The Trouble With Cowboys

Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga (Sin Deep #2)

Sam and Thomas are two of my favorite romance characters pretty much ever, so returning to their world is always like getting a warm hug. Kacey is nothing like Sam, however, and his reasons for arriving in New York City are just as stressful but slightly more self-destructive. Payne and Tortuga present a D/s lifestyle that goes beyond the kink in how Thomas and River step up to care for both cowboys. River and Kacey are thrown into the deep end together; watching them surface is at turns swoony, sexy, and frustrating. I have faith in the love and relationship that these men craft simultaneously, and I look forward to seeing glimpses of them in future stories in one of my favorite worlds.

Alpha Kings

Roe Horvat (Hedonist novel)

The main series of books set in this world is a complete indulgence on multiple levels, even when a bit of compelling plot does sneak in. In contrast, this addition to an intriguing fantasy world brings everything Horvat has developed before to a new level, introducing new kingdoms, societies, and biological (paranormal?) facets. Wolf and Bear are exactly who they portray on the outside but simultaneously have hidden depths that make Aiken’s attraction to them make sense while also being inevitable. A certain amount of fated mates/insta-lust does creep into the proceedings, but even the undeniable chemistry between these men does nothing to diminish Aiken’s excellent character development. The hedonist in me may enjoy these books for the sexy romps they are, but the fantasy author in me completely appreciates all the work Horvat does to make these books stand out from others in the subgenre.

Skin Deep

L Eveland (Wayward Sons #2)

Possibly my favorite thing about this series is how Eveland takes each of the expected tropes and promptly takes half a step to the side of them to create a unique take on all of them. One half of this “psychopath vigilante” romance features Warrick, who will eventually be the head of his family of psychopath vigilantes; however, while War has plenty of his own mental health issues, psychopathy is not one of them. In fact, his OCD shoves him toward the opposite of the spectrum, until many of his difficulties and anxieties come from caring too much. Pax, his perfect foil, embraces everything about both War and the violent life he leads while simultaneously existing as the family man War aspires to be. Together, these men go through a delicious push-and-pull of meshing their lives together into one perfect whole. I look forward to exploring more of the world Eveland has crafted here, especially since they continue to make it so distinct from other favorites in the subgenre.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

Own Goal

L.A. Witt

My favorite “not a hockey romance” author once again hits it out of the rink with this intriguing take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Certain elements of this story’s premise could have worked for numerous other sports, but as always, Witt’s obvious passion for the game and inherent knowledge of the various layers of partnership within the team make hockey the obvious choice for this compelling story. I don’t usually love when a narrative character keeps a secret from the audience, but Witt nicely balances Jarek’s secret with his internal conflict and development. The relationship between him and Hunter is almost pleasantly inevitable, but the truly satisfying moments of this story are the resolution of the external plot and the promise of Jarek and Hunter’s happily ever after following such a rocky beginning that stretches back even further than one of the men knew.

Something Unintended

Rory Maxwell (Split Rock Ranch #1.5)

The title of this novella is a perfect description of Eli and Hunter’s whirlwind relationship. Hunter may intend to keep what occurs with Eli at the level of a one-night stand, and Eli may have no expectations beyond a rebound fling, but the obvious chemistry between these two men leads us on an enjoyable ride until Hunter and Eli catch up to what is obvious all along. This story works as a sweet introduction to this series if this is your first visit to Split Rock Ranch and also as a fun reunion with familiar characters if you’ve stopped by before.

Smart Ass

Reese Morrison (SPARK Files #2)

The possibilities offered by the world Morrison develops in the first book in this series truly explodes here, as concepts of identity aren’t just constrained by the binary, but by any sort of physical form whatsoever. The romance element along the way is fairly inevitable, with the entertainment coming from how Ben and Max navigate allowing their natural interests to align as perfectly as they do. The rest of the story is made up of the engrossing saga of Max’s journey toward self-awareness and independence, but make no mistake–Ben is a necessary element of this evolution. The SF nerd in me is delighted by this unique take on MM romance, and I look forward to seeing where Morrison takes this premise next.

Links to my other 5-star book reviews in the past month: