Review: Salesman Mateo by Sam E. Kraemer 4 of 5 stars

Salesman Mateo by Sam E. Kraemer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mateo comes to America out of fierce Torrente family loyalty, tasked with protecting his cousin’s children and uncovering a traitor. He tries to keep his life free of emotional ties, but meeting Shay Barr — a talented New York barber with a dangerous past — shakes that resolve. Shay is facing the return of the religious zealots he escaped as a teen, while Mateo is surrounded by threats to his own family. Their chemistry is instant, and each man becomes exactly what the other needs as danger closes in from both sides.

This story had an undeniable connection between Mateo and Shay, even when the drama surrounding them from family threats to dangerous pasts that made things hard. As the tension ramped up, Mateo found himself intervening again and again, digging into both current and historical events to keep everyone safe. There were plenty of emotions and feelings, good and bad, woven through the story. Shay was a standout for me — someone who often felt like he needed a hug as he tried to cope with everything thrown at him, yet still managed to stay strong and compassionate. A dramatic, emotional read with two men fighting danger, family turmoil, and their own fears to hold onto something real. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Herds and Hooves by B.L. Maxwell 4 of 5 stars

Herds and Hooves by B.L. Maxwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Keith is a lifelong Foggy Basin local, content with his quiet rural routine, while Bart arrives from suburban Sacramento completely out of his element. Lost during the town’s Pride parade, Bart accepts help from Keith — a small choice that sparks a connection and may push this city boy toward a life he never expected.

This was an enjoyable story as Bart arrived in Foggy Basin to help his aging uncle with the family dairy farm and ended up never leaving, while Keith crossed paths with him through work. I especially loved Bart’s uncle as he brought a lot of fun and warmth to the story. Keith was harder for me to connect with, mostly because he stayed so reticent about something in his past, and we never really learned what that was. The baby cow added some humour, though a few moments were confusing, especially the switch between feeding from its mother and being bottle‑fed. Overall, the story had light emotions and feelings throughout, and I enjoyed spending time with these characters and the gentle, small‑town charm of their world. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Positive Raleigh by Sam E. Kraemer 4 of 5 stars

Positive Raleigh by Sam E. Kraemer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Raleigh “Nemo” Wallis is a former SEAL haunted by loss and afraid that loving someone means putting them in danger. When Benji Hoffman reenters his life while facing arson, political sabotage, and his best friend’s illness, old feelings resurface. Together, they must confront Raleigh’s fears and the threats surrounding Benji’s campaign to see if they can build something real.

This story blends three strong arcs namely the threats against Benji, the slow‑building relationship between him and Raleigh, and Raleigh’s complicated family troubles that were put into one carefully woven narrative. As much as Raleigh tries to keep his distance, Benji is determined that they can face everything together, and that determination becomes the emotional backbone of the book. There are plenty of feelings and emotions throughout, and it was refreshing to see two men secure enough in their sexuality to cry, be vulnerable, and still be strong. The mix of danger, political tension, personal healing, and romance made this a compelling read. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Daddy's Little Secret by T.L. Travis 3 of 5 stars

Daddy's Little Secret: An M/M Contemporary Daddy Romance by T.L. Travis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Trey has spent years quietly loving Oscar from the sidelines while Oscar focused on raising his younger brothers. Now that they’re grown, Trey wonders if it might finally be his chance to come first. Oscar has admitted their secret relationship to his brothers, but Trey isn’t sure what will happen once they leave their secluded life in Northern Arizona. And with Trey’s grandmother, the one steady presence in his chaotic childhood, still unaware of the truth, he may have his own secrets to reveal too.

I enjoyed this story about Trey and Oscar, especially watching Oscar finally realise he needed to stop treating Trey like a secret, while Trey had to find the courage to be honest with his grandmother about their relationship. The whole cast was wonderful — I loved the depth in the descriptions of the characters and the insight into their thoughts and feelings. Trey, in particular, was such a kind, gentle man, and it was lovely seeing him shine in this story through his warmth toward friends, family, and neighbours. Their relationship had a quiet sweetness to it that made the journey feel heartfelt and rewarding. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic and male lactation.

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Review: Maneater by M.M. Wilde 3 of 5 stars

Maneater by M.M. Wilde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Darien escapes LA for a quiet herbalist life in the Ozarks, only to discover the local monster legends are real when Rex reveals himself as an Ozark Howler to save him. Their unexpected bond grows, and Rex begins to wonder if a human might actually be his forever match.

I enjoyed this story and the undeniable connection between Darien and Rex, even if their interactions sometimes felt a bit disjointed and stilted. Darien’s fixation on what he thought he saw, and the way he immediately broke his promise not to tell anyone, didn’t always endear him to me, and his unusually easy access to the solstice celebration felt off compared to how other humans were treated in the series. Still, the mix of magic, monster lore, and the slow‑building bond between the two men made the story enjoyable overall. There were emotions and feelings threaded throughout, even if both characters struggled with them at times. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: The Marriage Blunder by Aja Foxx 4 of 5 stars

The Marriage Blunder by Aja Foxx
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jude goes to Vegas for his sister Carolyn’s bachelorette party and ends up accidentally married to her fiancé, Kenneth. Carolyn’s fury is inevitable, but Jude and Kenneth quickly realise their impulsive night sparked a real connection worth fighting for. Now they must face the fallout, navigate family drama, and decide whether their unexpected marriage can become something lasting.

I really enjoyed this story, especially the undeniable connection between Jude and Kenneth that kept shining through even in the middle of absolute chaos. Jude’s sister’s explosive reaction didn’t just create drama as it uncovered something far more serious and long‑running tied to Kenneth’s business, pulling the story into mystery territory in a way I loved. Watching the two of them, along with the rest of the frat brothers from earlier books, worked together and use their talent with numbers to save everything added a fun, clever layer to the plot. At times the story dipped into farce, and I did occasionally wonder why certain things happened, but it didn’t stop me enjoying the ride. There were plenty of emotions and feelings throughout, even if both men struggled with them at times, and their relationship had a charm that made me want to smile, laugh, and occasionally shake my head at the chaos swirling around them. This was an MM story with mature content.

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Review: Hacker Lawry by Sam E. Kraemer 5 of 5 stars

Hacker Lawry by Sam E. Kraemer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lawry’s life collapses after a devastating text and a career‑ending meeting, leaving him heartbroken, unemployed, homeless, and spiralling. His brother sends Gabriele Torrente to drag him to New York and help him stabilise. A tension‑relieving hookup at a family event introduces Lawry to Maxim Partee — sharp, confident, and unwilling to tolerate Lawry’s self‑destruction. Max sees a man crushed by recent events and, despite every reason to walk away, chooses to stay, offering friendship when Lawry needs it most.

This was a fantastic blend of two mysteries, one deeply personal to Lawry, and another tied to a case from his work. The danger and drama were constant, and every new reveal pulled me in further. At the centre of it all was the powerful, tender connection between Lawry and Maxim, whose relationship carried the emotional weight of the story. I loved watching Lawry work through the grief and fallout of his lover’s suicide, and how Maxim’s presence, sharp, caring, and impossible to ignore, helped him slowly rebuild. The mix of family, both blood and found, added warmth and grounding to the chaos around them. This story made me cry, laugh, and smile, often in the same chapter. A gripping, emotional read with danger, heart, and a beautifully written love story at its core. This was an MM story with mature content.

** Please read the trigger warnings and be kind to yourself.

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