Review: Toren by Kate Hawthorne 4 of 5 stars

Toren by Kate Hawthorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Toren Ember, still figuring out his life while navigating a complex dynamic with his late brother's husband Riggs and Riggs's new partner Smith, finds an unexpected connection with one of Smith's four welcoming brothers, Andrew Calavert, after a late-night cigarette and a missed rideshare lead them to bed together. Despite Andrew having a boyfriend, both men give in to their intense mutual fascination and embark on a secret affair exploring uncharted desires. When Andrew's infidelity is finally exposed, the shaky foundation of their romance is put to the test, leaving Toren and Andrew determined to find a way past the fallout and build a genuine, committed future together.

If you are looking for a story with major heat, this is it! The spice and passion levels in this book were completely off the charts because Toren and Andrew simply were unable to resist each other from the moment they connected. While things start in a complicated grey area, I really liked how the book handled it—given the actual nature of Andrew's stale relationship with his then-boyfriend at the time, it didn't really feel like malicious cheating, which kept me firmly rooting for them. Beyond the intense physical chemistry, I loved that the book also balanced it out with very normal, domestic relationship milestones, like meeting each other's family and sharing cozy meals together. It was wonderful to see how their unusual, highly-charged start successfully blossomed into something genuinely caring and deeply affectionate. Extremely well-written, it was an effortless, engaging read where everything from the complex emotions to the character dynamics was easy to follow and understand! This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Lawyer's Quandary by Andrew Grey 4 of 5 stars

The Lawyer's Quandary by Andrew Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Greg Lampeter, a solo practice lawyer starting to find his footing after leaving a large firm, agrees to take on an intriguing case on principle for a new client named Steven. However, Greg's attention is entirely derailed by Steven's moral-support companion, assistant swimming coach Mark Baker, with whom he shares an immediate, powerful attraction. While trying to maintain professional boundaries for Steven's sake as they tackle a serious college dispute involving a lacrosse coach, Greg must navigate a delicate legal line to secure justice for Steven while safeguarding Mark and their growing relationship from becoming collateral damage.

This was such a wonderful, heartfelt short story. I loved how sensitively it handled a very serious, emotional topic without ever letting it become needlessly sensationalized. One of my favourite aspects was how Greg immediately took Steven seriously, crafting a thoughtful strategy focused entirely on removing the offending coach to protect others rather than chasing monetary compensation. It gave the story a lot of integrity and heart. Despite being a shorter read, the emotional depth was great —the feelings and struggles throughout were clear, raw, and very easy to connect with. I also deeply appreciated how Greg and Mark managed to intentionally carve out space to isolate their budding relationship from the heavy college legal battle, protecting what they were building. A touching, well-balanced, and rewarding read. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Spare Affair by Ella Frank by Brooke Blaine 3 of 5 stars

The Spare Affair by Ella Frank by Brooke Blaine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Prince Gabriel Valemont and Prince Alejandro of Solterra—the ex of Gabriel's twin brother—turn their sharp rivalry into a flirtatious game under a strict "no falling in love" rule. As their competitive banter escalates into stolen kisses and hidden moments, both royals struggle to keep the game from turning into genuine romance.

This was a story with some really wonderful elements, though it ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the bright side, I really enjoyed the sharp humour at the start, though some of Alejandro’s more childish behaviour eventually wore thin and started to grate on my nerves, causing it to lose my attention in the middle. There were also some wonderfully unexpected, grounded moments that showed a more vulnerable human side—I especially loved the scenes involving the arts program with the children. A lot of the genuine emotions and feelings between the main characters were heavily suppressed for most of the book, keeping their true connection locked away until much later. Fortunately, an impactful push from their family members at the end finally forced both men to realise what they stood to lose. A fun concept with some great highlights, even if the execution was a bit uneven. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Needing Him by Sara Hurst 4 of 5 stars

Needing Him by Sara Hurst
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After two years of relentless training, Alex is weeks away from becoming a Navy SEAL when a forbidden night with a stranger shatters his controlled life. Walking away from Daniel was easy, but forgetting him wasn't. Daniel is a half-closeted CIA operative trained to suppress desires that could destroy him, so he is stunned when Xander—the man who vanished from his bed—reappears under the name Alex as part of the SEAL team he is embedded with. As they navigate briefings, dangerous missions, and clandestine hookups where every touch risks exposure, Alex and Daniel are forced to choose between the careers they sacrificed everything for and the fragile, unexpected bond they've built with each other.

