REVIEW - RINGS OF LUST - O, my!

Rings of Lust by Finn Dixon

Date read: 21st April 2024

My rating: 5* (or should that be 16.033?)

Genre I reckon: M/M Gymnast Romance 

Buy link: Amazon 

OK, people, this one ends on a gut-wrenching cliffhanger. But I LOVED it. 

Two Olympic gymnasts - so, FIT bodies; great premise! One of them is in the closet, the other is out and proud. Yet, we learn that they each have their troubles. 

The timidity is super sweet. The steam super hot. 

It was fun to see the Olympics from the athletes' perspective too. I felt like I was there, and was cheering for the whole team. Except Luke's parents who were just jerks. 

There was a great mix of characters too, including best friends. And the banter was full-on. And oh, the puggles!!

I was so invested in these characters. They kept me awake. I HAD to keep reading to see how it'd all pan out.

A thrilling tale of secret love. And an awesome debut!

Floored By Love (Book 2)

Buy link: Amazon 

My rating: 4*

So, book 1 ended on that cliffhanger. And, tbh, I really went off Luke at the start. I understood his reasons, but seriously, get SOME contact. How much did he really want Cam? I just wanted to shake him by his burly shoulders!

It does get a bit D obsessed - all the characters. But it's kinda fun. 

Could Luke's mum really be so easily redeemed? "She hadn't been that bad." Um, yeah she had, dude!

BUT stick with it as there's a payoff. 

The Forever Vault (Book 3)

Buy link: Amazon 

My rating: 4.5*

The concluding book to this fun series. There's a LOT that goes on in this book. It starts with Cam being in the support seat, having not quite made the team. It's so sweet how he has to deal with his disappointment whilst being determined to be a good boyfriend. The guests at his hotel are a good distraction, at least. 

There are some things which have happened in between books, and I sometimes felt confused as there wasn't enough detail to bring me up to speed e.g. why is the bodyguard now there, exactly?

And some of the other characters have been on a massive 'journey' which I felt I'd missed. Like, I needed a book on the intervening years maybe? 

However, plenty of sweet moments as well as steamy ones. And I was still rooting for this pair. They're addictive! 

Overall, a fab series, and a great start for a new author. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - AUGUST - neigh, it's a fab read whatever the month

August by Duckie Mack

Date read: 15th April 2024

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: M/M Paranormal Romance 

Buy link: Amazon 

Squeeeee!!!! The Black Cat Circus is back, and I got me a front row seat. Bring on the popcorn, Zander. 

Very grown up fans of a certain cartoon may find themselves squealing with joy as much as me at a certain point. Hay yeah! 

August was brought up in a toxic environment - oh, pony-feathers! But he's been doing alright with the guy who's now his best mate. Oh, until that mate's bro comes along. Who's his twin yet sexy as all get out. 

But August has more secrets to hide. And not just that stolen thong! 

Can Alyx help August face his demons?

- a very sweet, mutually supportive, slushy romance - hay, yeah!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - EVEN IF WE'RE BROKEN - perfectly imperfect

Even If We're Broken by AM Weald

Date read: 12th April 2024

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Healing Romance (archaeololgical)

Buy link: Amazon 

This is an amazing debut novel! And it tackles some hard-hitting topics. Within its pages, this book covers depression, anxiety, chronic pain, loss and fatphobia. And low steam btw.

Kate has been brutally dumped by her girlfriend at the start of this book. This only adds to her negative self-image and anxiety. 

But then she meets the guy who never quite was but got away anyway. He has his own issues. And a teenaged daughter as well.

There is a whole lot of caring and sharing. No magic fixes, just sensible starts on paths to recovery. 

I loved the sensitivity, both from the characters and the way in which the author dealt with all of the issues. And the details of the archaeology dig were fascinating. Oh, and a Norwegian male MC? Awesome. 

A charming, healing love story.

Norwegian Cowboy Ben for the win!!

Always in love and light,

Susan

REVIEW - A MANOR OF LIFE AND DEATH - delicious chaos

A Manor of Life and Death by Kim M Watt

Date read: 5th April 2024

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Chaos Mystery

Buy link: Amazon 

Phew! Thank goodness for the comforts of chaos Kim M Watt brings. I was in a reading slump, and needed a break from the romance section (*gasp*). Happily, I realised that I'd missed some Beaufort Scales books. They can be read as stand-alones, so it didn't overly matter that I read this out of order, although some things make more sense if you do. 

The WI and the dragons decide to go on a spa weekend, dragging DI Adams along with them. Lovely country manor house. "Yoghurt" (yoga). What could go wrong? 

Oh, you're new to this series, perhaps? Answer; only everything. LOL.

Fighting staff, dismal finances and a whole heap of shady guests. Throw in some protestors and many magickal folk, and you have even more chaos than usual. But whodunnit? 

Poor DI Adams!

I thoroughly enjoyed this mayhem. It's more chaos mystery than cosy mystery, I reckon. It's like whack-a-mole - deal with one problem and someone else sticks their nose in. And although it gets rowdy, there's no graphic violence or swearing.

There is, fortunately, always a good supply of cake to get through it all. 

Suddenly, my life feels a lot easier!?

I can't recommend this series enough, especially if you want a good laugh.

Always in love and light,

TL