions of past hate crime Beating (past) Anxiety ABDL with wetting Explicit sexual content White supremacist cult Mentions of neo nazi rhetoric Religious extremism Bullying Homophobia
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Cheating: No OM/OW drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual POV Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles MC age: 26 and 41 “Is this your first time?” He nodded and just stared at me. “It’s scary, right?” He nodded at me. He had tears on his face, and it sounded like he needed a tissue. No self-respecting Daddy went anywhere without supplies, so I reached into my pocket and pulled out a hanky and handed it to him.
“Why? I didn’t even say monster python yet.” To my surprise, Caden glanced down at his crotch, and I giggled. “Daddy has a monster python.” “If you ever say monster python in public, I will put your willy into a cage for a week.” “You would not.”...more
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. He was risking everything. His past, his future, and even his now, reaching for a kiss Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below. He was risking everything. His past, his future, and even his now, reaching for a kiss based on one week of stolen glances and sideways looks and a frisson underneath his skin he couldn’t scratch away.
I had some of this book spoiled before reading (on purpose), so from the first page I was anticipating heartbreak. That, coupled with the beautiful, somehow wistful writing, had me on the verge of tears right from the start. Tal Bauer’s writing is just on a different level altogether. I’ve read so many good books, had the pleasure of reading the work of brilliant authors, but coming back to Tal anything just makes me go ‘Ah okay, that’s what great writing looks like.’ Maybe, once all his friends were set in their star-studded futures, when they were living in the worlds they drew on their bedroom ceilings every night, he could raise his eyes and take a look at the things he’d stiff-armed away.
The way you end up connecting with his characters is unreal. My heart broke for the MC who messed up, just as it broke for the ‘wronged’ MC. There were no winners, just heartbroken boys, and I cried buckets pretty much up until 50%, and then again later on. It’s a really beautiful story, and one of very few books I would actually want to see made into a movie, if done right (very big ‘if’). Glory had never been what he wanted. He wanted a future. He wanted to see his dad smile as Wes walked across that stage and accepted his college diploma. He wanted to love a man and be loved in return.
The book is very well balanced between sports and romance, and I felt like each part enhanced the other. It deals massively with the bond between teammates and how important trust is, which I loved, and at the same time is the source of the only criticism I have. I felt like the ‘big blow up’ was a bit out of proportion from what I expected, and especially Colton’s reaction. I am very glad they figured out they were being idiots and that they apologized. I’m just sad about what had to happen for them to realize.
I actually read The Quarterback months ago, and didn’t really get a good feel for/first impression of Justin in that. Thankfully he was nothing like I sort of expected or feared. He’s just a tiny bit of a drama queen, lol. Interestingly, when a friend was reading this book this summer and told me about Colton’s behavior, I was like ‘Huh? not my Colton. He is a sweetheart who can do no wrong.’ Turns out, if I had read The Jock first, I would have disliked Colton quite a lot, most likely. I guess it goes to show Tal can write multifaceted characters with actual growth.
It also turns out that my ‘I don’t like sports romance’ comments don’t really count when Tal Bauer is the one writing them. I would read them all. I also want everyone to know that I made myself cry all over again when reading and picking out highlights for this review, lol. “Is there any epic love story that isn’t tragic?” “Ours.” Wes smiled. “It’s not gonna be tragic. It’s gonna be epic.”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ College romance Closeted MC College football Cowboy Dancer Virgin MC First times Sports romance Size difference Second chance
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️ Brief mentions of religious bigotry Outed without consent Violent attack/hate crime Hospitalization Homophobia Vomiting Explicit sexual content
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Cheating: No OM/OW drama: One MC goes on a date with someone else while they’re broken up. Only cheek kisses. Breakup: Yes POV: 3rd person, dual POV Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles I could fall in love with you, if I let myself. It was Paris, and it was summertime, and it was the wrong place and the wrong time. He wasn’t ready for this yet, wasn’t ready for his heart to catapult out of his chest and chase this man, crave him. He wasn’t ready to fall in love. But there was this guy named Justin, and it seemed Wes didn’t have a choice in the matter, because he was already on the way.
[…] I don’t know how to live with loving you like this. It will fade eventually, right? Because right now it feels like I’ll love you for the rest of my life, and I’ll just have to learn to live with this hole in my chest forever.”...more
I’ll start by saying that Joel Leslie is so incredibly talented. The amount of different Audiobook ARC review
Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
I’ll start by saying that Joel Leslie is so incredibly talented. The amount of different accents he does during this book, seamlessly, is beyond impressive. He made it really easy to enjoy this book. Any book is safe in his hands lol.
Alright folks. I’ve heard that Dean was a part of previous books (which I have not read), and therefore my understanding of his character will probably be different from those that know him as the stoner. The Dean I read about here needs to be protected at all cost. What a precious man. It’s heartbreaking reading about sweetheart characters with no self worth because people have constantly been putting them down. Dean thinks all he has to offer the world is that he’s pretty. He’s shocked when sex isn’t transactional for once, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He has a learning disability and therefore believes he isn’t smart. The fact that family and teachers, literally everyone who should have supported him all his life has repeatedly told him so, doesn’t help.
