Review: Merrick by Kate Hawthorne 5 of 5 stars

Merrick by Kate Hawthorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Merrick, a talented tattoo artist who ties his worth to performance and weekend hookups, meets Wilder — a dominant who wants more than a one‑night fling. Their connection quickly deepens into a relationship built on self‑discovery. But as they grow closer, Merrick’s old doubts resurface, threatening everything they’ve built. The question becomes whether Wilder’s steady belief in him is enough to keep them from ending up alone again.

I loved this story. Wilder repeatedly shows Merrick he’s worth far more than he believes, and that his submissive nature isn’t something to fear or hide. Their relationship growing out of one of Merrick’s usual hookups felt especially powerful because the connection between them was undeniable from the start — and, for once, Merrick was met with genuine care and kindness, not dismissal. I also adored how Wilder encouraged Merrick’s art, giving him space to see his own talent and value. The emotional depth, the gentle guidance, and the way they learned each other made this a beautiful, heartfelt read. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like D/s dynamic.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Battle Scarred by Michele Mills 4 of 5 stars

Battle Scarred by Michele Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mara comes to the mining planet Timbur wanting nothing more than a good paycheck and a quiet fresh start — despite being seven weeks pregnant and hiding it. But her plan falls apart when Cayzor (Scar), the terrifying, scarred Xylan everyone fears, starts showing up everywhere she goes, sensing every discomfort and watching her like she matters. He doesn’t care that she’s carrying another man’s baby, and soon he’s the one supporting her through the pregnancy. At the same time, Mara is pulled into Scar’s long‑running hunt for his parents’ killer — a mystery that heats up the moment she arrives. She came for work, but she might be the key to ending a war.

This finale was full of emotions and feelings as Mara tried to manage her pregnancy, her growing connection with Scar, and the rising tension among the Fever brothers as the truth about their parents’ killer finally came to light. I loved the contrast between the sweet moments, where Scar cared for Mara despite their incompatibility and the fact she carried another man’s child, and the dramatic moments, when the hunt for the murderer intensified and everything shifted for them all. The blend of tenderness, danger, and long‑awaited answers made this a satisfying ending to the series. It was wonderful to finally see the mystery resolved. This was an MF story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Found Objects by Mary Calmes 4 of 5 stars

Found Objects by Mary Calmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Merritt Baker has spent years quietly protecting people in the woods of Coille, West Virginia, feeling more like he’s existing than truly living. That changes when a shifter pack moves in next door and ignores his rules, sparking conflict — and catching the attention of Cole Swann, a wolf Merritt can’t stop thinking about. As packs, ghosts, and unexpected feelings collide, Merritt must decide whether being found is worth the risk of losing himself.

I loved this story and its mix of supernatural beings, all woven together with tension, mystery, and heart. The connection between Cole and Merritt was undeniable from the start, and watching it deepen against the backdrop of shifting alliances, old ghosts, and pack politics made their relationship even more compelling. The layers of plot were one of my favourite parts — every twist affected the characters in meaningful ways, and the arrogance of their enemies, along with the power dynamics at play, kept things intriguing throughout. At the centre of it all was love, found family, and two men learning to choose each other. There were big emotions on both sides of the conflict, good and bad, and that richness made the story feel full, satisfying, and wonderfully immersive.This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Healing Daddy by Charity Parkerson 4 of 5 stars

Healing Daddy by Charity Parkerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leary becomes the one person who brings JJ peace after JJ’s abduction and trauma leave him angry and bitter. Despite coming from totally different worlds, JJ feels safe with Leary, whose sweetness and acceptance calm him in ways he didn’t expect. Leary may be chaotic, but he’s determined to heal JJ — not by seeking a Daddy, but by earning JJ’s heart.

I loved this sweet, emotional story. Leary may be a Little, but he has more than enough strength to care for JJ and help him heal. His gentleness, patience, and determination gave JJ exactly what he needed as he worked through the trauma of his past. I also loved that JJ insisted he wasn’t a Daddy, yet so many of his actions and the way he protected Leary, supported him, and cared for him when he was little showed that he had the heart of one all along. Their relationship needed real work, and they were both willing and capable of doing it, which made their love feel earned and genuine. A warm, emotional story that made me smile. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Bruised by Ally Avery 2 of 5 stars

Bruised by Ally Avery
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Lane expects a quiet, easy summer at his best friend’s house — until Mason, Oliver’s ex‑con older brother, returns home on parole. Everyone warns Lane to stay away, calling Mason dangerous and guaranteed trouble. But Lane is drawn to him immediately, craving the danger and the pain Mason seems destined to bring. Maybe the warnings are right… but Lane isn’t sure he can stay away, and he’s not sure Mason will let him.

I came away disappointed with this book. Most of the story focused on sex between Lane and Mason, and because there was so little real conversation or emotional development between them, I struggled to understand how that was meant to turn into love. Their connection never felt fully built, just assumed. There was also a lot about Lane’s feelings surrounding Oliver leaving for college, but very little insight into Oliver’s side of that until the very end — when everything suddenly shifted for all of them. The imbalance made the emotional arc feel uneven and left me wanting far more depth from every relationship in the story. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Change of Plans by Merry Farmer 4 of 5 stars

Change of Plans by Merry Farmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Diccon finally gets a chance with Theo, the buttoned‑up architect he’s been crushing on — thanks to a disastrously wrong coffee order. Their connection sparks quickly, but there’s a catch: Theo is behind the construction project that might shut down Diccon’s family café. As feelings grow, both men have to navigate the tension between their budding romance and the threat to everything Diccon loves.

I loved the undeniable connection between Diccon and Theo, especially how strong it felt even though their relationship had barely begun when the new construction project threatened to come between them. The tension of wanting each other while facing something that could tear their worlds apart made every moment feel meaningful. I really appreciated that they found a solution to Diccon’s worries, allowing them to move forward together instead of letting fear or circumstance pull them apart. The emotions and feelings throughout were clear, heartfelt, and easy to understand, making their journey feel warm, real, and deeply satisfying. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Boy Blue by Jackie North 4 of 5 stars

Boy Blue by Jackie North
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blue tries to escape his life by hopping a freight train, chasing freedom with two new companions. But a blizzard leaves him injured and without his memory. He’s found by Wolfe, a solitary man with a difficult past, who must decide whether to leave the stranger in the snow or take him in — a choice that could change both their lives.

I loved this story and all its hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, mutual rescue, found family, small‑town vibes and snow. Wolfe was wonderfully gentle with Blue, giving him exactly what he needed to recover from both the trauma he’d been running from and the accident that stole his memory. His focus on the basics of cleanliness, food, warmth, safety that made every moment feel tender and grounding. I especially loved that even once Wolfe realised who Blue really was, he didn’t push or interfere; he simply waited for Blue to remember in his own time. A beautiful, emotional story with a perfect ending. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon