REVIEW - HIM - sizzles on ice!

Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Date read: 25th September 2021

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: MM Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Hold onto your pucks, I'm breaking out my 5 star!!! 

Yes, this book is that good. 

OMG, it has all the feels!!

So, these two very gorgeous ice hockey jocks have been besties at sports camp for 6 years in a row. Then...something happens and they stop speaking. 

And a lot of soul searching takes place before they are flung into one another's presence. Awkward!

What I love:

The witty banter

The realistic questioning

The sincerity of caring

The deep yearnings

The serious questions

The steamy bits 

There really isn't anything that I didn't like except the book ended. But even then, book 2 is out and on my Kindle queue! 

There's fun and frolics galore balanced with angst yet underlying sweetness. Just auugh!

Seriously, these two guys...they're just everything! 

Really well written.

If you enjoy m/m romance, you HAVE to read this. Like now.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE - blew me away

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistion

Date read: 19th September 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Very Sweet MM Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Let me start by emitting a squee! I am in my forties, and cannot remember the last time I clutched a book to my bosom in sheer girlish glee. This book is THAT romantic!

I wanted to hate it. For a start, I'm British and partially being about a fake version of our monarchy - well, that never goes well. And trust me, although the royals are fictitious, the titles are real but misused. And royalty do have a surname - it is not Wales! And there's several inaccuracies along the same lines. 

BUT I was able to see past this - it is FICTION! 

And Red, White & Royal Blue has been massively hyped - I generally avoid overly talked about books as it's nigh impossible to live up to such heady praise.

I was able to look past the very weird 3rd person present tense. Present perfect tense is often used, which is jarring. And even present perfect continuous - very rare! But the book is long, so I got used to it. 

What we DO get with this is a very sweet forbidden romance.

~ The 2nd in line to the British throne (Prince Henry) is carrying emotional baggage. And obviously the very stuffy Crown denies his right to be openly gay.

~ The first son of the US (Alex) - well, he doesn't even know his own sexuality. And with his mum running for re-election, the timing of self-discovery is bad. 

There is so much angst, it feels like the boys are more like teenagers. But they're in their 20s. 

Will he? Will he?

What we are treated to, is the sparring and banter as the frenemies are forced together. 

And then we get the very risky, stolen moments between them. 

I loved the sexy build-up. When we finally get to foreplay, the action builds....but there's no crescendo. The physical act fades to black and sleep. Don't go shy on me in the moment!!

The most wonderful part of this book, for me, is the email communication - they pour their hearts out and quote famous historical love letters. The pair show their true selves, and it's precious. 

The 'getting to know you' is delicious. 

The secret touches are tantalising.

The clandestine sexual encounters; electric.

The 'trying to understand' is captivating.

The need to know how it'll play out is addictive. 

Yeah, this is a proper page-turner despite it's foibles. And adorable love story which hooks you in. 

I didn't want to love it, but I did!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - ALL THE CUTS AND SCARS WE HIDE - tots emosh!

All The Cuts And Scars We Hide by Garry Michael

Date read: 16th September 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: MM Military Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

This book is an amazingly sweet romance. One former marine with PTSD and a guy from a Hawaii with troubles of his own. 

The pair have a cute meet, and slowly build a relationship which ebbs and flows like a tide as they each try to heal from their past. 

I love all the characters - well-rounded and developed. The MCs, Wyatt and Kai, are suitably fit. Really tough topics sensitively handled (but there are detailed warzone scenes which contain a trigger warning).

The way the guys try to impress one another is simply charming. 

The way they try to support each other is even more wonderful though. 

It was fab to read a MM book that was more about the relationship than the hot under cover action. There are just enough detailed bedroom antics to satisfy that side too though.

If you're looking for a MM romance that's beyond just bed action, then this is the book for you!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - MORNING GLORY MILKING FARM - moooore than expected

Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta

Date read: 13th September 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Monster Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Once in a while, a book comes along that makes your eyes pop upon learning about it. 

A...minotaur...milking farm - I'm sorry; what now?? 

Well, colour me intrigued! I'm up for challenging my reading sphere. 

I was expecting horny weirdness, but I also got a sweet romance too - bargain! 

Violet is a human millennial who is in desperate need for cash. Her world happens to have a mix of beings living on it. And the minotaurs need to be milked (by pharmaceuticals!). 

This is actually way better than it should be. I loved learning about all the different types of beings with a seriously big twist. 

Sure, I wanted to see what the vamp meal was like. And maybe delve into her mother's reaction more. But now I'm just being greedy. 

Want a highly unusual read? Go for it! 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Wake Up Alpha - didn't let me sleep!

Wake Up Alpha by Anna Fury (ARC read)

Date read: 11th September 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Omegaverse

Buy link: Amazon - pre-order now for 16th Sep release

Phewee!! Who doesn't love a kickass heroine and a wounded hero? 

OMG, I consumed page after page, willing the author not to turn this awesome girl (Penelope) into a simpering victim. Without spoilers, she didn't and I love her for it!

Having read book 1, my expectations were now set. And this book exceeded them. 

Samson - OMG, Samson! I could just hug him. Maybe then climb him like a tree ;-) 

And Penny is fiery af in all the best ways. 

Their hurdles are realistic and heart-wrenching. When they have issues, they talk about them - there's a wonderful lack of severe misunderstanding; hoorah!

We are let into the pack a little deeper with book 2. There are abilities which come to light. And heck, they just make these hornbeasts even hotter in my eyes!! 

Followers of my reviews know how rare my 5* ratings are, and this very almost got one! 

But it's an excellent 4.5* from me.

However, I'm already itching for the next book, so maybe that'll clinch that final half?  

You like shifter romance? Paranormal? Omegaverse? 

If you don't already, you will by the end of this book. 

*I was privileged to receive an ARC of this book, but my review is all my own, honest opinion

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - REALM BOOK 3 - a riotous revelation

Realm - Battle for the Throne (book 3)

Date read: 6th September 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: YA Fantasy 

Buy link: Amazon 

Eep, what a dramatic conclusion to this fantastic series! 

Centaurs, elves, that flying carpet and a love triangle - what's not to love? 

So many wonderful characters are woven together in this series. And only in book 3 do some of those people reveal their true selves. 

The action is relentless as we travel through this battle. Good vs evil at its best. 

It stays firmly within the YA parameters. This raunchy reader kinda wishes it could've stepped outside that to unite two characters in a different way, but that's just me - LOL. 

I was rooting for the whole team the whole time. 

I felt like I was there with them, fighting alongside Lily etc., screaming with their, "NOOOO!" moments.

If you love YA fantasy, this is definitely a read for you. 

A solid 4.5* from me.

Always in love and light,

TL