Collide by Crea Reitan

 Collide by Crea Reitan

Release Date: Sept 12, 2024

Purchase here:  https://geni.us/crduevents

Series: Rainbow Dorset University Book 1

TW: Spicy MM enemies to lovers story with cheating, but not between the MCs.

A little about the book:

Lemon has always kept people at a distance as he was too loud, too proud and too himself. This year, as a football coach of a team that produces numerous NFL stars, he finds his budget cut significantly to accommodate  hockey, something the school's dean has decided to put emphasis on this year. Lemon now hates hockey and the NHL player that they hired on as coach after he retired. All this hating the enemy was going well except Hansley is hot hot hot, and somehow in a fit of anger, Lemon kissed Hansley, who is straight, married and has a beautiful wife. 

I devoured this book when the ARC arrived in my inbox. I rushed it to the front of my reading queue because nothing else mattered. I don't know why since I've been in a reading slump, but Crea's works always calls to me to immediately read. Her pairings are not my usual cup of tea. They are always a little spicy and a little bit confusing, however her characters are very real, and not wrapped up in a nice ribbon, but maybe that's why I find them irresistible. 

I like that the Rainbow Dorset University series is set more in the 30s and 40s age Personally I've been having a hard time connecting with MM romance in the early 20, so having this series set more in the 30s and 40s feels comfortable for me.

I really enjoyed this book and the college that Crea has created, I loved this campus where all is included and adding Hansley into the mix brought the harmony together.

Book Review: Praise You (Beaumont University #3) by Ashley Rayne

Praise You by Ashley Rayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a rather slow burn romance despite the live session in the beginning. It was interesting to see how the author was going to solve the issue with the two of them not knowing who each other was. I like the approach that she came up with, usually the two skirt around the issue a little bit more, and discover it accidentally. The two just had chemistry and wanted to spend more time together.

Wasn’t sure how I’d like the cam boy aspect of the book, but it was actually pretty good and didn't even really come up that much. ((view spoiler)[I love how towards the end, the roommates were like, you're so loud, in your room, what were you doing? (hide spoiler)])And by the time I had started reading about Ronan, I’d completely forgotten about Noah and Asher (book 2), so it was a little distracting to be remembering (mentioning) about Noah. Also if you didn’t read about Noah, the issues he had were not discussed at all in this book, so he just disappears and your kinda left wondering what happened. The author did state she tried to write it without spoilers as their stories overlapped a little.

It was also nice that there wasn't really a third act break up with the two of them, nor any big conflict of interest in the student/teacher part of the rules. The dean was pretty cool, and it was refreshing to have such a cool authority figure in school.

This book didn't have too much angst, it was a nice even keel read. Like a feel good romcom.

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Waiting for You Oolong Time by F.A. Ray

                                                     

Book 5 of the Boyfriend Cafe

Release date: April 16, 2024

Get your book here : Amazon

Rating:

Spice 🌶🌶 🌶 🌶 

Overall star⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Waiting for Oolong Time by F.A Ray is the first book of the series that I’ve read by the author. Although it works as a standalone like how I read it, looking back, I would have liked a bit more detail backstory to how the boyfriend Cafe worked. I guess it didn’t matter as much in this story really since Jack didn’t work as the face of the cafe, but only in the bakery parts and this book took place at another bakery. 

What drew me in was the title of the book, I love play on words and love Oolong Tea, but what made me stay was their second chance romance, or rather second chance friendship turn romance. 

Jack and Soren grew apart due to losing someone they loved and nine years later that grief also brought them together. At their bakery where Soren is head baker and Jack is intern, they steal moments to be with one another and one day they couldn’t hide their secret relationship anymore and both their livelihood is on the line, so how will they get out of this situation?

Read this book if you like, childhood friend turn lovers, brother’s best friend, hurt/comfort, spicy stolen moments, and of course bakery romance.

“He kisses me like a storm set loose. His passion batters me around, leaves me swaying on my feet, but with his large frame boxing me in, I don’t have to worry about falling. I just have to hang on and let this happen.” 

Now that I’m done with this book, I’m looking to read up more on the boyfriend cafe starting with book 1, A Matcha Made in Hell.