I listened to this on audio, so I don’t have any quotes to add here, but this book surprised a laugh out of me on several occasions. Very rarely do I actually laugh out loud while reading alone, but this one got me even though there wasn’t the constant jokes and forced laughs that many rom-coms suffer from. I enjoyed the balance of funny and serious.
Jonas was an unexpectedly complex character, and he definitely underwent some growth during the book (thankfully lol). He was very much affected by his own upringing, which seemed to be very cold and austere. His daughter was growing up with focus on summer school and homework at 5 years old instead of playing in the dirt with friends. He loved Dean helplessly, and messed up majorly at one point, which he had to work hard to make right. We’re talking some delicious groveling.
Dean’s interactions with Ruby were so cute, and while he may not be the most booksmart in the room, he understands humans and their emotions like few others.
It’s not 5 stars for me simply because it’s such a long book. It kinda dragged for me in places and I got a little bored before it picked up again.
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No OM drama: Both men are hit on by other people, but nothing happens with other people Third-act breakup: Yes POV: 1st person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles (hide spoiler)]
TW/CW (view spoiler)[ Mentions of past drug use, withdrawal from weed, a lot of talk about food and body weight/looks, sexual harassment, explicit sexual content, cheating mentioned by side characters (nothing between MCs), mentions of broken bones and hospitalization of a child (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Age gap, boss/employee, model/agency owner, single dad, divorced, pie-eating (the dirty kind), dogs, dyslexia, groveling, pining, british MC, french MC (hide spoiler)]...more
I don’t know how to say this without sounding critical, but these books are really OTT, but so damn entertainBook safety, tropes and tags down below.
I don’t know how to say this without sounding critical, but these books are really OTT, but so damn entertaining. I’ve listened to the audiobook so many times, and Declan Winters did a really good job. And man oh man, the spice in these books is *chefs kiss*. This seems to be the case with every Kelly Fox book I’ve read so far.
Mads (sometimes Maddie, which is the cutest nickname) is a tiny adorable billionaire who constantly wears a massive orange puffer jacket because he’s always cold. It’s too cute for words. He can also take a good hard d*cking like nobody’s business, let me tell you. His character is totally OTT, but honestly, it works. It mellows out during the book after a while. He never stops being just a little dramatic, but that’s okay too.
I love the romantic-suspense-with-the-cast-of-every-law-enforcement-tv-show-ever. You know the ones - NCIS, Bones, Law & Order, etc. We’ve got the nerds, the goth hacker girl, the stoic security guy, the morally grey mobster, etc. It might not be realistic, but man is it entertaining. Oh, and Anthony was a better and more intriguing character than I expected. Definitely loyal beyond what anyone would ever expect of a friend.
The constant jokes about Mads’s jacket makes me laugh every time, especially when someone called him ‘deadliest catch’ lmao.
⚠️ Spoiler warning ⚠️
Book safety Cheating: No OM drama: No. Mads sleeps with escorts after meeting Anthony, but before they’re together in any way. Not detailed or on-page. Third-act breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual POV Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles. Anthony does enjoy a couple of fingers.
TW/CW Violence, blood, killing, kidnapping, drugging, broken bones, explicit sexual content, mentions of forced prostitution, mentions of human trafficking, stalking, Mentions of homophobia
Tropes & tags Billionaire, bodyguard, private security, tech company, kidnapping, murderous found family, c*ck warming, suckling, oral fixation, size difference (we’re talking bulging-abdomen-while-boinking size difference), interracial relationship, found family...more
You know, I was going to start this review with that whole I'm late to this party spiel, but after arriving atBook safety, tropes and tags down below.
You know, I was going to start this review with that whole I'm late to this party spiel, but after arriving at the reviews-terminal, I'm realizing that there's no party at all! Considering how much of a good time I had while reading this book, I'm positively shocked. It's not like no one has read it, but with the quality of the writing and story I expected this book and author to have made a bigger splash in this particular pool. I have 68 highlights from this book, and I wish I could add them all to this review so everyone could laugh along with me.
"I'm a goddamned horse. Neigh, bitches." The context of which is for me to know and you to find out.
In general, this book has some really good and clever writing. It was one of those books where I had a constant smile on my face, both because of the comedic element but also because it's just a joy to read a really good book. I'm very impressed by the fact that the comedy didn't feel forced, which is a trap easily fallen into by rom-com writers. Oh, and it's not like humor is all it had to offer. I even managed to cry a couple of times (even though that might not hold much weight, considering I don't remember what book I read last that didn't make me cry).
"'What the fuck is a gnu anyway?' Before any of her friends could answer, a sassy baritone said, 'It's another name for a wildebeest. You know, like one of those cow bastards that curb-stomped Mufasa.'" Alright, first of all, how dare you make fun of a core traumatic childhood memory, and second, I laughed way more than necessary at this, and it happened at 4%.
Kelly was, as Jonah would tell you, a complete golden retriever. What an absolute sweetheart. A pure soul. An angel. A sweet little baby. You get the idea. I love how he was very professional in his job as nanny, even when he lusted after his employer. There was no inappropriate behavior. Oh, other than letting kids swear and giving coffee to five year olds, but who's keeping track of that stuff. He was also treated pretty poorly by his ex (understatement of the damn century), as well as his parents, which made me cry a little.
