Review: On the Run by May Archer 1 of 5 stars

On the Run by May Archer

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Toby heads to Whispering Key to hide from a scandal and keep his identity as advice columnist Aunt Hagatha secret. His plan unravels when he meets Beale Goodman — a huge, gentle, utterly wholesome man who rescues feral cats and ends up rescuing Toby too. Beale agrees to pose as his fake soulmate, but the act quickly feels real, especially with the island community embracing them as a couple. As Tony starts to realise he’s finally found something worth staying for, his old secrets threaten to catch up with him.

This one just didn’t work for me. The story felt far too chaotic, and the humour — which should have been a highlight — quickly tipped into irritating rather than charming. I kept hoping it would settle into the same enjoyable rhythm as the first book in the series, but it never quite found that balance. Instead of feeling fun and warm, the constant noise and over‑the‑top antics drowned out the romance and left me more frustrated than entertained. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Slayer by Charlotte Brice 4 of 5 stars

Slayer by Charlotte Brice

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Porter finds himself trapped by his sister’s cartel debts and forced into the dangerous orbit of Knox Thayer — a ruthless, obsessive man who offers protection at a steep price. What begins as survival pulls Porter into Knox’s violent world, blurring the line between captivity and something far more complicated. When threats from Porter’s past resurface and endanger his sister, he must choose between betraying Knox or surrendering completely.

I loved this dark, intense romance is driven by two powerful threads: the crushing debt Porter’s sister leaves him to face alone, and the ruthless way she dismisses him when he tries to help. That betrayal pushes him straight into Knox’s world — a world of danger, obsession, and a connection he never expected. What unfolded between Porter and Knox was raw and consuming. Their relationship started in fear and control, but the emotional pull between them grew until love felt not just possible, but inevitable. The contrast between Porter’s abandonment by his own family and Knox’s fierce, possessive devotion gives the story its emotional punch. A gripping, high‑heat romance where loyalty, danger, and unexpected love collide. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Movers by Casey Cox 4 of 5 stars

Movers by Casey Cox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clayton heads to tropical North Queensland to mend his broken heart, only to have his quiet escape upended when a terrified man literally drops a baby into his arms and begs him for help. The father, Vaughn, is guarded, gorgeous, and clearly running from something dangerous. As Clayton shelters him, their chemistry grows through shared meals on the yacht and long days in the sun, even as Vaughn keeps his past tightly locked away. When the men chasing Vaughn catch up to him, a shocking truth comes out — forcing both men to confront what they’ve built together. This book blends forced proximity, a wounded billionaire, and a single dad with a dangerous secret.

I loved this tender, heartfelt romance built on the strength of connection. What really stood out to me was how close Clayton and Vaughn became as circumstances forced them together — their bond grows naturally, quietly, and with a surprising amount of warmth for such a high‑stakes setup. And Clayton’s love for Vaughn’s daughter is the emotional core of the story. His instinctive protectiveness and the way he folds her into his life make their little trio feel genuinely special. A soft, intimate read about healing, trust, and choosing the people who choose you. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Sugared by Merry Farmer 3 of 5 stars

Sugared by Merry Farmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leland, eager to prove himself in the Hawthorne House kitchen, takes in Ean — his former best friend’s younger brother — after finding him homeless and kicked out for being gay. With nothing but a lottery ticket and a lot of hope, Ean throws himself into helping Leland pull off an extravagant Valentine’s Day feast, and the two slowly build something warm and promising in this low‑angst, sweet rescue romance filled with cake and new beginnings.

I enjoyed this sweet novella that proved that sometimes all it takes is one chance meeting to change everything. Leland and Ean’s story is short, gentle, and full of warmth, showing how a single moment of kindness can open the door to a whole new life. The low‑angst vibe works beautifully here, and watching these two slowly find comfort, stability, and affection in each other’s company made the quick read feel genuinely satisfying. This was an MM story with mature content.

** Please note that this novella originally appeared in the Candy Hearts: Volume 2 - Wrong Number Valentine's Day anthology.

