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.

Arranged Salvation by Jacey Davis

 

Rating:

1/5 spice 🌶

3/5 heart ❤️❤️❤️

Arranging Love, book 3

*There's enough information for this to be a standalone, but the overall story is unfinished. 

Release date: Feb 23, 2024

Genre: Omegaverse, alternative universe

Tropes: Hurt/Comfort, Mpreg, Daddy/boy, fake fated mates

My 20 second summary: Pregnant Omega Bastion is removed from his abuser Alpha husband. Alpha Arden, head security for Orion Strongfire agree to be fake fated mates with Bastion to protect him. Arden helps heal Bastion from past trauma and they find their own comfortable dynamic within their universe. They escape to avoid being hunted down by the government. HFN ending with overall plot line continuing.

Read this book if you like:

Omegavera

Hurt/Comfort

Fated Mates

Scent marking

The abuse and the violence from the book was difficult to read. Having Omega Bastion be such a submissive after years of being treated that way really broke my heart. Thankfully he has Arden who cares for him and helped him find his own voice. 

"Yes, little mouse. And when we're both ready. When it feels right, and you had a chance to learn more about it, then I'd be honored if you decided you still wanted me to be your daddy as well as your alpha."

The pockets of sunshine in the book were Lyric the sunshine, and the way Arden's protective instincts came in for Bastion. I'm such a sucker for pet names, and the one Arden gave Bastion right away seemed so appropriate. There's not much spice given Bastion's history with abuse, and Arden totally respected that. 

"I may be a broken omega, but both of us were a little broke. Together, though, we could maybe find a way to start mending."

I jumped into this book without having prior knowledge of the other books, but things were explained well enough to help the story along. However this story line is probably best read as part of the series. In all honesty this book wasn't for me, but the writing was good.

Read on KU or buy the book here --->https://geni.us/ArrangingLove3

Add to your Goodreads here ---> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204674348-arranged-salvation

#mmromance #myshiodareads #mmreads #omegaverse #mpreg

(ARC Review) Tattooed Mind by Elamy Pride

  

Book Review- ARC 

Tattooed Mind by Elamy Pride

Second book in the series, works as standalone

Release on December 15, 2023

So so fortunate to have been given an ARC to read, I started it right away.  I didn’t read the first in the series, but it works as a standalone, although now that I’m finished with book 2, I want to go back and read book 1 and definitely read book 3 when it comes out. 

This is a new author(s) for me, and I’m so happy to have started with my favorite trope of Sunshine x Grump and this is the sunshiniest sunshine and the grumpiest grump. I love their nicknames for each other, Grumpy Bear and Jellybean. 

“His grumpiness speaks to me. He needs sunshine in his life, even if he doesn’t realize it. I want to get to know him to see if I’m right. I think he has pain in his heart, and I want to bring him the joy he needs.”

Pete loses his job at the library on the first day, and ends up getting a job at the tattoo shop. Pete uses this opportunity to flirt and advance his relationship with Gavin, the owner of the tattoo shop and his crush. Can Pete’s sunshine brighten Gavin’s gloom?

There are parts of the book that I especially loved reading about, like mental health and depression representation, and how when Gavin talked about his dark past, he mentioned how back then it wasn’t really something people took that much notice of in the way it is now in the most recent years.

I think it’s so easy for the maybe 30 something and late 20s to say, ok you’re having issues, talk to a therapist, get some help, but those who are older don’t really find it easy to do. So I think having a character find it hard and then being able to accept help, helps other people to realize that maybe they, too, can seek out the support they need. I mean having Pete the sunshine as your boyfriend definitely helps.

The spice in this book is choreographed in a way that I had personality never encountered in books or real life, so due to that I’d say the spice factor is a 5 for originality and fun.

There are many parts of the book that surprised me or made me laugh out loud. 

I’m definitely looking forward to reading book three, Tattooed Soul, and finding out more about Carter and Roman.

Buy or Read on KU (Available Dec 15)here --->https://a.co/d/b0fn3AF

Add to your Goodreads here ---> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202070320-tattooed-mind

#mmromance #myshiodareads #mmreads #elamypride #sunshinegrump