"'Can I say it?' 'Right now?' 'Yeah.' Kelly ran a hand through his hair, snagging a finger on a knot. 'Go ahead. But it stays between you and me, because I don't mind the words.' Violet straightened and shook her hands like a batter getting ready to hit. 'Fuck.' Kelly bit the inside of his cheek. It was the most adorable use of the word ever. 'Got it out of your system?' 'I think so.'"
There's three whole kids in this book, and it was a delight. As a non-child-having-person, I thought the author nailed the mix of fun things kids say with the realistic parts of tantrums, tired and hungry kids. Funny kids in books can often sound like adults pretending to be kids, but I liked the balance in this.
"'Dolphins are super smart. Why aren't they in charge of the world?' Kelly turned his head very, very slowly to Jonah. 'That's a good question for your daddy.' Shit."
Jonah grew up in a house with nannies and butlers where he was auctioned out like a prized stud bull in order to make heirs for his wicked-witch-of-the-west mother. Considering how emotionally stunted that entire family was, Jonah included, I was impressed with his character development during the book. It happened in such a way that I barely even noticed it, but at the same time, it wasn't just the author telling you he's different now at the end. He was also unintentionally funny, and in this case, unfortunately (for me) highly relatable:
"'You're what?' 'When someone vomits in front of me, I start gagging. Eventually, I throw up. It's like a really awful game of Telephone.'" I feel your pain, Jonah.
This book is slow burning, but you'll enjoy the journey there enough to barely notice. The evolution of Jonah and Kelly's relationship felt natural and realistic, even with a bi/gay awakening thrown in there, which I gotta say Jonah handled perfectly. Figuring out your sexuality is difficult at the best of times, but sometimes I want to read about someone who takes it all in his stride, relatively speaking. He had some questions and thoughts of course, but it wasn't a source for major angst in the book.
"I know you want a nice, neat box to put things in. You always have. It's just how you are. But that's not how sexuality works. I can't tell you your label. I can suggest things that you might believe are your label. Labels shift and change over time, and you're just going to have to accept that fact. Do some research, see if anything feels good to you. And if not? Then that's okay, too. You don't get an ID card to carry around once you figure it out."
Writing this review has taken ages, mostly because I really want people to find and read this book so we can share the joy, but also because I got stuck reading all my highlights all over again, lol. I also feel like I haven't actually said much at all, but hopefully you get the idea. I'll reference the start of this review and say LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Oh, and I'll leave you with this description of Kelly by Jonah.
"Something about Kelly unsettled him-not in a bad way, or a good way, but in a weird way, like watching a really violent action movie and feeling slightly guilty for liking it so much. That 'Hey, Uma Thurman is awesome, but also, that was a lot of decapitation' feeling.'"
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: Kelly is cheated on by his ex on page, before he meets Jonah. OM drama: No Third-act breakup: Yes, briefly POV: 3rd person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles (hide spoiler)]
TW/CW (view spoiler)[ Cheating (not between MCs), death of spouse off page (not detailed), manipulative ex, emotionally distant and somewhat verbally abusive parents, vomiting (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Age gap, widower, single dad, bi/gay awakening, three kids, live-in-nanny, cheating ex fiancé, friend group, wealthy MC, puppets, laugh-out-loud funny (no, seriously), dinosaurs (hide spoiler)]...more
"If he knew the effect he had on me-how everything else all but disappeared when he had me in his sights-hBook safety, tropes and tags down below.
"If he knew the effect he had on me-how everything else all but disappeared when he had me in his sights-how would he react?"
Dude, I love when a book has believable chemistry and sexual tension. That's the good stuff. Jett Shaw and Vaughn Michaels definitely had an instant connection, but it didn't feel like instalove. Sometimes you just meet someone you click with, and that was definitely the deal with these boys. Michaels was a little gun-shy maybe, but not because of a fear of love or connection, but a fear of losing someone else after losing his previous work partner in the SICB. This is detailed at the end of book 1, but you could read this as a standalone without any problems. There's a couple recurring characters, but nothing crazy where you'll feel like you've missed half the plot.
"To protect and serve was like a distant memory. Instead, seek and destroy all the f*cked-up criminals in our world had become my new mantra." I think it's safe to say that Michaels had lost his way for a while there, lol.
I enjoyed the mystery/suspense part in this book a lot, and just the whole general premise of this one hits so many good tropes. An experienced agent is sent to the training academy in order to solve a case where cadets are going missing after dropping out of the program. He's paired up with the top cadet in the entire academy, Jett Shaw, in order to find out what's happening.
"'Kent has your academy pass and has sorted your paperwork. On paper, you're there for a month-long sabbatical as part of the academy's teaching and training program.' No.' I gasped, legit struggling for breath at the horror of it all." Honestly, this interactions had me giggling more than strictly necessary.
