Review: Speak Now by R.S. McKenzie 3 of 5 stars

Speak Now by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Declan has always lived with anger simmering under his skin, a fire that only worsened after his best friend was killed. Avenging that death left him hollow and alone, with no one to trust when threats start closing in—until Nico steps into his life. What begins as Nico teasing the younger Whitlock at a kink club turns into a night neither of them can forget, and soon Nico discovers Declan is being blackmailed with no one to turn to. Determined to protect him, Nico keeps Declan’s secrets even from his overprotective brother, and the two grow closer as danger tightens around them. With a mafia war brewing and their feelings deepening, Declan and Nico—bodyguard and mafia son—must fight to keep each other safe and figure out whether their forbidden connection can become something real.

I came away from this one feeling a bit disappointed. The story dragged in places, slipping into a repetitive cycle of dislike and sniping between the two men that felt overdone and, at times, monotonous. Their dynamic relied so heavily on mutual irritation that it left little room for deeper character development or emotional nuance beyond the constant self‑inflicted angst. That said, the final stretch of the book was far stronger. Once the tension between them finally shifted into passion and genuine connection, the story became far more engaging and satisfying. Their chemistry does land — it just takes a long, bumpy road to get there. A romance with a rewarding ending, but one that requires patience to push through the slower, repetitive middle. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Murder Under the Mistletoe by R.S. McKenzie by Lee McCormick 3 of 5 stars

Murder Under the Mistletoe by R.S. McKenzie by Lee McCormick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Streeter moves to the isolated town of Devil’s Point hoping to escape his violent past, but an aggravating customer and an old trigger song push him back toward the darker instincts he’s been trying to outrun. In the chaos that follows, he ends up saving Remington — a delicate, bright‑spirited young man who immediately captures his attention in a way no one else has. Remington knows he should be afraid of Streeter, but instead he feels seen, protected, and strangely cherished for the first time in his life. As a snowstorm traps them together, their connection deepens, leaving Remington wondering whether he’s just a temporary comfort for a dangerous man… or someone Streeter truly wants to keep.

I really enjoyed this story and the way that their connection showed that it doesn’t always come from safety; sometimes it comes from being seen in a moment of absolute truth because their bond formed not despite Streeter’s darkness, but because Remington recognised something in it that mirrors his own loneliness. This was a good example of a dark story with a  high heat level. Easy to read and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Mine to Keep by R.S. McKenzie 3 of 5 stars

Mine to Keep by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Knox, a seasoned hitman known for his precision and detachment, is shaken after botching a job that should’ve been routine. Taking time off to recalibrate, he’s sent overseas for a new mission—but fate intervenes at the airport. There, he meets two fragile, beautiful young men who stir something deep within him. Protective instincts flare, and suddenly, the cold killer finds himself yearning for connection, belonging, and the role of a guardian—a daddy. But Knox’s past isn’t done with him. As old demons close in, he must choose: fight to protect the light he’s found, or retreat into the shadows where he’s always belonged. Because love may be the most dangerous mission of all.

I enjoyed this story although it was missing the level of character development that would have made it more enjoyable. I liked the mystery of the organisation behind all of the hits sent to assassins but felt that much of this story was high level and the sex scenes were written to be salacious. This was an MMM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.

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Review: Claimed By The Orc Emperor by R.S. McKenzie 3 of 5 stars

Claimed By The Orc Emperor by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rainn, a monster smut romance author, has always fantasised about being with a creature from his stories—but he never expected that dream to become reality. When he accidentally crosses into a hidden world, he discovers that orcs exist, and one of them—Axum, the Orc Emperor—wants to claim him. What begins as a surreal encounter turns into an intense, passionate romance, exploring fate, desire, and the unexpected possibilities of love across worlds.

I enjoyed this story, which was a nice light read. The world-building was ok, and the characters had an acceptable level of development for a book of this length. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: With This Ring by R.S. McKenzie 5 of 5 stars

With This Ring by R.S. McKenzie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To Carter Whitlock, family means everything to him. He’ll do everything he can to keep them safe. That includes marrying his enemy. Kaison St. Clair has been a thorn in his side for years. When they see each other, they either trade insults or blows. He hates everything about him. If it were up to Carter, he’d stay far away from him and the entire St. Clair family. But someone is after both their families. The only way to keep everyone alive is an arranged marriage with his enemy to combine the might of the St. Clair’s and the Whitlock’s. Life with Kai is supposed to be about winning the war we found ourselves in, not love and emotions. But somewhere down the line, he gets under Carter's skin. And he’ll do whatever it takes to make him his in more than name.