Red Haze by Lark Taylor

Rating:

1/5 tear 💧

2/5 spice 🌶🌶

5/5 star⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Book 3 of the Caffeine Daydreams series 

Get the book here: https://mybook.to/RedHaze

Release date: March 21 (Also available on KU)

Genre: Bodyguard x rockstar, hurt/comfort, demi-awakening

Honesty time. I did not get into the series until I glimpsed the steamy closet scenes with Jack and Arlo on her patreon, but I don’t know why I doubted Lark Taylor’s writing, she makes you work for the happy ending, and this was definitely a story where she shined in it. Lark’s writing isn’t happy fluffy, but she’s fast becoming a must read author for me. She writes such tragic sad heart twingey love stories that leaves you broken and healed all in the same breathe. 

I can not begin to imagine being in love with someone for that many years, and although they thought they were just bodyguard and the person they guarded (at least on one side),  I can’t believe it took them more than 10 years to get their act together… I don’t know whether to roll my eyes my Jack or hug him so hard for being so clueless.

“…My heart was in the right place, even if my actions didn’t show that.” 

“And where’s your heart now?” 

“In your hands, Arlo,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “Right where it’s always been, even if I didn’t know it.”

Since I was originally getting this story chapter by chapter as a serial, during the down time of not reading about Jack and Arlo, I started to read book 1 & 2, so as to get more of a full story, but this last book works ok as a standalone, really all of them do. It’s just more fun to read more in depth about each band member together.

I love the cameos towards the end of the book. What can I saw, I totally recommend this book, this author, this universe.

Ignited by Becca Steele

Ignited by Becca Steele
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow! This book was spicy!!! Nearly every scene the two MCs are together was some sort of sexual encounter, they just can't keep their hands off each other.

"Leave your mark on me. I want a necklace."

Their love story was sweet too, a grump business teacher and the sunshine dance student. JJ gets Killian to open up and Killian finds himself doing things not of his nature like caring for another person. Besides their instant sexual attraction, they are really good for one another.

(view spoiler)[

It has been the sex and instant physical attraction that had brought us together, but now it was more.

(hide spoiler)]

I found their relationship ran pretty smoothly, even as Killian tried to stay away, he continued to display possessive tendencies to ensure JJ knew who he belonged to, meanwhile JJ continued to find ways to prove to Killian that they are similar in more ways than one.

(view spoiler)[

There had been no part of me that had been interested in a relationship until Killian had come into my life, and now I had no idea how I was supposed to let him go."

(hide spoiler)]

There are also found family characters in this book that I will be definitely reading upon, starting with Nico. Grandma G is such a delight, I love her meddling ways and I can't get enough of her stories.

This being a teacher/student romance trope, surprisingly there was very little conflict towards their relationship when it came to light, perhaps they had already done most of the worrying about that on their own leading to the third act breakup.

The very same day I'd made my promise to his friends, I'd broke it."

This was not a fluffy read, but was one kinda coated in lust, spice and dark corners. The playlist included at the back of the book really made the scenes come alive even though I didn't listen to it while I was reading, but when I listened to the songs it really brought out the scene.

This was a good book to be introduced to Becca Steele's MM works.

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Honey and Starlight by L.A. Lambert

Honey and Starlight by L.A. Lambert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story was very interesting, it caught my attention right away and couldn’t stop reading. This playboy prince is of age and his father is looking for a partner to reign him in, and found the perfect one in a virgin noble, March, who is an expert archer, and has beautiful eyes. March agrees to stay at the castle for 3 months to get to know the prince, and then evaluate whether to get married to the prince or just think of the three months as a learning opportunity.

I love the dynamic of prim and proper March in contrast to the playboy prince Neroki. They start off rocky due to their past, but as time goes on, the prince and March come to an agreement to not make their 3 months hell, and just try to get along. (view spoiler)[ Of course they end up falling in love and getting married. (hide spoiler)]

Although most of the story was spice free, this is still an open door book. So for spice scale, I’d say it’s about a 1, where it was mostly towards the end, (view spoiler)[ when the two finally get their act together. (hide spoiler)]

No fantasy story is complete without a dragon, and this one is about the dragon prince. I don’t read a lot of stories with dragon in it, so I don’t know if this story’s dragon tales are common, but I loved how they communicated with their humans.

I really liked this book, after finishing the last pages, I immediately wanted to rate it a 5 star, but struggled to say why I liked it, but just that I do. I guess the story was refreshing, and had parts that made me laugh. The slow burn didn’t bother me, as there were other elements that was interesting, overall it’s just a fun book to read. I highly recommend.







