Note: Reviews are listed alphabetically by author’s last name.
Livesuit
James S.A. Corey (The Captive’s War novella)
While the first full-length novel in this new series was well-written and had a fascinating premise, none of the point-of-view characters particularly grabbed me. In contrast, Karin fascinated me from the first scene as I followed his transition from civilian to front-line soldier. However, Karin’s character development, told in well-paced flashbacks, is only half the story. His dawning realization that his role in this war may not be exactly as he expects results in a lingering discomfort that I’ll probably carry until I read the next story set in this expansive new world.
Pure Country
Kelly Fox (Central Texas #2)
I’m definitely one of the readers who laughed when Fox insisted that the previous book in this series was a stand-alone. You can’t introduce secondary characters like Rowdy and Kess, give each man the amazing characterization that highlights Fox’s writing, add their undeniable chemistry, and expect there won’t be more. Even better, Fox immediately upends every expectation I had for their story arc with an amazing “plot twist.” She stays true to what we previously knew of these characters and adds incredible depth to the relationship that blooms between them. No matter what you think you’re getting when you start this book, I promise that the romance you read instead is even more satisfying.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Roughed Up
Kate Hawthorne (Trophy Doms New York #4)
With a series like this, and with a title like this one in particular, and from what we know about Alex so far, I expected Dylan to be in for a rough (pun not intended) time. And he definitely is! But not in the way that we necessarily expect. Alex may be a (Trophy) Dom, but he’s much more than a physical sadist. Instead, the way this book truly roughs up its characters is much more on an emotional level — which means that roughing up also extends to its readers. Both Alex and Dylan have to do a lot of work to earn their happily ever after, with Hawthorne’s vibrant and realistic take on power exchange dynamics doing just as much of the heavy lifting in this burgeoning relationship as the development the characters themselves also undergo. As always, the greater context of the Trophy Dom family (NYC and LA branches) is there to support the men every step of the way (whether they like it or not).
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Symphony of Salvation
Nicky James (Timber Creek Academy #2)
This story follows exactly the path I expected while simultaneously surprising me at every turn. James crafts intricate, well-developed characters who are both excellent foils for each other and have incredible chemistry. The push and pull between Niles and August is a delicious slow burn, and I enjoyed their negative and positive sparks alike. At first glance, this is an enemies-to-lovers storyline, but the journey these men take is much more complicated as they must also learn more about themselves along the path to accepting each other. I also appreciated the deviation from the typical dedicated single-dad trope, with August as a reluctant father and Constance as a fully formed (and so utterly teenaged) character in her own right. Neither of these men expects to lose their heart, and I cried along with them at the difficult dark moment toward their lovely resolution as a family.
Chasing You
E.M. Lindsey (Words We Never Said #5)
Adele and Kash drove me absolutely bonkers in the best way throughout this book. Their pining was simultaneously romantic and frustrating, and while the “refusal to communicate” trope seems to have fallen out of fashion in M/M romance these days, Lindsey leans into the fantastic found family they have created with this series to give both men an incredibly supportive community (to tell them they are being dumb). Lindsey also crafts an arc that is both physically high-heat and emotionally slow-burn, which adds to the delicious tension. As always, this author treats all aspects of their characters with care, presenting physical limitations as more than a plot device or some sort of character trait. And while plenty goes wrong for these characters, the hard-won happily ever after gives me faith that this family will thrive beyond the final page of this book.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Something Unavoidable
Rory Maxwell (Split Rock Ranch #6)
As much as the romance genre celebrates its tropes, how authors never hesitate to make those tropes serve their stories without losing the heart of what readers expect is one of my favorite things about the genre. Izzy and Keegan are never traditional enemies the way one might expect from an “enemies to lovers” story; however, Maxwell uses fantastic characterization to give them the same epic clashes and dramatic encounters that will clearly lead to something much more as the men finally see each other beyond the surface. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I think the secondary characters shine better as a community if you’ve met them previously, allowing me to fully appreciate the support they provide for Izzy’s mental health. Though Izzy undergoes the more dramatic journey in this book, Keegan’s quieter arc is just as important and satisfying when the two men feel safe enough to accept the love that might be reluctantly offered but definitely feels unavoidable at the close of this lovely happily ever after.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Ice & Sweet
Charlie Novak
This stand-alone romance set in Novak’s immersive expanded universe is an excellent read I recommend for both new readers and those looking for glimpses of familiar friends. For this story, Novak treads the delicate line of crafting a “holiday” book that highlights the universal joys of the winter season while bringing together two characters who feel inevitable no matter what time of year they may have reconnected in this new phase of their lives. Andre and Luke have a unique shared history, but the evolution of their relationship as adults feels entirely relatable, from hooking up at a friend’s wedding to balancing the demands of their work with nurturing the potential between them outside the brief hiatus of a snowed-in weekend. I adored this story as yet another fantastic example of Novak’s writing, even if, once again, she leaves me craving all sorts of delicious treats afterward!
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Downfall
Parker St. John (Down Home #6)
The emotional depths of this story were so unexpected, drawing me in along with the unique characters and the gradual reveals of their history. Seth and Aiden aren’t quite “opposites attract,” but they each need each other on more levels than they are willing to acknowledge. I admired Aiden’s tenacity in re-entering Seth’s life, especially because the reignition of their obvious bond did so much to improve each man’s life (both individually and together). Further reveals about their history were as heartbreaking as their initial separation, and the new bond that grows between them as adults is healing in such satisfying ways.
Tallowwood
N.R. Walker
From the murder mystery, to the character development, to the relationship arc, the separate elements of this book only work because of how well Walker integrates them. Ultimately, none of them would have been satisfying without the others, even when it seemed at times that the relationship was the least important facet of this story. However, while that arc is incredibly slow-burn, the epic finale wouldn’t have been nearly as satisfying without all the subtle ways that Walker fits August and Jake together throughout the book. Walker definitely took a risk in having the “suspense” plot supersede the romance to such a degree, but I never felt the lack as I became so thoroughly invested in both the convoluted mystery and the town of Tallowwood itself.
Too Many Beds
My 5-star stories in this collection include:
“Mattress Testers Wanted” by Marie Reynard: Reynard takes a premise even more ridiculous than the conceit of the anthology and puts her enticing, emotional spin on it. Ryder and Storm enjoy a surprising connection (among other things) in a sweet and sexy story that gives the characters more depth than their professions imply and made me disappointed that I don’t get to see more of their romance unfold.
“Relentless” by Adelaide Blaike: This fantasy romance borrows from many familiar tropes while also borrowing from the anthology’s theme without leaning so far into it that it becomes cliché. The single POV works for a short this short and the dynamic that builds between the characters. I’m already fascinated by the possibilities of this world and hope Blaike returns to it for more stories.
“Below the Beds” by F.A. Lantern: Though the beginning of this story may be rough for some readers, the payoff of the journey between two incredibly different friends-turned-lovers is absolutely worth it. Not learning all the answers about Luce heightens the poignancy of a story that evolves from a nightmare to a truly lovely fantasy. Not many short stories, especially romances, are so perfectly contained, but Lantern leaves me content with this unexpected happily ever after.
“The Last Bed” by Jessica A. McMinn: Another story with difficult and dark themes that still provides a compelling arc and satisfying resolution, even if I’d definitely be up for more from this world. Eden and Heron have the makings of true heroes, but the scope of this story also works for how no characters exist in isolation, even the “bit” players of what could otherwise be a dystopian epic.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this anthology from the organizer.
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