Shaw isn't arrogant, but he definitely has that swagger that just draws people in. He's a little cocky, sure, but for good reason and not obnoxiously so. His interactions with Agent Michaels were awesome. He looks stoic on the outside when meeting the older agent, but on the inside he's fangirling, lol. I loved it. These guys just seemed to have fun together, and that's one of my favorite things to read. Where the connection and friendship feels natural. Oh, and the spice in this was definitely a step up from book 1. Thank you, Becca!
"'Take a seat.' Relieved he directed me to sit, I went gladly, preferring the safety of a table separating us rather than standing and not knowing what to do with my hands." Same Shaw, same. I'm glad badass shifter law enforcement-trainees don't know what to do with their hands in formal situations either, lol.
This book contains a (to me) often dreaded trope: the fake relationship. BUT, fear not! This is the kind of fake relationship I can get behind. There was no character pretending like there was nothing more going on, or dragged out pining that only gets resolved in the last 3% of the book, etc. They both acknowledged that there was more going on (atleast to themselves), and the fakeness was for the sake of their mission/op.
There's one thing I felt was missing here that we got loads of in the previous book, and that was interactions between characters while one or both of them were in their shifter form (wolf and panther for Michaels and Shaw respectively). I honestly forgot I was reading a shifter book at times, which I'm a teensy bit sad about. Cuddles or caretaking of the other MC while shifted is one of my favorite things about shifter books, so I wish there was just more. Overall though, I highly enjoyed this. The suspense, action and relationship was on point.
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No Other man/woman drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Age gap (8 years), wolf shifter, panther shifter, training academy, secret shifter law enforcement, fake relationship, trainee, agent, paranormal, mystery, suspense, super soldiers (hide spoiler)]...more
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
Roman is another one of those characters I just want to wrap up, hug tight and keep safe fBook safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
Roman is another one of those characters I just want to wrap up, hug tight and keep safe for all eternity. He can live in my closet with all the other characters that make me cry every time they utter a single sentence or think about how they'll just have to live a shitty situation because there's nothing better on the horizon for them. Those characters have a direct line to my tear ducts, and they yank on it fucking constantly. I know I cry easily, but damn. He's just the sweetest muscled teddy bear that goes absolutely feral when cornered, and has a habit of biting while angry, stressed, horny or happy. I think we can just say 'he has a habit of biting' after laying it out like that, lol. I still love him though. And I super enjoyed his interactions with Tubs (I think that's the dogs name, anyway), as well as Becks and Dallas. Their blossoming friendship and their acceptance of Roman and everything about him was some of my favorite bits.
“He saw it as soon as he looked at me. I let people do whatever they want to me while I just kneel down and take it. It doesn’t matter that I have a strong body when it’s my head that’s weak.”
This friend group is amazing. None of them have all that much when it comes to material possessions, they're involved in gangs, they live in falling-apart-at-the-seams trailers, they steal and vandalize cars, but they are nothing if not loyal to each other. There's just a blanket acceptance of all that they are. It just goes to show that it doesn't cost a damn thing to be nice, accepting and tolerant of others. it did take me a little while to connect with Scout, but we got there in the end. Even though he's new to the D/s lifestyle and made some (quite serious) mistakes along the way in the scenes with Roman, he wasn't a bad person at all. Just young and inexperienced.
I'm constantly going back and forth with my thoughts on the D/s dynamic with Roman and Scout in this book. One of my thoughts is that these boys shouldn't partake in a power exchange relationship at all. Lack of aftercare, the submissive pushing himself way past the threshold for safewording, etc. If this was done because of a lack of knowledge or understanding by the author, this would either be a DNF or extremely low rating, but I know it's done this way on purpose. These boys are inexperienced, and they make mistakes. That's the point. It's just highly uncomfortable reading it at times. Their D/s relationship, especially the sexual parts, is executed badly, but written well. I honestly confuse myself trying to explain it all. On the other side of this highly confusing coin, I do appreciate reading about a BDSM relationship that isn't based in some rich-person-only kink club. Kink should be for everyone.
I really enjoyed the underlying theme of being willing to do just about anything in order to better your situation. Scout had a really tragic backstory, but he was determined to make it a better one, and he wanted to take his friends with him as he did. Maybe he wasn't quite polished on the outside, but his soul was without a doubt really pure and sweet.
In fear of ending up with a several pages long review, I'll end with this: I love D/s dynamics that fall outside of the 'norm' in terms of perception. In this case, the size difference is reversed from what we often see in these kinds of relationships. Roman is a submissive, as well as being a large man. Scout is a dom, and he's smaller than Roman. Love it. Oh, and I loved the audiobook. Highly recommend.
⚠️ Spoiler alert ⚠️
Book safety
Cheating: No OM/OW drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual POV Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles MC age: 20 and 21
TW/CW
Violence Drug dealing Grief BDSM Restraints Impact play Safewording Online sex work Stealing Poverty Food insecurity Vomiting Physical and verbal abuse Bullying of a neurodivergent character Death of a family member (off page) Mentions of a neglected animal
Tropes & tags
Trailer park Reverse size difference Smaller dom, bigger sub Neurodivergent MC Online sex work Found family Poverty BDSM Secret relationship Power exchange Pet dog Abusive family Hurt/comfort...more
Book safety, tropes and tags down below. 3.5 stars rounded up.
This book was too cute for words. Very mild age play with more focus on pet play. And whBook safety, tropes and tags down below. 3.5 stars rounded up.
This book was too cute for words. Very mild age play with more focus on pet play. And when I say pet play, I mean koala play!! I bet you can imagine the cute cuddliness happening throughout the book. Of course it was super duper sugary sweet, but both Gaines and Austin had some insecurities to work through, as well as figuring out how to make time for each other in their busy lives. They were both workaholics who needed a better work/life balance, and they were each others motivation for making that happen. I enjoyed that, even though there's a 13 year age gap between them, Gaines is 27 years old and independently wealthy (family money as well as successful in his own right), which means that they felt like they were equals outside of their power exchange dynamic. If anything, Gaines was a sugar daddy for his daddy, lol.
Gaines' best friend Matty was adorable as well, and I appreciated how he was included in the MCs lives. Not in a sexual way, but in pretty much every other way lol. Gaines and Matty have zero boundaries with each other, and it was cute as hell. Oh, and the spice was really good you guys. Oh oh, plus points for Bertie (Gaines' awesome dad).
If you enjoy pet play and/or age play and want something with low angst to entertain you, give this a go. I mean, there's koalas.
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No OM drama: No Third-act drama: No POV: 1st person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles (hide spoiler)]
TW/CW (view spoiler)[ Kink, pet play, mild age play with no diapers or wetting, explicit sexual contenet (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Age gap, pet play, age play, aerialist, Daddy/boy, koala, pride parade, best friend, kink, BDSM, using-your-daddy-as-a-tree (you best believe it's hot), needy boy (hide spoiler)]...more
I have to say, I really liked the world the author has created with thisARC review 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
I have to say, I really liked the world the author has created with this one. Of course there was a lot of character introductions, considering it's the first book in the series, but that's to be expected. I'll likely read the next book as well. The author did a good job making you interested in the side characters without completely overwhelming you with information.
As for this book specifically, I was highly intrigued by the blurb. Arie has been crushing on his boss Ren for two years. Unbeknownst to Arie, they are actually fated mates, which Ren has kept secret. I do wish we got a better explanation as to why it was kept a secret, but I thought their eventual friendship and relationship was very sweet, and the fact that Arie gave Ren a bit of a hard time over it made up for a lot of it.
The book starts with Ren having gone through something highly traumatic, and our MCs start building a closer friendship when Arie supports Ren while he works through some of his trauma. I commend the author for making this a slow process, including some rough moments and therapy. Absolutely no magic d*ck in sight, people! Speaking of d*ck, this is a slooow burn (we're talking the 90th percentile here folks). BUT, when we finally got down and dirty, it was very good. We even got some surprise knottage, which I'm always here for.
One of my favorite moments was very early on when Arie cuddles Ren while he's in wolf form (oh, he's a wolf shifter, I guess I forgot to mention that), and it was very cute. More of that in the next book, please! We got some other cute and funny moments too:
"For a few seconds I was sure he would throw the fruit at me, but instead, he turned the glare to my direction, before pointedly chomping on the banana in a way that made my c*ck want to crawl inside my body. Point taken."
"'Can I get the kisses first, and the good pain pills second?' Very, very quietly he added, 'I don't wanna miss the kisses."
"'What did Daddy just say?' he asked sharply. 'I dunno, maybe Daddy should stop talking about himself in third person and-ow!' This smack was much harder."
I enjoyed how even though Ren is the big bad wolf, as well as an alpha, it was Arie that took on the caregiving and supportive role early on in the book, even though he's *only* human. Arie and his brother had a fallout with the rest of their family, partially because of speciesism, so it was nice to see the MCs being equals. This only strengthened their eventual Daddy/boy dynamic, in my opinion. When Ren eventually assumed the Daddy role, we understood why that made sense for him, and because we've seen them being equals, the power exchange felt authentic, and like something they both wanted, not just needed. I love Daddy/boy, but if you don't, I will say it was pretty mild overall.
Unfortunately, this book did have what might be my biggest pet peeve: no character descriptions. I know Ren is 6 foot 2 inches tall, but that is sadly all we got. I like knowing what the characters look like. We got quite a thorough description of Arie's brother, Leon, so I think we should have gotten one for our MCs as well. Other than that, I was entertained throughout the book, and even though the tropes are familiar, it was done in a way I haven't read before, which was neat!
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No OM drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 3rd person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles (only one scene where this is applicable) (hide spoiler)]
TW/CW (view spoiler)[ Discipline (corner timeout), violence, murder, blood, hospitalization, PTSD, mental health struggles, stalking of side character, hate crime (beating), homophobia, speciesism, religious bigotry, explicit sexual content (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Shifter/human, wolf shifter, boss/employee, fated mates, slow burn, friends-to-lovers, knot, Daddy/boy, domestic discipline, workplace family, rock star brother, hurt/comfort, caretaking (hide spoiler)]...more
I think I enjoyed this book the tiniest bit more than the first in the series. Toby believes he’s too much anBook safety, tropes and tags down below.
