Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, and the steam.
The Not-So-Good: I think there needed to be more reasoning for the H to do w3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, and the steam.
The Not-So-Good: I think there needed to be more reasoning for the H to do what he did. I didn't really get it and it just made him seem more the crazier in the end. And the female employees looking alike -- eww.
The Bad: The ending. It was right after the conflict was resolved and could've definitely been better. I also think it could've benefited a lot by having the H's POV. There was also the side work that the H did that I'm still confused about and unsure how it fit into the story at all in a way that was beneficial (other than maybe connecting it to other books?)
Overall: This was pretty steamy and the H was quite the character! I think it definitely could've been better, but I still did enjoy it for what it was -- a steamy, low angst, and humorous read.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emery and Callum's story. Emery is down on her luck and when she finally decides she has to close her small family bookstore, Callum appears with a proposition. He needs a wife to keep his family's media mogul inheritance. There is some cat and mouse, some secrets revealed, and some hot sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Emery's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (view spoiler)[the H claims to have loved her at first sight (hide spoiler)]
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Callum. He was a mess! But a likable mess.... I'm rating him 3.5 stars because that's my from the gut rating, but if I thought about it more it'd probably be less because he was pretty cray cray!
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Emery. I liked her but I also thought she was a little too pessimistic for my liking (even though it was probably understandable after all she went though)
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the h pushes away a good bit and the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[ rough sex, dirty talk, spanking, mild D/s dynamics, and some bondage (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (weeks/month), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Criminal activity/extortion (on page) and loss of parents (off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[ they're still married (hide spoiler)], but I would've liked some more time of them together after the conflict was resolved.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating by mcs - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the potential for angst, the steam.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. Too many unanswered questions left a2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the potential for angst, the steam.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. Too many unanswered questions left and not enough closure for a "HEA"
The Bad: The lack of development of characters and feelings.
Overall: This was simply smut. Which is fine! It just didn't have that much storyline or development here. So if you're looking for a hot, taboo read - this will probably work for you! It just wasn't my cuppa...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Alexandrea and Brett's story. Alexandrea is starting college and living with her estranged half-sister when she meets Brett, her professor and one of the college deans. Sparks fly as they bump into one another and when she realizes that her half-sister thinks of him as her boyfriend, she tries to stay away. There is a good bit of sexy times and some funny moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Alexandrea and Brett's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Yes, because I didn't think there was development of feelings
H (Hero) rating: 2.5 stars. Brett. He was alright but I did struggle with his behavior and (seemingly) lack of/desire to feel empathy
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Alexandrea. She was alright though I did want her to be stronger to the H's sexual pull
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the h pushes away (not very strongly) and the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- and I think there was so much of it, it did take away from the story. (view spoiler)[Some D/s dynamics, spanking, and dirty talk (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[the h's half-sister is delusional and thinks she has a relationship with the H past sexual and causes some drama (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: IMO, yes (view spoiler)[the H tried to be sexual with a few different women after feelings for the h had developed (but didn't technically do anything) (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly, the H tried to be with OW during this time but wasn't successful and there was no mention or suggestion of other partners for the h during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[the H had a casual sexual relationship with the h's half-sister (off page), the h was the H's student, the h was a virgin, and the H is ~20 years older (38/18) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but with what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]. I had a lot of unanswered questions in the end.
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating IMO - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The H's friend, Jax.
The Not-So-Good: The mystery foreshadowing. There was hardly any. I wasn't guessi2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The H's friend, Jax.
The Not-So-Good: The mystery foreshadowing. There was hardly any. I wasn't guessing who it was at all because I had no idea. I didn't even really remember who the character was when we revisited them in the end. I think it could've been better with some hints or at least something! Also, I think there could've been a lot more grovel by the H.
The Bad: The ending. I know -- blah, blah, blah, needed more in the end, blah...
