WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN JUNE 2026?

National Reading Day is June 19th...but we can make National Reading Day, EVERYDAY!! Tell Us What You Plan to Read in June.

🏳️‍🌈 - ★
36/37
M/M ROMANCES
🏳️‍🌈Irises in The Snow - Isabelle Adler -5★(Indiana)
🏳️‍🌈Cops Cake and Coffee - Samuel York -5★
🏳️‍🌈Second Act - Kaje Harper - 5★ - (Minnesota, California)
🏳️‍🌈Fish Sticks Friday - Rhys Ford - 5★ (California)
🏳️‍🌈Tease - Ella Frank - 5★ (Illinois)
🏳️‍🌈Hawk - Jacki James - 5★ (Texas)
🏳️‍🌈Screwed - K.M. Neuhold - 5★ (Wisconsin, Hawaii)
🏳️‍🌈Stud - K.M. Neuhold- 5★ (Wisconsin)
🏳️‍🌈Ernie's Lost Puppy - Della Cain & Kaytea Kat- 5★
🏳️‍🌈Trusting You, Trusting Me - Jacki James - 5★ (Virginia)
🏳️‍🌈Shiver - Jocelynn Drake - 5★ (Ohio)
🏳️‍🌈Shatter - Jocelynn Drake - 5★ (Ohio)
🏳️‍🌈Snow - Jocelynne Drake & Rinda Elliott- 5★ (Ohio)
🏳️‍🌈Skin Game - Elle Keaton - 5★ (Washington)
🏳️‍🌈Out of Sight - K.C. Wells - 5★ (Massachusetts)
🏳️‍🌈Firemen, Flames, and Fettuccine - Samuel York - 4.5★ (New York)
🏳️‍🌈The Redemption of River - Eli Easton - 5★ (Washington, India)
🏳️‍🌈The Man I Lied To - Romeo Alexander - 4.5★ (Colorado)
🏳️‍🌈Fake & Bake - Romeo Alxander - 5★ (Maine)
🏳️‍🌈The Truth of Our Past - Heather Leighson - 4★ (New York & Sweden)
🏳️‍🌈The Truth of Our Secrets - Heather Leighson- 4★ (New York)
🏳️‍🌈Exploring Daddy - Mia Monroe - 5★ (California, Nevada)
🏳️‍🌈Power Bottom - Rowan McAllister - 5★ (Maryland)
*Becoming Daddy - Mia Monroe - ★ (California) (24)
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OTHER GENERA
🏳️‍🌈Angel's Flight - Michael Connelly -5★ (Group Read) - (California)
🏳️‍🌈Raven's Gate- Anthony Horowitz -5★ (Friend) (England)
🏳️‍🌈Bad Blood - Rhiannon Lassiter -5★ - (England)
🏳️‍🌈Truth or Dare -Celia Rees -4.5★ (England)
🏳️‍🌈Our Winter Monster - Dennis Mahoney -5★ (New York)
🏳️‍🌈Where the Dead Wait - Ally Wilkes - 5★ (The Arctic)
🏳️‍🌈The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre- Philip Fracassi - 4.5★- (New York)
🏳️‍🌈Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson -5★ (Oregon)
🏳️‍🌈The House by the Cemetery - Lisa Childs - 4★ (Michigan)
🏳️‍🌈Murder Most Maine - Karen MacInerney - 3★
🏳️‍🌈King Sorrow - Joe Hill - 5★ (Maine)
🏳️‍🌈The Crowfield Curse - Pat Walsh - 4.5★ (England)
🏳️‍🌈Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the French (but were afraid to ask) Gaspard Chevallier 5★ (France) (13)
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Tease - Ella Frank - (Illinois)
Series: Temptation #4
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Tease - verb: to tantalize especially by arousing desire or curiosity often without intending to satisfy it....unless your name is Tate Morrison. It’s been four years since Logan Mitchell walked into Tate’s life and irrevocably changed it. Four years since the sexy as sin lawyer dared him to try, and four years since Tate won his love. Now, as they approach the next chapter of their lives Logan is determined they won’t end up like many of their friends. Settled. Domestic. Boring. However, that’s easier said than done. With busy careers and working odd hours, finding time for one another is becoming increasingly difficult. But that sh*t isn’t going to fly with Logan or Tate. The two of them are determined to compromise to get what it is they want, and what they want is each other. Tease is the sexy, tantalizing continuation of the two men who stole your heart.

Tease picks up with Loan and Tate four years later from the last book. That's why this series MUST be read in order. They are both settled, both in and with themselves as well as with their jobs. Their respective successes though means that they are spending less and less time together and this is a situation that needed to be remedied fast.

“This was what they’d both needed. What they’d both craved. And the furious way they moved atop their bed was a testament to the fact that while they may have both been busy these past few months, weeks, and days, never had their attraction subsided. Never had their love.”

Our Logan has matured more in this one. Oh yes, he's still cocky and arrogant but that is just Logan being Logan. In so far as his relationship with Tate goes, he was the one that had all the insecurities and has now made a huge turnaround. He has so much love for Tate and his biggest fear is losing him...the one man that he loves more than anything or anyone. This side of Logan is very emotional and made him more human and more rea

Our Tate was just as adorable as ever, but his family is the one thread of storyline that was never truly resolved in books one, two or three. It was good that the author revisited this issue, and while things are definitely not settled it was good to see there are starting to be roads taken to maybe pave the way.

Love and life between these two is effortless. Their love for one and other glows from the pages and their intense chemistry is seriously "off the chart

We got to catch up with some of the other characters that appeared in the other three books. I have enjoyed all four of these books. This series is starting to feel like coming home. I hope there are going to be many more...I know there are two more because of course I have them. If you start this series, the books simply must be read in order to understand any of the "what" or "why" of anything that's taking place.

Raven's Gate - Anthony Horowitz - (England)
Series The Gatekeepers, Book #1
Genera: Horror/Paranormal/YA Fantasy
5★
He always knew he was different. First there were the dreams. Then the deaths began. When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he's sent to be fostered in Yorkshire. It's not long before he senses there's something wrong with his with the whole village. Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how he is different. But no one will believe him; no one can help. There is no proof. There is no logic. There is just the Gate.

First thing you should know is that this is a YA urban fantasy...still if you are an adult and like paranormal, horror stories...you might find this one interesting. I've read this author before and always found him likeable.

Our main character, Matt is a troubled 14-year-old with quiet a tragic past. His parents died when he was very young, and he was then raised by an aunt that mostly ignored and neglected him...but was more than happy to send him to a rehabilitation program for troubled teens, after he is arrested for burglary.

Matt's life didn't change much as now he finds himself in the custody of a very odd woman, Jayne Deverill. Matt works on her farm, with only the very strange villagers to talk to. (Lots of strange folks in this story:). After several strange and unusual things begin to happen; like the sound of chanting in the woods, the suspected murder of one of the villagers on the farm, Matt turns to the news reporters when the police pay absolutely refuse to believe his version of what happened.

Matt on his quest to find someone to listen to him and believe his story meets Richard, who is a journalist in the nearby town. Richard helps him unravel the mystery of the evil cult that Jayne Deverill is running and uncovers the cult's plan to open "Raven’s Gate", and allow the horrors that it houses to again roam the earth. Matt soon realizes is that he is filled with dormant power and is the key to opening Raven's Gate.

This book hardly ever stops to take a breather. It's filed with continuous action, and a mystery that makes the reader continue reading. Eating and sleeping are over-rated activities!

Our Matt is a very relatable character that teens may relate to more than adults, since the way he deals with his circumstances speaks more to the young adult audience. Matt is a victim of his circumstances, he's misunderstood or simply ignored by all the adults he encounters in his life, and he is forced to adapt in order to survive, He goes from a troubled teen to a hero. At the beginning of the book, you will be overwhelmed by all his bad choices, but by the end, you will be cheering for him.

This story is a creepy combination of an isolated village, spooky woods, and some really strange residents...but it also adds a touch of magic. There are some sinister undertones, but that is what creates the book’s alluring intensity.

Irises in The Snow - Isabelle Adler - (Indiana)
Genea: M/M Romance/Christmas
5★
It’s Christmas, and Justin’s life is fraying at the edges. The family business he took over instead of going to art school is bleeding money, and his boyfriend of seven months cheated on him. Under these circumstances, family gatherings can be rough, but Justin believes he has everything under control. That is, until Elliot, his former best friend (and the first guy to ever break his heart) unexpectedly shows up at the holiday dinner party. With both of them still nursing the wounds of the past, it might take a real Christmas miracle for Justin and Elliot to learn to appreciate the art of second chances.

This book was very well done, I don't often read often novellas or short stories, as I usually find them to be a bit underwhelming and usually underdeveloped, but this was really well done in both, while being fast paced and addicting at the same time. In the short time we knew our characters, we get a real look into their personalities, struggles and dreams. You can't help but feel connected to Justin, the main character, as well as to Elliot. The art subplot only added another layer that I could well appreciate.

The story is set at Christmas, so it had to be fun! It's June when I read it, but it made me get into a "Christmasy" mood since it's set a couple of days leading up to Christmas and then a few days afterwards. The book is not an entirely "feel good, happy go lucky" romance. Justin's father is recovering from cancer, and Justin is trying to hold up the struggling family business by himself while letting go of his dreams, which was sad. I really felt sorry for him.

My favorite part of this story though was of course, the romance. It was developed meticulously and not rushed. The usual sexual content of M/M Romance books is mostly non-explicit in this one...but there are descriptions of small moments like hands touching. Folks that are not huge fans of this type of genera will probably be okay with this one.

I am really hoping that there will be more books featuring these characters.

Hawk - Jacki James - (Texas)
Series: Three Bears Tactical, Book 1
Genera M/M Romance/Bodyguards
5★
POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING: Past domestic abuse, and a little trauma
At six foot four, muscles for days, and a take charge attitude, Duncan Hawkins is exactly my type and everything I've sworn to avoid... So when I find myself in trouble, why is he my first call? Mika has run before—first from trouble at home, then from an abusive ex. For the past two years, he’s built a quiet, safe life in Vesper, Texas, determined to never run again. But when his past comes knocking, he needs protection. And there’s only one man he trusts to keep him safe...Hawk. Hawk is ex-military, a seasoned bodyguard, and the very type that man Mika has spent years avoiding—big, tough, and in charge. Exactly his type. Exactly the kind of man who once broke him. But Hawk is different. He’s protective, patient, and unwavering in his promise to stand between Mika and danger. As Hawk teaches Mika to fight back—both in his self-defense classes and in life, sparks fly. But trusting a man like Hawk means risking everything, including his heart. And with his ex-boyfriend growing more dangerous by the day, Mika must decide; keep running or stand and fight; with Hawk by his side.

In some previous books by this author, we've been with the firefights of the town, but this time we're with the security experts at Three Bears Tactical Service. I waited for this first book in this series to arrive from Amazon, and I couldn't wait to start it. I'm happy to say that it did not at all or in any way, disappoint...but Jacki James has never disappointed me. Mika and Hawk are just perfect together; they 100% compliment and deserve each other. Mika has been through a lot. He was young and made a bad choice in a boyfriend, but he planned and executed a clever escape and thought he had run far enough way that his ex would never find him. Wrong! This guy didn't like to lose or be told "no", so when his past shows up again in the form of this brutish ex-boyfriend that he thought he had escaped from...Hawk is there to help out and protect him.