I think I enjoyed this book the tiniest bit more than the first in the series. Toby believes he’s too much and not good enough, and I love characters like that, lol. Massive age gap in this one (24 years I think), but Samuel was sweet and it didn’t feel creepy.
I usually don’t care much about the level or amount of spice (as long as it’s not closed door or fade to black), but I will say this. This was suuuuper slow burn, so I was a little disappointed when the boinking barely lasted two paragraphs after waiting for like 90% of the book ...more
I enjoyed Eric's character more than I thought I would after his introduction in previous books, but Wolfgang Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
I enjoyed Eric's character more than I thought I would after his introduction in previous books, but Wolfgang was a bit of a disappointment to me. I know he's a psychopath, but I felt like that was his entire personality. It would have been nice to see another side to him other than his possessiveness over Eric. They didn't have enough chemistry for that to work without any other sides to the dynamic, in my opinion. I wasn't very invested in their relationship at all, sadly.
Eric was definitely the highlight of this book for me. I do love a self-deprecating character with a lack of social skills. I'd almost say he seems emotionally immature, but he's really not. He acts slutty and he knows people don't like him much, but he knows about it, and why he is the way he is and acts the way he does. His parents are emotionally absent and verbally abusive, so he went looking for comfort and physical intimacy from as many strangers as possible, even if it only lasted a couple of hours at most.
"Because what did it matter if he was desperate, or cheesy, or smarmy? Getting rejected 80% of the time was better than never getting accepted at all, right? It wasn't like anyone was going to want to keep him [...]"
"Because he could pretend, just this once. Pretend there was someone out there, wanting to make him feel special. He could pretend he had a person out there, just for him. What could be the harm in that?"
I live for characters like this, so I was a little sad about the lack of connection between Eric and Wolfe. We were told how perfect they were for each other of course, they're fated mates after all, but I wasn't feeling it. That might be my mood, and entirely subjective, but that's my impression right now, anyway. I feel like the other books had such strong character connections, and you could feel the instalove. Grae Bryan has created a really fantastic series, and considering how strong the other books were (especially the one before this, Johann, which is my personal favorite out of them all), this one had a lot to live up to. It probably didn't help that Wolfgang's book was highly anticipated after his appearance in Johann.
It is by no means anywhere close to a bad book, I still enjoyed it a lot, but following such a strong book and with all the expectations, this didn't quite measure up for me.
"If he walked into a room wearing his white coat, everybody acted like he was a God. But that was... worse, somehow. It always made him feel like a fraud. Like one day he was going to slip up and say what was always lurking underneath: I don't care. I don't fucking care. I don't want to talk to you; I don't want to reassure you. I just want to do my job well, and fingers crossed your family member doesn't die. I know I should care more, but I don't."
Eric was a delightfully multifaceted character, and one I bet many can relate to.
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No OM drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 3rd person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict top/bottom roles (hide spoiler)]
TW/CW (view spoiler)[ Blood, violence, death, explicit sexual content, emotionally and verbally abusive parent, psycopathy, mild shame kink (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Age gap, possessiveness, doctor, vampires, fated mates, mild shame kink, found family, vampire child, kidnapping, bossy top, psychopath (hide spoiler)]...more
[updated info after reread] Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below. “So I was thinking,” he began, “that it’d be a terrible shame if we we[updated info after reread] Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below. “So I was thinking,” he began, “that it’d be a terrible shame if we were a room or two short in Vegas and we had to share.” I snorted. “Is that right?” “How does one go about incorrectly booking out a hotel?”
I have relistened to the audiobook more times than I can honestly count since I originally wrote this review. I still love this book so much.
________________________________________
Well, folks. It's official. I know I'm late to the party on this one (I have no excuse), but I now have a new favorite N.R. Walker book. I didn't think that would happen, considering how much I love On Davis Row. I'm going to think about Maddox and Roscoe a lot the next few days, and I'm already excited about listening to the audiobook.
I think the portrayal of Maddox's anxiety and panic disorder was really well done. I've had some personal experience with those things, and I appreciate that it wasn't completely over the top for drama's sake, but it wasn't underplayed either. It's a difficult line to straddle, but Miss Walker did it perfectly, in my humble opinion. Of course, everyone's experience with mental health problems is different.
One of my favorite things to read about in books is just solid, loving relationships with LOTS of casual intimacy, touch and cuddles, which was a big part of this one. As many others, I'm a huge fan of some solid spice in my books, but I enjoy it more if there's some sweetness for balance. Maddox finished his sandwich and pulled his chair closer to mine, put his leg over my thigh, and when that wasn’t close enough, apparently, he sat on my lap. Just curled up, with his arms around my neck, his head on my shoulder.
It's been a long time since I last read a book with single POV, and I really enjoyed it. I especially liked how it wasn't Maddox's POV. The author did well in not leaving us guessing on how he felt and his reasons for doing so. It was showed, not told, which is impressive.
OH! I nearly forgot. This author writes the best and most satisfying epilogues, and Code Red is no exception. She never leaves a girl hangin'.