Overall: This was underwhelming tbh. I was in the mood for some romantic suspense and the BDSM element of this sounded fun. Sadly, it was just meh.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lauren and Connor's story. Connor is assigned to go undercover at some BDSM clubs after his boss's best friend's wife is murdered because he is part of the scene. He meets Lauren, who is a vendor or BDSM implements that frequently sells her wares at one of the clubs. Sparks fly instantly, but Lauren is not part of the scene and hesitant. While trying to solve the murder, they start a casual affair that quickly gets more serious than either of them wanted. There are some suspenseful moments, some sexy times, and some big secrets revealed...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Lauren and Connor in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I thought it was kind of slow at some points but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Connor. I liked him a little better than the h. I understood his past issues, but I wanted him to see the light a little sooner.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Lauren. She was alright. I didn't like her hot and cold, especially at first.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away (H more) and the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[BSDM elements: light bondage, D/s dynamic, spanking, flogging, and anal play (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ Jealousy of other sub (see cheating spoiler below) (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not technically (view spoiler)[ The H does do a scene with OW (off page; to keep his cover after being with the h, but it was said to be not sexual (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~3 weeks, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Violence/murder/kidnapping (off and on page), h has PTSD from childhood experience (on page), and H does a scene with OW (off page and doesn't do anything sexual) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place with what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they share "ILYs" (hide spoiler)]. The epilogue was used to set up another book. I think it definitely could have been better!
Safety: This is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating (see above) - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The end. I didn't like that we don't get to experience Phoenix o3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The end. I didn't like that we don't get to experience Phoenix or the H getting into his new role. The conflict was very meh, and then when it's resolved we jump right into a HEA. Granted, we get two epilogues which is definitely better than none -- but it still didn't feel like enough to me.
The Bad: I don't know if I'd really say this was bad, but I think what bothered me the most was a lack of connection to the h. I didn't feel like I got to really know her or understand her hangups (other than growing up with a conservative family). I also wanted her to come into her own a lot more. It felt like she was playing at the new persona more than anything to me.
Overall: This was kind of underwhelming and just okay for me. I didn't hate it or anything, but I guess I just wanted much more. I like the idea of an alpha type man being a submissive, so if anyone has any recommendations-- I'm all ears!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Maggie and Beau's story. Maggie is the only vanilla owner of a sex club and match app when she gets pressured to take the online quiz that helps determine her kinks. She is shocked to find that she is like her closest friend, Emerson, and a dominant. When someone else new to the app and a submissive shows up as a potential match, they agree to try out the new lifestyle together. But then it ends up being Emerson's son and they decide to try out the lifestyle in secret together. There is some big reveals for them personally, some sexy times, and some mild drama...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Maggie and Beau's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I never skimmed and I thought it mostly flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Beau. I liked him a little more than the h. He was damaged and insecure and I appreciated how he came to better understand himself (but he was bratty)
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Maggie. She was alright. I get that she was newly dealing with this new personal dynamic, but I didn't feel any connection with her or feel like she was all that great tbh.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The h pushes away a little when she finds out who he is, but not too much (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[ Some bdsm dynamics: D/s, bondage, spanking/flogging/caning, degradation, toys, and pegging (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Mild (view spoiler)[Some mild jealousy when H tries to be a brat for the h and flirts with OW (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Violence/assault (on page) and the h is ~12 years older than the H and best friends with his dad (34/22) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're committed with him collared and neither of them wanting to get married (hide spoiler)], but I still wanted to experience much more of their HEA.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away (mild) - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (see above) (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: I am drawn to the taboo Professor/student age-gap type stories, so this was appealing in that way. The epilogue (e2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: I am drawn to the taboo Professor/student age-gap type stories, so this was appealing in that way. The epilogue (except that one part I mention below).
The Not-So-Good: The pacing. While I never skimmed, I definitely wanted to at times because it had ebbs and flows of nothing significant happening (except the H making dominant declarations and the h being bratty against it) and then dropping in some dramatic element to speed it up randomly.
