Review: Secret Admirer by D.J. Jamison 3 of 5 stars

Secret Admirer by D.J. Jamison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ace, Benji’s brother’s best friend, has been secretly falling for him and starts leaving anonymous secret admirer notes and gifts to express what he can’t say aloud. Each token brings them closer, until all that’s left is for Ace to reveal he’s the one behind the messages — and hope Benji wants something more too.

This story started out sweet, and I really enjoyed the excitement of the secret admirer notes and gifts. But as it went on, the charm faded for me — the pacing slowed, the plot became repetitive, and I found my interest slipping. I honestly almost stopped reading, but I didn’t want to waste the time I’d already invested. I did like the pep talks from friends, though the way everything had to be spelled out in such extreme detail felt unnecessary. Ace’s behaviour around Benji’s brother also struck me as odd and at times dismissive of Benji, which didn’t help the emotional balance of the story. There were definitely emotions and feelings throughout, but overall the middle dragged too much for me to stay fully engaged. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Fire by May Archer 3 of 5 stars

The Fire by May Archer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Parker returns to O’Leary after ten years, only to find his dream falling apart — especially when Jameson Burke, his former best friend and first love, treats him like the enemy. When his new bar burns down and a blizzard traps them together, one intense night proves their old spark never really faded, leaving Parker imagining a future where they finally rebuild something together.

I really wanted to love this story, but the length worked against it. The constant needling and poor communication between Parker and Jameson stopped being fun tension and just became frustrating. It dragged on so much that I almost didn’t finish — but I’d already invested the time, so I pushed through. I did enjoy the pep talks from their friends, though I found it odd how everything had to be spelled out in such painstaking detail, as if the characters couldn’t connect the dots themselves. In the end, the story had heart, but the pacing and repetitive miscommunication made it harder to enjoy than I’d hoped. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Rock Star's Familiar by T.J. Nichols 4 of 5 stars

The Rock Star's Familiar by T.J. Nichols
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dylan, a runaway hex‑witch turned rock star, is forced home after his brother’s death, where snake‑shifter enforcer Eamon is sent to retrieve him. Their simmering attraction grows during a tense road trip, even though witches shouldn’t be with shifters and Eamon shouldn’t want the boss’s son. Rules break, feelings spark, and both men start wanting freedom — and each other.

What I loved most was the undeniable connection between Dylan and Eamon — a pull that was always there, even with their messy history and all the rules stacked against them. They just needed to be clever enough to find a way to make it work, and watching them navigate that tension was incredibly satisfying. The story had some great twists and turns, and the moment with the snake eating a mouse as the inspired solution to their problems was such a standout — unexpected, smart, and perfectly in line with the world’s magic. A romance full of longing, danger, and ingenuity, with two men determined to claim the future they want. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Alien Prince’s Omega by Lorelei M. Hart by Colbie Dunbar 3 of 5 stars

The Alien Prince’s Omega by Lorelei M. Hart by Colbie Dunbar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Alpha Prince Kagin learns his mate isn’t on Thulnara but on Earth, so he breaks every rule to find him. Omega vet Hanson keeps dreaming of a blue baby that feels like his… until a mysterious woman says “he’s coming.” That hope becomes real when Hanson nearly runs Kagin over with his car — their fated meeting at last.

I really appreciated that Kagin understood a mate bond wouldn’t be instant for a human and genuinely tried to go slowly, giving Hanson the space he needed. That patience was one of the strongest parts of the story. I also enjoyed the involvement of the soothsayer, which added a nice touch of mysticism. But overall, I struggled with the lack of emotions and deeper feelings, and the near‑instalove pacing made the romance feel a bit too quick and underdeveloped. A sweet idea with some lovely moments, but I found myself wishing for more emotional depth and a slower, richer build between them. This was an MM story with mature content and set in the omegaverse with MPREG.

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Review: The Secret by May Archer 4 of 5 stars

The Secret by May Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Micah hires Constantine — his family’s rival and a cocky trouble‑maker — thinking it’s a good deed, not a temptation. But having him in his shop and in his space quickly turns into something he can’t ignore. Constantine, trying to rebuild his life after years of mistakes, takes the job even though Micah is the last man he should want. He tells himself Micah is his boss, not his boyfriend… but the pull between them keeps getting stronger. Two supposed enemies, one undeniable attraction, and no real chance of resisting it.

What really carried this story was the undeniable connection between Micah and Constantine — a bond strong enough to push through their messy history and the communication issues that kept tripping them up, both with each other and with their families. Their feelings were always clear, even when their words weren’t. I did struggle with how difficult it was for Constantine to talk to his mother about anything personal. Given how close he and Micah were becoming, that level of secrecy made things feel a bit one‑sided at times. I loved that everything ultimately worked out, though I was left wondering how things ended for certain people and businesses caught in the crossfire. Still, the story delivered plenty of emotion and feeling, with both men learning to open up despite their pasts. A heartfelt, complicated romance built on chemistry, conflict, and the slow work of learning to communicate. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Angel by Athena Steller 2 of 5 stars

Angel by Athena Steller
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Aaron is still adjusting to life with his new paranormal family, feeling like the “defective one” until he unexpectedly meets his mate, Carter — a protective cop who’s instantly drawn to him. Carter’s world is turned upside down when he discovers the paranormal exists, and between a hyena pack threat, rescued puppies, and learning this new reality, he keeps feeling pulled closer to Aaron. With danger rising and Aaron even pulling Carter into his dreams, their connection grows stronger than either expected.

I came away from this one frustrated and disappointed. It felt like so much of what usually makes this series shine was missing, and Aaron’s relentless refusal to accept Carter as his mate dragged on far too long. What started as understandable hesitation quickly became repetitive and, honestly, just annoying. The story had potential, but the pacing made it feel stretched thin — this could have been a stronger book with more development, or even a tighter novella so it didn’t feel so drawn out. A disappointing instalment in a series that usually delivers much more heart, balance, and emotional payoff. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Gift by May Archer 4 of 5 stars

The Gift by May Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Daniel arrives in O’Leary wanting a simple, complication‑free life, trusting no one except his unexpected best friend, Julian. Julian, who’s spent his whole life keeping his head down, finds comfort in Daniel too until one slip leads the whole town to believe they’re a couple. Suddenly Daniel, very straight and very not‑his‑lover, becomes his fake boyfriend. Now the two best friends have to navigate a pretend relationship that feels increasingly real.

The undeniable connection between Daniel and Julian shines from the start — a friendship that slips into a fake relationship and then quietly, inevitably becomes something real. Their shift from “just friends” to something deeper felt natural and full of warmth. Julian’s quirky charm and animal facts were an absolute delight, adding humour and heart. Daniel, on the other hand, was harder to understand. His extreme secrecy about his past made their friendship feel one‑sided at times, even though the emotional payoff eventually landed. I also loved the side drama with Julian’s younger brother and Sam, which added extra tension and sweetness without overshadowing the main romance. The story is full of emotions and feelings, especially Daniel’s confusion as he realises his sexuality is far more fluid than he believed. A tender, messy, heartfelt journey from friendship to love. This was an MM story with mature content.

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