I loved this story with the two men forced into an arranged marriage and the surprise that they both had as it developed into much more. There was the story of the enemy and the ensuing solution of that problem, any descent in their one families as well as their own relationship which became far more than either anticipated. A lot of emotions and feelings in this story as they navigate the various story arcs. \\easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Ride With Me: A MM Charity Anthology by R.S. McKenzie 4 of 5 stars

Ride With Me: A MM Charity Anthology by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ride With Me is full of hot, kinky, and steamy stories that show what happens when you thumb for a ride. Thumbing for a ride has never been so hot! It can result in some very interesting encounters.

I loved this great value collection of stories. Lots of emotions and feelings in these stories as acquaintances and strangers got to know each other much more when sharing a journey. Easy to read, feel and understand. These were MM stories with mature content some with BDSM-like dynamics.

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Review: Leo, My Partner by R.S. McKenzie 4 of 5 stars

Leo, My Partner by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leo doesn't experience emotions like others do. When he sees Tyshawn, that changes. One look and he knows he’s his. It doesn't matter that he's never been with a man before. When Ty catches Leo working his second job, he has to decide if he wants to stay with him. Leo has to convince him that he's willing to do anything for him including slaying some of his demons. Owning his own bakery is Ty's dream. When a friend pushes him to contact the owner of Ray’s Beanery for a tasting to display his baked goods at his coffee shop, Ty jumps at the opportunity. The sexy coffee shop owner he meets is as unexpected as is his instant feelings of desire for him. That is, until he walks in on him covered in blood while he’s  working. Is Ty capable of it too?

This was a dark story merged with a passionate love story. I enjoyed the chemistry between them and their discussions on events. It was well written and easy to feel and understand. As dark as it was it actually made me smile and I was pleased when the rapist was killed. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Convict by R.S. McKenzie 4 of 5 stars

The Convict by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rax is given fifteen years to life which is a long time to be sentenced to prison, even if he deserves it as the Enforcer of his MC. Prepared to spend his time waiting for the lawyer to appeal his sentence an opportunity presents itself to escape and he takes it. On his way back to the clubhouse in Tennessee he gets stuck in a small Missouri town he has to kidnap the small-town mechanic to aid in his escape. Finn finishes his weekly food run and is approached by a hot-as-sin guy in the parking lot with a broken-down truck. He helps him out and thinks he's on his way until he shoves a gun on his back. It turns out that hot guy is an escaped convict and all he wants is my cooperation as a hostage. To live, I’ll have to trust him and do everything I can to save my life including using his body.

I enjoyed this story although it did get boring at one point but I pushed through and it gripped me again. The transformation of their relationship from a straight biker on the run from prison and his hostage to two men who trusted each other and shared their bodies and pleasure was inspiring. Finn was brave as could be seen as he worked with the MC members to punish a traitor as well as get Rax free again which was inspiring (even if it took Rax a while to come around). Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with occasional MMM with mature content.

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Review: Blu, My Protector by R.S. McKenzie 5 of 5 stars

Blu, My Protector by R.S. McKenzie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blu has a beast inside him, urging him to kill. Working as a psychiatrist, he expects to encounter psycho and sociopathic patients but he never has the urge to kill them until one patient triggers that need inside him. He expects the kill to be easy, just like the others but what he doesn’t expect is to want to possess my patient’s boyfriend, June. As soon as he lays eyes on June, he knows that he’s his. June is happy with his boyfriend and ready to take their relationship to the next level until he finds out he’s a serial killer and he is slated to be his next victim. Saved by a handsome older man just in the nick of time he realises that he is the same handsome man that stared into his soul at my coffee shop and even though he scares him he feels a connection to Blu York. One he wants to deepen. Blu and June meet under less-than-ideal circumstances. Can their love prevail? Or will dating a psychopath be too much for June?

This was a dark story with Blu who was an extremely careful serial killer guided by his beast who met and saved June from a serial killer who was depicted as a far worse serial killer. I loved that Blu was on a spectrum and that June was his person although by the end they were both obsessed with each other. The coffee shop and Blu's psychiatry practice were both central to the story. Easy to read, feel and understand, I loved these two men who were explosive together. This was an MM story with mature content.

** Please read the trigger warnings

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