Review: The Geek and the Ghost by Csmbria Hebert 5 of 5 stars

The Geek and the Ghost by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rett is seconds from death when a mysterious, smoking, shadow‑stepping guardian stranger saves him. Rett thinks he’ll never see him again — until the man reappears right as Rett is about to give up, sticking close, causing chaos, and calling him “pipgeek” for reasons unknown. With a drug lord calling in a dangerous favor Rett owes, things spiral fast. Having a hero with a villain complex glued to his side might keep him alive… but protecting his heart is a much harder fight.

I loved this story with the undeniable connection between Rett and his shadowy hero was gripping from the start, and the humour had me laughing out loud more than once. Rett’s tough, guardian might act like a hardened fighter, but he has a soft centre just for Rett, and that contrast made their dynamic irresistible. The plot was packed with danger and drama, especially as Rett kept stumbling into trouble and his hero kept saving him in the most intense, chaotic ways. There were also some genuinely moving moments, both in the slow build of their relationship and in the revelations about Rett’s past and how he ended up living on the streets. A dramatic, emotional, and unexpectedly funny story with a bond that’s impossible to ignore and so I was swept away from start to finish. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Hazard and the Hitman by Cambria Hebert 3 of 5 stars

The Hazard and the Hitman by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Haz just wants out of the hospital, but his attempt to find a fake boyfriend on a dating app goes horribly wrong. When he tries to escape on his own, he nearly runs into Kieran — a gorgeous, grumpy stranger who suddenly pretends to be his boyfriend… and turns out to be the rude guy from the app. One accidental rescue turns into soup at Kieran’s place, unexpected chemistry, and feelings Haz definitely didn’t plan on. But when Haz’s apartment is broken into and he’s forced to flee, Kieran steps in with skills far too intense for a supposed real‑estate agent. As the danger escalates, Haz has to decide whether trusting Kieran will save him — or put him in even more danger.

This had a definite instalove vibe, with an immediate pull between the two men that neither of them could really resist. Their chemistry was strong from the start, even if the story itself sometimes felt a bit chaotic. Since this is the expanded version of the Heart2Heart Vol. 8 novella, I’m not sure the extra length improved it — the pacing wobbled in places. That said, I have to admit that Ghost completely stole the show for me. He was the standout character and added a spark the main couple didn’t always manage to hold on their own. Overall, a fast, emotional read with a compelling connection at its core. This was an MM story with mature content. Please note the content warnings and be kind to yourself.

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Review: MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert 4 of 5 stars

MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Toby returns to his hometown of Winterbury for Christmas for the first time in nearly a decade, weighed down by guilt and determined to avoid the town’s infamous mistletoe tradition — the same one that once turned his best friend Archer into his sworn enemy. He plans to keep his head down, help out at his family’s animal clinic, and steer clear of both mistletoe and Archer’s Christmas tree farm. But Winterbury has other plans. Archer storms back into Toby’s life — boots, flannel, scowl and all — and the old sparks between them flare instantly. Forced proximity, meddling families, small‑town holiday chaos, and a very charming dog slowly chip away at Toby’s resolve. What begins as long‑standing friction starts to feel suspiciously like chemistry. As the season unfolds, Toby discovers that maybe the mistletoe legend wasn’t a curse after all… and that his frenemy might just be the person he’s been avoiding — and wanting — all along.

I loved this story where their friction is really unresolved affection, miscommunication, and the sting of a friendship that fell apart. I also enjoyed that the story made the suggestion that traditions can carry trauma — but they can also offer a path to healing when revisited with new understanding. This was a story full of emotions and feelings as they worked through everything between themselves to conclude that love sometimes hides behind the loudest emotions — anger, frustration, longing — until the truth finally breaks through. Easy to read and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

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