Review: Kane by Zack Wish 3 of 5 stars

Kane: An Age Gap Russian Mafia Forbidden Dark Romance by Zack Wish
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kane, raised to kill rather than lead, is forced to take over his family after his brothers die. William, a young PhD student and Little, lives a quiet academic life until a chance encounter with Kane pulls him into danger and desire. Their connection escalates fast, and when fate traps William deeper in Kane’s world, walking away stops being an option.

The connection between Kane and William is undeniable, even though it comes at the worst possible time for Kane and is genuinely dangerous for William. That tension gives the story energy, but it also highlights some gaps. This book has a clear focus on spanking, yet there’s no discussion of limits or boundaries, which made parts of their dynamic feel unbalanced. I also missed the softer, nurturing side of being a Little — something William only really experienced when he was with other Littles rather than with Kane himself. The plot is engaging and the characters compelling, but the romance would have felt stronger with more affection, communication, and emotional care woven into their dynamic. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.

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Review: Decker by Aja Foxx 3 of 5 stars

Decker by Aja Foxx
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jasper flees the city to escape harassment from Gerald Hughs and hides with his grandfather, but the danger follows him. Decker returns home after his own grandfather urges him to protect Jasper, a vulnerable omega being targeted by bullies and a predatory suitor. Decker brings Jasper to safety at Black Butte Ranch, where they grow close and begin healing together. But Gerald refuses to let go and tracks Jasper to Montana, convinced Jasper belongs to him. As the threat escalates, Jasper must face his past while Decker prepares for a final showdown. When Gerald makes his last attempt to reclaim him, Decker stands firm, proving that love — and the community around them — is stronger than fear.

I enjoyed this story, but I was surprised — and honestly a bit disappointed — that there was no real mention of love between Jasper and Decker. Jasper’s situation was impossible, and it took the entire Black Butte Ranch community and their allies to keep him safe, which added great tension and heart to the plot. What felt less convincing was how quickly Jasper and Decker’s relationship shifted from protector to lover to something seemingly permanent. The speed of that progression, without much shown in the way of love or affection, made the romance feel a little unbalanced. Still, the story was well written, easy to follow, and full of emotion and danger. I enjoyed the journey — I just wished the romance had been given more space to truly grow. This was an MM story with mature content and set in the omegaverse with MPREG.

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Review: Shelter by Reese Knightley 5 of 5 stars

Shelter by Reese Knightley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sage is a lone, efficient assassin who never lets anyone close — until Law Steel, the one man who refuses to back off. When bodies start dropping, Sage recognises the threat from his past, and this time it’s targeting the few people he cares about. Law won’t walk away, staying beside him as the danger closes in. With the enemy tightening its grip, the only thing they can hold onto — and the only real way out — is each other.

This instalment delivered plenty of danger and drama, with the threats against Sage (YA tech specialist) and Law (Genesis 2nd in command) escalating until more of their team and the other related teams had to step in. I loved watching how, through all of it, Sage realised again and again that Law truly had his back — and how quickly they became necessary to each other. For all their strength and sharp edges, there were real emotions, feelings, and flashes of passion woven through the chaos, giving their relationship depth alongside the action. The balance between intensity and vulnerability worked well, and the writing stayed clear, engaging, and easy to follow from start to finish. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Freeze Frame by E.M. Denning 4 of 5 stars

Freeze Frame by E.M. Denning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

David’s life doesn’t change much after adopting a rescue dog — until his new pup reconnects with an old friend at the park, leading David to meet the dog’s owner, Josh. Josh lives a split life: at work he’s River, a trans adult‑industry performer and cameraman; off the clock he’s just Josh, a new dog dad trying to find balance. What begins as dog‑park hangouts turns into friendship, then something deeper. To make it work, Josh has to trust that David knows what he wants — and that Josh’s career won’t scare him away.

The undeniable connection and attraction between David and Josh shines from the start, helped along beautifully by the easy friendship between their dogs. What really stood out, though, was how much emotional intelligence both men needed to navigate the people around them — and how well they rose to that challenge. I especially loved the way David handled Josh’s identity as a trans man, asking the right questions with care, respect, and genuine curiosity, both for everyday life and for intimacy. It made their growing bond feel thoughtful and grounded. The story is full of emotions, feelings, and warmth, and watching them build something real together was incredibly satisfying. A tender, heartfelt romance with depth and compassion. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Crowe by Jacki James 5 of 5 stars

Crowe by Jacki James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Noah has spent six months rebuilding his life after escaping hell, finally starting to feel safe — until the man who once bought him resurfaces to claim him. Terrified, he turns to Three Bears Tactical, the only people who ever made him feel protected. Crowe normally handles training, not protection, but when Noah returns shaken and determined to fight, he steps in. Keeping Noah close becomes more than duty, and the line between protection and something deeper blurs fast. For Crowe, guarding Noah stops being a job. It becomes personal.

I loved how Crowe stepped up to protect Noah, even as Noah’s buyer escalated the danger and drama in his attempts to drag him back. The tension stayed high throughout, but the story balanced it beautifully with the growing love between Crowe and Noah. Their romance was woven seamlessly into the wider plot about a people‑trafficker who believed he was untouchable — and hated losing control. The book was full of emotions, feelings, and passion, especially as the two men tried to navigate their connection while leaning on the rest of Three Bears Tactical for support. A gripping mix of danger and heart, and a romance that felt both intense and deeply earned. This was an MM story with mature content with a Daddy/boy dynamic.

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Review: The Mercenary's Mate by C.W. Gray 3 of 5 stars

The Mercenary's Mate by C.W. Gray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leti Ando desperately needs to get off‑planet to rescue his loved ones, so he — plus his companions and menagerie — secretly boards a ship, not realising it belongs to mercenary captain Will Hackett of The Blue Solace. Will has been restless for months, but everything shifts when he discovers Leti is his mate. Their bond forms easily, even as the crew takes on a dangerous mission to transport a scientist and a mysterious artifact. When Concord mercenaries interfere, their fast, effortless romance is tested by threats far bigger than either of them — and staying alive becomes the real challenge.

This was very much an instalove romance for Will and Leti, and while their bond forms quickly, I did enjoy how warmly the crew of the Blue Solace embraced Leti and his whole extended “family.” That sense of found‑family support added a lot of charm to the story. The book was a little light on character development, and the emotions and feelings tended to stay at a high level rather than digging deeper, but even so, the journey was fun and engaging. Overall, a sweet, easy read with plenty of heart. This was an MM story with mature content and MPREG.

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Review: Holden by Kate Hawthorne 4 of 5 stars

Holden by Kate Hawthorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holden, a quiet tattoo artist, ends up taking Bryce — his chatty co‑worker Merrick’s younger brother — to lunch on Bryce’s first day in LA. Their attraction is instant, and what starts as a casual, secret fling quickly becomes a safe space for both of them: Holden helps Bryce slow down and explore what he wants, while Bryce encourages Holden to speak up for his own needs. But their secret can’t last forever, and once Merrick finds out, their fragile new relationship faces a real test.

This book leans heavily into kink (especially breeding themes) and there’s plenty of heat, but what really holds the story together is the steady thread of relationship angst running underneath it. Even though the colleague’s‑younger‑brother trope can feel a bit overdone and slightly manufactured here, I still enjoyed how well they helped each other communicate and grow. Their emotional push‑and‑pull gave the story some depth, and the way they learned to express what they needed from each other was  satisfying. The rooftop scene at the end was a standout moment — warm, hopeful, and the perfect way to close their arc in this instalment. This was an MM story with mature content.

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