This was such an intense, gripping read. I loved all the high-stakes drama and danger as Alex and Daniel worked alongside each other on active Navy SEAL team deployments. The passion between them was completely off the charts—starting out as a purely physical connection before deep, undeniable feelings inevitably got involved. Set against the heavy, tense backdrop of the post-9/11 era, the story brilliantly captures the raw emotions and anxieties that the historical moment evoked. I especially loved the moments where Daniel's thoughtful colleague tried to give them pockets of time together amid the chaos. Throughout the book, the emotional push-and-pull is fantastic; even as Xander desperately tried to suppress his feelings to hide them, the deep connection between them bled through every page. Everything is exceptionally well-written, making it so easy to feel and understand their internal struggles. Just a heads-up that this book is part one and ends on a major cliffhanger, but the journey to get there is completely worth it! This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: In Your Light by N.R. Walker 4 of 5 stars

In Your Light by N.R. Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hadeom, who has long found purpose in the darkness believing he was doing right, finds himself losing his way as the world and humanity change around him. Fyn, a sunny and peaceful faun yearning for excitement, love, and a mysterious tall, dark, and handsome stranger lodging at his camp, sets his sights on Hadeom. As Hadeom heals and recovers his true form, his hidden identity is revealed, convincing him that Fyn deserves better than his shadows. However, when human threats endanger Tenebrae Cove, Hadeom must confront his past while Fyn fights for him, proving that Fyn is the one who can ultimately lead him out of the darkness and into the light.

This was such a deeply emotional and atmospheric story! I loved following Hadeom as he wrestled heavily with his past actions and guilt, trying to find his way back to himself. On the other side, Fyn was such a wonderful protagonist, dealing with his overbearing brother while nursing an intense, sweet yearning to get closer to the mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome stranger lodging by the river. The community aspect was an absolute highlight for me. The residents of Tenebrae Cove were so supportive, stepping up to give Fyn sanctuary, and I loved the intriguing ties connecting one of the locals straight back to Hadeom's past. The emotional payoff at the end was fantastic, wrapping everything up with so much heart. I am seriously hoping we get to see more of these residents in future books—especially the godlets, who look like they are going to be absolute bundles of fun! If you love a grumbly-dark-one-meets-sunshine romance with fantasy depths and great found-family vibes, this is a must-read. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Under His Protection by Andrew Grey 3 of 5 stars

Under His Protection by Andrew Grey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Eddie, a former Hollywood actor turned Olympia police officer, rushes to help an old friend and unexpectedly comes face-to-face with Marty—the man he left behind to pursue fame and his biggest regret. Marty, an accountant who recently discovered he is working for a money laundering front, calls Eddie's old number for help, getting a protector and the chance for a second chance. When the situation rapidly escalates from money laundering to murder with Marty as a potential witness, the danger mounts alongside their rekindled passion. Eddie is determined to keep Marty safe, but catching the killer will push their renewed relationship to the absolute limit.

This was only the length of a short story but it was also full of emotions and feelings throughout as Eddie got a second chance with Marty. I did find Marty very whiney with his constant comments about having to find a new job and I did wonder why he needed protection considering that he saved himself and Eddie was unconscious in his garage. I was glad that there was a happy ending and that we got a little more insight into the lives of Brian, Kerry and the boys. I loved that Marty insisted that they were very gentle talking to one of his colleagues who had some intellectual challenges although I did wonder about the ethics of their chat with her and the evidence that she provided. A nice happily ever after at the end. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Best Bad Decision by Shaw Montgomery 4 of 5 stars

The Best Bad Decision by Shaw Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Casimir, a fabulous and unapologetically dramatic neighbour who admits to making bad decisions with fascinating men, finds himself confused when his strait-laced and seemingly straight neighbour asks for a favour. Atlee, living a quiet life that has somehow descended into insanity because of an ex who refuses to leave him alone, decides that politeness has failed and turns to the most dramatic man he knows—his favourite nosy neighbour—to help get the crazy ex off his back under the guise of fake dating.

This was such an absolute blast to read! If you love a good fake-dating trope that naturally transforms into something very real and sweet, this book hits all the right notes. The premise kicks off when strait-laced Atlee ropes his wonderfully dramatic, fabulous neighbour Casimir into fake dating to get an unhinged ex-wife and his parents off his back. Things get even crazier, but Casimir's sharp instincts eventually help Atlee unpack the underlying reasons behind all the family chaos. One of my favourite elements was the unique, comforting way Casimir found to completely switch off Atlee's busy mind and take away his worries, even if just for a little while. Beyond the romance, the supporting cast of neighbourhood characters is wonderfully unhinged—seriously, the neighbours take being nosy to an absolute extreme! Packed with laugh-out-loud moments that had me giggling out loud several times, as well as plenty of clear, well-written emotions and feelings throughout, it's a hilarious, heartwarming, and thoroughly entertaining read. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like D/s dynamic.

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