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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Review: The Beast Who Broke Me by Leighton Greene 5 of 5 stars

The Beast Who Broke Me by Leighton Greene
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Caligula escapes Damiano Orsini, the beast who once bought and caged him, thinking he can reclaim his throne alone — but he quickly learns he can’t survive without help. With no other options, he returns to Damiano determined to use and control him instead of being controlled. Living under Damiano’s roof again blurs every line. Strategy turns into surrender, and the man who chained him becomes the only thing standing between Caligula and whoever wants him dead. Wanting him is dangerous… but losing him might be worse.

The push and pull between Caligula and Damiano only intensifies in this instalment, swinging sharply between brutality and unexpected tenderness. Their dynamic is volatile, emotional, and constantly shifting, and I loved how many clear, vivid feelings were woven through every moment. Both men make miscalculations along the way, but the biggest mistakes hit right at the end — and that cliffhanger lands hard. The story captures perfectly how thin the line between domination, dependence, anger, and longing can be, and how tangled their connection has become. A gripping continuation full of emotion, tension, and raw intensity. I’m absolutely ready for the next part. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Open Liner by Katherine McIntyre 4 of 5 stars

Open Liner by Katherine McIntyre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

August’s awful day takes a turn when a kitchen fire brings firefighter Drake into his life — who also happens to be his ex‑girlfriend’s brother. With his parents planning to move away, August feels more alone than ever and considers leaving town too. Drake, stuck in a rut, throws himself into organising a charity concert and ends up needing August’s help. Their chemistry grows fast, but with August unsure about staying and Drake unwilling to hurt his sister, acting on it becomes complicated.

The connection between August and Drake is undeniable from the start, even though it feels completely forbidden because of Serena and the complicated ties she has to them both. That tension adds an emotional edge to every moment they share as they slowly shift from attraction to something deeper. Their dating journey is full of feelings — longing, hesitation, hope — all heightened by August’s torment over whether he should move away with his parents or stay and take a chance on something real. Watching them fall for each other while navigating that uncertainty gave the story a strong emotional pull. A heartfelt, easy read with plenty of warmth, conflict, and connection. This was an MM story with mature content.

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