-
REVIEW: Stay In Your Lane! by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt
Stay In Your Lane! – Cari Z. & L.A. Witt
The tasks are simple. Everett Mulligan is there to collect the body. Kyle Bowman is there to clean up the scene. Easy peasy. Get in, get out, get gone.
But Everett, for all he can be on another planet with fourteen tabs open in his brain, isn’t stupid like the cops think he is. Something about this death scene isn’t sitting right, and he’s going to figure it out. Bonus? He gets to team up with the adorkable crime-scene cleanup guy to solve the mystery.
Kyle, ever the thorough and detail-oriented cleaner, can’t ignore the scene’s irregularities either. He also can’t ignore the seriously attractive himbo from the mortuary who insists they should work together to solve what the cops insist isn’t a crime. Especially when that himbo is also enamored with Kyle’s cats and fiercely determined to make friends with his cranky piranha, Steve.
There’s a reason this death isn’t being treated as a homicide, though, and there are people who are very motivated to keep it that way.
And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the pair of amateur sleuths from uncovering the truth.
Stay in Your Lane! by the acclaimed writer duo Cari Z. and L.A. Witt shines the spotlight on the unsung heroes of crime scene investigations: the cleaners and the morticians. All too often overlooked, the focus is often on the detectives and the forensics; these underdogs handle all the nitty-gritty bits, a.k.a. the dirty work, literally.
What happens when they see something that the police and forensics have missed? Everett Mulligan, the mortician, and Kyle Bowman, crime scene cleaner, found out the hard way that sometimes investigators see what they want to see or, in this case, unsee.
And the powers that be want them to stay in their lane or else…
Oooh, this is fun!
The romance developed so cutely alongside their investigation. Everett, whose brain and mouth go a mile a minute, wouldn’t let the issue of an unsolved murder rest. He found a kindred soul in Kyle, the sassy cleaner whose pet piranhas and cats Everett is crazy about. Joined at the hip, they quickly bond over crime and pets, a geeky power couple of crime scene cleaning.
These do-gooding dorks embarked on their quest to collect evidence that the suicide of the ex-con was actually a murder, so they could persuade the police to investigate. The chilling way the powers that be tried to hush things up hinted that this conspiracy goes all the way to the top. The bad guys were pretty obvious, like faceless cannon fodder for a John Wick movie, just there to do bad things when Kyle and Everett were rattling a few cages.
The fluffy romance led to suspenseful escapes, car chases, and a climax that was equal parts bombastic and hilarious! My favorite part is how they frequently meet at a diner, Waffles?, home to misfits such as conspiracy theory wackos and anti-establishment goth kids. It was only fitting that the big showdown happened there. The scenes at the diner were a riot!
Stay In Your Lane! is an entertaining blend of rom-com, murder mystery thriller, and sharp social commentary. Humorous and suspenseful, it also paints a vivid picture of the consequences of challenging the status quo. Overall, a funny and insightful story that lingers after one dares to step out of line.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Color Outside The Lines
Artist: Chris Colby
Album: II
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Stay In Your Lane!. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
STAY IN YOUR LANE!: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell
Oak King Holly King – Sebastian Nothwell
Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King – a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands.
Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart.
As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory – Oak King or Holly King.
Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell retells Celtic folklore into a gay romance. The Oak King, symbolizing light, defeats the Holly King, who represents darkness. The Holly King is reborn, defeats the Oak King, and the cycle continues, reflecting the changing seasons.
The story begins amidst battle. Shrike, known as Butcher, wins the tournament and is made Oak King, essentially sentenced to death by the Queen of the Silver Wheel. Not wanting to die, he seeks someone to help him defeat the Holly King. His scrying leads him to Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk.
Wren thought Shrike was an actor hired by his former friends to prank him. Skeptical but drawn to the man, he let himself be taken to the fae realms as proof that Shrike is indeed who he claims to be. Although confused as to how he, a mere clerk, could aid a fae, he and Shrike struck an alliance that blossomed into something more.
I was unfamiliar with the pagan tale of the Oak and Holly Kings and the Snow Queen, but this is the kind of story I would have devoured as a child. The retelling cast the Snow Queen as a petty monarch who took the ruling king as lover, only to callously, some even said cruelly, disregard them for the next winning king.
Some of the fae lore is familiar, such as that true names are closely guarded secrets and iron weakens the fae. The fae realm is not described in detail, but it is full of fantastical creatures who apparently love to party. Scenes of note usually happened during a chaotic gathering full of carousing fae, overflowing with wine and noisy with music.
Shrike was formerly a knave before he was crowned, a solitary creature and a man of few words who lived in Blackthorn surrounded by enchanted briar. He’s a leathersmith whose craft is highly prized in the realm. He hates the Snow Queen and avoids the court like a plague. He, however, adores his human and sticks with Wren even when the Snow Queen throws a curveball.