I'm now debating how long I need to wait before it's socially acceptable to start the audiobook, considering I finished reading about 10 minutes ago.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️ Boy band Famous musician Artist/personal manager Tactile and clingy MC Secret relationship Mental illness rep Documentary filming Hurt/comfort Friends to lovers Mutual pining
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️ On-page panic attacks Explicit sexual content Intense feelings of loneliness and isolation Medical emergency (heat exhaustion) MC suffering minor injury MC with medical challenges/issues (not chronic) Brief mention of MC wanting to drink or take a substance (one-time, no addiction)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️ Cheating: No Other person drama: No Breakup: No POV: 1st person, single Genre: Contemporary romance Pairing: M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles Main characters’ age: 23 and 29/30 Series: Interconnected standalone Kindle Unlimited: Yes Pages: 404 Happy ending: Yes
“You don’t need anything to shine another spotlight on you, especially from me. I’m supposed to make your life easier, not harder.” “Hey.” I looked at him then. “You do make my life easier. You make it bearable, Roscoe,” he said gently.
“Please don’t lie to me,” he whispered. “I can’t take it.” “Okay.” “Please don’t leave me.” I squeezed him. “Okay.”
Book safety, updated content warnings, and tropes down below. "You belong in a cell like that,” Finch said, and Scott flinched, looking up into the othBook safety, updated content warnings, and tropes down below. "You belong in a cell like that,” Finch said, and Scott flinched, looking up into the other man's face with a pit in his stomach. “What?” he whispered. Finch tilted his head at him. “I said, 'are you up for a road trip?' It's about an hour drive."
I'm struggling with finding the words to describe this book, as it's unlike anything I've read before, I think. It's a mixture of mental health, mental illness and the paranormal. Struggling alongside Scott and trying to figure out if what he sees and hears is a result of his schizophrenia, or if it's ghosts, or if it's just reality was very unsettling at times, but so well done.
What made it heavy was the descriptions of Scott's depression and struggle with mental health and mental illness. You can tell the author either has personal experience or consulted with someone who does, because it was all very real, and I imagine I'm not the only person that will be able to recognize a lot of what this character thought and felt. Scott resigned himself to spending the afternoon pretending he was going to do the laundry. In reality, he took a nap, put on a movie on Netflix, then counted the odd numbers from 511 up to 627 and backwards by threes to distract himself from the thought of swallowing all of his remaining pills.
The book doesn't pull its punches when it comes to describing what it's like to live with depression and taking anti-depressants, among other medications. Scott struggles with keeping both himself and his living space clean. He can't sleep, but he can't focus on other things either. He's unmotivated, and his eventual sex life is almost ruined by the medication he's on. It's all very real and not at all romanticized. What was the point of so much medication, of therapy, of feeling nothing and wanting nothing and fighting to sleep at night just so that he could wake up ready for bed again?
Scott's mother is likely sick herself, and instead of getting him help, she would use him and manipulate him and make the problem worse. She made me so angry while reading.
I haven't even mentioned Scott's love interest yet: Finch. This book is very much centered around Scott, but I enjoyed Finch's character as well. He was relatively uncomplicated, which I think was necessary, honestly. Everything else that happens and Scott's struggles was more than enough. That's not to say that Finch's character was flat or uninteresting, he just didn't take center stage until very late in the book when we needed him.
I'm giving it 5 stars, but there was a couple of things that bothered me. Scott is referred to as 'the brunette' what felt like a thousand times. It threw me off the first couple of times, but eventually it just felt bizarre. The second thing was the changing perspectives. I love dual POV, but I was confused several times while reading, because there was no clear markation or indication as to whose POV it was. Even though I’ll be seeing the words ‘the brunette’ in my dreams, this book is so fucking good. The completely unique, harrowing and beautiful story totally makes up for the sometimes dodgy editing.
I’ve read it two times now and I love it so much.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Mental health rep Psychic/medium Ghost whisperer Schizophrenic MC Librarian MC Musician MC Hurt/comfort Found family Paranormal Slow burn Push and pull Virgin MC Therapy
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️ Prescription drug use (MC, on page) Side effects of prescription drug use (low libido, vomiting, tremors, etc.) MC emotionally and psychologically manipulated by parent (past and present) Auditory and visual hallucinations (on page) Past and present suicidal ideation Suicidal thoughts (on page) Several past suicide attempts (MC, some details) Details of severe depression (MC) Brief mention of past drug use (marijuana) Mentions of past psychiatric hospital stay (MC) Graphic injuries detailed (not MCs) MC abused as a child (psychologically) MC neglected as a child Past self harm (MC, scarring) References to past underage drinking and drug use (marijuana) Mentions of a person having committed suicide in the past (not detailed) MC experiences vision of woman being raped and killed (some details, not graphic) Descriptions of human remains Vomiting Brief mention of electroconvulsive therapy (past) Withdrawal from antipsychotic medications Drugged by parent (past and present, unknown tea) Brief mentions of slavery and racism in relation to a past murder (unnamed character)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️ Cheating: No Other person drama: No Breakup: Yes POV: 3rd person, dual Genre: Contemporary romance w/paranormal elements Pairing: M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles Main characters’ age: 25 and 26/27 Series: Standalone Kindle Unlimited: Yes Pages: 267
“So you don’t sleep much, huh? I see your light on up there all the time.” “I can’t maintain these bags under my eyes by keeping a normal sleep schedule, can I?” Finch nodded. “Exhaustion-chic is really in this year. I admire your dedication.”