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Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand

Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s nice to see things from Eric’s POV and have him find his own HEA. The cameos from Lucas and Max was also good. It’s not forced mention or anything at all, so that’s nice.

Zarah Detand’s story is a must read. This is a sorta boss/employee trope, as well as awkward meet cute, when one’s favorite adult corn star becomes your boss. I didn’t think it would be necessary for Eric to hide his identity or money, but I guess you gotta give them some conflict to work with.

I don’t know what it is about Zarah’s writing, but it’s just all so good, maybe it’s in the way she paints the perfect picture with her words, but I totally recommend her for slow burn love stories.

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Off Season by Jodi Oliver

Rating:

4/5 tear 💧💧💧💧

3/5 spice 🌶🌶🌶

5/5 heart 💙💙💙💙💙

Highly recommend and can't wait for book three!! 

Second book in the Chicago Thunder series, works OK as standalone

Release date: March 7, 2024

My 20 second summary: Daddy Ethan needs a date to face his ex-finance at a family wedding. He invites Jacob to pose as his fake-boyfriend. They hit it off and get their HEA.

I love how Jacob seemed to be this overwhelmed older brother in the first book, but in his own story he comes alive with ruby-red painted toes, and lacy jockstrap, while Daddy Ethan is painted with Clark Kent glasses and definitely that swoony perfect boyfriend vibe. 

"You want today to be like a date, so this is my rule. You want a book? I'll buy you the book. You want a hundred books? I'll buy every damn one."

Their story started out pretty heavy and had a lot of emotional parts, and while I initially thought I'd be put off by the grief, the way Ethan was so open to helping Jacob handle the loss really spoke volumes of how perfect their relationship is. They helped one another heal, Ethan from his ex and Jacob while he misses his family. The scene confronting the ex at the wedding (fist punch in air) and the scene with the robins (Cry) 

There were so many little things inserted in the book that I loved, one of them was how Ethan caught a glimpse of Jacob's book and after reading it, he went to recreate some of the scenes, LOL. 

Genre: Hockey, MM Romance, Contemporary, 

Tropes: Age Gap, Men Lingerie, Fake Boyfriend

Get the book --->https://getbook.at/OffSeason

Add to your Goodreads ---> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201060039-off-season

#mmromance #myshiodareads #mmreads #jodioliver #hockey #contemporary #daddyethan #meninlingerie 

Leap Year by A.M. Arthur

Leap Year by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reconstruction Book 1

*Loosely connected to the Neighborhood Shindig Series, but OK to be read as standalone. 

Release date: Feb 28, 2024

Rating:

0/5 tear (This story did not trigger my tears, but doesn't mean it won't be emotional for others)

2/5 spice (what's an MM story without spice, this book seemed middle low end for spice, maybe it's due to having a child in the story, less time to do spicy things.)

4/5 heart (went into this book nearly blind to author writing, and plot, came out loving the storyline, the characters and wanting more.)

My 20 second summary: An artist's hermit lifestyle comes to a halt when he suddenly becomes neighbors with a single dad. They plan to stay away from each other, except that they are attracted to one another right off the bat. They navigate the delicate balance of their past traumas to find a HEA.

I love this book more than I thought I would. Based on blurb, I went into this book sorta neutral about it, I was trying to branch out on new to me authors but the more I read the more I love it. It's not only an interesting storyline from all aspects, but it checks all the boxes. Grump x Sunshine, check. Adorable child, check, found family, check, mentioning obscure movies that I love, check!

I love the way the story was weaved, and the honesty in the relationship, the communication, it was all very refreshing. They also both worked through their past trauma to find room for one another.

I'm definitely looking forward to the other books in the series, and I may start reading through backlog stories to see if I can spot other characters from the book.

Oh! There's a trigger warning of past sexual abuse which doesn't get address until further towards the end of the book, but I felt like it was dealt with in a good way between the MCs.