The Bad: The dramatic elements *BIG spoilers*(view spoiler)[stripper/student, Professor/student taboo, D/unknown sub, jerk/controlling/possessive H, OM jealousy, on the run h/controlling parents that she’s on the run from alcoholic mother/Misogynist governor (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable and probably one of the best mmf romances I've read! It still had some things that didn't work for me, b 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable and probably one of the best mmf romances I've read! It still had some things that didn't work for me, but I appreciated the struggles they experienced in starting a poly relationship. Those struggles helped it feel more authentic and not just super easy with no internal conflict like many of these books seem to be. I just wish we experience some more of the development of feelings. Instead we were thrown in with the three already loving each other and maybe not realizing it. I did appreciate how the author had times that focused on the h and both Hs individually, the Hs together, and them all together. The ending was sweet, but I didn't download the extended epilogue to get more closure because I just hate that tactic by authors (even though I'm sure it's effective) and I'm stubborn ...more
Super slow. I was bored and the way the (many) side characters were described, I felt like I was missing another book or something — because DNF @ 31%
Super slow. I was bored and the way the (many) side characters were described, I felt like I was missing another book or something — because why did I need to know so much about them?! The sex scenes weren’t even hot. But hey! It was free, so not complaining too much here ...more
Overall Opinion: This was just alright for me. If you want an education into the different aspects of the s & m part of the bdsm lifestyle, th3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was just alright for me. If you want an education into the different aspects of the s & m part of the bdsm lifestyle, this might be a good read for you. It wasn’t all that heavy on the D/s parts of it as the sub, Eddie, wasn’t really all that submissive and took a more teaching role in the relationship. Not that all that is bad or anything! I just wanted more of an emotional connection between these two. I felt like we didn’t get all that deep into their characters and, other than the sexual chemistry, I didn’t feel a connection between them that much either. The ending was lackluster, but it was a fine fit for the rest of the story. I didn’t hate it or anything, I just didn’t love it either.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jeff and Eddie’s story. Jeff has recently broken up with his long term girlfriend and is wanting to feed his sadistic needs and become a Dom for the right woman. Unfortunately for him, he has made a reputation for being a little too green for any sub to want to take him on. As an experienced sub that is attracted to Jeff, Eddie offers his masochistic services to the straight man. As things progress between them and the training gets more intense, lines get crossed and feelings start to develop. There are a good bit of sexy times, some big revelations, and some family drama…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Jeff and Eddie in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3 stars. Jeff. He was kind of a mess at first, but I appreciated how he came to care about the H2. I don’t feel like we got really deep into his character.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Eddie. I liked him more than the H1, but I also didn’t feel like we really got to know him all that much.
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- and because of the amount of focus being on the sex, I would classify this as erotica and not erotic romance. Consensual BDSM elements (view spoiler)[spanking, bondage, caning, electro, anal toys, fisting, D/s dynamics and some mild humiliation (I probably missed some too (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I can see where my GR friends could have loved this, but it sadly didn’t work for me. The pacing felt off and way too slow 2.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I can see where my GR friends could have loved this, but it sadly didn’t work for me. The pacing felt off and way too slow at times and I’m actually surprised I stuck with it to the end. I also don’t think I really connected with the characters all that much and I think that also made it hard to feel their connection to each other. The sex even felt kind of surface level and I didn’t feel like there was all that much chemistry between them. It could be that my expectations got the better of me because so many of my friends loved this, or it could’ve just been my mood lately — who knows! I kind of feel like it’s a me thing though…
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Toby and Laurie’s story. They meet one night at a BDSM club and are instantly attracted even though Toby is a novice Dominate and Laurie is an experienced, older submissive. They are in vastly different periods of their lives, but they seem to work where it really counts and start to develop stronger feelings after having a physical relationship. There is some past baggage they have to work through, some big life changes, and some sexy times…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Toby and Laurie’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Too slow for me at times. I found myself feeling unmotivated to finish a few times, but I never skimmed.
