Copy received from publisher for an honest review

I will warn you - don't dive into Amber to Ashes expecting a sweet story. It is anything but sweet.

I am having trouble writing the review for Amber to Ashes. I am a bit torn between do I or don't I like it?

So I am falling in the middle here.

And I am just not sure I can put my finger on why I feel this way.

The love triangle, the M/F/M action, the drug use - nope, none of those things bothered me. Give me the angst involved in those things any day.

Even at the end of the book, I still couldn't really connect with Amber. As we learn of her past, I had to question why she would begin a relationship with someone who's living the kind of life that kinda ruined her childhood?

Amber's "sex-is-the-cure-for-everything" attitude? Studying to be a psychologist but not talking to your own therapist? Just made me roll my eyes.

Both Brock and Ryder felt cocky and quite obsessive, and I didn't care for either of them at the start. Brock I could kind of handle, but Ryder - nope.

Though as the story moved along and we learn more about them, I really came to like Ryder. In fact, I think Ryder was my favourite character of them all.

But Brock, I liked him less and less every chapter.

But still, I could not stop reading. I needed to know more.

What this book does have plenty of is heat. Holy hotness Batman! The sexual tension between the three is off the charts, and when we get to the sexy times - Phew, I am still fanning myself now!

So, while there were some things that I liked, overall Amber to Ashes fell flat for me.

This could be one of those "it's not you, it's me" books. I have friends who have absolutely loved every thing about it, but for me, it just fell a bit flat.

But that being said, I know I will read the next book, as that cliffhanger left me needing to know what happens.

ARC received for an honest review

There are plenty of friends-to-lovers books out there, heck I have read so many of them in my time - but this is my first m/m friends to lovers romance.

And I have to say, Sloan Johnson has hit a home run with this one!

Sean and Mason have been friends for years, but they have been keeping secrets from each other. When these secrets start to come out, things could change for the better or worse for them both.

I adored Sean and Mason. I had a smile on my face most the time whilst reading - I couldn't help myself! It was such a heartwarming story.

I think though, that it was all about Sean for me. I loved who he was, what he did for his relationship with Mason.

There were a few twists and turns along the way, but nothing too over the top silly.

I loved getting to know some of their family, friends and workmates, and hope to learn more about them in the next books.

Wild Pitch is a sweet romance that once I started I just couldn't put down.

I feel that Ms Johnson has found her niche with the m/m genre, and cannot wait to read what she has for us next.

ARC received for an honest review

A new Kim Karr novel - yes please!

I was not sure what to expect when I started reading Toxic, but being a Kim Karr book, I knew I was going to enjoy it.

And when I did start reading, I did not want to put it down.

I mean, who doesn't love a second chance romance?

Jeremy McQueen and Phoebe St Claire sure had some history - not all of it great. And you just know that if they ever meet up again, things are going to be explosive.

And when they do meet up again 5 years later - BOOM! In spite of their difference, they seemed to be perfect for each other back then, and in the present, all I wanted to was for them to get back together and start up where they left off.

But secrets, lies, betrayal - they all play a big part in Toxic.

There were so many times that I just wanted to smack Jeremy and Phoebe's heads together, make them get their sh!t together, and to stop making them same mistakes, over and over and over again.

There was also one character - I wont tell you who - who really needed this to happen to him
 
Does that give you a bit of an idea how much I didn't like him?

The title Toxic really is the only way to describe Jeremy and Phoebe's relationship most of the time. As I read, I just kept hoping that they would find their way to what their relationship really could be, to be each other's one, as deep down they both knew that was what they really were.

So, did they make it to their HEA? Or is there too much water under the bridge for that?

Nope, you are going to have to read for yourself.

You are going to absolutely fall in love with Jeremy. Though he has his faults, I couldn't help but adore him.

There are plenty of sensual and erotic moments in Toxic, and those just steam up the kindle screen.

There are some great secondary characters in Toxic that I would love to read more about in the future - please Ms Karr?

You should read book 2, Garrett, before starting Zack, just to get the full effect of what has happened.

After the events at the end of Garrett (I don't want do spoil it if you have not read it yet), I knew, just knew, that Zack was going to tear my heart out.

And right from the start, that is what it did.

I can't tell you how many tears were shed whilst I read - actually, I should say devoured, Zack. It really was an emotional rollercoaster.

It's 4 months on from the end of Garrett, and Zack is floundering - very understandable under the circumstances.

Hiring Kate as his son's nanny was not what he wanted. But she turns out to be just what he needed.

There are not enough words to describe how much I love the adorkable Kate. I love that she has not brain-to-mouth filter, her babbling and most of all her big heart.

At times I just wanted to slap Zack around the head with one of his hockey sticks, but in the next breath wanted to hug him.

Loved that we got a bit more of the couples from the previous books, got a little more of their stories.

And man, after reading the teaser, I am really looking forward to the next book, Ryker.

Ms Bennett, you have done it again, and I can't wait to read more.

Copy received from author for an honest review

3.75 stars

This continues on where Broken left off.

Finally - Nick has found his voice, and he is going to roar. In the first book he was pretty much like a whiney teenage girl with her first crush, but in Saving Scotty, he is more the man he needs to be.

I am still having trouble connecting as much with Scotty - I just wanted to roll my eyes at her sometimes - but the situations she is in, I guess I could understand why -sometimes.

