Review: Crystals and Corpses by Jacki James by Lori Ames 4 of 5 stars

Crystals and Corpses by Jacki James by Lori Ames
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Declan discovers he’s a witch and is thrown into Ravenstone, a quirky supernatural town where magic, monsters, and strong coffee are part of daily life. When a vampire is murdered during the Magic Festival, he teams up with Gideon, a handsome wolf shifter who can’t shift but has plenty of protective instincts. Between magical mishaps, meddling creatures, and growing feelings, the two must work together to catch a killer — and maybe fall in love along the way.

I loved that Declan and Gideon have an undeniable connection that sparks from the moment they meet, and it only grew stronger as they’re thrown into the chaos of Ravenstone. I loved watching Declan stumble his way through discovering the supernatural world — and his own magic — with equal parts wonder, panic, and determination. His journey of self‑discovery adds so much charm to the story, especially with Gideon right there beside him, steady and protective in all the ways that matter. Their chemistry is warm, passionate, and full of promise, the kind that makes you excited for what comes next. Add in a gripping murder mystery, quirky magical mishaps, and a town full of supernatural oddballs, and this becomes a fun, engaging read with a romance that feels like it’s only just beginning. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Makers by Casey Cox 3 of 5 stars

Makers by Casey Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Anson is a wealthy, powerful man shattered by the loss of his son, unable to move beyond the grief that has hollowed out his life. He doesn’t expect anything to change — until Jarvis, his son‑in‑law’s younger brother and an unconventional, loud, sunshine‑bright personal trainer, steps into his world. Jarvis is nothing like what Anson imagined he needed, yet he becomes the first person to make him feel alive again. As their sessions shift from physical training to emotional healing, Anson begins to question whether he can let go of the past and open himself to a future with someone decades younger — and a man. MAKERS is a bi‑awakening, age‑gap, forbidden romance novella about grief, renewal, and unexpected love.

This novella delivers a lovely surprise in the way the attraction blooms between Anson and Jarvis. With a significant age gap — and the added twist that Jarvis is a man — their connection feels unexpected but completely believable. What really grounds their relationship is the friendship that forms first: Jarvis’s loud, unconventional training methods break through Anson’s grief, and their easy rapport becomes the foundation for everything that follows. Before anything physical ever happens, you can feel how much they genuinely like each other — how Jarvis brings light back into Anson’s life, and how Anson offers Jarvis a depth of care he’s never had. Their shift from companionship to something more feels earned, tender, and quietly transformative. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Right Way by May Archer 4 of 5 stars

The Right Way by May Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sebastian “Bas” Seaver is a brilliant but obsessive man consumed by his need for revenge against Alexei Stornovich, the mob boss responsible for murdering his fiancée and parents. His fixation threatens to destroy everything he has left. Drew McMann, his lifelong best friend, has always relied on control to survive — through family tragedy, through betrayal, and through years of hiding his love for Bas. When a reckless, drunken kiss exposes the truth Drew has buried for decades, their carefully balanced friendship begins to crack. As Alexei’s threats close in on them and their circle of friends, Bas and Drew are forced to depend on each other more than ever. But with danger escalating and long‑held secrets rising to the surface, they must confront their feelings and accept that the only path forward — the only “right way” — is the one where they choose each other.

What really stood out to me in this book was the sheer depth of love between Bas and Drew — a love that had been there for years, just waiting for the two of them to finally stop fighting it. Their bond has always been intense, but watching them shift from friendship into something deeper felt incredibly natural. They didn’t need to reinvent themselves, only adjust the shape of their relationship and finally explore the feelings they’d both been carrying for so long. I loved how passionate they were — about their work, their loyalty, their need to protect the people they care about, and especially about each other. Even with danger closing in and emotions running high, that passion is what anchors them. It’s a story about two men who have always been each other’s home, finally allowing themselves to claim it. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Leo in Lace by Layla Dorine 3 of 5 stars

Leo in Lace: Double-Booked for the Holidays Series by Layla Dorine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leo escapes to a quiet cabin after a chaotic year, only to discover it’s already occupied — by two snow leopard shifters, Maverick and Briar. Maverick is exhausted by failed attempts to find a mate and constant pressure from his family, while Briar, his best friend and would‑be partner, has planned a peaceful holiday getaway for the two of them. But when their cabin is accidentally double‑booked with a human, the three men are thrown together in an unexpected holiday mix‑up. Double‑Booked for the Holidays is part of a multi‑author mpreg series where single shifters avoid family scrutiny by escaping to winter retreats… only to find their cabins shared with unsuspecting humans.

