Note: Reviews are listed alphabetically by author’s last name.
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Unmade
Cara Dee (Hillcroft Group #2)
Dee has lured her loyal readers into her latest romantic suspense series by promising (and delivering) a ton of the crossover potential that makes the sprawling shared world of her books so much fun. However, new readers shouldn’t hesitate to take a chance on a book that seamlessly intertwines the external and relationship plots, focusing on a surprising connection and a realistic glimpse into the world of private military contractors. The real work and training are about as glamorous as the reality for regular military service (except those at the Hillcroft Group get better food from the chow hall). Bo and Leighton are sexy not because of what they do, but because of who they are. Individually, they may be stumbling through new phases of their lives, but together, it’s clear that they have the potential to build something meaningful. If, of course, Bo’s past doesn’t catch up to him, and Leighton is ever willing to face his future. This story ends on an emotional and mental cliffhanger rather than a physical one, but as usual, Dee invites such investment in her characters that I’m already counting down the days to the second half of this unique romance.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Playing With Fire
L Eveland (Wayward Sons #6)
One of my favorite things about series that feature separate couples is when we finally get to a relationship that has been teased in previous books. That Leo and Xavier would eventually end up together was inevitable, but sometimes those are the most intriguing romances to watch unfold. These men are already unhealthily codependent but have done their best to respect each other’s stated boundaries. However, a threat to Leo’s life spurs Xavier to take one of the last steps toward him–which leads to lots of soul searching for both men. The external plot of this book was fine, but Xavier’s developing relationships are what truly lent tension to the story. He and Leo finding their new balance was almost simple compared to Xavier and his father, a source of conflict in previous books, learning to respect each other’s strengths. I may have gone into this series thinking Shepard would be the most complicated Wayward Son, but I adored Xavier’s layered complexity and how Eveland used these depths to tell a truly engaging dark romance.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Gone Country
Kelly Fox (Central Texas #3)
The final installment of this trilogy that was supposed to be a stand-alone novel (haha) features a couple whose romantic possibility is teased in the previous book. Skylar and Kit aren’t necessarily an opposites attract story, but they definitely don’t seem like they would work well on paper. That is, until Skylar’s personality and presence awaken something long dormant in Kit, shocking and intriguing him in equal measure. Amid both men’s struggles to rewrite the habits of their past, the chemistry between them leads to an explosive first time (in more ways than one). Unfortunately, the road gets bumpier from there. Fox threads that fine line between introducing realistic conflict between Skylar and Kit and falling into the trap of characters whose lack of communication leads to reader frustrations. Luckily, since these men exist in Fox’s sprawling shared world of books, we get plenty of familiar faces to help them on their path. And finally, Kit’s son is there as a unique and fabulous character to show his dad exactly how to lean into the future he wants, leading to a truly lovely happily ever after for all involved.
The Sin Eater
Onley James (The Watch #2)
With the second installment to this spin-off from her popular Necessary Evils series, James has definitely hit her stride for this fascinating, unique setting. While I enjoyed the first book, I adored this one. The characters of Boone and Payton, along with their intriguing dynamic, sucked me in as much as the external plot. Payton may be the psychopath in their relationship, but Boone’s fascinating history doesn’t exactly leave him as the only sane one in their explosive pairing. Though they technically fall under the forbidden headmaster/student trope, enough extenuating circumstances of their situation and the sheer chemistry between them never gave me a moment’s pause as I enjoyed both their delicious push-and-pull and how they finally succumbed to the inevitability of what they both want (despite what Boone may claim). Many of the secondary characters also come into their own as the external mystery unfolds, leaving me excited to find out what happens next–both between two certain characters and for the threat now faced by everyone involved with The Watch.
Zero Pucks
E.M. Lindsey (Punk as Puck #1)
One of my favorite things reading romance is that tropes are celebrated instead of shunned as “overdone,” and one of my favorite things about queer romance is how welcoming the genre is to twisting those common tropes. As Lindsey features sled hockey in their newest series, I can’t think of anyone better to tackle this twist on the popular hockey romance subgenre. They have a proven history of treating “diverse” characters as all book characters should be presented, with the nuance and balance necessary for any reader to fall in love with them. And I certainly fell in love with both Tucker and Deo as they supported each other in battling the demons of their pasts while drawing closer together. Neither has had an easy life, and Lindsey doesn’t pull any punches in presenting the difficulties and emotional trauma inherent to their current circumstances. However, their accidental love story is as swoony as the slowly revealed details of their accidental “meet-cute” are hilarious, and I read their story with a wide grin even when my heart broke over their pain. Since Lindsey never skimps on crafting amazing secondary characters, I also look forward to Tucker’s hockey bros eventually finding their own happily ever afters.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
On Thin Ice
Rebecca Norinne Caudill (Austin Aces Hockey)
In some ways, Ethan and Bell aren’t anything new in the hockey romance genre. The rookie and the veteran, with the age-gap element, who initially don’t get along very well but are thrown together by team management into a forced proximity situation, could be a variation on a million other books. However, Norinne uses these familiar tropes to set up a relationship dynamic that hinges on how deeply she digs into the individual characters. In her hands, Ethan and Bell come to life within this book and become far more than a collection of tropes and personality traits. The story elements mentioned above become features, rather than bugs, of their romance, as Norinne leans into the conflict to develop fully fleshed men who made this book an incredibly immersive read. Seriously, I read the entire novel on a single flight between Baltimore and Denver and barely noticed the time passing. Fans of any of the tropes I listed should be sure to give this book a try.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
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