I love Wren! He’s pretty much smittened with Shrike from the get-go. He’s an unassuming clerk with artistic inclinations. He has to shove that under the floorboards because the world is not ready for his creations, a.k.a. manuscripts of the man love variety. He can think fast on his feet, resourceful and cunning, and always willing to help, even if the person in need is loathsome. He got himself and Shrike out of several tight spots.
The book draws on the homoeroticism of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, as well as Apollo and Patroclus. I was super amused that Wren was basically winging it, i.e., inventing magical rituals based on English folklore to aid Shrike. And they actually worked!
The story is somewhat unusual because the plot is convoluted. At the same time, it was long and slow going with nothing much happening during the middle part, but I wasn’t bored.
I was charmed by the sweet, cozy domesticity and the slice-of-life feels when Shrike and Wren were spending time at the Blackthorn, and Shrike was showing Wren around the fae realm. These moments were tender and idyllic, like golden summer afternoons. I wanted it to last forever.
But alas, they not only had to deal with fae business, but also tricky human affairs. Wren’s boss, Mr. Grigsby’s ward, the ward’s uncle, and the ward’s fiancée all called for the lawyer’s assistance to untangle their mess. Wren had to take action on Mr. Grigsby’s behalf. This part, especially the uncle, was nasty, but it added a lot of tension and excitement to the proceedings.
Mr. Grigsby is my favorite character. At first glance, he seemed like a bumbling old man, but he’s no fool. I enjoyed the scenes when the old lawyer showed his gravitas and put idiots to shame. He’s also super kind to Wren. I’m looking forward to the next book because there’s a short story there that promises good things for this kindly old man.
I’m glad there is Book 2 because the ending is too abrupt.
Overall, Oak King Holly King is a wonderful retelling of a well-known folk tale into a gentle romance with a clever resolution to the eternal battle of the kings. Albeit languidly paced, it’s nonetheless twisty and enchanting!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: The Oak & Holly Kings
Artist: The Dolmen
Album: Winter Solstice
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Oak King Holly King. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
OAK KING HOLLY KING: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MY TOP 10 READS OF 2025
-
One Line Reviews Of Some Books I Read This Year (January – December 2025)
This is a round up of the books I read this year that I’m too lazy to do a full review.
-
REVIEW: Deviant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
The Firm: Deviant – Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
In my defense, this is all Brad’s fault.
I had one very important job: kidnap Brad.
I’ve never kidnapped someone before but how hard could it be? Find Brad. Snatch Brad. Deliver Brad to the very scary people who hold my fate in their hands.So when a handsome, flirty stranger at the bar drops his name, I think my luck has finally turned. No chase. No fight. The man practically throws himself in my trunk, smiling like it’s a treat to be taken, like he wants me to have him.
The only problem? “Brad,” the charming and slightly unhinged man I’ve been keeping hostage for days, may be the most dangerous man of all.
Now I’m knee-deep in a life of crime I never signed up for. Tangled up with a man I never meant to take—and definitely never meant to fall for. And I’m staring down the barrel of a gun for mistakes I never should’ve made.
Because everyone knows The Firm never forgives a debt… and they always collect in blood.
Deviant is the second book in the secret society/billionaire romance series, The Firm, by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor. The billionaires are the Buckingham brothers. Trained since birth by their ruthless father, they uphold the secret family business, The Firm. Here, people make desperate requests in exchange for whatever The Firm asks of them.
Today’s Buckingham is Cade, the psychopathic brother, who was cruising a bar under the alias “Brad.” First-time kidnapper Ansel was blackmailed to abduct someone named “Brad.” And so mistaking Cade for the “Brad” he’s supposed to kidnap, he lured Cade to the woods.
Intrigued by the cute twink who was obviously the worst kidnapper Cade has met, he happily let himself be abducted, even instructing Ansel how to do it properly, and be taken to a remote cabin. Cade then proceeded to seduce his hapless abductor.
This is the most fun anyone has ever had while being kidnapped! This part was pretty humorous and bursting with delicious sexual tension. Cade, no stranger to kidnappings, whether as the one abducted or the one tying people to a chair, easily lured the anxious yet still sassy Ansel to share a bed.
The fun only ended because Cade’s brothers crashed the party a.k.a. staged an unsolicited rescue. By then, Cade is obsessed with Ansel, and Ansel couldn’t help but fall for his infuriating but lovable captive. Cade lost no time whisking Ansel away to the Buckingham mansion.
The second half still retained the irreverent humor but had significantly darker vibes when Ansel’s blackmailers became even more insidious, and the self-sacrificing Ansel took it upon himself to shoulder all the world’s burdens. It was frustrating how he didn’t communicate with Cade and even with his best friend, Neo, keeping everything bottled up.
The bad guys were threatening Cade and the rest of the Buckinghams. It was chilling that they had snipers trained on the unsuspecting brothers, whom only Ansel was aware of. Only he could see the tell-tale red dots on Cade and his brothers.
