Note: Reviews are listed alphabetically by author’s last name.
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Breaking the Mold
Kate Hawthorne (Club Rapture: Risk Aware #3)
Hawthorne proves once again why she’s at the top tier of writing kink power exchange with this latest book. “Experienced Dom and inexperienced sub” is a bit of a cliché in the genre, but I had so much fun with the interesting twists that Smith and Riggs bring to the dynamic. I also appreciated that the character development each man undergoes has nothing to do with kink, which is another neat trick by such a talented storyteller. Instead, they face elements of their past that have haunted them for years, gaining strength from the support of both their newfound relationship and family and friends who have been in their corners for years. While I will reserve judgment until reading the stories of the rest of the Covington brothers, this book is definitely in the running for series favorite. As a treat, we’ll also get to catch more glimpses of Riggs in future books featuring the employees of his tattoo shop.
Perfect Play
Layla Reyne
(Note: This review includes the books Dead Draw, Bad Bishop, King Hunt, and Best Play) I thought I knew what to expect based on the descriptions of the individual books of this series, but Reyne upended my assumptions from almost the very first chapter. The marriage of convenience aspect of this romantic suspense plot may serve as a way to bring Marsh and Levi together, but the partnership (both working and romantic) that develops between them is as fascinating as the mystery they are working to solve together. The chess metaphors that thread through the overarching plot never feel heavy-handed, and the stakes rise with each book in a manner that is both intriguing and satisfying. The secondary characters, especially family members, help craft a fully fleshed narrative, and even the supposed villains are never straightforward. This is not a series to be missed by those who are already fans of the author, but as someone who had only read a single contemporary book by Reyne before, I think it also serves as an excellent introduction to her excellent writing and storytelling style. Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this collection from the author.