Daniel Hawkins; (Hawk), loves what he does. He's part owner of the Three Bears Technical, a Security firm. While teaching a self-protection class that Mika was taking to help him better defend himself...especially if his ex should show up.... Hawk becomes very interested in the young man. Later while Hawk is providing protection for Mika, they both became "interested" in one another. Hawk was trying to give Mika time to be more comfortable around him, but when Mika is scared and reaches out there's just no more time or space between them. Hawk & Mika are so perfect for each other. They each have something to offer one another; something besides sex.... but of course, sex is on the table also! Hawk shows Mika how strong he really is, and Mika helps Hawk feel more connected to his new life. There are also some really great side characters. You can't help but love Mika's elderly friend, Mrs. Thompson, who taught him to crochet, and of course all the men that make up Three Bears Tactical. Is anyone surprised that I read the books out of order? With this series, it really doesn't matter all that much. An added benefit of this one is that there is a really, really cute dog!

If you like the M/M romance genera and a story that is engaging and filled with action, chemistry, healing and fun I can highly recommend this one or any other books by Jacki James.

Where The Dead Wait - Ally Wilkes - (The Arctic)
Genera: Horror
5★
POSSIBLR TRIGGERS: Abandonment, & cannibalism
William Day should be an acclaimed Arctic explorer. But after a failed expedition, in which his remaining men only survived by eating their dead comrades, he returned in disgrace. Thirteen years later, his second-in-command, Jesse Stevens, has gone missing in the same frozen waters. Perhaps this is Day’s chance to restore his tarnished reputation by bringing Stevens­—the man who’s haunted his whole life—back home. But when the rescue mission becomes an uncanny journey into his past, Day must face up to the things he’s­ done. Aboard ship, Day must also contend with unwanted passengers: a reporter obsessively digging up the truth about the first expedition, as well as Stevens’s wife, a spirit-medium whose séances both fascinate and frighten. Following a trail of cryptic messages, gaunt bodies, and old bones, their search becomes more and more unnerving. The restless dead are never far behind in this “breathtaking achievement”

Our main character William Day is in every sense of the word, a "haunted" man. He's haunted by his failed expedition, he's haunted by his very own reputation, and most of all he's haunted by Jesse Stevens, his second-in-command on this failed expedition. We soon learn that William Day and Jesse Stevens had a relationship that was a lot more than simply friendship. It was complex...it was personal and intimate, or as intimate as two men could be in the mid-1800's. It simply wasn't talked about in their era. Willima Day, fourth in command on the expedition, was thrust into the captain's role since nearly all the men around him had died from scurvy, and other disastrous endings. One of the themes I found the most intriguing throughout the story was that of his leadership.

William Day, both on the past expedition and in the present one, has been thrust into a position of power that he has no business ever being in, and he knows it and he hates it. Power is constantly at play throughout both timelines between Day and his "crew".... such as it was. I never thought I found that the ship "politics" held a definite fascination and a sharp edge. When order and civility hung by a thin thread; when food supplies became less and less, and when the nights got darker, any wrong decision Day made was more than likely to have severely disastrous consequences. Wounds don't seem to heal in the arctic's freezing atmosphere and "Captain" Day, unintentionally or perhaps otherwise, is constantly in danger of inflicting many types of wounds, both physically and emotionally on his dwindling crew.

The relationship between Day and Stevens is at the heart of both the expeditions in this novel. It's a stark view in not just what could be called an "unhealthy" relationship, but a terminal type of affection that had unthinkable consequences for the surviving crew. Stevens' personality totally dominates, engulfs and overwhelms William Day. We get an up-close view into what could be called a case of "dormant wickedness". Day is very much aware of Stevens’ schemes and plans and yet he decides to ignore them and chooses love over truth and his broken heart. The present-day narrative does a great job of presenting Willliam Day coming to terms with his reckoning.

Day is haunted...haunted by physical manifestations of Stevens and other things. Finally, he will be forced to confront his past. The author is careful how she uses the supernatural. Reality and insanity are constantly intersecting leaving the reader sometimes unsure of what is real and what is figments of the crew's over-active imaginations. I loved the story, but the writing can sometimes be a challenge. At rimes left slightly disorientated. You may fell what I can only describe as a constant uncertainty about what is real and what isn’t, what is harmful and what is harmless". and this is all because of William Day’s actions as captain. His past is fast catching up with his present...and you know that the results are not going to be good.

Questions such as, "What does it mean to be a hero or a villain? A good person or a bad person? As always, the answer is usually found to be neither black nor white but many different shades of gray....and that's where this author excelled with her story and I gave it 5 well-earned stars.

Screwed - K.M. Neuhold - (Wisconsin, Hawaii)
Series Four Bears Construction Book 4
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
I've had my fair share of less than proud relationship moments, but waking up married to my brother-in-law's best friend is a new low. A drunken wedding to a man who already rejected me once? Check. A hefty bet about how long it will last? Check. My feisty new husband, determined to make our friends pay up? Double check. I've never managed to make a real relationship last nearly a year, there's no way Daniel will stick around long enough to win this bet. The only problem is the longer he stays, the more the lines blur between what's real and what's for show. Does he feel it too or am I totally screwed?

Ollie had suffered a lot of so-called humorous abuse from the other partners at Four Bears Construction. He was the butt of many jokes and pranks because of his belief in true love and his continuous search for his true soulmate. Unfortunately, he's had very bad luck in his quest for love, that has made him a continuous target. His brother Stone's fiance, Ren, thought the guys were too hard on Ollie. It was a sentiment he expressed many times to his best friend Daniel.

Daniel did not believe in love despite all the couples around him that were IN love. He was certainly a love'em and leave'em kind of guy. No one was going to tie him down... he'd never allow it, but he felt sorry for Ollie and how he'd been treated by his so-called friends. This begins the setup for the fake marriage. It started out as a bet that Daniel was determined to win for him and Ollie.

I really enjoyed how the slow build up to the explosive passion between Ollie and Daniel was rolled out. The heat was real and the writing was incredibly sensual. If you are an M/M Romance fan, don't hesitate to read this book, if you do, you will be missing out. K.M. Neuhold has quickly become one of my favorite authors

The House by the Cemetery - Lisa Childs - (Michigan)
Series: Gravediggers Series Book #1
Genera: - Suspense, Horror
4★
In Gold Creek, Michigan, legend has that the ghost of a local grave digger still walks the cemetery, swinging his shovel, looking for his next victim to bury. But when the town’s wealthy undertaker dies, his estranged daughter must contend with the ghosts that haunt her own family . . .

After she left home at seventeen, River Gold swore she would never return to Gold Creek, Michigan. Growing up at the Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens was a nightmare. Her classmates constantly teased her for being part of the “Ghoul” family, while her own family denied that she was actually a Gold at all. Her father, undertaker Gregory Gold, certainly never acted like a father. He was far more interested in making money from other people’s tragedies. Now Gregory has died. And River has surrendered to her mother, Fiona’s, pleas begging her, and then demanding that she return to Gold Creek for his funeral.

The mourning period is cut short when it was learned that Gregory had died of poisoning...and guess who is blamed??? You got it...Fiona is arrested for his murder. It's clear that Fiona, who was Gregory's third wife and the cosmetologist at the funeral home, is being framed. There are lots of more likely suspects, actually an entire town of them. He was clearly NOT going to win any "Citizen of the Year awards, and River is determined to prove her mother’s innocence. To make things more complicated, she will have to work with the sheriff, who was her enemy when they were in high school...but she figures that that's a small price to pay.

There is an absolute fortune at stake here, and River is sure the killer must be one of Gregory’s first two wives...or one of their children...or perhaps one of the grandchildren. As you now realize, she was NO IDEA whatsoever. Soon, other discoveries, that would give too much away to mention what they were, are made, and many old and newer secrets are revealed. Then something that I thought had nothing to do with anything but was being included to get word count but okay, let's throw this into the mix...teenagers, that use the cemetery to make-out, talk, tell ghost stories.... just be kids, start to disappear from the cemetery. Now the danger is hitting much closer to home. Closer than River could imagine possible. She now finds herself where she never wanted to b again...drawn back into the lives, and all lies of the Golds.

It was a book certainly worthy of 4 stars. I expected a bit more mystery, but my only real complaint was there was a lot of characters, sometimes making it hard to keep everything straight. I missed several important clues to the story. So, read, carefully and try to remember each and every one and perhaps you'll solve the mystery before its done! Then, there is the ghost...you'll have to read it to solve it...or t least TRY to.

Ernie's Lost Puppy - Della Cain and Kaytea Kat
Series: - Found by Daddy Book #16
Genera: M/M Romance/ Daddy, little relationship
5★
Ernie lost his puppy and found his new daddy. I have one rule: Pup-Pup stays home. My sweet stuffed puppy is my most treasured gift. The ER doctor who treated me after my accident told me that when things felt impossible, I should hold him close and remember I was strong and brave. Pup-Pup has been my lifeline ever since, worn soft from years of desperate hugs. I was transferred that night and never saw him again. But I never forgot his soft smile, his kind eyes, his calm, supportive voice…or the way he made me feel safe. Today, I break my rule and bring Pup-Pup to a job interview. I need to remember I’m strong and brave and that I can do this. And it works. It’s my best interview yet. I celebrate with a fancy coffee in the park…where a real dog steals him from my open bag.

Ernie says "I’ve had nightmares like this where Pup-Pup is gone, leaving me all alone. Only this isn’t a nightmare—it’s more of a dream come true when the dog’s owner brings him back." It’s him. The doctor who once placed Pup-Pup in my hands is now returning him. And he’s not looking at me like a patient anymore. He’s looking at me like a man.

Ernie never took his Pup stuffie out. However, today he did. When he was in the park a dog ran up, and snatched "Pup Pup", his stuffie. A kind man returned it to Ernie and when he looked up, it was the man that he thought fondly of as "The Doctor"...the very doctor that had saved his life ...and gave him "Pup Pup". From that time, they slowly began to have a relationship that soon turned into them being "Daddy/little". For those that don't quite get that...it's a form of "age play".

This was an excellent short sweet and steamy read. There is now 17 of these Daddy/little books in the series "Found by Daddy". They are all short, sweet, steamy reads.

Stud - K.M. Neuhold - (Wisconsin)
Series: Four Bear Construction Book 5
Genera: M/M Romance/Friends to Lovers
5★
Stud: A boss, knob, or nail head...or, you know, the hot guy who’s way too young to keep asking me out with that adorably earnest smile… It’s been three years since West walked into my bar and asked me out for the first time. I was relieved he stopped asking after the first few “no's and a way-too-good-to-be-real kiss. He’s fifteen years younger than I am; it can only lead to trouble. Of course, now he’s running through people off dating apps like it’s his job and wearing these lace panties that look really unfair on someone as furry and muscular as he is, and, um...what was I talking about? I probably shouldn’t sabotage his dates, but I’m only human. I might not be ready to admit that I want him, but I’m definitely not ready to let anyone else have him either. He’s too perfect, too hot, and I am in way too much trouble.

West was attracted to bar owner Sawyer the first time they met, but the fifteen- year age gap between them was reason enough for Sawyer turn him down flat...repeatedly. The two guys decided to remain as “just friends” yet West still couldn't stop having feelings for Sawyer, and sometimes the bartender even would like to reconsider his refusal. Then West's friends and coworkers at Four Bears Construction intervened to try and convince him to move on. Easier said than done. West does try to date other people. Sawyer can't seem to stop himself from sabotaging most of West's dates. West was attracted to bar owner Sawyer the first time they met, but the fifteen-year age gap between them makes Sawyer turn him down, repeatedly. The two decided to remain “just friends” yet West still has feelings for Sawyer, and sometimes the bartender even wants to reconsider his refusal to have a relationship. Then West's friends and coworkers at Four Bears Construction intervene to try and convince him to give it up and move on. He does tries to date other people. Only, Sawyer can't seem to stop himself from sabotaging West's dates. When West helps Sawyer restore the old house he inherited from the former bar owner, it draws the two even closer together, and tests both their resolves about remaining "just friends".

