Saving the Rain by Elliott Rose

Four out of Five Stars

The Summary

Forbidden love heats up in this spicy, age-gap, stepbrother rodeo cowboy romance from internationally bestselling author Elliott Rose.

All it takes is eight seconds for your world to come crashing to a halt. What happens when you’re injured, stuck with the one man who makes your blood heat in a way you’ve never experienced before?

I’ve been on a path to redemption. Kayce Wilder, former screw-up. The bareback bronc rider with big dreams. I had it all figured out.

Only, I didn’t count on a ride gone wrong to leave me with no other option than to ask for his help. Zeke Rainer. Raine. The gruff cowboy covered in tattoos, surrounded by mysteries.

We’ve been at odds forever. Rivals in the arena. Two rodeo riders in pursuit of the same buckle . . . before he left me behind, without warning.

My stepbrother.

When urgent help is needed to run the ranch, he’s the last person I want to be relying on for a favor. As the fall nights lengthen, tension and angst thicken the more time we spend alone together.

I shouldn’t be noticing so many small details—especially not how strong his hands look while working with the horses—and I certainly shouldn’t be wondering if he thinks about me as much as I think about him.

I’ve never been attracted to a man before. It would be unthinkable to be drawn to him. Wouldn’t it?

The Review

Kayce has turned his life around since the first book in the series. He has focused on maintaining his father’s ranch while his father is out of the country, training for the rodeo, and maintaining his sobriety. What he is missing is romance. His mind keeps drifting to a night he gave in and kissed another man. It sends him in a whirlwind of realization. He’s gay.

Raine is only in town for the season. He doesn’t expect to see Kayce one night at a party. They seem to constantly be in each other’s orbit. His gruff attitude rubs Kayce the wrong way, but I took it as him trying to keep physical distance from Kayce.

Please check the tags/trigger warnings for this once

The spice level on this one is off the charts (5/5). Like, turn on a fan and get a cold glass of water, kind of hot. What I enjoyed about Saving the Rain was the push-and-pull nature of their relationship. They slowly started to learn more about each other and their personal histories.

The setting was magnificent and a character in its own. There were times their relationship was a little rocky, and no doubt there would be a fence that needed to be mended, or snow was drifting in to physically keep them together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it over two days. The first hundred pages went a little slowly, but the remainder had me GLUED. Their banter, the romance scenes, the resolution – it all had me on the edge of my seat enjoying it.

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Crash Test by Amy James

4.5 out of 5 Stars

The Summary

Formula 1 meets Red, White, & Royal Blue in this contemporary romance in which an F1 phenom battling for the championship is sent spinning after his secret love is involved in a massive crash.

Twenty-four-year-old Formula 1 driver Travis Keeping is halfway through an incredible racing season, with the championship well within his sights. But when a massive crash in Formula 2 leaves driver Jacob Nichols in critical condition, Travis’s world is flipped upside down. No one knows, but he and Jacob have been dating for almost a year.

Now the only boy he’s ever loved is clinging to life, his F1 team can’t understand why his performance is faltering, and he’s locked in a cold war with Jacob’s parents, who want him as far away from their son as humanly possible. Travis is sure everything will get better when Jacob wakes up, but he soon realizes he’s underestimated Jacob’s parents’ influence on their son.

As the F1 season barrels on, Travis and Jacob find themselves alone and miserable on opposite sides of the globe. But with some new friends by their sides, both drivers will be pushed outside of their comfort zones and onto a journey of self-discovery—one that just might lead them back to each other in the end.

 

The Review

Crash Test by Amy James was an ode to the everlasting bond between two men and the stark realities they faced as Formula 1 and Formula 2 racers.

Travis Keeping is on pace to have one of the best seasons of his career. His life is turned upside down in a matter of seconds. Jacob Nichols, and several other F2 racers, were involved in an on-track crash. None of Keeping’s team understands why his performance is trending downward. No one does. Because he and Jacob had kept their relationship a secret from everyone. No one knew how much Travis loved Jacob. Not even Jacob was aware of it. It wasn’t something they said to each other.

It’s hard to put into words how beautifully written this book is. I found myself clutching my blanket and fighting off tears. I needed Jacob to be healthy. If not, I was afraid of what could have happened to Travis. I could hear the hospital monitors and feel the cold temperature of the room every time Travis snuck in after visiting hours.

For months while Jacob healed, Travis had to come to terms with his identity outside of racing. When he was no longer welcome by Jacob’s side in the hospital, or outside of it, he had to learn how to be himself again.

