Review: Lincoln by Dale Mayer 4 of 5 stars

Lincoln by Dale Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Desperate to escape her abusive past, Floria Michelson flees for her life with a single goal: disappear and never trust a man again. When Lincoln Chester brings her to the Haven—a sanctuary for rescued animals and broken people—she unexpectedly finds safety, purpose, and a steadfast man who refuses to give up on her. As Floria fights for her future alongside a supportive rescue crew, a dedicated lawyer, and Lincoln, her past catches up to her in a violent showdown at the sanctuary. It's a gripping tale of found family, hard-won trust, and healing love.

Right from the very start of this story, there is an immediate sense of mystery and a heavy suggestion of danger and drama that builds brilliantly as the narrative unfolds. I loved how the emotional core grew right alongside the suspense, with plenty of touching moments and feelings building around the animals and people at the Haven, as well as between Floria and Lincoln. The escalating danger and drama definitely caught my attention and kept me hooked from beginning to end. Written in a style that is wonderfully easy to read and understand, this is a deeply heartwarming and gripping story of survival and healing. This was an MF story with just a little mature content.

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

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Review: Hero in Waiting by Andrew Grey 4 of 5 stars

Hero in Waiting by Andrew Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Former Marine Wells Barnaby is completely unaware that a dangerous enemy from his past is closing in on him, his sister, and his young niece. When Miller Washington (Wells's former military comrade and the man who once got away, learns of the threat) he rushes to their side. As the two men are forced into close quarters to protect Wells's family, their long-suppressed attraction blazes back to life, forcing them to fight off a relentless enemy while navigating a high-stakes second chance at love.

This novella strikes a wonderful balance, blending high-stakes danger with so much tenderness and emotion - not just between the two men, but also in the sweet, loving bond Wells shares with his sister and his five-year-old niece. I especially loved seeing two Marine veterans be so careful, attentive, and protective of their family. The threat driving the plot stems directly from their past actions while serving their country, which leads to a suitably dramatic and gripping conclusion. Written with a clear and accessible style, the emotions and feelings are wonderfully easy to connect with throughout. A fantastic, heartwarming read. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: My One Obsession by Casey Cox 5 of 5 stars

My One Obsession by Casey Cox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A chance encounter and a simple favour were supposed to end the moment Vadim walked away, but being spotted puts the fiercely independent, refreshingly clueless Preston Miller in mortal danger. Forced to keep the adorable, chaotic outsider safe even as Preston fights him every step of the way, Vadim finds his carefully guarded walls crumbling. Used to a solitary, emotionless life in the underworld, the possessive mafia protector quickly realises he isn't just falling, he is entirely obsessed with the man who has become his only soft spot.

I absolutely loved this story! Preston is such a fantastic character - he is fiercely determined and independent, sometimes even to the detriment of his own health. That fierce independence sets up a brilliant push-and-pull dynamic between them, as Vadim goes completely over the top with his possessive protectiveness while Preston digs his heels in to prove he can take care of himself. It is genuinely fun to watch! I also have to give a special mention to Preston’s friend and housemate, Ellie, who was absolutely hilarious with his own fierce protectiveness over Preston. Their emotional journey is wonderful, full of great angst, deep thoughts, and shifting feelings as they transition from being totally irritated by each other to falling deeply in love. Best of all, I loved seeing Vadim step up and figure out how to support Preston without crushing his spirit when his health problems threatened his independence. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Emergency: Kiss of Life by Andrew Grey 4 of 5 stars

Emergency: Kiss of Life by Andrew Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Professional hockey star Marcus Markelton suffers a head injury on the ice, leading to an encounter with EMT and fan Logan Castro. As Logan is drawn into the lives of Mark and his young nephew, Timmy, their budding romance is threatened by the demands of Mark's booming NHL career, forcing them to risk their hearts for a future together.