Ansel couldn’t openly talk to them, given that not only the mansion was bugged and watched, they were followed outside too. I thought he could have been cleverer about it and perhaps use a secret signal, such as drawing signs on Cade’s palm while holding his hand. I was expecting something more from Ansel instead of him pushing people away to protect them,
Secret signals aside, the authors really did a great job portraying Ansel’s dilemma. His despair and heartbreak, then later his gut-wrenching sacrifice, all these vivid emotions squeezed my heart and made the story that much more alive and poignant.
The Buckingham brothers were a riot with their ridiculous antics and silly banters. My favorite brother is still Wylder, the eldest and the most stoic. I must admit, I’m not so thrilled he’s paired with the bratty Neo because it’s not my favorite dynamic. We’ll see.
Overall, Deviant is about unlikely connections and the sacrifices made for love. It’s a compelling blend of silly and suspenseful, humor and emotional depth, found family magic, and darker, heart-wrenching moments that left me a captive audience.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Beautiful Mistake
Artist: Billy Howerdel
Album: What Normal WasP.S.
Each Buckingham book can be read as standalone but The Firm demands your attention:
Covenant is Matthias wooing his man, Wyatt, with a forced marriage and the world at his feet.
Wylder – his book is gonna be fire only because it’s him
Samson – thought he’d be paired with Neo but alas
Dalton – our klepto baby should open his eyes because Wyatt’s brother Jackson is right there
Harley – cute and pining for the Chef and I can’t wait when he’s come of age
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Deviant. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
SERIES REVIEW: Isaac & Dallas (Light & Shadow Duet) by N.N. Britt
Light & Shadow: Isaac – N.N. Britt
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?
***
Isaac is the first installment of the Light & Shadow Duet. It can not be read as standalone. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Another Life
Artist: Motionless in White
Album: Disguise
Light & Shadow: Dallas – N.N. Britt
Prepare for Betrayal and Redemption in Sin City.
As the leader of the Hellhounds and a valued member of the notorious Thoreau crime syndicate, Isaac has it all: power, money, fear. Falling for someone has never been on his radar. But for the first time in his life, Isaac thinks he’s found someone he can truly trust—the mysterious security guard who shattered through his icy defenses and became the one person Isaac could be himself with.
Until everything goes up in flames.
Dallas Bradley has been treading an unstable line of deceit between righteousness and criminality. Isaac Thoreau’s world is slowly turning him into Hawk, the man who doesn’t exist, the man who’s ready to do bad things to survive and remain close to Isaac. But when a dangerous deal goes south, in order to save Isaac’s life, Dallas is forced to reveal the devastating truth—he’s a Special Agent sent to infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring down Isaac.
Heartbroken and enraged, Isaac can’t stand the man who betrayed him so deeply. However, when it’s clear Isaac’s fate is prison, Dallas strikes a bargain with his boss: help save Isaac from life behind bars and keep Dallas undercover to clean up the mess.
Isaac hates Dallas more than ever, but to escape the crosshairs they must work together once more. As tempers and stakes flare in the streets of Sin City, Dallas will risk everything to redeem himself in Isaac’s eyes. But can their undeniable connection survive when trust has turned to ash?
***
Dallas is the second installment of Light & Shadow Duet. It should be read after Isaac. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc. Length: 65,000 words. Alternating POV.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Light
Artist: N3wport feat. Dianna
Album:
Light & Shadow Duet by N.N. Britt is the series opener of the dark mafia romance series of the same name.
The first part is Isaac, where we meet Special Agent Dallas Bradley as he starts his undercover job as Hawk, infiltrating the Thoreau crime syndicate led by Isaac Thoreau, the son of the notorious mob boss whom he killed. Isaac paid the price for murdering his abusive father, and his stint in prison further traumatized the young man.
Hawk had to get close to the leader, first by working as the night club bouncer and then climbing the ranks high enough to be included in Isaac’s inner circle. But Isaac was not what Hawk expected, and he soon found himself getting very personal with the boss,
The second part is Dallas, where, after an ATF bust where the gang was caught running guns, Dallas had to negotiate hard to save Isaac. Trust broken but left with no choice, Isaac had to go against everything he stood for and work with Dallas and the FBI.
Dallas and Isaac have that intense push-pull I always enjoy in well-delivered enemies-to-lovers romance. Both are solitary men who found a deep connection that put each of them in danger. The sexual tension is sizzling, the need for secrecy and the threat of being caught heightening the electric mood.
Isaac is a compelling combination of power and vulnerability, having survived sexual abuse as a child and more trauma in prison, then strengthening the criminal organization he inherited. He’s touch-averse and touch-starved, cold to most, but a well-liked leader of his gang, a Robin Hood who took care of his men and their families.