Jacob had to find a way back to himself post-crash. He let so many expectations of his family rule his life, that he pushed the one man who offered him a sense of happiness away. It was like a knife to the heart when he chose not to fight for Travis.

I loved the racing sequences. We listened to what the drivers heard in their helmets and as they drove during races. We were allowed a slight glance into the mental strength required to be a top-tier driver.

Please do yourself a favor and pre-order this one. I will order a physical copy to keep on my shelf. It’s one that I plan to go back to over and over.

 

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The New Guy by Sarina Bowen

Four out of Five Stars

* Narrated by Teddy Hamilton and J.F. Harding

The Summary

My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me “New Guy”.

That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season.

But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first.

What he doesn’t do is hook up with the other new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities.

We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me to score goals, not whip up a media circus.

Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other….

 

The Review

Hudson Newgate has been and will always be the ‘new guy’. The number of times he’s gotten traded, he doesn’t bother trying to get his team to call him anything else. There isn’t much of a point. Getting sent to Brooklyn, its his last chance. He must find a way to redeem himself for the mess of a season he just came out of.

Gavin, a single dad, and new to Brooklyn lands a job with the hockey team as an athletic trainer. He wants to focus on his daughter and ensure she has the life she deserves. He did not expect sparks to fly on a chance meeting in a bar. It was even more unlikely that the sparks led to his new neighbor and a pro-hockey on the team he just got a job with.

I am a sucker for anything Teddy Hamilton narrates. His voice embraces the characters wholly. I was surprised when I found myself even more drawn to J.F. Harding’s voice. I may or may not have immediately searched for more audiobooks featuring him. The dual narrators served this story exceptionally. Because of their nuanced narration, it added that extra punch to Hudson and Gavin.

I enjoyed the push-pull aspect of their relationship. What started as a smolder when they met at a bar developed into a full-fledged bonfire. There were so many moments between them that had even me flushed.

There were moments I sat in my car with my jaw on the floor and then a giddy mess thankful for overly long red lights.

 

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Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery

3.5 out of 5 Stars

The Summary

Kian Walker has always been the golden boy of motorsport. The four-time Championship winner has racing in his DNA – his father was a legend on the track, just don’t let him catch you comparing the two. As reckless and unreliable at home as he was behind the wheel, there’s nothing Kian wants less than to be just like his dad.

Enter Harper James. This year’s rookie called up to compete with the big boys – and Kian’s new teammate. Cocky, hot-headed and with a reputation for breaking as many hearts as he does new track records, Harper’s the opposite of Kian in every way. But when the season starts, there’s no getting away from him.

This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220mph than when he’s anywhere near his teammate?

 

The Review

As someone who recently dipped their toes into the Formula 1 sphere, I had an absolute blast listening to this book. I’m a sucker for any dual narration audiobook. I feel like you can get more nuance from each character with different narrators. Joshua Chase and James Joseph did a phenomenal job. I didn’t get bored or distracted. To be honest, as I listened, I worked my diamond painting and found myself frozen as I waited for what was going to happen next.

Kian Walker has been racing for as long as he’s been alive (basically). His father was a racing legend. It’s in his blood to sit behind the wheel. Harper James, a rookie with quite an ego, seems to have been made to test Kian every second they are forced to work together.

Kian is such a grumpy old man. It made me want to shake him and tell him he has got to be better. Harper made me want to shake him and tell him to grow up a little. (Lots of shaking going on here) Once they are forced to work together, they slowly find a balance.

The chemistry between the two of them *fans self* it gets intense. All that anger and frustration morphs into lust and eventually more. After the first half of the book, I binged the rest of it in one sitting. It was that good.

Now, what I took stars away from was the quality of the ARC for the audiobook. There were several moments that the narrators would whisper for no reason. It would be chunks of time in which the audio was not the best quality. Once that is fixed, my rating will increase to 4.5 stars.

I adored Kian so much. He spoke to my grumpy soul and taught me that maybe loosening the reigns isn’t such a bad thing.

 

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Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer

Four out of Five Stars

Summary

Dangerous magic. Fateful choices. Broken promises.

The King’s Courier Tycho has made a treacherous bargain. Now beholden to the magical scraver who saved King Gray’s life, one false move could end everything.

Jax escaped his life in Briarlock and traveled with Tycho to Emberfall. But life outside his small village brings unexpected challenges–and unlikely adversaries.

After years of hating the royal family and their magic, Callyn never expected to be at the Queen’s side, with magic on her fingertips. But at the royal court, she can’t trust anyone–including the man she thought she loved.