If you've read any of this series, you know how these stories are going to go. The fun part is how they get there, and the interesting details that emerge about the two men. There is also the usual heaping helping of humor and funny situations. Ww first met Wes in the second book, Nailed, but he hasn't played much of a role in the other books. He seemed to be a young man who in many ways is more mature than he was being given credit for. Didn't matter if Sawyer is refusing to acknowledge it. While he may not conform to our typical idea of a twenty-something person, West still comes across as very believable.

Sawyer has been a fixture at the bar where the guys hang out since the first book, but he hasn't played any significant role in the stories until now. I didn't find the explanation for Sawyer's rejection of West very convincing, but it didn't make him any less believable of a character. Working together to restore the old house he of the former bar owner, it drew the two men even closer together, and tests both their resolves to remain only friends.

We know where this story is going to go, but it's fun seeing how they get there, and the interesting things that we learn about the two men. Sawyer has been behind the bar since the first book, but he hasn't played much of a role so far. I didn't find the explanation for Sawyer's rejection of West all that convincing...but then I was all for them getting together:)

Tooth and Claw – Jo Walton
4****

What a fun romp of a story! It’s a typical regency (or Victorian) romance: the females cannot inherit and must marry well; there are rather rigid rules of etiquette and social classes should not mix; country houses and balls in town; young females are presented during the season; oldest sons inherit the title while younger sons need to go into the military or perhaps the clergy. BUT … all the characters are dragons.

I was captured from the first page and enthralled and entertained throughout. I really liked the “women” in this book. From the up-tight, class-conscious Exalt Benandi, to the clerk (former prostitute) Sebeth, to the faithful servant Amer, to Penn’s wife Felin, and the Algornin sisters: Berend, Selendra and Haner, they were all fully drawn and vivid.

Oh, how I wish this was a series, because I want to read more about the Algornin family, but apparently, it’s not.

Trusting You Trusting Me - Jackie James
Series: Not really a part of, but Close to the Hart Security series
Genera: M/M Romance/Security
5★
I used to believe in true love and happy ever after, but my ex taught me that not all men are prince charming… and that I can’t trust myself to tell the difference. I had a plan for my life: a husband, a couple of kids, a successful career in animal medicine. For a short time, it looked like I was going to get everything I wanted. But my prince turned into a frog, and I was left trying to navigate life as a single dad. Then along comes Ash Sutherland, and our one-night stand turns into so much more. Once again, I can see a path to the future I always dreamed of. But what if I’m wrong, and just like before I’m seeing something that isn’t real. The longer I’m around him, the easier it is for me to believe that this time I might get it right. If he can learn to trust others after all he has been through, then surely, I can do the same. But when family secrets from his past come to light, will our newfound love be strong enough to weather the storm?

It's Jacki James so I expected it to be sweet...and it was. It almost bordered on sappy but that was alright. We have Ezra and Ash who meet when Ash goes to a pet shelter to adopt a dog. He needs some type of security after he had been attacked in the street.

Ezra is a veterinarian and also a divorced father with twin boys that were almost as adorable as the dog:) It doesn't take long for sparks to fly between the two guys...Yeah, the same two guys that didn't want a relationship. Neither of the guys were ready to start anything serious but they felt the growing chemistry and were taking things slowly.

This book is a Hart Security spin off story. I have read and own all the Hart Security books. All that series is Incredibly sweet, absolutely sexy, and just a lot of good fun! You can't help but love the characters, their connections, and the adorable pets that shared the pages with them. This story will leave you smiling and just feeling good. Of course, it gets 5-stars...it's got a dog in it. Pass the dog biscuits, please!

Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner (Scottish Border, Earlston)

Another 5***** for me, and I found myself just falling into a deep, deep pool of language and story and the multiple sections that Kushner masterfully narrates by the different main characters: Gavin, Thomas, Meg, and Elspeth. This time reading it, I understood much more deeply the voices of Gavin and Meg, an older, married couple who observe (or not) the world around them in all its daily chores and details.

My earlier review mentions Tam Lin; I now see that Thomas the Rhymer is a much different cycle of story. So feel free to skip over that section of my review!

Our Winter Monster - Dennis Mahoney (New York)
Genera: Horror/Paranormal/Mystery
5★
Chilling holiday horror about an unhappy couple running from their problems and straight into the maw of a terrifying beast. For the last year, Holly and Brian have been out of sync. Neither can forget what happened that one winter evening; neither can forgive what’s happened since. Tonight, Holly and Brian race toward Pinebuck, New York, trying to outrun a blizzard on their way to the ski village getaway they hope will save their relationship. But soon they lose control of the car—and then of themselves. Now Sheriff Kendra Book is getting calls about a couple in trouble—along with reports of a brutal and mysterious creature rampaging through town, leaving a trail of crushed cars, wrecked buildings, and mangled bodies in the snow. To Kendra, who lost another couple to the snow just seven weeks ago, the danger feels personal. But not as personal as it feels to Holly and Brian, who are starting to see the past, the present, and themselves in a monstrous new light.

Holly and Brian need a vacation. They head to a ski village to enjoy some time away from work and the bleak winter. As they near the village, a blizzard blows in, and a giant, white shape descends upon their car, ripping Brian from the scene and leaving Holly unconscious. Sheriff Kendra Book is bracing for another wintry night of stranded tourists. It was only seven weeks ago that a newlywed couple went missing, and Kendra now is always anticipating the worst at every turn. Her reputation is on the line, and when she gets a report of a violent encounter and a dead local, it looks like her nightmare is beginning again. As Holly and Brian run through the village trying to find each other, both have encounters with the snow beast, who sucks them in and leaves a bloody trail in their wake. When an entirely different variety of "monster" sets its sights on the young couple, you wonder if they will they be able to resolve their inner turmoil and reconnect to triumph over the violence that's heading their way?

OUR WINTER MONSTER is a thrilling mix of horror that propels a young couple on a terrifying journey straight back to themselves. The town of Pinebuck and the locals are weathered, battered, people who have experienced life's challenges and accepted and settled deep into their despair. Holly and Brian are a couple who have suffered a random act of violence and are trying to deal with the toll it has taken on their relationship and how they now view one another. The action is quick, the violence is jarring, and the ending is a bloody and necessary act of redemption. The insidious nature of the villain is slow and subtle; until it's not. Bloody chilling action, an unrelenting pace, compelling characters, supernatural forces, and a satisfying conclusion makes OUR WINTER MONSTER a horrifyingly good time. It gets 5-stars!

Murder Most Maine - Karen MacInerney - (Maine)
Series: Gray Whale Inn Book #3
Genera: - Mystery & Suspense/Cozy
3★
It's springtime on Cranberry Island―and love is in the air. It seems like every woman has the hots for buff trainer Dirk De Leon. He and his equally gorgeous business partner, Vanessa Black, are leading a weight-loss retreat at the Gray Whale Inn―forcing innkeeper Natalie Barnes to lighten up her butter-laden breakfast menu. The mood on the island darkens when two grisly discoveries are made. The first is a skeleton walled up at the island's lighthouse. The second is a corpse of the fresh variety―the handsome Dirk! Could the spirit that once embodied the skeletal remains―perhaps the lighthouse keeper who disappeared a century ago―be responsible for Dirk's death? The police pin the blame on Natalie's boyfriend who―to her dismay―had a long-ago fling with Vanessa. To find the true killer and ease her own aching heart, Natalie must untangle the knot of jealous girlfriends and spurned admirers that once surrounded the hunky trainer.
Natalie Barnes, an innkeeper on Cranberry Island, Maine, is happy to be hosting the "Lose-It-All Weight Loss" retreat at Gray Whale Inn. She hopes to lose some weight herself, as she has become romantically involved with her next-door neighbor, John Quinton.

Things begin to go slightly offsides when the retreat's trainer Dirk De Leon is murdered. To Natalie's complete dismay, the police discover he had been poisoned, so and they close the kitchen as they investigate the possibility of the poison coming from there. That is our first mystery; where did the poison originate? Our second mystery involves the nightly theft of sweets and their ingredients, again from the inn's kitchen. A third mystery is when a skeleton thought to be around 150 -years old is found during the renovation of the lighthouse.

Frankly, in spite of it being a mystery that sounded interesting, I grew quickly tired of the whole thing and stated skipping over a lot of the info about the food and the food preparation. Also, I figured out the motive for the murder early in the book, but I didn't figure out who the murderer was. I knew who the "sweet thief" was almost from the beginning. I'm giving the book 3-stars because 1. It's not the fault of the author or the book that I don't like cozy mysteries, 2. I needed the book to fill a challenge category of a book with a lighthouse on the cover...it does indeed have a lighthouse on the cover, so...mission accomplished. 3. The characters were a bit on the silly side in spite of the really truly dead body and the police investigation. Anyone that likes cozy mysteries will more than likely find it to be a really enjoyable book...so just take my opinion with a grain of salt, or sand in this case:)

The Sociopath Next Door
Martha Stout
4/5 stars
Interesting book about sociopaths and how they use their friends and families. Non-Fiction

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacure - Philip Fracassi - (New York)
Genera: - Mystery & Suspense/The Elderly
4.5★
As the main character of Autumn Springs (though the chapter POVs change frequently, depending on who’s about to get taken out next), Rose is in her late 70s and learning to enjoy her golden years at a large retirement home in the Hudson Valley. Though she misses her daughter and young grandson back in Brooklyn, Rose loves the community she’s built at Autumn Springs, including her best friend, Miller. Everyone’s sense of security is shattered, however, when friends of theirs start dying mysteriously, alone in their apartments. The police initially shrug the deaths off as accidents or merely the result of old age — the elderly die, that’s just a fact of life, right? But as more bodies start piling up, Rose knows in her bones that something far more sinister is at work. She begins her own rogue investigation into what might be happening to their friends and reaches a chilling conclusion: a killer is loose in the Autumn Springs Retirement Home, and Rose and her friends might be next.

Most of us are fairly familiar with the term "slasher movie"...a type of horror film popularized in the 1980’s. Offerings like Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Friday the 13th. The "bad guys" are often more iconic than the victims and survivors. Go into your head and pull up memories of Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Jason; the list could go on. If you are too young to remember any of them, ask your parents what they spent Saturday afternoon at the local theater eating popcorn and watching. My point is...When you think of a slasher movie, we're thinking "under 30". In our story, the author, Phillip Fracassi, flips it and makes some interesting social commentary in the process by making nearly all the victims in this book, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre...OLD.

The first few victims were a bit of a expectancy. The first few victims, that…well, they were old and we’re probably "banging on death’s door" anyway. Now, we find that the killer is smart; he uses brute force and similar methods to make his deadly deeds appear to be accidents. Poisoning look like heart attacks, and there are other clever methods that help to avoid detection for about the first half of the book. This far into it, I thought that "slasher tale" was a bit of an "off the wall" description; but when it’s clear that the deaths are murders and the killer gives up any pretense of accidental deaths...and this brings out a completely new level of brutality of these deaths.

Our elderly protagonist is Rose DuBois, who is almost 80 years old. Unlike many of her fellow residents in the retirement home, she has a daughter who would actually like her to leave and come live with her. Rose wants to keep her independence, so when the chance comes to leave, Rose stays, and secretly wants to help find the killer.

