Review: Rise by Keira Andrews 2 of 5 stars

Rise by Keira Andrews
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Jack climbs the beanstalk hoping for treasure and an escape from his miserable life, only to find Rion — not a giant, but a lonely guardian protecting his family’s legacy. Their fiery first clash turns into undeniable attraction, and isolated in the clouds, they begin to fall for each other. But when a new threat comes for the treasure, Jack and Rion must fight to protect both the hoard and the fragile future they’re daring to imagine.

Jack’s life is painfully difficult from the start, and that hardship shapes every choice he makes — including climbing the beanstalk with nothing left to lose. Meeting Rion at the top changes everything, and despite their fiery beginning, the connection that grows between them becomes undeniable. I did struggle at times with the writing style, which occasionally pulled me out of the novella, and I found myself irritated with both characters in places, making the reading experience a bit of hard work. Still, the premise was creative, their chemistry was clear, and the emotional core of their relationship carried the story through. This was an MM story with mature content.

** Please note that this is a retold fairy tale with a twist. Previously published as Ascending Hearts; this version has been revised and expanded. **

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Review: Rawley by Aja Foxx 4 of 5 stars

Rawley by Aja Foxx
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rawley inherits a huge, thriving ranch and discovers Jojo living secretly in the old farmhouse after being kicked out by his parents and losing his home. Working together turns their initial connection into love, and Jojo’s pregnancy cements their bond. But someone covets the ranch, threatening the future they’re trying to build.

I really enjoyed this story, especially the instant connection between Rawley and JoJo and the fierce determination Rawley showed in giving JoJo safety, stability, and real protection. Their bond felt genuine from the start, and watching Rawley step up for him again and again was one of the highlights of the book. The threat to the ranch added a dramatic, danger‑filled layer that kept the tension high. Rawley slipping into full SEAL mode — backed by his capable friends — made those moments exciting and satisfying. I also loved the added depth from Rawley’s family drama, which gave the story even more emotional weight. Overall, this was a great start to the series. The emotions and feelings were easy to understand and feel, making the journey warm, engaging, and very enjoyable. This was an MM story with mature content and set in the omegaverse with MPREG.

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Review: Sunshine by Athena Steller 3 of 5 stars

Sunshine by Athena Steller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hudson feels settled and happy back in his hometown, but everything changes the day he rescues a cat from a tree — an encounter that leads him straight to Bastian. Bastian, a grumpy paranormal operative returning to help his old team, is instantly drawn to the bright, sunny human who wakes him from a nap. As hidden dangers close in on the family Bastian protects, he must figure out how to bring his human mate into a world Hudson never knew existed.

I enjoyed this amusing and light‑hearted story, especially the running joke of Hudson repeatedly finding the same cat and getting increasingly irritated with its so‑called irresponsible owner — only to discover the truth about Bas and the paranormal world hiding in plain sight. His introduction to that world was fun to follow, and the reveal tied the earlier humour together nicely. I did feel that the explanation Hudson received — and how quickly he agreed to become Bastian’s mate — happened far too fast, which took a little away from the emotional impact. Still, the overall story was easy to read and understand, with plenty of charm and warmth as Hudson and Bas figured out how to fit into each other’s lives. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Changeling by Lee Colgin 4 of 5 stars

Changeling by Lee Colgin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dominus, a bored incubus who runs the Twig & Berries brothel, finds his life shaken up when Sebastian — a newly displaced changeling fae — arrives seeking safety after learning the truth about his heritage. When danger forces Sebastian to take shelter with Dominus, the spark between them quickly turns into heated tension. Dominus hasn’t been interested in anyone for ages, and Sebastian is the first to catch his attention… but he’s fae, and Dominus has every reason to hate faeries. As trespassers close in, the two must decide whether they’ll remain enemies or let desire break the curse that stands between them.

