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RELEASE BLITZ: Knocked Sideways by C.A. Gardner
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REVIEW: The Geek And The Ghost by Cambria Hebert

I’m about thirty seconds from a toe tag and my own freezer at the mortuary when he materializes from the shadows and fights like hell to keep me breathing.
I had no idea homeless disasters like me got guardian angels—or that guardian angels punch people and smoke—but suddenly, there he is: a hero dressed all in black who ghosts me so hard I consider calling a medium.
But that would be a waste of money I don’t have.
I thought I’d never see him again, but just as I’m about to eat a bullet, he appears, using his body to protect mine. I might have swooned—okay, fine, I do but only on the inside—if it weren’t for the fact he thinks bleeding is an adequate apology for implying I’m a prostitute and running off with my heart.
Spoiler alert: It’s not.
Now the man with a PhD in vanishing, a tattoo that totally offends me, and eyes with their own force of gravity is suddenly stuck to me like glue and being wildly inconvenient about it.
And he won’t stop calling me a pipgeek. What even is that?
He insists I trust him, but I can’t trust anyone, not even my own body. Unfortunately, when the resident drug lord calls in that favor I foolishly owe, things go from bad to catastrophic with alarming enthusiasm.On the upside, having a hero with a villain complex for a stalker means staying alive will be easy.
But not getting hurt again is a whole other story.
The Geek And The Ghost by Cambria Hebert is the second book in The Protectors, a series featuring cinnamon-rolls and their overprotective, badass, morally gray boyfriends.
The geek is Rett, homeless and found himself victim of bullies when a mysterious man in black known only as Ghost stepped in. Ghost saved him, fed him, cared for him through an illness, and disappeared after one unforgettable night together, leaving behnd a bag of money and memories. Two years later, their paths cross again when Ghost takes a bullet for him.
Told in dual first-person POVs, the story balances Rett’s angstier perspective with Ghost’s humorous, irreverent narration. It picks up the events of The Hazard And The Hitman, wheree Kieran and Ghost protected Haz from killers.
To Ghost’s surprise, Rett is now Haz’s neighbor and best friend, having used the money Ghost left behind to start a new life. Unfortunately, a mobster wants Rett to deal drugs for him and Ghost is having none of that.
Like Haz, Rett is trouble with a capital T, seemingly with a concerning lack of self-preservation. Unlike his annoying best friend, however, he’s genuinely endearing.
Life on the streets has given him strong survival instincts, and while he’s often a dude in distress, he has plenty of grit, determination, and fight. I rooted for him from the start, and watching him build a better life despite countless setbacks was inspiring.
Ghost, whose real name is Hiro, is a government operative like Kieran. He’s also much sillier and funnier than his perpetually grumpy best friend. Just as Kieran fell head over heels for his Hazard, Ghost completely adores his Pipgeek. I loved the contrast between how everyone else sees him as one scary motherfucker while to Rett, he’s a cuddle bear.
Ghost was already my favorite character in Book 1, and here he’s absolutely glorious! His unwavering care and fierce protectiveness of Rett made this book for me.
The grandest gesture has to be the library he builds for Rett, complete with space for their beloved plant babies. It went straight to my kokoro especially when in the first part Ghost found him with nothing to his name except some loose change and a library card.
Their chemistry is squee-tastic from the very beginning, and their relationship so ridiculously adorable, so wholesome and supportive that it cleanses my soul. Rett trusts Ghost completely, and Ghost would burn the world for him. In fact, he literally burns one bastard for hurting his Pip.
Another favorite moment is Ghost researching Rett’s chronic illness so he can take better care of him. The level of devotions is peak. Seriously, the bestest boyfriend a.k.a. husbando ever!
Kieran and Haz are much more enjoyable here, and their friendship with Ghost and Rett creates that magical found-family dynamic that always gets me. Haz’s Uncle Enzo adds intrigue, and I already can’t wait for his book with Wyatt.
Overall, The Geek And The Ghost is a heartwarming story of second chances for deadly hitmen caring for dudes in distress,. While the first installment was a mixed bag, this book is the total package. Overall, a purely sweet, swoony, and satisfying tale of a Ghost and his Pip.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Hero
Artist: Alan Walker & Sasha Alex Sloan
Albun: WalkerworldP.S.
