Review: Seven Minutes by Raquel Riley 5 of 5 stars

Seven Minutes : An MM Hurt Comfort Romance by Raquel Riley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eli dies in Adrian’s ER, and in the seven minutes after his heart stops, his life plays back in vivid, emotional flashes. Instead of emptiness, he’s flooded with memories of their love — their first kiss, their vows, the quiet mornings they forgot to cherish. Every moment leads back to Adrian. Caught between life and whatever comes next, Eli senses there’s a choice or a goodbye waiting for him in those final minutes, and if love alone could bring him back, he’d return to Adrian every time.

This is an intensely emotional story — the kind you absolutely should not read in public unless you’re prepared to cry your way through it. The feelings are raw, heavy, and beautifully human as both men — and especially Adrian — unravel the events that led to Eli ending up in his ER. Watching Adrian work through shock, guilt, love, and grief is heartbreaking in the most compelling way. The emotional weight never lets up, and the way their relationship is revisited through those memories makes every moment hit even harder. It’s easy to read, easy to feel, and impossible to walk away from without tears. This was an MM story with mature content.

** Please take note of the trigger warnings and be kind to yourself **

Buy from Amazon

Review: Bedtime Stories by Raquel Riley 3 of 5 stars

Bedtime Stories : A DD/lb MM Romance by Raquel Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Oren finds comfort in late‑night online chats with Keane, a steady “Daddy” voice who gives him rules and reassurance. What begins as harmless guidance quickly turns into something deeper for both of them. Keane tries to keep boundaries, but Oren’s shy honesty makes that nearly impossible. When they unexpectedly meet at a weekend retreat, one look and one soft “Daddy” make every rule they set feel breakable. Oren wants to trust him. Keane wants to protect him. And their chemistry threatens to burn through every line they drew.

This story had such a strong, compelling connection between Oren and Keane, and I loved how that bond deepened as the stakes rose. From their first late‑night messages, there’s a tenderness and protectiveness in the way Keane speaks to Oren — a steady, grounding presence that only grows stronger once they meet in person. Keane’s organised, lawyer‑mindset becomes one of the most powerful parts of the story. It’s not just structure for the sake of rules; it’s how he shows care. When Oren later needs real support, Keane steps in with calm, capable certainty, proving exactly what a Daddy should be for someone as vulnerable and earnest as Oren. The chemistry between them is intense, but it’s the emotional safety, the trust, and the fierce protectiveness that make their dynamic shine. A passionate, heartfelt read with a beautifully drawn Daddy/boy connection. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.

Buy from Amazon

Review: The Tex Hex by Raquel Riley 5 of 5 stars

The Tex Hex: A Hurt Comfort MM Romance by Raquel Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story about Tex and Mandy, two emotionally wounded men who are deeply in love with each other but are stuck in the "friend zone." Tex, who hides his "battered soul" behind a flirtatious, carefree exterior, believes the only man who can heal him is Mandy. Mandy is living with deep physical and emotional scars from a past trauma. He is in love with Tex, but Tex only sees him as a friend. The story sets up a conflict where both men need healing and love, but they are blocking each other: Tex won't let Mandy love him until Mandy heals himself, and Mandy is hurting because Tex won't see him as anything more than a friend.

I loved these two men who were damaged in their own way but able to see past it to love fiercely. So many emotions and feelings in this story which are guaranteed to capture you and cause tears. I loved the superhero comparison which I totally agree with. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Coming In Hot by Raquel Riley 4 of 5 stars

Coming In Hot by Raquel Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pharo feels burdened by past leadership responsibilities that led to a loss, and resents Jax's persistent blame. He is tired of being the target of Jax's scorn and is ready to confront him, either through "reason or force," despite finding an unsettling enjoyment in the prospect. Jax, on the other hand, blames Pharo for the loss of his best friend due to Pharo's alleged poor judgment in leadership. He has dedicated years to making Pharo's life miserable and sees that Pharo is finally facing him. Jax also hints at a surprising, intimate twist to their animosity, suggesting a physical attraction alongside his desire for revenge.

I loved this story with the two men who were tied together by a shared history and shared attraction if they can get past Jax's intense hatred for Pharo. I loved the passion in this story as they worked through their relationship and shared history. Lots of danger and drama as Pharo continued doing dangerous work. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Hot Doggin' by Raquel Riley 5 of 5 stars

Hot Doggin' by Raquel Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

McCormick and Stiles, both haunted by their military pasts, rely on each other for comfort and support. McCormick struggles with the pain of loss, guilt, and loneliness, finding solace in his hobbies and his bond with Stiles. Meanwhile, Stiles grapples with memory loss and confusion about his feelings for McCormick after an unexpected kiss. Despite the complications, their deep connection hints at a unique relationship that could bring healing and hope, if they can navigate the challenges together.