Instalove: Kind of, because other than sex there wasn’t that much development before the H1 was confessing his love.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Toby. I liked him more than the H2 mainly because I felt like we got deeper into his character.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3 stars. Laurie. He was alright, but I don’t think I ever really connected with his character.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away (H2 more so) and also pursue the relationship (H1 more so) at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story and I thought the chemistry felt lacking. BDSM elements: (view spoiler)[D/s dynamics, bondage, flogging, and use of toys (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes, but pretty mild (view spoiler)[there is a scene where the H2’s ex is telling the H1 what the H2 likes sexually (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[ There is a scene where the H2 is dominated by OM after his first sexual encounter with the H1 (but they don’t have a relationship) (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated very shortly (a day?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Loss of a loved one (aftermath on page) and H2 is significantly older than the H1 (36 and 19 respectively…I think) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place for the couple, but I would call it a HFN ending since there aren’t any concrete commitments or a jump into their future.
Safety: This one should be Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with the H2 and OM - Does have both the H1 and H2 pushing away - Does have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I’m glad I gave in and gave this a shot because it’s been on my radar (and tbr list) since I started reading so much. Whil 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I’m glad I gave in and gave this a shot because it’s been on my radar (and tbr list) since I started reading so much. While I understand that many, many reader loved this — I’m sad to say that I am, yet again, disappointed in my own reaction to it. I didn’t love it. It felt too slow at times and while it had me shed a few tears, I wanted more in the chemistry (both romantic and sexual) department. I honestly don’t know how to rate this, but because I did connect enough to get emotional at the end I’ll rank this just above 3 “just okay” stars.
*I’m not going with my full review format because with this book it is hard to do without giving too much away*
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Nora’s story. I’ll keep this vague in hopes of not ruining it. Zach is Nora’s new book editor for her notorious erotica novels. Zach isn’t all that convinced that she is a good fit for his publishing house, but agrees to do it as a final job before moving to the LA location. Zach is going through his own personal drama with being separated from his wife, but he is quickly submerged into Noah’s world of BDSM through her book and her personal life. Nora has her hands busy with her virgin, young intern Wesley that lives with her, her ex-dominant Soren who is powerful in the BDSM scene, and now Zach….and things get a little messy.
Point Of View (POV): This mainly alternated between focusing on Nora and Zach in 3rd person narrative..
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. This dragged in several places and while I never skimmed, it felt like it took me a long time to get into it and through it.
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I was bummed about this aspect of the story tbh. I thought it wasn’t nearly as hot as it could’ve been.
Descriptive sex: Yes, but not as descriptive as I thought it would be
Cheating: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H is married to OW (kind-of separated as she’s in London and he’s in NY) (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Sex with minor (15 yo) on page, BDSM with an emphasis on the S & M, catholic priest breaking vow, and the H is married (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a place that sets up for the next books. I would (reluctantly) call it a HFN ending…but it’s a tough one to label.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H (view spoiler)[because who’s really together? (hide spoiler)] - Does Not have abuse (consensual) - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
It got to be seemingly all sex scenes and not that much substance for me. There were time jumps just to new sex scenes and not much of them iDNF @ 53%
It got to be seemingly all sex scenes and not that much substance for me. There were time jumps just to new sex scenes and not much of them interacting without sex. This made the sex scenes feel meh to me too, so I just wasn’t feeling it ...more
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable for what it was, but not going down as one of my faves. I really enjoyed the overall premise, but I defini3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable for what it was, but not going down as one of my faves. I really enjoyed the overall premise, but I definitely agree with other reviewers in that Gavin sucked at his job because the killer was so obvious and he was even bordering in the TSTL line towards the end! I also would’ve liked getting Ben’s POV for some of it, a deeper connection into the characters, and more development of feelings to feel a better romantic connection. But, tbh these are typical complaints of mine for suspenseful romances — so I’m not all that shocked that I had them again here.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Gavin and Ben’s story. Gavin is going through the motions in life when he gets a case that opens his eyes to a whole new world. As a psychologist that specializes in people in the BDSM scene, Ben gets a job as a consultant with detective Gavin on a murder case of somebody active in that lifestyle. They spark an instant connection, but it isn’t until Gavin’s case immerses him in the new world (and some big life changes) that he gives in to his attraction and they start a relationship. There is some suspense with the murder cases, some family drama, and some sexy times…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Gavin’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. This was short and it sometimes felt like it, but I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No. Instant attraction and connection? Yes.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Gavin. I liked him, but he really did suck as a detective!