The author does NOT JUST make these folks victims old and weak and stop there. We’re quickly introduced to Gopi, a film-lover who regularly gathers many of the residents together to show them old silver screen gems. There’s also Bridget, Barbara, and Betsie who are three sisters who live in the same apartment in order to save money... AND they are suspected of being witches by most of the residents. Rose’s longtime "boyfriend", for lack of a better word, Beauregard Mason Miller, "just call me Miller", is also a constant companion.

The character that I loved the most, and felt the most emotion for, was Tatum Bird. Tatum had dementia. Most of his life memories were long gone. He would sit a on a bench, all day, by the pond waiting for his dog to come home...his dog had been dead for over a decade. That broke my heart...so be prepared. We learned that both of the author's parents had passed away while he was working on this book, and it shows in the care that he gives his characters. He made each one of his retiree characters into a living, breathing person with different wants and desires. They weren’t just "old people" sitting in their rooms waiting to die. They had friends and hopes for their futures, while fully acknowledging that their futures were reaching closer expiration dates.

There's another chapter about two-thirds through the book that is also sad but also made me angry. After it was clear that something was wrong at Autumn Springs many of the residents tried to leave wanting to spend some time with their sons and daughters, only to be refused and almost forgotten. Unfortunately, this isn't entirely fiction.

Summary from the book:It's True that The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre's, author Philip Fracassi, has created a book with memorable characters, but he's also, 'hit the nail on the head", making a heartfelt statement about the care and condition of some, not all, of the elderly today. 4.5 stars for a very good story, but one that made me very sad.

Shiver Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott - (Ohio)
Series: Unbreakable Bonds Book 1
Genera: M/M Romance/Bisexual Character/Bodyguard
5★
Lucas Vallois does not want a bodyguard. The self-made millionaire is building a glittering empire and has everything he wants within his tight grasp. His world is starting to crumble after a trio of goons jump him late one night after leaving a club. Caving to the demands of his friends, Lucas accepts the help of bodyguard, Andrei Hadeon, as he hunts for the source of this new threat. But Lucas can’t deny the shiver of longing that strikes every time he’s around his sexy Romanian bodyguard. Lucas is sure he has no room in his life for others beyond his three close friends, but he wants to change the world for the man who could be his greatest love. His everything. Shiver is the first book in the Unbreakable Bonds series, which features a bossy millionaire, sexy bodyguard, forbidden love, close friendship bonds, bisexual awakening, car chase, and lots of steam.
Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have created yet more amazing characters. Each is lovable and strong and yet vulnerable

Four friends, each successful in their own right, that always have each other's backs, no matter what. This first book in the Unbreakable Bonds series, introduces us to the first "outsider" to join their ranks...Andrei. He finds his way into their inner circle and into their hearts; especially Lucas's.

Lucas is a self-made millionaire; who owns the Club "Shiver". We learn that he's been mugged, and although he does manage to escape, he has been badly injured, and his friends insists that he must have a bodyguard. The fact that said bodyguard is hot, and sexy as sin was a point in his favor and he does help Lucas overcome his initial resistance to the Bodyguard idea. Of course, there is just one major problem....to Lucas's dismay... the cute hot as sin bodyguard is straight...maybe

These characters all have their own demons, and this series pulls out every single one of them, but it is so addictive to watch them find ways to cope and find partners who can match them. The characters are all so lovable, warm, and well developed that you just have to root for them to have their happy-ever-after ending.

This series isn’t only about sex and falling in love. There is lots of action...and the characters all being ex-Army Rangers helps a lot with that... and of course we also have an overall threat...and a well-developed plot that will link all the books in the series together. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but I have come to expect nothing less from this author.

King Sorrow - Joe Hill - (Maine)
Genera: Suspense, Horror
5★
Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library. Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild, fantastical scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren suggests using the unnerving Crane journal (bound in the skin of its author) to summon a dragon to do their bidding. The others brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen don’t hesitate to join Colin in an effort to smash reality and bring a creature of the impossible into our world. But there’s nothing simple about dealing with dragons, and their pact to save Arthur becomes a terrifying bargain in which the six must choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow every year—or become his next meal.

Six friends summon the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon, King Sorrow from the "Long Dark" to help them defeat some bad guys. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual backfires.... BIG TIME! The spell isn't the only thing that's BIG. This book is just short of 900 pages! Pages that I couldn't seem to stop reading or turn fast enough. Oh Well...what else is new? :)

Arthur Oakes is a student who works days at the college library but spends his evenings and weekends having fun and hanging out with his five friends. He's also trying to figure out what his future holds in store for him. His mother is in prison. Authur spends a lot of time worrying about her, especially about her safety. He has even more reason to be concerned when a local thug that Arthur is indebted to for various things, threatens her safety unless Arthur starts doing “favors”. He tells Athiur that those "little favors" will pay for and ensure her safety. All that Arthur has to do is steal books from the college library where he works. Oh NO... not just any books, but old, sometimes rare, but always...expensive books, books worth lots and lots of money to "just the right people"....and this thug knows "All the Right People".

Now the story starts heating up. Arthur’s friends hear about the deal and his dilemma. They want to help so they set out to free him from these circumstances. Of course, we know that this isn't going to work and things are going to get worse..."Much" worse. We now learn that this venture that Arthur is supposed to carry out involves a book that bound in human flesh and also the summoning of a horrifying beast, a dragon named KING SORROW.

As you probably know there are going to be problems. Most people would know that any attempt to solve any particular problem by involving a dragon of any type will NEVER work out exactly as planned, or at all... and now this group of friends find that they have to make yearly sacrifices to the dragon or be devoured themselves. Years go by and of course this little group of friends age and their lives evolve. They find themselves wrapped up in several increasingly violent and bizarre scenarios that propel things to a "dragon-sized" climax.

I really enjoyed spending time in the world that Joe Hill has created. His words smoothly flowed as he so very cleverly manipulates you into scene after scene. This is horror that is so well done that you will keep flipping pages and reading well into the night.

Skin Game - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
Series: Subtle Deceptions, Book 3
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery & Suspense
5★
Gabriel Karne is cautiously optimistic. Life seems to be settling down into a nice even keel. It's a new year and the former con artist has a permanent-for-now address. No more rickety sailboats and living out of go-bags for Gabriel Karne. No surprises. No dead bodies. Romance-wise, he and Ranger Man are easing into being a couple. A lifetime of habits is hard to break, but they're getting there. Gabe even has a job. Will he regret agreeing to it? Probably but it's almost legal, so baby steps.
A strange young woman claiming to be his long-lost daughter appears on his new doorstep, and she has some sketchy documentation to prove it. It's not impossible, but Gabe wasn't born yesterday, and Heidi Karne was his mother, after all. Then, another damn letter-this one from a stranger-shows up. The author claims to have some of his late mother's belongings. Just great. It's pretty clear that the past isn't done with him yet. It will be fine. Everything will be fine.

Gabe knows the young woman who turned up on his doorstep was playing a con. The question was, which one, how big and who for? Unfortunately, her untimely death meant that Gabe had more sleuthing to do before the police decided he was the prime suspect for murder. In the meantime, Casey must come to terms with the new dynamic with his brother.

Skin Game is the third book in the Kearn and Lundin, Subtle Deceptions series. While individual arcs are completed within each book, it is recommended that you read the series as it provides a better understanding of the characters and backgrounds of all involved. This story is a typical Elle Keaton offering. It’s a slow burn, bathed in mystery, suspense, chance (?) encounters, and old-timers doing their thing. However, this tale ramps up the action a bit more, with lives on the line and some new characters added to the mix who may have sought out a quieter life after…well… who knows what? Hopefully, we may find out in the next novel.

The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Gabe and Casey. Elle Keaton is a really good author; therefore, technicalities are always well done and correct. The two main characters are growing and developing, and we find them heading further afield in order to find answers.

I love that Gabe continues to utilize his shady experience, especially his "gift of the gab", but as Gabe’s character develops, he shows us that he is a good man. Gabe’s influence on Casey is removing the stick that was originally firmly in place. This story also develops Gabe and Casey’s growing connection and reliance.
The supporting characters? I loved them all – including the animals. It's often these folks that add that "something extra special" to all of this author's stories.

Skin Game is a story that started well and just seemed to grow on me as the story progressed. It will keep you guessing who was connected to whom, and how and where they all fit into the greater scheme of things. I loved the growing suspense as the end approached. 5-well deserved stars!

Bad Blood - Rhiannon Lassiter - (England)
Genea: Horror
5++★
In an abandoned house in the Lake District, a cupboard door opens into a playroom. Buried in dust is a collection of children's books in which the names of characters have been savagely crossed out. Here three children played a make-believe game, sacrificing their dreams and wishes to make what they believed come true. But the game was never finished and in the woods behind the house something waits, hungry for the only food it knows. Now a new family has come to the house. Soon they will discover themselves in the game. But they do not know the rules. And they are the pawns, not the players.

Welcome to "The War Zone"! Oh...I mean the family home. Every meal together turns into a screaming sulking mess; obviously they can NOT "just get along". Catriona is a spoiled brat, and Katherine is beyond serious. She locks herself into an instant "power struggle". The two are fighting over who gets to be called "cats". Yeah, I didn't get that either at first. Roley is the sensitive one. He does the best he can to keep the peace, while constantly overeating to cope with the stress and failing to obtain the confidence to talk to any girl. Then we have John who is quiet, and thoughtful and is pretty much just overlooked in this mess. John actually prefers it that way most of the time. To add to the messed-up family we have the "we're determined-to-be-happy no matter what else" parents. They decide that taking the whole screwed up bunch to the Lake District...together...all at the same time...is just what the "doctor ordered". Yeah, maybe if the doctor was Dr. Frankenstein! They thought this was a grand idea because everyone knows that family holidays are sure to generate rest, ease, and domestic harmony. Yeah...SURE! Poor disillusioned parents!

Happily, or at any rate, distractingly, the picturesque pile of architectural nightmare that the family has rented for the summer is a house near Lake Windermere, where Katherine and John's late, mentally ill mother, Anne, had grown up. Of course, this proves to be sinister in every possible way imaginable.

The "house", and I use that term loosely, has shuttered windows, overlooking what can also only loosely be called a garden. The "garden" is composed of weeds that are strangling to stay alive and are at a raging war with the flowerbeds for existence and are diffidently winning. "Winged reflections tremble briefly in the stagnant water of a garden pond and vanish into the grey distance." Various unnamed species of animals can be heard rustling in the woods and, inside this supposedly empty house. There are scratching noises from behind the walls and under the floorboards. Doesn't sound very "empty" to me.

It didn't take long before the family is making the acquaintance of a variety of things that go "bump in the night", as well as in the light of day. To add to this gloom and doom is an ancient, malevolent tree; a room literally filled with blunt scissors; a mysterious man named Fox; a pair of mischievous spirits that live in any; and it seems all, the reflective surfaces; and with Anne's old collection of children's books with the names of all the good characters having violently been blacked out; and... wait for it...a cache of splendidly creepy hollow-eyed dolls. I loved this description from the book: "DELILAH and her DRONES" was written on the box and when Catriona finally got it open, she caught her breath in shock. Naked, faceless, hairless dolls lay jumbled up together like bodies in a mass grave. All of those on the top layer had faces rubbed smooth and featureless, except for the gaping holes where their eyes should be, savagely gouged out by something with a small sharp blade". Guess we now know what "dulled" those scissors:)

This author is a first but will not be a last, for me. She did a magnificent job of generating the brooding, unsettling atmosphere. The cobwebbed recesses of the house and the overgrown paths of the neighboring woodland are continually disorientating; the skies over both are invariably always overcast, and night draws in all too quickly. Even a rare day when the sun shines during a family outing on the shores of the Lake itself, is made an oppressive occurrence when Ms. Lassiter shows it to us largely through the pained, headache-induced squint of Roley. This part also captured brilliantly just how excruciating "Doing Things Together as a Family", especially THIS particular family. can really be. Some of the happenings, especially anything involving those eyeless, nearly faceless dolls, are just simply horrifying, but still beautifully, unnerving.