I loved this story with the two complex men who were damaged after injuries sustained during their time fighting for their country. Best friends and a source of support for each other their relationship had changed into love and physical attraction but they realised it at different times. Some humorous moments - just look out for a YouTube video. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Tequila and Tattoos by Raquel Riley 3 of 5 stars

Tequila and Tattoos by Raquel Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We all have choices to make and consequences to suffer. Two decades ago, Gordy chose Shannon. But Shannon didn’t choose him. He chose his family instead. And when he broke Gordy's heart, his consequence was an addiction to food.  He swore to himself he would never make the same mistake twice, until he met Aries. He fell hard for his best friend. Unfortunately, so had Shannon.Shannon chose to have a family, over the love of one man. Their warmth and acceptance were commodities he yearned for his entire life. But nothing comes without cost, and the price he paid to become a Carrick was too high. He lost his best friend, the only man he'd ever loved, and was convinced he'd never have it again - until Aries. Aries's bromance with Gordy had quickly bloomed into a full-fledged romance, while his crush on Shannon had ignited from a spark into a raging inferno. He was in love with two men at the same time. Two men who hated each other. Choosing one was impossible. His only option was to make them see how good the three of them could be together. Are love and hate really two sides of the same coin?

I enjoyed this story with the three men who needed Aries in the middle so that Shannon and Gordy worked together. I loved the concept of where Aries came from and their involvement in their future together. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MMM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Bourbon and Burlesque by Raquel Riley 4 of 5 stars

Bourbon and Burlesque by Raquel Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love and affection had been missing from Kelley Michaelson's life since he came out to his parents as a teen. Burlesque gave some of that back to him. When he takes the stage, the audience admires him, the music loves him, but burlesque isn’t the passion of a lover, a soul-deep connection his heart yearns to share with another man. When his boss’s father plays his hero from a stalker, he knows his search is over. His vow to keep him safe feels like so much more than that. Smart, confident, loyal and generous, tough as nails - he can face anything, except when it comes to Kelley. If he runs, he has a plan to catch him. Graham Carrick never thought he'd give himself another chance to be a fool in love, but when Kelley strutted into his life on patent leather stilettos and turned it upside down, he didn’t really give him a choice. Nothing has been the same since, including his heart. I don’t want life to go back to the way it was before, even if it could, but it doesn’t matter. The twenty-eight years that separate us are too many to bridge the gap, no matter how Graham thinks he makes him feel.

I loved this story with the two men who were living in the same house as Graham went into protective mode for Kelley until his stalker was captured. Kelley had a beautiful soul and I was amazed that Graham resisted the pull towards him as long as he did. Be aware that Kelley has more changes of clothes than anyone else you know. Lots of emotions and feelings in this story. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Vodka and Virtue by Raquel Riley 3 of 5 stars

Vodka and Virtue by Raquel Riley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rory MacGregor best friend’s nephew grew up while he worked abroad. Now that he's home, his priorities have shifted, moving Carlisle Carrick to the top of his ’to-do’ list. He is exactly the type of man Rory dreamed of settling down with, but every time he gets close to him, he runs away. How can he convince him they'd make a perfect match? Carlisle Carrick is seventeen years younger than it Rory who wears leather, and rides a motorcycle for kicks. He doesn't see how they have anything in common. 

So why do I still burn up every time I catch him watching me?

This was a sweet story of a determined man who thought that their age gap was irrelevant and that their attraction overrode everything. I loved their dates and how romantic they were. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Rum and Rendezvous by Raquel Riley 3 of 5 stars

Rum and Rendezvous by Raquel Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After a string of failed dates, Ryan was ready to give up on love. Carson Carrick was a self-proclaimed dating expert. Yet, under his careful direction, things went from bad to worse. he'd started to wonder if his terrible advice was deliberate. Was his one-night stand purposely sabotaging his chances at love? Carson had no idea what he was doing when he offered to help Ryan find his match. But he was hot, gullible, and desperate -he needed Carson's help. He should never have touched him, because now he couldn’t keep his hands off him. And the more he helped him look for the right guy, the more he became convinced that it was him. How could he make him see he had more to offer than one night of rum and rendezvous?