We finally meet the disgusting Mr Lucas - and yes, he is just that. It did feel a little anti-climactic, the way things ended with him in this installment, but I guess things are ramping up for him in the final book.

Overall, I enjoyed this more than Broken and I am looking forward to seeing where this story takes us.

ARC received for an honest review

If you have read any Avery Aster before, you will have an idea what you are in for.

The installment in the Undergrad Years focuses on alcohol heiress Viveca Farnsworth.

She and her best friends have been in the wars for the past year, and now pieces are all starting to fall into place. And as the puzzle starts to to come together, I have to say, there was a twist in there that I was definitely not expecting.

There are plenty of laughs, a few tears,there is nothing I don't love about these characters.

You know what I think I enjoy most about these books? I think that it is that I met them all as adult characters, and am coming back to their younger years to find out what made them who they are today (I am not usually one to read much with characters this young - but that's just because of my advancing years).

This is a quick read, that will help tide you over until the next Manhattanites book!

Now, please don't keep us waiting too long Ms Aster!

Copy received for an honest review - thank you.

I have to admit - I have had a couple of the X-Treme boys books on my kindle for what seems like forever, but Snow Boy is the first that I have read.

And now I am going to have to go back and start from the beginning, because I absolutely enjoyed Snow Boy.

As I haven't read the previous books, I am not sure why I am supposed to have a love/hate relationship with Geneva, but I have to say I pretty much adored her in Snow Boy.

I could feel that she wants to be a better person, wants to move on from mistakes she has made in her life.

And every woman needs a snow boy like Berk in their life.

I loved how she brought him back to life again after events in his life. My heart broke for him as I learned more of his past,and soared as we could see the changes she brings out in him.

The secondary characters are wonderful, and I will go back and read their books to get the most out of their stories.

Snow Boy does end on a cliffhanger, but there is not too long a await until My Snow Boy comes out, so I will just have to patiently wait for it.

Copy received from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an honest review - thank you!

I love a fighter romance, so picking up The Hurricane to read was a no brainer.

And you know what I really liked about The Hurricane? It wasn't your typical fighter romance novel.

O'Connell and Emily are both that little bit broken, that little bit gun shy of relationships - and absolutely perfect for each other.

Right from the start, you could tell that there would always be more than friendship between them. There was that spark that just wouldn't die, no matter what their reasoning.

It was a joy to read as their relationship blossomed, being taken along on their journey as they strive every day to become better people, to open up more, to love.

There is a great cast of secondary characters, and the stand out of them is Danny - the father neither of them has ever really had. And the other fighters - funny, dirty, sweet.

I would never have guessed from reading that this was Ms Prescott's first novel. The story line flowed seamlessly, I was carried away by the characters and their stories.

I hope we get more about each of the fellow fighters, as I think there are some amazing tales to be told.

I look forward to reading more of Ms Prescott's work in the future.

ARC received for an honest review.

A new series from Olivia Cunning?  Engage fan girl mode!

We know a little itty bit about Exodus End through the Sinners on Tour series, but this is the first book that is all about the Exodus End boys.

And already I am impatiently waiting for the next one.


Sweet, virginal Toni Nichols just landed a dream job  - 4 weeks on the road with one of the world's biggest bands - Exodus End - bitch!   I mean really - who wouldn't want that job?!?!?

Right from the start, she catches the eye of Logan Schmidt, bass player and total horn bag!

The attraction between the pair is off the charts.  

But Toni is all "Never gonna happen, right?" 

Well, let us just say that together they are like a packet of Pringles - you know, "Once you pop, you can't stop!"

I loved how Logan draws the tigress out of Toni, and how Toni draws the man away from his whorish ways.  But can there ever be enough trust between them, more than just sex between them?

Nope, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.

I adored the interaction between the band.  OMG the fan and games of the tour bus!  Had me in tears at times, they are so funny.  But there is more to them than that.  Family is more than blood.  The bonds these guys have formed over the years are so strong.

And they are tested on more than one occasion.

I thought Toni was pretty amazing.  Thrown in with the band, trying to make her own way career-wise.  Her love for her family - though there were times there were some family members that I wanted to throat punch.

And Logan - you are a dirty, dirty boy - and, to steal his own words,  completely sexsational

Sigh... Oh Miss Olivia, no one can write a rocker like you.

I love love LOVED that we got a little glimpse of my man Trey Mills.

I have missed the Sinners, and am so happy that they are weaved into the Exodus End stories. 

There are so many amazing stories that we are yet to learn about Exodus End, and I cannot wait to find out all about them

Bring on Outsider!!

Copy received for an honest review

Cardeno C is quickly becoming on of my must read authors for m/m romance, and did not disappoint with Strange Bedfellows.

I have enjoyed the novellas I have been reading lately, but loved sinking my teeth into a full length novel again.

In usual CC fashion, this is a sweet romance without too much angst, that will put a smile on your dial.

Ford and Trevor could not be any more different if they tried - but it sure does work for him. Ford is as as conservative as Trevor is outgoing. Trevor's dirty talking (which by the way is HOT!) to Ford's shyness.

And don't they just bring out the best in each other!

Trevor and Ford's story is also as heartwarming as it is at times heartbreaking. Ford's struggle with coming out to his family just made my heart hurt.

What can I say, other than CC knows how to write a m/m story that is a heartfelt as it is hot (extra spice on the HOT!)

Can't wait to see what comes next.