Did he believe Scott at all, really, or did he think he was just sick, like everyone else? Scott sighed and leaned his shoulder against the wall. Was he sick? Was all of this real, or was it just in his mind? Was there even a difference?
Finch scoffed, shaking his head with a small smile. “How someone in your situation always finds the upside, I don't know.” “I don't have a choice,” Scott said. He shrugged one shoulder. “I've...been where I can't see an upside, and...it gets me put in the hospital,” he finished with a faint, dry smile.
She’s looking at you. Scott glanced across at his mother, who was humming softly as she changed lanes to pass an old sedan. She hates you. “Okay, sweetie?” she asked when she noticed him staring at her. “Want to jump out the window?” “What?” he whispered. “I asked if you wanted any coffee.”
Man, Nicky sure knows how to write real, gritty stories. This book deals heavily with domestic abuse, and how Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
Man, Nicky sure knows how to write real, gritty stories. This book deals heavily with domestic abuse, and how hard it is to get out of those situations. I really appreciated that it wasn’t glorified in any way, and it wasn’t reduced to some cheap ‘climax’ with a huge violent showdown at the end. This story was heavily focused on Tanner and Zander trying to build a friendship while Zander was stuck in his prison.
“He closed the door behind him, and I stood there staring at its wooden surface. The whole world looked like a happier place beyond that door, and I was nothing more than a trapped animal stuck behind it.”
Fear can make us do things that may seem irrational to those around us, and at the same time feel like the only option you have. It definitely tugged on the heartstrings to see Tanner try to navigate their friendship when he didn’t understand why Zander stayed. I loved how he never gave up on Zander, even when he was being pushed away. It’s not easy being a supportive, yet passive in these kinds of situations. Throw in the crush he’s hiding, and things get even more difficult.
There were a couple of scenes where their chemistry was so tangible and sweet that it made me grin silly-wide (storm night and ghost stories).
This was a really slow burn, but it couldn’t have been any other way, in my opinion. It made me smile and cry, and my heart was pounding at times. Nicky James is very talented, no doubt about that.
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No OM drama: Yes, the whole premise of the book kind of lends itself to it. There is never any cheating. Zander and Tanner are only friends until quite late in the book. Third-act breakup: Kind of, but between Zander and his abusive boyfriend. POV: 1st person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles
TW/CW: domestic abuse, emotional and physical abuse, explicit sexual content, Tanner tries to hook up with someone at one point but nothing more than a kiss happens (Z and T aren’t together yet) (hide spoiler)]
Tropes & tags (view spoiler)[ Domestic abuse, friends to lovers, very slow burn, tattoo artist, gaming, world of Warcraft, nerd/nerd, pre-k teacher (hide spoiler)]...more
Admittedly, I haven't read too many Onley James book, but this one is definitely my favorite, and Ever has moBook safety, tropes and tags down below.
Admittedly, I haven't read too many Onley James book, but this one is definitely my favorite, and Ever has moved up on my list of favorite characters. The way Arsen describes him is perfect:
"Ever was a constant surprise, as sweet and pure and angelic as the day he'd found him, but he was also somewhat feral, prone to biting, swearing and was horny almost around the clock."
Arsen was a fantastic character as well. He was sensitive and vulnerable, and a perfect match for Ever. Their scenes together while streaming was the cutest darn thing I've read in a long time, and even though there's some serious subjects in this, I found myself smiling through most of it, and I honestly want to read it again asap. This hits most of my favorite tropes and include the type of characters I go crazy for, so definitely keep that in mind while considering my enthusiasm, lol.
Slightly/very damaged characters with a murderous found family. What's not to love? The way Jericho's boys treated Ever was adorable and heartwarming. Cuddling him, bringing him candy for him to try, and protecting him against evil. I loved it.
When reading it you might think something along the lines of "this Ever dude seems awfully well-adjusted considering all the shit he went through", and most of the other characters in the book, including Ever himself would agree with you, but don't fret, it does go slightly downhill before it gets better again. The wonders of therapy (thank you, Onley).
The Mulvaney boys make a lot of appearances, but I've only read the first book in the Necessary Evils series (plus the blurbs of the others) and I handled it fine. Highly recommend if the tropes and tags agree with you!
Book safety (view spoiler)[ Cheating: No OM drama: No Third-act breakup: No POV: 3rd person, dual Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles (hide spoiler)]
TW/CW (view spoiler)[ Human trafficking, sexual assault (off-page, not highly detailed), slavery, forced prostitution, violence, murder, blood, parent in prison, murder of a parent (off-page, described), mild exhibitionism, arson, fire, corrupt police department (hide spoiler)]
Trope and tags (view spoiler)[ Hurt/comfort, found family, murder-friends, mild exhibitionism, growing up in captivity, possessive and protective (and slightly feral tiny MC), size difference, gaming, streaming, twitch, mechanic (hide spoiler)]...more
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