I loved Roman in book one - our bad boy activist who is not afraid to fight for what he believes in.
Add to thRoman and Everett make such a great team!
I loved Roman in book one - our bad boy activist who is not afraid to fight for what he believes in.
Add to the mix the deeply closeted Catholic Everett who has a hard journey of acceptance to go on as well as discovering where his loyalty lies when his father tries to tear down Neon Nights.
They were almost hot and heavy immediately but after E pumped the brakes they got to know each other and Rome became an excellent friend. Obviously it led to more, this is a romance after all but it was very sweetly done.
A lot of the book is less romance focused than I expected and goes hard into found family and standing up for your beliefs. There’s a handful of chapters in the middle-endish from other characters’ perspectives and I absolutely loved that.
Neon Nights is an important and special place for so many people who have no where else to go. I really enjoyed the drama and the fight to save the bar as well as the sort of star crossed lovers romance....more
**spoiler alert** Odd pacing, both with too much happening and important things happening too quickly; super heavy handed message of body positivity t**spoiler alert** Odd pacing, both with too much happening and important things happening too quickly; super heavy handed message of body positivity that became repetitive; an abundance of spooky puns; and a weirdly dramatic ending.
Obviously I’m not a fan. I’ve read one other book by this author and thought her characters were written way younger than their supposed ages but this is set in college so I hoped that wouldn’t be an issue. It still sort of was.
Hot but doesn’t know it jock who only texts in emojis and expects everyone to understand his messages ...more
Maybe I’ll get him to order us some expensive takeout after we maim whichever criminal is on our list this afternoon. Is that romance? It kind of feelMaybe I’ll get him to order us some expensive takeout after we maim whichever criminal is on our list this afternoon. Is that romance? It kind of feels like it is.
Big bad mafia sub and his somewhat reluctant MMA dom ...more
On the one hand you had a beautiful best friends to lovers, coming of age, secretly pining for more storyThis felt like two different books to me tbh.
On the one hand you had a beautiful best friends to lovers, coming of age, secretly pining for more story full of whimsy and beautiful prose. The inspiration from Shakespeare was clear but not too much. Only getting one perspective meant that we were just as much in the dark about Romeo’s feelings as Jude was and when everything fell apart it HURT.
But to find out that the misunderstanding wasn’t even between the MCs but a side character and an MC and that at no point did these best friends ever have an honest conversation about their feelings or this misunderstanding was baffling!!! I also didn’t really connect with Romeo and didn’t feel like he was ever as invested in their hookups/relationship as Jude was. This may have just been because we didn’t get Romeo’s perspective but idk. I couldn’t understand Romeo’s motivation in marrying a woman he didn’t love and all of this together made the ending feel unsatisfying.
Jesse is a favourite author of mine so I’ll definitely pick up future books from her but this was a miss for me.
All that matters are citrus fruits and silk pajamas, skylights and second chances.
This was so lovely! An Omegaverse Cinderella retelling ❤️ Mason was All that matters are citrus fruits and silk pajamas, skylights and second chances.
This was so lovely! An Omegaverse Cinderella retelling ❤️ Mason was so swoony - I love how he looked after Tristan and carried him everywhere. I just wanted to wrap Tristan up and protect him too! His family were awful but everything ended in a really satisfying way and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
The majority of the story is during Tristan’s heat so it’s quite spicy but the drama was the perfect balance to keep the story moving....more
Angelo’s eyes widened as he tried to process the crazy coming from the vampire sitting in front of him. “You can’t just decide that I’m yours, Corvin.Angelo’s eyes widened as he tried to process the crazy coming from the vampire sitting in front of him. “You can’t just decide that I’m yours, Corvin. That’s not how life works.”
“Watch me.”
You had me at “grumpy wolf shifter and a murder sunshine vampire assassin”.
This dynamic was so fun!! Add to the above tropes forced proximity and knotting and it’s basically my dream book ...more
This book is so intensely passionate and I simply adored how desperate Matthew and Fischer were for each other. Themes: adopted brothers, 13 year age This book is so intensely passionate and I simply adored how desperate Matthew and Fischer were for each other. Themes: adopted brothers, 13 year age gap, disability rep, forbidden romance, single dad, family drama. The author is making some changes prior to publishing which should only enhance the book so I’ll come back and write a more in depth review after reading the final version. It’s already a 10/10 for me though so I’m excited to see what changes she makes ☺️
“We’ve been doing this, beautiful. We’re just gonna stop pretending that we’re not all in.”
A new start for 6 best friends wh“We’re really doing this?”
“We’ve been doing this, beautiful. We’re just gonna stop pretending that we’re not all in.”
A new start for 6 best friends who met in college almost 20 years ago. This book focuses on Indy - the unofficial owner/leader of the bar and Salem a younger man who moved back home when his life didn’t go as planned. I loved how immediately obsessed they were with each other - esp Indy. His jealousy and need to stake his claim (even in the office during working hours!) was so hot! ...more
“I’m needy,” he whispers against my lips, convulsing and moaning again as I match his pace and start to stroke him.
“I like needy,” I rumble, my words “I’m needy,” he whispers against my lips, convulsing and moaning again as I match his pace and start to stroke him.
“I like needy,” I rumble, my words sounding more like a growl than coherent speech as I kiss along the smooth edge of his jaw with little nips. “I also like pretty twinks with big blue eyes and cherry flavored lips.”