I seemed to be writing my own novel here, so I'll just stop; but I'll leave you with this... Bad Blood is one of the best horror books I have ever read. It's clever, it's scary...and it is SO emotionally satisfying...especially if you are a "dyed in the wool, ghost story junkie!"

Cops Cake, and Coffee - Samuel York
Series: Loves First Response Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance, Police Officers, (obviously:)
5★
Drake Knowles hides the truth from his macho cop buddies. He doesn't plan on stepping one foot outside the closet, but then he meets Adam Hughes, who challenges everything. Adam makes him feel amazing, and it's not just the sex. Adam has been out for ages and doesn't want to hide who he is, but dating Drake is different from any relationship he has ever had. When danger threatens their peace, exposing Drake to the community and all of his friends, he has to make a choice. Drake doesn't want to be out, but he wants Adam more than he wants to stay safe.

This is a contemporary romance and also fairly short and quick read. The author has given readers a fun story with some very adorable characters. Drake is a cop playing in a charity game against the fire department, and he has a bet going on with one of his firefighter friends. His "punishment" when he loses the bet, is that he has to read a raunchy poem at the local, cop/firefighter-hangout...a coffee bar. Adam is the owner of this coffee bar and invites Drake to go have a burger with him after he closes up. Of course, there is soon more going on than just eating greasy burgers:)

Adam and Drake's story is filed with drama, humor, steamy sexy parts, along with some action and suspense. I really, really liked this book. It was the first by this author that I had read but I certainly will look for more. I'm sure my friend, Mr. Amazon, will be happy to help me out. This is the first book in the "Love's First Response" Series but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Nine Perfect Strangers / Liane Moriarty. 4 stars

Fish Sticks Friday - Rhys Ford - (California)
Series Half Moon Bay Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Deacon Reid was born "bad to the bone" with no intention of changing. A lifetime of law-bending and living on the edge suits him just fine―until his baby sister dies and he finds himself raising her little girl. Staring down a family history of bad decisions and reaped consequences, Deacon cashes in everything he owns, purchases an auto shop in Half Moon Bay, and takes his niece, Zig, far away from the drug dens and murderous streets they grew up on. Zig deserves a better life than what he had, and Deacon is determined to give it to her. Lang Harris is stunned when Zig, a little girl in combat boots and a purple tutu, blows into his bookstore, and then he’s left speechless when her uncle, Deacon Reid, walks in hot on her heels. Lang always played it safe, but Deacon tempts him to step over the line… just a little bit. More than a little bit. And Lang is willing to be tempted. Unfortunately, Zig isn’t the only bit of chaos dropped into Half Moon Bay. Violence and death strike, leaving Deacon scrambling to fight off a killer before he loses not only Zig but Lang too.

Deacon was a bad boy, through and through. But he turned his life around for the sake of his 8-year-old niece, Zig, who had no one else. He sells up, packs up and moves to Half Moon Bay to start a new life with Zig, far away from his troubles. Lang owns the book shop close to the garage Deke bought. His reaction to Deke is...unexpected. But Lang has his own demons to face. When Deke's follow him to Half Moon Bay, Lang knows he can't lose Deke, or Zig.

It's been a long time since I read a Rhys Ford book but I'm glad I chose this one for my "reconnection".

We first meet Deke. Deke was what could certainly be called a "bad boy", but he quickly became a "good boy" for Zig, his 8-year-old niece. We also quickly meet Lang. Lang was born with the proverbial "silver spoon" in his mouth. Both of our main character men have had a less than perfect upbringing for very different reasons. Lang's pain is horrible...it really is and may be a trigger for some readers. It's been quite some time since I was emotional over a book...but this one was something else.

The person responsible for all the trouble isn't revealed until late in the book, and I didn't put all the clues together to get it before nearly the very end. The reasons behind the "why" of everything that is happening is deadly and painful, both emotionally and physically. However, it's beautiful to watch these two men come together, to fall for each other, and to both want so much for that little girl, ...who is really the "star of the show" here. You can't help but love the little character, oh yeah... and the swear jar! Like all of Rhy Fords's books this one also is filled with love, passion, heat, and steam. I hope that Deke, Lang and Zig make reappearance in future books in this series.

Snow - Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott - (Ohio)
Series: Unbreakable Short Stories Book 2 (46-pages)
Genera: - M/M Romance/Short Stories
5★
Unbreakable Stories: Snow is a collection of short stories and a novelette set after the events of Shatter, book 2 of the Unbreakable Bonds series and before Torch, book 3. Follow the continuing, passionate and heartfelt romance between Dr. Ashton "Snow" Frost and Jude Torres as they merge their lives together as a couple. This collection is more than 34,000 words long and contains stories such as: House Hunting with Anna Tequila; Adventure Lunch; No Walls are Sacred; The Home We Make Safety; & Net Camping.

This is a collection of short-story adventures with our very sexy guys from the Unbreakable Stories series, full-length books. Some are funny, some are a bit more serious, but they all are filled with lots of love. Once again this lets us follow Jude and Snow. It was the perfect mix of the sweet and sexy, with a bit of emotion that you've come to expect if you've read any of this series....and you really need to read the full-length books, features each couple.

This story shows Jude and Snow falling deeper in love and further solidifying their relationship, and it shows them finally solidly being there. We meet Jude's mom, follow along with some serious house hunting; join them in some upside-down kisses, go dancing, drink some tequila, which may not have been the best choice at the time, do some camping, and it's all mixed in with a lot of emotions and a few truths that just needed to be said. It's a super sweet story, for lack of a better description. The friendship and group dynamic along with genuine love and friendship among all these guys is the "sticky glue" that binds this series. There are such fierce loyalties and deep trusts, that you just have to love them all.

Out of Sight - K.C. Wells - (Massachusetts)
Series: Second Sight Book 3
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Detective Gary Mitchell and psychic Dan Porter have a new cold case to tackle, and new leads to research in the hunt for Gary’s brother’s killer. Their life in Boston has settled into a comfortable rhythm. But when forensic discoveries in a recent robbery gone wrong share similarity with their three-year-old cold case, all they can do is follow the evidence—and Dan’s gift—which leads them in an unexpected direction, way out of their comfort zone. Gary and Dan find themselves in a shadowy world where they can trust no one, with unseen opponents who want them to back away from their investigation—and suddenly they’re in a race they have to win. Because if they don’t, the consequences could be more far-reaching than they could possibly imagine.

As Gary and Dan work their investigation into Gary’s brother's murder; they found some information by talking to former classmates at a class reunion and feel that they are one step closer to finding out what happened. In the meantime, Gary and Dan choose their next cold case and fall down the proverbial "rabbit hole", which soon turns into an even darker side of what has to be DNA manipulation.

Like the first two stories in this series, which must be read in order, by the way...this story was filled action, some scary science, which turned out to be a part of the story that no one has to be science professor to understand. It was crazy and scary stuff though, especially with all the scientific discoveries and abilities available to us today.

K.C. Wells, as with any of her books takes the reader to places and gives us ideas that will keep you engaged and wanting more. I really loved this book with its rich descriptions of places they visit and the people they encounter along the way while keeping the mind whirling on all the possible suspects in the current case as well as the side case and realize that you may not know anyone as well as you think you do.

In this story a bioterrorism plot is revealed. The mystery is carefully crafted, and the twist is unexpected! A well-earned 5-stars.

June Group Read

Angel's Flight -Michael Connely - (California)
Series: Harry Bosch Universe Book #6
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
An activist attorney is killed in a cute little L.A. trolley called "Angels Flight", far from Harry Bosch's Hollywood turf. But the case is so explosive -- and the dead man's enemies inside the L.A.P.D. are so numerous -- that it falls to Harry to solve it. Now the streets are superheating. Harry's year-old Vegas marriage is unraveling. And the hunt for a killer is leading Harry to another high-profile L.A. murder case, one where every cop had a motive. The question is, did any have the guts?
A ringing phone early in the morning started the case for Detective Harry Bosch. Harry was awake and pacing his floor, so he actually looked forward to a new case. He had been trying in the darkness to will the phone to ring. However, the voice on the other end wasn’t even close to the voice he had hoped for and actually wanted to hear. He felt desolate once again; but the voice of Deputy Chief Irving was yet another shock; Chief Irving was not in Harry's departments area, and not even in their district, but he was going to pull Harry into a case that would change many lives in a violent and permanent way.

"Angels Flight" wasn't a band of Heavenly beings with harps; it was a combination of two trolley cars which ran from top to bottom of one of the steep inclines of Los Angelas. The motor that ran the cars was at the top and operated by a very human driver. The two cars would pass each other in the center. It made "Angels Flight" a well visited tourist attraction. It also was a good way for workers to move quickly and easily from one part of the city to the another. That night, with Harry and his partners, Kiz Ryder and Jerry Edgar arriving in the wee early hours of the morning. the area was filled to overflowing with cops. Harry wondered why they had been called in and why were so many needed – but it wasn't long before he found out.

The race was soon on to forestall any rioting. Harry had the entire services of the Internal Affairs Division facing him. Detective Chastain and Harry were sworn enemies; He didn't like Harry and Harry certainly didn't like him so how on earth was they expected to actually work together? They quickly learned that neither of them had a choice. They also learned something that no cop EVER wants to learn or even contemplate...there was the very real possibility of a rogue cop out there. I mere seconds the investigation took a sinister turn. To further complicate things; a large number of the LAPD had good reason to want the dead victim...dead, Harry knew of absolutely no-one that he could trust... no-one. he was on his own and he would do this his way and find the killer, hopefully before anyone else became a victim.

This was another brilliantly written addition to this series! Harry Bosch is sometimes a bit unlikeable...a bit off the wall in in thinking...but still a fabulous character. This one, like most Bosch books, was intense. The different varied layers of the story all blended to create one absolutely spellbinding, and thrilling story. The finale was absolutely stunning and not what I was expecting. I like to be right, but I always like to be surprised also. I can't believe there is anyone out there that reads Mystery and Suspense that HAS NEVER read a Harry Bosch novel...in case there is...without hesitation I would highly recommend this one or any of the others in the series.

Between Fists And Spotlights by Jules Raven
Bodyguard. Pop star. One tour bus and a door he keeps unlocking on purpose.
Tommy got out of prison with a black bin bag of clothes and nowhere to go. Bare-knuckle fighter. Ex-con. Bosnian. Built like a wall and twice as hard to talk to. All he wants is a quiet life and an honest job.

He gets a job protecting a global pop star instead.

Quinn: long blonde hair, eyeliner, painted nails, a voice like sin. He is everything Tommy's spent twenty-eight years pretending he isn't into. Spoilt. Loud. Allergic to professional boundaries. The kind of beauty that makes "I'm not gay" sound, frankly, hilarious.