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Review: Takers by Casey Cox 4 of 5 stars

Takers by Casey Cox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Robbie is a no‑relationships podcaster who ends up fake dating Bremmer, a tightly wound billionaire CEO, after a tantric workshop and a PR crisis pull them together. What’s supposed to be a short stunt stretches into a year, and the lines between fake and real blur fast — the dates feel genuine, the chemistry is undeniable, and Robbie starts wanting more than he ever planned. But he’s hiding a secret that could destroy everything once Bremmer finds out.

I loved this story that had me laughing from the very beginning — the tantric workshop alone is worth the price of admission. The fake‑dating setup is equally entertaining, especially as Robbie and Bremmer spent a full year pretending to be a couple while very obviously becoming one. The humour woven through their public appearances, their mismatched personalities, and the increasingly blurred lines made the whole thing a delight. What really worked for me was how much they genuinely got to know each other over that year. With all the shared events, private moments, and unexpected intimacy, falling in love felt inevitable. The secret hanging over Robbie added a nice thread of tension, too, giving the story emotional weight beneath the comedy. A fun, warm, and charming fake‑dating romance with plenty of laughs and a satisfying emotional payoff. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Blown by Merry Farmer 2 of 5 stars

Blown by Merry Farmer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Rafe Hawthorne is a talented but commitment‑averse glassblower who knows he needs help if he wants to rise to the top of his field. Unfortunately, the one person with the skills and connections to get him there is also the man who nearly ruined his career: his old rival, Jake Mathers. Jake, meanwhile, has built his reputation on a carefully maintained web of lies. The only truths he’s certain of are his desire to move to the UK and his long‑buried feelings for Rafe. When his façade finally collapses, he turns to the one person who could save him — and proposes a fake engagement that might benefit them both. As their rivalry turns into partnership and their fake relationship starts feeling dangerously real, the two men must decide whether they can turn all the lies between them into something true.

I went into this one hoping for a satisfying rivals‑to‑lovers arc, but the story never quite delivered on the emotional potential between Rafe and Jake. The sheer number of lies Jake was juggling — and the fallout from them — overwhelmed the romance, making it hard to root for the relationship. On top of that, Rafe’s constant anger and resentment toward Jake took up so much space that their connection never had room to breathe. There was a real chance for these two to build something meaningful, but the layers of deception and conflict kept pulling the focus away from the love story. In the end, the tension overshadowed the tenderness, leaving the romance feeling more frustrating than fulfilling. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Abducted By The Femboy by Jessica Jackman 4 of 5 stars

Abducted By The Femboy by Jessica Jackman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carlo is used to being feared and obeyed, not drugged, tied to a bed, and confronted by Ginni — his best friend’s cute, chaotic, utterly unhinged younger brother. Ginni has always been a danger magnet in their mafia world, but this time he’s gone further than Carlo ever imagined, all in the name of proving they’re meant to be together. What should be an unforgivable betrayal becomes something far more complicated as Carlo realises he’s not as straight as he thought, and that Ginni’s obsession comes with a fierce, disarming devotion. Torn between fury, desire, and the shocking possibility that Ginni might actually be right about them, Carlo has to decide what happens when he finally gets free: walk away… or keep the feral brat who’s turned his world upside down. A wild, spicy romance about obsession, unexpected attraction, and a love story wrapped in pure chaos.

I loved this story which was a very dark romance that never pretends otherwise. Ginni’s obsession is intense, unsettling, and driven by manic episodes that make him both magnetic and deeply unpredictable. His behaviour pushes the story into genuinely disturbing territory, and the author doesn’t soften the edges of how unhinged he can be. Carlo’s struggle to navigate that chaos — while confronting his own shifting desires — gives the book its emotional tension. Their dynamic is messy, volatile, and far from healthy, yet the connection between them was impossible to look away from. If you enjoy romances that lean into darkness, instability, and morally questionable choices, this one delivers exactly that. This was an MM story with mature content.

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