Cast apart, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn must learn to wield the magic that is dividing their kingdom. As the magical scravers attack from the north and the king’s rivals gain strength, time is running out.

War is looming. Love is tested. And magic could be the only answer. . .

 

Review

Many times, the second book can fall flat. This definitely does not fall victim to that trend. There was action and intrigue, and I fell even more in love with Jax and Tycho. I had hoped we would get many more chapters for them in this installment, and we do! This book has three perspectives: Jax, Tycho, and Callyn. I felt like we got so much more information and progress from Jax and Tycho’s chapters.

What I absolutely loved about this was the fact that there was so much happening. Some people may think the buildup will be slow, but I loved it. I feel like I was allowed to make a stronger connection to Jax, Tycho, and Callyn as individuals. They each had their struggles and needed to find who they were as individuals after something extremely traumatic.

Jax felt like an outsider. Tycho felt like a prisoner. Callyn felt confused about what was right to her.

If you wanted chapters of Jax and Tycho spending time together, you won’t get that exactly. They both have a role to play, and they are separated due to those expectations. Jax has to adjust to life in a place that doesn’t speak his language, a forge he is not used to, and figure out how to cope without Tycho with him. It’s made even more difficult once the Scraver attacks become more prevalent and violent.

Tycho found himself wondering when he was going to be held to his promise to a scraver in the previous book. He is constantly afraid of what is going to be asked of him. The further he travels, the longer he stays in one location, the more he learns about his magic, what the scravers need from him.

Callyn is set up in the palace, as a royal nanny of sorts, and does errands for the queen. She ends up visiting Alek and learning about his mission. Everything comes to a disastrous end when scravers attack.

This was a fantastic read! If you read Forging Silver into Stars, you won’t be let down by book two in the series. By the end, I was on the edge of my seat and in desperate need for the next book!

To be released January 28, 2025

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

Four out of Five Stars

Summary

Forbidden magic. Secret romance. Dangerous alliances. Enter the world of New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s electrifying series.

When nineteen-year-old Tycho, the King’s Courier, arrives in the remote village of Briarlock, he hopes to escape the demands of his new life in the royal court, where magic reigns for the first time in ages. He doesn’t expect to fall for a handsome blacksmith with a bruised heart.

After years of cruelty in his father’s forge, Jax never dared to dream of a better life — until a magic-wielding young lord shows him an enticing alternative. But when rumors of a rebellion reach Briarlock, Jax wonders who he can trust — and if he’ll even survive.

Jax’s best friend, Callyn, doesn’t trust anyone — especially not a handsome stranger with magic, which killed her parents years ago. When another royal emissary arrives, seeing a co-conspirator, Callyn finds herself embroiled in a plot that could lead them all to ruin. . .

As tensions flare throughout the kingdom, it won’t be long before everyone must choose a side.

War is brewing. Passions are building. And magic may doom — or save — them all . . .

 

Review

This one was a surprise LGBTQIA+ read for me. I enjoy Brigid Kemmerer books, so I grabbed this one when I spotted it on sale. Jax and Tycho pleasantly surprised me! I was excited to see her write a M/M romance in a mainstream fantasy. She had written some secondary characters in her previous books before, but these two were the main focus. So that is who I am going to focus on for the purposes of this review.

Jax and his best friend Callyn are struggling in their small village. They owe more than they can afford in taxes and they have little time to come up with the funds. Jax works at the forge. It’s his only option for work since he is missing a foot and relies on a crutch to get around. Callyn works at the bakery, but there isn’t much in the way of business. They both decide to take on the work Jax’s father had done, hiding and passing on messages against the crown.

Tycho, the King’s messenger, finds his way to Briarlock in search of a blacksmith. When he spots someone known for working against the crown, Tycho finds a reason to stick around longer. The attraction and pull to be near Jax was natural and exciting. 

They steadily get to know each other with each visit Tycho makes to Briarlock. If he is delivering the King’s messages and finds himself near Briarlock, he finds a reason to stop to see Tycho. Jax enjoyed getting to know Tycho, but the guilt at knowing what he was doing was in direct opposition to Tycho’s mission.

While everyone else saw Jax’s disability, and only his disability, Tycho saw more in him. It was fun seeing how Tycho taught Jax how to shoot a bow and arrow. Then how much Jax worked to improve between Tycho’s visits. 

The romantic tension was delicious. Kemmerer slowly built on their relationship chapter by chapter. Once they had that first kiss, I just kicked my feet up. They both dealt with complex emotions, within their own lives and for each other. Tycho had to put his duty to King before Jax. Jax had to deal with the guilt of what he was doing and fear from his father. 