I loved this story about two men from completely different paranormal races learning not only how to understand each other, but also how to understand themselves. Their connection grew in such an engaging way, shaped by their differences as much as their similarities. One of my favourite parts was how the story let us learn about their races right alongside Sebastian. As he discovered the world he truly belonged to — one he’d never been taught about — the reader was educated at the same pace, making every revelation feel natural and meaningful. The emotions, the tension, the curiosity, and the slow building trust all came through clearly, making it an easy story to read, feel, and understand. A wonderfully immersive paranormal romance. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: His Royal Fae Mate by Jax Stuart 4 of 5 stars

His Royal Fae Mate by Jax Stuart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Safilix, a newly recognised fae prince, is ordered to mate with a royal elf for the good of his people — but the only elf he wants is Ingal, a sweet, caring omega who isn’t of noble blood. Ingal longs for Safi too, but believes a prince is far beyond his reach. Torn between duty and the elf who calls to his soul, Safilix must choose between the expectations of his crown and the mate his heart has already claimed.

This was a deeply emotional story built around the undeniable connection between Safilix and Ingal — a bond so strong that all they could do was hope the Luna had a solution for them. Both men had suffered in their own ways, which made it all the more satisfying and well deserved when they were finally able to be together and even start a family. The passion, emotions, and heartfelt moments ran throughout the book, giving their journey real weight. I also loved getting a glimpse of the Sweetwater pack further into the future, adding richness to the world and showing how far everyone has come. A tender, feeling‑filled read that was easy to follow and full of heart. This was an MM story with mature content and set in the omegaverse with MPREG.

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Review: Almost Home by Alex Blaine 3 of 5 stars

Almost Home: Contemporary M-Lac Gay Romance by Alex Blaine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Joshua, worn down after a year of trying to build a life that never comes together, decides it’s time to “go home” the way his grandpa once described — by ending everything. After a final meal and a last ride along the coast, he heads for the cliffs. Matthew, who sensed something was wrong back at the diner, spots Joshua’s abandoned bike and steps in, unable to ignore someone in need.

The story opens with such a dramatic, unforgettable moment that it completely set the tone — and honestly, nothing that followed ever quite eclipsed the intensity of that first meeting between Matthew and Joshua. Their introduction was raw, emotional, and gripping in a way that stayed with me throughout the book. I really appreciated how Matthew stepped in afterward, insisting Joshua get counselling and doing everything he could to help him rebuild — offering stability, a job, a home, and even safe transport. His steady care was one of the strongest parts of the story. That said, I did feel the book missed an opportunity by not letting them talk openly about what kind of relationship they actually wanted. With everything they’d been through, that lack of communication was noticeable. Still, the story was easy to read, easy to feel, and easy to understand — a heartfelt journey that began with a dramatic rescue and grew into something tender. This was an MM story with mature content and a Daddy/boy like dynamic with male lactation.

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Review: The Revenge Mishap by Jax Calder 4 of 5 stars

The Revenge Mishap by Jax Calder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leo tries to get petty revenge on his nemesis but accidentally targets his brother Archie instead, drenching him in syrup and breaking his ankle. Forced to make amends, Leo ends up helping Archie with his daily jobs — including dog walking and performing as a sparkly unicorn for kids — and the two grow unexpectedly close. Archie knows exactly why the “accident” happened, but as their banter turns tender, secrets and guilt give way to a sweet, messy grumpy‑meets‑sunshine romance.

This was such an amusing, chaotic, and charming story, and I loved the wild connection between Leo and Archie from the very start. The situations Archie managed to rope Leo into were hilarious — every scene felt like a full workout for the imagination, from the unicorn antics to the dog‑walking disasters. Their lack of communication did get frustrating at times, especially given how capable and self‑aware both men were, but thankfully they managed to sort themselves out before it went too far. Underneath all the comedy, there were real feelings and emotional beats that grounded the story beautifully. Overall, it was easy to read, easy to feel, and easy to enjoy — a messy, sweet romance wrapped in pure fun. This was an MM story with mature content.

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