Dallas is a veteran at undercovers, but this job, a.k.a. Isaac, got under his skin and had him questioning his identity and loyalties. As Hawk, he became Isaac’s lover; as Dallas, he was Isaac’s only chance of avoiding prison. He won’t let Isaac go back, knowing it would cost Isaac his life with so many enemies inside.
While the plot was gripping, the writing was something of an acquired taste. It’s in the 1st-person present tense and a bit too flowery for my liking, with metaphors that could be considered poetic. They detract from the story because I found them unnecessary or better suited to a historical romance
However, there’s a great balance of romance and the rest of the plot, with the cliffhanger of Isaac ending the first book in such an explosive way. The second book continues with the tightly paced plot, still as intense, Isaac hurt and conflicted over the betrayal and Dallas’s Hail Mary rescue.
I say the second part is more suspenseful and more twisty turn-y with Dallas and Isaac jumping through hoops of fire. There were so many hurdles thrown their way, I was left wondering how this would end happily. Our only guarantee that this is an HEA is that this is romance. The author saved it till the very last, a bit bittersweet but still resolutely hard-won and satisfying.
Light & Shadow Duet is a stirring tale of forbidden passion between two men on opposite sides of the law. The prose takes getting used to but, overall, slow burn yet fiery, dark and angsty yet thrilling!
P.S.
Light & Shadow must be read in order.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Light & Shadow. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
LIGHT & SHADOW: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
SERIES REVIEW: Enticed by the Enemy, Seduced by a Sinner, & Kissed by a Killer (The Morelli Family Books 3-5) by Leighton Greene
The Morelli Family: Enticed by the Enemy – Leighton Greene
He’s an FBI profiler who’s half my age. Contact between us is forbidden. But I can’t stay away from him.
As the Morelli Underboss, I’m the Family problem-solver. So when a task force blames the Morellis for a series of murders in Central Park, it’s up to me to restore our reputation.
But Fate puts me on a collision-course with an agent on the very task force dedicated to bringing down my Family…
And we end up on the run together.
My heart has been ice-cold for decades, but something about him sets my blood on fire.
It would be crazy of me to trust a Fed. But he claims he wants to prove my innocence. That the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
We each want to solve this case for different reasons, but we’ll both end up dead if he can’t follow my lead.
So to make him behave, I’ll use every weapon I have—including my body.
But why do I feel like I’m the one losing control?
Enticed by the Enemy is a M/M mafia romance set in the world of the Morelli Crime Family. It can be read as a standalone, but it’s even more fun to read the series in order. Characters and events from previous books are referenced.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Enemy Mind
Artist: Priest
Album: Samurai
The Morelli Family: Seduced by a Sinner – Leighton Greene
He’s innocent. He’s chaste. He’s promised to God.
And he’s more temptation than I can handle.I’m supposed to guard the Boss’s husband, but I just can’t keep my eyes off his best friend, Aidan O’Leary.
Watching him.
Wanting him.
Knowing I can never have him.
Aidan is pure in body and soul. He’s about to be ordained as a priest. Me? I’m going to burn for the things I’ve done. And I can’t stop thinking about all the sinful things I want to do to him.
But when there’s an attack on Aidan’s life, I’m reassigned to protect him, and we grow closer than ever.
Someone wants Aidan dead. It’s my job to deliver him safely to the Church to take his vows, although I’d rather have him as my own.
I’ve sworn to protect him until I can give him away to God. But it’s getting harder and harder to let him go without a fight.
And if I can’t focus on the job, how can I keep Aidan safe when our enemies are closing in?
***
Seduced by a Sinner is best enjoyed as part of the Morelli Family mafia romance series. Characters and events from previous books are referenced.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Sin So Sweet
Artist: Walter Zeiders
Album:
The Morelli Family: Kissed by a Killer – Leighton Greene
It’s my job to protect the Morelli men when the law is after them. But now their most dangerous Capo has killed to protect me.
My law firm has two unbreakable rules.
1. Never get personally involved with a client.
Nick Fontana was only ever supposed to be a booty call, but he’s had me cross-examining my heart since we started hooking up.
2. Never let the Morellis do you a favor.
I can’t stop thinking about his talented hands on my body…but those hands just took the wrong life to save mine.
I helped Nick cover up what he did, because if anyone finds out, it would start a Mob War that could destroy us all.
But someone knows our deadly secret.
I’ve kept my mouth shut. So can I really trust the killer I’ve been kissing?
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Kiss/Kill
Artist: Michelle
Album:
The Morelli Family Books 3 to 5 feature Luca Di’Amato’s inner circle and the men who came into their lives, causing chaos, mayhem, and heat.
Enticed by the Enemy stars Angelo Messina, the second in command. Angelo is a well-known and well-liked personality in New York, so close-lipped and slippery that he even had lunch with the detective who claimed Angelo was his white whale. Yet the detective still got nothing on him.