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Ben. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for Gavin and was patient with and accommodating of his needs. I would’ve really liked his POV to connect more though.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: No
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. BDSM elements (view spoiler)[D/s dynamics, bondage, spanking, toys, and breath play by side characters (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[ The H1 is married to OW when meeting the H2 (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No (view spoiler)[The H1 is aroused by what he saw in the club and tries to initiate sex with his wife, but she refuses (at the beginning before anything happens with H2) (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not between mcs (view spoiler)[The H1 was cheated on by his wife and doesn’t get together with H2 until after he finds this out (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes *CAUTION*(view spoiler)[The H1 was cheated on by his wife (on page), divorce, and violence/murder/homophobia (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a pretty good place but with what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they found the killer and the H1’s family now knows but no further commitments (hide spoiler)], and not nearly enough overall closure for me.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating (see above) - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (see above) - Does Not have the H1 or H2 pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I was thinking this was okay until I started writing everything out here. I struggled with this one a lot. I liked Sam righ2.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I was thinking this was okay until I started writing everything out here. I struggled with this one a lot. I liked Sam right off the bat but then he really rubbed me the wrong way as things progressed. Donovan was a mess and I didn’t like how he based his happiness on if Sam would want him or not. I also feel like Sam’s family drama was a little OTT and all the drama was wrapped up really quickly with not enough answers in the end. I think the premise and overall storyline was good, but there was too much that muddled it all up in the end.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Donovan and Sam’s story. Donovan is going through the motions of his life after his world is turned upside down by his soon to be ex wife. He isn’t all that thrilled to work with the confident new employee that everyone else loves and he cannot deny is talented. Sam moved back to Cleveland for family issues that he doesn’t want to face and he finds he enjoys pushing the buttons of his new hot, grumpy boss. Donovan starts to notice things about Sam that he never has before about a man and lines get crossed. There is some family and work drama and some sexy times…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Donovan and Sam in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It had some time jumps that I didn’t like and it felt rushed towards the end. I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-f-buddies-to-more.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3 stars. Donovan. I liked him but I wanted him to be better at communicating.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 2 stars. Sam. While I liked how he was himself, I didn’t like how self focused he was and how he was often even selfish.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H2 pushes away and I’d say the H1 is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Some light BDSM elements.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H1 becomes jealous of the H2’s other casual relationships (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[There are different scenes with the H1 and OM and OW (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not technically (view spoiler)[The H2 is with OW and OM after being with the H1 but they aren’t in an exclusive relationship (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated (weeks/month/s ?), and there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time for the H1 and I felt like it was implied that the H2 wasn’t with OP either. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H1 is going through a divorce where his wife cheated on him with his (now) ex best friend (mostly off page), family disownment (H2 off and on page), loss of a parent to cancer (on page), and the H1 is ~11 years older than the H2 (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with some closure (but not enough) and what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they’re living together (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not technically have cheating (see above) - Does have a few descriptive sex scenes with the H1 with OM and OW - Does have the H2 pushing the H1 away - Does have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was a bummer because I think it could’ve been so much better than it was. The overall premise was what drew me in, but t3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a bummer because I think it could’ve been so much better than it was. The overall premise was what drew me in, but the execution was just meh. It was what I consider erotica because it often only focuses on the sex scenes instead of the romance with sex scenes in what I consider erotic romance. That’s just fine! I just wanted more than what it was. It was just alright for what it was and the ending was very lacking IMO, so I’m going with 3 “just okay” stars.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Quinn and Eli’s story. Quinn is out of his closeted relationship after ~10 years and finding out that his ex is getting married to a woman he cheated on him with because she is pregnant. When out about a year later, Quinn decides to pick up a man to serve as a buffer and a statement of his sexuality when he is to be the Godfather to his ex’s son and Eli is the perfect candidate. Eli is drawn to the older Quinn and has no problem waving his gay flag for Quinn’s ex and his family. The more time they spend together, the more feelings start to develop, and they fall in love. There a good bit of sexy times and some drama with exes…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Quinn and Eli in 3rd person narrative