This was a sweet story as Carson did his best to get Ryan to see that he was the right man for him. It was a bit dishonest to "help" Ryan to fail but he did seem to be happy with the end result. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Warrior's Walk by Raquel Riley 5 of 5 stars

Warrior's Walk by Raquel Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Rhett Marsh's leg shattered, he thought my whole world was shattered. Riggs pieced both back together again, and then he disappeared. Navarro Riggs is a lot of things - devastatingly hot, his saviour and a brave warrior. But he didn't expect him to be, his physical therapist if only he wasn’t trying his damndest to stay far away from him. Navarro Riggs met Rhett on the battlefield under a hail of bullets and blood. Their bond was instant, forged in trauma, unbreakable and everlasting. He wasn’t just his patient, he was his. He trusts Rhett with his life, but can he trust him with his heart?

I loved this book with the meeting between Rhett and Riggs under fire and then their meetings afterwards as Riggs tried to help Rhett and stay professional. This book was full of deep emotions, feelings and reactions to circumstances. I was fully invested in both men and the Bitches with Stitches. I adored this series and feel gutted that this is the end. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Say Uncle by Raquel Riley 3 of 5 stars

Say Uncle by Raquel Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sam's sister’s stepson needed a swift kick in the rear and she thought he was the perfect man for the job even though he's no brat tamer, so being saddled with one wasn't his idea of a good time, but he can see the appeal when his less-than-conventional methods prove fruitful. To Matt, Sam is an egotistical, cocky, rude, impatient jerk. He’s also Matt's boss for the summer and he’s hot AF. He’s supposed to be teaching Matt a lesson about becoming a man and respecting authority, but his methods probably aren't what his parents had in mind.

This was a story of how Sam tamed Matt as well as introduce and include him to their unique relationship dynamic. I did like the emphasis on how sensitive Nicky was which taught Matt to think before speaking. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM+MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Hired for the Holidays by Raquel Riley 4 of 5 stars

Hired for the Holidays by Raquel Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How could Adam Wells know when he was hired as arm candy for a corporate investment banker that it would be the last job he would ever take? He was positive he’d never met a more egotistical jerk than Jones Marin, but the more he got to know him, the more confused he became. When he touched Adam, he burned, until he was falling head over heels for a client he assumed was a one-and-done affair. Was he the only one being consumed by the fire? Adam was an escort to Jones Marin - a rent boy and disposable enjoyment. He hired him as his date for a week of corporate holiday parties. It was supposed to be temporary. But Christmas is over and he doesn’t want Adam to leave. If he had an unlimited income, he would hire him for life. Would Adam stay if he wasn’t being paid?

This was a lovely story of how no matter their opinion of each other at the start it didn't take long for them to change their minds with passion and then as they became more and more invested in each other's lives. I loved the executive wives and their friendliness to Adam. It was also good to find out more about Adam as we did know much based on the previous books in the series. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Curious Relations by Raquel Riley 4 of 5 stars

Curious Relations by Raquel Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hudson Brantley is straight. Murphy loves taunting him, but two can play at that game. When he takes things too far one night, Hudson decides to turn the tables on him. What started out as a lesson quickly changes his entire life. He's not sure where this is going, but I think Murphy dreams of something real. Could the future he imagined include a man? Murphy Maguire only meant to tease him, but Hudson has no problem calling his bluff. What starts as a dare quickly turns into an enemies-with-benefits arrangement. Until he starts wanting more. Can he convince Hudson to give them a chance at a real relationship?

This was a fun read as Murphy brazenly baited Hudson who chose increasingly bizarre pet names for him. In the end, they developed a deep kind of love that I'm sure many would not understand. Easy to read, feel and understand this book had many complex emotions. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Father Figure by Raquel Riley 4 of 5 stars

Father Figure by Raquel Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nicholas made a deal with Case (his Dad's ex boyfriend) that if he went to college, he would let him tag along Caribbean island hopping on his charter boat for the summer. Cass stuck to his end of the bargain, but not Nicky - he asked for extra terms. One night of him and nothing between them, showing him what it felt like to be loved by a man. Cassidy now knew he couldn't stop thinking about Nicholas, desiring him, needing him in his arms, beneath him and by his side. 