Special Agent Baxter Flynn is a forensic psychologist who is just that bit obsessed with Angelo, having even done his master’s thesis on the man. The SA is so spectacularly green that he dropped his gun while trying to stalk Angelo Messina when somebody started shooting, and he and Angelo had to run away.
Turns out a cop was shot, and the bullets are from Baxter’s Bureau-issued gun. The detective Angelo had lunch with was also found dead. Bold if rash, Baxter barged into Angelo’s apartment and clumsily proposed they work together to find the shooter who was after Angelo and/or Baxter. And clear their names.
Angelo has always been a solid guy, the rock the Morelli dons have relied on. He’s a capable, level-headed mobster who loved the late Tino Morelli and now has nothing but respect and support for the new don Luca. He’s also gorgeous. Even the detective spoke with envy, saying Angelo’s got it easy with a face like that. In short, Angelo’s the complete package and made the book worth reading.
Baxter, on the other hand, had me wondering how he passed Quantico. Not because he’s a rookie, I mean, we’re all beginners at some point. But the man was so ridiculously TSTL and inept, I wasn’t at all surprised he got framed for murder. His investigative skills were laughable, his decisions were hopelessly naive, and this case of opposites attract didn’t work in his character’s favor.
The book ended in an HFN and will be picked up in Vow of the Vigilante, where, hopefully, Baxter redeems himself.
Seduced by a Sinner stars Matteo Vitale, Finch’s bodyguard, who’s been quietly eyeing Finch’s best friend, the novice, Aidan O’Leary, in the background.
One day, a man threatened Aidan with a knife, and Teo stepped in to save the novice. Then he took Aidan to the Morelli home to keep him safe. However, Aidan’s upcoming ordination is fast approaching, and they have to get to Boston with Finch and Luca in tow.
Things became even more chaotic when an Irish terrorist group started threatening Finch’s sister, Tara Donovan, now head of the Donovan family, and whose house the Morellis are staying in Boston.
Teo’s another capable Morelli and the best bodyguard the don trusts with his husband’s life. Teo is aware he’s got blood on his hands, not the man for somebody as innocent as Aidan. He’s got nothing but awe and affection for Ai.
Aidan is an openly gay man about to become a priest. When he became romantically involved with Teo, he did angst, but not overly so. He was generally content and happy; the angstying came later, but unlike most religious figures in MM romance, he was not a miserable character to read about.
I loved how Teo let Aidan experience his firsts with consent, gentle reassurances, and positive views on sexuality and Aidan’s religious beliefs. This books doesn’t condemn religion but reconciles it with all forms of love.
With some guidance from his mom and a mentor, he was able to make peace with himself and his relationship with God and Teo. I loved reading their story because their romance has a wholesome and pure quality to it, in contrast with the Irish business that bulldozed its way into their lives.
The book ended with an HEA for the couple and good things for Teo, Morelli-wise, when he stepped up against the Irish terrorists.
Kissed by a Killer stars Nick Fontana, a capo, and rumored to be the future caporegime of the Morellis. He’s occasional fuck buddies with Carlo Bianchi, the Morelli lawyer, a forbidden affair because Carlo’s father, doesn’t want his lawyers fraternizing with the mobsters.
The story opens with a wedding where all five Families are attending. On the night of the wedding, the groom snuck into Carlo’s room and assaulted him. Nick, who had just come from Carlo’s room, saw him and snapped his neck. They had to quickly make the body disappear.
The groom is a scion of the Guiliano Family, and soon everyone was looking for the missing groom. Nick and Carlo were conflicted whether to tell Luca, and alliances would break if they don’t do something about it soon. With the threat of the Irish terrorists hanging over New York, they can’t afford to lose allies.
Nick is Luca’s closest friend, the two rising in ranks together. He’s one of the most trusted men in Luca’s circle, so his not coming clean right away and later dragging his feet for some reason or other really added to the tension and anticipation, a.k.a. dread of when Luca will eventually find out.
Carlo is the heir to the Bianchi firm, which has an exclusive contract with the Morellis. He’s known to be extremely good at keeping the men out of jail. Objectively, I could see that Carlo can be unlikable. He tends to run his mouth and push buttons. Even Nick was annoyed with him several times, as much as he’s fond of the difficult man.
I don’t actively dislike Carlo; he’s just not somebody I would cast as a love interest. Fortunately, he meshes well with Nick, their antagonistic dynamics adding spice to their story. And he totally redeemed himself when he did his big lawyer speech to save Nick’s life. I was actually impressed! So now I see why Luca keeps him on a retainer.
Plot-wise, it was all over the place. There were many overarching threads that were continued here, plus the forbidden romance and the secrets. And for men of their caliber, Nick and Carlo weren’t making the smartest decisions. The ending was bittersweet and an HFN, but I loved that it gave us hope for Luca and Nick’s friendship.
Overall, Morelli men are making their marks and winning hearts.