What can you expect in this novel? It’s a fantasy with bits of romance thrown in. There is action, magic, royalty, creatures (that have made appearances in Kemmerer’s previous series), and a race to save the kingdom.

 

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Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier

3.5 out of 5 Stars

Summary

Sixteen years ago, six girls were born on the same day—and now, on their birthday, one of them is missing. From the author of Starlings comes a story about small-towns, friendships, and the terrifying things your parents don’t tell you, that’s perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.

For most of her life, Isabeau and her five best friends were inseparable—amazingly enough, the six girls even shared a birthday. Then a rift caused their friendships to fracture, and Iz lost everyone except Reuel, the only one who didn’t abandon her.

Until now. The night of their sixteenth birthday, Isabeau leaves Reuel sitting on her front porch and heads home—and in the morning, Reuel is missing. She’s gone for three days, and when she reappears, there’s something wrong with her. She’s sick. Really sick. And she doesn’t remember anything that happened while she was gone.

If there’s any bright side to the situation, it’s that Reuel’s peculiar disappearance brings the six girls back together. Their sisterhood feels as strong as it was years ago, but when another one of them disappears, they all agree that they must have more in common than simply their birthday. They all feel it. Something’s been waiting for them, and that something has come to claim them one by one.

Deep in their bones, they know—it’s just a matter of time until they they’re all taken. And if they don’t save themselves, no one will.

Review

Iz had once been part of an inseparable group of six friends, all born on the same day. Something had caused all that to change. Now, Iz only had Reuele to rely on. Through the loss of friendships, Iz and Reuele’s relationship grew even stronger. It all changed after their birthday when Reuele went missing and Iz was the last person to see her alive. Like dominoes things start going wrong, for all the girls. There was no explanation for why Reuele went missing, the visions they were all starting to experience, or how to find answers to stop something even worse from happening.

What I found enchanting about Iz, Sorrow, and the story that unfolded was the feeling like I was sitting next to Iz on a couch as she recounted what happened. There was an elegance to how the story was told. I got lost in the atmosphere of Sorrow. The location was just as much of a character as the people were.

As someone from Louisiana, it was such a relief that it was not overly written like so many authors do. It was there as a bit of a side note. Sorrow was Sorrow. And the description of the smell of New Orleans had me cackling because it was spot on.

There were so many little moments that unfolded and then built upon each other to come to actually understand what was happening to the girls. I was on the edge of my seat when others were affected. Then with the parents? I was shook!

There were light sapphic moments. Then that realization for Iz was as if someone snapped their fingers and she said, “Oh…” That emotional understanding was like a fresh breath of air and I was excited for them.

This was a fun, exciting read! Definitely would recommend it for people wanting a sapphic, YA horror-ish book to read.

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The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich

Three out of Five Stars

The Summary

Two princes from neighboring countries fall into a whirlwind royal romance in this sparkling spin on The Princess Diaries by Cale Dietrich.

Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth emerges: he’s the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father’s palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.

Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Von Rosenborg, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.

At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a choice: follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost.

The Review

The Rules of Royalty was a light-hearted, queer YA story that was very reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. If you are in search of a fun, easy to read, low angst story, Jamie and Erik’s story is the perfect one to dive into.

Jamie Johnson had no idea who his father was, or that his birthday this year would be any different than his birthday last year. When his mother sits him down, he finds out he is heir to the throne of Mitanor and his biological father is the King of Mitanor.

Erik Von Rosenborg has had his entire life mapped out in accordance with what the crown expected of him. When he is asked to help Jamie adjust to his new role as not only as prince, but as a queer royal like Erik, he does what is asked of him. He doesn’t expect the fondness for Jamie, nor for his feelings to be as deep as they were that he would challenge the Queen’s orders.

This is definitely geared towards a younger YA audience, 12-14 years old. While there were social issues, and conflicts that both Jamie and Erik must address, it felt as if this would be perfect for a 6^th or 7^th grade student. Now that I say that there was a good bit of kissing, but I did read some crazy fanfic back in the day that was definitely not meant for my eyes.

It was fun seeing how Jamie and Erik both had awkward fumbles, and there was a good bit of will he or won’t he moments. When they did finally decide to jump in, I kicked my feet up with a giggle.

There were a couple aspects that I feel like could have been left out and the story would have been perfectly fine. Some filler, some odd moments and underdeveloped secondary characters.

Overall, this was a fun read!

To be released December 10, 2024 – Pre-Order Here

Isaac by N.N. Britt

3.5 out of 5 Stars

In the heart of Sin City, two men on opposite sides of the law collide in a dangerous game of power, passion, and betrayal.