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. Lots of sex scenes and an abrupt ending aside, I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No. Instalust? Yes.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Quinn. I liked him until he pushed the H2 away. I appreciated how protective he was.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 4 stars. Eli. I liked him. I appreciated how mature he was and how he stayed true to himself.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away and I’d say the main pursuer of the relationship is the H1 (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes. Some BDSM aspects (view spoiler)[ Daddy kink, light bondage, and spanking (hide spoiler)]. This had a lot of scenes and I would even say it crossed the line into erotica instead of erotic romance for me.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H1’s ex causes some drama for the couple (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[There is a descriptive scene with the H1 and his ex before he meets the H2 (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: No (view spoiler)[The H1’s ex kisses him without his consent (after being with the H2) at one point but he doesn’t reciprocate (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes, but very short (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (day?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Age difference (H1 is ~10 years older?), family disownment (H2 off page), ex cheated on him (H1 off page), and homelessness (H2 off and on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends really abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending and I was left with many unanswered questions.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Nottechnically have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the H1 & H2 pushing away - Does have a short separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: Welp...at least it was free! It felt way all over the place. There were so many different things going on that it felt disorga2 Stars
Overall Opinion: Welp...at least it was free! It felt way all over the place. There were so many different things going on that it felt disorganized and it lost my interest about 2/3rds of the way in. I didn’t feel like I really got the characters, I didn’t feel their connection to each other past lust, and I felt like the different dramatic elements were OTT by the end. Overall, this was even less than meh for me.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Matt and Lawson’s story. They meet when Matt’s younger brother is in jail for vandalizing Lawson’s fighting/sex club. Matt takes on the duty of cleaning the place up and ends up with scheduling a fight with Lawson to try to pay off some of the debt. Lawson is struggling with his new role in the club after his best friend and lover was incarcerated and Matt seems to be just what he needs. There are some conflicts, some sexy times, and some secrets revealed...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Matt and Lawson in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. I did skim for the last 1/3ish. It felt slow at times and I ended up bored.
Instalove: Yes. I didn’t understand the progression from lust to love.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Matt. I liked him a little more than Lawson, but I think that came from his need to please and ability to be vulnerable.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3 stars. Lawson. He was a little confusing to me at times with his hot and cold then love.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H2 pushes away and I’d say the H2 is also the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. But seriously — some hot men fighting then getting it on?! The authors majorly missed the mark with the potential here! BDSM aspects: D/s dynamics, bondage, mild humiliation, spanking
Sex scene with OW or OM: Not without both mcs (view spoiler)[ There is a 3rd OM that is part of their sexual acts at times (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes, but very short (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (days?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Domestic violence (off page), homelessness (off page), violence/kidnapping/assault/murder (on page), and the H1 is a virgin (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place with what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they’ve shared ILYs and are living together (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (without mcs) - Does have the H2 pushing the H1 away - Does have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was a steamy surprise! I would even say that this was reminiscent of the BDSM type books with the damaged character that 3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a steamy surprise! I would even say that this was reminiscent of the BDSM type books with the damaged character that I read a lot of when I first got into reading (after FSoG ...more
Overall Opinion: This had been on my tbr list for a long time. I’ve just recently gotten into reading mm books, so when I saw this again I 2.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This had been on my tbr list for a long time. I’ve just recently gotten into reading mm books, so when I saw this again I didn’t hesitate like I did before. I think because I’ve been reading mm romances, I was greatly disappointed with the almost avoidance of the mm aspects of these 3 mc’s relationship. This was what I would call erotica because it was mostly about the sex with the romance as secondary. Which is fine! I just expect the sex to be hotter if that was the case. The BDSM aspects were mild and seemingly thrown in just to have them and not by someone that did their research on those dynamics in relationships. I very well could be wrong because all I know about those relationships is from reading smut — but I guess I just felt like it was a gimmick to add along with the second H. The flow felt disjointed at times and the ending was way too abrupt. I’m glad I read this to feed my curiosity, but I really struggled with it overall.