The Morelli Family continues with Devoted to the Don. The books must be read in order.
Married To The Mobster introduces us to delightfully bratty Finch Donovan and besotted but won’t admit it, Luca Di’Amato.
Beloved By The Boss is Luca and Finch making their marriage work and taking over New York
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of The Morelli Family. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
THE MORELLI FAMILY: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: His Coveted Obsession by Courtney W. Dixon
The District: His Coveted Obsession – Courtney W. Dixon
PLEASE READ THE BLURB AND WARNINGS IF YOU’RE SENSITIVE TO TRIGGERS! And please, please be careful of spoilers and giving away endings of books. Use spoiler tags.
When obsession and possessiveness collide…
Thomas Lauder
Easton is my hero, and I’m obsessed. He comes into my life like a knight in shining armor, saving me from a horrible customer at the coffee shop. Then, out of the blue, he asks me out on a date. How could I say no to the mysterious, handsome man? My life revolves around surviving my lying, gambling-addicted father and taking care of my younger sister while trying to earn my degree. Easton gives me the stability and honesty I didn’t know I needed. He’s straightforward and knows exactly what he wants. I do, too. I want Easton in my life forever.
Easton Virgil
I have a new family, but my life is still incomplete. Now that I’m nineteen, I have strong needs, and the loneliness is consuming. Thomas isn’t typical, but he’s attractive, and I enjoy his worship of me. He’s obsessed, and I feed off it. It makes me hungry for him. He’s perfect for me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him. He belongs to me and no one else. But when his useless father is the reason Thomas is ripped from me, I nearly burn the world to the ground to find him. No one better have harmed him, or they will pay.
Reading in order will add more pleasure to the reading experience and understanding the characters better, but they can technically be read as standalones.
Mentions of molestation of a child, abuse of a child, neglect, murder, torture, organ harvesting, death of a parent to cancer (off page), gambling addiction, sociopathy, violence, explicit language and sex.
The District by Courtney W. Dixon is a found family of assassins headed by Sid Virgil (His Reluctant Savior) and Malik Amin (His Bane). The youngest member is Easton, who was recruited at 15 after Sid found him newly orphaned. Later, he was officially adopted by Sid and his husband Dalton.
Like the rest of his District family, Easton survived an abusive childhood and emerged stronger and deadlier. Easton comes from wealth and, now 19, enjoys wearing suits to appear more mature. He has autism and ASPD, and his pedantic, blunt manner is off-putting to many. He was trained in all kinds of weapons; his preferred one is the knife.
Easton saved the barista, Thomas Lauder, from a rude customer, and Thomas was immediately drawn to the young man, calling him his hero. The attraction was instantaneous and mutual. Easton didn’t waste time asking for a date, and the two became exclusive right that very night.
Thomas is juggling college, work, caring for his sister, and trying to make his gambling addicted dad stop. The addiction got so bad that not only he and his sister were neglected, but they ended up as collateral when the bad guys came calling for their cash.
Easton was having none of it, and once again he’s the hero with the District family as his backup. It’s touch him and die!
With both MCs at 19, the romance has a teen cute, fluffy vibe to it mixed in with the adultier primal play and possessive-obssessive vibes. Not a fan of the naked chases in the woods because of ants, insects, poking branches, and it did feel like just sex and material gifts at first.
Easton has always been a compelling character since the beginning. He’s very self-aware and unapologetically himself, narcissistic, brutally honest, and tightly holds the reins of barely controlled rage. He can’t feel love or empathy in the typical way, but with Easton, it’s always action speaking louder than words, and he spoke volumes!
I loved that he’s willing to learn to connect with Thomas emotionally. He might not understand Thomas’ POV at first, but he listens to Sid’s or Dalton’s advice and mulls it over until he understands. Easton, being a dark knight saving his damsel, is swoony as hell!
It would have been easy to dislike Thomas as weak, but our boy is nothing if not resilient. He calls Easton “Superman,” and I loved that his complete trust in Easton never wavered, even when rescue seemed impossible. He adored Easton from the beginning, and Easton needed that kind of worship.
“He was honest about everything, even with his anger. Easton was…pure.”
My favorite part about Thomas is that he never asked Easton to change. And he appreciates his honesty, something that most people find rude. He saw Easton for what he truly is and loved him for it. Even defended East when Sid and Dalton said Easton can’t love.
Easton’s intensity and dominance play so well with Thomas’s adoration and devotion, and their chemistry is electric! Watching their relationship evolve from insta-attraction to emotional connection makes this a joy to read!
While still less disturbing than His Death Bringer, please heed the trigger warnings. Easton’s family history is pretty dark, and as a teen, he took matters into his own hands because nobody, not even his father, who knew of his mother’s abuse, did anything.
Thomas also has to deal with his mother’s illness (off-page) and his father’s neglect. Later, he also had to rely on Easton’s money because his dad sold everything of value. During their captivity, Thomas was tortured, and there are mentions of organ harvesting.
