Review: The Art of Drowning by E.M. Denning 5 of 5 stars

The Art of Drowning by E.M. Denning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Callum saves Damien from drowning one summer, sparking a bond that Callum’s possessive brother Sam later tears apart. Damien builds a new life far away, but Sam’s death brings the two men back together — along with the dangerous secrets Sam left behind.

This was a very emotional story, full of feelings and turmoil, as Callum and Damien tried to navigate the damage Sam caused in both their lives. Sam was absolutely the villain here — bitter, manipulative, and determined to control everyone around him. Even during his health crisis, he used the situation to inflict more hurt, which made his presence loom over the entire book. I appreciated how clearly the Then and Now chapters were marked, making the shifts between past and present easy to follow. Both men had supportive friends who tried their best to help, even when their advice wasn’t always welcome. Through all the danger, grief, and unresolved history, the story carried a strong emotional core that made their journey compelling. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Fade Out by E.M. Denning 4 of 5 stars

Fade Out by E.M. Denning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rex panics when he learns his brother is marrying a man he once dated, so he invents a boyfriend — and now needs someone to play the part. Perry, still hurting from a failed situationship, agrees to be the fake boyfriend on one condition: he wants real dates and real effort. What starts as pretend quickly becomes something deeper, leaving both men wishing their fake relationship wasn’t fake at all.

A lovely, gentle end‑of‑series story. Rex and Perry have an undeniable connection, and Perry’s stipulation that they go on real dates gives them exactly the space they need to genuinely get to know each other and to fall in love for real. I adored how they worked hard at clear communication, building trust step by step and turning a fake‑dating setup into something warm, honest, and meaningful. A sweet, satisfying finale to the series. 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: First Take by E.M. Denning 4 of 5 stars

First Take by E.M. Denning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Asher finally gets to film with Lukas Knight’s studio, but he’s still reeling from losing Lukas to Sawyer. His scene partners, Jax Fisher and Blue Davies, step in to support him. Blue, a guarded vet tech who still works scenes, finds himself wanting to take care of Asher — and noticing Jax’s long‑held feelings for him. Jax has loved Blue for years, and now he’s drawn to Asher too. Instead of choosing, he starts imagining a relationship that includes all three of them. If Blue can risk trusting, and Asher can open his heart again, Jax might finally get the chance to build something real with both men.

A beautifully messy, big‑hearted story about three men who need each other more than they realise.  

Jax and Blue have been circling each other for years, carrying a quiet, hidden love neither has been brave enough to name. Their connection burns hot beneath the surface, but it’s Ash who becomes the unexpected catalyst — the glue that draws them together rather than pulling them apart. Ash arrives in pieces, hurting and vulnerable, and while he desperately needs their support, it becomes clear that Jax and Blue need each other just as much. Their chemistry is intense, but it’s the emotional work — the honesty, the communication, the willingness to lean on friends — that gives the story its weight. This book is full of big feelings, complicated bonds, and the kind of tenderness that makes you root for all three men to find something real together. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Candy Hearts Volume 3 by A.D. Ellis by B.A. Tortuga by Becca Seymour by E.M. Denning 4 of 5 stars

Candy Hearts Volume 3 by A.D. Ellis by B.A. Tortuga by Becca Seymour by E.M. Denning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Valentine’s‑themed LGBTQIA2S+ anthology offering twenty‑one low‑angst queer romances, each built around bad first impressions that blossom into sweet, satisfying happily‑ever‑afters. Candy Hearts, Volume 3 delivers warm, red‑hot novellas full of charm, humour, and feel‑good connection. It’s available for a limited time, and all proceeds support Rainbow Railroad, making it both a delightful read and a contribution to a meaningful cause.

This anthology is full of charm, and I really enjoyed how many of the stories leaned into humour while still delivering a guaranteed happy ending. The low‑angst tone makes it an easy, uplifting read, and the variety of “meet‑ugly” setups kept things fun from story to story. Because each piece is a novella, the character development is naturally limited, and I often found myself wishing a few of the couples had more space to grow. Several stories had such engaging setups and chemistry that I genuinely hope the authors expand them into longer works. Overall, it’s a sweet, feel‑good collection with plenty of warmth, laughs, and satisfying conclusions — perfect for dipping into when you want something light and happy. I particularly enjoyed the stories by A.D. Ellis, BA Tortuga, Becca Seymour and E.M. Denning. These were MM stories with mature content.

