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: Disaster Stray by F.A. Ray

4-stars

Release date: Sept 10, 2024

Rainbow Rescue Cat Cafe, book 2

Book available on KU

Second book from the Rainbow Cat Cafe, this time it features Sebastian, that aloof sparkling guy with the long hair, the other employee. 

Both Sebastian and Luke, the other MC, have their own baggage, one is seemingly just about hooking up and closing himself off to avoid the hurt, while the other is deep, deep, in the closet due to past trauma.

Had I read the blurb closer, I would have realized that what kept Luke in the closet was how his family reacted when his brother came out, except I didn't do that, so I was kept in the dark about that pretty much the entire time, my bad. Only when Luke finally opened up to Sebastian, like more than 50 percent into the book, I was like oh! Ok, so that's why he's so firmly in the closet. 

Although there are spicy scenes in the book, this book is very much about the development of Luke and his coming to terms with his gayness. I'm sensing a theme with this Rainbow cat cafe series, both have been one party coming to terms with their sexuality and coming out. I wonder if the third is like that too. Oh! And the partner must adopt a cat. LOL. 

Recommend for those loving a good coming out story and friendship building.

#myshiodareads #mmromance #bookreview #faray #rainbowcatcafe #sebastianandluke #disasterstray #teacherdancer #oppositeattract 

Jonathon, After All by K. Sterling

Jonathon, After All by K. Sterling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not a real serious review just a smattering of jumbled thoughts.

*Stayed up late to finish this.

*Wanted to throw the kindle across the room about half way through the book.

(view spoiler)[ hate Sabine, and hate that Jonathon gave her a second chance after such betrayal, but I guess that goes with the fairy tale aspect, if Jonathon is the kind princess type. (hide spoiler)]

What I loved: The redemption arc for Jonathon and Muriel. I mean it was fine for them to stay villianous, but I love how their personality and ways were redeemed in this book. The major guest appearance of Giles and Riley. (I want to revisit them)

What felt like side things:

Jonathan's artistic ability sorta just came and went when it was convenient. And his ways in the past 10 years was just a performance, and he had hidden himself from everyone including Muriel.

Also there doesn't seem to be a mention of book 2 in the series, but I'm guessing Theo or one of the brothers. I may have to comb the story to look for clues.

The timeline in this book was a little confusing. I thought it took place after the Reid and Max book, but it seemed to have overlapped a little with the Max and Reid story almost? I don't know I need to re-read that part to make sure.

Most of this book and finding out about the relationship was written in flash back form, and it was integrated in such a way that in the beginning it was a little confusing what was happeneing when, that took some time to get used to.

Overall, I really liked the book.

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Full Service by Cora Rose

Full Service by Cora Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What made this book the best ever is the cock-blocking fish of Silas and AlmondJoy and his sensual ribbon dance.

I love love love Silas and his grumpiness. I love a grump and Silas is the grumpiest grump to ever grump, his inner thoughts cracked me up.

Him befriending a strange old man, and not being able to say no to him when he calls him up to go out for some chili fries is just toooooo adorable. He just has a heart of gold really.

Everly, I thought he was just going to be a hot sexy guy, but he turned out to be much more. The way he is just into Silas is heartwarming, and it's like the two of them are made for each other.

Reading this book was like watching a rom-com. I loved it.



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Book Review: Diamonds in the Rough by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

Diamonds in the Rough by Jodi Payne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A sweet story of a cowboy needing a bit of help after gaining custody of his brother's three children. Sorta like Sound of Music, but less kids, there is no war, and it's MM.

The family aspect of this book I think would appeal to many, especially as Sebastian is just such a sweetheart dealing with the grief of his niece and nephews. He's simply at a loss until Ash comes along and helps be the grease that the grieving family needs.

This book felt very true to life in that the romance came second to taking care of the kids, however I did find their romance to be a bit unbelievable. The relationship moved incredibly fast for me, and although it was not insta-love, it felt like that since the two MCs were focused on the kids a lot and then out of no where, their talks turned into dating, serious relationship and more.

The spice was not frequent, but there were stolen moments as any adults with children can attest to, spending time together when the kids went to bed, or were in school.

This book although sweet and I love the plot, just didn't do it for me. I felt like their chemistry was a bit off, their conversations didn't flow, it was a bit choppy and jumping all over the place. It didn't feel like there was a smooth transition from one scene to another, even within the same chapter, and I found it hard to follow at time with the third person narrative. I had to keep checking who "He" was, but maybe it's just me who has trouble keeping track.

Sammy also seemed like she was 8 going on teenager, she spoke so succinctly... I suppose girls mature faster, but she was just a little too mature to be believable as an 8-year-old. I'd rather if she was like 12-13, then her antics would totally make much more sense.

Overall, I wanted more romance from their story, but all I got was them trying to work through Sammy and her relationship with Bastian.


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Book Review of The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder

The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint! As always Jax Calder must be a research ninja because she always peppers for stories with amazing facts. While reading, I must have been highlighting every other page just vibing with the book. I love their snark as a way to calm each other down, and being stranded I would have thought Toby would be the more resourceful one, but in comes Harry and his survival skills and kicks ass. I think there were no one better to have been stranded in the dense forest on Finland, Toby with his gut and Harry with his levelheaded ness.

This truly felt like an enemies to lovers trope, it's so rare for me to feel that way, as most enemies to lovers trope walk a weird line of attraction, but from the start there was none on Toby's end, and Harry's political marriage was such a convincing front that I really thought he was straight and it was a cheating bi-awakening.

Some things that flitted through my mind as I read this book, there was no addressing the toilet/bodily functions part, but maybe that had no place in a romance such as this... But I sorta thought it would have been mentioned since that's often something people think about when thought of being stranded in the wild. I mean it's no biggie.

Also did they bathe? Or brush their teeth? I can't help but think about it as they enjoy the kissing and other acts in the wilderness. I guess they did fall into the water so that's cleansing of some sort.

All in all I really really really enjoyed this book and stayed awake way too late so I can finish the book.

Though this story is a HEA for the couple, the story continues in book 3 and I can not wait for it!!

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Branson's Promise by C.S. Autumn

Branson's Promise by C.S. Autumn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t know how this MMM story would work, all the previous MMM romance I’ve read were established partners taking in another one, no cheating. But this one was three people looking for a connection, and in the very beginning bringing in Milo seemed a little extra, but as the book went on and their connections became more solid, they were the perfect pieces to complement each other.

Honestly I'm not a fan of MMM, but I rather enjoyed this book despite it, it didn't seem like anyone was left out on their dates, or in the spice scenes. I think that was a difficult balance. (view spoiler)[Noel and Branson always made sure that Milo knew he was wanted (hide spoiler)]

I really loved that each brought their own traumatic backstory to the relationship, and support each other through it, despite some hesitation on some parties, cuz we gotta have angst somewhere right?

I have enjoyed this author's first book with August and Caleb, and was happy to have their cameo in this book.

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