Overall, His Coveted Obsession is a captivating journey of finding one’s person. A raw and honest love story of wanting to be wanted and giving everything to give.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSountrack: Trust
Artist: Alina Baraz
Album: TrustP.S.
The District is best read in order.
His Death Bringer is Luca and his dark angel, Dante.
His Bane is Malik and his beloved psychopath, Sully.
His Reluctant Savior is Sid and his boy scout, Dalton.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of His Coveted Obsession. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
HIS COVETED OBSESSION: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Black and Brown by A.E. Via
Ravens: Black and Brown – A.E. Via
Grace’s composed, yet lethal disposition balances his partner Mirage’s impulsive nature, creating a duo—the second-generation Brown Ravens—with the potential for greatness.
Grace was one of the most decorated sharpshooters in the Marines. He’s fiercely committed to righting the wrongs that plague the world and protecting the innocent.
But there are too many rules and strict orders in the armed forces the Ravens don’t have.Mirage left his world without a trace.
He has a brilliant mind and more degrees in science and medicine than one person could ever hope to obtain.
Now that the Ravens are done administering their treatments, Mirage can throw knives so fast they turn into phantom blades before he disappears in a way that leaves his enemies in chaos and confusion. And Grace can hit a target from three miles away.When together, their form of silent communication in the field is astonishing. Grace’s subtle body movements speak their own language and his long, intense stares into Mirage’s grey eyes have created a special bond neither of them saw coming.
A forbidden romance that won’t stop them from being the second-best assassins in the world.Triggers: Violence
Our introduction to the Ravens was in Ex Meridian, Book 7 of Nothing Special, a book that had me waxing poetic with how GOOD it is. Ex and Meridian are the first-generation Ravens, code-named Blacks. They’re partners turned lovers in a forbidden romance that forever changed their lives.
In one of their missions, they worked with the Nothing Special cops. The book left me so intrigued, I was beyond ecstatic when I learned A.E. Via created a series about these enhanced black ops assassins.
Black and Brown opens the series with the second-generation Ravens, code-named Browns. The secret program significantly enhanced their abilities, giving Mirage super-fast, super-accurate knife-throwing skills and sharpening Grace’s already formidable sniper skills. Their unique fighting style has Grace using the big guns while Mirage is behind him in the shadows, making it seem like knives are coming out of nowhere.
Mirage was a former combat medic, surgeon, and scientist with multiple doctorates and the son of decorated army medics. He talks a lot, and nearly burned Grace’s kitchen trying to fry bacon. Grace was a former military sniper from a small town family with a deadbeat dad who killed his mom. He’s a man of few words and a Bobby Flay in the kitchen. I swooned at the many dinner dates Grace lovingly prepared for his man!
The story follows the evolution of their relationship, from when they were recruited into the program, the enhancements, trainings, and their years in the field, up until that fateful day, Grace witnesses an unguarded moment between Ex and Meridian. It changed the way he saw his partnership with Mirage, giving him hope they could be something more.
Later, they learned there’s a traitor in their organization, and it’s time they choose their own mission.
Mirage and Grace’s dynamic reminded me a lot of God and Day, with a big, taciturn man and a talkative, slightly smaller one. But Mirage and Grace are memorable and different enough. Mirage, talkative and smaller, is the top. My favorite part is how he is always greatly appreciative of Grace’s silence, wrapping it around himself like a comfort blanket.
Another thing that stood out is how the author’s writing has greatly improved. As much as I loved Nothing Special, the first books were clunky and amateurish. Happily, the series improved as it progressed.
Here, the writing is much more refined, the plot well-thought-out, and the romantic development was natural, deliciously slow burn, and hella heartmelting for a pair of deadly assassins. The sex scenes were at the right moments, compared to the poorly deployed ones in the other earlier books. The action scenes were fast-paced and suspenseful, with just the right tension and thrill to keep things exciting.
The vulnerable moments were tenderly intimate. There’s something precious about the big badass Grace being needy and touch-starved, and Mirage being the only one he showed that side of him. When they’re not being secretly sweet and cuddly, they’re intense and fiercely passionate!
It’s best to see the Blacks in action first in Ex Meridian before diving into the Ravens. Black and Brown is told in dual POVs, and also Meridian’s. I loved that we have the Blacks again. My only wish was that the POVs were more balanced. We don’t have Ex’s, and he was kinda shoved to the sidelines.
Black and Brown is a close-proximity, sci-fi-lite, forbidden romance between two assassins from a super-secret black ops program. In a life of guns and knives, it is also two men building trust, exploring intimacy, and speaking volumes in comforting silence and thoughtful gestures. Overall, a thrilling and emotional story of badass assassins and cozy husbands!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: We’re In This Together
Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: The Fragile
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Black and Brown. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
BLACK AND BOWN Kindle | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: All Of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles
All Of Us Murderers – K.J. Charles
The lush Gothic drama of Crimson Peak meets the murderous intrigue of Knives Out with an LGBTQIA+ love story to die for from award-winning author KJ Charles.