Side note: If anyone has any recommendations for a mmf book that has romantic connections between all the characters, I’d love to hear them!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Erin, Todd, and Ben’s story. Todd and Erin were neighbors that give in to their connection, but Todd gets scared by their differences and the dark desires that he has that Erin brings out in him, and he pushes her away. About ten years later, they meet again after some big life events have happened for both of them and they connect again instantly. Todd and Ben have been best friends for a long time. When Ben explains that he is bisexual and was in a triad relationship before, Todd starts to see him in a different light and things start to develop between the three of them. There is some past baggage they work through and some sexy times…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Erin, Todd and Ben in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. It was slow in some parts and felt off in the flow for me at times. The abrupt ending was odd too. I never skimmed.
Instalove: Kind of because I didn’t get the progression to deeper feelings (other than sex)
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Erin. I liked her strength and I appreciated how she cared for the Hs and showed it. I don’t think I fully connected with her character though.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Todd. I liked his protective and caring nature and I appreciated how he got through his struggle and went for what he wanted. I don’t think we got into his character very deep.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3 stars. Ben. I liked him but I never really connected with his character. I felt like he was also very surface level. He honestly felt just thrown in for a taboo type feature.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The H1 pushes away but he past but he is also the main pursuer of the relationship. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes. This was probably what I would consider erotica because the focus was more on the sex than on the romantic connection. (view spoiler)[Very light BDSM aspects (D/s dynamics with both Hs being D, spanking with hand/belt/flogger, bondage, and toys) and some mild mmf (minimal mm interactions) and mostly mfm scenes (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[The H2’s ex comes around and causes a little drama for the couple (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[The h and H1 are separated for ~10 years and they both have other partners during this time (h had baby with OM and H1 was married and divorced) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Stalker/violence/assault/murder of child (off page but through memories) and domestic violence for side character (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends abruptly in an okay place, but it left me kind of confused and frustrated for not having more closure. I would still call this a HEA (view spoiler)[the h and H1 are married and the H2 is committed and living with them (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the H1 pushing the h away (before H2) - Does have a separation between the h and H1 (before H2) - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (see above) (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I actually like escort type stories (or f-buddy to more), so this wasn’t too far out of my norm. It has 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I actually like escort type stories (or f-buddy to more), so this wasn’t too far out of my norm. It has cheating — so beware those of you that have that as a hard limit. I thought the pacing felt off and the ending was not nearly enough. The conflict was resolved in the epilogue!! I thought I saw that there is an extended epilogue or a novella that goes along with this that I’m going to look for because I’m rather frustrated with how little of closure we actually got. However, I would recommend this for anyone that likes a forbidden romance with an significant age gap that has no problem with cheating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Aubrey and James’s story. Aubrey is a struggling college senior that cares for her elderly grandmother financially. When her best friend and roommate offer her a chance to make obscene amounts of money quickly, she takes her up on the offer and becomes a high end escort. Three clients in and she meets James and she cannot forget him. They connect instantly and James starts a strong pursuit of Aubrey. There are some major road blocks in their way, lots of lies being told And revealed, and some hot sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Aubrey’s POV. I think it would’ve been nice to get some of James POV to understand his feelings a little more tbh.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It felt slow at first, it picked up, and then ended abruptly. It was also pretty long, so I think it could’ve been edited better (at least the beginning) tbh.