This is a sweet, quick read with a definite instalove vibe, but it left me wishing for a bit more depth. The connection between the characters sparks fast and brightly, yet the story moves so quickly that their emotions and inner worlds don’t get the space they deserve. It’s charming and cosy for what it is — a brief holiday escape — but the feelings come on so suddenly that I found myself wanting more detail, more build‑up, and more time with the characters to really feel their bond. This was an MMM story with mature content set in the omegaverse with MPREG.

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Review: The Long Way by May Archer 4 of 5 stars

The Long Way by May Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Damon’s life is in ruins after being falsely blamed for the Seaver plane crash, and he’s determined to expose the real culprit — Senator Emmett Shaw. Cain, the senator’s polished and tightly controlled son, is hiding dangerous family secrets of his own. When Damon’s pursuit of justice goes wrong, Cain unexpectedly saves him, and the two men join forces to uncover the truth. As danger closes in and the road ahead grows more treacherous, they’re forced to rely on each other — and the one thing they can’t escape is the growing connection between them.

I loved this story with the pull between Damon and Cain that was impossible to ignore — it simmered beneath every moment they shared, even as danger closed in from all sides. Their lives were both shaped by relentless drama and high‑stakes threats, yet somehow they still fall for each other with a kind of inevitability that felt both tender and explosive. What made their connection so compelling is how it grew right in the middle of chaos: Damon fighting to reclaim his life, Cain trying to break free from the shadows of his father, and both of them constantly looking over their shoulders. Despite all of that, or maybe because of it, their bond becomes the one steady thing they can hold on to. It’s a gripping, emotional journey where love refuses to be pushed aside, no matter how dangerous the road becomes. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: A Gentle Way to Love by Abrianna Denae 4 of 5 stars

A Gentle Way to Love by Abrianna Denae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blaise loses one of his longtime partners, leaving him shattered and leaning on his husband, Sawyer, and an unexpected new friendship with Grant to survive the grief. Grant, raised in an unconventional but unstable environment, is left completely alone after his own loss — until Blaise and Sawyer reach out and offer him the support he desperately needs. What begins as comfort in shared tragedy grows into something deeper: Blaise and Grant form a powerful bond, and Sawyer finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Grant as well. As the three men navigate grief, healing, and the slow rebuilding of trust, Grant struggles to believe he deserves a place in their loving, established family. With Blaise’s steady understanding and Sawyer’s gentle devotion, they work toward creating a future where all three of them can belong.

I loved that this story was steeped in grief, and the emotional weight carried by Grant, Blaise, and Daley was beautifully, painfully rendered. Each of them is shattered in different ways, and the book never shied away from showing how loss reshapes them. What makes it so moving is the quiet strength Sawyer brings to all of it — he becomes the steady centre holding everyone together, even while his own heart is breaking. Amid the sorrow, there’s also a profound sense of love. It surrounds them in different forms: the long‑standing devotion between Blaise and Sawyer, the fragile new bond forming with Grant, and the way shared heartbreak slowly becomes shared healing. The tenderness woven through their connections makes this a deeply emotional and ultimately hopeful read. This was an MM+ story with mature content.

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Review: Daddy's Little Artist by T.L. Travis 3 of 5 stars

Daddy's Little Artist by T.L. Travis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Chuck is Tae’s devoted Daddy, and their relationship is usually effortless and steady — at home and at work. But when Tae becomes inexplicably blocked while trying to paint his own room, the frustration eats at him. He can create beautiful murals for others, yet the blank walls meant for his personal space leave his mind empty and his confidence shaken. Chuck, ever the caretaker, wants desperately to help, but even Tae can’t explain why this room shuts him down. As the pressure builds, Tae must figure out what’s holding him back so he can reconnect with his creativity and finally make the space feel like his own.

This was such a tender, intimate look at a relationship built on deep trust and unwavering love. Chuck and Tae’s bond shines through every moment — the way Chuck reads his boy so instinctively, and how determined he is to help Tae move past the creative block that’s been weighing him down. The solution Chuck finds is thoughtful and grounded in love, showing just how well he understands what Tae needs to feel safe and inspired again. I also adored the glimpses into their everyday life. Those small, ordinary moments — the routines, the quiet affection, the easy closeness — make their connection feel even richer. It’s a sweet, heartfelt story about support, patience, and the kind of love that helps you find your way back to yourself. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic with male lactation.

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