One tour. Big cities. Hotel rooms next to each other. A tour bus with thin walls that don't stop them. Texts at 2 a.m. Tommy shouldn't be answering. A door that keeps getting unlocked on purpose. A pop star who calls him sir just to watch his jaw clench.

Second Act - Kaje Harper - (Minnesota, California)
Genera M/M Romane, Second Chances
5★
When Bryce Edwards left Minnesota for the bright lights of Hollywood ten years ago, he was determined not to look back. He's built a solid acting career through his own hard work and talent. But when he finds himself unemployed right before Christmas, the memories he's been ignoring start to rise up and annoy him. Maybe it's time to take a different approach; maybe it's time to confront his past and not just use it as motivation for his next angsty scene. If he can make peace with what happened back then— the small-town bigots who drove him away, and his first boyfriend who refused to leave with him— maybe he'll be free to move on to something better. He's not sure what “something better” will look like, but he's finally ready to get on a plane, go home, and find out.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but I guarantee it won't be the last. The story revolves mostly around the very appealing, actor... Bryce. He has discovered what he believes is all the answers to reconciling his past and now dealing with his present...but it will all come in forms he never would have expected. You, the reader will probably not expect them either...I didn't. When Bryce returns to his hometown in Minnesota for the holidays, it brings him a whole lot more than the closure that he had hoped for about what happened there ten-years ago before he left. One of those "unexpected things" just happens to be the confident, sassy, attractive, and very wealthy, Dion.

The author creates a marvelous story dealing with, what could be called, the "human condition". The story deals very well with the many issues Bryce has been silently, and singularly, struggling with...and be aware, our Bryce does have ISSUES. Bryce and Dion are so much more than they appear to be on the surface and experiencing them sorting through one another's many layers made for an engrossing, and heartfelt read. The secondary characters, Jaques and Cody are also amazing.

The Redemption of River - Eli Easton - (Washington/India)
Series: Sex in Seattle Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
River Larsen is a world traveler, truth-seeker, and tantric healer. He’s a master of loving all—and no one. Both his past and his spiritual path warn him against attachment. When he falls for his surrogacy client and coffee magnate, Brent McKay, River tells himself it’s a temporary idyll, a beautiful encounter they’ll both enjoy and move on from like mature adults. Only his heart misses that memo. Brent McKay hasn’t been interested in sex since his wife died two years ago. When he goes to Expanded Horizons sex clinic in Seattle for help, he meets River Larsen, a sex surrogate specializing in reiki massage and tantric sex therapy. Brent never expected to be interested in a man, but River’s light-filled spirit, inner peace, and electric touch bring him back to life. Brent’s loyal heart is ready to commit again. But how can he convince River that love can last forever—if you just have faith? The Redemption of River features a widower who surprises himself, a gorgeous hippy who thinks he’s a dandelion puff, an age gap, midlife discovery of bisexuality, foodie Seattle, a houseboat, dogs, a trip to Mumbai, and tantric secrets.

I started this series some time ago, and somehow, I didn't get back to it right away. I'm glad I bought this one to continue my "trip to Seattle". These stories are all lovely slow burns. This one is not an exception. We meet Brent, a widower whose wife died from a horrible form of cancer and who, a couple of years later, continues to experience a sexual dysfunction. River is one of the sex surrogates from the Expanded Horizons clinic.

Brent and Kathy, his now dead wife, married when they were eighteen and Brent had never thought of himself as anything but "straight", but now he's struck, stuck, and a bit confused. From the first time that he saw River's picture in the clinic's brochure, he was...shall we say...intrigued. Not just by River's good looks, but by the vitality and sense of peace that seemed to jump at him from the page. Brent decides to choose River to work with, and although he finds it somewhat awkward at first, there's some real feelings of connection, feelings that further develop over their next sessions. Both guys are aware of the professional boundaries between them, and when they part after their last session, they never expected to see each other again. Oh, if you read many books of this genus, you know how well that's going to work! It's fine until Brent walks into one of the coffee shops he owns and sees, who else... River, right there, and working behind the counter.

Since this is a romance novel, we know what's coming next. The journey this author takes her characters and her readers on is extremely well done. River is a very spiritual person. He grew up in a commune, he has travelled a little and practices a numerous variety of holistic therapy including "Reiki" and "Tantric Massage", which I had never heard of, but the way that Ms. Easton describes it made it fascinating and easy to understand River. He's a beautiful individual, both inside and out, and I really enjoyed watching him and Brent getting to know each other better, along with Brent's whole-hearted enthusiasm for all the new things that knowing River tossed into his path. Brent is a wonderful man also. He's been through a lot in life, and I liked the way he simply accepted and never spent endless time questioning his attraction to River.

The conflict in the story comes from the fact that River has lived a pretty "nomadic" life, and he expects that's the way it will always be... but leaving Brent is going to be the hardest thing he's ever done. The romance between Brent and River is full of sexual tension and chemistry, and I really enjoyed the storyline as Brent and River collaborate on the ideas for Brent's new business venture. This author has done her research. I enjoyed this story and Eli Easton's presentation, immensely.

Sisters Of the Sari – Brenda L Baker
3***

Kiria Langdon, an American executive on holiday in India, gets lost and is helped by Santoshi, a former slave living in Chenai. They form an unlikely alliance which becomes genuine friendship, changing each other’s lives, and the lives of many other women in the city.

In some respects, Kiria acts like the great white savior; she has difficulty understanding the cultural mores of the women she seeks to help. They, in return, have difficulty trusting her and her motives . Both sides need to find a way to recognize the other’s perspective before they can come to a true understanding.

This is a story of women coming into their own and taking charge of their own destinies.
I enjoyed the book. It’s a solid debut and I’d be interested in reading more from this author.

Truth or Dare -Celia Rees - (England)
Genera: Horror/Paranormal
4.5★
Truth or Dare is a dynamic and at times disturbing novel by an author who has a particular talent for grasping on to the unknown and developing characters and plots which work together so superbly that the reader finds himself lost in a world that once seemed unbelievable but suddenly becomes all too real. Josh finds himself lost in the center of a family crisis when he is whisked away to stay at his dying grandmother's house for the summer. With a combination of haunting and worry driving him to find something to occupy his time and his mind, he begins to delve into his own family history and discovers that the man who, had he lived, would have been his Uncle Patrick, died in mysterious circumstances as a teenager. With his family refusing to talk about it, and only local gossip and an abandoned room filled with strange possessions that once belonged to Patrick, he starts to peel back the layers of his family's life until he is faces with the ultimate, shocking, truth. Josh himself is seen digging into the past, but his mother, Joanna, looks back on her youth and for the first time confronts the reality of what happened to her family through the pages of her journal.

Josh has to spend the summer holidays with his grandmother, who has to care for his mother. There are more exciting plans for the school-free weeks. That's why he's bored with his computer game and also and with the file entitled "Sommer.doc", that he found on his mother's computer. She describes a summer in the 1970s, when UFOs and aliens were the hot topics. He also learns that his mother had two brothers, one of them, Patrick, died of pneumonia a long time ago...but the other? Josh doesn't know...oh, but he wants to. The longer he messes with the document, the more he finds that it looks and reads more like a diary...his mother's diary. Josh has only just started, and he's finding more and more secrets in his grandmother's old house.

The story vividly describes how mental illnesses were dealt with only a few decades ago, and how childhood imagination can end a summer as well as an entire part of a life. Told from two points of view, this story tells us of two summers that fundamentally and dramatically changed the lives of their protagonists. Some things were not very clear, but this story was written primarily for "tweens and teens". The mysterious, sometimes even creepy atmosphere still captivates and intrigues even if it is a tad too predictable, but it did do the job of providing an enjoyable summer reading experience.

The Boy from the Woods / Harlan Coben. 4 stars

The Man I Lied To - Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Series: Arete Resort Series Book 1
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
"I'm not here to heal. I'm here to audit". Arete Resort is supposed to be where broken men find their way back. My job is to find out if that's true before the investors write another check. Two months, one alias, simple enough. Except I have my own reasons for knowing what rock bottom looks like. The accident I caused. The back that never healed right. The pills I smuggled in that are nobody's business but mine. Then there's Luka. He's new. Too easy with people, too comfortable in his own skin, too willing to show up when I've given him every reason not to. When I'm being a total ass, he tells me directly. When I shut down, he stays anyway. Then he found the pills. I could have let him take the blame...but I didn't. The audit was the job. Luka was supposed to be nothing...he isn't.

This was not a bad story; it just had an entirely "different feel" to the entire book; different than this author's stories usually are. Romeo Alexander is one of my all-time favorite M/M Romance authors. I can always count on him to give his readers a read with real emotions, and a made-for-each-other couple; although it sometimes takes them a while to realize that; and always...a "happy ever after".

I started out thinking that this one might be the exception to the "happy ending". I really didn’t like Rowan very much to begin with. I understood why he was sent to the resort to do a secret audit; I understood the job he had to do, but did he have to be so negative? I just had to be patient, which I'm not... and work to all out. That was just his personality. He needed data and he didn't work on emotion. That took some time for me to get into. Then there was Lucas! Him, I liked right away. He's a "happy- go-lucky I like everyone and everyone likes me" type of guy, and a team member at the Arete Resort...and he's given Rowan to help with anything he might need. It doesn't take long for Rownan to "need"...but I don't think it's what the boss had in mind when he made the assignment:)

Lucas had always done the training but only as a guide; Rowan is his first client. To say that they’re first meeting doesn’t go as planned would be a true understatement. The more time they spend together the more things seem to just happen; especially if you happen to enter a room and catch them; which is more than a mere possibility. I don't see how any real work ever got accomplished. Lucas knows what he should be doing in his role as Luka's guide, but he chooses to go an entirely different route.

There are no rules broken but you can't deny that there is a real connection happening between these two guys. I liked that Lucas didn't cave in and put up with some of Luka's rubbish plans and ideas.

The biggest question throughout almost the entire story was when Lucas’s morals are questioned will Rowan be there for him? Overall, it was a good read. Romeo Alexander ALWAYS writes a good story with interesting and usually lovable characters. I'm now going to Amazon for the other three books in this series. I sincerely hope there will be more.

The Crowfield Curse - Pat Walsh - (England)
Series:Crowfield Curse Book 1
Genera: Young Adult
4.5★
A buried angel! When a hobgoblin confesses the horrible secret of Crowfield Abbey to the monks' apprentice, the boy is drawn into a haunting medieval mystery and a world of Old Magic. An angel is buried behind the abbey! It's 1347, and Will, an orphan boy, lives and works as an apprentice of the Crowfield monks. Sent into the forest to gather firewood, he stumbles across a trapped, wounded creature no bigger than a cat. The little goblin shares a terrible secret: Buried deep in the snow behind the monastery is an angel. But, Will wonders, how can an angel die? And what does this angel have to do with the history of Crowfield? When two cloaked strangers show up and start asking questions, Will is drawn into a dangerous world of Old Magic.

Will is fifteen; an orphan in the Crowfield Abbey who works hard for his keep. When he discovers an injured hob in the woods and brings him home, everything begins to change rather rapidly.

The story is a well-written, and fairly fast paced. My senior citizen library group read it for their July book discussion even though it is designed more for the "young adult" crowd. The group, especially the ladies said that the vivid description, especially of the woods, had them "shivering with the cold, colorless imagery of the Abbey".

The book seemed to be a well-executed blend of realistic Middle Ages environment with traditional "otherworld" characters. Both the men and the women said that they would like to read the second book in the series just to see if Will finally leaves the Abbey and pursues a less cold path.