This was a sweet story about a father's friend and age gap love story with a Daddy/boy aspect too. Add to the mix Uncle Sam and this became scorching hot and full of consensual filth. Easy to read, feel and understand, this will take you on a wild ride. This was MM story with MM+ play and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Hopeless for You by Raquel Riley 4 of 5 stars

Hopeless for You by Raquel Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To Cyan Morrison getting paid to give and receive pleasure is an enjoyable way to earn money. He's one of Lucky Match’s most sought-after escorts, and Griffin Clarke wants to gift wrap his V-card and present it to Cyan on a silver platter. But after spending one evening with him, Cyan feels like he's stealing a precious gift he hasn’t earned and doesn’t deserve. He wants to keep Griffin for himself, but he has a long way to go before he's worthy of a man as generous and authentic as him. Can Cyan convince him he's the man he’s been waiting for?

I liked some of this story because the male escort who fell for his friend/client was a sweet storyline, but the toing and froing between them became a little tedious before they gave in to the inevitable. I loved all of the tortured emotions from them both. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Lucky Match by Raquel Riley 3 of 5 stars

Lucky Match by Raquel Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lucky Maguire started Lucky Match, an escort service, as an enjoyable way to earn some extra cash. That’s how he ended up on a date with his super hot Economics Professor. But after one date, he knew the shy Professor Brantley was hungry for affection, and he wanted to sate his appetite So Lucky needs to 1 - Convince Hayes to fake date him, 2 - Inform him that they were never fake dating; it was always real and 3 - Make him fall in love with him. For Profesor Hayes Brantley, after his divorce, he realised he needed to make some positive, yet drastic changes in his life. He was finally free to date a man after twelve long years of being married to a woman. He called Lucky Match to hook up with someone who looks like the sexy student I can’t stop fantasising about. He had no idea he’d end up with the real deal. Is a second chance at love worth risking his career and another broken heart?

I liked the way that the Escort agency started but I did find Lucky's single-minded determination to seduce his professor a little creepy. The number of gay people at a conservative university was also a little strange. Overall it was a sweet read. This was an MM story with mature content and a little light BDSM-like D/s dynamic.

Buy from Amazon

Review: The Darkness Within by Raquel Riley 5 of 5 stars

The Darkness Within by Raquel Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

** Take note of ALL of the content warnings for this story. If necessary seek help. **

Sgt Nash was on a mission that went sideways and he was a prisoner in the dark tunnels below ground, cut off from the world, hanging onto life by a thread and wanting to end his suffering, but afraid to let go. And then he was rescued and took his first breath of freedom in twenty-two days. But he was still trapped in his nightmare inside his head. Nash's mind is broken but Brewer can see that his soul is intact and the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Brewer agreed to act as his sponsor at meetings to lose his addiction to alcohol and drugs and help him to find a way to love himself again. But then Brewer breaks every single rule and falls in love with Nash. When you find the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with, you don’t want to waste another day apart.

OMG. This story was so full of angst and struggles by Nash that you just wanted to hug him and never let go while crying with him at the injustice of everything he had to endure. I don't think I have ever read a book in which I cried so much at everything that Nash endured but also smiled so much when these two men were able to take pleasure and love each other the way they both deserved. I loved the BALLS guys, the innuendo and all the laughs which were a nice contrast to all of the tears. Lots of feelings and emotions in this story. This was an MM story with mature content and vivid descriptions of torture, addiction, mental health and PTSD.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Proof Of Life by Raquel Riley 5 of 5 stars

Proof Of Life by Raquel Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

West gave twelve years of his life to the service then tragically lost his leg and his career. When the dust settled, the only person still standing by my side in the rubble was his best friend and colleague Brandt - the single lifeline he had left to a world he didn’t want to live in anymore. With painstaking care, he healed West's body and mind. When he eventually started healing his heart, he realized he didn’t just need him in his life but in ways, he'd never wanted him before. Watching West struggle every day was tearing Brandt apart. If only he could see what Brandt did, he wouldn’t see flaws and hopelessness but a courageous, selfless, brilliant leader. A guy with no filter, who always makes Brandt laugh. He’d see the man Brandt had come to love as more than just his best friend.

This was an emotional book as the two men healed from their life-changing injuries and found a way to be happy and support each other as well as other veterans. I loved the guys they were introduced to and the acronym which could inspire thousands of slogans and merchandise. Brandt was determined to look after West and pull him out of his suicidal thoughts. I loved their proof of life check-in and what it meant to them. An inspirational story with lots of real passion between two men who deserve care and love. This was easy to read, feel and understand - you will need some tissues to hand. This was an MM story with mature content and a double bi-awakening.

Buy from Amazon