The Protectors must be read in order. Witness a walking disaster charm a grumpy hitman with his mishaps and accidents in The Hazard And The Hitman.
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THE GEEK AND THE GHOST: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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PROMO BLITZ: Silent Damage by Blane Bellamy
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COVER REVEAL: 11 Reasons Why Love Is Stupid by Locke Wilder
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BOOK TOUR: A Rogue’s Ruin by Sarah Glenn Marsh
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NEW RELEASE: Closely Guarded by Jamie Deacon (Excerpt)
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NEW RELEASE: Tabitha Unleashed by Robert W. Adams (Excerpt)
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PROMO BLITZ: Mage’s Gambit by Ava Mari Salinger
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NEW RELEASE: The Crucible by Aoibh Wood (Excerpt)
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SERIES REVIEW: His Enforcer & His Reaper (Unexpectedly Twisted Books 3 & 4) by Cora Rose

Unexpectedly Twisted: His Enforcer by Cora Rose
Working for a notorious mob boss like Anthony Costello for fifteen years has taught me a thing or two about dangerous men. I myself have been chiseled and beaten into someone to be reckoned with. And I’ve even come to relish in the pain, to crave it. But no one gets under my skin quite like Luca Rossi, Anthony’s right-hand man. I hate him more than words can express, I always have. He torments me and toys with me, just a plaything in his twisted and cruel game of control, until I’m feral with rage and barely able to contain myself.
But when a series of unidentified bodies begin showing up on our property and it becomes clear someone is trying to take the Costello family down, Luca and I are teamed up to solve the mystery. And working up close and personal with this man has me realizing that there’s no one in the world quite as dangerous to me as him. Because the real reason I hate Luca so much, and maybe even the reason why I hate myself, is because he’ll never really want me.
Rating:
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a likeSoundtrack: Lust To Love
Artist: Renforshort
Album: Off Saint Dominique

Unexpectedly Twisted: His Reaper – Cora Rose
Some say I’m too soft and cuddly for a guy who wields bone saws and strings friendship necklaces with human eyeballs—but I just call that work-life balance.
And honestly, I love my job as the Costellos’ reaper.
Lately, though, my biggest problem isn’t the dismembered corpses, it’s something far more seductive. Georgiy Sokolov. He smells mouth-watering, like disinfectant and fancy aftershave. Plus, he comes with a stern promise to ruin me with surgical precision—and believe me, I will be begging him for it.
If only I could get him to return my texts…
But when a shadowy evil threatens my found family, and my nightmares stir up repressed memories that somehow feel connected, Georgiy and I will stop at nothing to protect what is ours.
Armed with my bloody handsaw and Georgiy’s dainty scalpel, we try to uncover the dark truths about the past that haunts me and the Death that stalks me. It’s all very romantic.
So if you’ve come to witness my final chapter…good luck, friend.
My name’s Bane. Say it while you still have your tongue.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Beautiful Monster
Artist: Lolux
Album: Beautiful Monster
Here I go with yet another dark mafia romance…
Unexpectedly Twisted by Cora Rose is a mafia romance series starring members of the Costello Family. The Silencer introduces mob boss Anthony Costello, who finds love with Tatum, his son’s best friend. In His Prince, Anthony’s younger son Angel falls for his husband after an arranged marriage with Mikhail Ivanov.
His Enforcer stars Luca, the underboss and Anthony’s bestfriend who used to be a third in his late wife’s bed. Bodyguard Viktor has a bad crush on the older man since he was a teenager.
Viktor is a favorite at the sex club being an exclusive bottom game for anything. One night, Luca witnessed him in a rather intense session, put a stop to it, took him home, and slept with him. Then, pretended it never happened for years.
Viktor makes no secret of his desire for Luca, which the underboss uses to his advantage, pushing the bodyguard’s buttons and cockteasing, knowing the younger man has no self-control. It happens so frequently that the supposedly straight Luca ends up sleeping with Viktor like a bad habit, having fallen in lust.
I like reading series in order and this was a necessary hurdle to get to the next installment. It is indeed a chore since I didn’t like Luca and there was barely any romance. It’s mostly lust with Viktor too needy, too desperate, too ready to bend just to get Luca’s dick in him.
Luca likes control and that’s all I can say about him as he had no other personality traits. There was some sob story tacked on the latter part but it was meh. I say, skip this if you can.
His Reaper stars Bane and his doctor boyfriend Georgiy Sokolov. Bane, the Costello’s torturer and interrogator who collects body parts and turns them into jewelry, was an instant favorite since the beginning. The series has a fantastic found family dynamic and Bane is fiercely protective of his loved ones who in turn adore the labrador retriever psycho.
In the previous books, Bane laid eyes on Georgiy, Mikhail’s interrogator, and immediately became obsessed. So much so he stood in front of Georgiy’s window and jerked off. Wasn’t a bit shy, was in fact quite proud when Georgiy caught him. They got into an off again, on again thing, and last we know, Georgiy ghosted and Bane was devastated.
Present day Bane, desperate to get Georgiy’s attention sleeps with other guys until Georgiy finds him and proceeds to tattoo his name on his butt. Trademarked and insured too as Georgiy wants to protect his property. Bane’s life and his family are in danger from his ex who betrayed them and Georgiy vows to exact his revenge.
This is absolutely the best book in the series!
The play of opposites is just pure delight with the touch-starved Bane bringing his lovable chaos into the touch-aversed Georgiy’s life. Bane is a messy, childish ball of energy, sharp and intuitive with no bounderies what so ever, while Georgiy is a highly skilled surgeon, a stoic, clinical, germaphobe giving Bane the calm, firm hand he needs. They build a relationship rooted in respect, obsession, and surprising tenderness.
I loved how Bane respects Georgiy’s limits, knowing when too much is too much. Bane is perpetually horny and Georgiy gets creative to satisfy his man, avoiding skin to skin contact until he gradually becomes comfortable with touching Bane. They are each other’s rock when past traumas and hurts resurface, particularly important during the full circle moment at the climax.
It’s not only the nuclear-level chemistry, but the all-consuming obsession and, most of all, the genuine care they had for each other is the deepest and most heartfelt in the entire series. Given that they’re the most fucked up characters too, cardboard Luca could learn a thing or two from them.
The book is chockful of content warnings: violence, blood, gore and heavy into voyeurism and exhibitionism. Bane has no qualms watching other couples have sex, whipping out his dick in public, and getting horny over every attractive man he meets.
He likes to cuddle with other couples in bed, joining them without warning. They let him knowing Bane is being Bane. Until Georgiy tattoos his claim and Bane happily finds his anchor in Georgiy
Georgiy stimulates Bane with machines and toys and one time, Anthony walks in on them. Instead of being embarrassed, the mob boss stands there and watches, hella cringe after he claims Bane is like a son.
Bane also plays matchmaker to Jax and Kit, encouraging the two men to get handsy in public while he watches and gets horny. The bonding ceremony is also very Georgiy and Bane with skin branding and more sex on display.
Content warnings aside, I want more Georgiy and Bane! Hearing Georgiy call Bane, “Bane of my existence” or “Bane of my life” everytime is making me swoon. To which Bane replies, “Just so you know, you’re the Georgiy of my life.” Seriously, I died of squees…
We need the guards, too. Jax and Kit crackle with electricity, no wonder Bane is shipping them hard. Teddy ‘s silent appearances speaks volumes about how much of a teddy bear he is. Shipping him hard with Jake. The creepy and perverted Andromeda twins need their own book too. I’m super curious how they will handle their new boy when he wakes up from his coma.
Unexpectedly Twisted is a mixed bag of lust and love, with mafia shenanigans on the side. While there is an overarching thread running throughout the series and many recurring characters, the books can be read as standalones. You can skip the weaker installments, The Silencer and His Enforcer. His Prince is worth a read, mostly for the secondary characters.
Overall, nothing unexpected about the entire series but His Reaper redeems it in the most deliciously twisted way.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of His Enforcer and His Reaper. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
HIS ENFORCER: Amazon UK | Audiobook
HIS REAPER: Amazon UK | AudiobookIf 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!




