Believe it or not this is listed as a children's book, but I would strongly recommend it for older children, at least 12 years and over, as it is a good story, but it is also a really dark story with some gore and some animal deaths that are fairly graphic. My senior citizens all said that The Crowfield Curse was an interesting and very memorable story and they all agreed that they want more.

Angels Flight by Michael Connelly (California)
5*****

Part of an ongoing series that was easy enough to pick up the thread. On a transit system called "Angels Flight," on the very last run, a woman and a man are found shot to death. Harry Bosch is called to take over the investigation and he learns that the woman was an innocent passenger but the man was a lawyer who often sued the LAPD for racially motivated justice.

Bosch and his team begun their investigation under the command of Deputy Chief Irving who wants them to finish and quickly. But there is more to this investigation than Irving would like to see: the manner in which Elias was killed, the motive behind the killing, and (of course!) the suspect is not who Irving would like it to be.

In Bosch's personal life, his Las Vegas marriage with Eleanor is falling apart: she has picked up her addiction to gambling and uses her addiction as a way to cope with marriage to a cop. So that does not sit well with me. And Harry's pain as he tries to show his new wife his love for her contributes to his difficulties with this investigation.

This book was a page turner in the police procedurals. The who and the why were not what I expected, and Bosch's team investigates like a good, cohesive unit.

Firemen, Flames, & Fettuccine - (New York)
Series Love's First Response Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance. Firefighters & Police Officers
4.5★
When Grady Madison was forced out of the closet, he thought his life would change for the worse, but he soon realizes he can date men without having to hide it from his co-workers. Attraction fires when he runs into Paul Sessa, filling him with fiery hot desire. Grady thinks the goofy clown suit he wore to the charity event is a huge turnoff for the hot bear, Paul, but being goofy is his comfort zone. Paul Sessa wants a man of his own and not just another hookup. But that guy has to pass his daughter's scrutiny, and she's one smart cookie. Paul asks Grady to stop by his restaurant, but Grady is unsure. His insecurities almost keep him from going, but he takes a chance. Taking things slow is the plan until they wind up with pants around their ankles before their first real date. Desire runs hotter than Paul's kitchen at his restaurant, and he can't let Grady go. But will Grady?

We met Grady in the first book. He was bullied and then saved by Drake. They both "came out" at the same time. Now it's Grady's turn to find true love and he does...with Paul. Paul is a good - looking chef who has a daughter. Paul's ex-wife and her husband were a close family, but Paul wanted someone of his own.... preferably of the male species. Together they make a great family.

There are many reasons why he should not be in a relationship with Paul, but the attraction is right there in his face, and in his heart. These are short books. Grady and Paul's budding relationship is fairly uncomplicated but there are things they have to take into consideration... mainly Paul’s daughter.

Overall, this is a fun, short story.... almost too short; that's why the 4.5 stars, not because there was anything wrong with the story.

Fake & Bake - Romeo Alexander -(Maine)
Series: Northern Lights Book #4
Genea: M/M Romance
5★
Nothing says home quite like the smell of baking.
The quiet, small town of Higbee, Maine, is set in the perfect place for the upcoming northern lights. People from different parts of the country are flocking in droves to see the brilliant cosmic show as the town celebrates this unusual event. Anthony Clarence has spent his entire life not only in Higbee but in the small bakery he runs from his home. A devastating attack in his teens has kept him terrified of the outside world, Anthony locks the world away, scared to step outside his front door. Only his cakes and cookies allow him to paint the vivid world that lives on in his mind.

Jax is a movie star on the run. Attempting to distance himself from his long-time manager, and the stress of being a Hollywood star, he comes to Higbee to see the northern lights. Upon arriving, however, he finds out he’s too late to see the celestial event. Not knowing Jax’s true identity, Anthony pulls him into a scheme to win over the heart of a man he swears he’s destined to be with. Jax needs a safe place to hide his well-known face from the world and agrees to the idea of a fake relationship. In the process, Jax will rediscover a love for his art, and a passion for the man who reignited it in him. For Anthony, the security and comfort of Jax’s presence will force him to face the world of fantasy and dreams he’s lived in for so long and wonder if perhaps reality could be so much better.

Romeo Alexander is one of my "go to, can't go wrong", authors. I have never been disappointed by any of his offerings, and I own ALOT of them! I, as always, enjoyed Jax and Anthony's chemistry and their romance. Jax, is an actor who is frustrated and stuck in a rut. He escapes to Higbee, Maine, to get some much needed "alone" time and to also enjoy the Northern Lights, but he just misses it and ends up roped in by Anthony to participate on a "fake boyfriend" scheme. If you've read enough of these genera, you know that of course he ends up falling in love with him. You can almost feel his frustrations and moodiness pouring out and dripping off the pages. His supposed to be "journey of inspiration", courtesy of Anthony, was enjoyable, and also a little frustrating to watch.

I soon realized that I had already had glimpses of Anthony from some of the series' previous books. In the first one we learned of Anthony's devastating back story. In this one we find out to what extent that awful experience had damaged his psyche. On the surface he tries to exude a genuine, bubbly personality, he tries to relish in other people's stories and adventures, but deep down he is still too afraid, and too broken to try to even leave his bakery. The journey to his hard-fought bravery to step out and deny being held down any longer was wonderful to follow. Overall, them getting to together and working all their misgivings out at last was romance reader's delight.

Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson - (Oregon)
Genera: Horror, Suspense, Thriller
5★
It’s the winter of 1975, and Portland, Oregon, is all sleet and neon. Duane Minor is back home after a tour in Vietnam, a bartender just trying to stay sober; save his marriage with his wife, Heidi; and connect with his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, now that he’s responsible for raising her. Things aren’t easy, but Minor is scraping by. Then a vampire walks into his bar and ruins his life. When Minor crosses John Varley, a killer who sleeps during the day beneath loose drifts of earth and grows teeth in the light of the moon, Varley brutally retaliates by murdering Heidi, leaving Minor broken with guilt and Julia filled with rage. What’s left of their splintered family is united by only one desire: vengeance. So begins a furious, frenzied pursuit across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. From grimy alleyways to desolate highways to snow-lashed plains, Minor and Julia are cast into the dark orbit of undead children, silver bullet casters, and the bevy of broken men transfixed by Varley’s ferocity. Everyone’s out for blood.

I wasn't expecting this story to be this good. Bad me! It is in no way, your typical vampire story. oh yeah...It’s dark, it's melancholic, and it's gritty. It focuses mainly on revenge and the toll it takes on an individually both mentally and physically. Grief and regret play big parts in this novel. I really liked the setting the author chose, the 1970s. Right from the start you feel the dreed, with the tension building from the first to the last.

The three main characters are perfect players in this story. Duane Minor... a Vietnam veteran who struggles with PTSD. Duane's adopted niece, Julia, who is dealing with trauma after her mother was convicted and sent to jail for killing her abusive husband, and the vampire, John Varley...whose actions set everything in motion. They are all majorly flawed individuals, which can sometimes really upset a story, but this times those flaws simply help to make the story more compelling.

This is part horror, part thriller, part suspense. The thin line between these genera sometimes blurs, but not this time. Overall, it was a gripping read that kept me saying "just one more chapter"...okay one more...which of course turned into two more, then three. more.... well...you get the idea, I'm sure. From the beginning to end, I HAD to see how it would all turn out. This is my first book by this author, but it certainly will not be my last. You do really have to like horror though.

The Truth of Our Past - Heather Leighson - (New York/Sweden)
Series: Unframed Art, Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/Artist/quite a lot of angst
4★
He’s a contradiction I can’t resist
Alec:
Von’s mile-long legs accentuate his perfect ass-et. The first time he opens his mouth, I’m instantly obsessed with his accent. I crave wrapping his blond hair around my fist—twice. Absolutely my next conquest. But he’s immune to my charm and walks away. I’ve never been more intrigued. Coaxing a smile from his tight lips becomes irresistible. So, for him, I break all my rules. When he pretends to be my boyfriend…it feels all too real.
Von:
I fled Sweden, leaving behind the tragedy haunting me. But now soulful brown eyes and a smirk cause breathtaking torment. Worse yet, Alec has my kryptonite dimples. Resisting is hopeless. I ache for his kindness, despite his aversion to relationships. My mind screams danger, but my shattered heart refuses to listen. I fear by the time I leave the U.S. there won’t be any pieces left. There’s a limit to how much damage a heart can endure before it stops beating.

Alec and Von have a great connection. I liked Von from the very first, but I thought that Alex came across as immature...but you could tell from all his reactions to Von that he had been badly hurt by a relationship at some time in his life. It made me just hold my breath and wait for the inevitable to occur. The banter between the two of them will keep you laughing, but some of it is filled with angst. The plot was good and the story is well done, and it's not continuous sex. We've met some of the supporting characters from other of the books, so it was like meeting family after a long absence. I have the next book and I'm looking forward to Jayce, and Em’s story.... Madyson's story is also in that one...but I'm not a big fan of her character.

An issue that I had with this book is that every character had some kind of "death situation" that they were working through. I felt that it was a tad unrealistic for every single person in a group of friends to have all that trauma; and all at the same time, especially when they weren't grieving the same person. It made the story a bit depressing. That wasn't the biggest issue though. The biggest issue I had was the miscommunication between Von and Alec...especially Alec's unrealistic reaction to a situation that Von had absolutely NO CONTROL over. Von had no choice. It was something that he HAD to do...and Alec blew it up sky-high with accusations that he absolutely KNEW were NOT true. Every problem they had, real or imaginary, could have been solved by them just simply realistically talking...and listening. Sometimes miscommunication can be helpful if done well, but it all just felt terribly "OFF" to me. The eventual groveling was pretty good though. The groveling seem to actually, take some thought and work.

Overall, I really like this author. The story was well thought out and well written. The book might even be called "cute". I gave it 4 stars because of the few things that I've already mentioned. If these things don't bother you; then you and this book will be "best friends".

The Truth of Our Secrets - Heather Leighson - (New York)
Series; Unframed Art Book #3
Genera:M/M/F Romance
4★
Three Hearts—Two Lies—One Epic Romance
Emmet
Miss Rose owns my heart four years after abandoning me. Leaving on the worst day of my miserable life. But she immediately expresses her concern and devotion…maybe I got it wrong. It seems the man I idolized—the breathtakingly gorgeous Jayce McKenna—deceived me. This time, I refuse to leave.

Jayce
I lied to the love of my life. In my defense, it was to protect her. Emmet isn’t an innocent victim. I’ll do everything in my power to stop him from destroying our lives. The problem is, every time I’m near him, my traitorous body craves more.
My instinct to claim him as mine is overwhelming.

Madyson
I’ve never gotten over Emmet ghosting me. Jayce is hiding something, but Emmet belongs with us. They can’t hide their need or explosive chemistry. If I have to choose between them, I won’t survive the devastation. I believe in our love, but I’m terrified they’ll stubbornly settle for heartbreak instead of forever.

The plot is centered on secrets. On what secrets can do to people, on how they often shape perspective and understanding, and on how they diffidently affect behavior and can damage relationships and create distrust. The plot explores what is left between people when those secrets eventually come out and totally change the entire "playing field". The start of this story reveals the secrets between Emmet, Jayce, and Madyson, but not all of them right away. Many more are revealed as the story progresses. Just like the other two book in this series, it was almost impossible to put it down. because I found that I simply HAD to see if I’d had been right with my predictions. I read so many of this type of book that I think I have "learned what to expect" from these guys :) This author is really good at surprising you. She adds so many twists and turns in her stories. There is, as always, a happy ending. These characters give us genuine emotions of every type.