Buy the book here --->https://a.co/d/3t4Tyeg

Add to your Goodreads here ---> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207654236-leap-year

#mmromance #myshiodareads #mmreads #amarthur #teacher #contemporary #recluseartist #musician 

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Love Language by Jax Calder

Novella review~ Love Language by Jax Calder

🩵🩵🩵🩵

Release date: Feb 16, 2024

Get your book here —-> https://getbook.at/LoveLanguage

Just finished the short novella by Jax Calder called Love Language. I didn’t know what this book was about, but when I saw Jax Calder’s name on it, I knew I had to read it, I really enjoyed their book The Unlikely Heir last year, and I’m needing a fix until the next book in the series to come out.

This is a He falls first. (Lol, they are both He), Grump x Sunshine MM romance. There is a little deaf representation, which I found very heartwarming. And I thought it was interesting that the story takes place in New Zealand, I almost wished the storyline took more to describe NZ, but I think it was definitely enough to spark my interest in the country.

Ashton has been workmates with Dominic the grump for the past three years, and they’ve always had this snarky banter, but lately Ashton has been awakened to that perhaps their snarky banter isn’t just banter, but perhaps something more. 

This might be a short novella, but there is nothing rushed about it, I would go so far as to say, if more was to be added to this story, it might seem to just be filler. This is a perfect length for an afternoon read, or in my case, since I started late night and was nearly falling asleep, it was a good wake up to finish this happy ending story to start the day.

Highly recommend, and I definitely look forward to adding more of Jax’s books to my READ pile.

And now I leave you with a favorite quote from the novella

“And suddenly, he’s smiling too. In all my cataloguing of Dominic’s expressions, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this version of his smile. And it seems like a really, really good idea to join our smiles together in a kiss.”

******possible spoiler below for what i loved about this book******

I love how in retrospect Ashton found out that Dom has been crushing on him for awhile, pretty much from really the first moment he’s laid eyes on him. It’s in those details that makes us swoon, this is so much more than just how he takes his coffee, but more like granting wishes genie style, and ordering Indian food when the other prefers Japanese.

White Noise by Lark Taylor

Book Review 

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Out now on KU or get the signed copy here ——>(https://www.larktaylorauthor.com/product-page/white-noise)

If you love Lark writing Para-normal Romance, definitely give her contemporary one a try. I’m not a big fan of rockstar romance, but this one is a little different, or maybe not, but I like Lark’s writing style enough to give it a try, even though it took me awhile. I joined her Patreon when Green Light was released, but that particular book did not draw me, so I didn’t even think to read White Noise. It wasn’t until she started providing advanced chapters for Red Haze and I’m learning more about Arlo and Jack that I really got into the band, and now I want to read the backstories before Red Haze comes out. So here I am for my redemption arc.

Book summary:

Ollie is suffering from a massive heartbreak from cheating girlfriend with best friend when he meets Luca in an out of order elevator.  They share a moment together, Luca having a panic attack and Ollie helps him off the ledge. In that confined space they open up to each other and is no one else, but Luca and Ollie the people, not Luca the rockstar, and Ollie the journalist. When the lift door opens, and reality hits them and breaks the bond they had during that fleeting time. But they reconnect as tour journalist and headline rockstar and find their HEA.

“He was everything I remembered…but yet so much more. I wanted to get closer to breathe him in. To sniff him to see if he wore the same cologne. To stroke my hand over his jaw just to see if he’d shiver like he had that day in the lift. I did none of those things. Obviously. That sort of behaviour led to a restraining order.”

 Parts that really moved me were the vulnerabilities both Ollie and Luca showed each other and how quick they were to come to the conclusion that they were wrong about one another, but that damn Kevin had to come in and ruin it every time. 

BTW, I’m adding Kevin, the band manager, on my list of hated characters. I mean from this book alone, he doesn’t seem that bad, but I got a glimpse of him in Red Haze and I hated him, so… reading about him here really makes me hate him.

There were so many times where I was like, just get it together and communicate man, your insecurities are unfounded. But I guess that is not what these people are about, lol. I love them nonetheless.

I also love the appearance of other characters from Lark’s PNR books, it’s a nice cameo and makes me feel like I’m actually living in their world and that the PNR boyfriends are just within reach if I visit The Closet. 

I’m now ready to read Silas and Kai’s story, so I’ll leave you with the swoony* things Ollie says to Luca.

“You’re not an experiment, Luca. I’m right here in this with you, and I want to try everything. Are you in this with me?” 

*Sidenote these swoony things are only swoony to me in books, IRL if my husband said these things to me, it would definitely get an eye roll and a laugh. LOL