Sweet and hot! I loved how gentle Lewis and Arrow were with each other and while I rolled my eyes a bit at the absolute lack of communication re: their jobs it was funny how long it went on for. The pranks were silly but each side managed to benefit from them as a nice twist. Overall very easy read when you want something simple and spicy....more
OV Non-con/kidnapping fantasy with a tech genius who makes his own BDSM kit with a surprise heat?? Swoon!
I really loved Mason and Hayden but beyond thOV Non-con/kidnapping fantasy with a tech genius who makes his own BDSM kit with a surprise heat?? Swoon!
I really loved Mason and Hayden but beyond the fun smut I enjoyed that this book employed a time jump so the next time these two meet Hayden is obviously pregnant. I feel like we often see the beginning and jump to the end of mpreg but here we get some of the middle and that was really fun. The drama with Colin was just the right amount of exciting and OMG the birth! I can’t wait for Simon’s book - this series has me hooked!...more
I liked this HOWEVER the one thing that bothered me was when they decided to try dating for real but insisted that Ambrose continue t3.5 rounded down.
I liked this HOWEVER the one thing that bothered me was when they decided to try dating for real but insisted that Ambrose continue to be a twat for the rest of the event??? Utterly pointless. Some of the ways he pretended to be awful were cringe as well but overall this was funny and quite a unique concept!...more
That cliffhanger?! After near-lethal levels of pining?!?!!! I AM NOT WELL.
Once upon a time, young Yarik saves a boy who nearly drowned and then begs hThat cliffhanger?! After near-lethal levels of pining?!?!!! I AM NOT WELL.
Once upon a time, young Yarik saves a boy who nearly drowned and then begs his mafia daddy to spare him. These two acts of seeming kindness have catastrophic consequences for both boys.
The story is told in parts that span years starting around when Yarik is 10. Their friendship that is actively discouraged is in itself a slow burn. Kirill might not have any memories of his real name or past life but he’s quick to pick up on what Volkov’s kindness really means. Nothing comes without a price and no one is safe from betrayal.
I loved their texts especially seeing what each of them wanted to say but ultimately deleted. This is part of a duet so a lot of book 1 is focused on their friendship rather than anything romantic and even when it does shift it’s to hardcore one-sided pining. It’s so well paced though. I blasted through this at light speed. Absolutely cannot wait for book 2!
This was a cute and easy read. Alex and Henry went to the same high school and reconnect at the Cat Cafe Henry works at when Alex is back in town helpThis was a cute and easy read. Alex and Henry went to the same high school and reconnect at the Cat Cafe Henry works at when Alex is back in town helping care for his father. Feelings grow but they’re living very different lives and Alex has quite a bit of growing to do. Some of it is surprisingly heavy but overall the romance was sweet and simple with some four-legged side characters for added cuteness. This would be a great palate cleanser between longer books ...more
A quick read though not terribly memorable a month later. I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time and look forward to experiencing it “for the first time”A quick read though not terribly memorable a month later. I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time and look forward to experiencing it “for the first time” again! I remember thinking it was less unhinged than the previous books ironically but I loved the forbidden nature of the relationship and how the power dynamics were balanced....more
Just finished my ARC copy and it was just as brilliant the second time ❤️ No new notes - I just love these two!
Original review after Coming October 7!
Just finished my ARC copy and it was just as brilliant the second time ❤️ No new notes - I just love these two!
Original review after reading on Ream:
There’s so much to love about Arcanum - a K9 cop gains a new neighbour who on the surface is just a bookshop owner but underneath he’s also an empathic witch with a stalker who just won’t quit. The romance is sweet and steady but circumstances push these two together time and again.
I always love how Ashlyn doesn’t shy away from heavier topics. Mental health, suicide, grief, and coming out in a small town are some of the topics that come up in this book. Plus her characters feel so real. They’re messy and frustrating at times - perfectly imperfect.
Overall, it’s much lighter and dare I say cosier compared to her other books. More along the lines of Per Sanguinem and I adored it. The ending was satisfying and I loved all the banter between Grey & Chris. Chris is definitely ultimate book boyfriend material ...more
I’ve only read this author’s MM books before and seeing another review saying they felt blindsided by the **This is an MF romance with a trans lead.**
I’ve only read this author’s MM books before and seeing another review saying they felt blindsided by the pairing I just want to put this at the top of my review. I think I also didn’t realise it was MM but I’ll read anything with trans rep and I adored this!! It’s important that readers know what they’re picking up though so there’s my disclaimer ☺️ On to the review:
The world knows her as soccer superstar Étienne Salvador but she washes up on Nico’s shore as Éti - funny, vibrant, and gorgeous. He’s the only person who knows her secret and they quickly become obsessed with each other while navigating her public life, their secret relationship, and the grief shadowing Nico’s family (TW for a parent with cancer).
And yet, even with death’s stealthy advance on our home, my heart sang. I was drunk in love with a person idolised by millions yet known by none.
It’s so beautifully written and Nico is absolutely dreamy book boyfriend material! Immediate acceptance and loyalty. Éti is straddling her two worlds and letting Nico in is the ultimate act of vulnerability but he honours that bravery and leans on her in turn with his own struggles. It’s just so goddamn beautiful and I wish our world could be as wonderful and accepting as Éti’s.
“But when I’m with you, you make me feel like my life has purpose, not just farming oysters and going to the pub. Like meeting you was what I was waiting for.” When I kissed her lush mouth, I felt her smile against me. “It’s a life I want to grab with both hands.”...more