Review: Guarding the Shadows by K.L. Shandwick 3 of 5 stars

Guarding the Shadows by K.L. Shandwick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Raff, a seasoned bodyguard for the rock band Screaming Shadows, lives by strict rules—protect, mitigate risk, and maintain boundaries. But when he forms a quiet, undeniable bond with Beth, the lead singer’s sister, those boundaries blur. Despite the chemistry, Raff resists temptation, unwilling to risk a forbidden romance that could compromise his professionalism. As the tour ends, Raff feels proud they never crossed the line—but the connection lingers, prompting him to reevaluate his priorities and the emotional cost of always choosing duty over desire. Determined to reshape his life, he returns home with a plan—only to be blindsided by a revelation that forces him to question everything he thought he knew about love, time, and what truly matters.

I enjoyed this short story written around bodyguard Raff in the Pulsetones Rock Gods series. I liked that this story focused on duty, desire, and the question of what truly matters. I liked how honourable Riff was and how determined he always was to do the right thing. Easy to read and understand. This was an MF story with mature content.

** Please note that this story first appeared in Hope Runs Deep: A Multi-Author Charity Collection Benefiting Kerr County, Texas.

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Review: EWB: Enemies With Benefits by N.R. Walker 5 of 5 stars

EWB: Enemies With Benefits by N.R. Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Marshall Wise has spent years consumed by loathing for Valentine Tye—a visceral, lifelong hatred that borders on obsession. But beneath the fury lies something darker and more complicated: a desire that mirrors Valentine’s own twisted need to be hurt, used, and rejected. Valentine hides behind wealth and bravado, masking a deep emotional void that craves punishment over affection. He believes love is impossible for someone like him, especially from someone like Marshall. Yet as their volatile dynamic intensifies, both men are forced to confront the truth: sometimes the line between hate and longing is razor-thin, and the person who wounds you most might be the only one who truly sees you.

I loved this story with the hatred, desire, and the dangerous pull of emotional extremes between the two men. The whole story was an emotionally volatile exploration of hate, desire, and the fragile boundary between pain and intimacy. I was fascinated by Valentine constructing his identity around being hated, used, and discarded. His craving for pain wasn't just physical—it was emotional validation through punishment. It probed how trauma can distort self-worth, leading someone to seek out relationships that reinforce their internalised belief about being unlovable or broken. I also loved that despite their volatility, both men were deeply lonely. Their dynamic was a collision of two emotionally isolated people who don’t believe they deserve love—but who might, through pain and confrontation, find something resembling it. The story suggested that even the most jagged relationships can hold the potential for healing, if both parties are willing to face themselves. This story was jam packed with emotions and feelings as they both came to their own realisation that they loved each other and that they were worthy of that love. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Finding Isaac by B.L. Maxwell 4 of 5 stars

Finding Isaac by B.L. Maxwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Isaac Grant has always called Foggy Basin home, content with casual flings and a carefree lifestyle—until his closest friend-with-benefits finds lasting love, leaving Isaac unexpectedly adrift and craving something deeper. Tig Sawyer left town years ago, chasing ambition and a faster pace. But when he returns, the quiet charm of Foggy Basin—and Isaac—pulls at something he didn’t know he missed. As the two reconnect, Isaac begins to question his resistance to commitment, and Tig, despite his polished exterior, seems more than ready to take a chance on the wild-hearted local who’s never had a reason to stay. What begins as curiosity might just become the real thing.

I loved this story with the two men who started from different attitudes towards their relationship but that rapidly expanded to be something far more in tune with each other. I loved that the story explored how intimacy can evolve—how physical connection can be a doorway to something more, and how emotional vulnerability transforms relationships from fleeting to lasting. I also loved that the story explored emotional surprise—how the right person can appear when we least expect it, and how openness to possibility can transform our understanding of what we need. Lots of emotions and feelings as their relationship solidified into something much more. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Money Shot by Eden Finley by Saxon James 4 of 5 stars

Money Shot by Eden Finley by Saxon James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finn follows his sister to Edmonton for a fresh start, hoping to escape his workaholic rut and maybe find a real relationship. But his heart—and fantasies—are already tangled up in Gunner, a charismatic cam boy he’s been quietly obsessed with online. Things get complicated when Finn meets Curtis, the charming but emotionally unavailable best man at his sister’s wedding. There’s something uncannily familiar about him… and when Finn finally connects the dots, he realizes Curtis and Gunner might be the same person. Caught between fantasy and reality, Finn tries to walk away—but feelings don’t unsubscribe so easily. Now he must navigate the messy overlap of desire, identity, and the terrifying possibility that his dream guy might be closer—and more complicated—than he ever imagined.