Isaac Thoreau, the son of a notorious crime boss, has spent nine years behind bars for his father’s murder. Driven, cunning, and unfeeling, he’s now back to claim what’s rightfully his. But when an enigmatic security guard named Hawk is hired to work at his nightclub, Isaac finds himself distracted… and inexplicably drawn to Hawk, despite his best efforts to resist.

Special Agent Dallas Bradley’s mission is infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring their leader, Isaac Thoreau, to justice. Posing as Hawk, Dallas is determined to uncover the secrets of the Thoreau criminal empire. But as he delves deeper into Isaac’s world, the lines between right and wrong blur, and soon an undeniable attraction grows between the two men, forcing Dallas to question everything.

Walking away before he’s compromised would be the smart choice, but Dallas can’t resist Isaac’s magnetic pull, even if it means risking his life.

As love and duty clash, only one question will Isaac and Dallas survive the fallout?

 

The Review

Let me start this by saying, the author fully acknowledged in their notes that this was not something that portrayed the a gritty accuracy in how an undercover operation would work, or did they know how a large scale smuggling ring would work either. For that honesty, I still dove in to the first book in the Light & Shadows duology. I haven’t read much in the ‘dark romance’ genre for M/M or F/F pairings so I jumped right in with this one. And I enjoyed it!

If you are worried about it being too ‘dark’, it isn’t. There is plenty of violence, morally gray men who do plenty of illegal things. Even a FBI agent who starts to lose himself in the subject he is trying to get information on. 

Isaac is young, but he is not new to the game. He takes calculated risks, for maximum payout. If anyone challenges his standing, he is not afraid to do what he needs to do to ensure he still remains in control and on top. 

Agent Dallas Bradley, now Hawk to Isaac and his crew, is sent to gather information. He works steadily to gain the trust of the Isaac’s men. No matter how much Isaac’s righthand man distrusts him, he keeps working. Eventually, he wiggles his way in. And then he starts to see what the rest of the world doesn’t see about Isaac Thoreau. He isn’t merciless, he has a heart. He cares for the families and businesses that are taken advantage of by other gangs.

The attraction between them, its undeniable, dangerous. They do a bit of a forbidden dance, that at many times made me just wish they would just give in. But that slow give and take, the way they got to know each other, was believable. The pacing flowed well. Between the first moments of attraction to becoming more than employer and employee. There was an unspoken trust between them. 

Which … well … can only spell disaster, right? I’ve got book two loaded up on my kindle. 

The chapter headers, particularly Dallas’s, well, it showed just how much Dallas was morphing into Hawk. It was like we were there spiraling right along side of him. 

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The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid

Four out of Five Stars

Summary

After moving back to his hometown ten years ago, Riley Tuck thought he had left his major league hockey career—and his broken heart—far behind. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, it brings ex-teammate and former best friend with benefits Adam Sheppard back into his life.

Coming to the small town of Avery River, Nova Scotia, might have been a mistake. Adam’s not sure he’ll ever win back Riley’s trust after the way they left things—and the attention he’s getting as a huge hockey star isn’t exactly helping. Yet the chemistry that crackles between them is undeniable, even now.

As Adam helps Riley navigate his grief, long-buried feelings start to resurface. But they’ll have to square off with their complicated past if they’re going to have a real shot at a new beginning.

Review

A romance that spanned decades, comes to a head after being reunited due to terrible circumstances.

Riley’s father had just passed and the last person he ever thought he would see at his father’s funeral was Adam Sheppard. The man who broke his heart over and over again. It was entirely infuriating that Adam had the balls to show up. What Riley did not count on was the fact that Adam was not giving up on him, no matter how much Riley fought him on it.

The grief Riley experienced with his father hurt. Then he was having to address the grief he experienced seeing Adam and how much his life changed after. The more Adam worked to draw Riley out, to remind him to breathe and continue on, the easier it was for Riley to remember how much he was attracted to Adam.

I loved both Riley and Adam’s separate stories. Riley had so much to address within himself and it took him years to find equilibrium. Then Adam had taken years to learn who he was at his core, and come to terms with the fact he truly saw himself as a gay man. Even after he had married and had children. It was sweet how much Adam cared for his ex-wife and his children.

They found the chemistry, the push and pull of should we or should we not. It was a progression that felt natural between the two of them. There was a tenderness to them and how they treated each other.

Normally, I am not one for epilogues. But this one had the perfect epilogue. It wrapped up their story in the best way possible!

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