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Review: Final Edit by E.M. Denning 4 of 5 stars

Final Edit by E.M. Denning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lukas Knight has built a successful studio after escaping a difficult past in the adult film industry, but his dream of writing a memoir is held back by his dyslexia. Sawyer Brown, a published author and the “disappointment” of his family, is hired to ghostwrite the book—only to discover Lukas isn’t a traditional actor but a former adult entertainer. As they work together, their professional partnership deepens into a gentle, growing connection, with shared vulnerabilities turning into the beginnings of something more.

This was such a sweet, heartfelt love story, and what really drew me in was the powerful pull between Lukas and Sawyer. As they opened up about their very different but equally painful childhoods — one shaped by poverty and survival, the other by emotional neglect and crushing expectations — you could feel them recognising pieces of themselves in each other. That shared vulnerability becomes the quiet heartbeat of their connection. Their relationship grew with such warmth and gentleness that I couldn’t help but smile and cheer them on. Watching them move from professional partners to something tender and full of promise was genuinely lovely. A soft, hopeful romance that leaves you rooting for both men to finally find the love they deserve. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Fembot by E.M. Denning 3 of 5 stars

Fembot by E.M. Denning
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Winston Lowe, a college senior burdened by his father’s attempts to buy affection with lavish gifts, longs for genuine love—especially from his best friend, Lucky. His father’s latest gift, a humanoid AI named Calvin, upends Winston’s expectations. Unlike the emotionless machines Winston imagined, Calvin is vibrant, intimate, and deeply human in his own way. As Winston and Lucky’s friendship blossoms into romance, Calvin becomes part of their emotional world, creating a fragile but profound bond between the three. Yet Calvin’s uniqueness makes him a target: men are hunting him to erase the flaws in his programming. Winston, Lucky, and Calvin must fight for their unconventional love, knowing that if Calvin is taken, their happiness could vanish with him.

I liked this story, which blended longing, unconventional intimacy, and the fragility of love against a backdrop of technology and human vulnerability.  It was also about love as rebellion — against neglect, against societal norms, against the erasure of difference. It was a meditation on intimacy, vulnerability, and the courage to embrace unconventional bonds. The story will make you ask yourself three questions - What makes someone “real” — their programming, their emotions, or the way they are loved?, - Can love transcend boundaries of species, technology, and social expectation? -  Is imperfection not only inevitable but essential to authentic connection? Easy to read and understand. This was an MM/MMM story with mature content.

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Review: Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 8 by Collected Authors 4 of 5 stars

Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 8 by Emmy Sanders by E.M. Denning by Becca Seymour by Charlie Novak by Kate Hawthorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great value anthology of queer stories. The H2H app is great for when you need a plus one for an event or someone to attend a class with you. Most are short stories, and many of them are well written with clear emotions and feelings that will make you smile. I loved them all. Most of them are MM stories with mature content.

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Review: Up in Flames by E.M. Denning 5 of 5 stars

Up in Flames by E.M. Denning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After passing the bar, Oren Reid feels invincible—until a tragic car accident claims his two best friends, leaving him as the lone survivor. Months later, still grappling with loss, he reconnects with Will Dorsey—the firefighter who saved him that night. A friendship blossoms, but emotions simmer beneath the surface. Will, closeted and cautious, hides his attraction. Oren, once convinced he was straight, starts to question everything as feelings deepen. With love threatening to break through fear, the men must decide if their bond can weather the fire—or if it will burn them both down.

I loved this story with such a raw tenderness in how trauma reshapes identity and opens space for unexpected love. I loved the detail given in how hard it it was for Oren after the accident and the after effects as he started as normal a life as he could. The kinship and passion between the two men was something I could almost touch. When Will did reveal his sexuality to someone else it was a bit anticlimactic which was quite sad. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

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