I loved this story with the two men who were drawn to each other made more complex when Finn realised what Curtis has been doing as a side job. I liked how the story explored how fantasy can be comforting, but reality—though riskier—offers the potential for genuine emotional depth. I also liked how the story explored how emotional liberation comes not from perfection, but from being accepted in our most exposed, complicated states. I loved how the friends and family worked together to make them realise the truth of the relationship between them. A story full of emotions and feelings. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Weapon in the Watermelon by Dale Mayer 4 of 5 stars

Weapon in the Watermelon by Dale Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When a young couple is attacked while preparing for a catering job, whispers of a family curse resurface—one that seems to end in murder. Doreen, unable to resist meddling, discovers that the young woman’s mother was herself the victim of an unsolved murder, giving her the perfect cold case to dig into while Mack handles the official investigation. As Mack works through the suspicious death of a chef, Doreen juggles family drama, tangled loyalties, and the challenge of finding the right birthday gift for Nan. True to form, she manages to intertwine both mysteries and celebrations. But with the animals adding their own brand of chaos, nothing goes smoothly, and the case spirals into the kind of wild, unpredictable adventure only Doreen could create.

I loved this mystery story which was more than just quirky sleuthing; was was layered with themes of family, chaos, and the tension between order and unpredictability. I always love Doreen's persistence, intuition, and her refusal to let mysteries remain unsolved, even when it complicates official investigations. The so-called “curse” and the unsolved murder of the young woman’s mother highlighted how unresolved trauma and secrets can ripple through generations. I also loved how the recurring presence of the animals add humour and unpredictability, symbolizing how life resists control. They embodied that even the best-laid plans—whether in investigations or family gatherings—can be upended by forces beyond human management. I loved how the story was not just about solving crimes, but about navigating the messy intersections of family, community, and curiosity. This story was full of lots of complex feelings and emotions.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Review: The Thorn and the Spire by Katherine McIntyre 4 of 5 stars

The Thorn and the Spire by Katherine McIntyre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Beau’s search for his missing father leads him to the Spires—a perilous casino ruled by the infamous demon Cillian Ashmore—he offers himself in exchange for his father’s freedom. Assigned as Cillian’s personal assistant, Beau expects cruelty and chaos, but what he finds is far more complex. As he navigates the Spires’ shifting, monster-haunted halls, Beau uncovers layers of mystery and contradiction: Cillian’s coldness hides unexpected loyalty, and the demon’s terrifying reputation masks a soul shaped by pain and power. What begins as resentment slowly transforms into desire—and something deeper. But danger brews beyond the Spires, and Cillian’s enemies are closing in. As time runs out, Beau must decide whether to walk away—or risk everything for a love forged in shadows and secrets.

I really enjoyed this story with the two men who were drawn together even though they were very different. The story was a rich tapestry of mystery, emotional tension, and slow-burning intimacy.  I liked that Beau’s decision to take his father’s place was an act of selflessness that set the tone for the story. It introduced the theme of sacrifice—not just for family, but eventually for love. As Beau navigated the Spires, his journey became one of emotional redemption, not just for himself but for Cillian, whose own past was steeped in pain and isolation. I also liked that Cillian is running out of time, and Beau doesn’t know it. The looming threat added urgency to their connection, underscoring the theme that love is often forged in moments of crisis. It asked: what do we choose when time is slipping away? Who do we become when everything is at stake? Many emotions and feelings in this story although I did find Beau's state of confusion irritating at times. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: A Reason To Stay by R.J. Scott 4 of 5 stars

A Reason To Stay by R.J. Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Viktor, a battle-hardened Navy SEAL, returns to his small Vermont hometown when his nephew witnesses a murder—forcing him into an investigation led by Aiden, the sheriff he once loved and left behind. Their reunion is tense, filled with unresolved pain and the threat of a killer lurking in the Green Mountains. As they navigate treacherous terrain, deadly secrets, and the emotional wreckage of their past, Viktor and Aiden must confront not only the danger hunting them—but the love that never truly faded. Survival means trusting each other again, and maybe, finally, choosing love over fear.

I loved this story of danger, heartbreak and their love that refused to die. I loved that both men are protectors by trade, but the story explored how emotional safety required more than physical strength—it demands openness and trust. I also enjoyed that the story asked whether love can survive betrayal and whether two changed men can rebuild something stronger from the ruins of their past and have a second chance. Lots of emotions and feelings merged with the danger and drama. This was an MM story with mature content.

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