Instalove: Kind of. Instant connection but not really the fluffy instalove that I find annoying.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. James. I liked him. He was pretty hot and I liked how he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Aubrey. I liked her. She was kind of a mess at times and it did really bother me how she dealt with the Daniel situation though.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but no tissues were needed.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The h pushes away and I’d say that the H is the main pursuer of the relationship. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Some bondage, spanking and light D/s dynamics.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both are with other people and this causes jealousy (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[ There are a few scenes with the h and OM (one including the H in a threesome) (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated a few times shortly and one time for ~2 years. For the short separations they both were with other partners and it isn’t specified about during the long separation (though it is hinted that they weren’t with anyone else) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes *BIG SPOILERS* (view spoiler)[Prostitution (on page), mfm threesome (on page), the H is married and the father to the h’s best friend and roommate (on page), loss of a loved one to cancer (on page), and the H is 52 while the h is 21. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ended too abruptly for my tastes and with what I would call a HFN ending. I think there’s another book to give us better closure that has already been released.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with the h and OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a few separations between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was better than I thought it’d be, but still not my favorite KA book. I liked the characters, I even liked their slow 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was better than I thought it’d be, but still not my favorite KA book. I liked the characters, I even liked their slow build romance — what I struggled with was their conflict, their separation, and the end. I don’t feel as though there was enough grovel even though the baggage Deacon had made his actions understandable. I just felt like it was too easy of a resolution. I also was bummed by the ending. While it had the KA multi-part epilogue I usually love, I felt like it could’ve gone farther into their future and HEA. Overall, I liked it (had some slight issues) but didn’t love it.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Cassidy and Deacon’s story. Cassidy has always dreamed of living in the Colorado mountains, so when she find the opportunity to buy some cabins to fix up and rent out she takes it. Deacon is a mysterious and often scary guy that shows up when she needs the money but he pays in cash and won’t provide a drivers license for records. What Cassidy doesn’t expect is that Deacon returns a couple times every year for six years and is a repeat customer that she looks forward to. They spend time here and there, but Cassidy knows that he is trying to stay away from her for some reason. There are some big secrets revealed, some hot sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told mainly in Cassidy’s POV (with a few sections focusing on Deacon and other side characters in 3rd person narrative).
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, they take a loooong while to get together and develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Deacon. I liked him. I liked that he was good at communicating, both verbally (even though he sometimes had to keep things from her — but communicated that fact) and non-verbally.
h (heroine) rating: 4.5 stars. Cassidy. I really liked her! I appreciated that she was strong on her own and didn’t need anyone else to do what she wanted and dreamed to do.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They take about 6 years to actually get together! They both pursue the relationship, but I’d say the H is the main pursuer because he makes it actually happen (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[BDSM type scenes - bondage, spanking, and anal play for both (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H has a lot of baggage because of his ex and this causes their separation towards the end (but otherwise isn’t an issue — he isn’t pining for his ex or anything) (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~6 months, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes **BIG SPOILER*(view spoiler)[ The H was married previously, his wife was addicted to drugs and sold her body to pay for drugs, and he went “underground” and did bad things to find her and she ended up od-ing (off page), the h doesn’t explain his background or even legal name to the h until close to the end, and the H is 8 years older than the h. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had a cute epilogue but I didn’t feel like it had enough closure for the couple. I would’ve loved to have a farther glimpse into their future. I would classify this as a HFN ending, but I’m sure many would consider this a HEA (view spoiler)[they’re engaged (hide spoiler)].
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the H pushing the h away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (see above) (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: Dang. You can’t deny that Ms. Cole has quite the imagination! This was darrrk! Gore Galore! Not for the lighthearted and no3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: Dang. You can’t deny that Ms. Cole has quite the imagination! This was darrrk! Gore Galore! Not for the lighthearted and not for those with triggers! I was engaged, I read it all, I wanted to see some semblance of a happy ending — and I got all those things! I, however, don’t really think I liked it all that much. It just felt too dark to the point I found it kind of depressing. It might have been my mood too, since I’ve liked her dark books before like the Hades Hangmen series with Flame being a majorly messed up character. It was just missing something for me. I’m not a religious person, so it might have also been the h’s inner dialogue and all the pious thoughts......more
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