WHO WILL SURVIVE LACKADAY HOUSE?
When Zeb Wyckham is summoned to a wealthy relative’s remote Gothic manor, he is horrified to find all the people he least wants to see in the world: his estranged brother, his sneering cousin, and his bitter ex-lover Gideon Grey. Things couldn’t possibly get worse.
Then the master of the house announces the true purpose of the gathering: he intends to leave the vast family fortune to whoever marries his young ward, setting off a violent scramble for her hand. Zeb wants no part of his greedy family―but when he tries to leave, the way is barred. The walls of Lackaday House are high, and the gates firmly locked. As the Dartmoor mists roll in, there’s no way out. And something unnatural may be watching them from the house’s shadowy depths…
Fear and paranoia ramping ever-higher, Zeb has nowhere to turn but to the man who once held his heart. As the gaslight flickers and terror takes hold, can two warring lovers reunite, uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House―and live to tell the tale?
All of Us Murderers is K.J. Charles‘s take on books with covers of women with fabulous hair fleeing ominous gothic mansions. The story is set in Dartmoor during the Edwardian era.
The author established the forbidding atmosphere right at the opening scene. Zebedee Wyckham arrives at a tall iron gate of a creepy, isolated mansion, and immediately all his instincts tell him to run far away from there. The thing is, Zeb is not a believer in ghosts, so he’s more annoyed to learn that he’s summoned to Lackaday House along with his estranged brother, Bram, his wife, Elise, and a couple of other cousins he barely knew, Hawley and Colonel Dash.
Bram is 10 years Zeb’s senior, an art critic whose tastes run more classical and traditional. He’s arrogant, sanctimonious, and belittles Zeb every chance he gets. Elise is an aloof, icy beauty known to cuckold her husband with none other than their cousin, Hawley.
Hawley is an avant-garde artist and a callous womanizer. He frequently butt heads with Bram not only because of their different views on art but also because of Elise. Dash is a middle-aged soldier, a man of action who isn’t easily affected by the supernatural.
Wynn is the master of the Lackaday House, also a cousin, and is friends with Dash. He’s portrayed as a jovial host, but, like the rest of the Wyckhams, he has questionable relationships, suspicious activities, and dubious intentions. His ward is Jessamyn, the 18-year-old granddaughter of Wynn’s great, tragic love.
He proposed that whichever of the cousins wins her hand will inherit everything. This proposal not so much as stir the pot as set the whole kitchen on fire when tempers frayed, ghosts started appearing, and people lost their minds
Zeb is also shocked to discover that Wynn’s secretary is Gideon Grey. They had a spectacularly bad breakup, a.k.a. Zeb’s the reason why Gideon lost his job, and now desperately doesn’t want to lose his current post, so Gideon is sternly warning him not to mess it up for him again.
Lackaday House, with its sprawling grounds, dangerous moors, and replicas of famous landmarks, is the backdrop and a major character of this twisty-turny, and hella spine-tingling gothic tale. It’s curses, bad blood, and unspeakable acts up the wazoo, the sense of impending doom thick in the air! The creep-tastic vibes gave me goosebumps, the dark imagery was so potent, and the characters were so effectively loathsome that I dreaded their scenes
It was both exceptional writing and off-putting, making the middle part a slog because I really hated most of them. But I also can’t look away. I was that morbidly fascinated spectator, covering their eyes while peeking between fingers. I wanted to remove a star in my rating, and also commend the author.
The pace in the 3rd arc went considerably faster when pieces were starting to fall into place for Zeb. It was one tragedy after another, one horrid reveal after another, building up to an edge-of-your-seat run-for-your-life climax.
The ray of sunshine in this murk is the sweet rekindling of sparks between Gideon and Zeb. Zeb described Gideon as one of those serious people who could be intimidating. Gideon’s a bit older. He was Zeb’s supervisor in their previous job. He’s organized, controlled, and very capable, while Zeb is chaotic, exuberant, and a bit absent-minded. Zeb has undiagnosed ADHD since it’s the 1900s.
Gideon was really serious most of the time. After the initial antagonistic interactions, they cleared the air, reunited, and suddenly Gideon smiled, laughed, and came alive. Holy hell, he was a revelation! The chemistry was just magical! They’re one of my favorite couples from the author
Overall, All of Us Murderers is a convoluted revenge scheme, a messy family drama, and an endearing second-chance romance. The suspenseful storytelling combined with emotional depth, vivid characters, and a gothic atmosphere so immersive that it made all of us captivated readers.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Secret of Life
Artist: Lord Huron
Album: Vide Noir
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of All Of Us Murderers. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
ALL OF US MURDERERS Kindle | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