This was such a sweet novella right up until the very end, where the conclusion left me a bit confused. Marcus decides to move out of his parents' house with his nephew Timmy, but there was no mention of who would care for Timmy now that they no longer had free, available childcare from his grandparents. On top of that, Logan’s decision to relocate with Marcus felt quite sudden, especially since their demanding work schedules meant they hadn't been able to see each other very much beforehand. Despite those narrative leaps, it is still an undeniably charming read, and young Timmy definitely steals the show every time he's on the page. As always, it delivers plenty of rich, easily readable emotions and feelings throughout that make it a heartwarming experience. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Midnight Bites & Moonlight Kisses by Denver Shaw 4 of 5 stars

Midnight Bites & Moonlight Kisses by Denver Shaw

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Seeking a fresh start in a small town, Neven unexpectedly finds safety and an unexpected Daddy in Émile, a centuries-old vampire recluse. But their budding relationship is threatened when Émile's ancient, vengeful maker returns to destroy everything he holds dear, forcing the vampire to unleash centuries of wrath to protect his new family.

This was such a captivating paranormal romance. At its heart, the story explored how both men are dealing with grief and loss with Neven working through a recent heartbreak, and Émile carrying the heavy, centuries-old trauma of his past. I especially loved the pacing of their romance, watching it blossom naturally from a deep, supportive friendship before evolving into something more physical. Another great touch was the inclusion of foreign dialogue, with translations provided neatly in italics to separate them from the rest of the text. While it’s filled with rich, easily felt emotions throughout, it also delivered plenty of high-stakes danger and drama during the intense final confrontation between Émile and his evil maker, Lucien. A wonderful, deeply satisfying read. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.

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Review: Hard as Steel by Charity Parkerson 4 of 5 stars

Hard as Steel by Charity Parkerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Years ago, when Steel launched Steel Security, a painful betrayal by a client—the man who would become his greatest heartbreak—shattered his life and left him completely closed off to dating. Now a busy head of his own security firm, Steel thinks his heart is permanently guarded against past mistakes. However, Krystof, the very man who broke him decades ago, suddenly sneaks back into his life with a fierce determination to win him back. While Krystof is ready to prove that life and loyalty pulled him away wrongly the first time, Steel must decide if he can ever forgive the past or if Krystof's relentless pursuit will finally break through his walls.

This story is just as much about the past as it is about the present, spending crucial time exploring what happened between them years ago and the exact reasons they were forced apart. I really appreciated how clear the timeline was - you always knew precisely which piece of the story belonged to the past and which was unfolding in the present. As the narrative focused much more deeply on raw emotions and feelings, it did dial back on some of the higher-stakes danger and external drama seen in previous books in the series, but that worked wonderfully for a more introspective character arc. One of my favourite parts was watching Steel finally learn to slow down, shift his focus, and genuinely change his priorities. Packed with rich, resonant feelings throughout that are wonderfully easy to connect with, it's a deeply moving second-chance romance. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Emergency: Kiss of Fire by Andrew Grey 4 of 5 stars

Emergency: Kiss of Fire by Andrew Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When emergency responder Cade Elmhurst reunites with his high school crush, Selby Winston, after an accident, mutual attraction instantly sparks. But when a devastating fire destroys Selby's family home, leaving his four younger siblings in his care, Cade steps up to help—forcing their rekindled romance to navigate sudden domestic chaos and family opposition.

This was such a dramatic and gripping novella. From the shocking accident at the very start to the devastating fire that follows, Selby faces an immense wave of challenges as he suddenly has to care for his younger siblings while dealing with a misguided social worker and his own father’s outdated, closed-minded attitudes toward his sexuality. Through it all, I loved how steadfast Cade was. He stood firmly at Selby’s side, offering unwavering help and support not just to Selby, but to the entire family as they navigated the chaos. Packed with powerful emotions and feelings throughout that are wonderfully easy to connect with and understand, it's a touching, high-stakes story of love and resilience. This was an MM story with mature content.

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