I own most of Heather Leighson's books and I guarantee that she always does a great job creating characters that are charming but also flawed. At times, you will be frustrated with her characters, but almost always you will just want to hug them. The story's plot explores what is left between people when the best hidden secrets inevitably come out and changes everything. At the beginning we learn a few secrets between Emmet, Jayce, and Madyson, but many more are revealed. This book is described as "an angsty, spicy, pining slow burn of an MMF love story with a happy ending", and it was all of those things... but Madyson was a character that, from the start of book 1, the very beginning of this series, I just couldn't like or care "two figs" about. Unfortunately, she is one of the main characters in this story, so she wasn't going to just GO AWAY, as much as I wanted her to. I loved Jayce and Emmet from the start...so 4 stars for them having to share the pages with her. Of course, you know that they all shared a lot more than just pages:)

Exploring Daddy - Mia Monroe & Wander Aguiar - (California, Nevada)
Series: Love in L.A. Book 2
Genera: M/M Romance/Daddy/little
5★
I’ve never had a Daddy. Can he teach me how to be the perfect boy? I have three problems. No job, no direction, no clue what I’m doing next. Following my best friend to L.A. is the only thing that makes sense. I’ll start a new life, figure out a career, and learn how to be an adult. Meeting Matteo is intimidating but exciting. I know he wants a "boy". I also know I’m far from what he’s looking for. How can I go to him when I don't even know how to balance a bank account? I’m determined to stand on my own two feet before letting a "Daddy" take over my life. As usual, life has other plans for me, and I find myself needing the one thing I tried to avoid. I can’t imagine what the gorgeous, older man could want with me, but I’m done fighting. I have a lot to learn about life and love, but exploring Daddy is turning out to be one of my better decisions. If he thinks I can be the perfect boy for him, maybe I can.

Matteo, best friend of porn superstar Legend, and Finn, who is best friend of Legend’s boyfriend Bentley, initially met in Legendary Daddy. They're instantly attracted to one another, and Matteo just knows that this is the "boy" for him. Finn is aware of the attraction as well but doesn’t believe he’s ready. When the story starts, the push & pull dynamic has already started. Matteo in looking to find his own "boy". He sees how happy Legend and Bentley are and he wants that relationship also with someone special. He had recently left a bad relationship.

Finn had, for some time now, been on his own with only his father, who had just recently died; and Finn is completely lost. He wants Matteo and the "Daddy/boy" relationship that Finnis offering, but he thinks and wants to come to Matteo as an equal. I began to want to shake him as he flounders about trying to find his way completely on his own. He won't ask for help or support. all it has to do is give Matteo a "yes" and everything he wants and needs will be provided.

This book continues the Daddy/boy theme of this series...but doesn't go into age play or the Dady/little theme. It does offer a different take on it, though. In the last book, Legendary Daddy, Legend and Bentley knew right away that they belonged together, and they fell into the Daddy/boy dynamic. Matteo and Finn's, journey is different. Finn needs to find his way and Matteo exerts the restraint to allow Finn the space and time that he needs. When Finn finally comes around, the pure joy experienced by them both is warm, and heartwarming.

Another highlight of this story is the "bromance" between Matteo and Legend, and the absolute adoration and unwavering support between long-time friends Bentley and Finn. When the four of them are together, it’s like the ultimate double-date. Mia Monroe treats the different relationship diversities and the individual kinks of the major characters as well as the side characters, equally and without any judgment. Overall, this book is a sweet, sexy, low angst read. If you enjoy the M/M or M/M/M romance genre, you will definitely enjoy this story, but this series in order to get the most enjoyment out of each of the main character's stories.

Power Bottom - Rowan McAllister- (Maryland)
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Can a pickup line from a stranger completely change the way an ordinary man sees himself? Adrian wouldn’t have thought so, but after an ugly breakup where his self-esteem took a serious beating, he’s willing to try just about anything to repair the damage… even return to a secluded bar in rural Maryland and the intriguing stranger whose words have been on his mind since they met. Biker, bouncer, bartender, and tattoo artist, Wyatt is a rolling stone. After fifteen years, he is tired of a life on the run, but he isn’t sure he knows how to do anything else or if he has anything besides a physical relationship to offer. What’s supposed to be a one-off, turns into another and another, and the relationship looks promising until the mob and the FBI come knocking on Adrian’s door.

The question that the book asked is an interesting one. Most people would answer that it is possible, but a lot would depend on the individual. Here we learn that “not everything is what it seems” and “what you want is not always what you need”. That statement could easily be the entire sum and substance of this entire book. It presents us with an adventure; a mystery; and a character study, with the journey of two men who end up in very different places from than they ever expected to be. It's slow to start with, but that slow start is used to set the scene for what follows; and it is well worth the wait!

Adrian is an ordinary guy, but the events that follow his first visit to the gay bar in the middle of the Maryland mountains was so far from what would be considered the “norm” that it was almost scary. Adrian goes from what he thought was a great relationship to a nasty breakup when his lover cheats on him. His self-confidence is shaken, so it takes him some time to recover. Thanks to Wyatt’s help, he does recover, but then he begins to notice that Wyatt is being "weird", for lack of a better word. The evidence keeps piling up and by the time both the mob and the FBI want to talk to Adrian, he is up-to-his-neck and over his head in trouble.

Wyatt is a "mystery" for most of the story, and somehow the author made his "weirdness" work well to keep up the suspense. It was obvious, at least to me, that Wyatt was running from something, but the author very slowly revealed what that "something" might could have been. I can’t say any more without giving away a spoiler, but I have to say that it was masterfully done.

I liked both Adrian and Wyatt. They were fascinating characters. They changed a lot as the story progressed. Adrian acted in a certain way because that was what others expected of him...at least that was what he THOUGHT they expect. He had to learn to see himself as he really was, and that admitting what he wanted and needed was not by any means, a weakness. Wyatt was his own "worst enemy". He was constantly running from himself, and he believed that he wasn't ready to deal with being the man that he could be.

The story starts out slow and it tries to convince you into believing it’s safe to relax before turning into what I thought of as "thriller territory". If you want to see two guys who are both trying to decide who they are and what they want while figuring things out together...and if you’re looking for a story that is as much a mystery as it is a M/M romance, along with a story that is packed full of secrets, that's suspenseful as well as a hot romance, then you will probably like this one. It was worthy of all 5 beautiful, shining stars.

Violet's Trial: The Children of Durmista

For sixteen years, Violet lived as property.

Born into the ruthless Loving Copse Clan, she endured a life of abuse, slavery, and fear, waiting for the day she would be sold to the highest bidder. But when that day comes, Violet does the impossible—she escapes.

Hunted by the family that claims ownership of her life, Violet finds refuge with a mysterious warrior named Garrick, who teaches her how to survive, fight, and reclaim the strength that was stolen from her. Yet freedom is only the beginning.

As Violet uncovers the horrifying reach of the slavers who destroyed her childhood, she learns that countless others still suffer beneath the same chains. Villages burn, children disappear, and dark forces move in the shadows. Refusing to stand by, Violet sets out on a dangerous journey through the ancient Forest of Durmista, where powerful guardians, unlikely allies, and forgotten prophecies await.

But every chain she breaks draws the attention of those who profit from suffering.

Now, with war brewing on the horizon and innocent lives hanging in the balance, Violet must decide whether she will continue running from her past—or become the weapon that destroys it.

A tale of survival, found family, courage, and hope, Violet's Trials is the unforgettable third installment in The Children of Durmista series, proving that even the most broken soul can change the world

p.s not good at this stuff did my best. >.

Everything you always wanted to know about the French, (but were afraid to ask) Gaspard Chevallier - (France)
Genera: Non-Fiction/Informational
5★
Because they invented cinemas, bicycles, cars, photography, radioactivity, but also the bra, the croque-monsieur, the garbage can, and dentures.
Because the French express themselves in a language qualified as one of the sexiest, albeit with sounds so often considered animalistic: coucou, quoi, oui….
Because in France, we intrinsically like to rebel against everything: system, government, our employer, and we go so far as to go on strike preventively against a law that does not yet exist. A country where artists transform urinals into works of art, build a glass pyramid in front of a century-old building, or split the sky of their capital with a steel tower. A country seen as the country of love and where the words “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ?” are the most pronounced by foreigners. I’ll take you on a virtual excursion to France in order to verify the veracity of its many clichés and stereotypes. I offer you a global reflection on the French lifestyle, which is so singular, atypical, and surprising. will transport you into the heart of an expatriated Gallic who makes fun of his country as much as he loves it. on voyage to France!

This is a very short little book filled with useful information...if you're planning to visit France or another French speaking country and want to maybe order something other than French fries...over which they'll scratch their heads and laugh at you. There is a lot of creativity in this little book, and it's also filed with paradoxes and lots of oddities. The author's point of view is what makes this essay so interesting and original. Mr. Chevallier is French, but he's been an expatriate for the last 25 years. You can tell right away that he loves his country and demonstrates a great ability to be surprised by what can seem quite trivial facts about his country. But hey...there are born and breed American's that can't tell you 10 true facts about this country or sing the national anthem.

This little gem is punctuated with humor, it's obviously well documented and well written. Each chapter addresses an individual theme: chauvinism, French lovers, the French language, French fashion and art, cooking. I not only enjoyed this little book but it also helped me finish a book challenge by the proverbable "skin of my teeth:)

Becoming Daddy - Mia Monroe & Wander Aguiar -(California)
Series: Love in L.A., Book 3
Genera: M/M/M Romance/Daddy/ little
5★
I knew nothing about love until they came along to teach me. My life is all about three things. Helping people in need; Loyalty to my friends; & Surviving by any means. My life has always been about the hustle. That’s what it’s like when you grow up on the tough streets of LA. I learned early on to rely on myself but always look out for the little guy. I guess it’s my instinct or something. My new friends pulled me out of a bad situation and into a world I’ve never experienced. I’m slowly finding my way on the straight and narrow path but watching all my friends find love makes me realize what I’m still missing. When a couple invites me into their lives, I’m confused. Why would these two gorgeous men want me? They’re determined to convince me it’s real. The more time we spend together, the more I wonder if I’m a boy at heart. But when things come to a head, maybe Becoming Daddy is what my men really need from me.

The story was beautiful as well as unique. Ramos, Zayden and Alex had an amazing relationship and outlook on not only life but also on love. the dynamic between these three was perfect and I loved how it evolved and unfolded between the three of them. Sometimes with M/M/M books you feel like one character could have been left a little more in the background, but this one was written to make the three of them equals in every sense of the word.

I was glad to have finished this series and to see all these men happily in love. Can't say enough good things about the Love in L.A. series, or about Mia Monroe's wonderful writing. I will gladly recommend this series; especially to those of you who like me, like it when a good "Daddy" and his "boy" get together.

All Her Fault by Andrea Mara
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 - 391 p.

Marissa Irvine is facing a parent's worst nightmare: her four-year-old son Milo is missing. He was supposed to be at a playdate, but the woman at the Dublin address given to Marissa has no knowledge of Milo. Jenny Kennedy, the mother who supposedly arranged the playdate, has no knowledge of Milo's whereabouts. To complicate matters, neither the Irvines' nanny nor the Kennedys' nanny can be found. Marissa has problems at work - the files for an upcoming audit are showing some problems. Jenny's marriage is on the rocks and her mother-in-law is driving her crazy. Whose fault is it that Milo is missing?

This was very good! I had most of it figured out, but there were a few twists and turns along the way, and the last chapter - wonderful!